MANCHESTER ART GALLERY
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PAT FLYNN: HALF-LIFE OF MIRACLE 25 SEPTEMBER 2015 - 17 APRIL 2016 02
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DESIGN CONFERENCE AND EXPO 3 OLAF STREET, LONDON, W11 4BE 7 DECEMBER 2015 AT 6PM
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DIDAR EKMEKC
Tinder Nude Or The Next Michelangelo’s David
Insult or Insight
1.5 Trillion Dollars
Family Portrait
Rights For Russia
One Hit Too Far
Is Google killing a generation?
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Art Stopping War
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ISSUE ONE
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Everybody has opinions and in today’s society the more controversial the topic, the stronger their opinions are. Appealing to this nature within us all, Elephant in the room unapologetically addresses current affairs with a whole new perspective. Taking hold of the issues on a much larger scale, focusing away from the individual and looking into our future if things don’t change. Looking at just how dramatic of an affect the digital revolution has had on us all. The digital media isn’t the only life-altering change we’re undergoing. Art and life have found themselves in a never-ending revolving door. Is our life altering art, with the inclusion of Tinder into the world of galleries? Or is art inspiring a change to society? With the evolution of art in war-torn countries can we finally appreciate art as a life-changer? Elephant in the room couldn’t help but notice the evolution that digital media has forced. Creating an online world begs the question; what is our society today? Where does one culture end and the next begin? We are losing definition, but that doesn’t mean we lose respect. While respect remains strong for all cultures, sadly that doesn’t seem to translate into all fields of work. So many industries are getting a reputation of being easy or for the stupid, fashion included. We question why one of the biggest industries has the smallest credibility. Credibility is being lost left, right and centre, we are even starting to lose respect of those around us. Take a look at some of the people on your Facebook, how many of their status’ do you question and laugh at as you scroll down your homepage? The biggest form of humour evolving from social media is the use of drugs. Building from one of the best charity campaigns has come the insane. From the ice bucket challenge to aid ALS funding, we get snorting lines of cocaine. Keeping everyone on their toes, as always, is the Russians. Everything that comes from that country is bold and dramatic. Putin, himself is no different.
EDITOR-IN-CHEIF
ART DIRECTOR
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
FEATURES EDITOR
DANIELLE SCOTT
DOMINIQUE ASPINALL
EMILY WATMOUGH
ELIZABETH FISHER
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IS GOOGLE KILLING A GENERATION? In this ever-increasing digital biosphere we call society, will we soon be crying out for a more simplified existence?  Is there any room for us in the future of technology, or are we as a society losing sight of humanity as we continue to scratch the surface of this technological movement that is the Digital Revolution?Â
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We are force-fed technology from the moment we wake up to when our head hits the pillow, in most cases after too, we are all guilty of this. Without any awareness of the affects it can have on our character, self-awareness and human progression. Are we as a society, really that oblivious to the long term effects of these accelerated technological advances? Challenge. Go a day without the use of any technologically developed devices. Exactly. It’s impossible. So much of modern life, consists of us standing still while we let digital machines do our tedious requirements. Let’s face it, when did we get to the point as a species that we decided it was too much effort to flush our own toilet? We have digitally amplified every inch of our humanity for ease and convenience. Oh the irony of me writing this on a iMac with Retina 5K display with a quad-core 4.0GHz Intel Core processor. That was a lie, I have a Toshiba. As the tech industry explodes and continues to devour our day-to-day duties, are we really okay with it? Or is our addiction to digital devices becoming excessive and unnecessary? Our attachment to all things digital is a modern addiction that has projected tech super-giants into the forefront of power. Our dependency on to these devices has gotten out of control and led us to hand over our lives.
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“WHEN DID WE GET TO THE POINT AS A SPECIES THAT WE DECIDED IT WAS TOO MUCH EFFORT TO FLUSH OUR OWN TOILET?”
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Interbrand.com has released its most recent listings of the most globally valuable brands. And yet again, for the fifth consecutive year Apple, Google, Microsoft and IBM have landed top of the chart. With the likes of Samsung, Amazon, Facebook and eBay shortly behind “Because today, business and brands need to happen at the speed of people’s lives, this year’s Top 100 represents those elite brands that best align with people’s priorities and seamlessly integrate into their everyday,” said Interbrand global chief executive, Jez Frampton, exposing a lot about the change in routine and self awareness. Only 10 years ago, the likes of Wal-Mart and Ford Motor were hitting the top of the ranks . This draws on the theories behind how society is evolving on a day-to-day basis. According to time.com Apple made £45,896 every hour in 2014, imagine how much they’re making this year. In an industry that has inevitably accessed a global market, unsurprisingly money is turning into power. With tech super-giants such as Apple and Google making an excessive profit on an hourly basis what really are the long-term effects of our addiction to tech? Globally, cults are uniting in the battle against tech. With the fate of the future in the hands of Silicon Valley, are we right to worry? These attacks are being classed as acts of social terrorism- are they really or is it all just an over reaction? We need to wake up and realise how serious the affects of our digitalized everyday existence has on future generations. The true fear lies in the observation that technology is advancing at a much quicker rate than humans are evolving. “computers profoundly alter how we think and inevitably reduce our ability to understand nature and cultures other than our own.” We are erasing years of evolution in a pursuit of day-to-day comforts.
Most of you are probably reading this thinking, but isn’t it ok to be a little selfish. When there is such positivity towards these developments, what do we really have to fear? Power. Anti-Technology activists are fearful of the influence digital devices have globally and its relationship with corporate power. They fear that so much control can quite easily be turned around into society having no control over their own function. In 15 years time our dependency will only increase and soon we will have no natural instincts in how to cope solely without digital devices. The fact is, technology has degraded human character and the future is only looking darker for us as a species. The effects can be exceedingly socially severe. Extremism is now dominating social media outlets regularly. The use of the Internet is allowing ultimate changes in the way society functions. Many religious terrorism groups utilize the freedom of online platforms; allowing them to communicate and pressure opinions upon the more vulnerable. But, is it really that easy for the digital world to take control of this politically threatening material? As David Cameron recently announced in his five-year plan to tackle online radicalisation, networked extremism is becoming a more prominent issue, especially in the UK and a concern we need to address. While we fear the consequences, we are yet to address the issue with actions.
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“A DARK FUTURE DOMINATED AS BY MORE UGLINESS, DAMAGED LANDSCAPES, EXTINCT SPECIES, EXTREME POVERTY, AND LACK OF EQUITY. HUMANITY FACES A STARK CHOICE; EITHER TO TRANSITION NOW TO A DIFFERENT SYSTEM OR FACE A PAINFUL COLLAPSE.”
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With the latest announcement of the self-driving car, we remain optimistic about this revolutionary concept. Is it really that safe? Is it truly something we need to be introducing in to our routine? With the latest surge of automobile companies announcing their release date for the revolutionary ‘Driver-free car’ it is expected that in decades to come it will simply be the norm. The likes of Google, Tesla and BMW are due to launch the tech-infused car in 2020, with every major automotive manufacturer likely to follow by 2030. The government is behind the concept of a driver free road, with the aim for the UK to become a world leader in driverless technology. Are we forced into the bigger and better; the UK is one of the many countries that encourage a cult of early adopters. We thrive to be the first and therefore the best, without any consideration for how this affects the general public. We are not as suitable or prepared as a nation for these advances, and therefore are we really right to compete with the likes of China? The online biosphere is a gateway to the biggest, the best and the inevitable, but we need sit down. Stop. Think. Are we ruining such a revolutionary phenomenon in the name of convenience? If we continue to abuse and abuse the efficiency of tech, we will soon be left with an evolutionary crisis. A species at a stand still. Doug Tompkins, founder of North Face and Esprit claims “a dark future dominated as by more ugliness, damaged landscapes, extinct species, extreme poverty, and lack of equity. Humanity faces a stark choice; either to transition now to a different system or face a painful collapse.” Stop and think about the long-term affect of your short-term decisions.
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ONE HIT TOO FAR Ten years ago the internet sensation that is YouTube was born and has transformed the world, connecting us to people from opposite sides of the Globe. Over the years YouTube has provided us with endless amusement, from singing dogs and Charlie bit me to biggest music videos.
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DRUGS VIRAL VIDEO EDITORIAL
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A lot of you may have even taken part in viral videos, who can forget the phenomenon that was the ice bucket challenge. To raise money for ALS, the challenge was to post a video on social media of you getting a bucket of ice cold water poured over your head, whilst nominating your friends to do the same. Because why wouldn’t you want your nearest and dearest to share in the humiliation of looking like a wet dog for all to see. Let’s not forget one of the latest video challenges to do the rounds online, neck nominations, which involves downing a deadly mix of alcohol within 24 hours and nominating your friends to take part. But who could have imagined that it would evolve into the newest viral video craze from Mexico, the cocaine challenge. The cocaine challenge is pretty much self explanatory; it involves those who are nominated to snort a white powder (allegedly cocaine) on camera before nominating others. This has to be one of the most dangerous and idiotic social media challenges as of yet.
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In our society, drugs surround us in our day-to-day life, whether it be your morning latte with an extra shot to get you through the day or some double strength paracetamol to relieve the headache from a hectic day at the office. But you would be naive to think this is where it ends for some of us. Last year’s British Crime Survey saw an increase in the proportion of illegal drug use over the past 2 years, particularly the use of ecstasy and LSD, after previously maintaining a steady decline in levels of drug use. Could this be a new trend or just a blip? There’s no denying drugs have always been a part of society, from Sigmund Freud and his love for cocaine to Steve Jobs experimenting with LSD, they have battled their way through the ages and remained victorious. We might as well face facts, humans always have and probably always will want to get hopelessly inebriated.
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Nomination challenges are the new generation of peer pressure, they reach such a wide audience, you are no longer just losing face to a few friends when you can’t down it ten, it is shared with hundreds, if not thousands of people. The viral challenges are just becoming more competitive and more extreme with each new one created, I can’t image what they will come up with next. The millennial generation is not like any other of the past, in an age where technology is in its prime, it is evolving the way we socialize. We create online personas, post photos to impress others and even buy followers, but by putting so many eyes on ourselves it makes our life choices harder, with so many others commenting on our decisions. Videos such as these are a now the norm on social media and online challenges like these are just normalizing this type of behaviour, I can’t say I am even shocked when I see a new one. My news feed is a stream of statuses from people I haven’t spoken to for 10 years posting what they had for tea, to pictures of their eyebrows being on point, soon videos such as these will be just another post I scroll straight by. Are we now an un-shock able society?
ARE WE NOW AN UN-SHOCK ABLE SOCIETY?
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DRUGS VIRAL VIDEO EDITORIAL
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RIGHTS FOR RUSSIA
We need to take note on just how far Russia has come over recent years, rather than focusing on how far they have left to go.
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Almost everyone with a TV and access to the Internet feel their opinions are the most important ones; especially when it comes to matters in countries that aren’t their own. For example mention Russia to anyone over the age of 18 and they will probably proceed to tell you how disgusting their laws are; in particular those relating to the LGBT community. Yes, these laws would be better altered, but is this the biggest issue the country faces? Probably not no, but we wouldn’t know because we don’t really care. Unless it’s something that is seen as ‘trendy’ to rebel against how many people really want to know? We need to take a long look in the mirror and take responsibility for the role we’ve played in using these laws to victimise an entire nation. Yes, the laws in Russia are highly controversial, and yes on face value they appear extremely homophobic, but are they actually as extreme as the media is constantly telling us? Are the police arresting every gay man and breaking into the homes of every transgender across the country? No they’re not. The laws are about Russia protecting the children. Russia certainly isn’t the only country that is highly selective with what materials its youth generation sees, but they are the most under-fire for it. This is simply how it believes is best to allow children to grow up at their own pace and discover for themselves who they are. We allow the same here in the United Kingdom, we encourage children to be true to themselves. Do we have such hatred towards Saudi Arabia for having attending Mosque as part of their curriculum to make sure their youth love and respect religion? No we don’t.
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“WE NEED TO TAKE NOTE ON JUST HOW FAR RUSSIA HAS COME OVER RECENT YEARS, RATHER THAN FOCUSING ON HOW FAR THEY HAVE LEFT TO GO.”
Or those that do complain certainly don’t get the same level of attention. Just because it’s not how we would do it, doesn’t instantly make it wrong and barbaric. It’s not as though Russia is throwing page after page about ‘traditional families’ at its youth instead of allowing them to see same-sex information. It keeps all propaganda away, and is this not the fairest way? This way no one is being over-looked just because they are different; and it’s not making any type of family feel lesser. All types of families are just as important whether it’s something we’ve seen for centuries or a newly accepted dynamic. In July of this year; during Russia’s annual Day of Family Love and Faithfulness it unveiled a Straight-
Pride flag. This was met with a lot of hate and seen as an insult across the globe, but why? Yes, we as a culture have embraced the diverse routes a family can take, but those in more traditional families should still be allowed to be just as proud. My question to you is… Just because it’s seen as the more conventional family does that mean it should be worth less? We need to take note on just how far Russia has come over recent years, rather than focusing on how far they have left to go. It was only in 2011 they were fined by the Strasbourg Court for banning 164 Gay Pride events over a two-year span. Whilst technically the Moscow Pride Parade isn’t authorised as it conflicts with the propaganda laws,
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they do still take place. This isn’t ideal, however it does demonstrate that Putin and the Russian authorities are becoming more relaxed and accepting of the events and those in attendance. While none of us will be expecting to see Putin leading a pride parade anytime soon, though that would be incredible, we have to acknowledge and respect how far he’s come. While most of us will refuse to get past the picture the media has painted of Russia in relation to the LGBT community, it hasn’t deterred Putin from stating time and time again, most recently on CBS’s 60 Minutes on September 27th, that they aren’t discriminated or persecuted in anyway.
“I think that a person cannot be criminally or otherwise prosecuted, his or her rights cannot be infringed upon the grounds of nationality, ethnicity or sexual orientation in the modern world. It is absolutely unacceptable. And it is not the case in Russia. If I am not mistaken there was Article 120 in the Penal Code of the former RSFSR that prosecuted homosexuality. We have abolished this provision; people aren’t prosecuted for it anymore.” In a fascinating interview between the Russian President and journalist Charlie Rose we finally hear his standpoint on not only these legislations but also his stance on the Syrian Crisis, the disintegration of the Soviet Union and his pride for his home nation. China has some of the strongest and harshest controls over the media and censorship, but do they get attacked over and over again? No, because it’s such a blanket ban, we wouldn’t know where to start with the complaints. As a nation, we are proud to honour everyone’s individuality and lifestyles. But, has it gone too far, and are people now simply fighting for LGBT rights because it’s the cool thing to do rather than truly believing in it? Everyone that’s vindicating Russia needs to take a closer look at the Russians, and what they want and their viewpoints. We support freedom of speech and opinion; however it is coming across as we only allow and respect it in our own country. If you don’t live in the UK you aren’t entitled to your opinions, especially if they are in disagreement to our own. With 88% of Russians supporting the legislation, is it our place to get involved and create civil unrest in a country that isn’t our own? Look at what the USA and the UK have done to countries like Afghanistan and Libya. Are they safer countries now? Are the people of those countries free? Or did we actually go in and create a mess and then just leave once we’d implemented what we believed was the correct way? In general, to Western-Societies, these laws are a disgrace; but is this simply the latest attempt to attack a country that doesn’t agree with us? If it is as truly outrageous as claimed, where are the campaigners in Eastern Europe and Central Asia that have similar legislations? Oh that’s right, they’re not there… Once again the UK has gone in guns blazing creating a massive issue, where we don’t need to even be involved. It’s not our place to barge in and tell Russia they’re wrong. All that’s going to happen is Russia will break away. The more we fight, they quicker they’ll become Anti-Western. It’s perfectly clear that they aren’t listening to the protests and complaints we’re throwing at them. If they were, would they have given Vitaly Milonov one of the countries highest honours? If they were accepting our anger, would they have awarded one of the minds behind the Anti-Propaganda laws a medal? I don’t think so…
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FAMILY PORTRAIT
Racist Extended Family? There’s Always One. The façade we thought we knew about our peers has crumbled in light of the Syrian crisis. Where there was once some cracks, there are now gaping holes in the veneer of online personas. Pre Facebook renaissance, it was easy to avoid controversial Aunt Cathy’s racist remarks and bigoted Brian’s opinions in verbal communication. Unfortunately the keyboard and screen has given these dodgy racists a siren call for some backstreet Question Time-esque commentary, and Syria is the catalyst.
Weighing in with a well placed “you narrow-minded maniac” is difficult to follow through with a “see you at Christmas.”
With a newsfeed flooded with Britain First activists it can start to feel like you’re the only one in the family with any morals. In the same way you ignore Aunt Jude’s Farmville requests, you also need to turn a blind eye to your family’s vendettas against anyone with a burka or who practices Islam, after all, we can’t choose family. But we can choose whom we unfollow and decline.
It may come as a shock seeing family members who’ve always seemed to be morally sound, to now be spewing hatred to the worlds most vulnerable. Whilst it’s not always clear where this passionate distaste for other cultures comes from, it’s clear that Facebook gives these semi-racists a shield from behind which they can express their otherwise stiff-upper lip hidden feelings. What could be more British?
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At Elephant in The Room we find it easier to keep a light-hearted tone and remind those “send them back” warriors that being White doesn’t automatically make you a good person. Would you rather our “Great” Britain home a few thousand Syrians fleeing a war or see Starbucks pay UK taxes?
“Yea we need to wake up before the UK becomes a 3rd world country and we all live in high rise like battery hens. Britain is FULL!� 12 Aug 2015 at 07.54
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“That little boy died because of Islam and leftist politics. Send them back.� 11 days ago
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“Get the government to build more houses rather than complain about migrants” 12 days ago
“Well said that’s the main issue.” a month ago
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“It’s the indigenous British who should always be the priority, there’s indigenous British people suffering and living homeless on the streets right at this moment. They should be helped first before anyone else.” a month ago
“Excellent point! Many of them speak English so they are not all tribals, but townsfolk and they have money, but they are still Muslim! Some no doubt are terrorists disguising themselves as refugees and some are from countries like Ghana, which has no war whatsoever.” 26 days ago “Here here well put” 18 days ago
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“So go back and fight for your own country you cowards” 29 Sept 2015 at 16.24
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1.5 TRILLION DOLLARS LET’S SHOW THE WORLD FASHION MEANS BUSINESS.
We might not be saving lives or changing the world, but Fashion deserves to be recognised for more than it’s misconceptions. Admittedly, when I began my pursuit for a career in Fashion I entered it a little naive and apprehensive. I aligned the chances of me succeeding to the same as me winning the X Factor. In the same way I am not a singer, I had pent up this idea that in order to get a career in Fashion you had to have model good looks, be the bitchiest girl in your year and have zero common sense. I had typecast the whole of the fashion industry to the characters the media has told me to be true.
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Having immersed myself in the industry for 4 years now, I’m swept up by the possibilities, the industries openness to those who are creative and those who appreciate creativity. While the stereotypes have derived from a pre-historic Fashion industry and can exist in a miniscule amount of professionals, they are widely out-dated. Ever since I began my career in Fashion I have never been embarrassed by my choice. But would I choose to disclose the industry I work in with a group of acquaintances, or the enthusiasm I have for it? Never. Why? Because I know that the only people who hold as much admiration for the industry are those who also work in it. If I was to single handily argue how fashion should be better respected I’d be a mockery. Ultimately, those with jobs that have a tie to the arts are quickly perceived to be “lucky.” Even though there’s an appreciation that this person must have talent and must be hard working to build a career out of their talent, a large part of their success lies in luck. A tag that implies they stumbled into this career and it wasn’t completely their own doing. It’s time to recognise that fashion, as well as the arts, should be taken as seriously as other industries. Whilst we need people to recognise that what might’ve once started as a hobby takes on a whole new meaning when it becomes a professional career. I’m also calling for Fashion to be openly recognised and supported by the UK Government. A detailed survey constructed by Oxford Economics and reported at the House of Commons in 2012 provided a long over due study into the “Value of Fashion”. It found that the industry was worth £21 billion a year to the UK economy and was the second biggest employer. Harold Tillman, the British Fashion Council’s chairman, hopes that the report will give the Government the evidence to invest more in the fashion business: “Fashion is a great British success story and this landmark piece of research underlines its true scope and economic impact. This is just the first step to creating a detailed national action plan for the industry which will help to support its future growth and success.”
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Natalie Massenet, Chairman of the British Fashion Council, announced updated figures showing the ongoing growth in the UK fashion industry. In 2014, fashion contributed £26 billion to the UK economy in 2014, has remained the second largest employer in the UK with 797,000 jobs and is currently worth more to the UK economy than our car industry. With black and white figures highlighting how integral the Fashion industry is to the economy, it’s difficult to understand why fashion isn’t widely regarded as a commercial enterprise. Fashion is commonly noticed for its creative output but it is the business opportunities behind the creative that are widely discredited because of the industry they are in. People outside the realms of fashion don’t understand there are professionals with extraordinary expertise in commerce leading the industry. The UK government needs to notice the possibilities for the economy and education if fashion was better represented and appreciated. The fashion business is developing new jobs at a faster rate than many others. It opens its arms up to those who want to explore their creativity. The fashion business is one of the last remaining professional industries that accept applicants based on their level of passion and desire over academic accomplishments.
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Fashion’s figures are dwarfed in the realms of business because our product falls between a functional object and art. There’s a novelty in promoting something most see as a frivolous extra as apposed to a necessity. I believe I’m marketing a form of art. It doesn’t take someone with no art experience to understand the level of respect held for a painting like The Mona Lisa. If we take The Mona Lisa in its simplest form, it is a canvas, paint and one mans creativity. My argument is that if you take an archived Chanel dress for example, in its simplest form it is material, stitching and one woman’s creativity. For the average person, the fashion business seems over populated by air-kissing eccentrics and hard-partying celebrities to be regarded as a serious career venture. In conversation I notice belittling comments that people don’t realise they’re making. Many Male nurses probably
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understand the tone I’m talking about, it’s as if everyone who works in fashion missed the obvious joke. “I think that what I often see is that people are frightened of fashion and that because they’re scared of it, or it makes them feel insecure they put it down. On the whole, people that say demeaning things about our world. I think that’s usually because they feel in some ways excluded or not part of the cool group. So as a result they just mock it.” Anna Wintour associates the highbrow marketing tactic used by luxury fashion brands to build brand status with why people openly disrespect fashion as a business. On the surface fashion has a very condescending façade and in short, aims to alienate those who don’t fit a certain style of consumer.
As I see it, there’s a humorous juxtaposition between those who are driving these brands and those buying into the brands, and this is where people forget to dissociate the two types of people linked to a luxury fashion brand. Whilst many of us have an in depth understanding and appreciation for the finest materials and the dramatic designs, we’re not the “characters” people perceive us to be. Should we not be credited on how well we’ve built the brands recognition rather than automatically think those working in Fashion also look down on the rest of the world? Is it the term “fashion” which demeans the profession? If you were the Worldwide Marketing Manager for Apple, a business that also thrives on the lure of belonging to an exclusive community, it would be a highly respected position. On the flip side, if you were the Worldwide Marketing Director for Burberry it would probably be greeted with a round of “oohs” and “aahs” as if you worked in a pantomime, a few questions about if you’ve ever met any celebrities or if you love clothes. Those of you that follow fashion news know where I’m leading this. In 2014 Apple poached Angela Ahrendts from Burberry to become one of its executive team members as the Senior Vice President of Retail and Online Stores. If Apple noticed this highly respectable businesswoman, why can’t the rest of society view us as business woman/men?
“ARE WE GLAMORISING OUR MISCONCEPTION TO INCREASE SOCIAL CAPITAL?”
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There’s a common misconception that many people have regarding almost every job that is in some way associated with the arts. Enter a party with a DJ, Photographer and a doctor, the DJ would have requests to get up on the decks and the photographer would be handed a camera to capture everyone else’s night. Whilst these two entertain and capture others entertainment for a career where do we draw the line with demanding creatives to perform for the entertainment of others? Most would agree that cornering the doctor for a check up would be inappropriate. Creatives are perceived to have monetised a past time hobby into a whimsical job that can be called upon by anyone at anytime. Are we glamorising our misconceptions to increase social capital? Sometimes fashion can create it’s own bad representation by romanticising the industry. In a world where our social media presence is tailored to make followers envious of your current situation, it’s easy to cut out the hard graft of fashion business and upload a picture of the store event you attended with champagne in one hand and Kate Moss on the other. By placing our jobs on ever-higher pedestals, we are not only encouraging the disconnection between Fashion and Business, but also appealing the wrong types of people looking to get into the industry for a fun career path. By making Fashion seem like a fluffy industry we’re overcrowding an already competitive market with people who aren’t cut out for the intensity. Can we really ask for others to see us as more than fluffy airheads if this is the image we’re deciding to put across?
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INSULT OR INSIGHT Where do we stop appreciating and instead undermine?
“Cultural appropriation is a sociological concept, which views the adoption or use of elements of one culture by members of a different culture.” However, it’s only spoken about and seen as an issue when it’s a minority being used for inspiration. It has to work both ways. You can’t say it doesn’t apply to ‘white culture’, as that is far too broad. Irish traditions are different to those of Americans and so on. Not every white person is the same.
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It’s spoken about the most in regards to black culture being used for fashion; however we all need to remember it goes much further and includes all cultures. No one had an issue when Christianity started being used in fashion… Is this not same issue; does it not deserve the same level of press and attention? In our modern digital-age, the lines between appreciation and appropriation are getting more and more blurred everyday. On a daily basis we learn how different cultures live due to the Internet. As a worldwide society we have been engaging with these differences for years, which begs the question of is there still a place for appropriation? Or has it become an accepted standpoint that cultures are blurred and take influences from each other? The biggest issue with cultural appropriation is that it’s only ‘true’ for certain cultures. When it happens to the seemingly majority culture it’s not an issue. No one is allowed to be offended because you’re not in a minority therefore your hurt doesn’t mean as much. Take the bindi; it’s typically worn for two reasons. For women to represent they are married, and by Hindus to ward off bad luck. Unsurprisingly, when the bindi started dominating festivals, traditional bindi wearers used social media to teach the meanings behind the bindi and to take back their own culture. These women fighting for the bindi were highly praised. On the reverse of this, how many articles and protests have you seen whilst the cross has been used in design after design? We live in a Christian country, yet no-body seems to object to fashion using the cross as a bold statement. “Disrespecting religion and God has been an extremely chic idea for most of the digital age”. Wearing the cross dilutes the religious symbolism, the same as that California-kid at Coachella wearing the bindi does.
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When you constantly scream for cultural appropriation to be called out, what you might not realise is, you’re actually insulting your audience at the same time. By saying Kylie Jenner, for example, was appropriating black culture, you’re telling your readership that they aren’t intelligent enough to know that cornrows originated within black culture. You’re saying that you understand that they believe white women in Central America created them. So maybe, just maybe, before you call out someone for appropriation, you might take a second to think about your audience. I’m sure no-one means to tell audiences they’re ignorant and unaware of history. The fashion industry has been pushing the idea of crosscultures since fashion began. Decade after decade, designers have been travelling the globe to gain new inspirations and demonstrate just how diverse the world is. Yet recently it seems to have become offensive and inappropriate. While some fashion brands should do more to research into the cultural elements they bring into their collections, are people just looking for something to complain about? I’m not saying cross-cultures are appropriate at all times, I’m well aware of how offensive it can be. Victoria Secret is a prime example of what happens when you don’t check the symbolism and history behind a culture. When they paraded Karlie Kloss down the catwalk wearing a Native American Headdress, the world joined together to state how wrong that was; and that was due to their ignorance. They are a big enough company to have even just one-person research into Native American history.
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On a quick 5-minute search into Native Americans I learnt headdresses were traditionally worn for battle; and in todays society are reserved for elders that have earned the right to wear them. To this day, you wouldn’t see a Native American Woman wearing one; she would be insulting her own culture. While a lot of society has plenty to learn about minorities and cultures around the globe, we are learning about these other cultures. No, it isn’t the ideal way, but we should be happy that people are learning. In a world where cultures are constantly evolving and adopting new ideals, is this not the perfect time to keep learning? This ‘trend’ isn’t going anywhere, anytime soon. WGSN, a trend-forecasting site, predicts it’s only going to grow. For Spring Summer 2017, one of the main trends ‘Encounter Culture’ is about the culmination of cultures layered upon one another. It’s much bigger than just fashion too; it comments on how holiday-makers are wanting to go to even more obscure places on the planet; countries that have only just re-opened their borders to travellers. Appropriation has been called out far too freely over the past few months; as soon as someone sees something they don’t completely agree with, they instantly scream appropriation. How do you know it’s not part of their heritage before you attack them? And actually in today’s society is there even a place for appropriation anymore, or is it just a few individuals looking for the newest thing to complain and campaign against?
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ART STOPPING WAR
Can we finally see a way to end conflict without conflict? “We need to invest in these young people before ISIS does.” Following this Abdulnasser Gharem statement I read just a mere month ago, I got thinking about the impact art can have on people. Especially children. Can we truly alter perceptions by becoming more creative? Look at a number of Middle Eastern countries; the children growing up there now know nothing but religion and war. They’re taught to believe that religion will keep them safe, and wars are started by the West to destroy their faith. Born into war-torn countries, seeing villages being ripped apart by war and they will undoubtedly know friends or family that go off to join the war effort. All in the name of Allah.
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“IF WE STOP ATTACKING THEIR CULTURE AND HISTORY, MAYBE JUST MAYBE THEY’D STOP ATTACKING OURS.”
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Gharem stated, that whilst at school his marks were lowered, as he wasn’t attending Mosque. He was then told the only way to bring them back up would be to attend more sermons. What would happen if some of these Islamic nations were to ease the pressure of religion and instead focus on the pupils and their individuality? Art could be their saving grace. This freedom to express themselves could start to alter the perceptions of what direction their lives have to take. Our ‘youth generation’ gets taught in school to explore their individuality and be proud of who they are. This is something that might have an even greater impact in war-zones. While art traditions in the Middle East are quite rare, they still exist. Rug weaving, for example, has been around since the 4th Century BC. Over the past 40 years the decorations and motifs have drastically changed. Gone are the
landscapes, florals and religious symbolism and have been replaced with tanks, drones and grenades. Thanks to the arrival of art within the war-zones, it is finally being seen as more than propaganda. Gone are the days where the only depictions of war within art were posters encouraging you to join the army at 16. Instead we are seeing ‘Art Lords’ take back villages that have been savaged. Creating murals to take back ownership of their homes and show that the war hasn’t destroyed them. These murals take themes of love, togetherness and healing. We must take note of the art that manages to be created, and see what effect we’ve had on these nations. They are crying out for peace and harmony. Is it time for the West to take a step back and see how much ‘better’ these places are. If we stop attacking their culture and history, maybe just maybe they’d stop attacking ours. All we have done is create a sense of loss and despair across the globe, especially to countries we haven’t ever fully understood. Saudi Arabia, for example, doesn’t have a sense of culture, as we know it. I was shocked to find that cinemas and music concerts are banned and art galleries are a rarity. While it is surprising to learn, that doesn’t give us the right to go in a Westernise it. How can we help these nations if we don’t learn their culture as well as demonstrating our own? This could finally prove art is more than a distraction and hobby but instead is something that can truly help. If more children across the globe are given the time to explore themselves and more opportunities to express themselves this ideal could take off. Who wouldn’t love to see world-wide conflicts end, and is there a better way than to see it done than through art?
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TINDER NUDE OR THE NEXT MICHELANGELO’S DAVID How would you feel if you one day strolled by an art gallery only to see a drawing of yourself in the nude? I would be shocked, but what should we expect when posting it online?
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Artist Francis Waite recently made a public request on Instagram and tinder for naked selfies. Her ad simply stating her mobile number and the message, “Please send me your best nudes so I can draw them while I figure out my next move, xoxo Frankie”. Since doing so she has been supplied with an endless stream of bellies, bums and balls. I can’t say I’ve been one to send a nude to my boyfriend even, never mind a stranger, call me prude but I just think it is common sense. Waite started the project as just a way to pass time, but she seems to have found her inspiration. Some may say it is perverted, other believe it is art, but this is what makes it so controversial. It seems there is no clear definition of what can be classed as art, only the interpretation of the person looking at it. We look at nudes differently when it’s referred to in the context of art.
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“TINDER HAS BEEN USED IN THE NAME OF ART, COULD IT BE THAT THE APP IS BECOMING AN ARTISTS’ FIRST PORT OF CALL FOR NUDE MODELS” Although there is something really interesting and intriguing about her portraits, maybe it’s the use of peoples own self-photography or trying to figure out how to heck they got into that position. But hats off to those of you who have taken part in this series. To feel so comfortable within your own skin to put it out there, bravo. Art has always been linked to sexuality, passion and expression but when you throw the name Tinder in there it somehow to me demeans it, makes me feel dirty and in desperate need of a shower, but that could just be my own personal aversion to nudity. I can’t help feeling that one day in life you will come to regret the decision to post it, once out there it is so final.
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Even snap chat isn’t a safe zone, we all know that one person who can catch an ugly mug shot you send for 1 second, the dreaded screenshot warrior. Let’s face it, whether done in oil paint or chalk, it is still a tinder nude. Do we still find it beautiful or reminiscent of chat roulette on canvas? Although this is not the first time Tinder has been used in the name of art, could it be that the app is becoming an artists’ first port of call for nude models, implying that classifieds had its day. In the case of Anna Gensler, after being inundated with lurid messages to her Tinder inbox she thought it was time to take revenge in artistic form. Gensler began drawing her Tinder trolls naked and posting them to Instagram, exposing their
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objective and explicit messages in a witty form. To be fair to her potential suitors, Gensler did give warning that if they were to send nude photographs that she would draw them. But what a surprise, they were undeterred; in fact, it appeared to spur them on. For those of you who are attempting the world of online dating, it looks pretty clear that you have your work cut out for you. Whether looking for love, sex or your next nude model. Tinder appears a bleak place drowning in a sea of perverts and hermits. Rather than sit all evening swiping left, why not go out into world and meet people in the flesh! Leave the penis drawings in the past, draw some scenery. Fruit is always a safe bet, no one has ever been offended by a drawing of a bowl of fruit.
REFERENCES COVER: ONE HIT TOO FAR EDITORIAL PHOTGRAPHERS: SILVANA TREVALE - SCOTT TAYLOR - KARAN HIRANAMDANI - MICHAEL TOWNSEND MODELS: LOUISE RIANNA - DOMINIC HUCKBODY LOCATION: 156 ARUNDEL ST PG 02: MANCHESTER ART GALLERY AD IMAGE: Courtesy of the artist and The International 3,. (2015). Pat-Flynn-Stacked-cheese-2015. Retrieved from http://www.picturesforpress.co.uk/mangall/pat-flynn-half-life-of-a-miracle/attachment/pat-flynn-stackedcheese-2015/ PG 03: BELEN APP PREVIEW AD IMAGE: DOMINIQUE ASPINALL PG 06: ESCHER MEETS INCEPTION AD IMAGE: DOMINIQUE ASPINALL LOGO: DULWICH PICTURE GALLERY Dulwich Picture Gallery,. ‘Images And Assets’. Dropbox. N.p., 2015. Web. 9 Oct. 2015 PG 07: 2314-C AD IMAGE: DOMINIQUE ASPINALL PG 08-13: IS GOOGLE KILLING A GENERATION AURTHOR: DOMINIQUE ASPINALL IMAGE: DOMINIQUE ASPINALL PG 11: frampton, j. (2015). brands at the speed of life - views - interbrand. interbrand. retrieved 9 october 2015, from http://interbrand.com/views/brands-at-the-speed-of-life/ PG 11: chet bowers, an adjunct professor in the environmental studies department at the university of oregon. bailey, r. (2001). rage against the machines. reason.com. retrieved 8 october 2015, from https://reason.com/ archives/2001/07/01/rage-against-the-machines/1 PG 12 -13: tompkins, d. (2013). how technology has stopped evolution and is destroying the world. the guardian. retrieved 8 october 2015, from http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/technology-stopped-evolutiondestroying-world PG 14-25: ONE HIT TOO FAR AURTHOR: EMILY WATMOUGH PHOTGRAPHERS: SILVANA TREVALE - SCOTT TAYLOR - KARAN HIRANAMDANI - MICHAEL TOWNSEND MODELS: LOUISE RIANNA - DOMINIC HUCKBODY LOCATION: 156 ARUNDEL ST
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PG 26-29: RIGHTS FOR RUSSIA AURTHOR: ELIZABETH FISHER IMAGE: bolognini, s. (2015). https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/file:christopher_street_day_berlin_2012_by_ stefano_bolognini907.jpg. PG 29: President of Russia,. (2015). Interview to American TV channel CBS and PBS. Retrieved 16 October 2015, from http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/transcripts/50380 PG 30-35: FAMILY PORTRAIT AURTHOR: DANIELLE SCOTT PG 36-37: 156 ARUNDEL ST STUDIOS AD IMAGE: MICHAEL TOWNEND PG 38-43: 1.5 TRILLION DOLLARS AURTHOR: DANIELLE SCOTT PHOTGRAPHERS: SCOTT TAYLOR LOCATION: 156 ARUNDEL ST PG 39: Tillman, H. (2010). London Fashion Week - Value of Fashion Report. Londonfashionweek.co.uk. Retrieved 15 October 2015, from http://www.londonfashionweek.co.uk/news_detail.aspx?ID=228 PG 41: The September Issue. (2009). United States. PG 44-53: INSULT OR INSIGHT AURTHOR: ELIZABETH FISHER PHOTOGRAPHER: SCOTT TAYLOR PG 44: Wikipedia,. (2015). Cultural appropriation. Retrieved 19 October 2015, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Cultural_appropriation PG 46: UNWRINKLING,. (2013). My Cross to Wear - Religious imagery in fashion - UNWRINKLING. Retrieved 22 October 2015, from http://unwrinkling.com/my-cross-to-wear/ PG 54-57: ART STOPPING WAR AURTHOR: ELIZABETH FISHER IMAGE: In Transit. (2015). Retrieved from http://edgeofarabia.com/artists/abdulnasser-gharem PG 54: Milner, C. (2015). Can art stop jihad?. the Guardian. Retrieved 10 October 2015, from http://www. theguardian.com/artanddesign/2015/sep/28/can-art-stop-jihad PG 58-61: TINDER NUDE OR THE NEXT MICHELANGELO’S DAVID AURTHOR: EMILY WATMOUGH IMAGE: Sisley, Dominique. ‘This Artist Is Recreating Anonymous Tinder Nudes’. Dazed. N.p., 2015. Web. 13 Oct. 2015 PG 59: Rosenthal, E. (2015). How Anonymous Tinder Nudes Became This Artist’s Muses | The Creators Project. The Creators Project. Retrieved 14 October 2015, from http://thecreatorsproject.vice.com/en_uk/blog/anonymoustinder-nudes-became-this-artists-muses
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