Dhaka Tribune
Thursday, November 6, 2014 Volume 2, Issue 26
Root for groot!
Editor’s note
Status of the week A weekly production of
Dear Readers,
“Tough times never last, tough people do”- Shakib Shah
We really hope you were okay during the countrywide blackout last week. It was crazy! Speaking of crazy, we’ve noticed how every year, the competition gets a little fiercer, the job market a little crazier. The pressure on students has never been more intense. On the upside, the average teen has never had more tools and platforms for self expression at his disposal. Keeping this note of positivity in mind, we’ve got an out of this world issue for you. From a space themed teen room (Teen Room), to tips for building your own baby Groot (DIY), to a full-blown nail art tutorial (Beauty Check), to a Written in the Stars session with a choreographer, we have so much going on in TMAG this week. And do join us on Hot Topic for a discussion on fuelling the fires of creativity, and don’t forget to tell us on Facebook what you thought. Have a great week!
DhakaTribune Editor Zafar Sobhan Executive Editor Shahriar Karim Managing Editor Jahangir Hyder
Quote of the week
Meme of the week
“My teenage years were exactly what they were supposed to be. Everybody has their own path. It’s laid out for you. It’s just up to you to walk it” -Justin Timberlake
Magazine Editor Sabrina Fatma Ahmad Asst Magazine Editor Natasha Rahman TMAG Team Tahsin Momin Fuad M Hossain Saudia Afrin Baizid Haque Joarder Rad Sharar Raisa Rahim Shah Nahian Contributors ASM Foysal Nasif Chowdhury Shah Naveed Choudhury Nusrat Naushin
More inside Picks Of the week 2 Room of the week Tarannum Mahmood Nini 3 Doodle of the week Nuzhat Minhaz 10 Spotlight Sparks 10 The goodsheet Vaporize Your world 5 Car From Italy, with power 9 Non-fiction Hide and Seek 9 Comic Strip Nasif Chowdhury 9 Book Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy Horoscopes 5 Your forecast
Real Life 3 Event Tweets 6 Hot topic Tap into that talent Fashion 4 Beauty check Ombre in 5 4 Look of the week Tahsina Zaman TMAG says 2 Your room It’s all about the ‘space’ 2 DIY Baby Groot 10 Playlist Music to cultivate creativity 11 TV Rick and Morty 11 Game Civilisation V 11 Movie Guardians of the Galaxy
Cheers, From the TMAG desk
Graphics Mohammed Mahbub Alam Tahsin Momin Colour Specialist Shekhar Mondal Production Masum Billah Advertising Shahidan Khurshed Circulation Masud Kabir Pavel
5 Car talk From Italy, with power
8 Written in the stars
Mashrur Rahman
Email: tmag.dt@dhakatribune.com Website: www.dhakatribune.com
About the cover Root for groot! Art work Saudia Afrin Photo Saudia Afrin Editing Alamgir Hossain
3 TMAG’s Easel Nuzhat Minhaz
4 Look of the week Tahsina Zaman
TM AG Th u rsDAY, N ove mb e r 6, 20 1 4
2
tmag
Your Life Courtesy
TMAG’s Room of the week!
Funk up your room
It’s all about ‘Space’ Tired of boring white walls and the same old decor? Give your bedroom the attention it deserves by adopting an “out of this world” style. TMAG is here to help you execute that
Warm and cozy “Her bedroom sets a perfect example of how one’s personal comfort zone should be decorated. The warm colours on the walls, curtains and bed with the little details like the checkered blanket, shadow wallpaper and the purple basket creates a euphoric air around the corners”
Name
Tarannum Mahmood Nini Area
Gulshan
DIY
Saudia Afrin
Baby Groot Things you need • A beige coloured sock • Tissue paper • Jute rope • A needle • Black thread • A pair of wooden buttons Steps 1. Roll tissue papers into the shape of a ball. Push the ball through the open end of the sock. Keep going until the ball reaches the tip of the sock and tie a knot right underneath the ball to secure it in place. Now, push this knotted end back through the open end of the sock, similar to how you would turn a sock inside out. 2. Tie another knot right underneath the sock. This knot will play the role of Groot’s neck. 3. Now, choose a side of the ball
TM AG th u rsDAY, Nove m b e r 6 , 201 4
4.
5.
you want to be Groot’s face. After that get some rope and tie a knot around the neckline. However, make sure that the knot itself isn’t visible on the side with the eyes and mouth. To make his tree-like body, we need to wrap the rope around the sock. However, while you are at it leave a little space without rope to attach arms. Now, attach bits of rope to the main body for the arms. Braid
6.
7.
that piece of rope until you achieve the desired length and tie a few knots there. Do this on both arms and they will form Groot’s hands. Cut off a few pieces of rope, about one inch in length and sew them on Groot’s head to form his hair. For the eyes, sew the buttons in place. Lastly, use the black thread to sew a smiley on Groot’s face. Saudia Afrin
Doorway to your galaxy First impressions are everything, so start by turning your door into a portal. Paint your door with a dark shade of blue and stick small glow-in-the-dark stars to represent the galaxy. Another option is to create small dot-like stars with white paint all over your door and attach silver sequin to add a starry effect. Floating planets Hang home-made planets in one corner of your room to give a create the feeling that you’re floating in space. To make planets, paint medium sized light balls with the appropriate colours to turn them into your chosen planets. Attach a light colourful thread on the ceiling with a tape and hang the planets sequentially. A little galaxy Small details are everything. You can dress your pillows with space themed covers and also flaunt a matching duvet with it. Small rice lights lining your bed’s head-board can give an extra-terrestrial glow to your room. If you have a study table, give it a touch of fiction with alien action figures. Lastly, to finish the decor, get a portable disco light to funk up your personal “space.” Nadia Abdullah
tmag
Schoologistics
3
School Survival
Homework: a heartbreak remedy On a hot scorching day, you run to get your favourite ice cream. Before you can bite into this goodness, it falls flat on the ground; that my friend is heartbreak. Let TMAG walk you through fun ways you can do your homework with a broken heart
TMAG’s easel
Event Tweet
Registration Starts
The world is my oyster Nuzhat Minhaz
If you are a classroom doodler, email your doodle to tmag.dt@dhakatribune.com and see it in our weekly!
Like every other year Dhaka University Model United Nations Association is going to organise the largest Model United Nations (MUN) conference of the country from December 21-24 of the year. The registration process for the Dhaka University National Model United Nations (DUNMUN) commenced on November 2 and will continue till November 15. To collect more applications from inside the country two booths have been installed in front of the Teachers and Students Centre of the University of Dhaka. MUN conference, an educational simulation and academic competition. teaches students about diplomacy, international relations, and the UN. This year DUNMUN authority is expecting 500 delegates. 290 delegates from at least 10 countries have been selected after screening the online applications till date. IEEE Tech Fiesta November 6, 9am Venue Department of EEE, BUET
5 Days workshop on 3D Modeling and Animation with BLENDER November 7 Venue Independent University of Bangladesh Extreme Championship Cup November 7, 8am Venue Lalmatia Block-D B DOHS Super Cup November 7, 8am Venue Baridhara DOHS Open Mix at TFM November 7-8, Venue The Farmers’ Market, 76/2, Road 127, Gulshan 1 Hunger Action November 7-8, Venue Durnibar Foundation, University of East London (UEL) Spot Admission November 8, 10am Venue British Council Bangladesh, British Council Josephite Language and Reading Club Language Festival November 8, 8:30am Venue St. Joseph Higher Secondary School and College, Mohammadpur
TM AG Th u rsDAY, N ove mb e r 6, 20 1 4
bigstock
4 tmag
FASHION FACE-OFF
Look of the week Beauty Check
Ombre in 5
Easy breezy
Things you will need •
• • •
For the base and top coat two nail shades of the same colour (You can use more colours if you want) One sponge Nail polish remover and a cotton bud White nail polish (optional)
Process
“Jumpsuits are trending these days and it’s always safe to wear them in bold colours like the one she is wearing. Paired simply with a brown belt and nude-pink lips, this look is both fresh and trendy”
Step 1 Apply base coat (it protects your nails from any harmful chemicals in the nail polish). Step 2 Use the corner of the sponge to paint two horizontal streaks each with the shades you chose. The top streak will be a lighter shade and the bottom streak will be the darker shade (to create that ombre effect). Step 3 Now pat and dab the sponge slightly in an up and down motion. Repeat this patting process three to four times or do it until you get the ombre look. Note that it will look messy right about now.
Model Tahsina Zaman Photo Courtesy
Step 4 Clean the sides of your nails with the nail polish remover and apply the top coat to set it in. This step is optional. You can also use white nail polish as a base. It will bring out the colours better. Tarannum Mahmood Nini
Wardrobe Check
Winter-do Gone are the days when it was only the female population pondering about their next hairdo. Guys, too have evolved from the idea of having just a “practical” hairstyle and onto the stage where they experiment with length and volume. And here is TMAG with a few suggestions that you might want to keep in mind when walking into the barber shop this winter With the lack of humidity this season, it is somewhat easier to pull off that trendy hairstyle you’ve been wanting to get for so long. The popular style this season is to have short hair along the back and sides with varying lengths on the top. This cut can be worn in many different ways and goes well with almost every face shape, if done carefully. Imagine your hair has three different parts, the top, the back and the sides. Ask your barber to use a clipper, preferably a size one, beneath the curve
TM AG th u rsDAY, Nove m b e r 6 , 201 4
of the head and the lower sides. Size one will expose your skin and if you do not prefer that, tell him to use sizes two or three. After he’s done trimming the lower parts, tell him to fade the length in the areas that connect all the three areas. For example, if you are using size one in the lower parts, fading it with the top part would mean your hair-dresser should use sizes two and three in that region. For the top part of your hair, you can go nuts. This is that part where you can
play with different lengths and volumes which would make your hairdo stand out in a crowd. Parting your hair on the side with medium length will never fail to give off the “slick” look. Highlights can be an option but make sure it is minimal in nature and is closer to your natural shade. Nothing too crazy, please. That being said, make sure you take care of your hair against the dust, irrespective of what hairdo you are pulling off. Baizid Haque Joarder
www.fashionbeans.com
tmag 5
Street
Celtic tree
Car Talk
horoscope Alder The Trailblazer (March 18 - April 14)
Your personality represents moral and physical courage that should be invoked when you need to make a bold move in life. Willow The Observer (April 15 - May 12)
You are known for your vivid imagination. With your intelligence comes a natural ability to retain knowledge and you often impress your company.
y, l Ita er m ow o Frth p i w Here it is, a 30 year old Fiat 500 with extended rear end, no back seats and luggage compartment, and front seats that looks like they’ve been made for someone whose legs have been amputated. However, all that was done to house a 580HP V12 that can be found on a lamborghini Murcielago. This car then, is outrageous but the execution was flawless and the motive is nothing short of brilliant. To try and make sense of it all, we shall deal with those points in that order. The first point being completely justified by the fact that this is a Lamborghini Murcielago. That’s right, a proper, genuine, eyeball-wrenching super car from a thoroughbred Italian manufacturer. Apart from some handmade sheetmetal bodywork that barely covers the 6.2-litre V12 engine, this is actually a Lamborghini. With 580HP nonetheless!
Hawthorn The Illusionist (May 13 - June 9)
You are thoughtful and hopeful. Even the worst of events don’t get to you, providing you with optimism and keeping you from jumping the gun. Oak The Stabiliser (June 10 - July 7)
If you put enough monkeys in a room full of paint, eventually they’ll come up with the complete works of Pablo Picasso. And if you put that many Fiat 500s and Lamborghini Murciélagos on the streets, someone will eventually make them one
What sort of madmen would give birth to such a thing? It’s been built by the chaps at Oemmedi Mechanics, a general maintenance and restoration workshop; located in the Italian city of Acquapendente in Lazio. The shop is owned by 55-year-old, Gianfranco Dini and his son Leonardo. The duo is renowned for customising Fiat 500 and not just once. They’ve already built a 500 with a Ferrari 3.0-litre V8 and another equipped with a Porsche engine. The Fiat 500 has been a part of the Italian history and their family traditions for over six decades. The original Fiat 500 was a cute and frisky car which takes you where you need to go and is always easy to park. But this car, however, is a whole new ball-game all together. This tiny cute automobile has been successfully
transformed into a beautiful stylish vehicle of great power, that is capable of reaching speeds upto of 330 km/h, making it faster than a formula one car. And it will accelerate from 0-100 km/h in just under 3.5 seconds. Aside from the 6.2-litre engine, the new Fiat 500 also adopted the Murcielago’s transmission, brakes, and 18-inch wheels that required custom made new wings and wheel arches. The entire process of creating the Fiat 500 Lambo took over 3,000 man hours. The 500 has always been synonymous with Italy and it’s not that difficult to see why it captured so many hearts during its production run. Even though the car in question is 30 years old and has a beefed up rear end, we reckon it still looks better than Kim Kardashian’s rear end. Tahsin Momin
You are protective and often become a champion for those who do not have a voice. Holly The Ruler (July 8 - Aug. 4)
You are celebrated for your physical strength and brilliance. You have a regal status. Noble, and high-minded you can easily take on positions of leadership and power. Hazel The Knower (Aug. 5 - Sept. 1)
You are prized for your intellect, maturity and perspective. You know your facts, and you are always well informed. This sometimes makes you appear like a knowit-all to others, but you can’t help that. Vine The Equaliser (Sept 2 - Sept 29)
You carry the strength of foresight. You can be full of contradictions, and are often indecisive. It is hard for you to pick sides because you can see the good points on each end. Ivy The Survivor (Sept. 30 - Oct. 27)
You are famous for your sheer determination and willpower. Your most prized is your ability to overcome all odds. You cling to a deep-rooted faith that typically sees you through adversity. Reed The Inquisitor (Oct. 28 - Nov. 24)
You are notable for your open-minded attitude and worldly sophistication. You are a secret keeper. You dig to discover the truth hidden beneath layers of distraction. Elder The Seeker (Nov. 25 - Dec. 23)
You tend to be freedom-loving, and sometimes appear to be a bit wild. In younger years you may have lived life in the fast lane, often identified as a “thrill seeker.” Birch The Achiever (Dec. 24 - Jan. 20)
You are renowned for having a fresh and unusual outlook on life. Your aura symbolises beginnings, change, and fresh opportunities, and is therefore quite useful in times of transition. Rowan The Thinker (Jan. 21 - Feb. 17)
You are likely a keen-minded visionary, with creative ideas which sometimes keeps you aloof when interacting with others. Ash The Enchanter (Feb. 18 - March 17)
Your persona represents escape and peaceful solitude. You are a free-thinker and you see the world in water-colour purity. You rarely place value on what others think about you.
TM AG Th u rsDAY, N ove mb e r 6, 20 1 4
6
tmag
Tap into that talent With a glut of business majors graduating every year, the job market continues to get more competitive. Those in the sciences have to vie for very limited positions, and the arts? Well, let’s just say that there are miles to go before that old stereotype of the starving artist is fully dispensed with. So what gives you an edge when you’re about to step into the professional world? You have to get creative. But what does it mean to be “creative.” TMAG explores that question
Nurture the talented Fuad M Hossain
A deeply instilled belief among most Bangladeshis is that good academic achievement is the key to a happy and successful life. And these beliefs come from our elder generations, ergo our parents and in some cases grandparents.. Their reasons being, a good education, in their eyes, is the only option to leading a happy and successful life. As a result, most parents tend to advise against creativity in favour of the tried and true. Teens today are exposed to all sorts of creative activities, via the radio, television and the Internet. It goes without saying that these factors influence their belief systems. Thus, as times change, in an attempt to adapt, conflicts between the old and young arise. These conflicts are clash of contradicting belief systems and a change in time, which leads to an unintentional generation gap. Though times are changing albeit slowly, there are a few things that can be considered when it comes to fostering creativity in children. According to Dr Paula Olszewski-Kubilius, president of the National Association for Gifted students and professor at Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, research shows that families can play a positive role in developing talent. However, she states that the literature is also suggestive of how different family dynamics yield different outcomes. This is because children’s motivations to achieve or produce are heavily reliant on family attitudes, behaviours and parenting styles. She says: “Creatively gifted
TM AG th u rsDAY, Nove m b e r 6 , 201 4
children are found to have families that stress independence, rather than interdependence, between family members; are less child-centered; have somewhat tense family relationships (ones with “wobble”); and have more expressions of negative affect and competition between family members, resulting in motivation toward power and dominance (Albert, 1978, 1983). High scholastic achievers come from families that are cohesive and childcentered and where parent-child identification is strong, it results in high levels of achievement motivation (Albert).” Based on the above, it would be safe to suggest families to promote independence. This however doesn’t mean to give them free reign, but providing them an environment to be creative in yet at the same time, experience the successes and failures of their decisions. What else can be done? Well, Dr Paula answers once again: “The answer lies in the realisation that the effect of the family is complex and multifaceted. Different mixtures of family variables may, in fact, yield different outcomes for children that are more or less supportive of creativity, scholastic achievement, talent development, and general mental health.” What does that tell us? It tells us that at the end of the day it is up to the individual families. How families foster creativity within their children is a much broader topic and that there are more than one factors at play.
Out of the Box Nusrat Naushin
It used to be that logistic issues held back many artists and performers from getting their work out there. Then came Youtube and levelled the playing field. Now any kid with a camera and decent Internet speed can showcase his or her talents for the world to see. Several careers have been launched in the process. Let’s look at some Bangladeshi Tubers who made waves. At BhaiBrothers LTD entertainment is taken pretty seriously with at least one upload per week. You’ll be hard pressed to find this level of consistency elsewhere in Bangladesh. On camera though, Rakin and Asif say bye-bye to seriousness and are all about the jokes. They’ll crack you up in their commentaries where they verbally harass (playfully of course!) pretty much everyone - no survivors! And sure, Rakin gets some hate for his hairdos and style of speaking but any publicity is good publicity, right? If you’re looking for genius inspiration then look up Mashfique Anwar. This guy doesn’t have a long list of videos to offer you but he does weave magic on a guitar. If you’re there, make sure you listen to his acoustic version of Somebody I Used To Know. The writer found herself playing this on repeat while writing this article. Youtube is awesome for sharing tips and pointers and many ladies will agree that makeup tutorials are the site’s most helpful aspect. Enter Tansia Ayon. If you’re looking for a truly professional makeup tutorial channel then this is the place to go. Her videos are easy
to understand and her idea to play the audio commentary in the background is a stroke of genius. “Makeup magic with Nuz” is also handy when it comes to makeup advice and this one is perfect for those of you who are not so good with the Bangla. “Nuz” provides seamless commentary in English and fast forwards her videos which saves quite some time as well. Her themes are helpful too with videos helping you to prepare for special occasions and different seasons. For a change from the usual vloggers, head over to “The Bengali Filmmakers” for beautiful and inspiring videos straight out of the daily livelihood of Bengalis. This channel represents a group of young filmmakers from Dhaka and One should agree that their ideas are unique. Given their attention to detail and brilliant cinematography, it’s no wonder they won an Honorary Mention at the Inter University Short Film Festival 2013. What this generation loves about the platform is that they grew up with it; it feels like it belongs to them. They make the videos, unmediated by grown-ups, and put them out into the world where they are free for the vast community to appreciate. The films may be inconsistent, sometimes shambolic, but that – and here there are echoes of the punk movement – is a huge part of their appeal. Now, teenagers are more enamored with YouTube stars than the biggest celebrities in film, TV and music, and the transition into digifest generation is soon about to happen in Bangladesh.
HOT TOPIC
7
Talking creativity Natasha Rahman
1.What does creativity mean to you? Istela - I enjoy creating things that makes the crowd sit back and reel over it for a moment. Back in university, I took the opportunity of “absolute freedom” on my thesis project. We were given a choice between a commercial project and a “progressive” one and it struck me. If I were to spend most of my life following my clients’ briefs, I might as well do something I’m wholeheartedly passionate about. Hence I did a series of experimental illustrations visualising five different songs from Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon” album. While I had to follow some music and art theory, I think that project challenged me and made me more creatively aware. Nuhash - A lot. It’s the drive to make things, the fun of doing something new or finding a new way of doing something old. There’s no easy way to define it. 2. How important it is for parents to support your passion to pursue an unconventional line of work ? Istela - Before making the decision to study design, my parents’ biggest concern was whether or not I would be making enough money in the long run. Lucky for me, I’ve been blessed with amazing parents who supported me and also taken pride in what I do. So, that’s a win win for me. Nuhash - My creative writing teacher told my mother once, when I was in seventh grade, that my work shows a lot of potential. I was very smug about this for a while but my mother looked disappointed. She said, “Nuhash, you’re my son. I know you have potential, I’ve always known. I don’t need some teacher of yours to come tell me you’re capable of something great, I want to see you achieve it.” I’m still unsure of what so called potential one might have but what my mother said is very important to me and how I work. Potential in itself is never enough.
3. What are you currently working on/ or have previously worked on? Share with us an interesting experience you have had. Istela - I’m currently working in the field of graphic design/illustration with my partner, Katerina Don, and we have decided to call ourselves JOT (as we untangle the creative knots haha). One experience that I’d like to share is when we decided to make a Valentine gram in collaboration with North End. It was new and experimental. We created two small box greetings as packaging for a valentine’s special “chocolate chunk cheesecake muffin.” The inside of the box read, “You are cute as a Muffin” and the other one read, “Hey.... Stud Muffin.” I remember cursing the project the night before, when we were folding hundreds of boxes through the night. The next day, we found out that someone proposed with the muffin box. That feeling of joy was worth all those sleepless nights. Nuhash - I’m working on some film projects and illustrating a very different kind of children’s book at the moment. It’s a book of poems and the author is 10 years old so it’s not old people pretending to write like kids- it’s raw creative energy. Also, I’m travelling to London in November for a workshop called “You Are Your Art: Identities through Cartoons” which is exciting too, I’m conducting it with Syed Rashad Imam Tanmoy. 4. Usually parents are always striving to lead their kids into professions that will keep them financially stable. Is it lucrative for teenagers nowadays to pursue their creative talents, such as graphic design, nail art, dance etc? Give us an example of how it has been for you so far. Istela - I think it’s most important to do what you love. But definitely, the creative field suffers a little in terms of being recognised as being a financially stable option. While our international projects seem more responsive to good design work, the local market always tries to seek out
cheaper, unoriginal options. I’ve had people who would demand a logo to be produced in an hour under a ridiculously low budget. This shows their lack of knowledge and I think it stands as a challenge to educate people about the importance of good branding or a good design. Nuhash - Financial stability isn’t what it used to be. These days you can graduate with a degree in medicine, engineering or even business and still have a very hard time getting a great job. Truth is, no matter what you pursue your path to success will be paved with mistakes, regrets and failures. So why be miserable pursuing a path you’re not passionately invested in? I don’t know what line of work I’ll end up doing but it definitely won’t be guided by what’s the safest financial option. 5. Is the mindset towards unconventional work changing now? Any message to teenagers and parents? Istela - It’s slow, but yes, thankfully there is a crowd out there that value good design and originality. I think the more we pursue these unconventional career choices, the more we would be able to create a market and eventually a bigger demand for this line of work. Nuhash - I would say the only mindset that matters is our own. The trick is to take what you’re doing seriously, whether it’s conventional or not. Whether it’s your parents, your friends or your peers, no one is going to respect your choices until you start respecting them yourself. Dedication and hard work can make the distinction between a goofy creative hobby and an actual successful, creative line of work.
Istel
a Im
Nuh
ash
am,
Hum
Grap
hics
ayun
desig
, Gra
phic
ner/i
artist
llustr
ator
bigstock
TM AG Th u rsDAY, N ove mb e r 6, 20 1 4
8 tmag
written in the Stars
A dancing shooting star As an artist, that is what I strive for. Gifting the world something new, bold and exciting
From Dallas to Dhaka, Mashrur Rahman, a modern contemporary dancer having minored in Arts and Performance at the University of Texas, Dallas, sways the hearts of many with his fluid dance. Natasha Rahman watches in astonishment as he glides, sways, and thrills his way into our hearts Photos Courtesy
We wondered how the fascination with dancing started off. “For an art class, I once had to attend a modern dance show and write a college paper on it. I noticed how the performers were channelling deep emotions, beautiful techniques and an electric energy on stage. I’ve never seen anything quite like it before.” Intrigued, he instantly took up a modern dance class and there was no looking back from there. Helping out in the dance clubs, Mashrur had a swell time interacting with new dancers. “Teaching new dancers is actually fun, nerves isn’t an issue. You take shy, new people, and show them modern dance basics, and gradually but inevitably, they become comfortable and surprised by their dancing abilities.” Learning different genres of dance broadens one’s horizons and it becomes easier to appreciate the difference in various cultures. Mashrur feels he can understand a culture much better from its dance form. He says: “There is beauty in everything and I have learnt to love each culture with an open mind. Eastern classical dance is very ‘hand and expression’ based, and there’s not much touching involved. Western classical dance is very body oriented and has frequent body interactions. Mexican dances are rhythmic, while African dances are very tribal and ritualistic. Different countries in the world use their bodies differently to express their joys and emotions.” Bangladesh has a very closed view when it comes to pursuing “out of the box” professions. Imagine a guy telling his parents that he aspires to be a dancer like Michael Jackson; that would be the end of the world for his
TM AG th u rsDAY, Nove m b e r 6 , 201 4
parents. Mashrur chuckles: “You’d be surprised by the number of guys in dance companies in America. It’s an open country and gender really isn’t an issue. But living as a professional dancer is not easy. Most of the experienced dancers sacrifice a lot in their lives, carry multiple jobs or live by the paycheck. The only thing that keeps them going is their passion and love for the art medium. Considering the peer pressure and social stigmas, I don’t think guys in Bangladesh can handle that reality.” Now in Bangladesh, Mashrur is currently working with the famous Bangladeshi theatre company, Prachyanat, and he reflects back on his performances in Dallas. He states: “Shows in Prachyanat have dance as a part of a segment. My job was to create choreography that could integrate acting and dancing together. The result was unique and the audience loved it. In Dallas, I primarily work with dance companies with an entirely American audience, hence the shows are drastically different. The Western style I was brought up on is different from the Bangladeshi culture, so my artistic home lies in Dallas.” Being a part of such a prestigious theatrical company, we wonder how many prizes and awards he has under his belt. His humble answer was a refreshing breather: “In America, there is a whole different segment called competition dancing, which gives out awards. However, I’m involved with performance companies which are ticket selling shows. So I’ve been well reviewed by critics, but awards aren’t really involved here. Getting to dance is the prize.” n
Tell us one funny experience from the time you were learning/teaching dance. I once did a show and our dance company had just me and 20 girls. Naturally the rehearsal conversations only contained topics of nail-polish, hairstyle, make-up, boyfriends. teddy bears, and coloured socks. I didn’t understand a thing, it’s an alien world. It was a tough couple of months. Which dancers inspire you and why? I love the dancers from Momix, Pilobolus and Lili Cai dance companies. They’re always
creating something new, visually exciting, and pushing the boundaries of art. Did anything spontaneous lately? Yeah, last night I wrote a couple of poems, I enjoy free writing. Dance performance that made you emotional and why? My last performance as a university student. Because it closed a chapter in my carefree life. What’s your guilty pleasure? Chocolates and ice cream. That’s my secret to happiness.
tmag 9
book
bigstock
YOU WRITE IT
fiction
Galactic endeavours
Angelic In a nutshell, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is about weird stuff happening to a Arthur Dent, a regular Earth-person. But when you read into it, the real joy is in the weird stuff; and there’s so much of it that we can’t even capture it all. When Arthur wakes up one fine Thursday in a grumpy state, he wasn’t prepared the slightest for what was coming. Earth as he knows it was about to be destroyed and if not for his alien friend, Ford Prefect, he would have gone down with the mother ship as well. Hence, the adventure begins as these two friends find themselves travelling across the galaxy; meeting new people; and being led to their final destination, Magrathea, by a “paranoid android.” It is here the climax peaks and the reader’s literary intellect is taken to the edge. Douglas Adams is undeniably
hilarious throughout with his writing and this first volume of a five-book compendium has plenty of genuine British humour (the kind BBC serves up with its hit TV series). The plot spreads thin pretty fast but converges wonderfully near the end and his characters - Arthur being an ideal Englishman always longing for tea and Marvin being hilarious - will definitely make you snicker with joy. Adams provides the perfect amount and taste of mathematical and technological narratives making this book a sublime mix of comedy, sci-fi and just plain good story-telling. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is a very vivid intergalactic adventure. If you enjoy comedy and sci-fi then this fusion should definitely be on your reading list. Nusrat Naushin
The piano’s haunting melody blended in the already satanic air around her. Nothing made sense yet everything made sense. The hardest question had the simplest answer. Why? She refused to give up her innocence, to a man she thought loved her. Cain watched Amaya gain solace by hiding away in her heart, not knowing how much it damaged him instead. He had a strange flashback. “It was three in the morning and the sound of a car screeching into what was his front lawn had Cain awake in seconds. He donned a robe and raced down the stairs, opened his door, to have Amaya fall into his arms, drenched from rain and liquor. She was speaking at a mile a minute, yet every word had been a foresight. Cain knew that it would have happened.” “I am not lovable.” That was all that was written in her new journal. Six years
and scars remained. Cain watched the young celebrity author keep her bright facade up, at the expense of her heart. There was nothing left. Cain knew better than to voice his, but it was just too difficult. He’d thought he’d lost her when she gave her heart to another, but it was nothing as painful compared to this. This …cold … oblivion… it tore him to shreds. They say there is nothing more painful than losing a loved one. It was wrong. Losing someone close to their own soul hurts in ways that even death could not heal. Amaya merely looked up at him and spoke, “We have a dinner with my publisher at eight. We’ll be late.” He watched her disappear up the stairs. Amaya still held beauty to eyes, but not her soul. Cain cursed the cruel ingrate who caused all this. Somewhere in the world, a cruel ingrate sneezed. Ameera Rahaman
Comic strip
TM AG Th u rsDAY, N ove mb e r 6, 20 1 4
10 tmag Goodsheet
stereo
spotlight
Vaporize Broken Bells Intro: Am, Em, D - C, F - G Am Em What amounts to a dream anymore? D-C F-G A crude device, a veil on our eyes Am Em A simple plan we’d be different from the rest D-C F-G And never resign to a typical life Am Em Common fears start to multiply D-C F-G We realize we’re paralysed Am Em Where’d it go, all that precious time? D-C F-G Did we even try, to stem the tide? D Am Why should we waste it on C F-G Buying into the same old lies? D Am The longer we wait around C F-G The faster the years go by Em D It’s not too late F G To feel a little more alive Em D Make our escape F G Before we start to vaporize
TOP
10
Music to cultivate creativity
1. Silence in Everywhere Euphoria 2. The Night Country Natural Snow Buildings 3. Turquoise Hexagon Sun Boards of Canada 4. She Just Likes to Fight Four Tet
Sparks Working on an album that took three years to make, Imogen Heap has finally returned earlier this year with her fourth studio album, Sparks Travelling around the world and collaborating with friends and fans on various projects, Sparks is by far her most adventurous album till date. The idea behind the concept is remarkably ambitious. Every track has a back story along with a music video and a documentary of the song or the project. Heap stitched together a series of high concept experiments, avantgarde experiences and pushed the borders of music technology, advancing the creative world. With her track record of innovating music, Heap sets her own bar high. However, with Sparks, on successive
listens, it’s difficult not to be impressed by the results. From the start to finish, there is a certain amount of silkiness to her music that makes the tracks feel smooth and easy to get into. However, with so many elements hidden within each track, it is difficult to absorb everything in the first go. With almost every listen you end up discovering new bits and pieces to the song. Repeat exposure is both necessary and ultimately rewarding. Unlike Heap’s previous albums, where individual songs stand out, Sparks work far more on creating attachment. You might not find another
single that stands out like “Hide and Seek” or “Just for Now”; but the hook of this concept album is the journey you take with it. The album is best experienced when listened to as a whole rather than singling out tracks. However, only after you’re willing to sit through the entire experience can you find a share of singles that you’d want to treasure for an iPod or “on the go” playlist. For fans of pop, indie and electronic music, this is definitely an album worth checking out. Shah Nahian
5. Mirror Burial, Four Tet and Thom Yorke 6. Feeling Good (Nicolas Jaar edit) Nina Simone 7. Hedphelym Aphex Twin 8. I’m Sleeping Under the Dead Tree Films 9. One Swan Swim Tenniscoats 10. Before and Afterlife Arve Henriksen and David Sylvian
TM AG th u rsDAY, Nove m b e r 6 , 201 4
Memorable Tracks • • • •
The Listening Chair Climb to Sakteng Propeller Seeds Neglected Space
tmag 11
PLAYROOM
WE RECOMMEND Toy
Root for Groot! The most memorable character unveiled at the 2013 comic-con panels undoubtedly was Groot. A humanoid tree creature from Taluhnia, featured in the 2014 Marvel movie, Guardians of the Galaxy, has left a favourable impression on people of all ages. His trademark catchphrase, “I am Groot!” can be heard on the lips of millions who have had the pleasure of watching the film. With a fan favourite character, comes a whole lineage of toys and action-figures. The fans want what they want and “FunKo” is more than happy to fulfill their demands with the new Groot bobble-head toy. This supremely endearing, almost four inches tall, bobble-head will brighten your day at a
moment’s notice. All it takes is a tipping its oversized head and you’d be grinning from ear to ear. One of the cheapest of all Groot merchandises, the bobblehead mini Groot would be ideal for your desk or bedside table. However, the cartoon-like bobblehead toy might not tickle everyone’s fancy. All it seems capable of doing is wobbling its head, no hand gestures no speaking out loud. If you are looking for something a little less doe eyed and wobbly and more along the likeness of a perfect replica, you’d have to wait for “Hot Toys” to release their 6:1 scaled down action figure which won’t be setting foot in the market until the middle of next year. ASM FOYSAL
game
Be civilised Sid Meier’s Beyond Earth is the successor to Civilization 5, part of the massively popular turn based strategy Civ series. The new Civ lacks the historical perspective of the older series and lets you control races of people that are completely new, with a familiar list of racial advantages and disadvantages. However, with the races now being made up ones instead of familiar ones, there’s a certain bit of guesswork involved when selecting races that you only eliminate with multiple playthroughs. On top of the usual Civilization platforms of “land, sea and air,” we now also have an orbital element, where you may send satellites, weather controllers, solar arrays and orbital weapons into the sky, which adds another level of complexity to
a game already famous for being more complex than a typical UN meeting. You can achieve your goal of world domination by diplomacy, trade, or this writer’s personal favourite, laser beams. The number of units have been greatly bolstered, but the variance feels only aesthetic, and the units feel a lot like your basic pieces from Civilization 5. The soundtrack is amazing, and the story gets a lot more focus than previous Civilization games, possibly due to the fact that it’s the future and we have no “historical context.” If you’ve never played a Civilization game, Beyond Earth is absolutely worth a buy. However, if you’re already a fan of the series it might be a slightly tougher sell: The level of polish you’ve come to expect from previous Civ games is not there yet, and we certainly need a patch
or two before the player base really takes off. Beyond Earth plays a great deal like Civ5, and you have to choose whether you are willing to give up the context and familiarity for a new setting, go grab this off the shelves. Shah Naveed Choudhury
tv
It’s in the genes At the very first glance the animated series Rick and Morty feels like a spin off animated show of the popular “Back to the Future” movies. However, under closer inspection, you’ll notice that the relationship between the two primary characters, Rick and Morty, is a rather fun and twisted parody of the relationship between Doc Brown and Marty McFly with a flare that can vaguely be compared to animated shows such as Futurama, Family Guy and The Simpsons. Released on Adult Swim, an American cable network that shares channel space with Cartoon Network, the heart of the series revolves around the adventures of an alcoholic super scientist Rick and his easily influenced geeky grandson,
Morty. Rick, with a knack to push the boundaries of science, is somewhat mentally unstable and his sociopathic tendencies lead him to take dangerous, outlandish adventures throughout the cosmos and alternate universes. Morty, Rick’s good hearted 14- year-old grandson, always gets manipulated to get into adventures with his grandfather, even though it gets him into serious trouble most of the time. The animated series feel original and funny from the pilot episode till the very last episode of the season. However, due to the content of the jokes, the
show is highly inappropriate for viewers too young. It’s not something you’d want to watch with the entire family. Created by American actor and voice actor, Justin Roiland and Dan Harmon, creator of the popular series “Community,” starring the voices of Chris Parnell from Saturday Night Live, Sarah Chalke from Scrubs; Rick and Morty is a smart comedy that is both innovative and absolutely hilarious for all the right reasons. If you’re a fan of animations and don’t mind crude jokes, this is a show definitely worth checking out. Shah Nahian
movie
Galactic
protectors A lot of rumours were going around saying that Guardians of the Galaxy is the best Marvel movie so far. While that is certainly a difficult question to answer, and given that this is the studio responsible for bringing us global blockbuster franchises such as Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, X-Men and The Avengers; Guardians of the Galaxy certainly is the most charming. Directed by James Gunn, the movie features an ensemble cast that includes Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Lee Pace, Michael Rooker, Karen Gillan, Djimon Hounsou, John C. Reilly, Glenn Close, and Benicio del Toro; the film is based on Marvel Comic’s superhero hero team Guardians of the Galaxy. The plot revolves around a group of space criminals who form an unlikely alliance to help fight a villain called Ronan the Accuser and save the galaxy. While the summarised version of the story might not stand out all that much, the real hook of the movie are the characters. Every character from the film is unique with distinct and memorable personalities. However, unlike most Marvel movies, where action is far greater than the comedy; Guardians of the Galaxy delivers on both. From the beginning of the film there are some great high-budget action scenes (as to be expected) while simultaneously, there are some amazing “laugh out loud” moments throughout the entire film as well. Guardians of the Galaxy is as much of a comedy as it is an action film. Overall, the entire cast delivers a brilliant performance while the film does an amazing job of setting up some great jokes, action moments and a good enough story to keep you engaged till the very end. Guardians of the Galaxy is something that can be enjoyed with the entire family or with friends. Definitely worth checking out! Shah Nahian
Photos bigstock
TM AG Th u rsDAY, N ove mb e r 6, 20 1 4
12 tmag
Take TMAG’s PERSONALITY QUIZ Now!
TEENARAMA
Which guardian of the galaxy character are you?
Protector of the galaxy
TMAG tells you to
Choose or Lose My girlfriend always snoops into my phone, my Facebook newsfeed and my Snapchat activities. Despite making it clear that this is unhealthy and only creates problems, she gets emotional and threatens to walk out of the relationship. I really love her a lot, but this kind of behaviour is toxic for us. Should I stick around and give her a chance to change?
Lose Question 1
Question 6
What super-power would you want? A. Strength B. Speed C. Intelligence; no powers needed D. Regeneration
How tall are you? A. Average B. Taller than most of my friends C. Can’t reach the steering wheel D. Freakishly tall
Question 2
Question 7
Which word describes you the best? A. Funny B. Ambitious C. Leader D. Protective
Choose your favourite member from the Avengers A. Iron Man B. Black Widow C. Captain America D. The Hulk
Question 3 Pick your weapon. A. The musclehand B. Knives C. Guns D. My hands and feet Question 4 When people meet you what do they notice first? A. My cuteness B. My skin C. The weird creature I am D. How I talk Question 5 What would be the best part of living in space? A. Moving and stealing about from different planets B. Restoring balance C. Hidden treasures D. Being able to go anywhere with my best friend
Question 8 What percentage of a plan do you have? A. I don’t know 12% B. 50-50 C. 100% D. I am …. Question 9 What is your biggest pet-peeve? A. Terrible music B. Inconsiderate people C. Dumb people D. Deforestation Question 10 If you were to commit a crime, what would you most likely do? A. Robbery B. Murder C. It wouldn’t matter, I’d escape from prison D. Kill anyone who tried to harm my friend
Mostly A’s Peter Quill, aka Starlord, humanalien-hybrid thief. Despite of your notorious rep, you win everyone’s heart with your sense of humour.
Mostly C’s Rocket Racoon. You’re a mechanical genius. You can build anything and break your way out of anywhere.
Mostly B’s Gamora. You’re feisty, quick on your feet and you pack a punch. You resist advances from any handsome men, especially if they have pelvic sorcery.
Mostly D’s Groot. You are one of many words or should I say, one of ONE word. You’re actually quite innocent and you are always trying to help your friends, and end up winning everyone’s hearts.
TM AG th u rsDAY, Nove m b e r 6 , 201 4
Your girlfriend is insecure and bored. She needs to control something in her life, and unfortunately it’s your virtual world that’s her prey. Leave her when you can before she goes cuckoo and destroys your healthy social life.
My boyfriend and I are doing an internship on the same floor. We are having to compete with each other professionally and that is now taking a toll on our relationship. We have a beautiful relationship, but things are turning sour now. What do I do?
Choose
Thats a tough one. Working with your significant other usually calls for a brawl. Triumph for each other, and thrive in this competition. If she is doing well, you find yourself an alternative and give it your best. It’s a sticky situation so keep your egos aside. Also, never get emotional over work or take it home. Let office battles end at the office.
My girlfriend came over to my house because I wasn’t picking up my phone. She started crying, because I was in the toilet and I didn’t receive her calls. It’s just been two months that we started dating and I like all the attention but I don’t have any time to myself! What do I do?
Lose
As much as we like attention, we all need our personal space. And she needs to respect that. Talk to her, tell her that you dislike the invasion and hope that she understands you.
I’m 20, and in a pretty stable relationship with this girl for two years. Few of her guy friends have a crush on her. I’m okay with her being friends with them, but I don’t want her to hang out with them alone. She’s loyal to me, but she’s not taking my concerns seriously. Should I hang on to her?
Choose
It is apparent that you have concerns but if she is loyal to you, there is no reason for you to worry. She is entitled to decide which friends she wants to hang around with. Have faith in her and don’t take any step unless something actually happens.
Got a sticky relationship ish? Let us help you make up your mind. Email your story today to tmag.dt@dhakatribune.com