Dircksey After Dark vol 3 ed5

ISSUE 5 : AFTER DARK

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Contributors: Samantha-Jane Rose Zachary Sheridan Jack Cooksey Tristan Sherlock Andrew Douglas Davo Hunter Sarveshwaran Armugam Leighton Campbell Marley Amphlett Connor Armenti Armand Auffray Christelle Auffray Claudia Van Zeller Grace Brooks Holly Ferguson Jackson Lavell-Lee Christopher Spencer

Editor: Holly Ferguson editors@ecuguild.org.au

Hey reader,

Art & Literature Editor: Tristan Sherlock

Love, Holly

Ever wondered what secrets are held in the dark? Me too, that’s why I’ve enlisted the help dircksey.com.au of some excellent writers and creatives to tell me, and you, what the dark holds (or held) for Marketing: them. From fact to fiction, this edition touches Lauren Reed on relevant personal and social issues. I’d like lauren.reed@ecuguild.org.au to say thank-you to all of the contributors who opened up their hearts and minds to create Film Editor: content for this edition. Hope you enjoy, see you Zachary Sheridan in the next issue!

Artists: Victoria Jamie Bennett Holly Ferguson Marley Amphlett Solange Beron Marshall Stay Georgia Chamberlai Paul Van Lieshout Hunt Ann Marie Shona Wong Special Thanks To: Cover: Shona Wong @somechuppy Interviewees: Moana Perthonalities: Emma Luke Elise Logo: Sella Winadi

not Editor(s), Cowan The opinions expressed herein are not University taken necessarily those of the Dircksey Editor(s), sub-­editors/ section-­editors, Edith Cowan other University or the Edith Cowan Universityaccurate publication– Student Guild. Reasonable care is taken to ensure that Dircksey articles and other taken issue information are up-­to-­date and as accurate omissions as possible, as of the time of publication– but no responsibility can or will be taken by the abovementioned entities if an issue of Dircksey has any errors or omissions contained herein.

Online print just got better.

pictondiy.com.au

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Features: 6 Queer Resistance 8 there will be sun 9 App Review: NEO Angle 10 Shitty ways to have sexy times 12 Heathcote Hospital

14 Our Moral Imperative 15 To The Light 16 ECU Perthonalities 18 A Dream That Changed My Life 19 Deep Sea Fish

Creative / Arts & Literature: 21 For a very long time 22 Post break-up letter 24 After All Is Said And Done 25 Robots from Outer space pt.3 26 A Plebiscite to Call Home 28 Book Reviews Music & Film: 29 5 minutes with Moana 30 Music Reviews 31 Film Reviews

Next Theme: Scrapbook

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ark your calendars! The ECU Guild has a jammed packed semester of events.

From skill seminars to the annual ball, every week the guild has something planned for you to attend. For more information on these events visit the ECU Student Guild Facebook page or pop into your closest guild office.

Aug 3: DOTA 2 Tournament Night!

Sep 22: Rocket League Championship Night!

Sep 1: Spring Lunch

Oct 6: AOE 2 LAN Night!

Sep 5: Resume Skills Seminar

Oct 20: FIFA LIVE Tournament Night!

Sep 7: Industry-Connect

Nov 24: ECU Student Guild Ball Sep 22: Oktoberfest@ECU 2017 2017 Hey Students, This semester is all about clubs clubs clubs!

By the time you are reading this we would have show-cased all the clubs at the Orientation days and Guild days. I hope you all found a club that piqued your interest and are now a member of.

If not, I encourage you to start your own. We have spent many hours over the holidays refining the Clubs policies to make it easier than ever for a member to start one up.

We also held our International Student experience, where a contingent of international students got to experience the thrill of AFL, which included a tour of Domain Stadium and free pints before the game. Next year we will be doing this event at the new stadium so keep an eye out for tickets.

Lastly Oktoberfest@ECU is just around the corner.

Where you can enjoy live German music, Hofbrau beer and Bratwurst while wearing your leiderhosens.

It’s our 4th year in a row holding this event and it gets bigger and bigger every year. Don’t forget, Guild members get cheaper tickets too!

Sam Martyn ECU Student Guild President

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QUEER RESIS RESIS DIRCKSEY

ISSUE 5: AFTER DARK

By Samantha-Jane Rose

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ill Shorten and Labor listened to the concerns of peak mental health organizations and experts when they said the plebiscite would be damaging to the health and lives of LGBTQIAP+ Australians. Labor is far from perfect, sitting far too much to the right for my liking, but they have undergone a profound change on the issue of marriage equality and LGBTQIAP+ rights since the days of 2007-13 where my frustration with Julia Gillard and her strange view on this issue saw marriage equality delayed.

of UK Labour MP, Jo Cox, last year by a rightwing extremist as a result of her pro-European Union views. We refused to accept a measure that would see demonstrable harm for our community .

Bill Shorten and Labor recognized that the cost of 175 million dollars (a simplistic cost for the plebiscite and public funding which failed to take into account lost productivity and costs for mental health care) was simply ridiculous in light of the fact that plebiscites are not our accepted method of settling civil rights issues.

The sick notion, as claimed by some in the This is supported by the fact that we have had Coalition, that Labor played politics with the just three plebiscites in our national history, lives of queer Australians could not be further none of which were related to civil rights. from the truth. 84% of queer Australians strongly rejected the plebiscite; we made it clear that we Bill Shorten and Labor recognized that we did not want a publicly funded hate campaign are a representative democracy and not a and as a result, the plebiscite legislation was participatory democracy, and that it is the promptly rejected by the senate. job of our elected representatives to vote on contentious legislation in parliament. It has We made it abundantly clear that we did not been our parliaments that delivered universal want, would not support and would never suffrage. It was our parliaments that ended accept a plebiscite on our own civil rights. We discriminatory policies affecting homosexual recognized that plebiscites and referendums, no people serving in the military in 1992. It was our matter the promises of civility and respect, have parliament that ended the practice of forcing the power to inflame tensions and emotions. No trans service people to serve in silence and in clearer example of this exists than the murder the closet.

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TANCE The Coalition’s civil war over marriage equality is a national shame, an embarrassing blight on our national history and our international standing. That a handful of virulently bigoted, homophobic and transphobic conservative politicians can hold an entire nation which has shown majority support for this reform for a decade now, consistently, shows just how supremely out of touch this government has become.

“We refused to accept a measure that would see demonstrable harm for our community.”

How they are considering removing Malcolm Turnbull in favour of Peter Dutton, a man who has lied and made mendacious claims about asylum seekers and the abuse they have suffered in immigration detention only serves to show that they have lost their moral compass, if they ever had one at all.

Meanwhile, our people continue to die waiting for marriage equality. Our queer youth continue to suffer disproportionately high levels of bullying, suicide, depression and other factors associated with societal treatment. Marriage equality is only one of many reforms needed, but it is an important one. It’s time to get this done, it’s time for a free vote in parliament. Now.

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‘there will be sun’

By Zachary Sheridan oë Coombs Marr is brilliant. For those who don’t Z know, Coombs Marr is a hilarious comedian hailing from New South Wales whose play Is This

Thing On? is literally the funniest thing I’ve ever seen on a stage. I saw it last year. At one point the ensemble put microphones in their mouths and make weird, horrific, laughing sounds. It’s totally mad, and at other points also incredibly moving.

But I acknowledge it’s hard to describe these moments so just get yourself a copy of the play or look up clips from her award-winning show Trigger Warning where Coombs Marr plays a hopeless, misogynistic stand-up called Dave.

Art by Marley Amphlett Fatnowna to name a few – blew me away. I can’t talk about everything that was said, but I will offer one great metaphor given by Zoë. We find ourselves at a very interesting point in history.

Political uncertainty is rife, gaps between groups of people continue to widen, and people all over the world are extremely vulnerable to climate disaster.

But, as writer Naomi Klein posits, there presents at this precipice in history an opportunity for radical change.

Coombs Marr says we are like cows. (Side note: which is pretty apt considering the affect their methane has on the environment. And it’s not their fault. If humans didn’t consume other conscious beings with their own lives that matter to them this wouldn’t be the case). Anyway, sometimes cows need to move through to another paddock where the grass is greener. However, they have trouble seeing beyond their own paddock. And the only way to get through to the other side is through a narrow space in the fence. Sure, it seems daunting and uncomfortable – and may be so for a while as we undergo the journey – but once we are there who knows what vibrant grass awaits. After dark, the sun will rise.

Then, just recently, I saw Coombs Marr was coming to the Disrupted Festival of Ideas. As sure as the sky is blue, as sure as avocados can only be afforded by the opulent miners of WA, you could bet I was going to be there. Now, I originally was going to write a ghost-hunter style article for this edition: Some stupid thing about how, after being told

by ECU security that there are no ghosts at ECU (this actually happened), I took it upon myself to bust the spirts that lurk Grindhouse. However, a The thing is that, as Coombs Marr says, we have weekend at Disrupted reminded me that there are to own the decisions we make every single day. better things to write about.

And we have to continually recognise how our individual actions affect the world around us.

Naturally, Coombs Marr, along with other panelists There is a massive responsibility in privilege, and (and I’m just going to drop some names here of maybe it’s time for some of us, to suck it up, get on important young people making waves for you to with it, and make meaningful, positive choices that google) – Amrita Hepi, Nayuka Gorrie, and Ziggy cultivate hope.

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same principles have been followed in App Review: NEO AngleThe Neo Angle. The developers have implemented

By Jack Cooksey ropout Games are back and looking to follow on the success of ‘Blyss’, a game that perfectly combined relaxing visuals with fun and challenging gameplay with their new game ‘Neo Angle’.

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Neo Angle is inspired by the 80s neon art style and retro synth scene. It’s an innovative game, full of complex puzzles for you to complete. The game introduces you to the gameplay elements in a simple fashion with a very basic tutorial on how to move through the levels, which is done by swiping.

The aim is to swipe your way through the level collecting pyramids as you go, finishing with a designated end triangle. It becomes difficult with restrictions put in place when you collect a pyramid. Each time you do so the blocks you’ve used become locked, so you can’t go back on yourself. This forces you to take a specific path to complete the levels. Eventually the game becomes more difficult introducing other elements to the gameplay like portals and switches. This forces the player to adapt to the situation to advance to the next level.

Thankfully the game is set at a steady pace.

There are no lives and you have an unlimited amount of retries. That’s not to say it’s not difficult, because at times it is. Some levels can take up to ten minutes to solve, whilst others can be done first try. The varying difficulty of the levels are what keeps the game interesting and quite addicting.

The developers are believers of keeping their games simple. Something they did in Blyss.

minimal elements and almost no text, whilst noticeably lacking a menu apart from buttons to control audio and to retry a level. There are also no controls except for the swiping, which is simple and works perfectly.

The gameplay goes perfectly with the 80s styled neon artwork and synth music that makes you feel like you’re in an arcade. The game takes obvious inspiration from the popular 80s game Tron. That’s not a bad thing though, as the Indian development team have done a great job in replicating that feel, but not going overboard.

I wish there was some variation in the level design. The artwork is good but after a time it feels like more of the same. Blyss was enjoyable because of the different themes, but this game just has one.

This game could have easily been turned into a freemium model game. I’m glad the developer decided not to do this as it means for a better gameplay experience. Despite this, the current app store environment doesn’t support puzzle games that are paid and in the long run this could hinder the game’s success. A possible solution would have been to release the game for free and have adverts and in app purchases (IAPs) for lives, whilst having an option for people to pay to disable these should they want to do so.

Despite this, Neo Angle is a very enjoyable game that successfully manages to replicate the 80s style retro games whilst bringing the theme into mobile gaming. For 99c it’s a great pickup if you are after a challenging puzzle game without the pesky adverts and in app purchases.

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By Solange Beron @solstize 10 / FEATURE

U

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sually, when it comes to me writing Shitty Things™ I give all of you, my loving fans, my educated opinion of what you should or shouldn’t do. However, today I will be tackling a topic I’m not so educated about. As a human being, who deserves better than the universe can provide, my sex life is quite lacking, if not non-existent. So, for this instalment in Shitty Things™, I will be giving you stories told by adults who have all experienced a horrible, awkward or funny sexual experience. So, without further ado here is your list of Shitty Sexy Times (in quote form): “This guy took me too his new house, to continue on with what we’d started, but when we arrived I discovered he had no furniture and where we were to have sex was a blow-up mattress … later a cockroach decided to try make it a threesome, as if the air mattress wasn’t far enough.”

“While me and this guy were … you know … his sister decided to knock on the door and ask if we wanted Hungry Jacks. Worst part: he said yes.”

“Possibly the worst situation is I was talking to this guy and as things were getting heated he began to tell me about how he gave his ex a yeast infection.”

“During my first threesome with a couple, it became quite obvious half way through that the girl was really not into it. To make matters worse, I started noticing red dots on them and only realised afterwards that I got my period”

“Once I was with this guy, and he was lying on his back and then he just started singing …”

“I have this friend who was at a party with her boyfriend. In the host’s room she was giving him head which may have, and by ‘may’ I mean most definitely, ended when her boyfriend vomited in her hair.”

The Shitty Things™ is brought to you by the enigma that is Tristan Sherlock.

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Heathcote Hospital The seemingly random order of the physical structures contrasts with a less tangible, yet more pervasive order of uniforms, formal procedures and official documentation. Here professional etiquette combined with formal bureaucracy took on a life of their own — a life which set the terms for all who lived and worked within its walls, patients or staff.

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he terms were rather different for the two groups: the primary difference was that the lives of the former were rigorously documented; those of the latter remained largely unrecorded. The medical histories and significant events of every single patient were recorded in case-notes medical charts, day books and ward diaries.

Even the most transient patients would be found in these sources. Furthermore, when this great institution closed, all these records were archived. Posterity would cling to the details of their medical and psychiatric histories.

Conversely, the staff would come and go, sometimes regularly for decades and little would be documented of their existence. Their pens recorded the progress (or otherwise) of their charges but they would never appear as significant in these human dramas. Only as asides would they be mentioned whenever a noticeable incident occurred: RN (Registered Nurse) Smith sprained his ankle when he slipped on the stairs; EN (Enrolled Nursed) Barker suffered mild bruising when forced to

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restrain an aggressive patient. Incident from completed and filed.

The most individual aspect of them was their handwriting, which together with their surname, initials and professional designation covered official records. Little else was known about them. No doubt each had a personnel file, which only secretaries and clerks had regular access to. Generally, these files had the barest of details: names, addresses, dates of birth, etc.

What concerned the hospital most was their pay rates, how much leave they had taken and when and how much remained.

Thus, these men remained much of mystery.

Only a fellow staff member might approach one of them to discover the individual within the uniform. None of this would ever be documented in a personnel file, case-notes or ward diary.

Their histories remained largely unrecorded and sometimes clandestine, privy to select individuals and alluded to in whispers or rumours. No records were kept of their social

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histories. Even the inevitable or commonplace remain obscured.

As students or trainees, their supervisors were both their professional superiors and their clinical instructors in the field of nursing.

Their supervisors had the responsibility of assessing their work. Some of their supervisors, particularly the more mature and often most socially isolated, sought to be their instructors in other fields. Sometimes these young students were also isolated, lonely and vulnerable to a kind gesture. If they were also confused or stressed, their more mature teachers often would extend their mandate to aspects other than academic or professional performance.

Their mantle of authority extended to a more parental role; a concerned, authoritative parent who could make demands on their charges.

When the sun began to set there was increased opportunity for escapades. In small secluded treatment rooms and the deserted ends of obscure corridors, chance encounters became intended meetings with swift embraces and the occasional meeting of lips.

Heathcote Hospital, Applecross, Perth Outside there were tracks and obscure pathways in the grounds that led to a hidden space among trees and bushes. Here young students and new graduates could meet unobserved on their meal breaks or on the pretext of a cigarette, which often remained unlit. They could speak unheard, exchange contact details, arrange meetings on their days off or after night duty.

No doubt this had been going on for many years since the hospital’s opening in 1929. Only in the last few decades did they sense that the need for secrecy was now more the result of habit rather than actual necessity. After all, what would have happened if the night supervisor or security guard with his flashlight had chanced upon them? The worst any of them had to fear was a formal rebuke. The embarrassment would have been far greater for the discoverer than for the participants, assuming they felt any over their annoyance at the interruption.

and uncomfortable doubts. It was good for morale overall. Whatever friendships occurred among male staff could be considered just that - friendship; a delightfully nebulous and conveniently broad term encompassing all manner of positive interaction among members of humanity.

For the duration of this hospital’s existence the student, the new graduate, the recent staff arrival, the career nurse and all others would come and go. Their paths would cross and sometimes, if only fleetingly, collide. Other times, the collision would be less transient, sometimes surprisingly so. For the most part, it remains concealed to appease both professional discipline and propriety.

Just before the end of the twentieth century, this hospital would close permanently. At first the patients, then the staff and finally the furniture But old habits die hard, especially in regimented and equipment was gone. Only the echoes of and hierarchical institutions. Above all, numerous clandestine meetings on this site men had to conform to certain conventions. would remain. The small storerooms, obscure Therefore, whenever they were unconventional, benches and secluded clearings would remain it was better to be silent and invisible. Thus, the empty throughout the night. collective male psyche was appeased and not

By Andrew Douglas confronted with embarrassing questions

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Our Moral Imperative

By Samantha-Jane Rose n the 22nd of February 1943 at the tender age of just twenty-one years old, Sophie Magdalena Scholl faced her execution at Stadelheim prison, Munich. She was executed alongside her brother Hans Scholl (aged 24) after they were both convicted of high treason along with other members of the White Rose movement, a nonviolent student resistance group that distributed leaflets and grew out of the University of Munich, which was actively encouraged and supported by Professor Kurt Huber.

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It still haunts me to this day, the image of Sophie as she is interrogated, the images of her grave, side by side with her brother as they rest eternal, immortal. Yet as she faced her execution on that fateful day in 1943, Sophie spoke something so profound, it’s engraved in my mind.

With People’s Judge Roland Freisler (who infamously passed judgement on the conspirators in the 20th July plot that almost succeeded in assassinating Adolf Hitler) having sentenced them to death, she walked to her execution and spoke with clarity, “How can we expect righteousness to prevail when there is hardly anyone willing to give himself up individually to a righteous cause?

Such a fine, sunny day, and I have to go, but what does my death matter, if through us, thousands of people are awakened and stirred to action?”.

That quote continues to resonate with me, a clear and concise example of the power of words, the power to inspire, to call us to action, to elicit

up in confrontation against an ugly, utterly evil political ideology that simply won’t go quietly into the night to join the Third Reich, which we fought so hard to end.

our deepest emotional “How can we expect righteousness to prevail It sickens me to think responses to the greatest when there is hardly anyone willing to give that heroes like Sophie injustices and crimes and Hans Scholl so against humanity. To himself up individually to a righteous cause? bravely went to their willingly face one’s death Such a fine, sunny day, and I have to go, but deaths in the fight against for the cause of justice what does my death matter, if through us, Nazism and Fascism. and what is morally right thousands of people are awakened and stirred Yet we’re witnessing a takes enormous levels United States President to action?” of moral courage and who happily tolerated empathy. Something which most humans simply don’t have. Sophie willingly gave her life in the endorsements from high ranking members of name of resistance; resistance to tyranny, to racism, the Ku Klux Klan and other prominent white to xenophobia and a genocidal government that nationalists, and failed to so much as mention sought to erase the Jewish people and anyone else white supremacy or Neo-Nazism in his statement in the aftermath of the white nationalist domestic that did not fit into their ideal, perfect society. terrorist attack in Charlottesville.

Why do I speak of this story and this young woman now? What possible relevance could it have in The alternative is clear, speak up, confront Neo2017, 74 years after her death at the hands of an Nazism and white supremacy wherever it rears its head. Organise, and show solidarity with our executioner? friends who are so often the target of their vile Recently we’ve witnessed a Neo-Nazi, white hatred, bigotry and violence. That is the moral supremacist gathering in Charlottesville end in imperative we face today, the urgent need to act tragedy as a Neo-Nazi rammed his car into a crowd in order to confront an emboldened, empowered of counter demonstrators leading to the death of far right that feels itself endorsed by a president one young anti-fascist, and the injuring of 19 other that took office on the votes of white and ever so people. It’s 2017... and we are still having to rise- fearful America.

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To The

By Davo Hunter

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LIGHT

A word of caution. This article may contain matter of a distressing nature.

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of movies and TV comedies, a public persona which didn’t change until after his death in 1995. Around half a year later, his daughter Barbara presented a new and very dark side to Arthur. On stage, lovable dope, but in the house a mind-breaking sadist. Driving his wife to mental illness and death after she discovered that he was sexually assaulting their now 13year old daughter in the early 60s. The public knowledge of this case began in 1996, roughly 16 years or so before Operation Yewtree caught It baffles me how so many people had been out so many other celebrities of a seedy nature. completely ignored by the BBC for so many decades. The warning signs were very much On discovering this in my search, I also found there for Jimmy, a tell-all documentary by another actor by the name of Graham Stark.

Louis Theroux had some casual comments by Never heard of Graham? Don’t worry, it’s Savile that, at the time, alarmed the intrepid not a name that pops in many minds, but he interviewer. Another TV appearance on the is best known as the very stoic-faced assistant satirical panel show Have I Got News For You to Inspector Clouseau in many of the “Pink Another article directly also saw another sickening one liner that, in Panther” movies. underneath my initial reading had also put in hindsight, had been dropped in plain sight. words how behind the scenes, Graham would But what brought this topic on, you may ask. behave in a particularly strange fashion to his Well, in my mind, it seems to me that no matter fellow actors, but would also target underage how many times this sort of thing happens in girls in letters he would write to them. a position of power, none of us seem to learn lessons along the way. Because a few weeks After dark, there needs to be light. To report ago, I happened to be Googling up an actor such behaviour no matter how far up the ladder and comedian by the name of Arthur Mullard. they stand is crucial. It doesn’t stop the harm Not many would have heard of him, he wasn’t before, but the hurt that could happen to the biggest name around. He was best-known others later on could save so many others from for playing the Cockney doofus in a number experiencing the same. or the last few years, it seems that any number of scandals regarding television stars of past and present has been hitting the headlines quite hard. It took an enormous amount of time before the cruel and twisted tales that brought Jimmy Savile down from oddball entertainer to the level of assistant pond scum (apologies to the pond scum, please don’t sue me). Some of his small screen mates, like Rolf and the sort, have also been rightly put away for their crimes.

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ECU

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Perthonalities Emma

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’m studying a Bachelor of Music (Classical Voice). It’s my first year. I’m actually keen on going into musical theatre but I’ve been told that having a classical voice background helps strengthen the voice. I’ve been singing all my life. I love musicals – every time I watch them I want to be on that stage, making other people happy. Favourites?

Something Rotten! is hilarious – it reminds me of Family Guy. Also, Chicago and A Chorus Line… I was born in Australia, but I grew up learning English and Finnish at the same time. I try to go there once or twice a year. My family live around two hours north of Helsinki. My mum’s there at the moment … If you get a really clear day and everything’s just right you can see the Northern Lights.

Interviews by Zachary Sheridan / Photography by Marshall Stay @MarshallArts (on Facebook) 16 / FEATURE

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Luke

Elise

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study Photo Media. I’m from Scotland. I came out in 2007 because the education wasn’t very good where I lived so my parents decided to move. I’ve always been interested in taking photos – lots of other stuff really bores me. I’ve always done it. I reckon photos last a lifetime – and my dad was really interested in it as well so we sort of bonded over it… Favourite photograph? In New York at the 9/11 Memorial they have flowers that stick out of the victims’ names. I took a photograph of the sun reflecting on one of the flowers … I’m particularly interested in sports photography, like cricket and AFL. I think you should take photos of what you enjoy to do and experience everything you can.

Favourite photographer? Michael Wilson.

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study Performance Making. It rolls up all aspects of performance into one package. And I have opened that package and I’m currently devouring it. You’re eating the course? It’s really yummy. I’m only half way through, though – I suppose I’m saving my appetite for third year? … I was born in Oman, and throughout primary school my family moved around a lot.

We moved to Brunei, and then Austria, and then Texas, and then here when I was 11 or 12. It’s made me want to ground myself and really make a home here… What swimming is to Australia, ice skating is to Austria. I loved it. And skiing too… If I had any advice to give it would be don’t take yourself so seriously, because if you take yourself too seriously you’re never going to have any fun.

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A Dream DIRCKSEY

I

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That Changed My Life

t was a beautiful day. Bright skies, clear clouds, where the sun’s glorious rays pierced through the Earth. It was an exciting day for me. I was going to participate in a dance competition, in fact, my first dance competition at Uni. My nerves were heightened. My heart was beating fast.

Heavy perspiration. I felt like my head was going to burst out with litres of blood. It wasn’t. It was just my uncontrollable nerves.

Though, it wasn’t my first time performing in front a large audience, I still felt nervous. My nerves increased when I realised I was late to the competition.

In my right hand, a red bag full of dance cosmetics, jewellery and costumes, oh yes, my anklet as well. While in my left were the CDs. The tingling of my anklet accelerated as I started running. But, as an artist one should not give in to their nerves. Thank God, I didn’t.

I had three rounds to complete in the competition. The first was a pre-planned choreography while the other two were impromptu. I won the competition, what a surprise it was. I was over the moon.

After, I sat in the studio chatting with my mom on the phone. I “de-briefed” her about everything. She was so excited and sounded tremendously happy for me until she heard my voice changing mellow.

Worried mom, questioned me, “Are you okay?”

I couldn’t reply. I was in an excruciating pain. I couldn’t exactly locate the pain in my back. It was like someone hitting me with a hammer, a pain within me. It was a strange feeling.

I tried getting up but couldn’t. I kept falling on the floor.

My right leg and the bottom of my back were numbed, almost paralysed. I cried knowing that something was really wrong.

With the help of my friends, I managed to get myself to the car. Only God knows how I drove back home.

As I entered the house I almost fainted. My Mom and sister rushed me to the hospital where the orthopaedist diagnosed me with a herniated disc or better known as a “slipped disc”.

I had severe “slipped discs” on L5, L4 and a little damage on L3. Such an atrocious feeling.

To be honest, I wasn’t so worried because I didn’t know much about the diagnosis. I was just laughing out my pain. The doctor even asked me, “How are you laughing when you should be weeping?”

18 / FEATURE

All was fine until the doctor brought in the results of my MRI. As he was explaining the damage to my spine, my mom started crying.

In that moment, the biggest turning point of my life happened. The doctor said that I’d never dance again.

How is that possible for someone who’s life revolves around dance?

I pledged to the doctor just one thing- God will heal me, and He did.

For the next 3 months, I went for regular physio sessions, exercised at home and wore a support on my back. It all went smoothly though at times it was tough due to the intense pain.

One night I went to bed as usual, preparing to embrace the next day Little did I know that it wasn’t just another night. At 5am I woke up to a dream, it was a transcending moment, I went down to the living room and started dancing crazily. I felt nothing but bliss.

But then I realised, it wasn’t a dream. It was for real. I knew it was a dream from God- a dream that woke me up to reality.

Since then and to this day I’m still dancing better than before without anyone but by God’s help alone!

It was my after dark!

By Sarveshwaran Arumugam

DIRCKSEY

ISSUE 5: AFTER DARK

Deep Sea Friends

By Leighton Campbell Art by Georgia Chamberlai @GeorgiaMay Designs on FB Our humble planet is hiding much more exciting secrets than we know. Beyond the shipwrecks, coral reefs, and human waste, are creatures beyond our wildest imaginations (and beyond our wildest nightmares too!). Thousands of metres down below, in the darkest depths of the oceans, much of the marine life is undiscovered, but the creatures that are, are both horrifying and intriguing. To help us all get better acquainted, here are some fun facts about our unknown sea friends:

Deep Sea Angler Fish

• Fact! This doozy of a fish has its own illuminated bulb that extends from the top of its head! The official name for this revolutionary organ is a photophore and is mainly used to attract prey • The male angler fish is way smaller than the female and when it matures, its digestive system becomes useless, meaning that it needs to find a female or die of starvation. Using its small hook teeth, the male angler fish will attach itself to the female and bite into her skin, which in turn releases an enzyme that dissolves the skin of his mouth and that of her body – essentially, they become ONE FISH!!

• The male will spend the rest of his days like this, pretty much as a parasite leeching off the female. He might not be alone though, as females can carry up to SIX males on her body at a time (YAS QUEEN) • This method ensures that when the female is ready to reproduce a mate is immediately available (meaning that these beautiful, pure, fish have never had to encounter to horrors of dating apps).

Giant Tube Worms

• Fact! These ain’t your garden-variety worms. Giant tube worms live at the edge of hydrothermal vents powered by volcanic heat that literally SPEW heated water that is loaded with toxic chemicals.

• Want to know why they are called ‘giant’ tube worms, and not merely just ‘tube worms’? Um, well, that would be because they can grow up to 2.2 metres in length!

• Giant tube worms are exemplary models of “loving thy neighbour” – with no digestive tract, and no sunlight in the depths of the sea to gain energy, these wormies depend on bacteria that live inside them for their source of food.

• The red tips on the worms are actually full of haemoglobin (blood!!), which helps to provide nutrients to the bacteria living inside the worms.

Blob Fish

• Fact! The blob fish lives a simple life that one can easily envy. The blob of gelatinous flesh simply floats around casually near the ocean floor, eating up small crustaceans that float into its downturned mouth.

• Apparently, that’s about all these little fellas can do. They have very little muscle density, so floating and eating is as active as they get (honestly, me in summertime) • They can grow to be almost half a metre in length! That’s a lot of blob for us all to share and get along with.

• They are found in the deep waters off of Eastern Australia!

I bet they are fanging for an export down there.

Fangtooth Fish:

• They are also known as “ogrefish”, which in my opinion, makes them the Shrek of the sea (hey, DreamWorks, if you’re looking for a fresh Shrek reboot, hmu) • Fangtooth Fish have been found of the coast of Australia (g’day little buddies) • Fact! This toothy little pal is found in some of the deepest discovered parts of our ocean – found at depths near 5000 metres!

• The fangtooth’s teeth size are the largest of any fish, in proportion to their body size – these little cuties only reach about six inches long!

FEATURE / 19

DIRCKSEY

ISSUE 5: AFTER DARK

20 / FEATURE

By Paul Van Lieshout Hunt

DIRCKSEY

ISSUE 5: AFTER DARK

For a very long time My state of mind Lingered with a dull postmodern sense of “What’s the point?”

My face was a mask, with a smile, so as not to disappoint.

But there was a niggling feeling of being watched by a peeping tom. Every movement, every word..

Was being analysed, which to others sounds absolutely absurd!

Where others are rational,calm and strategic in there abilities to think things through-I would go through phases where it was impossible to do!

Nothing can illuminate the dark sense of dread. Invisible and nasty entities circling your head.

It’s like tiny little walls being slowly erected.

Little by little. Everyday, silent and undetected.

A hidden sense of darkness that barely anyone can see.

Keep those curtains drawn though, it’s not how you should be.

“The woman is the glue that holds the family together” she said.

But what if I escaped that PVC and memories of this house, these walls, this bed.

A broken mind, a crumpled soul, asking to be mended. What a relief and unburdening when that situation ended.

Bit by bit,lines of light penetrate the walls like a sunrise at the park.

And slowly, surely, steadily - there is- an ‘After Dark’.

By Marley Amphlett

CREATIVE / ARTS & LITERATURE / 21

DIRCKSEY

ISSUE 5: AFTER DARK

Hey you,

Art by Ann Marie @annm_02

Yeah, I know this letter is weird, no one writes letters anymore. But hey, you blocked me on Facebook and I’m out of carrier pigeons so here we are.

Happy birthday! I hope 20 isn’t as scary as you thought it was going to be. I didn’t get to post the collage of photos of you. What a shame no one gets to see you stuffing your face with potato chips, looking smug while we watch gogglebox or creating beautiful art in Leederville.

I got you a birthday present. I thought long and hard about it.

I considered a Ben and Jerry’s gift voucher but thought that might remind you too much of the day your ex unblocked you on Facebook and you cried. I want you to think of the day you finally got the courage to put your arm around me as we walked down the beach. A tattoo artist in a woollen beanie wanted to spend time with me. That’s all I wanted.

I wanted to get you a copy of Arrival because we were watching that the first time I believed you loved me. You paused the movie, rested your forehead gently on mine our noses barely touch. We stayed like that for a while I told jokes, made plans and then said nothing at all. I wanted to live there forever. Barely audible, you whispered “I love you.” I did that thing people do when they don’t hear something important and giggled, “ yeah.”

“Did you hear what I said?” “…No?” “I’m pretty sure I’m in love with you” 22 /CREATIVE / ARTS & LITERATURE

DIRCKSEY

ISSUE 5: AFTER DARK

Have you ever felt your heartbeat in your entire body? It’s an insane feeling. Our breathing synched. You asked if I was ok. I kissed you. This wasn’t the first time you told me that you loved me, but this was the first time I believed you.

“I’m scared. I love you. Don’t hurt me.”

I decided against the movie. It reminds me too much of the last time we spoke; when you cried on your bed. I stroked the side of your face and I felt my heart break as I admitted I wasn’t enough. Besides I couldn’t find a copy in JB HiFi. I settled on a quiche. It’s the last time I remember you laughing. We were driving through the hills and I recounted all the fun I had in Melbourne last year. I told you, I yelled out I’M A LESBIAN with a room full of strangers in a burlesque show called 5 Lesbians and a Quiche. You laughed so hard we almost had to pull over. You didn’t quite get the title.

“Why quiche?”

“Quiche is jargon for … a vagina, plus it smells like eggs?”

“What?”

“It means pussy. I dunno it made sense in the show” “You know, I would take quiche over pussy any day” We laughed all the way home. I loved you. And you loved me.

So, I bought you a quiche for your birthday. I carefully piped ‘better than pussy’ on the top in barbeque sauce. Wrapped it in your old Parkway Drive shirt, placed the spoon you gave me on our first date on top and made my way to yours. We hadn’t spoken in three weeks but I wanted you to know you were lovely, even if I couldn’t love you anymore.

I know what you’re thinking, I never got this quiche, that would be my fault. Half way to yours I remembered that entire week. I remembered talking about your ex at three in the morning. I remembered the screaming match about how I should get a better job. I remembered you making me cry because you thought I didn’t love you enough.

Most of all I remember the way you sounded when you told me you were going to kill yourself. You were quiet, miserable and resolved. I could feel you stand still in time, waiting to be left behind. And all I could think to save you was, “No, you can’t. We’re going to Sexpo this weekend. What’s the point of buying a shiny dildo if you can’t show anyone?” I still can’t believe that worked.

I got half way to your house but I couldn’t drive the rest of the way. I sat in the park where we ate pizza the first night I stayed over and ate the pussy out of your quiche. I’m sorry.

Happy birthday.

If you ever read this letter could you let me know you’re ok? I just want you to be ok. You know where I am.

Much love.

CREATIVE / ARTS & LITERATURE / 23

DIRCKSEY

ISSUE 5: AFTER DARK

AFTER ALL IS SAID AND DONE In a place where nothing has ever been, it lingers.

Even if it tried there would be nothing for it to see, yet it looks around for a moment anyway It hesitates, then reaches down. It makes a motion but touches nothing. Just what it was hoping for; a guaranteed nothingness.

It’s been so, so long.

It remembers every single one it took away. Not a lot of them wanted to go.

But it was nobody’s choice, really.

It is not sure how to feel at this point. Had it always longed for this moment?

Did it ever even consider it would come to this? Was it even possible?

After a moment it dismissively casts aside the list. This is the first time it has ever parted with it. It will not be needing it any longer.

It is time.

It recedes, casting away all control of its metaphysical form. It is now nothing but a sentient force scattered amongst the nothingness.

Its vision begins to fade. It barely notices the difference.

It can feel its consciousness begin to disperse as well.

It is finally flooded with an immense relief.

And as the last crumbs of consciousness escape the nothingness, its heart is taken back to the very first soul it was assigned to take.

By Connor Armenti

24 / CREATIVE / ARTS & LITERATURE

5. INT. ROBOT BOSS OFFICE .DUSK

DIRCKSEY

ISSUE 5: AFTER DARK

MAC and PHILIP enter the office of DIABLO the boss.

DIABLO Ha,ha ha . MAC you must tell me what makes you so “attractive”!

BOSS chuckles making MAC uncomfortable.

PHILIP Ha,ha,ha good one BOSS. MAC

Well DIABLO, I thought that things would change after the robot uprising. Magnets still control me and I cannot find love because I do not have a heart.

DIABLO Well, maybe the Crysatl of Hearts can give you what you want.

The BOSS’s mood changes.

DIABLO If that’s what you want MAC then you don’t belong here with us robots. The robot uprising had been a complete success until you ruined all my plans!

PHILIP Okay MAC, perhaps you were right about DIABLO being

short tempered.

DIABLO I don’t have time to listen to your nonsense. Both of you get out of my office, Now! MAC and PHILIP begin to approach the door but then the BOSS’s phone rings.

DIABLO Hello BOB, what’s happening down at the mining operation?

6.EXT.MINING OPERATION .DUSK Three robots workers are using a crane to lower down a conveyor belt. BOB is talking on the phone to DIABLO. In the background broken robots are laying down.

BOB The mining for the Crystal of Hearts is going down fast, we need more workers now!

7. INT. ROBOT BOSS OFFICE .DUSK DIABLO Don’t worry about it BOB. I am sending you two workers now.

The BOSS rushes towards MAC and PHILIP. DIABLO I’m sorry. I’ve been short-tempered. I need you to go undercover as workers to our mining operation as my secret agents and find out how much the Crystal we are mining is really worth Our buyers are the Androids.

PHILIP I’m in, MAC? MAC Oh ummmm, I don’t know, umm fine.

DIABLO Good. Now go!

By Armand Auffray and Christelle Auffray

CREATIVE / ARTS & LITERATURE / 25

DIRCKSEY

ISSUE 5: AFTER DARK

Vote

Yes

Art by Shona Wong @somechuppy

26 /CREATIVE / ARTS & LITERATURE

DIRCKSEY

ISSUE 5: AFTER DARK

A Plebiscite to Call Home I will not bristle at the thought of strangers validating my relationship via snail mail these are not love letters.

I will not be compelled to respond to comments from men in mail order relationships though they fail to notice or consider how not so long ago their ‘lifestyles’ would have received a similar response to the unwelcome tripe which they slather on virtual walls.

I will not buy into arguments about children needing to be raised by hetero parents when I was happily raised by one mother, two grandparents, one brother, and a village.

I will not cave to the ignorance of others nor seek to justify why I happen to find compatibility with a human, not a gender that my soul was open enough to welcome other possibilities that I am not held to a binary standard simply due to my choice of mate for all facets of the love spectrum are visible and deserve to be seen for their essences without shame or stigma.

I look ahead, but I don’t look forward to this the alienation the inevitability of coming out every time someone assumes my partner’s pronoun based on my appearance the dread and vulnerability of being at the mercy of other people’s creeds and beliefs upon revealing myself.

And I will not call this feeling home for in my own universe it is immaterial we all become stateless ashes in the end while our souls find homes beyond flesh or gender beyond perceptions of social worth.

My love is love it is raw and sometimes dangerous like this sunburnt, lucky country I still call home I sure love this great, bumbling, divisive and exasperating Southern Land it is the daggy Dad I never really had.

This is a matter that is not up for discussion it does not belong on your agenda and I am certainly not keeping it on mine.

But I am silently keeping minutes waiting, counting.

I will not anticipate anything if I can help it.

By Claudia Van Zeller CREATIVE / ARTS & LITERATURE / 27

Book Reviews The Neopolitan Novels Elena Ferrante, 2012-15

The Picture of Dorian Gray Oscar Wilde, 1891

The Neapolitan Novels is a beautifully written four-part series from a mysterious Italian author using the pen name, Elena Ferrante (and translated by Ann Goldstein). The series

Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray stands out for being a beautifully haunting tale of youth, vanity and sin, which is as much a piece of art as the one the story

begins with “My Brilliant Friend”, and follows the protagonist Elena as she grows up in a postWWII and post-Fascist Italy. However, whilst history and politics are important to the story, the real heart of the novel comes from the intense and often frustrating friendship between Elena and the brilliant Rafaella (Lila). The remaining novels follow both females as they leave school and follow radically different paths regarding love, education and politics, however they always remain bound to each other and Naples. This is a painfully honest portrayal of the love/hate nature of female friendships, as well as the resentment that can occur between mothers and daughters.

This is a must-read series for lovers of history and feminism, but also for women who know what it’s like to always feel in the shadow of a friend.

By Grace Brooks

is about. The Picture of Dorian Gray is by far the gayest classic you’ll read. While at times certain characters (cough Henry Wotton cough) may persuade you to place the novel down in frustration it’s all worth it for the masterpiece that is the novel’s conclusion. Unfortunately, however, for The Picture of Dorian Gray, the tale behind the publication of the novel is slighty more enticing … and petty.

The Naked Civil Servant Quentin Crisp, 1975 Long before the advent of Gay Liberation or queer rights, there was a man who went about inner city London by day and night with dyed hair, eye make-up and nail polish and this was in the 1930s. He was flamboyant and painfully obvious at a time when ‘homo’ was a dirty word. Not surprisingly, he was abused, attacked and spat on regularly when he went out in public. But there were a few benefits in being so much out of the closet even in the preWorld War II era.During World War II he regularly had encounters with US service men. Long before it became common knowledge, he was an obvious representative of a gay subculture. With time and then the advent of gay liberation, he became a celebrity and an icon. An amazing autobiography originally published in 1968.

By Andrew Douglas

28 / ARTS & LITERATURE

By Tristan Sherlock

The Handmaid’s Tale Margaret Atwood So, I must admit, I watched the TV version of The Handmaid’s Tale before I read the book. However, it was the sheer brilliance of the show that spurred me to read the novel. I thought that I may get answers that I wanted from the show, which I presume are being saved for season 2 (fingers crossed). The book didn’t answer these questions. In fact, it left me with more. Although I was left without conclusive answers, for both the show and book, this doesn’t distract from how well the book is written. Everything from the novel’s pacing to the characterisation, even the overwhelming abundance of metaphors and similes, perfectly crafts the Handmaid’s world. Like all of Atwood’s novels, The Handmaid’s Tale, moves the reader to question the structures of society and consider what we believe to be fundamental values and beliefs.

By Holly Ferguson

5 Minutes with Moana

M

oana are a dark psychedelic punk band with natural and diverse inspirations headed by powerful leather sporting front-woman Moana Lutton. They recently released a heavy chord karmeric anthem named Scarab and have a confronting and visually impressive video clip to go with the track. I sat down to get to know the four-piece before they played an intimate and selfless gig at Oxjam, where all proceeds made from the show goes to Oxfam charities.

Q: What are your major inspirations behind the band?

Moana: When you say inspiration, for me it’s not bands, I get inspired by nature and elemental stuff ancient sounds and stories. Lachie has a very musical family with his Dad who played drums for the Triffids and the church, introducing him to old classic Australian pub rock. We love Austins fuzz rock influences and Mitch loves deep, doom style guitar.

Q: Who did you work with for the video clip?

It’s very confrontational punk rock?

Moana: We worked with Luna law via Luna pictures, we wanted it to be low budget with a pretty low-fi camera. We wanted to give a mashup of imagery to give a dream like Q: How did you guys meet and form the band?

Moana: Well I [Moana, lead singer] was doing solo stuff and I started playing electric guitar and I thought I needed a band to support me.

Lachie [Drums] was a very shy 17-year-old at the time but kept bugging me for a jam. Austin [bass, back up vocals] came a little later after we saw him playing with Fuzz Toads, we thought he had some amazing energy. Mitch [lead guitar] after catching his last band Crystal Moth was the final ingredient after chatting to him about his influences he just fitted in perfectly for us.

Q: How did you guys get involved with Oxjam Q: In some of your songs you can hear a few different styles and genres mashed up, like Lachie: Jacob, who started Oxjam is a good Vader, what went into the creative process friend of mine, he did last year’s one at the bowls behind that track? club and ended up raising the most money in Australia for Oxjam. So this year he wanted my Moana: It started as a bit of a joke jam because help a little more, so I got involved because we I was rapping a bit and kind of talking over the wanted to get a bunch of cool bands together mic and then we listened back to the recording, and raise some money for a good cause. had a bit of a laugh and then thought, wait this has a cool ensemble of sounds. We kept jamming Moana: I guess every time you play a gig it’s it and used a bit of a hip hop drum beat and a pretty selfish process, with building your it developed into a more structured song over audience and it’s nice to play a selfless gig and time. give back the proceeds to those in need.

Q: Scarab is one of you latest tunes, what was Q: What’s next in store for Moana? the motivation behind those heavier vibes?

We’re working on an album now so we’ve taken Moana: I just got a new Scarab Pedal and these a bit of a step back from gigging so much and were the first real chords I wrote with it then focusing on writing. We also have a ten-minute I started researching scarab beetles, how they story song that’s very experimental which we were the symbol of life’s circle in ancient times, I recorded on our last tour in Melbourne. That just thought it was interesting and that inspired will be released separately to that so keep an the lyrics behind the song. eye out for that murder-ballad.

By Jackson Lavell-Lee

MUSIC / 29

Music Reviews Stranger to Stranger Paul Simon, 2016 One of America’s greatest living songwriters such as Paul Simon really didn’t need to put out a new record if you think about it. With a back catalogue of both solo and Simon & Garfunkel material, hit and deep cuts alike, he easily could have rested on his well-earned laurels. But with his 2016 record Stranger to Stranger he continues to defy the word “retire”, treating us to his signature pumping, flowing grooves, irreverently unconventional and exotic instrumentation and even more irreverent musings on contemporary Western life. From utilising McNuggets as a metaphor for the woes of capitalism to a guitarist unable to enter his own band’s venue due to lack of wristband, Simon exhibits a wit of slightly more dryness in his lyrics, while still managing to maintain his poetic everyman expressions on tracks like “Insomniac’s Lullaby” and the theme for Louis CK’s online sleeper hit “Horace and Pete”. By Connor Armenti Rainbow Kesha, 2017 Rainbow, Kesha’s third studio album, combines Kesha’s old fun-loving party anthems with songs that promote selflove, owning your past traumas and moving beyond them. Rainbow is essentially the final chapter in the hardship that Kesha faced during her legal battle with her former Producer, Dr. Luke. Even though Kesha continues with her fun-loving style of music, which she used in her previous albums Animal and Warrior under her old alias, it’s evident that she, as an artist, has grown. The major downfall in Rainbow is how Kesha relies heavily on clichés which largely prevents the listen from being able to follow along with Kesha’s journey. Despite this, the album easily spreads its message. Rainbow is a beautiful, uplifting and all round impressive comeback album.

By Tristan Sherlock 30 / MUSIC

Streets Big Orange, 2017

Big Orange is a quirky, multi gender, funk rock band from Perth who are making big noise after releasing their latest EP Streets. It’s been two years since Big Orange first arrived on the Perth music scene but this EP represents a coming of age for the mature yet youthfully inspired five-piece. First introducing themselves at Beaufort Street Festival in 2015 the band used these early good vibes to inspire the EP, which has a Smashing Pumpkins and The Smiths sound blended with new school synth and electronic influences.

Having recently played the secret Fremantle music festival Hidden Treasures, Big Orange were received with positive reviews and popular applause from patrons. Describing themselves as “a band of runaway outlaws and romantics with a keen knack for ear worming power pop hooks,” the band plans on big things if their track “famous” is anything to judge by.

The third song from the five track EP “What I left behind” is a stirring and nostalgic break up song which includes the lyrics, “I feel like if only you could understand. We tried to work it out a hundred million times but if I were to stay I would surely lose my mind.” An instrumental break down to end the beautiful slow jam will have you feeling all those melancholy feels.

Another track “Anywhere Else” should be the theme song for anti-firearm amendments to the American constitution with opening lines, “I’ll lay my guns down in the name of love and truth.

I’ll lay my guard down and surrender myself to you. The devil is calling my name but all I hear is the summer rain.” These lyrics are accompanied by a gentle keyboard intro blending with pop guitar chords, all elements of the song come together with complimentary satisfaction.

The title track from the Ep Streets is a feel good acoustic riff dressed up with a tambourine and lovely keys with the drums keeping rhythm in a nostalgic 80s love fest. Who could hate these lyrics “cast into the vacuum in supersonic cars banished to walk the streets of vagrant mysteries.

Jumbled thoughts and misguided youth, everyone knows how to play it cool.” Especially when sung as if promising a lover, a future of bliss. Streets by Big Orange is full of sing along anthems that are perfect for a cold night in drinking red wine with your best friends and a must listen for any local music fan.

Support them at https://bigorange.bandcamp. com

By Jackson Lavell-Lee

Film Reviews

DIRCKSEY

Baby Driver Edgar Wright, 2017

Baby Driver is the latest from Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World) and stars Ansel Elgort as Baby, a musicloving getaway driver. He falls in love with Debora (Lily James), and must always face scary bank robbers if he is to one-day drive away from it all. Baby Driver is an action musical, with everything being timed to the constant soundtrack, making for a truly exuberant thrillride in more ways than one. Because this is not a big, loud, high-octane thriller the trailers may be promoting; this is an honest portrayal of a damaged and complex character. Baby is always anxious, never turning his back, and that makes this movie have a genuine heart beating under the glossy chassis and roaring engine. While Wright’s style is hectic and doesn’t let up, he delivers everything we love about film. Baby Driver is full of heart, action, comedy, suspense, great characters, hard-hitting dialogue, love, loss, and a killer soundtrack. There is honestly nothing like it out there.

War for the Planet of the Apes Matt Reeves, 2017 Caesar (Andy Serkis) is leading his people to their ultimate safety, after a human Colonel (Woody Harrelson) threatens to destroy everything Caesar’s family has built. Matt Reeves as director makes War for the Planet of the Apes a film beyond the simple summer blockbuster idea once again, and War is more emotionally powerful and thought-provoking entry of this extensive franchise. Reeves uses perfected special effects in combination with gorgeous locations like a true master. Andy Serkis makes motion capture a form of dramatic art, and his performance as Caesar is the best of his career. Dark, heartwarming, heartbreaking, and strikingly real, Serkis competes with Hugh Jackman in Logan for best performance of the year. War for the Planet of the Apes is a complete cinematic journey, filled with outstanding supporting performances from Woody Harrelson and Karin Konoval as orangutan Maurice, incredibly rich cinematography by Michael Seresin, and Michael Giacchino’s greatest score since Up. War for the Planet of the Apes is an emotionally shattering film, and a testament to the potential greatness of modern cinema.

ISSUE 5: AFTER DARK

Spider-Man: Homecoming Jon Watts, 2017 Spider-Man: Homecoming is a brand new SpiderMan with Tom Holland in the lead role, and new villain The Vulture threatening the safety of New York City. Two words one will hear from most people seeing this movie are “fresh” and “fun”. These are both certainly true, as SpiderMan: Homecoming is easily the most fun the character has been in 13 years, and this story is completely different to much of what we’ve seen before. No origin story, no Mary-Jane or Gwen, no Green Goblin, no Daily Bugle, no Uncle Ben. Tom Holland plays into this new version with grace and excellence, proving himself as a perfectly cast Peter Parker AND Spider-Man, with his own share of hilarious moments and scenes of true emotion and drama. He might just be the best one yet.The Vulture is a great villain as well thanks to Michael Keaton, and this is a well-directed Marvel movie. Spider-Man: Homecoming’s comedy, camerawork, editing and use of Zendaya might not be the best, but the movie is still a great ride and a perfect way to get back to what Spider-Man really is.

The Big Sick Michael Showalter, 2017 What if you, a Pakistani man, loved a girl, she breaks up with you, gets sick to the point of coma, and you have to deal with both her parents and your own strict, marriage-arranging Mum and Dad? Well that is the story of both The Big Sick and the movie’s writers, comedian Kumail Nanjiani (playing himself) and his wife Emily V. Gordon (played by Zoe Kazan). The story sounds bleak and sad, but The Big Sick is an incredibly funny film. It has those necessary scenes of deep emotion and the pain of looming death, but it perfectly blends the tone of being a comedy as well. This is real life when dealing with a potentially fatally-ill loved one. You need humour to survive each painful day. The Big Sick is perfecty performed by Nanjiani, Kazan, and Ray Romano and Holly Hunter as Emily’s parents. It may feel a little too long in the end, and not every side character is necessary, but this is a wonderful film of love, pain, family, and standup comedy.

All Film Reviews by Christopher Spencer FILM / 31