Dircksey magazine vol3 ed6 by ECU Student Guild

ISSUE 6 : Scrapbook

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Contributors: Andrew Douglas Anthea Ashley Griffin Christopher Spencer Clare Varcoe Davo Hunter Elisha Hammond Jack Cooksey Jackson Lavell-Lee Jessica Checkland Juanita May Leighton Campbell Marley Amphlett Sarveshwaran Arumugam Tristan Sherlock Vannessa Vlajkovic Zachary Sheridan

Editor: Holly Ferguson editors@ecuguild.org.au dircksey.com.au Marketing: Lauren Reed l.reed@ecuguild.org.au Film Editor: Zachary Sheridan Art & Literature Editor: Tristan Sherlock

Artists: Lynn Ferguson Marley Amphlett Maxine Singh Sam Beard Shona Wong Victoria Jamie Bennett Zoe Wolski Special Thanks To: Cover: Georgia May Interviewees: Ian Michael

Logo: Sella Winadi

not Editor(s), Cowan University The opinions expressed herein are taken not necessarily those of the Dircksey Editor(s), other sub-editors/ section-editors, Edith accurate Cowan University or the Edith Cowan University publication– Student Guild. Reasonable care is taken taken to ensure that Dircksey articles and other 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

DIRCKSEY

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Features

Creative & Reviews

6 Fury Friends (not the creepy kind) 8 Political Burn Book 10 Reconciling my Feminism 12 Scrapbook 101 13 Pleasant, Plush and Pretty in Pink 14 The AFL and the Closet 15 Are you ‘Masc. for Masc.’ or ‘Fem. for Masc.’? 16 Interview: Ian Michael 18 Shitty Things: To Do in a Relationships 19 Clubbing Etiquette: Spreading the gospel 20 So You’re Doing an Arts Degree 26 SKEPTOMANAC

22 Poems 24 Crossword 25 Word Search 27 Book Reviews 28 Amy (2015): The Girl behind the Name 29 Music Reviews 30 Film Reviews

Hey pals, We are now at the last issue for 2017 (waaaahh)! How quick has this year gone by? Thank you all for coming on this journey with us, it’s been great. I consider myself so fortunate to have had the opportunity to edit Dircksey this year. Not only for the skills I’ve developed but for the amazing people I’ve met along the way. I can’t express how grateful I am to each and every contributor who has made art or written (or both!) for the magazine. I think we can all agree that uni is hectic and combining that with other pressures like jobs, it’s pretty hard to find time to write and create; Just a candid pic of me! but somehow, you’ve all managed to produce amazing stuff! An extra big thank-you has to go to my section editors Tristan and Zach, you guys have helped me so so much and produced work that has taken Dircksey to a whole new level. Looking back on this year there have definitely been some struggles but it’s all been worth it. Especially when considering some of Dircksey’s highlights; one fave moment has to be when Willam Belli posted our review of his book Suck Less on his Instagram, Facebook and Twitter for a combined audience of over 1,545,000 people to see! I hope you’ve all enjoyed reading Dircksey as much as we have enjoyed making it. Dircksey is still young and growing so your support is crucial! Pick up a few copies and share them with your mum, friends and maybe even your pets (if they’re acting up you can tell them that you’ll replace them with an ‘array of hedgehogs’). Even though there are no more print issues this year, you can still keep up to date with us online at www.dircksey.com and on our Facebook page. Dircksey hopes to see you all next year!

DIRCKSEY

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What’s on @ ECU? 19/10 HelpingMinds Visit

West ECU Halloween 31/10 South ft.NOY

LIVE Tournament 20/10 FIFA Night!

3/11

21/10 October PQL Social

24/10 ECU Student Guild Ball 2017

26/10 ECU Bunbury Quiz Night

25/10 AGM & End of Year Event

27/10 ECU Guild Movie Night

Networking Golf Day 28/10 Annual 2017

ECU Halloween ft.NOY

For more information visit the ECU Student Guild Facebook Page

President note: Hi Everyone,

This is my third and final note to you all, it has been an absolute pleasure being your President. Advocating for people is my passion and getting to do that as a job is an opportunity I was not expecting to have this early in my life. If you ever come across me inside or outside of Uni don’t be afraid to grab me for a chat, talking to students is the highlight of my job and I don’t want to miss out on that once I’m gone. In other news Oktoberfest@ECU was a huge success, the weather held off allowing everyone to sink copious amounts of German beer in their free steins. I drank way too much and got stupid on the dance floor, can’t wait to do it again. In fact, you won’t have to wait long because our final and biggest party of the year is Halloween and its only three weeks away. Get your tickets, enjoy the end of the study year and count how many people dress up as Pennywise. Luv you all xo Sam Martyn ECU Student Guild President

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Furry Friends (not the creepy kind) Are dogs too mainstream for you? Are you sick of assehole cats? Or fish that can’t remember your last conversation, let alone your birthday? Well think outside the box and consider these great animals as pets. Super cute but also super original, you’ll be the envy of all your poser friends (I can’t guarantee you can legally own them, though).

Otters

Sugar Gilders

These guys are the ultimate parents. They even adopt orphans. They are also super smart using tools, such as rocks, to open clams. Native Americans often associated otters with loyalty and friendship (Pocahontas even gave them a shout out in Colours of the Wind). They communicate to each other with 22 distinctive sounds. Adorably, a group of otters is called a Romp.

These tiny possums weigh only 120 grams and can glide 45 meters. They are marsupials with opposable thumbs and toes. Like kangaroos, their babies are called joeys and live in their mother’s pouches for 70 days. The sugar glider’s tail acts as a rudder when they glide from tree to tree. Most wild sugar gilders have never touched the ground, and tbh if I were a sugar glider I wouldn’t walk either.

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Red Pandas

Hedgehog

These guys aren’t actually pandas! They are classified as carnivores, but are actually omnivores, mostly eating bamboo (hence why they were originally classified as pandas). Unfortunately, these guys are endangered because of habitat loss and less than 10,000 exist today. They make a twitter-like sound (they were doing it before it was cool) and were the inspiration for Fire Fox’s name – they also have more followers than me.

Have you ever wanted an array of hedgehogs? Because that’s what a group of hedgehogs are called. They have about 6000 spines, which, unlike porcupines, do not detach, so no surprise attacks! They are immune to most types of snake venom (jealous!) and often eat snakes, as well as frogs, bird eggs and fruit. A New Zealand joke political party, the McGillicuddy Serious Party, which aimed to add “colour” to politics, tried to elect a hedgehog into parliament (totally would have gotten in if he got his political degree from ECU). By Clare Varcoe Art by Zoe Wolski @zoewolski

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Po l i

T I cAl

R u n

O O B

Politicians. We love to hate them, mostly with little to no reason. Until now. Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a look back over the last 12 months at some burn-book worthy incidents that politicians the world over have done. 8 / FEATURE

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CLIVE PALMER Old mate Clive may have won people over this year by being 2017’s unexpected meme queen, but do not be fooled by his tomfoolery. Look a bit closer at Clive’s 2017 antics, and you will find deceit, and definite characteristics of someone who would “dog the boys”. His company, Queensland Nickel, went bankrupt, he laid offyg 800 of his staff, and continued to trade with some dodgy overseas investors. In fact, the GOVERNMENT had to sue him for $200 million earlier this year for the debts that he owes!! Oh, and also, he used taxpayer dollars for his family to go on luxury cruises... so, there’s also that.

Colin Barnett Park Geun-Hye I’m taking this burn book international now, with South Korea’s impeached President, Park Geun-Hye. Scandal rocked the country late last year when it was revealed that Park’s presidential advisor and close friend, Choi Soonsil, was involved in cult activities and was abusing her power and position to pressure business people (such as the head of Samsung Electronics) to hand over large sums of money to not-for-profit businesses that Choi was involved in. Park was South Korea’s first female President, and also the country’s first democratically elected President to be ousted from office. She was officially dumped in March of this year and is awaiting trial on charges of bribery, abusing state power and leaking state secrets.

Our state’s former Premier sure as hell made certain that there was absolutely nothing left of our massive mining boom once he was done with his time in the office. Western Australia went through one of it’s largest economic growths in our history, and what do we have to show for it besides a children’s hospital filled with asbestos and some filled in part of the river named after a monarch whose dynasty is as dud as Barnett’s political career. But hey, at least Colin’s made a legacy for himself, which is just neato. And now everyone in WA is just as out of a job as Barnett is too! Thanks Colin!

Scott Ludlam

Scotty deserves the Tyra Banks “we were all rooting for you!!” speech because honestly, we WERE ALL ROOTING FOR YOU!! Why’d you have to go and be a bloody New Zealand citizen for? Why could it not have been Pauline Hanson? Or any of the senile old men in parliament for that matter. Scott’s dual citizenship revelation has opened a massive can of worms within Australian Parliament, with quite a few of our federal politicians now being questioned over their own citizenship status.

Kim Jong-un

Donald Trump Everything he’s ever done.

I honestly do not want to publicly slam Kim. I think Trump has done enough of that for everyone. By Leighton Campbell

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Reconciling my Feminism By Anthea Art by Marley Amphlett 10 / FEATURE

DIRCKSEY

oday, I want to talk to you about my feminism and reconciling my feminism with my love of BDSM and kink. For a long time, I found it difficult to reconcile my submissiveness with my feminism.

ISSUE 6: SCRAPBOOK

Feminism to me is about equality and the right to choose, the freedom of choice. Yet for some in various feminist circles, I find their attitudes to be troubling.

I can empathise with their positions on occasion, The thought of calling a man ‘Sir’ as he inflicted but for me, the lack of respect for choice, unless pain on this masochist was quite unconscionable. it is the “right” choice is disconcerting. The The thought of being collared by a man was fact that I choose to and engage in consensual even more unconscionable. submission is a choice I make freely. Delving into the complex world of gender It is a choice I make as an equal and consenting politics, identity politics and power dynamics, participant, it is a choice I make as someone caused me to reflect and deeply contemplate my who negotiates as an equal. views and how they conflicted. Forget the nonsense you see in Fifty Shades of Some people would contend that BDSM is Grey, what we witnessed there was a negotiation inherently anti-feminist, that it supports the between two unequal parties with one engaging systems of oppression which continue to in emotional and psychological manipulation of negatively and detrimentally affect women. a vulnerable person. Some perpetuate the notion that to surrender power, to submit in the bedroom is akin to surrendering that power elsewhere. In some feminist circles this is simply something that they are not willing to contemplate. I can almost respect this point of view, almost.

Reconciling my feminism with my love for kink and BDSM has been empowering, it has enhanced my self-esteem and self-image, empowered me to be more assertive, even as I engage in consensual submission.

I know people find some aspects of BDSM There are undeniable issues within the BDSM and kink difficult to understand, and even and Kink communities, however, to make the confronting. But consent and safety are assumption that these issues are somehow paramount in the considerations we make when limited and or exclusive to the community, we engage in play and more. and not applicable to the wider community is quite simply incorrect and reinforces negative My love for BDSM and kink has in no way stereotypes. diminished my desire to fight for equality for women in all facets of our society, but a Sexism and the assumption that a female fundamental part of what we fight for MUST be within the community must be submissive, the right to enjoy the freedom to make choices and that femaleness implies submissiveness is concerning our own private lives, and bodily something that needs to be addressed within autonomy. our community.

I can be traditional, I can be submissive, And I can still be a feminist. FEATURE / 11

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Scrapbook

101

the age before the Internet and the P.C. Iofntherecording scrapbook was one of the mechanisms either the events of one’s life or the facts of other people’s accomplishments. In this sense, it was the precursor of people’s social media. In a very broad sense, a scrapbook is a collection of items, usually with a common theme.

common items to be found in the scrapbook. Other features may include; cinema tickets, personal invitations, pamphlets, advertising material, photocopies and even autographs.

Despite the technological progress of the 21st century, scrapbooks still exist and can be found at most stationery stores or news agents. While any item with pages like an exercise book or notebook can serve as a scrapbook, it’s advisable to use the purposely designed item.

In this sense, the scrapbook is a record similar to a diary but instead of written words it comprises a collage of hard copy documents; a visual record rather than a literary one. As such, it reveals something of the character of its owner, albeit in a sometimes fragmentary or eclectic manner.

Generally, a scrapbook comprises pages enclosed within a cardboard cover. Its pages - which are often composed of cheaper quality paper - are designed to have other paper items glued onto them. It is distinguished from a notebook in that pages are unlined and cannot be torn out easily. It also has larger pages to allow for items of A4 size.

Unlike the written record of a diary, it is more cryptic: it implies the likes, interests and social activities of its owner. It is also distinguished from a diary in that there is very little written documentation. In fact, there might be none at all. Despite this, the scrapbook is a record of a person’s activities (in the case of invitations, tickets) or interests (in the case of articles) or it can be a mixture of both.

Newspaper and magazine articles are the most

It is also a convenient way of organising all those bits of paper that hoarders keep lying around in drawers, on tables and shelves and anywhere else with a flat surface. It can de-clutter all these disparate items into some order and neatness. In summary, the scrapbook is an old-fashioned device for storing all sorts of hard copy information and appeals to a range of individuals including; hoarders, nerds, collectors and neatness freaks. By Andrew Douglas

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PLEASANT, PLUSH

AND PRETTY IN PINK By Ashley Griffin

Why did I do it? Because I love pink.

et’s chat about how we define ourselves. I’ll I’m telling you this convoluted story about start with my story. myself for two reasons.

When I was about twelve, I decided on a few things. 1)I didn’t want to wear skirts anymore. 2)I didn’t want to wear a dress to my auntie’s wedding – or anywhere. 3)I didn’t want to play Barbies with my sister. 4)I never, ever, under any circumstances, wanted to wear the colour pink. Pink was a “girly” colour. “No! I don’t want to wear girly clothes!” I yelled at my parents. I didn’t want to be girly. I got what I wanted. And for years, the colour pink had been absent from my wardrobe. Now nineteen — having left the soul-crushing, dream-killing environment of high school — I have begun my journey to change. I am making myself the person I want to be. Doing what I want to do. Saying what I want to say. And not caring what anyone else thinks. And now, I want to share with you my amazing discovery: I love pink.

The first reason is to tell you that pink is not inherently girly. No colour belongs to one gender. If you want to defy gender norms, I applaud you. But, don’t make the same mistake I made. I wanted to go against gender normativity before I knew what it was; I decided not to wear pink because it was “girly”. I was wrong. Pink is not just for girls, and pink is not inherently girly or gay or whatever. Pink isn’t exclusive to anybody. Pink is for everybody. The second reason is to encourage you to love and respect yourself; to not give one single fuck what anybody else thinks. For a long time, I thought I was at least doing this right, but we grow and keep growing, and discover things about ourselves as we do. I’m more me than I ever have been, and I want you to be too. Don’t be afraid to be really, really honest about who you are. Be unapologetically honest. Wear what you want, tell people what you think, and if anyone disagrees, it’s their problem. They don’t know you like you do. You know who you are. (If you don’t, you’ve got the rest of your life to go and find out.)

I said to my mum a couple weeks ago, “Ignore To me, pink is not just a colour. Pink to me, everything I said from when I was twelve until is living the life I want and expressing myself now.” She looked up at me and seemed to think however I feel. that was it. I continued: “I love the colour pink.” This is my asking you to do the same. This is an She laughed. invitation to love yourself. After having dealt with a daughter who chopped Wear what you want to wear simply because you and dyed her hair, and pretended to be grun- like it. Wear pink. ge for years, her now adult daughter had made great proclamation for her love of the colour P.S. Sorry I said I hate pink. pink. FEATURE / 13

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The AFL & the Closet

Masters Thesis

ociological research can be difficult, especially when one cannot access the target group for study. In fact, one would think it impossible. However, at least one ECU student discovered it could be done, albeit in a speculative, inconclusive, bits-and-pieces manner — a bit like an academic scrapbook of related topics on a given theme.

While people associated with the AFL have come out, they are largely on the periphery: such as former umpires (Graham Carbery) and amateur players (Jason Ball). No professional players have ever come out.

As a result, nearly all male-dominated, mainstream institutions have had openly gay males as members. This includes state and federal parliaments, organised religious movements and, more recently, mainstream sport.

Despite the hype of recent years, the AFL - or perhaps the general football establishment might not be as ‘inclusive’ of its gay professional players as it claims.

Gay men have come out in all the major professional football codes of Anglo-Celtic nations: British football (soccer), U.S. Gridiron, In 2000, The play Grand Final premiered as part British rugby and Australian rugby league. of the official Gay & Lesbian Pride Festival. In addition, a few European football (soccer) It was about an AFL star and his struggles to players have come out since retiring from maintain a gay relationship while still being international competition, such as Thomas very much in the public eye. The buzz around Hitzlsperger. town at the time was that it was based on a true story and that some player was about to come Of the major Australian football codes, only one out of the closet. professional player (Ian Roberts, Rugby League N.S.W.) has come out, so far Ten years later, this had not happened so the author decided to research the issue in a While the AFL has made significant strides postgraduate thesis. After four years of study over the past decade: adopting policies of and the patient support of supervisors, the inclusion, holding pride matches and, more situation remained unchanged: the professional recently, supporting the same sex marriage AFL remained a ‘gay-free zone.’ campaign, there is still not one current or former professional player who has come out. Here are some of the findings: Not a single former player has come out even post-retirement. Decades of Gay Liberation and other similar movements have significantly changed the social Significantly, the media does not ‘out’ AFL fabric of contemporary Australian society. In the players while men from other walks of life such twenty-first century, it is now quite common for as politicians are outed. public figures to be open about their alternate sexuality. Why is this?

References: Over the last decade, a significant number of professional athletes, including Olympians Ian The AFL and the Closet by A. Douglas. Thorpe and Matthew Mitcham, have come out. Masters Thesis The rate is generally lower for gay men in team sports such as football, as opposed to individual Grand Final by A. Douglas sports such as swimming or track and field. 14 / FEATURE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tR2t2FpSA4w

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Are you ‘Masc. for Masc.’ or ‘Fem. for Masc.’? An open Letter to LGBT+ Men By Tristan Sherlock

To add to this, we have countless men in our community who were raised to conform to REFACE: Masculinity is defined as feminine stereotypes since the day they were having possession of traditional, male- born. Trans men should not be treated as less associated traits. This includes traits such in our community simply because they were as handsome, buff, strong, non-emotional and subjected to a different upbringing. Whether independent. Femininity is the opposite, it’s they are masculine or not. having qualities and traits that are customarily associated with being female. This includes, Trans people have done far more for the gay but isn’t limited to: being well-presented, rights movement than masculinity has ever flamboyancy, nurturing, emotional and being done, or will ever do. We owe a lot to them. A good place to start would be by bring our own dependent. community together, and bringing in innerWhile none of the above definitions are community homophobia. inherently negative, it should come as no surprise that masculinity is the preferred. And What makes this a big problem is that it’s this is becoming a major concern in the LGBT+ relatively invisible. Despite it being quite similar, if not the same, to the pro-masculine community, especially among queer men. views straight men have, it’s almost never talked Now, I get it, sleeping with another man makes about. you un-manly in the eye of society, so you counteract this by acting more masculine. We need to start addressing this issue more. Cut Believe me, I know; I’ve been there – or tried. it down when you witness it. But this is segregating us; you’re playing into the ideologies that are causing us to be targets. It’s And don’t think only masculine men reinforce already a game of us and them; we don’t need a this idea, feminine men do to. We all need to play our part in confronting our community’s game of us and them. prejudices. As with racial preference, predilection of masculine men isn’t just a sexual preference — Our obsession with masculinity is gross, and should be treated as such. it’s discriminatory and at best harmful.

No one is less of a man because they’re masculine or feminine. Or because they don’t commit to preconceived ideas of who is and isn’t superior. The fixation on, and the glorification of, masculine traits is the real problem; not By having a masculine-manic community, whether you are flicking your wrist or playing we reinforce already perpetrated sexist and football. misogynist, and therefore homophobic, values. And in some instances, it plays into rape When our new-wave homophobia spawns culture. You don’t want to know how many largely from previously embedded sexist and times masculine men have told me they’d ‘do misogynistic ideologies, it’s important for us as want they want’ to me simply because I’m more queer men to step outside that box we’ve been feminine. Simply because I didn’t bow down to put in and prove to the world that femininity isn’t the issue; thinking femininity is weak is. them as if they were my master. The problem with masculinity is that we obsess over it. We obsess over it to the point where we subordinate the feminine members of their own community. This subservient-view of feminine men isn’t healthy.

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was really strange. So, Oskar is a young teen. How are you going to work to characterise that age? (laughs) Somebody asked that the other day and they said what are you going to do? Because I’m 28 and Oskar is about 12… So, I’m twice his age plus! But, fortunately my whole entire career leaving WAAPA has been playing teenagers. I’ve got quite a young voice so I think I’ll soften the voice. There’s that awkwardness of a teenager so I think it’s finding that physicality of him having this real false sense of bravado, he does things Are you a fan of vampires? Yes/No? If Twilight like stabs trees because he wants to get revenge turned you off the whole vampire shindig I on these boys who are bullying him. He’s quite totally understand but I encourage you to give sensitive. There’s lots of things to play with. them another go, with Let the Right One In. In this vampire tale, there will be no feeling like What initially drew you to acting? you were given a sedative, or weird alien-esque I had a really big imagination as a kid and I birthing scenes or people who sparkle in the sun would make these stories that would go on for (actually, I can’t confirm that). Instead the stage a week or afternoon. I did lots of singing and will host humour, blood, a remarkable friendship performing in primary school and then I moved and a strong ensemble of talent. Playing Oskar to a smaller town for high school and we didn’t is Ian Michael, a WAAPA graduate from the have any arts there. I didn’t think acting could Aboriginal Theatre course, who has taken the be a career. I’d watch movies and think that Australian acting scene by storm. I had a lovely would be something you can’t do as a job. Then chat with Ian to find out more about the show, I studied at ECU for half a year, I was entering his career and some other things on the side: into a journalism degree, I was 17 at the time and I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do with my What can you tell me about Let the Right One life. I was talking to Lynette Narkle, she’s one of In? the best female actors in Perth, in my opinion, Oh, my goodness! Let the Right One In is a and she was like, “You can go to this school and Swedish novel that was made into a film in 2008 do a one year course.” And I was like, acting? and it tells the story of a young teenager called That’s not a thing! She encouraged me to apply Oskar, who I play. Oskar is a bullied outsider and I got in. That was the one year I did of the who is quite sensitive and lives with his mother Aboriginal Theatre Course. Then I auditioned in a housing commission flat in this outer for every single acting school in the country for suburb. One night he meets this girl called Eli, about six years after that and I never got into who he’s never seen before but knows she’s just any of them. But having that one year gave me moved in next door and they create this the hunger to keep working at it. Every audition lovely little friendship, not knowing she’s I did I was growing more in the industry and I was able to work most of the year as an actor. a 400-year-old vampire! Eventually the acting the schools were like you don’t need to come here, keep doing what What drew you to the role of Oskar? I got an email a year and a half ago saying that you’re doing! Black Swan would love to offer me this role of Oskar. I heard of the film before and I didn’t I was going to say that since graduating it know it was a novel, so when I got the script I looks like you’ve been working pretty hard read it immediately and I fell in love with it in a and you’ve won several awards. So, what’s next way that I could really emphasise and connect for you? I don’t assume you still want to go to with these people. I could connect with Oskar acting school, I think you’re above that now! being this outsider because that was me in high (laughing) I haven’t auditioned for acting school school and I could connect to his family going in about three or four years now so I’m a bit past through this really strange separation, that’s that. In 2015, I made a show called HART, which kind of what I went through. Oskar collects is verbatim theatre about the stolen generation. this scrapbook of newspaper clippings of crime We’ve toured that pretty much all over Australia stories and murders, when Eli moves in all of and New Zealand. It did a season at the Blue these murders start to happen and nobody Room last year that did really well. So, I’m doing knows who’s doing them. I was really obsessed HART again next year and I’m writing two plays with things like crime stoppers when I was a at the moment that I can’t really say too much kid, it was really weird, I was 8 or 9 and I was about. But right now, I’m trying to really focus watching it obsessively. So, yeah, I could connect on Let the Right One In. I’m looking forward to to him really strongly and connect to the world getting into the rehearsal room and getting to they’re in. It just felt like kind of me in a way, it see what happens with this!

Interview: Ian Michael

16 / FEATURE

DIRCKSEY

How did you get into creating theatre and writing? It was about six years after I finished acting school and literally every single character I played had been between the ages of 16 and 18 and they were really awkward bullied teenagers trying to find out who they were. I kind of got a bit frustrated with it, I had done about six months of touring this play about this 17-yearold kid, I thought I don’t think I can handle this anymore for this year. I heard about statistics of aboriginal kids being taken away in 2015 and realised that this policy of children being taken away was worse than the stolen generation and it’s increasing still. I didn’t know what to do and I thought well as a theatre maker I’ll make a play about it. So, I came across all these testimonials and I did interviews with people from the stolen generation and young aboriginal people. I figured I’d make a play about it and tell the stories through theatre and hopefully people will be able to tell what’s going on in our country. It’s the first play I’ve ever written and it’s been very successful, we’ve done over 130 shows of it. So, I think my writing is always going to be about history and stories and voices that are quite silent. Writing, I really just fell into because I was frustrated about playing teenagers and now I’m about to go play a 12-year-old! It all comes back round I suppose! Who knows what’s going to happen after I play a 12-year-old? I’ll just be like, I’m going to become a gymnast or something! (more laughing) I don’t know if you’ve heard or not but next year Black Swan has ensured that there is at least one Aboriginal actor on each production. Oh wow! That is the first time I heard of that! I’ve got goose bumps actually, that’s really exciting! But, I’m also not surprised. I’ve known Clare Watson (BSSTC Artistic Director) for about five-years and speaking to her over the past year and the show and the future of Black Swan and she’s told me how excited she is to get to know Perth. You don’t hear about any other mainstream theatre company doing that, why aren’t they? What an amazing thing that Black Swan is leading the way on those kinds of initiatives. Clare is such an amazing theatre maker and Perth is really lucky to have her!

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to other humans on stage and connect to other people in a story. We’ve got a really great cast and three of them are Noongar fellas and it’s set in Sweden. There’s all of these things within the story, this cast and this production as a whole that are really fresh and new for Australian and Perth theatre. I’m really excited to just get into the room and see what we’re working towards. I think it will be the biggest production I’ve ever been involved in. I can’t wait to discover this beautiful, heartbreaking, bloody story! I’m also really excited to come back home to Perth. Do you have any processes or warm ups that you do before you go on stage that might be a bit funny? Yeah! I’m a bit crazy when it comes to warm ups. Even when I was at WAAPA I used to go into the room two hours before. Now, when I do my show HART I go into the space two hours before and do the exact same thing every single warm up, to the T. It’s all timed, on a schedule. I get really worried that if I do it in the wrong order that the show will go wrong! Oh no! For HART I do a whole line run of the show. The show is 55 minutes long. I do a line run every single time before the show. I do a lot of nervous wees. (much laughing) The audience will be coming in and I’ll be like “I’ve got to go!” Do you think you’ll be able to run a line for everything for Let the Right One In? I feel like I’ve got a little less pressure to not do a line run. There’s lots of scenes and they’re very short. There’s less pressure in an ensemble, I know a couple of people in the cast really well. So yeah, I don’t think I’ll be doing a line run of the show every night. I’ll just be doing my own thing but I’m really looking forward to being part of an ensemble because I haven’t done that in a long time.

One last question! What’s your favourite song to get down to on the dance floor? Oh my god! There’s so many! I’m one of those people who will dance to anything. I’m usually the first person on the dance floor and will never leave it! I don’t need water, I don’t need anything, I’m just here for the dancing! But Definitely! What are you looking forward to pretty much anything by Beyoncé. the most for working on this show? There are many things. HART is a one man show, so I tour around with my stage manager for most Oh yes! of the year by myself. I’m really excited to be If you give me a 20-minute mega mix by Beyoncé, on stage with other people. I’m excited to talk it’s serious! Interview by Holly Ferguson FEATURE / 17

DIRCKSEY

ISSUE 6: SCRAPBOOK

Shitty Things: To Do in a Relationships

kay, look … I’m not the best when it comes to relationship advice (actually, I am; I do watch a lot of Home & Away). But honestly how hard can being a good partner be? It’s not like you have to dedicate the rest of your life to this person. We all know it never works out. God knows how many sugar daddies I’ve had to part with because they simply asked to much of me or complained that five billion was too much for a weekend away. Things don’t work out sometimes. However, I’m well aware that your deluded hopes aren’t going to allow you to believe a single word I’ve said. So instead, I’m going to list a bunch of Shitty Things to do in a relationship...

Insult them Being nice is over rated and boring. Who needs a relaLove them tionship with someone who is kind? Sounds boring to me. Love is a lie. A neurochemical lie! By loving your partner Treat ‘em mean keep em keen, right? you’re inherently lying to them … but it’ll make them think you care … so yeah Forget their birthday Forgetting birthdays just prevents reminding your signifiStalk them cant other that they’re getting older. We all love an admirer. As a famous actor, pop-star, writer, future politician and now love expert, I personally know Steal their money how much a group of tween-acting idiots makes me feel Money will distract them from you. So, counter this by good inside. An incessant stalker can’t be too different taking their money and spending it on gifts to give them. really. My mum used to always appreciate when I took her money to buy her a Christmas present? Why won’t your Never let them see their friends partner… If they don’t see other people how will they fall in love with someone else? I know, I know I’m right (thank you; thank Ignore them you). While you’re at it probably cut Chris Pine movies out Breaks and breakups are the easiest way to end a of your lives too. Male, female or whoever, what happened relationship. Instead, if you’re struggling with your to Amelia Mignonette Thermopolis Renaldi Princess of Significant Other, don’t break up with them, ignore them. Genovia,in The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement will That way you are still in a relationship … just not with the annoying person … sort of … happen to your partner. Shitty Things is by THE Tristan Sherlock

Art by Marley Amphlett 18 / FEATURE

DIRCKSEY

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Clubbing Etiquette: Spreading the gospel Whether you’re a newbie or an experienced clubber, there are some major Do’s and Don’ts of clubbing, that really everyone should consider and implement. These are things that we’ve learnt over the years through our own painful, physical and mental, experiences. These tips are coming from a place of love and if you are guilty of some of the ‘Don’ts’, it’s all good, now you know better. Don’t: Pregame to the point of no return Nobody likes the person who pre-games too hard and crashes early. BUT what is even worse, is when the person who games too hard leaves the house; to THEN pass out on the street or in the taxi before making it into the club! *eyeroll* Do: Set up for your return from the club Part of pre-gaming should also include making sure drunk you is cared for when you get home. Get yourself a nice litre of cold water ready by your bed side, trust me, drunk (and dehydrated) you will very much appreciate it.

Do: Wear glitter Glitter completes any outfit or lqqk and elevates it to a whole new level of fabulousity. We recommend the NYX glitter roll ons for extra touch ups during the night. Don’t: Fight back with the bouncer if you can’t get in There’s no point and you’re just going to look like an idiot. Do: Be nice to bartenders They’ve probably had to deal with thankless, drunk messes all night. The least you can do is say thankyou & give them a tip (what are you going to do with change at the club anyways?). Don’t: Drink vodka red bull if you’re over 18 If you appreciate your body and general health. Just avoid this. Also, the smell is really pungent so don’t bring it near me… it brings back regrettable memories.

‘mate having a dance out the front of a club at 1am’

Do: Make friends Clubs are great places for making friends that you’ll never see again. Go ahead and confess all your deepest secrets to them, they won’t care and probably won’t remember (it’s practically free therapy). Don’t: Overdo it on snapchat Everything might seem snapchattable but it’s probably not… We really don’t care to see 30 videos of you lip-syncing the words wrong or an array of epileptic fit inducing clips. Everyone skips through that shit anyway. Do: Use the club to experiment with your fashion This is your time to step out and pretend you’re attending NYFW. Release your inner Bradshaw and own that dance floor in that technicolour dream coat. Don’t: Wait in line Is what your waiting for really worth it? Lines are for people who don’t know any better, you’re a VIP hunny. Don’t settle for less.

By Leighton & Holly. Art by Sam Beard Sambeardartist@gmail.com

Don’t: Break in new shoes at the club Yes, the shoes are cute. Yes, you want to make everyone jealous of them. But, no, wearing them for the first time at the club is not a good idea. You think having a hangover will be bad, think about combining that with torn up and blistered feet. Yeah, it’s a no go.

FEATURE / 19

DIRCKSEY

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So,

Art by Maxine Singh @maxinesingh

You’re Doing An Arts Degree… ‘You know there’s no money in the arts, right?’ ‘Ha! That’ll make it easy to get a job!’ ‘Oh, so … are there any careers in that?’ ‘At least you’ll always be on the lowest tax tier!’

20 / FEATURE

DIRCKSEY

You’ve heard it all before. Whenever you tell that archaic relative or distant family friend you’ve decided to study the arts, you’re always met with the same responses. They give you a wary glance and try to figure out where exactly you went wrong, “I mean, do you want to buy a home and afford to eat at some stage?” Then they try to recover by bringing up a story about their florist’s uncle’s stepsister’s career as a documentarian for three years. Always inspiring. The funny thing is that grown-ups spend all their time telling you to follow your dreams until the age of twelve. After that, it’s time to get your head out of the clouds; figure out what you want to do after you graduate and venture off into the ‘big wild world …’ And then you hit them with ‘arts degree.’ Pandemonium ensues.

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pulled their weight? Writing up those incessant emails to your tutor, filling all those different roles and persevering to get everything up to standard before the due date are actually pretty sought-after attributes, no matter what field you’re in. Employers will always value someone who can rise to the challenge and come proactively prepared to problem solve in the most out-there situations. Another plus is how the arts opens your eyes to a wide range of different perspectives. Because people from all walks of life with different stories and backgrounds choose to pursue a career in the arts, you often get to hear firsthand ideas and opinions never previously considered. The opportunity to listen to a variety of experiences can develop an important skill; empathy. In a world fueled by outrage culture and new racisms, the value of such an attribute cannot be underestimated, and it has even more merit beyond the workplace.

The sad thing is, our relatives and loved ones do have grounds to worry when it comes to the financial side of a career in the arts. With funding for the arts sector being cut left, right and centre, it can be difficult not to worry. The What’s more is that an arts degree teaches you wages are generally low, the conditions tough, about the importance of the past, its influence and the long hours grueling. on our present and its implications for our future. Whether you’re looking at the ideas of So why do we do it? For most of us, it’s because Foucault or Barthes in a communications core the arts are our passion. We’re doing what we or analysing how Dickens and Orwell write love; being paid crappy wages to do so is better about their world, you’re evaluating cause and than not doing it at all. We’re more comfortable effect over decades and centuries. Many people behind a camera, an easel, a notebook or a never realise just how important the past is; it’s microphone than we would be behind a stuffy more than just words on a page, paintings on a office desk at a nine-to-five day job. We may have wall or photographs of a brief moment years ago. to work a few jobs just to make rent every week It’s where we made mistakes and (sometimes) but getting the chance to follow that dream is learned from them, advancing to better and worth every long hour. brighter things years later. The upside is that there is more to the arts than just the financial facet. Arts degrees have wide reaching and universal benefits that stick with their students long after they graduate. For starters, you get to develop your communication, collaboration and creativity from day one. Remember all those group assignments where you had to do a lot more than expected because one member never

So, the next time someone makes a dig at you for choosing to study in the arts, remember there are benefits they’ve probably never even considered. The soft skills you hone over time are advantageous in both your work and social life, regardless of where you end up. And even as thinking about your future career in the arts may be daunting, not doing what you’re passionate about is even more so. By Elisha Hammond

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DIRCKSEY

ISSUE 6: SCRAPBOOK

‘Scraps’ Empty words are scrawled, the corners decorated. Dates of the old, and pictures faded. You’re just another page; not the first one, nor the last. This scrapbook filled with memories, lost loves, and torn photographs.

Eyes The eyes that distracted me for more than a year The eyes that forced out every single tear The eyes I just couldn’t seem to ignore The eyes that used to beg and implore. The blue, the gray, they mixed so well Being in their proximity was a living hell Yet all I wanted was to never look away All I wanted was for him to whisper “okay”. One night in the car I sat on his lap Staring into those eyes, I could see the gap And I realised then that it wouldn’t work out. So I turned away, trying not to pout. Sorrow and regret were all I could feel As I struggled to make it through this ordeal Remembering the eyes that had said so much. Remembering the scent, the sound and the touch. 22 /CREATIVE / ARTS & LITERATURE

Art by Victoria Jamie Bennett

‘Scraps’ by Jessica Checkland Eyes by Vanessa Vlajkovic

DIRCKSEY

Holy Hand

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Art by Shona Wong @somechuppy

No time to sleep can’t you see we were created by that Holy Hand that doesn’t exist that carved our souls, that stirred our potions, that molded our figures, that flame dipped our iron, that tuned our instrument that tinkered our brains, that intricately used His thin fingers and tiny tools to build and turn our clockwork, we were made to live! by nothing, but something all the same. Careful don’t give in to the doov-doov apocalypse let’s make our own sounds you buy the gear I’ll write the lyrics ah and what a beautiful synchronisation of jagged bop. Strum the holy melody wet my ears snake sound into anticipating explosive heart,, music is the one thing I know and know that I need, this is the hand that created me…. the rhythm my soul sways to like a junkie injecting his long-craved-for fix closing his eyes and smiling losing Time to the greater Gods who look down and laugh and take from their sad minions sitting about and dying dying dying, those Gods that don’t exist, don’t exist at all, those Gods dying don’t exist don’t at all exist dying dying dying exist

By Juanita May CREATIVE / ARTS & LITERATURE / 23

DIRCKSEY

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Scrappy Scap From Heaven to Hell

Across

Down

3 The Diary of ________ Frank

1 Vase

5 Plant anchor 6 Spouse 7 Dancer’s skirt 9 UN member 11 To’s partner 24 /CREATIVE / ARTS & LITERATURE

2 Layer 3 Near the South Pride 4 Love God 8 Utilizes 10 Gone by

By Sarveshwaran Arumugam

DIRCKSEY

ISSUE 6: SCRAPBOOK

Slang Search K A K O E J K V H K G M T Q A

S Z C W D K K A G L R G S F D

L E M O N A D I N G S Q A V E

H H L Q S S R B Y S G T E G W

W T W L L I O L E A C R B S A

P B S A X P S M K E T A L U F

A Z O T A T T D W G S S S Q A

E G M D A O U L O A F H X L H

How many of these mostly made up and annoying slang words, born out of 2017, do you know? Words can go diagonally, backwards and share letters

H X P L H N Q I L U D V R P F

S Q T W O K E T Q R N A X E K

O V Y R E S Y B Q S U S N M N

BEAST BOP DADDY DEAD EXTRA FUQBOI GAGGED GOALS HENNY HOTMESS LEMONADING

T Z M C A E Y N N E H O H M R

B R S G A N O S A B Z Y Z Z Q

D A D D Y I L N C E M Y A L S

LIT LOWKEY SALTY SAME SIS SLAYME SNAKE STAN SUS TRADE TRASH WOKE

U W V E D G R Z D H C E T E T

CREATIVE / ARTS & LITERATURE / 25

DIRCKSEY

ISSUE 6: SCRAPBOOK

SKEPTOMANIAC: CAN WE IMPROVE AUSTRALIAN POLITICAL DISCOURSE PLEASE?

By Davo Hunter

y YouTube favourites can best be described as a wild and unsorted place. Panel show comedy, some bloke laughing hysterically at the worst game to ever hit Steam, the builder who unwittingly had an egg glued to his head for a laugh. It really is the cream of broadcasting greatness. Don’t worry, I do watch other fascinating bits and pieces too, some of which can actually get my loner brain cells to invite a few friends round for a party. I refer to the very esteemed critic of anything resembling bull poop, James Randi. Over the course of many years, he has debunked drivel from the likes of Uri Geller, a total bender (Of spoons. He bends spoons. Don’t look at me like that. Randers and his epic beard have brought a great line of neutral thinking to things such as divining, channeling and other such new age junk. He doesn’t believe unless you can prove 100% it’s true. This got me thinking. A great wish of mine would be to see someone of James Randi’s caliber tackle our biggest issue of today: the utter rubbish spewed forth by both sides of the political divide. What we really need is someone who can subscribe to every piece of data, boil it down until the tasty truths are brought out and actually communicate this in a non-biased, unspun fashion.

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Something that anyone can definitively say no narrative was entered into. I get asked what I get pigeonholed into politically. I just think I’m too fat for any sort of bird box. I mean, equality for all is fine, practice whatever religion you fancy, be critical about where you live but don’t cause criminal actions in the process. It’s very basic stuff that I believe everyone should let happen. Yet I see people that think about themselves and their own little world with no care for anyone else. My particular bugbear lately has been “patriots”. Apparently, this means no criticism of this country or pack your bags before getting a bullet in the backside. How much of this “patriotism” is due to misinformation? Probably a lot. That’s why we need a respected source of information that isn’t up to media, corporations, government and the rest to debunk the junk that gets out in the public sphere. I guess there is Snopes, but that does seem to drop the ball in the public outreach. Not enough people check there first to critique themselves. I just hope my Nigerian inheritance pays off before I realise I’m one of those people. To sum up, we’re gullible to fall for spoon benders and political misinformation. We need a new generation of neutral sceptics pushing back against the loony left and the ranting right, eliminating having any extreme sides at all and uniting us back into a more pleasing political atmosphere. But I guess that depends on how ‘Randi’ you feel.

Book Reviews A Thousand Splendid Suns Khaled Hosseini, 2007

The Atheist Muslim: A Journey from Religion to Reason Ali A. Rizvi, 2016

Rubbles, dust, bomb, blast, loss, blood, cries, these are daily lives of some in Afghanistan. A glass of water is a great fortune they treasure. This story causes many goose bump

This is a valuable resource that clarifies many of the issues concerning this major religion in the modern world including its history, schisms and extremists. It is not a polemic against any religion but a critique of fundamentalism and religious intolerance. The dominant theme is that no religion is above scrutiny and all religious institutions are accountable when they transgress human rights. It highlights that women and the LGBTIQ community are frequent victims of the excesses of organised religion. People have rights; religious texts do not and no religion is above criticism. This book is a logical, consistently argued work that debunks many myths and explains a lot more about Islam. The bottom line is that there are - especially in western countries - as many moderate, agnostic even atheist Muslims as there are in the other major religions. A must for atheists, agnostics, fundamentalists, Muslims and non-Muslims. By Andrew Douglas

inducing moments. Khaled Hosseini, in his unquenchable talent of words, hooked me to the glory of an unforgettable story leaving me with watery eyes at its conclusion. The story focuses on two Afghan women, who lost everything but their dignity. It’s this strength that allows them to find love and solemn amidst the unsettling streets of Kabul, which is showered in loud sound of gunfire and bombs. This novel left me wondering how much more grateful I should be for the life I have now. It’s a story that fed my soul and mind. By Sarveshwaran Arumugam

The Nightingale Kristin Hannah ,2015 What could have been a powerful and beautiful tale of sisterhood and an interesting depiction of the lives of the daughters, wives and widows left behind in a Nazi occupied France was stumped by The Nightingale’s unbearable slow pace and the intolerable use of clichés and exaggerations. While the plot itself is flawless, heartbreaking and moving the exaggerations leave The Nightingale in an almost comedic state of melodrama. Hannah’s poor choice of phrasing leaves the tension to degenerate, and often steals the realism away from the scenes. It comes at a really big surprise that the ending of The Nightingale is so well managed. It’s just a pity that to fully enjoy the ending you need to endure such sluggish story-telling. By Tristan Sherlock

The Holy Bible … but gayer Elijah Daniel, 2017 Look, I haven’t read this all the way through. But if Trump as Satan, all the wine being replaced with mimosas and RiRi as our Lord and Saviour doesn’t sell The Holy Bible … but gayer to you I don’t know what will. Oh right … maybe a few stand out quotes: -‘And Lord Rihanna said, “Let there be light,” and there was.’ -‘Seth also had a son, and he named him Enosh. At that time gays began to call on the name of the Lord Rihanna.’ -‘But Carly Rae Jepsen found favour in the eyes of Lord Rihanna.’ -‘Donald Trump rose up against Disneyland and incited David to take a census of West Hollywood.” By Tristan Sherlock

27 / ARTS & LITERATURE

Amy (2015): The Girl behind the Name It’s been a while since a movie has captured my attention quite as much as “Amy”. This documentary details the heartbreaking, true story of the rise, fall and untimely passing of jazz singer, Amy Winehouse. The singer first appears on screen in a fuzzy home video, belting out an almost unbelievable and enthusiastic ‘Happy Birthday’ as a fourteen-year-old fresh faced, curvy, ebony haired girl. A stark contrast to what Amy would inevitably become. Prior to her success, Amy appears modest about her level of talent. She seems to have humble aspirations and wide-eyed optimism for her future. But as she grew, so did the sadness behind her big, winged chestnut eyes. An ongoing sadness that would both plague and aid her throughout her career. This film presents to the audience a perspective that may not have been previously considered. It is very easy to make jokes, judge or criticize when someone has a reputation for being unreliable and a heroin addict, but how did she come to be this way? One possibility is the separation of Amy’s parents, Mitch and Janis Winehouse. Mitch, a seemingly inconsistent father and Janis, a timid woman scared to discipline her own child. Another is the toxic co-dependent relationship she had on and off with Blake Fielder Civil -the man who claimed to love her, but introduced her to crack cocaine. Blake was just one of many unhealthy relationships that Amy would find herself engaged in. By Amy’s own admission, her behaviour, characteristically common of many other drug addicts, was self-sabotaging.

a grown woman, she seemed to be in a regressive childlike state both mentally and physically. I am equally frustrated and sympathetic to her. A scene that stuck with me, was when Amy was scheduled to perform at the Grammy Awards via satellite. She was nominated for song of the year and the award was being presented by none other than her idol, Tony Bennett. She was able to perform on the proviso that she had to have been clean for an entire month. On this occasion she was successful. It was what should have been a defining moment in her career and life! Tony opened the envelope and announced her as the winner. For a brief and shining moment everything was wonderful. She said her “Thank you’” and embraced her friends and family around her. This was her opportunity to shine. Moments after she left the stage she turned to one of her best friends and said in her distinctive accent “Well, this is boring without drugs.” And my heart sunk. If you ever find yourself with two hours to get lost in a film, this would be the one I recommend. Art & Review by Marley Amphlett

AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY,AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY,

AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY,

It is easy from an outsider’s perspective to see that very few of the people Amy surrounded herself with were genuine. You could rationalize that when you are in the bubble of drug addiction and have like-minded peers it is easy to justify the behaviour particularly when there is pressure to succeed financially. Instead of blossoming into

AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY, AMY,

FILM / 28

Music Reviews

DIRCKSEY

Wonderful Wonderful The Killers, 2017

More Scared Of You Than You Are Of Me The Smith Street Band, 2017

The alternative band from Las Vegas who gave us iconic indie hits Mr Brightside and Somebody Told Meare are back with their new album, Wonderful Wonderful. After the opening title track, the album kicks things off with catchy pre-released The Man, a song which sees the band go back to their electronic sounding routes with an egotistical song about being ‘the’ man. However, it’s not all high tempo, with the more soothing Some Kind of Love taking it down a notch, sounding like something straight out of a U2 album. Which is explained by the writing and incorporation of former U2 producer Brian Eno and the bands long affection with the Irish rockers. The album in general showcases the best of what the Killers have to offer with new found favourites, songs of lyrical genius, and singles that question society but it does feel like it’s lacking one more hit song. By Jack Cooksey Favourite Worst Nightmare Arctic Monkeys, 2007

The Smith Street Band has given us an apologetic break up anthem album with More Scared Of You Than You Are Of Me that delivers Will Wagners most adventurous vocals and more synths, a choir and large string sections. It features nostalgic Aussie summer tunes like Young Once and transparent emotive odes such as Passiona, which has both warm ‘I don’t care’ references to nightly rituals of drinking in Caulfield pubs. The band’s melancholy approach has changed somewhat through Producer Jeff Rosenstock’s influence, who breathes euphoria and escapism into the crashing breakdowns of drum and heavy guitar. The Smith Street Band have come of age since 2014’s Throw Me In The River. More Scared Of You than You Are Of Me is a challenging, internationally respected and uniquely harsh. If you haven’t heard it from start to finish yet, listen to it as the band intended and learn things. By Jackson Lavell-Lee Now Shania Twain, 2017 After a tragic fifteen years of not being given a single studio album by Shania Twain, everyone’s favourite country icon has

I was at a petrol station when my older brother got all excited by a CD on the rack by the counter. It was the Arctic Monkeys’ second album. When we got back in the car, he clicked play and for the first time I was introduced to this band’s unrelenting energy with the firecracker opening ‘Brianstorm.’ Ten years on and this album still rocks. The perpetually catchy ‘Fluorescent Adolescent,’ the poignant ‘Only Ones Who Know,’ and the sublime ‘505’ are my personal favourites. What’s struck me is the scrapbook of sounds between their albums, from grungy Humbug to the summery Suck It and See, to the modern classic and extremely popular AM. The constant between all (and we can’t forget their snarling debut Whatever People Say I Am That’s What I’m Not) has been the throttling drums of Matt Helders and poetic lyricism of Alex Turner. The Arctic Monkeys’ long-awaited 6th album is rumored to release in 2018. By Zachary Sheridan

ISSUE 6: SCRAPBOOK

returned with the bold and daring comeback album, Now. Shania Twain’s album excels in its ability to use what has made her past albums so successful without relying too heavily on them. The songs on Now, are modern, entertaining and pleasurable. While Shania’s change in voice, as well as the deep and emotional lyrics have provided this album with a much darker tone, the sweet and serene journey told by the songs is what really makes this album such a stand out. The juxtaposition of the tale of coming back from the brink of ruin with the darker tones allows this album to deliver an array of emotions that make it a divine work of art. By Tristan Sherlock

29 / MUSIC

Film Reviews

DIRCKSEY ISSUE 6: SCRAPBOOK

Fantastic Mr. Fox Wes Anderson, 2009

Victoria & Abdul Stephen Frears, 2017

When I think of scrapbook in terms of film I cannot go past the worlds of Wes Anderson, with his wide photographic shots, bold colour palettes, and concentrated symmetry. In anticipation of Isle of Dogs – set to hit cinemas in 2018 – I revisited perhaps his most scrapbooky of works – the stopmotion animation Fantastic Mr. Fox, where every moment is literally captured frame by frame. A take on Roald Dahl’s novel, the audience follows the story of the film’s namesake. Mr. Fox breaks a promise to his wife, steals chickens from the notorious farmers Boggis, Bunce, and Bean, and a war between the farmers and animals of the land ensues. Dipping into existentialism, responsibility, differences, leadership, growing up – thematic trademarks of Anderson – Fox is hilarious (the zone-outs from the possum), charming (George Clooney voices Mr. Fox), and, of course, fantastic.

Once again Judi Dench does her ‘Grand Dame’ act in the guise of Queen Victoria. This film is based on documents discovered a few years ago belonging to one of her Indian servants. Towards the end of her reign Victoria became close to this young man. Given the racial prejudices of the time, this association raised eyebrows among her household. Much of the film is based on fact. However, there are parts that are sheer soap opera. Any student of British history will be able to pick the parts that are fanciful embellishments. Despite this artistic license, the film is credible, entertaining and moving. One believes the Queen to be a lonely old woman, devoid of friends, surrounded by sycophants and people who are reluctant to tell her the truth. If anything, Dench’s portrayal shows Victoria as more vulnerable and sympathetic - more ‘human’ than the conventional image we have of her.

By Zachary Sheridan

By Andrew Douglas

The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement Garry Marshall, 2004

IT Andres Muschetti, 2017 I appreciate horror films that take the time to be well-crafted and make me care about the main characters. It is both of those things in spades. Director Andres Muschetti works so well with the main actors, delivering solid child performances akin to what you see with 80s Spielberg or Netflix’s Stranger Things. We are engaged in what these characters are experiencing, that is the real point of Stephen King’s best work. People are seeing It because it looks like a scary clown movie, and yes Pennywise is f**king terrifying and perfectly portrayed by Bill Skarsgård, but It is more than just the clown. It’s a story of facing your literal and metaphoric demons, Muschetti allows this message to beat through the movie even while he throws out inventive, electric and intricate scares.

You would think it would be impossible to top the likes of a film as great as The Princess Diaries. Yet, the sequel not only does its predecessor justice but manages to be so much better. After five years of being a princess, Mia Thermopolis is forced to marry someone in order to ascend to the title of Queen of Genova. The Princess Diaries 2 is a fantastic film about fighting the patriarchy, and how kindness and empathy can go a long way. While it may seem like a goofy movie, deep down The Princess Diaries is in fact a deep and meaningful masterpiece. Best sequel ever. (Editor’s note: you can never go wrong with a combo like Julie Andrews and Anne Hathaway?!) By Tristan Sherlock

By Christopher Spencer FILM / 30

DIRCKSEY

ISSUE 6: SCRAPBOOK

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