Poppy Magazine - Issue Three; April/May - Rebellion

Issue 3

Rebellion

Poppy MAGAZINE

April/May 2016

Hey Pops,

I don’t know if it’s really that necessary to rebel. At least, I don’t know how important it is to have an all-out-door-slamming-secretcarrying-anti-establishmentarian phase in your life.

I realize that we’ve just dedicated an entire issue to rebellion, so it has to mean something, right? It does, I’m pretty sure. Not necessarily because of the rule-breaking, or the blasé attitude, though.

Rebellion in & of itself might not be necessary. Living authentically is, though. Unfortunately, a lot of times, doing that requires some sort of rebellion. Which can be empowering or fun or cliché or exciting OR the worst! Whether your rebellion looks more like hiding socks that are JUST SO YOU under the Doc Martens all your friends expect you to wear, or like waving your freak flag as proudly as you can, you’re doing some hard and important work.

It’s tiring work too, being true to yourself. It would be easier to pretend to be someone who might not stand out so much. Here’s the catch, though. It’s pretty lonely to be surrounded by people you don’t have anything genuine in common with. (Which is unfortunately what happesn when you pretend to be someone you’re not.) I don’t know about you, but I’d rather be lonely and happily dancing along to the beat of my drum than lonely and lying to myself.

So to all of you brave, tired, lonely souls out there: stick it out. The road is long, and the road is tough, and really easy to give up on. And, someday, the road leads to this cool place where a bunch of other people like you have been waiting for you, hungry to find other weirdos who like that obscure band, or want to talk about mathematical theories for days, or feel their best dressed in dramatic, avant-garde ensembles.

I’m writing this while Mary Lambert sings a decidedly un-angsty cover of Teenage Dirtbag on repeat into my headphones. Here’s the best part – at the end of the song, she sings about how weird and angsty and isolated she feels around her crush (she’s singing from the perspective of the Iron Maiden fangirl that no one at school really notices) Man I feel like mold It’s prom night and I am lonely Sad stuff, right? But, also, like much too relatable. And then – wait for it – not 30 seconds later the same crush that she was SO SURE didn’t know who she was or AT LEAST thought she was a gross teenage dirtbag walks up and says: I’ve got two tickets to Iron Maiden, baby Come with me Friday don’t say maybe I’m just a teenage dirtbag, baby, like you (!!!)

You can go from feeling like a wooly fungus to getting invited to join a new friend at your favorite band’s concert in thirty seconds. BUT the only way to find the other dirtbags out there is to keep living your proud, dirtbag life. (don’t be an actual dirtbag in the mean sense. be kind and respectful humans etc etc ok thanks) okay dirtbags, go out and live your life the way only you can – even if it means you’ve gotta rebel to do it.

Check out some of our REBELLION inspiration!

Rebellion.

A radical act of self-love against all odds, against what society is force-feeding you.

Expressing yourself in a way that only you will understand.

Fighting for what you believe in, no matter how small.

- Isabelle

Allow us to introduce the Poppy Team, regular contributors who provide some of the amazing content, ideas and planning in this issue!

Editor in Chief Madison Ryan Illustrators Keta Tugushi Isabelle Ryan Rachel Patterson Photographers Taylor Washington Elinor Bonifant Erin Scott-Marshall Writers Alexandra Melnick Rachel Patterson Elsa Burgos Danielle Chelosky Layout Sarah Hadi

in this issue...

6. “Why do I hide behind this mask?”

7. “Street Smarts” 8. “Poppy Playlist” 9. Traded Pilots Interview 11. “The Plural of Vinyl” 14. “Rebellion is not what they tell you to be” 15. Rebellion Comic 22. Untitled Collage 23. “B-I-T-C-H” 24. “Haze” 26. Beginner’s Guide to Social Justice 29. “Bend” 30. “Delicate Resistance” 32. “Mosby,” “Artsy vein,” “First love” 34. Daja Interview and Photo Spread 43. “I refuse to read my poems anymore” 44. “As I please” 45. Poppy Presents: Film Reviews 47. [don’t] take it from me 49. Call for Submission - “Fresh Start”

Traded Pilots

Poppy Contributor, Alexandra Melnick interviewed one of her favorite freak-folk bands, Traded Pilots for the Rebellion issue! Check out what they had to say about elephants, bad-ass lyrics, and the idea of being “mainstream”.

Traded Pilots is, on paper, a folk band composed of Samuel Vance-Law (vocals, guitar), & Illay Chester (vocals, cello). In reality, they’re a fairy tale & pirate experience, a foray into forgotten worlds & the magic of everyday places. Traded Pilots writes the music for adventures you didn’t even know you were going on until you took a wrong turn down a familiar street. Currently living in Germany, the band hails from Canada & North England & all met in Berlin a fairy tale place if I’ve ever seen one.

I was fortunate to interview Sam & Emma, because what’s at heart more rebellious than folklore and fairytales?

Poppy Mag: How did everyone meet?

Sam: Emma & I met a few years back

at a children’s parade which sounds weird, & it was. Anyway, after singing songs about elephants together, we thought we should meet up and have a jam. Neither of us had jammed before, but it seemed to go pretty well & here we are.

Emma: Yes, I think the strawberries & Prosecco helped.

How do you feel your music goes against the mainstream?

Emma: We don’t take ourselves particularly seriously, but we do take our music seriously. It started as something we used to do in the kitchen for fun rather than a plan for world domination. ridiculous mixture, from Bulgarian folk music to Queen, Benjamin Britten to The Magnetic Fields.

Sam: It could be that our music is mainstream. I’m not particularly sure what the mainstream is. All I know is we’re supposed to be against it.

What’s the most challenging part of recording a debut album?

What’s your favorite protest song?

Emma: I’m a big fan of old English, Irish and Scottish folk songs, a lot of which have a great deal of protest in them about the social situations good protest song

realise you have to go away and learn how to sing.

Sam: And money. And time. Both Emma and I have worked for other musicians before who were surrounded by teams — of engineers, techies, producers etc.

And they make it look easy. But it’s not.

We’re pretty good at our jobs but, until now, that was none of the above. I think we’re getting better though. And I’m coming up with.

Emma: We’re also used to building a strong connection with a live audience, which is hard to do while singing in a small dark box instead of on a stage. It requires a whole new approach to make something that sounds alive.

What’s your favorite song to listen to/ sing when you’re in a “fuck you” kind of mood?

Sam: I haven’t felt that way for a long time. Sex is great, if that’s what you’re talking about, and then I tend to sing.

But I haven’t had much chance to feel songwriting….

Emma: Yeah, I’m also rarely in a “fuck you” kinda mood, but when I’m in a “fuck me” kind of mood I like to put on that “I’m too sexy for my shirt” song.

Sam: I don’t know if it’s a protest song, but Bruce Cockburn’s, Lovers in a Dangerous time has one of the most bad-ass lyrics of all time: “You got to kick at the darkness till it bleeds daylight.” If that isn’t protest, I don’t know what is.

What’s your favorite song to cover?

Emma: We never really cover songs, but if we did, I’d do anything from Queen…. But I wouldn’t, cause no one can outsing Freddie.

Sam: I’m working on a cover of Andrew in Drag at the moment. It’s the only cover I’ve ever done. So, from a choice of one, I’ll choose that one.

What is your all time least favorite song?

Emma: That question is about as hard to answer as “What is your favourite song?” No idea!

Sam: Für Elise. I’ve heard there’s a good bit in the middle, but I’ve obviously always OD’d on sadness before I’ve gotten to it.

click here to listen

curated by: the Poppy Team

illustrated by: Keta Tugushi

O N I L C L O E M B I E C R

written and illustrated by: E.B.

Collage by: Rachel Patterson

B IT CH

written by: Helene Mayer

B-I-T-C-H. Five little letters that old so much power. Growing up as a female, I’ve developed a complex personal relationship with that word.

But I’ve come to the conclusion after my many years of research and personal experience of being given that title that I love it. Why? Because I’m a huge bitch.

Bitch has all kinds of meanings. “Don’t be a bitch.” “Haha you bitch.”

“Son of a bitch.” Can you believe what she said? What a bitch.” “Bitch give me back my pizza.” (That last one was an actual quote said to my roommate last night.) All of the traditional uses of the word bitch are meant to do the same thing: attack the feminine. It’s meant to call

to make it through the world. When a woman takes command, she’s a bitch. When a man expresses his emotions, he’s a bitch. When a woman puts her own self care above anyone else’s, she’s a bitch. When she asserts herself, she’s a bitch. But when a man doesn’t assert himself, meanings are contradictory. Men are supposed to avoid the feminine or else he’s a bitch. And for women if they express any kind of control, she’s a bitch. But see the thing is, I want to be a bitch if that’s what people think is a bitch. I want to showcase my security in my own femininity and womanhood in such a powerful way that I’m the biggest bitch in the room.

B-I-T-C-H. we can twist the meaning of this word to become a symbol of anyone, regardless of gender identity. So when someone tells me I shouldn’t call a fellow woman a bitch, I saw that we should take control of the language uses to discuss ourselves, and turn it into what we want to be. Because once we take away the power of language to shape our reality, we can change that reality.

So be a bitch. Be the biggest, baddest, bossiest bitch you can. Because power is sexy, and being a woman is sexy, and bitches run the world.

Beginner’s Guide to Social Justice

2015 was the year people of all races chanted “Black Lives Matter” in streets to protest violence of policemen against black people. 2015 was the year lovers of the same gender finally had the right to get married. 2015 was the year “feminism” wasn’t seen as such a bad word anymore, but one to use proudly. Now that we’re in 2016, it’s time everyone gets involved in movements for issues like these so we can all come together to make a change. Here are some basics to get you started.

written by: Danielle Chelosky

r e t t a M s e v i ckL

a l B #

2013 was the year the Black Lives Matter movement was formed, which was shortly after the shooting of Trayvon Martin by volunteer security guard George Zimmerman.

With each murder of an unarmed black citizen by a person of authority, the movement grew bigger and received more attention. According to ProPublica.org, young black males are 21 times more likely than young white males to be shot dead by police. If Lives Matter is raising awareness that racism is still alive and well and we can’t let

Love Wins June 26th, 2015 was the day same-sex marriage was legalized in the United States.

Celebrations broke out across the country–outside the Supreme Court, Greenwich be put in textbooks someday, and to live during this time and witness this event where we take a big step closer to equality is what keeps us all hopeful and optimistic for the future. Although gay marriage is legal, there are other letters in the LGBTQ+ community besides for the G and the L. Bisexual people still receive erasure, trans people still don’t have basic rights, asexual and pansexual people still are almost completely unacknowledged by society. While media representation is improving for the gay and lesbian community, the other letters rarely get representation or acceptance.

*

feminism

*The problem with“White Feminism” and the importance of “Intersectional Feminism” Feminism has been evolving for years but lately more voices are being heard.

This, in turn, causes more people to speak out. Many monumental changes have been made in the past few years in feminism, including the right for Though progress has been made, there . Double standards are a source of many problems – unequal pay, slut-shaming, victim blaming, etc.

Feminism is about believing women have rights over themselves, including over their bodies – which explains why many feminists are pro-choice. An example of a major problem for women’s rights is that Congress passed a bill to defund Planned Parenthood because 3% of what they do is abortions.

Feminism is about including all women’s issues, which means not just supporting white, able-bodied, straight women, but women of color, women who are a part of the LGBTQ+ community, women with disabilities, etc.

When women who aren’t as oppressed as others (e.g. white, able-bodied, straight women) support and express feminism, but don’t include any other women, it’s a problem. This is called “white feminism,” and it’s basically the opposite of intersectional feminism. Sure, issues like #FreeTheNipple and dress codes are important, but shouldn’t we also focus on racism and transphobia?

Women with disabilities are raped at least twice the rate of everyone else, acviolence from a partner, while for young heterosexuals it’s 9%, according to the equality of all women?

Feminism is equality for everyone. That’s impossible to reach if we only focus on certain individuals and then ignore others.

RAPE CULTURE Rape culture is a complex topic with many layers to it that a lot of people are unaware of. When someone makes a rape joke, do they think they’re contributing to rape culture? Probably not. When someone tells you that you should be wearing more clothing because you look like a whore, do they think they’re contributing to rape culture? Probably not. When someone calls you a slut because of your sexual life, do they think they’re contributing to rape culture? Probably not. People who contribute to rape culture are not just rapists.

Contributors to rape culture are people who perpetrate it, or try to continue making it a norm. Rape jokes make rape seem like an amusing, comical topic. It treats rape as a topic to not be taken seriously, a topic that’s not life-ruining and traumatizing. Judging how sexual someone is based on their clothing supports the idea that if a girl is wearing less clothing she’s “asking for it.” Clothing is about expressing who you are, not how sexual you are.

Sexual life and clothing have no correlation whatsoever. Shaming someone for their sexual life supports the idea that being sexual is negative and should be frowned upon.

Being sexual is one of those topics that everyone knows about but is too afraid to talk about because it’s been made out to be awkward by society. It’s become taboo, when really it should be something we all should talk about and not be ashamed of. Rape culture is not just about who gets raped, it’s about how poorly women are treated for looking a certain way or acting a certain way.

ACTIVISM While protesting and activism are viewed as positive ways to make a change to some people – standing up for what you believe in – it can be seen as a negative threat to people of authority. When there’s a protest for #BlackLivesMatter, chances are you’ll catch it on the news looking as if it was a violent, angry mob. What they leave out is the cops spraying the protesters with tear gas or threatening them with weapons. There’s not a better example for propaganda or media bias than this one. If it’s white people protesting, no matter what it’s for, it will be displayed as a peaceful, inspiring moment in history. Protests can become dangerous when the system of authority is questioned and held accountable. Why does this We should be able to criticize the system without being in danger.

BEND

photography by: Maria Alcorn

••DAJA••

Poppy Contributor, Taylor Washington interviewed and photographed the captivating, rebellious, beautifully strong Daja Rene. She talks about her “cliché” rebellious phase, and how her ideas of rebellion have changed over time.

Poppy Magazine: whats your current spirit animal?

PM: tell me about your rebellious phase.

Daja: Oof, that’s tough, because if it doesn’t have to be an animal it’d be 2004 Avril Lavigne or, like, a swampy pond nymph. Ooh, 407 year old version of Joanna Newsom. Does it have to be an animal? I guess a panda.

D: Shit. Okay, you asked. I usually summarize this, because I was honestly sort of a cliche. Insecure stoner living in an abusive home and took my drama & let it spiral out of control, that sort of deal. Suburban tragedy.

No, but honestly, I took that abuse and became insecure enough to go through a phase of having zero respect for myself.

Chasing free drugs & getting totally distracted from my education & dreams just to become this angry 16 year old bitch thinking that with enough piercings, tattoos, pills, and fishnets, I could escape it all or

PM: what does rebellion mean to you?

D: Rebellion as a word has this connotation of this senseless angst that results in aimless defiance, but I think we can all relate to what it really is: the reaction the realisation that we have a shitty, mapped out life we are expected to live.

something. And the drugs got really bad when I started selling them. Like it took some very, very fucked up situations for me to remember what I wanted and change. It’s funny because it was like I was paralyzed in a burning casket, I think; I was completely aware that my life was falling apart but it was as if I couldn’t do anything about it...I had to completely fall apart in order to rebuild and heal.

PM: Wow. how did what you considered rebellious as a young teen evolve into what you consider rebellious today?

Daja: I thought rebellion was about being this pissed off anarchist refusing to be in a cubicle. Now I think that rebellion can be subtle or modest, just as it can be like, bold and unheard of. However that person’s nonconformity empowers them and, like, enables them to live their best life. For me, that means teaching yoga and English while getting published and traveling. For the next guy, that could mean leaving his great paying

job to push coke through Baja. At least he’s breathing in every second of his thrill faster than the sad dad whose monthy neighborhood BBQs with “the guys” are the bane of his existance.

PM: would you consider being a rebel as part of your evolving identity or more so a phase you go through?

Daja: Both, for sure. Had I not rebelled as a teen, those urges and issues and shit would’ve been suppressed only to come out later. Like my super Asian valedictorian mom who was super sheltered til having me at 16? Yeah, she’s an alcoholic now, using men for money and xanax to escape herself. But it’s just a phase. • • • ••• •••

Poppy Presents: Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice: A beautiful disaster, or just a disaster?

Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures Stick with me on this. You know those Instagram food blogger posts? The perfect lighting, the plate placement, and (of course!) the filters. But then, you stop scrolling and look closer. It’s not fancy food, it’s a collection of low-priced cuisine made to look fancy for status. It’s an airbrushed and filtered output that clutters your feed. That’s what BvS is. It is nothing more than a sad attempt by a false messiah of complex antihero flicks (Zack Snyder, director). It is a pretender carrying out a dystopian intricacy to cover up the sad pimples of dark versus light. When this film was announced at Comic-Con in 2014, it received much controversy due to Ben Affleck donning the black cape and mask. Since then, Warner Bros. has put out many red-flags that the observant few may have noticed, including a March release, an anti-hero summer release (Suicide Squad), and last but not least, Zack Snyder at the helm. Snyder, known for slipping away with Watchmen and attempting to reboot Superman in Man of Steel, has utterly baffled me with his lack of storytelling ability. The film gets mudded in poorly-executed writing, over-the-top use of CGI, and a lack of solid thematic element use.

Film Reviews

By: Karan Wadhwa

Now, you may be thinking, “K, why do we have to worry about storytelling and writing and thematic elements? This is a Hollywood dream, Batman versus Superman! Any 12 year old with an allowance and access to the local cineplex will love this!” Fourteen years ago, I would have agreed with you. Of course, I was only six years old, but the cinematic landscape had not truly experienced the earthquake that is the Superhero Saturation Period of Hollywood, or SSPH. Yes, I did just make that up. We had seen Superhero flicks before, with Reeves and Keaton being the former Superman and Batman. But, it did not set the tone for moneymaking in Hollywood. From Tobey Maguire as Spiderman, to Downey Jr. as Iron Man, the Marvel universe was created with a fail-proof formula at the box office. So, why not keep producing more and more? Soon to follow was the DC universe. In collaboration with Warner Bros, DC Comics created a dark and edgy alternative in The Dark Knight series. Arguably the greatest set of Superhero films ever, which were directed and written by Christopher Nolan. Nolan is (for some reason) a producer for both of Snyder’s films in the DC Universe, Man of Steel and BvS. The Dark Knight and its sequel/prequel set the tone for the possibility of truly well-done films with writing and thematic elements, not just explosions and that really annoying electric bass hit when the villain shows up. The SSPH has dominated the Western market of film so much that anti-hero parodies such as Deadpool are being made by the same guys that created the good guys!

This brings us back to an iconic failure of a film in Batman v Superman. With a run time of 151 minutes, this film tries to be what Nolan was, and attempts to intricate what didn’t need to be. With subpar acting performances from Amy Adams (Lane) and Henry Cavill (Kent/Superman), it continues the disaster that already was from Man of Steel.

Jessie Eisenberg playing Lex Luthor was always an odd pick, but his abilities just played victim to the clichéd writing that tries to jump out of the box but falls right back in. On the Gotham side of things, Affleck is another odd pick that fails to dazzle. Alfred, Bruce Wayne’s butler, is now played by a GQ-model looking gentleman that can’t live up to the stature of Michael Caine. Also, the film assumes that its viewers are well-versed in the knowledge of how Wayne became the Dark Knight, but with different actors and sets.

With no exceptionals, how can we make exceptions?

In contrast to what the thirteen year olds are saying on Twitter, the film is a horrible disaster that is an insult to its predecessor. It is that Instagram picture of a $5 burrito with four filters to make it look appetizing, when really its just annoying post on your already cluttered feed.

K’s Score: 2.5/10

Two Pros: Flashes of hope, enthusiastic attempt Four Cons: Faux, Bad Writing, Snydernomics,

[don’t] take it from me of her favorite rebellious quotes, characters and moments from popular

“I don’t like to do what people expect.Why should I live up to other people’s expectations instead of my own?”

“Dear Mr. Vernon, we accept the fact that we whatever it was we did wrong. But we think you’re crazy to make us write an essay telling you who we think we are. You see us as you want to see us - in the simplest terms, in the most convenient

“... And these children that you spit on as they try to change their worlds are immune to your consultations.

They’re quite aware of what they’re going through…”

-David Bowie.

one of us is a brain...” “...and an athlete...” “...and a basket case...” “...a princess...” “...and a criminal.”

“Does that answer your question?

The Breakfast Club.”

-The Breakfast Club, 1985 “Expressing my opinion is not a terrorist action.”

A tribute to her favorite, James Dean...

POEM FOR JIMMY. I was submerged in a sea of inspiration, in a sea of love.

I want you here with me.

The highest empire of lights was held around him, charisma soaking his every part A certain once in a lifetime sweetness Eternally cool, Eternally talented, Eternally sweet, Eternally kind.

I love you, we love you, I love you.

I love you. by: Elsa Burgos

*FRESH START*

June/July

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“Fresh Start� is all about reinventing yourself, giving yourself a clean slate, and detoxifying your life - physically, emotionally, and spiritually. send submissions of written and visual work to freneticpoppy@gmail.com if you want your work to be considered for the next issue! we accept all types of art and writing - photography, collage, personal essays, poetry, and more. feel free to email us with questions or ideas! instagram: @poppy.mag email: freneticpoppy.com

twitter: @_poppymagazine website: www.poppymagazine.com

(check out FAQs on our site)

*ISSUE FOUR*