EMPIRE TIMES YOUR
STUDENT MAG
43.10
Community queer community | smoothies | the jezabels | poetry slam | the west wing
- Editorials -
Here I sit, at my computer in the ET office, fingers poised over the keyboard, trying to write my last editorial of 2016. I always leave my editorials until the last minute, one of my worst habits as an editor — another bad habit would be that I watch episodes of Frasier at my computer while I’m working, instead of listening to Spotify like a normal person. Frasier is one of my all time favourite shows; sentimental, comforting, and clever, it’s really a show about community and the odd people we surround ourselves with. It’s a coincidence that one of my favourite shows, that I often have playing in the background while I work on the magazine, is predominantly set at a radio station, Frasier’s work. Radio and magazines are both fantastic methods of bringing together communities. The theme of community is a constant in our lives, and I love the many communities I’m a part of. There’s my dear friends who I’ve met at uni, particularly those in my degree (BAHA represent!). That’s how I met my co-editor, Lauren! It’s also how I met my dear friends Karlee and Claire, the only other humans in the world who possibly love Friends as much as I do. (*Chandler voice* Could I be any more a fan of Friends???) Then, there’s the Empire Times community. Where do I begin? My love affair with ET began in 2013, in my gap year. I was still living in Mildura, but I’d come to Adelaide to visit my big sister Gen. We were at Flinders Uni Hall (another great community, where Gen lived for four years, and I lived for two), where I spotted a copy of ET. I picked it up, read it, and took it back to Mildura with me; and the rest, as they say, is history. I loved the idea of a bold, risky student mag, and as a writer, I couldn’t wait to come to Flinders and write for ET. 2014 was my first year at Flinders (I know, I’m so old), and I was so nervous to approach the then-editors, but they were lovely, welcoming, and encouraging. In 2015, I had a feminism column called ‘We Need To Talk About...’. At the end of the year I met Simone Corletto and Liam McNally (thank you to Jess Miller for introducing us!) and we (successfully) ran for the 2016 editorial team in the student elections. Simone worked on issues 1-5 before she graduated, and then Lauren joined the team for issues 6-10. This busy, crazy, special year has come to an end far too quickly. The ET community, including my co-editors, the support staff, readers and contributors, is a hilarious, talented, loyal bunch. Thank you for making this year of editing so rewarding. I’ve had to give up most of my uni holidays to do this job; the bags under my eyes have never been worse; my hands are cramping from working on this mouse and keyboard; but it’s all worth it. My heart is very full. See you next year, Flinders, and ET. E xx
So, we’ve made it! This is our final ET for 2016, my last as an editor of this fine publication and my last as an undergrad. What a whirlwind. I still vividly remember my first day at Flinders. As a refugee from another, supposedly more prestigious, university where I had felt overwhelmed and unwelcome, I stepped into my first history lecture with great trepidation. I thought I knew how it would go: ‘Here is the content. Please don’t ask me any questions. Go to the Learning Centre if you need help.’ But no! Wait! Here was someone welcoming our input and feedback not only during the lecture, but also via email, in tutorials, after class, even in their office over a cup of tea. We got notified about relevant events and get-togethers and we were encouraged to throw ourselves wholeheartedly into what we were learning. The vast majority of the rest of my classes in that first week, and ever since, have gone the same way. Flinders is a place where I have been coaxed out of my introvert shell and my curiosity has been nurtured. That has continued in my short time in an editor’s chair for ET, too. Thank you to all contributors and readers who have crossed my path over the last few months for making me feel even more at home here — just in time for my departure. I have found my own community (albeit a tiny one) of students and staff alike up here on the hill, and I am so grateful for you all. I finish this year so proud to be a Flinders alumna, but also concerned about the future of this institution. Measures such as the casualisation of staff and proposed college mergers really limit opportunities to create the kind of close-knit community that I’ve been lucky enough to experience, because staff end up overworked and underpaid, and students are intimidated by the impersonal corporatisation of what should be a place of learning above all else. I know how isolating universities-as-businesses can feel because it’s what I was fleeing when I came here. Unfortunately, university management hasn’t given me much to be hopeful about on this front in 2016, but I still believe it’s possible for Flinders to retain the caring nature that has changed my life for the better over the past three years. I believe because I’ve seen it in so many of you. Any time you feel like you have to ‘go beyond’ in your research dollars and fancy buildings and billboards, remember that it’s the teaching and learning that will really make the biggest impact on individual lives, and in turn our society. So, it is with a great deal of trepidation I once again step into the unknown, hoping that I can fall on my feet the way I did here. Goodbye Flinders. And good luck. L xx
LAUREN’S TOP PICKS
ELEANOR’S TOP PICKS p. 19 p. 30 p. 32 p. 39
Let’s Talk About Consent Alumni Interview: Lauren Hillman Trekkies in Vegas Poetry Slam Final
p. 9 p. 17 p. 20 p. 46
Things I Will Miss About Flinders Finding Your Community Community Dysphoria The West Wing
1
OH HELLO there. Vol 43 Issue 10 EDITORS
COMMUNITY
Liam McNally Eleanor Danenberg Lauren Reid
Empire Times is the student publication of Flinders University. All work within remains the property of the producers and may not be reproduced without their consent. Empire Times reserves the right to republish in any format.
Anupol Bordoloi Kayla Gaskell Brenton Griffin Jess Miller Patrick O’Loughlin Marithe Solis
Empire Times would like to acknowledge the Kaurna people who are the traditional custodians of the land Flinders University is situated on, and that this land was never ceded, but stolen. We would like to pay our respects to the elders of the Kaurna nation and extend that respect to other Aboriginal peoples, past, present, and future.
COLUMNISTS
‘The opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the editors, Flinders University, or Flinders University Student Association. Reasonable care is taken to ensure that Empire Times articles and other information are up-to-date and as accurate as possible, as of the time of publication, but no responsibility can be taken by Empire Times Magazine for any errors or omissions contained herein.’
SUB-EDITORS
Aden Beaver Rhianna Carr Jordon T. Early Richard Falkner Brenton Griffin Kelly Guthberlet Emma Hough Hobbs Jess Miller Karen Smart Elle Void Amber, the Devil’s Advocate
ILLUSTRATORS Aden Beaver Rhianna Carr Sheydin Dew Benjamin Hall Emma Hough Hobbs Tristen Vo
CONTRIBUTORS Aden Beaver Stuart Blair Georgia Brass Jason Byrne Sean Cullen MacAskill Eleanor Danenberg Genevieve Danenberg Marina Deller-Evans Ainsley Ewart Kayla Gaskell Cameron Lowe Christopher Norman Caleb Pattinson Lauren Reid Hamish Richardson Lauren Taylor
FRONT COVER
Aden Beaver
INNER FRONT COVER Benjamin Hall
CONGRATULATIONS & THANKS Congratulations to Stuart Blair, who’s contributing for the first time for 2016. Welcome to the ET community, Stu! Thank you to Sheydin Dew for supplying four lovely pieces of artwork for this issue - see. pages 16, 19, 21, and 23. Congratulations to Emma Hough Hobbs who recently had her artwork published in Voiceworks magazine — plz remember little old ET when you’re famous ;) Thank you to FUSA staff (particularly Adam, Anthea, Chris, Kate V, Kate W, and Steph) for your constant help & support. The biggest thanks of all goes to you — the readers and contributors. We can’t thank you enough. Your contributions and support make ET a vibrant, unique student magazine.
Contact us: empire.times@flinders.edu.au www.empiretimes.com.au @empiretimesmag @empiretimesmag
INNER BACK COVER
/empiretimesmag Empire Times Contributors
BACK COVER
Advertising: stephanie.walker@flinders.edu.au
Emma Hough Hobbs Emma Hough Hobbs
contents. COLUMNS 6 A MESSAGE FROM YOUR STUDENT COUNCIL PRESIDENT 12 POPULIST AUTHORITARIANISM IN POLITICS 14 TRANS WOMEN IN THE LGBTIQ+ COMMUNITY 17 FINDING YOUR COMMUNITY 20 COMMUNITY DYSPHORIA 34 CLUB FEATURE: FLINDERS VOLLEYBALL 40 ADVICE YOU SHOULD NOT TAKE
FEATURES 7 STAFF PROFILE: VICE CHANCELLOR COLIN STIRLING 8 GOVERNMENT INVOLVEMENT IN CIVILIAN LIFE 9 THINGS I WILL MISS ABOUT FLINDERS 10 ELECTION & STUDENT COUNCIL RECAP 16 LIVING WITH CHRONIC ILLNESS 18 FREEMALES: THE WEB SERIES 19 LET’S TALK ABOUT CONSENT 22 NATIONAL YOUNG WRITERS FESTIVAL RECAP 24 VOICE OF THE PEOPLE 26 SMOOTHIE LOVIN’ 28 INTERVIEW: THE JEZABELS 30 ALUMNI: CHANNEL 44 GENERAL MANAGER
FICTION 38 THE INTELLECTUAL COMMUNITY
CULTURE CORNER 38 SMALL THINGS 39 POETRY SLAM FINAL 42 MOB PSYCHO 100 43 PLANETBASE 44 NICK CAVE AND THE BAD SEEDS / SKYE & ROSS 45 THE ROYAL TENANBAUMS 46 THE WEST WING 48 LOOK WHO’S BACK / OH, PURE AND RADIANT HART
FUN STUFF 41 COLOURING PAGE — NOT JUST FOR KIDS!
32 TREKKIES IN VEGAS
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Contribute
to
Empire
Times
in 2017
Correspondence A selection of Tweets from our weekend at National Young Writers’ Festival in Newcastle. For more, follow us! @EmpireTimesMag
Loyal ET contributor and reader, JT Early, gives a shout-out to the writer of one of our articles in Issue 7.
From Facebook: “Second best thing you’ve published this year, closely behind the Student Council drama, is the ‘10 shows that changed television: #4 Monty Python Flying Circus.’ More Monty Python references are needed in every issue.“
empire.times@flinders.edu.au
Pssst! We also have an ask.fm page for any anonymous contributions. Head to ask.fm/empiretimes
www.empiretimes.com.au @empiretimesmag @empiretimesmag
Don’t forget, we love hearing your feedback and ideas and are especially keen on this as we head into a new year and a new volume: 44.1-10
/empiretimesmag Empire Times Contributors
5
- President’s Report -
FUSA Student President Patto’s Perspective
Caleb Pattinson Unions in Australia are at an interesting turning point. Declining levels of unionism could make it seem like their relevance is no longer what it once was; in fact, this couldn’t be further from the truth. We need unions in 2016 more than ever.
you join a union to change from within? The answer to that is a personal one, but I would be encouraging all students to join and support their relevant union. Unions that are ripping off workers can and should be held to account by their members.
Recently we’ve seen thousands of Australians boycott Carlton United Brewery (CUB)’s products after they sacked 55 workers and then offered them their jobs back at 65% less pay. The boycott encourages Australians to avoid brands like Victoria Bitter, Carlton Draught, Crown Lager, Strongbow and Pure Blonde, to send a message to this multinational company that looking after workers matters. When management can get away with this sort of action, we all suffer.
FUSA is the union for students at Flinders University. FUSA is here to stand up against university management and all levels of politics to fight for students. FUSA is an advocate for student rights and welfare, running campaigns and initiatives to improve your life at university. Unions are essential to our country, and this begins at university. Unions exist to give everybody the opportunity to have a fair go and be rewarded for the work they do.
The reality is that unions have made working conditions better for thousands of students. But we’re often an ungrateful mob and don’t take notice of or consider how we have come to have lunch breaks, sick leave or penalty rates as standard features of our workforce.
Over summer, many students will flock to the workplace to earn essential dollars for the year of university ahead, so if that’s you: make sure you join your union! If you’re graduating and entering a professional workforce: make sure you join your union! If you are heading back to university next year: make sure you join your union! More than that, get involved with FUSA and the campaigns they will run, attend a protest or rally and stand up for what you believe in.
As a result, many of us don’t join a union anymore. Sometimes this is for financial reasons, as many students are already living below the poverty line, but just as often it’s due to a lack of awareness of the union/s you have and the workers’ rights they will fight for. Not all unions are perfect, in fact many aren’t. The Shop Distribution and Allied Employee’ Association (SDA) has recently been in the media for ripping off workers. The short story is that the negotiated rate of pay for workers was less than they would receive on the award rate set by the Government. This undermines workers’ trust of unions and is fundamentally wrong. Members should always be critical of the direction and motivations of their union. Unfortunately, issues like the SDA’s often put young people off joining altogether. This comes down to a political ideology. Do you refuse to join a union because they mistreated workers, or do
It’s been a challenging and rewarding 2016 for FUSA. FUSA is in a position to become an even stronger voice of students, will continue fighting against school or faculty mergers and fight back against policy change that ultimately hurts students. I’m proud of the work I’ve done this year and wish the incoming Student Council all the best for 2017. Get the most out of the summer break. And if you have a few bevs make sure you avoid CUB products! I am open for all students to contact me: E: student.president@flinders.edu.au P: 8201 3621 F: www.facebook.com/PresidentPattinson
- Flinders Community -
staff profile So, what do you do here?
1. Name: Colin Stirling 2. Job Title: Vice-Chancellor 3. And what does that mean, exactly? The Vice-Chancellor is the University’s CEO and Chief Academic Officer. 4. Tell us a bit about your career path and how you got to where you are now… I’m a scientist, and did my first degree at Edinburgh University and then my PhD in Genetics at Glasgow University. I then went as a research fellow to the University of California at Berkeley before getting a lectureship at Manchester University in the UK. I spent over twenty years there as an academic, teaching molecular genetics and researching how cells grow and respond to stress. When I became a Professor there I got involved in academic leadership and enjoyed being able to improve the way things worked for staff and students to make it easier for them to be successful. I moved to Curtin University in Perth in 2011 where I became Provost before joining Flinders in 2015. 5. What do you wish Flinders students knew about Flinders staff? I love seeing so many staff attending graduations and how proud each of them is at the achievements of our students. This is a reflection of just how much our staff, both professional and academic, really care about your success. 6. What’s the best thing about working at Flinders? That people are so proud to be part of a wonderful University. That, and the resident Koalas. 7. What are you looking forward to about your role in 2017? We have identified many processes and systems that can be improved to make it easier for students to navigate their experience at Flinders and I’m looking forward to seeing these develop. I’m also really excited about the $80m rail extension that will see a new train station at Flinders. The train will enhance public transport to the campus and ease parking congestion, but we’re also planning a new urban village around the station that will create a whole new vibe for Flinders.
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- Student Politics -
POLITICAL PLAYGROUND
What role should government play in people’s lives, and how much interaction with government should we have? labor left labor RIGHT The Greens Green philosophy is underpinned by a belief in grassroots democracy, in which all citizens have the right to express their views and have the capacity and opportunity to directly participate in environmental, economic, social, and political decisions. The Australian Greens seek to increase opportunities for public participation in decision-making and to break down the inequalities of wealth and power which inhibit participatory democracy. Parliaments should serve the best interests of all Australians; transparency and accountability in government decision-making at all levels are essential for democracy to flourish. The Greens aim to democratise parliaments as much as possible, putting the issues, and the costs of solving them, squarely before the public. The reformed Senate electoral system championed by the Greens for a decade and passed by the government this year is an important step towards a more transparent democracy, and it will put votes and power back into the hands of the Australian people. Community participation in decisionmaking should be an ongoing process which determines priorities for new infrastructure, services and revenue-raising measures and make sure the issues the community cares about are debated in our parliament. The Greens also remain committed to ensuring that those marginalised and with little power have their voice heard and can meaningfully participate in the political process. Those with money and wealth shouldn’t be able to buy political influence on issues that matter most. The State plays an essential role in regulating and guiding the Australian economy, providing much needed services, and ensuring an equitable distribution of opportunity, responsibility, wealth and income. Finally, a key pillar of any democratic government is the free flow of information between citizens and all spheres of government, through strong Freedom of Information laws and the protection of essential rights to peaceful assembly, non-violent protest, freedom of association, and freedom of expression. Sean Cullen MacAskill Flinders University Greens Club facebook.com/flindersunigreens
On first principles, all but anarchists agree that the government has a role in protection against infringement of property rights and personal safety; this much is uncontroversial. Conservatives and libertarians, to varying extents, will argue a limit to this and trumpet the philosophical virtues of a society of individuals acting on personal interest as a method of maintaining cohesion. This is capitalism. The issue with this is that it does not account for the systemic inequalities that inherently mean the self-interest of some individuals will always disadvantage others. On a logical and philosophical level, this disadvantage is indistinguishable from the infringement of rights that nearly all agree should be protected, and by extension ought to be subject to government intervention itself. What does this mean practically? Where poverty and disadvantage exist, the government has a clear role to intervene and ensure an egalitarian approach to the welfare of the people. Workers must be protected by pro-worker laws, so as to minimise the exploitation by corporations. Groups that experience systemic oppression must have their rights championed by governments, so as to begin to overcome that systemic oppression; even if this includes limiting the damaging speech of privileged individuals and groups. So as to overcome cycles of inequality, the government ought to ensure a high quality of education, primary, secondary and tertiary, to all, regardless of background or income. The government has a clear role to intervene in personal behaviour when it has a clear and unjustified third party harm, but this is not where the role to intervene stops. The government ought to intervene in personal lives to the extent that they should seek to ensure welfare and the utilitarian progress of society. Hamish Richardson Flinders University Labor Club facebook.com/FlindersUniLaborClub
The role of government in people’s lives has been one of the fundamental arguments of modern politics. After WWII, a generation of Australians came home to find a nation full of opportunity for individual success in a booming economy but also believed in the right for a fair go and working together. Since then there has been a constant debate over what role the government should play in all this. The Labor party believes that government is responsible for ensuring that the most vulnerable members of our society don’t fall through the cracks. Respecting the individual’s right to seek success in enterprise and society is important in any modern society but there must be checks and balances when these attempts fail. The Abbott Government adopted the mantra of “lifters and leaners” to justify cuts to welfare programs – a term which forgets the key function of welfare, to promote social mobility. The government should be investing in assisting these “leaners” to find their feet again which Labor believes to be a key role of government in our lives. As this is the last Political Playground I will write, I am indulging myself a little by leaving it to the last minute and looking to the United States of America. During the Vice-Presidential debate, when referring to the potential Clinton Administration, Republican Mike Pence said, ‘Look, what — what you all just heard out there is more taxes, $2 trillion in more spending, more deficits, more debt, more government.’ The rhetoric of government interfering in the lives of ordinary Americans is at the heart of conservative politics in the US. What Pence was describing was growth of the welfare net in the United States, which goes against conservative beliefs that government should stay out of citizen’s lives. As I have already said, respect for the individual’s right for freedom and enterprise is important but dismantling the already small protection in place in the name of small government is pure folly. Jason Byrne Flinders Labor Club facebook.com/flinderslabor
THE LIBERALS AND socialist alternative were approached for comment but did not submit
- Features -
the top 13 things i’ll miss about flinders when i leave (other than trim, obvs) The end of semester, and thus the end of the year, is fast approaching. For me, this also means the end of my undergraduate degree, and most likely (IF I am employed next year), the end of my uni experience altogether. My awareness of this impending ending has made me very sentimental as of late and has seen me spend a fair bit of time thinking about what I’m going to miss when I finally finish up my full-time student life to start my full-time teacher life. Making lists and sharing with others have always been two comforting pastimes for me; so, to comfort myself in this time of transition I have made a list (in no particular order) of 13 of the things I’ll miss most when I leave Flinders to share with you all. 1. My student card and the many discounts on food, clothes, movies, and shows that come with it. 2. The Central Library couches where I could scoff a sprinkle donut and/ or sneak a comfy nap free from judgment (or at least, free from obvious judgment… I was either foodgasming or asleep so I didn’t really notice or care to be honest!). 3. Uni events! From balls to pub-crawls, they may have only provided a night of fun but they’ve created a lifetime of memories. Also, the FUSA Says Relax days of free pizza, petting zoos, massages and music. 4. The lamp-lit Laneway and the swanky Student Hub that became my go-to spots for good friends, food and fun over the past two years. I really wish I had more time to hang in these ace new places – why didn’t Flinders become funky-fresh when I was a first year instead of a fourth year? 5. Being able to wear whatever I want every day, whether that is my straight-from-the-gym activewear, or my trademark hobochic combo of ripped jeans, scuffed sneakers and oversized shirts. Casual clothes will become a luxury when I become a professional educator. 6. Only having to come in for a maximum of 2-3 days a week, for a few hours each day. In comparison to some other students at other tertiary institutions, us Flinders kids are blessed with very few contact hours, and in turn, so much time to do other things while we study. Again, time will become a luxury (and a sorely missed one at that) once I finally become a teacher. 7. The view of Adelaide from the Education parking lot, especially on a cloudless day or after an evening class – it’s breathtaking. 8. That marvellous magical feeling that fills your whole body and soul that you can only get when you fluke a car park anywhere on campus between the hours of 9am and 1pm, especially when it’s right near the building your class is in.
9. The Flinders Uni culture and community created by clubs, political parties and peeps in general who are proud of where they learn… that very pride is what saw us produce bountiful banter and led us to triumph in the Great Uni Meme War of 2016, so it’s pretty powerful stuff. 10. The walk up and down the hill from Education to Humanities/the Plaza amongst the gorgeous greenery, especially when it’s sunny. I may have hated it all these years, but I finally appreciate its beauty now. 11. Having a place to come to that gave me purpose and passion, to learn new things, to discuss interesting topics and share innovative ideas with intellectual people, and to read academic and literary books and journals (which again, all these years I’ve really resented — it’s amazing how hindsight changes things!) 12. My fab uni friends, who are some of the only people I have ever felt truly comfortable around, and all the other colourful characters I’ve met over the past five years. Special mention to the wacky but wise academics I was privileged to call my teachers (except for one who shall go unnamed and unforgiven for giving me the only “P” of my whole degree — I will not miss you, “P”). 13. Writing for ET under awesome editors, alongside talented contributors, for lovely readers that have never once criticised me for putting my personal thoughts and feelings on the page. The opportunity to pretend to be a journalist while studying to be a teacher has been truly precious to me. Thank you to everyone who has been a part of it.* As the last ET issue of the year — and the last ET article of my career — this list is extremely fitting. And if this turns out to be my final piece of published writing ever, at least I’ll be able to say it was a very special one. If there is anyone out there besides me mourning my departure (doubtful) or lamenting their own imminent exit (probable), I leave you with this timeless advice: ‘Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.’** And if you’re looking for a reason to smile, read this article again — I gave you thirteen to choose from. *[Editors’ note: Why thank you, Georgia! We think ET is a fab platform for Flinders’ creatives, too!] **[Georgia’s note: Possibly Dr Seuss or Gabriel García Márquez, date and publication unknown. In case you can’t tell, referencing is not on the list of things I’ll miss for a reason.] AUTHOR Georgia Brass, 22, Bachelor of Education (Secondary)/Bachelor of Arts (English and Drama)
Georgia’s dream squad would consist of Cara Delevinge, Ruby Rose, the Haim sisters, Ed Sheeran, Lena Dunham, Ellen, Emma Stone, JT, Beyonce... essentially the more obscure but better half of Taylor Swift’s squad (but not Taylor Swift herself, because boo to exclusive cliques lol).
9
- Elections -
student council 2016: recap President:
Environment Officer:
Mature Age Officer:
Caleb Pattinson (Activate)
Ali Roush (Activate)
Pauline Bullock (Independent)
General Secretary:
Indigenous Officer:
General Councillors (x6):
Alfred Lowe (Fresh) Elected unopposed
Simone Jowett (Activate)
Education Officer:
Christine Bennetts (Activate)
Welfare Officer: Jason Byrne (Fresh) Elected unopposed
International Officer:
Women’s Officer:
Disabilities Officer:
Prashanth Magandram (Activate)
Angela Tomarelli (Activate)
Queer Officer:
Hamish Richardson (Activate) Grace Hill (Socialist Alternative) Christopher Norman (Activate) Joshua Sunman (Activate) Sean Lamonby (Fresh) Hilary Wigg (Activate)
Postgraduate Officer:
Jordon O’Reilly (Fresh)
National Union of Students Conference delegates (x6):
Jack Harrison (Activate) Grace Hill (Socialist Alternative) Joshua Sunman (Activate) Sean Lamonby (Fresh) James Vigus (Socialist Alternative) Genevieve Danenberg (Activate)
Amy Hueppauff (Activate)
Nardy Zanos-Jardine (Activate)
(New position created in mid 2016. Pauline was appointed, not elected)
Social Activities Officer: Sarah Polanco (Activate)
- This information indicates those elected who held office as of the end of 2016, and at the time of writing. - In brackets is the faction that the representative ran with when they were elected to that position, and does not necessarily indicate the faction this representative is currently a part of.
student council Breakdown: (the above positions, except for NUS delegates)
male / female: 9 positions (47%)
factions: Activate (Labor Left): 13 positions (72%)
10 positions (53%)
Fresh (Labor Right): 4 positions (22%) Socialist Alternative: 1 position (6%)
Student Council meeting attendance:
(february - september)
Caleb Pattinson: 7 / 7
Christine Bennetts: 4 / 7
Alfred Lowe: 7 / 7
* Simone Jowett: 4 / 5
Jordon O’Reilly: 7 / 7
Prashanth Magandram: 6 / 7
Grace Hill: 7 / 7
* Hilary Wigg: 3 / 3
Jason Byrne: 6 / 7
Amy Hueppauff: 6 / 7
Christopher Norman: 7 / 7
* Nardy Zanos-Jardine: 2 / 5
Angela Tomarelli: 6 / 7
Sarah Polanco: 7 / 7
Joshua Sunman: 6 / 7
* Pauline Bullock: 2 / 2
Ali Roush: 6 / 7
Hamish Richardson: 7 / 7
Sean Lamonby: 7 / 7
*Simone, Hilary, Nardy, and Pauline all began their terms later in the year than the rest of Student Council, therefore they have been to less meetings.
- Elections -
2017 elections: recap
President:
Environment Officer:
Jordon O’Reilly (Fresh)
Jacinta Robinson (Activate)
General Secretary:
Indigenous Officer:
Christopher Norman (Activate)
Mature Age Officer:
Pauline Bullock (Independent) Elected unopposed
General Councillors (x6):
Paige Leedham (Fresh)
Education Officer:
Amy Hueppauff (Activate) Brodie McGee (Activate) Sean Cullen-MacAskill (Fresh) Laurence Lacoon Williamson (Socialist Alternative) Meaghan King (Fresh) Sean Lamonby (Fresh)
Postgraduate Officer:
Hamish Richardson (Activate)
Katt Hatzi (Activate)
Welfare Officer:
International Officer:
Hilary Wigg (Activate)
Vieshnavee Pandiyan (Activate)
Women’s Officer:
National Union of Students Conference delegates (x6):
Disabilities Officer:
Grace Hensel (Activate)
Kathryn Gallagher (Activate)
Queer Officer:
Hilary Wigg (Activate) Grace Hill (Socialist Alternative) Sarah Polanco (Activate) Jordon O’Reilly (Fresh) Caleb Pattinson (Fresh) Simone Jowett (Fresh)
Social Activities Officer:
Kyle Milne (Activate) Elected unopposed
Ashley Sutherland (Fresh)
- This information indicates those successful in the elections (held in September 2016), and at the time of writing. - In brackets is the faction that the representative ran with when they were elected to that position, and does not necessarily indicate the faction this representative is currently a part of.
student council Breakdown: (the above positions, except for NUS delegates)
male / female: 8 (42%)
11 (58%)
factions: Activate (Labor Left): 11 positions (58%) Fresh (Labor Right): 7 positions (37%) Socialist Alternative: 1 position (5%)
The arrows represent the increases and decreases from 2016 to 2017.
Fun voting facts: The smallest voting margin in this election was for the position of Environment Officer. The margin between the successful candidate and the next runner up was only 3 votes.
The largest voting margin in this election was for the position of Social Activities Officer. The margin between the successful candidate and the next runner up was 249 votes.
The candidate that received the most votes overall was Ashley Sutherland, who won the position of Social Activities Officer, with 699 votes. #GRLPWR
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- Politics -
The Resurgence of Populist Authoritarianism in Politics ‘If you don’t like it, leave it.’ Or, you could not be a dickhead.
{Opinions by Brenton Griffin} We are living in some peculiar times. Despite the wisdom and knowledge that history holds, there seems to be a revitalisation of populist authoritarian movements throughout the world. Politicians such as Donald Trump, Pauline Hanson and Nigel Farage are all emissaries of this recurring gospel of populism. These people are very well aware of how afraid many people are feeling right now. They know that fear is a great motivator and a great unifier. They know that their power and influence comes from honing their skills in order to feel the pulse of fear that courses through society. And, right now, people are scared of multiculturalism. They are scared of refugees and immigration. They are scared that a certain way of life that has been enjoyed by them for their entire life might be changed with the arrival of people of a different cultural, political, spiritual or racial
background. They are scared that the terrors of overseas will be transported with asylum seekers. This is a very real, if not misdirected, fear. Nevertheless, right now, politicians in Australia, the UK, and America are issuing calls to ban refugees, especially Muslims, from entering their countries. This has created a very powerful and dangerous rhetoric for these politicians; they have found a scapegoat for the woes of their country. For example, a few months ago, Pauline Hanson painted Australians a picture of her worst nightmare: a Muslim man who practices polygamy and has multiple families, each of whom gets welfare from the government. This picture is displaying not one Muslim person, but Muslim families too. They are then also seen as something
- Politics -
many people hear these politicians, people in “Nevertheless, authority and power, and they believe them. They believe
the narratives and propaganda in the media used to frighten people. These politicians are very well aware of the influence they have on people. They are aware that if they are able to focus on people’s fears, that is what will keep them elected, keep them relevant.
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that Australia seems to have an endless amount of hate for: those damn welfare recipients. This is an almost entirely unfeasible scenario, yet the way Ms. Hanson raved on about it, you could be forgiven for thinking it was the norm. Peter Dutton made a similarly ridiculous claim a few months ago when he warned that if we allow refugees to enter the country, they would take all our jobs whilst simultaneously languishing in line at Centrelink for payments. Honestly, these are some ingenious immigrants we have coming into this country, many without speaking English, and who are able to cheat the system by both working and receiving welfare assistance. This is quite the feat, for as soon as I sneeze in the wrong direction, Centrelink is ready and raring to cancel my student payments. Once again, Mr Dutton is painting a picture that is not a very likely or reasonable scenario. Nevertheless, many people hear these politicians, people in authority and power, and they believe them. They believe the narratives and propaganda in the media used to frighten people. These politicians are very well aware of the influence they have on people. They are aware that by preying on people’s fears they can stay elected, stay relevant. And for once, they are right. The only way they are able to stay relevant is to whip people into a frenzy over the things they are already frightened about. And it is hard, because this country is basically built on a foundation of racism. Our first Prime Minister was a super racist dickhead who used the maiden speech of the Federation of Australia to read out a passage from a white supremacy book. He then went on and banned anyone who wasn’t white from voting. His successors were of the same racist persuasion, enacting the White Australia Policy to ensure that this country remained as white as it possibly could. However, this is not the Australia that we live in now. We are a thriving multicultural nation that should be proud of its diverse community, not attempting to squash it. But there are so many people who are still so scared. A recent survey found that 49% of those polled agreed with Pauline Hanson and were concerned with what they perceived was an influx of Muslims into this country. This is why we have Pauline Hanson and three of her One Nation senators in our parliament. It is why Britain voted in a referendum that they should leave the European Union. This is why Donald Trump has been so successful and is in the fucking running to be the President of the United States. Because people are scared, and they are believing the rhetoric of these politicians. This isn’t the way it should be. This is a false fear. It is a divisive fear. It is counter to everything that this country is supposed to stand for. We now live in a globalised, cosmopolitan world. In the 21th century, there are people from all over the world living in
countries that are either not where their parents were born. And this is a wonderful thing. There are almost no countries that have a culturally homogenous population anymore. Many people have ancestors of all different nationalities. And yet there are still politicians who are trying to recreate the world of the past, of distinct countries that have distinct ethnicities. But this is not going to happen. And I hate to bring in the whole history card into this conversation, and I know that it is a well-worn trope, but this is exactly the same shit that began happening in the lead up to the Holocaust. Hitler’s rhetoric not only blamed Jews for the woes of Germany, but also Africans, Gypsies, homosexuals, and Slavs. This is the same rubbish that the world has dealt with in the past: wars that force immigration, people who get scared of refugees from other nationalities, leaders who say that they will stop refugees and that this will in turn solve all the ills of a particular country. But this issue is not just to do with refugees and Muslims. As has been discussed a couple of issues ago, the very costly, very harmful plebiscite that may or may not be happening is being promoted by a stream of angry, mostly conservative, commentators. Bill Leak’s horrid depiction of Nazi officers marching in rainbow uniform is just one example of the horrendously fucked up debate that we are having. Once again, these people are scared that a certain way of life that they have enjoyed (read: their privilege), is under threat by the turning tide of public opinion. They are afraid that they will not be able to have the pre-eminence that they once had in society. Pauline Hanson, when discussing the plebiscite, indicated that she thought that the LGBTIQA+ community was exaggerating the fears that they had. She also said that if people are so for gay marriage that they could ‘…move to that country and you can have that marriage.’ So, there it is again, that old catch-cry of ‘if you don’t love it, leave it.’ Yet, these people are on the losing side of victory. The countries of the world are becoming ever increasingly more integrated and dependent on each other. A successful, tolerant and understanding multicultural community should be the norm within this country, just as it should be all over the world. Hopefully we can realise this soon, and handle it much better than we did last time.
AUTHOR Brenton Griffin, 22, Bachelor of Arts (History)
Brenton’s dream squad hands down would be: ‘Abbi Abrams, Jim Halpert, Justin Truduea, Nakkiah Lui and Mark Twain. Also Liz Lemon and Jack Donaghy. And Elaine Benes and/or Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Is there a limit? I could go on forever.’
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- Feminism -
INTO THE GENDER VOID THE LGBTI+ COMMUNITY
People like to call it the LGBTI+ community. There are many variations of it from GLBT, GSM, LGBTQIA+ to pejorative terms like ‘Alphabet soup’, jumbled letters starting with LGB, which are often used by people mocking the LGBTI+ identifier. LGBT, as it is most commonly known, stands for ‘Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans’ and is a collective identifier for anyone who identifies as any marginalised sexual orientation or gender identity. LGBT has been in use since the 90s, while LGB (referring only to sexual orientations) has been used since some time during the 80s. The acronym came about as people of the time believed that ‘gay community’ did not accurately reflect everyone. The problem with considering LGBTI+ as a community is that there are many groups of people who do not feel they are in the same community as other groups of people. Lesbian women often deal with different issues to gay men. But the reason for a collective identifier isn’t to say these people are the same. It’s a label for collective action to be undertaken.
“ ...the reason for a collective
identifier isn’t to say these people are the same. It’s a label for collective action to be undertaken. ”
Demands and protests for same-sex or equal marriage is an issue that both gay and lesbian people are interested in, and as such it makes sense that these groups of people work together to achieve this. Another example could be the link between transmisogyny and lesbophobia (and I know this is a contentious issue, but my viewpoint should be totally clear). One aspect of
lesbophobia is the policing of who lesbians sleep with, which can be linked to the transmisogynistic accusation that trans women aren’t real women. Intersectionality is a concept that has been explored by various academics and feminists over the years. The term ‘intersectionality’ was coined by Kimberlé Crenshaw, a black critical race theory academic (amongst other things), who used the concept to talk about different “oppressions” (for lack of a better word). How that black women are victims of both racism and misogyny, while white women are able to benefit from racism at the same time as being oppressed by misogyny. Intersectionality gives a framework to look at how trans lesbians are treated as opposed to straight trans women, or cis lesbians.
“ ...black women are victims of
both racism and misogyny, while white women are able to benefit from racism at the same time as being oppressed by misogyny. Intersectionality gives a framework to look at [this]. ”
While LGBT was not always inclusive of trans people, it is well known and accepted that the modern day LGBTI+ civil rights movement (the one starting in Stonewall) was kicked off by trans women. We have the riots in the late 60s, followed by cis gay and lesbian people taking over the movement and it being known as the “gay rights movement”, the change to LGB in the 80s, and
- Feminism -
in the 90s with the rise of academic “queer theory” we see the introduction of trans people back into the visible side of what is now the LGBT movement, but within the last five years there has been an active push to exclude gender diverse people from the “LGBT community.” Some time ago a campaign called ‘Drop the T’ was started, for which a group of gay/bisexual men and women decided that “transgender ideology” did not represent their “community” and that they believed that it was holding their movement back. While this movement did not gain as much traction as the people campaigning wanted, there are a surprisingly large number of people who passively supported the reasoning behind it. And for people like me (trans people) it is quite frightening to listen to the dogma behind it. There are groups of people who have identifiers within LGBTI+ who actively separate themselves from the “LGBTI+ community.” There are many reasons for this, but safety and incongruence with the others are usually the main ones. Lesbian separatists often cite the misogyny of gay men as a reason for not wishing to associate with them. I recently read an article discussing the misogyny and entitlement that gay men have towards women’s bodies with the excuse that it’s not sexual harassment because as gay men they aren’t sexually attracted to women. I personally know several lesbian trans women separatists who distance themselves from anyone different from them because it is much safer for them to only be with other lesbian trans women. Not only does it remove them from much of the violence towards trans women (and there is a lot of it), but it also puts up a safety barrier against lesbians who exclude trans lesbians. And you know what, I completely get separatism. It’s important to look after yourself. Which is where allies come in. Allies shouldn’t
have a voice of their own when it comes to these issues. But allies can boost the voices of LGBTI+ people. As a trans woman sometimes it’s too much for me to constantly talk about the issues I face as a trans woman, so when my friends step up and fill in for me I get to have some respite.
“ As a trans woman sometimes it’s
too much for me to constantly talk about the issues I face... so when my friends step up and fill in for me I get to have some respite. ”
Recently a post I shared about how “dude” isn’t a gender neutral term ended up getting blown out of proportion with people defending their use of it and as I was so tired I wasn’t up for arguing the point for days on end, but when friends of mine stepped up to the plate they repeated what I had spoken about to them previously. So while there wasn’t really an end to this argument (and when arguing with bigots online there never really is), I was able to be the tired trans girl I am and try to get some rest without feeling like I was giving in.
AUTHOR
Elle Void, 23, Bachelor of Social Work
Elle’s dream squad would consist of Cirilla Riannon, Judith Butler, Hermione Granger, Ursula K Le Guin, Usagi Tsukino, Laverne Cox and Rebecca “Revy Two Hands” Lee. Girl gangs for life!
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- Features -
Fighting chronic illness online Have you ever had a really bad flu? You can’t get out of bed; bright lights hurt your eyes; you head pounds; your entire body is achy and weak. Moving is near impossible. Standing? Forget it. Your brain is so foggy and exhausted that stringing sentences together can be a serious struggle.
She was right. Living with a chronic illness changes the fundamentals of who you are. The little things become more important. But when you have chronic fatigue, they have to become more important, because you don’t get many of the big things.
Now, imagine living like that. Not for a few weeks, but every day of your life. It’s not a horror movie or a joke; it’s the real struggle facing many people not only in Australia, but all over the world. It’s chronic fatigue syndrome, and it’s a growing epidemic.
Every day it helped just sharing how I was feeling, finding out that others felt the same and realising that although I might be the only person I know living like this, there were people who I could relate to. Public awareness and personal support are so important to people suffering chronic illnesses, and Fliss says that these were central to her setting up her blog in the first place.
During my senior year I developed glandular fever and was lucky to even attend my own graduation. At the time, getting out of my exams seemed pretty great, but I had no idea what I was in for. In 2014 I jumped into a full-time Bachelor of Creative Arts. I hadn’t quite recovered but the adrenaline from scoring a spot in my dream course pushed me along. I was tired, but I was happy. At the end of the year I fell ill. I did nothing but rest for two whole months, but my return date for uni was looming and I wasn’t any better. I could barely stand; I was so weak. I slept and slept, sometimes too weak to even sit up and drink. I tried returning to uni, but it was beyond a struggle. People told me to, ‘just push through’ but what they didn’t realise was that I’d already been pushing for a year… This wasn’t my usual tiredness; this was something distinctly different. It felt different. By my third day back on campus, I realised it was impossible for me to continue. I got home and quite literally collapsed on the kitchen floor. I was physically and emotionally defeated. Not long after, I visited multiple doctors and specialists who confirmed: chronic fatigue.
‘I started creating awareness in my local community because I didn’t want to suffer in silence anymore. I hated that my friends and family didn’t understand how much CFS was impacting my life. I felt so isolated and depressed, until I started reaching out on social media. I created a Facebook page called Chronic Illness Fighters, so those fighting any type of chronic illness would remember they are not alone. It may be different illnesses and symptoms, but what we all have in common is lack of understanding.’ Even though I was experiencing chronic fatigue first-hand, I still learnt a lot from following other sufferers online. I learnt that in the monstrous-sized picture of chronic illness, I was considered lucky. I didn’t need surgery, my pain was bad but not living-in-hospitalworthy and I had enough strength to bathe and dress myself (even if I had to sit down in the shower and take multiple rest breaks to get dressed)…
Not only was there a giant community of people like me, but there were many people who had it MUCH worse than I did. And even though it’s awful, it made me Artwork: Sheydin Dew. Facebook: Sheyded Art. I became very isolated from feel better. I remind myself of that everybody. This was not entirely by choice, because when when I’m frustrated and angry. I remind myself to be grateful. you can’t leave the house - or sometimes even your bed - it’s disheartening watching your friends disappear. Around this time, So, to all the people who say, ‘It’s just tiredness’ or ‘It’s all in I also found myself becoming quite active on Instagram. It gave your head.’ No. Stop. You cannot judge someone experiencing me an outlet to express how I was feeling and gave me a low-key something you’ve never experienced. You cannot (unfortunately) activity I could do from my bedroom. understand something this complex and bizarre; it still baffles the world of medicine as we know it. Pretty soon I discovered an entire community of chronic illness sufferers. A few months earlier I wouldn’t have even know what It’s not laziness; it’s not an over-dramatisation; it’s real. It’s Chronic chronic fatigue, M.E. or fibromyalgia was, but here I was connecting Fatigue Syndrome. with hundreds of them. The comments of one particular blogger, Fliss from Chronic Illness Fighters, really resonated with me. Fliss’ support page: cfswarrior.weebly.com or Chronic Illness Fighters on Facebook. If you’re a Flinders student who also suffers from a ‘[Having a chronic illness] is an emotional roller coaster… it’s taken a Chronic Illness, I’d love to hear from you! Instagram: @lozinradelaide toll on my mental health over the last three years. Going from a social butterfly, with unlimited opportunities, to a mostly bed ridden state AUTHOR sucks. I wish my body had its freedom. Life may never be the same for Lauren Taylor, 21, Bachelor of Arts for High Achievers (Drama) me and at times that is hard to accept. Nobody asks for this, but we Lauren’s dream squad would be Harry, Hermione, Ron and Deadpool. She’d have to live with it the best we can, and we’re trying.’ never be short of laughs and would always be protected.
- Get Smart -
Finding your people: The true and splendid tale of the incontinent flamingo pen A few weeks ago I was sitting at a café in the southern suburbs, drinking coffee and attempting to accurately capture the personality of my newest protagonist on the pages of a simple yellow hardcover notebook. My forgotten pancakes were cold, my coffee was bitter (much like my mood) and I was about to concede defeat and write my brooding leading man into a convenientlytimed explosion, when a woman approached my table. ‘Excuse me – this is going to sound really weird, and I don’t mean to bother you, but where did you get your amazing pen?’ I looked down at my ridiculous feathered flamingo pen, a writing implement that was both awkward to hold and awkward to use thanks to its occasional leaking of ink whenever it was pushed against the page too hard. I hated the damn thing, but it was all that I could find in my car when I had parked an hour earlier. For someone who writes for pleasure and assessment most days of the week, it’s amazing how many pens I manage to lose. ‘This?’ I said to the woman. She nodded. ‘I’m pretty certain it was from Typo.’ She thanked me and turned to leave, but changed her mind and turned back toward me. In for a penny, in for a pound, her embarrassed eyes seemed to say. ‘And your notebook?’ I told her all about the wonders of the Leuchtturm 1917 dotted notebook. I pulled a second notebook from my bag – tealcoloured this time – and showed her how I used it for bullet journaling. Printed page numbers! An index! A pocket in the back! Two ribbon markers! Her eyes got wide, and I spent the next few minutes happily chatting with this perfect stranger about paper planners, travellers’ notebooks, Staedtler markers and washi tape. She eventually thanked me and left with the name of my favourite website for supplies.
But the funny thing is, I’m not alone. There are other stationery nerds out there. We hide in plain sight, but if you look closely, you’ll discover us. We usually have a distinct and deep love affair with one particular brand of pen – but we always keep one eye on back-to-school catalogues for new and exciting pens to have an affair with on the side. We never, ever leave home without a small notebook, and we make constant lists in it. We print and bind our own Topic Handbooks and Readers when they aren’t provided, just because we can. We stare open-mouthed at anyone who rolls into a lecture with a single notebook, one pen, and nothing else – because we’ve secretly got a full kit of pens, pencils, markers, several different sizes and colours of Post-Its, and two different kinds of writing paper in our backpacks. If we happen to lock eyes over someone’s animal character page flags or brand-name ring planner, we dip our heads in silent acknowledgement of one another, the way weather-wizened farmers do on country roads. ‘Nice rig’, our slight nods say. We’ve got each other’s backs… and plenty of spare Kikki-K pens for our unenlightened comrades.
I sat back and thought about the encounter – such a simple and random crossing of paths that uncovered a mutual enjoyment of script lettering and watercolour pencils – and found my mood had completely changed. I no longer wanted to commit literary murder. Instead, I wrote through another two or three hours and about as many coffee refills. Thanks to Olivia, my sci-fi hero spent a night rolling around in bed with a girl named Trix and lived to fight another day. And all because of an incontinent flamingo pen. I am proudly (and not at all ironically) nerdy and not ashamed to admit that when I discover a new member of my underground “community”, like the encounter with Olivia above, I feel a gleeful rush that probably borders on the irrational. I have seriously had conversations about the perfect weight and smoothness of paper and the legitimacy of one brand of art markers over another while in the checkout line at Kmart. And I’ve even returned a ream of paper to Officeworks because it, ‘felt funny on the side of my hand’ (and yes, I understand how weird that is).
AUTHOR Karen Smart, ‘On the flip side of 30’, Bachelor of Arts (History/ Creative Writing)
Karen’s dream squad would include Robin Williams for comic relief, Waleed Aly for deep intellectual conversation and Clementine Ford as a fellow fearless female.
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freemales - Features -
“The best web series you’ll see, period.” Freemale: Free-male / moun: A movement of women who don’t allow social norms to forge their future. Freemales is a new web series written and directed by Flinders University alumna, Stephanie Jaclyn, and produced by Jodie Kirkbride. After receiving funds through the Media Resource Centre in March 2016 they, along with a team of 25 Adelaide based cast and crew, shot the first three episodes, each lasting 6 minutes. Freemales explores the lives of two young women (one freespirited, one rigid and organised) caught in the social shift from the dated principles of yesterday and the modern values of today and tomorrow. The characters form a strong, wine-fuelled friendship as they approach their mid-midlife crisis; single, unemployed, and without a plan. ‘I hope Freemales will provoke conversation, push boundaries and serve as a hilarious insight into the lives of young women attempting to find their place in this ever-shifting social landscape’, says writer and director, Stephanie Jaclyn. She continues, “despite progress, the idea that a woman should be married, mortgaged and a mother by her 30s is still extremely prevalent today. In a time when women are encouraged to work but still feel the pressure to conform to the traditional role of being a wife and mother, it’s no wonder we’re seeing a generation of young women experiencing something that can only be described as a mid-midlife crisis”. Aside from addressing current social and feminist issues in a humorous manner, Freemales also takes aim at the huge gender gap in the film industry. According to Screen Australia, over the past five years only 16% of Australian films have had female directors and 23% have had female writers attached. With a cast and crew consisting predominantly of women, Freemales aims to help contribute greater opportunities for women across the industry. The first three episodes of Freemales premiered September 7th at the Mercury Cinema in Adelaide. The team then hoped to raise $5000 through online crowd funding (Indiegogo), and they were successful! This means that there will be 3 more episodes
made, which will be released next year. This is great progress for Australian female-driven arts projects. Once the team has filmed the next three episodes (to be completed and debuted online around April 2017), the plan is to use the whole series as a proof of concept and to approach ABC iView, Foxtel and other production companies in a bid to either create a second online series or a television show. The Freemales team have also come up with ‘Vagalendars’ (vaginathemed calendars!), which are available for purchase through their website (see below). This is following on from the beautiful and unique vagina cushions (#loungeroomdecorgoals, am I right?!) that feature in the show. They’re $25 and 10% of the profits are going to local charity Essentials 4 Women SA, who support women in need by providing free pads, tampons and underwear. Freemales team: - Stephanie Jaclyn (Writer/Director) - Jodie Kirkbride (Producer) – Uni SA graduate, Bachelor of Media Arts - Sam Steinle (Cinematographer) - Lauren Brice (Production/Costume designer) - Flinders University graduate, Bachelor of Creative Arts (Screen Production) The Flinders Uni graduates involved in the project are: Stephanie Jaclyn, Lauren Brice, Bayley Broome-Peake, Benno Thiel, Nadia Samson, Hayley Jameson, Laura Franklin, Jacques de Villiers and Amber Coulter. Current Flinders Uni students involved in the production are Alfonso Coronel, Tamara Hardman and Tim Carlier. Facebook: freemales Website: freemalestheseries.com Instagram account & hashtag: #freemalestheseries Subcribe on Youtube: Freemales the series Contact: 0421702792 AUTHOR
Eleanor Danenberg, 21, Bachelor of Arts High Achievers (Women’s Studies & Creative Writing)
Eleanor’s dream squad would be the Sex and the City gals (with cocktails), and Frasier and Niles Crane (with coffee!) - perhaps not all at the same time though!
- Features -
Let's Talk About Consent I know the Empire Times Sex Issue was ages ago, but sex is a constant within our lives. It was a word I was familiar with from a young age, but I wasn’t explicitly told what it was until I was older. I wasn’t even told it could be a good thing until I was in high school. In the age of the internet, it’s becoming a part of our lives earlier and in a far more explicit way. I’m not saying sex has never before been a part of lives of children or teenagers, but now they freely roam the internet, where even the most innocent Google search can return pornographic results. There have been three news stories within Australia in the last few months that have shocked and appalled me, and all involve complicated issues around consent and young people.
something people did for fun). The two boys were arrested and charged, before being released on bail and suspended from their school.
Firstly, the story of the porn ring running from inside 71 Australian high schools, including two in South Australia, was broken in August 1. Boys from inside these schools would post nude pictures they had stolen or received from girls and post them on the created webpage. They would then also hunt down particular girls and some would even be paid in exchange for obtaining the wanted photos. Girls who were targets couldn’t get the photos down no matter how hard they tried. It revealed unfortunate ideas of sex and consent among teenage boys.
The way we talk about sex is also intrinsically linked to Australia’s problem with consent. The most abhorrent and negative terms in our society have to do with female genitalia, and encourage negative attitudes towards women. We need to stop with the awkward euphemisms, and use the correct terms when referring to anatomy with children and with ourselves (seriously, the vagina is interior, the vulva is exterior). I don’t want to hear, ‘boys will be boys’ when a young kid says something offensive about a woman’s body that they’ve clearly parroted from some family member or the internet. We need to teach our children that no means no - not ‘maybe’, not ‘convince me’ - and we need to teach them this at increasingly younger ages.
The ages of the offenders shocked many, but somehow I wasn’t shocked by a porn ring existing in high schools. Being two years out of high school, I can see how this could have started. I went to an all-girls public school (the only one in the state if you weren’t already sure what school it was) and saw girls exploiting boys this way too. One girl in my year 12 Drama class was talking about her ‘proudest accomplishment’ being a guy she’d slept with the night before. She’d even taken a picture of him (at least, I assume it was him) and was showing it to everyone except me, as she thought it would ‘ruin my innocence.’ I just thought it was gross, which probably confirms her idea of my ‘innocence.’ There were girls on the school bus giggling while sorting through dick pics various guys had sent them. I realised I was better educated about sex than any of the girls actually having it. And I’m still noticing this. Later in August, it was revealed that two twelve-year-old boys in Sydney had raped a six-year-old girl in their primary school toilet block. 2 This one shocked me. The internet was the only thing I could think of blaming. I only started receiving extremely basic sex-ed in year six at my primary school, and consent was never mentioned. Sex was referred to as a thing parents do to have babies (the idea of pleasure was hinted at, but we were too disturbed by the idea of parents having sex to be thinking of it as 1 www.abc.net.au/news/2016-08-17/police-investigate-child-porn-ring-targeting-australian-schools/7750586 2 www.abc.net.au/news/2016-09-01/12yo-boys-charged-with-rape-of-girl-atsydney-primary-school/7805828
In mid-September it was revealed that Tialeigh Palmer, who was twelve when murdered in 2015, was groomed into a sexual relationship with, and therefore raped by, her foster brother, now nineteen.3 He confessed that he was worried he had impregnated her, and it is suspected her potential pregnancy was a reason for her murder by his father, Tialeigh’s foster father. The foster brother has been denied bail, and arrested on perjury and incest charges among others.
There are repeated incidents of women all over the world being assaulted at concerts and music festivals, there are rapists being let off with lesser sentences and time served, and of course oncampus sexual assault still occurs continually in universities. We need to talk about sex, and we need to talk about consent, that sex without consent is not sex; it’s rape. I am sick of hearing stories where rapists are let off because they were drunk or the girl looked like she enjoyed it. I am sick of judges asking what women were wearing when they were raped, whether they were drinking or whether they’d had sex with their rapist on a previous occasion. Kids are not stupid, so let’s teach them as best we can before they stumble upon inaccurate information themselves. 3 www.news.com.au/national/queensland/crime/toxic-relationship-between-murdered-tiahleigh-palmer-and-brother-revealed/news-story/d6275a57ca4d7149cdb3fdd566375147
AUTHOR Ainsley Ewart, 20, Bachelor of Creative Arts (Creative Writing )
Ainsley’s dream squad would consist of Amy Poehler, Tina Fey, Emma Stone, Kate McKinnon, Michael Clifford, Harry Styles and her four-year-old niece, Isabella.
Artwork: Sheydin Dew. Facebook: Sheyded Art.
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- Devil’s Advocate -
Community dysphoria What happens when you’re the ‘other’ within your own community? Within hetero society, bisexuality is seen as a tool with the purpose of fulfilling the satisfaction of others. Yet, within queer society we’re used as a stepping stone for hierarchical repositioning of subjugated identities vying for public awareness. Hetero individuals commodify bisexuality for their own sexual voyeurism into the lives of subjugated sexualities.
to their female counterparts. I can’t say I know exactly what it’s like to live the life a male-identifying bisexual person, as I’m not one. But from the conversations I’ve had and the blogs I read, a similarly concerning trend emerges: both sides of the bisexual community just aren’t openly accepted as other factions of queer society.
We’re seen as a safe option for people, so we can be tried and tested out for sexual gratification, only to be discarded before their hetero identity is tarnished. Bisexual people are depicted as highly sexualised, and are treated as if we have a lust for screwing that cannot be sated by one sex.
Bi-phobic reactions from cis-hetero and queer people both paint bisexual people as deviant. We’re considered gross for previous sexual experiences, either due to having ‘queer sex’ or ‘straight sex’, not one or the other.
“ We’re seen as a safe option
for people, so we can be tried and tested out for sexual gratification, only to be discarded before their hetero identity is tarnished. ”
Female-identifying bisexual people are exploited within the media and porn, commodified for the sexual pleasure of those wanting to spice up their sex life; they are merely a tool for sexual gratification and subjectification. For example, girl-on-girl porn is so clearly not made for bisexual or lesbian women. Girl-on-girl porn serves as a tool for the sexual gratification of a straight male audience; as such, bisexual and lesbian women then become a fetish, and are perceived as a hypersexualised self-perpetuating trope that exists solely for the voyeuristic pleasure of others and not ourselves. Conversely, male-identifying bisexual people are seen as perverse and receive a higher amount of vitriol in comparison
Within our own subculture, bisexual people are still seen as a more deviant subgroup. We’re told that we haven’t made up our mind, that we’re greedy, and that our rampant sexual urges make us more likely to steal someone’s partner. To those of you
“ Just because I have sex
with women doesn’t mean I’ll steal your girlfriend. Also, just because she wants to fuck me doesn’t mean I want to fuck her. ” who may not know this, just because I have sex with women doesn’t mean I’ll steal your girlfriend. Also, just because she wants to fuck me doesn’t mean I want to fuck her. Likewise, just because I have sex with men doesn’t mean I want to fuck every guy I see. Yet this pervasive norm still dominates people’s opinions of me and others within bi-society. If people have to check their privilege with gay, lesbian and trans individuals, why don’t they have to check it with bisexual people too? Why do bisexual people have to be the queer scapegoat everyone gets to subjugate?
- Devil’s Advocate -
Artwork: Sheydin Dew. Facebook: Sheyded Art.
Being slandered by other members of the queer-identifying community is something I have personally experienced more times than I care to remember. Being told I’m gross for participating in ‘straight’ sex is extremely demeaning, but it’s so much worse when someone asserts their dominance over you by saying they’re better than you because they’re certain of their sexuality — that choosing one ‘type’ of sexually identifying people makes them better than me. I don’t know if I’ve just been unlucky with who I’ve talked to about my sexuality, but unfortunately I know many other people have experiences similar to mine. I am sick of this moral hierarchisation some queer people feel the need to lord over bisexual people. Honestly, we’re meant to be allies, not stepping on each other in order to get more public awareness within hetero society. Bisexual people being shunned and slandered by straight people is common place; the privilege of hetero society is frequently enforced over all queer subgroups by callous individuals, but that doesn’t mean this behaviour is acceptable. Likewise, it’s important for LGBTQI+ people to consider how their actions impact others in queer society who may not
“ I’m sick of this moral
hierarchisation some queer people feel the need to lord over bisexual people. Honestly, we’re meant to be allies... ” have as many rights or freedoms as more ‘well-known’ queer identities. Consideration for bisexual people is critical in creating an equal society where individuals like myself can feel comfortable to discuss our sexuality, without being propositioned for a threesome. AUTHOR Amber, 23, Bachelor of Behavioural Sciences (Psychology)
Amber’s dream squad would consist of 7-8 dogs of varying breeds and sizes, because she needs more dogs in her life.
21
- Features -
National Young Writers' Festival recap
we reckon that if the future of Australian media is in their hands, we’re all good. There were two major highlights of the rest of the day. One was hearing Mark Isaacs’ insights into what it is like writing the stories of refugees and asylum seekers in detention at the ‘Writing for People Without a Voice’ panel and getting to chat to him afterwards about the boundaries between journalism/reportage/biography/memoir. He was a cool guy; you’d like him. The second highlight was the ‘Confessional Writing’ panel with Adelaide local (and disclaimer: Lauren’s pal) Anthony Nocera, as well as Giselle Au-Nhien Nguyen and Patrick Lenton. This panel covered moments of pencil-breaking mortification (read Anthony’s work to understand that reference) and the joys and perils of sharing them publicly. Saturday rolled around and the sun finally made a proper appearance. Lauren could finally wear a skirt and Eleanor could strap on her sandals without fear of soggy feet. Hurrah! Buoyed by this newfound sartorial confidence and spurred on by yesterday’s #inspo, we tackled all things health and body-related. We saw a whole lot more of Giselle Au-Nhien Nguyen and Anthony Nocera across a few of these sessions and was delighted by the up-front, badassness of fellow Adelaidian Shaylee Leach. Giselle was probably the best panel host we saw, because her questions were well researched and unapologetic, so we just about went to anything in the program that mentioned her name. Is that weird? Probably. Whatever. She was great and we learnt a lot about writing about our vaginas, which, as far as we’re concerned, is totally worth it.
Lauren took this pic at the Zine Fair on the final day of NYWF
The National Young Writers’ Festival (or #NYWF2016, for those of you playing along on social media), is part of the annual TiNA Festival (or #TiNA2016) held in the gloriously hipster-coffeeshop-filled industrial port town of Newcastle. Empire Times editors Eleanor and Lauren were lucky enough to be flown in for this year’s festivities and are here to give you a recap of all the painfully cool people, fist-pump-worthy panels and most smashing of smashed avocados that Newy has to offer on TiNA weekend. After checking into our accommodation in Cook’s Hill (a pub where we shared the halls with greyhounds and enjoyed the dulcet tones of Mr. Worldwide, or ‘Pitbull’ as we believe he is known to his friends, blasting through the premises well into the night), we took an orientating stroll into town. Once at our first venue of the weekend, the Royal Exchange, we strapped ourselves in for a night of fierce battles filled with poetic barbs a-plenty. The page vs stage poetry debate was, in our opinion, unfairly skewed in favour of the stage poets. After all, they were used to performing and could just whip out a slam poem to convince us of their point. What were the page poets going to do – put up a projection of their poetry and give us a few quiet minutes to read it and ponder? Hardly. So, unsurprisingly, team stage won despite New Zealander Chris Tse being the MVP of the night. Friday was the day that we went from audience to participants, taking part in the Student Media Panel event at Soul Café. Lauren represented ET to chat about all the practicalities of day-to-day office life and what goes into running a mag. Eleanor live-tweeted the event, as she did with most that we attended, and our friends from Farrago (University of Melbourne) live-streamed short snippets of the event on their Facebook page in case you want to catch up on what went down. It was wonderful to trade horror stories and wins with student editors from around Australia and
Lauren spent the latter part of the afternoon hearing Sam Cooney and Briohny Doyle chat about The Lifted Brow’s transition into the world of book publishing, and what the author-publisher relationship is really like (spoiler alert: it’s basically just Melbournian mates going, ‘Oh yeah, we’ll publish your book’ and then editing the crap out of it over a period of years). Whilst this was an interesting session, the best bit for Loz was reclining in the cosy couch of the United Services Club and ogling all the pretty furnishings and paintings around her. She had heard a LOT of words by this point, so was grateful for the pretty pictures. Finally Sunday rolled around and we were outta there! Before our afternoon flights, we managed to cram in a visit to the Zine Fair, a TiNA mainstay and a fascinating insight into the world of underground publishing. We bought all of the things, including copies of Funny HaHa, Voiceworks (featuring ET artist, Emma Hough Hobbs!!!), The Lifted Brow, Shakespeare zines, “cuterus” stickers and more. Rebecca Varcoe from Funny Haha and Stella Charls (NYWF organiser) were lovely to chat to and got us excited to get writing and submitting our words to all of the places. One final stop at the $10 bookshop and we were ready to pack ourselves up and head home. NYWF was an absorbing, if overwhelming, event and we arrived back to finish off Issue 10 with a few extra bags under our eyes but also a little extra spring in our step thanks to the knowledge that yep, we writers pretty much all go through the same neuroses and challenges but yep, they’re all manageable if you seek help in the right places, persevere and prepare yourself for a life where relative poverty becomes a familiar companion. {Wow Loz, way to kill the mood, much??? - E} AUTHORS Lauren Reid & Eleanor Danenberg, 22 & 21, Bachelor of Arts (High Achievers)
Lauren and Eleanor’s dream squad would include Clementine Ford, Charlie’s Angels and our fearless VC, Professor Colin Stirling.
23
x o v
1. Passionate. Relaxed. Close.
1. Ducks and meme wars.
1. Vibrant, diverse, friendly, and studentoriented!
2. Tea > Coffee.
2. I’m more of a hot chocolate gal, so in that case, Grind & Press.
4. Netflix.
3. My mum. 4. Netflix. 5. The ENTIRE cast of Modern Family.
3. Barack Obama.
5. Empire Times Editorial team (who can save us from student politicians!) 6. People view altruism differently, but I think it is possible.
6. Definitely!
Claire, arts high achievers (history)
Ryan law / Arts (philosophy)
2. Best chai is at Grind & Press. 3. Clare McCarty - lecturer/ researcher in School of Education, who passed away this year. She was so passionate about all of her students. 4. Netflix. 4. Hermione Granger, Princess Fiona, Arya Stark, Mulan, and Lagertha (Vikings!) 5. Yes. Be selfless, think of others, make the world a better place!
Em education / arts
Q.s
1. Describe the Flinders community in 5 words or less. 2. The best coffee on campus is... 3. Who is your biggest role model? 4. What is your preferred TV streaming service? 5. Who would be in your fantasy squad? 6. Is true altruism possible?
pop
1. Bill Jones for Overheard Admin.
2. The best is provided by Bella and the team @ Urban Paddock.
3. Kenneth Bone; “he may be an undecided voter; but the voters have decided he is the man” 4. Netflix. 4. Flounder (from The Little Mermaid), Anthony Jeselink, Tina Fey, Gough Whitlam. 5. No - there is no such thing as a wholly unselfish, altruistic act. Therefore, conflicting purposes contribute to the act. The act cannot be “true.”
Nic Law
1. Chilled and friendly.
1. Better now with the hub.
2. More of a tea man, but I hear rumours of amazing coffee near anchor court.
2. Free coffee is the best coffee!
3. It’s gotta be Augustus. You don’t get to be emperor of Rome in your mid-30s without being just a little bit kickass. 4. The Pirate Bay, but Netflix if the feds are reading this. 5. The entire cast of Friends. 6. It’s a tough one, but I reckon it’s possible.
liam arts high achievers (criminology/ archaeology) Photographed on the bus to uni!
3. Gough Whitlam - free tertiary education! 4. Netflix, I love House of Cards and Daredevil! 5. The West Wing staff. #MakeFlindersGreatAgain 6. No. People only do good things because they feel obliged to, or want to feel good about themselves.
Jack law / international 25 25 studies
- Cooking -
Pocket change pantry Woah guys, it looks like we finally have some sunshine heading our way! Or have I jinxed it by saying that? Probably… regardless, once the sun decides to stick around for a while we’ll be wanting some healthy and delish summery snacks. My instant go-to is smoothies. Someone once hailed me as the ‘smoothie queen’ — now I’m not sure if that’s due to the quality of the smoothies or the copious amount of smoothies that I consume. Either way, I’m calling it now that smoothies are one of the best things ever. Bulk them out with oats or extra bananas for a filling breakfast, or sip on a refreshing glass-full for an afternoon snack. Make sure you kick your feet up and put your sunnies on too! INGREDIENTS (serves 1 person per recipe)
METHOD (FOR ALL SMOOTHIE RECIPES)
PB & CHOC 2 frozen bananas ½ cup soy milk 1 and ½ cup water 2 Tbsp. cocoa powder 2 Tbsp. maple syrup 1 Tbsp. peanut butter
1.
Peel ripe bananas and break them in half.
2.
Line a plastic container with baking paper, fill with the banana halves and pop it in the freezer.
3.
Place the frozen banana into your blender (or into a deep bowl if you’re using a ‘stab mixer’ / stick blender).
4.
Add the wet ingredients (e.g. water or soy milk).
5.
Blend briefly to break up the bananas.
6.
Add the dry ingredients (e.g. cocoa powder or cucumber).
7.
Blend until the smoothie is completely lump-free.
8.
Pour into a large jar or glass and enjoy!
VERY BERRY 2 frozen bananas 1 cup fresh or frozen berries 2 cups water 1 Tbsp. maple syrup GREEN 2 frozen bananas 2 cups water 1 cup fresh spinach OR ¼ cup frozen spinach ¼ cup cucumber
- Cooking -
smoothie lovin’
Top tip: Bananas are often sold at a lower price when they start to brown on the outside but this is the PERFECT time for them to be eaten. Buy them in bulk where you can and freeze them in advance for a cheap but delicious ice-cream and smoothie option. If you’d like more plant-based recipes from Marina, you can check out her Instagram: @greener.marina and keep an eye out for her upcoming cookbook!
AUTHOR & PHOTOGRAPHER Marina Deller-Evans, 19, Bachelor of Creative Arts (Creative Writing)
Marina’s dream squad would consist of the entire casts of Broad City and Brooklyn Nine Nine.
27 27
- Features -
Interview: The Jezabels Hyper-feminism, Sydney Opera House street cred, biblical harlots, their best moment as a band, and more...
S
ynthia marks Byron Bay-based band The Jezabels’ triumphant return to the Australian music scene after a short holiday and break. The four-piece have created an album distinctly different from their last releases, more influenced by US and UK rock on their lyrics, with elements of bands Tycho and Health on the instrumentals. It’s more exciting and fresh while still maintaining their uniqueness. Empire Times resident music columnist Aden Beaver sat down with Hayley Mary from the band to find out more... Aden Beaver: Hi Hayley, thank you for talking to us. Hayley Mary: Oh, thanks for talking to me! How are you going? AB: Yeah, I’m good, are you having a good day? HM: I am; I am in sunny Byron Bay. AB: You wouldn’t happen to be touring there, would you?
HM: No, unfortunately not, which is crazy, because it’s our hometown, but we’re just hitting the capital cities this time, quite a head back tour, but we’ll see how we go.
and were like, ‘oh, maybe we should write some more?’ So it just kind of happened, surprisingly to us all.
AB: It [Byron Bay] sounds like fun, hope you’re enjoying the sun there.
HM: Yeah it was, and then we just kind of went, ‘Well Lachlan Mitchell is our producer, and he lives just around the corner, should we record it?’ And then we just had this album. So it wasn’t really planned; it just kind of happened, I think it’s just kind of simple to us all, it felt really organic, kind of like when we first started out, we were all really excited by it, we had no expectations on it, and we had no idea what it was going to sound like, it just felt very sweet. It’s a favourite album for most of the band I think.
HM: Oh yeah! AM: So, you’re currently promoting your third album, Synthia. Can you tell us a bit about the record? HM: Well, it sort of came out of the blue, in that we were having a break after The Brink, because we were bloody tired (laughs) and we’d been going hard for a few years, and also Heather had some health issues, and then I went on holiday to the UK and the US. We had some time off with, like, no expectations of having to write something when we got back together to play a show, and then we just started writing songs together, which was kind of unexpected. We ended up having four songs written by the end of the week
AB: That’s cool.
— AB: The theme of our issue currently is Community, so I thought I’d ask: what has your best experience been together as a band?
- Features -
HM: Hmm…
have wondered why men don’t talk to me very much, and I’ve thought perhaps that may have something to do with it. (laughs) So I guess I was trying to be a bit humorous and invite people to be friendly to me.
AB: Like, a funny story from a tour perhaps? HM: Well, we haven’t toured for a couple of years so unfortunately that’s a bit hard, but I think playing, and this’ll sound like a very clichéd answer, but playing a couple of nights at the Opera House, I think in 2007, that was pretty amazing. That’s because we were a Sydney band and that was the kind of venue where no matter who you’re talking to anywhere in the world and they ask, ‘What’s your band like? Do you go okay?’ And we say, ‘Well, we’ve played the Opera House…’ and everyone is like ‘Wow!’ AB: A lot of street cred comes with the Opera House. — AB: Well, congratulations on the new album, it sounds great, I might now talk about a few of the songs on the album. I think the track ‘Smile’ was a bit of an interesting one lyrically; could you tell me about that? HM: (laughs) Yes, ‘interesting’, that’s always a neutrally - a morally neutral term! AB: Yeah, it’s my go-to word really, I kind of try to not use it, but I end up using it. HM: Well, I guess it [‘Smile’] gets the most comments, because out of all of my lyrics - except maybe “Disco Biscuit Love”, which is our oldest song - it’s the most direct in what it’s seemingly about, so people seem to be able to relate to it because it’s the closest thing you can get to realism on a Jezabels album. I guess it’s personal. I think for most women these days feminism is an issue, whether you [subscribe] to it or not, it’s something you have to talk about if you’re in the public eye. At some point someone’s going to ask you about it. It does tend to be a topic on one’s mind, and also “coming of age” is sort of really important at the moment, so I think it’s a really personal feminist message. I don’t like to ever try and speak as a generic feminist on this, [I’m not] speaking for other people, and I’d like to overtly say about that song that it was just me drawing my own personal line about my
AB: One thing I’m not sure about, why did you name your band The Jezabels?
interactions with strangers in the street, in that, like, I personally don’t mind being whistled at, in fact I quite like it; it makes me feel attractive. But my line is that I’m really happy for men to express their feelings towards me, and that’s fine, but where I draw the line is that I don’t like them to tell me how to feel or how to behave, because that’s my territory. AB: Yeah, totally. HM: Like, I want to stress, everyone has their right to draw their line, and some people hate being whistled at, and they should write a song called “Don’t whistle at me”, but that was just my expression of, kind of also feeling like men feel really alienated by feminism these days, and they feel like they can’t express themselves. It was kind of reaching out saying like, ‘I don’t mind this stuff. I would love it if you invited me to something, or I’d like it if you talked to me. Don’t be scared to speak just because you’re in a climate of hyper-feminism and don’t be afraid of sexuality, or your own, when it comes to me, personally. But don’t tell me how to feel, or what to do - that’s my only thing.’ (laughs) A lot of women get told to smile in the street, and it’s a little annoying.
HM: Well, it just sort of happened. Heather and I knew each other from high school, and my dad had always called the band The Jezabels. We’d been playing under that name, because back in the day my dad wanted to call me Jezebel, named after the harlot in the Bible. He just felt it would be controversial and he likes doing things like that, but my mum didn’t let him, so he named my cat Jezebel, and we she died, we named the band The Jezabels. Then when we went to uni the guys joined and there was some talk of changing it because it was such a feminine name, but we just couldn’t think of anything better. I kind of came up with this rationale, that it was just some uni student thing, that it was like, a feminist reclaiming of a word that was synonymous with whore, but was actually possibly a misrepresentation of a historical figure by Judeo-Christian history. Like, we should get behind Jezebel and all these women who may have been presented as evil just because they had a sexuality or they had opinions back in the day when monotheism was on the rise. And it was kind of like a tribute to some Pagan foremothers that may have had a hard time in history but they may have just been strong women.
HM: Because you literally don’t know why someone’s frowning, they could have just buried their mum.
So that was the convoluted uni student reasoning behind it, that sort of postjustified it and got the guys on board, ‘cause they were like, ‘Yeah! I’m into that!’ (laughs) So we just kept it and it sounded like it stuck, and we couldn’t think of anything better.
AB: Yeah, that’s a good point.
AB: That’s a lot of heavy stuff.
HM: (laughs) So, yeah. It’s just simply about what it sounds like it’s about, but I guess I’d like to stress it’s only a message that’s personal to me.
HM: Yeah, that’s heavy stuff, but ultimately it begins with my cat’s name.
AB: It sounds like you’ve talked about the song quite a bit too.
HM: Yeah, and she was this beautiful black cat. The pagan roots of rock and roll, perhaps. A nod to them.
AB: Of course!
HM: Ah, kind of. It is one of those ones that people ask about. I don’t know what purpose it served, other than trying to tell men that I’m not a prude, and you can talk to me. (laughs) But, just don’t tell me to smile. Because I have often in the past been outspoken as a feminist, and combined with wearing black and stuff like that, I
AB: In memory of the cat.
This print interview was cut down for space purposes. The full interview can be read online. Interview by Aden Beaver.
Read the extended interview online at empiretimes.com.au
29
- Flinders Alumni -
Alumni interview Editor lauren Reid goes behind the scenes at channel 44 to interview their general manager, lauren hillman, and find out what it’s really like to work in tv, and how flinders has helped her make her career dreams a reality...
Image supplied by Lauren Hillman
What did you study at Flinders, and why did you choose it?
Did you have any favourite teachers or topics at Flinders?
I studied a Bachelor of Arts from 1997 — 1999. In 2000 I
Alison Wotherspoon was my mentor throughout my Arts degree
undertook my Honours degree, majoring in Screen and Drama.
and during my Honours years at Flinders. Alison was the one who strongly encouraged me to study Honours and was extremely
After I completed Year 12 with good results in Drama and
supportive when I wanted to split my Honours degree between
English, I knew I wanted to study an Arts degree so I could follow
Drama and Screen. I am pleased to say that I’m still friends with
a creative path and see what opportunities studying Drama
Alison and connect with her regularly.
may lead to. Flinders Uni offered the best Drama course in the state. I didn’t pass the audition into Drama Centre but I was
How well did your study prepare you for your career?
fortunate enough to be accepted into the inaugural year of Drama
My study played a vital role in preparing me to enter the
workshop. It was in 1998 that I chose screen studies as one of my
workforce. Flinders Uni has an excellent reputation and I have
majors and absolutely loved it.
benefited from it being on my CV when going for jobs and interviews over the years.
Did you get involved in any non study-related activities on campus? I didn’t have a lot of time to be involved in any extra curricular
Tell us a bit about what you’re up to at the moment?
because outside of study hours because I was always too busy
I am now the General Manager of Channel 44, Adelaide’s only
working on short films, either on my own or with fellow students.
community TV channel.
- Flinders Alumni -
What have been some of your career highlights so far?
with the right people you may want to work with. The work/life
My nine year career as a Producer/Director of ABCTV included
balance is better in Adelaide, too. The hardest thing about basing
working on shows like The Cook and the Chef and Poh’s Kitchen.
your career out of Adelaide is that the opportunities are fewer, so
I then wrote, produced and directed The Daters for iView and
you need to keep your eyes peeled for any flicker of opportunity
ABC2.
and grab hold of them no matter how small or insignificant they may seem. You never know where they may lead you.
Then in my short time as a Series Producer for Channel Nine I produced the first Adelaide telethon in thirty years which raised $2.2m for the Womens and Childrens Hospital Foundation.
What do you wish someone had told you as a bright-eyed first year?
This year I won the award for best event at Adelaide Fringe for
Be dedicated, passionate, show initiative and be a good person.
producing, ‘An evening with Annabel Crabb’.
Don’t be a jerk, no one likes a jerk.
Now I’m proud to be part of transitioning community TV (C44) to an online business model, which is undoubtedly the biggest change in the station’s history.
Do you have any advice for current Flinders students, particularly those wanting to enter your field? Connect early with the right people in the industry and if they give you an opportunity, even if its just for a week, listen and
Do you have any mentors (or mentees for that matter) who you
learn as much as you can from them. Also don’t give up. There are
work with/take inspiration from?
opportunities out there and if you can’t find them, create them
All of the following I have had the absolute pleasure of working
yourself.
with over my career: Willsy. This is a woman with 19 Logies, still working in her seventies and is still one of the most wonderfully passionate and beautiful women I have ever had the pleasure of working with . A true legend of the small screen. Adelaide royalty. Scott Hicks. He has worked hard his whole life to tell inspiring stories. On my first day at the ABC I had to drive a crew to Scott’s house for an interview and I remember hanging off every word. Scott Neeson. A boy from Salisbury who worked his way up top of the ladder as one of Hollywood’s most successful film distributors and then gave everything up to form CCF (Children’s Cambodia Fund). I was lucky to film with Scott on a Poh’s Kitchen Lends a Hand shoot in Cambodia in 2013. One of the most inspiring stories. Annabel Crabb. One of the hardest working, most inspirational and most intelligent mums in the biz and I had the honour of producing her live Adelaide Fringe show earlier this year.
Channel 44 offers many opportunities to get involved in the station. These include: • Work experience Head to http://www.c44.com.au/get-involved/workexperience to find out how to apply and complete an application form. • Specific volunteer positions • General volunteering Head to www.c44.com.au/get-involved/volunteer to find out about particular vacancies or to express your interest for future positions. • Annual membership Membership is currently $44 and includes a whole heap of merch, discounts and vouchers from Channel 44 sponsors, first access to studio audience tickets, opportunities for behind the scenes experiences and more! Follow Channel 44 on social media at: Channel 44 Adelaide
@44adelaide
@44_adelaide
What are some of the best and worst things of basing your TV career from Adelaide? The industry is very small in Adelaide so it is easy to connect
31
- Features -
Fifty Fifty years years on on and and still still boldly boldly going… going… id nd av a ( t n stude om Las y t i s r nive rts fr ry Star U o s p r e e r Flind ) Stu Blair iversa n n A e i Trekk or the 50th f Vegas vention... on Trek c 2016 marks the anniversary celebrations for a lot of the classic pop culture TV shows that many of us have grown up watching as adolescents or have discovered via re-runs or on DVD. Like the countless thousands of fans around our world, we have continued to follow the adventures of our heroes and villains; their evolution through comic book serials, books, gaming, and for a chosen few, up on the big screen in the form of motion pictures.
This was an era that would set the bar for all television shows and films to follow, and the height of this bar still remains a difficult obstacle for many of current programs to topple or even equal.
The 1960s spawned what we refer to now as the classic era for popular culture; it was the era of social and cultural change that was developing at a pace even itself could not keep up with cultural revolutions, political change and war were forming new opinions and dividing society around the world and television was the teacher for a new generation. Teenagers were now taking advice from Patty Duke and That Girl, Archie and Betty and Veronica and following their lead in how to handle peer group pressure, love, and breakups, albeit in a thirty minute time slot!
The creator, Gene Rodenberry, had submit drafts of his idea for Star Trek to the networks with little success before being given the chance to present a pilot at Desilu Productions. With the original pilot having been rejected, a second pilot was successful in convincing the network chiefs to produce the first series.
Television had taken over from radio as the meeting point in the homes of families in the western world. Families were sitting down every night at 6pm and enjoying the antics of Leave it to Beaver, Mister Ed, My Three Sons, The Adventures of Superman, Batman, Gilligan’s Island, I Dream of Jeanie, and The Munsters to name but a few. All of Hollywood’s greatest performers of the era were lining up to take on roles or at least make a cameo, and fans of Batman, Gilligan’s Island and I Dream of Jeannie and Lost in Space, in particular, would marvel at just who would appear as a special guest each week. Sammy Davis Junior, Jerry Lewis, Lucile Ball (who was already starring in her own TV show, I Love Lucy, and host to many of the classic TV shows as she was the ‘Lu’ in Desilu Productions) was known for popping up in other classic shows from time to time.
This year, one of the most influential television shows, and recently voted the number one pop culture TV show of our time – Star Trek, is celebrating its 50th anniversary.
Star Trek commenced on television in 1966 and even though its ratings were poor it was gathering a loyal fan base. After the second season, a third was not planned, due to the show being deemed to be, ‘too intellectual’ for the current viewer demographic, who had been used to a plethora of classic western television shows like Gunsmoke, Wagon Train, High Chaparral, and Zorro. All were great television shows with fine actors and marvellous adventures of the Wild West but worlds away from science fiction. .....
Star Trek was set for decommissioning at the end of the second season but word soon spread among the fan base, and a letter campaign had spawned at the hands of Bjo Trimble (a fan in the US) gained momentum at an explosive pace. The campaign would eventually make its way to the network executives and a third season was granted.
- Features -
Above Left: Stu Blair with the Guardian of Forever, from the classic Star Trek episode - ‘City on the Edge of Forever’. Above Right: Main auditoriums that house more than 9,000 fans at the convention. Photos by Stu Blair.
‘Infinite diversity in infinite combination’ is what Star Trek professes to its viewer, and has done so for the past fifty years in producing six television shows and ten motion pictures with a new series of “reboots” - three thus far, following the continuing adventures of an original series crew. Exciting times indeed for the Star Trek fan with a seventh television series to be released in 2017, ensuring the continuing mission for a sixth generation of fans! Each year in the city of Las Vegas, Nevada, in the United States, thousands of Star Trek fans from around the world assemble as a community and participate in the largest single genre convention of its kind in the world. This would be the 50th anniversary of Star Trek convention, a most special occasion indeed and one to be a part of, and I was! My current thesis investigation and book project research involves pop culture fandom and the sub-cultures of fans that dedicate their lives to the celebration of their favourite hero. This dedication and often swathing devotion can be displayed via one’s wearing of costumes adorned by their character, the changing of their given name to that of their heroes name, or even a keepsake tattoo on one’s body.
The convention schedule is action-packed from 9am in the morning to 1am the following morning, with a constant line of appearances and guest panels from over 100 actors from the Star Trek films and TV shows. This year some of the headliners were Whoopi Goldberg, who played Guinan in Star Trek: the Next Generation and Kirstie Alley, who made her acting debut in Star Trek 2: The Wrath of Khan. Of course, the fan favourite, William Shatner, lead the way, for most of the actors from all TV series in attendance for photo opportunities and autographs with fans. Social activities play a large part of the convention with many romances spawning into marriage between fans and long-term friendships forming between fans from many regions of our world. When I asked fans during the convention why they were attending, many replied that they were here, ‘to be able to talk with a common frame of reference’. Many fans that I had spoken with had said that they feel that they can talk freely without inhibition and feel safe when attending a Star Trek convention. They can talk about their level of fandom as a norm, as their peers share the same level of devotion.
I travelled to Las Vegas, with VIP ticket package in hand and a selection of Star Trek t-shirts in my travelling ensemble, to meet and gain further insight from fans from other countries as I had visited many pop culture conventions around Australia since the late 1980s.
After five days of little sleep and much enjoyment, I departed Las Vegas with many fond memories, some great images and a plethora of research material that I am currently adding to my presentations being used during my national speaking tour, which commenced in Adelaide on September 1, with the next stages of the tour taking in Perth and Melbourne in October and November.
The RIO Suites Hotel in Las Vegas is the venue every August for the Star Trek convention, conducted by Creation Events and helmed by joint CEOs, Adam Malin and Gary Berman - themselves long term Star Trek fans since the 1970s and major players on the pop culture convention circuit in the United States.
I continued my research tour to London, where I had visited and conversed with officials and fans at the Harry Potter Studio Museum, and the Musée Hergé (Tintin museum) and Centre Belge de la Bande Dessinée (International Comic Book Museum in Brussels) – Belgium, before returning to Adelaide.
Las Vegas is a convention city, with most hotels playing host to an event or multiple events. Upon walking the Las Vegas Strip, I could purchase a ticket to see Jennifer Lopez in Planet Hollywood (which I did, no brainer there), Rod Stewart, Celine Dion, even Mr Las Vegas (Wayne Newton) is pulling in sell-out audiences after fifty plus years in the city!
The next portion of my research tour will be to France to attend the second largest comic convention in the world in the city of Angoulême, which attracts over 200,000 fans to their event much more than that of the US Comic Con. in San Diego.
..... The city never sleeps, and invites you to join in on the fun 24 hours per day! If there is a distraction for the Star Trek fan, it is the heat. The average temperature whilst I was there for the weeklong event was 45 degrees, which proves to be a challenge for the cos-player (costume-wearing fan).
Will I make a return journey to Star Trek Las Vegas? Yes… ticket is already in hand for 2017!
AUTHOR Stuart A Blair, Master of Language Studies
Stu’s dream squad would be Betty Page and The Lone Gunmen!
33
WHAT THE
FLinders University Clubs
flinders VOLLEYBALL CLUB
Flinders University Volleyball Cub was formed in 2009. From the get-go, the club established an inclusive environment aimed at making their sporting passion accessible to both experienced players and novices. I met up with Mani Ganiger, the current Volleyball prez, to find out more about this club that has quite the reputation for being a thriving community of like-minded souls. According to Mani, ‘Flinders Volleyball aims to get people to socialise through experiencing the sport of volleyball. The club provides opportunities for members to partake in serious competition, including participating in the regional Southern University Games. Volleyball is also a great path to fitness.’ The club has a large active membership drawn from all faculties of the university and the wider society. There is a wide age range from school leavers to thirty plus year olds. Mani says, ‘The main thing is an interest in the game.’ The club places much emphasis on recruiting new people to the sport and boasts a 2 to 1 ratio of new players to experienced players. Training sessions are held on three courts in the Alan Mitchell Sports Centre. This enables the club to simultaneously run training for players of all skill levels with one court for beginners, one for intermediates, and the third for advanced players. This enables the club to provide coaching and training commensurate to ability. Like basketball, volleyball originated in the United States YMCA movement in the 19th century, and combined elements of tennis and handball. Twelve players are on the court - six per side. Teams aim to score points by forcing the ball to hit the ground on the opponents’ side of the net. Competitive games are the best of five sets with each set going to 25 points (apart from the last set which goes to 15 points). However, to win a set a team needs to be two points clear (e.g. 25-23) which can cause some sets to go well beyond 25 points. Mani cites a match at the Rio Olympics where a set reached points in the 40s. The six players rotate around the court from point to point with players assuming roles of setters, mids and backcourt defenders. There are also subs on the bench including
the groovily named, and attired, Libero. Between them, the positions ensure the three fundamental volleyball skills of setting, spiking and digging are always part of the game. Mani observes, ‘Beach volleyball scales all of this down into two players per team but at a slower pace.’ Mani had five years of volleyball experience, gained through Brighton Secondary School’s volleyball program, before he came to Flinders in 2014. During that O’Week he saw a group of people mucking around with a volleyball. He joined the club on the spot and, since then, the club has become his key reason for attending Flinders – after study of course. Mani recalls, ‘Joining the volleyball club enabled me to quickly make friends who shared the sport as a common interest. Getting involved in the club really helped me settle into uni life.’ The club actively participates in O’Week because they find it is the most effective way of recruiting new members. ‘We had over 100 people sign up during O’Week and lots of them have gone on to become members,’ Mani says. ‘We offer many people the opportunity to play a whole new sport, one they probably haven’t seen before, plus it’s an ice breaker to making friends at uni.’ Mani tells me that the influx of new recruits required the club to book additional court time for training sessions. The social competition run by the Marion Recreation Centre is the year round avenue for club members to play matches against other teams. Flinders fields a total of 11 teams which are spread across the range of grades so club members can play in a team and grade suitable to their ability. Being a social competition, the matches have a time limit of one hour and are the best of three sets. ‘We go into a match with a game plan that enables us to capitalise on our strengths,’ Mani tells me ‘Then we adjust our tactics to react to the way are opponents are playing. If the opponent appears to be weaker, we go on the offense to exploit our advantage. If they are stronger, we heighten our defensive play.’ Off the court, the club has an active social life. A quiz night was held this year and was attended by over 50 people. Two pub
FOUNDED 2009
CONTACT Facebook: flinders VOLLEYBALL
PRESIDENT MANI GANIGER
membership 103
ACTIVITIES
crawls are conducted, one in autumn and the other in spring. The club presentation night, a glittering event, is held in November. The club also has a great deal of fun putting a lot of time and effort into making their O’Week stalls memorable. Throw in the annual pilgrimage to the Southern University Games (plus the Nationals for those who qualify) and the club is kept busy throughout the year. The year round nature of competitions and social events is the key reason Mani attributes to the Flinders Volleyball Club having a close-knit community culture. ‘It’s about people wanting to throw themselves into learning or playing volleyball, developing friendships and having fun along the way. The more senior players generally run the committee and help out with the training sessions. Our club events are well attended and we have a really lively Facebook page (300 members) which is great for club communication and staying in touch.’ So dear reader, if you find yourself needing a new challenge and wishing to join a great community, the Flinders Uni Volleyball Club may be for you. Why don’t you follow in Mani’s footsteps and look out for the funky bunch messing around with a volleyball.
11 teams in a social competition at the Marion Leisure Centre on Monday and Sunday. teams at regional and national uni games. Aspire to participate in the state league in three years.
ACHIEVEMENTS For the last five years, the men’s indoor team has qualified for the national university games. Also at the national games, the men’s beach team have won gold the last two years, the women’s beach team won silver this year after gold last year, and the mixed fours beach team won bronze this year.
AUTHOR Richard Falkner, 52 not out, Bachelor of Creative Arts (Creative Writing)
Richard says that, being a writing nerd, his dream squad would include William Shakespeare, Terry Pratchett, Ernest Hemingway, T.S. Elliot, Dylan Thomas and Warren Zevon and Paul Kelly for the music. It would be totally dysfunctional and rather rowdy but bloody entertaining.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF MANI GANIGER.
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- Fiction -
THE INTELLECTUAL COMMUNITY
“
‘They’re coming!’ Kurt’s eyes widen upon the screeching of those words. He shuts his game console and places it in a bag beneath the table. Four other people place items into the bag too; books, blu-rays and CDs to name a few. Kurt grabs the wig on the table-top and places it over his long curly hair. Others around him clear off their tables, packing away their books and board games. The bags are taken to a hiding place beneath the centre of Kurt’s table. A knock echoes from the door. A voice follows immediately. ‘Open this door right now!’ ‘Just one moment, Officer Shepard,’ said one of Kurt’s friends. Kurt and his twelve friends stand immediately in a line. They place their arms to their sides and wipe away all emotion from their faces. Kurt looks to his other male friends. Like him, they too are wearing crew cut wigs to hide their long hair. He sees the girls tie their hair back quickly to hide their real length. The door opens and a squad of soldiers enters. Kurt counts ten of them in total. His heart thumps as he catches glimpse of the tattoos that cover their large, muscular arms. He spots a kookaburra holding a bomb; a sign of the 31st squadron of Hammett’s Army, better known as The Executioners. Leading the group was Officer Shepard, a veteran of the Nationalist War ten years ago. Shepard’s eyes narrow as he looks around the room. ‘Are we having a fine evening, everyone?’ ‘Sir, yes sir!’ Kurt responds at the same time as everyone else. ‘Good to hear. You people having fun?’ ‘Sir, yes sir!’ Shepard looks at Kurt. Kurt gulps as Shepard approaches him. Shit, did he hear the sarcasm in my voice? ‘You in good spirits tonight, Mister Scott?’ A bead of sweat rolls down Kurt’s forehead. ‘Yes, sir.’ Shepard raises a smile. ‘Care to share to us why you are?’ ‘Just thinking of the cricket tonight, sir.’ Shepard’s smile vanishes. ‘A strange thing for you to say,
considering the cricket hasn’t been on in this room. I’m starting to think you and your friends have been participating in some illegal activities.’ He turns around and looks at everyone else. ‘Haven’t you all?’ ‘No, sir!’ The response is as quick as it takes for Shepard to turn around. ‘Hmm. Funny, I would’ve sworn by the intel we were given that an intellectual community was gathering here.’ ‘No sir!’ Kurt turns his eyes to one of the soldiers, seeing a fire burning in the soldier’s tiny pupils. He has heard about the things this squadron does to intellectuals like him. He just hopes this is not the real deal. ‘What’s this I see?’ Kurt turns to see Shepard bending over. His blood freezes as Shepard picks up a miniature figure of Link from The Legend of Zelda series. Shit, must’ve fallen off Kasey’s backpack during our packing. One of the soldiers bares his teeth. ‘Nerds!’ Shepard looks at the soldier. ‘Hush, Peterson!’ He turns back to Kurt and his friends. ‘Would anyone care to explain what this antinationalist figure is doing here?’ Much like his friends, Kurt remains silent. ‘Don’t any of you remember that all art forms, including video games, are prohibited by law nineteen eight four as they can be used by anti-nationalists to rebel against Hammett? Didn’t any of your commanding officers in National Service teach you that?’ Kurt forms fists. Hammett, that son of a bitch. He will never forget that day when that nationalist dictator marched his troops through the ruins of Canberra, flying his flag and proclaiming the national identity crisis to be over. His heart tears each time as he remembers how they dragged intellectual communities, like his, out into the streets and slaughtered them for being antinationalist. ‘Sir,’ says one of Shepard’s soldiers. ‘May I request permission to thump these nerds?’ ‘Permission not granted,’ said Shepard. ‘I want to know where this community is hiding their contraband. They can’t tell us where it is if their brains are damaged, can they?’ ‘Sir.’ One of Kurt’s friends stood forward. ‘The contraband is hidden beneath the table by Mister Scott, sir.’
- Fiction -
Kurt glares at his supposed friend. Traitor! How could you sell us out to these bastards? Shepard smiles. ‘Nicely done, Richards.’ He looks back at his team. ‘Peterson, Jacobs, move that table and retrieve the hidden contraband.’ The soldiers push Kurt aside. Their immense strength brings him to the ground. And I was so close to finishing my game. A tear falls from his eye as he sees the soldiers pull up the backpack and dump the contents on the floor. Shepard walks over to the pile. ‘Books from Edgar Allan Poe and Ray Bradbury. CDs of AC/DC and The Beatles. Complete collections of The Walking Dead, Game of Thrones, and Doctor Who,’ says Shepard shaking his head. ‘Hammett banned and destroyed these for a reason you know. Don’t you remember his speech saying this sort of stuff fills people’s minds with anti-nationalist ideas?’ More sweat falls from Kurt’s forehead. Please don’t search through the bag completely. Shepard picks up the game console. ‘This is one of those Nintendo consoles, isn’t it?’ His face turns red as he looks straight at Kurt. ‘These Japanese machines are one of the reasons why Australia lost its national pride. People became more interested in playing this Asian shit than going out to watch or play footy and cricket.’ He smells the console. ‘Care to explain why this console smells of you, Mister Scott?’ ‘Sir,’ said Kurt. ‘These machines aren’t evil. Hell, none of this contraband is anti-nationalist. All of us, apart from Richards, are social outcasts, and this stuff brought us together. We couldn’t function socially in the main community, so we formed this one.’ He pulls off his wig, allowing his hair to touch his shoulders. ‘I, for one, stand for communities like ours. I ask you to leave us with what helps us connect with other people.’ One of Shepard’s soldiers moves forward. His face is red and his teeth are showing. ‘He’s speaking against Hammett! Sir, permission to attack him.’ Shepard smiles. ‘Permission granted.’ The soldier’s palm slaps across Kurt’s face, sending him to the floor. Kurt feels as though his jaw has been dislocated by the immense strength of the soldier. The pain across his face intensifies with each millisecond. Shepard kneels beside him. ‘Your little outburst is one of the reasons why Hammett declared this stuff necessary to be destroyed. Communities like yours are anti-nationalist and threaten the stability of our nation. This stuff you use to connect
to other people destroys the image of Australia and takes jobs away from our battlers.’ How so? Kurt becomes more confused with what Shepard is saying. Another one of Shepard’s soldiers stands forward. ‘Sir, our orders?’ Shepard looks at Kurt’s group and the contraband on the floor. ‘Destroy this bloody shit first. Get all, apart from Scott and Richards, lobotomised and integrate them back into our community.’ A soldier stands by the door to prevent Kurt and his friends from leaving. Kurt turns to the other soldiers who are spilling kerosene over the contraband. Screams deafen everyone in the room as a match drops on the pile. Tears fall from Kurt’s eyes as he sees everything burning. His tears evaporate almost immediately from the heat of the fire. Shepard is still clutching his game console. ‘Take these nerds out now.’ ‘Sir, what are we to do with Richards and Scott?’ Shepard looks at his soldier. ‘Peterson, take Richards into our infantry. He knows more about these communities and will prove worthy for our cause.’ His attention turns to Kurt. ‘As for Mister Scott, he stands accused of treason against Hammett’s regime. He will burn in this room, along with his anti-nationalist contraband.’ The soldier glares at Kurt then gives a smile. ‘Nice plan, sir. His death will prevent more communities like this from appearing.’ Shepard pushes Kurt back onto a lounge and throws the game console on the ground. Shepard shuts the door from the outside and locks it, leaving Kurt alone. Kurt runs to the door, attempting to bang it down or try anything to survive, without giving up his nerd identity. He coughs as the smoke fills his lungs. Flames catch to his hair and clothes. He lets out a screech as his skin begins burning, his insides cooking. He falls to the ground as the fire takes the last of the oxygen from the room. As the flames engulf him he wishes that communities like his would one day stand up against Hammett’s regime. That is his last wish as the flames consume him completely.
By Cameron Lowe
”
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- Book Review - Graphic Novel Review -
Book review SMALL THINGS by mel tregonning Rating: aaaa
Warning: Small Things deals primarily with issues of depression and anxiety. It was only a few weeks ago that I first heard about this graphic novel — Small Things is Mel Tregonning’s last creative project. She was unable to finish Small Things on her own as she, sadly, passed away after a long struggle with her mental health before its completion. It’s been two years since then and her work has been organised and completed, her family releasing the book earlier this year. It is hoped that its production will help others cope with mental illness spread the message that no one is really alone. Mel Tregonning’s story follows a lonely little boy and his experience with the “depression monsters” which grow gradually throughout his school day. With every humiliation and with every failure (academic or social) they grow stronger until finally they’re overwhelming. The “depression monsters” slowly chip away at him. But when his sister shows him how the “depression monsters” have eaten away at her he realises that they’re not something to hide. He starts to talk about it with his parents and the next day when he goes to school he can see that he’s not the only one fighting the “depression monsters”. Now that he knows, he has the power to reach out and help his friends. While the little boy is clearly lonely, he is usually drawn with friends or family to highlight the abrupt shift to loneliness, misery, and hopelessness. From the set of his shoulders the reader can tell that he is feeling anxious, isolated, and miserable. This visual depiction of depression/anxiety is quite powerful. The images are pencil drawings, using a semi-realistic style with enlarged heads to portray the nuances of the character’s expressions allowing the reader/viewer to further engage with the character. As well as the author, Mel was also the artist, successfully producing sinister depictions of “depression monsters” and portraying depression/anxiety visually, not just with expression
and body language but with the porcelain style figures and cracks. She uses familiar scenes such as those in the schoolyard to show that even small things can trigger someone’s depression/anxiety — a bad grade, being excluded, tripping up, or even just the day-today routine. In a similar way to Shaun Tan’s work this is something that will read differently to different people — you’re just reading images and images are usually interpreted subjectively. Depression and anxiety are some of the big issues in our society. Beyond Blue says that one in four people will experience depression or anxiety, which means that even if that’s not you there are probably plenty of people around you dealing with this on their own. One of the purposes of this book is to show that even if you feel like you’re suffering alone, you can always be there to help someone else who is also suffering alone. Sometimes you just need someone to talk to, and sometimes reaching out and helping others can not only help them, but it could help you too. While told in pictures and featuring a child protagonist, it is wrong to call this a children’s book. While many children suffer from or witness the effects of depression and anxiety, they are not the primary audience. Without words, the book is much more accessible to people of all ages and learning levels, therefore spreading a far reaching message that people suffering from mental illnesses are not as alone as they feel. I found this to be a very emotive read. So much felt familiar and so much felt frightening at the same time. I would highly recommend having a read of Small Things if you ever come across it; it could take anywhere between ten minutes and a few hours to read.
AUTHOR (p. 38 & 39) Kayla Gaskell, 20, Bachelor of Creative Arts (Creative Writing) Kayla wasn’t sure who’d be in her dream squad but would like to see how Daenerys Targareyn, Eragon Bromsson, David Rain, and Septimus heap would behave all together.
- Recap -
SA Poetry slam finals recap
The SA Poetry Slam State Final took place on September 30th at the Goodwood Institute. Ten competitors battled it out for the chance to win a trip to Sydney and the opportunity to take place in the National Slam Poetry Championship. By the time this is published the Nationals would have been and gone, but there should be some clips on YouTube for you to watch. In the meantime, however, let’s talk about the SA State Finals. The guest poet of the evening was Sukhijit Kaur Khalsa, a WA poet who describes herself — among many other things — as being, ‘hairy, single, and ready to mingle.’ As you might expect for a State Final, Sukhijit was a talented and engaging poet and entertainer. I say entertainer here because she didn’t just get up and read her work; she got up on stage and warmed the metaphorical “toilet seat” for the rest of the poets. Along with putting the audience and, I hope, the performers at ease, Sukhijit took advantage of the power of the stage to not only teach us how to say her name, but to experiment with the number of pop-culture references she could drop into conversation. Having attended some of the heats this and last year, I found a number of familiar faces both in the audience and on stage. One of these familiar faces was a poet I was very excited to hear again, Alison Bennett. Alison Bennett appeared at the State Library of South Australia in the third round of heats earlier this year. She certainly exceeded my expectations with her Cupboard of Shame, commenting on the familiar experience of learning to let go of shame. I went into the finals with my fingers crossed for Alison, who had seemed so nervous at her previous performance. Happily, I can tell you that she took out first place and will be competing nationally. Another local poet I had my eye on was Jason Marsiglia — last year’s state winner who went on to come second at Nationals.
This year, Jason’s poem was about gay rights and the victims of the Orlando shootings which occurred earlier this year. It was a touching tribute and a call for people to accept homosexuality in public. Jason reminded us all that the Orlando shootings really had faded into just another shooting when it was really much more than that — a violent act of homophobia that could easily happen again and again. Jason came second in the state competition and will join Alison in Sydney. Even though Andrew and Keenan Drake took home no prizes on the night, they ought to be mentioned as the first father and son to both make it through to the State Final. Keenan performed a piece about time. He is quite young and it was difficult not to smile at and with his performance. He, like many of the poets before him, had memorised his poem and was excited about his performance. Andrew, going after Keenan, gave a touching poem about how proud he was to be Keenan’s father, how much he loved his son and how unexpectedly happy he was that Keenan was interested in performance poetry. The thing that I love about attending slam poetry and spoken word events in Adelaide is the sense of community. Sukhijit accused South Australians of being very polite, and in a sense I can see what she means. What other state would wait for five people to find car parks before starting the event? Adelaide really is a small, tight knit community — particularly in the arts and this makes for a very warm and welcoming atmosphere. The poets on the night presented on a wide range of topics from drought from gender, to gay rights to familial relationships. While I have only discussed some of the poets performing on the night, they were all incredibly talented writers and I hope to see them all competing again next year — and of course, I’ll be eagerly rewatching their performances on YouTube!
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T J k s A
Love life got you down? Got a problem that no amount of therapy or booze will fix? Fear no more for JT is here to answer all your burning questions. Dear JT, Please help. I’m torn between two guys. One’s ugly and smart and the other is dumb but hot. What do I do?? - Indecisive Ingrid
Dear JT, How can you write for such a biased lefty mag?? - Conservative Colin
Being torn between two guys? Well Ingrid, if we interpreted that literally I would insist that double penetration just doesn’t seem like it’s for you. But clearly, your situation extends beyond being spit-roasted and is instead, the classic battle between head and heart. Now when it comes to romance, we often experience the similar plight of Dr. Jekyll and Hyde: should we be shallow and use our masculine or feminine erections as a weathervane that guides us into the sweaty embrace of an aesthetically-pleasing jock? Or should we focus upon how intellectually stimulated and substantial a non-conventionally attractive person can make us feel (I refuse to use the word ‘ugly’ because I don’t consider anyone ugly unless they play mind games or enjoy eating avocado). To be honest Ingrid, you are going to have glance beyond the exteriors and look into the turgid pool of inner beauty to make your decision. You need to decide who satisfies you emotionally; who you would be proud to introduce to your parents. But if that isn’t appealing try this: Do you want someone who will never be able to find the clitoris or do you want someone who will be able tell you fifteen fun facts about it?
Well Colin, this proves you don’t know the first thing about me which is actually that I always use my right.
Dear JT, Do you have any advice on writing a humorous advice column in a student magazine? Asking for a friend! - Plagiarist Petra
Dear JT, Will you marry me? - Socially Awkward Simon
Petra, I am simply petrified (ha) that you are considering undertaking the stressful job of giving advice to the unhinged, the shallow (see above), the generally unpleasant and the oblivious. But in all seriousness, the only advice I can give you is to simply remember one fact: you are superior to everyone. Why else would the beautiful, empowering Empire Times Editor Eleanor approach me if not because she considered me God of Flinders who is both stable and eloquent enough to essentially be a life coach to the teeming student body? Unfortunately, due to you actually submitting a question, you have proven unworthy for the job already. By needing advice, you have actually destroyed your already-slim chances of actually replacing me next year. For why would students send in questions to somebody who had needed answers? It’s a good thing you are asking for your friend Petra, otherwise this would be a horrific failure on your part.
Socially awkward? Sounds like the majority of men I’ve dated. All you needed to do was add ‘and also an asshole’ to completely fit the criteria. While the inner spinster in me is tempted to proclaim ‘Yes!’ because I have no doubt that my luck in love matches my chances of being able to fit into skinny jeans; I must say that marriage is a huge step and I can’t marry just anyone – despite how desperate my friends think I am. So how would you feel about being my Safety Husband? I want to give both of us a strong chance of finding love besides the route of student advice column which so many relationships have stemmed from and failed. Here’s the deal: if we are both still single by January 1st, 2017 at midnight, we will find each other and just have a spontaneous wedding. We will start our New Year not with a stranger’s tongue down our throats; but with a stranger’s tongue down our throats in a chapel. Since this magazine is so lefty, our power has actually eradicated the plebiscite and instead, they are pushing forward with marriage equality like, next week. So perhaps this timing is convenient, perhaps it is fate but basically yes, I will marry you. None of my Tinder matches are talking to me.
To be honest, the whole political fabric of the campus with their lefts, rights, activations, freshes and salts is simply an incoherent mess to me. I don’t have time to learn your The West Wing jargon and know how to word my answers in diplomatic ways so I don’t upset conservative individuals such as yourself. I write for this magazine not to push forward any political agendas. I would never blatantly state, marriage equality rights for everyone and black lives matter in my column like so: MARRIAGE EQUALITY RIGHTS FOR EVERYONE AND BLACK LIVES MATTER I write simply because my fingers get tired of tapping on my pulse to make sure it’s still active after a soul-crushing day of juggling my suicidal tendencies with an addiction to Freddo frogs. It feels good to tap away at a keyboard knowing that my words will be read by such loyal readers as yourself. I simply have a small yet significant purpose. Obama is a great president. I’m going to miss him.
Author’s Afternote: I would just like to say I’m filled with gratitude to Eleanor, Liam, Lauren and Simone for giving me the opportunity to do this column. As this is my final one before leaving Flinders campus forever, I would just like to say these editors are classier than anyone I’ve ever dated. They put a metaphorical pen in my hand instead of – Farewell.
Uni stressing you out? Unleash your creativity and unwind... Artwork: Tristen Vo
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anime review: Mob Psycho 100 What if I told you there was an anime that was basically One Punch Man… except even better? It’s a bold claim I know, but seriously, just watch Mob Psycho 100. Mob Psycho 100 is a 2016 anime that finished airing its 12 episode run at the end of September. Based off the 2012 — current web comic by author ONE, the mind behind the massively popular One Punch Man, viewers can expect another show rife with comedy, heart and a massively overpowered protagonist. Mob Psycho 100 is an anime that will have its viewers shocked, in tears, angry and in awe… sometimes all at once. Adapted so beautifully by the ever impressive studio BONES, it’s a show that won’t be soon forgotten. The story is about Kageyama Shigeo, (a.k.a. Mob), the sweetest and kindest middle schooler around who just wants to be able to talk to girls and be cool and stuff. Unfortunately Mob is shy, introverted and awkward; the only thing he has going for him are his super charged psychic powers. Everyday after school Mob reports for duty at his 300-yen-an-hour part time job, exorcising spirits and mushroom picking. He works under Reigen Arataka, his super duper spiritual master, (and con man) who has taken Mob on as his apprentice. Mob, who is still growing up, has yet to master control of his omnipotent powers and when under repeated stress slowly climbs toward an explosive mental breakdown. This is Mob going psycho at 100%, and will always result in people getting hurt. Right from the get-go, Mob Psycho 100 demonstrates that it’s all about the animation. With its unusual stylistic choices, keeping true to ONE’s original web comic, there’s never a dull or generic looking moment. Even switching up animation styles from poseto-pose to pencil lines to animated oil paint on glass, the creators
hold nothing back. They went all out to make Mob Psycho 100 one of the most visually orgasmic shows of this year. The highlights of the show’s animation are the fight scenes, more specifically when Mob is experiencing a 100% meltdown; things go wild and the computer is guaranteed to need some decent buffer time. The animation made me say, ‘Wow’ every few seconds, however, the less literal “wow factor” in this anime is the amazing cast of characters. The main dynamic throughout the show is Mob and Reigen, a relationship first appearing to be strictly victim and con artist. However the more the anime shows you, the more our opinions of the characters develop and we see the complexity and comedy in their bond. The complimentary characters are equally entertaining and enlightening. Mob Psycho 100 succeeds in subverting our expectations by smashing stereotypes and showing us that people are more complicated than their roles in society. The Body Improvement Club members are as heartwarming and encouraging as the Student Council President is sinister and twisted. The one thing viewers can almost certainly expect is genuine hilarity from these characters. Mob Psycho 100 is the most wholesome, enjoyable and original anime I’ve seen in a while. If I was the anime doctor it would be an easy prescription to remedy any case of the ‘what to watch next’ flu. Alternative prescriptions for the ‘spare time’ outbreaks in the end of year holidays include 91 Days, Assassination Classroom, Bakemonogatari or of course if you want to watch something really good: Neon Genesis Evangelion. AUTHOR Emma Hough Hobbs 19, Bachelor of Creative Arts (Digital Media)
For her dream squad, Emma would want Michael Cera, Ellen DeGeneres, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Misty from Pokemon.
- Game Review-
Level UP A conical shuttle slowly touches down on the red-orange sandy surface of a foreign planet that is totally not Mars, and seven people in white space suits with different coloured trim exit, two little robots following behind. These people have but one mission; to establish a new colony on the hostile alien planet that the player has so mercilessly chosen to be their new home. Will they survive? Or will they die out there, so far away from home, with no-one around to discover their dry, desiccated corpses… Well, if you’re me, they promptly die from lack of oxygen about ten minutes after you start the game because you’ve spent all your time choosing the best location for solar panels. Planetbase is a strategy game set in space, created by Madruga Works and released in October 2015 for Windows. The aim of the game is to develop a stable and thriving human colony on a distant planet, and attract colonists from nearby planetary settlements. There are three different planets that you can start with; Class D (‘accessible’ difficulty), Class F (‘challenging’), Class M (‘overwhelming’), and Class S (‘suicide’) with the latter three unlocked through reaching a certain number of milestones within the game. These milestones may include building a monolith (a giant expensive statue to yourself), becoming self-sufficient, expanding the colony through new arrivals, and so on. The easiest planet starts you off with three workers, two biologists, an engineer, a medic, a carrier bot, and a construction bot and has high levels of wind and solar energy available. The more difficult planets progressively scale down your starting crew while increasing environmental dangers and making energy harvesting less consistent until the Class S moon only gives you two workers, an engineer, a biologist, and a carrier bot, really limited building room, and near-constant random lightning strikes. Developing the settlement involves the construction of a series of domed structures; solar panels and wind turbines to collect power and a storage unit to hold it, water extractors and tanks, an
PLANETBASE
oxygen generator, canteen, dorms, bio-dome for vegetable and plant growth, sick bay, lab, mine and processing plant, and so on. Of course, the shuttle does land with quite a lot of resources on board to build a basic settlement, but as these run out more materials must be constructed from plant matter and mined ore. The planet possesses many hazards; the harsh winds creating sandstorms that threaten to tear all colonists apart, meteors striking your domes, solar flares that can cause spikes of radiation, and the ever-looming threat of running out of oxygen, food, and power. Colonists can die in many ways; from being caught outside in a sandstorm to all becoming sick and upset and only having one medical officer on board who is also sick, so that no-one can get treated, with the inevitable plague of sickness and despair ravishing the settlement. It’s a lot of fun. As you progress through the game, you can build a landing pad and radio tower to trade with ships that fly past, making it easier to gain supplies and blueprints for new types of domes and robots, and this is the only way to add more colonists to your settlement and increase the population. But you must beware who you invite in, for even visiting tourists may attempt to overthrow your settlement. Planetbase is currently available on PC for both Windows and OS X operating systems, purchasable through Steam. I would highly recommend to fans of strategy-based games, as well as anyone who just really loves space. It is a fun little game, and as frustrating as it can be to watch all your colonists die for the nth time in a row, I always feel an urge to play it again.
AUTHOR Kelly Guthberlet, 21, Bachelor of Education (Middle and Secondary)/Bachelor of Science
Kelly’s dream squad would be Captain America, Falcon, Ant-Man, The Winter Soldier, Hawkeye, and Scarlet Witch (#teamCap).
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- Music Review -
The Music Column The End of the Line...
After two years at the helm of the music column, I’m saying goodbye. My only regret was giving Beyoncé more than 2 stars for her latest album earlier in the year... Skye & Ross - Self titled Morcheeba was an early-2000s trip-pop trio, whom after releasing plenty of albums have more or less receded, slowly losing their original sound and what made them great. However, on this self titled album, former band members Skye Edwards and Ross Godfrey return to let us know they’re still alive, and show us how cool, calm electronic beats are supposed to be done. Skye & Ross throws back to their band days, with this 40-minute album bringing back fond memories of anyone who bought Big Calm or any of their early hits. So many moments on this album are very reminiscent of earlier Morcheeba tracks, the intro on “How to Fly” sounds like the intro to “Tape Loop” from Who Can You Trust? and the more laid back, yet upbeat guitars on “Light of Gold” are reminiscent of the track “Blindfold” as well as simply sounding like classic Morcheeba. As mentioned, all the elements are here, with Skye’s simply smooth vocals handled well by Ross’ beats, programming and guitars. The absence of their third band member is felt slightly, but for all efforts this record is a solid step forward for two musicians, out from the shadow of a band whose records your dad probably has at the back of his CD cabinet.
AAA
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Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds – Skeleton Tree Skeleton Tree continues the sparse arrangements and musical journey the Bad Seeds have been pursuing since Push the Sky Away, but all ears are on the main man himself, as Nick Cave lyrically deals with loss and sadness in his own unique ways. Cave’s songwriting has definitely taken a dark turn (but how much darker could it possibly get, I hear you ask?); the record lingers near sorrow and catharsis, and ends on an unresolved note, but in sadness is beauty. On the song “Girl in Amber” Nick suggests of someone who is trapped forever by the same thoughts, that while the world spins forever, they don’t ever move forward. Later, on the track “Anthrocene” Cave draws links to the age of man, and what it means to be human — what makes us human is essentially love, loss, and longing in our lives. Finally, on the closing track, Cave longs for a connection that doesn’t respond. The chorus is similar to the chorus on “Jesus Alone”, ‘With my voice / I am calling you’ it represents the helplessness and misery that a parent feels after losing their child, which is autobiographical for Cave, following the death of his son, Arthur, last year. Not much more can be said, other than this album is a highlight of the year, for sure.
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Anticipated Albums: Over the holidays I’ll be listening to two singer-songwriter albums: Agnes Obel’s third record Citizen of Glass, which continues her strain of classical pop, and Lisa Mitchell’s third album Warriors. I’m a huge fan of Mitchell’s album, Wonder, and firmly believe it can’t be beaten, but have some hope it’ll be good. AUTHOR
Aden Beaver, 19, Bachelor of Creative Arts (Digital Media) For his dream squad, Aden wants Lee Lin Chin, “Handles” from Doctor Who, and Patrick Warburton stuck as Kronk from The Emperor’s New Groove.
- Film Review -
THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS REVIEW The Royal Tenenbaums (2001) is both visually beautiful and a great piece of story-telling. Wes Anderson, the director, chose to tell the story as though it was being read from a book; visual cues, such as the opening shot of a person (you only ever see their hands) borrowing a book at a library called The Royal Tenenbaums, accompanied the voice-over narration of Alec Baldwin. The film has an underlying dramatic theme, but it certainly also has darkly dry-humoured moments. The way in which Alec Baldwin delivers the narration, his emphasis on punctuation for example, is comedic in itself. Wes Anderson shows an amazing attention to detail through the set design and intricate characters. The Royal Tenenbaums set the tone and unique style for Wes Anderson’s following films, such as The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004) and his most recent film The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014). The Tenenbaums were known for their three ‘genius’ children: Margot (adopted), a playwright and performer; Chas, a business enthusiast; and Richie, a tennis prodigy. The three siblings are all introduced as children, but for the majority of the film they are shown as adults ’22 years later:’ Gwyneth Paltrow as Margot, Ben Stiller as Chas, and Luke Wilson as Richie. The two parents are played by Gene Hackman (Royal Tenenbaum) and Anjelica Huston (Etheline Tenenbaum). Other actors that play important parts are of course (no Wes Anderson film is complete without them) Owen Wilson (as Eli Cash, a successful author and Richie’s best friend) and Bill Murray (as Raleigh St. Clair: Margot’s emotionally needy neurologist husband). Although Ethaline and Royal have been ‘separated’ for the past 22 years, they are still technically married. Royal, on hearing of his wife’s new potential suiter (Henry Sherman, played by Danny Glover), claims to have a terminal illness to win back the affection of his family. The Royal Tenenbaums is about a family dealing with their estranged
father suddenly, and in a manipulative manner, returning to their lives; there are additional plot tangents that are interesting and make the movie what it is, but that is the underlying topic. The Royal Tenenbaums is full of interesting facts and behindthe-scenes anecdotes. As with many other films, often just one person is known for taking credit for the film, and it is not commonly known that The Royal Tenenbaums was co-written by Wes Anderson and Owen Wilson (for which they were nominated at the 2002 Academy Awards for Best Screenplay); in fact, Owen Wilson co-wrote Wes Anderson’s previous two films Bottle Rocket (1996) and Rushmore (1998). The roles for both Etheline Tenenbaum and Royal Tenenbaum were written for Angelica Huston and Gene Hackman. Angelica Huston accepted without much convincing but Gene Hackman was difficult to get on board. Wes Anderson said ‘I do think I sort of forced him to do it,’ but Gene Hackman would later go on to win a Golden Globe in 2002 for Best Performance by an Actor. Wes Anderson’s brother also assisted on the film; Eric Chase Anderson is an illustrator, and he helped with the sketches for production design and also made the illustrations that young Richie Tenenbaum supposedly makes in the film. Wes Anderson made a few cameos in the film; it is his hands lending out The Royal Tenenbaums book in the opening shot and his hand-writing and voice-over is also used in separate shots. Wes Anderson did not use any New York City landmarks in the film, the view we see of New York is personal to the film.
aaaaa AUTHOR & ARTIST Rhianna Carr, 21, Bachelor of Media Arts
Rhianna’s dream squad would be “100 dogs; 50 golden retrievers, 20 sausage dogs, and 30 English sheep dogs”.
Find more of Rhianna Carr’s art on Facebook: ‘Rhianna Carr ART’
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- Television Showcase -
10 shows that changed television #10
The American-made television series The West Wing (1999-2006) was ahead of its time and remains a fabulous predictor and example of how democratic and progressive governments should function in a developed nation. The timing and the execution of the wide spanning series were large factors in play which saw the series grow and shift completely, and it quickly became one of the most influential series of all time; as any politics nerd reading this will surely agree! Not only did The West Wing have a profound impact on the entertainment world, it seemed to personally touch the lives of individuals around the globe, at a time of political instability in what was previously the strongest nation and ‘superpower’ on Earth. Remembering back to 2001, my parents used to stay up until ungodly hours every week just to watch the latest episode (as Netflix, let alone a decent broadband internet connection, was but a distant dream). It was the 11th of September, and an episode was drastically cut short as breaking news emerged on all TV stations, that a plane had flown into the Twin Towers in New York. This memory stayed very true in my mind, as years later I can recall this night - even though I was supposed to be asleep in the dark of the night as a meagre nine year old. In fact, the cast and crew of The West Wing did a stand-alone episode based on 9/11, and featured the President and his staff responding to 9/11, a time of crisis and mourning for the American people, and the wider world. Looking back, this is especially relevant as it was a time when America and the entire world finally started to come to the realisation that the leadership of a competent Democratic and progressive government would be valuable in this time of dire need, to right the wrongs of a raging conservative warmonger. It then only took seven years for America to shift fairly drastically to the Left and elect Barack Obama, the first black President of the United States, and leader of the free world, naturally. Some might ask what this has to do with The West Wing? How can you
possibly link the real and serious events of 2001 and 2008 to a television show? I would answer that the amazing portrayal and craftsmanship of the series by Aaron Sorkin showcased to the world, the conviction and passion with which the Bartlet Government leads. This in turn gave hope to many watching – not only in the US, but all around the globe – that anything is possible if you care enough to get involved in something, and the power of the many together is stronger than that of all individuals alone. From President Josiah ‘Jed’ Bartlet (Martin Sheen), we learnt that humility and grace are qualities that are just as important in a leader as strength and intelligence. Leading by example gives more weight to your lectures. When you speak and everyone in the room is silent, it means you have earned their respect and trust. When your friends and colleagues are a little bit scared of you, but still love you like a father, it means you are doing everything right. One of President Bartlet’s most defining moments occurred when Mrs Laningham, a member of his staff, passed away, and he suffered from the grief and loss of a mother figure. He recalled the day he met her and the many lessons she taught him, which showed us as viewers that he was constantly analysing his own actions and that of society, and thinking of others first was automatic. Jed Bartlet was a devout Christian, and commanded respect from people of all walks of life; his supporters were of broad demographics, be they race, religion, age or gender. In an episode in the first season, he has this particular mic-drop moment against an “ignorant” conservative…
— Bartlet (standing): I like how you call homosexuality an abomination. Jacobs (sitting): I don’t say homosexuality is an abomination Mr. President. The Bible does.
- Television Showcase -
Above: (Left) The The West Wing community (see what we did there?) of staff. Toby, CJ, Charlie, Leo, Jed, Sam, Donna, and Josh. (Right) The famous West Wing ‘walk-and-talk’, parodied by James Corden and original cast members Allison Janney (CJ Cregg) and Bradley Whitford (Joshua Lyman). Bartlet: Yes it does. Leviticus-
assistants to male higher-ups, but it is clear to viewers that that without these women and their ethics, logic, and determination, the White House would fall apart.
Jacobs: 18:22. Bartlet: Chapter and verse. I wanted to ask you a couple of questions while I had you here. I’m interested in selling my youngest daughter into slavery as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. She’s a Georgetown sophomore, speaks fluent Italian, always cleared the table when it was her turn. What would a good price for her be? [silence in the room] While thinking about that can I ask another? My chief-of-staff, Leo McGarry, insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly says he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself or is it okay to call the police? Here’s one that’s really important, ‘cause we’ve got a lot of sports fans in this town. Touching the skin of a dead pig makes one unclean, Leviticus 11:7. If they promise to wear gloves can the Washington Redskins still play football? Can Notre Dame? Can West Point? Does the whole town really have to be together to stone my brother John for planting different crops side-by-side? Can I burn my mother in a small family gathering for wearing garments made from two different threads? Think about those questions, would you. One last thing. While you may be mistaking this for your monthly meeting of the ignorant tight-ass club, in this building when the President stands, nobody sits. [silence, after a long pause, Dr Jacobs stands, before Bartlet exits the room]
— It was because of these defining characteristics that the show pivoted its attention towards Bartlet following Season 1, when the initial goals were to span across the staff more so than the President. But he was simply too good a character to not fall in love with. We learned that these qualities were the kind of qualities we need in a President — enter Obama and the rest is history. Each and every staff member in The West Wing taught us valuable lessons, both about the internal workings of the President's central government team, but so many life lessons also. In Claudia Jean ‘CJ’ Cregg, the White House Press Secretary, we see a strong, witty, fierce woman, a character that every young woman can look up to. Her humour and intelligence are always front and centre, her rapping of 'The Jackal' is an unforgettable scene for fans. CJ comes up against sexism and double standards in her job but she never lets them defeat her. Following CJ's lead, the show also highlights the strong women behind the higher-up male staff members like Donna, Bonnie, Margaret and Mrs Laningham. These women may be “just”
From the long spanning series, we learn many important life lessons, such as walking and talking is more efficient than sitting in an office, and surrounding yourself with quality government staff is essential to success. From a screen and media / film production point of view, The West Wing is seminal for its long one-take shots that show the White House staff walking and talking through numerous rooms and buildings, making it all look easy. We learn the key ingredients to a great team: every department needs a Toby Ziegler (White House Communications Director) to fly off the handle and get outraged when you discover a comma in the wrong place in the constitution; you need a CJ Cregg to bring the comedy when times are tough; you need a cynical mess in Josh Lyman (Deputy Chief of Staff) and a bleeding heart in Sam Seaborn (Deputy Communications Director). And most of all, every strong President has an even stronger woman next to him, and you couldn't get much tougher than Stockard Channing, let's be honest. From Rizzo in Grease, to First Lady Abby in The West Wing, Channing has a knack for playing unapologetic, kick-ass women. We learn so many valuable lessons from these characters, how to persevere when times are tough and the importance of working hard as a team. The team goes through many trying moments as they deal with a shooting/assassination attempt and Josh's PostTraumatic Stress Disorder following that event, and Leo’s (Chiefof-Staff) drug addiction, President Bartlet's Multiple Sclerosis (which he initially hides from the public, as we know from recent US election events that a President’s health is a big issue!), and many stressful and testing campaigns and life events. We learn that life is hard and even the best have to overcome demons on a daily basis. We are inspired by their courage and perseverance in every episode. The West Wing was ahead of its time and to this day, it remains a fabulous predictor of progression in the land of the free, even foreshadowing the election of America’s first non-white President — in life it was African American Barack Obama, in The West Wing it was Latino Matt Santos. If this progression continues and these lessons are anything to go by, hopefully it sets the scene that it's acceptable for a strong woman to take the lead. Looking at you, Hillary. AUTHOR Genevieve Danenberg, 24, Bachelor of Business (Advanced Leadership and Marketing)
Genevieve’s dream squad would be Kalinda from The Good Wife, Lorelai Gilmore from Gilmore Girls, and the ladies from First Wives Club. #GirlPower
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- Book Review -
READERS' Di-JESS(T) LOOK WHO’S BACK by TIMUR VERMES & Oh, PURE AND RADIANT HEART by LYDIA MILLET aaaaa
TIME TRAVELLER’s EDITION
How is this Empire Times’ final issue for 2016? Where did the time go? Well, it’s funny that you mentioned time… You may have noticed a theme hovering about these reviews; this is because I’m writing my PhD on time-travel fiction, have spent the year drowning under every man and his dog’s recommendations, and quite simply there are a squillion of these novels I want you all to read. Unfortunately, this same PhD that has introduced me to so many great reads is also the reason this may be my last Empire Times review. To put it thematically: next year I will have much less time to spare. Lydia Millet’s Oh Pure and Radiant Heart and Timur Vermes’ Er ist wieder da (translated into Look Who’s Back by Jamie Bulloch) are two remarkable novels that have been on my to-review list all year. Peculiarly, it was only the other day that it dawned on me how similar these texts are. Both revolve around protagonists who experience a “time-slip”, or a sudden, unexplained slip into the future. These protagonists are all historically significant and morally dubious, to say the least. Most importantly, their narratives both explore through satire the naivety and vulnerability of believing that a) the past is over, b) we have learned from our mistakes, and c) that, having learned our lesson, it is now impossible for history to repeat itself. Oh Pure and Radiant Heart follows the fathers of the atomic bomb – Robert Oppenheimer, Leo Szilard, and Enrico Fermi – who, at the moment of the first nuclear explosion during the Manhattan Project, are flung forward to contemporary America. There, they meet married couple Ann and Ben, a reference librarian and gardener who are trying desperately to stay connected to each other. Confronted with the horrors of their scientific achievements, particularly the dropping of the bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the physicists launch an anti-nuclear arms movement against the United Nations. Look Who’s Back, meanwhile, begins with Adolf Hitler waking up in modern Berlin, with no knowledge of the past 70 years. At first determined to locate members of the Third Reich, then to independently fight his way back to power, he enlists the help of a kindly stranger and resurrects his political campaign. When his speeches go viral on YouTube, he gains wild popularity as the most convincing Hitler impersonator anyone has ever seen. Germany laughs, applauds, and at a certain unseen point, they begin to listen. These two books have both achieved fame in their respective countries; Millet’s was shortlisted for the Arthur C. Clarke Award, whilst Vermes’ has been translated into 41 languages and was adapted into a film of the same name in 2015 (Watch it! It’s on Netflix!). They both manage to take shockingly dark topics of nuclear devastation and Nazism and dress them in often hilarious satire. Millet and Vermes share an amusement for historical figures
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coming up against popular culture; my favourite laugh-out-loud moment of Oh Pure and Radiant Heart, for instance, is a scene where Leo Szilard, attempting to connect with modern youth, loudly raps an Ice Cube song in the shower. These are special, delightful narrative moments, not just because they are so cleverly structured, but because they exist in and around such devastating subject matter. I did indeed laugh out loud while reading Millet’s novel, but more often I found myself staring at the pages, fighting back the lump in my throat – for interwoven through the story of Oppenheimer, Fermi, Szilard, Ann and Ben are fragments of historical facts about nuclear weapons, and true eye-witness accounts from Japanese survivors of the Little Boy and Fat Man bombs. As you can expect, these accounts are devastating. They sank into me and sat, waiting, until the next time I laughed at one of Szilard’s attempts to fit in with youth. It was a shorter, sobering laugh. It was a guilty laugh. Look Who’s Back is able to produce this laugh too, although in this case it is also tinged with terror. Hitler’s interactions with modern Germany are often clumsy and comical. As reader I struggled to take him seriously, and laughed when he misinterpreted modern words, and discovered a plasma TV. And it was funny, and it was harmless. Until I remembered it was Hitler. And then suddenly it wasn’t funny at all; suddenly, with each character who falls under Hitler’s charm, I felt the panic rise another notch. History had painted itself as satire and began again. These literary explorations of dark periods of history, and how easily they can repeat themselves, is all the more terrifyingly poignant in consideration of modern political events. I finished Look Who’s Back and was immediately reminded of Donald Trump; a political figure ridiculed, satirised, the basis of so many memes and jokes – and yet one election away from being the most powerful man in the world. Oh Pure and Radiant explores the inevitability of humanity’s self-destruction, due to our unceasing need to keep going, keep discovering, be more, more, more, and this finds equally horrific footing in the real world. In short, these novels are two of the most extraordinarily powerful ruminations on history, knowledge and power that you could ever read. Their characters are thoughtful, intricate, and utterly terrifying; they take horrors out of history textbooks and implant them in the present. History is not over, says these books, and neither are it lessons. May we never stop learning from them. AUTHOR Jess Miller, 22, PhD (English and Creative Writing)
Jess’ dream squad would be Martin Sheen, Allison Janney, Bradley Whitford, and Janel Maloney - West Wing staffers, see the previous page!
By Emma Hough Hobbs
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