Empire Times 44.7 by FUSA Association

WONDER WOMAN, POP CULTURE CONVENTIONS THE POWER OF MEMES/

POP CULTURE

E FOURTY

The Team EDITORS Eleanor Danenberg, Lisandra Linde, Liam McNally SUB-EDITORS Elise Christopher, Ainsley Ewart, Kayla Gaskell, Brenton Griffin, Jack Harrison, Cameron Lowe, Patrick O’Loughlin, Vanshika Sinh, Karen Smart, Marithe Solis, Sundus Raza, Kirsty van der Veer, Leeza Von Alpen COLUMNISTS Amber Anon, Aden Beaver & Tom Goldblatt, Brenton Griffin, Patrick O’Loughlin ILLUSTRATIONS Sheydin Dew Emma Hough Hobbs Emma Scott PHOTOGRAPHY Chris Galimitakis (back cover)

CONTRIBUTORS Elissa Blight, Charles Chiam Chuang Chao, Kate Gallagher, Chelsea Griffith, Madeline Hand, Stuart Jefferies, Lisandra Linde, Cameron Lowe,

ADVERTISING/MEDIA Steph Walker stephanie.walker@flinders.edu. au About the cover art: “I took inspiration from goddess art in mythology, and pop culture. This artwork was digitally painted, created using ‘sketchbook’ on an iPad ” - first time Empire Times cover artist, and Flinders Uni student, Emma Scott.

With thanks to: The new and first-time contributors - welcome! Enquiries Level 1, Student Hub, Flinders University (FUSA) 1 Registry Road Bedford Park, 5042 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.

Empire Times is a publication of Flinders University Student Association (FUSA). Empire Times is printed by Flinders Press. 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.

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WRITERS, PHOTOGRAPHERS, ILLUSTRATORS & MAKERS OF PRETTY INTERESTING THINGS! Empire Times is a student publication that prints over the academic year. It is made by students, for students and provides a unique opportunity for students to be published, to talk about what's important to them and to be read by those in their community. Empire Times relies entirely on contributions from the readers to make up its content. Each selected piece goes through a collaborative editing process. We're very friendly, email empire.times@flinders.edu.au to find out everything you need to know about being part of the team.

On Campus What’s going on?

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FLICS Movie Screenings: See Facebook page for locations and further details.

FUSA’s always thinking of you, and they want to aid your welfare with free breakfasts every week!

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3rd October/ Sturt 5th October/ Anchor Court 6th October/ Plaza 10th October/ Education 11th October/ Registry 13th October/ Tonsley 16th October/ Tonsley 18th October/ Plaza 19th October/ Medical School 23rd October/ Registry 24th October/ Anchor Court 27th October/ Sturt

O c tob e r & Nove mb er FESA Events

18th October/ The Blob 25th October/ The Graduate

FUSA R el ax D ays. Thanks

Week 13 is an optional teaching week, so make sure you check out your topic guides to find out if you have classes or not.

Good luck to all who have exams! Study hard!

FL ICS ( Fl inde rs Unive rs it y Cine phi l e S o cie t y )

11th October/ Double Feature: This is Spinal Tap & Young Frankenstein

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O c tob er 30th

Exams start at the end of Week 13 and run for 3 consecutive Saturdays.

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4th October/ Lethal Weapon

We ek 13: C l ass & E xams

FESA Education Pub Crawl: October 20th FESA Education Grad Party (Graduating Education students only): November 10th For more info, find FESA on Facebook.

to your student association, you can pick up some great freebies like food, haircuts, and massages. RELAX! Wednesday 4th October Plaza 11am-2pm/ Wednesday 11th October Sturt Library 11am-2pm/ Wednesday 18th October Tonsley 11am-2pm/ Wednesday 25th October Medical Library 11am-2pm

Editorial

According to a very reliable, scholarly, and peer-reviewed source, Wikipedia, Pop Culture “is the entirety of attitudes, ideas, images, perspectives, and other phenomena within the mainstream of a given culture, especially Western culture” (insert reference here) I understand this broad definition to mean, reasonably popular things and how people interpret them. Of course, this raises questions like: who decides what is ‘popular’, who makes up this mainstream? And if something is ‘popular’, does that necessarily mean it’s liked or enjoyed? Does something have to be ‘good’ or liked to be popular? Just think of all of the people who say they hate-watch The Bachelor, or people whose “guilty pleasure“ is Keeping Up With The Kardashians or the Real Housewives shows; heaven forbid these people admit they partake in these shows for a more substantial reason! I for one have no problem admitting I enjoy these shows every now and again. Some people love being active consumers of pop culture, and some people can’t think of anything worse; they may like more high brow, little known, and artistic hidden gems, perhaps. I think many people have a foot in each camp, and there’s nothing wrong with that. I definitely enjoy aspects of popular culture, but not blindly; I think it’s important to constantly analyse why we as a society think the way we think, why we like what we like, and judge what we judge. Over the last few years I’ve written many articles exploring and analysing gender and sexuality in film and television, and attitudes and social norms regarding stay at home Dads, female body hair, marriage, gender neutrality, among many other topics. Without pop culture, feminist writers like me would have a lot less material to work with. Pop culture is so important because it makes us smile, laugh, and think. Love, Eleanor

This is the last time you’ll ever see me in an editorial here. Why? Because avoidable circumstances were exacerbated by extreme negligence and a general lack of common sense. In order to make sure I don’t become a part of this problem I am leaving my post as editor. Hopefully next years’ new editors can make this magazine great, inclusive and a safe environment for everyone. As it ought have been. Thank you to all the incredible contributors and sub-editors I had the absolute honour of working with this year. You all made it worthwhile. This isn’t the last you’ve seen of me. I’m moving on to bigger and better things and to a future where I intend to promote ethical practices in the Arts industry. This year has been an eye-opening experience and a great learning journey. Thank you for reading this little magazine and make sure to return and support it next year so that the next editors can help give a voice to the students of Flinders University. For the last time, here is a shitty drawing I did for you all to remember me by. Vi snakkes (in another life), Lisandra, the hell-bitch of Hades.

Appropriating Sexual Subcultures

Board Game Baptism: (Pop) Culture and Cardboard

Wonder Woman: Or How I Stopped Being Sexist and Came to Love Women

E FOUR

The Power of Memes

Noise from the Fertile Land: Art in Indonesia

Poetry: The Last Tree

Pop Culture Conventions

No Comment (Necessary)

And Now, Nothing

Poetry: Farewell my Flowing Friend

Student Council: Disabilities Officer Interview

Anti-Social in the Arts

Stop and Smell the Roses

28 30 Anime

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Appropriating Sexual Subcultures The impact of absentmindedly consuming appropriated culture.

Amb er Anon Pop culture has a lot to answer for when it comes to the appropriation of sexual sub-cultures. From cherry-picking choker collars from BDSM culture to one-dimensional stereotypical queer characters; to indie games including options to form romantic relationships with either sex without considering the complexities of being a bisexual, pansexual or polyamorous person in real life; the appropriation of subcultures by mainstream pop-culture exists to make easy cash from both mainstream society and ‘starved for content relating to their existence’ sub-cultures. So, how is this a problem if it gives disenfranchised subcultures ten seconds in the spotight? Typical elements of subcultures which are appropriated by mainstream pop-culture can be used as forms of comic relief to a main protagonist, or as accessories for those outside of the subculture to spice up their life. The issue with appropriating elements of subcultures is that it trivialises its significance to that subculture for the sake of reclaiming it in order to be on point. As an example, let’s look at the appropriation of choker collars from BDSM culture, which were originally used as a way of symbolising and enforcing submission of the wearer. By cherry picking these select aspects and making them more consumable for a mainstream audience, the media does not take into consideration the significance of the appropriated element to that subculture. As the element becomes marketable within mainstream society, it reduces the appropriated element as well as the entire subculture to being consumable items, only being worthy of attention by pop-culture when it desires to profit from them. Without giving consideration to the impact that this has on individuals within subcultures, this isolates individuals from being

considered ‘normal’ within pop-culture as it uses stereotyped and over-accentuated representations. This limits what are considered acceptable forms of expressing elements from subcultures within pop-culture; whilst in contrast, reaffirming the normativity of cis-gendered heterosexuality as being the goldstar form of expression expected of everyone within society. This reinforces the appropriated element as being normal within pop-culture in comparison to the subculture, which further demonises the occurrence of the element outside of pop-culture as being excessive or inappropriate; whilst further excluding the normalisation of the subculture by reinforcing their demonisation within pop-culture as being the non-normative. From this, with limited forms of acceptable expression and limitations on when a subculture will gain attention from pop-culture; subcultures have needed to compete with one another for opportunities to be acknowledged and heard. Awareness of existence through popculture enables subcultures a platform to speak about the issues and difficulties individuals face from being excluded. Therefore the need for accurate representation and awareness of people from mainstream pop-culture not to be consumers or partake in the appropriation, stereotyping and disenfranchisement of sexual subcultures; but instead being aware of how stereotypes and the appropriation of subcultures impact the individuals within them. Doing so will enable individuals from sexual subcultures to be included in social narratives without having to give up a part of their identity, and will also allow more equitable opportunities for sexual subcultures to express themselves as well as their needs and desires without having to compete with other subcultures.

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Board Game Baptism (Pop) Culture and Cardboard What do you get when three pop culture icons make the jump to cardboard? The Star Wars, Lord of The Rings, and DOOM boardgames, of course!

Patrick O’Loughlin There are numerous instances where pop culture titans have broken away from their origins and permeated numerous other, often completely different mediums. A strong intellectual property will flaunt its awesomeness by involving itself in as many mediums as possible — books become TV series, movies become games, and games become movies. Then, if they’re lucky enough, they become board games. In this issue I want to look at three different icons of pop culture respectively, and the amazing board games they spawned. Star Wars is without a doubt one of the biggest intellectual properties that has ever existed, so it’s no surprise that it has spawned some quality board games (along with the likes of cash-ins like Star Wars Monopoly). One of the best games that uses the Star Wars property is the X-Wing Miniatures Game. It replicates the fast, imprecise, and fun dog-fights that exist in the films. Two players control opposing sides, one imperial and one rebel, and construct a force of (gorgeous pre-painted) spaceships. They then deploy these forces on a 3x3 foot battle area, and take turns moving miniatures around with a secret order system. The skill of the pilot and the scariness of the ship will dictate the order

of play, so a fleet of poorly manned TIE Fighters have the opportunity to shred Luke in an X-Wing before he gets a chance to react, although if he survives, the TIE Fighters usually don’t last long. Played on a space-themed surface with the Star Wars soundtrack in the background makes for an incredibly thematic experience, and does the franchise proud. Similarly, The Lord of the Rings is a franchise that has a huge, and occasionally obsessive (for good reason), fan base. War of the Ring is a board game acts as a perfect fan service, then; the game encapsulates the entire Lord of the Rings saga, complete with thematic events, war and fierce territory control. In War of the Ring, one player plays the Free People, and the other plays the Shadow Armies. It is the goal of the Shadow Armies to win battles and gain territory across the huge map of Middle Earth. For the Free People, they can also gain territory to win the game, or they can sneak the fellowship through Middle Earth via the ring track and drop the ring into Mount Doom. The Shadow Army player can counter this by corrupting the fellowship, so the Free People player often need to balance their defenses in numerous ways. Just like the books!

DOOM is a renowned video game franchise, known particularly for the flawless film adaption starring Dwayne Johnson. In all seriousness, though, it’s hard to replicate the kind of carnage that the video game encourages when players are moving miniatures around on cardboard tiles and rolling dice. DOOM: The Board Game manages to succeed, though. In the board game, one player controls the invading demon forces, with the sole objective of killing marines, while the other players control the marines as they focus on objectives. Littered around the maps are weapons and health packs, and when a marine dies, they respawn, evoking ties to multiplayer first person shooters. Different marine classes and weapons mean dice do different things, or speed is affected in interesting ways. All of these factors combine to really give DOOM: The Board Game a video game-like feeling. There are dozens of other board games that use fantastic, recognisable themes in a well-implemented way. Examples include the Game of Thrones board game, Firefly, Star Trek: Fleet Commanders, and XCOM. If you have a favourite universe, make sure to see if there’s a great board game that represents it!

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Wonder Woman:

Or How I Stopped Being Sexist and Came to Love Women

Ade n B e aver & Tom G oldbl att When I sat down in the cinema not too long ago and watched the latest offering from Warner Brother’s DC Extended Universe, Wonder Woman, I felt a strange tingle in my bones. Believe it or not, I actually enjoyed the film. Being the raging misogynist that I am, I could feel my soul splitting in two just as the closing credits began to roll. One part of me wanted to clap and cheer at the great film that I had just witnessed, but the other half of me wanted to kinghit every woman I walked past, purely as revenge for Patty Jenkins having the very nerve to step out of the kitchen and make a movie that stars an Israeli woman. But I stepped outside the cinema, and the world seemed brighter, more colourful. It was immediately a better place because of Wonder Woman’s existence. I immediately pre-ordered the Blu-Ray™ Collector’s Edition™ The following night I was at Johnno’s place, slamming a few tinnies and hitting a few Marlboro Reds with the boys, when suddenly his girlfriend wanted to share her opinion on the topic we were discussing. I hushed the others as I wanted to hear her, and the room went dead silent. You could hear the ash of the darts hit the floor, and my mates were gobsmacked. At that point, I instantly realised the gravity of what I had just done. I had just shown a woman some respect. I ran to the bathroom, red-faced. With my reflection in the mirror, I realised that I had changed. I now had grown respect and appreciation for my double-X chromosomed counterparts.

I later sat in my flat, surrounded by my Football and WWE memorabilia, pondering my life. How could this have happened to me? What was possibly in that film that could have changed my mind? I gently considered the obvious truth, that a superhero film with an original, female character could possibly be just as successful as a typical male-led superhero film. Surely, if you could glorify the male physique with tight clothing, showing off his mouth-watering chest and abs in the process1, and throw him into a 2-hour epic filled with more violence than a Scottish football game, then surely, that formula could work for a woman too. But no matter. My trusted friends won’t even look at me anymore for not swiftly telling Johnno’s girlfriend where her damn place was. The other day I was informed of the BBC’s announcement for the new Doctor Who, and I can’t believe I’m saying this, but my reaction wasn’t negative. I thought Chris Chibnall would do a much better job as a head writer, given Stephen Moffatt has already dragged the series into the shitter. Jodie Whittaker would also be another breath of fresh air to a series whose fanbase the world could get on without quite easily. Is this what life is like, living in an egalitarian society? All I know is my framed portrait of David Tennant above my bed won’t be shifted anytime soon.

1 I love you Chris Hemsworth. Please fly me away to that magical land in the clouds with those jacked arms of yours.

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Stop and Smell the Roses Immersed in our smart-phones, between work and study, we often become distracted and miss the little things in life.

Ma deline Hand The emergence and rapid advancement of the internet and technology separates the millennials from other generations. We’ve become a generation that’s reliant on devices, and it’s easy to see why. They provide us with a large buffet of knowledge and entertainment, and they make our lives easier; it’s no wonder how we become distracted from the real world. How many of us jump online to ‘Google’ something or to check our Facebook feeds, only to waste an hour of our time? We become too invested in our search or online conversation. Similarly, we too can become distracted with life’s busy hustle and forget what it’s really all about. We succumb to our daily routines, never exploring those “perhaps” and “what ifs”. We busy ourselves with work and school and what we ‘have’ to do, repeating our daily routines over and over. This is something that not only millennials are guilty of, but are, perhaps more susceptible to. It’s easy to forget with life’s constant race how much you’ve accomplished and how much potential you still have. Look at what you’ve done and smile, because you made it happen; you made those choices and put in the hard work and made it happen.

Look, my point is simple: stop waiting and start living. Stop waiting for Friday or for summer. Just do it: make your goals, work hard and achieve your dreams. Stop worrying, step outside, and make those memories. You live every single day, so make the most of every single one. And soon, your hard work will pay off, but always stop and smell the roses. Open your eyes and notice the little things in life to see the magic and beauty in every day. Start noticing the colored clouds in each setting day, the wet fallen leaves on the pavement, the smell of freshly baked bread. Start appreciating the car rides with friends, the morning coffees, the late night conversations, and everything inbetween. Because this, this is life. It’s the salty ocean breeze and the sound of the waves as they crash, the sound of streams trickling and gumboot splashes in puddles. It’s open windows, running in the rain, a quiet afternoon, and the perfect song on the radio. This is it, this is life, all of these little things. So, embrace it and appreciate it to make the most of every day.

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And Now, Nothing ‘I have to live with the mistakes I so blindly made. The future might become slowly brighter. Until then, the future is unknown, and that’s scary as hell’. Stuart Jefferies

Trigger Warning: mentions of substance abuse, self harm, and suicidal thoughts. It was all there: my future, before me, plans set in stone. A horizon without a setting sun. Then, suddenly, the lights went out. The plans were obliterated. That horizon faded from view. On July 2nd it all ended. I was in a relationship with someone I intended to spend the rest of my life with: we made it 11 months. For me, that’s a record, but what shouldn’t have been a personal best for me was my inherent selfishness. True, my mental illness, severe depression often resulting in suicidal ideation has hindered my sense of empathy. True, I often have used this as an excuse, but for me it also seems a rationale – a meaning behind the madness. But that doesn’t change what happened. I suspect that nothing will. I have learned not to be optimistic. With this latest split, I’m four from four. Four breakups in as many years. Nothing else in my life has been so debilitating as this statistic. Thankfully, however, this time around there haven’t been the moments of bleakness; I simply cried for about two days. I went to work the day after it happened and acted like nothing went down. I did the same thing after a suicide attempt so perhaps that’s just me. Perhaps I’m a survivor. But that also says to me that I am intrinsically self-minded. Survivors focus on what’s best for them, and how they are going to tackle any challenge that presents itself. Think of

the TV show, with the slogan being ‘outwit, outplay, outlast’. This is the psychology of a survivor. I should have been more than that; I should have been a supporter. I allowed my last partner, like the last two exes (the third I don’t speak of), to witness dramatic shifts in mood that turned the attention solely to me. Normally, I detest the spotlight. There’s nothing I love more than encouraging my friends, acquaintances, lads, etc – empowering them through sage advice garnered from the rollercoaster last five years of emotional trauma, hard lessons learned, and a general “can-do” attitude. But when the spotlight lands on me, I am often modest – and yes, it’s ironic to point out one’s own modesty – and try to shirk the gaze, passing it to others. In relationships, perhaps, because of the duration, I become gelatinous, lazy, and selfabsorbed. There are, however, frequent moments of generosity, compassion, and romance that you would hope to find in a normal relationship – except I have never been “normal”. I have come to loathe the mental illness that has encased me countless times and tarnished relationships – romantic and platonic – over the last few years. The fact that it has lasted years is debilitating enough. The continuous vicious cycle of ups and downs, like a malevolent instrument of perpetual motion (and perpetual despair), weighs heavy, especially now. In the past I have only managed change when it is too late.

After my first real relationship, which lasted 9 months, I ended up in therapy. But that was more than necessary, as I kept hurting myself. I should have gone back after the next breakup, a relationship which lasted only a month, but it was special in its own way. As many could attest to with their own relationships, time is often irrelevant when there is a significant connection. I began therapy again, with a different psychologist, earlier this year. I went back on the antidepressants I should have stayed on when they were first prescribed. I tried to pre-empt the calamities that might befall myself and, in the resultant fallout, my partner. But, again, too late. In answer to Justin Bieber’s ‘is it too late now to say sorry?’, sometimes, Justin, yeah it is–– and it fucking sucks. I wish, more than anything, I had been more of a supporter, making my last partner feel as warm and embraced and reinforced as he allowed me to feel. Alas, hindsight is perhaps the cruellest existential force aside from death. This time, I seem to be doing okay, despite losing someone I genuinely saw myself having a life with. The truth is, however, I didn’t earn that privilege. I didn’t make him happy. I had to hear second-hand that his family and friends pretty much all thought he deserved better. That really stung. As someone who has driven blades into themselves, that cut particularly deep. This time, however, and perhaps fortunately, self-destruction seems pointless. What would drinking myself into a stupor achieve? Momentary escape from the monotonous rhythm that present life has succumbed to – futile. Of course, I have a somewhat addictive personality, or perhaps just low impulse control. Either way, substance abuse has always come merrily knocking at times of highs and lows. Not this time. For now, I am (miserably) sober. I am left with nothing but fragments of a life once shared. No amount of merlot, weed, or fitful philandering will change that fact. Various emotions are comforted by an even greater variety of music – my usual fall-back in the aftermath of lost love. I am eased by Bowie, Morrissey, Florence Welch, and the eternal stalwart Fleetwood Mac. These are the recurring Four Horseman of my personal apocalypses, guiding me towards some small shred of emotive salvation. Together, they weave a majestic tapestry of wisdom and woe, of self-determination and personal endurance. Through their collective lyrics, I feel their experiences resonate with my own. Indeed, Florence + The Machine’s How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful resurrected my dead gay soul in 2015, and it continues to remind me, over the course of an entire album, that even the worst of broken hearts can be healed. It’s strange being grateful to someone I’ve never personally met, but I will forever be indebted to Florence Welch for that album. In between self-care listening, there is a vast desert of nothingness. A barren emotional wasteland that stretches for eternity. Dramatic, I know, but there is little else to describe that feeling of

both desolation and isolation. My partner and I had constructed the solid foundations of a life together, and now, well, it feels as though the house has collapsed. There is a profound amount of loss, helplessness, and despair in witnessing such swift destruction. Hyperbole it may seem, but sometimes we, as people, are at a loss of words in describing what befalls us. But these are all umbrella feelings, an overarching mood. On a more elemental level, however, I haven’t been feeling a general “okay-ness”. I suspect my recent buoyancy has been helped in no small way by regular medication, boosted by zinc and vitamin D (which helps to promote mood), and downed with Berocca. I mean, there’s little else I can do but mourn a situation I personally, and almost singlehandedly, brought to fruition. All I can do, as Bowie famously sang, is ‘turn and face the strange’. I’ll take artificial elation over the crushing despair of crying to Robert Smith wail that ‘there was nothing in the world that I ever wanted more/than to feel you deep in my heart’. Sure, this entire experience is painfully familiar, but at the same time, the sudden and unexpected rupture of a lifestyle – events and conversations and moments that had existed so long they had become landmarks in my mind – is no less devastating. I find you miss the companionship most of all. Someone to just sit, be in your presence, or lie in bed with you. It’s tough. I’m glad my cat, my main lad, Cooper, is here most of the time to assist in the healing process. I think, in light of all this seismic change, a degree of dissociation has saved me from any further trauma. It’s a natural defensive mechanism in the brain, and one I’m eternally thankful for. But I’m waiting for it to fade, for a return to reality. Maybe I’m just in a later stage of the grieving process. Perhaps a small piece of me hopes that things will return to normal. Perhaps not. Objectivity is extremely difficult in these situations. Time will tell. Waiting is the hardest game I’ve had to play. Throwing myself into work hasn’t worked – surprisingly. In the meantime, there’s music, love and support from my friends, and the slow march toward the next semester and graduation. Slowly a horizon begins to reform, unsteady and malformed yes, but an end point nonetheless. Meanwhile, I have to live with the mistakes I so blindly made. Hopefully, through intense and continual personal redevelopment, the future might become slowly brighter. Until then, the future is unknown, and that’s scary as hell. My former partner is a wonderful, talented, compassionate, and extraordinarily genuine man, with a future that is already destined to become bright. I wish him nothing but the best. Me? I’m still here, still chugging along. For someone who was never much of a runner, I’m not bad at endurance. I am, after all, a survivor.

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The Power of Memes ‘Memes and general internet culture bind us together. People across the world over different cultures, social and economic classes, levels of education and interests are connecting on deep levels over mundane ‘feels’ and ‘me af ’s.’ C hels e a Gr if f it h

13 The Great Depression; a time in our world’s history where humanity was plagued with war, hyperinflation, rations, redundancies, general paranoia and discontent. Well, the name says it all, really. Now I’m going to say something that will make people who are fed up with internet culture vomit aggressively; I believe the depression part of The Great Depression would not have occurred if they’d had memes. Look, I get annoyed with a fair bit of internet/meme speak too. I get it. You think by me saying this, that I’m trying to be a meme or speak ‘meme’, but I’m asking you to give me a sec to explain myself. Memes and general internet culture bind us together. People across the world over different cultures, social and economic classes, levels of education and interests are connecting on deep levels over mundane ‘feels’ and ‘me af’s. A meme about wanting only to talk to the dog at a party can connect Kylie Jenner with a teenage girl in Liechtenstein or a middle-aged man in Oodnadatta. I remember back when I was in year eight and the equivalent to memes were liking Facebook pages with names like ‘trying to balance the light switch between on and off’ and ‘that one person you see everywhere but you don’t know their name’. I specifically remember, as a fourteen-year-old, coming to the realisation that I wasn’t as special and unique as I had originally thought after finding the Facebook page ‘feeling like you have super powers by tilting your fingers in the shower so water sprays out of your finger tips’. At that exact moment, I realised we humans are all the same. At the time it was severely depressing, as I’d constructed my identity on the foundation of believing I was unique and now the floor had been completely ripped from beneath me. But now, as an adult, I embrace the parts of me that are just your average smashed-avo eating ‘basic white girl’. As lame as it sounds, it makes me feel connected to humanity.

‘A meme about wanting only to talk to the dog at a party can connect Kylie Jenner with a teenage girl in Liechtenstein or a middle-aged man in Oodnadatta.’ You’re not alone. That misconception that you could be alone is sometimes what drives people to join cults and extremist religious groups. Now look, I don’t mean to sound like I’m taking the piss, because I’m honestly not; Maybe these people should have been directed to the right Facebook pages, Instagram and Twitter profiles, Snap and Tumblr accounts and various meme sites. If you feel connected and part of something larger, you’re probably not going to feel like an extremist group is the only thing capable of satiating your loneliness. I know I sound naïve, or facetious, or like the hundreds of hours of The Bachelor I’ve watched has finally lobotomised me, but think about it. Think about those obese, aggressively shy Star Trek fans who live to speak to their favourite cam girl on an adult site every day; pouring their hearts into every interaction they have with the girl whose college bills they pay. Think about those lonely, friendless people who use Omegle because they can’t bear to go without human contact. Think about the quiet, pimple-faced bookworm in year 10 who posts pictures of someone else’s thigh gap and acai bowl to thousands of Tumblr followers because she’ll never get validation like that in the real world. And think about those times your friends have been too busy, your co-workers are in foul moods and won’t chat with you, and you’re sitting at home watching Netflix finding yourself jealous of the people in the show because it seems like they’re always talking to people. So you post a ‘gram, send a Snap, send a

‘wyd’ or tag someone in a meme. Now think of that feeing when a notification pops up after you do it, the fleeting excitement and the loneliness fading away. Now ask yourself what you feel the value of a meme is in healing the lonely. What’s the value of something that has the power to make someone smile and forget why they weren’t smiling before? What’s the value of company, connection? A platform for constant connection and feedback on our thoughts and opinions has a heap of downsides, sure, but also some ups. Not to toot my own horn or anything but I completely slayed Twitter a year or so ago with a hilarious tweet that got 25+ retweets from randoms (I am usually lucky to get one), and it was kinda cool to have my humour adored by absolute randoms. It just makes you think about how there are billions of people in the world and so many people that you could get along really well with. Naturally, I stalked every retweeter because I was that wrapped up in their admiration. Some had Twitter bios in languages I couldn’t even attempt to pronounce, some were Westerners, one was a Kevin Rudd fanatic who posted pictures of himself travelling all over Australia stalking Kevin07. Every retweeter seemed drastically different to me in some way, but we all had a seemingly similar sense of humour. (Side note: search ‘ruddfactor’ on Twitter and thank me later). Yeah, technology is creepy and controlling and the government basically have us microchipped, fat and distracted like dumb Labradors, but you know what? I think we have formed something out of it that no one expected and no one can control (unless we go full China). It’s like on the show, The Handmaids’ Tale, when Offred comes across the pack of letters that detail hundreds of other girls’ experiences; and suddenly she is connected to a network that makes her feel supported and accompanied, so much that she feels able to take on the fascism around her and stand up for herself and her gender. Just like Offred, we have found a collective of shared experiences that help us to feel strong and united enough to take on the ridiculousness of our society; one meme of Kim Jong Un at a time. Our world is going through some stuff. We have a barking carrot running America, Asian Augustus Gloop is threatening to beat up any nation who won’t give him their lunch money, and an evil, flame-head version of Kath Day-Knight is telling parliament that a plastic box of chips, meat and sauce is going to completely destroy our nation. We are told eating meat is bad but also being vegan is bad. We are told that everyone is equal and to love one another but our government is spending kajillions on a plebescite. The seas are rising and so are superpower tensions and the cholesterol that’s in our veins and the average number of people suffering from anxiety.

‘The government keeps telling us how different we are and how we can all never get along, but we are all liking the same picture of a dog with its head stuck in a laundry basket.’ The government keeps telling us how different we are and how we can all never get along, but we are all liking the same picture of a dog with its head stuck in a laundry basket. And honestly, I think that’s what will get us through. They’re gonna keep telling us that if you get two people and put a piece of material over the face and head of one of them then those two people can’t get along, and that one couple’s marriage will destroy the sanctity of marriage for everyone else. But the next time you feel hate or fear, or you see the difference between yourself and someone else, I implore you, take note of that person’s memes. You’re probably not so different at all.

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Noise from the Fertile Land: Art in Indonesia How Wedhar Riyadi’s artworks teach us about the history of Indonesia as well as the subversive role of art. E liss a Blig ht

In the early 16th century, Indonesia was first colonised by the Portuguese. At the time in Europe there was a vast demand for spices such as nutmeg, ginger, cinnamon, cloves and mace; huge profits were to be made by transporting and selling these items. However, in the early 17th century, the Portuguese lost their control to the Dutch. Several countries intervened, however the Dutch remained in control. In 1949, the Dutch agreed to recognise Indonesia as an independent country. Indonesia went through a period of guided democracy and dictatorship. Finally, in 1999 Indonesia was to partake in a functional democracy. Within this context, we can ask the question, ‘what is the role of art in Indonesia?’ There have been three main periods of art in Indonesia’s recent history. During the Suharto period (dictatorship from 1966) art was mainly political. During the reformation period (democracy) art played an important role in education, liberation and raising social awareness. In the most recent years art has become increasingly commercial. Against this historical backdrop, artist Wedhar Riyadi has created work that is successful both commercially and aesthetically. His painting series Noise from the fertile land have a very immediate appeal. On a surface level they are very visually stimulating. This has to do with the juxtaposition of the traditional imagery

‘Art was meant to depict the “ideal world”, a place separate from existence. Art and life were completely separate. However, art has changed to a means of pointing out the truth. Life has caught up to art’.

‘Art is a way of encouraging new perspectives on history and demanding social justice’.

with the modern imagery, the contrast of colours, the strong tones and outlines as well as the familiar and iconic composition of the western ‘family photograph’. There is also a sense of action in the forefront against the backdrop of a very still, composed image. The variety of painting styles within the painting is also appealing. The traditional realist imagery is cold and distant; the figures have a perfect posture, they are unnatural and hostile. However, in contrast to this, the modern imagery imposed over the monotone figures are comic, chaotic, unstructured, and alive. They have a similar quality to that of popart. What is it that makes pop-art so immediate and appealing? The secret lies within the bold outlines, exuberant colours, comic, theatrical expressions, dramatic narrative and the general momentum and existential presence (a sense of living in the “now”) within the images. Big eyes staring at you, sparkles, dripping figures, the rough texture of wood, heads coming out of nowhere these all stimulate the senses. However, there are also some satiric and symbolic

elements to the pop-art like figures. The wood blocks hold things together as if the figure is about to fall apart. Unstable rocks on stilts and unforgiving knives come from all directions. Overall, however, they are cheerful; these images remind us of graphics we encounter when we play video games. They create an endearing, familiar, perhaps nostalgic, personal connection between the artist and the viewer. On a more profound level, this painting explores important concepts of tradition, history and identity. This work is a symbol of liberation from the years of colonisation. The painting conveys the notion of masking tradition. Previously artists depicted Indonesia in romantic colonial painting styles as they did in Australia during colonisation, using European painting techniques to capture an unrealistic representation of the country. Art was used as a means of covering up. This speaks a lot about the change in the role of art during the modernist period. Traditionally, art was meant to depict the ‘ideal world’, a place separate from existence. Art and life were completely separate. However,

art has changed to a means of pointing out the truth. Life has caught up to art. These paintings show this transition. Although the backdrop of the paintings captures a grim part of history, overall the works show some very positive implications. They show that the people of Indonesia are now free to express themselves and form opinions. Art is a way of encouraging new perspectives on history and demanding social justice. Looking at the context of the work critically, the fact that the colonialist style paintings were taken as acceptable at the time raises an interesting question of who has authority over art and ultimately, our lives. I believe this comes down to the notion of ideological hegemony. The Marxist concept of ‘Ideological hegemony’ theorises that dominant ideas in society are fed to us by relationships of domination and exploitation. The dominant ideas are so internalised that we are not even aware of ourselves being within the ideology. From a young age certain ideas we encounter are taught as fact without appropriate

‘We are psychologically liberated in the process of viewing the painting. We are freed right in front of the work, from our own ideology, from history, from time and from lies’.

questioning of them. This painting depicts this notion, engaging the audience in re-evaluating their own identity and perception. It teaches us to question authority as well as blind indoctrination of ideology. The power of ideology is immense. We often wonder why people supported Adolf Hitler. In the modern world, a similar structure of imposed ideas are continuously present within our own society. For example this can be seen concerning common beliefs which are inherently racist, sexist or materialistic. Within this, the role of art is to pick apart these ideological hegemonies and critique them. The viewer has a very significant role in contributing to the development of social and cultural criticism. The title of this series ‘Noise from the Fertile Land’ also indicates the profound ignorance westerners have had for centuries towards these cultural hegemonies. ‘Noise’ suggests the notion of noise we hear but do not listen to. ‘Fertile land’ of course is referring to the white colonial exploitation of Indonesia (amongst other countries) for its resources, leaving terrible scars on

these countries; dehumanising the true viewer is deceived. A sense of betrayal citizens through slavery and destroying is caused as we are lied to in the first representation. However, the second layer identity and culture. of representation (modern images) frees While viewing the work, we are faced with us from this lie. The third representation the dilemma of the realist photograph of language achieves a similar effect. depicting the most inacurate representation It is honest, it is true, and it is a heroic of reality while the unreliable, rediculous confrontation. It is unpretentious and cartoonic imagery gives us a symbolic endearing. This emotional dynamic is very representation of a reality which is true. effective. We are psychologically liberated However the title as mentioned above in the process of viewing the painting. We signifies the most acurate representation of are freed right in front of the work, from the history. This comments on the nature our own ideology, from history, from time of photography, paininting, language and and from lies. other modes of representation. Language, the most complex code, in this case In this way Riyadi confronts but also strangely offers us the best portrayal, enlightens the viewer. He shows us the contrary to our intuition of realistic and truth and liberates us; and this is one of the most emotive, powerful and beautiful universal imagery being more reliable. experiences one can have in front of a What exactly is it that the painter has work of art. depicted? He has captured a cultural construction, a historical document of a false ideology, using three different layers of representation. These layers create a Photo sources: certain psychological dynamic within the Queensland Art Gallery & Gallery of Modern viewer; the first seemingly photographic Art website, Eveline Art Magazine website, image is portrayed as fact. In this way, the SAMSTAG Museum, Adelaide.

fe atu re / ar t s

Working in the Arts industry is hardly for the shy and unsociable, much to this writer’s distress

Popular culture likes to portray the artist and the writer as a solitary creature working in the confinement of quirky studios and studies with little to no natural light or contact with the outside world. Though far from accurate for most of the Arts community, this isn’t exactly pure fantasy. If the study published in the academic journal Nature Neuroscience [I] is any indication, it looks like the creatively inclined are 25% more likely to suffer from mental illnesses than the less creative members of the population. Conditions such as bipolar disorder, anxiety and depression tend to be characterized by withdrawal from society and a reluctance to frequent social gatherings. If this is something that is common amongst the creatives of the world, then surely the Arts industry would be accommodating towards its more reclusive members. Right? Unfortunately, that isn’t the case at all. In this new, digital age being an artist or writer is a very different sort of business than it was in the days of letters and postage stamps. Making art is no longer about the artist’s vision alone. Artists are expected to sell their work by selling themselves. The rise of social media has made it important to stay on top by having a strong online presence. In many ways it looks like art and writing in the 21st century is less about the quality of the work produced and more about the popularity of the producer. Offline, artists are still expected to show an interest in the world outside their studio. More often than not, making it in the Arts industry is about who you know, not what you do. The industry is primarily made up of members of the Arts community. This community is, at least in theory, fairly inclusive and willing to give newcomers a chance. However, like any community there are those who fade into the background, those less bubbly characters who can’t make it into the creative spotlight because of their poorer social abilities. Take for example the writing community in Adelaide. This community casts a wide net, encompassing hardened professionals, budding talents, the new and inexperienced, and the rag-tag bunch of fringe dwellers. There is a kind of ‘who-you-know’ hierarchy within this community. The fewer people you know within the community, the less chance you have of being a part of it rather than a

spectator from the sidelines. But why should a creative newcomer care about their place within this hierarchy? Writers and Artists work in an incredibly competitive market where every available opportunity needs to be seized in order to ‘make it’. It’s also a rather thankless industry. The pay isn’t great and making a living off of one’s art takes a lot of guts and a unique skill set. I didn’t realise just how savvy you need to be to do well in the industry until I got hooked on Honor Eastly’s aptly named podcast Starving Artist. Like the majority of those working in the Arts, Eastly acknowledges the difficulties of making ends meet while actively pursuing a creative career. Her podcast covers a lot of crucial points for artists to be aware of. From the ins-and-outs of finances to the skills needed to succeed on social media and in the wider world of the Arts, Eastly leaves no stone unturned (I recommend popping Starving Artist onto your iTunes playlist on the commute to work if you’re thinking of getting into creative industries. Seriously, it’s a lot more complicated than just producing quality stuff). Given the amount of skill needed just to keep yourself afloat financially, it’s just a cherry on top of the pressures of creative work that being part of the community is so vital. Your work can be on par with Austen and it still won’t matter one whit if you haven’t got the presence needed to be noticed and recognized by the industry. Like most other industries your success will rely a whole lot upon who is willing to vouch for you. Your room mate Ted who always drinks all the milk and never replaces the toilet paper is not going to make you someone worth investing in. A friend who is established in the Arts community, whose work is acknowledged and valued in the industry, is a way better bet in promoting you to industry professionals. So let’s review the skills needed to “make it” as an artist in modern day Adelaide. You need: good money management skills, commitment to your art, and people to vouch for you. You also need to establish an image far and wide. Anyone studying Creative Arts here at Flinders knows that lecturers are always encouraging publication. Publish in literary magazines, in local publications, in your student magazine. Publish, publish, publish until your CV looks like a Tolkien novel!

fe atu re / ar t s

‘Publish in literary magazines, in local publications, in your student magazine. Publish, publish, publish until your CV looks like a Tolkien novel.’ Much as I agree that this is a good thing to do in order to get your name out there as a writer, I also know that this process is soulcrushing. Something I learnt early on is that rejections do get under your skin. They can make you feel like a failure, like everything you’ve ever written is a huge, stinking garbage fire. And if you’re naturally reclusive – like artists arguably tend to be – it’s easy to see this failure as something very personal and demoralising. This is where community takes on yet another layer of importance. Aside from being there to help give you a good recommendation, the people you meet in your creative community serve an important role in keeping you sane. Before I got involved with the wonderful people at Speakeasy Flinders, I was the very picture of the reclusive ‘woe-is-me’ artist. I lived pretty much alone in a dingy Anzac Highway apartment, the kind of place where the walls are literally coming down around you on a daily basis (stepping on chunks of dissolving brickwork barefoot at 4am is not something I would recommend). This kind of lifestyle wasn’t exactly conducive to positive vibes. I hated my work, I bore rejection as an indication of my lack of creative ability. I wasn’t worth a dime and I knew it. It wasn’t until I started meeting other writers that I learnt an important lesson: we all feel like failures when we get rejected. The more I talked to people in the Speakeasy community, the more I learnt that everyone had experienced the same feelings of uselessness. Everyone was anxious to succeed and terrified by the daunting amount of work and networking ahead of them. There is something incredibly uplifting about shared experience. The Arts community is all about sharing the journey to creative success. It’s about giving one another a leg up and sharing wisdom and skills. So what does this mean for the reclusive, socially awkward creatives of the world? Far be it from me to go about spouting

praise for the Arts community. It’s a two edged sword. Once you’re in, it’s a wonderful and supportive network of incredible and inspiring people. But getting in can be hard, daunting and awkward as hell. I remember spending the intermission of my first Speakeasy gig trying to talk to the club president. I came away convinced that everyone there thought I was a complete and utter moron, and a poser. My words were jumbled, I said nothing but stupid things and I thought- I don’t belong here. These are proper creative people. I’m just some lousy wannabe- an imposter. Moments like these can make the process of becoming a part of the arts community daunting. While I managed to find my footing within the community, not everyone can find the confidence to try and try again to engage with fellow artists until they find acceptance and support. The 21st century is a wonderful time to be experimenting with new forms of art and media but we should never forget that there are challenges involved in becoming a part of the modern Arts community. New avenues also mean new challenges and for those of us with a tendency towards the awkward and reclusive those challenges can be a huge obstacle to success. But the reality is that without community and without the skills needed to navigate this modern digital era the battle to succeed is far harder. To all the budding artists and writers out there I strongly suggest that you fight your awkwardness and your fears and take the steps necessary to get the most support and advice you possibly can. A lonely artist, no matter how prevalent in the media’s portrayal of the artistically inclined, is an artist who is hard pressed to succeed in our ever changing and socially demanding world. I. ‘Creative people are more likely to suffer from mental illness, study claims’, Camilla Turner, 2015, The Telegraph.

fe atu re / LG BTQIA+

No Comment (Necessary) ‘In the wider community, I am a minority. But amongst the courageous and colorful LGBTQI+ community, I am the vocal majority: and that means sometimes I need to shut up and step out of the way’. Stu ar t Jef fer ies

In the wider community, I am a “minority”. We like to throw that word around, often used as a catch-all phrase by the Right to disparage anyone that isn’t a white, heterosexual male. I, however, am two of those things. The only omission: I have never been heterosexual. I think everyone else knew well before I did what the word “gay” meant, but I’ve never felt any shame about it; it’s just who I am. I’ve been lucky to have always had such a blasé outlook on my sexual identity, and in the last few years I’ve truly embraced it. I used to be frightened of normality, of being “dull”, and came to relish the idea of being “different”. Of course, any queer person will tell you that we don’t all have it easy. However, many queer people under the rainbow-coloured umbrella have it much worse than me. I have come to realise that I’m just another gay twenty-something white male with a history of mental illness who likes to drink, and that’s not actually “different”... it’s quite normal. A myriad of evidence indicates that these are all quite common characteristics, and this is why my opinion is not so important. Sure, there’s nothing wrong with being yet another gay white male, but gee whiz, a lot of us seem to put in more than our two cents worth.

‘There’s nothing wrong with being yet another gay white male, but gee whiz, a lot of us seem to put in more than our two cents worth’. I recently had to watch one of many white gays on my social media feed discuss the addition of black and brown stripes to Philadelphia’s pride flag (to represent a more racially inclusive LGBTQI+ community). I mean, first of all it’s not ever going to be relevant to this particular social media twat because he lives in Australia, not in the United States, but more importantly, this made me uncomfortable. I scrolled through the comments on the original post: there I found a Latino person who echoed what the original author had said - but I felt much more at ease hearing this sentiment from a person of colour. There was a reason behind the addition of these colours to the city’s pride flag and that was the very prominent existence of racial inequality. Yes, I, and many other people both white and of colour, agree that the pride flag moves beyond racial boundaries. It represents pride in, as I’ve said, not being straight, which was creator Gilbert Baker’s intention. However, there’s something else to be said on this topic; racial inequality is rife on dating/hookup apps particularly, and notoriously, Grindr, the famous/infamous app for men seeking men. There’s a plethora of articles available at your fingertips from people who have experienced this racism firsthand. While it’s all well and good for a white person to be arguing that the pride flag shouldn’t be changed, it must be noted that white gay culture still perpetuates the very inequality the two additional stripes on Philly’s pride flag acknowledges. White gays need to learn where to draw the line sometimes. In a rich and colourful community transcending race, religion, gender, and sexual identity, we are all bundled together under the “queer” umbrella. I use this term as someone who has reclaimed this bygone slur as my own all-encompassing phrase for people who

buck heteronormativity; that is, people who aren’t 100% straight. It’s not that my opinion doesn’t matter, but there are clearly some areas where it’s not necessary at all. Furthermore, there is little to distinguish me from the rest of the crop. There are lots of tall poppies here, despite the fact that the gay community’s infighting frequently tries to cut them down. Again, I am different to one society but beige in another: there is nothing different about me, and that’s okay. As a gay white person I owe it to people much more maligned outside and within the community to elevate unheard voices, whether that be through direct action, or just simply by being silent and listening. Their experiences are theirs; their voices do not belong in my mouth. I cannot speak for the trans, nonbinary, asexual, and people of colour that exist within the same non-straight community as I do. I have heard skepticism, for example, from both sides of the aisle, straight and gay, about the Black Lives Matter movement. I find myself explaining to people why it matters that people like Eric Garner and Sandra Bland (two of many victims of racial violence and death at the hands of American police) have their names spoken and their stories told. Yes, I have been guilty of telling those stories but only in the hope that fellow white people will listen up and actually pay attention; a facet of the #BLM movement is that not enough white people listen. I can’t write about the trans experience just as much as I can’t write about the black experience. I have known neither in my lifetime nor ever will. I owe it to the world not to attempt to become another Tyler Oakley; in my opinion, one is more than enough. Does that mean I don’t have opinions? Of course not. But amongst the courageous and colourful LGBTQI+ community, I am the vocal majority; and that means sometimes I need to shut up and step out of the way. To fellow queers, I am not a minority, and that’s okay. My experiences benefit an uneducated straight population unaware of the psychological and societal struggles of queer existence.

‘Their experiences are theirs; their voices do not belong in my mouth. I cannot speak for the trans, nonbinary, asexual, and people of colour that exist within the same non-straight community as I do’. In the grand scheme of things, my battle is still being fought, and in some places won, but there is still so much more to be done. White gays are a dreaded group across certain tiers of social media. We occupy a disproportionate amount of the gay demographic and are rightly maligned, through many rolled eyes, for this. Realising that my voice matters to one community and not so much to another has been fine for me. Learning when to speak up and when to shut up is a critical skill for anyone to acquire, and particularly, I think, this needs to be practised more in the queer community. #StopWhiteGays.

stu d e nt c ou nc i l /i nter v i e w

Student Council Disabilities Officer YOUR STUDENT COUNCIL IS MADE UP OF 19 POSITIONS, AND WE’LL INTRODUCE YOU TO ALL OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS IN EMPIRE TIMES THROUGHOUT 2017/

What drew you to the position of Disabilities Officer?

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I was drawn to the position of disabilities officer due to my lived experience of disability and my belief that everyone should have fair and equal access to education. I felt that the diverse range of experiences and difficulties I have faced gave me a unique set of skills to bring to this role. I have a few different medical conditions and have been managing them for about a decade, so I am quite comfortable sharing my experiences; but I know that not everyone feels this way, especially if they have just been diagnosed with something – I want to make sure those students have an opportunity to express their concerns in a safe environment, and that they know their voices will be heard. I am also passionate about ensuring representation of diverse experiences, and about reducing disability discrimination and mental health stigma. I study Psychology and have volunteered for a few different mental health services over the past few years.

FUSA Disabilities Collective (Page)

What are you hoping to achieve this year as Disabilities Officer?

FUSA Disabilities Collective Student Group (Group)

Overall, I want to foster a supportive community and social opportunities for students with disabilities, and I want to be a listening ear for any students who want to talk to someone who understands what they’re going through. If I can make one person feel less alone and more comfortable at university, I’ll feel like I’ve done my job well. I also want to promote and encourage engagement with other support services, as many students don’t even know they can get support for things like anxiety, depression, or invisible illnesses.

Kate Gallagher

Contact Kate directly via email, disabilities.officer@flinders.edu.au or visit fusa.ed.au or call FUSA on 8201 2371.

Last semester I established the Disabilities Collective and held regular lunch events and meetings, I plan to continue this in Semester 2 with more frequent events like lunches and afternoon tea. I also set up a peer support type Facebook group for students to join, ask questions and share advice. The collective is in its early stages, but has been successful so far! For semester 2, I’m working on Mental Health Week events, campaigns to create a disability safe space on campus (like the women’s and queer spaces), and an invisible illness campaign. I also plan to create a guide to studying at Flinders with a disability, to be distributed online and at O’Week and next year. Why is disabilities officer an important position for Flinders University? Many people don’t realise how many students have disabilities – 7% of Flinders students are registered with the disability service, yet 1 in 4 students have a diagnosable mental illness in any given year, and could be receiving support. People with disabilities of all kinds experience a great deal of discrimination, injustice and social isolation. It’s important to have a Disabilities Officer on Student Council to address these issues by representing the interests and needs of students with disabilities to FUSA and the university – to ensure education, social opportunities and support services at the university are accessible to all students. If you want to get in touch or join the collective, please feel free to email me or message me on Facebook!

re v i e w / c onvent i ons

Pop Culture Conventions Cameron Lowe

“I don’t know what I love so much about these pop culture conventions, the things to do there, or the weird and wonderful people you meet there. “

April 2017 I get dressed in a shirt, pants and some nice shoes. I place on my maroon jacket and wrap an oversized scarf across my neck. Stepping outside, I place on my hat and check for my sonic screwdriver. I was off for the second day of Oz Comic-Con, dressed as my favourite Doctor. I’m a newbie to the pop culture convention scene, having only just started going to them in 2014. Since then I’ve hardly missed one here in Adelaide. Despite only being a small city, us nerds here in Adelaide are extremely lucky to have three major pop culture conventions here every year, which are: Oz Comic-Con, AvCon, and Supanova. Oz Comic-Con and Supanova focus on everything pop culture, like film, TV, and literature. AvCon, on the other hand, focuses on anime and video games. I’ve even had the opportunity to see the Chara Expo in Singapore when I was there in July 2016. Chara is very similar to AvCon, only with more of an anime focus and far cheaper entry ($10SGD). I may have missed out on AvCon, but this more or less made up for it.

Foreman. There are two guys there in particular who cosplay as the 10th and 12th Doctor, which are by far my favourites. The 10th one, in particular, looks so much like David Tennant you swear it’s really him. As a writer of speculative fiction, I love to attend the many panels around writing that these conventions offer, particularly Supanova. It’s in these panels that I’ve been introduced to new writers and stories from across the world and even from right here in Adelaide. It’s through these conventions that I’ve developed an interest in indie speculative fiction. I enjoy going around to these stalls, being introduced to new writers and stories which I’d never find at a major book chain, and getting some advice on how to join this growing marketplace.

I don’t know what I love so much about these pop culture conventions, the things to do there, or the weird and wonderful people you meet there. I’ve chatted with many random strangers in lines about all things pop culture.

No feature on pop culture conventions is ever complete without the mention of the stars who have attended them. Through these conventions, I’ve met many great celebrities like Lucy Lawless (Xena), and Brent Spiner (Star Trek: TNG). I’ve even gotten to shake hands with Nathan Fillion (Firefly), and Charles Martinet (voice of Mario)! Sitting in their panels, I love to listen to how they became who they are and laugh at their many strange obsessed fan stories. I regret not going to earlier conventions when we got celebrities like William Shatner, George R.R. Martin, Norman Reedus, and Benedict Cumberbatch here.

Seeing all the different cosplays is really good as well. I’ve seen so many great cosplays in all of the events that I’ve attended, from Army of Darkness’s Ash to Darth Vader. I’ve cosplayed myself as well, primarily as the 4th Doctor (Tom Baker). This cosplay has resulted in me getting so many photos with Whovians, and having conversations with them. I’ve met many awesome Doctor Who cosplayers over that time too, like the 7th Doctor and Susan

Perhaps what I love the most about these pop culture conventions are the open-minded attitudes that the people attending have. I’ve got Asperger’s Syndrome, a learning and social disability, but I forget that I have it when I’m at these conventions. I talk to people, regardless of age, race, and gender preference all about our favourite pop culture icons and I don’t feel awkward at all. This in turn helps me grow more confident in my everyday interactions.

colu m n/ an i m e

5 Anime,

Great for Beginners Emma Hough Hobbs Anime is much more than just a genre; it comes as varied as music does. Because there’s such a big pool to select from, when getting into anime it’s not uncommon to get off to a bad start with the wrong kind of series. I’ve gone through and selected the 5 most accessible genres of anime and picked out what I believe are the best shows for beginners

2. High School: Love, Chunibyo & other delusions High school is a time of duality and change, balancing the last years of childhood with ambitions for the future. This is a show that showcases the best of what the genre has to offer. Yuuta is a high schooler recovering from his time as an extravagant child focused on fantasies and his imaginary persona “Dark Flame Master”. His past confronts him in the form of Rikka, a girl obsessed with bringing the master back to his former glory. Two 12-episode seasons that explore the theme of growing up in a beautiful and exciting way.

1. Fantasy: Scrapped Princess An alternative world filled with mages, knights, dragoons and a cursed princess sentenced to live her life on the run. According to a prophecy, on her 16th birthday Pacifica will turn into the poison that will destroy the world. She and her loving adoptive siblings travel from town to town as they discover there’s far more to this prophecy than anyone could have imagined. This 26-episode show has plenty of cool fights, ethical musings and fun.

3. Science fiction: Cowboy Bebop Set in the year 2071, Spike and Jet are bounty hunter space cowboys living check-to-check, and busting up any bad guys they come across. A 26-episodic classic that enthrals and pleases from start to finish. Spike drips with charisma as we follow him hopping planet-to-planet getting mixed up in all kinds of trouble. Any lover of Firefly would find heaps to please them in this smorgasbord of stylish animation and adventures.

4. Sports: Haikyuu!! In the wide world of sports anime, never have I been as swept away as I was with the volleyball anime. I actually went and joined the Flinders’ Volleyball club last year after watching the first season, now I give a killer underarm serve. Hinata is short but speedy and wants nothing more than to be the ace of the volleyball club. However, aside from his supreme athleticism, he’s got no idea how to play well. This show has 3 seasons so far, each more exciting than the last.

5. Action: My Hero Academia Kind of like if X-Men was an anime… but every character was as cool as quicksilver, in this world most people grow up with supernatural abilities of all kinds and as such being a super hero is a common occupation. Midoriya is a hero obsessed young boy who longs for nothing but to save others. Unfortunately, he was born without any powers at all. It’s not until a fateful encounter that the future he seeks seems within his grasp. This show is the best and everyone should watch it, anime newbie or not.