Final major project

breaking free. web 2.0 unplugged. digital detox without a phone.disconnected. facebook anxiety. main frame. digital utopia. fast forward twenty. chains. conversations. on the streets. portrait city.

issue two

20 POST HUMAN

POST HUMAN

BY KATIE SPEAKE

POST HUMAN

Established in 2015, 20 is multi-thinking platform, offering an escape from the weight of every day media. As curated communication, both timely and timeless, 20 believes in the intelligence of its reader, informing and inspiring the most creative of thinkers, with modern journalism, poetry and in-depth interviews with artists, visionaries, the every day individual, and experts alike. www.20magazine.com Twitter > @20magazine_ Instagram > @20magazine

20 ISSUE 2

Earlier this month, during an episode of the depression and anxiety I have become accustomed to experience, since the beginning of my twenty-something years, I was tagged in a photography online, shared among my 2,250 Facebook friends. Anxiety rocketing and insecurities overwhelming, I hit “deactivate” and threw my phone across the room.

My panic..Over.

dissect the relationship between man and machine.

“Many twenty somethings cannot or struggle to remember a time when the internet, in particular social media did not exist.”

- 20

RELINQUISH CONTROL

EDITORS NOTE

45 minutes later, phone vibrating, I received the first of the expected deactivation texts. “What’s wrong?”, “Why have you deleted Facebook?”. Questions that I found myself unable to answer honestly.

To the person at the other end of the phone, it was a petulant thing to do, but what they could not realise, is how much I felt technology, particularly the ever consuming phenomenon of social media (much to which I willing participate in), had become an integral part of my problems. I knew that although they had not created the problem, they didn’t help. And I didn’t need a notification to tell me this.

Today, in 2016, many twenty somethings cannot or struggle to remember a time when the internet and in particular social media did not exist. I for one, as a 22 year old have a very blurry recollection of the days before mobile phones existed, when the only games I played were outside on the streets in summer and the only messages I sent were by pen and paper.

Post Human explores this digital revolution, rethinking our relationship with technology. 20 strives to help take back the control. Push for quality over quantity. Indulge recreationally without developing unhealthy dependancies. The 20 something year olds of today are the last generation to experience both a pre and post internet world.

Should we accept that we are to live in a digital reality created through our mobile phones? Are our children to become internet natives or is a revolt against social media on its way?

www.20magazine.com

20 ISSUE 2 | POST HUMAN

THE FUTURE OF OUR SOCIETY 2016 > 2045 NO VERBAL COMMUNICATION

Looking back, I remember my first phone. There were no apps. No contractual payments. Just a £10 credit that wouldn’t last me a day now and one extension, Snake, the game that had be fascinated, watching the dotted lines grow. And then putting my phone down and walking away. We had one computer - no Mac laptops, no iPads, just a simple Microsoft device. Now, as the internet and social media propel their way further and deeper into our lives, 89% of twenty something year olds are consumed by the increase in technology. More present in our phone our phone activity rather than in our natural surroundings, our offline identities are disintegrating, instead we’re choosing to pin, post and share our way to our ideal digital reality. But a change is emerging.

2016 is seeing a glitch in the system. There’s a new desire for real realism. We have becoming tired with the falsity of the reality we have created for ourselves.

<meta name=”viewport” content=”width=device-width,maximum-scale=1.0” /> <meta name=”apple-mobile-web-app-capable” content=”yes”> <meta name=”viewport” content=”width=device-width,maximum-scale=1.0” /> <meta name=”apple-mobile-web-app-status-bar-style” content=”black”> <meta name=”apple-mobile-web-app-capable” content=”yes”> <meta name=”apple-mobile-web-app-status-bar-style” <meta property=”og:site_name” content=”20 content=”black”> MAGAZINE” /> <meta property=”og:title” content=”20 MAGAZINE POST HUMAN” /> <meta property=”og:site_name” content=”20 content=”Imagine MAGAZINE” /> <meta property=”og:description” a world that existed purely through face to face communication” /> <meta property=”og:title” content=”20 MAGAZINE POST HUMAN” /> <meta property=”og:url” content=”http://20MAGAZINE/Breakingfree /> <meta property=”og:description” content=”Imagine a world that existed <meta property=”og:image” content=”/static/images/og.jpg” /> purely through face to face communication” /> <meta property=”og:url” content=”http://20MAGAZINE/Breakingfree /> <meta property=”og:image” content=”/static/images/og.jpg” <meta name=”description” content=”I dont want to /> show clothes, I want to show my attitude, my past, present and future. I use memories and future visions and try to place them in todays world.”> <meta name=”description” content=”I dont want to show clothes, I want to show my attitude, my past, present and future. I use memories and future visions and try to place them in todays world.”>

TANK ACTIVATED

<meta name=”viewport” content=”width=device-width,maximum-scale=1.0” /> <meta name=”apple-mobile-web-app-capable” content=”yes”> <meta name=”apple-mobile-web-app-status-bar-style” content=”black”> <meta <meta <meta <meta <meta

property=”og:site_name” content=”20 MAGAZINE” /> property=”og:title” content=”20 MAGAZINE POST HUMAN” /> property=”og:description” content=”Imagine a world that existed purely through face to face communication” /> property=”og:url” content=”http://20MAGAZINE/Breakingfree /> property=”og:image” content=”/static/images/og.jpg” />

<meta name=”description” content=”I dont want to show clothes, I want to show my attitude, my past, present and future. I use memories and future visions and try to place them in todays world.”> <meta name=”viewport” content=”width=device-width,maximum-scale=1.0” /> <meta name=”apple-mobile-web-app-capable” content=”yes”> <meta name=”apple-mobile-web-app-status-bar-style” content=”black”>

<meta property=”og:site_name” content=”20 MAGAZINE” /> <meta property=”og:title” content=”20 MAGAZINE POST HUMAN” /> <meta property=”og:description” content=”Imagine a world that existed purely through face to face communication” /> <meta name=”viewport” content=”width=device-width,maximum-scale=1.0” /> <meta property=”og:url” content=”http://20MAGAZINE/Breakingfree /> <meta name=”apple-mobile-web-app-capable” content=”yes”> <meta property=”og:image” content=”/static/images/og.jpg” /> <meta name=”apple-mobile-web-app-status-bar-style” content=”black”>

CREATING POST HUMAN

<meta name=”description” content=”I dont want to show clothes, I want to show my attitude, my past, present and future. I use memories and future visions and try to place them <meta property=”og:site_name” content=”20 MAGAZINE” /> in todays world.”> <meta property=”og:title” content=”20 MAGAZINE POST HUMAN” /> <meta property=”og:description” content=”Imagine a world that existed purely through face to face communication” /> <meta property=”og:url” content=”http://20MAGAZINE/Breakingfree /> <meta property=”og:image” content=”/static/images/og.jpg” /> <meta name=”description” content=”I dont want to show clothes, I want to show my attitude, my past, present and future. I use memories and future visions and try to place them in todays world.”> <meta name=”viewport” content=”width=device-width,maximum-scale=1.0” /> <meta name=”apple-mobile-web-app-capable” content=”yes”> <meta name=”apple-mobile-web-app-status-bar-style” content=”black”>

<meta property=”og:site_name” content=”20 MAGAZINE” /> <meta property=”og:title” content=”20 MAGAZINE POST HUMAN” /> <meta property=”og:description” content=”Imagine a world that existed purely through face to face communication” />

20 CONTENTS

IN CONVERSATION

EFE EZEKIEL DIGITAL DETOX FIVE DAYS PHONELESS FACEBOOK ANXIETY

FEATURES > OVER CONSUMED

BREAKING FREE WEB 2.0 UNPLUGGED

CONTEMPORARY POETRY & PROSE

MAIN FRAME DIGITAL UTOPIA

ON THE STREET

PORTRAIT CITY

“The digital is no longer a black box, a magic thing that’s going to fulfill a vision of the future, rather it is a concrete thing with characters and limits.” >> We are all in transition.

Our identities are blurring, choosing to pin, post, share and like our way to the our ideal persona. We have become lost in the digitalised world of our own making. We are losing sight of what’s real and what isn’t. Our levels of contentment with life weighed down by the social comparisons we obsess over.

We are entering Post Human >

www.20magazine.com

20 ISSUE 2 | POST HUMAN

OFFLINE IS ANOTHER STATE OF MIND >

20 MAGAZINE

ISSUE 2

ARE WE CONTROLLED BY OUR MOBILE PHONES?

TWENTY MAGAZINE IS

IN CONVERSATION TWO STORIES. TWO HONEST INSIGHTS.

EFE EZEKIEL

DIGITAL DETOX

FIVE DAYS PHONELESS

20 POST HUMAN IN CONVERSATION

I travel to all different parts of the country and deliver workshops to encourage young people to think about COLLECTION OFwant SURVEY how they how they to live their lives to the fullest.

I COLLECTION create a safe placeOF for them to create a vision for SURVEY themselves and then go after that dream with joy and gusto and pure self-belief. I always think to myself; how lucky and blessed are you to made the decision to change your life completely. My old career was in Advertising as a TV/Radio and Online Producer. It was a great career but I had a calling.

in conversation

GUEST BLOGGER EFE EZEKIEL

I also create and design specific training programmes on subjects that deal with issues from Confidence, Public speaking, Recruitment. Body image, Success, Media, Creativity, Money and Rehabilitation. My company Ushine Ishine is all about providing great and positive guidance and advice for young people for a life that leads them to their own personal greatness.

The past decade has undoubtedly seen technology increase significantly, resulting in profound changes in the way our fellow twenty somethings communicate and interact. Today, in our tech savvy world, a total of 4.16 billion people are active mobile users, with no signs of figures slowing down. According to Statista.com, future predictions show an increase of a further 500 million people actively using by the end of 2019, ensuring a technology consumed society for our future generation.

worldwide ushineishine.com

USHINEISHINE

Through the use of social media apps and instant messaging, we are more than ever connected. Facebook, Twitter and Instagram are just few among many platforms that allow in particularly the youth of today to be accessible and available online 24/7. But are our digital companions becoming unhealthy dependancies?

The downside to the new age of technology - a greater sense of loneliness with higher expectancies to live the perfect lifestyle, living in a virtual world created by the user themselves.

Born in Hackney and raised in East London, Efe Ezekeil has had the privilege not many have now to enjoy her childhood, tech free. Now, she spends her days offering her services as a youth mentor, empowering young adults, helping them deal with issues ranging from confidence, mind and body image along with running her company Ushine Ishine, a platform to offer advice and guidance to those in need. Efe tells us why she feels we need to teach the new generation, the power of the digital detox.

As a youth mentor, can you tell us a little bit about what your every day role entails?

My days are very different, unique and wonderful everyday. I am up very early most days to teach and train young adults on Personal development, LifeSkills and Happiness in all areas of their lives.

I also produce inspirational content for YouTube and my website to inspire young people to dream big, tell stories, have fun and I advise them on topics that mainstream outlets don’t always provide for our young. I am here to make a massive impact on all young peoples lives and leave a major imprint and legacy. The world is changing and evolving very quickly and we need to stand together and build communities with everyone in this amazing world. It seems to be so easy to hate, condemn, judge and even bully others especially with the social media platforms but we need to turn them into platforms for greatness. I am committed to the young.

The only thing that isn’t a joy is when I am having to spend time doing the admin, which is necessary but never that much fun at all. Lol! How would you describe ‘Generation-Z’?

Generation Z are amazing, outstanding and also carry so much self-doubt. I completely hate terms like Generation Z and labels because everyone is very different. They use terms to keep people in a sharp tight box but not me or my mentees. This is a generation of young people who have so much in them and want to change the world and be unique. They also have very powerful voices that must be heard. However, many don’t feel that they really can take up all the opportunities that awaits them or that it is only certain types of people who deserve their dreams to come true. Also, some want instant success because of the great online stars such as KSI and Zoella but don’t really understand the real commitment and time that it took to get their position and fame. The world both young and older is obsessed with how the world perceives them by the likes, reposts, tweets and follows. We need to look at how we treat validation and self-worth. This is going to be crucial for young people as they live is this Social media world of unrealities and filters. Generation Z have the resilience and creativity to have unbelievable achievements. They all just need a guiding hand and strong role models.

How have you felt your role change, as the use of technology, in particular social media has increased among young adults?

My role changes every moment of the day. Sometimes, I am a mentor, then a trainer, teacher, coach, friend, and corrector and sometimes Mother. Now, with the advent of and super growth of technology – I teach and advice young people how to use it to their advantage for Entrepreneurship, Connection, Networking and Branding. However, on the other side of all the positive social media tools is very dark side as it is fuelling young people’s insecurities, pains, body image, and bullying and life comparisons.

Therefore, I have to understand, life culture, social media culture and then popular culture to make sure that I provide the best provision and guidance for them What do you feel it is that motivates the youth of today to excessively use technology?

The Technology of Social Media is brand new, fast and exciting. That’s youth and always has been. Always at the forefront of new music, fashion and now technology.

However, technology is ever constant and present plus it fits neatly in your hand and pocket via your mobile phone. This is something that the world is obsessed with and can motivate them in both a positive and negative way. This is power for young people.

Do you think there is a relationship between the increase in mental health and the usage of social media amongst young adults?

I do to some extent but there many factors in our families, communities and then the world that need to be addressed.

Mental health is big on the agenda and needs to be. There are many young people suffering from the inside and we have a duty of care to support and listen to them. We can use Social Media as a tool reach out to them and know that they are not alone and there is help for them everywhere.

Do you think social media effects their self-esteem?

Yes, social media has the power to build and destroy our self-esteem that’s why I am teaching young people the most important lesson of “knowing themselves”. Therefore, if the world loves or loathes you…you will be just fine either way.

Do you feel the 20 something’s of today are living in their own virtual world? What would you advise to unplug them from this?

Yes, I even get lost in this ever-expanding virtual world and it becomes an addiction. We must always go out and have fun, meet new people, go out to eat, exercise, listen to music, watch Netflix (no chill) loll! And dance without using your electrical devices. I try to timetable my time on my laptop, phone and tablets and try to make sure that have an hour off and be finished by 10.30am during the week. >>

What are your thoughts on a digital detox week?

Everyone needs a digital detox â&#x20AC;&#x201C; they are so necessary and like medicine to allows us to put everything back in perspective. We need to connect with life, environment and our minds more.

Everyone needs a digital detox â&#x20AC;&#x201C; they are so necessary and like medicine to allows us to put everything back in perspective.

We need to connect with life, environment and our minds more.

Where do you see the future relationship between young adults and technology in 5/10 years time?

Technology is great but I pray that is used for good. It is changing all aspects of our society and I hope it enables us more freedom to live our dreams but the other side could be much different. Therefore, I push for young people to create and build platforms to revolution our lives for the better.

What are your future predictions for our future generation?

- Efe Ezekiel 20 POST HUMAN

My prediction and intention for the future is that we continue to work towards kindness, compassion and love. I live the rest of my days being an enforcer of this and am part of a new world (including the world of tech and digital) that builds based on these ancient principles. It all beginnings with our Youth and Guided by the Elders like me.

My future is to leave a bright, shinning legacy where children and young people remember me for speaking words into them that awakened their spirit of creativity, genius and shine.

20 POST HUMAN IN CONVERSATION

the future of society

world war web

how my attitude, my past, present and future. I use memories and future visions and try to place them

>

ly through face to face communicationâ&#x20AC;? />

Generation wifi

Are we controlling our social feed or is it controlling us?

8.15 AM

7.30AM

Day 1 > Thursday

I awake, panic hits me. I look for my phone and the realisation hits me. Expletives fly, I jolt up, looking for the nearest clock, watch, anything. As a 24 year old, I don’t recall a time I’ve ever used an alarm clock that wasn’t my phone. I surprise myself at how few devices I have to tell me the time on a Thursday morning. Scrambling for the watch in my jewellery box I check the time. I’ve slept in. Shit. By the time I’m out of the door I’m 10 minutes behind schedule, appearance dishevelled and mood levels low.

To add insult to injury, my usual commute on the train wasn’t ideal. The usual unpleasantness of an overcrowded platform, complemented by the bitter taste of a overpriced coffee, I can usually endure. iPhone out, earphones in, Spotify on. Drifting in my own world I can almost convince myself that I’m not in fact on my way to a 9 hour shift. I can convince myself that today is going to be a good day. But as you know, no phone means no music, and no music means I’m fully aware of the jerking train, throwing me full force into the gentleman in front, I’m fully aware of the overpowering thickness of 100 people crammed into one carriage. Hands in my pocket, an unfamiliar emptiness. My fingers twitch, missing their virtual friend. Walking from the train station to my work building felt like an eternity, the world too loud without my technological distractions.

Walking from the train station to my work building feels like an eternity, the world too loud without technological distraction. Footsteps too loud, escalators too long. The upside however, was that once I reached work, I forgot I didn’t have a phone. Concentration levels high by lunch time i was feeling positive. Until I sat down to eat and couldn’t tweet about it.

HI HELLO? ARE YOU THERE? IS YOUR PHONE OFF? OK. Thursday 5.00am > Emma

5.30 PM

6.45 AM

Day 2 > Friday Day two, I awake feeling smug. Using the digital free standing alarm clock that my dad has lent me, last night I had set the alarm to go off an extra 20 minutes before I needed to get up. Reaching out for my phone, eager to begin my usual routine of scrolling through first Instagram, then Snapchat, Twitter and lastly Facebook I again realise that this is not possible.

A twang of misplacement, I lie still for the extra 20 minutes, considering the day I’m about to have. Smugness lifting, my hand and my mind empty, I begrudgingly remove myself from bed. It’s going to be a long day. Sigh.

By the end of my shift at work I am exhausted and ready for the weekend. Today I am going straight to my parent’s house which required a train and then my mum to pick me up. I would usually text her half an hour before I am due to arrive.

Usually in my laid back and nonchalant manner, I would hop on whichever train I fancied at the time, however today, unable to text, I actually for once had to plan ahead, pick and train and commit to it. Not ideal.

I couldn’t text my mum about any delays, I couldn’t text her about any cancellations and she couldn’t contact me to let me know if she was going to be late. All I could do was hope that none of the above happened, my anxiety levels running nerve rackingly high.

Day 3 > Saturday Day three, A similar start to day two. But it’s the weekend. I’m in the comfort of my parent’s home and I’m feeling pretty content. My grandparents arrive at their usual time of 2pm on a Saturday, and we have our usual lunch at 3pm. Although I can say I’m not exactly missing my phone at this point and the endless Snapchats from my friends from the night before, it does almost feel like I’m cheating a little bit; my grandparents are usually in full effect by now, telling me to turn my phone off and persistently asking me to participate in conversation like a ‘civilised human being’.

I must admit, it was nice though - a real digital detox. We went for a long walk along by the with canal and sat in a little outside cafe, drinking tea. I had to actually converse with the locals my mum and dad engaged with, instead of refreshing my Instagram feed and trying to take the best selfie with natural lighting, convincing the world I was having a better Saturday than they were. My attention span is definitely improving.

WHERE ARE YOU? THIS IS BULLSHIT CAN WE TALK? OK. Saturday 5.00am > Matt

Day 4 > Sunday It has been four days without a phone and the messages have started.

“GET A PHONE!!”, “I haven’t heard from you in ages!”, “It’s so difficult to contact you!.”.

Let me just add, incase you were wondering, I still have access to my laptop for at least a couple of hours a day and these messages are in fact being sent on Facebook chat. So i’m not completely digital free. But that’s not good enough for most people. They don’t want to have to wait hours to receive a tweet back. They want instant messaging. Constant connectivity. The online sign available at all times.

I return back to my flat. Ready to do my weekly food shop I begin to write a list on my laptop. Bread, milk…. and then I realise, how am I going to view this when I email it to myself?? Another episode of expletives, I sit contemplating my options. I could take my laptop to the supermarket with me? I could just try and remember my list.

And then I realise…..pen and paper still exist.

Day 5 > Monday Today is the day. Today is the day I get my new phone. I must admit that although I’m excited, I’m some what nervous about the prospect of losing my self control once again. Although it has only been 5 days, I have found myself less reliant on my digital friend, the withdrawal symptoms slipping and the need to be present online 24/7 disintegrating.

With that being said, I have in a way become a little bit of a social recluse this week, and in a way felt quite lonely. I’ve made fewer social plans than usual and people naturally drifted away from contacting me, knowing that they wouldn’t get a reply straight away.

Maybe i’m used to being overly available - maybe we all are. I’ve learnt that maybe I need to give attention to my face to face interaction with people and give as much care to them as I do for my online friends. Maybe it is quality over quantity as they say. Maybe I need to try keep my phone away, unless I really ‘need’ to use it.

It’s like my friend said “We wouldn’t have had half of this conversation if you’d have had your phone on you.”

And I think maybe she might be right.

<< without a phone

The puzzle of Facebook appreciation.

It’s all a game >>

20 MAGAZINE

POST HUMAN

else.”

Facebook user 1: “Does it exist?”

Facebook user 2: “Of course it exists.”

Facebook user 1: “Does it exist like you or me?”

Facebook user 2: “You do not exist.”

Facebook user 1: “Does it exist?”

Facebook user 2: “Of course it exists.”

Facebook user 1: “Does it exist like you or me?”

Facebook user 2: “You do not exist.”

“Reality exists in the human mind, and nowhere

“Reality exists in the human mind, and nowhere else.”

Role the dice to determine your popularity You rolled 100 likes. ++++++++ Facebook appreciation exists in the mind and nowhere else.You cannot touch it, you canot feel it. It is purely a figment of your imagination.

YES Ask yourself:

Do you want to switch off your phone?

84% no 16% yes

NO

20 PM 4:20 APR 02 2016

20 ISSUE 2 | POST HUMAN

PM 4:20 APR 02 2016

PM 4:20 APR 02 2016

DIGITISATION OR DEHUMINISATION?

20

20 MAGAZINE

POST HUMAN

AN HONEST AND RAW INSIGHT INTO

TWENTY SOMETHINGS

OVERCONSUMED

BY THE INTERNET IN TODAY’S SOCIETY

#DIGITALDETOXWEEK 18th NOVEMBER 2016

BREAKING FREE

WEB 2.0 UNPLUGGED

CAN WE UNPLUG FROM THE SYSTEM?

DARE TO UNPLUG DARE YOURSELF TO A DIGITAL DETOX

20 ISSUE 2

FEATURE

BREAKING FREE

20 ISSUE 2 POST HUMAN

Photographer: Katie Speake Location: Leeds, United Kingdom 20 ISSUE 2 BREAKING FREE

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Social media can become a prison for your feelings.â&#x20AC;?

20

20 ISSUE 2 BREAKING FREE

“Where is my mind?”

In a place where face to face interaction doesn’t exist, where loneliness fills our surroundings, the atmosphere thick with reflection, it is easy to drift. Drifting to and fro, a complexity of emotions, from light to dark. The reflective mind, a dangerous tool. Drifting from reality, imprisoned behind the digitised fences. Submerged by the watching eyes. Shadows, monitoring your every moment, moving with the light that follows you.

On the pavements of Leeds, photographer, Katie Speake captures her model as a reserved and misunderstood character. A man craving a life beyond the imagined fences of his online persona. As he emerges outside, feeling exposed he asks himself “Where is my mind?”

ERROR: ioerror OFFENDING COMMAND: CTRL 20 ISSUE 2 BREAKING FREE

STACK;

You follow the same routine every day. The same platform, the same landscape. The same form of communication. Logging in and logging out. Breathing in the same toxic fumes. Everything about your day stays the same, except for you. You are never the same person as you were yesterday. With each new day comes a new state of mind. The you of yesterday, adhering to the established rules set, is different to the you of today.

Today you stand strong. Today you see beyond the fence. Today you break free. >>

Today you stand strong. Today you see beyond the fence. Today you are breaking free.

sound of growing up. days of nothingness. twenty something at 5am. twenty something and familiar nights. twenty something and young love lost. what i know now.

By Katie Speake

SUBCRIBE

www.20magazine.com

20 MAGAZINE

Being Twenty Something

POST HUMAN

20

WEB 2.0 UNPLUGGED

20 MAGAZINE

TWENTY

20

Constantly connected Constantly observed

WEB 2.0 UNPLUGGED INTERNET USER

2016

20 ISSUE 2 POST HUMAN

?

Modelled > Ben Greenwood Photographed by Katie Speake

20 ISSUE 2 WEB 2.0 UNPLUGGED

Do you ever feel like you’re being watched?

Silently observed by the unseen eye.

24/7 surveillance. Are you ever really on your own? >>

20 ISSUE 2 POST HUMAN

ERROR: ioerror OFFENDING COMMAND: CTRL STACK;

20 IS WATCHING YOU MODEL > BEN GREENWOOD

20 IS WATCHING YOU MODEL > BEN GREENWOOD

Web 2.0 Unplugged explores the visual language of the internet and its daily impact on the way we think, act and behave. Complementing the photographic element is a fashion film, consisting of 3D visuals created and edited by art director Katie Speake. The film conveys its message through multi-layered imagery found only in the virtual world. Error messages, social media alerts, icons and other online references come together to bring to life the obsessions and semiotics of the world wide web.

20 ISSUE 2 WEB 2.0 UNPLUGGED

20 ISSUE 2 WEB 2.0 UNPLUGGED

See our website www.20magazine.com to see the full film.

UNPLUG

2016 > 2036

OUR IDENTITIES ARE BLURRING. WE ARE LOSING SIGHT OF WHAT IS REAL. WE ARE LOSING COMMUNICATION. POSTING.SHARING.PINNING.TWEETING LIVING IN THE REALITY OF OUR PHONES. WE NEED TO DISCONNECT. UNPLUG DETOX OUR MINDS, FREE OF THE DIGITAL WORLD. THERE’S A GLITCH IN THE SYSTEM. THIS IS NOT REAL.

POST HUMAN 20 MAGAZINE

20 POST HUMAN >

UNPLUG UNPLUG UNPLUG REBOOT UNPLUG UNPLUG UNPLUG UNPLUG

“I FORGOT MY PHONE TODAY, I FEEL LOST.” - GIRL ON THE STREET > 2025 FRIENDS AND LONELY

CHAINS You don’t control him His mind can go where it wants Outside of your boundaries Stop making him want things Things he doesn’t need Stop tricking him Internalising his expression Digitising his blood Photographing his fears And desperately wanting someone to care How dare You bastardise creativity There were words long before you got a machine to tell us them There was light Long before you put it beneath a piece of glass and called it existing If he wouldn’t be more alone for doing so He’d disconnect

20 MAGAZINE ISSUE 2 POST HUMAN

CONTEMPORARY POETRY & PROSE Words by Katie Speake & Chris Wright CHAINS MAIN FRAME DIGITAL UTOPIA FAST FORWARD 20 20 CONVERSATIONS

And in the process Saw the chains From his fractured wrists And exist With nothing but this old technology That allowed error That knew intrinsically That that was what made us us Made us love Gave us mystery And the butterflies To wonder what was coming next You must let go You must see the world outside their chosen format Only then can you truly breath Real air Unpriced oxygen Tax free emotions Pouring out of the soul Of a human Who understands What he has to do What he has to break And as the record skips As he types these words He is reminded That real things are always capable of malfunction And that repeated piano riff Is his next week on this Earth Just waiting to happen

BY CHRIS WRIGHT

These poems are in some way or another all portraits of being twenty something in a society that is becoming over consumed by technology, in particular, the internet. Written from a variety of different perspectives - both fantasy fact and with a touch of the cold reality of today.

MAIN FRAME

BY CHRIS WRIGHT How to fight back How to understand When the links Are severed The mechanisation Of young minds Index fingers Where books used to be Tap, tap, tapping On glass screens What am I If not a screen?

A carer?

A counsellor?

Information Seen but unlearned Youtube stars Disappearing catchphrases If it’s not trending It doesn’t exist How to fight back Offer spoken word Eye contact A world behind a screen Life skills Like how to hold a conversation Without a hashtag at the end of it Like how to take a picture Where the camera isn’t aimed at yourself Or The machines will win And I will stand Unseen & unheard As a thousand young souls Are lost in the mainframe

DIGITAL DYSTOPIA

BY KATIE SPEAKE “Time present and time past Are both perhaps present in time future And time future contained in time past.”

- TS Elliot, The Four Qaurtets Shall we follow?

Follow to where they say there are digital tides.

Submerging those who connect.

Shadowing their identity.

Where conversations need no sound, but read loud.

Online dreams.

Filtering faults and imperfections.

A drug and a dream it seems.

Substance abuse.

A fix to the fear of missing out.

Live stream Online images merge into one.

Over consumed and over powered.

Flashing screens. Green lights.

Online. Activated.

Wifi, grasping for service.

The need to be constantly connected.

Brains plugged in Shoulders hunched over.

Digitisation runs through their veins.

Bloodshot.

Eyes scan.

Blurred vision, eyes hazy.

Locked fingers.

The weight on the keyboard.

Tapping away.

Command. Shift. Control. Delete.

Glitches in the system.

A lost connection.

Pause.

Unplugged. Reboot. Reset I thought this wasn’t real?

“Your mind makes it real.”

FAST FORWARD TWENTY

BY KATIE SPEAKE In my mind, I fast forward 20 years.

I think about what world my children, grandchildren will grow into.

I think about all I have seen and all that they wont.

That 20 years from now they will be programmed to conform.

Falling in line, like sheep in a flock.

Logging in and logging out.

Their eyes a constant reflection of the screen staring back at them.

Drowning in irrelevant information.

20 CONVERSATIONS

BY GENERATION WIFI “I forgot my phone today.”

“How do you feel?”

“Lost.”

“It’s 2016, who doesn’t have facebook? Thats weird.”

“He liked her picture on Instagram, what do you think that means?”

“Omg my picture only got 7 likes.”

“Quick delete it before anyone sees.”

That they will no longer learn, Starving themselves of knowledge.

Why read books when the answers are in front of you?

Why ask questions when Google already has the answers?

“So she just saw my message and ignored it.”

“How do you now she has seen it?”

“It says last active 2 minutes ago.”

“Ahhhh..”

That the only art they will see will be through visual social platforms.

The thirst for appreciation a normality in every day life.

“Mum, my battery has died on my phone, so if you need me message me on Facebook.”

That the only news they will see, through their twitter feed.

Their minds brainwashed.

That they will overwork themselves.

What matters if not for money to spend on things to impress.

Impress who?

Followers who become friends.

The bodies around too preoccupied.

The only way to interact through their digital devices.

You will never shake hands.

You will never make eye contact.

But they will fill the loneliness that you have grown to feel.

2,450 of your close friends and yet face to face interaction no longer exists.

They will ask me, “Was there ever a time when it wasn’t the way it is now?”

And I’ll look back to this day.

Mind over-consumed.

A heart full of sadness.

“What are you up to?”

“Not much, just tweeting...”

“How many followers does she have?”

“Like 400,000. She’s insta-famous.”

“Look how good she looks in that picture.”

“Its a filter, she’s basic in real .”

“I just saw your tweet. Are you ok?”

“Why have you deactivated facebook? Are you ok?”

“You haven’t been on instagram for a while. Are you ok?”

“Yes.” “Did you see their snapchat? They’re definitely back together.”

“I’m going on a digital detox week.” *Confused faces* “But why though? How you gonna stalk people?”

20 ISSUE 2

POST HUMAN

ON THE STREET PORTRAIT CITY

TWENTY

RACHEL CARR A HONEST COLLECTION OF

TWENTY SOMETHING’S

ON THE STREET LEEDS / NEWCASTLE / MANCHESTER /

Do you think you’re addicted to the internet?

Erm...I mean I’m sure if I really tried I could not go on....for maybe like a day? I don’t know really, I’ve never really thought about it. I guess now I do, I am online quite a lot of the time.

Photographer: Katie Speake Location: Newcastle Upon Tyne

20 | POST HUMAN PORTRAIT CITY

ON THE STREET PORTRAIT CITY

ON THE STREET PORTRAIT CITY

TWENTY TWO

TWENTY ONE

RYAN BROWN

JACK CARTER

Whats your least favourite thing about social media?

How often do you think you use social media?

Ermmm...the least favourite, I think probably when I’ve got deadlines and I’m stuck in the library and I can see everyone out. I only really use it to watch videos on to be honest.

I’m actually quite anti-social media. I haven’t had a facebook in a good 6 months. Just couldn’t be arsed with it really. I have Instagram but I barely use that. I don’t even have an i-Phone.

PM 4:20 APR 02 02 2016 2016 APR

Photographer: Katie Speake Location: Newcastle Upon Tyne

Photographer: Katie Speake Location: Leeds, Hyde Park

ON THE STREET PORTRAIT CITY

ON THE STREET PORTRAIT CITY

TWENTY FOUR

TWENTY THREE

LUKE ROBERTS

LAUREN HALL

Do you think you’re addicted to the internet?

How often do you spend online?

I wouldn’t say I’m addicted. I just the internet for everything though. Like I’m online but not for just social media, but watching stuff online and general things. The only time I’m like definitely not on the internet is when I’m at the gym, and I’m actively doing something.

If I’m honest I’m pretty bad for being on my phone too much. I don’t really post much I just like to scroll through and have a look. I guess it’s just being nosy really. I’d say at least once every hour I’m on social media. Is that really bad?

Photographer: Katie Speake Location: Newcastle Upon Tyne

Photographer: Katie Speake Location: Leeds, Hyde Park

YES Ask yourself:

Do you want to go on a digital detox week?

0% no 100% yes

NO

20 ISSUE 2 POST HUMAN

We are shutting down our computers.

Logging out. Disconnecting.

Unplugging from the system.

One week, digital free. Refresh, Reboot. www.20magazine.com Twitter > @20magazine_ Instagram > @20magazine