Metior Magazine - Edition #11 by Metior Magazine

METIOR

Murdoch Empire Telegraph & Indian Ocean Review

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Edition #1 February 2014

Everywhere But Here

Murdoch Empire Telegraph & Indian Ocean Review – Since 1975 Edition 1, February 2014 Metior acknowledges that this is and always will be Aboriginal land. Metior is a Murdoch University student publication. For latest Guild news, events and info go to www.the-guild.com.au Find us on Facebook & Twitter metiormagazine metiormagazine Want to catch up on previous issues? Go to www.the-guild.com.au/metior Editor Olivia Gardner

Cover Photo Adam Semple

Sub-Editor Madura McCormack

Photographers Adam Semple Alex Yates Anjie Hughes Cameron Etchells Emily Johnston Jessica Paterson Lisa Townsend Maria Bergwitz Mikaela James Piotrek Ziolkowski

Graphic Design Karmen Lee Our talented team of writers... Hannah Wright Adam Semple Harold Callaghan Clint Little Jessica Paterson David Salvaire Lisa Townsend Eliza Cole Matthew Gardner Elizabeth Day Emily Johnston

Artists Gabrielle Walker Krause Komics Mellopoly

Join us We love new faces, so come along to our next contributors meeting on the 3rd of March at 4pm in the Guild Board Room. Metior’s deadlines for the next editions of 2014 are 21st March, 25th April, 4th July, 15th August, 26th September If you’d like to contribute writing, photography, poetry, illustrations or ideas please email us at metior@the-guild.com.au Editor Olivia Gardner

Advertising Natacha Petersen

Email metior@the-guild.com.au

Phone 0450 958 071

Address Murdoch University Guild of Students 90 South Street, Murdoch WA 6150

Email n.petersen@the-guild.com.au

This magazine is printed using vegetable based inks onto paper stock which is manufactured from pulp sourced from plantation grown timber. Both paper manufacturer and printer are certified to ISO 14001, the internationally recognised standard for Environmental Management. Disclaimer Metior is published by the students of Murdoch University, under the governance of Murdoch University Guild of Students. Content should not be regarded as the opinions of the Guild unless specifically stated. 1 The Guild accepts no responsibility for the accuracy of any of the opinions or information contained within the magazine.

CONTENTS Prez Sez ��3 Editorial ��3 Features The Simple Things.........................................................................8 Mikhael Paskalev ��10 Mai Bpen Rai...............................................................................11 Freoasis ��12 6 Things I Learnt As A Freshmen ...............................................14 Dietary Love ��15 Lifting The Label ��18 Those Curls ��22 Onefivezeroseven........................................................................23 Home Grown ��24 Alternative Friday Night Ventures..............................................25 Not Every Holiday Fling Is Perfect..............................................29 Reviews Film ��30 Music ��31 Art ��32 Photography Piotrek Ziolkowski ��6 Adam Semple �� 8 & 22 Anjie Hughes ��12 Maria Bergwitz ��16 Mikaela James ��19 Olivia Gardner..............................................................................20 Cameron Etchells.........................................................................23 Lisa Townsend.............................................................................24 Emily Johnston.............................................................................25 Alex Yates....................................................................................26 Jessica Paterson...........................................................................31 Visual Art Gabrielle Walker ��29 Krause Komics ��29 Mellopoly ��31 2

PREZ SEZ Words by Roland Belford So today I’ve been walking around the 400 year old San Francisco Monastery in Lima and what struck me was the incredible effort and resources that went into crafting the place. There were intricately carved wooden representations of dozens of holy men, a gorgeous library of over 25,000 books and gold plated ornaments of Christ. All of this regularly repaired and replaced when the next earthquake smashes it apart in this tectonically active region. While today we can all recognise this as a misappropriation of resources directed at an invisible sky man in a country where tap water is unsafe to drink, it was a product of a time when religion was the most important institution in society. Today, if you listened to our politicians, you would think that universities were among the most important institutions in society. They all talk about how they want as many Australians as possible to hold a degree and how they wish for Australian universities to be rated amongst the world’s best. Thinking that higher education was valued though would be a mistake. This is because the actions and plans of the Liberal government (inspired by their Labor predecessors), like cutting university funding, reducing support for students and even demonising academics, revealing universities to be at best a waste and at worst a threat to our disgusting leaders. Some of my comrades on the left believe the best response to this is to stage a rally, in fact one is already planned for the 26th of March. Now I enjoy a protest as much as the next activist but perhaps some of the divine resource allocation of Saint Francis is rubbing off on me because I’ve decided to attend class that day. The best way we can demonstrate the value of education is by partaking in it. If you’re free though, please go, there’ll be balloons, a band, fun chants and for each one of you who attends I’ll receive slightly less flak from the communists at Curtin for my no show. And I’ll thank you for that, sincerely. Anyway welcome to METIOR for 2014. You’ll have at least four more of my hypocritical rants to wade through. Please feel free to drop into my office in the amenities building and yell at me when you get offended. Really. I need it.

EDITORIAL Words by Olivia Gardner If you’re anything like me you’ve been staring at your calendar wondering how the hell it got to be the 24th of February – the first day back at school – and how you’ve neglected to pick up your school books, or even look at a study guide. Well these things happen, it’s a sure sign that you’ve been enjoying the summer break but alas, it is time to knuckle down and continue that tireless effort towards a higher education – or for some, to begin the fateful journey – relax, it’s not all that bad. The beauty of having holidays and time to get away from yourself and your commitments has truly revitalising results. On the first day of this year I woke up in a snow covered New York City, albeit a little hung over – and sure I probably would have been feeling the same at home – but I was there and that was important to me. I traversed country, continent, mountain and sea and somewhere along the way I was reminded how fortunate I am, not just for the ability I have to travel half way across the world and see wonderful and unusual places that I can otherwise only imagine but also for what I have back home, the beautiful beaches, the people I know, and lifestyle that we have. I hope that the holidays took you to new and wonderful places, whether you left this dry old continent for another – or just managed to get out of your head for a while and relax. Wherever you were or what you’ve been doing this edition is dedicated to the fading glimpses of the holidays, the places and people we experienced, plus a little thing or two to ease us back into the uni lifestyle. It’s good to be back.

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PHOTOGRAPHER Piotrek Ziolkowski

THE SIMPLE THINGS Words & Photography by Adam Semple It took me about a week to figure out what the locals were so insistent on when they spoke of “the walking track to Meelup Beach.” I mean, I’m from the city so I have to wrestle with my ego to take seriously what a salty, tanned, and beach bound country resident has to say. I’m usually comforted by clusters of shops selling me things I don’t need, and short-to-medium waiting times at traffic lights are a pleasant reminder each morning that nothing has gone too weird or changed on me. Down here though, the feeling around town is different and my normal comforts change dramatically. So with the arrogance of someone whose job is more important than their lifestyle, I didn’t take much notice about the walking track. That was until I went looking for it. That was until I found it - paradise at my doorstep. Every day now, when I walk into the reality of this overt dream, I realise that I have been taking my home country intensely and explicitly for granted.

toric graffiti, they are resplendent. The only noise is a mixtape of Australian wilderness and the odd neglected leaf crunching under my toes. It seems I have discovered this summer that a beach without anything but yourself and your book, or your camera, or just plain old you, is bliss. How’s the serenity? It’s good. It’s serene. It appears that I may be writing this all with the enthusiasm of a shoe-in, a Perth punk just in for the summer and ready to split back to the rough and tumble of cross-walks and queues, pretentious bars. Maybe this kind of environment is completely normal, regular old soul food for anyone who has not been engulfed by city life. Maybe I am blowing it out of proportion. Sometimes it just takes loosing something, to realise how much you want it back. Besides a degree of dream-fulfilment, Dunsborough also provides a few cafes, yoga studios, and take away Asian eateries. It’s not too small either, with two supermarkets, three gas stations, and about four fashionable clothing stores (constantly blurring the line between modern fashion and beach-appropriate nothingness). In-line with the scant nature of dress, a good percentage of the population are tanned, chiselled and healthy looking. It’s as if the whole vibe of this country town (and others like it) seems to exude a relaxed and health-conscious aura, something that is swept away when we overly wrap ourselves in the progression of career. Yes, the time and money for health can, to some extent, be a privilege in cut-throat city life, but down here it’s grounding, the salty hair and bare feet, helps the body rediscover how to feel good in the most simple of ways.

The elusive path is deep ochre, inlaid with the density of clay, concentrated with just the right cocktail of nutrients that our native plants have evolved to crave. The track-walls are thick and harsh, not only built by a dry and hot Australian summer but ready to fend off a salty sea-breeze, ready to suck the moisture from an unprotected leaf. The bush reaches out and into the already-narrow path, looking for more light, more growth. There is so much life down here. Kangaroos the size of rugby players will cross up ahead at a moment’s notice, blue-tongue lizards tease their taut tongues, then tear away. The walkway seems to follow the path of least resistance, shaved like a 12 year old boy’s head on the initial discovery of clippers, not easily predictable but a bald path nonetheless. The tall trees amongst the shrubbery have charcoaled trunks, war wounds from the natural cycle of regeneration - an inferno: out with the old and in with the new - but their leaves hang with a depth to their green, shouting out, “good try!” Occasionally you’ll see a thin vein, a track of footprints peeling off and down toward the water. I follow one track down - the same track every time actually, as in the absence of maps I like to know where I am - and peel back the last line of shrubs to open a window into a new world. I see nothing less than church white sand, water so turquoise it looks ripped from a Paddle Pop stick, and then there are the rocks. Scrubbed in deep orange, painted in iron markings from the past, natures tattoo like prehis-

A lot can be learnt and enjoyed from this part of the world, and when it’s on our doorstep why not take advantage? If you are chasing the full trip southwest, you could always add-on an adventure into one of the ancient caves, inebriate your senses in a local vineyard, or just pause at the Margaret River Chocolate Factory to fill up on free samples, before departing for the Cheese Factory and doing the same.

There’s one last thing that you shouldn’t miss. The sunrises in Dunsborough seem to challenge my perception of colour every single day. Due to the North-East facing nature of Dunsborough’s coast, the purples and oranges run deeper than belief. Deeper than the sand you curl your toes in or the roots that feed the native trees.

MIKHAEL PASKALEV Words by Olivia Gardner

You probably recognise that song ‘I Spy’ that has been popping up heaps on Tripple J and getting stuck in your head for days and days but you don’t even mind because it’s great … Well, this is the creative work of Oslo artist Mikhael Paskalev who combines Indi-Pop vibes with totally endearing vocals that are both heartfelt and compelling. He’s about to grace our shores kicking off the tour with a performance at the Perth Festival Gardens on March 1st. We were able to nab a chat with the Norwegian songwriter ahead of his tour and the launch of his album ‘What’s Life Without Losers’ – out March 7. Hey, thank you for taking the time to answer these questions for Metior Magazine. We can’t wait to see you at the Perth Festival Gardens; it’s going to be awesome! Thank you so much! Are you looking forward to your Australian tour? Yes, I really am. Pretty ridiculous for me to travel to a place I´ve never been; always wanted to go. It’s completely different to Norway, and I guess the kicker for me is that people seem to listen to my music there. What do you expect from the tour? I expect to play some rock’n’roll shows. Travel, but not minding it because we´d be in Australia. Surf. And write a best-selling book on wildlife. We think your album What’s Life Without Losers is seriously great. It makes us happy listening to it and it’s the perfect soundtrack for our summer holiday season. From where did you draw your inspiration for the album? Whey. Thank you so much! We´re so far away from each other that it´s fantastic that you even know my name. I guess I draw inspiration from films, girls, music, erm… everything really.  Why do you write your songs in English? Is it hard? Not really. Or I mean it is hard as song writing can be… but it would possibly be even harder in my native language. We´re raised with English speaking culture through movies and music, so it feels very natural actually.

You mention California in Jive Babe and the song has an almost surf rock sound to it – are you a fan of the beach? Do you think you’ll get any time to check out the beaches over here?  For sure. We´re flying in three days earlier to Perth to have a little holiday there before we start gigging. Well excited to hit the beaches. Are you working on anything at the moment? Yes I am. Trying to write whenever I have the time or energy to do it.

You’ve released some great videos to accompany your music - we love I Spy for obvious reasons can you tell us about Jive Babe? It’s visually stunning but it also has a darker side to it, what’s going on there?  Haha… thanks. Well it´s not really dark dark. I mean you could overanalyse it. But really I just wanted to make a striking music video in terms of location and people. So I chose my grandparents’ village in Bulgaria because I love the energy there. And I guess the song is about me liking a chick I shouldn´t. The kind of girl that you want but is bad for you. So I guess it´s just a cheeky play on that really.

Do you write from personal experiences? Yup and nup. How does it feel to know that you’re music is reaching so many different parts of the world? It´s bizarre. I had a goal in my life to maybe hear one of my songs once on a radio, anywhere. And then all this happened. I am mind blown by it. Feel very lucky! Thanks for listening to my music and I really look forward to get to know you, Australia/Perth.

MAI BPEN RAI Words by Hannah Wright As I boarded the plane it felt like I was ticking off another box on the long list that was to make up my life. Moving overseas post-university to have new experiences and preferably receive daily epiphanies on who I was, what I wanted to be, and where I wanted to go. How original. Although I had always been drawn to Thailand, I had booked the trip impulsively when Perth had suddenly become an unbearable point of residence. It wasn’t Perth that was the problem - Perth was the same - I was the problem.

I had begun to feel the creeping sensation that as much as I was bored of Perth, Perth was just as bored of me. Sitting outside with a group of my closest friends one evening a few months prior, it had occurred to me that I was bored, lonely, and desperately unhappy. Uni was about to finish, I had no mortgage, no boyfriend and I had begun to feel the creeping sensation that as much as I was bored of Perth, Perth was just as bored of me. This is how I found myself in a tiny speck of a town in the North East of Thailand, living in what looked like a tree house, and teaching conversational English. Teaching English that is, in a town where no one spoke English. Period. Not even my employers. Great. I wanted space and now I was out in the sticks where I could not communicate with anyone and they could not communicate with me. This proved useful when I didn’t want to do something or I had offended someone. I could backtrack and blame the language barrier. “You want me to come to temple tomorrow morning at 4am?” I would then smile sweetly, “Oh no, I don’t understand” ... In Thailand, you must smile all the time, or it will be assumed you have lost a close relative or have just been informed of an impending terminal illness. This proved difficult for someone whose friend described as having a quick to ‘get a puss on my face’. “Ohhhh Mai sabbai Hannah?” I would be asked constantly. Are you sick? No I am not sick. I am having a bad day, I hate my students, there was a tarantula in my shower this morning, I was proposed to by a married man with a child on the way who swears he loves me even though we have never had a conversation, I am sick of sweating every time I leave my air conditioned apartment, I am sick of having my hair and skin stroked by the women in the market place when I buy lunch ... Oh no, none of these incidents that would challenge a few of my fellow Western Suburbs comrade’s grins, are even close to challenging a Thai’s cheery disposition. So I lost my mind. I climbed the walls. Turns out I was still bored and still lonely and still very unhappy. But I couldn’t blame Perth anymore, or my ex, or my friends. They were no longer there, it was just me and with no one to offload on, I had to do something a long time coming. It was time to harden the fuck up. It was a Buddhist monk that said “Wherever you go, there you are.” No truer words were spoken in relation to my time overseas. There were no daily epiphanies. But there was the realisation that to be miserable and boring is a choice, and sometimes, one needs to look up and see what is going on in the world for inspiration instead of repeating the same mistakes and then being pissed off when they don’t get a different outcome. I learnt another common Thai phrase before I came home. “Mai bpen rai” said with a shrug, it roughly translates to “it’s all good.” I can still be a miserable prick, but I am a little more aware of not only the fact your state of mind can even follow you overseas, but the truth in the statement that it is mostly boring people who get bored.

FREOASIS Words by Clinton Little & Photography by Anjie Hughes Freoasis: An urban re-purposing of a former retail giant into a grass roots, environmentally sound community project. In 2013, the long established Myer department store in Fremantle closed its doors, abandoning 22,000 square metres of prime real estate that lay vacant for six months. Spacemarket, whose organisational goal is to pair disused spaces with useful people, came up with a plan to revitalise the empty department store into a vibrant community driven collective re-branded as MYRE. The plan was to include a hybrid of retail, artist’s space, and a production floor to feed the retail level. The creation of a sustainable garden on the rooftop combined with a bar and performance area is now known as Freoasis, which now occupies what was previously the staff car park for the Myer store.

How long is Freoasis going to be occupying the rooftop? We have confirmation that the project will be running until at least the end of the year, so that’s really exciting. We initially only thought we’d have it until mid-winter, but all of the leases downstairs have been renewed, and with Spacemarket - the overseeing body - getting more involved it looks like we’ve got all the way to New Year’s hopefully.

Sustainable rooftop gardens have been a growing trend in urban renewal projects around the world for years now. As Perth evolves as a growing and also ageing urban environment, the eco-friendly transformation of abandoned urban spaces has become increasingly important. Tony Carruthers is a member of the organising committee of the MYRE rooftop garden. I spoke to him after a recent planning meeting to find out how the project is going.

And where does they money come from for the sourcing of materials to construct the garden? So far, to build this entire rooftop garden, we’ve spent about $1300, which came out of about $3000 we raised through crowd funding. The Aquatic systems have been by myself and my business but most of the things we’ve got here we’ve grabbed off the side of the road, it’s a true recycling project using recycled materials.

What attracted you personally to the rooftop garden project? A fellow from the Freo council gave me a call and said, “I have an offer that you can’t turn down.” At the time the prospect of a community garden seemed very attractive but essentially it was the fact that it hadn’t been done before, we had so much space available to us and it seemed like a really Freo thing to do.

If the Pop-up rooftop garden is only intended as a temporary experience what is the goal of creating it? We hope that it will be an inspiration and to show people that it’s possible to do this. So what do you hope will happen at the end of the year? The Freoasis Rooftop Garden is intended to become a true permaculture project that exists within the structure of the Spacemarket project which operates more like a soup than a club sandwich, and not just as a garden but a community hub, at the end of the year we will just move on to another site.

6 things I learnt as a freshman Words by Madura McCormack E-Lectures E-Lectures are truly heaven sent. 8:30am on a Monday? Who plans these things? I feel no shame skipping anything that’s scheduled at an unearthly hour, therefore, it’s a good thing most Murdoch lectures are available online. The best part about catching lectures online is that you can pause the droning voice and slap yourself awake without judgement. Or you know, go grab a coffee and browse Facebook for a bit.

Study week It’s called ‘Study Week’ for a reason. Part-time jobs (full-time for some) and commitments are real for everyone. I’ve had classmates with full-fledged families. Schoolwork has a way of creeping up on the best of us and that’s when study week comes in handy. No class means those unwatched lectures and incomplete assignments get the attention they need before the madness starts all over again. Pro tip; don’t plan a trip away. Using the week for Uni related things will keep you on track and even put you ahead.

Used textbooks Unless you buy one from a recovering highlighter addict, secondhand readers are usually a treasure trove of knowledge. Little pre-written comments on the margins have helped unscramble confusing readings. These books cost a finger where a new book may cost a kidney, so dog-ears and coffee stains are a fair trade for the price. It is a good idea however to check with your lecturer if it’s necessary to get the newest edition or if a backdated version will suffice. Check out the Guild’s Secondhand Bookstore on campus or the Murdoch University Facebook page for direct purchases from students.

Chip and Dip It has been scientifically proven that nachos coated with salsa help make essays bearable.* In all seriousness though, it IS possible to write an essay the night before. Writing, however, is different from research. 2000 words are easy to spew out when a couple of weeks have been spent nibbling away at the topic. A well-researched essay comes out a lot better than the coffee-fuelled ‘wisdom’ of 2am.

Balance Personally, I’d make a pretty dead trapeze artist. How to balance Uni, a job and a social life while still leaving a spare minute to breathe is beyond me. Being caught up in textbooks make for one depressed spirit. Unless I’m able to do my readings in Downward Dog while sipping a latte with friends, I have no advice on how to achieve balance between study and play. Fact is that it has to be struck somewhere. I kowtow to all the humans pursuing a University education as a mom/dad.

Love or leave Simple and direct; if you don’t love what you are studying, leave and leave now. There is no point being in a course of study that doesn’t stir your passion. Why study veterinary science if you what you truly want is to be a computer whiz? The first semester of your first year is possibly the best period to dip your toes into things. Take a double major, drop a minor, take up gardening. Treat University like you would treat an icecream parlour while broke; try all the flavours and leave if nothing suits your palette. *It really hasn’t but it probably is true.

DIETaRY LOVE

Words by Adam Semple Diet advice is a tricky thing - it’s a touchy subject for some and ambiguous for all - everyone has an opinion and the paradox of choice can become overwhelming. This summer, I quit the international cycle racing scene after nearly a decade in and out of the Aussie National Team. I decided to draw upon what I’ve learnt from various institutes of sport and nutritionists from around the world, to spread a bit of dietary love. I hope these points can be taken on board in some small way, and we can all start on the path towards a healthier lifestyle. Here is a page to tear out and stick up on your fridge. 1. Say No To Sugar. It’s the dietary devil, and consuming sugar makes your blood-sugar levels go up, so if you’re not exercising your body will turn that sugar into fat super-quick. This is because your body must get the sugar out of your blood stream as a safety measure, and it very easily stores it as fat. Sports drinks and fruit juices are extremely sugary and should be avoided entirely. 2. Increase your good-fat intake. Eggs and avocado? Go crazy! Good fats are an extremely important dietary aspect, and the idea that all saturated fats are bad for us has been proven very wrong. Out-dated is the ancient idea that all cholesterol is the same. Medium-Chain-Triglycerides, a source of saturated fats, are now known as a potent brain food, and a good source can be found in grass-fed butter and coconut oil. Also, animal fats should come from healthy animals that have been walking in paddocks and on a natural diet themselves, which is usually not corn and grain, but grass. 3. Stop drinking so much coffee. It’s amazing, yes, but if you need it to scrape through every day, you’re too tired and you’re depleting your health by artificially boosting yourself. Head to bed and rest up, then try dropping to one per day, and drink it black to avoid all that milk. Milk is acidifying to your body and sugary too. 4. Start your day with some protein. It will balance your blood sugar levels throughout the day and keep you feeling energised longer. Swap that toast for some eggs and greens. 5. Eat less carbs. It’s not that they are bad for you; they’re just not good for you. And too much will have the same fattening effect as sugar does. Go for veggies, protein, and good fats. Sweet potatoes have carbs, but they also have a tonne of vitamins and minerals. Think, ‘what is healthy?’ Try not to think, ‘what isn’t unhealthy?’ 6. Where does your meat come from? Take some responsibility for yourself and go for grass-fed pastured meat. The fats are much healthier as the animal has been eating grass not grain, as well as exercising its whole life. It has most likely had a more natural and stress-free life. 7. I know, it’s impossible to snack healthily, but don’t give up. Raw nuts are great, or chop up some vegetables and bring them in a container with some hummus. Don’t go for packaged up carbs, it’ll only be a short term hit and your waistline won’t thank you for it. Try and avoid packaging all together, because trash goes to landfills and landfills aren’t great. 8. Take note whether fruit is making you need to go to the bathroom, and if so, stop eating it. Fructose, the sugar in fruit, is very harsh on a lot of people’s stomachs, so don’t eat too much. Modern fruit is bred for sweetness (see point 1), so it’s not super healthy anymore anyway. 9. Try not to heat your oils. Excessive heating of oils ‘oxidises’ them and changes the way our body treats them. Burnt fat is not good for you, so if you’re frying anything up, keep the heat below medium and use coconut oil or extra virgin olive oil. 10. Walk more. Do whatever exercise you want but just do something. Your body has evolved over millions of years to be able to run for hours day-in day-out. Capitalise on that evolutionary ability. It won’t be a chore when it starts to make you feel amazing.

PHOTOGRAPHER Maria Bergwitz

LIFTING THE LABEL Words by Elizabeth Day

“I was diagnosed with bipolar today.”

hyperactive, that I was talking over her and other people, that I was being unreasonably loud and assertive with my opinions and feelings, so much so that my behaviour had become downright bizarre.

Saying it made it somewhat more real; it definitely brought me out of the daze I had been in since leaving my psychiatrist’s office an hour ago. My sister stared back at me. “Didn’t you already have that?”

“Have you heard of bipolar disorder or manic depression?”

Even I had to laugh. I guess when your older sister has had a history of mental illness that has impacted her for as long as you can remember; it must be hard to keep track of exactly what is wrong with her.

Did he think I was a moron? I had a university degree for God’s sake. “James”, I replied, “I was diagnosed with obsessive compulsive disorder at the age of ten when I started to sticky tape my blinds to my walls and threw away my dolls because I was convinced they were going to kill me. I was depressed throughout my teens, but it was only after I dropped thirty kilograms with anorexia that I was formally diagnosed with a combination of anxiety and depression. I have been on anti-depressants from the age of seventeen. So yes, to answer your question, I have heard of bipolar and manic depression and I really have no idea what they have to do with me.”

“What even is bipolar?” She asked. I pulled out the book I had been given by my psychiatrist. Together we looked down at the cover. The book was titled ‘Lifting the Black Cloud: Understanding Major Depressive Disorder’. The cover featured a black cloud and an animated figure smiling as she floated through the air on an umbrella. How was I, or anyone else meant to take this seriously when that was the information booklet I had been given? What even is bipolar? I thought back to my psychiatrist appointment earlier that morning.

He met my gaze. He had green eyes. They were lovely. “You have lovely green eyes”, I told him, “the guy I am seeing has green eyes, I have always found...” He put his hand up to silence me like I was four years old.

“Describe to me exactly how you are feeling Lizzy, do you mind if I call you Lizzy?” I did mind. I started to feel overwhelmed; I let his inappropriate use of my nickname slide and took a deep breath.

“Lizzy, bipolar disorder is relevant to you because you have it.”

“I feel great James. In fact, I feel so good that I really have no idea as to why my mother has forced me to come and see you” ...

“What, multiple personalities?” “No, bipolar disorder has nothing to do with schizophrenia.”

“How are your energy levels?” He continued. “Never been better - I have never had more energy - I have just moved out of home - I am working three jobs and it is going really well - I have a new boyfriend who I think I am falling in love with and things are really good - I don’t sleep much but I don’t seem to need much sleep or food for that matter in fact I can’t remember the last time I ate which helps when I am broke...” I paused, “of course, drugs help too.”

“Then what the fuck is it?!” I screeched, confirming he had the right to treat me like a four year old. He gave me a look that both let me know I was being unreasonable and that I would never get away with using profanity in his office again. Afterwards I was given a book. A book and a packet of purple tablets that I was instructed to take twice a day. My attention was brought back to the café and my sister sitting in front of me. Once again we stared down at the garish cover of the book that was going to tell me about myself and give me clear instructions on how to cope. I swallowed down the purple tablets, stood up and walked out of the café, a new and very raw label hanging over me. On the way out I threw the book in the bin, I can handle a label, but no lame picture book was ever going to tell me who I was and what that label would come to mean.

I laughed. He didn’t laugh with me. “Lizzy, are you aware that you are talking very rapidly? So rapidly in fact that at times I found it hard to keep track of what you are saying?” I frowned, he hit a nerve. My best friend said this to me a few weeks ago when she sat down and told me that I was behaving oddly and it reminded her of the year before when I ran myself into the ground over Christmas and verged on a nervous breakdown. She had said to me that she had never seen me this

PHOTOGRAPHER Mikaela James

PHOTOGRAPHER Olivia Gardner

THOSE CURLS

Words & Photography by Adam Semple Her curls seemed to fill the room. They were dense and bold, seemingly hydrophobic and certainly in some ancient culture would have been used as a protective layer, but in this instance they were there for beauty and bust, and this is exactly what they were achieving. Her personality and hair were in sync, matched like a specific wine to a specific plate of food. A certain coherence existed between her hair and her exuberance, she charged around the coffee shop in an emotionally invested state of energy, not stopping to give staff her orders but halting only to make small talk with the most handsome of customers. I imagine that the potency of her steps must at some stage of the day lead to an equally forceful crashing of energy, but we, the onlookers, certainly never witness such a thing, and are left to make the mere assumption that she must, if nothing else, sleep exceptionally well at night. Occasionally, if an oppressive customer enters the scene, The Curly Haired Machine will expose the outer edges of what could be an explosive bomb, however, wrong I was. And like the sun she not only glowed (with ambition and ability) but also controlled that inner fire and expelled it only fractionally, for the good of us all. Like a solar flare, I thought to myself. Occasional disarray takes over in the shop. People always arrive at the same time and the Domino effect comes into its prime in a team-work environment where every action is completely reliant on its predecessor. So bustling in come’s the boss and within a flash she is not so much as conquering an important task but providing what she does best, the lifting of moral, vocally and through that abundant presence of golden ringlets. It may be the tequila espresso she brings us in moments of gloom but it’s a good vibe regardless of circumstance, and that’s the sensation we all feel. Every now and then the whole cafe would rumble. An intensity of laughter so vigorous and hearty, so genuine, it engulfs all in vibrational range. Like an alarm clock, it awakens us to the sounds of life. All in our closed worlds, so easy to forget we’re on a star rolling through space and all of a sudden this penetrating injection of happiness shakes us out of our mindlessness. That’s what it does. We are focusing on what we are supposed to focus on and then it happens, that sound, those notes, and we are shaken back into the realisation that whatever it is we’re doing means nothing and really all that matters is that laugh and sharing that laugh with others. Everything that comes out of this coffee house is a reflection of those curls. The staff, those muffins, and the punch received after drinking that espresso, it’s all refracted through those ringlets. They make you want more of life, like that laugh, give me more! Needless to say the customers tend to leave in a better mood than when they arrived. Let’s be honest, that’s the nature of the beast in the coffee shop business: enter low and exit high. Here though, in this cafe, on this polished concrete and below these hanging lights, there is another force at work, those curls.

ONEFIVEZEROSEVEN

Words by Eliza Cole & Photography by Cameron Etchells Onefivezeroseven is Barking Gecko Theatre Company’s latest production which is set to show at Studio Underground in the State Theatre this month from February 22 to March 1 as part of the Perth Festival. The production offers a glimpse into the lives of Australian teenagers based on real interviews that were conducted across the country. We had a chat to artistic director John Sheedy. Could you describe Onefivezeroseven for us? Sure, Onefivezeroseven is an investigation into the lives of Australian teenagers and it’s based off going into their inner sanctum - which is their bedroom it’s an exploration of all the things that they have in their room that they surround themselves with, that make up the collage of who they are. The medium number of things owned by a teenager that we’ve discovered is 1,507 objects. How are you going to put something like this on stage? There are six actors that play multiple characters. So all of the text is unaltered, straight from the interviews with the teenagers and so you have verbatim text and performers playing characters from every state and territory in Australia. Some list off their bedroom content, some talk about an object in their bedroom if they could say one thing to define what it means to them. And then we have statistics so we break that up over 15 events over one hour. Were you involved in the interviewing process? Yes I was Are there any moments that really stood out to you? Oh, there are many moments, like every second teenage interview kind of stands out for you. I think they’re incredibly brave. There are some stories that are really heart breaking and some that are incredibly brutally honest, some that are really hilarious, quite, quite funny. And some of them are pretty ordinary – but you know they all stand out really. It’s a really a much more complex world that they have to navigate in those transitional years than when I was a teenager. I mean they’re online and offline persona is so much of their world and what they’ve got to navigate. You know sometimes they spend up to 20 hours a day on line – considering there’s only 24 hours in a day that’s quite scary. And is the internet was a country it would be the 5th most populated country in the world. I did not know that. And the majority of that population would be young 23 people, teenagers.

How is the production going to help audience members connect with Australian teenagers, or how do you hope that people will respond to this production? Well I guess it gives young people of Australia their voice, it’s heard and it’s validated. The production will tour so it’s not just restricted to WA. I guess [the audience] will get to hear what their hopes and dreams are for the future, with Australian politics – what they’d like to change. You mentioned technology before; I’m wondering how do you bring that concept to stage? We talk about it. When we did Driving Into Walls we had a lot of technology. We had a live feed from the iPhones projected on the back wall. I guess with this one we’ve gone for a more personal view of the teenager. So we talk about the internet, we talk about how often they’re on there, but we’re not projecting technology all over the place. It’s more focused on the performance of the individual really, and their movement. What has it been like working on something of this magnitude? It’s a huge challenge because you’ve got a lot of content that you have to filter through and any new work that you’re creating takes a lot of time – this is 12 months in the making. That’s collecting the information, going around to every territory doing workshops. But then when you’re in the rehearsal room it’s literally probably three and a half weeks to create a new work on the floor. So it’s a massive challenge to filter through all that content and choose which story from which individual teenager kind of stood out to you and what it means. We had to try and get a broad range of their lives and their ideals on the stage - it’s a lot of work.

HOME GROWN Words & Photography by Lisa Townsend The summer holidays are soon to become a distant memory of Sunday sessions, sausage sizzles and sleeping in. As the holidays end and another year of uni gets underway we are reminded of new beginnings and the adventures that lay ahead. Unfortunately, we are also reminded of the New Year promises we made to ourselves about getting fitter, eating healthier and becoming more active within the community. If you’re anything like me, such promises only last a matter of weeks before you dive in to a San Churro rocky road sundae. But do not fear as I have recently discovered a place where you can get some morning exercise, buy fresh produce, contribute to the local community AND even indulge in an occasional treat, albeit organic. This place is the Farmers’ Market and these markets are springing up all around the Perth area. The stalls are owned and run by local growers and producers with the emphasis placed on fresh, farm direct and artisan made products. Operational days and times vary depending on where you go but they generally open on Saturday or Sunday mornings between 7.30am to 12.00pm and can be found in locations such as Victoria Park, Leederville, Subiaco, Kalamunda, Fremantle, and more recently Forrest Chase in the CBD! As a newcomer, I was unexpectedly but pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed my first time at the Stirling Farmers’ Market on Cedric Street. The range of produce for sale is diverse and includes plenty of fresh fruit and veg, organic meats, mushrooms, cheese, honey, seafood, handmade truffles, cookies and chutneys as well as artisan breads, fresh juices and even organic skincare products and dog treats. On top of this they have regular live musicians, children’s entertainment and there are plenty of tables and chairs where you can enjoy a coffee and soak up the pleasant community atmosphere. I must admit that I had preconceived ideas that Farmers’ Markets were run by overall clad agrarians that only attracted senior citizens who wanted to buy soft, cheap plums or hippies looking to stock up on vegan snack balls. And yes, admittedly, both these products were on offer at the Stirling Farmers’ Market but more importantly the overall feeling here was one of community and inclusion where everyone was welcome. All in all, whether you just want to stock up on fresh fruit or reconnect with the locals, try visiting a Farmers’ Market for a couple of hours on the weekend, both your body and your soul will thank you.

alternative friday night ventures Words & Photography by Emily Johnston Rarely do I venture into the city on a Friday night, if not to be part of the drunken exploits of Perth’s nightlife culture, but tonight I was up for something different. Walking through the city streets from the car park, I felt a sense of wonder and excitement. What will the night bring? My high spirits did not last long as I swiftly walked past an inconspicuously well-dressed middle-aged woman screaming at two bouncers outside a pub. “Go back to your own country,” she raged at them. A little ashamed I continued my venture down Murray street mall, where the pace was a little more relaxed. Away from the typical Friday nightlife, I began to wonder why so many people were around. On approaching the middle of the mall it appeared a bonfire had been started in Forrest Place with a massive plume of smoke bellowing from the crowd. As I got closer to the smoke you could begin to smell it, a mouthwatering concoction of aromas. As it turns out nothing was on fire but the ‘El Asador’ Argentinean tent was a hot spot for local carnivores to get their fix of barbequed flame grilled ribs. My senses went into over-drive as I absorbed the atmosphere and vibrancy that the Twilight Hawkers Market has to offer. Market stalls parading traditional foods from zesty eastern cuisines to southwestern comfort food, there was Italian, Spanish, Mexican, Brazilian, French and even the classic American hot-dog van. Everywhere you looked people were enjoying themselves, the music, the symphony of laughter and people pointing out the next food tent they wanted to investigate. A convergence of different cultures brought together by mutual love of food and complimentary live music performed by a Latino band. It was nice to see so many inspired people dancing to the music without being fueled by alcohol but just the spirit of food culture and music. This might not have been my usual Friday night regime; however, it was an experience I will not forget, as it taught me to be open-minded about what Perth has to offer.

PHOTOGRAPHER Alex Yates

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not every holiday fling is perfect Words by Student Assist Office & Artwork by Gabrielle Walker The holiday season is winding down and you are once again facing the reality of lecturers, census dates and assignments. Did you possibly experience a holiday romance the like of which is normally reserved for books and movies? A first salty, beach kiss down south or canoodling in a cozy chateau in France…. Moments like those become etched into your memory, and can still make you smile years later, unless it was an experience you would rather forget. Holiday flings have the reputation of being exotic, exciting and passionate. However, not every holiday fling is as perfect as Rhonda and Ketut’s. It’s the notso-perfect experiences that we tend to talk about less, but become etched into our memory’s like a nightmare we can’t forget. So, how do you navigate this sexual minefield to make sure it’s your “perfect” moment? Or is it common place to go with the flow? I mean chill out you’re on holiday.

portunity to say no at any point, knowing your partner, seeking and getting the “YES! YES! YES!”

When things are getting steamy why is it so hard to say I don’t like where this is going? Why can’t I say that I’m not OK with this…? Maybe we don’t know what is happening? Maybe we want to appear knowledgeable… With porn at everyone’s fingertips, is the pressure on to be “freaky” and interesting in bed?

SHAG* Week: Sexual Health Awareness and Guidance Week aims to discuss consent and negotiating boundaries by being sex positive, body positive, health positive and queer positive. SHAG* Week will take place on South Street Campus Murdoch University from the 10th to the 14th of March.

Consent is not just about saying yes or no to sex. Consent and pleasurable sex is about having the op-

Find more information www.the-guild.com.au or @TheMurdochGuild

Comic by Krause Komics

FILM REVIEWS Dallas Buyers Club Words by Matthew Gardner Dallas Buyers Club is a film driven by its lead actors, powerful screen presence as well as the skill of its director. However, this does not prevent the film from being anything but a cliché ridden biography film that discards the truths for something that fits the ‘Hollywood’ mould. Matthew McConaughey plays Ron Woodroof, a homophobic and racist electrician who, amid a reckless lifestyle is diagnosed H.I.V positive and told he has 30 days to live. Upon discovering the corruption and poor treatment of AIDs patients he works with Rayon (played by Jared Leto), a transgender AID’s patient, who forms an unlikely bond with Woodroof. The aforementioned acting is brilliant, helmed by an incredible performance from McConaughey, who plays Woodroof with astounding energy. Leto again proves himself an impressive actor, however, (another problem Hollywood has) is that the role should have gone to a transgender actor instead. Dr. Eve Saks (played by Jennifer Garner) is sorely wasted, her character is underwritten and only present as a plot device. Director Jean-Marc Vallée is a tough force, breathing life into a lifeless script, with a luminous balance of the unsettling and the characters quick wit. Unfortunately this is not enough to prevent the film from arising from anything but decent, as the second half of the film loses the brilliance the first half helmed and instead falls into the slot of a clichéd biography film. Dallas Buyers Club has charisma, charm and frantic energy, but is certainly not flawless.

Cat People (1982) Words by Harold Callaghan Imagine for a moment you are the ancestor of an ancient race – one that used to sacrifice the women of their tribe to black panthers who pretty much just lazed around and waited for these human sacrifices. Only instead of eating said sacrifices, these panthers actually mated with them, thus creating a new race of human, i.e the titular, Cat People. Also know, as an ancestor of this ancient race, you keep most of the ordinary human traits (plus slightly feline eyes and the ability to jump over high things), except when you make love with another person you’re transformed into a savage black panther, and can only transform back into a human once you’ve killed your lover – or somebody else… That’s the basis of the ‘Cat People’, a remake of a 1942 horror film of the same name, starring a totally babin’ Natassja Kinski as our heroine Irena, an expectedly weird Maclom McDowell as her strange/clearly dodgy brother, and zoo curator John Heard, AKA the dad from Home Alone, in pretty much the only other thing I’ve ever seen him in. If the introductory paragraph has you thinking, ‘This movie sounds incredibly stupid’, sorry for wasting your time. However, if you’re down for some psycho-sexual early-‘80s thrills filled with actual panthers, big cat-inflicted dismemberments, a really young Ed Begley Jr (of Six Feet Under and This Is Spinal Tap fame), Kinski hunting rabbits naked, and a haunting Gorgio Moroder score headed by a weird David Bowie theme song, then ‘Cat People’ is great. It’s kind of a ridiculous film, but everyone in it totally sells the role they’re playing – Kinski in particular keeps a lid on it when she could have gone full damsel in distress/crazy panther-woman – and it’s just a whole heap of weird fun. Go rent it from your local video store, ‘cause they could do with the business.

MUSIC REVIEWS Hayden Calnin – “Oh, Hunter” Words by David Salvaire The sophomore EP from Melbourne folktronica artist Hayden Calnin is a dynamic release full of gentle drama. Calnin’s producing abilities have matured since his debut release “City” but his vocals are still right on the money and beautifully drenched in reverb. While the comparisons to Bon Iver and The XX is obvious (if not lazy), this short player definitely has his own flavour. The opening track Coward is a slow burning, sparse adventure that sticks in your head and builds nicely. The slow thud of the kick drum is a pleasant monotony that lays the foundation for an epic chorus and outro. Calnin seriously channels The National in second track Comatose which begins almost as a piano ballad until a crunchy beat kicks it into gear and Calnin sings “look at the dirt in my toes and tell me I’m less of a man for leaving you”. The glitchy beat of I Corrupt is a refreshing change of pace for the EP and is reminiscent of Thom Yorke’s “The Eraser” with long indistinguishable pad harmonies that really make this track float; this is by far the most electronic sounding track. Not Good For Me is where the Bon Iver comparisons really show with every aspect of Calnin’s voice recalling Justin Vernon, this is by no means a slight as the placid strain of his vocals hints at an emotional maturity beyond his 24 years of age. The lack of structure in the track gives it an ethereal vibe that is not as gripping as some of the other material. Final track Forever A Traveller is a soulful jaunt that very effectively uses multi-layered vocals and a thin backing. The dynamic vocal layers fold very nicely over one another like an ocean gently lapping the shore. While it has its duller moments “Oh, Hunter” is definitely a grower if you’re willing to give it a listen. This is an EP for a rainy day at home with the curtains drawn and a nice bottle of red.

St Vincent – “St. Vincent” Words by Jessica Paterson This self- titled album is the fourth studio album recorded by artist Annie Clark, better known by her stage name St. Vincent. Born in 1982, Clark is an American singer/song writer and multi-instrumentalist who started her career as part of The Polyphonic Spree before spreading her proverbial wings and flying solo in 2006 as St. Vincent. Her moniker St. Vincent is said to be in reference to St Vincent’s Catholic Medical Centre where the poet Dylan Thomas died because it is “the place where poetry goes to die” and “this is me”. This might seem like a monumental comparison but her newest album St. Vincent backs this statement up tenfold, showcasing her mind-blowing talent in lyrical arrangements. Her cryptic and enigmatic lyrics have you teetering between pure ecstasy and complete madness, which Clark likens to that of living the up and down rollercoaster of depression and anxiety. Clark makes use of her amazing array of instrumental finesse by combining guitar, bass, piano, organs and the Theremin with a number of other obscure combinations creating an unorthodox mixture of instrumental and lyrical genius. Her music style has been described as a combination of Chamber Rock, Art Rock, Indie Pop and Cabaret Jazz, however, this St. Vincent album is something else entirely. It’s a Technicolor rainbow of idiosyncratic instrumental arrangements, hypnotic vocals, over stated digital effects and fantastical synth filters boasting a depth that is deserving of being likened to that of greats such as David Bowie. St. Vincent has a unique quality that is indescribable. It is a party playlist or a chill out mix. It is 80’s synth rock while simultaneously being so elegantly dark. After listening to this album on repeat for hours I have come to one conclusion. St. Vincent is going to make one hell of a splash into the music industry pool.

ART REVIEWS Eat Me Words and Photography by Jessica Paterson As part of the Fringe World Festival this year Melody Smith Art Gallery, for one evening, opened their doors for a very unique performance installation. The installation involved a life size Dolly Varden dress that the artist stood wearing for the audience to ogle as we were lead through a small entry room filled with oriental themed clothing, shoes, jewelry and other items. This may seem like nothing spectacular but not only was the dress life sized, making the artist seem like a real life princess, it was made entirely out of cake! The show was visualized by WA based artist Rizzy, who often uses obscure, and more frequently edible, mediums to present her visual work; this particular installation was no exception. The dress, which was iced a beautiful pastel pink, was made up of over 200 cakes and 20kg of butter icing. Rizzy stood in the middle of the room, wearing the magnificent dress, basking in a glow of pink and yellow light filtering down through the canopy of summer vibrant flowers. The ambience created was beautiful and it captivated the audience immediately. Rizzy’s vision for EAT ME was to take the notion of femininity, social etiquette, softness and the social expectations of women and to present them to the audience in a way that was not only visually stimulating but encouraged audience and artist participation, interaction and trust. EAT ME was envisioned in reference to Yoko Ono’s 1964 installation ‘CUT PIECE’ during which Ono allowed members of the audience to cut away a piece of her dress at a time. In this instance the dress could be consume during the tea party that followed while guests could enjoyed the artist’s curvaceous lines and sugary sweet take on feminism and the female form. The show was visually stimulating, thought provoking and edgy, making it an excellent choice for the Fringe Festival.

Mini Art Mart Words by Emily Johnston & Visual Art by Mellopoly Perth artist and illustrator, Mellopoly draws ideas from the natural world around her, inspired by creative thinkers her work is detailed and compassionate in its messages to the observer. Her collection of joyful, fun and up lifting art conveys a sense of hope and optimism to its viewer. It is well known that art is a trained ability or mastery of a medium. Simply put it’s a development and efficient use of language to convey meaning with immediacy or depth. Mellopoly uses her ability to express her feelings, thoughts, observations and experiences to depict hopeful messages through her medium. Mellopoly’s work starts off as intricate hand-lettering and pencil-sketches which is then transformed into archival ink on watercolour paper. The illustrations are available as A3 and A4 digital prints from her latest exhibition at the Ruck Rover General Store, Northbridge. Her fanciful, romantic pieces are available for purchase for around $25 from 1-28 February. Keep an eye out for the further creations from this talented illustrator. If you are art savvy check out the next Mini Art Mart and keep up to date with who has already been displayed in store: http://miniartmart.blogspot.com.au 32

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