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Murdoch Empire Telegraph & Indian Ocean Review

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Edition #4 July 2013

LEADERS OF THE PACK

Murdoch Empire Telegraph & Indian Ocean Review – Since 1975 Edition 4, July 2013 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 www.facebook.com/metiormagazine Want to catch up on previous issues? Go to www.the-guild.com.au/metior Editor Olivia Gardner

Cover Photo James Ahern

Sub-Editor Madura McCormack

Photographers Adam Semple Aiden White Ava Mandal Ben Peric Emily Hohnston Francis Lynch Hayden Straazina Howard Chen Joel Crane Kieran Peek

Graphic Design Karmen Lee Our undying everlasting gratitude to... Adam Semple Cecilia Allen David Salvaire Emily Johnston Lisa Townsend Mathew Gardner Red Moir Sarah Ross Metior’s deadlines for the next edition of 2013 is 23rd August

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 Alex Bellotti

Email metior@the-guild.com.au

Phone 9360 2158

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

Email A.Bellotti@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. The Guild accepts no responsibility for the accuracy of any of the opinions or information contained within the magazine.

CONTENTS From The President ��2 Editorial ��2 Features National Student Leadership Forum ��4 Cinderella ��8 The Novocaines ��10 Italians Do It Better ��12 The Right Direction ��14 Down The Tracks ��20 Everyday Hero ��22 Supanova ��23 Caffeine ��24 Reviews Art ��28 Music ��30 Screen ��32 Book ��32 Fiction Inside The Slinky ��18 Photography Hayden Strzina ��3 Howard Chen ��5 Joel Crane �� 6 & 19 Emily Johnston ��8 Adam Semple ��13 Ava Mandal ��16 Ben Peric ��21 Red Moir ��23 Aiden White ��26 Kieran Peek ��31

FROM THE PRESIDENT Words by Bec Thompson I’m not usually too serious here, but this Metior edition is about leadership, which is a pretty good segue into what’s happening in Federal politics at the moment. On April 13th the then-Minister for Tertiary Education Dr Craig Emerson (side note: we’ve had four Ministers this year) announced dramatic cuts to tertiary funding including turning student start up scholarships into repayable loans, removing discounts for upfront HECS payments, and directing universities to take funding cuts of 3.25% over the next two years. In real money that’s $900 million dollars less grant funding across the sector. For us that could mean cuts to teaching staff, support staff and courses, larger classes, and fewer upgrades to facilities. Murdoch Guild will be taking part in a planned National Day of Action against the cuts on August 20th. To get involved or learn more head to our facebook page @MurdochGuild or look for the info posters on campus. This is a debate students can and should lead. After all, it’s our futures at stake.

EDITORIAL Words by Olivia Gardner When I think of this editions theme, Leaders of the Pack, I can’t help but think of the Three Wolf Moon meme, but this edition is much more than a majestic t-shirt of three wolves howling at the moon, it is a homage, nay, a testament to those who strive to be different, new, and innovative. After all that’s what life is all about, be it overcoming differences or recognising those that set us apart. We decided to dedicate this edition to the idiosyncrasies that make people different, those that put people in front of the pack – leaders, if you will – no matter what that pack may be. From the good, to the bad, to the unusual, we have spent our holidays exploring this idea and in turn bring you this fine packet of pages that we hope are filled with a little (or a lot of) intrigue, just enough to get those synapses sparking, ideas flowing, and just in time for the beginning of new semester. On that note, all the best for the beginning of term; always try to do it better and head in the right direction, you never know what’s down the tracks, so don’t forget to be a hero as much as possible, and try not to drink too much caffeine!

SHOW US WHAT YOU’VE GOT! We absolutely love seeing new and exciting work from photography to Fiction. If you would like to be a part of our ever-growing team, check us out on Facebook www.facebook.com/metiormagazine for updates on upcoming editions, themes, meetings, and deadlines. Alternatively, you can shoot us an email at metior@the-guild.com.au

PHOTOGRAPHY Hayden Strzina

LEEDERSHIP FORUM Words by Sarah Ross & Photography by Howard Chen Last month I attended the National Student Leadership Forum forum that united students who had been nominated from their community for demonstrating leadership qualities. The forum was held at federal parliament in Canberra and at the Canberra war memorial. The theme of the conference was values and servant leadership. The forum was addressed by many politicians, including a personal address from Scott Morrison, the Prime Minister at the time Julia Gillard, Peter Garrett and leader of the opposition, Tony Abbott. We sat in on question time and observed parliamentary debate. On one of the mornings we congregated at the ANZAC war memorial and heard an address about fallen soldiers. The experience was invaluable – yet, I found myself increasingly unsettled throughout the forum. I feel that this is because I sincerely hold true the values of servant leadership. However, I looked upon the politicians and could not help but think – who are they serving? Two aspects of my life have influenced me and my values the most. The first of these is that I have same-sex parents. I was born into a family of two wonderful mothers who I am eternally thankful for. The second is that I am a refugee advocate. I have spent every weekend for the past eight or so months visiting asylum seekers in Australian immigration detention centres. I walked into a parliament that prevents my mother’s from marrying their partner of choice. I walked into a parliament that treats my parents as second class citizens and a parliament that has retained institutional discrimination against same-sex couples providing legitimization to the homophobia I’ve had the displeasure of witnessing throughout my life. I walked into a parliament that incarcerates my friends in detention and has put in place a policy that has systematically destroyed the lives of thousands of men, women and children.

Who do I serve? My mothers, who have ingrained in my being, etched into my mind and intertwined with my values the absolute love and adoration that brought me into the world and has taught me all I know. The kindness, the patience, the humility and the selflessness that stitched together the seconds, minutes, hours, days and years of my childhood and taught me by example, from the inside out, to be loving and kind. Mothers who taught me to value and respect people no matter their ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation. This love and this light is overshadowed by the constant reminder that this kindness and this love is undervalued by our government, is not recognized and is treated as second class – as something less. Who do I serve? The many refugees I have met who have filled my life with a bounty of love and friendships. The hospitality of the many refugees I have had the pleasure of meeting who have filled the narrative of our friendship with unequivocal kindness, gratitude and knowledge. Some of whom, before my arrival into Canberra, took me into their homes to stay with their family and enlightened me to the true extent of their hospitality. I have had the intimate pleasure of witnessing some of the darkest moments in their lives as a result of our government policies towards refugees. Sons who call their mothers every single day to tell them that they miss them and that they miss home. Fathers’ who call their wives and children after each bombing in their home city longing to hear that their loved ones were not claimed in the debris. Messages and recounts of asylum seekers on Manus Island and Nauru each time someone falls deeply into a spell of despair to ask over, and over again – why am I here? What crime have I committed? When I looked into the faces of our political leaders, this is what I saw. Not inspiration, not respect but an increasing awareness that they are not good demonstrators of leadership. An affirmation that leadership requires those who are able to speak out against injustice, to commit to invariably and unapologetically do so – a commitment I will continue to honour.

At the war memorial when the presenter was preaching about those who have died for us so we could have freedom – my thoughts wandered to the many asylum seekers I have met who were targeted by the Taliban because they were interpreters for A special thanks to the Vice Chancellors Developthe Australian army – and when they came to Aus- ment fund for providing student representatives tralia for asylum from this persecution – were put with the opportunity to attend. into detention. They fought for our freedom, and look what we did to them. We unashamedly took their freedom away. 4

PHOTOGRAPHY Joel Crane

CINDERELLA Words by Emily Johnston Before entering Murdoch University’s Nexus Theatre, audience members believe they know what they are going to experience from a pantomime musical, however, Murdoch University Theatre Company’s production of Cinderella was much more than just singing, puns, and a cinder girl. The new twist on the traditional fairy tale was an unpredictable, entertaining, and refreshing mix of creative theatrical aesthetics, outrageous characters, and the pure essence of teamwork and hard work.

formed by men, but also because they were highly fluent and natural on stage. They managed to entice the audience’s amusement with their characters even when they weren’t in dialogue. The duo went from womanly stances to scratching their hairy armpits – these feral ladies aimed to entertain and they certainly delivered on that. Like every fairy tale there has to be a balance of good and evil – however, the audience couldn’t help but love the witty, bubbly, and shamelessly impious devil, Lucy – this flamboyant character accompanied by her two mundane henchmen, who impressively managed to not smile for the whole performance, made a delightfully badass trio. Sam Knox who performed as Lucy said that for her, theatre is “a group of people joining forces and working collectively and ruthlessly on a single project in order to give a couple of hours of excitement to an audience every night – for the pure, unadulterated joy it gives us all.”

The atmosphere before the show was surprisingly quiet, harmonious and energetic. The crew and cast seemed to work together to keep everyone calm and stress-free and if anything did happen to go wrong, everyone worked as a team to keep the night fluent from start to finish. As a group the cast warmed up before each show, collectively channelling their nerves into positive energy, which assisted them in getting their character’s zone. Melissa Wheeler who played Sprang in the production, said that on average it can take anything from thirty minutes to three hours to get emotionally, physically and vocally ready for each show. Wheeler believes that acting enables performers to “draw emotions from the audience.” Just like many of the other amazing Cinderella actors she loves to perform and entertain, this was very evident through their performances and the passion that was communicated through the dedication for their art.

Inspiring actors from Cinderella like Sam Knox and Chantelle Pitt have high hopes and dreams for the future and the audience was lucky enough to see the origins of their theatre career before their aspirations of hitting the big time. There were many standouts such as the hilariously malapropistic stepmother who at one point sang about being a “bitch,” however, it was the collective group effort that made this twisted fairy tale a great night out.

The ugly stepsisters demanded a lot of attention from the audience, not only because they were per-

Congratulations to everyone who was involved in this production, job well done!

THE NOVOCAINES Words by David Salvaire Releasing music is a whole different ball game in the digital age. In an environment where information rules, we’re beginning to lose a grip on music as a tangible object. Gone are the days where we peeled away the plastic, striped through the cover art, devoured the lyrics and revelled in the words from the artist. While innovation has allowed us to store multitudes of music on our ever-shrinking devices, it has also presented a challenge to musicians when releasing their music; release it for free in order to get it out to as many people as possible, or press for sales from punters just enough to get by. With their new EP being released both as a free digital download and on 7” vinyl, post-hardcore Perth Rockers The Novacaines are attempting to strike the perfect balance. We had a chat to drummer Liam Young about the latest EP, their heavier sound, and playing live. What was the reason behind releasing a bunch of singles? We wanted to change the release formula because it took us so long to be able to afford the recording and releasing of our last album. We want to be doing it as simply as possible so we can keep putting out songs as opposed to having to wait for the funds. It just means we can release music more consistently so you can hear the development of the songs as they’re coming out as opposed to sitting on them for a year and getting sick of them. Does this spell the death of the album as a concept for you guys? No not at all, this is just what we found to be working for us at the moment. I still love finding an album as a piece and listening to it all the way through but at the moment we don’t have anyone putting their hands out there with a big credit card and as independents it’s important that we take the right steps. We think this is a good way to keep things fresh. You’re releasing the EP on 7”vinyl and as an online download? Yeah, Cd’s are becoming a little redundant and we’re all collectors of vinyl. It’s much more appreciated I think. The cover art is larger and they’re not as easy to lose. It also pairs really well with the online downloads, for those who want to download it they can have that and for those who want something they can hold there’s the 7”. Vinyl’s pretty expensive but we want to do it and for now that’s the aim. Going with singles it’s kind of too much to ask people to pay for one song, while iTunes is cool, we prefer people to just have it and we want to give it away and that’s what’s good about the online download. The two tracks Till Death and Freedom Please are quite a bit heavier than we’ve heard from you. Where has that shift come from? We’ve been sharing music like we normally do but we’ve just found a few more heavy bands that we liked and delved a bit more into the heavy metal and hard-core stuff. From there I think it was just a case of wanting to write songs that we’d like to listen to, not that I want to listen to our songs (laughs), but it was a pretty natural thing. It was also stuff that we liked to see live and play live ourselves. What do you think is important about playing live? It’s really hard to push your way through all the online blogs and things these days. With all the genres and sub-genres that people have created I think the live show is the best way to push your music to the surface. You know, we’re a punk band and we just play loud and heavy and I think that gets the best reaction. In the studio we like to take our time and focus on the songs and be more methodical about it but as far as live goes its kind of just about the energy in the room. You were 15 when you started playing with the band, how frustrating was it playing at pubs? I remember my first show at the Rosemount, I had to go there then set up then leave then come back and play then leave again… it was pretty shitty. It was worse when we were in the states and I was 19, we had to be really sneaky. Playing a gig on a school night was always fun. You can download the band’s latest releases from thenovocaines.bandcamp.com and pick up their 7” vinyl August 1st exclusively from Fat Shan’s Record Store in Perth or at independent record stores nationally.

Jim Power

11 Corey Marriott

ITALIANS DO IT BETTER Words & Photography by Adam Semple I walk down the street and pull into the local Piazza. The aroma of freshly baked brioche from the pasticceria (bakery) fuses with the delightful whiffs of ciabatta they’re baking for lunch. The café in the corner has a wall of Italian’s standing at the bar stirring coffees– a couple of sharp looking business people, a worn-out tradesman, and the woman who owns the shoe shop next door standing tall on her bright yellow stilettoes. A Ferrari parked outside with its blinkers flashing sits in the middle of the piazza’s cobblestone parking area while two middle aged men, slightly dazed, try to discern an exit around the V12 beast. The Piazza itself is fairly old, 800 years or so, but that’s not impressive (apparently) because if you head down the road you’ll find a ruin from before Jesus cruised our streets. I have heard it said many times that ‘Italian’s do it better,’ and even though in most instances I wholeheartedly agree, I am baffled to know how. As I sit down for my morning cappuccino and bask in the free flowing thoughts I have derived from a relaxed Australian upbringing, I start to understand how deeply history and culture affect our actions, and how we grow as a society. Passion Observing the people who pass, most dressed in vibrant colors and discussing their pending summer trips to the beach (the beach is a big deal for Italians) or how disappointed they are with the government. I remember the full church I passed before noon last Sunday. Its ceiling was articulated with angels and the light fittings hand-carved from stone, painstakingly, as to never be changed. In present day, the men out the front of a second café are amassing around the entry- as they always do- with their thumbs pressed to the tips of their fingers as they wave their hands in a passionate compensation for words. The Italian language may lack the vocabulary of the English language, but they make up for it with emotive physical expression. Meanwhile, a child drops a gargantuan dollop of gelato on the floor and bursts out crying while someone’s nonna races past helmetless on her bike, a Silky Terrier in tow. Italy is swarmed with Piazzas just like this one; passion and emotion run rife.

food gets consumed over a single lunch sitting. Just recently I spent ten minutes heckling the owner of my small local restaurant for the recipe of an amazing tomato tiger prawns dish I had ordered. The result, to my shock and awe, was a total of five ingredients, for what is certainly the tastiest seafood dish I have ever eaten. The food culture isn’t all positive though. Italian’s haven’t caught up with the whole ‘Sugar Is Bad’ movement, so their breakfasts are heinously rich in sugar and low in nutrients, a croissant or mini-toasts with jam, and a cappuccino. That’s what 99% of Italians eat for breakfast, nonnas through to babies. The Burden of History History isn’t just old architecture and war, history is a mode of cooking and eating that has been passed down from generations; an appreciation for nature and it’s fruitful bounty from which our great grandparents benefitted; an understanding that the river between those mountains used to accommodate kids playing and families bathing. People in countries with history as rich as Italy’s have seen war and suffered the sub-sequential economic crisis. They saw the birth of cubism and its fresh breeze of change from impressionist predecessors. Only a few generations back would’ve had them witness witch burnings too. It is these aspects of life that affect culture and what becomes passed on through generations. The issue then, is when culture as rich as this it can determine exactly what I eat for breakfast, or what occupation is optimal for me, because the ‘experience’ of ancestors is the rule of the house, even if those choices don’t align with personal preference. So even though history can bring invaluable lessons, the confident ignorance from the uneducated elderly can lead to detriment. In the simplest of examples, Italian’s have been obsessed with coffee for decades now, but still today it is brewed appallingly.

I’ll admit that I am happy Pizza is the same today as it was two hundred years ago in Italy, but in other aspects of society I am glad cultural integrity has given way to progression and change, even if nonna doesn’t understand why. There may still be a Mafioso ‘running’ the local pizzeria in my town, and I may still have to wade through four kilograms of paperwork to get my visa, but the passion and emoFood; Less is More, Give Me More Italian food is beautifully simple. The Italians truly tion that I feel every day, when I drink a grappa or have a culinary mode. They understand that more ride through the mountains, is something that only can certainly equate to less when cooking, but in a history of ups and downs, suffering and euphoria 12 contrast to this an often dumbfounding quantity of could have constructed.

THE RIGHT DIRECTION Words by Olivia Gardner

When Stephano Carboni found himself in a courtyard surrounded by the beautiful Doges Palace in Venice, the city where he grew up and graduated in Arabic and Islamic art, he was giving a talk on the most acclaimed exhibition that he had curated in his career; a view on the relationship between Venice and the Islamic world.

“we did some surveys, a lot of people think ‘oh, the Art Gallery of Western Australia has a collection? I didn’t know that, I thought that everything on display is borrowed from somewhere else,’ amazing, but that’s the case” he exclaims. In order to rectify this, the collection was moved – in no simple feat – from the top floor of the gallery and spread across the bottom and throughout the adjoining Centenary Gallery building resulting in a permanent display entitled Your Collection.

Toured from his position of 16 years at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (the Met) in New York to be exhibited in the Doges Palace, Carboni regales “I was sitting there giving a small talk, the mayor of Venice was there and a lot of senior people – all of a sudden I noticed in the second row in front of me were all my former professors – they came to listen to me 20 years after I graduated and it was quite thrilling.”

This gave space for the temporary exhibitions to take place upstairs, “now they have to engage the floor in order to be upstairs” he says. This is where it gets exciting. Along with his extensive career Carboni brought his connections from NY, allowing him to collaborate with the Museum of Modern Art and bring a series of six exhibitions from MoMA exclusively to AGWA – works that are being viewed for the first time in the southern hemisphere, right at our doorstep.

Why then is it that a man at the height of his career at the Met in NYC of all places decides to move to Perth? “I could have stayed at the Met and done all of my career at the Met but it’s also about professional challenges and changes in life, I think it’s important to do that as well” Carboni explains “so the obvious step forward would be to become a director, obviously not at a large institution as the Met, but in a smaller one in order to learn the trade, because no one teaches you what it means being a director, you have to jump into it.”

We have so far seen three exhibitions unfold, the latest Van Gogh, Dali & Beyond, the previous Picturing New York, and the initial Picasso to Warhol and they will continue to do so over the next few years “it’s a very ambitious series” Carboni explains “its six exhibitions in three years from MoMA… we’re going through to March 2015 with the series.”

Caboni is now in his 5th year at the AGWA and has been hard at work since his arrival implementing fundamental changes to our gallery that have not only put it back on the map for the public but has also brought the institution up to the standards of its contemporaries.

In conjunction with the exhibitions has been the arrival of after-hours events and concerts at the gallery. “Obviously the only way to secure the future of an institution is to get younger people through your doors” Carboni explains. He wanted a younger audience to see the art gallery as a place that they could go and have a good time, not a boring institution “so we needed to find a way to try and engage them, the first step was to create the Artbar” says Carboni.

He says that “the issue with this place that I noticed immediately when I arrived is that there was a disconnection between what we do, what we are, and the art visitors.” Explaining that many middle sized or small institutions tend to exhibit blockbuster shows every four or five years, because it is an expensive enterprise “and this is the reason for people to come and visit you, because Monet is in town, or the Egyptians are in town.” Carboni instead decided immediately to make the gallery more accessible to the public, offering enticing shows that see visitors coming in more than once a year.

With the support of Audi as a sponsor and the galleries younger staff members to guide Carboni in the trends of Australian entertainment today, he says that “we were able to ensure quite a few good gigs and we’ve been sold out every time, between 500 and 800 people… but I’m adamant that this is not only about entertainment, you come earlier, you see the exhibition, you have a drink – there’s an open bar – and then you listen to the entertainment.”

He conveyed that the gallery is a collecting institution with around 16,000 artworks in its collection

Following the success of Artbar the gallery opens every Friday night for younger audiences to see the

THE RIGHT DIRECTION Words by Olivia Gardner

current MoMA exhibition, have a drink, and engage in some light entertainment for a small fee which Carboni says was incredibly successful during the Picasso to Warhol series with approximately 400 people coming through the gallery every Friday night. This he expects will be similar for the current Van Gough, Dali & Beyond exhibition.

Another of the galleries underutilised spaces that Carboni has been looking into as part of their plans of growth in the future is the rooftop area of the gallery, he says “I see this as of multiple uses, we can have a café overlooking the CBD, and you can have a sculpture garden if you want to have works up there. We can have a playground, a space for parties or functions, or even a dancing floor… I know that I could sit about 300 people in front of a screen up there so it could be an open air cinema as well.”

As for the future, it is only a matter of time before we see greater changes to our gallery, with the institution looking into expansion and potentially attaching a new building that would replace the staff car park.

As for Carboni, he intends to stay with the gallery at least for another five years “if you want to make an impact on an institution like a state art museum 5 years is really not enough” he says “I think that now you can see the first results, but you need to stay a minimum of seven or eight years to kind of enjoy the fruit of your efforts.”

“At the rate of acquisitions that we have now and assuming that fundraising and philanthropy also grow accordingly – we are probably going to have a much bigger collection” says Carboni “there are issues of storage, issues of display – so if we have 16,000 now, let’s assume that in 50 years we have 30,000 – if we continue to be a modern and contemporary art museum that is going to evolve, we want to have more exhibitions, we want to have more space, we want to be able to exhibit at least 7-8% of the collection at any given time.”

And we’re glad to have him stay, the gallery, its impressive collection aside, has never before been a more enticing place to be.

PHOTOGRAPHER Ava Mandal

INSIDE THE SLINKY Words by Lisa Townsend Inside the slinky, each turns a twist surprising, misguiding, opportunities missed. But there lies the freedom, randomly falling down stairs and off tables no cares, just exploring. He waits for no-one, no thing and no day just needing a nudge, he’s off on his way. Occasionally tall, sometimes bent over he regularly rests on the floor. A life unmoving is only short lived, he knows he’s more fun on the go. Adventures await, if you blink you’ll be late and a prod sets him off once more. He knows down the tracks, that the future holds rust he’ll be used up and tread on and bent out of shape, thrown round at parties, manhandled, chewed by the dog till he’s mangled his once shiny coat corroded and tarnished unable to slink ‘cos he’s tangled. But while he is shiny and special and bright and eager and raring to go, slinky continues his coiling and curling making the most of his rising and falling gratefully welcoming every diversion finding himself in another direction and greeting each corner in turn. For the slinky is wise, far wiser than me inside may be hollow and gone, but he moves when he can, not having a plan bravely exploring the unknown. So today it’s goodbye, my twisted old friend been with me through thick and through thin. Time to get off the floor, get my ass out the door time to act like a slinky spring. I might fall down, that’s ok I might lose my shine, I might lose my way. But I’ll bounce back like you, always willing and bright ‘cos at the end of my tunnel it’s light.

Photographer: Joel Crane

DOWN THE TRACKS ROCKINGHAM Words by Madura McCormack & Photography by Ben Peric An unexpectedly good start to this segment left a tinge of worry coming into it this edition. There was a possibility we would end up choosing barren suburbs and be left without an article. Worst still, without some form of adventure. Apprehensively, we jabbed our index finger at a large TransPerth map and chose the most obscure sounding station. The journey was scenic, with buildings and traffic replaced by vast expanses of green and rusty terrain. It was of more importance to enjoy the train ride this time around, knowing the next stop might not be the most fruitful. Stepping off the platform, we weren’t greeted with much more than a sullen looking bus bay and a full parking lot – Warnbro was a bust. Good thing the seemingly lifeless suburb is conveniently nestled between Mandurah and Rockingham. Hopping off the train with slightly less optimism than we had to begin with, Rockingham gave us one of the last things we needed to see – a giant bus station. Sometimes life requires you to cut a couple of corners and round a couple of them, preferably in a bus. It’s not really cheating if you have to do it, right? Rolling into the heart of Rockingham, it became apparent that this was an area built for tourists. Evidenced by the crisp bricked pavement featuring fast food and one too many fish and chip outlets. Smells of deepfried battered fish floated along side wisps of fresh sea breeze. But there was a smell and feel to Rockingham that we couldn’t quite put our finger on. It was one of those instincts that starts off in your gut and works its way to the base of your spine before teetering along the length of it. We reasoned that the emptiness could be caused by it being a weekday, but that wasn’t it. Following the sidewalk deeper into the districts’ centre, the buildings began to look noticeably older. Large single story blocks stood side-by-side tall clean-cut three story buildings. The old, dilapidated buildings of Rockingham seemed to be the last attachment to its waning history. Flecks of peeling paint serve as a reminder of what the suburb looked like before the advance of tourism and its twin brother capitalism. The path opened up into a boulevard of sorts, similar to the Fremantle café strip but void of almost any human activity. There were no crowds spilling onto the pavement, or noisy families enjoying an al-fresco brunch. Come to think of it, there were hardly any cars. If that eerie gut instinct lay dormant a few minutes before, the red flags were shooting out of our ears by now. A few cafes were open along the road, accompanied by a handful of patrons, a diet-breaking bakery and a British lolly shop. One of the only vehicles parked along the curb was a restored Volkswagen Combi that screamed hippie. Interestingly enough, a few tattoo parlours were wedged in this scene of melancholy, filling the atmosphere with much needed bursts of colour. My knowledge on the supposed link between tattoo shops and the criminal underbelly of Perth is sparse, but I doubt my suspicions rise alone when The Chamber of Commerce is sandwiched between two. Pulling away from the still vacant straight edged properties, we bore witness to the tranquillity of the ocean. The calm waters that border Rockingham must be what make it a tourist-centric area. Lapping instead of crashing, the inlet touched the shore to create a serene picture. It felt like one large cliché, the sun beginning to set, seagulls flying above and we could’ve sworn a dolphin broke the surface of the water. The hand of tourism development did not spare the beach; historical snippets pepper the pavement accompanied by well-lacquered sitting benches. Crossing the manicured grass patch that connects the beach and the road, we were so graciously acknowledged by a lone homeless man under his gazebo. He hollered at us to hold hands since we were in love. A presumptuous remark that was humorous and a little bit awkward. Leaving Rockingham behind, the suburb left us with a fishy taste in our mouths and it wasn’t from the sea breeze. The area seems to be in transition from a state of scarcity to one of affluence yet torn between its two feuding personalities. As though modernity and an appearance of wealth was thrust upon her without much prior discussion.

EVERYDAY HERO Words by Olivia Gardner

Dustin Leonard came out to Australia from Texas for grad school at the University of Sydney to pursue a Masters in National Business and a Masters in Logistics Management. It was there, thanks to an assignment, that he conceived Hero Condoms, a socially conscious brand of condom that is now being launched nationwide. Every condom sold donates a subsequent condom to Botswana while also raising funds to educate and hopefully reduce the spread of HIV. So what was the original assignment? It was for a marketing class, we had to come up with a product and a marketing campaign for it. That’s when I came up with the idea of Hero and the social responsibility side of it too. I really started working on it and at the same time I was taking new business start-up classes that were teaching us how to do new business models and new business plans – so I started doing that on the side, creating a business plan for it. I was working for this consultancy company at the time and I was at a lunch with my boss and I was like “hey, I came up with this idea, I’m going to pitch it to some venture capitalist firms, can I pitch it to you and then get your input and some constructive criticism?” I pitched it to him and afterwards he was like “hey, that’s an actual really good idea, if you want I’ll partner in it with you and I’ll help finance it.” That’s basically when everything got started.

basically go to a witch doctor and if you have HIV they can tell you to “have sex with a virgin” or “you need to do this,” those places are a lot more difficult to try and distribute condoms, because we’d have to focus a lot more on the education as well. As we are coupling with our donations but we don’t really have the resources at this time to focus on those countries. Will you still have competitive prices for your Australian product considering part of it is a donation? Yeah actually our prices are very competitive their RRP, recommended retail price, is $7.99. The Skin condoms and some of the other ones in the Durex range are actually like $2 more depending on where you buy them. It would be good to have them at university coops We’re actually in university co-ops. So we’re in pharmacies, university co-ops and some adult shops as well.

It’s a pretty cool idea having sex and saving the world at the same time, and it’s quite a different approach to combating the huge problem that is the spread of HIV/AIDS Yeah, we’re trying to do it in a fun way

What’s it like meeting new people and telling them you have your own brand of condom? [Laughs] quite interesting, it’s a lot to explain, so I try and like really not – when I’m first meeting people – some of my friends are like ‘oh, you have to tell them’ but I get stuck telling the whole story to someone and then someone else walks in the room and comes and joins the conversation and they’re like ‘oh that’s so great, tell them’ and I just get stuck telling this whole story again and again – which is great but I’ve been working on it all day – you want to talk about something else for a while, it’s really flattering, but it’s definitely quite different and interesting to tell someone you own a condom company.

So why do you think that this product will work? Right now all throughout universities their entire programs are really pushing sustainability and social responsibility. We feel that students are really aware of this and could really get behind it, that’s also our target demographic – so that kind of helped validate the business model of it. Why did you start with Botswana of all places? Botswana has the second highest HIV prevalence rate in the world, next to Swaziland but it’s also quite well educated as well as politically stable. We wanted to make sure that our donations would reach the consumer who could benefit. So with Botswana being quite politically stable as well as educated on the fact of HIV – cos in certain countries there’s actually a lot of negative stigma attached to condom use – in some countries they even see condoms as a contributor to giving people HIV. Some places in Africa they still rely on traditional medicines, so they

How do you feel about what you’ve achieved? I’m proud of the progress I’ve made so far but I have such higher ambitions for where this can go and it’s still in its early stages – I have a lot of drive to increase sales because the more we sell here the more we can donate, and the more good we can actually do in developing countries. We have made good ground but we still have a long way to go.

Supanova Pop-Culture Convention Words by Red Moir & Photography by Francis Lynch Supanova, Perth’s annual meet and greet for celebrities, fans, nerds and avid cosplayers threw up a storm this year at the Claremont Showgrounds, reaching capacity in a whole new way. Not only did we manage to nab some killer celebs to join our ranks, but we also roped in some absolutely fantastic cosplayers. Believe me, the effort and time put into some of these costumes was phenomenal, as were the people wearing them. I headed down to the Showgrounds on the 29th and 30th of June, camera in hand and ready to get as much out of the weekend as possible, and God did I get exactly what I asked for. On day one, laced up my corset and slipped on my heels, ready to hit the streets as a Steampunk TARDIS. Joined by my very own Princess Bubblegum and Marauders Map, we hopped on the train and slapped on our wristbands, keen to check out what was on offer this year at the Showgrounds Convention Center. Within minutes of entering the building it was clear that navigating the crowded walkways was going to be no easy feat. Every square inch of the structure was absolutely packed to breaking point, but that certainly wasn’t stopping the cosplayers from busting out some kick-ass poses, and shopping to their hearts content. Whether you’re a comic book lover, avid movie watcher, or an anime enthusiast, there was something there for everyone and no shortage of new people to meet. On the first day I met the Phelps’ Twins, who were absolutely lovely. They had such a good sense of humour and although the fifteen second rule per person still stood, these unique brothers managed to make every fan feel special and different. Another privilege was enjoying the presence of Torchwood’s leading lady, Eve Myles. Wonderfully bubbly and cheerful, she complimented me on my outfit and posed for each photograph with practiced ease. Other short chance meetings included Firefly’s Alan Tudyk and David Hasselhoff, both of whom were incredibly pleasant.

and vivacious with each and every one of his fans, and his mood never seemed to deflate. When asked at their group panel for the Knights of Camelot what their favourite thing about Australia was, the unanimous reply was, “The kangaroos! We love the kangaroos, they’re so cute.” To which one particular panel goer, a Miss McNaughton replied; “You know we eat the kangaroos, right? And the Emus. We eat our entire coat of arms.” The looks on their faces were absolutely priceless. I also had the opportunity to meet Star Trek’s very own Doctor, Karl Urban. As expected, he had a brilliant sense of humour and graciously took part in our chosen pose for a fan photo-op. The stalls were brilliant and the Artist’s corner raises the talent bar every year. What an amazing turn out we got from Perth City! At the end of the second day we also had the chance to grab a few words with the weekend’s cosplay stars, Stephanie Ellis and Matt and Vincent Froneman. Stealing the show as Loki Laufeyson, The Black Widow and Red Robin, this trio had brilliantly crafted costumes and was definitely going for gold. I have to say, Loki’s costume (Designed and partially constructed by the younger of the two brothers.) was one of the most well put together interpretations I’ve ever seen, and I’ve seen more than a few.

Day 2 and armed with a bloodied cricket bat, I Overall, I was thoroughly impressed with what the clipped on my name badge ready to face Perth’s un- collected masses of Perth’s nerds had to offer; the dead as Simon Pegg’s Shaun of the Dead. The long talent and effort put into the costumes and merchanmorning queuing up was well worth it when I met dise was stunning. Although the prices were slightly Merlin’s golden boy, Bradley James. And can I just through the roof and the venue a bit cramped, these say, what a sweetheart. He was incredibly delightful 23 were miniscule setbacks to such an amazing weekend. Well done, Perth!

CAFFEINE

Words by Madura McCormack Rushing to uni clad in random clothes torn off the cluttered bedroom floor, school life can get overwhelming when you have the equivalent of five essays, two tests and a presentation due just classes apart. But while the physical self is forgotten and left in shambles, the brain can thankfully continue to function with a well-needed cuppa. That probably explains why the coffee dispensaries around campus enjoy a consistently snaking queue.

Together with the opening of Caffeine, the Guild also launched its newest community project, aptly titled ‘Bean Heroes’. It works like this; with every purchase of a hot beverage you’ll be given a coloured coffee bean, vote for one of three not-for-profit organizations featured in the month by slotting the bean into the collection apparatus. The organisation or student project with the most beans is awarded $150 while the two runners-up receive $75 equally. Organised by the Murdoch University Social Justice League, Bean Heroes is another innovative way to get the student population socially activated and aware of the importance of supporting their local community.

Rejoice my fellow educated zombies, for the Guild has brought upon us a solution to ease the coffee rush. Wedged between the Guild shop and The Volunteer Hub is Caffeine, a small booth to tend to our quick cuppa needs. Inaugurated on the 20th of May, the café is a built-in square in the wall that is not easily missed. During the week of the launch, Caffeine offered discounts to students and free coffee to its first 25 thirsty customers.

Most of us should be fully rejuvenated after the school break, but from experience, this fresh state of mind lasts only till the next looming deadline. While it may be hard to keep up with lectures, assignments and that new TV series, at least you can now shave off a few minutes of your day by not having to wait too long in line for your next cup of fresh coffee.

This newest edition to the Murdoch coffee circuit has a no-frills, quick paced concept. If you’re looking to get a jumbo double shot mocha with caramel drizzle and chocolate flakes using skim soymilk, you won’t find it at Caffeine. Pricing wise, Caffeine follows Café Kadjininy and offers the same Guild discounts (with a valid Guild sticker on your student card).

The Murdoch Justice League is recruiting committee members to assist in processing nominations for Bean Heroes. For more info, contact c.hutchings@the-guild.com.au

PHOTOGRAPHY Aidan White

ART REVIEWS Van Gogh, Dali & Beyond Words by Olivia Gardner The third of six exhibitions to arrive at the Art Gallery of WA from New York’s Museum of Modern Art is Van Gogh, Dali, & Beyond. The collection opened to the media on the 19th of June with a rather decadent champagne and canapé breakfast over speeches from gallery director Sephano Carboni and MoMA director – and close friend – Glenn D Lowry, among others. Carboni aptly stating that this exhibition is “even bigger and better than the Picasso to Warhol (exhibition) last year.” As we made our way upstairs and through the frosted double doors concealing the exhibition we were met immediately by three greats. Vincent van Gogh’s The Olive Trees, Paul Cezanne’s Still life with Ginger Jar, Sugar Bowl, and Oranges, and the mesmerising La Goulue at the Moulin Rouge by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec.

Vincent van Gogh (Dutch, 1853-1890) The Olive Trees Saint Rémy, June-July 1889 Oil on canvas 28 5/8 × 36” (72.6 × 91.4 cm) The Museum of Modern Art, New York Mrs. John Hay Whitney Bequest

Rounding the curved spaces of the AGWA we slowly weaved our way through the extensive collection of over 130 works exhibiting an impressive 96 artists. Turning each corner we were met by another enthralling piece, Dali in one instance, Warhol in the next, every turn something to muse over. The most exciting and astounding factor of this collection is the sheer extent of it. An entire day is necessary in order to fully appreciate all the works, likely even a revisit for the avid art lovers. Gerhard Richter, Frida Kahlo, Francis Bacon, and Jasper Johns are just some of the artists you can expect to see. Big names aside, even the lesser known works maintained an exceptional standard as the collection takes you on a journey from the late 19th century to contemporary movements. It was an overwhelming and exhilarating experience, as Carboni said, it is bigger and better – if you’ve yet to see one of the MoMA series – this is one not to miss. Van Gogh, Dali & Beyond continues until the 2nd of December.

Displacement Words by Olivia Gardner

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (French, 1864- 1901) La Goulue at the Moulin Rouge 1891- 92 Oil on board 31 1/4 × 23 1/4” (79.4 × 59 cm) The Museum of Modern Art, New York Gift of Mrs. David M. Levy

Displacement is Darryn Ansted’s latest collection of works displayed at Melody Smith Gallery in Carlisle. The exhibition, while minimal, is bold and exoteric. Ansted combines surreal and isolate urban landscapes with expressionistic brushstrokes and definitive lines. His scenes are reminiscent of those of Jeffrey Smart, although less precisionist, Ansted is concerned instead by constructing a surface that evokes more than what the scene reflects. The result is entirely compelling; layers of delicate paint from a seemingly limited pallet are applied expertly and with great discretion. Building a structure that combines mottled backgrounds, sweeping curves within strong angles, and bursts of colour that ease the eye around the canvas, Ansted’s work draws you in and forces you to linger on its detailed construction amidst its simple exterior. The work is exceptional, entertaining, and highly achieved by the young artist. Stepping into the gallery you are met by a total of eight works, all unique and captivating, and all requiring a degree of careful concentration and deliberation. Exhibiting his work extensively overseas in Mechelin, Amman, Istanbul, L.A. and more Ansted also publishes on contemporary art emanating from Germany, Australia and the Middle East. His work is worth keeping a look out for, his pieces, technically and aesthetically, are strides above many of his contemporaries.

MUSIC REVIEWS Fremantle Winter Music Festival Words by Katherine O’Brien & Photography by Kieran Peek RTRFM’s annual Winter Music Festival was held on an appropriately crisp night in North Fremantle last month. Set over four venues within walking distance of each other, and all with a different ‘theme’, the festival encompassed a variety of music tastes, each in its own way as eclectic as the other. Alt-Folk and Country at the Swan Lounge was my first pick, but the photographer had other ideas, so our first stop was at the North Freo Bowling Club for Noise Rock. Sacred Flower Union was mesmerising to watch, although it was almost too loud and intense at times. If there is such a thing as an optical illusion for the ears, Sacred Flower Union is it. Next up was Beats and Grooves at Mojo’s, and it was fortunate we had food from Flipside Burgers next-door to occupy ourselves because Leon Osborn was rather disappointing. Okay to stumble across when out for drinks with friends, but not what you’d come out specifically to see. Thankfully the mood at Mojo’s changed by the time electronica DJ/producer Ylem came on, with the photographer joking that there were “so many people on acid you could practically smell it.” Seams at Swan Basement was much more what I expected from a festival. They were up-beat and engaging, drawing you in from outside. After Seams we made our way upstairs to the ridiculously crowded Swan Lounge to check out Davey Craddock and the Spectacles. The audience was impressively enthusiastic for a group of people squished into such a small space, but the music was catchy, and practically begged to be sung along with. Gunns at the Railway Hotel was one of my favourites of the night, with a sound similar to that of Bleeding Knees Club. It wasn’t as packed, and it was a relief to be able to find a spot to sit and enjoy the music. Headlining at the Railway was indie band Apricot Rail, who gave a phenomenal live performance that was worth seeing, despite their late start. We ended the night back at the Swan Hotel, alternating between Rachel and Henry Climb a Hill in the Lounge, and Grace Barbe & Afro Kreol downstairs. Grace Barbe had a strong, powerful voice, and the pair created an atmosphere that would top Mojo’s reggae nights, while Rachel and Henry’s infectious energy made me brave enough to finally come out of the closet as a folk fan.

Georgi Kay: In My Mind Words by Cecilia Allen At just nineteen years of age, talented young musician Georgi Kay has been captivating the attention of many, wherever she takes to stage. She won her first award for song writing when she was just 17 for her track Breakfast in Bedlam which won Song of the Year in Australia. Her beautiful melodies have been turning heads in Australia for years but 2013 is the year when Kay goes international. The release of her 7 track EP showcases the many talents of this you young artist. One of the tracks Ipswich, inspired by the Salem witch trials and drawing on Georgi’s love of horror films and the supernatural, sets a dark atmosphere much like the music of PJ Harvey or Florence + The Machine. This is just one example of Kay’s Song writing talents, each song tells its own story beautifully. The track In My Mind was originally a dance track that Georgi co-wrote with Ivan Gough and Feenixpawl, and may be familiar to most through its inclusion on Swedish House Mafia’s Until One album. Georgi transforms the track and it becomes a deep and moody track which has a melancholy tone about it, much like the rest of the tracks. But darkness seems to be the appeal about this particular songstress. Kay recently attended the Sundance Festival in Utah where she performed songs at the premiere of the forthcoming series Top of the Lake for which she wrote the music and plays the role of a troubled young musician called Melissa. The series is currently being screened in the US, Australia and New Zealand and will follow in the UK later this year on the BBC. She will soon be recording her debut album in London, which promises to weave in influences as varied as The Verve, Grace Jones, Depeche Mode, The Horrors and Bruce Springsteen whilst further revealing the sensational talents of this young newcomer to the world stage.

SCREEN REVIEW Upstream Color Words by Matthew Gardner Upstream Color, the second feature film of auteur Shane Carruth, follows a young woman, Kris (Amy Seimetz) who has her life changed in an outlandish manner by a strange organism, following an abrupt incident where she is drugged and robbed. She then meets a stranger named Jeff – played by Shane Carruth, who not only directed the film, but also wrote, edited and scored the film – who shares her feeling of displacement. This film is certainly different, and should be praised for its originality and amazing cinematography; however, it felt pretentious, slow-burning and tedious in some areas. Those who enjoy the musings of directors such as Terrence Malick will enjoy this poignant film, but many will feel alienated or confused by its undoubtedly puzzling plot. Upstream Color weaves itself into many different genres, including the elements of science fiction, as well as the atmosphere of drama. Not only should the aesthetic features of the film be applauded, but also the acting talents,

particularly Amy Seimetz who creates a powerful and sympathetic performance. Despite the ambiguity in the film and the many scenes that certainly raised more questions about what was happening in the confines of the plot rather than answering, Upstream Color was definitely deserving of its Special Jury Prize at Sundance film festival and will without doubt appeal to art-house audiences.

BOOK REVIEW Dawn O’Porter: Paper Aeroplanes Words by Cecilia Allen Author Dawn O’Porter uses her own teenage diaries for inspiration to write her first novel, proving that reading your own words many years later can be the best story of all. Paper Aeroplanes is an incredibly honest and painfully emotional account of a teenage friendship that was never meant to be. Set in Guernsey, a small island off the coast of France, in a time where there was no mobile phones, no Facebook, and no internet. The brilliantly written and immersive story is told through the perspective of two fifteen year old girls living in the 90’s. The mindful, diligent and reserved Flo, and the outgoing, ambitious and sexually curious Renee. The girls happen to form an intense and special friendship through loneliness and dysfunctional families. The friendship is tested with Renee’s growing crush on Flo’s brother and Flo’s jealous ex-best friend. The novel deals with issues such as drinking, sex, death, self-esteem, hate, love and every other high school girl’s defining moments. The novel is filled with memory provoking, cringe worthy, emotional and funny moments. The characters were brilliantly written, well observed and I enjoyed the growth and changes amongst them. The novel captures the spirit of the 90’s well but still relates too many of today’s issues. It is an unforgettable snapshot of a small town adolescence and the story of a powerful, heart stopping female friendship. It is a very easy read, I laughed, I cried and reminisced my own teenage school years. I would recommend this book to any teenage girl and anyone who has ever been a teenage girl, it was hard to put down and is a heart-warming holiday read.

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