MUSE Magazine Issue 5

YOURS, CREATIVELY

ISSUE V

ENTERTAINMENT ARTS FASHION LIFESTYLE

Dear readers,

Editors-In-Chief

We’re not every other magazine on campus, nor are we a Vogue or Rolling Stone. Part of the reason why we chose to put a half naked girl on the cover of this issue is because we’re not afraid to show our skin, our true colours or our unfiltered inspiration. Muse is never without its challenges but in a semester speckled with late night CoGro meetings, a never ending feed of facebook notifications and a few sloppy socials, we somehow managed to pull this off. This issue brings something to the table that our past issues haven’t. Something that you’ll see when you read everything our sexy contributors have filled these pages with; everything from their secret sexual counters to Thai full moon parties.

Putting this issue together was a challenge but a truly rewarding experience more than anything. So here it is, eat up our words, feast on our photos and if you’re offended then we’re doing something right.

Yours Creatively, The Directors

Cover photo by Katie Michiels Direction by Angelica Siegel and Alex Mansourati

AMY GNESIN ANDREA NAZARIAN Creative Directors ALEX MANSOURATI ANGELICA SIEGEL Business Directors MELISSA HUANG HEMANI KAMDAR Entertainment Editor GABI ELIASOPH Art Editor EMMA HOFFMAN Fashion Editor VERONICA SAROLI Lifestyle Editor MATT TURANO Online Editor AVIVA WEBB Photography KATIE MICHIELS Layout Team WIILLIAM LEUNG JENNA DEMCHUK SAM HOUSER SAMARA MORTON BRITTANY OATES CLAUDIA PETTIGREW SHANE SENECAL-TREMBLAY Sponsorship ALEX CUMMINGER KATHY CHEN Marketing KAT PEARCE JUDY TO SAMANTHA HUME Social Media RENEE TSE Events DEVAN YOUNG CYNTHIA OH Finance LULU LIANG First Year Reps LULU TONG ABI CONNERS

ENTERTAINMENT

Adventure is the Destination One Shirt to Rule Them All Queen’s Events 50 Shades of Grey Interview with Buffalo Tree Kingston Entertainment EDM: Why Now? My Fascination with Anna Wintour

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Full Moon Party 21

ART

Featured Artists 24 Australia, The Next Art Destination 28 DIY 30 I Believe in Bad TV 31

FASHION

The Coveteur Haute Couture History Punk’d Dress to Impress Haute Hardware Interview with Philip Start The Mane Attraction Saving for a Rainy Day

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Winter Essentials 45

LIFESTYLE

Muse x Queen’s Music Glimpse Authenticity Sex with Sophie Provocation Tripping at Disneyland

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Untitled 58

THE ADVENTURE IS THE DESTINATION an article by GABI ELIASOPH If there’s one thing that I can’t stress enough, it is the joy of travelling while you’re young. Traveling forces you to trust your own instincts first, trust others second, and to stretch beyond your own limits. These are my travel experiences; learn from my adventures, experience them for yourself, and maybe my stories will inspire you to create your own.

East Sussex, England Herstmonceux castle is where my journey began. I was able to further my Queen’s education while attending ‘the castle’, and discover a unique historical background in an amazing country.

Learning in another country was in itself a unique experience, as the classrooms were set in old chapels and dungeons, which made learning very exciting. Also, the addition of integrated field studies merges education and travel for a fully integrated learning experience.

London, England I spent a large amount of my time abroad in the city of London.

The city is vibrant with cultural colours, which I was able to learn about by visiting museums and theatres, shopping and an array of other activities. London is an incredible city with unlimited energy. I was in London during the Olympics, which was an experience I’ll never forget. The city was alive with bright lights and even brighter hearts, an energy that radiates in me even today.

Edinburgh, Scotland After participating in a three-hour walking tour of the entire city, I became intrigued with the fascinating culture there. Learning about Scotland’s remarkable history was not only fascinating, but also really enjoyable. In this case, I was able to learn about the town’s history and open my mind to the rich culture that surrounded me.

Florence, Italy Florence is a city of exquisite architecture. I was enamoured with all that surrounded me while in the city, and each day brought something new to discover.

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Gothenburg, Sweden I primarily went to Sweden to attend a two-day music festival called Summerburst. This was a highlight of my trip because I was able to attend concerts within a completely foreign setting.

Being in this foreign country enriched my experience because I was able to encounter and communicate with new people, with a shared passion for this music.

Barcelona, Spain Barcelona is mesmerizing and I know that I took none of it for granted. The atmosphere of the city enthralled me. Whether I was at the beach, nightclub, park, or museum, I felt completely connected to the city and its enriching culture. This connection was exemplified by Gaudi, whose beautifully designed parks and cathedrals stunned me. His appreciation for fine detail allowed me to reflect on my own life and enriched my mind.

Athens, Greece Athens, one of the world’s most ancient cities, was astounding. I was completely captivated by the ancient monuments and works of art, which are centuries old. It is incredible to be able to experience history tangibly; I was able to visit historical sights that have influenced so many amazing artists.

Provence, France France is one of the most special places I was able to discover.

During the month that I lived there, I immersed myself in the culture and “attempted” to speak the language. It was a challenge to step out of my comfort zone and push myself beyond my imaginable limits of familiarity. The atmosphere in Provence is extraordinary. I felt like a completely transformed person. I wasn’t really sure who I was, but somehow I didn’t mind.

When I came home from my travels, I was able to retrospecitvely look back at my unbelievable months as a travelling student. I was able to enrich my life and see the world in a whole new light.

It isn’t necessarily about each museum I visited or every statue I saw that made my travles so unbelievable, but about how each experience opened my eyes to the world in which I live.

ONE PLAID SHIRT TO RULE THEM ALL an article by NICOLE HANLEY

Chances are that before you attended Queen’s, plaid shirts reminded you of old Mid-Western movies, the grunge bands of the nineties, or your Uncle who still reminisces about his high school glory days. Now, plaid shirts make me all nostalgic about getting nice and drunk in the middle of the week at none other than Tumbleweed Tuesdays at Canteen.

There’s nothing quite like seeing the football player from your lecture wearing his extremely tight plaid Abercrombie shirt (with some buttons undone for seductive chest exposure) practicing his best “Southern” accent and ending up sounding like Miley Cyrus on salvia. Or the girl you always see at the library breaking loose with a tied up plaid shirt attempting a modern square dance and spilling overpriced beer on everyone. As hard as it may be to imagine Audi-driving Queen’s students emulating country singers, there’s something about Tumbleweed Tuesdays that is bound to make you smile whenever you see someone sporting a plaid shirt.

Plaid shirts have also been spotted at a slightly different Queen’s bar scene: on the hipster brigade that frequents Tir Na Nog on Thursday nights.

For some, karaoke at this artfully shabby pub is playful (I’ve heard a whole lot of “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” in my times there, usually resulting in one of the girls having a little too much fun and falling off the stage). Other times, karaoke becomes a brooding hipster’s chance to show just how intensely they can brood for an audience. I’ve seen everything from a bunch of dudes covering Mumford and Sons, British accents included, to a guy who was pretty much a walking hipster cliché: beanie hat, Bright Eyes song and his own guitar in hand, ready to play along WITH the karaoke track.

Needless to say, if you’re the next Kurt Cobain or a girl/guy who just wants to have fun, Thursdays in this little Irish Pub can’t really go wrong. And hey, it’s better than the karaoke machine located in the Sushi Q bathrooms.

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TOP TEN

Little Known Queen’s Events (for the adventurous student) an article by JACLYN MARCUS illustrations by TRO KALOUSDIAN

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Kingston often gets a bad reputation for its lack of fun events.

There is certainly a lot going on, it’s just hard to find out where all the really great new events are hiding. Here we’ll be looking at ten of the more unknown clubs and events at Queen’s University for you adventurous Muse readers to attend and explore!

1) The Lounge at Alfie’s: Yes, Alfie’s is well known, but this new event is a more relaxed atmosphere for the classy Queen’s student. It’s a place where you can play pool, sit and talk with your friends, and listen to some groovy jazz music, every Monday!

2) Arts Showcase 2012: This showcase is held at Time to Laugh Comedy Club in November. The showcase also features some of Queen’s own student talent, including Queen’s Improv team. Come see all the amazing artistic talent Kingston has to offer!

3) Queen’s Board Game Club: This club boasts tons of games, and meets every Wednesday night. A great way to unwind after midterms, before midterms, during midterms…

4) The Project Red Fashion Show: This up-and-coming charity fashion show helps to raise money for the Heart & Stroke Foundation. The show will also feature talented student dancers, models, designers, executives, and more!

5) SlutWalk Kingston:

Despite its controversial name, this walk is held annually in March and supports victims of rape and sexual harassment. To join this empowering walk, check out “SlutWalk Kingston” on Facebook.

6) Queen’s Got Talent:

Last year’s show featured break dance jugglers (you heard me), opera singers, rappers, and much more.

7) TedxQueen’s U:

Based on the well-known Ted Talks, this conference is a place for bright Kingstonian minds to interact. TedxQueen’sU gives students the chance to listen to insightful and influential speakers throughout the year, so if you miss the first application deadline, keep checking back!

8) Queen’s Undergraduate Gentleman’s Society:

This mysterious club meets bi-weekly at different locations around campus. A great place to meet new people and spread a positive message, this club is not only for men, so ladies feel free to join as well!

9) Queen’s Model UN Conference:

If you are interested in learning about international affairs or sharpening your debating skills, this conference is for you! Held in November, check out www.qmun.ca to get involved.

10) Slam Kingston:

As Queens’ first slam poetry group, this new club will hold “slams” where live slam poetry will be performed on a monthly basis. Head on over to the Sleepless Goat and maybe you’ll want to get up at the next open mic!

That finishes up our top-ten list. Be sure to check out the diverse events on and off campus throughout the year, and perhaps you’ll even find a new talent or passion of yours tucked away at one of these new and undiscovered events!

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MY EVEREST:

A Straight, Sarcastic Young Male Reads “50 Shades Of Grey” an article by DANIEL GOLD That’s right. I really read it. Like, cover to cover. I didn’t skip to the dirty parts or ask the nearest minivan-driving mom to sum it up for me - I took the time and invested myself in E.L James’ abomination of an erotic novel and I lived to tell the tale. 50 Shades Of Grey isn’t just bad. It’s really, really bad. It’s certainly the worst thing I’ve ever read, and that includes poorly translated South Korean road signs.

It was that bad.

50 Shades of Grey is a wildly popular erotic novel. It has also gone on to take over the world. It’s about a 21-year-old girl (alien?) who meets an overbearing, jerk-off control freak of a man. Thing is, he’s got a lot of money and he looks like a Calvin Klein model, so those other minor details don’t seem to matter too much. Also, he’s into S&M. Christian Grey has a torture chamber in his apartment, but the good news is that our dainty protagonist doesn’t know anything about sex, so she’s game for whatever. And so begins the most boring love story ever, about a kinky rich dude’s refusal to open up his heart.

So why is everyone reading it? It’s because everyone is reading it. I know that’s a strange little paradox but let it sink in. It’s the only possible explanation. There are a SHITLOAD of dirty books out there, but this is the one that is OK to read, because everyone else is.

But what about this book are girls enjoying? The guy is SUCH AN ASSHOLE! He’s e-mailing her all the time being like “Where are you.”

“What are you doing?” “How much have you eaten today?” Dude, chill out. That’s not romantic! I thought girls didn’t like it when guys did that?

Did I mention that Anastasia Steele, the protagonist, is the worst character ever? Her personality changes whenever it’s convenient for the story. There is no consistency whatsoever. My favourite stupid detail about her is that she is 21 years old, and doesn’t know how to use a computer. She has never owned one, and has never felt the need to even look into it…

Now remember – most of the people I know are 21-year-old girls. Is E.L. James trying to pull a fast one on me by trying to convince me that there’s one out there who’s graduating university who is also baffled by the internet? Sorry James, you just lost all credibility. Oh and also you write like a 13-year-old. Your sentences flow like a river of bricks. Your novel is a redundant nightmare.

Spoiled alert: the book ends with her leaving him because HE SPANKED HER TOO HARD. That’s really the ending. Have I sold you yet? Promise me you’ll never pick this book up for the sake of literature, for the sake of erotica, and for the sake of your sanity. I was curious and thought it would be fun. It wasn’t.

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Not Just Your Monday Night Band an article by KIRAN RANA It takes just one Monday night out watching Buffalo Tree perform live to know that they are not your ordinary rock and roll band. Featuring Shayne Godin on guitar/vocals, Van Sheen on lead guitar, Matt Hewson on bass and Dylan Carquez on drums, the Kingston-based band creates high-energy music that radiates a good time. With over 30 original songs and a consistent weekly gig at the Mansion, Buffalo Tree has become a vivacious player on the live music scene in Kingston. “Our sound is hard to describe because we try to not limit ourselves to a brand or genre,” says Dylan. He adds, “There’s a bit of country rock, a bit of heavy rock, a bit of blues rock all compiled. All of our songs are different but at the heart, they are rock and roll.” Their songs lyrics range from a playfully fun beat to a more dark tone.

However, Buffalo Tree tends to focus on their instrumentals. The band notes that music tells a story on its own and though lyrics can enhance it, at the core it’s the instruments that are doing the talking.

The band credits their unique sound to the fact that they’re all very different musicians. Yet as different as they may be, what undeniably unites them is a passion for what they do and a shared enjoyment for having a good time. “We get to perform in such an amazing environment: people are drinking and dancing, we are drinking, we’re all having a good time. It’s an intimate space so we’re really one with the crowd,” says guitarist Shayne

Godin.

Buffalo Tree offers a wonderfully raw and acoustic alternative to the heavily digital electro scene of our generation: a scene that frustrates the band. “Fourty years ago places in Kingston like Stages and Alehouse used to be rock and roll bars,” says Godin.

Dylan agrees adding that “a lot of kids of our generation have this false sense of perfection: they expect everything to be at the push of a button.”

It’s clear that digital perfection is far from Buffalo Tree’s priorities.

Instead, they aim to provide a musical experience that pushes the limits of their audience, making them laugh and yes, like the digital electro scene, making them dance. The band credits their weekly appearances at the Mansion for a lot of their musical growth, stating that having a live show every week provides them with the opportunity to gain confidence through practice and trial runs of new songs. “You can’t really know how to make good music, you kind of have to try and see what works for you.

Finally, in Buffalo Tree we’re all playing what we’re good at and what we love,” says Carquez, “Art comes from life, and good music comes from staying inspired. We’re all really good at finding inspiration through our lives and experiences.”

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Cut Loose Photography by Katie Michiels Models: Jordyn Benattar & Mallory Spence Make Up by Mallory Spence Hair by Rebecca Hall

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A(MUSE) YOURSELF. Let’s face it, we work hard and party hard no matter what day of the week. Most places offer deals Sunday through Thursday to get us out to play.

So, what are you gonna do tonight?

://WEEKLY EVENTS

/ Slam Poetry @ Sleepless Goat Café (last Sunday of every month) / Smitty Live Music @ The Brass / Starving Student Sundays @ Fanatics / Hip Hop Sundays @ The Toucan

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/ Lounge Night @ Alfie’s / Girls Night Out @Milestones (4 bellinis & 4 apps for $40.00) / Half price nachos @ The Brass / $3.99 pints of Canadian @ Fanatics / Buy 1 app get the 2nd free @ Fanatics / Team Pitchers @ The Merchant / Jazz and Funk @ The Toucan

T

tue

M

mon

sun

S

/ Tumbleweed Tuesday’s @ Canteen / 49 cent wings @ The Brass / 10% off for students @ Loblaw’s / $2.00 Taco Tuesday’s @ Mansion / 50% Student Movie Night @ all theatres in Kingston

/ TGIW @ Alfie’s / $4.00 bar shots @ The Brass / Open Mic (8pm) @ The Grad Club / $3.50 bottle beers @ Fanatics / Funk and Soul Night @ Alibi / Trivia for Free Beer @ Alibi

/ Three for All @ Ale House. / Frat Part Thursday’s @ Stages / Karaoke @ Tir Nan Og / $6.00 Movie Night @ The Screening Room / $13.00 Pitchers of Mill St. @ The Grad Club / 1 drink & 1 app for $11.00 @ Grizzly Grill

/ $11.99 Pitchers @ The Brass / Classic Rock @ Alfie’s / Live music @ Grad Club / Two Fisted Friday’s @ Tir Nan Og / Cheaps Wing Night @ Ale Canteen

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sat

F

fri

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thu

wed

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/ Live music @ Grad Club / Synergy Saturday @ Stages / Sports Saturdays @ QP

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Edm: why now?

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Electronic dance music stormed into Queen’s quicker than its feverish tempo allows. In recent years, DJs quickly took notice of the popular, dance-inducing songs of Skrillex, Avicii, and Deadmau5 and unapologetically shelved their oft-played hip-hop, rock, and pop songs.

It was not before long the popularity of EDM rose to levels matching classic genres, and soon the student body was swiftly swept by the entrancing strains of synthesizers, samplers, and heavy bass. The opportunity to question EDM’s unexpected rise to popularity never quite presented itself to EDM-listeners, particularly those in college and university. They have continued to ride the train guided by the purveyors of EDM, and have yet to step off they’re too busy enjoying the ride.

Electronic dance music was not invented recently, its DJ’s were certainly around, and yet it has never found a solid footing in mainstream music until now – so it begs the question: why now? It is of my opinion that music listeners were quick to embrace EDM because they recognized the success earlier mainstream artists had in implementing electronic themes.

The song “Boom Boom Pow” written in 2008 by the hip-hop group, The Black Eyed Peas, incorporated an electro-laden beat that was accompanied by a heavy bass, which quickly shot to the top of music charts - the group was already widely popular then. The group never tampered with electronic instruments in large doses prior to this song. Following the success of “Boom Boom Pow”, the band wrote another +/*6(7#%2(.$.,%1/(#*83.*,.+9(:;(</%%!()..$#*6=9(

which was produced by then rising house music DJ, David Guetta. Similar to “Boom Boom Pow”, it garnered positive reception from fans and frequented airwaves. Prior to the furtherance of this thought, I make no claims of the beginnings of EDM’s rapid rise to mainstream by crediting The Black Eyed Peas solely, nor the two songs aforementioned. I am certain other mainstream artists too can be accredited for EDM’s propulsion. Instead, they should be noted for their ease in impressing upon fans with their use of electronic sounds by virtue of their popularity and musicality.

“Boom Boom Pow” and “I Gotta Feeling” was so appealing and successful because its electronic and bass heavy beat made it highly conducive to dancing. Electronic dance music does exactly that; that is, evokes one to dance.

It’s a formidable one-two punch. Other mainstream artists who sampled with the combination too found much success in their songs for the same reason (i.e. Ke$ha – TiK ToK). Naturally, the songs permeated into the playlists of DJs in nightclubs for reason of strong dance!"#$#%&'()!*+(,!-.(%/(!0/1.(%2.(+/3*0+(%&4#5.0( in EDM, but wanted more; and with ease, their search uncovered a plethora of DJs who played the unmitigated sounds of EDM they sought.

The EDM boom happened quickly because it was always present – it was merely an undiscovered goldmine, but it’s thanks to mainstream artists who spotted its glimmer beneath the surface. an article by JERRY ZHENG

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My Facination

with

We’re raised to believe that kind, friendly and compassionate individuals will achieve success. I recently read How To Win Friends And Influence People, which tirelessly reiterated that nice people win at life. I’ve always taken this as truth, however my ideology was recently challenged.

When successful women come to mind, Anna Wintour takes the cake. As editor-in-chief of Vogue, Anna has successfully turned the magazine into a fashion bible and the fashion world has come to worship her as the mother of the fashion industry. With so much success and power, one would assume that Ms. Wintour would be a pleasure to work for. Running a fashion magazine is all about communication; the vision, what goes into the magazine and what gets left out. It also involves a massive support team. So, how does Anna do it?

If you’ve watched The September Issue, it is clear that Anna is not a nice individual. The documentary focuses on various Vogue employees’ frustrating encounters with Anna; in fact, you could argue the documentary is based on the premise that Anna is a bit of a bitch. Take one look at her and you know you’re looking at a woman who you do not want to cross. She rarely smiles, is obsessively well groomed and wears her iconic hairstyle that screams control freak. In short, she comes off as nothing but unpleasant to work with, so what’s going on here?

I believe Anna’s success can be understood in two parts: the people she works with and her talented eye. The

20 | FASHION

Anna Wintour

reason she maintains her powerful position is because she is working closely with people who can take her shit, so to speak. The average writer or photographer simply couldn’t (and wouldn’t) put up with her personality.

However, the fashion industry is not representative of reality or human nature. It is comprised of a select few who function on a different level than the rest of society. Anna gets what she wants because the people who work for her aren’t concerned with niceties and compassion. These people can put up with her lack of warmth and humor because that isn’t what brought them into fashion in the first place. Their passion is for the clothes, and if Anna’s opinion is going to make this season the best it can be, well then who cares about the rest?

This brings me to my second point: Anna is the powerful, successful woman she is because of her sheer talent and skill. She has the experience and natural eye that make her undeniably brilliant. She is clearly doing something right and even if her personality is less than attractive, her final product certainly is.

One could argue that her ice-queen persona does her a favour, making people want to please her. The fashion industry is an arena in which the most competitive and driven individuals win. Don’t get me wrong, it’s also full of creative genius and beauty; but in this industry, nice people don’t always win.

an article by TRILBY GOOUCH

an article by KATE BIALOWAS To travel the world is one of the greatest privileges one could ever ask for. It opens you up to a new way of thinking seeing and experiencing the world you know. This past summer I traveled through South East Asia, and took part in countless events and voyages, each one significant in its own way.

The Full Moon Party on the Thai island of Koh Phangan was one of the most riveting experiences of my life. The celebration occurs each month on the beach of Haad Rin Nok. This tropical paradise is filled with soft white sand and beautiful turquoise water. The event draws a crowd of approximately 20 000 to 30 000 people each night it occurs. With huge stages, glow in the dark paint, buckets of fruity drinks and vibrant music, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no surprise that this celebration has become a worldwide phenomenon.

The entire day leading up to the Full Moon Party, everyone from tourists to locals were enlivened. They spent the whole day preparing for this event: setting up huge stages for people to dance on, cleaning the beach, preparing food stands, and assembling the buckets of alcohol. It should be noted that this is the only way to really drink in South East Asia.

This is because the Full Moon Party acts as a kind of thank-you to the tourists who have come to the island and made it such a popular destination. It seems as though it has really become part of the Thai culture and something that the locals are very proud of.

The Full Moon Party enthralls everyone who takes part in it, as the beach is transformed into one massive glow-in-the-dark realm filled with the most contagious energy. Everyone wears vibrant clothing and has intricate and fun designs painted on them. It was a mesmerizing scene with fluorescent colours coming from every direction; bright lights, and bodies twirling and jumping to the sound of the speakers that blared a combination of electronic, drum and bass, trance, and house music. We danced on the stands, in the sand, and in the water.

The whole night was highly visually stimulating, as were all of the luminous painted stands and people. Fire shows lined the beach with massive flames flying into the air and fire performers. Although the sky was cloudy, we caught glimpses of the full moon that lit the summer sky until the sun began to rise. The party went on until 8 am, and although the beach had somewhat cleared out, there were still tons of people who partied on until the very end.

This was truly the celebration of a lifetime, and if you ever have the chance to go to the Full Moon Party on Koh Phangan, indulge in the experience and let it enrapture you.

THE FULL EXPERIENCE THE FULL EXPERIENCE THE FULL EXPERIENCE

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M(YOU)SE

22 | ENTERTAINMENT

Awesome parties, best friends, bright lights and bright eyes ;) You guys are our muse and in 2012 you outdid yourselves.

Photography from savetherave.com; Ghostface, ZEDD @ Stages, Adventure Club @ Stages

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FEATURED ARTISTS

ANICKA VRANA-GODWIN

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JACLYNE GRIMOLDBY

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BRYNN HIGGINS-STIRRUP

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EMILY CARLAW

MEAGAN BERLIN

ROSALIND BREEN

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Australia, the Next Top Art Destination

an article by EMILY CARLAW and BRYNN HIGGINS-STIRRUP

Destinations such as New York or London bolster intricate and fascinating art exhibitions recognized worldwide, however; last year we were given the opportunity to compare art and culture between Australia’s coasts when we went on corresponding exchanges to Sydney and Melbourne. The question remains—what city down under is deemed number one?

Emily in Sydney

I felt very fortunate last semester when I travelled and studied in Australia through the Queen’s University exchange program.

Before departing, I was unsure as to what to expect from the city of Sydney. I attended an art school called the College of Fine Art through the University of New South Wales. There, I was able to take courses in printmaking, bookmaking, textiles, painting and drawing. Various galleries surrounding where I lived inspired me to inspect my own artistic practices, while drawing upon and acknowledging the practices of famous artists. My painting and drawing classes were located in the heart of the city where the Art Gallery of New South Wales was a jump away. We often ventured there for field trips, and I was able to see their permanent collec-

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tion, Aboriginal Australian artwork, the Archibald Prize 2012 and the Picasso exhibition.

My cousin who lives in Sydney studied art at university and works with a design software company, so he was able to give me the ins and outs of the Art Culture in Sydney. He toured me around Paddington right where the main campus of COFA is located, where you can find a labyrinth of independent galleries along with an array of coffee shops, art supply stores, unique boutiques and craft markets.

As well, Sydney boasts a unique art subculture. One evening, my friends and I located a club only few know about, a club you may define as being the essence of ‘hipster heaven’. We had to partake in the ritual of showing the secret knock, and quickly utter the password that would let us into this unknown place. Upon entering, we were met with the faces of taxidermy and the floor was littered with discarded peanut shells while country music (the standard and rule of the club) was played the entire night.

At the end of my stay, I experienced the most exceptional festival, Vivid Sydney. A light festivalconducted across the city, the festival organized interactive light displays as well as art films, which

were projected onto the face of the Sydney Opera House. As well, I was lucky to experience the Sydney Biennale, where artists from around the world are given the opportunity to exhibit their work all over the city.

Brynn in Melbourne

Melbourne is a city known for its cool and down to earth style.

There, art is not only housed in galleries, but street art is widely accepted and received on every street corner. Street art has been woven into the fabric of the city within its laneways and backstreets.

Each suburb has something different to offer. From Richmond, where I stayed during my exchange period, full of small cafes and spaces woven into former industrial buildings, and St. Kilda the former haunt of prostitutes, artists and travelers. Fitzroy an area known to be packed full with artistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s studios, small galleries and knit street art. The people of this city love art and culture and it is seen in everything from their penchant for shopping and excellent coffee to their galleries, museums and artist spaces.

I think the most wonderful thing about Melbourne is not the particulars but the general atmosphere of creative energy and

enthusiasm for lifeâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;be it drinking in St. Kilda, going to a concert in the Botanical Gardens or a trip Fitzroy for some coffee, obscure paint mediums, and tiny galleries and shops holding unexpected visual treasures.

In the midst of our travels Emily and I were able to meet for a week in Hobart, Tasmania, where we visited the Museum of Old and New Art. The museum is infamous for its Sex and Death series featuring artists such as Jenny Saville and Damien Hirst, and for its origins as an institution funded and created by gambling multi-millionaire David Walsh.

For Emily and myself, the MONA and natural landscape of this remote island made us realize that it is the experience of the new and unexpected that can be the most rewarding creative experience.

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MUSExDIY

an article by EMMA HOFFMAN

You’ll need: x One or two mason jars. A soup can may also suffice. I purchased this style from the dollar store for $1.25. x Acrylic paint x Nailpolish Paint the jar with one or two coats of acrylic paint, depending on your preferred level of opacity and let dry completely.

If you’re not too confident about painting your design on free-hand, you can always print out a large-sized copy of the font or image you want on the jar and transfer it onto your jar by colouring on the back of the printed image in pencil and then stenciling it onto the jar.

Once you’ve transferred your image onto the jar it’s time to get polishing! Use the nail polish to create your design and voila—you have an awesome set of bookends that you can brag about to all your friends.

30 | ARTS

I Believe in Bad TV an article by RAISSA KILLORAN

I have two seasons of The Wire, three of Breaking Bad and six of House, and when I curl up at the end of a day nested in thick blankets with my trusty laptop, it is Laguna Beach episodes that are being watched again, possibly for the twentieth time. This isn’t to make a wholesale claim about the unquestioned quality of The Wire, Breaking Bad or House (I have slowly and painfully learned that I will always be a minority in my feelings that Breaking Bad is a completely uninteresting revisiting of archetypes from American Beauty), but as much as Laguna Beach and its compatriots; The Hills, America’s Next Top Model, The Bachelor and their ilk are deemed ‘trashy,’ kitsch or unworthy of ‘serious’ viewership, I’ve feel compelled to take in the haggard stray kittens of TV-land: I want to wave a flag atop the metaphoric trash pile of bad TV.

What I’m truly interested in is not just bad TV, but all “bad” art. Though an ever-tenuous category, the realm of “bad”: bad TV, bad art, bad anything, carries heavy and steadfast implications about worthiness; not only on what is worthy of being viewed, but also what is worthy of being made.

Bad TV is as culturally meaningful as bad narratives are culturally meaningful. Our oft-repeated stories tell us what we’re trying to say about ourselves- our endlessly retold junk tales are the narratives we’re reinforcing, the fantasies we’re untangling, the kitsch that reminds of the lies we tell ourselves about ourselves. This is an ideological game—tell the same story over and over and tease out the truths.

For example: in Season One of Laguna Beach, protagonist Lauren Conrad is perched on a couch with BFF’s and popcorn avidly watching an episode of The O.C.. The image of Lauren reacting in disgust to two apparently poorly matched lovers on The O.C. is juxtaposed with shots of Lauren’s own crush canoodling with his girlfriend—apparently equally poorly matched lovers, at least according to Lauren. This is a clumsily executed scene in Laguna Beach; I wondered while watching it if this was the first time a viewer could watch shitty TV of other people watching shitty TV (a meta-shitty-TV experience?).

Yet, the scene illustrates something retold, less than fresh, but a bit delicate—wanting people who don’t want you, who feel deeply close, while just out of reach. There’s nothing unseen in Lauren’s dilemma, but that doesn’t mean that it rings less true.

It’s in this spirit that I really, really dig bad TV. I want to hear the same narrative over and over again and be engrossed by virtue of the fact that it hasn’t died yet. I want to be brave enough to make things that are bad. Dare yourself to disengage from the project of ‘goodness.’ Roll in the dirt with your bad art. Kiss it and it will kiss you and you’ll be part muddy-lipped and staggering. Get off of the quality anxiety. Make good art, make bad art. High art, low art. Big art, small art. In a house, with a mouse, here or there, bad art everywhere.

MUSE | 31

LEARNING TO SHOOT IN MANUAL MODE

an article by ALEX MANSOURATI

Get the most out of your camera!

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34 | ART

n e e s n u n o T s g n ki

ALEX MANSOURATI flickr.com/amansourati MUSE | 35

THE MOST COVETED JOB: An exclusive interview with The Coveteur’s Photographer, Jake Rosenberg 3<$%!','H#$*('$#1%'$.*)$#!*)A-$#'%$.*),$!*6'B"5'$%*=$1%H#$J!'$D*2'%'),/$O*,5'%$%!'$%',6$P<"#!1*($4A*5=Q$J!'$D*2'%'),$1#$"($*(A1('$ fashion database that exclusively invites its site-goers into the closets of some of the most recognized individuals in the international fashion world. Founded by designer Erin Kleinberg and #%.A1#%$9%'B!"(1'$R",&=$"(-$B!*%*5,"B!'-$4.$>"&'$;*#'(4',5=$ J!'$D*2'%'),$!"#$,'@'12'-$5A*4"A$"@@A"6"%1*($<*,$1%#$@,'"%12'$ showcase of personal style, blending household objects with fashion pieces to craft a captivating image portraying the subject’s #%.A'/$O*,$%!1#$<"#!1*($B,*7A'=$%!'$#B*%A15!%$#!1<%#$%*$J!'$D*2'%'),H#$ 2',.$*+($>"&'$;*#'(4',5/$?%$G)#%$%+'(%.C72'$.'",#$*A-=$;*#'(berg has accomplished much more than most aspiring photograB!',#/$8'#B1%'$!1#$,1#1(5$<"6'$"(-$"@%12'$5A*4'%,*%%',$#%"%)#=$3$+"#$ fortunate to secure enough of his time to ask about the site and his personal success.

Jake Rosenberg

A: How did the three of you come up with the idea for the site?

J: After shooting a lookbook for Erin’s line, the girls approached me with this crazy idea. We took a chance, and just ran with it. I give the credit of the concept to Erin and Steph. We did a test shoot and developed it from there. With every shoot and every post it has evolved into what you see today.

A: Why do you think your site has had so much success?

J: Someone’s closet is one of the most private and personal spaces in their home. We give people a glimpse into this part of our subjects’ lives. People are all voyeurs in one way or another, and mixing that with fashion elite plus our signature style !"#$%"&'($)#$%*$+!','$+'$",'$%*-"./0 A: How did you get started in photography?

J: My dad got me started when I was really young, but I didn’t start taking it seriously as a career until my fourth year of )(12',#1%./$3$4*)5!%$6.$7,#%$89:;$"(-$#%",%'-$+*,&1(5$<*,$"$<,1'(-=$>'($?",*(/$3$%!'($-'@1-'-$%!1#$1#$+!"%$3$+"(%$%*$-*=$#*$3$ '6"1A'-$6.$<"2*,1%'$B!*%*5$1($%!'$@1%.$C$D!,1#$E1@!*AA#=$"(-$+"#$'F%,'6'A.$A)@&.$%*$5'%$"$G*4$"##1#%1(5$!16/0 A: What have you learned most about being in the fashion industry?

J: It’s a non-stop, go go go industry. Everyone works hard and is very passionate about whatever part of the industry they ",'$1(/$3%H#$(*%$"$G*4$<*,$%!'6$I$1%H#$%!'1,$A1<'/0?%$J!'$D*2'%'),$+'$+*,&$KLMN/$?A%!*)5!$1%$#''6#$5A"6*,*)#=$1%H#$'F%,'6'A.$5,)eling. Airport lines, living out of a suit case, shooting three or four shoots daily and turning everything around that night - it is exhausting! But, we do it because we love it.

A: What do you hope to contribute to the fashion world overall?

J: Beautiful images, a recognizable style, and a glimpse into other peoples’ lives through my eyes - documented for people to see in the years to come.

an interview by ALANNAH MOZES

36 | FASHION

Clockwise starting below: Anna Dello Russo, Louis Vuitton trunk, Chanel bag, Christian Laboutin shoes, Alexander McQueen shoes, The Coveteurs; Erin Kleinberg, Jake Rosenberg & Stephanie Mark

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Haute Topic an article by VERONICA SAROLI

This year was an undeniable milestone for couture houses, with the appointment of Raf Simons at Dior, the revival of the Versace Atelier and Dolce and Gabbanaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s couture presentation in Sicily. Since Charles Frederick Worth, the great grandfather of haute couture, first opened his doors in 1858 the industry has been defined by ingenuity, craftsmanship and artistry. However, a cyclical nature in which every couple decades, out cries a chorus bemoaning the death of haute couture, is also characteristic. The most recent refrain occurred in 2009 after Christian Lacroix filed for bankruptcy.

As an haute couturier, Lacroix was part of a small, elite group of designers promising the absolute best to their clients. To become an haute couturier is not an easy process; one must abide by the requirements set out by the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture. This means having an atelier in Paris with at least twenty workers who produce made-to-order garments (through multiple fittings or on a replica figure of the client) done by hand, as well as showing at least twenty-five looks in February and July. It then takes five years and ten shows to become a full member. Clothing presentations have changed over the years, originally only certain members of the press and a few clients were invited to attend, models walked down a runway holding numbers and shows could last for hours. Photography at the show was banned; the public had to wait for images in Vogue and Harpers Bazaar to see what had been designed.

Yet can haute couture die? Thankfully brands are taking great efforts to preserve the tradition of haute couture.

For example, at Chanel there are 200 workers in its atelier devoted solely to couture and in 2002 Chanel bought six artisan ateliers to ensure their survival: LemariĂŠ (feathers), Lesage (embroidery), Goosens (silversmiths), Massaro (shoemaker), Michael (milliner) and Guillet (fabric flowers.) When Christian Dior started in 1947 in a post World War Two society where rationing was still in effect, backed by textile magnate Marcel Boussac, he was able to present feminine designs using unprecedented amounts of material. In an increasingly high tech world of mass production and mass consumption, such artisanal talent needs to be protected, so as not to be pushed to the wayside.

What is the status of couture today? The growth of BRIC countries and their appetite for couture quality has supported the industry. The past couture shows in July showed incredible talent and dedication to the importance and preservation of the craft of haute couture. At Givenchy, hand plucked fur was used to construct a lace pattern that was then sprinkled with resin pieces and re-sewn onto tulle. Meanwhile at Valentino, 1,200 hours went into embroidering a jet beaded and crystal sapphire encrusted blouse and pant suit.

The cost of such luxury is largely out of reach for most, but it is well worth the time to appreciate the hard work, dedication and craftsmanship that go into creating true works of wearable art.

38 | FASHION

an article by ASHLEY LARAMIE illustrations by Alex Brickman

Fashionistas everywhere, remember those endless hours you spent drooling over the Alexander McQueen exhibition at The Metropolitan Museum of Art? Well get ready to contribute a chunk of your mind to daydreams of Museum Mile once again this spring, because The Met’s upcoming exhibition, Punk: Chaos to Couture has a lineup that rivals any predecessors! The exhibition will focus on how the DIY world of the punk movement has had such a large, and almost ironic influence on haute couture and ready to wear. With Anna Wintour and Rooney Mara serving as co-chairs, and over one hundred featured designs from the 1970s onward, this is a project that’s sure to gain hype from the fashion and music worlds alike.

To get you jazzed and inspired for the upcoming event, here is a breakdown of the highlights of the upcoming exhibition!

So many crowd favouritesincluding Alexander McQueen, Ann Demeulemeester, Junya Watanabe, Yohji Yamamoto, Marc Jacobs, and Martin Margiela- will be featured in the Punk Couture gallery, showing how hardware elements have made their way into the collections of high fashion designers while also proving punk to be not only a dedication to the ‘streets’. This collection will be a huge testament to the transition punk style has made into the modern world, metamorphosing from its birth in the ‘70s, but still maintaining classic elements of rebellion and deconstruction.

PUNK’D

The Met will devote a section to the biggest punk icons of the London and New York music scene in the 1970s, appropriately named Rebel Heroes.

From The Clash- with their tailored suits mixed with Doc Martens, to The Ramones- who favoured distressed denim, Converse, and the perfect badass leather jacket!

The exhibition would not be complete without an entire gallery dedicated to the queen and king of punk- Vivienne Westwood and Malcolm McLaren.

Their love story is one for the ages- he was the manager of the Sex Pistols, and designed clothing for the New York Dolls; she wanted nothing more than to exert rebellion into the garments she crafted, and was a main player in London’s punk scene.

Together, they were the true founders of what the media dubbed “punk rock” style, using leather, safety pins, and razor blades to translate inspiration gathered from bikers and prostitutes into shocking looks sold at their iconic boutique at 430 King’s Road in London.

In addition, expect to see original DIY garments straight out of London, featuring authentic deconstruction and customization, and audio and visual multimedia to accompanythe clothing, including classicmusic videos.

Inspired to channel your inner Sid Vicious? This season, mix elements of updated punk style in with your current wardrobe. Stud and zipper details reign supreme in the hardware department, and can be incorporated to any look.

Heavy, lace up boots are also wardrobe staples- whether it be a pair of chic moto-boots, floral Doc Martens, or studded Jeffrey Campbell Litas.

Add in a tongue-in-cheek graphic jumper from Wildfox, and you’ll be looking like a CBGB’s regular in no time!

MUSE | 39

DRESS TO IMPRESS an article by CHRISTIAN KARAYANNIDES Why is it important to be a well-dressed man? Is it a personal thing? Do we do it for others? The question has so many answers that no matter whom you ask, their thoughts will be different. Over the last five years or so, there has been a trend where men have taken a greater interest in what they wear: from fabric, to fit, to designer, men want to look good just as much as women do. Thanks to guys such as Nick Wooster and bloggers like Tommy Ton, modern style has been redefined and these men are shaping what it means to be well dressed.

Wooster creates outfits that inspire, and most importantly he is an individual; he has his own style that makes him stand out. That is what it comes down to: make your clothes represent you. Now if that means sweatpants and a tee then we may have to change a few things. It’s about making small changes at a time. It is as easy as throwing on a pair of slim jeans and a button down, maybe even a cardigan.

It seems as though guys do not know what to wear, or what’s appropriate when, or what goes with what. Thus we tend to stick with the basics - don’t get me wrong, basics are okay, but at some point it’s about going beyond your comfort zone and trying something new.

Nowadays it’s so easy to learn more and get inspiration on how to dress. Some great spots online are mrporter. com, hypebeast.com, thesartorialst.com, selectism.com and many more. It’s as easy as going to Google and typing “menswear” in the search bar. Another great consistent source is GQ Magazine, always providing pertinent style advice for the everyday man. Checking these sites out regularly is a good way to start expanding your views on menswear. What you wear is the first impression you make, before words even come out of your mouth, people will look to see at how you are put together. So start small, be yourself, have fun with it, and dress to impress.

40 | FASHION

MUSE | 41

PHILLIP an interview by TRILBY GOOUCH

Meet Philip Start, co-creator and owner of Start London, a destination designer boutique in London’s up and coming area of Shorditch. Never heard of it? I’d be impressed if you had. Start London is a destination brand for the fashion forward and those who want to go beyond street fashion. If you’re looking for fresh designs and something unique, be sure to check out this oh-sochic label. Philip never went to school for fashion; instead, he paved his way into the heart of the British fashion scene with perseverance and creativity. I caught up with Philip, a vibrant entrepreneur with a talented eye for fashion, to discuss the intricacies of building a private label.

You opened up the original Start Men and Women’s Wear store in 2002 with your wife Brix. How has your business grown throughout the years?

When Brix and I opened our first shop it was a mix of men’s and women’s – we did absolutely everything! After a couple of years we opened the women’s wear shop across the road and made the first shop unique to menswear. Then four plus years ago the third shop opened on the other corner. I made it a man’s tailoring shop, selling my own brand Me Start. I now sell it to other shops such as Selfridges, Harvey Nichols and Harrods, and we do a proper catwalk. We’ve also got the online store, start-london.com.

cludinmyself and women on the streets of London.

If you could describe your typical customer, what would his or her style look like?

Elegant, with a very strong sense of personal style.

What changes have you seen occurring in the fashion industry since you started? How has the online movement affected your company in your opinion?

Brands and the online movement have had the largest impact on the industry’s evolution. It has pushed the knowledge of fashion and that has given people more confidence and power as a consumer.

What has been your favourite recent trend in both men and women’s fashion?

I like pared-down modern elegant; a little decadence, and colour blocking.

As a successful entrepreneur, what words of advice would you pass on to someone looking to undertake an entrepreneurial project in fashion?

Where do you find inspiration for your designs?

Make lots of good contacts. The harder you work the luckier Oh, from lots of places; mainly watching how people dress, in-

42 | FASHION

you’ll be!

an article by REBECCA HALL

The Mane Attraction Bad hair days are hilarious until you’re the one experiencing it. Every Queen’s girl has been there: it’s the morning after a Club Stauff party and you have five minutes to do something with that lion’s mane. Here are two quick and easy hairstyles that you can achieve in less than five minutes so you can make that 8:30 class in style and on time.

Fishtail Braid: The classic braid has got nothing on this. Instead of three strands, only two are used in this fashionable twist. First, separate your hair into two sections. Now take a small strand of hair from one side and bring it over to the other side; repeat this on the other side. Continue these steps until you have reached your desired length and wrap it up with an elastic. The messier this braid is, the better it looks, so tug on the braid when you are done and make sure it’s not too tight at the top.

Go Pro: tie a ribbon at the root of your hair and incorporate it into the braid.

Ballet Bun: This is one trendy hairstyle and four out of five of my bad hair days are spent with my hair piled on my head.

It’s super easy, but hairpins are needed.

All you have to do is tie your hair into a high ponytail and twirl your hair around the base of the ponytail. Pin the bun as you go along and make sure you play with the shape to create a look that you like. Alternately, you can wrap it around the base in the same way, but secure it with an elastic for a messier look.

Go Pro: Add a bow-tie clip to the bottom of the bun.

With these two styles in under three minutes, you can get creative and mix and match them however you want. Stay classy, ladies, and don’t let your mane rule your mornings.

MUSE | 43

SAVING FOR A RAINY DAY Dressing in the rain does not have to consist of bulky, uncomfortable rain boots paired below a shiny raincoat. Nor should it mean drenched chiffon and broken heels. As keeping dry is important, so is remaining true to your style and being comfortable with what you wear.The first staple is obviously rain boots. Hunter brand boots are very popular among Queen’s students for their fashion appeal and durability. Take the Hunter Bradwell boots; inspired by the on-trend ankle boots, but still durable in rain. Apart from black they also come in red, a sure splash of colour. Designers such as Valentino, Chloe and Burberry are also keeping up with their selection of rain boots, proving that waterproof footwear doesn’t just have to be practical, but can also be stylish (although a tad more expensive than we all hope for). You should never forget an umbrella either. Take yourself to the Queen’s bookstore and get a tricolour umbrella.

Rain boots and an umbrella are a given, the hard choice lies in what to pair them with. Raincoats are becoming more influenced by trends than in times past. Now you can trek along the rainy stone paths of campus in raincoats with fun prints and lovely colors. Normally it is a jacket that keeps you warm but upon the instance of rain, a raincoat is better suited to prevent major flooding from ruining your outfit, while a chunky knit is able to keep you warm.

The option of what to wear for pants isn’t all that hard. The choices to best keep you warm are jeans or leggings. I have come to the revelation that a pair of coated denim jeans may have actually been invented for the rainy day ensemble. Their coated smoothness allows for the water to slide right off and keep your legs drier than normal denim. If you want to opt for something less stiff, printed leggings go great with a nice, classic trench coat. Leggings are a better choice than looser pants as loose pants of thinner fabrics awkwardly cling onto skin when wet. Don’t forget to opt for a patent leather bag as fabric and leather bags attract wet marks; instead, the rain on patent leather bags slides right off its surface.

When shopping for rainy days, one seems to think of raincoats, stylish rain boots, printed leggings and coated denim as items that just hibernate in your closet. So as much as you want one of these items, they seem impractical or too much of a risk. Here’s a thought: save these items for a rainy day, here in Kingston, they come more often than you think.

an article by LULU TONG 44 | FASHION

WINTER ESSENTIALS from Kingston’s own Blueprint and Three Boutique

MUSE | 45

Previous page: Lindsay is wearing Roxy Golden Hill Coat, grey hat form Aritzia.

Below: Kat is wearing Only Queen Knit Dress (underneath), Only Noel blouse, fur vest from Urban Outfitters, headwrap from Urban Outfitters, thigh-high socks from Aritzia ; Howard is wearing Jack and Jones Salt Coat in Navy, Jack and Jones Holden Knit sweater, Jack and Jones Navy Scarf in Nuggut, Jack and Jones Bolton Pant in Honey.

Right top: Jacob is wearing Selected Knit Vest in Yellow, Leviâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 511 Skinny denim, Jack and Jones Power shirt Mood, Jack and Jones News gloves; Lindsay is wearing Only Chris Denim Jacket, Only Rock It Shirt in Denim, Floral Print Blouse, Only Joy Leggings in Chili, grey hat from Aritzia.

Next page: Lindsay is wearing Billabong Tralalalah Wrap, Only Joy Leggings in Chili, Selected Scarf in black; Howard is wearing Electric M41 Military

46 | FASHION

MUSE | 47

48 | FASHION

Photography by Alex Mansourati Models: Lindsay Pierce, Katalina Ong, Jakob Pugi, Howard Shaw Styling by Gabi Eliasoph Make Up by Catherine Gualtieri

MUSE | 49

Thriftshop–Macklemore ft.Ryan Lewis / Spencer MacDonald, Civil Eng ‘14

Shining Star–Earth,Wind & Fire / Sam Wright, Econ ‘13

Levels – Avicii / Ivana Bavoolal, Eng ‘14

Turbulance – Steve Aoki & Laidback Luke / Jane Taylor, Arts ‘15

Livin’ It Up – Ja Rule / Catherine Gualtieri, Bio ‘13

Mo Cities Mo Problems – M83 v.s. Biggie / William Leung, Comp Sci ‘14

MUSE X QUEEN’S PARTY MUSIC interviews by ANGELICA SIEGEL and ALEX MANSOURATI

Don’t Like – Kanye West / Chris Townley, Film ‘13

50 | LIFESTYLE

Look At Me Now – Chris Brown / Sarah Armstrong, Kin ‘15 / Karina Magalhaez, Kin ‘15

Don’t You Worry Child – Swedish House Mafia / Robbie Mitchnick, Comm ‘13

On Top of the World – Raghav / Eric Li, Arts & Sci ‘13

Silhouettes – Aviici / Kieran Paitich, Arts ‘16

Calling – Alesso / Mitchell Posluns, Arts & Sci ‘15

Danza Kuduro – Don Omar ft. Lucenzo / Angelica Siegel, English ‘13

The Party – Justice / Steven Zhang, Physics ‘13

S Club Party – S Club 7 / Rosalie Cronin, Film ‘13

8tracks playlist: http://8tracks.com/ musexqueens/muse-x-queen-sparty-1-0 Small Town Boy – Bronksi Beat / Thomas Rossini, Pols ‘12

Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy – Big & Rich / Nicole Cragg, Nursing AST / Laura Brydon, Nursing AST

Pump It Up – Elvis Costello / Wendi Li, Sci ’16 & Teddy

Who Da Neighbour – Juicy J / Alex Mansourati, Math ‘13

MUSE | 51

G L I M P S E an article by BRENDAN HORGAN

I think I’ve had a glimpse of what life might be like after graduation. And I didn’t like what I saw.

It happened so unexpectedly that it took a few weeks to sink in.

The night before the first day of class, my housemate of the past two years informed me and my other housemates that he would not be attending Queen’s this term. That he was moving back to Toronto until he returned for the winter term.

As much as it pains me to say, this is my final year at Queen’s.

Much of my past summer was spent dreading this cold fact, and already I find myself getting sentimental when I think about the series of melancholy ‘lasts’ that I will inevitably endure this April. But what I dreaded about graduating before realizing that I would effectively be spending half of this year without my best friend always had more to do with a general fear of the real world, and how I, a lowly university graduate with ambivalent interests and ambitions, would end up faring in it.Although my housemate’s absence this term is about as desirable as an Ffilled transcript, I am actually somewhat grateful for it—a beautifully poignant irony that only a true friend could deliver because it made me aware of what to actually fear post-Queen’s: losing my friends.

I’m not trying to be pessimistic, but let’s face it: falling out with friends is not exactly rare. In fact, it’s more common than we’ll

52 | LIFESTYLE

ever admit to ourselves or each other. It’s the reason I was completely stupefied for the first few weeks of school; I simply wasn’t ready.

I fear that this is a microcosm of what could happen down the road to all of us future grads. Most of us have already lost touch with friends to some degree or another in our short lives, and I’m certain I’m not the only one whose parents have broken ties with most of their friends from their glory days. So much of our final year at school is spent taking care of official business (courses, program requirements, assignments, marks, applications, exams, ad infinitum) that the true value of our university experience is lost on us; namely, the friends that were there to help us get through it all.

In my eyes, the only way we will be able to preserve our sense of self as we continue to grow and develop as young adults is if we put an honest effort into maintaining the ties that helped shape who we are today. We should avoid confusing the inevitability of graduation with the presumed necessity to break ties with all the friends we’ve made along the way to getting our degree. Thanks to my absentee housemate, I know that this will be my firmest resolve this year.

I think I had a glimpse of what life might be like after Queen’s.

And though I didn’t like it— things don’t have to be that way.

AUTHENTICITY an article by ANDREW BURROWS I modeled nude for him tonight. I felt comfortable, as my dick touched the hardwood floor. I didn’t want to kiss him though.

He wasn’t part of my movements, my dance. He saw the art. He didn’t feel the sex. Amazing, he called it all.

We shared spoonfuls of no-name Nutella and sipped dark ale. We discussed feeling vulnerable, feeling unaligned with self, becoming aligned with self. We were both aware of how strong that feeling can be, of authenticity, but also that feeling of not acting in accordance with the voice within. The voice that—at the beginning of such a practice, anyway—sounds like only a peep. Listening to your guide, to yourself. It’s something. And it feels important.

He helped me clean the cuts on my arm I got a day before, from falling off my skateboard. He provided Polysporin; his mother raised him on it. A granddad, he is, eating the black jujubes not only because he wants others to experience all the colours, but also because he just likes the artificial licorice-flavouring. He pressed the bandage hard around the edges of my cuts to ensure maximum stickiness, as I flinched internally, feeling young for a moment.

Interested in bone structure, I told him, as I bent into a forward fold with my toque. Movements followed. A crow pose, to a runner’s lunge, to a bind, to something new, all in one frequency. “I’ve never been in this position before,” I admitted. It was existential in

a sense, but it felt easy, as though I’d been exposed to it for some time now. It was oddly familiar and yet, unfamiliar.

I closed my eyes at points, holding back and quite aware of it.

There were four exact moments when I wondered what to do next. No one knows what to do though, and we’re all fucking scared about it too. We’re just making this up as we go; we set up our lives and our perceived needs and live them out in separate discourses, reading what we want, playing how we want, and drinking whatever it is that we want to drink before we go to bed.

No one really knows. No one knows anything at all, if you ask me.

I painted my world with the limbs I was given, have both nurtured and abused them, and have come to see myself as beautiful.

Both tubby and thin. Nervous and exotic. It wasn’t about finding love. It wasn’t about being the one. It was about human beings, the two of us, here, sharing one single experience together in a slightly different way, and that’s it. A brotherhood, moist with simplicity. We laid in cardigans afterwards for a little, talking about it all.

My imperfections - the twists, the overflowing - are perfect. We sentient beings, our experiences are beautiful. All of us are confused, but all of us are in good shape. The human experience will forever fascinate me. Breathe with it. You’ll find something very special. This I stand by.

MUSE | 53

SeXwith

S ophie

Our readers have been pounding us with their questions about their sexual health and wellbeing. We contacted our local sex guru, Sophie Ann, to get right on top of these hard issues and bang out some answers.

STEPHANIE at Vic Hall asks: When my boyfriend and I have sex, he gets off and then we stop before I cum. What’s worse is that I don’t even feel like I’m close to having an orgasm. What should I do?

SOPHIE:

Stephanie, it’s very common for females not to reach orgasm through penetrative sex alone. This is partly due to the female anatomy; a woman’s most sensitive pleasure receptor, the clitoris, is outside of the vagina. Fortunately, this is not the only way you can be pleasured sexually. A lot of girls who can’t get off with sex have the strongest orgasms when their partner performs a combination of oral and manual stimulation on them. This is where communication becomes crucial.

Although it can be awkward to request sex acts, it is an important path to a mutually satisfying sexual partnership. Don’t be afraid to voice your concern; you’re just as important as him and communication is sexy! If you’re still having problems after talking and are feeling adventurous, you could stop by the Sexual Health Resource Centre (SHRC) and pick up the We-Vibe vibrator that stimulates both the clitoris

54 | LIFESTYLE

and the g-spot during sex or masturbation. It also makes your guy feel great!

MANDEEP

at the ARC asks: I’m done with condoms! I’m really frustrated because whenever I use them I feel restricted and they often prevent me from finishing. I really don’t want to use them anymore if they’re gonna make me feel this way. Help me, Sophie!

SOPHIE: First things first, Mandeep: condoms are not one-size-fits-all or onesensation-fits-all. A lot of guys find that condoms don’t fit or feel the way they like.

If you go to your local drugstore, you’ll find a wide range of condoms arranged by shape, size, thickness, texture, flavour and even temperature, which can relieve the restraint you’re feeling and enhance your pleasure. If you’re looking for a little more room – Durex XXL, smaller – Durex close fit; thinner texture – Kimono Microthin; ribbed texture – Intense Durex; and lastly if you want a condom that compromises on more room, thinner texture, and ribbed – you’re looking for Trojan Naked Sensations. It is important to find the one that is

right for you. Purchasing a bottle of lubricant to put on, prior to the condom, might help as well. Rolling on a condom without enough lube can catch the skin and may be uncomfortable. This might explain your frustration. At the end of the day, the protection that condoms offer greatly outweighs the risks of going without them.

They are essential to a sexy, healthy, and safer sex life!

For more answers, visit: Sexual Health Resource Centre Kingston – http://shrckingston.org, 613-533-2959 DrugSmart Pharmacy in the ARC – http:// blog.drugsmartpharmacy.ca/official-website/ 613-507-7775 Health, Counselling, and Disability Services - http://www.queensu.ca/hcds/ 613533-2506

P R O V O C A T I O N an article by SADIST TICK

Grosz - Lovesick Man

Who do you think you are?

No, really. What do you think you’re doing? Who said you could read this column.

(I stopped using question marks because I stopped caring what your answers were.)

Anyway, what do you look like?

Whatever, I’ll bet it’s something vaguely familiar. Yeah, I’ve probably seen you around. You probably look like everybody else.

Not that it’s necessarily your fault that I find you boring and unattractive. I just happen to have higher standards, that’s all.

Looking into a mirror like I do (six times a day, seven on weekends can do that to a person).

Who knows, maybe you’ve seen me around. At the movie theatre, perhaps? I’m the guy who cheers for the bad guys. Out loud.

I’m also the guy kicking the back of your seat. The guy who won’t stop hitting on your girlfriend.

Pick out enough imperfections and you can have any woman.

Well, I can.

The devil wishes he were this handsome.

I don’t like most of the movies other people like. Fairy-tale endings have never really been my thing. To be honest, they make me kind of squeamish. I’m more into the kind of soft and mushy stuff that make other people squeamish. Like disembowelment.

Some people say things they don’t mean, just to keep the people around them happy. Not me.

No, I say things I don’t mean to make other people mad.

I go to the pet store. I do most Sundays. Dressed inconspicuously, I’ll make my way to the back of the store, and then, when the clerks aren’t looking, I’ll strangle a puppy or two.

Oh, relax. I only kill the ugly ones.

MUSE | 55

But sometimes too many people are around. So instead I’ll tear open the seams of a few chew-toys and re-stuff them, often with the finest cotton. Or thumbtacks.

And how come doctors these days never seem to be losing their patients? I know I’m losing mine. In fact, I should storm into the terminal care ward of the nearest hospital and wreak havoc like the maverick I really am.

No, wait. I can do better.

First I’d grab the filthiest, rustiest pair of hedge trimmers I could find and stuff them into the back pocket of my faded jeans. On the way inside, I’d use them to smash the automatic doors, just for opening up without asking.

I’d tear through the hallways, telling each miserable soul who looks distant or forlorn to fuck right off. Hey—you’ve gotta let people know you mean business. And I happen to mean the meanest business.

“TIME’S UP!!” I’d yell with malice, cutting the cord of each and every godforsaken machine in my path. Give me ten minutes and you won’t even be able to get a snack in this place, let alone a blood pressure reading.

I’d scoff at the sight of all the tiny bedside tables, each one littered with “Get Well Soon” cards. Hell, I’d be doing all those well-wishers a favor if I replaced their ironic cards with other, more practical literature: Funeral home directories. Brochures with pictures of floral arrangements. Casket catalogues.

I’d look into the eyes of each bed-ridden bastard and ask them why they haven’t just given up yet. “You’re being lied to by your loved ones,” I’d whisper gently, “things aren’t going to get better.”

I’d brush away their tears with the roughest section of my hand.

I’d mention that they should quit being so selfish and start giving some thought to the suit or dress they want to be buried in.

“In fact,” I’d say as I glance down at my watch, “I’ll bet you twenty dollars that, by this time next week, there will be someone else– someone slightly-less decrepit, I would hope– waiting to die in this very bed.”

I put the ‘sin’ in sinister.

“But never mind, the bet’s off,” I’d say casually as I’m walking away. “How would I ever collect?”

When the good guys win at the end of a movie, I don’t get upset. I might be a little disappointed, but I’d never let it affect me personally.

If the bad guys win? Well that’s a whole different story. Make a movie too true to real life and you’re gonna piss some people off.

Without that familiar sense of justice being served, the general public would be up in arms. People just wouldn’t know what to do with themselves. It’s ridiculous, really. How could a made-up story ever make a person so mixed-up inside?

All I’m saying is that you’d have to throw a whole bunch of sappy shit into a script before you’d ever get a real rise out of me. Sticks and stones, my friends. Sticks and stones.

For most people, this isn’t the case. Either they haven’t heard the rest of the rhyme, or they fail to recognize its universality. Regardless, they’re missing something important.

The truth is, most folk who spend two whole hours watching unrectified evil on a giant screen would get downright uncomfortable. They’d leave the theatre quietly and go home, disturbed by what they’d seen and heard. Demoralized, even.

But I guess that sort of thing happens when you spend too long in front of a mirror.

56 | LIFESTYLE

Disneyland Trippin’ in

an article by MATT TURANO

What curious vibrations I have of you this morning, Walt Disney, for I woke up aware but wearing nothing, lightly dreaming under the full moon.

In my animated delight, and craving nostalgia, I was charmed by a fantastic vision, full of imagination and vivid, sparked by your World.

What castles! What creatures! Cinderella slipping, selling slippers by the bleachers! I can feel all the stories, the faces intertwining.

Entire narratives, merging and mingling together all at once! Villains and brutes hoarding scorn! Heroes and guardians rallying hope! --- and you, Steve Jobs, what were you doing down by the apples, toying with lamps?

I see you, Walt Disney, smiling lofty old dreamer, basking in the crux of your creation and suspiciously eyeing ticket collectors.

I hear you asking questions of each: Who killed the Imagineers?

What price bubble? Are you my Alice?

I weave in and out of the brilliant attractions and dazzling genius, followed in my fervor by rampant adventurers.

A man in a suit approaches us point-blank and says your shoe is untied. It is! Your sandals are on my feet and you reach down to tie up the shoelace.

(Still using the Bunny Ears knot, I see.)

The knot gets tied and we look up, but the scene has changed.

We turn around and find ourselves staring into the face of a glazed youth, asking if we need help finding anything with monotony.

“No, I know perfectly well where my creations have gone,” you say with your thoughts. And illumination hits us.

Zoom out to a panoramic view of the video store we are now in.

Aisles abound, and coated with films! Exploited myths and lores galore!

And look, by the registers—what deals on glucose!

You reach out to inspect the movies on display but they are rollercoasters, all rollercoasters painted differently and this must be the rush you feel on the way down.

An old wind-up toy of yours is caught in its wind, strange features sewn together terribly, grossly manufactured and carelessly pushed about by ghost hands. It is unimaginable.

MUSE | 57

THE DAILY NEWS

A worn faux-leather journal was discovered alongside the body of a 43-year-old man found dead in Victoria Park on July 4, 2012.

Selected entries from the man’s alleged journal are reprinted here, so that his story may be told.

I

See, I’m waiting on Rowan yet again When Rowan says ten minutes, he means two fucking hours I was gonna spend fifty pounds with him but I’m not I’m gonna spend thirty pounds instead It’s the last time I’ll see him I’m sure of that I’m sure it’s the last time I’m going to see him.

II

Gave me an extra free one, An extra free white That’s very nice of him Three small whites and one bigger blue Very nice indeed

III

good morning feeling pretty rough actually my ankles hurt, my knees hurt my wrists hurt I’ve gotta go almost forgot got a can of cider to wake up to outside the shop

58 | LIFESTYLE

IV

couple of pounds short 2 pm and two cans of white lightning when in doubt, have a drink knock yourself out

Your fingers all cut, it doesn’t seem right

God bless all the good people.

it can only get better

V

Just phoned Rowan up Says he’ll be two minutes But Rowan’s two minutes could be hours So anyway I’m gonna give my folks a ring Let them know I’m okay.

VI

Mum I’ve been mugged, I’ve lost all my money The bank machine ate my card, I’ve nothing to eat since yesterday Wouldn’t you be a good Mum, and lend me a few pounds? there we go cooked up from a can on the street, again VII I don’t want to upset you, Dad I want you to get well Ben, but it does upset me.

It upsets me more than you’ll ever know.

To see you dropping off, and your eyes all droopy

it’s okay, Dad

VIII

…… ah, bollocks always when I score drugs ……

And it’ll be my parents or something “Hey, yeah. You okay?

Yeah, I’m just down at the beach.

Yeah, just getting a ticket now.

Yeah, no it’s lovely.

Nah, I’m with a couple of mates.

I can’t speak right now!

Thanks Mum. Yeah later, bye.” can I enjoy my hit now?

IX

I know I’ve failed, before but I’ve never felt this way, before And now I’m ready

X

end of my third day a little hot and sweaty I feel like I’ve got chicken skin

very emotional

I’ve played by the rules it isn’t easy.

I’ve gone three days I don’t want to let you down I just feel like I’m going to, at the moment

XI

Ben, I’m appalled at you!

I’m appalled I can’t believe you’re doing this I can’t believe you could be so positive and so sure in the morning, determined and now look It’s all about you.

You, you, you isn’t it?

And you know the hardest thing, Ben? You give us a little hope and then you snatch it back again.

XII

I’ve lost my fucking can of cider don’t know where I’ve put it looked everywhere, can’t find it motherfucker don’t know what I’ve done with it where the fuck have you put it?

You see when you’re on pills, you hide things when you’re on drink, you hide things when you’re on smack, you never know where you’ve put them losing everything, losing life.

This is what I am what I’ve been for a long, long time I am a drug addict.

XIII

“Dad, you don’t need to keep working for me Seriously, you don’t need to keep working for me.

Please You haven’t.”

XIV

See if they’d left me I’d be able to make money even just driving people around

I could make money you know I could even beg thirty quid on a friday night

sorry I failed.

XV

I just need someone to see me I need a chance now I can’t wait to get to the hospital And I promise you when I do my life’s going to change, Mum Dad, I’m sorry I want you to be proud of me for once in my life and not just think of me as a fucking wanker, shit head junkie fucking alcoholic piece of fucking crap Because I’m not, I promise

XVI

Bastard cunt of a bastard life I’m so fucking tired of this fucking shit I’m so fucking pissed off with it why the fuck do I got to fucking do this to myself all the fucking time and I know I’m dying I know I’m fucking dying I’ve lived this since I was a fucking kid I just fucking, I know my body’s packed up, and I still fucking do it to myself and I fucking hate it

XVII

I think I’m dying.

I can’t feel. blood feel so sick

I’m really not very well really not well.

Please Lord Forgive me, my sins I’ve never been a bad person and I never meant to be.. (my eyes are going now) I love you Mum and I love you Dad I love my family and I’m sorry

MUSE | 59

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yours, creatively.

244 Princess