What makes us human by Ralph's Angst

SEPTEMBER 2017

ISSUE NO.Â 1

Ralph's Angst WHAT MAKES US HUMAN THE THINGS THAT DEFINE US, CONTROL US, AND MAKE US.

@RALPHSANGST

CONT ENTS 04

EDITORS NOTE The editor in chief heads all the departments of the organization and is held accountable for delegating tasks to staff members and managing them.

Seigar's exploration of mannequins through photography. "They always show me their human substance."

SKELETONS A poem exploring body image and the changing nature of self worth / individualism.

AGENCYWHAT DOES IT MEAN? Human Agency, a term commonly used by philosophers. But what does it mean?

CONTRIBUTORS A thank you to all of our contributors who helped make this magazine what it is.

PLASTIC PEOPLE

I WASN'T READY A moving piece of poetry exploring what it means to feel emotioneven those emotions that make us hurt.

RALPH'S TOP 20 ACTIVISTS Activism on Instagram, Ralph's favourites and why.

PARADOX OF HUMANITY A think-piece detailing the origins of the 'Homo-sapien' and a personal view on what it means to be human.

LONGING AND NECESSITY A short creative writing piece in diary format, discussing toxic relationships through one person's experience.

THIGH GAP? Discusses the rampant presence of diet related disorders in adolescents and how social media contributes to this

PURSUIT OF HUMANITY

CONT ENTS 32

A stream of consciousness writing piece focussing on deciphering relationships with ourselves and nature.

A piece detailing how travel makes us feel alive and what impressions travel can have on us as humans.

MERE MUSINGS Do we have a soul? Or is human life only a physical existence? See a poets debate with conscience.

LABELS ARE FOR JARS, NOT PEOPLE Why are we so critical of others that it has determined social outcomes? Find out..

RESURRECTION Enlightenment is a fundamental time in most peoples life. What makes it better is if its an enlightenment of self.

DAVID RODRIGUEZ An interview about his photographical albums 'Cover', 'Fresh', 'Hide'..

COMPLIMENTARY DESTRUCTION

VISIONS A poem about our world and how life is an ever-changing presence

FIRSTS A poem about adolescent love, the innocence and infatuation

EDITOR'S NOTE Lauren Hunt EDITOR IN CHIEF

We are like chameleons, we take our hue and the

We are super excited to release this volume as our

colour of our moral character, from those who are

first magazine of many to come. It has been a small

around us," wrote John Locke on personal identity.

time hobby that has grown into a passion that is

This suggests that it is human nature to take on

bursting with ideas.

personalities and change them to then become unique. But if we only assume others personalities

Jose Seigar's photography leaves us questioning the

what do we begin with at the start? What innately

characteristics that make us human and alive in his

sets us apart from the masses?

plastic people album. A haunting poem follows delving into the mental cognition behind anorexia

This is our volume celebrating what it means to be

and another diet-related illness' that take away a

human and feel real emotions but also dissecting the

sense of self-identity. Tristan Greeno chats with us

conversations that question who we are.

about our ancestry and how this defines who we are. Let yourself be moved by a short story describing

Coming into a sense of identity is a long and tedious

the common imbalance of self and service in

journey for most of us. The yearning to belong is

relationships. when do we draw the line between

something undeniably human this much we know,

self-preservation and unconditional love? Defining

but a lot is left up to interpretation regarding the

philosophy is hard, so to make it easier we've

topic "WHAT MAKES US HUMAN."

comprised numerous definitions of human agency to find out what it really means in laments terms. No

Plato, Locke, Marx, Bourdieu, and many other

thigh gap? No problem. Madeline explains why the

philosophers have all contributed to the

newest trend is something you shouldn't conform to

conversation, but Ralph's Angst's first issue aims to

as it doesn't define who you are. Ralph's Angst then

discuss the range of perspectives provided from all

aims to highlight some of our Instagram favorites,

ages and in a variety of creative forms. What is

the people making some big changes through their

important to our identity and human nature is

activism. AND MUCH MUCH MORE...

something that will always be valid to voice in creative ways.

Our Volume One Contributors WRITTEN Madeline Stocks @Crazyaboutreading_ Katrin P. Payge Stanley Amber Bardell Kathleen Shumack Alyssa Wilmott Kseniya Osadchaya Tristan Greeno Paolo Agnilleri

VISUAL Seigar Susha Illustrations David Rodriguez Sally Mann Cover Yeo Cheng Design Brook Gossen Lamiaa Ameen @arttape Michelle Mildenberg Erica Avila @sweetstickyvisuals Judit Orosz Liora K photography

@ERICAAVILAART

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Thank You

Be Unforgivably You

ART BY @SUSHA_ILLUSTRATIONS

THEY ALWAYS SHOW ME THEIR HUMAN SUBSTANCE. THEIR FACES, LOOKS, EYES, CLOTHES, SHADOWS, AND REFLECTIONS PORTRAY THEM AS THE MODERN SOCIETY. Seigar - Photographer

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Seigar - Plastic People

plastic people

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Seigar

// BY LAUREN HUNT

"They always show their human substance. Their faces, looks, eyes shadows and reflections portray them as Modern Society."

A naked and bare woman is depicted. A stark white outline of the female sex standing boldly behind a glass reflection for the world to see. She places her forearm across her waist, covering her lower stomach. Her cheekbones are strong and her gaze directed.

What part of the human psyche finds it so interesting to study ourselves...The often the indescribable essence of what makes us human? Seigar, a photographer hailing from Tenerife, Spain, has recognized his audiences infatuation with 'the self' and attempts to encompass this in his photography of plastic people. Seigar subjects mannequins of all shapes and sizes, characteristics and colors to the focus of his lens, creating reflective photography that inspires his audiences in the same way the models inspire him.

There is more to the eye than the aesthetic elements of Seigar's work. There is theoretical value as it allows us to see what we think we are / what we desire.. Males are often portrayed in mannequins either faceless or overtly masculine, opposed to females who are decorated with bursting colours and facial detailing. What does this say about society?` We could assume this is only a portrayal of materialism alongside marketing strategy, but there's more to it than that. it makes a comment on what it means to be human, to be bold, unique and colored by the clothing choices we make. Mannequins are used to primarily as a clothing hanger, but also can be used as an example of how our external characteristics inform and enrich our personalities. In Seigar's album 'Reflection Valley,' he details his feelings

towards the reason mannequins have importance in how we assess what makes us human, "They all show their personality through colours, clothes, accessories, body language or even makeup. They make their own statement of their living. In my work, I try to give dignity and humanity to the plastic people all around the world. They tell me tales and stories about life. They always show me their human substance. Every photo creates a fantasy. Their faces, looks, and shadows portray them as the modern society. The Valley is named after the reflections which can be found in all the images. In a way, society can be observed in Reflection Valley, because there is human nature in these plastic people, and I am convinced we all can identify ourselves with their feelings and emotions. When I was offered the opportunity to share some of my ideas for a feminist zine such as Ralph's Angst, I was thrilled!

I have divided my work in two. Some works reflect individual feelings such as joy or sadness, you can feel the person naked facing you and telling you what life is about. On the other hand, I have grouped them for a cause. This needs deeper comments. Sometimes, I walk around a town, and I get the sensation they are trying to tell me something, like a common thought. There is so much going on in our society right now, and their defiant looks tell me they care about it, that is, for example how the series “Deconstrumption, a revolution of love” was born. So, we have the individual emotion ones and the united plastic people who fight for our rights..

Most of my plastic people are women. Maybe 85 % of my people are women. Their beauty is obvious, their clothes, makeup, accessories, the way they stare at us, the public, the viewers, is revealing. They are full of personality, charm, and charisma. My plastic people may represent society. It’s curious to check how society represents their women. It’s interesting to check the differences between countries. Traditions and moral values are implied in the display of these shop windows. It’s clear these women showed a special glare, a quirk essence that attracted me as a photographer, like a magnet effect on my camera. My intention with this project has been the crazy idea of humanizing them. So here you have me, explaining my pictures, what I see and what I want to say with them. As a believer in equality, I have tried my best to name/entitle all my plastic women with strong messages, conveying their face sentiments with my words. I can count on them as my models, as the fighters; they can count on me as a photographer and speaker.'

- Seigar // Photographer

"I get the sensation they are trying to tell me something, like a common thought. There is so much going on in our society right now, and their defiant looks tell me they care about it"

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There is a part of my plastic people project that is conceptual. There is a necessity to express this part with words. Even though my plastic people can speak by themselves, they also need my compromise as an artist/discoverer to spread their messages. In the shop windows, markets and streets around the cities and towns, I have found these creatures, always looking for attention. With time, they became my subject and my obsession. Right now, they even define me as a photographer.

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SKELETONS

Tears cascaded down her red cheeks She stared at her reflection. Written by Lauren Hunt The reflection stared back Visual by @susha_illustrations A thin outline of bones protruded from her chest The temple of her body had been corrupted by what they thought What they perceived She had lost the right to be unique The right to believe in herself The right to believe in what is innately human Is it Numb and brain-dead skeletons pretending to enjoy themselves? Follow the leader and you'll remain the same? Perfectly fragile and hopeless She had lost the right to being herself Beautiful Talented Special Curious Unique Gone. Now just another nobody in the swarms of insecurity that surrounded her They wanted her to feel like her dreams were insufferable clouds that blocked her vision A convoluted intangible mess of hate They wanted her to loathe herself

Because she was an individual And they weren't

- A Millenial Story

- Susan Rice "People are contributors to their life circumstances, not just products of them" - Albert Bandura

The question of who we are and why we exist is not a new contention, as it gives us all a sense of belonging and worth as the prominent roamers of this earth. Unfortunately, but also excitingly, these questions will never have a definite answer, hence comes the word "human agency".

@SWEETSTICKYVISUALS

Human Agency - What Does it Mean?

Human agency to me signifies the one thing we humans can rely on to be seen as individuals and rule our own destiny. It allows us to exercise our own willpower to challenge the circumstances presented to us. Alternatively, it classifies the AMOUNT of power we have against our life circumstances. For example, someone who has been born in poverty has a LESSER human agency to fight against the life circumstances they've been presented with. Human agency can be determined by birth location and geographical situation, educational opportunities, the time period in which they live and so on. As you may notice, all these things act as elements in ones life that can either encourage or restrict someone's life chances. If someone has a scholarly education, they have the human agency that allows them to pursue a highly recognized career. Alternatively, if you do not have an education, your human agency is restricted and it would present as difficult to progress as much as one with an educational background

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"PROGRESS IS THE PRODUCT OF HUMAN AGENCY. THINGS GET BETTER BECAUSE WE MAKE THEM BETTER. THINGS GO WRONG WHEN WE GET TOO COMFORTABLE, WHEN WE FAIL TO TAKE RISKS OR SEIZE OPPORTUNITIES."

Theoretical investigations of human agency have lead to many philosophical works which all present different areas in our existence. some names that come up when looking into human agency include: Theoretical investigations of human agency have lead to many philosophical works which all present different areas in our existence. some names that come up when looking into human agency include:

KARL MARX ALBERT CAMUS GEORG HEGEL JOHN LOCKE @SWEETSTICKYVISUALS

SIMONE DE BEUVOIR IMMANUEL KANT FRIEDRICH NIETZSCHE JEAN PAUL SARTRE JOHN DEWEY ERICH FROMM SOREN KIERKEGAARD

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@SWEETSTICKYVISUALS

I WASN'T READY I wasn't ready to face the reality where "how was your day" wouldn't be asked by you ever again. I wasn't ready for the old Nintendo to be put in a cupboard, when that was all we used to play. I wasn't ready to never be shown the new train tracks set up in your shed. I wasn't ready to cry without the comfort of a kiss from you on my head. I wasn't ready to visit you in hospital as you lay there scared. I wasn't ready when you told me you loved me and that I needed to be prepared. I wasn't ready when I was in assembly and they pulled me outside. I wasn't ready to hear the day you were supposed to come home that you had died. I wasn't ready to hold my mother as she cried next to your bed. I wasn't ready to blow out your candle and say goodbye with a kiss on your head. I wasn't ready to lose the father who you'd always been to me through the years. I wasn't ready to celebrate birthdays or holidays when you should have always been here.

Poetry by Payge - Payge Stanley

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GRIEF

@FEMINELOGRAM Features the feminist works of 23-year-old Illustrator Nick Moncy. "My passion project: making covers of awesome photography ft. women on fire.

RALPH'S ANGST TOP

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Instagram has become one of the most readily available social media platforms, sharing photography, blogging but also allowing for activists to share their ideas and inspire a wider majority. Editor of Ralph's Angst, Lauren Hunt, started her activism journey through using social media to share her writing and think pieces. From this, an independent zine was born. It is hard to gain the followers for small time activists and big time activists deserve recognition too. So here's our top 20 for this months issue, in no particular order:

15 IG ACTIVISTS @FEMINELOGRAM

@WILDR0SEBUD A vegan artist from Ottawa, Ontario, focussing on creating digital pieces exploring body positivity. (Note: the username features a zero rather than the later O.)

@KAETHEBUTCHER Art based in London designed to explore the physical form, opening itself up to debate on sexuality and philosophy. It adopts an interesting sketching technique to outline silhouetted figures

@WHAT.WE.REALLY.WANT An activist project inspired by the Spice Girls song. A platform that gives people a voice to discuss things that matter.

@GUIDEDMAG A creative showcasing for cultured, talented youth in visual and literary arts. An open community with alike passions

@_OPEN_CANVAS Empowering artists who have experienced homelessness, a disability or other adversity to exhibit and sell their work

@KAETHEBUTCHER

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@CHAOSANDTHREAD Abstract style of exploring emotional responses without the constraints of reality. Featuring themes such as Vulnerability, Destiny, and Liberty.

@WHATSINYOURBOX_

@WILDR0SEBUD

A social movement for women's sexual health and satisfaction.

@WEHAVERISEN A page focussing on intersectionality in contemporary society, speaking out for people of all races. Has a strong focus on feminism

@ACTIVISTSCLOTHING

@MENTALMOVEMENTMAGAZINE

A clothing company supporting freedom of speech for a happy world. Wear it, Share it.

@BLKLIVESMATTER The official Instagram for the #blacklivesmatter Global network. BLM is a call to action and response to anti-black racism.

@ALEX_ELLE Author and poet discussing the different walks of life and how we can remain positive throughout

@MENTALMOVEMENTMAGAZINE Global Award winning mental health, well-being, and lifestyle magazine dedicated to YOU!

@THEBLURTFOUNDATION An Instagram site dedicated to helping those with depression and similar mental health illness'.

@ALEX_ELLE

@CREATIVEZINECOALITION @ W H A T .W E.REALLY .WANT

The CZC is a non-profit, philanthropic community of independent zines + publications, dedicated to using art as a tool for activism

Paradox of Humanity... BY TRISTAN GREENO VISUAL BY YEO CHENG DESIGN

A Homosapien is often described as a bipedal

It’s helping a stranger whose name you still don’t know

and intellectual species of primate. Homosapien

to this day, but you think about them all of the time.

is given the name “human” for short, but not every

You’re even thinking about them right now. It’s writing

Homosapien is actually a human being. Human,

love notes when you’re at your happiest and penning

over the years, has changed from being the title

poetry in your darkest hour. All of it is still so beautiful.

of a species to a description of character, and not

Being human is being a never ending contradiction. We

everyone fits the bill to earn the right of being

seek love and acceptance but find comfort in misery

called a human depending on the perspective

because it is the only thing we’re most familiar with

you’re looking from.

and the only thing that has remained consistent. It’s smiling at 2 pm because the sun is out and your

To some, being human is to be a compassionate

shadow is limited to nothing more than an outline. It’s

individual. To others, being human is to be a violent

crying at 3 am because your shadow has engulfed you

and destructive being. So, what is it to be human?

in a veil of darkness. It’s clinging to life yet fantasizing your own demise. It’s finding all the things that make

The answer to this question is that there is no answer,

you complete but facing the desire to self-destruct at

but the one you come to find for yourself. From my

a moment’s whim of happiness.

perspective, which is sitting in a booth at a restaurant and observing the interactions of those around me, I

Being human is to be a flawed yet beautiful paradox.

have come to a conclusion that being human is a vast

To be human is to carry through life in a whisper and

number of conclusions. Being human is an everyday

shouting your name into the void at your highest

decision between right and wrong. It’s walking past an

moment so that it’ll echo through what remains of time

old, homeless gentleman on the street and offering

and space. Human is what we leave to the world after

him food or to buy him a warm coat for the winter.

the last Homosapien is extinct.

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THINK-PIECE FEATURE

dear diary

that's the problem, isn't it... what he thinks of me is what I think of me. i'm literally that wrapped up in caring for his needs and wants and happiness that I am becoming nothing. i am beginning to realize I am merely the shell of his desires. i am just a source of his contentment whenever he needs me to be. and isn't that sad, that I can't stand on my own two feet? that I'm so petrified of standing by myself and watching a man walk away. i will do anything to make him stay even if I don't want him too. i don't want him to stay because he rips me apart. i don't want him to leave me alone to the silence. but... when he does stay I rip myself apart with loneliness. and then it's me that picks up the shards and tries to glue them together with another man's empty promises

another lonely girl

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longing and necessity

TODAY IS THE DAY I MOURN MY THIGH GAP...

VISUAL BY BROOK GOSSEN @BROOKGOSSEN

WRITTEN BY MADELINE STOCKS @SSUGGARRMADDYY

"The thigh gap is a diamondshaped gap between the thighs that is visible when a woman is standing upright with her feet together. The thigh gap obsession is an alarming new trend focused on achieving and maintaining this space between the thighs, and it’s particularly prevalent among females who are in their teens through their early 20s." - Winnie Ma // Her Campus Once upon a time lived an adolescent girl, aged 14, whom had just entered the world of 'fitspo', 'thinspiration', clean eating, and striving towards "the way skinny feels". This 14 year old girl was bombarded with endless 'motivational' weight loss pictures and workout schemes, reminding her that nothing is better than a thigh gap, her level of self-worth is reliant on how she looks, and worst of all, how she is not worthy of any happiness until she loses at least 5 kilos in the next 2 weeks.

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THIGH GAP?

I MOURN THE ABSENCE OF MY ONCE HIGHLY HELD TROPHY, MY THIGH GAP.

because that's the only way people would like her, if she was 'beautiful'? SPOILER ALERT The 14-year-old girl is me five years ago, at the start of what I didn't know to be the most dangerous journey I have ever experienced. For five years I have tried to embrace recovery, to embrace my real body, to let my body weigh exactly what it This young woman then decided needs to weigh to feel all of the joys of life, but this ideology that thinness, her unfortunately, there has always been one thing appearance and most holding me back; my thigh gap. Today is the day importantly her thigh gap, was that I mourn the absence of my once highly held trophy, my symbol of success, my thigh gap. going to be her life-long goal,

My thigh gap has been the symbol of "beautiful" and therefore "success" for so long that I have dreaded letting it go. I have felt that the moment I let my thighs touch I would be the epitome of lazy, ugly, stupid, unsuccessful and unworthy of love. Because of this warped ideology, my worthiness to be human, my worthiness to experience love, support and happiness is reliant on a thigh gap? I have been my own worst enemy. I have been constantly degrading my existence, been hurting myself emotionally and physically for five years just because I believed being attractive meant everything. I have been the silliest girl for the duration of this period, and today is the day I let this silly girl go. As much as I regret using the word 'mourn' for this occasion (because it means I let such a self-indulgent, toxic and extremely silly aesthetic aspect of my body rule my way of life) I believe it is the only way I can clearly describe how I feel.

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The imagery of a thigh gap has been hovering over my thoughts, my visions and my psyche every second of everyday, controlling everything I did, everything I ate, and telling me everyday that without it my life would be a mess. A thigh gap to me has been the one thing still holding me down to my old life, where maybe, just maybe, if I tried hard enough I could lose some more weight and then people would like me more. I would have more friends, I could probably get myself into a loving relationship, I would be a high achiever at University, be the leading dancer in all of my routines and most importantly, get more followers on Instagram. I mourn this gap between my thighs because it isn't, and hasn't been just a gap, it has been every aspect, every decision, every moment of my existence for the last 5 years. This gap was once a part of me and now I am letting it die. Today I mourn my thigh gap, I let it slip away, I place it in the folder of 'once upon a time' because that's exactly what it is; a symbol of my tiresome, negative past practices.

In all honesty, I think of my thigh gap quite often, wondering how useless I am now that my thighs touch. But just as often, even more actually, I remember how many more happy, joyous and wonderful moments I have without it. I know it seems quite silly that I have let something so small be a major issue, something that I have depended on for happiness and reassurance so often, but I can't change my past, I can only change my present and future. And in order to do that, I mourn my thigh gap and welcome a new Maddy. One who is nourished, eats carbohydrates, drinks wine, will choose to read and lay over working out when I feel like it, wear tight clothes even though society says she probably shouldn't because she isn't a size 4, but most importantly, she is a happy Maddy who is finally attempting to let her body weigh exactly what it needs to weigh so that she has enough energy to smile, laugh, give and receive love. The real Madeline Stocks does not have a thigh gap, she never should have had one, and she will hopefully never have one again. So in case you missed the little metaphorical lesson above here is a slight recap...

Also, remember a woman's biological makeup NATURALLY involves us carrying body fat around the hips, thighs, and booty. In some cases attempting to achieve a thigh gap healthily is just like trying to change your eye color without contact lenses, aka. it is just not possible. You need to start remembering all of the great aspects about you. That feeling happy, feeling love, feeling an abundance of gratefulness means that your body is getting nourished, therefore, you will most likely not have a gap between your thighs. Now I am not saying that this journey towards self-love is as easy as it sounds. It has taken me five long years, quite a few relapses and an abundance of break-downs to come to the realisation that I don't need a thigh gap to feel complete.

A thigh gap is not a symbol of happiness, it is not What I am saying is, I hope after tied down to your morality or shows you how reading this, you can come the good of a person you are. A thigh gap does not conclusion a lot faster than I did, mean you have control over your life. If anything, because a life, a world and a it means that you have hurt yourself, you have journey revolved around purposefully manipulated your body in such a way moulding parts of your body to that it stops living in its natural form. A thigh gap is fit a certain criteria is exhausting not a trophy, it is a cry for help and the next time and a waste of your time. you hear someone mention it in a romanticised YOUR THIGHS DON'T DEFINE YOU form, remember that a thigh gap means nothing - Sugar Maddy to your overall existence.

Visual by Brook Gossen

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SKIN.

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KATRIN P.

D U R I N G

O F

M Y

G E T

T O

T H E

C O U R S E

T R A V E L S ,

K N O W

Q U A L I T I E S

M O R E

A B O U T

M Y S E L F .

JOURNEY TO YOURSELF

Pursuit of Humanity Sometimes it’s only far from home that you realize you you’ve got skills you’ve never used. It’s travel that brings them to the surface and makes you smile, satisfied to have reached the mountain top, or crossed a gorge, or helped a villager clean up after a storm, or even to have successfully ordered a meal at a rural Chinese restaurant.

Kindness. Compassionate. Considerate.

Yes, with many dangers surrounding us, it is

Understanding. Sympathetic. Tolerant.

easy to forget where we all came from. Love.Where is the Love? as the Black Eyed

These are the characteristics that humanize

Peas once said. People forget about love and

us. But where do we learn how to be all of

focus on being suspicious of others.

these things? I’ve discovered it within myself when traveling. Whether you are wandering

“Oh! You look a little different to me!”

through the streets of Bangkok, hiking the

“What is that covering your face?”

world’s highest mountain in Nepal, or

“You must be different, you must not know

meditating in Bali one of the most serene

what love is, you must be evil!”

places, you’re bound to encounter these characteristics and better yet, relate to them.

The media doesn’t help either in this case. Media tells us one side of the coin, however, I

With ongoing armed conflicts in a handful of

know it is my choice whether I want to see the

the world’s corners, I can’t blame people who

reverse. Sadly, most people don’t know this

think the worst about our world right now. My

and they chose to live in fear. I choose

parents always remind me to be vigilant

otherwise.

wherever I travel, because you never know

what might happen or what could happen. You

The first time I went travelling by myself, solo

might suddenly be in the middle of a terrorist

travel is the fancy term, was actually a few

attack whilst trying to enjoy a music concert

years ago. No, I am not a savvy solo traveller

in Manchester, or you might stumble upon an

who claimed to be a digital nomad. I am just a

illegal transaction while exploring the streets

regular girl who happens to enjoy travelling on

of the Philippines.

her own and now I am addicted to travelling!

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WORDS KATRIN P.

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Why, you ask? When I travel I can be whoever I want to be. Whenever I meet people I can say my name is Linda instead of Katrin. I can say I am a student, instead of a teacher. The beauty about that is no one will know the truth because in two weeks, BOOM! I’m gone. Interestingly, I never wanted to be anyone else but myself when I travel, because during the course of my travel I get to know more qualities about myself that I never thought I had. Now I know that I like to eat breakfast no matter what. I’d rather buy a slice of bread from the nearest 7/11 than go hungry. I know that I don’t care about the touristy place that everyone visits. I only care that I am having a good time. Not only now do I know the menial trivia about myself, but I have found pride in my heritage. Travelling makes you feel happier than owning expensive things. You’ll find out that you don’t have to travel in style or luxury to feel happy. You just have to go. That’s the beauty of traveling. You become in touch with those characteristics that are buried deep inside you, especially if you visit a developing country. To see the struggle of the people trying to make a living will make you appreciate what you have. You’ll be reminded that first world problems are not problems at all. You will learn how to problem solve, you will learn to rely on your instincts, to listen to your gut feeling, and more often than not, you will make the right decision.

Katrin is a language teacher who has a travel blog. Katrin loves languages and traveling. She’s

Travelling doesn’t make me forget about my

lived and studied in 3 continents and been to 13

responsibility back home. Travelling reminds me

countries. This summer she will be checking her

of that responsibility and gives me another

bucket list of traveling to South East Asia. You

outlook of how I can overcome it. Travelling

can find her at her blog: www.katzakatza.com or

makes me kinder towards others, more patient

her IG to see the pictures that she takes:

with different point of views, and most importantly

@katzakatza8

it makes me feel alive.

IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU STAY TRUE TO YOURSELF.

Visual by Lamiaa Ameen

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MELANIE MARTY:

WRITTEN BY @CRAZYBOUTREADING_

A blink of an eye and a tilt of the head. The hand that traced the curve of the jaw was also the hand that wiped the tear. Water in forms or was it blood in water? What if that didn't exist? The blood, the hands, the organs. What is left behind without the physical body? She'd heard of a thing called soul. Was it the soul that just counted then? That which differentiated one from all? The chest heaved as she took a deep breath. She could not grasp where did this all come from. Surely the soul did not own the body. But what else would explain this that existed without the organs. The voice in the head that never stopped making sure you're never truly alone. The void that seems to appear in life when other bodies depart away from ours. The realm of possibilities that is always open, changing every second based on every action. The places that one goes to when the eyes close, into the worlds that are created without any physical base. She took another deep breath and blinked. Splashing some water on her face, she looked in the mirror one last time and left the bathroom to go back to the mechanical world with its robotic existence. Where humans didn't seem to question themselves at all, or ponder upon what made them who they are and why!

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MERE MUSINGS

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"LABELS ARE FOR JARS, NOT PEOPLE.HUMANS LIKE TO PLACE LABELS ALMOST ON EVERYTHING. LET`S BE HONEST. BUT WHY?" —KSENIIA OSADCHA Black, white, looser, geek. In my case it was ginger or even sometimes rust headed. What are all these words? They have nothing in common at first sight, but I must say that it`s all our well‐known labels which people in all centuries have freely used to "describe” each other. Even nowadays things are not better. Humans like to place labels almost on everything.

Why? Personally, I think that it gives people a sense of order and it is the way of distinguishing things, BUT people are not things. We are human beings first and foremost. We forget the main meaning of the word “label”. It is just a piece of paper that you place on something to identify its content. And so isn`t it unfair to put labels on people.

page | 03

We need to be aware of our

And sometimes we can change

than unfair. It can be

tendencies to only see surface

our opinion about somebody

hurtful. The most ridiculous

value and correct this by

and that is normal too. We have

thing I can ever think of is to

looking into the curve. Some

at least one thing which unites

stereotype people you have

people are strong enough to

us and it is a secret power. A

never ever met. It reminds me

look past the label that others

special feeling, an universal

one example , just think, when

project onto them, but in some

language which everyone in

you are in the supermarket and

cases it can even break

the world speaks. LOVE. It

you see a container of food

somebody`s life and that is not

should be the most important

with a huge bright label on it.

a joke... We are all different and

thing in our lives and the

Will you buy it without looking

that is amazing. The world is so

universal language/religion.

inside it? It is very hard to

big and multi- faceted and it is

Let`s create a new world. A

judge the contents so we don't

great to know that somewhere

world where all people are

buy. So why we are so

in the world lives another

equal, free of all prejudices and

thoughtful about food yet so

person with completely unique

labels. A world ruled by the

unfair to people. The person

cognisance . We must not

power of love.

may have a wonderful

judge people just because they

personality but we do not give

are not like us. Thomas

Of course the issue of labelling

him or her the chance. We just

Jefferson once said that all

is a difficult one, and almost

assume the label and believe in

men are created equal. Just

everyone is affected by it. So, if

it. Labeling makes us blind. We

imagine, if we fully understood

you are effected, hurt and

see the outside but refuse to

the meaning of this phrase. For

influenced by others labelling

look within. Yes, putting labels

me it means that regardless of

you. just always remember that

has become natural for us, but

our nationality, regardless of

we were all born brilliant,

do not say that it is our human

our ethnicity, regardless of any

wonderful, and beautiful in our

nature. We were born to love,

other aspect of our identity, we

own ways.

not to hate. It is just our own

can do and be everything that

choice because people like

we want. Let`s assume also the

searching for the easier ways in

fact that we can be sometimes

life.

wrong. That is normal.

The most important labels, and the right labels are those which you give yourself.

Liora K Photography

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The use of labels can be more

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Resurrection

I blamed everyone for hurting me when it was really me doing all the damage and being selfdestructive to the point that it led me to my own demise. Once I stopped to think, I realized some people were hurting me but above all, it was mainly me hurting myself. By allowing them to get away with it and convincing myself I am all of what they say. And here I am writing this because I am torn between the end of me and the resurrection of a better me. - I was doing all the damage. Written by Kathleen Shumack Visuals by Judit Orosz @judit.illustration

I always try to go a little further. That is the reason why I try to look for risky compositions, with a touch of surrealism. Hide Series

Cover Series

interviewed by us! First tell us a bit about yourself. D: My name is David Rodríguez. I am 39 years old and I am from Spain. From an early age, I have always been attracted to the art world, but my love for photography didn´t start until 2013, the year I bought my first reflex camera, and I began to explore my attraction to art. Shortly afterwards, I began to train myself through several courses, and also in a self-taught way. While I was studying, I discovered new photographers R: How do you feel your work discusses 'What Makes Us Human'? D: I like to photograph people, I feel very comfortable doing portraits, but I always try to go a little further. That is the reason why I try to look for risky compositions, with a touch of surrealism.

Fresh Series

Water has always been a source of inspiration for me. Series like “Fresh I and II” “Pool” or “Drops” are clear examples of this influence. It is possible that because of living in an island, it has always been a very common element in my life. I always work with people and how they behave with the environment. The interaction between the human being and the water (in any of its forms) is a recurrent theme in my works. It is fascinating to observe this relationship, to see how they move, what they do, what they may be thinking or feeling, because I believe it is very different from other species. "Fresh" and "Fresh II" represent this idea. The series "Pool" (2017) is the logical continuation of the series "Fresh", 2016. About a year after, "Pool" moves us to one of those summer days in which the sun and the heat reign. "Pool" is inspired by the paintings that David Hockney dedicated to the swimming pool, in which the different scenes are developed around one. In this series, the minimalist compositions predominate, the geometric forms and the luminous colors, where the water and its movement have a special stardom. In these photographs, we see people enjoying life. The pool represents a safe place, away from the hostility of the city and an escape from the suburban lifestyle.

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DAVID RODRÍGUEZ

R: Thank you David for agreeing to be

Cover Series

D: The scenes that are shown are quite “daily”, giving the photographs a certain costumbrismo, something very typical of the suburban lifestyle. The characters that appear in them are totally unconcerned, and seem to be enjoying a quiet pool day. We see them immersed, swimming and playing in an idyllic environment full of vivid colors in the purest pop art style. The series “Hide” and “Cover” explore some human characteristics, such as the loss of identity or the fear of being shown as you are. These photos are full of symbols. The protagonists are hidden because they are afraid of being seen by a society that does not accept them, repressing their feelings and behaviors. R: Is your work inspired by any other artists?

Pool Series

D: One of my favourite photographers is Guy Bourdin. There is a photo of him that fascinates me enormously. In the picture, there is a girl under the water with her eyes and mouth open. The first time I saw the picture, I was enthralled with this image instantly, and this is how I came up with the idea for the "Fresh" series. Then, I did the shooting taking advantage of a summer day in which the sun was at its peak. Works like those of Man Ray, Erwin Blumenfeld or David Hockney inspire me immensely. R: Do you have any opinions underlying your art?

R: What advice would you give to artists trying to break through into the profession? What are the hardest parts of following this career? D: We live in a strange time. Since the beginning of the commercialization of integrated camera phones, many people consider themselves "photographers". In part, there is some truth in it because most people can make a good photograph, either with a mobile or a reflex camera. But, taking a few good pictures is not enough. Behind each series, there is a very meticulous work. Since the idea starts, until you expose your photos to the general public there is a long road full of contradictions, doubts, uncertainties and above all, much work. Constant work, self-belief, and creativity make a difference from other photographers. This is the advice I would give to all those artists trying to make it through this profession. The hardest thing of all this is to maintain perseverance. There will always be people asking you why you do this or that, or why you do not do something different.

D: I believe that art must be something popular that is within the reach of the whole world. This idea is taken from Pop Art. For me, it is important to connect with the viewer. I may sound selfish, but I have a need for the photos I do. First, I believe in my works, so when I think I got something good, the feeling of sharing it with everyone else invades me. I like to transmit emotions with my art and to observe how spectators conceive it. A photograph, like a movie, or a novel has to convey some meaning, and that is why I seek to transmit emotions. R: Is there anything you're currently working on? D: Soon I will begin to prepare a new series of blurry photographs in full colour, which is possibly my most ambitious work to date. The photographic series will be composed of surreal portraits in which the characters will be dressed up with old costumes.

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Fresh Series

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Visual by @arttape

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Complimentary Destruction

Piercing yellow and purple, complimentary colours fight a married couple Does love last ? The scarred hand doesn’t know it’s worth, place in the world Scar again Dionysus’ sister would Petrified-laughing, destructive Slicing layers of sobs Mum wears rubber gloves, sat at the computer Mouse clicks Now I wear the gloves too big by far for my hands but I’m trying to understand Chuckle, laugh, shake because this is what you have made yourself Smiling deftly picking flowers, lives cut short but they’ll look so beautiful on your windowsill Written by it is what we do, so enjoy it Amber Bardell look around you, progressive and good This poem is about many things but loosely involves trying to understand people and emotions, human relationships with nature and each other. I write very fragmented poetry to represent the confusion of my mind, often starting sentences with ‘and’. As I have lost most of my faith in humanity due to so much happening politically across the globe, art is my catharsis.

Are dreams pointless to the soul, Or does it help us to reflect on life as a whole? Written by Paolo Agnilleri Visuals by Michelle Mildenberg

VisionsÂ

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Visions of the past, Visions of a future, Visions of a different world, Watching as it unfurled. Visions of a different place, Living life at different pace. Living life within a dream, These beautiful places that I've ever seen. Living life from a different cast, Living life and living it fast. Tuning in to a different zone, Another place that we can call our home. Another place that I've observed, A beautiful place rich and preserved. Are there many more worlds than this, A distance between a breath and a kiss. There maybe many more, you can swim to the Sandy shore. Take me into a different state, A different place we can create. Logging into our world of dreams, They can mean nothing In the grand scheme of things.

Firsts After first dates And a hand reaching for yours Not like a clasp, Like a vine with fingers intertwined Lips perking up the courage to ask “Why haven’t you kissed me yet” with replied like “I was about to”. So there you are Your body pressed between the cold wall And his Hands no longer responsible for themselves And he tastes like Something undiscovered Because that’s what he is And so are you Pretty girl

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Written by Alyssa Simone Wilmott Visuals by Brook Gossen

Instagram: @ralphsangst