Blitz Magazine | Issue 5 'Masked', December 2014 by Blitz Magazine

Editors' Letter

Hey there good-lookings,

Thank you for picking up the fifth issue of Blitz Magazine. First things first, let us say hello on behalf of Blitz’s second generation. The editor-in-chief does not see herself as a very cheesy girl, so the choice between Autumn Romance and Halloween was made more quickly than predicted. So rather than throwing another basket of bloody horror into your already-frightening month, we offer you a more subtle version inside this Masked issue. RMIT Blitz Magazine 2014 Editorial Department NHUNG(ChiefEditor) Dao Ngoc Tuyet GIANG(Editor) Trieu Hoang NGOC(Editor) Nguyen Minh ANH(Editor) Ly Thao

As usual, the very first item in the menu is the glimpse into your student life. Well, newbies’ perks and the behind-thescene timetable battlefield are soon to be unveiled. Under the intense scrutiny then comes the inexplicably (ir)rational 7 sins of the human nature and the appetite for horror movies. Your fingers will also walk through the sheer force remarking on-campus students’ activities as well as dig into the pool of graffiti and animation artworks. Oh, and we have some tricks up our sleeve, and a few surprises. Everything is still being masked until you turn over this page. Don’t make a pause to jump to the articles quickly. The Rolloween spirit (yeah, just another term for RomanceHalloween) can’t wait to be released! From the eds with love, Nhung, Giang, Anh, Ngoc

The publication is the joint effort of voluntary advisors, editors, designers, photographers and contributors inside and outside RMIT Vietnam.

Content Campus & Career

Art & Entertainment

MAD MEN 101

The question of “Who I am” ?

Design Showcase 2014: Make Your Cut

Gear up, Game on

The Perks of Being Newbie

If I were a Superhero...

Student Work Showcase: MarCom Campaign for Coca-Cola

Where have you been, Student Council?

Destination Saigon

Student clubs’ Corner Linking all professions PLUS- Dare to win!

Japanese Culture Club Reborn

Business Club- 10 Years and Beyond

Enactus Goes CocoNut

Go Global with AIESEC

French Week- A Reflection

Lookbook: Possessed

Decoding C.A.N

Falling in love with the unknown

Banksy and Su Blackwell: Two methods, One direction

Story of Hunter Bros

Rise of Music Festivals

Spirited AwayFrom Fantasy to Reality Culture & Society

When nothing goes right, go to sleep

OMG! That ‘s too scary. Let’s watch it again

All hail the creatures of sins and yes, I’m talking about us

Human of Saigon: Sharing untold stories

Phineas and Fearb: crazily Surreal or Aspirational?

How should a lady behave in love?

Dead comes with changes

Grand Recruitment

Campus & Career

2. Strategy-led or creativity-wise? Neither of these is the right way to position yourself. Truth is, the communication industry has become more and more integrated and so have the expected skills. Thus the new ideal in this business is to be “strategically creative”. Whatever answer you put forward always back it up with a strong rationale. A common question is: What are the current trends in the communication industry? Viral video, the consumer is the medium, branded entertainment - you name it. But that’s not exactly what the interviewer wants to hear. Try to think beyond that. What values make a certain piece of text go viral? Would the insight still be valid if applied in Vietnam? Is there any recurring theme across top-viewed videos on Youtube? Would the content’s appeal enhance or overshadow the brand behind? Pausing for a while won’t matter if you can come back with a strong, evident-based answer.

Interviews tips for soon-to-be advertising freaks Words Nguyen Hoang Vu (*) Mad Men: A term coined in the late 1950s to describe the advertising executives of Madison Avenue. So, advertising folks. The most self-absorbed creatures to exist, yet also the most interesting ones to be around. Just a few more semesters and you’ll become one of them. Well, well. Let’s just be frank, it doesn’t take a Bitexcolike GPA to land a good job in this industry. Some employers don’t even bother to ask you for it. As far as I’m concerned, there are only three touchpoints at which you can sell yourself as a competent ad freak: CV, portfolio and job interview. This article will give you a glance at the last one – job interview – based on my hands-on experience so far, with an accent on the copywriting position. Fasten your seatbelt, because the road is gonna be bumpy… 8

1. Be a sponge, but don’t lose the taste An influential Vietnamese copywriter once said: “You can’t write more than you’ve experienced”. True. As an unwritten rule, being an advertising creative means that you should have some sorts of hobbies beyond advertising so that you breathe fresh air every day. Take time to reflect on what makes you tick - be it the “50 Shades of Grey” novel under your pillow, the fashion show you’re crazy about or the director whose movies turn you green with envy. Anything that projects your own taste. When asked such question, I chose to tell the interviewer about my avid interest in psychology. Of course even an unprepared candidate would still be able to fake an answer on the spot but the difference between blah and ah is how you link your passion back to the advertising context. In my case, I subtly built a bridge between psychological thrillers and consumer behavior throughout the course of the conversation and it worked pretty well.

Nguyen Hoang Vu is currently a Junior Copywriter at The Purpose Group, which consists of four integral agencies: BMC, Mash, Mindcaster & The Window. Before that, he won some industry-related competitions such as Vietnam PR Concepts 2012 & Young Bloods 2013.

3. Think campaign, not tactic Whether you’re a copywriter or an art director, at the end of the day you’re expected to be an idea creator. So instead of spending 20 minutes crafting a tagline or a key visual, use your time wisely to conceptualize one big idea that answers the given brief, then translate it across various media. Oh, did I tell you most employers would throw you a brief at the interview? 4. I write, therefore I am Less often, you’ll be asked to write a copy or two (in my case, three). Have fun with it. The weirder the request, the quirkier the response. If you have time, practice these real questions:

Vu was also the very first editor-inchief of Blitz Magazine.

Sell me the color yellow Persuade the poorest man in the world to lend you money Promote a premium trip to Thai jails Tell pet lovers why they should eat dog meat

would go for the planning or creative pathway. So I framed my torn-between-the-two situation in a way that sincerely expressed my willingness to learn both. Guess what? A new breed called “creative strategist intern” was born!

5. Back to the future Nothing is more predictable than being asked here do you see yourself in five years in a job interview. Be brutally specific. A creative director? No. One of the top creative directors in Vietnam? Still no. One of the top five creative directors in the local above-the-line market? Yes, please. Sometimes it’s fine to be confused about your future, as long as you find the right way to tell your employer. When I applied for an internship at The Purpose Group, I didn’t know if I 9

Words Le Ha Long (RMIT Career Development and Employment) When the Career Centre was approached to write an article for Blitz with the theme of Masked, my first thought touched various roles that I acted in plays during nursery and primary schools. I would pretend to be different people doing different jobs; the most common characters were painter, policeman, doctor, and teacher. It was my first experience of exploring different careers. I started recalling my student life and thinking about my “so far” career journey. It is like a continual cycle of Explore – Experience – Engage or I would call it the “maturing process”. In this article, I would like to share a part of this process and my personal experience. The First Stage - Explore I am an explorer and love trying new things. I was lucky to study in the UK more than 10 years ago. I chose not to be afraid; I faced my own problems and focused on being happy with who and where I was. I enjoyed myself, made friends with many people. I did not feel shy to ask questions. I could feel that I was growing everyday mentally and physically.

Circle of Explore – Experience – Engage

I worked as a volunteer in the English Language Study Unit (Loughborough University) which had been the most exciting experience; I also met many people from different backgrounds and cultures. This drove me to discover cultural differences, customs and habits. I started to perceive daily events and encounters differently and all these interactions help to shape who I was becoming and who I am today. In essence, the UK exploration was probably the most important step toward

my current life and position at RMIT. The Second Stage - Experience In my last year at university, I faced one of the biggest challenges: applying for graduate jobs. And the experience stage began. Firstly, for international students in the UK, if you want to work, there are limited choices of companies to apply for because of the work permit. I decided to apply for audit positions at Ernst & Young and PwC because I was good at mathematics although I did not want to be an accountant. Secondly, I had another dream. As a young man, I always wanted to travel and be thought of being a flight attendant. I applied and was offered a position as a cabin crew member for Emirate Airlines. I remember the pen day, there were hundreds of young, bright professionals turning up from around the globe, each of us had only one minute to introduce ourselves and present our CVs. The recruiter asked me to describe myself in three words; my answer was “pleasant, fun and caring”. 11

In the end, I didn’t pursue the audit nor the flight attendant career path because after I researched the industries, I realised they were not for me. I continued to study my master’s degree in International Management. The Third Stage - Engage With a master’s degree, I returned to Vietnam and worked for a couple of organisations including a state-owned company and non-profit organisations before joining RMIT as an internship advisor. I had opportunities to work with different stakeholders of the university, from academic to industry and students. Hence, I think again about my two earlier stages: explore and experience. What if I had not explored and experienced? How would I know what I like or do not like? Even now I am still asking myself questions of who I am and what I like. At first, I thought it was a problem; surely I should know the answer by now! But then I realised it is OK not to know. What I do know is that right now I love my job and my students, especially when I walk around campus and bump into those who I have advised. To listen to others’ progress and future plans makes me happy. There is no barrier between students and me. I am like an older brother helping my 12

younger sisters and brothers achieve their dreams for a prosperous and meaningful life. Because I am only a few years older than most of you, I might be able to provide a unique perspective because I understand how difficult student life can be, especially when it comes to answer the question of who I am and how to find a career path. You can find me anytime in the Career Centre; I would love to talk with you and share my experience. It is totally fine if you still do not know what you want and what career path you would like to take, as you can see a lot of people including myself still searching for that answer. It is a learning journey for our whole life. We just need to do it over and over again by exploring, experiencing and engaging different opportunities given to us.

RMIT Design Showcase 2014 Make your cut A bolder, deeper and more sensational RMIT Design Showcase will be back this November.

Awards ceremony will take place on Time: Tuesday, November 18th 2014 Venue RMIT B2- Sydney Theatre

And it will never end! For more information, please seek out styleguide in the link below: https://mekong.rmit.edu.vn/designshowcase/

Continuing the success of the very first Design Showcase in 2013, the Design Department is now launching the second edition of showcase at RMIT SGS Campus from October 13th to 23rd, 2014. The showcase again encourages students to submit their personal projects and school assignments. For the school assignments, the judges will only accept those with a DI or HD. But don’t panic just yet, if you didn’t get a DI or HD, you can revise and then resubmit your work. However, personal works are preferred. Submissions are available in six categories: Communication Design, Illustration, Interactive Design, 3D & Animation, Film & Motion and Photography. Photography is a new category this year and is open to students who took the course. The top artwork in each category will be selected by Design lecturers and professionals in the advertising industry. Based on the quality, the Gold, Silver and Bronze prizes will be awarded accordingly. Through this event, the Design Department hopes to promote students’ work as well as the culture of design, which is the passion for creation. Another goal is to encourage personal and out-of-school projects and stimulate links with the industry in Vietnam.

Have you ever celebrated an event on your own, in which your family doesn’t care and even sleeps through it? No? I’m sure you experienced one but can’t think of it now. The event I am thinking of is held every four months yet won’t take place for your whole life. It makes you feel frustrated sometimes but eventually you befriend it. It is the ‘Student Timetabling System’, or STS. Choosing a timetable has become a tradition of RMIT students. This is one of the few occasions in which there is no difference between seniors and freshmen, Vietnamese and foreigners, males and females. Whoever is involved in this event can feel irritated at first. Yet in retrospect, this event becomes the footprint of student life as it covers unforgettable situations. 1. Until now nothing has been officially disclosed about the rules of assigning enrolment dates. The lucky ones will be allowed to enrol 2-3 days ahead of the others. However, the priority to enrol early does not always make you the luckiest among friends. Imagine that you are the first to go and are satisfied you have the ideal timetable. Then your friends, who choose the groups several days later, can’t join the same classes. Your ideal schedule is ruined! You have to change to be with your friends. Anyway at least you can work as a team with them which is more important.

conversations are all about enrolment! Someone suggests using Chrome and Firefox; the others say it would be better with Internet Explorer. In fact, when the evening comes, you go crazy and care nothing about the best browser. You use all of three for your enrollment. Surprise! None of them help you win the game until the sun comes up. If you are lucky enough to finish soon, you still fail to keep the promise to enrol for your friends. 3. If the OES page loads fast, it’s not always a good sign. Your timetable is fixed based on agreement among your friends. Yet, your preferred group is not taught by your favorite teacher. The group chat is then full of opinions, resulting in a brand new timetable. Unfortunately, the OES turns out to be very slow againnn! 4. Many people choose to give up right after the first few trials. They feel irritated at competing with 499 other students at midnight. They leave it to God or fate to decide their groups. The fact that the enrolment night is one of the most unpredictable moments in a student’s life makes it memorable. Some win, some lose. Here comes the excitement. There comes the tragedy. It is the moment of emotion convergence: Happy. Jealous. Worried. Indifferent. Overall, it makes RMIT student life unique.

2. About half an hour before the G-time, you are in a Facebook group chat with close friends. Guess what, the 14

“Wanna develop yourself in the most active way and make your youth plus energy worthwhile? Join us!” “Wanna have meaningful moments during university time? Join us!” “Seeking a professional working environment to prepare for your future job? Join us!” Yes, being a freshman or not, most students are likely to feel the obligation to engage themselves in at least one club or organisation in university. On the first Thursday of every semester the most awaited event, Club Day, is filled with slogans and piles of leaflets. A student would go home with a handful of those papers, wondering which clubs to join and which positions to apply. Probably you may think:Yahoo, I’m about to work through busy days! I will be cool in many ways and become popular in school someday! And you make use of every bit of spare time after studying to get a chance to work with your club(s).

Then, you start to realize that quality always outweighs quantity. You are multitaskers working in different positions in different clubs. And when the events are over, hardly anyone in those clubs remembers your face. At the end of the day, it is not worth your while and you decide to drop some positions. It does not mean that you simply give everything up; on the other hand, it means that you realize the importance of building relationships with people you are working for.a Do what you love most, enjoy your time with those people and truly become part of that family. Isn’t that cooler?

It takes about one week to wait for the result. And there will be another “Yahoo” when you are recognized as an official member. Sadly, half of the semester has passed and your timetable is full of the events you planned six weeks ago. You feel something is missing: passion. You get confused and look around for solutions. 16

Words Vu Do Mai Uyen

Lukas Parker, Marketing lecturer “I’d be Astro Boy, because he’s my childhood hero.”

Ly Ngoc Diep, International Finance lecturer

Interviewers Dao Ngoc Tuyet Nhung Dang Minh Tuan Sophie Nguyen

Ramona Slusarczyk, Professional Communication lecturer “Since I consider myself fairly independent, I’d like to be Catwoman. Her favourite weapon is a whip and I really fancy the idea of using it whenever someone cuts me off in the traffic. This could possibly make me a street superheroine of Saigon.”

Loic Bertrand Chichester, Design lecturer “When I was a kid, I dreamt of being Spiderman. He’s a photographer as well. I like climbing, that’s why I like Spiderman. I used to climb on the walls to be like Spiderman.”

Todd Rogers, AEP Placement Test Examiner

“I would be a witch, not those witches on broomsticks, but someone like Maleficent, so I can use magic to do whatever I want.”

“I’d be Superman, because I think he’s the strongest superhero.”

Melvin Fernando, Marketing lecturer

Nguyen Duc Minh, Financial Markets lecturer “I don’t have any superheroes in mind. Hmmm… I want to be a sports hero, who can play sports very well. Maybe a tennis hero, like Roger Federer.”

“I’d be Tony Starks. Well, he’s got super power and he’s got style. Unlike Superman, he’s got power but looks like a nerd.”childhood hero.”

Student Work Showcase

MARCOM CAMPAIGN FOR COCA-COLA Course name Marketing Communication (MKTG1257) Team members Ha Duc Duy (s3426355) Pham Chung An Kha (s3373222) Luong Le My Khanh (s3426358) Do Minh Quang (s3373206) Duong Khanh Nhu ( s3410181) Brief Coca-Cola is one of the top beverage brands in the world which holds the largest market share in the Vietnam’s soft drink industry. Coke targets at people from 15 to 40 years old who live in Vietnam and willing to seek for excitement as well as entertainment. The campaign’s purpose is to maintain the strong position in the local market and defend market share from key competitors such as Pepsi.

IMC Plan

handles on both sides for 2 people to play together. Players push down the handle to rotate a series of 3 reels which have Coke’s pictures on it. Prizes are randomly picked by Coke’s staff depending on the number of Coke’s picture appear. To add to the surprise, Chi Pu will suddenly appear to give prizes to winners and take pictures with participants.

Celebrity Endorsement: Chi Pu, one of the most favourite young Vietnamese celebrities, represents the characteristics of the IMC theme and also shares some similarities with the target audience (young, active and want to have fun). Advertising: Online: Teasers: Youtube, Facebook (Youtube link: http://youtu.be/x8swnWml6eQ) Pop-ups: Phim14.vn, HayhayTV, hotdeal. vn, anhtrang.org, and HaiVL.com. Banners: Zing.vn, Kenh14.vn, VnExpress, Vieclam24h, Phunu Online, Vietnamnet. Coca-Cola’s website

IMC Objectives To reach 40% of the target audience To enhance Coke’s image in Vietnam. To increase sales by 50,000,000 units at the end of 2015 (including cans, bottles and glass bottles)

Outdoor: billboards

IMC Theme “Open Coca-Cola, share happiness”, which means “Uong Coca-Cola, chia se niem vui” in Vietnamese. Coca-Cola wants to pour out the happiness to people and let them share happiness together by playing game and get surprise prizes.

TVC: VTV3, HTV7, YanTV Public Relations: Social media: Facebook, Youtube Roadshow: “Open Coca-Cola, share happiness” The “Coca-Cola lucky machine” is set up on a truck and designed with 2 21

What’s your vision for the new SC? Our vision is connecting students and making them feel proud of being RMITers. Internally, we are finding the best working procedure for subsequent SC generations to inherit and follow. Externally, SC will create as many practical activities for our students as possible.

where have you been,

SC was a bit quiet last semester. What have you guys been up to?

student council? Interviewer Dao Ngoc Tuyet Nhung

After a few timetable clash glitches, I finally got to meet Tang Ho Hong Diem on a sunny Tuesday morning. She is a down-to-earth person who is passionate about her new role.

Can you tell us why you nominated yourself for the role of Student Council (SC) president?

Yep, we’ve been preparing for new projects, including relaxation area, a helmet station, a guide book called IKA (I Know All) and a small charity event. We also planned to continue the Walking with Your Umbrella project but with a whole new look Colour Your Umbrella, Colour Your Life. From this project, SC wants to deliver two messages. The first one is “Little acts, big happiness”. With the new concept, we hope that RMITers can share their umbrella with fellow students. By doing so, they not only help each other but also break the ice to make new friends, have someone to talk to on the way and make connections. The second message is to raise students’ awareness about returning and preserving the umbrellas. New stands will be made

so that people will take better care of the umbrellas. These projects will be carried out this semester to make up for our “silent” semester B. What else is new this semester? SC is focusing on reforming student club activities. We will support all clubs to organize bigger and more effective events. Exciting events, such as Halloween and Christmas Prom, are also in the planning process. Is there anything that SC’s been concerned about? As we all know, RMIT students are different from those studying in Vietnamese universities. We do not have big class sizes or the same timetable, resulting in temporary relationships rather than long-term ones. We play with our own group of friends and do not care about the surrounding societies. Therefore, SC would like to enhance and boost the quality of student clubs to bring to our students fun and useful activities. Thank you and best of luck on your journey ahead.

At first, I didn’t intend to. However, after a long time feeling lost in life, receiving RMIT’s scholarship marked an important turning point for me. I can see how considerate RMIT is but I don’t think many students can. That said, I wanted to make a difference and being the next SC president would help achieve my goal. 23

Destination Saigon Living and studying in Saigon has been an experience unlike the rest. The RMIT Vietnam campus feels like a home away from home. Everything runs the same way and even the buildings look the same as Melbourne, but on the outside is the chaotic and colorful world of Saigon.

Some memorable moments from exchange at RMIT Vietnam by Emerald Josselyn Cowell

Your day-to-day life doesn’t change that much in terms of things. I still wake up and have breakfast every morning, except now I have fresh mangoes or lychees and café sua da. I still get transport to university every morning, except now I ride a motorbike along with millions of other Saigonese. And I still meet my friends for dinner and a drink at least once a week, except dinner is now an abundance of noodles or broken rice with BBQ meat for only two dollars and beer is served on plastic stools in the middle of the street. One of my favorite things about Saigon has been its people. If you take the time to appreciate Vietnamese culture by learning a little bit of the language, stopping to ask a question or even trying a new street food, then you will be appreciated back by everyone. I have met some wonderful people at RMIT Vietnam who have taken the time to show me around the city and what they love about Vietnamese culture. Living in District 3, I am surrounded by the ‘locals’ of Saigon. There’s my milk bar lady who gives me traditional Vietnamese snacks every time I see her, and her granddaughter who practices her English with me by yelling “Hello Emerald!” every time I walk by, and the Banh Mi lady who doesn’t speak a word of either English or Vietnamese but simply says hello but creating the biggest grin on her face you can imagine.

My two favorite people of all are Mr. Vu my eighty-year-old neighbor and Mi Hung my xe om driver. These two sit all day long in our alleyway chatting to the locals and observing the world go by. Mi Hung would do anything for me, not only does he drive me wherever I need to go when I’m not riding my own bike, but he buys me rain coats and new helmets even when I don’t even ask. Mr. Vu is the only man in our neighborhood who speaks fluent English. Together we share café sua da and stories on the street. He tells me all about his experiences of escaping from North to South during the Vietnam War, and I tell him all about Australia and my family. Both Mi Hung and Mr Vu always stop me on my motorbike on my way home to investigate what fruit I have bought and whether the mangoes are good enough to eat, or to check my bike is running okay and my tires are pumped up enough. It is small things and wonderful people like this that make going on exchange such a memorable experience.

Student Clubsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Corner

Realizing this common shock between ‘classroom’ and ‘reality’, in 2013 RMIT Vietnam Accounting Club (AC) organized a networking event called Linking All Professions (LiaPro) to create a career fair that facilitated students’ future job application process. As one of the biggest events of AC, LiaPro brought valuable experiences to students in a professional atmosphere, yet the friendliness and close interaction remained.

Ever heard your seniors compare the job application process to Hercules conquering the 12 labours in Greek mythology? Seen too many qualified, fresh graduates struggling to find a suitable company? Well, the reality is not far from their exaggeration. Whether you’re in the first semester or looking for a job, it’s never too early to prepare yourself for the competitive job market out there.

Successfully organized for the first time in December 2013, LiaPro gathered around 600 students from many universities all over HCMC including the Foreign Trade University, the International University, the Banking University, the University of Science and Technology, etc. LiaPro brought to the event representatives and alumni from 30 companies and organisations in the fields of accounting, economics, marketing, and IT, such as IPA, KPMG, Nestlé, Intel, CPA and Unilever. Activities during the event included a discussion panel, an interview simulation and networking time where participants can directly talk to industry people and broaden their networks while grabbing chances for further job applications.

is a real battle where each person has to equip themselves with enough knowledge and skills to win. LiaPro+ wants to simulate the job arena and prepare participants with what is necessary for job applications. With more specific sessions to be held such as a skill training workshop series and a business case challenge, LiaPro+ promises to set up a solid ramp to encourage students to step out of their comfort zone and get ready to conquer the challenges. ‘Dare to win’ is the slogan this year. AC hopes to bring more job opportunities to RMIT students and support them with the necessary information and skills. The club wishes to promote itself as a friendly club not only for RMIT students but also university students across HCMC. Save the date! November 2nd, 2014 Convention Centre, 272 Vo Thi Sau Street, District 3, HCMC So do you dare to take part in this battle and win what you deserve? Follow us at www.facebook.com/Linkingallprofessions.

What’s new this year? The event has been renamed. Now with the brand new extended version LiaPro+: Job Arena that goes with the message: Job market 28

“No, don’t take us too seriously. Take us as a family, come to have a good time and leave whenever you need space.” That was what Cuong, the first president of the Japanese Culture Club, told me when we had a small talk about the club’s image.

Japanese Culture Club Reborn Words Vi Vi

It was here. Then it popped off. Now, it is reborn, stronger than ever.

Even though the former community regarding Japanese concepts had ended up kicking the bucket, senior BIS student Phan Nang Cuong and his friends still wanted to bet their fortune on a risky idea: to set up a brand-new corner for Japanese values lovers. Breaking through all the paperwork and waiting impatiently for approval since semester A 2014, this ‘planned child’ has finally become a part of RMIT’s club society under the name ‘Japanese Culture Club’ (JCC). Unlike its predecessor, JCC focuses on the modern cultural values that are widely loved among young adults. I know what you’re thinking: You’re going to talk about the tea ceremony and the kimonos, aren’t you? But have you heard of Maid Café before? “This. Is. So. Interestingly. Weird.” was what exactly popped up in my mind when JCC launched this special event. For days, there had been stutdents dressed up in French butler and maid costumes, going around serving everyone snacks and drinks. RMIT’s food court had been transformed into a real-life

manga scene which usually one can only witness on papers and screens. Honestly, where in RMIT can you find a president that does not mind his image and wears a cat bell, making a joke about himself so everyone can gather a bag of laughter? Plus, age doesn’t matter in this “family”. Evidence? The current president of the club is a ‘95-born active girl voted in by the JCC family members thanks to her promising vision for the club. My curiosity about how they’ve learnt from scratch and dared to take risks was partly satisfied. Our convo ended after a bunch of questions with the most unexpected words: “Even if JCC fails and Cuong wants to rebuild everything, I’d still love to stand by him and finish my mission”, said Nhat Thanh, vice president of JCC, another person who’s been with the club since day one. 31

Words Trinh Le Dung In August 2014 RMIT Vietnam Business Club (BC) celebrated its tenth anniversary.

Business Club

10 years and beyond

With more than 50 participants including members, alumni and executives from Student Council and other student clubs, the 10th Year Anniversary Party was the day for BCers to remember, to share memories of previous years and also to hope for the upcoming journey. Let’s explore 10 fun facts about BC: - The FIRST anniversary of BC, “Five Years Look Back” Ceremony, was held in 2009 in Melbourne Theatre; - BC has organized lots of internal and external events. The TWO largest are Marketing Challengers and LogistiCom, national competitions attracting many participants; - There are THREE departments in BC: Human Resources, Research & Development and Marketing; - At the 1o-year anniversary party, it was a pleasure for BC to have the attendance of FOUR former presidents; - In order to release a total new brand identity this semester, BC members had

to work for FIVE semesters; - The first time BC changed its logo was SIX years ago. Back then, one more color was added and BC’s logo now contains three main colors: black, white and red. - Nearly 70% of BCers are female. This fact makes the boys feel special when becoming a member of the club; - From 2004 to 2014, there are EIGHT generations of executives; - Every year, BC holds approximately NINE projects that are academic and entertaining; - 10 years, throughout a long journey, BC keeps striving for more. Happy 10th Birthday, RMIT Business Club!

“BC was the place for me to learn, to play and to grow. It had given me the most professional environment, the best of friends and the greatest opportunities to fully enjoy and make the most of my university life. Thank you BC !” Nguyen Thao Vy BC’s former president (2012-2013)

Words Pham Ngoc Bao Thoa

Coconut Project

Last semester, Enactus ran different projects, including “Coconut”, “The Rest Home for Vietnamese Old Artists”, and many others. The Coconut Project had great impacts on people in the community. Specifically, the targeted person in need in this project is Mr Khoe, a coconut seller in Trung Son area in District 8.

Founded in 2009, Enactus RMIT SGS has implemented more than 20 projects with the aim of improving lives of people in need. The difference betwen Enactus RMIT and other social projects is the “sustainability” factor. By applying business knowledge in reality, Enactus members have opportunities to enhance critical thinking and problemsolving skills in real life, which ultimately helps their later career.

This seller is currently living under standard conditions, having financial difficulties that he has to make ends meet by selling coconuts in the mornings while studying in the evenings. Enactus made great efforts to improve Mr Khoe’s business by turning him into a professional coconut retailer for universities and high schools, enabling him to earn a better income. Up to now, the project team has made

significant achievements in supporting Mr Khoe to become RMIT Global Cafe’s coconut supplier. This is a very first step to build up a stable income for the targeted people in need of Enactus.

Coconut Week

Coconut Week was held at the SGS Campus to introduce the Coconut Project to RMIT students. During one week, students received a food combo of Global Cafe with one free coconut. The campaign has successfully received positive feedback from the RMIT community. For further information, visit Enactus RMIT SGS’ Facebook page: www.facebook.com/EnactusRmitSgs.

GO GLOBAL WITH

GLOBAL CITIZEN PROGRAM The Global Citizen Program offers university students opportunities to volunteer abroad, and live and work overseas as a global citizen. In this program, students work on projects implemented by AIESEC or other NGOs. The duration of this program is six to eight weeks.

After 5 years of development, AIESEC RMIT Vietnam has been considered as a professional community which receives a huge support from the RMIT community. Currently, AIESEC RMIT is offering students three main programs: Global Citizen, Global Talent and Global Passport. AIESEC RMIT Local Chapter takes pride in their professional performance, experiences and achievements, which contributes to the advantage of giving them the outstanding position from any other organization at RMIT.

Through this program students have the opportunity could gain many benefits and meaningful memories during their university life. They will deal with social issues, have a positive impact on a in foreign country and give a hand to make a better world. In addition, participants could also discover new things about their destination. This is such a chance for university students not only to work in an international environment and gain necessary soft skills such as negotiating, presenting and teamwork but also to expand their network worldwide.

GLOBAL TALENT PROGRAM

The Global Talent Program provides students and recent graduates with opportunities to gain experience in internships abroad. Participants will take challenging journey to build a stable foundation for their future career. The duration of Global Talent Program internship is from three to 18 months, according to the requirements of the companies available. Students can choose to intern in any countries in the AIESEC network as long as their profiles meet the companiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; criteria and requirements. There are four main career fields available for the interns to apply for: Marketing, Business Administration, Information Technology and Education. Thanks to this program, young Vietnamese students could gain many benefits regarding professional development and cross-cultural experience.

GLOBAL PASSPORT Global Passport is a long term project conducted by AIESEC RMIT Vietnam to create an effective environment for students in learning new languages from the beginning to upper level. The courses are six weeks long with the aim of giving Vietnamese students the opportunity to interact with different cultures. Additionally, when doing the courses at AIESEC RMIT, students Tcan participate in many interesting cross-cultural festivals, explore their personal potentials and make new foreign friends.

To welcome French National Day (July 14), the International Club brought French culture to the SGS Campus with three main activities: French food tasting, an art exhibition and movies. In French Street Food, the club offered beautiful, delicious and cheap waffles to RMIT students and received lots of positive feedback from RMIT-ers. The French Gallery was the main activity of the French Week. The gallery was a combination of an art exhibition and an academic workshop. The Sydney Theatre was full of modern art pieces 38

created by a French artist living in Vietnam. Visitors were also hooked by a one-metre high miniature Eiffel Tower made of paper. As well as video clips introducing the audience to France, Ms Caroline Nguyen, our Marketing lecturer from France, also delivered a fascinating speech on French culture. The French Gallery’s visitors enjoyed the decoration as well as the artworks. Visitors commented on the amazing art and the event’s professionalism. People also appreciated Ms Nguyen’s presentation in which she shared precious information and experience about the French unique culture. In the last activity, the International Club showed an interesting movie called A Monster in Paris and received the feedback that it was cute, fun, and very “Frenchy”. 39

For more international experiences in the future, join us at icrmitvn@gmail.com or https://www.facebook.com/IC.RMITSGS

DECODING C.A.N words Do Nguyen Thanh Truc

As you guys might have heard, C.A.N is a non-sport club opened for RMIT students, alumni and staff. Yet, there would be something you are still unclear about C.A.N.

FYI, C.A.N stands for: C = Community: You get the opportunities to run national charity trips and events for international organisations. A = Action: Looking for real life practices? Your knowledge and abilities are put to the test when doing projects for CAN. Now, your skills and enthusiasm can make the surrounding community a better place. N = Network: Besides certificates and new experiences, being a CAN-er brings you more friends and chances to meet up with top leaders in Vietnam. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why this year, CAN opens recruitments for all RMIT students to apply as our core members in departments such as Human Resource, Design, Program, Marketing and Finance & Logistics Departments. For any further inquiries, feel free to contact us via: Email: rmitcan@gmail.com Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/RMITCAN. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t hesitate because our exciting Charity Trips are coming!

Arts & Entertainment

Falling in love

with the unknown Words Nguyen Viet Ai Nhi

A favorite of teen girls and young female adults, paranormal romance taps into its target customers’ minds by using the most popular theme in the history of literature and poetry: love. But love in this case isn’t portrayed in a simple manner; it’s tailored by mysterious elements to leverage the story. Novels in this genre have not only the bittersweet feelings of teenage love but also slices of the world that are beyond imagination, which brings readers into something more abnormal than their everyday life. Everything is possible in paranormal romance; it’s the place where the most unbelievable dream comes true. In short, paranormal romance helps readers’ imagination take flight with its “signature ingredient” – the supernatural world – while still keep the core universal theme – love. Here comes Halloween, the most mysterious period of the year. It’s the perfect time for young readers to sink their teeth into paranormal romance, a book genre featuring love stories between human beings and supernatural creatures which has always been an appealing concept for young readers around the world.

Many of the most popular paranormal romance books feature vampires and werewolves, the two most common supernatural creatures. This leads to the fallacy that the genre is only about these two beings, and that it is one-dimensional and uninformative, especially after the enormous success of the Twilight Saga. However, paranormal romance is not all about vampires and werewolves. Indeed, it presents a powerful messages about love: Loving someone doesn’t mean you’re weak or vulnerable; love gives you strength, power and courage to do everything to save your loved ones and keep them safe. That’s why Damen – an immortal, the main male protagonist of Evermore, the first book in the Bestselling Immortals series by Alyson Noel - has the patience, courage and strength to live through hundreds of years, just to finally find and keep the love of his life – Ever – after she has lived and died life after life. And that’s also why Patch, the fallen angel in Hush, Hush – the first book in the New York Times Bestselling Hush, Hush series by Becca Fitzpatrick – refuses to kill Norah for his personal purpose, because he has fallen deeply in love with her. 53

Those two world-famous series about immortals and fallen angels don’t indicate that vampires and werewolves are losing their hot status in the genre. Shiver, the first book in the bestselling Wolves of Mercy Falls series by Maggie Stiefvater, also features werewolves, but in a different and more “human” way. Those werewolves cannot control their shapeshifting ability; when it’s hot, they stay human, but when it’s cold, they turn into wolves. Sam Roth, the main character, doesn’t consider being a werewolf as a powerful thing but as a curse, and there’s always a battle between the animal and the human part inside of him. He tries to hold onto his humanity as long as he can, just to be with his love, Grace. This detail once again stresses the consistent message of the genre and presents a unique perspective on the supernatural world. It focuses on the more human side and emotions of the supernatural characters, making the story more compelling, heartwarming and also painfully beautiful.

Banksy and Su Blackwell: Two Methods, One Destination words Nguyen Hanh Minh Chau

Let’s think about the urban passages in our tumultuous city. Instead of walking by street walls on which appear offensive comments and scribbles, imagine passing by bespoke graffiti pieces and that could lift up your mood for the day. Then think of all the magic realist books you have read but been unable to sketch out the depicted dreamscapes. Imagine what would happen if the books’ spirits were to be awaken as the pages were moulded into the fantastical scenarios you once wished to visit. Imagine no more, let yourself be fascinated into the graffiti and paper-sculpture worlds of Banksy and Su Blackwell, who have brought the dormant urban and literature sphere to life.

Paranormal romance has always been a favorite book genre for teenagers and young adults, since it targets teenage love, a universal theme, with a magical background to lift up the readers’ imagination. It doesn’t always focus on showing off the breathtaking beauty or superpower of the main characters but also shows the humane, emotional edge. This breathes new life into the genre and the universal message about love. With hundreds of writers and books published each year, paranormal romance promises to continue thriving, enchanting and mesmerizing its readers with its unique ideas and a world beyond imagination.

tumultuous (adj) - chaotic, full of noise and confusion bespoke (adj) - specially made for someone

The colliding pathways Despite similar approach to monochrome imagery, Banksy and Blackwell are artistically polar opposites: Banksy’s manifested visions rely heavily on contemporary social and political affairs, while Blackwell’s paper sculptures are devoid of reality and constantly in seek of levitating reverie. The latter is moulded within academic training, influences from literature themes and classic fairy tale designation, contrasting to Banksy who started his career on the side walls of urban streets and spent half of his time running away from the police and legal vandalism-related issues. Further, while Blackwell’s intricate sculptures take forever to produce, Banksy’s works on stencils and spray paint are often accomplished within a few hours. Despite these divergences, ironically enough, comparable research has suggested an superimposition between the two artists as well as their works, though they themselves have not realized these similar patterns. First and foremost is their upbringing in the popularized pop art of 1970s and 1980s (though there is no certainty regarding Banksy’s real age, but his career timeline suggests he was around the same age with Blackwell) which have provided both the foundation of line works and craft-involved practice. Though Blackwell chose to follow an academic path in one of the most prestigious European art colleges and Banksy literally started off on the streets, their roads to success again coincided. The notorious Banksy phenomenon captured international 56

Banksy and Blackwell: gender representatives attention to his graffiti exhibition in the US in 2009. That same year marked Blackwell’s rising reputation for book arts followed by a grand solo exhibition in central London and her successful engagement with fairytale storybooks. Her paper works, with a combination of fragile subtlety and architectural appeal, have significantly contributed to contemporary craft art. Meanwhile, Banksy enjoys his success as being not only one of the most profitable artists but also an aspiration for anti-elitist and anti-capitalist mannerism. One is a graceful dreamer. One is an exotic adventurer. Yet there again appears an akin interest between the two practitioners: their fascination with innocence loss and childhood agonies. In Blackwell’s words, her sculptures “tend to lean forwards young-girl characters, placing them in haunting, fragile setting to express their vulnerability of childhood, while also conveying a sense of anxiety and wonder”. Likewise, it is quite apparent to recognize the repetitive use of young characters in Banksy’s wall paintings that discuss environmental and political issues. “Park(ing)”, for instance, suggests the exploitation of land leading to childhood invasion of lacking an healthy atmosphere and outdoor activities, while the iconic “Balloon girl” symbolically represents the death of hopes and innocence. Thus, Banksy and Blackwell’s artistic inclinations, as different as they appear, are unravelled as modernist synthetics of monochromatic art, handcrafts and a compassionate

It is not an overstatement to suggest that Banksy and Blackwell represent the innate differences between two genders. With her delicate paper cut and attentions for details, isn’t Blackwell the prototypical example for women at works, whose femininity and perfectionism become the core keys for success? And guys, don’t you just fall in love with the masculine boldness in Banksy’s artistry, not to mention his unprecedented activism in both political and social commentary? (Well, I know that Justin Bieber just got Banksy’s The Balloon Girl on his arm, but that is another story relating to the theme childhood removal mentioned above).

Additional interesting facts Blackwell actually uses the method of laser cutting for her sculptures, instead of total hand-cutting. Banksy produces all stencils ready for a wall he wants to paint to produce the final pieces quicker. Blackwell’s fairytale-based sculpture often takes from four to eight months to accomplish Banksy once was nominated for an Oscar for best documentary

Words Dang Minh Tuan

Once upon a time, there was a pair of twin hunters named Treasure and Scavenger, who befriended children from all over the world. They went on exciting and memorable adventures together, exploring the world around them. The brothers looked alike but were actually quite different. While Treasure took children on a journey to find the most valuable item with the help of various clues along the way, Scavenger asked everyone to join him on a hunt to collect different items and accomplish assigned missions.

Suggestions for Scavenger Hunt Missions and Items: # Do yoga in a fast food restaurant with a stranger # Teach a stranger how to do a break-dance move you just invented # Have a body hair waxing session # Collect a bag full of trash that you pick up on the street without taking trash cans # Collect the menu of a high class restaurant # Get a policeman to sing your country’s national anthem # Washing a car for free for a stranger # Ask a stranger to marry one of the team members # Collect a handcuff # Piggyback one member while ordering for takeaway food Suggestions for Treasure Hunt Clues # If you push my buttons and use me to call. I can reach really far but I’m not very tall. (TELEPHONE) # I have keys but I don’t open a door. You can use me for files, info, games and more. (COMPUTER) # If you want to learn and grow, turn the page, get in the know # (BOOK) # Time to chill, time to think; please go here for a cool, cool drink. (FRIDGE) # If you want your teeth to shine, pick this up and spend some time. (TOOTHBRUSH) Suggestions for Types of Clues

In order to make progress when travelling with Treasure, participants had to solve several riddles or puzzles that form a sequence to the wanted item, whereas Scavenger crossed out each item collected and the mission was accomplished with items not in any particular order. Anyhow, the brothers aimed to give everyone thrilling and creative actions on the go. To make the exploration even more interesting, they offered fun and unexpected clues for the participants to enjoy. Check out the lists below and see if you’re fascinated or not. 58

Outdoor music festivals are cultural events that have taken place been in of Western countries and the scale is just getting bigger and more professional than ever. Words Hoang Nam Phuong

Don’t go just yet! If you happen to be at an outdoors music festival, consider these small tips: 60

Now Vietnam is taking on this vivid musical experience to all the music lovers (or ravers). Have a look at these two major music fests in Saigon and stay tuned for some survival tips if you happen to attend a concert!

Having sunblock is a must because it’s outdoors and it will be very steamy. You don’t want to burn off your beautiful skin.

Have at least 2 bottles of water. You will get dehydrated from the continuous dancing and singing. Don’t interrupt the fun by being thirsty!

In mid-April 2014, Yan Beatfest was the focal point of the summer getaway. It was described as an authentic all-day outdoor music festival with more than 80 artists. The audience could come anytime they wanted and take a small camping trip with their friends while enjoying some blasting music throughout the day. With special guests as Shayne Ward and British DJ Scott Kirby the venue couldn’t get any more excited! Even though this concept is still new, there will possibly be another one because our Vietnamese audience is craving more!

Find an opportunity to eat while you can. Usually at the venue there will be food counters but if you’re not sure about your digestive system with those junk foods I’d suggest you eat at home first.

Ravers? Are you up for this? To be clearer, raving - the specific term in EDM (Electronic Dance Music), is all about living up to the music ‘til the very last! Being the very first original EDM Festival in Vietnam, Future Now Music Festival was organized in June and hooked more than 10,000 EDM lovers all around Saigon. With a boom blasting DJ lineup from SlimV & Nimbia to Apster and Afrojack, the fans were treated just right and their ears were filled with progressive house and trap for eight hours straight. And of course, our EDM fans are still rooting for Hardwell, Avicii, Zedd and even Martin Garrix for upcoming shows in the future, who knows! We’ll just have to wait!

Dress for the best! You’ll be taking lots of photos throughout the day and if you’re lucky you can have a selfie with your top favourite DJ backstage!

Finally don’t forget to swing the music and have fun! You only live once, why miss all the good stuff! 61

SPIRITED AWAY

FROM FANTASY TO REALITY

words Hoang Nam Phuong

Movie soundtrack, that’s surely one of the elements that determines the success of a movie. The melodies keep the audience concentrated on emotional flow, as well as endless imagination by listening to the movie score.

Joe Hisaishi - the familiar face of Studio Ghibli as well as the main score composer-conductor for the Japanese animated movie Spirited Away - has swept away the creative minds of the audience with his music. The movie is about the unexpected journey of the 10-year-old girl Chihiro when she steps into a magical world and has to work at a witch’s bathhouse to save her parents. Hisaishi shifts the listeners’ emotions from feeling tranquil to startled, loved to worried, and worried to relieved. That’s one of the very few special traits of Hisaishi, he knows the best for his music based on the movie plot. Each piece is different from another and almost none of them is repetitive: every piece is written for a special scene or a particular timeline. Take “One Summer’s Day” as an iconic example, the music is soothing and slow at first, but then towards the end it accelerates the rhythm and all of the instruments are blended in together, creating a rushy kind of feeling, as Chihiro is about to step into a fantasy world. As for “Sixth Station”, it is considered to be slow paced and peaceful to hint Chihiro’s loneliness when sitting next to No Face and Yubaba’s little son on that train. Plus, the train is abnormal. All of the passengers are unknown with hidden faces. The piano

plays a special part in this piece, bringing the audience to a whole new level of solitude. The ending theme song “Always with Me”, on the other hand, is written in a joyful taste, full of love and care. As the lyrics say:

“You call out to me from somewhere within my fragile soul Your voice like fantasy, telling me to keep on dreaming I can’t stop these tears from flowing, or the ache inside my heart But on the other side of sadness, I know I’ll find you waiting there”

Chihiro and his friend Haku has a special bond with each other. Haku doesn’t seem to remember who Chihiro is but in his heart, it feels like he has known this little girl before. In the end, they reunite and look out for each other as brother and sister. Despite the darkness, they find peace and love in the other’s heart. Without the music, the movie wouldn’t be successful. Without the music, there wouldn’t be imagination and such fantastical world. And without Joe Hisaishi, the man behind the magic, there wouldn’t be such excitement, delicacy along with joy in the listener’s heart.

Culture & Society

words dang minh tuan & dao ngoc tuyet nhung

He wakes up, it’s dark, just like always. After finishing some cooking for the day, he leaves for work. He gets across the street, catches a bus, gets off after an hour or so and walks to the restaurant where he would be starting his part-time job soon. In the afternoon, he gets on another bus to go home after work is done, re-heats some food for dinner and, occasionally, he would attend some meetings if needed. And that was a typical day of his during these past months.

Commuting by bus, he has no other choices but to depend on other commuters to notice him when his bus comes and when it’s time to get off. Sometimes, he may get lost after being dropped off at a wrong station. And yes, it’s even worse when it rains. But that, too, doesn’t matter.

His name is Vinh – a visually impaired student at RMIT Vietnam, who has just recently received a full scholarship from our university.

“So, what really matters after all?” “Your attitude,” he says.

Everyday, he cooks. Sometimes it may take a while for him to locate all the misplaced cooking utensils, but that doesn’t really matter.

People with disabilities have long been portrayed as being incapable of doing many things. They are dependent and

always need help. But wait… How wrong would it be if we assumed that this was true for all people with disabilities! Sadly, these pictures are sketched not only by non-disabled people, but also by the disabled themselves as well. Often, they hide in their shells and stay away from the outside world. Vinh, with a great optimistic outlook on life, tells a different story. He always believes that if somehow things are not as good as it seems, it’s ok to complain. But the thing is, what to do after that? Gets your sh*t together! Still can’t? Shake it off, get

some sleep and try to find a way out of it when you wake up. Because feeling bad about the situation won’t get you anywhere out of that mess. Truth is, there are talented individuals out there who can do amazing things but let so many invaluable chances slip out of their hands. Vinh wants non-disabled people to change their perceptions of people like him. He also wants the disabled to change their passive look on life as well. Vinh can do it. So can they.

Words Dang Minh Tuan

OMG! THAT WAS TOO SCARY! LET'S WATCH IT AGAIN!

Ray of light #1 – The need for stimulation and sensation Well, simply put, we have the tendency to seek something that excites and gives us intense experience if our life is a bit too uneventful. This explains why horror movies are the most attractive to young audiences, since middle-aged and older adults already have had enough headaches with their life. And yes, I’m talking about heartbreaks, divorces, unemployment, financial problems and pregnant teenage daughters. It is also said that the excitement we get from watching horror movies is similar to riding a rollercoaster

or bungee jumping. It’s fun, nerve-wrecking and definitely a great mood-lifter. Although these movies generate negative feelings at first, the pleasure of relief at the end offers us enjoyable sense of escapism from the real world. Who wouldn’t love that, right? Ray of light #2 – The need to manage terror What could possibly be a better way to deal with your fear than actually facing it? Saying that, horror movies do indeed help young people to control fear. A person will learn to cope with unfamiliar aspects of his environment, which may be frightening, by suppressing their feelings, displaying bravery or seeking protection from the others. This also explains why horror movies are often watched during dates. Teenage boys tend to enjoy a horror film more when their

female companions express fright and in need for protection, whereas the girls would enjoy such movies when their male companions show a strength. Yet this doesn’t disclose why some people enjoy watching horror films alone. Furthermore, although some people love horror films because of the thrills, there are some who literally cannot stand such intense experience - but they still crave it. So the exact explanation for this behavior

remains mysterious. Nevertheless, with several theories having been proposed now and then, we may solve this puzzle one day, eventually. Who knows! If you have any hypothesis, don’t hesitate to share it with us!

Is it human nature to resent things that we dislike and fear? We don’t eat food that we hate. We don’t mess with people we’re afraid of. We definitely won’t get near things that we believe harmful. Yet, some of us enjoy watching horror movies, with our eyes closed three quarters of the time, only to be unable to sleep at night and go to the toilet alone. So what is it about such genre that can captivate so much of our interest? If you’re already curious, don’t forget to hold your breath. Here comes some light to shed on this mystery! 68

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ALL HAIL THE CREATURES OF SINS! AND YES, I’M TALKING ABOUT US

Perhaps we all have been through that one time in our lives when there always seems to be a lot of desires and negative emotions that keep on bugging us, making us tremble and even sneaking into our sleep. There is often something so enticing about relaxing and doing nothing while there are tons of things that should have been done long before, or that tiny bit of hatred lifted in our hearts whenever we see someone’s better than us in a particular way. We’ve always wanted more, be it material possession, power, sexual release, and, of course, food! Then we may get angry and out of control, or we have an undying need to save our face as “shame” has never been a word that exists in our vocabulary, never! Does that ring any bell? If yes, then let’s enter the deadly seven sins of human-beings: pride, wrath, greed, envy, lust, sloth and gluttony. Simply put, pride is considered as the original and the most fatal of the seven deadly sins as well as the generator of the other six. Pride is the excessive belief in one’s own self-esteem, the state of feeling so proud and admiring oneself without much consideration for the accomplishments of others. Wrath indicates the uncontrolled intense feelings of rage and/or anger, which may be self-destructive, leading to violence and feuds. Wrath can manifest in several different forms including revenge, impatience and self-hatred such as drug abuse and suicide. Greed, gluttony and lust are all sins of excess, which highlight the desire to acquire more than one actually needs. With greed placing emphasis on the need for material possessions, gluttony is the over-indulgence or over-consumption to the point of waste, particularly in respect to food, which may imply a sense of selfishness. Lust, which is really not just about people doing the boom boom bang in bed in terms of sexual desires, also extends to the intense needs for fame and power. Finally, envy is the desire for someone else’s traits, status and abilities, while sloth is not only defined as physical laziness but also spiritual laziness – or failure to do things that one should be doing. We may all have experienced one sin or another or even all of them at one point during our lives. Instead of feeling bad about ourselves for committing acts of sin, it’s better to see it as a process of self-development: how we grow and how much we have changed until now. After all, we’ll never be able to achieve virtue without being creatures of sins in the first place, will we? Below is a bonus list for the upcoming Halloween.

Sins Pride Wrath Envy Lust Gluttony Sloth Greed

Punishments in Hell Broken on the wheel Dismembered alive Put in freezing water Smothered in fire and brimstone Forced to eat rats, toads and snakes Thrown in snake pits Put in cauldrons of boiling oil

different negative media impressions has made the general public afraid of the social environment around them. Not only do the stories help raise awareness about social indifference but sharing them can also bring back the human connection that we may have forgotten. After two months officially running the HOSG, we realized that there are always stories waiting to be heard and shared. For people to open up, we just need to genuinely listen. We realize how influential social stereotypes and prejudice are, especially when we want to see others with an objective eye. This project has profoundly helped us discard the “lens of judgment and presumptions”, strike healthy curiosity, see through a person’s demeanor and appearance, and pursue stories that made someone the person they are today.

Inspired by Brandon Stanton – photographer and founder of the popular page, Humans of New York, a group of young people started Humans of Sài Gòn, a project aimed to share inspiring stories of ordinary people living in the city. “Listen now. When people talk listen completely. And always think of other people.” - Ernest Hemingway Coming from various backgrounds and being inspired by the astounding Humans of New York project, we gathered together in June 2014 with one vision: to begin Humans of Sài Gòn (HOSG), recording portraits and stories of the Saigonese. Sounds simple enough, but it is more than just that. We aim to share ordinary people’s inspiring stories and their human values. Although completely worthy of recognition, their incredible stories are not newsworthy enough to receive attention from mass media channels. Sadly, we seem to live in a society that has made us become more distant from one another. Exposure to 72

In that sense, we are earning more than giving. We hope that HOSG can become a mean of self-expression for everyone to relive their emotions and thoughts. We want their invisible lives to be seen and appreciated. In doing so, we as a society, can live in a world of compassion and caring. *The team behind this project: Pham Viet Anh Minh, RMIT student, Prof Comm Le Thach Thao, RMIT alumnus, Prof Comm Gum Zhang, Freelance designer Pham Ngoc Hoang Phuong, RMIT student, Prof Comm Nguyen The Hiep, RMIT student, Commerce Tran Huu Phat, University of Technical Education Do Minh Quang, RMIT student, Marketing Han Phan, Arts University Bournemouth Nguyen Uyen Vy, RMIT student, Prof Comm Trang Nguyen, RMIT student, Economics and Finance

It is an undeniable fact that Phineas and Ferb is the embodiment of something beautiful and somewhat unrealistic - yet so worth striving for. Personally speaking, they are truly modern cartoon heroes. Through a Vietnamese student perspective Most young Vietnamese prefer playing it safe to meet the requirements set by their parents and even themselves. They have their own high standards of what deserves respect from others. Studying a certain subject to some of them is gruelling and boring because itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s neither what they are fond of nor what they are good at. Still, they study just to avoid disappointing others, oblivious to having let themselves down by listening to others instead of their hearts. Phineas and Ferb has really been a food for thought for those students and even me. Am I letting a day go by without doing something I prefer?

Words Duong Quang Ngoc As a college student, I admit there are no cartoons that capture my rapt attention. Except Phineas and Ferb. Since the first day I bumped into this series on TV, I have been bewildered as well as brimming with admiration for these two brilliant kids. Frankly speaking, with Phineas and Ferb nothing is impossible, from building a pub for aliens to making a fast-dating machine. Anything that you can or canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t ever imagine all lies in the miraculous hands of these two young geniuses. Most importantly, everything they do come down to two words: enjoying themselves. They never let the summer pass by meaninglessly. They make things for the sake of interest. 74

There is a story on the Internet which claims to reveal the true identity of Phineas and Ferb in real life. It is said Phineas and Ferb were actually killed by a bully and their sister Candace was so depressed that she imagined her brothers were still alive and went through all the adventures together. Every day she tried to convince her mom of what Phineas and Ferb had done but Mom could not understand because the kids merely existed in her head. This explains why Candace was never able to really bust her brothers in the cartoon series. It was a bit heart-breaking listening to this claim-tobe-true story but regardless of its authenticity, Phineas and Ferb have left a remarkable impact on young peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s way of thinking and attitude to life.

I’m an insecure, clumsy and old-fashioned 100-year-old book. I’m not a good storyteller. But if you want a story out of me, I’ll try.

How should a lady behave in love? words Nguyen Ngoc Uyen Cong

Could that even be a heading? Why don’t we begin with the beliefs from the Middle Age? Weren’t men born to be dominant? Hunting? Grasping? Pumping? Isn’t the world going to be a beautiful place if all men gets things their way? Isn’t a modest, and sexy blonde the most desirable of them all? Isn’t it obvious a lady’s top priority should be to glamorize her man? Isn’t she part of the backstage crew after all? Or is it undeniable that health and wealth are all needed for a woman to live fully? Being independent, sexy, self-sufficient Shakira with a happiness that can’t be tamed? Independence – so beautiful a word, and so beautiful a trait? Independence – so free a soul, and so free the bliss, yes? But isn’t Shakira’s happy smile a perfect show? Finding these nonsense? Aren’t women, after all, always more significant than their men? Doesn’t a human being see that all Maleficent ever needed was a loyal male raven-human-dragon-wolf-horse Diaval? Someone who faithfully executes her commands? Don’t the judges see that all a girl ever needs is an obedient man? But is there a man who will sacrifice enough to truly love a selfcentred girl? Finding equality irrelevant? We are all living in a pathetic world, full of assumptions, lies, and sorrows. A world where we are always least talented, aren’t we? Essentially, isn’t happiness a fantasy we always want to have? But we can’t really know if all the people out there are unhappy or not, can we? And don’t forget I’m an old-fashioned, insecure, clumsy and 100-year-old book about love. I know you may ignore all of this and live your own life. 77

Supervisor Tang Ho Hong Diem Advisor Nguyen Hoang Vu Editorial Department Dao Ngoc Tuyet Nhung (Editor-in-Chief) Ly Thao Anh Nguyen Minh Ngoc Trieu Hoang Giang Design Department Vo Quoc Huy (Production Manager) Nguyen Ngoc Phuong Uyen (Art Director) Le Nhat Thanh Nguyen Nhat Khanh Nguyen Thuy Thuc Uyen Tran Ba Ka Tran Tue Uyen Le Anh Hao Marketing Department To Bao Tran (Marketing Manager) Nguyen Thi Phuong Linh Nguyen Thi Ngoc Tuyet Pham Thi Thuy Lien Tran Gia Thuan Tran Que Chi Human Resources Department Pham Ngoc Bao Thoa

Contributors Dang Minh Tuan Do Nguyen Thanh Truc Duong Quang Ngoc Emerald Josselyn Cowell Hoang Nam Phuong Le Ha Long Nguyen Hanh Minh Chau Nguyen Hoang Vu Nguyen Huu Thuy Vi Nguyen Ngoc Uyen Cong Nguyen Viet Ai Nhi Pham Ngoc Bao Thoa Sophie Nguyen Trinh Le Dung Vi Vi Vu Do Mai Uyen

Cover: Natalie S.T. Photographers: Ka Ka& Uyen Tran Possessed Lookbook 2014 RMIT SGS Blitz Magazine RMIT Vietnam Student Council, 2014 The publication belongs to RMIT Vietnam Student Council and is authorised by RMIT International University Vietnam for internal distribution only.