CATALYST: 'TENSE', Issue 5, Volume 5 by Catalyst Magazine

[catalyst] Issue 5 â&#x2020;³ Tense

Contents 6

Letter from the Editors

7 Archive 12

News Updates

14 What Kind of Ancestor Do You Want to Be? 16

Dear IKEA

Three Times More

The Lump

The Enduring Appeal of Analogue

Illustration Essay: Stereotypical

Shell

Petrichor

Conundrums with Simsational

‘Real’ Health Tips

44 Trumble in Paradise: Tension Between Old Allies 48

Meme or Mysticism?

How’s Your English?

â&#x2020;&#x2DC; Samual Finlayson Daves Farm series.

Contributors Catalyst Issue 5 2018 Established in 1944

Contact rmitcatalyst@gmail.com rmitcatalyst.com RMIT Building 57, Level 4, Room 22 Editors Kasia Kosidlo Campbell Mowat Olivia Morffew Graphic Designer Lachlan Richards Typeface Brunswick Grotesque By Dennis Grauel Basis Grotesque By The Entente

Video Claudia Tilley

Back Cover Portia Sarris @portiasplace_

Editorial Committee Jesse Burns Bella Cameron Claire Ciantar Lisa Divissi Ivana Domic Anthony Furci Liza Hughes Maeve Kerr-Crowley Cameron Magusic Elizabeth Maidment Georgia Marchesi Rachel Merritt Kristen Pegoraro Julia Pillai Teja Pothumerthi Giulia Raneri Sarah RobinsonHatch Stephen Smit Jasmine Wallis Callan Walsh Simone West Meg Whitfield Gracyn Willoughby

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Cataclysm EP Jasmine Mee Lee AP Francesca Reid Front/Back Cover Samuel Finlayson, Intense series.

Social Media Portia Sarris Lucie Davies News William Ton Meg Sydes Film, Culture & Music Samuel Harris

Printer Printgraphics Pty Ltd 14 Hardner Road, Mount Waverley, Victoria 3149 Australia P: 9562 9600 Special Thanks To Sydney Road Brunswick Association, Primary Sponsor Catalyst acknowledges that this magazine was produced on the stolen land of the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation. We pay our respects to their elders, both past and present. We also acknowledge the traditional custodians of all the lands from where the stories and artworks were sourced. Catalyst

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Kasia Kosidlo Campbell Mowat Olivia Morffew

Letter from the Editors

Hello again! We’re reaching the end of yet another year and boy did that come around quickly. With all the studying, working, socialising and adulting, life can get pretty overwhelming sometimes. For our final issue this year, we want to explore all things TENSE. In an effort to make the themes original, we sometimes forget they need a little explaining. We’ll break TENSE down for you: past/present/future, grammar, intense, tense muscles, tensions of all sorts... you name it, we’ve got it. But before we dive into the wonderful work of our 2018 cohort, we thought we’d get a little introspective and look into our own past. Go see what Catalyst looked like 10, 20 or 50 years ago, as Portia Sarris collages her way through our archives, starting on page 7. Then, if you’re wanting a bit more nostalgia, flip over to page 22, where Zoe Deka tries to unpack the appeal for old analogue technologies in the digital world. While it may be important to cherish our past, us students also need to be taking control of our future; now more than ever. Check out how Sibling Architecture utilised RMIT Design Hub to tackle the big questions surrounding Australia’s future property market and ageing population, over on page 14. All this talk of the past and future does get a tad overwhelming, so just remember: your fate has already been decided by the stars. Or has it? Lisa Favasso has a thing or two to say about these astrological and mystic schools of thought, as she weighs up the pros and cons of new-age spirituality on page 48. Catalyst

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And for something a bit more inTENSE, be sure to delve into Jason Pearce’s creative piece on page 32. His experimental writing encapsulates the tension between a doomsday fanatic and the ever-changing world around him. Massive shout out to the 2018 team who kept everything running: News, Cataclysm Podcast, Reviews, Video, Social Media, Design. In particular, a huge thank you to the reason the magazine looked so good this year—Lachlan Richards, who headed up the Design Team. It has been an absolute joy to work on Catalyst. Thank you for the great moments— from the visual submissions that made us turn to each other and say, “look at this, wowee,” to the written pieces that struck a chord. And not to be soppy, but one of the best bits has been ~~the friends we’ve met along the way~~. We’ll miss you and hope you’ve enjoyed being a part of Catalyst as much as we have! So much love, The eds Issue 5

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Portia Sarris @portiasplace_

Archive

Portia Sarris

William Ton @williamhton

New Updates In case you missed the student election mayhem, here’s what went down... Student council remains deadlocked RMIT’s Student Union (RUSU) remains deadlocked after the council election in September saw the incumbent Connect party win 12 seats, equal to the 12 seats won by the newly formed Belong party. As this result is unprecedented, the process for a hung council is still unclear and there are many possibilities for what could happen in the elect meeting in mid-October. RUSU introduced an Indigenous Officer in the 2017 election, which brought the council to an even number of council positions. A tie in the council could see a vote for the next RUSU President end in a stalemate unless one party can convince a member from the opposing side to vote for their presidential candidate or members of any parties not attending or abstaining from the vote. The RMIT Student Union Regulations states “the General Secretary shall have a casting vote in addition to their representative vote,” but it has not been confirmed whether this process stands for the elect meeting. If so, this could mean a narrow win for Connect’s Presidential candidate, since the party’s candidate won the important General Secretary position by one vote. Belong’s unheralded performance 2019 marks the first time in Connect’s eight-year history the party hasn’t won a majority of council seats. Three parties nominated candidates in this year’s election, with Connect and Belong being the two major parties putting up candidates for a majority of council positions. Belong managed to pick up 12 council positions from Connect, taking away with their majority in the process. Catalyst

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Left Voice received enough votes to be elected as an alternate general representative. This will guarantee the minor party a seat on council as a general representative once the President and Communications Officer is voted on by other council members. Deals done between parties It was revealed the newly formed Belong had entered into a preference deal with minor party Left Voice during the election. Belong preferenced Left Voice ahead of some of their own candidates in the General Representative, and also NUS Delegates on their how-to-vote cards. Left Voice did not nominate for office bearer positions as they have in the past, only running candidates for Queer Officers, General Representatives, and NUS Representatives. After being elected as an Alternate General Representative, Liam Parry, the Left Voice candidate, told Catalyst News the party had decided to “support Belong for a lot of the other positions” on the council. “We agreed that it was time for a change in who runs RUSU, and we decided to support this change while also maintaining our own explicitly left-wing presence in the union with Left Voice,” he said. Uncontested Positions A number of Connect candidates withdrew their candidacy for council positions after nominations closed, leaving the positions of International Officer, Postgraduate Officer, and City Coordinator uncontested and up for Belong’s taking. Catalyst News reached out to the Connect candidates who withdrew before nominations closed, but have yet to receive a response.

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Kasia Kosidlo

Image courtesy of Tobias Titz

What Kind of Ancestor Do You Want to Be? Something has to change. While we’re waiting around—hoping the retirement age doesn’t keep getting pushed up and we stop hearing about horrific conditions in aged care facilities—we could at least be considering alternatives for our future. Design practice Sibling Architecture recently transformed the RMIT Design Hub into a live research project for New Agency: Owning Your Future. The project explored what housing with an ageing population will look like—complete with thought-provoking (and slightly confronting) questions like: “what kind of ancestor do you want to be?” and “will your house outlive you?” Although it’s easy to feel alienated from the property market as a young person, you have to admit the value placed on home ownership is sensible. New Agency noted that access to quality aged care generally relies on the asset of a family home and questioned where this would leave younger people who won’t have one to sell. So maybe it’s us that has to change. Luckily, Sibling Architecture researched a number of ways of living that you might be inspired by:

Logical family You know how the saying goes, “you can choose your friends, but not your family”. This model flips that. Popularised by gender and sexually diverse communities in the early 2000s, supportive logical families are formed when one’s sexuality is rejected by their biological relatives. “The concept signals that a family is one that you identify with, a family with shared values, goals and responsibilities.” Transient networks You know all the cons of not being able to own your own home but think about a major positive: you’re free to move around. SA found that the Baby Boomer style of road-tripping willlikely not happen to our generation—it needs a whole lotta savings. However, freedom to cruise around could still be possible thanks to advances to automation and driverless cars. Having to stop driving is often tied to a loss of independence in the ageing population, but this might not be a factor in the future. SA also considered what autonomous car efficiencies could mean—redundant road infrastructure being repurposed as public space?

Intergenerational households This one is increasing in popularity—potentially due to necessity. It’s happening with grandparents, parents and kids living under the same roof or young people staying with their ‘rents well into adulthood. SA found it to be a part of many familial cultures across the world, particularly in East Asia, the Middle East and Southern Europe, as well as care facilities like Humanitas Deventer in the Netherlands and Yoro Shisetsu in Japan.

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Q&A - Jane Caught, Director, Sibling Architecture:

What made you interested in the concept of housing in the future? At Sibling, we have a research focus that considers how changing technologies and societal shifts affect the types of spaces and institutions we inhabit; the way people interact with them, and the way they can be more inclusive. We see ageing as an increasingly large issue for Australia that will be indiscriminate in affecting us all. The survey says the answers will be reviewed by Sibling Architecture to develop new concepts for the future of aged living. Do you have any ideas where this might take you? We will be interrogating the survey results and developing potential typologies from the findings. There are so many solutions to aged care and housing that exist internationally, we are really looking forward to understanding why Australia has been so slow to adopt them and also how Australians might be convinced to delve into more community minded housing models. What do you believe is the role of architecture in societal issues like an ageing population? We are living for so long now, it’s important we consider all the different phases of life and where we want to be living for each of them. Architects already have an obligation to design for longevity—perhaps now they need to consider an even longer time frame for the dwellings they create. Architects have an important role in stewardship for the build environment, where many other operators in the field are motivated singularly by financial reward. How willing is the ‘average’ person to change their way of living and housing to be more sustainable? What will it take for change to occur? We are hoping that movements against waste and single-use plastics will expand to encourage people to reconsider consumption behaviours around the home generally. Movements toward a sharing economy that What Kind of Ancestor Do You Want to Be?

helps people consider investing in larger items as a group will also result in more sustainable outcomes. We are keen to start collaborating with people and designing for these new behaviours and their exciting outcomes. Sorry to flip your own question from the project back to you, but what kind of ancestor do you want to be? Unfortunately, we are currently defining ourselves as the ancestors who stood by and watched as the planet sickened and withered away in front of their eyes. I want us to be remembered as ancestors who were proactive, who lead change and turned the situation around. It can feel like owning a home is out of reach for young people, how can we feel more positively about what’s in store for us? The point of this exhibition is to engender a sense of agency in people; to encourage them to think about how they might get around the home ownership issue or how they might develop care networks that mean they will be looked after in later life. Perhaps this means starting to think about living in rural areas or areas outside of the city centre, or perhaps it means cohabitating with friends or family. Whatever it is, it requires one to be proactive and start planning as early as possible. Kasia Kosidlo

Jasmijn van Houten

Dear IKEA

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Dear IKEA,

It’s that time of year again when the postie drops your 300-page home decor bible on my doorstep. I find a spot on my Färlöv sofa, black coffee in hand, and I’m instantly drawn into your glossy pages. You see, your catalogue seems to strike a precarious balance between making myself feel inspired and perfectly inferior at the same time. There’s such beauty in the way the happy Caucasian family drapes itself around their immaculate living room on page twenty-four. There’s an art in the way the Karlstad knitted blanket reclines on the two-seater couch. It matches the cushions, by the way. In the real world, blankets are covered in dog hair and lie bundled in a discordant pile. Yet, when I put the catalogue away, I know I will impulsively try to brush off the dog hair and arrange the pillows on my couch. The catalogue is like how you dress for a first date: beautiful, cute, but effortless—god forbid you look like you tried. Actually, you might be surprised to hear that I’m somewhat of an expert when it comes to your catalogue. While on exchange in Sweden, IKEA was actually part of the syllabus. This has given me with the dubious superpower of sending my friends to sleep by pointing at the Ingleby chair on page four and dutifully informing them that “this chair is part of a longstanding design tradition in Sweden that showcases the natural material…” However, this superior knowledge has not gained me the upper hand when it comes to interior design in the family home. My mum, for example, is the world’s biggest fan of the colour red and forever wants to fill the house with red paintings and carpets and sofas. I always remark to her my opinion that red as an interior design colour should be reserved solely for KFC and bad Italian restaurants, and hold up the IKEA catalogue, showing her an image of a sleek grey living room that our living room should aspire to. She is visibly disgusted. “It’s so… empty.” I refrain from pointing out that it is actually a great example of a little-known design philosophy known as minimalism. There are some battles you can’t win. You’ve always been a part of my life, IKEA. When I was a little girl, trips to your store were incredibly exciting. I’d walk out imbued with vigour and excitement—and with fistfuls of those little free pencils. Now, on the cusp of adulthood, I flip the pages of your book with a different perspective. So, dear IKEA, I hold you responsible for my unrealistic expectations of domestic bliss. But I have to come to terms with the fact that I’ll never marry that beautiful man on the 2017 cover. I’ll never live in an inner-city loft space with impeccable storage solutions. But that’s okay, because real life is messy, and intense, and unpredictable, and our homes reflect that. So I put down your catalogue, put my feet up on the coffee table and invite my dog up on the couch. Which, by the way, is red. — Jasmijn van Houten

↖ Lachlan Richards, Red Sofas.

Dear IKEA

Jasmijn van Houten

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Carynn E-Jin Lai

Bonnie Jarrett @bonniejarrett.jpg

Three Times More

↖ Bonnie Jarrett, The Waterhole.

Melbourne: a multicultural city teeming with footsteps and chatter. The scent of coffee floating about in every corner. A city full of strangers with different faces laughing and lounging in front of the State Library. I walk in this city as a foreigner, soaking up its culture like the people on the grass soak up the occasional winter sun; taking in as much as I can before my time runs out. In 2017, there was a total of 624,001 international students from 194 nationalities in Australia. A recent report shows that there are 11 per cent more international students in June this year. Of these students, 50 per cent are enrolled in higher education courses. I am one of them. Being able to live in a country so different from my own was exhilarating at first. I was excited to try everything and explore everywhere. I thought I could do anything I wanted to with this freedom, but that image shattered when I saw the prices. They were the same as back home with a different dollar sign and a value that was three times higher than my local currency. I Three Times More

lived on my parents’ money and every dollar spent here was three times more for them. Every meal I ate, they could’ve eaten three. The guilt overwhelmed and tugged at the back of my mind. It kept my wallet zipped shut. Cheap sushi rolls on Lonsdale Street and $5 Subway became my go-to meals. “I’ve been guilty since the first time I stepped foot in this country. I’ve always reminded myself on the amount of money and effort my parents had to put through to send me here. […] I’m still trying my best to cap my spending everyday to ease their burden,” says a second-year international student from Malaysia. I became selective with food and groceries, compromising quality for price. Like him, I didn’t want my parents to worry about my expenses as they were already having to pay the hefty tuition fees. C, an international student from China shares the same feeling: “Knowing that the cost of studying overseas is way higher comparatively makes you feel grateful… because you know you are getting more than you should in the first place.” Being able to study overseas is a privilege Carynn E-Jin Lai

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↙ Bonnie Jarrett, Untitled.

I thought I could do anything I wanted to with this freedom, but that image shattered when I saw the prices. that not many of us have, considering that you not only have to pay for tuition fees but also have to fork up money for flight tickets, visa applications, health insurance, IELTS test, expenses, bills and more. I know that if I asked for help, my parents would try their best to provide but I have already been given so much. Asking for more was an option tucked away. If I wanted to experience Melbourne with less guilt, I needed a job. For international students, we are limited to only 40 hours of work per fortnight. Not only that, many of us find it hard to get a job. We get rejected over and over again because we lack local experience or seem like we can’t speak English well enough. With high living expenses, we become desperate and agree to the first option we have – cash on hand. It violates our visa conditions, but I know many who had to receive cash as underpaid workers. With rent skyrocketing in Melbourne, every dollar counts. But, what about students who can’t find the time to work? Hiyori, an architecture student says: “I was guilty spending on everything because materials for architecture are quite expensive Three Times More

and I couldn’t get a job because my course was too busy.” For her, working would mean sacrificing her studies. She could miss a few classes to earn money, but she wouldn’t be getting her fees’ worth. Or she could attend classes and live on a tighter budget. Either way, international students are hardly able to keep up with all the bills and expenses. Many of us wish to stay in Melbourne after our studies but there are so many steps and conditions to obtain residency status that I have no idea where to start. My backup plan consists of doing as much as I can with the time I have left in case I am not able to stay. Work shifts, assignments, extracurricular activities and social events fill my schedule as I nod my head to everything that passes by; too aware of the ticking clock. — Carynn E-Jin Lai

Carynn E-Jin Lai

Callum McCrow

The Lump

Usually when I brushed my teeth in the morning it was as an opportunity to worry about my grades, girlfriend, the gradually growing pudge around my midriff. On a tepid Tuesday last year, I didn’t have time for any of that—a lump was growing on my neck. I didn’t think it was cancer. It had grown too quickly and grotesquely for that. It was large and yellow, sitting to the left of my windpipe and above the collarbone. It pulsed in time with my heartbeat and oozed a healthy pus. Somehow, it looked more alive than me. Turning up the collar of my shirt did nothing to hide it. This wasn’t good. I tried on my biggest turtleneck. The lump still peeked through, but with the addition of a scarf I could hide it completely. It would serve for a while, but with spring terrifyingly close, it wasn’t a permanent solution. I grabbed my phone and called the doctor, making an appointment to work out how to get rid of this monstrosity. There was a bland quality to the doctor’s voice. It came across tinny, almost echoing in the strangely empty office. It felt like the pus of the growth was pressing outward, expanding even as we spoke. I picked at the lump absentmindedly. “Stop that,” the GP said. My hand fell into my lap—my fingers twitched and the lump throbbed. “Sorry.” I replied. She’d been asking me about university, my relationships, and mood. None of it was good, but I don’t really care about that stuff. Yet, her questions made me nervous. My grades weren’t good but at least they weren’t leaking yellow pus onto my neck. “How long have you been feeling like this?” she asked. “A couple of months,” I answered, squeezing my hand to prevent myself from touching the lump. “Dad told me if I ate some fruit and spent time in the sun I’d feel better.” She unsuccessfully tried to hide a disdainful snort. I looked down till she started speaking again. “Usually our first line of defence against this sort of illness Catalyst

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is medication. It can take a little while to find the right dose and type, but I’ve got a few ideas of what we can start with, and you can come back in a week for a review.” My hand relaxed. The lump didn’t seem so itchy now. This could be okay. If the lump was gone in a few weeks, then I might even be able to look good for graduation. It would be nice to make my partner smile again. They had put up with a lot over the semester. One could hope, at least. “That sounds good,” I said. The doctor gave a perfunctory smile. “Usually, medication is combined with a rehabilitative program. I’ll refer you to a practitioner who specialises in exercises for your particular condition. Initially you’ll receive six sessions which should help improve things. Again, we can provide more as needed.” I shifted back in my chair—it made an awkward squeaking noise. Exercises sounded like a lot of effort. I had my studies to worry about and who can truly trust a specialist? The doctor stared at me, as if expecting me to thank her. Not likely. I did want help, but not if

My grades weren’t good but at least they weren’t leaking yellow pus onto my neck. it meant having someone poke around my lump and judge me for having grown it. They’d probably blame my lifestyle, or ask me to touch it and open it up or something. Why couldn’t I just take a couple of pills for a month and then get better? I’d been staring dumbly at the doctor. She looked exasperated. “If you don’t treat this,” she said, “things will become worse before anything gets better.” Now that I didn’t like the sound of. Things were bad already. Since getting the lump I’d only shopped at midnight—mostly for ice cream and hotdogs. Too embarrassed to display my disfigurement in the office, I’d stopped going to work; instead, I had tried to make some cash by filling out online quizzes. It hadn’t been good money. “Would you like me to prescribe the medication?” the doctor prompted. I sighed. I’d already made it to the office and wasted both our time. We may as well get something out of this. “I think I’d like that, thanks,” I replied. It made me feel better. It also made me feel worse. Usually when I brushed my teeth in the morning it was as an opportunity to worry about my grades, girlfriend, the gradually growing pudge around my midriff. This morning though, I didn’t have time for any of that—I was just looking forward to graduation. The lump wasn’t gone, but it was smaller. Other things were looking up too, I was fitter, I’d accepted my grades and at least passed my final tests. My partner noticed the changes and she liked them. It made me happy. In a way, I was thankful for the lump. Something had obviously been wrong, but it was easy to ignore. It took a yellow horror erupting from my skin to get me to see a doctor. I wondered what happened to people who weren’t lucky enough to have lumps. I hoped they had people to ask if they were okay. — Callum McCrow

The Lump

Callum McCrow

Zoe Deka

The Enduring Appeal of Analogue

Three years ago I took a photo of my friend Agustina walking through a park in Vienna. She’s turned her head just so far that her hair is covering her face in part, and has an expression that suggests she might be about to say something. Her eyes look amused, though she’s not smiling, and something about this makes it interesting to me. No matter how many times I see it, I’m still drawn to it as if looking at it for the first time. Professional film photographer Rosie Matheson says: “With film, it’s just about what you see through your viewfinder and your subject. No one else is involved. That shows in the photographs; there’s more sense of feeling and atmosphere. People are intrigued by a slow process. It means more.” Not all film photos will catch my gaze and draw me in like the photo of Agustina though. There’s a French philosopher, Roland Barthes, who expresses why this spectrum of photographic engagement may exist. In his 1980 memoir-like essay Camera Lucida, Barthes inquires into the nature of photography as an entity of its own—beyond representing its subject. Barthes’ writing is from the pre-

digital era and when considered against Matheson’s words, it coheres exceptionally well. However, an amateur like me doesn’t shoot for the spectator and my most valued photos bear no composure, skill or content that correlates with my personal attraction to them. Barthes focused on two main concepts to express what attracted certain individuals to particular photos and used the Latin words studium and punctum to contextualise them. The studium was the source of intrigue to the viewer, and a feature or context that most likely highlighted the photographer’s intentions. Because the format of analogue encourages a photographer to spend more time curating the image, the intent of the photographer is more immediate to the viewer, creating more intrigue, therefore demanding greater attention. The second term, punctum, is more abstract. He describes the punctum as the element of a picture that “pricks” him, “bruises” him, and is “poignant” to him in a way that cannot be coherently articulated to another, as they may not see it themselves. In his words: “Yet, among those [photos] which had been selected, evaluated, approved, collected in albums or

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The Enduring Appeal of Analogue

Zoe Deka

magazines and which had thereby passed through the filter of culture, I realised that some provoked tiny jubilations.” Obviously, the two concepts are connected and more complex when considered to be so. They both express ideas that can possibly explain the ongoing attraction of analogue to people who have access to digital. In a world of instant gratification, it seems unusual so many would choose a more time-consuming alternative to achieve anything. People say film has more ‘soul’ than digital, but I don’t think the enduring appeal of analogue is simply from an evocation of nostalgia. In part, I think it comes from the rich quality and depth of colour; unfound in digital. A kind of depth that still draws some film directors and cinematographers, such as Christopher Nolan, to make use of celluloid in projects when digital options are readily available and far simpler to use. I’ve been interested in photography for a long time. I had a Ricoh compact camera for 35mm film when I was a kid, graduated to a digital Canon camera and now I use a Leica R4. I’m less interested in the mechanics

of photography and more interested in capturing things that will only happen once. In recent years, the market for film has seen growth and my return to analogue doesn’t contradict this. When Kodak announced last year they were reissuing Ektachrome, a colour-reversal film discontinued in 2012, it signalled a change in tide. Despite an attempt to combine short attention spans with the essence of analogue in iPhone apps that produce a quality à la 35mm, like Huji, the result feels as inauthentic as the name. There is something more that real analogue possesses—driven by the nature of what photography is, in and of itself. When I take a photo it’s because I want to see that scene again in the future—perhaps I am too acutely aware of it ending. In the space between taking the photo, finishing a roll and it getting developed, the moment has truly passed. I think that’s the magic of analogue, how the ‘prick’ doesn’t come from looking back on the past, it’s from recognising you’ve moved on. — Zoe Deka

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Stereotypical 27

Ying Wang Lachlan Richards Stereotypical

Ying Wang Lachlan Richards

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Stereotypical

Ying Wang Lachlan Richards

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Stereotypical

Ying Wang Lachlan Richards

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J. Bradley Pearce

Jamie Tung

@weekly_jam

Shell

A hum breaks the silence as a low wattage globe flickers to life. Gaunt, rigid, pale, Hayden Lyles moves from sleep to the edge of the stretcher. Sitting, he runs a hand through dirty thinning hair, longing for more sleep before rising up until the ceiling greets him, caressing his stooped frame. He moves awkwardly toward a narrow utility bench on the opposite wall. He’d taken the four-hour sleep model from The Soldier Efficient, a manifest with no author that sits neatly in a pile of other military handbooks and Cold War construction manuals. Against the shadowy backdrop of the shelter, dust particles rise and fall against the light like fireflies suspended by the echo of the room. “Two metres beneath the surface,” he would announce to anyone who would listen, “twice the recommended depth for a common fallout shelter according to most experts,” before adding gleefully “six feet deep!” Laughing, adding to the echoes. He thinks of Anne, his girlfriend, her photo on the wall: “I don’t want to live underground,” she says, “even if it’s just for one day.” Her eyes narrow, “I’m claustrophobic, I’d rather die.” He lets the words dance, moving beyond the shadows until she’s gone, leaving him breathless. Her picture sits between those of his parents and his sister, Peta, his one true friend. His mother, Lyn, sits at their kitchen table; delicate, awkward, just like him. His memory tells him to “Eat yer beans, Hayden, they’re good for you”. His mother’s voice but different, harsher. He feels Peta’s voice huff and rise from behind him. “Yeah, “You used to be cooler, Haydo”, Haydo, beans make you fart! Never know when you might need more a joke without a punchline. methane!” The dust shifts like wildfire in the glow, his voice, screaming. He turns on a small exhaust system to funnel fresh air in as it sends the bad air out and places a crudely opened can of beans on the burner. A hairline crack has formed on the wall, under the photo of Peta. In a small exercise book he notes: Small crack. 7 to 10cm long. South-East facing wall. No immediate threat. Starting his daily routine of sit-ups, push-ups and stretches—physical fitness a key component of his, if and inevitably when, “bug-out” Shell

J. Bradley Pearce

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“Listen mate, we live in Oz-Tray-Ya. Ain’t nuthin’ comin’ for us down ‘ere.” 35 strategy—he falls out of sync, wincing in sunlight. “No.” He hears himself, mid-conversation, panicked. “I don’t want to go to the beach. The Americans just handed the nuclear codes to a reality TV star, Peta! It’s trial by social media on anything and everything and no one is winning, no one is making any sense! If Phil, a retired electrician from Noosa Beach, can summarise why he thinks immigration should be halted entirely in 140 characters or less, it’s in the paper! ‘Man confirms xenophobic policy a good idea!’” His friends didn’t call anymore. Anne left, saying he’d lost his mind. He stopped talking to his parents. He’d lost his job, his money had dried up. Peta was the last person to spend time with him willingly. Everyone else thought he was depressing. Not depressed—“depressing” or weird and frankly not worth the effort. Peta liked his theories, tolerated them and argued against them all. “Oh relax,” she said calmly. Always calm. Always cool. Big sister cool. “No one reads the news. And if you never swim in the ocean you’ll never be eaten by a shark.” Always the joker. “That’s the way I like it! If there’s a chance of even seeing a shark I won’t risk it.” “You used to be cooler, Haydo”, a joke without a punchline. Time snaps. Lurches forward and then back again. It sits still. Perfectly still. Sweat drips down Hayden’s forehead before he’s back in the light. “There’s stuff going on, Peta. Nuclear armament, wealth disparity, corporate greed, vials in labs, vials that cure, vials that kill.” “Climate change is a myth, economic collapse is around the corner, a zombie apocalypse orchestrated by Skynet! Nothing would surprise me, mate. I’ve seen it all on the TV,” Peta shoves her hand out like a remote and laughs. The room shakes, mocking him too. He sighs, “Probably,” his tone defeated. “There’s a ‘patent-pending’ for the blueprint of life itself, Peta—you can be sure of it. Something is going to happen.” “Listen mate, we live in Oz-Tray-Ya. Ain’t nuthin’ comin’ for us down ‘ere.” She emphasises the Australian drawl in a self-mocking pantomime. “You’ve got nothing to worry about and even if you did, who’d want to live? I’d finish the job before things got serious. End of conversation.” Back on the stretcher. Six feet deep. Surround by supplies. Every millimetre meticulously counted for. Every scenario, fastidiously considered. His pupils dilate and narrow as though staring into a bright light. A dull hum rumbles deep in his ears, the echoes gather, laugh and chide and crash like an ocean. He speaks but words don’t come out. The fireflies burn brighter but he can no longer see. He listens for his breath, the beating of his heart amongst the chaos. In the distance, his heart still beats. His heart still beats. End of conversation. — J. Bradley Pearce

Shell

J. Bradley Pearce

Ellisha Kriesl @hey.ellisha

Petrichor

When I was about five or so, my parents were building our family home. The property they own has red dirt. There used to be two great mounds of red dirt piled high in our backyard. The perfect size and shape for sliding down on your bum. So everyday, whilst my parents were working hard, me and my siblings would roll around in the mud. Racing each other down the dirt hills, and up again. Not a care in the world about the stains the dirt would leave behind. I built this photographic series off of the memory. The memory of being carefree and wild and covered in mud. It’s all about embracing the chaos and the mess. To find a version of freedom that only my child self could understand.

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Petrichor

Ellisha Kriesl

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Petrichor

Ellisha Kriesl

Simone West

Lucie Davies

@swest7

@luciexdavies

Conundrums with Simsational

My roommate keeps eating my food! I tend to buy more expensive ingredients than him because I have gourmet muesli and I also buy T2 brand tea with individually wrapped silk bags. I bought a whole 1kg tin of Milo, went away for the weekend, and when I got back it was gone. Am I being territorial? —Ben, 25 I’m so glad you’re not buying the Twinings shit, Ben. You have taste. I would suggest some passive aggressive behaviour, like putting colourful post-it notes on each item and buying magnetic letters for the fridge that say STOP EATING MY FOOD. And if that doesn’t work, steal some things from your roommate’s room. Steal their girlfriend. Use their razors to shave your intimate areas. Put a dent in their car. Normal things.

I just starting dating this guy and he is too smart for me. I am constantly googling words he uses and he always talks about politics. Is it possible to start a relationship with someone who is just way out of my league academically?—Tim, 22 Is he smart or is he pretentious? Maybe he just likes words. Words are sexy. I would give this one a go; any guy who is good with words is helpful for crossword puzzles.

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I am late to everything. It’s part of my brand. I personally prefer it. I arrive when parties are in their prime and I never have to wait alone awkwardly. Lately my friends have been showing signs of irritation at me showing up 20 minutes after the agreed time. How do I tell them I literally don’t give a shit and that I like going by my own clock? —Madison, 25 I think people who are constantly late are endearing. What were they doing for so long? Scraping toothpaste off their leather jacket? Did they have a minor car accident? Who died? There are just so many different reasons as to why a person is chronically late. I would try making up a creative excuse each time. If your friends can’t deal with your clock then go into hibernation and form your own lone wolf pack.

Conundrums with Simsational

I keep dating engineers from Hawthorn even though I have had awful experiences with them. How do I break this habit?—Eve, 30 Stop dating. You probably can’t afford a bigger funeral plot anyway. Die alone! Problem sorted. Well, friends, that was my final Simsational column. Thanks so much for your questions, and for keeping me in business. Now, I move onto my next stage of life. I’m going to go graduate. All the best, Simsational

Simone West

Emma Sullivan

Wynona Stock @wynona.jpeg

‘Real’ Health Tips

Being sick or injured can be a testing time for many of us. With slow progress comes thinning patience. So when someone offers you a remedy for your ailment we are often fooled into (almost) anything. It’s safe to say your traditional doctor may not prescribe any of the below, so next time you come across some of these problems, use these tips with a grain of salt.

Hungover? Try a pickled cucumber—a Russian remedy to recover from a hangover faster than binging on hot fried foods. Apparently it has something to do with balancing the sodium and water levels in your stomach. Pre-mixing your spirits (preferably vodka) with pickle juice can also reduce your chances of that second day struggle.

Got swollen ankles? A Ukrainian lady called Nina once told my friend that cabbage was going to be her best friend. According to Nina, we should be eating cabbage for every meal and wrapping it around our ankles to reduce inflammation. Just pop a pair of socks on top of your rolled ankle cabbage and you’re good to go.

Smelly feet? Speaking of vodka, rubbing some on your feet can help diminish some of that nasty odour. It’s the alcohol content that helps with the smell, so you could probably use rubbing alcohol instead if you prefer to drink your Grey Goose.

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Feeling feverish? You will need your cooking oil of preference, an onion and some glad wrap. According to a friend’s mum who is into alternative medicine, sautéed onions wrapped around your feet can do wonders at reducing a temperature. She also said, “potatoes work too”. Can I get a side of eggs with that? Low in iron? It seems a little too straight forward to consume your food on an iron pan to cure your anaemia... But, when I tried to tell my Japanese mother this ridiculous piece of advice I received, she pulled out her ‘special iron teapot’ she uses to brew tea for extra iron intake. If mum says it works, I guess it must be legit.

‘Real’ Health Tips

Nasty blisters? Are you suffering from a case of blistered, raw feet from a long walk with new shoes? Fear no more, pop a Panadol. No seriously. Cut open a liquid Panadol (Nurofen works too) and apply the insides of the capsule onto your blister. It may not get rid of it, but it will definitely help numb out the pain enough for you to put those cute new shoes back on your feet. — Emma Sullivan

Emma Sullivan

Tyson Whelan

Trumble in Paradise: Tension Between Old Allies

Fumbling our way through a relationship of immense fragility, Australia is on the precipice of falling to the behest of the United States’ new hostile diplomatic strategy of America First—and second, and third. For better or for worse we’re falling in line with our allies, bound to our obedient past. Australians are being lead into a battle where protectionism is power and historical context fades into oblivion. Australia has fought alongside our American mates at every major war, yet the significance of that investment has been repeatedly undermined by the current presidential administration—leaving rational diplomats wondering if it’s time to reprioritise our strategic international partnerships. During a phone conversation just days after he took office, Trump shunned former Prime Minister Turnbull. The two were discussing the resettlement of 1,250 refugees held on Nauru and Manus Island to be transferred to the US for processing, before Trump hung up on Turnbull and then vented on Twitter about how the deal was “dumb”. White House Press Secretary at the time, Sean Spicer,

told the briefing room that the President had a “very cordial conversation with Prime Minister Trumble”, seemingly mispronouncing Turnbull’s name. The scope of what was changing became abundantly clear in that moment. We were suddenly being left out to dry by the country we relied on for our insurance, the country we supported unwaveringly for generations. But this wasn’t an isolated incident. Trump’s administration pulled out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and damaged our potential trading capability; he unilaterally conducted Asia-Pacific military and diplomatic exercises without consultation of our government, and left Canberra without a US ambassador after moving Admiral Harry Harris to the ambassadorship in South Korea. The US administration also made efforts to impose trade restrictions and tariffs on Australian products, perpetually cosied up to the Kremlin – despite incontrovertible evidence that its military was responsible for gunning down MH17 in 2014 where 38 Australians were killed, whilst also ignoring the consistent efforts of Russia to subvert democratic elections across the Western world.

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The scope of what was changing became abundantly clear in that moment. We were suddenly being left out to dry by the country we relied on for our insurance, the country we supported unwaveringly for generations. Trump pushed to change student and working visas, and defied the international community by reneging on the Paris Climate Accord and Iranian Nuclear Deal. These are facts, not ‘fake news’ and not insignificant— these actions will have lasting effects on Australians for generations to come. There’s an unprecedented level of global tension, creating a vacuum of leadership. This opens the door to alternative regimes to take the lead on these current, global issues. If the Australian government wants to be fair dinkum about securing our region it would be irresponsible to not consider realigning our foreign policy. We can’t lay all the blame on Trump either. He was elected President for very legitimate reasons, spurred by various concerns from Americans across the 50 states. But hang on, Australia didn’t elect the President and yet we’ll be affected by many of his policies. It’s time for us to decide our own future in accordance with the interests of Australians, not Americans. The 2017 Lowy Institute Poll found 43 per cent of Australians see China as most important to us, while a further 43 per cent view the US Trumble in Paradise: Tension Between Old Allies

as most important to Australia. Former PM Paul Keating certainly doesn’t mince his words when it comes to Trump’s America and the state of our relationship with China. “We have to make our way in Asia ourselves with an independent foreign policy,” he said, adding that it’s time “to cut the tag” with the United States, during an interview in 2016. RMIT International Diplomacy Professor, Joseph Siracusa, said: “Australia has to make a choice about adopting a more independent policy.” “We aren’t having enough debates about which direction Australia should go… at some stage Australia is going to have to start pursuing its own national interests,” he said. Australia and China are becoming increasingly economically intertwined. In recent years, Australia has signed onto the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank to compel its neighbours into capitulating towards economic reliance on China. Australia has a $32 billion export and education industry which depends on China. However, Australia has inherent apprehension over strengthening our security Tyson Whelan

â&#x2020;&#x2013; Lachlan Richards, Parliament Station.

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ties with China. The 2018 Lowy Institute Poll of Australians found 46 per cent of respondents believe it’s “likely China will become a military threat to Australia in the next 20 years”. In fairness, China has done little to reassure the Australian government they’re on our side. Beijing has repeatedly targeted Australia’s business and public sectors with cyberattacks. Espionage efforts haven’t gone unnoticed by the Australian intelligence community, accumulating in China’s recent exclusion from our proposed fifth generation telecommunications network. There’s unbelievable opportunity for investment and reciprocal bilateral trade between Australia and China. We’re already seeing the fruits of improved Sino-Australian dialogue. This prompted an increase in immigration of Chinese nationals into Australia, now totalling in 1.2 million citizens having Chinese ancestry, and sparking a positive flow on effect in our flourishing economy. However, China and the US are still incomparable participants within the global community. China’s inconsistent approach to multilateral resolution efforts more generally deserves our condemnation, not our support. “At the end of the day Australia will have to choose, not between Washington and

Trumble in Paradise: Tension Between Old Allies

Beijing, but rather what it wants out of the world,” Professor Siracusa said. “The question in Australian policy circles is: does Australia one day have to choose between its number one trading partner versus its number one military partner? I think that’s a false dichotomy. “I don’t think Australia has to choose between one or the other, I think Australia is perfectly placed to become the interlocutor.” Prime ministers and presidents come and go. States of affairs arise and expire, and rhetorical approaches appear, then fall from use. But some things will never change. Australia and America’s historical military cooperation codified in our ANZUS agreement, our shared pursuit for technological evolution, instigation of the Five Eyes intelligence sharing efforts and facilitation of trade, aid and essential living standards across the Pacific are all undisputable achievements that will continue for decades to come. Our region demands a strong US-Australia relationship. Our quality of life, security and safety demands a strong US-Australia relationship. For as long as our nation’s success necessitates this partnership, we will persist. — Tyson Whelan

Tyson Whelan

Lisa Favazzo

Wynona Stock @wynona.jpeg

Meme or Mysticism? Catalyst

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Cosmological scientists teach us our universe came from a small and dense super-force bursting our entire galaxy into life. An atheist might tip their fedora and tell you believing in anything else is arbitrary.

Astrology is a meme. But, is it also a take on spirituality by a generation who need guidance from something other-worldly? I have a friend who stopped seeing somebody because they were a Libra. Astrology meme Instagram @Notallgeminis has a cult following of 200k. Checking your horoscope is much easier than understanding the universe; getting your tarots read is less political than going to church and corporate culture is soulless when compared with meditation. A lot of people consider this kind of mysticism a joke, but perhaps that’s its strength. It’s lighter and more accessible; it invokes memories of whispers and fairy tales. Cosmological scientists teach us our universe came from a small and dense super-force bursting our entire galaxy into life. An atheist might tip their fedora and tell you believing in anything else is arbitrary. Billionaires and the scientific elite strive to examine every speck of dust in this universe. Multi-billionaire Mojo Jojo and his SpaceX program (or is that Elon Musk?) want to send humanity into space. He has found his own purpose amongst the stars (and in destroying The Powerpuff Girls). While understanding your star sign isn’t as intellectually enlightening or profitable as space exploration, it’s certainly more attainable. There’s no equation to soften the blow of grief or to mend a broken heart. The elite can use their exorbitant share of the world’s wealth to build phallic rocket ships and blast themselves to heaven, but there needs to be something for the rest of us. Maybe it’s not just Musk who’s found meaning amongst the stars. People finding excuses, saying: “I am not obnoxious, I am just an Aquarius”; it’s no life on Mars, but it’s easier to read than mountains of textbooks. The religious landscape in Australia is decorated with spiritual diversity. Many people find enlightenment within the walls of churches, mosques, synagogues and temples. These institutions offer a place for shared ideology and culture to flourish. Faith and guidance can be found Meme or Mysticism?

Lisa Favazzo

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in the whisperings of Hail Marys and bellowing of a Calls to Prayer. But, we’re a generation exploring gender and sexual identity more publicly than ever. Religious discussions around family dinner tables can end in tears and shouting. A lot of us aren’t exactly a pretty picture of modesty. The stars never tell you to lengthen your skirt or that all Multinational corporations are the non-believers will perish—even so big they may as well be a god. when Mercury’s in retrograde. Australians are becoming less religious by every census. Who can blame us? Being able to tell a person’s future by the groves in their palms seems a little suspicious, but it’s easier to swallow than eternal damnation. People say: “money can’t buy happiness.” That isn’t entirely true: money puts food on your dinner table; a job can get you out of bed on days where you’d otherwise get stuck in a YouTube vortex of TED Talks on how to be less depressed. Our work lives can push us to educate ourselves and innovate for a brighter future. Multinational corporations are so big they may as well be a god. Do we live in a society or an economy; are we people or employees? I buy too much avocado on toast to base my sense of worth on my property portfolio. Wage growth is near non-existent, while the wallets of CEOs get fatter and fatter. It’s a sad state of affairs if the big four banks are the only higher power. The energy of some amethyst certainly won’t propel you as far as a private jet, but it’s something you can grasp for at the end of a 12-hour day. Mysticism and new-age spirituality isn’t the be-all and end-all of meaning and purpose. It’s arrogant to think we can understand everything about life. Most people I’ve spoken to that have mapped out their birth charts still wouldn’t consider themselves true believers. But sometimes you have a million assignments due, barely enough money for food and the closest thing you’ve found to love is a “what’s up” message at 2am. There’s nothing wrong with nurturing a little bit of lightweight, otherworldly wondering. — Lisa Favazzo

Meme or Mysticism?

Lisa Favazzo

Sarah Krieg

How’s Your English?

As a native English speaker, grammar is second nature. I don’t have to think about word order, verb conjugation, pronunciation or spelling. Writing a text to a friend is as simple as tapping out a sentence on my phone; before I send an email, all I have to do is scan it quickly to check for typos and hit send. But this isn’t the case for everyone and using English that’s perceived as imperfect can often lead to judgement from others. A prime example of this comes from Weird Al Yankovic’s ‘Blurred Lines’ parody, ‘Word Crimes’. Bopping along at first, you’d think it’s a fun tune (and an improvement on the original). But if you’re a native English speaker, you might start thinking about how the song contains some #truths. Weird Al sings about people who are committing “word crimes”, and calls them a range of names. Stuff like “moron”, “dumb mouthbreather”, “dopey” and “lost cause” are peppered throughout the song— towards the end, he tells people who commit word crimes to “get out of the gene pool”. Don’t get me wrong, I understand this song is purely satirical. But you have to admit, all jokes have some kind of truth. While people who speak English as a first language may instinctively know how to use pronouns, prepositions and possessive apostrophes, this can be hard for people who speak it as a second language. It’d seem that even native speakers who don’t use perfect English all the time are targets too—the language Weird Al uses, though he’s joking, is a sentiment reflected by a society that values ‘proper’ English speaking, regardless of race, class or education. Class and level of education are influential in shaping the English that people use. Colloquial expressions are commonplace within family and social groups. A lower level of education may also lead to less emphasis on perfect use of spelling and punctuation and the grammar nuts jump right on it to criticise. Catalyst

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Race is also one of the prominent influences of English and local dialects are the first to come under fire. Indigenous varieties, as well as international dialects like Singlish (Singaporean English), are often criticised by standard English users. They’re treated as second-class English for their incorporation of local words and grammar, which makes the language their own. It might not be intelligible to everyone but the people who use it know what’s going on. Despite the best efforts by refugees and immigrants to learn a whole new language when they arrive in Australia, they face discrimination from those who think their English should be perfect from the get go. But their mixture of English and their native languages gets their point across just fine to those who need to understand. The internet has also seen an acceleration in language changes and the amount of people voicing their criticisms of it. Stylistic choices, such as less use of punctuation, less capitalisation and deliberate misspelling in different meme formats are polarising for those who use the web. Varieties of English are a marker of race, class, and social group. They help people distinguish who’s in their group and build solidarity within groups who use their dialect. So why is there still so much discrimination against those who use these ‘imperfect’ versions of English? It seems to be a lot to do with parading privilege around, whether consciously or not. Those who troll others perceive themselves to be the standard of English speaking. They’re often highly educated but stuck in an era where change was something to be frowned upon, not embraced. They probably also learned to speak English as a first language—anyone who learnt it as a second or third will tell you it’s an extremely difficult language to nail. At the end of the day, the concept of ‘perfect’ English is one that discriminates against anyone who doesn’t conform to the idea of a standard language. But the meaning all these varieties convey? It’s still the same. Does that mean everyone is going to accept that English isn’t perfect and homogenous? No. Does it mean we should all pull a Gina Linetti and incorporate emoji into our speech? Maybe. But Standard English’s role in society is changing. While it may still have a place in formal settings like academics and business, it’s not always the best method of communication. And it might make me cringe when I see someone use the wrong your/you’re on the internet—but I still understand the meaning of the text. So maybe it’s time for our attitudes to change. Besides, if we’d never let English change, we wouldn’t have half the words we do today… just saying. .— Sarah Krieg

How’s Your English?

Sarah Krieg

READING IN 2018!

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THANKS FOR Catalyst

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THANKS FOR 55

Volume 74 Issue 5

READING IN 2018!

Howâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Your English?

Sarah Krieg

â&#x2020;&#x2013; Samual Finlayson, Intense series.