RMIT HANOI CAMPUS ISSUE 13 | MARCH 2016 THE BODIES EDITION
CurrentMedia
Current Media
Current Media is a free, student-run publication for the RMIT Hanoi community
DESIGN
EDITORIAL Chief Editor s3505969@rmit.edu.vn
DO HAI NAM
Lead Designer s3503260@rmit.edu.vn
NGUYEN NGOC ANH
President s3517744@rmit.edu.vn
NGUYEN HA THUY LINH
PHAM THU ANH
NHU HUONG TRA
TRAN MY LINH
TRAN BACH DUONG
VU THANH HA
Designer s3575391@rmit.edu.vn
Writer/Editor s3578273@rmit.edu.vn
Writer s3533454@rmit.edu.vn
Designer s3575424@rmit.edu.vn
Designer s3501323@rmit.edu.vn
IAN VILLANUEVA
NGUYEN PHUONG LINH
NGUYEN HOANG NAM
NGUYEN THIEN LAN
NGUYEN DIEU LINH
NGUYEN VU MAI ANH
NGUYEN DIEU LINH
NGUYEN HANH HUONG
LE GIA HUNG
TRAN QUANG HOANG LONG
Writer s3579572@rmit.edu.vn Writer s3501321@rmit.edu.vn
LUU THU
Writer s3515601@rmit.edu.vn Writer s3535683@rmit.edu.vn
PHAN HONG ANH
Writer s3463669@rmit.edu.vn
Writer s3515517@rmit.edu.vn
LE THUC HIEN
DANG NGOC MY
Writer s3413036@rmit.edu.vn
Writer s3575393@rmit.edu.vn
LE HUYEN TRANG
NGUYEN VIET ANH
Writer s3577598@rmit.edu.vn
Writer s3455395@rmit.edu.vn
Designer s3548184@rmit.edu.vn
Designer s3501321@rmit.edu.vn Designer s3463669@rmit.edu.vn
Designer s3480704@rmit.edu.vn
Designer s3533002@rmit.edu.vn
Designer s3466642@rmit.edu.vn
CONTACT US Email: currentmedia.rmithn@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/CurrentMediaRMIT Website: currentmediarmit.com (*) Please note that the views expressed in these pages are the personal views of the writers, and do not necessarily reflect the views of RMIT management.
Contents
M A R C H 2 0 1 6
05
14
05 Fashion
22 Perspective
10 Student Bullentin
24 Perspective Plastic Surgery From the Other Side of the Viewpoint
12 Voices of RMIT
26 Perspective Change Is Forever, Even On Bodies
La Fumée et L’encre
Campus Report
Different Thougts About Body
The Most Important Body Part
14 The City
28 Fun Facts Out-of-Body Experience
16 Tips
30 Infographic Tram Dung
18 Insider’s Story
32 Short Story Smile, Smith, Smile
Food to Fit Nonverbal Secrets of Presentation and Interviews Walking Through the Hardest Time
20 Around the World
Why Do Humans Have Tattoos?
20
22
26 35 Our Final Message Prescription to Self-love
Editor’s Letter B O D I E S
Daehyun Kim Bodies. Isn’t this word somehow effortlessly capable of evoking your visual imagery? Because, admit it, our culture is obsessed with body image and desirability. Every now and then we see the media changes our perception of beauty and tells us whether our bodies are in vogue or not. Remember how round faces used to be considered beautiful and now the so-called ‘ideal beauty’ of v-shaped faces are flooding our newsfeed? Or how the trend has shifted from having a gap between thighs to now having thighbrows the creases you have on your upper-thighs once you sit or kneel? And don’t tell me you’d already forgotten how girls went bananas buying lip kits just to desperately get full lips like Kylie Jenner’s. It is true that the media can be evil sometimes. But another problem here is: we rely on our sight way too much. We leave more space for our brains to store visual information than we should. We observe and tend to be judgemental of others’ bodies and even our own that sometimes we forget how happy we are… … just to sniff the sweet breastmilk smell from babies’ tiny bodies, … to listen to our significant other’s heartbeat, … to touch and hold our father’s work-worn yet warm hands, … and to taste… okay forget it. We are no cannibals. I get it. There are more to discuss about our bodies than just those sexy figures of Victoria’s Secret angels. Things that we are often willing to overlook so that we can drown ourselves in what the media and society feed us: the superficial and literal meaning of bodies. And in this issue, we’re gonna put them underdogs in the spotlight. So come and join the journey with us. It’s a journey of self-reflection, relaxation and epiphany about self-love, body language, freedom of your own body ornamentation, and also the struggles of unfortunate people with physical and mental defects. Who’s ready?
Vu Thanh Ha - Editor in Chief 4 March 2016
FASHION
La ` Fumee et L‘encre
Models Stylists Makeup Photos
Le Minh Hang Tran Dieu Linh Le Huyen Trang Nguyen D. P. Thao Le Ngoc Anh Nguyen Hoang Nam
To many bodies, fabrics are like a second skin. Their souls fill the spaces between dyed threads, like an armour shielding them away from the riptides of life, but sometimes, like a statement of individuality, or a call for the whole world’s attention. To others, fabrics no longer contains their souls. Their spirits spill out of intricate garments like transparent ink or gusts of smoke that transcends the space between them and the living things around them. They hide into the shadows of the night or disappears into the light of day, released from confinement made of flesh and bones. Xeo Xo & Van Tay’s apparels let the body do just that. Their chosen fabrics and designs are uncomplicated and straightforward– no glitters, no laces, no frills–yet it seems curiously enriching. Xeo Xo’s articles are most of the time voile or linen and feel squarrose to the touch; Van Tay’s, on the other hand, lean more to the side of dark, glossy fabrics, giving them a floaty look. Despite different characteristics and feelings, their clothes give the bearers the opportunity to uncage their spirits. The body, the soul, two different dimensions melded into one and the same. //
March 2016
7
8 March 2016
XEO XO 10 Hoi Vu, Ba Dinh, Hanoi VAN TAY 462 Buoi Street, Ba Dinh, Hanoi
March 2016
9
STUDENT BULLENTIN
CAMPUS REPORT writen and designed by Linh Nguyen
Happy birthdays to you! Last semester, we were delighted to have two RMIT clubs’ birthday commemorated. Let’s give a big applause for SIFE and Marketing Club for their contribution to the lively RMIT student life all these time! Hope you guys can keep up with your good performances and strive for more outstanding achievements in the future.
Photo courtesy of SIFE
Photo courtesy of Marketing Club
The REC Reborn Good news for those who are into sports and recreation, the REC has reborned. The place is now furnished with new gym equipments, bigger mirror and wooden flooring. To celebrate these significant changes, Sports and Recreation room held an event called ‘The REC Reborn’ on 18th December. I bet you enjoyed free food (roasted chicken and sandwiches, yummy!) and got some vouchers for yourselves, right? On top of that, weren’t the challenges that day exciting? Shout out to all teams who overcame those challenges!
Photo courtesy of Sport and Recreation
10 March 2016
Christmas Blood Drive
“Dream” and Teachers’ Day
Give and take. Christmas isn’t all about receiving presents but also giving to those in need. Thanks to Environment Club, RMIT students and staffs had a chance to be someone else’s Santa by giving their blood to 1NIHBT’s blood bank. In return, NIHBT also had some nice gifts and recognition certificates for blood donors as thank-you incentives. May the best come to both donors and patients in the future!
A 2-in-1 event organized by Current Media to celebrate Vietnam Teacher’s Day and the publishing of Current Media magazine 12th issue - Dream. On 20th November, the members surprised our lovely lecturers by warming up their day with cups of hot coffee and tea with thank-you notes and our Dream issue. Of course, we could not leave out our RMIT fellows. On 23rd and 24th, Current Medians continued to roam around the campus and gave out cookies and copies of Dream to others as an encouraging gift for them to survive the mid-term exams.
NIHBT is short for National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion. 1
March 2016
11
VOICES OF RMIT
different thoughts about bodies writer. thu anh pham designer. Anhs & huong ng
Nguyen Thu Hang
Bachelor of Business (International Business) My mom and I are like best friends. We are very close to each other. My mom’s body part I like most? I am always jealous of her skin. She has a very pretty and healthy white skin. Even though there are a few wrinkles and dark spots, her skin is still smoother and more glowy than mine. I also think my mother’s skin is absolutely miraculous. You know what, if a newborn baby is able to touch his mother’s skin for a few hours, his immune system will develop and therefore he will become a healthier baby. My mom’s hands are also my favourite part. They are very special to me. My mom used to have beautiful hands with white skin and long fingers. However, there was an accident which left a long ugly scar on her right hand. I remember that when I was in primary school, there was one time my mother rode me on her motorbike. A young man drove carelessly and clashed into our motorbike. To protect me from falling out, my mom held me and her right hand scraped on the ground. Till now, every time I see her hands, I always remember how much she sacrificed for me.
12 March 2016
“
When I mention about bodies, what is the first image that pops out in your head? Your own bodies? Those skinny odies from the fashion sketches that you doodle when you’re bored during a class? Or maybe the figures of those Victoria Secret angels that you secretly admire? Sounds like an easy task, perhaps, but when you take one more step and think further... Woah… There are still a lot of things you can associate to this one simple word....
Vu Minh Tu
Bachelor of Business (Economics and Finance) If I meet someone, I will be easily attracted by their eyes first, because I think eyes are very special. There are reasons for people to call eyes the window to one’s soul. You can know many thing by looking one’s eyes. People cannot hide anything by their eyes, it’s like body language. You can make a fake smile to pretend that you’re happy. But it is impossible for your eyes to lie that they are happy. If others are sensitive enough they will easily recognise if there’s something wrong happening to you. Furthermore, eyes can somehow express different personalities. If someone who has bright eyes when they talk or focus on doing something, it means that that person is quite intelligent and agile. People who can smile by their eyes are also very special. I like the way when people make their smile bigger, and at the same time, their eyes become smaller. I can see the true happiness pervade from them and it makes me happy too. And, how can we forget those sad eyes? These people mostly are melancholic, sensitive and experienced. So you see, eyes are the most precious things one can have!
Le Khanh Hoang Anh
President of RMIT Photo Club Bodies? What an interesting topic! I think most of people when they first hear this word, they might immediately think about six packs, curves or sexy bodies. However, being a photographer gives me a different perspective. Above all the six packs and curves, this word somehow reminds me of the raw-boned figure, dirty black skin because of working hours and hours under the sun but still full of vitality. If you have time, why don’t you go out, have a “tra da” (iced tea) on the sidewalk and watch people working around the street? Look carefully and you will discover the hidden beauty comes out from these normal people. Especially in the winter, when everyone tries to wear as much clothes as they can to keep warm, these workers have to endure the freeze because the only thing they wear is one thin ragged shirt. Their bodies are shaking because of the cold, but their eyes still fixate on work, and their minds still think about what they can do to make more money for their family. They are the ones who do the jobs we usually refuse to do: porter and street-sweeper. All of them have one thing common: it is the phenomenal strength and special beauty hidden under their imperfect bodies. March 2016
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writers MỐC & LIN
designer HUONG NG
Food fit to
G
oing back to school is never easy. Figuratively speaking, getting back to textbooks and assignments almost feels like having to take out a stunning piece of cheesecake from your mouth right when its flavour is bringing you to the gate of heaven. At times like this, even small changes can help motivate your college life. One of which, we shall suggest, is adding “greener” (and healthier) food and drinks to your lists, especially after being satiated with Tet’s greasy meals.
2 March 2016
RAW JUICERY, No. 24 Nha Tho St. 7.5/10
Located on Nha Tho street, Raw Juicery already has an advantage over other cafes. Also, everything in the bar smells like fresh avocado and almond butter, and yes, it is a compliment! Came back to Raw in a chilly afternoon three months since our last visit, Raw Juicery still didn’t disappoint us either by its beverage or service quality. Even though we were stucked for more than 10 minutes with the menu, the waitress at Raw was very nice and patient and recommended their new selection of the bar. So we both agreed to give this place a 9/10 for customer service. Thanks to the waitress’ suggestion, we went for matcha, banana and chia seed smoothies plus a simple mix and match called Feel The Beet (which contained beetroot, orange and pineapple). The juices were refreshing and served in cute cups with little notes hanging around. Those tasty smoothies and juices brought a new breeze to our afternoon and definitely boosted our mood up. Two must-try items for this cafe are Feel The Beet and Glowing Green, both of which have unique flavors you cannot find anywhere else. Note: Price ranging from 45,000 (VND). Fortunately, Raw Juicery has a golden hour discount program from 5-8pm with just 25,000 vnd for a cup of smoothies.
ROOTS Cold Pressed Juice Bar & Coffee, No. 74 Lo Su St. 7/10
Cold pressed juice is definitely a new trend among Vietnamese youngsters. For anyone who hasn’t heard of it before, this juice is made by crushing and pressing fruit and vegetables to maintain its juice, nutrients and live enzymes. For those upcoming hot summer days of Hanoi, a bottle of cold pressed juice can surely be the savior of the day. And Roots, wondrously, is the first cold pressed juice brand to be opened in Hanoi. Roots’ decorations are very simple, using the “earth tones” as its key visual with additional colors such as green, yellow, orange and violet. Each of these colors represents a line of pressed juice, G, Y, C and R respectively. We would recommend drinking line G and Y if you are not used to the taste of raw veggies. The good news for those who are not really into cold pressed juice is: Roots has one of the best energy smoothies in town. Pink Panther and Blueberry Muffin are certainly the must tries. Besides healthy drinks, Roots also offers various options for lunch. Apple Salmon Salad and Chicken Waffle Sandwich will definitely light up your afternoon. However, Egg Benedict here is likely to fall short of your expectation. Although Roots’ customer service didn’t really win our hearts with slow and quite unfriendly staff, we will surely come back for take-away because of its great and healthy beverage. Note: Drinks may vary from 35,000 (VND) to 75,000 (VND), while food is 50,000 (VND) and above.
HEALTHY CORNER, No. 34 Dao Tan St. 8.5/10
Healthy Corner is new to the area, grandly opened just a month ago but has already received positive reviews for its great service and healthy dishes. This restaurant guarantees to bring customers the most delicious dishes with controlled amount of nutritions and fat. As said in their motto “Eat right, not less”, Healthy Corner has the exact calories of the dish written right down on the menu, helping us actively control our nutritious intake. Even if you are not familiar with these “calories” things, Healthy Corner can give you some tips about how eating the right things keeps you fit and healthy. We ordered one tuna salad, chicken breast fettuccine with cream sauce, baked chicken leg with red wine (as the “dish of the day”) and two creme brulees for two people. The ingredients were very fresh and real. You could easily smell rosemary in the chicken leg, or taste real tuna in the salad. A special recommendation for drink would be hibiscus with mint tea. Sounds a bit too “green”, but the taste of sweet hibiscus along with light mint tea just harmonized so well that we couldn’t stop mentioning how we definitely needed to consider this as a plus in our review. If you’re too busy or just too lazy for dine-in, Healthy Corner also offers take-away as well as delivery services (free if your bill is over 200,000 VND). Prices range from 40,000 (VND) to 160,000 (VND) for food and 30,000 (VND) to 80,000 (VND) for drinks. March 2016
3
tips
written by thu li designed by Anhs & huong Ng
NONVERBAL SECRETS of PRESENTATION AND INTERVIEWs
-
introduction
S
tay right where you are! Are you sitting down or standing up? Either way, do not move and take note of your posture. Are you crossing your ankles? You’re probably a reserved person. Now, are you leaning back in your chair or against a wall? In relaxed times, it shows that you’re pretty comfortable where you are. However, in serious situations like when you’re giving a presentation or being interviewed, leaning against something might leave the impression that you are so insecure, you need extra support to do whatever you’re doing. Lack of confidence is deadly in professional environments. “I’m pretty confident already,” you might think; but, once you cross your arms while giving a speech, unconsciously or not, people will start doubting your confidence. When people talk about success, they talk about how you must believe in yourself or how you must have developed ten thousand different soft skills, but do they ever talk about how one open palm can change the fate of your future prospects? Probably not, because body language is perhaps one of the most underrated keys to success. This article will help you work your body for better presentation grades and less nerve-wrecking interviews.
4 March 2016
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+
presentation
Type “how to engage the audience in presentation” into a search engine and you’ll find roughly 69,000,000 results, and I can guarantee at least 68,000,000 of them will tell you this: be animated. But how??? Using every available body part, of course! Arms? Wave them around! Hands? Show your palms! Or not, because sometimes fists work too! Palm-ups are often seen in movies where characters try to prove that they have no weapons or that they aren’t the enemy. In real life, you often see it via beggars. These are all different examples, but they generate the same effect to achieve one goal: create openness to gain empathy. When presenting an idea, you don’t want your audience to feel frustrated by pointing your finger at them; you want them to like you and to believe in what you have to say. Showing your palms will do the trick: you’re handing your idea to your audience, not shoving it in their face. “What about my legs???” You ask. The answer is: you take small steps towards your audience. One small trick is to move from one side of the room to the other as you continue to a new slide, especially when you’ve talked for quite a while. The movement will reset the audience’s attention on you and your presentation. One rule: don’t move too slowly. It’ll distract the audience because they’ll start thinking “Why is that person doing everything in slow-motion?” instead of focusing on what you’re trying to say. Other tips include: stand up straight, but not ramrod straight. Remember, your spine’s made of collagen and calcium, not metal; puff out your chest, too. Why? It makes you look confident, and more air in your lungs will help you speak louder and more clearly. Keep eye contact with the audience, or if you can’t look at people in the eye, look at top of their heads, they won’t notice; most importantly, look enthusiastic—your idea won’t sell if your face says you’re sick and tired of it.
+
interviews
Ah yes, interviews. All those jitters before stepping into a meeting room where your future will be decided by one or a few people who do (mostly) nothing but stare at you with a steady smile while you sweat buckets under your formal clothes. How does one even deal with that? Easily, by smiling back at them, by giving them firm a handshake, by giving them a loud greeting (if you’re in a casual interview).
In most interviews, you’ll spend the whole time sitting down in front of your interviewer(s). Feeling a weird sensation in your legs? You’re probably a leg-crosser, and your legs are calling to you to cross one over the other. Don’t even think about it, unless you want to appear closed-off and less approachable. The same goes for arms. Arm-crossing makes you look defensive and less likeable. Again, show your hands, put them on the table or on your laps if there isn’t a desk between you and the interviewer. It makes you look relaxed, but sure of yourself. Try not to hide them under the table or put them behind your back, because you have nothing suspicious to hide from your potential employer…right? Some people don’t realise they slump in their chairs as they sit, but their interviewers do. It looks unprofessional and a little lazy, and of course, no employers wants those traits in their prospect employee. Instead, try to sit up straight and maybe lean forward a little—this makes you look attentive and engaged. You’re telling the interviewer “I’m a focused person!” without speaking a single word. Another tip is: before making an important point, lean forward or quickly adjust your sitting position. These act as natural pauses for your speech to illustrate that what you’re going to say next is important. The The interviewer, hence, will be more likely to listen to what you have to say. Since you can’t exactly move your legs or flap your arms around during an interview, you can use the ultimate body language weapon: facial expressions. Look at the interviewer in the eye to show confidence, but don’t stare. It’ll turn confident into borderline creepy. Nod slightly when they ask you a question, because everyone likes it when people listen to them attentively.
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conclusion
By reading further about body language in professional communications, or simply by paying attention to famous personalities’ body language, especially those who speak in front of the public a lot (e.g.: politicians, leaders,…) will teach you a great deal about using your body to its best ability to ensure your success. However, never ever think that body language matters more than spoken words, because they aren’t. “The 7% Rule” often associated with body language communication isn’t 100% true. From now on, pay attention to picking specific words to illustrate exactly what you want to convey as well as specific gestures to emphasise those points. Good luck & have fun!
end March 2016
5
INSIDER’S STORY
walking through the hardest time writer / MAI ANH designer / MEL
14 years old - four major leg operations - immeasurable physical and emotional pains. Yet, compared with many people, I don’t have the right to complain anything because I am still very lucky. In the past, the images of hospitals kept haunting me and had since became my worst nightmare. I used to think being hospitalized would physically make me feel weak and mentally drain my self-confidence. However, every time I read the news about disabled people, who still try their best to stand on their feet and stay positive no matter what, I realize I shouldn’t have complained about my body. I have undergone operations, so what? Many people have, too! We all have to walk through our hardest time in order to reflect on how fortunate we are compared to the miserable people, to treasure the present and strive for a better life, not only for ourselves but also for our family and friends who truly care about us. Because after all, they are happy when we are happy. And we can only be happy when we see them worry-free. When I was 3 or 4 years old, my doctors diagnosed that I had problems with bone structure. Then came those gloomy days when I had to face a leg operation, not having the faintest idea what was going on. Everything
6 March 2016
seemed to be fine afterwards until I was in grade 9, when I suddenly limped painfully. My previous surgery didn’t turn out to be a total success. As a result, re-operation (in the left leg) at Saint Paul Hospital was the only option. The doctor was going to plant the nails in my leg and remove them a year later. I was about to enter the first semester of grade 9. I was too innocent to realize that two surgeries were waiting for me ahead. I hate every single thing about hospital, even the smallest injection. However, strange as it might seem, at that time I felt so fearless. I didn’t even stop talking before entering the operation room, but believe me, no one could ever understand what I was talking about. My mind was just entirely blank. The physical and emotional pains attacked every vessel in my veins at the same time. I could do nothing but lie on the bed, absorbing tons of medicine and injections. I could not move, eat or even sleep. The only thing I could do was to vomit. Physical pains were huge, but still bearable. Depression was the real nightmare. I was well aware that my body was different from the others’. “I am short, and I couldn’t stand on my useless legs”, that thought kept repeating itself in my mind.
Suddenly, the negative feelings steered my thoughts back to my friends who, luckily, didn’t have to suffer
from the same pain with me, preparing for the high school entrance exam. Yes, during the first semester of grade 9, when I was supposed to study hard for the exam, all I could do were just crying and being a jerk with all the complaints wandering in my head. “My body was nothing but useless. I hate everything about it”, “Why do I have to be like this?, “ I don’t want to talk. I don’t want to do anything”. I guessed the body heard everything in my mind. The more I complained, the more pain I had to suffer. Luckily, my parents brought home an orthopedic to help me speed up the recovery process. He taught me some physical exercises everyday until I can walk again. Every evening, he drove from his workplace at Saint Paul Hospital to my house, dressed in a nice suit and a small bag. He was like a psychologist, who always listened to me and gave me useful pieces of advice so that I could overcome that hard time. He told me about his family. He even showed me pictures of his nieces, whom he spent most of weekend teaching and playing with. I wish I had such a respectable
I did not feel much of the pain because I knew I was not alone.
and trustworthy uncle to learn from and rely on. Occasionally, we talked for hours on end about a movie or a program on Discovery. Above all, he talked to me and treated me as a young adult , not a kid being comforted. He kept telling me that I was no longer a child and it was my responsibility to appreciate my body. He made me realize how lucky I was to have someone truly understand my situation. The pain was gone when I kept my mind strong. A year later, I came back for a minor operation to have the nails in the previous surgery removed. Strange enough, this time I didn’t feel much of the pain because I knew I was not alone. Until now, my legs still cause me some troubles, especially the inability to drive. Sometimes I feel embarrassed when my father has to drive me to school or anywhere else since I am already 20. I cannot run fast or
cannot walk through the difficult time without
optimism
take part in any sports, but I can walk and that is good enough for me. Although I still cannot avoid negative feelings about my body, I have stopped telling myself I hate it. This is the body my mother has to suffer from enormous pain to give birth and protect for her whole life. I realize I am not a child anymore to keep complaining or blaming the destiny for my situation. I might be weak, but there are many people whose lives are even worse than me. They never give up. So if you ask, I would say the four operations taught me only one precious thing: Body and mind are totally inseparable. My body listens to everything my mind says. I definitely cannot walk through the difficult time without optimism. Loving your body is the hardest mission. Both physical and mental health have to be strong enough to overcome whatever comes in the future, as Georg Feuerstein - a German indologist and writer said: “As long as you conflict with your body, you can’t find the peace of mind”. March 2016
7
AROUND THE WORLD
W H Y
D O
HUMANS H A V E TATTOOS? W r i t t e n
D e s i g n e d
b y
b y
I
n human history, there are many beliefs and religions against tattoos and other forms of body transformation. According to the Xiao Jing or Classic of Filial Piety, “The body, hair and skin, all have been received from the parents, and so one doesn’t dare damage them—that is the beginning of xiao.” Xiao or pious is the center of the moral standards of Confucianism; or as Leviticus 19:28 has said, “You shall not make any cuts in your body for the dead nor make any tattoo marks on yourselves: I am the LORD”. Japan is not a friendly place for tattoos neither. In the Edo period (the 17th century) criminals were punished with tattoos. Tattoos were written on their bodies to show what they had done to others. The population started to rise in cities during the Edo period, and the government started to use tattoos to distinguish the criminals. Nowadays, Tattoos hold stigma within the Japanese society in the form of the Yakuza. However, tattoos and humans have associated since forever. Tattoos date back as far as the Neolithic era, or around the fourth to fifth millennium BC, but the oldest discovery of
8 March 2016
L ê
D o
T ă n g
H a i
N a m
tattooed human skin to date was found on the body of Otzi the Iceman, dating to between 3370 and 3100 BC. In Egypt, the majority of tattoos were found on women, indicating status. They also used tattoos for healing, religion, and as a form of punishment. So what do tattoos mean? How do they influence our cultures and our lives? Why is that, when many people worship and believe tattoos have magical power, others think it is a act of sin? People have many reasons to have tattoos: rebellion, self-expression, attention, artistic reasons, spiritual values, and even just because people were too drunk and they have a wild decision when their brain is shut down, which is why many tattoo parlors are open late. Some people say tattoos are art where tattooists are artists whose stage is the human skin; others claim that that tattooing is an act of self-destruction–there is some evidence that adults with tattoos have been shown to be more likely to engage in more higher risk behaviours. But, I do not think it is necessary to look at tattoos with such a negative feeling.
Since I love beauty in general, I do not want to miss any aspect of art and in this case, it is tattoos. I have been thinking a lot about this topic, about why humans have a love-hate relationship with tattoos, and why they want to have an ink mark on their skin (that’s how tattoos-haters call it). I never figured them out until the day I read this paragraph–the highlight of Dan Brown’s “The Lost Symbol”–which is the brilliant answer to my questions: “The goal of tattooing was never beauty. The goal was change. [...] The act of tattooing one’s skin was a transformative declaration of power, an announcement to the world: I am in control of my own flesh. The intoxicating feeling of control derived from physical transformation had addicted millions to flesh-altering practices . . . cosmetic surgery, body piercing, bodybuilding, and steroids . . . even bulimia and transgendering. The human spirit craves mastery over its carnal shell”.
Spiritually, there are souls, spirits, and many other things we cannot detect. To me, tattoos show how our soul claimed their dominance over our physical body, which means I do believe that our body and our spirit belong to two different realms. Just like how dogs pee on their territories to mark what belongs to them, humans want tattoos to mark their personal properties. After all, tattoos are a way for humans to express themselves. People tattoo when something big happens to their lives, when they want to mark a special occasion or maybe just a random feeling. But let’s be honest, I do believe that the last reason is the best reason since everything that had happened in your life is the result of a chain reaction of human emotions–sorrow, happiness or something in-between that we call love.
March 2016
9
PERSPECTIVE
THE MOST IMPORTANT BODY PART writer. MEY designer. ANHS
Y
ou feel upset, you are angry, but you don’t even have enough strength to stomp your feet. There will always be moments when you feel real weak and lost, your life seems to crumble, and the whole world is somehow not as steady. You are likely than ever to fall out, and you wish, if there were a thing for you to hold on tight, a place for you to take a short rest before you have to get back up, just for a while…
Christer Strömholm
And you keep searching for that thing.
10 March 2016
Sometimes, I watch other babies as they sleep peacefully on their mothers’ shoulder. Watching them, I could envision how much I was cosseted when I was little. I wonder, did I also lay my head on my mother’s shoulder and deeply fall into sleep like them? Did my mother also carry my dreams on her shoulder and lull them with lullabies? Surely I can’t remember, but I still can imagine how warm my mother’s chest was, how my cheeks pleasingly blushed, and how pleasant I felt sleeping soundly on my mother’s shoulder. So, I guess, right from when I couldn’t even tell right from wrong, or know how to give and receive love in this world, the shoulders were already my peaceful wonderland.
SHOULDERS
Maybe I did not sleep on my father’s shoulders as much, yet the memories I have with them are much clearer and very cheery. As if they started to appear since I knew how to dream with my eyes open. My father looks nothing like any of my drawings of him when I was a kid, in which I drew him as a super hero with impressive muscles. In reality, he is a tall but skinny man, he doesn’t look so strong with his angular shoulders. Nonetheless, it doesn’t matter how he looked, his shoulders made my childhood dream of being able to fly high up in the sky like a free bird come pretty much true. The awesome thing about my father is that he absolutely doesn’t look like a horse at all, but somehow he still made me felt like I “owned” a real horse when he let me sit on his shoulders, wiggle his ears and “ride” him around my house. My father, with his shoulders, protected me. When I pretended to sleep and hid from my mother so that I would not have to go to kindergarten, my father’s shoulders were my safety zone. So, right from when I still saw the world simple and crystal, my father’s shoulders already fulfilled my most impossible dreams, put smiles on my face and brought joyfulness to my soul, didn’t they?
That’s why I don’t have to conduct any research to figure that thing out. Looking back, my childhood memories already told me that: the shoulders, they aren’t there just because people would look like creepy creatures without
them; or because people need them to balance their bodies’ weight. In fact, people need each other’s shoulders to balance their own lives. The moment you begin to weaken, hold on to your most beloved one’s shoulders. It’s not necessary that you put up your chin and always pretend that you are strong to others. Don’t worry and don’t be scared, ‘cause there will be days when:
green canopies can’t seem to cool your soul in the hottest summer day; milk flowers don’t make your heart flutter when fall comes; songbirds no longer sing the old ecstatic melody in the early spring morning; and even a hot bowl of Pho in the blistering winter can’t keep you warm and content. Then, you should know: no matter how awful your day has been, you will be just fine, as long as you have a shoulder to cry on.
“
PEOPLE NEED EACH OTHER’S SHOULDERS TO BALANCE THEIR OWN LIVES
March 2016
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PERSPECTIVE
f ro m t h e o t h er sid e of t he view p oi nt
Writer: Linh Dieu Tran Designer: Mel
Image courtesy: Nicolas Henri Jacob
In Korea, the phrase “Plastic Surgery” does not seem to carry a negative connotation. “Seonghyeong” is the word which stands for it, which roughly translate to “Transform Surgery”, a much more pleasant name. In turn, Koreans have a much more positive attitude towards plastic surgery, proven by the abundance of plastic surgery companies and Korean people’s willingness to undertake transformative procedures.
The situation is... A great deal of plastic surgery techniques were invented and embraced during the period of both times, however, many people have actually obsessed over plastic surgery, especially women, who account for 91% of plastic surgery procedures in total. In the United States alone, tic surgeries or another, with over $12 billion spent on this industry during 2013. fects or even died, plastic surgery has been nothing but a rising trend these years. USA, Brazil, China and above all, South Korea are the top countries with the highest rate of executing this form of beauty seeking.
The initial root ed. Subjective opinions become facts which are believed by thousands ed, raised and transplanted since the day we were just tiny, innocent children. Same as the concept of outward beauty. It is not an one-day attempt to create, but built over many memories and situations in the past. I grew up with a thick concept in my mind that plastic surgery is a bad thing, and people should be ashamed having it. My family is against the idea of putting silicone or any other unnatural substance into a living body; as a result, so did I. As time went by, this statue of thinking had been broken little by
12 March 2016
But, what is still stuck inside my head is that we do not need plastic surgery to be something else that does not represent who we really are. People do grow up with certain prejudices in mind, as we already discussed above. It is easy to say “appearance doesn’t matter” out loud. It is easy to think that we are immune to the power of someone’s looks and that we only care about their personality. But in reality, it is not. Life teaches of stories of how people would have an easier time getting a job if they own a good-looking face or a beautiful, fashionable lady to show up instead of those who look like Draco Malfoy’s Facebook informing a new friend request, we will seek out a picture of the person’s or chopped down. Plus, it is not always the matter of not having a nice appearance. More than the desire to look exceptional, we wish that our looks and perworked hard to show that you were strong and experienced, it would be a shame when people keep labeling you “babyface” or “youngster”. And then, sometimes when you smile, you want others to admire your sharp cheekbones instead of your even teeth; some other times, you want to have a dreamy, blondy look instead of the original hair color. But life is like this: some people want to look like James Bond, classy and gold, while
point that people should consider this beauty transformation to be – a way to match the outside and inside, a way to create a bond between the soul and our outer expressions to pretty to survive” feelings.
Ending No, plastic surgery does not have to be bad. It is not-at-all a dirty, evil thing like my family worried, indeed. If we liken the hard shell of an egg to the appearance, and the egg yolk to our soul, talents, knowledge and so on, plastic surgery would be like dyeing and polishing the shell. But guess what? People egg’s looks, they care about where the egg comes from, whether it is nutritious or poisonous (No, seriously. Mass-manufactured food is something when we should turn our attention to the eggshell’s color and texture is when we are already sure of and comfortable with the inside quality. And when is the only moment when we should give the shell our 100-percent focus? Never. Embrace yourself “inside out”.
March 2016
13
PERSPECTIVE
Hey, you. Yeah, you. Remember when you were just a kid? Remember what you looked like? Did you like yourself then? What about now? You’re taller now. Maybe not as tall as you hoped, but still taller. Remember the smooth silky hair you had when you were a kid? Yeah, I had that kind of hair, until I got my hair shaved. Boom. It grew back and it was curly. It was a puff and everyone called it an afro. I hated that afro, but I eventually embraced it. It became me. My hair eventually got smoother and became wavy. I was also sparkly white when I was a kid. I was glowing. Maybe you were like that too. One summer, I decided to swim everyday in the pool and hang outside for a long time, under the sun. I didn’t bother to look at the mirror until someone said “You got darker.” I looked at a mirror, and boom, I was a tortilla. I disliked my new skin color. My glowing skin was gone, but I still learned to love my skin anyway. I was a tasty tortilla. How would anyone dislike a tortilla? Yum, tortillas. Did you ever think you were fat… even if you weren’t? Yeah, I was like that too. I wasn’t really fat. I just thought I was, since every time I look down I always see my flabby tummy. Turns out my tummy wasn’t really that flabby. I did eventually get chubbier when everyone kept forcing me to eat. I like chubby. Chubby is cute. I’m not chubby anymore. I’m skinny again. Puberty. I had small legs, at least in my perspective. I’d just look at my legs and think “My legs are so small wow. It’s out of proportion.” Thank goodness for puberty, my legs got longer. I always thought my fingers and nails were ugly. They didn’t feel quite right, so I bit on my nails to try and shape them. Of course that didn’t go well. Don’t bite your nails, kids… I mean old people. When I was a kid, I always wished I wouldn’t grow face hair. I also didn’t want armpit hair because I thought it would feel weird. Wishes don’t come true, buy a shaver. I actually didn’t shave for 2 years, because I learned to love it too. Don’t shave your armpits though. Armpit hair is really good. I was also growing leg hair. I liked my leg hair. They were smooth and straight. I don’t know what happened but my leg hairs had a civil war and the curly leg hair revolution unfolded. I think my straight leg hair didn’t like pants. My face changed a lot, too. My nose changed a lot. It got longer. My round face stretched into an oval. My eyebrows got really pointy, with my left brow pointing upwards. Eyebrow revolution. Speaking of faces, I got PIMPLES, the enemy of all... unless you look really cute with pimples. I find some people with pimples to be cute for some weird reason. I got pimples, and I absolutely hated them. They were annoying and were painful at times. I rarely get pimples anymore, but I do get lots of clogged pores. Clean your faces, old people. Don’t pop your pimples, unless you want scars on your face. I mean if you do have scars on your face already, don’t worry. I think it’s cute. I’m actually still changing, and so are you. Change never ends. Learn to love yourself no matter what changes may happen. If you don’t like things, then feel free to change it. Your body. Your choice. Your happiness.
March 2016
15
FUN FACTS
Written by Hien Le Designed by Long & My Linh
f someone is not alive, he is dead. If that person is not dead, he is alive. This seems to be one of the most obvious things ever that even a kindergarten kid can tell. But the question is, does anything exist between? In other words, is there any line between life and death? The answer is yes, but only when your body is pushed into an extreme situation will you go through the so-called out-of-body experience. Voila! WHAT CAUSES OUT-OF-BODY EXPERIENCE In many cultures, we are told from our childhood that each human has two parts: the body and the soul.
16 March 2016
“The soul never departs the body until we die. However, in an out-of-body experience, the soul leaves the body for a temporary period of time before coming back.” While the body is our physical self, including our body parts like hands, feet or head, the soul can be defined as our emotional self - that is to say, our ability to think, to understand, to be happy or sad, to like or dislike. The soul never departs the body til we die. However, in an out-of-body experience, the soul leaves the body for a period of time before coming back. Scientifically speaking, this stat e occurs when our heart stops beating but our brain still works, giving us an exceptional experience that we wouldn’t have when we are totally conscious. Although this theory remains
that bother him on Earth, from workplace to family issues. He would see himself flying through a narrow road that’s seemingly endless. To this point, experiences begin to vary. Some people happen to see flashbacks of their own life - their moment of birth, their first day at school, their graduation or their wedding. Some people see their deceased friends or relatives, or even historical figures. Back to our example, when he reaches the end of the road, he sees a large bunch of light that leads to somewhere we would call heaven. It could be the heaven we usually imagine- a castle in the sky surrounded by a large lake, with a Garden of Eden full of evergreen trees. Or it could simply be a heap of clouds with God, Buddha or Allah in the between depending on your religion. Afterwards, he may or may not see himself coming to a boundary before feeling like he is coming back to Earth. He would be a bit hesitant to come back before returning to consciousness.
controversial among scientists, it is logical enough to believe since brain is the body part that helps us think, thus being the ‘soul’.
Besides those images which most people with out-of-body experiences have seen, there are even ultra rare cases when people see things that may happen in the future. There have been many cases of people seeing predictions in their dreams. Nonetheless, seeing them during a near-death experience is something once in a blue moon. A 22-year-old college student from Indonesia shared her own experiences after being involved in an accident: “After feeling like floating on the air, I saw myself meeting my favorite actress in 3 minutes before I gained my consciousness back. And half a year later it turned out to be true - I accidentally saw her when I attended a summer camp in China, and everything happened exactly the way I saw during my out-of-body experience.” Quite similar to what people call déjà vu', yeah?
“At the same time, he may feel very comfortable, peaceful and worry-free, as if he has escaped all the matters that bother him on Earth”
There are two ways you can experience being out of body. Most people who have gone through it suffer from terrible accidents or illness that cause themselves a temporary death or falling into a coma. Consequently, it is also referred to as the “near-death experience” - you are not dead, but almost. You can also gain out-of-body experience by practicing zen in various forms, yet it requires an extremely high level of concentration and long-time practice, so you can tell it’s hard to do. The length also varies - for some people it may last for only 2 to 3 minutes, but in other cases it could last a few hours, causing people to have different experiences depending on how long it lasts.
WHAT HAPPENS DURING OUT-OF-BODY EXPERIENCE
AN
In most cases, one would feel his own body has never been so light to the point he can float in the air himself. He would see everything underneath as if he’s on a n airplane. “I am flying”, he would say. Meanwhile, he may feel very comfortable, peaceful and worry-free, as if he has escaped all the matters
FINAL WORDS To end the story, you may think it is interesting to hear people sharing such unusual experiences. But not every accident gives you the chance to get out of your body for a while - instead, it may kill you instantly. So it’s best to keep yourselves safe. I mean, not all of us can die heroes but at least try not to die of recklessness, okay?
March 2016
17
infographic
6600
tickets were released
1100
audiences came to the concert
envelopes were printed and distributed into packages
400 >300
TRAM . DỪNG INFOGRAPHIC by Tuyen Bui & Do Hai Nam
AMOUNT OF MONEY RAISED 5.2 MILLION VND
was raised by selling lucky money envelopes
13 MILLION VND
Exactly
Numbers of days for preparation:
18 March 2016
30 DAYS
was collected at the performing night All profits go to Leukemia patients at National Institute of Hematology and Blood Tranfusion.
SPONSORS 6 PERFOMANCES ◊ Hiphop Dance ◊ Artistic Dance ◊ Magic Tricks ◊ Musical Performances: Rock, Indie ◊ Drama
5
Financial sponsors Media sponsors Gold sponsor Others
GROUPS OF PERFORMERS
◊ FTU Dance Club ◊ CNN Rock Club ◊ CNN Magic Club ◊ Chu Van An Highschool Drama Club ◊ The HUB Band
PROMOTIONAL VIDEO
SOCIAL MEDIA The event’s Facebook fanpage gained:
554 likes 16124 post reachs 1632 engagements * All the achievements were generated organically About Tram Dung’s fans:
30%
69%
? 1%
However, men have higher rates of reach and engagements than women “One day at National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion” (Một ngày ở Viện huyết học) reached
11454 PEOPLE and was used as material on the national program Chuyển động 24h by VTV
IMPROVEMENTS ◊ Tram Dung has twice as ◊ This is the first time Current much number of attendanc- Media has ever organised an es compared to The Reef - event outside RMIT, as well once was the biggest event as cooperated with students Current Media had ever run. from other schools and universities. March 2016
19
SHORT STORY
smile, Smith, smile writer VIET ANH designer MEL
S
mith sat in the desk situated in the middle of the room. Everyone sat around him: Laura, Hairy Harry, Little Daniel, Sam, and other guests. The group called their seating arrangement “The Circle of Life”. Today was the day that Smith and his fiancé visited the hospital where he used to stay. Some of his friends were still there, like Harry and Laura; some were new, like Daniel and Sam. The Hospital of Saint Peter had saved Smith in his hardest moment, and now he wanted to give something back–something bigger than words, more precious than diamonds; something that only souls could understand. Smith and Mai came with Christmas gifts and lots of stories from the world outside of the hospital. “What makes humans human?” A random voice asked from across the room. “Well, a human is a creature with a head, stands up tall, and has hands to grasp things…”, Smith responds. “So, Smith, can you stand up?” Sam was trying make fun of Smith “Hey, Smith, pass me the bottle over there.” Harry joined in. Everyone bursted into laughter. “I can’t stand, but maybe I can fly or at least jump to you, and oh, about the bottle,” Smith smiled and responded while making a clown face. “I sat a bit too far from the table. Harry, you lazy ass, use your magic wand to summon
20 March 2016
the bottle! Or do I have to use my magic for you?” Harry laughed, “I could do that, but I would love to have Mai bring it to me!” “Is Mai your magic, Smith?” Sam asked in confusion. “Yes, she is my magic. The first and also the best one,” Smith looked at Mai and responded with a smile.They both knew what it meant when he said that. Everybody loved Smith, or rather, admired him–his strength and his spirit. He was born with tiny hands and legs–an extremely rare disorder called Phocomelia . His close friends and family gave him the nickname “Joker”, as he always smiled and cared for everyone around him. Laura’s puns started the circle of jokes, which cracked everybody up. Everyone started to tell their own jokes in turns. When it was Smith’s round, he waited until everyone’s attention was on him before he began. “Let this Joker tell you this. Three drunk guys entered a taxi. The taxi driver knew that they were drunk so he started the engine and turned it off again, saying, “We have reached your destination”. The first guy gave him money while the second guy said “Thank you”. The third guy slapped the driver. The driver was shocked thinking the third drunk knew what he did but still asked dubiously, “What was that for?”. The 3rd guy replied, “Control your speed next time, you nearly killed us!” The “comedy show” went on, making everybody’s stomach hurt from laughing too hard. For a split second, Smith thought he had no need for hands and legs anymore, because everything he needed was right there with him. A young boy stood up and blundered towards Joker. “Smith, may I run with you?” Joker answered endearingly, “Oh dear, Daniel, if you could see me, you could also see my legs! They are long, white, and firm. I could run for miles without rest.” “Really? You can run that fast? Like The Flash?” Daniel asked curiously. Smith gently patted the boy’s head and said, “Not quite like the Flash, but perhaps a jaguar.”
warmer, like it could melt away. Mai patted his shoulder–a touch as gentle as a touch of sunlight. Both of them smiled in the happiness of love. It’s Christmas Eve. Smith’s family and relatives gathered around him and shared a meal together at the table.
Oh dear, smile! Why so serious?
“Uncle Smith, can you do the joker smile, please?” His nephew, Mike, spoke while holding his chicken wings. Smith dipped his chips into the ketchup, drew two extend curves from the comers of his mouth and made a scary face. “Oh dear, smile! Why so serious?”. With his best effort, he made everyone fall into laughter and lightened up the mood of the meal even though his face was not scary at all. Mike laughed, “I am not serious. You are.”
“You are so cool, do you know that? The jaguar? Where does it live? is it beautiful?” Like a father to a son, Smith explained in kind words to help blind Daniel see through his imagination. “The jaguar lives in safari. He is the most magnificent cat I’ve ever seen in my life. He can climb trees, and run like the wind. His eyes are sharp as blades, and they can see through the darkness.” He paused, taking in Daniel’s awed expression. “Some legends said the creature is the guardian of the forests. He sees everything, goes everywhere, so big and almighty. Do you know the moon, Daniel?” Joker asked. When the boy nodded his head, he continued. “People say, if you look the jaguar in the eye for too long, your mind will be trapped.” “Oh thank God I can’t look at his eyes!” Innocent Daniel uttered.
“Susan, can you pass me the drumstick?” Joker asked his sister. The second child, Anna, complained. “Mum, uncle Smith already has his drumstick.” Smith waved his tiny legs and laughed evilly. “Anna dear, if you don’t give it to me, the real Joker will visit you tonight.” “No mum. Give it to him! I don’t want the real Joker, I only like the smiling ones.” Anna finally got scared. Time went in a flash. Everybody went to their rooms after the meal, especially the kids since they really wanted Santa Claus to visit them. At last, Smith and Mai had their time together. In their room, Mai shared her concern. “Dear, what would happen if you could walk and move like normal?”
Unfortunately, all things must come to an end. A nurse came into the room, signalling it was the end of today’s “Comedy Show”.
“I am already walking and moving, Mai. I move and walk further than most men do. On the top of my mind, I don’t see how hard is it to be myself, especially when I am with you.” His eyes sparkled like stars in the night sky. “Smile my Harley Quinn, why so serious?”
“Smith, today’s visit is over. You can still visit on another time.” She smilingly announced.
Time only made them feel closer to each other and closer to those around them.
Smith smiled and rolled away in his wheelchair, Mai right on his wheels. On the way home, she turned to Smith and asked. “Do you know that you are the best thing that’s happened in my life?” Mai wanted to smile, but her cleft lip made it hard for her. When Smith didn’t respond, she pressed further. “Why do you like me?” “Mai, my dear, I fell in love with your smile, not the smile that’s on the outside, but the true smile from within your soul. To me, you are my angel. We have been together for 5 years. Do you really want me to say it?” Mai was shy, yet she felt love, so much love. Her chest got
“something bigger than words, more precious than diamonds; something that only souls could understand:”
Laughter
March 2016
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OUR FINAL MESSAGE
prescription to self love writter designer
THU LUU anhs
A
break up always has positive impact on me, as it reminds me that the only one who will stand by my side in any situation is myself. Don’t get me wrong, I am not an advocate of break up. I am just someone who respects myself, loves myself and wants to make sure no one can take my happiness away. As an avid reader of Jewish Bible, I have my most favorite quote from Talmud: “The only person you can trust is the one you see in the mirror”. To me, mastering this lesson is the key to happiness. Thus, I don’t let other opinions and outside circumstances have negative impacts on me, as I choose to feel happy, to do and think of things that make me happy every day I wake up. Because surrounding yourself with positive energy is loving yourself and planting a beautiful garden on your mind. Do not let others’ opinion has the power to make you doubt your inner ability, to tell you that you can’t follow your dream, that you are not good enough or beautiful enough, that you can’t be the one you want to be. In the end, it’s not them who will stand by your side through thick and thin, it’s just yourself. So always trust yourself and believe in your true capability. It’s you that truly matters. If being in a relationship when your partner does not support you to pursue your inner dreams and make you feel unworthy, leave him/her.
If there is something noteworthy to take away from this article, I want to quote a quote from Thich Nhat Hanh.
“
You must love in such a way that the person you love feel free.
”
Twenty-something is the most beautiful time of our life and we only live this time once. So I hope you find the strengths within yourself to follow your dreams, because:
So if taking a contemporary dance class frees yourself, take it.
“If not me, who? If not now, when?”, said John F. Kennedy.
If taking start-up project energizes you and makes you feel worthwhile, take it.
22 March 2016