Serendipity // ISSUE ONE

SERENDIPITY ISSUE ONE

E N O

Hello and welcome, to the first ever issue of serendipity magazine.

Serendipity is the act of finding something valuable by chance. Whether you accidentally stuble upon this magazine, or find a great new artist, information model, photographer or writer, we hope you find value in all that we do.

This magazine all started by chance. I’ve been friends with a girl called Tiffany for some time now but she lives in New York. So you can imagine my shock when I found out that she knew someone (Ella) who went to the SAME uni as me and lived in the SAME accomodation as me just a year before. When me and Ella became friends the coincidences didn’t stop.As it so happens we both wanted to create a magazine.

We started discussing it at 3am in the morning, a day later we had a full team and a few months later we created what you’re about to read now. The moral of the story is that if life is hitting you with 10 different coincidences at once, take a deep breath and take the chance. - Mofe (founder, editor)

CONTENTS MEET THE TEAM CURRENTLY WATCHING LOVE & MISADVENTURE MODERN DAY ROMANCE LET’S TALK ABOUT... THE FAST LANE BROOKLYN FILM REVIEW KISS ME GOODBYE, STARMAN IN THE SKY LET’S TALK ABOUT...FRIENDSHIPS OH MY DARLING 5 THINGS I LEARNED AT 17 THE FACES OF THE MOON INTERSECTIONAL FEMINISM THE BEAUTY EDIT - IN THE GLOW THINGS THAT BOTHER ME PRESSURE CULTURAL APPROPRIATION HEAVY DESERT REVIEW LIVING THROUGH MUSIC BODY POSI THE MOON IS INEXORABLE

4 6 7 8 14 16 18 22 24 28 31 32 36 38 40 44 46 48 50 54

MEET THE TEAM mofe sey, FOunder Twitter: @britishoxygen Instagram: @mofesey

ELLA REDMOND, FOUNDER Twitter: @ellaredmond instagram: @ella.indigo

abigail swann, Writer Twitter: @spookyabs Instagram: @abigailswann95

tiffany, WRITER +MODEL Twitter: @fairiegloss Instagram: @ fairiegloss

VICTORIA GONZALEZ, PHOTOGRAPHER Twitter: @mardy_bummed Instagram: @mardybummed

Emily jones, writer Twitter: @emilyjxnes Instagram: @emilyisshort

AMY OVERBY, PHOTOGRAPHER Twitter: @AmyzOverby Instagram: @amyzoverby

NICOLE OZUNA, WRITER Twitter: @goldheart_xo Instagram: @goldheart_xo

MICHELLE ELIAS, WRITER Twitter: @Michelle_lias Instagram: @Michelle.lias

ALEXIS STOGNER, WRITER Twitter: @stogneralexis Instagram: @stogner_alexis

EMILY MACLENNAN, WRITER Twitter: @emilymaclennan_ Instagram: @hagiographic

TENNANT ROSS,WRITER Twitter:@umtennant Instagram:@tennantross

MIA WARREN, PHOTOGRAPHER Twitter: @MiaWarren96 Instagram: @MiaWarren_

RAEGAN KNOPF, WRITER Twitter: @raygunknopf Instagram: @raygunknopf

Antonia PARKER, WRITER Twitter: @Antoniaparker_ Instagram: @antonia.parker

Leanah Chestnut, Writer Twitter: @leanahslays Instagram: @leanahbc

CURRENTLY WATCHING MOFE SEY The shows that I am currently watching have many things in common: 1. Based on DC Comics 2. Superhero/vigilante themed 3. Will have you hooked

THE FLASH

The Flash is a spin-off of Arrow.

The show follows Barry Allen, a crime investigator who gains super speed after ARROW a freak accident at a science lab.

After spending 5 years shipwrecked on a mysterious island, Oliver Queen With the help of his team Barry uses his returns to Starling City. There ability to fight evil metahumans he reunites with his family and and gets closer to solving the friends. By day he’s like any rich lad but at night he becomes a hooded mystery of his mother’s death. vigilante, determined to stop ever person who has “failed the city”, with his team of new friends by his side.

Love & Misadventure This is the Kit // Two Wooden Spoons Cigarettes after Sex // Affection Iron and Wine // Such Great Heights The Velvet Underground // Pale Blue Eyes City and Colour // The Girl Bon Iver // Blood Bank Angus and Julia Stone // I’m Not Yours The Woodlands // Long Lost Century Jose Gonzalez // Heartbeats Gemma Hayes // To Be Your Honey Belle & Sebastian // Pizza, New York Catcher Mazzy Star // Fade Into You Sufjan Stevens // The Only Thing

modern day romance

PHOTOGRAPHY: AMY OVERBY - IG: @AMYZOVERBY MODELS: LEXI - IG: @LEXI.AM SAL - IG: SALISBURY._

LET'S TALK ABOUT... the fast lane

WORDS: ANTONIA PARKER

Before we begin, let me lay my cards out on the table. I’m not a saint.

I’m not perfect. I’ve got regrets, I’ve got shame but that’s not what we’re going to talk about. I’m going to be brutally honest with you all, that’s what I’m best at.

Being a teenager is quite possibly the toughest thing. In all honesty, my head is a mess. For me, I spend most of my time worrying about who I’m going to be and what I’m going to do. I have no idea where I’m going in life, and that scares me to death.

The future is a terrifying thing and I suppose that’s why I’ve decided to live my life in the fast lane.

At the same time, I want to make others feel too. I want to make my mark on this world by making others happy. I want to do something that will inspire others. I want to do something that’ll make people stand up and screw our society. I want to inspire people to take their life into their own hands and do something with it. I want to make people do something they’ll remember. I don’t know how I’m going to do it yet, but I know I will.

As teenagers, I think we’re all a bit scared and we all play it safe. School doesn’t prepare us for much. They kick us out and we basically have to improvise. Doesn’t seem fair, does it? Some people You see, I want to make my mark on enjoy living in the comfort zone and this world and I’ll happily die there isn’t anything wrong with that. trying. Maybe that makes me stupid, you tell me. The thought of being What I’m trying to get at is that stuck in a shitty office job for the the future shouldn’t limit us. rest of my life makes my skin crawl. Our fear of the unknown shouldn’t I don’t want to be average. I don’t bury us and stop us from trying to want your typical, comfortable life. reach our dreams. For a long time, I don’t want to be comfortable. I want I thought I had my future planned, to be at risk, I want to be scared and and then I let fear take over.

I want to be excited. I want to live. I told myself I needed to be a realist; there was no way I could ever make it big.

I was better off settling to be a I don’t mind living my life in lawyer or go into a well paid job the fast lane. I don’t mind if I where I’d be content for life. crash and burn. If I’m going to go out, I want to know I’ve done it I don’t know about you, but to me just on my own terms. I want to be able reading that makes me want to bang to look back and have all these my head against a wall. Why should incredible memories and stories to tell. we have to settle? Fear is the only thing stopping us. We have to fight We all have ideas of how we want to fear. We have to fight the unknown live our lives. We all have hopes and because if we stop living our lives dreams. What I’m trying to tell you due to fear we’ll never be happy. is that nothing should ever stop us.

We have one life and we should enjoy it whilst we can. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. Don’t let the fear of the future chain you down. Make yourself proud and go out and live the life you want.

review I was extremely excited to watch Brooklyn. I had seen the hype grow around this film with Saoirse Ronan gaining critical acclaim over her performance. So because I love anything that Saoirse Ronan is in, I expected great things from the film.

New York fairytale as she experiences homesickness and guilt when a family member dies. Eilis goes back to Ireland, not expecting to be there very long, but is instead greeted with opportunities she did not have before she moved to Brooklyn.

Eilis is suddenly stuck between two competing claims for her heart from Tony back in Brooklyn, and well-brought up Jim (Domnhall Gleeson) in Ireland.

First, let me give you a brief overview you. Eilis Lacey (Saoirse Ronan) lives in a small town in Ireland with her mother, Mary (Jane Brennan), and her older sister Rose (Fiona Glascott). She is persuaded to emigrate to Brooklyn, New York, as the employment and education prospects are much greater. Eilis has her first experience of love with an extremely likable Italian boy named Tony (Emory Cohen) during her time in Brooklyn, but the story is not your typical

I’m a sucker for romance stories.

I’ve seen everything from Pretty in Pink to You’ve Got Mail. Obviously I knew Brooklyn was not going to be like either of those films. It’s not a romantic comedy. I had read rave reviews about this film that said it was beautiful and moving, but to be honest with you, I felt that Brooklyn is just a Nicholas Sparks novel transplanted into a 1950’s setting. There is nothing really that special about it. I bought the book

EMILY JONES

a couple of months ago but I haven’t got around to reading it yet. Perhaps when I do, I will warm more to the story of Brooklyn. I’ll have to get back to you on that.

Saoirse Ronan’s performance is undeniably brilliant. There are multiple close-up shots of Ronan where she perfectly conveys innocent youth that has been struck by anxiety and sadness. There is no wonder that Ronan has been nominated for both a Golden Globe Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award, plus being a favourite to nab an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress.

Ronan’s performance is also supported

by Julie Walters who plays the comical Mrs. Kehoe, Eilis’ boarding house landlady, and Jim Broadbent as the kind-hearted priest who helps her with her new life in Brooklyn.

It cannot be denied that Brooklyn is just another film that tells the story of an immigrant that moves to New York. But it is Saoirse Ronan’s performance that will capture your heart and make this story more memorable than all of the other films that have already tackled this narrative. © Fox Searchlight Pictures

KISS ME GOODBYE, STARMAN IN THE SKY Thousands around the world raise Once the news settled in I went their candles in the air as we say through the five stages of grief: goodbye to the legend, David Bowie.

- Denial - Anger He was a man that touched all our - Bargaining hearts, whether you be a hardcore fan - Depression or not. Bowie was more than just his - Acceptance music, he was a fashion icon, a kind man and an inspiration to us all.

With a heavy heart, I eventually acI couldn’t believe my eyes when I checked my phone January 10th. I didn’t want to believe it. No one did.

David Bowie is dead.

cepted Bowie’s death. I had no choice.

Now I could sit here and spill my heart-broken tears to you all, or I can sit here and talk about the wonderful life of David Bowie.

I’ll be honest, David Bowie has never been my favorite musician, but I respect the man with all my heart.

Bowie was the rebel that challenged society and changed the face of music. Fearlessly, he battled gender norms and sexuality, an issue that we still struggle with today.

As soon as I read that tweet I felt my heart stop. I was in a state of shock.

For some reason I always thought of Bowie immortal, it never occurred to me that he might one day no longer be with us. It breaks my heart the amount of rock icons that are leaving us from Scott Weiland, Lemmy In the 70s announcing you were gay or Kilmister, B.B King and now Bowie. bisexual was a terrifying thought.

The British Parliament had only decriminalized homosexuality in 1967.

I can only imagine the storm Bowie created when he rocked up wearing sparkling outfits and make up.

Bowie made it OK to stand out, hell, he made it cool. If I’ve learnt anything from Bowie it’s to be yourself and to fucking own it. And if someone doesn’t like the way you look it’s because they’re narrow minded and insecure. We can wear what we want. We can sing what we want. We can be who we want to be, and Bowie proved just that. He was an outsider and to all the misfits in the world, they finally found someone to connect wit.

Bowie was so weird and wonderful, and so brutally honest. He never tried to hide who he was. He demanded to be seen and heard. The world could never have ignored David Bowie, it’s no wonder the punk movement consider him as one of its heroes.

“David’s friendship was the light of my life. I never met such a brilliant person. He was the best there is.”

Madonna also tweeted that she was “devastated” and that Bowie had “changed her life,” while Kanye West described him as one of his most important inspirations. With a snapchat story to celebrate his work and hundreds of posts of people speaking highly about him speaks volumes for the man as an artist.

Bowie may be gone from this world but his work will forever remain with us.

He made a mark on this world and will go down in history. He sparked change and creativity. No one will ever forget his wacky obsession with space, his crazy outfits and unapologetic Bowie was a chameleon, constant- attitude. ly changing his colors. He was a risk-taker, sometimes it didn’t al- I know celebrity deaths are always ways work for him and I think that’s made a massive deal out of, despite why I respect him so much. Now a day how harsh this may sound. But when we you just see artists playing it safe, say there will never be anyone like Bowie never did. He constantly Bowie, you better believe it. No one challenged himself. will ever do what he did. Sure people may try but no one can replace In the result of his death many art- an icon. ists from a range of genres took to the Internet to pay their respects.

Friend and collaborator Iggy Pop wrote,

What I’ve loved seeing since his death is the amount of people who have come together to celebrate him.

One girl at my school came in wearing glitter in his honor. People in Brixton gathered together, praising everything Bowie. Social media has blown up, full of heartfelt messages and pictures. His songs are being sung across the globe. In a time where there is so much sadness there has also been so much love. I think that’s one of the beautiful things about death, it brings people together.

It warms my heart to know that Bowie left us with one final masterpiece. I know over the course of the year more material will probably be released, this often happens with musicians after they die. No doubt this will just make me miss him more but I do hope they do, I’ll listen to anything Bowie.

Bowie hasn’t gone. He’s simply returned home. There’s a Starman waiting in the sky and I look forward to the day I join him.

ANTONIA PARKER

R.I.P DAVID BOWIE 1992-2016

© www.davidbowie.com

LET'S TALKABOUT...

LIU FANGNING

friendships

Growing up, is something that is inevitable, everyone goes through this process of making friends. More often than not, these relationships turn out to be there when you most need it and is a part of some of the most exciting moments of your journey through school, work or just life in general.

These people help grow with you, they contribute positively to your life and your wellbeing. Even your parents love them. They inspire you and makes your life just a little bit better.

However, there is also another side to friendships. The negative side.

The one that I feel so many people go through but keep quiet about it.

Now, I’m not saying this will happen to everyone, but I’m sure it’s safe to say it has happened to seven out of ten people (maybe). Backstabbing, toxic and complicated friendships isn’t something I am a stranger to. In fact, it has happened to me a few times.

I recently got out of a five-year long friendship which I thought would last all the way until I’m old and have wrinkles covering every inch of my body. But, I was obviously unfortunately wrong. I hadn’t even realised it was a toxic friendship because it was so complicated between us. I think the more significant factor contributing to us ‘breaking up’ is the fact that we find it hard to open up to each other. Whenever one of us piss the other off, we just ignore each other. Simple as that. And then, over time it turned into us just completely not talking and drifted apart.

So, what I’m trying to say is, the most important thing in maintaining a strong, healthy friendship is to be able to connect (besides having trust in one another). If you don’t feel comfortable with your friends, if you feel like you have to be someone else you’re not, if you feel these people don’t really care for your feelings, it’s probably best to stay away. Don’t wait around and waste your time, thinking they’d be the ones who makes the first move,

when you can be out there meet- If you’re a teenager, you’ll ing other people who are so probably agree with me on this: it’s much better and worth the time. easier said than done, because that’s just how life works. It beats you While on the other hand, if you know over and still expect you to be fine you have somebody, even just one with it. I hope wherever you are, person, who would support you through whoever you’re with (or even if you’re your decisions and downs in life, who alone with your books), that the respect your choices and defends you people you are hanging out and in your absence, make sure you hold talking with everyday have impacted on to them, because this may bring you (and are continuing to do so) your some of the best experiences in life. life positively and motivates you to be a better person, which ultimately Personally, I don't think it possible makes you happy and laugh until you to survive on your own in this big, forget what you’re even laughing about. bad world. It's always good to have Friendship isn’t about the someone to lean on, to be able to material you guys exchange or the confide in someone knowing they won’t number of ‘’Instagram Worthy’ go around telling places went and pictures taken, but other people about your problems. about the emotional investment made between a group of people that will be there to lift you up from your darkest moments, and vice versa. It’s a beautiful thing, while having fun, don’t forget to cherish it.

Good luck, my friends.

OH MY DARLING

PHOTOGRAPHY AND MODELS: VICTORIA GONZALEZ - IG: @MARDYBUMMED TIFFANY - IG: @THEMOSCHINOBARBIE

5 THINGS I LEARNED AT 17 NICOLE OZUNA In November, I reached the critically acclaimed age of legality *cringe*, but nonetheless, I am still basking in the sheer jubilance of being a mere teen *sassily sips juice box *.

Not to be mournful, but 17 holds a vastly special place in my heart. This juncture of girlhood intertwining with womanhood spoke to me for two primary reasons: 1) Growing up, my friends and I continually obsessed over what it would be like to be teenagers together and sure enough, 17 was the age we always ventured to. It surely is a magical age which has spurred the concoction of numerous captivating songs (I’m looking at you, Kings of Leon), films like Jawbreaker, and even an entire magazine for crying out loud. How much cooler can a year of life get?

2) Due to its fragile placement between an age of incipient freedom and the age where life suddenly becomes REAL, being 17 sparks deep reflection.

I’ve been ingesting my mandatory doses of careful reflection as of lately, and this has prompted me to develop a straightforward list of 5 lessons I learned at 17. Though this list encompasses my personal opinions, there is raw truth somewhere in the experiences of all young minds. Where? That’s for you to decide.

1. Other people cannot be changed.

Life became incomprehensibly easier when I accepted this. This mantra of sorts wasn’t a thought I spontaneously devised one day, it’s adequately backed by fair amounts of research and is also a dominant theme in How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie, a book you might want to look into if you fancy political science or business.

Changing people is a lost cause at least 99% of the time, and this isn’t something to be emotionally war-torn about. Nowadays, I no longer utilize my effort trying to rewire those around me. Instead, I deal with them (either because I love them, or I have no choice) or, if their actions are venomous, AVOID them.

2. Dear Self: You can do WAY more than what you would believe When I received my schedule for junior year, my self- doubt levels hit an all-time high. Every single course I was taking was Advanced Placement or a dual credit college class. On top of this, I was already devoted to numerous extra-curricular activities (my theatre program was especially time consuming; rehearsals lasted until 9’ o clock 2-3 times a week). Honestly, failure seemed like the probable outcome, and it was assuredly something I braced myself for long before I even took a swing at survival.

However, as I write these virtual utterances, it’s December of senior year. In actuality, high school is practically over and done with. And guess what? I survived. I’m not going to sugarcoat my experience; it was an emotional obstacle course. Was it the inescapable death trap I predicted, though? Not at all, friend. Let’s stop overestimating our problems while underestimating ourselves. The anxiety that this particular mindset produces is the real inescapable death trap.

3. take every opportunity 4. be good to people This value has continually been enforced by the fabulous mentors in my life (as a selfish teenage girl, I need the constant reminder), and it holds true in every social situation I’ve experienced thus far. As we all know, manners are not necessary. However, they will take you a long way. In a world where their relevance is fading, kindness sets you apart from the majority. Look at it this way: what will you lose by being a radiant human being? Another notable outcome of being good is that it will attract goodness. If you don’t believe me right off the bat, put the theorem into action. Be overly gracious tomorrow and take note of how it alters the day (don’t forget to report results back, as well!)

5. Stand alone Lastly, and most importantly in my opinion, is the aforementioned ideal. Early on in the week, I found myself in a room surrounded by pretty amiable beings who just happened to be talking about a party they were going to that night.

Drugs, alcohol, sex, and every other attribute that makes a party desirable were being tossed into the mix. I was profusely uncomfortable. I quietly exited the premises and following that predicament, carried on with my day as usual. A few pesky little concerns danced around in my mind for a while, though.

Why didn’t I like to party?

Was I missing out on something vital to the teenage experience?

Does this make me “boring” or uptight?

In order to alleviate these bouts of insecurity, I logically panned out the situation.

If I were to attend such a party, would I absolutely, doubtlessly be happy afterwards?

Nope.

Do the people who attend these parties live magical lives void of insecurities?

I would bet that they don’t.

Therefore, why do they party? What I concluded, and what jolted the concerns to a halt, was that partying is what makes them happy. And then it hit me: as an individual, partying is not what gets me tick. And so what? If staying home on a Friday night to watch Fight Club or learn new guitar chords is what makes me content, why should I ashamed of that?

Don’t fear standing alone in your interests, or really in any area of life. It’s oh so cliché, but all that matters is that at the end of the day, you’re genuinely happy.

the faces of the moon

you’re looking at the moon and it’s so cliche, but you can’t help but think that maybe if you stare long enough, he will end up staring too and you want the connection. you’re staring at the moon and you swear you see his face, but you haven’t seen it in months, so you don’t even know if it’s the same anymore but you were-. your friends are telling you you’re mad and your parents are wondering why you’re suddenly so interested in astronomy and you want to tell them that, no this isn’t sudden, I’ve been interested ever since he produced crescents on y thighs when he gripped too tight and how he left constellations on my shoulders and how I feel that we were the cause of the big bang each time we kissed. you’re looking at the moon and it’s changing into the sun and you can’t help but feel that he has some form of connection with this, he only made you feel electric when the sun was down and he was gone by sunset. you think you see his face on the moon because that was the only time you ever saw it anyway.

- Lara Hopwood Twitter: @larahopwood

INTERSECTIONAL F EMINISM The Merriam-Webster dictionary definition of feminism is a simple one; “the advocacy of women’s rights on the grounds of political, social and economic equality to men”. This definition superficially appears to be all-encompassing to any and all women, however, that notion is unsettlingly far from the truth.

Feminism in America and even across the world is a movement directed primarily at the advocating of rights for white, middle to upper class, cisgender women. A new movement that arose in the 1980s, its official name coined by Kimberle Williams Crenshaw, a professor at UCLA that specialized in race and gender issues, is referred to as intersectional feminism.

Crenshaw’s definition of the term reads, “The view that women exerience oppression in varying configurations and in varying degrees of intensity. Cultural patterns of oppression are not only interrelated, but are bound together and influenced by the intersectional systems of society.

Examples of this include race, gender, class, ability and ethnicity.” This term is the seemingly simple proposal that all women, despite

race, social class, birth-assigned gender, or any other factors, have the right to be represented and benefitted by the feminist movement for greater rights and equality for women.

The first, and most common, of these dividing factors that leaves many women lacking support and benefits from the feminist movement is race.

In a 2012 interview of prolific African-american actresses Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer on their roles as housemaids in the film The Help, based on Jim-Crow era America, Davis expressd her disdain with the pressure from the community on the roles black actors and actresses portray. She spoke of the disdain and disrespect that they received for not portrayng “heroic” roles.

“That very mind-set you have, and that a lot of African-Americans have, is absolutely destroying the black artist...if your criticism is that you just don’t want to see a maid...then I have an issue with that. Do I always have to be noble?” Davis told the interviewer.

In American film, black women are often only granted respect in their roles if they portray strong, legendary, noble representations of African-American excellence. This unfair expectation and limitiation placed on them makes recognition for a role twice as difficult for an African-American actress versus a white one. With movies and mainstream media becoming a more popular medium for feminist promotion, this disproportionate and unfair expectation placed on black women in accurately “representing” their peers are just one of the countless factors causing inequality within the feminist movement.

An unlikely yet concerningly common divider accompanying race in the inequality within the feminist movement is gender. Feminism, by definition, is the advocacy of women’s rights to promote equality to men, however, the varying definitions of a “real woman” are causing discrepancies and unfairness that is not in correlation with the feminist movement’s apparent goal of all-encompassing equality. Transgender women, or anyone who identifies as non-gender-specific or non-binary, have been receiving relentless hate and discrimintation from within the feminist movement since

the second-wave of feminism that began in the 1970s, and it continues just as harshly today. Germaine Greer, a supposedly strong feminist voice of the 70s and a popular author, said that trans women are “ghastly parodies” of women, and Janice Raymond, another voice considered “profilic” in the feminist community, wrote a book titled Transsexual Empire: The Making of the He-She. In this book Raymond writes, “...all transsexuals rape women’s bodies by reducing the real female form to an artifact, appropiating the body for themselves.”

This quote essentially implies the notion that there is nothing real about a transgender woman, and that the notion of a person assigned the gender of a man at birth transitioning into a woman is not only morally wrong, but a crime.

In addition to the horrific hatespeech and judgement transgender women receive, there is also an issue known as trans-exclusion, which is the excluding of transgender women from “women only” places, such as women’s homeless shelters, domestic violence shelters, and many women’s colleges. With the equal likelihood ofbeing rejected as a woman by people who are cisgendered, transgender women in America face the harsh treatment of both transphobia and

misogyny. In a 2015 study by The Williams Insititue, staggering numbers show that in comparison to the 5% of attempted suicides reported in the general population, transgender citizens reported a horrific 41%. The stress, discrimination, and judgment placed on transgender women in America appears to be the complete opposite of what the feminist movement claims to advocate.

Another primary hurdle thatwomen face in America is socioeconomicinequality. In a 2012 statistic, it was revealed that women employed fulltime made 77 cents for every $1 a man did. This number, however, only represents white women in the united states. Black women only earn 64 cents for every white man’s dollar, and Latinas, 53 cents. It is common knowledge outside the principle of feminism that in our capitalistic America, money and power are in direct positive correlation. In a society where success is so dependent on financial prosperity and security, the disparity between men and women’s pay contributes massively to the inequality between the genders.

While socioeconomic inequality applies to all women in America, women of colour suffer even more severly.

The poverty rates for black and latinx Americans are significantly

higher than the published national average. In 2010, 27.4% of black and 26.6% of latinx Americans were living in poverty, only 9.9% whites. Women of every race receive lower pay on average than men, and consequentially, this often forces women to either become more dependent on partners or welfare programs. Single mothers have an exponentially higher need for a second income to support themselves and their families, and this usually leaves no time at all for any kind of personal health or self-care.

It was reported in Penguin Atlas of Women in the World by John Seager that in America, households are becoming smaller and more commonly led by women. Of all the single-parent households around the world, 85% are headed by women, and are more often poorer than households headed by men.

The least economically secure single-head households are those led by elderly women. This disparity between pay and the demand for financial support of single women is a leading cause of dependence on welfare.

Another issue concerning women’s place in the American workforce is the massive amount of undervale and underpayment women receive. Per year, it is estimated that women of all races contribute more than 110 million hours of labour, while men’s labour

is estimated at around 55 million.

A study by Oxford University showed that if unpaid labour was accounted for and paid, the national GDP in the United States would rise from $352 million to $504 billion. This massive inequality in pay between men and women only worsens with race included.

Due to the horrible combination of inequality between socioeconomic class, race, and gender, feminism has become a movement directed at advocating rights for people like the most prominent feminist figures; financially stable, cisgender white women. In a movement that claims to advocate equality between all people in all aspects of the word, feminism is doing a poor job of including any women who are slightly different from the perceived majority. Intersectional feminism is vital to any true movement forward in women’s advocacy and representation in America, and with more race-specific, non-binary specific, and class-specific feminist groups arising and gaining more recognition, the progression of feminism as a movement for true equality is gradually looking more and more promising. Without the support of all women by all women, feminism will remain a movement just as divided in inequality as the systems of oppression it fights to dismantle

We must find it in our own humanity to celebrate the differences among us and proclaim them as power- not allow themto divide us and make us weak.

“There is a special place in hell for women who don’t help other women.” Madeleine Albright TENNANT ROSS

THE BEAUTY EDIT IN THE GLOW

We saw extreme highlighting conquer 2015 but now, in 2016, we seem to be heading towards a need for an all over glow; the heavily desired ‘off-duty-model’ glow that makes us all feel a little green with envy.

Here are some top picks to help you achieve this.

Bobbi Brown Tinted Moisturiser Balm- £36.50/$52.05 My top product find of the year so far. Forget cakey foundation, this balm works wonders to even out skin tone while making you look like you’re glowing from within. It might be on the pricier side however I can assure you this product will last you longer than your average 30ml bottle of foundation and double up as a great addition to your skincare routine.

© www.bobbibrown.co.uk

Becca liquid highlight in Moonstone- £34/$48.49

Liquid highlighters are always going to leave you with a more natural glow than any powder product.

The Becca Liquid Highlights can be used either under foundation (for an all over glow) or on the cheekbones to intensify your highlight.

The wonderful thing about these is that, unlike many of their competitors, the Becca highlighters aren’t unnaturally shimmery (they’re not going to be leaving your face looking like there’s chunks of glitter on your cheeks).

© www.cultbeauty.co.uk

Lush’s ‘Let the Good Times Roll’ Cleanser- £6.95/$9.91

If you have oily skin then stay clear of this cleaner, however, if your skin is on the dryer side then this product may become your holy grail.

It smells like a combination of cookie dough and popcorn, will rid you of all dry patches, and leave the skin moisturised and prepped for make-up. © www.uk.lush.com

Laura Mercier Eye Stick in Rose Gold- £20.34/$29 A beautiful and long lasting cream eye product that will last all day as an eyebrow highlight and inner corner brightener. It gives a lovely sheen, not too shimmery with no noticeable glitters. If you want to go all out then it can also be used to highlight the cupids bow, and will be sure to last all day long.

ELLA REDMOND

© www.lauramercier.com

THINGS THAT BOTHER ME People who watch a concert through While I am a picture enthusiast and do for a short time tape a bit of a their phone...

Following the end of high school last October, I was struck with the longest break since perhaps the beginning of all schooling. Blessed with these months of freedom, I was determined to compensate for the days and nights I’d spent studying information I’d never need to know again.

By chance, in my first week of liberation I had tickets to three concerts which left me with the worst ever case of post concert blues and lots of wasted time thinking about the likelihood and nature of a relationship with a musician. These were easily the three best music experiences I’d ever had - if I ignored one little thing or better yet one little device.

song or take a picture I always wonder (aloud at a concert) why people pay to hear live music only to completely obstruct their own view or worse, mine. I can give you the same experience for free... at home... on YouTube.

Now many will argue that they want a memory and I argue that your constant yellow screen is not for a memory but to boast post. I’m satisfied with my thirty second snapshot you don’t really need half the set.

Frankly, the memory of being completely into the music with everyone else around you is far better than the memory of everyone scrambling to Now this is something that really both jam to your favourite song and perplexes me and maybe I need this concentrate on actually keeping the explained, but why do people watch an singer in your screen. You’re left entire concert through their phone? diffusing the experience by adding a It doesn’t make it more enjoyable barrier. I mean the singer is metres and honestly this is extra exercise away putting in all their efforts to no one desires, especially when in entertain you, wearing their heart the sweaty and overpopulated hunger out on their sleeve - for a sea of games recreation better known as the iPhones. Get off your phones take it in next time. -MICHELLE ELIAS moshpit.

WANNA GET INVOLVED?

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE A PART OF SERENDIPITY EMAIL US AN ARTICLE/PHOTOSHOOT/POEM AND YOU COULD BE PART OF THE MONTHLY TEAM OR JUST A ONE OFF FEATURE SUBMISSIONS4SERENDIPITY@GMAIL.COM

PRESSURE PHOTOGRAPHY: MODELS: GABY ERIN LEAHY CIARA AMOS -

MIA WARREN IG: MIAWARREN_ ARCHIBONG - IG: GABRIELLEARCHIBONG IG:ERINLEAHY16 LIZZIE LEACH - IG: LIZZIELEACHH IG: CIARAAMOSS

CULTURAL APPROPRIATION MOFE SEY

Here’s a list of what NOT to wear at With Coachella just around the cor- Coachella and in general (if you are ner, I thought it would be aa perfect not a part of the culture) time to talkabout Cultural Appropriation.

Native Headdresses

Coachella is known best for its great “In Native Cultures, both feathers music, art, entertainment and bucket and face paint are earned through loads of cultural appropriation! actions and deeds that bring honor to both tribes and nations. IndiBelieve it or not it IS possible to viduals (outside the community) who watch live music and be entertained wear feathers or face paint were not and go on with your day-to-day busigiven rights or permission to wear ness without wearing and exploiting them” - Dennis Zotigh, Cultural Speitems of another culture. cialist.

Why is Cultural Appropriation an isDreadlocks sue?

1. It reduces people into being just Please if you are not black do NOT put your hair in dreadlocks...Dread“exotic” locks have a history, black slaves 2. It groups the whole culture into whilst on their way to America from one hug group deeming them as the same Africa naturally grew dreadlocks but were quickly cut of by their slave when that is simply not the case. masters who deemed them as “dread3.It steals the cultural identity ful” when they reached America. Black of others in order to be deemed as people for years have been abused “cool” “quirky” or my personal fa- verbally and physically for having vourite “the need to self express”. their hair styled this way therefore it is disgusting that non-blacks

the audacity to wear their hair this way in order to keep up with their #cool #trendy #hipster look for their tumblr followers! The fact that a black person with dreads is deemed as “lazy” “dirty” “druggie” compared to the reactions that most white people with dreads get is disgusting and appalling considering it is not their culture to take.

“It’s embarrassing that white people tangle their hair and refuse to wash it for weeks on end to mirror a style that has cultural significance, especially when the whole point of black people reclaiming locs was an act against white defiance.

It’s also offensive that white people think that black people’s hair = dirty hair because they avoid washing their hair which 1. black people don’t 2. black people’s hair doesn’t get as dirty as theirs in the first place” @springbreakors

Bindis Due to the rapid increase of Bindis being worn at Coachella last year, many have rightfully taken to twitter in order to #reclaimthebindi.

A bindi symbolises many aspects of Hindu culture, with a red dot on the forehead most commonly to represent

married women. A bindi can also represent strength, energy and concentration it also means the third eye it is not just a “decoration” for your face. “[At First] I thought ‘wow people are finally accepting indians! White people are accepting us!’ then I realised that’s not the case at all they are using it as a fashion statement whilst if my mum was to wear a bindi she would be harassed and people would laugh at the “red dot” on her head...white people are turning our culture into a fashion statement and that makes me sad. Hinduism/Desi cultures are SO beautiful and all people care about are the aesthetics and that just truly makes me upset” - @kingnyaz ©lafashtionistaavertie // Tumblr

Heavy Desert is a self proving dessert for listeners RAEGAN KNOPF

advertisements as it is blasting through the headphones of angst­ The Mumzees, a Californian bay area ridden, spiky­haired teens favoring a band, have not hit the alternative more unseen music taste. scene with a bang and a crash. They do not have swarms of fans, an un- The vocals are muffled, lacking derground system of loyal listen- clarity and composure but not sparing ers, or, regrettably, even 100 fol- on any emotion. The product is the lowers on the music service Spotify. raw, head banging mood that seems to But they are forgiven, considering be exclusive in unknown and new arttheir first album, “Heavy Desert” is ists who do not need to please the not only just a few months old, it masses. But lyric lovers beware, you could be a strong contender in the will be plagued with confusion. Bemost euphoric rock releases of 2015 ing an avid fan of lyrical importance with a little bit of polishing. and song meaning, I admit that I was miffed that almost throughout the enEven upon the first listen, one can tire album I could not analyze the tell that the four person band is word choice. Not to say that there well versed with classics in neo was not aura to each song, because psychedelic rock such as The Black The Mumzees are extremely talented at Keys, The Doors and Pink Floyd. The storytelling through inflection and Mumzees’ sound can best be described pronounced musical talent. as taking these legends and coarsely swirling them with an amateuar ga- The most popular track, with a rage band aesthetic, complete with whopping 12K listens on Spotify, is a vocal countdown to heart­ pounding “Library Boy,” a tangy yet extremely guitar riffs and almost indistin- catchy tune. Without a doubt, it is guishable lyrics. The result is a the closest to pop that happens on versatile album that is equally the album, with its repetitive chorus likely to be found in the background and actually understandable lyrics. of edgy Hyundai Sonata

The highlights of the tracklist lie in other pieces, however, like the funk saturated “Dracula Biscuits,” Nirvana reminiscent “King Cobra” and the complete mosh pit breeding, borderline dreamy perfection that is “Interstellar Labradora.” A low point, and they do exist, is “Black Time ,” a nightmare of inanimate mumblings and uncoordinated bass guitar.

The Mumzees have talent, a sound, and a solid debut album, with the potential to truly be seen it if they refined and took some advice from heavily experienced musicians.

But for now, “Heavy Desert” is a rugged, unpolished secret for those who are willing to take a chance with new faces in psychedelic rock.

© The Mumzees

Living Through Music LEANAH CHESTNUT Music. The dictionary defines it as “an art of sound in time that expresses ideas and emotions in significant forms through the elements of rhythm, melody, harmony, and color.� As humans, we have made this art form a vital part of our world for thousands of years; from using it to breathe life into history and storytelling to the creation of the Grammy Awards to making Acapella Videos of ourselves singing to our favorite tunes, hearing music is a part of being alive. Each person uses music differently.

Today, I challenge you to think of what builds the soundtrack to the life you lead.

For most teens, music is always playing in some fashion. Whether it be through headphones through the hallway or during a party, music seems to surround us. Personally, I adore that about our generation. We are free to explore all the music we could ever dream of thanks

to streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music. By the end of 2015, I listened to over 1,500 different artists and over 5,000 different songs. When comparing those immense numbers to the limited music outlets my parents had twenty years ago, I can’t help but think how astounding and limitless our music availabilities are today. With the rise of streaming came the rise of genres and with the rise of genres came the rise of a generation with a vast knowledge of all different styles of music.

The popular music of 2015 was everything from twenty one pilots to Adele, with so much more in between.

In addition, the alternative music scene was more accepted in the mainstream music world than ever.

Since the break of grunge bands such as Pearl Jam and Nirvana in the 90s, alternative has played a fairly important role in modern society. It is encouraging to see such a pop-laden society still openly accept bands like Sleater-Kinney and Courtney Barnett, both artists whose songs were featured on

Pitchfork’s top 100 tracks of 2015.

Adding to the popular and alternative music scenes, with album releases from talents such as Kendrick Lamar and Vince Staples and independent artist Chance the Rapper winning Chicagoan of the year, it is safe to say that 2015 marked another successful year for hip hop. With all this information in hand, I will return to the question I previously asked: what builds the soundtrack to the life you lead?

“A moment, a love, a dream, a laugh, a kiss, a cry, our rights, our wrongs.”

This quote is from my all-time favorite song, “Sweet Disposition”

by The Temper Trap, and I think these words are a perfect tool to understand why we use music. Humans naturally unite with stories and rhythm, so it is incredibly practical why we apply music to so many events in our life. You can apply a song to any moment, any love (or lack thereof), a daydream of a future life or something weird you experienced when asleep, a happy instance of life, a sad instance of life, decisions that have been both good or bad for you or someone else you know, and so much more. Personally, I use music for just about anything that happens in my life.

I have a playlist for every situation, and when anyone needs something to listen to, I am prepared with an arsenal of at least fifteen different options. If my life was a movie, it would be a silent film: quick shots, no plot, and a song to describe each event. Where many are similar to me and live a life very loyal to the “Sweet Disposition” lyrics, many also live a life without fully taking advantage of this beautiful art form we have at our fingertips. That could be simply because you don’t really know what kind of music you like, or it could be because you don’t think you have time for idly sitting and listening to random people playing random instruments saying random words, but please listen to me: you do.

It is imperative that we as a generation truly snatch up this era of music and hold it as dear to ourselves as possible. Music is like a bookmark in your life story; at any time, at any place, you can hear a song that connected to one of the phrases of my “Sweet Disposition” mantra, and you can immediately snap back to that moment (love, dream, laugh, kiss, cry, right, or wrong). It’s like time travel. If we just take the full advantage of the astounding catalogue we have handed to us, we can be infinite travelers of time.

Music has lived as art that is the most universally accepted and diverse; therefore, it is incredibly important that we keep it alive. Each one of us must use music to help ourselves and the world around us. So, finally, I leave you with this question once more: what builds the soundtrack to the life you lead?

BODY POSI ALEXIS STOGNER Hello friends! Today, I’m going to use my newfound power as a Serendipity contributor to talk about a topic that I hold very near and dear to my heart: body positivity.

After years of struggling with low self esteem, I am finally able to say that I love myself and my body, and I am 100% comfortable in my own skin. I want everyone in the world to experience what it feels like to look in the mirror and feel truly happy with what you see, because it feels SO GOOD. The journey to body positivity is different for everyone, but here are some general #bodyposi tips and tricks that I’ve picked up over the last few months.

1. Kick negative thoughts out of your head.

I know how easy it can be to dwell on bad thoughts when you’re feeling insecure.

Instead of focusing on the things you don’t like about yourself and the things you wish you could change, try to focus on all the good things you love about yourself, and the traits you’re happy to have. Make a list of all the things you love about yourself, whether they’re big or small, and look at it often.

I keep my list on my phone, and it includes my freckles, my curly hair, and my long eyelashes. Every time a bad thought pops into your head, think about your list, and replace it with a good one. For example, if I catch myself thinking, "I hate my stomach, I look so fat," I'll stop and think, "I love my freckles, they make me look so cute." Avoid making self-deprecating jokes. Try as hard as you can to make sure that every thought you have about your body is a good one. I know that’s much easier said than done, but just give it a try. Even if you don’t believe the good things you’re telling yourself right now, don’t give up. Fake it ‘till you make it. After a while, thinking positive thoughts about yourself will become a habit, and you’ll start to believe them.

Eventually, negative thoughts won’t even come at all.

2. Realize that most of your 'flaws' and insecurities are actually completely normal.

Stop comparing your real life body to photoshopped celebrities in magazines or online. Everyone has stretch marks. Everyone has cellulite. Everyone has hair in “weird places.”

Everyone’s stomach has “rolls” when they bend over, and everyone’s thighs expand when they sit down. These things happen as a result of living in your skin, and you should never feel insecure about or ashamed of any of them!

3. Remember that you are in control of what you see on social media and how it makes you feel.

Social media can have a huge impact our self esteem. I know how shitty it feels to scroll through Instagram and see nothing but thin, beautiful girls with perfect bodies and seemingly perfect lives. It’s important to keep in mind that social media only shows us the parts of someone’s life that they want us to see. Photo editing apps make it easy for anyone to instantly hide blemishes, change their body shape, whiten their teeth, adjust the lighting, and more to ensure that they look perfect in their photos.

Unfollow anything that makes you feel insecure, and take some time to check out the #bodyposi hashtag. You’ll find real, unedited photos of people of all shapes and sizes flaunting and praising their bodies. Fill your timelines with accounts that spread positivity and self love. (some of my favorite twitter accounts are @ KENNABBBY, @queenfeminist, @princess_labia, and @KittyUnderhillx,

and some good hashtags to follow are #bodyposi, #effyourbeautystandards, and #bootyrevolution).

4. Cut toxic people out of your life, and surround yourself with good friends who build you up, rather than bring you down.

I’ve dealt with more than my fair share of “friends” who have made fun of my weight, criticized my appearance, and generally made me feel bad about myself. Once I cut those people out of my life, I found friends who love and accept me for who I am.

Good friends don’t point out your flaws, remind you of your insecurities, or make you feel bad for fun. Surrounding yourself with the right kind of people with work wonders for your self esteem.

Although my list of ways to feel confident and reasons you should love your body could go on forever, these 4 basic tips are a good place to start. Remember that learning to love yourself takes time. We’ve been taught by society to hate ourselves and hide our bodies, and that’s not going to be reversed overnight. Just be nice to yourself, and do whatever makes you feel happy and confident.

Good luck on your body posi journeys, everyone. I believe in you.

GET IN TOUCH

IF YOU LIKED A PARTICULAR PIECE, HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS OR WOULD JUST LIKE TO KEEP UP-TO-DATE WITH ALL THINGS SERENDIPITY FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA TWITTER: @SERENDIPITYMAGX INSTAGRAM: @SERENDIPITYMAGX

the moon is inexorable I. this city is full of gluttony and greed: gaudy, bruise-skies above lit windows, silhouettes smoking till three. this place is purgatory, an ache, dirty snaggletooth smile that promises an ossified sliver of life beneath the cold and the orange of the sun, ‘eye for an eye’, ‘tooth for a tooth’ but it will drain you into comatose state, retching out the venom.

II. stone and acid come in the form of hands and alcohol, sickle and sickly things you cry for a doctor to extract from you. antiseptic hospital, clean teeth, medicine girl: all fake like the stars that come out at night acting like they live for you when they didn’t even die for you.

III. nobody is pure under this dirt sky because blood stains don’t come out when they’ve been sat wasting for seventeen years, and birthday girl, birthday girl, how does it feel to be seventeen and not yet born into your own skin your own flesh your own shell of a salted life? ‘the city never sleeps’ has never applied so well as to this lucid dream - nightmare! - where the crows eat your brains and the people gnaw at your teenaged limbs till you unset in a flurry of white. wake up child, never sleep child for they will come to you, in pariah state, acting like a heart but embodying a lagoon to drown you in. underwater.

IV. i tried to set the buildings on fire but all they did was laugh at me so cleave me out of this wasteland, seventeen years too late, gasoline-flooded lungs, because you can leave this city that bites but you can never scrape off the mildew that rots your cortex. so just cradle this brain in dust.

- Emily Maclennan