no sta lgi a i s s u e
Stills from Eric Rohmer’s, La Collectionneuse (1967)
t w o
CONTRIBUTORS: Mathilde Curel, Sean Dillon, Tina Gaudry Ena Guo Ines Jakovljević Laurie Treffers
foreword
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ISSUE 02 // Nostalgia is a fickle thing. Does anybody really know what it means, what triggers it, why we choose certain memories to store away and keep in our memory for no other use but to yearn for them? Nostalgia distorts the reality of our memories – everything in our past seemed to be full of sunnier, happier, ‘simpler times’. Wherever we were, whatever we were doing, we had less to worry about than we do now. We long for our wistful reminiscences through rosecoloured glasses. A dreamy, cloudy haze surrounds the fragments of your memory as you recall the peeling sunburn on your nose, the heavy, summer sea-breeze brushing past the curtains on your window, the orange afternoon sun shining on your bedroom wall through the blinds, the smell of Grandma’s homemade biscuits, riding your bike through the suburbs with grazed knees and a wobbly helmet, and burning the soles of your feet on the hot sand. Nostalgia provides us with echoes of the past, some of which are undoubtedly painful to think about as our lives shift and change (the word ‘nostalgia’ itself stems from the Greek word àlgos, meaning pain). In Woody Allen’s Midnight in Paris - a film that entirely revolves around the theme of nostalgia – it is described as denial. “Denial of the painful present. The name for this denial is Golden Age thinking – the erroneous notion that a different time period is better than the one one’s living in – it’s a flaw in the romantic imagination of those people who find it difficult to cope with the present.” Maybe it is a coping mechanism, maybe it’s romanticism, maybe it’s denial, but you’re still going to feel nostalgic as long as you hear the tune of the ice cream bus and as long as you smell the rain falling onto steaming concrete. // ANDIE PHILLIPS
nostalgia issue
two
playlist
ce matin-là - air wishes – beach house strange magic – electic light orchestra
california dreamin’ – the mamas & the papas
sweeter memories – todd rundgren
some time alone, alone – melody’s echo chamber
wicked game – chris isaak so tonight that i might see – mazzy star
twice – little dragon
i remember - yeasayer tied2u - xxyyxx i’m god – clams casino
now playing at 8tracks.com/stylomag. screengrab from sofia coppola’s the virgin suicides (1999)
it’s hard to do these things alone
IT ’ S BIZA RR E T O T HIN K THA T RI GHT N OW Y OU A RE LI VIN G I N A MEMOR Y .
There’s a saying that has always stuck with me, that is “at this moment, you are the oldest you have ever been, and the youngest you will ever be.” It doesn’t matter whether it’s in two or ten years, you’ll look back at yourself right now and see it only as the past. Grainy, amateur shots will be reminders of impulsive trips down south on your green Ps, as well as a song you can’t get out of your head (even though you only remember one line) that brings back old personal jokes and drunken conversation. It’s often life’s fleeting, trivial moments that create the most nostalgic memories. photos and words by andie phillips
Title: CORNER OF YOUR CEILING Name: TINA GAUDRY (AUSTRALIA) I would lie inside your sheets when you couldn’t be home fixated on that one peeling edge of your plaster flaking prematurely cornered by insipid ceiling it always seemed much more appealing than the blankness of the rest I would sing to myself soft enough for my throat to crack flat notes vibrating through my back in a tongue that quivered with translation what a sensation to manifest you from your peeling paint I could make out a faint shade of What do you call that? Resentment? Contentment? Is that what your tone meant? for everything I’ve lent I’ll ask nothing more than that you cling on.
artwork by ines jakovljević, serbia
Andy Warhol with the Velvet Underground, c.1966
a man with a plan sean dillon (australia) I have a fondness for people with plans. Not those
So, once upon a time, an overweight gay guy who
obsessive-compulsive folk who manage to break
really liked to hang out with 16 year olds finished
down diary entries into 15-minute intervals. No, I
high school. Little did he know that his life was about
generally loathe the well organised. I mean those
to
people who simply have an outline, no matter how
university and took to them like a junkie pursues
rough or how skewed, of how they envision their
heroin,
lives to unfold. From my perspective, it takes
touching on the field of public relations that he could
someone special to look beyond the here and now -
get his hands on. As his knowledge grew, so did his
to truly let your imagination embellish your future
CV, as he called in all available favours owed by his
with all the bells and whistles that you desire.
side group of friends who were all very affluent and
change
forever.
consuming
Sean every
began shred
his of
studies
at
information
who all seemingly appeared out of thin air. Upon Do you want to know why I like them so much? I’ll
graduation, Sean was flooded with offers by some of
tell you anyway. Shock and awe - I used to be one of
the most influential firms in the scene and hastily
them. So now as a part of my own inner exploration
took up employment with a Sydney office. Bags
you’re all going to have to read and endure my sad
packed, he flew to the new and exciting city with his
excuse of a plan (that is, if you choose to continue
group of surprisingly compliant best friends at his
reading... I wouldn’t blame you if you stopped
side. Sean was ready to rightfully assume the position
now... It’s pretty pathetic and filled with stereotypes
he was destined to hold. He was an instant hit at the
and general doucheiness (so if you have a weak
company
stomach, now would be the best time to jump ship
landing himself a 6-figure salary within his first 5
kids).
years. He organised parties at which he ducked
and
progressively
climbed
the
ranks,
around corners and snuck in a cigarette with an aging Before we begin, I think the following excerpt should be read with the voice of that fellow who does all the movie advertisements. You know who I mean, that voice-over who when the previews are running you can’t help but think to yourself, “shit,
Lara Bingle and other associated members of the BList cohort. He was feared for his decisiveness that saw any opposition, or anyone that got in his way for that matter, quickly dispensed with by the fury that has been compared to none other then Genghis Khan
do you reckon everyone who has ever and will ever
himself. His ruthlessness was only overshadowed by
make a
his expertise in corporate espionage that put James
movie has
used
this
man
for
their
advertising?! He’s probably bffl’s with Spielberg”
Bond to shame.
Yeah, that guy. It might even make what’s to come slightly tolerable.
>>
The years flew past, his stock and real estate portfolios
You can be competent and posses the ability to
grew which lead to an early retirement from a relatively
pull off whatever you wish to accomplish but no
short lived yet undeniably thriving career. Sean then
one
returned home to focus on what he hoped was his true
externalities are going to come along and sweep
vocation
-
writing.
Once
again
blessed
in
can
predict
when
those
impossible
his
you off your feet. With that being said, I still hold
endeavours, he took out a Pulitzer and other accolades
the conviction that hard work and perseverance
every so often. It was a turbulent and eventful life that
are paramount to achieving whatever it is you
Sean led and his memory was forever immortalised
wish
through his words. Those close to him remember him
overwhelming and it’s hard to see the light at the
as a loyal friend, a hilarious companion and an
end of the tunnel. Your safeguards aren’t nearly
absolute demon in the sack.
as effective as they once were which I can sadly
There you go everyone. It’s fucking hilarious but hey, everyone has their stranger qualities, so I implore you not to pass judgement too harshly. You might be wondering
why
I
have
divulged
such
blatantly
embarrassing information and essentially made a complete dick of myself but I assure you there is a point to it all. I was, at some stage or another, in a position to fulfil my plan- I could even potentially make it happen now when I think about it. But at the end of the day, and I really hate to tell you this, life is one hell of a motherfucking bitch troll from hell. I can remember the simpler times. The times when we could get lost in the monotony of school, when weekends were still fun, when $50 would last you a fortnight, when dinner was on the table at 7 o’clock precisely. But life ditches you a curve ball and it all gets too hard. Why pour your heart into an assignment you could easily botch up? It’s easier to go down to your local watering hole and get shit faced the night before it’s due. You have to move out, you always need more money, you can’t afford to eat so you don’t. It was easier to cope when you didn’t have to bury your friends or have the opportunity to drink whenever you want. From where I’m sitting it’s hard enough to juggle the day to day let alone ponder what is to come, making it frustrating for me to understand those who still can. I do have to disclose that when Jack or Jim are involved and I get more than a little pissy, my subverted arrogance of “higher knowledge” may rear its ugly head and stomp out the hopes of an innocent bystander on the odd occasion. Then again, we’re all guilty of pessimistic commentary once in a while so in this instance I will unapologetically excuse myself. Contrary to what you may now believe, I am not a malicious cunt hell bent on cornering the aspirational pocket of society and drunkenly stripping them of their ambitions, I really do adore those brave enough to still have a plan in this day and age.
to
achieve.
The
battle
just
becomes
recognise within myself. Even within my idiotic plan, though it is make belief, I shield myself in an attempt to come out unscathed when it doesn’t eventuate into anything notable. Take my choice of Sydney as an example. I could pick an international location if I wanted to, New York or some other dizzying cosmopolitan metropolis would be suitable enough for candidates, but even in my fantastical creations I am ever the realist, which is confronting enough to consider. I may seem like the poster boy for cynicism by now but I really would like to take the chance to clarify that I’m not. Even though I’ve seen the things I have seen and been exposed to the things that I have, there is always going to be someone out there in an astronomically worse off position. I sincerely count my blessings. I just wish I had a little more faith because it all boils down to just that one quality when all is said and done. In hopes of reconciling your opinion of me I will tell you through clenched teeth that I am a good and happy person who is not entirely defeated just yet. So as a reward for sifting through this rant I will let you in on a little secret of mine. On the rare occasion (emphasis on the rare), when my head hits my pillow right before I fall asleep, I can still picture myself brutally tearing strips off a graduate press secretary for fucking up the napkin placement at one of my oh-sofabulous soirees and I can’t help but shed a tear and smile.
artwork (both pages) by ines jakovljević, serbia
l’invitation au voyage Mathilde Curel, France.
NOSTALGIA.
It can be anything. A landscape, a movie, a smell, the first note of a song, a feeling, the way someone talks… #poetic. Now,
on a scale of 1 to 5, how nostalgic are you? 1. The “Future is Life” person (aka, you know, like a sect): “The past doesn’t exist” and “you’re the hero of tomorrow” are your most common pick up lines. Sounds like a self esteem improvement class but you’re pretty serious about it. No regrets, just love. 2. The “So Yesterday” person (no, not Hilary Duff’s version): You estimate dates/years for everything surrounding you, i.e “you’re so 1976!” (you weren’t even born then but whatever) actually means “you’re so cool”. Do you care about the past? Totally. 3. The “Carpe Diem” person (do they know about Horace? Probably not): The first rule is to get it tattooed on a visible part of your body (preferably your wrist) because you are a positive person and the world needs to know it. Rule n°2: never look back. #motto.
4. The “Do You Remember When…” person (aka “I can’t believe it’s been 2 years, 3 months and 18 days since I tried pumpkin for the first time”): You cry when you witness a leaf falling from a tree because it reminds you of the time you went fruit picking in the Alps when you were 8.
5. The “What If The Big Bang Hadn’t Happened?” person (a common evolution from the “Do You Remember When…” person): You live in the past continually, and ask yourself existential questions such as: “what if my parents were sober when they met?” or, “are fishes okay with the fact that they don’t have ears?”
Garth Avery and Jodie Foster on set of Taxi Driver (1976).
You can associate with all of them or none of them but as long as you were happy once, you’ve definitely experienced nostalgia. #fact.
WHY NOSTALGIA IS BULLSHIT
Laurie Treffers, Holland.
Marilyn Monroe photographed by Andre de Dienes, 1949
“I wish we still had LPs instead of illegally downloading music. I wish people who wear Nirvana t-shirts actually listened to their records instead of Justin fucking Bieber’s. I wish we could still dance around to The Smiths in our PJs instead of twerking in nothing but skincoloured latex underwear on national television. I wish we still collected letters and postcards instead of Facebook messages from people you barely know. I wish we still had actual conversations, instead of replying to those messages. I wish we still read books found in second-hand bookstores with handwritten notes inside instead of reading Fifty Shades of Grey on an eight-inch screen. I wish women still wanted to look like Marilyn Monroe instead of stick thin girls on runways. I wish we still had Polaroid cameras that we couldn’t change a damn thing about in that moment instead of Instagram filters.” I think nostalgia - and everyone who has ever stated anything of the above - is (full of) bullshit. My generation likes to refer back to the past to show what is wrong with the social and cultural aspects of today’s society. You see, the point of society is that no one is claiming responsibility for it. Each and every one of us should realise that we are society.
The only thing you can do to possibly ever change it, is to change yourself and your perception of the world. Don’t feel like it? Fine. But in that case, please stop whining about the time 'before society was fucked up'. You can still buy LPs and listen to Kurt Cobain instead of Justin Bieber. Dance to the Smiths at 7am around your room while getting ready for college, and write letters with coffee stains all over them and send them to someone you actually care about. Stop staring at your phone when you're having dinner with friends and buy books to write hidden messages inside them and leave them for a stranger on the train. Compliment a woman on her curvy figure, instead of posting “I'm so jealous at your legs” underneath a picture of a girl who's showing off her thigh gap, trying to gain more confidence with every 'like'. Keep a box full of old photographs with you and your friends drunk on the beach and concert tickets underneath your twin-sized bed. Look at it every now and then, but never feel nostalgic. Instead, buy new concert tickets and four bottles of wine. A person who suffers from nostalgia is not taking responsibility for society. Or his own life. Relive every moment you long for, until nostalgia is a word that makes us feel nostalgic.
recipes
mmm…emories
ena guo, australia
I love food; it’s nestled right up in between great weather and great friends in my heart. Food is so much more than just fuel for your body: it can carry deep emotional ties and trigger memories from your distant past (and I know, any object or person can do that too, but you can’t eat them). ‘Kid-me’ and ‘Today-me’ have very different opinions about nutrition. I was a good kid who ate all her veggies, and I liked them, but I can’t say I’ve ever looked at a floret of broccoli and thought, “Oh man, this sure takes me back to the good days!” – it is and always will be the processed, sugary and greasy treats that pull me into the golden glow of nostalgia. CURLY-WURLIES, PADDLE POPS, LIFESAVERS, BUBBLE-O-BILLS, ZOOPER DOOPERS, TINY TEDDIES, DUNKAROOS, WARHEADS, NERDS, LCMS, WIZZ FIZZ, KINDER SURPRISES, PIZZA ROUNDAS, POTATO SCALLOPS, PUSH POPS, WOOLWORTHS MUDCAKES, TWIGGY STICKS and the list goes on and on and on… However, most of these foods aren’t ‘whip-upable’ at home. But don’t you worry, I’ve got you covered.
artwork by ines jakovljević, serbia
fairy bread It doesn’t get any easier than this. Thanks, Fairies, you’re a good lot.
ingredients • • •
Spreadable butter or margarine 100’s and 1000’s Sliced bread (white for the purists, wholemeal or wholegrain if you’re like me and white bread makes you uncomfortable in an “I feel too old for that” way)
method: 1) 2) 3)
Spread a thin layer of butter or margarine on one side of your slice of bread Sprinkle 100’s and 1000’s on the buttered/margarine’d side of the bread. Devour (If you require more detailed instructions, please don’t hesitate to ask!)
cheesymite scrolls (recipe from taste.com.au) This recipe makes a ridiculous number of scrolls. Like, 48. Have a party.
ingredients: •
4 sheets puff pastry, thawed • 1/4 cup Vegemite • 3 cups grated tasty cheese • 1 egg, beaten
method:
1)
Preheat oven to 220°C. Line 3 baking trays with baking paper. Place pastry, 1 sheet at a time, onto a chopping board. Spread Vegemite over pastry. Sprinkle cheese over Vegemite. 2) Starting from the edge nearest you, roll up pastry, 1 sheet at a time. Be careful not to roll the pastry sheets too tight. 3) Cut each roll into 12 equal portions. An easy way to do this is to cut each roll into quarters, then cut each quarter in 3. Brush pastry scroll tops with beaten egg. 4) Place scrolls, cut-side up, onto baking trays, allowing room for spreading. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until pastry is golden and cheese is melted. Allow to cool for 5 minutes on trays before transferring to a wire rack. Serve.
Issue #3 of
is coming soon
Pattie Boyd in Tahiti, 1964
The theme for the next issue will be faith.
contributions are always welcome. We are constantly passionate individuals their own original involved, please
searching for creative, who interpret each theme in way. If you want to get contact via tumblr //
stylomagazine.tumblr.com