The
Goth Issue1
Ethics
Tattoos in the workplace Cool Ink..
Tattoo expo
Yamiyo Hex The Perky Goth
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Dark acquisitions Letter from the Editor
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Cool Ink. Tattoo expo
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Featured model: Yamiyo hex
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The perky goth
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Lifestyle: Tattoos in the workplace
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The subcultural spawn
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Life’s thorns
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Piercings: You get what you pay for 2|Page
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Dark acquisitions Setting the trend: Septum piercings
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G.L.O.W. Merchandise
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Sci-Fi con 2015
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The faces of pain
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Nightmare events
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A Letter from the Editor My first letter from the editor and it is written only at the end, the last issue of The Society Magazine that in itself says that improvement is required. So as my opening said, last issue, TSM has quite a few issues that is required to be fixed and changed. So after the seventh issue The Gothic Christmas issue we are putting the magazine back into the workshop to be carefully looked over and upgraded. By now you all know who and what the SAGS itself is, what it is about and what it stands for. The magazine is one of its endeavours, and the SAGS will always have a Gothic Lifestyle magazine running under their flag, so there none of us needs to worry. Our only concern at the moment should be to get all the loose and unfitted ends of TSM sorted so that the magazine can return and offer you our fellow Goths more Goth. So in a manner this is me thanking you, our readers for your support, for standing with us and being there for us. I graciously thank our staff and writers for all their effort and guidance, their input and brilliance they add to the magazine. Thank you all for the effort you have invested in us, it is not forgotten nor misplaced, the magazine will return stronger and better than before, with room for anyone wanting to be part of it. So with a dark happiness I greet all of you, may you have a blessed holiday, safe travels for those traveling, may you all have peace during the festive times.
MGR
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A South African alternative, virtual store like you've never seen before. Original and Customised Fashion, Functional Art, Decor‌ with a Fun, Macabre Twist!!!
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This year’s Cool Inc Tattoo Expo was held over the weekend of 6-8 November at the Voortrekker Monument. It is the 6th instalment of this annual event celebrating and showcasing body art and modification. Tattoo artists of the day included Style Ink Tattoos SA, True Blue Professional Tattoo Studio, Humdinger Tattoo Emporium, Sorry Mom Tattoo Art Studio, Tough Love Tattoos, Kingdom Tattoos / Tattoos by Rodney, Voodoo Ink Tattoos SA, and more. Live suspensions which thrilled and awed spectators were performed by Pendeo. Tattoo vendors also exhibited artworks and merchandise designed by the tattoo artists. Two bars provided food and drinks for the weekend.
Right: Tough Love Tattoos from Boksburg showcased their prints and Tshirt designs. The T-shirt designs will be available next year.
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Below: Various artworks from artists at Humdinger Tattoo Emporium were also on display and for sale as prints.
Beautiful rotaries were on display by Tattoo Addict (below left) and Redbeard Rotaries (below right).
Artists were doing tattoos at their stalls and it was really interesting to watch the different tattoos take shape over the course of the day. 7|Page
Below: Sorry Mom Tattoo Art Studio artist busy with the outline of an Anubis figureBelow: Tattoo
Tony working on a colourful back piece.
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Below: This amazingly detailed back piece was done by Style Ink Tattoos SA.
Tattoos on the day should be scheduled in advance to avoid disappointment. There was a separate area for stalls that formed a mini flea market. The stalls included Big Dog Steel, Forever Wild Piercing Supplies, Grievious, Pierced by Nerien, Viva la Vie Couture, African Goddess Creations, Soul Array, and Klinton Kustom Kultur. Stainless steel rings by Big Dog Steel (below left) and skeleton hair clips by Grievous (below right).
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Rings by African Goddess Creations (below left) and fossils and gemstones from Soul Array (below right).
Between the tattoo stalls and the mini flea market was the stage where solo artists and bands would entertain people on all three days. What was perhaps the biggest crowd puller was the suspensions done by Pendeo. Pendeo was formed in 2012 and its founder, Svend Solvsten Jensen and his partner Conrad Feldman were the first to do suspensions in South Africa. Jensen started doing sideshow performances in 1996. At the 2013 Cool Inc Tattoo Expo, Pendeo performed a 13-person chandelier which broke the previous world record of a 9-person chandelier.
The suspensions are done by inserting 5mm steel rods through the skin and then connecting these rods to a plate which is then connected to the suspension chain. The art of suspension is an ancient one that is found in different cultures, e.g. in South America and India, often with a religious significance attached to it. Modern day suspension doesn’t necessarily have the religious connotations, but many people do experience feelings of spiritual enlightenment. Suspension includes an experience of transcending the physical body, but it can have different meanings to different people. For some it might simply be about overcoming fear or pain, for others it might be about the adrenaline rush as your body releases endorphins.
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Also see: Mail & Guardian article on the 2013 suspensions: http://mg.co.za/article/2013-09-06-00-go-hang-can-you-handle-thesuspense Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Cool.ink/ Tattoo Addict https://www.facebook.com/ta200add/ Cool Inc website: http://wublah.wix.com/coolinc Pendeo (suspension) https://www.facebook.com/p3nd3o/ Style Ink Tattoos SA https://www.facebook.com/Style-Ink-Tattoossouth-africa-226918520746285/ True Blue Professional Tattoo Studio https://www.facebook.com/truebluetattoos/ Humdinger Tattoo Emporium https://www.facebook.com/humdingertattoos/ Sorry Mom Tattoo Art Studio https://www.facebook.com/SorryMom-Tattoo-Art-Studio-358487034260261/ Tough Love Tattoos https://www.facebook.com/Tough-LoveTattoos-325902384243213/ Dynasty Plugs https://www.facebook.com/dynastyplugs/ Tattoo Tony Creations https://www.facebook.com/Tattoo-TonyCreations-57391818445/ Brent Goudie https://www.facebook.com/Brent-Goudie1467680203445592/ Big Dog Steel https://www.facebook.com/BigDogSteelStainlessSteel/ Forever Wild Piercing Supplies https://www.facebook.com/foreverwild.piercingsupplies/ Grievious https://www.facebook.com/Grievious-822565511112798/ 11 | P a g e
Kington Kustom Kulture https://www.facebook.com/kingtonkustomkulture/ Viva La Vie Couture https://www.facebook.com/Viva-la-vie-couture256400127768727/ Pierced by Nerien https://www.facebook.com/Pierced1449645955325929/?fref=nf&hc_location=ufi Soul Array https://www.facebook.com/soularray/ African Goddess Creations https://www.facebook.com/AfricanGoddessCreations/ Redbeard Rotaries https://www.facebook.com/redbeardrotaries1/ Kingdom Tattoos / Tattoos by Rodney https://www.facebook.com/Kingdom-Tattoo-Tattoos-by-Rodney89442251871/ Voodoo Ink Tattoos SA https://www.facebook.com/Voodoo-inktattoos-SA-129027513844197/
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Yamiyo Hex
Q: Please give us a brief introduction of who you are?
A: I am a Psychology student, currently working on my BA. Modelling is a hobby of mine.
Q: What are you currently working on? A: I am currently working on self-enrichment and self-improvement‌ I am quite passionate about the things that I do, and I’m waiting for something better to come up.
Q: What is your biggest accomplishment so far? A: Modelling wise, my biggest accomplishment so far would be the shoot for this magazine.
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Q: With everything there is good and bad. What was your biggest lesson learnt in this industry? A: There will always be negative comments, not everyone will like your work, but you have to ignore it and do what makes you happy.
Q: What or who inspired you to become a model? A: A model friend of mine, Raven Rose, introduced me to the modelling scene. She invited me to an open day she attended. I was very nervous to begin with, but soon everyone made me feel welcome and I ended up having a lot of fun and meeting really nice people.
Q: Do you wish to be a runway model someday? If not please tell us what type of modelling you want to do. A: I'd probably fall off the runway. I enjoy photographic modelling but I’m also very eager to try new things.
Q: Has modelling been a childhood dream for you or did the opportunity arise itself? A: Modelling was never a childhood dream. I decided to try it to help me overcome my shyness and be less self-conscious. It was tough at first, I felt like a scarecrow in front of the camera. Eventually I learned to let loose and enjoy myself.
Q: Explain to us your feel of modelling is it all about stilettoes or combat boots? Black or colourful? A little bit of everything? A: Modelling is a way for me to have fun and express different sides of myself. If it calls for stilet tos, I'm in. But I'd probably be more comfortable in combat boots‌
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The Perky Goth By Ross Magson Fisher What is a Perky Goth? Surely two such words scarcely belong in the same sentence. On one hand we have the stereotypical Goth of old, all pale and gloomy in black, and on the other we have the “perky” side of things. It is quite a challenge to try and describe the Perky Goth as a writer; which is why I took it upon myself to research the subject a little bit deeper than your average Google search. According to http://allthetropes.wikia.com/wiki/Perky_Goth : “dark does not always mean depressing” which is a strong statement. Last.fm quotes Perky Goths as “knowing how to have a good time,” which can be said of all types of Goth, with each individual person applying their own interpretation of a style to create a new one. The website reports wild dancing, going crazy and wearing colours brighter than you’d expect a so-called “Goth” to wear. A perky Goth, according to the website, will be drawn to the quirky, colourful and just-plain-cheesy aspects of Gothdom. They’re big on the 80’s. They like pink hair and teddy bears, but without losing sight of the nocturnal, inherent darkness we as Goths share. In a previous issue we covered the Cybergoth, which has heavy sway over Perky Goth musical taste, in contrast to the bubblegum pop of Strawberry Switchblade, which appeals to the crazy frenetic nature of the proverbial Perky Goth. Even a little bit of Christian Death would be welcome, perhaps even Frank Zappa or suchlike. A great example of a Perky Goth would simply have to be Pauly Perette reprising the role of Abby in N.C.I.S. 17 | P a g e
One look at her style and you’ll notice a cute, dark edgy look. Mainstays of the style are miniskirts, tank tops and really sexy boots, in combination with a playful hairstyle in bright neon colours.
Promo shot for No 1 magazine, The Old Rangoon restaurant in Barnes, London, 1985. (pic: Steve Carr
The (left) image can be found at http://www.strawberryswitchblade.net/, which is a treat for the lovers of 1980’s style photography. YouTube yielded some interesting results in the form of the music video for Strawberry Switchblade’s song “Since Yesterday” which shows some of the origins of the glam style that has persisted through the years so timelessly and elegantly, in true Goth style.
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-Yamiyo Hex
Yamiyo Hex-
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-Yamiyo Hex 20 | P a g e
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E
thics and the Workplace
when considering getting a tattoo or two‌
We have discussed things to think about when getting some ink previously, but how would this affect our workplace and those we work with? People can be very judgemental where some actually enjoy undressing us with their eyes to get a better idea of what might be going on underneath our clothes when all they have seen is only a glimpse of our ink in some cases‌ Depending on the line of work that we are in, some of us need to cover up and in some cases some are lucky enough to show some skin. Taking a look into history, tattoos remain a medium for self-expression and from the 11th and 12th century, Crusaders would get the Jerusalem cross tattoos before going to war which was to identify them as Christians for burial purposes if they had to die in battle. Japanese in the 5th century have practiced tattooing to rebel against strict laws which were seen as a sign of allegiance to the wearer’s beliefs... Coming to the end of 2015, the attraction to tattoos and body art has spiked to high where the new generation approves of this artistic way of life. Keep in mind that we are not all raised the same way, so interests will differ. No matter how far back we go into history, there were somewhere, sometime, where people were marked to show what they did. Warriors marked, sailors tattooed, all to show what their life is like and that was how they could tell some people apart. With
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certain laws and equity policies in workplaces, it has become limited to people being allowed to have tattoos or show their ink while at work... Don’t have a job yet or going for an interview? Most people know that tattoos and piercings do not make a very good first impression at job interviews. This is only because people are quick to judge before they get to know you. Something that they do not remember is not to judge a book by its cover. They might see a “thug” or some cocky person in your seat, yet they have not even seen all your qualifications, work ethics, experience, motivation, personality type or what you are capable of in the workplace. As questions will be asked, there is no need to just sit back and hope that they will hire you sitting there in your best dressed outfit and polished shoes… You are allowed to ask questions too. After all, you need to know how they feel about tattoos and what the dress code will be, just in case they give you a call-back to congratulate you on getting the job. Let us take into consideration though, there still are some conservative people out there, so be decent, relaxed, maybe even throw a joke in there about you having tattoos with utmost confidence. In my case I have to dress smart casual, yet at home I’m a colouring book for my children and they just have the most fun drawing on some new features to certain tattoos every now and again. When I’m at work I make sure to cover up most of my tattoos because I know that my boss is one of those individuals who isn’t very fond of body art. If working with clientele, we will have to think about covering up since you get to deal with a lot of different kinds of people and our services that we provide need to be top notch. Not able to cover your ink? Try attract the attention with some humour when the client seems a bit distracted by your tattoos… Start conversing about something entirely off topic or if you feel confident in that they might be interested, try discussing a new design maybe even if it is just to get them to be more comfortable with you unless you like the attention and make a very silly comment like: “I see you staring, I like it… my lunch starts at 12 then I’ll show you what I’ve got on my chest….” That would most probably get you fired before you have reached tea-time. Hence always try to keep it professional and polite. They all will get to know you better after time and the “Good day Mr/Ms (so and so)…” and “Goodbye, Mr/Ms (so and so)…” might become a friendship after a while where you with start feeling much more comfortable and confident with one another. When you can still cover your ink yet think you’re considering getting more done and they will show, this is when you need to think about getting something that will still be intriguing to look at and not something offensive… There are still young ones running around and getting p*ssed out of their minds when deciding they want a tattoo and then stumble into a tattoo parlour thinking that a Nazi sign is the best idea ever for a first tattoo, and making it worse, putting it on a spot where everyone 23 | P a g e
can see it. This will not make you look any more intellectual than you might think you are‌ It will only prove that your incompetence to decide on such an offensive tattoo, is not a good idea to even keep you employed‌ It has become common and most artists even show these kind of individuals away because what artist would like to be labelled alongside such a person? We will say no, and we will show you away. So keep it real, make sure about your decisions and that you are willing to live with that mark forever. Unless you get it removed, but that is a topic for another time. Until then...keep it dark ;) R.R.
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T
he Subcultural Spawn
Parenting doesn’t always come easy, as some of you may know... And living the lifestyle that we do, does not make it any easier, especially in the community. Getting up in the mornings, having to get the darlings ready for school and still making time to get ready ourselves, how do we even manage? Busy work day, handling businesses, helping around and then again after work the whole parenting regime to cook, do or check homework, bathe our little ones and still keep the household together. We surely have our sh*t together, I’d say. Now raising children, as a full time job, can be daunting, exciting, nerve wrecking, fun and all those other words that I don’t have enough time to mention. Yet we enjoy every second of it. Being different and living our lifestyles does not have to be so stressful. Going to school functions and parent evenings should actually be a treat for us to get the chance to get to know the people who spend just as much time with our spawn as we do. Still we worry about what the normies would do and say about us... Would they really turn to bullying or blasphemous manners to evoke rejection and hatred in our children just because they loathe our ways? If so, how will we be able to stop it even before it happens? How sure are we that it won’t even go that far? Since some of our darlings tend to follow in our ways and likings, it can surely be disturbing to some to see a little 8/6 year old boy walking around with spiked armbands and skull T’s in public places. The same goes for little girls with skull accessories and a punky-gothic look, adding some glitter to their cheeks because they feel pretty and comfortable that way, being frowned upon by strangers… How can a grown woman look down upon a child and converse with others about the shame those parents need to have while she has dyed her hair blonde with pink streaks? Is this in any way acceptable? I’d say not. So why can’t we all just start encouraging our little ones and comfort them no matter what they dress in or what their preferences are. We are all just human beings and putting down or discussing others’ personal lives and style does not make you any better. As parents and veterans, we are here to teach our children right from wrong, courtesy, manners, greeting sincerely and helping one another no matter their background. As a parent, we hold the key to raise our dear ones to be the most that they can be. We give them the best that we are able to give: From birth we feed them, hold them, nourish them, caress them, 25 | P a g e
we teach them to walk, talk, run, and ride a bicycle. Our hearts melt at the sound of their laughter, or shedding a tear when they got hurt, even sharing their heartbreak when something did not work out as planned or hoped for. Our children have even taught some of us a few new things or even just reminded us of how fun it was playing around and being able to be a child again, only if just for a short while, not having any worries... They have pushed us to our limits and to accomplishments, and embarrassed us, as we have done/will still do to them... We all have gone through all of those awkward moments as well. If we have come this far, we are surely capable to go further and raise them to make the best teenagers who will eventually grow up to be the perfect adults... Alright, there is no such thing as perfect, but, they will always be perfect to us as parents.. Remember, communication between your child and yourself is very important so if he/she have any ideas in how to partake in such an event, be clever, be pure, and be honest. It might be a good idea to share your thoughts and let them share theirs as you collectively plot on how to go about making this social part of life a little more comfortable for the whole lot. The more the young ones feel involved in your life and choices, the better the bond will grow between parent and child as well. Clever aint it? Basically not a problem but a team effort in making this a little game which will get you to spend even a little bit more time with your darling. Maybe it is time to just start small, taking the first step, and opening up to the people at school who our children associate with. Get to know people, allow them to get to know you... We might just be able to make this work and even open a door to some other people who also have the same issue by living a different lifestyle which they have chosen. Will we, or wont we take this chance? Up to you... As long as you keep in mind, this is the life you chose when you became a parent, this is for your darling(s). You should be prepared to give some and lose some... R.R..
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Another year has reached its end, but to what end? Have we reached the goals or at least made some milestones on goals that we wished to reach or attain? Time waits for no one. That is a lesson we all learn the hard way if we are stubborn or lazy, it is entirely up to ourselves to visualize and realize what we have, to use what we have and to make the best of it. Changes, if we take a moment to consider the meaning of that said word, all the changes that has happened over the past year rushes over us. Many things changed, for better, for worse or because of time that passed by. How many things could we have had changed differently if we invested more of ourselves into them?
I have no direct topic I’m elaborating on in this issue, I’m focusing more on what we have done what we did do what we could’ve done. Not to bring up the past, but to better plan our future, things we did this year, how can we change our choices to make the New Year’s choices better?
Friends and family, in how many or tedious situations have they been there for us? Comforted us? Guided and stood by us? Did they do these deeds willingly? Or were they forced into them because of 27 | P a g e
relations with us? The things they stood by us for, were they reasonable? Are they things to be proud of? Or were they deeds and acts that are to be frowned upon? Things our family and friends still stood by for us due to relations and respect. It is not fair to ask or accept help from our loved ones for dumb or selfish deeds we do, not only do we cause a fracture between ourselves and our loved ones but we also damage them as a person for being part of these things. We tear them down from society for what they were part of. These things should always be carefully considered, a mistake is a mistake yes, but they always have consequences, and it is only our dues to accept these consequences, to acknowledge the responsibility of them.
So how will we start the New Year? What are our goals? Our dreams, wants and needs? How can we go about meeting their requirements?
That was meant to go with our December issue which never came to pass, I figured we keep them on top and add something extra for the New Year‌. As I ended the above message with what our plans for the New Year is‌ Have any of you considered what they are? How to go about obtaining and meeting those goals? How many have noticed that they can do better than what they have set aside for themselves? We want what we want, although we do not always take the needed time to make sure that what we want is right for us, enough for us and good enough for us. We see the picture and go from there not taking the time to go over all the possibilities of the picture. Building things, how about we all set that as one of our goals; to build something that will either help us or another in some good 28 | P a g e
way, or join a group that is already helping making a difference, a change. Things are never easy and always at a chance of loss, but it is up to us to take that risk, that chance at achieving better and reaching new heights. Think about it, think about doing something for someone else, something good that might make life better or easier for them. Who knows, someone might just be doing the very same to you. Do it in the spirit of trying to make a difference. The Magazine is working on a recruitment letter, I urge you all to look it over. Let us work with them and the SAGS, let us all build it bigger, darker and blacker‌ If you have any questions, you are always welcome to ask our way, not only do we guarantee professional response but our confidentiality as well. tBR
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You get what you pay for This month has been a bit busier than normal for me so my apologies for the brief article. I thought we’d take a little break from discussing specific piercings and touch on an issue that reputable piercers see all the time. In my first article I mentioned bargain hunting and how you shouldn’t find the cheapest person out there. Instead look for the best person you can find. Within a 10 minute drive of my studio you can find at least 7 other studios. I think it’s probably more. All of them charge less than I do but all of them have questionable practices. I regularly get people coming in who’ve realised that perhaps they didn’t make the wisest choice going there. Sometimes all they need is a better quality of jewellery. Other times the jewellery they have isn’t suited to the piercing and is causing discomfort and delaying healing. Other times it’s just best to remove it, let it heal and redo it properly. Some piercings, done incorrectly just never heal and you’ll always have problems with it. I recently had a lady calling all over the area for some very basic jewellery for her recent triple forward helix: 30 | P a g e
After calling 6 other studios, no one had something that should be in stock in every studio. When she came in they’d used curved bars which are not ideal for this particular piercing, though it’s used by way too many piercers. The problem is that even though they do curve, it’s not enough of an angle to be comfortable. It tends to put continuous pressure on the piercing. It was also placed too far to the outside of the area. The 3 piercings were not equally spaced and they weren’t straight. I did try to convince her to redo it properly but the piercer who did it had done it very painfully, so I can understand her not wanting to go through the ordeal again. Best I could do was change the jewellery and make it as comfortable as possible. I could tell from her reaction that she was much happier with her experience here. That’s not because I’m amazing or anything, it’s simply because I did my job properly. So she’d paid less for her piercings but the price for that is slow healing and unnecessary pain. She also had to pay more for the jewellery to make it more comfortable and accommodate swelling then more expense for the shorter, final jewellery. The worst part of this is that plenty people get piercings done by dodgy guys and even though they don’t usually look great, they’ll heal ok. So people walk around believing they’re fine. I assure you they’re not. It goes deeper than just good looking and successful piercings. Anyone who doesn’t do even that well is probably not following the correct hygiene procedures and putting your health at risk. So do yourself a huge favour and look for the absolute best piercer you can find.
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Information and images provided by Conrad Feldman, Shawn Gillespie & the piercers at Beyond Body Modification. www.beyondthepain.co.za (The information provided is meant to be informative only and should not be considered as a guide to piercing yourself and/or others. Find a reputable professional piercer.)
*Piercings not done by artists of Beyond Body Modifications
-Shawn Gillespie and Para-Noir
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Setting the Trend: Septum Piercings Trends, like them or not, influence the world around us. Body modification is really no different, be it tattoos or piercings. Trends dictate what’s popular. While infinity symbols are becoming less popular, semi-colons are taking their place. Soon it’ll be something else. Piercing is very much the same. All it takes is for one celebrity to get a piercing and soon, that’s mostly what piercers are doing until the trend changes. Often that trend will simply change to another piercing. That’s not to say something won’t always remain popular. While we love every piercing we do, we all have our favourites and something we don’t enjoy as much. The good piercers will give their best, regardless. The current trend is septum piercings. These used to be considered one of the most hardcore looking piercings you could get. It was the one piercing that freaked people out the most. Put a big septum piercing in a biker type guy and it makes him that much meaner looking. Use a fine, discrete ring in a pretty girl and it’s a feminine, sexy addition. That has changed a lot. Now it seems like every other person has one. Done correctly, this can be one very appealing and attractive piercing. It’s most definitely a tricky one to do properly. First we’re dealing with most septum’s being at least a little skew and nostrils being asymmetrical. And then it’s not the easiest area to mark. The result is seeing a lot of them that are either done too low or not straight. The point here is that it’s not an easy piercing to do and that makes it even more important to find the right person to do it. This is one of the most prominent facial piercings so it’s going to be very noticeable if it’s not done well. 33 | P a g e
Pro tip – Piercings may seem temporary and yes, you can remove them but we’re still fundamentally modifying your body. There will always be some change caused by it. Most piercings, left for long enough will never close, only shrink. Even if something closes you’ll always have some evidence of it. There really is nothing wrong with getting that trendy piercing. It all pretty much depends on your motivation. Some people want to be fashionable; others want to be unique. Neither motivation is wrong. Just remember that trends change and you probably want that piercing to be with you for life so if you think it’s something you’re not going to keep loving once the trend changes then maybe it’s not for you. So remember, yes you can remove them but why go through the pain and healing only to take them out? Information and images provided by Conrad Feldman, Shawn Gillespie & the piercers at Beyond Body Modification. www.beyondthepain.co.za (The information provided is meant to be informative only and should not be considered as a guide to piercing yourself and/or others. Find a reputable professional piercer.)
*All piercings done by Beyond Body Modification artists.
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G.L.O.W Introducing Richard wheeler, founder of g.l.o.w
What is your name, and name your group/band/act? My name is Richard Wheeler, and the name of my act is G.L.O.W.
How did you come up with your band name? I came up with my band name when I was brainstorming ideas on a project which I wanted to create which examined the darker side of the human condition.
What (who) does your act/art consist of? At the moment, only me.
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How would you describe your music/art/entertainment to the public audience if they have never seen you before? I would describe my sound/style as Industrial Electronic through experimentation with various sounds & techniques.
Thinking back to early childhood, what was your first experience with music like? My first experience with a musical instrument was when I was 4 years old. I was exposed to the xylophone, castanets, triangle & piano. I enjoyed the sounds which the instruments made, and I had an awesome time. I felt ecstatic when my mother put music on when I was little. I just wanted to sing the lyrics of my favourite tracks whenever she played them.
What song do you remember most as a child? - It's Raining Again by Supertramp (at 4 years old). - It's No Good by Depeche Mode (at 10 years old).
As a child growing up, music surrounds us; what type of music did you hear the most back then? As a child growing up, I mostly heard Trance such as Tiesto, Paul van Dyk, Dance such as Love Inc, Waldo's People, Culture Beat, Synthpop such as Depeche Mode, Alphaville, Rock such as Texas, Bryan Adams & Alternative Rock such as Garbage & Oasis. How does it differ from what you listen to now? I still listen to Depeche Mode & Alphaville but I focus more on Industrial music such as Hocico, Tactical Sekt, E.B.M. such as VNV Nation, Covenant & Gothic/Alternative Rock such as Editors, Joy Division & The Killers. 36 | P a g e
What made you first realize you wanted to pursue a career in music? What made me first realize I wanted to pursue a career in music was to express my inner feelings, and to create my own tracks.
How did you become involved in the type of music you play/sing now? I became involved in Industrial/E.B.M./Alternative music from the moment I walked into the old Zeplins night club in Pretoria. It got a hold of me. It was a place where I felt at home.
What can people expect to see at your live performance? People can expect the following: - UV & Industrial attire - UV lighting - Industrial fans - Eclectic & eccentric people - Cybers & CyberGoths.
If you had to describe your music in three or four words, what would you call it? Music with a twist.
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Give me some details about the group/act/art? At the beginning of 2011 I commenced djing for DarkNoise, a bimonthly alternative electronic event which took place in Johannesburg, South Africa, where I showcased some of my material. In mid-2012 I received exposure from a German Dj named “Deadbeatxz- Kevin” (also known as “At0shima 3rr0r”) when he remixed my track “Aigamuchab”.
On the 11th of March 2013, I won the contest for Bring The Oontz 2013 and, my track Flying Dutchman (Final Quest) was played a week later followed by another one of my tracks Hai-Uri on the 17th of June that year. On the 7th of March in 2014 my first interview with an online South African entertainment and lifestyle site called 925 Rebellion was published and uploaded online, and later that year, my track Aigamuchab was once again remixed. This time, by a Japanese artist called Man Bullet. Four months later, I submitted my albums to Hazzard of Darkness Radio in Germany and my track Anger was aired online followed by a variety of my tracks from my albums Emotions and Myths & Legends which were aired in November on Aggro Driver ’81 Radio in Philadelphia, USA. In January 2015 I exposed G.L.O.W. on a Serbian fan base for Alternative music known as Rebel Nation followed by a U.K.-based online magazine called Intravenous Magazine, and my track “Killer of the White Rhino” was aired on a local online radio show called Darklings Dystopia on Grind Radio, and Man Bullet remixed Acceptance in early February that year. In late March, I had my first online interview with a U.K.based podcast called Global Radio Online (now known as Freelance Radio) where I discussed G.L.O.W. followed by becoming a co-host on Freelance Radio's show “Out & About Show With Nick & Richard”
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Have you ever entered any contests to enhance your musical career? If so, describe in detail your experience and what you had hoped to accomplish when you entered. What was the outcome?
Contests are yet to come but I have achieved a number of achievements: 1) Airplay on The Oontzcast (USA) for: - Flying Dutchman (Final Quest) - Hai-Uri - Smile by AT0SHIMA 3RR0R (G.L.O.W. Remix) 2) Hazzard of Darkness Radio (Germany) for: - Anger 3) Aggrodriver '81 (USA) for a variety of tracks 4) The Grind Radio (South Africa) for: - Killer of The White Rhino 5) Freelance Radio (UK) for a variety of tracks 6) U.S.P. 2 Podcast (South Africa) for a number of tracks 7) A variety of tracks submitted to the Compilation "Industrial Electronica Vol.1" distributed via Rendez-Vous (France) & Chaos Music Distribution (USA) 8) Watton Radio (UK) for: - Brave, Strong & Tenacious 39 | P a g e
Would you enter another contest in the future? Yes.
What are your songs about? (What specific themes do they cover? My songs are about concepts of haunting, internalised pain, challenges, myths, legends and personal experiences through music.
How long have you been performing live or making art? I haven't performed live yet. I am looking for venues who would like to have G.L.O.W. perform at.
What do you think your “biggest break” or “greatest opportunity” has been so far in your musical career? My biggest break would be getting my music exposed internationally on a number of radio stations worldwide. If you had to categorize your music, what genre would it best fit? Industrial.
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Feel free to email Richard for merchandise and music purchases from Amazon. General.language@gmail.com
DRACO�
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Sci-fi Convention 2015 was the first of a planned annual convention hosted by 925|Rebellion. It was held at Midrand Primary School. The initial idea was to host a Star Wars convention as the new Star Wars movie starts in December, but they then decided to expand the theme to include all sci-fi universes. 925|Rebellion also felt that there was a gap in the convention calendar for one specifically focused on sci-fi, as other conventions focused on other areas of geekdom. Local cosplayer Devin Green from Sliding Door’s Cosplay was there as Starlord from Guardians of the Galaxy and acted as master of ceremonies for the event (see his outfit here). The South African Kendo Federation performed well coreographed lightsaber duels between Jedi and Sith entertained con goers. Home built robots competed in various obstacle courses and skill tests. Left and below: In this obstacle course the robot has an open canister of glitter which it has to transport safely to the finish line with losing as little of its contents as possible.
There was a variety of stalls with some of them specifically focused on sci-fi related merchandise for this event.
The stalls included Solsken Clothing, Reigning Red, Vile Photography and Art, Powered by Fandom, Eye Voodoo, Sin Bin: Graphic and Fashion Design, INdelicate, CwazyLeigh Creations, Blades and Stitches, Dark Carnival, and GLOW Merchandise. The Troll Bow Project raffled a handmade Ewok bow (which was coincidentally won by Tristan Bowman) and there was an auction on a Tardis door. The Dark Carnival had an R2D2 model which I just had to get a photo with, as he is one of my favourite Star Wars characters. 42 | P a g e
Below left: Powered by Fandom. Creations.
Below right: Always Alia and CwazyLeigh
Left and right: Fairy Fountains came prepared with Star Wars, Star Trek, Doctor Who, Alien, and Fallout themed merchandise. You could even adopt your very own xenomorph baby.
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A cosplay competition, hosted by Star Wars Fans SA was held on the day with two main categories: kids under 12 and adults. Further categories focused on the experience level of the entrants: inexperienced, experienced, and master. A separate category for workmanship looked at the handiwork of the costume and the costume could be modelled by someone else.
Above: Richard Wheeler from GLOW Merchandise
The cosplays ranged across a wide spectrum of science fiction and other genres. There were daleks, Star Trek uniforms, Jedi’s, Siths, Neo from the Matrix, Bobba Fett, a Klingon, and other characters. We decided to wear steampunk costumes, as steampunk is also part of the science fiction genre. An X-wing tournament was held during the course of the day for those interested in war games.
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Far left: The Xwing models. Left: Various dice and markers.
All in all it was a genuinely enjoyable day, with interesting stalls, fights between robots and people, and well-crafted cosplays. As it was the first Sci-fi convention, the stalls fit into the school hall, with the food and drinks outside, but I am sure that the need for a bigger venue will arise soon. If you are a lover of science fiction, then you should definitely keep an eye out for next year’s event. Kudos to the organizers for bringing us something new and exciting, with great add-ons, like the raffle, the auction, an MC, etc.
Also see: 925|Rebellion - http://925rebellion.com/ Sci-fi Convention 2015 event page - http://925rebellion.com/sci-fi-con/ Geeknode’s article on the con containing a video interview with two of the organizers http://www.geeknode.co.za/2015/11/events-sci-fi-con-2015-the-power-of-the-schwarma/ Full album of the conhttps://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.769356403207973.1073741844.678038375673110&t ype=3
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By Annari du Plessis
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The Faces of Pain We all hurt, we have all had pain and every day is just another day handed to us effortlessly but we scatter around the world trying to make sense of everything. Why am I not a size 0? Why don't I have more curves? Why am I not good enough? Why did I push away the person who was good enough?
We all share this pain but day by day we go and spread uglier, pointless, meaningless pain. We strive to be better but we destroy others over our tunnel vision to reach the point of nirvana. We sometimes stop and take a look of all the pain we have caused, we crumble at the thought, we want to be better, “we want� is that not such a lovely but selfish phrase depending on its context? So we want to be better, but then we realize that all these people we have caused pain have caused pain for us. Now we forget about what our gentle intentions were, what we could have done to rid the world of a few more tears and a few more screaming, silent pains of a heart breaking. Does this not seem like a catch 22 scenario to you? A vicious cycle that has had so many attempts to break out of its weakness? But the vision of man can so easily be a puppet to illusions.
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We cannot always see pain for what it is, that is the beauty of it. So many beautiful things have been brought into this world from pain and its many faces. Some have hidden their pain through the beauty of make up, some have expressed their pain through art. Some lose themselves in the moment when the bass drops, some express their anger and frustration with the world in a mosh pit. Some can’t cope with the thought of eating for the fear of gaining weight on an already skeletal figure, others eat more cake to find some comfort. Some wear pink on Wednesday's and others wear black. Let us not forget about those who play the piano, the guitar, those who write poems on paper with dried up tears, those that need some blood to cope. Then we get the other faces: those who hurt people to make themselves forget their pain, they are not always as bad as what they seem. The ones that lift up other people when all they need is a helping hand because inside they are dying. We have those that pick fights, those that run away, those that go for plastic surgery, and those that have the need for speed. Crazy cat ladies? They are also in pain, those who view the world through drug induced moments, and those who have to reach the bottom of that whiskey bottle. Those who get beautiful illustration of ink on their bodies. So many faces, but every now and then they all have something in common, the feeling of giving up. Some of them do give up and some of us go through life coping and forever adding more faces to the world.
-Para-Noir Wordpress: https://paranoir93.wordpress.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ParaNoir-380436515460123/?ref=hl
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Contacts and Web Presence The Society Magazine has spread quite a bit since it launched, keeping to the promise of bringing Goth to all Goths, and doing that by spreading far and wide. First off, copies of the magazine can be found @ ISSUU.com http://issuu.com/theshadowmag The official Facebook Page for the magazine can be found @ https://facebook.com/profile.php?id=716286351744242 The magazine has an official Facebook page covering its Health and Beauty, Hair and Makeup and Fashion Categories which can be found @ https://m.facebook.com/SAGSHealthandBeauty The support column and group names Life's Thorns and its Consulting the Seers category can be found @ https://facebook.com/profile.php?id=1439109419722300 The Magazine also has an official WordPress Blog where the editors will share upcoming teasers, insider information and updates regarding the magazine which can be found @ https://sagssocietymagazine.wordpress.com/ The Black Vault, our bizarre, strange and horror category owns a blog on Tumblr which can be found @ http://southafricangothicsocietymag.tumblr.com/
Please also feel free to email us at the following addresses: Don van Deventer: Marketing Editor advertising.sags@gmail.com Don van Deventer: Editor mgr.sags@gmail.com Lena Judkins: Publishing Editor sags.editor@gmail.com Ross Fisher: Proof Editor editor.sags@gmail.com 49 | P a g e
Don van Deventer: Life’s Thorns Editor lifesthorns.sags@gmail.com Roche Coetsee: Hair & Makeup Editor roulette.sags@gmail.com Shandre Dalais: Reviews Editor Reviews.sags@gmail.com Annari du Plessis: Health & Beauty Editor beauty.sags@gmail.com Frankie Gough: Body Modification Editorbodymod.sags@gmail.com Annari du Plessis: Gauteng Events Editor: annariduplessis@gmail.com Office office.sags@gmail.com Lena Judkins: Poetry & Literature Editor poetry.sags@gmail.com Complaints complaints.sags@gmail.com Suggestions suggestions.sags@gmail.com
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