Creative Writing

Photography Brings You Escapism

Photograph by Jordi Maudson

Jordi Maudson

This collection of images were taken within the Wollongong area, above and below the sea by Jordi Maudson. Each camera exposure represents a moment captured on the everchanging coastline. More of Jordi’s work can be found on his Instagram at jm_visualss.

Photograph by Jordi Maudson Photograph by Jordi Maudson

Photograph by Jordi Maudson

River Oliver McRossen

“At risk of stating the obvious, the Wollongong cityscape is changing. We’re expecting Wollongong suburb to add another 12 000 to its population by 2041. That means a lot of tall new buildings.

It’s one thing to notice as you walk through the CBD, but seeing the skyscrapers from up high puts it in perspective. Not to mention, it’s kind of calming on top of the carpark.” – River Oliver McRossen

If you would like to see more of Rivers work, you can visit his instagram at river_oliver_mcrossen

Editor’s Picks: Escapist Media

Game of Thrones

A television series created by David Benioff and D.B Weis, Game of Thrones was based on the book A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin. The series takes you through eight seasons of fantasy and drama. It was a wildly popular television series that enamoured viewers, and gained a cult fanbase.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons

A video game made by Nintendo, it was released March of 2020, it instantly gained popularity. The popularity of the game was bolstered by the impending lockdowns which followed its release. Supported by Nintendo Switch, it is the perfect game to play when you are stuck indoors. The game is suitable for all ages. The premise of the video game is you move to a deserted island which you are able to develop the more you progress. Other features include designing your house, having islanders you can interact with, and visiting your friends islands.

Spirited Away

An animated film, which was written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki and animated by Studio Ghibili. The film was released in 2001 and twenty years later it is still the perfect comfort movie for people of all ages to watch on a rainy day.

The Princess Bride

Most people are familiar with the 1987 fantasy film directed by Rob Reiner, but this movie was adapted from book of the same name, written in 1973 by William Goldman. Both the movie and the novel follow the same premise, and the screenplay was adapted by Goldman himself rather than a third party. This fantasy film has captivated multiple generations and has strong themes of escapism.

Euphoria

A HBO teen drama series, created and directed by Sam Levinson. The series contains multiple storylines of different students all attending the same highschool. This series showcases the characters through their formative years in which there is a strong sense of longing to escape their individual circumstances.

Rick and Morty

An adult animated sitcom created by Justin Roiland and Dan Harmon. The basic premise is a grandfather (Rick) and his grandson (Morty) go on adventures together, but Rick and Morty encapsulates the theme of escapism to absurd lengths. Rick and Morty travel both space, and time, going to various planets, and visiting alternative realities. Currently on its fifth season, no two episodes are exactly the same.

Avatar The Last Airbender

Also known as Avatar: The Legend of Aang, this is an animated series which debuted on Nickelodean in 2005 and is suitable for all ages. The series spans for 3 seasons, and was created by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko. Most Gen Z kids and adults would be familiar with the series, but for those who are not there has been a resurgance of (re)watching this nostalgic favourite since it was put on Netflix. Whilst it is only rated PG the series has themes of equality, class, war, persecution, genocide and revolution. It is a must see which will leave you wanting more, to which there is a sequal series, The Legend of Korra.

Neverwhere

A novel written by Neil Geiman, Neverwhere has also notably been turned into a television series. Published by BBC Books in 1996, the basic premise is a young businessman Richard Mayhew moves from Scotland to London, when he stops to help a young woman on the way to dinner, this is when his life turns upside down.

The Witcher

The Witcher was originally a series of six books written by Polish author, Andrzej Sapkowski. It has now been adapted into various mediums, the most famous being the 2019 television series “The Witcher” starring Henry Cavill, and previous to this the trilogy of video games which began release in 2007, with the final game being released in 2015. The 2019 television series gained popularity during the 2020 lockdowns, and as a result the games had a resurgance. Beyond the most popular adaptations, there have also been a film The Hexer (2001), another TV series of the same name (2002). A board game, two card games, and six comic books. The series centres around Geralt of Rivia, who is a Witcher (beast hunter), and subsequently the world of the Witchers is explored. The series is wildly popular globally, and encapsulates escapism in many different ways.

Mamma Mia!

When you can’t go on a holiday, bring the holiday to you. Mama Mia is a musical film directed by Phyllida Lloyd. The film takes you to a fictional Greek island named Kalokairi, where Meryl Streep and Amanda Seyfried play mother and daughter. The plot thickens when it is revealed Seyfrieds character Sophie Sheridan invited three men to her wedding who could all potentially be her father. The musical has an uplifting array of ABBA songs to compliment the colourful story line, and overall is a light hearted movie which reminds us of the joys of travel,

Stardew Valley

A simulation role playing game that was released February of 2016, and is now available across several different platforms including, Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux, PS4, Xbox One, NIntendo Switch, PS Vita, iOS and Android. Stardew Valley was created by Eric “ConcernedApe” Barone. Within the game, players are able to create a character who inherits a plot of land from their grandfather. You are able to select from several farm types which have unique positive and negative aspects. When the game first begins, the land is over run by trees, boulders, stumps, and weeds, which players are to clear so they can farm the land. Beyond this you are able to interact with NPC’s which you can develop relationships with. Players are also able to cook, fish, craft, or explore caves within the game.

The Elder Scrolls

Are a series of action-role play video games all set in the same fictional universe, on the continent of Tamriel. The games have all mostly been developed by Bethesda Game Studios and published by Bethesda Softworks. The platforms the games are available on include: MS-DOS, Microsoft Windows, Xbox, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, N-Gage, J2ME, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, macOS, Nintendo Switch, Android, iOS, and Stadia. The first game was released in 1994, and their last release was in 2020.

The Earthsea Cycle

A fantasy series of five books, also known simply as Earthsea, written by Ursula K. Le Guin. The books began being published in 1968, with a trilogy, until 1972, before the series continued in 1990 with another book being published, then again in 2001. In 2018, all the books and short stories were combined so they can be purchased as a collection “The Books of Earthsea”. The fantasy world in which the books are set, is made up of a series of islands. The technology is equivalent to a literate iron age society, and the world has magic as a central aspect. Le Guin has critiqued the fantasy genre for mimicking the Middle Ages of Europe and has made deliberate differences in her world such as describing multiple ethnicities of people within the novels as having varying non-white skin tones.

The Lord of the Rings

A fantasy film trilogy based on J. R. R. Tolkiens novel of the same name. The films were directed by Peter Jackson. The films are an epic fantasy adventure, set in a complex fictional world known as Middle-earth. With magic, dragons, and fantastical creatures, the trilogy spans 9 hours and 18 minutes of watch time, but the extended version spans 11 hours and 26 minutes of watch time.

The Sims 4

A video game in the genre of life simulation, The Sims 4 was developed by Maxis and published by Electronic Arts. The game is available on Microsoft Windows, macOS, PS4 and Xbox one. Similar to the other Sim’s games there is no central goal, but rather a life simulator in which there is various ways to continue game play. For example, game packs, making new sims, build/buy mode, and making the sims interact with each other.

Escapism Find-a-Word

1. Castle 2. Cottage 3. Disappear 4. Dragon 5. Fairytale 6. Fantasy 7. Fleeing 8. Galaxy 9. Imagination 10. Library 11. Mermaid 12. Moon 13. Ocean 14. Time-travel 15. Voyage

Art by EZBRAY

Escape with Music

Kyoto – Phoebe Bridgers Warerloo – Abba Across The Universe – AURORA Modern Love – David Bowie Central Station – MAY-A My Ways – Sycco

Lunch – Stella Donnelly Out The Window – Confidence Man Good Days – SZA

Spaceship – Kanye West Fear – Kendrick Lamar Handmade Heaven – Marina

Escape – Rupert Holmes Sade In The 90s – Qveen Herby Desperado – Rhianna Fast in My Car – Paramore A World Alone – Lorde California – Lorde

Venom – Little Sims Robbers – The 1975

Find-A-Word Answers