Fault sets out provide a clean minimalistic feel with the latest trends providing a number of insights into ‘off limit’ subjects that are often avoid and will conjure a variety of opinions within society. Individuals are shown the true facts and are encouraged to creat personal opinions. The Controversial Issue covers all these bases with 70 pages filled with nudity, sports, arts, music, gaming and tones more, this issue will have you asking questions and dropping jaws.
CONTENTS
STOP
6...
Not Suitable for Work
42...
Stuck in the Game
12...
The Ban
46...
Surgical Self-Esteem
18...
Phat or Fat?
52...
#NoFilter
24...
The Music is Dead?
58...
Aged to Perfection
29...
The 3D Print Revolution
64...
35...
Illegal Activity
Phone Tapping vs. Phone Hacking
“NOT SUITABLE FOR WORK” DO
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NEED
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CHILD-PROOF THE WEB? Andrew White
“OUR POLICY PROHIBITS PHOTOS OF ACTUAL NUDE PEOPLE, NOT PAINTINGS OR SCULPTURES“ Facebook Nudity Policy
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S F W, Browse through any popular online art community like DeviantArt, Pintrest or even Tumblr and you’ll no doubt see this seemingly omnipresent acronym. The amount of online content people deem “Not Safe For Work” is staggering, and often contemporary artworks posted online receive this virtual rubber stamp for the simple reason that they involve some level of nudity. So much as a single exposed breast and it’s automatically deemed mature content and yet the same stamp isn’t placed on say a renaissance nude? In this article I will briefly examine the issue of online censorship of nude art, particularly the censorship imposed by that colossus of social media, Facebook...
Facebook has often come under scrutiny for censoring nude art. In 2012, a photo of Gerhard Richter’s “Ema” was posted on the Pompidou Centre’s Facebook page and promptly removed. It was returned later with the excuse that it was “mistaken for a photograph.” In the same year Facebook also tried to censor drawings by students at the New York Academy of Art, This calls in to question two things: 1) Facebook’s disregard for the freedom of artistic institutions to display their work and 2) Facebook’s definitions of what is acceptable or not. In 2011, Swedish photography art gallery “Fotografiska” decided to voluntarily censor images on its Facebook page to both prevent Facebook from taking down the images as well as to ignite discussion. Fanning the flame a little more the gallery decided to censor the photographs; part of an exhibition of Robert Mapplethorpe, a contemporary photographer’s work; by using blue rectangles with text, reminiscent of the actual Facebook text with the words “Facebook-friendly square”.
“THE NUDE IS THE BODY CLOTHED IN ART, WHEREAS THE NAKED IS THE BODY SIMPLY DEPRIVED OF CLOTHES” Sir Kenneth Clark
Nude & Naked, what’s the difference?
Again we return to Facebook’s censorship policies which as we’ve said, allows drawings, paintings and sculptures of nudes. However this set of guidelines has proven over and over again to be grossly inconsistent, the New York art students I mentioned earlier, Gustave Courbet’s The Origin of the World, a drawing by art student Steven Assael, and a sculpture by Marco Cochrane were all removed despite this rule.
So why are the nudes of the old masters deemed art but not a nude photo? For centuries supporters of nude art have held up the belief that there’s a distinction between “Nude” and “Naked” which is, as famous Art critic Sir Kenneth Clark put it ,that “The nude is the body clothed in art, whereas the naked is the body simply deprived of clothes” At first this sounds fair enough but in reality this distinction only came about as a result of European upper class snobbery. As public art galleries began to spring up across Europe and were filled with the private collections of almost exclusively upper class men, an explanation was needed to negate questions of obscenity. Thus the nude/naked divide was born. This got tied up not only in medium (painting v. photography) but also in class with nude art for the lower classes deemed naked and therefore obscene. And it doesn’t take much of a leap of the imagination to see a similar thing happening online.
What right has Facebook, or any website for that matter, to restrict what artistic institutions like galleries and art schools can display online? Should Facebook be asking these institutions to self-censor, so as to only display “child-friendly” content? Why does Facebook have to be child-friendly anyway? They already have age restrictions in place (regardless of how ineffective they are) so why are additional restrictions required?
As “lower-class” artists who have yet to make a name for themselves, have their work overlooked simply because of a mature content filter or the dreaded NSFW rubber stamp.
I’m not against all censorship on sites like Facebook; no one really wants to have to trawl through page upon page of porn to check their friends’ statuses. No, what I have a problem with isn’t so much the censorship, but the way Facebook and other sites classify mature content. Take Facebook’s nudity policy for example: “Our policy prohibits photos of actual nude people, not paintings or sculptures...”
That’s not to say there isn’t a difference. A nude artwork can be a thing of real artistic beauty, or it can be purely erotic, even bordering on pornographic. But there is a place for it in our culture, so why shouldn’t it have a place in our digital culture? Certainly censorship should occur, but not nearly as general as it is now. Every artwork deserves to be seen for what it is, so why let four little letters get in the way? *
What’s so bad about nude photography? For a long time after the invention of photography it was seen as a “lower” art, a scientific trick. So when photographers began to develop nude photography as an art form in the early part of the 20th Century it naturally became a target for criticism and claims of obscenity, which both held up and were supported by the notion of a separation between the ideas of Nudity and Nakedness.
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BY DAMON SCARFE
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nown throughout our society as a primary cause of lung cancer and other nasty, debilitating, and sometimes fatal diseases, smoking, with a main focus on tobacco based products, has taken a turn for the worse. This is due to the pro-health minded staff here at The University of Newcastle, via the introduction of a new campaign to eradicate smoking entirely from all UON campuses, with it being rightly dubbed ‘The Healthy UON Initiative’.
for Callaghan and Ourimbah campuses which still allow for those who smoke to smoke, and for many of us who don’t, to be able to enjoy second hand smoke. Also as part of Stage One, all ashtrays and relating signage have been moved from non-designated areas in the university, as an obvious deterrent for smoking about the place. So far, so good, now for Stage Two. Stage Two is a bit sneaky, here’s how it works: Throughout the second half of the year, the newly designated smoking areas will be ‘reviewed’ with a main focus on slowly reducing the number of smoking areas available on campus until suddenly, pop! They’re all gone and smoking on campus is nothing more than a memory of a distant, unhealthy, past.
The smoke free campus initiative has been broken into two primary stages of action. Stage One has taken effect since 1st of July and includes the introduction of specifically allocated smoking areas. Thanks to support from groups such as NUSA, NUPSA, and an anonymous PhD student,
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rights has not been met this time around. Prior to the smoking ban, smoking on campus was still restricted to certain areas throughout UON, designated with signs and ashtrays. According to the NSW Smoke-free Environment Act 2000, a statewide act designed to preserve health and peace in the community with regards to smoking, it was illegal to smoke within four metres of a pedestrian access point to a building, as well as other public recreational areas. The additional actions taken by the University prior their new smoke free initiative to comply with the law satisfied both smokers and non-smokers. As long as people didn’t smoke inside buildings and in designated non-smoking areas, everyone had the chance to enjoy the one environment. This is equality, the happy medium.
There you have it, The Healthy UON Initiative. So subtle, and yet, so positive for everyone. I mean come on who doesn’t want to abolish smoking entirely? I mean, it’s scientifically proven to be bad for your heath, so surely everyone will want to do away with it, right? Well no, this is not the case. While no-one is out rioting on Chancellery road, or setting staff cars on fire, the topic of the smoking ban has become a controversial topic between students and staff alike. We are a society that rightly pushes for equality in all aspects of our existence, equal rights with gender, equal rights for race, equal rights for practice of religion-or not to. However, the argument that has been made for equal 15
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IS THIS CAMPAIGN THE RIGHT WAY TO GO ABOUT IT As we all know, smoking can be addictive to most, and the new smoke free campaign does provide resources to help with addiction and quitting, which is great, but let’s take into account those who choose to smoke and don’t want to quit. The university lifestyle can be a stressful one for many, with debt and deadlines, and those who smoke often say that smoking helps them relax. Whether or not this is true is beside the point, it is common knowledge that quitting any form of addiction is often extremely stressful for the person in question, and by forcing a whole new lifestyle change on someone in the university environment can mean quite serious negative repercussion, particularly academic. Although, detailed arguments aside, people have the right to do whatever they want with their bodies as long as they are not breaking the law, and by essentially forcing someone to quit, they are being denied that right. Not just at the UON, but in society itself, the general consensus is that smoking is bad and needs to be restricted. However at
the university, it would appear that rather than maintain a policy that allows for the co-existence of smokers and non-smokers in our environment, the majority have decided that their opinion on the matter is the uttermost correct and moral, and the minority, the ones that support smoking, will be forced to change their lifestyle. If they refuse to stop smoking on campus, they will be faced with one of a number of punishments, which include being removed from site, and at extreme, breaches of enrolment, all according to the attached policy with the smoke free campaign, Smoke-Free Environment PolicyD09/1762P. So ask yourself, is this fair and just? Then ask your friends. You will be surprised how many different opinions on the matter there are, but one thing is for certain. The University is definitely dedicated to providing a safe and healthy workplace for its staff, students, and visitors whilst on campus, but the question remains, is this campaign the right way to go about it? *
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PHAT OR FAT? A NEW LOOK ON BIG FASHION DANIELLE TROTH
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Beauty: a combination of qualities, such as shape, colour, or form
eauty: “a combination of qualities, such as shape, colour, or form, that pleases the aesthetic senses, especially the sight” (Oxford Dictionary 2014). A definition, although quite broad, comes down to one word – IDEAL. But what is ideal? What do we define as an ideal look? Is it those new Sass and Bide jeans teamed with the Camilla and Marc jacket? Have a closer look – not at the clothes, but who is promoting them. Look at their body: that’s what pulls you in.
In accordance to this, the Australian Government, along side with the National Advisory Group on Body Image, has provided a national code of conduct outlining 7 core principles targeting an adoptive stance on friendly practices of body image. Organisations, such as fashion and retail companies, are encouraged to practice the following principles in their business:
Body image is one of today’s most influential and controversial topics all over the world, especially in the fashion and marketing industry. The fashion world is currently going through a dramatic change – a transition of embracing the plus-size look. Controversial as it is, it is a topic hot on the lips of many individuals, in and out of the fashion spotlight, and it is subject that affects a wide range of people (no pun intended, honest).
Positive content and messaging – by practicing a positive content and message system, organisations are highly encouraged to show a diverse range of body images, body types, shapes and colours, and communicate the importance of a living a healthy lifestyle.
Popular worldwide fashion magazines, including ELLE and VOGUE, have embraced the plus-size revolution. The Quebec edition of ELLE recently introduced its first plus sized model on the front cover, which was wholeheartedly embraced by readers. In 2013, Anna Wintour, editor in chief of VOGUE put American model and actress, Kate Upton, on the June issue. Although Upton, 22, is not directly a plus-sized model, her curvy figure is similar of that of celebrities of the 1950’s. In responding to this, Wintour stated that “if the high-fashion world seems incapable of figuring out what to do with her…. then that’s its loss.” By using Upton (Australian size 10), VOGUE chose to significantly step away from the standard “stick-like” figure, and embrace a more “life-like” and wholesome target.
Diversity – by having a diverse range of body shapes and types in the advertisement and commercialisation of their products, allows the consumer to become more comfortable and familiar with their idealistic look. This enables a more appropriate influence to a broader audience. Fair placement – this ensures that companies can guarentee that, in their advertising, they target a positive and healthy body image behaviour. They must also support and advertise a healthy lifestyle and practice a safe and fair promotion of goods that they stock.
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“If the high-fashion world seems incapable of figuring out what to do with her... then that’s its loss.” Anna Wintour VOGUE Editor in Chief (Speaking about model Kate Upton)
Realistic and natural images of people – Photoshop and the like have become a controversial core of the fashion industry. The use of digital technology to adjust and alter images of models and their body shapes has created an uproar in society. By making the audience aware of their actions, most companies include in their publicity whether any digital alterations have been utilised. Healthy weight models – All organizations are encouraged and expected to set an example for their audiences by using models that have a healthy shape and figure in promoting their products. By steering away from the standard “stick-thin” female or “built” male models, companies are able to provide a more relatable image. Appropriate modeling age – Most companies already adhere to this principle, but they are always encouraged to use a more appropriate age bracket in promoting their clothing. By hiring and using models 16 years and over, they are ensuring a more relatable body shape and size. Fashion retailers supporting positive body image – Fashion retailers are highly encouraged to support a positive view on individual body image. Companies are also encouraged to stock a variety of fashion retailers supporting positive body image, as well as a variety of different sized clothing, in order to appeal to a wider range of customers and consumers.
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”I think the fashion industry is backward, although it has improved and they have catered for a larger audience.” Momo Hatley-Couper Student/Model
Even in 2013, body image and sizing in the fashion world sparked numerous controversies. Fashion legend, Karl Lagerfeld, stepped into hot water with his comment against overweight people in the fashion industry. Lagerfeld, head designer and creative director of the fashion house, Chanel, stated “no one wants to see curvy women on the runway”. Seriously Karl? Talk about leading by example. Not. Maybe he should take a leaf out of Anna Wintour’s book.
designers still using the generic size 6, saying that it “gives people a negative view on their shape and looks”, and how it therefore “creates a number of eating disorders and self esteem problems”. Hatley-Couper also believes that “if designers began to use models of all shapes and sizes and created clothing for them, this social issue would decrease dramatically.” So, what is therefore an ideal look? What is, therefore, beauty? Beauty comes in all shapes and sizes, from a 6 to a 26. Its hard to pin point an idealistic look. What the fashion industry needs to learn is that there are all types on body shapes and sizes all over the globe, and by stocking a wider range of sizes, they are able to expand their companies, and everyone is happy. No to mention, looking great. *
Model, Momo Hatley-Couper proudly expressed her opinion when we interviewed her for the shoot. “I think the fashion industry is backwards” she insisted, although she believes it has vastly improved since they began to cater for a larger audience. She strongly argues against the top
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LAURA BONZO
Within a constantly evolving industry, is music getting worse? “
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like The Smiths, Nirvana, Arctic Monkeys, The Cure, The Strokes, Bowie, The Beatles, Blur” ~ reads every second indie teen’s twitter bio… Is it because it elevates their indie cred? Scared of damaging their reputation by hinting any enjoyment of modern chart toppers such as Wrecking Ball or Fancy? Because really, who doesn’t want to get down to those bangers every now and then. Or maybe these bands geniunely define their existence. Either way, there is definitely a segregation of artists considered “good” or “bad” in the minds of many individuals.
Not all old music is good, not all new music is bad Post 2000’s, the internet has provided a new platform for distributing music, which has enabled a WHOLE lot more music to be shared. It is a lot easier for artists to get their music out as they are essentially skipping the middle man; the record label. There is no criteria to meet, and no one to impress in order to release a song or album. Macklemore, who teamed up with Ryan Lewis to take out triple j’s hottest 100 of 2013 with ‘Thrift Shop’, is surprisingly an unsigned artist.
The style of music that is identified as pop is constantly changing. It originated in the 1950’s, deriving from rock ‘n’ roll. The basic form of a pop song is generally 2 to 5 mins long, includes verse and a repeated catchy chorus or hook. Often they are 120bpm or above to lift energy and happiness levels. Think about this – you’re out on the town, raving it up on the dance floor before you realise ‘...Hey, wasn’t this song on before? And earlier too?’ when really you’re just hearing the same construction of a song, with that all too well-known drop placed in the same spot of each song. Many artists in this day and age use this pop song formula in order to simply churn out music that will end up in the charts and amplify their exposure. Not to say this is a bad thing, I mean, people obviously like them…right?
“We have YouTube and that has been our greatest resource in terms of connecting, having our identity, creating a brand, showing the world who we are via YouTube. That has been our label”, he says. The introduction of online music platforms has has allowed a much larger variety of music to be released, and could explain why, and why there is potentially a whole lot more music considered good or just really terrible. But in the end, people will listen to what they want to listen to. I mean, no one is forcing you to listen to Robin Thicke late at night in your bedroom. (Hopefully)
Well, not quite. There is a huge mix of opinions on the progression of music in the past 30 years. Criticism of today’s music is 9 times out of 10 based on chart music, with names such as Miley Cyrus, Chris Brown, One Direction, Lady Gaga and Robin Thicke appearing more often than not. What’s unfair about this is that they are being compared to pre-2000’s artists such as The Smiths, David bowie, Nick Cave and Kate Bush... So hold that thought for a second. Lets be careful not to confuse older vs newer music styles with genre. Of course time changes the music art form, but within a genre, pop is still pop, indie is still indie, metal is still metal, etc. just embellished or stripped back in different ways.
For those who are of the opinion older music is stale and irrelevant, an interesting read is NME’s list of the 100 most influential artists of today. An overwhelming majority came from pre-2000. The top 3 looking like Radiohead, David Bowie and Kanye West. Many (if not all) of today’s artists are at least somewhat influenced by pre-2000 acts. For example recent alternative/electronic artist Grimes is majorly influenced by Mariah Carey, and this is
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evident in the music she produces right? Not even in the slightest. All music has stemmed from other music. It is an ever-changing industry, no decade worse than another. It is a timeless progression that has evolved incredibly in the past few decades. There are many treasures, if you know the right places to look. (Not to say we don’t all have our guilty pleasures… 2009 Party in the U.S.A, I’m looking at you).
Lets face it, anyone who knows anything about music knows that older and newer music cannot be compared. Not all old music is good, not all new music is bad. Each artist is individual, which is why it’s important to listen to an artist and decide for yourself whether you like them, don’t like them, or heaven forbid think they’re o-k. Whether they’re top of the 1980’s charts, or mid way down 2014 emerging indie charts. *
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REVOLUTION A Look Into the Maker Movement BY: HALLEY RAMOS
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the past several years has allowed for a more efficient production of a wide range of products in design and technology.
he technology of 3 dimensional printing is sparking a transformation in technology and design before our eyes. As a result, the rapid advancement of 3D printing and bio printing has stimulated a major ethical debate regarding the potential negative consequences of these technologies.
Similar to any new technology, it is easy to become swept up in the many benefits of 3D printing. This new process of creating products has stimulated new possibilities across all industries. The benefits can be seen by the decrease in transportation costs, environmental impacts, waste, and reliance on corporations by enabling a ‘maker movement’. However, 3D printed applications are still seen as controversial due to the potential societal, political, economic, and environmental impacts have not yet been studied extensively.
These printers create 3 dimensional objects by building each item layer by successive layer. This process is very similar to printing in two dimensions on a sheet of paper, except by adding a third dimension of the Z-axis, creating 3D objects. Recent printed applications of 3D objects include a range of contentious products such as non-living medical devices like prosthetic limbs, living tissue, organs, firearms and pharmaceutical drugs. The controversy behind these products lies under the highly accessible, sustainable and cost effective way of producing everyday objects. The advancement in 3D printing over
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The benefits of 3D printing can be seen by the decrease in transportation costs, environmental impacts, waste, and reliance on corporations by enabling a maker movement.
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In the past decade, most people have become interested in the possibilities of 3D printing through the first successful applications of medical devices. Some 3D bio-printers are currently able to produce a range of living tissue and organisms on small scale.
The first successful 3D printed gun has also launched a realm of controversy amongst the government officials and the general public. Companies all over the world are attempting to sell printed guns and their respective CAD designs. One engineering firm has even successfully fired rounds out of the first 3D printed metal gun.
One company, Organovo, has teamed up with the National Eye Institute and National Centre for Advancing Translational Sciences to print liver and eye tissue cells. Cartilage remains one of the most realistic and practical types of bio printing. The controversial debates regarding bio printing has been a response to the rapid advancements in the production of 3D medical technologies. Most scientists speculate that while printing whole organs are still years away, this technology is growing in medicine quite rapidly.
After the first successful fired rounds, most governments have implemented an immediate ban on what the U.S. congress calls “undetectable weapons.� The bans were set in place because 3D printed guns go undetected by metal detectors or x-ray scanners. The application of these firearms has left a loophole in the law, as 3D printed guns with even a small amount of metal aren’t banned by the Act. Congress has ignored the issue for quite some time. However, legislators are curently attempting to close that loophole by implementing regulations and special requirements for printed guns.
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The controversy behind 3D printing doesn’t stop here. Recently, chemical compounds have been assembled on a molecular level using 3D printing. The “Chemputer” was created as a prototype by a researcher at the University of Glasglow. This device is capable of producing a range of drugs and medicine. The researcher aims to revolutionise the pharmaceutical industry by allowing individual patients to print their own medicine. Although this idea is still a long way off, it stands to enable DIY chemists the opportunity to create any type of drug from LSD to Panadol. Ultimately, the development of these products has put many on edge because of their accessibility to the general public. This technology has the potential to reshape the way we consume in the future. Instead of shopping, a user would be able to simply download and print goods at home. The benefits of “producing locally” are reduced C02 emissions, and energy saved, from dramatically decreasing the amount of goods transported worldwide. This technology has huge benefits to the way humans consume, therefore it is a shame to see these processes being abused.
“Companies all over the world are attempting to sell printed guns and their respective CAD designs.”
3D printing is an important new medium and is likely to continue sparking controversy in the art and design spheres. Debates regarding the moral, ethical, and legal concerns surrounding bio-printing have already started and are likely to cause a lot more controversy as it becomes more common. If 3D printers continue to be highly accessible to the general public, it is likely to spark a maker movement. This creates the potential for designers, engineers, and the general public to produce contentious products that would normally be strictly regulated.*
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c o n t e n t i o u s d i s p u t e d u b i o u s questionalbe a r g u a b l e c o n t e n d e d d e b a t e a b l e d o u b t a b l e l i t i g i o u s m o o t p o l e m i c a l u n c e r t a i n c o n t e s ta b l e
What happens if your favourite park put a ban on a sport that has been around more than50 years? Such as no Cricket $500 on the spot fine. Football and other ball sports are banned. Maximum Penalty $1200. This exactly what is and has been exactly happneing with street skateboarding.
The Struggles of a Neglected Sport
Images and Article By Alex Knox
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kateboarders are generally frowned upon due to the bad reputation associated with the sport. Such as druggies, skate rats, trashy and reckless.
Skateboarding started in the early 1950’s, but it wasn’t until the invention of polyurethane wheels in 1972 till it really took off. Since the increase in population throughout the 80’s and 90’s thanks to the famous ‘Z-boys’, skateboarders have moved on from skating drained pools and concrete drain-ways to the urban area fine tuning tricks and with this, making the public annoyed. Given that street skateboarding makes use of the urban and public environment such as park benches, picnic tables, walls, stairs and other varying landscapes it is no wonder why it often brings conflict with not only the public but also even law enforcement and other authorities. Yes skateboarding can cause damage to property from the waxing of curbs and grinding may cause wear over time, but no more than a basketball going through a window or a football dinting a car door. There are a number of ways to prevent skateboarding such as the grind blockers that are nearly apart of every curb or garden ledge these days. I remember skating a loading dock at a local Coles complex. It was only a small ledge about 3ft from the ground with a footpath under it then a small lane way with a service station across the road. Most of the workers were fine with my friends and I skating it and would often t
watch and compliment tricks, grimacing when we’d use our faces to stop the rest of our bodies. My friends and myself would skate it for hours on end. That was until the service station across the road called the police. They rocked up and then issued all of us a $500 fine. On the spot. No questions, nothing. We tried to question them asking if there was a sign stating no skateboarding and he just pointed to the top car park. We go up there looking and there is one small No Skateboarding sign as you walk into the shop.
We would skate it for hours... then $500 on the spot.
Skateboarding in some aspects is considered an art. When a person picks up their skateboard there is no instant feeling to throw it through a window or disrupt society. People skate because it’s a challenge and it is what they love to do. It makes them feel good just as an artist likes to draw. People don’t understand the complexity associated with skateboarding. It takes a lot of skill, determination and commitment to become a half decent skater. Just like any other sport has training, skateboarding is no different.
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“So why don’t they skate at a designated skate park?” This isn’t always so simple. Because it is a neglected sport, people with higher authority see it as such. Not all towns have a skatepark. This is why skaters turn to the urban environment to do what they love. The notion of skateboarders being criminals is starting to dwindle. The X-Games continues to become more and more popular with Skateboarding at the wheel. One of the big factors today that enables skateboarding to be successful is the fact that professionals make real money. Winning events can bring in hundreds of thousands of dollars. This is someone’s career. People are realising that you don’t have to become a doctor or lawyer to make a few dollars and that sports; including skateboarding can be jobs. Skateboarding has also played a big role in
fashion earning its place among the masses. Companies like Diamond Supply Co, Hurley, Vans, and RVCA all making millions off the skateboarding lifestyle. What is most astonishing is this has happened in the last 60 years. So who’s to say what may happen in the future?
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in the
There’s been a 15 year debate on whether or not the gaming industry has had a negative or positive impact on the children of this generation... Can we really put an end to this debate, or will this be an age old argument?
KATIE MACLEAN
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“playing video games actually had a very slight calming effect on youths with attention deficit symptoms”
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odern video games are becoming increasingly popular with people of all ages – children, teenagers, adults, seniors. With the amount of first-person shooters, and open world games being released what effect can this have on developing minds? There are many arguments [positive and negative] surrounding this question, with plenty of people stating they know the answer, but there is a high chance that this is a confrontation that will never be solved. After the shootings at Columbine High School in 1999, much of the public blamed the music industry – until video games such as Saints Row and Grand Theft Auto were found in the boys rooms, this was the first time video games were considered to be the likely cause of the violence in children.
It’s all fine and dandy to say that video games are not the cause of violence in children, but like saying “all men are arseholes” or “all girls like pink” - this is may not be a topic that can be easily pushed aside with stereo-types and research. Yes, some children won’t be affected by violence in video games, but what about those who are easily influenced? Another study tested this theory of video games vs. violence and found yet another answer to this 15 year old argument. Anthropologists chose a selection of children to play Nazi Zombies in the video game Call of Duty, and gave them instruction to kill as many zombies as they could. The results showed an increase in aggressive behaviour and slight characteristics pointing towards competitiveness. With the same group of children, they instructed the kids to help each other in the game and work as a team to win. This method showed that the children became less aggressive and also had a calming effect on those involved in the game play.
Through research and investigation there have been findings both for and against the connection between video games and violence in reality, but this seems to be one controversial idea that can’t be determined. Parents and teachers have argued that children who play video games on a frequent basis tend to bring these traits to the school yard and create issues in the playground and classrooms. Although, there has been an increase in bullying in the school yard – and most perpetrators have a history of playing “violent” video games – according to surveys: scientists and anthropologists have performed studies which show otherwise.
There’s even been a study showing that the sale and release of the “violent” type of video games has, in fact, increased by 4 times the number of sales shown since the year 2009. Although the statistics could possibly show that bullying in schools has increased along with the video game sales, it actually has been proven that bullying has decreased by 50% , which shows the potential of disproving the correlation between violent video games and violence in the school yard.
One researcher stated “playing video games actually had a very slight calming effect on youths with attention deficit symptoms”, it was also found that aggressive and bullying behaviour was reduced greatly.
It seems this argument may go on for years to come, especially with video game developers constantly being knocked back and told that a game is too violent for release. Even when a game has a mature content rating,
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parents are going ahead and buying these games for their children, without hesitation. Could this be a trend that will never end, even if proof came about that video games do not have an affect on kids and violent behaviour? Based on the different personalities of children there is no possible way to determine whether video games have negative effects on children, and it seems the decision is to be made by parents and the children involved. So, the question is: is your child easily influenced by the action in a video game, or does your child have the ability to separate fantasy from reality? *
Does your child have the ability to separate fantasy from reality?
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PLASTIC SURGERY: A LOVE/HATE RELATIONSHIP EMILY CRANIDGE
Over recent years, society has developed a love-hate
American Society of Plastic Surgery (ASPS) the top five
relationship with cosmetic surgery. Many believe it is
most popular cosmetic procedures in 2013 were breast
only for the shallow or vain- that it promotes unrealistic
augmentations (breast implants or “boob jobs�), nose
body image expectations and creates pressure for
reshaping, eyelid surgery, liposuction and facelifts.
perfection. Others see it as a gateway to a richer life; a
Cosmetic surgery is becoming increasingly popular with
way to show the world the person they are on the inside.
younger age groups; in 2013 alone, the ASPS reported
To them, plastic surgery is the metaphorical key to
that at total of 219,564 cosmetic procedures were
unlocking self-esteem.
undertaken on patients aged 13-19 years.
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In 2013 alone, the ASPS reported that at total of 219,564 cosmetic procedures were undertaken on patients aged 13-19 years.
he recent spate of teens turning to plastic surgery to improve their appearance, and organisations helping them to do so, has caused quite a stir.
Passionate voices have argued both for and against using cosmetic surgery to improve self-esteem. This debate
This mass use of cosmetic surgery may be attributed
has raised a number of questions: Does plastic surgery
to a number of factors, including the accessibility of
really improve self-esteem? Why do teens feel the need
the procedures, the increasing normalisation of this
to change their appearance? And is it ok to use plastic
surgery, improvements in technology which mean that
surgery to improve self-esteem, or are we becoming obsessed with perfection?
procedures are now safer and of higher quality (but still
Plastic surgery is a medical specialty that aims to correct
otherwise, for perfection and beauty.
not without risks), and rising pressures, both peer and
or restore the form and function of certain areas of the
Embodying the conflict between the various
body. Cosmetic or aesthetic surgery is the most common
perspectives on cosmetic surgery is the Little Baby
type of plastic surgery, and focuses primarily on improving
Face Foundation. Run by Dr Thomas Romo, the director
appearance and reducing signs of ageing. According to the
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“I tried convincing myself that I am fine the way I am, but I just don’t believe it anymore.” of facial, plastic and reconstructive surgery at Lenox Hill Hospital and the Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital, the Little Baby Face Foundation is a non-profit in NY whose aim is to provide free plastic surgery to teens with facial deformities. Their vision is to improve the quality of life and well-being of these teens who often have severe self-esteem issues (and are bullied) due to their “deformities”. Romo says that the aim is not to provide surgery to children who are being teased over normal features. He states that a candidate will not be chosen unless the problem feature/s can be medically defined as a facial deformity. 15 year old Renata was one candidate who was helped by the foundation. She was diagnosed with hemi-facial microsomia, the second most common facial birth defect, which had caused her face to be underdeveloped with her nose disproportionately large and leaning to the left. Because of this, Renata was cruelly bullied by her peers to the point that she could no longer attend school, and had to be home-schooled instead. For Renata, the foundation offeredthe opportunity for to regain self-confidence, and to live a freer, richer life. In her application letter to the foundation, Renata wrote: “I tried convincing myself that I am fine the way I am, but I just don’t believe it anymore.”
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“Our self image is not determined so much by how others see us, but how we see ourselves.” -Matt Schollenberger
While to many, surgery seems an extreme and
“Aren’t we validating the very message behind bullies’
unnecessary solution to this “problem”, Renata’s mother
actions, that diversity and variation is bad?” Diller
argues that it is not unlike seeking orthodontic treatment
believes that a more natural route should be taken, that
for a child with crooked teeth. Whilst imperfect teeth will
we should be “encouraging young people to admire and
not, ultimately, effect the survival or day to day physical
embrace differences- and that starts from an early age.”
functioning of the child, in most cases the teeth will be fixed to improve the child’s appearance and stop them
Adam Searle, a consultant plastic surgeon and the
from standing out. She says, “They’re still the same kid on
honorary secretary of the British Association of Aesthetic
the inside, but, unfortunately, people are judged on how
Plastic Surgeons, believes that we are developing an
they look.” After having the surgery, Renata was observed
unhealthy attitude towards plastic surgery. It has
by those around her to be happier than ever and planning
become so commonplace in society that many think of
to return to school. She said, “I feel happy and confident,
getting procedures in the same way they would think
and I don’t feel like I have to hide myself.”
of getting a new haircut, forgetting that it carries much greater, and irreversible risks. So is beauty really worth
The increase in cosmetic surgery for teens, supported by
taking such risks? Or are we better of finding our
organisations such as the Little Baby Face Foundation,
self-esteem elsewhere? *
has caused a stir amongst many professionals and parents alike. Psychologist and author of Face It, Vivian Diller, questions the use of plastic surgery as a way to improve self-esteem and combat bullying. She says,
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#nofilter PAIGE SIMPSON
A
number can be described in many ways. Figure. Digit. Unit. It has only been in recent years that numbers have begun to hold personal meaning. Quantitative data is an integral part of understanding society. We use it in every possible way to gather information, make decisions and draw conclusions. It is a part of the natural research progress in any endeavor. However, when this data is taken onto a more personal level, it can become dangerous. Variables are completely disregarded and there are no limits to how it can be interpreted.
Each piece of data or number is banked in the mindset of a comparative study; a research assignment taken on by everyone at some point. The thing is, most of the time we do not even realise we are storing up this data until we find ourselves using it in the worst possible ways. These numbers become our identity, how we are viewed by the world and ultimately, ourselves. We are all guilty of it. Considering the big delete after a photo doesn’t get as many likes as we thought it would. For many people, social media becomes a piece of control, a way to show others the best or worst part of our lives in order to gain praise or sympathy. However, if they are selecting the moments that they present to others then it does not demonstrate a true portrayal of their life. Brittany Smith, a Newcastle teenager who uses various forms of social media, has been greatly impacted by the ways of the invisible world. She uses social media to keep up to date with others and to contact family and friends who live overseas, but says that can quickly change when other things come up. “I do still scroll through my news feed to see what everyone is up to,” she says. Although this is an innocent task, Brittany recognises that it can quickly turn into something else entirely. “Sometimes I compare myself to others,” she shares. “Some days I will be scrolling through my news feed and look at a photo and use it to point out my flaws and faults.” This is a common experience, not only for teenagers but adults as well. “It is hard not to do,” she says, “and I wish I didn’t do it because it brings my self esteem down a lot.”
It becomes very hard, being exposed to social media as much as we are, to not compare our lives to others. When the data is right there in front of us it is hard not to use it. Sure, they may get more likes, but how many photos have they deleted before when they did not reach that number? Brittany refers to this through the experience of friends, “I have had people ask me to like their photos and I have had friends who have deleted photos because they haven’t got many likes.” This innate need to compare has become the fatal flaw of social media. But the question we now must ask ourselves: s social media an accurate tool of comparison? Most will instantly say no. However, so often we find ourselves scrolling down photos and ticking off our flaws rather than appreciating what we have. “Social media is a nasty area of the world. It can be used for good and evil.” Brittany continues, “I believe that teenagers these days, not only girls, but boys as well, have way too much pressure put on them by social media, to be skinny for girls and for boys to be muscular and have abs. I wish social media didn’t emphasise what the perfect girl or boy looks like. It is just cruel.” This constant comparison brings to light issues such as depression, suicide and various eating disorders that are brought on by this idea of the perfect person. The thing that brings social media down the most is the fact that these anxiety disorders are completely avoidable and had it not been for this online world, the rates of these issues would not be happening to the extent at which they currently are.
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I have seen so many people being bullied by comments or direct message, and honestly, I am scared that will happen to me
It is something that as individuals and as a society we have control over. We have control over whether we use social media or not. We have control over what we post online. We have control over how we communicate with others on line. Although in an illusion of control, fear still reigns. “I have been impacted by social media in such a negative way because I have seen so many people being bullied by comments or direct message, and honestly, I am scared that will happen to me.� * 56
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Aged to Perfection LAUREN MCDONALD
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“fix” them, with copious amounts of drugs, makeup and treatments. Perfection is the name of the game: one wrinkle at the corner of your eye and you’ve already lost. What I am concerned with, is why we have created a stigma around the natural process of ageing and the physical signs of growing older.
want you to look into a mirror right now, look at your face in close detail. Notice the slight discolourations, the way your lashes curl, and the texture of your skin. Your pores and features should be as familiar to you as the face of any family member or friend. You have grown into these features, grown up with them, and gained them over time. They are reminders of experience and memory, and they are a part of you. But when observed in such close detail (especially in one of those magnifying mirrors) some people consider these aspects of you as undesirable or even ugly flaws.
In a study conducted by Relevant Research, Inc. International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery, it was discovered that 60% of hair loss sufferers said they would rather have more hair than money or friends. This means they would rather be alone and unable to feed themselves than have the physical reminder of ageing. The phenomena is growing steadily in the Western World with young to middle aged adults becoming more and more concerned with their appearance and reputation. This in turn fuels the marketing for “miracle cures” for common signs of ageing such as wrinkles and sagging skin, which reinforces the idea that these symptoms of ageing are negative, creating a cycle that only benefits the companies selling these products.
Airbrushed perfection is the expectation we face. And as the Western World expands in its consumerist nature, we are confronted with more things that are apparently “wrong” with us in order for profit to be gained. These qualities that are a natural part of ageing, going through puberty and gaining experience in life, are considered problems. They are seen as shameful and undesirable by the society around us. We are bombarded with messages that we have to hide these flaws and
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The reluctance to show signs of aging is a reflection of society’s disinclination to grow old. Youth, in the Western World, are exhibiting increasingly reckless behaviour that demonstrates the ideal of “live fast die young.” This is reflected in pop culture music with songs such as ‘I love it’ by Icona Pop, ‘Die Young’ by Ke$ha and ‘We are young’ by Fun. These songs glorify uncontrollable youth and seem to present the idea that to act with the intent to ‘leave a beautiful corpse’ i.e. die young and YOLO is popular within youth culture today.
newscasts or documentaries on the ageing population when it focuses on common issues such as bed sores and the inability to consume solid foods. Exposure to these issues of ageing are met with uncomfortable and averted gazes and are discussed with pitying tones. This willingness to ignore the potentially preventable circumstances that come with ageing in turn ends up preventing them from being resolved. With eyes and ears closed to the voices of the elderly, and those concerned with their health, and a continued focus on “fountain of youth” products, respect for the wisdom of the elderly and care for their well-being is being put on a back-burner. There are companies and facilities whose main focus is catering for the ageing populations’ needs, but until society recognises that they are sweeping the issue under a decorative rug in an attempt to “fix” it, no progress is being made to create better living and health conditions for the elderly. Therefore, the stigma around physical signs of ageing will remain, as will the confidence and self assurance of the elderly.
The question is, why is there such an unwillingness to grow old and be seen as ageing, it can’t be fear of death as youth culture appears to be celebrating reckless actions that could end in fatality. So is it just fear of being seen as ugly by society? Or is it a fear of losing our ability to take care of oursleves as we reach an age of infirmity? It would seem that people do not like to be reminded of their inabilities for example: TV ads such as those for incontinence, whilst not shunned, are considered uncomfortable to watch. Many people do not like to watch
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Perfection is the name of the game: one wrinkle at the corner of your eye and you’ve already lost.
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The inevitability that our bodies will decay, lose hair, our breasts sag and skin wrinkle is faced by everyone, it is part of our lives and yet people are refusing to see it as natural, preferring instead to slather chemicals on any part of the body they think needs retouching. There is nothing wrong with finding confidence in applying makeup or treating yourself for a full head of hair, but being bombarded with messages that create a stigma around not using these things, and ignoring the inevitability of ageing whilst glamorising dying young, is damaging to everyone. *
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Phone Tapping VS Phone Hacking Maddison Boyle
Daily, the media tells us that this country is tapping that country’s telephones as a form of National defence system and with the World News being scandalised by proven accusations of phone tapping and email account hacking, it is reasonable to wonder what the difference is between the two forms of privacy intrusion. Phone tapping is a legal action that Governments use to monitor person’s of interest, with the interests of national security and safety is at risk. This action can only be undertaken by certain agencies and only with a court endorsed approval. While phone hacking is an illegal thing that anyone could use (depending on their ability). There is no positive legal precedent for governments to tap in to phones from other country’s. Most notably, the Australian Government was discovered to be listening in to the phone calls of high officials from Indonesia, which has caused this country to suffer much embarrassment. Phone hacking is when a person uses computer code to access the personal data in voice-mail. It is in the act of forging SIM cards with the phone numbers of the phone’s rightful user, creating a clone. Akin to the way credit card thieves work by stealing personal information and making a new card to use, this is how phone hackers work.
Governments use it to sometimes spy on other countries as a form of espionage, to find out information that regard potential foreign threats. The official word from the Prime Minister, Tony Abbott, on why Australia was tapping the phones of individual officials was “First of all, all governments gather information and all governments know that every other government gathers information... the Australian government never comments on specific intelligence matters. This has been the long tradition of governments of both political persuasions and I don’t intend to change that today.”. America were found to be tapping into and hacking into the President of Brazil’s phones as well as some Mexican drug cartels. So, it seems that the entire world is doing it, basically so that they can be ahead of the game. They are tapping the phones of those who are known to start wars or skirmishes so that they can be aware of when/if they will be under attack. So as you might see this is a good thing. Phone tapping and hacking appears only to be done by those with the powerful positions. Governments using it to spy on other countries, News Of The World using it to make headlines and sell more newspapers than the other news
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“Never have passwords or pin codes saved to your phone.” media. News Of The World found themselves going belly up in 2011, after accusations in 2006 that they were found to have paid private investigators to both hack and tap phones of celebrities, government officials, a missing person who was later found murdered and families of British personnel killed in action, were proven to be true. Phone tapping and hacking are seen as a privacy issue, a personal security issue, a national security issue. As the regular Joe Blow(or Josephine Blow), you can certainly, in your mind, picture how you, personally, would feel if it were your phone, and may even think “There’s nothing damaging on my phone, who cares?” But if we put this issue on the most personal level, there is so much personal information on our smart phones, like banking information, passwords for email etc, etc. Here are a few ways you can protect yourself;
1. Download a trusted anti-virus 2. Consider what information you want to send to, or talk about to another person before you send it or talk about it. 3. Never have passwords or pin codes saved to your phone. 4. Look in the settings of your phone browser and make sure it deletes your browsing history when closed. 5. Never leave your phone unattended when you are away from phone. With countries being phone tapped and hacked by other countries and News media doing the same, is it reasonable to think that this may happen to us? If your answer is ‘yes’, are you adequately protected? If we have learned nothing else here, we have learned that BIG BROTHERS are watching each other, watching celebrities, have access to almost limitless technology. Most of that technology being used in these exercises began with someone in a darkened room trying to spy on a J. Blow, just like you. Exactly who Big Brother is, we will leave that
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