THE UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY SYDNEY WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE GADIGAL PEOPLE OF THE EORA NAT ION AS THE TRADITIONAL CUSTODIANS AND KNOWLEDGE KEEPERS OF THE LAND IN WHICH UTS NOW STANDS AND PAYS RESPECT TO ELDERS PAST, PRESENT AND EMERGING.
Deputy Director, Students, and Community Engagement Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education & Research
Vertigo is published by the UTS Students’ Association (UTSSA), and proudly printed by SOS Printing, Alexandria. The contents of Vertigo do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editors, printers, or the UTSSA. Vertigo and its entire contents are protected by copyright. Vertigo will reatin the right to republish in any format. Contributors retain all other rights for resale and republication. No material may be reproduced without the prior written consent of the copyright holders.
ISRUP
SHIVER PASSING THROUGH LIMBS, STEPPING INTO THE DARK AND OUT. BREATH MAKING CLOUDS THAT DISSIPATE, TURN TO VAPOUR, AND RISE LIKE SMOKE. OLD WOUNDS STITCHING TOGETHER, HEALING, PREPARING FOR NEW ONES. CHANGING MINDS, GAINING NAMES, LOVES, SELVES, MOVING FORWARD WHILE LOOKING BACK. FORGOTTEN THINGS FLOATING TO THE SURFACE, INHALING, READY FOR WHAT’S TO COME.
04.
FRESH BLOOD, NEW LEAF, BOUNCING BACK. VOLUME ONE IS ABOUT THE UNEXPECTED, THE UNNOTICED, THE OVERLOOKED. STORIES ABOUT SHIFTING PARADIGMS, NEW DISCOVERIES, DISRUPTIONS. BENDING THE LAW AS WELL AS BREAKING IT, UPRISINGS, REBELLIONS, THINGS ON THE BRINK. THOUGHTS ON CODING THE FUTURE, AND HACKING IDENTITIES. WE HAVE THE OUT OF THE ORDINARY, THE REVAMPED, THE CHANGING, AND THE CHANGED.
CONTENT WARNING: Some articles may contain themes of death, depression, description of medical procedures, forced incarceration, Islamophobia, mental illness, mention of stabbing, mention of sharp objects, mention of blood, mention of tear gas, police brutality, r*pe, talk of drug use, and torture. Please also be aware, some images may contain nudity. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, please consider speaking to your local GP, a healthcare professional, or calling one of the numbers below. Lifeline — 13 11 14 Beyondblue — 1300 22 4636 If you or someone you know is experiencing, or has experienced sexual abuse, you can call or refer the person to the following confidential hotlines. General — 1800 737 732 Counselling — 1800 211 028 Crisis Centre — 1800 424 017
20 56 57 69 70 88 94 102
Street Lamp The Hero Letter to Persephone Spare Change Too Far West The Mythical Blight of Creed Clancy Cright Ralphy’s Big Bad Blue Umbrella Movement
8 30 32 54 66 96 100
What Politics Will Bring in 2019 Judgements Bigger Than My Tits Eggshell Skull Review Writing Poems With Queer Code Treaty Now? Player One & Player Two Tyranny In Xinjiang
12 46 52 80
Mixtape Do It Yourself: Stone Street Agency Modest Fashion: The Next Marketing Magnet? New Soil: An Open Letter To My First Year Self
13 21 34 40 58 72 82 90 106
Desync by Sam Abbott Jamais Vu by Katherine Zhang De/Reconstruct by Mike Spireti Dare by Sara Matsui-Carroll Mannequins & Me by Max Rixon Meatness // Humanness by Janey Li Transition by Lucy Landini Poly by Stephanie Todd & Sarah Choo Chapter 11 by Erin Novik
120 122 123 124 126 128 130 132
Ally’s Notes Who Are You On A Night Out? Find-A-Word Making (W)hole Horoscopes Contributors How to Submit to Vertigo Students’ Association Reports
06.
Welcome to the first volume of Vertigo 2019! Thank you for joining us for what will be a year of genre-bending and upheaval of tradition.
EDITORS Lily Cameron Elizabeth Green Susie Newton Sharen Samson Georgia Wilde CREATIVE DIRECTORS Ady Neshoda Marissa Vafakos
Our vision for Disrupt was to shed light on the unusual and overlooked, both from a literary and design standpoint. Drastically changing the design as well as size of the magazine was our first step. If you’re a long-term reader of the publication, you’ll see what we mean. If you’re new, welcome to the first volume of a bigger and better Vertigo. We were pulled towards showcasing unusual works, and wanted to cement our ‘new kid on the block’ status with an experimental design implemented throughout the magazine. Our designers’ vision were met with nothing but excitement from the rest of the crew, as we watched them create this immersive and sensory publication. Our creative directors have done an outstanding job at materialising our visions in only a short time, we hope you enjoy this first volume with a majorly revamped design. The standard of both our written and visual contributions was extremely high. We often found it difficult to choose which pieces we would include, the end result being a 136-page magazine when our initial goal was to keep it below 120. In saying this, we are so grateful for all of our talented contributors and extremely proud of the work they have done with us. You will find heart-wrenching, political think-pieces and sometimes spooky fiction, as well as funny social commentary on taboo issues. Disrupt has covered myriad voices and delved into tiny corners of society where you wouldn’t think to go. If you are a first-year UTS student and have had this magazine thrust into your hands at O-Day, enjoy it! If you have picked it up outside your classroom while you wait for you tutor to arrive, enjoy it! If you are related to one of the 2019 team members, enjoy it and please validate us. Lots of love, Vertigo 2019
what politics will bring in 2019
Another year has passed, another 365 days of tantrums, threats, and surprising bonk bans, has come to an end. It’s looking to be another chaotic year for the history books. With more than a third of the world’s population heading to nationwide elections, including our own federal election, new leaders may emerge to further shake the status quo. The United States is now out of complete Republican control, leaving a small gap in Trump’s grip on the US political system for Democrats to cause a stir. Brexit will finally take place, after years of domineering over the UK, without a clear deal in site. As the calendar rolls into a new year, we dive into 2019 with perhaps ill-advised hopes and trademark cynicism. We are entering unchartered waters, so expect 2019 to make a political splash. Maybe you should bring an umbrella.
08.
ELIZABETH GREEN
Australia
United States
In Australian politics this year, expect the campaign trail to be bloody while Labor and the Coalition grapple for power. The Liberal-National Coalition have trailed behind for over 46 Newspolls, a clear indication of a frontier change as we head to the voting booths. However, don’t believe that the coalition will go down without a fight. Set your election countdown for a predicted May election, with, unsurprisingly, ScoMo holding out till the last minute to see if his luck turns.
If you believed that 2019 would bring any relief from the onslaught of twitter rants and human rights abuses from the other side of the Pacific, well, think again. This year may see the news cycle take a sharp left away from the current feed of Trump’s triumphs, to a glorious downfall —unless you’re watching Fox News.
Of course, the state of the Coalition’s popularity, or lack thereof, will be cause for change in the political game they play. Pundits expect that ScoMo will try his hand at a more Trumpian rhetoric, using populist tactics to grab back lost voters. In an increasingly polarised world, expect moves that will appeal to the Coalition’s conservative base as they try to stoke up support in their constituencies. With the backdrop of rising political protests in 2018, expect to be marching for your, and others’, lives in 2019. Anticipate heavy backlash against the Coalition’s moves, with a hashtag or two thrown in. But the Labor Party’s self-anointed heroism won’t be enough to emerge unscathed from political protest. Expecting praise for the long awaited promise to boost refugee intake if elected, their decision to maintain offshore detention was questionable at best, and saw political protest spark. With their stance on Adani still murky, it brings into question whether students will be skipping school and turning to the streets in protest of inaction over climate change, but this time against the Labor Party.
With the Democrats in the House of Reps, buckle up for even more tantrums and fighting to break out in the war zone named Washington. The Democrats have managed to take a small role in the Trump Show, it’s no longer a oneman act. Republican bills can no longer be passed without Democratic support, meaning that conservative agenda has ground to a halt. Repealing Obamacare, increasing tax cuts, and stopping food stamps and Medicade are now off the table. With not only having the power to stop Republican policy, anticipate House Democrats to take advantage of their new subpoena power. Axio’s Jonathan Swan stated that, “These demands would turn the Trump White House into a 24/7 legal defence operation.” More aggressive questioning into the Russian Collusion, Trump’s tax returns, and interference with the Justice Department will leave the President with little room to hide. The House of Reps will undoubtedly be a big source of headache for Trump, but perhaps this will cause the most dramatic change to our news cycles of late: that being the possibility of Trump and the Democrats working together. US pundits and journos are predicting that Trump may seek to boost his popularity outside of his core base by working alongside Democrats. But don’t expect Trump and the Republicans to become best friends — remember, we entered 2019 with a US government shutdown over Trump’s infamous border wall that left thousands of workers unemployed. Will we get the impeachment we’ve all been praying for in 2019? Not likely. Throughout last year’s campaign season, Democrats were
quick to downplay any real talk of throwing out Trump. Unless damning information is revealed in the Muller investigation, or by the Congressional Committees raining subpoenas on the White House, there is little likelihood of a Trump impeachment. After all, the ‘Blue Wave’ was not strong for Democrats to take the Senate, which means any impeachment process will be halted as soon as it leaves the House. So settle in, grab some popcorn: the Trump Show is not over yet, and we’ve got a front row seat.
Britain The reckoning of Brexit is finally upon us, but unsurprisingly, Theresa May has struggled to bring a substantial fix to the table. The concept of a ‘no deal’ exit is becoming more likely as politicians bicker over the Chequer’s deal May has offered them. With D-Day fast approaching on March 29, a hard or soft Brexit will have unique consequences, with the possibility of crashing out of the EU very real.
“expect chaos to ensue in a no deal scenario”
Expect chaos to ensue in a no deal scenario, a little below dystopian standards. Economic wobbles and issues with trade would arise, with little safety nets installed for tumbles. A hard border would be established between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland with a predicted breakout of violence to follow. Tensions between the EU and the UK would arise, as the economic stakes are raised and each side demands more. The softer the Brexit, the less the relationship between the EU and Britain will shift. A hard Brexit would see Britain take a sharp turn out of the European Union, and its package of the single market, customs union, and Courts of Justice. Many conservatives demand a hard Brexit, but the closer the UK gets to doomsday, the more people are turning soft. Recent data has revealed that 2.6 million people have changed their mind on leaving the EU, many out of fear of the economic fallout that would result from a hard or no deal Brexit.
10.
ELIZABETH GREEN
2019: a year of change and disruptions May’s ‘solution’—the Chequer’s Deal—to the Brexit issue, has been labelled an attempt to cherrypick policy from both sides. An attempt to please everyone, the Chequer’s Deal offers the UK an avoidance of tariffs and border delays for goods, but allows the UK to make trade deals with other countries. Migration would be monitored, but not for Europeans currently in Britain. If May were to have her way, it would be sorted, and everyone would be home in time for tea, but both Europeans and politicians at home are slamming the deal. The EU’s head negotiator Michel Barnier went as far as to tell British MPs that, “The proposals are dead.”
Upcoming Elections With the March 29 deadline fast approaching, expect to see fights break out between politicians and more protests to take place as May attempts to untangle Britain from its mess. After the 2014 landslide win of Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in India, not many expected the party’s popularity to subside so quickly. But the fervour surrounding Modi has seemingly slowed down ahead of 800 million people heading to election booths in May. In December 2018 the BJP lost three separate state elections, allowing the opposition Congress Party a chance at power. Indians are discontented with rising prices following the introduction of a goods and services tax, and are increasingly concerned about violence against the country’s Muslim population, seemingly spurred by the BJP’s Hindu Nationalist rhetoric. Women are also increasingly turning away from the BJP, the ‘women’s wall’ protest of the Sabarimala Temple’s ban on women of menstruating age from entering the temple
was in part a move against the BJP, who supported the ban. Though the challenge to Modi’s leadership is a real one, he’s still leading in the polls. We’ll have to wait until May 2019 to see the outcome. Populism will grip Europe in 2019 ahead of the European Union Parliamentary Elections, less than two months after Britain exits the union. Populist and Nationalist parties have seized more and more power across Europe, from the League Party in Italy to Viktor Orban’s stronghold on Hungarian politics, with the populist tide set to change the make-up of the EU Parliament. The parties themselves are poised for battle, with Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister (and leader of the anti-EU League Party) describing the election as a “referendum between the Europe of the elites, of banks, of finance, of immigration and precarious work against the Europe of people and labour.” Many are calling the election already, saying that the days of the centre ‘Grand Coalition’ are numbered, along with a cohesive and effective legislature process. There is a real risk of a paralysed Parliament unable to implement legislation due to a political divide and groups attempting to fracture the process. The question for the EU is not whether populism will change Europe, but to what extent. This year will be one of change and disruption, beyond what we saw in years past. The polarisation of politics worldwide will see many countries fighting within themselves, with real consequences for those living there. Beyond that, we can only look to our crystal balls with a hindered sense of foresight into the coming year. Whatever 2019 holds, we can only hope the memes are good.
GRAB YOUR EARBUDS AND STIMULATE YOUR SENSES, THIS IS THE PLAYLIST FOR VOLUME 1: DISRUPT.
we made you a mixtape
FIND THE TRACKS ALL IN ONE PLACE BY SCANNING THE CODE. ENJOY.
12.
SAM ABBOTT
‘DESYNC’
12.
SAM ABBOTT
‘DESYNC’
SAM ABBOTT
‘DESYNC’
SAM ABBOTT
‘DESYNC’
MATILDA GOULD
t—
ngering light y bright and flickering s silent as a wedding veil the streetlamp on the corner.
orm broods he womb of the skies above rain tracks bloody rivulets distracted windshields.
STREET LAMP
sodium-vapour glow ld and grainy film ooling itself rain-slicked pavement oth-riddled lacework through refracted brake lights ridlock grinding its way home.
mist will seep through cloth nd the skin beneath it’s staining inwards now here a pulse thrums just below the jaw.
Night—
he suspended light she thinks the blind eyes of the stars blinked they looked down on the world ugh cataracts of cloud.
A lingering light Ruddy bright and flickering Hangs silent as a wedding veil From the streetlamp on the corner. A storm broods In the womb of the skies above Night— And rain tracks bloody rivulets Down distracted windshields.
A lingering light
That sodium-vapour glow Ruddy bright and flickering Hangs silent as a wedding veil An old and grainy film From the streetlamp on the corner. Unspooling itself Onto rain-slicked pavement Is moth-riddled lacework A storm broods In the womb of the skies above Seen through refracted brake lights And rain Of gridlock grinding its way home.tracks bloody rivulets Down distracted windshields.
Night— A lingering light Ruddy bright and flickering Hangs silent as a wedding veil From the streetlamp on the corner. A storm broods In the womb of the skies above And rain tracks bloody rivulets Down distracted windshields. That sodium-vapour glow An old and grainy film Unspooling itself Onto rain-slicked pavement Is moth-riddled lacework Seen through refracted brake lights Of gridlock grinding its way home.
Onto rain-slicked pavement
Is thinks moth-riddled lacework In the suspended light she Seen through refracted brake lights That the blind eyes of the stars blinked When they looked down on Of thegridlock world grinding its way home. Through cataracts of cloud. But mist will seep through cloth To find the skin beneath And it’s staining inwards now To where a pulse thrums just below
In the suspended light she thinks That the blind eyes of the stars bl When they looked down on the world Through cataracts of cloud.
20.
But mist will seep through cloth To find the skin beneath And it’s staining inwards now To where a pulse thrums just below the jaw.
But mist will seep through cloth To find the skin beneath That sodium-vapour glow old and grainy film And it’s staining inwardsAnnow Unspooling itself To where a pulse thrums just below the jaw.
s
the jaw.
linked ‘JAMAIS VU’
Whether feeling the inherent isolation of being lost in space or caught in the surreal grandeur of a burgeoning metropolis, everyone feels out of place at one time or another. This collection of works explores the sensory ruptures which occur within the void between familiarity and unfamiliarity. The French have a name for the phenomenon: jamais vu.
KATHERINE ZHANG
JAMAIS VU
KATHERINE ZHANG ‘JAMAIS VU’
KATHERINE ZHANG ‘JAMAIS VU’
KATHERINE ZHANG ‘JAMAIS VU’
KATHERINE ZHANG ‘JAMAIS VU’
JUDGEMENTS
A few years ago, when I was eighteen-years-old I was taken aback at her personal opinions and still living in my small hometown, I found on my discomfort. I tried to remain calm and myself sitting in the waiting room of a new collected with my responses, remembering that doctor’s surgery that had opened opposite the she couldn’t know how much courage it had taken local vet. I was there because the sign outside me to come here. I quickly realised that the said ‘cosmetic surgeon’. They didn’t bulk bill ‘cosmetic surgeon’ sign out the front meant like my regular doctor, so I would have to pay things like lip injections and botox, and I $88 for this consultation. A woman wearing what was asking this woman about the hardcore stuff. I could only assume was a Camilla dress swanned Around the same time she said to me, “You out and called my name, and I sheepishly followed should think about it some more darling, besides, her. We sat down in her pristine office and boys love big boobs,” I felt the lump in my I noticed a huge mug on her desk that said ‘but throat rise higher and decided it was time to first, coffee’. Tacky. After pleasantries about end this awful exchange. With my spirits more the cold weather, she asked what I was doing than dampened I paid my $88 and walked to my car, there. I told her I wanted to enquire about where I sat and cried for fifteen minutes. breast reduction surgery. The concept of plastic surgery carries a lot of “Oh, but you’re so young! And they’re not even stigma. In an era that prides itself on self-love that big!” and body positivity, the idea of changing an
30.
SUSIE NEWTON
In the years leading up to my ten minute visit to the ‘cosmetic surgeon’ I traditionally labelled people—women especially—who underwent cosmetic surgery as shallow and fake. It’s embarrassing to remember this arrogance I once paraded, considering I went under the knife only six months ago. I struggled with the concept of being a ‘bad feminist’ by wanting to change something about my body. I hated that I hated my boobs. I wanted to celebrate my unique body, love it the way my partner did. But I just could not, because every day when I left the house it nagged at the back of my mind. It took another three years after the Camilla lady stomped on my courage, but I found a surgeon in Sydney where I had since moved, and booked a date. I told this sob story for years leading up to my surgery, so when the date was booked all I wanted to do was tell anyone that would listen that I’d soon have nice and small, in proportion boobies. Something I was not prepared for were the reactions I copped. They ranged from support to complete insensitivity, and after spending so long coming to terms with the fact that my decision was my decision, it came as a shock. Some of the worst ones were: But I have big boobs and I love them! What! I would love to have your boobs, you can’t do that! And just a lot of: Nooooooo why!? I wondered what these people thought I would do after hearing of their dismay. Did they expect me to turn around and change my mind because they wished they had my boobs? How could I be so selfish and make this decision when there were people who didn’t completely agree with it? It was interesting that people were so brazen with telling me how they felt about my decision, without considering how awful it made me feel. The Camilla woman’s comment “boys love big boobs” is another issue altogether. If I’m honest, this statement made me even more determined to
undergo the surgery. I wanted to stick it to her, let her know that this wasn’t even on my radar of reasons not to have a breast reduction. If only she knew that her ignorance did nothing more than add fuel to the fire. Her comment brings to light another reason people tend to be judgemental about others’ cosmetic surgery choices: because of their concerns about how the world perceives them. I’d hazard a guess that most people who undergo a procedure are doing it for no one but themselves, and it’s upsetting that society so easily assumes otherwise. It was especially upsetting when I was asked “What does your boyfriend think?” leading up to my surgery. Believe it or not, he supported my decision because it made me happy. In the end I realised that the reactions I got were rooted in a culture of misunderstanding. Cosmetic surgery is often seen as a cop-out, a solution to a problem that should be cured with a bit more self-love. It would be excellent if we could get to a point where someone’s personal decision would in fact be personal. It’s not the same as telling someone how you feel about the shoes they’re wearing or the way they’ve worn their hair that day. Deciding to undergo cosmetic surgery will often come with a lot of thought, and should only ever be met with support. And if you have opinions, keep them to yourself. Nothing will come of them if you parade them around like a bigot. Now I’m six months post-op, and have a completely different position on cosmetic surgery. It was the greatest decision I ever made, and not just for comfort and better self-perception. I am so proud that I made the decision and went through with it despite the negativity and societal pressures to “just love my body.” Because the truth was, I didn’t love my body, and I’d tried to for so long. But now I do, and it’s because I was lucky enough to have the capacity to change it. That’s what I wanted people to celebrate with me: I had worked hard for something I desperately wanted. These days I can’t preach it enough; I’ve already given my plastic surgeon more business after referring another top-heavy friend of mine. And I won’t ever forget the greatest perk of this whole process—being able to buy cheap bikinis that actually fit!
CW: MEDICAL PROCEDURES, BODY IMAGE
aspect of your physical self is often met with judgement from those preaching the mantra. In 2017 there was an 11% increase in the number of people having breast reduction surgery in America. It has one of the highest satisfaction rates of all the available cosmetic procedures, providing both aesthetic and functional benefits for people who undergo the surgery.
a story about coming through the legal system, working both within it and then from a place of retribution
by bri lee
In an ideal world, the legal system would be the ultimate beacon of hope – a place where justice is swift and society’s moral compass is upheld. Looking at Australia’s current climate, does the reality hit the mark? Bri Lee’s evocative memoir takes readers through her own experiences with the law: being the daughter of a policeman, her job as a judge’s associate and finally the protagonist in her own case. Eggshell Skull is a book that explores one woman’s journey in understanding how others have contested the wrongs against them, the difference between what seems ‘fair’ and ‘just’, and the emotional toll to fight – even when you have the law on your side. You don’t need to have a legal background to appreciate the depth of Lee’s story. While the intricacies of court cases and what she witnessed while working with a judge are included, the real focus is on people relying on the system to bring them a reprieve. Confronting and yet written with a quiet assuredness, it’s harrowing to realise the mountain of procedural requirements victims of sexual assault must get through to have their case heard. Even the most sickening crimes could be treated with apparent leniency because of a gap in evidence or a complainant who is too ‘sensitive’, too ‘unreliable’ to be believed. The worries of ‘wasting a court’s time’ with what seemed ‘minor’ in comparison to the horrific cases Lee had heard were overcome by an unwavering determination to hold the person who hurt her accountable. In reading this you’re confronted with the double-edged sword in the pursuit of justice, where one must decide if bringing back the onslaught of painful memories is worth a trial which could span years.
32.
“It’s a realisation most of us have at some point in our young adult lives, that there’s no guidebook for the important stuff. When you most want to stride out from under the wings of your parents, you will simultaneously long for their guidance and reassurance like never before. In the worst moments of those nights I thought of my mum, and how I could burn down everything around me and that she would still come help me if I just picked up the phone. Like most of my female friends, I rarely fought with my father and often fought with my mother, but we all knew that when the chips were down our mums would be the first to run into the blaze after us.”
What makes Eggshell Skull a particularly emotional read is how Lee described the feelings of shame and intense self-loathing throughout her pursuit for justice. Part of it could be attributed to having witnessed first-hand the moral quandary of the legal system, so firmly built on rationale and logic, when faced with sexual assault victims. To complicate matters further, when the alleged incident may have happened decades before it is increasingly difficult to adduce the kind of clearly incriminating evidence a jury would expect. How accurately can the pain and suffering inflicted on another person be measured? How do you make peace with a ‘not guilty’ verdict that appears to contravene community standards? These are questions raised which are likely to be a source of further debate in time. But if there is criticism of the legal system to be found in this book, it is moderated nonetheless by an understanding of those who work within its confines, and are often under-resourced. It was fascinating to see how Lee’s professional relationship with the judge she worked for developed; though he was not directly involved in her own case, their bond was built on a respect for what it takes to hear from the darkest sides of human nature on a daily basis and the ability to separate that from your personal life. The lessons from her female peers also struck a chord, from the revelations of hidden insecurities to the unexpected sense of camaraderie which followed a glimpse into each other’s vulnerabilities. In this way, Eggshell Skull acts as both a memoir and call-to-action perhaps not so overtly as a feminist manifesto, but an inspiring tale that recognises the relief in sharing a grievance and finding other women who could relate and say ‘me too’. In all, Eggshell Skull is eye-opening and courageously told. A story about coming through the legal system, working both within it and then from a place of retribution, this is a must-read from a bold voice, from whom we can learn so much from.
CW: SEXUAL ASSAULT
“It’s so easy for them to say that ‘her word alone’ wasn’t enough to overcome their reasonable doubts. The alternative is a little terrifying —that if one in five women were assaulted, one in five men might be the assaulters.”
EUGENIA ALABASINIS
Interestingly, it could be said that men paradoxically play the role of either perpetrator or protector when it comes to the issue of a woman’s safety. On the one hand, you may feel safer with a man by your side when catching the train home alone at night, but on the other it’s an unfortunate reality that we even think this way in the first place. Though her personal account illustrated the insidious nature of the apparent ‘nice guy’ who just happened to slip-up at that point in time, Lee did have positive male influences in her life. Her father and partner were resolute in their capacity to show compassion and be there when she needed them most. While an extra level of caution and heightened awareness in situations where a woman could be perceived as vulnerable is inevitable, Lee’s story is testimony to the existence of genuinely good men whose intentions would go beyond the role of a ‘protector’; being actively opposed to violence against women in general.
MIKE SPITERI ‘DE/RECONSTRUCT’
MIKE SPITERI ‘DE/RECONSTRUCT’
MIKE SPITERI ‘DE/RECONSTRUCT’
SARA MATSUI-CARROLL
‘DARE’
SARA MATSUI-CARROLL
‘DARE’
44.
SARA MATSUI-CARROLL
‘DARE’
Stone Street’s models represent an array of features, cultures, and identities. “Getting brands to work with people who don’t fit the traditional Western standards of beauty has been slow. Sydney is a very commercial city in terms of fashion,” said Loutfy. The current state of social media allows companies to take advantage of models through incorrect reimbursement of their services. Brands may acquire more value from models by paying a measly 10% of the price an agency model would often receive. “Whenever you see a brand using a cool, young girl or boy from Instagram who isn’t represented, they are generally being exploited.
The amount of times a brand will send product in exchange for modelling is a scam when an agency model would receive thousands of dollars for the same thing,” he explained. Both Loutfy and Wu recognised this issue and made the decision to make a change first-hand. Their exposure to the creative scene informed the decision to launch Stone Street in August 2018. After all, if there is a pressing need, who better to address it than yourself. “We work with models often and see their lack of understanding about jobs and the lack of ability to choose their jobs. It informed us on what not to do.” The duo’s proactivity shapes their current success. Loutfy and Wu have worked together on several occasions. Wu’s makeup artistry and Loutfy’s experience as a photographer developed a sense of care for models’ wellbeing and success.
CHRIS LOUTFY
I sat down with Chris Loutfy, one half of Stone Street Agency, to understand the need for fair representation and diversity in mainstream media. Loutfy and Maggie Wu, two Sydney locals, draw from their knowledge of the creative landscape to grow diversity in the fashion industry.
SHAREN SAMSON
DO IT YOURSELF:
SHAREN SAMSON
CHRIS LOUTFY
SHAREN SAMSON CHRIS LOUTFY
The surge of talent rising on Instagram is pivotal to Stone Street, as the agency is able to recognise each model’s personality and style. “Social media shows us who they are, what they stand for, their personal style. It’s a good vehicle to express themselves and how they want to be represented.” The agency is currently home to twelve main board models. Yet, the phenomenon of street casting is also a specialty of Stone Street—one-off jobs for a wider range of models scouted by both Loutfy and Wu. Although there are similar agencies worldwide pushing interesting talent, Stone Street Agency is unique in its sole pursuit of diversity, fair representation, and street casting. Stone Street’s success can be seen through fashion campaigns both big and small. This includes Hype DC, General Pants, and Calvin Klein as well as small independent brands often associated with streetwear. “Pushing the industry to accept diverse models is hard…but everything we do is a victory for what we are trying to achieve,” said Loutfy.
For someone immersed in the Muslim community, modest attire is not a new phenomenon. My grandmother and many of her sisters run successful modest clothing businesses. They are tailors who possess more scarves than humanly possible. My mother designed and created her own hand-made abayas* for a long period of time. I even recall a period where she would complain that people were copying her style. Modest fashion was an unquestioned staple in my life and in lives of Muslim women around me, it was a reclamation of our identity and connectivity —but more importantly, it was an entity we controlled and created. While the older generation of Muslim women sought inspiration and produced garments for themselves, the new generation of young Muslim women turn to social media and fashion labels to accommodate their needs. Modest fashion became an easy demographic to capitalise upon considering the high demand not only from Muslim customers, but many other demographics jumping on the bandwagon that has dominated the current fashion zeitgeist. I’m aware that I might have a sceptical or cynical undertone but that’s because I’m not truly convinced that the growth of modest fashion in the Western world is synonymous with genuine acceptance of Muslim women’s ideals of liberation. The fashion world still operates in a larger capitalist one, seeking out niches and new demographics. It’s easy to feel that we are just the next profitable thing. Speaking with more nuance, the growth of retailers that have finally begun stocking modest clothing have birthed a tighter
52.
AISHAH ALI
competitive market for home-grown businesses, such as those of my grandmother’s sisters and similar companies created by and for Muslim women. Again, the benefit of being in a capitalist construct is that this will drive prices lower for Muslim consumers but not at the loss of local business owners. On a more positive note, the rise of modest fashion has seen more Muslim fashion designers and entrepreneurs gaining a larger platform to produce clothing with a full understanding of the lived experience of Muslim women and their day-to-day activities. It has recalibrated the market from treating modest fashion as a mere money-making enterprise by placing Muslim women at the forefront of the change. This is notwithstanding the many times the hijab* has been exploited as a ‘controversial statement’ to grace the covers of magazines by individuals more interested in its bold marketability.
In all honesty, while I truly enjoy modest fashion and the styling and the variety of hijab choices, it is more than just fashion. It is representation, a reminder of my faith, and a means of empowerment, and I desperately want the conversation to shift from what Muslim women wear to why Muslim women wear it. Discourse is more important than design, for me at least. If there are to be more retailers and companies seeking to embrace modest fashion it is important to distinguish the many different types of Muslims that exist, to hire consultants and to do research. If we’re really being honest, a richer understanding of your target market will probably lead to you having deeper pockets as well. *abayas—a full-length, loose robe-like dress worn by some muslim women. *hijab—a religious head-covering worn by some muslim women in public.
writing poems with
54.
// // // // // // // // // // // // all intent not formal formative, not formal // // they through objects from a distance // all intent no qualification; no form; not formal // // they speak recursive; from a distance // // // all intent formal, formal, no Form // // all intent, no study; formative, no background // arrays can’t read their voices // // machines have never seen // each other // from a distance, at arm’s // all intent but learning; // length // all intent no qualification; but learning, no study // // // all intent; at arm’s length, formal // // at arm’s length // they write, through grammars; through they // // // // // // // // var grammar = tracery.createGrammar({ // // ‘origin’: [ // // ‘#line#\n#line#\n#line#\n #line#’ // // ], // // ‘line’: [ // // ‘they #write##punct# #fdnt##punct# #fdnt#’ // // ‘all intent#punct# #fdnt##punct# #fdnt##punct# #fdnt#’, // // ‘#they# #cantsee# #themselves#’ // // ], // // ‘fdnt’: [‘#fromdistance#’, ‘#notraining#’], // // // // ‘punct’: [‘,’, ‘;’, ‘ ‘], // // ‘write’: [‘write’, ‘speak’, ‘sing’, ‘ ‘], // // length’, ‘through ‘fromdistance’: [‘from a distance’, ‘stochastic’, ‘recursive’, ‘at arm\’s #they#’, ‘ ‘], ‘notraining’: [‘no study’, ‘but learning’, ‘no background’, ‘no qualification’, ‘no Form’, // ‘formal’, ‘formative’, // ‘they’: [‘they’, ‘machines’, ‘arrays’, ‘objects’, ‘grammars’, ‘ ‘], // // ‘cantsee’: [‘can\’t see’, ‘have never seen’, ‘can\’t read’, ‘must see’, ‘must read’, ‘will see’, ‘will hear’, ‘ca // // ‘themselves’: [‘themselves’, ‘each other’, ‘their work’, ‘their voices’, ‘their faces’, ‘ ‘] // // }) // // // // // // // // // //
TIM BUSUTTIL REBECCA HALL
The poet Myung Mi Kim ends her book Commons with a reflection on poetry’s purpose:
////// This idea carries with it the sense that, in social space, we are positioned in relationship to each other: individual to individual, or clustered together in little communities. This, too, is the sense of relationality that queer studies has posited over the last 10-15 years. Queer relationality conceives of a complex layering of kinship ties both biological and non-biological (or, alternatively, exclusively non-biological) that radiate out from individual subjects, into their communities, and beyond. We queer subjects build, and can re-build our selves and our lives by finding a place alongside each other. This is part of how queer is both noun and verb. It’s who we are, and it’s what we do. So, there is a way in which the generative poems made with Kate Compton’s language, Tracery, brings together these understandings of both poetry and queerness. The iterative nature of the grammars are ‘mobilising’ in the sense that there is no singular, final truth to the way that the poem exists. Thus, how the poem reflects/ on the world is constantly being renegotiated, and offers fresh opportunities for us to follow suit. At the same time, the grammars produce multiplicities: there is no one true way to be a poem, there is no one true way to be this poem.
‘qualified’, ‘
‘],
an\’t hear’, ‘
‘],
Two Leaves is interested in the way that poetry, and that generative poems specifically, can be used to articulate and explore queer realities. In December 2018 we ran a workshop called CODED QUEER 01: writing realities that introduced a handful of people to Tracery, and held a brief discussion of queer methodologies, but mostly let everyone experiment with their grammars. The workshop brought out multiple voices. In this sense, there was the multiplicity of the voices present, and the multiplicity of generative poems that came out of the workshop. This abundance of expression is what makes generative poetry such a good fit for queer methodologies. It reflects the plurality of queer existence that queer relationality articulates. To hold some of the outputs that were made at the workshop, Two Leaves is making a website! To see it unfurl/for future projects peep us @twoleav.es
ISABELLA JIANG
CW: BLOOD, R*PE
When the ichor runs deep and wine-sweet in the lines of blue veins, prophecies are heaped upon you like June days and the dirt-smell of leather baking in the fields. Your every movement is inevitable, every breath fate. And women—strung like jewels— in your shining crown of a journey. Oh yes, how brave you are, all lion heart and winged horse, all sword aloft in shining benefaction. Tell me, hero, what do you see in the lambs’ blood and shepherds’ sweat, the lives of your men, spilt like milk? The golden arch of your archetypal arm, raised to the blinding sun? What do you see? The battered woman who asked for it? Who was too beautiful, too terrible, too vain; who scared men, with her lowered eyes and flowing hair, All like meat to the dogs. Tell me, hero. Did she raise her arm in supplication, begging for your mercy? Was she chaste? Did she ask for it?
56.
ISABELLA JIANG RILEY GRAHAM
i am tired, dear lady. dear persephone, dear prosepina, dear kore. it’s time to rise once again, and i hope that you will raise me too, like the yeast in sunday bread, and the grasses that grow like a love you are trying to forget. the primordial hunger that makes me ache in my bones is peeking sly and coy over the edge of my dawn coverlet; scarlet-hearted, scarlet-lipped, crooning broken things about the sea, and the stars, and you. tell me, dear lady. were you happier so far beneath our feet? were you more whole, more full moon? did you miss the summer, dreamlike and soft? the shimmer-haze of the wheat; berries ripe as bruises, apples like honey. the leagues of wildflower, narcissus that bloom in beat to the sound of your feet. rise again, Kore. i am tired of the cold and the dark and that shadowy thing that sprawls too comfortably in my bed.
MAX RIXON
Max is inspired by everything from the iconic to the banal, and wishes to compose provocative work that explores themes associated with the human experience. His concepts generally are physical representations of his own personal motifs. They take their form from heavy experimentation.
58.
MAX RIXON
‘NOBODY IS HOME’
60.
MAX RIXON
‘NOBODY IS HOME’
MAX RIXON
‘NOBODY IS HOME’
64.
MAX RIXON
‘NOBODY IS HOME’
TREAT Y NOW? On 29 November 2018, the Parliamentary Joint Select Committee on Constitutional Recognition released its final report concerning a voice in Australian Governmental Affairs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. As well as the centuries of denial of Indigenous representation in politics, the report was chiefly informed by last year’s Uluru ‘Statement from the Heart’. This was a written submission to the Australian Government calling for constitutional representation. In addition, the statement also called for a ‘Makarrata’ commission to mediate concerns between Indigenous representatives and government bodies. Such a statement was borne of multiple regional dialogues culminating in a final convention of 250 Indigenous representatives at Uluru in early 2017. The Yolgnu word ‘Makarrata’ (meaning a process of resolution) was also chosen for the latter proposal to emphasise the need for Indigenous representation and ‘truth-telling’ in everyday government decision making. If one were to take the recent promises of Labor MPs Pat Dodson and Bill Shorten to enshrine such a voice if elected, the Parliamentary Report looks to be a successful realisation of the statement’s mission. But what did the report actually promise? The answer ultimately straddles a complicated line between necessary reform and hesitant pragmatism. THE REPORT
The report acted as the culmination of a months-long series of hearings with—and submissions from—Indigenous leaders, academics, and other representative parties. After considering these, the committee compiled the final report which essentially rejected immediate calls for constitutional or 66.
TOM BRENNAN
legislative recognition. In place of Makarrata, too, the report favoured other forms of ‘truth-telling’ such as strengthening existing state models of mediation and new cultural programs to celebrate the survival of Indigenous culture under colonisation. Calls for recognition, both within and external to the consultation process, were argued to be too disparate to conclusively articulate a constitutional or legislative model for an Indigenous voice. As an alternative, a ‘co-design’ process was suggested. This will serve to act as a ‘road test’ system where Indigenous representatives are consulted across the country on an appropriate model for representation before it is enacted. Gemma McKinnon of The Guardian likened the suggested process as having to ‘audition’ for representation. Indeed, since the Uluru Statement received widespread support after its release, it seems frustrating that policy-makers continue to insist that Australia isn’t ready for substantial Indigenous representation. Other writers, such as Eddie Synot of The Conversation have argued that the degree of disparity across committee submissions was exaggerated; not only delaying representation but denying the multiplicity of views as the “normal result of a law reform process.” Indigenous leaders and representative bodies, nonetheless, supported the co-design model in conjunction to their own commitment to the Uluru Statement. The key argument in question advanced by these parties, that Australians will want to know “what they are voting for” as stated by Mick Gooda, does hold potential in ensuring that an Indigenous voice will work efficiently once implemented. For instance, it could possibly charge a strong national
education campaign based on the importance of the Uluru Statement and having an Indigenous voice. The feedback from such a campaign could then inform the ongoing consultation process between Indigenous representatives and policy-makers in constructing a voice for representation. This would then, undoubtedly, help to push the voice, whether delivered via constitutional referendum or legislative enactment, towards success. WHAT’S NEXT?
The questions remain as to how long the co-design process will run and when the vision for representation will finally be implemented. Compared to other nations which have long entrenched forms of political representation for Indigenous peoples, such as New Zealand and Bolivia, Australia’s actions seem considerably late and then some. The possibility remains that the consultation process would be too drawn-out. If this affects funding or the goodwill of participants, policy makers and Indigenous representatives could be forced to start over again. Thus, it is imperative that this promise to begin enacting a voice in the 46th Term of Parliament is enacted. Nonetheless, it has been exciting and promising to witness these recent developments in Parliament spearheaded by participants such as Mick Gooda and Dr June Oscar AO of the Australian Human Rights Commission. Furthermore, I eagerly await additional steps, such as a treaty, as confirmation of the potential for representation held by Parliament’s report.
The tram carries me at midnight It holds my secrets for me It doesn’t tell my mother That I kiss away A different lover Every day She tells me When I am trying to find a man Not to look too far west So west is where I go At midnight in ten minutes Glide across the rails Take me across town Where I tell him To look for the girl In the freshly-pressed linen pants
70.
ARISTINE DOBSON
KITTY CLEMENT
JANEY LI ‘MEATNESS // HUMANNESS’
meatness // humanness
This publication explores the narrative of human existence, understood in the context of digital technologies. MEATNESS // HUMANNESS Meat this that with
is our medium. It is through body, this moving flesh, we experience and engage the world.
JANEY LI
‘MEATNESS // HUMANNESS’
JANEY LI
‘MEATNESS // HUMANNESS’
It is through these bodies, this moving flesh, that we experience the world with our senses.It is through this that we form our identity, memories, thoughts and dreams. Through which we communicate and relate to each other. Through talking, dancing, singing, writing, fucking. Making “meat sounds� (Bisson, 1991),
JANEY LI
‘MEATNESS // HUMANNESS’
meat shapes, meat sex. We are of course, aware that we’re made of flesh, bone and blood, but thinking about oneself as meat seems crude and reductive. We are more: cerebral individuals, with complex identities and emotions. Meat is material: visceral and voyeuristic, gross and graphic – to close to the bare reality of the physical world. MEATNESS — HUMANNESS
80.
SHAREN SAMSON
LUCY LANDINI
‘TRANSITION’
LUCY LANDINI
‘TRANSITION’
LUCY LANDINI
‘TRANSITION’
Suppose you have heard of Creed Clancy Cright Suppose you’re a sceptic, a cynic outright: Such childish tales Told to ignite Fear in small hearts Moths to the light Derive some delight For cravers of fright Do NOT give credence to Sweet soundbites Do NOT give credence to this Propagation. This sensational consternation. This circulation of speculation peddled throughout our nation.
88.
BEN KAUFMAN
No one has sighted Creed Clancy Cright. Some say he works under cover of night After goodnight, when you’re tuckered in tight. But no one has sighted Creed Clancy Cright Astute reader, A force exists Not heard, not Not studied in
you ask, why is it so that you barely know read, nor worshiped by crooks history, not written in books.
His name seldom spoken by those few aware Burning the lips of those few who dare to fancy ol Clancy as though he were steel Some substance to feel, a corporeal meal. Draw back the curtain, the grand masquerade Look at the strings that slyly invade These mangled marionettes, wires frayed, Sway to the trance, the master’s charade. Still you toil, you poke and you prod Words are just words, and yours are just odd Why be afraid of the great Clancy Cright? Why fear the warden, no shackles in sight? Cright is the angst that hangs in the air When you look at your phone for a message not there Cright is a quick second glance in the mirror A case for your flaws, reeling you nearer. Watch out for Creed Clancy Cright’s nasty trouble! Petrified in your very own thought bubble. Where away you will float On your one-person boat Wondering what monster could be so cutthroat. So now dear reader, you just can’t resist Entertaining the notion that he might exist Does Creed Clancy Cright have scissors for hands? A face with no eyes, external glands? NO! This ancient Cright might not hide under beds He hides somewhere deeper, deep in our heads. Your whole life could pass by, not knowing it’s true That old Clancy Cright lives in me and in you.
CW: SHARP OBJECTS
Enough suppositions—this is not right! I write not for profit, vice, nor fright. These warnings, dear reader, don’t come with a price Don’t question my motives please heed my advice.
SARAH CHOO
STEPHANIE TODD
‘POLY’
SARAH CHOO
STEPHANIE TODD
‘POLY’
94.
BEN KAUFMAN
Ralphy had a Big Bad Blue He kept it quiet, No one knew! His Blue was Big and Bad, it’s true Ralphy had a Big Bad Blue.
CW: MENTAL ILLNESS, DEPRESSION
Where Ralphy went, it went too The shower, breakfast To the zoo! He could not tell it what to do. Where Ralphy went, it went too. To his skin, it stuck like grime Like sweaty soot, like sweaty slime. It wasn’t like this all the time! Penance for some unknown crime. To his skin, it stuck like grime. He could not order it to go It followed him a Blue shadow Yesterday and tomorrow, He could not order it to go. No say, no power, or no vote It wore him like an overcoat An unwanted accessory It made him unnecessary. A solid lump lodged in his throat His tongue the bridge above the moat. No say, no power, or no vote. He could not speak of his bad news Tried it once, Pa blew a fuse ‘Have Beige, have Taupe, the neutral hues! But none of these outlandish Blues’ He could not speak of his bad news. Despite Pa’s strictly neutral rule He could not bear the blue cesspool Told Ma ‘I’m sick, can’t go to school’ Bought paint, some tools, and a stool Despite Pa’s strictly neutral rule. A million different shades of blue Onto the canvas he did spew Aqua, Turquoise and Azeal, Cyan, Navy a hint of Teal He made Cobalt-tinted mules With Sapphire-crested jewels Backstroking in Azure pools For Ralphy, there were no rules! Still Blue, it’s true, but something new A million different shades of blue. When Pa came home from his hard day Found Ralph asleep in the hallway Blue-seeped hands, to the walls it spread ‘Awaken child, straight off to bed!’ Ralphy knew he was now done He could not sleep he could not run But Pa just sighed and looked at him Consoling like a phantom limb For just a moment Ralphy knew That Pa had his own Big Bad Blue He scrubbed with soap, suffice to say When Pa came home from his hard day. Did Pa have his own Big Bad Blue? It made some sense, it could be true. Had Pa passed Blue on down to him? Or was this another Bluey whim?
PLAYER ONE
96.
ELYSE BROWN GENNALIE ESPINO
PLAYER TWO
CW: PSYCHOSIS
Grab a friend, throw on a hat, shimmy into your best adventuring attire and don’t forget your runners—you’re about to go on an adventure. You and your friend will be running in open fields, searching for hidden critters, and talking to random strangers who, for some reason, always want to pick fights with you. If this sounds odd to you now, it may be more confusing if I said that all this could be done from the comfort of your own home. Digital technologies have changed the way we live. While we still enjoy meeting for brunch on a Sunday, the ways in which we engage with friends are becoming more creative. It’s important to realise that for some, brunch could mean eating homemade avocado on toast while trying to destroy a ‘raid’ boss: a powerful video game enemy that must be taken down through cooperation with other players. Video games have been around for years, and with 67% of Australians now engaging with the technology, it’s here and it has the potential to change lives. The question is often asked: are video games an addiction or a hobby? It’s a question that can be applied to exercise, eating, and even Netflix, but recently we have seen video game addiction thrown into the spotlight. With the World Health Organisation confirming ‘gaming addiction’ as a disorder and games like Fortnite drawing astronomical crowds, parents are turning to the media for answers. As with most topical social issues these days, there is gross misinformation available online that does the opposite of laying out the facts. For the most part, the media paints video games as
detrimental and antisocial. While these concerns may be valid for a small number of cases, it should not be ignored that video games can offer a great deal of positive outcomes for the player. Video games are entertaining. They provide a way to de-stress, focus on something else, and can satisfy needs we may have not realised we had. Want to build a house? There’s a game for that. Want to find out how you would fare in an apocalyptic wasteland? There are too many games for that. For some gamers, video games can be an extension of their social lives, and a way for them to interact with other people. Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games (MMORPGs) have historically connected players to like-minded people. It’s common for people to make lifelong friends that live on the other side of the world, and a lot of gamers have circles of online friends, creating relationships based on mutual interest. Meeting people through these platforms is no different to meeting people while playing a social sport or going to university: it’s all about common ground. And if you’re a sucker for a good love story, games like World of Warcraft have connected people to the point where a fellow guild member has become a future partner. Video games are multifaceted. They can be more than a form of entertainment or a social outlet. Games can be art, a form of expression, a way to educate and inform, or a way to exercise our minds. With the evolution of gaming-related technology, such as virtual reality, we can be taken on a journey in any landscape we desire. We can take on the identity of an astronaut, a
pilot, a ship captain from the 1700s: you name it. Games provide players with endless opportunities for both education and entertainment. The medium is also creating avenues and pathways allowing for greater representation of different groups of people, such as Microsoft’s Xbox Adaptive Controller. The traditional game controller is an iconic symbol of gaming—most would recognise the item’s simple silhouette— but for some, classic controllers are a barrier when trying to experience what video games have to offer. The Adaptive Controller opens up the medium to those with limited mobility, creating a controller which can be customised to a person’s needs. This provides an outlet for entertainment for a range of people, including those with cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, and others with conditions that impact fine motor function. Being an interactive medium, games can be used to educate and enlighten people, particularly in areas of mental health. Film and television have offered insight in this subject but games can provide more depth into our understanding, by breaking down the barrier just that little bit more. Video games offer the opportunity to take on the world with a different perspective. In An Aspie Life from EnderLost Studios, the player will find it difficult to talk to others, do groceries, and traverse the game’s world. An Aspie Life sheds light on how a person with autism views the world around them. This is an excellent form of representation, and allows people to develop empathy and understanding towards the one in 70 Australians currently estimated to be on the autistic spectrum. In
2017, video game studio Ninja Theory released a game which delved into the topic of psychosis. You take on the role of Senua—a Pik warrior dealing with a severe case of psychosis. You navigate her world through her eyes and ears, seeing visions and hearing voices. It is vivid and beautiful, but also overwhelming and frightening, and each interaction was developed from the real-life experiences of those living with the condition. Let me draw back to the adventure that is waiting for you. The hat, the clothes, and the runners are already provided. They are attached to an avatar which you have customised yourself to an appearance of your liking. You have brought a friend and plan to spend the afternoon together, so you each have a controller in one hand. The controllers are small and portable, they could even fit in your pocket. By your side you have two Pokemon, named Pikachu and Eevee, programmed and ready to explore the world with you. Your journey will involve tag-team fights against random people who want to fight you: your Pokémon against their Pokémon. During the process, you and your friend are in each other’s company. You might be laughing, disagreeing, pointing out a wild Pokemon running in the grass, or you could simply be sitting in silence. Socialising doesn’t always have to be about rigorous conversation. You could go to the movies and stare at a screen together as well, but in front of this screen you can talk, argue, and laugh. It’s a matter of how you define the term ‘socialising’.
98.
ELYSE BROWN
GENNALIE ESPINO
CW: PSYCHOSIS
TYRANNY In the north-west region of China, over a million Uighurs are being held incarcerated in detention camps. The Turkic speaking Islamic group are held captive in what is referred to by the Chinese government as “re-education facilities” across the district of Xinjiang. This minority group has found itself under persecution and discrimination by Chinese authorities since 2014, with the majority of the Uighur community under scrutiny and constant surveillance. Until October 2018, the Chinese Government officially denied the existence of these camps. Since then, reports have emerged of cases of suffering within these camps including torture, malnourishment, forced administration of psychiatric medication, and death. Some detainees have also reported being forced to learn Chinese Communist Party propaganda and are required to partake in Chinese cultural acts that are deemed forbidden in their Muslim faiths, such as consuming pork and alcohol. Those who fail to comply are subject to forms of torture including being handcuffed for hours, being submerged underwater, and/or being strapped to a wooden chair for long periods of time. Due to the illegitimacy of these camps, citizens could be liable for prosecution without awaiting trial. A United Nations panel has expressed their concerns by referring to these camps, which are located in an isolated region of China and, as they are “shrouded in secrecy”, as a sort of “no rights zone”. Chinese authorities, however, have claimed that these camps are a bid to counter extremism and terrorism. A Chinese spokesperson has even commented that, “…the serious measures implemented in Xinjiang are
100.
SELIN KEMENT
Zhang Chunxian, a politician from the Chinese Communist Party, has endorsed harsher religious policies since 2012. An independent news source reveals that Chunxian´s methods of “modern cultural development” in the Xianjiang province serves as a procedure to “integrate” Islamic culture into the region. Over the course of the past decade, Chunxian has undertaken educational measures in an attempt to re-traditionalise Islamic values to become more ‘Chinese’. The magnitude of this imposition was intensified in 2014, a time during which Chinese authorities announced a “people´s war on terror”. The Chinese government introduced unprecedented restrictions that prohibited “abnormal” long beards, wearing a veil in public spaces, and naming children in ways that denoted or manifested any relation to Islam. By 2017, local authorities recruited over 90,000 police officers and laid out as many as 7,300 heavily guarded check points in the Xinjiang region, making this province one of the most heavily guarded policed regions in the world, according to a Business Insider report. This report also found that surveillance cameras have been placed on the inside of hundreds of homes. If someone was seen reading the Quran or praying either at home or on the streets, the Chinese military will arrest those who were involved in committing such ‘crimes’. Residents
are demanded to install surveillance softwares on their phones and to place GPS trackers inside their vehicles. Chinese police have even collected DNA samples, fingerprints and iris scans to ensure maximum vigilance. A China expert from the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, states that Uighur residents living in China are required to carry an electronic ID card at all times. These electronically monitored cards are verified as they enter the premises such as certain restaurants, bookstores, and shopping centres. These cards also include locations in which individuals are restricted from entering, while also displaying information about that person including their potential risk to Chinese society. An Australian spokesperson has expressed alarm over this issue against Muslim communities, urging China to lift restrictions on minorities. Australian foreign minister Marise Payne visited China in November this year, in an attempt to improve Australian-Chinese relations. Despite showing signs of improving trade relations, there are still tensions amongst previous crackdowns on China’s militarisation of the South China Sea. As of today, there is no available information for the exact number of camps currently operating in Xinjiang. Chinese officials proclaim that these camps are a successful gateway for Islamic citizens to assimilate to Chinese life. However, a committee report shows “that this may be the largest incarceration of an ethnic minority population since World War II, and that it may constitute crimes against humanity”.
CW: FORCED INCARCERATION, TORTURE, DRUG USE, DEATH, ISLAMOPHOBIA
meant to provide stability, development, solidarity, and people’s livelihood,” while also, “…cracking down on ethnic separatist activities and violent and terrorist crimes, safeguard national security, and protect people´s lives and property.”
UMBRELLA Hong Kong Chinese University, 2014. Despite the late afternoon, the last rays of light still clung to the corridors of the university. Cantonese filtered through laboratories and libraries as lecturers and students alike streamed from the buildings. A small gathering of students huddled around a phone near the university’s entrance, their eyes fixed on a news segment.
around a young woman. Her eyes flitted intermittently to the news report as the group around her added to a growing pile of origami umbrellas, hung in yellow chains on their bags. The word ‘scholarism’ lay flat across her red shirt as opposite her, the young man fiddled with his phone, the bright colours of a game flashing with every swipe.
“Pro-democracy umbrella protests spread to Tsim Sha Tsui as students fight against China’s growing presence in Hong Kong.”
“Eric, are you coming to the protest tonight?”
Yellow pamphlets were passed between hands, quickly, quietly. A young man stood slightly separate, his hands almost plain without the yellow sheets of paper. “Many feel that China’s control over Hong Kong’s electoral process is stepping over the line. Some have said that it no longer falls under the principle of ‘one country, two systems’, established after the transfer of sovereignty from Britain to China in 1997.” “Here,” the students whispered, trading stationery like weapons. “Use this one.”
The young man looked up, cheeks heating under the group’s attention. He looked at the banners and yellow umbrellas stowed in their backpacks, shifting his glasses slightly. “I’m not really into this.” He laughed nervously. “You know my parents, Michelle, they’re strict. They’re—” “Eric,” Michelle interjected, her attention diverted from the banner that she was decorating. True universal suffrage!
“Student leaders such as Scholarism founder Joshua Wong are giving Chief Executive Leung Chun-Ying until tomorrow to resign or they will ‘occupy’ government buildings.”
“This isn’t just about you. Almost all our parents disagree with the pro-democracy movement. My mum’s from mainland China and I’m still going. Don’t you want to vote for someone who isn’t chosen by the Chinese Government for once? Don’t you care about what’s going to happen to Hong Kong?”
Yellow paper and multi-coloured pens were scattered on the floor, pages adorned with large Chinese characters stacked haphazardly
The young man hesitated, his hands fiddling with his phone even as the street lamps flickered on and the buzz of peak hour traffic grew louder.
102.
MELANIE WONG CW: TEAR GAS
He almost felt compelled by her argument, the same one she used every day, the words she stole from Joshua Wong’s rallying speeches and lay at his feet like a gauntlet. Yet, they both knew his answer, lodged in the back of his throat. “It’s time,” said another student. “Joshua said we should start going in as soon as possible. Bring the tear gas masks.” The group began gathering their things, movements that would be mirrored through all of Hong Kong that night, yellow umbrellas becoming beacons. Even still, Eric hesitated. Michelle turned back. “Coming?” His classmates paused, yellow banners trailing behind them, and for a moment, he thought they looked like soldiers, charging into battle. He gave an apologetic smile. “Maybe next time.” ~ A news report lit up the dark living room. “Tonight, ordinary citizens and students alike join the movement that has involved so many young people of today.” Somewhere, a clock chimed nine times. “A Hong Kong university professor has proclaimed ‘This may be our last chance to fight for democracy. The young people of Hong Kong have discovered
that this is their future at stake. We stand out together and hold our values together.’” Eric paused, his hands resting over the keys of his laptop as the camera panned across the crowds of people. In the corner, he thought he saw a young woman in a red shirt, a yellow poster covering half her body as she marched. He hesitated for just a moment, then he rose quickly, hands snatching a jacket, a gas mask and a yellow banner. ~ The sky was dark against the fluorescent lights of the shopping precinct, but nothing would quell the tide of students in the streets, a song that spoke of victory on their lips. Eric marched with his classmates, his flag embellished with characters waving around his head. Strike, for my future! Police lined the edge of the shops, patches of dark blue uniform among the bright lights of Hong Kong. Their heads covered by helmets and gas masks, reinforcements pushed through the throngs of people, smooth shields in front of them as they formed a wall. “Back!” A soft clink echoed, then another, as metal canisters fell to the ground before him. In the smoke, he couldn’t tell who was police or student as the people scattered, dropping banners and
umbrellas in their haste. Somewhere, Joshua Wong was yelling into a loudspeaker, the sound drowned by the rush of voices in the streets. There was a tug at Eric’s arm. “Go!” Hands covering watering eyes, white flashed across his vision and Eric didn’t know if it was a street light or a camera or if he was going blind from the tear gas. His eyes stinging and streaming with tears, Eric felt the crowd against his side, thousands of bodies pressing closer and closer together, herded blindly as they crumpled and fell against the concrete, caught like flies in the metal webs of crowd barriers. Eric gasped for breath as water was poured over his face, his vision still clouded. The blurry figures above him—voices high and frantic—stumbled away. There was a crash of glass beside him and all he could hear was his heartbeat and the cries of the people, their song scattered on the pavement. “Leung Chun-Ying step down!” As Eric ran, more clouds of tear gas exploded in the crowds. Turning the corner, he saw Joshua Wong struggling on the ground, his loudspeaker abandoned in the stampede. He watched him clamber to his feet, eyes darting towards the approaching police. Eric’s hands reached for the handle of the loudspeaker, his feet never faltering. He took a deep breath and screamed: “For true universal suffrage!”
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ERIN NOVICK X FASHION CHAPTER 11
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ERIN NOVICK CHAPTER 11
THIS ACTIVEWEAR COLLECTION DRAWS INSPIRATION FROM THE AESTHETIC AND CULTURAL ASPECTS OF SOCCER, PLACING THEM WITHIN A CONTEMPORARY FASHION SPACE. IT AIMS TO COMMUNICATE A COMBINATION OF RETRO FOOTBALL INFLUENCES WITH CURRENT FOOTBALL TRENDS AND STREETWEAR FASHION TO ILLUSTRATE THE PERMEATION OF THE SPORTS CULTURE INTO DAY-TO-DAY LIFE AND FASHION. SILHOUETTE ELEMENTS OF THE SOCCER UNIFORM, NAMELY RAGLAN SLEEVES AND BOXY SHAPES, HAVE BEEN EMPLOYED WITHIN THE DESIGNS. THEY ARE, HOWEVER, DIFFERENT ENOUGH SO THAT THE DESIGN STANDS ON ITS OWN IN A CONTEMPORARY FASHION CONTEXT RATHER THAN BELONGING ON THE SOCCER FIELD. PLAYING WITH SHAPE AND SCALE OF TRADITIONAL SOCCER GARMENTS, SUCH AS THE SCARF, ADDITIONALLY DISRUPT THE CLASSIC AESTHETICS OF THE SPORT AND MAKE IT FASHION.
ERIN NOVICK
CHAPTER 11
110.
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112.
ERIN NOVICK
CHAPTER 11
SHE SHE SHE SHE SHE SHE SHE SHE SHE SHE SHE SHE SHE SHE SHE SHE SHE SHE SHE SHE SHE SHE
SHOOTS SHOOTS SHOOTS SHOOTS SHOOTS SHOOTS SHOOTS SHOOTS SHOOTS SHOOTS SHOOTS SHOOTS SHOOTS SHOOTS SHOOTS SHOOTS SHOOTS SHOOTS SHOOTS SHOOTS SHOOTS SHOOTS
SHE SHE SHE SHE SHE SHE SHE SHE SHE SHE SHE SHE SHE SHE SHE SHE SHE SHE SHE SHE SHE SHE
SCORES! SCORES! SCORES! SCORES! SCORES! SCORES! SCORES! SCORES! SCORES! SCORES! SCORES! SCORES! SCORES! SCORES! SCORES! SCORES! SCORES! SCORES! SCORES! SCORES! SCORES! SCORES! 114.
ERIN NOVICK
CHAPTER 11
ERIN NOVICK
CHAPTER 11
ERIN NOVICK
CHAPTER 11
11 August 2018 at 9:22pm SONG TITLE: To a friend
Ally Moulis 4G
1:36pm
Notes 12 March 2018 at 5:07pm
ng under stars t hum of cars
12 March 2018 at 5:07pm Sleeping under stars Distant hum of cars
And therefore space is the condition and the void within the space makes it useful 62%
And therefore spacemyissinglethe condition and the void You take your open road, I’ll take withinwarfare the space makes it useful log bridge, heartbreak is on You take your open road, I’ll take my single-log Clap clap clap and slide bridge, heartbreak warfare is on Clap clap clap and slide
And for the first time I’m not thinking of you
r the first time thinking of you Head clear No fear lear And I would rather r Rest alone would rather Than have your skin against my bones lone My breath is deeper on its own ave your skin against my bones I watch you leave If only I had known Holding your key ath is deeper on its own And it’s dark out
Sleeping under stars Distant hum of cars 21 November 2018 at 9:21pm And for the first time I’m not thinking of you Take me to the riverside Summer’sHead coming sleepless nights clear How are No youfear my only vice Water’s warm in paradise And I would rather Rest alone Than have your skin against my bones
My breath is deeper on its own I watch you move If only I had known Under the moon 19 June 2018 at 11:07am Turn my lights out
ake me to the riverside ummer’s coming sleepless nights ow are you my only vice ater’s warm in paradise
I wish you knew What I could do If I loved you
I watch you leave Holding your key And it’s dark out
Take your time Find another lie
I watch you move Under the moon Turn my lights out
I do not know Where you will go When you leave here
03. Do
17. Isn hap tel
I wish you knew What I could do If I loved you
But I will stay Take your time Waiting the day Find back another You come back here back here herelie
Mushroom Crushed garlic Melted butter TITLE: To a friend OvenSONG on 180
I do not know If only you knew Where What I could do if I loved you you will go When you leave here If only you knew What I could do if I loved you But I will stay Waiting the day You come back here back here back here
120.
And therefore space is the co If only you knew theyou space makes i What I could void do ifwithin I loved If only you knew take your open What I could You do if I loved you road, I’ll
Melody Melody with octaves E E G F# B B A F# BANGER OCTAVES
ALLY MOULIS
s
Works from home in Lane Cove Very loud person Loud voice 23 August 2018 at 2:06pm
03.03.18 Do you still think about me?
9 May 2018 at 8:04pm Trolleys @ 2 Dollar 17.04.18 The 3 Wheeled Speed Machine: $40 Isn’t it crazy that every time something good One12pm: Wheeled $34.90 Ate Tartan pumpkinDream: soup and some bread. Felt happens to me you’re still the first person I want to Stylish Smaller Storage: $25 reallyNavy gross as soon as I started eating.tell Sad 2pm: Ate some popcorn. No adverse effects. Popcorn in the clear! 3:30pm: Tried to eat some raspberries. Super gross Anyway again. Didn’t like the feeling of food in my mouth. Now thinking about eating makes me feel sick too. Boo hoo. 6:30pm: ate a full burrito with beef and beans and cheese. Ate dessert. Felt GREAT. Mystery continues 12pm: Ate pumpkin soup and some bread. Felt really 25 October 2018 at 7:09pm gross as soon as I started eating. Sad 2pm: Ate some popcorn. No adverse effects. Melody Popcorn in the clear! Melody with octaves 3:30pm: Tried to eat some raspberries. Super grossE E G F# again. Didn’t like the feeling of food in my mouth. B B A F# Now thinking about eating makes me feel sick too. Boo hoo. 6:30pm: ate Trolleys a full@ burrito 2 Dollarwith beef and beans and cheese. Ate The dessert. 3 WheeledFelt Speed GREAT. Machine: Mystery $40 continues One Wheeled Tartan Dream: $34.90 9 March 2018 at 1:32pm
.03.18 you still think about me?
.04.18 n’t it crazy that every time something good ppens to me you’re still the first person I want to ll
Anyway 27 June 2018 at 10:10am
Melody Melody with octaves E E G F# B B A F# BANGER OCTAVES 17 April 2018 at 2:47pm Works from home in Lane Cove 03.03.18 Very loud person Do you still think about me? Loud voice Vibrant personality 17.04.18 pumpkin some bread. Isn’t it 12pm: crazyAte that every soup time and something good Felt really gross as soon as Ithe started eating.I Sad happens to me you’re still first person want to 2pm: Ate some popcorn. No adverse effects. tell Popcorn in the clear! 3:30pm: Tried to eat some raspberries. Super gross again. Didn’t like the feeling of food in my mouth. Now thinking about eating makes me feel sick too. ondition and the Boo hoo. it useful 6:30pm: ate a full burrito with beef and beans and cheese. Ate dessert. Felt GREAT. Mystery continues l take my single-
HOUSEPARTYHOUSEPARTY
CLUBSCLUBSCLUBSCLUBSC
who are you on a night out?
ESPRESSO MARTINI (ANSWER A)
PINA COLADA (ANSWER B)
PROBABLY THE BEATLES (ANSWER C)
BRITNEYSPEARSBRITNEYS
WHAT’S ON TONIGHT’S PLAYLIST? BEATLESBEATLESBEATLES
WHAT’S THE BETTER COCKTAIL? PINACOLADAPINACOLADAP
HANG AT A HOUSE PARTY
ESPRESSOMARTINIESPRES
HIT THE CLUBS
TOXIC BY BRITNEY SPEARS (ANSWER D)
A: BOOT & RALLY BABE
B: NO CARES
You, my friend, are no stranger to the widely loved ‘tac-vom’. You’re a fan of pre-ing before pres. You can often be found bouncing between the dance floor and the bathroom floor—but nothing will stop you! On the Uber home you are definitely playing Ariana’s no tears left to cry on the aux.
If you’ve ever gone missing on a night out, no worries, your friends will just follow the path of destruction that you leave in your wake. You are always double parked and down to boogie. You are the embodiment of an early 00s chick flick: fun, flirty, and free.
Drink of Choice: Tequila shot
Drink of Choice: Literally anything
C: SOBER SALLY
D: ONE-DRINK WONDER
People often ask if you’ve even had anything to drink. Your sober and drunk selves are like a much too difficult spot the difference puzzle. Your cool as a cucumber demeanour can come off as a bit serial killer chic. Your friends detest you because you remember everyone’s mistakes the morning after.
You’re the Los Del Rio 1996 hit, Macarena, of mates on a night out—a one-hit wonder that never stops giving. You down your one standard drink and you are good to go. You’re constantly the envy of your heavyweight friends—but not to worry, you are the life of the party. Dancing Queen indeed.
Drink of Choice: Rosé
Drink of Choice: Vodka Raspberry
122.
(w)hole Visible patching is one of the most disregarded mending techniques—but I love it for its visibility, its clear defiance of the clean unbroken surface. To me, a piece of clothing covered in patches is a sign of being well-loved. For many years, my best friend would patch her favourite linen pants until they became a quilt rather than clothing, an heirloom to herself of sorts. When your dearly beloved outfit is riddled with holes, here is how you can make amends. You don’t need much for visible patching just: • • • • •
a needle scissors embroidery floss pins a scrap of some fabric (matching or otherwise!)
Things to think about: I prescribe a running stitch here, which is a great start, but think about whether that stitch runs diagonally, horizontally or vertically. It doesn’t even need to be running stitch! Come up with your own! *Running stitch is the stitch we probably all know the best. It’s the one that entails literally running your needle and thread up and down.
124.
First you have to find the holes you want to patch, mark them with a pin so that when you come to find them again they’re ready for you.
Cut a small piece of fabric any shape. I find squares a good start but it’s up to you. The only consideration is that it covers the hole and gives another 10-20mm around the edge, just in case it frays.
Pin the fabric over the hole: remember, this is visible mending so we want to see the patch. Make sure the fabric is taut so it doesn’t go slack when you bend, stretch or move. You don’t want all your efforts to go to nothing!
Thread your needle (make sure it’s double threaded—so it’s extra strong), and tie a knot at the base. Now you’re ready to sew.
Here the patching process begins. Begin by starting a running stitch* across the surface of the patch starting at one edge, taking in both layers of the fabric.
Once you get to the other side, you are going to repeat this running stitch* back to where your started. Keep up this back and forth until your (w)hole patch is covered.
Congrats, you’re done! Your outfit is once again fit for the streets, though this time a little more beautiful.
L
IESARIESARIESARIESARIESARIESARIESARIESARIESARIE Don’t be afraid to forget about the consequences of your actions. The universe is giving you a blank slate to work with this year. I think their computer must have crashed and they lost their Word document, and autosave was not working.
URUSTAURUSTAURUSTAURUSTAURUSTAURUSTAURUSTAURUST
S
It’s time to get serious about your financial matters in the new year. We know that astrology is rooted in capitalism so giving in and buying those new shoes simply because your horoscope told you so means you are playing into the system. That being said, there are loads of sales happening so why not TREAT YOURSELF.
S
MINIGEMINIGEMINIGEMINIGEMINIGEMINIGEMINIGEMINIG The pursuit in finding love has felt like you’ve just had a scooter smashed to your ankle. Don’t give up now. Just get better at riding scooters.
NCERCANCERCANCERCANCERCANCERCANCERCANCERCANCERC
C
Dear Cancers, as part of our services, we offer you a vague forecast of your future based on the relative positions of stars, planets, and how my mood is the day I write this. We do not predict the weather here. Please stop asking us.
OLEOLEOLEOLEOLEOLEOLEOLEOLEOLEOLEOLEOLEOLEOLEOL
A
It’s a new semester and you may be feeling a bit down because this is literally your fifth year doing your three year communications degree. All the friends you’ve made along the way have either graduated or changed courses so it’s just you now. If you’d like a new buddy, meet me at the Loft tonight at 7pm.
P
RGOVIRGOVIRGOVIRGOVIRGOVIRGOVIRGOVIRGOVIRGOVIRG You’re not usually one to take chances but life is short and you have to get out of your comfort zone. Sleep on the other side of your bed already dammit! You’ve always wondered what it’d be like.
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JENNY CAO
LIBRALIBRALIBRALIBRALIBRALIBRALIBRALIBRALIBRALIBR Don’t be afraid to indulge in the things you normally would not do. You have to look after yourself so run a bath, put on a face mask, and pour yourself a glass of wine! You know what they say, it’s 9am somewhere in the world!
SCORPIOSCORPIOSCORPIOSCORPIOSCORPIOSCORPIOSCORPIO Things are really looking up for Pisces this month! You’ll be inheriting a massive fortune and all your relationships will continue to grow and flourish. Your goals will be achieved, your pores will be cleared and you will meet the love of your life. It’s a shame you’re a Scorpio.
SAGGITARIUSSAGGITARIUSSAGGITARIUSSAGGITARIUSSAGGI Tuning in to your emotions will be crucial. You may feel exhausted, sniffly, and may also have body aches. You have the common cold or some planet might be in retrograde. Astrology is wild!
CAPRICORNCAPRICORNCAPRICORNCAPRICORNCAPRICORNCAPR Your faith in love will be completely shattered when you figure out that spicing up things in the bedroom does not involve hot sauce and 10 red chillies. It should also not end with both of you crying and pouring milk on each other’s eyes.
AQUARIUSAQUARIUSAQUARIUSAQUARIUSAQUARIUSAQUARIUSA Embarrassment may arise fermenting foods is not talking about fermenting foods to class, placing fermentation station!
once you realise that your love for shared by everyone. Please stop foods. Please stop taking your fermented it on the desk and calling it your
PISCESPISCESPISCESPISCESPISCESPISCESPISCESPISCESP It’s best to stay away from situations that will hinder your growth or happiness. Or not. I don’t know it’s really up to you, I’m not your dad.
EUGENIA ALABASINIS........................32–33
MATILDA GOULD................................20
When she’s not writing for Vertigo, Eugenia’s other literary pursuits include working at a bookstore and blogging about her favourite reads at Genie in a Book.
Matilda Gould is a creative writing student who (when she’s not stressing about writing, having a meltdown over what she’s written, or fantasising about the anthology of erotic bush poetry she’ll one day publish) likes to actually write things.
AISHAH ALI................................52–53 Aishah is a fourth year Law and Political Science student who moonlights as a spoken word poet. You can find her performing in various slams and festivals across Sydney or obsessively watching HBO TV shows. ELLA BARROWCLOUGH.......................124–125 Ella Barrowclough is a Queer designer and researcher. She also tends to spend a lot of her time fixing her clothes because she can’t bear to get rid of them. TOM BRENNAN...............................66–67 Tom Brennan is a final year student. He has a passion International law as well library of textbooks just
ELIZABETH GREEN............................8–11 Elizabeth is a journalism student who dreams of the day her stomach doesn’t turn when calling strangers for an interview. When not writing she’s either down a conspiracy rabbit hole or feeding her sushi addiction. BEN KAUFMAN...........................88–89, 95 Ben Kaufman has been writing poetry since his subject outline mandated it in August 2018. He credits his credit mark to hard work, ingenuity, and rhymezone.com. SELIN KEMENT............................100–101
Law and Communications for Indigenous and as keeping a healthy in case!
Selin Kement is a full time pianist who will bore you at parties reciting Beethoven´s life story.
ELYSE BROWN...............................97–98
ALLY MOULIS.............................120–121
Elyse Brown is a writer who dreams of one day being able to do a handstand, but who know if that will ever happen.
Ally Moulis is an emerging writer/poet/actress/ songwriter with admittedly far too much on her plate, but states she’d go insane if it were any different.
TIM BUSUTTIL & REBECCA HALL...............54–55 Two Leaves is a generative text/poetry project by Tim Busuttil and Rebecca Hall, presently working with Kate Compton’s Tracery. They are interested in combining code, poems, and queer methodologies. LILY CAMERON.................................69 Lily Cameron is a syntax and soy bean enthusiast who dabbles in writing. One day she hopes to befriend one (1) whippet named Spaghetti, about whom she’ll write a generation-defining epic poem.
SUSIE NEWTON..............................30–31 Susie Newton is a Law and International Studies student at UTS, as well as being part of the Vertigo editorial team. She likes to write about her own nuanced experiences, hoping that someone out there might find them relatable. Either that or she’s been given a public platform on which to complain and someone should have a chat to her. SHAREN SAMSON......................47–51, 80–81
Great facilities and the service was amazing. Food was average. No WiFi. Would definitely recommend @jennycaovevo to others!
Sharen is a Communications (Journalism) and Law student who enjoys smelling new books, writing about humans, and being behind the lens. If she’s not on a coffee high, or doing a million things, you’ll find her deep into the most recent Netflix film or at yoga.
ARISTINE DOBSON..............................70
MELANIE WONG............................102–104
Aristine Dobson usually writes one good sentence a day before getting distracted by silly day-dreams of being either a 90s RnB diva or the front man of an obscure indie rock band. One day she will spontaneously buy a villa in Tuscany with a hunk called Matteo who adorns her with gifts and feeds her grapes.
Melanie is obsessed with Christmas, weirdly invested in competitive figure skating, and wishes she could frolic in the Swiss mountains like Heidi on a regular basis. She’s a bit too idealistic for journalism and a bit too pragmatic for creative writing but somehow manages to make both work.
JENNY CAO...............................126–127
128.
SAM ABBOTT................................13–19
CHRIS LOUTFY..............................46–51
Sam Abbott is an aspiring visual arts photographer trying to take traditional photography practices and altering the methodology to form a unique style. Find his work @smabbott_.
Chris Loutfy is a Sydney-based photographer, specialising in fashion campaign, editorial and documentary photography exclusively on film.
ISABELLA BROWN...................Cover & Poster
Sara Matsui-Carroll is an aspiring photographer who shoots on 35mm film. She enjoys taking portraits of her close friends and aims to visually encapsulate who the person is and what they represent to her. Find her work @saramatsui.
Isabella Brown is a designer whose heart lies with print, paper and publications. She collects old books and says she’ll turn them into collages one day, just as soon as she can bring herself to cut them up. GERALDINE BUZZO.............................134 Geraldine Buzzo is a visual communicator with a lust for the typographically bold. Her work focuses on typography, materiality and illustration. Find her work @buzz__off. SARAH CHOO................................90–93 If awake, you’ll find Sarah curled around a thick book or tending to her fledging succulent garden and when asleep she dreams of fantastical cities made out of food. Find her work @thesleepyscribbler. KITTY CLEMENT.............................70–71 Kitty is an illustrator who draws with intricate and nostalgic detail. Find her work @kitty.clement. GENNALIE ESPINO...........................96–99 Gennalie Espino is a habitual procrastiplanner who treats her to-do lists like long conquests. Find her work @bygennalie. RILEY GRAHAM.................................57 Riley Graham is a student at UTS studying a Bachelor of Design in Photography. His conceptual work explores the construction of human psychology, behaviour and identity while attempting to break down and question pre-determined societal norms and conditioning. His website is www.rvgraham.com. LUCY LANDINI..............................82–87
SARA MATSUI-CARROLL.......................40–45
ADY NESHODA..........................88–89, 102 Ady likes breaking the rules both in her daily life and when it comes to design conventions. Find her work @adyneshoda. ERIN NOVIK..............................106–119 Erin is a fashion student who spends most of her time looking at clothes and when she’s not doing that she’s making them. Find her work @e.n.designed. MAX RIXON.................................58–64 Max is a VisCom student interested in story telling. He manipulates his chosen mediums to create an atmospheric sense of despair between his sitters and subject matter. Find his work @maxrixon. MIKE SPITERI..............................34–39 Mike is a student at UTS studying Visual Communications. He hopes to stand out in a commercial illustration scene that often places the cute, pastel, soft or dainty at the forefront. Find his work @fkenmike. STEPHANIE TODD............................90-93 Stephanie Todd is a filmmaker on a quest to find the perfect exposure, consuming frozen raspberries by the kg, seeing what makes humans tick through her camera lens. Find her work @stephanietodd12. MARISSA VAFAKOS.........................20, 100
Lucy Landini is a first year photography student at UTS. Find her work @lucylandini.
Marissa’s hard-working nature causes her to a downward spiral of constant stress and emotional eating, however she remains sane through napping.
JANEY LI..................................72–79
KATHERINE ZHANG...........................21–29
Janey Li is a sweaty designer who enjoys zine making and the dancefloor. Find her work @jane.ey and @rancid___candy.
Katherine Zhang is a girl that just wants to have fun, incite her wisdom and get a lil naked for artistic purposes. You can find more of her work on her website thekatherinezhang.com or Instagram @katherinezhangles.
VERTIGO Vertigo is always on the lookout for pitches and submissions of creative fiction and non-fiction writing, visual art, think pieces, feature articles, news, and everything in between. Our sections leave you space to expand. Do you have something that doesn’t fit into a particular mould? We want to see it. HOW TO CONTACT US Send your pitches, submissions, and nominations to submissions@utsvertigo.com.au and one of our friendly editors will get in touch with you shortly. Check out facebook.com/utsvertigo for the most recent callouts, or just send us a message to say hello. SOCIAL MEDIA utsvertigo.com.au facebook.com/utsvertigo instagram.com/utsvertigo twitter.com/vertigomagazine
130.
FICTION
PITCHES
Short stories, poetry, flash fiction: everything we know and love about creative writing, or something we don’t know that will surprise us.
Have an idea for a piece that isn’t complete? Briefly answer the following questions:
NON-FICTION We want non-fiction and creative non-fiction writing from all facets of life. Anything you’re interested in, we’re interested in too. AMPLIFY Youth culture, music, fashion, arts and lifestyle—this is Amplify’s bread and butter. Ranging from prolific to up-and-coming, this section will showcase individuals in their creative element through authentic conversation. We are looking to support and promote the creative scene of UTS and cover events near you. OFFHAND Offhand is home to all the weird and wonderful things that don’t quite fit inside the box. We want your quizzes, games, playlists, satire and comics to fill the back pages of our mag, nothing is too quirky or weird! SHOWCASE This section is dispursed throughout the magazine, showcasing any design-related bodies of work including (but not limited to) fashion, animation, architecture, product, photography, and typography.
• • • •
What is the working title for your piece? What do you want to write about? How do you want to write it — what is the structure, tone, or style? How long is your piece going to be?
If you have any examples of previous works please attach them to your email. COLD SUBMISSIONS Already have a completed piece in mind to submit? Send your work to submissions@utsvertigo.com.au with a brief summary of its content and which section you’d like to see it in. Ideally, you could also briefly describe how your work relates to our next theme. NOMINATIONS Know someone at UTS who would be too shy to put their work forward, but who you know would be perfect for Vertigo? Please answer the following questions: • • •
What is their full name? What kind of work do they do? Why do you think their work would suit Vertigo?
You can attach a link to their website or social media and we can take it from there.
Mehmet Musa PRESIDENT
My name is Mehmet and I am your 2019 UTS Students’Association (UTSSA) President. For those who are unfamiliar with the Students’ Association, the UTSSA is an organisation run by students for students. The decisions made by the UTSSA are voted on during SRC (Student Representative Council) meetings. These councilors are directly elected by the student body once a year. The UTSSA aims to stand up for student interests and be the student voice on campus. I am passionate about the work and advocacy that we do as a team at the Students’ Association and I want to do more in 2019. The Students’ Association has reached many milestones this year and I wish to expand upon these. In particular, I want the UTSSA in 2019 to focus more on the welfare and wellbeing of students at UTS and I want our policies to capture this vision. As President, I will do my best to facilitate the growth of our collectives within the UTSSA and ensure they actively engage their constituencies in 2019. I will strive to commit more resources to these collectives and aim to increase their reach to students who may not know about them. The Students’ Association has historically experienced challenges in engaging and communicating with the broader student body. I plan to work with staff, particularly our Marketing Manager, to implement a marketing framework that maintains consistency and professionalism and increases student reach and engagement. If you wish to contact me please send me an email: president@utsstudentsassociation.org
Llywelyn Parry SECRETARY
I’m Llywelyn and I am the 2019 Secretary of the UTSSA. My job is to coordinate the monthly meetings of the UTSSA SRC and to assist in the smooth running of the Association. I would firstly like to extend an open invitation to all students to attend the SRC meetings. To do so you can contact me at: secretary@utsstudentsassociation.org Attending these meetings is a great way to learn about what the UTSSA is doing for UTS students. You can also contact me if you have any questions about the UTSSA or how you can get involved with either the Students’ Association or one of our many collectives or PERC clubs. I hope you have all had a relaxing break and are looking forward to the year ahead.
Maddie Lucre
EDUCATION VICE PRESIDENT
Hi my name’s Maddie and I am the UTS Education Officer for 2019. The Education Officer is your mouthpiece to the university about how students feel on issues relating to the university administration, course structure and social and political issues. My plans for the year involve raising the profile of who the UTSSA is and the services we provide for students like our free dinner and breakfasts. This year is going to be a big year with lots of changes and lots to rally and protest about. With two elections looming, there are going to be many hot-button issues for students to get engaged with and make their voices heard. Issues like the lowering of the HECs debt repayment threshold, climate change, and the sexual assault task force into university responses to sexual assault and harassment. If you are keen to make change in the world and on your campus get involved with the Education Action Group. Contact me here at education@utsstudentsassociation.org.
Mia Dabelstein WOMEN’S OFFICER
Hi my name is Mia and I am the 2019 Women’s Officer for UTS. The Women’s collective is an autonomous space for women and non-binary folks to socialise, agitate and organise around issues that affect students as a result of the patriarchy. Whether it’s gender pay gaps, unrealistic beauty standards or bodily autonomy, these issues are fundamentally rooted in our society’s white, Western, male dominated power structure. In weekly meetings we discuss how these issues affect us and organise and build campaigns to combat them. Throughout this year, we also plan to host regular informal events and gatherings, like movie nights, crafternoons, and drop in chat sessions. If you’re passionate about feminism and social justice, the UTS Women’s Collective is the perfect place to start, with a group of like-minded, equally passionate people ready and waiting. For more information please follow our Facebook page – UTS Women’s collective or email: womens@utsstudentassociation.org
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GERALDINE BUZZO
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VERTIGO Front cover designed by Isabella Brown in collaboration with Ady Neshoda.