woroni woroni VOL. 69, issue 5, 2019
VOL. 69, issue 5, 2019
WO R O N I T E A M CONTENT
RADIO
Sophie Johnson Riddhi Mehta Sophie Burgess Livvy Carney Rachel Chopping Ellie Flintoff Emily Fursa Canada Gavin Emma Giessmann Eammon Gumley Lucinda Janson Thomas Opie Lily Pang Ruth Purcell Annabelle van Raalte Johann Wagner
Bernadette Callaghan Jacinta Chen Eve Crossett Rishi Dhakshinamoorthy Tarsha Dickenson Niamh Dolfi-McCool Bec Donald-Wilson Louis Festa Michael Katsavos Isobel Linsday-Geyer Dot Mason
ART Claire Gaspar Maddy McCusker Adrian Schmidt Eliza Williams Millie Wang NEWS Amber Jones Grace Sixsmith Caitland Coulson Elena Couper Yakub Garrett Isobel Lavers Ronan Skyring Charlotte Ward MANAGEMENT Erin Qin
TV Cathy Egan Jasmine Ryan Nick Ang Matthew Donlan Krishna Gogineni Claire Holland Scott Koh Kez Roy Lucy Skeldon Prakash Singh Vy Tsan Vy T CONTRIBUTE
W WORDS TO:
PHOEBE@WORONI.COM.AU ART TO: GEORGIE@WORONI.COM.AU
ARTWORK : GEORGIE KAMVISSIS // 3
CONTENTS 3 NEWS
22 CREATIVE
50 Commercialising Banksy Emma Giessmann
5 News Flash
23 The Signs as ANU Revues Rachel Chopping
51 The Songs that Shaped Us Various Authors
6 An Interview With ANU DJ Raghav Sharma-Burton Elena Couper
8 CAMPUS 9 New Sem, New Self Sophie Johnson 10 The Two Stories of This Year’s FINA World Championships Eammon Gumley 12 Mindfully Stepping Back: A Silent Winter Retreat Kim Jayson Torda 14 “Sharing is Caring” – What Does That Really Mean? Phoebe Lupton 16 The Power of the ‘Like’ Josie Ganko 17 ‘Cupid & Psyche’ and Us Thomas Opie 18 We Should Think About Death More Annabelle van Raalte 19 Science and Religion: Its Role on the Human Psyche Sophie Nguyen 20 War with Myself Anonymous
24 Love in the Time of Corps Law Jaime Howell 26 #BOYBOSS Katie Sproule 27 Breaking News: Kambri Precinct Mistaken for Chernobyl by Incoming Students Benedict McCarthy
54 DISCOVERY 55 Eco-Fashion: Are Millenials Putting Their Money Where Their Mouth Is? Canada Gavin 56 Freud, Jekyll and Hyde Anthony Moore
28 Choice Freya Cox
58 Artwork Samantha Corbett
30 Metamorphosis Kaia Parlevliet
59 Measuring Happiness in an Economy Livvy Carney
32 Yesterday Katelyn Booth 33 Beyond Human Ella McCarthy
60 It’s Time for Scientists to Come Down from Their Ivory Tower Lily Pang
34 Which Dreams Should We Follow? Samuel Wright
62 In Mainland China, a Troubling Apathy Spurns Hong Kong Angst Yutong Wu
35 Artwork Jasmine Ryan
64 Photograph Julia Faragher
36 Artwork Maddy McCusker
37 CULTURE 38 Avocado and Toast with a Side of... Booksmart Avocado and Toast 40 ‘Years, Continents, Bloodshed’ – Veronica Mars Season 4 Review Sarah Lu 42 Two Pancakes a Day Cassandra Malouf 46 From Russia with Love Emily Fursa 49 Love in Five Languages Zena Mason
Cover page art : Georgie Kamvissis Divider page art : Millie Wang
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e d i to r s
Welcome to Edition 5 of Woroni! The theme for this edition is Psyche: the mind, the soul, our fears, our desires... To celebrate this edition, our editors took the infamous Myers-Briggs personality test. Below, read what they think about their results, how accurate they think personality tests are, and what they have since learnt about themselves.
I’ve taken the Myers-Briggs test several times over the course of my life resulting in three different types. This time I was named an INFJ – introverted, intuitive, feeling and judging, also known as ‘The Advocate’ – for the first time. I flit between being extraverted and introverted, this time introversion just winning at 51 per cent to 49 per cent. Among my strengths were creativity, dedication and passion. My weaknesses included perfectionism and the ability to burn out easily. Whether or not the results of the test are entirely accurate, taking into account my supposedly ever-changing personality, I see the Myers-Briggs test as a new opportunity to reflect on who I am. I take a minute to weigh up my talents and my flaws and decide if that’s how I wish to continue on.
JULIA FARAGHER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
I am an INFP: introverted, intuitive, feeling and perceiving. This type is also known as ‘The Mediator’, someone who is empathetic and creative. A lot of people think that the Myers-Briggs personality test is codswallop, but I beg to differ. The description of the INFP type on any Myers-Briggs website may as well have a picture of me next to it. As much as this test is a personal attack, it is also an interesting insight into the kind of person you are or could be. PHOEBE LUPTON CONTENT
I am an ENTP – extraverted, intuitive, thinking and perceiving, or ‘The Debater.’ I have serious qualms with this test, but I guess that coincides with my personality. While many of my colleagues’ personalities were shared by people such as Nelson Mandela, Fred Hollows, etc, ENTP is the personality of Weird Al Yankovic, Sacha Baron Cohen and Jack Sparrow, sick! I strongly contest almost all of the traits assigned to me by this test, but apparently, I disagree with positions because it’s fun. Perhaps it is right. NICK RICHARDSON NEWS
5
INTJ – introverted, intuitive, thinking and judging, also known as ‘The Architect’ – is a conflicting personality type to be branded with. While INTJs are known for being capable and logical, the profiles also tell me that I will never find love, that I have a superiority complex and that I work best alone. It’s an interesting experiment to confront the parts of yourself that you might not want to admit exist. Lately I’ve come to embrace these parts of myself, as I don’t see any use in trying to change who I am, only in examining how I can grow and be the best I can be. JOSIE GANKO DEPUTY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
I am ESFP – extraverted, sensing, feeling and perceiving, also known as ‘The Entertainer’. Some of my apparent characteristics include inability to accept criticism, materialistic, has trouble with long-term commitments and takes things personally. All good and well rounding traits – I’d like to think!! However, one of my strengths is teamwork – which I definitely love to apply with my Woroni Art Team :)
GEORGIE KAMVISSIS AR T
STEPH DAVID RADIO
I am ENFP – extraverted, intuitive, feeling and perceving, also known as ‘The Campaigner’. With an accuracy similar to that of a vague horoscope, ‘The Campaigner’ is described as a “true free spirit, a mountain dreamer with a spark of madness” (so cooked). According to the website, Campaigners you may know are Russell Brand, Phil Dunphy and Willy Wonka (?). I’m pretty sceptical of personality tests, but this time I reluctantly admit that there’s a shred of truth in my results. For instance, if my exes are reading this I’m 100 per cent certain that they would be vindicated by the negative traits of my ENFP personality. With poor practical skills and an extreme aversion to being micromanaged, their complaints about lateness and doing the opposite of what the doctor or ramen noodle package instructions say is starting to make a little sense now (sorry exes).
Just call me your friendly neighbourhood ‘Protagonist’ (ENFJ – extraverted, intuitive, feeling and judging). As a massive attention-seeker (I’m going to blame it on being an only child), being officially declared a ‘Protagonist’ was probably the last thing my huge head needed. Having said this, I did find myself reading the description and feeling super called out (81 per cent emotionally turbulent?!?) but also completely nailed. I think, however, my favourite part of this test had to be the niche and obscure quotes smattered throughout, e.g. ‘All My Life I Have Tried to Pluck a Thistle and Plant a Flower Wherever the Flower Would Grow... ’. But maybe these make sense to everyone else.
JAIME HOWELL TV
NEWS
5 // NEWS
N E WS F L A S H This year’s ANUSA election will look distinctly different to last year’s iteration, as approximately 100 students will be hoping to see the votes fall their way. With all but one Executive position being contested. Contrastingly, only Education Officer was decided by the student community in 2018. ‘Electrify ANUSA’ was told by the Returning Officer that their logo was too similar to that of ‘Empower’. In response, ticket convenor Nick Pagonis outlined that “you don’t like that logo, we changed the logo to Zeus, Malakas.”
The ‘Lennon Wall’, erected on Wednesday night of Week 2 to show support for the protests in Hong Kong, has divided the student population. Shortly after its construction, pro-China students began destroying the demonstration and putting up their own messages.
The much-maligned Kambri booking process has come under more scrutiny. Those involved in the Women’s Revue production ‘Girl, Uninterrupted’ outlined that their ability to advertise the event was significantly hampered by the “time-consuming lack of communication from them (Kambri) throughout the year.”It was further revealed by the organisers of the production that Kambri double-booked lighting equipment and provided inadequate resources to facilitate a theatre production fully. On August 9, students of the ANU and universities around the country walked out of class in protest, demanding governmental action on climate change. Speeches were presented in Kambri, followed by a march into Civic. Advocates and union representatives stood in the rain and spoke a substantial crowd of students. ANUSA and PARSA also supported the protest, with ANUSA passing a motion at SRC5 to endorse the demonstration.
6 // NEWS
AN INTERVIEW WITH ANU DJ RAGHAV SHARMA-BURTON AUTHOR // Elena Couper Raghav Sharma-Burton (‘Ragzz 2 Riches’) is a Canberra-born ANU student who is one of Canberra’s up and coming drum and bass (DnB) DJs. Raghav plays at Knightsbridge and helped to organise ‘Black on Black’, an off-grid musical event at which over 100 people endured the foulest Canberra weather possible to soak up his magical beats. Raghav uses samples of himself playing the violin and piano, as well as Indian classical drum patterns, in his music. This allows him to create a unique and personalised sound, drawing upon his Uttarakhandi heritage and the musical nature of Hindu culture. In his Higher School Certificate, all of Raghav’s compositions were nominated for Encore, a competition which exhibits outstanding music created by students, held at the Sydney Opera House.
After learning to sing and play the violin, Raghav taught himself to play piano and is currently learning to play the bouzouki – a sort of long-necked Greek guitar. Originally fostering an interest in French ElectroHouse during a high school exchange in Europe, he began to attend DnB events through connections at ANU. In August 2018, he bought his own decks and began to play at house parties. Raghav began to make a name for himself amongst Canberra’s DnB scene, of which there is a fanbase of around 300 people. Of these 300, surprisingly few are students. Raghav is working to open up the scene to a larger demographic by playing on Woroni’s Underground Sounds and helping to run events on student night in an effort to “cultivate another generation of people [who are] into the sound.”
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Raghav is currently a part of ‘Headz are Rolling’, a collective which promotes DnB in Canberra and which brings international acts to play in the ACT. On August 17, Raghav performed at Sideway as a support act to Tamen, a formerly Barcelona-based breakbeat and DnB artist.
In his efforts to diversify the electronic music scene in Canberra, Raghav will be running a program with Crossroads in the coming months which will offer DJing lessons to people of colour and, specifically, women.
Of the 12 or 13 prominent DnB DJs in Canberra, Raghav is virtually the only one of colour.
Although the electronic music industry is widelyafflicted with gender disparity, the Canberra music scene faces particularly grim issues regarding diversity.
“For me, as someone who has a name which stands out and different skin colour and hair colour, different from everyone else, I did notice that I was the only person of that kind of persuasion to be into this kind of music, and it was very much just white guys.”
Raghav maintains that, in his experiences, Canberra has always been an inclusive and welcoming space for musicians, and by offering these practical classes he hopes to provide minority groups with the skills necessary to break into that scene.
“For me that didn’t really make much of a difference, because I had been doing music for such a long time that it was just whatever.”
Raghav will be releasing a three-track EP early next year.
CAMPUS
CAMPUS | UNI LIFE
ARTWORK : MADDY MCCUSKER // 11
NEW SEM, NEW SELF AUTHOR // SOPHIE JOHNSON
CONTENT WARNING: Mentions of Anxiety and Depression At the end of a semester, it’s nice to take stock and have a good long look at your life. I endeavour to do this every semester. Though this year I’m divided more into chapters of a thesis than anything else, I constantly try to consider things I’ve done well with and things I’ve missed the mark on. Have I done enough research? Have I done the readings for my classes? How many tutorials did I skip? Did I isolate myself from my friends during the stress of exam (or rather, for me, essay) season? I ask myself these questions and consider the answers. Oftentimes, as a bit of a perfectionist, the answers aren’t as positive as I’d like them to be. I perpetually want myself to be doing more: to be reaching higher and pushing myself further. I’m constantly disappointed when I inevitably fail (at least in some part) to meet the unachievable goals I set myself. Being a perfectionist can be tough. There are so many of us at uni constantly feeling guilty that we aren’t studying hard enough, disappointed in grades that aren’t high enough, pushing ourselves to breaking point. If we aren’t careful, as exam season looms large in our minds, we can push ourselves towards intense anxiety, burnout, and even depression.
Yet on a more positive note, at the beginning of a new semester rather than setting goals and making resolutions, I like to forgive myself for the previous one. I’ve made mistakes, maybe slacked off a little in some areas, but I’ve done my best. I’ve juggled my responsibilities, and have managed to come out the other side unscathed. At the end of the day, that’s what matters, and so I concentrate on letting go of my frustrations and gulping in my fresh start. To the resident perfectionists out there, I say inhale and exhale. You’re doing great. Try to remember that you really are doing enough, that you’re doing your best, and that you’re doing something that’s hard. University is difficult, and it’s supposed to be. But we’re all struggling through, keeping our heads above water, and there’s not really much more that anyone can ask for. So, rather than making new semester resolutions that we’ll inevitably forget about by second week, let’s all just forgive ourselves any weaknesses or mistakes from last semester. Let’s try to take it easy and let things be. After all, it looks like semester two is shaping up to be a doozy, friends, so all we can really do is keep swimming.
CAMPUS | INTERNATIONAL
ARTWORK : MILLIE WANG // 13
THE TWO STORIES OF THIS YEAR’S FINA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS AUTHOR // EAMMON GUMLEY
CONTENT WARNING: Drug Use The 2019 Fédération Internationale de Natation (FINA) World Championships has just finished up in South Korea. For many athletes, it was a showcase of talent with numerous world records from the ‘super suit’ era being broken by the next generation of swimmers. For some athletes, the Championships were a platform to protest for a cleaner sport, free from performance-enhancing drugs. The Championships embodied two narratives, the first being athletic achievement and the second about a revolt against the peak swimming body that some athletes see as taking too lenient a line against the presence of performance-enhancing drugs. In order to understand why some swimmers used the Championships to protest against performanceenhancing drugs, we should understand the context of the debate in which they were taking part. Most countries operate anti-doping agencies for sports and independently test athletes in competitions taking place within national jurisdiction. The Australian Government operates the Australian Anti-Doping Body (ASADA), the organisation responsible for testing the positive samples of Australian swimmer Shayna Jack. While most of the national anti-doping bodies are seen as impartial and independent, there have been questions regarding how thoroughly national anti-doping agencies adhere to the standard of investigation and punishment. These standards are set by the peak international body, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). These organisations work within the competitions set up by FINA, the most popular international swimming federation responsible for most high-level competitions, and the International Swimming League (ISL), a nascent but popular federation with one of the strongest antidoping stances. The protests erupted at the ceremony for the 400-metre freestyle. Australia’s Mack Horton refused to stand on the podium with China’s Sun Yang due to Sun’s reputation as a drug cheat. There is history behind Horton and Sun’s relationship, with the two also clashing over Sun’s drug use at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Later in the competition, Britain’s Duncan Scott refused to stand on the podium with Sun at the ceremony of the 200-metre freestyle. Although it was never clearly stated, Horton and Scott’s protests were directed over Sun’s participation in the Championships in the face of an incident in September
2018. After an unannounced drug test at his house in China, men acting in favour of Sun stole the vials of his blood off of the inspectors and smashed them with hammers to avoid the samples getting tested. A FINA investigation cleared Sun, but the result was appealed by WADA and Sun is set to appear in the Court of Arbitration for Sport later this year. Swimmers like Horton and Scott see the presence of Sun at the Championships during an active investigation into Sun’s drug conduct as too lenient a stance from FINA, especially considering that Sun has a certain historical record and was previously suspended from swimming for three months in 2014 due to the usage of performance-enhancing drugs. However, some who watched the Championships are questioning the virtue of Horton and Scott’s protests, arguing that it was the wrong place and the wrong time. A particular point of issue is that both swimmers had lost to Sun and therefore their protests could be seen as being sore losers. Australian journalist Will Swanton argues that a stronger and more pertinent protest would have been for Horton to avoid the final of the 400-metre freestyle altogether, removing the doubt that his protest was fuelled by anger over his loss to Sun. This ignores that as much as Horton was acting in his individual capacity, he is a swimmer in the Australian team and still held an obligation to score points on the team’s behalf. The protest was also successful in its primary goal, bringing the concerns of clean swimmers to the forefront of FINA. On the other hand, the establishment of the (ISL) brings a contesting stance to light. Developed as a swimmer-centric organisation with aspirations of becoming to swimming what the National Basketball Association is to basketball, the ISL holds a zero-tolerance stance towards doping. The ISL has notably suspended Australian swimmer Shayna Jack last week over an investigation into Jack’s positive drug test. Many see the ISL’s strong policies towards performance-enhancing drugs as the optimum penalty and welcome a cleaner swimming tournament. If anything can be taken away from the FINA World Championships, it is that swimmers expect that their performance and achievement is strongly supported by a league that promotes a clean and fair sport.
14 // CAMPUS | LIFE & STYLE
MINDFULLY STEPPING BACK: A SILENT WINTER RETREAT AUTHOR // KIM JAYSON TORDA
ARTWORK : GEORGIE KAMVISSIS // 15
After a grueling semester in which I was confronted by a ton of assessments, the Silent Winter Retreat was very timely. I had made the very last-minute decision to sign up. It turned out to be a decision for which I will always be grateful. Held two weeks after the close of the first semester, the retreat allowed me to step back and reflect on my academic achievements, as well as channel some focus to my spiritual wellbeing. Those of us who attended turned to silence after the noise of academic demands, and were able to reset our minds in preparation for the coming semester. A calm, resounding silence welcomed us upon arrival. Sunnataram Forest Monastery is a fair trek from the nearest town, and thus remains untouched by the city’s light pollution. The grounds were beautiful, and at night we were treated to a clear view of the Milky Way dust clouds. During our first night, all were gathered in the temple where the chants and meditation were to be done. We were briefed on etiquette, such as the proper way of bowing and sitting towards the Triple Gems of Buddhism – the Buddha (teacher), the Dhamma (teachings), and the Sangha (disciples). Bowing three times to the Triple Gems is similar to the Catholic practice of doing the sign of the cross at the beginning of every prayer as a sign of respect to, and invocation of, the Holy Trinity. Joining this winter retreat, which was co-hosted by the ANU Buddhist Association, forced me out of my comfort zone. Born and raised as a Catholic, I was hesitant to bow at first, wondering if it might conflict with my religious views. Nonetheless, I was there to learn and had to pay my respects using their customary terms. I came to realise that many of the values which are central to Christianity, such as love and compassion, are also fundamental in Buddhism. This is made extremely apparent in The Book of Joy, co-authored by the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, which beautifully blends the values of Buddhism and Catholicism. In the book, the Dalai Lama highlights Buddhist values of compassion and sympathetic joy. These values turned out to comprise some of the principle teachings of the retreat. Mindfulness was the core of the retreat. Phra Mana Viriyarampo, the Abbot of the Sunnataram Forest Monastery, taught us to be mindful in everything we do. This meant being conscious of simply when we breathe, to how we eat, walk, talk, feel, and think. Mindfulness takes us to the present moment, and frees us from worry about past and future events. What is important is the present – we appreciate its beauty and focus on making the most of each moment.
Phra Mana trained us with breathing meditation using loving-kindness. This entails visualising yourself as the giver or receiver of unconditional love, especially to or from those who are dear to us. This kind of meditation not only relaxes the mind, but also aids in maintaining consistency of breathing. He emphasised that breath is used as an anchor to the present moment, and provides freedom from negative thoughts. For a beginner like me, meditation was not an easy task. We went on to learn insight meditation, in which we reflected on our feelings and were taught of their impermanence. We lack a permanent identity, and thus we should not attach ourselves too much to physical or mental entities. We were taught that an ability to detach will allow one to greatly avoid suffering. I found it interesting that attachment to what makes us happy is more problematic than attachment to that which does not. When we believe something makes us happy (people, power, money, material things, etc.), we often sacrifice in the present to attain it. This can include paying a price with our own values, which creates suffering both to ourselves and to others. To end suffering before it starts, it is then our duty to lessen our attachment by reminding ourselves that everything is ephemeral. The entire retreat was a way to reflect and learn more about myself. It also allowed me to better understand the teachings of Buddhism through my own experience. Despite having entirely different origins from that of the Catholic faith, I can say that Buddhism shares many identical moral and ethical values. Personally, I feel that the Buddhist practices I learned on the retreat complement my Christian foundations by providing tools for self-reflection, meditation, and mindfulness. It was a powerful mental and spiritual preparation for the new academic term. The challenge for us now is to continue applying these every day. When we do, we will achieve greater perspective, self-awareness and presence, all of which will enrich our lives and make us more compassionate beings. I would like to end by sharing with you a verse I learned from the retreat, from the Radiation of Loving-Kindness (Mettā Gāthā) : May all beings be well, happy and peaceful, free from enmity and suffering. Whatever merits we have done, may these merits be shared by all. Sādhu! Sādhu! Sādhu! [Sādhu means ‘all is well’ in Pāli, and can be likened to the Christian ‘Amen’.]
CAMPUS | COMMENT
ARTWORK : ELIZA WILLIAMS // 17
“SHARING IS CARING” – WHAT DOES THAT REALLY MEAN? AUTHOR // PHOEBE LUPTON
CONTENT WARNING: Transphobia, Brief Mentions of Eating Disorders and Death Human beings aren’t supposed to be solitary creatures. Whether you’re an introvert or an extrovert, we are all inherently social animals who thrive off of interactions with one another. Sharing experiences with others makes us feel like we belong, like we’re a part of something. But that’s not all: the more that one converses with people, the more empathetic one becomes. A 2017 article in The Conversation titled “Understanding Others’ Feelings: What Is Empathy and Why Do We Need it?” outlines three different types of empathy. The first is affective empathy, which is an intense second-hand response to an event in which you are not partaking. The second is cognitive empathy, or the logical comprehension of others’ emotional responses. The last is emotional regulation, which is the ability to control one’s own emotions relative to the situation that one is experiencing. I believe that individuals can develop all three types of empathy through participating in social relationships. When we interact with a diverse range of people, we learn the true extent to which our lives are different. We become familiar with experiences that we’ve never had ourselves and are more apt at pointing out the emotional characteristics of said experiences. I have had friends in the past who have come out to me as transgender, and they’ve told me how it feels to be misunderstood in a cisnormative world. Even though I’m not transgender myself, I often find myself becoming saddened and frustrated with the transphobia that is so rampant in our society.
I’m able to rationally understand the pain of discrimination, and when hearing the stories of other people, I’m able to control my emotions so that I don’t make the conversation ‘about me.’ Through learning about situations that I’ve never personally been in, my affective empathy, cognitive empathy, and emotional regulation have become stronger. This is not to say that people from marginalised groups are obligated to educate others about their experiences. However, when we befriend people whose lives and identities just so happen to be different from our own, we become more aware of what it’s like to be these people. I’m not even specifically referring to people from marginalised groups here. I’ve had in-depth discussions with people whose parents have divorced, who’ve suffered from eating disorders, lived in several different countries across their lifetimes, given birth, had a parent die and many more. These are all experiences I’ve never had, and I still can’t completely comprehend the true extent of them. But because I’ve had the privilege of talking with them, I am much more open-minded and understanding than I would have been had I not met them. I truly believe that sharing is caring. When we share our lives, our ideas, our hopes and our fears with each other, we obtain a more nuanced idea of what it means to be human. Be grateful for all the people you’ve encountered in your life, whether or not they’ve ended up becoming your best friend. I can assure you that the conversations you’ve had with others have ultimately made you a better person.
18 // CAMPUS | SOCIAL MEDIA
ARTWORK : MILLIE WANG
THE POWER OF THE ‘LIKE’ AUTHOR // JOSIE GANKO
CONTENT WARNING: Body Image Early in July, Instagram implemented a change to its platform in several countries across the globe, including Australia. This update saw the number of likes on any given post disappear from users’ profiles, with numbers only being seen by the user themselves. For everyone else, there is no numerical value attached to likes. While a list of all those who liked the post is still available for all users, the only way of finding out the number of likes would be to physically scroll through and count every user listed. While removing a number may seem like a minor change to those not familiar with ‘the gram’, this change has led to a widespread discussion about the power of the like and the potential ramifications this move may have on the broader functions of Instagram. In less than 10 years of Instagram’s existence, it has transformed itself into a verifiable marketplace for selling oneself. ‘Influencers’, as they are called, have built careers out of monetising their followings. Whether it’s brand collaborations or sponsored posts, Instagram has become a legitimate career path, especially for women. And this is a career path based on selling yourself. Your body, your children, your home; every aspect of your life is fair game. This use of Instagram has undoubtedly had a trickle-down effect on your average Instagram user. While they may not have the same massive following or likes as the influencers, they can feel all the same pressures within their own use of Instagram. This is where Instagram becomes potentially problematic. While women have always endured pressure over their bodies and appearances, Instagram allowed these pressures to be numericised. With the rise of these platforms, people of all genders are being held to an increasingly specific image of beauty. And many people feel the need to expose themselves in order to achieve this aesthetic.
While this analysis is certainly not scientific, before likes were removed, my curiosity was sparked by something I posted on my own Instagram that led me to investigate a trend. If you look at any woman’s feed, the overwhelming trend appears to be that the less clothing worn, the more likes a post receives. My amateur investigation found that swimwear shots were always very successful by the ‘like’ metric. While there is certainly nothing wrong with loving your body and sharing it on Instagram, it becomes concerning when women are posting this kind of content not only in the shallow pursuit of likes but also self-worth. It is certainly a grim future when women receive sustenance for their self-esteem through the rolling in of likes, often from strangers who are trolling their public accounts. The real question at hand is, will anything change now that we can’t see how many likes posts receive? While we can’t be sure that this will have a positive impact on the psyche surrounding our use of Instagram, I can safely say if there is an impact, it will be a positive one. It’s hard to know whether the obsession over likes comes from the likes themselves, or the knowledge that other people see the likes you receive on any given post. If it’s the latter, we can expect that this will bring a great deal of positivity to Instagram, where people no longer feel tied to maintaining a certain aesthetic to appease the ‘like gods’. While it is tempting to give Instagram, and by extension, Facebook, a pat on the back for their social responsibility in identifying and addressing the damage a like can do, it is also very possible that this move is entirely selfish. It has been suggested that Instagram is attempting to re-harness its marketing potential to ensure that it receives a cut of influencer profits, and that the removal of likes may just be an attempt to further control that sphere. Regardless of motivations, it does seem like this is a step in the right direction in making Instagram a healthier platform for all users, and just for that, I welcome the change with open arms.
CAMPUS | RELATIONSHIPS
ARTWORK : ELIZA WILLIAMS // 17
‘CUPID & PSYCHE’ AND US AUTHOR // THOMAS OPIE
The story of Cupid and Psyche is one that has come to represent the hardship of love, the desire we have for our significant other, and shows us the passion we must put into relationships to make them last. The story demonstrates that true love can surpass anything, and that working at being with the person you love does pay off. When we interpret the story in a modern sense, we are able to look past the literal story and explore the themes and ideas expressed through the characters. In the instance of Cupid and Psyche, the message that can be taken is that of jealousy: how it interacts with a relationship and can deal a tough blow. For those unfamiliar with the story of Cupid and Psyche, it follows Psyche as she is the most beautiful woman in the world. Jealous of her beauty, Venus orders her son Cupid to make Psyche fall in love with a hideous beast. Just as when Cupid is about to shoot his arrow into Psyche, he realises just how beautiful she is. Instead of shooting the arrow into Psyche, he shoots the arrow into himself. Psyche is told by a voice to go and meet her husband, and when she obeys, she is never allowed to see his face. One night, after being with this person for many weeks, she uses a lamp to see who he is. Her lover is Cupid, and not the disgusting beast she was expecting. Venus, angry that Cupid and Psyche have fallen in love, forces Psyche to complete three impossible tasks if she ever wants to see Cupid again. Against all odds, Psyche passes the tests and is allowed to see Cupid. The two are happily married and have a child, who they name Voluptas, meaning pleasure. This classic Roman myth has been interpreted as an allegory for love and the hardships we go through in an effort to achieve everlasting love and companionship. It can also prove useful when thinking about our own current intimate relationships.
Venus’ jealousy and her powers to banish Psyche might today be translated into a close friend’s jealousy of a relationship they want, but cannot have. We can view Venus perhaps as an irritated onlooker, feeling contempt about her own lack of love. This can make us question how we go about dealing with friends who try to meddle in our own relationships. Yes, jealousy exists, it is a normal part of the human experience. But to what extent do we allow someone else to interfere in our relationships? There are countless cases of two people fighting over a third person, wishing they would be their ‘one-and-only’. This fighting can then raise issues about how healthy the relationship is, and how well it can be sustained moving forward after major fights. If we follow the story of Cupid and Psyche, we should assume that the two people who truly love each other will find a way to be together, and their relationship will be wholesome and happy. Allegories, such as Cupid and Psyche, offer us the opportunity to consider the hidden meanings within such stories and reflect on our own lives. The story invites the reader to consider the characters and their story lines, which then allows us to apply them to our own lives. In no way can the story of Cupid and Psyche be applicable to every love story. In real life, relationships are far more intricate and require more than just battling through impossible tasks to be with your true love. But the message of hard work and perseverance is still important to consider in a relationship. Failure to prove to your significant other how much you love them may be all the invitation ‘Venus’ needs to take them from you.
20 // CAMPUS | PSYCHOLOGY
ARTWORK : MADDY MCCUSKER
WE SHOULD THINK ABOUT DEATH MORE AUTHOR // ANNABELLE VAN RAALTE
CONTENT WARNING: Death, Brief Mention of Social Anxiety Death is arguably the only common denominator across every single human being. More than that, it is a certainty shared by every living organism on our planet. It blows my mind that it’s nevertheless so taboo. Research from Western Sydney University showed that almost a third of Australians avoid any conversation about death, and only half of the population has written a will. My mum had her mid-life crisis when she was 40. She left the corporate world after about 20 years as a tax accountant, disillusioned and looking to find some purpose. Life is short, as the cliché goes. I was reminded of this recently when I watched a talk by one of my favourite spiritual teachers, Sadhguru. He says “You can live your life avoiding death, the only thing that will happen is you will not live, but anyway you will die.” This was a response to a question about how to deal with insecurities. The notorious term that encompasses anything and everything, from social anxiety and fears of not being interesting enough, to that irritating red pimple on your forehead, to intelligence or wealth or social status or your unbranded jumper. You name it, someone somewhere is probably stressing about it. Essentially insecurity is fear, and its premise is the judgement of others. “Life is insecure”, said Sadhguru, “Death is the only thing we can be certain about.” Living at college has taught me a couple of things about insecurities. Say I’m having a bad skin day. Usually, if I was at home and going out to meet friends or thought I might be seeing that cute boy at a party, I’d cover it up with a flick of makeup. At college, when your friends might barge into your room at any given moment, and said cute boy lives down the hall, I suck it up and emerge from my room no matter the complexion situation. The college building is my home, and I refuse to bind myself by feeling pressured to dress well or wear makeup so that I can saunter on down to the kitchen for breakfast looking immaculate. When I think about my brief time here and what really matters to me, those couple of red dots on my forehead no longer seem like the end of the world. One of my best friends is studying medicine at the moment. She also happens to be one of the most enlightened people I have been lucky enough to meet in this world. When I asked her what she wants to specialise in, her answer was “either obstetrics or palliative care”. She wants to work at the start of life or the end of it. She will be reminded every day that life is fleeting. Every day her little problems or insecurities will be forced into perspective.
I think this is what happens to old people. That’s a slightly brash way of putting it, but inevitably they’re confronted more than most of us by their ticking clock. Perhaps as a result, they’re often stubborn or politically incorrect, as if they’ve earned the right to be. Many of us have heard our grandparents say, “I’m too old to care now.” I would argue that this, more than anything, displays their realisation that they’re going to die. If you’re truly in touch with the fact that at any point you might, in one form or another, spontaneously combust, would you really hold on to your grudges? Would you stress about the fact that last semester your GPA slipped a couple of points below whatever immaterial goal you’ve made? Contemplating your own impermanent existence is, in my opinion, an unmatched source of motivation and perspective. It forces us to acknowledge what is most important and act accordingly. You stop wasting time on things which don’t enrich your life. You stop trying to please people who don’t need to be pleased. Knowledge of your own certain death should not incite fear, but rather produce a life that is infinitely more profound, intense and beautiful. A final update on my mum: she is now a yoga teacher and mental resilience trainer. She goes to work every day with the conviction that she is making people’s lives better. She is calmer, happier and more driven. She comes home in the evening and inspires the rest of our family to be better versions of ourselves. By no means is she perfect, but there is a beautiful stillness that exists in her that wasn’t there before. So don’t avoid death. Our time here is transient. Instead of refusing to acknowledge this universal truth, let it catapult you into a life that is filled with purpose, passion and joy.
ARTWORK : ADRIAN SCHMIDT // 21
SCIENCE AND RELIGION : ITS ROLE ON THE HUMAN PSYCHE AUTHOR // SOPHIE NGUYEN
CONTENT WARNING: Brief Mention of Homophobia The development of psychology has been able to explain human behaviour and our relations to religion. Psychology of religion was once considered to be invalid because of the separation with science and religion. Scientific historian Stephen Jay Gould took the position that the two realms of science and religion should have civil, but separate, school of thoughts. This was called the principle of nonoverlapping magisteria (NOMA). NOMA was defined as an area of teaching that had the appropriate tools for meaningful discourse and resolution. In other words, NOMA of science explains the workings of the world, while NOMA of religion determines morality, values, and the meaning of life. Separating these realms can have consequences. For instance, condemning the use of condoms and supporting the persecution of homosexuals when there is substantial evidence of how these actions would result in pain and suffering. It has been suggested that using science, such as cognitive psychology, best explains the psychological roots of religious and spiritual belief. A cognitive approach to religion argues that people believe in religion as it provides a purpose in life and is used as a guiding force to find the meaning of life. This theme becomes apparent in the Bible where believers are “God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge”. Further, as a psychological root of religious and spiritual belief, it is suggested that people may find meaning in a religious faith because it provides comfort. There have been case studies of prisoners of wars and those who have been in jail to cope better with the presence of religion. Viktor Frankl’s psychotherapy method suggest that those who seek to find comfort and dignity in times of suffering, help a man find meaning in life. Thus, when placed in a difficult situation, people may find comfort in rationalising their experience as a plan from God. Religion is also explained as a bond between greater power and humanity. An individual may have a range of commitments such as ritual acts to respect that power.
The development of psychology of religion has only been relatively new due to the joint realms of science and religion. This combination allows the understanding of religious and spiritual belief. Various psychologists have attempted to explain how religion plays a role in the human psyche. William James, also known as the father of psychology, highlights religious experiences and human emotions as true religion because of its practicability, particularly in his book, The Varieties of Religious Experience. He defines religion as “the feelings, acts, and experiences of individual men in their solitude, so far as they apprehend themselves to stand in relation to whatever they may consider the divine”. James argued that there are two sides of God. One side is active while the other is passive. The first God is described as “healthy-minded” and who challenged the human to exercise moral action and was determined to craft a perfect world. Although, in Varieties, James strongly suggests that the passive God was the creator and author of religious experience which he argues is “the real backbone of the world’s religious life”. This more passive God’s role was to save and perform miraculous needs on the ‘sick soul’. The passive God lives through humans as being anxious, usually unhappy and inferior. James believes that these two Gods have to unite within a being for them to be ‘whole’ through the transaction of conversions. An individual’s anxiety about purpose and meaning drives the desire to make transactions with the divine. James argues that the psychological roots of religion is the unity of the divided self and becoming ‘healthy-minded’. These are key elements in how humans find their purpose and destiny. The psychology of religion has developed deeply into understanding why a large proportion of the world identifies themselves as religious or spiritual. Although once separate fields of science and religion, psychological analysis of religion provides explanation of religious existence. The role of religion for the human psyche has been shown to improve human behaviour. It gives humans a sense of purpose or belonging.
22 // CAMPUS| MEMOIR
CAMPUS | MEMOIR
ARTWORK : CLAIRE GASPAR // 23
WAR WITH MYSELF AUTHOR // ANONYMOUS
CONTENT WARNING: Homophobia, Mental Health Psyche is integral to who I am. Despite the fact that this seems obvious, I think that there are parts of my personality which are at odds with the things I do. I hold negative thoughts towards my personality as well as my actions because of the detached nature of my psyche from said actions. Part of this comes from my presentation of myself, especially during my early teenage years, and how I felt. I think that a lot of people can sympathise with this disconnection. For me, psyche is not only an ever-present aspect of who I am, but also a fundamental part of where I have been and what I have become. Most obvious in understanding my psyche is the discovery of my sexuality, which I hid for a long time. Initially, this was simply because I was in a heterosexual relationship but eventually it developed into me simply not telling my parents. In my mind, I was every gay stereotype under the sun, but in practice, I became extremely cold and distant from a lot of people. I didn’t have the trust in my personality to be myself around my family, and I became extremely cynical as a defence mechanism to hide the truth of my psyche. This all came to a climax when I outed myself to my parents. Suddenly I was confronted by a situation in my mind I had thought about a million times, but I had never prepared myself for dealing with it. I completely shut down. I spent the rest of the semester emotionally raw, forever wondering if my parents were going to come into my room and ask me to get out of the house. Instead, months passed, and I became so apathetic to the issue that I simply no longer cared if my parents kicked me out. I despised myself for my own stupidity. I avoided the issue by delving into my assignments, not talking to my parents about anything other than the essays I was writing or the journal articles I was reading. My psyche was incredibly fragile at that point. I had been confronted by my worst fear without any warning, and while I got through mostly unscathed, I was still facing consequences for my actions. I had placed myself into a position of self-sabotage, despite my naturally cautious nature. The realisation of my disconnected psyche and body was, understandably, extremely worrying. My psyche suddenly didn’t have the constraints of my parents, but it was still suppressed because of my self-hatred.
My self-loathing, mostly brought about because of the realisation I wasn’t straight, has meant that I have yet to properly embrace my psyche, and led to a failure to unify my body and spirit has left a somewhat broken person. The problems that arise from such disconnection are obvious, and are alluded to above, but I don’t think I appreciated that...until I was faced with my actions that my psyche wasn’t able to deal with. I’m quite arrogant and would say I suffer from hubris, which is when an individual possesses an excessive amount of pride or self-worth. I take unnecessary risks to prove to myself that I am great. On the other hand, I am passive and avoidant to a fault. I don’t like to deal with conflict, simply letting the issue to calm down and oftentimes moving past it. This oxymoronic mixture of personalities creates me: someone who throws themselves into situations that could seriously damage me, while not allowing an effective way to deal with it. In essence, the passive-aggressive nature of my psyche is a volatile thing that, when matched with being closeted, causes a great deal of internal conflict. Moreover, my sexuality, and the feelings and emotions brought on by it, eventually led to my acts of self-sabotage. I think, in some respects, the problematic nature of my psyche was the reason I didn’t want to come out for so long. It also formed the basis for the great division within my family, which led to me remaining silent for such a long time. The relationship I have with my psyche is tenuous at best. My own self-loathing has caused many years of being despondent to others. While I do not mean to, and I am trying to improve my interactions with others, I can be extremely cynical to others. Having said that, I think that the opportunities at university to mature and develop have kept me from spiralling out of control. My friends have kept me on the straight and narrow, and my studies have always been what grounded my psyche. I think that while there is an internal conflict between my psyche and body, hope and belief from those around me are what keep this war in check.
CREATIVE
ARTWORK : ELIZA WILLIAMS // 25
CREATIVE | SATIRE
THE SIGNS AS ANU REVUES AUTHOR // RACHEL CHOPPING
Law Revue
Ethnocultural Revue
Aries/Libra: Sociable, thrives in network-able circles. Charismatic. Gets funding and knows how to use it. Longstanding and reliably witty. Oscillates between downright obnoxious and quietly hardworking. Often funny, but don’t ask too many questions, you peasant. Impulsive. Often forgets their actions have consequences. Annoyed by people who can’t see or comprehend their grand vision. Thinks they’re the best because they have their own website.
Leo/Aquarius: The new kid on the block. Creative, progressive, and unashamedly original. Hates being ignored. Ambitious, and loudly so. Bold enough to improvise and take the quirky risks few other signs dare to take. Has some rough bits to smooth out, but strongly believes in self-growth. Hates boring traditionalists and people who disagree with them. Matches only Women’s Revue in bitter comedy. Do NOT engage in an argument – you will lose.
Women’s Revue
Science Revue
Taurus/Scorpio: The Arts Revue’s cool lesbian cousin. So seamless and smooth that their slow-burning anger is almost forgotten. Tendency to get into awkward situations. Always has snacks on hand. Deliciously bitter and blunt when need be. Forgets that humour isn’t a substitute for therapy. Strong meme game. Trustworthy. Opinionated, not afraid to put their views forward and loudly. Intimidating to those who aren’t on their good side. Their power increases every time the word ‘feminazi’ is said unironically.
Pisces/Virgo: Sensitive yet wise, a balancing of logic and imagination. High standards. Popular. Distressed by disorder, struggles with knowing that not everyone is going to like them. Annoyed by the pandemonium of Arts Revue. Has a habit of reusing jokes. Risks overworking themselves. Has conflicting feelings about Med Revue. Fact checks people who annoy them. Loves small details, punctuality, and pens that write smoothly.
Arts Revue Sagittarius/Gemini: Here for a good time not a long time, baby! Spontaneous and energetic, they have no time for traditionalists or the logic of STEM. Everybody needs a bit of chaos, and they’re gonna prove it (if the writers haven’t gone to find themselves in Europe already). Uncontrollably switches between intellectual pretension and general pandemonium. Physically unable to hold a conversation without mentioning Foucault and/or Rousseau. Scared Women’s Revue will take their limelight.
Med Revue Cancer/Capricorn: Underrated, doesn’t have topical controversies the other revues get to play with. Has an inherent creativity that gets taken for granted. Excellent promo videos. Deep belief in a love that will save the healthcare system. Gets jealous easily. Chronic over-thinkers. Needs to tone down the jokes about the numbness of being alive. Methodical organisers and good with money. Extremely huggable.
26 // CREATIVE | COMEDY
LOVE IN THE TIME OF CORPS LAW AUTHOR // JAIME HOWELL You sit in your massively cluttered bedroom at your massively cluttered desk, which you’ve used not once for actual study. You stare at your glaringly bright phone screen (keeping it generic for diplomatic purposes: the iPhone/Android debate is for another day and another writer). Maybe tomorrow morning’s hindsight will reveal that this was the incorrect choice to make, that instead you should’ve taken up your friends’ offers to ‘get lit @ Moose’. Regardless, here you are waiting in your cold, dark room whilst your roommates get down to ‘CottonEyed Joe’ for the third time that night. Finally – YES – the beautiful sound of that longawaited notification. Ordinarily, you wouldn’t get so worked up over such things, but you saw him in the back row of that lecture you had in Manning Clarke last sem and you’d been praying that you’d both end up here one day. He only had the one photo on his profile, but it didn’t matter because you knew it was him – you’d recognise that bookish (yet coy) smirk even at 2am in the bowels of a packed upstairs Moose, strobes and all. Another point in his favour: the photo is a simple, fully-clothed, wholesome outdoorsy shot. No naked bathroom mirror selfies, or quintessentialyet-depressing Wolf bathtub photo with The Lads™.
This is a rare find, and you aren’t going to take it for granted. What you are going to do, however, is let it sit for a minute. Be still your beating heart. Instead, you check your emails. The weekly forum digest, always a good summary of the latest dating news. Scrolling through, you see reference to a post from a John Knapley. Shit, he’s still messaging? Curious, you click across from ‘courses in progress’ to ‘past’, absolutely disbelieving but also completely unsurprised that there seems to be no quit in these men. As you wait for your reliably shit Internet to load the page, you look through the brief messages you and John exchanged last semester:
John (his profile pic is of him holding a dead fish – you must’ve been super drunk to have actually responded to this one): Oh, so you’re doing corps law next semester?
You: Sure am Him: Haha nice
ARTWORK : ELIZA WILLIAMS // 27
As it turns out, after you’d decided his eloquent final message hadn’t required a response, John sent you a snide gif of a little ghost dancing. Bold move, John. But not quite enough to rekindle (or just kindle, let’s be real) a spark. Here’s hoping he recovered quickly. Your back-row Manning Clarke man has responded to your message about a ‘study session’ – it’s no Netflix and chill but hey, hopefully it’ll get the job done. There it is, the response you’d been looking for: ‘I’m free Sunday evening’. As you sit there mulling these new and exciting prospects, another notification banner a pears at the top of your screen. Damn, maybe he’s super eager. Not that there are any issues with that. You click to open.
I’ll also be there.
What? A new message:
I’d be really keen to go through some past exams, so it may be worthwhile having a look through some before this meet up? Let me know which years you guys end up look ing at – Steve.
Wait, who’s Steve? Does he realise what Wattle is used for these days? Maybe he’s one of the few who haven’t yet caught on to its purpose of coordinating extracurricular activities. Goddamn, what does this mean now? Does this actually have to be a study session? In Steve’s defense, the Wattle announcements forum really had been going off this evening. A perhaps confusing combination of exam prep and flirtatious small talk. You can’t blame the lad for wanting to get in on the action, academic or otherwise. You check out his bio: overall very wholesome, no dead fish or Wolf bathtub pics. He seems like the sort your friend Ali would like, so you finally write a reply.
Sure Steve, my friend Ali will be coming along too. He’s much more knowledgeable about this course anyway. See you all at Bad ger. 8pm? Bring whatever papers you’d like.
This could be interesting. Ah well, even if it doesn’t quite work out this time, there’s always LAWS2204 next sem. Or maybe Manning Clarke man is on Tinder, if that’s still a thing?
28 // CREATIVE | SATIRE
ARTWORK : MADDY MCCUSKER
AUTHOR // KATIE SPROULE
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ARTWORK : MILLIE WANG // 29
BREAKING NEWS: KAMBRI PRECINCT MISTAKEN FOR CHERNOBYL BY INCOMING STUDENTS AUTHOR // BENEDICT MCCARTHY
The ANU was left in damage control on Monday after a large number of incoming international students mistook the newly-opened Kambri precinct for the brutalist architecture documented in HBO’s awardwinning miniseries Chernobyl. Woroni spoke to a number of students who commented that they had seen “healthier grass” and “more architecturally impressive buildings” in the hit TV series. Some mused that the recent influx of fire trucks commonly seen surrounding Fenner Hall prompted realisations of the “disaster this entire project turned out to be”. One student told Woroni, “I guess these new renovations will look less like Chernobyl and more like the ANU exchange brochures once something a little less brutalist gets built around here”. Another merely commented, “I wanna get me some of whatever the painters were smoking when they chose that hospital-grey colour scheme”. ANU’s head of Facilities and Services, Borisily Shcherbinakraka, told a packed press conference on Monday morning: “I am pleased to report that the situation in Kambri is more than satisfactory. Despite our initial fears that two years of enduring noisy, inconvenient construction work wasn’t worth this shit, the bold new campus experience has well and truly lived up to its glowing anticipation”. The Russian-born ANU bureaucrat went on to herald the newly opened Kambri amphitheatre as an example of such, in spite of the fact that, much like modern day Chernobyl, the amphitheatre today remains completely deserted.
Speaking shortly after, ANUSA’s acting Vice President Valery Legasovivichy admitted to reporters: “Kambri is disappointing. And every piece of dead flora and fauna, every outrageously expensive venue and aesthetically-displeasing building adds to a campus-wide feeling of nuclear disaster. Its toxicity is spreading like radioactive waves, slowly deforming the hopes of ANU students who expected better”. Such was the gravity of the disagreement between the undergraduate representative body and the ANU leadership that Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton gave his own two cents on the debate on Twitter later in the day: “Take my advice @BrianSchmidt: make the ANU-Secure WiFi as difficult to connect to as possible. Stop the spread of misinformation.” These latest revelations add to a plague of problems associated with the precinct’s opening. Only last month, IKEA Australia initiated legal action against the ANU for blatantly copying IKEA’s iconic “Scandichique” wooden interior designs throughout the Marie Reay building. When contacted, ViceChancellor Brian Schmidt refused to comment on this matter. The University is considering taking steps to prevent prospective students from discovering the underwhelming feedback for fear of drops in international fees so vital to maintaining its revenue stream. More to come.
30 // CREATIVE | FICTION
CHOICE AUTHOR // FREYA COX
CONTENT WARNING: Euthanasia, Death, Terminal Illness
Have I ever killed anyone? Well I suppose that depends on your definition of life. And death. Where was I at 8pm on Tuesday? You have a dozen witnesses willing to testify to my whereabouts. You know exactly where I was. I’m sorry. No, I’m not trying to be difficult, I just find this whole procedure a little theatrical and tedious. Yes, I shall answer your questions properly from now on.
I had known the ‘victim,’ as you put it, for two years. Although, I would prefer to refer to her as Mrs Collins. I first met her when she was admitted to Blue Skies. Over that time, I got to know her well. It’s an occupational hazard of seeing someone every week for two years. We got along famously, she was always so bright and spirited. What did we talk about? Ah, this and that. She showed me photos of her nephew in New Zealand, reminisced about old friends, and asked me about my week. Normal stuff.
ARTWORK : MADDY MCCUSKER // 31
You wish to know more about my relationship with the ‘victim,’ or Mrs Collins as I will continue to call her? Very well. Although our relationship was professional to start with, we did grow close. Like myself, Mrs Collins had little family, and she took on something of a grandmotherly role towards me. Did I ever visit her outside of my work hours? Yes, a few times. She was lonely, you see, and would ask me back at the end of the work day to share a cup of tea with her. I admit this blurred the lines between a professional relationship and a friendship, but I assure you that there was nothing wrong with it. She wanted someone to talk to, and I was happy to stay and chat with her. Ah, I see that you are trying to find a motive for the act of which I stand accused. I am sorry, but I doubt you will find one. I do not stand to gain a thing from the dear lady’s death. I was fond of her, and am not one of the beneficiaries of her will. I believe everything is left to her nephew. Do I recognise the objects being submitted? Yes, I recognise those. Of course they have my fingerprints on them; they’re mine. Did I use them on Mrs Collins? I think you’re misunderstanding a few things here. Those items are a standard part of my practice, there is nothing sinister about them. Yes, I suppose they could be used incorrectly. I see you will not desist until I concede what it is you wish to hear – yes, they could be used to kill. You seem satisfied by my answer. But then anything, from the cars we all drive to the knives with which we chop vegetables for our dinner, could be used to kill if the owner was so inclined. You’re now writing furiously in your notepad. Allow me to assure you, that is not an inclination I have ever had. You want to talk about her condition? Well, Mrs Collins was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer almost a year ago. She had been in Blue Skies for just over one year, and although she had needed care and help with her daily routine, she still had her health. At this point, my visits to her then were just to check her blood pressure and other mundane things. After she was diagnosed with cancer, her decline was rapid.
She resisted attempts to move her to hospital, saying it was bad enough she was in a nursing home, she would not move to a cold, lonely hospital ward. She was always very independent. Very sure about what she wanted. You raise your eyebrows at that, let me remind you that pancreatic cancer is a disease of the body, not of the brain. Mrs Collins did not have dementia, and she retained full use of her mental faculties. I remember the last few months, when she could barely lift her hand to pat my cheek as she normally did when I came on my visits. She still found the strength to beckon me closer and demand, in that firm, ex-school teacher voice of hers, that I help her. She was in agonising pain, you know. By then she would simply lie in bed all day and all night, only moving when a nurse came to give her a sponge bath or help her go to the toilet. She had very little left in her life at that stage. No dignity. No comfort. Often, I was the only person she would have a conversation with all day. You are correct. At the very end our conversations were not about her nephew, or how my week had been. There was only one thing she wanted to talk about. She knew she was dying. But it was a slow, tedious end. She wanted it to be over. At first, I brushed her off, making light of the things she would say. Eventually, she got sick of me brushing off her requests. She begged me in no uncertain terms, as her doctor and her friend, to help her leave. Begged me. In the end, I agreed. That syringe and bottle of morphine on the table in front of you are what I used. It was the gentlest release I could offer her. She thanked me beforehand. She said I was giving her a gift. That is the whole story. I still cannot answer your question as to whether I have ever killed anyone. It is up to you to decide.
33 // CREATIVE | POETRY
ARTWORK : ELIZA WILLIAMS // 33
METAMORPHOSIS AUTHOR // KAIA PARLEVLIET Another time, another place, This world within you’ll never face. Here, I’ve made a space between Both life and death. Though never seen, It comforts me, awake at night, When walls I built surround me tight.
My body caged, a prison of cells. Serving my sentence, I choose to dwell, Fixating, now, on what is to come, Where I will be when free from this slum.
A world within another world, Within a clam, salvation’s pearl. Escaping into lands unknown, Free to see, free to roam.
One day I’ll escape this curse, I’ll fly away, for better or worse, On wings of colour, leaving this place, Where once I slept in carapace. Legs turned to wings in fitful sleep, A change that, doubtless, some will weep.
I know I will break free From this rigid, cold cocoon With the magic of a mind That could reach the moon
ARTWORK : CLAIRE GASPAR // 34
YESTERDAY AUTHOR // KATELYN BOOTH I ran into someone yesterday. Someone who used to be a big part of my life.
And, so many times before, I smiled, said hello, But refrained From speaking At too much length.
It was different Yesterday. Maybe it was the bright sun and the blue sky. More likely, It was an acceptance And the passing of time That made me walk over And ask how she was.
I’m glad I did. I hope she was glad too.
ARTWORK : ADRIAN SCHMIDT // 35
BEYOND HUMAN AUTHOR // ELLA MCCARTHY
When they started modifying humans – and I mean really modifying – they started with shrimp. Stomatopoda, of sub-order Hoplocarida and class Malacostraca, common name: Mantis Shrimp. They wanted more colours, more sight, more depth. This was followed with animalistic strength, aquatic gills, bovine digestive systems. It all started out ‘practically,’ ways to survive in amongst this climate breakdown. We are surrounded by technology more than anything else: water, food, or land. Technology and disaster go hand-in-hand, warned the texts of old. Stories of science fiction; truths waiting to unfold. I guess they were right, just not in the ways they may have expected to be. Predictions of killer Artificial Intelligence systems, morally corrupt mad scientists, apocalyptic biological weapons. Nothing so grand happened in this timeline, but we did have disasters. Plenty of them. Natural disasters caused by nothing more than the complete human disregard for the uninteresting. Climate degradation patterns went ignored as we systematically funded the insane body modifications of a new species to grace the Homo genus. We used CRISPR-Cas9 machines to splice and dice until our newest cousins were practically prepared to live in this hellscape created by inaction. Then they moved on to the cosmetic: jellyfish genes to glow in the dark, anteater alleles for a partytrick tongue. We wanted fun, beauty, excitement. We wanted distraction.
All of these animals, all of these species, all of these living organisms to draw inspiration from, and yet, never butterflies. They had died out soon after the bees and the flowers which couldn’t be artificially pollinated. Rhopalocera, of order Lepidoptera, class Insecta, phylum Arthropoda and kingdom Animalia. Common name: butterfly, known by the ancient Greeks as ψυχή (psȳchē), referring to the soul and the mind. Abstract concepts like these seem to have been lost in an obsessive search to evolve beyond human. We could have chosen to exaggerate traits that us H.sapiens are famous for: our brains, our empathy, our social skills. Primates are set apart by these traits too, and yet, there is something different that we possess as humans. Egocentricity aside, humanity centres around storytelling, passion, deep thought. The word on the tip of all of our tongues, an indescribable quality, a soul, a spirit. These traits that may have seen us bind together instead of drift further apart, passively directed by the tides and washing up like flotsam. If we had focused on that which makes us human, we would have not needed the Mantis Shrimp’s 16 photoreceptors in order to see the real destruction humanity had unleashed onto itself. Perhaps, we needed only to look closer, interrogate our own essence before drawing on that of other species. Perhaps, complete human annihilation may have been prevented.
36 // CREATIVE | REFLECTION
ARTWORK : ELIZA WILLIAMS
WHICH DREAMS SHOULD WE FOLLOW? AUTHOR // SAMUEL WRIGHT
Crouched carefully on cold tiles
a chemical trance to see clearer hands pulling strands drinking too much again
The armies lie waiting
deep in the valley of Jezreel
Have we been here before
Oh lord let me remember
the last Magnus Annus to see if it is to be in the past cycle of eternal return
Are these pieces worth the paper
the dead trees only this age knows and will know again or is my hot pursuit futile better spent in the cold insufferable pursuit of a career
I pour rejection into my cocktail shaker
five to ten shakes will it taste bitter or in time turn sweet
Oh lord cast upon me Gideon’s fortune
and let the morning dew seek none but my cloth so the answer may be without fog unveiled
For it seems my art
is the best of my offerings but the worst of all offerings of art
ARTWORK ARTWORK: :JASMINE JASMINERYAN RYAN////35 37
ARTWORK : MADDY MCCUSKER
CULTURE
40 // CULTURE | FILM
AVOCADO AND TOAST WITH A SLICE OF ... BOOKSMART AUTHOR // AVOCADO AND TOAST
Inspired by our discussions of pop culture, and a previous Woroni column Skippy and Beagle, we – Avocado and Toast, two later year students looking for new forms of procrastination – will discuss a text in a way that’s second nature to us: in message form, with a healthy sprinkling of references and tangents. Up for discussion this time: Booksmart, the directorial debut of Olivia Wilde. Toast: So we saw this film together a few weeks ago and for full disclosure, when we went up to buy tickets, the lovely woman at the counter took one look at us and said “Booksmart, right?” I don’t know if it was my blazer that did it, but it probably helped! Avocado: Hahaha that’s one way of saying we are very much the target audience for this film, and I know we’ve got a lot to say about it! T: Booksmart focuses on two best friends, Molly and Amy, who have prioritised studying over partying throughout their school years. They have been
accepted into Yale and Columbia, respectively. On the last day of high school, they learn their partying classmates have been admitted into equally good colleges. This prompts Molly to persuade Amy to join her in experiencing one proper high school party. A: This summary brings me nicely to a problem I have with the entire premise of the movie. It suggests that Molly and Amy simply made a mistake in choosing to study rather than party. Their school is obviously a wealthy one, and an implication that the film never addresses is that many of their classmates would have had parents who were either Ivy League alumni or wealthy enough to afford expensive tutoring. T: This is true! I made similar assumptions regarding the wealth and alumni status of their classmates’ parents. The film does note the academic achievements of a few of their classmates. However, in one case they do so through SAT scores, which links back to class: expensive tutoring can be directed towards increasing SAT scores. The school reminded me of
ARTWORK : GEORGIE KAMVISSIS // 41
Clueless in that there appears to be some economic diversity, as there is in a lot of teen-based content, but you’re right in questioning the extent of this diversity. A: It’s interesting you bring up Clueless, because I was actually reminded of Lady Bird. Like Booksmart, Lady Bird is a female coming-of-age film, but it offers a more nuanced portrayal of class differences. Its protagonist is hyper-aware of the differences between her and her wealthier classmates. She is constantly frustrated by the disadvantages she faces because of her working-class background. Although Booksmart shows Molly living in a humble apartment, the film does not draw out the ramifications of her implied lower socioeconomic status. The only distinctions it clearly marks are between the superrich Jared, who throws a lavish party on a hired yacht, and his merely wealthy class-mates, one of whom, Nick, throws the party of the night at his aunt’s house. T: Ahhhh another reminder that I need to watch Lady Bird! I’m very happy that you brought up the multiple parties situation, because it’s interesting how much this film operates as a quest! There’s a goal, and there are certain hurdles that have to be cleared to get to Nick’s party. Firstly, they need to find out where the party is. Secondly, they need to escape the other parties that are happening that night, and that they don’t want to attend. And finally, they need a mode of transportation to get to the right party. To do so, they use their intelligence and research abilities in a social rather than academic context. A: Yes they definitely use their intelligence, but I would note they also make lots of very stupid decisions. Disguising themselves by making masks out of their own hair probably isn’t their smartest move. I love the point about the quest narrative, though it’s also a coming-of-age tale. They literally go on a journey to find the right party, but the whole movie is also a metaphorical journey towards adulthood. This involves making mistakes, which also extends to their friendship.
At one point in the evening, they have a massive argument about their entire relationship. While based on a misunderstanding, the fight grows so heated that the sound cuts out and you simply see them yelling. T: They do reconcile by the end, which highlights the short time-span the film covers. For the most part of the film’s 100-odd minute run time, we’ve been immersed in one heightened night of a friendship that’s lasted far longer. While the school pick-up at the start of the film has been replaced by an airport drop-off at the end, their friendship remains strong. A: That’s a great pick-up! I love that the ending is also in some ways a beginning, as Molly and Amy both embark on their post-high school lives. I’ve heard critics describe the film as ending “in medias res”, or in the middle of things – the ending is not so much a resolution as a continuation of their lives. Molly and Amy may be off to get pancakes, but that’s a trip the audience won’t get to see. T: See, now I just want pancakes, so thanks for that. I’ll close by saying this: I would definitely recommend this film, particularly going to see it in a cinema. There were lots of people at our screening, and I feel their reactions enhanced my overall enjoyment of the film. A: Yeah, despite my critiques, I loved this film and I’d highly recommend it. And, as Molly would say, “fuck yeah I want pancakes”! Though seriously, let’s get pancakes sometime.
42 // CULTURE | TV
‘YEARS, CONTINENTS, BLOODSHED’ – VERONICA MARS SEASON 4 REVIEW AUTHOR // SARAH LU
CONTENT WARNING: SPOILERS FOR ALL SEASONS OF VERONICA MARS AND FOR THE VERONICA MARS MOVIE Spring break isn’t for everyone. Judging by fan reactions on Twitter, neither is the new season of Veronica Mars. When it first aired in 2004 among other notable teen dramas such as The OC, Veronica Mars was a sharpwitted neo-noir disguised as a teen soap. Appearing as a pretty, petite blonde, Veronica was a cynical, angry and sarcastic teenager who wasn’t afraid to speak her mind and stand up for others. She was described in the pilot as a ‘marshmallow’: tough, confident, and whip-smart on the outside, but insecure, traumatised and scared on the inside.
At the beginning of the show, Veronica’s life had fallen to pieces after the murder of her best friend. Moonlighting as a private investigator (PI), Veronica spent her evenings on stakeouts in her seedy Californian hometown of Neptune. She solved cases that often tackled social issues such as class warfare between ‘the haves and the have nots’, corruption and sexual assault. However, a lot of time has passed since Veronica was that 17-year-old high school outcast. By the end of the third season, she was in her first year of college. In the 2014 Kickstarter-funded movie, she was preparing to start her career as a corporate lawyer.
ARTWORK : MADDY MCCUSKER // 43
Now, 15 years on in the show’s fourth season, Veronica is back and living in Neptune, working as a private investigator. Neptune is now a prime destination for spring breakers, and is soon rocked by a series of deadly bombings. The overarching mystery encompasses several intertwining storylines involving a real-estate mogul and a local gang looking to capitalise on the gentrification of the town, a Mexican cartel seeking revenge, a wealthy political family looking to protect their reputation, and a teenage girl seeking retribution after the loss of her father in the first bombing. Keith Mars, Veronica’s father, is struggling with health issues stemming from the car accident that happened in the 2014 movie, and is contemplating retirement. Longtime boyfriend Logan Echolls, a naval intelligence officer, is working through his anger issues in therapy and proposes to Veronica in the first episode. As a PI who catches cheating spouses for a living and has witnessed the breakdown of her parents’ marriage, Veronica has no intention of marrying. This conflict causes tension in her relationship. This new season of Veronica Mars maintains the original magic of the show: witty dialogue executed with perfect comedic timing, thrown together with a mix of modern pop culture references. It is certainly darker and grittier than the original, featuring decapitations and a gruesome collar bomb scene. The mystery, which stretches over eight episodes, is full of twists and turns. A new cast of characters is introduced around the central plot. Although most of the twists are quite clever, the long list of suspects and their competing storylines at times feel overly complicated. Plot holes start to show in a way that previously didn’t matter in the original series. Overall, I enjoyed watching this adult version of Veronica Mars. However, I can’t say the same for the last 10 minutes of the season. Having found the Neptune bomber and foiled his plans, the season ends with Veronica and Logan tying the knot. They return home, and as Logan is moving Veronica’s car she realises that a bomb planted in her backseat is about to go off. The bomb goes off, and fast-forwarding to a year later Veronica is in therapy discussing her feelings about a very dead Logan. The episode ends with Veronica speeding out of Neptune while listening to the last voicemail Logan left to his therapist, marking the end of this chapter of her life.
There are so many things wrong with this ending that I’m not sure I can articulate them properly. To put it plainly, Logan didn’t deserve to die in this manner. Before discussing the reasons why, it’s worth examining the role Logan played in this show. Beginning the show as Neptune High’s ‘obligatory psychotic jackass’, in Veronica’s words, the audience soon recognises Logan’s behaviour to be a byproduct of his home environment. As the child of a pill-addicted mother who later committed suicide and an abusive father who eventually murdered his girlfriend, Logan suffers from serious anger issues and is prone to violence. In the first three seasons, his best friend runs away and he is accused of murder twice. After these traumatic events, he has to learn to fend for himself. In the 2014 movie, Logan returns as a reformed bad boy who joined the military and tried to help get his alcoholic girlfriend clean. By season four, Logan appears to be a well-adjusted adult who still has the same snarky humour as he did in high school. But now, he also has the emotional maturity to regularly attend therapy sessions to work through his issues. The same cannot be said for Veronica, who constantly undermines Logan’s journey to well-being and sees therapy as a weakness. Logan was a fully fleshed-out, three-dimensional character whose actions in the past impacted the narrative. Killing him with an off-screen car bomb reduces his character to a plot point, meaning that his sole purpose becomes pushing Veronica’s life forward and furthering the story. The manner of his death also has absolutely no connection with the overarching plot, and actually exposes glaring plot holes. How does a paranoid Veronica, who is willing to accuse her friends of murder, forget about the backpack left behind by a serial bomber in her own car? Logan’s death is also deliberately cruel. It is over in a matter of seconds. Neither his body, his funeral, or his grave is shown. The show just cuts to Veronica’s life a year later, when she’s seen leaving Neptune and moving on. However, Logan’s death does shed the nostalgia that originally revived the show. It pushes the show in a new direction, exploring more mature themes of loss, survival and growth in a new environment with new characters. Hence, this season is a reminder that nothing lasts forever and that clinging to the past can have crushing consequences.
44 // CULTURE | MULTILINGUAL
DOS PANQUEQUES AL DIA AUTHOR // CASSANDRA MALOUF
Vivía con una amiga una semana antes de emigrar. Habíamos vivido juntas en una casa de ‘refugio’ dos años antes y acabábamos de terminar el colegio juntas. Bueno, ¿qué íbamos a hacer ahora? Sin familia y sin casa, yo me fui a Sudamérica. ¿Por qué? Porque no sabía nada sobre esa parte del mundo, y por supuesto, quería ser libre de todo, explorar y olvidarme de lo que había dejado atrás en Australia. Durante esa semana sufrí ansiedad. No quería cocinar, comí un montón de helado, y vomité la noche antes irme. En la mañana, mis amigos me llevaron a la estación de trenes, me despidieron y vieron cómo me volví mochilera. Cuando llegué a Chile, no hablaba nada de español. No sabía ninguna mierda aparte de ‘hola’. Traje un pequeño diccionario e imaginé que todo saldría bien ya que tenía mi conocimiento de la calle - crecí rodeada de flaites, pues, soy flaite de corazón. Pues, no pasé ningún problema con los taxistas al fuera del aeropuerto en Santiago. Sabía que me querían estafar - soy blanca, entonces debo ser rica, ¿no? Hablé con un taxista (en inglés), y le pedí consejos sobre cómo llegar a Rancagua, un pueblito en el sur, sin tomar un taxi. Me ayudó, y reí porque todo el tiempo él seguía diciendo “…pero un taxi sea más fácil.” Llegó mi primera duda poco después. Tenía que convertir mi dinero, pues pedí ayuda de unos empleados del aeropuerto. Me ayudaron otra vez, aunque no sabían mucho inglés, pero esta vez me despidieron con la palabra ‘ciao’. ¿Ciao? Es italiano, ¿no? ¿Se estaban burlando? Pero bueno, la única vez que he escuchado alguien decir ‘adiós’ en vez de ‘chau’ fue mi amiga chilena dejando un chico después de sola una noche juntos. Pues el ‘adiós’ debe significar ‘el fin’. Así comencé a aprender español. Pasaba mucho tiempo escuchando, aprendiendo poco a poco. No era tan urgente, pues hay muchos hispanohablantes que hablan un poco de inglés, siempre dispuestos a ayudar. Sentí más confianza en mi dominio del español cuando empecé mi primer trabajo voluntario en un hostal de Copacabana, Bolivia. Estaba comiendo mi desayuno, todo tranquilo, y la jefa del hostal me paró. “Tengo que ir a La Paz por una semana, ¿podrías ayudarnos?” “Ehhh… ¿Con qué? Mi español no es…” “Limpiar, cocinar, cosas así.” Bueno, ¿por qué no?
ARTWORK : GEORGIE KAMVISSIS // 45
Por supuesto me pasaron momentos difíciles. Tiré vasos, y siempre me preguntaba, “¡¿qué wea significa ‘falta’ en la mesa?!” Pero no fue hasta mi tiempo en Cusco que sentí marginada por no hablar español. Viví en un hostal que se llama ‘Bananas’ que estaba lleno de mochileros argentinos, peruanos, colombianos, chilenos, venezolanos. Sí, podía hablar español en aquel momento. Pero escuchar a tantas personas de varios países, hablando rápido y sin pensar - eso fue una cosa diferente. Como no piensas cuando hablas tu idioma nativo; me enseñaron una manera de vivir y compartir sin intentar. A pesar de que no les podía entender, nunca me dejaron sola. Los escuché tocar su música y hacer sus artesanías. Cantábamos, jugábamos, fumábamos, tomábamos, comíamos juntos, y salíamos juntos. Como no podía unirme a sus conversaciones en la forma tradicional, pasaba mucho tiempo mirando y pensando. Intenté entender todo lo que estaba pasando enfrente de mí - ¡ay, como quería saber! Sin embargo, seguía en la cocina de Bananas; siempre tomando un café, o un té de coca – las hojas de los Incas, o una chicha – la cerveza andina. Mi cara de asombro al escuchar a ese tipo de español siempre les daba la risa. Escuchaba así, aunque todo parecía muy raro, porque algo me resultaba familiar; cada emoción, y cada voz. ¿Pero dónde quedaba lo mío? ¿Qué era mío? ¿Aún tenía voz? No tenía ningún idea. Trabajé con lo que tenía de todas maneras. Les mostré - me mostré - que era capaz de ser alguien con pocas palabras. Alguien nueva pero aún como soy. Dejé de pensar tanto, y empecé a reír. ¿Sabían que el español de Chile es como el inglés de Australia? ¿Sabían que si comes panqueques cada día por dos meses vas a estar harto de ellos?¿Sabían que si dejas de ser tú por un momento, quizás recuerdes lo que eres? No quería volver a Australia. Pero sabía que era afortunada de poder ir a la universidad, vivir con una pensión, y encontrar un trabajo. Tenía que regresar, y tenía que cambiarme otra vez. Poco a poco he aprendido cómo preservar una parte de mí que no significa nada en Australia. ¿Sabían que hablo español de la calle? Ahora sigo en la universidad y trabajo en una terminal de buses, veo las despedidas, los reencuentros; los viajeros y los trabajadores. De vez en cuando escucho la voz de una peruana o un chileno. ¿Hablas español? ¡Sí! Hago su reservación en español y siento como si una parte muy esencial de mi ha vuelto. Cada momento que hablo este idioma, y cada palabra que escribo ahora me hace sentir más feliz. Más como soy, y en quién me estoy volviendo. No porque es mi lenguaje, sino porque me lleva a un lugar
46 // CULTURE | MULTILINGUAL
TWO PANCAKES A DAY AUTHOR // CASSANDRA MALOUF
ARTWORK : GEORGIE KAMVISSIS // 47
I stayed with a friend the week before I left. We’d lived together in a refuge two years earlier and had just finished high school together. So, what were we going to do now? Without a family and without a home, I went to South America. Why? Because I didn’t know anything about that part of the world, and, of course, I wanted to be free of everything, to explore and forget what I’d left behind in Australia. During that last week I was sick with anxiety. I didn’t want to cook, I ate buckets full of ice-cream, and I vomited the night before leaving. My friends took me to the train station the next morning, they said their farewells and watched as I started my journey as a backpacker. When I arrived in Chile, I didn’t speak any Spanish. I didn’t know a goddamn thing apart from ‘hola’. I brought a little dictionary along and figured it would all be okay since I had street smarts – I grew up surrounded by bogans, so really, I’m bogan at heart. I had no problem with the taxi drivers outside of the airport in Santiago. I knew they were there to rip me off — I’m white, so I must be rich, right? I chatted with a driver (in English) and asked for some advice on how to get to Rancagua, a smaller town in the south, without taking a taxi. He helped me out, and I laughed because he ended every piece of advice with: “… but a taxi would be easier.” My first worry came soon after. I had to convert my money, so I asked for help from some airport employees. Again, they helped, even though they barely knew any English. But this time, they said goodbye with the word ‘ciao’. Ciao? That’s Italian, right? Were they making fun of me? But look, the only time I’ve heard someone say ‘adiós’ instead of ‘chau’ was my Chilean friend leaving a guy after a one-night stand. So, ‘adiós’ must mean ‘the end’. And with that, I began to learn Spanish. I spent a lot of time listening, learning bit by bit. It wasn’t so urgent since there are so many Spanish speakers that speak some English, and they’re always ready to help you out. I was feeling more confident in the language when I started volunteer work in a hostel in Copacabana, Bolivia. I was just eating my breakfast, no worries, and the boss stopped me. “I have to go to La Paz for a week, can you help us out?” “Uhhh… with what? My Spanish isn’t…” “Clean, cook, things like that.” Well, why not? I had some difficult moments, of course. I dropped glasses, and I was always trying to figure out, “what the hell does ‘falta’ on the table mean?!”But it wasn’t until my time in Cusco that I simply felt isolated for my inability to speak Spanish. I lived in a hostel named
‘Bananas’ that was full of Argentinian, Peruvian, Colombian, Chilean and Venezuelan backpackers. Yes, I could speak Spanish by then. But listening to so many people from various countries, speaking quickly and without a second thought – that was a whole other thing. Just as you don’t think when you speak your native language, they showed me a distinct way of living without even trying. Even though I could barely understand them, they never left me alone. I listened to them play their music and watched them craft. We sang, we played, we smoked, we drank, we ate together, and we went out together. Since I couldn’t exactly join their conversations the traditional way, I spent a lot of time watching and thinking. I tried to understand what was going on in front of me – ah, how I just wanted to know! I stayed on in the Bananas kitchen, always drinking a cup of coffee or coca tea – the leaves of the Incas, or some chicha – the beer of the Andes. I had such a face of wonder when I listened to that kind of Spanish, and it always made them laugh. I listened like that because although it was all so strange, something felt familiar; every emotion, and every voice. But where was mine? What was mine? Did I still have a voice? I had no idea. I worked with what I had either way. I showed them – I showed myself – that I could be someone with so few words. Someone new, but still as I am. I stopped thinking so much, and I started to laugh. Did you know that Chilean Spanish is like Australian English? Did you know that if you eat pancakes every day for two months, you’ll get sick of them? Did you know that if you stop being yourself for a moment, you may just remember who you are? I didn’t want to return to Australia. But I knew that I was fortunate to be able to go to university, to live on welfare, to find a job. I had to come back, and I had to change myself once again. Bit by bit, I’ve learnt how to hold onto a part of me that means nothing in Australia. I’m still going to university and I now work in a bus terminal, I see farewells, reunions, travelers and workers. Every now and then, I hear the voice of a Peruvian or a Chilean. ¿Hablas español? ¡Sí! I go through their reservation in Spanish, and I feel as if an important part of me has come back. Every moment I speak this language and every word I write now makes me feel happier. More like myself, and who I am becoming. Not because it’s my language, but because it takes me to a place full of laughter and confusion — a place so strange, I’ll never understand it, but that allows me to breathe nonetheless.
48 // CULTURE | MULTILINGUAL
AUTHOR // EMILY FURSA Из России с Любовью Тот момент в моем детстве, когда я заметила что все стереотипы о моей культуре уже были задействованы у злодея в фильме о Джеймсе Бонде, был очень странным. Я не думаю, что те дети, с которыми я играла в начальной школе, знали про Холодную Войну и соперничество между Россией и Западом — но эти расхожие стереотипы всё равно оставались в моей и их жизни. Еще более странным было то, что я сама начала в них верить. Россия всегда была показана на Западе, как что-то чуждое и странное, что-то граничащее с преступлением, алкоголизмом, насилием. Такие фильмы как, «Из России с Любовью», «Красный Воробей», «Борт Номер Один» и «Рокки IV» только несколько кричащих примеров, которые приходят в голову. Когда критическое мышление ещё не развито, у ребенка нет возможности оценить информацию, которая обступает тебя со всех сторон. Ты просто привыкаешь и начинаешь в нее верить. Но это моя любимая культура, моя семья, мой родной язык! И в то же самое время это было что-то опасное, ненадежное, заполненное коррупцией. Так две противоположные идеи, которые развивались одновременно, формировали в моём сознании когнитивный диссонанс о России. Конечно, когда я повзрослела, я научилась не обращать внимание на эти стереотипы: просто люди есть люди. Ни одна страна, ни одна раса не имеют монополию на насилие или зло. Но желание стать членом одного общество осталось, входить в одну категорию или в другую.
Честно скажу, я всё еще не знаю: кто я на самом деле — русская или австралийка? Думаю, этот вопрос возникает у многих людей, у которых семьи эмигрировали в Австралию со всех точек земного шара. Мы всегда будем восприниматься как иностранцы, где бы мы ни находились в мире. Конечно, я рада что я родилась в Австралии, и благодарна за моё беззаботное детство здесь. Мне очень повезло, моя жизнь полна безграничных возможностей и ресурсов. Но почему мир всегда толкает тебя - то к одному, то к другому: быть Русской или Австралийкой? Как говорит пословица, на двух стульях не усидишь. Но почти всегда самые лучшие вещи в жизни невозможно легко распределить по полочкам. Пытаться вписаться в один или другой национальный стереотип — это никогда не принесет полноценного счастья. Одна из самых замечательных особенностей Австралии это то, что наше общество многонационально, построено на разных культурах, которые переплетаются, учатся друг у друга. В этом и есть наша сила. Итак, если ваша жизнь хоть немножко похожа на мою, пожалуйста не заставляйте себя выбирать между культурами, которые сделали вас такими какие вы есть — даже если это означает отказ от карьеры злодея в фильме Джеймса Бонда…
ARTWORK : CLAIRE GASPAR // 49
48 // CULTURE | MULTILINGUAL
ARTWORK : CLAIRE GASPAR
FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE AUTHOR // EMILY FURSA
CONTENT WARNING: Brief Mentions of Crime, Alcoholism, and Violence Realising as a child that the central stereotypes surrounding my culture were all encompassed in a James Bond villain was weird to say the least. I doubt anyone I played with in primary school had any inkling about the Cold War rivalry that had existed between Russia and the West. But the stereotypes, for better or for worse, persisted. It was even stranger when I started to believe in those stereotypes myself. Russia has almost always been presented in Western media as a distinct ‘other’, something synonymous with crime, alcoholism, and violence. Movies like From Russia with Love, Air Force One, Red Sparrow, and even Rocky IV are just a few examples that come to mind. As a child, you have no frame of reference to counter the information that is barreling towards you from every direction. And so, you tend to believe it. Slowly, a cognitive dissonance formed surrounding Russia in my mind. It was my beloved culture, my family, my mother tongue. But simultaneously, it was also imprinted in my brain as corrupt, dangerous, and untrustworthy. Two contradictory ideas running side by side, like two people riding a tandem bicycle. Of course, as I’ve gotten older, I’ve learnt to put these stereotypes aside — at least for the most part. People are people. No country, no race, has a monopoly on violence or ‘evil’ (whatever that means). But the yearning to be part of a community remains, to fit neatly into one box or the other.
To be honest, I still don’t know how to categorise myself — Russian or Australian? I suppose this is an issue shared by a lot of people whose families have also migrated to Australia from all over the world. We will always be perceived as foreigners, no matter where we are. Don’t get me wrong, I’m grateful for my upbringing and my childhood in Australia. I’ve been very lucky, living a life filled with opportunities and resources that my parents were never privy to as children. But it’s still painful to know that you will never completely be able to be part of the culture from which you came. It’s very human to want everything, including your own psyche, to be easily categorised. You’re always pushed to be one or the other. Russian or Australian. You can’t have your cake and eat it too, as the saying goes. But more often than not, the best things in life lie in the grey areas and ambiguities. Trying to fit into the stereotypes being pushed towards you is never going to bring you absolute happiness. One of the most wonderful things about Australia is our multiculturalism and diversity, a community built on generations of different cultures, interweaving and learning from each other. In this, we find our strength. And so, if your life is anything like mine, please do not force yourself to choose between the cultures that make you who you are — even if it means giving up a career as a James Bond villain…
ARTWORK : MILLIE WANG // 51
LOVE IN FIVE LANGUAGES | 用五种语言说 AUTHOR // ZENA MASON When I first learned the word ‘love,’ it was from my mother. My mother has always loved me, and has told me so. “I love you,” she would say. “I love you too,” I would respond, before it became a tennis volley of, “I love you,” and, “I love you more.” I suppose that’s why a tennis score of draw is always ‘love.’ I learned later that love meant more than a transaction. It was always a word that I was fascinated by, and looked up the foreign variant when I was learning a new language. To love someone is to show commitment, adoration and affection. The European languages, because of their similarities with English, gave me an expanded expression of this concept. When I learned German, I learned that you could call a beloved person liebling (basically ‘loveling’). Likewise, ‘to love’ in French is aimer and related to the word amicable (friendly). Interestingly, amis means ‘friends.’ It took me such a long time to understand why a French-speaking friend of mine had such an open view towards relationships. She did not have the English conception of ‘love’ as something a friend does not have the right to. And perhaps this is something that is encoded in the language. Meanwhile, my actual language learning focus has mainly been on Chinese and Japanese. The first Chinese character I learned, which has the same meaning universally, is 愛. It is a highly aesthetic symbol composed of other meaningful symbols such as ‘heart’ (心), and ‘receive’ (受). In Chinese, like in English, there is familial, platonic and conjugal love, but the love that you have for your family always outstrips other kinds of love. The list of kinship terms that Mandarin and other Chinese languages have is immense, but it is not limited strictly to family. In order to express his affections for me, my Chinese housemate called himself my gēge 哥哥 (older brother).
In Chinese, love is habitual. Hobby, for instance, is aihao (love-like). One of the first questions that my Chinese housemate asked me, a native of Shanghai, was ni ai ganjing ma? With the word-for-word translation of, “Do you love cleaning?” But with the implied meaning of, “Will you clean the house often?” Ke ai 可愛 and the Japanese kawaii have the same meaning – ‘adorable.’ Literally, it means ‘loveable.’ If you are into manga and anime, you may have thought to yourself that you overused that well-known Japanese phrase and that it has lost the meaning of ‘cute.’ Well, I am here to tell you that it doesn’t matter. The special thing about Japanese from an Englishspeaker’s point of view is how popular it is as a foreign language. Almost everyone I have been in a relationship with has either known a few Japanese words or been receptive to learning new ones. And because of the contextual nature of Japanese, it is the perfect language for exploring the nature of a relationship. For instance, aishiteriru 愛してい る: (I) love (you) and aishiteimashita 愛していまし た: (I) loved (them). It’s not necessary to overburden the sentence with lots of subject words such as I, you and me. You say aishiteiru when you are with someone you love, and you say aishiteimashita when you are describing someone that you loved. Somehow, I think not having to name the object of your love or define yourself before you even begin to love is potentially a liberating tool. What is love but a tool with which to relate to other human beings?
Glossary Aimer: To love Libeling: Darling 愛: Love 心: Heart 受: Receive 愛している: (I) love (you) 愛していました: (I) loved (them)
52 // CULTURE | ARTS
ARTWORK : ADRIAN SCHMIDT
COMMERCIALISING BANKSY AUTHOR // EMMA GIESSMANN “Banksy is coming to Sydney…” the headlines read, as it was announced the other week that the most extensive collection of original works would be coming to the populous city. Girl with Balloon and other famous pieces are expected to be visited thousands of times while the exhibition is on display. Whilst paying $30 for a ticket to the exhibit may not be a great cost for some, it raises questions about the issues when commercialising an inherently antiestablishment art form. For context, Banksy is a Guerrilla street artist who rose to significance during the 1990s for his provocative and often divisive stenciled imagery. Throughout his notorious works, he has satirically touched on a number of pressing social, cultural, and political issues, making him a household name. Guerrilla art, by definition, is for the people. It is free from restrictions of the establishment and its rules, making its commercialisation and institutionalisation inherently problematic. Dividing those who can view the work by those who are able to or willing to pay the entrance fee does not align with Banksy’s values. In the past, he has said that he aims for as many people to view his art as possible. Conversely, in 2018 Banksy stirred the cultural sector after a painting of Girl with Balloon was sent to auction. The painting garnered a sum of £1,042,000 before it was subsequently shredded in front of the onlooking auctioneers and bidders. “When the hammer came down last week and the work was shredded, I was at first shocked, but gradually I began to realise that I would end up with my piece of art history,” said the buyer.
The fact that this was believed to be a strikeout against capitalism ironically added value to the painting for some, with one art critic claiming it had doubled the worth of the work. The added value was attributed to the creation of a new work, which was a performance piece and a first in the history of art. The painting, which was renamed as Love is in the Bin by Banksy himself, was later displayed in a gallery in Germany in a free-admission space. While paying to view art that is free to see in the streets may seem paradoxical, it speaks volumes of Banksy’s art career at large. Whether or not it is a fault of his own, Banksy has been embraced by the establishment that he mocks. Symbolically, the increasing trajectory of his success to date is telling of the ongoing arrangements between artists and dealers. Furthermore, this highlights the interdependency of those who advocate for artistic expression and those who wish to commercialise it. From the selling of public walls for profit along the Gaza strip to the stealing of private property (as what happened to one unfortunate homeowner), the unofficial curated exhibits may be an inevitable consequence or provide some solace. It gives more people the opportunity to view iconic original prints without traveling the globe, and it is certainly cheaper than a plane ticket. But arguably, the sterility of the institutional environment could dampen the message and intent behind the work, altering the visitor experience. So with all this in mind, should Banksy be commercialised? Ultimately, that depends on who you ask.
ARTWORK : GEORGIE KAMVISSIS // 53
THE SONGS THAT SHAPED US AUTHOR // VARIOUS AUTHORS
Music has the power to change lives. A melody, a lyric, or a vocal line can move us to feel something we’ve never felt before. It has been scientifically proven that music has the ability to make us more focused, creative, and connected. It is no wonder then just how much a simple song can shape us as people.
Ten Woroni contributors have shared with us their top 10 favourite songs. As you read the lists they’ve put together, think about the impact music has had on your life.
Julia Faragher
Nick Richardson
1. ‘Polperro Beach’ – Adrian Sutton
1. ‘Barbie Girl’ – Aqua
2. ‘Circle of Life’ – The Lion King
2. ‘Discipline’ – Club Cheval
3. ‘Dreaming Alone’ – Against the Current (ft. Taka)
3. ‘Panini’ – Lil Nas X
4. ‘Fools’ – Lauren Acquilina
4. ‘SpottieOttieDopalicious’ – Outkast
5. ‘Mr Blue Sky’ – Electric Light Orchestra
5. ‘No Air’ – Jordin Sparks
6. ‘Dancing Through Life’ – Wicked
6. ‘The Sweet Escape’ – Gwen Stefani
7. ‘Turning Tables’ – Adele
7. ‘Like a G6’ – Far East Movement
8. ‘Winter (3rd movement)’ – Vivaldi
8. ‘We Can’t Stop’ – Miley Cyrus
9. ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ – Queen
9. ‘Evacuate the Dancefloor’ – Cascada
10. ‘The Call’ – Regina Spektor
10.’Fuck You’ – Lily Allen
54 // CULTURE | ARTS
Georgia Clarke
Henry Xu
1. ‘Step’ – Vampire Weekend
1. ‘Vienna’ – Billy Joel
2. ‘Marinade’ – DOPE LEMON
2. ‘Red Eye’ – Vance Joy
3. ‘Truth Hurts’ – Lizzo
3. ‘Distant Sun’ – Crowded House
4. ‘Wetsuit’ – The Vaccines
4. ‘In My Life’ – The Beatles
5. ‘Gold Dust Woman’ -– Fleetwood Mac
5. ‘Heart of Life’ – John Mayer
6. ‘Let it Be’ – The Beatles
6. ‘Be As You Are’ – Mike Posner
7. ‘Work Bitch‘ – Britney Spears
7. ‘Heroes’ – David Bowie
8. ‘Untouched’ – The Veronicas
8. ‘The Gambler’ – fun.
9. ‘To The Boys’ – Molly Burch
9. ‘Growing Up’ – Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, featuring Ed Sheeran
10. ‘Millennium Queen’ – Approachable Members of Your Local Community
10. ‘Stay Alive’ – José González
Rebecca Schneider
Matthew Donlan
1. ‘Crocodile Rock’ – Elton John
1. ‘Trippin’ The Light Fantastic’ – Ball Park Music
2. ‘Girlfriend’– Avril Lavigne
2. ‘What Went Down’ – Foals
3. ‘Scar – Missy Higgins
3. ‘Here It Goes Again’ – OK Go
4. ‘American Idiot’ – Green Day
4. ‘Agne’ Glass Animals
5. ‘So What’ – P!nk
5. ‘Got Love’ – Tove Lo
6. ‘Sure Fire Winners’ – Adam Lambert
6. ‘Major Tom‘– Peter Schilling
7. ‘Perfect Weapon’ – Black Veil Brides
7. ‘Einstein on the Beach: Knee Play 1’ – Phillip Glass
8. ‘Planets’ – Short Stack
8. ‘Wake Up’ – Arcade Fire
9. ‘The Great Escape’ – P!nk
9. ‘Sound & Color’ – Alabama Shakes
10. ‘I Am Here’ – P!nk
10. ‘I’ll Be Fine’ – Clairy Browne & The Bangin’ Rackettes
//53
Brandon Tan
Phoebe Lupton
1. ‘Rolling Waves’ – The Naked and Famous
1. ‘Dancing Queen’ – ABBA
2. ‘I Miss You’ – Julia Michaels
2. ‘Under the Sea’ – The Little Mermaid
3. ‘Forget’ – The Chain Gang of 1974
3. ‘Be Our Guest’ – Beauty and the Beast
4. ‘Not Today’ – Imagine Dragons
4. ‘See, I’m Smiling’ – The Last Five Years
5. ‘Hard Feelings/Loveless’ – Lorde
5. ‘Make Me Feel’ – Janelle Monae
6. ‘Only You’ – Yazoo
6. ‘Green Light’ – Lorde
7. ‘Happy Ending’ – Mika
7. ‘This Is Gallifrey, Our Childhood, Our Home’ – Murray Gold (from Doctor Who)
8. ‘Wild Heart’ – Bleachers 9.’Freak of Nature’ – Broods 10. ‘Never Say Die’ – CHVRCHES
Natasha Garske 1. ‘Nothing That Has Happened So Far Has Been Anything We Could Control’ – Tame Impala
8. ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’ – Queen 9. ‘Let’s Go Fly A Kite’ – Mary Poppins 10. ‘Do Re Mi’ – The Sound of Music
Jaime Howell 1. ‘September’ – Earth, Wind & Fire
2. ‘Pink Matter’ – Frank Ocean
2. ‘Breaking Free’ – High School Musical
3. ‘Multi-Love’ – Unknown Mortal Orchestra
3. ‘Holding Out for a Hero’ – Shrek 2 Soundtrack
4. ‘Karma Police’ – Radiohead
4. ‘I Want It That Way’ – Backstreet Boys
5. ‘Monster’ – Kanye West, Jay Z, Rick Ross, Nicki Minaj, Bon Iver
5. ‘Tiny Dancer’ – Elton John
6. ‘Time’ – Pink Floyd 7. ‘Get Ur Freak On’ – Missy Elliott 8. ‘Only Girl (In The World)’ – Rihanna 9. ‘No Aphrodisiac’ – The Whitlams 10. ‘Girl’ – Destiny’s Child
6. ‘Dancing Queen’ – ABBA 7. ‘I Wanna Be A Producer’ – The Producers 8. ‘I Want to Break Free’ – Queen 9. ‘Livin’ On a Prayer’ – Bon Jovi 10.’Friend Like Me’ – Aladdin (1992)
DISCOVERY
DISCOVERY | ENVIRONMENT
ARTWORK : CLAIRE GASPAR // 57
ECO-FASHION: ARE MILlENNIALS PUTTING THEIR MONEY WHERE THEIR MOUTHs are? AUTHOR // CANADA GAVIN Millennials have been a large driving force for change in the fashion sphere, with youthful trends such as designer loungewear and large printed logos becoming more prolific. Additionally, the largest growth in eco-friendly investments and consumption has stemmed from millennials. An article from the Environmental Leader states that millennials are twice as likely than the average person to invest in companies with an environmental focus. A Neilson study has found that almost 75 per cent of American millennials have changed their food consumption habits to support more sustainable practices. In Australia, such changes have helped to reduce the amount of plastic packing in stores and have led to the growth of farmers markets and smaller fresh produce stores. Interestingly in terms of fashion, almost 60 per cent of millennials have stated that they are interested in certified sustainable clothing, with up to 69 per cent stating that they will check whether a clothing brand is sustainable before purchasing according to the Oeko-Tex Association. However, shopping centres and online shopping platforms are still rapidly selling extremely harmful, low-cost fast-fashion. So, are millennials putting their money where their mouth is? A recent study by the Business of Fashion has found that only 37 per cent of millennials who say they purchase sustainable fashion actually do, whilst only 34 per cent of millennial consumers intentionally purchase fashion products because of their sustainability. The evidence shows that consumers do care about the sustainability of their purchases. However, the purchasing records indicate a clear gap. There seem to be two major reasons for this: firstly, misleading and unclear advertising and secondly, the availability of sustainable clothes for purchase. Most young consumers are looking for affordability when making purchases due to a lower disposable income than the rest of the population. In the current market, the cheapest clothing comes in the form of massproduced fast-fashion that allows you to purchase most items for less than a $10 note.
Online platforms such as Amazon and Wish have allowed poor quality and highly polluting companies to sell items that rapidly undercut any form of sustainable fashion. To produce something that is environmentally sustainable, it costs significantly more than regular clothing. On The Iconic the cheapest pair of jeans that are defined as environmentally friendly and made from sustainable materials cost approximately $120, compared to approximately $12 for a regular pair. The price difference is astronomical, which makes it extremely difficult for young people to afford sustainable clothing items. On the contrary, another key reason for the gap between words and actions is misleading advertising. Many companies promote products as ‘conscious’ and ‘sustainable’. However, there are currently no universal standards that verify the use of these words in advertising. This means that many products promoted to consumers as environmentally friendly are just as damaging as their mass-produced, fast-fashion counterparts. This means that many consumers think they are doing the right thing, however, due to a lack of accurate information fall flat on purchasing sustainably. Overall, whilst millennials could be dubbed one of the most eco-conscious generations, we are still falling flat in the realm of fashion. Potentially a solution to avoid that gap between words and actions is to create a universal standard for marketing ecoproducts, like health stars but for clothing products. Additionally, new technologies and resources that can help reduce the price of eco-fashion to make it more affordable would drastically improve the realm of eco-fashion and individuals ability to purchase ‘greener’ products. Despite millennials driving the sustainable consumption movement forward, there is still a long way to go for both fashion companies and individuals if eco-fashion is going to become a part of mainstream society.
58 // DISCOVERY | PSYCHOLOGY
FREUD, JEKYLL AND HYDE AUTHOR // ANTHONY MOORE
Despite being published shortly before the popularisation of psychoanalysis, Robert Louis Stevenson’s Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde illustrates two of its better-known concepts: the Oedipus complex and the id/ego/superego model of the psyche. The application of these concepts to the text offers greater insight into the motivation and relationship of the eponymous character(s). This is particularly relevant to the final chapter, ‘Henry Jekyll’s Full Statement of the Case’, which reveals Jekyll’s divided self and the true nature of his relationship with Hyde. Before turning to the text, however, it seems wise to begin by posing the following question: what is Freudian criticism?
Broadly speaking, Freudian criticism is a form of literary analysis that aims to interpret texts through the lens of psychoanalysis, the method of curing ‘neuroses’ developed by Sigmund Freud. Fundamental to this approach is the distinction between the conscious self and the unconscious self. Similar to the psychoanalyst, it is the latter that the Freudian critic attempts to uncover from the text and its characters. Thus, rather than regarding the character of Jekyll as exemplifying man’s universal and ‘dual nature’ of ‘good and ill’ (as a liberal humanist would interpret him), for the Freudian critic the dualism would instead represent Jekyll’s conscious and unconscious.
ARTWORK : ADRIAN SCHMIDT // 59
Jekyll represents the former, and Hyde the latter. This distinction was later developed further by Freud into a tripartite model consisting of the id, the ego, and the superego. As we will see, this model can be mapped onto the character(s) of Jekyll and Hyde. Beginning with the most primitive of the three, the id, according to Freud, is ‘the dark, inaccessible part of [the] personality’. It is driven by primal urges, instincts, and immediate gratification, and which ‘knows no judgements of value: no good [or] evil.’ As such, the id is closely associated with Hyde, who can be read as the personification of Jekyll’s id. Jekyll’s statement provides a wealth of evidence to support this, most notably that ‘[Hyde’s] every act centred on self; drinking pleasure with bestial avidity’, and that he seemed to have a ‘complete moral insensibility.’ Furthermore, given the animalistic nature of the id, this reading of Hyde is reinforced by the many bestial descriptions of him as ‘apelike’ and with ‘corded and hairy’ hands. Contrasting with the id, and often in conflict with it, is the ego, the rational and conscious part of the psyche, and that through which one interacts with the world. As the ego is charged with controlling and restraining the desires of the id, the relationship between these two parts is not at all unlike that between Jekyll and Hyde. Unsurprisingly, the ego corresponds with Jekyll himself. Strangely, the third and final part of this model, the superego, seems absent from Jekyll’s statement. According to Freud, it is this part of the psyche that loosely corresponds with the conscience and that ‘observes and threatens to punish’ the ego for its transgressions and failure to control the id. The result of this tension between the ego and superego is moral anxiety, as opposed to neurotic and realistic anxieties, the results of the ego’s tension with the id and the external world, respectively. Interestingly, Jekyll doesn’t appear to feel the pangs of moral anxiety for his actions as Jekyll or as Hyde. Instead, he expresses a large amount of realistic anxiety with regard to his reputation and social status. As the superego is developed following the resolution of the Oedipus complex, it could be argued that, in Jekyll’s case, this resolution has not been entirely successful. This last term, the Oedipus complex, is related to an important developmental stage of childhood: the phallic phase. This is marked by the child’s desire for the parent of the opposite sex, in addition to feelings of jealousy and resentment toward the parent of the same gender. Successful resolution of this is achieved through a process of identification with the same sex parent, through which the child internalises that parent’s authority, which then becomes the basis of the superego.
Failure to successfully resolve this complex results not only in an underdeveloped and weak superego, but also neurotic behaviour in adulthood. Returning to the novella, traces of Jekyll’s resentment toward his father are evident in two of Hyde’s actions: the destruction of his father’s portrait and the murder of the elderly statesman, Sir Danvers Carew. Although little is said regarding the former, the destruction of the portrait could be read as the id’s symbolic ‘killing’ of the father. The latter might be read similarly, but rather as an instance of displacement by which the more elderly and socially superior gentleman represents the authority of the father figure. Read as such, both actions represent the realisation of the repressed, oedipal desire to do away with the father. Although the above-mentioned concepts seem suited to the text, closer examination reveals that neither can be mapped onto it in an unproblematic manner. Firstly, it should be noted that Hyde does not entirely resemble Freud’s conception of the id. Unlike the latter, to whom ‘the logical laws of thought do not apply’, Hyde often demonstrates a measure of rationality and reserve, which is particularly evident in Jekyll’s description of Hyde’s cautious behaviour following the murder of Sir Danvers: ‘The creature was astute; mastered his fury with a great effort of the will.’ Secondly, the speculation of the oedipal origins of Jekyll’s neurosis hinges on the absence of moral anxiety and on his relationship with his parents. In the case of the former, whilst Jekyll’s anxiety greatly concerns his standing in society, he does, in fact, occasionally mention ‘remorse’, suggesting at least some amount of moral anxiety. As for the latter, aside from two references to his father, Jekyll reveals very little about his upbringing. Thus, the evidence for an unresolved Oedipus complex could be considered rather weak. By analysing the final chapter of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde with reference to the Freudian concepts of the id, ego, superego, and the Oedipus complex, unconscious aspects of the text are illuminated. This includes the psychological nature of the relationship between the doctor and his alter ego. Whilst these concepts cannot be applied without difficulty, they do, however, give new life to the text by offering an interpretation which is more in accordance with the scientific rationalism of the modern age than that of an allegory of good and evil inherent to all mankind.
ARTWORK : SAMANTHA CORBETT
ARTWORK : MADDY MCCUSKER // 61
MEASURING HAPPINESS IN AN ECONOMY AUTHOR // LIVVY CARNEY
CONTENT WARNING: Brief Mention of Mental Health Analysing the standard of living of a population is a bit like doing a personal reflection on the state of your happiness, but for an entire nation. It is a necessity to be able to understand the world’s motion of direction throughout time, and to examine strengths and weaknesses in an economic state. When undertaking the mammoth task of measuring standard of living in a country, there are many tools from which to choose. The method that is most common and generally agreed upon is Gross Domestic Product (GDP), defined as the total market value of all final goods and services produced within an economy. There is no doubt that GDP, and often GDP per capita (the average prosperity of a given citizen), has been useful, efficient and reliable for the most part. Measuring the economic standard of living has long been a task delegated to the metrics of GDP and GDP per capita. It is easy to see why this is the case. GDP, and GDP per capita in particular, make a lot of intuitive sense and are generally dependable ways of getting a snapshot of the economy. Having a lot of money to spend means that it can be spent on all of the good things such as healthcare, education and limitless choices of consumer goods, that eventually contribute to a happy society. High GDP per capita overall, tends to reflect this as well. The richer your citizens are on average, the more they are able to spend on goods and services that increases their happiness. It measures production levels, employment and incomes well, all elements that increase standard of living. They say money can’t buy you happiness, but it certainly seems to help. While human happiness is a complex but important thing to measure in a fast-moving, modern world, its measurement demands attention to more than GDP alone. GDP carries with it far too many limitations to be the quintessential indicator of a country’s standard of living. GDP metrics don’t account for crucial things such as leisure time, actual health levels, standard of education, environmental wellbeing, hobbies, quality
of goods and services being exchanged, and the levels of technology. All of these things can make quite a difference to the individual’s mental health and happiness. This is where composite indicators – economic indices that combine multiple indicators into one – are a really great tool to use for measuring living standards. The most well-known composite indicator is the Human Development Index (HDI), which is an amalgamation of GDP per capita along with life expectancy and education. It builds a broader picture of standard of living, and by extension the development levels in a country, much better than any of the indicators on their own. There are other good national happiness indicators, for example the Sustainable Development Goals and the Happy Planet Index, which both focus on the sustainability of human wellbeing and are being increasingly utilised. New Zealand’s 2019 budget even included reports on how national spending impacts wellbeing. But what if happiness metrics in an economy were taken to yet another level? In Bhutan, the government is guided by the philosophy of ‘Gross National Happiness’. The idea of Gross National Happiness was enacted into the Constitution of Bhutan in 2008 to keep the country moving forward, with a focus on the wellbeing of its citizens rather than what has often been the reiterated economic goals of making mega-trillions and fuelling consumerism. We are beginning to do a good job of normalising and bringing in other measurements of standard of living that used to be seen as insignificant. The likely reason for this is our new-found understanding that higher levels of happiness contribute even more to the economy, especially as we move into more service-based sectors. Composite indicators like the HDI satisfy the need for keeping our eye on more than just GDP. They provide a more balanced snapshot of where our happiness is at.
62 // DISCOVERY | RESEARCH
IT’S TIME FOR SCIENTISTS TO COME DOWN FROM THEIR IVORY TOWER AUTHOR // LILY PANG
CONTENT WARNING: Brief Mentions of Death and Chronic Illness Anti-vaxxers, climate change deniers, and believers of fake news are just like everybody else: people trying to make the most rational decisions possible based on the information available to them. The problem, then, is not entirely with those apparently doing their best to spurn scientific facts, but largely with the way science is communicated to the public.
And this is no small dilemma. For example, the recent spike in measles cases in Australia has prompted immunisation warnings from the government. According to the ABC, there have been 92 cases of measles in Australia as of April 2019, compared to 103 cases for the whole of 2018, and even lower numbers for the preceding years.
ARTWORK : ADRIAN SCHMIDT // 63 It is no coincidence that this resurgence in measles has occurred during a time where both information and misinformation are so easily accessible. Critically analysing information and sorting fact from fiction is hard work, and most of us don’t want to triplecheck everything we read. Doctors, however, blame the rise of preventable diseases on anti-vaxxers who are spreading dangerous misinformation based on fake ‘science’. Arguably, it is doctors and scientists who are in the best position to educate the public about making the most scientifically-sound decisions on such matters. However, they are notably absent from the conversation. Why then, if doctors and scientists have such strong opinions about antivaxxers, are they so reluctant to come out from their laboratories and share their knowledge in plain, accessible language? Let us begin by examining the reticence of scientists with regards to engaging in public discourse. Professor Ian Chubb, Australia’s Chief Scientist, emphasises the difference between “good science,” which is grounded in rigorous evidencebased testing, and “bad science,” which is not but somehow manages to dominate public debate. As a consequence, scientists are now spending their time arguing against “bad science,” talking about how “bad science” is not science, rather than educating the public on what “good science” actually says. The Australian Government’s Blueprint for Reform noted that stronger relations between academia and policy making is a major contributor for innovation. Sir Paul Nurse, a Nobel Prize-winning scientist, echoes this sentiment. He believes that scientists should “emphasise why the scientific process is such a reliable generator of knowledge – with its respect for evidence, for scepticism, for consistency of approach, for the constant testing of ideas.” This brings us to the discussion of how vital scientists are in the fight against misinformation. So, how exactly can stronger relations between academia and policy manifest? A good starting point would be for scientists to talk more, and for politicians to listen, allowing scientists to take on a more active role in civic discourse. Far from it being an extra burden, scientists have a moral and civic duty to communicate science to the public and engage in public discourse. This is because scientists are, first and foremost, members of the public, and within a democratic context such as Australia, scientists (as citizens) ought to exercise their right in partaking in decision-making. The added status of ‘scientist’ should not preclude them from discussions regarding policymaking. There are, of course, limitations to this argument. One objection is that we ought to separate science from politics and its underlying ideology. Scientists should focus on conducting high-quality research, and let politicians evaluate and discuss the political ramifications of their findings.
This separation is necessary, because engaging in civic discourse would undermine the credibility of science being a value-free ideal. Scientists play the role of being objective in pursuit of information, and advocacy introduces a subjective element to this role. However, the blurring of science and advocacy can be beneficial. Whilst science is viewed as ‘value free’, the reality is that scientists often subconsciously impose their own personal values into research regardless, such as when questions about rejecting or accepting a hypothesis arise. This concept, known as inductive risk, demonstrates that evidence-based decision making is sometimes not entirely an objective process. The key to ensuring that science remains a “reliable generator of knowledge” is to have transparency, and to convey the ins and outs of science in a digestible manner. If anything, scientists taking a more active role in civic participation can foster more honest conversations between policymakers, the public, and scientists, leading to less misinformation and better decisions. Additionally, scientists often see their work as too ‘cutting edge’ for public understanding. Yet, in order for scientific knowledge to make a meaningful contribution, it requires society as a whole to be enlightened enough to make informed, progressive choices. To do that, science needs to be delivered in a manner that does not discriminate between peoples’ levels of education. Dr Karl Kruszelnicki, one of Australia’s most well-known scientists, started off his career as a paediatrician. He eventually decided to give up his medical career and enter media after he witnessed a child die from whooping cough. It was a TV program that encouraged people to ditch the vaccine lead to a decline in herd immunity, which contributed to the death of the child. As a community, we rely on herd immunity to protect our most vulnerable members: those who are unable to be vaccinated, like babies, or people with chronic diseases and immune deficiency disorders. Weighing up his love of treating children and communicating good science to the public, Dr Karl opted for the latter. He has said that he does not regret his decision. Given the trying times we live in today, it is absolutely imperative that scientists take the time to get out of the lab and immerse themselves in their communities. Political debate is slowly turning into a political ‘fake news’ contest in which the loudest person is always right. In a world in which President Donald Trump has had his statements fact-checked and disproven, scientists bear at least some responsibility in guiding the public back to political debates grounded in reliable, evidence-based knowledge.
64 // DISCOVERY | POLITICS
IN MAINLAND CHINA, A TROUBLING APATHY SPURNS HONG KONG’S ANGST AUTHOR // YUTONG WU CONTENT WARNING: Violence The ongoing anti-extradition bill protests in Hong Kong have entered a turbulent new phase. Over the past few months, what began as a political protest initiative spearheaded by activist sections of Hong Kong’s vibrant civil society, has gradually seen its ranks swell with ordinary citizens. The proposed extradition bill, now indefinitely suspended,
provoked alarm among the residents of the highly autonomous Chinese city-state for its threat to erode the “one country, two systems” principle. At present, the separate Hong Kong and mainland China legal jurisdictions embody two radically different approaches to the rule of law and judicial independence – an arrangement that Hong Kongers,
ARTWORK : GEORGIE KAMVISSIS // 65
millions strong, took to the streets to defend. But despite the bill’s sidelining, the political conflagration in Hong Kong continues on.
also in Taiwan, Singapore, and further afield. These latter territories were more aligned with the West and their export-oriented economies were rewarded generously with access to Western markets. When the mainland Chinese later took advantage of relaxed emigration laws to migrate abroad, they found the socialisation and integration process with established Chinese diaspora communities to be significantly impeded by the differences that had evolved during their separate development. In particular, many mainland Chinese resented what they perceived to be snobbery directed at them that belied their ostensibly common origin as ‘Chinese’.
The collective struggle of Hong Kongers, striving to have their political input validated, has captured global attention and resonated particularly with Western liberal democracies that have long taken their democratic civil rights for granted. But closer to home, across the border to the mainland, a different narrative about the causes and consequences of this heady political ferment is gaining traction. Where it has not been pruned and sanitised by party censors, mainland Chinese coverage of the protests has been roundly critical, and the reaction correspondingly the demonstrations this year rage on and Hong CONTENT WARNING:As Violence unsympathetic. Unfavourable perspectives are not Kongers go to great pains to emphasise their unique merely the domain of self-interested political elites identity and separate system, it is evident that the but have rather filtered down to the mainstream. social and political rift remains as salient as ever. On Chinese social media platforms, such as Tianya, Notably, this fault line has endured despite the a BBS-based discussion forum, and various public immense progress made by mainland China in recent discussion groups on Wechat, reactions to the decades to narrow the gap in economic development, protests oscillate between contempt, bemusement, and in some respects, even invert it. The issues that and nationalistic indignation. separate the two are complex and multifaceted, entailing not only wealth, but also political values.It On these platforms, the darker, more chaotic underbelly therefore comes as a disappointment to see that many of the protest movement, featuring violence, mainland Chinese, rather than viewing the anguished vandalism, rioting and social disorder is magnified soul-searching in Hong Kong as an opportunity for and dominates discussion. Political pejoratives from dialogue, have instead adopted a crassly triumphalist the lexicon of Maoist China like ‘running dog’ (‘走 attitude. Some have diagnosed the neighbouring 狗’), denoting a despicable imperialist lackey, have tumult as a symptom of an endemic jealous streak been revived from political obsolescence and given among Hong Kongers who resent seeing their former wholesale application to designate (and denigrate) economic ascendancy fade vis-à-vis the mainland. As protestors of all motivations. More concerning still, late as 1993, Hong Kong’s economy was over a quarter this antagonism has, rather than being quarantined the size of China’s, but presently has fallen to less to cyberspace, demonstrated its potential to spill than three per cent. It is regrettably ironic then that out into the real world. The recent showdown at the socialist economic theory, a mandatory component University of Queensland between pro-Hong Kong of the education curriculum, has not enabled many protestors and the pro-China counter-protestors who mainland Chinese to identify the economic and social engaged them is a sobering reminder of the global inequality that fuels the grievances of Hong Kongers. ramifications of the protests. Although the majority Chief among these is the runaway cost of housing, of Mainlanders and Hong Kongers are Han Chinese, regulated by no higher authority than the uncaring there has never been more evidence to suggest ‘invisible hand’ of the world’s purest free-market that the two populations have developed strongly economy. divergent identities and collective ‘psyches’. The 1842 Treaty of Nanking brought about the cession of Hong Additionally, mainland Chinese would benefit from Kong to the British Empire and caused a once unitary developing an understanding of Hong Kong identity Chinese family to disintegrate. Despite the common in terms more nuanced than as a defiant exercise misery both the regions were subjected to over the in self-promotion and separatism. Given that Hong brutal course of World War II, Hong Kong bucked the Kong has only ever been an appendage to powerful immediate post-war trend of decolonisation in Asia states, it follows that the identity surrounding it and continued along its separate political path as is not the product of any special political agency, a British crown colony. Then, it was the communist which Hong Kongers have long lacked, but rather a Mainland that convulsed and stagnated (and even cumulative outcome of historical processes. regressed), while Hong Kong leveraged its strategic position and its coveted deep-water port to catapult As China’s influence waxes on the global stage, some up the development leagues. It cemented itself in the sections of the international community are becoming process as the leading financial centre in Asia. nervous about what exactly what that will entail. For the moment, the crisis in Hong Kong is vindicating During this time, an economic, social and cultural those fears. If this is to change, mainland Chinese gap opened up between the mainland Chinese, who must, from the bottom-up, assume the mantle of were largely poor and seemed to be in the grip of diplomats, and demonstrate compassion, empathy, Mao’s febrile revolutionary politics, and overseas and magnanimity for what is an ailing Hong Kong. Chinese populations, not only in Hong Kong, but
ARTWORK : JULIA FARAGHER
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We acknowledge the Ngunnawal and Ngambri people, who are the traditional owners of the land on which Woroni is written, edited and printed. We pay respects to Elders past, present and emerging. We acknowledge that this land – which we benefit from occupying – was stolen, that sovereignty was never ceded and that no acknowledgement will ever bring it back.