UNSW'S STUDENT MAGAZINE / MARCH 2017

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THARUNKA FEATURES @THARUNKAUNSW 08 DEATH OF THE ROUNDIE? @THARUNKA

GIVE US A LIKE AND A FOLLOW AND A RETWEET AND SEND 09 WHAT'S IN A NAME? REGULARS WHATEVER YOU HAVE TO SAY TO [email protected] THE TEAM 06 AGONY IBIS 10 MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE (WRITING, ARTWORK, IDEAS, FEEDBACK, LOVE LETTERS, PICTURES IT’S 2017 AND I CAN’T BELIEVE WE’RE OF CUTE DOGS – WE WANT IT ALL). / 07 12 MANAGING EDITOR HER; INDIA STILL DEBATING... BRITTNEY RIGBY 13 “PC” CULTURE AND FREEDOM OF 18 SATIRE SPEECH SUB-EDITORS 20 SPOTLIGHT ON 14 MULTICULTURALISM AND STREET ART: ALICIA D'ARCY, SHARON WONG, RESPONSES TO PETER DREW’S POSTERS 35 REVIEW DOMINIC GIANNINI 16 THE AESTHETIC OF ISOLATION 36 SRC REPORTS

DESIGNER 18 IS SELFIE-SHAMING DANGEROUS? LEO TSAO 19 A (CULTURAL) TUG OF WAR / CONTRIBUTORS ALBERT LIN, AMY GE, ASHELY WEIR, CASEY D’SOUZA, DANIELLE STEWART, EMMA-KATE WILSON, HAYA SABOOR, JACK GEORGE S MANGOS, JEAN KEARNEY, JENI ROHWER, JULES PHAN, KATHREN WU, LARA ROBERTSON, LEILA FRIJAT, LILIANA OCCHIUTOA, LYDIA MORGAN, MICHELLE WANG, MIKAELA O’NEIL, STEPHANIE BREEN, NATALIE SEKULOVSKA, OLIVIA OKINE, SHAKI SRIKANTH, STEPHEN BRANNON, TOBY WALMSLEY / T THARUNKA ACKNOWLEDGES THE TRADITIONAL CUSTODIANS OF THIS LAND, THE GADIGAL AND BEDIGAL PEOPLE OF THE EORA NATION, ON WHICH OUR UNIVERSITY NOW STANDS. CREATIVE www.tharunka.arc.unsw.edu.au N C FISH SAUCE THARUNKA IS PUBLISHED PERIODICALLY BY E23 Arc @ UNSW. THE VIEWS EXPRESSED HEREIN T IN MEMORY OF MINIATURE MUGHALS 24 ARE NOT NECESSARILY THE VIEWS OF ARC, THE REPRESENTATIVE COUNCIL OR THE THARUNKA 26 SVALBARD EDITING TEAM, UNLESS EXPRESSLY STATED. N N ARC ACCEPTS NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE O 27 YOU'RE SAYING IT WRONG ACCURACY OF ANY OF THE OPINIONS OR INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS ISSUE OF 28 DOORS THARUNKA. T 30 LIFEGUARD AT LEURA BEACH ANY COMPLAINTS SHOULD BE MADE IN O N E WRITING TO THE MARKETING & PUBLICATIONS 32 IN THE WORDS OF MY PEOPLE T MANAGER.

34 THE HISTORY OF BOOKSHOPS C S Letters From the Editors

DESIGNER unrepresented. I do not intend to ONLINE crossing the road: stepping out, speak for non-white people, but, CREATIVE LEO TSAO Pop. Literary. Australian. Political. extending both arms to ward off as Managing Editor, I do intend as culturally Food. UNSW. Indigenous. oncoming traffic, acting confident, to make Tharunka FEATURES DOMINIC GIANNINI Selfie. Art. Geographical. Queer. praying. My eyelids were tugged inclusive as possible. SHARON WONG If you took a magical x-ray lens Digital. Sexist. Theatre. Drinking. with sleepiness when we woke at ALICIA D'ARCY and peered into my second- Here in Issue 2, many contributors Culture shock. I think that’s the Sporting. 4:30am to see Mumbai at dawn. Where are you from? only way to describe bringing your generation Asian-Australian, My skin turned red under the traverse the complexities of Australia. trans, queer, creative body, you’d Culture. "culture" in their works: the death Culture is the thing you imbibe new Australian girlfriend over to Goan sun. My heart felt heavy see a multi-coloured kaleidoscope of the Roundhouse, being Asian- when you go overseas and eat No. Where are you really from? your wog household. Nothing can when we left. of particles from a myriad of We are immersed in so many Australian, the politics of street another country’s food, watch I guess my parents migrated quite prepare a petite Australian different cultures, some violently different cultures constantly. I'm still processing India, whilst art and veganism and comedy their sport or marvel at their from China. But I’m Australian. for the nuances of the Italian , where food is made clashing, some gently fusing, and MANAGING EDITOR Cultures shape our experiences readapting to Sydney. Singlet tops/ and political correctness and buildings. Culture is also the thing Sort of. And Chinese. Sort of. lifestyle some just co-existing, swirling and of the world and how we move saris. White bread/naan. Coke/ Macedonia's struggle and what it that shapes our default mode of Do you always use chopsticks? fresh and everything is recyclable. dancing with each other. through it. Cultures impact our masala chai. Tap water/bottled all means. There's poetry and art interacting with others in any Sometimes. It’s convenient. How can she possibly accept that BRITTNEY RIGBY privilege, identities, access and Do you like going and having a a hessian sack can double up as water only. Soft serve/jalebis. and stories of travel and lessons on given social environment. We are Like many others in my understanding. They contribute VB at a local barbie? an old Italian man’s belt when her Eating cow/worshipping them. bookshops and Mughal miniature all individual islands of thought demographic, these cultural to structural inequalities and Ummm probably not. I love sauce comes from a bottle and the paintings. moving throughout this world, clashes are such a large part of our systemic change. Culture matters. But I know, as an Anglo- dumplings and noodles? fruit isn’t from the garden? and yet we are so much more than everyday experiences and identity. Australian, that in a time We hope you enjoy it all. We How will your parents react to you the walls of our own minds: we are Growing up and traversing this I recently returned from a of persisting whiteness, my hope you're nestled back into life liking girls? la mia casa è la tua casa … now social and we connect, and culture world, especially in the current trip to India, which was the interpretation of “culture” is at UNSW. We hope these pages They don’t believe in bisexuality. pull up a shovel and help nonno is inherently a part of this. social/political/cultural climate biggest culture shock I have framed by white privilege. I cannot prompt you to take a moment to Your parents must be super dig up these artichokes because no can be quite tough. ever experienced. Everything claim to understand the lived think about the last time a place or Cultures can be a source of conservative. Very Chinese. one’s shy in an Italian household. was different, in every way: the experiences of people still exposed musician or artwork or experience comfort and can provide a sense Well it’s not a simply Chinese However it’s kinda cool to think This issue is all about culture, and people, food, languages, religions, to casual racism and embedded cracked your heart open. We hope of belonging, for example the thing though. tbh, apart from my inability to about the fact that we’re basically histories, cities, landscapes, road discrimination. I have never you allow those moments to build cultures within our families But you’re probably heaps good at wear shoes that aren’t thongs and the people of the future, bringing rules. There were rickshaws, tuk been abused, disenfranchised or and build, until they becomes and close friendship circles. maths. my special ability to appreciate a bit of spice into the under- tuks, Bollywood dancing, constant underrepresented because of the skyscrapers in cities of your best However, interrogating the Not really, I love studying beer from a can and wine from seasoned, bland af world of the horns, cacophony, colour, chaos, colour of my skin. I know that, memories. Until next time. type of cultures we want to history and literature. I love a bag, I dunno too much about white folks. calm, curry for breakfast. in the same way the patriarchy see around us is also necessary. poetry and reading fantasy what you Australians do for fun, disadvantages and suppresses Cultures can be toxic, whether novels. Throwing yourself in the deep end so imma leave it to the experts. me, my people continue to that be rape culture (or just the Do you speak Chinese? of a new cultural experience can disadvantage and suppress broader culture of patriarchy), or Well, the national language be the most difficult, but most However, I do know Australian others. We committed genocide the changing Australian culture is Mandarin but I also speak rewarding, thing you do. And music culture, so if you like live against the oldest culture in the which is becoming bizarrely and Cantonese. My vocabulary and being in a foreign place can be as music and sweaty singers, hit up world upon our invasion on 26 problematically more and more grammatical understanding of much a physical immersion as it the Facebook page for this issue’s January. We took children away patriotic and exclusive. the languages aren’t as great as is a mental one. It took days for Spotlight On bands, including from their mothers. We allow my English though. I can’t read my body to adjust to the cuisine, Mosquito Coast and Dorsal Fins, people to sit like prisoners in Hence, this issue is a challenge to or write Chinese very well. and days to recover from jet lag who are totally jamming. offshore detention centres. We that. With arms open wide, we But it must be super easy upon my return. I twisted my elected a racist, Islamophobic, embrace the best that culture has travelling to China! knee (which was reconstructed misogynistic, unqualified white to bring to us, and turn our cheek Well I’m a foreigner there. It’s five years ago) hiking part of man as the leader of the free to the rest. very different to Australia. the Silk Road in Jaipur. My world. We populate TV screens So who do you support during the nose ran and throat burned as and websites and stages, while Olympics? we navigated the largest Asian people of colour go unheard and Umm, both? spice markets in Delhi. I never adjusted to the Indian method of So where are you from? 4 5 BY BRITTNEY RIGBY BY LARA ROBERTSON Debating... Debating... It’s 2017 and I Can’t Believe We’re Still Agony Ibis

Dear Agony Ibis,

I’m in my fifth year of medicine, but I’m considering dropping out. The quality of uni life has plummeted since the Roundhouse closed, and the Greenhouse just isn’t the same. Veganism I’m this close to taking a year off to find myself, or transferring to USyd, where the bar is no doubt cheaper, but first, I wanted to reach out to you. You’re my last hope.

Best, Let’s face it, it’s easy to hate on vegans. But before you pleasure from eating it. People in other countries claim Ailments and Ale-ments interrupt with “but bacon!”, hear me out. The stats are that dog meat tastes wonderful, yet in the Western clear – our current meat consumption habits are bad for world people usually react to such a practice with our health, the environment, and animals. Here’s a whole disgust. Does taste justify cruelty? Dear Ailments and Ale-ments, list of common arguments against veganism, and my responses (TL;DR: nup). BUT ANIMALS EAT OTHER ANIMALS – IT’S You’ve come to the right place, pet. Modesty isn’t my finest quality, and we ALL PART OF THE NATURAL FOOD CHAIN. all know that I’m UNSW’s finest food and beverage connoisseur. I propose the ISN’T A VEGAN DIET UNHEALTHY AND following: UNNATURAL BECAUSE IT LACKS ESSENTIAL What separates humans from other animals is our NUTRIENTS LIKE IRON AND B12? 1. Take over the Greenhouse cognitive ability to make moral decisions. Therefore, the “food chain” point becomes moot when we realise there Firstly, we steal as many old SRC election t-shirts as we can, and train our Australia’s peak health body, the National Health and is nothing “natural” about the way modern society forces minions. I’m thinking the Yellow Shirts and the Arc Street Team; they’re keen Medical Research Council, acknowledges that a vegan animals into a machine-like existence, robbing them of for anything. Get them on board and I’ll get the ibis army ready. Then, we diet can be suitable for people of all ages. A vegan diet their natural behaviours and desires. storm the Greenhouse. provides many sources of iron in the form of legumes,

grains, nuts, seeds and vegetables. Though a B12 SO I GET WHY YOU DON’T EAT MEAT. BUT Lunchtime peak hour. At least 20 of us in student politics regalia. Students supplement is recommended for vegans, B12 is actually WHAT’S WRONG WITH EGGS AND DAIRY? enjoying their lunch and overpriced beer scatter; they don’t want to bombarded produced by bacteria that live in the soil the animals THE ANIMALS AREN’T HARMED. yet another “Vote for [insert shit ticket name here]” spiel. They’re so scared feed from, not the animals themselves. In many cases, that they don’t realise student elections are still weeks’ away. Staff run industrially farmed animals are fed B12 supplements. Well actually, they are; such animals arguably have a too. Abandonment of employment? Who cares, Ian Jacobs is probs gonna fire them more painful life than animals raised for their meat. anyway. #staffcuts BUT HAVEN’T HUMANS BEEN EATING MEAT Instead of being slaughtered after a matter of weeks FOREVER? or months, hens and dairy cows have to endure years The place is ours. of suffering, often in cramped, unsanitary conditions, 2. Convert it from the Greenhouse to the Lakehouse Yes. But there’s a massive difference between the times constantly producing at an unnatural rate, and with a of cavemen, for example, and now. When humankind much shorter lifespan. Ultimately, the dairy and egg Next, we flood the place. Beer taps turned on, Alco pops emptied, goon bags were largely hunters and gatherers, seasonal changes industries are intertwined with the meat industry, so split. The alcohol spreads, the water level rises, until the Village Green meant that the majority of their diet – consisting mostly supporting one inevitably means supporting the other. becomes a lake. There’s more alcohol in the Village of wild nuts, seeds, berries and roots – needed to be supplemented with the energy-dense calories provided BUT I EAT FREE-RANGE EGGS AND first years’ stomachs on Law Camp. Green Lake than there is in by meat in order to survive. Today, we have easy access HUMANELY KILLED MEAT. WHAT’S WRONG to supermarkets and a wide variety of nutritious food; WITH THAT? We crack open a leftover VB to celebrate. We bathe in the tears of our livers. with so much choice, why would you choose to take a life? Don’t buy into the clever marketing ploys. “Free-range” doesn’t often mean what you think it does. Also, there 3. We Snapchat/Facebook Live/Instagram story the whole damn thing (whichever it BUT I LOVE THE TASTE OF [INSERT ANIMAL is no way to “humanely” raise an animal as a production is you kids do these days; I can’t keep up). Internet fame arrives, quickly. PRODUCT HERE]. machine or to kill an animal that clearly doesn’t want to die. You think they volunteered themselves to be Okay? Okay. Taste is the most arbitrary and malleable of our senses. enslaved and eaten? Also, we are creatures of habit – if we grow up eating a certain food regularly, then it makes sense that we gain

Your partner in crime (and beer), Agony Ibis 6 7 BY STEPHANIE BREEN BY NATALIE SEKULOVSKA

What's in a Name?

I am a Macedonian Australian. Even though I Despite this, I’ve never had doubts about my was born here, have studied here, and currently identity. I’ve never once doubted who I am, or live here, I haven’t lost sight of my cultural who my family is, but it does make me uneasy roots: the very roots that gave me my parents, that there are people out there who want to grandparents, and great-grandparents, the roots impose on me their ideas of what my identity that gave me my identity, my traditions and should be. It worries me that my identity my second language. For all of these things, is considered somewhat void or worthless Death of the Roundie? I am proud to call myself Macedonian while because it’s still, to this very day, a plaything for living in Australia. I am glad that I live in a politicians and diplomats without a backbone. multicultural Australian society that gives me the freedom to call myself Macedonian. But why should the petty politics of European The Roundhouse, aka Sydney’s first ever round “We don’t anticipate the culture of The countries decide that I am Macedonian, or building, is set to be closed for another 12 Roundhouse to disappear over this time, but It’s a freedom my family and I have celebrated. Macedonian in quotation marks? Why months, undergoing a $25 million renovation to return within a building that supports the should their fruitless nationalism dictate that which will hopefully bring it back into the 21st needs and wants of today’s students. Yet, my cultural identity has been questioned my family is from Macedonia, or the Former century. for years. It’s an identity that’s been disputed Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia? Perhaps the “The Village Green Facility, aka the most recently since Macedonia’s independence country will one day give into the pressure However, students have raised concerns that Greenhouse, isn’t aiming to replace the from Yugoslavia in 1991, when the country mounted by Greece and in that case, why the glory days of the Roundhouse are over for Roundhouse.” formally started referring to itself as the should I accept a new name, foreign and far good. Republic of Macedonia. Greece has continually removed from anything I’ve ever known? How the Roundhouse aims to maintain challenged the use of the name, based on the With live acts such as Peking Duck, the student social culture in the meantime, remains premise that Macedonia “stole” the name from I think it’s important to remember that there is

ART BY JENI ROHWER Preatures, Safia, Alison Wonderland and Rufus to be seen. the Greek province that lies to the south of strength in reason and compassion. Our claim taking the stage at Roundhouse parties in 2012 the Macedonian-Greek border. This is to the name does not call into question your and 2013, it’s easy to see how the DJs in recent Vice-Chancellor of UNSW from 1992 to notwithstanding the fact that the geographical right to use the same name; yet, your claim to years don’t measure up. 2002, John Niland, said that the Roundhouse use of a name in one country does not signify own the name denies our identity and existence needed to be saved and adapted to fulfil its a right to, or sole ownership of, that name, nor as Macedonians. Roundhouse Venue and Events Manager, modern purpose. does it trump universally accepted principles Brittney McLennan, said that the venue of self-identification and self-determination. Put aside the politics and aggressive pride, actively tries to engage emerging acts and “We need to make it into a building that will and focus on the identities of real, living performers as well as those with mainstream live and breathe again,” he said. Greece has even gone so far as to give Macedonians in Europe and in diasporas attention, as was the case in previous years. Macedonia an ultimatum: change your name or around the world, who are in limbo without The Roundhouse is due to be opened in we will prevent you from becoming a member their name. We all want to belong to “The Roundhouse has always been popular O-Week 2018, after 18 months’ of closure, of NATO and the EU, echoing the threats of something, we all want to belong to what we with students; we anticipate the refurbishments with two new lounges and study spaces, as well primary school bullies who want something know and are familiar with, so at least give will increase the popularity and the scope of use as being more energy efficient and sound proof. in return for not dunking your head in the us that. possible within the building,” McLennan said. toilet. It’s terrifying that this ultimatum may eventually push Macedonia to breaking point, McLennan also addressed concerns that the if the tiny country cedes to the demands of 18-month closure to the Roundhouse will lead Greece by changing its name. to a decrease in quality of UNSW’s cultural and social life.

“Many iconic buildings undergo a refresh at certain points in their lifespan,” she said.

8 9 BY MICHELLE WANG

Did you know that?” I had never felt anything other than Australian and this new discovery that I was Chinese didn’t strike me as cultural More than Meets the Eye difference, but was simply an interesting piece Eye the Meets than More of information to chew on for the day.

As I grew up though, and particularly as I constantly met new people while abroad the Helen recalled a time in her life when she question, “But where are you really from?” made “hated rice”, trading it in for Vegemite A Brief Dip into the me begin to wonder much more about culture sandwiches and Koon cheese. What a dark, the into Dip Brief A and identity. dark time for her, as she momentarily turned away from the humble grain that had dutifully Depths of ~Culture~ I was overwhelmed by Sydney’s diversity accompanied her through the highs and lows ~Culture~ of Depths upon coming home, having been away for six of life. Rice-hating is more serious than you Szechuan pepper. In Hunan, where old mate months. I’d forgotten, and I was seeing it afresh think. Rice-hating is like, unnecessary self- from either Australian or Chinese culture. Chairman Mao hails from, there is a drier, with this new, inquisitive self-awareness that I’d amputation. Really. Even not eating rice for a spicy flavour. And in the Shanghai region, started to explore more deeply whilst abroad. certain period of time is not recommended. I However, I’ve come to embrace this sometimes many dishes are soy sauce based, giving them had thought that I would be okay not having unrooting feeling as a sort of transience, a more caramelised richness. Every third person is of Asian ethnicity and a rice-cooker on exchange, but no amount wherein my personal sense of freedom is likely every person knows someone of Asian of baguettes or pesto pasta could fill the rice enriched via my cultural identity. I think that The point though, was tidily summed up by ethnicity. Mandarin is the second most shaped void in me. I owe my open-mindedness, and a more free It’s a sunny morning at the Champs de Mars, my friend, Cady, spoken language in Australia after English, way of thinking, to being able to tap into and where you’re going for a run. A smiling vendor and Chinese people alone are the single largest Cady moved to Australia from China when she inhabit more than one culture. of miniature Eiffel Tower trinkets appears in “Asia, or even just China itself, is rich with minority in the country. So it’s no wonder I was 11-years-old. It was interesting to learn your pathway. You smile back. A nice, harmless diversity, diversity that can’t be reduced had never really experienced that same self- how “feeling” Chinese was more consciously How does being Chinese-Australian feel exchange of smiles, then: to similarity in appearance,” she said. awareness growing up in Australia that I did ingrained for her from earlier on because of then? As words, “Chinese” and “Australian” in Europe quite often. this. Her “core sense of Chinese pride” emerges look distinct and isolated, alternate existences. “Konnichiwa! Konnichiwa?! Nihao! Nihao?!” “However, I can accept the usage of ‘Asian- especially during China versus Australia sports Yet as lived experience, they are interwoven, Australian’ in the context of the minority I wanted to start talking more to my matches. merging and diverging. The ancient stories of Ah, so it’s one of those days. experience in a very general sense. In this Chinese-Australian friends, to see what sort both countries are richly sewn. context, I think the term can have a unifying of experiences they had. Many interesting Claire’s exchange in Taiwan made her realise (The other kind of day being the incessant effect.” conversations ensued, and will surely continue. that a “large part of my identity was based For China, there are the dynastical centuries, tirade of “1 euro! 1 euro! 1 euro!”) I expected to find similarities, yet, despite [on] being different and being the odd one opulent imperial wealth, springs of creative The point is not to nitpick and unstitch that all being young Australians with a Chinese out”, a sort of revelation about how her cultural innovation in technology, art, poetry and Despite popular opinion, not all Asian-looking Asian blanket, but simply to uncover it and background, our experiences were often very heritage factored into her personal identity . medicine, the collision of western imperialism, people are Japanese or Chinese. glance at what lies beneath, beyond the vast different. colonialist powers and both the triumphs and Even in this brief dip into Asian-Australian, continent that meets the eye. And for me, this rings true. Travelling abroad, horrors of Maoism. and particularly, Chinese-Australian culture, I Would you say, “We just had some European both to China and then to Europe, made me hope there is some momentary reflection on steak”? Probably not. But you might say, “We Whilst on exchange in Paris, I was confronted more reflective about who I am, what identifies In Australia, there is the innumerable richness how we interact, and are aware of our own and just had some Asian stir-fry.” with a new slipperiness between my Australian- me, and what I identify with. At times, I’ve of Aboriginal communities, their cultures others’ cultures. ness, and Chinese-ness, that I had not ever definitely experienced a sense of alienation and languages. There is the injustices and This may seem harmless enough in an everyday been so conscious of at home. In Australia, I severe misunderstandings of colonisation, the What’s more than meets the eye, quite simply, context, but it’s still worth interrogating. This mostly felt, well, Australian. naissance of a federated country at the turn of is the experiences and the feelings of who you is a wonderfully patch-worked and colourful the twentieth century, the diverse population. are. It’s the feeling of meditating blissfully blanket – the pan-Asian throw – yet it smothers Five-year-old me had once sallied into the amidst the intense blue Australian skies and the myriad details of many rich cultures in one local stationery shop for my regular chat In the classic “melting pot” of cultures, being the summer cicada song, or the feeling of broad sweep. with the lovely Peggy, the elderly Caucasian Chinese-Australian is a unique mélange, a unadulterated sunshine on my face, limbs and employee, and said, “Hi Peggy, I’m Chinese! fused yin-yang. back as I float through salty waves. It’s easy to do this when it comes neatly marketed to you, for example, if we are to continue on the strain of stir-fries: “Simply Asia” or “Oriental Sauce”. Yet stir-fries vary greatly from province to province and city to city in China alone. In the Szechuan region, the dominant flavor is a numbing spiciness – think

10 11 BY SHAKI SRIKANTH BY DANIELLE STEWART

reedom of Speech F “Political correctness” is our language changing already laws in place which prevent abuse or

d to reflect an increasingly diverse society in threatening speech.

n which citizens attempt to avoid causing Her; India unnecessary offense to one another. However, if it is freedom of speech that a

Coalition MPs are worried about, there is

“PC” Culture Yet, many people, such as my friend on the legislation of much greater consequence. train, see a political correctness as a conspiracy Section 35P of the Australian Security Shakti Srikanth has been on a three-month demanding greater protection for women by a variation of: “Did not feel bad, will you “Don’t discuss religion or politics” is a social with which to strangle their freedom. Intelligence Organisation Act 1979 can lead to internship in Bangalore over the summer. and tougher punishment for perpetrators. friendship with me?” rule I often struggle with. journalists being jailed for revealing misconduct Legislative response has been barely effective: This kind of thinking is incredibly dangerous; by government agencies. 1 January 2017: Indian women wake up the number of reported sexual assaults in India To add insult to injury, misogynistic politicians For example, on a long train ride last week, I it perpetuates the idea that political correctness with bruises, not hangovers. Reports emerge of has increased by 39% since 2012. Disturbingly, continue to pander to the masses, claiming found myself talking politics with the stranger is the language of the entitled, creating a quasi- The Act also allows for the jailing of journalists widespread sexual violence in the nation’s Silicon most forms of marital rape are still legal, even western culture is at the helm of corrupting sitting next to me, the Herald spread across his victim identity for those who believe in their where they disclose "operational information" Valley – Bangalore. Women tell of being groped, if the victim is a minor. sanskari2 women. Apparently, not only are lap, open on yet another article on President right to belittle our society’s most vulnerable. about a person's detention by ASIO within two physically assaulted and fighting off men with women victims, but perpetrators of their own Trump’s inauguration. years of that person being detained. their heels. All the while, policemen watch with Reclaiming public space is not easy. Cultural sexual assaults. In reality, political correctness is not the musing perverted indifference. structures in India have always sought to After asking for my thoughts on the current of cultural elites, but rather, is the expression There are no exceptions for fair reporting or restrict women’s autonomy and sexuality. Inspired by the Women’s March, a constellation political landscape, the man (probably aged in of the oppressed. situations where a media story reveals misuse

ART BY ASHLEY WEIR Sadly, incidents such as this are all too common From the Hindu narrative of the Mahabharata of Indian women (and men) have demanded his mid-60s) listened intently to what I had to of powers or mistreatment of detainees. And in India. No matter your age or attire, all women – “there is no creature more sinful than woman” reckoning through the #IWillGoOut say before ever so politely informing me that The debate on political correctness and let’s not forget about the sanctions imposed by are “open season” for men. We no longer feel – to the nation’s cruel and distorted sex ratio movement. These women, who refuse to I was wrong. free speech has been tense in this country the Border Force Act, which prevents detention safe in public spaces. We have been pushed – 945 females for every 1000 males – Indian succumb to a culture of entitlement and since the Coalition’s first attempt to amend centre workers from disclosing information into hiding, as men arrogantly claim the public society does not emancipate women, but who refuse to keep their hymens intact until According to my train friend, the rise of racial discrimination laws when the Abbott concerning detainees wellbeing. sphere as their own. In 2011, a book titled Why confines them to a life of inferiority. There is marriage, will continue to fight for public space. Donald Trump and other ultra-angry, anti- government came into power in 2013. The Loiter? described women’s access to public space a common expression in India that “bringing establishment populists can't be put down controversy heated up even further with PC culture and the Racial Discrimination Act in India as “conditional”. up a daughter is like watering a neighbour’s They will continue to fight for her future. to the fragmenting nature of globalisation, Attorney-General George Brandis’ now do not pose the greatest threat to free speech. plant”; her dowry alone can drive the family xenophobia, failures of neoliberalism or the infamous comment that, “people have a right To purport that they do certainly appears to be It comes as no surprise then that 90% of females into debt. patriarchy, but rather… the “PC police”. to be bigots”. protecting people who merely want the right in India experience sexual harassment, or that 1. Traditional men’s to be bigots. a sexual crime against a woman is committed In urban spaces, the divide between men garment sometimes tied up "People are sick of being told what they can Labor and the Greens have backed the existing every four minutes. Surveys reveal that over and women becomes more apparent. From a above the knee and can't say by the elites, it’s our right to say legislation, with Bill Shorten saying the push 62% of Indian men still believe women provoke young age, Indian boys are separated from their what we want," he said. for change is a “vendetta driven by prejudice” them by the way they dress. Meanwhile, their female counterparts – sitting on opposite sides 2. A traditional and that shows current Prime Minister Malcolm dhotis1 expose their hairy legs (and their of the classroom, told to leave the class when conservative Indian girl. The ongoing debate on PC culture has Turnbull’s weakness against conservative sexism). Families impose curfews on their teachers discuss menstruation. The stigma been given a lot of air time recently, both Coalition MPs. daughters. Boys and men are not told to simply attached to sexuality and the female body has internationally and domestically, with the stop assaulting and molesting us. invariably created a society where boys view it current parliamentary inquiry examining Liberal MP Ian Goodenough, who is heading as their birthright to wolf whistle, catcall and free speech and Coalition MPs pushing for the parliamentary inquiry, has said that it is In 2012, India revolted after the fatal gang ogle because these are the only “social” skills an overhaul of section 18C of the Racial “misleading” to say that reforms to 18C rape of a 23-year-old student. Thousands they know. If only I had a dollar for every Discrimination Act. will promote race hate speech, as there are came together in anti-establishment marches Facebook request, inevitably accompanied

12 13 BY OLIVIA OKINE

Multiculturalism and Street Art: Responses to Peter Drew’s Posters

‘AUSSIE’ SERIES (MONGA KHAN) – SECOND ITERATION

During Australia Day this year, Adelaide- below. The most prominent poster was a 1916 complexities of identity and multiculturalism. In Auburn, in Sydney’s based artist Peter Drew released the third photograph of Punjab hawker, Monga Khan, The “Real Australians Seek Welcome” poster west, similar incidences iteration of his street art poster series “Real who applied for exemption to the White infers that Australia’s multiculturalism existed occurred. In another Australians Seek Welcome”. This series features Australia policy. These posters address the before colonialism, with the represented 250 case, a poster of child sex 250 designs, one for each Indigenous language question of Australian identity and the roots distinct Indigenous language groups, each offender Rolf Harris and group. of multiculturalism in this country. with their own customs and culture. Most terrorist Jihadi Jake were importantly, “Real Australians Seek Welcome” created and placed beside Drew is currently plastering his posters across “We need myths. As long as they are known has a crucial meaning about acknowledgement Drew’s “Aussie” poster of Is Australian Australia and hopes they of Indigenous lands. Monga Khan. In response to the latter incident, multiculturalism will also reach remote Drew stated that, unlike the previous anti- inherently connected Aboriginal communities. “60,000 years of cultural immigration and discriminatory protests of to nationalism? Peter His previous posters have survival carries an important vandals, the vandal may have been attacking Drew’s work does addressed questions of lesson in that it shows us that aspects of “nationalism” evident in the posters, strike a chord with the Australian identity and our sense of belonging to highlighting that not all Australians are heroes everyday Australian its conundrums, and have this land needs to be earned and instead, have committed many wrongs. and the fact that his received criticism from and continually renewed by work is “out in the both the left and right everyone, whether you were A similar critique of Drew’s work was clearly streets” makes his sides of politics. It’s for born here or not,” Drew said. expressed by William Scates Frances, in the message even more these reasons that Drew’s Eureka Street article, “New nationalist myths accessible. Overall, ‘REAL AUSTRALIANS SEEK WELCOME’ – THIRD ITERATION work is intriguing; he Thus, the posters reflect entrench white denial”. it is important for combines street art with a a “cycle of belonging” people to discuss political message, despite where Australians must “This myth is one of an Australianess that whether an “Australian identity” exists, the artist himself stating simultaneously “say” and “seek” is redeemable, an Australianess that deftly acknowledge that we live on Indigenous land, that he has “always disliked’REAL AUSTRALIANS SAY WELCOME’ – FIRST ITERATION welcome. sidesteps nationalism's ugly past in this and understand that to be a truly multicultural political art”. country. Rather than countering white denial, nation we need to “say welcome”. Drew himself has stated that it is instead its own kind, where racist legacies “Real Australians Seek he wants his work to speak to are swept under the rug by projections of Welcome” is the flip poster to Drew’s first to be myths, it’s an important tool of identity,” the “silent majority in the middle” who have acceptance back into the past.” work “Real Australians Say Welcome”. Drew said. become drowned out by the noise made by the The first series was created as a response to far left and far right. These aims are not without Drew has responded to these critiques by Australia’s treatment of asylum seekers and “Why can’t we have an Aussie folk hero who their own controversies. Although Drew has stating that his work focuses on celebrating the “Stop the Boats” election slogan propelled fulfils a new role or a role which is different? stated he is “apolitical”, it is impossible to diversity and provoking discussion among by Tony Abbott in the 2013 election. Posters accept this; his works carry political messages Australians, who are initially reluctant to were placed in all Australian capital cities and “Aussie folk heroes are rebels, they rebel against and creating street art is undeniably a political discuss identity and culture. Drew even ended up meeting with politicians authority. And what better authority to rebel act itself. and activists across Australia in response to against than the White Australia Policy?” These critiques are relevant, but we should also the work. There have been several prominent cases of question if a single poster could (or should) Peter Drew’s work does carry an important Drew’s posters being vandalised. In Darwin, be burdened with the obligation to express The second series was the “Aussie” posters, message about the continually evolving the word “Aussie” on Drew’s “Aussie” poster all the complexities of the Australian identity depicting early Australians of different Australian identity and its myths. All three was ripped off, replaced with the words and history. ethnicities with the word “Aussie” written iterations of his posters have addressed the “Muslim Terrorist” written in black marker.

14 15 BY JACK GEORGE MANGOS

At multiple points in the film, we see their dialogue dealing with the “transitory nature” of human figures, or “all those unknown people The Aesthetic of Isolation lost in the world”. In this, we can see the confusion and disorientation of the transition from youth to adulthood, something many of us can identify with. Yet, in a wonderful way, Linklater puts a spin on these very ideas – when the characters choose to lose themselves for an evening in Vienna, and thereby become more directly engaged with their sensory experiences, they call to mind Tolkien’s idea that “not all those who wander are lost”. In choosing to be lost, they find a liberating wealth of experiences, Recently, I was thinking about why I enjoy The audience partakes in this experience, too. any failure of experience, any exhaustion or which I would argue approaches real meaning, drinking alcohol. I’m convinced, and perhaps by Visually, the film avoids almost all establishing boredom, can be solved by the aphorism “look as expressed by Céline toward the end of the the end of this essay, you will be too, that there’s or long shots, placing us within Jesse and closer”. film when she says to Jesse that he could have an extra layer to our enjoyment of drinking that Céline’s world, which also helps to emphasise “no idea how important this night is to my isn’t often touched upon. Of course, all of the the immediacy of their experience and the Aestheticism goes further. Aestheticism does life right now”. usual reasons still apply: I’m a little less hopeless removal of the rest of the world. Linklater not just limit itself to the passive experience with flirting when I’m buzzing, I can dance also places particular emphasis on the tactile, of the real world, but encourages active Now we return to my original question. a little better, and sometimes, (worryingly) with shots focusing often on the hands and emotional engagement with the artistic forms What is the extra subtlety to my enjoyment alcohol can take the edge off a tough week or feet, again as if to ground the audience, and we encounter. In Flaubert’s aestheticism, art of alcohol? It is, I think, like getting lost in something that’s sitting uncomfortably in the the characters, in the world immediately is not independent artifacts, but experience, an Vienna, a way of forcing aestheticism upon mind. Yet I think there’s a deeper layer, one around them. This immediacy, I think, is what emotional investment as dependent upon the oneself. But this doesn’t relate to the properties which deserves extra attention and (an attempt contributes to the romantic tone of the film. audience as it is upon the artist. And, given that of alcohol itself, but to the ritual: when I at) clarification. We, like the characters, experience the city and aestheticism encourages this attitude be applied decide to go out and drink, it’s not only that their romance more intensely, since it occupies to all objects in the world as well as to art, I choose not to be productive that night, but To properly explain this extra subtlety, I want our entire attention. we must see all things around us as potential I remove myself from even the possibility of to draw on one of my favourite rom-coms, emotional experiences. Grief explains this well productivity. And it is only when the possibility Richard Linklater’s Before Sunrise. It tells the How can we best clarify this immediacy of when he says, “You experience a work of art. of productivity is removed, when there is not story of a young American man, Jesse, (Ethan experience philosophically? You go into it. Not just a calm onlooker, you even the opportunity to work, when one’s Hawke) and a young French woman, Céline, imagine the figures in the painting, and relish responsibilities can be completely removed ( Julie Delpy) exploring Vienna together over The philosophy I’d like to draw upon is the colors and forms, the style becoming as from the mind, that one can engage the most the course of a day and an evening, while Ethan aestheticism, outlined in Flaubert’s Madame much an object of experience as the content”. completely with an experience. I call this the Hawke’s character awaits a flight home to the Bovary. Here I must confess that I am yet to Grief argues we should never shy away from aesthetic of isolation; the aesthetic experience United States. The characters only meet earlier read Madame Bovary, but have read an analysis seeking this kind of experience in art or in triggered by a suspension of one’s contact with that same day on a train into Vienna, and Jesse of aestheticism by Mark Grief in his book the real world, as, to Flaubert, this is the only reality. convinces Céline to disembark prematurely Against Everything, which I found to be a great real way to engage with the world artistically. and explore the city with him. The film is explanation of Linklater’s efforts in the film. In all cases, the experience has to be a transitory highly minimalistic, almost entirely absent of For Grief, aestheticism is a method of living, We can take this as a good explanation of one. In the film, when the characters wake up a plot, and relies on the growing familiarity and whereby one trains oneself to see everything, what the audience, and what the characters, the following morning, Jesse exclaims that attraction between the two characters. all objects in the world, as works of art in their are experiencing in Before Sunrise, yet with one they’re “back in real time”. Yet this transitory own right, and to respond to them with the crucial difference. Unlike Flaubert’s voluntary experience is absolutely valuable. Thus we come The most important part of the film, for me, is same zealousness that one would respond to aestheticism, which is as much a product of to my prescription; in order to access this kind the sense that these characters are “marooned” traditional art. one’s attitude and temperament as it is one’s of experience, set aside time where you intend in Vienna for a night. Since Jesse awaits his circumstances, the aestheticism of Before on completely removing yourself from your flight the following morning, and has no money In this way, “art becomes a training for life, to Sunrise is imposed upon the characters. The responsibilities. Don’t just avoid using the for a hotel room, Jesse and Céline are forced let you learn how to perceive what you will suspension of the characters, in their void of smartphone, leave it at home completely. Go to wander through the city, with only the next ultimately experience unaided. Let anyone’s responsibility and time, allows them to engage out and drink and sacrifice an entire evening. morning’s flight serving as a punctuation of ordinary face fascinate you as if it were a bust with their surroundings, and each other, in a Wander through the streets with nothing to time. This gives the film an incredible lightness, of Caesar; let the lights of a city draw your more direct and emotional way than expected. restrict you. This, I think, is the only way to and gives their evening, as Céline remarks, an eyes like Egyptian gold”. Aestheticism is an This is, I think, what provides a possible access this liberating aesthetic. “otherworldly” feeling; it is as if the characters ongoing process, but it promises a wealth antidote to their youthful pessimism. exist in a suspension of time itself. of potential experience; in aestheticism,

16 17 BY STEPHEN BRANNON BY CASEY D’SOUZA

SATIRE

traditions, religion, cuisine and clothing. Law students barricade the law building in a My family is from a state colonised by the Portuguese, so my conceptions of “Indian” culture are very different to Indians originating desperate attempt to protect their library from British or French colonies.

I am deemed the “whitest” brown person Students were shocked this morning to Despite running low on energy and having "We have a passionate and engaged student people know. I eat Weet-Bix for brekkie, discover that finally, after years of blissfully sparse ammunition, the law students are in body, who will do anything to protect A (Cultural) Tug Of War Portuguese chicken for lunch, and curry for occupying a law library desk, the doors had good spirits. rights when they're under threat," Professor dinner. I watch Hollywood blockbusters and been barred shut by angry law students. Matthews said. three-hour Bollywood films,. English is my first "I figured out that we can keep control over at language, but my conversations are occasionally Late last night, a band of furious law students least the upper part of the library until I finish "They let you in through the back door if you sprinkled with a little Hindi and Portuguese. chained all entrances to the multi-story library, my degree," Jeffery, a third year law student, win a moot, so I don't think [the barricade I went to Sunday School and I celebrate before piling chairs and cabinets against the told me, peeking his head over the barricade. is] that bad." My life is a constant oscillation: feeling like Easter, Christmas and every other Catholic entrances to seal themselves in. I belong to multiple cultures or feeling like I occasions. I enjoy barbeques and beach days, "Every aspect of this plan has been carefully don’t belong to any culture at all. As a second- yet my “Australian-ness” is constantly brought A crowd of students soon gathered outside the calculated." generation immigrant, I was raised by the into question. library, banging on the doors and demanding ebb and flow of cultural overlap: my parents’ entry. However, a rain of constitutional law During my interview with Jeffery, I had to background pushed up against stereotypes of I am a little bit of everything. I am not properly textbooks forced them to retreat. throw myself to the ground as another barrage Sydney’s Western Suburbs. Attempting to anything. I am. I am. of books scared off a clueless student who dared explain my culture (and answering the question This morning, the attacks grew increasingly to venture too close to the barricade. any immigrant is all too familiar with: “Where fierce, with students dedicating the day to are you from?”) is something I have become attempts to break through the lower-level "We had hoped to tow the law building away accustomed to, but will always struggle with. barricades. However, a counter-attack by from the main campus, but nobody had a truck the law students forced a general retreat by license," he said. Thanks to my skin’s melanin, I can pass as sundown. a local in most Southeast Asian countries, The law students say they are held together by provided I don’t open my mouth to haggle. But Bella, one of the student leaders of the attack, common determination. in Australia, at home, my appearance means said she was surprised at the ferocity of the law people question my culture, and doubt me students' defence. "Engineers and arts students get their own when I tell them I’m from Rooty Hill. I’ll never space," argued one law student who was using be sure if these interrogations are a result of a "I always assumed law students were a myth. a bucket to hoist up textbooks provided by an genuine curiosity, or casual racism. Regardless, Apparently they complained about people outside ally. when I finally give in and explain that while being in their library, but I never saw anyone I was born and raised in Sydney, both of there studying law,” she said. "Everyone feels entitled to use the law space. my parents were born in India, I’m usually It's about time we fought for our rights," she bombarded even further. Do you speak Hindu? “They've clearly been plotting for a while." said. (Hinduism is a religion, not a language.) Do you wear a sari? (The first and only time I wore The law students have allegedly established When asked if they had pursued legal remedies a sari, I looked like a human burrito.) a roster for keeping watch on the barricaded against non-law students, a spokesperson said, doors, suspiciously eyeing any passer-bys. Non- "We hadn't thought of that." People don’t seem to understand that India is law students have erected haphazard barricades a huge country. It’s over three million square around the building, in an attempt to starve Professor G.R. Matthews, the Dean of the kilometres; its one billion people live in out the defenders. law faculty, addressed the media about the hundreds of regions with just as many cultures. unprecedented incident in a press conference Colonisation by the Dutch, Portuguese, French this afternoon. and British (among others) influences a region’s

19 BY DOMINIC GIANNINI

Matt Okine

WHEN DID YOU FIRST FIND OUT immediate reactions. Some people have to wait EVER FORGOT THE PUNCHLINE ON COMEDY WAS FOR YOU AND YOU months for performances reviews. I find out STAGE AND WENT HOME CRYING? THOUGHT, "HEY, MAYBE I CAN MAKE pretty quickly. As in - as soon as the audience A CAREER OUT OF THIS"? doesn't laugh, then the review is in. A girl vomitted in the crowd recently. I don't know what that says about my last show, but I don't think that idea ever really solidifies MY DAD LAUGHED AT A FAT JOKE I'm glad she wasn't a reviewer. in your mind. One day I'm like "I AM THE I MADE AGAINST MY SISTER, CAN I GREATEST COMEDIAN IN THE MAKE IT BIG IN COMEDY? ARE PANTS REQUIRED WHEN WORLD", and three minutes later I'm like, YOU WORK AT TRIPLE J? LIKE I’M "Maybe I should just buy a squeegee and start Your dad probably congratulated you the THINKING OF APPLYING BUT THIS washing windscreens at traffic lights..." first time you drew a stick figure too. Doesn't SEEMS LIKE A DEAL BREAKER YA mean your the next Picasso... that said - if you FEEL? YOU MENTIONED ON TWITTER THAT move on from fat-shaming jokes, and work YOU’RE MAKING A TV SHOW, CAN on things a bit more personal, and also spend Pants aren't required anywhere in life. That's YOU TELL US MORE ABOUT THIS? years performing to disinterested audiences in just something "da man" got you doing so that WHAT’S IT ABOUT? RSL's across the country... then maybe. Never you'd feed money into the fashion industry. give up your dreams. Stay woke, my G. It's called, The Other Guy, and it'll be on STAN in August 2017. It's about depression, HOW HAS YOUR DAILY DYNAMICS AND LASTLY, YOUR INSTAGRAM anxiety, self-loathing and self-destruction in CHANGED NOW THAT YOU NO FEED AND TWITTER AND STAND the aftermath of a break-up. Sounds hilarious, LONGER HAVE TO GET UP AT 4AM UP ALL REFERENCE THE AMOUNT I know! But trust me - it will be. We've got an FOR THE TRIPLE J BREAKFAST OF MONEY YOU’VE MADE IN incredible team behind and it's gonna fkn rip. SHOW? COMEDY, SO, CAN YOU HELP OUT I'm super excited. A STRUGGLING JOURNO AND SHOUT I oversleep every day now. It's pathetic. I wake US A BEER YOU LEGEND? WHAT’S THE BEST THING ABOUT up sore. My body hurts. And I feel confused all GETTING PAID TO CRACK JOKES? the time. I actually lie in bed and moan every Yes. I actually can. But you can only have one. morning. Like a beached whale. But once I get Because you're driving me home. Working at nights. Do you know how late out of bed I try to go for a swim, which usually you have to sleep-in to miss your alarm when wakes me up. It's a pretty good balance. you start work at 8pm? Late. Also, getting to say whatever the hell I want. I'm the writer, WHAT’S THE WORST THING THAT’S director, and performer. If it's not going well, EVER HAPPENED AT ONE OF YOUR I've only got myself to blame. Oh, and getting STAND UP SHOWS? LIKE HAVE YOU

20 21 BY LILIANA OCCHIUTOA BY JULES PHAN

Fish Sauce

Neel Kolhatkar on improv and improvement The fish are dying. Clusters of protruding bellies glistening in the harsh sunlight; pale stripes tessellating the cold coastline Economics Student turned comedic sensation, like tuna packed in a well-expired can – HOW DOES #OBJECTIFYNEEL oozing with rottenness. Neel Kolhatkar, is constantly bettering himself. COMPARE WITH PAST SHOWS? With #ObjectifyNeel coming to Sydney in May 2017, The fish are still dying. we took the time to discuss the new show, the art of It is probably more unapologetic and The fishermen know; irreverent in some parts. As time’s gone, the conmen know; improv and much more. I've stopped trying to appease certain the government knows; critics and certain sectors of society that yet after detailed research WHAT MADE YOU GO FROM BEING It is more difficult, but at the same time, have said that my humour was dumb from the country’s most elite, AN ECONOMICS STUDENT TO A it's also forced a lot of comedians to be and lowbrow and offensive. I think it's “Nothing was found to have COMEDIAN? better and really come up with some good a show for everybody and I think there's poisoned the fish.” material. This tense political and social something for everyone. Funnily enough, economics was more of a climate can almost be a good thing. It The fish continue to die; backup. I always wanted to be a comedian. remains to be seen as we're still in the WHAT’S THE WORST SHOW YOU it was reported Luckily enough, with the Internet, I was early stages of social media. EVER PERFORMED IN? that able to do that quite early and quite young mere apologies and empty promises and focus fully on the comedy. DOES YOUR COMEDY SUBVERT One of the first ever gigs I did was at a were brought forward by the company at STEREOTYPES OR EXACERBATE talent show for little kids, and for some fault; HOW DO YOU RECOVER FROM A BAD THEM? reason... they asked me to do it. There were no further reports were made. GIG? a little four, five and six-year-olds playing A mixture of both, to be honest, a lot of it the flute and singing songs and I had to The fish are left to die; Oh, it can be tough, but it really depends is outwardly exaggerated and hyperbolic go on after that, to all these parents and their tears on how important the gig was. The key is . Especially with the cultural stereotypes senior citizens from the church next door, reflected in every Vietnamese’s to use that experience and use it to become and that's where a lot of the humour and do all my sex jokes and race jokes – fish sauce. a better comedian and try to work on comes from. It's probably more on the they did not go down at all. The host had different ways of delivering the jokes or side of exaggeration, but I like to subvert to apologise after the show. find what you've done wrong. as well. ANY ADVICE FOR FUTURE WHERE DOES YOUR MATERIAL COME WHAT’S THE MAIN DIFFERENCE COMEDIANS? FROM? BETWEEN STAND-UP AND ONLINE COMEDY? The best thing I can say is to get on social Well, from a range of things basically. media, that's the future, it's where all the Some of them come from my personal When performing on stage, you're just eyeballs are. Don't be afraid to self-market experiences, some of them are pure performing to the audience in front of a little bit and keep at it, it can take a few observations. A lot of them are quite you. You have to be in the moment; you years sometimes. observational, some of them are things I have to build a rapport with an audience. want to say, and I'll put that in the subtext Whereas with Youtube you're going out to Want more Neel Kolhatkar? Be sure to check of the joke. thousands, sometimes millions of people out his show #ObjectifyNeel at the Enmore all across the world, and you've no idea Theatre on 6 May 2017. IS IT HARD TO SPEAK FREELY how they're going to react. WITHIN THE CURRENT POLITICAL CLIMATE?

22 23 BY HAYA SABOOR

In Memory of Miniature Mughals

Take me back to the time when the Mughals ruled a united India. Take me back to the place where jewels were crushed into fine colours and art knew no geographical boundaries. Take me back to the mango trees and flowing streams in the centre of white marbles, where whispers of grand kings and stories of their great adventures were painted. An art form that has continued to live on centuries after the fall of the sultanate.

She smiled at her painting, as she gave it a final brush stroke. It was done, the room was loud with the silence of her paint, wet seashells and brushes, but the weight of history could not be undone. Her back hurt from her six constant hours of bent posture, leaning over her board with one leg propped up to her side, focusing on each brush stroke she gave the wasli.

“Wasli!”

She mouthed these words in silence as she remembered her teacher explaining how to create the surface for her paints. "Now we will take this glue and mix it with sulfur ... yes it will sting – No! Do not insult me by asking to use gloves – and spread it smoothly and in abundance. Now take your sheet, and press it against the glued sheet. Use your elbows to apply the pressure ... is okay to look fat. Keep adding ‘til you have twelve sheets. There! Now, you burnish the surface six times in all possible directions with your seashells ... it will give your wasli glow and your paints will shine even more."

She was the student of a great artist, whose lineage took him back to the Mughal Era. He was as ancient to look at as the relics at The Met. She still felt the privilege of being his apprentice. It was a gift, it was a curse. She could feel the great emperors and their grand masters of the arts looking down at her attempt at capturing a fraction of their magnificent work and the weight of their history felt even heavier on her shoulders.

Her sufaida had turned out quite excellent this time, her choice of chalk and the quantity of gum arabic had been perfect. With her things set, sea shells still shining with the glimmer of their first paint from years ago, and her squirrel hair brush which she had made herself as a sophomore in college, she was ready to show it all off to the world. But that was a thought of the future, and not something she would dwell too much on.

There she sat reminiscing about the past. Her past. Her nation’s past. Her historic past.

As she sat there on her folded legs, she stared at the painting she had created, with the piece he had written. Her lips twitched into a smile; she titled it, The Maze.

Simple. Articulate. Beautiful.

Just like the Mughal Dynasty.

25 BY LYDIA MORGAN BY LEILA FRIJAT

Svalbard

“Vlad!” The tour Although this information had sent me snow, the final blow had just been delivered group halted as into a tailspin of increasingly violent and to my hopes and dreams of seeing the aurora our guide, Katya, biopic-worthy visions of death-by-bear, it borealis. In a last-ditch show of optimism I waded through the had not come as a total shock to hear. At had booked a “Chasing the Northern Lights” knee-deep snow around 78°north and just over one thousand bus tour, the driver from which had just called from the back of kilometres from the North Pole, the Norwegian to inform me that the bus was stuck in the the group to confer archipelago of Svalbard is well and truly arctic. snow. There would be no chasing that night. with guide number Polar bears come with the territory, and make two. I followed the it necessary by law to carry a gun when leaving Just I was preparing to wallow in self-pity, one direction of their the town limits. of my dorm mates, Laina, burst through the gazes and leaned in as I caught my breath, door. “I’ve seen them!” she cried. “The lights!” nervously trying to pick up the tone of their I knew this. This was one of the first snippets conversation. “I thought I saw... that could be... I had learnt when I first looked into travelling As Laina warmed up, I threw on my various no, probably not.” Katya turned around and to Svalbard. I also knew that when I visited in outer layers and soon, we were out the door. cheerfully addressed the group. “We thought January, the temperature would be somewhere A hundred metres away from the hostel, the maybe we would meet the bears just now, but around -20°C (really quite balmy for the lights of the town dropped away and the elusive we think it’s probably just some deer. Shall we Arctic, thanks Gulf Stream!) and that the aurora borealis was suddenly right before our continue?” islands would be shrouded in darkness all eyes. For forty minutes we watched the green twenty four hours of the day. lights dance and move across the sky until they I found myself nodding feebly as I looked again melted away and the clouds returned. Staring in the direction Katya had been pointing. We Keen for an adventure in the wilderness of the into the sky at what was now just fog, I could had left the town lights of Longyearbyen behind far north, I was more surprised as I continued understand the appeal of living in the darkness, us and what stretched ahead was a seemingly planning, to discover just how accessible at the whim of Mother Nature, and why so infinite tundra of ice and snow. The heavy Svalbard really was. I flew to the largest island, many were drawn to the arctic and chose to snowfall made land indistinguishable from sky Spitsbergen, by budget airline, booked activities stay. Then, I shifted my gaze into the darkness and although it was somewhere around noon, a few days in advance on my phone and even before me, thinking again of polar bears. the polar night cast us in pitch-black darkness. stayed at a backpackers’ youth hostel. It was hard not to imagine just how easy it “I think I’ll go back to the hostel now.” would be for a two hundred kilo polar bear to While Vice journalists might have us believe hurtle from the shadows and pick off a member that fringe destinations are only for the truly of the group for lunch. I felt sure it would be me. edgy, high demand has created thriving tourism centres in many unexpected corners of the “You will protect us, won’t you Nina?” world. Although the population of Svalbard Vlad asked our reluctant guide dog as we is under 3,000 and contains a surprising prepared to continue trekking. She looked diversity of careers, from coal mining to at him. “She says she wants to go back to climate change research, the small tourism bed,” someone said. Everyone laughed. industry has rapidly expanded in recent years.

“Ha.” I tried, and failed, to join in. As my Australian husky sledding guide, Tanya, pointed out, Svalbard offers something to By this point in my trip, worrying about a visitors that people seem to crave. “Some will polar bear attack didn’t feel like neurosis — try to live here but the darkness, the cold — it was totally justified. It was my second day in it’s too much,” she told me. “But lots of people Svalbard and every interaction with a local so fall in love with it. I’ve been here for two years.” far had included a warning something along the lines of: “There was a polar bear and two On my final night in Svalbard, I sat, cubs somewhere in town. We don’t know where disappointed, in the hostel. After one they are now. Be careful!” cancelled flight and three nights of wind and

26 27 BY AMY GE BY ALBERT LIN I see museums and musicals; I get I get and musicals; I see museums

Doors inspired and humbled. I see history and humanity, humanities and the arts. Every day is an exercise in losing my mind, taking in every piece of beauty and culture and wonder I can find, taking in every I can piece of beauty find, and wonder and culture Every in losing my mind, is an exercise day humanities and the arts. I see history and humanity, and humbled. inspired I open the car door and step out, bags in hand at the airport. I'm apprehensive. Perhaps it’s because of what awaits me. Or perhaps it’s because I got home at six in the morningthe Orin six at twelvebecausenot home perhaps got I it’s because me. awaits what of it’s Perhaps apprehensive. I'm airport. the at hand in bags carthe open I out, step and door I try to lock me –every in the sight before home. to my to my parents, veil spilling to fill red my heartover goodbye its as I wave Australian sun sinks into the horizon, The hours before. every last view of that cloudless of a lifetime. single chintzy off adventure I head for the sky – before airport souvenir, one shuttle bus and thirty hours eight movies, one stop-over, flights, Two sleep deprived and incredibly hungry. months, the door of my new forI collapse the next three home through increasingly, and, are different, accents the The food is different, in every way. Birmingham shock, University is a culture the glass sliding doors of Sydney airport. since stepping through a small sanctuary my radiator. the smellfrom coming to distract from of herbs beside my desk, garden I tend to a growing different. I become Birmingham. from weep as the train pulls beginning to away grey, The sky is a sullen packed up neatly months my life for the past three beside my seat. train doors close and I sit down, The it startsThe train pulls to into rain again. London; blank canvas seats of the carriage. at the sanitised, I stare lights present. ever constantly monolith moving, a grey I step out into London, in the epileptic hostel. room takes me a while to find the door my It I do. in the morning again. up at five to get and hope to hellhave I don't pack again, my bags once I wake up again, One day, lost in a cityand getting forgotten relics. of winding streets to a miniscule Every night I open the door to a new hotel, Ireland. tour of the UK and on a two-weeks-and-a-bit I'm me in. welcome sliding to The bus doors open with a subtle hiss, The flickering keep playing images in my mind, I do things didn't think I'd do. I see things didn't think I'd see, I eat things didn't think I'd eat, continues. the adventure before rest, finally when a bus full fallingAussies of see snow for the of joy that moment I replay potato. veg, potato, meat, potato, and repetitive constant the the stormy skies, hills, green the rolling face vengeful into the as I stare Wall, very my I feel theHadrian's rain and wind piercing on top of core allAmericans we could the how call scoff at that snow. and Canadians first time; we part as for the final time. to keep in touch, the hugs and promises goodbyes, I recall the final of God . sweet time doing I take my and sounds of rooms reallydrunk having a travellers good time. with the familiar-yet-different and I'm greeted The me back, welcome doors of the hostel half travel a foodie when you you're know You London I search things. for interesting musicals. I see more myself to those in my room. I re-introduce the trip. exhausted from nothing, this damn trip long how actually is. also regretting And restored. the end I'm refreshed, by And it's worth And it. just to eat a sandwich. pelting rain and sudden snow an hour through up at 5am again. I get This Australians. we talk and and we meet a whole group of catch up as new the same to have driver, manage somehow I than the first; welcoming more tour are on the second doors The with the bus for My body is acquainted more and partying juxtapose the uniform blocks travelling. of in-between demonstrations, museums, Tours, Europe. travelling around I’m time, and traversing I see the heart and feel its heartbeats, of Europe until the next drive. in the next location, energy restless coiling inside to be spent the next day, than seven hours a day, I tick off the stereotypical touristy that the beautiful secrets things alongside us. before exploring and gone come and discovering and historiesof those who have the legacies and dreams again it once And and steal a food tray to use as a makeshift tobo

29 BY TOBY WALMSLEY

Lifeguard at Leura Beach

My father knew the owner of the surf lifesaving decimated trees they'd cleared from the land. entire day, and I took the chance to catch up I froze for a moment. The water lapped flare, and cleaned it as fast as I could, rubbing cleansed my hackneyed breaths, washing me club from when he was at school. Every few on some more TV and read a book I'd been against my feet. My body tensed and my brain off the salt and rust with my hand and spit. I clean. I swam closer and closer towards the months, he went out drinking with him to The little beach post remained, but in its putting off for the last month. By the afternoon sharpened as I was drawn out of my tranquillity. caught a glimpse of the man floundering in man. The man's body dipped below the waves. reminisce about their adventures together in solitude on the sand and its degradation though, I was tired of being cooped up in the I needed to go out there, and get help. I started the waves. His movements were getting more The sun set. I gripped his hand. the school swimming team. They'd go to the from age, it was a symbol of isolation on the observation post. Since there was nobody to run back to the post to get my board, and more sporadic. I blew down the barrel to club bar and drink until closing time, and have flatland. The wood was beginning to rot and around, I decided to go for a long stroll to end unclipping my radio. I'd call for help so we remove the last of the residue, then tried to to catch a taxi back home. One evening, on the glass was stained from the salt spray, but the day. I hooked the radio on to my shorts and could evacuate him right away. As I raised it to load the flare back into the gun. My hands the first summer break of university, the owner it had lights and heating, and a small TV that walked out into the crisp summer air. The sky my mouth to speak, the sand gave way beneath were shaking, shaking so much the flare rattled mentioned sullenly how hard he'd found it to I could watch Netflix on whilst occasionally was clear and the red sun was dropping below my feet, and I fell face first into the water. The around the barrel a few times before I could find a lifeguard for Leura Beach. casting my binoculars onto the beach. I was also the horizon in front of me, tinging the sky and shock of the cool water and the impact on my load it in. My breaths were long and heavy. equipped with a small radio – phone reception the sand a hellish burgundy. The sand between face left my body fluttering. I wiped the sand The man thrashed against the waves. I tried to "It's far out of the way," the owner had said. My was poor, and I needed a reliable way to contact my feet was still warm from the day, but the out of my eyes and looked around. The radio steady my fingers. He dipped below the water. father described him as a crotchety old man, the surf club in case of a real emergency. To my air was beginning to cool, leaving goosebumps was nowhere to be found, catapulted into the I aimed the flare gun. which I thought was ironic. From what my amusement, I found a newspaper from 1991 on my skin. I took a breath in, and felt the salt water. I feebly felt the ground around me for father told me, the owner could drink twice as and a flare gun with one round, which, from its clean my lungs. it. Only wet sand. Click. many beers as he did at dinner. He often did. flaked grey exterior, looked just as old. I walked with my feet splashing in the calm My body began to shake, from the adrenaline A dancing red fire, bright as the setting sun, "In the summer, the university students come My day consisted of waking up early to drive beach waves. It was easy to lose track of how and the cold. Against the flat water and the flew and settled over the water, leaving speckled and swim there during the day because it's a out to the observation post, before doing a wonderful it was at Leura Beach. After a while, decaying post, I'd never felt so alone. white dots and a long white line on my vision. bit of a quiet spot. So we only need the guard quick round of the beach and marking off the I'd thought of it as a place where I worked, not I threw the flare gun at the post and grabbed for a month or two, and since you need to wake safe swimming areas. I'd then slip back into somewhere that had beauty. I was enjoying the I ran towards the post to get to my board, but my board, half blind, running to the water close early, and it's about an hour's drive from the my post, watch two episodes of a TV series, cool sensation of the water and sand between it was far away. The salt air stung my lungs. I to where the man was drowning. club, none of the old blokes want to stomach it." (sporadically scanning the beach) before going my toes, and the reverberant shimmer of light couldn't help but think, I've never saved anyone and adjusting the flags and making sure people curling on the waves. I felt a wash of admiration properly before. I got a C in year 11 PE. I've I dove into the water and began to swim. The My father had said that was very interesting. were swimming safely. Two weeks immediately for the beach that I hadn't felt before. It seemed only done training. It's going to get dark soon. water drained the warmth from my body like And, in fact, he knew exactly the right person after university ended were the only busy amazing that every element came together to But I kept jogging towards the post, as if I was I was gripped by hands and they were pulling for the job. I was looking for work in the times during my two months as a lifeguard. form the landscape. It was like I'd found the being carried along. It didn't matter whether I me into the cold. The colours were unnatural, summer, and I could swim well enough – I'd Otherwise, the day went by with only a few final piece of a puzzle, and the landscape was could save him or not, I had to, that's why I was shining red when I dove in, but the flare quickly gotten an A in sport in year 10. Some early dozen people on the beach. completed in front of my eyes for the first time here. But the gap between the person who sat faded, leaving the water a deep, oily blue. The rising would do me good, he said. Invigorate in three years. The water, the sand, the saplings watching TV and strolling the beach all day, sun had dropped below the horizon, draping me with the spirit of life. I, however, found the I'd asked my father why they kept me on growing past the sand dunes – I took all of it and a real lifeguard, seemed insurmountable. a grey cape over the water. I paddled furiously spirit of life hard to grasp before sunrise. He'd for so long – two months’ work was a little in, properly, for the first time. towards the man. also forgot that I'd gotten a C in year 11 sport, excessive for a two week rush. He replied, a I was heaving and my muscles felt weak by the and that I'd never ridden a board, or swam any little hesitantly. As I looked out on the water, a silhouette time I got to the post. I ran inside, rummaged As the water turned greyer and greyer, like long distance in the ocean in my life. shattered the calm rocking of the waves. through one of the old drawers, and pulled out dye, and my arms tensed and heaved from "About a decade ago, the son of the surf club Someone was splashing sporadically, head the flare gun, loading the flare into it whilst the swimming, I felt a great sense of calm. I - owner drowned at the beach when he hit his bobbing up and down, maybe about two going outside. I thought that the flare would remembered the feeling I had just earlier - the head on the sandbar. It's a ceremonial post, of hundred metres from the shore. I swore there attract one of the guards on the beach nearby, final pieces of the puzzle slotting into place. But I only took the job because I found nothing sorts." He was quiet for a moment. "About was nobody at the beach before – I hadn't and hopefully they'd come to help by the time there was something wrong with the image, its else, and stuck with it for three years because it your age, too." seen anyone in an hour. But the man out there I'd rescued the man. I ran outside. I aimed the colour mottled or its composition off. I thought paid well and I did essentially nothing. I spent seemed to be struggling to get to land. I called flare gun over the water, closed my left eye, and of the lifeguard club owner's son. I saw his head my days in a small wood and glass observation - and waved to him, but he was too focused on pulled the trigger. smacking on a sand dune, the water carrying post on the beach. It was built twenty years ago keeping his head above water to respond. As I him away. I saw the bulldozers, crunching when the local town boomed. People expected It was a beautiful afternoon near the end of kept watching him, his head ducking beneath Click. trees down in a violent frenzy of revenge. The the area to blow up, bought plots of land, and my third year as a lifeguard. The sun brought the wave, I realised he wouldn't make it back landscape open and empty, the water empty started developing it into a wonderful, quiet, a gentle heat that was blown away by a subtle to shore alone. Nothing moved. I looked down at the flare gun. and dark. Each stroke I took through the water holiday destination. Then the markets crashed, cool wind, and the water spread gently on the It was marred with rust and sand. The damn were my hands reaching out, taking the puzzle and they left their dreams behind, in piles of shore. The beach had been abandoned for the thing had jammed. I opened it up, took out the pieces, and finally making it whole. The salt

30 31 BY SHARON WONG

In the Words of My People

“I thought you stopped smoking.” dusky fantasy, desperation carried on its back. Fingers twist a single thread running loose on opening street of New South China Mall. of the railing. It leaves an ashy trail, crumbs of woollen pants. Pulls. burnt paper and tobacco tailing the pathetic A glance. Fingers tremble, curling around “I’m sorry.” “If everyone here spoke English, it’d practically stump. sweaty limbs of metal railing. Inhale. “Good thing you speak Chinese then. Should be New York. Or Sydney. You’ll be fine.” A sigh. make things easier. Working here.” “Hey, it was good meeting up. Maybe we can “I never stopped. Started when I got here.” “But it’s not New York. Or Sydney.” do this again soon.” “But no. Too expensive. I – well, I prefer “Probably. Maybe. I mean I still sound Silence hangs in the air like a wet velvet curtain, chrysanthemum.” different.” A sharp jerk, pink tongue reaching for the last Fingers twisting the white butt, pressing it into unspoken words running between them, drop of alcohol in the glass. Straining. the slate grey metal. pooling on coarse cement landing. A bite of a lip. Knuckles crack, whipping through the silence. Clammy hands clench. Another inhale, dried It misses. “But I’m not done with my tea yet. Stay a little “My uncle smoked. Had his first cigarette when “How do you like it here in China?” innards of the cheap cigarette curling through longer.” he was twelve.” the heat. The balcony doors nudge open, a waiter Quickened breath. A lean over the railing, struggles through. Tray in hand, steaming A shift. “Ah. Chinese regulations of smoking are pretty torso hanging three storeys up, hair a charred “What do you mean?” cup aloft. lax here, huh?” tapestry that reaches for the ground. A cigarette “I’ve got to go. Work tomorrow. You know. dangles from between fingers, blood rushes to “I mean, I’m not from here. I sound different. “My tea is here.” And stuff.” “I suppose so.” a head – delirium. I speak differently. My – what do you call it – oh, accent.” A twist. Fumbling hands pull bills from a “Oh.” Peggy Lee sings from the bar behind, a muffled “It’s good. I suppose. I mean I’ve been here squeaking leather wallet. Presses crumbling murmur seeping through the balcony doors. before.” A twitch, head tilting. Listening. paper into the waiter’s hands. A nod of thanks. A swallow. Fingers tapping. A fold. Contemplation. “I ordered tea.” Smoking upside down is harder than it appears. “How’s your tea?” “Still got to brush up on my Chinese, you Upturned lungs struggle to pull in breaths of “It’s not so bad.” know?” “I already have my whisky.” A shift. Pause. “But icy smoke. Slurping. what did you order? Tie guan yin? My grandpa “I mean I don’t get the jokes here. The language. A flash of teeth. Grimacing grin. A turn to drinks only that.” “Family?” It’s so different. I can’t, I just – I don’t know.” “It’s good.” leave.

Fingers trail cloudy paths on clear glass. “Yeah. My mum’s family. And some of dad’s. A tilt of a glass, light glinting, muted in the The gurgling of hot tea runs over the click of Fingers reach for the door. Visited every couple years or so.” burnished bronze of drink. a lighter. 对不起。 Another pause. “ ” “Have you seen them recently?” “You like history right? Visit a couple museums. “Can’t believe you’re drinking that in this “I meant drank. Drank. He died three years Talk to more people. You’ll pick it up.” weather. It’s so humid.” I’m sorry. ago.” Flip. Leather soles clap on concrete, body no longer swaying vicariously, arms knot across a “But I should know this, shouldn’t I? I should “It’s not so bad.” Sirens wail in the distance, screams of sinful cotton-covered chest. already know all this. I was born here for fuck’s ecstasy, screeches of pain. Sounds that should sake.” “That’s what you said about my Chinese.” have been familiar, the voice of Dongguan. “Lost contact. After mum left anyway. Haven’t China’s sin city. spoken since.” A blink. A twist of a head, eyes scanning the A puff of amusement. Fingers grip the ends of jagged horizon of lights and skyscrapers, the the cigarette, pinching the foam. A pull and Exhale. Smoke pierces the air in a cloud of “Oh.” tell-tale arch in the distance marking the drag, the end licking the curved metal surface

32 33 ART BY KATHREN WU The History ofBookshops and storytelling, thebookshop, itsforms, inall doesnotbecome arelic of some distant past. storesopened physical across all America. thefuture holds, Whatever letushope that inourlove ofbooks shop; we seearesurgence orperhaps will ofinterest all, inthetraditional bookshop –after hasnow Amazon what thefuture succumbtotheonline the bookshop: holdsfor It isuncertain eventually will they perhaps on add andculture inthisspace. thehigherlevels tothecelebration ofcreativity thatseemstoflourish universe toimmersethemselves. book-centric in which a magical Galleries, related shops installations andart bookshop experience. Openedin2005, theshopisacross between aliving room andalibrary, givingreaders namedLastBookshop aptly The (apparently) inDowntown L.A. provides ourfinalexampleofthemodern and opposition. role increating theBeatPoet movement, more Lightsfocuses on City books ofresistance, alternative culture, different but championing acompletely philosophy, LightsBookstore isCity Francisco. inSan oftheir Alegacy intime,back surrounded by years ofaccumulated wisdom reading. andalove for Alsoopenedinthe1950s, thriving,Still Englishreading for booklovers, bookshop isasanctuary thishistoric aspace tostep offering did abookshop. Indeed, it, oftheshopcalled thefounder “a socialistutopiamasqueradingasa bookstore”. Opened in1951, andwriters, thisbookshop wasahaven artists for andacted asmuch asacommunity asit Another bookshop, inParis, located captures theimagination which ofmany isShakespeare a traveller & Co. ofitsidentity.large part ofthebookshop’scontinued part tobeacentral ideology, a books forming art spaces andspecialty withgallery shop, store now (theShinjuku spansamassive 8floors!). gallery withanart art has ofbooks and Thepairing Australian shores in1996, Kinokuniya firstopeneditsdoorsinJapan1927. two Itbeganasasimple story isKinokuniyaOne ofthemostvaluedinternational bookshops inSydney . tobefound reached itonly While get toread. we think and imagineourworlds. immensepowerover alsoexert whatispublished,They andhence, what we Today, whatandhow shapeandframe bookshops –they continue tohave influence anenormous on society be controlled toensure would notreach thatunfavourable material the “impressionable”. guilds andlicensingrequirements were created tocontrol thisindustry. This meanttoo, thatknowledge could recognised thepower associatedwiththemassproductiontime quickly ofknowledge, andspecialbookselling outby hand, written each book tobepainstakingly reproduce one couldeasily books enmasse. atthe Rulers flourished. thatbookshops truly until theinvention inthe15thcentury ofprinting Now, insteadfor ofwaiting Ages, theMiddle theelite. for During lesscommon bookshops became asreading reserved became Itwasnot their distasteinseeing art”“high works inthehandsofmasses. was disdainfrom thebusinesssideofindustry, theelitefor andmany arenowned authorcomplained of quotations were displayed intheshopfront. itseemsthatbookshops thenwere popularhaunts,While there scrolls on stacked tablesorshelves. To ininterested draw customers, selectedpassages andattention grabbing ofbooks.responsible thehandling for Not bookshops, unlikeourmodern theseancientones contained book libraries.their private libraries, Roman elitesalsopossessedprivate have slaves specifically andwould often as300BCE,Bookshops have beenaround sinceasearly whenancientAthenians relied on themtostock strength from theknowledge thatinspiteofeverything, have, they thusfar, endured. In thewakeofthesetroubling times, ofbookshops; totakealook atthehistory drawing itmay becomforting atthesheerweight ofpotentialwisdom embodiedinitsshelves. marvel yourself ofathousandpages, inthesmell ofunknown covers, shelves your handalong run endless orsimply withasenseofdread.leaving booklovers everywhere Dread ofafuture where you nolonger can immerse closures, are severeIt isnosecret financialhardship experiencing thatbookshops over theworld and all BY JEANKEARNEY son, Eddie Ah Kee, of the exhibition, is part the mug shotsofAh Kee’s relatives. Hisown beamingfaces.life Iaminvited toquestion grey spaces and swallow the larger frame than Kee’s work hangson thewalls. The vastempty asAh inSydney’ssense ofbeingtrapped history was firstbuilt by convicts as aprison; therea is Ah Kee’swhich work hangs. The NAS building culture are on ofSydney embeddedinthewalls As Iwalkintotheexhibition, and thehistory an Australian citizen. Queensland,northern hewasnot considered indigeneity, in1967, where athisbirth Innisfail, ofAh Kee’s usthestory text thattells own an animaloraplant Indigenous and non-Indigenous societies. highlightingthedichotomy between especially popularculture hecritiques inAustralia,which message in asapolitical Ah Keetousehisart animal or a plant and fauna ofAustralia. The statement as people, oftheflora asapart andnotsimply government recognised Indigenous Australians ago thattheAustralian halfacentury was only the 1967 referendum, that it this exhibit recalls in Australia. of Marking the50thanniversary Indigenous timefor rights important incredibly comes atan (NAS) inDarlinghurst School Art The Vernon Ah Keeexhibition at The National day ofracial injustice. the overarching consequences a ofcelebrating thedaycontemplate itself, notonly butalso to seehisversion ofculture inAustralia. To From until11March, 7January Ah Keeinvites lies withinthecelebration of “ quite “post” yet. anything evidence The simpler the racisttimesofcolonialisation. We are not Yet many to would arguewe are clinging still “ questionably the colonies ofGreat Britannia’s rule. We are now in know itisdark andtwisted, likemostformer incorrectness.political Australia’s aswe history come togetheraday tocelebrate loaded with year, every On 26 January masses of Australians You’re MyWarrior isadeclaration, andallows post-colonial sits loud and clear asa sits loudandclear ” time of history. Australia Day A review ofVernon AhKee’s exhibition: not an not an Not Not animal oraplantat TheNational School Art ”. ”. greater needsto understandingthatchange and “the system”. Butasahopefulsignof witness toboththeinjusticesofpolice brutality former The Palm Island councillor has been yearsseven inprison. andsentencedto leader oftheriots the ring theaudience. for truth Wotton wasdeclared Wotton (2012). Wotton’s Lex face demands Tall Man, (2012)and arethese riots thesubjectofAh Kee’ Gaol,top layer Darlinghurst withintheformer Wotton Lex of which of. wasapart Up on the "a fall”. This riots result leadontheisland, to island’s itwastheresult of pathologistclaimed thathediedfromindicated liver; aruptured the crime: swearing. Doomadgee's autopsyresults end ofhislife. For deathispunishment; the Cameron “Mulrunji” Doomadgee metthe Palm Island in 2004. In the hands of police, We seeAh Kee’s on oftheevents portrayal large room, amongst thelarge artworks. aware bodiesinthe ofoursmall become very guided through Ah Kee’s lineage, family we ofthelower level;intimacy instead ofbeing The topflooroftheexhibition the contrasts incustody?life be likely more to their background seetheendof being homeless? Indigenous willaperson of Why the Northern Territory, have a1in4chance of why will an Indigenous person in Katherine, in andcelebrations ofAustraliadrinking Day: our own definitions ofourculture amongst our Through Eddie, Ah Keeinvites ustoconsider displacement that been has resolved. never Australia, theexhibition recognises thatthis atrocities faced they withthecolonisation of Just asAh Kee’s olderrelatives question the Northern remote of of areas regions Territory? Indigenous children 70%of living insomefor incarcerated? youths likely Aboriginal 24timesmore toare be a giant installation of his face asking me BY EMMA-KATEWILSON

Why are scabies a very real problem problem real avery scabies are Why 35 I see deadly people,I see deadly Lex s portraits why

in thisskin (NITV) website. (NITV) SBS’sfrom National Indigenous Television The statistics have withinthisarticle been taken a truth, astory, and ourown interpretation ofit. books.history acts Each to artwork an indicator beyond what we read andthe innewspapers of understanding culture of far the importance backgrounds. This exhibition speaks volumes throughthe world differenteyes and different is perceived. Areminder thatwe look at all To talkaboutculture inAustralia andhow it thesestories. totell presented anopportunity human.” peopleasfully Aboriginal Ah Keehas tosee peopleisthatitstruggles Aboriginal haswith A lotoftheproblem thiscountry andwhatitmeanstobehuman.Aboriginal expanding the idea of what it means to be onKee says thefront ofthefloorsheet, understanding hisperception oftime. Ah of cultureHis critique to is so important forget history. we see truth, and Ah Kee’s defianceto letus isn’t madesick. mefeel toiletblock Cockatoo This textandinstallation piece:the shocking born ofthefirstfloor, intheback isfound loudly I can’t. The rings thismessagework most that me.that terrifies Iwantto hatehis work, but Kee’s work ofculture reveals inAustralia apart exhibition; initsrawest form. itishonesty Ah Yet, Ah Kee’s tocritique Iquestion myability racist. isinherently art on Aboriginal critique lecturer that of the lack once who told the class andtheexhibition itself.on theart Ihad a This exhibitiongoesbeyond acritique review community. had notbeendealingwithanAboriginal wouldn’t have acted theway didifthey they Act1975 Discrimination Racial that policehad contravened section 9ofthe compensation. Wotton argued successfully happen, Wotton beenawarded hasfinally just art, it'sbeyond art. Butthrough it, (2008). found toiletdoorsfromThe , and that police “ I’m I’m PRESIDENT GENERAL SECRETARY EDUCATION QUEER AISLINN STEIN-MAGEE ZACK SOLOMON DYLAN LLOYD PRIYA GAUCHAN, JACOB COUR- TENAY, ANNA TRAN, MIRACHAEL RACELA

Hello again from the SRC! Hey UNSW, This is only a small part of what the SRC The University must have heard our As always, you can get involved with our has been doing at the moment, so make message loud and clear in Week 2 – amazing work both on and off campus by Hopefully you’ve all had a good first It’s Zack, your UNSW General Secretary, sure you check out our website or hit us students and staff say NO to harmful coming along to our weekly Collective few weeks of coming back to uni, got back again! up on Facebook and get involved with trimesters! Our rally was a huge success, meetings (email [email protected]. all your free goodies at O-Week, and the amazing campaigns all of the SRC and you can check out our campaign page edu.au), or by checking out our stalls maybe even saw the SRC presentation We’ve all been pretty busy for the last collectives are running. at facebook.com/UNSWtrimonster to over at the Library Lawn or the Quad and signed up to one of our collectives! month or so, both preparing for and keep up to date with the future of our (we’re out there almost every day!). If running O-Week for the SRC. Now Cheers, fight against a new academic calendar that there’s an issue you’d like to champion Hello UNSW. This month we’ve been working with state that we’ve got a new exciting influx of will hurt tens of thousands of vulnerable or a problem you’re facing with the Uni, and national education activists on the passionate UNSW students, we’ve got a Zack students and staff. let me know at [email protected]. It’s that wonderful time of year again, campaign against trimesters, held working lot planned for you for this year. au and I’ll be in touch! where first years are settling into uni bees, and have been working with your Right now though, we’re gearing up for a life beyond O Week and all students are lecturers and tutors to say no to staff We’ve been continuing to work to provide slightly larger-scale issue by bringing free Thanks, finding their rhythm. cuts that would hurt your education and subsidised RSA & RCG Courses for education back on the agenda! Students mean you get less time to be guided in students on campus, investigating and won free education here decades ago, but Dylan. Among members, we have planned a your learning. If you want to know more contacting possible providers, working over time, those wins have been eroded number of “Queer collective goes to…” about trimesters, how they’ll affect you or with Arc to assist in the running of to the point where Australia is on the events, where members are invited to how you can get involved in the campaign, collaborative events such as Arts Festival cusp of an unfair and unequal US-style hang out at a number of locales. Previous you can email [email protected]. and most importantly ensuring that education system. This year, free education places have included Coogee Beach and edu.au, [email protected] or student voices are heard at UNSW. is the flagship campaign of the National karaoke in the city. As well as this, monthly check out our website or Facebook page. Union of Students, and we’re having an potlucks are planned. If you didn’t already know, UNSW is action at UNSW before heading to USyd This month we’re also seeing the roll trying to implement damaging Trimesters together on 22 March to show the huge In collaboration with various organisations, out of consent training and information and we have been working hard to stop amount of support there is in this country we’re also planning a Big Gay Wedding both online for all students and also this. You may have happened to come for free education. Like “Make Education event for IDAHOT and participation in training for colleges. While this is a along to, or been made aware of, the Free Again” on Facebook and demand our Wear it Purple Day. great step in the right direction, we’ll “Stop the UNSW Trimonster” rally held leaders stop talking about how many more also be continuing to campaign for in Week 2. It is important that everyone cuts they’ll make to education, and start Whether you’re interested in helping out, specialised sexual assault and harassment possible continues to build on this work, talking about how they’ll make it more making your voice heard or just chilling support services, for a standardised making the student position on the issue accessible for all. with fellow queer students, you can join and accessible reporting policy, and for of trimesters known. If you want to get our Facebook group at https://www. respectful attitudes and behaviour on involved make sure to contact Dylan We’re also beginning our push to reinstate facebook.com/UNSWQ/. campus, because everyone deserves to be Lloyd, the UNSW SRC Education the Pass Conceded grade and change able to feel safe while accessing education. Officer. UNSW’s Academic Withdrawal policy, A meeting is held each Monday 1-3pm, which currently discriminates against with additional autonomous meeting for As always, any feedback, ideas or questions, Additionally, the SRC has been busy people with disabilities and those who specific groups being held throughout please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re working to support the National Union face issues beyond their control while the year at the queer space. If you have YOUR student rep council and we’re of Students education campaign – Make studying. any questions they can be directed to our here to make sure this is truly YOUR Education Free again. Make sure to come e-mail: [email protected]. university! on down to Eastern Avenue, USYD at 1pm on 22 March to protest and support this campaign.

36 37 WELFARE WOMEN'S ENVIRONMENT INDIGENOUS ETHNO-CULTURAL DISABILITIES AMY MILLS LIZZIE BUTTERWORTH BREANA MACPHERSON-RICE TAMARA KENNY CINDY EL SAYED ALEX LINKER

The Welfare Collective has a major It’s been a busy beginning of semester for Hello out there! Many of us from the Hi all, Trump’s Muslim ban, Jacqui Lambie yelling at Wow! What a fantastic start to Semester 1, event planned with the Environmental the women’s collective! environment collective have just returned a Muslim woman on national television that 2017! Collective for Semester 1. We will be from the Blue Mountains, where we February marked the 9th anniversary of the majority wants Muslims to be deported, holding an all day event where students O-week started us off with an exciting took part in a nationwide convergence the National Apology given to the Stolen the TJ Hickey march being met with backlash, I wanted to take this time to remind everyone can come together to learn how to be couple of events. Our “Smash the of students running Fossil Free campaigns Generations by former Prime Minster, the anniversary of Rudd’s apology. that if you need special provisions in order economically frugal while still being able Patriarchy Piñata” event also saw the on university campuses. We are feeling Kevin Rudd. The National Apology to make courses more accessible, now is a to make conscience choices about the introduction of the National Union of skilled up, motivated and determined to was given by Rudd to members of the These events have made the beginning of 2017 good time to contact the Disability Services environment. There will be a large lunch, Students’ Women’s campaigns on campus. make a compelling case for why UNSW Stolen Generations who were forcibly an incredibly hard time for a lot of people. We Unit (DSU) to get that process started (if you where students can volunteer their time to We’re incredibly excited to be a part of should stop funding dirty coal and gas removed from their homes. Whilst it is an don’t feel safe as the world takes a scary shift haven’t already!). assist in the preparation of the meal, and “You’re worse off as a woman, fight back polluters – but to make an impact, we will important moment in Australian history to the right. That’s why I’ve been thinking a in doing so, they will receive a free lunch against the Liberals!” and “It’s about need your help! Come along to Fossil Free due to the government acknowledging lot about people of colour having a voice in If you are having difficulty in organising in return. There will also be workshops, bloody time! Axe the tampon tax” over meetings from 12pm-1pm every Monday past policies and expressing its sorrow national politics. your accommodations, please contact me electrical waste drop off stations plus a this year. Check out photos from this event at Thoughtful Foods in the Blockhouse to about how those policies affected ([email protected]) and I will help clothing and book swap. We are looking for as well as our crafternoon on the UNSW find out how you can help this historic Indigenous people, it is also an important This month, the bulk of work has been in you out however possible. volunteers to help organise this event, so if Women’s Collective Facebook page! campaign. part of healing for members of the Stolen knowing that we must campaign against these you would like to be a part of the day or Generation. However, much criticism was issues. We have focused on making the ethno- I hope you enjoyed the picnic and movie for have some great ideas please get in contact International Women’s Day was a huge In other news – did you know that given to this event. The apology was only cultural collective a space of safety and support, O-Week, and if you missed out – fear not as with me via: [email protected] success with multiple events run across in Victoria’s East Gippsland region, one fifth of what was recommended of the where we build each other up and fight back. there are more awesome events coming up! campus celebrating women, fighting for beautiful old growth forest is still being total of 54 recommendations made in the Check out our Facebook (http://tinyurl.com/ The Welfare Collective is also in the gender parity and embracing the 2017 logged today, despite not generating any Bringing Them Home Report. Further, I am also preparing to launch Race Talks, unswSWD) for more details! process of working with Arc to facilitate theme of “Be bold for change”. The events profit, and with many alternatives in removal rates of Indigenous children where a speaker will discuss issues such as discounted RSA and RGS certificates. included a movie night, Dress for Success existing pine plantations? These forests, today are higher than ever. Many shared racism, white supremacy and other topics in Looking forward, the May edition of Tharunka This will enable more students to access clothing drive, a contingent to the anti- apart from showcasing some of the the sentiment that ‘“sorry” means, “don’t a free workshop open to all people. There is will be focused on disability issues, and there part time work, and help take some of the trimester rally, and many more. most spectacular trees you’ll see in this do it again”. also some ground being gained on having a will be a disability awareness week during May financial pressure away from students. We country, are important stores of carbon Women of Colour collective, as well as the – if you would like to be featured in the issue, hope to roll this out during Semester 1. There’s a lot more happening over the next that we can’t afford to keep logging if February also marked the March for Queer officers creating a Queer People of or have ideas for disability awareness events to few weeks so make sure to get involved! we are serious about climate change. Justice for TJ Hickey, a young Aboriginal Colour collective! be run, please email me for more information! We are continuing the revamp of the Approach Women’s Collective or SRC That’s why, this mid-semester break, man whose death sparked the 2004 Welfare and Disabilities room on main stalls for more information, or drop into the UNSW enviro collective are joining Redfern Riots. His death was said to be Students reading this, please know that you are Disability Collective meetings run on campus. New additions to the room a meeting. Our regular meetings are held students from across NSW, ACT and a “freak accident”, however, the family and not powerless and you are not alone. The SRC Thursdays from 2-4pm in the Welfare/ include pot plants, cushions, blankets Monday 12pm-1pm, and Wednesday Victoria to converge in Goongerah, far many in the community do not accept is here for you to make your voice heard, to Disability Space (near the top of Basser Steps). and everyday emergency supplies 11am-12pm in the women’s room (Arc East Gippsland. We will be helping the these findings and blame his death on fight back against trimesters (and even global Anyone who identifies as disabled/having such as Panadol and tissues. We are equity spaces behind Baxter College, off Goongerah Environment Centre Office the police who were said to be pursuing issues like Trump, the evil orange Cheeto). disability is welcome (and encouraged) to still looking for student artworks to the Basser Steps, Main Campus). with their citizen science efforts that him. Our thoughts and prayers go out to I encourage you to come to a meeting, any join – I hope to see you there! highlight the room, so please contact me seek to uncover unlawful logging practise his family. meeting, and get involved. if you would like to showcase your work. and strengthen legislative protections for the forest. We’ll be spotlighting, tree- Tamara We can and we will fight back. Our Free Breakfasts will be held again this measuring, frog-listening and all that fun year, every Thursday from 10am on the field work stuff! library lawn. We are need of volunteers to keep this initiative going throughout the Join us – from 19-23 April. Visit asen. year. Drop by for a breakfast smoothie to org.au to find out more. Till next time! see how you can help!

38 39 WE WANT YOU IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT WHEN IT COMES TO STEERING YOUR TIME AT UNI, MAKING SURE YOU ALWAYS...

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