Dircksey ed. 3 vol. 1 "On The Hunt"

Dircksey

Volume 1. Edition 3

On the Hunt

Editorial

Contents Food Cults: The Raw Truth... Page 4 On the Beat... Page 6 A Life of Their Own... Page 8 Hunting Exposure... Pages 10-17 Flirtatious Combustion... Page 18 We Dissolve... Page 20 What Are You Waiting For?... Page 22

‘On the Hunt’ was devised as an encouragement for students to think about what human beings, collectively, are desperately trying to find in both their daily existence and ultimate longevity.

The South West: On a Shoestring... Page 24 Perth’s Film Revelation... Page 26

What we were able to put together is an amazingly eclectic handful of reflections on the human experience. I’m extremely glad that all contributors for this edition were able to nail their individual concepts and differentiate between fabrication and truth.

Film Reviews... Page 28 Finding Live Music... Page 30 Music Reviews... Page 32

Again, I’m impressed and frankly proud that we were able to rely on our visceral capabilities over all else for this edition. I believe this is a magazine worth reading as it proves that students, of all people, have the will to share intrinsic, complex views about themselves and the world around them with a strong basis of argument.

Book Reviews... Page 34

Thank you to my contributors and thank you for reading.

Editor: Michael Donnelly editor@ecuguild.org.au Copy Editor: Brock Covich Design and Layout: Michael Donnelly Contributors: Calli Graham, Rishi Rawlins, Andrew Douglas, Luke Pegrum, Michael Inouye, Sita Carolina, Tom Reynolds, Emma Stevens, Francesca Mann, Brock Covich, Michael Donnelly Music Editor: Francesca Mann music.editor.dircksey@gmail.com Our next Contributors’ Night is on the 28th of July at the ECU Mount Lawley Tav. We’d love to have you involved, so find us on Facebook to stay in touch! www.facebook.com/dircksey

Films Editor: Brock Covich film.editor.dircksey@gmail.com Books Editor: Andrew Douglas books.editor.dircksey@gmail.com Supervisor and Advertising: Tom Reynolds communications@ecuguild.org.au Front, Inside Front and Back Covers by Luke Pegrum

Disclaimer: Dircksey is editorially independent of the ECU Student Guild. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the Editor, the ECU Student Guild or the Advertisers. The Editor reserves the right to republish material in Dircksey and its affiliated formats, as well as to make changes to submitted material for clarity or spacing consideration. Contributors retain all other rights of resale or republication.

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Calli Graham Society has always been constantly on the hunt for the next weight loss solution. That perfect diet that will solve all of your health problems. The multi-billion dollar weight loss industry capitalises on the growing obesity epidemic in Australia with a plethora of reality TV shows, fad diets, supplements and nutritional cleaning programs now on the market. The typical issue of any health and fitness magazine will promote at least one quick fix diet or a nutrition plan with an unrealistic promise.

The raw truth? There is no such thing as the perfect diet. Health and weight loss are a matter of science. No short term diet will address long term health. The concepts of the food pyramid, and calories in vs calories out, are outdated. With more and more people addressing their health issues comes the 21st century discovery - food intolerances. We are consuming foods that the body cannot digest properly. The result is weight gain, lethargy, moodiness, and a whole range of physical and psychological symptoms. Addressing one’s nutrition habits, and adjusting accordingly is the only answer. Enter the rise of food cults and the clean eating trend.

The growing awareness of the level of toxins in animal products, pesticides in our farmed produce, preservatives in packaged food, compassion for animals, and environmental sustainability, has also spawned a wave of popularity for Vegan, Raw, and Organic food. These are lifestyle choices based on morale reasons and a desire to maintain a clean and chemical-free state of health. A multitude of research identifies the toxins we are exposed to on a daily basis are a large contributor towards short term health problems and also disease, particularly cancer. Despite strong opposition to Veganism, science also provides a positive link to this notion. Chimpanzees share 96 per cent of their DNA with humans, one of our closest related ancestors, and their diet in the wild is 95 per cent plant based. Research shows that human digestive tracts have evolved to obtain a greater percentage of macro-nutrients from animal sources, providing us with increased muscle and brain mass. However, Vegans are now sourcing the missing nutrients from range of “super-foods” and smart plant-based substitutions.

This new era of nutritional choices has paved the way for more awareness around the effects certain foods have on our body.

The average Aussie child was brought up on milk, vegemite toast, lamb chops, and a penchant for lollies. Scientists are only recently linking diet to childhood conditions such as ADHD. More parents are now reducing the dairy and sugar intake their children are exposed to in order to keep them healthy.

The solution we need may be a matter of taking nutrition back to basics. The term “clean eating” refers to food that is as close to its natural state as possible. The controversial “Paleo” or “caveman” diet has been sweeping across the globe for good reason; it centres on consuming foods that our Palaeolithic ancestors would have hunted and gathered. The human digestive system is most likely to process meat, vegetables, fruit, nuts and seeds with no dysfunction, as our predecessors did. It can be argued that the human digestive system has evolved in the last 12,000 years to adapt to the Homo sapien way of life.

However, depending on genetics, ethnicity and upbringing, much of the population likely possess sensitivity to foods that they’re unaware of.

With the growing clean eating trend sweeping the country, we have seen an explosion of businesses pop up in the last few years that cater for those who no longer want to eat bacon and eggs on toast for breakfast or creamy pastas for dinner. In fact, both of these dishes are both big no-no’s in the clean eating world. Any business-minded café owner in Perth should now offer catering options for the allergen- conscious or they’ve just lost a growing portion of the market place. Gluten, dairy and processed sugars are now being outlawed as unprocessed substitutes take their place. Vegan dishes have come a long way in recent times, stimulating the creative juices of the chef to provide a meal with more flavour than its carnivore counterpart. Raw and vegan food often incorporate herbs, spices, chilli, ginger, garlic and citrus to build complexity and flavour.

The Paleo diet may not be the answer for everyone, but it does have some very convincing foundations. Cow’s milk is designed for calves, not humans. The human body stops producing lactase in early childhood, meaning they can no longer digest and metabolise milk efficiently. Gluten was only introduced into our diet in recent times. It acts like “glue” in the digestive tract, causing inflammation and affecting absorption of nutrients from other foods. Both of these substances are high on the list to cause irritable bowel symptoms. The human body requires sugar to survive, but in a limited amount and from very specific sources. Refined sugars like glucose and corn syrup have a horrific effect on the body. The recent docu-drama ‘That Sugar Film’ chronicles one man’s experience swapping his 2500 calorie paleo diet for a 2500 calorie diet based on marketed health food products which are actually high in processed sugar. The eight kilogram weight gain and ten centimetre increase in his waistline over sixty days were the least of his negative repercussions.

After interviews with a number of Perth locals who stick to Vegan, Vegetarian, Paleo and Clean diets, there is further clarity to show that this social trend has far more to it than the rumour tells us. The common feedback on eating unprocessed food is longer lasting energy, increased concentration levels, better sleep, higher physical performance in exercise and sports, improved mood and reduced sugar cravings. These initial changes are followed by better digestion, fat loss, clearer skin, healthier hair and nails, the ability to deal with stress more easily, and a seemingly stronger immune system. The radical improvements

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were the changes in health conditions that people had previously not related to their diet, such as back aches and pains, headaches, and even eyesight. It seems that once one’s body is free of toxins and substances that cause it become sluggish, it has extra energy to spend on healing itself and improving bodily functions in all areas. All interviewees mentioned that their happiness levels shot through the roof when they began to nourish their bodies with better food. Inner health really does shine outward.

lose or gain weight, or you may be suffering from an intolerance which is affecting your quality of life. Listen to your own body to identify what foods cause issues. Do your own research before making a decision to eliminate any foods from your diet. Book an appointment with a naturopath or nutritionist, often covered on basic health insurance. Discuss any reactions and road blocks in your current diet. Set health goals and design a plan that will deliver you the best health in the long term. There is no quick fix or short term solution. It’s a matter of science and common sense. You must find what works for you.

Recommended by health-conscious Perth locals 1.

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Health Freak Café, Scarborough & Joondalup The Raw Kitchen, Fremantle Heaven Raw Café, Fremantle Something Raw, Mandurah Little Bird Café, Northbridge Vege Mamma, Mount Lawley The ‘Pear’fect Pantry, Wembley The Little Shop of Plenty, Maylands Mister Finch, Fremantle Genesis in the Hills, Roleytone Swan Valley Café, Millendon Organic Circle, Armadale

The price tags may be higher than McDonalds but your body will thank you for it It’s safe to say that food cults are here to stay. Diets are so last decade. It’s now about choosing a lifestyle that won’t just keep you in a healthy weight range, but also provide you with vitality and longevity. With growing numbers of Australians facing disease and health issues, the effects of sugar and processed food can no longer be swept under the carpet as a key contributor. Research shows that people who are conscious of any food intolerances and consume a diet free of processed ingredients are able to maintain a healthy weight range with ease, regardless of levels of exercise. A balance of the right macro-nutrients – complex carbohydrates, protein, and good fats – is far more important than the volume of calories consumed. Fat is no longer the weight loss enemy, its sugar and processed carbohydrates. When choosing the diet that is right for you, first ask yourself, what are you trying to achieve? You may be trying to

Inside Little Bird Cafe and a glimpse of the exuberant menu...

CNR Kitchen caters for Paleo, Raw and Vegan advocates.

Their delicious artisan desserts and sweets fall under all three categories. All dishes are processed sugar, gluten and dairy free.

Solomon’s offers organic produce, free of gluten, dairy and processed sugar. Their salads and super smoothies are to die for, and they bake their own Paleo bread.

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On the Beat...

Brock Covich It may surprise many of our readers to learn that the male toilets in building three at ECU Joondalup are allegedly a popular place for young men to meet for intimate relations... according to cruisinggays.com.

Some of the precaution measures Mr Tsai detailed for men to keep themselves safe while attending beats, include using common sense, knowing the difference between discretion and recklessness and using condoms.

Cruising Gays is an online guide for gays and non-identifying men to visit, share and rate the finest places for to meet each other in a safe and quiet spot. Other places close to ECU’s campuses that Cruising Gays has listed include Lakeside Joondalup Shopping Centre and the Innaloo Shopping Centre.

‘Sex beat’ is a phrase coined to describe an area attended often by gay men and non-identifying men who meet for casual sex.

Mr Tsai explained that knowing the area and planning things ahead, such as escape routes and safe places to go are very important. Also, keeping a record of who you’re meeting with, letting someone know where you’re going and not meeting for sex in broad daylight can minimise the risk of an attack.

Two Perth men were sentenced to life in April for the bashing of gay man Warren Batchelor at Middle Swan Reserve back in November 2013, inside the reserve’s public toilets. Mr Batchelor was targeted because he was having sex with another man.

The three top rated locations for men to meet as judged by Cruising Gays, were Kings Park with a whopping 9940 votes, Inglewood Oval 8529 votes and Edwards Park in Burswood with 8243 Votes. Kings Park was the most popular amongst voters because of the large and inviting area, which was “open to all to have fun in secluded areas”.

From the late 80s and throughout the 90s, the grassroots ‘Beat Project’ was started by local man Wayne Ryder to establish precautionary meausures amongst beatgoers. When Mr Ryder returned to Perth after working in the Northern Territory, he saw a need for an education project on health and safety matters for men going to beats.

Inglewood Oval in Mount Lawley came in at second mainly because of the quiet area that voters of Cruising Gays felt it provided, especially for guys trying out sex beats for the first time. Edwards Park in Burswood was also an attractive spot for Cruising Gays’ voters mainly because of its vast space.

Ryder was given six months funding by the WA AIDS Council but because of the success of the program it quickly expanded.

However, the primary concern that men going to beats need to be aware of, is the threat of sexually transmitted infections… especially with strangers. Unprotected sex can increase the risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections and diseases. The appeal for many men besides the sex, can be other reasons such as difficulties meeting a partner, the privacy that beats have to offer and also the social outlet it provides.

“We started off the first beats police liaison unit, we worked in an environment that was moving constantly,” Mr Ryder said.

Mr Ryder said something as simple as a BBQ was enough to help gain the interest for safer sex between men.

“If you can picture Swanbourne on a 38 degree day heat and a BBQ on the top of the then car park and we’re throwing onions and sausages on, that’s going to get your attention,” Mr Ryder said.

The WA AIDS Council is an organisation that runs programs with information to prevent HIV/AIDS and to help people living with the condition. The WA AIDS Council Development Officer Gavin Tsai said the organisations position was to inform not enforce in regards to sex beats.

“We set up mobile (stalls to give out) condoms, syringe disposals (and) safe sex education pamphlets.”

“Our position is not to tell people to do it or not to do it, our job is to inform and provide accurate information of risks to the individuals in the community, our position is to educate and minimise risks,” Mr Tsai said.

The program was so successful that it was adopted in Sydney and even overseas in Canada and the UK. Mr Ryder believed the toughest part of being a Beats Project Officer was breaking down stigmas and getting men to talk about having sex with men.

Mr Tsai pointed out that ’cruising’ in public is not against the law but having sex in public is.

“With the Beats Project how do you get gay men, straight men, men who have sex with men to talk to each other about having safe sex,” Mr Ryder said.

“According to laws, having sex in public is not legal. So that includes behind a closed door, public places like toilets (are illegal),” Mr Tsai said.

“At first it freaked a lot of people out because AIDS in those

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days was still a taboo topic not to be talk about.”

During the Mr Ryder’s tenure as a Beats Project Officer he estimated that there was up to 168 beat locations in Perth, but believes that number has dropped significantly because of the internet and apps such as Grindr.

Alternatively, apps such as Grindr, similar to Tinder, which are assisting men to organise meet ups. Grindr is a social networking app targeted at the area of the user for gay and bisexual men to search through profiles and send photos and messages to one another. Users are able accept or reject someone’s account by simply swiping on their phone to reject a profile.

Mr Tsai believed similar safety precautions when using social networking apps should be employed when meeting and talking to others.

“With Grindr online, the difference is you’re meeting people within the cyber world; so the initial contact is not face to face and therefore everyone and anyone can be online,” Mr Tsai said. “(The) most important thing with Grindr is not to give out your phone number or home address.“ Other safety measures the WA Aids Council recommends when meeting people over the net, is to be reasonable with your expectations, not feel compelled or pressured into something you don’t want to do and knowing it’s ok to walk away.

“If you plan to meet a stranger for sex, be safe and take condoms and water-based lubricant with you in case you need them,“ Mr Tsai said. Other alternatives to beats include places such as Perth Steamworks, a male sauna in Northbridge and the RAM Lounge, a cruise club in the city.

Both venues charge entry, but also supply condoms.

Gavin Tsai will be running a five-week Cruising 101 workshop (three hours on Tuesday evenings), starting on October Six. To register for the course or to find out more, email Gavin on gtsai@waaids.com or call 9482 0000.

Photograph by Sita Carolina

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A Life of Their Own Andrew Bezant The seemingly casual and random order of the physical structures contrasted with a less tangible yet more pervasive order of uniforms, formal procedures and official documentation.

Here professional etiquette and formal bureaucracy combined and took on a life of their own – life which set the terms for all who lived and worked within the walls of Heathcote; the patients and the staff.

clandestine, the privy of select individuals, alluded to in rumours or whispers. No written record would ever be kept of their ‘histories’. Even the inevitable and the commonplace remained obscured.

Whenever young men donned uniforms, their physical attractiveness was magnified. As students, their supervisors were both their professional superiors and their clinical instructors in the area of nursing. Their supervisors had the responsibility of assessing their work and passing their units. However, some of their supervisors, particularly the more mature, the less attractive and often the most socially isolated sought to be their instructors in other areas. Sometimes these youths were also lonely and occasionally vulnerable to a kind gesture. If they were also confused or stressed, their more mature teachers perceived this and might extend their mandate to aspects other than academic or professional performance.

The terms were slightly different for these two groups: the primary difference that the lives of the former were rigorously documented whereas those of the latter remained largely unknown. The medical histories and significant events of every single patient would be recorded in case notes, medical charts, daybooks and ward diaries. Even the most transient of patients would be found in any of these sources.

Furthermore, when the time came for this great institution to close, all these records would be archived. Posterity would cling unobtrusively to the details of their medical and psychiatric histories.

It was easy to use their mantle of authority and take on a more parental role: sometimes they might be a concerned parent who made demands; other times, they could be an authoritative parent who made demands. Either way, it was difficult to resist, especially during a long and lonely night shift.

Conversely, the staff would come and go at the start and finish of every working day, sometimes regularly for decades and little would be documented of their existence. Their pens would document the progress or otherwise of their charges but they would never appear directly as significant players in these particular human dramas. Only as asides would they be mentioned whenever a notifiable incident occurred; RN (Registered Nurse) Smith sprained his ankle when he slipped on the stairs; EN (Enrolled Nurse) Barker suffered mild bruising when force to restrain an aggressive patient. Incident form completed and filed.

Here, as in other institutions, when the sun began to set and the night enveloped the grounds, there was increased opportunity for clandestine escapades. Here and there, in small, secluded treatment rooms and the deserted ends of obscure corridors, chance encounters became intended meetings with swift embraces and the occasional meeting of lips.

There were tracks and obscure pathways in the grounds, which at night led to a concealed bench, an indistinct clearing, a hidden space among the trees and bushes. Here the young students and new grads could meet unobserved on their meal breaks on the pretext of a cigarette, which more often than not remained unlit.

Here they could speak unheard, exchange contact details, arrange meetings on their days off or after night duty if they still had the energy. No doubt, this had been going on for decades, ever since the hospital had opened in 1929. But only now did they sense that the need for secrecy was the result of habit rather than necessity. After all, what would have happened if the night supervisor or security guard with his flashlight had chanced upon any of them? The worst any of them had to fear was a formal rebuke… and the embarrassment would have been greater for their discoverer than for the perpetrators. This assuming that they felt embarrassment and not just annoyance at the unforeseen intrusion and interruption of their rounds.

EN’s and RNs formed the bulk of the staff, remained on duty throughout the night and the weekends. Yet the most telling thing about them was their handwriting. Apart from their surname and initials, there was little else that was known about them. No doubt each had a personnel file but that was hardly illuminating. Only a few clerks and secretaries ever dealt with these files, which were sequestered away in a little office somewhere on the grounds. Even the staff of many years service whose file might be significantly larger, only the barest of details were kept: name, date of birth, address, and marital status. What concerned the hospital most of all was what leave they had taken and when and how much was still owed.

Thus, these men in their clean uniforms remained much of a mystery. Only as a fellow staff member could begin to approach them personally and uncover the individual within the uniform.

And, certainly there would never by any official record, especially of what was deemed ‘unofficial’. The histories of these staff remained unrecorded and

But old habits die hard, especially in regimented and hierarchical institutions. Above all, men had to conform to certain conventions. Therefore, whenever they were ‘unconventional’, it

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was better to be silent and largely invisible. Thus, the collective male psyche was appeased and not confronted with embarrassing questions and uncomfortable doubts. It was good for morale overall. Whatever friendships occurred among staff could be considered just that – friendships – a delightfully nebulous and conveniently broad term encompassing all manner of positive interaction among members of the human race.

Therefore, for the duration of this hospital’s existence the student, the new graduate, the recent staff arrival, the career nurse and all others would come and go. Their paths would cross and sometimes, if only fleetingly, collide. Other times, the collision would be less transient, sometimes surprisingly so. For the most part, it would remain largely concealed.

But before the century came to an end, this particular hospital would close permanently. As first the patients, then the staff and finally the furniture and equipment vanished, only the echoes of these clandestine meetings would remain. The small storerooms and obscure benches and secluded clearings would remain empty throughout the night.

In the years to come there would be only one visitor; a lost and confused former patient appearing in the dead of night banging on a locked door and demanding admission. The security patrol would come and explain no one ‘lived’ here any more.

Disappointed, the lonely figure would move off into the darkness. Like the numerous staff over this period, the former patient strolled off, unobtrusively, unceremoniously, never to return.

Images sourced from The State Library of Western Australia, ca.

1939.

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HuntingExposure Luke Pegrum It’s a cold morning in Fenghuang, China, and the ancient riverside town is engulfed in fog. The streets are quiet, but the glassy surface of the Tuo Jiang River is disturbed as a fisherman glides past in a small boat.

The fisherman’s cormorants, which are trained to catch him fish, sit watchfully on the bow, eyeing you as they float by.

‘Fenghuang’ is Chinese for ‘phoenix’, named for it’s beauty which was said to have attracted fabled bird. And much like the phoenix, Fenghuang appears as though plucked from an ancient story book.

Indeed, if what you seek from travel is true escapism, away from the tourist routes that have been so well trodden across the globe, then China can offer you something new and exciting.

Zero english speakers, surprising restaurant dishes, and extremes of temperature are to be expected.

Its startling beauty has been preserved for centuries, and even now, as China surges into the 21st century, it remains a testament to a simpler time.

Outside of the major cities like Shanghai and Beijing, China is a truly adventurous place to travel. Largely void of western tourists, places like Fenghuang offer amazing experiences to those prepared to make the, at times, challenging journey to find it.

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Beyond that, China offers delirious natural wonders, fascinating cities and a multitude of cultures yet unscarred by the West.

When I first went to China people asked “why?”

There is no why, it’s much simpler than that. China is somewhere you simply must visit.

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Flirtatious Combustion Robert Winter (Anon.)

How can you tell these days? Do you have sex with lots of people? Do you get lots of attention from the opposite sex? Does that mean you’re an attractive person or a slut? It can be quite hard as a young person to judge what is appropriate as far as flirting/sexuality these days. If a girl is disinterested, or slow to get close to guys, she is in danger of being labelled something like ‘boring’ or ‘uptight’. If she is too quick, she is in danger of being labelled ‘loose’ or ‘sluttish’. But the same goes for guys, if they are awkward at interacting with women they are in danger of being labelled a ‘creep’ or ‘loser’, but if they are confident they can be accused of ‘objectifying’. So where are the lines between what is responsible and respectful but also fun?

when they get it? Guys and girls like sex, people drink alcohol, stuff happens. It’s just fun, right? Let me explain to you why this issue is particularly close to home, even though I have never been abused myself. Which is surprising considering how good looking I am (again that’s a joke by the way).

As a 15 year old boy, I dated and fell in love with a girl who I met over oasis.com, who was cute, funny and so adorably shy. As I got closer to her I realised she was a weird cross between fiercely cold and emotionally unavailable… then weirdly clingy. Slowly, I found out the terrible truth that she had been abused. Not just once or twice either, a lot. Her mum was a violent alcoholic with boyfriends and people who would come to the house, do drugs and molest her. In fact I was probably the first stable male figure in her life that just loved her and wanted to take care of her.

Once she opened her heart to me, she had no idea how to deal with the barrage of emotions she felt about being vulnerable or how to protect herself against me potentially rejecting her.

It broke my heart to not only hear her horrible stories, but even realer, to see how much it had affected her. How much terror and sadness, loneliness, betrayal she felt deep in her being was the story of her life.

In my experience of being a man, it can be hard to even offer to buy a pretty girl a drink without being scared an angry feminist is going to jump out of nowhere, shouting at you to get out of the girls toilets. I mean, you can barely put a picture of a girl’s naked body on the Internet without her permission anymore without a barrage of winy inconvenient losers nagging you about their ‘rights’. Don’t take that seriously.

So what is the solution to angry feminists and an ultra sensitive, politically correct, police state the dating scene has become?

Easy. It’s called the 10-second rule. It just means before a guy makes a sexual advance towards a women he takes 10 seconds simply to reflect on how the advance might make her feel. Just like when you drop food on the floor and decide whether to keep eating it or not. Easy right? In 10 seconds you should be able to reflect on whether you might make someone feel uncomfortable or flattered and can gauge whether it’s a good thing to do. I mean, what ever happened to the charming gentleman and just showing respect? Bitches love respect. You know what else they like? Not being called bitches apparently.

Apologies for any derogatory association women have with that word, I just wrote that as a joke and meant no offence to any women who might happen to read this... even if they are bitches.

Our relationship ended after about a year for unrelated reasons, and I still love her to this day. However, the story gets worse. My next girlfriend, was from a loving, relatively stable family; who were much more emotionally balanced and playful. However as we got closer and became sexually intimate and I began to realise there were some simple sexual things she just hated doing.

Sometimes she froze up. It was so weird, she would just go quiet, and not say a word. I dealt with this badly at the time, I got frustrated at her for the fact she would repeatedly engage sexuality, then just want to abruptly stop… and wouldn’t even tell me what was going on or what was wrong. I had no idea if it was me, or if we were going too fast, or if something was bothering her. Gradually after reassuring her for a long time that everything was OK no matter what, she opened up to me and told me that she had been abused as well. Even though she loved me more than she had loved anyone, she still associated sex with being violated, terror, helplessness, shame and guilt.

Jokes aside, I don’t think the word bitch should be used to describe women any more, of any description. I think it should describe a guy who gives little to no thought about how he makes a woman feel. Take this generic conversation as an example; “I just asked her if she did anal, she didn’t have to be such a snob”. In this example, asking an inappropriate question makes the guy a bitch. Or; “it was just a little pat on the bum, she should learn to take a joke”. Unauthorized physical contact makes the Mr Creepy Fingers a ‘bitch’ and should be referred to as such. When talking about an asshole in your social environment or workplace that treats women disrespectfully, you should refer to them as bitches. We should make that a thing.

I wish those two girls were the last tragic stories I heard but that’s just not the case. I’m 25 now, and over the 10 years or so that I have been in the dating game and there are many girls who I have known and some even fallen in love with. I was always so surprised to hear how many of them had tragic pasts of some description. I used to think that it was just me. By that I don’t mean I was being the abuser, I just mean I thought that somehow I was just a magnet for abuse victims, or girls with low self esteem. However, the more I talked to people about it, friends and even a psychologist I started to learn that it was not me, but in fact just common for girls to be abused. Now every

Alternatively, why is it such a big deal? Why can’t girls just get a sense of humour? Girls dress to get attention and get surprised

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Artwork by Michael Inouye, extracts from his work-in-progress graphic novel ‘Terra Aeronautica’. time I hear the term ‘rape culture’ I don’t think of over sensitive social justice warriors, or girls leading guys on then getting surprised when the guys want sex. I think of the amazing women I have known, who have been robbed of their confidence, of their safety, and of their ability to receive and express love being physical or emotional. And people - not just women, can never be blamed for being abused in that manner. Nothing a human can do justifies someone else making them feel like that.

Also, when I hear the word ‘feminist’ I don’t think of fat 50 year old angry lesbian women, I don’t think of women who are uptight or have no sense of humour. I think of men and women everywhere who want to fight for a world where that doesn’t happen. That’s why I made the joke about the 10 second rule.

Just thinking for 10 seconds is a joke, and the guys who abuse women wouldn’t read an article like this anyway… I just thought my experience was worth sharing. So are you good at flirting or ‘picking up’? I don’t even care and as far as I’m concerned, there’s more people you should be thinking about.

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We Dissolve Michael Donnelly The first time you fall in love is messy, and I mean really messy.

for sure. What you have and how it’s making you feel is the very first stumbling block and you’re a smart cookie for that realisation.

The biggest problem is that no one can warn you of the ensuing torrential downpour and all that lies in the wake of its devastation.

Hesitation may also lead to something worse. Hesitation may lead to cheating. I will brazenly attest to the fact that if you cheat, your relationship is over at that very moment. Or at the very least, the fire in something you had, probably trust, is lost.

Unfortunately, you can’t rekindle that fire. I’ll state the sometimes subtle obvious; cheating signifies the fact that the feelings you had weren’t as strong as you thought they were, or perhaps as complete. Unless you just set out to hurt people, that missing piece is usually the underlying reason behind your cheating manifestation. You must remember, if it has turned out this way; it’s not only your feelings at stake. You have someone else to answer to, well in fact, two people to answer to (and I hope no more than that, you can however, tell your mother about your misdemeanour... at your own risk). Don’t wake up the next morning thinking you’ve done no wrong and that everything will be understood. If you think like that, you’re an idiot. You’ve got pain coming, so you best buckle up and start thinking about how you’re going to tell everyone the truth.

Even if they could, most are far too preoccupied with their own status. These are the sorts of people that appear as if they have absolutely no time in the world to communicate. This is n onetheless a self-handicapping story and a brick wall may in fact be better conversation.

When it comes to talking relationships with other young people, most can not see past their own naivety and unfortunately don’t have the advice you’re seeking. This is down to a late bloom - which doesn’t infer anything except the preordained waiting game. No matter how highly or lowly you think of yourself, it’ll happen - you’ll meet someone. Which is exciting, but then you’re basically on your own, with nothing more than your own burgeoning index finger to point your way through the maze of romance. The first time is often nothing more than a stab in the dark.

And unfortunately, some have segregated themselves to what may seem an eternity of isolation, without even a sliver of motivation or even the glimpse of a genuine smile. These are the ones who have fallen off a cliff and are still around to tell the tale. If only they people could push the words out.

But as it stands, we’ll all more than likely experience these feelings at some point in our lives. How or why, I can’t tell you.

What I can tell you is that this is the nature of human beings. We allow distractions to cloud our vision so that we can only see our peripheries. We convince ourselves that it’s all slipped out of our control when really; it’s been in the grasp of our hands the whole time.

But can you blame any of them? No. All you can do is pick your shit up and jump back on the horse that waits sheepishly in its stable.

Relationships will end, and you’ll find yourself in familiar territory again and again throughout your life. Keep in mind the stupid things you’ve said and done in the past, so you don’t re-encounter them. It’s called evolution, we’ve been doing it for a long time and luckily - it’s rather adaptive.

But what’s it all for if you haven’t learn a few things?

I hate to sound scientific (...or perhaps even astrological) about something that isn’t and never will be an exact science, but before making any sort of commitment it’s excruciatingly important to be categorically attracted to everything about that particular person. That means you should find even the things that throw you off guard perplexing and somehow alluring. You need all that’s emotional, sociable, physical and sexual. Even the vulnerability of the situation should be attractive.

Other than that, I can’t tell you how to be. The words you choose to speak, when you need to, are yours only. But remember your actions will always speak much louder. However, if you say nothing and do nothing, you’re doomed. It’s not all that easy to swallow and you’re not weird for feeling like your asphyxiating half the time. You might lose some respect for yourself along the way and if you’ve never fucked up before, you’ll relinquish that sainthood you’ve been carrying on your shoulders all of the time.

It’s not the end of the world, not by a long shot.

The bigger problem you may face here however is that you’re already committed, you don’t remember blinking and you feel like you’ve forgotten how to swim. Emotion moves faster than time itself. If something is bothering you and you feel as if you need to slow down, you really need to put that into action.

Hesitation will inevitably lead to confusion and turbulence. You really need to take those rare moments you have to yourself to breathe and reflect on who is or what is in your life. You don’t have to think about what you want, because you might not know

You need to ride the horse around the track, a couple of times at least. You’re not going to be the best lover or the best communicator right away. You’ll squawk like the spring chicken you are. You’ll fall down to the depths of oblivion, and then you’ll get back up again. But most importantly, you’re going to be just fine. Even if no one knows what to do with you.

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Photograph by Francesca Mann

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What Are You Waiting For? Rishi Rawlins Who is the real you and what are you waiting for to be happy?

have thought being shouted at frequently could have had such a wholesome positive effect on the way I thought?

There are countless books, articles and internet ‘things’ written about motivation and what you need to do to be happy, we’ve all seen them right? How to be confident, successful, likeable, rich or whatever the psychological flavour of the month happens to be. The thing is, I never really related to them. It just seems most people in some way or another are just endlessly driven to try and be better. In some way that’s admirable, you can always be more educated, kinder, fitter, etc. But in other ways, that attitude seems to be at the core of what is wrong with our entire culture.

I’m not really sure if there are many definitive answers. But the journey of discovering who you are and what is important to you is far more valuable than any other journey. And in my experience what is valuable and who we are is universal. Unless you’re profoundly childish or a dangerous sociopath, all of us want to know we’ve made a difference to the world, we want to think we’ve helped the people close to us, we want to be thought of as smart, capable, strong etc. And as far as who we are, nothing is really constant. There is not a single personality trait, thought or experience that will remain constant through your existence. Ultimately nothing is who you are. However, there is something that is witnessing all of those things, an awareness that encompasses everything and remains unchanged through time.

Most people don’t like to think they are unhappy with life. Men especially don’t like to talk about negative feelings of discontentment, unless it’s blaming someone for something.

People don’t like the thought of speaking to a psychologist, or even reflecting on the way they think because if they did, they would quickly see how dysfunctional human thought is. People seem happy right? Except with their job, maybe that’s one thing people tend to complain about. Oh and their money, people are always wanting more money, that’s fair enough. Oh and I guess most people are unhappy with their relationship status in some way half the time, and the state of politics and the state of the world. Oh, and getting older, people hate that thought... and their bodies or appearance. OK, so maybe humans in Western society are actually pretty fucked up.

Of course words don’t really mean much unless you have put a lot of time and effort into thinking about them yourself, so here’s some motivation. Once you know who you are, things don’t trouble you anywhere near as much. You can’t be bothered suffering over things that will pass soon, you don’t waste time doing things that make you unhappy, and start to think more of others. You associate with people who you deeply relate to, you fill your time with, and are drawn to a lifestyle that is psychologically fulfilling. In time everything you do and say starts to have meaning behind it and you have the potential to touch the lives of people much more deeply.

If people actually reflected on what happiness is and what life is about, I think they would see things very differently. In my experience, the people who reflect on their attitudes and thoughts are often shunned, unless of course the reflection is done to music. If you told someone on the street that they were creating their own problems they’d tell you to shove it. If you put those words in a song its amazingly deep and meaningful.

Something about that is kinda frustrating.

So with that in mind... Who is the real you and what are you waiting for to be happy?

Artwork by Michael Inouye, an extract from his work-in-progress graphic novel ‘Terra Aeronautica’.

So what is a healthy attitude towards happiness? A wise old man once asked me what I was waiting for to be happy. Actually he didn’t so much ask me, he more shouted it at me. I think he was trying to get the message through to me as he knew I was unhappy. He shouted, “what are you waiting for to be happy? Forget it, it’s not worth it! How much of your life have you already wasted waiting for things? When are you just going to enjoy life?”

Good question, I thought. But how do you ‘just enjoy life’? This question was often followed by more rhetoric gems like, “who have you thought of today apart from yourself?” and “why do you blame others for the way you feel, when you can change the way you feel with your attitude?” Which lead me down the path kind of like Alice in Wonderland; down the rabbit hole of examining the way I thought and who I really was. Who would

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Calli Graham Backpackers work out the same price as an Air Bnb; but you will often sleep in a shared living space with strangers.

However, there is no commitment to socialise or contribute to cooking meals and cleaning. For groups of more than four people, accommodation websites such as Stayz (www.stayz.com. au) may be a good option as they offer entire houses for lease from a few nights up to a few weeks. This is perfect for large family getaways or heading down south with multiple friends for a wedding.

Western Australia’s South-West is renowned for its incredible beauty; a blend of the forest meets the sea and a condensed fusion of tourist attractions. The region between Busselton and Augusta boasts many of Australia’s best wineries, nine breweries, and over 15 townships; its also home to the world famous Margaret River surfer’s point.

This area is also notoriously expensive. West Australian locals are well aware that it is cheaper to travel over to Melbourne or Bali for the weekend than spend a few days exploring the South-West. A modest apartment or hotel room will set you back anywhere from $120 to $300 per night. There are plenty of wine tour and adventure companies in the region, but it’ll cost you upward of $100 per head. Not affordable options for those who are looking for a relaxing weekend away on a budget.

The Margaret River region also boasts a number of affordable caravan parks with varying accommodation options, and camp sites on nature reserves and farms which will take gold coin donations. However, its good idea to leave camping to the summer months as the region can get very cold at night.

With so much beauty on our doorstep, it seems unfortunate that more West Australians do not make the two hour journey down south. However, there are smart ways to travel the region, whether it be an overnight stay, a week with friends or a working holiday. Margaret River is very popular area for travellers due to the seasonable work and beach lifestyle. Local residents are first to admit the region is expensive, but they are privy to cheaper options for visitors. I travelled down south to get the 411 on their thrifty travelling tips, so here’s how you can experience more for less. Give up your next plane ticket to Denpasar to support our local tourism industry!

Top five value-for-money beds 1.

Air Bnb 2. Stayz.com 3. Backpackers 4. Couchsurfing 5. Camping Food & Restaurants Eating out at restaurants and cafes in the region will rack up hundreds of dollars on your credit card. Tourist prices are the norm at most venues, especially wineries. The thrifty option for travellers is to buy groceries at the local supermarket and use kitchen facilities at your hosts place or backpackers to cook your meals. There are regular Farmers’ Markets in Busselton, Dunsborough, Vasse and Margaret River; all offering local and organic produce. This is great opportunity to give back by preparing a nice meal or two for your host if they are staying with you. Margaret River Community Centre also has a soup kitchen which is open on Mondays and Wednesdays. If you are feeling lazy, you can fill up as many take away containers as you like at the price of five dollars per bowl.

Accommodation

Air Bnb (www.airbnb.com.au) is your most economical option for a weekend or week down south. The website allows residents of the area to offer a room or their whole living space for rent. You pay the home owner directly, and you’ll find a place down south from $30 a night. The concept of communal living means you do not treat the place like a hotel. Respect your hosts and the house and keep areas clean like you would your own home. Air BnB hosts often enjoy socialising with their guests. Many locals in Margaret River offer their houses on Air Bnb as they enjoy meeting new people and sharing their knowledge of the area with guests.

Transport The South-West region is incredibly spread out, so it’s important to select an appropriate transport option based on the length of your stay and the purpose. One tank of petrol will get you from Perth down to Margaret River and back. If you are taking the journey down, check the Fuel Watch website before leaving to fill up your car before leaving for around $1.15c per litre. You may be faced with prices in the current climate upwards of $1.50c per litre once you leave Perth. Whether you are driving yourself or looking for a lift, be sure to check out a ride share website. The Margaret River region also has a closed Facebook group for locals. If you know someone who lives down there, get

Couchsurfing (www.couchsurfing.com) is a similar concept, however there is no fee. Therefore it’s even more important to respect the shared living space. Hosts purely offer a place to sleep to travellers as they may value philanthropy or enjoy making new friends from around the world. Couchsurfers should find a way to express a token of their gratitude such as cooking a meal for their host. The best Air Bnb and Couchsurfing guests are those who help out around the house, make an effort to ascert mutual respect, and socialise with their hosts.

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them to post on the group to find a lift for you. Passengers are expected to contribute towards petrol costs only - it’ll set you back $15-$20 one way. This is a social and relaxed way to travel, and may even net you a new Facebook friend. TransWA provide single and return coach and bus services to the region from $38 one way. Concession card holders and students are half price.

Ensure you check timetables as there may not be a service daily to your desired destination. Once you get down past Busselton, there are no standard taxi services or public transport. Therefore unless you have a designated driver, book a tour or a specialised taxi service (quite expensive), the only way to get around is to walk or ride a bike. Major towns in the region do offer bike hire.

It is possible to ride a bike between wineries close to the town centres, however If you are planning to sightsee or visit more than a few wineries, having access to a car is essential. If you home stay, your host may be kind enough to lend you their car or provide you with transport, especially if you reward them with a good bottle of vino.

nature walks along the coast line, an area popular for whale watchers. Drop into a local tourist centre and pick up a map of the region for full list of free tourist attractions and local businesses. Wine tasting is free in the region; therefore you can easily spend a day sampling delicious Cabernet Sauvignons and Chardonnays without reaching into your pocket. The majority of local produce centres offer samples and are worth the visit even if you do not buy anything.

Top five free local produce samples 1.

The Chocolate Factory 2.

The Cheese Factory 3.

Vasse Virgin 4.

Yahava Coffee Works 5.

Cape Lavender For more information on planning your trip to the South-West, visit: www.australiassouthwest.com/ and www.margaretriver.com/

Things to Do There are plenty things to do, places to go and tourist attractions to enjoy in the South-West, and many do not require a single cent. The West coast is scattered with gorgeous beaches and bays, and areas to surf, paddleboard, go fishing or take the boat out. Think national parks, nature reserves, caves, wildflowers, and farms. There are a handful of incredibly beautiful locations to take photographs to make anyone’s jaw drop. Take the 85 kilometre Caves Road drive from Yallingup to Augusta. Stop by the Margaret River Mouth at sunset and watch the surfers in their element with a stunning backdrop. Visit the Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse in Geographe Bay and enjoy the scenic

Margaret River’s Xanadu Winery

Surfers’ Point, Prevelly

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Perth’s Film Revelation Brock Covich Perth’s International Revelation Film Festival will have film industry experts beaming this month thanks to its eclecticity of screenings, arthouse nich and a variety of social issues tp be explored. The festival will feature nearly 130 new films from around the world, with animation, documentaries and feature films screening over 10 days.

Sowada believes the festival’s excellent quality is one of the key reasons to the growing reputation of the festival within the Australian and international film community.

“The international industry sees the festival here and overseas, it’s not a huge festival, (but) the quality is high and it’s hard to get in therefore a lot would like to get in,” Sowada said.

The festival is different to many other film festivals because of the interactive side it offers to patrons. With guests from the films, workshops, master classes and Q & A’s all set to take place.

Mr Sowada also pointed out the film makers in this year’s festival were responding to current issues facing society.

“This year strangely enough there was quite a few films about gender and about gay and lesbian issues, I mean that’s in the news every day,” Sowada said.

The festival is in its 18th year and Festival Director, Richard Sowada who is also the Head of Film Programs at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image, has been involved with the festival since its inception.

“It’s funny how the creative community can really pre-empt that and so there was a lot about lesbian and gay performers and issues.”

Films focusing on sexuality and gender issues this year include director David Thorpe’s documentary ‘Do I Sound Gay?’ which explores the idea of a ‘gay voice’ in a comical way. As well as ‘Pasolini’ a European film based on the murder of gay Italian communist Pier Paolo Pasolini.

The festival has also become an important platform for documentaries to be seen and recognised. ‘Spellbound’ was nominated for an Oscar for Best Documentary, Features at the 2003 Academy Awards after it was first screened at the Revelation Perth International Film Festival.

Sowada said the festival has played a significant role in the rise of documentaries and used the success of ‘Spellbound’ as an example.

“You couldn’t see a documentary on a commercial screen, and then we screened a film called ‘Spellbound’, we were the first festival to screen that, we literally discovered that film,” Sowada said.

‘Spellbound’, directed by Jeffrey Blitz, documented the story of 18 students and their quest to win the 1999 National Spelling Bee in America.

Other documentaries to star at this year festival include ‘The Look of Silence’ and ‘Tab Hunter Confidential’, which examines the life of a popular ‘50s Hollywood lead actor.

Pointedly, Sowada notes the festival organisers decided to buck the trends of other film festivals such as the Cannes Film Festival and Venice Film Festival by not giving out awards.

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“Very early on we decided we weren’t going to elevate one film over another,” Sowada said.

“Everything at the festival is of what we think is a high quality, everything we include is on the same level: good.”

The sophistication of this year’s film festival is brought on largely due to an emphasis on visual qualities Sowada believes.

“It’s very big screen orientated, we were looking for films which had good sound, really fantastic visual qualities to really exploit the power that cinema presentation has,” Sowada said.

Some of the classes that budding filmmakers can get involved in include a digital filmmaking master class, monologue tutorials, directors forum and a free Indigenous acting workshop.

The Revelation Perth International Film Festival has evolved significantly since its birth in 1997 from the basement of a former Perth jazz club.

The festival takes place at different places in Perth, including Luna Leederville, Luna SX in Fremantle, Cinema Paradiso in Northbridge, The Backlot Studio in West Perth, Central Institute of Technology and the Western Australian State Library from Thursday July 2, with most films rated for an audience 18 years and older.

Photography by Andrew Tran. Courtesy of Perth Revelation Film Festival.

Launch evening at the Luna Leederville

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Films Tehran Taxi Independent, 2015

Last Cab to Darwin 2015

Do I Sound Gay 2014

Tom Reynolds

Tom Reynolds

Tom Reynolds

This is a deeply Australian film. It is packed with beautifully shot landscapes, the garish dinky-di artefacts of rural Australia and strine-inflected accents.

There’s a joke on Will & Grace I always remember when seeing queer films.

Karen and Jack are discussing seeing a gay film that neither of them want to see.

“This film is going to be terrible,” says Karen. “I know but until we’re equal we need to support our people,” Jack replies.

Sadly this is still true for most queer cinema. What I watched was better than I expected, but still underwhelming.

You probably haven’t heard of Jafar Panahi, he’s been banned from making films for twenty-years. His crime was directing a feature film about women attending a men’s soccer game – a criminal offence in Iran.

Regardless, Panahi continues his socially and politically explorative work in ‘Tehran Taxi’. Presented in raw footage style the film is recorded from the dash-cam on a taxi Panahi drives himself. His passengers, including his niece, provide a candid series of vignettes.

Cumulatively these present a fascinating cross-section of the undercurrents of Iranian society. There are few bones to pick with this film, which is every bit a loving meditation on Iranian society as it is on filmmaking. Tehran Taxi is defiantly and proudly set amongst the everyday “sordid realism” banned in statesanctioned Iranian cinema.

Watch it to enjoy a well-composed film, (it won the Golden Bear at the Berlin International) or to bone up on Iran’s surprisingly cosmopolitan society.

What convinced me of the film’s cultural credentials was from listening to the audience. The theatre cackled gleefully at the dry ironic humour of the film’s darkest moments. Scenes a European or American audience would interpret as earnest pathos had the audience giggling with a ‘if you can’t laugh you’ll cry’ kind of response.

Last Cab to Darwin is, in a word; good. It tells the story of cab driver Rex (Michael Caton) making a desperate drive to Darwin from Broken Hill to be euthanised by Dr Farmer (Jacki Weaver).

Through the arid then tropical landscape there is drama, tears, and reflections.

There are two main criticisms to be made of the film: it occasionally drops the ball with heavy-handed sentimentality, and it drifts listlessly once the story reaches Darwin before compressing the emotional energy of the film in the last ten or so minutes. A pacing that would no doubt have worked better in the play the story is adapted from.

Michael Caton was exceptionally well cast. However the shining talents of the film were its indigenous cast: Ningali Lawford as Polly, Rex’s love interest and Mark Coles Smith as Tilly, a young and dispossessed alcoholic. An honourable nomination also goes to Jacki Weaver’s wig for best supporting actress.

Beautifully shot and absorbing the unique Australian landscape into the storytelling this is a film worth seeing.

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The premise of the documentary is David Thorpe links being unhappily single with sounding “too gay”. He undertakes speech therapy, discusses the ‘gay voice’ concept with his BFFs, and composes some talking head interviews with the gay illuminati (not really, just seeing if you’re paying attention). The documentary draws upon American queer cultural celebrities like Dan Savage, Margaret Cho, Tim Gunn, David Sedaris and George Takei for input on the subject. What they contributed was often on point, but not particularly deep.

The plot is extremely predictable Thorpe learns to embrace who he is and how he sounds.

Coming in under an hour and a half it was refreshingly short, however it could have easily used additional time to unpack some of the meatier content about voice, speech, community and identity. A special “fuck you” should also be noted for Disney coding every major villain as a camp homosexual in all but name. I would have preferred something that left me with food for thought rather than bare bones to pick at.

In conclusion it’s mediocre, but not awful, one for a rainy day at home.

Jurassic Park 2015

Unfriended 2014

Ted 2 2015

Brock Covich

Brock Covich

Brock Covich

Two decades after the events of ‘Jurassic Park’, humans are still making the same grave mistake of playing God by genetically creating dinosaurs. Isla Nublar, the location of Steven Spielberg’s original, plays home to a new dinosaur theme park.

However a decline in visitors attendance to the Island sparks pressure by management to create a new dinosaur called Indominus Rex. The dinosaur is the main antagonist of the film as the characters struggle to eliminate the monster, threatening to kill all before it both human and dinosaur.

Director Colin Trevorrow, the man behind 2012’s time travel hit ‘Safety Not Guaranteed’ was supported by Spielberg in an executive producer capacity.

The film’s two main leads are ‘Parks and Recreation’ star Chris Pratt as a charismatic Velociraptor trainer and Bryce Dallas Howard, who after roles in well known franchises but forgettable films such as ‘Spider-Man 3’ and ‘Terminator Salvation’, finally shines as the theme park’s operations manager.

B.D. Wong is the only main actor to reprise his role from the original trilogy, with his character Dr. Henry Wu playing a much more significant role.

Some diehard fans of the original trilogy maybe disappointed with the lack of screen time that some of the series’ most popular dinosaurs get.

However he films special effects are fantastic but it’s the action scenes and the perfect comedy timing that make it so entertaining.

The technology available to the filmmakers helps bring ‘Jurassic Park’ to life for a whole new generation and makes it worth revisiting for older ones

Six teenage friends are socialising as they normally would, by chatting online one school night. But things start to get weird when an anonymous account hijacks their group chat and starts to harass them about the death of their friend Laura Barns (Heather Sossaman), who committed suicide a year earlier after an embarrassing video of her was uploaded to YouTube.

“Robin Williams on 9/11,” you can expect that sort of material in Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane’s ‘Ted 2’.

‘Unfriended’ (or Cybernatural) is the latest supernatural horror movie to grace the screens from the producers of the ‘Paranormal Activity’ franchise. One of the most impressive elements of this film is how director Levan Gabriadze has constructed it. Everything you see on the cinema screen is from the direct point of view of the characters’ computer and laptop screens or also known as video screen capture.

As Ted finds himself in the challenging position of having to fight for his right to be recognised as a human by the courts, after it is revealed during the process of trying to adopt a child with his newly married wife that he’s in fact property not a person.

The events of the film happen in real-time as the characters’ screens and websites such as Facebook, YouTube, Skype and Spotify become the main locations of the horror. During the film the characters are confronted about their past actions, both around Laura’s death and their own personal indiscretions as the tight knitted group of friends soon start to crack.

In amongst all the notifications, screaming and flaky dialogue ‘Unfriended’ surprisingly shines a light on concerning social trends such as sexting, revenge porn and the results that cyber bullying can have.

Like the boom effect ‘Halloween’ had for slasher films in the 80s and the Blair Witch Project’s inspiration for many more found footage movies, ‘Unfriended’ could be the new trendsetter for the next wave of horror films.

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Following on from 2012’s hit comedy ‘Ted’, MacFarlane’s pot smoking, foul-mouthed teddy bear (voiced by MacFarlane) and his thunder buddy John Bennett (Mark Whalberg) return.

Amanda Seyfried plays a recently graduated lawyer who leads Ted’s case to be recognised as a human and also the new love interest of John. Seyfried teams up with MacFarlane again, after last years “A Million Ways to Die in the West’ and reminds viewers of her comedic capabilities.

Giovanni Ribisi provides quirky humour, playing a creepy janitor, who is still hell-bent on kidnapping Ted. As I learnt from people’s reactions in the cinema, this movie is definitely not for all tastes; with jokes about sperm donating and characters unable to search online without accidentally looking up “black cocks”, the film is definitely not one to take a class of grade five students along to.

Some of the cutaways and random gags that work so effectively in MacFarlane’s animated shows often fall short of the mark.

‘Ted 2’ is a ‘strictly for fans’ sort of movie, even with the crude jokes and pop culture references, it’s hard to see Ted returning for a third instalment.

Finding Live Music Frankie Mann This year has not been a good year for music venues in Perth. We saw the Bakery close its doors for good, Fly By Night Club turn to crowdfunding to stay in Fremantle and Deville’s Pad blow out its fake volcano.. But as one door closes, another one opens, and that’s no different with great venues in Perth.

The Bird If you don’t mind getting up close and personal with sweaty hipsters, The Bird is great. Located on William Street in Northbridge, The Bird offers a wide variety of events, from Hip Hop Karayo!ke to local EP and album launches, and even the occasional art exhibition.

I chatted to Aaron Smith, the co-founder of HeyMuzo – a not-forprofit organisation set up to help inspire and encourage people to play music; and Sarah-Louise Nelson, the resident academic for Perth Venue Action – an association aimed at helping out music venues; about Perth’s vibrant music scene, the places to go in Perth and how we can help keep Perth buzzing.

The Good Shepherd One Hell of a dive bar with a super sticky floor, the Good Shepherd is a great spot to hear local bands. Located in a seedy alleyway in Leederville, every Wednesday night is –HERD-, with cheap beers and an array of local bands.

The Scene

The Universal Bar

Everyone always complains about how dull Perth is, but we have one of the best and most diverse music scenes.

Some may shy away from The Universal Bar because of its more ‘mature’ clientele, but you’ll be able to catch Perth’s best funk and soul bands here. Live bands play every Thursday to Sunday night and HeyMuzo also hosts different events throughout the month here. From acoustic evenings to RnB nights, there’s a little bit for everyone to enjoy.

“Perth is this isolated city but it has so much success coming from it,” Nelson said.

“The talent is extraordinary. People think we’re the next up and coming place and it’s time to start supporting that.”

Perth bands have had incredible success in Australia and around the world. Empire of the Sun have made it in the US and Europe, embarking on an American tour this month. Gyroscope have one of the most loyal fan bases in Perth. San Cisco practically blew up around Australia with their single “Awkward” in 2012. Tame Impala now play at massive festivals in Europe and everyone knows at least three Eskimo Joe songs. And that’s really scratching the surface.

Indi Bar

“We need to start supporting the musicians and artists coming out of Perth,” Nelson said.

The Venues

If you’re looking for both local and international bands at reasonable prices, Amplifier/Capitol is where you want to go.

Capitol is geared towards dance music, whilst Amplifier generally sticks to rock and metal. Wednesday nights invites local bands in to their acoustic garden and main stage area, whilst Thursday nights open Perth up to incredible punk, screamo and metal bands at Last Night.

Perth is practically overflowing with live music venues.

Flying Scotsman/Velvet Lounge/Defectors Bar

“There’s so many places and that’s the hard part,” Smith said.

Three great live music venues in the one easy location! You can find The Flying Scotsman on the corner of Beaufort Street and Walcott Street, Defectors Bar is a storey above and The Velvet Lounge is to the rear of the building. You will find something you like in this epic hub, whether it’s a freestyle night upstairs, a live band in The Velvet Lounge or an acoustic set in the Flying Scotsman. They also make incredible food so it’s a win-win situation.

Just off of West Coast Highway in Scarborough, Indi Bar features live music 5 days a week. Brazilian, reggae, blues and even an Irish night, Indi Bar caters to those that are often left out of the live music scene.

Amplifier/Capitol

What’s the best way to do that? Get out there and see these bands perform!

“It’s just a matter of researching where they are and going to see them.”

So I’ve done the researching part for you so you can go out and experience Perth in a new way.

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Ellington Jazz Club

The Future

The name says it all, The Ellington is where you go to experience Perth’s amazing jazz scene. Live bands take to the stage each night, although, it’s not always jazz. You’re likely to hear a lot of funk, salsa and soul here too. A classy establishment that will make any night out feel sophisticated – even if you ask for their cheapest wine.

Two new venues are opening up in Perth this month, The Boston and Jack Rabbit Slims.

But do we really need more music venues in Perth? Smith believes we’re at a happy medium right now.

“With more venues you’re just giving people more choice,” he said.

Mojos Bar I seem to have neglected South of the River (because I can’t afford a taxi home from there) but Mojos Bar is the place to go in Fremantle for live music. Local, national and international bands frequent Mojos, and every Monday is open mic night. Located in North Freo on Queen Victoria Street, Mojos is worth the trip.

“Adding a new venue to the mix could potentially close down another venue.”

Jimmy’s Den

“It does come down to the number of people going through the doors of these venues,” she said.

Nelson believes the venues we have now need as much support from us as possible.

Perth’s most recent live music venue, Jimmy’s Den, is barely visible from James Street, Northbridge. Blink and you’ll miss the door that leads upstairs, but it’s worth the discovery. The goal of Jimmy’s Den is to promote art and culture in WA, with the City of Perth helping to set the venue up. If you want a different night each time you go somewhere, Jimmy’s Den is that place. One night you might stumble upon a grunge band, the next night the soothing sound of blues and soul will fill the venue.

“Keep Perth buzzing, keep Perth alive.

“Live music is a community responsibility; it’s just about creating that kind of vibe.”

So the next time you’re heading out, hit up a live music venue and help keep them running. There’s no shortage of them, it’s just about finding the one you love.

Melbourne band Kingswood performing inside Perth’s newest venue Jimmy’s Den. Photograph taken by Andy Shedden ( OK-White Lane )

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Music

Oh Inhuman Spectacle LP Methyl Ethel Remote Control Records, 2015

Hud Dreems LP Knxwledge Stones Throw Records, 2015

Horrors of 1999 EP Ho99o9 Family, 2015

Frankie Mann

Michael Donnelly

Frankie Mann

Oh Inhuman Spectacle is the latest from indie-pop Perth trio, Methyl Ethel. The album instantly captivates you, offering a hauntingly beautiful experience that will linger in your mind.

At times the floaty, dream-like music transports you to a lazy Summer day, but you can easily be dropped into a gloomy and dark winter in the space of four minutes.

‘To Swim’ lures you through an emotional battlefield, clutching and clawing at the darkness that’s been lurking deep in your stomach.

Oh Inhuman Spectacle also features their hit single, ‘Rouges’, bringing you back down to reality, before catapulting you back into the surreal sky.

4.5 / 5 stars

This is 26 tracks worth of the young Los Angeles producer’s finest and most eloquent sounds.

Despite clocking in at just over 10 minutes, Ho99o9’s first full release, Horrors of 1999, packs one Hell of a punch.

With trademark off kilter beats and superbly handpicked ‘oldie’ soul samples, this vignette style album is sure to keep Knxwledge’s laidback vibe ahead of the race in the current climate of hip hop.

Imagine Marilyn Manson, The Sex Pistols, Rammstein and Slipknot had a baby; it would be the New Jersey group Ho99o9 (pronounced ‘horror’).

It’s without a doubt emcees far and wide will be lining up to work with this talented musician given this recent release.

It’s a violent combination of metal, punk and rap, with track ‘Day of Vengeance’ experimenting with a sludgy, doom metal sound.

Each track on this record is a taster for Knxwledge’s potential and proof of a rising hip hop stalwart.

Featuring incoherent vocals, random grunting and a 30 second grab of a lady saying people shouldn’t have sex, Horrors of 1999 is not an album for the faint hearted.

From Hud Dreem’s opening, soothing bass lines and driving vocal grabs are enough to keep you in a state of transcedence and movement throughout the entirety of the album.

Another impeccable and original release on the regal Stones Throw label.

We can expect to see much more from this producer, who recently collaborated on Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp a Butterfly. This album defines and goes bigger and better than Knwxledge’s previous works.

5 / 5 stars

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It’s off-putting, unsettling and confronting, but the urge to head bang along is overwhelming.

3 / 5 stars

Are You Satisfied? LP Slaves Virgin EMI, 2015

Lantern LP Hudson Mohawke Warp Records, 2015

How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful Florence and the Machine LP Island Records, 2015

Frankie Mann

Michael Donnelly

Emma Stevens

Are You Satisifed? is the second album from British two piece punk band, Slaves, featuring songs so catchy you’ll be screaming along in your worst English accent.

After having not made a full length release for six years, Hudson Mohawke or HudMo has equaled the brilliance and sheen of his first LP, Butter, with follow-up Lantern.

Slaves combine a heavy punk sound with almost rap like vocals, with lyrics that punch you in the face.

Ebbing and flowing impeccably from song to song, HudMo has made a clear statement about the current status of dance music and all its degrees of variance with this record.

Most songs on the album transport you to the gritty streets of London, but the title track offers a dreamy, surreal break from the high energy levels.

For a two-piece, these boys sure know how to produce a lot of noise.

4.5 / 5 stars

In saying that, Lantern incorporates all the elements of today’s body moving electronica; switching from trap to house to experimental ambience without any particular bounding genre.

It’s the sort of record that keeps you guessing, where HudMo leads as the exemplary eccentric producer who doesn’t settle on any particular point of difference.

‘Very First Breath’ sets up the overriding bouncy tone for this record, which is helped along nicely with both atmospheric and uplifting synth-scape mastery on tracks ‘Kettles’ and ‘Shadows’ respectively. ‘Deepspace’ anchors the album and is the sort of poppy anthem that could stand the test of time.

Featuring a variety of talented musicians who all bring something different to the table, Lantern is the quintessential party album of 2015.

4 / 5 stars

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How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful is the anticipated third solo album of Florence Welch since her break due to a vocal injury in 2012.

This is her most orchestral album to date, with Florence and the Machine maintaining a balance of vulnerable lyricism and musical mastery to take you on an emotional rollercoaster.

How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful is a powerful and beautiful album that will leave you feeling emotionally wounded.

4 / 5 starts

Books ‘Heretic: Why Islam Needs a Reformation Now’ Ayaan Hirsi Ali Fourth Estate, 2015

‘Universal Man: The Seven Lives of John Maynard Keynes’ Richard Davenport-Hines William Collins, 2015

‘Madness’ Claudio Edinger Monograph Dorea Books and Art, 1997

Andrew Douglas

Andrew Douglas

Michael Donnelly

This is a thorough and rational account of terrorism in the name of religious fundamentalism. Written by an academic who was raised in a fundamentalist family and escaped to the west to avoid an arranged marriage, it covers a range of contemporary issues. These primarily include terrorism, ISIS, the Muslim Brotherhood, jihad, and apostasy. Not only is this book written in the context of theology, but also in the broader social-political context of international relations.

Nowadays, it is universally accepted that elected governments have a significant role to play in managing the economy.

This is largely due to John Maynard Keynes - the leading economist of the early 20th Century. He, more than any other economist or politician, made it acceptable for governments to intervene with public works and other expenditure to stimulate economy during times of recession. Prior to this point, it was generally assumed that governments ought to save in times of depression and let the forces of laissez faire capitalism to adjust themselves ‘naturally’.

Edinger’s selection of photographs from “the bowels of Juqueri” (a mental asylum in São Paulo) is as haunting as it is enlightening.

It is not a negative rant but a constructive analysis; it explores the significant points of divergence and convergence of Islam with other religions such as Judaism and Christianity. It also offers potential solutions to religious violence both in terms of social activism (such as supporting those who seek reform) and in terms of theology (the points of the faith that need to be examined and reinterpreted).

The basic premise is that all religions are interpreted by people (usually men) and that no one religion is above criticism and debate. For Islam, Ali stresses it needs to be debated and reinterpreted by both laity and religious leaders according to the issues and context of contemporary modern society. This is essential to guarantee the freedoms taken for granted in western society such as the rights of women and minority groups such as gays.

The author explores the disparity between a fundamentalist upbringing and living in a secular society. This is effectively illustrated in her discussion of modern feminism. Whilst drawing parallels with the US civil rights movement in the ‘50s and ‘60s, she states why should we accept the subjugation of 50 per cent of the population on the basis of gender?

Essential reading for those, irrespective of their beliefs, who wish to understand terrorism and other religious violence in the modern world and how it can be combatted.

Despite his vision, Keynes emerges not as a zealous radical but as a brilliant intellectual with a passion for individual freedoms. This was only part of a complex public man whose social life was as impressive as his academic life.

He rubbed elbows with all the significant politicians and intellectuals of his day, including Virginia Woolf and Albert Einstein.

This well written work makes the rather ‘academic’ field of economics understandable, particularly in the context of the global politics of the two world wars and the great depression.

While the diction tends to the highbrow at times (how many of us use words like prolixity, lien, serpentine, clerisy?), this does not detract from the material. Not only are there entertaining anecdotes of Keynes’ official life as an advisor and lifelong member of the British Liberal Party, but also numerous details about his social life. Apart from his happy marriage, he had numerous homosexual affairs during the first forty odd years of his life.

This bio not only clarifies much of the global economic history of the early 20th century, but in the context of a complex and colourful character and one of the great geniuses of the period.

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Winning the prestigious Ernst Haas Award with this carefully crafted monograph, Edinger shows the playfulness and child like state of the mentally ill through his trusty lense and a roll of film.

Flicking from page to page, one may feel somewhat taken aback by the carelessness of the ‘captured’ inmates, who appear in almost each different shot completely nude and pulling some sort of majestic facial expression. Edinger explains this as common as the disabled “don’t feel the cold” or at least, have no care in the world for it.

It’s almost as if each character in this story is laughing at us, the supposed ‘sane’ with our own ridiculous social norms and our debiilitating stigma around those who are mentall ill.

This monologue is earnst of its critical acclaim. By the final photo you’ll be questioning your own perceptions of lost souls, how easy they are to capture and how to put their story back together.

Edinger shows that the mentally ill are not complicated. He deciphers his subjects, how they behave and at the same time rips apart our own behavior and how we take our own mental health for granted.

This small, but incredible selection of photos were taken within the space of two weeks, just over 25 years ago, and still stand up today amongst all the other epic photographic showcases at our fingertips.

Visit www.sane.org for the lowdown on ‘de-mystifying’ mental illness in Australia.