Getamungstit - The Green Edition (October 2015)

G E TA M UNG ST IT

THE GREEN EDITION

ISSUE 05, 2015 / FREE EDITORIAL TEAM Jessica Brown - Editor in Chief Rebecca Marshallsay - Editor in Chief Erwan Guegan - General Content Editor Hayley Payne - General Content Editor Angel Nikijuluw - Visual Editor Ashleigh Watson - Features Editor PUBLISHER Cameron Harrison TALENTED CONTRIBUTORS PHOTOGRAPHIC Dan Carson Erwan Guegan Angel Nikijuluw Christian Nimri Aidan Ryan EDITORIAL Benjamin Brown | Amara Cauci Roman Chayka | Erwan Guegan Cameron Harrison | Zarek Hennessy Monique Hotchin | Phil Kimmins Rebecca Marshallsay | Ira McGuire Angel Nikijuluw | Christian Nimri Hayley Payne | Lillian Price Paul Veitch | Ashleigh Watson Sophie Wood DESIGN

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY Griffith University Gold Coast Student Guild acknowledges the people who are the traditional custodians of the land, pays respects to Elders, past and present, and extends that respect to other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.

SUBMISSIONS Are you a budding student journalist, photographer or have a random idea that could be a great story?

Getamungstit accepts art, photo and story submissions for consideration however there is no guarantee your

work will be published. Email us at getamungstit@griffith. edu.au

Liveworm Gold Coast by QCA Students Creative Director - Alejandra Ramirez Vidal Studio Administrator - Sharon Searle T +61 7 5552 7262 E goldcoast@liveworm.com.au W livewormgoldcoast.com

DISCLAIMER

COVER ARTWORK Jonty Spina

The opinions expressed in this publication may not reflect those of the Griffith University Gold Coast Student Guild. The information contained within this edition of Getamungstit was correct at the time of printing but could be subject to change.

ADVERTISING Jessica Brown Marketing Manager GUGC Student Guild T +61 7 5552 8651 E j.brown@griffith.edu.au W gugcstudentguild.com.au

If any article, document and/ or publication is inaccessible and you require copies and/ or more information, contact the Student Guild where staff will ensure your requests and needs are met.

CONTACT Griffith University Gold Coast Student Guild, The Link (G07) PO Box 96, Griffith University QLD 4222 E getamungstit@griffith.edu.au W gugcstudentguild.com.au/getamungstit F facebook.com/Getamungstit

Contents

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28 22 40

Editorial note

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Contributor spotlight

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Great green facts

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Big green corporate lies

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Hello, is it tea you’re looking for?

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It ain’t easy being green

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Being green on campus

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Green on film

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Product review - Meat alternatives

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To meat or not to meat

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Yogis’ top 10 for coping with exam stress

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A time of uncertain tea

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Exploring anime

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Green smoothies

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Vox pops

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Snapped on campus

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Fashion - Entering the green scene

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Online - Top blogs

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Entertainment

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Feature artist - Aidan Ryan

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Being creative

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Get the hell outta here

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EDITORIAL NOTE

THIS IS IT! HAVE YOU FELT IT? SUNLIGHT BEFORE THE ALARM GOES OFF IN THE MORNING. A LITTLE HUMIDITY WITH THE BREEZE. CAR AIR CONDITIONING NUDGED UP TO THE NEXT FAN LEVEL. STORM CLOUDS COMING SLIGHTLY MORE RHYTHMICALLY AND WITH THE FAINTEST TOUCH OF THAT TERRIFYING, HAIL-SIGNALLING GREEN. Summer is in the air. Uni holidays are only weeks away. It’s less than 100 days until Christmas! This means swimming and drinking and sunsets and exploring, and staying in for three days straight with the curtains drawn watching every episode of House of Cards again. Bliss. Sadly, this also means that this is our last edition of Geta for the year.

And what a year it has been! Geta, in case you’ve been living under an assessment rock, had a total revamp at the start of 2015. Think Olivia Newton-John in Grease, Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman and Anne Hathaway in The Princess Diaries all rolled into one. Total, whole body, jaw-dropping new look.

Our first O’Week edition looked into hazing rituals, gave you a tour of the Currumbin rock pools, and a totally self-sacrificing product review of five different beers. You’re welcome. Then we got our rhythm going with the Music edition, covering festival fashion, Griffith’s SEED program, and the Air Guitar World Championships. Then came the Body edition. We asked, to Beard or Not to Beard? And in case this fact didn’t stick with you forever the first time, did you know your body produces around a LITRE of mucus every single day? Our fourth edition of 2015 was the Culture edition. We looked at culture shock, the art of op shopping, and

the Nepal earthquake.

This, our fifth and last 2015 issue, is a celebration of all things green. We have some great features in these pages that will keep you busy all through summer – and not just ‘busy’ reading them on the beach!

Hayley looks at everyday ways you can help the environment, and the simple mistakes that might mean we’re not being as green as we thought. Sophie has some hot tips on green tea, and Rebecca gives us some meat alternatives to try. We also hear from one of our resident photographers, Aidan Ryan; and Paul Veitch talks with us about reviewing the silver screen. We also have an absolute bucket load of creative writing for you to sink your teeth into.

2015 has been a mammoth year for the Geta team. We couldn’t have done it without our brilliant student contributors, or without you, our loyal readers! A huge thank you to everyone that has been involved or picked up a copy of the magazine this year. Next year will be bigger and better than ever.

If you’d like to Getamungstit, like us on Facebook and keep your eyes peeled for opportunities in the New Year.

Until next time, The Editorial Team

Editorial note

WEDNESDAY 14 OCTOBER | 8AM – 10AM

FREE HOT BREAKFAST FOR ANYONE WHO RIDES THEIR BIKE TO UNI

Contributor spotlight PAUL VEITCH FILM REVIEWER

You might recognise Paul as Getamungstit’s resident film reviewer. So we had a chat to Paul to find out a little bit more about him.

Well, I suppose I always loved fiction in general but I think it really started with the video game, Batman Arkham Asylum, written by Paul Dini.

What are your favourite movies and why?

Through that game I started reading all the biography and got fascinated with Batman, which got me into comic books. I got really passionate about comic books, from which I have learnt and grown and got me passionate about fiction, TV and movies.

What really got me into criticising fiction was a website renamed awesome.com filled with critics, and through watching those different reviewers, I started to pick up all the technicalities. After that I would start doing movie reviews in my head which gave my mum the idea of me creating a blog where I would publish those reviews and so I did.

My favourite movie is the animated movie Superman Doomsday. Lots of movies these days don’t try hard to invest in the characters. By the end everything starts to blow up, people are about to get crushed and you just don’t care. But in this movie, you do care. It’s what made me love Superman and it might be my favourite movie for sentimental reasons.

What are the movies you hated the most and why?

The new Fantastic Four is one of them. It takes 90 minutes before the actual Fantastic Four happens and then the Fantastic Four are being ignored pretty much, and again there are terrible characters.

Laziness and neglectful character development helped to make it an unfaithful adaptation.

If you had one movie to recommend to Getamungstit readers what would it be and why?

What is your opinion on the comic movie industry?

I pretty much go and see every one of them; I like them and the idea of seeing those professional big time adaptations. You always fantasise to see those heroes transferred on the big screen. Of course some adaptations are better than others.

DC or Marvel?

Rise of the Planet of the Apes, was one of the most technically perfect movies I have ever seen.

Every scene having a purpose, characters being properly established and explored. It would make it even better if you have seen the original one and get all the little references.

How/when did you become interested in writing movie reviews?

DC!

Any message to the readers of the magazine?

I worried that all the reviews I gave you were all-negative, I am not all negative but simply put when I see a good movie I will have a positive review for you guys.

You can find more of Paul’s reviews on his blog thecaledoniancritic.wordpress.com

Contributor spotlight

LIVEWORM MAGAZINE DESIGN

Liveworm has played a huge role in the Getamungstit revamp in 2015. They provide us with cool cover concepts, fresh layouts and great designs every edition. We had a chat to Liveworm to find out a little bit more about their student driven design space.

What is Liveworm?

Liveworm Studio is a work integrated learning environment that functions as a commercial design studio from the Gold Coast campus. All of our projects are completed by students who come to us from Queensland College of Art as graphic, digital and 3D design interns. We have internal and external clients and the students are supported by professional staff.

What is the process once the students receive the magazine concept and the article content?

The students are given a brief for the Getamungstit cover based on the theme of the edition and this job is added to the work list for the day. When designers are rostered on they look at the work list and start researching or jump straight into concept design.

Concepts are normally the most time consuming part of the project and we like to provide the client numerous concepts (especially for the magazine cover) so we spend 1-2 weeks on this part of the job.

Each magazine page layout follows a template from the original approved concept for Getamungstit, so we can’t deviate too much! Therefore we use templates from previous editions and add the new text and images relevant to the article.

How do students get involved with Liveworm?

All design students are enrolled in the Bachelor of Digital Media or double degree with Business and come to Liveworm in their third year. They are required to complete 100 hours of work experience as part of the degree.

How many Liveworm students typically work on an edition of Getamungstit?

We have eight computers in Liveworm and we have a roster system from Monday to Friday. There are 16 students currently working on the Green Edition, with more to be inducted next week!

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GREAT

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Green is used for night vision goggles because the human eye is most sensitive to the colour green and is able to distinguish most shades in that colour.

FACTS

In many religions green is the colour of resurrection and regeneration of life.

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The word green comes from the Middle English and Old English term ‘grene’ – which has the same root as the words grass and grow.

5 Even though Frankenstein’s monster is often portrayed as green, the monster actually had the yellowish skin of a corpse.

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6 In the 1400s green was the preferred choice for the colour of wedding gowns.

Green is the national colour of Ireland.

In ancient Egypt green was considered to be a sacred colour representing the hope and joy of spring. For this reason floors of temples are green.

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10 The term ‘greenback’ refers to the paper currency printed in the US during the American Civil War.

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Green is said to help a person’s mental health. The colour is thought to alleviate depression, anxiety and stress. This is linked to the idea that being in nature is great for your mental health.

12 According to some colourists, if you drive a dark green car you are traditional, well-balanced and trustworthy.

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The solid coloured green flag of Libya is the only national flag of one colour.

The colour is associated with Venus anda Aphrodite and signifies mystical and magical love.

BIG GREEN CORPORATE LIES

By Hayley Payne

Apple

This may or may not come as a shock to you (most likely not), but behind closed doors many companies aren’t always what they seem to be. Shocking, I know. It turns out that a lot of companies have been partaking in the charade of greenwashing. Greenwashing is when green PR or green marketing is used to deceive you and I, the consumer, into thinking that the organisation’s products, aims and polices are environmentally friendly.

The reality is often very different to the shiny ads and labelling. The amount of companies that partake in this practise is enough to make you to spit your green tea out in shock.

Below are a few examples of companies that like you to think they are green.

I have accepted that I will probably make enemies over this. According to Greenpeace, Apple isn’t as environmentally friendly as you want them to be. They do have the goal of fuelling their energy onsite energy from renewable sources, which is awesome, however their products are not so green. Greenpeace reports that Apple is the only phone maker who is still using toxic chemicals in its products, including phthalate plasticisers, brominated compounds, lead and a whole heap of other complicated chemicals that are arguably very bad for the environment. Like the majority of phone companies, they also bring out a new, slightly different version of the same product every single year – a total ploy to encourage you, the poor university student, to upgrade when it is unlikely that there is anything wrong with your old one (yes I know, Samsung does the same thing). Further, in 2013 the European Parliament’s internal market and consumer protection committee (IMCO) voted for the move towards a law forcing companies to comply with a universal charging standard which would be the micro USB. Apple has refused to adopt the charger, therefore continuing to create a large amount of unnecessary plastic waste and generally make people’s lives more difficult.

Big green corporate lies

Nespresso

Coca–Cola

Despite the fact that their advertisements feature the beautiful George Clooney and Penélope Cruz, and that they give you free coffee when you walk in the store, Nespresso aren’t very green either. Firstly, each and every coffee is individually packaged in a little pod of plastic. Their entire product is essentially 1% deliciousness and 99% plastic waste. Granted, their website does have a whole section dedicated to recycling and their AAA Sustainable Quality Program.

They have certainly improved their practises. The company now claims it is able to retrieve up to 80% of their pods and are beginning to turn some of this recycling into new capsule material. Unfortunately in Australia there are only 15 boutique Nespresso stores where you can return your coffee pods, and for them to be recycled they have to be stored very carefully by the consumer in a recycling canister which will set you back another $30. Lastly, by supporting Nespresso you are also supporting Nestlé: the largest food producer in the world, who’s former CEO once stated that it was ‘extreme’ to call access to clean water a basic human right.

Greenwashing isn’t just about pretending a product is good for the environment; sometimes companies use it to make you think that their product is going to contribute to your good health. Coca-Cola was one of the many companies that realised, to their horror, that customers were beginning to seek healthier products. In response they released the fourth ever variation of Coke. But, ladies and gentleman, this is no ordinary bottle of Coke. This is Coke Life and it’s GREEN. According to Coca–Cola, Coke Life has ten less teaspoons of sugar per 600ml and no artificial sweeteners. Where does the greenwashing come in you ask? Well, in an interview with The Sydney Morning Herald, Professor Amanda Lee of the Queensland University of Technology said that the launch of Coke Life reminds her exactly of thirty years ago when companies were bringing out healthy versions of cigarettes (just to clarify, there is no such thing). If that doesn’t cause alarm bells I don’t know what will. Coca-Cola claims that they are trying to help Australia’s rising obesity levels and that they are not jumping on the greenwashing bandwagon. Unfortunately due to Coke Life’s green branding many consumers will think that it is okay to drink more often, because it is ‘healthier’ and that is just terribly irresponsible marketing.

I know, I’m sorry. I have trash talked your favourite phone manufacturer, your coffee brand and your favourite soft drink. Unfortunately this is just the way our world works. The amount of times I have purchased a product that claimed to be environmentally friendly or healthy, only to read the ingredients list and wonder why there are so many additives in a ‘natural’ product, is insane. Keep a look out when you are out and about and stay alert – just because a company says they are green, or looks green, doesn’t mean they are.

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HELLO, IS IT TEA YOU’RE LOOKING FOR?

By Sophie Wood Green tea is pretty great, right? So great, in fact, that I have been known to have a big cup of it at night time. The warm liquid would have me feeling all snug and cosy, ready for bed. That is until somebody told me green tea has caffeinating effects. Huh, you mean it doesn’t help me sleep?

Oh, my bad!

Despite not helping you to go to sleep, green tea has a wide range of benefits that can make you feel healthier, smarter and younger. There is an astounding array of studies focused on green tea; I found over three hundred thousand journal articles dedicated to this magical green drink.

Before I jump into the health and lifestyle benefits, let’s take a step back and answer one question first. What exactly is green tea?

Green tea is native to China and India. Similar to other teas, it is brewed from the dried leaves of the Camellia sinensis bush.

Green tea is different to black tea as it is made from unoxidised leaves, meaning it is the least processed of tea drinks. These ‘non-oxidised phenolic compounds’ is what makes green tea good for you. Funnily enough, it doesn’t have a whole lot of caffeine in it anyway. Compared to an average cup of coffee, which has 100 milligrams of caffeine, green tea has less than a quarter of that. I was worried for nothing!

Traditionally green tea was used in Chinese and Indian medicine. It should be no surprise then that it is one of the modern world’s so-called ‘superfoods’. However, you do have to be careful of how you consume it. The pre-prepared bottled green tea often has large quantities of sugar while green tea extract pills have led to cases of liver damage and jaundice. So while there are definite benefits, it isn’t the cure for everything.

Hello is it tea you’re looking for?

Benefits of green tea: Decreases tumour growth and cancer Studies have shown positive impacts on breast, bladder, ovarian, oesophageal, lung, prostate and stomach cancer.

Prevents diabetes Some studies have shown a lower risk in developing Type 2 Diabetes for green tea drinkers.

Aids weight loss May aid a small weight loss in overweight and obese adults.

Improves brain function The combination of caffeine and L-theanine are integral in improving brain function.

Lowers risk of Alzheimers and Parkinsons The catechin compounds in green tea can have various effects on neurons, lowering the risk of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

Reduced risk of cardiovascular diseases Studies show green tea can improve some of the main risk factors of cardiovascular disease including cholesterol.

Destroys tooth decay The chemical antioxidant catechin in tea can destroy bacteria as well as viruses that cause throat infections and other dental conditions.

Slow wrinkles and signs of ageing This is due to their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It can also be applied topically to reduce sun damage.

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IT AIN’T EASY BEING GREEN

By Hayley Payne I don’t know what Kermit was talking about when he said it isn’t easy being green. Going green has got to be the easiest thing I have ever done and I just love that warm and fuzzy feeling from knowing I am helping the earth. Buying organic is the best place to start. Reducing pesticides from the environment is a big tick; plus it is organic so it must be good.

I’ve also ditched my second hand Hyundai Accent for a brand new Kia Optima Hybrid, no more petrol for me. Becoming a vegetarian is also very green – I never before knew how much my meat eating habits were destroying the world. Another easy way to make your life greener is to turn off appliances at the wall when not in use, and make sure to yell at your family or housemates each and every time they forget to do this. Companies also make it really easy for you to identify which of their products are

greener these days. Just walk into a supermarket and look at the different labels: they all state exactly how environmentally friendly they are and then you just buy the greenest ones! No research required.

Today being ‘green’ is just a normal part of our day to day lives. Some people genuinely want to help the environment and some may just want to make themselves feel good. The majority of us do want to help out the environment and reduce our carbon footprint, but often we don’t have the time to completely change our lifestyles or conduct lengthy research into how to make our lives greener. So instead we just adopt the simple practises that we are told will help the environment. In reality, these practises often do little to save the planet and can sometimes have quite the opposite effect.

Do you have any green habits that really make a difference?

Like the Getamungstit Facebook page and let us know your tips and tricks for being green.

It ain’t easy being green

So what are these seemingly helpful actions really doing?

• It turns out that buying organic isn’t always that great for the environment. Even though a product may be organic, if you shop at the big supermarkets it is likely that the produce is from overseas. Organic pineapples from Hawaii have travelled an awfully long way to get here.

This means a large about of emissions have been used along the way. When it comes to fruit and veg, always try to shop locally to be greener.

If you have the space for it you can even grow your own vegie patch, or join a community garden.

• Buying a hybrid car can seem like a good idea at the time, however if you don’t desperately need a new car than you aren’t doing the environment any favours. According to the Stockholm Environment Institute, the production of a typical car uses an average of eight tones of CO2 – equivalent to driving 37, 015km. So keeping your crappy car might actually be better for the environment.

It will save some of your hard earned cash too.

• Going vegetarian is definitely good for the environment as animal products have a much higher carbon footprint than vegies and fruit – however, there’s a catch. Many vegetarians consume a large amount of dairy products, which also have an incredibly large carbon footprint.

If going veg is how you want to help the environment, your best bet is to go all the way and become a vegan. Sorry folks.

• When it comes to turning off appliances that aren’t in use, there is this magical thing called ‘phantom power’ which

is where appliances continue to expend energy even after you turn them off. To stop the occurrence you have to completely unplug the appliance.

So now you get to scream at people every time they don’t completely unplug something from the wall (this will result in extra screaming allowances due to the extra effort required to unplug a device rather than just turn it off).

• Every day more and more companies are claiming that their products are green and environmentally friendly.

Some promise that their products only contain natural products when their ingredients list reads like a chemistry textbook.

When it comes to choosing greener products, never take anything at face value – always read the labels and find out more about the product before purchasing. Buying a shampoo that has the word natural on it does not make you

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an environmental warrior.

However, it you have researched the brand and know that you are actively helping out the environment then that is certainly a good start.

SO WHAT NEXT? Generally speaking, when it comes to switching your habits to be greener, take some time to research what you want to change.

Ensure that you really are doing the environment some good and not accidently contributing further to its destruction.

It is also important to remember that going green can be a big and difficult adjustment for your daily life, so don’t be too harsh on yourself.

Every little bit counts.

BEING GREEN ON CAMPUS Save yourself the extreme drama of parking on campus and reduce your carbon footprint by riding the light rail to uni. Use this bonus time (that would have been wasted behind the wheel) to finish off an assignment, get ahead on your readings, or play Candy Crush.

Your favourite magazine is printed on PEFC paper which means it is carbon neutral and made from pulp sourced from responsibly managed forests. We know that you will want to treasure your copies of Geta forever but if you really must throw it away make sure you dispose of it thoughtfully; by placing it in a recycling bin or turning it into decorative origami.

How many coffees do you have a week? Make today the day you purchase a keep cup (we know it's been on the to-do list). Eco travel mugs are available for purchase at several vendors on campus.

Take your green achievements to the next level by bringing in your e-waste. You can recycle laptop batteries, household batteries, mobile phones and phone batteries at the e-recycling station located in the library.

There are lots of delicious options for lunch on campus but imagine the stack of disposable cutlery that we are generating every week.

Minimise the impact of your takeaways by stashing a fork in your bag and reducing plastic wastage.

We want to make it as easy as possible for you to ride your bike to campus. Did you know that there are end of trip facilities with undercover bike storage, showers, toilets and gear storage lockers available across campus? Visit the Student Guild to arrange access.

Bring your reusable bottle and get free chilled water at the Water on Tap™ machine located on the deck (G07). You can purchase your reusable bottle from the machine which also provides sparkling water for a small fee.

All profits support the Healthy Waterways Clean Up Program to improve waterways in South East Queensland.

For more information on getting greener at Griffith visit griffith.edu.au/sustainability-hub.

You can even sign up to take Griffith's Sustainability Pledge.

Being green on campus

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GREEN ON FILM This edition we have racked our brains to come up with an eclectic mix of green titles, green themes and green heroes for your viewing pleasure. Take a much needed study break and relax in front of one of these great flicks.

By Rebecca Marshallsay

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990) You know the story: turtles live in sewer with rat; turtles take on mysterious underworld crime organisation using the ancient art of ninjitsu; turtles turn little used slang words like ‘radical’ and ‘cowabunga’ into pop culture phenomenon; turtles have mad obsession with pizza. But forget Michael Bay and Megan Fox, if you want real ninja turtle goodness, you need to go back to the beginning. TMNT is full of bad 90s acting, gratuitous plugs for Domino’s pizza and cheesy comedy, but the original green foursome are way more fun than their creepy CGI counterparts in the 2014 remake.

The Green Mile (1999) Based on the Stephen King novel of the same name, The Green Mile is a prison drama set in the 1930s. Paul (Tom Hanks) is one of the kinder prison guards at the penitentiary. He experiences the best and worst in people through his time with fellow guards and the death row inmates. When a new inmate arrives who may possess supernatural powers, Paul is forced to question himself and everything he believes in.

The Cove (2009)

Blackfish (2013)

The Cove is an horrific and fascinating documentary. At some risk to themselves, the filmmakers document the brutal practice of dolphin hunting in Taiji, Japan. The local authorities and Japanese government have gone to great lengths to conceal activities that take place in the cove. Foreigners and film crews are subject to intimidation, tailing and harassment. Much of the crucial footage was filmed using cameras hidden in rocks and planted in the area during a covert night mission undertaken by environmental activists and the filmmakers.

Blackfish is a documentary that challenges the practice of keeping large intelligent animals such as orcas in captivity. The film is built around the story of Tilikim, a SeaWorld killer whale that has been involved in the deaths of three humans including his trainer at the end of a live show in 2009. Blackfish raises the uncomfortable question; despite the valuable research, good intentions, educational benefits and abundance of love that humans might have for the animals, are we fooling ourselves by thinking it is ever morally justifiable to keep these animals captive?

Green on film

Home (2009)

The Muppets (2011)

Snowpiercer (2013)

Home is a visually spectacular documentary comprised almost entirely of aerial shots of the Earth to highlight the damaging effect of the human race on its home planet. While Home was widely viewed upon its release (it is now thought to have been watched by more than 400 million people) and has been lauded for its beautiful cinematography, many critics took issue with its ‘preachy’ tone and delivery. Home was released in six languages with actress Glenn Close narrating the English version.

Featuring everyone’s favourite green hero, The Muppets saw the gaggle of frogs, dogs, bears, chickens and things return to the big screen after a decade long hiatus. Starring Jason Segal (How I Met Your Mother) and Amy Adams (Man of Steel), and featuring the music of Flight of the Conchords’ Bret McKenzie, The Muppets is nothing but pure fun and good feelings. Perfect for days when it is too difficult to adult and you just need to tap into a bit of childhood nostalgia.

After humans create a second Ice Age (attempting to combat global warming) most of the world’s population is wiped out. The survivors live on an ark type train, the Snowpiercer, which circumvents the planet in perpetual motion.

Snowpiercer follows Curtis (Chris Evans) as he leads the citizens of the slum-like rear carriages in a revolt to find a better life at the more luxurious front end of the train. This is quite an odd film that will leave you unsure as to whether it was weird in a good way or a bad way.

The Little Things (2013)

The East (2013)

The brainchild of Marie-France Roy, one of the best female snowboarders on the planet, The Little Things is a stunning snowboarding film with an environmental message. With a group of environmentally conscious snowboarders, Roy highlights the severe impact of climate change as witnessed by the winter sports community. You really can’t go wrong watching this film; all proceeds from online rentals go to Protect Our Winters and the David Suzuki Foundation plus you get to watch incredible riding in some of the most breathtaking snowscapes captured on film.

The East is a psychological thriller that follows investigative agent Sarah (Brit Marling) as she attempts to infiltrate an ecological anarchist group. The group of activists have been carrying out increasingly dangerous attacks against big corporations damaging the environment and Sarah soon realises her life may be at risk if she is discovered. In preparation for the film, writers Marling and Zal Batmanglij allegedly spent two months living as freeganists; only eating food that had been discarded or reclaimed from waste.

The Day After Tomorrow (2004)

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The Day After Tomorrow is like many other disaster films, except this time the baddie is not an asteroid or a city-crushing lizard monster but a climate change catastrophe of our own making. When a species-ending cold snap envelops most of the northern hemisphere, paleoclimatologist (who knew that was a thing?), Jack Hall (Dennis Quaid)must trek halfway across America to rescue his son Sam (Jake Gyllenhaal) who is stranded in New York. It revolves around the Hollywood premise that if you can reunite one traditional family unit then you can forget about the deaths of millions.

Product review Meat alternatives

By Rebecca Marshallsay The idea of being vegetarian has evolved over the years. Once-upon-a-time it rendered you a social pariah, doomed to exist on chips and Greek salad if you dared to venture out of the house for a meal.

These days however we, as a society, are much more vegetarian friendly. Most restaurants will include at least one vegetarian meal on the menu and meat-free or meat-limited diets are gaining popularity.

This edition we have looked at some the reasons why people might choose to adopt a vegetarian diet with To meat or not to meat? (p. 22) So for our product review this edition we have given you the low down on some common meat alternatives.

Whether you are a die-hard steak lover, a new vegan, or one of those people who say they are vegetarian but eat chicken (if it ever had a face it is a meat), we encourage you to expand your culinary horizons and check out some of the options below.

TOFU

EGGPLANT

Tofu has suffered a bad rap over the years. If I can appropriate one of the most overused phrases of 2015, I would even go so far as to say that there is a lot of tofu shaming going on. I’ve heard people bandy around words like awful, disgusting and blurgh. This is pretty unfair because there are many enjoyable ways to eat tofu. If I had to describe my worst experience with tofu I would say it was like a party in my mouth... and no one turned up. While disappointing, that is definitely not the worst party experience you can have (and at an actual party it means that you get to finish the margarita mix by yourself).

Eggplant is the king of vegetables. It is purple, majestic and it fills out a curry or pasta dish like a boss. Many people claim to hate eggplant but if you don’t like it I would counter that you’re probably not doing it right. Don’t hate the player, hate the crappy chef who is butchering the most magnificent of vegetables. Eggplant is a staple food in my house; along with avocados they would be my most commonly purchased item. If there is ever a rationing situation on the Gold Coast I would trade you my milk and bread coupons for your eggplant rations any day.

So perhaps tofu can be a little bland but from my distant memories of chicken breast I recall that if you were to just steam it and pop it on a plate you wouldn’t be doing the ‘yummy-yummy-in my tummy’ dance about that either. Tofu comes in a range of textures and many Asian grocers serve it pre-fried, dried or even puffed. If you are new to cooking tofu I suggest you purchase the hard or firm variety and fry it in pieces with a stir-fry or laksa. If you want to see tofu at its best then find a restaurant that serves salt and pepper tofu and get your chopsticks into that. I promise that tofu is not disgusting; it is underwhelming at worst and adding some to your meal certainly won’t ruin your day.

As with tofu, if at first you can’t master it by yourself or you’re not quite convinced, get someone more skilled and wiser in the ways of the aubergine to prepare it for you. Eggplant parmigiana - yum. Baba ghanoush - delicious. Sambal eggplant - please excuse us while we get a room.

Product review

FAUX MEATS If you want to win carnivorous friends and influence omnivores as a vegetarian, do not try and convince them that your not-dog or tofurkey ‘tastes just like the real thing!’ It doesn’t. These products are not fooling anyone. Apart from an occasional packet of not-bacon for Sunday brekkie, these processed wanna-be meats hardly ever hit my shopping basket. They are highly processed and for the most part, not so appetising.

I’ll let you in on a secret. Faux meats are not actually made for vegetarians. They are made to make life easier for hosts of the meat-and-two-veg persuasion, who freak out at the thought hosting a vegetarian to dinner or a BBQ. When your wouldbe-host starts hyperventilating, you can hand them a packet of not-sausages and say ‘These will be fine, thanks’.

VEGGIE PATTIES I often get asked if I make my own veggie patties.

No; they are generally a sad experience in dryness that I imagine is somewhat similar to swallowing a mouthful of the Mojave. Being vegetarian is not a weird condition that requires you to consume food in patty form. To me, patties (meat, vegetable or otherwise) do not scream appetising. If you want to eat chickpeas, toss some through a salad. If you want to eat lentils, cook up a tasty dhal. How often do you see someone blend up a piece of Wagyu rump steak because they think it might taste better in mush form?

When patties are good they are, at best, adequate.

You might find an exception at a great burger place but many will forgo the dusty chickpea patty in favour of a big slab of Portobello mushroom or haloumi - delicious! Life is too short to make your own underwhelming culinary experience from scratch. Perhaps you have discovered a lifechanging patty recipe but for the most part I would say; you are a grown-up, chew your food like one.

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TO MEAT OR NOT TO MEAT?

By Lillian Prince

Did you know vegetarians make up approximately five per cent of the Australian population? It may surprise you that a further two per cent of Australians are vegan, which means they do not consume any animal products whatsoever. Altogether, that is about 1.6 million people.

For some of us, the idea of giving up a big juicy hamburger or a roast lamb dinner means eating nothing but cardboard and broccoli. It means voluntarily giving up the freedom to eat something slightly tasty ever again. This, however, couldn’t be further from the truth.

With the recent rise of health driven creative geniuses, there have never been more healthy alternatives to meaty meals.

There are many myths and misconceptions surrounding vegetarianism. Surprisingly to some, it is actually possible to still lead a happy life without putting meat on your plate. Really, I promise!

MYTH 1: “Have you seen how often I go to the gym? Have you seen the size of my biceps? There is no way I could get the protein I needed if I stopped eating meat!”

Actually, that is not entirely correct.

Although meat is obviously a high source of protein, there are many other alternative ways of adding protein to your diet. Protein, ultimately, is a combination of amino acids, which can be found in many other foods other than meat.

As a vegetarian eating a balanced diet, you would probably be consuming protein rich foods such as lentils, vegetables, nuts and eggs. If you’re still worried about being protein deficient, there are many protein powders and supplements that you can use to enhance your protein intake.

MYTH 2: “I really care about animals but I don’t think I could become vegetarian. All you can eat is pretty much tofu and leaves.”

If all you ate for breakfast, lunch and dinner was steak, then yes, To meat or not to meat

cutting meat from your diet may seem difficult. Thankfully, none of us DO eat steak for every single meal… Right? Today there are so many meal ideas offered for people living on a vegetarian diet including vegetable lasagna, different curries and pizzas; the options are endless.

Don’t believe me? Check out some of the following sites for some meat free inspiration: •

Thug Kitchen thugkitchen.com/recipes

•

Post Punk Kitchen theppk.com/recipes

•

SBS Top 50 Vegetarian sbs.com.au/food/recipes/ collections/top-50-vegetarian

MYTH 3: “I’m turning vegetarian so I can be super healthy. I started this morning and I already feel at one with the Earth.”

French fries, chocolate cake and cheese pizza are all vegetarian options. If your diet consists mainly of these three items, chances are your health is not of high priority. It is important to maintain a balanced

diet and ensure all nutrients are still being eaten. Adapting to a vegetarian diet and eating a lot of plant-based foods is proven to be highly beneficial and can aid in reducing the likelihood of many diseases.

MYTH 4: “I feel like sometimes I could be a vegetarian and there are other days where all I want is an entire chicken.”

Good thing that, you can!

Part-time vegetarianism is a thing can you believe it? Meatless Monday was founded in 2003 and is a global phenomenon that encourages consumers to ‘once a week, cut the meat’ in order to help you and the environment. It is embraced in 36 countries including Australia.

Cutting out meat from your diet can reduce the likelihood of heart disease. Going vego will help save the Earth - raising cattle for beef and milk spews more greenhouse gasses than the emissions from every single car on the road.

fuelled by a meat-free diet including tennis star, Venus Williams and ten time Olympic Medalist sprinter, Carl Lewis.

Over 14,000 litres are required to produce 1 kilogram of beef.

Less than 300 litres are required to produce the same amount of vegetables.

A 12-year Oxford study published in the British Medical Journal found that on average, those who ate a meat free diet outlive carnivores by six years.

There are many different types of vegetarianism including fruitarianism which is a diet purely based on raw fruit, nuts and seeds.

Another form of vegetarianism is ovo-vegetarianism, which cuts out eat meat or dairy, but allows the consumption of eggs.

Many followers of religions that originated in ancient India including Jainism, Hinduism and Buddhism, follow a vegetarian diet as a part of their beliefs.

Many champion athletes are

23

Did you know vegetarians make up approximately five per cent of the Australian population?

» Cutting out meat from your diet can reduce the likelihood of heart disease. » Going vego will help save the Earth - raising cattle for beef and milk spews more greenhouse gasses than the emissions from every single car on the road. » Many champion athletes are fuelled by a meat-free diet including tennis star, Venus Williams and ten time Olympic Medalist sprinter, Carl Lewis. » Over 14,000 litres are required to produce 1 kilogram of beef. Less than 300 litres are required to produce the same amount of vegetables. » 12-year Oxford study published in the British Medical Journal found that on average, those who ate a meat free diet outlive carnivores by six years. » There are many different types of vegetarianism including fruitarianism which is a diet purely based on raw fruit, nuts and seeds.

Another form of vegetarianism is ovo-vegetarianism, which cuts out eat meat or dairy, but allows the consumption of eggs. » Many followers of religions that originated in ancient India including Jainism, Hinduism and Buddhism, follow a vegetarian diet as a part of their beliefs.

To meat or not to meat

CREATIVE CONCEPTS \\ GRAPHIC DESIGN \\ PHOTOGRAPHY \\ ILLUSTRATION IMAGE RETOUCHING \\ PRINT & WEB \\ SOCIAL MEDIA \\ BRANDING Liveworm Gold Coast is staffed with a collection of skilled multidisciplinary design students, guided by a highly experienced team of industry professionals. The studio is also a creative incubator for student industry concepts, supporting the local business and cultural community.

The studio opened its doors in 2008 after being converted from a grungy fine art and sculpture workshop into a creative studio and incubator space – under the wing of the 130 year old Queensland College of Art.

Liveworm Gold Coast designers are the future experts of their field. They know what’s current, enjoy predicting future trends and utilising classic design strategies.

In the midst of a new studio image and direction Liveworm Gold Coast is working towards a stronger position within the evolving creative Gold Coast culture. The team of students and staff embrace the changes that are occurring locally and globally and enjoy creating design outcomes that reflect this unique approach.

CONTACT US goldcoast@liveworm.com.au

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2. Eat well

Prioritise a little time to plan, shop and cook your meals. You’ll save time (and money!) in the long run. Forget scrambling around on campus trying to find a bite to eat.

Rock up to your exams cool, calm and collected with your food already sorted. Think plant-based wholefoods for optimal outlook, mood and energy.

3. Get a good sleep

We all love it, but what is our sleep quality actually like? Especially at times of extra stress??! While we’re asleep, our brain is preparing for the next day. So make sure those eight or so hours between the sheets are quality. Reflect on how you wind down before bed. Is a technology vacation needed?

Experience what being really, truly rested feels like.

4. Book a massage

YOGIS’ TOP 10 FOR COPING WITH EXAM STRESS

Treat yourself to a massage. Your body will thank you for it later!

Either pre or post exam is great. And don’t worry about the cost, you’d easily spend that on a night out. A massage will help you to relax and get rid of stored stress, tension and emotions.

You’ll float out feeling like a new you.

By Amara Cauci and Freestyle Chillout

1. Hit the mat

Sick of your exams taking their toll on your sanity? Want to stay balanced and grounded amidst the end of semester chaos? Then try one (or all!) of these tips to survive and thrive. Your grades will thank you for it later!!! And if you don’t “think”you have time, you need this list even more …..

Ground, centre and breathe with yoga asanas.

Get out of your head, and connect with your body.

But don’t worry, it’s not as new agey as it sounds. In fact, it’s totally addictive!

Feel your tension literally shedding away, being replaced with a more lighter and energised feeling you to conquer those exams.

Yogis’ top 10 for coping with exam stress

8. Find your purpose

7. Spend time in nature

Hit a hiking trail or waterfall, or go sit by the beach. Getting out in nature brings great harmony to our emotions and mind. Bring a notepad to journal or make some to-do lists to get your thoughts in order. You’ll feel grounded and refreshed from your mini vacation, having had time to digest the many thoughts that are running through your mind.

9. Meditate

6. Positive influences

Listen to uplifting music, have upbeat friends, contemplate inspirational quotes – there are many simple ways to bring positive influences into your life. Be inspired to be a better you, and that exam stress just won’t seem that bad!

10. Establish a routine

5. Declutter your space

The external affects the internal! How much easier is it to think when your desk is neat and orderly??! Devote a little time to decluttering your space (and life!) and reap the rewards of reduced stress and a more productive existence.

Did you know there is a Freestyle Chillout club on campus? They have a fresh and fun approach to all things health! facebook.com/freestylechillout 27

Notice how you feel invincible when you have a purpose??! Find your purpose, and act on it!

If you’re still looking, that’s ok too. That’s what life is all about, finding ourselves. You’ll be able to conquer anything and handle all the stress in the world if your actions are fuelled by real purpose. In your journey ahead, don’t be afraid.

More than just sitting silently, and emptying your mind. Meditation means to see past all the clutter in your mind, be unaffected by it and tap into deep and lasting peace and happiness.

Imagine feeling like that walking into an exam?

You can with practice! But practice is the key.

All of the above only work, if they become part of your routine. So start today (now), by picking one or a few of the above and adding them to your week. If you don’t think you have time, pick more!

Don’t start tomorrow, it never comes. Start today!

Feel invincible at exam time with these tips. But they have to be done, not just read. They will be the best investment you’ve ever made!

A TIME OF UNCERTAIN TEA Erwan Guegan

Did you ever wonder where the food on the shelves comes from? The last few decades have witnessed a rise in consumer awareness. Many of us have jumped on the organic bandwagon and are now willing to pay a few bucks extra for a cleaner conscience.

But beyond a few pesticide free carrots, how many of us go out of our way to research where our products are actually coming from?

There are many confronting documentaries and reports that have unveiled the horrible living conditions of livestock and farmed poultry. They are shocking enough to have converted more than one meat lover to a 100% hard-core vegan activist. Although we are slowly shining a light on unethical practice in the meat industry, did you know that there are other agricultural horror stories that are not being told? And the little know villain of this tale is called Monsanto.

Introducing Monsanto Monsanto is one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical and agricultural companies, with branches in over 100 different countries, making it the main

producer of genetically modified crops and seeds in the world.

You would think that everyone would know such a company but Monsanto have spent millions of dollars to remain in the shadows of precious public opinion. And just like the food they’re helping to produce, they haven’t just appeared fresh from the ground. They have been around since 1901 and have been making billions of dollars profit from selling chemicals and pesticides.

Since Monsanto first introduced Roundup Ready crops in 1996, significant concerns have been

Monsanto is one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical and agricultural companies, with branches in over 100 different countries

A time of uncertain tea

raised regarding genetically engineering food. The fact is that scientists still do not know all the effects that these organisms have on the environment and on the consumer. Roundup Ready crops were engineered to help farmers keeping other weeds from growing in their fields using Roundup pesticides. The Roundup Ready crops are genetically modified to resist the Roundup pesticide; the pesticide will exterminate all other weeds and plants growing in the field, leaving the Roundup Ready crop unaffected.

The company’s roots are bloodspattered as Monsanto (who dominated the global seed market from 1961 to 1971) was involved in nothing less than the production of Agent Orange for military use. Time has passed but the world will never forget the 4.5 million Vietnamese civilians affected by this chemical weapon during the Vietnam War. Countless Vietnamese people died horrible deaths as a result of Agent Orange and millions, including children, suffered from disabilities and birth defects. If you have never heard of this agent and have a rock solid stomach, do some research on it. But I warn you, the content is very graphic.

So how come a company involved with chemical weapons also happens to be in charge of what we are eating?

Today, Monsanto owns 80% of genetically modified crops and the sale of Roundup has made Monsanto the 5th largest agrochemical company in the world; they have near total control over seeds. Seeds are the first link in the food chain and when a corporation controls the seeds, it controls the entire chain and the life of the farmers along with it. Through patents on seeds, Monsanto has become the ‘life lord’ of our planet. This was done with the collaboration of five other giant biotech corporations, Syngenta, Bayer, Dow, and DuPont who together spent the last 15 years buying more than 200 other companies, allowing dominant control of the supply world’s seed supply.

Being the world leader in genetically engineered seeds, Monsanto has over 674 biotechnology patents. Now if you are a farmer, you are left with little to no choice but to buy seeds with the Monsanto patent on them.

Theirs crops render the earth for a specific type of intensive and mono-crop production, forcing

the farmer to grow the same plant over and over again.

So why would anyone work with them?

At first they offer to produce a fast growing more resistant crop and mono-crop fields, offering potentially a bigger profit margin.

This of course appeals to farmers who are pressured by a market run by gargantuan corporations constantly demanding more intensive production. But since Monsanto patented seeds must be used with their specific pesticide, to keep the field clear of other undesired crops, the farmers also have to purchase Monsanto’s Roundup pesticides along with specific and expensive machinery just to be able to grow and harvest these ‘magical’ crops. These highly unsustainable farming techniques exhaust the earth of its resources and force farmers to borrow vast amounts of money and mortgage their property in order to break even.

Furthermore, farmers caught saving seeds or trying to go against Monsanto have faced heavy judicial sanctions that push them to bankruptcy or worse. Farmers then, are left with no choice but to purchase the most recent 29

strain of seed from Monsanto annually. Farmers get caught up in a lose-lose situation, pushing them to extreme measures. This is a case with BT cotton, which is a genetically modified organism cotton variety, produced by Monsanto. It was introduced to India in 2002. Since then, the country has witnessed a rampage of suicide among Indian farmers.

In 2009 alone, 17,638 Indian farmers committed suicide (that’s one every 30 min). Would you be surprised if I told you that those farmers were mostly Monsanto’s BT cotton farmers?

So how does this relate to you and what is the impact in Australia?

In Australia GMOs are more common than you might think.

Genetically modified labelling laws in Australian allow companies to include up to 1% GMOs in their products without having to label them, as long as it is “unintentional”. Imported GM foods in Australia include soybeans, corn, rice, potatoes and sugar beet.

However, in Australia itself, ‘only’ two types of GMOs are being produced. Genetically engineered (GE) canola and BT cotton. You might think that you aren’t really concerned as you don’t consume

these but canola oil is being used in a wide range of processed foods and the meal can be fed to livestock such as chicken, pigs and dairy cattle.

As for the BT it is not only used for cloth and cotton products — the cottonseed is also crushed for oil used in food and cotton “trash� is fed to Australian cattle that produce our milk and meat.

So despite the fact that only two type of GMOs are being produced in the land down under, you can find them in a lot of unsuspected products. Also, you should be aware that field trials for GM pineapple, papaya, sugarcane, wheat, barley, bananas, corn and rice are also underway in Australia.

But why should you care? Well, simply put GMOs are unhealthy for you and the planet. Whilst much of the mainstream argues that GMOs are safe based on positive studies, there are dozens of studies that have found harmful effects from eating GMO foods. These studies are not given the attention they deserve by those who control our food supply, despite indicating that GMO foods may cause organ damage, immune system disorders and infertility (just to name a few issues). Roundup is also thought to be carcinogenic. Carcinogens are believed to increase the

risk of cancer. You should not underestimate the ability of corporations to manipulate the information we receive and the promotion of research that is in their favour. Remember when doctors promoted cigarettes and celebrated their health benefits?

Hell, even Santa was part of it!

Do I need to mention the negative impact the alarming amount of pesticide used on these crops has on the environment? Not only does it pollute the water resources, it also affects the animals and insects surrounding those plantations.

Birds, insects, amphibians, marine ecosystems, and soil organisms are all affected and endangered by these pesticides.

So what can you do?

Genetically modified foods and products of all sorts have become so omnipresent in the market they are now difficult to evade, but not impossible. Do some personal research on GMOs to increase your own consumer awareness and decide for yourself weather you believe if they are harmful or not.

Read the label before purchasing a product. Crops, soybeans and corn make up the largest portion of GE. Ingredients made from these foods include high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS), corn flour and A time of uncertain tea

meal, dextrin, starch, soy sauce, margarine, and tofu.

Help the local farmers and buy organic produces. Certified organic foods, by definition, must be free from all genetically engineered organisms, produced without artificial pesticides and fertilizers.

Avoid practically all processed food products and stick to fresh, organic, locally grown food.

Let the local offices and government know how you feel towards GMOs. Be heard and seen, in your everyday choices and purchases. As a consumer you have more power than you think and you have the last say. Be smart and vote with your wallet!

WHO WILL YOU RELAY FOR? 18 HOURS OF NON-STOP FUN! + FUNDRAISE FOR CANCER RESEARCH

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GRIFFITH UNIVERSITY GOLD COAST CAMPUS SIGN-UP YOUR TEAM TODAY AT RELAYFORLIFE.ORG.AU FOR MORE INFORMATION LIKE US ON FACEBOOK

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31

Exploring anime Beginner’s guide to anime: Part two

By Roman Chayka As founder of Griffith Anime Society, and a life-long anime fan, I’ve taken part in more than my fair share of discussions, debates, and outright arguments about anime, and what defines it. Anime isn’t new to most people - everyone grew up watching Pokemon, or Dragonball Z, or Sailor Moon on the morning cartoon shows.

But not everyone has a clear definition of anime in their head, and sometimes people end up with the wrong idea altogether. So, I want to talk about the things that make Japanese anime unique and distinct from Western animation.

There are, of course, many similarities between the two as well, and even a few examples that can credibly be argued to belong in both - but there are also some key differences, and aspects which are

1. The Matrix, a late 90s cultural milestone vs Ghost In the Shell, a mid-90s cyberpunk thriller.

expressed more strongly in one or the other. Probably the best way to think of the two is as two styles, or artistic directions, within the same medium - animation - and this is what makes the differences so fascinating to discuss.

Genre friction

Thanks to the Griffith Anime Society and Madman Entertainment we have three prize packs of three anime DVDs from the Madman distribution catalogue to give away.

Simply tell us in 25 words or less ‘What is your favourite anime and why?’

ENTER AT: gugcstudentguild.com.au/ getamungstit.

Competition closes 11.59pm (AEST) 23 October 2015.

You might have heard the distinction explained as “Western cartoons are for kids, but anime is targeted at teenagers and young adults”. It’s a very common and frequently-cited difference between the two, but in this day and age, and with the popularity of American shows like Simpsons, Family Guy, Metalocalypse, Futurama, South Park, and Rick and Morty, the old truism no longer holds much water.

That said, a key point of distinction is that while animation has found traction among adult viewers in the West in the field of comedy, with the above examples and others, Japanese anime throughout its history has credible examples Exploring anime

of virtually every genre. Horror, inspirational teacher stories, mystery, comedy (ranging from light-hearted and cute, through to black gallows humour), romance, sports drama, martial arts, dystopian sci-fi, coming-of-age stories, and over-the-top action all have excellent examples in the anime medium.

As well as dabbling in genres familiar to Western viewers, Japanese anime has, over the years, developed a few full-fledged genres of its own. Of note are Giant Robot sci-fi, making the transition to the West in the form of shows like Voltron, Robotech, and Evangelion, and Magical Girl Fantasy, with a familiar to us example of Sailor Moon.

Additionally, the Sentai/Team Heroes genre, also has many examples in anime - but it didn’t originate there, but rather in liveaction Japanese Tokusatsu TV, and made the transition to American and Australian TV as Power Rangers.

2. Scenes from Perfect Blue and Requiem for a Dream.

Did you know that there is a Griffith Anime Society on campus?

You can find them on Facebook or at griffithanimesociety .weebly.com

This greater variety of genres in anime is a hint that animation in the West has a lot of room to expand and grow, from the established foundation it has in comedy, to other genres.

To do that, though, it will have to also develop how it tells its story, and the relationship it has with the viewer.

Show and tell I’m going to stray a little bit into “film nerd” territory here for a moment, and point out that Japanese anime and Western anime also use different cinematic techniques. Of course both are influenced by over a century of both Western and Eastern cinema,

and the principles of photography and design, but Japanese animation has an influence which strongly differs from its Western counterpart. I am talking, of course, about theatre, and the Japanese theatrical tradition vs. the Western.

A full discussion of the differences is a bit out of scope of this article, not to mention my expertise, but if I had to sum up the differences of presentation and storytelling, it would look like this: In Western theatrical tradition, characters express their emotions more directly, and the events that happen are typically seen through the characters’ perception and reaction, whereas in Eastern

33

theatre, the characters’ expression is more oblique, and their emotions are interpreted through the events that transpire.

A strong scene in traditional Western theatre is a character expressing their emotion beautifully and poignantly (see any Shakespearean monologue, or, for older examples, the chorus in Greek plays), whereas in Japanese theatrical tradition, it is closer to a character remaining stoically silent, or even saying the opposite of what they feel, while the costumes, events, and effects on stage convey to the viewer what sort of turmoil is really going on in their heart.

3.The Matrix gets all credit for popularising the bullet-time, and the green tint filter over everything, which plagues many Hollywood movies to this day though.

This difference in the tradition has carried through to cinematic technique and then on to animation, which is storyboarded essentially the same way. While “show, don’t tell” is an axiom in all modern cinema, Japanese cinema, and anime, tends to be presented in a way that can be summed up as “imply, don’t show”. There is a lot of communication taking place with the viewer through visual metaphor and situational contrast.

Cold wind blows during lonely moments, the sun rises, sets, and emerges from the clouds in time with character mood, distressing revelations coincide with the first drops of a sudden rainstorm,

4. Perfect Blue: a psychological thriller about a young pop singer and Black Swan: a psychological thriller about a young ballet dancer.

disturbed birds flee a character’s outburst in panic, the light in the window turns on to show that a character is home, the ground and buildings outside shakes from a impassioned blow… there’s a whole cinematic language at work, which you just don’t see to the same extent in Western animation.

best illustration of it, of course, is when Hollywood movies are influenced by an anime. The images above are just a couple of examples from popular films that you may not even have realised were influenced by anime.

And it’s not like this is unique to Japanese culture - we see this stuff all the time in Western live-action cinema, where the East-West cross-pollination happens very much more readily (since at least the Chanbara-Western - Spaghetti days) - but much, much more rarely in Western animation. The

Images sourced from: 1 & 3) studioartfix.com 2) fountofabundance.blogspot.com 4) moodyclappers.wordpress.com

Exploring anime

At Griffith University Village, we make sure you start uni right.

From the time you apply, we create opportunities for you to meet new people, learn new things and excel in your studies, so you can make the most of student life.

It’s no wonder we were voted AACUHO Student Housing Operator of the Year!

Join the V1 Crew in 2016 at griffithuv.com.au

Despite our best intentions, sometimes it’s hard to squeeze in the requisite serves of fruit and veggies for the day.

One of the best things about smoothies is that they are easy to make and super flexible - don’t have an ingredient? No worries, skip it or substitute it for something else. Many of your ingredients can

be kept bought in bulk, chopped up and kept in the freezer ready for smoothie prep day.

Make sure to shake them up again as they defrost. Best served cold or partially frozen.

Quantities will vary but each recipe makes approximately 1 litre.

Although fresh is best, you can make your smoothies in advance and freeze them in a protein shaker or wide lipped drink bottle.

1 LARGE CUCUMBER, SKINNED

1 CUP OF MIXED BERRIES, FRESH OR FROZEN

1 CUP WATER 300 ML COCONUT WATER 1 LADY FINGER BANANA 1 CUP BROCC0LI FLORETS, FRESH OR FROZEN 1 CUP CHOPPED PINEAPPLE 1/3 CUP MINT LEAVES, OR TO TASTE

2 LARGE HANDFULS BABY SPINACH LEAVES

Green smoothies

1 CUP OF YOUR FAVOURITE STONE FRUIT SUCH AS MANGO OR PEACH

2 LARGE HANDFULS KALE

1-2 TABLESPOON FRESH GINGER

2 APPLES, CORED

1/2 CUP STRAWBERRIES

450 ML ALMOND MILK

1/2 - 1 TEASPOON TURMERIC

37

VOX POP

What is your spirit plant?

This edition Geta had a chat to you about your green side.

Emily, Public Health A coffee bean.

By Christian Nimri

Nick, Exercise Science and Business Dandelion.

Noor, Health Science Rose.

Josh, Public Health Aloe vera.

Cooper, IT A wise oak.

Vox pop

What should be the fourth R? (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle…)

Climate change – are you a believer or a skeptic?

Merrilyn, Environmental Science Of course I’m a believer.

David P, Pharmaceutical Science Reggae.

Matt, Real Estate and Property Development It’s definitely a thing.

David N, Exercise Science Recreate.

Oreo, Psychology Believer. It’s undeniable.

Rhett, Psychology Recharge (your batteries).

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K BAC

TO SCHOO

- PARTY -

L

Fr i d a y 7 August @ Uni Bar

Snapped on campus

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AND B- COMP -

Fr i d a y 2 1 r August @ Uni Ba Currently celebrating its 25th year, the National Campus Band Competition is an annual event to find the most talented campus band in Australia. Previous winners have included Eskimo Joe, The Vasco Era and Jebediah. Griffith University Gold Coast band, The Orchard, won the event in 2013.

Six of the hottest bands on campus battled it out at the campus final on Friday 21 August, with Yes Sir Noceur crowned the winners. Yes Sir Noceur progressed through to the state final hosted by Southern Cross University in early September and were unfortunately defeated by home town band, Nocturnal Tapes. Congratulations to all participants, to our five campus finalists and state finalists, Yes Sir Noceur.

Snapped on campus

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t Doc

ors + NURse s

- PARTY -

Th u r s d a y 27 A s t @ U n i B a r ugu

Snapped on campus

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TAINABILITY S U S - FAIR -

Tuesday 1 S eptember @ The Library Lawn Griffith University’s Sustainability Week celebrated and promoted sustainability initiatives on our campuses from 31 August to 4 September. The week was full of interactive activities including markets, seminars, tours, games, competitions and the Student Guild’s Sustainability Fair. The Fair showcased documentaries, a touch tank by the School of Environment, Aussie reptiles, information stalls and more.

Snapped on campus

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S L O W D O W N . J U S T B R E AT H E .

TA K E A M O M E N T F O R Y O U B E F O R E E X A M S .

26 – 31 OCTOBER

E E R F SSES! CLA

YOGA - PILATES - BODYBALANCE FOR ALL STUDENTS AND STAFF YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE A MEMBER! SEE RECEPTION FOR CLASS TIMES OR VISIT GUGCSTUDENTGUILD.COM.AU

UNIFITNESSHEALTHCENTRE

Treetop

Entering

the green scene

Woodbine

By Angel Nikijuluw As a self-proclaimed beauty and fashion connoisseur (well, not so much a connoisseur, but a wannabe), I understand that wearing the colour green is some tough business. Green is a bold and feared colour on the style spectrum widely admired; never worn.

Beveled Glass

With three shades of green – Beveled Glass, Treetop, and Woodbine – making it into the Pantone 2015 fashion colour report, today is the day we stop stigmatising the colour green. Today is the day we face our fears.

So, without further ado, here are some great options for both guys and girls looking for ways to introduce green into their wardrobe! Take some inspiration, and wait for your friends to be ‘green with envy’ over your new style. Was that pun a bit too far? Okay. Not all the picks are student-budget-friendly, but feel free to use them as inspiration and search for a cheaper alternative!

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1.

ASOS AALIYA Leather Peep Toe Ankle Boots in Khaki, $85 asos.com/au

3.

2.

ASOS A-Line Linen

High Neck Swing Dress in

Mini Skirt in Mint, $41

White/Green Palm Print, $50

asos.com/au

missguidedau.com

GETA GIVEAWAY WIN A MISS DARCY BOUTIQUE $50 VOUCHER

Simply tell us in 25 words or less ‘What makes you green with envy?’ Enter at gugcstudentguild.com.au/ getamungstit. Competition closes 11.59pm (AEST) 23 October 2015.

4.

Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner in Emerald, $29 mecca.com.au

5.

Keepsake Where I Find You Dress in Teal, $135 missdarcyonline.com

Entering the green scene

6.

7.

ASOS Cable Jumper with

The Horse The Original in Polished Steel/ Mineral Green Leather,

Rolled Edges in Khaki, $53

$139

asos.com/au

thehorse.com.au

9.

8.

Nike Roshe One Flyknit Premium in Rough Green/

American Apparel T-Shirt in

Sequoia/Tarp Green/Black $180

Light Menthe Green, $64

nikestore.com/au

asos.com/au

10.

The Young Hearts

Cruiser Shorts in Jade, $49.95 theyounghearts.com

GETA GIVEAWAY

WIN THESE SHORTS !

Thanks to The Young Hearts!

Simply tell us in 25 words or less ‘What makes you green with envy?’. Enter at gugcstudentguild.com.au/ getamungstit. Competition closes 11.59pm (AEST) 23 October 2015.

Images courtesy of: 1, 3, 6 & 8 asos.com.au 2. misguidedau.com 7. thehorse.com.au 9. nikestore.com.au 10. theyounghearts.com

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Online – Top blogs

By Sophie Wood

Gala Darling

Seth Godin

Sarah Wilson

Gala Darling is an author, teacher and speaker from New Zealand who is now living it up in New York City as an international playgirl (her title for a woman who loves to travel).

She preaches radical self-love and oozes a tonne of confidence in her fun and playful posts.

Writing about everything from travel, blogging and self-love, Gala also includes a monthly carousel wrap-up of all her favourite posts and videos from the Internet. So not only will you have a bunch of her blog posts to read but you’ll also get to trail your way through her favourite links for the month. You’ll be reading for days!

Seth Godin is the best-selling author of 18 books, writing about the post-industrial revolution, marketing, leadership and most importantly, changing everything.

Thankfully you don’t need to purchase his books to access these topics; you can simply go to his blog. Full of bite-sized content, every post is easy to read and contains highly valuable content.

Once you start reading you can’t get enough. His posts are so frequent you’ll be unlikely to suffer withdrawals. This blog is perfect for any rising entrepreneurs or marketing extraordinaires.

If you’re interested in starting a small business, get onto this blog and start implementing his wisdom.

Most famous for her international best sellers I Quit Sugar and I Quit Sugar For Life, Sarah Wilson hosts a blog on the topics of food, autoimmune disease, minimalism and living a toxic-free life.

Unlike most of the blogs in her arena, Sarah is honest and painfully raw when it comes to telling her story and sharing her fight with autoimmune disease. It’s important to note that her radical views on diet and lifestyle have been criticised by a range of medical professionals, but after reading only a few posts it’s easy to see her writing and advice come from a place of loving respect.

Sarah is here to change the world and she doesn’t care who stands in her way.

sethgodin.com

sarahwilson.com

galadarling.com

Online - Top blogs

Entertainment

The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (2015) 116 min Rated M Action, adventure, comedy Director: Guy Ritchie

By Rebecca Marshallsay The Man from U.N.C.L.E. is a glorious piece of espionage escapism, set in Cold War Europe.

Adapted from a 1960s television series of the same name, director Guy Ritchie has made a ridiculously rompy and unashamedly flashy film that takes you back to a time when spy films were fun.

A chiselled Henry Cavill is smooth and suave as dapper CIA agent, Napoleon Solo, but it is Armie Hammer who steals the show as his dour and enigmatic Russian counterpart, KGB agent, Illya Kuryakin. Solo and Kuryakin must overcome their cultural differences in order to bring down an international crime syndicate bent on nuclear proliferation.

The odd couple are joined by Gaby Teller (Alicia Vikander), an East German mechanic whose family connections can help them infiltrate the criminal organisation.

Vikander matches Cavill and Hammer for charm and I would

definitely place money on her as a star on the rise. You may have also seen her starring in the much anticipated Testament of Youth, released earlier this year.

The film is all about style, creating a world of sharp suits, bold dresses and action heroes who are so debonair that they hardly break a sweat. The film borrows heavily from spy films from the 60s and beyond, not the least of which being the Bond franchise.

Thankfully the film departs from its Bond-esque roots when it comes to the ladies. Women are not just window dressing in The Man from U.N.C.L.E. In addition to the more-than-capable Teller the film also features criminal mastermind, Victoria Vinciguerra (Elizabeth Debicki). As a villain, Vinciguerra is far more interesting than any catstroking-man in a swivel chair (Dr. Evil aside).

Ritchie established his own unique brand of comedy with films such

Entertainment

as Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch. He possesses the ability to create humour in the most unlikely characters and in all situations from dark moments and quiet pauses to the centre of tense action. The Man from U.N.C.L.E. is just as bold and just as funny as his previous best works.

The Man from U.N.C.L.E. is certainly not flawless. There are a few sections that feel a little flat and although the opening sequence is masterfully done, the beginning of the film takes a little while to find its feet. But overall it is a highly enjoyable film that will leave you hoping for a sequel. By the time exams are over it should be available on DVD or iTunes, so if you missed it on the big screen make sure you treat yourself to an end of semester celebration with The Man from U.N.C.L.E.

Holding the Man (2015) 128 min Rated MA 15+ Romance, drama Director: Neil Armfield

By Paul Veitch Long story short, this is a romance story, gay or otherwise, that you’ve already seen. One that has so many done-and-dusted/inconsequential plot points and under-developed characters that it’s simply left underwhelming.

Now, this is an Australian-made film based on the memoirs of Tim Conigrave. The prime focus of the story is on the romantic relationship he had with John Caleo, whom he met in Catholic school in the 70s, three ingredients for a less-than-peaceful romance, you can imagine. The movie’s overall aim is to simply tell a romance story and thereby show that a gay romance is no better or worse than a straight romance.

An amiable goal, aye, but good intentions do not a good movie make.

In the end, as a movie, this is just another romance flick, filled with plot points and twists that we’ve seen before, nothing to interest you. We’ve got the awkward high-school romance, the teenage

rebellion, a rocky relationship, etcetera, etcetera. I know that sounds harsh, given that it’s a true story, but it just means that this particular autobiography doesn’t make for a good threeact narrative. It probably should have stayed as written memoirs, with the kind of unique details and descriptions that only a book - a medium without time constraints can offer.

What really drives that point home is how a good chunk of the plot just gets defenestrated (thrown out the window) and resolved off-screen. Characters’ll be at odds and then thirty minutes later they’re chummy, but we didn’t get to see how it happened. If we’re stuck left wondering why it happened in the first place, then we can’t consistently build up our anticipation or fear for the climax. It’s the same reason you’re supposed to turn your mobile off in the cinema; because it’s an interruption to the flow. So with a plot that bad, maybe we could just like the movie because we like the 55

characters. We cannot. You’d think a character-oriented indie movie would be able to follow the basic formula for character investment: LIKE the character, KNOW the character, WATCH the character.

This movie does not let us know the character, not well enough.

Essentially, the movie will introduce a seemingly-major factor, then not tell you why it’s major.

Example: the two protagonists are Catholic, so there’s something major, right? Except, we’re never shown just how important religion is to them and their families, or why; we don’t see them praying for guidance or so much as going to confessional, we’re just left to assume. Well, I’m afraid that assumptions aren’t powerful enough; if we KNOW the characters closely follow the Bible’s teachings, then WATCHING the character go against them would be all the stronger, wouldn’t it?

Final Verdict: Worth a miss

Entertainment

From Dusk till Dawn The Series (2015 - ) Television series, Rated MA15+ Horror, drama, crime Developed by Robert Rodriguez

By Monique Hotchin The Gecko Brothers are back.

Occupying screens worldwide, they are taking on the small screen this time around and it’s a beautiful thing. From the brilliant and unique minds of Robert Rodriguez (Planet Terror, Sin City) and Quentin Tarantino (Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill Vol.1 & 2) comes the rebirth of a cult classic from the ‘90s. The story begins with anti-heroes and criminal duo Seth Gecko (D.J. Cotrona), the mouth piece, and his violently unpredictable younger brother Richie (Zane Holtz). The brothers are on the run from a robbery gone bad after several policemen are killed. Forced to flee, the Geckos use the grieving Fuller family as their cover to cross into Mexico after taking the family hostage. From there the group realises sinister forces (Mexican vampires) are at play as dusk approaches.

The show contains fast-paced action, fist-pumping adrenaline, badass characters that are flawed and magnetic, kick-ass battle scenes and of course, large

quantities of blood,(but you wouldn’t want it any other way).

The series is done Rodriguez’s way and lives up to his high standard of film making and is everything one could expect and want from the masterminds of Rodriguez and Tarantino.

Of course with any adaptations of iconic films there are changes to be made but this rebirth acts more like an extension of the original film than a tacky remake. Storylines and characters are fleshed out, especially the characters of Santanico Pandemonium and Carlos Felipe that weren’t explored in the film. There is more depth in the show and it offers a more considered plotline than the film, which offered very little background information at all.

While it is considered vampirethemed, the core of the show is about family. This primary storyline of breaking and mending families continues into the series’ sophomore season.

Entertainment

As for the casting, they have done a top-notch job. While it would have been tough to recast George Clooney, Quentin Tarantino and the other original actors, the new actors are a perfect match for the adaptation. They got Wilmer Valderrama - enough said! The new-faced characters are brought to life by the new actors. They have not only exceeded the high expectations but brought their own flavour to the iconic roles.

The attention to detail is breathtaking, the mise-en-scene from the film bleeds into the series, such as the famous Titty Twister where it’s kill or be killed.

It’s like revisiting an old memory, and Rodriguez and his team have crafted everything to perfection.

While some fans are less enthusiast about the television adaptation, it delivers and speaks boldly for itself. From Dusk Till Dawn cannot be faulted easily, fits perfectly into the franchise that Rodriguez and Tarantino have created and still harbours the edgy atmosphere from the cult film.

What Went Down Foals

By Angel Nikijuluw Opening with searing guitar riffs and riveting vocals, the fourth studio album What Went Down by indie rock band Foals provides a fitting successor for their triumphant 2013 record, Holy Fire.

While Foals have previously shown better form with Holy Fire and their breakthrough second record, Total Life Forever, the five-piece have

You Caroline Kepnes

By Monique Hotchin

remained consistent in their sound development with What Went Down. They continue to deliver a mix of both indie-pop elements and fragments of heavy rock.

Often emanating immense emotion and, at times, a sense of fury in his vocals, front man Yannis Philippakis once again delivers a collection of enigmatic lyrics, accompanied by thunderous, yet intricately constructed arpeggios weaved in between complex polyrhythms.

You is one hell of a debut novel

by American author Caroline Kepnes and deserves all the hype and praise it has received since its release in 2014. It breaks out of the typical thriller genre and takes on a life of its own, leaving the readers trailing behind, gripping on by their finger nails.

You starts off as a classic boymeets-girl story but rapidly takes an unexpected and sick turn as Joe Goldberg forms an intense fascination with a young and sexy aspiring writer named Guinevere Beck, or simply just Beck. Joe first spots her when she wanders into the New York City bookstore 57

Still, Foals continues to create atmospheric soundscapes contrasting to their powerful lead tracks ‘What Went Down’ and ‘Mountain at My Gates’.

‘London Thunder’ – the band’s third single - and ‘A Knife in the Ocean’ illustrates Foals’ taste for a tamer disposition in their sound – combining soft, solacing vocals with ambient synths and plucking guitar lines. Wild, complex, and emotionally driven, Foals’ What Went Down displays both resistance and sensitivity.

where he works (and silently judges people’s reading habits). Of course, like any good romance story, Joe is smitten immediately However, this story becomes dark and twisted as it explores the very fine line between all-consuming love and sinister obsession.

Kepnes keeps you close to the inner, and rather disturbed mind, of Joe. Following him relentlessly as he tries to get his girl though unconventional methods that go beyond simple stalking. You is filled to the brim with spine-chilling but brilliant twists that leave your mind reeling and skin crawling.

Feature artist – Aidan Ryan

Aidan Ryan describes himself as a creative enthusiast, exploring photography, graphic design, illustration and cinematography.

You have seen many of his photos gracing the pages of Getamungstit this year but for this edtion, Geta wanted to talk to Aidan about Rascal Ltd Pack Co. Under the Rascal label, Aidan produces unique, handmade backpacks almost entirely out of repurposed materials.

You are no stranger to Geta, you have taken a lot of pictures for the mag. What do you enjoy about the photography?

Yes! I surely have, haha. You guys have probably only really seen my “commercial” side of photography, I’ve got a whole other alter ego when it comes to photography. I think it’s pretty great being able to capture a certain moment, space or object in a creative or interesting manner, then being able to share what you had envisioned.

What are you studying?

I am studying a Bachelor of Digital Media, majoring in Graphic Design with Photomedia minors.

Feature artist

This is our Green Edition so can you tell us a bit about upcycling?

Well upcycling, I guess, is when you re-use an old item and bring new life to it.

How do you put upcycling into practice with your bags?

Simple! Each of my packs need material and op-shops are filled with old and used materials, pillowcases and bedsheets. It seemed crazy not to utilise this cheap and recently unwanted fabric.

Most of the fabrics found are really unique and different, so it’s great to bring something fresh to the upcycling industry.

How did your bags come about? What inspired you?

What design ideas or themes are you excited about at the moment?

Well I had to complete an assessment piece, which was to create a product, brand it, market it and sell it. I had friends who had previously completed the class and they did upcycling too, but with shirts and hats. I remember feeling I really want to give that a go and I would always froth over all the cool patterns and designs they had at op-shops. From there I learnt how to sew from my main lady and Rascal was born!

I recently released a new designed product, called the “Make-A-Pouch”. Before I would choose what materials to use and then create it and add it to the online store, but now I’m giving the customer a chance to choose from over 50 fabrics, in order to create their own, unique pouch.

rascalltdpackco.com.au

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Being creative

Small Change is an upcycling project by Anita Kuiper that breathes life into grocery bags by fusing them together. Small Change makes coin purses, wallets and phone sleeves sewn from recycled scrap textiles to create a highly durable and unique end product.

maverikstudio.com.au Being creative

Sketches by Beni Li, Master of Business (Major in Sport Management) 61

Being creative

Being creative

Photography by Christian Nimri, Bachelor of Pharmacy facebook.com/cnpcreatives 63

Illustration by Jonty Spina, Bachelor of Digital Media jontyspina.com Being creative

LEMON ZEST

By Phil Kimmins She knows the body will be gone by now, but even after twenty years on the job, she can still feel uneasy working a room, like an intruder. Only five a.m., but already the sweat beads on her forehead, trickles down her sides as she moves slowly across the baking black asphalt towards the open door. She’s glad of her designer shades as the piercing glare is hurled back at her from the white aluminium siding of the motel, pale lemon of doors and wall panels a bleached-bone assault in the unforgiving light.

The door to No. 8 stands wide open, a blackand-white room tag hanging from the key in the lock, an arc of sunlit, faded blue linoleum the only spot of light before the dark. Little glass-topped tables and tubular steel chairs perch on the walkway outside each of the rooms, the litter of empties on No. 8’s table matched by its neighbour in No. 9 – Jim Beam and Jack Daniels cans, an obligatory one or two concertina-crushed. The labels on the beer empties are all facing away, back towards the motel wall, as though the beer had been lousy and the drinkers were ashamed of their choice. But No. 7 was apparently of more sober habits, with only the remains of a meal hidden beneath a silver warmer on its table. She’d deal with all of that later; Madsen wouldn’t like it, but then, Madsen didn’t like much of anything.

“Screw him”, she mutters.

Maria Hernandez pulls on a pair of thin latex gloves and slipping off her Ray-Bans, steps into the gloom of No. 8. This was the part that still unnerved her, an over-active proximity sense telling her that someone is still here, on the edge of vision and if you move your head quickly enough you just might catch them flitting through the room. But she was used to this and had learnt how to deal with it– stand absolutely still for sixty seconds and just breathe. So she does; she stands there just over the threshold and inhales the musty odour of the stained carpet, the sour stench of sweat and semen from the ruined bed and, as more often than not, the sad reek of mundane desperation permeating everything.

A minute gone, she gives a sighing exhalation and begins an inventory of the room, her head swivelling slowly, like a sniper’s rifle quartering a field of fire as it seeks out targets.

Mounted halfway up the wall to her right, a TV set hisses blue indignation at the vacated double bed opposite. Maybe it had shown one of the inhouse porno movies, the actors leading the room’s occupants through a pneumatic pas-de-deux before the final face shot and leave-taking. The bed has clearly seen some action – top sheet and cover are a rumpled mess on the floor, the bottom sheet hanging on by one corner. A pillow midway down the mattress a mounting point for deeper penetration perhaps.

The far side of the bed, a wooden nightstand with an Olympic ring pattern of dried stains on its scratched surface – one empty glass and one a third full of a brownish liquid, several cigarette butts floating motionless on the surface, swollen like miniature tampons. There’s a regulation forbidding smoking in the rooms but this is ‘more honoured in the breach than the observance’. She’d read that phrase somewhere, liked it, and was still trying to find a way of dropping it into an actual conversation. Fat chance, she thinks, with the mouth-breathing knuckledraggers I’ve been mixing with lately.

A picture of events is beginning to gel, and to complete it, Hernandez takes a considered step into the tiny bathroom.

The toilet seat is up, revealing two more nicotine floaters, flakes of tobacco fanning out from ruptured seams, soaking up unflushed toxic spill. Wet towels on a puddled floor beside the unshielded shower stall and overall, rising above the odour of warm mould and urine, the stench of lives in decay.

The forensic examination of No. 8 is just about done when the radio on her belt squawks into life.

“Maria...you there?”

“Yeah, I’m here. What is it?”

“Are you done with No. 8 yet?”

“Just about.”

“Well get a move on, wouldja? I got another check-in for half-an-hour an’ I want things lookin’ ship-shape in there. And Maria? Don’t forget to change the soaps like you did last time, and while you’re at it, freshen up the toilet rolls and put those pointy tails on the end. Makes it look classy, ya know?”

“Yeah, I know.”

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Being creative

THE NATIONAL ORGANISER

By Benjamin Brown The last time I spoke with Spencer he was jetting off to Canberra for a job interview. I assumed ASIS, given Spence’s background in political and social science, multiple languages and rugby-field bonhomie. We’d met as boys at TSS, though I only attended the school for a year and even then, to say I attended is to apply the most generous sense of the word. I was never there long enough to make friends, but Spencer was friends with everyone. I left, pinballing my way through most of the Gold Coast’s secondary schools until I had enough momentum to eject myself back to Sydney. Spence stayed, cultivating a network of friends and contacts across all levels of society with such consummate ease I can only assume he’s done it in every place he’s ever lived. He kept in touch and we’ve met up every few years when his work, which often involved travel, brought him to wherever I was at the time. Spence is naturally gregarious, and scrupulous about maintaining relationships. I’ll point out by way of example that our initial friendship began in the pre-Facebook dark ages when keeping in touch with old friends required concentrated effort.

He called me on Friday and invited me out for a drink. We met at Stingray Bar (his choice) and took a booth. I was irritated to see he was still in great shape, wearing a tailored suit and smiling with bright, tailored teeth. Surrounded by sunglasses-inside, shirt-unbuttoned, skinny-jean wearing lawyers and real-estate agents he made everyone look like extras, while I felt like a tortoise winding through a crowd of cackling flamingos. He fetched drinks from the bar, and kept them coming throughout the evening.

There’s awkward tension tied up in meeting people you know but haven’t seen for years. You can never be sure how much either of you have changed. Not the broad sweep of personality which begins to set in adolescence and fully congeals in adulthood, but little facets which grow or erode with time, such as sudden financial success or accelerating mental instability.

Spencer now owned several homes, remained a bachelor and had access to the club lounge of every major airline while I could claim none of those distinctions. He didn’t brag, nor self-aggrandise at my expense, rather he had the obnoxious habit of

Being creative

accepting all of my decisions on their own merit and pointing out obscure advantages to the hash I’d made of my life, although he had to resort to the philosophical for much of it.

He asked me what I did for a living, or if I was still suckling on the Government teat.

“They’ve got me on a trickle, still.” I said. “But I work in a Pet Supplies shop.”

“How’re you finding that?” he asked.

“Disconcerting. I like animals and their miscellany, but as an academic with an interest in obscure research, I know that statistically, on a busy day, at least one of my customers has had sexual contact with their pet.”

He barked a laugh and motioned for another brace of cocktails. “That’s nothing, mate. I’m the National Organiser of Satanic Orgies for the Liberal Party.”

I thought I’d misheard. The music, played at a volume just below the pain threshold had us repeating ourselves and playing intermittent rounds of ‘What?’ tennis. I hadn’t. He handed me his card, glossy black with the letters NOSO across the top in red and his name, phone number and office email address beneath.

“Yeah mate, been doing it about three years now.

Replaced Gil Ford who did the job for Labor. Cruisey gig.”

“You’re allowed to talk about it?”

He spread his arms and shrugged. “None of it’s classified. I checked and there’s no security clearance attached to the work. Sure, I have to hush things up every now and then, spread a bit of lunch money around, but the yearly budget’s so small it makes us one of the most cost-efficient committees in Government.”

“What are the overheads like?” I asked.

“Pretty low, all things considered. One or two private functions a month, and they’re dirt cheap. Lick of black paint here, couple of hookers dressed as nuns there, a dozen masks and you’re done for just a few grand. Bigger events and special occasions actually run at a profit, being fundraisers where corporate

whales open their chequebooks in a spirit of good will.”

I finished my drink and motioned that I needed a cigarette. Spence followed me outside.

“Aren’t you worried that people will find out?

There’d be an outcry.”

“Nah, no one expects conventional morality from their pollies. These are the people who decide on laws to fuck you over and help out their mates, and they’re voted in to power. As long as everyone’s comfortable and a little bit scared, nobody minds if their leaders indulge in a little hanky-panky behind closed doors.

Even if those doors are cast bronze and engraved with unknowable sigils.”

I didn’t want to go back into the bar, though the street stank of wet rubbish and exhaust fumes and wind was cutting through my jacket. Spence saw my discomfort and put a hand on my shoulder.

“Look mate, let’s not be solipsistic arseholes here. It’s the same all over. The Cult of the Owl has been running America for at least three hundred years, and no one knows how long that child-eating race of vampire reptiles has owned England. The system’s not perfect, but it works.”

I shook my head. “People don’t make a fuss?”

“Not at all. You want political controversy, look at poor old Bronnie Bishop. Stakeholders are up in arms over her using tax payer money to fly to a Liberal fund raiser when she’s supposed to be impartial. No one gives a shit that she’s partial to wearing a goat mask and riding naked through the woods on a black pig screaming the seven secret names of Azathoth.”

I crushed the cigarette out and checked the time. We shook hands and agreed to meet again next time he was in town. Before I left, I asked him “What does NOSO actually stand for?”

He shrugged. “I wasn’t yanking your chain, mate.

You think that’s hard to believe? We have a two party system where you’d be hard pressed to tell one side from the other and no bill of rights. If we’re willing to accept that, why should the Australian people care about a cheeky bit of Devil worship?”

I couldn’t fault his logic.

67

Halloween

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Being creative ARCHER’S

By Ira McGuirez Sam wears a short black skirt and carries a black plastic briefcase. The briefcase is from Granny Mays, bought with earnings from bussing tables in a posh hotel in Surfers, with a cavernous lobby and cold, marble staircases. Sam’s got her Walkman head-set covering her ears, the cord trailing into the case. She gets glances from grown men sitting at a bus stop, several from a worksite, knows she’s getting the glances. Her legs are long, tanned, her spare time spent lying at the beach, rubbing oil into her skin. She walks past a gaggle of girls in uniform, smoking, their fringes blow dried in stiff peaks, hoop earrings glinting in the afternoon sun. They give Sam the up and down and decide there’s no point giving any shit, let her past without incident; there’s something about the way she doesn’t even blink their way. Sam’s listening to the way Morten Harket’s voice vibrates, gives her goose-bumps, will give her incentive to reach under the elastic of her undies later that night while she tries to block out Mum talking to rellies in Melbourne, discussing the pros and cons of maybe moving down there, now that Dad’s gone.

Sam walks up the small incline and decline of Scarborough Street, past Del Plaza Hotel and its two open windows. She glances at the rows of bottles and people sitting on stools, smoke rising in long lines from ashtrays, like tiny campfires. Sam finally slows to a stop in front of a white building with a narrow staircase. Archer’s Gym is painted in pale blue against the white, a mid-century building made over with paint and steel framed window casings. Sam unplugs Morten mid croon and slides across the plastic tabs on her case, and coils the headphones into it, nestling them inside a layer of clothing.

gloves and goes to the corner where the pec-deck machine is. Some dude in a navel-grazing top is sitting on it, straining his cactus elbows towards each other, his image in the mirror showing a lot of teeth. After six slow reps he stops, lets his arms relax and the weights clang together.

‘Can I work in with you?’ Sam asks.

‘Sure thing, Princess,’ he says, smiles indulgently.

Sam adjusts the pin, brings the seat up and sits. She stares at herself in the mirror opposite: her eyes seem too small for her nose and mouth, all her features yet to find balance. She shuts her eyes and squeezes, the strain and effort releasing endorphins at the end of the twelve-rep set.

‘Nice one,’ the man says, lowering the seat, adjusting the pin. ‘You’re not just a pretty face are ya?’

He chuckles to himself and Sam turns away.

She watches Archer chatting to a young woman leaning against the desk, her Reeboks on tip-toe.

Archer has his arms crossed, biceps on show. Sam wants to sit back down and strain over another set, but she sees Tony enter and nod to Archer who high-fives him, like he does all the regulars. Sam feels familiar goose-bumps rising, watches at the way Tony holds onto the strap of his bag, his black eyeliner smudged, hair teased in a Robert Smith homage. Tony doesn’t bother with the change rooms. He comes straight over to Sam and they stand silent, shoulders touching until the man still on the pec-dec furrows his brow at them and moves on.

‘Wanna go sit outside?’ Tony asks after Sam’s final set, after he has stared at her in the mirror, adjusting strands of his hair.

‘I’ll just grab my stuff,’ Sam says.

Archer is standing at the front desk, a man so tan it’s near impossible not to stare. You can see each wrinkle in his skin, even though he has muscles and veins popping up all over to distract a gaze. His smile and eyes betray his desire to be forty years younger, still tries it on with some of the young women in Lycra straining against the pulleys and ropes, lifting dumbbells over their heads near mirrors. The music in Archer’s is all about Def Leppard and AC/DC. Posters of Arnie are tacked up for extra motivation, several photos of women in headbands and skin coloured stockings, even though that’s going out of style. A few women in the gym are testing out how to wear a g-string while doing bent-over rows. Sam gets a highfive from Archer, and walks past the chest-high desk to the change rooms.

Sam returns ten minutes later, wearing a crop top and cut-off tracksuit pants. She pulls on her

They sit outside, on the curb, legs stretched. Tony smokes and worms a finger into the hole on his jeans, proffers the smoke at Sam who shakes her head.

‘Dad smoked. It stinks,’ she said.

‘Sorry,’ Tony said and took a long drag before dropping the smouldering end into the gutter.

‘You wanna come to my place?’

‘Sure.’

They walk in silence to an old Queenslander on High Street, The Cure playing faintly from the headphones hanging around Tony’s neck. His parent’s house is neat and tidy and they hurry past Tony’s mum who glances at Sam.

‘Just a friend from school,’ Tony lies and closes his bedroom door, drops his bag on the floor and presses the play button on his stereo. They sit on the floor, listen to REM, Sam looking around the room, at the posters and angst drawings, the double bed, a

Being creative

small fish tank, empty, except for a plastic castle.

‘Mum put an unsterilized rock into the tank and all the fish died,’ Tony said. Sam nods, crosses her legs. They sit in silence for ages, until Tony slides closer to her, their knees touching. They’ve never hung out outside of gym, have never been on the verge of something. Tony leans in. Sam grabs a handful of his t-shirt, and they come together, lips awkward. The kiss is long, long enough for Tony to move a hand onto her breast, Sam flinching slightly but letting him do it. Michael Stipe mumbles in the background and Sam pulls away, wipes her mouth with the back of her hand. Tony leans back.

‘Didn’t you like it?’ He fiddles with his hair, rubbing the strands together.

‘Yeah, it’s not that. I just think I should go, before Mum starts wondering where I am,’ Sam said. ‘Maybe I’ll stay longer next time.’

Tony shucks his shoulders, walks her to the front door.

Sam sits in the gutter, in front of Archer’s, legs stretched in front of her. It’s nearly dinner time, her stomach vocal while she watches gym members walk past her to their cars, waits for her Mum’s car. She’s still waiting when Archer himself comes downstairs, stands next to her, so close she can smell liniment.

‘You alright? Got someone coming or you need a ride someplace?’

Sam is silent for a moment, looks up at Archer, his tan and lined face.

‘I’m alright. Mum should be here any minute,’ she finally replies.

Archer stays put, puts down the nylon gym bag he is carrying, rummages through it for a second or two. Sam glances down the road, hears the familiar click of a lighter.

‘Want one?’ Archer asks. The scent of the cigarette is bitter.

‘No. I hate cigarettes. My Dad was a smoker.’ Sam brings her legs in, tucks them under her chin.

‘So, is your Mum single, then?’

They remain in silence, Archer smoking above her, until her Mum’s car pulls to a stop under a streetlight.

FULLESS

By Zarek Hennessy {This morning I was woken by a murder of crows mating.

An invitation on her pillow to my birthday and our divorce.} These balloons are heavy like this floor is too thin.

My heart pumps how many; pints of blood, twitching ‘til fixed strangled doves, bruised apples felled low above, flawed souls in wrong dirt dug, told stories came in come.

These heavy things are weightless like this lightness is thick as absence.

THE SELF PHOTOGRAPH

By Zarek Hennessy a 2d image eyes with no holes a faux aperture closes

Do you want to see your work in print?

Getamungstit is seeking high quality submissions of short fiction, creative non-fiction, poetry and other genres for our creative section.

Check out the Contributor Guidelines at gugcstudentguild.com.au/getamungstit for further information.

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Get the hell outta here Binna Burra/Lamington National Park

By Angel Nikijuluw Far away from campus (well, a 30 minute drive), there is a destination that includes more than 160km of rainforest tracks, spectacular views, and an abundance of flora and fauna. Now, you’re probably thinking, “Getamungstit, why so many hinterland features?”

In a city congested with construction and an evergrowing population, it’s always great to leave the concrete jungle behind, and explore the vast rainforest of Lamington National Park. Yes, the Gold Coast is full of surprises. It is also full of rainforests.

At the southern end of the Gold Coast, Binna Burra is a 36km drive from Nerang off the M1.

If you’re taking the Beechmont Road route, make sure to stop and take advantage of the exceptional

hospitality of Lower Beechmont’s Laurel Cottage Café before continuing your journey into the wilderness.

Walks range from half day to full day, and vary in difficulty.

From easy level tracks to cliff edges, creek crossings, and steep descents, there is something for everyone.

If you’re feeling adventurous, you’re more than welcome to take the Border Track, which is 21.4km one way, and takes you all the way to the Tweed Range. Of course, if you’re not that daring, you can take it down a notch and trek the Cave Circuit – just a 5km return walk from the information centre, and provides views into the Coomera Valley. However, these two tracks are not the only tracks on offer; there are more than a dozen

Get the hell outta here

intermediate and advanced tracks to choose from.

After a long trek, grab a bite to eat and a coffee at the Lamington Teahouse, situated right next to the track entrance. While you’re enjoying your food, also enjoy the views of the (very distant) Gold Coast.

While it may not be possible to do too many tracks in one day, you can extend your stay by booking into the Binna Burra Lodge – just a short walk from the track entrance.

The lodge provides panoramic views of the hinterland from their Sky Lodges and their Clifftop Dining Room.

A detailed guide of all walking tracks is available at the Lamington Teahouse, and the Binna Burra Lodge.

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ISSUE 6

‘THE O’WEEK EDITION’

ON CAMPUS O’WEEK 2016 GUGCSTUDENTGUILD.COM/GETAMUNGSTIT

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