Volume 15: Restoration by Perspektif Magazine

restoration VOLUME 15

PERSPEKTIF In d o n es ian for Pers p ec t ive (noun.) a point of view

Perspektif is a biannual print and online magazine dedicated to showcasing talents and disseminating ideas. ‘Perspektif’ is Indonesian for perspective, a name that signifies our aims: to promote the acceptance of varying perspectives while representing Indonesian culture in a global context. Each volume contains a variety of written and visual pieces, from critical analyses to poems and personal anecdotes, each centralised on a theme. Supported by kind donations and passionate individuals, our magazine is entirely free and run by volunteers and contributors. We hope that Perspektif will inspire and familiarise you with new ideas.

v i si o n To be a platform that exemplifies the diversity of student experiences through showcasing ideas, talents, initiatives and stories relevant to the youth. mi ssi o n To create a visually appealing and intellectually engaging magazine.

PHOTOGRAPHY

Surya Gibolan

PHOTOGRAPHY

Surya Gibolan

restoration “ Keep a little fire burning; however small, however hidden.”

CORMAC MCCARTHY

The fight is written in our bones. We were never made to cower or fold into ourselves. When the streets are deserted and the sun turns red, we still move forward: one foot, one step, one cry at a time. Human civilisation has never lost to disaster, disease, war, hatred, or bigotry. This is what we know: the pain will not last forever. In the depths of the gutter, somehow, we will find the strength to extend our hand and reach another’s soul.

editor’s words Restoration. Restoration . 1 word with a thousand different feelings. It highlights the birth of something new and emphasises change. To some, restoration can be highly anticipated while to others it is eerily dreaded. After a life-changing year, it is safe to say that we all have the same goal: to restore and rebuild our world. But what we don't realise is that the most minuscule of movements can ripple into full-fledged revolutions. Change starts from within. We have to restore all the broken parts to start anew. The challenging year will birth a brighter future ahead. It’s our duty as a society to make 2021 be all about rebuilding what we’ve lost during this pandemic. All the heartbreak we endured in 2020 will go down in history. Humanity has been through only a handful of pandemics, and maybe we should consider ourselves so lucky as to be able to see the world through this lens. To be given the chance to prove our fortitude as a species and persevere through the ruins, making way for happier days. As to perseverance, in this volume, Venus Aphrodisia will enlighten us with several pointers on how to mend a broken heart while Muhammad Raffi's writing about entering the age of sustainability will teach us to keep looking forward. The pieces in our magazine will depict what humanity can achieve by continuing to rise up and fight again. Lastly, promise me one thing. Once this pandemic is over, hug your loved ones, go on that trip you’ve been dying for, chase after the dream you’ve been so scared to pursue, spend time with every valued person in your life and cherish every moment. For now, find the strength to hold on and persevere. We will get through this together.

Love always, Sabrina Kosman

F OUNDERS Fauziyah Annur Rama Adityadharma Mary Anugrah Rasita

E XECUTIVES

EDITORIAL

Sabrina Kosman Arletta Celestine Witaria Nadya Evelyn Jennifer Chance Vanni Anastasya

MANAG ING E DITOR

Jennifer Chance E DITOR S

Anindya Setiawan Astri Sanjaya Elvira Titan Muhammad Raffi Dwitama

CREATIVE C R E ATIVE DIR E CTOR

Nadya Evelyn DE SIG NE R S & ILLUSTR ATOR S

Adelya Zevania Mikha Bhava Amanda Thedrica Tiara Puspa Amanda Valerie Luira Yoewono

MARKETING MAR K E TING DIR E C TOR S

Arletta Celestine Witaria Vanni Anastasya MAR K E TE R S

Angela Stacia Sulianto Dwigdi Diksita Gladys Clarissa Namira Anastasya Soerianto Ryssa Patricia

CONTENTS

On Becoming New with Time

Anindya Setiawan

Your Shy Soul

Aqueb Safwan Jaser

Midnight Musings

Aqueb Safwan Jaser

20 Similitude

Shujaat Mirza

22 Time

Kannitha Jurilla

Teenagers : You’re not a kid, nor an adult

Astri Sanjaya

The 80’s Ressurection

Muhammad Raff i Dwitama

The Heartbreak Song

Aqueb Safwan Jaser

5 Steps to Mend a Broken Heart

Theresa Cornelia Gunarso

Earth’s Calling

Elvira Titan

Rose Knows Zach Murphy

Just Passing By

Glenda Sumin Lu

To Bloom Without The Sun

Moudisha Zeeva

Asian Representation in Hollywood 42

Astri Sanjaya

July 1974

Alice Pricillya

52 Human

Shujaat Mirza

54 Inhabitance

Shujaat Mirza

Dear Mr. President...

Hirzi Putra Laksana

60 Racism

Kannitha Jurilla

Entering the Age of Sustainability

Muhammad Raff i Dwitama

The New Social Media

Muhammad Raff i Dwitama

Summum Bonum

Shujaat Mirza

This Place Is No Longer Anyone’s Business

Zach Murphy

ILLUSTRATION

Sanom Singh

contributors VOLUME 15

WORDS Alice Pricillya Anindya Setiawan Aqueb Safwan Jaser Astri Sanjaya Elvira Titan Glenda Sumin Lu Hirzi Putra Laksana Kannitha Jurilla Moudisha Zeeva Muhammad Raffi Dwitama Shujaat Mirza Theresa Cornelia Gunarso Zach Murphy

MEDIA Alessandro Mulya Kannitha Jurilla Kitman Yeung Sanom Singh Sangeeta Singh Surya Gibolan

ON BECOMING NEW WITH TIME Anindya Setiawan Adelya Zevania Mikha Bhava

WORDS ILLUSTRATION

blue is the first to disappear. in march, the lights begin flickering once every few seconds as the summer’s breeze comes to an end, tossed out the broken window. i’m tracing my fingers against the glass, listening to the city for the last time in a long while, waiting for the weekend to end.

i. i’ll say goodbye on a beautiful spring day on the way back from campus, i take the long way home. the park is full, but i’m lucky enough to find an empty bench on the side. a familiar tune plays. melbourne is so loud in the afternoon. on the ground, leaves fall into place with the help of the wind. i hear the crunch of footsteps from every corner as if belonging to the city. the skyscrapers stand strong, even from a distance. the conversations of those around me, i hold. i lean back to watch the clouds pass by. i stay there as long as i can. and while everything lingers for some time, it still feels a bit too short. just a bit. but, that’s the thing about moments, isn’t it?

POEM

ii. with a headache that’s been pounding for months the lights are completely out now. and when the music stops playing at night, i don’t try to find it. in the absence of noise, the city falls asleep. grey slowly slips into the alleyways until it becomes unrecognisable, the streets a brand new world of its own. i sit still to the sound of the clock ticking nearby. i try to feel the rhythm, i try to close my eyes. into the clandestine stillness of the rush hour, i sink.

iii. and i’ve been meaning to tell you i pass by the park for the first time in months. the bench is empty. i press play but only static comes out, so i leave before september passes by.

iv. i think it’s gonna be a long, long time i’m still waiting for the weekend to end. soon. my phone is on the nightstand. i press once. nothing. i keep it on, anyway. the police sirens echo across the city and into my room. before it fades, i reach for a pen to find the words in between. suddenly, i’m going back in time. i’m thinking about the park and the fallen leaves on freshly trimmed grass, the smell of the pavement, the racing clouds. in the silence, the ink runs from my grip and onto a page. a new song. time lingers the most in the early hours of the day. i wait when the last bits of the hazy pastel begins to disappear from the sky, morning light flickers through my blinds. i open the window. everything is blue. POEM

YOUR SHY SOUL WORDS

Aqueb Safwan Jaser Nadya Evelyn

ILLUSTRATION

You’ve been searching for your shy soul. It wasn’t hiding in your records of Rock ‘n Roll. It wasn’t under your desk the last time you checked. Neither was it in your closet—oh, what a mess. You swirled the spoon in your red coffee mug to see if it’s there, but you only found black coffee beans, staring back at you from the abyss.

Night after night, day after day. Your shy soul always managed to escape. Better you call off the search— your shy soul is perhaps a bit too shy. So let it reappear when it sees fit, at its own rhythm, at its own beat.

POEM

PHOTOGRAPHY

Kannitha Jurilla

“Life is to be lived, not controlled; and humanity is won by continuing to play in face of certain defeat.” RALPH ELLISON, INVISIBLE MAN

ILLUSTRATION

Sanom Singh

MIDNIGHT MUSINGS WORDS

Aqueb Safwan Jaser Nadya Evelyn

ILLUSTRATION

The heart is the most tender after midnight. It will tell you stories, one after another. Listen to it with patience, with care. The heart is the calmest after midnight. It will sing you songs, recite you poetry. Listen to it with a smile. The heart has no one but you. And you have no one but the heart. It’s a unique love story, my friend, the kind of which mesmerises you after midnight. You both are restless during the day. Running wild. Running scared. If you’re not running, then you walk, each carrying the other’s trouble. It’s after midnight when you both find yourselves again. In each other’s quietude. In each other’s stories. In each other’s poetry. In each other’s midnight musings.

POEM

SIMILITUDE WORDS

Shujaat Mirza Surya Gibolan

PHOTOGRAPHY

We’re as much Living artworks As we’re Relics Of the bygone We are as much Over the top As we’re Submerged Immersible Submersible Subversive Subtextual Swimming Between the lines Skimming the surface of liminality Subliminal as well Subconsciously deep diving Into the collective unconscious Constituted differently From the same weft and weave We are humans Each an atoll Dark and fair Sundry affairs Affectations aplenty Doggedly there And fiercely sticking on Together

POEM

Sailing in the same boat Sink or stay on course Submitting to the world And excluding We strike the right pose Between self-effacement And hubris We are tirelessly aiming To be visible Reluctant to be excluded Within our restrictions We go many places Far and wide In the wake of this exegesis That crafts us as divergently Polychromatic Adjuncts to the many phases That we have waxed and waned Even in abasement we find a way Into the placements Without due consent; Our morphology of preferments Accedes to just this adjudication.

POEM

TIME WORDS

Kannitha Jurilla Kannitha Jurilla

PHOTOGRAPHY

The days have been aggravating. I feel like I am pressed for time but in contrast, I pass time in idleness. What is time? It is a concept difficult to grasp, a notion that is dissipating. If only it can retract itself. Some days come at full force, others come at ease. I can only take them as they are, hurling at me one after another.

POEM

I have been bent and broken, but—I hope—into a better shape. CHARLES DICKENS, GREAT EXPECTATIONS

FLASH ACTION

TEENAGERS: You’re not a kid, nor an adult

I moved to an entirely different continent at the age of 17. In the moments leading up to my departure, I counted every second in pure excitement as my own journey of being an ‘adult’ finally began. Being away from my parents means unlimited freedom has been granted upon me. Yet as exciting as living abroad sounds, the reality of self-reliance can get overwhelming. From having food magically appear on the dining table, I had to adjust to getting my own groceries, cooking meals and cleaning the dishes. Living alone has allowed me to embody my thoughts independently, and sometimes I wonder how my life would have been if things had gone differently. What if I didn’t get accepted to my preferred university and ended up in a different state or country? What if my childhood was spent dedicated to helping my father make ends meet, the way he did, instead of writing essays and scrolling through Instagram? Teenagers, whether they are close to or apart from their family, experience this greatly uncertain moment in their lives. I’ve been told to be more independent and to do things myself because I’m an adult, yet my knowledge and opinions have often

ARTS, CULTURE & EDUCATION

been doubted because I’m just a kid. One thing in the centre of this mess is social media. As a part of a generation greatly affected by technological advancements, I feel robbed of my childhood. The lavish and lucrative lifestyle that social media puts forward forces me to act like an adult and squeeze the joy from my youth. The days when communication relied on letters and telephones are long gone. Every aspect of life—the food you eat, the places you visit, and the people you meet—are now made public. Consequently, the ease of accessing information has allowed social media platforms to become a marketplace. Although this allows more business opportunities and job fields compared to previous generations, parents may dislike the fact that their children may settle down much later in life. Parents who may not be savvy social media users struggle to match their children’s lifestyle, resulting in even more overbearing parenting methods. My coming-of-age story began a tad bit too early and has left me disoriented. This piece will explore how social media and generational differences have impacted adolescence of the current generation. Social media exposes me to various people from different parts of the world. It keeps me connected to friends who have embarked on their journey in other countries, or those in the suburbs of Victoria who exceed my 25km radius. It allows job creation and self-employed individuals to sustain their livelihoods. The term influencers or bloggers may seem foreign a decade ago, but who knows what kinds of jobs globalisation will bring in the future? It also keeps me updated on prominent issues happening in many countries. To a greater extent, the voices of underrepresented groups have new platforms to express their concerns and gather support. An example is Malala Yousafzai, a young Pakistani activist who wrote about her life under military occupation, promoted education for impoverished girls, and won a Nobel Peace Prize. Information has become increasingly accessible, and you just can’t help but stay in the loop.

The downside, however, is that the pressure to grow up has never been so real. One recurring thought I had while scrolling through Instagram was that I needed to be ‘someone’—a definition that I can’t figure out quite yet. ‘Someone’ is not merely a university graduate, because millions of other people can say the same. The world has witnessed heaps of talents getting discovered at a young age. Lorde released a Grammy-winning song when she was 16, along with her debut studio album as a signed singer. Millie Bobby Brown was just 12 when the first season of Stranger Things, a record-breaking Netflix show, aired. Now, TikTok users like Addison Rae and Charlie D’Amelio are on the rise, whose net worths are no less than $4 million USD according to Forbes. Don’t get me started on ‘the youngest flexer of the century,’ Lil Tay. She is not the best example but she did seize the opportunity of bragging rights at 11 years old. Even without looking very far, you may have noticed your friends turning from home cooks into entrepreneurs, accepting pre-orders of baked goods from their hungry Instagram followers. Every bit of opportunity is getting monetised and here we are at the receiving end of it. To begin with, I can’t seem to see life past my university graduation, which is just under two years away. There is this need to disassociate myself from the past to embody the persona that those famous teenagers seem to have. With so much information in the palm of my hand and opportunities appearing left and right, I feel this urgent need to establish my own impeccable identity.

years. These types of demanding professions may require long work hours and extensive travel, which lead career-driven individuals to postpone their marriage and pursue their passion instead. It’s a big contrast to the late 80’s when the average age to get married for men and women was 25 and 23 respectively, as reported by Talia Lakritz at Insider. At the rate that the world is progressing, parents may struggle to adjust to these new trends and behaviour. The question is now left to the teenagers: should we follow what our parents say or conform to the current trend? One thing for sure is that settling down seems to be nowhere in sight. Teenagers face the problem of growing up too quickly and losing pivotal moments of their childhood. What counts is how to move on from there. Despite what you see on social media and what the previous generations have done, the choice remains in your hands. It does seem like a firstworld problem to talk about, but the pressure to live in this capitalised and globalised world is unquestionably real. Being a teenager can be tricky and life does not always go as smoothly as you plan it to be. There is no need to rush our lives to conform to these so-called rules that society has created. Live your life the way you want to because you’re the one who ends up having to deal with it. Astri Sanjaya Amanda Thedrica

WORDS ILLUSTRATION

Generation gaps also contribute to the bewilderment of one’s adolescence, especially when social media widens the divide. There is a toxic culture where parents build certain expectations for their children such as getting married, having children, and settling down before a certain age. Roni Caryn Rabin at The New York Times stated that young adults are marrying and having children later than previous generations. This may be a no-brainer because Millennials and Generation Z are in no rush to get married for various reasons. Feminism is more prominent than ever on social media and women are at the dawn of equal rights in all aspects, including the workplace. According to Mckinsey & Company, women in senior vice-presidents positions in America grew between 23% to 28% for the past five

ARTS, CULTURE & EDUCATION

THE 80’S RESURRECTION WORDS

Muhammad Raffi Dwitama Surya Gibolan, Kannitha Jurilla

PHOTOGRAPHY

I was at a coffee shop with my laptop, surfing through the internet while listening to one of my favourite podcasts, Today, Explained by Vox. Around me, my friends talked about the newest iPhone release. A student passed by, handing out flyers for a human rights rally. Whether it be issues regarding technology, environment or society, the world is constantly moving forward and looking towards the future. On my way back, I decided to play Take on Me by A-Ha while walking comfortably in my Air Flight ‘89 sneakers. I passed a group of people taking a photo with a polaroid camera. Yet, it feels like we are moving backwards as well. 40 years have passed since the 1980s, but the influence of this period is still visible everywhere today. The funny thing? It is the young people who never experienced the ‘80s that are spearheading this new excitement. Some speculate that people are looking back to what they perceive as a more innocent time. Rapid changes can be quite jarring, and people like to imagine a world before the Internet existed. In a way, we should have expected this. Advertisers and studios are using ‘80s influences in the form of logo redesigning, products and many more. Filmmakers, marketers and writers are also jumping on this trend extensively. Even Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign slogan ‘Make America Great Again’ uses the essence of ‘simpler times’ in politics. Why is The Past So Intriguing? One word: nostalgia. Nostalgia revolves around the notion that ‘the past is better than the present.’ When people are feeling down or depressed, nostalgia is the perfect compensation because it counteracts those negative feelings. It elevates meaning, connection and continuity in the past. It is potent because it relates to self-reflection. From the lens of memory,

we remember a time when we were loved and valued, adding to the perception of social support. Nostalgia is a device to help us remember simpler times—or, for those who have never experienced them, to imagine a time when things might have been simpler. The ‘80s is arguably one of the most defined and iconic eras in the modern period, which is why its influence is able to reach people who have never lived through it. There is always a particular fascination with a style or a trend that one has missed. The current generation of teens and young adults struggle with instability and with being understood, even more so than before. For example, fees for education are getting higher, which raises student debt, and social media has increased adolescent insecurities. Living in an age of crises—such as the 2008 global financial crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic and the climate crisis—means young people live in a constant state of stress and uncertainty. It is no wonder that the pull of escapism and nostalgia works so well. Teens want to feel like they can transport themselves into another decade—especially one that understands them. How Does Current Day Entertainment Reflect the ‘80s? The easiest one to spot, or to hear to be exact, is the similar music. Capturing a decade through sound is effective because of how the human brain works. Listening to music utilises the brain’s visual cortex, which prompts us to immediately associate a tune with memories or images. Old songs give a recollection of memories, such as your first crush or some special moments. Pop music implements these by using synthesisers or electronic bleeps, which are the essences of the ‘80s. Artists like The Weeknd (After Hours) and Dua Lipa (Future Nostalgia) are synonymous with this style. They opted for a more ‘disco-esque’ feel rather than the current market of hip-hop, and this works because it triggers nostalgia by evoking a similar sound. >>

ARTS, CULTURE & EDUCATION

John Hughes is the mastermind behind the ‘80’s film scene by creating movies such as Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles, and Some Kind of Wonderful World. They happened to capture teenage angst with a combination of fashion and music that reflected the ‘80s during its initial release. His work was monumental because the teenage audience felt heard for the first time, instead of being trivialised. His films changed the way teens perceived music, love, friendship, sex, and class distinction. Not to mention, by creating storylines from occurrences in everyday life—such as social class (Some Kind of Wonderful), breakups (Pretty in Pink), gossip (Steel Magnolias) and high school bullies (Heathers)— he made the films relatable. Hughes made teens feel understood because he took their problems seriously, something that society was not —and is still not—familiar with. Modern films have also leaned towards bringing the ‘80s back to life. One of the biggest hits in the past few years is Stranger Things. From the ‘80s pop culture references, the fashion, and the opening title screen with synth-pop, it is basically a love letter to the era. It took inspiration from movies such as Alien and The Goonies and brought them to a whole new audience. It identifies camaraderie, heartbreak and anxieties (and horror) in a way that aligns with teenage audiences and truly captures the nostalgia of the decade. Is It Really Just a Trend? It seems like a passing trend, but I want to believe that it is so much more than that. Although I mentioned that the ‘80s is a simpler time, that is not always the case. Humans tend to remember only the positive aspects when looking back and as a result, the romanticisation of the ‘80s involves heavy sugar-coating. Aside from the denim jackets and disco-funk, it was a period of political turmoil (Cold War and Watergate) and economic uncertainty (Reaganomics). At the same time, it created a society where people could express themselves, where the essence of ‘defying the system’ hides in plain sight. It feels weird to reminisce about the past, almost as if we are moving backwards instead of improving. However, in the grand scheme of things, taking a step back actually lets us cope, understand, and realise what needs to improve so we can take more steps forward. 28

ARTS, CULTURE & EDUCATION

Lastly, I would like to quote Jacqueline Court from Storyworld Magazine to describe what it feels like to live in the ‘80s. “We were on the brink of a global disaster, and the atmosphere was rife with political paranoia, all while we were also inching towards a technological revolution.” Weirdly, I guess that’s why the ‘80s resurrected. With climate change, massive political divide and fast advancements of technology looming in the horizon, the ’80s serves as one giant lesson that there is no such thing as a perfect era, but that humankind must make do. The fact that similar crises existed then and now can give everyone a reason to hope that beautiful and iconic cultural movements can be birthed from instability.

ARTS, CULTURE & EDUCATION

WORDS

Aqueb Safwan Jaser Adelya Zevania Mikha Bhava & Kitman Yeung

ILLUSTRATION

POEM

THE HEARTBREAK SONG Catch your breath, You’ve been running too long To get far away from the heartbreak song. A worried mama will call you in a while.

You only wish she’d dial the wrong number. If she would only let you be by yourself sometimes. Maybe the quarrels would see a better side. She never closes the door in case you see a ghost. You think she never understands why you’re rude.

Times like these don’t last forever. You can only hope it’s not too late to be clever. So catch a breath, you’ve been runnin’ too long. Come home now to fix your mama’s worry. She knows how to turn off the heartbreak song.

POEM

WORDS

Theresa Cornelia Gunarso Valerie Luira Yoewono

ILLUSTRATION

5 Steps to Mend a Broken Heart By Venus Aphrodisia A graduate of a University in Colombia Watching a film is number one, e.g. Breaking Dawn—Part One Fine... if you want to watch Part Two, I won’t stop you. Number two is getting food for the soul. Maybe something imported literally from Seoul. It sucks having to spend money, I know. But money is what gives me this sheen and glow! Advice number three, you should plant a tree at Gobi. Last time I checked, it only cost fifty rupee. Or I may be wrong. Check it again please. For tip four: four shove the next jerks out your door, before they break your heart even more. Sis, honestly, just kick out that . . . ... no-good man! (What did you think I was gonna say? Naughty naughty!) Lastly, for advice five, The one you really need to survive. Don’t forget to laugh and smile! Those are the five steps to mend your broken heart From your friendly old (but young at heart) Fart. (Hehehehe, fart jokes. Yes, I stooped that low.) xoxo.

POEM

Any decent realtor, walking you through a real shithole, chirps on about good bones: This place could be beautiful, right? You could make this place beautiful. MAGGIE SMITH, GOOD BONES

EARTH’S CALLING WORDS

Elvira Titan Adelya Zevania Mikha Bhava

PHOTOGRAPHY

The green grass swayed as I looked out my window they were dancing away from the melody of the meadow. A billow of white clouds gathered across the troposphere the twittering of the birds echoed in my ears. The wind, fleeting, slipped through my fingers and darted into the woods, maddening the buzz of bees. Suddenly a hollow sound followed the dawn. Blowing a whistle, If only people would listen. The utopia, stretching across the Serengeti, vanished into thin air. Gone were the remnants of sanctuary fused into the reality that laid before me. The warmth of the meadow grew cold ever distant The light of tomorrow dimmed, constricted to voidance. The Earth longs for the olden days. She deteriorates as greed thrives, warnings are sent, urging for restoration but the mind is a dam that stills and the Earth slowly tilts toward the abyss.

POEM

Every autumn day, Rose passes the hot air balloon field in Stillwater, wishing she has enough money to go for a ride. Winter is ready to strike again. The last one had not just taken a toll on her—it took everything she had. Those nights spent sleeping outside left her with frostbitten toes and a weary heart. Rose knows that even the happiest golden leaves grow distraught when they catch the first gust of winter. She knows that if she has her life together, her son Frankie would still talk to her. It’s been years since she’s seen him. Every winter, she worries that the sun will leave for good. But if that happens, she’ll make it promise to come back. It has to come back. A dark and dingy pawn shop sits across the hot air balloon field. It’s an especially depressing place when you’ve got nothing to pawn and not enough means to buy anything, either. The job applications have been hopeless. As soon as she sees ‘3 years of experience needed’, she gives up.

WORDS

Rose stares at her weathered reflection in the dusty shop window. She wonders if Frankie would even recognise her anymore. She hopes he’s in a place that will keep him warm. To the left of her face, an unattended hot air balloon appears on the window, shining like a rainbow on a foggy day. She turns around, crosses the dewy green grass, and decides to hop into the balloon’s gondola. The balloon is much bigger than Rose thought it would be. Her eyes widen as she gazes at the bright colours. A pair of balloon tour guides run towards her, yelling, “Stop!” Rose quickly unravels the ropes tethering the hot air balloon to the ground, boosts the propane flame, and takes off into the sky. The further she drifts away, the warmer the sun’s rays feel. From this high up, the falling leaves look like fluttering butterflies. Rose knows that when she comes down she’ll be in a lot of trouble. So she squints at the sun and gives the balloon more power.

Zach Murphy Valerie Luira Yoewono

ILLUSTRATION

FICTION

JUST PASSING BY WORDS

Glenda Sumin Lu Adelya Zevania Mikha Bhava

ILLUSTRATION

There is something about childhood friendships that feels elusive. Fleeting and transitory, they are more often birthed from a chance encounter on a swing set than meticulously chosen, but they serve as our first connections, the first time we unfurl a hand and the universe, in the form of another tiny body, reaches back.

get to eat food like ours at home, a pout distorting her face as the rice dwindled to nothing in the pot. She didn’t care that my parents didn’t speak fluent English, whether I knew the rules of footy; all she cared about was the fact that I constantly won at Mario Party and that we had to meet whenever she was around.

I met M by pure virtue of proximity, when she came down to visit her grandparents who happened to live next to us in our townhouse block. Appearance-wise, we were as different as night and day. Her hair curled in tawny tendrils around ivory cheeks flecked with freckles, an irresistible plan always brewing behind wide, doe eyes. My hair, jet black and stubbornly straight, flanked tanned olive skin and a permanent demeanour of conscientious worry, like I was constantly afraid of getting into trouble—which I was. But whilst I was bashful and cautious to a fault, never daring to bend the rules, she was boisterously playful and incredibly charming, with a propensity to find mischief. We tempered each other’s dispositions perfectly.

My memories of our time together are hazy and steeped in nostalgia. Sepia snapshots develop on the back of my lids from long afternoons spent next door at her grandparents’ place—tatami screens and a cross-legged Buddha statue in the front room, cotton sheets and pillow forts in the guest bedroom. Getting caught in tussles between her and her brother, a few years younger and irrepressibly rambunctious, and furtively sneaking to our bedrooms after dinner to keep playing our Nintendo DS consoles through the townhouse walls. We were never best friends, the sort that topped each other’s lists; it was difficult to foster that kind of intimacy in a relationship predicated on the infrequent times her family came down from the coast. But when she was around, I’d know. My ears would perk up whenever I heard her peals of laughter from over the fence, and I’d know it was just a matter of waiting for her knock on my door to find out how many precious days we’d have this time around.

In the way that kids do, we quickly replaced our initial shyness, edging skittishly around our mothers’ skirts, with a steadfast and staunch friendship. To me at the time, an only child and a first-generation immigrant, friendships felt like a precarious façade—feigning having watched the Powerpuff girls before, praying I’d gotten sandwiches like the others instead of dumplings wrapped in little nests of foil. Growing up painstakingly aware of every little difference between me and my peers, I kept waiting for M to call my bluff, to realise that I didn’t quite fit in. She never did. Instead, M showed me how it felt to be seen utterly and wholeheartedly beyond looks, beyond countenances and the biases that can come with them. On the occasions she would come over, she’d beg my mother to fry some rice for us, expressing her acute dismay because she didn’t

ARTS, CULTURE & EDUCATION

Looking back, I can’t place the moment we started drifting apart. Be it because of growing pains, or how quickly school, new friends, and all of life’s curveballs eclipsed the endless summers of childhood, M came down less and less. And even when she did, we would spend less and less of that time together. When her grandparents eventually moved out of the small townhouse next to ours, the last vestiges of my friendship with M left with them. By this time, there was too large a geographical gap to surmount between my home in the suburbs and her coastal city, and too large an emotional gap for us to exchange phone numbers or heartfelt promises of future correspondence. Where childhood toys and games of hide and seek had once been enough sustenance for our friendship, they fell short in the face of new friends and adventures, and the stormy clouds of adolescence gathering ahead. Sometimes, without warning, I will happen across her in a dusty photograph, or in a random memory surfacing from the depths of my consciousness, and wonder what it would look like if we’d stayed in each other’s lives. Even years later, a part of me mourns all the moments we have missed: the 18ths, 21sts, the driving tests and school musicals, the first loves and first losses and the steady thrum of pride in seeing those who have made a difference in your life flourish in their own. Recently, I stumbled across her social media online. Our internet presences exist in a timeline long after we were ever in each other’s lives, and I’m shocked to see how much she’s grown. Her face has the same

charm, the same playful tug on her lips when she smiles, but the cherubic plumpness of childhood has been shed for the elegant features of a fully grown woman. I had immortalised her as a child in my head, forgetting that just as joys and heartaches have moulded my face like flowing water over rock, she has been changing too. I wonder what would happen if I sent her a message. What would I say?

Hi . I r em em b er you. I m i s s you, or a t lea s t, th e ver s i on of you I h a ve i n m y h ea d . I won d er h ow m uch of you i s th e s a m e a n d h ow m uch h a s ch a n ged , for b etter or wor s e. Th a n k you for s h owi n g m e wh a t i t i s to b e l oya l a n d ki n d a n d good . Th a n k you for b ei n g m y friend. Part of me likes to think that I type this out and press send, that she replies and we instantly pick things up again, effortlessly converting our childhood dynamic into adult camaraderie. Instead, I sneak quietly around the fringes of her high school photos, pictures of her at the park, with her friends, smiling in front of lush grass and autumn reds, and quietly take my exit. Something about reaching out to her right now doesn’t feel right—life is too hectic and disorderly for me to afford her the time and effort she deserves, at least for the time being, and we have both grown and changed since our childhood days. I know that many of the people who walk into our life are destined just to pass through, like trains blasting past each other at breakneck speed. But finding her again has incurred a restoration of a different sort. M was the universe teaching me to drop my guard, teaching me that there are people out there who are kind, who are open, and who care. Finding her again was the universe reminding me that no matter where I am in life, I have learnt from these brief imprints on my heart how to look for these people in my life wherever I go.

ARTS, CULTURE & EDUCATION

WORDS

Moudisha Zeeva Amanda Thedrica

ILLUSTRATION

POEM

You were the first contender who dared to silence the thunderstorm. Your joyous cries penetrated the void as you tried to wrap your little fingers around your mother’s thumb.

Your trail of seedlings grew amidst the murky waters and the Skies commend you for your resilience.

Your effervescent laughter, the blessing from Above oblivious to the perpetuating doubt that looms over you—wrapped in the yellowing cloth of your mother’s hope.

For the Skies have given up, and men have only thought to silence—

Did the grey clouds form especially for you? Granted your mother’s guilt-ridden conscience the silhouette of the angel who brought you here left and took the sun with her. Why must it rain so often? Must you bloom to welcome the unforeseeable future?

ploughed the path you sow and reap with it a forget-me-not and they pick your spirits to the spine. For men have only thought of his Kind. But fear not, in this garden may you bloom ceaselessly with grace entwined.

The downpour never ceases. Pay no attention, you marked the feeble ground with strides of determination—such gaiety will rejoice Man’s condemnation.

POEM

A S I A N R E P R E S E N TAT I O N I N

H O L L Y W O O D

Asian visibility in Hollywood films is a curtain for the lack of it behind the scenes. My first encounter with an Asian character in Hollywood films was Alex Munday in Charlie’s Angels. I was initially amazed at her fighting skills, but studying screen and cultural studies taught me how her spy disguises are part of a running list of Asian stereotypes. As the Academy recently announced inclusion rules for ‘Best Picture’ contenders, Asians may start to feel justified after centuries of whitewashing and cultural appropriation. But while this seems like a huge step towards inclusivity, the reality reveals itself as a publicity stunt. Underrepresented groups, including women, African Americans, and Asians, need to be incorporated in four standards that The Academy established. The standards are on-screen representation (named Standard (A), off-screen creative and project team (B), industry opportunities (C), and audience development (D). As the films are only required to meet two out of four standards, these rules become the perfect example of tokenism. They will only be applicable from 2024, hence two

ARTS, CULTURE & EDUCATION

more Academy Awards in which #OscarsSoWhite remains applicable. With the appearance of equality yet no real impact, The Academy and various film production companies have produced nothing but a perfunctory effort. These new requirements are heavily flawed because they have been met by numerous films. Films centred on the stories of white male characters, like The Irishman and The Two Popes, make no effort to attain diverse on-screen representation. They are deemed eligible nonetheless, as Standard B and D are fulfilled by including women as producers and members of Netflix’s publicity team. Hollywood has shown trends of bigotry through the lack of minority winners in the acting category. The most recent example is Parasite in the 2019 Academy Awards, which won 4 awards without any nomination in the acting category. This pattern would not be broken with the new regulations in place. With the lack of numerical details, the new guidelines assume that the groups are equally underrepresented. They imply that being a woman is equivalent to being Black, so does being gay to being

Asian. In reality, certain underrepresented categories are more discriminated against than others. Stark differences are visible within members of the Academy. As provided by the Oscars website in 2020, the percentage of female members is 33% whereas members from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups have only grown to 19%. These guidelines don’t ensure that inequalities would be improved, nor promises that it wouldn’t worsen. The lack of diversity extends to the filmmaking process in giant production companies. Ghost in the Shell, produced by Paramount Studios, was a live-action remake of the original anime movie. The Hollywood version cast Scarlett Johansson with black bob haircut as the Japanese protagonist. Emma Stone, who yelled yet another apology in 2019’s Golden Globes, played a character of Hawaiian-Asian descent in Columbia Pictures’ Aloha. If the films which get bestowed prestigious awards do not make an attempt on appropriate representation, then the films who only aim to succeed commercially will simply not bother. Disney’s recent live-action Mulan had the appropriate Asian representation on-screen. Behind the scenes, however, the crew was dominated with white people as director, screenwriters, costume designer and several other roles. Mulan’s character motivation was subsequently reduced to a female role bound by her familial duty, which has disempowered the plot. Thus, Asians still lack authority over their own narratives despite achieving more screen time.

a celebration of the arts. There is no doubt that those who are marginalised see this event as a phony show. The fight for Asians and other marginalised groups to achieve equality is far from over. April Reign, a Black activist, created the hashtag #OscarsSoWhite in 2015 to call out the lack of diversity at the award show. It turned into a viral social movement and prompted the Academy to alter the composition of the organisation. The new standards reflect The Academy’s poor attempt to encourage unbiased representation. This white and male-dominated organisation refused to acknowledge that the industry would remain unaltered. Even if stories of marginalised individuals were told, they could be regulated by those who don’t experience discrimination firsthand. Each of the respective marginalised communities become the key in building the system, where they can have control over representation on and off screen.

Astri Sanjaya Amanda Thedrica

WORDS ILLUSTRATION

Now, some may wonder, if the Oscars is so problematic, why is it considered a prestigious award show? Winning an Oscar or receiving a nomination signals a form of acknowledgement from distinct members of the industry. As an actor, their career may flourish by being offered more opportunities in better films. The Oscars is also a platform for films which haven’t done well at the box office to gain recognition. Just like any opinion towards any form of art, the answer to whether the Oscars matters is subjective. To the winners and those nominated, it is

ARTS, CULTURE & EDUCATION

“ I’m always finding humans at their best and worst. I see their ugly and their beauty, and I wonder how the same thing can be both.” MARKUS ZUSAK THE BOOK THIEF

ILLUSTRATION

Sangeeta Singh

JULY 1974 WORDS

Alice Pricillya Surya Gibolan

PHOTOGRAPHY

CONTENT WARNING: RACISM, VIOLENCE Amelia was on her way to Fenwick beach when Niles appeared several metres in front of her. He was one of the few Black students in her class, often sitting at the back of the room. It seemed like they were heading towards the same place. Samantha, whom Amelia knew since first grade, had said that something was going on at Fenwick beach, that a guy wanted to open up the place to let everyone have equal access to it. She had volunteered to be on the consumption committee and asked Amelia to come, who agreed to be there at 9. The place was a whites-only spot. The sign didn’t explicitly say that; it wrote Fenwick residents only, but everyone knew Fenwick was a White neighborhood. Amelia had never been there and could never understand why there was a need to separate beaches. Were they not public facilities? Niles walked with such a straight and composed posture, Amelia noticed. He looked confident. His strides were wide and surefooted, his arms swaying loosely and naturally with every step. When no cars were passing by, she could hear him humming softly. She caught up to him as the traffic light turned red. They stood side by side, waiting in silence.

classes she took, but the longest conversation they’d ever exchanged was a small smile and a nod. “My mom was Asian,” Amelia mumbled before she could regret it. “I’m sorry?” “My mom was Chinese. She came here after marrying my dad.” “Was? What happened?” Niles turned to look at her, his face softening as if he could already guess the answer. “The neighbours weren’t too happy to have her around. They made up stories about her and looked at her funny. She told my dad about it, but he was very dismissive and kept saying that it was just in her head.” Amelia paused for a moment, fast-forwarded the unpleasant nights leading up to her mum’s departure in her head. “We woke up one morning and all her stuff was gone.” “Your dad never looked for her?” “He’d shut me out whenever I mentioned her,” she sighed. — A huge crowd had gathered at the beach.

Once across, Amelia finally found her voice. “Going to the protest?”

Ted Sanders, who orchestrated the protest, was shouting into a megaphone.

Niles nodded. “Yeah. You?” “Same.” Up close, she saw that despite his stern facial features, he had kind eyes. “Why?”

“Free the beaches! Public places are for everyone!” he chanted with those around him. They were all holding hand-written banners that read the same. Niles took his banner out before joining the crowd. “You coming?”

“A friend asked me to.” An awkward pause. She had seen him in all the

FICTION

Amelia felt slightly out of place. She’d never been to a protest. “Uh, you go first. I’m going to look for my friend.” >>

FICTION

Besides Sanders and a handful of his White counterparts, the rest of the protestors were Black. Mothers and children took their stand by going into the water, but as soon as they dipped their toes in, the commotion only became worse. The other visitors scrambled for the shore, acting as if the water had been contaminated, shooting venomous looks at the newcomers. “Why don’t they just wash themselves clean with lots of soap? Then we can all swim together!” Amelia heard a son asking his mum as she walked around looking for Samantha. She wondered how much of a difference parents could make by their way of answering that question.

something real. While Sanders and his White participants stood unscathed, Black protestors faced a whole different situation. A policeman was dragging a father to the patrol car with force, ignoring the cries coming from his wife and daughter. Amelia’s eyes immediately darted around for Niles. Two men almost knocked her over in their attempt to ambush a Black male student. Horror seeped through when she saw one of the men raised his fist. A hand pulled her from going into the mess. Samantha had somehow found her. The student had managed to wrench himself free, but not without a blow to his cheek.

Sanders hoped the protest would create enough talk to stir up the attention of the media, and hopefully, the town mayor. It went on peacefully for the first 10 minutes.

“We’ve got to go!” Samantha shouted from above the raucous crowd.

But then the local police came to the scene.

“He’s probably escaped already!”

Amelia never thought the terrifying scenes she usually witnessed on screen would turn into

Amelia took another frantic look around. She still couldn’t spot Niles, but the scene from the side of

FICTION

“Wait, I need to find Niles!”

the sand struck her. White women and children had retreated to the corner, some sitting on the patio smoking cigarettes with smirks plastered on their faces while the men stood towering over those who had fallen, holding clubs lest someone dared to approach and beg for help. Her blood started to boil. Even after years of civilisation, people still treated differences inhumanely. It was sickening. “Come on!” Samantha pulled at her again. “But—” Her words were cut off when they heard a shrill scream. A gunshot was fired. They ran and not once looked back. — “Thanks for lending us your place, Amelia. Have a nice weekend!”

As she entered her apartment, she looked at the framed writing next to the door. Everyone is welcome here! Amelia felt lucky to be in an open and accepting community. It may not be the same as what Sanders did, but for now, providing a safe space for her friends of colour to gather around in her apartment and be themselves unapologetically felt enough. For now, she could change her own perspective by reading and taking history classes and talking to her friends. She could learn how to address them and their histories. She could learn their names. It may not be in her place to fight for them, but she could fight with them. Lend them her voice. Hoping that their small whispers today would someday shake the world. After all, who’s to say that small deeds can’t snowball into something monumental?

“You too, Tiff!” It had been a year since the beach protest. No one had seen or heard from Niles. Although Sanders’s movement was picked up by neighbouring spots and cities, big changes do not happen overnight. Fenwick beach still remained inaccessible to most Black visitors. The administration thought it would be a good idea to start using entrance tickets, but it only caused more uproar and anger. The noise for equality echoed louder and louder each day. But small changes, ones that seemed subtle or insignificant to the privileged, filled the fighters with hope. After the media brought the issue to light, Amelia’s landlord had opened up the entire apartment building for the Blacks. One or two restaurants had taken down their Whites only signs. People started volunteering. Those who used to leave things up to fate were now learning to stand up and exercise their rights as equals, though not without huge sacrifices.

FICTION

PHOTOGRAPHY

Surya Gibolan

“ The greatest asset in my pain is the power that it has to bring healing to the life of another. ” CRAIG D. LOUNSBROUGH

human

In this There is an unintended Verisimilitude of strains From a musical notation A long lost request for an assignment Half-done A phrase, a gesture, a touch Long after it has left We covet the assignations The sonar dimension of voices Not inaudible to our ears That are mating calls Things we miss in the influx of sounds that are happening beyond our four walls Things that tie us into an unbroken chain Of deep resolve Of wisdoms handed down Over umpteenth generations As our peaceful march is stopped by the cavalry of A missing vocabulary We need to lock the old syllabic codes And forge another language That has all the clues in place To solve this crossword puzzle Lest once again we are at a loss Marauded by our differences That seek out evermore diversities to callously muzzle For speak we must as one, Unchained by the unique representations Of our manifest permanence WORDS ILLUSTRATION

POEM

Shujaat Mirza Kitman Yeung

POEM

We are more than where we come from Less than a sum of our parts Quick to take offence And yet pleased by some regard We take eternity churlishly like a plaything Even when we know this wisdom dawns On rare occasions, stoically aware of the limits of Our mortal coil To measure up to a lasting impress We just as enthusiastically welcome life With open arms for what it’s worth Through the sliding panels of entry and exit The only continuance is our habit of being A cadence of the resident spirit That teams up with us As if we’re ambient imprimaturs For even as we faint along and pass away into so many phases of fall and decay We are rejuvenated by the welcome we get From the world that has of yet Not given up on our claims That we carry like official emblems Of this humanitorium That for want of a better name We just call home

Shujaat Mirza Kannitha Jurilla

WORDS PHOTOGRAPHY

POEM

DEAR MR PRESIDENT... WORDS

Hirzi Putra Laksana Tiara Puspa Amanda

ILLUSTRATION

POLITICS AND SOCIETY

Dear Mr President, I write to congratulate you on your election as the 45th President of the United States of America. I am not a citizen of America, and I have never been to the country you now lead. But I write to you as a citizen of the world who is concerned about the stability of your country’s politics, the livelihoods of your country’s people, and the overwhelming influence your country exerts outside its borders. Mr President, the term of your predecessor saw the normalisation of bigotry, the globalisation of mistrust, and the institutionalisation of non-cooperation in the international system. The world watched in horror as the moral authority of the once-revered position of ‘President of the United States’ eroded one speech at a time, one scandal at a time, and most notably, 140 characters at a time. The world watched in angst as your citizens made their pilgrimage to the ballot boxes on the 3rd of November, a move that would shape the future of their country and of almost every other country in the world. Indeed, many in the international community breathed a deep sigh of relief upon hearing the outcome of the election. They lauded your victory, claiming that it would bring civility back into the heart of the American identity. Many international commentators said that your election had subdued authoritarianism—that democracy would live to see another day in America. But, Mr President, I do not share this optimism. America is still deeply affected by the deadly diseases that allowed your predecessor to win the White House. These underlying cancers—racism, illiberalism, authoritarianism, homophobia and Islamophobia, to name a few—dampen the security of your people and damage the health of your democracy. Your victory is not the end but is merely the start of a long crusade to rid your country of these cancers. Mr President, America’s identity has shifted from the national motto of e pluribus unum to e pluribus duo—out of many, two. Your predecessor was not the cause but was instead the symptom of these growing divisions. Underlying economic and social inequalities were left unaddressed by previous Presidents, both red and blue. Over time, these inequalities fostered a divided society consisting of a population who is suspicious of their neighbours —who mistrust them, resent them, and see them as enemies who threaten the very survival of the nation.

You may have subdued these divisions for now, but your job will be to defeat them. Around the world, America’s image has plummeted to new lows, unheard of since the humiliation of the Iraq War. Whether it be through tariffs or insulting tweets, your predecessor has wreaked havoc towards old friends and traditional allies, forcing them to fundamentally reconsider their relationship with America. The so-called ‘leader of the free world’ has reclused into a cave of protectionism and isolationism. America was once a proud advocate of international cooperation and a rules-based international order. Yet, your predecessor took the world closer to the slippery slope of anarchy by undermining international agreements and withdrawing from international bodies of cooperation. The main task at hand, Mr President, is thus restoration. At home, you must restore the ties that once bound a now divided population. Abroad, you must restore America’s place in the world as a key supporter of a stable and cooperative international order. In order to do so, there are three things you must consider. 1. Reaching across the aisle. Many have used the word ‘polarisation’ to describe America’s situation. As the word suggests, America’s insidious divisions have been caused by a shift of the left and right-wing parties towards the extremes. This widening ideological gap between conservatives and progressives has increased resentment and diminished the possibility of cooperation. A good president must therefore rally the people and bring the left and the right back to the centre. Compromise will be key, but compromise is only possible when there is trust. One way to gain the trust of Republicans is to put them in key positions in your Cabinet, as this shows your willingness to unite the nation. An added benefit of empowering moderate Republicans is that it disempowers Trump-like Republicans. Just as moderate Republicans like John McCain defied their party to support your campaign, you must now cross the aisle and be willing to work with the Republican Party. Indeed, it was the working-class white voters of rust belt states like Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania (who largely voted for Trump in 2016) that gave you the keys to the White House. You owe it to them to work productively and constructively with the other side. >>

POLITICS AND SOCIETY

2. Looking inwards. While it may be easy to blame radical Trump-like Republicans for America’s disunity, it is important to consider the divisions within your own party as well. Looking at the Democratic primaries in hindsight, one can see that it was mired with a scent of polarisation reminiscent to that of the actual November elections (though not as intense). With rhetoric like ‘Bernie or bust’, the ideological infighting between progressives like Alexander Ocasio Cortez and moderates like yourself is too significant to ignore. What may now be mere squabbles may snowball into full-blown conflict if you are not careful. America does not need more divisions. Yes, you must incorporate Republicans into your Cabinet, but you must equally incorporate leftists and progressives into your inner circle as well. You must also include key progressive agendas, such as climate change and racial equality, into your list of priorities. It is a difficult balance to strike, becoming radical enough to satisfy the left in your party yet moderate enough to not outrage the right across the aisle. However, striking this balance will be crucial in ensuring that your presidency does not face extraneous resistance from the inside. 3. Pax Americana 2.0. In 1945 following the end of World War II, the world underwent a Pax Americana —an American peace—where America, being the world’s most dominant economic and military power, took responsibility in deterring large-scale conflict. This proactive leadership, alas, has degraded deeply. There is no doubt that you will be busy dealing with issues at home throughout your presidency (for there are a lot of them). However, shifting the focus towards the international will also be vital for halting the damage to America’s global reputation. America must once again become a faithful ally to countries around the world, like Korea and Japan, who rely on its military. It must once again amplify human rights issues such as those in China and Myanmar. It must once again coerce action from countries like Australia who are climate change laggards. This requires, firstly, close personal relationships with global leaders. and secondly, a re-affirmation of America’s commitment to multilateral cooperation through international organisations.

POLITICS AND SOCIETY

Mr President, decisions in America matter outside America. Equally, divisions in America matter outside America. The world has seen a rise in Trump-like polarising figures like Bolsonaro and Modi who use Trump-like polarising tactics that create injustices and inequalities. Hence, as a citizen of the world, concerned about the implications of divisions across the world, I write to wish you good luck, and Godspeed. Yours sincerely,

A citizen of the world.

R AC I S M WORDS

Kannitha Jurilla Adelya Zevania Mikha Bhava

ILLUSTRATION

Cynical thoughts engulf their minds; When the coat screams foreign, tailored by prejudice, marginalised groups are diminished by brutal hate. Those affected bear a strong face. How can humanity be restored when our minds remain distorted? Distasteful words leave their mouths, inducing expendable feud. Statements disfigure dignity, the way statues dwindle to vandalism. Roar out in agony, Compassion will overrule transgression. And once they discern the plead for mercy, Sympathy will occupy the void.

POEM

ILLUSTRATION

Tiara Puspa Amanda

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

EN T E R I NG T H E AG E OF S U S TA I N AB I L I T Y WORDS

Muhammad Raffi Dwitama Sangeeta Singh

ILLUSTRATION

Jennifer Hassan once wrote in the Washington Post, “A new digital clock unveiled in Manhattan’s Union Square promises to tell you how long the world has left to act before an irreversible climate emergency alters human existence.” The moment I read these words, I realised that humanity, by the consequences of their own actions, was now forced to enter an entirely new stage of life, where sustainability was not a choice but a matter of survival. Around three hundred years ago, humanity made a giant leap towards utilising fossil fuels, which kickstarted the Industrial Revolution. Although living standards and GDP soared, one thing that we ignored was that it came at the cost of the environment. Fast forward to the present: most people are aware of the climate crisis. The climate clock not only warns us about the dangers we will face but also encourages us to start making changes—to start unfolding the Age of Sustainability—before it is too late. What makes a sustainable society in the eyes of the corporate world? There are generally three influencing factors: an environmentally friendly product strategy, the presence of an organisation dedicated to managing the environment, and the ability to maximise available local resources. These three aspects are crucial when it comes to achieving sustainable development. However, they are hard to achieve and there is no clear guidance on where to start. An easier way to gauge whether we have entered a new age or not is through the Triple Bottom Line (TBL). TBL is a concept that combines standard metrics of financial success with those that measure environmental stewardship and social justice. It’s important because it focuses on maximising present success while also taking into account the future impacts of said success. Some of these adjustments towards sustainability occur in response to economic effects , transitioning into renewable energy (environmental) and shifting lifestyle choices (social).

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

At the moment, big companies are giving back to the community by improving employment and contributing to a country’s GDP. The corporate social responsibility (CSR) model encourages the pursuit of profit and these business activities while employing a more sustainable and socially ethical approach. In terms of the environment, the transition into renewable energy is already underway. Reducing greenhouse gases such as methane has been in progress from collaborative work by farmers and ranchers in the United States to eliminate pollution in the agricultural sector. Feasible data from the

International Renewable Energy Agency also shows that other countries such as China and Europe are investing a lot of their workforce into the renewable energy industry. The social aspect of the TBL is probably one of the easiest to spot because it happens all around us. The social customs of reducing, reusing and recycling has contributed to a new lifestyle of sustainability. People are growing more aware of their carbon footprint and are taking concrete steps to shift their behaviour. That said, the biggest evidence that our society is reaching the age of sustainability is the recent proposal called the Green New Deal, which was introduced by Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Senator Edward J. Markey of Massachusetts. Overall, the deal is a congressional resolution that includes a grand plan to combat climate change. However, what sets

it apart from other legislations is the accompanying technological change; it also aims to resolve poverty, income inequality, and racial discrimination by hiring people of colour and providing equal pay in its new energy sector. It focuses only on three important aspects: economic, environmental, and social— which also draws a parallel with the TBL concept. Unfortunately, with a currently divided Congress, it seems impossible for the government to pass the law anytime soon. However, it is a good sign that people in power are finally taking it seriously. Amid the pandemic and a flurry of environmental disasters, I would like to be hopeful and optimistic. Humanity is laying out a good foundation to be an ideal sustainable society. However, amere step in the right direction is not enough to stop our current trajectory. The next question becomes, where do we go from here, and will our efforts save the earth in time?

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

REMEMBERING PIONEERS

65 ILLUSTRATION

Alessandro Mulya

THE NEW SOCIAL MEDIA WORDS

Muhammad Raffi Dwitama Tiara Puspa Amanda

ILLUSTRATION

Social media has become an integral part of society. In 2020, over 3.6 billion people are using social media worldwide, and the number is projected to increase to almost 4.41 billion in 2025. However, lately, it has also come with a bad reputation. The Social Dilemma, a documentary directed by Jeff Orlowski, asserts that addiction and privacy are integrated features of social media platforms. These platforms manipulate human behaviour by enabling infinite scrolling and providing push notifications, keeping users constantly engaged. Personalised recommendations predict and influence actions, turning users into easy prey for advertisers and propagandists. Social media was created as a place to build meaningful social connections. However, it has turned out to be more individualistic than anything. As a result, authentic connections are hard to find online. The majority of people on social media are merely passive users, where they scroll through feeds, get updated with the newest information and read some witty memes. A study in 2016 published by H Tankovska recorded that most social media users are passive (only looking through pictures or comments, not actively engaging). Apps like Twitter even have double the number of passive users when compared to active ones. As the world transitions into the digital platform, social media apps such as Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter must address their negative side effects going forward. The good thing? They don’t need to look far for solutions. An app called Discord has redefined the idea of connecting online from its structure and features present. And I believe it can offer a good example of where social media should be heading. Discord is initially known for gaming, but it has grown past that. It is home to thousands of communities and over 250 million people who connect through mutual interest. There are parent communities, baking tip forums, fashion groups, product recommendation pages and anything else you can think of. However, what sets Discord apart from other social media is that it’s a private social network. The

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

platform does not track every movement you make (bonus points for enhancing privacy), and neither does it emphasise the importance of followers or likes. Unlike social media, Discord does not encourage you to build your self-image. Instead, it enables you to be yourself. Discord has a different structure and feature that makes it stand out from other apps. For instance, servers. As I mentioned before, Discord is home to an array of communities, each with its own servers. The developers themselves describe it as ‘a dynamic country with 100 million inhabitants, living in different states and towns.’ Although the developers make the rules to help shape the app at large, they also empower server moderators and admins to enforce and expand based on the needs of their communities. An example is screen sharing. Most people would use it to talk and hang out. However, specific servers such as study groups can use video chat as a way for tutors to help students answer questions in real-time. Or, for gaming servers, people can use it to screen-share games, basically creating a small-group or private Twitch that would let their friends watch. Many popular YouTubers or influencers have their own servers to engage with their fans, emphasising the community-driven value of the platform. It may not seem like a big deal, but it’s something that other social media apps have not been able to recreate. What further sets Discord apart from other apps is that it has no gamification systems, no follower counts, and no algorithmic timelines—it’s solely focused on being a virtual hangout space. One Discord user describes it like ‘a neighbourhood, or like a house where you can move between rooms.’ It creates a place on your computer and your phone where it feels like your friends are around. Servers also use simple status indicators to show who’s online and what they’re up to. Jason Citron, the creator of Discord, also describes the feature to feel ‘like you friends were just around, and you could run into them and talk to them and [hang] out with them.’

During a focus group and user study that Discord conducted, another feature stood out: voice chat. One thing to note is that Discord isn’t like setting up a call, where it doesn’t involve dialling, sharing a link, or password. Every server has a dedicated space for voice chats, and anyone who drops in is immediately connected and talking. David Pierce, a writer from Protocol, associates the experience with walking into a room and plopping down on the sofa. You’re simply saying, I’m here, what’s up?

Part of the reason why Discord has blown up so much is that people are straying away from normal social media apps due to their drawbacks. According to research from Hill Holliday’s in-house research group Origin, 34% of Gen Zers (people born between the 1990s and early 2000s) say they’re permanently leaving social media, and 64% say they’re taking a break from the platforms. Some of the reasons why people considered leaving includes the amount of pressure to receive attention, and negative selfperception because of social media. The current social media structure leads people to focus more on enhancing their online identity or self-image and passively consuming information instead of finding community. If there’s something we’ve learned during the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s that having a place to hang out with friends is a powerful thing. Roughly two-thirds of social media users say that staying in touch with current friends and family members is a major reason they use these sites. Naturally, as people spend more and more time online, they want online spaces where they can find real humanity and belonging. Discord is the perfect place for that. When COVID-19 lockdowns started and everyone was stuck at home, people migrated towards platforms where they could find these social spaces—and Discord did it better than anyone. Discord’s user numbers increased by 47% from February to July 2020, and it’s only getting more popular. Discord has built a space that feels unique. It’s not about group chats, forums, or conference calls—it’s a combination of all of the above. Its communitydriven value makes it feel like a place that prioritises human communities more than other social media sites. Discord has made something special; it has redefined the idea of social media, and I believe it’s what the future of social media should look like.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

WORDS ILLUSTRATION

POEM

Shujaat Mirza Amanda Thedrica

A man is not singularly defined by where he comes from He is as much a summum bonum of whatever accrues As he wades through the common waters Each stream that touches his senses Imparts lasting lessons Yet, none ever diminishes The extent Of what the other has inadvertently Replenished We are fibres cut from the same cloth Weaved into different hues of sentience Just like the immediate other Their hurts can cause a flare-up in our heart, too Their joys can radiate across us, a tingling impression that plays on Like a feverish strumming of guitars Or discordance warded off by wizardry with piano chords We memorialise the blood swept plains Where our very own perished Just as we equally cherish The memento mori of our infatuations We are grouped into the infantine even as we grow Much more cerebral and truly divine Each particularity dots the intertwining chains That makes us simultaneously human

POEM

THIS P L AC E I S NO LONGE R A N YO N E ’ S B USI NE SS WORDS

Zach Murphy Tiara Puspa Amanda

ILLUSTRATION

Morton and Rosa slow-danced in the street as the shoe repair shop that they owned for 31 years went up in flames. Sirens sounded as smoke billowed across the sky. “This probably isn’t the best idea,” said Rosa. “I wonder if they will buy it.” “Nothing is ever the best idea,” answered Morton. “But let’s keep dancing.”

FLASH FICTION

L A N GUAGE CO U RS E S W I T H T H E AU STRA L I A N I ND O NE S I A N ASS O C I ATI O N V I CTO R I A 2 0 2 1 TERM ONE

TERM TWO TERM THREE TERM FOUR

9 February – 1 April 27 April – 17 June 20 July – 9 September 2 October – 7 December

Classes will be held online via Zoom and at The Hub (Elizabeth Street, CBD) ONLINE CLASSES 7:00 — 8.30 PM / FACE-TO-FACE CLASSES* 6:30 – 8:30 PM

Language course classes are offered at various levels : INTRODUCTORY | INTERMEDIATE 1 | INTERMEDIATE 2 | ADVANCED.

*Face-to-face classes depend on the government rules related to Covid-19 72 at the particular time, and the number of students enrolled.

For more information and online registration see the Language Classes section at www.aiav.org.au

COVER ILLUSTRATION

Valerie Luira Yoewono

FACEBOOK/INSTAGRAM W

@perspektifmag

— www.perspektif.ppia-unimelb.org E

— perspektif@ppia-unimelb.org

VOLUME15

RESTORATION