Empire Times 45.6

EMPIRE TIMES

Style

The Team EDITORS Ainsley Ewart, Oli Glenie and Cameron Lowe SUB-EDITORS Georgina Banfield, Elise Christopher, Chelsea Griffith, Courtney Lawrence, Vanshika Sinh and Karen Smart COLUMNISTS Chelsea Griffith, Renee Kohler and Michelle Wakim ARTISTS Emily Hallett (Cover Artist Instagram: @disturbedbutgorgeous), Jordana Mansfield (Back Cover Ad) and Marni Shanks (photography) CONTRIBUTORS Emily Boxall, Benjamin Chrisp, Angus Clarke, Ruby Easterbrook, Jessica Elton, Ainsley Ewart, Remy Fowler, Chelsea Griffith, Emily Hallett, Madeline Hand, Renee Kohler, Cameron Lowe, Jordana Mansfield, Peter Moreman, Jasmin Picot, Ashley Sutherland and Michelle Wakim

Enquiries Level 1, Student Hub, Flinders University (FUSA) 1 Registry Road Bedford Park, 5042.

Empire Times would like to acknowledge the Kaurna people who are the traditional custodians of the land Flinders University is situated on, and that this land was never ceded, but stolen. We would like to pay our respects to the elders of the Kaurna nation and extend that respect to other Aboriginal peoples, past, present, and future.

THANK YOUS Thank you to all of our contributors and sub-editors for this issue, we truly appreciate the time you put in for us!

Empire Times is a publication of Flinders University Student Association (FUSA).

Empire Times is printed by Newstyle Print.

We would like to thank Jordana Mansfield for the amazing Pets @ Flinders ad she created and sent into us. We’re so glad you liked the page enough to use it for an assignment and we love your work!

‘The opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the editors, Flinders University, or Flinders University Student Association. Reasonable care is taken to ensure that Empire Times articles and other information are up-to-date and as accurate as possible, as of the time of publication, but no responsibility can be taken by Empire Times Magazine for any errors or omissions contained herein.’

ADVERTISING/MEDIA Steph Walker stephanie.walker@flinders.edu.au

And a special thanks to the real stars of every issue, the Pets of Flinders: Bailey, Hudson, Gracie and Chuck (our first axolotl!)

WRITERS, PHOTOGRAPHERS, ILLUSTRATORS & MAKERS OF PRETTY INTERESTING THINGS! Empire Times is a student publication that prints 8 times over the academic year. It is made by students, for students and provides a unique opportunity for students to be published, to talk about what's important to them and to be read by those in their community.

Empire Times relies entirely on contributions from the readers to make up its content. Each selected piece goes through a collaborative editing process. We're very friendly, visit empiretimes.com.au/contribute to find out everything you need to know about being part of the team.

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Editorial

I find style to be very difficult to comprehend. It can literally mean anything, from a particular art style to fashion. I spent a bit of time trying to write the perfect editorial. I wanted to talk about my love for retro style video games, and my admiration and long time desire to follow styles set by The Beatles (George Harrison in particular). Still though, I couldn’t come up with anything good, so decided to write just this.

As for recent style, two things that stand out to me, the first being Octopath Traveler. Octopath, wow, Square Enix have done a fantastic game with a style that is modern but reflects the past JRPGs of the SNES era.

I could almost call the Nintendo Switch the Super Nintendo Switch now just because of this game. You can read more of it in my review on page 33. The other is A Silent Voice. I watched this recently and there’s no words to describe how beautiful its art style is. I’m tied between it and Your Name for my favourite art style in anime at the moment. Read more in our Six Things on page 42.

Before I sign off for this issue, some recommendations: check out Peter’s article on retro video games (p. 32) and Renee Kohler’s pop culture fashion piece (p. 30).

Both are good reads and I reckon you’ll enjoy them.

Cam

Style is such a personal thing. As my mother is a tailor and dressmaker, I’ve always had a very distinct style.

She used to make me smocked dresses, Peter Pan blouses and dress ups (see above for my homemade fairy outfit) and has now taught me how to sew.

Unfortunately, most of the clothes I make are Summer outfits, and so I find Winter fairly depressing without my bold print dresses. The way I’ve overcome this is with socks. I love fun, patterned socks with things like dogs, stars and flowers adorning them, which brighten my day a little bit in this dreary weather. I like to think of them as the grown-up equivalent of coat-hanger fairy wings.

In this issue, I apply my practical skills in showing off some of my wardrobe and the joys of vintage fashion (which is surprisingly feminist and can be found on pages 46-7) and how to make granny squares (pages 26-7).

Remy Fowler’s article on the destructive practises of the fashion industry and slow fashion (pages 10-11) is an excellent read (especially as an avid opshopper) and even tells you where you can find op-shops near campus! You’re a legend, Remy.

Hopefully this issue will inspire you to improve the ethical side of your personal style.

Ainsley

14 Creative shallow

VOL 45 NO.6

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29

Column

game review

Does original personal style exist?

octopath traveller

04 Creative

18

marni shanks photography

Just For Fun

30 Creative

Vox Pops

Antediluvian Man

05 20

What’s on

31

Just For Fun

06

Creative

Pets @ Flinders

The Invasion

COlumn

22

It’s more than lycra

36

Just For Fun

07

Just for fun

how to: make granny squares

Quiz

president’s statement

24

08

feature

FEATURE

tulpa magazine interview

38 Just for fun Six things

fashion conscience

25

10

Creative

Opinion

beanbro

40 album review bon voyage by melody’s echo chamber

disarm flinders

26

42

12

column

GUIDE

pop culture, but then make it fashion

opinion

near north snacks

vintage, feminist, fashion

28 Opinion is retro the new game style?

Key:

FUSA

Opinion

feature

column

creative

just for fun 5

6 Photography by Marni Shanks

On Campus

A LISTING OF ON CAMPUS EVENTS

FUFC End of year presentations SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 6pm-9pm Flinders University Football Club is to hold their End of Year Presentations! FUFC’s big awards night is coming up, which always promises to be a great event. Come down and find out the Best & Fairest of all 3 teams, leading goal scorers, the coveted Nick Lagonik Medallist, K H Wanganeen Shield and more! 3-hour drink package and cocktail foods for only $50!

JCC Japanese Trip Planning at Tavern!

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, FROM 4pm Many people are planning to go to Japan at the end of this year!

So this is a chance for those to catch up for a drink, and discuss your trips! Perhaps you can catch up in Japan or talk about what things you have planned. If you’re not planning to go to Japan still come along! You can discuss where you might go if you go to Japan one day. Or if you’ve already been to Japan, please tell us about your experiences!Or if you’re Japanese, please give us suggestions! OR IF YOU JUST LIKE DRINKING, please come along and hang out with us :) This is a very casual event :p

ONLINE Submissions

EMPIRE TIMES, ONGOING Missed out on our print due dates? Got an idea that is time sensitive? Want to have articles that contain video or links?

Submit to us to be printed on our website! Send your submission to us today! Please include ONLINE in your email subject line.

FUSA MULTICULTURAL FESTIVAL

THE HUB, TUESDAY-WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4-5, 10am-3pm Shalom, Namaste, Halo, Ahalan, Nei Ho, Salve, Guten Tag, Kon-nichiwa and Hello… Those are just some of the ways we’d like to greet you at the FUSA Multicultural Festival!

WORLD SUBMISSIONS

EMPIRE TIMES, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4 Submissions for ‘World’ (our last print issue for 2018) will be open until Monday September 4. Get your submission in by this date if you wish to be part of our final issue.

No matter who you are or where you’re from, we’d love you to join in on two incredible days of fun, food and festivities!

Held in the Hub (ground floor) and Plaza on the 4th and 5th of September, the Multicultural Festival is a celebration of the cultural diversity within the Flinders University community.

You can expect to find cultural food stalls, activities and performances, competitions and much, much more! Be sure to wear your traditional clothing to go into the running for the ‘Best Dressed’ competition.

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colu mn /S po r t

It’s more than lycra Such is Sport

Words by Michelle Wakim Sport is not absent of style. We have dozens of active wear brands at our feet and have hundreds of people working their hardest to inspire us to buy their products.

The brands we love offer us a certain inspiration. I have, on many occasions, found great pleasure in watching the uplifting ads and reading the motivational articles sporting brands put out there. I will proudly admit that I get inspired by the array of commercials with a “just do it” mentality behind them.

And I know I am not alone in saying that when I wear these products I immediately feel more confident. Sometimes this confidence is the only thing that gets me to the starting point of my run, or to the entrance of my gym. When it comes to exercise, feeling good in what I am wearing is sometimes the difference between whether I am productive or not.

But if you dive deeper, past the purchases and the buzz of retail therapy, you will find the hidden gem in our sporting style: if you are fully in the moment, present and pushing yourself, you forget about how you look and the clothes on your back. Style becomes insignificant.

Your face gets red, you sweat, your hair goes frizzy, but you are so engrossed in your activity, and your body is feeling so much, that you forget about your insecurities.

The redness, sweat and frizz are cathartic. At the same time your own playlist – your style of music – is blasting in your ears and pushing you along. Without thinking I might use my $40 Nike singlet to wipe away sweat while listening to Hamilton - The Musical as my soundtrack. After you break that barrier and your

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body switches to auto-pilot, the music and the clothes become accessories to the main attraction: your strength as a human.

They are the temporary items that substitute our confidence until we find it ourselves.

Sporting style starts with bras, tights, runners and bike shorts. Before we exercise, the fragrance on trend is spray on deodorant (Rexona for women, Lynx for men), the kind that sits in your throat. Prior to our workouts, people come across rigid and uptight. But where does the style end up after we get our bodies moving? It finishes with a style where all we have on our skin in sweat, the fragrance is no longer suffocating, and our persona is natural and free.

This life is a beautifully complex mess. There is pain, temptation, heartbreak, and illness. And if all the poets out there are correct, the only thing that heals us is time. But while we wait for time to pass, it is important we take a break from pain. Every now and then we have to switch off, and feel something bigger than our overpowering worries and emotions. For me, the only guaranteed escape is exercise. Whatever your outlet is, the first step is getting yourself to the starting line. We would be kidding ourselves if we thought that was easy. Change, even change for the better, only comes through challenge, and making an active choice to challenge ourselves is daunting. So go out and buy yourself a sports outfit that makes you feel better than ever, but we are uni students so don’t blow your bank account. And then take your new gear out for a walk around the block, or a run along the beach. Feel fit and confident. Move until you forget your troubles. And most importantly, sweat like it is in style.

c ol u mn/p r es id ents statem ent

President’s Statement As I’m writing this, I’m just over half way through my term as your Student President. I want to reflect on what has happened this year, and where we’re planning on going from here.

What has probably been the biggest priority over the first six months of my term was working on the release of the Be a Better Human initiative. We’ve spoken about this before in previous issues, so I won’t go into the details of what the campaign compromises. But I can give you an update on where we’re going with the campaign now that the first release is over!

We’ll be refreshing our student advisory board and coming up with some new additions to the components that we’ve already released. FUSA successfully lobbied the university into funding a re-release of the campaign’s content throughout the Semester 2 O’Week and at the beginning of the 2019 academic year. We’ve taken recommendations as to how the university can be a better advocate and help provide a safer and more inclusive campus environment for all of us.

The Student Council and I have played an instrumental role in giving input to the university’s Policy Redesign Project. We’ve been particularly vocal on policies that have a direct impact on the student experience, such as the Student Complaints and Appeals, Assessment, and those that fall under the umbrella of Equal Opportunity. We were key in negotiating for the creation of a remunerated student consultation group for this project.

We have been involved behind the scenes in the ongoing discussions about the Car Parking Redevelopment project.

Throughout the process, I met with individuals in the Buildings and Property division, as well as Information Digital Services, to advocate for no significant increase to student fees. Despite the growing pains that come with the new system, and the financial burden that comes to staff with the increase of their own fees, I believe it is a win that we were able to lobby the university into keeping semester and annual permits to keep costs down.

I have been working on strengthening the relationship between Student Council and the staff union, the National Tertiary Education Union.

We have continued to deliver fun and affordable events for students, revisiting classic initiatives like FUSA Says Relax, FUSA Welfare Breakfasts and World Environment Day, and bringing on board some new ones, like PrideFest!

In what has been a huge achievement for FUSA, we successfully tendered for and hosted the National Union of Students Education Conference in early July. We played host to over 270 passionate student unionists across the country and guest

speakers such as Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, Terri Butler MP, the Australian Council of Trade Unions, and Homelessness Australia. It was a huge logistical challenge and an amazing experience to participate in a great few days of learning, organising and upskilling.

As we move into Semester 2, we will be focusing on continuing to bring you great events and initiatives on-campus.

I will be working with Student Council to increase the visibility of FUSA and of autonomous collectives. This year, we’re looking to increase the capacity of our representation of International Students, in particular. We will be playing an active role in the university’s review of Work Integrated Learning, and we will continue to work with the National Union of Students on the ‘Bury the Bill’ campaign that aims to defeat the introduction of a lower HECs Repayment Threshold and a lifetime cap on HECs-HELP.

Ashley Sutherland President, Flinders University Student Association student.president@flinders.edu.au

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Featu re/fast fas hi o n

fashion conscience Words by Remy Fowler The average Australian purchases 27kgs of new textiles each year, which is the same weight as about four bowling balls.

Each Australian on average then disposes 23kgs of textiles into landfill each year. Trends show that we are purchasing 60% more clothes than we did 20 years ago. The United Nations Economic Commission of Europe revealed the shocking statistic that 40% of the items in our wardrobes are never even worn.

The fashion industry is the second biggest polluter in the world, falling only behind oil. On average, the process of making 1kg of fabric results in 23kgs of greenhouse gases. It is estimated that the fashion industry contributes 10% of global CO2 emissions, 20% of the world’s industrial wastewater, 24% of insecticides and 11% of pesticides use. Textile dyeing is the second largest clean water polluter after agriculture.

It isn’t just about pollution, though. To make a simple white t-shirt requires three years’ worth of drinking water to grow, transport and treat the cotton used to make it.

The fashion industry is one of the leading employer’s worldwide, employing over 60 million people. It is often a profession taken up by women as a way to escape poverty. This may sound like a positive however many of these women are employed in

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extremely poor conditions for minimal pay. This really came into light in 2013 when over 1000 textile workers, who were mostly young women, died in Bangladesh when the Rana Plaza building collapsed. Some of the worst offenders in the past for sweatshop labour include Zara, Victoria’s Secret and Adidas.

Baptist World Aid Australia has a tool which allows you to check the ethical “grade” of many fashion brands. It grades based on the efforts taken by the fashion brand to reduce the risk of forced and child labour as well as worker exploitation.

The higher the grade, the more ethical the company. Cotton On and Kathmandu have attained A grades where brands such as MINKPINK and Bras N Things are graded F. Check out baptistworldaid.org.au to see how your favourite fashion brands are graded. It is great to see an organisation naming and shaming companies, however studies by Oxfam Australia show that little has changed regarding social conditions and minimum wages to enable better living conditions.

There are plenty of Australian fashion brands out there trying to fight fast fashion by offering consumers ethical, sustainable and organic clothing. There is just one problem: the price. A plain black T-shirt from Vege Threads will set you back $89, $39.95 at Pure Pod and $79 for a singlet at The Ark.

F eat u r e/fast fashion

So what can you do as a uni student without the funds to fight fast fashion? Two words, opportunity stores, or op shops as they are fondly called. Op shopping is becoming more and more popular in Australia. Op shopping is a guilt free dose of retail therapy. You are able to recycle and give to charity all in one transaction. Student and keen op shopper Jarrah Fowler says “the thrill of the hunt is also a part of its attraction”. Op shops have such a variety of options that they allow you to shop to suit your own style rather than following whatever trend is forced upon you at Westfield Marion. Jarrah’s favourite Adelaide spot is Goodies to You located at the Scots Church on North Terrace every Tuesday and Thursday. “My best find there was a corduroy jacket” said Jarrah.

If you’re looking for something a bit closer here is a list of op shops near the Bedford Park campus

Student Marni Shanks favourite second-hand store is Savers, a chain offering clothing, footwear and even furniture. They have a superstore at 252 Churchill Rd in Prospect. You could easily spend hours there lost in the aisles of clothes looking for a vintage treasure.

• Vinnies

1223-1231 South Rd, St Marys

•

Australian Red Cross

1267-1269 South Rd, St Marys

•

Second Chances Op Shop

3/397 Diagonal Rd, Sturt

•

Salvos Stores Darlington

1507 Main S Rd, Darlington

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Op inion/F l i n d er s

Military spending is IN and social spending on education and public services is OUT. Words by Angus Clarke

With cuts to higher education becoming larger and more frequent and military spending going through the roof, it is absolutely no surprise that universities are turning to more sinister sources of funding. It is not like this causes any moral dilemma for Vice Chancellor Colin Stirling. In fact, he quite openly welcomes the idea of sharing Flinders University research with massive multinational defence industry because he knows full well he can make a quick buck.

Disarm Flinders is a campaign which, alongside the national National Union of Students (NUS)-supported Books Not Bombs campaign, fights to kick weapons manufacturers off university campuses and demands that money be ripped out of defence spending and put towards social needs like education, healthcare and environmental services. The campaign consists of students and staff fighting for a university totally independent from the military industrial complex.

“Imagine a day very soon when we have unmanned warships patrolling our 132,000 kilometres of coastline. We are developing that capability now.” reads the Engineering and Design brochure released by the university.”

My time at Flinders has consisted of studying both electronic engineering and nanotech, and Flinders’ newfound trajectory towards militarism is perhaps most apparent within the fields of science and technology. My nanotech classes have been visited by the Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG), promoting graduate jobs for scientists in a field of work that would consist of developing drone technology, explosives and composite materials for war machines. This can appear as a bit of a contradiction for students. Nanotech appears to be this field of science where great leaps could be made in developments of cancer treatments, super computers and renewable energy. Instead it seems like a large proportion of this research is used for killing people. The field of engineering is far less subtle about its connection to defence

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industry, with entire courses such as maritime engineering oriented almost entirely towards creating graduates for the Future Frigates and Future Submarines projects1 as well as automated sea drones. “Imagine a day very soon when we have unmanned warships patrolling our 132,000 kilometres of coastline. We are developing that capability now,” reads the Engineering and Design brochure released by the university.

“The excitement for all these defence companies is due to the federal government’s defence white paper plan to increase the annual $35 billion defence budget to $42.4 billion by 2021.”

This is hardly surprising, as the university has signed agreements and memorandums of understandings (MoUs) with some of the highest bidders for defence industry deals. Agreements with Thales, Northop Grumman, Fincantieri, Navantia and BAE Systems have all been signed within the past two years. Two things all these companies have in common; they are in stiff competition to win deals with the Australian Defence Force to design and construct war machines and artillery, and they all have a history of making massive profits off war and destruction.

BAE Systems for example, have boosted their net profit by over $1.5 billion through the sales of Eurofighter Typhoon jets to the Royal Saudi Air Force, which were then used to bomb schools, hospitals, mosques and civilians in Yemen2. Northrop Grumman’s share price fell by 1.5% after peace negotiations between Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un3, precisely because investors knew that if tensions were eased even in the slightest, companies that manufacture weapons are suddenly far less profitable.

The excitement for all these defence companies is due to the federal government’s defence white paper plan to increase the annual $35 billion defence budget to $42.4 billion by 20214. This comes in the form of investing in new submarines, new frigates and an upgrade to the Jindalee Operational Radar Network (JORN).

This 2% annual increase to military spending is becoming the

Op in ion/ Flinders norm for many nations as the world gears up for war. Australia’s ruling class don’t just want a slice of the action, they want to be ahead. So what do new defence projects mean for students at Flinders University?

conscious, rest assured that this manufacturing process is said to be far more environmentally friendly than traditional explosive construction. The jury is still out on the environmental consequences of detonation though.

“The effects of ripping out funding for universities to throw money at defence industry can be felt almost the hardest by any graduate trying to get a research job.”

The effects of ripping out funding for universities to throw money at defence industry can be felt almost the hardest by any graduate trying to get a research job. After years of job cuts for government funded research organisations like the CSIRO, graduates are finding it harder to land a research position that could benefit humanity. Research jobs within the university itself are also highly competitive and hard to hold down. A graduate recently described to me the scramble of paranoia that is research at the university.

Researchers refusing to share data, findings and ideas with each other in fear that someone might steal their research, in an effort to nab one of the few research jobs available. This has resulted in cases where several groups or individuals may be unknowingly researching the same thing. Scientific progress should come from collaboration and communication, but when discussing your findings may end in you not being able to pay for rent and food, scientific research becomes regressive. The highly competitive nature of scientific research will stunt scientific progress, and this can have some quite dire consequences. Slowing down the rate of much needed medical and technological breakthroughs, especially as we see the planet struggling because of excessive fossil fuel burning and deforestation.

After the $35 billion price tag of the SEA 5000 Future Frigate Program was proposed, Flinders University was quick to get its foot in the door. In collaboration with SAGE Automation Group and Spanish shipbuilder Navantia, a proposal for a naval training facility was put forward. This 200-square-metre Integrated Platform Management System (IMPS) is set to be placed snuggly in the Tonsley Innovation District, right next door to the Flinders campus to ensure a friendly research partnership with the university5. Perhaps Colin Stirling jumped the gun, as the frigate deal was won by BAE Systems only a few months later. This is not to say that students won’t be enlisted to design components for the frigates though, a memorandum of understanding between Flinders University and BAE Systems means that we will see “students and industry working together to develop new ways to provide Australia’s defence force with the evolving capability it needs and train the shipbuilding workforce of the future”6.The university is also part of a $10 million collaborative research deal between all three universities funded by BAE Systems to upgrade the Jindalee Operational Radar Network. The upgrade comes not because the radar wasn’t previously powerful enough to spot incoming missiles or aircraft, but because it wasn’t able to detect refugees attempting to flee and seek asylum in Australia7.

The border policy of Australia is about to get a huge upgrade and Flinders is going to be a key research body involved.

Science and engineering students should not feel attacked by a campaign like Disarm Flinders; it is hardly your fault that the only job prospects offered are in the field of death and destruction.

But what you (and all students, regardless of your field of study) can do is demand something better. Join the campaign, find us on Facebook or campaigning in the hub and get involved. Fight against war, fight against racism, fight against university funding cuts and fight for a better future.

Flinders University has recently signed a collaboration deal with DefendTex to design a boutique and exotic line of weapons; 3D printed explosives8! Christopher Pyne has boasted that these advanced weapons systems “can be tailored for unique performance and purpose.” All of you who are environmentally References 1. http://www.flinders.edu.au/science_engineering/csem/disciplines/mecheng/maritime.cfm 2. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/saudi-arabia-bombing-civilian-targets-in-yemen-is-helping-grow-baesystems-sales-says-amnesty-a6882221.html 3. https://www.investors.com/news/defense-stocks-trump-kim-north-korea-summit/ 4. https://www.afr.com/news/policy/defence/will-australias-defence-budget-magic-number-stand-the-test-20180503-h0zkuz 5. http://news.flinders.edu.au/blog/2018/05/21/future-frigate-tech-alliance/ 6. http://www.manmonthly.com.au/news/bae-systems-flinders-university-collaborate-workforce-training/ 7. https://www.smh.com.au/national/border-radar-fiasco-20110702-1gwio.html 8. http://news.flinders.edu.au/blog/2018/03/04/2-6m-research-3d-energetic-materials/

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gu ide/Fo o d

NEAR NORTH SNACKS Snack Styles from Across Asia Words by Cameron Lowe I have been to a number of countries in Asia over the last few years. It is on these journeys that I have discovered many different and delicious styles of foods. However, one style of food that has stuck with me long after returning from these places are their snacks. Here are just a few snacks that I have enjoyed in those places which I feel you, dear readers, will enjoy too.

Meiji Hi-Milk Chocolate Country/Region of Origin: Japan Where to Buy Locally: Little Tokyo (just outside Central Markets towards Victoria Square) Sweet or Savory: Sweet Japan is renown for its wide diversity of different chocolates, from Royce to sake Kit-Kats. The best I’ve had though is Meiji Hi-Milk Chocolate.

I discovered this chocolate in Tokyo and have since fallen in love with it. It is extremely smooth chocolate which melts in your mouth. If you are willing to try it, be aware there’s different brands of Meiji, Hi-Milk is in the red packaging. The less smooth (but still delicious) regular Meiji Milk Chocolate is in brown packaging. Hi-Milk is a little trickier to find in Adelaide, with only the main Little Tokyo store selling them ($3.40), but regular Milk is in almost every Asian grocer.

Steamed Bun Country/Region of Origin: China Where to Buy Locally: Various Chinese Restaurants/takeaway locations Sweet or Savory: Sweet (although sometimes savory) Steamed buns are the perfect dessert dish. I had a sweet steamed bun when I was in China, my tastebuds melted on my first bite into it. The sweet insides were unlike anything I had eaten before, a feeling I did not experience again until Meiji Hi-Milk in Japan. You can get it either with a sweet cream-like or more savory pork inside depending on the place it is served in. Savory or sweet inside, this dish is still nonetheless fluffy and a great way to wash down the fried rice and roast duck of the Dim Sum. You can find them at traditional Chinese food places here in Adelaide, although they are mainly the less sweet (but still delicious) meat variety.

For vegetarians/vegans, I have been unable to find one here thus far, but do search for it. Pictured right are some sweet ones I got at Yum Cha in Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong.

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guide/ Food Green Tea Ice-Cream Country/Region of Origin: Japan Where to Buy Locally: Asian Supermarkets, Woolworths Sweet or Savory: Sweet Green tea is one of my favourite drinks. You can only imagine how crazy I went upon discovering there is such thing as Green Tea Ice-Cream. I discovered it in Kyoto, which right from my first taste of it changed my perspective on ice-cream. I find it hard to describe the taste; it tastes like green tea but not exactly like it. Its green appearance too is odd, but that did not stop it from being short of amazing in taste. Green Tea Ice-Cream is common here; you can get it in Asian grocers and in supermarkets like Woolworths. They are usually priced anywhere from $5-$10, depending on the tub size. I recommend you try the soft serve style, which I have not found in Adelaide yet, but have done so in Melbourne. This one pictured on the right is of a half green tea/half vanilla one I found at Kinkaku-ji in Kyoto.

Hong Kong Egg Waffle Country/Region of Origin: Hong Kong Where to Buy Locally: Honki Tonki (Hindley Street), Ice Craft (Food Truck) Sweet or Savory: Savory/Sweet Hong Kong street food like stinky tofu and spicy fish balls are amazing.

My favourite though is definitely the Egg Waffle. Unlike regular waffles, egg waffles (also called bubble waffles) are pressed to form bubbles which you can pick off and eat. The bubbles on the waffle are crunchy on the outside but soft on the inside and has a slightly sweeter taste than regular waffles. I was introduced to this snack by friends of mine from Hong Kong and I now crave it almost every day. They were sold alongside Belgian waffles on the Hong Kong streets but are often sold on their own here. They are expensive here in Adelaide ($10 in Honki Tonki), but these ones come with ice cream, pocky, and sprinkles. So far, I have only been able to get regular egg waffles from the pop-up company Ice Craft (pictured right, and called bubble waffles), which were cheaper (about $5) when they were on Bedford campus in April 2018. Let me know if you find any other place around Adelaide that does Egg Waffles.

Roti Prata Country/Region of Origin: Singapore/Malaysia Where to Buy Locally: Asian Supermarkets (Frozen), Malacca Corner (Central Markets) Sweet or Savory: Savory/Sweet I fell in love with many different kinds of food when I was in Singapore, the Roti Prata (Roti Canai in Malaysia) being one. Pratas are an Indian style flatbread that are cooked in a pan (very different to naan). This dish is typically served with dipping curry sauce (fish curry sauce is standard, but you can get it with vegetarian) on the side. You can also make it a sweet dish. One example is the chocolate prata(chocolate sauce and sprinkles) that I had at Big Street in Little India. You can buy cooked pratas at Malaysian food places here in Adelaide like Malacca Corner in the Central Markets. They start there from $5 for two with dipping curry and are often just called rotis. You can also buy them frozen from Asian grocers in packs of five or thirty to cook at home. Roti Pratas are also best enjoyed with a cup of Teh Tarik (pulled milk tea) on the side.

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creative/Po et r y

Shallow.

What are we if not works in progress, Blank canvases waiting to be filled?

Do we not wait for something to spark within us To feel complete, waiting for someone to truly see us?

Do you not gaze upon my body like you would the stars, Distant and filled with longing?

You call me beautiful And declare your love for me– But you love only my figure and shape.

You call me beautiful– and it means nothing.

For if I am beautiful, than I am nothing else.

And I am so much more than just that.

Alone and cold I feel at your touch, No longer safe within your arms; Your passionate kiss an empty gesture, Indifference I have towards your actions.

I am not to be gazed upon, For I am not a painting to be hung, But a messy graphite sketch, Of thoughts yet to be explored.

by Madeline Hand

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opinion/ style

does original personal style exist?

Words by Chelsea Griffith One of the great thinkers of our time once said, ‘The early 2000s was such a fun & iconic era for fashion. People didn’t have stylists and actuallyyy had personal style. Now everyone kinda looks the same #TBT’ - Paris Hilton (Twitter) I recently had this same epiphany, while watching channel E! Some reality show about a bunch of models was on (like there is any other type of show on E!), and when a particular model was asked about her personal style, she excitedly described how she hires a stylist for thousands of dollars to dress her. All the designer clothes in the world, and she lets someone else choose for her?

I threw my ice-cream wrapper at the TV and yelled ‘well you don’t have a personal style then, do you!?’ then took a moment to reflect. (I mean, my boyfriend was finally fed up with E! and changed the channel to some kind of sport, so I didn’t have much of a choice). Is ‘personal style’ lost? Did people ever have style, or does everyone always just follow an archetype, follow a ‘brand’ (emo/indie/preppy etc.), whether they realise it or not?

These thoughts were spurred on after engaging with another high-brow resource recently; ‘@UberFacts’ on Twitter. The account which spews random facts across the internet to be retweeted, recently tweeted the following:

‘Pineapples were very expensive in the 1700s, so American colonists would rent a pineapple and carry it around a party to flout their wealth.’

I retweeted the quote, and added a screenshot of a clothing hire website’s hire price ($150) for a Gucci Marmont handbag (retails at $1,160). It seems that many humans have always used ‘fashion’ as a way of flaunting status (or playing status) in lieu of creative expression. But, as ‘style bloggers’ insist their Gucci Marmont is a style power play, I’m sure the American colonists had some kind of pathetic explanation for how carrying a spiky, kind of heavy fruit around a ballroom was too.

When I say that perhaps style is lost, I don’t just refer to those without style as being people who wear status symbols such as a Gucci bag or belt, the latest activewear, the latest Zimmermann/Aje/Asilio wine tour dress. I refer to people who wear all kinds of symbols for personality traits, ideals, music tastes, food preferences and political preferences through their clothing. Almost everyone, no matter how indie, hipster, or ‘original’, is mimicking a style. (continued next page >>)

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op inion/fas hi o n Showing the world who you are through your clothing is not a bad thing whatsoever. It just isn’t original personal style, despite the fact certain people will tell you it is. People use these ‘brands’ to communicate to the world who they are, simply. It’s a good way to find likeminded people, and ward off unwanted people. Walking into a 2007 party with black lipstick, blue hair, and all black clothes was the equivalent to writing ‘I like My Chemical Romance and their music reflects a piece of my soul back to me’ in sharpie on your forehead. Likeminded people drifted towards you, people that didn’t get it drifted away. This culture however, leads to the destruction of personal style. But, so what? What’s the cost?

Back in 2010, before even considering navigating to find my own style, I wanted nothing more than to blend in by wearing whatever was trending. I remember looking at myself in the mirror one day, at a self-conscious fifteen-year-old wearing a short black skirt and ballet flats with a girly, pink paper doily as a top. A thick layer of orange Maybelline sludge hid my freckles and birthmarks, my wavy hair was burnt straight. In that moment, I realised I didn’t resonate with my shell. I didn’t feel like a ‘girly girl’. I actually strongly disliked the colour pink.

I hated the feel of make-up. I didn’t like what I saw, and I didn’t feel comfortable. Even though I’d dressed myself to tell the world ‘I’m an a-typical teenage girl’, and did not stand out of a crowd whatsoever, I felt self-conscious. I felt self-conscious because I felt like I was lying to someone, and that I was going to be caught out. It was at this moment in 2010, that I suddenly realised I couldn’t wear a costume again. I wanted to be comfy and I wanted to like everything on my body. Of course, the emo kid might have loved everything on their body and been comfy in their studs and chains (how?), but personally, all the items of clothing I liked couldn’t be put together to reflect an archetype.

I’m not saying this is true for everyone, but from personal experience I can’t quite understand how anyone’s collection of items they like can accumulate in one of these archetypes so conveniently.

However, I have always been someone who is particularly interested in individual items of clothes, whereas someone else might feel their best in a particular ‘look’ and is less interested in the items that cumulate this look, individually, and more interested in the outcome of the cumulative effect. For those of us more interested in this cumulative effect, there are many who frown upon those who choose more mainstream, femme looks. Colloquially known as ‘basic white girl’ looks (the one I was going for in year nine that wasn’t working for me, that ironically organically happens for me now). Those who adorn a more ‘original’ (but your friends dress the same?) or subversive look, sometimes look down on these ‘basic’ looks. Why? Wearing black lipstick or piercing every inch of your body doesn’t make you more bold than someone wearing ‘on fleek’ (I feel like a year nine maths teacher trying to be hip) highlighter.

We should be careful not to judge another’s character on whichever style ‘brand’ they are putting forward, knowingly or unknowingly. People might pick an image, a ‘brand’, an archetype, strategically to mask a personality trait. Some people aren’t particularly interested in creating a unique style, and love dressing up in different styles, or have a comfort zone style, purely because it’s easy to wear. Others use the ‘alternative’ brand as a way to trick both you and themselves into thinking they have a super original personal style, which they think makes them better than you.

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So, does personal style exist? Can authentic personal style exist? Or are we all just the embodiments of different ‘starter packs’?

Yes, I think it can, and it does.

Do you ever see those people who amalgamate all these pieces that shouldn’t work together, into an outfit that works? Do you ever shop from the heart (what a privileged thing to be able to say) and buy pieces that you love, that are comfortable and practical, that reflect a bit of your true essence to the world, and that make you feel like you’re ‘slaying’? I think that’s wear true style lives. You can take inspiration from multiple muses, across multiple styles, the wider range of inspiration you have, the more ‘original’ your look will be and feel, and the closer you will get to understanding yourself and what you love, and why.

Nothing is original. Everything has been done before. If you can find an item you love on Kim Kardashian, one on Glee’s Rachel Berry, another on Avril Lavigne circa ‘00s and an item you love from some obscure high-end fashion runway show that showcases ridiculously symbolic and kind of impractical pieces, you’ll have your own style. Of course, your range doesn’t have to be this wide and varied, but I do think finding pieces within a range this wide helps you to know you’re being true to your own tastes.

Style is buying clothes with a design that catches your eye, that you know you will enjoy looking at. Style is not buying clothes just so that when you wear them people will look at you and think ‘they’re fashionable’ or ‘they must be rich’.

Style is wearing clothes that are meaningful to you. Whether that means you love looking at the colour or patterns and they make you feel a certain way, that the material and shape are comfortable and practical for your lifestyle Style is wearing outfits that represent your character, which is generally enduring. Style is that, more so than, outfits that are representing your interests, which can and do change.

Style is wearing outfits that you feel good and relaxed in, rather than wearing outfits that have you thinking about what others think about you when you walk into a room.

Style is wearing outfits that elevate you (allowing you to achieve the job you desire, connect with the people you want to connect with) without compromising your integrity to wear clothes that express your personality. Style is not wearing particular outfits purely to influence how others perceive you.

Achieving personal style is not something that everyone is interested in, and honestly in the scheme of things, it isn’t particularly important. However there are many of us who feel empowered by cultivating our own personal style and sometimes need a little guidance, and a reminder that style and

op inion/ fashion fashion are separate concepts. There are also many of us who embrace fashion, which is great if that is something that empowers them, but who mistake their fashion sense for stylishness, and then look down on others for not being as ‘stylish’ as them (when in actuality they are looking down on someone with no fashion sense but with original and considered personal style).

In it’s most simple nature, ‘style is dressing the way that you feel confident and what is appropriate for you, your age, body type’ – Tan France, Queer Eye. Fashions, looks, archetypes – they come and go and they change; and keeping up with them can be expensive and can erase the quirks that make you feel like you. If we dress the exterior to match the interior, dress to be comfortable and don’t take any of it too seriously; maybe we could all slay like 00’s Paris one day.

Images: Above: One of Paris Hilton’s many Twitter throwback outfits Left: Queer Eye’s Tan France Below (left to right): Avril Lavigne, Lea Michele as Glee’s Rachel Berry and Kim Kardashian-West

19

just for f u n /vox po ps

VOX POPs

VOICE OF THE PEOPLE (ON CAMPUS)

CHRISTOPHER

CHANTELLE

RUQIYAH

PROGRAMMER

BACHELOR OF ARTS (HIGH ACHIEVERS)

MATHS EDUCATION

Q1. Jason David Frank.

Q2. Dark and classy.

Q3. Ravalli.

Q4. Try to be a generally nice person.

Q5. Leg warmers.

Q6. Full silk tracksuit.

Q7. Witcher.

Q8. Hybrid World.

Q1. Kyary Pamyu Pamyu (she’s overrated, but not overrated enough!)

Q2. Anything cute and/or weird (lolita, goth, emo, alternative, etc.)

Q3. Grilled salmon sushi.

Q4. I just try my best to be a good person :) Q5. Everything that was worn at the 2003 Grammys.

Q6. My attempt at gothic lolita when I was 13.

Q7. Naruto, Pokemon.

Q8. Volunteering and the cosplay.

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Q1. Tan France from Queer Eye. Q2. Op shop chique.

Q3. Croissant.

Q4. Encouragement and enthusaism.

Q5. Fluro anything.

Q6. Head to toe denim.

Q7. Transistor.

Q8. All the excited little kids.

j ust for f un/ vox pops

Q1. Who do you think is an underrated style icon?

Q2. Describe your personal style in three words?

Q3. If you could have any food in the world right now, what would you choose?

Q4. How do you positively influence others?

Q5. What do you hope never comes back in style?

Q6. What is the most cringe-worthy thing you’ve ever worn?

Q7. Favourite anime/video game?

Q8. Best thing about AVCon this year?

JAE

CAPTAIN HELLFIRE

EMMA

PROGRAMMER

PIRATE

ANIMATOR/FILMMAKER

Q1. St Vincent.

Q1. Blackbeard.

Q2. Goth sans lace.

Q2. Rummy as hell.

Q3. Lassi.

Q3. Salmagundy with rum.

Q4. Telling them not to self doubt.

Q4. Next question.

Q5. Double crotch pants.

Q5. -

Q6. Camo.

Q6. A Seinfeld shirt.

Q7. Magnetic Rose/ Deus Ex.

Q7. Monkey Island.

Q8. Lovely audience for our game! (My Little FanFic).

Q8. Getting Billy Bones out for his yearly outing away from the depths of the ship.

Q1. Queer culture in general, I feel as though we are more likely to experiment with fashion.

Q2. Colourful, patterned, diverse.

Q3. Ice-cream, always.

Q4. I try and spread the joy of animation.

Q5. Fluro.

Q6. TBH, at one point I dyed my hair half green/half purple. Never again!

Q7. Neon Genesis Evangelion.

Q8. Cosplay is always a winner.

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just for f u n /pets @ f l i n d e r s

pets @ flinders bailey r iley Olive Name: Ba osh mily and J Owner: E eeks A ge: 15 w usky ar Pei x H Breed: Sh nd down ing up a p m u J : s face in Like king your c li , g in it sting and b ng and po ti r fa , g in n the mor tagram on his Ins sk y harpeihu @baileys n up, g woke in e B : s ff Dislike ing told o t and gett e w g in tt ge g holes for diggin

hudson Name: Hudson Owner: Jess (Jessica Elt on) Age: 7 months Breed: Bullmastiff Likes: Eating, sniffing, exploring, cuddles, sticki ng his head out of the car wi ndow Dislikes: Being alone, being hungry, waves, the inane act of chasing balls

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j ust for f u n/p ets @ flinders

Gracie Name: Graci e Owner: Ben jamin A ge: 8 Breed: Black

Labrador

Likes: Food , sle

ep, walking and more fo od!

Dislikes: Be ing left alo ne for too being limite long and d to two me als a day.

chuck r Gossip Girl) Name: Chuck (af te Jasmin Owners: Allie and Age: One year old olotl Breed: Leucistic Ax

pretending to s, bellyrubs, raves, m or dw oo Bl : es Lik ’ fingers. and biting mummies er et om m er th a be n axolotl in orms and that dam Dislikes: No Bloodw wants to fight the reflection that

On this page we feature some of the absolute best friends of people here at Flinders.

If you want your pet to feature in the next issue, send us an email at empire.times@flinders.edu.au and we’ll put them in the magazine for all of Flinders to admire!

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just for f u n /how t o cr oc h e t

The Basics of Crochet: Granny Squares Words and Images by Ainsley Ewart You know that blanket your nanna made when you were a baby with the weird multi-coloured squares? Now you can make one yourself with the crochet staple: granny squares.

Firstly, you need a crochet hook and some wool/yarn. You can choose whatever size, style and ply, but if you’re a beginner, I’d recommend a 3.5mm hook and 4ply wool (which I’m using in the diagrams).

Granny squares are a great place to learn, but you can join them together to create a throw; I’m personally working towards a multi-coloured bag.

If you feel like creating something more complex, look online for different stitches, designs and tutorials (or even if you need to see someone actually doing crochet to get a better idea).

To start your granny square: 1.

Create a loop, then make five chain.

2.

Insert the crochet hook into the first chain, loop the wool around the top of the hook and pull through both, creating a circle.

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3.

Create another five chain, and then create a treble into the circle.

4.

Create another two treble.

5.

Add three chain stitch before creating another three treble into the first circle.

6.

Repeat step 5 twice, but on the last, only make two treble and link them to the first five chain to finish the row.

7.

Create another five chain to start a new row.

8.

Continue to have three treble into each gap, except for corners which require three more trebles joined by three chains.

9.

Continue for as long as you like!

j ust for f u n/h ow to crochet Basic steps: Creating a loop: Wrap the wool around so that the ends overlap in a circle. Push the long end of the wool through the circle. Put your crochet hook in the loop and under the long section of wool. Pull the wool to bring the loop in tighter around the crochet hook (but not too tight, as you won’t be able to pull loops of wool through it.)

Chain stitch (also known as slip stitch): Loop the wool around the top of the crochet hook and pull it through the existing loop, creating a chain.

Treble: Loop the wool around the top of the crochet hook, then insert into the gap in the previous row’s chain and loop the wool again around the top of the hook. Pull through the first two loops, then loop the wool again and pull through the final two loops.

All captions correspond to the row of images above

Step 1: Creating a chain and five chain

Step 3: Creating a treble into the first circle

Steps 4 through 6: Forming corners and the first row

Steps 7 through 9: Creating corners, additional rows and a completed granny square 25

FEATU RE /M ED I A

Tulpa Magazine Words by Cameron Lowe

Tulpa Magazine has become the newest addition to the Adelaide arts magazine scene. I sat down with its three main editors: Kayla Gaskell, Lisandra Linde and Liam McNally to talk about their magazine.

“It really kind of started as a dialogue between me and Liam, while we were editors at Empire Times,” Lisandra says. “We came up with something more centred on the arts and being a creative particularly in South Australia, ‘cause when we were in Melbourne for the NEWS conference we saw that there so many opportunities aren’t offered to young creatives in South Australia.”

Tulpa draws inspiration from other literary magazines like Kill Your Darlings (KYD) and Overland. However, Tulpa is significantly less ‘highbrow’ than these places. This less ‘highbrow’ approach though is one of the reasons for its existence “The pre-existing literary magazine scene is quite exclusive,” Lisandra says, “and when you’re starting out as an emerging writer who doesn’t live in big cities like Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane, it can be hard to get your foot in the door.”

“Both Liam and Lisandra have said that if it wasn’t for Empire Times, Tulpa would have never existed.”

Both Liam and Lisandra see Tulpa as a continuation of the advantages of student media.. They believe it is a fantastic place for emerging writers and wanted to bring that same experience outside of university. They also wish to offer a platform for emerging writers on all levels, both in terms of age and experience.

This counteracts against the theoricial industry standard of emerging writers, which they feel primarily focuses on people under twenty-five.

When asked why they chose the name Tulpa, Liam says it came from a discussion he was having with friends at a bar. He wanted a name for the magazine that had meaning behind it. The definition of the word tulpa is that an idea may manifest upon mediating it to bring it into the physical plain. He also said “I also got it from Twin Peaks because Twin Peaks is fucking amazing!”

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Both Liam and Lisandra have said that if it wasn’t for Empire Times, Tulpa would have never existed. Liam and Lisandra were two of the three editors in 2017 (Liam was also editor in 2016) and was how they met. Their time in Empire Times also taught them how a magazine works and was able to help them break into the emerging scene. They also met Kayla Gaskell, who was a frequent contributor and sub-editor for a number of years, through the magazine.

“I really enjoy editing and I always wanted to get involved in editing at ET more so than just a sub-editor,” says Kayla, “so Tulpa provided an excellent opportunity to do that and it’s work I enjoy doing.” She also said, “Tulpa is not a scary place like a lot of other literary magazines do appear to me.” This lack of fear was due to her knowing Liam and Lisandra previously through Empire Times and writing groups, like Speakeasy Flinders.

“When you’re starting out you will make mistakes and people will understand that.”

When asked what advice can they give an emerging writer, be it creative writing or journalism, they had the following to say: Kaylas says, “Get in touch with us, with other people. Talk to everyone.”

“Don’t be afraid that you’re not perfect,” says Lisandra. “When you’re starting out you will make mistakes and people will understand that. Even if you’re professional, you still will make mistakes.”

“Ask questions if you are rejected,” says Liam. “Ask questions on what you can work on so you can work on getting an acceptance next time. It also helps identify your weaknesses.”

Anyone interested in Tulpa can check out their website link below.

They can also be found on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. They are currently an online only magazine. https://tulpamagazine.com/ Above picture: From left to right Liam McNally, Kayla Gaskell, and Lisandra Linde.

c r eat iv e/ poetry

beanbro Now, where’s my curry?

‘On your plate bro!’

But there’s only one piece left.

‘Is it bro!’

It’s too peppery; I can’t taste the beans.

‘They’re peas Bro!’

- Oliver Ryan

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colu mn /po p cu lt u r e

Pop Culture, but then make it fashion!

Some wardrobes I want to raid and some stores I want to throw money at.

Words by Renee Kohler

When watching something, usually one of the first things I notice will be the clothing worn by the characters. I’m no fashionista, nor am I remotely in the know about what’s hot or not, but nothing catches my attention quicker than a nice wardrobe. In this article I’ll be listing 3 of my current favourite characters, or at least characters whose wardrobes I want to raid, before giving you a few cool pop culture clothing recommendations! It’s been a great excuse to peruse the internet, not that I ever really need a reason.

WARDROBES Liv Moore, iZombie The first character that comes to mind when I think of style is Olivia ‘Liv’ Moore from iZombie, a character who is drop dead gorgeous (pun intended). From it’s first episode, the show has proven itself as a consistently great show with plenty of action, romance and puns to keep the audience engaged. A lot of its quality can be attributed to its main cast, led by the wonderful Rose McIver who plays Liv Moore. The undead in the lore of iZombie take on personality traits of the people whose brains they consume, allowing for some fantastic episodes where Liv takes on various personalities. In turn this involves interesting changes to her wardrobe, hair and makeup. My personal favourites include ‘Real Housewives Liv’ whose outfits are extra as hell but fabulous nonetheless, and ‘Frat Boy Liv’ whose famous (or perhaps infamous) caution tape dress was a daring choice.

Her outfits are always a key indicator as to what type of brain she’s eaten, so not only are they great to look at but they’re also integral to the story! I also must know how the hell Liv manages to make everything look so great, even when paired with her morgueessential, white coat.

Billy Russo, The Punisher The Punisher was a very welcome binge for me earlier this year as I try to ease the pain that is Daredevil being on hiatus, and as a huge fan of Frank Castle it was a no brainer that I give it a look. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I certainly didn’t anticipate loving the show as much as I did, to the point where I can say that it’s my favourite of the Netflix shows thus far. Frank is still a boss and while Jon Bernthal is honestly killing it in this role, I must admit that another character really stood out to me. I love morally skewed characters and Billy Russo, the series’ main antagonist played by Ben Barnes, exemplifies that perfectly and all while looking like he’s strolled out of a catalogue.

He’s seen frequently in leather jackets, beanies, sweaters and suits. Somehow, probably due primarily to the actor playing him, he pulls it all off very well. It’s emphasised heavily that Billy relies on expensive clothes and cars to present a fabricated image of himself, a crafted image that he’d do anything to protect. It was a great contrast to Bernthal’s Frank, whose only concern throughout the show is seeking vengeance, providing a fantastic dynamic between the pair. While I’ll keep any further thoughts relatively spoiler free, it’s safe to say that Billy in season two will have a lot to live up to fashion wise, though if behind the scenes pictures prove something it’s that Ben Barnes can rock just about anything.

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c ol u mn/ pop culture Lorraine Broughton, Atomic Blonde While critics and audiences alike were a bit torn on Atomic Blonde, I loved it. The soundtrack, aesthetic and performances overshadowed any minor issues with the story I might’ve had. And Charlize’s outfits? Fantastic. Set in 1980’s Berlin, the fashion showcased throughout by the cast is fabulous. But Charlize’s Lorraine really brings her all with thick coats, dresses and suits that are era appropriate, practical for her dayto-day activities and iconic. Each outfit, even those splattered with blood, which is admittedly most of them, made me want to time travel back to the 80’s and become a spy. I know it’d be simpler to just replicate her wardrobe in the present, but I envy Lorraine’s badassery.

When something is set in the past, it is important that elements like clothing, furniture etc. help it feel more genuine. Atomic Blonde captures the 80’s aesthetic beautifully and clothing would perhaps be the largest contributor to its success.

STORES Her Universe Her Universe first came onto my radar when I was looking through Hot Topic’s website a few years ago. Founded by Ashley Eckstein, a voice actress best known for voicing Ahsoka Tano in Star Wars: Clone Wars and Star Wars: Rebels, in 2010, Her Universe is a geeky clothing company. It currently has the licensing for Star Wars, Disney and Marvel products, along with a few other familiar pop culture icons! Dresses, skirts, activewear and more can be found not only on Hot Topic’s site but Her Universe’s site. While prices are a little bit dear for some items (thanks conversion rates and international shipping) I’ve found that it’s worth the splurge. I am incredibly pleased with my Poe Dameron dress that I got a couple of years ago, the quality is fantastic and the design is clever enough that it could pass for an ordinary dress if I ever needed it to.

Vans Now, I’m a self-confessed Chucks fiend and have been for years, but Vans newest releases might convert me. A new Marvel line of shoes, including Deadpool and Captain Marvel kicks, are bound to make mouths water. And the best news? They are available in Australia! The website shows that they are currently sold out in most sizes, unsurprisingly, but here’s hoping a restock is in the future. While pop culture dresses or shirts mightn’t be everyone’s cup of tea, the shoes might catch the eye of even the more reserved of nerd culture buffs. My personal favourite pair would have to be the Captain Marvel high tops, though oddly they were labelled as Captain America shoes. Inaccuracy aside, these shoes are worth breaking my no more shoes rule.

Etsy While this is a vague suggestion, it’s one that I’ve found has something for everyone.

Unlike Her Universes or Vans, Etsy isn’t nearly as restrictive because it’s not just a store, it’s a site consisting of hundreds of stores. Not a fan of dresses? Sick of pop culture tees?

Not a problem. You can find just about anything your heart desires on Etsy, whether it be a quirky bow-tie, or a cosplay handmade to your measurements.

Another plus? You’re likely supporting an independent business and that’s one of the biggest positives to ordering from somewhere like Etsy. Unlike when you purchase something from a bigger store, chances are you’ll be ordering something that’s made “for you.” I’ve got a few skirts, made from fabric that you either can’t purchase anymore or is really hard to come across, that make my wardrobe that little bit more special. As nice as it is to find something recognisable in your local chain, it’s also nice to own a few clothing pieces that you know won’t be sold everywhere.

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Op inion/g a m i n g

Is Retro the New Game Style?

Retro style video games aren’t dying, they are still going strong and I’ll tell you why.

Words by Peter Moreman Why is it nearly every time we have a new retro style video game released, it is presumed to be indie? Even worse, a lot of people tend to steer clear of pixel-based video games.

Although, we know of some reasons why people do this: they want HD graphics that aren’t pixelated, and secondly, “Oh it’s a pixel game? It must be indie”, therefore they presume it’s a bad game. Both can’t be more wrong, in my opinion. Even if you aren’t a gamer, I doubt you haven’t heard one of those in passing.

Over the past few years, we have seen the rise of retro style games, not only with indie developers but also large companies.

Games like Stardew Valley gained a massive reception upon release and currently has a 10/10 rating on Steam, even though it’s a retro style game. Others are Terraria and Shovel Knight are similar. Those three are one of the top-rated games and not just amongst the pixel-based video games, but also AAA titles.

We are seeing more and more pixel games, possibly because they are easier to make and don’t require you to know too much coding or use Unity. You could also put it down to nostalgia for many

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people. For example, take a look at how well the Crash Bandicoot remaster has done.

Searching through Steam, you will find an abundance of games using that style, and why not? If they can create a great world and story with retro-style graphics, I’m all for it. I think some gamers can be too picky with what they play. People forget that until the release of the sixth-generation consoles, games were heavily pixelated. However, some could still hold their own against some newer generation video games.

As technology evolves we have seen stunning games such as Detroit: Become Human, Rise of the Tomb Raider and the upcoming Spider-Man game. However, despite the hate retro style games receive, they’re still going strong and likely won’t die anytime soon. Lately, the Nintendo Switch has been on the forefront of pixel-based games, because Nintendo doesn’t seem to care what style the game is, as long as it has strong substance. Video games such as Owlboy, Sonic Mania, and Octopath Traveller, have people excited and handing over their cash.

R Ev iew/ ga m ing

REview: Octopath Traveler

Old School Style JRPG With Modern Mechanics and a Beautiful Art Direction Words by Cameron Lowe I have been in love with the Nintendo Switch exclusive title Octopath Traveler ever since the first demo released in September 2017. Its classic 16-bit art style, music, and visuals are some of the best I’ve experienced on the Switch so far. Now it has released and I have played it does it live up to the hype? Yes, it certainly does.

As evidential in the title, you have eight playable characters, each with their own adventure and styles. My favourites thus far have been Tressa (The Merchant) and Primrose’s (The Dancer) narratives, which I played in the demos. However, I chose H’aanit’s (The Hunter) story in the full release and she’s kick-arse as a character. All of these characters too have their own unique abilities. Tressa can purchase things from NPCs while H’aanit can capture beasts. This makes for boss battles to be very interesting ordeals, and certainly makes you consider which characters to use.

“Complimenting the art and visuals is a beautiful soundtrack which, in my opinion, is one of the best game soundtracks in recent years.”

The art style and graphics to this game are nothing short of stunning. The concept art and in-game characters evoke classic 90s Super Nintendo JRPGs, especially Final Fantasy VI, while the 3D world has a feeling of the early 3D JRPGs on the PlayStation.

This unique style (termed HD-2D) gives the game a pop-up storybook feel. Small details within the world are of high quality as well. The snow that flies across the screen and the shine of the desert sand adds depth and realism to the world.

Complimenting the art and visuals is a beautiful soundtrack which, in my opinion, is one of the best game soundtracks in recent years.

The music is phenomenal and evokes the past while also being contemporary. ‘Battle Theme II’ and ‘Decisive Battle’ to me are reminiscent of the battle themes from Final Fantasy VI while also feeling fresh. The ‘Victory Fanfare’ track is also just all kinds of awesome and gives a genuine feeling of achievement.

What really sets Octopath Traveler apart is its style of storytelling.

Unlike say Xenoblade Chronicles 2 (another Switch JRPG), the storyline in Octopath is not linear. Below the required level for your character’s chapter? No worries; play another character’s

chapter to level up. However, this non-linear narrative does affect narrative flow. Primrose may not be the required level, so you play Tressa’s story to fill that. You may not be able to get back to Primrose’s story for another eight to twelve hours, which by then you may have forgotten her narrative. This is the main flaw to the game, but it does result in less grinding, a common complaint for games in the genre.

“Octopath Traveler is nothing short of a masterpiece. Its art style, characters and visuals are some of the best I have experienced in a JRPG in many years.”

The game plays very well on the Nintendo Switch. My main set up of it is on docked mode with the Pro Controller. The controllers are tight and fluent, which also carries over to the Joy-Cons. It plays well too in portable mode, appearing no different than its docked counterpart, both in visual presentation and gaming style.

According to Square Enix (the main publisher), the characters and their stories altogether bring the game’s total playtime to around 60-80 hours. They have also stated there will be no downloadable content (DLC) released for the game, an unusual choice in this era of gaming. This means for $79 (JB Hi-Fi, August 2018), you are getting a complete game, which, in my opinion, is fantastic value for money.

Octopath Traveler is nothing short of a masterpiece. Its art style, characters and visuals are some of the best I have experienced in a JRPG in years. It tosses away a lot of the expectations of the genre and still shows that retro style games are strong in the gaming world. Yes, its style of storytelling is strange, but it is a breath of fresh air when compared to other JRPGs on the market. It has quickly become my favourite JRPG on the system. If you have a Switch, I highly recommend this game. If you don’t and love RPGs, definitely buy one to experience this title.

4/5

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Antediluvian Man. Antediluvian Man wears black thick-rimmed glasses and with dark sandpaper hands old as time stoops to sow seeds of bean and berry.

I wave.

‘That’s a nice suit.’ (‘Can I have your shoes?’)

Golden leaves fall from high branches and Antediluvian Man stops his chig-chig-chigging.

‘Get some manners, boy!’

His face contorts and he turns and twists into the soil.

I never see him again.

by Oliver Ryan

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THE INVASION Words by Emily Hallett

There was something wrong with Toby Morrison.

he had to find out.

Michael Sharpe knew it. He had kept his eye on

Mikey was fishing his backpack out of his locker

Toby ever since he arrived in Goldenvale two weeks

when his best friend approached him. ‘Hey, Mikey,

ago. Toby was shifty, alert, and walked through the

are you free to come over right now? I handed in my

high school hallways as though constantly expecting

assignment today so I’m just gonna relax tonight.’

someone to attack him from behind.

‘Mikey’ was a name he had adapted to. He

Mikey knew there was something off about

preferred his birth name, but everyone insisted on

Toby. Something suspicious. He swore he once saw

calling him ‘Michael’ or some variation of it. ‘No, sorry

the glint of a blade peeking out from under Toby’s

Claire, I have to go to extra tuition right now,’ he said,

sock in class one day when he bent to scratch his

slinging his bag over his shoulder.

ankle. Toby had no reason to be armed; because there was little threat to such a small isolated suburban

She huffed in disbelief. ‘Again? You’re really not getting the hang of these classes, are you?’

town, life seemed to go on normally. Goldenvale was

But he didn’t want to talk about his grades. He

secure and its gates were patrolled and monitored

lowered his voice, even though most students had

relentlessly. No one came in or out without expressed

already left. ‘Claire, there’s something that’s been on

authority. They couldn’t get in. Mikey was sure it

my mind for a little while.’

wasn’t possible for one to slip in unnoticed. Was it?

But Mikey was sure Toby was one of Them. And

She noted his serious tone. ‘Yeah? What’s up?’

‘You know the new kid, Toby Morrison?’ She 33

creative/F I CT I O N

nodded. ‘I think there’s something wrong with him.’

Mikey spent the hour wandering the campus, pondering what exactly he would do if he found out

‘What do you mean? Is he sick?’

that Toby was one of Them. But what evidence did

‘No, I think he’s…’ Mikey trailed off.

Mikey have? What signs had Toby given? He wasn’t

‘What is it?’ Claire nudged.

as relaxed as the others in the town; kept watching

‘There’s something different about him. He’s

his back like he had something to hide. And he and

not like us…’ Mikey’s eyes scanned the hallways

his family were the only ones to enter the town after

before he dropped his voice to a whisper, ‘Claire, I

the attack had begun. Mikey wondered if Toby’s

think Toby Morrison is one of Them.’

parents knew that Toby wasn’t like everyone else.

‘You can’t honestly think that. He’s new, Mike;

Maybe Toby’s parents were one of Them too? How

he’s going to be a little nervous and freaked out

could the guards monitoring the gate allow a whole

until he settles in,’ she said.

enemy family inside?

‘He doesn’t act like us, Claire. It’s like he doesn’t

Mikey knew that Toby walked home every day.

know what’s really happening. He always looks

When the coast was clear, Mikey followed close

pale and tired, and he’s been shifty and studying

– but not too close – behind Toby. Mikey needed

everyone who comes near him like he’s trying to

evidence to know for certain if Toby was one of

figure out what he’s looking at. Like he’s always on

Them.

guard.’

Having one of Them inside their safe haven

‘Can you blame him? You and I both know these

was frightening enough, but what, Mikey thought,

last two weeks have been hard to adjust to. He’s just

would Toby do when he found out that Goldenvale

finding it a little more difficult than everybody else.’

was really meant to be a safe haven from Toby’s

‘Claire! You’re not listening. I think Toby Morrison is a—’ ‘You can’t be serious, Mike! Toby Morrison is not one of Them. You’re paranoid over nothing—

kind?

He knew that Toby was constantly on guard, so Mikey trailed far enough behind to not be spotted whenever Toby glanced back over his shoulder.

this town is safe and secure and nothing that can hurt us can come in. The whole world might not be as safe as us yet, but you can be sure that here in Goldenvale we are perfectly fine.’

Mikey was silent. If he couldn’t convince his best friend, then he would have to find out the truth on his own.

‘Didn’t you have tuition to go to?’

‘Yeah,’ Mikey replied, defeated. ‘I’ll see you later.’

Mikey didn’t really have after-school tuition today. But he knew Toby did.

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The sky was darkening with clouds as the sun fell – darkness came early this time of year – and Mikey couldn’t help but think that even the familiar footpaths and the old oaks gave him an eerie shudder down his spine. Despite the chill in the air he began to sweat. What if Toby fought back?

He had that blade in his sock, Mikey remembered.

Why didn’t Mikey think to bring a weapon? He was beginning to understand why Toby was always on edge— Mikey was having a similar feeling.

It took about half an hour before he was at

Toby’s house. He had lost sight of Toby before Toby entered his house, but Mikey knew the one.

Mikey waited out of sight from Toby’s house for about twenty minutes before he approached the front window—he didn’t want Toby to think he had been following him.

A light was on inside and the front living room curtains were not drawn. Toby’s family had arrived in Goldenvale two weeks ago, and as Mikey peered through the window he could see unopened cardboard boxes still littered the carpet.

Toby had told Mikey that they drove across the country for days to get to Goldenvale. Toby told him about the chaos in his previous city—how the enemy had been discovered and was fighting back. Toby’s family didn’t understand what was going on—no one did. But they took the chance and escaped quickly to a town on the other side of the continent. Goldenvale was safe, they had heard. Goldenvale was secure and isolated and inconspicuous from the enemy. But for all Mikey knew, everything Toby had told him was a lie.

Mikey was beginning to think Goldenvale wasn’t so safe anymore.

‘What are you doing here?’

Mikey yelped and whirled towards the voice behind him, eyes as wide as saucers and nerves dancing on the edge. ‘Toby! I, uh—’ – he tried to rub the sweat off his palms without Toby noticing as he fumbled for words. He assumed Toby had entered the house but he must have been waiting outside for Mikey all along – ‘I-I just came over to see if you, ah, maybe wanted to hang out or something perhaps?’ He shot Toby an unconvincing grin, but still Toby stood there, expression neutral and regarding Mikey with suspicion.

‘How do you know where I live?’

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creative/F I CT I O N

Mikey scrambled for an answer that would satisfy. Toby was bigger than him, with a strong,

figure itself out.’ Mikey was surprised by the sureness of his voice.

wiry build. Mikey was starting to think he should

‘When do you think it will be over?’

have planned this over. ‘I… Uh… Claire told me your

‘Soon.’

address?’

‘How many do you think are left?’

The seconds of silence seemed to take years.

‘Of the enemy? I don’t know.’

Mikey could feel the cold touch of sweat trickle

‘We heard that Goldenvale was safe. That was

down between his shoulder blades and his heart

why my family came here. But how do we know it’s

thundered in his ears as Toby’s eyes bore into him.

really safe? They look exactly like us—we can’t tell

Waiting, waiting for Toby’s outcome.

them apart. How do we know that they’re not right

‘Fine. Do you want to come inside?’

here in this town?’

Mikey found that he was holding his breath. He

That’s exactly what Mikey had been thinking

released it, and the tension seemed to dissipate too.

ever since Toby began attending Mikey’s school.

He followed Toby into his house.

‘We don’t. You got into Goldenvale right before the

‘My parents are out right now. I haven’t set up

gates closed. No one else has come in or out since.

So either They’ve been in Goldenvale right from the

the Xbox yet, but I can put on a DVD.’ The living room was expectedly bare—a couch,

start of the attack two weeks ago…’ Mikey raised his

TV, and untouched boxes. It appeared they had

eyes to meet Toby’s, his doubts fading as he realised

managed to bring most of their possessions with

he was right all along, ‘or you and your family are the

them, a luxury many did not have.

ones who have invaded this town…’

Mikey tentatively took a seat on the couch, but Toby remained standing. He realised Toby was just

Toby jumped back as though startled. ‘You think I’m one of Them?’

Mikey got to his feet. ‘I know you are.’

as anxious and tense as him.

Toby’s arms were crossed protectively, and he glanced around, as though confirming that they were alone. ‘Can I ask you something?’

Toby acted quickly, and before Mikey knew it, Toby had unsheathed the small blade from his shoe.

Mikey lunged for the knife, but Toby was faster.

‘Sure,’ said Mikey.

The knife caught Mikey’s bicep. Mikey cried out as

‘No one really knows what this is. What do you

his thick blue blood trailed a path down his arm.

think is going on?’

Toby froze as his eyes caught on the murky sea-

Mikey already had an answer to this. ‘I think it’s Mother Nature’s way of settling the score.’

horror.

‘What do mean?’

‘Maybe

humankind

blue of Mikey’s blood. ‘What are you?’ Toby cried in

While Toby was stunned Mikey took the chance has

caused

enough

and wrangled him for the weapon. It slipped out of

destruction. Maybe it’s time for a new dominant

Toby’s sweaty grasp, but not before Mikey managed

species.’

to glide the sharp blade across Toby’s own palm.

‘But how can you say that? Aren’t you scared?’

‘Of course I am. But I know that everything will 36

Blood burst from the split in Toby’s skin as the knife hit the ground.

c r eativ e/ FICTION

Toby’s blood was red.

It was as Mikey feared. There was something wrong with Toby Morrison; Toby Morrison was a Human.

Mikey hadn’t seen many Humans since the Invasion two weeks ago—it had all happened so fast. Goldenvale was supposed to be safe from humans. It had been seamless, and the humans were none-the-wiser that Mikey’s kind was rapidly and efficiently permeating the world. They had come from underground; rising to the surface after millennia of hiding. After what the humans called World War Three, Mikey’s kind decided that the humans had caused enough destruction. They never saw it coming. Well, some did, but they were never taken seriously by their own kind.

The two vivid colours of blood dripped to the carpet, mingling like a ghastly paint mixture.

At the same second, both boys lunged for the knife.

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just for f u n /q u i z

Empire times quiz 1. What is the name of the developer who created the 2016 game Stardew Valley?

2. Dr. Ian Malcolm was played by which actor in Jurassic Park, The Lost World Jurassic Park and Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom?

3. In Star Trek: The Original Series, which race has an intense hatred for tribbles?

4. Out of all the Corman-Poe films done in the 1960s, which one was actually based off a short story by H.P. Lovecraft?

5. Who originally wrote the song ‘Roll Over Beethoven’?

A) George Harrison B) Carl Perkins C) Little Richard D) None of the above

6. What is the name of the planet which is the main setting for Frank Herbert’s Dune series?

7. In Bushworld Adventures, where does Rick have to go to get his green cube?

8. Who voiced John Lennon in the 1968 animated film Yellow Submarine?

9. Who am I? I was born in 1887 and died in 1959. I wrote the script for the 1951 film Strangers on a Train but I spent a lot of my life as a novelist. My most famous character is the detective Philip Marlowe, who appeared in eight of my novels.

10. What is the North American name of the Sega Mega Drive?

11. How many albums by Pink Floyd did Syd Barrett appear on as a singer?

12. Cirilla is the full name to which character from Andrezj Sapkowski’s Witcher book series?

13. Which Doctor was the first to meet Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart and what was the name of the serial?

14. In which city will you find landmarks like Haw Par Villa, Orchard Road and The Fullerton Hotel?

15. What was the name of Tokyo during the Edo Period in Japan?

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39 QUIZ ANSWERS 1. ConcernedApe. 2. Jeff Goldblum. 3. Klingons. 4. One – The Haunted Palace (1963). 5. D) None of the Above. 6. Arrakis. 7. Bendigo. 8. John Clive 9.

Raymond Chandler. 10. Sega Genesis. 11. Two (The Piper at the Gates of Dawn and A Saucerful of Secrets). 12. Ciri 13. Second Doctor – The Web of Fear.

14. Singapore. 15. Edo. 16. Nova Scotia. 17. Frank Reynolds. 18. 9th May 1904. 19. Marle. 20. “Tough luck Springfield you lose! Now if you’ll excuse me, all this talk’s made me hungry.” BONUS QUIZ ANSWERS: A-3, B-1, C.2

A.

B.

C.

1.

2.

3.

Match the Book to its Film Adaptation

BONUS QUIZ 20. Complete this quote from The Simpsons: “Tough luck Springfield you lose! Now if…”

19. What is the name of the character in Chrono Trigger who is the princess of 1000AD? 18. What day, month, and year did Great Western Railway’s City of Truro supposedly became the first steam locomotive to go over 100-miles an hour?

17. In It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, which character brings Mac a rum ham?

16. Trailer Park Boys is set in which province of Canada? j ust for fun/ quiz

just for f u n /t o p s i x

Top Six: most stylish films

Sabrina

A Silent Voice

Beetlejuice

This 1954 classic starring Audrey Hepburn, William Holden and Humphrey Bogart is one of the most beautifully costumed films ever made. Hepburn, the titular Sabrina, returns from cookery school in Paris as a sophisticated, stylish woman, and her dresses are the most beautiful you will see in your life. The beautiful embroidered dress in the above image is my absolute favourite film outfit in all of history, even if more people remember her little black dress from later in the film.

There have been a lot of stylish anime films in the last few years and Kyoto Animation’s A Silent Voice (2016) is definitely one of them. From the details on the characters to the cherry blossoms blowing in the wind, the visuals are by far some of the most pleasing, even more so than Your Name (2016).

Tim Burton has a distinct visual style.

Beetljuice is where his style is best used as a contrast to everyday life, by using his imagined afterlife against a 1980s small town.

Her outfits are produced by famed costume designer Edith Head and Hubert de Givenchy, with many debates as to whom was responsible for which outfits.

After this film, Hepburn and Givenchy entered a wonderful creative partnership that produced years of beautiful dresses both on and off screen. Edith Head’s work won her the Oscar for Best Costume Design, (much like the previous year’s Roman Holiday, Hepburn’s film debut) one of her eight wins and out of a total of thirty-five nominations.

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The bright art style though is almost a distraction from the story. The story is amazing and heartfelt, but is also very dark. It deals with deep themes like bullying and suicide. There are also moments of odd humour, which breaks up these themes and makes the engagement between the characters enjoyable.

For more on anime films with fantastic art styles, check out ones made by Studio Ghibli.

The Maitlands, a (spoiler) newly deceased couple played by Geena Davis and Alec Baldwin, live in Vermont and are simple folk. They wear the same outfits throughout the film and are fans of self-renovations. (The afterlife is full of interesting deisgns and characters: Betelguise, the sandworm, Juno and the other public servants, just to name a few) The Deetz family who move in to the Maitlands’ home after their death have some very different ideas of style. The patriarch Charles (Jeffrey Jones) who enjoys the Maitlands’ design choices, is overruled by Delia (Catherine O’Hara).

Delia is a (terrible) sculptor who completely redecorates the house in her awful style. Her fashion choices should be noted: as in one scene she wears a jumper of Charles’ as a pair of trousers. And then Lydia (Winona Ryder), the goth inspiration for many misunderstood teens.

j ust for fun/ top six

A look at some of the most beautiful and creative films we’ve ever seen

The Incredibles

Nosferatu

Anything involving Brad Bird as director always has such a distinct visual style, but The Incredibles really changed the game for computer animated films. The film is set in the 1960s, a favourite era of Bird’s, and prominently features vintage cars and outfits in scenes and the score

by Michael Giacchino is one of the most fitting stylistic choices Pixar has ever seen.

Few horror movies are as stylish and downright odd as 1922’s Nosferatu.

This film is an example of German Expressionist filmmaking, which became popular in Germany at the end of First World War. Everything, from Count Orlock to the casting of the shadows is a pleasure to watch and almost unbelievable for the time.

The character designs are so fascinating and distinct from each other, yet so clearly from Bird’s imagination. The first all-human focused effort from Pixar required them to create new software to create realistic skin and hair. (Seriously, the humans in Toy Story are terrifying.)

But let’s get to the best part: Edna Mode.

Based on classic film fashion designer Edith Head, Edna is one of, if not the, most memorable part of the film. (And her appearance in Incredibles 2 is just as amazing as ever, but really should have been longer. I want an Edna Mode standalone film, and I think the world agrees with me.) Her designs are classic and fascinating, and she isn’t afraid to evolve and admit to her past design mistakes. Always remember: NO CAPES!

It’s this art style too which has helped the film to remain creepy and unsettling to this day, maybe even more than it originally was. It is recommended to also check out other German Expressionist films of the time like The Cabinet of Doctor Calagari (1920).

We are also still fortunate to have a copy of this film. This was originally an unoffical adaptation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1897) and all but one copy were destroyed by the Stoker Estate.

The Devil Wears Prada Miranda Priestly, where would popular culture today be without you? A film about fashion making a most stylish list, groundbreaking.

From the montages (including a wonderful one where Miranda endlessly throws down coats on Andy’s desk while asking her to do demanding tasks) to the wonderful performances by Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci, every part of this film is iconic. The film is based on the 2003 novel by Lauren Weisberger, which in turn is loosely based on Weisberger’s time working for Anna Wintour at Vogue.

Andy Sachs (Hathaway) gets a job at Runway as one of two assistants for Miranda Priestly (Streep). She learns from Emily (Blunt) how to do her job and Nigel (Tucci) how to dress for work.

Miranda Priestly became new figure by which the world judged how harsh their bosses were. It also earned Meryl Streep her 14th nomination for Best Actress at the Oscars.

“That’s all.”

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review / m us i c

Album Review: Bon Voyage

by Melody’s Echo Chamber Words by Ruby Easterbrook French singer-songwriter Melody Prochet has recently released her sophomore album under the name Melody’s Echo Chamber called Bon Voyage. The album boasts a creative mixture of sounds ranging from folk-like instruments and French vocals to pitchy screams, auto-tune, and psychedelic synths. Her songs focus on the psych-rock genre while occasionally going off on tangents, exploring dimensions with fluttering flute solos, spoken word passages, and ‘70s funk influenced breakdowns. Prochet’s album has been long awaited by her fans but had to be postponed due to a tragic accident in June 2017. This album marks a strong comeback from Prochet, an enigmatic and empowered woman exploring various emotions through a wild mix of songs.

If you have a similar taste in music to me, you’ve probably heard Melody’s Echo Chamber through the recommendations Spotify makes when you run out of songs to listen to in your playlist. If you haven’t heard it, the sounds are psychedelic, dreamy, progressive, and even a little folk. Melody Prochet’s voice is angelic, acidic and constantly evolving.

Kevin Parker of Tame Impala, Prochet’s ex-boyfriend, has some heavy influences on this album. Some of the drumming, synthesisers, and audio effects on Bon Voyage seem to come straight out of Currents’ playbook, the third album to come from Parker’s collection. Other influences I picked up were The Avalanches, Radiohead, and a lot of old French composers and classical musicians.

The songs on this album transition between being sung in French, Swedish and English, as well as singing, spoken word, auto-tune, and straight up screaming. Perth boy Nick Allbrook, lead singer of Pond and formerly a member of Tame Impala, appears in the fifth track ‘Quand Les Larmes D’un Ange Font Danser La Neige’ in a spoken-word passage. The track title

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translates to ‘When The Tears Of An Angel Make The Snow Dance’ which is quite a contrast to Allbrook’s humorous and grotesque lyrics in the song: “I want to shit all over myself when I die.” The chorus is sung in French, the rest in English, and is an all round dynamic indie-jam filled with layered strings, sporadic drum fills, and psychedelic synths.

Other memorable songs from Bon Voyage are ‘Desert Horse’ and ‘Visions of Someone Special, On a Wall of Reflections’. ‘Desert Horse’ is a synth-filled trip through a mirage; it’s heavy, screechy and auto-tuned. The song floats between French and English lyrics, with one Swedish line. Chunky bass and wispy, falsetto vocals make up the majority of the song, with the occasional synth layered over the top. One of Prochet’s catchiest lines, ‘So much blood. On my hands. And not much left to destroy. I know I am better alone’, is juxtaposed with an auto-tune behind the gloomy vocals, interrupting her vulnerable moment.

‘Visions of Someone Special, On a Wall of Reflections’ contains wavy guitar riffs, jazzy drums, and plucky and harmonious strings.

The lyrics are almost entirely in French, until the final lines where she sings “visions of someone special, on a wall of reflections” layered in repetition until the song fades out. This track has a Middle-eastern feel to it, with eerie violin, choir-like synths, and sweeping harp sounds. This is a track I can picture in a Wes Anderson movie soundtrack, mostly because it’s French, quirky, and also a bit classical.

Melody Prochet’s second album Bon Voyage does not disappoint.

Despite its short run time, this album manages to entice its audience through an exploration of psychedelic tones and vocal performances, pushing the boundaries of traditional song writing.

If I were to give this album a rating, I’d give it an 8 out of 10.

r e v iew/ music

The most eclectic range of genres, instrumental sounds, vocal effects, and influences I’ve ever heard in a single 33-minute album. Melody Prochet has created a truly engaging masterpiece.

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op inion/vi n tag e fas hi o n

vintage, feminist, fashion How vintage inspired fashion is connecting and empowering women (or: Ainsley wants to show off her sewing skills) Words and Images by Ainsley Ewart I have always loved 1950s style dresses. The full skirts, the tight fitting bodices and the fabrics have enchanted me for years. Now, with the help of my mum (and a woman by the name of Gretchen Hirsch), I make my own vintage-style clothes. Now, I know what you’re thinking: vintage fashion is sexist. It’s uncomfortable, restrictive and a symbol of a time where women were told to sit still and look pretty. I want to introduce you to a woman who has subverted this to empower women.

are back, so are vintage inspired prints for fabrics. I love bold, fun prints and florals, and have been loving the return of them to fabric stores, but it can be hard to source outfits in prints and designs that you like in clothing stores. When I buy fabric, I can make it into whatever design I feel suits me. Whenever I get complimented on these clothes I’ve made, I honestly get so excited. I adore telling people about making them. One of the easiest ways to share this with other people is through the internet.

Gretchen Hirsch, or Gertie, is a former children’s book editor from New York who was taught to sew by her mother. She’s an ardent feminist and lover of vintage fashion. She publishes patterns for Butterick and her own line, Charm Patterns. Her books Gertie’s New Book for Better Sewing, Gertie Sews Vintage Casual and Gertie’s Ultimate Dress Book are all instructional manuals on the basics of dressmaking and tailoring which provide you with patterns you can draft to fit yourself (and in much larger sizes than legitimate vintage patterns that you usually have to upsize to fit even the smallest person). Author Tara Moss is one of her biggest fans.

Sew-along groups are easily found on Facebook, and are a great place to share your work. These groups are also a great help when you need to fix your mistakes or alter your pattern, as they’re a brains trust of other sewists who just want you to achieve the best fit for your outfit.

Making your own clothes is amazing, because it’s simultaneously ethical and the best fitting clothing you’ll ever have. Fabrics are improving all the time, and because vintage inspired designs

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I love that something so structured by men has now been reclaimed and dominated by strong, feminist women. We have modified it to suit our wants and needs, which is mainly implementing practical, full-sized pockets and a wider sizing range. Creating clothing is so personal, as you get to choose the design, the fabric and the fit. It is the ultimate form of personal expression and so satisfying when someone compliments your choices.

op inion/vintage fashion

Top: Gertie’s books Below: Gretchen “Gertie” Hirsch in her new Night and Day Dress design

Above: One of the dresses from Gertie’s New Book for Better Sewing as modeled by me (with my nephew)

Above: Me modeling one of Gertie’s Butterick Patterns

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Photography by Marni Shanks