What’s On @
BOMBOLESSÉ
TAFELMUSIK BAROQUE ORCHESTRA
AUTORICKSHAW
CAMERON CARPENTER
390 KING STREET WEST, KINGSTON
By Richard Greenblatt and Ted Dykstra Richard Todd Adams and Bruce Kulak, Piano
Thurs Feb 11, 2016 @ 7:30 PM Great music theatre about two young Pianists who share the same goal – concert pianist stardom. Enjoyed by audiences in 4,000 performances around the world.
Celebrate Chinese New Year Sounds of The Forbidden City Wen Zhao, Pipa and the China Court Trio
Sat Feb 13, 2016 @ 7:30 PM
Theatre Kingston The Convict Lover World Premiere! By Judith Thompson inspired by the book by Merilyn Simonds.
Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra House of Dreams Jeanne Lamon, Director Alison Mackay, Program Creator
In the Power Corporation of Canada Studio Theatre at the Isabel
Tues Mar 15, 2016 @ 7:30 PM
Feb 18 to Mar 6, 2016
Bombolessé Quebec’s Joie-de-Vivre Brazileiro!
Stewart Goodyear, Piano Rachmaninoff/Ravel/Prokofiev
Sun, Feb 28, 2016 @ 2:30 PM
Cameron Carpenter, Organ
Soundstreams Canada
Bach/Chopin/Shostakovich/Carpenter
Choral Concert with James MacMillan, Conductor & Composer
Sun, Apr 3, 2016 @ 2:30 PM
Minsoo Sohn, Piano
Fri Mar 4, 2016 @ 7:30 PM
Autorickshaw Bollywood and Beyond
Sat Apr 2, 2016 @ 7:30 PM
Bach Goldberg Variations
Sun Apr 10, 2016 @ 2:30 PM
Sat Mar 12, 2016 @ 7:30 PM
HOUSE OF DREAMS
STEWART GOODYEAR
TICKETS: 613.533.2424
Mon-Fri 12:30-4:30
EVENTS HAVE BEEN FINANCIALLY ASSISTED BY THE ONTARIO CULTURAL ATTRACTIONS FUND A PROGRAM OF THE GOVERNMENT OF ONTARIO THROUGH THE MINISTRY OF TOURISM, CULTURE AND SPORT, ADMINISTERED BY THE ONTARIO CULTURAL ATTRACTIONS FUND CORPORATION
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1/2 price tickets for students! MEDIA SPONSOR
Lifestyle
[5] Love Through the Ages [7] Emma Enchanted [9] Life is Like a Series of
Apology Emails
[10] Netflix and Not So Chill
Entertainment
[33] How to Make Music in Your Dorm Room [35] The 6ix is Taking Over?
HYFR
[36] Captain Canuck’s Comeback
[11] Emotions on the Path to
[37] From Bad Doctors to Blenders: The Evolution of the Romantic Comedy
[13] In the Ari-ZONE-a
[39] One Award Closer to Diversity
Young Adulthood
Fashion
[15] Sponsored Article: Wrist
& Rye
[16] The Devil Wears Frauda:
In Fact, She Bargained For It
[17] The 70s are Dead [21] Confessions of a Window Shopaholic [23] Started from the Bottom
Now We Here
[25] Poor Little Rich Girl [28] Beauty and the (Social Media) Beast [29] Lost in the World cover photo by sophie barkham modeling by sufiat fusigboye & stephanie clayton
IN THIS ISSUE
[41] In Defence of 2015 Music
Arts
[42] On Art [43] URL IRL [45] commonplacetheatre [47] The Mundane, Interesting [49] Clothing Has No Gender [53] Discovering Hidden Gems: The Union Gallery
Muse’ings [54] Busyness
[55] You Don’t Really Have Monophobia [57] Why Fitspiration Isn’t So Inspirational [59] Dying for Perfection
[61] Mo(u)rning [62] A Reminder
Dear readers, MUSE Issue XI in a word: inspired. I say this because I feel like this issue is the most genuine representation of our moniker, MUSE. From visually stunning editorials and stories of strength and courage, to ruminations on contemporary issues and the challenges of adulthood, everything in this issue was created with a single purpose: to inspire. We go at this thing with the hopes of creating something spectacular— something that moves us a little bit when we finally hold the real-life magazine in our hands. That moment of oh my god, we actually created this, and the sense of wonder that comes along with putting something out into the world—it never gets old. I’ve been working with MUSE for the past four years, but the feeling has been different this time around— in a good way. Yes, this might have something to do with the fact that this issue is home to our first ever spine (!!!) but I really do think that we’ve come of age with Issue XI. This is MUSE growing up, hitting its stride. This is a MUSE that wants to be more. There are so many different people connected by Issue XI, which is one of the most remarkable things about this project. To our contributors: thank you for your magical touch. You’ve shared your stories, your voices, and your ideas with MUSE, even though being so candid isn’t always easy. But you did it, and you’ve been heard. You’ve been fearless for this issue, and you’ve inspired. To our readers: be inspired. Our hope is to stir something in you, whatever that may be. And thank you for motivating us to fuel the creative fire that is MUSE. Issue XI has exhausted us in the best way possible. We went non-stop, balls to the wall, bigger, and better. When you open up this issue, we hope the energy hits you full force. Yours creatively,
Abigail Conners, Editor-in-Chief & The MUSE Team
COMING OF AGE MUSE | 4
L
VE
THROUGH THE AGES
What is love? We often look to the great couples to find the answer—Romeo and Juliet, John F. Kennedy and Jackie O., or Brad and Angelina. These couples are symbolic of the romances many of us wish for. But who knew that some of the greatest love stories of all time have happened right here at Queen’s University? I recently had the privilege of sitting down with three couples of different ages. They shared with me their defining moments and the wonder of being in love. Pat McCue and Nancy Brady met in the fall of 1959. Pat tells me of the dances held at Grant Hall on Friday nights of the football weekend. Very simply, Pat asked Nancy to dance and decided to call her the next day. Nancy says that Pat called her but she had another date lined up. But the heart wants what the heart wants…
5 | LIFESTYLE
“He asked me to go out on Sunday afternoon. But I had another date,” Nancy shared with me. “But the whole time I was with this other guy, I kept wishing that I was with Pat,” And on an October afternoon, they went for a Sunday drive. Their first kiss was nothing short of perfection. “It was on a bench overlooking Lake Ontario,” Nancy remembered. “It was very romantic.” 43 years later, Pat surprised Nancy on their anniversary with a plaque placed on that very bench. It reads, “Nancy Brady and Pat McCue – Beginnings.” They reminisce about their favourite memories at the football games, their strolls window-shopping down Princess Street, and stopping at Town and Country for a slice of chocolate cake and vanilla ice cream.
an article by Isabella Kresin
With the launch of MTV, it was the era of Michael Jackson, Prince, and Madonna when Fiona Scott and Ewen McIlrath began their undergraduate at Queen’s. Fiona set the stage for remembering the first time they met: “So it was just a huge, coming-back-from-holiday dance. The Kings were playing. The arena was packed. Ewen, remember you were there with Dan Betson?” “That’s right! That was a great night, I remember that,” Ewen responded. “We just danced the night away,” Fiona recalled.
From that moment on, their love continued to grow. Ewen asked Fiona to the Valentine’s Day dance at Grant Hall. “It was February 12th,” said Ewen. “A day that we continue to celebrate to this day.” They Nancy graduated from the KGH school sealed that night with their first kiss of Nursing in ’62, and Pat with an MBA to the sounds of Shakin’ Stevens. from Queen’s in ‘63. 52 years of marFiona and Ewen laugh at their memriage later, they have four daughters ories: nights at Alfie’s, all-you-canand seven grandchildren. Four of the eat Chinese, watching Dallas, and ski bunch have followed in their footsteps trips to Alexandria Bay with friends. as students at Queen’s. Their legacy After five years of young love, they lives on, and so does their love. were married in Cobourg on April 30th, 1988.
The couple didn’t hesitate when I asked them to tell me their favourite thing about one another. “I love Ewen’s humour,” Fiona shared. “There’s always a big smile on his face.” “What I love most about Fiona is that she’s game for anything. We’re on an adventure together,” Ewen said. The couple say that the golden rules of marriage are respect and communication. They constantly give to one another and see each other as complete equals. Even after 27 years of marriage, they showcase an everlasting youth. “Our phrase isn’t necessarily I love you, or Ewen loves me. We always say we love us, because we just love us being together, doing whatever we’re doing.” Fast-forward to love on campus today: I spoke to current students Mike Young and Charlotte Johnston. Both in Concurrent Education, Mike is a gender studies major while Charlotte studies history. I ask the couple about their first encounters. Mike was interviewing potential candidates for 2013 Orientation Week leaders. “The door opened and in walks this drop dead gorgeous, bashful figure, Charlotte... I wasn’t completely in tune with the fact that we would be dating at that point. But she was very, very impressive and was a very easy hire I can say. That was our first ever encounter.” Charlotte remembers seeing Mike perform at CoGro in her first year at Queen’s. “I saw him singing, and thought, wow, that’s the most beautiful song I’ve ever heard in my life,” she said. She remembers going back to residence that evening, listening to the song at least 15 times. And so it goes, their love for music
became the common ground. “We’re both pretty socially awkward, especially in a romantic situation. So the music was a way for us to facilitate hanging out.” Mike told me that what he loves most about Charlotte are her morals and values. “The things that make her happiest are acts of kindness or when people are being very kind and compassionate.” Charlotte returned Mike’s admiration… “[Mike] makes sure that people are respecting each other and being sensitive to each other, not just for the sake of political correctness, but actually because it means something, and it makes people feel accepted and at home.” Throughout their relationship, they’ve also lived by their own mottos. “Share the happiness and divide the sorrows. I see it very much as teamwork,” Mike says. I asked each couple what advice they would give to Queen’s students today who are on their own quest for love. Nancy: “Get involved and have fun.” She wasn’t planning on going out the night she met Pat. “Thank God I did!” she says. Charlotte: “Stop looking.” Fiona: “Don’t look for it. If you go out looking for it, it’s almost like you’re not being you.” They say that love awakens the soul, it is patient and kind, it protects and trusts. It always hopes and perseveres.
These couples gave me a glimpse into their journeys— their soaring friendships and their adventure amongst the generosity, kindness and joy. They gave me hope, and so it seems –
love never fails.
MUSE | 6
Emma Enchanted
an article by Maddie Pace photography by Emma Troupe
Emma Troupe, otherwise known by her media alias @miss_3mma, is a 21-year-old social media phenomenon from Canada who has been growing her health and wellness empire by the day. Balancing holistic nutrition school, upcoming projects for her blog, and thousands of dedicated followers, there is no telling what’s next for this mogul in the making. I chatted with Emma about some issues that are close to her heart, as well as what’s next for her and her brand. So Emma, we’ve known each other since kindergarten. It’s been amazing to watch you grow and develop your brand. I think the coolest thing for me has been seeing your Instagram following climb higher and higher... you’re at 58,000 followers right now! What are your thoughts on social media and its power in our generation, since it has had such a big impact on your own life? Social media is an extremely powerful tool that has allowed me to build a global network. At the moment, the biggest craze on social media is fitness and health. But this social media fitness craze has also brought along peer pressure, low self-esteem, and thoughts and feelings of depression. Social media unfortunately leads to a focus on material things and has exacerbated a real issue facing young women and men: how to accept yourself. You must learn to accept your body and what you have. I think social media should be used to get the word out there that this is who I am, this is what I am going to accomplish in life, and this is how I am going to do it! We should be proud of ourselves! I completely agree! You started your social media presence on Instagram, but have since launched your own website and just announced that you are currently working on an eBook! Are there any other projects in the works or major goals that you are aiming to achieve? My list of goals is constantly growing! But something I would definitely like to accomplish is creating a plan which will put holistic nutrition education in secondary schools. Teaching holistic nutrition education at a younger age will prevent many physical and mental health issues in later years. I never had the option to learn about holistic education until after secondary school, and I really wish I had some knowledge about it earlier. Being aware of holistic education can protect your physical and mental health, intelligence, and confidence. What better way to make the world a better place than by starting with education?
7 | LIFESTYLE
@miss_3mma Was there a turning point in your life that led you down this path of health and wellness? I was introduced to The Institute of Holistic Nutrition (IHN) by a family member and only heard amazing things. After reading about the program, I thought, this couldn’t be a better fit for me! I have always had an open mind but after studying at IHN I realized how important the mind-body connection is, and how important it is to have them in balance. Studying holistic nutrition is what really pushed me down the path of health, wellness, and fitness. As students, there are stressors and pressures in our lives that we are faced with daily. I’ve noticed that a huge focus of yours is not only on wellness in terms of physical health, but also on mental health. Do you have any tips or advice on how students faced with stress can maintain their mental wellness? Stress is extremely overwhelming and one of the leading causes of disease. As students we are constantly trying to retain as much information as we can, studying for hours on end and overloading our brains. This can be very demanding on the body. Here are a couple tips I always keep in mind to de-stress: 1. Let yourself physically and mentally rest! Get into the deepest sleep cycle by being away from your phone or
screens for at least an hour before you go to bed, and practice deep breathing. Deep breathing relaxes the nervous system. The nervous system is wrapped around every organ in your body, so physically slowing it down can bring you into complete relaxation for a fully rested sleep. 2. Tell yourself what you want to hear. We all have a little doubt in our capabilities, which can prevent us from achieving our goals. We all need a little extra encouragement to accomplish that goal sometimes. Affirmations are very powerful and successful for supporting and protecting the mind and organs that are susceptible to stress. A big focus and theme throughout this issue of MUSE is on body acceptance. I think that we can both agree that loving your body and appreciating its capabilities can change your life. You speak on your website about your own struggles with this topic – do you have any words of advice for people dealing with the same struggles right now? Many realize how hard it is to love our bodies when the pressure to look a certain way is promoted throughout social media. This shouldn’t be a way to live. We must learn to love what we were born with— our body is our home, our one chamber that we were given to live in. Work towards changing your perspective by forgetting everything bad you’ve ever said about your body. Delete the negative and accentuate the positive! MUSE | 8
Life is Like a Series of Apology Emails
an article by Jenna Zucker
Disclaimer: This is partially fictional— I’ll never admit which paradigms actually happened to me (but feel free to assume the worst). Picture a bright-eyed teenager stepping through the doors of her first real job (this time unfortunately not at a summer camp). I don’t know about you, but at 19 (and now 20) I still see myself as, and act like, a child— so this was different. You have a three-month sneak peak into my dream industry: the newsroom. While just being there was the biggest blessing, being 19 years old in the real world feels just as awkward as a dad in a lingerie store. You’ve had four days of training, full of awkward smiles and never-ending small talk. Now it’s time to show the office that you’re capable of retaining information for longer than a day. Sounds easy, right? Wrong. You’re alarm doesn’t go off and the commute is at least an hour and a half (factoring in the necessity of being extremely early). Being a commuter strongly resembles being in a constant limbo. The subway signifies more than just transportation in the morning: it’s a vanity table, kitchen table, and sometimes even a closet. You prepare for the 8 a.m. meeting but don’t have time for your morning coffee. You doze off slightly, and when it’s your turn to speak you try to follow up on what the previous person was saying about the new Ari Gold book, because who doesn’t love Entourage? You misheard. They were talking about the Iamgold Mining Corporations stock, obviously. It can’t get much worse, right? Wrong, again. You head to the cafeteria to grab a cup of coffee and spill it all over the Editor-in-Chief. He pretends not to be mad that you just burned the area between his legs. It’s only 9 a.m. Vowing to be on your best behaviour, you sit perfectly upright at the very edge of your seat. You eavesdrop on your co-worker’s conversations hoping for an opening to make a good impression. They’re talking about activities they did over the weekend and so you chime in saying how you and your friends love to do that too! They were talking about their dogs. You quickly learn that email is the primary mode of communication, filled with smiley faces and exclamation marks. Real-life interactions—if you’re the awkward type—are a series of eye contact aversions coupled with the desperate attempt to not walk into walls and drawers (both done unsuccessfully on a daily basis). In most jobs there’s the possibility of masking your mistakes, but in the newspaper world, there’s an audience: the readers—and you can’t hide. Just as you finally get comfortable at the office, the summer comes to an end. Everyone was so friendly and “sad to see you go.” (This was the best summer ever).
9 | LIFESTYLE
AND
an article by Melissa Noronha Remember the days when dinner and a movie was your standard date night out? Me neither. Thanks to advanced technology and social media, the slang phrase “Netflix and chill” has taken our generation by storm. This expression—masked by the allure of watching Netflix and “chilling”— has become a euphemism for casually hooking up. In today’s hookup culture, romantic dates are not the standard anymore. Instead, Netflix and chill has become a straight to the point and socially acceptable form of “dating.” #NetflixAndChill first emerged on Twitter before catching like wildfire and spreading to Facebook, Instagram, Vine, Tumblr and, most importantly, the world of memes. Twitter was the first to depict a “Netflix Come Over and Chill” meme in 2014. It showed a starter pack containing a t-shirt, sweat pants, a Netflix subscription, and condoms. Today, fifteen years after Netflix began offering their streaming service, the phrase has become fully integrated into the everyday lexicon of the millennial. Recently, Netflix’s marketing and PR teams took Netflix and chill one step further, taking full advantage of the concept’s popularity. Netflix has created a do-it-yourself button called “The Switch.” Through an application server, “The Switch” can connect to other platforms and services to optimize your Netflix and chill experience. It dims the lights, turns on Netflix, silences your phone, and even orders your favourite take-out food. Who ever said that Netflix and chill wasn’t a romantic date!?
Not So
CHILL
How did this new phenomenon evolve? Why does it feel easier to say, “Do you want to chill?” instead of asking someone out on a date? The evolution of Netflix and chill is essentially a by-product of our society. People increasingly prefer to stay in as opposed to go out, and so Netflix becomes a form of social introversion. For some people, the activity lifts the pressure off of traditional date activities, and the high expectations set on a first date. However, there’s a moral panic about Netflix and chill, with some even suggesting that it has created a new dating apocalypse. The concept creates vague questions for everyone involved; there’s complications surrounding simply watching a movie and actually chiling, and the expectations that are engrained in the premise of Netflix and chill. But it’s not all bad. In millennial dating culture, Netflix and chill is an easy way to get to know someone (whether or not there is a hook-up involved) that doesn’t involve spending a lot of money. The removed pressure of commitment, and the easy-going, casual setting makes it popular among university students. The easy nature of a Netflix and chill may sound like the end of courtship for many, but look on the bright side: it can also bring people together. It’s a simple date, and both parties can bond over a mutually liked TV show or movie—kind of like our generation’s version of the drive-in movie theatre. Maybe things don’t look so bleak for us millennials after all. MUSE | 10
MUSE MAGAZINE ISSUE XI
EM
on
OT ION
h
Pat
ung
the
to Yo
hood
Adult
S W
an article by Raquel Simpson
elcome to university: a place where you’ll learn to be independent, experience things you never thought possible, and grow into a young adult. Everybody tells you about the amazing things you’ll experience as you make this transition. Less time spent in class, more freedom in your course selection and work, great parties, and lifetime friends; it seems like a perfect picture, and many of us can’t wait to join. What is often ignored are the harder feelings that everyone experiences while making this less than perfect transition into a so-called young adult. 11 | LIFESTYLE
I
n today’s society, where we can Photoshop our lives on Instagram and Facebook, it’s increasingly easy to feel like you are the only one struggling—sometimes, it feels like the rest of the world is living it up with a 4.0 GPA, a clean room, and an endless stream of happiness. But let’s get real here — there are countless emotions that every person struggles with as they strive for that happiness and success. This compilation of those classic emotions was not created to bum you out, but rather to remind you that when you are low, you are not alone. So, here it goes:
A
ETY
ANXI-
SICKNESS
t takes a lot to move out of your parents’ home, because your parents love you in a way that no one else ever can. Their love is unconditional, and they will strive to put your interests before theirs. A classic example of this unconditional love is your mom giving you her coat when you are cold, even though she warned you to bring your own. Leaving home can also mean leaving behind siblings, lifelong friends, family members you’ve grown up with, and in general, a stable support system. You are packing up your life and moving to a new place. All of this means that it is completely normal to have times when you miss home and all the stability that comes with being there. When you feel that way, try not to get down. Remember that it is completely normal. Call a parent, and work on building yourself a support system at school that starts to feel a little like home.
HOME-
I
It’s very easy to slide through this place feeling invisible.
And, finally, for lack of a better term:
S
LINESS
awesome because it is so much different from high school. But, this also comes with some majorly isolating differences. In high school, for the most part, your teachers and classmates knew who you were. If you went to a smaller high school like myself, you may even have known the secretaries, janitors, and heads of the school. If you didn’t show up, someone would notice. At university, with giant classrooms and intimidating professors, it is very easy to slide through this place feeling invisible. A deep feeling of loneliness can stem from that anonymity. As you get more comfortable here, you can start breaking out of your shell. Turn to the person beside you in class and introduce yourself, because who knows? You may have just made a lifelong friend. Go to your professor after class and ask a question. Bouts of loneliness will still come, but they’ll begin to become few and far between.
LONE-
University is
lthough coming to university leaves you with significantly less hours spent in class, it also comes with the constant feeling that you have so much to do. Worrying about grades, friendships, life, love, and everything in between can become a major problem. Well, take a breath, make a to-do list and remember that if it gets to be too much, there are resources to help you manage your anxiety. Furthermore, if it ever starts to feel like it is seriously impeding your ability to live, I urge you to not hesitate to ask for help.
I don’t know what the hell I am doing.
o you’re here to become a young adult, and you suppose that means you should be able to start figuring out your life. But truth be told, you burnt your dinner by accident, you haven’t changed your sheets in a while, and you’re doing this whole university thing with no real idea of what you want to do when you graduate. Sometimes you feel like you have your life together, but more often than not, you are not quite sure what the hell you are doing. And that is totally okay, because none of us do. Trying, learning, and enjoying the ride are what matters. So keep your head up, and remember that these feelings are completely normal—if not necessary—on MUSE | 12 the road to becoming a young adult.
In the
ARI -
-A
T
he last weekend of summer 2015 was one for the memory books. Accompanied by my best friends (who also happen to be my two older sisters), I embarked on a four-day road trip across three states, with loose plans and a thirst for adventure. The idea for the trip was to spend quality sister time before I returned to Kingston. Realizing it was the first time we had ever traveled together, just the three of us, we immediately knew we were about to experience something special. We drove through the desert, hiked canyons, swam in crystal blue lagoons, and relished in every moment. It revitalized the mind, body, and soul. The first stop of our journey was Sin City: Las Vegas, Nevada. Arriving late into the night just as the city was waking up, we picked up our whip. It was a baby blue Volkswagen Beetle, and we set out for the hotel where we crashed in preparation for the long drive to come.
13 | LIFESTYLE
an article and photography by Meredith Johnson
Day 1: Nevada to Grand Canyon, Arizona Before hitting the road we made a necessary pit stop at Wal-Mart for supplies which included party mix, Arizona Iced Tea (how fitting?) and CDs: The Best of The Beach Boys, and Bruce Springsteen. Our destination was Grand Canyon, Arizona, 271 miles away. Singing to “Surfin’ in the U.S.A.,” we were three serendipitous sisters, lucky to be together and excited for what was to come. Our eyes were glued to the extraterrestrial landscapes outside, as we passed by each hill and jagged rock. We drove past landmarks like the Hoover Dam and Lake Mead. We reached the South Rim of The Grand Canyon (the best of the three Rims) around 2 p.m., ready to stretch our legs and breathe in the fresh air. We chose to hike down The Bright Angel Trail to witness some of the most spectacular views. It was a magical sight as the early afternoon sun hit the canyon to illuminate its tri-colour rock. Often, my sisters and I fell silent mid-conversation to fully appreciate what we were seeing. The grandeur and depth made worries and insecurities seem minuscule. To cap off our two-hour hike, we treated ourselves to a scoop of strawberry sorbet to enjoy with the view. After stopping to see the sun kiss the horizon, we were on the road. Illuminated by the moon, we drove in silence to our next destination, as we reflected on the day’s activities and marvelled at the shadows of the vast valleys outside our window. We were the only ones on the road. It was spectacular.
Day 2: Page, Arizona We awoke leisurely, grabbed breakfast, and sketched a plan for our day, which included a 3 p.m. pre-booked tour of Antelope Canyon (envision James Franco in 127 Hours). To maximize time, we headed over to Horseshoe Bend, a natural curve in the earth made by the Colorado River. It was incredible how close to the edge you could get before the rock— the height of a skyscraper— dipped below the river. The view was nothing short of breathtaking. We lunched on the “world’s largest floating restaurant” on a man-made lake, Lake Powell, and snacked on calamari, nachos, and caprese salad. The overcast day took a rainy turn at the time we were supposed to tour Antelope Canyon, so it was cancelled because of flash flood warnings. We opted to try our luck the following morning before we hit the road. Amongst the rain, we drove along Lake Powell until we reached Lone Rock Beach. Feeling young, wild, and free, I took a refreshing dip in the turquoise lake.
Day 3: Zion National Park, Utah In the morning, we squeezed in the Antelope Canyon tour and caught the first tour with Carl as our guide. He drove us in a Jeep to an opening in the earth where we walked through, grazing our hands against the sandy walls while Carl pointed out different shades of red and orange rock formations. The hour-long tour was well worth the wait. After three hours navigating the map, we found the entrance to Zion National Park, where we cruised through the twists and turns of the mountainous road. With the windows down, Vance Joy serenaded us on our joy ride through the mountains. It was surreal to be so close to untouched beauty. We hiked The Emerald Pools and The Grotto trails through the rain, which soon turned to sunshine. It felt peaceful and calm to be outside, inhaling the clean air. I closed my eyes atop the biggest boulder so that I could fully immerse myself in the blissful moment. By late afternoon we were back on the road back to Las Vegas. As I reflected upon the beauty we witnessed and the enormity of our world, I recalled that moment of peace in Utah. Life’s worries were put into perspective for me while standing beside the mountain. I vowed to remember this experience in times of turmoil, and in times of joy. There’s more to see and more to do. The ride has just begun…
MUSE | 14
WRIST & RYE a sponsored article
How We Started
Our Mission & Philosophy
After looking around and seeing so many men with bare and neglected wrists, the idea of a company specializing in men’s jewellery was born. Wrist & Rye was founded in 2015 by three fashion-forward men with a passion for living life to the fullest and looking great while doing so! From the boardroom, to the golf course, to the local pub, Wrist & Rye will be holding your hand, wherever your life takes you.
The way we see it, the jewellery you choose to wear is an expression of your personality. Each piece we manufacture is built with a set of values and lifestyles in mind. The wrist revolution is real. Our bracelets will be the best thing to hug your wrist since, well, ever.
Style and Design
Connect with Wrist & Rye
Wrist & Rye is the epitome of style. Our bracelets are handcrafted in Toronto and made using the highest quality beads, collected on our founder’s travels around the globe. Incorporated into our bracelets are spiritual beads, sterling silver, 18k gold, and semi-precious stones. By strapping on our handcuffs, we promise that cold breeze felt across your naked wrist will disappear. To ensure the utmost satisfaction, we offer a wide assortment of designs to meet the varying preferences of our clientele.
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15 | SPONSORED
Our mission is to put a stop to the epidemic we are calling “naked wrist syndrome”: a disease affecting millions of lives each year. We intend to remedy this situation by providing the masses with socially lubricating wrist-wear, sold at unbeatable prices.
The Devil Wears Frauda:
In Fact, She Bargained For It
an article by Martyne Alphonso I lived in Shanghai for four months. The questions I’m asked most are: did you experience culture shock? Did you eat anything weird? And the most common: did you hours of mindless wandering through five levels of shopbuy fake stuff? ping heaven (or hell, debatably), I was bargained out and ready to collapse. Despite exhaustion, it was exhilOf course I bought fake stuff. However, you may be sur- erating knowing I had purchased a product that I could prised as to why. only dream of owning in the Western world, for a steal. Shanghai is a shopaholic’s designer dream. The city is a massive metropolis, divided into sub-communities ranging from low-income migrant families, to Shanghai’s ultra rich and elite. Regardless of financial circumstances, no one in Shanghai would be caught dead without a uniform of head-to-toe designer duds – or so it would seem. Don’t be fooled by civilians decked out in Givenchy and Prada. Most of these threads are fake. My first walk through my new university campus was like a tour of Carrie Bradshaw’s closet. Was it standard for Shanghainese girls to wear Manolos to class? Were they real? We were in China after all, but did it really matter whether the shoes came straight out of China or Spain? I had a hard time understanding fake goods until I arrived at West Nanjing—one of Shanghai’s largest fake markets. The outside of the building resembled a large brick department store, but the inside was Christmas in a Where’s Waldo? puzzle. The surroundings were dizzying, and quite frankly, terrifying. Upon entering West Nanjing, your senses are immediately overwhelmed: the dim lighting flickers as shop owners yell in broken English and grab at you in order to entice you into their shop. The market is divided into small cubicle sized stalls, which bleed into each other, hundreds in a row. Fighting through the congested chaos of designer-hungry Western tourists and Shanghainese shopkeepers, the trick is to go in with a game plan, and get out as fast as possible.
These fake products are popular for a few different reasons. The Shanghainese population seemed to be divided into two groups. One, the fashionistas who worshipped Western designers, and two, those who were clueless about the brand power behind a pair of Ray-Bans, but owned these fakes because they were inexpensive. In Shanghai no one asks whether your bag is real or fake; the wealthy know without asking and the others simply do not care. Instead, locals can kick back, relax, and watch hoards of Western tourists unleash their inner primate to get the brand name that will have everyone at the country club back home jealous as hell. For the first time ever, I found myself shopping purely off visual cues: price was negotiable and labels didn’t matter. However, I knew these labels would have different consequences in the Western world. Walking through Shanghai with a knock-off was safe, but it painted a social target on my back upon my arrival home. My fakes have experienced lustful stares and cynical smiles on the subway, as if I’m carrying a (perceived) symbol of affluence and power.
Shanghai exposed the arbitrary nature of luxury goods; people have to know the signifying brand name in order to associate it with your status. For the Shanghainese, status was measured beyond the brand name embroidered on your jacket. This was a value system I loved. So if you need me, you can find me behind my Taking a moment for a deep breath and a pep talk, I Ray-Bans, sipping bubble tea, and wearing the Cartier decided I was ready to take on the market. After four I paid twenty dollars for. Get at me. MUSE | 16
THE
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creative sophie clothing
direction barkham, what’ll
photography by
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sophie
DEAD styling
anisha wear, american
barkham by sandhu apparel
modeling by ellen hankytike, chenchen xu and spencer swayze
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confessions
window shopaholic
of a
an article by Annie Robinson
Blair Waldorf once said, “Whoever said money can’t buy happiness doesn’t know where to shop.” For fashionistas living in the 21st century, the question of where to shop is a daunting one. Sure you could kick it old-school and browse your local mall, but pick up your phone and you’ll likely find the lure of online shopping calling your name. From chic, trendy pieces at incredibly discounted prices, to unique fashion finds you’ve never seen in your favourite stores, it’s pretty much impossible to find a student who hasn’t fallen victim to the curse that is online shopping. Cruising the web for covet-worthy wardrobe additions is part of any shopaholic’s daily (or dare I say hourly) routine. Simply surf, scroll, ooh and aww, 21 | FASHION
punch in a credit card code, and let the excitement of receiving that package of fresh threads consume your every thought. However, what does the normalcy that has become online shopping mean for the in-store shopping experience? The experience of shopping at the mall has been on a stark decline with the rise of Internet fashion. In 2014 Business Insider reported that “within 15 to 20 years, as many as half of America’s shopping malls [are expected to] fail.” Don’t hit the panic button just yet! The war between online shopping and in-store shopping is actually a huge plus for shopaholics, as it’s forcing department stores to up their game and make shopping about more than just the “cha-ching” at the register. From London to Paris to our very own 6ix, department stores are embracing the shopping experience in a whole new way. (Cue über creative window displays and next-level art installations!)
At the helm of this exciting new development to shopping is Selfridges in London, which repeatedly delivers eye-catching window fronts known for their ability to lure busy Brits into the shop. With windows that are updated seven to eight times a year, the Selfridge company was built on the pillars that shopping should be a theatrical experience. Each window campaign is a chance to make a statement about trending arts and culture. From windows exhibiting the simplicity and strength of the materials in clothing, to campaigns inspired by the need to take pause in the modern world and appreciate the little things in life, Selfridges pulls out all the stops. Using sculptures, photographs, artwork, lighting, and mannequins, the shop’s famous Oxford Street windows are evocative. Their goal is to encourage shoppers to have an experience that transcends beyond spending, and allows them to engage with one of the most pivotal parts of fashion: art. Artistry dominates display windows at the likes of Barneys New York, Bergdorf Goodman, and Saks Fifth Avenue. If you’re looking for a real treat for the eyes, take a stroll down Fifth Avenue at Christmastime as each storefront promises to be more lavish than the last – it’s practically a museum exhibit on the street! At home in Canada, Holt Renfrew and The Hudson’s Bay Company are always aiming to captivate with their storefronts. Nordstrom’s upcoming location in the Toronto Eaton Centre has generated a great deal of buzz with Canadian fashion lovers, who expect only the best from the company’s visual merchandisers.
photography above by Hillary Newediuk
Despite the technological advancements that have impacted in-store sales, Manhattan flagship stores such as Cartier and Nordstrom have embraced these changes, and used them to benefit their displays. Xbox Kinnect has been no stranger to enhancing storefronts, adding exciting interactive elements to their campaigns. Companies such as GestureTek, which manufacture touch-screen shopfront windows, are being introduced to department stores as a marketing tool to entice passer-bys. Could this be the next fad to take over your favourite storefronts? It would seem anything is possible! The truth is that the visual merchandising that goes into creating dazzling storefront windows everyone loves to press their nose against, requires intensive planning. The top things marketers keep in mind when designing windows are clarity (clutter isn’t cute), colour scheme (Planogram is a software program that helps indicate where to place specific retail products on a display in order to increase customer purchases), and catering to the public’s wants, not needs (which might explain why your lust-o-meter is on high alert every time you pass by your favourite stores). Branding, the ability to stay dynamic, and storytelling are other considerations professionals are constantly mulling over when dreaming up next season’s storefront window. As online shopping continues to be a competitor to in-store sales, the visual circus that is store windows will no doubt prevail and perhaps inspire a dream career in designing your favourite store’s displays. So put down your phone and let’s go (window) shopping!
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Started from the Bottom Now We Here
How rap has become the most fashion-forward genre of music. an article by James Lappin Rap has not always been synonymous with luxury fashion, but over time, the genre has developed an interest in fashion and style. Today, it is considered to be the most fashion-forward genre of music. Part of this growth is due to the acceleration of social media, which has turned rap and hip-hop stars into some of the world’s leading style influencers. Since the beginnings of hip-hop and rap, materialistic themes and high-end fashion have been incorporated into song lyrics. Artists have used fashion labels as a way to one-up one another, and create an image of superiority. Expensive vehicles, luxury homes, and millions of dollars in cash were originally used to convince audiences that the rap-star lifestyle was more luxurious than any other. Fashion took a secondary role; brands such as Polo Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, Gucci, and Louis Vuitton were merely lyric fodder, and the fashion industry remained relatively untouched by the rap scene. Hip-hop labels like Jay-Z’s Roca Wear, P. Diddy’s Sean John, and 50 Cent’s G-Unit were not at all inspired by runway fashion, and instead took style cues from urban street culture; baggy, relaxed fits, and bold graphic prints dominated each design. 23 | FASHION
In the 2000s, men’s high fashion was in a time of evolution, but there was still a clear fashion void in rap music. Slim-cuts from Hedi Slimane at Dior, post-punk utilitarian tailoring from Raf Simons, and high-end techno cuts in sportswear from Yohji Yamamoto/Adidas’ Y-3 were advancing menswear. This era in clothing design was extremely ahead of its time, and was completely contradictory to what the hip-hop culture was about. Wearing clothing from a high-end fashion house (other than monogram prints from Gucci or Louis Vuitton) or worrying about specific fits was not common among rappers.
As social media, Internet culture, and hip-hop accelerated, high fashion and rap music became intertwined. Artists like Kanye West, A$AP Rocky, and 2 Chainz pushed the boundaries of fashion in the rap scene, name-dropping designers that were unheard of to their listeners. Suddenly names like Saint Laurent, Rick Owens, and Maison Margiela were staples in rap artist’s lyrics, and an essential ingredient in world tours. For the first time, high fashion was emerging from the shadows of exclusivity and being welcomed into street culture. Today, rap’s lavish image in combination with the current popularity of social media means that rap icons have a heavy influence over youth. High-end streetwear no longer involves classic labels like Bape or Stussy, but instead, top-of-the-line labels like Balmain and Off-White. Hiphop has turned youth fashion into a competition of whose #OOTD costs more. Spending stacks on clothes stems from the desire to wear specific pieces that hip-hop celebrities have been spotted in.
Star quality has had a huge impact on the luxury market. Pieces worn by the likes of Kanye West, A$AP Rocky, and Travis Scott instantaneously skyrocket in price. It seems as though the artistic aspect of these pieces becomes diminished through the materialism of consumers who only care about the A-list connotation. The Internet’s “fuccboi” culture is ascending, with resale prices on certain items doubling and tripling in value. Labels like Off-White and Fear of God are menswear collections with little to no original de-
signs, but their pieces sell for incredible amounts. (No disrespect to any of the designers, as they’re capitalizing on a specific market with huge potential and extremely consistent profits.) Other labels like Supreme, that were previously known to have an exclusive, premium brand image, have had their personas reduced to one of “hype.” Translation: when stars wear a specific piece and sell it out, it’s easy for resellers to make a quick profit through all the buzz. Although hip-hop has most definitely weakened the artistic
strength of some labels and specific pieces, high fashion is becoming more mainstream than ever. A larger community of fashion lovers ultimately means more competition, innovation, and more resources to develop your style from. When curating a personal style, make sure you have a personal relationship with your pieces, and that you’re confident in their execution. As A$AP puts it: “Fashion is almost like a religion, for me at least.” Rap music just might be your new style bible—but make sure you’re not buying soley for the hype.
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photography by sophie barkham creative direction & styling by anisha sandhu, michael kirreh, amy yu & sophie barkham makeup & hair by kendall shedden, olivia grant & amy yang modeling by vivian xu clothing provided by what’ll i wear special thank you to the Agnes Etherington Art Centre 25 | EDITORIAL
POOR LITTLE RICH GIRL
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Beauty Beast and the
(Social Media)
an article by Kat Rowlands In today’s selfie-obsessed world, two teen-queens stand above the rest. Yes, I’m talking about certified Instagram goddesses Kylie Jenner and Gigi Hadid. These California beauties are among some of the most prominent and recognizable social influencers in popular culture, with a collective Instagram following of over 40 million. Along with this glamorous territory comes the looming shadow of critics and haters, and both beauty icons have made headlines for their polarizing depictions of beauty expectations in 2015. Gigi and Kylie may be on opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of their beauty beliefs, but both are confident enough to proudly embrace who they are and who they want to be. Gigi Hadid is a 20-year-old American fashion model who’s been featured in the pages of Sports Illustrated, and walked the runways of Paris Fashion Week. It isn’t often an A-list model can boast both swimsuit supermodel stardom and high fashion acclaim. Hadid is known for her incredible, curvy figure, which she maintains through healthy eating and exercise (she is an avid boxer, volleyball player, and lover of team sports). Gigi is not afraid to embrace her body, and she encourages women to love their natural bodies and treat themselves well. Gigi’s journey to icon status has not been paved without cruel remarks from nasty haters. In September, Gigi posted a screenshot to Instagram directly addressing her body-shamers, and kick-started a dialogue about the warped state of body image in the fashion industry. In the post, Hadid wrote, “I represent a body image that wasn’t accepted in high-fashion before,” and deters her cyberbullies from posting nasty remarks on her page by assuring them that their efforts will not inhibit her from loving herself and her body. This supportive and positive philosophy is one that’s important to promote, especially for a generation at a high-risk for developing body image issues.
On the complete opposite end of the spectrum reigns Kylie Jenner, Hadid’s glamazon counterpart. Headlines in late 2015 seem to consist of nothing but opinion pieces based on King Kylie’s Instagram, surrounding whether or not she plumps her lips, or if she’s had her breasts done. Kylie has put rumours to rest on her app, telling fans she has never gone under the knife; her lips have been filled, and she uses Pure Leef’s butt enhancement cream and breast plumping lotion. Those quick to call out Kylie’s “unnatural” look as a bad example might be overlooking the positives that come along with having the power to change your appearance and create a look that you are proud to call your own. Though she differs from Gigi, Kylie’s message is important and relevant in its own way. Kylie lives by the standard that one should accept the things they like about themselves, change the things they want to change, and not worry what anyone else thinks. She encourages women to play with their look and find a style that empowers them; she has no shame in addressing her insecurities and making changes that are important to her. Kylie’s open discussion with fans about her interest in hair and makeup has helped her deal with her insecurities, and her arguments are candid and compelling. Her philosophy frees her from self-doubt, and she rejects societal versions of “acceptable.” This 19-yearold’s message may not be a Dove campaign, but like Hadid, she promotes self-love, and encourages women to create versions of themselves that they can feel good about every day. There’s no doubting how glamorous Gigi and Kylie both are, but beauty is only skin deep. Their real beauty lies in their ability to empower other women, and promote body positivity and a healthy self-image. There’s really no “right” or “wrong” when it comes to beauty; at the end of the day, just make sure that you love yourself. And if you’re struggling, you’ve got trailblazers like Gigi and Kylie to look up to.
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LOST IN THE WORLD
photography by sophie barkham styling & creative direction by sophie barkham, anisha sandhu & michael kirreh makeup & hair by olivia grant clothing provided by american apparel modeling by sufiat fusigboye & stephanie clayton
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How to Make Music in Your Dorm Room article by Erez Zobary photography by Anisha Sandhu First year was the most exhilarating experience of my life. I lived in an amazing residence building filled with so many different, hilarious, and interesting people. Just down the hall lived one of those hilarious and interesting people: a guy named Enoch. Enoch and I ended up collaborating to create what would become Erez and Enoch Love You, an album that embodies our incredible first year at Queen’s, and every person who experienced it with us. We like to call it the love child that was created in my dorm room on the sixth floor of Waldron Tower. Throughout the year Enoch and I had discussed making
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music together, but never really found the time to sit down and create it. That all changed during the last two weeks of our first year. With only four days left until Enoch’s mom was coming to pick up all of his music gear, we set up a mini recording studio in my room and started completely from scratch, without a vision or plan. That is my favourite part about our EP. It was not planned, and therefore such a natural process. Everything just felt right. That night, from around 11 p.m. to 4 a.m., we wrote and composed the bones of a track that is now called “Starbucks Bitch.”
Inspiration came from everyday, simple things. Since the EP was created during exam time, it was easy to find things to write about. But making an album during exam time until 4 a.m.—in a residence with paper-thin walls, and neighbours who were notorious for calling the dons who frequented my room for noise complaints— was a struggle. A story we love is one where I got into a fight with the Starbucks manager at Goodes Hall. I was running low on meal equivalencies and was sick of the cafeteria food, so my best friend, Sabrina, gave me her student card to borrow while she was away. I had my whole
day planned. I was going to order my usual and then head to Stauffer to study all day for the notoriously difficult PSYC 100 exam. I was stressed. Not just that little-jab-of-anxiety stressed, but full-blown oh crap, I’m going to bomb this stressed. Enoch with me, I handed the Starbucks manager my card, and right away she confiscated it. I could tell she was enjoying my suffering. Due to my stress and her sass, I ended up telling her that she was a “f*cking b*tch” and that I “hated her.” This resulted in me being kicked out of Starbucks with no drink, during exam time. I sound crazy, and in all honesty, I am crazy during exam time. However, this worked in my favour while we were making the EP; I was not afraid to be crazy. We had so much fun writing the first song that for the next three nights we once again transformed my room into a studio, and wrote one song every night. Each song is inspired by something that we experienced that day or week. Although our songs are personal to our experiences, they are still relatable. They have a different meaning to every listener, and it is almost impossible to guess what they are specifically about. Often the writing process was simple and fluid. We would be talking about something interesting, crazy, or frustrating that we experienced that day, and sentence-by-sentence, note-by-note, we would form the bones of the song. “Transparency” may seem like it is about so many things, but in actuality it was inspired by a fly trapped in my room. This fly was extremely persistent about escaping, and it intrigued me. It reminded me of so many people who feel trapped behind this force field of glass, unable to smash through it and just be themselves. Free. “Transparency,” to me, is for all of those people who can see through the transparent glass. They know that beyond being trapped in this sometimes superficial world, there are places and people where you can escape this. All you have to do is be persistent, keep pushing that force field, and eventually, you will succeed and feel free.
Enoch and I created something out of nothing, with no budget or goal in mind. Anyone can do it! Anything creative can be done as long as creativity and friendship are powering it. First year coming to a close didn’t feel right. I wasn’t ready to leave residence, or any of the amazing people and places I had discovered. But after we finished our last track, “Here,” I felt as if my year had come to a perfect end. It was a perfectly imperfect year, and I would not change a thing.
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Back in elementary school, when I learned that Canadian radio stations were required to have Canadian artists represent at least 35% of their popular music, I remember thinking to myself, okay, so that’s why our radio sucks. It was as if Canada’s music scene was a charity case. Fast forward to 2015 and people who aren’t even Canadian are pretending that they’re from the 6ix. Better yet: slang that references Toronto, Ontario, actually exists. The growing popularity of Canadian music is not a matter of a few one-hit wonders in the past year. Instead, it’s a nod to Canadian artists setting trends and bringing diversity to the mainstream music scene. With the continued success of Drake, the maturing of Justin Bieber’s music, and the arrival of the Weeknd into international spotlight, Canada has been topping the charts. In fact, mid-October saw Canadians dominating the Billboard Hot 100 top ten.
The 6ix is Taking Over?
HYFR an article by Rachel Romero
Drake, who has been a consistent chart–topper since his first studio album Thank Me Later, has been exceptionally loyal to his city. Beyond all of his shout-outs to the 6ix, the man has graciously taken it upon himself to chaperone new Canadian talent. In a collaboration with the Weeknd for “Crew Love,” Drake flaunts, “that OVO and that XO is everything you believe in” in reference to their respective music labels. Noted for his unique style and passionate vocals, the Weeknd has recently risen to international fame (he was on the November cover of Rolling Stone magazine). On his way there, he’s collaborated with the minds of Ed Sheeran, Lana Del Rey, and Ariana Grande. Even more impressive is that his new song, “The Hills,” has topped the Billboard Hot 100, replacing another one of his hits “Can’t Feel My Face.”
Modern Canadian music’s original claim to fame and consistent chart-topper, Justin Bieber, hasn’t always been considered a Canadian hero, and realistically won’t become one any time soon (things don’t magically go away after one televised roast). However, there’s no denying that his two recent hits “Where Are Ü Now” and “What Do You Mean” may have finally secured him a spot with the older market that he’s been after for a while; the two songs have been blasting in the University District at various parties. And if we ever need to replace Bieber, Shawn Mendes, another fellow Canadian, has landed a spot in the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100 with his song “Stitches.” Mendes is also known for his appeal with teen girls; his rise to fame can be credited to social media, and most importantly, catchy pop songs.
The Weeknd isn’t the only one who has benefitted from collaborations with Drake. Lesser-known artists such as PARTYNEXTDOOR have been picked up by the OVO label, and are experiencing increasing popularity. After a few collaborations with Drake, PARTYNEXTDOOR’s unique sound is starting to reach larger audiences, and ‘Sauga peeps like myself are definitely excited about it.
The 6ix has been putting not just Toronto, but Canada on the map. To our homegrown musical heroes, individually and collectively, I say: you keep doing you. It’s amazing to know that our country has fostered such creativity, and that the opportunity for musical greatness exists for fellow Canadians. You’ve made the phrase “I’m Canadian” pretty dope.
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Captain Canuck’s Comeback In a world where Captain America and his Yankee friends—the Avengers—dominate popular culture, one man has returned to wear the maple leaf and stand up for the true north strong and free! And he’s sorry for his absence. Captain Canuck is back like back bacon to prove that Canada has heroes as well. Many Canadian artists and writers have worked for major comic publishers over the years, but few heroes have been Canadian themselves. The first Canadian comic books were published during World War Two because American comic books could not be imported (Collections Canada). This lead to the creation of Golden Age superheroes such as Johnny Canuck and Nelvana of the Northern Lights. These comics ended once the act was lifted and American comics once again dominated the market. Captain Canuck debuted in 1975, and was the most successful Canadian made comic since the wartime comics (CBC News). His powers were simple: super strength and speed were his selling points, but his strong ideals and sense of justice were what made him a classic heroic figure. His original series ran for a total of 15 issues, up until 1981, which have now been republished in a new compendium. This comic was published independently by the creators and thus was difficult to fund and release regularly at the time. Canuck had two attempted revivals in 1993 and 2004 respectively, however neither were very successful. Now in 2015, Captain Canuck has returned with a new ongoing series and it looks like he will be here to stay. The start of his comeback came through a Kickstarterfunded web series voiced by Canadian actors Kris Holden-Ried (Lost Girl), Tatiana Maslany (Orphan Black), and Laura Vandervoort (Smallville and Supergirl). This web series is available for free online. A second season of
an article by Brendan Montgomery
the web series was released on October 31st. Canuck’s new comic book series, which began in May 2015, was written and drawn by Toronto artist Kalman Andrasofszky who has been working in the industry since the beginning of the millennium. This new look is sleek, modern, and loaded with cool gadgets to augment Canuck’s superpowers. These include a jetpack, blasters, and computer helmet. This new series has him working for an international peace keeping agency, Equilibrium, alongside Quebec heroine Kebec, and British heroine Red Coat. His new story begins by responding to an oil refinery fire in Alberta, only to discover a mysterious substance affecting the workers, and the seeds to a much larger plan. One of Canuck’s original creators, Richard Comely, contributed to the new project in an editorial role at the newly founded Canadian Comic publisher Chapter House Comics. This new publisher also publishes other Canadian made comic books such as Toronto artist Jason Loo’s The Pitiful Human Lizard, which is a comedy about a Toronto businessman who attempts to be a hero. A Captain Canuck feature film has been in production since 2011, predating the formation of Chapter House comics. However, the project has since stalled and thus it will likely be a while before we see Canuck on the silver screen. Canuck isn’t the only Canadian superhero. Queen’s University has its own team of heroes called “Gael Force” created by the club Queen’s Comic Book Legion. Students interested in discussing or creating comics can join the club for weekly meetings and special events throughout the school year. “Canadian Golden Age of Comics 1941-1946.” Collections Canada. Library and Archives Canada, 24 June 2002. Web. 22 Oct. 2015. “Canadian Superhero Captain Canuck Rises Again.” CBC News. CBC Radio Canada, 02 July 2013. Web. 22 Oct. 2015.
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From Bad Doctors to Blenders : an article by Rose Ferrao
The Evolution of the Romantic Comedy
From kissing in the rain to running through airports, romantic comedies have long been seen as cheesy, trivial movies that only exist to fulfill women’s unrealistic romantic fantasies. These movies are highly criticized, particularly by young adults, for giving false and unattainable standards of what love should be. We’re a group of realists (and frequently cynics) who have grown up in a time when rates of infidelity and divorce are higher than ever. Still, our generation tends to seek romance and intimacy more than any other. From Tinder to Jane the Virgin tells the story of Jane Villanueva, a dating sites, young adults are constantvirgin whose pap smear goes terribly wrong when ly and actively looking for love. her doctor artificially inseminates her. Jane’s life becomes a rollercoaster of dealing with an unexpected A lot of people believe that the romanpregnancy and multiple lovers, all while trying to get tic comedy is dead. When was the last through school and keep her job at the hotel owned time you watched a movie that was as and run by her accidental baby daddy (who, by the simple as boy gets girl, boy loses girl, way, might be housing an infamous drug lord). Jane boy gets girl back? It’s a dated formula the Virgin originated as a Venezuelan telenovela, a that no longer satisfies the needs of its genre that is known for its ridiculous characters and viewers. storylines. As you can tell, this characteristic definitely holds true in the American version. I’ve come to realize, however, that the romantic comedy isn’t dead; it has simIn a society where heartbreak is rampant, we’ve ply evolved. Three of this season’s hotbeen taught to play our cards close to our chest. We test TV shows - Jane the Virgin, Faking keep our emotions to ourselves until we’re certain It, and You’re The Worst – perfectly that our advances won’t fail, and we use social medemonstrate how romantic comedies dia to portray a dream version of our relationship so have adapted to speak to a new genthat other people won’t see the problems that exist eration of lovers with unique goals and within it. Jane The Virgin uses a protective buffer of challenges. unrealistic events, dramatic voice-over, and cheesy humour to allow those of us who are afraid of dealing with romantic issues to confront our feelings about everything from abortion and single parenting to overly-involved exes and reformed bad boys. The MTV original show Faking It centers around Amy Raudenfeld and Karma Ashcroft, a pair of best friends who are mistaken for lovers by the other students at their Texas high school. When the two girls realize that their assumed lesbian relationship has given them a popularity boost, they begin faking it – until Amy realizes that her feelings for Karma are definitely more real than she’s been letting on. 37 | ENTERTAINMENT
Faking It confronts the idea that romance is boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl back. This heteronormative portrayal of love doesn’t work in a society that is more outspoken than ever about the fluidity of gender and sexual orientation. Faking It takes a whole range of characters— from a sexually confused teenage girl, to an intersex homecoming queen, and a gay wrestler— and covers issues like betrayal, infidelity, and polyamory in a way that has scarcely been done for characters who don’t fit the typical sexual or gender molds. You’re the Worst begins when Jimmy Shive-Overly and Gretchen Cutler meet outside of his ex-girlfriend’s wedding, where he has just gotten kicked out for yelling at the bride and she has run out after stealing a blender from the gift table. Cue a one-night stand in which, under the assumption that they’ll never see each other again, Jimmy and Gretchen reveal all of the awful sh*t about themselves that they’ve never been able to tell past romantic partners. Yet, as some of us know, love can be found in the most unexpected of places—cue a reluctant relationship full of awkward conversations, alcohol-fuelled confessions, and unexpected milestones. You’re The Worst is a love story for people who don’t believe in love. Jimmy and Gretchen are two of the most genuinely horrible and cynical characters on television and that’s why their relationship is so important. This show will tap into the heart of every person who has ever believed that love is a sham and remind you that there’s someone out there for everyone – yes, even you. Whether you’re actively looking for your soul mate or you’re a self-proclaimed lone wolf, these romantic comedies will make you laugh, cry, and ultimately remember that love and cable television are all you need.
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One Award Closer to Diversity an article by Rachel Corvinelli
“Straight white men have had their hands on protagonism and the camera for far too long…We need more queer people, more trans people, more people of colour, more women behind the camera.”
On September 20th, 2015, Viola Davis made history at the 67th Emmy awards for her performance in ABC’s How to Get Away with Murder. Davis began her acceptance speech with a quote from Harriet Tubman:
millennials have witnessed a societal change: “normalcy” has shifted, and has become a term as diverse as our society, allowing minorities the opportunity to lead the television revolution and stimulate change.
“In my mind, I see a line. And over that line, I see green fields and lovely flowers and beautiful white women with their arms stretched out to me over that line, but I can’t seem to get there no-how. I can’t seem to get over that line.”
Aside from Viola Davis’ win— she has made Emmy history as the first African American women to win an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama—the 67th Emmy awards also saw Taraji P. Henson nominated for the same award. This marked the first time two African American actresses were simultaneously nominated in this category. In total, there have been only seven African American women ever to be nominated for the honour. The 67th Emmys recognized women of colour in other categories, awarding both Uzo Aduba and Regina King for their supporting roles in their respective programs.
2015 has signalled a new wave of television programming, with an emphasis on diversity in race, gender, and orientation. This change has started with a shift in cultural values; an increased access to education and programming has solidified the need for inclusivity and more diversity. For years, the issues of marginalized parties had been left out of television programming, with shows opting to focus solely on the “nuclear model.” But 39 | ENTERTAINMENT
The hugely successful Transparent also took home
two awards, and continued the night’s theme of diversity. The show is one of the first to showcase the issues of civil rights for transgender people, and lends itself as a forum for individuals to learn more about the transgender community. Transparent creator Jill Soloway also echoed this sentiment of diversity to the press: “Straight white men have had their hands on protagonism and the camera for far too long… We need more queer people, more trans people, more people of colour, more women behind the camera.” Television is a powerful medium, and is recognized by many as a way for the public to make claims about how they see the world. It is imperative that these “firsts” continue— and more importantly persist— to redefine the meaning of diversity, and the ways in which it is depicted in the media.
Viola Davis’ win marked a historic step towards more diverse representation, yet still serves as a jarring reminder that it has taken 66 years for this small step to be taken. Since 1949, the famous statuette of the winged women holding an atom has been symbolic of the Television Academy’s “goal of supporting and uplifting the arts and science of television.” Yet I believe that this year, on September 20th, 2015, that famous statuette represented much more. As Viola Davis mentioned in her acceptance speech, “The only thing that separates women of colour from anyone else is opportunity. You cannot win an Emmy for roles that are simply not there.” In addition to what the Emmy meant to its founders, the statuette’s faceless and raceless image is symbolic of equal opportunity—a chance for anyone, regardless of race, gender, or orientation, to be recognized for artistic excellence.
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In Defence of 2015 Music It’s everywhere you look. You use it to take notes in class, book flights for a sweet escape, and Google your illnesses before you see a doctor. You had to learn how to use it in elementary school, and you definitely now have one in your house. The computer has dominated all aspects of our lives— and it’s also changing the way music is made. While your parents shield their ears at the beat of the bass, and you totally agree that Demi Lovato’s autotune makes you feel like you were so born in the wrong era, you can’t hide what you’re really thinking: you love that the computer is the latest and hottest musical instrument out there. Four score and 67, 000 years ago, people used dead animal bones to drum out the tunes of their favourite ballads, while waiting for the Renaissance to happen, and hoping someone would create something a little more refined.
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an article by Samantha Fink
While the panel saw the posters for the guitar, the Craigslist ads for the piano, and the infomercials for the banjo, it was not until the computer came along that the pioneers got up and danced. While new music technology may take away from the simplicity 2015 is just begging for, complexity is all the Middle Ages ever wanted. If those Golden-agers could hear Avicii right now, they’d be fist pumping in their graves. Instead of magnifying the sex tapes, silly bands, and sleazy reality shows of today and taking ourselves back to the glorious 70s when “times were so much simpler,” it’s time we choose to embrace what North American 2015 culture has to offer us – beginning with music. Billy Joel strived to be the “Piano Man,” so if One Direction wants to make music with Guitar Hero, who are we to stop ‘em? It’s time we send old-fashioned out of fashion, start whipping our hair, and cut ourselves a large chunk of today’s music. Just like we’ll never understand our parents’ turtlenecks and corduroys, we should learn to love the fact that they don’t get the music of today because it is unique to our generation. So, please, reconsider your cynicism toward the electronic music of 2015— you’re just like the rest of us, and you love a little Aoiki with your coffee.
On ART an article by Catrina Mavrigianakis
As an English major, the questions that consist of “why are you studying literature that was written two centuries ago?” or “what else can you say about Shakespeare? Hasn’t it all been said before?” are all too familiar. I tend to smile politely and go into a spiel that sounds to me like a rehearsed speech on the rewarding and fulfilling nature of studying something I love; how literature connects me to people, and the ways this field of study allow me to exercise my creativity daily. They usually nod, and promptly change the subject. But for me, and for so many other people, art is the way we connect with the world, make meaning from the confusing parts of life, and share our happiness. It is through art— literature, visual arts, dance, music (among so many other forms)— that we are able to connect to others, share our deepest emotions, and deal with all the feelings that life throws at us. On some level, there is a universality to the human experience, and I would argue that there is also a universality to the ways in which we make sense of it all— through art. There seems to me something innately human about expressing ourselves in a creative manner. Though the mediums have changed, the act of engaging intimately with our creative minds to make meaningful work is something humans have done for, well, forever. There is calmness in the knowledge that after you’re gone, your legacy can live on through things you have created, and the unimaginable impact those things can have on the world. Making art is important, and that’s what MUSE is here for— a creative outlet to showcase the amazing talent that the Queen’s community has to offer. We believe in the creative, we believe in the magic it makes, and the possibility for impact that it holds. There is a vitality in the creative— a vitality that resides in each of us, waiting to be translated into a language that the rest of the world can understand. Do that vitality a favour and share it.
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URL IRL
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URL IRL features the work of MUSE’s talented photogrpahy team: Amanda Katz, Brooke Resendes & Hillary Newediuk. modeling
by
Ellen
Hankytike
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common place theatre an article and photography by Chantel Martin
Since my second year at Queen’s I had a dream to start my own theatre company. During my undergraduate, I was too busy to make it a reality. I waited until I had finished my time at university so that I was able to give it the best try I could. I had been granted so many opportunities in performance, tech, and theatre management throughout my undergrad that moving onto establishing my own notfor-profit company seemed like the logical next step. To be honest, I figured it would be a simple task. How naïve I was! Although my four years in Drama had adequately set me up for success, what I didn’t know was how tough it would be to get the ball rolling. This is my story. I began by sending out feelers to all of the local businesses I could think of. I asked them to join me in the effort to produce challenging pieces of theatre with amateur artists. I barely got any signs of interest in return. I then produced sponsorship packages, and e-mailed until my fingers cramped. Still, I didn’t hear anything back. A declined grant, hundreds of e-mails, and multiple sponsorship pleas 45 | ARTS
later, I finally scraped together enough funds through a crowdfunding campaign to create commonplacetheatre. This was one of the most difficult things I have ever gone through with regards to my professional development, but I’m so grateful for the experience as it provided a huge learning opportunity for me. More than anything, it taught me the importance of resilience. I tend to be drawn to theatre that is dark and edgy; theatre that works to comment on the self or society, and highlights the often untold stories of humanity. 4.48 Psychosis by Sarah Kane is the play I chose as our inaugural production. It is a moving and challenging piece of theatre, and needs to be experienced in order to be fully understood. Kane suffered from clinical depression, and 4.48 was her attempt to communicate, through the medium she knew best, what this experience was like. It is written in a poetic and highly abstract style because she wanted the audience to inhabit her haunted consciousness. At times, it is incredibly disturbing— Kane ended up committing
suicide shortly after writing it— but also illuminating. I think it challenges a lot of people’s assumptions about mental illness. The mandate of commonplacetheatre is to put on challenging and thought-provoking pieces in a collaborative spirit, and to help amateur artists improve their craft. To make this show a true testament to that, we gathered theatre practitioners from both Queen’s, and the Kingston community. This flexible blending of experience levels was great for creating collaborative design concepts, developing a professional dynamic, and fostering learning. I tried my best to bring together artists who have a range in abilities and expertise in order to showcase all that our local talent has to offer. Despite the initial setbacks, the experi-
ence of starting my own not-for-profit theatre company has been a huge success. Although I often questioned myself, and doubted my ability to achieve the goals I had originally set, the lessons I learned along the way made it all worth it. I am so thankful for the experiences and opportunities I received while working on shows at Queen’s, as they were necessary stepping stones to get me to this point. I am also grateful to have worked with some extremely talented individuals here in Kingston, in order to put on fascinating pieces that we hope will provoke thought and discussion about mental health. Tickets are available at: w w w. c o m m o n p l a c e t h e a t r e . c o m .
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The Mundane, Interesting My approach to photography is simple and organized. I shoot one hour per day. If I am unable to shoot one day, I go out for two hours the next. Very little of this time is spent actually taking pictures; I’m mostly looking for potential subjects. When I see an interesting scene or subject, I try to imagine the best possible portrayal. If I can’t make a good picture of a certain subject, I return the next day to recompose and try again. My technical priority when shooting is to render the subject in sharp detail, thus emphasizing the possible precision of the medium. I shoot mainly in bright sunlight using narrow apertures and
fast shutter speeds to achieve this effect. My post-processing is minimal; I convert the photos to monochrome and increase the contrast. I find using high-contrast black and white makes image creation easier, as the main focus becomes form rather than colour. It also gives my images an abstract quality, differentiating them from the standard perception of the captured subject. I work in the abstract modernist approach pioneered by photographers such as Alfred Stieglitz and Edward Weston. Every artist who makes the mundane interesting inspires me; this is my goal.
a photo series by Will Cross-Bermingham
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CLOTHING H A S N O GENDER photography by enoch ncube, amy yu & jaclyn mcconnell creative direction & styling by amy yu & enoch ncube makeup by olivia grant clothing provided by american apparel modeling by nikita kazakov & rachel mcclung
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51 | EDITORIAL
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Discovering Hidden Gems: THE
Union Gallery Queen’s University has a lot of hidden gems throughout campus. One of these gems is in the most popular building on campus (especially come December): Stauffer Library. Tucked inside Stauffer’s atrium is the Union Gallery. The Union Gallery is one of two art galleries on campus, along with the larger Agnes Etherington Art Centre. The Union Gallery exhibits a variety of student work and emerging contemporary artists from Kingston, Ontario, and the Canadian art scene. For most of this semester, a cool installation has been on display at the Union Gallery called “Video Store Project.” The show features a variety of different artists, but a group of two people curated it, called “Under New Management.” As the name suggests, the art gallery is turned into a video store. Video stores seem so distant to us now in 2015. But we can all probably think back to 2002 when Ice Age came out, and we all ran to Blockbuster to get a VHS copy of it. The walls are filled with shelves of movies that can be “rented.” Now, they might not have the new Avengers movie or Pitch Perfect 2 (sorry to burst that bubble). Instead, the curators ran an open submission for video artists, and they selected a lot of cool, short films. Think: the “indie” section on Netflix. Of course, my visit to the video store was not complete without a rental of my own. I chose a case with two DVDs, both created by Christine D’Onofrio. I’m not much of a film buff, so I basically just picked one with a pretty case. The rules on the wall said that rentals were “paid for” by bartering with the gallery attendant: donations, 53 | ARTS
an article by Parker O’Connor a comment card, or in my case, this review, were all acceptable forms of payment. This created an interesting dynamic in determining how we, the viewers, value art. The show accomplishes something that is unique to many university students: video stores are obsolete, and have been replaced by Netflix. But how do many of these film artists get around the vicious web? They are left without direct feedback and interaction with the viewers—the people going to the video store. Even if you go and don’t see any blockbuster flick that you want to rent, check out the show at the Union Gallery. It will at least bring back a sense of nostalgia from a simpler time. And if you can’t make it before the show closes, take a much needed study break during exam season and pay the Union Gallery a visit some other time. The shows are always changing, and more importantly, challenging.
Busyness an article by Parker O’Connor photography by Amanda Katz
Busyness. It’s a fatal disease, I think. And I was diagnosed at an early age. I’ve always needed to be doing an infinite amount of things at once. It wasn’t just one sports team, one club, or one activity. I had to be a part of them all. When I came to Queen’s, I thought I would change. I thought I would take it easy. Focus on school. That’s why I was here, right? Paying thousands of dollars meant I should focus all my time and attention on school… right? I don’t think I made it to the end of frosh week before I was proven wrong. And boy, was I wrong. Being at Queen’s, I think I’ve gotten even busier. Some days I feel like it’s only me who’s busy. Not the only one involved with a hundred things on any given day,
but the only one who is just so busy. This makes me envious, and somehow I end up taking on more things. Being busy has become almost a competition. I want to be in the most clubs and participate in the most activities. I want to spread myself the furthest. It truly is a humble brag to say how busy you are and gently remind your peers of the countless hours that you spend being busy. However, the running from meeting-to-meeting or event-to-event is tiring. And frankly, the more stuff I have to do, the less I sleep. So why is this? Why do I love being busy? Or do I even love being busy? A fairly standard catch phrase of mine has become: “There’s no rest for the wicked.” Maybe one day I’ll change. Maybe one day I’ll get more sleep. Is that day in the near future? I’ll have to check my calendar and pencil it in.
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You Don’t Really Have Monophobia an article by anonymous photography by Sophie Barkham
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When I sat down to write this article, I had so much prepared for what I wanted to say. I was ready to rant and rave about why it’s totally okay to be alone, and how it’s oh-so important to be independent when we’re young. And while I do believe these things, I literally stared at a Word document that said “why are we afraid of being alone?” for 45 minutes, before hitting the delete button and shutting my computer.
more than appealing, it’s so damn comforting. Oftentimes it seems like it isn’t even really a relationship that we want, per-se. It’s a person. A void-filling person. When we don’t have said person, when we only have ourselves, we feel alone. But there’s something about being alone that really scares the shit out of people.
The truth is, I am a prime example of someone who is scared to be alone, and I couldn’t think of anything to say because I actually don’t know why this is. If I had to take a guess, I’d say it’s because I’ve never really even been alone.
As I said before, I don’t really know why it is that we’re scared of being alone. I guess no one really does. But if I were to take a guess, I’d say that it’s because we think that being alone and being lonely are synonymous. We mistake them for one another because sometimes we teeter on the seemingly fine line that separates the two.
I’m not talking about the alonefor-the-night-because-you-don’tfeel-like-going-out version of yourself. I’m talking about the person you are when you aren’t “with” someone else. The person you are when you don’t have someone to send you a “good morning” text message. But it’s more than that, because whether or not that someone on the other end of that text is who you’ve been dating for three years, or who you matched with three minutes ago, there is this strange yet undeniable desire for a constant validation to feel wanted by someone else. The idea that you belong to someone and someone belongs to you is appealing. But even
So, back to the million dollar question.
This line is actually not so fine at all: being alone and being lonely are two completely separate states of being. Being alone doesn’t make you lonely. Sure, maybe you’d rather have someone accompany you while you grocery shop or study. Being alone is tangible. But loneliness can’t be counted in the number of bodies that surround you. Loneliness is in its own box of compartmentalized emotions that we have stored in our brains and our hearts. Loneliness actually seems to have very little to do with being alone. We can feel lonely in a room full of people that we
know, or when someone we love doesn’t think that they can love us back. When I ask my friend why she would rather continue to see a guy that she isn’t that into, and she says it’s because she doesn’t want to be alone, she really means she doesn’t want to be lonely. But I think this is where our hearts suffer at the expense of our brains, because it is so possible to feel that sense of loneliness while still being with someone. Why do we mix up the two so often? I think it’s because loneliness often goes hand in hand with change. We can’t experience loneliness without having previously felt a sense of fulfillment (or whatever the complete opposite of loneliness is). Loneliness is about having something (or someone) and feeling as though you’ve lost it. I think we are fearful of being without. Without confirmation, without admiration, without the person or people that make us feel this way. Being lonely isn’t permanent. It’s a feeling. Sometimes it’s a fleeting feeling, and sometimes it’s one that lasts a lot longer than you’d hope. People will come and go, and feelings of loneliness will flow in and out just as frequently as these people. But when it really comes down to it, loneliness, like most feelings, is inevitable— just as inevitable as all of the really great feelings you’ll experience along the way, too.
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Why Fitspiration Isn’t So Inspirational an article by Brennan Caldwell
If you’re as addicted to Instagram and Tumblr as I am, you’ve likely heard of the concept “fitspo.” Fitspo (short for fitspiration) is a label given to content that promotes and inspires a so-called “healthy” lifestyle. Often, pictures found under this tag consist of women in sports bras showing off their flat stomachs and tight abs, or buff men drinking protein shakes. At first glance this may seem great, as it appears to be all about encouraging and supporting each other to live a lifestyle filled with healthy food and exercise. But beneath the smiling faces of men and women who are supposedly “feeling great” after their fourth juice cleanse of the year, or finishing off some sort of 30-day fitness challenge, there is major room for concern. Although fitspo really does, in some cases, provide people with the motivation to work out more and lose those few extra pounds, this community actually endorses a very extreme and potentially damaging lifestyle.
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I have a unique perspective on this concept because I have struggled with an eating disorder for many years, so fitspo can be incredibly triggering for me. This is mainly because the behaviours that fitspo endorses are behaviours that I engaged in when I was in the depths of my illness. The fitspo community has normalized these behaviours by claiming that they are all in the name of health. It is one thing to want to eat well and exercise regularly so that you can feel your best, but the fitspo community isn’t as concerned with physical health as it may initially seem. Instead, the main emphasis within the fitspo community seems to be on the aesthetic benefits of eating well and working out. Popular sayings such as “strong is the new skinny” imply that women should work out because it will make their bodies look fit— that being toned is more aesthetically pleasing than
waif-like bodies that have often been idealized in our society. My eating disorder revolved around perfectionism. I could never get my body perfect enough, so I constantly felt horrible about myself. This mirrors what we see in fitspo. Tons of images of men and women with socalled “perfect bodies” are accompanied by tags such as #bodygoals, sending the message that a perfect body is something achievable. In reality, there is no such thing as a perfect body, and the percentage of the population who can acquire a body with a thigh gap, flat stomach, six-pack abs, and toned booty (all of which are fitspo staples) is incredibly small. The number who can acquire that body in a healthy, non-obsessive way is even smaller… maybe even non-existent. For me, food has always been a means of control. Restricting calories and losing weight numbed my anxiety because this was one of the few areas of my life that I felt I had control
over. There is a huge aspect of control that accompanies fitspo. You rarely see fitspo accounts posting photographs of ice cream sundaes or late-night McDonald’s runs. Occasionally, I’ll stumble across a post where someone apologizes for being absent and says that they are ready to “get back on track.” This only serves to highlight how taking a few days off from this strict “lifestyle” can lead to feelings of guilt and failure. It’s great if someone wants to eat healthier by cutting down on junk food and adding more nutrients to their diet, but it’s also important to listen to what your body is telling you. If you’re craving a bag of chips, or having a really tough time ignoring the BeaverTails truck on campus, you’re not “giving in” by responding to that. Doing so should never lead to feelings of guilt or shame. At the lowest points of my eating disorder, I frequented fitspo pages because the content posted by these so-called “healthy” people
justified my diet of semi-starvation and habit of almost passing out at the gym, despite the fact that I was seriously harming myself. I now know to avoid social media accounts that endorse this type of behaviour at all costs. Even now, months into my recovery, it can still trick me into thinking that maybe I should start cutting out carbs or avoid eating anything that isn’t green, because it all looks so attractive on Instagram. Let’s be clear. I’m not trying to dissuade people from focusing on their health and treating their bodies well. I understand that someone who has a habit of eating too many family-sized bags of Doritos, or has never stepped foot inside a gym before, may find this community inspirational. Instead, I want to encourage individuals to challenge and question the content they see on these social media accounts. Is it really health that is being endorsed, or something else?
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perfection
Dying for
an article by Georgia Forbes I was ten years old when a distorted perception of my body took hold. My obsession with attaining the perfect physical version of myself started a tumultuous ten-year battle for my own life. It is important for people to understand that eating disorders are a mental illness. They are not developed by reading too many fashion magazines. They are not young girls in need of attention. Those who believe these myths undermine the severity of an eating disorder, and the challenges that come with it. Mental health is an important conversation to have on our campus. By sharing my story, my hope is for at least one Queen’s student suffering from an eating disorder to see the possibility of recovery. My desire for flawlessness manifested itself as a relentless broken record in my mind. It repeated, “I am worthless, useless, ugly, fat, and unloved.” I could never be good enough for that voice, but somehow I believed that if I could count each individual rib, those voices would be silenced. When my eating disorder first took hold, it was in the form of bulimia. My eating disorder became my only form of relief, giving me full control of one part of my world. My mind waged a war against my body, my appetite, and all of my natural instincts. 59 | MUSE’INGS
Throughout the next ten years, what began as one night of crying with my fingers down my throat developed into an inability to eat without purging. This grew into an inability to eat at all, and finally, into self-harm. I was trading one demon for the next, until my heart was barely beating— and those demons almost took my life from me.
The hardest part about my recovery is that it’s not just one battle but an ongoing war. A three-month eating disorder program at the Alberta Children’s Hospital took on my bulimia. I hated that hospital, but it forced me into a bubble wherein I had to give up all control of my food intake. After quickly dropping weight upon leaving the hospital, I went into private therapy to fight my incoming anorexia. I had an incredible therapist who helped me navigate the twisted web of self-constructed lies in my head. I had a family that sat with me while I took two hours to eat my dinner, and a best friend who would squeeze my hand when he knew I was full, quietly muting the voices in my head that were punishing me for keeping my lunch down. After working to achieve a “healthy” weight, everyone around me assumed I was better. I was not. The voices in my head were only getting louder. At this time, I was graduating high school,
@Queen’s 625 Queen’s students were surveyed about eating disorders and mental health. The results below reflect their responses:
88% participants were female. When asked if they have an eating disorder
36% said “kind of.”
80% have restricted their food
52%
know someone at Queen’s with an eating disorder,
but only ment.
15% are receiving treat-
78% report feeling pressured to
lose weight.
5% know how long recovery takes
intake in order to lose weight.
when actively seeking treatment.
resisting the urge to give in to my sidelined eating disorder, and battling my mounting depression.
My bulimia begging me to purge, my anorexia forbidding me from entering the cafeteria, and my depression enveloping me in self-doubt. As a student battling mental health, I became a master of the “Duck Syndrome”; effortlessly gliding through my schoolwork, extracurricular activities, and social life, but frantically scrambling beneath the surface to keep afloat. To recover at Queen’s, I had to create a new support system, new methods of coping, and remind myself why I reached out for help all those years ago.
Depression and eating disorders often go hand in hand. Society commonly uses “depressed” as a synonym for “sad.” For me, it was nights spent with a soaked pillow and popped blood vessels, followed by days feigning happiness and a fake desire to hang around the people who loved me the most. Depression is a permanent feeling of unbreakable, isolated, and dark sadness. I have relapsed twice since I began at Queen’s University. Walking into the Leonard cafeteria, I had convinced myself and my family that I was more prepared than I truly was. My depression was an ongoing battle and my eating disorder was waiting for the isolation of university to pull me in again. Relapsing is easy. You skip one meal, then two meals, then a few days worth of meals. At Queen’s, I watched my relapses come in and destroy the truce I had spent eight years negotiating with my mind and my body. I got pulled in every direction.
Recovery is a never-ending process. It takes time, an incredible support system, and an unimaginable amount of courage. Struggles are integrated into my daily life, and I take those bumps as they come. I still have bad days, even bad weeks, but those are vastly outnumbered by my great months. The battle for your mental health is not one that can be won easily or unaided, but it is indisputably worth fighting for. I began fighting for my mental health a decade ago with the hope that a life could exist without my eating disorder. Trust me: that life does exist, and it is infinitely superior.
If you are experiencng mental health issues, please call: 1 - 866 - 925 - 5454 MUSE | 60
MO(U)RNING a poem by Nika Elmi
Shackled; while choice drowns in the deep end sending empty bubbles to the surface she stirs naked in her splendour for the strangers that surround her bleeding pain coated in orange rays racing slow bubbles of pure red down links of chains drunk in rust she screams creates roars of applause with thighs embraced in thorny kisses as roses are thrown on stage she screams rises with hotter iron around her feet in a waltz with links still drunk in rust race car red droplets change to waves you compare her tsunami to your eyes she screams rising as the moon cries goodnight painting the world in pain bled in orange rays yearning a resurrection in the deep end she begs for choice as if the sun has a choice
illustrations by Avesta Rastan 61 | MUSE’INGS
A Reminder
an article by Jefferson Chuong photography by Sophie Barkham
Congratulations. A pat on the back is well deserved. To those who have been accepted into this university, or who have completed their first or even final year, remember: university is far more than acquiring a certificate with your name on it. It transcends the late nights of partying and even later nights of studying. This is a stage in our lives about reflection and change. A stage that is crucial in molding dreams. Responsibility has crept into our lives while our choices have grown to consequence. This is a reminder to all Queen’s students, including myself, to choose the path of happiness—the regret-free paradise. Defeat your excuses and do not belittle the harder, more rewarding tasks. Reflect on your actions and scurry away from a pale, colourless life. Take advantage of your university opportunities, and tri-colouring your life three-fold.
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MUSE MAGAZINE AT QUEEN’S Here are all of the incredible people who make MUSE happen. Creative Assistants Amy Yu Anisha Sandhu Michael Kirreh Editorial Team Catrina Mavrigianakis (Arts Editor) Shanelle Furtado (Entertainment Editor) Endrita Isaj (Lifestyle Editor) Annie Robinson (Fashion Editor) Hannah Pearlman (MUSE’ings Editor) Events Team Ellen Aiello (Co-Head) Laura Martelo (Co-Head) Megan McGinn Rylee Elfert Finance Bianca Toulany First Year Representatives Katie Pittini Colby Cohen Julian Fraser April Ye Katie Glover Hair and Makeup Team Kendall Shedden Amy Yang Olivia Grant Layout Team Samantha Huynh Avesta Rastan James Hubay Jessica Chen Shannon McCabe Calista Kim
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Marketing Team Charlotte Sanders (Head) Hayley Square Hannah Davis Ashlyn Garcia Online Team Alexandra Kopij Matt Newediuk Shauna McGinn Alexander Tran Raquel Simpson Rawan Abdelaatty Diahanna Ramadhar Paige Guscott Erez Zobary Chloe Ong Lauren Towle (Chief Tech Officer) Photography Team Sophie Barkham (Head Photographer) Hillary Newediuk Brooke Resendes Amanda Katz Hanna Brynn Sponsorship Team Jessica Landolfi (Head) Kathryn Woodward Agnes Wong Emily Robinson Maddy Griffith
Directors
Abigail Conners, Editor-in-Chief Enoch Ncube, Creative Director Lexi Hill, Business Director Anna Pakenham, Business Director Sanam Yar, Online Director
IMAGE CREDITS Allerdyae, Jason. “It’s in His Kiss: How Connery Sealed James Bond Role.” The Sunday Times, 22Aug.2010. Web. 31 Oct. 2015. Anonymous. Digital Image. Window Shopping Tips. N.p., n.d. Web. 8 November. 2015 <http://fashionname.net/shopping-tips/window-shopping-tips.html> Kanye West. Digital Image. Kanyetothe. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 October. 2015. <http://www.kanyetothe.com/forum/index.php?topic=2234521.36> A$AP Rocky. Digital Image. Miss Info. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 October. 2015. <http://www.missinfo.tv/index.php/asap-rocky-on-his-early-interest-in-high-fashion-i-wantedto-be-a-model/> Facebook is Littered With Ads for Fake Luxury Goods. Digital Image. The Cut. Veronique Hyland, 14 Nov 2014. Web. 31 Oct 2015. <http://pixel.nymag.com/imgs/ fashion/daily/2014/11/14/14-counterfeit-bags.w750.h560.2x.jpg> Fitspo. Digital Image. Rebloggy. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 Oct 2015.<http://rebloggy.com/post/fitspo-nike-fit-fitness-fitspiration-nike-pro-gym-swag/35592812965> Green Smoothie. Digital Image. No. 2 Pencil. Melissa,8 Mar 31 Oct 2015. <http://www.number-2-pencil.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/green-smoothie-3.jpg> My Clique. Digital Image. Untitled & Co. Web. 31 Oct. 2015. <http://untitledandco.com/collections/sweaters/products/my-clique-1>. Off White. Digital Image. New York Times. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 November. 2015. One Award Closer to Diversity. Digital Image. ABC30. N.p., n.d. Web 31 Oct. 2015.<http://abc30.com/entertainment/viola-davis-cancels-her-appearance-at-the-central-california-womens-conference/542152/>. Steve Aoki. Digital Image. EDM Tunes. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 October. 2015. <http://www.edmtunes.com/2015/10/steve-aoki-2016-deep-house/> Untitled. Digital Image. Pinterest. Anna Wikstrom, n.d. Web. 31 Oct 2015. <https://www.pinterest.com/pin/11610911516027266/> Union Gallery. Digital Image. Akimbo. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Oct 2015. <http://akimbo.ca/UserFiles/Image/2012_Akimbo_eblasts/nov3_union.jpg> Untitled. Digital Image. Pixels. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 Oct 2015. <https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-woman-art-creative-522/> Yeezy 750 Boost. Digital Image. More than Stats. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 October. 2015. < http://morethan-stats.com/style-nba-damian-lillard-wears-yeezy-boost-750/> Yeezy Season 2. Digital Image. Vanity Fair. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 October. 2015. <http://www.vanityfair.com/style/2015/09/kanye-west-yeezy-season-2-interview>
A note from the creative director: This magazine was made in china, you should follow your dreams, eat more fruit and listen to less people and listen to more people
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