Universal Edition 34: Trends

EDITION 34

FREE

TRENDS

UNIVERSAL

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From The Editor You have to admit, trying to keep up with trends these days is hard work. It seems like every second day there’s a new one on the rise and an old one on its last legs. So for Edition 34, we are celebrating trends in all their forms and glory. Whether they’re shockingly bad or surprisingly good, we here at Universal have dug around to let you in on our favourite (or not so favourite) trends.

We take a peek at what’s trending in the fashion sphere, how retro trends come full circle, and delve into the evolving environments of social media and family life. There’s a whole lot more goodness within these pages, so I recommend stocking up on some overthe-top doughnuts, super-shakes or whatever food craze is raging nowadays.

As a youth run magazine, we need your voice.

Heck, you can even join the team! The more the merrier, we say.

Until next time,

Maggie Zhou

UNIVERSAL EDITION 34

FREE

TRENDS

Interested in joining the team?

Or looking to submit some work?

Please contact Paul on P: 1300 369 436 E: paul.corb@kingston.vic.gov.au

After you devour the goodness within these pages, head over and complete our reader survey at the link below. You may even score a ticket to the movies (Why not rewatch Avengers for the fourth time?). While you’re there in survey land, let us know what you want to see in future editions.

Read previous editions: Available for your reading pleasure at any time! Send Paul an e-mail for more info WIN! Tell us what you think!

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The views and opinions expressed in these articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views, values and official position of the City of Kingston or any of its officials, representatives or employees

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Cover Design by Radhika-Ayla Hansen Kingston Youth Services and the Universal team acknowledge the support of the Victorian Government

Contents 6 4 RETRO TRENDS Jack Crowe

THE LIFE CYCLE OF A FAMILY Fiona Sanderson

Design Mariah Lantouris

Design Fiona Sanderson

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STAR WARS Minh Tri Tran

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FASHION TRENDS 2 Angharad Neal-Williams

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BINGE WATCHING Radhika-Ayla Hansen

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FASHION TRENDS Angharad Neal-Williams

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INK ABOUT IT Third Place

AT WHAT COST? Maggie Zhou

ANXIETY Tori Baranov

Design Sammar Bassal

Design Maggie Zhou

Design Sammar Bassal

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FIRST WORLD PROBLEMS Tori Baranov

INK ABOUT IT Runner Up

FESTIVAL FASHION TRENDS Mariah Lantouris

Design Sammar Bassal

Design Sammar Bassal

Design Mariah Lantouris

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MILLENIAL BLAMING Tori Baranov

INK ABOUT IT First Place

ASIAN STREETWEAR Jessica Rathana

INSIDE MY PANIC ATTACK Tori Baranov

Design Sammar Bassal

Design Sammar Bassal

Design Jessica Rathana

Design Sammar Bassal

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FOOD TRENDS Angharad Neal-Williams

SOCIAL MEDIA TRENDS Jayden O’Halloran Design Sammar Bassal

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Retro Trends (Yay or Nay)

As a curious child, one of my first responses to the film Cat in the Hat was, “Why do all the houses look the same?!” And to be honest, I thought that was actually an occurrence in the 1980s until recently. A big part of my idea of what goes trending is how unique and different it is, so I thought that this would be a great opportunity to discuss some trends of the past and whether they still trend, or should remain buried in yesteryear. Maybe it’s time to bring some back…

Tie Dye T-shirts: Many of you would associate tie dye t-shirts with ‘hippies’ from the 1970s. While there may not be as many ‘hippies’ around anymore, there is still tie dye, well, everything! This method has extended from just t-shirts to pillow cases, art, and much more. I have participated in a simple form of tie dying by using textas, water and tissues, which turned out as a fantastic result.

Personally, I am the worst artist, but tie dying is something anyone can do. The colourful, swirling images are highly attractive and even nostalgic, being printed on many items of fashion. This trend receives a yay.

As My Mum Phrases It: ‘Buffy Hair’: Anyone who has seen Stranger Things would be familiar with one of the characters Steve, or if you cannot remember, the one with ‘buffy’ hair.

This was the stylish hair trend in my parents’

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Written by Jack Crowe teenage years, and I regularly see the same hairstyle in movies. In Stephen King’s novel adaption It, bully Henry Bowers has the same haircut, as well as many of the characters in the adaptation of S. E. Hinton’s The Outsiders. Whether it was the simplicity of drowning your hair in grease, or the complexity of using the Fabergé Organics shampoo and conditioner and then, (once your hair is damp) using the Farrah Fawcett hairspray, this fashionable trend has lost its way. If you are lucky, you will see people on the streets occasionally with a buffy hairstyle, but this is incredibly rare. This no longer appeals to today’s youth, hence being deemed as a nay.

Game Boys: Compare the iPhone to a Game Boy, and you will understand how much technology has changed in the past few decades. A Game Boy is a handheld, portable gaming device, which features pixels that you could see clearly with the human eye, and also four different shades of grey on its screen! While this may sound lame in contrast to the iPhone, the nostalgia of it all provides it with popularity and interest. The music produced by the Game Boy devices is so different to today’s that listening to it can make you wish you were part of that era. Super Mario Bros and Tetris gained a great amount of popularity on the Game Boy and the music that exists today as their themes are still very similar to the ones used originally. Recently I heard Flight Facilities’

song ‘Stand Still’. At the end of the video clip, you hear the background music as if it was played on the Game Boy, instantly reminding adults of the countless hours they spent twiddling their thumbs on the small buttons. The benefits of the Game Boy at the time was that although it was a portable device, you could still communicate and socialise with your friends in a competitive manner, instead of flicking through Instagram or Facebook and comparing your posts.

The device revolutionised arcades and I wish they were still around, as playing my parents’ old Game Boy interested me until its batteries died. I give it an emphatic yay! I literally am considering purchasing a Game Boy for old time’s sake off eBay as I love my nostalgic items.

Record Players: One of my life goals is to own a record player and have a wall decorated with all the vinyl of my favourite artists’ music. When visiting JB HiFi recently, I realised how common record players are, as the store had several rows of vinyl featuring Adele, Coldplay, and Drake’s albums - you name it, it was there. I also watched a YouTube video recently about a pop artist choosing five different CDs from an entire store full of artists’ terrific albums, and just knowing entire stores are dedicated to selling what I believed was an outdated product interests me, and encourages me to join the trend. I personally love how the size of the vinyl cover also showcases the album artwork, as these are regularly overlooked and disregarded.

Record players resemble many other types of old, trending technology, such as the Walkman,

which also played music. It is possible that without the creation of the record player, devices like the Walkman and MP3 player would never have been dreamed of and inspired.

The record player is a definite yay.

So, You could whip up your wardrobe with some unique colours, Or your hairdo with grease or mullets.

You can engage in the most attractive four different shades of grey, Or listen to what musicians have to say.

You could replace Spotify with a record player, With rainbow on material you could appear as a hippie in prayer, Listen to the most addictive music on your Game Boy, And can style your hair for four hours and annoy, But in the end, We are trendy, And still unique.

And value these little antiques.

Design: Mariah Jade Lantouris mariah.jade.studio Design by Mariah Jade Lantouris @mariah.jade.studio mariahjadestudio.com

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The The Life Life Cycle Cycle of of a a Family Family Fiona Sanderson There are plenty of different families varying in age, culture and size. However, there are six stages that almost every family goes through. As both kids and parents grow and change, it ultimately creates the life cycle of a family unit.

Beloved Liability This marks the beginning of your journey in the family unit. You, the newborn baby, solely rely on your guardians to keep you from putting yourself in mortal danger. With your parents on constant high alert, they’re continuously trying to keep the life they had before you were born, whilst also not taking an eye off you for a single second. At this point in life, you are a total strain on the family unit, but you are featured on every mantelpiece in the house, making you a ‘Beloved Liability’.

Blindly Following Once you have progressed from being brainlessly cute, you begin the next stage in the family unit: ‘Blindly Following’. Starting primary school means your world becomes bigger and your parents suddenly have six childfree hours in the day. Constantly covered in food and in your own world of imaginative games, you always seem excitable and happy to play. However, even though you don’t completely depend on the adults in the family anymore, you will still be found following them around everywhere and having a constant outpour of questions for them.

Pretend Independence Now that you’ve entered high school, you have progressed to the ‘Pretend Independence’ stage, which entails a whirlwind of emotion and disagreement. Different parents will allow varying degrees of independence during this time and whether you like it or not, you will be given a level of fake independence to determine if you’ll manage in real life. This stage is full of testing and trying moments that may even feel as though your family unit has split apart, but it will hold strong as you move to the next stage.

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Pseudo Housemates Congratulations! Now that you’ve survived the rockier years, the family unit begins to calm down as you slide into the ‘Pseudo Housemates’ stage. Finishing high school and starting university, you’ve gained more independence and rely even less on your parents. They then begin to mellow out, as they trust you more and more to make your own decisions. Most of the conversations revolve around when the next trip to Woolies will be, and rushed instructions on how to iron a shirt that you need to wear for that job interview. This is possibly one of the best stages of the family unit as you begin to understand and have more meaningful conversations with your guardians, slowly feeling more like equals.

No, I’ll Pay Now that you’re a fully-fledged adult living on your own, seeing your parents is more of a special occasion. Coming home for weekend meals, holidays and birthdays become almost a reunion depending on how far apart you live. You’ll find yourself relating with your parents, and even saying things such as, “No, I’ll pay” when you take them out for a meal or to see a show. It’s an extremely relaxed time to be a part of the family unit because you both have your own space and independence whilst still caring and keeping each other updated on your lives.

Flipped Dependence You are now the designated adult in the family, with your guardians now depending on you in the way that you used to as a child. This ‘Flipped Dependence’ means that you now constantly ask them what they’re up to, how they’re feeling and what’s wrong.

You even start to be the one looking after them and acting almost like their parents.

However it’s not as sad as it sounds; entering the last stage means you spend more quality time and connect with them more than you have in recent years, as the family unit does its full cycle.

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B I N G E WATCHING RADHIKA-AYLA HANSEN

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INK ABOUT IT 2017 3RD PLACE

BLOOD ORANGE Samuel Vilar

The majestic blood-orange creature lay in the heart of the tropical rainforest on the old wooden deck. Soft gusts of wind rustled the bristles of her fur. She lay in perfect peace, the sound of leaves brushing against one another were music to her ears. Birds tweeted harmoniously, wary, not to disturb such a calm creature.

The sudden burst of flavour struck her tongue.

Sweet, cheesy, garlic-custardy goodness, the succulent taste of the durian. It was her favourite. A flock of birds towered sky high above her, shadowing her from the sun for only a moment. Juice dripped down the side of her cheek, landing with a splash on the rough wooden planks. She wondered if this would forever be her home.

The sun was nearly out of sight. The orangutan pulled branches out of the nearby thick bushes and layered them in a circle, each anchored to one another. It was her nest. She lay it near a bush of blackberries for a cheeky midnight snack.

Light eventually disappeared and faded into darkness. The sound of wolves howling into the night deeply terrified her, as crickets chirped at the sky. Her last thought of durian left a smile on her face as she swiftly drifted off to sleep.

Her eyes had opened slightly, she was barely awake. But something caught her eye. A bright yellow creature, spots and all, a leopard, one of the orangutan’s most feared predators.

The leopard dashed like lighting towards her, ready to pounce on its prey. She had only a split second to think and raced up the nearest tree. She thought she was surely safe, but the leopard had other ideas. It made climbing look easy. She thought this was it, her time has

come, until suddenly there was a loud BANG! In shock, she stared down the end of the tree. The leopard had dropped dead to the ground. She finally realised what had happened; humans.

A thought popped into her head; her father.

She remembered the day she lost her father to humans. Anger and fear consumed her. She was thirsty for revenge. But there was something about this orangutan, she was smart. She knew attacking the humans would only get her killed so she decided to hold back. In pain, she knew this was the right thing to do.

Durian. All she craved was durian. Lying flat on the old wooden deck, a smell came to her. It was unfamiliar to her. Drawing closer she realised what it had been. The humans were cooking bacon and eggs. Durian disappeared from her mind and her mouth salivated. The human food smelt amazing. She rushed over mesmerised by the food and ate it. She was filled with delight and joy. One of the humans spotted her. It was too late.

Gunshots fired back to back until finally, one struck. Such a poor innocent being, lay in such pain. She believed this was it. Struggling for her life, the orangutan let go one last breath and passed out.

CLEAR! The orangutan burst to life. She was in a veterinary clinic, surrounded by humans.

After weeks of caring for her and feeding her, it was time to say goodbye. She was sent to an orangutan enclosure. There, slouched on the branch of a tree, was a familiar face. Drawn on it, was a friendly smile. It was her father.

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AT WHAT COST?

Writer/photographer/designer: Maggie Zhou @yemagz Model: Rochelle Oh @therochellefish

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Hey, nice shirt!

Where’s it from?

No, I don’t mean what store, I mean where is it actually from?

That’s a question we need to be asking ourselves more - Where do our clothes actually come from?

The problem of fast fashion is a tough reality for us to face, but at drastic times like these we have to confront the hard truth. So what exactly is fast fashion you ask? Simply put, it’s trendy clothes and accessories at super-cheap prices. Copying styles inspired by high-fashion runways, it’s hard to resist these fashionable and affordable items.

1. Be Shop-Savvy There’s this little gem called The Ethical Fashion Guide which annually reviews and sheds light on what companies are doing to address labour exploitation. With a handy grading system ranging from an F to an A+, it’s a tool you can carry around with you whilst shopping. You can sigh with relief knowing that companies such as Cotton On Group, Zara and Bonds are at the top of their books.

But it’s not just your wallet that’s paying for this.

It’s the environment and those most vulnerable within the fashion industry who have to deal with the real cost of fast fashion. Did you know that the fashion industry is the world’s second largest polluter after the oil industry? Think about that. Australians are the world’s second largest consumers of textiles, buying on average 27 kilograms of new clothing and other textiles each year. Is this really necessary? Especially considering that in just Australia alone, more than 500,000 tonnes of textiles end up in landfill each year.

2. Think Local Here in Melbourne we are spoilt with so many talented designers and artists. More often than not, these small businesses remain ethical by sourcing local materials and supplies and by paying their workers fairly. Why not kill two birds with one stone and support our Aussie businesses whilst shopping sustainably?

What’s more devastating is the impact on the people involved. One in six people work in the global fashion industry yet the majority of these workers are women earning less than $3 per day.

It’s plain to see how unethical this is and that we should not be supporting it.

It’s not all doom and gloom and end of the world from here though. There are so many simple methods we can undertake to minimise our impact. It’ll guarantee you peace of mind, a rocking wardrobe and possibly more change in the piggy bank.

3. Round Up Your Friends In the depths of your closet, you’ll be sure to find a deep, dark hole of forgotten and unworn clothes that need a new home. And the wondrous thing is, your friends are probably in the same boat. Why not get together and do a clothing swap? That top you always envied could be all yours.

4. Can We Go Thrift Shopping?

It’s time to hit up your local Vinnies or Salvos again. They’re your one-stop shop for all your one-off finds without that expensive price tag.

Whether you find some oversized tees, daggy sweaters or patterned pants, you’ll also be supporting the charities that run them. I’ve even gathered the assistance of my friend Rochelle to showcase some of the fresh looks you can put together from the humble op shops.

Statistics obtained from: Fiona Pepper, Australia’s obsession with new clothes and ‘fast fashion’ textiles hurting the environment, ABC Radio Melbourne (Jan 2017) Baptist World Aid, Ethical Fashion Report (2017) 1 Million Women, 5 crazy facts from new fashion documentary ‘The True Cost’ (June 2015), Jennifer Kurdyla, 4 Facts You Need To Know About Fast Fashion, Peaceful Dumpling (June 2015)

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*All clothes and shoes bought from op shops.

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Tori Baranov

ANXIETY Hands clasped together Her only ally her own hand Unable to stay present she fades away into the back of her mind She slips deeper into her own world A thought dominated oasis Where weeds of doubt sprout It’s bright and hot and self-criticism blows in the wind But she feels safe here Comfortable in what she knows But it hurts so she shrinks into the shadows It’s dark and cold She runs through the blackened halls in her mind The lonelier she feels the more she isolates herself She retreats as fast as she can Regretting who she is and what she wants Second guessing her actions Rehearsing her words before she speaks Thought festering on every move she made She hugs her knees close to her chest Making herself as small as possible Holding on as tight as she can For fear that she might fall apart

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FIRST WORLD PROBLEMS

Tori Baranov

When you’re eating chips and the crunching is too loud

and you can’t hear the TV

You accidently like somone’s pic from 3 months

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INK ABOUT IT 2017 RUNNER UP

EYEPATCH Lauren Ditchfield

“We’re lucky this exhibit was open today.

I think they’re closing it down, for some reason,” Dad says, reading a pamphlet given to us by the zookeepers. I press my head up against the cold glass and peer in at the orangutans; I notice one covering its eyes with its arms. It’s lying at the base of a tall tree, its sturdy branches stretching out in all directions. It looks sad, lonely. Maybe because the exhibit is closing. The other orangutans are either teasing tiny kids by dancing past them, swinging playfully on the branches or sliding their tongues across the glass. “That’s super gross,” I hear Mum say. I tilt my head to the side to see her pointing at the one orangutan that has his entire mouth somehow attached to the window. “It’s a talent,” Dad corrects. “Pretty impressive if you ask me.” Mum snorts, “Your standards are low.”

knees, adjust the cap on my head and walk away from the orangutan exhibit. Mum and Dad are too busy participating in their banter matches to notice me leaving.

My eyes dart back to the lonely orangutan.

It’s still covering its eyes. I feel a tap on my shoulder. Mum is crouching behind me so we’re the same height, “Whatcha lookin’ at?”

“Funny how they have glass around the outside of this enclosure,” says a woman.

“Just that lonely orangutan over there,” I say.

“It looks sad.” “Sometimes being lonely is fun, Mum has a lot of experience with that,” Dad snickers. Mum ignores him and sits on her knees next to me, cupping her hands around her eyes to see through the glass. “It does look sad, we can try hiring a clown to cheer him up,” Mum says, turning to Dad, “How about it, then?” Dad folds his arms, impressed.

I sigh. The orangutan is bothering me a lot.

I should do something about it. I dust off my

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I scan the area. “Little kids, bored adults, huge container filled with sad orangutan, huge fences covering the perimeter of other enclosures, food stands, staff rooms, but no entry point to the orangutan’s container,” I say to myself. “Where would I build one?”

I tuck and roll towards the swarm of five year-olds being surveyed by one parent in distress.

Their brightly coloured shirts hide me well from my parents’ prying eyes. I hear talking when I get close to the outskirts of the children swamp.

“I remember when it was just fences.

Weird how they stopped doing that,” someone replies.

Then, at last, I see it. A door made of wood is in the corner of the glass. I smile, giddy with excitement.

I race up to the door and notice a keyhole.

“Oh, green grasshoppers!” I swear.

“I need a key!”

“Hey!”

I spin around quickly, terrified to meet eyes with a tough, bossy-looking zookeeper!

I notice an eyepatch on his bald head.

Why would you need that in a zoo?

“What are you doing here?” He booms, spraying spit and gusts of mouth air at me.

I’m not giving in, I’m determined to help the orangutan.

“Where are your parents?!” He screeches, his eyes bulging out of his small, but scary head.

“Uh…” I have to think fast, or soon I’ll be taking a trip to prison for identity theft.

“I’m the head...owner’s son!” I blurt out.

He narrows his eyes for such a long time that I start to forget that he has eyes, “So what?!”

“They promised me I’ll be able to meet the orangutans!” I realise that I need to be more convincing.

I crumple to the floor and cry, “I wanna see the orangutans!”

It still has the same sad expression. I place my hand on the orangutan’s large hand, but the thick glass is in the way. Maybe I could give it a balloon? Sing a song? Make funny faces? I sigh and let my head fall onto the glass.

“I’m sorry,” I whisper.

“GET AWAY FROM THERE!” Someone screams.

Before I can turn around, the orangutan lifts his hand from his face and reveals his luminous green eyes. The air inside me squeezes out and I’m left choking. My head is being mushed up. I scream but no sound escapes. My arms, legs, fingers and toes go numb. I’m free falling. I hit my head on the grass. Wait, grass? I sit up, my arms regaining their strength. I’m not wearing any clothes, yet I don’t feel cold? I peer through the glass and don’t see a fiery orange orangutan staring back at me. I see a boy with a flashy red cap, a dark blue shirt, ugly brown shorts and pink socks. I can’t see his eyes because they’re covered by his small hand. The corners of his mouth lift up slowly and reveal uneven and chipped teeth. He turns around, and walks away. Oh no. That was me.

The zookeeper snatches a walkie talkie from his fanny pack and holds down the red button.

“Hello, this kid says he’s Dan’s son...not possible, we all know what happened to him…”

He stops talking when he realises I’m listening.

He turns away.

“Hey dude, might be a bad time to tell you, but this is the eighth time a kid has wanted to get inside the enclosure this week; it’s not working!”

I wonder what isn’t working. Then I wonder why this zookeeper is so bad at whispering.

Then I realise that I need to hurry and get inside the enclosure. I spy a set of keys dangling from his fanny pack. Risky. Maybe the door isn’t even shut? Unlikely. They seem to want to keep this enclosure on lockdown. Why? Out of the corner of my eye, I see it.

It’s covering its eyes, and pressing his hand up against the glass. The orangutan I saw by the tree.

“Whoa,” I whisper, creeping towards it.

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Festival Fashion Trends LOOKBOOK 20

A lace up skirt adds a sassy attitude

Add some glam with sequins and shimmery makeup

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Layer pattern and crochet for a hippy, indie vibe

Stunning bell sleeves and a high waisted skirt for a retro vibe

Mariah Jade Lantouris @mariah.jade.studio 22 mariahjadestudio.com

Add detail with statement earrings, glitter and a choker

Style black outfits with bold bralettes and belts

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Millennial Blaming

One absurd trend, though always present, has recently spiked in popularity, and that is millennial blaming. While millennials aren’t the first generation to suffer harsh critique from the previous generation, millennial blaming appears to be happening on a much larger scale.

the numerous industries they are currently being accused of killing. Millennials have learned from their own experiences growing up and by watching the victories and failures of the generation raising them. They have learned that investing money is risky and this has resulted in a decrease in investing.

We are strongest together. We need to focus on what makes us the same not what differentiates us Accusations strung up in headlines such as ‘Millennials are Killing *blank*’, beg the question - How can one generation be responsible for aggressively destroying every single industry?

The range of blames is wide; the list of things millennials have killed includes diamonds, vacations and soap in bar form.

Millennials have no say in the creation of the environment in which they are currently living 24 in, where they are unable to afford to sustain

They have learned that eating healthy is very important, yet millennials are condemned for eating avocados and are accused of killing fast food businesses.

The phrase ‘kids these days have it so easy’ is often said by members of the ‘baby boomer’ generation. And yet millennials make up about 40% of unemployed people, work longer hours and take less vacations. Studies also show millennials have the highest levels

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of anxiety, stress and depression recorded, much more than any other generation at the same age. Millennials do not have it so easy.

Take this quote: “I see no hope for the future of our people if they are dependent on the frivolous youth of today”. This harsh criticism of the discovery of a new way of living was said by man named Hesiod, who was a Greek poet in the 8th Century B.C. For the entire human existence, generations have dismissed and disparaged each other and it needs to end.

We are humanity. We as a group need to stop letting race, gender, sexuality, age and generational bias divide us. We are strongest together. We need to focus on what makes us the same not what differentiates us.

Information Sourced From: •Ann-Marie Alcántara, 2017, ‘20 Absurd Struggles Only Millennials Could Understand’, PopSugar, <https://www.popsugar.com.au> •Todd Van Luling, 2017, ‘24 Things Millennials Need To Get Over Already’, The Huffington Post, <https://www.huffingtonpost.com.au> •Brittany Christopoulos, 2016, Generation Why: 13 Crazy Weird Things

The trend of blaming the downfall of humanity on an entire generation is, I dare say, futile.

Society changes over time; advancements in science and technology as well as personal growth in areas such as acceptance, lead to different generations having different morals and values. It is unfair to place your values over those of someone else. Each generation can become stuck in their ways, believe that their views are best and if they allow themselves, may even refuse to see any value that newer or older generations may have to offer.

Millennials Do, Unwritten, <http://www.readunwritten.com> •Mallory Schlossberg, 2015, ‘The surprising things millennials love -- and hate’, Business Insider Australia, <https://www.businessinsider.com.au> •Christine Clarridge, 2017, 10 Things Millennials Have Been Blamed For’, The Seattle Times, <https://www.seattletimes.com> •Kenneth Burke, 2017, ‘15 Things Millennials Say That No One Else Understands, Lifehack, <https://www.lifehack.org>

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INK ABOUT IT 2017 WINNER

THE ORANGUTAN AND THE TREE NYMPH Lara Green

Long ago there were few men and just nature; the earth was surrounded by trees, lakes and grasslands as far as the eye could see. In a rainforest of the Southeast Asian islands of Sumatra, a young child was lost; he stumbled around the forest searching for his family clumsily, but alas, his family had to move on or the consequences would be dire.

The child cried until he exhausted himself to sleep; in the dead of night, creatures stirred around him, waiting, ready.

As daylight began, the child awoke, he was cradled against the leaves; how he got there, he did not know. The spring sun shone through the gaps in the leaves and thick branches; as the child climbed down to the forest floor the gentle breeze caressed his hair as the leaves sung to him. At the floor awaiting for him was a curved figure.

She stood there, humming with the wind.

Her skin was the colour of raw sienna with copper veins amongst it, her hair like a waterfall, running smoothly down the curve of her shoulders, green like ferns. When she opened her eyes the sun and shade ran through them making them a dazzling cinnamon hue.

She turned to the child, furrowing her brows, closing her eyes and smiling brightly, contorting her face in a pleasant way.

She walked up to the child, her dress made of leaves and ivy flowing in the wind as she knelt down next to the child.

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“What is your name, young one?” She asked, her voice like leaves rustling in the wind, and a gentle breeze on a cool night.

“Ramelan, my name is Ramelan,” The child replied in a mutter.

She smiled and led the child back to the tree he slept in, “This is my home,” She cooed and gently pressed her hand to the tree, “And if you wish, you may stay with me; the other nymphs of this forest have left except me and one other. My name is Durian, and I will look after you if you stay. If you leave, I will not stop you.”

The child would then stay with the nymph; she had looked after this forest for eons, and would for eons more. She would look after him like she had the forest, if only for a couple of decades.

Springs and summers had passed as the child grew older but Durian had not changed other than her hair that would transform as the seasons passed; in autumn her hair was marigold that slowly started to fade to a timber wolf grey as winter slowly came to. The child missed the green her hair would be when spring came.

Ramelan asked Durian simply in the bright of morning, “Durian, what am I?” She looked at him ruefully before answering, “You are a species

known as orangutans… in the future there will be far too little of you left,” She faltered, “I wish to protect you; you do not deserve what fate has planned for you, no one does …” She sat there for what felt like hours until she finally spoke, “I wish for you to meet a friend of mine; please walk with me.”

They walked towards the middle of the forest; a vast lake the size of a meadow covered the earth, and on a small boulder near the edge sat a mermaid. When she saw them she swam hastily to greet them; her hair was a clear aquamarine, her skin was midnight blue, her eyes were the colour of cerulean. Her tail was long, lean and strong, with fins on either sides where her hips were; she grinned at them and laid her head on her forearms when she reached them.

you,” She said in a silvery voice, “She didn’t want to leave you … but she had to, those Xs, they were a curse, and she refused to give them to anyone else. You see, when a nymph’s home is destroyed … the nymph ceases to exist with it.” She looked down further, “But she wants you to live, do what she couldn’t.”

She eased up her hands to show a water image of Durian, dancing, singing.

Ramelan grew older as time passed; he visited Arika as well as Durian’s resting place.

He was one of the few survivors. He took Durian’s place as the guardian of the forest.

The forest thrived. For her…

“This is Arika, the nymph of this lake.

The only other nymph of this forest,” Durian stated.

That night something seemed wrong with Durian; she sat up in one of the branches and stared out to the distance.

Her ankles where marked with Xs just as her home was; Ramelan worried and asked “What are you looking at?” Durian looked at him with a strained smile and asked him to do her a favour, “Could you please go north and find me the roots of a pure red lilium?” She asked in a honeyed voice.

Ramelan set out within minutes; he searched till night became day. And when he found it he walked home on the tree tops, but over the rising sun something churned in the back of his mind.

Durian. Durian’s home … his home, the tallest and sturdiest tree in the forest. He couldn’t see it.

He dropped the flower and ran. When he arrived home, there was nothing but a stump left, the roots seemed to wither by the second. In a panic he ran to Arika.

There it was, polished and sanded, cut up to pieces, nailed together, a bridge across a lake. He walked on the bridge … that’s when he saw it, the same Xs as the ones on Durian’s ankles. His home, Durian’s home!

A mere bridge. He laid down and wept; he clung to Durian’s marks. Arika swam up to him, her eyes were downcast, “She loved

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asian streetwear captured by Jessica Rathana

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“Where streetwear meets Asia” - @rathanadesign

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INSIDE MY PANIC ATTACK I feel my fingers start to tingle I feel it creep up my arms I feel my hands shake I feel the pressure in my head overwhelm me I feel alone in a crowd I feel weighted down I feel the panic in every nerve I feel and I feel and I feel and I feel and I feel until I feel nothing at all Tori Baranov

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Social Media Trends Jayden O’Halloran

Social media has evolved from a fad to a critical part of everyday life for people like myself. It is a constantly evolving landscape; what may be ‘in’ one day could be ‘out’ the next. Businesses and those with substantial social media following need to be on top of the trends that arise in the future.

But just who will be driving these trends?

Well, contrary to popular belief, it’s not millennials.

A December 2015 study by financial company Goldman Sachs says that it is imminent that Generation Z will be the most influential demographic. Given that older Generation Z people are starting to enter the work force and have grown up with social media being ever present, their social media power and influence will only rise.

What are some of the trends expected to become popular throughout 2018?

Arguably one of the biggest changes in social media has been the use of video, especially the relatively recent capability of live streaming on all sorts of devices such as smartphones and tablets. Live streaming has proven to be a major hit, with Facebook, Twitter (via the acquisition of the app Periscope) and Instagram offering the service to users. It is something I have used in the past for social media pages (mainly on Facebook) and it is a brilliant feature, something that will get bigger every year.

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The use of short-lived content will continue to increase in 2018. The popularity of this type of content has only increased with the introduction of ‘stories’ to Instagram as they try to rival Snapchat. There is a ‘highlights’ feature however, where you can keep and record the stories on your profile. Likewise, there is an archive on your account for all things posted on the stories, which means that your content will not be lost forever once it ‘disappears’ from your stories.

Twitter recently introduced a big change to their platform by allowing users to double the amount of characters per tweet (from 140 to 280 characters), but a stagnating user base has meant marketing on Twitter lags behind other social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram. This may be due to those competing platforms simply offering more features than Twitter, but it may also be due to political factors arising from US President Donald Trump’s controversial usage of the platform, as he has been accused of bullying people and tweeting provocative opinions.

Twitter leadership will soon have to change the way the platform operates; some of these

potential changes could involve selling the platform to private investors and boosting advertising options. If these changes do take place, expect the number of users using Twitter as a viable marketing platform to rise.

Augmented reality is expected to become very popular in the next few years. Tech goliath Apple announced in September 2017 that the iPhone 8 and X would incorporate a new chip that provides users with these extraordinary experiences. It is likely that its first impact will be on mobile gaming, but donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be surprised when you see social media platforms finding out a way to incorporate the new technology; for example, Snapchat or Instagram could soon support filters that allow users to take selfies with other people projected via augmented reality.

Social media networks are expected to become more proactive in governing conduct on their platforms. The catalyst for this was during the 2016 US presidential election. In September 2017, Facebook turned over more than three thousand ads that seemed to be connected with Russian meddling and thus they invested in new AI and human forms of monitoring.

A number of new social media trends that will impact users and brands alike are strengthening and accelerating now and into the future. It is likely that video streaming and virtual reality will go mainstream. Additionally, we can see that brands have turned to social platforms such as Instagram and Snapchat as Gen Zers increasingly spend their time there.

With the announcement of the new iPhones, augmented reality has a chance to become a part of social media in ways that were inconceivable merely a few years ago. Lastly, Twitter and Facebook will most likely adjust their policies to protect their brands from political criticism and to provide users with better social media experiences.

Information sourced from: https://mention.com/blog/social-media-trends/ https://www.plannthat.com/top-social-mediatrends-2018/

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