Teen Art Out 21

Interview

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Simona Mihalca

Julia N. HamermeszAndreea AlbulescuKatherine CornerViola C. MaloneKartik KiniMihnea SăvulescuAndreea BădeuAubrey Joy N. SongcogKasey RaeMichela Sereni

Cristiana PanteaMiruna Andreea GămanRob Wodcox

Ruxandra Marin

Andrei Apostol

Ioana- Mădălina Sterpu

We reserve the right to select the submissions received before publishing.

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Teen Art Out nr 21

ISSN 2284 – 6549 ISSN–L = 2284 – 6549

Our editorial team

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LETTER FROM THE EDITORTo dream or not to dream, Simona Mihalca

INTERVIEWMark JansenOsric ChauStorm LargePär Sundström

EVER DREAMDreaming, weeping, Mihnea Săvulescu

Dreams, Katherine Corner

Give me back ME, Viola C. Malone

There’s no fear in a dream, Kartik Kini

Ever Dream, Simona Mihalca

Thinking of you..., Andreea Albulescu

The night keeps secrets, Aubrey Joy N. Songcog

Seven Days to the Wolves, Julia N. Hamermesz

IDEAS ON CELLULOIDThe sound of music, Kasey Rae

SOCIAL WATCHA current obsession, Michela Sereni

BOOK REVIEWTo read or not to read?, Simona Mihalca

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SUMMARY

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Photo: Cristiana Pantea

Letter from the editor

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by Simona Mihalca


Such a romantic motif, the one of dreams. I could find

quotes and poems, images and studies to cover the surface of the Earth with them. Why? Because dreams can be anything. We close our eyes and we imagine, whether consciously or unconsciously, we travel to so many other realms.

Scientists are still baffled but what dreams are made of so consequently we are even more at awe. Can we trust symbols and images? Is there truth to any of that? I am not one to say so, but if you do, I want to you hear your

opinion. We cannot dare to say we can explain dreams and that is why we did not try to do that. What we did is simple… give a new meaning to dreams, to ever dreaming.

Ever felt away with meJust once that all I need

Entwined in finding you one day(Nightwish – “Ever Dream”)

Listening to the song, you cannot help but feel so emotional, tap into the deep feelings and desires of the composer. The rhythm, the verse and the tempo touch you in a way few other songs

To dream or not to dream


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do. You can sure imagine that yearning for someone, what you would give for them to think of you, to give in to you, to be the one you need to heal your scars. For that you and I dream, so does everything. A dream of cascading beauty and white night fantasies.

Therefore, we battled into discovering what those feelings truly are. Talk about them again and again, maybe this time we shall learn something. Let your imagination go wild, unchain the stars and turn loose the heaven within.

And with issue, we sure imagined. We dreamt and we dreamt big. We dreamt that we could have the best interviews ever, scratch that, the best issue so far. We wanted an issue that will make you remember us, like us. And that we did. Something for every taste. Whether you want an interview with Osric Chau, Mark Jansen, Storm Large and Pär Sundström.

Yes, we dream!

Simona Mihalca,Editor-in-Chief


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Petite Histoire

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Interview:

Mark Jansen

I am sure Mark Jansen needs no introduction. You’ve heard him in After Forever, Epica, Mayan. If you got to see him, then you are one very, very lucky individual.

S.M: Even if it’s been out there for some time, I want to congratulate you on your newest release, “The Quantum Enigma”. Needless to be said, the sound is more …epic and bombastic than ever. How do you achieve that album after album?

Mark: Thanks a lot :) It’s not easy to achieve that but there were 3 major things that we did different compared to the previous album. First of all we worked more as a team, all band members plus producer Joost van den broek were involved in arranging the songs.

Photo: Stefan Schippers

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Secondly we worked with a different producer’s team compared to all other albums, this gave us some new energy and refreshing ideas. Third of all we spend much more time in fine-tuning the sound of each individual instrument and the album itself, therefore we also worked with a new mixer: Jacob Hansen.

S.M: It was not only the instrumental that excelled. A lot of fans have been noting a difference in Simone’s vocals, fresher and cleaner, all for the better. Was it just a natural evolution or did she change her singing technique?

Mark: She worked for the

first time with Joost van den Broek and he has a slightly different way of working which did fit Simone’s voice very well. Also the mix of Jacob gave it a different touch. But last but not least her voice has changed as well because of the birth of her son. I don’t know how it works exactly but it did affect her voice in a positive way.

S.M: The album feature a softer ballad, “Canvas of Life”. How did it reach its actual form?

Mark: That’s an interesting story as the ballad was originally meant to be an epic track of 9 minutes. Coen wrote is as a sort of “Chasing the Dragon”, but as we

Photo: Stefan Schippers

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had already enough long songs we chose to cut it down to its actual size. For the song itself it was better as the long version wasn’t as strong as the short. Coen added a few more parts to complete the song and after that it was done.

S.M: While it might sound strange, this is something a lot of fans wonder: how do you manage to always remember the lyrics, which are equally exquisite and complex?

Mark: Once the lyrics are in the head they won’t get out so easily anymore but I have to confess that it can take a while before I can remember all lyrics correctly haha.

S.M: How are you and the band accommodating and treating the new additions to the Epica family, mainly Vincent and Pepijn?

Mark: We welcome them both with open arms to this world. I haven’t seen them that often yet as Coen and Simone try to separate work and private life as much as they can. When they are more grown up I’m pretty sure we’ll see them around more often.

S.M: You have been having numerous Q&As and interviews following the release of the album. How do you find the strength and time for all of that?

Mark: When you can talk

Photo: Tim Tronckoe

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about your passion it isn’t that hard. I love talking about music and my other passions: cycling, animals and nature. Artists that don’t like to talk about their band are often not so happy with their life anymore.

S.M: Do you believe that you learn something from your fans in doing so?

Mark: We always listen to our fans, when many fans want to hear a specific song and request it many times we will usually start playing that song again.

S.M: Having been around for so long, would you say that you feel those years, considering yourself one of the older or even pioneers of the genre, or do you side more with the up-and-comer bands?

Mark: 12 years even :) and on top of that also 7 years in After Forever. I am always open-minded towards new styles and bands but my favourite genre is still the style that we play with Epica. Even though we have evolved during the years we always stayed true to our roots.

S.M: Have you or any of the guys ever let Simone apply her make-up magic powers on yourselves?

Mark: haha no, I’m not so much into make-up. I prefer my

face to be clean ;-) But whenever it’s needed for a video to use some paint than she’s always helping out indeed :)

S.M: Alongside summer, festival season is coming. What are your biggest expectations both in terms of Epica performing and people or bands you want to see?

Mark: I really wanted to see the Rolling Stones, we played with them at the Pinkpop festival last weekend and it’s probably our last chance to play with them. I am not a huge Rolling Stones addict but it’s still an honour to play with such guys. The same festival I went to see Metallica and I also look forward to see Iron Maiden. Hopefully I can see Anathema somewhere around the world as well. I appreciate their music a lot.

And for a few more personal questions:

S.M: Who was the last person you asked for an autograph?

Mark: That must have been Mike Portnoy (at that time drummer of Dream Theater) when I was 19, he kindly signed all my Dream Theater albums.

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S.M: What traditional foods or drinks did you try on tour and very much like?

Mark: I like caipirinha a lot, but I got also very drunk by it one night and then you do things you can regret the next day haha.

S.M: Do you have any fears?

Mark: My only fear I described in Sensorium on the Phantom Agony album, to be alive without being aware of it. Having a certain form of dementia and not being able to recognize your own family anymore.

S.M: Do you watch any TV series?

Mark: Yes “Games of Thrones”, “the Borgias” those kind of series I like.

S.M: What’s the best advice you never got?

Mark: Don’t become a musician! haha I wouldn’t have listened anyway ;-)

S.M: Thank you very much and all the best

Mark: Thank you too!

Photo: Tim Tronckoe

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Interview:

Osric Chau

It would not do him justice to introduce him just as Kevin

from Supernatural, our dearly departed (hopefully not forever as people don’t tend to stay dead on that show). He is such an incredible person and talented actor, a fan, a friend. He’s one of us, only better.

Teen Art Out: Can we start by asking you to tell us a bit about yourself, for those who don’t know what makes Osric Chau Osric Chau?

Osric Chau: Like many, I’ve been through a lot of phases in my life and career. Currently I identify myself as an actor, before that it was a martial artist, in high school it was a politician and a couple of years before that it was a

superhero. I’d say that throughout all those identities I’ve had, one common theme I’ve maintained is that I’ve always been a student, no matter how long I’ve been doing something or how good I may seem to be at it, I’m always looking up. There’s always room to grow, to innovate and teachers/mentors can come in surprising shapes and forms.

Interview by Theodora Stefanescu and

Simona Mihalca

Photographer: Evaan Kheraj

Stylist: Luisa Rino

Hair and Makeup: Anya Ellis

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T.A.O: What got you interested in acting? Did you ever just look at an actor/actress and think ‘’yes this is the kind of person i would very much like to be’’?

O.C: I watched a lot of cartoons so it was more characters that I identified with growing up than actors or actresses. It wasn’t too long before I gave up my dream of being a cartoon character, but a lot of the traits and characteristics from those characters are still with me. My interest in acting was gradual, the more I did it the more I was able to appreciate the intricacies of the art and in that understanding I really got to love the process of it.

T.A.O: On the same topic of, say, ‘’idols’’-who is someone you got the opportunity to meet that you would have never thought possible?

O.C: There are too many to count. I grew up watching a lot of TV, so pretty much anyone I’ve ever seen on TV that I’ve met. Meeting those little people in the box seems about as unlikely as meeting my favourite cartoon character, it still feels a bit surreal.

T.A.O: What about the last person you asked for an autograph? People we admire in the present are perhaps even more important than those we admired in the past!

O.C: I think the last person I asked for an autograph was Misha, I asked him to sign something for a charity. That’s an interesting statement. The people we admired from the past helped us get to where we are in the present, though we may no longer admire them based on how they’ve/we’ve changed. The people we admire in the present affect the decisions we make now to shape our future, and we may not have admired their past but their journey in how they arrived to the present.

With that said, the idea of idols is a tricky one. No one is perfect, and no one is so constant that you can count on them to hold the same values and principles today that they did 30 years ago. I admire moments, decisions and actions that people make, and it can be from anyone. Anyone showing strong values, principles, and good heart in pressure situations is someone I can admire.

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T.A.O: After Kevin, the funky little prophet you play(ed-what a sad, sad tense!) on <<Supernatural>>,wasSPOILER ALERT killed off, the fan impact was outright huge! What started off as a stereotypical character quickly turned into a fan favourite. Knowing you are very involved with the ‘’Fandamily’’,what is your favourite moment in the fandom? Be it at a con, online, or even on the street!

O.C: I don’t know if I can narrow it down to even 10.. Being able to connect with the fandom has been such an amazing experience and there are so many wonderful people out there who support the show and myself that

if time permitted I would get to know each and every one of them. At conventions there are always a couple of people who go on their own and end up sitting in the back or hiding in the corners, many of my favourite moments from cons have been getting to know those people I bump into in the back of the halls while the party rages on in the front. Online, social media has been one of those things I never really put much thought into, but Supernatural pulled me right in and watching the show every week while live tweeting has been something I’ve really enjoyed doing in season 8 and 9. On the street, it’s always a nice surprise, there are times when I’m just wandering the

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streets lost in thought and end up having a drink with a fan I bump into. It’s weird, but anytime I meet anyone in the fandom I feel like I already know so much about them, like there’s a thread that connects us all and even if I’ve not met them before it feels like bumping into an old friend.

T.A.O: Is there anything you want to see on the show from now on, any new horizon or idea, besides the return of Kevin?

O.C: There is so much possibility! Dean being dead is kinda cool, I hope they keep him a demon and have him and Sam on

those sides for most of the season. They revive them too quickly after they kill them, this one needs to stick.

T.A.O: Having played both on the aforementioned show and on “2012”, which version of the apocalypse do you find scarier?

O.C: The “2012” apocalypse is definitely scarier. You have the world in panic and the knowledge that everyone you’ve ever loved will likely die. In Supernatural, most people are still unaware and ignorance is bliss. That might be the politician oozing out of me.

T.A.O: One of the reasons we love the show so much is the amazing cast, with all the loving, funny and dorky interactions! This being said, what is the funniest thing that happened on set?

O.C: Funny things happen on set all the time. Do you know what’s not funny? Everyone trying to be so funny that when they want to stop being funny they can’t anymore. And then we get behind schedule and everyone tries to shake it off and we eventually manage to get through half a take before someone else cracks up by accident, which people get angry

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at at first and then end up cracking up even further and before you know it we’re way behind schedule and have to do an extra 2nd unit day. The end.

T.A.O: With ‘’Supernatural’’ (supposedly!) off your <<list>>,which is your favourite upcoming project? We definitely can’t wait to see more of whatever there is in store from you!

O.C: Being on Supernatural has really spoiled me so it’s really hard to have a favourite beyond that, but there is a lot that I’m really excited for! I have a movie premiering at the LA Film Festival called “The Young Kieslowski” that I’m looking forward to seeing, and this year I’ve been producing quite a few short films that will hopefully be done by the end of the year. It’s been very gratifying trying my hand at all the different positions on set and I think overall it will help me as an actor as well.

T.A.O: Would you ever consider doing theatre work? Are you fond of any plays or even musicals?

O.C: I’ve only done one play in high school and at the time I hadn’t really had a thought to do

more than just that but now I think I would jump at the challenge. It’s not exactly my comfort zone, so on that reason alone, I would audition for a play if it ever came up. The same for musicals, I like a challenge and I would do my best to prepare myself should the opportunity present itself.

T.A.O: Travelling so much over the world, but especially to and from those places, what were the major cultural differences between Vancouver, Beijing and Los Angeles?

O.C: I believe all three cities to be each other’s parallel’s in their respective countries. And the cultural differences are vast but more than that, I find that I’m a different person in each of these cities. In Vancouver, its home, where I was born and where the vast majority of my family still reside. Here, I’m a momma’s boy, help with chores where I can, spend time with my brothers and family and mostly a home body. In Los Angeles, I spend a lot of time with friends and end up driving around a lot for meetings and auditions. This is also where I have a lot of friends in the Supernatural community and being around them always reminds me to reach

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out, so whenever I’m in LA I always end up thinking about and doing a lot of SPN family community stuff. I also end up going out to see shows and to a bunch of events and trying new things. Beijing is my work city, it’s incredibly polluted and crowded and I end up eating the street food most of the time. It’s a 24/7 city for me, and I’m always meeting new people, networking, and working on some project all the while practicing my Mandarin.

T.A.O: Do you still practice martial arts in your spare time?

O.C: Here and there I’ll get an itch to do so but it’s been awhile. I used to practice twice a day and so anything short of that really doesn’t feel like all that much anymore. But I’ll still stretch here and there and I still live an active lifestyle so it’s never too far off.

T.A.O: With all this hard work, what is the one thing that keeps you going? The thing which inspires you to take up new projects and, in turn, inspire others?!

O.C: It’s the idea that I can in fact inspire others. I always try to encourage people to go out and do the things that scare them. If I can’t do it myself I’d be a hypocrite and

I’ll fight very hard not to be one!

T.A.O: There is a saying that the best advice often comes from where or whom we expect it least, so what is the most intriguing or life changing piece of advice you have ever got, even if it was given unintentionally?!

O.C: In 2008, my Tibetan dialect teacher on the movie “2012”, Sonam. I asked him what the significance of the red string necklace that I had to wear was. He told me that when monks went into the monastery they would tie a knot on their necklace. That it symbolized their acceptance and dedication to learning, to always being a student. I never forgot that, and I still wear the red string necklace

T.A.O: And in the end, since we are a magazine based in Romania, we would like to know what you have heard so far of our country.

O.C: I have a couple of friends from Romania, but they haven’t told me much of their country actually. I’ll have to visit and discover for myself. I think in 2015 I’ll do a trip.

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Simona Mihalca: At the moment you are on tour promoting “Dream a Little Dream”. How was the album receiver and what are the impressions of the tour so far?

Storm Large: People love the album. It has so many beautiful songs and surprises. Touring is going very well, I always have fun on tour. It’s hard work, but I love my job and the people I work with.

Interview:

Storm LargeInterview by Theodora Stefanescu and

Simona Mihalca

We truly hope you already know of her and of

the band she is touring with: Pink Martini. Why? Because they are such an amazing project, so unique and interesting, music done as an art form. We have had the chance to chat a bit with her so here’s what we found out.

Photos: Autumn deWilde

Storm is releasing a solo album October 7th

this year. It is called Le Bonheur (which means ‘the happiness’ in French). It is a collection of covers—ranging from Lou Reed’s “Satellite of Love” to Cole Porter’s “I’ve Got You Under My Skin.” It’s going to be a beautiful album.

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S.M: You have been working with Pink Martini since 2011. What can you tell us about it, looking back?

S.L: Pink Martini’s first lead singer China Forbes and I are friends, and she shared with me her concerns about her voice; she knew something was wrong. So I sent her to my throat doctor, Joshua Schindler, and he ended up performing surgery on her throat and ultimately saving her voice. But meanwhile, Pink Martini’s bandleader Thomas Lauderdale began to insist that I sing with the band while China was recovering. I said no 50 times, but Thomas won in the end. I am really glad he won.

S.M: How easy or hard is it to accommodate such a large number of musicians in a tour?

S.L: It is a very expensive endeavor to keep 15 or 16 people out on the road; food, hotel, travel costs, etc…I’m glad I don’t have to pay for it! Pink Martini has been doing this for twenty years now, and they do it very well.

S.M: What is the best part about being a member of Pink Martini?

S.L: I get to sing beautiful music, in amazing cities, with marvelous people.

S.M: You are known for your extreme diversification and a unique combination of styles, languages and traditions. What I think our readers would most like to know is: how did the Romanian song (Până când nu te iubeam), a cover of popular artist Maria Tănase, come to life?

S.L: Because we were going to perform there, Thomas wanted a Romanian song in the set. So Thomas and I were listening to some Romanian songs and we picked two, both by Maria Tanase. Now Până când nu te iubeam is my favorite.

S.M: How hard was it to play in Romanian?

S.L: Much easier than I thought. The language flows musically already, so singing it is a pleasure.

S.M: What is your favourite song to play live?

S.L: Right now, Până când nu te iubeam and Ich Dich Liebe.

S.M: How has the band been influenced by being featured in Sherlock? Were you fans of the show?

S.L: I heard about that! So exciting!! But I don’t really watch television at all.

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S.M: Do you think that the success of Pink Martini can lead the way for more acts in the genre to breach the “mainstream”?

S.L: We are successful but we are far from mainstream. I say you are a success if you can discover what you love to do, work extremely hard to do it as often and as well as

you can until you build an audience who loves what you do. Success is like love…it often doesn’t look the way you expect.

S.M: You are also known for your cabaret work. Where does the love for that stem for?

S.L: I have been a performer my whole life, singing, telling jokes

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and reciting poetry since I was very small. I grew up in a very sad home; my mother was sick all the time. So I learned how to make people laugh and smile, and was always trying to do just that. Singing was a big part of that.

S.M: Who was the last person you asked for an autograph?

S.L: Not an autograph but a picture, it was Brian Cranston.

S.M: What is your favourite classical piece?

S.L: Beethoven’s 9th , “Ode To Joy.”

S.M: Thank you

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Interview:

Pär SundströmInterview by Theodora Stefanescu and

Simona Mihalca

Sabaton are back and better than ever. With a new

release, centered around individuals or small platoons, they have gone back to what defined them: World War II. They have told, or more likely sang, formidable stories, of wins and losses, of courage and bravery. “If there’d be, any glory in war Let it rest On men like him”. Let us hear what Pär Sundström had to say when we got a chance to chat with him.

Photos: Ryan Garrison

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Simona Mihalca: A month and a half after the release of “Heroes”, the newest album, what can you tell us about its reception, both by fans and media?

Pär Sundström : Great from both I would say. But mainly from the fans. Really good reception. I was totally sure that we had the right theme for a Sabaton album and we are also really proud of the songs on it. Also that it sounds the best of all sabaton albums so far!

S.M: How did you choose the heroes, if I may say? Where did the inspiration come from?

P.S: It was quite hard since we had so much to choose from. But we write the songs first and then we see what kind of mood the song has and try to fit in a theme for it.

S.M: How does the whole creative process for Sabaton work? Is it more of a relief and exaltation or an energy consumer and drainage?

P.S: It’s both. A combination of fun and high pressure. Its amazing to see a song grow but since we have two things that is always against us which is deadline and to be able to hold the quality it can be tough sometimes.

S.M: How challenging was this album compared to your previous ones? What were your

personal high and low points of the whole experience?

P.S: All albums have different challenges. Since we now have gotten used to work with Peter Tägtgren it makes it easier in the studio. Also that we wrote about WW2 stories we were right where we are as most familiar. On the other hand we had some new band members which we did not know how they would do within this. But all in all I don’t think it was more challenging. On Carolus Rex it was more difficult to find facts to write about and also then to do it in two languages was hard.

It’s difficult to find highs and lows from the recording. I think maybe how the song Ballad of Bull came out is one of my tops. And I don’t know what but something changed from the demo of Inmate4859 to the final song which I don’t really know what it was but small things and it did not turn out as good as I was hoping for.

S.M: Being set for such an extensive tour, I’d like to know how you manage to sustain it. What keeps you in top shape while on the road, both physically and psychically?

P.S: It’s a normal Sabaton tour. And it’s what we musicians is supposed to do! It’s good to do

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a lot of exercise to stay in good condition physically. When it comes to the other part it’s all in the mentality. I love to tour so it’s easy for me.

S.M: You have just announced a concert in Bucharest for next year. How did you decide to come here and what do you have in store for us?

P.S: We actually hoped that we would come already this summer but it did not work out sadly. But on the other hand that makes us look even more forward to the show next year. Bucharest has a great crowd for heavy metal

and I cannot wait to come there. We are also bringing the biggest show we ever used in Romania. That’s exciting!

S.M: This is not your first concert in Romania. What is it you like about our country that makes you come back?

P.S: Ever since we started we always had very dedicated fans in Romania. And before we could come there on tour there would always be a few Romanians coming to our shows wherever they could . I’m glad now we can come to them instead!

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S.M: How was it being a part of DreamHack? How can music and concerts tap into the virtual scene?

P.S: Dreamhack was very exciting. I saw it as a chance to reach new fans and it worked. Dreamhack is a big network and lot of people could now discover Sabaton. There is also a Dreamhack in Bucharest!

S.M: How different do you think the music scene has become in the last years and how much should it still change? With promotion taking many forms and being an excessive need, is that good or bad, in your opinion?

P.S: It’s getting harder to become “big”. For sure. It’s easier for all the small bands to do a little success but to become something that can be a touring band is really hard these days. I think in the future it will be even harder.

S.M: If you could record a song featuring any artist you want, whom would you choose, both female and male?

P.S: Dio, however it will be very difficult. Maybe Doro!

S.M: What are the places you have visited among all the touring that have left the biggest impact

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on you?

P.S: Auschwitz was of course very emotional to visit. Also Gallipoli.

S.M: What movies, books or even songs would you recommend to someone whose contact with history is minimal and would like to learn more? What made you interested and eager to learn so much about the world wars?

P.S: The series Band of Brothers. That’s by far the best that has been created.

S.M: Do you believe that in times of war, people were just as justified to be supporters of any side?

P.S: In WW2 and anything before there was a lot of propaganda which could make people fight for another men cause. Today, at least in western civilization with less controlled media I think that people will fight for different cause if they fight.

S.M: This year has marked the centenary of WWI. Are you marking in any way the anniversary? While we are not in a world of empires any more, are we still in just as fragile a state of peace?

P.S: We are making no anniversary. It’s up to others to do.

Sure the world is more educated today but we will always be fragile. There are strong emotions and strong wills controlling some interests that could make people fight for it.

S.M: How do you think the world today would look, had Germany won WWII?

P.S: I don’t think it would have lasted for 1000 years as they had in mind. I think all dictatorships has a “best before date” and it’s not too long.

S.M: Lastly, I want to ask you whether you follow the online activity of your fans, whether in comments, photos, memes, artwork or fanfics.

P.S: A lot, and love it!

Thank you so much!

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Ever dream

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Photo: Rob Woodcox, Where All Dreams Start

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Dreaming, weepingby Mihnea SăvulescuPhoto: Rob Woodcox, Ever Sailing

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It all started so long ago, when I and my thoughts

decided to forego logic, saneness... Life as I used to know it.

All of it just to keep dreaming a fleeting dream of happiness and hope, a means to an end this path I choose. And as I sink into this sea of bliss, becoming a shade, I shall resist and remain. And this wonderful world of undeniable happiness, everything comes to life and I can only bare but see the distinctions made between life and death, reality and... Dream, an utter state in which I’d want to live forever, with it my love. But it cannot be, and for that I weep, thinking of what is possible within the bounds of my own mind. Limitless possibilities of spite and hatred, love and sweetness, life and death, myth and reality. This world of paradoxes, of truth and lies, is where I belong. In this world I know anything and nothing, I’m free and I’m a prisoner of my own desire. In reality... My body is a cage and has nothing to offer but physical pleasure, but my mind... It holds the key to everything I could ever wish for, for everything I fear

and for everything I want and hate, the key to my home and cell. It just makes me comfortably numb, not facing reality and ever dreaming. And in the face of this ending, all I can do is silently weep, for it takes away the world in which I can do anything, in which I can love and be loved, in which I wish you were here...

This reality of ours makes me a powerless wimp, someone who knows nothing, someone whocan’t change anything, I can’t write, sing, dance or do what I want, how I want and when I want. Reality is but a curse, one which we must all face sooner or later, one which can’t be ignored. Most just can’t manage it, some fail completely and a few... A precious few... They manage to win against it, they manage to not be consumed and they can just dream forever while continuing to live.

In the end, dreams keep me alive, they rescue me from the prison which is reality and the cage which is my own body. And I still silently weep every time I am forced to wake up from my dreams and face the horrible truth of the world. The truth that I am... Nothing.

Mihnea Savulescu

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Dreamsby Katherine Corner

Photo: Rob Woodcox, Where Dreams Collide

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A kaleidoscope of colours In a whirlwind of dreams,

A flutter of emotive verse, And still the goldness gleams.

Trying to capture a moment so bold, A braveness that seems so shy,

Water running, yet hard to hold, And a heart that longs to fly.

Snowflakes meet among roses, The stillness floating on a cloud.

Whilst the wise owl elegantly poses, Incredulous to a silence so loud.

Time dancing with flamboyance, A lock that has misplaced it’s key.

A withering willow stuck in a trance, The sun rising still such a fallacy.

Art lost within its own maze,Petals of a kiss lost for endless years,

A purple mist creating a new haze, Whilst the sea weeps its very last tear.

A world that will be forgotten,In the awakening of the beholder,

Imagination becomes blissful wonderment, And reality seems somewhat colder.

Katherine Corner

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by Viola C. MalonePhoto: Rob Woodcox, When Autumn Was Spirited Away

Like two people discovering each other’s bodiesI was looking to discover love while under you

Like a fool fallen for falsenessI dove head first in deep

Gave you meMy hands, my thighs, my lips, my curvesThe outer and the inner of my beingIncluding my heart was yours entirely

Wrote your name one thousand timesOn scraps of paper, notebooks, foldersAs if that would somehow truly make you mineThought one day I’d have your kidsNames written on pages same last name as yours

In the beginning there was a nauseous feeling in the pit of my stomachThought the butterflies had exploded and I had finally gotten a hold ofThe feelings that I felt so deeply for you and your perfectly imperfect beingThat feeling of non-explosive butterflies bursting in the pit of me came back

I mistook the morning sickness for butterfliesFrom what I’ve been told it’s a horrid feelingA feeling that feels much like my “symptoms of stress” as my mom saysStressThat’s what I thought it wasEven with the blood that oozed out and ran between my thighs

Give me back ME

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The clots and tears of children that would never be or see lifeThat pregnancy like this so-called relationship was over

Before I knew it, that baby would never beAt least not in this lifetime with you and me

While I was building a foundation for our futureWorking my way up into my career and

Looking for any and every possible job opportunity for youYou were busy taking pieces and laying them elsewhere

With the same intentions I hadJust with her, the one who beyond doubt held your heart

I fought for this loveWhen I pushed you pulled

When I’d give you’d takeI stayed, lost myself in you and became lovelorn

And torn, wondering about my unbornOur unborn, that I miscarried

That I shed tears for and you never knewKnew that I’d truly given all of me to you

Give me back my time that you’ve spent not even a single silver dime forGive me back my heart that you’ve held onto even though you had no

intention of attempting forever with meJust let it be I’m finally free the lust is over

Give me back me

Viola C. Malone

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There’s no fear in a dreamby Kartik Kini

Photo: Rob Woodcox, Sky Play

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Someday I hope to go to space. This has nothing to

do with my professional aspirations nor my passions; I just want to go to space. I dream of a future in which space travel is so commonplace that it’s nothing more complicated than buying a plane ticket. We could just grab a ticket and off to Mars we go. It’s all fine and dandy to wish and hope for these things but what good does it do? Dreaming about the future won’t make it happen. Dreaming won’t make things better. One may argue that dreaming only sets us up for disappointment. I vehemently disagree.

When I was growing up, there were two questions adults asked me; ‘What is your favorite color?’, and ‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’ Whatever I answered, the adults would just smile and nod. They really didn’t care. “Oh, you want to be an astronaut when you

grow up? He’ll probably change his mind eventually.” It was just a filler question. Of course they never told me to my face that shooting for the stars is unreasonable. The thing is as we grow up and face the looming wall of realists, we stop dreaming. Our nightmares are no longer about dinosaurs and the boogeyman, but are about very real things. Adults no longer smile and laugh at our ridiculous dreams and aspirations, they get worried. The future isn’t as bright as it used to be because all of a sudden, there is an expectation of what you’re supposed to do with your life. You have social norms to abide by; a career to build. So what do we do? Do we cast our dreams aside, and become what society asks of us? Do we continue this cycle of finding passions and discarding them so that we may find jobs which actually earn money? I know what the angst-filled teenager in me would like to say, but I also know

“We should not throw away our passions and dreams,

but we should keep in mind what purpose our dreams serve. Our dreams exist to tell us what we want. The troubles we face in life exist to show us how badly we want them.”

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what the growing adult within me is telling me.

Frustratingly enough, the answer is yes and no. We should not throw away our passions and dreams, but we should keep in mind what purpose our dreams serve. Our dreams exist to tell us what we want. The troubles we face in life exist to show us how badly we want them. I want to go to space, but this probably won’t happen till I am much older. Perhaps not at all. That is a challenge I face, and seeing how I am most likely not going to do anything about it, it shows that I don’t want it as badly. There are other dreams and aspirations I have that I want to achieve, and I have already overcome many challenges that have stood in my way of those. If you aspire to be a graphic designer and everyone tells you to find a better way to make a living, that is a challenge YOU face. If you get rejected from over 30 companies, that is another challenge you must overcome. Giving up is not weak, it only shows that you never truly wanted it in the first place. Your heart lies in a different place. Perhaps that other place is to have a more financially secure job to be able to support a family. Perhaps that is what you’re meant to do. Perhaps not.

The same goes for relationships. You may dream of having a relationship with someone for a long time, you may have had a crush on this person for a long time; don’t think yourself weak for giving up if things don’t work out. If you give up, it means you didn’t want it enough. Giving up is another way to move on to bigger and better things. It is a way for you to find what it is you’re really looking for. Should you face troubles and feel the need to keep fighting through them, fight away. There is no trouble that you cannot overcome with enough time and effort. There are only two kinds of obstacles, the ones you overcome and the ones you give up on.

Dreams exist to show us what we care about. Life tests us to see how badly we desire those dreams. Biologically, creatures dream so they can “simulate” life experiences that haven’t happened yet, and to prepare the mind and allow for the brain to reflect on what it knows. Similarly, the dreams that inspire us to continue living give us hope to keep trooping forward against all odds. Having dreams is the one thing that keeps life interesting, makes every struggle worth it and every obstacle a challenge worth overcoming

Kartik Kini

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Ever Dreamby Simona Mihalca

As a Nightwish fan, I have spent many a hours trying

to decipher the lyrics, to find out the real emotion and meaning behind every word, to breach the mind of soul of he who he wrote them. As you can imagine, I was not alone in my endeavor. Nevertheless, it was

not one too successful, as there is again and again a new angle and meaning, a new line that sticks with you. Maybe he did not truly know what there was to be said and maybe we shall never know either.

“Ever felt away with meJust once that all I needEntwined in finding you one day

Ever felt away without meMy love, it lies so deep

Ever dream of me”

(Ever Dream – Nightwish)

Photo: Miruna Andreea Găman, Stage I - I woke up in a strange place

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That being said, I invite you to read the lyrics with great attention and find your own meaning, as I will try to give you mine. When you hear “Ever Dream” it sounds fantastic and beautiful, but little did we know about the depth of what is expressed.

“Now, that man is more of a political animal than bees or any other gregarious animals is evident.” (Aristotle: The Polis, from Politics)

It has been said thousands of years ago and, yet, it remains just as true. It might as well be written in our genetic code that we need people around. While, of course, it is not a sine qua non condition, we like to have people around, someone to depend on, someone to talk to, someone to be “your person”. How does one get there?

Every day you meet tens of people. You interact with less of them. And somehow, almost inexplicably with some of them you just click and the conversations never run out. Just thinking of them makes you have huge dumb smile on your face. They become important to you. You make room in your life to accommodate them, to make them happy, to make them important, because they have become that to you.

See, I have not said whether

that is a romantic entanglement or just your best friend. Maybe you are older now and think that you are over the phase of having a “BFF”. Wrong! Very wrong! You are never over having friends, because they keep you going. And some of them are just better, or why not… the best. You might jokingly call them the love of your life, but if you are lucky enough for that to happen, never forget it.

Oh, look, I have talked and talked but I am not even close to the lyrics. Everyone needs an introduction. So…say you meet said person and you start to wonder: do they like you? Are you important to them? Do they care for you? Do they think about you even half of how much you catch yourself drifting off about them?

They give you strength and make your days better. But when that day ends, you are more than excited to go to sleep. Because than is just when you can truly think about them. You close your eyes and they appear. Sure, it is not real, but it’s as real as you’re getting. Making scenarios each night, thinking what would happen, what could happen. And just before you fall asleep, you are left with this question: Ever dream of me?

One time is all you need, to

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Photo: Miruna Andreea Găman, Stage II - I found a friend

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know you crossed their minds. To know that this huge love you bear for them has a home. But would they do it for you? “Heal the scars and change the scars?”. That I cannot say. At most, I can hope they will.

Any of this sound familiar? Because it certainly does to me and not because I have just written it. Maybe now you understand a bit of those marvelous lyrics, maybe you have some you ever dream of, someone you wish would feel away with you more. Of course you do. You have done something extraordinary with your life to have someone around. Yes, that is a

huge achievement, no matter how much people belittle it. Take their hand and jump! Run! Run away! Make your own history! Make them dream!

For some I did, for some I did not. And even for those whom I did, it is not there anymore. But that is just fine and you know why? Because at some point, you stop dreaming, too. You understand that you cannot heal their scars, you cannot be what they think of, you cannot be that important. Sure, you got them to love you, you made it happen, you fought so hard because you thought that was what you needed. And after all

Photo: Miruna Andreea Găman, Stage III - Where are we?

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Photo: Miruna Andreea Găman, Stage IV- The dawn of a nightmare

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the misery and the pain you are still there. Why that? Maybe they were not as good friends or significant others as you had hoped to. Hmm. Maybe they just had the it-factor, attracted you like a moth is drawn to fire. “Your beauty cascaded on me”. And if that proves not to be enough, no dream can save you.

We used to compete who loved more but now it’s only a matter of who loves less. And trust me, I shall win this one, too, and there is little you can do. Scratch that, there is little you would do. But then again, you always do little. And here I’ll be standing with a crown on my head saying “too

little, too late”. I’ve played my part and you’ve played your game. We have said our goodbyes a thousand times, but never to each other. And yet we live each day, another day to fight, another day to hurt, another day to die.

You have now seen that it is good to dream. Now I will tell you to stop dreaming. It is high time. If you had to ask you so hard whether they dreamt of you, “just once, that’s all I need”, maybe you should let go. See, you remember all those time where it seemed like they didn’t care. You know it is not true, they would not do that, but you felt it nonetheless. Be brave and

Photo: Miruna Andreea Găman, Stage V - To lose my mind

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live up to your feelings because they are valid. You gave them your all and they cannot find 15 seconds for you. Not in a day, not in a week away, not in your moment of need. It is always about them, about what you can do for them, about how you should not make them feel bad. Thinking about it, it has been so long since they have actually been able to help you when you were feeling blue. Sure, they once could. It is then clearly not a matter of can but of will. You used to stick around because it was fun and fascinating, like something you had never seen before. But when that has consumed itself, or worse, consumed you, what are

you left you? A handful of ruined dreams. You dare not even dream of the future because you do not believe in one, not one that could be worthy of your past.

So, for the last time, ever dream? Make up your mind and choose one side. In or out. Don’t do anything with half a measure. Get back in there all in or fold. There should not be no middle ground.

“All I ever craved were the two dreams I shared with you. One I now have, will the other one ever dream remain. For yours I truly wish to be.”

Simona Mihalca

Photo: Miruna Andreea Găman, Stage VI - Awakening

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It is incredible how someone’s day can be

changed for better with only a few simple words which people should say more often. Sometimes, an “I care about you” or “I missed you” can do some real magic.

As a veritable introvert, I used to hope that people would enter my mind and read my thoughts, so I wouldn’t have to say them out loud. Each time I wanted someone to know how I really felt about them, my tongue ended up in a huge knot, which I was not able to untie. Only later did I learn that if I wanted to keep my friends near, I should start speaking my mind, before they get the wrong idea that I didn’t care about them.

Well, once I solved this problem, I understood that it is

not enough to simply say some phrases and everything is going to be fine. It is useless if you don’t prove it with actions. Showing your dear ones that you care prevents them from getting lonely and start questioning your true impression of them, or even think if you’re trustworthy or not.

To sum up a bit, whenever you feel like letting someone know that they are precious to you, do it without a second thought. Even though it doesn’t seem so, proving that they are special to you can brighten they’re day. Even the toughest person needs to hear some of those “magic words” I’ve mentioned at the beginning and who knows, maybe while you’re reading this, someone else is thinking of you.

Andreea Albulescu

by Andreea Albulescu

Thinking of you...

Photo: Rob Woodcox, Shipwrecked Lovers

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The darkness lifts into the sky, like someone beyond

the sphere is painting it with blue and overcast it with gray, into the deeper and deeper shades of night like a black sun behind cloud cover, and after strokes over strokes, a handful of silver will be splattered across the sky. There are stories which can only be seen when it’s dark. Like the story of stars plotting a constellation because of fear of growing apart in the midst of darkness in the cosmic space. Like the two meteor in a collision that both bounce away from each other into their own separate ways. Like an explosion of a supernova creating an interstellar cloud of dust. And of course, the braveness of a star to fall from the sky without any certainty if someone or

something will catch her beneath. Little stories that breath while the world rests at night. But that was once upon a time.

In the night, there are tenderness, wonders and tragedy, but there was you. Between the last breath of blue and the first wave of dawn, there was you. At night there are stars, moon, and shadowy sails of the clouds, and there was you. Every time I close my eyes and drift into sleep, I see you. You were the sound of the crickets, you were the cold breeze, you were the darkness. I used to be afraid of the dark until I saw you there. Just like the stars drawn to the moon, my soul is drawn into you. For a moment, the world became small enough to roll back and forth between us. All I could

“Silently, one by one, in the infinite meadows of heaven,Blossomed the lovely stars, the forget-me-not of the angels.”

(Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Evangeline: A Tale of Acadie)

The night keeps secretsby Aubrey Joy Songcog

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think about are the constellations you traced across my skin, how you planted my ribcage with stars, and the way you put the galaxies inside my palms until I get lost in the universe in your eyes, and a nebula get caught inside my lungs. I carved away my skin and bend all the edges so I could fit between the crook of your arm and your collarbone, and I couldn’t handle the thought of leaving any corner of your universe uninhabited. In the night, there were no guardian angels, but there was you.

There was you who I do not know, who on the contrary I do know. There was you in the depths of my dreams awakening the figments from another world or maybe from a mere delusion. You

are a mirage that demands to be felt but remain out of reach in the reality. There was you who belongs in the shadows of my sleep, leaving the smokes of your fingerprints in the hallows of the night.

But maybe I dreamed of you so much that you’re becoming more of a hallucination instead of a vision. I dreamed of you so much until you’re slowly slipping out of my grasp. I dreamed of you so much until your shadows are slowly fading and eaten piece by piece by the darkness behind you. Until one night, I stopped dreaming. Every time I close my eyes and drift to sleep, there is no more you. Everything are just darkness, nothing but void.

It is now 2am. I have no choice but to stay awake. It is harder to dwell in a place where you used to exist and now cease to be. Sobs stuck in my throat and I literally suffocate from sadness. There were once galaxies inside my chest. But now, only a black hole remains leaving the stars to die. Maybe you’re a vagabond from another universe, or maybe you’re just a piece of fiction. We will never know because you belong to the night, and the night keeps secrets.

Aubrey Joy Songcog

“I know you, I walked with you once upon a dreamI know you, that look in your eyes is so familiar a gleamAnd I know it’s true that vi-sions are seldom all they seemBut if I know you, I know what you’ll doYou’ll love me at once, the way you did once upon a dream.”

(Lana del Ray, Once Upon a Dream)

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As I write this, the world cup has just started. A

week ago, we all reunited around our televisions and watched what so many of us dreaded start. And when I say all, I mean it, for not even those friends of mine who hate soccer with an ardent passion and are harsh critics to the government

kept their televisions off on the 12th of July. That, of course, may seem incredibly contradictory for the people who have been protesting all over the country – which you probably have heard about. The protests of last July became famous through viral videos, and though it started off with the objective to

Seven Days to the Wolves

by Julia N. HamermeszPhoto: Rob Woodcox, Transient Desert Sands

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put the bus ticket’s prices down again, it ended up in a chaotic ball of claims – with an emphasis on being against the world cup – well-known for the hurt journalists and the excessive police violence.

At the time, I decided not to write about it. The lack of organization doomed the protests and we all thought that those days would have some impact on long term rather than short. Now, with the world cup finally on motion and some protests restarting, I saw a chance on Ever Dream. The reasons might be clearer towards the ending.

The last few days have been terrible for those not too fond of soccer with no cable. If you randomly try to watch anything right now on public television, chances are they are going to be talking about today’s games, a certain player, interviewing someone, commenting on past matches, talking about all the past cups, etc. And until this morning, the fact that other things around the country, including the ongoing protests, were not being showed everywhere, pissed me off. But as I sit down to eat and turn on the television out of habit, I suddenly understand. Why would I want to be on the channel showing murder, two cases in a row of corruption,

and violence when I can change stations and watch happy, cheering people?

The world cup is an escape. Most of us have realized that we shouldn’t blame the players, and, quite frankly, it is hard not to smile at all those people stopping what they’re doing to go watch a game together. I have always argued that we are not a united society and the cup contradicts me. All the same, the realization that came after this first apparent moment of happiness was much worse.

It took me a few moments, but it hit me. Something I had been repeating now for months materialized in my own mind. The union of people around an event such as this might be just as dangerous as beautiful. The world cup is distractive, as any massive event would be, but the (failed) tries in covering up protests even inside stadiums (the coverage of the first game’s audio was cut off when the public started to shout some not so good wishes to the president) resembles what we have seen in previous big events. Especially during the polemic 78’s World Cup in Argentina.

Yes, this will be a much more drastic example. Halfway through the middle of the 20th century,

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several South American countries went through terrible dictatorships. Thousands of people went missing, being tortured and murdered by their governments. The few survivors tell heart-wrecking, stomach-turnings stories that have been made into a big number of books and movies, worth watching for those interested, but not for me to speak of here. Argentina is the country with the biggest number of people missing or murdered.

And the reports of those victims about the world cup that happened in Argentina (and which the country won) are plain terrifying. More than one of the prisoners says they were forced to watch the games and look happy, otherwise they would enter the execution list. One woman claims that she was forced to look at the cheering people and told that they had all forgotten about her, and about what was happening. Later she was forced to celebrate Argentina’s victory as well. The games were clearly used by the military government as distraction, and there is some discussion about the results being manipulated.

Argentina ended up with an estimate of thirty thousand dead or missing people. The dictatorship would only end in 83, five years later. I am not saying Brazil lives

now in a dictatorship nor that it will enter one because of the world cup. I am saying that distractions are more powerful then they seem. Political manifestations happen in every event – anyone who watched this year’s Eurovision will have heard the booing against the Russian performers – and those manifestations should not be ignored. Yes, maybe you can’t put the swear words we used in the stadiums on television, but there is much danger in only showing people happiness.

As long as when this event is over we get back to our business and protests (after all, it is election year) I will keep positive impressions on the World Cup. I’m not a supporter of its expenses, not of the money invested in it, but of the games that brought people together and gave us a chance to show some different realities to the world (at least maybe people will stop thinking we all live in the jungle. Maybe). At this point, I can’t know what will be the consequences of this game. Our country didn’t need this event, and doesn’t need the Olympic Games in 2016, but we can still make the best of it. We can still use it for a change, and not as a manipulative, distractive, event. If we’re all careful enough, both you reading this across the world and Brazilians here, the publicity

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might be good. And for that, of course, we mustn’t forget all that is going on, and what went on the past fifty – or maybe five hundred – years. This is probably already one of the biggest pieces I have written here, so I will not start a lesson on Brazilian history now, but we are not where we are because of a universal coincidence.

And as many of us dream of that prize at the end of the month, so do many about better life

conditions and a better country. As the World Cup can take us all on a dreamy, away, state, so it can bring us all together. For now, we run with the wolves.

Source of the reports (and more) from the victims of Argentinian dictatorship: http://espn.go.com/espn/feature/story/_/id/11036214/while-world-watched-world-cup-brings-back-memories-argentina-dirty-war

Julia N. Hamermesz

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The Sound Of Musicby Kasey Rae

In some films it seems that the dialog is hardly needed

at all. This is because beyond the images there is an unseen and very important element to a film; its soundtrack. Music in movies began almost as soon as dialog itself, and one could argue that its just as strong. The soundtrack to a film is a strong influence to its audience, If you think of a movie that has brought you to tears I’m sure a certain song from the movie will come to mind every time you think of it, and that’s because the music holds a major part in delivering the desired emotional effect.

Therefore the opposite is true, a few moments of complete silence in a movie creates an extremely eerie atmosphere perfect for a horror film. It’s as if music is our safety blanket, and being without

it leaves us vulnerable. In that sense, we are in the same position as the victim in the horror film, vulnerable in an alternate world of the unknown.

Many actors and actresses find that the use of a soundtrack means lack of trust in the actors. For why would you need the music to carry the emotion and the story if the actors are fully capable of doing so? Many viewers will disagree of course, my point of view being that the soundtrack is used to heighten what is already shown from the actors and atmosphere in the film. Some soundtracks are so loved they are remembered more then the film they were featured in! Although ‘Pulp Fiction’ used songs from other artists rather then original pieces, the rock-n-roll songs in this film has it carried to the new millennium.


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Martin Scorsese is loved by many for his cinematography, but where he really goes above and beyond the others is his masterful soundtracks. The man practically invented the rock-n-roll soundtrack as we know it, this shows especially in the gritty film ‘Good Fella’s. the disco soundtrack to “Saturday Night Fever” not only went down in history but practically created the disco genre !

More modern day examples would be Gravity and the Girl with Dragon Tattoo’s (both soundtracks being broody and dark), both having highly acclaimed soundtracks perfectly suited for the tone of their film without overpowering its acting and cinematography. Toy Story’s soundtrack (stuck between being categorized as a classic and modern animation) offer’s one song in particular that remains stuck in the head of many, and

that’s “You Got A Friend in Me” by Randy Newman. .

A soundtrack can also give its audience clues if you pay close attention. These clue’s use to be more obvious, a dinging bell in a cartoon when a character had a good idea, the sound of birds chirping when someone got hit especially hard, and of course the legendary ‘Jaws’ theme music that played whenever the huge hungry shark was about to attack. Directors and composers seem to be taking a subtler approach now, the music flowing along with the actions of the scene rather then overriding it, sometimes making it seem so natural that you forget the soundtrack was edited in rather then naturally in the atmosphere! So whether you are watching an over the top classic or modern subtle modern day piece, always remember to listen to the film as closely as you watch it.

Kasey Rae

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A Current Obsessionby Michela Sereni

People’s morbid fascination with others’ lives and

personal traits has always been a key aspect of society. This primordial instinct soon infected medias and magazines, often flowing into sarcasm. This is not a revolutionary idea we have just invented, at all. Since 1500, pamphlets have been circulation

all around the world, debating important issues, or making fun of the back-then-current-queen/king/knight/literally anyone who was sorta famous: exceptionally, even both at once. “Pamphlets were among the first printed materials, and they were widely used in England, France, and Germany. The first great age of



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pamphleteering was inspired by the religious controversies of the early 16th century. In France so many pamphlets were issued in support of the Reformed religion that edicts prohibiting them were promulgated in 1523, 1553, and 1566” (Britannica). A fine example of a political, crucial, yet funny writing is 1915’s Alice Duer Miller’s creation, in which she satirically opposed to “men’s vote”. She did that using masculine stereotypes, and pointing out the not-so-coy-nor-subtle sexism of the antecedent “No To Women’s Vote”, to which her piece countered itself. “Because no really manly man wants to settle any question otherwise than by fighting about it. [...] Because men will lose their charm if they step out of their natural sphere and interest themselves in other matters than feats of arms, uniforms and drums. Because men are too emotional to vote. Their conduct at baseball games and political conventions shows this, while their innate tendency to appeal to force renders them peculiarly unfit for the task of government” (Us vs Th3m).

While we still get witty and smart printed words (feminist zines are still a thing, yes), it’s no secret that our interests have switched, and we focus more on secondary, summer-ish articles. We’ve been following down some The More I

Know About This Famous Stranger The More Satisfied I’ll Be black hole, that has found a timeless, restless, and fast companion in (aha!) the Internet (Pandora! Hooray! Cat videos! Online stores with shipping fees that are worth more than the item itself!). Online, one could virtually find everything. Anything. Dancing lamas with pink and blue party hats that move to Lady Gaga’s “Alejandro”, or essays on some long-forgotten 1450s knight with an emerald green sword. Basically and firstly, the Net is a store of information, mostly free. With such an instrument, one could think of, say, analyze deeply the sky’s secrets or try to read more about Jesus’ perilous lifestyle (real rebel, that one). However, what used to be a common and head-patting-cute love for gossip, has now translated into an endless research to Kim Kardashian’s 22nd outfit change for the day. The web has not-so-slowly faded and then completely cancelled the lines that defined privacy. We got involved so deep into this mud, that psychologist had to sit down and make up a name for the most excessive cases: Celebrity Worship Syndrome (I know it sounded like a good title. It isn’t). “It’s an obsessive-addictive disorder in which a person becomes overly involved with the details of a celebrity’s personal life” (Wikipedia).

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“It’s not uncommon. According to the ‘British Journal of Psychology’ out of the 600 people studied, approximately a third qualified for the diagnosis of CWS. This occurs when the celebrity becomes the central figure in the person’s life. [...]It is partly in our DNA. Since we are social animals, we tend to feel comfortable when there is a social hierarchy in place. [...] They are our role models and we look to them for guidance[...]. It is natural for us to admire and emulate them. When this natural phenomenon morphs into obsession, CWS emerges” (PsychMinds).

This kind of disorder isn’t well know, and, actually, it’s silently, probably unknowingly encouraged, when it comes to certain figures, such as Kate Middleton (no, not royals as a whole. We still have plenty of them, but not many are busted while speaking of Sweden’s Carl XVI Gustaf’s make up routine). “The American fascination with the British royals is hardly new, even if it has been magnified and encouraged by a culture ever more in thrall to celebrity and an age in which trivia and gossip are privileged by carrying around Google on your phone” (Newsday). It’s safe to say this was highly predictable, since her Big Big Big Event (it was truly big, not like us commoners’ ‘big events’ that result

of 20 people sadly and silently drinking Margaritas in a white and half empty room) was not only witnessed by people in real life, but also streamed and recorded, online (then, the baby came: Big Big Big Event n°2, that merely had the effect to re-freshen and bring back to surface the love for every detail of this young woman’s life). An admiration that so easily and so usually morphs into obsession can’t stay within royal walls, as big as they might be, and, in the long run, might also effect society as a whole (so, no, your ‘if she doesn’t mind being talked about, why should we?’ argument doesn’t work. Thank you and try again). “What Britons are wondering now is the effect that such fixation on the body of the overexposed and over- photographed new mother of the little prince is having on young girls’ self-esteem, particularly in a country where the fable of the little girl becoming a princess is reinforced by the real story of the widely-admired ex-commoner Kate” (Hurting the Public: Forbes). “The media obsession with the duchess’s every bodily inch reinforces the principle that girls should be seen and not heard. Compound that with the contradictory message that she is simultaneously perfectly, joyously slender and selfishly, irresponsibly underweight and

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we’re also broadcasting to our girls, loud and clear, the message of mandatory female insecurity. [...]These girls are absorbing every message we send them. Its impact on them is very real. And every new body-shaming, figure-obsessing, dehumanising article about the duchess’s physical form drives the message home ever clearer. Please, please leave her alone. If not for her sake, then for theirs” (The Guardian).

Somehow similar, has been the metal scene is the last few years (talking about my homeland, y’all. I’m pretty positive other genres have this issue, as well. Just take a look at Avril Lavigne). A rather controversial case was much debated a few years ago, when videos of Epica’s lead singer Simone Simons emerged. In those, the woman asked the fans not to touch her, or her hair (all this while meeting them or singing autographs right outside a venue). The community suddenly split in a half, and it wasn’t a long shot until Simone started being called names (rude ones. Don’t really want to know, trust me) and generally gained a bad reputation. This was affected by her make-up talks on her blog/twitter/YT/socials, too. Everyone seemed quite upset and offended by the fact that she wouldn’t let others get near her hair. For someone who’s been

waiting years to meet their idol, it’s understandingly demotivating that the would turn you off like that, no matter how politely. On the other hand, however, it’s essential to keep in mind that people should never be touched without permission or consent. Never. Not even that old lady dressed in lime green at the supermarket. It’s a basic and bottom social rule. This might not have been the most friendly Simone, but she had every right to state what she said, because she told the audience so in a polite way, without being offensive or mean. All caused because, when reading comments online (NEVER READ THE YOUTUBE COMMENTS. I beg of you. Don’t. Or you’ll turn from little swinging-in-the-wind pink rose to ugly and sad cauliflower) we tend to forget a simple rule: “I don’t jump to conclusions about people I don’t know. Neither should you” (Eilenna).

The same situation occurred a few weeks ago, with dutch queen Floor Jansen. While touring in South America with ReVamp, some troubles came along, many of them related, but not limited, to physical contact. Apparently, this time the drama got a bit bigger, because Floor decided to write an open letter to her fans, in which she tried to explain her reasons, hoping there’ll be less misunderstandings in the future. Photos taken with

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flash and recording bootlegs were taken into consideration, pointing out that they can distract the band from doing its job; nevertheless, the hottest topic was, once again, the hugging/kissing/touching one.

Bottom line doesn’t change: private space is just that, and it shouldn’t be violated, in any case. Famous people are, indeed, people, and yes, they must partially take responsibility for living up to a career that involves special treatment (this including a lot of time with strangers, interactions with them, media/press coverage and overall attention). “It is true that politicians and public figure themselves seek to be known to the public. Whether by aiming for high positions or for moments in the spotlight, celebrities of all kinds strive to be stars, to be heard and recognized. However, this doesn’t mean that the intrusion of every detail of their private lives becomes justifiable. Those actors, celebrities and politicians are by the end humans too. They do need their own privacy and they have the right to it, just like any other person” (Debate.org). Anyhow, we can’t ask them to turn off their feelings or moods and behave the way we expect them to. We’re all our own universes, occasionally clashing together. This is the simplest law of community: respect. Erase expectations, and go

with that. As Jansen herself wrote, “I am asking for understanding and respect. I’m sad that some people got mad and called me a diva for it” (Blabbermouth).

Privacy is still pretty cool. Facebook and socials try to expose us, and we willing do so; but we should never forget that speculation needs to come to an end, at some point. So we can stand up and go get a frappuccino. You wouldn’t like the pics of your newborn in a bathing suit to scatter across the globe. Probably nobody else wants that, either. Empathy before occasionally fake hot pink 2€ mag covers. “We should not invade their family or private life through the media. Secondly, the children and family of famous people should not be affected. Some stars have to hire security for their children or spouses because of media attention. Another point is that too much attention can affect celebrities. They begin to act strangely and lose touch with reality” (WriteFix).

Michela Sereni

bookreview

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Lacking what to read? Worry no more because

we are here to present you with this month’s suggestions, books so amazing that they can suit every taste. Once again, this is brought to you with the help of Editura Litera.

Regele Mihai Album Istoric, Diana Mandache

Some might think it’s a controversial choice, but there is no doubt in our minds that this is something you must be hearing about. Yes, Romania was a kingdom and Mihai I was the last of our 4 Kings. This album presents

Brought to you by Editura Litera

To read or not to read?

by Simona Mihalca

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the context of his life and reign, from life to present. Such a great edition will impress you and show you not only rare photos but pieces of life and history you just have to know. Whether it’s the education he received, the ceremonies he was part of or his hobbies, this book will give you a glimpse into the person he is and how he impacted the

history of Romania and not only. It is not an easy task to contain the life of such a personality into a book, but Diana Mandache managed to capture the spirit required, upon diligent research. If by now you think this is a book for historians, do not. This is a book for everyone, a photo album, a living memory of a man whose whole life is history.

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“Aleasa inimii”, Connie Brockway, Eloisa James, Julia Quinn

This one seems simple on the paper: royalty and romance. But is it that simple indeed? So much drama and intrigue with every twist and turn! It will make you want to read more and more, choose your favourite and want to be a part of the world. It’s a pretty light book, but it is a very good read. You have to know if someone will be able to make Hugh Dunne, count of Briarly, change his famous bachelor habits and settle down.

“Angelica. Serbări regale”, Anne Colon

We continue the list of royal intrigue and romance novels. If the last one was “The Bachelor” kind of novel, this one makes you enter quite the history background. You are prompted from the first pages with historical figures such as Ana of Austria, King Ludovic XIV of France, Mazarin (all that’s missing now are the three musketeers). But wait, that is not even the most interesting part. You have to meet Angelica. She will steal your heart, like she did many a man and woman at the royal court. But when disaster strikes, she must face it on her own. What would happen of her?

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“Dragă viaţă”, Alice Munro

Sure, I could start by telling you that Alice Munro won a Nobel Prize for Literature, but I will not. I will ask you to think 2 seconds about what truly comes to mind when you address “Dear life”. Is it good, is it bad? For one, thinking about strangling your sister is bad. But this book is so, so good. It takes you through the whole specter of human emotions, it makes you question everything you know about life so far, every value and every answer. It presents you with every atrocity possible, with disease, sex, weddings and break-ups, adulteries and jealousies, balls and parties. Shortly, our life, the one we must not forget to live.

“Ură, prietenie, dragoste, căsătorie”, Alice Munro

Seems like our books come in some sort of pairs, but this is one hell of a pair. The book presents you a collection of short stories that mean to reach all of life’s aspects: hateship, friendship, courtship, loveship, marriage. The heroes must discover themselves and the world, face their past , escape their parents’ lifestyle and show everyone who they really are. The collection was a National Book Critics Circle Award for Fiction Finalist, listed in the New York Times and TIME Magazine Best Fiction Books, and received the LA Times Book Prize for Fiction. In 2006, the story “The Bear Came over the Mountain” was adapted into a film, Away from Her, directed by Sarah Polley and produced by Atom Egoyan.

Simona Mihalca

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Interview


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