Unearthed Summer 2012
Post on 22-Mar-2016
214 Views
Preview:
DESCRIPTION
Transcript
Unearthed
CONTENTS
01 / CONTENTS
the perks of being a wallflower ………………………...………………………............
argo ………………………...………………………............
skyfall
words to live by for a chronic procrastinator ………………………...………………………............
keeping silence ………………………...………………………............
resolutions talk
intimate moments
LITTLE NOTES
PHOTOGRAPHY
FILM
summer playlist
MUSIC
2
4
6
8
22
23
23
24
WORDS AND PHOTOGRAPHY MICHELLE WONG
WORDS TO LIVE BY For the chronic procrastinator
You know when you’re getting nothing done, say, ever, and this has been going on for far
For some time now, I tell people that I procrastinate as
though I do it for a living. I throw the phrase 'oh, I
procrastinate all the time' around so casually, as though
it's a widely accepted thing and that it's just part of who I
am. I never saw it as a problem, until recently.
Let me walk you through the week before my Year 12
Literature exam. I had not finished reading most of the
books, barely done any revision for it, so naturally,
nerves kicked in. I worked my butt off for the next week,
but quickly realised how tiring it was - not because I was
doing that much work, but because I've never done so
much work, ever. I was exhausted, tired and sleepy all
the time. A big part of me knew that this was a result of
my chronic sense of denial throughout the year, revelling
in continual brashness typically resembling the excuses
'Oh, I'll get it done' and 'it's a long way away'.
After my exam, I made up my mind: I am going to stop
procrastinating.
This was, admittedly, not the first time I've made this
promise to myself. It was, however, the first time I
actually decided to walk myself through why I
procrastinate and do something about it. (Now why didn't
I think of that before?)
OBSTACLE 1: PERFECTIONISM
I fear making anything less than perfect, so I don't try at
all. I will actually sit there, knowing that I have to get task
A done, but don't even start it because, well, it won't turn
out good. I get too focused on it being perfect, that I
forget that to actually get there, I have to do the work.
Solution: Don't think about the end result.
For me, this was really hard to overcome, when I've built
a habit of it for far too long than I'd like to admit to
myself. However, instead of thinking about what the end
result will be and all the pressures that come with it, just
start the project and work from there. It's as simple as
that. Don't attach expectations with it - just start, and
only match your expectations when you are finished.
OBSTACLE 2: APPEAL
We've all been here and always will go through that lack
of motivation for a task because it just doesn't appeal. At
all. You know what's appealing? Hours of browsing Ellen
DeGeneres videos like it's my job. You know what's not
so appealing though? No, not the task, but that night
before it's due and you have no idea what to do and
where to start and your head is a big mush of jelly.
Solution: Honestly? You have to do it anyway.
It took me a while to realise this in all my self-inflicted
chronic procrastination. I have to get it done anyway. It's
not like if I ignore it, it'll just go away like those pretty
little pimples dotted across my face during puberty. So
why not now? For me, a huge motivator was eliminating
the dread of having to do the task three weeks later,
because guess what? You just whooped that task into
the 'finished, never gonna bother you again' faraway
place deserving of a double high five.
And just between you and me, it is extremely liberating.
Kind of like that time you managed to sneak into the
train just before it closes its doors. Except this is way,
way better.
OBSTACLE 3: STICKING WITH IT
Occasionally I will find myself going back to Youtube
even before I finish my tasks, and I'm all, 'You should be
ashamed of yourself girlfriend!' No, not really. The fact is,
too long than you’d like to admit? Well, this is for you.
02 / LITTLE NOTES
I'm still the same person and I'm not ashamed of that.
This is different, though. It's not so much as
procrastination, but a momentary withdrawal moment
from years of chronic procrastination. Fancy that!
However, as soon as you find yourself doing it, stop
yourself for fifteen seconds and think, 'do I really benefit
from this? No, really. Do I?’
Solution: Find a balance
Amidst all this, I truly believe that there needs to be a
balance between work and play. The thing is, if you get
too caught up with work, the moment you delve yourself
into the world of what-you-used-to-do-to-procrastinate,
you won't stop at just sixty videos, because you're
absolutely burned out and you may just head back to
procrastination again. So allocate time to work, but also
allocate time to play. Don't expect to finish it at all at
once just because you're suddenly now so productive.
You need to give yourself a break.
It's looking good from here though, so power on. You'll be
amazed at how much you can get done!
You control the moment, so seize it.
03 / LITTLE NOTES
KEEPING SILENCE
For all my life, I've been guilty of this, but it's only through
this past year that it's come to light.
I'm very good at keeping silent.
Almost too good.
And it's most definitely not healthy. Part of the reason for
this is because I've always valued others' opinions more
than mine, and the other part is a bad habit of mine,
which is assuming that people know what I'm thinking, or
understand my silence somehow. Of course, it's totally
logical to think that people have inner psychic
channelling within them, right?
To some extent, we all think people can understand us,
and know exactly what we're thinking and feeling. Maybe
not all the time, but especially when they're our close
friends or family. I don’t think we necessarily do it
consciously, but it’s just almost part of our nature to
expect others, especially our loved ones, to share our
thoughts because come on, they know us. So we get
angry and super defensive when they make assumptions
about us. We feel betrayed and pull the whole, 'no one
understands me!' and 'you don't know what I'm going
through!' act. And we fail to realise that, sometimes, it is
our own fault that others make assumptions.
How can they know that you're roughing it at home if you
don't tell them? How can they know that you're having a
bad day? How can they know that you've been frustrated
with them for the past three months and giving them the
cold shoulder because of what they did? 'Well they
should know!' Ah ha, but they don't.
I'm not saying, knock on every door of the people that
have pointed fingers at you and spend twenty minutes
on each giving them your life story. Just know this: I can't
think what you're thinking right now. So if I make an
assumption, please don’t lay it all on me. Even though
the assumptions that I make may be wrong, you've given
me nothing else to work with but make those judgments.
If you're willing to accept them, then stay quiet.
Sometimes staying quiet is the best thing when the
situation calls for it. It really is. However, silence can
come back and bite you in the arse when you least
expect it with a laundry list of assumptions. It’s
important to let others know how we feel, what we’re
thinking and just come clean.
It’s time for the honest truth: we’re no psychics and we can’t expect others to be.
04 / LITTLE NOTES
And we fail to realise
that, sometimes, it is our
own fault that others
make assumptions.
0
New Year's Resolutions and I have a pretty strained
relationship.
For the first week or so, Res (oh yes, we're on nickname
terms) and I would have a pretty good thing going on.
We'd look to each other and say, 'we totally get each
other', 'you make me a better person' or 'you're a keeper,
I'm never going to ditch you'. All is good, until we come to
week two, and, well, let's just say Res and I go on a
break and reunite only on January 1st the next year. And
I'm back to my unhealthy routines and habits that Res
would not approve of.
Breaking habits is hard, guys. Self-restraint and
persistence don't just magically appear on January the
1st, it takes time. I've always looked at new year's
resolutions as a concept that I would take upon on the
first day of the year, but I've realised, this rarely ever
works. The novelty of the relationship wears off.
So I thought, 'why not start on my resolutions this
month? Why wait?' I went for runs every day, tried to go
to sleep at a respectable time (still working on that one)
and did more of the things I love. I didn't have a huge list
of resolutions, just a few things I wanted to work on.
Starting a month earlier means you give yourself time to
adjust the resolutions, be realistic about it and really
work towards it. It gives me time to rethink these
resolutions and whether they're too idealistic. It helped
me plan time for it and actually use that time. It's
essentially a test drive.
And I've got to say, it's working.
Of course, there are moments of the day where it's hard
to stick with it, but I push myself because I know that by
the time I start next year, these resolutions are a reality,
rather than something I write about and forget weeks
later. Resolutions are possible, as long as you're realistic
but also know what you can be capable of if you put your
mind to it. And it's all about building habits - that's all
there is. Make consistency your best friend and you'll be
good to go.
So go on, start a month earlier, get ahead and work
towards your resolutions - now!
Resolutions talk You know the drill. New Year’s resolutions have an expiry date of about a
week if you’re lucky. The rest is pretty much history, isn’t it?
PLAN ACT REVISE Routine
It is absolutely crucial to
plan your resolutions out.
This means mapping out
the little steps. E.g. I
wanted to be healthier, so
I incorporated fruits into
my breakfast, and to run
three times a week.
Start putting your resolutions
to practice – yes it’s that
simple! Don’t be too hard on
yourself if you sometimes “tip-
toe” around your resolutions,
although be aware when
you’ve tip-toed too much.
It’s time to make some
adjustments! Don’t stick to the
same regime if it’s not working
for you. Revise your
resolutions; make them better
and more practical.
Make your resolutions a habit,
keep doing it, and you’re going
to wonder why it was a
resolution after all. The more
you do it, the more you persist,
the easier it is.
07 / LITTLE NOTES
Intimate moments
08/ PHOTO
A moment comes and goes, but once experienced, never lost. And there it within stays –
within our fluttering heart and ever warm soul.
THE PERKS OF
BEING Being a Wallflower
As Stephen Chbowsky’s name followed the words
‘directed by’ during the opening credits, a part of me just
lit up. I had no idea! This was the same guy who wrote
the novel. The same novel that I had picked up one day,
couldn’t stop putting down for the rest of the day, and
tried to restrain myself from reading because I simply
didn’t want it to end, but of course failed in doing so.
And it was perfect. It was just like the novel, if not more,
but definitely not any less. Chbowsky captured the spirit
of the book and his characters so brilliantly. Logan
Lerman embodied every aspect of Charlie perfectly – his
expressions, actions, movements in his shy, unsure,
emotional self. His performance here really impressed
me and just shows what a versatile actor he is, for this
was not an easy part to play at all. Logan captured every
nuance of Charlie in all his thoughtfulness, awkwardness
and uncertainty, as well as the raging emotions within
him from his tortured memories, as well as his aching
crush on Sam.
Although Emma Watson’s American accent wasn’t quite
convincing at times, it was nothing but a small detail, for
she captured Sam beautifully. I no longer saw her as
Hermione. Ezra was brilliant as Patrick, a character of
absolute hilarity that delivers just at the right moments,
in spite of his deep, unresolved hurt. These characters
come from a dark, wrecked and broken place, but
somehow their journey manages to inspire and give
hope to the audience. You could tell that these amazing
actors really understood their characters and their
struggles – it truly shines through their incredible
performances.
Parts of Charlie resonated with me throughout. I felt his
deep awkwardness, his inner frustration, his fears, his
emotions. Every second of the film felt real and true.
There was love, yes, but it steered clear from the clichéd
notion of young love. It felt real, more than anything. The
film explored many different levels of high school, as well
as darker, universal themes which we all can relate to –
trying to fit in, dealing with death and loneliness. The
soundtrack was magnificent too, and fit right in with the
story. It really all came together.
Needless to say, Perks lingered in mind even days after
watching it. I feel that people of all ages, adults included,
can take away the same message, and that is the
beautiful notion of acceptance through the experience of
finding ourselves and who we truly are, and most of all,
being comfortable in your own skin.
22 / FILM
Based on the true event of the 1980s CIA-Canadian
secret operation to pull out six fugitive American
diplomatic personnel out of Iran, Argo is an exceptionally
moving and emotional film which really showcases Ben
Affleck as a class and worthy director. However, not only
did he direct the movie, he also delivers an incredibly
engaging and believable performance as Tony Mendez –
a CIA technician who devises a far-fetched escape plan
to pull out the six Americans. Moreover, the overall feel
of the film stayed true to the context of the seventies
through the deliberate decision to make the entire film
grainy and use cinematic colours reminiscent of the
seventies. Although the viewer must be aware that some
liberties have been taken in making this film, Affleck
does a truly brilliant job in presenting the story in a way
that is believable and will have your stomach in knots to
the very end. Overall, Argo is a truly fantastic and
satisfying film.
In celebration of James Bond’s 50th anniversary, Skyfall
proves that there is still more to Bond. In many ways,
this instalment of Bond is very much a character piece,
while still maintaining the rich action that we all love. We
see a more human side to Bond, which is something
rarely seen from the other predecessors of Bond. Bond
is portrayed as slightly older, having lost his edge and
physically weakened due to gunshot wounds retained
from earlier in the film. However, he doesn’t shy away
from his mission and ultimately proves that it is neither
age nor methods that define one’s ability, but
commitment above all.
Javier Bardem puts on a masterful performance as Silva,
a Bond villain unlike any we have seen in Bond history –
unflinching, cruel, flamboyant and full of charisma; who
often outmatches Bond throughout the film. Daniel
Craig, as always, proves that he is more and more
capable as Bond. His performance, along with Bardem’s
and Judi Dench’s as M, creates a thrilling and
unforgettable experience for the viewer. Unlike any other
Bond films, Mendes utilises the experiences and
repercussions of these characters’ history in light of
Bond’s 50th year anniversary to shape its narrative and
action. Skyfall is personal, exciting, tense, incredibly
smart and surprisingly emotional. Quite simply, it’s
absolutely brilliant and you should go see it.
ARGO
Skyfall
23 / FILM
SUMMER 1. HOME - EDWARD SHARPE AND THE MAGNETIC ZEROS
2. BELOW MY FEET – MUMFORD & SONS
3. FEATHERSTONE – THE PAPER KITES
4. CANDLES – DAUGHTER
5. THE UNDERDOG – SPOON
6. MAKE A NOISE – KATIE HERZIG
7. COULD IT BE ANOTHER CHANGE – THE SAMPLES
8. HO HEY – THE LUMINEERS
9. THE DAYLIGHT – ANDREW BELLE
10. BLOOD – MIDDLE EAST
24 / MUSIC
PLAYLIST
25 / MUSIC
11. I’M A CUCKOO – BELLE & SEBASTIAN
12. BEACH COMBER – REAL ESTATE
13. EILEEN – TIN SPARROW
14. IT’S TIME – IMAGINE DRAGONS
15. GOLD ON THE CEILING – THE BLACK KEYS
16. NOTHING LIKE YOU AND I – THE PERISHERS
17. MAGDALENA – THE KILLERS
18. SIMPLE GIRL – DALE EARNHARDT JR JR
19. COME ON EILEEN – DEXYS MIDNIGHT RUNNERS
20. HOW TO LOVE – KEVIN MICHAEL
U N E A R T H E D M A G A Z I N E
ISSUE 1 SUMMER 2012
top related