volume 12, issue 1 september 2012

MITZINE.CA

Disclaimer: The sole responsibility for the content of this publication lies with the authors. Its contents do not reflect the opinion of the University Students Council of the University of Western Ontario (USC). The USC assumes no responsibility or liability for any error, inaccuracy, omission or comment contained in this publication or for any use that may be made of such information by the reader.

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EDITOR -IN-CHIEF Jordan Pearson editor@mitzine.ca MANAGING EDITOR Elizabeth Sarjeant editor@mitzine.ca GRAPHICS EDITOR Antonella Espinoza graphics@mitzine.ca WORLD EDITOR Paul Craig writers@mitzine.ca ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Kevin Hurren writers@mitzine.ca WESTERN LIFE EDITOR Emily Fister writers@mitzine.ca WEB EDITOR Sarah Koopmans web@mitzine.ca ASSISTANT WEB EDITOR Dan Perdic web@mitzine.ca PROMOTIONS COORDINATOR Rel Ollivirrie promo@mitzine.ca

A Note on the Voice

by Warren Steele

westernlife
The Faculty of Information & Moustache Studies by Emily Fister Outside the Bubble: Life beyond the University Gates
by Emily Stewart & Francine Navarro

arts&entertainment
From Leisure to Lecture: Watching Films Through a FIMS Lens by Kevin Hurren A&E Summer In Review
by Kevin Hurren & Sarah Prince

world
Have a Voice: Have a Grve
by Paul Craig

World Summer In Review

by Steve Wright & Kevin Chao

editors note by Jordan Pearson

Things are going to be different now. You can feel it, and maybe youre not even sure why. At least, thats how I felt when I was thrown into the pageantry and excitement of Canadas Best Orientation Program just a few years ago. Youre in a new city, meeting new people, doing new things, and who knows? Maybe youll even learn something along the way. I have to tell you something, though. Are you sitting down? Okay, here it is: youre in FIMS. Youre not just going to learn something, youre going to rethink everything. See? Your gut instinct was right things are going to be different now. In fact, nothing is going to be the same. The mitZine is part of that. In these pages youre not going to find the rah-rah rhetoric foisted upon you since your arrival. What you will find are the individual voices of students like yourself - opinions, commentary, criticism, anything you want to say. Because for all the Your O-Week taglines plastered on the universitys website, when do you really get to say what you think? Instead of shouting slogans at you and six thousand other students from a platform, we want to give you the stage, so to speak. Because thats what FIMS is all about: learning about media and the world around us and then saying something meaningful about it. Were not passive observers here, and neither are you. In FIMS and here at the Zine were not content to sit in the metaphorical Talbot Bowl of the world and listen to a hyped-up spokesperson repeatedly tell us, Make some noise! No, we make the noise ourselves and on our own terms. We get up and take the mic. We speak our minds. We use our voices. O-Week, the summers biggest movies, the Montreal student protests, a guide of what to do in London, and your summer in review; its all in here, but I can guarantee its not what you expect or remember. You might find it exciting, funny, and maybe even confusing at first but thats FIMS - we take the world and turn it on its head. So, this is it. This is your year, your O-Week, your Zine; dont take it sitting down. If you want to shake things up and have a say, youre in the right place with the right publication in your hands. Pick up a pen, fire up your computer, write for the mitZine, and say something. Youve got a voice, use it.

editor-in-chief Jordan Pearson

meet the team the editorial staff of vol.12

managing editor Elizabeth Sarjeant

graphics editor Antonella Espinoza

world editor Paul Craig

western life editor Emily Fister

a&e editor Kevin Hurren

promotions coordinator Rel Ollivirrie

web editor Sarah Koopmans

assistant web editor Dan Perdic

The truth is, there is no outside to which I can jump.

A Note On the Voice

by Warren Steele

It

is difficult to say something about the voice, and in my case to write, however loosely, about the practice of writing, or to say whatever it is that can be said about the work I undertake when I write in a voice that belongs to me. It is difficult because I wonder if I have ever done this. What is it to write in a voice that is mine or to cultivate a style that could be called my own? The whole thing seems preposterous and yet who can doubt its necessity. Perhaps what matters is not the realization of a certain tone that I adopt or somehow recognize as mine, but the nature of this work that compels me each time to say something I feel to be true. Maybe its strange to start like this. Maybe I should say something about technology, about the ways in which our abiding faith in its power to improve us can devastate our capacity to speak. Not because what we say is somehow devoid of meaning in a time mediated by tools that necessarily degrade us. They dont. But because each of us is always already integrated into a socio-economic system which encourages the uncritical adoption of a common language that too many mistake for their own. I think it was Debord who said that the more readily we recognize our own needs in the images of need proposed by this system, the less we understand our own existence and our own desires. And if this is true, and I think it is, then I feel the consequences of this practice more keenly now than ever, perhaps because Im older or because I no longer need the same things, having rejected the products of a corporatized youth culture that, to my eyes, seems specifically designed to engender the desire to lose yourself . But maybe Im being unfair. After all, has it ever been any different? And when I say it Im not just talking about the power of technology as it mediates and conditions this thing we call culture, nor the labour that translates 4 [mitZine v11.i1]

the experience of capitalist-modernity into the language of pop culture. Im also referring to the dangers that are present whenever we choose to critique the industries that constitute what is called culture. As if in choosing to fulfill the role of commentator or critic, one could legitimately claim to stand outside the world one is trying understand. The truth is, there is no outside to which I can jump. Like all of you, my life is mediated by technical systems I do not control, just as my thinking is conditioned, and in some sense determined, by the various struggles that not only precede my birth, but will no doubt continue to shape me until the day that I die. What Im trying to say, ultimately, is that in order to speak in a voice that belongs to you then as students you must first learn how, because without knowing what it is that affects, infects, occludes, and overrides the ways in which we communicate there is no voice to speak of. Indeed, if the notion that I am somehow separate from the system that prompts me to speak unknowingly, both in its name and on its terms, is itself a delusion then I have no other choice but to find a way to forcibly open up a space within it that I can classify unequivocally as mine. And that takes work. It requires reading and thinking and writing. More than this, it requires that one learn how to read, and think, and write, for as Judith Butler put it: Individuation is an accomplishment, not a presupposition, and certainly no guarantee.

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your o-week

The Faculty of Information & Moustache Studies

by Emily Fister

rom Charlie Chaplin to Lady Gaga, the stache symbolizes an ironic lifestyle throughout popular culture. Although ridiculously good-looking and trendy, the mitZine likes to think that there is more substance to this image than an Urban Outfitters teacup collection. After all, its our unofficial faculty mascot.

The history of FIMS obsession with facial hair is uncharted. Our faculty soph culture appropriates the moustache to

represent a counterculture attitude. Whether adopting the persona of badass bandits (see: moustache bandanas) or raising funds for Shinerama with Stache-o-rama, the symbol has become FIMS way of standing out from the O-Week crowd.
Youve been bombarded with pre-university media promotions and expectations, but now its finally time to break down

the hype. Were going to demystify the moustache, try to tame the loose hairs, and make your frosh week make sense.

Why do we care about facial hair?

im Blackmore, FIMS professor and MIT 1200 lecturer, admits that the fascination with the moustachealthough vagueis a quirky way to question identity. I think it was originally just a gag that let people goof with gender boundaries in a fun way.

FIMS is, essentially, the faculty that bends boundaries. In the next few years, youll be taught to appreciate and critique lowbrow and highbrow culture. Remixing, refuting, and rethinking are all part of our mediated discussions. So where does the hair come in? Theres no one pioneer within the moustache movement. Along with Blackmores thought, I propose a poster boy for FIMS facial hair fetish: Marcel Duchamp, a visual artist known for his brash style, is one possible cultural connoisseur to look to. What better way to question high culture than to vandalize it? Duchamp took Leonardo DaVincis Mona Lisa, gave that girl a stache, and reverted gender norms in the haute couture of Paris in 1919. He also added a cheeky caption: L.H.O.O.Q. When said aloud en franais, it literally translates to: She has a hot ass. With the Mona Lisa no longer a high culture artwork, gallery goers were disturbed this surely was low culture. By subverting an infamous artistic icon, Duchamp flipped the art world on its head. The general public started to question his art. Was it actually art? Was the Mona Lisa still a woman? As a part of FIMS, youll be encouraged to be critical of whats around you and get people talking. And that even means being critical of your own faculty.

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From image to reality

yan Hurlbut, fourth year Honors Specialization in MIT, assumed the stache was just a quirky hipster symbol. If it was supposed to reflect the theories of MIT, then that connection was never made to me.

He admits that FIMS facial fixation isnt the facultys only disjointed image. There is also the problem of preuniversity promotion. The front page of the FIMS website does little to capture the fact that the program is primarily based on theory, showing multiple images of multimedia production that isnt present. Looking back to when he first applied to the faculty, Hurlbut feels that FIMS wasnt accurately represented. The three streams of our faculty (MIT, MTP, and MPI) are often lumped under this general image of multimedia and production, which can be confusing to first year students. At the university fair, I was not even made aware of the existence of the MTP (Media, Theory and Production) program, and therefore connected the prevalent production imagery to the MIT program. Although these promotional images dont disclose what FIMS is exactly, theres plenty of room to discover what it could mean to you. Kyla Garvey, fourth year Honors Specialization in Media and the Public Interest (MPI), mentions that personalization is key. You really have to mould MIT to you, she says. You have to accept the fact that in the first year, youre going to have to go outside your comfort zone in terms of the classes you want to take. They may not be made for you but its all a learning process.

In her third year, Garvey found her niche. MPIs social justice and alternative media focus allowed her to pursue an internship in Malaysia at the Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ). She keeps drawing on the theories she learned in first year and says that staying open-minded as a frosh really helped her make sense of FIMS. Be yourself and be critical because all of the work you put in during first year will pay off. The freedoms youll have in third and fourth year will make it all worth it.

Life is like a John Reed lecture

IMS moves pretty fast. If you dont stop and look around once in awhile, you just could miss it. Although Ferris Bueller isnt your classmate and we really dont encourage you to take too many days off from school (seriously, go to tutorial), his wide-eyed charm provides some insight. First year is fast, and it might not all make sense at this very moment but it will click eventually. My first year can be summed up in a high-speed John Reed lecture, Alice Kim, a third year Film student and former MIT frosh, says, reflecting on the energetic MIT 1500 professor. I remember he told us, The first lecture wont make any sense to you, but I swear to God it will make sense in the end. Blackmore echoes this sentiment. No frosh should be worrying about where MIT is going, he says. Well get there in the same bus. Much like the ambiguous moustache, there is no one meaning to FIMS. This might not make sense to you in the whirlwind that is O-Week, but thats okay. Youre only in first year and its up to you to make this experience uniquely yours. Discover the options of MTP and MPI, consider joining extra-curriculars during Clubs Week, and remember that youve got a couple hundred frosh friends that feel the same way. Like the daring Duchamp, make your own meaning out of this undergrad experience not the meaning thats been made for you in the pre-university media. Commending the commitment of the sophs, faculty, and alumni, Blackmore notes that first year will be a time of transition. The Orientation process has been seen as a way to let incoming students know theyre not alone, that lots of

people have had the experience theyre about to have, and that everything will work out all right. FIMS has undergone its fair share of scrutiny in the past year. Following the Rogers Chair panel discussion that addressed the current state of FIMS and its future, the mitZine Online published an article (FIMS is Broken, But We Can Fix It) to open up the critical discussion that we as a faculty pride ourselves on. With faculty members and students weighing in on everything from curriculum structure to media promotion, one main question stood out: What is FIMS and is it working? We might not have an answer yet, but there are enough people who care about our diverse and unique faculty to keep the debate going. Always willing to chat during office hours over tea and Oreos in the midst of his superhero memorabilia, Blackmore remains optimistic. Lets sit and talk together, he says. Lets have working discussions about school, where we came from and what we bring with us. Lets talk about what media means to us, and how technology affects us, and what we think the definition of information is. Lets ask each other where we get our information, and what we think constitutes good information. In typical Blackmore fashion, he adds one final, diplomatic thought: Or we could go to the pub.

Outside the Bubble:

Life Beyond the University Gates
The Western Fair by Emily Stewart
If you still have energy after O-week, stop by Londons legendary Western Fair. Every year, a midway filled with rides and games takes over the fairgrounds at 8 Rectory Street. For those who cant hold it together on the Tilt-a-Whirl, you can visit critters big and small at either the Agriplex or Little Rays Rainforest Exhibit. A week-long concert line up boasts big name Canadian groups like Marianas Trench and Down with Webster at the Grand Stand. For up-and-coming local artists, mingle at the Molson Music Garden. This year, all major concerts will be held on the Coca-Cola Free Stage at no cost, with BC band Faber Drive kicking off the show. Throughout the year, the Western Fair District buildings are stocked with clothing sales, community events, comedy shows, and a farmers market.

Covent Garden Market by Emily Stewart

If you are looking for a bite to eat and youre sick of food on campus, The Covent Garden Market is the place to go. The market offers a variety of choicFes, from Portuguese restaurant Manitos to Japanese restaurant Tanaka. There are even two performance halls: the not-for-profit Conservatory of Music and the Spriet Family Original Kids Theatre Company. Cultural festivals take place outside the front of the market during the summer and early fall, and ice skating is open during the winter. Be sure to check out A Childs View from Gaza Paintings on September 22nd, featuring artwork from children from Gaza. The Covent Garden Market is also close to the John Labatt Centre, so make a stop before the show the 130 King Street location is just a bus ride away.

The JLC by Francine Navarro

As one of the citys major entertainment spots, the John Labatt Centre (JLC) is the perfect way to ease essay-weary minds. If youre looking for off-campus sporting events, why not cheer for the local team at a London Knights hockey game? If youre a music lover, break the monotony of the school year and check out the concert scene. The JLC has hosted big names like Billy Talent, Sarah McLachlan, The Black Keys, Selena Gomez, and Jason Mraz. Conveniently located near the intersection of Dundas Street and Talbot Street, the JLC is just a short bus ride away from campus.

Although Western is pretty much its own city, youll want to burst the student bubble and explore all that London has to offer. The mitZine has compiled only a few of our favourite spots in the Forest City - its now up to you to get acquainted with your second home.

Richmond Row by Francine Navarro

You can always find something to do in Londons most popular shopping and entertainment district. Browse through the familiar shelves of American Apparel or try something more exotic at Tribal Mountain Trade. Indulge in some comfort food at Jack Astors or treat yourself to delicious vegetarian and vegan-friendly dishes at Veg Out. Home to bars like the Ceeps, Jacks, Jim Bobs, Tap House, and Molly Blooms, Richmond Row is also known for its active student nightlife. If youre looking for something more laid back, take a stroll through Victoria Park or hold study sessions at cafs like Williams Coffee Pub and Coffee Culture. With its diverse directory of shops and eateries, Richmond Row is likely to satisfy the tastes and interests of all Western students.

Wortley Village by Francine Navarro

For all you old souls hoping to retreat from campus, take a trip to Londons Old South neighbourhood, Wortley Village. The streets of this historic community are lined with vintage homes and independently owned businesses that exude a refreshing small-town charm. If you ever find yourself on Wortley Road, enjoy a cup of organic, fair trade coffee at the cozy Black Walnut Caf or join a lively conversation at the Old South Village Pub. While youre at it, why not stop by the Village Harvest Bakery for a freshly baked loaf of bread? If you need to stock up on tunes, browse through some vinyl at The Village Idiot, one of Londons best record stores. There arent any direct bus routes from campus to Wortley Village, but there are many ways to get to Wortley Road. You can take a taxi, ride your bike, or transfer to the 4A or 4B Oxford East until it turns to Ridout Street. Wortley Village is a hidden gem thats definitely worth discovering.

Aeolian Hall by Emily Stewart

The Aeolian Hall hosts a variety of concerts with great acoustics from local, national, and international artists. For those with diverse musical appetites, the hall is well known for its eclectic mix of acts. From multicultural concerts, such as Irish Sextet Fullset (performing on September 16th), to Canadian indie acts like Great Lake Swimmers (September 20th), youll be sure to satisfy your concert cravings. If youre an art lover, check out work by local visual artists, such as Wayne Smith and Sarah Crowling. Interested in an arts management career? The Aeolian Hall is a great place to start! For show and volunteer info, check out their website or stop by on 795 Dundas St, West.

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yourarts&entertainment

Its a Friday afternoon, last period of the day, and by the time you hear the faint squeaking of the wheels and see the black edges of the television set, the class will have already erupted in cheers. This mobile television set usually accompanied by a substitute teacher is the universal high school symbol for a class free from work. As the teacher sets up the DVD player, the rest of the class puts their books away, adjusts their chairs, and prepares to spend the remaining class time napping, texting, or disassembling/reassembling pens.

Although such film breaks were an oasis from work in high school, especially if the movie took up multiple classes, in university a film watched in class provides some of the courses most challenging material. In the Faculty of Information & Media Studies, you will undoubtedly encounter courses where films are included on the list of examined texts. What once symbolized a break from curriculum now represents an important part of essays, class discussions, and final examinations. Not only will you need to pay attention, but youll also want to have opinions, critiques, and thoughts about the film which youll need to share with your peers and professors. As such, it is important to become an active participant in a film screening, rather than just a passive spectator.

Youll become more familiar with such terms as you begin your journey into not only your FIMS courses but also your Film, English, and other faculty electives. Basically, outside of such film-as-text courses we usually watch films based on their entertainment value. There is nothing inherently wrong with this as everyone enjoys the occasional escape from routine, the trip to the movies where one can sit back and enjoy the show. However, now that youre a FIMS student its important to move beyond the trivial and begin watching films with a critical eye. Though your professors may provide some direction on working towards this goal, here are some tips to use when watching your next film.

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Do some research on the making of the film. Usually a professor or TA will distribute a syllabus including a list of films youll watch and when youll watch them. Use this outline to do a quick factchecking search before the film is screened, collecting information like when the film was released, who directed it, who wrote it, and so on. While such details may seem insignificant at first, you can sometimes get an additional perspective on the film when taking into account its historical context or the directors personal story. Even looking at the studio that produced the film can help you get an idea about what influenced the films direction. Understand how the film was marketed. You may already be familiar with many of the films you look at in class, but take some time to examine promotional material such as trailers or movie posters. The advertising team uses all this publicity to try to tell you how to perceive the film. As a FIMS student youll quickly learn not to allow anything, especially advertisements, to tell you what to think. For example, the trailers for the 1991 classic Thelma & Louise paint the movie as a lighthearted road-trip comedy. By advertising the film in this way, moviegoers were surprised to watch the much darker and violent elements of the story. Was this decision made to shock audiences or simply to attract more ticket buyers? Asking these kinds of questions can help with your analysis and is another component of the film as a whole to keep in mind. Do not take anything at face value. The key to this is keeping a very open mind and looking beyond what is literally on screen. Yes, sometimes a relationship between a mother and a daughter can symbolize the relationship between a mother and a daughter, but sometimes that same relationship can represent the strains of a segregated community or the tension during the prohibition era. Even if the creators of the film had no intention to form such parallels, that doesnt mean they dont exist and might make for very engaging essay topics. Take a look at the role of women in the film. While the depiction of women isnt always a part of a class discussion, it can be revealing to observe the ways that women are portrayed. Something interesting to do with a film youve just watched is whats called the Bechdel Test. The Bechdel Test can be one of many tools to determine if stereotypes concerning the token woman are being reinforced or depended upon in a film. The three stages of the test are as follows: 1. Does the film have at least two named women in it? 2. Do these women talk to each other? 3. Do they talk about something other than a man? If the answer is yes to all three questions, then the film passes the test. It sounds simple, but youd be surprised how many films fail to pass such criteria. For instance, you may not have realised it but all of the superhero movies mentioned in our Summer in Review section like The Avengers, The Amazing Spider Man and The Dark Knight Rises fail this test. This concept can be extended to account for the depiction of any kind of minority in a film, be it based upon race, religion, or sexual orientation. Analyzing such roles, while also considering who created the film, can tell you a bit more about how a minority is being portrayed in a film, and the implications for the wider viewing audience.

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Finally, and perhaps most importantly, take an interest in the film. There will be times throughout your career in FIMS when youll have to watch a kind of film you are unfamiliar with. Whether its black and white, a foreign language film, a musical, or a combination of the three, you only get as much out of the viewing experience as you put into it.

All the points mentioned above can not only assist with an in-class analysis of a film, but with anything you watch. You dont need an outline or a rubric to think critically, and I encourage you to remember some of the things discussed in this article the next time you watch a film for fun. Sometimes we can surprise ourselves with the connections

we make and the conclusions we come to. Never underestimate your thoughts, and if a time ever comes where youd like to share and express such thoughts outside of the classroom, dont forget about the Zine. This Arts & Entertainment section thrives off of your unique interpretations and critiques of not only films but television series, literature,

music, art, and technology. The tips in this article and the vocabulary youll learn in FIMS will help you form and articulate such interpretations, but ultimately how much you take away from a film screening is up to you. Remember, a theatre asks you to turn your cell phone off during the movie, not your brain.
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Tom Cruise & Katie Holmes Divorce by Sarah Prince

This Canada Day weekend, celebrity drama junkies refused to partake in firework-lit patriotic celebrations, preferring to keep their eyes on news surrounding the divorce of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, eager to discover what caused the split. Though Katie cites irreconcilable differences, sources close to the couple previously known as TomKat reveal that Toms devotion to Scientology was a crucial reason Katie called it quits after 5 years of marriage. The peculiar relationship between Tom and Katie, dubbed Hollywoods most suspicious couple, has been shrouded in mysterious rumors and odd behaviour from the very start. Whether its disposable cellphones, fired security staff, secret apartments, or a silent birth on a boat, the mystique of this celebrity super couple went beyond the likes of Brangelina or Bennifer. It comes as no surprise, then, that the end of their relationship is equally as puzzling. For instance, Katies decision to call Tom and give him the news while he was away in Iceland only fueled the tabloids coverage of Katies daring escape from the horrible and controlling relationship. While 11 days is barely long enough to remember where all your classes are, thats how quickly TomKat reached a divorce settlement. The rushed and mysterious nature of the divorce left room for imagination in the media coverage, and suddenly a simple and quiet celebrity divorce became Katie Holmes journey to freedom away from her overbearing husband and the effects of a mind-controlling religion. However, such story manipulation is nothing new to the celebrity and tabloid

1
be an escaping sweetheart to TMZ, Us Weekly and the like, she may not be quite the victim she is portrayed to be. Throughout the divorce process, Katie has wasted no time developing her career as she began filming a movie about a single mom based on her very own screenplay. Maybe Katie is taking

arts&entertainment
media. The blurring of reality and the shaping of true events for entertainment value has long been the goal of such media outlets. Reality seems to take a back seat while the real life events get re-written by Hollywoods greatest scriptwriters: the gossip magazines. What may be a messy and emotional process for Tom and Katie has been so conveniently summed up in a beginning, middle and end with a climax and a number of subplots. Because the disastrous events of the marriage have been presented in such a convenient and scandalous way, we have forgotten to ask about the truth. While Katie may

SUMMER IN RE
tips from Nicole Kidman, whose divorce from Tom Cruise did wonders for the Australians career. Of course, we can only speculate about Tom and Katies scheming, as we do with any celebrity relationship. Maybe Katie really did just fall out of love. Maybe shes still searching for the Dawson to her Joey.

Girls on HBO by Sarah Prince

The school year and our favourite TV series wrap up at around the same time, leaving us with some time to spend outside enjoying the summer weather. However, HBOs Girls, the brainchild of Lena Dunham and Judd Apatow, ensured that everyone had a guilty pleasure to look forward to on Sunday evenings over the summer. The Emmy-nominated show sheds light on young women living in NYC without the affluent lifestyles of Sex and the City or Gossip Girl characters. Girls refreshing and realistic approach to discussing sex, adulthood and body image transformed writer, director, producer and lead actress Lena Dunham into one of the most talked-about comedic women in Hollywood, not to mention a very popular Twitter user. A number of qualities make the show truly unique. For instance, the women on the show dont look like theyve walked off the runway when they wake up, nor are their wardrobes distractingly stylish. In addition to

deglamorizing the metropolis that is New York, Girls somehow also made masturbation, STDs, raves and the like into acceptable lady talk. The women interact in an intimate way that isnt sexualized, immature, or played up for drama. There is an honesty and a maturity behind the show that is rare in television, especially with female ensembles set in New York. If you missed it this summer catch up on Girls before its cast returns for another romp in season two.

R4 EVIEW
Though E.L. James Fifty Shades trilogy was published last summer, this collection of romantic fantasy stories belongs on our list for its record-breaking sales this summer. In fact, within these past few months Fifty Shades of Grey beFrustrated with how fashion magazines arent helping in the development of high self-esteem, 14 year-old Julia Bluhm initiated a petition asking Seventeen magazine to publish an unaltered photo shoot in each upcoming issue. 86,000 signatures later, Bluhm convinced Seventeen edi-

Its a bird! Its a plane! Its a... blockbuster? That appeared to be the trend this summer with back to back superhero film releases. One would think that their box office success would be in direct competition, but it seems that fans of the comic book films are as tireless and relentless as the heroes they enjoy to watch. Fans are so determined to see such characters come to life that The Avengers, The Amazing Spider-Man, and The Dark Knight Rises hold three of the top five spots in the list of 2012s highest grossing films. What is it about the hero genre that appeals

to audiences so much? The action? The superpowers? The story? Or has Hollywood finally calculated a fail-safe formula for profits? One handful of celebrities, a dash of computer generated graphics, a sprinkle of spandex and tah dah! A box office smash. The question that remains is how much longer this trend will continue before the magic formula gets difficult to swallow. Moviemakers show no sign of slowing down, with sequels to Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, The Amazing Spider Man, and Wolverine all scheduled for release in 2013. Not to mention Man of

Superhero Flicks by Kevin Hurren

Steel, a new Superman reboot set to fill the void that the Dark Knight finale left in our hearts and Christopher Nolans schedule. With so many heroes lined up for the big screen, its very possible that once-loyal fans will tire of the heroic yet repetitive action. This summer marked a high point in the costume frenzy, but the trend will not last forever. As weve learned from the comics these films are based on, a heros journey can end in two ways hanging up the cape gracefully or failing in the midst of battle. Well see which path this trend takes.

Fifty Shades of Grey by Kevin Hurren

came the fastest selling paperback of all time, beating out numbers held by J.K. Rowlings Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. What could have knocked the magical adventures of Harry Potter off the top spot? It seems readers crave adventure of a different variety as Fifty Shades of Greys most notable feature is its erotic scenes featuring elements of bondage, discipline, and submission. What the series has accomplished, in addition to selling so many copies, is create a dialogue about the world of BDSM and other related sexual fetishes. Whether its to escape, fantasize, or just satisfy curiosity, readership for the series continues to grow. If youre one of the ones who didnt get a chance to read through the sexual exploits of Fifty Shades protagonist Anastasia Steele this summer then fear not, for Universal Pictures and Focus Features have already secured the film rights for the trilogy.

Seventeens Commitment to Diversity by Sarah Prince

tors to sign a Body Peace Treaty, which entailed cutting down on digital postproduction thats detrimental to young womens perspective of beauty. Though Seventeen will continue making small adjustments to photos, such as removing models stray hairs, readers can celebrate the magazines new commitment to emphasizing real beauty, all thanks to the determination of a 14 year-old girl. As part of a faculty that focuses so much on the bias and influence of such media outlets, its nice to hear a step was taken in a positive direction over the summer.

6. Katy Perry exposes a raw and vulnerable side of herself to her pre-teen fans, and OMG its in 3D! 7. It all stays in the family as the Modern Family cast sweeps 2012 Emmy nominations. 8. Googles Nexus 7 and Microsofts Surface Tablets aim to give Apples iPad a run for its money. 9. Kristen Stewart cheats on Robert Pattinson. Though Stewart isnt the first celebrity to cheat, shes a woman, so get your pitchforks and torches. 10. Young Empires connects with Facebook to release the first of potentially many interactive music videos.

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yourworld

Have a Voice, Have a Grve

The Quebec-wide Grve tudiant is definitely not the Fight Club. The Grve (French for strike) has been talked about in so many ways by so many people with so many political stripes, coloured squares, and haircuts that I refuse to go over anything but the most skeletal details. To put it as simply as possible, the incumbent Parti Libral du Qubec planned last year to raise Quebecs university tuition. A large group of Qubcois students protested by walking out on their second semester classes and have been on strike ever since. There have been both large and small demonstrations, some of which were violent but most of which werent. Finally, the PLQ called an election for September 4th, so tune in to RadioCanada for the results. Moving on. Je suis vraiment dsol if you wanted to read about the Grve, but --rejoice!-for youll find it discussed in practically every other Canadian media outlet. For those of you who came here specifically for the mitZines inevitably left-leaning critique of the tyrannical governments injustices against the egalitarian utopia of Quebecs progressive student movements, well you can find that elsewhere too. Rabble.ca would be my recommendation. Search for Ethan Cox. No, Im here to talk about voices, because the story of the Quebec Montral student/radical/popular strike/protest for rights/entitlements is a particularly good example of bad storytelling. At least one Molotov cocktail in the Toronto Sun becomes Molotov cocktails in the National Post, finally becoming a series of them in the Montreal Gazette. Later, a crowd of 100,000 in the National Post doubles in the French-language Journal de Montral, before swelling to 400,000 as reported by the Montreal Media Collective ForgetTheBox.net. And all this for a 75% tuition increase that would cost 50 cents a day in the Globe and Mail, 69 cents a day in the Huffington Post, while nevertheless remain the lowest in North America. Its almost every day that more facts are abused: either contorted, overstressed, repainted, or just neglected. No wonder the United Nations Human Rights Commissioner rebuked Quebec. One thing to understand about the Grve is that it is a very Qubec issue. Tuition in Quebec now stands at an average of $2519, which is quite low by Ontarian standards. But Quebecs taxes are quite high by Ontarian standards, even while, selon Statistics Canada, Quebecs average income is lower than Ontarios. And, yes, its true: Quebecs debt is enormous and the government heavily subsidizes its universities. So the answer to the question of

by Paul Craig

whether the money is needed is yes, which leaves the problem of where that money should come from. The Quebec government thinks the students, while Quebec students think the government--neither of which are very nuanced viewpoints. Obviously, issues of accessibility, of inflation, of the relative value and ultimate purpose of university education are all at stake. The province of Quebec currently faces a debate with far-reaching implications in which the facets and subtleties that bear inspection are manifold. So where are they? In Toronto, the Grve is rarely commented on soberly. Souvent, we are presented simplistic emotional appeals as arguments where the repetition of certain key ideas, surgically removed from context, are meant to inspire petulance rather than reasoned analysis. On May 30th of this year, M. George Jonas of the National Post had this to add to the public forum: Theyre natures tax bill: The young of every generation who have more energy than judgment in our times, aggravated by diploma factories educating students beyond their intellectual means, and flooding their limited analytical and moral capacity with liberal infusions of quasi-Marxist sewage until it overflows into terminal self-righteousness. Ill admit an editorial decision in picking this quote in particular: while exceedingly belligerent, it lacks any specific references to Quebec. But the fact is that Jonas article - ostensibly about Montreals *ahem* rioting students - rarely mentions the situation

in Quebec, preferring to focus on several Cold-War era uprisings against Soviet satellite governments. While impossible to fault his 21st-century history, M. Jonas nevertheless fails to prove a deep understanding of contemporary Quebec. His arguments against Montreals protesting students are that he likes neither young people nor the diplomafactories (i.e., universities) we attend, and with his university-level English he binds and then lashes us collectively. So, yes, while I confess to being irked by the broad generational flogging of M. Jonas, his is just one out of the marvellously harmonised rightwing choir at the National Post, all tearing down the right of students in a different province (therefore a different jurisdiction), to have a different schooling system than the one we have here in Ontario. But its unfair to single out the Post. Margaret Wente of the Globe and Mail deserves an honourable mention, narrowly beating a howling throng of columnists from the Toronto Sun, Macleans, and occasionally the Toronto Star. In fact, nearly all of the voices from every Toronto daily have set their set their co-ordinates squarely on the Universit du Qubec Montral and are in the process of discharging their considerable literate artillery at

a motivated group of young people contesting a 75% tuition increase; and who further resent that their elected government for months ignored the unified cry of hundreds of thousands of its citizens. Its true: the Grve in the news is a slowly-revolving cacophony of voices all screaming conflicting things at each other from opposing sides of a language divide. But the problem, my dear mediaorites, is not that I disagree with some of them (or most of them): the problem isnt - and never will be - a lively discourse in the public sphere. The problem (as noted by the Parisian Le Monde Diplomatique) is the relatively poor quality of the arguments against the Quebec students that have largely become the standard opinion of the Canadian English media. And the result is the inevitable consequence of preaching, of prating, of painting your opinion onto the public consciousness whether on pages of newsprint or the walls of brick: is that if you keep talking, people listen. Because thats whats coming out of our province. Because thats what people without opinions read, and then slowly begin to absorb. Thats why my mother told me: You know that if they win it means that youre going to have to pay more.

Well does it? The complicated answer is probably not. The simple answer is no. The introduction to my conclusion, my dear reader, is media literacy: exploring both sides of an argument and usually finding the truth buried somewhere in between. Media literacy means listening to whats being said, smiling a small smile and then replying with Well, not quite. So yes, one must be media literate, but even more than that theres the need the obligation - to respond: the necessity of having your own voice if you dont like what you hear in the voices of others. Because without a voice of your own, the absence is filled by the National Post. Your voice is your only defense against the voice of the caustic M. Jonas, of the poisonous Mme. Wente, of all those who yell entitlements and handouts at a generation that is working damned hard to become who we will. It just takes one voice to propose a law, another to reject it. With your one voice you can break a government, and with our one voice we can build a country. The tenacity to speak out is the potential to influence, and the power to influence is the power to change. So if you have an opinion, make it intelligent, make it articulate, and, most of all, make it compelling. And then, for Gods sake, expound.
[mitZine v11.i1]

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Higgs Boson by Steve Wright

In July, physicists in Switzerland announced they had strong evidence for the existence of the Higgs Boson, the most soughtafter particle in physics for almost 50 years. The excitement within the scientific community was at a fever pitch. Meanwhile, everyone else wondered what exactly had happened. So immediately after the announcement, physicists everywhere had to explain it as they would to five-year-old children.

Basically, the Higgs Boson is everywhere a little bit like the Matrix. It permeates everything in the universe, even empty space. The accepted theory states that only when particles come into contact with the Higgs Boson do they become physical matter, so to speak. The discovery of the Higgs Boson is so important because it has been used extensively to theorize the field of particle physics, without physicists knowing for certain that it existed. Its kind of a big deal, apparently.

Eurocup by Kevin Chao

Soccer once again proved to be the worlds most popular sport, as millions of European and non- European fans alike watched, awestruck, as Spain secured their place as Euro 2012 champions. Fans rejoiced, legends were made, and the 2012 UEFA European Football Championship made its mark on sports

history as a memorable tournament, to say the least. Spain may not have broken the Italians spirit, but they certainly broke records during the final match in Kiev, Ukraine. Not only was their 4-0 victory over the Italians the first of its kind, but Spain became the first team to ever win three major international tourna-

SUMMER IN RE 2
ments in a row, after winning the Euro 2008 and the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The momentum Spain has built up shows no sign of slowing down, and fans have the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil to look forward to.

world news

Luka Magnotta by Steve Wright

Seldom do Canadians make international headlines, but earlier this summer Luka Magnotta gave us a hand with that. On May 29th, the national headquarters of the Conservative Party of Canada received a left foot in the mail, while Canada Post intercepted a left hand destined for the Liberal Party headquarters. The story made international news almost immediately. Four days before the discovery of the

body parts, Magnotta posted the murder video online. Initially, authorities ignored reports about the video, but once the body parts started showing up, police obtained the video and identified Luka Magnotta as the murderer. Before he could be detained in Canada, he fled to Europe. Magnotta was quickly put on an international watch list, and on June 4th in a rather anticlimactic fashion German police apprehended Magnotta in a Berlin Internet cafe.

R EVIEW
Mohammed Morsi won Egypts first free presidential election on June 24th, over Unless youve been living under un rocher this August, you probably watched the Olympics. Held in the other London from the 27th of July to the 12th of August, the 2012 Summer Olympics were the latest iteration in a sporting tradition that, under the International Olympic Committee, stretches one hundred and sixteen years. The first summer Olympics, held in 1896 in Athens, Greece, consisted of 241 athletes from

More than a year has passed since Mohamed Bouazizi set himself on fire in the streets of Tunisia, but the uprisings that he inadvertently triggered have continued to shape the political landscape this summer, with the ongoing replacement of previously unyielding dictatorships by elected governments. This July, Libyans celebrated their first election since the overthrow of Muammar al-Qaddafi, whose four decades of rule ended last October. The heavilypublicized Libyan civil war of last year may have cost thousands of lives, but the country has changed hopefully for the better because of the rebellions commitment to a free political environment.

Rebellion, Reform, & Revolution in the Arab Spring by Kevin Chao

a year after Hosni Mubarak was forced from office. Morsi a leading figure of the Muslim Brotherhood is engaged in a political power struggle with the Egyptian military, which opposes the Islamic movement he represents. Furthermore, Iran has been keen to restore friendly relations with Egypt since Morsis victory, which Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad described as the final stage of the Islamic awakening. With pressure from both Iran and the contrasting Western states not to mention a constitutional crisis President Morsis first few weeks on the job have proven just how crucial his position is, and how carefully he must tread. Finally, on July 16th the Red Cross classified the conflict in Syria as a civil war. Since March of last year, President Bashar alAssads brutal repression of a rebel uprising has caused an estimated 19,000 deaths. Western countries have been pushing to impose sanctions on the state in order to end the escalating conflict, but a UN motion was vetoed by Russia and China, who argued that the Syrian government was not solely responsible. The two Security Council members believe that the Western powers are interested only in ending the dictators regime, motivated by their own political agenda. UN Special Envoy to Syria Kofi Annan stepped down August 2nd, claiming that without serious international pressure it is impossible to begin a political process. Foreign intervention seems unlikely, as al-Assad has threatened to use an array of chemical weapons on invaders. The Obama administration has offered $25 million of non-lethal assistance, but many Americans have criticized Obamas lack of legitimate action during the Syrian bloodbath. Finally, on August 6th, Syrian Prime Minister Riyad Hijab defected from what he called the killing and terrorist regime. The second summer of the Arab Spring has been eventful, however most countries have a long way to go before they can realize the freedom and security that theyve fought for. The Arab World has reached a turning point, and the outcome will shape how future years unfold.

London Olympics 2012 by Paul Craig

14 countries competing in 43 events. This summer, around 10,500 athletes from 204 nations participated in 302 medal events. But it wasnt only athletes jetting across the world in late July: a veritable army of journalists, camera crews, and other media people accompanied them to the British capital, leading communications regulator have come to dub the Games as the biggest media event in history. An early misallocation of tickets, the security firm G4S bungling of their contract, and, more recently, the heartbreaking loss of the Canadian Womens Soccer team to the United States were exhaustively (perhaps sensationally) reported during the otherwise successful Olympics. As media students, it is our job to watch the Olympics critically--even as we cheer on our athletes.

Obama calls on Congress to pass ACTA Defeated in European Para new, revised cybersecurity bill liament World Economic Crisis (most Mexico Protests the victory of drama being in Europe and USA) Enrique Pea Nieto and his In Obama vs. Romney Race Begins stitutional Revolutionary Party in Presidential Election

Aurora Shootings at Dark Knight Rises Wisconsin Shootings at Sikh Temple Curiosity lands on Mars