Debate | Issue 3 | Sex

DEBATE

Keen for a getaway that won't break the bank?

The AUTSA Lodge at Tongariro National Park is available at rock bottom prices for AUT students. It sleeps up to 12 people!

EDITOR

Sam Clark

DESIGNER

Charlie Ratahi McFarland

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Vivien Whyte

FEATURE WRITER

Liam Hansen

LIFESTYLE & CULTURE WRITER

Thomas Giblin

CHIEF NEWS REPORTER

Nic George

NEWS WRITER

Vanessa Elley

SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER

Frances Revita

CONTRIBUTORS

Haydn Nixon, Lucy Higgins, Emily Smith

COVER ART

Sara Moana @saramoana

ADVERTISING

Jesse Jones jesse.jones@autsa.org.nz

PRINTER

Nicholson Print Solutions

04

From the Editor

05

Auckland arts and culture organisations fight mayor’s proposed budget cuts

06

Ties between Equippers church and International Hub prompt a call for transparency.

08 Willy Wonka’s Dream Factory

10

Thin, Pale and Male - Hollywood's 'Plague Boys' and Why It’s Problematic

13

DISCLAIMER

Material contained in this publication does not necessarily represent the views or opinions of AUTSA, its advertisers, contributors, Nicholson Print Solutions or its subsidiaries.

This publication is entitled to the full protection given by the Copyright Act 1994 (“the Act”) to the holders of the copyright, being AUT STUDENT ASSOCIATION (“AUTSA”). Reproduction, storage or display of any part of this publication by any process, electronic or otherwise (except for the educational purposes specified in the Act) without express permission is a break of the copyright of the publisher and will be prosecuted accordingly. Inquiries seeking permission to reproduce should be addressed to AUTSA.

Debate is a member of the Aotearoa Student Press Association (ASPA).

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What's more fun for your bum, dildos or buttplugs?

Dirty and Flirty: Six Horny Films

My Paper Partner

Artists of Debate: Interview with Lucy Higgins @_iggyucy

Cover Art by Sara Moana

What's On

Gig Guide

Puzzles

Kia ora koutou, great job on picking up this extra-sexy copy of Debate!

Sex. Where to begin! It’s a wonderful way to feel good, have fun, build intimacy and learn about your body. And what they say is true, uni’s a great time to experiment and see what you like. Sexual expression can manifest itself in many exciting and diverse ways. As long as it’s consensual, safe and respectfulthat’s all that matters. And sex isn’t actually a big deal for everyone, and that’s okay, too! To quote my favourite book of the summer, Zadie Smith’s Grand Union, “sex doesn’t have to end with the male orgasm”.

Unfortunately, these ideas aren’t represented particularly well in mainstream media, not to mention porn - which, without proper consent and sex education in schools, is the primary way many young people learn about sex. Don’t get me wrong, porn can be a great way to explore your sexuality, but it can also create unrealistic expectations around body image and perpetuate harmful stereotypes. I highly recommend everyone read Charlotte Muru-Lanning’s terrific piece for The Spinoff about how minorities are depicted in pornography, and its ties to colonial ideas. This has some very harmful implications and it happens a lot in Aotearoa, especially to wāhine Māori.

Porn is also a hugely unregulated industry. In good old capitalist fashion, the same company owns several of the most popular adult websites. Together, they get significantly more internet traffic than TikTok - which is an indication of just how influential they can be. And there are ethical porn sites out there, which are made to be more realistic and consensual. We should be critical of an industry that exploits people, mainly young women. Viv goes into more detail on this in her piece on sex shops!

Zeroing-in on Tāmaki, Mayor Wayne Brown is back up to his old tricks. He’s proposing budget cuts to the arts, and regional services - which could extend to libraries, environmental groups and the Citizens Advice Bureau. Nice one. That’s not to mention his fresh lukewarm take on public transport, saying light rail is a “dead duck”. This attitude stagnates any progress in improving our urban centres and carbon footprint. Why does our mayor want us to sit in traffic for the rest of our lives, polluting the environment? I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again - vote for some real change in these elections! Even better, write a submission to the council!

And now that Aotearoa festival season is coming to a close, I’m gonna go out on a limb and say that most of them are rip-offs. Ticket sales are mostly driven by fomo, and it’s rarely about the music. We see this with Homegrown, which has basically had the same, predominantly male lineup since 2008. Laneway’s venue change also upset a lot of people, and definitely felt like a cash-grab. Their “VIP shady area” and partnership with Afterpay was a far cry from the past - which was a special opportunity for Tāmaki to listen to indie and alternative music. But maybe it’s the natural progression of eventsdo festivals grow with their audiences, or do they grow out of them?

However, I was very lucky to attend the beautiful 121 Festival a couple of weeks ago.

It felt special to have a festival that’s primarily focused on the lineup - bringing together artists who are on the forefront of electronic music internationally. The festival felt like it honoured the black and queer origins of house/techno and the lineup had a good gender-balance. Plus, it was well-organised, didn’t feel crowded, and there were lots of shady spaces to hang out in during the day. I realised that’s what a music festival should bewe don’t need to settle for average lineups.

Well, that’s all from me! Stay sexy, everyone…

Auckland arts and culture organisations fight mayor’s proposed budget cuts

Auckland arts and culture organisations are encouraging submissions against Mayor Wayne Brown’s proposed council budget for 2023/2024.

The budget proposal, which includes a $41m cut in funding for regional services, regional contestable grants and local boards, has stirred up discussion and alarm in the arts and culture sphere.

Debate spoke to the co-director of Northart public art gallery, Jessica Pearless, to get her perspective on the proposed funding changes.

“It’s going to be hugely significant. I’ve been working in the arts and culture sector almost exclusively in Tāmaki Makaurau for 25 odd years now, and this is probably one of the most significant cuts that has been proposed,” she says.

The budgetary changes would affect a wide range of different council-funded services and events under the umbrella of “regional services”, and Pearless says it isn’t just arts and culture that people should be worried about.

“Arts and culture is one aspect of what’s sort of on the chopping block here. So we’re also talking about significant changes to organisations that run environmental initiatives, youth activity, and education as well as events.”

Centrestage Theatre co-manager, Ross McKellar, is similarly concerned about the proposed budget.

“Most theatres around the country are probably one or two bad shows away from going under. That’s always been the nature of theatre and theatre companies. So to have some sort of baseline surety and security from the council is really important to us.”

His call to action is clear:

“The most important thing that people can do right now is go online, on the Auckland Council website, and put in your thoughts around the funding cuts,” he says. “It’s quite a simple survey to fill out, fill that out, have your say. And hopefully if enough people do, we may be listened to.”

Pearless also emphasised the importance of public feedback.

“Encourage people to fill in the survey, because that’s the only way that they’re really going to take it seriously is if they get significant feedback, and Wayne Brown has said the same thing.”

The 2023/2024 budget proposal is under consultation until 11pm on March 28th, and you can make a submission on the Auckland Council website.

Ties between Equippers church and International Hub prompt a call for transparency.

Multiple students are calling for more transparency in AUT club advertisements to clarify their religious affiliations.

Two students told Debate they were approached by members of Equippers Church at International Hub events and asked to join.

International Hub is aimed at creating a safe space for international students who may be separated from their homes and culture.

An active member of the club, whom Debate has agreed not to name, says Equippers persistently attempt to recruit new members from the club.

"Every event I have been to has ended with a pitch from someone at Equippers, telling us ‘This is a faith-based group' and making a pitch for us to join the church"

They also noted many occasions where they were personally approached by church members at International Hub events and encouraged to join the church.

Cameron Churchill, a third-year law student, raised his concerns with AUT and AUTSA, regarding the church's involvement in the group.

Churchill believes all clubs need to be transparent about what transpires at their events.

"There needs to be some constitutional requirement from AUTSA to make sure clubs are open and honest about what they are doing."

He spoke to Stuff about Equippers hiring out the university's main lecture hall every Sunday and was concerned about the ‘homophobic’ ideas the church promoted.

Madz Couth, clubs leader for AUTSA, says she also received reports from students saying they were uncomfortable.

"I've received interesting communication as well, regarding students feeling ambushed by the 'faithbased space'."

Couth confirmed Equippers has played a big role in the formation and development of the International Hub, as the club started as AUT Equippers.

She says as the club grew, more international students from different backgrounds began joining, so the religious influence became less prevalent.

"Over time, faith became a secondary part of it.”

"Not one single person on the exec team is part of the Equippers Church. Their pastoral care person is a member, but isn't pushing that branding."

However, the active International Hub member says that faith is still prevalent and Equippers members make up a “vast majority” of the club population.

They have attended recent events where they were encouraged to join.

"Even over the last few months, I have gone to a bunch of [International] Hub events and every time I go someone will start asking me if I have accepted God, and when will I start coming to Equippers.

"It's frustrating because I’ve said no so many times and they still keep asking me."

They explain that they have many friends within the club, so they don't want to stop going, but the persistence of the Equippers members has diminished their enthusiasm for attending events.

Another international student, whom Debate agreed not to name, attended one event in 2020, but decided against returning for future events after they witnessed Equippers members making their pitch at the end of the event.

They recognise the importance of the International Hub as it provides a space for those feeling disconnected from their home and culture.

"As an international student, you need a sense of belonging, a sense of community."

However, they believe it is important to clarify which groups are involved with the club events, so students don't feel surprised when they are confronted with groups they are not interested in.

"If you are doing it as part of the International Hub and not mentioning the Equippers affiliation, that is something I would not be happy about."

Debate reached out to the International Hub and Equippers, but they declined to comment.

Willy Wonka’s Dream Factory

Viv and Frances have been friends for a long time - from crying together on the floors of Shads to surviving a year of living together, they’ve been through a lot. Despite their adventures, there was one more thing they had yet to explore and Debate’s sex issue gave them the perfect opportunity. Visit an adult store….

For one reason or another, neither of us had ever stepped foot inside one. But we both had become increasingly curious about what lies behind those window displays filled with harness-clad mannequins.

Walking in to the soundtrack of Harry Styles’ latest album, we immediately bypassed the lingerie to marvel at the extensive lube collection. Shelves and shelves, from massive 2L bottles to lil travel-sized 5mL pouches. Caramel. Tiramisu. Piña Colada. Crème Brûlée. What a menu! Definitely could've given Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory a run for its money.

Suddenly, a voice pipes up behind us, “Don’t go near the mint and chocolate, it’s awful!” We quickly end up in a fruitful conversation about the pros and cons of each flavour and are enlighted about their many uses. The top things we learnt are as follows:

1. Mojito is by far the best flavour

2. The cherry and strawberry flavours taste really artificial

3. Mint and chocolate tastes ass

4. You can use the JO Cocktail lubes in… you guessed it… cocktails. There are actual recipes on their website for those wanting to try

5. The Sizzle Lips massage oil range is not only great for sensual massages but goes great on top of ice cream and (in the case of salted caramel) porridge. This is straight from their personal experience

NB These are all the objective opinions of one anonymous shop-goer. Debate Magazine will not be held liable for any errors of judgement or any consequences that may arise from their use. We encourage readers to conduct their own research and analysis before making any decisions based on the information presented here.

Lube flavours were only the start of our educational journey. Walking around, we noticed signs of fetish and kink communities we had never heard of. And learnt something new about the anatomy of a penis: namely that you can insert beads and lengthy inserts into the tip. These are called urethral toys - which was explained to us when the helpful cashier noted our obvious looks of confusion as we held up the long kebab stick-looking things to the light and tried to discern their use. (Quote Viv: “I don’t think ours can do that - right? **more desperation** right!?”)

Taking the plunge and going into the unknown depths of the adult store was an experience, to say the least. We were blown away by the different colours, sizes and uses of…well.. everything and anything. Doubleended dildos, glow in the dark dicks (Quote Sam: “the best kind”), sexy playing cards, nipple electrocuters, candy garters - you want it, they got it. But we also quickly became aware of things that were making us uncomfortable. And I’m not talking about the “Fuck A Duck”. Yes, a 14 inch tall, blow-up, minion-yellow duck that proudly advertises its “one fowl play love hole” feature. Not to mention that the duck on the packaging stares at you through soulless eyes which have definitely seen more than any rubber duck should ever see. But that’s enough about the world’s dirtiest bath toy. (Quote Frances, “honestly surprised there was only a duck”) What stuck with us the most were things like the unbalanced ratio of women sex dolls to men. The undeniable greater effort to make vaginas rather than dicks fleshy and human-like. Signs of racial fetishisation. The obviously outdated branding and vocabulary used for pornos, especially those involving transgender characters.

The deeper we went, the more we found ourselves trying to balance the line between respecting people's kinks and condemning genuinely disgusting branding. For example, although we respect someone's decision to buy a fleshlight, the fact that there are “hey 19” (a.k.a 19-year-old) or “Tight Tanya” varieties reflects the disturbingly pedophilic hypersexualisation of young girls and infantilisation of adult women. Noting the excess amounts of toys given female names, a sour taste was left in our mouths as we pondered the harmful effects patriarchy has on women's bodies, which can be so easily objectified, altered, cut and marketed for male pleasure. Thousand-dollar moulds of (female) porn stars' vaginas, which came with a DVD to play along with, were also questionable and further opened a conversation about how people may learn about consensual, respectful sex through lifeless women/ dolls (practically just holes) you can do anything to. (Quote: “I like to think that none of my partners has ever considered me just a hole”)

In contrast to traversing the more disturbing items on display (some having been tucked away in a secret alcove near the back), we had great fun ignoring the “please don’t hit each other with the whips/paddles” sign and looking at the variety of vibrators available. From little bullets that could fit in your purse, to massive purple things which came with propeller-like attachments. Towards the end of our investigation, we ended up chatting with the cashier and asked them about their best sellers. For people with vaginas apparently it’s the LELO Soraya (but of course they recommended us the $400 vibrator). However, they went on to explain that there’s just so much variety in what people like that it’s really hard to say.

The longer we stayed the more we felt like we were in a haze. Probably not helped by the 20 ft dildos and various toys named “Clive”, “Celia”, and “Nymph” juxtaposed by NZ’s Top 40 Pop Hits playing on the radio. Walking out of that haze, we were left with much to ponder. But, overall, our little excursion was fun and a good opportunity to consider how different toys can aid in making us feel sexy and fulfilled. Although an adult shop might not be somewhere you want to bump into an old high school teacher - it’s definitely not somewhere to feel squeamish or embarrassed about. So, if you’re keen to go for the first time here’s all I have to say - keep an open mind and perhaps bring a friend you know won’t mind spending half an hour looking at different types of lube with you.

Thin, Pale and MaleHollywood's 'Plague Boys' and Why It’s Problematic

A while ago, my friends and I were debating if Jack Tame was hot or not (don’t ask why). I was firmly team no, because he has the same energy of a (less bigoted) Ben Shapiro, and someone on team “yes” began listing out possible celebrity crushes - each less convincing than the last. “Steven Adams?” “No.” Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson?” “No.” “David Seymour?” “...No!” “Christ, Liam, what IS your type?”

That's a weird and difficult question to answer. It’s thrusting someone into the vulnerability of admitting who they would fuck, and likely subjecting themselves to mass harrassment for having shit taste. “I - I don’t know. Timothée Chalamet, Troye Sivan, Robert Pattinson?” My friend succinctly put me in my place and simultaneously described the ongoing rise of twinkdom in the entertainment industry. “Plague boys. You’re into men who look like starving characters from a Dickens novel and haven’t slept in eight weeks.”

Although they're occasionally made fun of - thin, youthful, pale and male celebrities are the heartthrobs of the 21st century. A desire for thinner men has been progressively rising over the past few years, from Twitter’s “White Boy Of The Month”, to the ongoing thirst over Timothée Chalamet and various K-Pop idols taking the world by storm. Even Pixar movies can’t get enough of the skinny lads (be honest, your 4*Town bias is Tae Young). If you asked an ‘alpha-male’ gym bro about the rise of skinny male sex symbols, they’d likely scream, punch a wall and call anyone who even slightly fits the trope a soy boy libcuck - but I’ve started to notice a different, much more insidious issue about the archetype.

While unethical conceptions of the ‘ideal body’ are often placed on women, it’s ignorant to assume that men don’t struggle with their body image too. Studies have shown up that to 40% of men are anxious about their weight, and up to 85% are dissatisfied with their muscularity. This was highlighted to me in a chat with Alexander Mussap, an associate professor of psychology at Australia’s Deakin University who has studied issues of body image within men. “Take two men dealing with body dissatisfaction. One guy's trying to get big, and maybe focusing on functional power dominance. But the other is focused on lean muscularity, which often leads to ‘getting ripped’. That can often include reducing body fat to dangerous levels, dehydrating so that they can really look super ripped, getting the veins popping, and in extreme cases steroid drug usage.”

While these efforts can be worrying in and of themselves, the rising trend of sexualising thin male bodies comes with a myriad of issues, which often replicate those seen throughout history in the treatment of women's bodies as trends. Take the term ‘heroin chic’, which was popularised in the nineties to describe the bodies of supermodels who were dangerously thin, incredibly pale, had baggy eyes and looked androgynous. The ‘trend’ is shit, romanticising drug abuse and starvation to reach some fucked up false ideal of beauty. The term fell out of fashion as the conception of larger women's proportions took the place as the ideal - however, concerns have been raised about it coming back. The New York Post published an article in 2022 titled “Bye-bye booty: Heroin chic is back”, which immediately received criticism for its treatment of women's body types as trends. The mass-fetishisation of thinness is a breeding ground for eating disorders amongst younger women, as shown by the skyrocketing rate of anorexia nervosa throughout the nineties that only began to trend back downwards in the 2010s. Treating the human body like a fashion trend is dehumanising, ruthless and disgusting.

What’s frustrating, however, is the lack of concern from culture magazines and social media that fetishise skinny male bodies. The New York Post ’s attempted revival of heroin chic caused an outcry, as it should have, but listen to the core descriptors of the body type again - incredibly skinny, pale, androgynous, and tired looking. Sound familiar? The heroin chic body aesthetic has been rising amongst men for years, through the rising stardom of names like Timothée Chalamet, Matty Healy, Cole Sprouse and more.

This archetype echoes the “twink” body type seen in gay male communities, which itself is currently going through a cultural renaissance. The New York Times decried society as being in “The Age of the twink '' in 2018, and Vulture echoed a similar sentiment the year before. But any negative ramifications are disregarded - even The New York Post’s recent heroin chic article highlighted the risk of encouraging eating disorders, but those concerns of spreading the thin ideal amongst men is nowhere to be found.

Mussap came across this issue in his research, finding it frustrating and problematic. He explains,: “People like K-pop stars and Timothée Chalamet are likely just biologically thin, but it’s heading into dangerously low territory”, which I believe can rub off on young guys in the same way thinness can rub off on younger girls. “When I was a young academic, really just starting out looking at these things, the general consensus of what we were told by senior people was that men just don't have body image concerns. It's a part of the patriarchal oppression of women, and which manifests as, among other things, eating disorders.”

I think this viewpoint of misogyny breeding eating disorders is absolutely true - but it doesn't mean men never experience the same troubles. Matter of fact, the experience of oppression affecting your body image is especially prevalent among queer men, transgender men, and non-binary folk. Evidence has shown that members of rainbow communities worldwide are far more likely to struggle with eating disorders

and body image, especially amongst both cis and trans men. Surveys show that 42% of men who deal with eating disorders identify as gay, and men across sexualities undergo far higher ED symptoms than straight men. Rates skyrocket amongst trans folk as well - a 2018 survey from The Trevor Project found that as many as 71% of straight trans participants reported dealing with disordered eating to some level. Body dissatisfaction is often inherent to gender dysphoria, so the link isn’t surprising, but I’ve anecdotally noticed a specific desire amongst trans men and non-binary folk to link an androgynous body to a skinny body. This isn’t being brought up to dismiss straight cis men, because they absolutely struggle as well. But it showcases a trend of how discrimination leads to disordered eating that poses a deadly threat to minorities' lives, and how queer men are often overlooked.

Mussap explains that 'diagnostic overshadowing' causes these issues to be overlooked. He recalls reading a story in the news about a trans man's relationship with food: “The doctor was there going, Oh, don't worry, that's kind of normal. You're transitioning, your body's changing. It's normal that you want to lose the feminine fat and get more masculine, that's part of your gender transition.” This is worrying, because it can restrict people from getting the help they may desperately need.

It often feels demoralising to take a look at the worryingly high statistics of male eating disorders both in and out of rainbow communities. The lack of advocacy on the issue has been on my mind for years, especially as issues of disordered eating hit both myself and many of my male queer friends. As a teenager, I felt this strong pull to accommodate a specific ideal of 'androgyny' that was encouraged in online LGBT communities. Despite personally disliking the concept of ‘tribes' in the gay community, the idea of being a twink created an overwhelming fear of gaining weight during the 2020 lockdown. I lost a large amount of weight in a short period of time, and it took years for me to realise that I had lost myself and my love of food in the process. Dealing with anorexia or any eating disorder is hard enough - but it’s even more difficult when you’re consistently praised for your weight-loss, and any concern for your health gets thrown to the side.

The root cause of the ‘plague boy’ trend is hard to pinpoint, but its impacts cannot and should not be understated. In a follow-up to a clip that went viral criticising the revival of the ‘heroin chic’ aesthetic, actress Jameela Jamil stated that it should be renamed ‘hungry chic’. She says, “They want you to stay hungry, because then you’ll be too fucking tired to stand up for your right as a human being who deserves to live in any body and live any life that you want. This isn’t about beauty, it’s about control.” I believe this link between discrimination and eating disorders extends into queer and trans communities, and I know that the glamorisation of excessively thin bodies in women, men, and non-binary people needs to stop before more people lose their lives. But societal change takes individual change. It takes not belittling people for their bodies, and caring for your friends, and providing help when you can. It takes love, acceptance, and advocacy. It takes creating nourishing environments around food and beauty that encourage genuine physical health and the joy of eating. And if you’re worried about if you’re a bad person for thinking Timothée Chalamet is hot, know that you simply have better taste than someone who would rather fuck Jack Tame.

What's more fun for your bum, dildos or buttplugs?

The anal cavity is really quite the fun place to explore once you get past the painful ‘loosening’ up stage, but sometimes you need more than just a couple of fingers to have a blast. As someone who is queer, vers, and in need of some ‘me’ time, I’ll be comparing and contrasting a couple of ‘toys’ that I like to use to keep me preoccupied - that is, dildos and buttplugs.

Now, these aren’t all the options available on the market, but due to my lack of expertise in departments such as anal beads and vibrators, I will only be discussing dildos and buttplugs. Also, this is the opinion of someone who is AMAB (a male at birth), so your experience with your bum may be very different to mine.

Dildos come in all shapes and sizes to fit your needs and experience with the toy. Whether your fantasy is about being fucked by a mythical creature with an abnormally large appendage, or you just want to relax and unwind after a long day with your safe six inch standard dildo, then dildos have you covered. Regarding my experience, I’m more than satisfied with my stock standard dildo. Dildos, in my opinion, are the closest toy to a standard dick than any other toy due to its shape. Unlike a buttplug, it’s easier to move the toy in and out, imitating a more intimate feeling. I also find dildos are easier to stick onto walls and such, which makes the toy a lot more versatile regarding where you plan to do the deed.

So what about buttplugs? Buttplugs come in different shapes and sizes as well, but they don’t look anything like a penis, but this isn’t a bad thing. As this toy is specifically made to please your ass, it does the trick better than any dildo can, which I tend to see as a more versatile instrument that isn’t dependent on where you put it. The shape really helps to fill out the insides, and the tip hits the g spot in a way a dildo just can’t do.

So the verdict? Personally I prefer buttplugs over dildos, but that’s solely based on how I personally like to use my toys. I only use my toys in my own space by myself because that’s what I enjoy doing the most and feel the most comfortable doing. I recommend experimenting with what you like and finding intimacy in your own space, because it’s a great way to explore your own body and figure out what you like and don’t like.

Dirty and Flirty: Six Horny Films

Prepare yourself for six films, dissected and investigated to their horniest ends. All given a Netflix and Chill rating for your convenience. Why the number six, you ask? Because six sounds like sex.

Cars (2006)

Now hear me out - Cars is the horniest of horny films. The film - which is best described as an anthropomorphic orgy - is rife with adult innuendos from start to finish. Don’t believe me? Twin cars approach Lightning McQueen, exclaiming that they're his biggest fans and pop up their headlights, 'flashing' McQueen. A sign for a ‘Top Down’ truck stop features. Plus, I’m not the only person left dying on this hill. Case and point - a graphic image I stumbled upon when playing the 50/50 Reddit Challenge of Sally Carrera, the blue Porsche 911, telling McQueen that “this is the best throttle of my life." Does this image solve the issue of sexual reproduction in the Cars universe? I’m not convinced. We know that baby cars exist, as seen in Cars 3 , but what logic can we find in a cartoon film? Logic can't be found, so I'll settle with the homunculus theory, a disturbing idea that "the mechanical car is just the external body of these human-derived creatures." This idea isn't sexy, so forget I said anything, turn on Cars, hit up your dealer and ask the love of your life to come over.

Netflix and Chill rating: 9/10

The Handmaiden (2016)

In 2016, Park Chan-wook directed this masterpiece - the world hasn't been the same since. From the mind of Oldboy, Lady Vengeance, and Thirst comes a sumptuously erotic tale that delights the senses. Chan-wook is reflective; the male gaze is pulled apart limb by limb as a web of fervent pleasure is constructed. Together Kim Min-hee and Kim Tae-ri deliver Korean cinema's finest hour. Unashamedly bold in its perversion and kinks, The Handmaiden is a film so lurid in its pleasures you cannot help but revel in its opulence.

Netflix and Chill rating: 6/10

Crash (1996)

"The only way I can cum is if I'm hit by a car" is a short but accurate description of David Cronenberg's Crash. Cronenberg is clearly horny, as violent entanglements of twisted metal and broken glass become orgasmic rituals, a way of life. Some say Cronenberg peaked with The Fly or Videodrome, but Crash truly encapsulates his prowess. Machine and flesh intertwine like no other - watch the film at your own peril.

Netflix and Chill rating: 3/10

Eyes Wide Shut (1999)

You can't talk about horny films without including the 13th and last film from Stanley Kubrick: Eyes Wide Shut.

Sex isn't always sensual, it can be cold and awkward. As fantasies linger beneath the psyche and bodies morph together, sex is a transaction—a sinister force. A bourgeois New York doctor, played by Tom Cruise succumbs to these fantasies, leading him towards a dream world of pleasures. As Cruise flirts with the rainbow, his reality unfolds and masked figures slowly reveal themselves. "No dream is ever just a dream", Cruise utters to his wife, played by Nicole Kidman (who insists that the film did not contribute to their real-world divorce). In Eyes Wide Shut, sexual consciousness isn't random; our lucid dream formulations represent our repressed desires, bursting to the surface.

Eyes Wide Shut is also a Christmas movie, so make sure to watch it with your parents this December 25th!

Netflix and Chill rating: 8/10

Top

Yes, another Tom Cruise film—this is also the point in the article where I ashamedly admit I named myself after the actor when I was 11. My name was Tom and I had gone on a cruise. As inexcusable as military propaganda films are, at least this one contains homoerotic scenes in which shirtless, sweaty men play volleyball. Think Call Me By Your Name's opening scene. As Maverick and Iceman dance together in the sky, their jets twirl each other — an act of thrilling 80s eroticism. The soundtrack is iconic, "Take My Breath Away" and "Danger Zone", setting the scene for a love story that would leave Shakespeare quaking in his boots. Maverick has "the Need For Speed!" but after watching Top Gun, you'll need to step outside and take a breather as you will certainly be flustered.

Netflix and Chill rating: 5/10

Love (2015)

From provocateur Gaspar Noé comes Love, a fun family film best described as "fucking insane." The film is notable for its unsimulated sex scenes, stoking a conversation about whether or not Love is pornography disguised as art. I'm genuinely serious when I say there's a scene where a character ejaculates into the camera lenses—nothing can prepare you for that. As a Climax fanboy, I will defend Noé until I die, but even this film pushes my boundaries. Is that not the point of all art though, to provoke? Noé 'simply' depicts sex and relationships in their rawest form.

"I'm a loser. Yeah, just a dick. And dick has no brain. A dick has only one purpose: to fuck. And I fucked it all up. Yeah. I'm good at one thing: fucking things up."

Netflix and Chill rating: 0/10

My Paper Partner

From The Kama Sutra, to a 5,000 word Harry Styles x reader fanfic, literary porn is one of the many things that the digital age has gotten its rough, veined, choke-worthy hands into. Gone are the days of Fifty Shades of Grey being the most NSFW thing you could find; now you can filter sexy stories by your favourite kink - for free. But are they replacing genuine romance with fantasies? And are they enabling unrealistic sex expectations like the idea that someone can make you cum with just a smouldering look?

Everyone craves a sweet escape from life; that’s the point of fiction. It’s far easier to get wrapped up in someone else's imaginary scenario than to deal with the problems of your own. I fell into that rabbit hole early-on, consuming romance as soon as I could read. So, I clung to fictional romance like a drowning man to driftwood and haven’t let go since.

Some of you might be the same. I was reading at an “advanced level” as a child; it was all my teachers ever told me. “Emily is reading far beyond her years,” they’d beam proudly. But how advanced is too advanced? Morris Gleitzman and Roald Dahl quickly got dull. Jacqueline Wilson’s Love Lessons and Girls in Love paved the way to Cassandra Clare’s Mortal Instruments. From there, I discovered Tumblr, Wattpad and Archive Of Our Own. Now I’ve lived in this rabbit hole for the past decade. My driftwood has transformed into a yacht that would make your great aunt shudder.

My own love life? Pfft. Why should I redownload Tinder, when I can hop online and in two seconds be having dinner with Edward from Twilight ? Or slow dancing with V from BTS? The opportunities are limitless. What’s Tyler from five kilometres away going to offer me that Nick Wilde from Zootopia can’t? The world of fiction truly is limitless and bonkers. And I mean this. The things I’ve said above are actually on the milder side if you can believe it. Debate has asked me to give an example of something crazy I’ve read. I asked, “Can I up my word count by 1,000?”

In the meantime:

• ‘Donald Trump x Bob the Builder’. This does exist. Their whirlwind romance began when Bob was tasked with building Trump’s wall.

• ‘Kissing the Coronavirus’. The scientist who falls in love with the virus she is tasked to eradicate.

• A vivid reimagining of America’s founding fathers as liberal LGBT Gen-Z college majors (it’s set in America, duh).

I digress. If you think any of these stories are a crime against fiction, that's the point. It can be anything you want; you have so much power. You can take the everlasting piss out of a critically acclaimed piece of work. You can create your own critically acclaimed piece of work.

Everything is so much sweeter and easier when it’s not real. Sometimes I ask myself, when does it end? How far down the rabbit hole do I go? But… everything is so much simpler. Surely touch and flesh can’t measure up to the palaces built out of paragraphs between pages.

Fictional sex is better too, and BookTok will agree with me. Oh, BookTok, how I love and loathe you. For the uninitiated (I envy you), BookTok is a subgenre of TikTok that focuses on - you guessed it, books. What started as simple book recommendations has blown into a viral sensation that has an impressive 114.3 billion views under the hashtag. There’s a few things that cause a book to go viral on BookTok. Does the plot sink its teeth into you and not let go? Are the metaphors so carefully intricate that they dance circles around you? Is the prose so devastatingly, overwhelmingly purple that it soaks you from head to toe in crystalline colour? Nah. But it does have age gaps, forced proximity and enemies to lovers. And, of course, smut. Spicy smut, in the eloquent words of some BookTok users. Explicitly graphic, detailed sex scenes that could make E.L. James blush. None of those softcore, metaphorical, fade to black sex scenes. This is as steamy as a hot shower. The raunchier, the better.

But Emily, you might be shouting, you read all that and more when you were young. Yeah, look how I turned out. I’m writing this article right now. I leaned into it. BookTok boasts the subtlety of a punch to the face. Often, I have to draw a line in the sand. Real life, especially when it comes to sex, is not at all like a BookTok recommendation. Come now (figuratively). Your first time is probably going to be awkward and clumsy.

You could explore your own sexual identity within the privacy of your mind, or you could live in someone else's. It’s a dangerous line to toe; take it from me. It’s gotten so muddled that I’m not even sure what I like. Sometimes I sit back, close the book and wonder; have I ever really explored my own romantic identity or have I been too engrossed in everyone else's?

Artists of Debate: Interview with Lucy Higgins @_iggyucy

I spoke to close friend and frequent Debate contributor, Lucy Higgins, from her family home in Kirikiriroa, Hamilton - where she grew up. She studied communication studies at AUT, majoring in digital media - and has always created illustrations and paintings inspired by personal experiences and those around her. Lucy has developed a strong, psychedelic and expressive style over the years - and now she’s off to Naarm to see what’s in store.

Sam: Kia ora, Lucy! Ki te pēhea koe?

Lucy: Ki te pai, Sam! I’m doing good. I’m just chilling in Hamilton at the moment, it’s a lovely day.

S: Tell us about your journey into art…

L: I didn’t expect myself to take it to the level I have. I never studied art in highschool. The only time where I practised it in high school was in year 13 printmaking, which really showed me how fucked NCEA is with the arts. It’s very restrictive. When I came home from school, I'd spend ages painting and drawing. It really picked up once my grandad passed away. He was a bit of an artist himself - he went to the Waikato Arts Society, doing sketching and stuff. But he was more into realism. Before he passed away he gave me all his paints and I still use them to this day. So, art motivated me to connect with my grandad and felt like a good way to express myself without having the pressure of having to explain myself.

From there, I went to uni. It was awesome being opened up to heaps of creative people, because Hamilton’s very conservative - there's no real creative life. I started drawing this little character called Paperbag Boy and wrote little quotes with him, and people really resonated with him. I also did fundraisers with my prints - ‘Prints for Putiki’. They were sold and all the money raised went to the kaitiaki at Putiki. From there I've just been slowly making prints and doing stuff for Debate and There’s A Tuesday - trying to get my finger in every pie I can.

S: Who are your stylistic influences?

L: Jeff London, the guy who illustrated the cards for this game called Grass. Grass is basically like creating a weed empire. They've got these beautiful, beautiful illustrations. It’s very gooey-looking. He’s the main painting inspo for me. There’s also a French artist, Inès Longevial. She does really lovely portraiture, with block colouring. With drawing, I'm really inspired by childish-looking things. Even just kids’ drawings, themselves - what you see is what you get. I don’t want incredibly realistic things - for me it’s about having fun. With the higher level of detail; Ziggy Newman and the boys from Acid Mince. They’re a Raglan group who do heaps of painting and drawings. All their stuff looks pretty graphic.

S: Why’s that ‘fun’ philosophy so important to you?

L: I think it’s way easier to relate to simple things. I love when artists have motifs and when they have intention every time they pick up their paintbrush; but it feels more organic for me and takes the pressure off while I'm drawing or painting. Once I get to the end of it I can look at it and go, “Oh shit, that was actually relating to how I’m feeling.” It’s easier to express myself, having a real simple, silly-looking thing. The messages behind it are a little bit easier to digest when it looks a little bit silly.

S: Can you describe your creative process?

L: It’s been changing a lot recently, because I took a break from drawing when I was stressed out of my mind. At the moment, it just looks like grabbing a pen, or pencil, sitting down with a shitty little blank notebook and just going for it. I’ll often start with a piece and go “Oh, I actually hate that.” So I’ll turn the page and start again. Once I get into a rhythm, I’ll start drawing and keep drawing. I’ll add detail, upon detail, upon detail. It’s really meditative for me - sitting down wherever and drawing to my heart’s content. Sometimes I’ll think “What the hell is that?” But I still like getting it out. It’s whenever, wherever really.

S: Where do you find inspiration?

L: My friends and family. I’ll hear stories from my mates about what they’re going through. One of my drawings from a while back was based on me and my best friend Bailey listening to punk in the car. I thought, “This is kind of a cool moment”. So I went home and drew it. Even with the deeper things, like my paintings - some of them I’ve based on how some of my mates are struggling with relationships and growing up. Silly little things that happen around me really inspire me. My family as well. Those sweet moments like when Dad says something funny … I’ll draw that because I think that’s cool. Those are the main things - thinking about how people react to things and how humans are really emotional, but can’t necessarily say it or draw it. I try to embody that into something silly.

S: You’re moving to Naarm soon! How are you feeling about it all?

L: Right now, I’m shitting myself, because I actually booked the flight last night - so it’s all very like “Okay, shit… it’s set in stone”. But I think it’ll be really cool to just go there and be in a completely different environment and see how I can get inspired and see others going on their creative journey. Of course over there, it's art-city. I’m looking forward to it, but it’s definitely scary. I'm sure I'll stress-draw a lot of silly things while I'm over there.

S: Should we keep an eye out on your Instagram?

L: I’ll definitely be posting more - it’s how I deal with stress. I’ll be sitting in a cafe somewhere, having a coffee, probably looking through LinkedIn twenty times, going “What’s something I can apply for, or has this job replied to me yet - trying to find a moment of zen within it all.” So, I’ll be going good, but just know that I will be a little bit stressed as well, haha.

S: What will you miss most about Aotearoa?

L: I was thinking about it last night… I’ll miss heaps from here, aye. I’ll even miss driving down to 121 Festival - down the Desert Road, going through those funny little towns. I’ll really miss having that so close. Just hiking, going to the beach and not having to worry about crocodiles getting me or snakes trying to kill me. And of course my friends… I’m really scared of leaving them, because I love them all so dearly. And my family, my grandma, my dog… There’s a lot that I'm gonna miss. But now’s the time to just get out there and do it!

Ka kite, Lucy - we’ll miss you!

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Pitches & Submissions open for 2023! We’re looking for…

Contributing Writers, Illustrators, Designers, Photographers and Artists

Issue 5 | Music

Pitches due: Monday 3rd April

Contributor deadline: Monday 10th April

Issue 6 | Sustainability

Pitches due: Monday 17th April

Contributor deadline: Monday 1st May

Issue 7 | Te Ao Māori

Pitches due: 12th June

Contributor deadline: Monday 26th June

Issue 8 | Communities

Pitches due: 26th June

Contributor deadline: Monday 10th July

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Full Noise 2023

Grey Lynn Library

Friday, April 7th

$22 - Free for 18 and under

Looking to fill your Easter Weekend with a bit of Punk? Have no fear because Full Noise is back! With an epic lineup of bands, markets, punx sports day and more, Full Noise has you covered.

MUSIC FESTIVAL ART

Selwyn Muru: A Life’s Work

Pah Homestead

Now - May 28th

Free!

This exhibition celebrates the pioneering legacy and artistry of Senior Māori artist Selwyn Muru, once described as one of the most original Māori thinkers of his time. Highlighting his work as a visual artist, broadcaster, playwright and social commentator, an actor, professional musician, orator, teacher, and tribal knowledge repository. Curated by Dr. Moana Nepia, it showcases previously unseen paintings, drawings, and audio and video.

Queers and Wares Market

George Courts foyer, Karangahape Road

Thursday, April 6th

Free!

Happening alongside Karangahape Rd’s iconic First Thursdays, the Queers & Wares market is bringing together a huge lineup of artistsselling everything from ceramics, candles and arts, to weird and wonderful plushies, elf ears, crystals and everything in between to fulfil your sapphic dreams.

re:generate Fashion Market

Mt Eden War Memorial Hall

Saturday, April 1st

Free!

Over 35 pop up stores of pre-loved clothing. Rain or shine, this upcycled clothing market promises great bargains on vintage pieces, retro finds, fashion and accessories.

G G ig u id e * *

MARCH + APRIL 2023

TĀMAKI MAKAURAU - AKL

Hextape, Current Bias, Jess Fu and AJ Honeysuckle

Where? Whammy Bar

When? Friday, March 31st Cost? $20

Mad Professor, Jafa Sound Ft RSD, Jah Tung (Burn City)

Where? The Mothership

When? Friday, March 31st Cost? $40

Vanessa Worm

Where? Big Fan

When? Saturday, April 1st Cost? $20

Carb On Carb

Where? The Wine Cellar

When? Saturday, April 1st Cost? $12

Recitals

Where? Whammy Bar

When? Saturday, April 1st Cost? $15

Vera Ellen

Where? Whammy Bar

When? Friday, April 14th Cost? $30

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE!