Massive: Issue 02 'Pop Culture' by Massive Magazine

Massey’s First Māori Student Association to be Launched

Massey’s School of Business Takes over Mathematical Sciences Building Another White Boy Winning

At age eight, I fell into the Harry Potter universe and started collecting wands. At 13, I was a full-blown Twi-Hard, with Edward Cullen posters adorning every sqaure inch of my bedroom walls. At 14, I used to pretend I was a tribute in The Hunger Games in my backyard. Then came the romantasy era. I devored everything from Sarah J. Maas novel to Fourth Wing and every other deliciously dramatic, questionably smutty fantasy in between.

With each series, the pattern was the same: obsession, attachment, and then after the final sentence, a deep depression.

Luckily, fanfiction taught me that ‘The End’ is rarely the case.

If I wanted a secret romance between Remus Lupin and Sirius Black (#Wolfstar), an outrageously chaotic love triangle featuring Bella Swan, Edward, and Jacob, or a wholesome sequel for Katniss Everdeen and Peeta—best believe I was reading it.

Under the glow of my iPad at midnight, I’d consume scandalous smut, wage Tumblr wars over headcanons, and shamelessly admire sexy digital fan art.

Confessions of a Fanfiction-holic

I’ve always been a bit too obsessed with fictional series.

Archive of our own, Tumblr, Wattpadd and Fanfiction.net became my happy place. But I’m not alone. Most of the Massive team have also confessed to reading or writing Draco/Hermione slow burns, Y/N pop star romances, and Twilight human AUs.

It’s also the first platform I have published work on (sorry Massive, fanfiction.net got me first). It was low stakes but high reward: immediate feedback, built-in audiences, and the intoxicating thrill of strangers waiting for your next chapter.

But fanfics aren’t just a guilty pleasure. Some of the Western world’s biggest franchises began there. Fifty Shades of Grey started as Twilight fanfiction. The Shadowhunters series has roots in early Draco-centric fan work. After began as a One Direction fanfic on Wattpad. What begins as passion project can evolve into publishing phenomenon.

So maybe my long-abandoned Jily (James Potter and Lily Evans) series deserves a revival. I could log back in and monetise that bad boy.

For many, fanfiction offered a place for people to form communities with online fandoms. For others, fanfics allow authors to experiment with their writing while honing their talent.

Yes, some fanfics are chaotic, badly written and gloriously unhinged. But many are masterpieces in the making.

So, the next time you finish a series and feel the familiar post-series blues, don’t spiral. Open a new tab and type in a ship name.

Xoxo, Jessie Davidson

Ko Peyton Joe toku ingoa, he uri tenei ki Ngāpuhi me Te Rarawa ahau. Ko au te Kaiwhakahaere o Manawatahi and currrently serving on the Manawatū campus. This role has put me in the presence of spectacular Māori tauira and engaging support systems.

Coming back into the academic year is rewarding. My cup is full after my break. Stepping back into Māori student representation reminds me of the purpose created in this space. Interacting with fellow tauira and creating connections with Massey staff, alumni, representatives and Māori associations affirms why this mahi matters. 2026 is a tono for growth and expansion. Standing upright in our own mana with our newly created Māori student association—Ngā Haumi ki te Ao.

This is my second year as a rep. Kainga Rua (K2) has been a strong wall for me to lean on—our classification of a whare. It is a safe space to take a step back and breathe. It’s also a space of activity and community (depending on what day you come!). You’ll find me in K2 most days!

To my fellow Māori, our space invites you and your identity to be free and rooted among like minds or even shared whakapapa. Whether it’s kai ‘n’ kōrero, workshop sessions, wānanga or simply existing together in the same space—community matters. Your hauora matters. And we are here!

Ngā mihi nui e te iwi. Kia pai tōu tau!

FRIENDS

@splendid.nz

85 Ghuznee St, Te Aro, Wellington www.splendid.nz

Massey Students Upset at the Return of In-Person Exams

Words by Claire Taylor • SHE/HER

Massey University has announced that they are reintroducing in-person exams for semester one, sparking upset for distance and impaired students.

Since 2020, Massey has used fully online or hybrid methods for exams. This changed in 2022, where course tutors decided whether exams would be online or in-person.

Now, this decision has been taken away, with Massey announcing that some courses must hold in-person exams starting in semester one this year.

A Massey spokesperson told Massive the decision was made by the university’s senior leadership team following consultation with staff and students in 2025.

The consultation ran from September to mid-October last year, but no further information on what the consultation found was provided.

Affected students were informed via Stream if their examination requirements have changed.

The notification read: “This course has an in-person invigilated final exam in the semester, and students will sit their exams at an approved venue.”

This has sparked outrage for Massey’s distance and impaired communities.

Typically, distance students choose to enroll in designated distance papers that require no travel or in-person components.

Now, after enrollments have closed, students are being informed that their courses require an in-person exam.

Distance student, Richard Winchester, said on the Massey@ Distance Facebook page expressed upset at this change.

“If I have to do an in-person exam for my course, I can and will. However, this isn’t the thing I signed up to do and had this been a requirement from the outset, I would have seriously considered a local tertiary provider.”

This change has left students concerned about whether Massey was giving them reliable information when they enrolled. One commenter, Lauren Rose Harvey, said tha this has caused her to consider changing universities.

“I’m genuinely shocked Massey’s leadership team allowed this change to be communicated like this—you can’t suddenly change the parameters for distance students given that most of us signed up for because being able to complete study at home was our only option.”

Distance student Lisa Lilly Jensen, who lives in Berlin, commented that these exams would be impossible to manage.

“I was so glad to find Massey as I was really gutted I wasn’t able to finish my degree while overseas. I think the distance program is a huge selling point for the university and I would hope they find a solution that reflects the needs of their distance students.”

In an open letter shared to the Facebook page by Disability at Massey, they said they were not aware of this decision prior to its announcement.

“[We] are disappointed it was made without thorough consultation with disabled and distance learners,” the letter read.

They asked Massey to postpone the decision.

“We request the decision is reversed until Semester One 2027 at its earliest. This is consistent with the timeframes provided to students by Massey University and Te Tira Ahu Pae staff.”

“We ask that Massey University consults with disabled ākonga to determine the potential risks to learners, and how these can be avoided.”

Further, they asked for published guidance for current and potential disabled Massey students.

“We ask the University provides guidance on claiming unexpected costs such as transport and accommodation

… We ask Massey University makes clear to ākonga any examination requirements prior to enrolment.”

Distance disability representative, Alhanis Jacobsen, commented on the post and highlighted why this change is concerning.

“The exams themselves may be proctored by new technology and this can bring to light accessibility issues that students aren’t aware will impact them until they arrive,” she wrote.

She stated it wasn’t fair for students to enroll without prewarnings about potential travel, accommodation, or childcare.

A Massey University spokesperson told Massive that alternative arrangements will be available through the usual examination process.

They said the change would be beneficial for students with print disabilities.

“Many students … will find the digital exam experience significantly more accessible, as it facilitates adjustment of screen contrasts, font sizes, etc. The number of available venues from which students can choose means that almost 90% will be within one hour’s drive of a venue.”

Distance students in remote locations are expected to be handled on a case-by-case basis.

The spokesperson said they’ll continue to communicate with students about exam requirements as early as possible to ensure sufficient time to plan.

There was no clarification on whether there would be accommodation, child-care, work, or travel aid but that support services would “operate as normal”.

The disability team recommended students with impairments complete an application for alternative arrangements as soon as possible, which can be found on the Massey website.

Massey’s First Māori Student Association to be Launched

Words by Ellice Lawrie • SHE/HER

Massey University’s first Māori student association, ‘Ngā Haumi ki te Ao’ is set to be launched on May 13th on Massey’s Manawatū campus.

Ngā Haumi ki te Ao was created as part of the new student representation structure introduced last week. The role of the association will be to work with Te Tira Ahu Pae to provide similar services and initiates with a Māori approach.

Ngā Haumi ki te Ao general manager, Ana Tupangaia, said the goal of the association is “to create a thriving, connected Māori student community where every tauira feels at home,

inspired to learn and empowered to lead”.

“We envision a future where Māori excellence is the norm, and our graduates carry their knowledge back to their whānau, hapu, marae, iwi and beyond.”

The name ‘Ngā Haumi ki te Ao’ was gifted by Massey professor Hone Morris and encompasses the idea of connection between Massey’s four campuses.

Previously, physical Massey campuses have had their own Māori student associations. But Ngā Haumi ki te Ao will bring

these together to have a national presence that also includes distance students.

Tupangaia explained the word ‘Haumi’ translates to ‘alliance’.

“Ngā Haumi ki Turitea, Ngā Haumi ki Pukeahu, Ngā Haumi ki Ōtehā, Ngā Haumi ki Pāmamao,” she said.

Massive is the first to announce the name publicly.

In the past, Massey offered support for Māori students through Te Rau Tauawhi, which is part of Aotearoa’s ākonga Māori student success support collective strategy. However, Tupangaia feels that this wasn’t enough.

“Previously, it’s been confusing for Māori students on where to find their community within Massey,” she said.

In contrast, she said Ngā Haumi ki te Ao will be able to fufill is “something culturally competent where we can have the student experience as well. Not just the academic experience”.

Ngā Haumi ki te Ao are launching multiple initiatives to support Māori students. This includes providing kai & kōrero, Kapa Haka, reo Māori, noho marae, and partaking in Te Huinga Tauira—the national Māori students conference. They also provide culturally competent support and advocacy for Māori students

Tupangaia said Ngā Haumi ki te Ao is a pathway for “our young leaders to get into representation, governance and university life behind the scenes”.

“We are excited to succeed because it means that we all succeed and succeed on a bigger note than just being a student association working in partnership. We are

actually succeeding to the spirit of why Te Tiriti o Waitangi was written.”

The logo for the association was created by two fourth year Māori Visual Arts students—Eve Robin and Phoebe Scott. The students used symbols which represent Massey’s campuses, Massey students, Ngā Haumi ki te Ao’s relationships and the process of study.

Ultimately, the logo is a message of connection and encouragement to be unapologetically Māori.

Massey’s School of Business Takes over Mathematical Sciences Building

Words by Maya Trotman • SHE/HER

Massey’s School of Business Takes Over Mathematical Sciences Building

Construction has taken over the Auckland campus the Mathematical Sciences building is remodelled to become the new home of Massey’s Business School. Meanwhile, the Mathematical and Computational Sciences has moved into the Innovation Complex.

These changes are part of the Ōtehā Auckland Space Consolidation project aimed to improve how Massey utilises space on campus.

A Massey University spokesperson told Massive that due to the campus’s excess of space, they have exited the Business School which will now enable them to lease it to external tenants.

Ngā Haumi ki te Ao’s logo, designed by Māori Visual Arts students Eve Robin and Phoebe Scott

“This allows us to undertake the same, or increased, level of activity, in less space,” the spokesperson said.

“We are refreshing and refurbishing some of our remaining spaces to make better use of them and to reflect changes to how people use workplaces today.”

Last year, Massey signed a five-year contract which leased out part of Auckland’s Student Central building to the NZ Police.

Massey told Massive they intend on reducing space across all three campuses. This includes leasing the spaces to external companies.

On the Wellington campus last year, the College of Creative Arts was downsized. With Massive reporting that some programmes were pushed out of their former buildings entirely.

At the time, students criticised Massey for reducing their spaces without providing adequately sized alternatives.

In Auckland, Massey said postgraduate and PhD students from the School of Mathematical and Computational Sciences were consulted about the move. No further information was released about the feedback from this consultation.

The new Business School building will include workspaces for academic and professional staff

Motion for New Student Representation Model Passed

Words by Jessie Davidson • SHE/HER

Two years after Massey University threatened to defund Te Tira Ahu Pae because of a failing representation model, a new structure has finally been passed.

Last year, students voted in favour of the new model at a SGM in October last year. A working group has since finalised the updated structure, which was passed at the SGM held on Thursday last week across campuses.

74 people voted to pass the motion, eight abstained, and two voted against.

Another motion was also passed at the SGM, which was to approve that we reregister as an incorporated society.

For this motion, 81 voted to reregister, one abstained, and two objected.

The new student representation model would see the Māori Students’ Association becoming an independent body.

The remaining structure refines the responsibilities of student representatives, clarifies working hours, and reduces the number of direct representatives. The proposed funding covers two presidents, eight general representatives and twelve community representatives.

The model also creates opportunities for up to 76 students to participate in paid student voice roles across the university, including positions on Massey boards and committees.

Nominations for the general/distance president role have closed, and candidates will undergo a pre-screening process and interview before final nominees are presented in the wider student election. The eight general representative roles will be elected.

The 12 community representatives, along with the Māori Students’ Association, will remain independent in determining how representatives for their groups are selected.

Students at the Albany campus SGM

The marketing leading up to the release

of Marty Supreme had me entranced. Wide-eyed and drooling down the collar of my orange shirt, I spent weeks talking about it as if I was getting paid. Sitting down in the cinema, the excitement was palpable. Instantly, a hardcore orange haze blasted us back, transporting us into the world of table tennis.

But as the credits rolled and I rose from my seat, my excitement had been replaced with bewilderment.

What the fuck was that?

Marty Supreme follows 23-year-old table tennis competitor, Marty Mauser. Set in 1950s New York, Marty scams, steals, fucks, yells, and outplays opposition, strangers, and loved ones to be at the top.

This A24 feature felt like The Wolf of Wall Street. Except the stock market had been swapped for table tennis. It was a movie made for the everincreasing population of young conservative me, and I don’t think this was an accident.

A24 created a movie to profit off the young white American boy.

Looking around at the amount of eyebrow piercings in your friend group, fears of Gen Z conservativism seemed like hysteria. But in 2022, Melissa Deckman, author of the book The Politics of Gen Z, reported that 49% of Gen Z men said that America had became “too soft and feminine”.

The stats don’t lie, and they’re gleaming dreams of masculine greatness.

In October 2025, the Marty Supreme marketing started. Lead actor and OG indie heart throb, Timothee Chalamet, engulfed Gen Z and Gen Alpha spaces. By going on shows like Druski and shouting “SHWEP” into every camera, young audiences were targeted.

And oh boy did it work. The film made $149 million, becoming the studio’s highest-grossing movie in a measly month. The marketing got millions of Gen Z and Alpha butts in cinema seats... only to tell the story of a man jerking his aspirations off until completion, at any cost.

Chalamet plays a skeevy 1950s shoe salesman with a dream, Marty. When he’s not working, he plays table tennis, sleeps with his married friend, Rachel, or scams people for money. The movie is a brutal crawl to the top, where not even Rachel’s pregnancy or claims of domestic violence stop him.

When he takes his best friend, Wally, on a whirlwind journey to win a bit of cash, he ends up taking it all for himself— regardless of what he put Wally through. As he gets swindled, Wally recognises that he thought he was the exception to the rule, saying: “You’re not gonna fuck me like you do everybody else.”

But there are no exceptions for a white guy with adult acne and no moral code.

The film comes to an end when Marty finally beats the table tennis world champion. But because the match wasn’t a real tournament, the movie thinks it’s making a point when Marty wins. It believes it’s giving an interesting critique of the rat-race that is the American dream by showing Marty succeed but not win anything tangible. You can give your life to something and come out with nothing.

But really, Marty did win. He satisfied his ego and proved he is the greatest. All the harm he caused to those who love him was worth nothing in the scheme of his self-importance. He goes home to New York to be a father to Rachel’s baby. He appears unscathed by the blood thirsty journey. He gets to just keep being Marty, the supreme table tennis player.

So, what is the message? That if you give your life to something at the expense of good people, it’s worth it? You’ll achieve your goal?

That is the fundamentals of conservatism if I’ve ever heard it. Extract, exploit, and profit.

Marty Supreme was not a critique of Conservative American values; it was an advertisement for them.

I’m a firm believer that a good movie doesn’t have to have a positive message or that the main character is morally good. I haven’t melted in terror of Marty Supreme’s messaging. I drifted away with boredom from it.

The ‘white-straight-dude-fucks-overeveryone-to-win-and-succeeds’ trope is overused and boring. We’ve seen it time and time again. Reflecting action movies full of burly antiheros and dead wives. I didn’t leave the cinema amazed. I left feeling like I’d seen the movie before.

Director Josh Safdie attempted to wrap up an uncreative trope in beautiful cinematic value, great acting and big-name casting in hopes no one will notice. Truthfully, no one really has.

There’s been practically no discourse about Marty Supreme outside of the marketing. It didn’t disrupt, shake up, or start any conversation about what it was trying to critique. All I’ve seen is press about windbreakers, ping pong balls, and Odessa A’zion. There was nothing to talk about because the film fed its young conservative audience.

Marty Supreme was undoubtedly a movie for the masses. If Safdie was trying to get people out of the house and go to their local cinema, he thrived by catering to the right-wing-leaning majority.

He didn’t make any interesting comments about a messed-up system. He endorsed it with a Hollywood heartthrob.

The strongest weapon against hatred, is love... What Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl performance taught the world.

Fields of sugarcane stretch out into the horizon. Under the glaring sun and bright blue skies, workers wearing pavas chop the plants down. A seemingly happy scene with a much deeper meaning.

Words appear across the screen:

“Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio presenta el espectáculo de medio tiempo del Súper Tazón.”

(Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio presents the Super Bowl Halftime Show)

On February 8th, 2026, 135.4 million people across the world watched Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl performance—a performance that became an act of resistance. One that used love to challenge to the current US political climate.

For many watching, they only saw the choreography, the A-list celebrities and the award-winning songs. But for others, it was a collective experience of hurt and pain at the hands of history.

Across the Super Bowl field, Bad Bunny recreated his home country, Puerto Rico. Sugarcane fields and its workers covered

the pitch. Latin America icons were scattered throughout, lingering around every corner— from street vendors selling coco frio, pirigua and villas tacos, to nail salons and men playing dominoes.

Sitting centre stage, underneath grand stadium lights, was La Casita. The simple set represented a typical Puerto Rican home. It embodied a party de marquesina—a house gathering that encourages community and brings people together. Inside La Casita, Latino A-list celebrities Pedro Pascal, Jessica Alba, and Cardi B partied the night away.

The camera panned over the sugarcane fields as millions watched a couple get married while Lady Gaga serenaded them. This legally binding ceremony transformed the halftime show into a vulnerable display of love.

For Massey University professor of Spanish, Leonel Alvardo, this was the exact message he saw in the performance—love prevailing in the face of hate. Particularly in the US.

He says, “You have to respond to violence with that affirmation of life, with the joy of life.”

Under the spotlight and watchful eyes of America, Bad Bunny took real symbols of Puerto Rico’s history and showed them in a new light.

The sugarcane plantations, for example, are known as the most brutal, tireless forms of labour in Puerto Rican history. The production of sugarcane played a foundational role in American history and drove the expansion of slavery. This relentless labour built immense wealth for the US.

By paying homage to Latino labour, heritage and past generations, Bad Bunny provided a powerful commentary on who built that wealth.

Alvardo says the debate over what makes someone “truly American” rises to the surface throughout the performance.

“It is very important because of what is happening right now in the US—that rejection of everything that is not white European.”

This performance arrived at a time of intense political tension in the United States around immigration and national identity. US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been condemned for its discriminatory workplace raids, border detentions, and deportation policies.

Alvardo says Puerto Ricans have often been treated as “second-class or third -class citizens by the US”.

For years, the Super Bowl halftime show has functioned as a patriotic ritual for US viewers.

Now, Bad Bunny has challenged the idea of what it means to be American on the world’s largest stage. Yet his message was not confrontational—it was grounded in love.

The 13-minute performance was layered with both cultural and political significance. From the opening tribute to Puerto Rican labourers and the life of La Casita, filled with music and community—love was framed as endurance.

For Alvardo, the dancing throughout the show also played a significant role in spreading this message.

“It’s an affirmation that you can try to get rid of us. But our bodies are here, our minds are here,” he says. “The idea is to bring the community into the music. To make people feel the music, feel the message, and also to dance and reflect.”

The entire stage became a space for peace, unity and love.

Alvardo explains that Bad Bunny is using the performance to show that simply existing—spreading love and joy— can be the strongest form of resistance in the face of hate. He says that audiences should learn from this performance and find ways in which we can use love as a form of resistance. Rather than resorting to violence or discrimination.

“You must find ways in art to respond in a way that is not confrontational. In a way that you can talk about yourself, about your identity and try to make people understand who you are and where you come from without using the strategies of violence.”

“A peaceful kind of resistance ... peaceful and joyful.”

Even if audiences did not understand every symbol within the show, Alvardo says the most significant message was obvious, simply because the entire show was in Spanish.

For almost the entire show, Bad Bunny spoke no English until the very end.

It was there when he said: “God bless America.”

He then listed all 35 countries in the Americas, redefining ‘America’ to extend beyond the borders of the US.

Chile,

Argentina,

Puerto Rico. Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Brazil, El Salvador, Mexico, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, U.S., Canada,

Bad Bunny moved between history and celebration. In doing so, he uplifted both past and present generations across the Americas. He showcased the kindness, joy, and love that can blossom out of hatred. The singular most powerful way to combat hate is with love. In all forms, for all people. Love is always the answer.

As the camera panned away from the dancing crowd, it focused on the massive screen shining down on the field and across the world.

On it read:

“The only thing more powerful than hate is love.”

In my opinion, humanity can be somewhat summed up by pop culture. Our fucked up, digital scrapbook of slang, memes, references, and moments brings people together across the world. Even if that just comes down to laughing at funny numbers (haha 67 hahah).

These strange references have a chokehold on society. They’ve become so common that we don’t even notice our vocabulary slipping into a scrabbled mess of nonsensical slang—like ‘lowkirkenuinely’ (this should not be a word).

Determined to learn about why the word ‘lowkey’ is my ball and chain, I reached out to Massey linguistics professor, Arianna Berardi-Wiltshire. In her eyes, internet slang should not be regarded as dumbing down standard English. Instead, it’s a creative outlet for humour and connection.

She says, “This modern slang illustrates really well how languages are adopted, adapted, and how linguistic forms or languages themselves change over time and spread from individual to individual, but also from community to community.”

From ‘lally-cooler’ to ‘gnarly’ to ‘lit’. Slang of the English language has changed a lot over the years. They don’t just stem from current pop culture events or trends, but also through how they’re communicated.

For example, many acronyms exist after people wanted to simplify texting on early phone models. Typing “WTF” was a lot easier to type than “what the fuck” on brick phones.

Berardi-Wiltshire explains these acronyms have stuck around because they’re efficient.

“These terms are such beautifully compressed, efficient little gems of meaning that you can just inject really quickly in a conversation.”

Berardi-Wiltshire says if you want to learn or understand any language, you need to be exposed to it. But for some people, there are barriers to understanding this new-found internet language.

“There are people who, by their age or by various aspects of their identity, do not access those contexts to be exposed to it enough to use it.”

Whilst we laugh at teaching our grandparents what rizz is, it’s a different story for them. Being unable to use slang can be a form of social isolation.

“That language doesn’t feel that it belongs to you, it belongs to them. So, it gives you a feeling of being shut out, and people don’t like that feeling,” explains Berardi-Wiltshire.

This naturally leads to a resentment towards this social dialect. But Berardi-Wiltshire feels that this resentment is not necessarily justified.

“There’s nothing wrong with slang,” she says. “The fact is, younger people today are the most literate they have been in all of the history. You might not read Shakespeare all day long, but you read on your screens all day. You communicate through written language all day.”

When it’s put like that, it makes me feel a lot better about my screentime.

Even though younger generations aren’t always consuming the most educational or invigorating media, we are still stimulated by visual and written language. This leads to the constant flow of new references, memes, and slang, which are just another outlet of creativity.

Berardi-Wiltshire argues that compressing language into bite-sized slang shows how creating new phrases is a form of creativity not unlike poetry. The goal of both poetry and of slang is to create meaning by rewriting the story in new words.

“There is something cool about compressing a lot of meaning, a lot of emotion, a lot of something in something very small. It’s the heart of poetry, really.”

Slang does not actually leave out any content or make anything less clear. It simply creates a new meaning from existing meanings—broadening, narrowing, or flipping over as our culture evolves. In linguistics, this is known as semantic drift.

Terms such as ‘slay’ stick around for a long time, embedding itself into many people’s vocabulary. Yet some words that were once everywhere—like ‘on fleek’—did not stand the test of time.

Berardi-Wiltshire believes the criteria for successful slang is in its resonance, usefulness, wittiness and efficiency.

“’Slay’ is a good example of that. It shifts to something more clever, more witty, more judgmental, perhaps more risqué,” she says.

Whilst internet slang is widespread, it’s still more of a social dialect rather than an entire new language. However, it is still a significant degree of variation from standard English, according to Berardi-Wiltshire.

All in all, the impact pop culture has had on slang is massive. Worldwide, we have come together to create a new form of communication through memes, references and slang.

Ultimately, if inventing new vocal stims is what brings us together, I’m not mad.

The resurgence of 2016. How soon is too soon?

SKINNY JEANS, POLAROIDS, AND BOHO CHIC

have once again returned to rule pop culture with the revival of 2016. But it wasn’t so long ago that these trends fell from grace.

Trends repeating over time is nothing new. In 2020, ‘90s grunge reemerged with baggy jeans, bucket hats and oversized sunglasses. In the ‘90s, trends from the ‘70s returned with tiedye, platform shoes, and a rediscovery of ‘70s music. While the ‘60s repeated the ‘40s slim-line silhouette and above-the-knee cut.

As I said, trends cycle. But there used to be a 20-to-30-year gap between trends. But now, this has shortened down to ten years.

Is there anything wrong with the return of 2016, skinny jeans and King Kylie? Well... kinda.

The ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s all have such a distinct aesthetic. But since 2010, every year has had its own unique fashion, music and lifestyle. Gone are the days when one aesthetic could capture a whole decade.

The trend cycle is spinning faster, and the negative effects of this shift go deeper than just having to buy a new wardrobe. Our environment and our people are paying the price.

To keep up with the current trends, more people are buying more clothes. Therefore, they are also throwing away more clothes. According to Greenpeace, the fashion industry produces 100 billion garments every year. Of these garments, 92 million tonnes are discarded. Our environment can’t handle this.

I mean, think about it. It wasn't that long ago that we were throwing out our 2016 wardrobe. Landfills worldwide are full of clothes from 2016. Now, fast fashion companies are pumping out cheap duplicates of those very same clothes.

Fast fashion has a devastating effect on our environment. This year, Earth. Org reported that “fast fashion is the second biggest consumer of water and responsible for about 10% of all global emissions”.

For context, this is more emissions than all international flights and maritime shipping combined.

Social media’s rising influence means that trends spread fast and cycle quickly. Once upon a time, trends were slowly created and spread. Now, they can be shared globally in less than 24-hours with the help of Instagram, TikTok and more. The fast fashion industry profits on these micro trends by pumping out clothes quickly until the trend cycles onward.

The workers who create out these clothes are also impacted. Greenpeace found fast fashion workers work an average of ten to 16 hours a day, six

times a week.

Despite their long hours, they are paid nearly three times less than their country's living wage. Of the 60 million fast fashion workers, only 2% of them are paid a working wage, according to Earth.Org.

The clothes might be cheap, but someone else is paying the price.

Trends resurgences have been happening for decades. Falling for the 2016 trend cycle doesn’t make you a bad person. Even I’ve started wondering if skinny jeans are cute again. It's easy to recognise that fast fashion is a problem. But not following a trend can honestly feel impossible at times.

Tackling social media globalisation and fast fashion is too much to take on by yourself. But even the smallest things make a difference. Recognise trends don’t last, buy your clothes from opshops, and keep your current clothes in storage instead of chucking them out.

Maybe when 2026 starts trending in ten years, you won’t have to waste money on a new wardrobe.

What Pop Culture Icon Are You? 2016

The paparazzi catch you get practicing fidget spinner tricks on your lunch break. What do you do?

a) Own it and teach them some tricks too

b) Don’t be ridiculous. You wouldn’t be caught dead doing this!

c) You don’t care because you’ve been open about your love for fidget spinners

d) Laugh it off and pretend you were filming content

You’re doing the mannequin challenge, but your frenemy keeps moving on purpose. Do you:

a) Tell them to get out of the video

b) Talk about it on your family’s reality TV show

c) Give them a brofist to the face

d) Create a comedy skit out of it

People are spreading a rumour that you can’t bottle flip. How do you react?

a) Practice and then do a bottle flip on stage

b) Who cares about bottle flipping? You’ve got bigger things to worry about

c) Puh-lease! You were bottle flipping before you were born!

d) Double down and host a bottle flipping party

You see a clown in the street and he starts chasing you. Do you:

a) Run away screaming

b) Put your self defense lessons to good use and take them out!

c) Laugh and accept your fate

d) Video it and use it for content

You’re hosting a listening party for Beyonce’s album Lemonade when Jay Z crashes. Do you:

a) Calmly ask him to leave

b) Video it and leak it to the press

c) Stay quiet and hope he goes away

d) Punch him for cheating on Beyonce

You post RIP Harambe on your story and become a meme. What do you do?

a) Write a song dedicated to Harambe b) Monetise yourself and make merch

c) You’re already a meme, this just adds to your portfolio d) Repost the memes on Snapchat

You’re a pop princess!

You’re chronically online, love a party, and always go viral on TikTok. In weekends, people can find you on a beach with a mimosa in hand.

You are the ‘it’ girl, and you’re hated for it. You come off as intimidating, but you’re actually just ambitious. You’ll do anything to succeed, even if that means stepping on a few toes.

You’re energetic, unserious and love a self-deprecating joke. You love to hyper focus on niche topics, which makes you a great quiz partner. You prefer a night-in over attending a wild party.

Zara Larson Kylie Jenn PewDiePie Lele P e Pons

You’re the type of person to cover up how you’re actually feeling with a smile and a joke. You can be kinda cringe, but you’re fiercely loyal and people love you for it.

bRave 004

The Mothership Fri Mar 6th

NO GIGS

Throw a party!

Quarry Concert #10: Ludus / UMU / hara / Lucky Omen

Former Quarry Mt Vic

Sat Mar 7th,

Pining Radiata – So Confused MeanOwls – Everything Is Fine DISPLEASURE - BEEFCHUMP

Polaroids of Polarbears – Couch Crashing (feat. Horse Around) researchintospeed – ADCSR shannengeorgiapetersen - 17

Tū ViBe – Revolutionise truth here

Fazed on a Pony – The Perfect Swan Wolfboy - Drowntown

Current Bias – wejustkeepgoing (Widetempo Mix)

LAUGHING STOCK – Sixk

My flatmate keeps giving me explicit details about her period (clots and all). I’m all for a girlie chat, but when it becomes a breakfast conversation, my eggs become unappetising. How do I tell her when she’s crossing the bloody line?

Hey darl!

You’ve got a bloody issue here. Before I hit menopause, I loved having a wee chit chat about my moon cycle with my gal pals. But we always kept it strictly on our fav sweet treats, cramp pain levels, and asking each other to have a quick peek at our bums when we stood up.

But when it comes to measuring the size of blood clots or leaving used period products lying around on the bathroom floor—enough is enough.

My advice?

First: Stop eating your eggs around this girl.

Second: Communicate! Tell her how you’re feeling. It’s gonna be awks, but she will move on. If she’s that obsessed with the thickness of her discharge, I doubt she’s going to be offended if you set some boundaries.

But, if you prefer to be messy—beat fire with fire. Find a topic she finds really gross, and talk about it alllll the time! Bowel movements, fungal feet, tape worms, hemorrhoids— whatever it is, speak up! Talk about it breakfast, lunch and dinner. Send her fun facts about it every day. Soon enough, she will be so grossed out that she won’t want to be near you.

Problem fixed!

You’ll never have to hear from her again.

Hope that helps!

XOX

We can all agree that Heated Rivalry has the girls and the gays absolutely unwell.

Like feral. Like pacing-the-lounge feral. It’s elite-tier gaggery, and I, for one, am patiently waiting for Shane Hollander to declare he’s actually bisexual and enter my life so we can recreate at least three of those scenes in 4K.

But until that day arrives, I’ve been dabbling in a bit of subpar behaviour that I simply must get off my chest.

After bingeing the entire series in one day and fantasising about my fictional life with Hudson, it’s safe to say, I was not at peace. I was twirling my hair, biting my lip, replaying scenes. The tingles were tingling, and I couldn’t take it any longer, so I whipped out my phone and started messaging my situationship.

What started as “hey lol” turned into a sneaky link, and then an Oscar-worthy performance. The man clocked in. I clocked out. Within an hour, I had spiritually lived the fantasy I’d been drooling over, and while he was doing his best work physically, I was doing mybest work mentally.

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It was so good that it’s happened twice more. While I should probably find a bit of humanity and realise said situationship is a bloke with feelings and probably doesn’t want to be used for my dirty fantasies, I’ve convinced myself it’s fine because he’s getting a root with no strings. ‘

I was deep in delulu land and at one point forgot what his face looked like and what his name actually is. I was too busy imagining my one true love, Shane (aka Hudson) was the one starring in the encore episode happening right there in my room.

That, and it’s actually not that deep, right? Right??

With Mercury in retrograde, enter the month with the sensitivity of a bisexual man. Be strategic to succeed this month and stop buying $13 blocks of cheese.

The sun and Venus are in Pisces, so put on your hiking boots and take yourself on a solo adventure. Just don’t do it on a Wednesday. You know why...

Your social calendar is booming this week, Taurus. Enjoy the spotlight Miss Popular and exhaust your social battery before the uni grind steals your thunder.

You feel stuck between two pathways —growth and comfort. So, listen to your friend’s advice and don’t revert to nasty old habits (or your ex-sneaky link).

With Mars in Pieces over the weekend, now is the perfect time to meal prep your sweet treats of the month. Baking is a restorative practice for you and your flatties.

Girl, calm down. Your crazy schemes needs to be reworked. Ask yourself, are you asking for permission or forgiveness? Scratch that—fuck around and find out.

As the total lunar eclipse begins this week, it brings with it a sensation of rebirth. But that doesn’t mean you should spend all your money on a new wardrobe.

With Mercury in retrograde, you’ll notice a pattern of failed plans and flaky friends. Time to rethink your friendships. Remember, if they wanted to, they would.

This week, you’ll find romance like you’re in Heated Rivalry—passionate and forbidden. Don’t mistake this romance for your situationship though. That’s got to stop.

Anxious energy from you this week, Aquarius. Stop hiding from the DMCs that need to happen. Rip off the bandaid and kill them with kindness!

Congratulations, you have won the horoscope lottery! The full moon means you’re close to your career goals. Big bucks are coming your way!

The sun in your sign means you will shine like the bright star you are. Enjoy the confidence boost. But with Mercury in retrograde, your ego might skyrocket. Be careful.