Wearing What's You, Not What's In

As a follow on to the numerous entries I made about clothes for this summer, I think it should be noted that it’s particularly important to dress in what makes one feel comfortable. I will never wear hot pants or booty shorts, because I doubt I will ever be comfortable wearing them. I think an imperative part in deciding what to wear goes beyond how you look but how you feel.

Many people think that young women, often in their late teens and early twenties, dress to impress men. While that is true to an extent, who does not want the admiration of someone, from the young women I have asked it is more likely that we dress to impress other women. Females are inherently bitchy, while it may fade after high school finishes it is not uncommon for one to subconsciously think, wow, she wore that out of the house?! Or on the other hand to think, shit every other female in this room looks better than me. I am not saying that every female feels this way; many don’t care what others think of them, and will not look down on someone due to what they are wearing. However, I believe that possibly every women has at some stage after graduating high school judged someone due to their choice of clothing.

The point I am trying to make is not that someone somewhere will be negative about your attire choices but that as society we need to distance ourselves from taking offence. I understand the irony of this, I want to work in the fashion industry, but I am saying don’t pay attention to what those that decide what is stylish say. That is not what I am saying; rather follow the trends that suit you. Just because someone famous wears it, or because it was the favourite on the Channel runway does not mean it will a, suit you, or b, that you will be comfortable wearing it. More so, it is not ideal to max a credit card in one purchase for the sake of fashion when you can’t afford it. It is most likely that a careful scouring of second hand stores, online shops and everything in-between will result in something similar to what you want. Alternatively, just find a pattern and give making it yourself a go.

This Summer: Dresses

I think dresses are a huge category clothing wise. If you go onto an online shopping site there always seems to been more dresses that shirts or shorts. Due to my height I steer very clear of maxi dresses, they give either the illusion I am off to a formal or trying to hide a weight problem. This season I will be purchasing a few shift dresses, they seem to work similarly to a jumpsuit and can be worn as a day or night outfit. They are also very flattering, due the little shape they have, it is possible to eat or drink as much as one wants and not worry about how you look as no one will be the wiser. One trend that seems to be sticking around this season is dresses with a nipped in waist, generally with a form fitting top half and slightly fuller skirt. These are very flattering provided the colour and style suits the wearer, but when it does the look is timeless.

Overall, summer is a fun season, so have fun with your clothes! Trying new things is always a great source of entertainment, and its possible while exploring you might find your favourite thing to wear for the next decade. 

Lecture 12: Investigative Journalism

“Isn’t all journalism meant to involve questioning investigation of the facts and opinions presented to us?”

Ross Coulthart

            Ross Coulthart is right, all journalism should be investigative. I recently watched an episode of ‘The Newsroom’ in which a gossip columnist compared herself to news anchor Will McAvoy, by calling them both journalists. As Will did, I have to disagree, tabloids and gossip writers are not journalists, they merely trash or glorify celebrities for no particular reason. Investigative journalism incorporates five ‘in’s, intelligence, informed, intuitive, inside and investment.

Investigative journalism can be split into four parts. It is important to keep in mind that an investigative journalist should be sceptical but not cynical.

1)      It is critical and thorough journalism with active participants and active intervention, and must make a substantial effort

2)      The responsibility of being a custodian of conscience, the responsibility to expose ‘civic vice’ to the pubic

3)      To provide a voice for those without one and to hold the powerful to account

4)      To be a fourth estate/a fourth branch of the government/ a ‘watchdog’

a.       Represent those without power to balance the power of the government

b.      Ensure the free flow of information necessary for a functioning democracy

c.       Make accountable public personalities and institutions who impact social and political life

Investigative journalism needs to be able to ‘cut through the agenda’ that was spoken about in last weeks lecture. An investigation report should involve facts that the public needs to know, placed into terms they can understand but without the bias of a funder pushing for a certain view on a story. As John Pilger said, “It is not enough for journalist to see themselves as mere messengers without understanding the hidden agendas of the message and myths that surround it.”

In the lecture, we looked at the trailblazers that contributed to investigations that changed the world. We explored Edward Hall Smith’s 1826 article in The Sydney Monitor about the mistreatment of convicts, W.T. Stead’s investigation into the prostitution of 12 year old girls, Chris Masters, Phil Dickie and Shaun Joyts ‘The Moonlight Sate’ about police and government corruption in Queensland during the 1980s, and ended with the current even of Julian Assange’s website WikiLeaks. As Dr Redman was talking about these people and their outcomes, all of them, asides from those involved in the making of ‘The Moonlight Sate’ were imprisoned. Assange is the most current debacle, a man who merely published documents governments would have never wanted leaking but referring to things the public has a right to know. However, as a result of this Assange is hidden in the Ecuadorian embassy fearing imprisonment in Guantanamo Bay for ‘treason’ crimes. This struck me as peculiar, that people who expose huge problems within society are paying for it rather than the perpetrators.