telephonin' now and then down under

"Do you know who i've always depended on? Not strangers, not friends. The telephone! That's my best friend' (Marilyn Monroe, cited in Maddox 1981: 262).

Lady gaga was just on tour in Melbourne and it made me think about the symbolism and iconography of the telephone in her video compared to early films that advertised "female" telephonists in early australia. Most people thought Gaga's video would take place in a club, however, Gaga did what people least expected. When Gaga wore a bright blue and old fashioned telephone on her head while cooking a "poisonous meal" she was commenting on the way in which the telephone has invaded her everyday thoughts. Text messages, gossip, mass media are constantly ringing in. In a way she is saying that the telephone, although once and is still a medium of power, has now become a medium that also causes distraction, and controversy with "poisonous" outcomes. People wear this power, but also wear this force that inhibits are ability to "connect" effectively with the people sitting in front of us.

It seems as though the "telephone" (although, now a mobile phone and video phone in some cases) over the past 70 yrs has represented female power- and in gaga's case sexual power as well. Women were able to gain agency in the industry through their telephone skills. Now the telephone is embedded in everyday culture- women and men carry around phones. It is what links them to and from the world that surrounds them and as monroe said it has become everyone's best friend.

Gaga must have looked at old photos of women working in the industry because during my 16mm film viewing session at the ACMI this past Monday I took some screenshots of women working as telephonists and I see a striking resemblance. There is a very robotic and mechanical essence to both the pictures. Gaga and the Australian telephonist have the phone on their head, underscoring the idea that the mechanical device is literally a part of their movements and thoughts. Gaga notes that the she has a fear of the telephone, she said, 'That's my fear --- that the phone's ringing and my head's ringings...Whether its a telephone or it's just the thoughts in your head, that's another fear...."

I wonder how the early women telephonists felt about having a voice in their head all day...

Me at the 16mm viewing room at the Mediatheque at ACMI

climbing over surfaces down under

I think I have finally connected with a sport that fits me here in melbourne..rockclimbing! I have been to the Hardrock climbing gym once a week since I have been in Melbourne. It is fantastic! I can feel my self getting stronger as well as making some great connections with some melbourne locals. I am looking forward to Anzac day weekend (April 24-26) I am going outdoor rockclimbing and camping near the Arapiles with Les Rock!

I never thought I would get into rock climbing- I guess when you travel you discover new things you never would have connected with elsewhere. I like rock climbing because you have to move your body and muscles in ways that you wouldn't ever do on flat land. You have to grip, hold and almost become one with the environmental surfaces you attach yourself to. Often times the surfaces do not have the perfect grip or shape- but over time you become stronger and can adapt to the edgy surfaces so you can reach the top. Rockclimbing in a sense is like traveling to a new place- at first you slip, fall, and get lost, but the next time around you reach and discover a new stepping stone to lead you to a new space. :) And more importantly, you leave impressions and trails

telephonin' me me me mediatheque down under

The other day I went to the Australian Mediatheque in Federation square at the ACMI (Australian Center for Moving Image) to look at some archival material of Australia's early telecommunication industry. (A mediatheque is a french term for a media library- a place where you can view research media material.). I came to view this material cause I needed to do some research on films that portrayed the atmosphere of the 'telegraph industry' in the early 1900's for a script that I am currently writing.

The facility was fantastic! I got a whole video viewing booth with contemporary style couches that were brown and green. Also, I got a nice HD widescreen television to view my pile of archive film with. During my screening, I slyly took some none-flash photos of the TV screen on particular shots that I found fascinating (above). What is even better- my viewing costs were free! No charge.

All of the early videos I watched evoked a colonizer's perspective on the Ausralian landscape. They each held a nationalistic purpose to make Australia the 'top' interconnected nation in the world. Australia presents: Forward communications, juxtaposed the "vast country" of Australia in need for communication to the bustling cities of Melbourne. The film showed the increase in mail to the scattered towns, the laying of cables, and the operations of telephonists and telegraphists operating morse keys. Almost all of the telephonists were women and all the men were outside "laying the cable." A patterned emerged- men outdoors (public sphere) and women on the inside (private sphere). Australia made efforts after WWII to rebuild the telecommunication infrastructure- new buildings, new tele-training facilities (e.g. PMG training college), new trenches for underground cables...etc. The underground cables began as a replacement for the overhead cables because the Australian environment produced hazard fires which caused damage to the overhead wires. In the video Triumph of the Telegraph, they discussed ways of protecting local Oz birds (magpies) from disrupting the lines, such as building nests that layed on the outside of the poles for them to take comfort in.

In the opening of Triumph of the Telegraph, there was a shot of an Aboriginal native making a fire out of sticks, and then telegraph lines faded in eventually to replace the Aboriginal. The film blatantly states that the 'native' culture, must be erased and overwritten with technological that would ensure strength, stability, and progress. Everything they discussed was pertinent to the vastness of the Australian landscape and 'white' man's extension of oneself into the Australian arcadia by wire.

Another interesting clip I watched was called "Lucky Sue!" It was an advertisement recruiting women into the telephone branch in Adelaide. It showed sue lying on the beach with a handsome man and then Sue working and smiling at her telephone office booth. The ad used the picturesque Australian beach environment to lure women in. Lucky sue!

The Australian mediatheque is also great because they let you watch 16 mm films from a projector in a special room with no charge! Next monday, I am going to go see my "film" reels at the Mediatheque. As for advice, if you feel like connecting down under- check out the Mediatheque. Just request films from the National Film and Sound Archive at:

http://colsearch.nfsa.gov.au/nfsa/search/search.w3p;adv=no;query=%22post%20office%22%20Media%3A%22FILM%22%20Access%3Atrue;resCount=10

The films will be sent for free to an onsite viewing facility in Australia within a week.

:)

Also, the title is in reference to Lady Gaga's song 'telephone'- (which I am currently slightly obsessed with)- but I chose it, because it seems as though Australia constantly updating and altering their media infrastructure.

Rain, Hail or Shine- explorations still happen down under

It was Saturday the 6th of March, and my friend Ellen lured me in to go exploring in the city of Melbourne for the day. We were going to check out some festivals and maybe go see the Shrine of remembrance. As we rode the tram down the sky slowly became darker and darker- it was as if a translucent dark shade had been cast over the melbourne sky. The clouds became moving faster- as if one were watching a time-lapse of the sky. Ellen and I, looked at each other, and we knew that it would probably rain, but we figured we could get our way around it.

Little did we know,however, that within five minutes of getting off the Tram at Swanston street-'Hail' the size of golfballs would be pouring down on us. Just as we were about to cross over to Flinder's street station we took cover under a small tree- several other pedestrians joined us. The tree provided some protection, but the hail was so strong it still managed to knock me in the head and neck a few times- this was serious. The hail lasted for about 10 minutes and I noticed that the streets were started to fill up, and I knew that we needed to cross the street and go into a local business. As the hail began to dissipate and transform into a downpour Ellen and I rushed across the street into the pub Young & Jacksons. There were heaps of people taking cover in this building- all of whom, like us, had their day plans ruined. So why not? We decided to buy a couple beers and hang out till the rain started to recede. We got a delicious amber Lager called "Chief" mmm. We ended making fiends with a local, who took us around to a few more pubs and out for delicious shanghai dumplings (service wasn't the best there, but the food was decent and cheap!).

The lesson learned, is that your plans can be totally changed by the environmental conditions. Ellen and I thought we were going to have a day of explorations- and we did in a way- but rather than to the shrine of remembrance, we went through a rainy day of remembrance. All HAIL that day of of remembrance.

architecture of infrastructure down under

The architecture in Melbourne is so fluid. The walls, ceilings, and rooftops flow like waves within the movements of the city. During O-week (Orientation Week for the Colleges on campus at La Trobe University) all of the students in Menzies College were put into teams to complete ridiculous tasks throughout the Melbourne CBD. Tasks ranged from swimming in the Yarra River to doing the cha-cha through city intersections. I (unfortunately) had the privilege of getting my hairstyled with Macca's (McDonalds in Aussie Language) BBQ sauce, and had to ride the tram all the way back to campus attracting all sorts of yummy insects.

Despite the minor smelly and sticky mishap, I found peace in the cultural urban environment of Melbourne CBD. I did not pay attention to the games that were going on because all I could focus on was the spectacular site of Melbourne's architecture. All of the crazy college students were running around trying to win a scavenger hunt without even taking notice to the amazing sites that surrounded them. So instead of being a keen participator of the scavenger hunt I took some pictures of the architecture I was in- framing the shots to make shapes with the sky.

In Melbourne, there are old buildings (Parliament House on Victoria Parade and the State Library of Victoria on Swanston Stree), new buildings (HardRock climbing), and buildings under construction (RMIT- Royal Melbourne Institute for Technology). The city is a palimpsest of culture and desgin- holding heritages of art-deco, neo-gothism, and contemporary art keen to the artists eye.

My favorite architecture lies inside the ACMI (Australian Center for the Moving Image, located in Federation Square across from Flinder's station). The colors are so vivid and bright and the space is so spacious and crowded at the same time. Reading about the history of the building I discovered that the designs for the film centre were developed in the early 1980's to create "an exhibition space free of the restrictions imposed in traditional display facilities." (acmi.net.au) And the state film centre of victoria envisioned the ACMI as an "open" space that could interface school and university work as well. In 1997, Lab architecture studio won the design to create the building in federation square. Today, it is by far (my favorite) an amazing building that conveys within its design the cross-roads of commercial, cultural, and educational thought and desire. It is the vital infrastructure to the growing film industry in Melbourne. :)

lost in bondi down under

Bondi beach- infamous- is a site where culture, fashion, tourism, and consumerism collide. Probably, more sunscreen has been consumed on that beach than the entire history of sunscreen usage in California. Bondi is the home of the new reality Aussie TV hit "Bondi rescue." The show dramatizes the rescues that occur within Bondi's strong currents. I was lucky enough to witness the filming of a scene while laying on the beach. It is quite interesting and kinda of sad that Bondi bathers watch with pleasure and amusement as some poor person gets dragged out of the waters while being filmed. Check out some episodes... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muhDOkefb4U). In fact, rescues have become the norm- people think to themselves, "o theres just another person drowning....old news..."

My Bondi Beach excursion has been my favorite excursion so far. Why? Because I went to Bondi Beach the first day I arrived in Sydney (February 12, 2010) and I had no idea where I was going and I knew no one. (I did wish, however, that I would have brought a towel. Laying on a hot beach with no towel can get uncomfortably sticky and sandy haha). I did not even know how to pronounce the beach right. (Bondi is pronounced "bond-eye," when I first saw the sign called it "Bond-eee"- quite embarrassing when trying to ask locals what bus I should take to get there).

It was great to explore a place with a fresh pair of eyes- the only thing I knew about Bondi was that it had been the landing point of major telecommunication traffic. Yes, that right. Little do the Bondi Beach bathers know, however, is that Bondi Beach used to be the landing point for a submarine cable that connected New Zealand to the mainland of Australia. So rather than doing the typical tourists things- such as lounging on the beach to increase my bronze tan- I spent my day (in 32˚ weather!) trying to find markings and residues of the submarine cable. I did find several Teltrsa telephone booths on the beach, as well a manholes (where the cable is threaded) along the walkways. I also discovered that the old cable station on the beach has been transformed into a surf club, restaurant for tourists.

I truly do love the feeling of getting lost and being confused because it forces me to re-think my surroundings and re-evaluate environmental conditions. And I love mediating places on my own- I was not with anyone to give me a history of the beach or tell me where I should eat and dine- I discovered that for myself. The feeling of discovery only lasts for a moment because once you have been to a place your subjective perspective forever leaves a mark and your bearings are set. However, during re-visits you discover new things you never saw before.

Bondi Beach will forever be a changing landscape- a telegraph landing point, a tourist spot, the site of an action rescue reality show, and who knows what else lies ahead. It is a beautiful beach- and I will never forget my first excursion.

paddington station down under

The Paddington Cable Station seen in the picture to the right is the station that receives and monitors all the telecommunication data and information from the Australian Japan Cable (AJC). The Australian Japan Fiber optic Cable goes undersea to connect Japan to Australia. The building features some satellites at the roof, however, the building itself is plain and dull compared to the architecture that surrounds it. I find it interesting that the station is located in the middle of a shopping area- in media res- where people and several lines of transportation traffic intersect. Most cable stations are remote and have indicators of high security.

More info on the Australian landing point at: http://www.ajcable.com/australia-landing-points/

I took this picture (thanks to my friend Ellen, who smoothly and rapidly passed me her camera just in time) at Oxford St. on the Sydney Bus route to Bondi Beach the day of the Mardi Gras parade.

sounds down under

Waking up to the sounds of La Trobe University is my favorite part of the day. The sounds of Australia are vivid, fresh, and new- they reiterate the fact that I am currently "down under". Having only been here at La Trobe University for three weeks, I have felt as though I have been here for two months. The campus is active with sporting clubs, picnics, and movements of students just beginning classes. I do find, however, that it is great to escape the movements of campus by taking a tram ride into the city of Melbourne for an evening or day- it is the most beautiful city in the world. The tram ride into the city is about 45 minutes, but it goes by fast- and once you are there it is worth the crowded tram ride. My favorite food to get in the city is sushi (It is the cheapest food here- can get 2 rolls for $3.00!). The best place I have found to eat, however, was in Fitzroy (just about a 10 minute tram ride out of the Melbourne CBD (Central Business District)- a Thai restaurant called "Patee Thai." There I took off my shoes and sat on the floor to enjoy a delicious lamb curry after an evening of exploring Federation Square.

Exploring the night life in Melbourne city is unique because you have to use your ears rather than your eyes to find your way around. Often, the (good) pubs are hidden away out of view- you have to get lost before you have a good time. The other night, two of my friends and I walked down Fitzroy street to find a pub that I I looked up on google. The street was dark and just as my friends were beginning to second guess my google map research skills- I heard a subtle sound of laughter and a Carlton Draught sign began to emerge from the darkness. After a 30 minute trek, we found the Standard Hotel. A lovely place, with an authentic bar and lively beer garden. The atmosphere there was fresh and there was live music playing. It was a great way to end the day before another long tram ride back to campus.

There is so much to do here at La Trobe University. On Monday Nights, there is $5 meals from a pub called Father Flannegans, (only a 25 minute tram ride from campus), throughout the week there are events at the on campus pub ($2 pints of goon(Boxed wine) and juice- not the most classy drink, but fun to socialize with), and there are also heaps of clubs that I have joined such as the Mountaineering Club and Scuba diving club that offer kayaking trips and diving trips. But my favorite thing to do is just to listen- to listen to the environment that surrounds me. To let the sounds inform me how far I have come and how much there is still to hear and learn. To let the sounds slowly reveal the beauty that comes into focus. I have included a digital montage with sounds of my travels- sounds down under. Listen. G'day mates.