Explore Content
Pink, sparkles, and feminism: How Barbie has changed the film landscape
Words by Saskia (she/her) 16 VIC When I used to think of Barbie growing up, I would think about my dolls (and the god awful DIY haircuts that I would give them – shoutout to my weird Barbie who was always in the splits). My thoughts used to be about this doll, with a perfect…
The problem with mission trips
Words by Caitlyn (she/her), 18 NSW I was on FaceTime with a friend when they said they wanted to do a mission trip with a prominent charitable organisation to build houses in a developing community. After they realised that my screen hadn’t in fact frozen, they asked why I’d gone completely silent. I, an Indian-Australian,…
Invasion day. Hip hip hooray?
Words by Caitlyn (she/her), 18 NSW Hey! It’s been a little while since we last caught up, and with a public holiday just around the corner, I thought we should celebrate that time my ancestors robbed, murdered, and enslaved your ancestors. Doesn’t that sound like so much fun? The idea that the 26th of…
Unfiltered Thoughts: Culture
Although creativity is often associated with the arts, it’s actually a vital form of intelligence that drives people in many disciplines to discover something new. There is no real consensus on how exactly to define creativity – it’s interrupted by the individual. Is the finger painting that your parents held onto since you were 3…
Unfiltered Thoughts: Ukraine on our mind
It’s clear the impact (mental, emotional and physical) of the Ukraine-Russia war goes beyond borders. Thanks to a constantly updating newsfeed, we are watching events unfold before our eyes – with many of us left feeling confused and heartbroken. The WhyNot team would like to create a space for your unfiltered thoughts. To submit your…
What happens after losing 3 Comedy Festival shows to COVID? The pursuit of ‘normal-ish’.
Words by Sweeney, 23 VIC There are some moments when you just don’t know how to feel or what to think. On March 13, 2020 I was at uni in Carlton. I’d just eaten an early dinner at my favourite spot near campus (shoutout to Mantra on Grattan Street, best vegan butter chicken for miles)….
A Young Australian’s Voice
Recording & Words by Imogen, 21 VIC This piece was a finalist of the Youth Summit Creative Competition 2020. In this audio piece, Imogen responds to the numerous employment barriers young people face today, including what it feels like to be part of the first graduating class to be entering the Australian workforce during a…
The Tattooed Face Woman. Are All Traditions Worth Preserving? Part 2
Words by Núria, 25 VIC Back in the village, Lin Shwe is the first tattooed woman I meet, and the one who makes the strongest impression on me. I don’t know if it’s because of her hypnotic deep voice or the way she smokes her pipe – slowly, without rush. It’s after meeting more Chin…
The Tattooed Face Woman. Are All Traditions Worth Preserving? Part 1
Words by Núria, 25 VIC Lin Shwe Htang, from the Mun tribe, is at her home with some of her grandsons. It’s their day off school, so they all hang together while their parents are working in the fields. When heavy rain starts to pour, everyone goes inside. As her grandchildren sit down around her,…
Baby, it’s Coaled Outside – An open letter to the Prime Minister
Words by Tamara, 29 NSW Dear Mr. Morrison, 2020 will go down in history as the year of “essentials”. Essential workers, essential services, just the essentials at the supermarket. There’s nothing like a global pandemic to reveal what we really need to pull through. I would like to meet just one person who didn’t need the arts…
