June 30, 2023
The international news cycle kept us up to date with round-the-clock coverage of the fate of five people inside Titan, a submersible that was heading to the site of the Titanic shipwreck. Sadly, this shouldn’t have been the only at-sea incident which warranted our attention. As rescuers raced to find a handful of wealthy people and explorers who vanished, another disaster at sea that's feared to have left hundreds of people dead has been swept from the spotlight.
An overcrowded fishing boat carrying migrants from Libya to Italy sank off the coast of Greece. Although this sparked arrests, violent protests and questions about authorities’ failure to act or find a long-term solution to the issue, it garnered far less attention and resources than the Titan rescue efforts for five people.
Rightly so, many human rights advocates are frustrated that the world seems to have already moved on and that the resources and media attention that was dedicated to the Titan rescue efforts far outweigh those for the sunken migrant ship.
Barack Obama pointed out the horrendous contrast between the intense media coverage of the Titan’s doomed journey and the almost casual attention paid to the deaths of migrants.
“There is a potential tragedy unfolding with a submarine that is getting minute-to-minute coverage all around the world, and it is understandable because, obviously, we all want and pray that those folks are rescued. But, the fact that that has gotten so much more attention than 700 people who sank — that is an untenable situation.”
Obama wasn’t alone in raising concerns over disparities in attention and resources. “It’s a horrifying and disgusting contrast,” Judith Sunderland, associate director for Human Rights Watch’s Europe and Central Asia division, said in a telephone interview. “The willingness to allow certain people to die while every effort is made to save others ... it’s a, you know, really dark reflection on humanity,” she added.
Josie Naughton, co-founder and CEO of Choose Love, a U.K.-based nongovernmental organisation supporting refugees around the world, said thousands more articles appeared to have been published about the submersible than about the migrant boat, “yet, it’s 100 times as many people who are feared to have lost their lives and these people, they were forced to flee their homes, they were looking for safety.”
Whilst news publications provided close-up photos, names and life stories of the five explorers, the world only got to see at best blurry images of a group of migrants in distress as their ship capsized. This isn’t new. News coverage of migrants and refugees always tends to include photos of large groups of people, with undistinguished faces, ultimately making it harder to see their individual humanity and feel compassion.
Would we even be talking about the media’s blasé attitude had the Titan not gone missing during the same week that tragedy struck the migrant vessel? It’s the juxtaposition of the two events that has brought this to the wider public’s attention and makes us question those the media deem worthy and unworthy victims.
This month, Beavertown Brewery and rock legends Queens of the Stone Age joined forces to create an epic music video for their new hit single, 'Paper Machete'.
Picture this: a mind-blowing visual journey that transports fans into the vibrant universe of Beavertown's iconic Neck Oil can artwork. Prepare to be dazzled as the music video takes you on a captivating odyssey through a realm where music and art collide.
The collaboration has caused a massive buzz, with a whopping 27 pieces of coverage across the likes of LADBible, Evening Standard, Radio X, Campaign, and many more!
As the summer months are in full swing, Ryobi has been working with a range of influencers to showcase their gardening tools. From pole hedge trimmers and lawnmowers to water stick pumps and hand-held cultivators, Ryobi has a variety of cordless tools to help with any gardening project.
Content creator @my_midcenturymakeover showed how easy it is to tidy up your garden with the ONE+™ Cordless Grass Trimmer Starter Kit and the ONE+™ HP Cordless Brushless WHISPER™ Blower, while @the_mediterranean_gardener discusses what to look for when purchasing a pressure washer and demonstrates how well the Ryobi pressure washer can clean his patio.
Matt Crowhurst has been promoted to Head of People, Culture & Media. The newly created role has been designed to place the agency’s culture and values at the heart of the senior leadership team, with a focus on attracting and retaining the best talent at Here Be Dragons.
Matt’s remit will include creating new initiatives that represent the Here Be Dragon values of "Curiosity, Compassion and Courage" while ensuring that employee well-being and DE&I are central to the agency’s operations internally and externally.
This month, fashion brand Jacquemus further cemented its position among the industry's elite by hosting its latest runway show at the iconic Château de Versailles. Known for its alternative choices for runway locations, the ‘Le ChouChou’ collection did not disappoint.
Simon Porte Jacquemus, the brands founder, continued the trend of exploring off-the-beaten-path venues at the palace after previous shows have been set in locations such as a blooming lavender field in the South of France, a wheat field in the countryside outside Paris, a beautiful beach in Hawaii and the salt marshes of Provence. The most recent addition, Château de Versailles, is steeped in rich fashion history, with The Battle of Versailles Fashion Show being hosted on the grounds as well as a number of runways from French powerhouses Dior and Chanel.
While King Louis XIV's opulent chateau served as a subtle backdrop, it was hardly the focal point in Jacquemus' runway imagery. The show presented a unique and fresh perspective on Versailles, as viewed through the eyes of a youthful outsider. In a fitting tribute, the collection did not pay homage to the chateau's notorious resident, Marie Antoinette, known for her infamous "Let Them Eat Cake" remark.
Instead, the inspiration came from a beloved figure from across the channel, the late Princess Diana, often referred to as the people's princess.
"Le Chouchou" translates to "scrunchie" in French, an ode to the collection's puffiness, inspired by Diana’s wardrobe choices such as her taffeta puffball cocktail dresses. The location wasn’t the only part of the show out of the norm, with 150 guests such as the Beckhams, Em Rata, Claire Foy and Eva Longoria lined up on board row boats along the Grand Canal to view the show from the water.
Jacquemus certainly do not stick to the status quo when it comes to fashion shows, asking the questions, does the traditional row of seats in an empty building simply suffice anymore?
So, our account executive Aggy Kazlauskas has put together a collection of his favourite music, films, and more. It's all about keeping the spirit of pride alive throughout the year, not just a limited amount of time.
FILM & TV
The Miseducation of Cameron Post (2018)
Directed by American filmmaker Desiree Akhavan, The Miseducation of Cameron Post beautifully narrates the themes of resilience and personal growth; all through the eyes of Cameron Postm a young Queer woman (played by Chloë Grace Moretz) who tries to explore and understand her identity in the face of adversity.
This film highlights the importance of friendship and support within the community. As summed up by The Guardian’s film critic Peter Bradshaw (full review here), “The Miseducation of Cameron Post is a sad, sweet, funny coming-of-age movie where nobody comes of age. They have all pretty much come of age before the film starts: then sent to a Christian teen camp to be told they have come of age incorrectly.” Indeed, the last line provides a bittersweet — yet extremely accurate — description of the issues that Akhavan’s film aims to raise awareness about. It’s a brilliant work-of-art that certainly deserves a watch.
Other favourites:
MUSIC
This list wouldn’t be complete without Hayley Kiyoko, the Lesbian Jesus herself. Arguably most — if not all — Queer teenagers’ jaws dropped to the floor when the ‘Girls Like Girls’ music video premiered back in 2015… shout out to my fellow Tumblr kids, hah. Seriously, though! Kiyoko’s self-directed music video accurately depicts what being a Queer teen in the 2010s felt like, especially once you’ve just come to terms with feeling same-sex attraction. Serving as a coming out anthem for both Hayley Kiyoko herself and many others, it’s a song that undeniably helped lead a lot of Queer individuals toward self-acceptance (in fact, it still does).
Kiyoko’s global hit has now turned into her debut novel. Published earlier this year, it further testifies to the ever-lasting impact of Kiyoko’s flawless discography — and how important Queer pop music actually is. “I wanted to direct a feature but Hollywood is not ready. I spent seven years trying to get a movie made. So, writing a novel about it was the most logical next step,” Kiyoko opened up to the Interview magazine a couple of weeks ago. “I’m excited for people to get to escape in ‘Girls Like Girls’ again and to know more about it. It’s nice to have this tangible book to feel comfort in, especially because so many queer people are not safe under their own roof or in their community.”
Emerging LGBTQ+ musicians to look out for:
LITERATURE
Speaking of novels, Queer literature is just as important as everything else on this list. It holds a special place in the hearts of many of us, all thanks to a broad, profound representation of diverse experiences, identities, and perspectives within our community. These works provide a much-needed platform for Queer voices to be heard — and it doesn’t matter whether it’s all fiction or not; it doesn’t matter whether it’s romance, comedy, or any other book genre. All of these stories offer a different perspective on what it’s like to be Queer. So, here’s a list of some of the best comics, books, poetry collections, and all things likewise below.
