Archive

How Musician Anthonie Tonnon Tells the Story of a Small Town Environmental Disaster Through Song

Posted 8:20pm Thursday 30th August 2018 by Waveney Russ

Anthonie Tonnon is a captivating, albeit contrived, musician and performer. Always dressed to the nines and sporting funky dance moves, every live performance sees Tonnon explain to his audience some vaguely recondite concept or story, of which he becomes the sole authoritarian figure for the Read more...

Subtle Cake Is Dunedin’s Coolest New Streetwear Label

Posted 8:18pm Thursday 30th August 2018 by Jessica Thompson Carr

Growing up as the only girl in a low-income family, Caitlin Carrollhad to rework a lot of hand-me-downs from her older brothers. She wouldcut up what they had and re-vamp it in her own style. She always wanted labels but couldn’t afford them, so she took to making them herself. Once, Read more...

OUSA Art Week Student Exhibition Winners

Posted 10:39pm Sunday 19th August 2018 by Critic

Art Zone Painting Winner: Kowhai/Yellow by Tom Normeier         This particular painting has thoughtful use of colour and extreme detail, from the soft focus in the background to the pollen on the bird’s beak. The eye of the bird draws the viewer in and Read more...

Entropy

Posted 5:37pm Thursday 16th August 2018 by Randall Parsons

Seagulls circle side the Lake How high how low how high They go Red beaks Red feet White Wings Cast shadows Cross open water Our slit eyes Shell pebbled shore line & squat beat bach Sentinel Set back, the scrappy bush Adrift us Shimmering through warm Read more...

Aussie Musician Harry Marshall Is Your New Crush

Posted 4:53pm Thursday 16th August 2018 by Jessica Thompson Carr

When I first met Indie-Rock artist Harry Marshall, he was a scruffy little blond Australian busking the streets of Paris outside the Shakespeare and Company bookshop. I kicked the Australian flag tag he had hooked to his guitar case, and we’ve been friends ever since. What drew me to him Read more...

The Ten Commandments of Fuck Buddies

Posted 4:52pm Thursday 16th August 2018 by Robin Scherbatzky

Friends with benefits can be the ultimate situation, if you do it right. The idea is tempting to most – you get to hang out with a mate and also have regular sex. What’s not to love? But the fear that one of you will catch feelings and it will all end in an awkward sort of breakup and Read more...

I Read All 54 Animorphs Books in Five Days and It Nearly Destroyed Me

Posted 5:45pm Thursday 9th August 2018 by Charlie O’Mannin

Animorphs is a *children’s* book series by K. A. Applegate about a group of teenagers who learn about a parasitic alien race, the Yeerks, secretly taking over the earth and simultaneously gain the ability to ‘morph’ from a different alien race, the Andalites, who do not like the Read more...

Why I Swiped Left to Tinder

Posted 5:38pm Thursday 9th August 2018 by Phoebe Storr

We all know Tinder is a bit of fun, and that the likelihood of finding a cheeky bang after hitting town is far greater than finding your one true love (I’ve heard Heartbreak Island sign ups are out, so maybe there’s your chance).  Here’s a list as to why I ditched Tinder Read more...

It’s a Hoochie World, We’re Just Living In It

Posted 5:35pm Thursday 9th August 2018 by Paul Whiley

There are very few gigs as riveting as Hoochie World. A high energy, sometimes erratic experience that epitomises the Dunners Breatha experience, Hoochie World’s insane series of gigs are led by some of the front-runners of the new wave of “Dunedin Sound,” including Marlin’s Read more...

Cold

Posted 1:03am Monday 6th August 2018 by Eliza P.

Acclimatisation is a lie. He feels the chill through his jeans and wishes his jacket had one more layer of feathers. He wonders what idiot decided to build a university with nothing but an ocean between it and Antarctica’s wind. The icecap cold comes insidiously, creeping into his Read more...

Aloo Gobi – Cheap, Dirty & Delicious

Posted 7:03pm Thursday 2nd August 2018 by The Scarfie Chef

Aloo gobi is great because it is simple, delicious, and it sounds like a dirty joke. It’s also incredibly cheap because it’s based on potato, which is basically free, and it just uses all the standard spices from your drawer, no specialty pastes or anything.  The key is frying Read more...

The Mermaidens: Gritty, Hypnotic, Kickass.

Posted 7:15pm Thursday 19th July 2018 by Jessica Thompson Carr

Despite their absolutely adorable name, the Mermaidens epitomize the gritty, hypnotic, kickass sound you always knew you needed but never had the guts to try.  They've been around for a few years, and their style is just… so fricken cool. There’s no other way to describe Read more...

Rice Ball Reviews

Posted 7:11pm Thursday 19th July 2018 by Joel MacManus

Sushi Station The rice ball was warm. Weird. While abnormal for sushi, it was not altogether unpleasant. It’s also a sign that they were probably very freshly made and didn’t have time to cool down, so that’s a good thing.  The rice was a flavour explosion, and it was Read more...

Kendrick Lamar, Dunedin, 2018: An Incredibly Hungover Review

Posted 7:09pm Thursday 19th July 2018 by Jessica Thompson Carr

I have seen God.  I am now zen.  Kung Fu Kenny took Dunedin by STORM on Tuesday in his huge Damn tour concert at Forsyth Barr Stadium. At 16,000, it was the largest crowd for a Pulitzer Prize winner in New Zealand history (narrowly pipping Carl Bernstein of the Washington Read more...

Rākau

Posted 5:38pm Thursday 12th July 2018 by Taylor Terekia

My ancestor advised his descendants You were born with two hands to use Hold your rākau and maintain independence And use theirs to deflect the abuse    Racism, cultural appropriation... ‘don’t be sensitive, we’re joking around’ Words Read more...

Nadia Reid : I Just Became Obsessed And Never Stopped

Posted 5:36pm Thursday 12th July 2018 by Jamie Green

Dunedin’s own folk singer/songwriter Nadia Reid has been described as the saviour of folk music. Dave Dobbyn called her “spellbinding,” “transporting,” and “inspiring”. Her second album, Preservation, was ranked No. 2 on Mojo Magazine’s list Read more...

Being Māori at Otago University

Posted 5:33pm Thursday 12th July 2018 by Taylor Terekia

Being a fresh Māori navigating through University, I had a tough time dealing with identity when I arrived at Otago. In first year I was so overwhelmed by whitenon-Māori people I thought I was going to lose my reo, my culture and tikanga. I mean, I was already losing my tan and Read more...

Tap X to Cum

Posted 5:31pm Thursday 12th July 2018 by Lisa Blakie

Hey buds, you know what’s weird? Sex. You know what’s weirder? Sex in video games. Sex is a reward mechanic. Traditionally, there has not been a history of discussion of consent prior to sex rewards in games. Players assume that sexual rewards will always be given after Read more...

I Fucked You With My Pussy Not My Heart

Posted 9:49pm Thursday 5th July 2018 by Critic

Two months ago I started casually seeing this very eccentric guy (he wrote erotic fiction and submitted naked photos of his dick to tumblr blogs so you make the judgement on just howeccentric). I made it very clear from the get-go that I didn’t want anything more than the physical, but Read more...

NZIFF: The New Zealand International Film Festival

Posted 9:47pm Thursday 5th July 2018 by George Hellriegel

The New Zealand International Film Festival (NZIFF) is coming to town from the 9thto the 26thof August. Time to put on those big puffers to hide your snacks because you’ll want to go see the stunning line-up in store for Dunedin. To get everyone amped for what’s to come, here are a few Read more...

Cartoons Courtesy of Mark Winter

Posted 2:25am Sunday 27th May 2018 by Critic

Former Fairfax daily cartoonist, Mark Winter, now with the Morning Star in the UK, reached out to Critic after hearing the international hullabaloo over the Menstruation Isuue. "Many moons ago, more specifically in the late '70s, I roamed the hallowed halls of Otago Uni... well even more Read more...

Kawita Vatanajyankur: Performance art has no boundaries

Posted 10:59pm Thursday 24th May 2018 by Waveney Russ

Kawita Vatanajyankur is a striking and transportive artist who has taken the world by storm – she’s about to exhibit at the prestigious Bangkok Biennale with over 75 other artists from around the world, but before that she’s exhibiting at the Public Art Gallery right here in Read more...

Check Out Before Midnight

Posted 10:56pm Thursday 24th May 2018 by Zoe Taptiklis

I’ve built a hotel for the rest of the world For the rest of the world to stay in I’m going to tuck my day dreamer into bed Make toast, butter with jam, on the veneer wooded Bench top A bench top to make love on Like dusting it in flour Rising and rolling out the dough On pizza Read more...

Advertorial : Nandos Review

Posted 7:47pm Thursday 24th May 2018 by Chelle Fitzgerald

Ah, Nando’s – cemented firmly in the halls of Dunedin’s upper echelons of fast food, this bad boi is most certainly a cut above. Last week I was keen for a squawkin’ good hangover feed, and I was not disappointed at all by the offerings. I ordered meself a classic chicken Read more...

The Shitz Live From Ellis (SOLD OUT): A Gig Review

Posted 5:53pm Thursday 17th May 2018 by Zoe Taptiklis-Haymes and Kelly Davenport

On one fated Saturday evening (last Saturday) (12thMay), (2018), The Shitz held their debut gig. Oh jeeze. The Shitz consist of Dave Borrie (guitar-ish), Jono Everts (guitar), Ryan Jones (not-guitar) and ex-head boy Sam Flannery (guitar).  It was a sharp career change from admins of the meme Read more...

Pania

Posted 5:50pm Thursday 17th May 2018 by Jessica Thompson Carr

We are robbed by dead people We used to be fish Now we are mermaids And I wouldn’t mind so much If they hadn’t hoisted me out  of the ocean onto dry sand And left me to flop and gasp With the hook still in my neck.   My favourite story was Pania of Read more...

Isle of Dogs Is Even More Problematic Than the Critics Are Saying

Posted 5:49pm Thursday 17th May 2018 by Esme Hall

I was excited to see Wes Anderson’s new film Isle of Dogs. I am a fan of Moonrise Kingdom, The Grand Budapest Hotel, Fantastic Mr. Foxand Rushmore. I love dogs and thought the film’s premise about how far we’ll go to protect our dog companions sounded cute. Read more...

Eilish & Co

Posted 5:48pm Thursday 17th May 2018 by Eilish Lie-Olesen

Eilish & Co started as a creative outlet for myself. My brain was going a little stir-crazy and wasn’t coping with the confines of working retail after the whirlwind of design exploration that was my degree. I’d been toying with the idea of starting something up for some time but it Read more...

Frequently Asked Questions About Improv

Posted 9:44pm Friday 11th May 2018 by Joel MacManus

Dunedin improv troupe “Improsaurus” – the professional arm of the Otago University Improvised Theatre Club – has just launched their ‘All-Stars’ season of fortnightly shows. While the closure of Fortune Theatre was a blow, their next show is at Allen Hall, and Read more...

Girls Behind the Games

Posted 9:38pm Friday 11th May 2018 by Lisa Blakie

Lisa Blakie is a Community Manager and AWARD WINNING Narrative Designer in the video game industry. She work at Runaway Play, a mobile games studio located right here in Dunedin. Together with colleagues Caroline, Zoe, Emma and Leanne, she started a global viral campaign, called Read more...

If I’m Anxious

Posted 9:33pm Friday 11th May 2018 by Eliana Gray

I’ve been wishing hard On every seed catch wooden railing first star For those moments I’m afraid of For the moments that I love It’s like dust The way the terror settles on everything The way you forget that it’s there Until you run your fingertips and come up Read more...

Game Review: Dad of War

Posted 9:29pm Friday 11th May 2018 by Lisa Blakie

The last time I played God of War was when I was a small high school bean. I was really into Greek mythology because I was a fucking loser nerd and was PUMPED to play a video game surrounding the myths and legends I had come to love. Mainly due to the silly quicktime sex scenes (hello, remember I Read more...

Boy Beat Makeup: How to Look Good and Do Other Shit Good Too

Posted 5:59pm Saturday 5th May 2018 by Zoe Taptiklis

What’s going ONNN bitches? Not much? That’s cool. The Boy Beat is a look coined by Beyoncé’s make-up artist in her Formation video. The premise of this look is to look like shit. But in a hot way. You know how dudes have that ‘I didn’t even try’ rugged Read more...

Eliana Gray: Dust & Thread

Posted 5:37pm Saturday 5th May 2018 by Jessica Thompson Carr

The story of Dust & Thread starts last year when I did my first illustrated chapbook, A Certain Knowledge. I’d already been writing poetry since I was old enough to write creatively, but when I was about 17 some really difficult things in my life were happening and my mental illness was Read more...

Go Get Your Bits Wet

Posted 5:33pm Saturday 5th May 2018 by Alex Halifax

I’ve masturbated for as long as I can remember. I honestly cannot think of a start date. I used to lie in bed at night and think I had an addiction. I would swear to myself, every time I slept with my soft toys, I wouldn’t do it. Because there was no way I could possibly subject them to Read more...

Poem

Posted 4:17pm Saturday 5th May 2018 by A.M.

Wednesday’s child grew from the earth fully formed and raw, tiny fingers curled into palms until perfect nails tore away ribbons of skin. she was a beer-drinker’s daughter and another father’s burden and then, layered in sunscreen, he named the mountains and rivers for Read more...

A Close Look at Annemieke Ytsma and Underground Sundae

Posted 2:18am Monday 30th April 2018 by Paul Whiley

DIY jewellery brand, Underground Sundae, which originated right here in Dunedin, produces alternative and stylish pendants, rings, necklaces and earrings. The brand has been developing a cult following over the past few years, and making waves around the world. Transcending beyond mere trinkets, the Read more...

Charlotte Goodyear, Dunedin's ID Fashion Week's first openly trans model

Posted 2:14am Monday 30th April 2018 by Victoria Ransom

Upon first glance, Charlotte Goodyear appears to be your typical model. She’s a tall blonde with big brown eyes who walks with self-confidence. It’s hard to believe that there was once a time when she was very unsure of herself. Charlotte has had to face many obstacles to become the Read more...

Where Does Stew End and Curry Begin?

Posted 8:11pm Thursday 19th April 2018 by Gordon Oliver

When you reach a certain age you begin to ponder the deeper, more meaningful questions in life. If you have some semblance of intelligence you will be able to work out what question I will be discussing from the title.   Encyclopedia Britannica defines stew as a “dish of meat, poultry, Read more...

Sexy Garfield: The Gift That Keeps On Giving

Posted 11:36pm Thursday 12th April 2018 by Critic

Hi Critic, in light of the recent light shined on the Sexy Garfield piece, I think it's time to come clean. Last year my friends and I nabbed 140 Critics from around Uni and covered my friend’s (now flatmate’s) room with them. He was out at football, and came back to a sexy pink Read more...

Introducing Paul Williams: Guy Williams’ Young, Better Brother

Posted 10:52pm Thursday 12th April 2018 by Joel MacManus

“I wrote this song on some software that I stole when I was 17 I thought that it might get me somewhere I'm still nowhere and I'm 23”   Paul Williams isn’t a household name yet. Maybe he will be soon, but for now all you need to know is that he’s Guy Read more...

Indi: Life After Doprah

Posted 10:42pm Thursday 12th April 2018 by Jessica Thompson

Stumbling into the bathroom of the Cook a few weeks ago, I encountered a small woman dressed artistically in shreds of white material, holding a crown. It was like a scene from a dream, and I was prepared for her to say something incredibly prophetic to me, when I realised it was Indi, the performer Read more...

Fuck Little Dicky

Posted 10:15pm Thursday 12th April 2018 by Callum Doyle

That is all. But seriously, Lil Dicky is one of the worst things to happen to hip hop since Vanilla Ice, and at least Vanilla Ice got hung out of a balcony by his ankles, which, let’s be honest, he absolutely deserved. If you’re lucky, right now you’ll be thinking, who is Lil Read more...

Dick and Jane Get Busy

Posted 10:13pm Thursday 12th April 2018 by Lyndon

Editor’s Note: This poem was originally published in Critic in the year of the Lord AD 2002. The notable thing about 2002 (apart from the release of The Wild Thornberrys Movie) is that the Critic Editor that year was Patrick Crewdson, who is now the Editor-in-Chief of Stuff. He is a real Read more...

Report: Most Snapchat Groups Are Just Hungover Dudes Talking About How Hungover They Are

Posted 5:39pm Saturday 7th April 2018 by A Scarfie

According to figures released by Snap Inc, upwards of 80% of male Snapchat group conversations are just dudes lying in bed dying of alcohol poisoning the night after they all got drunk together. Among the most common captions were “one massive pile of dust,” “fuck that was a big Read more...

The Man Behind the Mural

Posted 10:26pm Thursday 5th April 2018 by Waveney Russ

Artist Tyler Kennedy Stent had the privilege of becoming the ODT flavour of the week, as criticism regarding the appropriate distribution of taxpayer funds to pay for an Ed Sheeran memorial absorbed front page headlines. The mural, immortalising the pop star’s visit to the city during the Read more...

The Shambles: Our Energy Is Not Manufactured

Posted 10:24pm Thursday 5th April 2018 by Esme Hall

Ask The Shambles “how was your summer?” and whatever you did will be put to shame. From December to February the Dunedin-grown band road-tripped the length of the country, rocking the socks off audiences and accepting gifts of corn as they went. Critic caught up with front man Max Gunn a Read more...

Video Game Review: Tinder

Posted 10:23pm Thursday 5th April 2018 by Lisa Blakie

I don’t like Tinder very much because I’m a sensitive baby. I’ve dabbled, but mostly found it an uncomfortable experience. Something about the instant chatting making you reveal more about yourself to hold the other person’s attention, mixed with putting the best version of Read more...

Critic interviews Dizzee Rascal

Posted 9:32pm Thursday 22nd March 2018 by Jamie Green

UK Hip Hop superstar Dizzee Rascal arrived on New Zealand’s shores in February for Splore festial in Tapapakane Park, Orere Point. Jamie Green caught up with him before the show.   What are your greatest memories of NZ? Just really positive people that really know the music Read more...

Video Game Review: Getting Over It, With Bennett Foddy

Posted 9:28pm Thursday 22nd March 2018 by Campbell Calverley

Rating: 🤔 / 5 “Why are you bothering to play this game?” Geoffrey the gaming gorilla said to me. “Isn’t it obvious that – especially for a game that has exclusively stolen assets – you’re not supposed to want to play this? Is irony completely Read more...