Minerva Li

Until recently I hadn’t thought that doll makers in the traditional sense still existed. The concept always drummed up imaginings of little 19th-century shops lined with countless porcelain dolls for little girls. I was sure there were some hobbyists out there that might make one now and then, but it wasn’t until I encountered Nefer Kane , doll maker, that I realised that it wasn’t so dead of a culture after all. I stumbled across her little shop quite by accident while looking for something completely different at the time but she side tracked me with her fascinating wares...

Decadence, luxury and opulence. The aristocracy of the 18th-century really knew how to party and dressing up was one of the most important aspects of the culture at the time. If you didn’t look good you didn’t really have a future in society. Expensive gowns, elaborate jewellery and finely made accessories were key if you wanted to be somebody in France... well, at least until that revolution got started but hey, it was fun while it lasted. Even now, the image of Marie Antoinette is one of global renown and she remains an icon of wealth and fashion for the ages. The iconic image of the 18th-century woman is still one of familiarity today in movies and media long after the fall of high society all those years ago...

By Minerva Li

Hideki Kamiya, the guy responsible for creating my very first crush, Dante, from their series Devil May Cry, has recently come out with a much acclaimed new title called Bayonetta available on PS3 & X-Box 360. Now, I loved Devil May Cry, but this new title leaves me with some seriously mixed feelings.

Now, I love hot video game characters. I’m not one of those girls who gets upset that female game characters don’t always portray the most realistic image about us with their beach ball sized breasts and size 000 bodies. But there’s so much about Bayonetta that just doesn’t sit well with me...