Motley Freshers' Issue 2012 by Motley Magazine

UCCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s official monthly magazine

Motley Magazine Covering everything of interest to students including exclusive celebrity interviews, investigations into the college itself, analysis of current affairs, features on local events, articles on all aspects of university life, the latest fashion trends, and all things in the world of entertainment.

current affairs entertainments features fashion

A word from the Editor Every year, freshers and veterans alike are welcomed (back) to UCC, and every year there is a certain sense of community cultivated by the strong media presence. Motley Magazine is one such presence; battling against time and tears, we manage to produce an issue every month on a non-profit basis, free for you to pick up and enjoy. Between our Current Affairs, Entertainments, Features and Fashion sections, there should be something of interest for everyone within its pages. As a magazine run by and for students, we try to write not only about what concerns you, but also what is of interest to you – and, hey, if you think there’s something missing, speak up! This is a bite-size issue of Motley, and we’ve much more content planned for our upcoming issues. This is where you come in: we are always in search for more writers. You don’t need to be the best writer of the century to write for us, and, despite what you may think, being involved in student media does not automatically make you a hack, nor does it make you (in)famous overnight. If you don’t know what to expect as a writer, are uncertain what section of the magazine would suit you best, worried that your writing isn’t ‘good enough’, or just want to find out more about Motley, simply send me an email. Don’t hesitate. If you want to meet in person, then I’d be happy to do so. Either way, you’ll find out that it’s easy and worthwhile to get involved, no similar experience is required, and we’re open to feedback and suggestions. We may even invite you for tea some time. As lovely as that sounds, student media isn’t without its challenges. Along with facing some reluctance to contribute, we have limited resources to keep Motley at its best. Admittedly, UCC’s media has sometimes been ignored or snubbed. It should, in fact, be seen as an asset to the ‘student experience’ and to the representation of the university on a local and national level. It has had success in the past and it should be allowed to grow, to strive towards its maximum potential. The fact that there isn’t a journalism course available in UCC is even more reason to support the media – it is an important and valuable mouthpiece for you, the students, and should be recognised as such. Getting involved in student media might not seem like something that you’d be interested in, but you should at least give it a go. In contributing, you’re not just a given a chance to develop your writing or to acquire transferrable skills; you’re given an invaluable experience, both personally and professionally, that shouldn’t be underestimated. I got involved in Motley two years ago on a whim and I haven’t left the team since. It’s not that I have attachment issues, mind you. I found something that I loved doing and stuck with it. If it turns out that media isn’t where your interests lie, then don’t despair; there is something for everyone at UCC (pardon the cliché). Explore what that the university has to offer, and get involved. This is not about employability. This is about making the most of your time here.

John Murphy

The Team Editor — editor@motley.ie John Murphy Current Affairs — currentaffairs@motley.ie Alan Conway (Editor) Orla Hubbard (Deputy Editor) Cathal Larkin (Deputy Editor)

The Writers Daniel Boland Sarah Commane Sian Cowman Méadhbh Crowley Sarah Glascott Orla Hodnett Dave Horgan

Brian Houlihan Shell Leonard Eoghan Lyng Elaine Malone ‘The GLF’ Tom Roche

Entertainments — entertainments@motley.ie Emma McCarthy (Editor) Eimear Hurley (Deputy Editor) Tamara Malone (Deputy Editor) Features — features@motley.ie Mae McSweeney (Editor) Senita Appiakorang (Deputy Editor) Peter Neville (Deputy Editor) Fashion — fashion@motley.ie Aisling Fitzpatrick (Editor) Emma Oliver (Deputy Editor)

Want to be part of Motley’s editorial team? Now’s your chance! We’re currently accepting applications for the position of Photographer/ Photo Editor. Please send applications (including samples of your work) and any questions about the role to editor@motley.ie by Friday, 28th of September.

Designer — design@motley.ie Richard Sheehy PR/Marketing — pr@motley.ie Louise Maher Advertising — comms@uccsu.ie James O’Doherty

Orla Hubbard says no to racism and discusses UEFA’s responsibility to act.

Louise McNamara, one half of Irish duo Heathers, talks song-writing , ‘Forget Me Knots,’ and their new album.

The Students’ Union, The Societies Guild, and The Clubs’ Executive - who are they, and what do they do?

18-19

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Motley presents the definitive guide to this season’s key trends.

Tamara Malone reveals the crème of Cork’s entertainment hotspots.

Senita Appiakorang knows the right way to throw a Freshers’ week party.

Elaine Malone reviews the classic novel ‘On the Road’.

Studies say 25% have used this forbidden plant. Brian Houlihan discusses the failures of Ireland’s drugs policy.

Designer 101 - Read all about Raf Simons’ debut at Dior.

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currentaffairs@motley.ie

current affairs

Welcome

Hello all and welcome to Motley Magazine’s Current Affairs section.

Alan Conway

The Current Affairs section caters for a broad range of political interests and regularly publishes everything from opinion and analysis to news and advocacy pieces, and this year we may even be trying out a little bit of humour! Last year we covered topics as diverse as Chinese censorship and an analysis of an attempt by Argentina to militarily retake the Las Malvinas again – as well as the usual political and economic goings on you would expect. We hope to encourage debate and opinion from across, and even outside, the political spectrum. We’re hoping to try out a few new things this year too, so you can expect reports of interesting things going on around campus, high-profile interviews, and a few investigations if we can manage it. Every month the editorial team contribute a few pieces to the section, but our main job is to facilitate anyone in the university who would like to get started with writing Current Affairs. The section is usually closer to 12 pages too, so much more room and plenty of opportunities to get involved! With all of that in mind I’d like to encourage anyone with any interest to get in touch with us at currentaffairs@motley.ie. If you have an idea for an article, drop us a line and we’ll get back to you. If you haven’t written before, don’t be worried about trying it out; we can offer a little constructive criticism and will be running workshops during the year too for those interested in getting involved. So best of luck with Freshers’ Week, enjoy yourselves, and we hope to hear from some of you soon!

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Time to Give Racism a Red Card Orla Hubbard discusses the responsibility of UEFA to act on its policies.

Throughout the recent Euro 2012 tournament, headlines around the world were beset by allegations of racism, and UEFA are still dealing with the fallout from racist incidents and their own alleged mismanagement of the tournament. In the months preceding the competition, concerns were raised about the choice of Poland and Ukraine as the joint venues for the event, due to the presence of high profile homophobic and xenophobic groups in both countries. These concerns were made more prominent by a BBC Panorama Documentary which aired in May and showed Nazi salutes and monkey chants being aimed at black footballers during matches in both countries. Former England footballer Sol Campbell loaned his celebrity to the documentary and urged fans not to travel to the matches for their own safety. The documentary drew forth strong criticism from both the Polish and Ukrainian governments. However, the claims made in the international media about a thriving racist subculture in Poland and Ukraine are not baseless. Last June a draft law went before the Ukrainian Parliament which criminalises ‘homosexual propaganda’ and the discussion of gay rights issues. The Bill sparked a resolution from the European Parliament urging MPs to reject it, but it remains before the Ukrainian Parliament. This homophobic law is proposed against the backdrop of the cancellation of Kiev’s first ever gay pride parade this year, because the police could not guarantee the safety of participants after the leader of Ukraine’s Gay Forum was attacked by a group of homophobic youths. It must be asked how UEFA felt they could guarantee the safety of thousands of players and fans across the country, when Ukraine cannot even guarantee the safety of its own people during a parade.

Nicholas Bendter, fined €110,000 for revealing his ‘lucky boxer shorts’ after netting a 2nd goal against Portugal

German fans displayed a Neo-Nazi banner during their match against Denmark, but UEFA dropped this investigation. The Croatian football association were fined €80,000 after 300-500 ‘deviant fans’ began monkeychanting and allegedly threw a banana onto the pitch at the black Italian striker Mario Balotelli. Spain was also fined €20,000 by UEFA when their fans aimed monkey chants at Balotelli in an earlier match. The Russian football association were fined €30,000 when their fans made monkey noises at the black Czech Republic player Theodor Gebre Selassie during a match. The sanctions imposed by UEFA were put into stark perspective when a Danish striker was fined €110,000 and banned from an upcoming World Cup qualifier for having sponsored underwear on show during a match. The discrepancies in the size of the fines imposed by UEFA sends a clear message that they view wearing sponsorship underpants as a more serious offence than the racist taunting of black players. Football has historically been intertwined with racism and it appears to be increasingly accepted as a part of football culture. The recent John Terry court case and the twitter feud between Rio Ferdinand and Ashley Cole shows that this insidious subculture extends far beyond the confines of Euro 2012, and beyond Poland and Ukraine. UEFA stated that it has a “zero tolerance” policy towards racism, and that referees have the power to stop the match should racist incidents occur. It seems evident that neither of these policies were applied during the championship because, although several countries were investigated for racial abuse after the fact, no stewards or security were willing to intercept the individual culprits at the time.

A selection of Croatian supporters began monkey chanting during their Euro 2012 tie with Italy.

A Polish foreign ministry spokesman admitted that Poland has a problem with racism and anti-Semitism, but that it has been blown out of proportion. There is a devastating irony that countries like Poland and the Ukraine who witnessed millions of their own people being slaughtered by the Nazis are now the very countries coming under fire for racist and xenophobic public order issues. Their background of racial intolerance should have made UEFA question the wisdom of holding such a high profile and multi-cultural event in these countries. However, in many ways the spotlight that has been pointed at the intolerance problems within the Euro 2012 host countries distracts from a problem that is more mainstream in Europe, and in football, than UEFA is willing to accept. During the tournament itself there were numerous complaints of racial abuse and taunting from the fans of several different countries. Following allegations of racial abuse, UEFA started proceedings against Germany, Croatia, Spain and Russia.

UEFA’s decision to allow Poland and Ukraine to host the tournament could be construed as implicit compliance with a culture of racism and homophobia, or a hope that the countries’ own racial problems might take the blame for any racist incidents at the tournament. Similarly, the meagre fines shy away from acknowledging and addressing a broader cultural problem. However, it is not solely up to UEFA to deal with the issue of racism in football, nor should it be. It is the responsibility of national governments, and sporting bodies, to ensure that they have a strong, inclusive and respected legal system, and that the rule of law is enforced without exception. And yet, if internationally respected organisations like UEFA fail to speak out against violence, intimidation and entrenched racism, then there is no pressure on the governments of the nations concerned to enact and enforce laws prohibiting such behaviour. UEFA needs to step up and accept that they must lead by example and combat racism both at club level and at national level. Otherwise they are sending a powerful message to players and fans, as well as to governments, that they are satisfied to allow racism and sport to remain intertwined in Europe. Image Credits: eplwallpaper.blogspot.com, bigsoccer.com

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The Failure of Prohibition

Brian Houlihan explores the consequences of a failed policy.

Ireland favours a policy of drug prohibition to deter people from consuming drugs, and like many countries it continues to see a rise in the number of drug users. Ireland criminalises drug users in the hope to deter others, yet arrests for possession and cultivation increase year on year. The current policy is not having the desired effect, yet the alternatives are rarely considered. Former US President Richard Nixon was the first to use the term ‘War on Drugs’ in a speech to congress in July 1971. Since, and prior to this, the policy of prohibition has been enforced globally, aided by the 1961 UN Single Convention on drugs and other international agreements. The aim of drug prohibition is to reduce the production, distribution and consumption of illegal drugs. At a United Nations General Assembly Special Session in 1998, under the official slogan: ‘A Drug-Free World: We Can Do It,’ a campaign was launched to have a drug free world by 2008. In June this year The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) released its annual report. Amongst the findings were that 200,000 people die worldwide each year from drug abuse. In 2010, 5% of the world adult population aged 15-64 used illegal drugs at least once, and by 2050 this could rise to 25%. Cannabis remains the most popular substance with an estimated 119-224 million users – it is also the most widely produced and trafficked. Opium production in Afghanistan has risen by 61 per cent, 3,600 to 5,800 tonnes between the years 2010-11. Various statistics available on the drug trade show that despite the efforts of authorities the industry continues to grow.

Porugals National Drug Co-ordinator Dr. Joao Goulao(left) has seen medical journal The Lancet (above) single out his countries decriminalization policy for helping to effect a decline in HIV. In 2000 the Portuguese government took radical steps in response to public concern over drugs by taking a different approach: they decriminalised drug possession and use. A key step was to take the responsibility for decreasing demand and managing dependence from the Ministry of Justice and place in under the mandate of the Ministry of Health. The approach is to view drug dependents as patients rather than criminals. Possession and personal use cases are dealt with in special courts not criminal courts. Each offender’s situation is judged by legal experts, social workers and psychologists while treatment and further action is decided upon. To clarify: decriminalisation does not mean one can carry, sell or openly use – that would be legalisation.

Closer to home some of the recent findings in Ireland suggest drug use is increasing, and statistics also show that deaths from drug use have risen. The 2010/11 Drugs survey issued by the National Advisory Committee on Drugs reveals that the level of recent and current drug use remains stable in Ireland. Men and those aged 15-24 have the highest recent use of illegal drugs and the overall prevalence rate for last year’s use of any illegal drug was 7% in 2010/11, compared to 7.2% in 2006/07. Cannabis continues to be the most commonly used illegal drug, with 25% of respondents having ever used the drug, 6% reported having used cannabis in the last year and 3% in the last month. New psychoactive substances (4%) and cocaine (1.5%) were reported as being the next most widely used illicit drugs. The survey found that in Ireland lifetime use of any illegal drugs increased from 24% in 2006-7 to 27% in 2010-11 among (15-64 years). The latest research shows that deaths associated with drugs have risen by 51% over a six-year period. In 2011 there were 17,710 recorded drug offences. 12,679 were for personal possession, 3,888 were possession for sale or supply, 580 were for cultivation or manufacture of drugs, and 41 were for importation of drugs, with 522 listed as ‘other’ drug offences. Figures from the Health Research Board showed that the number of deaths have jumped from 422 in 2004 to 638 in 2009. In the same six-year period, according to the report a total of 3,334 deaths could be linked to drugs, with research showing 2,015 were caused by poisoning, while the other 1,319 were deaths brought about by certain types of trauma or medical conditions. Alcohol was accountable for 40% of all poisoning deaths during the six-year period, while heroin caused 21%. Drug policy reform is unlikely to happen in Ireland anytime soon, though Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan is to put down a private members bill relating to cannabis. The details are as of yet unavailable but it is likely to be defeated. Sativex, a spray made from cannabis, looks set to be made available on prescription for MS patients later this year. For now, drug users remain criminals and nothing else.’ Any reform needs to happen on an international scale, as this is a global issue. Perhaps it is time institutions such as the EU, UN and others take a serious look at alternative policies. In 2011 there were 17,710 recorded drug offences, 71.6% of offences (12,679) were for personal possession , 22% (3,888) were possession for sale or supply, cultivation or manufacture of drugs took up 3.3% (580) with importation and other drug offences completing the list.

According to a CATO Institute 2009 White Paper by Glenn Greenwald entitled ‘Drug Decriminalization in Portugal: Lessons for Creating Fair and Successful Drug Policies’ the number of drug addicts has halved from 100,000 to 50,000. Also in the report Portugal’s drug usage rates are cited as being amongst the lowest of the EU member states. Drug related diseases and overdoses have been reduced even more significantly, which has been linked by some experts to the new policy of offering treatment with no threat of legal ramifications to addicts. A special issue of the weekly peer-reviewed medical journal The Lancet on HIV in people who use drugs singled out Portugal’s decriminalisation policy for helping to effect a decline in HIV infections, drug consumption, and addictions in the country.

Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan, pictured wearing a hemp suit, is set to put down a private members bill relating to cannabis Image Credits: Kglavin/Wikipedia , wn.com, broadsheet.ie

Reclaiming the University Cathal Larkin examines the effects of neoliberalism on higher education.

Image Credit: FEE Ireland An ideology has reached its highest form when its ideas appear as common sense, empirical fact, or objective social necessity. That it is currently the tenets of neoliberalism – privatisation of public assets, individualisation of social issues and subjectivity, commodification of all resources, and the fetish for quantifying even the most elusive concepts like, for example, teachers’ productivity – which appear as such, reveals the hegemonic position of this ideology. The centre ground of politics has had to respond with a sizable shift to the right. The previously dominant economic ideas of Keynesianism that encouraged progressive taxation to fund public goods like education, healthcare, public transport and social welfare are now only consistently advocated in Ireland by the ostensible revolutionary socialists of the ULA (although Labour and Sinn Féin are mostly Keynesian when in opposition, they’re neoliberals when in government – and for their all-island nature Sinn Féin suffer the schizophrenia of being both at the same time). In higher education the effects of neoliberalism have been severe. The college registration fee has increased more than tenfold since

the late nineties, and student grants have been reduced and become more difficult to access. Without rich parents or a scholarship, post-graduate

education is now only possible through loans such as Bank of Ireland’s new extortionate student loan scheme (interest is paid during the period of study, and the capital plus 10% interest is paid after graduation). University academics have been hit by the increasing casualization of many positions, and the pressure of being assessed based on their contribution to the university’s world rankings. Quality teaching, publishing books, and public engagement don’t contribute any points, and the criteria of most ranking systems show a shameless bias against the arts, humanities and social science. The objective pursuit of knowledge through the natural sciences is also under threat due to increasing collaboration of university scientists with private industry. The Science Foundation of Ireland (SFI) is explicit that the telos of scientific research should be to develop commercial products – despite the importance to scientific advancement of open collaboration among experts. On the horizon for Irish third level education appears more of the same. The 2011 government-commissioned Hunt Report recommended further commercialisation, privatisation and quantification in order for universities to support ‘Ireland’s economic renewal and growth.’ In his damning indictment of the report, Dr Colin Coulter noted that: ‘At the heart of the Hunt Report is a vision of the university that clearly derives from the discredited doctrines of neoliberal capitalism. If the recommendations set out in the document were to be implemented in full, higher education in Ireland would not merely come to serve even more fully certain corporate interests, it would itself become a corporate interest.’

With that bleak future in store, the question is how do we defend and reclaim the university as a space for public intellectual development that’s accessible to all? Putting any hope in our student representatives is definitely not a wise option. John Logue, the new President of the Union of Student of Ireland (USI) was elected on the promise to no longer have a national student march against college fees. Instead he proposed lobbying as the principal way to protect students’ interests. Regardless of the USI’s skills of persuasion, it is hard to imagine them out-lobbying the IMF and multinational corporations with larger economies than most countries. At a local level, the newly elected UCC Students’ Union President is Eoghan Healy. One of his three reasons to vote for him was, according to his campaign leaflet, ‘realistic, achievable ideas: i.e. more plug sockets in the old part of the library.’ Yes, hardly an awe-inspiring manifesto. And he doesn’t even know how to abbreviate ‘for example’ (either that or, even worse, he actually sees each individual plug socket as a realistic, achievable idea!). Anyway, even if Che Guevara and Subcomandante Marcos were elected as our representatives, it would still be up to students themselves to organise and mobilise to make social change happen as unions can achieve very little without an active membership. A starting point should be challenging the neoliberal assumption that college is solely a place to add value to your labour power before competing with other graduates to sell it to a corporation. Instead, the enlightenment idea of the university being a space to promote the public use of reason should be foregrounded. Students in this vision are engaged social actors, not the homo economicus individualist consumers of neoliberalism. The most well-known historical moment for the socially engaged student is probably the sixties in America. The movement challenged US imperialism and institutionalised racism (apart from the great work in the civil rights and black liberation movements, an interesting story of this struggle is how on campuses across the country students demanded, and got, classes on black history). They permanently changed the contemporary repressive norms of sexual behaviour and recreational drug use, and formed part of a wider milieu which spawned the environmentalist and gay rights movement. It’s interesting to note the student movement mobilised in a period of increased access to third level education and economic growth – it was still during those three post-World War II decades historian Eric Hobsbawm calls ‘the golden age of capitalism.’ In contemporary Ireland we face the exact opposite conditions, ones that should be more conducive to the social movement building necessary to effect change. It is the collective political subjectivity that we lack, but hopefully not for much longer.

Vultures’ Picnic Sian Cowman reports on Greg Palast’s warnings about fracking.

Investigative journalist Greg Palast landed into Ireland like he stepped out of a movie. Dressed in the classic detective’s outfit of suit and trilby, he is an entertaining speaker, telling stories of corporate criminality with flair. He spent years as a fraud investigator, later using his skills for the BBC and The Observer. This summer, he spoke at several locations around the country. He came here at the invite of ‘No Fracking Ireland’, which is a campaign group set up to call for a ban on the practice of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) for gas in Ireland. Fracking involves pumping large quantities of chemical and sand-laden water into deep horizontally-drilled wells in order to fracture the shale rock where the gas is trapped. In areas of America where fracking has taken place, residents have complained of severe water contamination and a host of other problems. Fracking is proposed to begin first in areas of Leitrim and Fermanagh by an Australian company, Tamboran, but in total three companies have been licensed to investigate the fracking potential of areas of Mayo, Sligo, Donegal, Cork, Clare, Cavan, Kerry, Limerick, and Roscommon. Greg Palast provided a talk that raised many interesting points for communities facing the possibility of fracking. All of his points revolved around safety. If the companies aren’t telling the truth, people get hurt. One of the first provisos he mentions, probably because it’s one of the most dangerous, is the cement. Palast tells a hair-raising story about BP, the Deepwater Horizon, and nitrogen-injected cement involving fake press passes, encounters with ‘BP security police’, and Wikileaks documents. Apparently BP had already had a well blow-out before the Deepwater Horizon: ‘BP continued to use the cheap crap cement and saved millions of dollars, and it failed again.’ I hadn’t even thought of what kind of cement Tamboran might use!

What about the water? Louisiana, apparently, was the number one cattle ranching state in America: ‘It was prairie, bog prairie. Then they started dragging the drill rigs through and it created ditches, and the ditches filled with water, land started subsiding, and the water’s coming up. And the canals became bigger, and they became sluiceways and they became bayous.’ So we might get a little flooded. At least Tamboran tell us that they won’t pollute the water – no chemicals, and they’ll reuse all the water that comes back up. Palast spelled it out: ‘Even if you put in clean water, it’s going underground, it’s going to pick up arsenic, chemicals, and sludge and crap, and the cement. All that crap, sludge, toxins, poison, you’re going to separate it out. Uh-oh. Where does that go?’ Into sludge pits, that’s where it goes. Bringing us neatly to a wrap-up point: who cleans up the mess? Several gas companies, or smaller subsidiaries, have gone bust and cleared out – Chevron Ecuador didn’t clean up after themselves in the Amazon because they had gone bankrupt. We can expect these vultures, as Greg Palast calls them, to leave behind their mess. Polluted land and water, broken pipelines, sludge pits, old wells, concrete pads, compressors, generators and all the other heavy industrial equipment will be their legacy. Not to mention the damage to the roads and the land from the haulage. He may sound alarmist to some, but it’s evident from his book and hearing him speak that Palast has investigated a lot of this chicanery on the frontline. His hour-long talk concluded with a stark statement: “You were a colony too long, and you don’t need to be an oil colony… that’s not here. You have a choice before you, but before you even make the choice, they have a lot of questions to answer.” For more on Greg Palast’s work, see vulturespicnic.org. For more general information on fracking in Ireland, see frackingfreeireland.org, and on Facebook, join the open group ‘NO FRACKING IRELAND’ (all-caps) and ‘like’ your local campaign page.

Next, pipelines: ‘By the way, I understand, from the plans I’ve seen, that the gas you’re going to get out of these wells is going to market by carrier pigeon. I haven’t seen a single pipe drawn on a map.’ Palast points out that the north-west of Ireland is not exactly flat for running pipelines like the home of American fracking, the mostly empty Dakotas. As well as being ugly, they’re dangerous. And by his calculations, gas companies are going to need a lot of pipes. The companies may be shirking cement quality, but at least the pipes are secure. Well crews use a sophisticated robot – called a PIG, a Pipeline Inspection Gauge – to check every inch of pipeline for corrosion and over- or under-pressurisation. When the PIG squeals, they go out and fix the pipe. But there’s a catch. Palast found out that it’s common to manipulate the PIG’s software to lower its sensitivity, thus cutting the costs of investigating the squeals. Image Credit: vulturespicnic.org, thepeoplesvoice.org

entertainments@motley.ie

entertainments

facebook.com/MotleyMagazine

Goodbye Summer,

We Hardly Knew Ye

‘Don’t worry, Master Wayne. It takes a little time to get back into the swing of things’ – Alfred Pennyworth. Alfred, you’re not wrong as I’m sure many of us returning to college life will agree. After a long summer that lacked anything remotely resembling sunshine, at least most of Ireland could take solace in the fact that we could flock to our nearest cinemas and catch the latest and, in some cases, the greatest films that Hollywood has to offer. It was definitely the summer of the Superhero which gave us the ending to one of the greatest film franchises of all time with The Dark Knight Rises, and the beginning to what’s looking to become another stellar superhero franchise with The Avengers (or as it’s technically known Avengers Assemble, but I don’t think any of us actually called it that). People took their sides, Bruce Wayne or Tony Stark, and people gave their critiques, but it’s safe to say this summer gave us some of the biggest films in the history of celluloid. A fitting consolation price where the weather was concerned.

Emma McCarthy

Steps ‘2k12’

Carly Rae Jepsen

What’s a summer movie without a peppy soundtrack? We’ll never get away from bouncy summer songs (if I have to hear the chorus of ‘Call Me Maybe’ one more time… And it’s stuck in your head for the rest of the day. Sorry!) but at least this year, we can bask in nostalgia as Eimear Hurley takes a look at nineties’ pop stars, desperately trying to reclaim their youth and fortune by getting back together. Who doesn’t love the sound of the Steps reunion? Oh, what? Everybody?

A summer of superheroes in Hollywood. But the summer is gone, even though it never really came, and with a new college year, comes a new season to look forward to. The days are getting colder, the nights are getting longer, and all our favourite television shows will be starting up again (if they didn’t get the chop) and some new shows will be taking their chances in the fall schedule. If you’re looking for something new to sink your teeth into during the long winter nights, Daniel Boland has you covered over in the television section with his lowdown on a few promising shows.

If you’re into a bit of home pride, Orla Hodnett catches up with Irish duo Heathers and finds out all about their upcoming plans for the future and they give their insight to downloading and music promotion. Despite the fact that Steps have reformed and we have to wait until November to see what I can only assume will be the deliciously awkward and cringe-worthy Breaking Dawn premiere, the upcoming academic year is promising to be a good one with releases such as The Hobbit, Iron Man 3 and Taken 2. Be sure to watch this space for the latest reviews and all your entertainment needs!

But it’s not just those of us returning to college that will take time adjusting. With a new college year comes new faces as we say hello to all the first years getting a new taste of college life. It can be daunting, as we all know, but with Sarah Glascott’s handy film and television guide to help you ease yourself into college life, the only thing you’ll have to worry about is actual lectures (but since this is the Entertainments section, we’re not going to bore you with that stuff). If you’re new to Cork or just looking for a new spot to relax, Tamara Malone has drawn-up a useful map of the best establishments in the city, whether you’re looking for films or music or both. The city may not be Hollywood or New York but it has its charms, so don’t hesitate to go out and explore them! It wouldn’t have been a movie-filled summer if we didn’t get a twist near the end and what could have been more out of the blue than finding out a young love wasn’t all it seemed from the glossy pictures in magazines? I think all of our hearts broke just a little when it was revealed that K-Stew cheated on R-Patz (we all thought it would last forever!) but on the plus side, I guess we finally figured out what would put a smile on that girl’s face. Score one to infidelity, I suppose. This was undoubtedly, and confusingly, one of the biggest stories of the summer which saw the banal love triangle from Twilight come to life though with a married director instead of a werewolf (I think we were all even more heartbroken that there was no grizzly werewolf involved in real life). The entire circus got me thinking about love triangles, a staple in teen fiction such as The Hunger Games and even Harry Potter that allows fans to take sides. Kirsten Stewart may have dodged her own premiere of On The Road, a film based on Jack Kerouac’s famed tome, but if you still can’t find it in yourself to forgive old misery guts and don’t want to see her cheating puss, then Elaine Malone has you covered with her review of the book and I think we all know, the book is better than whatever the movie will be!

Iron Man 3,(top left) Taken 2 (top right) and The Hobbit (below), are some of the movie releases to look forward to this summer

Image Credits: hollywoodgossip.com, billboard.com, comicsbulletin.com, thehobbit.com, inflexwetrust.com

Your Very Own

Entertainment Travel Guide! Tamara Malone gives a helpful guide on where to find the best entertainment hotspots in the city.

Glucksman

Cork Opera House Cyprus Avenue

Hello freshers, and welcome to UCC! It’s a pretty fair guarantee that you’ll have an incredible few years in which a lot of your tastes and hobbies will change and fluctuate. Whatever it is that you’re into, it’s always a good thing to have a good knowledge of Cork, the places to go to and things to see. In terms of music, Cyprus Avenue is always a pretty good bet. Located above the Old Oak on Oliver Plunkett St., the venue tends to host some pretty great acts including, over the next few months, Gemma Hayes and Wallis Bird. An Cruíscín Lán, located on Douglas St. is also a fantastic alternative venue. The Pavilion on Carey’s Lane, heading towards Paul St., is a relaxed, fun place to eat and hang out (and ever-so-slightly hipster, if that’s what you’re into), and at night can give a stage to acts such as The Fall. Fred Zeppelin’s, on Parliament St., is geared towards the more alternative among us. For live music, Triskel also has a venue, the impressively renovated Christchurch alongside, and located on South Main St. Performances here are usually beautiful and atmospheric in the environment of this historic building. If money is less of an issue than is normally the case with many students, Cork Opera House and the nearby Half-Moon Theatre are great places to go to too!

Theatre is a highly valued and important industry in Cork and the success of the Opera House, which usually stages one major performance around Christmas time (sometimes a pantomime), pays testament to that. An interpretation of Romeo and Juliet will be performed there in October. The Half Moon Theatre, located less than a stone’s throw away, is owned just around the corner from the Opera House and shares with it in showcasing some of the most successful and acclaimed bands, performers and comedians both in Ireland and abroad. The Everyman Palace on McCurtain St., with its beautiful foyer reminiscent of theatres during the Victorian period, is an adventure in spectatorship, and over the coming months it will feature performances such as that of Ulysses and The Importance of Being Earnest. The Granary on Mardyke St. will showcase the performances of our very own Dramat, and one advantage of going to a play in this venue is that they normally have the low level of student funds in mind.

If film is your poison, the Gate Cinema on North Main Street will be showing all new releases from the crazy world of Hollywood. Additionally, Triskel Arts Centre on Tobin St. tends to feature films which originate more from indie directors, and their Twisted Celluloid events, occurring every month, show a fun selection of cult classics (Jaws was a recent one!). There are hints that in the future there will also be screenings targeted specifically at students, with a free or reduced entry with student cards. Stay tuned!

If good art, both new and old, is what you’re looking for, you are lucky because UCC campus itself is home to the Glucksman Gallery. The Crawford Art Gallery is located right beside the Cork Opera House and conveniently near the high street stores on Opera Lane (for those who like to mix their art with their shopping). The Crawford contains a range of classical sculptures and paintings dating to the seventeenth century. The exhibition rooms, however, constantly change and fluctuate with each new season, showing a range of up-and-coming artists. If ever stuck for something to do, a safe bet is to check Whazon. com, which will prove a handy guide to everything going on in the city on a monthly basis. Whazon leaflets can also be found in various places around town.

Image Credits: cyprusavenue.ie, facebook.com/corkopera, glucksman.org.

Winter’s Coming, And So Are The New Shows Daniel Boland takes a look at what we can expect on our screens in the coming months.

September can only mean one of two things: the beginning of another college year or a host of new television shows arriving to be praised or ridiculed. It seems that quite a few producers have acted on the popularity of characters already famous in their own right for the shows set to air in the autumn television slot. Firstly, following the success of the BBC hit starring Benedict Cumberbatch, there is an adaption on Arthur Conan Doyle’s character Sherlock Holmes in the upcoming Elementary. The forthcoming series, made by CBS, has made quite a few revisions in relation to the famous characters, namely the focus on Holmes’ use of addictive drugs and the gender reversal of Watson. Jonny Lee Miller, a British actor known for his roles in Eli Stone and the recent Dark Shadows remake, and for his role as Angelina Jolie’s first husband, stars as Sherlock while Lucy Liu stars as Dr Joan Watson. The comparisons between Sherlock and Elementary will be interesting to see as both series feature the famous detective in a modern setting, one set in Britain and the other set in the States. Elementary is set to air in America on September the 27th. Who could forget the chilling performance of Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal Lecter in the 1991 classic The Silence of the Lambs as he expertly delivered lines such as ‘A census taker once tried to test me. I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti’? It seems Hannibal still holds a favourable position in the media, as the Thomas Harris character is set to make a return in the upcoming series Hannibal. The television adaption will focus on the relationship between Dr Lecter and FBI Agent Will Graham, who was responsible for originally capturing Hannibal prior to the events of The Silence of the Lambs. Set to air in the autumn, the series will star Hugh Dancy as Agent Graham and Mads Mikkelsen as the thrilling Hannibal Lecter.

First Years, We’re Looking At You!

It seems the revival of comic book superheroes isn’t quite ready to die off yet, with the upcoming series Arrow based on the titular character from the DC Comic, Green Arrow. The television revision will focus on the relationship between Oliver Queen/Green Arrow, a highly skilled archer and his arch-rival Tommy Merlyn. The series will star Stephen Amell as Green Arrow and Colin Donnell as Merlyn. Arrow is set to air on October 10th in America. You can expect to see these upcoming shows air here in Ireland in early January, though who can say if they’ll even last that long or if they’ll be cut short by the merciless television studios due to poor ratings? I guess we’ll have to wait and see. Let the show(s) begin!

Sarah Glascott helps new students find their footing by suggesting they take their guidance from the silver screen.

Hello all you first years. I know you’re all feeling overwhelmed and excited mixed with a nice helping of being scared senseless, but don’t worry! These college years will contain some of the greatest experiences you will ever have in your entire life. To help you get settled in, here is a list of some of the most popular movies based around the different aspects of college life (even though they aren’t all set in college). The main themes to look out for are: new beginnings, the unfamiliar, parties, and learning to live away from home. Luckily, these are all prominent themes in a wide range of literature and cinema, from our childhood experiences with the likes of Harry Potter to films aimed at the teenage to young adult like American Pie. There really is something for everyone. The secondary school years are over but the majority of us grew up with the adventures of Harry Potter, whether through the books, movies or both. The extremely familiar adventures of ‘the boy who lived’ stay with many of us as childhood memories. However, the story offers some insight into living away from home and exerting one’s independence, relying on teachers for guidance – it sounds a lot like the first year of college. Living away from home is something most students living outside of Cork will do. It’s a completely new experience and can be daunting. Now we can’t all be Hermione Granger, but do try to attend your lectures and get your assignments in on time. Also, don’t be afraid to email tutors or lecturers, that is what they’re there for and everybody does it. Like Albus Dumbeldore said: ‘help will always be given to those who ask for it.’ The first thing a lot of prospective students think about when first entering college is the extended party it is. If that’s your thing then I suggest you watch movies such as American Pie and Old School – that is, if you haven’t already! These movies truly embody the party aspect of college, American style! The closest thing to that here would have to be R&G week. R&G week occurs every February and is definitely the best party week of the year. The proceeds from the numerous events are donated to charity; R&G week is, after all, a week to ‘Raise and Give’. To most students though, it’s a week to go wild and have fun, so if you want to know how to do it right, these are the movies for you! One of the most widespread views of college life, however, comes from the TV show Community. The hilarious show is about Jeff, a disbarred lawyer who is forced to return to college to get his degree. He attends Greendale Community College where he meets a host of different personalities who are all thrown together to survive in the crazy world of Greendale. The series focuses on a group of seven students who meet for a Spanish study group. In spite of their highly varied backgrounds, personalities, values and reasons for attending college, they quickly form friendships with each other. An extremely well-crafted show with diverse characters and a good dollop of humour, this is definitely a show not to be missed! The greatest thing about Community is that it really gives a look at the wide range of activities and experiences one can expect to gain throughout their college years and how the people you meet, though you never thought you’d get along, might turn out to become your best friends. The person next to you in your first lecture who you just sat beside because there were no seats left? Say ‘hi’; you never know, they might be your valued companion for the next three or four years (and be the person who takes notes for you when you miss a lecture, a person to be treasured in college life). I hope this selection will prove useful to you. However, the most important thing to remember is to enjoy your college years, whatever your interests, and get involved! Don’t waste your time here – these years really do fly by! Image Credits: sodahead.com, tvequals.com, nbc, cbs

HEATHERS Orla Hodnett catches up with the Irish girl group.

Heathers have enjoyed quite a successful few years on the back of their DIY debut, Here Not There, a primarily acoustic record, which was written while the girls were preparing for their Leaving Cert. Having balanced university, touring and writing over the past few years, twins Ellie and Louise McNamara are back with a new album and a whole new sound. Speaking to Louise, she explained that they went for a change in tactics when it came to song-writing this time around. They worked with a producer for the first time, taking on White Lies producer, Max Dingel. ‘The majority of the songs were written this time last summer. We found it a bit more difficult to write for but it all came together last September. It was more of a non-collaborative process than it was for ‘Here Not There’ which we wrote together. Myself and Ellie would sit down together and write songs, whereas with ‘Kingdom’ some songs on the album are mainly written by myself, some by Ellie. It was a different process than with the first album.’

The use of artists’ materials in advertising and television has increasingly become a main source of income for musicians since the advent of illegal downloading. The likes of Two Door Cinema Club have cited that allowing their material to be used in such a way has helped to finance touring and recording. Heathers well know this with the success of their track, ‘Remember When’, after it was used in a Fáilte Ireland advertisement. ‘That was a huge opportunity for us and it really got our music out to a much larger audience. That was kind of a once off thing, but we’ve actually just signed a publishing deal with Universal in the UK to deal with getting our music into TV programmes, etc. ‘Forget Me Knots’ was used in the Wimbledon coverage and on a TV show in the US called Mob Wives. I think nowadays it’s pretty hard for musicians to make money out of music because of illegal downloading, so it’s a great way to get by.’

With this change in the writing process came a change in sound. The most remarkable thing about Kingdom is the change in style that Heathers have undergone. The twins’ characteristic breed of acoustic pop songs has taken on more electronic elements. While some might regard it a departure from their roots, Louise considers it to be more reflective of their own tastes. ‘People are surprised when we say we listen to a lot of chart music. Myself and Ellie wanted to write a bit more like what we listened to. We didn’t write music that we thought would get into the charts – not at all! It was just progression.’

A DIY ethic has always been part of Heathers’ work. Their first album was released on DIY labels both here and in the US, which Louise noted was very significant to them. ‘We grew up going to DIY gigs and we released ‘Here Not There’ through DIY labels. That ethic has stuck with us throughout. I think it’s really important that you have control over your music. It’s our baby and we wrote it ourselves, so we don’t want to just let that go. You don’t necessarily need big labels to get your music out there. You can do it yourself now, just record your own album at home and put it up on the internet. We may have a publishing deal with Universal but we’re releasing Kingdom on our own label, Aunthill Records, which we founded in 2010. It’s very important to us to be in control of our own music.’

Lyrically the album is quite escapist. Louise stated that they wanted to convey a worthwhile message at the same time. ‘The album is quite upbeat but there’s some with a sad side to them. Kingdom is kind of about escapism and trying to find this perfect utopian place where everything is okay. A lot of them are about feeling like you’re on your own. ‘Forget Me Knots’ is definitely the most personal song to us on the album. We wrote it about two years ago just after a friend of ours had died. As you can probably tell from the line “it’s alright not to feel okay”, we’re trying to get that message out there to people of all ages. Depression nowadays in Ireland has such a stigma that you can’t talk about it or you can’t tell anyone. In the States everyone goes to see their shrink and it’s treated as normal. In Ireland, if you’re going to go talk to a counsellor you don’t tell anyone. We think that it’s important that people talk about it more to show that there’s a lot of people feeling the same way. That’s really what ‘Forget Me Knots’ is about.’

With new opportunities and a hunger from their fans for gigs as well as the new material, the next twelve months look very exciting for Heathers. After the album release the band will be going on tour. ‘After our Irish tour in September we plan to do a good bit more touring with most of that being abroad in the UK and Europe. We’d both love to go back to the States in the next year or so. We can’t wait to tour Ireland. It has been like a year since we played any gigs here so it’ll be cool. The tour in September will be with the whole band and the new live set, because Kingdom will be so different to just the acoustic guitars and vocals. We’re looking forward to it.’

Heathers’ new album, Kingdom comes out on the 7th of September and they will be playing in Cyprus Avenue on the 4th of October. Their single, ‘Forget Me Knots’ is out now. Images courtesy of Warner Music Ireland

Can you really go back home again? Eimear Hurley takes a look at some of the former pop bands trying to take back their success.

I am slowly recovering from a heart-breaking revelation. Having grown up in the ’90s, I held precious music-memories of sugary pop ballads and cheesy dance numbers, of young stars prancing around on stage in PVC costumes and divulging their most intimate secrets in Smash Hits! It was a strange and wonderful time for pop music, and one which I had hoped to leave behind me along with my hairbands and mood rings. Yet, when the news reached me that S Club, one of my favourite groups from my tweens was reuniting, I was ecstatic. I thought that maybe all seven members would get back together again, and that they’d have a new album full of mature and well-produced material to delight old fans and new. Alas, S Club 3 (formerly known as S Club, formerly known as S Club 7) proved to be a bitter disappointment. It really was hard to decide, as I watched them perform ‘Don’t Stop Movin’’ on a morning TV show, what part of this sight was the sorriest: the false smiles through which the familiar verses emerged; the singers’ struggle through versions of the dance routines they used to breeze through ten years before; or the sheer despair of the fact that these were the only three of the original seven enthusiastic (or broke) enough to put themselves through this. S Club 7

For every new act coming onto the scene today, it seems that there’s a group from a previous era trying to get another bite of the cherry. The past five years alone have seen the re-emergence of Take That, Boyzone, The Spice Girls, The Beach Boys, S Club (kind of), Steps, Black Sabbath, Blink 182, Blue, Pulp, The Libertines, No Doubt, The Stone Roses, The Police, and Blur. So what is the meaning of this wave of nostalgia consuming the music industry? It’s difficult not be cynical and suppose that money is the main motivation behind it. The recession has hit musicians of today as well as those of yesteryear, and during these tough times, crowds are often more likely to cough up the cash for a ticket to see the band they loved when they were seventeen than one whose album was released on download last week. They know, too, that young fans who never got to see their favourite bands play live will buy tickets in their thousands. These poor kids are the most likely to be disappointed if the gig doesn’t match the quality of the music safely preserved on their iPods, but that isn’t really a concern of most aging popstars.

risk of being marred forever. The ’90s was a forgiving time for vocal artists, with shows placing more emphasis on dance routines and impractical costumes than live performance. Now, unfortunately for Steps, we don’t look so kindly on lip-syncing as we did then. Reunions are infamously difficult to orchestrate, because bands have a nasty habit of ending on bad terms. People part ways for valid reasons, and although they might romanticise the past, old wounds are quick to re-open. After the Police’s reunion tour ended in 2008, Sting likened the experience to going back to a dysfunctional marriage, and remembering why it ended in the first place. Simon and Garfunkel probably have the right idea, with one joining the other periodically to play some of their classics and let the crowd share in a nugget of nostalgia, and then both part company again and get on with being just Simon or Garfunkel. For a reunion to be worthwhile, a group has to offer old and new fans alike something new. Woody Allen aptly noted that a romantic relationship is ‘like a shark: it has to constantly move forward or it dies,’ and the same goes for creative relationships. Take That’s metamorphosis from a ’90s boy-band into a credible, modern ‘man band’ has proven that one group can top the charts over two decades. They know that their fanbase has grown up, and that picking up where they left off in 1996 would not earn them any new followers. Essentially, there has to be an element of unfinished business. In order to compete with bands who maintain their standards and relevance year after year, reunions have to be exciting and genuine. Except for the Wombles, because that just never gets old.

Take That (above) and (right) Blink 182’s album artwork for ‘Neighborhoods’

Comebacks are risky ventures, though, because a band’s legacy is, ultimately, all it has. Steps may have to learn this the hard way. When they disbanded in 2001, their official statement explained that they wanted to go out on the top of their game, and to have their fans remember them in their prime. Now they are back, and if you haven’t seen the footage already, it is cringey, to say the least. And so, the squeaky clean image that they managed to create in the past is at

Image Credits: fanpop, DGC Records, takethat.com.

Elaine Malone takes a closer look at Kerouac’s magnum opus. ‘The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes “Awww!”’ The road is an ever-changing land, boundless and eternal. It unwinds towards the sun, black tar and white guiding line. For Jack Kerouac it was the key to nirvana and experience. In 1957, a book emerged that was simultaneously hailed and vilified. Bob Dylan said, ‘it changed my life like it changed everyone else’s,’ while Truman Capote bitterly exclaimed, ‘that’s not writing, it’s typing.’ Criticisms and witticisms aside, Kerouac, a profound and prophetic figure, achieved a great feat when he chronicled seven years of the degradation and salvation of the Beat Generation in On the Road, under the guise of Salvatore Paradise, a stumbling evangelist, mad to live. His greatest ally is the figure of Dean Moriarty, the holy conman with the shining mind. Their passage from East to West, typed in three frenetic weeks, within the threshold of the Chelsea Hotel, where Warholian muse Edie Sedgwick set her room alight applying false eyelashes by candlelight and where the Welsh poet Dylan Thomas did not go gently in that good night. The pages are drenched in alcohol and sweat, and the ink, black liquid Benzedrine. The soundtrack is the errant spontaneity of Miles Davis and Thelonious Monk, Bebop Jazz. It encapsulated the ferocious rebellion of the Post-War youth, disillusioned with the white picket-fenced American Dream and the death of patriotism. Drugs, jazz, sex and rebellion became the four elements of life. ‘Somewhere along the line I knew there’d be girls, visions, everything; somewhere along the line the pearl would be handed to me.’ It has, as these things often are, become deified, and there is a fine line between deification and defecation. Hyped to a ridiculous height, I read warily, and yet it surpassed all expectations. It reads how water falls, fluid and overwhelming. It incites pure wanderlust and a great desire for experience. It is inherently mindful and momentous. To read Kerouac is to exist within that glorious circle of writers who obliterated the literary landscape with an H for Howl Bomb and built upon it a dystopia. William S. Burroughs incarnated as Old Bull Lee and Allen Ginsberg, the sorrowful poetic con-man with the dark mind. The search for IT, a profound spiritual awakening, is not achieved ultimately, but in the intricacies of each moment. It was inevitable they would try to make a film of the unfilmable. In one regard, it represents a threat against the purity of imagination and of the prostitution of art, to extort money from the willing masses. But it also triggers hope – hope that the gospel according to Jack will reach many more eyes. Could a reel of film ever replicate the erratic beauty of that 20 foot scroll? The sad truth is that it probably can’t. Ginsberg opened his seminal poem Howl with the lines, ‘I saw the best minds of my generation, destroyed by madness, starving hysterical naked’; these words could act as a blurb on the back cover.

Rating:

Ashes

Meadhbh Crowley takes a look inside the new dystiopian world created by Ilsa J. Bick.

This is the first of the dystopian trilogy by the award winning writer Isla J. Bick. In this captivating novel we follow the character of Alex who has left the home she shared with her aunt to experience life while she still can. All she has to guide her are the memories of her late parents whose ashes she carries. On her journey an electromagnetic pulse strikes the Earth causing every electrical to be destroyed and killing the vast majority of the adults. The remainder of the living are divided into those who have acquired superhuman powers and those who have developed a taste for human flesh. These ruthless cannibals stalk the land, hungry and increasingly clever. Throughout her journey Alex meets Ellie, a lost girl, and Tom, a young army veteran. Together they will fight against the flesh-hunters and also be torn apart. They must try to answer one of the most difficult questions of all: in the new world, who can you trust? Overall this book was a refreshing break from Twilight and The Vampire Diaries that have taken over our bookshelves. With the unexpected twists and turns of the plot, I personally was kept glued to the book for many hours, unable to wrench it from my hands.

Rating:

Want to be part of Motley’s editorial team? Now’s your chance! We’re currently accepting applications for the position of Photographer/Photo Editor. Please send applications (including samples of your work) and any questions about the role to editor@motley.ie by Friday, 28th of September.

Image Credits: Penguin books, jackkerouac.com. EgmontUSA.

features@motley.ie

Features

ts! Studen ds You! Your Motley Nee

Hello, and welcome to the first Motley of 2012/2013! My name is Mae, and I’ll be editing the Features section for the year, aided by trusty co-editors, Senita and Peter. So, what is this section about? You could say that the Features section is really the most ‘motley’ part of the whole magazine. Examine the word by its definition; ‘an incongruous, multifarious, or confused mixture or assembly’ – that’s us! This is where the miscellany, bits ’n‘ bobs, bric-a-brac, and raggle-taggle ends up – the monthly car-boot sale in the neighbourhood of UCC student media, if you will.

Features covers what the Current Affairs, Entertainments and Fashion sections don’t, so I’m looking for submissions on the topics of travel, health and fitness, sex and relationship advice, vox pops, the most gifted, arts, crafts and DIY, internet culture, food and cooking, places of local interest, as well as general Mae McSweeney sets out to lure of our generation opinion, how-to, humour and satire articles, and even some poems and creative writing! That list is undiscovered journalistic gems for anyone with by no means exhaustive though – if you feel that you have an idea for an article, but can’t decide what to join her ranks (but she’ll settle rnet). section it belongs to, just email me. l of literacy and access to the inte

a basic leve

We’ll always be scouting for writers, so get on board now if you want, but don’t be afraid to get involved at a later date either. We don’t bite, and trust me - we don’t have a whole lot more of an idea of what we’re doing than you do! Motley is strictly amateurs, but passionately so.

Editorial

Contact Senita, Peter or me at features@motley.ie. Looking forward to hearing from y’all!

Mae McSweeney muses upon Autumnal delights, much like a latter-day Keats, only taller.

You know what? I’m thinking spring is the most over-rated of all the seasons. Definitely. Everyone always seems to go on about how spring is the season of fresh beginnings and burgeoning potential, that spring is a time of rebirth, re-growth and renewal. Most Irish people probably share my sentiment that the meteorological reality is far less inspiring, and far more… soggy. Irish Spring is often frustratingly reminiscent of Irish Winter. The only obvious giveaways I can think of are: (1) the absence of gaudy LED baubles dangling from the gables of bungalows, and (2) a very, very gradual increase in daffodil sightings. Oh, and don’t get me started on Lent! In short, spring sucks. ‘But wait!’ you cry, ‘Why are you hating on spring so much, Mae? What’s spring done to piss you off? It’s autumn, for Pete’s Sake!’ Indeed it is, keen reader, and that leads me to the crux of this little essay – that autumn, for most young people, is really the season of new personal growth and development. Every September, children and teenagers return to their schools for a new term, armed with summer anecdotes that may, or may not, have been embellished with spicy details for the amusement of class-mates. And now for you, the summer is over, but instead of returning to the familiar confines of your hometown school, you’re beginning anew.

Regardless of what discipline you’ve chosen to study, whether you’ve moved out of home or not, whether you choose to take up debating or dance, college will change you, and probably for the better. Hey, now! Not that you’re a bad person right now – but be prepared to meet many, many new people, some from very different backgrounds, with very different aspirations and outlooks, and values and talents. And be prepared to get on, pretty well, with most of them. What university has taught me, so far, is that we all have an awful lot more in common than we may initially think. To borrow a quote from the infinitely quotable Stephen Fry: ‘Education is the sum of what students teach each other between lectures and seminars.’ Rather than a solitary journey from registration to graduation, college is a communal experience. This isn’t to say that your degree isn’t important. Your decision to enrol at UCC for the next three, four and five years is the reason you’re here, but it shouldn’t be the only thing you leave with! Get rooted in some extra-curricular pursuits, branch out beyond your usual hangout spot to meet some new people, and prepare to reap the rewards. Fine, so February to April is a great time for crocuses and baby rabbits, and for resurrection if you’re Jesus Christ – big deal! Students have their day in the sun just as the days begin to shorten, and chill winds drive us indoors to talk shite over cups of coffee/tea/vodka and Red Bull. But, (in keeping with the now-tedious metaphor I’ve got going on here!) I like to think of that shite-talk as the fertile manure from which the strongest and most enduring of friendships emerge. You only get back what you put in, as they say, so go spread some of that sweet verbal silage and enjoy!

Image Credit: Ciara Kenny

Keeping it Funky Fresh through Freshers’ Fest Senita Appiakorang urges all you young’uns to gather round the hearth and listen, as she spills the beans on how to throw the rockin’est party on the motherlovin’ block. P-A-R-T-Y? Because she wants to.

Make a Playlist

What I mean by this is, make a damn good one. Mix up the eras, keep it within the same vibe, and change it appropriately when the mood is taming. Unless he agrees to behave himself, ban that socially challenged friend with the penchant for ruining good jams by abandoning the playlist in favour of lesser-known, far-too-kooky-for-a-party numbers. Also, make sure you have decent speakers – the quality of your speakers is directly proportional of the amount of people joining in the fun, and the level of good times being had.

A ‘welcome’, or a congratulatory ‘welcome back’, is in order, I believe! First time round or not, making it to college every September is a most gruelling challenge. Succeeding at this endeavour is a laudable achievement, warranting much celebration. What better way to inaugurate oneself into college living than that wonderfully festive time of Freshers’ Week?

Promise Them Food

In my experience of holding parties, providing a little catering has never backfired. It really isn’t very expensive or hard to do. Tesco is the place for affordable party food, with their 75 cent wedges, and cheap-and-cheerful sausage rolls. On a practical level, there’s a sense of security in having that bit of soakage at the peak of the night, when things may get a bit heated, or dramatic or saucy. Everybody wins!

Memories of my first Freshers’ Week come flooding back to me, as I recall the failed attempts at parties I found myself in. Imagine the scene: a highly enthused seventeen year old, decked to the nines, embracing the sweet call of dancing, scandal and fun without bounds… only to join an awkward assembly of boys playing FIFA and drinking cans, all under the pretext of a wild party! Some chilli Doritos would be spared for us girls, as we swayed despairingly in the background, making hollow chit-chat before the inevitable urge to shift befell us all – and we’d join the ‘men.’ It’s a good thing that my partying experiences have vastly improved since those tragic days, and I felt it compulsory to impart upon you newer folk some handy tips for throwing unforgettable soirees.

For flip sake, mingle

There’s nothing worse than being invited to party at which either the guests, or the hosts, have forgotten the basic communicative gesture of a salute and an introduction. A bit of chit chat is mostly agonising, but has its rewards, and it’s the foundation upon which good friendships will be formed. In the three or four or five years you study at UCC, I estimate that you will cross paths with at least 2,000 pupils daily, so you’d best get along and start befriending as many of them as you can! They’re probably awesome people.

Theme It

I know you’re probably thinking: ‘shut the front door! Nobody wants to fancy dress, that’s totally stupid, blah, blah, blah!’ You are an embarrassment to yourself, and your country. Realise that to make a party interesting and memorable, you need to theme it! The girls wear slutty variations of whatever the theme is and the boys comply and indulge in the revelry of their genius outfits. This is best summarised in the song ‘Ignition’ by R. Kelly… that’s right, R. Kelly himself is not in any way gangster, but that video-party is themed. The theory has been tried and tested, and the end result is that they all score – so, you now have a ready-made anthem for your parties.

Take Care of Yourself

In first year, there is always one certainty – the free flowing stories amongst students of drinking, partying and socialising on a grand scale. However, amidst all the fun of college, it’s easy to overlook health and safety. Don’t worry – this article doesn’t aim to patronise. This is just a quick guide on how to look after your mental health whilst in college. Simply put, college can be stressful. Ask any second or third year – or even better, one repeating first year – about exams, and they will quickly change the topic. Study season is a proven stress machine, affecting each student differently. They seem a million years away right now, but as sure as a rainy Irish summer, they creep up on you. And suddenly, the good times end, and anxiety sets in. At times like these, counselling is a very beneficial option – University College Cork is an optimistic campus, with numerous services available to any student finding it tough. Sadly, both nationally and worldwide, suicide rates amongst young people have become epidemical; and statistics show that at least 5,000 students in UCC are living with some sort of depression (that’s just under 1 in 4.) But how do you promote a positive mental state within yourself? Secretary of the Sláinte Society, Shauna Murphy, offers some useful advice: ‘If you believe that you’ll make friends and settle in, you will. Believe in yourself! A positive attitude creates a mind-set of solutions and enthusiasm. You can change reality by allowing yourself to act in a different way. Put positive post-it notes on your mirror and create positive expectations- it all starts with your attitude.’ It’s not as difficult as it may seem to make a significant change to your lifestyle and mental health. These are a couple of helpful tips from college students who have been in the same situation and survived it.

Don’t leave all your studying to the last minute

Although hard to balance academic affairs with society, club and social events, it is important to try to get some work done each week. Try to

Be safe, enjoy all the orientation activities, and prepare to initiate yourself in the ancient art of The Party!

y life can sometimes all the highs of universit t tha lity rea es. the nts fro to beat those collegiate blu Peter Neville con some helpful tips on how es vid pro and n, dow leave us feeling avoid the college cliché of leaving it all to the last minute. Not only will you feel better about your situation, but you will also get better marks and hopefully avoid the dreaded August repeats. Don’t feel like your problems are unimportant There is nothing worse than being faced with a difficult situation and feeling like it must remain secret. Trust me, the longer a problem stays in your head, the more it gains strength and eventually it seems worse than it is. Talk to a friend, or if you would prefer, UCC offers a fantastic counselling service. Join a club or society Although slightly contradictory to the first tip, it’s important to have a social outlet. Most societies and clubs hold weekly events, which are a great way to let off some steam. These also succeed in bringing people will similar hobbies and interests together – be it History, Physics, or even Japanese – there is a society that would be glad to meet you. Go to lectures This may sound simple to first years, but other years will be sniggering slightly to themselves. Many students miss lecturers, feeling that all the notes they need are online – don’t fall into that trap. Go to lectures, even if it is just a location to sleep off that hangover. You never know – you might learn something. The grass isn’t always greener on the other side! College is the best part of your life, they say! So, it shouldn’t be a bore or a stressful demon. Relax and take each challenge as it comes – be it essays, exams, competitions, speeches or even romantic experiences. If you give it your full attention, you’ll quickly reap the rewards. At the end of it all, your mental health should be a priority. Keep positive – these are the good times. Even when you are struggling in subjects, keep your head up and smile. And remember, even if you can’t spell ‘Armageddon,’ it’s not the end of the world!

Image Credits: partyfail.com, laverstokepark.co.uk

‘But, what do they even do?!’ A Guide to the Students’ Union, the Societies’ Guild Executive, and the Clubs’ Executive

Mae McSweeney

I know that when I first came to UCC, I was mystified, terrified and downright dubious about these three groups. They seemed to me as shady and strange as the Masonic Order, and I just couldn’t understand how anyone came to be integrated in their upper echelons. Did they have secret handshakes? Hazing ceremonies? Did they commit sacrificial offerings to Gozer the Gozerian, the extra-dimensional destroyer of worlds? After all, if Ghostbusters had taught me anything, it’s that if a feisty independent cellist such as Sigourney Weaver’s Dana can be possessed by a horny lady-demon like Zuul, well you just don’t know who to trust. Now of course I know that organizations like the SU, the Societies’ Guild and the Clubs’ Exec are found in third level institutes everywhere (duh!), and that things would function very differently indeed without them. No goats are slaughtered at Student Council, and no virgins are burnt alive at a standard society AGM. If you are active and dedicated enough in sport, society activities or political endeavours, you may well find yourself elected to a position within these ranks, exercising your leadership and managerial qualities in a pragmatic and beneficial way. That’s what happened to the people you’re about to hear from below. Read on, be educated on how your registration fees are allocated, be aware of your representatives at a political, society or club level, and for the love of Christ, DON’T CROSS THE STREAMS!

Sam Ryan,

D e p u t y President of UCCSU

‘UCCSU is here to represent the student body of UCC on a campus and national level. We represent students on the various college committees in UCC, from Governing Body to Green Campus, and to leading the fight to have the voices of UCC students heard on a national level, in partnership with our national organisation the Union of Students in Ireland (USI). As well as representing the student body as a whole, the SU also plays a very significant role in helping individual students. PJ, our Education Officer, deals with students who have issues regarding their academic affairs, such as problems regarding a specific lecturer, or offering advice on exam repeats or appeals. Dave, our Welfare Officer, deals with students who have issues in life outside of the classroom – such financial difficulties, problems with accommodation, or accessing the medical or counselling services available to them in UCC. Oh, and he also sells condoms for a very reasonable price! Apart from Dave and PJ, there are 3 other fulltime officers of the union. As Deputy President and Campaigns Officer, my job it is to run the various union campaigns on a multitude of issues, from sexual health to the fight to protect the grant, and to increase involvement of students in the SU. James O’Docherty (‘Doc’), the Commercial and Communications Officer, is responsible for the commercial activities of the Union (print shop, fresher’s bags, diaries etc.) and overseeing our propaganda machine. Finally, Eoghan, as President, is responsible for keeping the whole show on the road! The SU is not just the 5 fulltime officers though; every month a Student Council is held. Council is the primary decision-making body of the SU, and it’s the opportunity for class reps, and any interested students, to hold the SU executive and the 5 fulltime officers to account for the work they’re doing. Any student is entitled to run for class rep and the elections will be taking place this October from the 2nd onwards. The SU doesn’t belong to the people who are lucky enough to hold officer positions in any given year. It belongs to every UCC student. If there are things you think need to change about this University, then get involved in the Union, run for class rep, help with campaigns or entertainments, write for the publications and run for election! It’s your Union.’ The UCCSU office is on College Road, right beside the Common Room, behind The ORB. If you wish to contact any of the officers mentioned above, you can find their details on collegeroad.ie.

Jamie Hooper,

President of the Societies’ Guild

‘Hi Gang! My name is Jamie Hooper and I’m this year’s Societies’ Guild President – it’s nice to meet you! We are currently preparing for yet another jam-packed year of activity on campus. Joining a society during your college years is one of the best decisions you will ever make. It’s also one of the easiest, because no matter who you are, or whatever your tastes, there should be a society to suit. Societies are student run, and have always been vital to the student experience. They enable you to seek out unusual skills, continue hobbies of old, make new friends, take on responsibility, acquire transferable skills and, of course, have immeasurable fun. The amount of times I’ve heard it said that people have learned more through societies than from their own degree is staggering. Whether it’s leading a team, creating a poster, organizing a ball or swinging a broadsword, societies offer a kind of education not accounted for in your textbooks. The societies themselves are governed by my team - the Societies Guild Executive. We concern ourselves with all societies that exist in UCC, so if you have any questions, we would love to hear from you. We are students, elected by societies, meaning that students get a direct say in how their money is managed in an open and transparent manner. All societies will be welcoming new members throughout the college year, but the majority of introductions will happen at Fáilte Fest and Societies Day. Societies Day will take place on Wednesday the 26th of September in Devere Hall. Every society will be present to introduce themselves, answer questions and most importantly, sign up new members! I really would urge you to get as involved as best you can - in life you get out what you put in, and that applies to societies more than anything else! Personally, my college experience has been defined by the skills I learned, the friends I made, and opportunities I grasped through societies, and I loved every minute - I’ll see you on the 26th!’ The Societies’ Guild is based on the top floor of the Accommodation Office on College Road. This is also known as “The Hub”, and this is where all the administrative and creative work of societies is carried out. To contact Jamie or any Guild Exec member, visit collegeroad.ie/societies/guild.html.

Brian Phelan,

President of the Clubs’ Executive

‘Hi, everyone! For returning UCC students, here’s hoping for another great year ahead, and to all you freshers, welcome! My name is Brian Phelan and I am your Clubs’ Exec President for the incoming year. Last year, UCC enjoyed great successes both on and off the sporting field, and after two long years, the Mardyke arena upgrade has been completed, and it is now one of the finest sporting facilities in the country. For all incoming first years, I urge you to take up new sporting activities or continue your current athletic pursuits here in UCC. Those of you who choose to partake in clubs, I know that you will meet some fantastic people, achieve things you didn’t think possible, at times be pushed to the peak of your physical capacities, and most importantly, have some unforgettable nights out – as well as some you might never remember! Over the last century, UCC has become synonymous with sport, producing many great athletes who have gone on to win highly prestigious competitions in their respective fields. While we take great pride in these individuals, we are most proud of the wide range of activities we provide, as well as the all-inclusive ethos we encourage. Whatever the sport, and at whatever level, UCC is here to support you. Regarding what we do, the Clubs’ Exec is the governing body for student clubs in UCC. It is charged with the administration, development and promotion of the student clubs. Essentially we are here to help support students in any sports related activity. We’ve got a great team this year, and I know I speak for everyone when I say we are looking forward to seeing you at Clubs Day – Tuesday, September 25th in Devere Hall. Come forward and get involved in any capacity; make friends, keep fit, travel and compete with your team all over Ireland and abroad, and get ready to have the best years of your life!’ To contact Brian or any member of the Clubs’ Exec, go to collegeroad.ie/clubs/executive.html. Image Credits: screened.com, facebook.com/uccclubsexec, facebook.com/uccsocietiesguild, ucc.ie

Top 5 Fresher Friendly Websites Mae McSweeney fires up Windows 95 and braces herself for the screeching dial-up tone, in her pursuit of the most useful websites you’ll need to visit this year. Oh, Internet: illicit streamer of sitcoms, birthplace of the meme, the place where productivity goes to die. But wait, there’s more! Not alone can the Internet destroy all fruitful ambition you once had, it can actually help you succeed! And not just in Mafia Wars or Draw My Thing, but in college. Here are a few websites which you should probably find yourself visiting this year.

5. CollegeRoad.ie Run by the Students’ Union, you’ll find pretty much everything UCC (which isn’t related to your degree) right here on CollegeRoad: information on the SU, the media, the Societies’ Guild and the Clubs’ Exec, as well as links to all the various UCC services you might ever need to use. Subscribe to the mailing list of a club or society using the drop-down menus at the top of the page, and check out the Ents calendar for a view of what events are coming up this year. There’s even a ‘Student Jobs’ section under the ‘Education’ menu. … Job.

3. Facebook.com/UCCMemes All this meme talk has made me hungry. For memes. Which brings me neatly to UCC Memes, the Facebook page where you can unleash your wittiest, punniest and most WTF creations on the student populace. Or, you know, rip off something you saw on Reddit earlier. I don’t care.

2. Wikipedia.org I’m going to tread carefully here… I don’t know if you’ve had the ‘plagiarism equals death’ talk with your lecturers yet, but I can assure you that they’re not bluffing! So, while merrily copying and pasting what look like relevant sections into your essay seems like a bit of harmless roguery, I wouldn’t chance it. However, you can try this: scroll down to the bottom of whatever Wiki page you’re on and find the References section. Then search for those titles in Google Books, or on the Boole Library database. Simples! External Links are good as well. Wikipedia is full of handy sources and links, not ready made, custom built essays.

1. ? So let’s say, hypothetically, that there’s a certain movie or album or TV series you’d really like to download… but, in this scenario, you have no money. Imagine there was a website which could… help you solve that problem, for free. But I guess that with SOPA and PIPA keeping those immoral pirate sites at bay, I’m just talking nonsense (wink wink, nudge nudge).

4. www.ucc.ie/en/sit Bit of a no-brainer, this one. You know when you open Internet Explorer on a computer in the library? Yes, that. The UCC IT Services page is where you’ll find a link to ‘the Portal’… I hate when lame things have misleadingly cool names, don’t you? Nonetheless, signing in to Portal@UCC allows you access to Blackboard (yay, lecture slides!), your Print Account (woo, printing lecture slides!), Student Administration (boo, paying fees), your student Umail account. Really, what I’m trying to say is: not signing in to your student portal? That’s a paddling.

Shell’s Kitchen

Shell Leonard, mad yolk that she is, shares her student-proof omelette recipes with us. Break an egg, lads!

Omelette This is one of the cheapest, yummiest recipes I have. Omelettes are versatile, nutritious and filling, the kind of thing that works well with literally anything left hanging around in the fridge. Ingredients - 2-3 eggs. - Half an egg shell full of water. - *Optional: Good cooking oil (eg. Rapeseed). This is your basic omelette formula. The water provides a “puffing” effect, making the omelette more filling.

Fillings - The Classic: This involves variations of Ham, tomato, onion and cheese. - The Spanish: Any ingredients, plus some cold potatoes - The Fancy Pants: Bacon/Rashers (pre-cooked and chopped) with Brie. - The King: Smoked Salmon and cream cheese. - The Vegetarian: Tomato and basil/pesto.

Process Whisk the egg and water together with a fork or whisk until combined. Add the fillings chopped to your liking (I dice mine so I can get a bite of everything in one go). Preheat your pan (the cheaper the pan, the more oil you need, but never more than the size of a pair of two euro coins! Meanwhile, preheat the grill to the highest temperature. Fry the omelette until the top is almost cooked, and then place under the grill until golden brown. This is what fluffs the omelette up.

Serving Suggestions Omelettes go exceptionally well with potato (chips, waffles etc.), bread, or a light salad. Image Credits: memegenerator.net, musinformation.com, Bon Appètit! bp.blogspot.com

The Raven Girl from HMV by The GLF She sat there single, slim and sullen. Catcher in the Rye she reads; an attitude that regrets nothing A match for love she is indeed; she is still, no mingle, a grin, lulling. Her hair with pink & purple piercing proudly; in music she works, Where suitors for the muse constantly lurk, I care but do not act on feelings swiftly. This woman’s woollen winter hat weaves the soul; she dangles admirers like soft benign bobbles. Allowing them to fall away with a swift wobble, I cannot define myself a role.

Truth and Obsessions by Peter Neville The mere thought sent shivers racing down the bumps of his spine, caused his heart to beat like a nearby steel drum, and body plunge into the dark depths of hopeless anxiety as the tendrils of fear and doubt wound and sunk its dirty claws into the once pure process of thoughtof hope. Ends of fingers were numb as if subjected to gallons of frozen hypothermia – inducing water, the bones on the knuckles threatened to become equal stiff; leaving the hands about as much use as the slowly malfunctioning brain. His head pounded roughly yet rhythmically, with litre after litre of red precious lifeblood weaving its way through what must be cholesterol affected veins; grinding slowly then faster towards an inevitable heart attack. Moments like these which force breath to become raggedly tense and difficult to draw are almost always the single cause for the surprise collapse at the fortieth birthday – oh he’s such a joker, he’s only pretending. They don’t witness what you experience, inside a shell of a body, unable to move or think or even contemplate contemplation. A trapped bird, uncertain as to why it cannot fly through the transparent glass if it can vividly see the rolling hills and picturesquely postcard blue skies on the other side. A spider in a glass jar, plucked from the world, surviving merely on the roll of fortune- to find someone who isn’t terrified of you, and what’s more is willing to assist you. A puppet without its puppet master – a lonely, silent and inanimate face in a box; a being which shall never experience the joy of breath, of tears, of hope, of life. This is you as you lie on the floor of the room, with smiling faces slowly more bleak as they realize the joke has gone on too long- oh god, has he stopped breathing? You are void of all moments, all perceptions and yet you create them- you are solely dependent on those who surround you right now. Unable to protect or even think for yourself, unable to pray for your own safety; but aware that if they act soon, there is still a hope. A faint hope, an orphan’s voice of anguish in the bomb zone, still clutching the parental figure; praying that the nightmare will end, but the screaming will never be heard.

Emptiness

by Dave Horgan

This sadness I feel, unquenched by her loving touch. It only brings pain and anger to myself and those around me, who do nothing, yet suffer the uncontrolled emotions of my soul trapped in a vortex of wild and unbearable destruction my body and soul deteriorate both, leaving only a shell, a vessel void of feeling or emotion, that will crumble and fall, leaving the ashes to scatter in it’s wake.

And thoughts begin to loop and dance playfully, sadistically, around your thoughtless head – the questions piling up at the door like the weekly unemployment line- until you cannot contain it anymore. You have to know, simply its not a case of desire anymore but necessity – like the almost dead plant, its roots sadly in the air, unable to be its own savour; wishing it were a king or a president or a wealthy landowner so it would be noticed and taken care of. And yet, there is no explanation or cause or effect for nature to infiltrate the mind and thoughts – especially at a time like this, but it does. That’s the harshness, the reality of the world in which we exist, the world that we believe we had some influence in creating – one soul does not matter, nor does fifty, nor does a thousand, nor does a million. We are gifted as humans to switch the ability to view numbers, instead of individual personalities, on. And so what if a million people died today, a million more are born – the world loops continuously; a spinning top on an earth quaking surface – the people behind the numbers are forgotten by the world, but not by the people they love.

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Autumn Winter 2012 Trend Report

Aisling Fitzpatrick

The start of a new college year provides the perfect opportunity to overhaul your wardrobe, and this issue offers everything you need to know about new season trends. Sarah Commane presents us with her top picks for online inspiration, featuring blogs and websites to suit any taste. From Raf Simon’s final bow at Jil Sander, to Galliano’s departure at Dior, it’s been a tumultuous few months in the fashion world, and a time that will lead to a new beginning for many of the major fashion houses. With this in mind, Emma Oliver explores some of the crucial moments throughout history that forever changed the face of fashion and the clothes we wear. Looking around UCC, it’s clear that it can be difficult for guys to carry off new season trends; Tom Roche and Eoghan Lyng debate whether experimenting can prevail over the timeless classic. Finally as the autumn/winter collections hit the shops, I present you with a pick of the most important trends this season, how to wear them and where to buy them.

Baroque Brigade

la dolce vita

Baroque is back and big for 2012. Heavily embroidered, folk inspired dresses featured at Dolce and Gabbana, while Stella McCartney’s offerings were decidedly more structured. Whether you choose to go ladylike or channel Osman’s oriental futurism, you’ll be spoilt for choice on any budget. On the high street, look to River Island in particular to inject some high octane decoration into your new season wardrobe. Word to the wise: accessories are a cheap and easy way to experiment with this trend, and Penney’s have an endless array of goodies to play with.

Purple Reign gothic glam at Gucci

The purple carpet was rolled out at many of the major international shows this season. Typically reserved for religious leaders throughout history, Christopher Kane has brought this colour firmly to the fashion forefront. It’s undeniable that this is the colour of the season, so expect no shortage of purple delights in shops too. Topshop’s tie dye suede biker jacket is undoubtedly inspired by Christopher’s Versus collection and a handy introduction to the trend.

Flower Power Peplum details at Burberry

Here’s a trend that has refused to disappear in recent years, but this season’s blooms are certainly worth their merit. Burberry made a departure from the elusive petals of last season, featuring prints with a distinctive edge, while Dolce and Gabbana presented exaggerated Sicilian glamour. Whatever way you choose to wear floral this season, the most crucial ingredient is a healthy dose of attitude. At Warehouse, sharp tailoring and a floral explosion combine to create a look that guarantees serious sartorial brownie points. If you’re not feeling that brave just yet, invest in one key piece and let that take centre stage. Image Credits: style.com, helpmystyle.ie, roxana-signs.blogspot.com, dust.blogspot.com, glamourmagazine.co.uk, asos.com, topshop.com, telegraph.co.uk, fashion156.com

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Designer 101

Each month, Motley profiles some of the most prolific designers of our time, and what better way to start but with Mr Simons.

‘One of the most talked-about debuts in fashion history, Simons’ offering mixed his signature minimal, aesthetic with the pretty, femininity of Dior – signifying that the future of this iconic brand lays in very safe hands.’ — Vogue.co.uk

Raf Simons Age: 44. Nationality: Belgian.

Fashion Credentials: Jil Sander. Raf Simons, Raf by Raf Simons, Christian Dior. This Belgian designer is without a doubt the most talked about man in the fashion world this year. With the sudden disgraced departure of Galliano (due to that infamous YouTube video that captured Galliano making anti-Semitic slurs at a Paris cafe) from Christian Dior, the big question was who would be snapped up to take the coveted position as creative director. Without a doubt, this Belgian has proved he is the right man for the job. Watch this space.

New Beginnings

Emma Oliver explores some crucial moments that have led to new beginnings and new trends throughout fashion history.

Oh September, how I have waited for you. A new season that brings new collections, new beginnings and an exciting blank canvas for my autumn/winter wardrobe. With a new laptop, new stationary and re-evaluated academic expectations, it’s time to focus on the main issue: clothes. And lots of them. Choosing your sartorial personality this season can sometimes mean diving head first into the unknown. And what better way to do this than by taking a moment to look back at some of the biggest risk-taking moves made by the fashion greats of the last century.

Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel This fashion maverick needs no introduction. Trouser wearing women all over the world owe this innovative lady a major thank you. Yes, before Chanel’s (BC) bright spark idea of the roaring 1920’s, it was frowned upon for any self-respecting women to leave her house in anything other than a skirt or dress. If this was still the case, my clothing collection would be more than halved to say the least. From a feminist perspective or not, this was a major step for women’s liberation. This gave women, quite literally, the power to “wear the trousers” in the on-going battle for equality. The 1920s post-war era meant people were ready to let their hair down. Dancing to the early hours of the morning, casual sex and drugs were on the rise. Dresses became as loose as the inhibitions of the women wearing them. Uptight and constrictive dressing became a thing of the pre-war decade past. More and more fashion taboos were being broken. This decade set the wheels in motion for fashion designers to allow themselves to take risks, leap into the unknown and still be celebrated for it. Before the unkempt, flowery, power-to-the people hippies of the 1970s came the androgynous “le smoking” suit, pioneered by Yves St Laurent in 1966. In a decade of high hair in the form of a beehive, and even higher thigh high leather boots, this minimal two piece tuxedo suit broke boundaries not seen since Chanel’s golden age of the ‘20s and ‘30s. The clean, simple lines were a refreshing change in womenswear and once again gave women a sense of empowerment in their dressing. It paved the way for the 1980s ‘power suit’ and is still used as a template for suits for women today. The autumn/winter 2012 runway collections were flooded with modern takes on the two piece suit. Pared down and easy to get right, this look is definitely on my radar for this season. I may have been a ‘90s kid, but that unfortunately meant that, at aged two and three, grunge dressing was far from being on my radar. While I was in pretty sun dresses and nappies, the rest of the world was rejecting the concept of fashion and rebelling against the norm in a most fashionable way. Ironically this ‘anti-fashion’ became THE fashion. This new and slightly sinister look was embraced wholeheartedly by most. Fresh faced out of Central St Martins with a Masters in fashion design, Alexander McQueen strongly influenced the grunge movement, a brave step and a far cry from the preppy polo wearing teens of the 1980s. With high profile clients who later became friends, such as the notorious Isabella Blow, McQueen shows were the hot tickets of the season. Piercings and tattoos skyrocketed (to the horror of most parents I would imagine) yet nothing, not even a good telling-off would stop this movement from spreading. So far the noughties are yet to have a definitive style label placed on them. We’ve seen indie, boho, prints and patterns but most, if not all, can somehow be linked to decades past. What style will our generation be remembered for and copied in the years to come? What will be ridiculed (latex leggings?) and what will be celebrated? Maybe I’m wrong and our definitive moment has already been created. However, I’m still hopeful that our moment has yet Image Credits: fashionpearlsofwisdom.co.uk to come. strawberige.blogspot.com, Styleeye

Inspiration from around the web and beyond The new college year is a great time for a new beginning, whether it is something as simple as a new wardrobe staple to a complete revamp of your sartorial identity. To jumpstart your new beginning Sarah Commane presents you with the top online inspirations from around the world.

StyleLikeU.Com

‘Freedom of expression through personal style’ is the tag line, and best way to describe the people and the clothing featured on this site. Founded by Elisa Goodkind and Lily Mandelbaum, this site is a one stop shop of amazing and inspiring personalities, and the closets that their interviewees own. There are hundreds of videos showcasing the talents and lifestyles of some of the most creative and interesting people in the world. It’s a fashion and style site that strives to break gender and socio-economic boundaries, and bring personalities and diversity to the fore through the medium of personal style.

Beckermanbiteplate.blogspot.com

The Beckerman sisters (and occasionally their mum and dad) run this gem of a personal style site. It’s a collaboration of great sartorial ideas and a fun and carefree attitude that each family member embodies and showcases through their outfit posts. The Beckermans do not strictly follow trends but use fashion as a means of expression and play. The sense of humour and confidence that flows through this site is as inspiring as the fashion and style showcased by the sisters.

Todayslook.com

Andrew Mukamal uploads weekly/daily videos detailing the eccentricities of the fashion world. Each episode introduces viewers to Andrew’s impressive wardrobe choices, which are typically high end labels. He is incredibly passionate about gender roles and clothing, and is a firm believer that men should be able to wear whatever they want, without being harassed by stares on the streets (check out a recent video called ‘Boys in Dresses’ for some serious schooling on the issue). Oh and you might remember him as Kelly Cutrone’s assistant from her show Kell on Earth.

ClothesEncounters

This YouTube channel was originally started by two friends, Jenn and Sarah. ClothesEncounters is a haven of thrifted finds and accessible outfits put together by college students who love a bargain. It is truly inspiring to see the pieces the girls find and different looks they put together with limited resources.

folkster.com

Cork’s very own The Bloggers

Irish Inspiration Folkster.com (Shutterbug Vintage)

Launched on the 15th of August 2012 it is (at the time of writing) Ireland’s newest online hub for vintage fashion and Jeffery Campbell shoes. Owned and run by Blanaid Hennessey and the Folkster/Shutterbug Vintage team (Shutterbug is a vintage boutique based in Kilkenny), Folkster is a one stop shop for one-off finds and killer heels.

AngelaScanlon.com

You may recognise this lady from the telly as she regularly appears on TV3 and RTÉ as one of Ireland’s best known stylists, fashion writers and commentators. Her blog is jammed packed full of goodness, from international catwalks, to Ireland’s streets and beyond. Fantastic personal style aside, her enthusiasm for fashion is infectious, and she is an inspiration for anyone who dreams of working in the fashion industry.

There are so many amazing Bloggers in Cork who showcase their own take on style and fashion, here’s a pick of the best: • Blauvont.com • ShesinVogue.blogspot.ie • Tarmartales.com • Befunkey.net • Thelicentiate.com • Fashionphilosphy.com • 4ng2.com • TurqouiseFlamingo.com

The Shops

Cork is full of amazing vintage and independent boutiques, and while this article is meant to be about online inspirations, I couldn’t finish it without mentioning some of Cork’s best offerings. Most of the shops mentioned below can all be found on Facebook (so it’s not strictly cheating). A college year would not be the same without a trip to the amazing Turquoise Flamingo (Washington St.), Mercury Goes Retrograde (Drawbridge St.), Miss Daisy Blue (Market Parade) Amity (French Church St.) and Sula (Paul St).

The Great Debate

New season trends – embrace or erase? Eoghan Lyng believes that experimentation and rebellion are the keys to sartorial success, while Tom Roche argues that nothing can trump the power of a modern classic.

In 1969, the world was caught up in the free love movement, with a wardrobe to match. Eight years later, as the punk era emerged, so too did a rebellious attitude to dressing. In the eighties, the Yuppie revolution ushered in a period of power dressing. In short, clothing is power and can also be used as a revolutionary ideal. By changing one’s wardrobe every season, we show that we are part of a group that may one day be regarded as a brilliant trend or one of abhorrent displeasure. Either way, it will show that we were part of a movement! On a very basic level, it’s clear that people love to feel associated and involved, and personal style can act as a unique connection to wider society. Some moments created by the fashion industry can instantly become iconic, and why wouldn’t you want to become part of that? When Lars Burmeister or David Gandy emerges every season in new trends, it is a time of undeniable excitement. Wearing certain trends allows you to become part of a fashion revolution and, by extension, a member of a larger cultural movement. Members of the punk movement reflected their views not only in their clothes, but the attitude they wore them with.

Johnny JohnnyDepp Deppcontinuously continuouslytakes takessartorial sartorialrisks risks Rebellion is, in my opinion, the most important ingredient in a successful fashion formula. Playing it safe has never appealed to the icons of our time. Look at James Dean, Johnny Depp, Steve McQueen – all created their own unique sartorial identity through exploring fashion trends and experimenting with different styles. Depp has become a master at mixing his bohemian eccentric style with new season trends. Just look at his hordes of followers and it’s clear that rebellion certainly results in a worthwhile pay-out.

Tom argues that versatility and functionality are crucial elements in one’s personal style, but we’re students, so why play it safe? Now is the time to say “Carpe Diem” and experiment. After all, if we can’t be adventurous in this age, it’s unlikely we ever will. Similarly, it’s unfair to say that embracing new season trends is a costly endeavour. With the wealth of vintage shops springing up around Cork, as well as the endless array of cheap offerings available online, there really is no excuse not to get creative.

Eoghan Lyng

What makes great style? Individuality? Being on trend? Of course these are important ideals of modern fashion, but are all trends really stylish? I mean, everything had its time and place, but what really makes someone stand out from the crowd are the modern classics. Everyone recognises them; they’ve been around forever and there’s a reason for that.

We live in times where trends change rigorously from season to season. That’s all well and good if your career is in fashion or you’ve got money to burn, but as students we can’t afford such luxury. Timeless classics are the foundation for every wardrobe, styling generations of trendsetters long before we were born. These pieces moulded what is fashionable today. For example, the peacoat has been around since time in memoriam. It’s truly a modern classic. It has never really fallen out of trend as such but has had a sartorial resurrection in recent years. Popular on the runway and frequented by some serious style icons (Kanye West has namedropped the garment in his music), the peacoat has gained a massive amount of street cred in recent years. Its versatility and functionality is ideal for the stylish UCC man. You can be warm on a frosty morning on the way to a lecture and wear it later that evening in any venue in the city and look the part. It’s true the peacoat may not be the most pocket-friendly article of clothing, but this is certainly a smart investment that will gain you style points throughout the college year. On the high street, Swedish brand H&M on Opera Lane always provide great selection in their Autumn/Winter collection along with Spanish giant Zara in Mahon Point. The new college year brings along new beginnings for students, and striving for sartorial self-improvement this semester need not be a difficult task. My advice readers? Stick to classic, timeless style pieces and you can’t really go wrong. At the risk of sounding appallingly clichéd, in this case, less is most certainly more.

George Lamb favours classic tailoring and clean lines.

Tom Roche

Image Credits: freetobepunk.blogspot.com gqmagazine.co.uk

Motley Magazine, 2012 - 2013