VOL: 2 ISSUE: 7 24.02.16
THE COLLEGE VIEW
THE SUSS KANYE GENIUS THROUGH CHAOS
Feature
BY STEPHEN KEEGAN
The Life of Pablo and the controversial life of Kanye West I
t’s hard to reconcile the public appraisal of Kanye West with the critical appraisal of his work at the best of times,but the chaotic lead up to the release of the eventually titled The Life of Pablo has muddied the waters even more. Pitchfork’s review of the album stated that it “feels like Kanye ran across town to deliver a half-wrapped gift to a group birthday party to which he was 10 minutes late.” It’s a fair observation for an album that’s gone through four titles, at least as many track-listings and, at the time of writing, is still being revised. He is still fixing his song Wolves almost a week after its premiere at the Yeezy Season 3 launch in Madison Square Garden. The chaos that enveloped Kanye’s work also overspilled into his public life as he began to overshare on twitter. His infamous nowdeleted spat with Wiz Khalifa turned into a mi-
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sogynistic attack on their mutual ex, Amber Rose,and the distressing extent of Ye’s misogyny was revealed when he chose to ignore the testimony of over 50 women to tweet “BILL COSBY INNOCENT!!!” Ye then went on to disclose that he is $53 million in personal debt, and begged Mark Zuckerberg to invest “one billion dollars in Kanye West ideas” so he could “bring more beautiful ideas to the world,” claiming that he is “this generation’s Disney.” Fears for Ye’s mental health have been raised by longtime collaborator Rhymefest, who stated that he believes that Kanye “needs help, in the form of counseling. Spiritual & mental. He should step away from the public and yesmen and heal.” Indeed, on The Life of Pablo’s The Weeknd featuring FML, Ye raps: “You ain’t ever seen anything as crazy/as this… off his Lexapro.” Pablo’s Pitchfork score though? 9.0. Best
New Music. Kanye has form here though,almost all of his biggest critical successes have come from times of personal chaos. Back in 2002, Kanye had just signed to Roc-A-Fella when he fell asleep at the wheel of his rented Lexus and almost died in the ensuing crash. Just two weeks later, broken jaw wired shut, Kanye was back in the studio and recorded Through The Wire. The song convinced Roc-A-Fella execs,who viewed Kanye as a producer and signed him to ensure his beats stayed in-house, to take him more seriously as a rapper, and went on to be certified gold in the US as the lead single from The College Dropout. The closing track of that album, the 12 and a half minute “Last Call,” where Ye hits out at all the record execs who said he “couldn’t rhyme” contains a line that explains the part of Kanye’s personality that generates most of this chaos for himself: his ego. “Now I could let these dream killers kill
my self-esteem/ Or use my arrogance as the steam to power my dreams.” It’s notable that Kanye’s blowups over the next few years all came at times when his work was under the spotlight. He walked out of the American Music Awards in 2004 after losing Best New Artist, stormed the stage at the MTV Europe Music Awards in 2006 after losing Best Video, and he blew up backstage at the VMAs in 2007 after failing to win any of the five categories he was nominated for. Ye addressed this phenomenon on the Graduation single Can’t Tell Me Nothing: “I feel the pressure, under more scrutiny/ And what’d I do? Act more stupidly.” Kanye’s public images plummeted to new depths in 2009 when he infamously interrupted Taylor Swift’s victory speech at the VMAs to proclaim that Beyoncé’s Single Ladies was one of the best videos of all time. As Kanye acknowledged in his single Power, he was
regarded as “the abomination of Obama’s nation,” and even Obama himself called him a “jackass” after the stunt. What followed was 2010’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, Kanye’s biggest critical smash, which addressed his public perception on the aforementioned Power, Monster,and Runaway. Ian Cohen of Pitchfork wrote in 2014 when naming Album of the halfDecade that the album accounts “for West’s artistic adaptability and personal stubbornness,” and “builds a monument as Rome burns”. Is Kanye’s bizarre twitter behaviour perhaps fuelled by a need within himself to burn Rome before he can deliver a monument? While his misogyny is sickening and inexcusable, fans will be comforted that The Life of Pablo demonstrates that while Kanye may often be at the heart of the ridiculous, he can still produce work that is absolutely sublime.
Photo Credit: Front page: ixdaily.com; Page 2: www.slate.com, www.experience-it-all.com; Page 3: www.fastcompany.com; Page 4: google images; Page 5: comingsoon. net, Philippe Antonello; Page 6: Hayley Halpin, David Clarke; Page 7: Demetra Demetriade; Amy Lawlor; Getty Images; Page 8: Michelle Martin, Liam Ashton.
The
Panic over politicised pop hinders progress P
rotest music is a genre that has been successful through the ages, going as far back in time as Bob Marley, John Lennon, Ella Fitzgerald and other artists in their quest for social change. Music is one of the strongest mediums in the world and has helped numerous artists spread their message for peace, equality and freedom. So why, in 2016, is shedding light on unresolved social problems still taboo? Superbowl 50 was held on February 7th where Coldplay, Bruno Mars and Beyoncé performed an illuminating half-time show. Pop giant Beyoncé premiered a new song, Formation, with an incredible performance. The video for Forma-
tion was released soon after and has reportedly outraged much of the American population. Formation sings a call for unity, an ode of self-love for black people and their own culture. The video begins with Beyoncé sitting on a drowned police car, set in post-Katrina New Orleans. Memorable scenes include a young black boy dancing in front of a row of officers and a shot of a wall with the words ‘stop shooting us’. Lyrics such as: “My daddy Alabama, momma Louisiana, you mix that negro with that creole make a Texas bama” sees Beyoncé reclaim the insult and make it her own, and show her colour is something she is inherently proud of. With Formation, Be-
yoncé brings to light the major problems in America regarding the police and racism. Hashtags such as #blacklivesmatter have grown as more and more black people are killed. Many accuse Formation of being anti-police but perhaps it is only through this provocative imagery that society will sit up and listen. Rapper M.I.A, real name Maya Arulpragasam,has also recently come under fire for controversial material in the song Borders. Forced to flee Sri Lanka at nine years old, M.I.A. uses her personal experience as a refugee to contest the growing hostility many Western countries have over the refugee crisis. Her video replicates the journey of refugees trying
to travel to Europe and its trying conditions, climbing over fences, sailing on crowded boats and trying to pass borders. Lyrics such as “free’dom, ‘I’ dom ‘me’dom, where’s your ‘we’dom” questions the morals of many privileged people. In a world where food, money and land are in so
“In a world where food, money and land are in so much abundance, M.I.A asks why we exclude refugees so harshly.”
BY REBECCA KEANE much abundance, M.I.A asks why we exclude refugees so harshly “borders.. (what’s up with that) .. police shots.. (what’s up with that)”. Both artists use their personal experience and their roots to question why things are how they are today. So why is this controversial? Should pop music always consist of sugar with no substance? Songs such as Macklemore’s ‘Same Love’ and Hozier’s ‘Take Me To Church’ both became hugely relevant in the fight for gay rights, so how can songs such as ‘Borders’ and ‘Formation’ be condemned? Both racism and xenophobia are growing problems and it is through music and discussion that both can be solved.
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February film special: Deadp
F
ollowing its legendary marketing campaign, Deadpool has become one of the most anticipated comic book films since 2012’s The Avengers and just like that film, there was a fear it would disappoint. However, much like The Avengers, we had nothing to worry about as Deadpool is nothing short of fantastic. Upon being diagnosed with cancer, ex-mercenary Wade Wilson agrees to an illegal treatment that will cure him while giving him superpowers. Surprisingly, the people behind this turn out to be untrustworthy, kidnap his girl and leave him hideously deformed. With his newly acquired pain endurance and healing abilities, Wade takes on the identity a new kind
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of superhero; Deadpool, to get his girl back and get revenge. While the story is familiar and by the numbers, you’ll hardly care due to the surrounding comedy and notso-heroic twist. The casting is spot on. Ryan Reynolds was born to play Deadpool and it’s a role he’s been campaigning to portray in its own solo film for years now. The rest of the cast, including T.J. Miller, Ed Skrein and Morena Baccarin perform well but this is Reynolds’ movie. It’s clear the entire crew behind this are all fans of the source material as the attention to detail is bar none. The key essence of Deadpool’s character is his comedy. The Merc with a
“While this story is familiar and by the numbers, you’ll hardly care due to the surrounding comedy and not-soheroic twist.”
Mouth gets that nickname from his constant quips and thankfully most, if not all of the jokes land. They’re not thrown to the audience in excess, just the right amount. With quotable lines and the demolition of the fourth wall, Deadpool’s comedy hits home and is the highlight of the film. Don’t think the jokes carry the film though, it’s mixed in with impressively badass action scenes and genuinely good drama. For a first time director, Tim Miller’s action is very well done and nicely choreographed. Deadpool has a 16s rating and it needs it, frankly you could easily argue it deserves an 18s. Blood, language, violence, sex, in-
nuendo, they’re all here and they’re quite outrageous. There are very few negative aspects to Deadpool, everything here is exactly how a film based on this character should be, the action, casting, drama, direction, it’s all great and while humour is subjective, if you chuckled at any of the promotional material, you’ll enjoy yourself. The story’s been done before and the villain could have been fleshed out more but for what this film needs to be, it works and it works surprisingly well. It won’t sweep the Academy off their feet but it is going to massively entertain both general audiences who have never heard of the character and diehard fans alike.
pool & Zoolander 2
BY DANIEL TROY & BRÍON HOBAN
Z
oolander 2 is an almost irredeemably bad movie. It feels like both a lazy retread of the original and a tonally jarring rip off of a Dan Brown novel. Worst of all, it commits the cardinal sin of comedy: it is simply not funny. The only legacy it is likely to have is as a fixture in a film school module titled ‘How Not to Make a Sequel.’ Following several personal disasters, former male model Derek Zoolander (Ben Stiller) has become a recluse. When a shadowy organisation begins assassinating the world’s most beautiful people, both Zoolander and his best model friend Hansel (Owen Wilson) are called out of retirement to assist Fashion Interpol agent Valentina Valencia (Penelope Cruz). Occasionally jokes are told. While the original revelled in the silliness of the fashion industry, Zoolander 2 focuses on rather more serious issues. The plot inexplicably revolves around both parental neglect and ritualistic cannibalism. Surprisingly, it is the former that proves to be the worse inclusion.
Derek’s incompetence as a father is undoubtedly supposed to add some black comedy to proceedings, but it misses the mark so spectacularly that the material becomes legitimately disturbing. The performances are
“Stiller and Wilson remember how to play Derek and Hansel, though their efforts are in vain due to the sterile script.” passable at best. Stiller and Wilson still remember how to play Derek and Hansel, though their efforts are in vain due to the sterile script. Cruz is wasted in a thankless role, as are Kristin Wiig and Benedict Cumberbatch. Will Ferrell is the one stand-out performer, providing the film’s only laughs as the villainous fashion
magnate Mugatu. The film might have been redeemed if he appeared on screen for more than twenty minutes. Celebrity cameos abound, and while some work (Neil deGrasse Tyson and the returning Billy Zane), most are useless. A sequence towards the end involving real-life fash-
ion designers is the film’s low-point thanks to the unholy comedic trinity of bad acting, bad timing and a complete lack of punch in the editing. It is hard to reconcile that the same people behind this sequence once created the iconic gasoline fight scene in the original. Zoolander 2 is a mess. It fails as both a sequel to a classic and as a standalone movie. It is a comedy that is short on laughs and a satire with no bite or edge. It is so lifeless and tonally messy that there is not even any joy to be had in mocking it. If you really need some biting satire of the fashion industry in your life, then go watch the original again. Avoid Zoolander 2 at all costs.
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Travel Prague vs Amsterdam: A student’s guide
A
msterdam and Prague are two of the most popular cities for students in Europe and it’s easy to see why. You can fly to either of these cities for between €40 and €60 return. When you consider the prices for train and bus tickets from Dublin to the countryside, this is a bargain. Both cities are wonderful in their own ways. Prague has such a high concentration of beautiful buildings, with their own little details and designs. Prague castle lies on top of a hill overlooking the city. The view of all the low-lying red rooftops and cathedrals is really something to behold. Amsterdam is a city of
BY CONOR HAWKINS canals, bridges and bicycles. Its narrow cobblestone streets are lined with all sorts of shops where you can find something to tickle your fancy. Amsterdam boasts canal tours, ice bars, the Heineken experience and the Anne Frank house. Of course, you must get a picture at the Amsterdam sign to prove you were there. In Prague, you can zoom around the city on a Segway. It’s a lot of fun and certainly a different way of viewing the city. Prague is also famous for its pub crawls, many of which end up in the marvellous nightclub Karlovy Lazne. This has an ice bar, as well as six floors with different types of music, but why would you even consider leaving the ‘oldies’ floor? Both cities are easy to get around. Prague’s underground system is straightforward and reliable and Amsterdam’s tram system is the same. Neither are expensive and if you get lost, just ask the
“Both cities are exceptionally beautiful, full of things to do and sights to behold.” friendly natives. Prague boasts something that appeals to all students: it’s cheap. €1 will get you just over 26 Czech Koruna. To put this in context, a pint (of delicious Czech lager) costs less than €2. Prague is like a meat
heaven. The city is big on grilled meats, burgers and schnitzel. No matter where you are, you won’t be far from cheap and tasty food. Amsterdam’s food and drink is slightly more expensive, closer to the prices you’d pay in Dublin.
The pros and cons of commuting to college
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M
any students face the decision every year of whether they will commute to college or move out. Commuting to college definitely isn’t the
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‘broke students’ category but you definitely benefit from being able to go home to a warm, cooked meal from your mammy. If you’re lucky, you might even get away with not having to pay rent because you’re ‘still a student’. Apart from that, commuting is more hassle than it’s worth. Here’s what you miss out on as a commuter: most appealing option, but there are some upsides to making the daily trek. You save money by not moving out. Don’t get me wrong, you still fall into the
• Socialising. College is great for meeting new people and going out every night but when you’re a commuter you can’t go out very often
The Red Light District is definitely somewhere you should experience. Then if you want to have a giggle, you can visit the coffee shops. If your eyes can’t find them, your nose will. Both cities are exceptionally beautiful, full of things to do and sights to see. You will come home full of stories, some to tell and some to keep to yourself.
BY AISLING MCCABE
unless you live close or have friends willing to put you up. Nights out are always restricted and your ability to socialise is limited, but you save money on not being able to party all the time. • Getting involved with clubs and socs. Being in college for your lectures is difficult enough without having to hang around all day to get involved with other gatherings. That dreaded journey home is made easier when you get to run out of the building as soon as possible to beat rush hour.
• Early rising. There is also the challenge of having to get up several hours earlier than your classmates who live on campus just to be on time for the same lecture that they woke up for ten minutes before it started. The trip to college definitely has its trials and tribulations but perhaps the good outweighs the bad when you’re eating your roast dinner while your friends send you snapchats of their Koka pot noodles.
Feature
I ‘PS Love’ you Penneys
BY ÁINE MARIE MONK
P
enneys have upped their game recently, from the addition of homeware to footwear and accessories. The most impressive is their PS Love Beauty range, a cheap and cheerful collection of cosmetics, with products (and price tags) to suit everyone. I first caught wind of the collection on Instagram. I was so excited to try out the pearly shimmer highlighter, which did exactly what it said on the tin and never strayed from strobing. After the great success of this shimmer godsend, I delved deeper into the collection, purchasing all available makeup brushes. Again, I was very impressed by the quality of these products, opting to use them in my daily routine over their more expensive and renowned competitors. Who could say no to a wonderfully dense, double-ended smudge and angled eyeshadow brush for €1.50? I absolutely adore
BY AOIBHEANN DIVER
It’s halfway through the college year, the bank account funds are quickly deteriorating and you can’t even afford NuBar goujons and chips anymore. Here are a few simple yet scrumptious lunch ideas that won’t hurt your wallet.
the double-ended powder brush which cost me a mere €2.50. I used to use the smaller brush for buffing in foundation but have since adopted the Beautyblender dupe, sold in a bright orange colour. The more sparse brush at the other end is ideal for bronzer, blusher and blending. Then came the hype around lip liners. I couldn’t pass up the chance for a replica for Mac Spice, so I bought one in every colour. I was blown away by the
colour payoff and lasting power, often spending what seems like an eternity removing them at the end of the day. They act as an amazing base for any lipstick and come in every colour imaginable. Last but by no means least, the bronzing brick is a remarkable buy and almost identical to that of Bobbi Brown. The packaging isn’t quite as luxe but for the price, we must adopt the old saying ‘beauty comes from within’, even when speaking about makeup.
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Easy cheesy quesadillas :Get tortilla wraps and put your favourite fillings on it: ham, chicken, bacon, peppers, onions, lettuce or whatever else you fancy. Sprinkle plenty of grated cheese on it before placing a second tortilla wrap on top. Place onto a frying pan and cook for 5 minutes on each side.
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Stuffed sweet potato: Cut a sweet potato in half, scoop out the insides and put them in a bowl. Cook the skins in the oven for 10 minutes to make them crispy. Mix some onions, spinach and bacon in with the potato and mash together. Place the filling back into the potato skins and cook in the oven for about 35-45 minutes.
Or if you’re very broke (and maybe hungover): •
The humble chip butty: Cook some oven chips and butter two slices of bread. Put them together and you have an inexpensive yet totally satisfying lunch. Sprinkle some salt and pepper on it or smother it in ketchup.
Gravitational waves and why they’re a big deal ‘W
ith the detection of gravitational waves recently, another element of Einstein’s theory of relativity has been proven true. But what does the breakthrough mean for science? Over 1.3 billion years ago, two black holes spiralled closer and closer together, eventually merging. The collision left a gravitational ripple effect behind and the waves were detected for the first time by physicists when they hit earth in September 2015.
Gravitational waves are ripples in the fabric of space and time, left behind when two objects with a large enough mass come into contact. Einstein predicted the theory over a century ago with some hesitation, but assumed that we would never be able to see or hear these ripples. The detection of the waves is a huge scientific breakthrough and opens up a new age for astronomy. It’s estimated that scientists can only view about 4
per cent of what’s in space. This discovery will afford scientists a glimpse at a side of the universe that has never been seen before. Cliff Burgess, a theoretical physicist at the McMaster University in Ontario described the breakthrough as “a whole new way of seeing the sky”. He told Vox.com that: “If you look with visible light as far as we can, the universe is no longer transparent, it becomes opaque. There’s nothing you can do
BY DAVID CLARKE
about that.” “If you could see [gravitational waves], you can see past where you can’t see with physical light. That would be cool. We’d have direct access to something that’s farther away than we can hope to see otherwise,” he added. It remains to be seen if the discovery can help us further understand the complexity of the universe, but
for now it’s only the start of what gravitational wave astronomy has to offer.
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Restaurant review: Lemon Jelly
BY AOIBHEANN DIVER
Explore the tastes of Dublin with our fortnightly restaurant reviews. L
unchtime on a Saturday in Dublin is hectic for many cafes in the city and Lemon Jelly is no exception. Located in Dublin’s Italian Quarter, this little gem is a must-visit. The staff are friendly, the food is delicious and the price isn’t too outrageous. The menu is wonderfully varied, so it will suit all tastes. From big bagels and crispy ciabatta to sweet and savoury pancakes, it is ideal for a brunch date. I visited Lemon Jelly at about 2 o’clock on a Saturday afternoon with four other people and although it was busy, we had no difficulty getting a table. We were also given adequate time to browse the brightly-coloured menu. After some deliberation,
I opted for the Maple Madness crepes, which comes smothered in maple syrup and butter and was priced at €5.50. To drink, I chose a strawberry milkshake, as my sweet tooth was particularly acting up that day, which came with a dollop of fresh cream on top. The drinks menu is also quite varied, ranging from fresh juices and smoothies to wine, beer and champagne. They also serve a selection of Suki tea. The waiting time was a little longer than desirable but given the busy nature of the place, the wait was forgivable. As well as that, the waiter had to return to our table twice to clarify information about what we had ordered. When our food finally
arrived, we were all ready to start eating. The presentation of my sweet crepes was underwhelming, while all the other dishes my friends ordered looked beautiful. However, the taste was wonderful and I soon
realised why the serving was so small. It filled me up quite quickly and I couldn’t even finish it. The milkshake also helped with this because it was so rich and creamy. Lemon Jelly is situated
New rules for blogger sponsorship T
he Advertising Standards Authority of Ireland (ASAI) announced last month that bloggers must disclose when they have been paid to promote or feature a product. While this is good news for the consumer, what does it mean for bloggers? In the Irish Blogger Survey 2015, 71 per cent of Irish bloggers reported making “no income” from blogging. With long hours, trying to promote content among thousands of other bloggers and keeping up to date with what’s on the market, blogging can be an expensive hobby. What makes a successful blog is similar to what makes a successful business. There must be a
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solid relationship between the business owner (ie. blogger) and the consumer. The reader must trust the site and the blogger must have established a reputable name for themselves. The ASAI states that it needs to be clear from the start of the piece whether the blogger has been paid to feature the product, and on social media hashtags such as #sponsored and #ad must be used.The introduction of these new regulations may have positive and negative outcomes for the blogger and their business. Unlike an advertisement on television or radio, people don’t respond well when they see that a blog post or video has been sponsored. It can give the impression that
the person’s view on the product isn’t honest, and that they are giving a positive review solely because they have been paid. However, 84 per cent of Irish bloggers believe that transparency is important and just 52 per cent have worked with a brand or business. Unlike a business, not all bloggers are in it to make money. On the plus side, these new regulations provide further transparency and can strengthen the relationship between the blogger and reader. There will no longer be any speculation about whether a post or video is sponsored, and everything will be clear from the getgo.
on Millennium Walkway, Dublin 1 and is an ideal spot for lunch during a day of shopping in the city. The prices are fairly reasonable and student-friendly and the atmosphere is cool and relaxed.
BY AMY MULVANEY
Once trust has been built, whether or not a post has been paid for should make no difference. If you trust your source, then why doubt their views? The exception to the rule lies in if the product has been sent for review with no payment involved, it doesn’t have to be disclosed. As
the blogging community grows, writers, readers and businesses are still finding their feet. These new rules will impact bloggers and their work, but will ultimately make the community more clear, and will free bloggers from criticism they may have otherwise received.