The Hype Issue 6

Vol. 1. Issue 6. 8th February 2018

Music

Emerald Isle creates musical gems

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Ailbhe Daly discusses the growth of the Irish music scene.

any think of Irish music and images of an auld lad playing spoons in some pub down a bothrin pop into mind. A walk through Temple Bar in the height of July would similarly convince you as multiple renditions of Christy Moore and Van Morrison songs leak out onto the cobbled streets. While this type of music has been influential in its own right, the plethora of genres that Irish artists have permeated in recent years is so much more than what is assumed.

If you were told Ireland has some of the best up and coming hip-hop acts, you’d be forgiven for raising a sceptical eyebrow.

Similarly to how U2’s stadium anthems and My Bloody Valentine’s ear shattering shoe gaze put Ireland on the map in their own way, there are artists paving the way for other genres. Pitchfork ran a feature in 2016 on the

African immigrants that are pushing Ireland’s hip-hop scene. The focus was on Nigerian Simi Crowns, who moved to Ireland when he was eleven. Speaking to Pitchfork after a show, Simi says “there was always that element of being shut out or misrepresented. But now, people are realizing that my story is just as important to tell as that guy with a fucking guitar’s.”

But it isn’t just Simi Crowns.

Northside Dubliner Rejjie Snow has been making waves in recent years with his unique blend of hip-hop that takes influence from Dublin and from his background of being the only black kid in his neighbourhood. Clare based Rusangano Family were awarded the Choice Music Prize, Ireland’s biggest musical award, in 2016.

They beat out internationally acclaimed artists like Lisa Hannigan and James Vincent McMorrow to scoop the award, a testament to the growing support of Irish hip hop. While these artists may be based in Ireland, their roots are still firmly planted in their home soil and it oozes from their music.

Independent research by London based BOP showed that the Republic of Ireland’s economy profited €1.3 billion in 2016 from live entertainment, and supported over 8,700 jobs. Venues in Dublin like the 3Arena

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amass huge amounts of revenue from live shows while the festival circuit consisting of favourites like Longitude, Body & Soul and Electric Picnic regularly sell out; it is easy to see where the profit is coming from.

Ex-U2 manager Paul McGuinness has spoken out numerous times about how the government are consistently cutting the budget for the arts despite the evident increase in popularity and it is easy to see how it can be frustrating.

But regardless of how much or how little support the sector receives in funding from the government, it still continues to thrive. Venues like the iconic Whelan’s have no shortage of artists lining up to play and give great support to upcoming bands through their annual One’s To Watch Festival, that takes place in January. Other Irish music outlets like GoldenPlec and State.ie release a list of their picks for upcoming talent, adding to the exposure and further supporting the growth.

The Irish music scene is a well knitted web that provides nothing but support and helps smaller bands find a platform where they can play their songs to new audiences. Seeing bands pal up and tour together multiple times isn’t uncommon and neither is seeing members from one band play with another. The dissolution

of Fight Like Apes lead to front woman MayKay joining Le Galaxie, adding a strong female vocal to a band that have already established themselves as a strong electronic act. GoldenPlec’s Jamboree in December saw Hozier play with the likes of Loah, Zaska and members of Little Green Cars – all standout Irish acts in their own right.

Despite the lack of funding from the government and the dissatisfaction of this fact by both artists and revellers alike, it is clear that it isn’t going to slow things down.

While acts like Walking on Cars, Picture This and Kodaline succeed on the international circuit to a large scale, their roots to home are still prevalent. National favourites like Ham Sandwich, And So I Watch You From Afar and Delorentos may never headline a show to the same volume of people as U2 but they have earned a loyal following through years of hard work and in doing so, have also paved the way for smaller bands to follow in their wake.

Now more than ever it is important to see Ireland as a country that has benefitted from the multiculturalism that has expanded our shores. While once we were an island of saints and scholars, it is clear now that we are far more than that and our musical output is more impressive than ever and represents just how far we’ve come as a country.

The Irish music scene is a well knitted web that provides nothing but support and helps smaller bands find a platform where they can play their songs to new audiences.

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New year, new music

Méabh Riordan previews 2018’s album releases

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he music scene in 2017 featured the dominance of Ed Sheeran, Taylor Swift’s redefinitions, The ChainSmokers collaborating with Coldplay and break-away artists like Camila Cabello soaring to the top of the charts.

The mad scientists of UK psychrock, Django Django, have returned to the music scene with their third album Marble Skies. The album is an eclectic blend of styles that cannot be pinpointed by one genre.

Think 80s, crossed with dance music, weighted by indie rock.

The album’s title track Marble Skies sets the tone with a highly accelerated, yet comparable ostinato to that of Safety Dance, accompanied by harpsicord-esque instrumentation familiar of The Straglers’ Golden Brown. The transition from genre to genre is seamless, with the resonance

of Alt-J and glimpses of indie pop reminiscent of Foster the People’s Don’t Stop. The 1950s/60s rhythmic backbeat in Tic Tac Toe leads to a subconscious effort to mimic the drums and is innovatively mixed with synths and echoing voices producing a fresh, fun sound.

Marble Skies, released 26th January, is a bouncy, fast-paced album and listeners can look forward to experiencing the inventive album crafted by Django Django.

A new Justin Timberlake is on the horizon. Man of the Woods is set to be released 2nd February and from both teaser videos it’s clear that the ever-adaptable artist is onto “a smash”. Pharrell’s words, not mine.

Is it a coincidence that the album drops two days before he performs at the SuperBowl’s Halftime Show? Fans are hyped for this disparate compilation of tracks.

The teaser featured on the artist’s

Music VEVO channel showcases country, hip-hop and pop influences. The delicate, intricate, folksy fingerstyle guitar is reminiscent of Simon and Garfunkel while the use of distortion, synths and ‘wide range of sonics’ on Timberlake’s voice take you back to the days of Cry Me a River. The Southern influence is inspired by where he grew up – Tennessee – and blends blues, earthy timbres and rhythms with ease.

Another highly anticipated release is the fifth studio album

by Franz Ferdinand, most nostalgically known for the classic millennial hit Take Me Out. The Scottish Indie band have set the release date of Always Ascending at February 9th and as seems custom, the band have previewed the album with the song

Lazy Boy. A mellow, syncopated, soft rock song didn’t rock the boat in terms of innovation in my opinion but Rolling Stone Magazine’s referral to ‘dashes of electronics’ courtesy of new member Julian Corrie insight curiosity.

A blast from the past with Kimbra Gotye’s third studio album, Primal Heart, scheduled for release on April 19th The acclaimed voice making debut with Somebody that I Used to Know is hardly recognisable to me in two of the album’s singles, released last year, Human and Top if the World.

Both tracks built on electronic overtones, the latter distinct for a tribal sounding beat.

These tracks piqued my interest and hey, the artist’s multiple Grammy wins make this promising.

on police brutality on black Americans in ‘F*** tha Police’ (1988) and Gill Scott Heron inspiring citizens to stand up in the name of rebellion in ‘The Revolution will not be Televised’ (1990).

Up to today with Kendrick Lamar’s 2015 single ‘Alright’ which has had a heavy connection with modern

the horrors of the war in Northern Ireland, focusing on the 1972 shooting of 24 civilians by British soldiers. To this day, ‘Sunday Bloody Sunday’ remains one of the most harrowing songs about the Troubles.

Similarly, the song ‘Zombie’ by Irish band The Cranberries, featuring the late Dolores O’Riordan, was written in the memory of Johnathan Ball and Tim Parry, two young victims of the 1993 Warrington bombing

When music fights back

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Callum Lavery

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ar, huh, what is it good for? Absolutely nothing.

That is of course if you listen to musicians like Edwin Star who have used music to dispute politics and government.

Music has been used to question, protest, and condemn the established government or the popular opinion for decades and has inspired civilians to take their own stand against issues that affected them.

The following are examples in history when music, was the largest weapon in a protester’s arsenal.

Vietnam War: There are far too many songs to list here that tried to show the horrors of the Vietnam war and the cold welcome that the soldiers received when they returned home.

Standouts include Creedence Clearwater Revival’s ‘Fortunate Son’ (1969) pointing out it was the upper classes that really benefited from sending soldiers off to die, and Bob Dylan’s 1964 song ‘The Times They Are a-Changing’ which showed how people, politics and relationships changed after the war.

Perhaps the most surprising and unfortunate song on the Vietnam

War was ‘Born in the USA’ (1984)

by Bruce Springsteen who recorded the song in solidarity with the neglected veterans of the war.

Unfortunately, the song was misunderstood and used in campaign trails by politicians like Ronald Regan, the very person he was criticising.

Civil Rights/Black Lives Matter: Protest songs can often

shine a light on civil rights. Among countless examples are Sam Cooke’s observation of the ill treatment of black people in ‘A Change is Gonna Come’ (1964), N.W.A’s view

America’s Black Lives Matter political movement, these are but a few songs that have tried to explain the turmoil of institutionalised racism to a wider audience.

The Troubles: In their 1983 album ‘War’ Irish band U2 released ‘Sunday Bloody Sunday’, a song encapsulating

Notable Mentions: There are many other notable examples of songs that stood up against the government and political affairs. Radiohead’s ‘Idioteque’ (2000) called for the preservation of the planet in the face of climate change.

The Sex Pistols’ ‘God Save the Queen’ and ‘Anarchy In the U.K’ (1977) criticised the British monarchy and upper classes.

Gossip’s 2005 single ‘Standing in the Way of Control’ slated the USA’s refusal to introduce same sex marriage legislation.

These songs among countless others have shaped the way we live today by demanding changes in leadership and legislation and by questioning the decisions made by the government.

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Film

by Ian

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What’s next for Hollywood after the Me Too campaign The Me Too campaign was founded in 2006 by social activist Tarana Burke to encourage victims of sexual assault to share their stories

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hey say that 2016 was the year all our favourite celebrities died and 2017 was the year all our favourite celebrities were dead to us. With the 90th Academy Awards fast approaching there has been a steady showcase of the same immense talent that graces our screens every year. But award season this year has been unavoidably shrouded in controversy.

The Me Too movement took Hollywood by storm with celebrities taking a stand to confront a dark issue that has plagued the industry for years.

Over ten years later, the campaign resurfaced in a way that was fiercer than ever after actress Alyssa Milano brought it back into the spotlight with a new hashtag that took social media by storm. What was so distressing about the movement was just how sinister and widespread this issue was.

Two of the earliest revelations and arguably the most despicable came in the form of Harvey Weinstein and Kevin Spacey. Weinstein’s allegations ranged from forcing women to massage him and watch him shower to rape, brought to light from a litany of actresses including Rose McGowan and Ashley Judd. Spacey faced allegations from fellow actor Anthony Rapp, who accused Spacey of making sexual advances on him when Rapp was just 14-years-old.

The ensuing media storm and both Weinstein and Spacey failing to outright deny many of the allegations meant that both men’s careers were over in a flash. The bravery of the victims helped to ensure the men would never work another day

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in show business ever again. But what’s next for Hollywood following the revelation of widespread abuse?

A strange fact to acknowledge is this wasn’t necessarily news. In fact, one could refer to this culture in the industry as an open secret. References to powerful and abusive producers have been joked about by comedians. Hannibal Burress famously called Bill Cosby a rapist during a stand up set which ultimately led to his alleged past behaviour being brought into the public eye.

Meanwhile, Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane had called out Weinstein’s behaviour during the 2013 Oscars ceremony. While calling out the nominees for best supporting actress MacFarlane joked that the women “no longer had to pretend to be attracted to Harvey Weinstein.” The comedian and writer talked about the joke this year stating that it came from a place of “loathing and anger”.

Some of the most famous and revered producers and directors in the industry have had a questionable or outright despicable past. Roman Polanski, the mind behind classics such as The Pianist and Chinatown, was arrested in 1977 for drugging and sexually-assaulting 13-year-old Samantha Geimer.

Polanski served 42 days in jail before fleeing the US while Geimer has since appeared in court urging judges not to charge Polanski further.

The history of abuse doesn’t stop there. Alfred Hitchcock was famously obsessed with a number of his leading ladies, the most obvious example being Tippi Hedren of The Birds fame. Hedren famously opened up about their complex relationship in later

years while also revealing the extent of Hitchcock’s control over her life, revealing that he had forcibly tried to kiss her a number of times.

And of course one has to mention Corey Feldman, who appeared on television (including our very own Late Late Show) a number of times discussing his past as a victim of child abuse at the hands of agents during his career as a child actor.

There is no doubt the movement has had a profound effect on the industry that will change the way things operate in show business forever.

While the movement has been met with widespread support there are still those who criticise it. Famous writer Margaret Atwood and actor Liam Neeson have warned of the dangers of lack of transparency in terms of accusations made against a number of people from different walks of life.

There is no denying the movement has caused a stir in many ways. All one has to do is log on to any news site before they see an article about the latest allegations of sexual assault, Hollywood infighting and accusations of hypocrisy. Case in point; Casey Affleck and James Franco.

Hollywood and the film industry hangs in the balance and is facing a crossroads of a magnitude like no other. While it is still unclear exactly how these issues will be handled in the coming years, it is important to realise that people are at least listening. The stain that tarnishes an industry that brings a lot of joy to many of us will not be forgotten, but hopefully will be learned from and actors, producers and directors can work on the one thing that is most important about the trade, the art.

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Film

Three Billboards stands on acting, falls on pacing

by Ailbhe

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Daly

latecomer in the race for the Oscars comes from Martin McDonagh with his first movie since Seven Psychopaths. Three Billboards tells the story of Mildred Hayes (Frances McDormand), a mother vying for the murder of her daughter to be solved.

When Three Billboards is good, it is truly incredible and worthy of the Best Picture nomination. Chief Willoughby (Woody Harrelson), is initially portrayed as the antagonist but turns out to be a decent man, conveyed through his meetings with Mildred. The issue they face in the attempted resolution of the murder is that there are no leads. Despite Willoughby genuinely wanting to help, there is little he can do.

When Willoughby isn’t on the screen, you find yourself missing his presence. Harrelson has an ability to make any character he plays intrinsically likeable and it is no different in Three Billboards.

McDormand plays the stony-faced Mildred excellently, crafting her into a character that is simultaneously likeable and also a bit of a hard ass. Her character is wrought with flaws and insecurities – something McDonagh succeeds in portraying in his movies – and this almost makes her more affable.

Officer Jason Dixon (Sam Rockwell), who has been recently implicated in the torture of black suspects, is a comic reading dope who could have got-

ten his police badge in a box of cereal. His character development is carefully planted through nuggets of information that are easy to miss. Gradually, the audience sees him actually using his knowledge to be a good cop. His development is one of the highlights of the movie but it’s hidden a little too well at points.

An acting master class from a truly impressive cast is what makes Three Billboards such a stand out movie but it is not without its issues. The first portion of the movie is very close to being perfect and doesn’t put a toe wrong. However, a series of uncomfortable gags, introductions to characters that don’t really matter and strange deviations from the story taint it irreparably.

A few wrong steps and discrepancies really let Three Billboards down. Mildred’s ex-husband is dating a woman far younger (and better looking) than he is, something that Mildred pokes fun at numerous times. But Willoughby’s wife is also far younger and better looking than him, yet nothing is said about

it. It seems illogical and makes some of the more adolescent gags seem even more childish and you almost cringe a bit watching it.

The ever-impressive Peter Dinklage is victim to a slew of juvenile midget jokes and it really feels juxtaposed awkwardly among the humour, as well as wasting his immense talent. It also feels lazily slotted in and it’s hard not to have a mental call back to similar scenes from McDonagh’s debut feature ‘In Bruges’.

Three Billboards is far from a bad movie, but an impressive cast just isn’t enough to fix the glaring holes in the movie’s pacing or patch over the awkward gags.

The Post showcases the power of journalism by

Emer Handly

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newspaper’s first obligation is to the truth. It also has to be mindful not to put its future in jeopardy. So, what happens when you uncover a grave secret that the government have been hiding for years – do you publish the story? Or do you protect your legacy?

This is the dilemma faced by Kay Graham (Meryl Streep), publisher of The Washington Post, in a gripping film that recalls the discoveries of The Pentagon Papers in 1971.

The Post, directed by Steven Spielberg, is a thrilling masterpiece that shows the reality of the challenges that journalism faces. In an age where journalism organisations are constantly accused of publishing ‘fake news’, this film is a reminder that few things are as important as the truth.

The papers were a shocking internal report that detailed how “the White House has been lying about the (Vietnam) war for thirty years”. American military analyst Daniel Ellsberg (Matthew Rhys) realises the depths of the government’s deceptions and copies their top-secret documents.

The New York Times got their hands on the papers months before anyone else knew they existed. They published details about how four successive president administrations lied to the American public about the reality of the Vietnam War. However, The Times received an injunction instructing them not to publish any more material on the topic.

Tom Hanks portrays the Editor of The Washington Post Ben Bradlee, determined to pursue the story and expose the truth despite the worries of the newspaper’s investors. Bradlee firmly believes that “the only way to protect the right to publish is to publish”.

Kay is not so keen on the idea. Street’s character is a socialite who has many friends in government, including former secretary of defence Robert McNamara (Bruce Greenwood) who knew they couldn’t win the war, but chose to pretend they could.

In an intense sequence of scenes in Bradlee’s house, trusted Washington Post employees hastily read through the Pentagon Papers to get to grips with the vast amount of secrecy they contained.

They then compose articles for the newspaper to be published the next morning, if Kay allows them to go to print that is.

With men in each ear telling her what is best for the company, Kay finally has the courage to stand up for herself. The tension rises and in a historical moment, Kay finally decides to make her own decision. Since she overtook her late husband’s position, she allowed others to tell her what to do but not this time, not when it really mattered.

The film ends with a subtle hint at the next journalistic discovery that would shock the American public all over again and bring the Nixon administration to its knees – Watergate. Considering Donald Trump’s White House has declared war

not just on the media but on ‘truth’ itself, there is something quite relieving about being reminded that the press always have and always will stand up to those in power.

As American politician Hugo Black succinctly stated: “The Founding Fathers gave the free press the protection it must have to fulfil its essential role in our democracy.

The press was to serve the governed, not the governors.”

Comedy

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Comedy gold or comedy bold?

Sarah Murphy

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ushing the boundaries has always been a comedians bread and butter, but how far can a joke go before it becomes too offensive?

Comedians are often expected to be controversial and stir-up some drama with their newest material. They provide the shock factor in order to get a reaction from the audience, which is a major component of comedy. Testing the waters with the audience has always provided an indication if a joke is taken well or not. It is easy to understand that someone may be offended by a comedians lack of sensitivity towards a particular topic, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they will offend every member of the audience. This is a subjective part of comedy, deciding what jokes warrant offence has always been tricky and we are still trying to figure it out.

It is quite difficult to please everyone, especially in the comedy world. While one person may find a joke outrageously funny, another may find it rude and extremely offensive. Many argue that if you don’t like that sort of humour then don’t go to see it. But that has been made impossible due to social media with people sharing and live tweeting during shows.

It’s no longer just a dark, smoke-filled comedy club, now it’s all out in the open and served on a platter for public critique. However, if we defend comedians with freedom of speech then the same must be done for the audience, they have a right to critique and question everything. In 2016, Ted Balaker directed “Can We Take a Joke?”, a documentary interviewing some of America’s

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leading comedians. Adam Carolla an American comedian/ podcaster said: “There’s a lot of people out there whose job it is to be offended for other people”.

Comedians poking fun at tragic events has been an ongoing controversy and stirred up debates on comedy’s relationship with freedom of speech.

Although they are telling offensive jokes, it is evident that they are not promoting hate or violence. Once

“deciding what jokes warrant offence has always been tricky” a serious joke has been made, comedians need to get ready for the backlash from their followers and the media. It is not a comedian’s job to please everyone, they are supposed to push boundaries and discuss topics people are scared to talk about.

“It’s almost like people have gotten soft,” said Karith Foster, a comedian featuring in the “Can We Take a Joke?” documentary. We live in a society where communication is a constant necessity.

Comedians relay these horrible events through humour and when they receive back-lash at least they know not to tell that particular joke again.

A study by the University of Colerado-Boulder professor Peter McGraw tested how long after a tragedy you can joke about it. McGraw examined people’s reactions to Hurricane Sandy and discovered it takes 36 days after a tragedy before jokes about a tragedy become funny.

“We find that temporal distance creates a

comedic sweet spot. A tragic event is difficult to joke about at first, but the passage of time initially increases humour as the event becomes less threatening. Eventually, however, distance decreases humour by making the event seem completely benign.” McGraw said.

Some comedians are more controversial than others, for example, Jimmy Carr. Being described as the “Master of Outrage” by NME, Carr creates controversy at almost every show but has also apologised for jokes in the past. Ricky Gervais has also received major backlash over the last few years. In 2017 Gervais joined a Twitter meme discussion about “things you can say both during sex and during a funeral”, replying with “AIDS?” The famous comedian received a copious amount of backlash from both the media and The National AIDS Trust. Gervais defended his humour and took to Twitter to say “I don’t hold the same worldview as my jokes. Most people get that.” According to NME, earlier that year Gervais defended himself once again after receiving criticism for making a joke about a dead baby.

Gervais saying “Is there any subject you shouldn’t joke about?” is no less ridiculous a question than “Is there any subject you shouldn’t talk about?”. Gervais has shown that we shouldn’t be afraid to discuss things people wouldn’t dare to say in real life, but people aren’t quite at his level yet.

Comedians take inspiration from the real world, with real problems and simply strip it down and make it humorous and relatable. It is important to note that it is comedy, it’s meant to be funny, it is not meant to be taken too seriously. Comedy allows us to laugh at things we never thought we would.

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Books

Owning your anxiety

by Amy

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Rohu

A DCU graduate wrote a Bullsh*t free guide to living with anxiety

wning It is a breath of fresh air when it comes to books about anxiety.

Author Caroline Foran’s style of writing is more like chatting to a friend than reading a book, avoiding heavy jargon. Her use of language makes you laugh and her openness about her own personal experiences with anxiety offers the reader a connection, making the book even more relatable.

But what really makes this book so special is that it’s actually packed with useful information and explains some heavy stuff about how our brains function in a simple way, making it a pleasure to read and avoiding overwhelming an already anxious reader. The author also brings in experts in various different fields to offer their expertise and further educate the reader with other

perspectives.

The book is split into two main parts, very clearly divided up into small chapters dealing with different topics.

The first part is all about assessing your anxiety and developing an understanding as to why you feel the way you do. You are prompted to take some notes and really get to grips with your thoughts and feelings.

One particular chapter in section one outlines the ‘less sh*t side of having anxiety’ and gives the reader valid points as to why being extra sensitive can actually be a blessing in some aspects of your life. This changes the reader’s outlook on anxiety in such a simple yet effective way, changing their mindset instantly.

Part two of the book is all about addressing the anxiety. Now that you have the tools to understand the feelings, the author shows you how

to help yourself by looking after your health and addressing issues such as relationships, sleep problems and social comparison.

In the middle of the book between part one and two, there is a smaller section called your ‘toolkit’ and this extra little section has some invaluable resources such as your ‘anxiety survival kit’, inspirational quotes and even a guide on how to cope with a panic attack in real-time.

This can be dipped into whenever you need a little extra help.

In the introduction, the author suggests you keep this book in your bag and consider it your ultimate go-to whether you’re feeling a little overwhelmed or completely panicked.

This book is small enough to carry everywhere and as the author says herself, it is beneficial to everybody.

Even if you don’t suffer from anxiety,

this book will offer you an insight into how your mind works and if you ever do feel stressed, you’ll know exactly what to do to fix it. However, if you do

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more like chatting to a friend than reading a book suffer from anxiety or panic attacks then this book will be your new best friend. Caroline is blunt and honest which gives this book a little more edge than most other self-help books out there.

Owning it is available now in bookstores for €14.

Books that portray the reality of mental illness

The theme of mental illness is no stranger to the literary world. However, in an age where mental illness is often romanticised, it can be hard to find stories that show its complexity and reality.

Emer Handly looks at books that get it right.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a coming of age story written by Stephen Chbosky, following narrator Charlie in his first year of High School. At times it is very heavy to read as Charlie experiences extreme depression and anxiety. Centred around friendships (positive and toxic), mental illness, substance abuse and sexuality, you will not read another textual representation of adolescence as relatable as this.

“So, this is my life. And I want you to know that I am both happy and sad and I’m still trying to figure out how that could be.”

It’s Kind of a funny story Ned Vizzini’s novel revolves around 15-year-old Craig’s experience on a mental health ward. It is a unique tale as most of its characters have a mental illness, not just one. The story depicts the harsh reality of depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, self-harm and many other mental illnesses. You will laugh at his cynical humour while wanting to cry at his bleak life, all the while feeling empathetic.“I didn’t want

to wake up. I was having a much better time asleep. And that’s really sad. It was almost like a reverse nightmare, like when you wake up from a nightmare you’re so relieved.

I woke up into a nightmare.”

The Bell Jar is an American literary classic written

by Sylvia Plath. Plath is known for her heavy poetry about depression and this book follows suit.

The semiautobiographical novel

tells the story of Esther Greenwood, a young writer struggling with selfdestructive behaviours and dark thoughts. It is a brutally honest portrayal of depression. Plath has a way with words, sometimes beautiful, sometimes haunting.

Published in 1963, it is a story that still engulfs readers today.

The Catcher in The Rye – J.D Salinger’s timeless classic portrays how social problems can affect sensitive minds. Teenager Holden Caulfield gets kicked out of school and departs on a strange journey to New York. He is plunged into sadness and daydreams of suicide. He indulges in alcohol, sex, nightclubs, movies and socialising to escape from himself.

“To the person in the bell jar, blank and stopped as a dead baby, the world itself is a bad dream.”

“I can’t explain what I mean. And even if I could, I’m not sure I’d feel like it.”

Wintergirls is a startling novel written

by Laurie Halse Anderson. Lia is a teenage girl who learns of her best friend’s suicide and then falls on a downward spiral of anorexia and self-harm. The harsh nature of eating disorders is made painfully clear. It is a powerful, intoxicating story that does not shy away from the truths of mental illness.

“I am spinning the silk threads of my story, weaving the fabric of my world...I spun out of control. Eating was hard. Breathing was hard. Living 7 was hardest.”

Health & Beauty

The feminist side to porn

Deputy Lifestyle Editor Adam Daly spoke with PHD student Caroline West about her research into the discourse between feminism and porn.

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ornhub reported that women are watching more porn than ever before in their annual review of 2017. Last year, the most searched term on Pornhub’s site was ‘porn for women’, surging by 359 per cent from 2016 to 2017. 28.5 billion people visited Pornhub in 2017, so naturally a large portion of viewers would be female. But in a year that was dominated by female empowerment, there is still criticism of women who watch porn that doesn’t reflect a feminist ideology. ‘’The thing with porn is that there are so many different types of it. We have to look at what are we actually talking about when we say porn. Is it stuff on tumblr? Is it mainstream stuff? Is it feminist porn? Is it gay porn? LGBT porn?So the question is quite simplistic and a lot of the questions in porn studies have been to this day’’ according to Caroline West, a DCU PHD student with an MA in sexuality studies.

Her current research is looking at the experience of women working in the American porn industry and how those experiences are talked about within the feminist debate on pornography. It looks at who’s defining what exploitation is, what empowerment is and all the grey areas in between.

‘Porn for women’ or feminist porn, as it’s often referred to, is more representative of real life and real life sexual practices, according to West. ‘’There’s a lot of feminist porn

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made these days by a huge variety of people that really look into different body types and different races, by film makers like Erika Lust.’’

Erika Lust is a Swedish film maker who was tired of tacky mainstream porn and decided to direct an indie short film called The Good Girl in 2004. The success of her first film encouraged her to direct three more erotic films and set up a site aimed at women. ‘’There are loads of filmmakers like Lust out there, and from all continents as well. Australia has a really large amount like Miss Naughty and Stardust. It’s just a case of looking for it.

It’s more about getting it out there so people know it exists’’ West said.

But Caroline explains that feminist porn doesn’t have to be all rose petals and candles. It can be rough, it can be BDSM or down and dirty.

There’s no one way to have good sex so women who enjoy porn that isn’t soft need not be ashamed. ‘’Just because you might fantasize, it doesn’t mean you want it to happen in real life. Sexual fantasy is so personal and individual and related to so many things that might have gone on in your life or you might not have experienced or want to experience or ways that you’re dealing with various traumas or ways that you’re dealing with certain pleasures. It’s all so unique and a mish-mash of a lot things but it’s still quite a common fantasy to be overpowered and

stuff. And just because you like that, it doesn’t mean that you want to be overpowered. Maybe in your head you’re more attracted to the role of the person doing the overpowering’’ West

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The thing with porn is that there are so many different types of it

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said.

With so many different elements to sexual fantasies, West says that we should not take a simplistic approach to understanding them because up until now a lot of research hasn’t

taken women into account, particularly their experiences, fantasies and desires. The same way there is more than one kind of porn, there is no such thing as one particular type of feminist, and when we think like that, we get into problems, West says. ‘’You usually think of the porn discussion as “are they empowered or are they exploited?” and really it’s so much more nuanced than that. Not everyone is empowered all the time by their job and it’s kind of much the same in the porn industry as well.’’

In West’s research of the American porn industry, she says that as an outsider to the industry, it has changed for the better following the revelations about James Dean.

Dean is an adult movie star who was accused of rape and sexual assault by an ex girlfriend and several other porn stars. He denies the allegations that came to light in 2015. ‘’Since the allegations, a lot of the companies have taken steps to try and protect their workers and have conversations about it. Some of my interviewees referenced that the industry has taken a lot of steps and that they were surprised at how well their allegations were received and at how progressive the companies were” West said.

West says the many companies have taken steps to address issues of pay level and racism in the industry, but like any industry, have a long way to go.

Tarte needs to Shape Up

Health & Beauty

Worldwide beauty brand Tarte caused controversy in the beauty world with the launch of their new foundation which only includes 3 darker shades. by

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Elsa McEvoy

nternational cosmetic brand Tarte caused controversy after the launch of its new foundation.

Tarte’s Shape Tape concealer gained a lot of attention for its high coverage and the longevity of its wear time, leading to high expectations for the foundation of the same name.

Tarte released two formulas of the foundation to cater for different skin types: a mattifying version for oilier skin and a hydrating version targeting dry skin.

However, the Shape Tape foundation launch was met with a lot of criticism when Tarte came out with 15 different shades, of which only three catered towards darker skin tones.

This came as a shock to beauty lovers and influencers who saw it as an exclusion of darker men and women in the beauty industry.

Manny MUA, a beauty Youtuber with four million subscribers who reviewed the foundation said “when you’re a brand like Tarte, people expect a lot from you”.

He went on to say that it’s not fair for people of darker complexions not to have the option of trying the new foundation because of the colour of their skin and “it sucks that it’s like this in the beauty industry”.

Another beauty Youtuber, Jackie Aina, reviewed the foundation with

influencer Alissa Ashley, who has over a million followers, on a video fittingly titled ‘Black Girls React to Tarte Shape Tape Foundation’.

Upon testing the three darkest shades on her arm, Aina said they were “laughable”.

“I don’t appreciate the blatant erasure of a whole spectrum of people” she said.

“You have every variation of Ivory and then you picked Mahogany and Deep Honey to make who happy?”

“This brand embodies the exact opposite of everything that I stand for.

They don’t do anything that makes people feel included” she added.

It questions the standards of the beauty industry and the exclusivity of it. However, this is not the case with all brands. L’Oreal has 28 shades of their True Match foundation and Rihanna exceeded expectations when she launched a whopping 40 shades of her Fenty foundation.

Tarte is currently working on bringing out more shades and apologised for the offence caused. They explained that they pushed the launch forward despite not having all the shades ready for it.

“We lost sight of what’s really important in this industry and for those who feel alienated in our community, we want to personally apologise,” read the statement.

Despite all this, I did buy the mattifying version of the foundation to see if it lived up to expectations.

First of all, it is not cheap, especially on a student budget. Tarte cosmetics aren’t available in Irish shops but the company does have a website selling

“ “

It questions the standards of the beauty industry and the exclusivity of it. its products which ships internationally. Saying this, the Matte Shape Tape cost €40 on its own and came to a total of nearly €55 with shipping.

Finding a shade to match online is difficult too but the website makes it easier to identify your shade using questions about your skin tone and type. I have a neutral undertone so it was no surprise that it decided that ‘Light Neutral’ was the shade for me.

Upon initial application, the shade I bought was a perfect match, but I noticed you have to work fast to blend it out before it dries.

It dried to an almost powder finish and I would recommend that drier skin tones stay away from it as it did cling to any dry patches I had around my nose.

However, it didn’t emphasise any pores or blemishes on my face, glid-

ing right over them instead.

Another positive aspect is that it is very full coverage, meaning that a little does go a long way. Considering the price, this means that you will get a lot of use out of this foundation.

It also lasted extremely well throughout a whole work day and still looked fresh at the end of the day without breaking apart or letting those pesky oils shine through.

The real downfall is the shade range. With only 15 shades, there is not a shade for everybody.

I did notice a little oxidisation of the foundation, meaning it changed to a darker shade the longer it was on my face. Though this wasn’t really an issue for me personally because it was a little bit light to begin with.

The price is something I can’t condone either as there are so many good affordable foundations available in pharmacies nationwide which are just as good with a larger shade range for half the price.

L’Oreal’s True Match foundation, which has 28 shades and retails for €14.99 comes to mind.

Overall, I enjoyed this foundation and will continue to use it because I paid a pretty penny for it. However, I will say it is absolutely not a necessity, especially for the price.

One piece of advice I do have if you plan on buying it is to be mindful when choosing your shade, even go one lighter than you might think suits you. I would also recommend using a hydrating primer especially to any dry areas on your face to stop the foundation clinging to them.

9

Food

Grub Guide: The Tram Café

With Valentine’s Day on the horizon, everyone is searching for the perfect date spot that they have never been before and will really impress that special someone. Ellen Fitzpatrick gives us the low down on The Tram Café in Dublin’s city centre.

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inding a place to eat that doesn’t serve Mexican food in Dublin is a challenge - it almost feels like there’s one on every corner now. The city is rapidly filling up with burger joints or burrito bars and it can be a struggle to find somewhere unique and different to eat. With Valentine’s Day on the horizon, everyone is searching for the perfect date spot which they’ve never been to before and that will really impress that special someone.

Location: I had walked by the The Tram Café a number of times and always questioned what this random 1920s tram was doing in the middle of Wolfe Tone Square. It wasn’t until a friend was telling me about a date she went on that I realised it was an old tram that had been renovated into something so much more. Once hearing this, I knew I had to visit and see what it was for myself. I had only heard good things at this point, so my expectations were high.

Venue: Built in Philadelphia in 1902, the ownerless tram was left in a field in Co. Cavan. Dave, the man who discovered it, and John, the man who renovated it, saw enormous potential in this tram and felt that it could be transformed back to its former glory.

After much persuasion to the Dublin City Council, they were granted the historic location of Wolfe Tone Square on Jervis Street, Dublin 1 for their new venture. The café itself stretches out the back of the tram as it has a marquee attached and

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more heated outdoor seating at the front, which is smoker friendly. There is little to no wait time for a table here, even at the peak lunch times and the staff are incredibly helpful with any enquiries you may have.

stunning, don’t get me wrong - the ceiling covered in fairy lights, vintage interior, it was perfectly suited for a unique Valentine’s day spot. After thinking about the café once we’d left, however, I remained unable to figure out what exactly it was lacking. Nothing specific stood out yet the feeling of something missing was unwavering.

As it was only this minor aspect, my memories of the place are still of high regard.

Food: The menu here is small and concise, mostly just a variety of salads, sandwiches and soups of the day. Upon arrival at the café, I noticed a sign saying, “now serving crêpes and omelettes” and it was Value for money: that moment I put the menu down The Tram Café is a great spot to and uttered the words ‘ham omeat. The food was superb for a lunchelette’ to the waiter. There was no time snack and although the atmoquestion about it. Food arrived within sphere was not as expected, the minutes of placing the order, which I was both impressed and wary about. As an omelette mega fan, this needed to amaze me. I immediately dug in and I was in awe. This was up there with omelettes the French make, which are the best I’ve tried.

The friend I dragged along with me ordered the banana bread and was given the biggest, most decent slice we’d both ever laid our eyes on.

We both got our usual cappuccinos which were as good as any we’d usually get. The food was excellent for a café that was once in a field in Cavan.

days. Despite the atmosphere needing some work, the place is overall fantastic. It had tasty food, friendly staff and beautiful interior. There wasn’t much room to go wrong here, especially stemming from such a simple yet distinctive idea. It was easily accessible, located in the centre of the city only around the corner from the Jervis Street Centre. It is a perfect date location, but you have to be early as it closes at six o’clock most days of the week. The Tram Café deserves a 8 out of 10 rating as it really did hit the spot.

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The food was excellent for a café that was once in a field in Cavan.

Atmosphere: With the food and coffee being exceptional, it distracted from the atmosphere of the café. Maybe it was because it wasn’t too busy, which I found strange for two o’clock on a Saturday afternoon, but there was something missing which I could not quite pinpoint. The café was

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café itself was definitely worth eating at, even if there was not a major wow factor. The price list on the menu was extremely affordable, giving students a good chance at a lovely date for Valentine’s day. The price was brilliant for the quality of food served. There was nothing over €5 on the menu which is as good as it gets these

Ratings

Location: 7/10 Venue: 9/10 Food: 8/10

Atmosphere: 6/10 Overall: 8/10

Beating the Christmas binge

Food

The reality is that ‘new year new me’ is much easier said than done. The aftermath of excessive alcohol, greasy food and too many selection boxes can come back to smack us right in the face (or double chins).

O

Rachael Martin shares her top tips for kickstarting a healthy lifestyle.

nce the holiday season is over, the new year comes around bringing new possibilities, new ambitions and miraculous motivation to get back in shape after the ‘Christmas binge’.

However, the reality is that ‘new year new me’ is much easier said than done. The aftermath of excessive alcohol, greasy food and too many selection boxes can come back to smack us right in the face (or double chins).

It can be easy to get stuck in a bit of a rut. For most of us, Christmas leaves us with emptier purses and much tighter jeans. While there is nothing wrong with a little overindulgence, getting back into a normal, healthy routine is essential for both our physical and mental health. Having said that, drastic changes aren’t totally necessary. Sometimes small lifestyle changes can have a huge impact on getting back to our postChristmas selves.

Eat breakfast: Irish Health claims that one in three Irish people do not eat any breakfast. However, according to certified nutritionist and health coach Deborah Enos, eating breakfast can play an active part in weight loss.

A recent study published in July in the journal ‘Obesity’ found that over a period of three months, people who ate breakfast as their largest meal lost an average of 17.8 pounds.

Other participants who ate the same number of calories per day with more calorie-heavy meals at dinner and

at lunchtime lost an average of 7.3 Drink more water: pounds each, indicating that consumAccording to experts at Authority ing more calories in the morning may Nutrition, drinking water can help you contribute to higher weight loss. lose weight. This is due to the fact that Although eating breakfast is recommended for a healthy diet, staying away from fatty foods like such as pastries and fried foods is essential if slimming down is the goal. This is fine for a treat once a week or so, but as For most of us, an everyday breakfast, it’s important to include high fibre, low sugar and Christmas leaves us with fats.

Get active: There are so many ways to increase activity while going about everyday life. First of all, there’s the classic ‘take the stairs instead of the lift’. When going to work or college allow more time than normal, get off a stop or two earlier and walk the rest of the way.

If driving, it’s a good idea to park a little further away. It may just be a short walk but just making small, conscious decisions regarding fitness and health can make a huge difference. Incorporating exercise into social activities is another effective way to get active.

If you don’t particularly enjoy exercising or going to the gym, grab a friend and just go for an evening walk. Catch up with friends while burning calories, plus walking is a fantastic way to clear your mind and reduce stress.

Downloading apps such as 8fit and MyFitnessPal are also ways you can exercise from home and track your progress.

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empty purses and tighter jeans. While there is nothing wrong with a little overindulgence, getting back into a normal, healthy routine is essential for physical and mental health.

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water can increase satiety and boost your metabolic rate. Studies show that drinking half a litre (17 ounces) of water was shown to increase metabolism by 24-30 per cent for up to 1.5 hours (26, 27). This means that drinking two litres of water every day can increase your total energy expenditure by up to 96 calories per day.

Drinking water also creates a feeling of fullness, which means you are less

likely to snack or overeat. Other than weight loss, drinking water has plenty of other health benefits including increased energy levels and brain function, healthy kidneys, prevention of headaches, clearer skin and an aid for digestion.

Fake it: Substituting unhealthy ingredients for healthier alternatives is a way of beating cravings. It can be difficult to go ‘cold turkey’ from treats and takeaways, especially after a period of overindulgence, so it is important to recognise that we are only human.

Giving into cravings every once in a while is fine, as a healthy lifestyle is all about balance, however, there are lots of recipes out there that provide the ‘fast food feeling’ without the bloated, guilty feeling. Healthy spice bags, vegan pizza and protein pancakes are just some ideas of what can be adapted to a slightly healthier version Having a healthy lifestyle is all about balance and punishing yourself for the ‘Christmas binge’ with a harsh diet will not benefit you long term. Studies show that those who follow a harsh, ‘fad diet’ are more likely to fail due to the monotony of the regime. Eventually, you’ll crack as such diets are simply unsustainable.

Although the rock-hard abs that we see on our Instagram feeds may be the physique we strive for, they are not formed overnight. Starting now with small steps in the right direction could have you well on your way and will most definitely get you out of the rut that is the post-Christmas binge.

11

Travel

A minute for Milan

Milan, the metropolis of Northern Italy is often overlooked as a travel destination, but the fashion capital, rich in culture has so much to offer, even on a budget.

by

Katie Gallagher

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hile Milan may not be top on your list of where to go or what to see in Italy, there is a lot to be said for this underrated city that holds the history and culture of the country, fused with an added sophistication and modern touch unlike anywhere else in Italy.

Milan, the up and coming metropolitan city of Northern Italy was the abode of 23 aspiring journalists after the Christmas exams, all seeking to relish the last few days of freedom before the final stretch of the college year commenced.

The captivating city is the global capital of fashion, design and architecture and home to the national stock exchange, acting both as the fashion and financial hub known for its high-end restaurants and shops.

So, this begs the argument of why a group of presumably broke students chose one of the most expensive cities in Europe to visit?

Well, simply because we wanted to, and life is what you make of it, no matter where you go. Stop limiting the search.

The trick is to be prepared, do your research and to be smart with your money. If you want to eat at the pretty but extortionate priced cafes next door to Prada, go for it. Power to you, but if, like us, you are ballin’ on a budget, find the alternative options and roll with whatever

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budget you are working off.

Day adventures As with most cities, there is the option to avail of some freebies to save you splashing the cash during the day, especially as a student so take these opportunities as much as possible. Most museums have a student rate or in many cases students go free so locate the best options for you and spend a few hours learning about the city itself.

Italy is rich in historical culture blended with a modern art vibe so there are countless amounts of museums and exhibits to see when out and about during the day. Try and get a full taste of the metropolis city and check out some of the classics, such as the Leonardo Da Vinci museum . However, to add that touch of glamour and designer dish to the fashion capital adventure head out to Fondazione Prada, the luxurious museum dedicated to contemporary art and culture. Keep an open mind, this is quite abstract and therefore not for everyone but when in Milan, why not tick it off the list.

One must do on any trip, especially a short three day stop, is a walking tour. Let’s face it, Milan is a huge city with beautiful landscapes everywhere, you are not going to see all of it comfortably in that time frame. Sign up to a walking tour and get a quick look of the main parts, including the

beautiful Duomo cathedral and the extravagant Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Italy’s oldest shopping mall.

Not only does this give you an idea of where everything is, and perhaps what you should go back to spend more time at later, as most guides are local you also get a sense of the city from a locals point of view and see some of the secret spots worth seeing.

Carb fest Eating in Italy is the dream. Pizza, pasta, bread, wine, what more could you ask for? And while pizza isn’t the local cuisine of the city, it’s a firm tourist favourite so you can find it almost on every corner. Now, here is where the real budget kicks in. In this luxurious region, a glass of water can set you back €5, so research and choose wisely. This doesn’t mean resorting to McDonalds everyday either; you are in Italy, eat like an Italian.

In the average restaurant pizza and pasta dishes are pretty reasonable, typically setting you back between €8-€12, however drinks are a different story. Depending on where you go, a coke can cost the same amount as a glass of wine or a beer, while spirits start up in the double figures. However, as stated before, it’s what you make it and thankfully Milan do one of the best ‘Happy Hour’ deals you’ll come across.

‘Aperitivo’, or what we would con-

sider happy hour, is a saving grace for students or anyone travelling on a budget but also looking to embrace Milan life. This is a customary event in many restaurants in Milan, where you pay around €10 for an all you can eat buffet, and possibly the biggest seller, a free drink of your choice. So, take this opportunity to order the most expensive cocktail on menu and enjoy your Italian feast without breaking the bank.

Nights on the town Finally, finish each night in style.

Nothing in life is free, but very few things in Milan are cheap so again, research, research, research. Don’t get caught paying upwards of €20 at the door of a club when you can pay €10 including a free drink in the club next door.

Just like Dublin, Milan nightclubs have specific student nights so go wherever the deal is on and get the most bang from your buck while guaranteeing a good crowd too.

Check out clubs like Hollywood, who hold international student nights. Not only is this a fun way to meet other students abroad, it’s a fun bar with crazy bartenders who will fill you with any alcohol they have in their hand while you are waiting on your drink to be made. Plus it’s pretty expensive on a regular night so embrace it while you can as a student.

Hygge:

The Danish way of living

Amy Rohu tells us about the Danish concept of ‘hygge’ and how you can apply it to your daily life to boost your well being

H

ygge (pronounced hoogah) is defined as a certain quality of cosiness and comfortable living that promotes a feeling of contentment and well-being.

The concept comes from Denmark and has now become a worldwide practice. There are no strict rules but there are a few guidelines that are essential to abide by if you want to get your hygge on, so grab a cup of tea and let’s begin to explore this wonderfully unique yet practical way of living.

To start with a quick history lesson, hygge isn’t some modern idea invented by millennials, it’s actually been around for quite some time in Denmark, with the phrase first appearing in the 18th century.

To Danish culture, hygge is a way of life and a necessity. Although there is no direct translation into English it is believed it means ‘cosiness’ and a general sense of well being from being cosy.

The most important aspect of this way of life is creating an atmosphere in your home. This is easy to do whether you still live with your family, in an apartment with friends or in a shared house. Rather than stressing

yourself out over a whole interior makeover, focus on your bedroom as the first space to implement your new chilled way of life.

Hygge essentials are things like furry throws, plants, candles and fluffy socks, but before you run to Penneys with your shopping list, there is something even more important you need to do: de-clutter.

If your space is cluttered with dirty washing and endless junk you’ve hoarded over the

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long day in college. Candles in all different shapes and sizes are also a great way to create a dreamy glow, however always remember to keep them in a safe place and never leave them unattended (it’s not very hygge to cause a fire).

Hygge is a way of life that helps you appreciate the little things and live with more simplicity, it also encourages you to unwind

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years it is time for a clear out, and this goes for your clothes too. If you haven’t worn it in a year, give it to a charity shop and someone out there could absolutely adore it. Pick up a cheap laundry basket to store washing in and throw out useless things like old notebooks and stuff you don’t use.

If you have sentimental items it’s worth investing in some pretty storage so you can still hang on to all those concert tickets and diaries but at least they’re out of sight.

Now that you have a fresh canvas to work with, it’s time to start making the place a lot cosier. The number one way to do this is with lighting, hanging fairy lights over your bed or having them scattered over the back of a table will give the prettiest feel and will completely chill you out while you snuggle up after a

One aspect of this Danish way of life that we Irish already love is the emphasis on hot drinks, so get yourself a big cup of tea or hot chocolate next time you sit down with your furry throw and with each sip let all your worries drift away.

The addition of plants to your space also has a very calming effect so pick up a bunch of daffodils and pop them in an old jar for a quick fix or invest in a little faux plant if you live in a small apartment and want to give it a boost. Penneys and Dunnes have a great range of these in at the moment and they’re also super cheap.

Now that we’ve got our personal spaces sorted it’s also worth mentioning that there are many layers to hygge and it isn’t all about being Zen at home. Also it’s about walking in nature and feeling the leaves crunch under your shoes, spending time with good friends and laughing over coffee and treats or sitting on a bench wrapped up warm and reading a good book instead of scrolling through Facebook.

It’s about savouring the good stuff about each day and practicing mindfulness, living in the moment and taking care of you. It’s quite simple and that is refreshing in this day and age where we all have smart phones and constant notifications and various pressure on a daily basis. Instead of stalking old friends on Facebook and feeling bad when you see their in Bali yet again, why not pop on some cosy socks and boots and get yourself outside, smile and take in a big breath of fresh chilly air, it is guaranteed to make you feel better than being stuck to a screen.

Louise Cooney who is a popular lifestyle blogger in Ireland thinks that hygge is a great idea, saying ‘‘I think it’s good to focus on the simple things and get back to basics every now and again, it’s good for mental health and physical health as well’’.

Hygge is a way of life that helps you appreciate the little things and live with more simplicity, it also encourages you to unwind and like Louise said, this can only be good for us.

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Fashion

Hollywood says Time’s Up in style As award season continues in Hollywood, the stars have used fashion to make their biggest statement yet, to stand in solidarity with the TimesUp movement.

Helen O’Neill

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by

hen award season rolls around every year, the fight is on to stand out from the sea of glamour.

But to kick off this awards season it was in everyone’s interest to look similar. More specifically, to wear one colour: Black.

This awards season kicked off with the Golden Globes and one big statement. Following the string of sexual harassment allegations in Hollywood over the past year, January’s Globes became the epicentre of the MeToo and TimesUp movement.

While there had been rumblings about whether or not the industry would recognise the epidemic of harassment by starting a movement, TimesUp came with a bang with almost every celebrity and non celeb alike wearing black to the red

carpet.

Following a slew of stories about sexual harassment in Hollywood against Har-

vey Weinstein, James Franco and Matt Lauer to name a few, the hashtag MeToo spread like wildfire all over the internet. After highlighting the thousands of women who had been sexually harassed in the workplace, it seemed that standing in fashion solidarity was the next step in highlighting this systemic harassment across all workplaces.

TimesUp is a movement signed by over 300 women in Hollywood such as Reese Witherspoon, Emma Stone, Brie Larson and Natalie Portman, all of which are heavy hitters in the style stakes.

Actress Eva Longoria explained the meaning behind the fashion choice: “For years, we’ve sold these awards shows as women, with our gowns and colours and our beautiful faces and our glamour. This time the industry can’t expect us to go up and twirl around.

That’s not what this moment is about.”

But it wasn’t just a fashion statement for the women. The men of Hollywood donned black suits for the Globes along with this seasons biggest accessory, the TimesUp pins which are likely to show up at a lot of award shows. Because of the one colour dominating the award show, strength distinguished the looks of the night. The use of black strongly pushed clean tailoring to the forefront of the looks, for the men and women.

Standing in solidarity with the strong woman images, suits were a big state-

ment trend for the Globes and a foreshadowing for awards shows to come.

The Crown’s Claire Foy went all out in a full black Stella McCartney suit.

Wonder Woman herself, Gal Gadot, also opted for the menswear look, wearing a short tuxedo jacket over her Tom Ford dress. Every red carpet we not only look to see what is being worn but who is wearing them. Eyes are firmly fixed on the style of this year’s nominees such as Margot Robbie, Saoirse Ronan, and cast members of Big Little Lies and Stranger Things.

After the united fashion statement of the Globes, the real trends of the season started to emerge at the Critics’ Choice Awards and the Screen Actors Guild Awards (SAGs). From the two awards shows, it’s clear that colour is back with a bang and sparkle is all the rage.

Whether is is form fitting sequins or flowing glitter slips, celebs such as Nicole Kidman, Mandy Moore, Susan Sarandon and Lupita Nyongo all lit up the awards.

In terms of colour, baby pink and pale nudes are making appearance, with best actress nominee Saoirse Ronan wearing shades to both Critics Choice and SAG awards. In an homage to this years hit movie Wonder Woman, capes are giving power to women on the carpet. Tracee Ellis Ross and Laura Linney both served strong looks at the SAGS with cape draping attached to their dresses.

Men also brought colour to the

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After highlighting the thousands of women who had been sexually harassed in the workplace, it seemed that standing in fashion solidarity was the next step in highlighting this systemic harassment across all workplaces

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red carpet after the Golden Globes.

Alexander Skarsgård was a winner on and off stage at the SAGs in his midnight blue Hugo Boss suit.

Velvet made a big appearance for the men at the Critics Choice with stars such as Milo Ventimiglia, Armie Hammer and Joe Jonas wearing the fabric.The Grammy’s red carpet has always been known to provide extreme looks. From J Lo’s plunging green dress to Lady Gaga in just about anything she has worn, this award show is not for the faint-hearted. So an all-black statement was realistically never going to happen for this type of show.

However, the award show did acknowledge the TimesUp movement through style. The stars came out in extravagant gowns, Lady Gaga in black jewelled body dress and Cardi B in a white butterfly gown. But the accessory of the show was a white rose. Like TimesUp, women in the music industry gathered to create their own movement honouring sexual harassment survivors called Voices in Entertainment. The use of the white rose for the movement ‘historically stands for hope, peace, sympathy and resistance,’ according to the Huffington Post.

While the use of the rose wasn’t as powerful as the Globes ‘blackout’, many stars wore it in solidarity. Staying with the white theme, Kesha performed her nominated song ‘Praying’ about her sexual harassment. Stars such as Cyndi Lauper and Camila Cabello were also in head to toe white suits and jumpsuits.This awards season kicked off like no other in terms of style and substance. It appears that this season fashion is going to reflect the current climate.

From bold sparkly numbers, to strong whites and fitted suits this awards season is about making women feel the best they can.

Fashion

Life through

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f you’ve ever seen an Instagram feed with perfectly matching colours and tones, you’ll know what the aesthetic life is. “OMG I love your aesthetic!” one user comments. “What filter is your feed?” says another.

Instagram aesthetics have been around for a while now, but in recent years they’ve become almost vital to the success or brands and bloggers worldwide.

Aesthetics are “a branch of philosophy that explore the nature of art, beauty, and taste, with the creation and appreciation of beauty”.

Artists over the years have dabbled in them, finding a specific taste and style that suits their creative minds.

Companies have used them in their personal branding, matching their shopping bags to their posters and signs.

But why are

rose-tinted filters

people attracted to aesthetics, and more importantly, to perfectly curated social media feeds? According to the American Psychological Association, “art is a human phenomenon, and therefore aesthetic is fundamentally a psychological process”.

People are drawn in to such Instagram feeds by the human eye. There are numerous websites out there teaching users how to get the ‘perfect’ feed, explaining that the human eye is drawn to simple forms and repetitive

patterns.

To curate their aesthetic, a user may use the same editing technique or

filter so every photo on their feed slots into place. It’s not just bloggers and brands turning to social media curation, but every day users too.

One such user is Tra My Nguyen Hoang under the user @memymoxxs on Instagram.

A look at her page shows variations of busy streets, elaborate buildings and personal snaps.

What they all have in common is the way they look, the way they were edited and their colour palette.

“I like the consistency of having a theme, it’s almost like a ‘style’ you claim for yourself. Every Instagrammer has a signature look, and when you look at the filter and the lighting you can tell who took the picture instantly. It’s a way to ensure I have a consistent style myself and to stamp my ‘look’ on people’s feed.”

Does it affect her chances of following someone else? “It doesn’t make that much of a difference when I’m following someone, but I do love Instagram feeds that are sort of an organised chaos.”

Bloggers are a prime example of following a specific Instagram theme.

One YouTube content creator from Spain, Aitana Jacobs, says that while she may not always use the same filter, she definitely looks at certain colours, contrasts and compositions.

“If it’s an artist’s account, I think it matters quite a bit,” she said. For Aitana, online presentation is alike to how

Instagram aesthetics have been around for a while now, but in recent years they’ve become almost vital to the success or brands and bloggers worldwide.

Rachel Farrell explores the reasoning behind a perfectly curated social media feed. an artist curates an exhibition in a museum. “I feel like it’s inevitably part of the artist’s work, how they choose to present it.”

Brands are also jumping on the aesthetic bandwagonsome are using it, others are turning it into a business itself.

One look at Irish jewellery designer Chupi, and you’re welcomed by shades of pale pink, gold and grey.

Online fashion retailers Boohoo and Nasty Gal also have noticeable ‘themes’ on their page, changing colours

“

Filters, colours and tones all feed into the mood of an image and enhance its aesthetic. It’s all simply a form of expression

“

and filters every six-to-nine posts.

A recent venture for Irish woman Pamela Farrell, The Brand Edit is a self-described brand designer and visual editor “creating intentional brands for creative and lifestyle businesses, that tell a compelling story”.

After graduating from DIT with a degree in visual communication, Pamela worked as a graphic designer before starting her own letterpress wedding stationery business in 2008.

“The business was very successful but I really missed my previous work, specifically brand design.

I love being inspired by people’s journey into business, the ‘why’ behind what they do and realised that expressing this visually is what I love to do. I am in essence a visual storyteller and so The Brand Edit was born.”

Pamela believes the simple answer to why people are attracted to aesthetics is because they are “nosey” and like to see into others’ lives, but she also believes there is more behind it.

“I think people are crying out to make connections online which more and more develop into offline friendships with others who they feel they can relate to or who they look up to.

Images, graphics and visuals can be very emotive, they either attract or repel an audience depending on whether the viewer feels they can relate to an image or feel inspired by an image,” she explained.

“Filters, colours and tones all feed into the mood of an image and enhance its aesthetic. It’s all simply a form of expression.”

As for business branding, it’s all about “clarifying your brand message by defining your audience, your mission, your vision and your voice and staying true to these values,” according to Pamela.

“It’s about creating distinctive visuals through intentional design that attract and connect with your audience. And it’s about creating an experience that will engage your customers encouraging them to become loyal to your brand.”

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EXPOSURE

Night Sky: This is a photo of the sky...at night . Image Credit: Andrew McConnell

Berlin: A hotel sign towers above the Berlin skyline. Image Credit: Sarah O’Neill Frosted: Frostier than 1998 Justin Timberlake’s frosted tips. Image Credit: Kyle Ewald

Slaves: “Sugar coated bitter truth, but you need to know this, so I’ll tell you”. Image Credit: Mark Carroll

Lake Thompson, Maine: A view nearly as beautiful as our editor. Image Credit: Shauna Bowers

Image Credit: Page 1: Times Up; Page 2: Laura Duffy; Page 3: Hellovon, Society6; Page 4: Me Too campaign Page 5: Three Billboards, The Post; Page 6: Pinterest; Page 7: Aoibhin Bryant, Owning It: Your Bullshit Free Guide to Living with Anxiety; Page 8: Elsa Anderling; Page 9: Tarte Makeup; Page 10: The Tram Cafe, Pinterest; Page 11: Pinterest; Page 12: WalksofItaly.com; Page 13: Shuttershock.com, The Graphics Fairy; Page 14: Times Up; Page 15: Imore.com; Thrive Global

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