Vol. 1. Issue 4. 15th November 2017
In love with Kygo
Music
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The artist’s second studio album reaches new heights
Béibhinn Thorsch ygo is a 26-year-old Norwegian EDM artist, who has to this point worked with well-known names such as Selena Gomez and Ellie Goulding, and gained popularity for his remix of Ed Sheeran’s “I See Fire’. The artist’s second studio album was released on November 3rd. With artists featured such as John Newman, One Republic, and Bonnie McKee, it’s clear Kygo has gained a lot of respect in the industry. Themes of all of these songs such as love are mixed with lyrics that call for freedom, and a beat that makes you want to run and move to - it’s as if the songs don’t want to just create an image, but actually bring the feelings to life. The album recognises these desires in everyone and speaks to it. “Never let you go” with John Newman is an obvious stand-out song from this album, and very much
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oriented to the theme of escape, and doing so with a risky new love. ‘Cause this is amazing Running wild with you
We were kids in love And then we grew up But won’t you hold me close tonight Like we’re kids in love?
an adventure into escaping to more innocent and carefree times
My thoughts are hazy This may be way too soon The albumtitled song “Kids in Love” is sung by The Night Game, and unsurprisingly speaks to the true message of the album. The emotional depth of these songs come from the underlying fear of growing up.
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With each song as the album progresses, the veil slips away as the true feeling of loss of innocence grows. “Permanent”, the second last song on the album, is entirely about losing love and mistakes that would be incomprehensible to ‘kids in love’. The final song “I See You” is entirely mature and focuses on intimacy in love. “You’re more than
just a notch in my belt” is a line that wouldn’t make sense to the childhood that contact is attempted with in the earlier portion of the album. All hopes of regaining innocence is lost at the album’s close. You’re more than just a notch in my belt A story to tell The only thing on my mind It’s obvious I’m not doing well Do you see these eyes, when have you known me to cry? I’m just sitting here remembering how your lips taste And it’s keeping me up at night Overall, this album is sophisticated in a style which is incredibly appealing. Kygo’s ability to mix EDM in a powerful, fun and balanced way brings this album to a well-rounded finish as the lyrics and melody match each of the featured artists fantastically.
Queens Of Rock'n'Roll
What springs to mind when we think about women and music? The music industry has no shortage of influential female artists and if anything, it’s an industry where there is no such thing as under representation. Ian Mangan tells us about the most influential female lead bands. Molly RankinAlvvays
These Toronto natives released their self-titled album back in 2014 and Rankin’s talent is solely at the core of every track. Her dreamy vocals accentuate her wistful lyrics especially on tracks like Archie, Marry
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Me. Rankin, who is the daughter of famous folk fiddler John Morris Rankin, stepped up the energy with their second release, Antisocialites, with pulsating tracks like Saved by a Waif showing these guys weren't a one trick pony.
Lydia NightThe Regrettes
This girl is just incredible. The Regrettes are pure LA rock and everything about them is perfect. With fast but simple guitar riffs and addictive chorus hooks, these guys are set for big things but the star of the show is Lydia. She's got a retro style, powerful energy and a nostalgic sound with a modern edge making Lydia well on her way to becoming a rock icon. You can tell Lydia just loves
what she does and fun tracks like Hey Now! and Seashore are so infectious it's hard not to want to be in a crowd at one of their gigs.Their debut album Feel Your Feelings Fool! is just what lovers of straight up rock and roll need, complete with a touch of the 1960's to pluck on your nostalgic heartstrings. Oh and she’s also 16-years-old, big things ahead indeed.
Ellie RowsellWolf Alice
Wolf Alice are unstoppable right now and there’s no denying front woman Ellie Rowsell is what put these guys on the map. Their first album My Love is Cool arrived with a bang with hits like Silk and Bros which showed off Ellie’s mastery of meaningful lyrics about friendship and heartbreak and her effortless merge of heavy grunge and punk with indie rock. Rowsell shook things up even further with their 2017 release of Visions of a Life with
a radical but welcome shift in sound most notable in their dream-like beat Don’t Delete the Kisses. But what makes these guys so special is Ellie during their live performances. Just look up any performance on YouTube, sit back and allow yourself to be blown away.
Juliette JacksonThe Big Moon
An English addition this time, The Big Moon only have one album to date but it’s not to be looked down upon. The Big Moon actually comprises completely of women and they boy do these guys like to make noise. Tracks like Pull the Other One shows off their bolstering distorted guitar while songs like Cupid have an undeniable country rock influence. Jackson is chill just when she needs to be but shows her true rocker girl side with the push of a distortion pedal and she’s impossible not to love.
The Thrill of Sam Smith
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Sam Smith returns with his typical melancholy undertones
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Payu Tiwari fter an 18-month hiatus following a string of emotional Billboard hits, Sam Smith is back in the spotlight. The lead single, ‘Too Good at Goodbyes’, has already dominated night-time radios and multiple playlists titled “Future Hits.” Smith’s commanding falsettos coupled with a simple tune and a choir backed chorus makes for a formidable song that you’re bound to hear everywhere. For this album, Smith has called in the big guns to take up the producer’s job. James Ho a.k.a Maylay, who has worked on Say It First and Midnight Train, is also credited with producing the majority of Frank Ocean’s debut Channel Orange. Emily Haynie, another producer, has previously successfully worked with Kanye West and Lana Del Rey. Simple ballads like ‘Say It First’, ‘The Thrill of it All’, ‘Scars’, ‘Palace’ and ‘One Day at a Time’ are spread by
out evenly across the entire album. The lightweight piano pieces, strummy guitar sounds and the sad lyrics all melt into the background as Sam Smith’s vocals take center stage. But outshining them all is the track titled ‘Burning’, in which the instruments offer a light support as Smith leads the way with his beautiful falsettos. This bunch of songs risk sounding repetitive if you’re not paying close attention. ‘One Last Song’ and ‘Baby, You Make Me Crazy’ are the chirpier ones of the lot, with
steady drums and an upbeat rhythm. It’s a weird feeling when you’re cheerfully bobbing along to lyrics that go, “You made me sad till I loved the shade of blue.” Basically, Sam Smith decided that we’re all just going to happily sing about how sad we are, and that’s what happens in these tracks. ‘Pray’ and ‘Nothing Left for You’ are the designated rebelsthey distinctly depart from the rest of the album in sound. Produced by Timbaland, Pray has a recognisable hiphop base beat, which occasionally shows up in ‘Nothing Left For You’ as well. With songs like ‘Pray’, if you’re not loyal to the lyrics and listening to them, they might
not capture you the way they should. ‘Midnight Train’ and ‘Him’, however, are devoid of any such risks. A self-confident track with plenty of sparkle, catchy drum beats and steady pace, ‘Midnight Train’ is the track most likely to worm its way into your playlist. However, ‘Him’ is the song that should be on your playlist. Charged lyrics, imposing vocals paired with a rousing chorus depicting loud proclamations of love, this song is a beauty from start to finish. With this album, Sam Smith only strengthens his reputation as a talented singer who knows the keys to your heart. Some tracks sound like you’ve heard them before, while some can totally blow you away. As Smith himself said, this is the album you drink with at the end of a long day. It drips of loneliness, longing and heartache, reassuring the universal nature of these problems. All the while, it sounds pretty damn good too.
The Endless Shimmering shines on Ailbhe Daly
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he band “As I Watch You From Afar” can be credited for sowing the seeds that saw the instrumental scene in Ireland and the UK well since their self-titled album released in 2009. Irish bands such as Adebisi Shank and Enemies surged in the wake of this, as the three added to Sargent House’s impressive line-up of bands. Thanks to movements from bands such as these, what could have been little more than a ripple in the water has grown to tsunami like proportions. The youthful exuberance that is prevalent in the first two offerings reappears here but it is crisper and fresher than before. The Endless Shimmering, while still quintessentially ASIWYFA, is cut from an entirely different cloth than its predecessors and results in an album that almost captures their live shows in record form. While this album lacks any lyrics whatsoever, the music itself is verbally expressive and reliant on the driving rhythm to take you through it without ever using words. The forceful opener of Three Triangles rolls into the single A Slow Unfolding of Wings seamlessly, and it becomes immediately apparent that the record you’re about to listen to is different to the others. There is an initial concern that sonically, the album could trip itself up but it is pieced so well
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their most groundbreaking album to date
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together that everything is fresh, every track dissipates into the successor with ease and while it spans nine tracks, it does feel like one big track which is truly impressive within itself. The interweaving guitars of Rory Friers and Niall Kennedy are particularly well-written and it’s the first time since Kennedy stepped into the boots of Tony Wright in 2011 that you really feel them gel together as guitarists. The melodies bounce off each other throughout the album, particularly shining in the epic All I Need Is Space. Rhythm pairing of the ever-impressive Chris Wee and bassist Jonathan Adger anchor songs down while the guitar duels of Friers and Kennedy take place. While both shine at different points, they come forward as a unit rather than two separate musicians and serve as an effective base point for melodies to spiral around. ASIWYFA set out to create an album that captured the essence of their monumental live shows. While the album may feel isolating to those who are only recent converts, for those who have been there longer it is an almost cathartic back to basics listen that delivers a resounding return to form.
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TV & Film
Sex, Drugs & Murder: Life in the red light zone This documentary by BBC3 which aired on its Youtube channel over the past year shows the truth about prostitution.
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Gabija Gataveckaite
was a 16-year-old addicted to drugs. Now, I’ve got three beautiful children, that live with my mum, because I can’t look after them,” Kayleigh says, looking directly above the camera and into the producer’s eyes. “Because of the drugs.” She pauses. “They should’ve been enough, but they weren’t.” This documentary gives a glimpse into the quality of life in Holbeck, an area in Leeds where sex work is legalised in a managed area between certain times. The cameras follow a dozen women around as they go about their lives, get high, sell their bodies and deal with relationships. The show sees very little censorship, and neither do the prostitutes. Crack pipes, needles, condoms, heroin and picked wounded skin, are shown in all their glory. However, the ‘punters’, the men
who buy sex, are kept anonymous. They’re seen as a passerby, someone who has money for pleasure and goes back to their cosy homes and full-time jobs when they’re done. For the women, however, the lack of censorship represents an important part of their lives, they have hit rock bottom several times. These women have nothing to hide and nothing is hidden from them. “I don’t like coming down here, but it’s a risk we all take, d’ya know what I mean? I don’t know who I’m getting in the car with,” Amy says as she stands on the side of a busy, dark road as cold November rain falls. “It could be a serial killer, it could be a rapist, you could be getting in the car with anyone.” Amsterdam’s Red-Light District sees beautiful women flaunting their curves behind glass doors in alleyways, in cosy rooms where they’re warm and sheltered. In Holbeck however, women linger on the side of the road, until a car stops
and flashes its lights. They then hop in and the client drops them back sometime later. “£20,” Corrin says after she returns from a punter’s Ford. “And he wants to see me again on Friday, at 8 o’clock.” Holbeck is portrayed as rainy, grey and grim. The streets are awash with cars and passersby, but no one stops. Flats are small, squalid and dirty. A sombre instrumental soundtrack accompanies these young girls, bad skin caked in cheap makeup, exhausted eyes and bitten nails on rough, coarse hands. We see a depressing glimpse into a life most of us can’t imagine. Nearly all of the workers in the documentary are under 30 years old, all rotted with the deadly disease that is addiction. That is the main reason the women sell their bodies, welfare benefits may cover their bare essentials like food and rent, but the sex work pays for their drug habits. “Oh its 7 o’clock, I better get ready.” Sammie Jo exclaims, cigarette hanging from her lips. The camera wavers slightly and the producer asks, “Where you going?” She turns her head to look at him, raising her eyes above the camera frame. “Selling my [vagina] off Holbeck,” she says.
A world turned Upside Down
Stranger Things returned with new characters and a more cinematic look for its second season.
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Fionnuala Walsh
he Netflix cult show picks up around a year after Will Byers’ escape from the “Upside Down”, but behind the colourful arcade screens and Halloween decorations, there’s something strange lurking in the town of Hawkins. The mystery leads the 80’s heroes to face The Mind Flayer; the formidable new villain who has brings the story to a new level of sci-fi. Stranger Things can be described as a relationship drama with monsters. While the CGI creatures, shadow worlds and psychic powers are all the more prominent this season, the underlying strength of the show is in the acting. The teenage cast, Noah Schnapp, Finn Wolfhard and Millie Bobby Brown in particular, raise the bar for child actors even higher than last year. Their performances alongside parental figures Winona Ryder and David Harbour stand out as particularly powerful and touching. Schnapp plays Will Byers, finally home after vanishing to the “Upside Down” and being absent for most of the action in the first season. His performance as the troubled child being slowly possessed is some of the strongest acting of the season, with compulsive fits, blank stares and terrified panic all delivered with ease by the 13-yearold. Finn Wolfhard, who plays lovelorn teen Mike, 4 takes a back seat this season as he plays more of
a sidekick to Will and mourns the disappearance of Eleven. However, Wolfhard masters every scene he appears in, especially in the final two episodes alongside David Harbour as Chief Hopper. One of the strengths of the show’s creators the Duffer Brothers,
is their ability to elevate traditional TV tropes of the harassed mother, nerdy kids and awkward teenagers into three dimensional characters with their own unique personalities and motivations. We see this in season two with the introduction of Bob the Brain, Joyce’s amiable but pitiful new boyfriend, who ends up solving key problems in the plot before his rather predictable heroic sacrifice. Similarly, the typical jock character Steve Harrington has his own redemptive plot arc from a jerk boyfriend in season one to an exasperated babysitter for the young troublemakers. His new big brother role with Dustin becomes one of the most unexpected and heart-warming dynamics in the show. As Steve runs around after the unruly kids, the aggressive newcomer Billy is introduced as the human antagonist for the season. The mullet-wearing baddie is a deplorable character, partly included by the writers to emphasise that Steve really isn’t so bad after all. The season isn’t perfect. Episode seven, which follows Eleven’s side adventure with a vengeful gang led by fellow psychic Eight, is an unnecessary and forced side plot which takes the viewer out of the main action at a crucial point, for very little payoff. Despite this, the final two episodes deliver the best performances from the entire cast as Eleven is reunited with her friends and the gang unite to fight their biggest challenge yet.
Does Thor Ragna-rock?
The third and latest installment in the franchise sees former indie director Taika Waititi give Marvel’s dullest Avenger a personality.
Jonathan Lynam
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TV & Film
ince its introduction in 2011 the Thor movies have struggled to stand out in the crowded Marvel Cinematic Universe, but with Ragnarok Marvel has stumbled on a winning formula. The film takes place two years after the the events of Avengers: Age of Ultron. Thor played by Chris Hemsworth returns home to Asgard after searching the cosmos for further information about the Infinity Stones. When he returns he finds his father, Odin missing and his brother Loki, who was believed to be dead, alive. Upon locating their father Loki and Thor discover that they have a sister, Hela; the goddess of death, played by Cate Blanchett, who was banished by Odin and is returning to take over Asgard as the rightful heir to the throne. The story is predictable and pedestrian, and continues Marvel’s trend of forgettable villains with Cate Blanchett’s Hela getting little screen time with the majority of the story taking place on another planet called Sakaar. But despite the storyline, Thor: Ragnarok is the best Thor movie yet, which if we’re honest isn’t that hard, but it’s definitely worth seeing. Instead of
focusing on the antagonist, Waititi instead elects to bring us a more lighthearted and fun movie that brings more personality to its characters. Waititi brings us the most fleshed out Hulk we’ve seen in a MCU movie to date while also introducing us to new characters. The movie shows Hulk as more than just the raging green monster previous films depicted him as, instead portraying him as more lighthearted with his childish bickering with the protagonist. On Sakaar we are also
introduced to Korg, played by Waititi himself, whose innocence creates some of the most memorable and funny moments in the film. In regards to the cast, the combination of Hemsworth’s growing reputation for comedy and Waititi’s dry humour means that after three films Hemsworth finally feels at home in the Odin Son’s skin. Jeff Goldblum as the Grandmaster was nothing short of fantastic, but Tessa Thompson’s valkyrie stole the show and in some ways made up for the poor handling of Cate Blanchett’s Hela who makes the most out of what she is given. It is best to think of this movie not as your usual superhero movie but as a self aware comedy that uses the superhero spectacle as a backdrop. Think of it more like Deadpool but without the profanity and nihilism. It continues what Marvel and David Gunn started with The Guardians of the Galaxy movies in bringing fun to the MCU cosmos. Thor: Ragnarok is a great comedy for family viewing that does a complete 180 degree turn on the previous two films and acts as a great palette cleanser for the upcoming Avengers: Infinity War. But the poor story prevents it from being anything better.
Under the Radar: 7 TV Shows You Missed This Year
While you were busy devouring the latest seasons of Game of Thrones, Stranger Things and Rick and Morty this year, a minority of viewers were enjoying a bunch of less well-known TV shows that are equally worthy of your attention. by Lucien Waugh-Daly 1. The Leftovers is a criminally underrated drama from the creator of Lost about the aftermath of the sudden disappearance of 2 per cent of the world’s population. The third and final season sees former police chief Kevin Garvey (Justin Theroux) confront his potentially messianic destiny as he heads to Australia to prevent the coming apocalypse. A philosophical and emotionallydraining drama full of twists and surprises, The Leftovers is guaranteed to make you ask yourself some of life’s biggest questions. 2. Twin Peaks: The Return, the cult mystery revived after a 25-year hiatus by director David Lynch, is essentially an 18hour experimental film about the omnipotent good and evil in the universe. It’s often baffling, always compelling, and features a bizarre assortment of cameos from Michael Cera to Michael Bisping, plus an extraordinary performance by Kyle Maclachlan as FBI Agent Dale Cooper, and his evil doppelganger. 3. Bojack Horseman began as an animated comedy about an alcoholic horse and has rapidly become a very dark drama about an alcoholic horse that confronts issues of mental illness, substance abuse and sexuality with stunning sincerity and endless creativity. In Season four Princess Carolyn,a forty-
something cat, deals with a traumatic miscarriage, while Todd (a twenty-something human) comes to terms with life as an asexual. You won’t believe Bojack Horseman can break your heart until it does. 4. Master of None is the smartest, funniest deconstruction of the American millennial lifestyle on TV, created by and starring Aziz Ansari (of Parks and Recreation fame) as struggling actor Dev, who returns this season from Italy with great ambitions and a greater love of pasta. Radical and romantic,
Master of None is one of the best comedies about the world in 2017. 5. Feud: Bette & Joan sees Glee and American Horror Story creator Ryan Murphy apply his unique brand of sass to golden age Hollywood, as screen starlets Bette Davis and Joan Crawford do battle for the biggest role in the classic horror "Whatever Happened To Baby Jane?". Susan Sarandon and Jessica Lange are phenomenal as these strong, stubborn women, but Feud is ultimately a show about the damage a career in Hollywood does to people’s private lives, a prescient and timely topic lately. 6. The Mayor is an incredibly likeable sitcom about a young African-American rapper who runs for mayor of his city as a joke, and wins. It’s Designated Survivor meets Atlanta, and there is endless comedic potential as Mayor Rose injects his youthful enthusiasm into local politics. 7. Fargo has been re-branding every year with a new cast and new setting, and though the third season wasn’t its strongest, it did boast superb performances from Carrie Coon (who also stars on The Leftovers), Michael Stuhlbarg, David Thewlis and Ewan McGregor. Plus, two of the best episodes were 5 directed by DCU graduate Dearbhla Walsh.
Books
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Not all sunshine for Rupi Kaur
Rupi Kaur is a modern poet best known for her poetry book ‘milk and honey’. Emer Handly reviews Kaur’s second book released last month.
upi Kaur, the Instagram poet who has arguably changed modern poetry, has published more of her work in a collection called ‘the sun and her flowers’. It is, to put it simply, another literary masterpiece. Kaur sticks to her main themes of love, heartbreak, relationships, abuse, racism, feminism, letting go, self-growth and self-love. The writer has stepped this one up, splitting the book into five sections instead of four meaning more emotional page time for the reader. ‘wilting’ greets us with a heartbroken Kaur. Much like most of the poems in her first book, she talks about her experience in an abuse relationship; ‘i tried to leave many times but as soon as I got away
my lungs buckled under the pressure panting for air I’d return perhaps this is why I let you skin me to the bone something was better than nothing having you touch me even it was not kind was better than not having your hands at all i could take the abuse i could not take the absence i knew I was beating a dead thing but it didn’t matter if the thing was dead when at the very least i had it ‘falling’ is the chapter in which she deals with depression and the pain of a man leaving, but also knows she can recover from it. ‘when i hit the rock bottom that exists after rock bottom and no rope or hand appeared
i wondered what if nothing wants me because i do not want me i am both the poison and the antidote ‘rooting’ is slightly different to the other chapters. Here, she strays away from writing about heartbreak and focuses on appreciating her mother and her roots. ‘perhaps we are all immigrants trading one home for another first we leave the womb for air then the suburbs for the filthy city in search of a better life some of us just happen to leave entire countries’ ‘rising’ shows us a more positive side. She has found someone who is not toxic and is learning to let go of her past to move into her future. ‘the middle place is strange the part between them and the next is an awakening from how you saw to how you will see
this is where their charm wears off where they are no longer the god you made them out to be when the pedestal you carved out of your bone and teeth no longer serves them they are unmasked and made mortal again’ ‘blooming’ is the final chapter in which we see Kaur embrace selfgrowth and self-love. ‘it was when i stopped searching for home within others and lifted the foundations of home within myself i found there were no roots more intimate than those between a mind and body that have decided to be whole’ ‘the sun and her flowers’ is beautifully emotional, heart-breaking and tells the tales of becoming enough for yourself in a way that resonates with any reader.
Its descriptions of characters who put duty before desire in crisis situations provide readers with worthy role models.
Harry Potter: The highest selling book franchise of all time, these novels fight against all types of evil and encourage love of friends, family and even enemies. The quotes teach real lessons not only to the characters but to the thousands of readers across the globe. “It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are far more than our abilities.”
The ten most timeless reads Aoife O’Brien lists the stories that capture our hearts forever, no matter their era.
Winnie the Pooh: Written in 1964, the stories of Pooh Bear are packed with adventure and miscommunication as a group of unlikely friends face their fears and try to help one another while sometimes, hilariously missing the mark. The Diary of Anne Frank: This harrowing story of a young girl in hiding during the Holocaust shows what happens to society if hate and bigotry are left unchallenged. It deals with the struggle of maintaining humanity in the face of inhumanity. Wuthering Heights: Although this book may seem old fashioned to modern readers, it addresses the lack of constancy surrounding young people in relationships and readers can easily identify with the protagonist as she struggles to overcome 6 societal expectations.
Black Beauty: As the first novel ever published written from an animal’s point of view, the book was never intended for children but for adults to reconsider their treatment of horses. It had a huge influence and inspired much of the legislation in the US surrounding animal cruelty Oliver Twist: The story of a young boy who inadvertently gets caught in a world of corruption effectively illustrates the dangers of greed and poverty and the destructive power of money in society, not only in Victorian London but across the globe in recent years of financial recession. A Tale of Two Cities: As the highest selling book of all time, this novel explores the effect that corruption in the ruling class has on ordinary people.
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe: The wardrobe which opens its doors to a world of magic, mystery and adventure has captivated audiences since it was first published in 1950. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: This book is a manifestation of Twain’s dream of an America free of injustice and social disparities. Dealing with slavery in 19th century America, it shows the murky stains of American society in a light and frivolous way.
Dracula: This Irish example of a timeless book was published in 1897, and paved the way for vampire lore in popular culture. It has inspired hundreds of movie adaptations and is arguably the most instantly recognisable fictional character.
A return to the 64 days in Super Mario Odyssey
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Ailbhe Daly reviews the game that has Nintendo and Mario enthusiasts staying up all night
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intendo have had a pretty impressive year as far as things go. The release of the Switch has been met with acclaim and now they have not just one, but two genuine contenders to scoop Game of the Year awards across the board. Mario Odyssey is nothing short of a joy to play. From the opening scenes where you are acquainted with Cappy, a cap that allows you to possess whatever it lands on. There is something about the almost hallucinatory ride that Odyssey is insistent on taking you on that will keep you coming back to it. As you (unsurprisingly) pursue Bowser who has once again kidnapped Princess Peach, you are treated to a menagerie of kingdoms featuring NPCs such as sentient utensils and top-hatted rabbits. There is no way to encapsulate what this game actually is because you’d just be selling it short. While it is a 3D platformer that is reliant on you collecting lots of things, it is so much
more than just that. It’s an exploration it’s inventive and it’s everything you of imagination and something want from a platformer. that you would only really expect While older gamers will have no Nintendo to come out with. trouble with the main quest, there It’s a nice break from the usual is so much post-game content run of the mill worlds you expect from to access that finishing the main a platformer when you’re rolling on story isn’t the be all and end all corn on the cob while possessing that it usually can feel like. For a stack of Goombas and genuinely younger players, beating the story wondering if the is an achievable dev team behind accolade, again Odyssey are It’s wacky, it’s inventive illustrating mentally sound. Nintendo’s ability The worlds feel and it’s everything you to make a game fresh and are fun to that caters for a explore, teaching want from a platformer. wide demographic you new ways to rather than just overcome obstacles one focus area. and collect Moons, the game’s You chase Bowser as he collects integral collectable. things for his planned wedding While the main story won’t take through all these different kingdoms, you a huge chunk of time to get which becomes increasingly funny through, it will keep you entertained as the obvious things disappear and as you travel through a world full you’re left wondering just what else of lunch items, a Metropolitan land he could actually want next. remnant of New York City and a Nintendo have succeeded in strange ice world where you race releasing a Mario game that shakes each other by bouncing. It’s wacky, things up, similar to how Super
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Mario 64, the first jump into 3D for the iconic plumber did. Finding new things to possess, new ways to beat enemies and areas in levels that you missed before is just a sample of all the things that Odyssey has executed incredibly well. Odyssey has managed to be quirky and unique in a way that will keep you guessing at every corner.
Video Games: a hobby or an obsession?
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Aoibhin Bryant discusses the pros and cons of gaming
ince the 1970s, when the first ever arcade video game Computer Space was unveiled to the modern world, videos games have become an integral part of our society. According to a recent study 1.2 billion people worldwide would consider themselves gamers and Ireland spends roughly €206 million on video games a year. Video games have now become a new art medium with ground-breaking 3D animation and design that mirrors reality. Gone are the Space Invaders days and in its place, there’s an innovative mode of storytelling that directly involves its audience in a way that a pantomime can only dream of. In video games, one is immersed first hand into the story and players can sometimes change the course of the plot by choosing options presented to them by the game. The hobby has also proven to have a positive effect on the developing skills of children with many games sharpening their problem solving and logic skills. A study by Michigan State University found a relation between
children playing video games and a higher sense of creativity. With the introduction of online gaming, video games have connected people across the world and are the building blocks of friendships that overlook borders. It doesn’t matter if oceans separate them physically, in game they can connect on a personal level. However, there is a dark side to an industry that is entirely built on fun. For years, concerned parents have voiced their worries over the violence shown in video games and fear that this may influence their young, impressionable children. Despite there being no evidence of a link between video games and criminal violence, psychologists have noticed a “consistent correlation”
between violent video games and aggression among its players. If one where to search the words “toxic community” on google, the first page is made up entirely of different sites talking about how unpleasant the online community for different video games are. This is clearly evident in the #GamerGate conundrum that occurred a few years ago where women were consistently harassed, sent death threats and stalked over their critique of video games from a feminist perspective. Excessive playing of video games can lead to a number of different medical problems, such as carpel tunnel syndrome. Experts have also noted that the playing of video games can have a negative effect on school performance and there have been
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like everything else, it’s probably best in moderation
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cases of social isolation, gamers opting to stay inside all day instead of interacting with the outside world. Are video games a hobby or an unhealthy obsession? Like everything else, it’s probably best in moderation. There’s nothing distinctly harmful about video games on their own and the aggression found in the communities could honestly be a reflection on the people themselves rather than the games they play. However, it’s probably best to keep an eye on how many hours one spends on their X-Box a day and to ensure that they’re living a healthy and happy life away from the computer screen.
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Health & Beauty
Flirting with misogyny
The #metoo campaign has faced some harsh criticism. Adam Daly spoke to Dr Rosaleen McElvaney to get an insight into this misogynistic mentality.
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he #metoo campaign flooded social media last month after actress Alyssa Milano called for women around the world to use it as a way to share their personal stories of sexual assault in unison. Facebook reported that within 24 hours, 4.7 million people engaged in the #metoo conversation, with over 12 million posts, comments and reactions. However, not all of the reactions have been supportive. Comments, mostly from men, question why these women did not come forward sooner and accuse them of seeking attention. According to clinical psychologist, Dr Rosaleen McElvaney, the negative reactions to #metoo from men can come from a place of fear. ‘’I think for some men, this kind of very defensive response or reaction comes from a place of anxiety or fear that they will be wrongly accused or labelled with the same tar just because some men have done it. But then I think there is a small cohort of people who do actually hold those attitudes ’’ Dr McElvaney said. One thing Dr McElvaney wanted to point out is that there are also women who hold this view towards sexual harassment. ‘’Unfortunately when things come out there can be a narrative around all men or men in general, which is not actually fair to the men who don’t behave in that way or think like that. Let’s face it; some of the men who have behaved in this way, they probably always thought like that. They always had attitudes towards women
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or misogynistic views, and we still have people who think like that. We have women who think like that.’’ The issue with this cohort of people, according to Dr McElvaney, is that they don’t understand the issue of consent or sexual harassment. ‘’My area of expertise is childhood sexual abuse. But one of the things that they find is when you look at people who behave in this way, they do have different attitudes and different views. They think differently. There is a lack of awareness of what is appropriate and inappropriate, what’s OK and what’s not OK.’’ To tackle the issue surrounding consent, third level institutes are leading the way by running consent workshops. However, Dr McElvaney said that the main difficulty with the workshops is that everyone who attends is already open to learning about consent. ‘’I think they will help but the difficulties with these kinds of initiatives are that people self-select to some extent. It’s a little bit like preaching to the converted. What about the percentage of people who are not attending? They probably need it more than the people that attend’’. A project by a final-year psychology student in Maynooth evaluated some of the consent workshops that ran last year. Speaking about the findings of the project, Dr McElvaney said they found that at the end of participating in those workshops, there was still more confusion or ambiguity about what consent means among the men than there was among the women. The turnout for the smart consent
workshops that ran on the Glasnevin and St Pats DCU campuses were greater than expected according to Jack Gilligan, the workshop mentor. In an interview with DCU TV news, Gilligan said he hoped to make the
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Let’s face it some of the men who have behaved in this way, they probably always thought like that. They always had attitudes towards women or misogynistic views, and we still have people who think like that, we have women who think like that.
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consent workshops compulsory at some stage. Dr McElvaney said that while she doesn’t think making the workshops compulsory is a bad thing, it does go against the idea of third level education. ‘’To make it mandatory would kind of be like treating young adults like
school kids. I think if it was in the secondary school system I would be saying absolutely yes. To be honest, at third level I think it’s too late. A lot of people are sexually active before they finish secondary school’’ she said. While the education of young people about consent is a work in progress, so too is trying to change the culture around sexual harassment. According to McElvaney, people need to be educated and there needs to be consequences for people’s inappropriate behaviour. ‘’You can almost argue that women have played a role in this as well in terms of not being able to stand up for themselves, because very often they’re in a position where it’s their boss. If they draw a line there is the possibility that they will be discriminated against in some way. Indeed it happens for men as well when it is women’ flirting’ with them. It’s not just purely man to woman.’’ For the people who still question the women that come forward through the #metoo campaign, McElvaney says that people need to remember that while people standing up for themselves doesn’t necessarily bring an end to harassment, very often it can up the ante. ‘’The great thing about the me too campaign is it really is helping to raise awareness. People are looking at some of these public figures and thinking ‘they didn’t speak out?’ It is easy to think that someone is in a powerful position, but when you look that bit closer you see that power imbalance.’’
Health & Beauty
Makeup guide for men An increasing amount of men are beginning to dabble in the world of makeup and skincare today. This is a list of some products suitable for a men’s makeup look. Aoife O’Brien
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ver half of men now use beauty and skin care products, according to a survey conducted by jwtintelligence. com. This comes as no surprise, with celebrities like Victoria Beckham speaking out about her husband regularly stealing products such as lip balm and colour corrector from her makeup bag. However, with a huge disparity between the amount of knowledge surrounding cosmetics for males and females, and many men still afraid to take the plunge, here is a list of the top products to ease men into the world of makeup and achieve the “no makeup” makeup look. Lab Series BB Tinted Moisturiser Broad Spectrum SPF35 In Ireland, men can be conscious of their pale skin tone. This tinted moisturiser is a great alternative to tanning beds, helping to even skin tone and control shine. It has just a hint of
colour, providing a natural finish, and is a great option for those who aren’t quite ready to try foundation. MMUK MAN Foundation for Men This luxuriously lightweight liquid foundation, which comes in 10 different colours, offers light to medium coverage all day long and is suitable for a variety of different skin types. It is enriched with vitamin E and aloe vera extract which soothe and moisturise sensitive skin. Its liquid formula is quick and easy to apply with either a foundation brush or fingers, making it ideal for beginners. MËNAJI CAMO Concealer This concealer is specifically designed to withstand the higher oil production of men’s skin.
It can be used to cover breakouts, dark circles, redness and ingrown hairs. It has also been dermatologically recommended for use on acne and irritated skin. Yves Saint Laurent Touche Éclat Radiant Touch Highlighting Pen The concept of a facial highlighter would make most men who want to look like they’re not wearing makeup very sceptical. However, this pen instantly brightens the complexion, fighting dullness and fatigue without any shimmer or glitter. MMUK MAN Beard Filler This shad-
ow corrector comes in three different colours and is a convenient way to fill gaps and sculpt existing facial hair. It can also be used on the brows to leave them appearing thicker and more defined. Maybelline Great Lash Clear Macara This formula separates and defines lashes for the perfect no makeup look without the risk of smudging throughout the day. It can also be used to tame unruly brows. Sleek MakeUP Colour Corrector Palette This palette is the only hangover cure you’ll ever need. It contains 6 different colours which work to conceal, neutralise and brighten any imperfections while reducing redness to give an even base for flawless foundation application.
Don’t fake it with makeup
Makeup can be pretty expensive so when there is fake cheap alternatives out there it can be tempting to try. This is why you should never use fake makeup.
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Amy Murphy
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veryone knows how expensive designer beauty products can be, but the overwhelming desire to get the latest must-have product is all too real. The temptation to search for a cheaper alternative can be hard to resist. There is no crime in wanting a beauty bargain, but if the price seems too good to be true, it probably is and you may end up with a fake. Unlike other knock-off designer products, counterfeit makeup poses a huge risk to your health. Although these fake products may look good on the outside, it’s the ingredients inside that are frightening. It has been reported that aluminum, mercury, arsenic, lead and even human urine and rat droppings have all be found in counterfeit makeup. The use of these fake products has led to acne, burns, rashes, eye infections and severe allergic reactions in some people, while long-term exposure to substances such as lead and arsenic can cause serious damage to your organs and central nervous system. Senior Vice President of the Estée Lauder Companies, Gregg Marrazzo spoke out about the conditions where these fake goods are made. “If you took the most disgusting frat house bathroom, it looks like a surgical suite compared to these conditions. It’s filthy, there’s bacteria everywhere… it’s disgusting” he said. With all this in mind, you would wonder what the name on a tube is really worth. But the ‘beauty black
market’ is a huge issue in the industry. Although it’s not exactly a new problem, the use of counterfeit makeup is increasing. Last year, The Health Products Regulatory Authority issued a warning after thousands of counterfeit highend products were stopped from entering Ireland by the Revenue’s Customs service. However, a lot of these products still made their way into the Irish market through various websites. The availability of counterfeit goods online is extensive. If you type ‘Mac Makeup’ into eBay you’ll find hundreds of results offering products like their Mineralize Moisture foundations from as little as €1.11. The normal retail price for this foundation starts at around €39. The same goes for a multitude of designer brands, such as Urban Decay and
Kylie Cosmetics. Sure, you can buy knock-off name brands for a fraction of the cost, but
when you have no idea what ingredients they contain, your health may end up paying the ultimate price. 9
Food
The unhealthy diets of a first year
Katie Gallagher looked at how the challenges of entering third level education can lead to students living an unhealthy diet and lifestyle.
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ometimes all it takes is a slight change to your routine, or a smidgen more responsibility to completely flip your lifestyle. While entering college is both exciting and empowering for any young adult, it can also be challenging and therefore stressful on your body’s health. Due to this, it is one of the many time-points in one’s life that can trigger an unhealthy diet or relationship with food, according to Dr Mary Rose Sweeney, Senior Lecturer in the School of Nursing and Human Sciences in DCU. There are numerous US surveys to show that substantial weight gain among first years, known as the ‘freshman fifteen’ is common. The trend which gets its title from figures that show weight gain to range between two to fifteen pounds in freshman year, reciprocates Dr Sweeney’s idea that entry into 3rd level education is an important time-point in the pathway to developing an unhealthy diet and gaining weight. An Irish study carried out by Dr Sweeney and her colleagues to explore whether entry into 3rd level education has any negative impact on the diet, lifestyles or weight on students in DCU reflects this need for concern with 58 per cent of those participating in the questionnaire stating to have gained weight since starting college. Some 120 students from DCU took part in the pilot study, thirty from each school/faculty, answering a questionnaire and taking weight, waist and height measurements. The study revealed that almost ninety per cent reported that it was not easy to maintain a healthy diet on 10 campus indicating that while the
transition into independence and new pressures is tough, they are not the only limitations factoring into the increase in weight and unhealthy habits in 3rd level education systems. It is needless to say that there are barriers everywhere in life no matter what you do, but in this case, intervention and slight improvements could potentially curve a worrying and dangerous obesity endemic. Yes, it is all about making the right choices but as an 18-year-old student, moving away from home, learning to budget and juggle time constraints independently for the first time, it can be daunting and therefore easy to gravitate towards the convenient and comforting options. “We often found that students skip breakfast, so when they walk into college the first thing they smell is sausage rolls and chips that are all high in salt and fats they will be more inclined to go for that, however, if they’d have made time for a bowl of porridge in the morning they wouldn’t be as tempted,” Dr Sweeney said. “Look at how popular the likes of Chopped are, something like this in DCU would be great for students,” she said. However, even though DCU has a new salad bar in the Sports Centre, can students afford to pay €5 on a salad bowl? It is no secret that the majority of students live within a tight budget, so you often hear people say ‘I’m too poor to be on a diet’ around college. It’s not that students are unable to fend for themselves, in fact, the study indicated that 87 per cent stated that they knew what a healthy diet was they just couldn’t afford to implement it. Unsurprisingly, when asked why
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purchase it on campus. Dr Sweeney said that as a staff member in the School of Nursing and Human Sciences they have access to an area with fridges, kettles and It is not that students microwaves. With almost 40 per cent stating the accessibility to such are unable to fend for an outlet would allow them to eat a themselves, in fact the healthier diet, she believes that while study indicated that 87 it would be a big infrastructure and it would be worth looking per cent stated that they investment, into. knew what a healthy diet Discovering and balancing a new found social life in 3rd level is another was they just couldn’t huge part of the process and the afford to implement it study found that smoking and alcohol consumption was worryingly high in first years. A third of those asked said they drank alcohol more than 2-3 times per week with over half stating they drink more since beginning college meanwhile a shocking 61 per cent admitted to smoking more since over half of these admitted to not entering first year. having a healthy diet, the answers Dr Sweeney made the point that the included the inability to afford it and problem here coincides with weight not having the knowledge of how to gain, as not only do these actions prepare healthy food. often stigmatise eating at times but However, money and knowledge alcohol itself can be quite calorific so aside, many students directed the excessive drinking would definitely aid cause for concern towards the food choices available on campus in DCU. weight gain. College can be a challenging time At the time of the study, a majority in many ways, learning to fend for of 87 per cent stated that it was not oneself and transition into a new possible to eat healthy on campus. community can take some time and Not only was the reasoning down to getting used to so if there are ways price point and choice, but students to counteract these issues with also highlighted the fact that there is nowhere to eat or prepare foods taken unhealthy eating, it’s worth looking to college from home. This has been into. Dr Sweeney suggested taking example from places like Denmark an on-going issue among students, where they have implemented yoghurt especially those with dietary needs and smoothie bars, things that the stuwho are calling for the access to hot dents responded well to, to encourage water or microwaves or a student the healthy lifestyle rather than act as kitchen area where one can bring in a barrier to living one. food from home instead of having to
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Food
Grub Guide: Accents Coffee and Tea Lounge
Tucked away from busy Grafton Street, Accents Coffee and Tea Lounge is the perfect place to unwind after a day shopping in the city, Roisin Maguire explains.
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he busy streets of Dublin City can be overwhelming and sometimes you just need that cosy place to relax that feels just like home. Accents Coffee and Tea Lounge, a quirky café that has grown in popularity over the years, is just the place. Located on Stephen’s Street, the coffee and tea lounge is only a short walk from Grafton Street, perfect for putting up your feet after a hard days shopping. The café offers excellent opening hours as it is open until 11 pm every day apart from Sunday when they close at 10 pm. Accents was designed specifically for Dublin’s multicultural & vibrant city, providing a service both day and night for the customers convenience and busy social life. Donal and Deirdre, the owners of Accents began with a vision being an alternate to a pub in 2008 when the recession had just hit Ireland and has been huge success to this day. “There aren’t many places where you can buy coffee late at night in Dublin. Sure, there are some amazing pubs in the city full of craic, but as the nights are long and the wind is bitter, sometimes you just want a coffee and a catch up with friends”. The owners say on the Accents website. Accents Lounge is no ordinary coffee shop, it is kitted out with bookshelves galore so that if you go for a quiet coffee alone, there are many books to choose from. There is seating upstairs and downstairs with cosy couches and armchairs strewn with throws that you could melt into. The effort that the owners have put into the décor shows how much they really care about their customers time
at the café, with flower pots dotted around the room and a large map of the world on the wall. There is a very homely feel to the café with warm lighting that really makes you feel at home or relaxing at a friend’s house. Accents is probably best known for their hot chocolate that LovinDublin voted the best in Dublin and this is not an exaggeration. To enjoy their signature hot chocolate, you must stir in the Belgian milk or white chocolate buttons into your steamed milk. The coffee in Accents is Fair-trade, Rainforest Alliance Certified and Organic which ensures that wildlife is protected, rivers remain clean and farmers look after the tropical forests where they live and work. For those cold winter nights and Instagram worthy snaps, Accents provide a range of loose leaf teas, chai teas and speciality teas including ‘Dublin Smog’, ‘Lemongrass and Ginger Twist’ and ‘Apple Loves Mint’. In terms of food, there is plenty to choose from with savoury and sweet treats. Savoury treats include sausage rolls, bagels, scones and mouth-watering sandwiches from The Delicious Food Company. For those with a sweet tooth, there are cookies, brownies and cakes. Accents is renowned for its gluten-free snickers cake, vegan friendly pear and raspberry muffins and banana bread and what’s even better is that they take suggestions from customers with special dietary needs, so they really do go above and beyond in their work. If that isn’t enough, they have many events throughout the year including their birthday which they celebrate every April and next year they will be turning four years old. Accents also
love to celebrate their customers birthday, so you can email them with your name, your mobile number, your date of birth and you can drop in for a free slice of cake on your birthday. Last April they had a selfie competition on their birthday and had plenty prizes to give away. Other events include stand up comedy, poetry gigs, jazz gigs, music sessions, Christmas quiz nights and even a night dedicated to learning sign language. The atmosphere in Accents is calm and cool with music that is at just the
that they receive on TripAdvisor. You really do get value for money as an extraordinary hot chocolate or coffee in Accents is the same price as the ordinary one that you can receive throughout Dublin. I honestly cannot find fault with Accents. If I had to find one complaint, it would be that there is not enough time in the world to try the entire menu.
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Accents also love to celebrate their customers birthday, so you can email them with your name, your mobile number, your date of birth and you can drop in for a free slice of cake on our birthday.
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right volume to have private conversations, have work meetings or even just discuss your weekend plans. It is so cosy that I have spotted some people dozing off on a number of visits. The service is unbeatable in Accents as the staff really do enjoy getting to know their customers and they respond to every single review
Ratings Atmosphere: 9/10 Food: 9/10 Service: 8/10 Value for money: 7/10 Location: 7/10
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Travel
The Travel Tales: AirBnB Nightmare
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aiting for your flight in the airport to begin your travels of Scandinavia should be a time of excitement. Having a browse in duty free and getting your first official ‘I’m on my holidays’ drink. But for my best friend and I it was plagued with panic while we scrambled to secure new accommodation after a cancellation nightmare. About three months prior to this, we decided to go to ‘Way Out West’, a stellar city festival being held in Gothenburg Sweden. Thinking about how crazy festival life can get, we looked into renting an AirBnB for the three days. Scrolling through expensive pads, I came across a one-bedroom apartment close to the city centre. After messaging with the renter, a seemingly friendly young girl, we had scored the apartment months before
our trip. Before heading to the festival, we were flying to Norway to spend three days in Copenhagen. Sitting in Dublin Airport in midAugust I sent a message to our AirBnB host telling her we were leaving Ireland and notifying her what time we would arrive in Sweden in a few days. I put my phone down, not expecting the immediate response we got. Panic officially set in as I read the confirmation message on my phone that our host had cancelled our booking. Instantly I thought this must
be a mistake. After logging into my account it became apparent that this was no accident. She sent a message saying she just remembered she wouldn’t be in Sweden this weekend couldn’t give us a key to stay in her apartment. And to add salt to our wounds she signed off with a smiley face. After numerous attempts to call her, which led to an out of service number, it was clear that this was her forte. Our first move was calling
Florentine Fear Factor
AirBnB, who despite providing a calming voice, couldn’t do anything for us apart from search for new accommodation. Generally, a cancellation of booking means checking into a crappy hostel. But because of the festival, the entire city of Gothenburg was booked up. Messaging friends in Ireland to lend a hand, we searched our little souls out to avoid sleeping on a bench for three days. After arriving in our hostel in Copenhagen after midnight, we got an email for a house outside Gothenburg. In the darkness of our bunk bed in a six bed dorm we were forced to book this family home double the price of our original, relieved that our nightmare search was over. So for our three-day festival we spent our nights living like queens in a four-bedroom suburban house without the bank accounts to match.
A first time holiday to Italy in the Summer of 2016 led to a surprising hospital visit n the summer of 2016 my family ambulance arrived soon after. for Béibhinn Thorsch. and I went to Italy for the first time. On the journey to the hospital, the
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The trip was preceded by a stay in hospital for me, and which led to an unforgettable experience which I have now decided to call a “Florentine fear factor”. Before jetting to Italy I was suffering from gallstones which meant that I had to be careful with what I did and what I ate. I was allowed leave hospital to
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I was shocked and consumed with dread when the familiar pain in my abdomen hit the second evening in Florence.
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go on holiday on the condition that I stay on a diet that wouldn’t aggravate my gallstones and this meant I had to stay on a very low fat intake not easy when going to the land of pizza and gelato. If I made a mistake on this diet, I would have been left curled up in agony and maybe have to have the date for the operation to remove my gallstones would have been
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pushed back, so I was fully committed as we ventured first to Florence, then Rome and then Pisa. I was shocked and consumed with dread when the familiar pain in my abdomen hit the second evening in Florence.
Unable to lie down or stay still in bed, I went to the bathroom to try to get sick. I took some medicine just before my mother found me. The
driver announced we would be going to the oldest active hospital in Italy. The outside resembled some of the tourist sites we had visited during our trip, but the waiting room was dark and unfamiliar. It had two homeless men sleeping in it. Over in the ward a nurse came to take blood. The room was dark to keep other patients undisturbed, which led to the multiple prods of a big needle into me which were unsuccessful. It hurt enough for me to know something wasn’t right. Suddenly four nurses were either side of me, my mother next to me, all watching as needles were stuck in and taken out, swung in semi circles back and forth like the throttle gauge on an F1 car. I had been so proud of my ability to take a needle up to that point, and yet now I was crying silently and only yelping each time another needle was prodded into me. When the nurse started holding me down my mother started asking for them to stop as I mouthed to her that I couldn’t take it anymore. Still unsuccessful, another nurse finally intervened and shouted at them to stop. My arms were covered in cotton wool and tape, the bruising remained for weeks. However this ordeal didn’t stop me from enjoying the rest of my adventures around Italy which were amazing.
Why you should visit Zadar
Travel
As Croatia’s fifth largest town and with a population size similar to Ireland, Joseph O’Gorman looks at why Zadar should be at the top of your must-visit list.
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adar is the fifth largest city in Croatia. In a country with a population close to Ireland’s, this makes Zadar the Croatian equivalent of Waterford. But why has this small Croatian city been voted “Best European Destination” by Europe’s Best Destinations.com, and been called “Croatia’s capital of cool” by the Guardian? Nestled on the coast of the Adriatic Sea, Zadar benefits from the same climate as the nearby Mediterranean during the summer. Gloriously sunny days with temperatures of 25 degrees and above, with average humidity around 72 per cent. The most attractive area and cultural centre of Zadar is its Old Town. The Old Town is home to the city’s most famous attraction the Sea Organ. Underwater pipes concealed by marble steps result in a haunting yet peaceful sound, created by the waves hitting the waterfront. Beside the Sea Organ there is the Greeting of the Sun- a light show created by transposing the sound of the Sea Organ into a model of
the solar system, which begins as darkness descends The promenade of the Old Town is also the best place to see the famous sunset. Called “the most beautiful sunset in the world” by legendary director Alfred Hitchcock, it is breathtaking in every sense of the word. It’s hard to put into words what a spectacle this is, it really is a sky like nothing else on earth. Watching the sunset, coupled with the haunting sounds of the Sea Organ, is an experience you will never forget. Krka National Park is one of the seven parks in Croatia, and is just one hour outside of the city. There are numerous tour operators in the city, which will organise transport from your hotel, entry to the park, a boat trip in the park and your food for the day. Krka is famed for its waterfalls. Your guide will take you along trails above crystal clear pools full of fish, with dense vegetation all around, to the soundtrack of water flowing over rock, and very vocal frogs. The highlight comes at the end of
the trails. Unlike the similar Plitvice national park, Krka has a designated swimming area, which comes is very welcome after walking around in 30 degree heat. Boat trips to Kornati National Park are another draw to Zadar. Kornati is hundreds of small, barren, strangely pretty islands, almost entirely devoid of civilisation. This is worth the
expense to visit the Zadar region’s only sandy beach, Lojena. All in all, it really is amazing that Zadar is not more popular. Beautiful scenery, great weather, great food, all reasonably priced. If you go at the end of May you’ll beat the crowds and still get the full experience. This small Croatian city is the place to go.
Spotlight on Croatia A Mediterranean paradise surrounded by the azure blue Adriatic Sea and decorated with over a 1000 islands, Méabh Riordan explains why Croatia is the latest Eastern European hotspot.
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Mediterranean paradise surrounded by the azure blue Adriatic Sea and decorated with over a 1000 islands, Croatia is the latest Eastern European hotspot. Being the landscape to Game of Thrones has lent radar to the idyllic, sunny European destination; however the country’s panorama speaks for itself. Think ‘instagoals.’ Think Croatia. So what are we waiting for? Let’s book the flights for next month? Maybe there’s a Christmas Market? (Spoiler alert, there is – Advent in Zagreb is the best known.) Unfortunately, Croatia is not the most accessible of places. Prohibiting recommended travel times made by the travel blog chasingthedonkey.com, are available flights. Despite the suggestion of visiting during off-peak times, with special reference to September, Irish airlines do
not coincide with said proposals. Ryanair fly only to Zadar, the Dalmatian coastal city renowned for it’s unique melodious sea organ. Flights from Dublin to Zadar are incipient March 26th and work out a costly one way flight. There is little difference when it comes to Aerlingus flights, with prices falling into the standard €75-80 range. When it comes to choosing your airline equating ten euro flash sales with comfort is futile; it’s all about location, location, location. Aerlingus fly three Croatian destinations – Dubrovnik, Pula and Split. This doesn’t however sway travel time in your favour with earliest flights to Dubrovnik starting 23rd May and Split from Tuesday 29th May. Travel grievances aside, the ‘picture perfect towns’ that epitomise Croatia according to Lonely Planet are worth the inconvenience. The vibrant capital city of Zagreb is a cultural hub brimming
with galleries, cinemas, cafés and Austro-Hungarian architecture. One of the city’s top sights is ‘The Museum of Broken Relationships’; consisting of donations from all over the world, of which encapsulate personal heartbreaks. The
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With a wealth of both quaint and scenic towns and expansively breathtaking coastline views, it’s at the top of a lot of travel bucket lists.
now permanent exhibition is situated in the baroque Kulmer palace and is a ‘unique emotional journey around the world through hundreds of break-ups’, not to be missed. Mirogoj Cemetery may seem a melancholic excursion but is undoubtedly an impressive and opulent sight. Croatians celebrate the day of the dead, November 1st, by lighting candles on all the cemetery’s graves, and a visit on the eve ‘is a spectacular thing to see’ according to TripAdvisor. Croatia is Europe’s hidden gem. With a wealth of both quaint and scenic towns and expansively breath-taking coastline views, it’s at the top of a lot of travel bucket lists. Dubrovnik and its infamous association with tourists has overshadowed the country’s beauty. But why not head to the capital- to 13 Croatia’s ‘King’s Landing.’
Fashion
The release of Stranger Things 2 has seen merchandise for the Netflix original series pop up everywhere, from Topshop to independent Irish designers, Helen O’Neill tells us more about the fashion taking over the upside down and beyond. When it comes to style, the stranger
“ the better. While Topshop has
provided the high street with staple jeans, winter furs and glitzy nightwear for years, even they couldn’t escape the buzz that surrounds the cult hit TV show Stranger Things. It appears that the TV T-shirt is now replacing the band T-shirt. This October, Topshop and Topman teamed up with Netflix ahead of the highly anticipated release of Stranger Things season 2 to release a range of retro designed T-shirts, baseball caps, lunchboxes, backpacks and board games. The inspiration for the looks, as well as the shows inspiration, came from the classic print T-shirt looks of the 80’s. The collection, which is currently available online, mixes logo T-shirts with authentic 80’s style sweatshirts. While most of the line puts the logo and the main characters on the front in the iconic red font, some pieces give a subtler nod to the Netflix original series. The blue and white round neck tee, which features both in the men’s and women’s range, simply has the Hawkins school logo on it providing a really
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cool and wearable piece in the collection if you don’t want to be too out there with your homage to the show. However, some of the line tends to look repetitive with the same picture of the characters and red logo which in turn makes the more original pieces stand out. The ‘upside down’ slogan tee is the most original and creative designs in the collection. The bright blue and orange within the target symbol is a bold piece that will be sure to get attention. In the Topman line, the standout piece is the most retro looking of the lot. The Palace arcade T-shirt with an 80’s blue trim around the neck and sleeves looks old-school, picked out of the wardrobe of The Goonies. For hardcore fans of the show, one shirt in the collection will distinguish you as a true followers. A T-shirt in the Topshop line features a picture of the beloved character of Barb with the caption ‘Never Forget.’ The mix of grey, white and pinks in the print gives the shirt a soft look which works well with the homage to Barb. For a serious throwback vibe, the line also provides old school metal lunch boxes featuring the shows promotion pictures as well as backpacks with the logos. The most expensive item in the collection at £35 is a Stranger Things Monopoly board. The game is a unique gem in the collection, featuring places like Hawkins School, the Byers
House and the Upside Down up for purchase. The line is currently only available in the UK and online. Lucky fans got the real experience for two weeks at the end of October when the Oxford Circus store was transformed into the world of Stranger Things complete with Will’s hideaway, the arcade and Joyce Buyers’ light up wall. Prices for the collection are very reasonable, with all T-shirts priced at £20 and sweatshirts £32. However, the popularity of this line has meant that most of the products are currently out of stock. That’s right, every piece of clothing, along with most of the paraphernalia, is no longer in stock on their site, showing the huge fandom of Stranger Things. But with the rise in the fan base, other designers are creating original merchandise. Irish designer Megan Rushe from Malahide created a Stranger Things print to go on sweaters long before the Topshop launch. Rushe sells T-shirts, sweaters and raincoats with customised prints on them which can be requested on her Instagram page, meganrusheprints. Rushe said she was approached by a friend to design a Stranger Things print jumper and after sketching a few designs, featured the sweater on her page. The talented designs too have the red logo along with sketch drawings of the characters. While they are pricier than the Topshop range with T-shirts from €30 and sweaters from €50, the freedom of customising
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Irish designer Megan Rushe from Malahide created a Stranger Things print to go on sweaters long before the Topshop launch.
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makes up for the extra cost. With the following for the Netflix show constantly rising, the inspiration for fashion designers appears to be growing with it; and it’s not just the high-street jumping on board. For Louis Vuitton’s autumn/winter collection, the designer featured a Stranger Things logo T-shirt on the runway teamed with their more onbrand flowery blouse, showing the true power of the world of the upside down. The stylists for Topshop’s collection also do things a bit ‘strange’. Instead of usually pairing the item you are selling with plain, simple clothing, Topshop took an alternative route much like the series. The tees and sweaters are paired with sheer metallic tops underneath, tight polos and leather pants, giving an elevated look to the collection. Whether you watch or not, designers are seriously buying into the cult following of Stranger Things. From Topshop’s hugely popular collection, to lesser known Irish designs, there is no escaping the eccentric 80s nostalgia this series is bringing to fashion.
Opulence on the Orient Express
Fashion
All aboard the Orient Express style train. Rachel Farrell tell us how to execute the 1930s party look with some inspiration from the Christie classic.
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gatha Christie’s ‘Murder on the Orient Express’ recently hit theatres with its enthralling characters, dark mystery and decadent costumes. Set in 1939, the movie is a vintage paradise not only for costume lovers, but for those looking for a Hollywood twist on the Christmas party dress this year. ‘Murder on the Orient Express’ tells the tale of a shocking murder on a lavish train trip. Its twelve passengers hail from all parts of the world, but their clothes share a common tale of the 1930s. While many reach for a 1920s flapper costume for Halloween, the 1930s is its underrated counterpart. Speaking with Vogue UK, Oscarwinning costume designer Alexandra Byrne said her favourite character to dress was the widow Caroline Hubbard, played by Michelle Pfeiffer. Byrne tried to remain historically accurate with the costumes, as seen with Princess Natalia Dragomiroff, Judy Dench’s aristocrat counterpart. “Even though the Thirties was the era of ‘paste’ jewellery, as popularized by Chanel, there’s no doubt that every one of the Princess’s knuckle duster of rings is genuine. She would have brought them with her from Russia,” Byrne said. The roaring twenties brought a new era of freedom behind the meaning of ‘fashion’. Women and men alike took new risks with their personal style. The 30s, as a result, followed a similar suit but in a more relaxed fashion. Irish fashion historian Ruth Grif-
fin, of ruaruth.com, explains that there was a great contrast in the different styles of the 1930s. “Dress from this time was contrasting from prim and proper floral dresses or costumes (a jacket with midi length skirt) and neat little hats, to daring backless dresses which clung to the body and showed off the new trend for ‘sun-tanned’ skin
fear. Recreating this timeless look of the 30s has become easier than ever. “The 1930s girl was modern and on the move and VERY influenced by Hollywood. Something we still have today is an influence from the silver screen,” said Griffin. “I think we can recreate the look this party season for 2017 with the
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If ‘Murder on the Orient Express’ was recreated on a student budget, ASOS would be the first call for costumes. With the release of their new party wear line, an outfit Christie would be proud of is not hard to find.
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to perfection,” Griffin said. Griffin believes that Christie always managed to capture a “fashion moment in time” with her stories, which were mostly set in the 1930s. “Like Murder on the Orient Express, her female heroines showcased the era’s slinky femininity with Hercule Poirot always looking beneath a glamorous or slippery veneer to the true motives and hearts of the ‘suspects’ in question”. Halloween may be over but shops and online retailers alike are pulling out Christmas collections as we speak. The Christmas party, whether it’s with colleagues or friends, is an annual event that can often spread the shopping
trend for Kimonos - a very easy way to work a 1930s look today - as seen on Countess Elena Andrenyi in the movie it still has masses of appeal when worn with denim and finished off with lashings of costume jewellery,” she continued. If ‘Murder on the Orient Express’ was recreated on a student budget, ASOS would be the first call for costumes. With the release of their new party wear line, an outfit Christie would be proud of is not hard to find. As Griffin said, the first port of call is the kimono. While many will associate it with floral prints and fringing from the summer, the kimono is set to be a must-have winter accessory too. A kimono in rich hues of burgundy or navy would be the
perfect winter cover up. A different take on the kimono is the kimono dress, like the ASOS sequin kimono midi dress. With a similar wrap over fashion and plenty of bling, this dress is something many of the female characters would wear. Brocade prints are another nod to the 30s. Such luxurious colours and prints replicate Countess Andrenyi’s style. “Even though her garments were made from these beautiful vintage fabrics, it’s never particularly easy to tell what she’s wearing: a set of pyjamas or an elaborate satin twopiece,” designer Byrne told Vogue. For a modern take, Missguided sell a satin floral brocade two piece, combining the perfect night out outfit with a hint of Orient Express. Both Griffin and Byrne mentioned lashings of jewellery, and costume jewellery is as glamorous as ever on the high street. Chandelier style tassel earrings can add some luxury to even the simplest of outfits. For the die hard vintage fan, the ASOS filigree hair clip is the musthave addition to any up-do. As for men, a strong suit is all that’s needed. For an extravagant soireé, an embroidered velvet blazer is bound to make a statement. In a more relaxed setting, a pussybow shirt adds a vintage twist to the classic collar. The 1930s were all about the glitz, the glamour and the extravagant parties, and we’re all aboard the Orient Express this season for the Christmas party of the year.
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EXPOSURE
Liberty: The view from the Rockefeller Building as a ray of sunshine beams down on the Statue of Liberty. Image Credit: Mark Carroll
Penguins: Just smile and wave boys, smile and wave. Image Credit: Amy O’Donohoe
Light it Up: Fairy lights can be used for more than just Christmas decorations. Image Credit: Niamh McKeown
Lennon Wall: “Life is what happens while we’re busy making other plans.” Image
Times Square: A sun sets across the skyline that lights up the city that never sleeps. Image
Credit: Colin Tonge
Credit: Andrew McConnell
Image Credit:
Page 1: Stranger Things; Page 2: Kygo, Emily Sheahan; Page 3: Sam Smith, And So I Watch You From Afar; Page 4: 98fm, BBC3 Page 5: Marvel, Lucien Waugh-Daly; Page 6: Emer Handly, Pinterest; Page 7: Nintendo, Roise McGagh; Page 8: Elsa Anderling; Page 9: Pinterest, MAC; Page 10: Domino’s; Page 11:Accents Coffee and Tea Lounge; Page 12: AirBnB, Laura Duffy; Page 13: Joseph O’Gorman; Page 14: TopShop; Page 15: Pinterest
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