Byline Issue 4 by University Express

VOLUME 1 - ISSUE 4

What’s Inside...

Headlines of Byline: FILM & TV “Phillip Hayden asks if we really need James Bond in 2015, Alex Bermingham talks about the resurrection of the horror genre and Zoe Fitzpatrick talks about the place of period dramas on the small screen”

MUSIC “Edel Carmody reviews the latest offering from one of Byline’s favourite bands Girl Band, while Conor Donovan explores the burgeoning rap scene in Ireland”

ARTS & LIT Is it almost Halloween yet?

I couldn’t actually tell, mostly because of the fact that it’s been advertised every day sometime since easter, and Christmas ads started sometime around June, so I’m a bit lost with my timekeeping. I do actually like Halloween, I get to start putting on my festival clothes again and call them costumes, and I have an excuse to drink in a grimy living room between someone who’s dressed like a 1940’s pin up and someone who made a very lazy attempt at Tony Stark. The best part of this is of course when ‘Tony’ tries to act like his character and gets shot down in the most amusing of ways, though to be honest, that’s some of the enjoyment I get out of most parties. Look. I’m a very bitter person, it’s what happens when you get involved in media There are of course, other notable things that happen around this time of year. Deadlines are of course cropping up more and more frequently so you’ve all started to try and stake your claim in the Library. Obviously you won’t do these assignments till the last minute, but it’s nice to say you’re

taking a library break when you have your third Pumpkin spice latte in as many hours. I’m looking at you person who took my window seat on Q+2 at half seven and then left for the rest of the day. To be fair, that’s what most people do in the library, but it was still my seat. How would you know it was turning into winter if it weren’t for the weather changing. Yes, our glorious Cork weather has turned from ‘mildly grey’ straight through too ‘a little bit chilly’. We haven’t actually hit the point where the campus has to be evacuated because of a whirlwind of roof shingles whipping around the quad, or the Lee splashing gently around our ankles in Boole 4, but that’s really the sort of weather that comes at the depth of winter. Not actual winter mind you, we don’t have fun weather with snow and the like, Met Eireann just sort of give up and every report for two months say, ‘It’s a bit shit, aight?’. The only thing I can say that’s really important here is that you don’t use Byline to protect yourself during this weather, because it will immediately dissolve on contact with water.

Editor: Xander Cosgrave Designer: Robert O’Sullivan Film & TV Editor: Olivia Brown Music Editor: Holly Cooney Arts & Lit Editor: Colm Furlong

“Colm Furlong looks at the horror greats still writing today in advance of All Hallows Eve, while Ryan Back reviews the Kingkiller Chronicles”

GAMING “Sean Donnegan talks about the death of arcades, Amy O’Callaghan looks at the cream of the indie crop and Aoife Gleesons asks: do we need Last of Us 2?”

HUMOUR “Rose O’Sullivan previews the Pope’s rumoured upcoming sesh in Ireland, Deirdre Ferriter discusses Labour’s rebranding and Astrologic Alger fortells your future in our Horoscopes”

INTERVIEW “Express Editor Brian Conmy speaks to Jackie Clarke of the Cork Supernatural Group about ghost hunting, the spooky spots in Cork and the realities of her industry”

Gaming Editor: Aoife Gleeson Fiction Editor: Austin Dowling Humour Editor: Lauren Mulvihill Comics Editor: Dylan O Connell Copy Editor: Brian Conmy

FICTION

EDITOR - AUSTIN DOWLING

STUDIO 54-0 by Austin Dowling

Em meets this bouncer whose name-tag reads: Byron and it has quite clearly gone to his head. He’s not your typical club-brute, this Byron, with hair to his nape and a scruff the same shade of dark as his soul. Byron’s built like a mountain but wears a waistcoat because no one’s ever told him not to. And not one regular has witnessed the upward flick of a smile above his chin the entire three years he’s manned these doors. Em was the last to leave work and her crew’s already inside. That’s not ideal for her, but everyone goes through these queues alone once, so she scans her card in Byron’s reader and holds her breath. The crowd behind her claim the club’s for five-forty’s and over tonight, which doesn’t explain how her workcrew slipped in but maybe they knew someone. An odd way to make money, these point-limits. Em studies her flats, listens to the synthesisers inside and when her card finally dings she readies herself to step aside. Em figures she’ll save herself the shame but this Byron lad hasn’t once left his bare mattress of a bed in three years without a taste for condescension, ‘Who do you even think you are?’ he asks Em with his eyebrows arched. Em’s not insulted. In fact, she barely reacts. She’s the one wasting his time. Em’s a four-thirty pointer and there are at least twenty businesses in this city which that fact keeps her from setting foot in. Her parents warned her when she was young, ‘You’ll carry a card to caste you your entire life unless you get that perfect six-hundred, Em. There’s men out there won’t even glance at you if you can’t scrape above that four-fifty threshold in your Leaving’. That accursed Leaving exam had pushed her down the list in emergency room queues, spoiled her civil service application and made friends wary of being seen to call at her front door. With her Leaving points read to her shame, Em collects her card from Byron and commences the long

walk back down the queue, eyes to the road and away from the tutting and jeers. When she at last elects to give that Byron a piece of her mind, she’s moments from rounding the corner of Studio 54-0, named with affection for its New York twin of the NinteenSeventies, where outrageously good-looks gave you class, exclusive entry and a whole lot of peer-envy. Em battles a queasy sensation in the pit of her stomach as she climbs back up the queue, but with her reputation already shattered in front of the surrounding strangers, she’s determined to rant Byron up a twenty-second storm. Byron’s just as numb when she returns to the top of the queue, shoving cards into his reader and begrudgingly allowing their beholders within the curtains of the club door. He’s never going to care enough to notice her, so she comes straight out with it to save time, ‘How many points do you have?’ Byron’s lips jitter so delicately she only spots it because she’s looking for it. He does his best to ignore her and carry on with his job but Em knows she’s got him. She spots Byron glance over his shoulder and down the queue, likely on the lookout for his superiors. She knows she’s caught his secret and decides it will do her a lot less harm than him to inquire aloud, ‘No one’s ever asked you before, have they?’ Em doesn’t expect an answer. He didn’t get this gig as a bouncer and stick with it for as long as his worn out brow tells her he has by grabbing a five-forty in his Leaving. She can still remember, ages ago now, a time when she could walk straight into The Drum, as Studio 54-0 was then known. She can’t help but wonder if Byron is a hold-over from the old regime, a late employee of The Drum, with a contract loophole and a resume Studio 54-0 never thought to check during that ego-explosion of a re-branding which led them to set such an elitist points-limit.

The only way to confirm her suspicions? Tact. ‘I remember you here from years ago when this place was still a free-for-all’, Em persuades him and waits for a response she knows she won’t get. Byron continues to check the end of the queue and prays for it to thin early so he can do-one before this lunatic of a pleb loses his job for him. But the crowd at the top of the queue have been listening to her questions and one intrigued twentysomething holds back his points-card and looks down his nose at Byron for a moment before he steps into the club, ‘I hope you have more ID than just a name tag, Byron’, he sneers. ‘I’m not a bleeding garda, mate, my ID’s only Studio 54-0’s business’. Em struggles among the crowd to keep within earshot since its collective eye now stalks the confrontation between Byron and the curious man in the queue. ‘Well I’ll just ask your employers if they can get you to show me your ID then’ Determined to avoid said scenario, and much to Em’s satisfaction, Byron reaches into the breast-pocket of his waistcoat and pulls out his ID. His potential customer whips it from his grip, scans it into the reader, gives Byron the once-over and steals any chance of him ever cracking that smile he’s been holding in for three years with a fatal and dismissive, ‘Who do you think you are?’

HUMOUR HEADLINES Sport: Ireland’s win against Germany proves we’re actually best team in the world, have been messing all along

Music: Pope Francis to release cover of Madonna’s ‘Like a Prayer’ ahead of upcoming tour Culture: Seachtain na Gaeilge presumably going about as well as last year Politics: Enda Kenny assures public that budget won’t be too bad, “some of my best friends are peasants” Film: Local trendsetter claims ‘Macbeth’ is “so 400 years ago”

Pope Francis to make a Holy Show in 2018 by Rose O’Sullivan The Electric Picnic of mass-goers is bound for Ireland in 2018 with the headliner being none other than Pope Francis, the Richard Dawkins of Catholicism, or ‘the Anti-Christ’ as affectionately termed by the late Ian Paisley. The Pope will perform his set, ‘Mass’, in an open air venue. The pontiff aims to get the whole audience chanting out (others mouthing silently) their favourite verses. Intricate footwork will be performed; standing, kneeling, sitting, and blessing, in a regimented, ‘hokey-pokey’ like fashion. Within a Hail Mary of the venue, merchants will be selling an ungodly amount of miniature statues sure to dwarf even your grandmother’s collection, that have been noted as the envy of the parish. However, the consumption of holy water is set to put a strain on an already beleaguered water system, with the main point of debate being whether people will pay for it or siphon it from church water fonts, endangering future baptisms.

Pope Francis will find that Ireland has ‘‘changed utterly’’ since Pope JP II’s performance in 1979. This was a time when the hurling final was contested by Galway v Kilkenny and the football final was battled out between Dublin v Kerry. It was a time when the government was led by a corrupt leader, and the main issues of the day were economic stagnation, emigration and chaos in the banking sector. In many aspects, Ireland in 1979 is as unrecognisable as an American tourist; that is, an American tourist wearing an Aran knitted jumper, humming Danny boy, holding a four leaf clover, a pint of Guinness and a book of Oscar Wilde quotes while kissing the Blarney stone at the same time. Unlike the Kilkenny hurling team, the Catholic Church does not continue to dominate. It would seem that Ireland, despite your mother’s best intentions and candle lighting, has become a nation of á la carte Catholics. This trend is confirmed by the latest census

issued by the Cromwell Association; when asked whether they would rather go “to Hell or to Connaught”, over 80% opted for ‘Hell’. This probably helps to explain why all is now quiet on the western front, and the Dublin population is thriving. In an interview with Joe Duffy, an elderly lady living under a rock in Kerry was quoted as saying: ‘‘It is a disgrace, Joe, a disgrace. People today, with their hoodies! I tell you, the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murdering, immoral sorcerers and idolaters and liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.’’ Now that’s a Revelation!

Irish Labour Party to Rebrand Before General Election by Deirdre Ferriter

UCC: Students who don’t give a shit about Ryan Tubridy suddenly care about Ryan Tubridy

TV LISTINGS 4

RTE 2, Thurs @ 7PM: Compilation of poorquality videos you have already seen on the internet, presented by Jedward. They’re hip, right? Right? TV 3, As above, but with someone slightly cheaper. Bressie maybe?

In a revolutionary move the Labour Party are to rebrand themselves to become ‘more aligned with their most recent policies’. Jarrow Collins, a spokesperson for the party, stated that “other political parties had two word names such as Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil, and Sinn Féin.” He added “We thought about going with Indentured Servitude Labour, but it didn’t fit with the two word scheme innit?” The name ‘Labour’ is seen by some as vague, and some within the party fear it could mistakenly label them as a party who was there to represent the work force. On the contrary, they have been praised for their revolutionary policies that have strained the Irish labour force so much that their output is as profitable as slavery. This breakthrough in austerity was the inspiration for their new name: “Slave Labour.” Though they have not technically achieved slave labour yet, their system is almost as efficient, as a minister was keen to explain;

‘Although they are paid, it is so little that we can prevent them from saving or acquiring assets. Then we use taxes to further disable them and remove all secondary welfare services so they end up poorer than when they were drawing welfare.’ Rather than pay an expensive living wage which would enable them to ‘rise above their station’ and perhaps deter major companies from coming to Ireland, Labour, with coalition partners Fine Gael, have made strides in cutting taxes for multinationals as they explained; ‘We had a choice, either to insist on paying people enough money to live on and take taxes from nice companies who’re only here making money OR make wages as low as possible and let nice companies keep their money. We chose the latter. Companies are people too!’ This was an easy choice as they insist the companies are much nicer than the

workers; ‘The companies wear nice suits, they’re always smiling and they bring nice treats, they’re happy with what we’ve offered. Workers are never happy and are always complaining! “We can’t pay for school books”…”We can’t afford healthy food”. It never ends’ These policies have proved popular with test groups, which may or may not have been formed entirely from CEOs of International SuperCompanies. Slave Labour hope that these policies, combined with their drastic rebranding, including replacing their logo with a picture of Margaret Thatcher, will further move them in public perception away from that ‘Lefty Commie Pinko Bastard’ Jeremy Corbyn and his ‘New, but not that new really’ Labour party in the United Kingdom.

EDITOR - LAUREN MULVIHILL

HUMOUR

Byline’s Bi-Weekly Horoscopes Astrologic Alger Presents Your Bi-Weekly Horoscopes (For One Week Only)

Aries: March 21 - April 19 Libra: Sept. 23 - October 22 Spirit Animal: Micropig Lucky Number: Floorteen

Aries are strong willed and stubborn, much like a chimp. Next time someone is causing you issue don’t hesitate to fling shit at them and beat your chest thoroughly to assert dominance as is your birthright

Spirit Animal: Meme cat Lucky Number: x (squared symbol)

This college craic isn’t so bad is it? Few classes, few cans, be grand. Wonder if Virgo wants to go out again tonight?

Scorpio: October 23 - Nov. 21

Taurus: April 20 - May 20

Spirit Animal: Hank Lucky Number: 6 before 6

Spirit Animal: Axylotyl Lucky Number: Twelve sevenths

Jesus Christ did your friend just throw shit at you for asking them to move over on the couch? What a psycho, maybe make friends with a nice friendly Gemini instead, they’re fairly sound

Yes Libra and Virgo are planning to go out without you. Again. Don’t worry, it’s not you it’s them. At least Leo is always there for you, sweet sweet Leo.

Sagittarius: Nov. 22 - Dec. 21

Gemini: May 21 - June 20 Spirit Animal: Enda Kenny Lucky Number: Twentington

Alright Gemini you’ve been keeping it altogether until now, nobody knows you secretly hate everyone around you. In fact more people may be flocking to you for friendship this week, just try and put up with them till you sell your manuscript, then they’ll all see

Spirit Animal: The ghost of your dead pet Lucky Number: 101001001 Your efforts in the gym have been paying off. You’re looking yoked, cut, built. The muscles won’t stop the inevitable coming of death and atrophy. Eat a pizza.

Capricorn: Dec. 22 - Jan. 19

Spirit Animal: The mice in the Windle Lucky Number: Pi

Cancer: June 21 - July 22 Spirit Animal: CRAB PEOPLE Lucky Number: Infinity plus one

Why is their shit on the wall? Ugh who did it, Aries or Leo? It’s always one of them. Especially that Leo, they think they’re so great with their new iPhone 6s. Wait how did they even pay for that?

We’re all really sick of watching you whip Capricorn. Stop with the nae nae’s too while you’re at it. In fact just stop trying to be cool and be yourself, just as soon as you figure out who you are. We dunno either.

Leo: July 23 - August 22 Aquarius: Jan. 20 - Feb. 18

Spirit Animal: That guy who necked a pint then went to his lecture Lucky Number: 1800 696969 Nobody knows about your sugar daddy

Virgo: August 23 - Sept. 22

Spirit Animal: Pteradon Lucky Number: (square root symbol) 12 College can be stressful, particularly when you’re not paying attention in class to read a fake horoscope. If you buckle down now and apply yourself maybe, just maybe you can pull this semester back from the brink. Look to Libras for inspiration

Spirit Animal: High Kick Kev Lucky Number: One singular sensation Only you seem to notice that Donal Trump is pretty much a nazi and only you seem worried. Don’t worry, I notice too. They’ll see. They’ll all see.

Pisces: Feb. 19 - March 20

Spirit Animal: Cocaine filled lobster Lucky Number: Slevin What’s up with Sagittarius and Capricorn? They seemed so driven until lately. Maybe you can help them out Pisces, your charming demeanour can turn any bad day into a good one. They’ll appreciate it. Stay away from Aries though, not even you can help them

GAMING Arcade Gaming in the 21st Century Sean Donegan asks: Is it Game Over for Arcade games, or is there still one more credit left in the machine?

Arcade gaming first began back in the 1930’s with the invention of the pinball machine. Found mostly in bars and porn stores, these rudimentary machines were essentially a form of gambling. It was only in the 1940’s, when flippers were added to machines, that pinball was transformed from a game of chance into a game of skill. The 1970’s saw the development of the first coin operated video game machines. Of these, a commercial success came in the form of Atari’s Pong. The 1980’s was the golden age of arcade gaming, featuring the release of many well-known titles including ubiquitous dot eater PacMan, the platforming precursor Donkey Kong, and alien blaster Space Invaders. The dawn of arcade fighting games began in the 1990’s with the rise of gory brawler Mortal Kombat and the perennially popular Street Fighter II. Konami’s Dancing Stage was released to widespread acclaim and amassed a large, almost cult-like following. With the 2000’s and the advent of the home gaming console, popularity of arcade games dwindled. Some titles such as Guitar Hero brought a small scale renaissance, yet it seems safe to say the glory days of the arcade are over. In an era where everyone and their Granny owns a smartphone, is there any room left in the world for the humble arcade game? There are very few dedicated arcades left in Ireland. Walk into most any arcade today and you will find things in a sorry state – most of the machines are abandoned. Very few developers are creating games specifically designed with the arcade in mind anymore. The question remains: what can arcade gaming offer in the 21st century that home consoles cannot? As a child, waiting in the airport departures lounge or travelling on a

ferry was an exciting event for one reason: the arcade games. I fondly remembering pilfering precious fifty pence off my parents for another go on House of the Dead or Metal Slug. Is there a way to recreate this thrill for the modern consumer? The cinema remains ever popular in spite of the ability to watch the latest movies online. The main reason for this, in my opinion, is that it provides a unique experience that cannot be recreated at home. Surely a similar model can be applied to arcade gaming.

a step further with a vintage 1980’s theme, including memorabilia, cocktails and of course classic arcade games. Such a venue could be a popular spot for dates or killing a few hours with friends. I know I’d go there. It seems the hipsters are one step ahead (as usual) in this regard with ‘Barcade’, an arcade bar located in Brooklyn’s painfully trendy Williamsburg district serving an impressive list of craft beers and featuring many old favourite games such as Bust-AMove and Asteroids.

In a similar manner to the cinema arcade gaming can offer an experience you won’t find anywhere else. Playing games in an arcade offers immediately accessible games which you can pick up and play with no instruction manual or hours of dialogue required. For a meagre investment (compared to the cost of actually buying a game) you are able to choose from a wide variety of games and dip your toe in genres you might otherwise have neglected. Who knows, you may even discover your new obsession. The arcade high scores board also adds an interesting competitive element to gaming. There’s a strange satisfaction in knocking KEK off the number one spot and replacing it with your own shining initials. It also allows you access to fancy niche peripheral hardware such as light guns and steering wheels which would be very expensive to purchase for personal use. If we’re lucky the new Oculus Rift headsets may even be making an appearance at an arcade near you some time in the not so distant future.

However, it’s not all doom and gloom

There are a number of ways to give arcade gaming a modern day twist and make it appeal to a larger, more casually inclined audience. One idea would be to have an arcade themed bar. One could even take it

for arcade games. Many arcade style games remain popular on Steam, even to this day. This includes titles such as Audiosurf and the current evolution of the Street Fighter series. There is also the Bullet Hell genre which is very popular in Japan – one of the last bastions of arcade gaming in today’s world. These games are very arcade-y in their style. As the name suggests, one must navigate a “ship” through an onslaught of bullets – and I use the word onslaught here in the lightest sense possible. Dedicated arcade gaming venues remain popular in Japan to the present day. Here you can find everything from schoolgirls eagerly trying to claim giant stuffed manga figures from UFO machines to the stereotypical Japanese businessmen battling out a few rounds on Street Fighter IV for bragging rights. Games from classic to modern era are represented with appropriately matching price tags, and ice cream and energy drink dispensing machines are a nice touch. My motto is: if it works in Japan, it can work here. It will take a bit of willpower and dedication to make it a reality but I firmly believe, and hope, that a full scale resurrection of arcade games is within reach.

Top 5 Grossing Arcade Games of All Time

1. Pac-Man (1980)

2. Space Invaders (1978)

3. Street Fighter II (1992)

4. Ms.Pac-Man (1981)

5. NBA Jam (1993)

GAMING

EDITOR - AOIFE GLEESON

Indie Rewind Amy O’ Callaghan looks back at some great indies you might have missed 2015 has been a great year for games. The current-gen consoles are now fully established and are releasing games by the truckload, with lots of major games yet to even grace our consoles. Gamers are certainly spoilt for choice, yet with the huge numbers of big games being released, it’s easy to forget the often overlooked indie game, which is also seeing a renaissance of sorts. If you’re looking for detailed, quirky storylines then look no further. You’ll soon realise that you don’t need a multi-billion dollar games company in order to be absorbed into incredibly unique worlds filled with memorable characters. Each of these games, like most indie games, have been made with absolute care and attention, meaning that they’re all incredibly unique and engrossing. What you’re playing could have easily been made with a team of twenty people, thus making them more personal and even more enchanting. If you haven’t yet, I certainly recommend downloading a few, you certainly won’t regret it.

Ori and the Blind Forest (PC/Xbox One)

Ori and the Blind Forest is an absolutely great game in terms of both design and story. The game looks like a Studio Ghibli film, and the story is inspired by the likes of The Iron Giant and The Lion King, so you can’t really go wrong. You play as a spirit, Ori, in this 2D open world platform game, and you navigate your way through the world by solving puzzles. It’s really cute, and really gorgeous. If you don’t believe me, just watch the trailer.

The Vanishing of Ethan Carter (PC/PS4) Among the Sleep (PC/PS4/Xbox One) The Vanishing of Ethan Carter: The 2014 horror adventure game allows you to play as a paranormal investigator who uses his occult powers to solve crimes. You’re dropped into an open world and left with no instructions as to where to go or what to do. The only clue you have is a letter from a twelve year old named Ethan Carter, who along with his family and the rest of his town, is missing.

Among the Sleep: This is another creepy game which lets you play as a small toddler in search of his mother. The landscape is literally nightmarish – warped, shrouded versions of rooms you’re so familiar with during the day twist and loom over you while you explore alongside a talking teddy bear companion. The musical score thrums with the kind of eerie lullabies that would make anyone’s hair stand on end. Among the Sleep is all about building atmosphere: the actual gameplay, which involves collecting memories of your mother through solving puzzles, isn’t the most difficult or taxing.

Does The Last of Us 2 Need to Exist? By Aoife Gleeson - Gaming Editor Over the past few months various people associated with The Last of Us have been dropping major hints about an imminent sequel. When Nolan North was asked if he was doing anything with Naughty Dog after Uncharted 4 he responded ‘Well, I know they’re doing The Last of Us 2’. During a livestream last month one of the writers of TLOU referred to it as ‘the first Last of Us’ before backtracking and stumbling over his words. While Neil Druckmann and Bruce Stanley, the directors of TLOU, have refrained from directly commenting on its existence they do entertain hypothetical questions from reporters on what other stories could be told in that universe. The directors have also stated that, before they were reassigned to direct Uncharted 4 (replacing Amy Hennig, the director of the previous three instalments), they were playing around with ideas for games, including a sequel. It seems that

TLOU 2, with the original’s acclaim and Sony’s eager support, is somewhat of an inevitability. If you’ve played TLOU you’re probably aware that it has one of the most emotional, poignant and affecting endings of any game in the last generation. In my opinion, in its emotional ambiguity, it’s as close to perfect as an ending can get. Which is why I shy away from the idea of a sequel – in my mind the story of those characters has already been told. This can also be said for the ending of the first season of Telltale’s The Walking Dead, a game which had many thematic similarities with TLOU. The second season, continuing on from an ambiguous, emotional ending, failed to capture players in the same way and was generally viewed as disappointing. That’s what I fear for TLOU – that any more being said would ruin its perfect

ambiguity. Yet, I don’t know if I feel the same after Left Behind, TLOU’s DLC that focused on Ellie’s life in the apocalypse before she met Joel. The DLC was an emotional gut punch – a beautiful, tragic self-contained story that explored a character I already thought I knew so well. There was more to say. The main game also contained many heart-breaking side stories and supporting characters (like Bill and Ish) that you would be forgiven for forgetting about completely due to the gravitas of the main plot and relationship. One thing’s for sure: Neil Druckmann and Bruce Stanley know how to tell stories. They’ve stated their hesitation at telling an unnecessary continuation of Joel and Ellie’s story so I think we can feel confident that they’ll find something

interesting to say in the bleak, morbid world of clickers that they created.

INTERVIEW with

Jackie Clarke

BYLINE: Many of you may have had odd experiences in your life. Some of them may elude your rational explanation. I myself have had one odd episode, a reason for which I’ve never been able to track down but let’s save that for another time. In the Halloween spirit this issue we interviewed a real life paranormal investigator from Cork to recount her own experiences with the supernatural and her role in a Cork city paranormal investigation group. Jackie Clarke is a Cork native who’s spent most of her life here, even having her first brush with the supernatural near her home: Jackie Clarke: My interest in the paranormal started at a young age when playing on the street with a few friends. I looked at the house across from my own and saw this old women in the upstairs window. I knew the family very well and didn’t know who she was. She was quite odd looking with really dark sunken eyes. I asked the girls I was playing with did they know who she was but none of them said they could see her. I had a couple of more odd experiences as I got older but never really thought of ghosts or anything to do with the paranormal. But about 4 years ago I woke at around 5am, I went downstairs to go to the bathroom. As I was going down the stairs I could hear a lot of movement in the hallway. I just thought it was one of my children and I was wondering why they were making so much noise. As I got to the bottom of the stairs I heard someone run and slam the kitchen door closed. We have a big dog in the kitchen who can be very loud when someone else is in the house but he was fast asleep and no one was in the room. Rather than go it alone in her efforts to further explore the supernatural Jackie has found a group of likeminded individuals to explore the world less seen: JC: I am the co-founder of Cork Supernatural Society which is non-profit group of 5 and was established in 2013.My daughter Emma had started to visit a few supposedly haunted sites and basically I went along just to have a look. We then started to take it more seriously and started to save for equipment and advertise for members and the group grew from there. As a group we try to collect evidence of the paranormal by first ruling out any possible alternative explanation for the claims. Although 90 per cent of supposedly haunted locations are not actually haunted based on our investigations. We also investigate private homes and businesses when asked to. We use a lot of equipment on investigations such as: Night vision camera: to pick up things the human eye may not in low light environments since most paranormal investigation takes place at night

EMF meter: EMF stands for Electromagnetic fields, an EMF meter reads any changes in the field of the local area as many believe ghosts or other entities disrupt the natural EMF of an area

Digital thermometers: to detect so called cold spots or other abnormal temperature changes

IR lights: Infrared lights help to detect movement that the human eye may not detect, similar technology is used in some types of burglar alarms

Frank’s box: a specialised electronic box used to try to capture EVP or electronic voice phenomena, voices or other noises that only show up on recordings

Other audio recording equipment: to help record the investigation for posterity

BY: While many people may believe in the paranormal not many will go out of their way to investigate it further, for Jackie though her curiosity drives her JC: For me the attraction has been because of a couple of the experiences I’ve had. Basically I just want to see for myself if there truly is anything else out there or is it just all stories. I also love getting the chance to spend time in some of Ireland’s most historic locations and I have had the chance to meet some great people through our work. It’s also nice to help people who may believe their home is haunted when we get call outs to investigate private homes.

BY: In her investigations some hunts have been more successful for others, Jackie recounts one such hunt for us here: JC: The strangest bit of evidence we have got to date was a picture of a man in Timoleague Abbey. On the night there were five of us in the building. It was ...one of the lads who took the photo. We didn’t notice anything strange till we got home and reviewed the equipment. It’s a very clear picture of a man. There is no way anyone could have got into this part of the building without one of us seeing them and we just can’t think of any reasonable explanation for this picture. We also had a door bang open at the Eldon hotel in Skibbereen and have got a number of EVPs on our audio (the EVP is a disembodied voice which was not heard at the time but picked up on the audio recorders) all of this can be found on our Facebook page “Cork Supernatural Society” (not to be confused with a fan group for the popular TV series Supernatural) BY: While we wanted Jackie and her group to investigate the Windle building time was against us for this issue, so we asked what other locations in Cork are known to be haunted: JC: Cork has many supposedly haunted sites but many of these are just legends and nothing more. The buildings we have picked up evidence at include The Eldon Hotel, Timoleague Abbey, Ballinacarriga Castle, St. Kevin’s Asylum and Elizabeth Fort. We have also got activity at Leap Castle in Offaly, Innisfallen Island in Kilarney and Enniscorthy Castle in Wexford. BY: I first heard about Jackie and her group through a press release publicising an upcoming convention in Cork dedicated to the paranormal which Jackie is involved in JC: I will be giving a speech at the 15th World Ghost Convention at the Cork City Gaol on October 30th. I will be talking about the evidence we have gathered to date, along with my personal experiences and that of the groups as well as Location we have been to. BY: The convention, which will be opened by the Lord Mayor just in time for Halloween, will also be attended by Dr. Margaret Humphreys of the Folklore and Ethnology Department of UCC, Vicky Antoinette a Psychic Medium of the Angelic Realms Holistic Centre Cork and Teresa Collins and Edwin Flavin, both Reiki practitioners. Many of the speakers come from fields that have less than stellar reputations, including Jackie. We asked her about what kinds of reactions she sometimes gets when talking about her work JC: We do of course get the odd bit of stick for what we do but we try and say to people we are trying to debunk claims. On occasions we have got evidence we simply cannot explain and we put it forward as evidence and let people make up their own minds. As for things like paranormal TV show we definitely believe these to be FAKE as real investigations are nothing like you see on TV. For more information on Jackie Clarke and her group, the Cork Supernatural Society, you can find them on Facebook or email them on ‘corksupernatural.society@yahoo.ie’

ARTS & LITERATURE Oh Horror! Colm Furlong takes a look at the Horror genre of literature. With Halloween approaching, it seems only fitting to include a piece about horror literature. I’ve always been fascinated with the horror genre. I love horror films, I love horror television shows and I love horror stories. The novels, short stories and flash fiction that make up the horror genre of literature are an interesting breed. Unlike their counterparts on the big and small screen, they cannot rely on loud music and jump scares to frighten their audience. Horror literature has a particular way of chilling you to the bone that horror on the screen just can’t match. I’m by no means against horror films or television shows, I just think horror literature carries an extra element they don’t. In fact, many of the most popular horror films and television shows stem from successful novels or short stories. Instead of jump scares and loud music, horror writers carefully craft their prose with intricate descriptions that can terrify even the most lax imagination; and for those of us with a vivid imagination their words can become even more terrifying. Horror writers rely on subtle hints and suggestion; they create a sense of mystery and suspense. They play on the nerves of the readers to ensure they remain on the edge of their seats or curled beneath a blanket ready to hurl the book away at a moment’s notice. Horror writers must ensure that the reader feels that both they and the characters are isolated, with little or no chance of escaping the hell they are in. They are true masters of the craft. They have perfected their writing to such a level that mere words can inspire terror. The following are some (but by no means all) of the best horror writers out there:

Stephen King

No horror writers list could ever be complete without one of, if not the only king of horror literature. There is a reason Stephen King is one of the bestselling authors ever: he’s that good. I don’t think there is another writer alive today who can match King’s prowess in the genre. He has penned numerous bestselling horror novels throughout his career, and he is by no means finished yet. From his first published novel Carrie (1974) to his most recent effort Finders Keepers (2015) King has rarely put a foot wrong. He consistently delivers horror fiction that mesmerises the readers, while also sending shivers down their spines and throughout their bodies. He also delivers original stories, rather than recycling the same tropes over and over. Just look at the differences between The Shining, It, Cujo and Misery. These are just some of King’s most famous works, and each is unique, yet each has terrified and haunted readers for years. His works are some of the ones I mentioned as being inspiration for popular movies and television shows. The Shining is now also a very successful film directed by Stanley Kubrick, and Under the Dome is a successful television show, developed by Brian K. Vaughan. King’s works are incredibly powerful members of the vast array of horror literature available, and I highly recommend you pick one up if you’ve not read his work before.

Robert Kirkman

For those of you who love a good zombie story, you need look no further than Robert Kirkman’s The Walking Dead graphic novels. The main inspiration behind the hit television series, The Walking Dead graphic novels tell the story of Rick Grimes who awakens from a coma in a zombie infested world. What makes these so brilliant, however, is not the awesome zombie horror and gore, but the fact that they are at heart survival stories, and an examination of the human psyche and how it adapts to survive in the face of extreme adversity. We see the characters grow throughout these graphic novels to such an extent that they are barely recognisable as the characters we are first introduced to. Much of the horror in these works arises from situations not involving the zombie hordes; but from everyday situations made that much harder by the conditions of the world. Suspense and tension is ripe throughout, and the reader is truly invested in discovering how these characters adapt to the ever-deteriorating world around them.

Darren Shan

Darren Shan is predominantly a Young Adult writer, however he too has mastered the horror genre. The Darren Shan Saga, The Demonata and Zom-B are all examples of this. Each of these series are aimed at young adult readers, yet they are also examples of brilliant horror writing at play. Shan creates fascinating stories about vampires, demons and zombies through vivid descriptions and suspense filled narratives. Shan’s work offers a brilliant starting point in the horror genre for young readers; it is not nearly as terrifying or dark as some of the more ‘Adult’ novels out there, yet still scary enough that it thrills readers and leaves them frightened.

There are many more brilliant horror writers out there; Mary Shelley, Anne Rice, H.P. Lovecraft, Bram Stoker, Dean Koontz and James Herbert to name a few. What better way to get into the Halloween spirit than with a good old scary book?

EDITOR - COLM FURLONG

ARTS & LIT

A Movie, A TV Series, and A Video Game? Ryan Back reports on the upcoming adaption of The Kingkiller Chronicle. The Kingkiller Chronicle by Patrick Rothfuss is one of the best-selling fantasy series of novels in the last few years. It has a popularity that comes close to rivalling George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire. With two books released thus far, and a third on the way (with no confirmed release date thus far), the series has proven very successful with fans of the genre, and has cultivated a massive fanbase of its own. The series has sold upwards of 10 million copies and has been a huge presence on the New York Times bestseller list. The series tells the story of the

protagonist Kvothe. It operates in both an autobiographical manner; with Kvothe narrating his own story, and in a regular narrative manner during present day interludes. Further evidence of the series’ success surfaced recently when it was announced that Lionsgate has brokered a deal to bring the series to the big screen, the small screen and video games consoles around the world. Yes you read that right. Lionsgate will be developing movies, television series and games based on Rothfuss’ books. The expanded world of the novels

also includes short stories written by Rothfuss, and so it lends itself to further exploration through the visual mediums. As far as I am aware (and feel free to correct me if I am wrong), an adaption of a written work has never been attempted on a scale such as this before. Fans of the series would be right to be somewhat sceptical. But remember this, Rothfuss has voiced his support for the endeavour on his blog, and as he puts it, no one loves these books more than he does. If he is behind the project, fans should take that as a good sign. I for one am excited to see how this turns

out; it has the potential to make the series even bigger and better.

Writing What You Know By Colm Furlong - Arts & Literature Editor It’s an age old saying that writers everywhere have been told more than once. “Write what you know”. What does that mean? Does it even work? Opinions on this topic differ greatly among writers. Some stand by it unequivocally, others dismiss it as irrelevant and useless advice. I’m here to offer you my take on the matter. The mistake many people make when they hear this phrase is to assume the speaker means you should just write about things you know about, just write about events from your past. This is not at all what it means; at least it is not how I interpret the saying. To me, writing what you know is more of a guideline. By all means, your life experience can be a big help to your writing. You should absolutely let it influence your work; it may even make it much more of an interesting story. The same goes for your own personal knowledge. If you know the intricate details of how a forensic scientist dissects a crime scene, or you happen to be intimately familiar with the inner workings of clocks, you should absolutely allow these to filter into your stories; provided they fit the story being told. Your knowledge of these things sets you apart from other writers out there, because I can guarantee they will know things you won’t, and you will know things they don’t.

The thing you have to remember is, these don’t have to be the only things you write about. You can write about anything and everything you want. You can write poems, you can write short stories, you can write novels, you can write plays. You can even write screenplays, or anything else you want to. Just because you don’t know about something doesn’t mean you can’t write about it; you can always learn, or, so long as it’s fiction, just make it up! I believe “write what you know” is one of several guidelines one can either choose to abide by or ignore completely when it comes to writing. There is no right way to write. No advice will work for everyone. Each and every writer is different. What works for me might not work for you, what works for you might not work for me. Any advice I offer you has a high chance of being complete crap because I’ll probably contradict it moments later by saying something else. The only thing that is certain is that you will find a way of writing that works for you. You may take on board some of the guidelines that exist, you may invent your own. In conclusion, perhaps a better phrase would be “write what you want to write,” or, “write what makes you happy”.

MUSIC By Holly Cooney - Music Editor

Busted Back Together?

Jazz Fest. 2016

Attention all cargo pants and short sleeved tops over long sleeved tops enthusiasts. The spikey haired boys every girl fancied and every boy wanted to be are said to be reuniting! The noughties’ favourite guitar band, Busted are rumoured to be bringing their unique brand of British accented wannabe American high school pop back on tour. Despite claims that pigs would fly before estranged member Charlie Simpson would re-join the louty lads it seems the success that former bandmates James Bourne and Matt Willis have had with the McBusted supergroup has changed his mind. Not one for cynicism, I hardly imagine the staggering financial success of the McBusted machine has had anything to do with Simpson’s return. Since leaving a band whose music “was like torture” Simpson has cut all ties with his Busted past, forming alt-rock band Fightstar, releasing brooding acoustic solo projects and claiming collaborations with cool kids like CHVRCHES and Bastille are next on the list but I’m sure returning to the iconic noughties band was more due to his desperation for bleach blonde tips than cold hard cash. It’s lucky for Simpson that his draw to the world of screaming girls- now 20 somethings has come just in time for their ten year anniversary! Despite the irritation of former Busted worshippers and this writer especially, the draw to see our favourite boys back together will be too much for most, no matter how hipster their fans now are. Yes I’m cynical, but the 10 year old girl inside me is hysterical, though that said I’m more excited that this news may result in the long awaiting release of the new McFly album.

The Guinness Cork Jazz festival takes place this Thursday 22nd– Monday 26th October, playing host to The Boomtown Rats, The Coronas, The Drifters and many more, including a Festival Club and music trails throughout the city’s pubs and clubs. This is sure to be a premier weekend of music that’s certainly not to be missed. Check out http://www.guinnessjazzfestival.com/.

Halloween Playlist

This Halloween prepare for a drunken singalong to your favourite vaguely seasonal hits.

60 Second Interview

Damon Walsh talks to The Pearly Whites about the Guinness Cork Jazz Festival 2016.

Byline: The Pearly Whites have played a huge number of festivals nationwide. How does the Cork Jazz Festival compare? Alan: I think the fact that it’s music

based is a huge plus for any musician going in, just to be able to get out and see other acts. We’ve done a lot of festivals that could be like food festivals or something like that,[but] just to be able to be involved, immersed in just music… like I know it’s not even so much a Jazz [festival] anymore there’s just so much going on, which probably doesn’t sit well with a lot of people but you know, more variety brings more people in-

Byline: Is there anything particularly unique about Cork crowds compared to the rest of the country?

Or go to: bit.ly/SpoopyUCC

Alan: Cork crowds are good, it’s hard to pick out something unique about them. You’d see the same faces a lot in

Cork, there’s some people you could pick out like following you, there always in for the gig.

Byline: How would you explain a Pearly Whites gig to someone who’s never been to one? Alan: Best way to describe it is, I think it’s a high energy performance. We’re a high energy act. We try to make it a feel-good gig - if we’re having fun, the crowd will have fun, we’re always feeding off that. Big thing for us is we feed off the crowd. So you know, it works both ways. And interaction, there’s a huge amount of interaction that goes on between the band. Feelgood music, upbeat up tempo, high energy, that’s what to expect from a Pearly Whites gig. The Pearly Whites play a double gig for the Guinness Cork Jazz Festival in the Old Oak on Sunday 25th October.

MUSIC

EDITOR - HOLLY COONEY

Girl Band Review By Edel Carmody Where to start describing Girl Band’s sound? They’re startlingly original, snarling and ferocious. While the band themselves aren’t keen on being labelled as a grunge band and cite a vast range of influences (everyone from The Fall to Daft Punk), grunge comparisons are frequently drawn. Girl Band underwent a bit of a rebirth a few years ago when they were transformed after singer Dara Kiely suffered from a psychotic episode, during which he experienced acute highs and lows, however their tongue-in-cheek songs are littered with puns and cover everything from the

mundane to the profound. Girl Band have built up rather a reputation for their raucous and thrillingly visceral shows. Kiely limped on stage with a crutch (torn ankle tendons apparently) well after 11 o’clock, yet the band showed no signs of resting as they tore through a fast paced set. Kiely is an unassuming, typical Irish guy with a Kurt Cobainesque haircut, that is until unleashes his vocals. Then he transforms into a classic rage monster of a frontman; he spits, he slouches, his face contorts, he

hunches over as he howls words that are barely distinguishable. The screaming of Duggan’s distorted guitar and Fox’s bass match Kiely’s vocals perfectly. As Kiely careened about the stage wildly and clutched at his clothing, concerns for his remaining sound leg were abandoned. Fox, Faulkner and Duggan were noticeably composed and stoic in comparison to their frenetic frontman . Kiely isn’t one to interact with the crowd much, often seeming to be completely oblivious, his eyes firmly shut. However at one stage he did interject to dissuade a fan of chanting that ever loathsome

“oi”. “De Bom Bom”, ”Lawman” and their particularly feral cover of Blawan’s “Why They Hide Their Bodies Under My Garage” went down particularly well with the moshing crowd. Undoubtedly it has been rather a while since the unsuspecting 100-year-old venue has had its foundations so roughly shaken.

brightest hip-hop prospect (the young man toppled both Kanye West and J. Cole off the top spot in the iTunes hip-hop charts, albeit for a very brief moment.) In 2013, we saw a young man who seemed ready to show the world that the Irish brogue and rap were not mutually exclusive with the release of his debut EP Rejovich. And he did just that, with subtle unnerving jazz instrumentals to back him up. Over the EP’s five tracks, Snow flows smoothly and confidently, making a strong case for the Irish.

The Irish scene has more closely embraced foreign influences, and Snow is certainly no exception. Influenced by gloomy lyricist MF Doom on Rejovich, LA’s Odd Future collective also struck a rebellious chord with the Dubliner. The future is bright as his latest single, “All Around The World”, reached the halfmillion view mark on YouTube in just a matter of weeks!

The Snowball Effect Conor O’Donovan explores the growing Irish Hip Hop community. Recently the Irish music scene has borne witness to an indie explosion and from the outside it might seem that the Irish music scene has descended into a state of acoustic one-upmanship. Irish hip-hop stands ready as the fresh kid on the tiresome block however, as the previously underground scene appears to be making some tracks. Locally, Cork act Spekulativ Fiktion flies the Rebel flag for hip-hop and does it with some gusto. His latest EP ‘Deathly Words’ mixes percussive

electronic instrumentals and emotive lyrics to great effect. Another old-guard of Cork hip-hop and creator of many of the cities’ sounds is producer Gary McCarthy, known as “GMC” who does commendable work with younger kids, through workshops in the inner city. Here, he works to promote hip-hop as an art form through which a talent in creative writing can be harnessed. The star of the show is Rejjie Snow, however. This summer saw the return of the Dublin-based rapper, Ireland’s

Plagiarism Problems In light of the recent accusations against Hozier, Philip Hayden talks plagiarism in the music industry. You may or may not have heard about Andrew Hozier-Byrne’s recent brush with accusations of plagiarism. Canadian songwriter and producer, Chilly Gonzales commented in a “music masterclass” for the German radio station 1Live, that Hozier’s Take Me To Church was “almost exactly the same thing” as Feist’s How Come You Never Go There, a song recorded a year prior to the release of Hozier’s debut single. He argued this was due to both songs having a very similar “slow and noble triple time and sad chords”. Hozier through his agent Caroline Downey has rejected the accusations and has since lodged a defamation case in the High Court against Gonzales.

Sadly, this is just another addition as so far we’ve watched Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams found guilty of plagiarising Marvin Gaye’s Got to Give It Up and Sam Smith’s Stay With Me sounding just like Tom Petty’s I Won’t Back Down. Most recently, Mark Ronson’s megahit Uptown Funk was determined to be a blatant rip-off of Oops Upside Your Head by The Gap Band. The surprising thing is that people still don’t seem to consider musical plagiarism that big a deal. Yes, there are obviously certain repetitions that crop up constantly in popular music but I just don’t see how Mark Ronson listened to Oops Upside Your Head,

thought he could just change the words to ‘Uptown funk you up’ and sell it as his own original song. As for Hozier, I wouldn’t say he plagiarised per se, more that he borrowed from Feist. I can’t help but think that Hozier had written the chorus (which is a great chorus by the way, he should be really proud of it) but struggled to write a suitable verse. He’s already admitted that he’s a big Feist fan, so it’s not unreasonable that he heard How Come You Never Go There and saw potential in its moody piano-driven triple-time composition. However there are enough substantial differences between the songs such as Hozier’s vastly superior melody, the

aforementioned booming chorus and the haunting “Amens” to make Hozier’s debut very much its own piece of music. Plagiarism like anything else, is a spectrum and I would consider Hozier’s case somewhere towards the bottom. But regardless of whether you think Hozier plagiarised or not, don’t just dismiss plagiarism as “oh well, some songs just sound the same”. Plagiarism is a serious issue and if music is something that you’re interested in, don’t make it socially acceptable for artists to steal from those who have worked incredibly hard to be where they are.

FILM & TELEVISION How Horror Brought Itself Back to Life The horror genre has undergone a modern makeover. Following its recent resurrection Alex Bermingham depicts how the genre is back and darker than ever before With the glorious holiday known as Hallowe’en looming towards us, it seems only appropriate to turn our attention towards some of the more eerie television shows that have begun to captured our screens as of late. With shows such as “American Horror Story”, “Scream Queens” and “Scream” becoming three of the most popular shows to watch in 2015, it appears that the horror genre is rising from the ashes of badly made horror films which haunt the early 2000’s and fast becoming a roaring success. For our generation, “American Horror Story” is probably one of the most ground-breaking examples of the horror genre that we have been exposed to. As the fifth season of the show has just aired, it seems like we’ve welcomed it with open arms. “AHS”, as it’s called by the cool kids, brings its audience some of the darkest and most twisted storylines and characters ever seen. It becomes even more disturbing when you realise that these spine-chilling tales come from the same writing team that brought you “Glee”… There are very few films or television shows out there today that have the ability to make you fall in love with their main villain, yet every single season of “AHS” brings a vulnerable

and startlingly loveable character to our screens. For example, Tate Langdon of season one, shot and killed fifteen students in his school, set his mother’s boyfriend on fire and raped his girlfriend’s mom while wearing an exceedingly disturbing black latex suit and mask. Despite all of this, girls can’t get enough of him. Admittedly, I also had a bit of a thing for him myself, but to be honest I think that comes with the territory of being a fan of the show; you will always love Evan Peters no matter what type of character he was playing, including the excessively boring Frankenstein-esque “Kyle” in season three - Am I right fellow fans, or am I right? Another character to gain our sympathy is the haunting killer clown, Twisty from season four of the show. His appearance is truly terrifying, as he stands at 6 feet tall in a dishevelled clown costume, complete with one of the most terrifying masks I have ever seen in my life; a gaunt smile just covering his mouth for reasons which we learn later on. As the episodes progress and we learn more about his character’s past, we find ourselves saying “you know what? He didn’t really mean to kill all of those people, he’s just misunderstood.” It’s sick. We know.

Besides the well written storylines and characters that “AHS” brings us, it also has another major thing to offer; stars. The ensemble that Ryan Murphy is able to bring together is astounding, with headliners such as Jessica Lange, Zachary Quinto, Denis O’Hare, Evan Peters and Emma Roberts, as well as guest stars such as Neil Patrick Harris, Adam Levine, Stevie Nicks and Patti LuPone. Each season is never without a name to headline, the latest season has signed Lady Gaga in her acting debut, as the show’s lead. Another creation of Murphy’s which offers us an array of stars is his new comedy-horror hit “Scream Queens”. This show is legitimately less scary in comparison to “AHS”, but still brings you scenes which have the ability to make you jump, while still making a slight parody of horror movies of the past. This show is made up of a sea of teen stars from Disney Channel and Nickeloden circa 2008 including Emma Roberts, Keke Palmer, Abigail Breslin, Ariana Grande, Lea Michele and Nick Jonas, as well as the original scream queen herself, Jamie Lee Curtis. Having only aired less than a month ago, it has already gained a huge following and has set Twitter feeds ablaze with fans constantly questioning #WhosBehindTheMask?

Like “Scream Queens” the Netflix original “Scream” is less serious than “AHS” but still contributes to the revival of the horror genre, and makes a very strong contribution at that. The show has gained a major fanbase, having only premiered its first season this summer, it has already been renewed for a second season. Stemming from the film franchise of the same name, it follows a group of teens’ quest to find their town’s killer and although there are moments in the show which are just rather cringey, there are also scenes which have you trying to cover your eyes simultaneously as the creepiest version of any song I have ever heard is blared through a speaker. With Hallowe’en only in a matter of weeks, many will take inspiration from these and other shows, basing their costumes on certain characters. This is a clear example of how this sub-culture is reinventing itself. These shows are constantly inventing new ways to terrify their audience, which keeps them coming back for more each time. With horror writers clearly ignoring any type of conformities or boundaries it makes you question how much further are these show willing to go in order to make us jump?

Express Halloween Film Favourites

FILM & TV

EDITOR - OLIVIA BROWN

The Timelessness of Period Drama Zoe Fitzpatrick discusses what is it that keeps drawing us back to times gone by From BBC series’, to hit movies, everyone’s got that one period drama which they love. This year sees the final season of one of the most popular series of the genre, Downton Abbey. There’s a wide variety of reasons this genre celebrates worldwide success. The romantic plots, well created characters, and beautiful costumes are only the surface of what has us so attached to these shows! Our unwavering lust for times gone by help ensure the continuity of these films and tv shows. Period dramas present romanticised versions of how the royalty lived, pre-technology, glimpsing lives dominated by entertaining trivialities such using the wrong dinner fork - imagine the horror! Era based works can help to contextualise historical information we may have learned elsewhere. Some, such as the upcoming series “Queen Victoria” or the renowned film “The King’s Speech” deal with historical figures and are based on fascinating

true stories. Others may focus more on the time in question, and create fictional characters who live the typical life of their time, such as the German mini-series “Generation War”. Period dramas host some of the best onscreen characters today. Top actors and actresses of both England and Ireland flock to take part in these films, clearly as enthralled by them as we are. Keira Knightley, Emma Thompson, Leonardo DiCaprio, Dame Maggie Smith, and Helena Bonham Carter are but a few who have wowed us time and time again in such films and TV shows. The genre has becoming a starting point for many newcomers such as Joanne Frogatt who have gone on to win critical acclaim. Set against the fairy-tale backdrops of times gone by are captivating plots. Some period dramas are war focused, while others are more peaceful. Most deal with star crossed lovers trying to transcend the bounds of society, but this is not always the case. Sometimes we see a reflection of a more modern

issue against these historical backdrops. Many of the storylines are still relevant in life today. This perfect balance of problems that no longer affect us and issues which are still relevant help give these shows their feeling of timelessness. One of the most impressive plots of Downton Abbey was when Anna was raped by Mr.Green and couldn’t escape that traumatic experience for seasons after. Another talking point of period dramas are the costumes. From the beautiful regency style dresses seen in “Wuthering Heights” and “Pride and Prejudice” to the “upcoming” flapper fashion we see creeping into the later dramas, the stunning period costume helps to make these shows completely authentic and believable. It has been fascinating to see how the Downton wardrobe has transitioned to the shorter hemlines and sequined, flapper dresses of the 1920’s - I mean who could forget the drama caused by Lady Mary’s daring new bob or Lady Sybil’s billowing trouser suit!

Period dramas are ultimately so enthralling because they transport viewers to a different time. They offer a chance to disconnect from our own lives for a few hours to a world forgotten - where courting was an actual thing, a book maybe the most valuable thing you own, lords and ladies lived in fairy tales and history wrote the most gripping storylines of all. This timelessness is what has ensured this generation’s complete captivation by these period dramas.

Is Bond Finally Breaking? Against the backdrop of the release of the 24th official Bond film, Philip Hayden asks whether it’s time 007 threw in the towel This week sees the releases of the latest instalment in the James Bond franchise, Spectre. The Bond franchise is one of the longestrunning and without a doubt one of the most beloved film series of all time. But the question still has to be asked: has Bond’s time finally come? Is there really any point continuing a 50-year old franchise when it’s abandoned all of the elements which made it so popular in the first place? Although Skyfall generally received positive reviews from critics following its release, one could hardly call it a Bond film in the traditional sense. Where were the gadgets (a gun isn’t a gadget)? Where was the ridiculous over-the-top villain? Where was the tongue-in-cheek humour of it all? None of these elements were present in Skyfall. Instead we were left with a moody, depressing and all too realistic Bond film. The Bond that people knew and loved was coy, coolheaded and irresistible to women. Contrastingly, Daniel Craig’s Bond

is deadly serious, revealed to have been an orphan taken in by MI6 and so sexually aggressive that he sleeps with Skyfall’s Bond-girl Séverine moments after she reveals to him that she was in the child-sex trade. If fans wanted moody and realistic, they would watch one of Bourne movies. An obvious comparison here is the Batman franchise. Like James Bond, Batman also has his TV and film origins rooted far back in the absurdly campy sixties, comprising of drawn-on Bat-eyebrows, all the onomatopoeia you could handle and of course Batman’s trademark dancemove, the ‘Batusi’. However despite the show’s original popularity, Adam West’s Batman did not remain cool for very long and most people agreed that the best thing directors could do was return to the dark and gritty Batman present in the original comics. Well, nearly 50 years later and after six Batman movies, fans finally got what they wished for: Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins,

which delivered the significantly more realistic, moody and dark film that fans wanted. The difference here is that the Batman comics were originally loved for their dark and gothic nature whereas the Bond films were not. Audiences want James Bond to save the day, they want him to get the girl and they want him to do it all in a completely farcical over-the-top way. It’s satisfying and enjoyable to know that the movie will always follow the same structure. It’s reassuring to know that the writers won’t stray far from the beloved Bond formula. The films are meant to be fun and entertaining –not emotional and realistic (No one wants to know about James Bond’s childhood as an orphan). At the same time, it also must be asked: do people want to go back to the traditional campiness of the early Bond films? Do audiences really want secret volcano lairs, a seven-foot metal-toothed assassin or waves of

henchmen being taken out one by one with a single definitive karate chop each? Even if you think returning to the old-school Bond formula would work, Hollywood knows they can never go back. In 2012, Daniel Craig admitted that “We had to destroy the myth because Mike Myers f***ed us,” referring to the highly popular Austin Powers movies which parodied most of the famous Bond troupes. Now the fact that the Bond movies have gotten progressively more serious over the past decade is nothing new but it does force audiences to once again ask themselves if they even want any more Bond films in the future. It’s a 50-year old film franchise with seemingly no intention of stopping. The films seem to be getting progressively less and less entertaining, so it’ll be interesting to see if Spectre breaks this pattern. If not, then maybe it’s time people realise that the party’s over and has been for a long long time.