Motley Volume XVI- Issue III - Space

Bob Geldof Speaks To Motley

The Motley Crew The Motley Crew

Niamh Browne Editor in Chief

Niamh Browne is a final year philosophy and art history student. She has previously written for publications such as Motley, Hot Press and the Irish Examiner. She is a part-time mad bastard.

Kev live, laugh, loves long walks on the beach and is a tired designer from Cork. He has a degree in colours from CIT and in his spare time makes comic books available nationwide. Ask him about the Fungie The Dolphin conspiracy.

Lisa is a second-year BA English student and has previously written for Motley magazine in the past. She spends her time reading and writing, your

Ronan

Seán Enda studies Digital Cultures, but don’t ask him to explain that because he’s not so sure either. His writing has featured in many publications, including several bathroom walls

Contributors

Tierán is a first year arts student, with an interest in international relations and Irish Policing. Currently trying to catch up with the rest of the team’s writing experience.

Chloe

Sinéad

Kevin M. Smith Graphic Designer

Ronan Keohane Current Affairs Editor

is a 3rd year world languages student with a strong interest in political philosophy and international relations. He is passionate about education, the environment and minority rights.

Tiernán Ó Ruairc

Deputy Current Affairs Editor

Lisa Ahern Social Media & Deputy Editor

typical Rory Gilmore wannabe.

Seán Enda Entertainment Editor

Chloe Barrett Deputy Entertainment Editor

is a third year English student and was previously the Gaming Editor for the University Express. She reads an unhealthy amount of books and loves her dogs a totally normal amount, she promises.

ustine Lepage (also known online as Loucoffee), is currently pursuing the MA in Arts Management and Creative Producing. Her work has been published in magazines like Sound of Brit or the Outpost Eire. She is interested in maximalism and funky gnome fashion.

Sinéad Mckeown Deputy Fashion Editor

is a final year English student who has been published in the Quarryman. She enjoys reading, writing and pretending to prepare for exams. She finds comfort in having her research tabs open on the computer while she binges Supernatural.

Édith studies Commerce & Irish and previously worked with UCC’s University Express. She’s relying on a diet of Coke Zero, Desperate Housewives and Taylor Swift to get her through final year.

Sarah O’Mahony Deputy Features

Sarah is a second year English and Politics student. Shortlisted for a features award at the 2022 SMEDIAs in Dublin, she’ll only go to the big smoke if there’s free food involved.

Klaudia Kulas Web Editor

Klaudia is studying Computer Science and is a self employed illustrator. Her hobbies consist of drawing, claiming people's cats as her own, and playing videogames.

Images Provided by Unsplash.com Vectors provided by Vecteezy.com and Freepik.com

This publication is made from 100% sustainably sourced paper. Motley welcomes letters from readers, emailed to editor@motley.ie. Motley is published by Motley Magazine, The Hub, UCC, Western Road, Cork. Printed by City Print Limited, Victoria Cross, Cork. Copyright 2022 Motley Magazine. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is strictly prohibited. All efforts have been made to ensure that details and pricing are correct at time of print. Motley magazine does not take responsibility for any errors incurred. This magazine can be recycled either in your green bin kerbside collection or at a local recycling point.

Andrew Mason Ava Somers Brenn Liddy Conor Hogan Emily O Sullivan James Carroll Jaye Boyd Jessica Anne Rose Julie Cukier Matthew James Quill Sam Golden Seán Dunne Umulbaneen Talpur

from the Editor's Desk

Space has always been a source of fascination for humans. There’s this trope in essay writing called ‘the beginning of time essay’ where in order to emphasise the fundamental importance of something you call back to its historical significance. With Space though, it’s almost impossible to contemplate it without thinking about its enduring ever-presence.

When we think of forever, I think we often think of the future. I will always love you, I’ll love you forever. We forget though that forever does not only refer to the future, forever is inclusive of the past. Space is, has been, and always will be. It is forever. Or at least as much of forever as our pea brains can handle.

It’s that precise quality that makes space terrifying and appealing in equal measures. The fact that we are looking up at thousands of burning balls of gas that might already be dead by the time their light travels far enough for us to see. These stars are a guiding force for us in navigation, astrology, and spiritually. For Motley’s part, this month we are discussing Barbie in space, we have a cosmicthemed photoshoot, and an interview with the one and only Bob Geldof discussing his attempts to be the first Irish person in space.

I think a lot about the Voyager Golden Record. The Voyager Golden Record was a vinyl record which included images and sounds from life on earth to try and explain what it’s like here. It was launched in 1977 on two Voyager spacecrafts, neither of which are headed to any particular star but wandering for a space faring civilization. On these records, there are diagrams of scientific and mathematical interest, music, 55 greetings in modern and ancient languages, human laughter, a human heartbeat,

Niamh Browne Editor In-Chief

food, architecture, and anatomical representations of humans. This record has been described as launching a ‘bottle into the cosmic ocean of space’. It is the farthest travelled man made object from earth. Beyond the sentimental aspect of sending a record out 40,000 light years away from us, I love the story of the Voyager Record because it includes the story of Blind Willie Johnson. I don’t mean to provide any spoilers, but you know if someone has ‘Blind’ in their name, you are buckling up for a tragedy. The record includes Beethoven and Mozart and Azerbaijani folk music. Blind Billie Johnson was chosen to join the ranks of these musicians for his song ‘Dark Was the Night, Cold Was the Ground’. Johnson was born into a poor family of sharecroppers and is believed to have been blinded in an accident as a child. He spent his life in poverty, working as a gigging musician and wrote ‘Dark was the Night Cold was the Ground’ during the depression era. He died after contracting malaria and struggled to find a hospital that would treat him, presumably because he was black. His life was dogged by sadness. His song was selected for inclusion on the Voyager Record to represent the human emotion of loneliness. I don’t think in Johnson’s wildest dreams could he have conceived that his music; which so few people heard in his lifetime, would be selected to represent human civilization for thousands of years long after he was gone. Years after you and I are returned to dirt. It is unique that one small person with such an ordinary small life gets to represent the human race on a cosmic level. The record might never be found. It’s kind of a dumb idea when you think of it. It’s like throwing shit on a wall and seeing if it will stick except instead of walls it’s infinite expansiveness in every possible direction and instead of shit it’s two spaceships that you aggressively yeet 40 thousand light years away and hope they land. The odds are abysmal. But if on the off chance the ships do contact other life, the person these people will hear is not some hot shot billionaire or some monarch or some president. It’s Blind Willie Johnson. To me it’s a story about the value of making things, and sending it out there. Flinging shit and seeing what sticks.

IN ORBIT

DEPUTY EDITOR LISA AHERN DISCUSSES THE SIGNIFICANCE OF BARBIE GOING UP IN SPACE.

The Italian astronaut Samantha Cristoforettie makes history by bringing the Barbie doll, which was made to resemble the Commander, in orbit with her in the International Space Station(ISS). Samantha Cristoforettie is the first Female European Commander of the ISS and departed earth with the barbie doll on 27th of April 2022. Samantha had a lengthy career beginning with graduating from secondary education from Liceo Scientifico and proceeding to do a masters in mechanical engineering in Technical University of Munich with specialisations in aerospace propulsion and lightweight structure. After her university education she began serving as an Italian Air Force Pilot in 2001 as an officer candidate. She was in the Air Force until she was selected as an European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut in May 2009. In 2015 Critoforettie was honoured with the Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian republic, presented to her by the Italian President. It is evident from her career Cristoforetti is a high achieving woman which makes it only right to make her role model for young girls.

Martell did just that by constructing a Barbie that was modelled off Cristoforetti back in 2019. They worked with ESA to create this role model that encouraged young girls to strive to study STEM subjects in the future. Their goal is to incite a whole new generation of female engineers, scientists and astronauts. Copies of this Barbie became available for the public in 2021. Part of the proceeds of the doll’s sales is to go to support the charity Woman in Aerospace Europe. WAE is a non-for-profit organisation committed to promoting female talent and leadership within every aspect of the European Aerospace sector. They have a vision to create a successful European Aerospace sector with inclusive representation at all levels.

In April 2022 when setting off on her mission With SpaceX Crew DragonFreedom, Cristoforettie brought the Barbie that resembled her to the ISS. Aswell as bringing the doll up to space, Cristoforettie made a few milestones along the way. During her time on board she became the first European Woman to carry out her first space walk as well as the first female European commander of the ISS. While on board she also carried out these interviews from girls ranging from the age of 9-12 who video chatted with her from Earth. They were asking Cristoforettie all sorts of questions regarding her career. This interview was then uploaded as a video of the Commander floating around with her lookalike barbie answering the questions from the young girls. When asked about why she became an astronaut Cristoforettie replied “Growing up I was fascinated by the night sky, and the idea of flying to space, and the sense of adventure and exploration”. When she found an interest in science and engineering she fused her sense of adventure with these skills and the rest is history.

The Barbie and the interviews both assist in the goal for young girls to see first hand a woman with a high ranking role involving science. She is also encouraging young girls that it is you can both play with dolls as well as being interested in science and space. She is showing that it is possible for women to be represented in Aerospace and maybe one of those girls asking her questions will become a future Commander of the ISS. Cristoforettie returned back to Earth on the 14th of October 2022 and the doll that made orbit will now be put on display at the ESA headquarters.

The Race For Space

The Precariousness Surrounding Privatisation

“I’m escaping to the one place that hasn’t been corrupted by capitalism: SPACE!”, so echoes the voice of Premier Anatoly Cherdenko as he plans to leave Earth for the moon in one ending of Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3, the hit real time strategy game, starring Tim Curry as the charismatic communist villain. Well, I’ve got bad news Premier, because these days the fates of space travel and capitalism seem to be inextricably intertwined.

Current shenanigans regarding poorly running a certain social media platform aside, it’s undeniable that Elon Musk’s SpaceX corporation has made waves in the space industry in the 20 years since it’s been founded, so much so that before it arriving on the scene, the very concept of a space industry was alien, if you’ll excuse the pun. Before SpaceX and similar companies such as Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin arrived on the scene, spaceflight had largely been a government-funded venture, much of it founded on relict technology left over from the Cold War. While the motives for last centuries “Space

Race” varied over time, it was largely borne out of a desire for ideological superiority, to prove that the capitalist West could beat the communist East in developing spaceflight technology, resulting in the West losing the race to space, but winning the race to the moon. After the military conflicts between the two superpowers of the time died down, space

became a tenuously collaborative venture, with nations more willing to share technology and resources towards scientific goals such as the International Space Station, and beyond. With the arrival of the private space industry, and increasing tensions between the East and West, that could all be set to change. While I’m sure Mr Musk would like to present

historically underfunded, with its $22.6 billion budget from 2020 making of 0.48% of the total US budget, and so they’ve turned to SpaceX and other such companies to further its goals, removing them from the equation when it comes to providing the rockets being launched, and the astronauts occupying them.

SpaceX doesn’t shy away from unscientific ventures either, having a $100 million contract with the US air force to deliver military cargo by rocket. Their relationship with the military industrial complex is becoming increasingly relevant, with the recent formation of the United States Space Force seemingly gearing towards a more militarised development space age. This is a particularly worrying trend considering recent geopolitical events in Eastern Europe, with the unlawful Russian invasion of Ukraine ramping up tensions between the East and the West once more, to the point where Dmitry Rogozin, director general of Roscosmos offhandedly implied dropping the ISS on America as a result of the conflict.

The long-term goal of SpaceX

number of manmade disasters. The current scientific consensus surrounding this is somewhat cynical regarding how feasible this is in the next couple of decades, but even were it possible to colonise Mars today, there is an inherent issue with billionaire-funded ventures being the first ones to lay claim to Martian soil. Musk at once wants everyone to be able to go to Mars if they want, but is aware that not everyone would be able to afford such a luxury. His solution? Debt internment, whereby one would go to Mars on a loan and work it off until they’re freed of their financial obligations, which sounds a lot like indentured servitude. The dream of Musk and his ilk is not a spacefaring civilisation for everyone, but one for those who can afford it, with everyone else being left behind to choke in their dust, or be their slaves. This follows a general trend with many of Musk’s projects, such as Neuralink, Tesla and Starlink, all seeking to develop luxury products such as brain machine interfaces, self-driving electric cars and global highspeed internet, all of which will likely remain out of the reach of the average person for quite

leading to light pollution and a worsening “Kessler Syndrome”, a phenomenon whereby orbital debris continuously builds up to the point where it may begin to interfere with space launches and existing satellite infrastructure. there has been a growing general consensus that Elon Musk is mainly preoccupied with giving unfair and exclusive advantages to the upper class while excluding less privileged people

It’s worth noting that the Outer Space Treaty put into place over half a century ago by major world superpowers, the parties to this treaty outlined that no one nation may lay claim to space and all its planetary bodies. While one of the motives for putting this treaty into place was to prevent the use of nuclear weapons in space, it still represents a clear commitment to keep space a neutral territory, one where we strive not to repeat the mistakes of our past when it comes to ownership of territory. The arrival of private space corporations threatens this treaty, as it’s only a matter of time before these companies expand to industries such as asteroid mining, space tourism, orbital manufacturing and other such concepts formerly restricted to science fiction. If the activities of these corporations aren’t strictly regulated, space may quickly be carved up by a select few companies with a de facto monopoly on trade, research and exploration. It is thus up to the governments of the world to ensure that space colonisation does not turn into space colonialism.

THE GEOPOLITICS OF SPACE

In recent years the space race has once again gathered momentum and is drawing many parallels to the original space race of the 1960s and 70s between the United States of America and the USSR. Why and how the moon has become an obsession for space explorers again? And is the cost of going to space really worth the expenditure it necessitates?

Since the original space race, more countries have entered the world of space exploration. The United States still accounts for more than half the world’s public space expenditure. China is now in second place while Russia has fallen way behind its competitors in this realm. In fact, more than 70 other nations have space programs. Large countries such as Germany, France and India are active in this area as well as nations like Iran and the United Arab Emirates, which even sent an orbiter to Mars in 2021. Peru and Angola also have a spatial presence with their own satellites.

Motives Behind

Space Exploration

In the past, the space race was about the battle between capitalism versus communism. This battle tapered off once the USSR had lost interest in space exploration and the US did the same once they realised they no longer had a competitor to motivate and push them. Increased competition from more countries launching their own space programs and from companies such as Blue Origin, SpaceX and Virgin Galactic has driven down space travel costs. This competition is diminishing the cost of space access because of inventions like reusable rockets, miniature satellites, and possibly private space stations in the future. Launching a mission to the International Space Station has diminished in cost by a factor of 4 in the last two decades.

However, in parallels to the original, the modern space race is also a political battle with “astropolitics” following “terrapolitics”. There is a lot of political tension between the US and China at the moment and this is reflected in space. For example, in 2011,

Congress banned US scientists from cooperating with China out of fear of scientific espionage in what has been dubbed the Wolf amendment. Furthermore, Taikonauts (Chinese astronauts) have been banned from going to the International Space Station. In yet another parallel to the space race of the 1960s and 70s, a bifurcation of space exploration has occurred with one side dominated by authoritarian countries like Russia and China while the other side mainly consists of “like-minded” democracies aligned with the US with both camps competing for space domination. However, with the decommissioning of the International Space Station in 2024, China’s space station (Tiangong) will be the only permanent presence in orbit. This means, the competing camps may have to cooperate in the future. Another key difference is that during the 1960s and 70s while there were military tensions on earth between the two superpowers, there was only a possibility of war on earth. However, in this new era of space exploration, a space war isn’t beyond the realms of the imagination. There are thousands of satellites in the sky and these are inherently dual-use, meaning they have both civilian and military applications. The US government even set up a department called Space Force to be ready in the event of space combat. These countries are all vying to become leaders in space exploration, and to reap the benefits of pride, international prestige, scientific advancement and technological progress that such leadership provides. With so many countries involved and with such contrasting beliefs, it isn’t difficult to imagine the outbreak of conflict.

CONTRIBUTING WRITER BRENN LIDDY DISCUSSES THE WAY IN WHICH SPACE INNOVATION AND EXPLORATION HAS BECOME A GEOPOLITICAL COMPETITION AND ADDRESSES THE ISSUE OF EXPENDITURE IN LIGHT OF OTHER ONGOING GLOBAL ISSUES.

Why Is Going To The Moon

Relevant Again?

NASA wants to create a sustainable human presence on the Moon with missions potentially lasting several weeks. The purpose of this would be to deepen their knowledge of how to prepare themselves for a multi-year round trip to Mars. This presence on the moon would help them understand how best to counteract challenges such as the intense radiation in space (enough to tear apart the Tesla Roadster Elon Musk sent into space). There is water, in the form of ice on the lunar south pole. This could possibly be transformed into rocket fuel by separating the hydrogen and oxygen atoms. Thus, the moon could serve as a refuelling station on the journey to Mars. The US has also reignited its interest in the moon to fend off the Chinese government who they fear will develop a stronghold on the moon. The current Chinese government is using their recent landing of an orbiter on the lunar south pole of the moon as part of recent propaganda to stay in power and to augment China’s influence and status on the world stage. Therefore, it is clear the moon is of renewed interest for reasons both scientific and political.

The Opportunity Cost Of Space Exploration

Would this money spent on space not be better served elsewhere? Why are we focusing so much on travelling to the moon and to Mars when there is still so much work to do here on earth? Would it not be better to attend to our own planet first before attempting to conquer others? According to the World Economic Forum, even as much as $6.6 billion (a meagre sum in comparison to what space travel costs) is enough to give those who are starving one meal a day for a whole year. (Wood, 2021) Furthermore, we are in the midst of a climate crisis. The effects are clear to see with the melting of the ice caps, rising sea levels and an increase in extreme weather conditions. One way of combatting this issue is to switch to renewable energy. According to Windustry, a commercial wind turbine costs approximately 2 million dollars. If the United States decided to spend the same amount of money they spent on the Apollo missions (adjusted for inflation), they could theoretically end world hunger for a year and still have enough money to purchase two hundred and thirty-eight thousand wind turbines.

The modern-day space race draws many parallels to the original space race of the 1960s and 70s with two camps, formerly the US against the USSR and now US and its allies against China and its allies, battling for space domination. Like the original, it seems to me that this modern space race is primarily about garnering international prestige and bettering bitter rivals. This is clearly evidenced by the fact that the US only solidified its interest in returning to the moon once the Chinese government had sent orbiters there. It is also evidenced by the use of China’s unmanned

mission to the lunar south pole in recent propaganda. I strongly believe, the countries currently involved in the space race should abandon their spatial pursuits and instead focus on real issues like world hunger and climate change here on the planet we call home.

how the

Game Got Lost In Space

Marvel’s Avengers (2020) was released over two years ago, but the disappointment that followed has refused to age, still haunting the gaming industry to this day. Square Enix collaborated with Marvel to make the dreams of fans become a reality shortly after Avengers Endgame (2019) took cinemas across the world by storm. Spoilers were in the air and the pure hype was tangible for many weeks after it premiered. In order to prolong the popularity and mesh another type of media into the franchise, Marvel’s Avengers was born. Needless to say, it was both a messy and costly birth for all those involved.

Those who ran to the stores and preordered the game were soon met with an immeasurable disappointment shortly after clicking ‘play’. The game was not as they had come to expect, and as the reviews began to flood in, neither were the profits that the developers had anticipated. With common complaints specifically centring on the repetitive gameplay, boring enemies, a tiresome storyline and even glitchridden issues, it turned many off the prospect of purchasing. In-app purchases of ‘rare’ cosmetics and other microtransactions began to be noticed by players, and it was the final straw. People quickly abandoned the game; as copies were not selling, they reduced

quickly in price. From a studio that is infamous for churning out movies that are guaranteed to make a hefty profit, the retail price of the game being chopped in half was not a good look.

Square Enix suffered a lot and continues to reap its losses. Many are cautious in regards to purchasing from this developer, especially when their Guardians Of The Galaxy (2021) adaption was announced. With strong fears that it would be as big of a failure as its predecessor, the game flopped. This is unfortunate, as it is genuinely an awesome game.

The writing is superb, especially with regard to the characters. They are often referred to as a mix of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) versions and the comics at their best. Each character has separate demons that refuse to budge, which you learn more about as you progress through the story campaign, along with brilliant team moments, where no member is shadowed. Even though they are simple pixels on a tv screen, you feel genuinely invested in their storylines, a concept that is sometimes missing from big releases, due to their investment in graphics overall. That is not to say that the graphics themselves are a letdown. You transverse through space with your crew, and while it is not an open-world adventure,

there are many planets to visit. On your travels, you can grab optional collectables which further divulge into backstories, meet familiar faces from the movies, and even make choices that can alter the story. You feel fully involved with the game itself, similar to if you were on the spaceship itself with the rest of the Guardians.

If there is a negative that comes to mind about the game, it has to be the slightly repetitive gameplay. While it does not reach the disappointing levels that greeted Avengers players, it is not a genrebreaking extraordinary experience, either. You can unlock different abilities and choose when the Guardians use them in combat, as Starlord is the only available character to play as, and also invoke the special ‘huddle’ ability. During your huddle, your task is to listen to what your crew says and pick the correct response. If you choose right, you get a big powerup and can easily defeat a horde of enemies, while a random song from the sick soundtrack plays. What more could one wish for?

If you have the opportunity to play Guardians Of The Galaxy, I definitely would advise you to take it. Despite being a relatively new game, it is often discounted and can be played for free on PlayStation Plus.

Deputy Entertainment Editor, Chloe Barrett, writes about the Guardians Of The Galaxy console game and explores the reason why it flew so low under the radar.

Saturn Return and Adele:

Is a Planet the Reason You're Going Crazy?

James Carroll writes on Adele’s experience with the Saturn return, a unique astrological phenomenon.

As anyone who is a fan of Adele, has ever read a headline, or generally does not live under a rock would know, the music legend underwent a significant life upheaval in 2019 when she divorced from Simon Konceki at the age of thirty. I'll explain in a bit why her age is significant to this. Another thing of note is Adele's tattoo of the planet Saturn on her forearm, inked around the time of her divorce. After speculation from the likes of the Daily Mail, Adele explained the tattoo's significance to her admirers and reporters, saying it had everything to do with her ‘Saturn return.’ This left many people confused; what could a ‘Saturn return’ mean? Well I am here to clarify how a planet and its position could flip our life upside down, and why our favourite people and celebs could be suffering from a ‘quarter life crisis.’ First, Saturn is the toughest planet in terms of the aspects of a person's life it governs; it oversees order, tolerance, responsibility, maturity, and discipline. Which all sounds as though Saturn is a more of a parental figure rather than a figure in astrology. Saturn is regarded as a ‘great teacher’ and not only during the period deemed as ‘Saturn return’.

Every twenty-seven to thirty years, Saturn returns to its position at the time of your birth. This important planetary occurrence is not only interesting but marks an important period of dramatic change in someone's life. During this period a person may start to reconsider many aspects of their life. In Adele’s case, it was her husband. These revelations can lead to many different things, from lifestyle changes, to giving up alcohol, changing jobs, or dropping toxic friends. Someone could experience these together or just once during their Saturn return. Whatever change it is, it will be a stark turnaround from the way they lived before. A Saturn return will not be simple as having a massive glow up and moving on with your life. This time of your life can be extremely painful. As you come to terms with who you really are as an individual and make those painful choices that will ultimately prove positive once the storm clears. In informal terms, Saturn will humble you. Many people say that a Saturn return can be uncomfortable and painful, but necessary. These changes made during this time could stick with you forever, and enable you to live as your truest, happiest and best self. If you felt moved enough by this change, Saturn makes a pretty cool tattoo.

So next time you see a celebrity getting a divorce, changing style or partying a lot, dismiss what the tabloids say and consider that it may be the Saturn return taking effect. And when you hit the ripe age of thirty, look up your birth chart to see if you are having a justifiable ‘quarter life crisis.’ If you find yourself struggling during this changing time, just try to breathe, ride the wave and remember the wise words of Adele: ‘It's just your Saturn return babes.’ Try to read that quote in her accent, it’s a lot more fun.

A GUIDE TO NEW DOCTOR WHO

Dear reader, have you ever watched the British scifi tv show Doctor Who? Did you have a sibling who forced you to watch the Kylie Minogue Christmas special growing up? Were you terminally online and obsessed with Superwholock in 2013? Have you been looking for a sign to start watching or rewatching the Modern Era of the show? This might be it!

After Ncuti Gatwa was announced as the new Doctor in May 2022, I decided to rewatch and catch up on the entire show (well, from 2005 onwards). My rewatch surprised me with how amazing and dense this show was, how it really has something for everyone. Here is my guide through the Doctors, my favourite thing about each era of the show, and why I think you might like them too.

The Ninth Doctor, Christopher Eccleston. The first of the New Doctors, and one of the most complex depictions of the character. A cool dude wearing a leather coat, with a mysterious past and a soft side, travelling through time and space with the amazing Rose Tyler. This companion is unapologetically working class, and uses her background to show empathy to all species across the galaxy. Don’t be deterred by the dreadful CGI of this first season, it offers some of the most beautiful and chilling episodes of the whole show.

David Tennant’s Doctor, the Tenth incarnation, is undoubtedly one of the most iconic. You can tell by the tidal wave that has been going through social media since it was announced he would be coming back for a few episodes in 2023. His Doctor is loving, and perhaps more human than any other on the show. His connection with the companions are the heart of this era; they are his love interests, his friends, or sometimes something in between. The Doctor is a Don Juan, but also an ego-fueled dynamite. Tennant’s era also marks the appearance of iconic villains like the Weeping Angels and Jon Simm’s brilliant incarnation of the Master.

For Matt Smith, the Eleventh Doctor, I would recommend giving time to adjust to the vibe of the characters. I was quite taken aback during my rewatch by how weird this Doctor was, and how unlikeable I found Amy’s character at first. But as I watched more seasons, I grew to like them again, and stories like Vincent and the Doctor are really touching. This era might even make you tolerate James Corden.

I only caught up to the Twelfth Doctor, Peter Capaldi, this summer. And what a surprise it was! Capaldi is such a marvellous doctor, and embodies the character at their very essence. Despite a lighter tone in his last season, it really is the gravitas of his personality that gives this era all its beauty, and the tragic bond pulling him and companion Clara together. Heaven Sent might be the most incredible episode of the series, and Capaldi carries it masterfully.

Jodie Whittaker’s Thirteenth Doctor is a more controversial one, but I would still recommend giving it a watch. A lot of people seem to dislike her era of the show, in part because of the writing, and in part because of rampant misogyny online. While I personally agree that the writing is not the most coherent at times, there is a lot of potential in Jodie’s character and in “The Fam” that I would have loved to see developed. The Flux series, a continuous arc over six episodes, is quite incredible given it was filmed during lockdown restrictions. It’s important to note that this era is the first one to prominently feature writers that are women and that are people of colour. Some episodes like Demons of the Punjab, about the partition of India, really reflect the core of the show as an educational program.

Overall, Doctor Who is an incredibly rich show showcasing an immense range of themes, emotions, and some beautiful characters. It will make you want to go on adventures, make you laugh, make you cry, and chill you to the bone. So why not catch up before the new era!

BRB, Moving to Planet Her - The Award-Winning R&B Album by Doja Cat

It’s not a proper playlist if Doja isn’t on it. The acclaimed third studio album Planet Her (2021) took home the Billboard Music Award for Top R&B Album, and the American Music Award for Favorite Album Soul/R&B. Planet Her came to our streaming services during a pandemic, spreading joy and self love at a time where we all needed it. It features artists like Young Thug, Ariana Grande, The Weeknd, JID - and the Grammy award winning single ‘Kiss Me More’ features the legendary SZA. The original edition has fourteen songs on it and lasts for approximately forty-four minutes, it’s a nice running time for an album, and every song feels connected to the last without feeling too similar or repetitive.

Planet Her is the inspiration behind many iconic short dance routines, Tiktok filters and trends - and presents the listener with an image of a planet where women are sexually liberated and define what womanhood is to them. In Get Into It (Yuh), Doja even ends the track by thanking fellow queen of rap, Nicki Minaj, for paving the way for her in the music industry. It’s overall such a feelgood album that you can dance to in nightclubs and also listen to at home in your pjs when you need a self-confidence check. Doja Cat’s sound is distinctiveshe’s got a really gorgeous voice as well as the talent to spit straight bars whilst dancing live. All the songs from the album evoke colour when I listen to it;

WRITTEN BY JESSICA ANNE ROSE

deep blues, purples and pink. It’s nice to have a whole album dedicated to bigging yourself up without dragging other people down and naming them in the lyrics. It’s classier, but maintains Doja’s badass, carefree image she’s so well known for.

to ‘worship’ the female body for all it can do, and for the woman who wields its power too. She turns her anger into cathartic verses all women want to scream to, such as the iconic bridge in Ain’t Sh*t. Doja never minces her words to appeal to the obedient, silent woman society expects her to be. Another thing I adore about Doja’s lyrics and style is that she takes no shame in discussing female sexuality, how our own pleasure is empowering, and how we should be able to put words to what we want. As a person, Doja is also very fluid in what she views as typically ‘feminine’ or ‘beautiful,’ this year shaving her head and eyebrows and trying new abstract and bold looks simply because she wants to. In response to this new era, she has been accused of being a part of the Illuminati, being ‘unwell’ mentally, wanting attention, and a lot of her classic comedy is misinterpreted as ‘craziness.’ It’s a frustrating example of women being trapped within societal expectations and boxes, because by just changing how she dresses, Doja has been branded mentally unwell and dangerous. If she wore a wig and a dress, would her messages be easier swallowed by men? If she didn’t speak her mind? If she was more ‘ladylike?’ To that, I say refer back to Woman’s lyrics;

wanna pit us against each other when we succeedin' for no reasons They wanna see us end up like we Regina on Mean Girls Princess or queen, tomboy or king (yeah) You've heard a lot, you've never seen (nah) Mother Earth, Mother Mary rise to the top Divine feminine, I'm feminine (why?)”

My favorite song has to be the first track, Woman, but the iconic bridge from Need to Know deserves a mention. In the song Woman, Doja praises the power of the female body and compares it to Mother Earth - taking a seed and making it flower. She calls for mothers who are ‘overlooked and underappreciated’, and reminds men in particular to remember

There are no requirements for being a ‘real’ woman. Doja creates Planet Her where women of all shapes, sizes, colour, and biological differences peacefully coexist. It’s a work of self-love and appreciation for what women can do, and is a pleasant escapism from the misogynistic world of witch hunters we live in today.

Available to stream on all streaming services now.

“They

Extraterrestrial Terrors

Andrew Mason writes on the timelessnessand horror - of Ridley Scott’s Alien.

This famous tagline, engraved in pop culture history, perfectly encapsulates fear and horror in a single line. Released in 1979, Ridley Scott’s Alien ushered in a new age for the sci-fi horror genre by exploiting the fear of the unknown and the horrors of the neverending chasm of space. In space no one can hear you scream; the same however does not go for the audience.

The film follows the Nostromo, a commercial towing vehicle trudging back to Earth as it intercepts an SOS signal from a nearby planet, leaving the crew obligated to investigate. After a harsh landing, some crew members leave the ship to explore the area. They discover a hive colony of an unknown creature as the ship's computer deciphers the message to be a warning, not a distress call. When one of the eggs is disturbed, the crew do not know the danger they have awoken until it’s too late.

In the late 1970’s, the sci-fi genre had exploded in popularity with films like Star Wars and Close Encounters of the Third Kind giving audiences the cosmic escapism they craved. In stark contrast, Alien effectively created a new sub-genre of sci-fi known as sci-fi horror. So, what is it about Alien that, even over forty years later, still leaves audiences on the edge of their seats and their hands covering their eyes? The opening shot sets the scene for what’s to come, showing a vast ship in a lonely interstellar space. Vulnerable in the endless abyss of space, their ship is both a stronghold and a prison. Due to the film's cosmic setting, there’s a palpable feeling of claustrophobia throughout as it presents the idea of space as a limitless new extension of human paranoia. Two of mankind’s primal fears are the unknown and the dark, both of which loom over the film in its long shadowy shots of the vast nothingness; it’s bound to make anyone’s skin crawl.

Ridley Scott knew that the only thing more terrifying than the alien itself was the shadow in which it hides. Like Jaws, the Xenomorph shares a kinship with the titular shark and Ridley Scott uses its absence to induce tension and paranoia before revealing its design. The movie is cleverly edited in that we never have a clear image of what the alien actually looks like until the very last shots of the movie, giving the audience one final scare.

In the movie, the Xenomorph is described as “a perfect organism. Its structural perfection is matched only by its hostility.”

The Xenomorph’s design is, in my opinion, perfect. Its design is what allowed it to stand the test of time in the cultural zeitgeist. Homaged, parodied, imitated, built upon, but - arguably - never bettered. H.R. Geiger, who designed the creature, expertly crafted it to be part -dragon, part-machine and part-sexual nightmare, allowing it to stand out from anything Hollywood had seen at that time and to this day. The reptilian or insectile design carves its way into your mind and doesn’t allow you to escape it.

Finally, one of the film's greatest strengths lies in its pacing. It’s calculating. It’s patient. It allows silence. The tensions constrict the audience to an unbearable extent, ultimately climaxing as the Xenomorph picks off the crew one by one as it haunts the corridors. Space has long been a concept whose mystique has piqued the curiosity of those observing its astral plane, but after spending two hours trapped in its confines along with its inhabitants, I’m grateful to have my feet standing firmly here on earth.

‘In space no one can hear you scream.’

IS THE ANIMATED SPACE SHOW THAT YOU

If you’ve ever been in the headspace where you are so burnt out from work and are begging for a few moments that you can simply use to switch off and vibe, Bee and Puppycat (2022) is the show for you.

The protagonist, Bee, is a young woman who has difficulty keeping a job and is struggling to find out her purpose in an ever-shifting world. She lives in a small apartment on her own and has surprisingly little selfpreservation skills. After being fired from her newest job at an adorable cat cafe, she solemnly strolls home in perfect life contemplating the weather: a stormy evening. A creature, who is soon given the title of Puppycat, mystically falls from the sky. Bee, being the kind and wonderful person that she is, decides to take him home, unsure of what he actually is, and somehow understands the mysterious noises he communicates by. Almost certainly a cat, but perhaps a dog? The following day, Puppycat reveals that he has magical abilities in a timely manner, and also a job. He brings Bee alongside him on his intergalactic temporary job to another planet. Tempbot, the stationary space machine that assigns the two a job, and continues to do so throughout the series, refrains from querying too much into Bee’s presence, and so the show begins.

Bee and Puppycat visit new planets in each episode, each one entirely different from the next, and filled with wacky characters. Bee is also no stranger in introducing Puppycat to her local friends, such as the Wizard family, who quickly become main characters, and Cardamon, an adorable youngster who also

happens to be her landlord... The show gets pretty strange at times, but it is absolutely amazing. Full of laughter, some heart-touching moments, stunning animation and a beautiful soundtrack, you will want for nothing else by the end.

However, the tricky part of settling down to watch the show is trying to decide which version to dive into. Originally, the show was a web pilot back in 2013. A Kickstarter was set up, and quickly fulfilled, which allowed the creator, Natasha Allegri, a fully supported first season. It consisted of ten episodes and is still available to watch on the YouTube channel Cartoon Hangover, totalling just over an hour long. After the first season was a success, there were plans to re-adapt it into Bee and Puppycat: Lazy in Space, for its second. This resulted in quite a lot of shopping around for a streaming service to pick it up, causing significant delays. After the first episode of the new season had premiered, the entire season

accidentally leaked online, and even though it was immediately taken down, it would be another two years until Netflix premiered it. Now residing in its new home on Netflix, the first three episodes are a restyled and condensed version of the first season. While the premise is the same, concepts are altered, and some things are either freshly added or taken away from the original. The other twelve episodes are Lazy In Space, in their original animation style without alterations.

As someone who has watched both, my advice would be to spend an hour watching the original on YouTube and then switching over to Netflix to binge the whole sixteen episodes. After all, it is only a short show, and trust me, you will want more after you have finished it, so why not extend the experience? You can still definitely just stick to the Netflix version without viewing the original and have a fulfilling experience, do not fret. But if you want some additional little plot lines and songs and have an hour to spare, I would recommend going the completionist’s route and submerging yourself entirely into this fantastical little show.

NEED

STEVIE G: SHARING SPACE IN CORK'S MUSIC SCENE

MUSIC IN IRELAND IS JUST CATCHING ITS MOMENTUM ONCE AGAIN FOLLOWING THE PANDEMIC. AS NEW ACTS FORM AND VENUES OPEN THERE IS NO BETTER TIME TO THINK ABOUT EQUALITY IN MUSIC IN CORK AND BEYOND. DEPUTY FEATURES AND OPINIONS

EDITOR SARAH O’MAHONY SPEAKS TO

Recently Stevie has been running a 10 part series to celebrate the 20-year anniversary of his segment Black on Red. He speaks to singers and rappers who have yet to be offered mainstream opportunities. The segment has paid respect to black music since it began. Stevie points out this is particularly important for himself as a white DJ of a hip hop background. A big theme in this current series is questions on identity. In one episode Stevie speaks on the topic with Minnie Marley, a rising star in Ireland,

RENOWNED RED FM DJ STEPHEN ‘STEVIE G’ GRAINGER . STEVIE HAS BEEN A LEADING FIGURE IN THE HIP HOP AND R & B COMMUNITY IN CORK FOR MANY YEARS. THEY DISCUSS PROMOTING UNDERREPRESENTED ACTS, DJ SETS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, YOUTH WORK AND MORE.

topic of identity and race at length. He shares that in a badly structured interview this can take up the oxygen of the conversation, taking airtime away from the artist's music and creative endeavours. Unless the performer themselves is happy to broach the subject, scraping the barrel for clichéd images of the experience of a person of colour in Ireland is of little benefit. In a 2017 interview, Stevie praises LabTV Ireland for their showcase of talent in the scene as a ‘labour of love’ rather than an egotistical activity. In

and it took off from there. Stevie has played in West Cork and the city, having recently held a disco in the Montenotte branch of Cope, another service provider in Cork. As part of the project he has also collaborated with Jerry Mulchay, better known across Cork as DJ Jerry, and his dad Alan. Jerry is a well-versed DJ and is helped by his dad to hold discos for other young adults with disabilities in Cork. They have played across the county for years, mainly holding events in Macroom. Stevie was first introduced to the pair by a mutual friend and they have built a great relationship performing in the Kino and Marina Market together. However, he shares that ‘when the pandemic happened everything that was being built, the good vibes we were building together, more or less ended’. We all experienced a move to online in some manner during the pandemic. This of course was not easy for vulnerable groups. ‘It was hard to move the online version into an effortless situation’. The young people were living in residential groups or at home where their carers or family were facilitating viewing. This can limit the free feeling of a DJ set.The pandemic cut services, respite, activities from the disabled community and Stevie shares that he felt strongly about the situation. ‘The people who were suffering the most didn’t really have a voice. Carers didn’t have time to be on Twitter’ to share the situation they faced. Looking to the future he is still involved in this area and aims to hold more events again soon. Stevie is also well known for giving workshops in Cork primary schools, often to kids from marginalised backgrounds. He teaches about hip hop and how to DJ using mix tables, drum pads and drumsticks. Also students learn how to write lyrics and are encouraged to find their own voice. He promotes authenticity as the key to success in this work. ‘The culture of hip hop trades on keeping it real … and people can see through you if you are being something else’. He references the rise in the last 10 years of openly LGBTQ+ rappers as well as emo rappers, whose lyricism shares honestly on mental health, as a great step. Stevie shares that at one point while working with kids from a Roma background he began sampling traditional music one of the kids suggested. ‘I said this is cool, and he couldn’t even believe that. It was great for me to see he was getting a little bit

of pride from it’. Celebrating differences is at the centre of this work. In a past article for the Echo Stevie praised the now disbanded Corcadorca, a theatre company for which he was Inclusion Officer in 2021. ‘I always liked the way they take theatre to the people. They have brought theatre into nightclubs, warehouses and out onto the streets’. This can-do attitude with more action than lofty phrases is the way to go. The DJ praises the DIY aspect of hip hop as something that can also be brought to the people. This format is all inclusive.

Speaking on representation he notes that there's been women in the Irish DJ scene for 30 or 40 years now, especially at festivals yet even to this day certain people will be shocked at a female dominated lineup. Along with this I am told ‘the best sound engineers in Cork are women ’ with Stevie listing Sandra O’Mahony and Chloe Nagle as examples. Yet this information certainly does not take front and centre in the media. ‘There’s not enough women nor people from marginalised backgrounds on air or on TV’. Can youth work help to fill these gaps in the long term?

The New School is another platform the DJ has launched to share the work he does with the younger generation and to promote their talents. He mentions TEST SITE as a collaborator in the project. This is a vacant site at Kryl’s Quay in the city centre that has been transformed into a community space for workshops and performances. The New School has facilitated shows featuring young people from minority groups in Cork. It has given ‘ten artists I know their first show and they are now back in the studio writing , in school still, but they have that burning passion now through a derelict site’. Dereliction has many negative impacts and it is ‘particularly shameful when we've got a housing crisis’. In this instance we see how vacant spaces are a lost opportunity for community work.

At the moment, Stevie is working on a radio documentary as part of the New School and wishes to continue his many projects into the future alongside performing himself at events and DJing on Red FM. As he tells me in the beginning of the interview ‘the dancefloor is a naturally diverse place’ and this is what we must not lose sight of.

Na Réaltaí

By Seán Dunne

“Listen, I’ve been to space. It’s nothing to write home about. Quite frankly, there’s nothing there. The whole thing is a waste of time”. The look on the man’s face was that of genius. It was a shame he was an idiot.

“You’ve been to space in me hole. You can hardly make it to the fucking Jacks you useless tramp.” A scoffing sound fills the room.

“There’s a lot more to me than meets the eye, I’ll tell you that. I was a farmer in a past life and a ladybug in another.” “Aye and in this one you’re a prick.”

Pint glasses were served all round, black as ice in the Vee.

“Jesus thanks Caithleen, you’ve enough sense in you for the both of us.” The lady was peering down with her turnips eyes and jaundiced body.

“Well I hope you’ve enough cents in your pockets for the both of you.” From here the coins were tossed around the shebeen like little vessels to the cashiers port.

“Now where were we?”

“Space" I said.

“Oh right, space. A cold place alright, not much comfort to it.”

“There’s not much comfort here now póg either.” The man took a gulp from his glass the size of a dirty sliotar. “They say there’s no rain above the clouds.”

“That and no water sham.”

“What use have I for water you gowl, my hands are better tipped around the rim of a glass than a plough.” There was confidence in his words. It was evident he didn’t believe them.

“Your hands are better placed down at your sides so you can do no harm with them.”

Raising his hands in an instant. “I’ll have you know these here spades have seen more than their fair share of muppets you useless gobshite.”

“They’ll see one more if you don’t sit yourself down by God. You’re making a holy show of us.”

The feen in question lowered his back into the chair. “A holy show is what I’ll make of you if you don’t pipe down with your talk. Space for God sake, you’re in the fucking local.” At this point the whole town had their eyes in their glasses, throwing their súile around at anything other than the scuttered disturber of the peace before them. Caithleen crossed around the room. “Whist you fucking horse’s arse or I’ll throw the pair of you out faster than you can say your prayers.”

Following this stern rebuke, the village returned itself to the usual quiet chatter. They would be talking about the scene in O’Grady’s for weeks to come, and an old crone up the road would christen the inevitable casting of judgement: “Jesus I’ve never seen the likes of it.” She would later be heard to say “I tell you now, people don’t show their true colours till they come out in the wash.”

In lowered tones the conversation returned as before. “You want to hear about space do you? Well I’ll tell you about space. Space is what you’ve got behind your eyes, and there’s nothing to fill it with but nonsense.” A breath of air. “I was a spaceman Ruairí and you know it. And I’m telling you now there’s not much up there.” Pointing to his companions head. “There's not much up there either I’ll tell you.” “You may be right, I haven’t been the same since.”

This sheer disregard for the truth angered our violent friend of before. He took his glass and shattered it over the liar's face, breaking into small pieces as it did in his eyebrows. It wasn’t long before there were hands upon him and he was tossed out by a man he called “Big Jim Larkin” in disgrace.

On the street the air was cold. But high above, mocking in their grace, were the stars.

Noor POETRY

UMULBANEEN TALPUR

She dreamt that the moon fell into her lap, His beauty mesmerising

Looking up into the sky and through his eyes

She knew that she had found the man of her dreams

The dark black sky, so infinite in which she felt so insignificant, No longer felt so scary, as though the darkness could turn into light as long as she had him. That moon watches over us It guides us home

He feels like this sky on a starry night

The dots connect like constellations adding up showing how good he is All calm and peace and light

He is just divine A true delight

By Ryan IbBotson

BOYD

if tonight be our last and the skies fall and the universe splits in two I would like to go with the imprint of your head leaning on my shoulder the sound of your laugh filling my eardrums and blocking the impact the shatter of everything falling off the shelves as you sigh and make some remark that they really picked their timing you just mopped the floor that would be the blueprint, my dear sweet friend, for the rest of our short short lives and I would like that.

Sign of the Times

Contributing writer Conor Hogan explores the growing belief in astrology among young people in the age of science.

Aries: Should you get on with responsibilities, or have fun? Conserve your energy. But that’s not to say you shouldn’t work on a project.

Leo: You’ll find love when you look outside the box. There are changes in store for your lifestyle as you are extremely focused.

Scorpio: You’ll crave quality time with people. Don’t settle for less! You’re in the mood to ‘make things official’ in both love and career.

Taurus: It’s time to start putting your desires and passion projects front and centre. Enough focusing on others!

Libra: You like keeping your options open, but there are some wake up calls in store! It may be time to make amends but don't put yourself in vulnerable positions.

Gemini: Life will become more social, but are you having difficulty maintaining routines? Find what you need to feel accomplished. Once others understand, they'll support you.

Pisces: You want to have fun and explore your options but put thought into what you hope to accomplish first.

Cancer: You’ve got big ideas and plans, so make the most of it! You may have the desire to take a vacation.

Capricorn: You want to be in familiar surroundings. Take the time to regroup and socialise with close friends.

Virgo: You may not feel like yourself. You might want to focus on creative pursuits and let the real world fall to the wayside.

Sagittarius: You may be doubting signals you are picking up, trust your gut and stay focused on your goals!

Aquarius: Opportunities will arise for you, but you may not feel like resolving issues. It's worth the effort to sort things out now.

Follow my instagram: KevDoesWhat

Every morning as soon as I wake up the first thing I do, just to make sure that I still have a pulse, is to check that the Irish Independent, a widely read and reputable source of news and information, still runs its infuriating daily horoscopes column, and every morning I feel rage pump my red blood cells through inflamed arteries as I read the a-scientific nonsense, reassuring me that I am still kicking. The idea that serious news organisations in the 20th century still circulate this hokum, and even worse that otherwise ordinary people of sound mind believe said hokum does admittedly put me in a worse mood than perhaps is justified. It may be a relatively benign and harmless illusion, but it nonetheless irks and baffles me what some people are satisfied to believe even in the wake of the scientific method. And as such, what I seek to do is to deprive people of whatever happiness they may gain from their illusions.

Despite the decline in other pre-Enlightenment beliefs such as alchemy, religion and leeching, a significant percentage of the global population still believe in astrology. A second century belief system turned elaborate pseudoscience, astrology, one supposes, does not recognise the discoveries of Copernicus or Galileo, and still believes that the universe centres itself around humans and our petty goings on. According to astrology, the position of planets in relation to the twelve constellations of the zodiac is not arbitrary,

as science would have you believe, but rather that the movement of celestial objects in outer space can influence and foretell trivial aspects of our lives such as careers and romantic prospects. All sounds a bit far-fetched to me. But so pervasive is astrology that over 90% of adults know their zodiac sign, and evidence suggests that young people from the ages of 18-29 believe in this archaic method of fortune telling more than any other demographic. Polls show that just under 20% of Irish citizens believe in this pseudoscience. That’s about 1 million people on this small island alone who are willing to cede any faculties of critical thought they may possess in favour of supernatural explanations.

At the time of the development of Western astrology, in a century when claiming to be a witch could still provide a person with a stable profession in the Roman Empire mind you, it was sufficient to attribute the function of astrology to magic and to continue about your day. But in the modern era we have science. We have instrumentation to test the validity and truth of supernatural claims, and if there were an astrological mechanism at play which influenced people’s lives we would be able to detect it. Needless to say no such evidence exists. Even if I were to concede, for just a moment, that the cosmological evidence for astrology has simply not yet been found, or that it is unknowable to us, then there should still be observable evidence on earth for the accuracy of astrology. In 1985, the Carlson tests were conducted. The first test consisted of participants providing information to astrologers in order for their natal charts to be constructed. The participants were then tasked with selecting their chart. In the second test, astrologers were given the natal charts of randomly chosen participants along with a psychological description of their personality traits, their task being to match the participant with their astrological profile. Surprisingly, neither of these tests supported astrology in any statistically significant way. Who could have guessed?

There lies a theoretical problem even in the supposition of being able to show someone their fortune. Even if it were possible for an astrologer to generate an accurate prediction of my future, showing it to me would by definition change that future. This is Werner Heisenberg’s Uncertainty

Principle, whereby the act of measuring something in motion has the effect of altering its measurement. Researchers have challenged astrology both theoretically and through experimentation, and both methods prove astrology to have no practical validity.

And for those who still think those pesky horoscopes I have provided as examples are actually quite accurate summaries of you, not one of the descriptions align with its given zodiac sign. They’re merely generalised statements that have been arranged completely arbitrarily. As with every time you read your horoscope, you’ve fallen victim to the Barnum effect, a cognitive bias causing people to believe that generic personality descriptions apply to themselves when in reality, the description is general enough to apply to anyone.

It is accepted that where there was once alchemy, we now have chemistry in its place. Why then, despite the discovery of new planets and a shift in the earth’s rotational axis, rendering Ptolemy’s zodiac theory even more apocryphal than it already was 800 years ago, do some refuse to let go of astrology in favour of a far richer explanation of the mysteries of space: astronomy, a true triumph of the modern human intellect. Read a page of Stephen Hawking or look at images from a NASA telescope allowing us glimpses into the bygone early universe, of galaxies merging together around red quasars, of the powerful and luminous explosions of supernovas, or even evidence of other universes which may have existed before our own. I defy you to do this and then tell me that the wonder and awe that arises from the human brain’s ability to comprehend the once incomprehensible, to rationalise and measure such immense and seemingly unmeasurable phenomena can in any way be matched by an astrologer’s natal chart.

The philosopher Willard Van Orman Quine’s famous dichotomy states that belief in astrology by definition requires the rejection of all scientific disciplines that are incompatible with it. If this is a secession you are willing to make, you are welcome to it. But it is not one I could ever approve of or partake in. After all, I am a Taurus and we're very stubborn.

A GIANT LEAP TOWARDS CONSPIRACY

On the 16th of July 1969, Neil Armstrong said “that’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind”, and set what is considered one of the most believed conspiracy theories in motion. To this day, many people are sure that no one walked on the moon and that, at a critical time during the Cold War, the US government created a hoax that would put them in an advanced position. But how believable is this theory?

Firstly, the US flag is apparently waving in the pictures, which is impossible, since there is no wind on the moon. It could have only been set up in a studio, right? In 1969, NASA had to be sure the flag, and therefore the success of a mission led by the USA, would be visible in the pictures. That’s why the pole consisted of two parts creating an angle holding it up. However, according to NASA, the astronauts didn’t put it up correctly, which is why the flag looks like it’s moving.

Conspiracy theorists are also concerned with the process behind the pictures that were taken. Why are the shadows not as they should be? Why can’t we see a crater underneath the spacecraft? Why are there no stars in the background? Many are worried that, with nothing in between the sun and the moon, the engine and the astronauts should cast dark shadows on the ground, which they don’t. According to NASA, these shadows are less visible because the surface of the moon reflects sunlight, and therefore softens their intensity. Scientists also responded to the theory about the impact of the space engine on the moon surface. The spacecraft landed very slowly, with the intention of not leaving traces, and a crater was indeed produced, but it was overlooked. Later pictures of the moon also display traces of where the astronauts landed in 1969.

Photography enthusiasts can probably also explain the absence of stars in the pictures. The surface of the moon is very bright, which forms an extreme contrast to the absolute darkness in the background of the pictures. Even today, with cameras that are more developed than the ones used half a decade ago, it is impossible to photograph a very bright and a very dark part at the same time. With a focus on the moon and the astronauts, the stars couldn’t have been captured on the black background.

Since this happened during the Cold War, and at the height of the space race, we can also imagine that, if the US government had created a hoax, this would have been exposed by the USSR or China, who had the infrastructures

to verify the events. With the two sides constantly spying on and listening to one another, a hoax with such an impact and involving so many people would not have gone unnoticed by Soviet spies either. In fact, over 10,000 people were involved in the Apollo 11 mission, and it’s difficult to believe that so many people would have kept this secret to this day.

Like many conspiracy theories, this one was created during a time of suspicion, distrust, and tension. It is difficult for all of us that are not scientists to understand how we managed to not only land on the moon, but also return to Earth safely, even half a decade later, after our knowledge about space has developed. It’s human to try and find an answer to the big questions and to search for arguments explaining the things we don’t understand. That is how a lot of conspiracy theories are created. For our generation, this means that we might want to look out for the theories that will be born once we set foot on Mars.

CONTRIBUTING WRITER JULIE CUKIER EXPLORES THE SMALL STEP FOR MAN THAT LED TO ONE OF THE BIGGEST CONSPIRACY THEORIES OF MANKIND.

Not Just Spaced Out

Epileptic Absent Seizures

Epilepsy is a condition that affects the brain and can cause frequent seizures. What I have learned over the last few years is that people’s perception of epilepsy is hugely stereotyped,and as it is more common than you might think, it’s important to understand the different forms it takes. There are many types of seizures, but the main epileptic seizures can be classed as either grand mal or petit mal. Personally I dislike these terms as ‘big bad’ and ‘little bad’ aren't great ways to describe seizures. Also, every type of seizure can be traumatic for the person affected. Of course there is a scale, but it’s ignorant to say one is only a ‘little bad’ when it’s those seizures that commonly go undiagnosed, which is incredibly distressing for the person who experiences them. I believe these terms are currently being updated though.

Absent seizures (petit mal) can cause the person suffering to lose consciousness, but typically the person and those around them do not notice as it is only for mere seconds or minutes. Absent seizures are dissociative seizures, you may become unresponsive for a moment and appear to be staring into space and not paying attention. You can come out of a seizure not knowing it occurred, and realise you’ve missed something happening around you. It doesn’t help that this form of epilepsy is often diagnosed during childhood, so it can be dismissed as a child not listening - in turn, the child is not being listened to. Muscle twitching can occur, eyelid fluttering, and lip smacking. Some symptoms I experience are a distortion of what I’m looking at, everything appearing very far away and small, and an out of body sensation. Though the majority of children grow out of absent seizures, some don’t, and I didn’t either.

What causes seizures? For many people, not a whole lot, seizures can come and go as they please, which can add to that person’s anxiety and create a fear of them happening. Ironically, stress and a lack of sleep (perhaps brought on by the aforementioned

anxiety!) can cause seizures. Illnesses and alcohol can also be triggers for seizures. Surprisingly, only 3-5% of people with epilepsy are photosensitive, which means their seizures can be triggered by flashing lights, strobe, or something as simple as lights flickering.

Epilepsy is typically not cured, but controlled with medication. I would like to also draw attention to the psychological effects of absent seizures, because that is what impacted me the most pre diagnosis, during, and after. Absent seizures in particular can be scary because you feel a bit like a ghost when they happen, so it can become hard to ground yourself to come out of it. Try not to fight it as you feel it. It will end. You’re not going to feel like a ghost forever, and nothing bad can happen to you while you feel like one.

Start to remind yourself of where you are and use your five senses, note three things for each sense that you notice about your surroundings. If you have someone with you, it may be helpful to begin a conversation with them or change the perspective from where you’re sitting. Please just take your time.

An online creator I love called Evie Meg (ThisTrippyHippie) documents her life with chronic illnesses and seizures - I would highly recommend her educational TikToks to anyone who would like to know more, or what to do when someone is in a seizure. A seizure is different for everyone, so do check in with the person if you try to help. Sometimes just sitting there with them and waiting can be the most helpful thing. I promise we appreciate it.

Contributing writer Jessica Anne Rose details the experiences of those with Epilepsy and gives guidance on how to deal with seizures.

Space Colonisation, Crops and Cork

The traction on the idea of space exploration has gone from a mere dwindling flame to raging fire in the last number of years.

Sam Golden tells Motley why.

Interest on the subject of space has not seen as much activity since the days of the space race in the 1950’s. However, unlike the Cold War era the idea of leaving this planet in search of a “better alternative” has given rise to a whole different movement involving interstellar enthusiasts. A large group of these enthusiasts are business oriented, meaning the search is not only for a place in the stars but also financial opportunity.

There are few reasons for the reignited love for the unknown above. Social media and access to information has heavily contributed. This curiosity has also been propelled by pop-culture. Films like Christopher Nolan's Interstellar and The Martian starring Matt Damon have captured people's attention. The result of this being a new public involvement in space exploration rather than traditional governmental one. The expansion of areas like Space Tourism by the likes of Virgin founder Richard Branson and his ambition to to bring people on a space vacation for the “reasonable” price of $250,000. My opinion is based around a recognition of our current planet and trying to solve the problems down here rather than trying to develop “Warp Speed” or “Hyperdrive” for above and beyond.

However, I do agree and accept that human ambition should not be restricted. Should the human race one day go past the moon, one of the main problems concerning our survival is the question on how to feed ourselves. Like earth, the production of food in space relies on where you actually are in space. The odds of us getting to an “Earth 2.0” seem fairly unlikely at the moment. The closest viable option looks like Mars. SpaceX founder Elon Musk is a pivotal individual on this matter. Musk has made it his own personal goal to colonise Mars and promised manned missions by 2030 with a flight time of around 7 months. The fact that Musk is not the only one pursuing this goal (companies like Relativity Space and Impulse Space planning trips as early as 2024) suggest getting to Mars is likely to become reality.

The answer to this will rely on what we do down here on earth. One such example of this could be the Biosphere 2 project. This research initiative is surrounded in controversy since its maiden mission in the 1990’s came crumbling down. The aim of this project was to provide a detailed account and data on how to support and maintain human life outside of Earth. The research facility was based in Arizona and held 8 participants in an earth-like climate This includes a 40 acre campus, a rainforest and 6 other biomes and a human living habitat. The initiative heavily focused on ecosystems, crop farming and oxygen production. By creating an atmosphere and colony, the Biosphere 2 highlighted the risk of living and growing food on Mars. The failure of the project came when dangerously low oxygen rates were produced leaving management no point but to pump in more external oxygen which resulted in the study losing all academic credibility. Despite this $800 million blunder, Biosphere 2 supplied great data on how a potential Mars colony would look and act. While the actual principle of sustainable living failed in the research, could this offer an insight on how we could possibly live on the Red Planet?

The manner in how we colonise the Red Planet could potentially be here, in the other iconically known red territory of the universe: Cork. The Cork Rooftop Farm previews how vertical and sustainable growing can work within an unlikely setting. The idea of using the space and areas available to you in the most effective manner to grow organic and sustainable foods like fruit and vegetables is exactly the kind of thinking needed if we one day emigrate to the stars. Even in my own backyard, research into crop innovation is taking place. The UCC research project UN-SINTEC is leading the way in studying the effects of UV light on crops. The research looks to see the effects of sunlight replicated by UV lights in order to improve crop physical and sensory attributes. The application of the research findings might link to the level of quality of life interstellar colonists have in the near future. Who knows? Maybe the significance from a study like these could be the deciding factor whether or not a Mars colonisation mission is successful.

However far out the human race is in reaching other planets, the question of how we feed ourselves while we are there remains paramount.There will be no Deliveroo or Uber Eats on the Red Planet The only hunger definite to be subdued, will be the appetite for problem solving and innovation. Even before we lift off the ground, solutions need to be found and it doesn't matter if these are found in Cork or California. I’ll leave you to digest this article with the Interstellar quote - “We used to look up in the sky and wonder at our place in the stars. Now we just look down and worry about our place in the dirt.” But maybe it's that place in the dirt that will place us in the stars.

CELESTIAL FAIRY TALES

CONTRIBUTING WRITER EMILY O'SULLIVAN EXPLORES THE VALUE OF LOOKING UP IN WONDER

Some things, like stars, you hear about first in fairy tales. They grant wishes or fall from the sky. Nothing science can do will rip away the magical veneer, try as it might to show the gas balls behind the curtain. I returned home recently, back to the countryside after six months in the city. I was coming home from my aunts well into the witching hour, and upon looking up I discovered something that was all the more poignant as a rediscovery. Stars. I looked at them with the eyes of someone who had never seen them before. For a while it felt like I hadn’t.

Your final year is like living in a box, where slowly but surely everything is being replaced with red piece by piece until red is all you see. The red of blood , the red of lipstick or the red of McDonalds. Watching the stars that night was like someone lifted the roof off that box and all of a sudden I could see colours that I forgot existed. I longed to lie down on the wet grass next to the wintered yellow roses and stare.

Myself and my mother looked at the sky above us and tried to find the constellations or spot the second star to the right. Eventually the nip in the air made the fire and the idea of a good hot chocolate a far more enticing creature, but that first image of the stars still grabs me when I’m not looking and reminds me of all those fairy tales

Coming back into the city, one of the first things I did was look up at the sky. Try to see if I had been missing the stars I had seen at home. I hadn’t. All I saw was one tiny star and a sea of ink. It was a different kind of beauty. It wasn’t until I went into the city that I saw the lights again.

Last year myself and my cousin took a spin to see Cork City. When we stopped at the top it was like looking at the sky. Or an inversion of it. Lights of oranges , reds , greens and light yellows , car lights and traffic lights and shop displays. It felt like a strange irony that the very thing that stole the stars replicated some of their wonder. Of course, I am a creature predisposed to romanticising the world, but upon coming home and being reminded of the scarcity I had seen up there, and then wandering around the city, I forgave myself for never looking up when the streetlights made the redbrick of my complex looked warped, weird and wicked.

Whether or not the swap was worth it depends on the person, what they value. I personally like a little bit of both. The countryside's expanse is breathtaking, it pulls your soul out of your body for a bit, to marvel at it. The city can force you to confront the fact that modernity, technology and everyday practicality can have the same fleeting, delicate and hidden beauty as anything in the wild. It can make you stop and critically think how we value nature in comparison to how we value human creations, even if we come back to the same conclusion. Cork has always twinkled and shone, I just got to see it that night and now I carry that image all around.

Some things you learn about first in fairy tales. Some things you learn about just from seeing beautiful photography that tell a hint of a story. Some things then, you find out about in moments, in feelings and whatever is left when both are gone. Stars, city stars and country bumpkin stars are a little like that.

Each year, the UCC Law Society presents a Mutatio Factorem award to an Irish person who have made a difference to the world through their life and career, and its 2022 recipient was none other than Sir Bob Geldof of the Boomtown Rats. I had the opportunity to meet Sir Bob and have a chat.

The first thing I must tell you is, whatever you imagine Mr Geldof to be like, he is precisely that, but bigger. He is hugely intelligent, he knows a vast amount about what seems to be every topic, as he covered later on in the evening with his Q and A with Dr Dug Cubie later in the evening; climate change, politics, poverty, the law; whatever subject was brought up, he had an extensive knowledge on it.

Firstly, as this issue is revolving around space (no pun intended), I just had to ask him about his plans to be the first Irish person in space, before the company he was working with went bust. But every cloud has a silver lining; “At least I came out of it with a fucking good coat for winter!” he told me, gesturing to the bright blue coat on the back of his chair. He said that he did not want to be up in space for long, as he bored easily, and if he were to be there for ten days he would simply want to leave. It really does not surprise me, as a man with as many facets and as much intelligence as Sir Bob would bore of anything easily.

He said that he passed all of his training and went for a test flight: “Well, I was allowed to take the wheel for a few minutes. So, I could tilt it left and look out into infinity or I could tilt it right and see the curve of the earth from the north Arctic to the Antarctic.” He spoke about going for a trial run in an F16 too: “Then the guy said, “Are you ready Bob?” and I said “No”, and he said, “Well we are up now so we have got to come down”. So, we counted 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 and he just flipped over and straight down. Fucking hell. And I knew I would probably never do it again, so I forced myself to keep my eyes open.”

I needed to know what his fascination was with it. What did he see? I was not prepared for his answer, which was equally mystifying and enlightening:

“You know I just think we are so improbable and unlikely to be in this moment, in evolution, and I just wanted to see the earth, in all its unlikely and improbable beauty. What a perspective being in space would put on the earth, and how simple and small and insignificant we all are; how interconnected we all must be.” He then moved on to talk about flying in Concord, the clicks of the analogue as you sped through the sky, which turned purple from the height and speed. He remembered remarking, “If this window broke and someone shot a bullet at me, I could just snatch it straight out of the air.” Finally, he decided that he did it because “It was mad,” and that you will only ever be asked to do mad things once, so he was not going to miss that opportunity.

Typical Geldof, just going to space for the hell of it, and getting a comfy cosy winter coat to boot. Conversation then turned to music, as it usually does with me. I asked if the Boomtown Rats frontman had any advice for young musicians.

“I don’t because it is a whole different universe… You gig and you gig and there is no traction. There is just another gig, and where is it going to” Well, I may have thought that his stardom may have blinded him to the realities for being a young musician, but it certainly had not. He said that when he started gigging in Dublin, there were maybe three venues to get gigs, so they left for London, where he tried to get the attention of some magazines, including the Enemy, which he worked for. He even chuckled that the critics liked the Rats, “At first at least”. He said that at the time in Ireland, while there was a “music sensibility”, there was no “rock-consciousness”, but that they gained a large local following quickly. He felt that that would have stood to the Rats in a modern society, but that it did not matter back then. His advice consisted, in fact, mostly of “You really have to focus on who you are, where you are going and what you want to be, and that’s

the same. But it is [just] not like when we started.”

“It would drive me nuts. [You can’t] go to a record company and say this because then they will look at how many followers you’ve got. And also, they don’t really have people who just go “I love this, and I am prepared to set my career on these guys” which is what happened with us. Phillip Lynott got us in to see the guy with Signed Out, and he was leaving Phonogram… So, my thought was “Hold on, we are the only band he has got, he really needs us to make it or he is fucked. And we really need him because this is the only gig in town.” So, there was a mutuality.”

Bob knows that we are not lacking amazing musicians, artists, and writers, but he feels like they cannot access a route where those artists can be heard. He said it is like the “Cereal in the Supermarkets” phenomenon, where we have so much choice that we can never actually decide what we actually do want. The second problem he felt was social media itself, because pop is no longer the spine of the culture. He said “We defined ourselves through pop, through the groups we chose, and through them, that was the spine of the

culture. Without question, rock and roll was the cultural spine. And through that we, certainly I, learned about everything. About politics, economics, society, philosophy, theology, the lot. What people thought, what was possible, the way you looked, the way you dressed, and that kind of stopped with the diffusion of new media. So, the diffusion of the media has resulted in the dilution of the message.” He said that in a modern Ireland that “spine” is not as vitally important as it was in the 70s and 80s, and indeed the decades leading up to them.

He also said the fact that there are gigs everywhere is diminishing the value of the gigs and therefore the quality of the acts. He is most unimpressed with the cover-band domination in Ireland; saying “What the fuck is that about? I mean I literally never, I could not, I had to go. I thought about it and was like “No no this is so fucked.” Needless to say, Sir Bob would much prefer to be listening to original Irish music.

When I asked him what he would do in the modern Irish music scene, he said: “I just wouldn’t even know how or where to start these days. So, I suppose if it was young Bob, I suppose I would make a go of it, and I’d find out, and I had grown up with that, but it would frustrate me endlessly. Really endlessly. It would have frustrated me then even. “Why can’t you recognise what a genius I am?” I’d be roaring.”

And genius he is.

Bob Geldof received the Mutatio Factorem Award in UCC on October 12th 2022.

Writers, Photographers, Models, Artists and anyone else who has something to contribute. Reach out at the emails below editor@motley.ie currentaffairs@motley.ie entertainment@motley.ie features@motley.ie fashion@motley.ie

online@motley.ie deputycurrentaffairs@motley.ie deputyentertainment@motley.ie deputyfeatures@motley.ie deputyfashion@motley.ie