Motley Volume 13 Issue 3 November 2019 by Motley Magazine

Volume 13 Issue 3 November 2019

How You Can Help Cork Charities Interview: AURORA 2 Years After #MeToo

D OUB L E FA S H I ON FEATURE +Laura Libera's "Full House" +Luka Phelan's "Jobs For Boys"

MASTHEAD Editorial Staff EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Dan Webb

DESIGNER

Tim Caruso

CURRENT AFFAIRS EDITOR

Maeve McTaggart

DEPUTY CURRENT AFFAIRS EDITOR

Molly Kavanagh

DEPUTY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Laurie Shelly

FEATURES & OPINION EDITOR

Méabh Lonergan FASHION EDITOR

Paul McLauchlan

ONLINE EDITOR

ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

Andrew Burke

DEPUTY ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

Cathal Donovan O’Neill PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER

Grace Byers

Matthew Moynihan

Staff Writers Alana Daly Mulligan

Kane Geary O’Keeffe

Sadhbh Sullivan

Niamh Browne

Cover Photo LAURA LIBERA

Cover Model CLAIRE AHERN

Motley welcomes letters from readers, emailed to editor@motley.ie. Motley is published by Motley Magazine, 23 Sheraton Court, Glasheen Road, The Lough, Cork. Printed by City Print Limited, Victoria Cross, Cork. Copyright 2019 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. Images Provided by Unsplash.com Vectors provided by Vecteezy.com

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FROM THE

Editor’s Desk... Christmas is a Frame of Mind... The Christmas season is without a doubt my favourite time of the year. It’s a time for joy, laughter, spending time with family and for remembering the happier moments of our lives. I have never once been accused of subtlety at Christmas; I am after all the guy who owns a collection of 6 Christmas jumpers. However, in recent years, I have begun to notice just how cynical and selfish some people become around the holidays, and it upsets me. I believe a lot of people have forgotten the true meaning of Christmas. “Christmas is a frame of mind;” this quote is from one of the most celebrated festive films of all time, Miracle On 34th Street, in which a young girl who is struggling to get into the spirit of the holidays has her view of the world changed completely by the kind, jolly man in red himself. It’s a saying which has always stuck in my mind, and it is something that helps me to always keep the true meaning of Christmas in mind. It is a perfect reminder of what the holidays should be all about, and how we as people should devote ourselves to sharing the holidays especially with those less fortunate than ourselves. It is with that spirit of festive charity that I present to you the third and final issue of Motley for this semester, the Motley Holiday Special if you will (someone crack out the gingerbread men and hot chocolate). With exams just around the corner, I think it is very important that we take a moment to relax and to let all those worries slip away. With that in mind, I hope we can offer you something that not only helps to give a little bit of respite amongst the stress of deadlines and exams, but also helps you to reflect on the spirit of the holidays itself. Fashion is taking centre stage this month as our fantastic Fashion Editor and all-around trend-setter Paul McLauchlan delivers not one, but two amazing fashion shoots for your viewing pleasure. Make sure to check out our Winter Wonderland showcase, as it sits at the heart

DAN WEBB,

Editor-In-Chief Photo: Ronan O’Shea

of the section. Paul shares with us the style choices he made whilst attending London Fashion Week recently, the entire section serves as a lovely cap for the end of our first semester. In Current Affairs, Editor Maeve McTaggart explores the lasting effects of the #metoo movement almost 2 years later, and Deputy Editor Molly Kavanagh writes about the upcoming US presidential election as we move into a new year, and also a new decade. The aforementioned spirit of charity also finds itself at the heart of the Features section. Check out our Charities in Cork spotlight piece, which highlights the fantastic work the folks at Cork Simon Community, and Saint Vincent De Paul do for the members of our local community who may be struggling at the moment. The Entertainment team really took the festive spirit to heart in this issue. Check out Motley Deputy Editor Laurie Shelly’s interview with singer Aurora, famous for featuring in the “Man On The Moon” John Lewis Christmas advert, who appears on the soundtrack for Frozen 2. Motley music man in residence Cathal Donovan O’Neill delivers some hot and spicy takes with our official Motley Christmas Playlist. As I close off my third editorial, I would like to say thank you to everyone who has made such a fantastic first run possible. Thank you to the fantastic team I have behind me. Some days have been tougher than others, but throughout it all we stuck together and the magazine is better than ever. I would also like to say thank you to everybody reading this. Thank you for sticking by us, for taking an interest in what we have to say, and for helping to make this Motley’s best year yet. Let me sign off by saying Merry Christmas to everybody, and I hope you all have happy holidays and a prosperous new year.

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THE SOCIETY OF ST VINCENT DE PAUL IN THE SOUTHWEST REGION IS CURRENTLY HELPING FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE STRUGGLING TO PROVIDE FOOD, HEAT AND CLOTHING FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES. Your help is invaluable in making all the difference to the lives of people in your community. Without your help, we would not be able to provide our services to those that need it. IF YOU WISH TO VOLUNTEER WITH SVP OR DONATE AND NEED MORE INFORMATION; PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.SVP.IE OR YOU CAN CALL OUR REGIONAL OFFICE ON 021 4270444

ISSUE No3 - NOVEMBER 2019 MOTLEY.IE

CURRENT AFFAIRS

FEATURES

ENTERTAINMENT

FASHION

A reflection on the #MeToo movement and an investigation of its power

How can you help charities in Cork and give back this Christmas season

Sitting down with Norwegian singer Aurora about working on Frozen 2

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P. 13

P. 32

Fashion shoot by Laura Libera and a closer look at the fashion of work uniforms

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EXAM SEASON SADHBH SULLIVAN GIVES YOU SOME TIPS ON HOW TO COPE IN AN EXAM SITUATION, AND WHAT TO DO LEADING UP TO AN EXAM

ith the excitement of Christmas comes the fear of exam season. They say ‘time flies when you’re having fun,’ but unfortunately, it also flies when you’re not. In the depths of each winter, I find myself wondering how exactly I managed to fall so far behind on work, and how I can allocate my time in the best way possible to maximise my exam performance. As the semester comes to an end, this can seem like the most stressful time of the year, but there are a few things you can do to make sure that you’re the best version of your academic self on the day of your exam, and of course, a few things to remember if things don’t quite go your way.

Look after your body

Most twenty-something year-old’s need between seven and nine hours of sleep every night. Although the extended library opening hours might entice you to stay on campus well into the early hours of the morning, it’s unlikely that pulling an all-nighter will actually help your exam performance. Try to get enough sleep every night so that you know you’re putting your best foot forward for every exam. While it might seem like the only thing you have time for is studying, it’s also really important to make sure that you’re taking time to eat properly. Make time for three meals every day. The main rest has great affordable, healthy meal options if you don’t quite have enough time to cook.

Be proactive with your problems

While you may have had a lot of time to find the solutions to things you’ve been struggling with on your own earlier in the semester, now is the right time to reach out to lecturers and classmates if you don’t quite understand something. Try not to waste too much time worrying about what you don’t know and focus on what you can do right now instead

Accept that not everything will go your way

Life is full of ups and downs, and college is no exception. Sometimes it feels almost impossible to cover all of your exam content. If you’re running out of time, try to break your content down according to its importance. Work on the topics that are most likely to come up on an exam first and focus on the rest afterwards.

Know your exam timetable

Although it might seem like the only important information on your exam timetable is the times, dates and locations, your timetable also tells you if your exam has assigned reading time. Look out for any symbols that might suggest this on your timetable and be sure to arrive to your exam before your allocated reading or start times.

Know your options

Sometimes life gets in the way, and that’s okay. If you find yourself in any valid circumstance that prevents you from sitting an exam (due to illness or family bereavement), make sure you get in touch with your lectures and course coordinators, and let them know what’s going on. Any exam that you can’t sit this semester will take place during the Autumn supplemental exams. Similarly, if you fail a module exam, the repeat will also take place at this time.

Don’t be too hard on yourself

Although it might feel like it, exams are not the be-all and end-all. If you feel like an exam hasn’t quite gone your way, try not to be too hard on yourself. At the end of the day, you are not your exam results. Stay positive and stay hopeful. There’s nothing more you can do than your best.

CURRENT AFFAIRS Edit

NOVEMBER

MOLLY KAVANAGH AND MAEVE MCTAGGART LOOK AT THE MA JOR STORIES OF NOVEMBER, AND TRY TO FIND A SILVER LINING.

Like Turkeys Voting For Christmas On December 12th, the United Kingdom will go to the polls. After a “do or die” promise to fulfill Brexit on the 31st of October, Boris Johnson failed to extract the UK from the European Union - deal or otherwise. Instead of voting along party lines, polling is showing the electorate dividing themselves on Leave/Remain lines. The Conservative party under Johnson are tipped to fill the majority of the seats, but could the Brexit Party under Nigel Farage possibly be on the road to joining them? A Brexit Party-Conservative government could spell disaster for the UK. After many a media rendition of ‘Jingle Polls’, who’s going to tell the turkeys they’ll be stuffed?

Credit: DonkeyHotey

Can Anyone Top Trump?

56% of Americans believe President Donald Trump will be re-elected in 2020 according to a recent POLITICO/Morning Consult Survey. The news follows the Democratic drop-out of Beto O’Rourke, reducing the field of Democrats running for the party nomination to 17 (no, that’s not a typo). The silver lining in this story is hard to find, but if you’re one of the 56% of Americans who see a Trump re-election: good news!

BREAKING: Varadkar Fails To Understand The Climate Crisis...Again If the lack of climate action wasn’t already bothering you, the Taoiseach’s recent comments really twisted the knife. “One thing that we definitely have as a result of climate change is warmer winters,” he said, as a PR team screamed internally. “We're already experiencing warmer winters, and that actually means using less energy because it's warmer and people need less heating, and it also means fewer deaths as a result of cold weather.” To make things worse, the comments came immediately after Simon Harris’ warning of increased UV rays due to climate change will inevitably lead to increased cases of skin cancer. While Varadkar certainly found the bizarre silver lining in his Health Minister’s words, it gave off big primary-school-“I forgot to listen so here is the answer to what I hope your question was”-energy.

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A L IE O R A L AN DSLIDE ? Trump's 2020 Chances MOLLY KAVANAGH LOOKS AT THE ODDS OF A SECOND TERM FOR AMERICA’S 45TH PRESIDENT, PREPARING US FOR THE FACT THAT IF 2016 HAS TAUGHT US ANYTHING, IT’S TO EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED.

he United States 2020 presidential election is less than one year away. The general consensus one year prior to the 2016 election was that Donald Trump would never be the Republican nominee. That opinion, among Democrats, was unequivocal and unwavering; a reality television host would never be president of the United States. When Donald Trump won the Republican primary, nearly every poll assured us that Hillary Clinton, former First Lady and current Secretary of State, would win the general election. The candidate with racist and xenophobic rhetoric and absoloutly no political experience whatsoever would surely lose, right? Once Donald Trump was inaugurated, Democrats thought he’d surely be impeached. It’s only a matter of time before he’s removed from office. He’ll never complete his term. Three years later, we’re discussing an impeachment inquiry that will probably never be seen all the way through. In order to impeach a sitting President in the Senate, you need more votes than you would in a typical election - two thirds. Assuming every Democratic senator voted in favor of impeaching Trump, at least twenty Republican senators would need to follow suit - but this is highly unlikely, as these Republican senators could potentially lose the support of Republican voters for defecting from the party. A recent poll from Monmouth University has shown that approximately sixty-two percent of Trump voters responded “No” to the question: “Can you think of anything that Trump could do, or fail to do, in his term as president that would make you disapprove of the job he is doing?” Trump’s 2017 claim that he could shoot somebody on Fifth Avenue in New York City and not lose any votes is an exaggeration, but it is true that his supporters have a high threshold in terms of behavior they’ll accept from him - even if Donald Trump did commit an impeachable

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offence, many of his supporters wouldn’t care. The Republican Party is changing, and the members who don’t support Trump are struggling to remain in public favor. When Donald Trump’s administration began separating children from their families, yet retained the support of the majority of the Republican Party, we realised everything had changed. If that wasn’t enough to change his supporter’s minds, nothing would be- and it gave us a very frightening look at how the majority of Americans actually feel in regards to illegal immigrants and minorities as a whole. The political landscape has changed drastically in the past four years, to the point where it’s almost impossible to predict what will happen in 2020. How can we predict anything when the polls in 2016 were so wrong? The uncertainty of the upcoming election brings with it feelings of anxiety and panic. This is especially prevelant among people who were left feeling unsafe following the 2016 election - women, members of the LGBTQ+ community, undocumented immigrants who were suddenly left feeling as if they weren’t welcome in the country they lived in because half the population voted for a candidate who didn’t respect their right to exist. Trump’s election changed how people in America behave and interact with each other - far more people are openly calling for Ilhan Omar to “go back to where she came from,” or bullying Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez for once being a bartender. This general nastiness and indecency in politics wasn’t always socially acceptable, but being involved in American politics is now exhausting and unpleasant. America is becoming more and more toxic, and this is brought on somewhat by election anxiety and also helps to further it. We’re potentially less than one year away from Trump’s second term - four more years of navigating an unpleasant, unprecedented political landscape with no rule book. And if you ask me - or any American for that matter who they think will win the 2020 presidential election, you probably won’t receive an answer with as much certainty or conviction as you would have gotten prior to the 2016 election. Everything is changing, and there’s no way to prepare for what might come next.

What Happened at the 2019 Canadian Election? JUSTIN TRUDEAU ROSE FROM THE RANKS OF THE LIBERALS IN 2015 TO BECOME THE CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER AND ASSUME HIS POSITION ON SOCIAL MEDIA AS THE GOLDEN BOY OF THE G7 - ADORNED IN WACKY SOCKS AND ‘WOKE’ SLOGANS. RACHEL MCCULLOCH EXAMINES HIS FALL FROM GRACE IN THE RECENT CANADIAN ELECTIONS

For a time, there was a general consensus amongst Canadians that Trudeau was keeping this promise. In his first year as Prime Minister, Trudeau formed Canada’s first gender-balanced cabinet, followed through on an election promise to bring 30, 000 Syrian refugees to Canada, and launched a long-awaited national inquiry into the horrific levels of violence faced by Indigenous women. Then came the first of several scandals: the purchase of the Trans-Mountain Pipeline in May 2018. n October 21, Justin Trudeau was elected to This angered many Canadians who saw it as going directly serve his second term as the 23rd Prime Minister against Trudeau’s claims of being a “climate leader.” Next of Canada. This election took place following was the SNC-Lavalin affair, a complicated political scandal a scandal-ridden year for Trudeau, and many were left involving attempted interference with the justice system wondering about his Liberal government’s chances at reby the Prime Minister’s Office. Though the Trudeau election, despite Canada’s typically left-leaning electorate. government maintains that no law was broken, their image Though the Liberals did manage to secure a win, took a hit that they have yet to recover from. Finally, there the 157 seats of 338 they won failed to meet the 170 MPs is the photo published by TIME last month showing necessary to form a majority government. Their Trudeau in black-face at a 2001 party. This was yet numbers fell from 184 seats won in 2015 to another blow to what was left of his image as 157, while the Progressive Conservative a “woke” political leader. Party, their closest rival, rose from 99 However, despite the seats in 2015 to 121. circumstances, the centre-left A minority government remains a powerful voting block means that the Liberals will in Canada. “Between 30-40 need the support of other per cent sits to the right of the parties to pass legislation - a political spectrum,” says Kurl. culture shock for Trudeau, “The rest of the country is who started his first term as comprised of the centrePrime Minister with a 63% left, where three parties are approval rating. He enjoyed competing for votes.” Also an extended honeymoon notable is that in 2019, for period with his electorate the first time, Millennials and that lasted well into the Gen Z's made up the largest second half of his first term, voting segment in the country, but by December 2018 this one third of the electorate. This number had plummeted to potentially served as an advantage 35%. What happened? for Trudeau, who has historically The rise in popularity of been popular amongst young voters. conservative politicians nationally and Moving forward, opposition internationally has caused a significant shift parties will have a much larger role to Credit: DonkeyHotey in Canada’s political climate. “We as a nation play in Canadian politics. Though Trudeau are more aware of the right-left divide,” says Shachi Kurl, has so far ruled out any chances of a coalition with the Executive Director of The Angus Reid Institute. New Democratic Party, whose platform most closely “2015 was a change election. Canadians were... alarmed by matches the Liberals’, he will need to compromise to get the criticism Canada was receiving on the world stage due policies through. We can expect Canadian politics to to [former Prime Minister] Stephen Harper’s blunt talk on remain relatively status-quo for the next year or two, until climate change... [he] had worn out his welcome with the opposition parties feel they are in a position to make any electorate. Trudeau arrived on the political scene as a fresh big moves - such as calling a vote on a matter of confidence face, promising to do politics differently.” - which could lead to another election.

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Power-Shift T or Placebo? Two Years On From #MeToo “NOBODY IS GOING TO SAY ANYTHING?” ERUPTED AN AUDIENCE MEMBER AT A COMEDY SHOW ATTENDED BY HARVEY WEINSTEIN EARLIER THIS MONTH BEFORE BEING ESCORTED OFF THE PREMISES. THE QUESTION AND ITS REACTION MADE MOTLEY' S MAEVE MCTAGGART WONDER - AFTER #METOO, WHERE DOES ALL THE POWER LIE?

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o The New York Times in late 2017, actress Ashley Judd recalled a 1996 hotel room encounter with a Hollywood producer who held her career in his hands. She was cornered and uncomfortable by the advances of the film mogul, later asking “how [was I to] get out of the room as fast as possible without alienating Harvey Weinstein?” A young actress, inexperienced in an industry which lauded the man who was now forcing himself upon her, Judd joined the roster of over 80 women who now allege sexual misconduct against Harvey Weinstein, each silenced by the pressure to accommodate the power of one of Hollywood’s most notorious predators. Non-disclosure agreements and behind-the-scenes settlements kept the Weinstein story suppressed to rumours for decades before Alissa Milano reignited a movement begun in 2006 by Tarana Burke - “If you’ve been sexually harassed or assaulted,” she posted on Twitter, “write ‘me too’ as a reply to this tweet.” To date, almost ninety-thousand people have replied directly to Milano’s post. Was the power shift we felt all just a placebo? “It felt like David versus Goliath,” a Weinstein employee told The New Yorker in 2017 of the power imbalance between the accusers and the accused. Retribution for the man who many believed helped carve modern popular culture seemed impossible at the

time - Pulp Fiction, Project Runway, Inglorious Basterds, Good Will Hunting - where would justice find the man mentioned more times than God in Academy Award acceptance speeches? Awaiting his January court-date, Weinstein and much of those struck down by #MeToo remain elusive to complete cultural annihilation - the aftertaste of power is a hard one to cleanse. These days, Weinstein frequents New York’s comedy clubs, fellowaccused comedian Louis C.K. has returned to the stage while Brett Kavanaugh sits on the U.S. Supreme Court and Donald Trump retains the nation’s presidency. Despite some public figures turning recluse in lieu of their exposure, the remainder still inhabiting positions of power is made the ever-more stark. When Dr Christine Blasey Ford sat before a judiciary committee in September of 2018, she was reluctant - the nomination to the Supreme Court of the highschool jock who she alleged to have assaulted her three decades prior had seemed like a distant nightmare. Testifying to a muddled memory of the night’s events, the allegation failed to impact the decision to grant Brett Kavanaugh the lifelong position of Supreme Court Justice. This year, TIME Magazine placed both Blasey Ford and Kavanaugh on the TIME 100 - a catalogue of one-hundred of the most influential people in the world.

The dichotomous influence awarded to both Blasey Ford and Kavanaugh seems like a symptom of a culture at war with itself, unsure of where to go next. While survivors and their stories are revered, the place of cultural power for the accused still seems easily reconciled with allegations of abuse. To GQ, the preservation of the influence of Brett Kavanaugh is evidence of a society failing to follow through on #MeToo; it is a reminder that, still, “forgiveness always awaits powerful men who do wrong to others… all they have to do is ask.” The promise of #MeToo was in its reckoning with the shadows of every social structure - from the workplace to the White House. Criticised as fuelling a ‘victim narrative’ by Irish author Ella Whelan or an exercise in ‘mob justice gone too far’ by Piers Morgan-types, the #MeToo movement seems to have failed to fully translate across the Atlantic. While credited as an influence in the increase in reports of sexual misconduct, structural change in how we perceive the tainted power of accused elites remains largely untested in Ireland. Have we already banished our ‘Weinsteins’ or are we yet to face our demons?

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OPINIO N NIAMH BROWNE TALKS ABOUT THE DISDAIN HELD FOR THE ARTS, AND WHY STUDENTS FEEL THE NEED TO JUSTIFY THEIR CHOICES TO EVERYONE WHO ASKS. It’s the dreaded question. The question with that tone. The snarky question mark you can just about hear. The “and how are you going to get a job out of that?” question. It’s the marish shadow that follows every arts student around. Now, I’m not here to talk about how there is employment for us lowly arts students out there, or to pit us against commerce kids. If anything, the most “viable” jobs such as telemarketers, tax preparers and accountants - are all likely to be automated soon. Even the art’s student reprieve of barista could well be wiped out. So really, “how’re you going to get a job out of anything?” is the real question. What I mean to document is the intelligence justification phenomenon. That every time you mention your arts degree, you must follow up with your Leaving Cert points, your IQ score and how many languages you speak. The “but I swear I am smart really” spiel that you whip out for some random lad doing BIS in the smoking area of Havana’s. For some reason, you tell your gin-soaked aunt at Christmas that you’re planning on doing the H-dip and you’ll get a job in no time. I decided to ask a friend of mine who got over 600 leaving cert points and is now doing arts about this phenomenon. I can feel you, dear reader, raising your eyebrows and thinking, “What on earth is the poor girl doing?” Stop. No. I won’t have it. I asked her how this feels: “Oh man all the time! I tell people I do arts and they’re like oh cool but if they find out the points I got they’re like why are you doing arts?” Why does she think that people crap on her? “I think there’s a lot of factors that go into it and I think you could even argue that so much of your worth is driven by capitalism in that, courses like BIS with almost guaranteed jobs after the fact are in such high demand, that learning for learnings sake is seen as the “dumb” option because its ”so hard to get a job''

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The Arts Student and the Intelligence Justification Complex This is where the appeal of Trinity lies. Lots of our brightest and best move to Dublin to pay (even more) exorbitant rent and see all their pubs turn into hotels. Trinity students don’t fare any better in employability, and the standard of education is similar, too. An enormous part of me can't help feeling that the perceived prestige of Trinity provides understandable comfort for arts students, because it is nicer to be able to say you do History and Political Science in Trinity than Arts in UCC. People look at you a bit more approvingly, “we have a bright one here”. Why do we crave approval from people we don’t really like? That ultimately boils down to insecurity, but the peculiarity of this insecurity is that we don’t go about fixing it in the same way: the same disease, but we use different cures to make ourselves feel better. For example, if you are unhappy with your body, you might alter your diet or exercise. However, if you are unhappy with your perceived intellect, you don’t read improving books, or try to master Catalan on Duolingo. It seems you just spew bizarre, meaningless credentials at people. We all know that the Leaving Cert is bullshit, and that IQ is not a holistic way of measuring intelligence, but we want to reduce everything to a number. In the face of the terrifying chaos of the universe, we like to categorize people into neat boxes. It’s a fundamental human compulsion. The perverse and sad thing, though, isn’t that other people judge and compartmentalize you, so you fit their world view, but you start to do it with yourself. To reduce yourself to any one aspect of your identity is dangerous. Whether it be how many kgs you weigh, or your bank balance, humans are squishy, nebulous creatures and cannot be expected to be neat. Next time someone asks what degree you study, and you feel ashamed that you won’t be an economic asset to society in 10 years, just remember, the Amazon is burning; society might not even be here by then. Chin up and read your Rousseau.

CHARITIES IN CORK

The True Spirit of Christmas

DAN WEBB AND MÉABH LONERGAN SIT DOWN WITH TWO OF CORK’S MOST DEDICATED CHARITIES TO DISCUSS THE WORK THEY DO COMING UP TO CHRISTMAS, AND ALL YEAR ROUND

The Society of St Vincent De Paul

Here's a name we are sure quite a lot of us have known ever since we were kids. The Society of St Vincent De Paul is the biggest and oldest charity in the country, with over 10,000 members nationwide. Most people first come into contact with SVP when they are in primary school, as the group is famous for its annual food drive where every school in the local parish collects nonperishable goods to be distributed amongst those in need throughout the community. However, that’s not the only thing the society provides to members of our community. Recently, we had the pleasure of sitting down with Gerry Garvey, the regional co-ordinator for the Society of Saint Vincent De Paul in the South-West region covering all of Co. Cork and Kerry. Gerry began by emphasizing that the ethos of the society is to “seek out those who are in need, and see what support we can give them.” This is a mission which is taken to heart by all members of the Society, each of whom play a different role in offering support. The Society realize that when dealing with those in need one of the most important things one must do is ensure that person’s dignity is respected. Gerry tells us about how SVP is one of the last charities in Ireland that has the privilege of getting to visit people in the comfort and safety of their own homes. This is a crucial part of SVP’s approach to helping people, as Gerry puts it, “when you’re having a little chat with someone and they feel comfortable in their own home, they will divulge other problems they have been having.” In this way, if the person is experiencing problems or financial

difficulties, the society can step in and, with the person’s permission, act as an advocate on their behalf. The Society also works in association with other groups such as MABS (Money Advice and Budgeting Scheme) to help people to develop stability and also to develop the skills to be selfsufficient once again. The Society provides people with services that help to satisfy short-term living needs i.e. heat, food and

FEATURES & OPINIONS | 13

are always looking for volunteers, including our very own UCC Saint Vincent De Paul Student Society. Gerry ended by saying “we are there to help, and we are there to help anyone who is in need.” They understand just how hard it can be for somebody to reach out for help sometimes. However, if you or a friend do find yourselves in need, the society is always happy to talk to you in confidentiality, and to help to find the best solution for you.

LOCAL OFFICE OF THE SOCIETY OF ST.

VINCENT DEPAUL, LOCATED ON TUCKEY electricity. However, the STREET JUST OFF GRAND PARADE Society also puts a strong emphasis on helping the person to build on their own skill set, to help break the cycle of poverty and move towards full self-sufficiency. Gerry says education is at the centre of their initiatives “You could support someone with a voucher for €30 a week and they could still be relying on that in 20 years time. If you can support someone to get a decent qualification, then they are near enough guaranteed a decent job”. To help in this effort, the Society have set up a third level education support committee here in Cork and Kerry. Last year alone, the society met with many students in need throughout Cork, including students from the UCC community. They spent almost €68,000 supporting people with fees, assistance with accommodation and travel. Following this, the society met with several members of what Gerry refers to as “the squeezed middle,” that group of students who may otherwise find the extra expense of, say, travelling to college an insurmountable challenge to overcome. So far this year there has been a massive influx of people seeking assistance with education costs from the society. This year alone, the group has invested €220,000, compared to last year’s €68,000, which is very telling of the great need out there for education. The work that Saint Vincent De Paul does for the people of our own community is fantastic and truly deserving of praise. However, it is important to remember that the work that the Society does is an act of charity, and as such, it relies on donations of time and money from people to continue doing the work they do. If you are wondering how you as a student in UCC can get involved, there are several ways. Firstly you can donate a small amount of money to SVP via their website; this could be as little as €4-€5 a month, and although it seems small, this could go a long way to helping a person in need. If you are interested in getting involved in a more hands-on way, SVP

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If you or a friend is in need of help, the Society of Saint Vincent De Paul’s doors are always open to you. You can call 0214270444 , visit www.svp.ie or pop into the Cork offices at No.2, Tuckey Street, Cork.

Cork Simon Community

Every year without fail, the Christmas season provides an opportunity to reflect on everything we have in our lives. Family, friends, food, warmth, comfort; these are all things which many of us take for granted. However, there are many people who do not have access to these basic human needs. One group that has been dedicated to tackling the harsh reality of homlessness that many people in Cork face is the Cork Simon Community. Founded almost 50 years ago by a group of volunteers, Cork Simon strives to not only help people to escape homelessness but also to give them continued support to ensure they never have to face such a challenge again. Recently, we had the pleasure of sitting down to talk with Sophie Johnson, Research and Communication Coordinator of Cork Simon, to discuss the fantastic work members of the community put in to help those in need throughout our local area. Sophie started by describing the work Cork Simon Community does for those in need here in Cork. The group’s ethos emphasizes community and making sure everyone has a safe place to go at night. This ethos still remains at the core of Cork Simon’s operations to this day. The only thing that has changed, as Sophie says, is the demand for their services, which has in turn seen an increase in the number of services being offered to match this growing demand. When Cork Simon was first founded, one of their early initiatives was the soup run, aiming to give those living on the streets a place to come for a cup of tea and a good warm meal while also giving them a space and nonjudgemental place to talk to staff. Today, the soup run is still a core part of the group’s activities, more so than ever, as it allows them to get to know those who are sleeping rough in the community, and as such identify their needs.

Sophie tells us that Cork Simon operates on what they call a “housing first” policy where they prioritise getting the person or people into a safe environment, and then providing them with continued support going forwards. This differs greatly to the “staircase” model that many other agencies follow, where the person must satisfy a number of criteria before being considered for support. This truly is a strong marker of the dedication and care the members of Cork Simon have for those in need. Cork Simon also puts a strong emphasis on education and personal development. As Sophie says, it is a way of giving the person back a sense of self-dependence, pride and identity. It also helps them to slowly work their way to becoming fully self-sufficient, so they will hopefully never have to face the harsh reality of homelessness again. Simon have a dedicated Education/Training and development team who work with individuals year round to help them to develop the skills they need to seek good quality employment. The community work around the clock, every day of every year, to ensure a better quality of life for a lot of people right here in Cork. One of their busiest times of the year is the annual run up to Christmas. What with the drop in temperatures and the strong emphasis on family and friends, the holiday season can be one of the most difficult for those facing homelessness. Simon work their fingers to the bone and do their very best to help people, however, unfortunately, the rates of people sleeping rough, especially around the holidays, don’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon. Recent figures show that in Cork alone, 119 people are currently living in emergency accommodation, and this marks a 21% increase from the year before. As such, Cork Simon are under immense pressure to provide people with a level of services which is becoming increasingly difficult to satisfy. Sophie tells us that, most nights, the Simon emergency shelter on Anderson Quay is at maximum capacity, and at over capacity on colder nights, which means that they are unfortunately forced to turn people away. The Simon team are trying their best to fight these challenges, placing mattresses on kitchen floors in an attempt to at least get people off the streets and under the safety of a roof.

The work that Cork Simon Community does for people in our community is incredibly selfless. However the challenges they are facing means they need as much support as they can get. That's where you all come in, if you are reading this and you are wondering how you can get involved and do your part – there are a number of ways. Cork Simon have several events happening coming up to Christmas. If your society or class are looking for a way to raise some money for Simon why not organise a Christmas Jumper day? Or if you fancy yourself Ireland’s next music star why not take part in a local Sing For Simon event? For those of you out there with iron lungs and stamina, why not take part in the annual Turkey Trot, taking place at Blackrock Hurling Club on December 12th. Dress up like a turkey and run for charity, what's not to love? Or join our very own UCC Cork Simon Student Society to see how you can help from right here on campus. There is also the option of volunteering to help Cork Simon with providing their services, and to help run local fundraising events. Even one or two hours of voluntary work a week would go along way to improve the lives of people living here in our very own community. If you are interested in volunteering or are in need of help, Cork Simon Community always have their door open. You can call 021-4278728, visit www.corksimon.ie or call into their offices at St Nicholas House, Cove Street, Cork.

LOCAL OFFICE OF CORK SIMON COMMUNITY, LOCATED ON COVE STREET

FEATURES & OPINIONS | 15

T H E N OT S O LO N E LY P L A N E T BY ALANA DALY MULLIGAN

FAMILY FOUND A Night With Dolly Parton and My Gran

hristmas is a time of year where we can all feel just a little lonelier than usual. Every advertisement boasts families celebrating, people falling in love, even just some smiley eejit on an M&S ad can set us off a little bit. Being away has certainly given me a new appreciation for what I have in Ireland, and dare I say, rose-tinted glasses for people I’ve left behind. Even though I’m not the biggest for commemorating, I’m missing my Grandmother’s year anniversary by a day because of flights something that I am upset about to say the least. Going on a year abroad and embarking on this year of my life without her, I’ve been living to do her proud. To give you an idea of my Gran, she was 4 feet 11inches of mischievous fun, like me. She loved travel and always told me of her adventures abroad, especially her love of the USA. Like many in her generation, she held America up as a beacon of hope lit with dreams whispered in film reels and

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sealed in Christmas card stamp kisses. But the last few years were difficult. Her once-hushed Alzheimer’s started shrieking, and suddenly there were things we couldn’t talk about. I came out very publicly and was constantly writing about controversial topics to do with both our lives. What I wanted to be most proud of I had to keep hidden from the person I loved most in the world. Before she died, I got word that I’d been one of thirty young people selected to go to New York for my activism work. I was so excited, I couldn’t wait to tell her, but never got the chance. She passed in the middle of Christmas exams; the final kick to one of the most personally challenging years of my life. I didn’t know how to deal, how to talk about it, who to talk to about it, so I found Dolly. Dolly Parton is the most successful female country artist of all-time. I could spend the rest of this article talking about what Dolly has done for humanity. From her brutally-honest

songwriting, to her fight for gender equality, and her incredible philanthropy surrounding youth literacy (something I myself am unbelievably passionate about); she is the definition of the American Dream. The organisation that I worked with in New York, We Are Family Foundation (WAFF), co-founded and chaired by music-guru Nile Rodgers (who has written so many hits it’d make your head spin) honours two extraordinary people every year for their work to bring the global family closer together. When I heard that Dolly Parton and Jean Paul Gaultier were the two honourees, I thought someone was messing with me. Two icons who crossed so many social, political and cultural barricades using their art to change the world. I knew I was meant to be at the event. Every part of me was saying this was important for some reason or other. It became something to look forward to as I settled into the strange new loneliness of Maine-life. A few weeks

after I had RSVP’d and booked my Greyhound, I got a text from WAFF asking if I would be up for helping to present Ms. Parton with the Mattie J.T. Stepanek Peacemaker Award. I legitimately squealed in the cafeteria, replying “YES” instantly. I knew the minute I was asked, it had to be my Gran taking hold of the puppet strings and bringing me some good fortune. As I traveled down through New England, I thought about the power of family and, how it had felt hard to be part of such a structure since starting college. My award speech to Dolly Parton encapsulated this message: feeling alone with my thoughts and wanting to create community spaces where what we said and how we felt was valued. It appeared that unintentionally I wanted to find family, and spoiler alert, I did. The night before the big event, I tucked up on a college couch in Allentown, Pennsylvania with a friend watching 9 to 5 and thinking about how

ADVERTISING IMAGE OF DOLLY PARTON, 1977.

Dolly’s films and music influenced the way the world views women and the monumental strides she took to create spaces for everyone regardless of race, gender, sexuality, nationality or socio-economic status to name just a few things. I found myself in a Hollywood-esque tuxedo on the red carpet of the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City with people who had adopted me into their world of activism just a little under a year ago. They made me feel loved and valued when I felt most alone and unlovable. Family. It felt good to say on my tongue. But friendship, that felt even better. Along with three other girls, we spoke about our projects and presented Dolly with a bouquet of yellow roses: a symbol of friendship, and also her

favourite flower. It was surreal being on stage with this woman whose life I felt I knew so well, who had contributed so much to balancing the gender scales in the world we live in today and had played such a big part in my life through my Grandmother. I felt so grateful and humbled to spend my time with such an incredible cohort of folks, and my Gran, who I fully believe was jiving onstage beside me, Nile and Jean Paul at the end of the night. There are too many Dolly songs that have healed my heart in the last twelve months to list here but I want to finish with family. I was sad to leave the bright lights of New York but felt hope in my chest knowing there was another place in the world where I belonged. It makes the next few months bearable, reminding me of all the wonderful people who have my back on both sides

of the pond and beyond. Because that’s what family is, looking after people as Christmas comes around, and remembering the arms you have to wrap yourself in and, the people who love you, whether they are Two Doors Down, working 9 to 5, or two counties away, the good things you are doing by just getting through and doing your best, and in the words of Dolly herself “here you come again”.

AD SPACE NOW AVAILIBLE! C O N TAC T E D I T O R @ M O T L E Y. I E F O R D E TA I L S

POETRY

Conversations in a Radicalised System TONY O'HALLORAN

‘Settle down. Stop fighting for your gods, They can’t hear you now, Not with the noise of your guns’ Entrenched, his righteous brigade, once no-man-fathomed. Now it is frightful, sheer, lacking no conviction, exacting reverence: You are either with us or against but never in between. Ignorance is our enemy, resistance our kerosene. Inextricably, her cause consumes, splinters the faithful. Now she sits, poster held high, Forgetting how to love: You are either with us or against but never in between. Ignorance is our enemy, resistance our kerosene.

FEATURES & OPINIONS | 19

AN ANXIOUS MIND WHAT IS ANXIETY? WHERE DOES IT COME FROM? WHAT SYMPTOMS CAN WE WATCH OUT FOR? CIARA LONE ANSWERS THESE QUESTIONS AND HIGHLIGHTS WAYS YOU CAN FIND HELP IF YOU ARE SUFFERING.

n our current world we are overexposed to a ridiculous amount of stimuli. Our days are filled with assignments, obligations, worries, demands, other people. Our devices are constantly on, bombarding us with notifications, messages, bright, brilliantly coloured advertisements, emails and images. Many people are oblivious as to whether they have anxiety and what it may look like. Some people may imagine anxiety as a bouncy ball within the mind. It is relentless, it has no direction and it is persistent, it tends to provide no obvious use, yet it continues on flinging itself from one thought to another continuously.

In addition to this, certain thought processes may pop up such as ‘am I liked?’ ‘am I doing my best?’ ‘what if I mess up?’ ‘have I said the wrong thing?’ These self deprecating and extremely judgemental thoughts tend to spiral and gain momentum from each other. This anxiety can manifest physically too. You may pick at points in your body including your hair, your nails or your skin. People also have a tendency to fidget or shake their legs. Anxiety can prove to be very detrimental as it blocks you off from the present moment and can be very isolating for a person as you may feel trapped within your mind and it feels is as if you are the only person in the world who experiences this. As human beings we forget that we are highly sensitive beings. We are feeling beings. If our immediate five senses are overloaded with information, anxiety becomes our bodies’ natural response to this. Therefore, it is absolutely crucial that we develop a high level of self awareness and compassion towards ourselves so we can learn to cope and address it. Here are some coping mechanisms to try.

Positive Self Talk

The quality of our thoughts tends to dictate the quality of our life. Spend a few days observing your anxious thought processes without judgement.

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Listen to the thoughts that pop up, question them and redirect them. For example, when you feel that you will definitely fail an assignment, and then consequently fail college question this. Ask yourself if this is a true statement or is it a reaction of your mind? Instead of this, speak to yourself in reassuring terms, as though you were speaking to a friend or child. Say ‘this may happen but it will only be a minor setback, I am able to deal with this. I am supported in this area by my lecturers and tutors. I will be okay.’ This helps to validate your feelings and create new thought patterns. Through repetition of this, the anxious feelings created by anxious thoughts will eventually subside.

Simply being mindful of our thoughts and the more destructive ones lets us control what we think and prevents spiralling. With compassionate speech, we react from a place of love rather than a place of fear and shame.

Create an S.O.S. List

Anxiety traps us within our mind, therefore it is very helpful to redirect our energy from inside to outside and ground ourselves back in the present moment. Write down a list of five things to do, and if possible make sure they are active things that require your focus. This could be as simple as cooking or cleaning or participating in your preferred sport. If you are having difficulty thinking of things, think of activities you used to adore when you were a child. I personally love doodling absolutely anything on a sheet of

Whatever youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re feeling, be good to yourself. If you feel lost, be patient with yourself while you find your way -Lori Deschene bring up an immense amount of gratitude for you. Conjure up images of these people either in your mind or with photos and focus on all the aspects of them that you love. Focus on their laugh, your fondest memories, their facial expressions. By reflecting on these things, you are moving away from a place of fear and realising all the good that is in your life.

Creating Structure paper because it takes me out of my own head, and the anxious thoughts tend to subside. Cleaning can be very therapeutic, as you introduce order and organisation into your immediate environment. Providing this image can signal to your mind that it is allowed to feel more structured, more at peace. Try to prevent scrolling through your phone or mindlessly watching Netflix. This can lead to sensory overload and your mind will act on autopilot and wander, naturally perpetuating that cycle of anxiety. Keep this list on you and refer back to it whenever you feel that your anxiety is beginning to rise once again.

Mental Exercises and Visualisation

During anxious times, find a place where you can become very still and close your eyes. Imagine each of your worries are swept up in a massive wave. This wave is rising into a crescendo. It is big and blue. Allow this wave to wash over you, feel that sensation of rising and falling and take a deep breath out to let it all go. Another thing to do is to find three people, pets or material things that

The only things in life that you are able to control is yourself; your habits, the people in your life and your daily routines. It is crucial for someone living with anxiety to establish routines and to establish boundaries that you have with yourself and with other people. Firstly, try to wake up and go to sleep around the same time each day. Another non negotiable aspect is your eating habits. No matter how busy or hectic your day is, you must make time to have at least two to three meals per day. These must be eaten and prepared slowly, no rushing and no substituting meals. Life revolves around food, and an anxious mind is quelled by good quality food. It stabilises you and it also gives you something to look forward to. Now assess your relationships; your mindset is directly

affected by the people that surround you. Pay attention to how you feel around certain people, does your anxiety decrease or increase? Do you feel comfortable saying how you feel and do you feel yourself with these people? Make your anxiety something that could be useful for you, use it as your compass to direct you towards the right people for you. Be selfish in this process and donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be afraid to cut ties (kindly) with anyone who no longer resonates with you. At the end of the day, this is your life and you must make choices that feel fulfilling and protect your mental health. Overall, never judge yourself for having these feelings, as they are something every single human has or will experience at some point in their life. The important thing is that you treat yourself kindly and with patience. If you are suffering with anxiety or know people suffering with anxiety, the following resources should help:

Call Lines

Samaritans Helpline Freephone ROI: 116123 N. IRELAND: 0845 90 90 90 Email: jo@samaritans.org Web: samaritans.org Teen-Line Ireland Irish Advocacy Network (Peer advocacy in mental health) www.irishadvocacynetwork.com Tel: 01 872 8684 Turn2Me.org (Online one to one or group counselling) Grow (Mental Health support and Recovery) www.grow.ie Tel: 1890 474 474

FEATURES & OPINIONS | 21

ENTERTAINMENT Edit

NOVEMBER

ANDREW BURKE AND CATHAL DONOVAN O’NEILL SHARE THEIR TOP PICKS FOR NOVEMBER

Knives Out

J.I.D.

Thursdays at 20:30, Jim Cashman's McCronin's is the newest comedy club in Cork. The room itself is small and cozy and really allows for the audience to connect with the comedians, some of which have been the biggest acts in Cork and Ireland. The club also hosts open mics so you can truly see the up and coming talent in the scene, and will host the first ever Cork Comedian of the Year Competition starting December 5th and finishing in January. Check out McCronins upstairs in Jim Cashman’s Bar.

December 29th After creating one of the most divisive blockbusters of all time, Rian Johnson’s Knives Out looks to be joyously debate-free. Christopher Plummer has died under suspicious circumstances and your- yes, your- favourite actor is one of the suspects. Johnson’s irreverent streak continues here, with many characters being cast against type: Chris Evans’s turn as a trust-fund play-brat looks to be a highlight. The trailers have all been a joy and, as one of the rare Last Jedi fans, this is one of my most anticipated films of the year.

December 3rd, The Olympia Theatre Atlanta rapper J.I.D. has gone from strength to strength this past year. His new album "Dicaprio 2" was critically and commercially wellreceived, moving his style forward while inflecting it with old-school funk influences, and he also provided the theme for Fast And Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw. The rapper’s extremely strong lyrical abilities and flow are a cut above the rest, straddling the line between Kendrick-style anger and smooth modern beats. It’s sure to be a great show. Tickets are available through the venue's website.

Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker

December 19th The ninth film in the main Star Wars franchise has the unenviable task of tying up not only the controversial sequel trilogy, but the ‘Skywalker saga’ too. It looks like a bit of a mess, but JJ Abrams’s involvement means we’ll at least get some pretty shots. Expect a sudden swerve back to the arcs set up in Episode 7, for better or worse. Here’s hoping it doesn’t try to be the "Endgame" of Star Wars (although I suspect that’s exactly what it will do).

Gage Skidmore

Credit: The Come Up Show

McCronin's Comedy Club

Jumanji: The Next Level

The Improvised Panto

Decmber 11th After the success of 2017’s Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, this sequel puts the protagonists back in the cursed video game, but switches things up this time – literally. The teenagers are playing different characters in the bugged out game, and this time their grandparents have been sucked in. To see Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson put on the best impersonation of Danny DeVito I have seen in the trailers makes me beyond excited to see this movie again. If you enjoyed the first film, this looks like a great time.

December 6th-23rd, Cork Opera House There are some people who feel too old to enjoy a good old panto around Christmas – to those people, I present to you the "Improvised Panto"! Running on its 9th year, every night is completely different as the panto is selected by the audience and is strictly over 18s. As someone who has attended the last 2 years and have my tickets for this year gotten, I promise that it is a guaranteed brilliant time. Tickets for students are €15.

Credit: Gage Skidmore

INTERVIEW WITH

AURORA

NORWEGIAN SINGER AURORA TALKS TO LAURIE SHELLY ABOUT WRITING SONGS TO SAVE THE PLANET, FINDING POWER IN BEING GENTLE, AND LENDING HER VOICE TO DISNEYâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S FROZEN 2

Credit: Morgan Hill-Murphy

Aurora Aksnes grew up in a eat money,” while the title forest, because of course she track, over warm, soft synths, did. Her family lived near reassures its listener that they Lysefjord, which translates as need not feel isolated. She ‘fjord of light.’ “I miss Norway thinks anger and gentleness a lot,” she tells me when I talk are completely linked. “Why to her in the hours before her do we have to be angry and show at Dublin’s Olympia strong, why do we have to Theatre in early November. fight? It’s because we fight “But I try to open my eyes for something we care about, instead and look out towards because we’re trying to protect whatever city I’m in and focus something, like a parent to on all the small little things a child, or a wolf mother that travelling can bring. to a cub. It’s about the soft But yes, I miss the silence core of things that we are and the trees.” trying to preserve.” Her debut album, All The music video for My Demons Greeting Me As the album’s latest single, “Apple A Friend, was released in 2016 Tree,” is striking— Aurora when she was 19, and is full of cuts a Princess Mononokesurreal images; she sees faces like figure against a barren made of sand and thousands of landscape, covered in blood, black water lilies in a magical warpaint around her eyes. river. Some of her verses are She says she “always kind of written in a made-up language co-directs” her videos because of her own. Many of her songs she has very particular visions Credit: Morgan Hill-Murphy have an otherworldly, slightly about how they should be; she odd quality, as if they are not “I FEEL LIKE MY BIGGEST MISSION WITH wanted this one to be “quite the handiwork of a human extreme.” “We are Mother DOING A SHOW IS TO MAKE SURE but instead were found at the Earth and we are bleeding PEOPLE GET TIME OFF TO CRY A BIT bottom of the sea or heard in a on behalf of the world and AND CLOSE THEIR EYES AND LET GO strange dream. The 23-year-old everything in it,” she says of is widely known for her cover herself and the dancers in the AND DANCE AND KNOW THAT of Oasis’s “Half the World video. “We’re in pain and our NOW, FOR ONE AND A HALF HOURS, Away,” which featured in the muscles are aching, but we WE’RE A PART OF SOMETHING 2015 John Lewis Christmas ad have to keep on dancing for BEAUTIFUL AND GOOD.” (that one with the man on the Mother Earth.” She puts a lot moon), and Billie Eilish cites of thought into her music’s her enchanting song “Runaway” as the reason she decided paratext. “I even know what colours I want to have on the to pursue music. She says her current tour feels special. live show, I think about all of it, it’s all connected.” “When I first started playing shows six years ago, I hated it. Aurora comes across as exceptionally optimistic. I thought it was really scary and pointless and stressful and During our conversation, she talks about how humans unnatural for me to be on stage. But after I while, I learned have “failed each other,” but she always follows that up why playing live is so important,” she says. with very hopeful affirmations about things will hopefully Aurora’s 2018 EP, Infections of A Different Kind be better “one day.” “To even have the courage to try to (Step 1), has that same objective at its heart. It tells of a win the battle against global warming you have to have utopian kingdom, or “Queendom,” as she puts it, where so much hope,” she says. Does it ever feel overwhelming, everyone “can feel like they belong somewhere.” This past putting so much energy into making art about a potential June, she released A Different Kind of Human (Step 2). The ecocatastrophe? “It does, but in a good way,” she says. “For two-part “step” situation was her way of representing how me, it’s just really helpful, and, of course, intense, but in a one must look inward (Step 1) before they can effectively helpful way. When I’ve made a song, I feel like I've crafted tackle the issues she explores in Step 2, namely the an impossible subject into something solid that I can sing climate crisis. again and again and share.” A Different Kind of Human balances angry, The natural and the electronic play off each other aggressive tracks with quieter, sweeter moments. In “The very interestingly in her music, which hybridises imagery Seed,” she chants the Native American proverb “when the of rivers, animals and apple trees with the clean, sharp last tree has fallen and the rivers are poisoned, you cannot sounds of Scandi-pop. “For me, it’s an example of how

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electronic and organic things can coexist and turn into something really beautiful,” she says when I ask her about this folktronica-ish fusion. “It’s a way of saying that it’s fully possible to make something amazing when you have a balance between the synthetic and the organic.” She says she feels like her voice “comes from the ground.” “I can shout so loudly and sing for so long. It feels like I am the very organic part of my album, together with the titles of my songs and the themes and the whole spirit.” Her voice recently caught the attention of no less an establishment than Walt Disney Studios, and she has found herself featuring in Frozen 2, the sequel to the global phenomenon that was Frozen. “Frozen is close to my heart because it’s [set in] Norway,” she says. She appears on the soundtrack’s crown jewel, “Into the Unknown” (the sequel’s counterpart to “Let It Go)” which is performed by Idina Menzel, with Aurora providing spectral backing vocals (as well as what Disney probably identified as a rootsy, authentic Nordic feel). We talk prior to the soundtrack’s release, and I am sure she has been warned by Disney bigwigs to keep tight-lipped about the song lest she let a spoiler slip. “I don’t know how much I can say,” she says. What she knows she can say is that it is “very exciting,” that “the role that voice and music have in this film is very pure and very, very inspiring,” and that “it has been a true honour to be a part of it.” Turns out Aurora’s vocals are not merely used in Frozen 2 as harmonic ornamentation; its plot completely revolves around them. The film’s premise is that Elsa, the snow queen, starts hearing a haunting voice beckoning her northwards (it’s Aurora’s voice), and, in spite of her fear, decides to follow it. Aurora says she likes the idea of being able to reach a young audience with the song, “to be a part of young children’s lives, the warriors of the future.” Like “Let It Go,” “Into the Unknown” is a huge power ballad about embarking on a character-testing quest with a massive, stirring chorus and broadly relatable themes of release and selfempowerment. It is set to be inescapable, so you’ll be hearing Aurora around. She says her next album will be dressed in an “armour of hardness.” “But I’m also really exploring the soft, delicate part of me, which I want to open up even more on my next album. And I’m discovering more

and more things I want to be more involved in, because I’ve discovered fans all over the world who live in cultures that are unfair towards the people… I want to use my voice for something good, even though it might not matter, but at least I am there to show support.” I am surprised she thinks her music might not matter; she has legions of fans attesting to the contrary. “I just want to release the most beautiful music I can,” she says. “I want to do a lot of things. I have three albums in mind so I’m trying to figure out which to do first.” A Different Kind of Human’s thesis could be summed up in one of its lyrics: “I know I’m just a girl, but can I change lives?” The answer is yes, and that she will keep writing songs that do just that. “Into the Unknown” (Idina Menzel feat. AURORA) from Frozen 2 is out now.

ENTERTAINMENT | 25

Credit: Morgan Hill-Murphy

Cartoon Christmas Specials A Festive Retrospective DAN WEBB TAKES A LOOK AT THREE CHRISTMAS SPECIALS PRODUCED BY CARTOON NETWORK THAT HE ENJOYED GROWING UP

joy after discovering his parents have bought him socks for Christmas. This special, which employs a satirical mix of a number of Christmas classics (The Christmas Story, How The Grinch Stole Christmas etc.), is a fantastic representation of just how materialistic and cynical people have become around the holiday period.

rom a young age, the Christmas season was, and always has been my favourite time of the year. The lights, the music and the atmosphere of the festive season just has this unique way of capturing my heart. When I was growing up, it was tradition that I would tune into Cartoon Network every morning leading up to Christmas and watch a series of holiday special episodes produced for some of the most popular franchises at the time. Recently, as I was getting ready for my annual build-up to Christmas, I decided to rewatch some of these Christmas specials, and let me tell you, although crude, they all have a very strong message that still sticks with me almost 23 years later.

Ed, Edd and Eddie: Jingle Jingle Jangle

The first stop on my festive nostalgia trip was to look at a childhood favourite of mine, Ed Edd and Eddie. This quirky, wonderfully weird show shows the misadventures of three teenage boys living in a small suburban community. The show’s crude slapstick humour is not something that I would initially associate with Christmas at all, but then I watched Jingle Jingle Jangle, and I was surprised. The thirty minute special follows Eddie as he goes on a journey to steal everyone else's holiday

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The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy: Billy and Mandy Save Christmas

The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy is one of the more unique shows that Cartoon Network put out back in the day. Looking back on it now, it also serves as a reminder to me of just how weird my choice of entertainment was when I was a kid; between Butt Ugly Martians and this, I spent hours in front of the television. This Christmas special actually reminds me a lot of The Nightmare Before Christmas, in that it mixes traditional festive elements with a spookier tone that would usually be associated with Halloween. Santa (voiced by Gilbert Gotfried) is bitten by a vampire (Malcom McDowell) and it’s up to our trio to save the day. If that brief doesn’t make you want to watch this special, then we are in a “Grim” situation indeed.

The Powerpuff Girls: Twas the Fight Before Christmas Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house, a television was blaring, The Powerpuff Girls unite! Now this is what I call a real festive nostalgia trip. I remember many nights sitting in front of the tv watching the adventures of Blossom, Bubbles and Buttercup and revelling in their fight for justice (what can I say, I like alliteration in character names). Twas The Fight Before Christmas has everything a good Christmas special needs to succeed: 1. Scrooge-like antagonist (check), 2. Call backs/ references to other Christmas classics (check), 3. Rhyming narration from the voice of Bikini Bottom’s god himself, Tom Kenny (double check!). This is what my mind immediately goes to when I think of the classic Cartoon Network Christmas formula.

And that’s all for this year's festival nostalgia trip. Of course, there are so many other classics I couldn’t cover; Dexter’s Laboratory, Courage The Cowardly Dog, Johnny Bravo and many more. I would just like to take a brief moment to squeeze in one last Merry Christmas from myself and all the staff here on the Motley team. We hope you have happy holidays, and we will see you all in the new year!

REVIEW ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR ANDREW BURKE GIVES HIS THOUGHTS ON THE LATEST ADDITION TO THE CALL OF DUTY FRANCHISE.

ver since the release of Ghosts, the Call of Duty franchise has been on a steady decline. With the latest games featuring jet packs, laser weapons and robots, 2019’s Call of Duty Modern Warfare (yes, it's a reboot) tries to bring the franchise back to where it all began. What's different with COD this year is the brand new game engine, something fans have been screaming for since Black Ops 2. This game looks absolutely stunning, especially the campaign cutscenes. To go with the looks, the sound design is possibly the best I have ever heard in a video game. Guns sound realistic and audio can completely change based on your environment. And the guns themselves feel extremely powerful with a realistic kick to them when firing. Shooting has never felt so satisfactory in this franchise - I sometimes forgot I was even playing a Call of Duty game! Infinity Ward have truly outdone themselves with the engine and I cannot wait to see it used in future games. The campaign, the main reason this game is a ‘soft reboot,’ features superb acting, shown off by fan-favourite characters like Captain Price, in newer, realer, much darker scenarios. The story is based on current

C A L L O F D U T Y: M O D E R N WA R FA R E events, with an emphasis on the use and disastrous effects of chemical weapons. The point of the campaign is for us to ask ourselves where the line is in war and when do we cross it. This is most prevalent during a mission where you undergo a house raid in London - you cut off the power, go floor to floor with night vision goggles, open every room and take out the enemies inside. What makes this truly harrowing is that you don’t know who the enemies actually are. You could take out a man holding a woman hostage, only for her to reach down, grab a gun and try to kill you. But, as a warning, this campaign is not for the faint of heart. A particular mission, where you play as the character Farah when she was a child, depicts the devastating effect of the Russian army attacking her village. I won’t spoil it, but it makes the Modern Warfare 2 mission ‘No Russian’ look like a children’s game. I genuinely had to take a break from playing after finishing it. It is a short, fiveish hour campaign, but it is the most memorable one I have played in a long time. The multiplayer is why the majority of people buy these games year after year, and honestly, it is a mixed bag. It truly excels when it tries something ‘new.’ The smaller 2V2 mode Gunfight is the perfect showcase of the new engine and combat and has provided me with some of the most intense moments I have ever experienced when gaming. If you want to play in a competitive environment, similar to Rainbow Six Siege, with zero bells and whistles, this is the perfect mode for you. The game also features a fantastically revamped Ground War with a 32V32 mode, vehicles and gigantic, almost Battlefield-sized maps. The game borrows from the best modern shooters out there, and adds the COD formula to it. Where the game fails dramatically, however, is the standard multiplayer. The 6V6 and 10V10 modes have been almost unplayable for me. This is due to poorly designed maps, overpowered claymores, and footstep audio being too loud. Seriously, you cannot play this game without headphones or else you will always die. The standard multiplayer has become a camper’s paradise and this arcade shooter no longer feels like an arcade shooter. In conclusion, Modern Warfare is the full package that has something that will satisfy everyone, except for the loyal fanbase who have stuck with this franchise. For them, this game is an insult. Infinity Ward have sent Call of Duty to new astonishing heights, but it seems to have forgotten where it came from. Hopefully with a rumoured upcoming overhaul update, things will improve. Worst case, there is always next year’s COD.

ENTERTAINMENT | 27

MUSIC

MUSIC EDITOR CATHAL DONOVAN O’NEILL GIFTS YOU THE HOLLYIST, JOLLIEST OF CHRISTMAS JAMS

It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas PERRY COMO

Get that cozy fire roasting to this Christmas crooner classic.

16. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas LESLIE ODOM JR.

14. Peace On Earth/Little Drummer Boy BING CROSBY/ DAVID BOWIE

t’s that time of year again! From December 1st onwards, every radio station will be in Christmas mode. You’re about to drown in a deluge of Mariah Carey, The Pogues and, God help you, John Lennon. It can be fun, but sometimes you need a break. Something a little different. That’s where we come in. I’ve mixed some reworks and slightly left-of-field picks in with old reliables to create the perfect playlist to chug eggnog to. Hopefully you’ll find a few new favourites!

13 Christmas In Hollis RUN-D.M.C

Swinging back into an upbeat, this Christmas parable’s pure wholesome fun with a catchy hook.

BAD RELIGION

Do They 12 Know It’s Christmas? BAND AID

A staple that deserves its position. The message is still relevant, the chorus’s call and response iconic; often imitated, never bettered.

The only Christmas song with children that doesn’t deserve the sack.

All I Want For Christmas Is You

5. My Favorite Things

MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE

JOHN COLTRANE

I love Mariah Carey. You love Mariah Carey. But I’m writing this in early November and I’m already sick of her. MCR’s version reinvents the glittery drive of the song, along with its desperation. I’m glad to have them back.

Human Nature

VIJAY IYER TRIO

2019 was… Not kind to Michael Jackson. Thankfully this is a near-complete rework of the original, shifting it into warm, playful jazz. It just makes you want to cuddle up to your partner.

9. Christmas Night In Harlem LOUIS ARMSTRONG

We All Stand Together

PAUL MCCARTNEY

The best Beatles Christmas song. Paul McCartney pretends he’s a frog and meows at one point, but it’s an odd, lovely declaration of community.

7. Santa Claus Goes Straight To The Ghetto NATE DOGG FT. SNOOP DOGG

28 | NOVEMBER 2019

Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN

O Come, O Come Emmanuel If somebody’s going to kick off the Christmas Argument, it might as well be you. It’s a fact universally acknowledged that setting hymns to rock music makes them savage, and this proves the point.

THE MOTLEY C H R I S T M A S P L AY L I S T

4. Mary’s Boy Child/Oh My Lord BONEY M.

3. Carol of the Bells PENTATONIX

2. My Dear Acquaintance REGINA SPEKTOR

White Christmas BING CROSBY

Bing’s the master and this archetype of The Christmas Song will never get old. Plus, it’s a good segue back to the start of this playlist.

MOTLEY’S ALBUMS OF 2019 THE YEAR

was a great year for music, with all kinds of phenomenal tunage cranked out. To reduce it to a list of a meagre 5 best albums is tough. And since Lizzo’s ‘Cuz I Love You’ five times in is “not an acceptable top 5 albums of the year” and “questionable music journalism, Niamh,” [Who said this? I don’t know him. -Cathal] here’s a list of the best albums of 2019’s according to Motley that includes more than just Lizzo.

BY NIAMH BROWNE

REMIND ME TOMORROW

FATHER OF THE BRIDE

TWELVE NUDES

I AM EASY TO FIND

CUZ I LOVE YOU

SHARON VAN ETTEN

VAMPIRE WEEKEND

EZRA FURMAN

THE NATIONAL

LIZZO

‘Remind Me Tomorrow’ is an atmospheric album that perfectly embodies how bittersweet it is to have it made. The songwriter wrote it while pregnant with her first child, attending college to obtain a degree in psychology and starring in the Netflix show ‘The OA’ - some people really are booked and busy. ‘Seventeen’ is my song of the year, which elegantly discusses how it feels to return to the area you grew up and the strange familiarity that comes with it. ‘Malibu’ and ‘No One Is Easy To Love’ are also strong. This album is greater than the sum of its parts and wellworth a full listen.

‘Modern Vampires of the City’ was a great album; so great I wondered how the hell Vampire Weekend could follow it up, especially with the departure of producer and multi-instrumentalist Rostam Batmanglij from the band. But lads, it’s another class one. ‘This Life’ is possibly the best song written by the group with its feel-good vibes and oddly profound lyrics. ‘2020’ and ‘Harmony Hall’ are other great singles. It’s charming and happy. Millennials need an album like this.

Ezra Furman, composer for the Sex Education soundtrack, released a cracker of an album this year. Furman’s selfproclaimed baroque pop/ punk is kitsch and fun, but‘Twelve Nudes’ is an exploration of candid and exposing songs that are deeply intimate. ‘I Wanna Be Your Girlfriend’ is the story of a trans love that breaks you. Other highlights include ‘Calm Down aka I Should Not Be Alone’ and ‘R Rated Crusaders’. This album is a must for punk and David Bowie fans alike.

You like feeling sad and confused? Well boy, do I have the album for you. The sad-dad-rock group have produced another high-quality album with oh-so-restrained and subtle lyrics that find ways to niggle into your brain and sit there for days. ‘Rylan’ has absolutely stellar drum work that puts it in a category of its own while ‘Light Years’ will have you emotional for a lover you never had. Listening to this album will make you feel like you disgraced your wife Karen at her office party in front of her colleagues and don’t quite know how to make it up to her.

Aside from spawning absolute bangers like ‘Boyz’, ‘Truth Hurts’ and ‘Juice’, the album’s success can be in part attributed to the larger than life ‘juice’ of its creator Melissa Jefferson, known as Lizzo. Recently while I was walking down College Road a man opened the window of his house and screamed into the night “Mirror, mirror on the wall don’t say it cause I know I’m cute.” This is very much the ethos of Lizzo. Whether discussing issues of body positivity, self-love, queer empowerment or racism, she eloquently nails it in a way that’s upbeat and feel-good. Seriously, if you haven’t listened yet what are you doing?

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

TYLER THE CREATOR - IGOR BILLIE EILISH - WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP WHERE DO WE GO? FOALS - EVERYTHING NOT SAVED WILL BE LOST PARTS 1 & 2 BROCKHAMPTON - GINGER WALLOWS - NOTHING HAPPENS

ENTERTAINMENT | 29

The Not So Christmas-ey

Movie Guide KANE GEARY O'KEEFFE GIVES US HIS UNORTHODOX LIST OF CHRISTMAS MOVIES YOU SHOULD WATCH TO GET YOURSELF INTO THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT EDWARD SCISSORHANDS

KISS KISS BANG BANG 2005

1991

One of the gothically inclined classics of Tim Burton’s career (more from him later). Everything about the atmosphere conjured by Edward Scissorhands screams Christmas, despite having very little to do with it, from the choral score springing carol singers to mind (courtesy of the legendary Danny Elfman) to the blankets of snow that bookend the movie’s tale. This film’s heart-melting tale of a loving, misunderstood man trying to find his place in the world casts a powerful emotional spell that matches the ‘loving your fellow human’ energy that Christmas encapsulates perfectly. Just be sure to have a few tissues ready for the journey.

Writer/director Shane Black has become the undisputed king of the Christmas backdrop as his career has developed. The plots of Lethal Weapon, The Long Kiss Goodnight, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Iron Man 3 and The Nice Guys all feature the festive time of year to some degree. His 2005 directorial debut Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is a dark, selfaware, neo-noir crime drama that features stellar chemistry between stars Robert Downey Jr. and Val Kilmer. Featuring some pitch black humour stacked against a murder mystery, the story doesn’t exactly scream eggnog and presents, but the Christmas imagery will be sure to keep you knee-deep in the cheer if you’re looking for something fresh.

he trees are up, the fires are lighting, the wallets are swiftly emptying under the pressure of buying your aunt yet another Yankee candle, it must be Christmas time! And with Christmas time comes Christmas movies. The holiday routine of sitting down to browse between The Santa Clause, Love Actually, and The Muppets Christmas Carol has become a well-worn tradition. It is, however, one that can grow tiresome to even the most high-spirited of festive fans. Perhaps it’s time to add something new to the ‘good list’ of movies to watch over the oncoming weeks, something that takes place during the season, and retains the holiday look and feel, without making you watch the red fella deliver the goods and a busy adult learn the value of spending Christmas Eve with their families. So here it is, The Motley guide to alternative Holiday movies!

EYES WIDE SHUT

BATMAN RETURNS

1999

1992

As Stanley Kubrick’s final film before his death, Eyes Wide Shut’s exploration of sexual relations depicts a slightly naughtier side to Christmas time than we may be used to. Starring Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman, the film shows Cruise’s character, Bill Harford, in his discovery of a secret masked society that may or may not be fond of sexual rituals. While it might not be one for the kids, Eyes Wide Shut remains essential viewing for anybody looking for something more cerebral once the turkey and ham have been demolished.

Another classic Burton film, Batman Returns is generally considered to be the most underrated of the caped crusader's big screen ventures, largely in part to Danny Devito's frankly gross depiction of the Penguin (he just straight up eats raw fish, oh Danny). However, some great set pieces set against a snowy backdrop, coupled with a towering performance from Michelle Pfeifer as Catwoman, elevate Batman Returns to great Christmas viewing. Beautifully dark Christmas design elements allow the festive cheer to permeate even the stone-faced scowl of the Dark Knight himself.

THE RISE OF MUIREANN TREASA GUINEE CHRONICLES THE RISE OF PRADA, A HOUSEHOLD NAME IN LUXURY FASHION, FROM ITS BEGINNINGS IN WW1 MILAN TO ITS CURRENT STANDING AS A LEADING GLOBAL PLAYER IN THE FASHION INDUSTRY

rada’s rise to fame is a tale of daring contradiction and unapologetic high standards. Over the years, it has solidified its grasp on the fashion industry with highly-intellectualised fashion and much sought-after accessories. For a globally successful brand, Prada’s roots are humble. Tucked away in Milan during World War I, an unsuspecting Mario Prada opened the first Prada leather goods store. His aim was to sell high quality luggage to the city’s public, without the high fashion identity we have come to associate with it. One wonders could he have foreseen the success his small leather business would eventually achieve. Mario’s son intended to leave the family business to his first son, but he did not want it, and nor did his brother. So, in 1978, Miuccia Bianchi Prada took over her grandfather’s legacy, and Prada as we know it today was born. The brand’s success was not immediate. The aesthetic was stark in an era in which maximalism prevailed. Mrs. Prada’s style advocated austere cuts, unlikely colour contrasts and a distinctive military tone. Non-conformist and understated, she rejected overtly sexy or glamorous clothes. Her work stood in cold contrast to the playfulness of the eighties. However, Miuccia believed in her brand and the quality of her products. A champion of individualism, she claims that great style cannot be appealing to everyone. In 1985, Prada entered into fashion consciousness with the introduction of the nylon backpack, stylish yet practical, made from versatile fabric. Simple, elegant and distinctive, the new bag became an overnight success. Embellished solely with the company’s inverted triangle, the logo became synonymous with taste. Following their

initial success, Prada bags carried on to become the ‘It’ bags of the nineties. Undoubtedly, the brand’s long history of creating luxury goods was instrumental in launching Prada into fashion's hall of fame and public consciousness. In the 2000s, the accessories were brandished proudly on the arms of style icons such Kate Moss and the Olsen twins. However, it was in 1989 that she truly began to make waves with the introduction of a women’s readyto-wear clothes that she dubbed ‘uniforms for the slightly disenfranchised.’ This was followed by the launch of Prada’s sister brand Miu Miu, and a Prada menswear line in 1993. From then, the Prada brand was recognisable the world over. However, though world-renowned, the brand certainly did not become a luxury most households could afford. Love or loathe Prada, wealth has always been at the centre of the brand’s success. Prada is not for the masses, but has remained the fascination of the elite. In the Washington Post in 1996, Robin Givhan describes such style exclusivity: ‘They affect poverty expensively - and wear it like a badge of intellectual chic.’ Prada, she suggests, is the epitome of this trend. Unlike the overt femininity of Chanel or Dolce & Gabbana, Prada’s clothes may be described as esoteric, ‘ugly chic’ or indeed inaccessible. This however, has never stolen from the brand’s allure. It has only increased its intrigue for those who can afford it. Despite a history of financial highs and lows, today Prada is a multi-billion dollar empire. This year, having failed to achieve profit equal to those of the previous decade, the company has explored new avenues to maintain its place as a leading luxury house, all the while responding to the whims of a 21st century customer. Prada celebrates individuality at its core, and an ability to adapt. It is safe to say that this aptitude for change, combined with such highbrow allure and compelling design will secure Prada’s place in the closets of the wealthy and powerful.

FASHION | 31

M OT L EY F E AT U R E

Full House

WITH THE FESTIVE SEASON IN FULL SWING, ENTER LAURA LIBERA' S WEIRD AND WONDERFUL WINTER FANTASY, GOING BACK TO THE FUTURE

P H OTO G R A P H E R

Laura Libera MODELS

Cl a ir e A h e r n P a dr a ig L a n de r s T a m il a K h u ssa in o v a K e vin F it zp a t r ic k

A W E E K I N M Y WA R D R O B E BY PAUL MCLAUCHLAN

LONDON FASHION WEEK Dressing for fashion week has become increasingly difficult over the years as I’ve become increasingly conscious of my appearance and my credentials within the industry have improved. While I’ve never marketed myself based on my look - my work speaks for itself (although, ironically, I’m writing a column based on what I wear) - it’s hard not to compare oneself to the legions of editors, influencers, and celebrities, who are vying for the attention of one another and the hawkeyed street style photographers. When the atmosphere becomes competitive, the stakes feel a lot higher than wandering around campus. It’s not just me. ‘It helps to remember that a lot of people, even those whose glossy existences may prompt your own negative self comparison, feel poor or ugly or old or otherwise insecure at fashion week,’ wrote Emma Hope Allwood, Dazed’s Head of Fashion, on Twitter.

PAUL MCLAUCHLAN REFLECTS ON HIS TIME AT THE SPRING/SUMMER 2020 SHOWS AT LONDON FASHION WEEK AND HOW HIS WARDROBE FIGURED ALONGSIDE INDUSTRY ELITES

attend London Fashion Week twice a year as a member of the international press. In recent seasons, I have reported on the shows for the Irish Examiner and for the ‘Talents’ section of Vogue Italia. I’ve had the privilege of attending incredible shows and had the opportunity to meet people whose work I admire. That’s the nice part before you factor in uncompensated travel, transport, and general expenses, sleeping on a blow-up mattress on my best friend’s bedroom floor, and dressing for fashion week.

38 | NOVEMBER 2019

Competition exists amongst high level members of the industry too, though it’s worth mentioning that most of them receive high salaries, receive clothing on a loan basis, and are gifted items from luxury fashion houses. Me? This is not the case. I continue to rewear a Kiko Kostadinov longsleeve (three seasons old) and Eckhaus Latta jeans (two seasons old) because I can’t afford to update my wardrobe every February and September. (Also, I love those pieces and spent hard-earned money to buy them.) They formed my look for day one, topped with a Topshop blazer. I felt true to myself. On day two, I styled the blazer with a black Calvin Klein t-shirt (a gift from my sister) and white jeans (from May 2019). For day three, I wanted to wear something special for the Simone Rocha fashion show. One of LFW’s hottest tickets, this was my first time being invited - a symbolic moment for me as the once-13-year-old boy attending fashion week with one invite to a now-20-yearold reporting for one of our nation’s most prestigious titles. I wore a patterned H&M shirt (from December 2017) and gray check River Island trousers (from June 2019, via TK Maxx). It wasn’t new season. It wasn’t loaned or gifted. They’re some of my favourite pieces and I felt great. Another note on being comfortable: shoes are of the utmost importance. Unfortunately, I’m not ferried around by a courtesy car as distributed to key figures in the industry. I get everywhere by foot, bus, and the underground. Nike Air Force 1s formed the basis for my look on busy days, while black leather Chelsea boots from Topshop were fitting for a shorter day of shows. Over that weekend, my long-held belief that fashion transcends appearance was cemented. At fashion week, I witness the system is classist and unsustainable - one look to my left, new season boots, and to my right, a newer-than-new season jacket, with the wearers

ostensibly oblivious to the environmental impact that hyperconsumption of fashion has. Not to mention, the pressure this places on its subjects is toxic and mentally damaging. Another thing, fashion week is a business and it’s my place of work. Of course, in the workplace, I want to present well and look the part. But, above all, I want to communicate a sense of myself. I think I did that. All the while getting down to business.

FASHION | 39

J F B 40 | NOVEMBER 2019

OBS OR BOY S

UNIFORMS

ARE NO LONGER CONFINED TO THE FOUR WALLS OF AN OFFICE, KITCHEN, BUILDING SITE, OR FURTHER AFIELD. IN RECENT YEARS, STREET FASHION HAS CO-OPTED WORKWEAR AS A STATEMENT. LUKA PHELAN EXPLORES THIS DEVELOPMENT CONTRASTING REAL LIFE UNIFORMS WITH THEIR STREETWEAR ALTERNATIVE. FIND A CHEF AND A CARPENTER ALONGSIDE TWO YOUNG MAN. FIND A YOUNG MAN IMITATING MILITARY GARB BUT, UNFORTUNATELY, WITHOUT AN ACTUAL ARMY MAN - HE WAS HARD AT WORK.

P H OTO G R A P H E R

MODELS

Luka Phelan

Owen Forde Rob O'Mahoney Kieren Hurley Daire Claffey Ryan Flynn

C LOT H I N G

Primetime, Washington Street

FASHION | 41

42 | NOVEMBER 2019

CAHARTT JACKET €154 CAHARTT T-SHIRT €37

FASHION | 43

44 | OCTOBER 2019

CARHARTT ARMY FLEECE €139 CARHARTT NECKWARMER €27 CARHARTT JOGGERS €89

FASHION | 45

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM

EMAIL YOUR WORK TO EDITOR@MOTLEY.IE CURRENTAFFAIRS@MOTLEY.IE FEATURES@MOTLEY.IE ENTERTAINMENT@MOTLEY.IE FASHION@MOTLEY.IE

Societies Spotlight

STUDENTS UNION PRESIDENT KAYLA MAHER SHARES WHAT' S COMING UP FOR UCC SOCIETIES WELCOME!

Here’s Societies Spotlight #3! Again, we have so many activities happening over the next few weeks! Don’t be afraid to get involved with our societies here in UCC. With exams coming up, it’s great to take a break and try something new. Time flies when you’re in college, so it is important to make the most of it while you can! If you ever have any questions about societies,

48 | NOVEMBER 2019

don’t hesitate to email me (Kayla, Societies President) at president@uccsocieties.ie and I’ll help you as best I can!

SOCIAL MEDIA:

Be sure to follow us on our social media pages! Just search for UCC Societies.

SOCIETIES WEEK:

We’ll have societies week 2 from the 27th-31st of January with events such as our alumni event and the Societies Open Evening, inviting school students from around Cork to visit UCC and to find out about our societies. It’ll be an excellent week to come in and see some of our societies and to find out about how you can get involved!

SOCS & SCONES:

Here are a few of the trainings and events we have planned for the next few months. Make sure you’re following us on social media to keep up with everything else we have planned! -22nd January: Membership Development Training and Awards Training. -23rd January: Speaker Series based around the media and promotion. -28th January: An Open Evening for Secondary Schools and Online Learners in the Aula Maxima from 6-9pm. -29th January: Rose of UCC in Devere Hall at 8pm. All funds raised will go to Jigsaw and CUH Childrens’ Appeal. This is similar to the Rose of Tralee, but UCC STYLE!

FASHION | 49

POETRY

Pylons MĂ&#x2030;ABH LONERGAN

So. This is it. This is our reality. If I could follow the pylons, I might just get to you faster: We string those across fields and water and mountains, our roads follow the paths of riversHours. Hours it will take in that liminal space, between there and somewhere, Hours of shitty WiFi and bus changes and looking out for that clock tower - our clock tower in the vast green between Cashel and Cahir. That digital connection, between masts and satellites and pieces of glass, it's not good enough, is it? Not for us. All we've known is each other in that empty frame of mind, reality between limbos, you in essence of halls and rippling grass and markered sheets of paper.

John 21 years old and homeless Your generous donation will mean a hot Christmas dinner, a safe bed and a chance of a new start

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At UCC, in collaboration with our partners Henry Ford & Son Ltd., we nurture talent through support, encouragement and by challenging and mentoring students, both academically and personally. The Quercus Scholarship offers students the opportunity to apply for scholarships in the following areas: Academic, Active Citizenship, Creative & Performing Arts, Innovation/Entrepreneurship, Sport.

To find out more, please contact the programme manager, Michele Power: Telephone +353 21 4904688, Email: mpower@ucc.ie