The Hype Issue 5

THE HYPE The Irishman

Black Friday Scams 10

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Stardust podcast 7

Reminders for the winter

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It’s a “bloodbath” at Robo Riots 8

Grub Guide: Sova Vegan Butcher

What’s on this week

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Yule Ball Nov 14th

Thats right, your beloved DCU Harry Potter Society are having their own Yule Ball! Whether you’re a Triwizard Champion or not, we want you to celebrate the festive season with a magical evening us at the beautiful Singers House, Lost Lane. Magical prizes up for grabs and tickets only €10

The Dancing Dead Dec 3rd - 5th

The DCU Drama Panto is back and bigger than ever! Written by DCU Drama member, Liam Turner, “The Dancing Dead” pits the Irish population against a zombie apocalypse. “The Dancing Dead” will be taking place in St. Pats Auditorium, with tickets on sale now at https://dcusu.ticketsolve.com/shows/

Sustainable Living Pub Quiz Dec 5th

Exercise your minds for earth! 3 euro per person to enter, teams of max 5. All funds raised will go to Trees on the Land. The quiz will take place in The Back Page, Phibsborough from 8pm till 11:30pm CREDITS

Editor-In-Chief Brendan Fernando Kelly Palenque Deputy Editor-In-Chief & Arts Editor Áine O’Boyle Deputy Arts Editor Aoibhín Meghen Deputy Arts Editor Peter O’Neill Lifestyle Editor Róisín Maguire Deputy Lifestyle Editor Niamh Quinlan Deputy Lifestyle Editor Kevin O’Meara Images Editor Sonja Tutty Deputy Images Editor Joy Nwagiriga Hype Production Editor Jonathon Lynam CV Production Editor Sally Dobie Pg 4 & 5 Brendan Fernando Kelly Palenque Pg 6 & 7 Roísín Phelan Pg 8 Anja Zauers Pg 9 & 10 Roisin Maguire Pg 14 Béibhinn Thorsch Pg 15 Sally Dobie Exposure Sonja Tutty

Film & TV

The best TV shows you missed in 2019

For the third consecutive year, Lucien WaughDaly gives us the run down on all the shows you may have missed

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here is often talk of how much the TV landscape has changed in the past decade or so as creators embrace the shift towards streaming, A-list star vehicles and the impact of the shortform limited series.

Yet the world of TV has changed dramatically even in the short three year period that The College View has published this list. Almost every series included this year is in some way finite: a complete narrative, or the climax of one. Gone are the days of the endless, sprawling 10-season procedural or sitcom; this is the era of television that doesn’t outstay its welcome.

Here are seven shows that were particularly compelling in 2019 that may not have crossed your radar.

HBO’s “Succession” kicked off its second season with high expectations and exceeded them almost instantly: the sharply-scripted black comedy following a billionaire media mogul (Brian Cox) and his clan of eccentric children as they take on company takeovers, whistleblower scandals and a disastrous presidential campaign has rapidly developed a reputation for its hilarious writing and equally funny acting.

Yet this season managed to achieve moments of genuinely dark emotional clarity as Jeremy Strong’s Kendall is faced with the trauma of a drug-fuelled tragedy from the end of season one. Consistently surprising and hugely meme-friendly, “Succession” is close to becoming one of the most iconic shows around as it spreads to a wider audience.

After years in development hell, John Green’s “Looking for Alaska” finally made it to the screen this year with a Hulu miniseries that’s been bizarrely overlooked by young viewers given that it’s one of the most moving, charming and fabulouslysoundtracked teen dramas in recent times.

Charlie Plummer stars as awkward aspiring intellectual Miles, who transfers to a boarding school where pranksters run riot, and he meets the enigmatic Alaska (Kristine Froseth), falling madly

in, something a lot like, love.

The series takes its time in adapting Green’s novel with a pace a feature film could never have managed; it’s a testament to the opportunities offered in the age of streaming television for novelistic storytelling that appeals deeply to modern adolescence and the very specific emotional trials of discovering yourself away from the comforts of home.

“Watchmen” sees Damon Lindelof, creator of “Lost” and “The Leftovers”, take Alan Moore’s classic graphic novel and creates something entirely modern and fresh for HBO. Set in an alternate American present where police wear masks and African-American communities have been awarded reparations for slavery, it’s a highly postmodern response to the past two decades of superheroic saturation, analysing the logistics of a vigilante-run justice system while exposing the mystery of a comic-book narrative that borrows both from one of the mediums true classics, and from some forgotten pockets of American political history.

The cultural impact of “Fleabag” as a cultural bellwether for sexually outspoken young women cannot be overstated: Phoebe Waller Bridge has constructed for herself a prime position as an icon of frustrated, unreserved millennial femininity.

The acclaimed second season of her BBC series added Andrew Scott’s now infamous “hot priest” into the mix, as Waller Bridge’s titular heroine is forced to grapple with her complicated attitudes towards romantic relationships, as well as the fact that a Catholic priest is hardly ideal boyfriend material.

It takes masterful craft of storytelling to channel horrifying tragedy into highly addictive TV, but writer Craig Mazin achieved excellence in this regard with “Chernobyl”, a gripping dramatisation of the 1986 nuclear disaster that finds humanity and heroism in the horror.

The series follows Jared Harris and Stellan Skarsgaard’s characters, a nuclear physicist and a

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Gone are the days of the endless, sprawling 10-season procedural or sitcom; this is the era of television that doesn’t out stay its welcome

government minister, as they travel to the site of the power plant where science clashes with state.

Though full of gruesome insight into the personal tragedies that occurred, there are qualities of warmth in the characters – predominantly based upon real people – who exhibit strength and professionalism in a particularly dark historical moment. A difficult yet rewarding watch.

With BBC drama “Years and Years”, Russell T. Davies applies his distinct brand of socially inquisitive melodrama to the current state of global political instability. The series follows a diverse English family and the trials they face over an extended period as a result of Brexit, a Trumpinitiated nuclear war, the dawn of AI and more.

It’s profoundly heavy-handed in its lecturing and sometimes enters the realm of parody with its message of doom and gloom, but there are genuinely stunning moments scattered throughout: for example the visceral depiction of Russell Tovey’s character – a young gay council worker – being smuggled through Europe with hundreds of asylum seekers.

It shouldn’t take a show about white English people to help an audience understand the struggle of global refugees, but sometimes a story like this can be powerful in helping to shape people’s perspectives and perhaps change their minds.

“Modern Love”, the creation of Irish filmmaker John Carney, is a series of charming short stories inspired by various strands of sex, dating, marriage, friendship and family in the modern world.

Each episode has a different premise and characters, some being hits and some misses. The strongest follows a woman living with bipolar disorder (Anne Hathaway) trying to organise dinner with a handsome man while constantly facing crippling mood swings that are outside her control; it’s devastating and features Oscar winner Hathaway’s strongest performance in years. Tina Fey, Dev Patel, Andrew Scott and (bizarrely) Ed Sheeran also star. the college view The Hype |3

Film & TV

Britain’s most famous family returns to Netflix for a third season Conor Breslin discusses the latest season of “The Crown”

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fter two years of development, directing and filming, Peter Morgan’s much loved Netflix drama returns to depict the life, times and private turmoil of the world’s most famous family.

It is white smoke pouring out of Buckingham Palace as Olivia Colman replaces Claire Foy as the Queen, Tobias Menzies of “Outlander” is in for Matt Smith as Prince Philip and Helena Bonham Carter takes up the mantle from Vanessa Kirby as tragic party woman, Princess Margaret.

The show without Claire Foy would have almost been unthinkable two years ago, however, with the introduction of Colman it’s like Foy never left and we are back at home, glued to the difficulties and challenges the

monarchy once faced in bygone days. Coleman brilliantly portrays the solid dutifulness and royal mannerism that is one of the defining qualities of the real Queen Elizabeth.

Menzies brilliantly captures the body language, facial expression and almost crankiness of an older, more settled, supportive and loving Prince Philip, one that we can almost see in real life today. But he encounters difficulty when trying to bring us the Duke of Edinburgh’s inner feelings and struggles of having to always be number two to his wife. There is no life, no drama and no secrets with this character in this season which ultimately differs from the opinionated, party goer that Matt Smith portrayed in the first two seasons.

Peter Morgan is determined to stick as closely to

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Coleman brilliantly portrays the solid dutifulness and royal mannerism that is one of the defining qualities of the real Queen Elizabeth

the historical and dramatic script as possible. The season begins in 1964 and the Queen is looking into the mirror of a middle age woman of four children wondering where the years have gone.

Britain meanwhile is entering a period of change too, though “The Crown” is selective as to how it reflects this on screen. In the first two seasons we slowly watched the events of world history throughout the 1950’s and the role that was played in it by the most recognisable woman in the world.

However, season three takes place during the 1960’s, a decade in which society was changing.

However, many of these events for some reason are bypassed. The Swinging Sixties, England’s World Cup victory in 1966, the rise of Beatlemania, the Nixon Presidency and the outbreak of the Northern Ireland Troubles is all ignored.

Instead the director has built ten episodes around headline events seemingly selected on the basis of providing learning opportunities for Elizabeth and her family. So the 1966 Aberfan slag heap disaster is a vehicle for her overcome her reluctance to show emotion in public. The Moon landing and a visit to Buckingham Palace by the Apollo astronauts draw into focus Philip’s mid-life crisis and the dinner at the White house with President Johnson shows the difference in the Queen and her sister.

The theme that the Crown itself must always prevail even ahead of family and loved ones remains a constant, even in the new season which for the next few weeks will glue viewers to Netflix.

Marianne brings French horror to a modern audience

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Sally Dobie explores the Netflix original horror series, “Marianne”

eleased back in September, “Marianne” is a French Netflix original series that serves as a triumph for horror.

The story of “Marianne” centers around author Emma Larsimon, who writes books about the witch Marianne in order to stop herself from having torturous nightmares and visions of her. But when she ends the series with the death of the heroine, she’s visited by an old friend with a deadly warning.

When she returns to her hometown, she meets not only old friends and family, but once again comes face to face with the source of her fear.

Well, it turns out old women are just as scary as small children, “Marianne” more than proves that.

After the success of Netflix original, “The Haunting of Hill House”, last year, horror series were given a new lease of life. Unfortunately, as good and well crafted as “Marianne” is, it hasn’t achieved the same popularity.

Perhaps the thought of watching a subtitled show while trying to be completely sucked in by the action is difficult for some people, distracting from the jumpscares and content of the show itself. But for most, it shouldn’t prove to be an issue at all.

For those of us who have failed to extend our knowledge of the French language to much further than the days of the week, which funnily enough comes in handy when watching “Marianne”, the subtitles will prove to be a great aid in understanding what is going on in the show.

There is the option to watch the drama with

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It effectively builds a disturbing, uncomfortable feeling of dread in your stomach the whole time you’re watching

English voiceover which may be easier for some people, but it tends to break the tension and can prove to be more distracting when the words don’t sync up to what the character is saying a lot more than occasionally being distracted by the subtitles.

The series not only has jumpscares and traditional tension, but it effectively builds a disturbing, uncomfortable feeling of dread in your stomach the whole time you’re watching.

The characters of Emma (Victoire Du Bois) and her assistant Camille (Lucie Boujenah) are played with such feeling that you’re drawn in completely, even before the stellar performance of Mireille Herbstmeyer as the possessed Mrs Daugeron. And admittedly, the comic relief of Alban Lenoir as Inspector Ronan was much needed.

Combined with a fantastic soundtrack, it’s the kind of series you need to watch a little bit at a time so you don’t get overwhelmed. Be warned, though, Marianne does not shy away from topics like suicide and exorcism, which some viewers may be uncomfortable with.

The series is the work of Samuel Bodin and writer Quoc Dang Tran. It has a 7.5/10 rating on IMBb and 91 per cent on Rotten Tomatoes.

All-in-all Marianne is a must-watch for horror fans, the timing and tension in the series is so effective, and the excellent acting makes the series a well-crafted success.

Even if you’re wary of foreign horror, give Marianne a try. Just remember to watch something more cheery before you go to sleep...

Film & TV

Let it Snow this Christmas with Netflix’s latest holiday film

Isabella Finn reviews the John Green film adaptation that combines Love Actually with teenage drama

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et It Snow premiered on Netflix on November 8th and was looking to cause a snowstorm in the hearts of hopeless romantics.

“Let It Snow: Three Holiday Romances” was a book originally written by, the Nicholas Sparks for teenagers, John Green as well as Lauren Myracle and Maureen Johnson.

The film follows a movie style similar to Love Actually, Valentine’s Day and New Years Eve in which an ensemble cast have story lines that all intertwine by the end of the movie. But replace Emma Thompson and Liam Neeson with young adults.

Although the cast are all fresh faced and young, they are seasoned actors with quite a few credits to their IMDB pages, so if you’re wondering “why are these kids so familiar?” you’re not alone.

Netflix’s “The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina” star Kiernan Shipka plays the character Duke in the “Kim Possible/ Ron Stoppable friend zone”

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Although the cast are all fresh faced and young, they are seasoned actors with quite a few credits to their IMDB pages

storyline opposite Mitchell Hope. You might recognise Hope as the “ridiculous” singer from Kenny Ortega’s Disney Channel Original movie Descendants. But if you’re over the age of nine you might not know who he is at all.

They have a feel good storyline of how the boy gets the girl, who has been there the whole time, set to a duet of the Waterboys “The Whole of the Moon”. Let It Snow is laced with romantic clichés but watching those two realise their feelings for each other over a church organ. Cue tears.

The fanfic/Wattpad/13 year old in their bedroom listening to One Direction storyline could have been a disaster if it wasn’t for Isabela Merced.

The cringy idea of a famous singer falling in love with you in the space of a few hours, because they got stranded in your hometown, had train wreck written all over it – and yet somehow she saved it.

Merced, who has also appeared in “Dora and the Lost City of Gold”, was passionate and believable which might not sound like much but in young adult

movies these qualities make rare appearances. Also the fact that Shameik Moore’s singing character Stuart was a 20 year old adult man and not a 16 year old with a guitar made my heart happy.

The new storyline that was not in the original book was hard to watch, not due to bad acting but because it was poorly developed and awkwardly scripted. If the intention of this storyline was to make the viewer feel uncomfortable, then mission accomplished.

It represented the very real struggle in the LGBTQ+ community of dating someone who isn’t openly out to their friends or family. This is a very sad reality that a lot of people live daily but watching Dorrie the diner girl get humiliated again and again was difficult.

Overall, the film was watchable and fun with that perfect mindless Christmas quality. However one area that should have been explored more was Joan Cusack’s Tin Foil Woman. Who is she and why is she wearing tin foil?

The Irishman brings back the days of gangster cinema Conor Breslin discusses the nostalgic gangster film The Irishman starring Robert De Niro and Al Pacino

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he Irishman is an ageing mafia drama that has become much loved among critics for its acting and directing but mainly for what the film represents.

The Irishman is almost a reunion for several legendary actors who dominated the realms of Gangster Cinema in their heyday throughout the 1970s, 80s, and 90s, and wanted to give a final farewell to the era of film that contained wicked wise guy humour, breaking the fourth wall monologue, tragic narcissistic characters and casual bloody violence.

This is a story that centres on Philadelphia truck driver and mob murderer Frank “The Irishman” Sheeran (Robert De Niro) and his part in the mysterious disappearance of his once friend and Teamsters union boss Jimmy Hoffa (Al Pacino) in 1975, as well as their involvement with mobster Russell Bufalino (Joe Pesci) and his crime family.

For lovers of organised crime dramas, it is something we haven’t seen since the days of Goodfellas and Casino almost thirty years ago, but for some reason doesn’t quite reach the same heights. While the acting itself was next level stuff it was almost sad to see the once tough guy hit-men acting in a shadow of their former selves trying to hold onto their youth.

Robert De Niro has been the Godfather, the Taxi Driver, the Deer Hunter and the Raging Bull

and now he can add the Irishman to his list of top performances. Now in his 70s, De Niro is still a man of action and has delivered his best performance in years as he has finally move away from slap stick comedies like Last Vegas and The Intern.

With that, we have been eager to see Joe Pesci return to our screens for over a decade. However, the New Yorker has unfortunately moved from his days as the short tempered, loud mouth killer receiving orders to a wiser, professional character giving orders and did so like a breath of fresh air.

As incredible as De Niro and Pesci are, the directing from Scorsese is the true masterclass of the film. The film has not has hit the levels of his other crime films but only Scorsese and this glorious cast could have made this movie live as richly and compellingly as it does. Scorsese is still the cinematic genius cradled in the cinema stalls, and depicting lives so much tougher and nastier than his own.

The length of the film ultimately is its major weakness. While some of the best films can overrun the standard time of two and a half hours, The Irishman takes the cake clocking in at a time of 210 minutes leaving the viewer fatigued and left wondering is the film better watched in theatres now or from the comfort of your own home at the end of the month following its Netflix premiere.

This is the movie’s biggest problem and one the

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It’s something we haven’t seen since the days of Goodfellas and Casino almost thirty years ago

public should all question before watching.

The final half hour however is somewhat heartbreaking as Sheeran and the rest of his gang are arrested and later convicted for the killing of Jimmy Hoffa. One by one they fall to an ageing and almost painful death.

In the final act Sheeran prepares for his own eventual death, well aware that few of his family, who he lost touch with through the years due to his gangster lifestyle, will be left to mourn him once he is gone. This scene can only bring to life a haunting contradiction the viewers now have as they will now mourn the death of this legendary genre of film that has capitulated fans for the best of fifty years since Marlon Brando in the Godfather. the college view The Hype |5

Music & Podcasts

The wonder of listening to international music

Sally Dobie examines why people listen to music in a foreign language

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he idea of listening to music in a different language has been around for a long time. One of the first forms of it was opera: a dramatic theatre performance accompanied by an orchestra and singers. Some of the most famous operas are Italian, French and German; but that didn’t stop them becoming famous worldwide.

But how has this concept changed for a modern audience? With opera you would still see a visual representation of meaning, but in today’s world, what attracts people to listen to music they can’t understand?

Nicole Russin-McFarland, a film director and film score composer, listens to traditional opera but also listens to a range of modern foreignlanguage music, including Mexican, Bollywood, Scandinavian and Korean music.

Russin-McFarland, 32, said one of the reasons she listens to such a variety of music is she gets bored easily. “I listen to keep my mind going,” she said, “It’s like exercise. If you quit exercising, you get flabby. You want your brain to easily turn on the music thinking switch.”

As a film score composer herself, RussinMcFarland said one of the great things about foreign-language is it gives an insight into what people from other nations like to listen to. She said there’s also a different structure and range of notes used depending on each country.

“If it were a heart rate monitor, some English language music might look almost like a straight line and Scandinavian music would have ups and

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Russin-McFarland said one of the great things about foreign-language is it gives an insight into what people from other nations like to listen to

downs. Japanese music can be more whimsical, as can Korean pop. It’s good if you feel stuck in a rut.”

Michael Huxley, founder of the travel blog Bemused Backpacker, said listening to a country’s music makes him feel more connected to the place. “it is a reminder of my time and adventures in each place.”

Russin-McFarland believes that every language has a different way of song-writing, and trying to fit that style into a different language can be like “fitting your body into too small a size of jeans and trying to make it work.”

For Huxley, music is more about the connections and memories than the lyrics. “Honestly English language music doesn’t have that emotional connection for me, unless it is part of a specific trip, like for example I went to Space Camp in Huntsville last year and they played StarMan by Bowie all the time, so every time I hear it now it reminds me of working with NASA!” Russin-McFarland shared this sentiment, and said music was about “reaching people beyond the language of the lyrics.” Using her favourite opera, Bizet’s “Carmen”, as an example, she said “before I knew what was going on in the lyrics 100 per cent, I didn’t have to understand much because the musical cues in each song alert you of what is going on.”

Occasionally there are foreign songs or foreign artists whose tracks become famous among English

Dear Evan Hansen highlights youth mental health and anxiety Courtney Fitzmaurice reviews the Broadway musical Dear Evan Hansen

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s the house lights went down in Broadway’s Music Box Theatre, Evan Hansen (Michael Lee Brown) sat on his bed on the stage, writing a letter to himself, unaware that later he’d share his words with everyone.

Dear Evan Hansen (DEH) follows seventeen year old Evan who has social anxiety. When Evan writes a letter to himself that is later found with a student who took his own life, Conor Murphy (Alex Boniello), he fabricates a friendship between them and gets the family and the girl he had always wanted.

In 2017, DEH won the Tony award for Best Musical, along with six other accolades. Written by Steven Levenson and with a score by Benji Pasek and Justin Paul (The Greatest Showman) DEH is still captivating audiences today.

In this performance, alternate Evan appeared rather than the regular Evan, Andrew Barth Feldman. However, the audience were not disappointed as Brown is very experienced in this role, having been the understudy for the original Evan, Ben Platt (The Politician).

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Evan is both a vocally challenging and an emotionally challenging role and Brown’s interpretation was excellent. He conveyed Evan’s anxieties and earnestness in a way that endeared him to the audience. He’s undoubtedly a strong singer, and his Waving Through a Window, arguably the most famous track from the show, was great.

Zoe Murphy (Gabrielle Carrubba) is Conor’s sister and Evan’s love interest. Carrubba has a beautiful voice and she plays Zoe with a real delicateness. Her performance of Requiem, where Zoe talks about the difficult relationship she had with Conor, was amazing and you could tell she felt the emotion of the song, with her in tears by the bridge.

Perhaps the best performance was that of Lisa Brescia (Wicked), who played Evan’s mother, Heidi. Even the non theatre lovers in the audience were impressed. So Big / So Small was a standout moment from Brescia. The character of Jared Kleinman (Jared Goldsmith) provides much needed comic relief. Goldsmith, who is new to Broadway, stole the scenes he was in.

The staging for the show is simple, yet effective.

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Evan is both a vocally challenging and an emotionally challenging role and Brown’s interpretation was excellent

speakers, the best examples being Luis Fonsi’s track Despacito and another track “Kiss and Make Up”, released in 2018 by Dua Lipa featuring Korean girl group BlackPink.

Essentially, there’s beds for Evan and Conor’s rooms, a couch and a dining table. There’s moving platforms on the stage floor that spin around to bring, for example, the Murphy family dining table scene to centre stage. Across the stage at times, there’s walls of social media pages, to illustrate texts between Evan and other characters and to show the spread of his story online.

You Will Be Found, sung by Evan and other cast members, is an uplifting ballad that has a positive message for the fans of the show, who are mainly young people. Evan sings, “Even when the dark comes crashin’ through / When you need a friend to carry you / And when you’re broken on the ground / You will be found.”

DEH discusses issues relevant to young people, such as loneliness, suicide and mental health, and leaves the audience with a true message that none of us are alone.

Podcasts

The Stardust podcast invites listeners to understand the events of the fateful night

Róisín Phelan looks at the Stardust Podcast, following the news of a fresh inquiry into the case in September, 2019

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n its latest podcast series, TheJournal.ie has brought back the tragedy of the Stardust fire into the forefront of the minds of the Irish people with an episodic podcast series.

Telling the story through podcast form has allowed a younger generation to hear the story of Stardust. A story that most of our parents know inside out but that 2019’s teens and children may not be familiar with.

Episode one of the podcasts entitled “The biggest show on the northside” was released by “TheJournal.ie.” on October 10th. The series thus far has told the story of the night, the build up and excitement of the teens beforehand and the terror of the fire and the aftermath.

48 people died that night and 214 were injured but the trauma of the night dug deeper for the families and friends of the victims who have fought and continue to fight for justice and recognition of fault.

The series contains harrowing testimony from people who were there on the night who vividly describe their experience.

The Stardust nightclub was a cornerstone of social life in Artane, North Dublin in 1981. Teens came in their droves on the night of February 13th,

looking forward to a night of dancing, drinking and having fun. However the night took a turn for the worst when a fire broke out around 1:30am.

Most of the 800 plus people inside made it out through the exits that were locked, although in the panic many were crushed, separated from friends and trapped inside the building.

Some exits were locked, others had padlocks and chains wrapped around them so as to appear as if they were locked. Several obstacles like this made it difficult during the evacuation, but when in a state of panic, pushing in hoards, unable to see through the smoke and struggling to breathe, they proved fatal.

A tribunal in 1981 found that the fire was started by a probable arsonist. Although it lacked any substantial evidence to prove this. Many people believed that this conclusion was too easy and was an attempt at sweeping the tragedy under the rug, solving the mystery and giving the families something to blame.

The ruling of arson also meant that the owners, the Butterlys received compensation, as they were considered victims of the perceived arson attack.

It wasn’t until decades later that real progress in the investigation of the night started to happen.

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Teens came in their droves on the night of February 13th, looking forward to a night of dancing, drinking and having fun

After nearly 40 years of campaigning the families were finally granted their wish of a clean slate of investigation and a fresh inquest which was ordered by the Attorney General in September 2019.

Inquests are carried out to find the cause of deaths. To do this they must find out when, where and how they died and it is with this information that the families hope they will be able to find who is truly to blame for the fire.

TheJournal.ie podcast is bringing the Stardust story to light again, just as this inquest begins. It is asking the question that the family have been asking for decades. Where is the justice?

A Gay and a Non Gay Podcast tackles the tough topics at live show Niamh Quinlan reviews “A Gay and a Non Gay Podcast” live Dublin show

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Gay and a Non Gay Podcast Live Show combined the light and the dark, humour and solemnity and, of course, gayness and non-gayness.

The UK’s number one LGBTQ+ podcast took over The Sugar Club on Lower Leeson Street on the night of Sunday, November 10th. Hosted by James Barr (gay) and Dan Hudson (non-gay), the venue was saturated in rainbows, unfiltered chat and laughter.

While most episodes last between 10-20 minutes, the live show ran for about an hour and a half, and

was filled with even more content, guests and audience interaction.

Within the first two minutes of the show, Barr was down amongst the tables talking to audience members, with his microphone and sequined rainbow jacket sparkling beneath the spotlights.

And later, those in the audience had to sing the theme tune of a segment called “Things That Dan Cannot Say” to the melody of “Born This Way” by Lady Gaga.

The duo’s usual light hearted bickering was present throughout the show, poking fun at each other and cracking jokes, with the audience genuinely laughing out loud at the two.

The conversation dynamic was a wonderful mix of comedy and laughter while acknowledging the more difficult topics gay oppression and clerical abuse.

Guest Colm O’Gorman, Executive Director of Amnesty International Ireland, was asked about his legal action against the Vatican, described as suing the Pope. O’Gorman then corrected this saying that, since Pope John Paul II was canonised, he actually sued a saint. Of course, this got a laugh from the audience, however the reason for this legal

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The conversation dynamic was a wonderful mix of comedy and laughter while acknowledging the more difficult topics gay oppression and clerical abuse

action was because O’Gorman was horribly abused by a priest in his teens.

Similarly another guest, Reverend Chris Hudson, a heterosexual priest of the Church of Ireland, had everyone laughing loudly in their seats with his jokes. However, he also made sure to point out the importance of inclusion and of fostering love in a community, no matter what one’s sexuality.

The show was anything but a money grab.

They did sell merchandise, €20 for a t-shirt, at the end of the show. However, where meet and greet tickets would be on sale for a price at most other live shows, Barr and Hudson encouraged audience members to just come down to the stage and take a picture for free and chat with the them.

The tickets themselves cost €22.50 - the mere price of a dress on Nasty Gal or about three Big Mac meals. And the episode will appear on their Spotify and iTunes channel. However, similar to going to a concert above just listening to the album, it’s the experience of being there.

The experience is worth the three Big Mac meals. And on top of that: it’s better to laugh to the jokes of Dan Hudson and James Barr in a safe environment at a cosy venue with a pint in your hand and a rainbow above your head, rather than on the train with your earphones in, laughing to yourself like a psycho.

the college view The Hype |7

It's a "bloodbath" at Robo Riots

Sathishaa Mohan attends the first Robo Riots convention in Ireland

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ast weekend the audience roared in excitement as 24 robots slugged it out at Robo Riots at the National Basketball Arena in Tallaght.

The four-show event took place over two days showcasing 31 battles involving 38 robots. The goal is to destroy or disable the opposing teams’ machines in the octagonal combat cage arena.

“Robo Riots” is a live re-enactment of the BBC’s hit TV show, “Robot Wars”. The event was organised by the creators of the battle bot Diotoir, who hail from Dublin.

The event was advertised as the first full-length heavyweight combat robot tournament of its scale in Ireland.

According to event director and producer, Peter Redmond, “Ireland has never had a robot tournament this big before.”

The android aficionado said, “We are happy to have a 100 square meters arena even though we only had two sponsors, one of which was mine."

He added that the cash prize and trophy are of small value and the event was only meant for the spirit of robot combat sports.

The entire event was organised to encourage the many robotics enthusiasts of all ages from Ireland and the UK to build their own robots.

One out of the seven battles in each show involved seven to 10 smaller "featherweight" machines. This highlighted the message of promoting involvement.

The host, Ciarán Byrne (stage name Dr. Zulu), educated the audience on robotics being an accessible and affordable hobby by citing several YouTube channels providing tutorials on building

robots.

Byrne was also the man who designed the Robo Riots trophy, a scrap metal figurine of a cyborg knight holding a dual-sided axe.

Redmond and Byrne were two of the five members from team Nemesis, who created Diotoir, which battled in "Robot Wars" and now "Robo Riots".

The thrill of robo-carnage bridged the gap between multiple generations. Parents and children, grandparents and grandchildren bonded over the family-friendly mayhem.

At least this was the case for most families, not for the father who spent five minutes trying to capture the perfect robot selfie backstage as his son blankly stared at the ground a few feet away.

A running storyline throughout the show was the feud between Dr. Zulu and the dim-witted bot named “AL-1X”. The audience took a liking to "AL-1X" and disapproved of Dr. Zulu’s dismissal of its antics.

Before the action began, Dr. Zulu reminded the crowd of the safety procedures in case of an emergency and ensured the safety considerations were seriously examined by the organisers. He continued to say: “if a robot falls out of the arena, you can keep it."

Dr. Zulu also improvised a washing machine routine before the final battle only to realise the "washing machines" were actually dishwashers. He called out "whoever failed at their job" of getting the correct appliances before introducing the finale.

The satisfied organisers are looking forward to new robotics fanatics in a smaller-scale event at the annual BT Young Scientist and Technology exhibition next January.

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The entire event was organised to encourage the many robotics enthusiasts of all ages from Ireland and the UK to build their own robots

Resident Evil 2 remake brings justice to the original

Kevin O’Meara reviews the latest installment in the Capcom, Resident Evil franchise

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elling over five million copies, Resident Evil 2 (RE2) is considered not only a classic in the survival horror genre but also a high point of the series itself.

After Capcom remade its predecessor for Nintendo's GameCube in 2002, fans began to clamour for RE2 to receive the same treatment, though it wasn't until 2015 that Capcom announced the project was in active development.

This news was met with both excitement and trepidation by longtime fans, given that the series had veered into less well-received action territory following RE4, and then received a soft reboot with the first person virtual reality RE7, what shape would this remake take? And would Capcom be able to honour the legacy of RE2, while also satiating fan hype over a decade in the making?

Luckily, Capcom cherry-picked various elements from previous installments of the series and distilled them into perhaps its most exceptional entry to date.

The development team took what still worked from the original, mainly the story and characters, but completely reimagined and rebuilt the game from the ground up.

The premise is a simple one; we play as Leon, a rookie cop reporting for his first day, and Claire, a college student searching for her brother Chris 8| the college view The Hype

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(one of the protagonists of RE1). With the player guiding their attempt to survive and escape the zombie apocalypse befalling Racoon City.

With the story now being told in a more cinematic and realistic way, it still holds up and is helped in no small part by some fantastic motion capture facial animation.

The game uses the RE Engine, first used in RE7, which also lends itself well to the game's environments. Each is stunningly detailed and while not overly numerous, connect and make sense in a way not as readily apparent in the original.

Using a modernised over shoulder perspective like the one pioneered in RE4 keeps the actionfocused, with dynamic swoops in close when being attacked to heighten the tension further.

From the relentlessly pursuing Tyrant down to the now once-again-genuine-threat zombies, each enemy is sickeningly detailed. The zombies, in

With the story now being told in a more cinematic and realistic way, it still holds up and is helped in no small part by some fantastic motion capture facial animation

particular, deserve special mention. Ammunition may always be tight, but with careful, strategic dismemberment, the hordes can be managed.

Use some acid grenades on a crowd of zombies to melt their arms off and render them unable to grab you, or shoot out their knees and take them out with your knife when they fall. It is all gruesomely entertaining fun.

The audio design is also worthy of particular note. Being able to hear the Tyrant (an unkillable colossus stalking your every move through a large part section of the game), searching in the room above, below was terrifying make one take off their headset and use the TV speakers.

In a world where it seems almost every AAA title wants to keep you playing for perhaps hundreds of hours, it was refreshing to come to the type of experience that doesn't overstay its welcome.

A full playthrough to see the true ending takes roughly 20 hours to complete. Following that, a bonus mode familiar to veterans of the series will unlock, as well as alternate costumes for the protagonists.

Resident Evil 2 is an absolute must for any fan of the series, or genre, and funnily enough, is an excellent place for newbies to jump in. Capcom has set a new benchmark for themselves when it comes to the series, and not only that, may just have released the gold standard of what a remake can, and should, be.

Lifestyle The pressures women experience to have it all by 30 Roisin Maguire talks about how some women feel pressured by others to have a family by 30

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oday, the ideal future is a family, a job you love, kids and a dog. It’s the expectation of women to have children and to have that picture perfect family by the age of 30.

However, less women want children. There are many reasons for this, for example, the way that the planet is now with regards to climate change and some just don’t want the hassle.

Taking Emma Watson for example. She is 29 years old and has talked about the pressure she has faced by people to have children and a husband soon. This pressure is often felt before the age of 30 as if there is a ticking clock to get these life milestones out of the way by this age.

Watson has called herself “self partnered” as she told British Vogue that she is happy being single for her 30th birthday. She said, “It took me a long time, but I’m very happy [being single]. I call it being self-partnered”.

Self partnering means being happy and content as an individual and does not seek fulfilment in their life from a significant other. However, this doesn’t mean a self partnered person doesn’t ever want to get married. They can date and enjoy relationships but they feel like it is not what defines their life.

When Gwyneth Paltrow divorced from Chris Martin, she called it “conscious uncoupling”. She put a positive spin on something that is usually viewed as negative. This is possibly an easier way in dealing with a divorce. Seeing the positive in the negative is extremely difficult especially when the world is watching and criticising you.

More women are not having children and are being called selfish for it. There is a view that if you

have a womb, you must use it and lots of women today are going against this old fashioned idea.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics said that within the next decade, the number of couples without children will be more than the amount of couples that do have children. A podcast by ABC called “Ladies, We Need To Talk” brought together the stories of women are choosing to be childless to clear up the misconceptions that these women are shallow and immature.

Yumi Stynes, the presenter of the podcast introduced it by explaining that if you are a woman that doesn’t have kids, its presumed that you either haven’t met that special someone or that you can’t have any due to medical reasons. There couldn’t possibly be another reason for not having children.

She said, “Then as we get older, our perceived success in life is often measured by whether or not we’re married, own a home or have children.”

There is a social expectation to have a child even though we have come a long way from the beliefs of the 1950’s.

There is also a belief that women who don’t want to have children, hate them which isn’t true. They can be an aunt and enjoy time with their nephew or niece but know that they don’t want this life.

Stynes mentioned that some of the stigma of being child free can come from people not being able to to separate the female identity and motherhood. She asked Dr Zoë Krupka if there was a correlation and she said “not being able to separate woman and mother and not being able to see there are difficult choices on both fences”.

She said that some women don’t want the hassle of dealing with “the perfection around mothering and

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There is a view that if you have a womb, you must use it and lots of women today are going against this old fashioned idea

that perfect mother ideal”.

Kupka said that she wished this stigma ended after your 40’s but its goes on into your seventies when people start to ask women do they have grand-children.

One of the guests on the podcast said that she felt like she spent her 20’s, 30’s and 40’s explaining to people why she chooses to be child free. She said that her husband has also had to justify why they don’t have children. At a dinner party with their friends, he turned the question around and asked the other couple why they chose to have kids. It turned out that they didn’t have an answer to this question.

This guest also made a very good point of saying that some people have kids to ensure they have someone to look after them when they’re older which is selfish. However, there is no guarantee that a person will have a good relationship with their child so there is also no guarantee that they will look after their parents.

The guests also mentioned that the common response to women saying they don’t want to have children is that they will change their mind.

People need to bear in mind that not all women feel maternal and there are a variety of reasons why women choose to be child free.

Kayleigh McPhelim, a young student from Monaghan said “not even a leaving certificate student and already I was being told that having a family was important and I’d live an unfulfilling life if I didn’t have kids.”

McPhelim also said that she can see the same thing happen now to her younger sister which makes them both feel uncomfortable. the college view The Hype |9

Lifestyle

Beware of Black Friday scams

Anja Zauers gives us some helpful tips to prevent being scammed on Black Friday weekend’s

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lack Friday, a 24-hour period of sheer overspending and panic. Otherwise known as the beginning of the Christmas season.

A chance for shoppers to snatch up their Christmas wish list with the best possible deals on offer at the moment. However, is it worth all the hype or is it just another day for retailers to trick customers into thinking they are saving money on the latest products.

Love it or hate it, Black Friday is back and bigger than ever this coming Friday, the 29th November. What originally started off as a tradition in the states postThanksgiving, Black Friday has slowly made its way to our shores over the years, becoming one of the biggest shopping days of the year.

In order to be smart about your purchases and ensure you are getting the best deals currently on

offer, there are however a few things you can do in the lead up to Black Friday and across the weekend itself.

To avoid being scammed and overspending, know what you want going into the weekend.

Do your research and make a list to prevent going off track and making possible impulse decisions.

When shopping online, make sure you are familiar with the site you are using and that they are a reliable high street retailer as it can be easy to fall into the frenzy of Black Friday and into the hands of online scammers.

Download retailer apps. This way you can easily browse the products you are considering purchasing while also getting notifications on the latest deals. As well as this you can compare retail prices with other retailer sites to

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Black Friday has slowly made its way to our shores over the years, becoming one of the biggest shopping days of the year

ensure you’re getting the best possible offers. Sign up for email updates on your favourite/ brands and follow them on their social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. That way you’ll get up to date notifications keeping you in the loop on what’s happening.

Look into price-tracking apps such as ‘BuyVia’, ‘Price Spy’ or ‘ShopSavy’. This will help you find the best deals by tracking the price history of a particular item.

Can’t wait until the 29th? Have a lookout for retailers who start their sales early such as Debenhams which announced that their sales will be beginning Monday, the 25th November. It should also be noted that certain Airlines such as Ryanair and Aer Lingus tend to get in on the Black Friday sales, so be sure to keep your eyes peeled for that perfect Christmas getaway.

As always, electrical items such as laptops, tablets and headphones are expected to be a big seller this year, particularly Apple’s, Airpods. So, if they tickle your fancy make sure you’re not only getting the best valued one but also the best recommended on the market.

Black Friday, a far cry away from a leisurely activity, however, if done right, you can easily avoid the craziness of the weekend and hopefully, end up with what you were looking for.

The McDonald’s wage debate

Emily Clarke Gifford talks about the latest Twitter debate

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cDonalds’ staff across the UK recently went on strike demanding a pay rise, as they are struggling to survive on their current wage.

According to employment website Indeed, the average wage of a McDonalds’ worker in the UK is £7.63.

The staff are looking to be paid £15 an hour, which would equate to €17.52 an hour in Ireland.

This high increase has sparked controversy across the UK and Ireland.

Should Irish staff members also protest because they are only earning, on average, €9.00 an hour?

Or, should our focus here be on improving the minimum wage in Ireland?

McDonalds’ employees aren’t the only people in the UK and Ireland who are suffering to pay bills and provide for their family. People who are earning a minimum wage of €9.90 an hour are also struggling.

Everyone should be entitled a living wage, regardless of where they work. It is not fair to expect people to work Monday to Friday, then go home and worry how they are going to pay the bills this month or how they are going to feed their children tonight.

Lora Doyle, a McDonald’s employee, thinks asking for £15 pound an hour is too much, but the staff still deserve a living wage so they can take care of themselves and their families.

She noted that there is a prejudice that McDonalds workers have a laid back, easy job, but the reality is that you work hard while you’re there and get paid 10| the college view The Hype

very little for the energy and work required.

Lora said, “for the most part, the staff are treated quite well… but I think for full-time workers that rely on that job, I don’t think they are being paid enough, especially for the effort you put in.”

People took to Twitter supporting the McDonalds’ staff, brave enough to go on strike.

People acknowledged the need for a pay rise and realised that this strike represents the need for a better living wage for all workers.

One person tweeted, “McDonalds workers on strike demanding £15 an hour? I was a data analyst and I only got £10 an hour. And do you know what? I support McDonalds workers. Just because I was underpaid doesn’t mean they should be.

Stop blaming people for the crimes of the CEOs/ government.”

There have also been a significant number of people outraged by the strike and believe that healthcare workers deserve a pay rise instead.

However, there is no correlation between working for McDonalds and working for the National Health Service (NHS).

The government needs to take a step back and look at why McDonalds’ staff are seeking a pay rise and how this reflects the nation. They simply cannot survive on such a basic wage, just like many other workers across the UK and Ireland.

This strike is a cry for help for those who need a better living wage so they can get through their day to day life.

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People acknowledged the need for a pay rise and realised that this strike represents the need for a better living wage for all workers

Lifestyle

Reminders for the winter months

Niamh Quinlan gives us some survival tips this winter

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inter is cold. It’s a basic state of fact. But with the cold comes a mountain of consequences.

Your skin will dry out, you will be drinking more hot drinks in an attempt to stay warm and those who sleep outside suffer the most. But there are a few small things everyone can do to make the long evenings and bitter cold nights not that bad.

Lip balm will be your life saver, but have one everywhere. Carry one in the pocket of the jacket you always wear, maybe one in your college bag or pencil case and, go on, a third for beside your bed.

Labello balms (usually costing between €1.50 and €2.50), Palmer’s butter lip balm (no more than €3 from most drugstores) and any lip balm from Lush are just a few affordable moisturising products that don’t test on animals.

Lush also do 10g hand and body lotion in their

range of Charity Pots, where “100% of the proceeds (minus VAT) go to good causes.” It’s tiny, and the perfect size to just fit in your pocket to heal scaly hands. And it costs about €1.20.

While DCU has done a great job in encouraging the switch to reusable coffee cups, take that initiative outside of college also. Don’t try to heat yourself up with a hot drink in a single use coffee cup. Carry a 16oz (473ml) Olympia Bamboo reusable coffee cup from Nisbets.ie for €5.49 or a Stojo collapsible reusable coffee cup for €11.95 from Earthmother.ie.

Layer up. 80 denier tights are your new best friend, wear the 2 pairs of socks and a tank top under every shirt and sweater. And get a long jacket, one that goes to your knees, just trust me.

A long jacket will keep you warm, but on nights out, drink and cigarettes in the queue for the club actually won’t, even though it might feel like it does. My second biggest recommendation and my

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While DCU has done a great job in encouraging the switch to reusable coffee cups, take that initiative outside of college also

biggest regret from first year: just bring a €2 coin out for the cloak room.

However, my largest recommendation is to give a little. It’s November and the temperatures are already dropping to below freezing at night in some parts of the country. And however difficult it may be to withstand waiting for the bus, it’s even more difficult for those sleeping on shop doorsteps at night.

Carrying some spare change, 20 cent and ten cents, maybe 50 cent coins, to toss into the coffee cups held out to you will make a difference to someone.

And while all these things cost money, and not everyone can afford every one of these luxuries, spare change is spare for a reason. If physical money isn’t your thing, Focus Ireland, the Simon Community and the Peter McVerry Trust all accept donations online by card or PayPal.

How to improve period pain

Lora Doyle talks about how to improve pain during that time of the month

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pproximately three quarters of young women suffer from painful or uncomfortable periods in Ireland according to the HSE. One in five women reported that their period pain is so severe that it stops them from doing their daily activities such as going to work or school.

Many women have had the frustrating experience of telling their doctor about the pain they suffer during their time of the month and having their symptoms dismissed “women’s issues”.

Women can wait up to nine years to get a diagnosis for endometriosis, a painful condition which is caused by abnormal cell growth outside the uterus and leads to severe pain for sufferers according to the Endometriosis Association of Ireland (EAI).

However, Ireland has made strides in recent years in ending period shame and more women than ever feel comfortable opening up about their struggles around their “time of the month”.

Here are some tips to help battle the aches and pains that comes with periods.

Combined oral contraceptive pill

Many women see great benefits from going on the pill such as lighter, more regular periods with less pain than before. However, some pills can cause side effects such as weight gain, acne and mood swings. It is important to talk through your

concerns with your GP and to try and find a pill that is right for you.

Changing your diet

Eating a healthy and balanced diet is one of the most common remedies given to almost any illness. The American Journal of Epidemiology suggests that increasing your red meat intake can help to cure your symptoms due to the lack of iron your body experiences during your “monthlies”.

Even treats such as dark chocolate and ice cream can boost your mood and ease your symptoms Dr Naomi Mackle told Stellar in 2015.

Knowing when to ask for help

If you know something is not right, persist with your doctor until you can get a referral to a specialist.

Irregular or painful periods can be key symptoms in conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or the aforementioned endometriosis.

All of these conditions are manageable but they are chronic conditions that need treatment. If you believe your doctor is dismissing your symptoms, get a second opinion until you find the answers you are looking for. No one knows your body better than you do.

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If you know something is not right, persist with your doctor until you can get a referral to a specialist

Yoga

Any type of exercise will help relieve symptoms of PMS as it releases endorphins which are your body’s natural pain killer. Depending on the pain you are suffering, a run on the treadmill or an intense weightlifting session might not be the workout for you. The gentle movement of yoga can not only relax your muscles as they contract during your period but they can also help you to relax and get through the pain as you go through the movements. Certain poses can target certain areas such as the child’s pose. Yoga expert Kirsty Gallagher told Cosmopolitan that this stretches out the back of your body so if you get cramps in your lower back, it opens it out.

the college view The Hype |11

Food

Grub Guide: Sova Vegan Butcher

Jennifer Keegan reviews Dublin’s Sova Vegan Butcher

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ne wouldn’t often hear the words ‘butcher’ and ‘vegan’ in the same sentence, but just off Camden Street, on Pleasants Street, in a plain-faced building, is Sova Vegan Butcher.

As a non-vegan, I was extremely curious as to what I would find in a restaurant that sounds so different and peculiar.

I went with a friend who is vegan and was very excited about “not having to read into every single ingredient…I can just eat everything, this never happens.”

The décor on the outside is understated. Tables are no-nonsense and only a simple flower sits on them. The walls are white and unadorned. It wasn’t what you would call cosy but something about the rough and readiness of the room and the warm lighting made the place feel welcoming.

The menu is rather extensive for a vegan-only restaurant, but maybe I’m naïve. This is where the ‘butcher’ element comes into it. The menu is really filled with meat dishes, but with the vegan versions.

We have ‘steaks’ and ‘schnitzel’ that are all made of ingredients I am not familiar with.

It isn’t cheap but it isn’t extortionate either. It’s definitely more of a ‘special occasion’ kind of dining experience. There is an option of a 3-course menu for just under €30 as well as an option to bring your own booze. Brunch is also available all week.

The service was good, with two very attentive waiters who filled up our water jugs constantly and knew exactly when to take the dishes away once we were finished.

I went for the ‘Pickled Courgette Cannelloni’,

12| the college view The Hype

“

The menu is really filled with meat dishes, but with the vegan versions

the ‘Soya Chicken Goujons’ and for dessert, the cheesecake. It was hard to choose because I simply wanted to try everything.

The food took a while to arrive but once the starter came, the rest followed in well-paced succession.

For thirty quid, I was beyond stuffed. The dishes are deceptively large and so beautifully put together, that you almost feel guilty for diving in. It’s hard to fault each dish, but the cheesecake stands out as the winner. I’ve been craving it ever since.

My vegan friend had the soup of the day (a classic potato and leek), the Soya Chicken like myself and the avocado and chocolate mousse (I wasn’t daring enough for that combination, although it looked impressive).

We spent near three hours there, and in that time there was a constant stream of customers arriving and leaving. This was fine, but as we sat near the door, each time someone passed through it, I got a gust of icy wind across my shoulders.

Booking in advance is essential, considering it was quite busy and we went on a weekday. Sova has a very handy online booking system which is great for those like me who shy away from phone calls as much as possible.

Overall, Sova Vegan Butcher was very enjoyable.

I tried lots of new foods that I had never even heard of before and I don’t regret it. However, a small disclaimer, I am not a fussy eater so I didn’t mind the mystery.

Others, who may not be so adventurous might find the menu very intimidating. The prices can also be daunting, but if you’re just heading in for brunch, it’s a viable option for all your vegan and non-vegan friends.

Grub Guide Grade Atmosphere 7/10 Food 8/10 Service 9/10 Value for Money 6/10

Lifestyle

The highs and lows of retail therapy

Isabella Finn talks about how retail therapy can make you feel in control of certain situations in life

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ave you ever gotten so angry or upset that in a blinding blur you end up with two brown paper Penney’s bag clenched in your fists? Same.

Retail therapy is “the practise of shopping in order to make oneself feel more cheerful” according to the Oxford Dictionary.

This coping mechanism is a common reaction to emotional trauma or sometimes just minor inconveniences. It seems as though mindlessly spending €55-€65 on a new piece of wardrobe can be just as effective as visiting a psychiatrist for the same price. But is it really?

Shopping can provide some psychological rewards, boost confidence and be incredibly therapeutic. The difficult part is knowing when you’re in a safe environment to do so. Considering that retail therapy is often impulsive this aspect is challenging to monitor.

Retail therapy can be safe when easing a selfevolution, whether that’s buying copious amounts of stationary for college or buying three shirts too many for a new job. But it demonstrates preparation. It doesn’t suppress anxiousness like you think at might, being prepared by dress and materials acts as a visual stimulant to be adjusted

W

hether we’ve been having a bad day and have said it as a form of relief, humour or just having heard it in passing, we have all experienced the phrase “I want to die,” but seldom do we ever really mean it.

Despite this, those of us who may have let it slip through our lips or overheard the phrase might not have ever thought about how people who really are suffering from a mental health problem feel about it.

These phrases seem to have generated over the last number of years and tie in with online memes as many of us know, or to anyone who doesn’t know, basically a form of joking.

A social media online survey taken during November of this year showed that 80% of people aged between 17 and 21 were less likely to seek help for a mental health problem if they heard people joking about an issue or making sarcastic comments.

Of the 100 people that took part, 20 stated that they would be more likely to seek help, a majority of which were men.

An article published by The Atlantic earlier this year suggested that dark humour surrounding mental health topics is a form of relief or even therapeutic for people.

for the change to come.

This often happens when people are preparing for the arrival of a new baby, they tend to over shop in a panic. Retail therapy can be used as a way to gain control over a situation that you are actually powerless in, so you shouldn’t feel guilty about that Penney’s bag in your hand, but if you’re human you do.

Depending on your persuasion “adding to your cart” is easier done than window shopping. Just because its online doesn’t mean that the retail therapy rules don’t apply. Elle Woods would be happy to know that shopping can release Serotonin, this is a chemical that makes you happy and that you should remember “happy people just don’t shoot their husbands”.

Aside from that, retail therapy can be an extremely dangerous territory. It’s all good and well burning €167 on a designer bag, fuelled by a fit of rage, if you can afford your expenses. These more expensive retail excursions can quickly add up to the equivalent of a small fortune and before you know it you’ve crossed the line of the occasional retail therapy consumer into one of a shopaholic.

Shopaholics are compulsive shoppers, not impulsive. Impulsive retail therapy shoppers react

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Retail therapy can be safe when easing a selfevolution, whether that’s buying copious amounts of stationary for college or buying three shirts too many for a new job

Using dark humour to get through college

Rachel Power discusses how we use dark humour during stressful times in our lives Websites that are well known for producing popular memes such as 9gag or 4chan frequently have images of childhood cartoons or drawings that include captions about suicide and incredibly dark thoughts that to the average person are deeply concerning.

While these memes initially might seem to be a form of mockery as humour, the article found it to be a form of comfort for those who may actually be struggling with ill-mental health.

By creating and publishing ‘suicide memes’ as The Atlantic aptly named it, more often than not it creates a way of letting people who are going through a difficult time that they are not alone, just

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Dark humour surrounding mental health topics is a form of relief or even therapeutic for people

to instinct, whereas compulsive shopaholics buy items because they have to or because they can’t stop. How can you tell the difference? Ask yourself; Are you spending more than you can afford? Are you damaging your relationships because of your shopping? Do you feel as though your life would be incomplete until you buy a particular item? If so, my friend, I think we might have a problem.

Although a €55+ shopping expedition is within the same price range as a psychiatrist session it should not be used as a full time substitute. On occasion, put down your credit card and talk to a friend, it might have the same affect.

in a different, non-conventional way.

Mallaidh Hyndman, a twenty-year old student in DIT said that she “always jokes about wanting to die and getting hit by a bus,” with her friends but as much as she means them in a funny, light-hearted way, she’s not being all that serious.

“It’s always when we’re stressed, or sad or just don’t want to have to deal with a situation that we say those kinds of things.”

“It’s kinda weird when you think about it, like, when you say it out loud to express how awful you feel and a mate laughs and says ‘same’, you just kinda feel a little bit better and then you know it’s not just bad for you,” she finished.

While these memes seem harmful to some, comments sections are found to be surging with replies of support.

So even though this form of humour, whether it appears in our lives online or along the road overhearing someone say a phrase seems insensitive and damaging, it may actually be doing the opposite and helping more people than we know.

That being said, it’s a universal thought among us all that we have to be careful about what we say, where we say it and around who because everything we do and say has a consequence, without getting far too serious.

It’s important to understand this relatively new form of humour is helpful and can really get people through a difficult period in their life by acknowledging they’re not alone and maybe making them smile a little bit more if they find it funny.

the college view The Hype |13

Lifestlye

Choosing style over comfort

Kinga Piotrowska talks about the lengths people go to in order to look good

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From a study by the University of Texas Science Center at Tyler in 2007, 50 per cent of women wear high heels to special occasions or for dinner

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ith the athleisure trend being around in fashion for a few years now, people are proving it’s possible to mix fashion with comfort, however some still refuse to go along with it.

People will go to unbearable lengths by wearing clothes or shoes that they can barely move in. Fashion is becoming so competitive, especially on Instagram, so people feel the need to buy uncomfortable fashion items just to look good or feel stylish.

Women feel the need to wear tight figure-hugging clothes and high heels, while men wear tight, movement restricting shirts.

We have all worn skinny jeans that you get sick of wearing after an hour, designer shoes that cost a fortune that you can’t walk in or squeeze into spanx that genuinely hurt underneath our clothes. Yet a lot of people do it repeatedly, all in the name of fashion.

Jeans and shirts seem like nothing compared to the trend of waist trainers. Somewhere in the 21st century we decided to take a trip back to the 18th, as waist trainers became a fashion trend.

Waist trainers make your waist smaller and smaller after time, as well as make certain styles of clothes look better as their very similar to corsets and are worn under clothes.

Some people wore then as they were heavily influenced by the look of Kim Kardashian, and the possibility of looking slimmer with them in social media photos.

A lot of people are also inspired by celebrities when it comes to style, and try to recreate looks for their everyday lives, while celebrities wear them for an hour or two to take Instagram photos or sit in a restaurant. Pieces such as waist trainers are not only uncomfortable, but can cause bruising, breathing problems, numbness and severe skin irritation.

A pair of fancy flats for example, can also look just as good as the €1,175 Louboutin’s heels, that

can cause severe negative effects on your spine, posture, hips and knees.

With the amount of choice we have in shops today, it’s so easy to find something fashionable and comfortable at the same time. From a study by the University of Texas Science Center at Tyler in 2007, 50 per cent of women wear high heels to special occasions or for dinner. This showed that a lot of women felt that they looked better or more fashionable wearing heels for special occasions rather than flats.

This however has changed, as fashion evolved and a lot more people are wearing runners, vans or converse with dresses or suits. You rarely see a college student in heels on a night out anymore because a lot of people can make comfortable shoes or clothes look stylish and incorporate them into their style. You can find wearing faux leather jeggings instead of real leather trousers for example, can still complete your outfit to suit your style in the same way.

Breathable materials such as cotton instead of polyester can make you feel so much more comfortable, and if you shop around you will find that it’s possible to find comfortable clothes that look just as good. Fashion is about self-expression, if you take the time to swap the uncomfortable for similar comfortable clothes and make them your own, it won’t take in any way take away from that.

The ease of online shopping has only served to increase this addiction astronomically, with the luxury of being able to spend while in the comfort of your own home and the ability to spend hours on end finding any type of product. New services such as “Afterpay” also keep the only hard part of shopping at bay – the part where you actually spend money. Setting up incremental spending over a longer period so the punch doesn’t hit in quite the same way.

The problem becomes clearest when those around you or you yourself notice the reduced quality of life, hoarding habits, family division, work issues, and financial problems. These are all symptomatic of any addiction, and the normalcy of shopping is not excluded from this. To the addict, the easily available excuses of “but I need clothes to survive!” can be likened to food addiction (a

more accepted or better-known form of addiction), where one of the largest difficulties in overcoming the addiction is that eating is necessary to survive – and therefore a necessary part of everyday life.

Friday Night Lights author Buzz Bissinger was interviewed by GQ about how his own shopping addiction led him to spend more than $600,000 (€467,000) in three years. This shows that while many women have spoken out about their struggles with this addiction, it is not an issue affecting women alone.

In light of this growing issue, many recovery centres and sufferers of the addiction are attempting to raise awareness of the dangers and prevalence of shopping addiction and impulse control issues in order to prompt research and push individuals to get help where they can.

The reality of a shopping addiction

Béibhinn Thorsch discusses how easy it is to become addicted to shopping and when to seek help

K

nocklyon House, or The Rutland Centre, is a treatment centre for addictions. The centre, while used to the classic addictions of alcohol, drugs, gambling, and eating disorders, has now become no stranger to clients facing the problem of compulsive shopping.

Compulsive shopping, or shopping addiction, is an impulse control issue which can have huge impacts on the life of the spender. The Huffington Post described some of the symptoms of the issue.

Having multiple clothes you’ve never worn or unopened items that you have bought, buying things you haven’t planned to, frustration makes you want to shop, purchases are followed by feelings of remorse, you try to conceal your shopping habits, and you feel a kind of “high” when you buy. Buying several varieties of the same object, or often using shopping as a feel-good tool are other symptoms.

Finding distractions and identifying triggers are some of the ways to curb the addiction. However, antidepressants have proven to be useful in treating the issue also. Speaking to the Irish Times, Adrian Lee director at the Promis Counselling Centre in Kent and London which also offers help to compulsive shoppers, “The concentration by society on a materialist fantasy world is the problem,” he said. “People no longer have a spiritual base and it is this void they attempting to fill.” Compulsive shoppers also have found some help in following the 12 step programme, originally set up for drug addicts and alcoholics.

14| the college view The Hype

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The ease of online shopping has only served to increase this addiction astronomically

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