The Hype Issue 11

Music

Anderson. Paak keeps the Olympia audience bubblin’

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Daniel Cox reviews Anderson. Paak’s performance at the Olympia.

ES LAWD! Rapper, drummer and selfanointed ‘Best Teeth in the Game’ Anderson.

Paak performed two nights in the Olympia on March 19th and 20th to two sold out crowds.

The concerts were part of the artist’s world tour with his band, The Free Nationals, promoting his latest record Oxnard. The 2 nights were potentially the most fun and exciting performances the Olympia has seen in a long time.

Anderson. Paak himself is an artist all to his own genre.

Gospel, soul, southern hip-hop, funk, all and more are infused to a heady cocktail in his music. He’s emerged as a fresh voice in the rap scene. As a drummer as well as a rapper, rhythm is in his blood, and so his songs have a slick coat of funk on them. He can go from the dizzying and technically astonishing ‘Bubblin’’ (which won the Best Rap Performance Grammy 2019) to the buttery smooth ‘Suede’ easily, his infectious charm permeating throughout. All of this means that as a live performer, Paak is a true natural.

The night began with supporting act Tayla Parx, a singer-songwriter who’s a prolific co-writer of several big hits. Parx credits include Panic! At The Disco’s ‘High Hopes’ and Janelle Monaé’s ‘I Like That’. She also helped pen 5 songs off Ariana Grande’s ‘thank u, next’, such as ‘7 rings’ and ‘thank u, next’ itself. Her voice has been popular in the background, and thankfully in the limelight she is a wonderful vocalist by herself. Her playful pop songs were excellent to get the crowd going.

Paak and The Free Nationals entered with a call of Paak’s catchphrase “Yes Lawd!”. The stage had a beautiful set of drums on a centre platform, along with a standing

mic in front of the drums. Paak alternated between the two, gleefully interacting with the crowd for one song and then skillfully playing drums the next all throughout the night. He had a wonderfully cheeky smile during the night, bounding up and down the stage and keeping the crowd in tempo at all times. Energy was high, and equally light, the atmosphere was a blend of exhilarating and carefree.

The stage production was well done. The screen behindthe band mainly displayed abstract images and muted colours, lots of reds, purples and blues. It maintained visual interest without distracting from the performance. The concert had novelty moments as well,

with Paak crowd surfing at one point and a huge burst of white confetti to climax a song near the end of the night Sitting at his drum set, band beside him, Paak dedicates the final song to Mac Miller. They play ‘Dang’, a Mac Miller song featuring Paak. Paak was a friend of Miller’s up until his sudden death in September 2018. “I can’t keep losing you, over complications” sung Paak, and as he played on the drums. It was the first time during the night that he wasn’t smiling. The show ended with a picture of the two artists laughing together, a still, sombre end to an explosive performance.

Do people go to festivals for the music or for the electrifying atmosphere?

Ciara O’Loughlin looks into if the hype has overshadowed the music at festivals.

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ultiple stages, bright lights, camping and drinks. To many people festivals are much more about the experience as a whole than what artists are playing. This seems to be especially true for Irish festival goers as we see Electric Picnic 2019 sell out before the line-up was released.

“I definitely go to [festivals] for the overall atmosphere and experience. It’s like a form of escapism from everyday life as you can go to a place for a few days that is detached from everything else” said Colleen Kelly, a 23-year-old who has attended EP twice.

“I would buy my ticket before the line-up has been released as most festivals offer a variety of different music acts and I find that the up and coming artists/ smaller acts are the ones I tend to enjoy most anyways, so I guess the surprise is kind of a bonus” she added.

Although, EP festival goers are willing to pay for a ticket before the line-up is announced, many say the music is still the most important part of the experience; whether the artist is known to them or not.

“You get some people who go and don’t even leave the campsite, like they’re just there for the sesh which I think is a bit of a waste” said Ryan Daly, who first attended the festival four years ago.

“I would pay for tickets before acts have been announced if the festival has a good reputation for having good acts every year” said Lauren Dunne, a 21-year-old student from Dublin.

“However, I wouldn’t buy EP tickets again. I think

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I’d rather save up extra and go to a festival abroad, I don’t like camping in the cold and there is only ever one or two acts I really want to see” she added.

Electric Picnic was first staged in August 2004 and has been annually run ever since. It is a three day camping festival held in the very last weekend in August in Stradbally, Co.Laois. The festival has gained increasing popularity, especially amongst a younger audience, since Oxygen last took the stage in 2013. Oxygen was a dance and charts camping festival which was held in Punchestown Racecourse, Kildare.

Although, for the past few years EP tickets were snatched up quick leaving the festival at capacity; this is the first year where tickets sold out in just 15 minutes, before any acts were announced to play on the stage.

“For the first time ever in the festival’s 15 year history, tickets sold out months in advance of the line-up being revealed, which is testament to the enduring popularity of Ireland’s biggest music and arts festival,” a spokesperson for Electric Picnic said in a statement.

The festival has a capacity of over 50,000 people and this year will see Florence & the Machine, Billie Eilish , The Strokes, Hozier and The 1975 take the main stage.

EP is described as an ‘arts and music’ festival and has many activities including the infamous ‘Casa bacardi’, a rave in the woods, a comedy tent and a fun-fair, to name but a few. Last year it also opened up a lake area where festival-goers could take a dip.

Although, the majority of ticket-holders were happy with the line-up, some said they were disappointed with the lack of Rap and R&B artists.

Last year rapper Kendrick Lamar headlined the festival. However, EP has always been considered a more Indie/Alternative music festival. Music fans looking for more R&B and rappers would be better off going to Longitude where ASAP Rocky, Chance the rapper and Cardi B will be headlining the 3-day festival in Marlay Park, Dublin at the start of July.

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Although, for the past few years EP tickets were snatched up quick leaving the festival at capacity; this is the first year where tickets sold out in just 15 minutes, before any acts were announced to play on the stage

Music

Oh Danny boy

Amy Donohoe finds out what is it about Daniel O’Donnell that makes the auld wans stir.

Daniel O’Donnell has always been a household name in Ireland, but it’s not only Ireland where Daniel is loved. In a documentary series titled, “Daniel & Majella’s American Road Trip,” we see that he is worshipped by many in the United States.

Daniels first series on RTE was a hit last year when he traveled around Ireland with Majella for “Daniel and Majella’s B&B Road Trip.” However, this time the power couple ­left the B&Bs of Ireland in their rear-view mirror and drove a camper van around the US. Between exploring the sites and meeting the fans, Daniel and his wife seem to enjoy starring in their own show.

In episode one, the couple met superfan Helen Lynne whose humble home is crammed with Daniel memorabilia.

Lynne is an elderly Daniel worshipper who lives outside Chicago and who has, “one of the largest Daniel O’Donnell collections in the world” as well as owning a stash of Johnny Cash memorabilia, which Daniel admired. She even had a toilet cover featuring Daniel’s grinning face.

Majella pretended to be jealous by this adoration of her husband, but she is well used to Daniel getting female attention. Meanwhile, Daniel joked, “If I had that on my toilet sure I’d be constipated, I wouldn’t be able to go at all.”

Singer and now, TV personality star “Wee” Daniel, comes from the West of Donegal. He became successful across Ireland and the UK in the mid-1990 ’s. He was given the Irish Entertainer of the Year award in 1989, 1992 and 1996.

O’Donnell’s first chart hit single in the UK was in 1992 with “I Just Want to Dance With You” which led to his firstever appearance on Top of the Pops. O’Donnell garnered considerable success in North America when he starred in seven concert specials on public television in the US.

The man with the gently soft-spoken personality and a clean-cut image has attracted a vast amount of media attention throughout the years and now has reached his peak.

There have also been many cultural references to the performer.

O’Donnell has been satirised in Irish and British comedy because his audience consists mainly of older women.

O’Donnell is known for his close relationship with his fans and has a meet-and-greet session after almost every concert. He used to host a massive tea party for his fans outside his Donegal home every year.

Referring to his latest show, Daniel told the Irish Sunday Mirror, “We do tend to forget sometimes we’re being filmed and I think that is how things come across on the show. “But I don’t think there were too many bleeps on the road trip thankfully.”

Viewers were particular left in hysterics during one of the couple’s adventures in Milwaukee and Wisconsin, as Daniel faced his fear of water and Majella had a ‘gas’ time when she let out a nervous fart whilst sitting on top of a water skier’s shoulders.

Daniel told Ryan Tubridy, “We did a lot of

things that, you know the things on these shows, I would never really seek out doing them, to be honest but when you’re faced with it and it’s but in front of you to do it, it’s amazing what you’ll just go at.”

He added, “God help the poor fella that was under Majella. He got more than he bargained for.”

His most popular songs are “Galway Bay”, “My Donegal Shore” or “Danny Boy” and Daniel’s song “I Need You” is even the most played song at weddings in Sri Lanka. No matter where he travels, Daniel has a fanbase worldwide and he always makes time for his fans which is a contributing factor to his success.

Drake’s performance at the 3 Arena was a slam dunk

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Sarah Barrett reviews Drake’s concert in the 3 Arena

he third week of spring, under the lights of Dublin’s docklands, gather Irish and international fans in their hoards to meet outside the 3Arena to see their god-like idol, the world’s best selling artist, Canadian streaming chart-topper, Drake.

Drake blessed his Irish fans with three tour dates on his Assassination Vacation tour to promote his album Scorpion. He made it to the arena after St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, but his fellow record label chum, Nicki Minaj, unfortunately didn’t. She cancelled after her equipment didn’t make it across the Irish sea due to a storm.

With support on night one, hype had been built since January for the Toronto tornado’s awaited return to an Irish stage. With rumours of a flying Ferrari and scorpions for some of his other tour dates, no one was sure of what would happen - except that it would be spectacular.

The first Dublin date didn’t disappoint. The average price of a ticket was €140 and the first night didn’t sell out, with some upper seated tier tickets still available. The support act Tory Lanez, Drake’s pal, started the night sluggishly. He wore his diamond pieces on stage throughout his set, but took them off amid his crowdsurfing, possibly for fear someone in the crowd would take them. Drake’s touring DJ, Tiffany Calver carried out supporting justice much better.

Drake began the night behind a massive smoke and screen mirrored structure, he performed Mob Ties and paced on stage, surrounded by holographic scorpions, which was unbelievably mesmerizing. Drake wears con-

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troversy, like Tory Lanez wore his diamond pieces at the show. Having beef with fellow artists Kanye West and Pusha T, Drake is often noted for playing the victim in public beef. He owned the stage like a king.

With Ireland’s up and coming hip hop community and talent pool, Drake’s standing area was packed out, considering the dates were only announced in January. There was an energy that can only be described if one was in attendance.

Drake evidently showed why he is a streaming superstar and hip hop giant. He delivered a 35 song set list to a demanding crowd. As Drake performed Yes Indeed, a yellow Ferrari flew over the crowd and travelled through the arena. The Ferrari was a classic prop, which left concert attendees shocked and exhilarated. It was, in actuality, a drone. At times, the incredible show almost outshone Drake’s performance but he took it back every time it did.

He invited a punter up on

stage to try win €20,000, by getting the basketball into the hoop as the stage functioned as a basketball court.

The punter missed and so did Drake. Throughout the night, he filled up his set with greatest hits medleys, I’m Upset, Passionfruit, Controlla, Fake Love, In My Feelings, Headlines and Started From The Bottom, he gave Conor McGregor a shout out, whom he referred to as his “brother”, and also had the Irish flag projected on stage.

He ended his set with the most streamed song of all time, God’s Plan. Drake managed a day out in Tallaght to play basketball in the national arena, got an Eddie Rocket’s milkshake, and ended his three date sprint on March 22nd. He’s due to play six nights in London, two in Antwerp, Belgium, and three in Amsterdam next month. The visual effects of the show were other-worldly and impressive. Drake chewed up the crowd, spit them out, undoubtedly made them want to live their best life. Drake owned it.

With support on night one, hype had been built since January for the Toronto tornado’s awaited return to an Irish stage.

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Music

A Cult of Many Colours Darragh McNally sees what is it about pop divas that appeals to the LGBTA audience.

We’ve heard of LGBTA Icons, but what about artists that don’t fit this mould? In the past two decades, we’ve seen many artists granted an almost deific status by the LGBTA community – whether they belong to it or not. Looking at artists like Lady Gaga, Britney Spears, Carly Rae Jepsen, MARINA, and more, we’ll be discussing if an artist can sustain a career by appealing to this audience, and just what it is about these artists that makes the LGBTA community tick.

One way these artists appeal to the LGBTQ+ community is through their activism. Lady Gaga, an openly bisexual woman, has long been an advocate for LGBTA rights, including helping to repeal America’s ban on LGBTA people in the military, known as ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’; her protests against anti-LGBTA organisations, such as cancelling an album deal with Target due to their donations to anti-LGBTA organizations and while performing, telling Russian authorities “I’m Gay, Arrest Me!”; and her exploration and celebration of sexuality in songs like Born This Way (celebrating LGBTA pride) and Poker Face (detailing her bisexuality). Carly Rae Jepsen famously turned down a performance at a National Boys Scouts festival due to their homophobia, and included a gay character in the iconic video for Call Me Maybe. Britney Spears and MARINA have long supported the LGBTA community through their work also.

Another reason the LGBTA community (specifically gay men) flocks to them is that these artists pose as pillars to male detest. In a time when openly gay artists didn’t exist, female pop singers acted as a platform to complain about men and heartbreak. This was more of a concern in earlier

decades, with artists like Madonna, Kylie Minogue and Cher fronting this impromptu movement, but can often still apply to artists like Gaga, Britney, Carly

R a e a n d MARINA. The reason the LGBTA community loves artists like these, is their creation of characters, personas, andtheir

commitment to high drama and creativity. Lady Gaga is famously known for her outlandish dress sense, wearing outfits like the infamous meat dress, a dress made only of plastic bubbles, a dress consisting of Kermit the Frog plushies, 12-inch heels at nearly all times, and yet consistently making it all look good In stark contrast, Carly Rae Jepsen pushes an innocent ‘girl-next-door’ persona, serving as a breath of fresh air to other more sexualised pop artists. MARINA creates a character or look thematically appropriate to each of her albums, the most famous example being Electra Heart, from the album of the same name. Electra was a bubbly yet narcissistic girl, where “all (she) ever wanted was the world”, who rises, falls from grace, and is ultimately killed off. Britney Spears often embraces high drama and caricature, acting as; an air hostess, a secret agent, a circus ringmaster, and a stripper amongst others, through her music videos. Thus, pop artists like these can transport the listener to a different world of their own creation, a world without judgement or homophobia.

In conclusion, these artists can sustain long (often decades-long) careers due to their commitment to the LGBTA community and their interests. These artists stand out because they see this community as their main audience, rather than the general public. In a hetero-normative society, the idea of pop artists like these is ever so refreshing.

Has having patience rewarded Tame Impala fans?

Aoife Horan reviews Tame Impala’s new single

After a near four year hiatus Tame Impala returns to us with their new track Patience, teasing at an upcoming album due to be released at an undetermined date in the near future, brazenly opening with the line “Has it really been that long?”

Yes, yes it has, those of us who chose to soundtrack our lives with the psychedelic sounds of Parker and the boys haven’t been starved of content just yet. With solo projects from the bands Multi Instrumentalists, Jay Watson and Cam Avery (The Underdog released under Cam’s alias “Gum” is required listening) as well as Kevin Parker’s many high profile production collaborations (SZA, Gaga and Kanye to name a few) nothing quite compares to the original.

As the finest purveyor of vibes around, Parker and Co. bring with them this time a tune that wouldn’t feel amiss in a 70s playlist chalked full of Chic, Supertramp and ABBA. In keeping with the synthetic vibes of Currents, the song opens with reverb filled Piano instrumental and some groovy drum beats to match.

Lyrically,Parker sticks to his core existentialist themes delivered in his usual dulcet tones, the words

in this one fail to stick and seem to get drowned out in this heavy instrumental, it just doesn’t have the bite of Currents’s opener Let it happen, which has become an absolute classic It’s reminiscent of a relationship gone sour in the way that Feels like we Only Go Backwards was but it doesn’t have the same grip to it and beyond the first, second and third listening, recollection of a single line on the track proved difficult.

Overall, the track feels both lyrically abundant and redundant. Although full of their usual all important introspective lyrics such a”So what you doin’ with your life? It ain’t giving up” and the repetition of the lines “Cause time takes from everyone” and “Time waits for no one”; it’s chorus falls a bit flat in the presence

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above most others and audiences couldn’t help but be disappointed by something new.

The disco influence brings a lighter and summery vibe to their usual heavy themes which while making them on the surface more digestible, they also make them far more forgettable. The track doesn’t have the kind of staying power that we’re used to from Tame Impala.

With every album they bring something new, from Innerspeaker, to Lonerism, to Currents, we got a progression from a Psychedelic Rock reminiscent of The Doors to a more localised and whole psychedelic rock, synth pop, RnB combo that was most entirely their own.

The album is still one to hold out for, as their tracks always have an added flavour in context and the disco spice that has been added to the bands expansive pallet is a rather intriguing and playful addition which will be interesting in itself to hear play out on a full LP. It didn’t hit in the same instantaneous way that a Tame Impala track usually tends to, but have patience.

While it’s a slow burner, it’s an incredibly strong track and in keeping with it’s disco themes, the remixes will most likely be stronger than the original.

It’s reminiscent of a relationship gone sour in the way that “Feels like we Only Go Backwards” was but it doesn’t have the same grip to it and beyond the first, second and third listening, recollection of a single line on the track proved difficult.

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of these strong verses.

However, with such a near perfect discography, the standard that’s set for such a band rests a far cut

Film

The merging of FOX and Disney allows for infinite possibilities David Kelly discusses the directions the Marvel Cinematic Universe can take after the Disney/FOX merger

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sually the merging of two film companies is inconsequential for the nerd layman. The Disney/Fox merger is a completely different story, with huge implications for movie fans everywhere. As 21st Century Fox holds the rights to key Marvel characters, their acquisition means Disney’s Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is looking at a huge expansion.

While the real-world implications of this deal may be unfortunate, the fictional opportunities are bountiful. After a decade of world-building, the first chapter of the MCU is coming to an end with Avengers: Endgame. This swan song will likely bid farewell to legends such as Iron Man, Captain America and other oldies.

The MCU is now faced with the daunting task of following up its incredibly successful ‘Infinity Saga’ in the upcoming ‘Phase Four’. While they still have plenty of Spider-Man movies to play with, and the success of Black Panther bodes well for sequels, the roster of fan-favourites is diminishing.

Creatively, this merger could not have come at a more apt time. Characters now available to the MCU include the Fantastic Four, the X-Men and of course, Deadpool. With Deadpool scoring an exemption, it appears that the other two properties are receiving a reboot by 2021.

The Fantastic Four are most likely to enter the fray first. As neither of their franchises took off, Marvel may look to rejuvenate the superhero family with some MCU magic.

The core theme threading the Fantastic Four is family, something the other MCU films hasn’t touched on

in a conventional sense.

We Got This Covered has reported that Marvel is planning on crafting their first Fantastic Four film as a cosmic adventure. With the Guardians of the Galaxy and Thor: Ragnorok, the Marvel cosmos has been injected with a colourful, vibrant tone and mythos.

The Fantastic Four could be an opportunity to bring a grounded, Earth-like family to this crazy cosmos. Think ‘The Incredibles’, but in space. The MCU incarnation of Marvel’s First Family is said to take inspiration from the ‘Ultimate Fantastic Four’, the modernised comic book version.

Perhaps the most anticipated reboot is that of the X-Men. This franchise has never exactly stumbled in terms of popularity, either critically or commercially. Since the first film in 2000, the franchise has built a huge world running off multiple timelines and sprawling several genres.

With two more pre-MCU X-Men films

to the prequel timeline, while New Mutants is likely to be the first and last of its kind. What then?

The MCU already has two prominent X-Men characters; Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver, the children of Magneto.

In the comics, there is precedent for Scarlet Witch to be responsible for reality-altering events. Incidentally, the new Marvel Visual Dictionary hints at a latent X-Gene having been activated in Scarlet Witch.

Could Endgame, or a future Marvel film, see Scarlet Witch somehow activating latent X-Genes in mutant kind? This theory does pose problems for certain X-Men characters, such as Magneto and Wolverine, whose character arcs are contingent on events that occurred in Twentieth century.

The only newly acquired character whose integration into the MCU seems impossible is perhaps its most popular; Deadpool. The Merc with a Mouth’s character, tone and popularity is predicated on an R rating and fourth-wall breaking, neither being compatible with the existing MCU. However, the recent relative success of the PG13 rated ‘Once Upon a Deadpool’ may prove otherwise. While writing Deadpool into the current MCU would completely undermine it, the flippant tone of his character combined with the creative genius of Kevin Feige is extremely promising.

In short, it’s a good time to be a Marvel fan.

scheduled for release, the end of the Fox era is on the horizon. Dark Phoenix will likely bid farewell

What makes a good film protagonist Hugh Farrell explains how a film writer can engage us with their protagonist

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rom Forest Gump to Rocky Balboa, the great protagonists have been winning audiences over since the dawn of cinema. While the heroes may vary greatly there are some things that tend to stay the same to make a character great.

Ranker has the top characters of all time down as Indiana Jones, Forest Gump, James Bond, Han Solo and Jack Sparrow, as voted by the people and most of these well-established characters all follow similar traits. Besides Gump, the immediate pattern that stands out is suave, cocky characters that are able for any challenge.

The idea that these characteristics stand out is the idea that the hero has to be relatable. Seeing characters like James Bond, people want to be that cool. When people put on suits they even envisage themselves as the martini-swilling man of mystery. Even if the characters don’t directly follow how people are in real life, we get to see them in fascinating situations where we think “that could be me.” The escapism of the movies uses these characters to embody what and who we want to be.

The character arc is one of the most important aspects of a movie. When we watch a movie we don’t just want to watch James Bond in one big action sequence. We need to see the character grow to be able to face some seem-

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ingly impossible task. While Han Solo is the cool rebellious kind when we first meet him, he eventually grows to see the greater good and decides to be a part of something.

While their perception is important, the characters also need to be the ones to keep the story moving. If they have no direct impact on the events of the movie, they become redundant. The journey of a character should have some climax where everything they’ve learned in the movie comes to them making a decision that they probably wouldn’t have made before.

Arguably, however, the most important part of a character is how engaging they are. This is where Forrest Gump slots nicely into the analogy. How seemingly oblivious he is throughout the movie captures the viewer throughout. The likeability of him as a character comes from some kind place in his heart, where you’re happy

The character arc is one of the most important aspects of a movie. When we watch a movie we don’t just want to watch James Bond in one big action sequence.

We need to see the character grow to be able to face some seemingly impossible task

to see his success and sad to see him in bad situations.

Finding what makes a character engaging is one of the trickiest things to do. So much of the time, their ability to be the protagonist seem intangable and it simply comes down to why they’re likeable in the first place but a character needs to feel in some way logical. This shows in films most hated character Jar Jar Binks. The character was completely exaggerated and clownish and is a lesson in everything a character shouldn’t be.

There’s no positive way to engage with a character who’s over the top and has no logic.

If you do decide to make a movie and want an iconic character though, a good rule seems to be to give the role to Harrison Ford. He seems to know how to play them.

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Film & TV

‘Us’ highlights the continuing power of Peele Orla Dwyer reviews Jordan Peele’s latest film, ‘Us’

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Us’ is a powerful horror that verges from chilling to enjoyable. It is an excellent second film for Jordan Peele to follow from the success of his Academy Award-winning debut ‘Get Out’.

The movie is about a family holiday to Santa Cruz gone terribly wrong after the family’s doppelgangers arrive one night to wreak terror. The film never lingers at any point for too long but still leaves enough time to fill in the background pieces and explain the situation before everything goes crazy.

The film gradually gets more and more chilling but the moments of humour dispersed throughout leave breathing room for the captured audience. The first hour in particular keeps the audience dangling off the edge of their seats.

There will be natural comparisons made to ‘Get Out’.

Although ‘Get Out’ is ultimately the superior film, ‘Us’ is still not to be dismissed.

Peele’s first film was smarter and more shocking but ‘Us’ has more character.

Each person’s backstory is explored to a certain level and everyone has their own unique quirks.

‘Get Out’ was a sharp critique on racism and ‘Us’ just doesn’t have this same bite. It is a social class commentary, but it doesn’t have the same acrid taste ‘Get Out’ managed to leave behind.

Guesses can be made for where the plot is going but it is often difficult to tell throughout what will happen next. The symbolism’s of scissors and a human chain spreading across the nation is executed very thoughtfully and with pointed precision from beginning to end.

Adelaide (Lupita Nyong’o) and her son Jason (Evan Alex) are the stars, in both regular and doppelganger form. Complications and intuitions lay beneath both of their masks.

It is fantastic to see Adelaide taking control, saving her family and knowing when a situation isn’t quite right.

This intuition for the peculiar is sorely missing from most horror movies. There are rarely moments that make the audience scream: “What did you do that for?”.

However, the ending and concept does leave a lot of questions unanswered. Although many loose ends are tied, some remain and the entire central idea could have been explained better throughout.

The plot makes less sense the longer you dwell on it, but a fantastic film lies beneath some confusion and plot holes. ‘Us’ is well worth seeing for an enjoyable and terrifying experience.

It is a unique and excellent piece of work to continue Peele’s reign at the top of the horror game over the past few years. He will no doubt continue to dominate the genre for years to come with whatever he has to offer next.

‘Us’ currently stands at number one in the Irish box office and grossed €264,904 in its opening weekend. The power of Peele is truly evident.

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Peele’s first film was smarter and more shocking but ‘Us’ has more character. Each person’s backstory is explored to a certain level and everyone has their own unique quirks

Ricky Gervais comes to terms with the afterlife Sarah Barrett discusses Ricky Gervais’ latest comedy

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icky Gervais is known for his stand up comedy, creating The Office and his cringey hosting performances he is centre stage in his recent Netflix project dark comedy Afterlife, which is written and directed by him.

It premiered on Netflix March 8th. Over six episodes we watch Ricky in character as a local journalist, Tony, who isn’t far off Ricky’s public persona. Tony works in the local newspaper ‘The Tambury Gazette’ as head of feature stories and is grieving the loss of his wife, Lisa,to breast cancer.

During the first three episodes Tony tries to come to terms with the loss of Lisa and spirals into depression, he is hardened by the grief he is experiencing and we watch him go about his everyday life in the aftermath of his loss.

At the beginning, the series establishes itself as a heart rendering comedy. In episode one, Tony watches a video recorded by Lisa in the case of her untimely passing. During his darkest times, it is this video Tony continues to watch to seek comfort during his grieving for a detailed set of instructions on how to function without Lisa.

Part of the characters disposition is telling people what he thinks of them regardless of how they react. He tells his brother in law who is also head of the paper, that he doesn’t see a point in going on without his wife, that feeding their dog is the only thing he has going.

In one episode, we are met with a scene

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where Tony is walking home from the supermarket clutching dog food in his hand as he is

greeted by two lads who are asking him boldly for money.

He gives them an ultimatum with two outcomes, the first they can rob him and the second that them killing him would be release. He hits one of the boys in the head with the dog food and struts on down the street.

The series highlights bereavement and depression but does have funny moments. Tony attends a psychiatrist who can’t seem to help him and calls him crazy.

Tony often teases his friend Lenny who allows Tony to speak to him whatever way he wants, because he knows the humour is one of Tony’s coping mechanisms.

Tony’s dog is called “Brandy”, a nod to his love of booze. A touching moment in the series is when Tony and Lenny visit one of their readers homes to cover a story.

The story is about a man who has received the same post card five times.

Tony is covering the story for the laughs but changes his expression when he learns the old man is a widower too.

We see the character in a different light and a turning moment throughout the series. The character sinks in and out as he rides the waves of grief while keeping up appearances in his normal daily life.

The series viewers reaction may vary from viewer to viewer as it does highlight many issues.

Overall it is binge worthy and watchable but is sure to create a mixed reaction. Many Gervais fans have been waiting for this one.

Television

Hug me brotha! Drake and Josh are back

Gillian Hogan looks into the success of television reboots and revivals

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t is no secret that originality in the entertainment industry is hard to come by these days.

Every movie Disney has released in the last two years has been a remake or sequel and other studios aren’t far behind.

The number of artists suing for copyright has surged and while there has been an increase in the creation of musicals, most are based on movies.

Television shows are no different and it has gotten to a point where getting cancelled no longer means the show has seen its end. The newest show to get this treatment is ‘Drake and Josh’.

Most shows that get issued a reboot or revival have been off air for

a couple of decades but it has been ten years (and a bit) since Drake Bell and Josh Peck graced the screens of Nickelodeon on their self-titled children’s sitcom.

The show ran from 2004-2007 and also released a TV film at the end of 2008. Even though it only ran for three years, thanks to reruns the memory of the show isn’t very distant in original fans of the show’s minds.

‘PEOPLE.com’, who originally reported the reboot, said that a source revealed the show would be ‘more adult’ whilst Drake Bell told the publication it would be “way cooler than just,you know, the college years or something like that”.

Most original viewers would now fall in the age range of 17-25 whilst Drake and Josh are both 32 years of age. Finding the right mix in a revival such as this one will be difficult as, if it is targeting the original audience, Nickelodeon will no longer be a suitable platform.

Humour matures with age so what these young adults found funny as children may not be funny now. On the other hand, if they change too many aspects of the show to make it more suitable for adults, the original dynamic that people fell in love with is at risk.

Bringing a show

back from the dead can be risky business as it is hard to tell how audiences will react.

‘Queer Eye’ is such a successful reboot that it is hard for many to believe that there was once a completely different fab five. ‘One Day at a Time’ is so loved that fans have been petitioning to stop Netflix from cancelling it.

It is important to note that reboots and revivals are two very different things as a revival keeps the original characters and a reboot completely remixes the show.

Reboots, such as the previously mentioned shows, offer audiences enough of a nostalgia factor whilst also providing enough originality for it to be appreciated and not be compared to the older version.

‘Drake and Josh’ falls into the revival category as the main characters are back. Revivals are often more highly anticipated than reboots but history has proven that they do not always live up to the hype.

‘Fuller House’ received lots of media coverage in the run up to its pilot but was later labelled predictable and unoriginal by critics.Rather than taking the good bits of ‘Full House’ and adapting them to today’s audience, the creators kept everything the exact same to the point where not even the furniture changed.

Regardless of what the overall consensus of ‘Drake and Josh’ is once the show has aired, people will tune in as curiosity gets the better of them.

Nostalgia is a powerful thing and it will hook people for at least a couple of episodes before a firm opinion is formed.

Self-love isn’t necessarily selfish

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Alison Clair delves into the world of self-improvement

elf-improvement shows are no new phenomenon. Shows like Extreme Makeover: Home Edition and 60 second makeover and so on were shows that played on a loop on our Sky boxes.

Generally the premise of these shows is to take a person, who is either down in the dumps or is lacking in self-love and teach them how to care for themselves, or alternatively, manage their house and appearance so that they can feel as though their life is functioning properly.

These shows offer advice and tips on how to get your life in order, whether it be your house or your general hygiene and style.

People have always had a fascination with these shows because watching someone either grow in confidence, or be able to see the floor of their bedroom again feels satisfactory to us.

It’s comparable to the feeling when you clean your whole house and you stand back at the end of the day and admire your work.

However, this begs the question, do us viewers really follow the advice being given out on these reality TV shows in their own lives?

The old versions of these shows were, on one hand, very shallow and all about the looks, and on the other about giving you the biggest and most outrageously kitted-out house you could imagine. However in recent years the makers of these TV shows have

refined their ideas and combined them, to give them a more well-rounded concept.

We all know who the ‘Fab Five’ are, and if you don’t you should. Queer Eye is a show that actually began in 2003 with a completely different cast but was revamped in 2018

by Netflix. This new revived Queer Eye has swept the world with its rays of sunshine and messages of self-love.

“

Thank you Jonanthan Van Ness and your beautiful moustache.

Another example of a show that aims to provide stability in peoples’ lives is Tidying up with Marie Kondo. This show is one where Marie, the Japanese ‘organising consultant’ arrives to your house in a whirlwind of vacuum packs bin bags and helps you tidy and organise your house.

Both of these shows actually offer manageable tips and tricks for their viewers that they can put into practice in their own lives. Things like simple hygiene and style tips, the practice storing things vertically instead of piling things up and of course the iconic “Spray, delay, walk away”.

Yes these tips are helpful, and in an ideal world we would all follow them religiously. However, it’s important to remember when watching these shows that just because your house doesn’t look like it came out of an IKEA flat pack, and you don’t have a brand new bedroom with snazzy art hanging on the walls doesn’t mean your life is in disarray.

On one hand these shows give us tips and show us how to care for ourselves, which promotes a really good message that self-love isn’t selfish but on the other hand it’s important to remember that your house and appearance doesn’t have to be ‘perfect’ all the time, because in reality no one is perfect.

These shows offer advice and tips on how to get your life in order, whether it be your house or your general hygiene and style. People have always had a fascination with these shows because watching someone either grow in confidence, or be able to see the floor of their bedroom again feels satisfactory to us

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Books & Theatre

Sally Rooney’s Conversations With Friends exposes the Dublin upper class Aine O’Boyle reviews Sally Rooney’s first novel

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etflix’ Sex Education is embarrassingly truthful in its representation of human beings as sexual creatures.

This series documents the desire of young people to know everything about sex, what is normal, how it works and how to get it and this is the fundamental drive of the show.

Created by Laurie Nunn with the first half of the season directed by Ben Taylor and the second half directed by Kate Herron, the show is sweet and dramatic.

The main character Otis, played by Asa Butterfield, is a 16 year old school student living with his mother Jean, played by Gillian Anderson who is a sex therapist which of course makes for a complicated yet interesting relationship.

Jean, whether she notices it or not, loves to use very embarrassing techniques to describe aspects of sex that Otis can’t bear to hear.

This is then emphasised with the tasteful artwork featured around the house of which demonstrates the love she has for her career and profession.

His enterprising friend Maeve, played by Emma Mackey, notices that he has developed the skills of his mother and encourages him to start a “sex clinic” where she finds the clients and receives half the cut.

What kickstarted Otis career is one student, Adam, whose official notes would basically read “large penis, can’t ejaculate.” This problem is solved through Otis’ skills developed unknowingly from his mother.

The electric cast is what makes the show as the preconceptions of each character are very different to what they turn out to be.

For example, Maeve is expected to be a tough girl who can’t feel emotion but we find out that she is living

alone in a small mobile home and writing other students’ homework to pay the rent.

We find out that Otis’ mother, Jean, has issues with serious relationships and only has occasional sex with no strings attached.

Otis’ gay friend, Eric, played by Ncuti Gatwa, is fighting a battle with his identity, despite his eccentric personality.

Each character has their own background story and the preconceptions that this series will be a cheesy show about teenagers who are wild and unruly are fortunately untrue.

While the series features a fair amount of jocks and princesses, the characters developed into really likeable people and along with many scenes of English forests and greenery, the world within ‘Sex Education’ is one where many would aspire to live.

The actress, Gillian Anderson’s resume is packed with very serious dramas beyond ‘X Files’ with shows such as ‘The Fall’ and ‘Hannibal,’ so Anderson is really branching out with ‘Sex Education’.

This is the first adult or young adult role for Butterfield which may have altered some peoples performance.

However he is confident in his role as the main character and has transitioned well from a child actor to a young adult actor.

The message that ‘Sex Education’ is trying to get out to viewers is that not every 16 year old is ready for sex and not everyone is actually doing it. Without giving any spoilers, the very last show also gives viewers the hint at a season two.

We can’t hear the people sing

Aoibhín Bryant discusses the barriers that prevent marginalised actors from entering the mainstream

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any believe that the greatest art is borne from the greatest tragedy. Intense suffering can lead to the most beautiful of art in all its forms. Vincent Van Gogh used his paintings to express emotions stemming from his mental illness. Sylvia Plath proves popular amongst students, perhaps because she pinpoints the misery many teenagers can find relatable. The Magdeline Sisters film based off the Laundries of the same name was met with critical acclaim.

Except the arts have gotten increasingly more exclusionary in the coming years - especially to the working class. With theatre shows like Les Miserables and RENT, depicting the lives of the downtrodden fighting against “the system”, what happens when the actual disadvantaged are shut out from the arts?

The Irish actor, John Connors, comes from an Irish traveller background and believes that the film and theatre industry is stacked against working class actors. John Connors starred in RTÉ’s successful Love/Hate, which portrayed gang warfare in inner city Dublin.

“The people on the Irish film boards and our country’s most famous actors come from the same elite background.

Usually a lot of them were in schools like Belvedere together, they were within the same circles and one or two postcodes away from each other” Connors said. “If you’re coming from the outside in this industry, you’re met with lots of rejection”.

“They’re only willing to have working class and traveller actors in certain types of roles, you get type casted

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from the get go” he continued.

In December 2015, Screen Ireland announced a “Six Point Gender Plan” to tackle the under representation of women in Irish film. Connors however believes that this hasn’t addressed the actual problems that lie within the film industry. Although there are more roles for female actors, they are still reserved for actresses from upper class backgrounds.

“Where are the working class women and women from different ethnicities in the performing arts?” he said.

This problem does not solely exist on this island. Many of the UK’s most prestigious actors at the moment are from privately e d u c a t e d b a c k g r o u n d s .

Popular actors like Eddie Redmayne, H u g h Laurie and To m

Hiddleston all attended Eton College which costs an average of £26,700 a year. Benedict Cumberbatch attended the elite Harrow college and Game of Thrones’ Emilia Clarke is a past pupil of St. Edward’s. Legendary Julie

Walters told the Guardian, “People like me wouldn’t have been able to go to college today. I could because I got a full grant. I don’t know how you get into it now. Kids write to me all the time and I think: I don’t know what to tell you”.

Without a doubt, acting as a profession is not a stable vocation. It can take years, even decades, for actors to have their big break. The financial insecurity can be off putting, especially for people from disadvantaged backgrounds that need a steady influx of money to survive.

However, as working class actors are continuously shut out from the industry, blue collar lives are still portrayed on screen and on stage, written and performed by people who have never had these experiences. This leads to romanticising of proletariat lives w i t h o u t actually hearing their voices. Actors can do their best Cockney or Crumlin accent but it can’t mask the privilege that helped them achieve these roles. it In the words of Britpop 90’s band, Pulp, “Sing along with the common people / Sing along and it might just get you through. /Laugh along with the common people, / Laugh along even though they’re laughing at you,/ And the stupid things that you do./ Because you think that poor is cool”.

Health

Head stuff

Aoife Horan discusses where and how to get help if your struggling with mental health

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ith the speed and time consumption of student life for many, there are very little opportunities for students to check in on the state of their mental health and where they’re at with their well being before it’s too late.

It is the common culture to ignore any issues in order to plough through and get finished with your degree due to the pressure of parents, family, and societal expectations, meaning these things are pushed aside until they hit a melting point.

If at any stage you get to the point where you’re asking yourself whether or not you should reach out for extra support in times of high stress, periods of sadness, depression, anxieties, and so forth the answer is most definitely yes. If you’ve gotten to the point of considering help then it is time to put your own preconceptions of how you will be viewed aside and seek the help you deserve. Mental illness is like any other sickness, it warrants treatment and will not go away if ignored, you wouldn’t ignore a broken leg and you wouldn’t dismiss an individual with a broken leg for seeking treatment either.

But now there is a question now of whether or not the help that people across Ireland are seeking is there in its most useful and successful forms. With RTÉ investigates showing in March an 18% increase in the prescription of Antidepressants across Ireland between 2012 and 2016, a shortage of counsellors within the HSE being a continual topic within the news and the Dáil, as well as the newest research showing that two in five people within the HSE’s Mental Health Services are reporting ‘poor experiences’.

‘It took over 2 years for me to come off of a waiting list and be treated and throughout my time there I felt I wasn’t being listened to ” said Áine, a 21-year-old DCU graduate,

who spent 2 years in state-run mental health services.

“I was continuously being prescribed antidepressants while being told that I did not have clinical depression and eventually stopped attending appointments when my counselling sessions finished.”

The one thing that isn’t bad news here is that while the HSE may cause difficulties for some, as they are overstretched and underfunded, they are not the only option for a person without the means to afford private psychotherapy. Ireland has a plethora of different charities across the country who offer counselling services to help people manage with and deal with mental health difficulties, Pieta House, Shine, SoSad and Jigsaw are just some of the charities that you can get in contact with if

yourself or a loved one is struggling who are there to offer support.

Furthermore, as students of DCU, there is the great

“

It took over 2 years for me to come off of a waiting list and be treated and throughout my time there I felt I wasn’t being listened to fortune of having access to DCU’s counselling service.

Seeking help really is for most student’s, only a walk away with the Student Advice Centre sitting right in front of the canteen. You can walk in at any time during their open hours be you in crisis or not and you can wait to be seen and talked to about how best to meet your needs, particularly on mental health matters. DCU is also currently in the pilot stages of 24/7 available counselling so it is now quicker than ever for students to seek help that they need.

A sentiment that is echoed by mental health campaigners across the country is that it is “Okay not to be okay.” This phrase is predominantly redundant. It is not okay to not be okay, the very factor of not being okay makes it not okay, campaigners should be focusing now less on acceptance of mental health difficulties and instead shift more towards treatment, there needs to be pressure on policymakers to ensure that the shortcomings that have been seen over the past few months are not left to worsen.

Get your gonorrhoea gone-horroea

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Clara Caslin talks STI’s and sexual health.

onorrhoea and genital herpes are the most common STIs in Ireland. With symptoms so hard to detect, the importance of being checked regualrly should be emphasised.

According to the latest Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) surveillance report by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HSPC), there was an 11% increase in cases in 2017. Overall, there were 13,629 people diagnosed with an STI in Ireland in 2017. This was a 5% increase in STIs in Ireland compared to 2016.

In 2017, there were 5,200 15-24 year olds diagnosed with chlamydia, gonorrhoea or herpes. The majority of people know the names of STIs but have no idea what they actually are. Some STIs can cause serious health problems if left untreated. This guide gives the ins and outs of the three most common STIs in Ireland, chlamydia, gonorrhoea and herpes.

Chlamydia is the most common STI in young people, making up 50% of all STI cases reported by the HSPC in 2017 (62% female and 38% male). According to sexualwellbeing.ie, most people with chlamydia don’t experience any symptoms and if they do occur, they are more likely to develop between one and 28 days after sexual contact with someone who has the infection.

There are no symptoms in half of the men who get infected. The symptoms include discharge from the tip of the penis, pain or discomfort while peeing, bowel symptoms such as diarrhoea, pain, mucus discharge or bleeding from the back passage and pain and swelling in one or both testicles.

In women, there are no symptoms in 7 out of 10 women with the infection but some that can occur are bleeding after sex, bleeding between periods, change in your normal vaginal discharge, pain in your abdomen and pain when peeing. Chlamydia infections are easily treated with

antibiotics.

Gonorrhoea is the second most common STI in Ireland and is a curable bacterial infection which can infect the cervix (neck of the womb), the uterus (womb), urethra (the tube through which you pass urine, fallopian tubes, ovaries, testicles, rectum, pharynx (throat) and sometimes the eyes.

Men can have symptoms such as discharge from the penis or burning pain when peeing. One in 10 men will not have any symptoms. Seven out of 10 women have no symptoms. Gonorrhoea can be treated with antibiotics.

Genital herpes is a viral infection caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). There are two HSV types – type one and type two. The two viruses are similar and both can cause ulcers and blisters. Genital herpes is common in Ireland and is mostly diagnosed in young women 81% were female in 2017.

Most people with the herpes virus don’t experience any symptoms when they are first infected and don’t even know that they have it. If you do get symptoms, the first outbreak will usually be the most severe. It takes between two and 12 days after contact with the virus for the first symptoms of genital herpes to appear.

These can be red bumps or multiple spots around the genital area and can be very painful. The swellings can break open and form sores or ulcers. You may also have swollen glands in your groin, flu-like symptoms and a feeling of being unwell. You can also feel pain when passing urine.

The virus can remain dormant in the nerve cells in the affected area of your body after the initial infection. The dormant virus can reactivate and

cause you to have recurrences. If genital herpes comes back, you will usually just suffer minor symptoms and these will heal up quickly even without treatment.

“There have been several awareness campaigns in DCU since September. Hopefully, the message got through regarding the importance of using condoms at all times. We provide condoms and students can help themselves when supplies are available”, said Head of the Student Health Centre, J e s s i e Byrne.

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Beauty

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Bodies too, are subject to trends Ciara O’Loughlin discovers what our culture defines as beautiful

here isn’t a universal standard of what is considered “beautiful” but facial-features and body-types are much like fashion and follow trends. One Instagram account will flaunt girls with curves and big bums, while another being slimmer with fewer muscles is what’s spread on their feed.

The issue with our physical appearance being subject to ‘trends’ is that trends change. Growing up we all heard “does my bum look big in this?”, in Mean Girls Regina George was ridiculed when she put on weight on her backside, but now, because of the Kardashians, big bums are all the rage, and for many women, this is not an attainable look.

It is no doubt that social media, in particular, Instagram, has created many of these trends. In a poll on Instagram stories, out of 73 Irish men and women, 79% said that current body ‘trends’ make them feel bad about their body and 47% said that they actively try to change their body to match current trends. 77% said if they weren’t on social media they would be less self-conscious about their body and only 17% said that social media gives them more confidence in relation to their self-image.

Niamh Dunne, a thirdyear-student in DCU, is one of the 17% that said social media gives her more confidence, due to the type of accounts that she follows.

“I follow a lot of body positive influencers who normalize all different body types so that gives me more confidence than just looking at a magazine, which primarily has one particular body type. People like Ashley Graham or Jameela Jamils ‘iweigh’ account is all about body positivity and diversity” she said.

Jameela Jamil is a British actress and model who is also a huge activist for promoting diversity. Her father is Indian and her mother is Pakistani. She has openly spoken out about how she grew up in a world where, the way she looked was not portrayed in the media, so, she didn’t believe she is what society considered “beautiful”. She has also spoken a lot about her eating disorder she had as a teenager, where she ate very little in order to look like the girls she saw in magazines.

Her Instagram account called ‘iweigh’ is what she describes as “a movement for us to feel valuable and see how amazing we are beyond the flesh on our bones”. On this account, she shares the stories of people from all different walks of life. She also has a YouTube channel under the same name. It was in an interview with Jameela on this channel where singer Sam Smith first publically spoke about being non-binary.

In an opinion piece for the Guardian, Charlie Brinkhurst-Cuff said that she has become more accepting of her own body shape because it has become societally desirable.

“In the past eight years, between the ages of 15 and 23, I’ve gone from painstakingly attempting to hide my large bum in oversized skater skirts to proudly celebrating a good big booty twerk” she added.

Many women feel empowered with the new trend that big bums and curves are in, however, women come in all shapes and sizes. So, advertising one body type as what is ‘in’ and beautiful will no doubt leave out a large portion of women.

“I can’t help wondering how skinny, flat-chested women, all the rage during the “heroin chic” era of the 90s, are feeling now. Are they more dissatisfied with their bodies since they moved

“

77% said if they weren’t on social media they would be less self-conscious about their body and only 17% said that social media gives them more confidence in relation to their self-image

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away from being ‘ideal’” said Brinkhurst-Cuff.

“You want a body type that other people think is nice too, I was bigger as a teenager when the skinny look was in and was always trying to lose weight. Now that I have a smaller frame, muscles and bums are what people think to look good, so I put effort into trying to get that kind of body now” said 23-year-old student Emer McGettrick, when asked if current trends define her

ideal body.

Social media has brought with it the power to showcase a mountain of diversity, and it has. There are some wonderful accounts on Instagram, like Jameela Jamils, which promotes diversity and body-confidence.

However, perhaps it is human nature to follow the accounts of the rich and beautiful and lust after what they have. Perhaps, it is human nature to compare ourselves to unrealistic standards set by society. Perhaps, it is human nature to strive for something that is so unattainable, so that the journey never ends.

However, it is so important to remember that beauty can be so many different things, and shouldn’t be put under an umbrella of a small number of things.

Beauty

Time-out for animal testing in China Sonja Tutty talks about the estimated 500,000 animals that are being tested on worldwide, with a majority being in China.

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hina has announced this month that postmarket animal testing is no longer a requirement on certain domestic or imported cosmetic products.

The widely criticised animal testing for cosmetic products produced and sold in China will no longer be required after June 30, said Chinese agency Gansu Province National Medical Products Association.

Cruelty-Free International Chief Executive Michele Thew said, “This assurance by the Chinese authorities that post-market animal testing is now not normal practice is an enormous step in the right direction.”

Ordinary products such as makeup, fragrances, hair, skin and nail care produced only for foreign export and ordinary products bought in China via a foreign e-commerce website have never required animal testing.

Animal testing in China was required for foreign

and domestic ordinary products and was also required for special use products such as hair dye, deodorants, sunscreen etc.

With the new changes, domestically produced ordinary cosmetics will be exempt from mandatory animal testing, while foreign imported ordinary cosmetics and any special use cosmetics will still require testing.

Sometimes this post-market animal testing is done without the companies knowledge, according to Ethicalelephant.

Similarly, pre-market animal testing requirements are yet to be clarified for imported cosmetics, which would commonly be done by the company.

So, while animal testing is no longer as enforced by authorities, it is not entirely banned in China. Products then that claim to be cruelty-free and sold to China can still end up being tested on animals without the consumer or even company knowing.

In order for a company to be truly cruelty-free, they could be vigorous in assuring their products are not tested in China without their consent, but this option will always leave room for uncertainty.

This means that if a product or company want to be honestly cruelty-free they would have to remove themselves from the Chinese market place. BUT, China is currently the largest international cosmetic market, making up nearly 20% of the global market.

So, companies such as MAC, Nars, L’Oreal, Victoria Secret and many others will have to give up a very profitable marketplace, but would still be able to sell goods into China via foreign e-commerce websites.

Beauty Blogger Cruelty-Free Kitty pointed out that “L’Oréal is infamous for being misleading around their CF status. The brand claims that they do not test their products on animals anywhere around the world and nor do they ‘delegate this task to others.’”

However, L’Oreal’s policy states that, “An exception could be made if authorities required it for human safety

or regulatory purposes.”

Following news that China would no longer require post-market testing, L’Oreal Men Experttweeted, “In China, L’Oreal is the most active company working with the authorities towards a total elimination of animal testing.”

They added that “The vast majority” of products they sell in China are not tested in China.

L’Oreal and other brands then label themselves as cruelty-free while third-party individuals may be testing their products on animals.

While this change is a step in the right direction, Michelle Thew added, “We hope that this will pave the way to actual legislative change that will benefit cruelty-free companies and the Chinese consumer as well as many thousands of animals.”

HSI estimated that as many as 500,000 animals are being tested on worldwide, with a likely majority be in China.

The HIS aims to ban animal testing for cosmetics worldwide.

Conforming to contouring?

Lorna Lawless discusses the ‘ideal’ beauty routine for a millenial.

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onformity is something everyone faces every single day. The pressure to change the way you look to come across a certain way, to give a ‘good’ first impression or to seem ‘normal’ to society.

We all know the ‘look’: perfectly glowing skin, a dash of highlighter, rosy pink cheeks, perfectly defined brows and a killer matte lipstick, the makeup look constantly painted all over our social feeds. The dubbed “Instagram face” seems to be the look to achieve to meet societies expectations. The unhealthy reality of people’s stance on beauty ideals, has all stemmed from advertisements from makeup brands encouraging us ‘cover-up” our imperfections.

Makeup brands have moved away from overtly promoting unrealistic beauty standards to now urging customers to buy their products as a way of selfexpression. Yes, makeup can definitely be used in a selfexpressive manner to create art and colour however, it can also emphasise the need to meet this beauty ideal of how a certain person should look. If makeup was acceptable as a type of self-expression why do so many feel the need to cover up scarring and acne for work or for college?

Potentially it can make a person feel more confident, but it can also help hide their imperfections from the judgement from peers. Is this a healthy way to deal with self-esteem issues?

Makeup is seen as a necessary step in a women’s routine where we all follow the same procedure: primer,

foundation, and so to

concealer, powder on. If we were g o

‘bare’ faced would it be frowned upon in your workplace?

Instead, we opt for a ‘fresh-faced’ looked achieved with using multiple ‘light’ makeup products to achieve that ‘glow’.

It’s time to start asking who is setting the agenda for what’s acceptable? Who is setting the definition of beauty for ‘Generation Z’. It points to the Youtubers, the Instagrammers who have a sense of ownership of what beauty looks like now. The paid partnerships with beauty brands let them dictate what we need to ‘cover-up’ or ‘emphasis’ when it comes to makeup and our beauty regime.

The question is now, what is the next Instagram phase look like? Will beauty brands jump on the ‘bare-all’ mentality and promote skincare over makeup. Audiences are getting fed up of photoshopped images and exclusivity and are craving for a sense of acceptance. Tatler’s recent cover with Roz Purcell displayed a ‘bare-faced’ Roz who embraced her natural skin instead of covering her blemishes. This is the type of directions influencers, brands and YouTubers.

The makeup industry profits off women’s insecurities and promotes “covering-up” scarring to fit in. What if the social norm became the ‘bare’ face? We would save on plastics, and it would prevent us from putting chemicals onto our face on the daily, a win-win really.

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Food

Grub Guide: Meltdown

Stuck in town with an insatiable hunger for toasties? Mikey Walsh has found exactly what you’re looking for

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heese, cheese, cheese and more cheese.

The glorious substance that can transform and dish, snack or sandwich to something spectacular.

It gets a lot of good press from hungry writers the world over but even still, it definitely deserves more recognition.

Meltdown in Templebar has taken it upon themselves to showcase the wonder of the nutritious dairy product. They have shown true beauty and endless possibilities that can come from a bit of cheese and bread.

Located just outside the Button Factory, this hole in the wall sandwich bar makes delicious toasties far outside the realm of anything made at home.

Meltdown has taken the humble grilled cheese sambo and turned the norm of standard ingredients completely on its head, sending shockwaves through the Dublin foodie community.

Easily recognisable by the festival inspired navy, pink and yellow adorned window with a black and white striped canopy, it’s eye-catching exterior makes it difficult to miss.

There is a staple menu of grilled cheeses supported by specials like the lasagna sandwich, yes you heard that right, a lasagna sandwich called the “Lasagna Impasta”.

It features a sourdough outside filled with lasagna emmental, country relish, chorizo and grated carrot, enough to get the heartbeat elevated a little.

They also offer cheese boards, speciality coffee, salads and ice cream.

The seasonal salads will have the taste buds salivating at the sounds of it featuring mixed leaf lettuce, tomato, avocado, seeds, mango, scallions and beetroot. For those looking for a bit more protein they also have the options

to add char-grilled chicken and feta for a small bit extra.

Imagine having a lovely macaroni and cheese for dinner. Now take that dinner, add bacon, scallions and more cheese. Now take that, put it between two slices a of beautifully buttered fresh bread. Now toast it until the bread is sumptuous shade of golden brown and the cheese is oozing out the side.

That is exactly what Meltdown has done with one of their signature sandwiches, the “Mac Mama”. It is one of many creations, founder Maeve O’Malley, came up with that has put her epic toasties a step above the rest.

For those that like a bit of kick, the Spicy Cajun will get the mouth tingling with heat. Filled with char-grilled chicken, red cheddar, cajun sauce, buttermilk ranch sauce and of course the stable of any spice-lovers cupboard, jalapeños.

Prepare for the meat sweats with the taste sensation known as “The Ribmelt”. A generous helping of bbq pulled

pork squished inside 2 slices of sourdough alongside caramelised onion, red cheddar and macaroni. It’s good….its very very good.

The plant based customer need not worry, there are vegan options and not all the cheese is dairy based.

The Vegan Hun grilled cheese uses dairy biggest rivals, Follow Your Heart shredded mozzarella instead of the regular type alongside basil pesto, red onion, tomatoes and rocket so no one is left out from enjoying the mouth pleasure of the cheese.

Students on a budget can look no further for lunch than stopping by Temple Bar for a quick bite in their on street terrace, offering a student meal deal for €8.50. It includes any toasty with one of their speciality coffee or a can.

Other than the student deal it can be a tad on the pricey side for what is still a sandwich with the majority costing just under €8 for something that doesn’t come with the usual side of crisps although it’s definitely worth trying for anyone feeling a bit peckish in the city centre.

Atmosphere 6/10 Food 9/10 Service 7/10 Location 8/10 Value for money 6/10

Banging on about burritos

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Amy Donohoe discusses the rising popularity of burritos

or years students have been eating foods such as pizza, Chinese or chicken fillet rolls.

However, in recent years the burrito has become more popular.

A burrito is a foil wrapped, handcrafted tortilla wrap filled with rice, beans, seasoned meat or vegetables, cheese, lettuce, salsa, and guacamole. It originated from Mexico in the 20th century and became hugely popular in America in the 1960s and the Mexican inspired dish has spread across the globe since.

Second-year engineering student and regular burrito consumer, Billy Siggins thinks that “the fascination stems from the fact that they are class. Research has shown this.” Siggins explained why he enjoyed Burritos so much, “I like spicy foods, and I appreciate the fact you can pick your spice, and then add more spices for free.” His regular order is a Burrito Bowl which consists of chicken, pinto beans, Mexican rice, chorizo crunch, lettuce and cheese.”

He is also fascinated with Boojums loyalty card scheme, for every ten stamps on the card you’ll get a free meal and when you get 40 stamps, you’ll get a t-shirt. “I have 4 shirts and my current card is halfway there.”

Once it reached the US, the burrito started to cross cultural boundaries. Now there are burritos made with Thai chicken or Chinese pork, there’s also the breakfast burrito, a tortilla stuffed with eggs, potato, and bacon, and even KFC make their own Kentucky fried burritos.

Directly translated from Spanish, burrito means “little donkey”. Some people believe that it could simply be because burritos look a bit like a donkey’s ears or the rolled packs and bedrolls often carried by donkeys.

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The folk history is that of a man named Juan Méndez sold tacos in a street stand and used a donkey to transport his food. Méndez wrapped it in large homemade flour tortillas underneath a small tablecloth to keep the food warm.

But no matter how the food got its name, it certainly became popular quite rapidly since it was first created.

The trend of the cuisine puts a chicken fillet roll from Londis to shame. Dublin is home to over 30 burrito bars and it’s easy to understand the appeal of burritos. They’re quick to make, cheap, convenient, they have a unique flavour compared to other dishes and there are many dietary options (For example, burrito bowls and paleo options) which means they are suitable for many people.

But what are the benefits of burritos? There are healthy

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the fascination stems from the fact that they are class. Research has shown this order options such as black rice and there are salad bowls for those who are weight conscious. The real appeal with this sort of food is there is something for everybody, including the big eaters who want the double guac it extra cheese. Not to mention that they are very filling and you will get your monies worth in a burrito bar.

Pablo Picante, a burrito bar offer a vegan burrito, which contains “citrus-marinated tofu, fresh avocado chunks, paprika lima beans, chickpeas, kidney beans, borlotti beans, rice and salsa in a spinach flour tortilla”.

The reliable filling lunch option is big as in Ireland now, with a burrito shop in pretty much every corner in the country. But what will be the next trend? Korean food is currently sweeping America and it could easily take off in Ireland just like the burritos as we are strongly influenced by the US.

The end of an era Craig Shaaban tells us how to push through the last few weeks Lifestyle

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s semester two accelerates to an end, thousands of students in this college are facing the prospect of finishing their third level education.

It’s a bittersweet time where the scent of a certain perfume can make us feel nostalgic about our first-time surviving Coppers, or the clanking of plates in the canteen reminds us of the day we were confident enough to ask Genevieve the lunch lady for some extra gravy on our stuffing. Reminiscing on our journeys through college will be a daily occurrence in the coming weeks, it is sure to add to what is already an overwhelming time for final year students.

For the majority of us nearly grads, this is the first time in our lives where we may be uncertain about where we will be next year. From the time we were in size two shoes; every year was meticulously mapped out for us.

The progression of our education provided structure and peace of mind. Knowing that after 3^rdclass, we’d be going into 4^th, and after our first year of college, second year would surely follow.

Though it’s a blessing that we have had the opportunity to pursue higher education, its difficult to come to terms with staring into the abyss for the first time. Meeting our own expectations and making our families proud are other things that weigh on our conscience. There’s no doubt that feeling of pressure and worry will present themselves as we’re on the final lap of the circuit, but there are ways to keep the engine running and the wheels turning.

Probably the most cliché thing to do is to practice

of our degree.

mindfulness and meditation. The app, Waking Up: Guided Meditation, by neuroscientist Sam Harris, is a must.

I was always sceptical about exercising my spirituality through a phone app, but Harris has constructed something truly marvellous that is extremely accessible. Diet and exercise are other obvious remedies for all of life’s tribulations, but their importance can not be overlooked.

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There’s no doubt that feeling of pressure and worry will present themselves as we’re on the final lap of the circuit, but there are ways to keep the engine running and the wheels turning.

Keeping a healthy lifestyle can be difficult in times

of stress, particularly when take-aways target us with discounted comfort food, but surely a mighty meaty isn’t the answer.

Go for a run and come home to a fruit smoothie, you’ll feel better 100% of the time. Self-discipline really can go a long way. A quick pick me up involves giving your bedroom a clear out. Put your redundant clothes in a charity bag and dust everything. It’s a good way to spend a study break and the sense of productivity will give you an immediate lift.

If you’re looking for content that goes a little deeper than the advice of a student journalist, look no further than the late David Foster Wallace. He was one of the greatest writers of the 20^thcentury and his 1996 novel, <em>“Infinite Jest”, </em>was listed in Time Magazine’s 100 greatest novels published between 1923 and 2005. He produced a graduation speech at Kenyon college in 2005 titled, “This is Water”. The simple wisdom of these speech is extraordinarily invaluable. His knowledge is simply tremendous and goes beyond what it means to hold a degree in your hand.

“The really important kind of freedom involves attention and awareness and discipline and being able to truly to care about other people and to sacrifice for them over and over in myriad petty, unsexy ways every day.

That is real freedom. That is being educated. And that is understanding how to think”. The video should be prescribed viewing for anyone graduating. Its message is profound, and it will surely put things into perspective for the anxious educated.

The weight of their world on your shoulders

David Kelly tells us how we can support someone close to us when they are going through a hard time.

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alancing the weight of your loved one’s issues is hard, but remembering to keep your own head above water is harder.

Personal illness can be difficult to deal with and especially hard when it’s time to take care of yourself. Sometimes, that load is increased by your responsibility to others. When someone close falls ill, you may be the shoulder that illness falls onto.

The well-being of your family is a burden you must bear. It is no trivial matter to provide support for those closest. Often, people get caught up in making a difference to the world with activism and campaigning.

However, sometimes the hardest task is the one at your doorstep.

One problem that young people can face is the dissolution of their parents’ relationship. When your father walks out on your mother, the weight he had lifted may land onto you. Your mother may struggle with her personal life, her social life, her financial situation, her employment and mental health.

These are five huge areas that need sorting out.

A challenge like this can seem insurmountable to a son, or daughter. With so many threads to mend, where does one start?

Start with yourself. If a parent is struggling, it is not fair that they also struggle with you.

The best thing you can do for a parent, struggling or otherwise, is to

straighten yourself out. If your mother, or father, spends half their time worrying about you, they’re only left with half of their time to look after themselves. If you get yourself on track, you can assist your parents in their own struggles.

Lighten the load of your family members. This can involve simple, thoughtful acts. Visit your lonely grandparents whenever you can. Ask your shy cousin if he’d like to hang out. Take your stressed mother out for afternoon brunch. A small act of kindness can have a disproportionate amount of good within it.

Be a strong member of your family. Endeavour to be the one that is capable of providing support and guidance in times of strife. It will not only strengthen your character but also the bonds which are integral to the family as a whole.

A difficult thing to imagine is the death of a family member. Whether it by your mother, father, grandfather or grandmother, thinking upon that situation can invoke an immense sense of dread and avoidance. Being strong is not necessarily the first thing that springs to mind in this scenario.

Yet this scenario is inevitable.

Death is the great fear that strikes down even the strongest of people.

What is the appropriate response to this eventuality? Strive to keep standing. Ensure that when this tragedy does strike, you’re prepared.

Be in the best shape possible.

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Lighten the load of your family members. This can involve simple, thoughtful acts.

Tragedy needn’t be Hell. An ancient mythic and religious truth is that life is suffering. Family members fall ill.

Your father leaves. Your mother falls depressed. Your uncle is murdered. Your grandfather develops Alzheimer’s.

Tragedy wears many different masks.

The best defence against tragedy is strong individuals. Who do you want to be when things fall apart? The quivering wreck in the corner, or the beacon of light that guides others through the dark? Adversity is the best recipe for growth, be it personal or familial.

There is tremendous humility in helping your family.

Anyone can claim that they want to make the world a better place, but its seldom few who actually set out to support those encompassed in their duty of care. Be strong. Sort yourself out. Then, sort your family out, one step at a time. It’s not easy, but nothing meaningful ever is.

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Travel and music

Wanderlust: Amsterdam

Are you looking to visit the weird and wonderful Dutch capital? Eoin Harte gives you the lowdown on what to see in Amsterdam.

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msterdam is almost a rite of passage for Ireland’s youth at this stage and with so many unusual experiences to be had in the city, it’s easy to see why.

The easiest way to get to the city is by getting the train from Schiphol Airport to the Centraal Station, which will leave you off in the heart of the city centre.

From there most of the city’s many attractions are within walking distance, but if you’re feeling like pampering yourself, there is a tram that goes from the station, that will leave you off at the best spots Amsterdam has to offer.

While you can have a lovely innocent time in the Dutch capital, it would be foolish not to visit the infamous coffee shops and the Red Light District.

The coffee shops have a wide range of ‘Mary Jane’ to choose from, with such strains as Lemon Kush and Purple Haze, some of the stand out names. If you’re not versed quite well enough to know the difference between strains by name, the menu will provide an explanation of what to expect from each type.

If you’re not a big smoker, fear not, as cannabis-infused brownies are readily available in most reputable coffee shops. It is not recommended to eat more than one brownie in the one sitting, and the effects normally take roughly an hour to kick, so don’t fret if you’re sitting there feeling nothing for the first while.

If you’re really not a fan of cannabis, in particular, its

smell, Amsterdam may not be the place for you. As soon as you leave the Centraal Station, it’s likely you’ll be confronted by the scent, which acts as a humorously predictable introduction to a city, so well known for cannabis.

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Sex shows, sex museums and ‘peep shows’ are all worthwhile attractions for visitors who dont want to avail of the ‘full’ experience.

The peep shows are probably the most accessible, as for just €2, you can watch a live sex show for two minutes.

While the Red Light District can be a bit intimidating, it would be a mistake to avoid it. Even without all the great bars in the area, it’s just too fascinatingly weird to miss. Sex workers line the streets and alleyways in lit up glass doors and windows and have frequent visitors.

Sex shows, sex museums and ‘peep shows’ are all worthwhile attractions for visitors who don’t want to avail of the ‘full’ experience. The peep shows are probably the most accessible, as for just €2, you can watch a live sex show for two minutes.

There’s plenty of great museums in Amsterdam outside of the Red Light District too that are more suitable for families. Madame Tussaud’s Wax museum is well worth a visit if you want to try to fool all your friends into thinking, you met some of the world’s biggest stars on your holidays.

Ripley’s Believe It Or Not is also suitable for both kids and adults, and if you have to choose between it and Madame Tussaud’s, Ripley’s museum of wonders is probably the one to go for.

If you’re up for a more sobering museum experience, the Anne Frank museum is a must-see, but remember that tickets can only be bought online and to buy at least a few days in advance.

Amsterdam is a weird and wonderful city that is only a short flight away from us here in Ireland, and while it is fairly expensive, you should find time to visit the city, if only for a weekend getaway.

Finding the right festival

Are you unsure about which of the country’s top festivals you want to attend this year? Alison Clair is here to help you make up your mind

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veryone loves an excuse to dress up in cute clothes and live their best Coachella fantasy as if they’re the next Kendall Jenner. The festival line ups coming to Ireland this summer are making sure to cater to every type of music lovers’ needs.

Kicking off the summer of festivals is Forbidden Fruit.

Dublin city centre’s three day, multi-stage music and arts festival has been running for the last eight years. Held in the grounds of the Royal Hospital, Kilmainham, there are already a variety of genres to pick from. You can expect to see acts ranging from Skepta to Elbow, with even more to be announced. You will also get to see upcoming Irish acts like Kojaque and Ross from Friends, as well as DJ’s such as Jon Hopkins, Peggy Gou, and Mura Masa. This festival is known for its variety and quality of established and up and coming artists.

If you like good music and a feel good, chilled out festival, Sea Sessions is the one for you. Sea Sessions is the surf and music festival held in the beautiful seaside town of Bundoran in Donegal. It is a camping festival where you will be set up within walking distance of the main promenade in Bundoran where the music will take place.

With a mix between pop and more alternative bands, music lovers can expect to see Sigrid, Clean Bandit, and Two Door Cinema Club.

As well as, DJ’s like Jax Jones and Boots and Kats will feature.

On the same week-

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If you like good music and a feel good, chilled out festival, Sea Sessions is the one for you. Sea Sessions is the surf and music festival held in the beautiful seaside town of Bundoran in Donegal.

end, we have another festival, Body and Soul. This will be held in Ballinlough Castle, Westmeath. For all those who like to find new, alternative music, this is the perfect festival for you. This eclectic festival brings you music, art, culture, food, and sustainability and well-being. Body and Soul is a festival where not only can you dance your heart out to some of Ireland biggest up-coming stars like Tebi Rex, but you can experience new forms of visual and interpretative art. Body and Soul also prides itself on having wellness tents where you can book spa treatments and take a few hours to yourself.

Rap and RnB

fans look no further, Longitude is the festival for you this Summer. Count your blessings because Longitude has given us, all you need to have a good time. This three day festival held in Marlay Park in Dublin, is packed out with the best acts the up and coming rap and RnB scene can offer. With quite a male-heavy line up you will see acts like Chance the Rapper, A$AP Rocky and Aminé.

Saying this, the women can definitely hold their own with Cardi B and Anne-Marie being two of the bigger female names in this years’ line-up.

And lastly Electric Picnic. The one we’ve all been waiting for. With it being the sell-out festival last year.

Electric Picnic has made sure to bring it once again. This three-day camping festival is held in Stradbally, in Laois.

Get your flower crowns and fringe coats out because this year has a really boho feel to it. The Strokes, Florence and the Machine, Hozier and The 1975 are headlining this year. You will also be graced with the gorgeous vocals from Billie Eilish, Dermot Kennedy, and Jess Glynne.

The interesting thing about the Irish festivals this year, is that each one of these festivals provides a different scene for people who like different types of music, and want a different experience from it. They really managed to get as much of a variety across the festivals this year. So get your tents, wellies, and glitter ready guys, because it’s going to be a groovy summer.

Influencer Fashion

Fashion

Lorna Lawless talks brands building their business through social media platforms.

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et’s be honest, we are all influenced by what we see. Influencers have become a ‘dirty’ word across social media, but the truth is they have the power to sell fashion to consumers.

The glossy magazine just isn’t making the cut anymore. Fashion had a place of exclusivity where you had to be plugged into fashion week and catwalks to know what to wear for the next season, but times have changed. The magazine editors and designers don’t have the same pull on the industry as they once did.

Now, it’s possible to watch a whole fashion show that used to be only for the fashion elite, through Instagram while just following a hashtag.

Social media makes fashion more fluid and more interactive. Fashion brands have had to change the way they connect with their core audience. This bridging between brands and buyers encourages brands to be more inclusive with their advertising. They now have to involve different bodies, skin tones and different styles to come across as an inclusive brand. Brands are taking advantage of user-generated content which see’s ‘real’ people who have bought the clothes without endorsement showcasing their lines for the season.

Influencer market alone on Instagram is valued at $1 billion or more. When influencers are aligned with the right audience and brand, it can contribute to an incredibly successful digital marketing campaign. According to Forbes “Instagram images posted by influencers and celebrities earn an additional 4% engagement rate and 8% increase”.

If the celebrity or influencer is credible for an audience, then it adds credibility to a brand.

What products are online retailers pushing this summer? What clothes have influencers been wearing that are sponsored by a retailer? It’s not surprising that brands are now focusing on Instagram to reach

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their market. Social media brings brands closer to their customers. Brands can have a direct connection with their key audience almost immediately. Of Instagram’s total audience of approximately 2 million people, each person follows at least one fashion account. You can get whatever you like the very next day who wouldn’t want that? This is why retailers like Boohoo, Pretty Little Thing are growing so fast, but that’s also why Fast fashion is a growing problem in the industry. People aren’t doing enough research into where their products are coming from and aren’t thinking about the sustainability of their fashion.

There’s a strong argument that young people who want to stay on top of the fashion trends, don’t have the disposable income to invest in long-term pieces.

Once they get the picture from the night out, then they will never wear the dress again, so why should they pay more than €20? However, there is the type of consumer who will invest hundreds of euro into a coat that will last them years, making it a sustainable piece. Honestly, that isn’t always where the priorities of the consumer lie. They want the freshest look, for the cheapest in the fastest time.

Fashion brands need to use the two-way dialogue they can achieve on social media to create a conversation that matters, which is sustainable fashion.

If we keep swiping up to buy are the newest look from our favourite influencers who are promoting fast fashion brands, how are we ever going to take a step forward for the environment? Before you swipe up, think about where these clothes are coming from and who is influencing you to buy them.

Now it’s possible to watch a whole fashion show that used to be only for the fashion elite, through Instagram while just following a hashtag.

Tailoring for tattoos

Roisin Maguire tells us why it’s important that the colour and style of your clothes compliments your body art.

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f you decide to commit to tattoos, there are certain things to consider when styling outfits in order to use tattoos as an accessory.

Tattoos are essentially pieces of jewellery that you can’t take off so it’s important that the colour and style of your clothes compliments your body art.

A Fox News poll reported that a bigger percentage of women have tattoos than men so fashion issues regarding tattoos are becoming the norm.

It’s particularly difficult to style colourful tattoos and sleeves as a lot of clothes can clash with these tattoos. A lot of people have a certain theme or style which all their tattoos follow and the same can be done with fashion to work around your tattoos.

If you have a bold and vibrant tattoo, then toning down your outfit works to maintain a balance. The human eye is usually directed to certain parts that attract attention so if you want this to be your tattoo then a busy outfit will take the eye away from your ink.

For nights out, a single neutral colour is easy to pull off with colourful tattoos. Picking single colours compliment tattoos, typically a contrasting colour.

However, it’s important not to limit yourself to one fashion genre, for example, the style of Kat Von D does not need to be every woman’s go-to style.

With black nature style tattoos, styling clothes is a simple task compared to coloured tattoos.

Most clothes suit plain black tattoos, which are becoming increasingly popular. The hippie

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If you get a tattoo with the purpose of being able to show it off easily, then it’s important to think of placement before you get inked.

look is not difficult to achieve with the right autumn colours to maintain a nature theme in clothes and tattoos. Burnt orange, greens, browns and yellows are good for this look.

If you get a tattoo with the purpose of being able to show if off easily, then it’s important to think of placement before you get inked. Ankle tattoos are easy in this sense as these can always be on display with skirts, dresses shorts and by rolling up jeans.

For tattoos on the spine finding the right backless dress is simple and for thigh tattoos, skirts with fishnet tights are a great way of drawing attention to a tattoo.

To make a wrist tattoo visible, wearing a bold watch is a way of making it stand out or use the stacking technique with bracelets. Winter is a tricky time to show off tattoos when it comes to staying warm and trying to not be completely covered up. For shoulder tattoos, an off the shoulder top is perfect.

When it comes to tattoos sometimes opposites work well together however it’s hard to pull this off.

For example styling, fierce tattoos can work well with very girly clothing. Contrasts like this usually only work for blackwork tattoos.

No matter how you style your clothes and tattoos, being able to look good and feel comfortable is easy to achieve with a well thought out wardrobe.

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EXPOSURE

Puppy eyes: Pablo the puppy, with his teal blue eyes loves posing for pictures. Credit: Alison Clair.

Golden hour: The soft pink roses, with the glow of a 7 am sun. Credit RĂłise McGagh.

Sniffer: Marley the spaniels brown eyes and floppy ears compliment the Wicklow sunset perfectly. Credit: Sonja Tutty.

St. Stevens Basilica: The home to the largest church bell in Hungary, which is only used twice a year. Credit: Alison Clair.

Looking over: Taken in Gjogv, Eysturoy, Faroe Islands. Credit: Sonja Tutty.

Red at night: Pink and purple clouds take over the sky. Credit: Rachel Halpin.

Image Credits Page 1: Page 2: RoisinMurphyOSullivan, Electricpicnic.ie Page 3: Megan Hannan, Independent.ie Page 4: Stereo.com, IMbd Page 5: Rachel Halpin, Ironageinfo.com Page 6: ?? , RickyGervias, Twitter Page 7: Beat.com, IMdb Page 8: PenguinRandomHouse, ??? Page 9: Anfocal.ie, Fpv.org Page 10: Picsart.com, jameelajamil.co.uk Page 11: Chris Munns, Flickr, Rachel Halpin Page 12: Image.ie, Groupon.com Page 13: Alison Clair, Helpguide.org Page 14: Eoin Harte, Niamh Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Brien, Cumberlandcouncil, DublinVisitorcentre Page 15: ???? , Alison Clair.