The HYPE Issue 8

Grub Guide: Shouk

Alison Clair gives us the best place in Drumcondra to grab some grub.

Bye Bye, Big Bang

TV’s most-watched sitcom finally ends after 12 unfunny years writes Lucien Waugh Daly

OSCARS 2019

Arts editors Aoibhín Bryant and Aine O’Boyle suss out what the 2019 Academy Awards are all about.

Music and art

Falling in love with the Big Romance

Donal Corrigan checks out the new vinyl cafe on Parnell Street which is breathing life back into the music scene.

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arnell Street has been a safe haven for minorities in Dublin for many years. This street offers these people goods and services that the city centre doesn’t care to provide. For the Vietnamese community they can get fresh nem chua ( pork balls ) from the oriental shops. Or for the Korean community Han Yang BBQ restaurant offers a variety of traditional oriental food.

New to this list of safe havens on Parnell Street is ‘The Big Romance’ vinyl bar. This pub offers music lovers a fresh space to enjoy tunes in a city that is undergoing a venue crisis and pushing music lovers out. It is brought to us from the guys at Hidden Agenda who are used to putting on heavy hitting nights around Dublin. They are now branching off from pounding bass lines to crispy pints.

In the face of clubs and pubs shutting down all around the city, ‘The Big Romance’ is putting life back into Dublin’s music scene with this old school cafe.

As you arrive into the bar off Parnell street you come into a strikingly different scene. The dark interior is dissected by red neon lights that weave around the pub. It could be mistaken for a niche cafe off a side street in Amsterdam. The bar is equipped with 13 taps of beer with nine of them being a selection of craft beers. Along with this selection of

beverages is a new twist on traditional pub grub. There’s traditional toasted sandwiches on offer with kimchi twists.

In addition, they offer more exoctic pub bites that include house hummus and fried valencia almonds.

What sets this place apart though is their phenomenal sound system. ‘The Big Romance’ is a pub that dedicates itself to music while respecting those who want to talk to each other. They achieve this through a custom built Hatchett soundsystem. People who choose to sit in the back can enjoy a fully immersive sound experience. Yet, people who sit in the front can speak to each other with ease as the music levels are in full control of the staff.

The sound-system is designed for internal use so that it can achieve the best of both worlds for music lovers and

chin waggers.

The real charm of this place can be found at the bar.

They continuously have a vinyl playing through the sound-system and put the album cover up on show for the customers.

The pub opened up it’s doors in November 2018 to a sold out launch night as Irish musician David Kitt christened the first night on the decks. ‘The Big Romance’ has seen unprecedented success since. Temporary Christmas staff have been made permanent in response to it’s popularity.

“The January lull came in the shape of one quiet Monday. It’s been busy since “ the bar staff say.

In the short time that it’s been open, ‘The Big Romance’ is making a big splash in the Irish music scene. Heavy hitters such as Brame and Hamo, Nialler 9 and Toby Karr have made already made their debut there.

Moreover, their presence is also being felt in the local area with their social activism. During the nurse’s strike they offered a free coffee or beer to any of the nurses on strike in The Rotunda, located just around the corner from them.

Parnell street was originally part of the old road that connected the city to the northern coasts. The future of this street might well just be to connect Dublin’s music back to a city that’s losing it’s life, if ‘The Big Romance’ is anything to go by.

Wild Lights at Dublin Zoo: An Ocean of Light

Judy Williams reviews the exhibition hosted in Dublin Zoo.

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ild Lights, the award-winning nighttime winter wonderland of light, colour and imagination, was back illuminating Dublin Zoo in the Phoenix Park for the Christmas and New Year period.

The theme for the 2018/2019 exhibition was Ocean of Light and featured large lanterns that had been cleverly themed into a range of aquatic creatures such as hammerhead sharks, crabs, frogs and seahorses. A multitude of colourful jellyfish, each one made up of hundreds of lights, were suspended above the path, creating a magical look.

This was the second year for Wild Lights and three new areas were added to the experience this time. The first section, ‘Celebrating China’ showcased an impressive selection of

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Chinese culture including large lanterns in the shape of Ming vases and crockery. Next were brightly coloured lanterns for each animal of the Chinese Zodiac, with an explanation of the attributes of each sign.

Further along the exhibition, colourful and unusual characters from the Beijing Opera gave a fascinating insight into the world of Chinese theatre. The Terracotta Warriors, each one with different facial features just like the originals, were standing to attention in front of a Chinese temple. These lifesize lanterns, together with their horses and a chariot, created an impressive display.

This section was complemented by craft stalls featuring Chinese artists and craftspeople, and short displays of traditional performers and acro-

The theme for the 2018/2019 exhibition was Ocean of Light and featured large lanterns that had been cleverly themed into a range of aquatic creatures such as hammerhead sharks, crabs, frogs and seahorses. A multitude of colourful jellyfish, each one made up of hundreds of lights, were suspended above the path, creating a magical look.

bats.

After leaving the China section, we arrived at the North Pole. This area included Christmas favourites such Santa Claus, the North Pole Post Office, Rudolph and his team of reindeer pulling an exquisite red sleigh, and a magnificent 16-metre-high silk Christmas tree, all beautifully lighting the evening sky.

Walking through the magical tunnels of lights and lanterns which linked each section we then arrived at the Winter Wonderland. There were numerous Arctic animals and birds featured in this section, such as polar bears and cute Emperor penguins, snow leopards, seals and gorgeous snowy owls perched on ice blocks.

The dramatic backdrop of Dublin Zoo gave glimpses of the real animals behind the displays. We saw monkeys asleep in the trees and caught sight of bright pink flamingos through the darkness. The sounds of the zoo were enhanced by the stillness of the night and the magical atmosphere created by the lanterns.

The Wild Lights experience appealed to young and old, and despite being busy, it never felt crowded. Food and drinks were available at various outlets, but there was a disappointing lack of Asian food to match this year’s theme. This reviewer was lucky that it was a crisp, dry evening, so it was well suited for sitting out under the stars enjoying the food and the ambience, as unfortunately there weren’t many covered eating areas provided.

The research into the different themes for the Wild Lights experience was obvious from the intricate detail of each piece. The design and imagery were a sight to behold and will stay in the memory for a long time.

Music

The resurrection of Sixto Rodriguez Craig Shaaban reflects on the music and life of the Michigan born musician

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e live in a society that is surrounded by music. Like it or not, at some point today, I can almost guarantee you will encounter a song. Whether it’s serendipitous, or from your own actions, music will somehow find its way to you.

You may hear one while taking a short cut in town walking through a department store, you could be sitting at your barber shop, or maybe it could come from the girl with purple hair in front of you on the bus with her headphones on full blast.

The ease of access to music has never been greater.

It’s difficult to remember a time when you’d have to ask your cool older cousin to burn the latest Eminem album onto a CD for you to play on your industrial sized Sony Walkman.

We know more about our favourite artists now than ever before. Sites such as Genius deconstruct song lyrics and give us a better understanding about the lyrical meaning.

As a society we are spoilt for musical content. There was a time where music had to be smuggled into countries under the radar of sectarian governments. This was a time where audiences had to cultivate their own opinions on lyrics from artists they knew very little about.

The story of one artist perfectly demonstrates the impact technology has had on us.

Sixto Rodriguez was born in 1942 in Detroit, Michigan.

He was a musician who wrote about romance and politics in the disheveled inner city.

He was a shy man who played with his back to the audience in bars. He released two studio albums in the ‘70s titled Cold Fact, and Coming from Reality.

The oppression he faced as a Mexican immigrant heavily influenced his song writing. His soft melodies and

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thought-provoking lyrics should have made him a star in

As a society we are spoilt for musical content. There was a time where music had to be smuggled into countries under the radar of sectarian governments. the US, however, both his albums received underwhelming attention and Rodriguez was dropped.

He gave up his passion for music and worked as a demolition man, to help to raise his family.

Turn to apartheid South Africa in 1971. An American woman brings a copy of Cold Fact to the country while vising her boyfriend. Hype around the album started to propagate among minorities who faced a racist government.

Television was banned, and the media was strictly censored. Once people started to hear his lyrics about sex, drugs and anti-establishment views, his fame exploded across the country.

Fans wanted to know more about this anomalous man.

Rumours began circulating the he died by suicide on stage by setting himself on fire.

There was no Spotify or YouTube to explore the artist.

This was all unbeknownst to Rodriguez who continued to live a humble life. In South Africa, he was bigger than Elvis, he just had no idea.

In 1998, almost 30 years after he first released Cold Fact, his daughter found a website dedicated to her father. She would find out that her humble dad had sold millions of copies and gained an iconic status among South-Africans.

A concert was eventually organised in Cape Town where Rodriguez would receive a 10-minute standing ovation from the crowd, who believed he was a dead man before the show started.

He would play six further shows before returning to his simple life as a construction worker.

There is no doubt that his music is truly inspirational.

Songs such as, I Think of You, Cause, Crucify Your Mind, and I’ll Slip Away are all masterpieces.

He should have been as big as Bob Dylan, but the colour of his skin seems to have gotten in the way of achieving such fame.

21 Savage on thin ICE as he overstays his welcome in the US

Beibhinn Thorsch writes about the legal trouble the controversial rapper got into.

ritish national, 21 Savage (real name She’yaa Bin Abraham-Joseph) was detained without bond on February 2nd by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), who claim he has long overstayed his visa and is eligible for deportation.

ICE is a US law enforcement agency tasked to enforce immigration laws and investigate criminal and terrorist activity of foreigners who live in the US. The rapper’s attorney, Charles H. Kuck, said that at the time of the offence Abraham-Joseph was a child, who was left without legal status when his parents overstayed their visas, through no fault of his own.

“This is a civil law violation, and the continued detention of Mr. Abraham-Joseph serves no other purpose than to unnecessarily punish him,” Kuck said.

21 Savage was born in London to English parents, and there is conflict as to when he moved to the US. The rapper’s legal team said he was seven years old at the time of the move, while ICE say he was 14.

There has also been conflicting information between the rapper and his lawyers, who state different years for when he applied for a U-visa, one which would protect victims of crimes and their families. This was after the rapper had been the victim of a shooting in 2013.

21 Savage is currently being held in custody in Georgia,

one of the most aggressive ICE states.

The main issue for Abraham-Joseph now is that his mother had overstayed her H-2 status visa, which his H-4 visa derived from, as he was her child. This was an immigration violation.

There is also unclear information on the rapper’s criminal record. ICE says that Abraham-Joseph was part of a 2014 felony drug case, however this incident resulted in a misdemeanor sentence.

Lawyers on the rapper’s side say that he has a clean record, as his charge for this incident was removed from his record in 2017 - once again, though, it’s unclear what the full story is with the charge, as some reports say the sentence was only

“sealed” and not “vacated”.

One of the current possibilities for Abraham-Joseph to be freed is if his attorneys push for a bond motion, which would lead to a hearing where the judge would only consider if that person is a danger to the community or a flight risk.

However, due to the clogged-up court system in the US at the moment, it could take years for any movement on the rapper’s case.

There are no other known high-profile celebrities in ICE custody at the moment, however, many of these level celebrities are heavily backing 21 Savage in the hopes that he will be freed.

Cardi B alongside husband, Offset, and the rest of his trio, Migos, have called to ‘Free 21’ on social media. Killer Mike has also spoken out in support.

Many have, however, criticised singer Demi Lovato for liking and sharing memes which seemed to be making fun of the situation, with some other celebrities speaking out against these actions.

21 Savage began rapping after his friend died in a shootout on his 21st birthday, and has released multiple EPs and singles since then.

He is best known for his feature on Post Malone’s song Rockstar in 2017, which was his first number one single.

Since then, the rapper has reached new heights with the release of his collaboration with Offset and Metro Boomin, also in 2017. In December of 2018, he also released his second album I Am; I Was. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, staying there for two weeks.

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Best Actor in a leading role

Christian Bale Christian Bale as Dick Cheney in Vice, rising through the relentless world of politics to consolidate his position as the most powerful Vice President in the history of the United States.

Bradley Cooper Bradley Cooper plays the role of Jackson Maine in A Star is Born, a washed up rockstar fading out of his glory days and lashing out at his wife as she rises to fame.

Willem Dafoe Willem Dafoe as the troubled artist, Vincent Van Gogh, experiencing breakthroughs in his creative blocks whilst living in Arles, despite his relentless mental instability.

Rami Malek Rami Malek pays homage to the iconic Freddie Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody, highlighting the struggles the rockstar faced in balancing music and fame with his tumultuous private life.

Viggo Mortensen Viggo Mortensen plays Tony Lip, an Italian-American bouncer whose racist beliefs are challenged when he drives a black pianist on a tour of the South.

Prediction: Christian Bale Within this extremely competitive category of Oscar nominees, the name dominating predictions is Christian Bale’s for his performance as Vice President of the US, Dick Cheney. Having previously picked up awards for Best Actor in a comedy in the Critics’ Choice Awards and the Golden Globes, it is no surprise that he is favourite to win in this transformative role. Despite the divided opinions surrounding Vice, Bale undoubtedly blew away audiences with his performance.

Oscars

Arts editors Aoibhín Bryant the 2019 Academy

Best Film

Bohemian Rhapsody The nomination of biopic of legendary rockstar Freddie Mercury from the band QUEEN has attracted controversy due to child sexual assault allegations against its first director, Bryan Singer. Although Singer was fired halfway through filming and replaced by (uncredited) director Dexter Fletcher, if BoRhap was to win Singer would also win the award.

The Favourite Lanthimos’ wacky tragicomedy has not raked in the box office figures, with less than one fifth of Americans expressing interest in seeing it according to a YouGov poll. However, it has 10 nominations at the Academy Awards, more than any other film. It sweeped the BAFTAs, taking seven home.

Roma The semi autobiographical film of Alfonso Cuarón has made headlines as the first Netflix film to be nominated. The film features a young live-in-maid working for a middle class family in Mexico City. This film has been applauded as a love-letter to the women who raise Cuarón.

Blackkklansman Directed by Spike Lee, the film is based on a true story where two officers, a black man and a Jewish man, go under cover in the Klu Klux Klan. The film exposes the racism rampant in the 1970s and casts a light on the KKK’s horrific ideals. It’s an important film to watch during such a divisive political time.

Black Panther: The first superhero film to be nominated for Best Picture, however many believe this nomination to be a shallow attempt at fighting the #OscarsSoWhite image. Aoife O’Brien’s article in the last issue highlighted how Black Panther received the rest of their nominations in technical awards while best director, best actor and best screenplay were snubbed.

Best Actor in a supporting role

Adam Driver Adam Driver in Blackkklansman plays Flip Zimmerman, a non practicing Jew who must under cover into the ranks of the Klu Klux Klan.

Mahershali Ali Previous winner of the same award, Mahershali Ali is up again for his portayol of so and so in Green Book, a classical pianist touring the American south.

Sam Elliot Sam Elliott as Bobby is the brother to Bradley Cooper’s Jackson Maine in A Star is Born, creating a powerful sibling dynamic.

Richard E. Grant This is Richard E. Grant’s first ever Oscar nomination as Jack Hock in Can You Ever Forgive Me?, he helps Melissa McCarthey’s character in her schemes of forging letters to make easy money.

Sam Rockwell Sam Rockwell is the 43rd President of the United States in Vice, Rockwell plays George W. Bush as dim-witted and easily manipulated, a pawn in Dick Cheney’s plans.

Prediction: Mahershali Ali Ali has already won the hat trick of winning the same category in the Golden Globes, Critics’ Choice Awards and the SAG awards, it is very unlikely that anyone is gone to take Ali’s place from the top.

A Star is Born The fourth adaption of the 1947 original, this love story left not a single dry tear while it played in theatres. With an outstanding soundtrack, it has been nominated for seven different awards by the Academy. Lady GaGa wows with her powerful vocals alongside Cooper’s precise direction.

Vice This film starring Christian Bale as former US Vice President Dick Cheney has caused a division between democrats and republicans. A satirical in places piece, it has led to many standing back and reflecting on their own political opinions.

Green Book Green Book is a feel-good buddy movie where Italian American bouncer Tony Lip serves as personal valet to African American pianist Don Shirley as he embarks on a tour across the southern states of America during the 1960s, a time of rife racial tension. The film embraces how our differences only bring us closer.

Prediction: Roma A lot of the films nominated this year seem to make a statement of some sort and tackle societal issues moreso than previous years. However, Roma seems the most likely to take home the gold this award season,

2019

and Aine O’Boyle suss out what Awards are all about.

Best Actress in a leading role

Olivia Colman Olivia Colman excels as volatile Queen Anne in The Favourite, capable of both pathos and comedy. She won the BAFTA for Best Actress but will she get her hands on the Oscar?

Glenn Close Glenn Close in The Wife plays Joan Castleman, married to American novelist Joe Castelman, the film follows their relationship through the highs and lows of life.

Yallitza Aparico Yallitza Aparico plays Cleodegaria Gutierrez in Roma, a live-in maid to a well-to-do family. Cleo undergoes many hardships as a working class woman of colour.

Best Director

Spike Lee Spike lee has previously picked up nominations in 1990 in the categories of Best Screenplay for Do The Right Thing (1989), and in 1998 for Best Documentary for 4 Little Girls (1997). His current nomination is for Best Director of BlacKkKlansman, the story of Ron Stallworth, the first African-American cop in Colarado as he and Jewish officer, Flip Zimmerman attempt to infiltrate the local branch of the Klu Klux Klan.

Lady GaGa Lady GaGa is transcendent as Ally in A Star Is Born, her powerful vocals and superb acting skills add weight to the musical romantic drama.

Melissa McCarthy Melissa McCarthy plays writer Leonore Carol “Lee” Israel in Can You Ever Forgive Me?.

Israel writes profiles on high achieving women but finds it difficult to get her work published, she turns to selling forged letters.

Prediction: Olivia Coleman Although there are excellent acting chops across the board, it seems like Olivia Colman stands heads and shoulders above the rest. Comedic timing is not to be dismissed as what makes a great actress.

Pawel Pawlikowski Pawlikowski picks up his first Academy Award nomination for Cold War, set in 1949 as pianist Wiktor scouts for talent to form a musical ensemble and embarks upon a romantic relationship with Zula, the singer and dancer he discovers. The movie follows their turbulent relationship over the next decade as they travel throughout a politically divided Europe in the midst of turmoil.

Yorgos Lanthimo Lanthimos’ Academy Award Achievements currently amount to three oscar nominations, the first being in 2015 with The Lobster for Best Original Screenplay and the other two nominations being for The Favourite in this years awards under the categories of Best Director and Best Motion Picture of the Year. The Favourite, set in the 1700’s follows the power struggle between two cousins as they fight to rule Great Britain on behalf of their senile aunt, Queen Anne.

Alfonso Cuarón Mexican filmmaker, Alfonso Cuarón is no stranger to the academy awards. Having previously won two Oscars in 2014 for Gravity in the categories of Best Director and Best Film Editing and being nominated for 8 others since 2003. Roma, set in Mexico City in the 1970’s, follows the story of Cleo, a maid for a middle-class doctor as she cares for their four lively children in the midst of personal and political upheaval.

Adam McKay Having previously racked up an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay in 2016 with The Big Short, it is no surprise that Adam McKay has been a name dominating the nominations this year, with one of his three nominations this year being for Best Directing of Vice. The film follows the career of Dick Cheney as he rises through politics and becomes George W. Bush’s vice president, all the while discovering the power that lies behind the throne.

Predictions: Alfonso Cuarón Cuarón, a familiar face amongst Academy Award winners, is favourite to win Best Director. Having written, edited and directed Roma by himself, the Oscar would indeed be a deserved one in recognising Cuarón’s vision come to life as he draws on his own memories and experiences to create this cinematic masterpiece.

Best Actress in a supporting role

Amy Adams Amy Adams as Lynne Cheney in Vice, portrayed in her role as chair of the National Endowment for the Humanities after a lifetime of supporting her husband Dick’s political career.

Marina de Tavira Marina de Tavira plays Sra. Sofia, the mother of four lively children in Roma, who struggles to maintain illusions of normality as her marriage fails.

Regina King Regina King portrays Sharon Rivers in If Beale Street Could Talk, a devoted Mother, determined to support her pregnant daughter whose fiancé has been wrongfully imprisoned.

Emma Stone Emma Stone plays the role of Abigail in The Favourite, a disenfranchised aristocrat who must start over in the court of Queen Anne of whom she hopes will bring her back to her former glory.

Rachel Weisz Rachel Weisz plays Lady Sarah in The Favourite, the Duchess of Marlborough, whose complex and advantageous relationship with Queen Anne is threatened by her scheming cousin.

Predictions: Regina King/Amy Adams For this category, the predictions show a close tie between Regina King for her role in If Beale Street Could Talk and Amy Adams in Vice. King has never before won an Oscar and is facing Adams who has been nominated five times but gone home empty handed each time. Kings previous win at the Golden Globes has put her in an advantageous position over Adams and according to Gold Derby “she certainly passed her Oscar audition with her heartfelt acceptance speech”.

TV & Film

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The ‘superhero’ film that fails to break the Glass ceiling David Kelly reviews the sequel to M. Night Shyamalan’s psychological thriller, Split.

lass had the potential to be a cinematic triumph: a film that examined the superhero genre with a critical lens while simultaneously contributing to its immense canon.

Unfortunately, it didn’t.

The premise of Glass was introduced at the end of Split, when M. Night Shyamalan revealed that it takes place in the same universe as Unbreakable, a film he released 16 years prior. It was an interesting concept that took inspiration from the classic superhero ‘post-credits scene’.

The hook that this twist provided was that both the characters from Unbreakable and Split had supernatural powers that are grounded in a grim realism. The now inevitable interaction between these characters seemed extremely promising.

The film centres on Bruce Willis and Samuel L Jackson’s characters from Unbreakable being institutionalised with James McAvoy’s character from Split, for displaying a disorder whereas they believe themselves to be superheroes.

Sarah Paulson plays a psychiatrist tasked with convincing these characters that they are not superheroes, but rather mentally ill. This is a captivating premise, allowing for intense scrutiny of these extraordinary characters.

The film excels when it pursues this aspect of the plot. The character stuff with McAvoy’s ‘Kevin’ or ‘The Beast’, Willis’ ‘ David Dunn’ and Jackson’s ‘Mr Glass’ is great. Shyamalan is excellent at unravelling some of the intriguing mysteries of their character.

In terms of performances, McAvoy as Kevin, a man with 23 personalities, is good, although at times it feels a bit

contrived. Highlights include his performance as Patricia, a zealot personality who believes that ‘The Beast’, a super personality with an amalgamation of animalistic abilities, is going to purify the world.

Jackson gives a great performance as Mr Glass, although he isn’t given much to do until the midpoint of the second act, which is rather unfortunate as his character is a more interesting agent.

Willis’ performance feels somewhat phoned in. He has more to do than Jackson, but the stoicism that characterises David Dunn doesn’t exactly make for a compelling performance.

Paulson is another flatliner. While her character kickstarts some of the more interesting character development and interaction, her own character suffers from being plain and boring. Although, part of that may be blamed on the script.

Speaking of the script, it takes a massive dive in the third act. A staple of Shyamalan’s films is a twist ending, where the context of the film is subverted, and the events of the plot take on different meaning.

Sometimes this works, other times it fails. Sadly, Glass is in the latter category. The problem with its twist ending is that it doesn’t enhance the context of the trilogy, it completely undermines them.

The journeys of David Dunn, Kevin and Mr Glass are made irrelevant by an antagonist that is introduced in the last part of the film. It is completely ridiculous and cripples any tension or immersion the film had created up to that point.

Shyamalan attempts to further intellectualise his

subversion of the superhero genre, however he merely ends up detracting from the progress made in the first two acts, and the first two films.

Essentially, the twist ruins the film. It happens too soon and prolongs a painful, cringeworthy conclusion to an otherwise competent film.

The film ends with three supporting characters committing an act that is supposed to be inspiring, but falls flat on its face if given even an inch of scrutiny.

If you have seen U n b r e a k a b l e and Split, you might as well watch Glass to finish off t h e experience. However, beyond that, Glass does not merit a recommendation based on the fact it elicits more frustration than engagement.

The timeless nature of period dramas in a modern world Gillian Hogan looks at what makes period dramas so popular

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espite the fact that period dramas are confined to a specific era, they are timeless. It seems the more we move forward in time, the more people want to to look back at it.

Of course, period dramas have always had an audience. Downton Abbey has been a firm favourite for years but one look at Netflix shows their surge in popularity. The Crown, Anne with an E, Mary Shelley and The Last Kingdom are only a fraction of the endless list of period pieces that constantly find themselves ‘trending’.

This is not just a Netflix phenomenon. Mary Queen of Scots and Colette both received rave reviews from cinema goers in 2018 and BBC recently added Les Miserable to their massive collection. So, what’s the hype about?

As lives get messier and more stressful, the stronger the need for escapism within our movies and television shows becomes.

Sure, anything with a strong enough story line distracts and entertains but period dramas offer a glimpse into a completely different world. People can watch knowing that their ancestors lived during that time and connect to a story because they feel a part of themselves in it.

Not only is that world miles away from our day to day lives but it is based on the truth.

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‘It’s this hidden world that’s so mystified and removed from your own life. It’s like peeking through their window,’ said fan of period dramas, Megan McInerney, age 25.

About five years ago, the industry revolved around dystopian futures like The Hunger Games and Divergent. Everything was extremely fast paced and honestly, a bit unnerving.

Black Mirror has a huge viewership so obviously this hasn’t completely vanished but the trend has definitely died down. Instead of feeling concerned at the idea of an unknown future, period pieces offer a sense of calm. Regardless of how much drama takes place, it makes for easier viewing knowing that it all remains in the past.

Period dramas can be perceived as being aimed towards a certain audience but there is something for everyone.

Romance is perhaps the most popular subgenre of them all due to the longtime success of Pride and Prejudice and ane Eyre which encouraged many similar projects.

However, the popularity of romance driven dramas doesn’t negate the fact that not all period dramas consist of fluffy story lines and pretty scenery.

There is no better stimulation for an action movie than war and revolution and unfortunately, history provides lots of inspiration. From Dunkirk’s depiction of the World War II battle and Peaky Blinders

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This hidden world that’s so mystified and removed from your own life. It’s like peeking through their window.

backdrop of World War 1, to Scotland’s uprising in Outlaw King and Norse invasions in The Last Kingdom, there’s plenty for people to get their teeth stuck into.

Considering the fact that about half of period pieces consist of story lines revolving around the royal family, The Crown, Mary Queen of Scots, Reign and A Royal Night Out, to name a few, it stands to reason that the genre is mainly aimed at a British or, at least, a European audience.

Perhaps this is another reason as to why they are so easy to connect to and get lost in. Not only are they part of history but they are part of your history specifically.

‘It gives these historical figures a real human being that you can connect to,’ said Megan.

At the end of the day, in a world where people severely struggle to watch anything without scrolling through Instagram, it can be nice to get lost in a world that doesn’t even know what the internet is.

Bye bye, Big Bang

Lucien Waugh-Daly takes a look at the finale of TV’s most watched sitcom

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ommon theories date the Big Bang, which sparked our universe into existence, to 13.7 billion years ago. For many of us, it feels like impossibly-popular sitcom The Big Bang Theory has been on the air for much, much longer.

If you’re lucky, on a particularly unfortunate evening, you might be able to catch syndicated episodes of the show airing on RTÉ Two, E4 and Netflix simultaneously, such is Big Bang’s omnipresence in the modern TV landscape.

Initially, it’s safe to say we all saw its appeal. As a naive 13-year old I admittedly spent a summer binge-watching the early seasons, guffawing at the hilarious adventures of Sheldon, Leonard, Penny and their geeky friends. Soon, however, the truth became clear: that Big Bang only has one joke, repeated over and over in every 22-minute episode for the past twelve years: that nerds are inherently ridiculous.

A standard beat in an episode of Big Bang sees a character walk onto a set, mutter a reference to a broadly-recognised cultural property (typically Star Trek, Game of Thrones or Batman), demonstrate a misunderstanding of a social cue, and pause while the studio audience roars with laughter. For those of us acquainted with the formulaic nature of multi-camera sitcoms (of which Friends and How I Met Your Mother are less aggravating examples), it’s tiresome and predictable comedy writing. For millions of adults and children around the world, it’s the highlight of their TV-watching week. At its peak in 2016, Big Bang had an average of 20.36 million viewers on the CBS network, making it the most popular scripted show in America (beaten only by Sunday Night Football).

It would appear that the key to the show’s success is overwhelmingly the broadness of its style: creator Chuck Lorre was previously responsible for Two and a Half Men, a comedy with a similarly simplistic approach to telling jokes. Big Bang arrived at the start of a cultural period when ‘geek culture’ (comic-books, sci-fi, high fantasy) has become the dominant culture, enjoyed by mass audiences who would at one point have seen Game of Thrones etc. as nerdy and inaccessible. Big Bang’s frame of references is sufficiently familiar for the CBS viewers of middle America (and, by proxy, their Irish counterparts); if it were to stray too far into acknowledging the extremities of nerd culture, the punchlines wouldn’t hit the “I Get That Reference” pleasure button and the studio audience would remain painfully silent. This is why, twelve seasons in, Big Bang keeps going back to the same well again and again. For twenty minutes it’s a moderately amusing concept for a TV show; for twelve years it’s a living nightmare.

None of these criticisms are to disparage the innate likeability of the principle cast: Jim Parsons’ depiction of Sheldon Cooper may be infuriatingly repetitive, but he’s a talented performer who has done solid work elsewhere. Simon Helberg, who plays the Howard Wolowitz character, has been superb in films like The Coen Brothers’ A Serious Man. That Big Bang is finally coming to an end is great news for the future prospects of these stars, who can hopefully use their accumulated millions from the show to produce passion projects and smaller screen endeavours for years to come.

The spirit of the show will continue to live on in hit prequel Young Sheldon (which is, shockingly, far less annoying than Big Bang itself).

Yet, in a few weeks’ time, when Sheldon has hung up his Flash t-shirt and autographed Wrath of Khan screenplay for good, this infantile nonsense shall never darken the doorstep of the zeitgeist ever again.

TV & Film

Addicted to ‘YOU’ Kern Hussein reviews netflix’s latest series: You

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The traditional boy meets girl love story stops there, and the psychological thriller ensues when Joe proceeds to stalk Beck after their encounter, first digitally then physically.

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etflix examines the darker face of love with its hit new series “YOU”. The problematic premise of the stalker’s perspective in love might be just what you are looking for this Spring (especially after Valentine’s Day). Based on the novel by Caroline Kepnes the story begins when Joe Goldberg (Penn Badgley) falls head over heels with aspiring writer Guinevere Beck (Elizabeth Lail) when she walks into Joe’s bookstore, Mooney’s. Innocent banter between the two is exchanged, and in Joe’s eyes, a rapport is formed.

The traditional boy meets girl love story stops there, and the psychological thriller ensues when Joe proceeds to stalk Beck after their encounter, first digitally then physically.

The stalking is narrated through Joe’s charmingly casual voice as he rationalises everything he does for the benefit of Beck. From following her through college to stealing her underwear, to excising toxic people from her life, it is all done in the name of Love.

Joe goes above and beyond the typical anti-hero, and whether he can redeem himself is continually tested as he becomes increasingly creepier, escalating from stalker to kidnapper, to murderer.

Despite the obvious flaws in Joe’s character he differs from the rest of his narcissistic, social media addicted, approval seeking generation. What makes Joe compelling, and not immediately hated, is that the rest of the characters are mainly spoiled rich twentysomethings living in New York. Beck’s best friend Peach Salinger (Shay Mitchell) is a less psychotic, but equally controlling version of Joe, who relishes in manipulating Beck and all her friends. Benji (Lou Taylor Pucci), Beck’s on again off again boyfriend, is the epitome of rich hipster douchebaggery, providing comic relief and more importantly, entertaining Joe’s warped world view. Even Beck, the would-be hero, can be a self-absorbed liar, more concerned about being remarkable in her writing than the people in

her life.

“YOU” can be outlandish at times, bordering the line between the fantastic and the downright silly. Questions can arise about the plausibility of character actions and plot if given enough time to think. However, the show never gives the viewer enough time to think. The audience has hardly enough time to recover from the last gasped breath, as the plot twists and hairpins, increasing the stakes ever higher.

To portray “YOU” just as a silly, fast-food equivalent, comedic thriller does the show a disservice. Its accurate observations of contemporary dating rituals told through modern technology makes for a laugh-out-loud experience. To the show’s credit, it never takes itself too seriously, even when dealing with sensitive content. Every time the viewer is led down the traditional tropes of romcoms or romantic dramas, it is undercut with either humour or horror.

Showrunner Serra Gamble explains to the NY times that Joe is based off the archetypical “classic male romantic hero”, and that they “erected this image to burn it to the ground”. The remnants of these ashes leave the audience with a message to decipher; is the classic notions of romantic love synonymous for addiction?

Addiction is a significant theme throughout the show, all the characters present some aspect of addiction, be it love, drugs, or social media. The show itself was created to be consumed at an addict’s voracious pace. This could be considered an intentional meta-analysis of the addicting nature of millennial’s consumption of media, by the show’s creators Sera Gamble and Greg Berlanti.

“YOU” need not share Beck’s insecurities of being ‘unremarkable’. The show may be criticised for being over the top, bizarre, and silly, but boring it is not.

Season 2 is set to release later this year

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Art & Culture

The Portrait of Che Guevara Carrie McMullen discusses the unveiling of the portrait of Argentine-Cuban revolutionary Che Guevara by Irish Artist Jim Fitzpatrick in The Hive

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specially commissioned painting of the portrait of Argentine-Cuban revolutionary Che Guevara was unveiled in The Hive at DCU on February 6th.

Irish artist Jim Fitzpatrick who created the piece attended the event alongside DCU Vice President Professor Daire Keogh and DCU Students’ Union President Vito Moloney Burke. The painting was donated to the university on a long-term loan by a DCU alumnus, according to a press release by DCU. Fitzpatrick completed the original portrait in 1968, five years after meeting the man himself at the pub where he worked in Co. Clare. In an interview with the Irish Times in 2007, Fitzpatrick explained that while growing up he was “on the side of rebels, anywhere” and thus recognised Guevara when he walked into the pub.

Fitzpatrick exhibited the portrait in London following Guevara’s death at the hands of the Bolivian army in October 1967 in an effort to show his anger about Guevara’s execution.

“He was shot in the neck and left to drown in his own blood, because they didn’t want to harm his face, so they could prove it was him,” he told The Irish Times.

Che Guevara was a leading figure in communist Cuba alongside brothers Fidel and Raúl Castro. Together they built up a small guerrilla army to overthrow Cuba’s dictator Fulgencio Batista. Following the revolutionaries’ victory, Guevara spent years as the minister of industry in the Cuban government and took part in many guerrilla groups in the Congo and Bolivia.

Moloney Burke drew on the similarities between the symbolism of the portrait and the attitude of the current

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generations,” he said in the press release.

The painting has come up against opposition since its creation most recently from Cuban-Americans when the

portrait was printed on a limited run of postage stamps to mark the 50th anniversary of the death of Che Guevara.

Cuban exiles held Guevara accountable for the executions of hundreds of prisoners, according to an article in The Irish Times in 2017. Guevara took control of Havana from Batista in 1959 and spent a number of months at La Cabaña prison where he oversaw the execution of those deemed to be enemies of the revolution.

A Cuban-American radio host Ninoska Perez Castellón spoke out against the stamp. Castellón told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland that she had received complaints about celebrating “a man who slaughtered so many people”.

She said that his profile was “a propaganda myth created by communism”.

Propaganda art began to become commonplace during World War I. The paintings and posters created connected art and politics to spread powerful and influential messages. Propaganda was primarily used by those who supported the principles of the political sciences of communism and fascism and leaders such as Vladimir Lenin, Adolf Hitler, and Benito Mussolini.

While wars gave prominence to propaganda its existence dates back to the times of Ancient Greece.

The people of Greece lived under an absolute power but those living in Athens were very aware of the social problems in the city. The Athenians would put on plays, create games and hold religious festivals through which they pushed propaganda ideas. The use of propaganda became a power play in wars and revolutions from this point forward.

Propaganda is entirely subjective as seen by the reactions to the Che Guevara portrait. Regardless of its symbolism, it will remain a powerful piece of art.

The Art of Chess Craig Shaaban explores the 600 million player game

rom a cold war battle ground, to the hustlers of Washington square park, the game of chess has always been marvelled upon by the masses.

With more than 600 million global players, ‘The Game of Kings’ has identified some of the world’s greatest minds.

The game was invented 1500 years ago in Asia and spread throughout Persia after the Arab conquest. ‘Checkmate’, which is the term announced when the game is over, comes from the Arab phrase, ‘shah-mat’, meaning the King is dead. The goal of capturing the opponents King then spread to Europe where it was exclusive to noblemen and the aristocracy.

Peter Alfonsi, who was a 12th Century logician, suggested that good knowledge of the game was an essential facet of a strong Knight’s character.

The game was predominantly considered a royal pastime until the mid-19th century. The first recorded chess tournament was held in London in 1851, where German Adolf Anderssen took 1st place. This event was the catalyst for the departure of, ‘The Romantic Era’, where games were played quickly with little tactical consideration. A new breed of player started to emerge.

Paul Morphy, who is considered one of the greatest minds of all time would play 8 opponents simultaneously, while blindfolded, beating them all. He was an eccentric man who developed chronic paranoia, but his ability to destroy his opponents only fuelled public interest

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generation of students.

“The iconic image of Che Guevara is going to be one that fits into our new home magnificently. Jim Fitzpatrick’s portrait has come to represent the vibrancy that the student movement in Ireland thrives on, having inspired

towards him. He died from a stroke in 1884 aged 47.

Fast forward 100 years to the cold war. The geopolitical tension between democratic Western countries and communist Eastern countries was palpable. From the Korean war, to the space race, to the Cuban missile crisis, the pursuit of dominance between the east and the west was illustrated perfectly in 1972 in Reykjavik. The final of the chess world championships featured defending champion, Russian Grandmaster Boris Spassky, and new contender, American Bobby Fischer.

The pair were perhaps the greatest intellectuals

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The game of chess was invented 1500 years ago in Asia

their countries had to offer, the victor would surely be a national hero, given the political climate. The USSR had

monopolized the game, winning each championship from 1948. Spassky was favoured to win over Fischer, who studied the game in solitude. It was dubbed, ‘The Match of the Century’. Spassky won the first two games after Fischer failed to show up for the second game. The format was best of 21 matches. Fischer would ultimately win 12.5 games to 8.5 games, bringing intellectual glory to the West. “It was Bobby Fischer who had, singlehandedly, made the world recognize that chess on its highest level was as competitive as football, as thrilling as a duel to the death, as aesthetically satisfying as a fine work of art, as intellectually demanding as any form of human activity,” said New York Times columnist Harold C. Schon. Fischer’s genius eventually led to him to mental illness. He died aged 64 in 2008.

The intellectual battleground of chess has been fostered by just under 10% of the world’s population. The modern game is played predominantly online and is now taught in schools in countries such as Norway, Armenia and The United States, as knowledge of the game is related to the improvement of cognitive ability and problem solving. The game is now being played by people from all walks of life. From elite businessmen playing in high stakes online tournaments, to homeless people playing in city parks, the beauty of chess finds common ground for all. With more potential moves than atoms in the observable universe, it’s no wonder why chess has remained one of the world’s favourite pastimes.

Eating less dairy to save the world

Food

As the global population grows from 7 billion in 2010 to a projected 9.8 billion in 2050, and incomes grow across the developing world, overall food demand is on course to increase by more than 50 percent, writes Lorna Lawless

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t’s time to wake up and recognise the connection between human behaviour and our growingly volatile planet. World leaders are looking for solutions to a growing problem of Global warming. Eating meat doesn’t just fuel climate change but pollutes waterways and landscapes.

You may choose to avoid dairy products for various reasons such as: an intolerance, an allergy, or to promote animal welfare. Whatever the reason is, this can have a positive effect on our environment.

“As the global population grows from 7 billion in 2010 to a projected 9.8 billion in 2050, and incomes grow across the developing world, overall food demand is on course to increase by more than 50 percent and demand for animal-based foods by nearly 70 percent. Yet today, hundreds of millions of people remain hungry, agriculture already uses almost half of the world’s vegetated land, and agriculture and related land-use change generate one- quarter of annual greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.” stated in an extensive report by the World Resource Institutes.

Nearly 10 billion people will live on the planet but have we asked the question, how will we produce enough food sustainably for all these people? The ‘Creating A Sustainable Food Future ’ report by the World Resource Institutes modelled and researched for over six years has provided at least some of the answers in how this will work. The report recommends that consumers in the developed world change their diets to include less meat, especially ruminant which is basically cattle or sheep for us in Ireland. These animals contribute most heavily to GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions according to the research.

“Slowing demand growth requires reducing food loss and waste, shifting the diets of high meat consumers toward plant-based foods” stated Searchinger the lead author of the study. “Closing the land and GHG mitigation

gaps requires that, by 2050, the 20 percent of the world’s population who would otherwise be high ruminant-meat consumers reduce their average consumption by 40 percent relative to their consumption in 2010.”

Meat and dairy provide only 18% of our calories and 37% of our protein, yet use up 83% of our farmland while producing 60% of agriculture’s greenhouse gas emissions according to the world’s leading scientific journal Science titled ‘Reducing food’s environmental impacts through producers and consumers’. The research also shows that without meat and dairy consumption, global farmland use could be reduced by more than 75%.

According to The Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations describes a sustainable diet as “diets with low environmental impacts which contribute to food and nutrition security and to a healthy life for present and future generations. Sustainable diets are protective and respectful of biodiversity and ecosystems, culturally acceptable, accessible, economically fair and affordable; nutritionally adequate, safe and healthy while optimising natural and human resources “. Sustainable diets are a step forward for climate change by introducing more plant-based foods.

The report also outlines that increasing the abundance of non-meat proteins sources is also an essential part of changing diets sustainably. One of the ‘solutions or courses’ the report gives it to raise productivity which means increasing efficiency of natural resources. This means increasing yield crop to higher than ever before and dramatically increasing output of milk and meat per hectare of pasture per animal. So to conclude-get more out of what we already have with no waste. In order to feed our world in 2050 this must be implemented because if we don’t work at a higher rate of efficiency, that would then mean clearing most of the world’s remaining forests, wiping out thousands of more species, and releasing enough GHG emission to go past the recom-

mended 1.5 and 2 degree warming targets in the Paris Agreement-even if our activity as humans on the planet was totally eliminated.

The report poses a solution to this growing issue by closing three big “gaps”. First of all the food gap, the difference between food produced in 2010 to the amount needed in 2050 and it’s a lot, 56% more than 2010 is needed. 2010 is the base year the study used as a comparison to gather results. Secondly the land gap, the difference between the global agricultural land in use in 2010 and whats needed by 2050. They have estimated we will need 593 million hectares more than we had in 2010 by 2050 if the rates of crop growth stay the same.

Finally the GHG mitigation gap, the difference between the annual GHG emission likely from agriculture and land use in 2050.

The report estimated this difference to be 15 Gigatonnes in 2050 from 2010, when their target should have been 4 gigatonnes to keep global warming below 2 degrees Celsius (Paris agreement) so therefore we have an 11 gigatonne which needs to be sorted.

Even though this study focuses on the scope of the challenges facing us to start changing the way we live, and how we may underestimate the significance of these issues. It also emphasizes the positive results that can be achieved if this research is heeded. If the recommendations are followed there are reasons to be hopeful about the future. A massive take away from this research is the need for efficiency in agriculture stated by one of the authors this is “the single most important step toward meeting both food production and environmental goals”.

So in short, this is a big deal which affects us all personally in our lifetime. These kinds of solutions need to be implemented or we are looking at a very gloomy future for food and for our planet.

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Lifestyle and exercise

Is F45 the future of student fitness?

Those trying to survive on a student budget are unlikely to join an F45 club, however. Many are intrigued by the idea but just cannot seem to justify buying a membership, writes Eoin Harte

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he fitness industry has experienced a major boost in the last number of years, with new and innovative regimes grabbing people’s attentions.

Among the front runners in this new worldwide fitness craze is F45. F45 is a form of High-intensity Interval Training (HIIT) that takes 45 minutes.

F45 was set up by Australian fitness enthusiast Rob Deutsch in 2011. One of his main reasons for setting up the company was because the majority of people use their gym memberships rarely and many quite after a year.

Trish Moroney, a personal trainer with F45, spoke to The College View about the fitness club.

“Every day is different, so you never know what to expect as there are 30 different workout programs scheduled throughout the year, with seven of those alternating daily throughout the week.

“Technology plays a key role in F45, each studio has a set of TV’s that guide members through their workout, they feature the specific exercise been performed on their station, timer, when to move station and where to move to,” Moroney said.

One of the features of F45 is that no matter where you are in the world, everyone involved will be doing the same training at the same time.

“F45 strives to foster a community environment within

each studio and globally, hence wherever you are in the world if you attend an F45 studio while on business or pleasure you will be completing the same workout as your ‘F45 fit fam’ back home,” Moroney explained.

While F45 has managed to build up a healthy number of members, it does come with a hefty price tag.

A silver membership with one of the clubs will set you back €189 a month. Moroney believes that the price is reasonable for what the clubs provide.

“F45 clients on average go to five classes per week, the more you go the better value it works out at. While big box gym memberships are cheaper per week/month, statistics show most gym members almost never go to the gym, unless motivated by a personal trainer.”

“Personal Trainers cost €25, €70 plus an hour for one session, so paying €40 plus per week for five to six F45 sessions actually works out on average €7 per class,” Moroney said.

Those trying to survive on

a student budget are unlikely to join an F45 club, however. Second year Business student and fitness enthusiast Elayna Keller was intrigued by the idea but couldn’t justify buying a membership.

“I get that you get the big community aspect, there’s a huge variety of workouts but you’re paying crazy money in a month when you could just buy a workout program for €80, and it’ll give you months and months of workouts?”

Keller was impressed by F45’s commitment to motivating people but believed that people will only buy into a fitness programme if they truly want to.

“Realistically it all just comes down to your motivation and desire to actually do the program. And if you don’t like the program or gym or method or it doesn’t match up with your goals, you’re not gonna be going for it,” Keller said.

“

I get that you get the big community aspect, there’s a huge variety of workouts but you’re paying crazy money in a month when you could just buy a workout program for €80, and it’ll give you months and months of workouts?

Surviving couch surfing

College is a fun place to expand the mind, open it up to new ideas and progress in life but it’s a huge financial commitment. Mikey Walsh gives his account of dealing with homelessness while studying

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t’s a major change in any person’s life to move away from the family home. It gives many young people their first real taste of freedom when they are living without their parents breathing down their neck about where they are all the time. No set time to come home at night, choosing what and when you want to eat, its independence.

For most people these days, the change comes when they go to third level education. College is a fun place to expand the mind, open it up to new ideas and progress in life but it’s a huge financial commitment.

What happens when the financial situation changes? For some, this means moving back home and commuting, but for others who live further from college, it can completely change the course of their education.

Here are some tips on how to survive the college year without having a stable place to stay.

It can mean having to rely on the generosity of friends and family so they open their door and surrender their couch for the night, leaving students living out of a gear bag. Always be grateful and appreciative to anyone willing to do that and make sure to show that

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appreciation. Bringing something small like a packet of sweets or biscuits will usually suffice.

Offer to make food and cook for them. People really do appreciate a good home-cooked meal that they don’t have to make or pay for.

If you have a car, use your car. Nobody really likes going on public transport, giving your friends lifts and just being generally sound can open up many more doors.

Keep a sleeping bag in the boot of your car at all times. Friends may be kind enough to let you stay in

their home but they might not have any spare blankets and pillows.

Showering in college might sound like a hassle but it a good reliable place to wash yourself regularly. Even if you don’t go to the gym it may be worth it to invest in a membership to keep up with personal hygiene.

If you are living out of the car NEVER EVER leave anything valuable like a laptop or phone in the car overnight. Bring it with you. Car theft happens no matter where the car is parked so if you can, park your car in a well-lit area, have nothing in plain sight and make sure that the alarm is on and the car is locked.

Using two bags makes lugging around a week’s worth of clothing easier. Use one bag for a laptop, notebook, toiletries, and a fresh change of clothes and use the other bag for holding all the rest of the clothes for the week.

Keep the big bag of clothes in the boot of the car and go back and exchange dirty for clean clothes.

Couch surfing can be difficult but if you can power through the slight discomfort and maintain good relationships, you will pull through the far side with an education and very close friends.

Careful with your cravings

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Health

Aoife O’Brien discusses how food addiction is much more than a simple craving. It is an obsession that takes over the life of the addict. It’s time to treat with the attention it deserves

or most people, the word addiction has negative conations. We associate it with gambling, drugs and alcoholism. But there is another substance whose control over its dependents is greater than any illicit drug. That substance

is food.

Coming second after tobacco addiction, food addiction affects 5.4% of the population and almost 7% of women according to a study carried out by ‘Healthline’. This trumps alcoholism at 4%, cannabis use at 3.5% and gambling at an estimated 1.5% of the population.

Despite this, most people cannot understand food addiction.

If someone says they’re addicted to food, we tend to brush it under the carpet. After all, don’t we all crave that extra slice of chocolate cake after dinner?

But real food addiction is much more than a simple craving. It is an obsession that takes over the life of the addict.

This is because eating triggers the release of dopamine allowing us to feel pleasure. It is basically the brain’s way of rewarding us for engaging in a basic life-sustaining activity. Dopamine is the same chemical that is released when the brain experiences pleasure from drugs or alcohol, food can trigger the same cycle of

addiction like any other addictive substance.

First comes the high. When we eat highly palatable foods, particularly those high in sugar and fat, our brain gives us a hit of dopamine. This ‘reward’ becomes associated with the food so that this pleasure can be experienced again in the future.

Then comes the slump. Over time, the addict’s tolerance increases. Their day becomes consumed by eating. Ordinary social activities no longer trigger a release of dopamine comparable to the reward that can be obtained from food. However even this can only be achieved through ever-increasing amounts of food, eventually leading to depression, irritability and stress further increasing the need for a high.

Finally comes the cravings. The parts of the brain that decide on the importance of things and take actions based on this decision are no longer working efficiently.

Strong urges become almost impossible to resist and despite persistent attempts to avoid certain foods, the addict is unsuccessful.

This is not a question of willpower. The chemical responses in the brain have been distorted and the only way to rewire them back to a point where it responds normally to food is to avoid the trigger substance.

What makes food addiction so complicated is that we

need food to survive. Human beings don’t need alcohol to live. We don’t need illicit drugs, caffeine, or nicotine.

The social consequences for a food addict are also far less severe than those experienced by other addicts.

An alcoholic is a ‘bum’, drug addicts are ‘junkies’, and while these stereotypes have negatives consequences often causing the addict to lose their job or their home, hitting this rock bottom often allows families of the addict to finally be able to break through and convince them to get help.

However, food addiction does not have a comparable rock bottom and despite the health risks such as stroke, coronary heart disease or depression these illnesses are recognised far more widely than the one causing them.

Food addiction is an illness. Our biological necessity for food does not make it any less of an illness. We need to stop making excuses for addicts. They are not greedy and they do not simply have a larger appetite than everyone else. These excuses are enabling food addiction and its consequences will continue to get ever more severe until such time as it is universally recognised for the illness that it is.

Roaccutane- is it worth the pain?

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Lorna Lawless asks, the treatment can have physical and psychological effects so is it worth it for clear skin?

f you’ve ever struggled with acne you have definitely heard of Roaccutane. Acne can become an issue due to a number of different elements - sometimes it’s a hormonal imbalance or sometimes its dietary issues which usually can be easily solved.

It can be improved by changing up your skincare routine or making changes in your diet. This can be sufficient to treat moderate to light acne. However, if your acne is really severe and may lead to major scars on your skin, GPs may suggest a treatment for your acne called Roaccutane.

“Roaccutane is also known as isotretinoin, which is a retinoid meaning that is related to vitamin A” Lucy Bennett one of the nerdettes at The Skin Nerd told The College View. “Roaccutane, for many, is a highly effective last resort. However, the side effects that some experience when on Roaccutane can be harsh. We have a lot of people who have online skin consultations with us as they want to try something different prior to or in lieu of trying Roaccutane”.

According to a study done by the British Association of Dermatologists, the use of Isotretinoin caused a large amount of participants to have “acne flare, photophobia, elevated liver enzymes, decreased appetite, headaches and depressed mood”. The review also states that the use of isotretinoin is “effective in reducing acne lesion counts but adverse events are common” in using this treatment.

Dylan Tighe, a student in D.I.T who was on Roaccutane for eight months, described his skin at the time to be “extremely dry and flaky” but it proved to be “more or less 100% effec-

tive”. When speaking about other side effects of the drug, Tighe stated: “emotionally I feel I was fine, because I think the treatment affects everyone differently and to be honest you’d be half depressed with how your skin looks with the extreme acne anyway”.

Hugh Farrell, a journalism student in DCU, described his experience with the acne treatment: “physically it was a nightmare, my skin would get so dry and sore. To be honest, I actually find it was worth losing the acne to feel more comfortable mentally”.

Outside of medical treatments, there are skincare-orientated solutions. There is a skincare supplement target-

ed at improving skin from the inside. Advanced Nutrition Programmes Accumax supplements are praised among skin care professionals on having improved severe acne clients. However, it must be noted these supplements are pricey for a student budget, at €52.00 for a month’s supply of 60 capsules.

“One of our most common recommendations for those who have finished up on Roaccutane or who want to try something else is a supplement called Skin Accumax” Lucy Bennett added. “ The core components of this supplement are vitamin A plus a phytonutrient named DIM (diindolylmethane, if you want to be super nerdy). DIM works to regulate hormones whilst vitamin A works to normalise your skin. We’ve seen people have truly wonderful results with Skin Accumax when it is used in conjunction with a results-driven skincare routine”.

It’s important to make regular visits to your GP in order to monitor both physical and possible psychological effects of taking the Roaccutane. If you are thinking about taking it it’s essential to discuss the side effects and outcomes of the treatment and look at all your options before making a decision. It’s clear that everyone who takes this medication is affected differently both emotionally and physically so it’s important to monitor your own progress as you take the medication. You can also check out the www.theskinnerd. com if you need some one-on-one skin consultations because they even do them online..

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Travel

Wanderlust-Reykjavik

Planning on visiting Iceland anytime soon? Sabrine Donohoe takes a look at what Iceland’s capital city has to offer.

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or students, a trip to Iceland might sound unattainable given its high prices. But with some planning, a short getaway is entirely possible.

The country is known for its rocky landscapes, geysers and spas. Unfortunately, public transportation outside of the capital Reykjavik is sub-zero. So, to arrive at popular tourist destinations like the Golden Circle (which hosts the clear-water spa ‘The Secret Lagoon’), the Thingvellir volcanic national park or the Gullfloss or Seljalandsfoss waterfalls, you must hire a car – a small 4×4 car averages around €100 per day.

Transportation to and from Reykjavik airport or to and from any tourist attraction is facilitated by private bus companies in the absence of a car. A one-way trip by private bus averages €50.

If you don’t mind staying in or around the capital during the duration of your trip, the city hosts small restaurants such as the famous Sægreifinn (Sea Baron) fish restaurant. The boat-themed restaurant offers a cup of lobster soup for €10, or choices of grilled Icelandic salmon, redfish, trout, shrimp, scallops, or whale meat at €13 a skewer. If the waiting time doesn’t turn you off (which may be up to 30 minutes), this restaurant is a bargain considering fast-food eats like Subway fetch around the same price for a sandwich.

There are several modern-art attractions in the capital which come free of charge, such as the Sun Voyager, a ‘dream boat’ sculpture by Reykjavik’s northern seafront and the Harpa conference hall and concert theatre, with

its distinctive purple-navy glass facade reflecting the colours of the Icelandic landscape.

The main church in the city, Hallgrímskirkja, is of the Lutheran parish and is named after a famous Icelandic poet, Hallgrímur Pétursson. Its creator was inspired by the shapes of lava rocks, hence its angular and sloping shape. The church tower stands nearly 75 metres and makes the church the largest and one of the tallest buildings in Iceland. It is open to the public from 9am to 5pm during the winter and until 9pm in the summertime.

Walking around the city, you can see Reykjavik’s beige-coloured houses with the almost ubiquitous ‘northern light’ star-shaped lanterns dangling from every window.

Around many corners are colourful paintings on the side of buildings as well as numerous record shops, which add colour to what may seem as a bland capital city.

Iceland’s geothermal spa, the ‘Blue Lagoon’, is the country’s most popular attraction and is within the Reykjavik region. The spa sits upon a lava field in in the south-west of Iceland near Grindavik. Although there

are a number of less touristic spas and pools, the Blue Lagoon’s 39° milky-blue water infused with volcanic minerals, surrounded by dark lava rocks encompasses the utmost form of relaxation, and as cliché as it sounds, it is well worth a visit. The spa is the largest in Iceland, so even when it’s booked-up there’s always a comfortable distance between you and the other guests.

The prices are equally as luxurious and must be booked up to two months in advance. But for a student, you could spend the best part of a day at the spa at a starting price of €86 for the cheapest package. This includes one free drink (a beer, rosé, juice or smoothie) and as many silica mud face masks as you would like. If you book early, you can enjoy the spa for as long as you want until closing time at 10 pm.

The midnight sun is visible during the summer, and if you’re lucky, so too are the northern lights during the winter.

“

Walking around the city, you can see Reykjavik’s beige-coloured houses with the almost ubiquitous ‘northern light’ star-shaped lanterns dangling from every window

USIT graduate visa is taking a vacation Did you know the graduate visa to go to the US has changed? If you have planned to go across the pond for work straight after college, Caitlin Laird gives all the information you need to know.

T

he graduate visa has been something that nearly every college student thinks about when they are at the end of their degree.

The graduate visa offers students the opportunity of a lifetime to go to America and work for a year in the line of work they are qualified in.

USIT is a travel agency that gives students the chance to go to America and do a J1, the graduate visa, Camp USA and also the chance to go to Canada or Australia and many more places.

Students get to go and have a full year of work in a different country and it gives them experience and also makes their CV look very impressionable to future employers when they come back to Ireland looking for a new job. It is a real eye-opening experience that helps students in realising their full potential and finding the right job for them.

With the graduate visa, USIT also lets you have 30 days to travel either at the start of the year or the last 30 days of the year. This lets students work all year and save up to do their travelling before they go home.

USIT takes care of all the legal preparations involving the work documents to stay the full year and also in setting up interviews with the US Embassy. This is within the price you pay for your visa.

It isn’t for everybody but for most students it lets them break out of their comfort zone, move away and experience a new culture. The graduate visa has been running since 2008 and it was only meant to be a five-year programme but it got

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extended for the sixth year and it is still running.

It is now the last year for students to take the opportunity of the graduate visa as it will end after this year.

People who want to do it this year have to travel on or before the 31st of December to avail of the visa.

This has disappointed many students who wanted to avail of it in the years to come and it also puts pressure on students graduating this year to get funds together to actually go. Many students will not be able to experience this with it ending and are left with either the J1 or Camp USA. These are also good experiences that many students go on but with the graduate visa you have the full year to

spend away which attracts more students.

Final year journalism student Ciara O’Loughlin is currently preparing for the graduate visa where she will travel to New York in December. “It is very stressful that I have a much shorter time to save up for. I will have to travel at a very expensive time where as if the scheme was available until next year I would have waited to go until flights were cheaper in January or February”, said Ciara when asked on how this last year for the graduate visa affects her.

A lot of students feel this way but that won’t stop them if they are determined on going. For final year students it is very stressful to be going through exams and work experience while also working straight to get funds together to go in December.

On the USIT website they have articles from people who have already done the grad visa and they give tips and also talk about their own experience. One article written by Joseph Murray on the ten things he learned on the grad visa gives helpful advice to students.

“The grad visa is not a gap year. It’s a way of bridging the gap between college and career so that you return to the Irish job market with an edge”, said Joseph in his article.

With the pressure this may put on students to go at the end of the year it is clear that it is all worth it from the experience they benefit from in the end up.

Sourcing Sustainable fashion

Fashion

By nature the words sustainability and trends are at complete odds with each other.

Aoibhín Meghen tells us how we can manage to pull it off.

K

eeping on trend can become a habit, but sourcing the latest fashion sustainably is growing in popularity too.

We all love taking part in the latest trend, but what happens when these items that are mass produced inevitably go out of fashion?

They go straight to landfill, because these items are part of the huge global market called ‘fast fashion’. Fast fashion is when inexpensive clothing is mass produced by large retailers, often using unethical labour and materials, in order to meet the latest trends.

In the past, fashion only had two seasons: spring-summer and autumn-winter, but now it changes every week.

Cheap mass production has made clothing and textile production the second largest polluter in the world, after oil according to Forbes.

However when you hear the term sustainable fashion you will most likely think of bulky hemp sandals rather than chic and trendy clothing. Recently more and more people have been making the move to more sustainable forms of clothing as they realise that the pollution from fast fashion will very quickly push our planet over the edge.

Traditionally sustainable clothes prioritised function over fashion, so how can we meet the ever changing trends of modern fashion but still have a sustainable wardrobe?

By nature the words ‘sustainable’ and ‘trend’ are at complete odds with each other. One supports the fair treatment of workers and the sourcing of organic and recycled materials, while the other encourages consumers to buy cheap and buy fast, throwing last months musthaves into landfill. Despite this there are some large brands that have emerged to provide sustainable options

to their customers.

Fashion retailer H&M launched there own sustainable line in 2012 called H&M Conscious. Although there is still major concerns over the rest of H&M’s production practices, this line is a collection of ethically produced clothing using recycled and organic materials.

There are also many other brands that have gained recognition for being sustainable such as Reformation, Lucy and Yak, and Everlane.

Weekday is a Swedish brand, which sells on the major fashion site Asos, and is making huge strides in sustainability as most of their jeans are made from organic or recycled cotton.

However these sustainable options tend to be far more expensive than their fast fashion counterparts and while people may be able to invest in a few key pieces it is unlikely that anyone can fill their wardrobe with these brands.

Possibly the easiest way to make your wardrobe more eco-friendly is to buy your clothes second hand. In recent years ‘thrifting’ has even become a trend in itself with many YouTubers and social media influencers basing their entire brand around thrifting. Vintage Kilo Sales, where you buy clothes based on its weight, and vintage shops are pop-

ping up all around Dublin - and let’s not forget your local St Vincent De Paul or other secondhand shops found around the country.

Clothing reselling websites like Depop are also a great way of keeping your wardrobe fresh without buying brand new clothes every time.

Depop allows people to buy and sell their used clothes online, letting you shop online without as much guilt.

By giving away or reselling your old clothes and buying from charity or thrift stores you can prevent perfectly good clothes from going to landfill.

Not only is this form of fashion sustainable, it saves you money as well.

Instead of having to fork out hundreds for highly expensive sustainable brands you can buy second hand and update your wardrobe with the latest trends for a fraction of the price.

First transgender designer at New York Fashion Week Roisin Maguire gives us the rundown on the catwalk causing all the conversations at New York Fashion Week.

T

he debut of designer Pierre Davis and her brand made fashion week history.

Pierre Davis made her debut last week as the first transgender woman to present at Fashion Week in New York. Davis founded her brand ‘No Sesso’ in 2015 which translates from Italian into ‘No Sex’. Now, Davis is making great strides towards inclusivity and representation.

Her collection is being revered, with The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) said she is “making NYFW history”.The CFDA represents more than 500 creators in the industry and is a not for profit trade association. Davis said to the CFDA that her hopes are that No Sesso “will inspire people to be more community-minded and to realise not everything is just about aesthetics or commerce”.

Davis mentioned that she hopes her designs will be judged on their own merits, and not on her identity or the identity of the brand. She believes in fair competition and is delighted to be able to feature her work in NYFW. She also said that her brand is about humanity, being a voice for those who cannot speak up for who they are. The brand, which is agender, shows its collections in chapters rather than collections. The show featured a mix of sporty and formal wear. Davis described it as business wear with a hint of glamour regardless of the gender.

She added that it’s important ‘that people of all inter-

sectional identities are given a fighting chance regardless of their identity. The playing field isn’t level in the world, and it is even more difficult in fashion.’

Other NYFW shows have featured trans models in the past, but the No Sesso collection is different as it promotes growth within the fashion industry.

Models of all shapes and sizes walked the catwalk to keep with the inclusive tone of the brand.

Outfits included imaginative and colourful jackets and loose trousers and vests that were fashioned into skirts She was inspired by powerful business women and so incorporated furry suitcases, power-suits and tracksuits.

In 2018, transgender models became more prominent with the likes of Teddy Quinlivan who came out as transgender in 2016 to CNN Style and Parisian model Ines Rau who made history as the first out trans woman to appear as the Playmate centerfold in Playboy.

A Marco Marco show in 2018 was one of the major

catwalk shows to feature all transgender models. One such model was Gigi Gorgeous who is a YouTube star who tweeted that she has “never been model industry standard, and I don’t want to be, I love my thickness” and thanked Marco Marco “for embracing ALL types of beauty.”

Transgender recognition was often talked about in 2018 especially when Victoria’s Secret who faced backlash after the Chief Marketing Officer, Ed Razek, suggested that transgender models did not belong on the VS runway.

One trans model, Geena Rocera, responded by posting photos of herself with #transisbeautiful.

The first trans designer and all trans runways are clear evidence that the fashion industry is progressing and becoming all inclusive of all sizes and gender.

“

Outfits included imaginative and colourful jackets and loose trousers and vests that were fashioned into skirts She was inspired by powerful business women and so incorporated furry suitcases, power-suits and tracksuits.

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Food

Grub Guide: Shouk Alison Clair gives us the best place in Drumcondra

L

ocated two doors down from Drumcondra Train Station is Shouk, a little restaurant with a big personality. This Middle Eastern and Mediterranean restaurant serves a range of dishes from vegan to carnivorous, and the best bit? Shouk is dog friendly and BYOB, where the corkage fee for wine is €6 and €1.50 for beer.

Initially walking through the door into an intimate cosy room you are met with an array of spicy aromas from all over the Middle East. The room was warm but welcoming. Decorated with paintings and pretty cushions the room had an indie, eclectic vibe.

Some customers have the option of being seated in the back of the building. This is a big conservatory-like room with floor to ceiling windows on two of the four walls. Outside, there is a little courtyard area with more tables, seating and fairy lights. This is a smoking area.

Guests wait at a beach hut themed bar for a friendly waitress to tell us our table is ready.

Fairy lights, flowers and plants filled the room giving it a rustic, jungle like feel. The tungsten glow in the room, paired with the warmth and chatter gave the whole experience a warm, fuzzy feeling. The music, although louder than usual played a relaxing upbeat playlist, which was ever so slightly drowned out by the chatter of other customers.

The delf was willow patterned china, all different, but somehow the fact that they were mismatched gave the place another quirky detail. Empty canisters, jars and other vintage trinkets lined the shelves around the tables.

The menu, while small, featured a range of dishes from tapas-like dishes to rib eye steak served in a pita bread. Finding something to choose was easy, especially

to grab some grub.

if you’re looking to share. The tapas-like menu allows you to order a selection of different dishes, meaning you can really get a feel for all of the food here.

Ordering a small platter ‘The Mezze’ to share for a starter was certainly a good choice. The plate came with falafels, pita bread, a generous helping of hummus and four changing salads. The best of these were a shredded carrot dip in chilli oil and a spicy onion sauce. You have a choice of ordering this platter in small or large.

For €15 you get the “small” platter which is definitely not small by any means.

Shouk is known for its inventive cauliflower dishes, so this one is a must have. Served with a tahini dressing, grilled cherry tomatoes and sprinkled with

share, the food was delicious and so filling. Everything in Shouk is homemade, and you can tell. All of the food tastes so fresh. The falafels was the perfect consistency and the homemade hummus is to die for. Having the option of bringing your own wine/beer is a nice touch, even though they do offer a range of both red and white wines. The house red was a Sicilian Shiraz, priced at €22.50.

This dog friendly and pocket friendly place is a must, especially if you want a chill night with really good food. It caters for vegans, veggies and carnivores too. Besides what’s better than enjoying a good meal while sitting next to a cute pooch? Nothing

Atmosphere: 8/10 Food: 8/10

pomegranate.

This dish was a huge portion, and only €9. Shouk is a place where you can add hummus to every meal, and tahini is actually making cauliflower trendy.

While having only ordered two dishes to

Service: 8/10 Location: 7/10 Value for money: 7/10

Takeaway without the guilt?

San Sab provides a unique experience for the palate that is not being satiated by other Thai “healthy” take aways at the moment. Aoife Horan gives her take on the best takeaway.

W

ith the hustle and bustle of student life, it can be almost impossible to pin down the time to cook three meals a day, commuting, lectures and study can make it difficult to find the time needed for oneself, never mind the time to prepare food.

On those busy days, when you’ve returned home only to realise that the day was so hectic you forgot to eat, there comes the decision on where to get food. This can be a tough one, hit the pangs in your stomach with something homegrown and healthy, or indulge your senses by logging onto Just Eat and finding a take away worthy of your sparse and hard earned student cash and keep your diet in check.

For this, San Sab in Drumcondra is the perfect fit, they’re a local, independent Thai restaurant that you can eat in, call or order online. San Sab is an authentic Thai restaurant that is catered by Thai chefs to deliver authentic, unique and deliciously healthy food straight to your door

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in collaboration with local producers too. They opened in November 2017 and have been feeding droves of St. Pats students ever since, it’s time we Glasnevin students got in on the action.

Among their expansive menu are an array of moderately priced and healthy dishes. Pad Kra Pao, Pad Prik, and Singapore Noodles are among some of the tastiest options on the menu, along with Thai salads that fuse local home grown produce with traditional Thai cuisine, that adds a touch of je ne sais quoi.

The restaurant also provides the more expected Red, Green and Yellow Thai curries and they deliver on flavour in a way one would never expect a takeaway restaurant to do.

The healthiest dishes on offer are the Protein Power Box and the Thai Green Box, perfect lunch options for an on the

go student, that cost under eight euros each, ensuring you won’t break the bank to eat well. San Sab boasts vegetarian and vegan options too for most every dish on the menu, with their base noodle and wok dishes offering a variety of meat options as well as tofu and vegetables for those who choose not to eat meat.

If you’re feeling more indulgent, they boast some hearty dishes including the customer favourite their Crispy Sweet Chili Chicken, Crispy Chicken with Ginger Sauce, the heartier spicier cousin of the customer favourite and the Tamarind Duck, a decadent take on more traditional duck dishes.

San Sab provides a unique experience for the palate that is not being satiated by other Thai “healthy” take aways at the moment.

Their choice to boast traditional dishes as well as Thai fusion makes for a remarkable menu that’s sure to fill a hole in any stomach that meets it. As well as being spoiled for choice, San Sab offers a 20% discount to all students who choose to Dine in or collect their order, ensuring that San Sab will become a staple in all DCU students diet in the coming years.

“

The healthiest dishes on offer are the Protein Power Box and the Thai Green Box, perfect lunch options for the student on the go that cost under eight euros each, ensuring you won’t break the bank to eat well

Beauty

Non-Western Beauty Standards Béibhinn Thorsch explores whether beauty standards in the East are changing as globalisation increases

B

eauty standards in Eastern countries have always differed from those in the West, however as globalisation increases how are these standards changing?

What drives the purchases and influences of those in the Westernised world is varied yet obvious - the drive for younger and fresher skin, a golden tan, perfect teeth, and a slim yet shapely figure is shown through not only advertisements but through fashion, television, and movies also. However as Korean beauty routines and Japanese fashion seeps into Western culture, and as globalisation continues to detract from the idea of certain groups of people needing to follow a certain ‘look’, it is important we see where these new standards first began.

In Asian countries, a current trend is to strive for a mix of both Asian and Western beauty ideals in to your look. These trends are seen through the type of models hired for acting and advertising work. In China, one of the most popular actresses is a quarter German and three-quarters Chinese. In South Korea, 11-year old model Ella Gross is half-American and has been called “the most gorgeous child model in the world” by the local media.

In China, small feet are also drawn into the equation of beauty. China has long been infamous for its history of foot binding, where the tight binding was applied to the feet of young girls to modify the shape and size of them, often resulting in incredibly deformed feet for the rest of their lives.

According to Professor of Asian Civilisations at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Emma Teng, intermixing among ethnic groups dates far back. When European traders arrived in China in the middle ages, mixed families commonly emerged.

However, the mentality of white skin being the most sought after and Western looks being superior is widespread across Asia.

Scholars have noted that

more indigenous facial features and dark-

“

In many Asian countries, white skin is a beauty ideal as it is a symbol of class and privilege.

Larger eyes with double eyelids are now preferred, though in the past the natural look of slim eyes was seen as being tender in nature. er skin have been devalued through colonial rule. Director of the University of Philippines Centre for Women’s and Gender Studies in Manila, Nathalie Africa-Verceles, said most of the popular movie stars and models are mixed race or fully white, saying “Those are the standards - they’re fair-skinned, slim, with high cheekbones and straight noses.”

These standards are far from what many Filipinos are born with, Africa-Verceles says. Many have darker skin, rounder faces, smaller eyes, and curly dark hair.

In many Asian countries, white skin is a beauty ideal as it is a symbol of class and privilege. Larger eyes with double eyelids are now preferred, though in the past the natural look of slim eyes was seen as being tender or weak in nature.

These standards are the same for men in these countries, with body ideals being slightly different as although men are preferred to be skinny they must also be tall if they wish to reach the highest standard.

This is possibly

caused by the more common short stature in Asian men.

The effect of these ‘preferred’ looks is, of course, a pull to plastic surgery. In South Korea 980,313 plastic surgery operations were recorded in 2014, with the market expecting to grow to US$44 billion by 2025. This is also pushed by the extreme competitiveness in South Korean society.

However there is some resistance and push-back appearing from South Korean women in particular, plus-size modelling is growing, with some calling it “natural size modelling”. The scene is, of course, most alive in the capital city Seoul, where recently model Park I Seul held what she deemed a “non-discriminatory” fashion show.

South Korea is known to be deeply conservative and encouraging of sexism as is seen through the country having the largest gender pay gap of all developed countries (in 2017, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development). Also according to a 2018 survey by leading Such Korean recruitment website Saramin, 57 per cent of human resources managers agreed that the appearance of job applicants influences their evaluations.

Compared to Western culture, it seems there is less emphasis on individuality and more on conformity.

Perfectionism and modesty is promoted and has more impact than the individuality and sexualisation which is maintained in Western countries. The values being upheld differ greatly, for better or worse.

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EXPOSURE

Just keep swimming: A Mallard duck swimming around the pond in The Phoenix Park, Dublin. Credit: Mikey Walsh.

Steve the Seagull: Captured on O’Connell Bridge. Credit: Cåit Caden

Monkey-ing around: Captured in the Batu Caves, Malaysia. Credit: Sonja Tutty.

Its a dogs life: Bear the dog contemplating his evening stroll. Credit: Lorna Lawless.

Smile: Gertrude and Dolly the donkeys are happy out with their newly painted red gate. Credit: Alison Clair

Image Credits

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Page 1: RTE Page 2: Donal Corrigan, Page 3: Npl.org, Wikipedia Page 4: Feelgood.com, Vanity Fair, The Playlist, TheStateBanner, Wshu.com Page 5: Pubtrivia.com, TheWrap.com, Deadline.com, TheAtlantic.com Page 6: Hollywoodreporter.com, Rachel Halpin Page 7: Hollywoodreporter.com, TVGuide.com Page 8: Alison Clair, ? Page 9: Deirdre Kelly Page 10: Adelaide.homegiraffe.com, Smartsleeping.com Page 11: Dessertswithbenefits.com, Dennisgrossmd Page 12: Sabrine Donohue, Sonja Tutty Page 13: Orfhlaith Carragher, Wikipedia Page 14: Alison Clair, Pinterest Page 15: Kaiternews.com