VERGE

ISSUE 1VOLUME II

EDITORIAL

Firstly, to all new students, let me give you some words of advice: the third floor corridor of the West Wing is off limits for all who do not wish to die a painful death. To all returning veterans; welcome back and our caretaker has asked me

to remind you that the forest in the grounds is strictly forbidden to everyone.This time of year came around so fast, as it always does. Here we are, so soon, with

a new UCC Express team and our Freshers’ Edition ready to go. It really does seem like only yesterday that I walked out of my last exam with a whole summer ahead of me. So much has happened since then - especially in the world of entertainment. Personally, after four months of practicing, I still haven’t managed to reach the high note of P!nk’s “Just Give Me A Reason” (sadly, not even for Nate Russ’s part). If you’ve been clueless in Magaluf for the past few months, a brief update on the summer highlights goes a bit like this: J. K. Rowling came out as a man and rumour has it that Harry Styles walked out on One Direction to take on the part of King Lear in a gothic production, directed by Stephen Fry; breaking hearts and changing the course of entertainment history as we knew it. You may need to find a secondary source to confirm the previous few lines. Or just ignore me and read the rest of Verge instead - the accuracy of which is guaranteed top notch or I’ll eat Buckbeak.

This year, the Verge entertainment supplement promises to be better than ever. We’ve a strong team of editors and for the first time we’re a proper grown-up pull-out. I know we’re great so it must be a little intimidating but if you have any interest in contributing to any of our sections, the relevant contact details can be found on the inside page of the Express. You don’t need to be experienced; we’ll happily add you to our mailing list. Having your work printed here is a once in a lifetime opportunity- available to all students; of all standards of writing. Last October, all I did was send an email asking to write an article and hey, look at me now! As a Fresher last year, I also recall walking back from the CEC building, exhausted, nervous and debating whether or not to attend a Cancer Society EGM in the West Wing. Shyness nearly got the better of me but for once I didn’t let it and it turned out to be one of the best decisions I ever made. So I can never encourage new students enough to just go out and get involved, it could lead you anywhere. These kinds of opportunities are open to absolutely all students, new or old.

It doesn’t matter which “house you get sorted into”, who you are or what you study here: a simple rule is take a chance but don’t anything you don’t feel like doing. You’re here to find yourself, not someone else but don’t be afraid to talk to the person you’re sitting next to at your first lecture- it’s the easiest time of year to meet new people because pretty much no one else has any friends either!

So, on behalf of myself and the whole Verge team, I hope you enjoy our Freshers’ Issue and the very best of luck for the coming semester. I hope that the time ahead brings a fresh start and new, rewarding adventures for you all equally. But if it’s not all going as planned, don’t worry. There really is a fantastic support system available all year round for UCC students, so you’re never alone here. Help will always be given at Hogwarts to those who ask for it.

THESORTING

x Ellen

2 VERGE

I just finished watching the new Netflix Original Series “Orange is the New Black”. This is based on a true story about a woman who, having just gotten engaged, is sent to prison because of a crime she committed 10 years previously. The show follows her life both in prison and before, as well as the lives of her fellow prisoners and that of her fiancé. It is incredibly well- written and carefully tiptoes around the tropes associated with other “Women in Prison” productions. This is the latest in the excellent line of “Netflix Originals” which include “House of Cards” and the revived “Arrested Development”. If you like the show, rejoice: a second season has already been commissioned.

Liked 2001: A Space Odyssey? Then you will love “Finches of Mars” by Brian Aldiss (2013). Aldiss, (acclaimed author of Red Planet and Super Toys Last All Summer Long) has announced that “Finches of Mars” will be his final sci- fi novel. While a huge disappointment to fans of his work, it is worthwhile that Aldiss finished on a work of such distinction. As strong as the best of Philip K. Dick, “Finches of Mars” is an illustrious look at the happenings of Mars, where the inhabitants discover that although they can live a happy life, Mars is an area that can never be colonised by humans. Part David Attenborough-ish, part H.G. Welles-esque; the book is as tragic as it is visceral. This is philosophical and highly imaginative, posing questions of human morality with extra-terrestrial contact.

“ 4-ROBERT

“

-EOGHAN

Having recently acquired Taylor Swift’s most recent album, “Red”, I must give credit to her, it is actually very good and no, I am not depressed. For a change this album is not just filled with Swift’s usual break-up songs. It includes songs about love and loss but also of new found friendships. My favourite song has to be “Everything has Changed” which features the vocal stylings of Ed Sheeran. Not only does it carry Taylor’s country flare but the raw emotion that comes with Sheeran’s minimal acoustic performances too. Overall, whether you like her or not, Swift does have a talent for song writing and I’m looking forward to hearing what she’ll have to sing about a certain Harry Styles.

“-MÉADHBH

It was a busy summer in terms of catching up with games I missed over the past year. This included “Saints Row 3”, “Tomb Raider”, “Hitman: Absolution” and more. The highlight though? It’s a tough call between two outstanding frontrunners for game of the year: “The Last of Us” or “Bioshock Infinite”. While these are possibly too new to spoil freely, I can say that each game handles a moment of solemn reprieve outstandingly, in what I will readily admit are tear inducing moments for those who got truly involved in the narrative of either game. Which game ranks higher for me if I had to choose though? I’d have to hand it to “Bioshock Infinite” and with new DLC coming soon, I’m ready to jump back in.

“-BRIAN

Editorial Team:Entertainment Editor: Ellen Desmond

Arts & Literature Editor: Eoghan Lyng

Gaming Editor: Brian Conmy

Music Editor: Maedhbh Crowley

Film & TV Editor: Robert O’ Sullivan

Rory O’Connell

Clint Jones

Kate Clerkin

Alan Smithee

Alan Mooney

Cathal Dennehy

Sasha Pineda

Contributors:

With Ellen Desmond

FORTNIGHTLY FAVOURITE

@theCircleGuy

@EoghanLyng

@meadhbh_crowley

@aerach71

@ellen_desmond

ENTERTAINMENT

4

3VERGE

Alan Hurley is one of UCC’s many success stories. A BIS graduate and founder of the

UCC Art Society; Alan is also an artist of outstanding calibre. He has managed to establish himself on an international level and it seems now that the future couldn’t look brighter for him.

It’s hard to believe that only last May he sat his final exams; an ordinary student like anyone else you’d see crossing campus. Though Alan’s Twitter account suggests he is a man who spends his free time “jumping in large puddles, hunting dinosaurs and slamming revolving doors” he certainly seems to have made the time to accomplish much more.

Alan, like countless other students, did not make the right course choice immediately after leaving secondary school, but it wasn’t the be all and end all that the CAO stress hypes it up to be. Alan says of his own experience; “In Leaving Cert, I just knew I wanted to do something artistic. But I didn’t really have a plan besides “being an artist”. I ended up going to CIT to do Graphic Design which I did for a year. But it wasn’t for me. I wanted to be in UCC. Our bus used to stop at UCC en route to CIT and I would see most of the bus empty out there and think...lucky bastards!” It seems that someone with Alan’s passion and skill for art wouldn’t hesitate to open the door of an art college and embark on the path to a Fine Art degree but for him this was never an option. “There was not a hope I’d ever do art in Art College. The way it’s taught doesn’t interest me even a tiny bit. I didn’t want to sit around all day talking crap or making art that only “people in the know” would get. I just like painting, drawing, experimenting and being on my own doing my own thing. And I think that’s a much better way of learning. At least for me.” There is a lesson to be learned here for anyone taking on a degree course that does not align with all of

their passions. That lesson is simply to get up and get involved on campus and in college life. “Just relax and don’t leave it behind. Really. Exams are only pieces of paper. Do a bit of work and you’ll pass them easily. But I always hear people complain that there’s “not enough time” for passions and stuff. Yet people always seem to have the time to go drinking...” It’s really just a question of getting your priorities right and doing things your own way, not just to be part of the crowd. You may only get one shot at college - do you really want to blend in? “Of course it’s good to be serious about your studies, but get out and talk to people, join clubs and societies, talk to random people in a queue! You’ll never again have access to this many people, make the most of it.”

Though he says he can’t ever imagine himself taking on a “BIS job”, Alan has no regrets about his journey in UCC, his course choice or the impact it has had on his progress as an artist. “I absolutely loved being in UCC, and I loved doing BIS. I’d recommend it to anyone. It’s a great course, amazing job opportunities if you’re into it, a great social scene and a very supportive teaching staff.” Alan founded the Art Society to ensure he remained in the habit of constantly creating art. He also ran the society for three years, so he had no fear that art wouldn’t be part of his student life. There’s a society or club for basically everything in UCC so there’s really no excuse. The opportunities and connections you can make through extra- curricular involvement are

endless and the benefits for the CVs aren’t too shabby either. But best of all, it’ll help you find yourself, as it did for Alan. “It made me a bit more confident but it also helped me grow as a person. That sounds cheesy, but it’s true. You meet so many new people every week that you can’t help it.”

Frankly, Alan makes it all sound easy and considering the current “economic climate” one would think the future wouldn’t have much in store for a young artist like Alan. Talent aside, the majority of people claim it’s harder than ever to make your way in the creative arts nowadays. Indeed, many consider it pointless to consider it as a career path at all. Yet, thanks to the rise of technology, we now have the internet to advertise talents. Alan is a prime example of an online PR master, manipulating the facility to benefit his art. At the time of print, he boasted over 15,000 Facebook likes, as well as his own blog, website and 6,000 Twitter followers. He says of a life without social media; “My artwork would probably be stuffed in drawer and I’d be training to be an accountant... The likes of Facebook and Twitter have allowed me to get my work seen by those interested in it.” So, while culture-wise we might not exactly be in Rome in 1600, the availability of the internet is definitely a Renaissance in its own right.

Anyone following Alan’s impressive progress online will be privy to the huge quantity of high quality art he regularly produces. But a question to ask is how he remains so motivated? He seems never to

experience a dry spell, which is all the more impressive when you consider he once balanced these constant online updates with a student life and playing sports. “I just worked at it. I want to get as good as I can possibly be. I don’t want to be on my deathbed thinking “If I worked a bit harder, I could’ve been great, too late now!” So I work as hard as I can, right now, while I have the time. A half an hour every day or two is doable for most people. If you work on your passion for that amount of time, you’ll see yourself get better. And the better you get, the easier it is to work at it. And this becomes a habit until you don’t even think about setting time for it anymore, because you’re just doing it anyway.” The catalyst for Alan’s inspiration is a folder of art photos and things that inspire him. He keeps this on his phone, to give him “a kick” when he’s feeling lazy and to encourage ideas for new projects. This is an approach which he encourages of anyone with an interest in art.

It’s difficult to imagine him as lazy though, as the result of his hard work and dedication paid off this past year with Alan’s first solo exhibition in a gallery. Furthermore, his latest project stands to be one of his most impressive yet. “I’m working on a comic with a buddy that will be published by a recognised comic publisher. I can’t say much yet but this is what I’m excited about the most. The art is fully painted, though I also use mixed media. It’s not like traditional comics.”

There’s plenty more to come from him too and considering how much he has already achieved, Alan really and truly is one to watch out for.

ART TALK

facebook.com/alanhurleyartist

www.alanhurleyartist.com

Above: Alan Hurley at UCC; Top right: A sample of Alan’s work

Entertainment Editor Ellen Desmond talks

decision making, college life and creative passions with artist and

UCC graduate Alan Hurley

4 VERGE

FILM & TV

My favourite TV moment of this summer has to be in Game of Thrones. It’s been very good in general and I love it but the part that sticks out for me came following Viserys’ bad talking of Daenerys when she tried to stick up for herself. That happened a few years ago but this summer we saw her fight back when she casually unleashed dragons and a full army on the city to get revenge. It was truly awesome: don’t mess with Daenerys Stormborn of Targaryen.

SUMMERSCREENSESSIONSRobert O’ Sullivan investigates UCC’s Favourite Moments of Film and TV from this summer

Monsters UniversityFor me, the highlight of summer has been Monsters University. After what some see as a recent dip in quality for Pixar, with the entirely unnecessary Cars 2 and Brave (which just didn’t quite reach Pixar’s exceptional stand-ards for me), what a huge relief Monsters University was. Not only was it a return to form on Pixar’s part but it may also be arguably better than Monsters Inc. This is Pixar’s first prequel and it gives an insight into Mike and Sully’s time at college, where they didn’t just learn all they know about scaring, but also began their exemplary friendship. Smart, sweet and very funny, any shred of doubt I recently had about one of Hollywood’s greatest film studios has firmly been put to rest with this.

-Cathal Dennehy

Nicolas CageNicolas Cage is, in my opinion, the best actor of our time. What began as an ironic fancy for me, loving his cheesy roles in films such as Con Air and Valley Girl, soon became genuine obsession as I watched more and more of his sometimes painfully awful films. Uncovering masterpieces ranging from his early work in “Vampire’s Kiss” to his double act in “Adaptation”, I soon realised that Cage is a hidden genius. Even in his worst films he remains a beacon of joy, throwing himself completely and fearlessly into every role. Through his acting he creates a window into the thoughts, emotions and desires of his characters. Roger Ebert described Cage as being “...unafraid to crawl out on a limb, saw it off and remain suspended in air. No one else can project inner trembling so effectively...” It’s this magnificent talent that grants Cage the power to play any character flawlessly with a commitment and authenticity that many actors can only dream of.

-Sasha Pineda

The Dark Knight RisesI recently watched the finale of Christopher Nolan’s Batman tril-ogy; “The Dark Knight Rises”. Taking cues from Frank Miller’s seminal “Dark Knight Returns” comic, Bruce Wayne has taken an eight year break from being Bat-man. This is the impetus for the crater of plot-holes that is this film. While Miller’s book is fantastic on paper, it doesn’t make sense for a movie Batman to take time off. You may laugh at me poking holes in a film where a man dresses up like a leather animal fetishist. However, when Nolan strides to create an ultra-realistic world, plot holes - such as a broken Bruce Wayne being able to travel across the globe in an incred-ibly short time - are made even more ludicrous. Pure laziness from Nolan et al. This was perhaps the opposite of my favourite on screen moment this summer actually…

-Alan Smithee Django UnchainedBeing a massive fan of Quentin Tarantino, I decided that there could be no better way to spend the summer than working my way through his cinematic catalogue. What began as just watching some awesome movies quickly became “Tarantino Bingo.” Throughout his career, Tarantino visited several themes repeatedly in most of his films, the main one being revenge. Needing one last number, I arrived at his latest effort; Django Unchained. Django is a wonderfully directed film with excellent casting: Christoph Waltz plays an honourable bounty-hunter who frees and helps Django (Jamie Foxx). The two roles make for a very interesting juxtaposition. The Tarantino-typical combination of violence and humour are not only present, but almost too present. For a long time I have stood-by and defended the much-scoffed at belief that Pulp Fiction is the greatest film of all time...that is, up until I saw Django Unchained: the definition of a must-see. -Clint Jones

SharknadoMy favourite moment did not come from a film that will win an Oscar (although in my opinion, it thoroughly deserves one). “Sharknado” is a wonderful film produced by mockbuster aficio-nados “The Asylum”. It doesn’t just live up to their previous efforts (“Ti-tanic 2”); it is much better. “Sharknado” is about a tornado- full of sharks. We have truly entered a golden age of schlock and Sharknado is the B-Movie equivalent of “Gone with the Wind”. One of the best things about it is that it’s utterly shameless. The tagline for the film is “Enough Said!” and it is incredibly apt. It’s a movie about a tornado of sharks: just do yourself a favour and watch it, you honestly won’t regret it. “Enough said!”

-Robert O’ Sullivan

HannibalMy favourite series of the summer was without a doubt Brian Fuller’s delicious take on the Hannibal Lecter mythos. Will Graham (think Shaggy from Scooby Doo, with a lot more emotional scarring) at-tempts to solve mysteries, recreating murders in vivid detail using his intense power of empathy. In the meantime, his colleague, the renowned psychiatrist Dr Hannibal Lecter, goes about cooking people. If watching Mads Mikkelsen “strut around the place snacking on rude people like the suave cavalier he is” doesn’t convince you that this series is worth watching then I don’t know what will. You have to admit, Lecter is pretty creative in the kitchen but in fairness his sister was eaten by Nazis, or something, so I think he’s entitled to eat you if you don’t put your used tissues in the bin like a decent human being. Not suitable for vegetarians. -Kate Clerkin

Ever since the summer of 1975, with the release of Steven Spielberg’s Jaws, it’s been a season of high expectations for both film and television. Here are some of UCC’s favourite moments from summer 2013.

-Rory O’Connell

Game of Thrones

5VERGE

MUSIC A TO Z

Music Editor Méadhbh Crowley reveals all about Cork’s music

world in 26 simple letters

Arthur’s Day this year will take place on the 26th of September across the world. Cork’s line-up last year included Fat Boy Slim, Mumford and Sons and Tinie Tempah. It’s such a great experi-ence to go and see the celebrations but be warned tickets sell out fast so get yours ASAP.

The man; the legend; the Boss. Bruce Springsteen made his Lee-side debut this summer to a crowd of thousands. The man in his 60s played a three and a half hour gig, which was one of the longest concerts I’ve ever been to.

Cyprus Avenue is an intimate venue fitting a maximum of one hundred people. It’s a great venue to see your favourite act in and probably be closer to the music than you’ve ever been as there’s no barriers or security. There’s a few high profile acts playing there over the next few months so I’d recommend checking out what’s on offer.

Delorentos: These lads tend to frequent Cork quiet often and a huge favourite of theirs is the Triskel Arts Centre (more about that later). They’ve played festivals galore this summer and hopefully will make a return to Cork this year with their new album.

Fred is a Cork based band but are actually from Kerry. Formed in 2000 they have released four albums so far and in 2009, Fred was nominated in the ‘Hope For 2009’ category at the Meteor Music Awards.Boy did he put his younger counterparts to shame.

Rory Gallagher:Probably Ireland’s most famous export is the music of Mr Gallagher, born in Ballyshannon Co. Donegal and raised in Cork, Rory was Ireland and most likely the world’s greatest blues-rock guitarist. His famous Stra-tocaster guitar was bought in Crow-ley’s music shop on McCurtain Street which, has sadly closed down after 87 years in business this August.

House of Pain: I don’t know if it’s true or not, but apparently Everlast from HoP was born in Cork; so we will claim him as our own! HoP is mainly famous for the song “Jump Around” which was released in 1992. But you may also know the “Léim Thart” version by none other than UCC alumnus, Des Bishop.

The Jazz Festival:Cork’s annual celebration of jazz takes place from the 25th to the 28th of October and will feature well-known jazz musicians such as Chic & Nile Rogers, Billy Cobham & Spectrum and Snarky Puppy. Even if you’re down to your last few cents there are always free gigs and street performers to get you into the festival mood.

Kids in Glass Houses:Here’s a date for your diary: this Welsh band will be rocking Cork on the 13th of October in Cyprus Avenue. After a successful seven years as a band you can expect that they know exactly how to woo the crowd and are definitely a must see.

Lucy Spraggan: X Factor’s Lucy Spraggan’s stormed up the UK charts last year with her original song “Last Night” before bowing out of the competition due to illness. Good news for us is she’s still pursuing music and will return to Cork for the second time to rock the Pavilion on November 15th.

Mick Flannery: A Cork native, Mick first came to national attention with the release of his song “Tomorrow’s Paper”. His most recent album “Red to Blue” peaked at the number one position in Ireland and he was the first Irish songwriter to win two awards at the International Song Writing Com-petition in 2004, which was judged by his musical hero Tom Waits.

Nile Rogers will be coming to Cork for the 2013 Jazz Festival. If you’re thinking that you know none of his songs, believe me you are wrong. Nile wrote most of the big songs of the 70s/80s such as David Bowie’s “Let’s Dance”, Madonna’s “Like a Virgin” and most famously “Freak Out” for his band Chic.

The Opera House may sound slightly posh, but here in Cork it’s usually very reasonably priced. Over the next few months the venue will play host to many musicians such as Daniel O’Donnell (who unfortunately is sold out; heart-breaking) and Billy Ocean, as well as comedians like Russell Kane and Jimmy Carr.

The Pavilion is not only a bar and night club but also a great venue for album launches and gigs from all levels of musicians. A good few of the newer acts have gigs and launches for free so they’d be a great thing to go see on a Thursday night. Who knows you might even see the next U2.

Here’s a fun fact: the Queen of England came to Cork, whose name inspired the name of the infamous band Queen and they may or may not have visited Cork... Yeah I struggled with this one apologies but Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody is defi-nitely the best written song of all time.

RedFM offers the newest music first and has some great morning shows to brighten up your dreary day. Steve G’s PPI winning-presenting makes “The Hit List”, which is probably the best show on the station.

Sultan’s of Ping FC: These are an 80s band that formed in Rochestown College, Cork. They’re most famous for their song “Dancing in the Disco”, which details a young man’s story of trying to remember the night before and locate his brand new jumper he had lost while “dancing in the disco”, riveting stuff...

Triskel Arts Centre is located right in the centre of Cork’s music scene. On the grounds of a refurbished church, the venue gives a unique experience to all concert goers. Having spoken to many musicians, Triskel is by far one of their favourite venues as the acoustics are superior to the larger of arenas, such as the O2.

The Wanted have frequent-ed Cork many times over the last few years including

this summer’s performance at The Marquee. They are

lovely lads and have mentioned a return to Cork in the near future.

A little known fact is that the X Factor preliminary auditions were held in Cork this year. Unfortunately, these weren’t the big shot Gary and Louis auditions but the ones to decide who was good enough (or tone deaf enough) to appear in the televised auditions.

Now for those who aren’t from Cork, Youghal is pronounced “y’all” (just to save yourself from embarrassment). The second annual Youghal Festival of Choirs will showcase choirs from all over Ireland at a concert on the 4th of October at St. Mary’s Collegiate Church.

Zeppelin’s was founded in 1997 and according to them is one of the liveliest bars in Cork. The bar has a small venue overhead where a weekly “Singer Songwriter Open-Mic Night” is held every Tuesday. Although it’s small it is indeed mighty and well worth a visit, even if just for their “Rockin Hour”.

Ellie Goulding: Ellie played Arthur’s Day in Cork last year and is rumoured to be making her return here again next time around. After meeting her last year and seeing her performance I can only hope that you’ll get the same experience as I had on my first Arthur’s Day.

Indiependance: This music festival takes place every year on the August Bank Holiday weekend and for the past while has been in Mitchelstown. It features artists signed to independ-ent labels which this year included Bastille, Bell X1, Kodaline and Ryan Sheridan. It’s a great value for money festival so you won’t have to save all year for tickets; the 2013 price for 3 day camping was €99 including book-ing fee!

UCC 98.3FM: A must listen to in UCC is our own radio station which is located in the student centre, aka “the one with the New Bar”. It has a mix of talk and generally plays good music so give it a listen.

This year’s Voice of Ireland Final included two Corkonians and of course a Cork winner, local man, Keith Hanley.

ARTS & LITERATURE

6 VERGE

Recommended Reads for College Freshers

Pictures From An Institution (1954): Randall Jarell`s academic satire is a cracking good look at the lives and happenings at a third level institute. The institute of the novel in question, Benton, may be fictitious and satirical, but after reading this terrific work, you may find many Gertrude Johnsons (a character short of temper but full of finesse) and an abundance of Gottfried Rosen-baums (persona complete with an exalted ego and lofty artfulness) walking around UCC. These quirky representations found within the book are readily iden-tifiable. The characters may be fictional and somewhat hyperbol-ic representations of real people, but bloody hell, they ring true.

The Freshman 50 (2010): A suitably anarchic reappraisal of college existence, which details fifty things author Carly A. Heitlinger learned in her first year of college. It is a suitably anarchic affair- though some of the details need to be taken with a pinch of salt. Part memoir, part survival guide, the book is best tipped by the author`s very own comment that it curtails “fifty things I`m glad I knew, I wish I knew, and I wish I didn`t know”. Intrigued? Then read.

High Fidelity (1995):Nick Hornby`s masterpiece is not a book centred around college but it is one written from the perspective of a man who misses his former life as a student. This protagonist is suit-ably acerbic and witty enough to make him readily identifiable with readers - there is a bit of Rob Fleming in all of us. The novel gives an ideal reflection of the relationships made and broken in a college timeframe. Hornby`s genius is that he does not write with rose tinted glasses but delivers an identifi-able reflection of an everyday man. And for once, the film`s also worth a look!

The Catcher in The Rye (1951): Again, not a college book in the strictest sense but is included here because the novel`s main charac-ter is the same age as most people entering this University directly from Leaving Certificate. Simply stated, Holden Caulfield is one of the most identifiable characters of all time; his intense emotional out-bursts are felt by nearly everyone. Caulfield feels like a real person trapped in an age and caught in the alienated stage of late adolescent. His comments and colloquialisms, (“phonies”, “flits”) are instantly re-latable, while the books concluding chapter is a perfect picture of the subjugated thoughts felt by college students during their tenure. Read J.D. Salinger`s great work- it won`t let you down.

Penelope (2012): Rebecca Harrington`s ac-count of a Harvard fresh-man is a brilliant work to read as a fresher entering the gates of UCC. Armed with the advice “don`t play Tetris on your phone at parties” from her knowl-edgeable mother (she`s right. Don`t!), Penelope enters her college life with trepidation. The book fur-ther subverts the fictional college stereotypes implied by Jarell and reveals to readers the truth about college- it`s not all about parties, it`s more about self growth!

UCC Dramat Society`s Alan Mooney gives a run down about upcoming shows held in Cork

To See, or Not to SeePride and Prejudice: The Every-man Palace theatre has gone down the route of musical pro-ductions in bookending its sum-mer schedule. The Jane Austen classic “Pride and Prejudice” is to be given the musical treatment in homage to the novel’s 200th anni-versary. The novel’s reputation as one of the most formidable pieces of early 19th century literature is well documented but whether or not the novel translates well to the musical form will be interest-ing to see. The show itself will run from the 14th to the 31st August.

Orpheus: Late September sees this critically acclaimed opera arriving to the Everyman Theatre from Sunday 22nd to Saturday 28th. “Orpheus” is a new musical take on the archetypal tale of the legendary Greek hero Orpheus, a tale that incoming students of First English will likely encounter in its “Sir Orfeo” incarnation dur-ing the Middle English section of the course.

Last Chieftain – O Sullivan Beara: This one man show from Aidan Dooley, portraying a now rather neglected legend of Irish his-tory, will be shown in The Everyman from Wednesday 11th to Saturday 14th September. I recently had the pleasure of seeing “Love/Hate” `s Tom Vaughan-Lawlor perform his own one man piece in “Howie the Rookie” (incidentally also in The Everyman) and can safely say it solidified my faith in such a sin-gularly focused production.

The Audience: Across the river, Cork Opera House is to continue to stream live shows and will show the National Theatre Live play “The Audience”, which is set to star Acad-emy Award winning actress Helen Mirren who will reprise her role as Queen Elizabeth II. The piece is to be streamed live from the esteemed West End and will portray a series of private meetings traditionally held between the British monarch and the twelve Prime Ministers that have served in government over the last 61 years. These meetings have naturally been the subject of public intrigue due to their very private nature and the feeling that the Queen’s Prime Minister must surely use these meetings as a “confes-sional box” of sorts. No doubt this fly-on-the-wall perspective will make for interesting viewing.

Othello: For more conventional theatre fans, there is National Theatre Live’s “Othello”, which is also being streamed to the Opera House on the 26th and 27th September. Shakespeare always brings a sense of professionalism to a theatre’s line-up due to his authorial foothold on English literature. He has dominated theatre for a very good reason and regardless of your thoughts on live-streamed theatre versus real-live theatre, these are two formidable plays to say the very least and should make for great entertainment.

Arts and Literature Editor Eoghan Lyng writes about five quintessentially college reads

College. The tribulations of youth; The rights of passage; The deliverance of a qualification. How different the word appears from person to person. One`s college experience will remain a defining aspect in the lives of many, if not the defining aspect of their lives. Unsure how to prepare for such an experience? Fear not. This is an experience that has been

written about in length. Here is a selection of five archetypal college reads, meant as a footnote for the eager student who wishes to divulge about their experiences.

GAMING

7VERGE

Sec nd Life LessonsFor a lot of you reading this, college may be your first time truly away from home, in an en-vironment that’s new and alien to you. You’ve made it through the most annoying period in your life, thus far, the Leaving Cert system, and made your way into a college course.Even if it’s Arts. Arts Students: the Magikarp of College

So now what? I’m sure your parents, siblings, lecturers and many more will be throwing advice at you about how to adjust to this new stage in your life. Maybe though, you’ve already learned these lessons first hand before in a different way: in gaming. Over the years as a gamer you’ve likely built up a set of ideals of how a game works and behaviours to accommodate this but how often have you tried to apply these ideas and behaviours in real life? These are some of the things games have taught us that can help you survive college:

It’s dangerous to go alone, take this ad-vice from Gaming Editor Brian Conmy

1. Re-Spec Your CharacterAny game with a Role Playing Game element, character customisation, skill point allotment, load-out prefer-ences etc. has undoubtedly taught you over the years to make sure you are always suited to any given situation. About to fight a Malboro? Equip Ribbon or stock up on Remedies. Playing a Team Deathmatch in Rust or Ship-ment? Make sure you’re packing a shotgun or SMG. You know the drill, always be prepared. Now that you’re in a new environment where you may not know what to expect what can you do though? The truth is the best way to handle this situation may be to generalise. You’ve spent so long in secondary schools or other environments that you’ve gotten into a groove and college will undoubtedly shake that up. There is no better time to genuinely be yourself. If you spent a lot of time before now in a certain group, college is a new place for branching out. Now is a great time to meet new kinds of people from different backgrounds to your own and maybe learn a little about yourself in the process.

2. Fill Out Your MapBack in the bad old days before the internet had every answer to every gaming question you could ever pos-sibly have, games were a little tougher.

In particular the games in the MetroidVania vein like “Super Metroid” or “Castle-vania” were difficult in some specific ways, one of these was not telling the player where to go. Nowadays the majority of games have a HUD or map that tells players where to go at all times, but these games didn’t hold your hand and guide you.

Oftentimes, players made their own maps as they went through the game to aid them in their struggles. Even in modern days when collectibles don’t show up on maps it’s important to search every nook and cranny for that last dog tag, blast shard or audio log.

While you likely won’t need to draw a map of college, unless you’re due next in that one building on the absolute other side of campus to where you currently are, this does teach us a valuable lesson: explore. Having been in college for three full years now I’m still learning about where certain things are and occasionally learning

about facilities or buildings I hadn’t even heard of before. So in your spare time why not take a look around the entirety of the campus, in particular if you’re in subjects that are taught largely off main campus. Pay spe-cial attention to things you will need at some point, this includes the library where you can point and laugh at people who don’t have lives. Until you become one of them. It’s also very satisfying to be able to give someone directions when you’re asked, and you will be asked.

3. Choose Your FactionsAny MMO or console RPG experienced gamers will know the benefits that are tied to joining specific clans/factions/guilds. These often include special items, powers and quest lines. College is much the same except unlike in “Skyrim” and the like, you likely can’t join all available guilds and balance your time with them. Colleges offer a vast array of student led clubs and societies that are a fantastic way to meet new people and try new things. In fact joining Archery and WARPS is about as close as you’ll ever come to ever being in “Tam-riel”; but probably with less stealing.

As well as an array of clubs and societies that will help you meet people and try new things, there are other opportunities in college such as a college paper, like this one, or our college radio station to take part in if you’d like to try new things. All of these can unlock new paths in college life that you could easily other-wise miss. Some can even assist you in life after college if you feel like CV building by joining a club or society committee or writing for the campus publications.

4. Conversation OptionsIn recent years games like “Mass Effect” have added a conversation option to their games that allow for branching paths in the way you speak to Non-Player Charac-ters. These often times allow for radical changes in the storyline of the game and can get you great rewards if you play your cards right. In particular the words “Clemen-tine will remember that” will haunt the player in the Walking Dead and constantly remind them that their conversation choices have ramifications in the game world. This is obviously true of the real world and undoubtedly you’re aware of this by now, however, college will bring you a new set of characters to interact with in differ-ent ways. Having a problem with an assignment? Make sure you can make this issue clear to a lecturer before it’s due and always, always call them by their full title and speak formally with good grammar. You’d be surprised how important that all can be. Having trouble finding your way around? Contact a peer supporter whose e-mail you will have received on orientation. It’s not just important to make sure you talk to people the right way but that you talk to them at all. College has plentiful resources to help students, who may not be coping fully with the adjustment to this new environment, make sure you know what these are and how to access them. If you say nothing think of all the things you could miss out on.

5. Have FunHowever serious games have become lately, between so many games trying to become “adult” and the prevalence of the grey/brown shooters like COD, it’s important to never forget; games are meant to be enjoyed. Despite the many les-sons games may teach you in one way or another, they primarily exist as a form of entertainment and it’s important not to forget this when you’re about to throw your controller against a wall after your thousandth death in “Dark Souls” or even getting stuck on that one level of “Candy Crush”.

So however stressful college may become, always remember that you will get through this. You will beat the Water Temple. You will save the princess. You will stop the apocalypse. Just remember to have some fun along the way. These are just some of the lessons video games may have taught you over the years, I couldn’t quite find where to fit in the “Accept ‘Half Life 3’ is never happening” lesson but maybe that’s for a future issue. If you’ve read this far I hope you found this article enjoyable, the gaming section of this paper is usually two full pages and comprises of reviews, previews, opinion pieces and more. If you’re interested in contributing to the section please feel free to e-mail gaming@uccexpress.ie to be added to our contributors’ mailing list. Enjoy your first few days in college, they will fly.

Show this to a gamer of a certain age and

induce a hate seizure

There will be no arrow to the knee joke