The Hype
“A Gay and a Non Gay Podcast” tackles the tough topics at live show
A Gay and a Non Gay Podcast Live Show combined the light and the dark, humour and solemnity and, of course, gayness and non-gayness.
arts
Television
Britain’s most famous family returns to Netflix for a third season
After two years of development, directing and filming, Peter Morgan’s much loved Netflix drama returns to depict the life, times and private turmoil of the world’s most famous family.
Television
Watchmen mirrors the brutal reality of the US political landscape
Ostensibly a remix rather than direct adaptation of Alan Moore’s iconic 1987 comic, HBO’s “Watchmen” offers a contemporary political perspective on one of the core texts of modern superhero fiction, introducing a largely new cast Read more…
Music
The backing track to Dublin City
A new wave of young buskers have taken over the streets of Dublin. Competing for peak times and areas could cause busking wars but they are all part of a supportive community, says singer songwriter Read more…
Music
Earl Sweatshirt leaves fans wanting more with latest album release
[dropcap]I[/dropcap]t’s difficult to pin down where Earl Sweatshirt belongs in 2019’s music scene. His critically acclaimed album,”Some Rap Songs”, from last year was a departure from his earlier more mainstream efforts, featuring few hooks and Read more…
Music
Nirvana’s “MTV Unplugged” album stands the test of time
[dropcap]N[/dropcap]irvana released their “MTV Unplugged in New York” live album 25-years-ago, and to this day it has remained a reminder of the legacy of the band.
Music
The musicians helping to make climate change a cultural movement
Pop stars such as Lil Dicky are using their music and huge followings to raise awareness of climate change. This social media and music driven activism shows that a boiling point has been reached in Read more…
Film
It’s just a bunch of Hocus Pocus
[dropcap]A[/dropcap]s the evenings grow darker and colder, there’s one thing on everyone’s mind – snuggling up with a hot chocolate, and a Halloween movie to ring in the season.
Music
Two Door Cinema Club send knickers flying in Dublin concert
The set list is taped to the ground beside three microphones with each member of the band armed with a glass of water, a pint of Guinness and a towel.
Television
Criminal highlights the lasting nature of crime dramas
Netflix’s new police procedural anthology series, Criminal, throws out the tried and tested format for something more intense and claustrophobic.
Books
Pippa O’Connor Ormond on living your best life
[dropcap]M[/dropcap]odel, author, mother, wife and successful business woman – Pippa O’Connor Ormond has done it all. A true girl boss. Pippa wrote her first book in 2016. However, in her second book The Pippa Guide: Read more…
The Hype
The significance of album artwork for music
Most people will be able to recognise white squiggly lines set against a black t-shirt and instantly know that it is a piece of Joy Division fan merchandise, or even just a t-shirt you wear to make people think that you know that you have a superior taste in music to them. Read more…
Books
The story of Jaqueline Wilson
Although, Jaqueline Wilson is not exactly like your typical children’s author. She deals with darker subject matters than other children’s books, straying away from fantasies about fairies or stories about a troublesome child who torments his younger brother. Wilson’s stories explored themes such as broken families, domestic abuse, mental illnesses, and the foster care system. Read more…
Music
Mumford and Sons new album impresses fans at exclusive listening party
Wilder beasts ran across the big screen. Predator chased its prey. Wild animals were an extremely appropriate topic considering the nature of this album- to play according to the band’s instincts and disregard critics’ opinions- to venture into “The Wild”. Read more…
Books
Michelle Obama tells her inspirational story in new book
While working for a Chicago based law firm, Sidley & Austin, she met her future husband, Barack Obama. She describes the early days of their relationship of how she would refer to him as an “exotic geek” and later described him as a unicorn. It is evident they formed an unbreakable bond from their initial meeting. Read more…
Film
Creating a good villain is no joking matter
“A protagonist and his story can only be as intellectually fascinating and emotionally compelling as the forces of antagonism make them” said Robert McKee, author and story-consultant. Read more…
Articles
The atypical portrayals of autism on TV
Sheldon himself denies being autistic, stating “My mother had me tested.” And yet: Obsessive behaviors. Social dysfunction. Regressive tendencies. Inability to grasp subtext and sarcasm. Avoidance of physical contact. Anxiety. Scientific savantism. Read more…
Film
Stan Lee’s legacy will live on
His cameos have become an iconic feature in Marvel movies, a feature that fans of the movies look out for. He has had some memorable lines such as “Are you Tony Stank?” in Captain America: Civil War (2016). Read more…
The Hype
Daniel Sloss brings brightness to dark topics
The serious discussion he has about love and society in ‘Jigsaw’ has broken up over 10,000 couples, cancelled 40 engagements and cause 54 divorces, according to his Twitter. “All I’m doing is asking you uncomfortable questions that you don’t have the courage to ask yourself,” he says. Read more…
Television
Making a great second season
The main new figure that has been introduced in part two of the documentary is Steven Avery’s new lawyer Kathleen Zellner. She is known for proving the innocence of wrongly convicted people in the past and was not going to pass the opportunity of taking up the case and presenting Steven Avery. Read more…
Music
Vance Joy runs down to the Olympia Theatre
Joy immediately had the crowd in awe after just one song through his meaningful lyrics perfectly placed upon an infectious beat. There is no doubt that Joy is an incredible songwriter who expresses life experiences with thoughtful lyrics without sacrificing the melody. Read more…
Flux
Caravaggio painting has lived in the National Gallery of Ireland for 25 years
Unlike his artistic peers, he was an advocate of drawing straight on the canvas. He had no time for meticulous sketches of hands, feet or faces. This technique gives a sense of immediacy to his paintings. Read more…
The Hype
Asking for It depicts lad culture on stage in the Abbey Theatre
[dropcap]Asking for It[/dropcap] at the Abbey Theatre is a chilling depiction of ‘lad culture’ perpetrating rape culture as Louise O’Neil writes with a scalpel, making an incision into one of the darker sides of Irish society.
Television
Phily McMahon documentary shows the devastating effects of drugs
“I never got a chance to share any of it with John. I’d give all my All-Ireland wins to still have him here with me today.” The work of the drugs court in Dublin was also a segment, with Judge Anne Ryan leading the judicial response to the drug crisis. The entire programme was efficient in highlighting what has become a health crisis here in Ireland. Read more…
The Hype
Filmic piece at the IMMA leaves audience breathless
Speaking after the screening, she said, “One of the biggest challenges was to stay true to the film in representing a difficult place of the unknown – what happens during and after a last human breath. To allow for a “what if” and to not feel obliged to pull back and end up censoring creative possibility”. Read more…