Sadhbh Ní Riain

With the rise of social media’s ever-increasing popularity, there has also been an emergence of people feeling more isolated, and growing dependent on online communities to replace real human interaction. This is best illustrated by the growth of the manosphere; a loose collection of online communities and subcultures populated by Men’s Rights Activists, Pick-up Artists, and Incels.

Incel, short for involuntary celebate, is a group of young men online that discuss their difficulties forming romantic relationships. However in the past few years this group has become synonymous with mass shootings and violent misogyny. ‘The Dark Underbelly’ is a collection of work exploring this topic, with its aim being to bring awareness to the extremist rhetoric found within these online spaces. Spanning both print and online spaces, it utilises a simplistic language style to educate the public on the truth surrounding these ideals, rather than the glorified image they are portraying.