i kinda think that any portrayal of don giovanni and leporello’s relationship is incomplete if it doesn’t acknowledge that there is both genuine friendship/affection between them AS WELL AS abuse and hatred. they contain fucked up multitudes

the thing is. obviously we are all just playing pretend at the end of the day and there has always been interest in smaller side characters + rarepairs + the like, and obviously a large part of fanwork is fucking with canon and strict adherence to singular readings of the source material are just never going to happen. and yes obviously none of it is that serious and people should do whatever they want as long as they're having fun.

however. i do in fact think there is a very valid twofold critique to the haterism of anti-uwuification posting which is that:

1. quite a bit of it seems to be rooted in the impulse to remove moral impurity

like. this is particularly in regards to people taking character who were either morally gray or flat-out bad people in canon and stripping away any of the characteristics that made them Bad to rehabilitate them as Good People, so that it is Okay To Like Them. and i mean it is one thing to want to write a redemption arc, and it's one thing if ur just grabbing a name and turning that character into an oc and plugging them into ur story--because like, yeah, u can do whatever u want. but i do wonder how much of this rehabilitation is coming from this larger concerning impulse to act like characters have to be morally pure and perfect all the time. and i think it's worth reflecting just on a personal level what's driving u to rehabilitate a character. why don't you want to grapple with the ickier parts of their canon characteristics + actions? are you uncomfortable when other people read them as morally impure? if so, why?

2. breaking a character down into a series of specific labels seems to reflect a very odd view of identity

so this is like. i mean i feel like this tends to happen with very small side characters where people will go: here's my list of headcanons!! and then it'll be like. a list of labels -- gender, sexuality, ethnicity, star sign, mental illnesses, etc. which....the mental illness one is a whole other conversation that i'm not gonna get into atm but. to me the prevalence of this sort of "character-building" just makes me a little....wary, i guess. i've talked before about how i think this impulse to break identity down into specific neat labels is not healthy irl, but even beyond that it's just not very good character building! which--again, have fun, do ur thing, but if you genuinely are trying to create compelling characters for a fanfic then what matters isn't a list of identity labels, it's things like what drives the character, what flaws do they have, what relationships matter to them, their worldview--and the context of the story they exist in also matters and fundamentally shapes them, which is why unless you're creating an oc for a specific story a lot of these random side characters just leave a lot of people scratching their heads and asking "why would i ever care about this person?"

i do also think this tendency to just list identity labels for like. random characters can sometimes come off a bit trivializing. things like gender and sexuality and mental illness are not monolithic experiences, even for people who might use the same label; labels really only matter for the way they interact with the world around them and reflect someone's lived experience, which is why if your character exists outside the context of a story these labels oftentimes feel a bit meaningless and just....idk. especially the treating of mental illness as like a quirky personality trait just really rubs me the wrong way.

anyway! at the end of the day i don't think there's anything wrong with taking an interest in side characters and essentially developing them into your own ocs (clearly--look at what i've written lmao), but i do think it's worth reflecting on why you are interested in this character in the first place and i also think it's worth moving away from this sort of label-centered character building + the idea that characters need to be morally pure to like them if you want to actually develop interesting and well-rounded characters for your stories. i also think it's a bit silly when i see people acting as though there is any moral weight behind which characters you choose to focus on (i.e., talking about the girl side characters is Feminist), although that may need to be a different post bc this one is already very long lol

Thanks for what you said regarding the bnha/LOV/society stuff, truly. I really don't think things like how bad hero society is and the quirk singularity would be brought up practically every chapter that really matters (overall plot wise) in bnha if hori. Was just going to hand-wave everything and say it all worked out because heroes never give up or friendship or something. Not that there's anything wrong with those things, they're essential. But even in a shonen manga, after all the build up and showing the villain's reasons and how the heroes despite saving people aren't really making things better, I don't think hori. Could possibly drop the 'actual change' ball? Right?

The lov can and should be 'saved' (and by that of course I mean live well after everything), but can I ask; if we're getting a mha part 2 like you said you think will happen, how would all of it come together, do you think? Would heroes and villains convince each other or...?

(In response to this)

Oh, well you're very welcome.

I get what you mean about “because heroes never give up or friendship or something” being essential, especially in a Shonen manga. I’d probably be okay with that in the context of being how the heroes beat AFO (instead of it being because they outnumber the villains like 50:1 + a backing of a ludicrous amount of money). I would not be okay with it in the context of resolving government corruption & prejudice. Especially when they’ve frustratingly not been shown to care until now, even when they’re affected by it. And don’t get me started on how that’s not a solution to the Singularity.

That’s all stuff they’ve gotta work to fix, y’know? They’ve got to put in that Plus Ultra effort.

As for what an My Hero part II would be like; well while I’ve long theorized it to happen, I suppose I’ve not thought too hard on what it’d entail. The concept seems so open ended and full of possibilities, and with the time to take exploring them, that I don’t want to get tied down to one cool idea.

...But if you’ll let me indulge myself on the possibilities just a tad:

I guess one idea I’ve had stuck in my head is the idea of, after this war and AFO’s defeat, Tomura taking the PLF (including the jailed members, thanks to Kurogiri) and setting up their own “Villain Society” somewhere. I mean we fans talk a lot about how great/terrible it’d be under Shigaraki’s rule; but this’d be an opportunity to see how that would actually go. We’d see in action; what they’d do better that Hero Society, where they’d struggle and need to improve, and what their own fundamental problems would be. And there's also the bonus of the development inherent to some very destructive people needing to be constructive in order to put their money where their mouths have been the last few years.

From there we’d have these two forces trying to rebuild and grow, probably plenty of opportunity for conflict there; but it also opens the possibility of both sides seeing their own flaws & the other side’s merits for their own eyes. And maybe reconciliation of hero society & villain society could come by way of them picking what each does best and melding them for a ‘best of both worlds’ approach. Something to that effect could be cool.

Also since you brought it up, the Singularity issue is probably something the villains would be best equipped to handle; since it would be a simple matter of reverse engineering Tomura’s singularity-proofing procedure. (And preferably making a deterrent that’s not months-long surgery.) Although if Hori wanted to make that more an end-game threat; maybe the hero side is the one with the technology to do this reverse-engineering, so they need to work together on this and it ends up being one of the big things to bring both sides together. But I’m really just throwing stuff out there now.

Unlocking Creativity: A Guide to Changing Font Styles

In the vast landscape of digital content creation, font style plays a pivotal role in conveying messages effectively. Whether you're crafting a blog post, designing a website, or preparing a presentation, selecting the right font can enhance readability and capture attention. But how exactly do you change your font style to make your content stand out? Let's delve into the intricacies of font customization.

Changing Font Style: A Simple Guide

Have you ever wondered how to change your font style to add flair and personality to your content? Whether you're a seasoned designer or a novice blogger, altering font styles can breathe new life into your creations. Font selection goes beyond mere aesthetics; it influences readability, evokes emotions, and communicates your message effectively.

Understanding the Basics

Before diving into the world of font customization, it's essential to grasp the fundamentals. Fonts are essentially sets of typefaces that define the visual appearance of text. They encompass various styles, including serif, sans-serif, script, and decorative fonts. Each font style conveys a unique tone and serves different purposes.

Here's how you can change your font style effortlessly:

Identify Your Platform: Depending on whether you're working on a word processor, a website builder, or a graphic design tool, the method of changing font styles may vary. Each platform offers its own set of tools and options for font customization.

Selecting the Right Font: Consider the context and audience of your content when choosing a font style. For formal documents, opt for classic serif fonts like Times New Roman or Georgia. In contrast, casual content might benefit from modern sans-serif fonts like Arial or Helvetica.

Exploring Typography Tools: Many software programs and online platforms provide extensive typography tools for font customization. These tools allow you to adjust font size, weight, spacing, and other attributes to achieve the desired look and feel.

Experimenting with Font Pairings: Pairing complementary fonts can elevate your design and create visual harmony. Experiment with different combinations to find the perfect balance between readability and aesthetics.

Consider Accessibility: While experimenting with font styles, ensure that your text remains accessible to all users, including those with visual impairments. Choose fonts that are legible and easy to read, especially when publishing online content.

Final Thoughts

Changing font styles is a simple yet powerful way to enhance the visual appeal of your content and captivate your audience. By understanding the basics of typography and exploring various font options, you can unlock endless possibilities for creativity. So go ahead, experiment with different font styles, and let your imagination soar!

Remember, mastering font customization takes time and practice, but the results are well worth the effort. Whether you're crafting a blog post, designing a logo, or creating a presentation, the right font style can make all the difference. So don't be afraid to get creative and explore new possibilities. Happy designing!

How to Change Font on WordPress

How To Save Money In USA: The Do's And Dont's!

In a world where financial stability plays a crucial role in achieving our goals and securing our future, learning how to save money is an essential life skill.

This is especially true in the United States, where the cost of living can vary significantly across regions.

To navigate this financial landscape successfully, it's essential to understand the do's and dont's of saving money in the USA.

In this guide, we'll explore practical strategies to help you build a solid foundation for your financial well-being.

How To Save Money In USA?

The United States is a land of opportunities and diverse experiences, but it's also known for its high cost of living.

Navigating your way through expenses and finding effective money-saving strategies can make a significant difference in your financial well-being.

It's essential to be proactive about managing your finances to ensure you can enjoy all that this country has to offer without constantly worrying about your bank account.

Whether you're a resident taking your first steps towards financial independence or a visitor exploring the American dream, this comprehensive guide will provide you with a roadmap of the do's and don'ts of saving money in the USA.Are you a Tax Lawyer in USA?   👉Transform Your Brand: Click for Metamorphosis👈

From bustling metropolises to charming small towns, the USA offers a wide array of lifestyles, each with its own set of financial considerations.

By understanding how to optimize your spending, make mindful choices, and harness the resources available to you, you'll be better equipped to thrive financially while savoring the unique experiences this nation presents.

In the following sections, we'll delve deeper into various aspects of your financial life in the USA, offering practical insights and actionable advice on budgeting, shopping smartly, housing hacks, transportation strategies, and more. So, whether you're aiming to build a secure future, embark on exciting adventures, or simply live comfortably within your means, this guide is your key to unlocking the secrets of financial success in the United States.

Understanding The Importance Of Saving Money In The USA

Before diving into the specifics of how to save money, let's first grasp the significance of financial stability in the American context.

The United States, known for its diverse opportunities and vibrant economy, also comes with its own set of financial challenges.

From high healthcare costs to rising education expenses, managing your finances requires thoughtful planning and strategic decision-making.

Impact Of Savings On Long-Term Goals And Emergencies

Saving money is not just about accumulating wealth; it's about securing your future and being prepared for unexpected situations.

Having a substantial savings cushion can make a significant difference in times of emergencies, such as medical crises or sudden job loss.

Moreover, savings play a pivotal role in achieving long-term goals, whether it's buying a house, funding your children's education, or enjoying a comfortable retirement.

The Do's Of Saving Money In The USA

1. Creating a Realistic Budget

One of the fundamental pillars of effective money management is creating a well-structured budget.

Allocating your funds smartly ensures you have enough for your essentials, savings, and discretionary spending. Here's how to do it:

⇒ Track Expenses: Monitor monthly spending, including how to save money on groceries in the USA. Categorize expenses from utilities to dining out, pinpointing areas to cut back.  

⇒ Clear Categories: Align with goals, like a 'Groceries' category. Allocate for rent, transportation, and groceries. Plan meals and shop with lists to optimize the grocery budget.  

⇒ Shopping Strategy: Save on groceries by planning trips, sticking to lists, and using coupons. Explore loyalty programs and cashback apps for added savings.  

⇒ Adjust Regularly: Review and adjust the budget, including groceries. Cutting non-essentials boosts savings, and tactics like bulk buying and waste reduction help.  

2. Embracing Frugal Living

Frugal living doesn't mean sacrificing your quality of life; rather, it's about making conscious choices to maximize the value of your spending. Here are some tips to embrace frugality:

⇒ Meal Planning: Plan your meals and cook at home more often. This reduces the temptation to eat out and helps you save significantly on food costs.  

⇒ Second-Hand Shopping: Explore thrift stores, consignment shops, and online platforms for second-hand items. You'll find great deals on clothing, furniture, and more.  

⇒ Cutting Down on Subscriptions: Review your subscriptions and memberships. Cancel those you rarely use, freeing up extra funds each month.  

3. Comparing and Negotiating

Comparison shopping and negotiation can save you substantial amounts, especially on larger purchases or services. Before making any financial commitments, consider these steps:

⇒ Research Thoroughly: Whether you're buying a new appliance or hiring a service, research extensively to compare prices, features, and reviews.  

⇒ Ask for Discounts: Don't hesitate to ask for discounts or promotions. Many retailers are willing to negotiate, especially if you're a loyal customer.  

⇒ Negotiate Fees and Rates: When dealing with contracts or financial institutions, negotiate fees, interest rates, and terms. Even a slight reduction can translate to significant savings over time.  

4. Taking Advantage of Discounts and Coupons

In today's digital age, there's no shortage of opportunities to save through discounts, coupons, and loyalty programs. Implement these strategies to make the most of your purchases:

⇒ Coupon Hunting: Before making an online purchase, search for applicable coupons or promo codes. Websites and browser extensions can help you find discounts effortlessly.  

⇒ Loyalty Programs: Sign up for loyalty programs offered by your favorite stores. Accumulate points and enjoy exclusive discounts or rewards as a result.  

⇒ Cashback Offers: Utilize cashback apps or credit cards that offer cashback rewards on eligible purchases. Over time, these small rewards can add up significantly.  

5. Prioritizing Debt Repayment

Debt can be a major roadblock on your journey to financial freedom. Prioritizing debt repayment is crucial for saving money in the long run:

⇒ Identify High-Interest Debts: List your debts and identify those with the highest interest rates. These are the ones that cost you the most over time.  

⇒ Snowball or Avalanche Method: Choose a debt repayment strategy that suits your personality and financial situation. The snowball method focuses on paying off smaller debts first, while the avalanche method tackles higher interest debts first.  

⇒ Consider Debt Consolidation: If feasible, explore debt consolidation options that offer lower interest rates. This can help you pay off your debt faster and save on interest.

The Dont's Of Saving Money In The USA

1. Avoiding Impulsive Spending

One of the most common pitfalls in saving money is succumbing to impulsive spending. Here's how to avoid it:

⇒ Practice the 24-Hour Rule: When tempted to make a non-essential purchase, wait for 24 hours. This cooling-off period can help you make a more rational decision.

⇒ Identify Triggers: Recognize situations or emotions that lead to impulsive spending. Finding healthier ways to cope with stress or boredom can prevent unnecessary purchases.  

2. Steering Clear of High-Interest Debt

High-interest debts, such as credit card debt and payday loans, can quickly spiral out of control. Avoid these types of debts by taking these precautions:

⇒ Responsible Credit Card Usage: Use credit cards wisely and only if you can pay off the balance in full each month. Avoid carrying a balance that accrues high interest.  

⇒ Exploring Lower-Interest Alternatives: If you need to borrow money, research options with lower interest rates, such as personal loans from reputable institutions.  

3. Not Ignoring Subscriptions and Memberships

Subscription services and memberships can lead to unnoticed expenses that add up over time. Here's how to manage them effectively:

⇒ Regular Subscription Audit: Periodically review your subscriptions and memberships. Cancel those you no longer use or need.  

⇒ Auto-Renewal Awareness: Be mindful of auto-renewals. Mark renewal dates in your calendar to decide whether to continue or cancel.  

4. Not Neglecting Energy Efficiency

Energy bills can be a significant monthly expense. By neglecting energy efficiency, you're potentially wasting money. Follow these steps to save on utility bills:

⇒  Switch to Energy-Efficient Appliances: Over time, energy-efficient appliances can significantly lower your electricity bill. Look for appliances with the ENERGY STAR label.  

⇒ Unplug Unused Devices: Even when turned off, some devices continue to consume energy when plugged in. Unplug chargers and devices when not in use.  

5. Avoiding Emotional Retail Therapy

Emotional spending can provide temporary relief but lead to regret and financial strain. Instead, adopt healthier ways to manage emotions and save money on activities in the USA:

⇒  Practice Mindfulness: Engage in mindfulness activities like meditation or deep breathing to manage stress and emotions effectively while exploring low-cost or free activities in your area.  

⇒ Healthy Outlets: Find hobbies or activities that bring you joy without involving spending. Discover how to save money on activities in the USA by exploring options like free community events, local hiking trails, or public parks, and spending time with loved ones.  

Additional Tips For Effective Money Saving In The USA

Maximizing Your Savings

While the do's and dont's provide a solid foundation for saving money, there are additional strategies to consider for maximizing your savings potential.

Planning for Big Purchases

The USA offers a wide array of products and services, and sometimes it's tempting to make impulsive purchases.

However, taking a strategic approach can help you save significantly.

⇒ Save Before You Spend: Before making a significant purchase, create a separate savings fund dedicated to that item. This prevents you from relying on credit and incurring interest.  

⇒ Wait for Sales: Many items go on sale during specific times of the year, such as holidays or Black Friday. Patience can lead to substantial discounts on big-ticket items.  

Building an Emergency Fund

No matter how diligently you save, unexpected expenses can arise. That's where an emergency fund comes in handy.

⇒ Set Clear Goals: Aim to save at least three to six months' worth of living expenses in your emergency fund. This provides a safety net during unforeseen situations.  

⇒ Start Small: If saving a significant amount seems daunting, start by setting aside a small percentage of your income each month. Consistency matters more than the initial amount.  

Seeking Professional Financial Advice

Sometimes, navigating the world of personal finance can be complex.

Seeking professional advice can provide you with tailored strategies for your financial goals.

⇒  Financial Advisors: Consider consulting a financial advisor who can review your financial situation and provide personalized recommendations.  

⇒ Retirement Planning: A financial advisor can help you create a retirement plan that ensures your golden years are financially secure and enjoyable.  

Conclusion

Saving money in the USA requires a mix of practical strategies, mindful decision-making, and a commitment to your financial goals.

By adhering to the do's of budgeting, embracing frugality, and making informed choices, you can build a strong foundation for your financial well-being. Simultaneously, avoiding the dont's of impulsive spending and high-interest debt will prevent unnecessary setbacks.

By following these guidelines, you're taking proactive steps towards achieving financial stability and securing your future in the land of opportunities. Remember, effective money-saving is an ongoing journey. As your financial situation evolves, regularly reassess and adjust your strategies to align with your goals and changing circumstances.

With dedication and informed choices, you can pave the way for a brighter and more financially secure future.

The idea that nie huaisang is feminine is any way is just so fucking infuriating and so obviously a very Fucked Up projection of (coughchristiancough) western ideals of femininity 🙄 Also the bioessentialism of it all... just say you think he's more Girly (tm) because he's not as tall and large and his brother..... just say you also portray nie mingjue as a one dimensional mindless brute because of these physical traits.... 🙄 These people are so full of shit, and its the same brand of people who look at jin guangyao and just blatantly feminize him because he's "small"????? Also while I'm there, please stop headcanoning *only* the "small and dainty" men as trans, idk what you think you're doing but its just transphobic (trans headcanons are great but sometimes you see cis people who literally are just doing a fetishized gender essentialism and its disgusting)

I don't like to accuse people of anything because a lot of the time they're just not thinking through the implications. But speaking of trends - again, no one in particular, just the overall tendencies I've seen over time - it's very worrying how this fandom treats gender.

Just to begin with, NHS and JGY are average height at best - it's everybody else that's ridiculously tall, and I think it's in part to set cultivators apart as being more imposing than your average guy. Compare the height of female characters to the "small" guys and you'll see no one could reasonably think they're small enough to be girly. (Also um. Height = gender is just objectively a funny idea. Stilettos are now a fundamental part of male fashion because they make you taller!)

Second, there's a marked trend to apply a very specific Western ideal of manhood to characters. Things like delicate fabrics, jewelry, fans, artistic inclinations - none of these are inherently feminine in the context of the vaguely defined Ye Olde China of CQL. These are all things that are appropriate for a gentleman.

That is to say... There isn't a scale that goes from NMJ at the manliest and NHS at the girliest. They are just embodying different, equally acceptable ideals of manhood: the soldier and the gentleman. NHS is an unusual Nie in the same way LJY is an unusual Lan: they don't adhere to the ideals and obligations demanded by their sects. It's got nothing to do with gender. Note that soft-spoken, art-loving, impeccably dressed LXC is considered an outstandingly impressive man.

Of course I wanna make space for people to explore gender within the safety of fiction! I think it's very understandable to project the experiences either you or people you know have! Seeing NHS who clearly doesn't fit in, and relating that to a different way people might not fit in - gender roles - is, I think, a very instinctive reaction.

However, I think we as a fandom - especially Western and white fans - need to take into account that East Asian men are often infantilized or feminized for, you know, not being the size of a tree and built like a brick wall. So to take a story made for a Chinese audience, point to half the cast and go "Twink!" and even single out some as either "Literally A Child Uwu" or "Clearly A Woman" can feel tone-deaf at best, racist at worse. So I do hope the very human trend of pointing at a character and going "I know/am someone like that!!!" is tempered by the knowledge this might be hurtful if not handled with care.

I don't think saying a headcanon is bad and has to die is fair, but I (maybe naively) think if people are made aware of cultural differences they may be misinterpreting, it's possible they'll be able to look past superficial things to headcanon even more characters as trans or gnc, you know? I don't like to think of this as "banning" femme NHS, but as saying "uh, actually nothing is stopping you from headcanoning other characters as femme! NHS isn't the only valid option! Because canonically, NHS is as femme as, idk, Wen Chao!"

(But also. Let characters who are not NMJ be unapologetically manly. I know it doesn't sound revolutionary for white people, but your experiences aren't universal!)

Hey love, hope you're having a nice day

My mom strongly believes Taemin has a thing for using some sort of element to cover his head in most of his MVs. Obviously we're both too dumb to catch the symbolism (if any) so I thought why not ask someone who knows?

So what do you think? Is there any deep reason behind the head bags or is it just an aesthetic thing?

anon!!!! mwah!!! i'm having a better day because you sent this in!!!!

your mom is right, taemin absolutely has a thing for covering his head, specifically his face! you can see masks and/or veils (under the cut):

in the hit the stage performance of sayonara hitori

in the offsick concert teaser

in the nippon budokan performance of i’m crying

in the move mv here (there are several shots from this scene), and here

in the want mv here

there’s a quick shot of him pulling off a veil in criminal

and of course, advice. and again.

also some other images:

1. from the ngda act 1 promo photos

2. from the 2kids promo photos

3. from the move album scans

4. the cover of ngda act 2 messiah version

5. an actual bag over his head in the criminal mv

6. from the most recent short vcr in the ngda beyond live

7. from the sayonara hitori album scans

this is not an exhaustive list because i know i’ve missed some; i'm 80% sure there was a mask with the red outfit in the ngda act 1 scans but this is enough examples i think to show that it’s definitely deliberate. and i'm not even bringing up all the times he physically covers his face with a body part or it’s obscured through an effect, because then we gotta talk about the famous choreography, the idea choreography, the just me and you vcr, and countless promo photos and album scans from essentially every era in his entire solo career.

the backbone of the kpop industry in its current state is the idols' faces. human nature has proven time and time again that the easiest way to catch an audience is through a pretty face (by whatever the standards are at the time), and in an industry built on militant commercialism, of course the emphasis is going to be on those faces. you can see it in every bit of content. turning physical albums into mass collectibles, with multiple versions, giant photobooks, photocards. an idol’s face IS their uniform. when an idol doesn’t want to be seen, what's the first thing they do? cover their face. (and people still take pictures of them anyways). i’ve seen countless times on vlives and ig lives where an idol is wearing a mask and there will be a stream of “show us your face <3”’s until they do. their face is their brand. every decision a stylist, a publicist, a company makes is to optimize exactly how beautiful they can make their idols look, because that’s by and large what the fans want. obviously it's a product of the larger trend in unattainable beauty standards fueled by social media, but i'm not going to talk much about that, because it's a lot. if you’ve followed me for long enough (probably just for more than a few days tbh, since i talk about it constantly), you’ll have noticed that i'm a huge proponent of ‘ugly’ hair trends, and i'm a huge proponent of ugly styling in general. when idols have to be fashion models as well as inhuman performing machines, you’re setting them up to everything that plagues that industry as well, which means massive complexes about their faces and bodies, in the most mild of terms.

‘ugliness’ has freedom in it. part of the reason why i’ve gone extra insane for advice as a whole is because it IS ugly. taemin’s extensions ARE awful. his hands are blackened and dirty the whole mv, and so are portions of his body. he’s visibly flaunting his real tattoos*, which are still deeply stigmatized in the east. we see him get in a car crash. in arguably the most flattering/conventionally attractive outfit, he’s got heavy mascara tear tracks. the song isn’t particularly melodic, the choreography is childish and jerky, the lyrics directly call out the people that treat him like an object. and of course, the mask. all of these are cracks in the facade, confronting us, on purpose, with the crumbling of his perpetually pretty, perfect persona. he's hurt, he's angry, he's got his hands deep in the grime of living in the public eye that the public refuses to see, and now he's going to smear it all over himself until you DO see it. at the end of the mv his triumph is not that he washes himself clean, but that he paints overtop. gesso on an old canvas; a fresh start, but fundamentally informed by the things underneath.

taemin uses masks as a way to deface himself. both in the literal sense of removing his face from the equation but also in the synonomic sense of the destruction, the obliteration, the vandalization of himself. of his brand. known as sm’s pretty boy since he was 14, who is he if he doesn’t have his face?

as a general device the masks are an entreaty to address him on his own artistic merit. but they do often have specific meanings within their contexts. in the i’m crying performance it is to remove himself as an entity all together; he is anonymous now, an unseen narrator to the performers on stage.** in move and want it’s for emphasis on his body; proof that he can still ensnare you with his limbs alone. pulling off the veil/reversing it back on in criminal as a revealing/concealing of the two sides of himself on display in the mv. the literal suffocation of one of those sides with a plastic bag. the voice in idea says ‘you are my messiah,’ but the cover of the album denies confirmation of that identity.

there’s more to be dug into here, especially with the ngda act 2 photos but i’d have to go back through my catholic iconography notes again and this would be a lot longer than it already is. i’m also looking at this from a western perspective, there are undoubtedly double meanings specific to a korean context that i haven’t clocked. but that’s the reason i love his work so much! it stands up to a lot of rigorous analysis and there’s always going to be something that i don’t catch right away, something more to learn.

---

* we learned like yesterday that his hip tattoo is a peony, which he named as symbolizing freedom. peonies tend to have primarily positive meanings across east asian cultures, but in victorian floriography, they mean shame and sometimes anger.

** this style of performance is very common in cirque du soleil shows, especially the older ones from the early 2000s. it's pretty common to have a ballad or operatic singer featured as a ‘narrator’ to a specific story section of routine. i’m sure this is probably frequent in other places as well, but i’m naming cirque specifically because that’s where i’ve seen it the most, and also because there is an actual circus performer on stage during this. plus there’s a guy in a pierrot costume, who is probably the most famous clown***. (although the costume is technically wrong because pierrot is supposed to be unmasked. (ironic plays loudly in the distance))

*** clown of the technical variety and not clown of the honk honk birthday variety.

rambling about taking pain on teen wolf

I’m 99.999% sure that the writers just used and described this phenomenon however it was expedient for them at the time, but in the spirit of turning it into a somewhat cohesive canon, I’ve been thinking about the evolution of the show’s understanding of what it means, and especially what that means for Theo’s, and to a lesser extent Stiles’, emotional growth.

The phenomenon is first introduced by Deaton, who frames it as a form of painless generosity (“Battlefield”):

DEATON: I know you're well aware of what your new abilities can do for you: improved strength, speed, and healing. You ever wonder what it could do for others?

He doesn’t claim it will do anything but take a little of a dying dog’s pain, but says that that gesture is significant (“a little can make quite a difference”). Incidentally, he is also making boys with abusive fathers/Alphas weep at the realization that they can use their power over small creatures in kind and nurturing ways, because that’s exactly the kind of teacher/father figure Deaton is.

Next up in pain-taking-teaching is Peter, who frames the exact same phenomenon as the pained person taking something from the one helping them (“Alpha Pact”):

PETER: It's that spark of power that makes you an Alpha. When you take her pain, she draws on the power that provides you with those special gifts: the power that heightens your senses, your strength; the power that transforms your body.

Everything for Peter is framed in terms of power and transaction, and crucially, it’s a zero sum game (this is also very similar to the Desert Wolf’s perspective on motherhood in “Apotheosis:” “Talia said it was a gift, that the coyote passes down part of her power to her daughter... I call it ‘theft.’”). Part of Derek’s evolution is not to reject Peter’s framework, but to reject his conclusion. He understands it as giving up power, but doesn’t care about power anymore; he wants to save his sister.

Then, in season 5, Deucalion uses taking pain as a way to consume someone else’s power. This is fascinating! Deucalion has inverted another traditional werewolf thing. He’s made a pack of Alphas, destroyed Betas instead of creating them, and now he turns taking pain into a way to take power instead of giving it up. I think this is why we only ever see Deucalion describe taking pain like this. Unsurprisingly, Theo seems to be his only student, and he understands it “perfectly,” since Theo, like Deucalion, is used to breaking the rules/norms of the supernatural world. It’s very significant to me that Theo subsequently takes pain from Josh, Tracy, and even the Beast. The boy can do it! He just does it in this toxic way that represents everything awful about his pre-Hell outlook on life.

Because, of course, after he comes back, Theo can’t anymore. Mason sees this and claims that it’s because Theo doesn’t care--and certainly, caring seems to be fundamental when Deaton introduces it. That’s why, I think, Isaac does it before anyone has explained the phenomenon (Deaton and Scott only explain afterwards); he wants this dog not to be in pain, so he automatically takes it. But! Crucially! Mason is wrong; caring is not required. Theo has taken pain before, and it wasn’t from a place of empathy.

I think Theo is unable to take pain from Mason post-Hell because he only understands taking pain in this toxic way still, and he’s genuinely trying to move away from it. I imagine him thinking to himself, “Okay, Theo, you got this. Just take pain. Don’t do it as part of this lethal consumption of everything Mason is. Don’t eat this boy who represents everything you’re not, the Doctors’ greatest success, at one point the Beast himself. Don’t. Do. It.” 

And, of course, nada. This means, ironically, that Theo can’t take pain anymore not because he doesn’t care but because he does -- he’s trying not to hurt Mason, which is the only way he’s used taking pain before. This shifts Theo’s arc, but to one that I think makes more sense for him. Theo has, imo, always cared--always wanted a pack, and human connection--just in a toxic, destructive way. His redemption arc is learning not to care but how to care, and that’s bound up in learning how to use his skills, which he previously used to hurt people, to help them instead. This fits his friendship with Liam, where he learns to use his ability to manipulate to walk Liam back from the ledge of his anger (when Liam is about to kill Gabe), and use his previously weaponized understanding of the human psyche to helpfully explain to Liam how his fear converts to anger and how emotional triggers work (at the zoo). By the end, Theo has learned how to use his powers for good, essentially, and is in a place where he can confidently take pain from Gabe without also consuming him. Gabe is a fitting recipient for this because, like Theo, he also cares very deeply--he does try to help Nolan--but his caring is ultimately (self-)destructive and doomed.

The last way we see taking pain come up is as a way to spark the healing process, which reverses the initial catalyst for it: causing more pain. Causing pain, it seems, does actually spark the healing process, as we learn from people steeped in old guard werewolf knowledge like Derek and Noshiko. But! That’s not the only way of doing things, and it might not work if the person is already in overwhelming pain. The first person to stumble upon this is Malia, who comes up with it all on her own as a way to help Corey (in “Lie Ability”). This is a fitting symbolic move for Malia, who has been left to come up with her own approach to life as the abandoned orphan of two very toxic parents. In her worst moments, she turns to violence that would make her parents proud. In her best, she thinks of, with almost no awareness of the context, creative alternatives to traditional ways of doing things.

The second instance of taking pain as a catalyst for healing is with Hayden and Liam, after Liam has been hurt by the Beast (“Maid of Gevaudan”). At that point, Stiles represents the old guard knowledge:

STILES: Okay, okay. Okay. Scott did this with pain. He could trigger it. Uh... pain makes you human. HAYDEN: He's already in pain! STILES: Right! Okay, but maybe adding a little more could help take away the pain?

I love Hayden for hearing that advice and immediately rejecting it. Here, Liam and Hayden recall Allison and Scott and the general theme of season one. Allison rejects almost all traditional Argent wisdom in loving Scott. Here, Hayden rejects traditional werewolf wisdom in loving Liam. Causing Liam pain to help him when he’s already in overwhelming agony sounds dumb! She’s going to take pain away instead--and it works! Turns out, some traditions are limiting or even bad and the kids will come up with new, better ways of doing things!

What I really love about this moment is that the old way of doing things is represented here by Stiles, who indirectly quotes Derek’s most destructive philosophy when he says, “Pain makes you human.” Stiles’ entire approach to life is almost always about causing and feeling pain with, I think, largely good intentions. Like the cause-pain-to-start-healing idea, this can work! His willingness to hurt himself and others helps him be brave, and protect people, and make hard decisions he thinks are necessary. But causing pain won’t help anyone past a certain point, when someone is already in a lot of it, and nowhere is this more evident than in Stiles’ arc in season 5. 

Stiles starts that season in a lot of pain, most of which imho stems from the nogitsune (which also presented a funhouse mirror version of siphoning pain where the nogitsune “ate” the pain instead, which Stiles experienced). Stiles’ paranoia about Theo and angst about Scott trusting him is, to me, a sign that Stiles is very much not healed from the events of 3b, where Stiles watched (and was forced to enjoy) Scott trusting the nogitsune and paying for it with a sword twisting in his guts and that pain-eating. His explosive “you trust everyone!” is really about how Scott trusted Stiles when he shouldn’t have (because he was the nogitsune), though Stiles can’t bring himself to say that for many reasons. Most of his distrust of Theo, I think, can be explained by the nogitsune--Stiles claims, after all, that Theo “isn’t Theo,” the same way Stiles wasn’t Stiles when he was the nogitsune. 

But Stiles’ response to his pain from the nogitsune is to lash out at himself and others, which helps exactly no one. In season 5, Stiles is now constantly presented with the lesson that hurting himself and others ultimately won’t help heal anyone, especially himself. He lashes out at seemingly-innocent Theo and it doesn’t help. He hurts his hand and it doesn’t help. He hurts his car and it doesn’t help. He beats Theo up and it doesn’t help. He hurts Scott at the hospital and it doesn’t help. Like Theo, Stiles is in a self-destructive tailspin, where tactics that have worked before are only driving him further and further into isolation and darkness (tempered only by Scott’s endless forgiveness and his father’s blind love, a topic for another day). The climax for this is, for me, when he’s trying to find Lydia in the tunnels with Theo (in “Lie Ability”). Stiles is doing a fantastic job of hurting Theo (who, to be fair, is a little punk who deserves it!), but is forced to realize that unless he quits that and actually does something constructive with Theo, Lydia is going to die. 

But I don’t think he really understands what he’s doing, or conceives of any alternative to it, until the moment with Liam and Hayden, where he essentially voices his philosophy for the first time: pain defines being human as opposed to a werewolf (a sentiment that recalls his rant to Scott about being human), and causing pain is helpful. Stiles watches Hayden reject this, and sees how taking pain away is a much better way to initiate healing. After an initial smile at Hayden’s success, Stiles’ expression, even as he makes a joke about doing things differently (“I’ll kiss him next time”) is extremely morose (see below), as he realizes, for I think the first time, that he’s going to have to find a better way of doing things or he’s just going to be causing more pain. I think this arc is part of what causes him to work with Peter in season 6, after naming him as the epitome of irredeemable evil in season 5.

Panda I know you're a dedicated writer so I'm sure you've read the novel and I'm wondering your thoughts on it

*DRAWS BREATH*

Ok D, ok D, you are giving me an opportunity to rant. Are you ready?

If you asked me this question 10 years ago, I would be absolutely enthusiastic about the novel. I would tell you that I was a voracious reader of “classics” at that time, and that Victor Hugo became a near-instant favourite after I started reading his works. I love sardonic humour (think Terry Pratchett and his Discworld series) and Hugo had it in spades, something which never made it to any screen adaptation in my view, whether for Notre Dame or Les Mis or his other works. 

To set out a couple of the chapter titles from Notre Dame as examples of that type of humour:

Book II Chapter IV - The Inconveniences of following a pretty woman through the streets in the evening Book II Chapter V - Result of the dangers

Even the secondary characters / guest appearances have their moments that tickle me. Then there are parts that are just well-written in a matter of a sentence:

From time to time, a smile and a sigh met upon his lips, but the smile was sadder than the sigh. (I’ve seen people post this quote without context and it’s funny, considering this is actually about a creepy priest.)

So I appreciate Hugo’s writing style (verbose and melodramatic as it may considered today), and go back to his books just to see how he used words. 

As a story which Hugo essentially aimed to be a Shakespearean tragedy for all the characters who are larger-than-life archetypes, it worked and I appreciate the novel from that angle. The ending affected me deeply after I finished reading it the first time, and I still feel a sense of loss and pity when I go back to it.

However, my thoughts on Notre Dame today are more measured. I still love Victor Hugo and his works, but I view Notre Dame with a more ... critical eye now, I guess?  Even if it tries to show how the Church and State abuse their power and marginalise people, it does not depict women and minorities in a progressive way. The portrayal of Esmeralda is itself problematic. One of the biggest twists and also the biggest flaws of the book is the revelation that she is a woman’s long-lost daughter who was literally snatched from the cradle by Roma women. Effectively, any prejudice citizens have of her is made ironic not because she is not in fact a sorceress by virtue of her being perceived as Roma, but because the citizens are ridiculing one of their own without realising this. 

And for a book that I still love, it is one of the rare ones where I like absolutely none of the characters (no disrespect to the people including friends who roleplay them and flesh them out into more nuanced and wonderful portrayals). Take Esmeralda again. She is not stupid but is wilful in her blindness to love Phoebus. Phoebus is a womaniser and a jerk in the book, and she is not ignorant of that. A telling scene is quoted below, after Quasimodo rescued her from a wrongful execution and is looking after her in the cathedral:

One morning, on awaking, she saw on her window two vases filled with flowers. One was a very beautiful and very brilliant but cracked vase of glass. It had allowed the water with which it had been filled to escape, and the flowers which it contained were withered. The other was an earthenware pot, coarse and common, but which had preserved all its water, and its flowers remained fresh and crimson.

I know not whether it was done intentionally, but La Esmeralda took the faded nosegay and wore it all day long upon her breast.

Yeah, I cannot get behind that. I used to be very sympathetic towards novel Frollo, the one character whom Hugo actually spent the most time exploring and building. But he has fundamental flaws and I’m also more critical of him now, especially how he abandons Quasimodo when Quasimodo was caught for doing something at his order. The man does not step up to help his adopted son in any way. Gringoire and Jehan are amusing characters who serve their purpose, but I don’t think I want to see them in real life.

I treat Notre Dame as separate from the Diz version. If anything, the Diz version took a lot more inspiration and shares a lot more similarities with Charles Laughton’s 1939 version.

So in the end, I enjoy each work for different reasons. :)

I think you're definitely giving hussie way too much credit for June egbert thing, especially since he never bothered to explore that side of the character in actual canon and really only bothered to implement the concept because of the toblerone contest, which he recently said doesn't really mean much any ways in terms of what's considered canon

So far yeah I basically agree

but, It’s more I feel like if it were to happen anywhere, it’d happen in Homesquared, so I have slightly higher expectations for the WhatPumpkin team if that makes sense?

I know Hussie already set out the major plot guidelines for Homesqaured, and WhatPumpkin already has their own story to tell,

but June Egbert doesn’t have to be relevant to the overall plot in order to exist and be explored either, so What Pumpkin could still do that, if they decide it’s in character/have already planned on doing that

It’s worth thinking about and asking questions of as well at the very least

I just basically don’t want to ever discount any classpect avenue or possibility without giving it a fair shake, and also I personally think going the June Egbert route would be neat! There’s plenty you can take from John’s already establish backstory that already works on its own for this kind of direction if someone decides to go there

a lot of comes down to the major schism in classpecting fandom being to me at least, being what class should Heir really be paired with, because I think the most common question I get asked, even now, is “have you considered Maid/Heir and Sylph/Witch” and this is more of me being like, I do, I really do consider it, If I see places where it might happen, I have ideas of where I would go if it was a thing solidly

the fundamental problem with it though, is a problem fundamental to homestuck thats Calliope and Hussie reinforcing this idea of destruction = masculinity/creation = feminine

If I didn’t have to work around that I would, but at this point is so ingrained into the overall mythos that its impossible to ignore, or if you did ignore it, you risk ignoring more problematic things, you just have to work with it naturally and find some place for it to be somewhere and make it work

and it just came up naturally with this idea of John possibly June going through this solid bout of dissociation recently, and what that means for Heirs working outside of their toolsets like John is

(the major failing of Equius can be said that he only understood things in terms of dominance and submission and being unable to think outside of that box is what led to his death/failure. interesting context as well to think of Void in terms of coming to terms with Submission/Dominance, as opposed to Light essentially always pushing them out of their space in the spotlight, Void is by nature forced to work under or around or in shadow in order to be effective, they make the idea of nothing into something, use powerlessness to be powerful, paradoxical, as is Void’s nature)

and also because making Heir transition to feminine this way, through this possible story avenue of John transitioning to June, matters more here than it does for other classes like Roxy and Rogue, because Rogues and Thieves leaning female didn’t really mean much or doesnt affect anything except rogues and thieves, 

Because Heirs leaning female would be a huge thing for tipping the scales to Heir/Maid as a possible pairing

and theres the symbolism of the words together when it comes to classes themselves

just like Maid and Sylph have this connection between Women and Fae in classical myths

so too is the idea of a Rich Heir and a Poor Maid a connection you can make, one that meshes well with the paired idea of a Royal and a Clown to boot. Prince Heir are both positions of Power, prince an active one, heir a passive one. Bard and Maid are both positions of servitude, Maid is the active worker though, whereas Bard is the passive joking clown

as well as the Heir and the Manipulator Advisor/Witch is a common traditional setup in folktales, or Witches working with Fae creatures a more modern connection

basically, I look at this and I see a Huge Possibility for where the way I see classpect things might get totally upended, so I’m also preparing for what that would look like as well, don’t want to ignore the possibility that some classpect things might get really shaken up here

(they could also do all of these things, and instead of making Heir more feminine in nature they just reinforce Heir’s nature of being Transitory and Transmutable, reinforcing it’s connection to Change, and solidly gluing Heir to Witch and making gender overall for this pairing matter that much less

the basic challenge of Heirs then becoming “here’s what we’ve given you, now what are you gonna turn it into?” and if you just stay in your safe zone, stay using only what you’re given, then you’ve failed to join in to the action of transformation, failed to become something new and failed to make this thing you’ve been given your own, and thus Failed at being an Heir)

that’s also a way of looking at it, but, I basically wanna make sure I just don’t dismiss any way of looking at it before it happens either way

Top five characters from literature (and why, if you're feeling chatty)

I tend to forget about literally everything I’ve ever read when I’m in a position to talk about it, so I’m going to do my best. 

(1) Bres mac Elatha - Cath Maige Tuired, Cath Maige Tuired Conga, and a load of other assorted medieval Irish myths. 

My boy. My son.

There’s a lot I could say about him, and a lot of it I wasn’t able to fit into my 45 page Capstone. Sometimes, in my (fairly short) life, I’ve been lucky enough to come across something that happened to be exactly what I needed at the time and, for my 14-15 year old self, that happened to be an obscure Irish deity who ends up choking on bog water. As you will. 

I didn’t start out liking him; it’s very, very easy to accept a simple version of the text where he’s just a moustache twirling tyrant, and even though it’s not an interpretation I AGREE with, seeing as it’s…boring, as a concept to me, it’s just as valid as anything, given these texts were meant to be interpreted and reinterpreted and transmitted and then rewritten from the ground up to suit the times. Cath Maige Tuired Bres is actually an anomaly; before that, he seems to have been an esteemed member of the Tuatha dé. 

Which, I suppose, is part of why I like him. There’s an ambiguity about him, a crossing of lines. Even in CMT where he’s at his most villainous, he’s fairly unique, having many of the traits of a hero and, I would argue, he is as much the protagonist of the text as Lugh is. He has the heroic birth with a missing father, the strange childhood, the trial by combat, etc. And yet, in the world of CMT, with the context of the Viking invasions, he just doesn’t have a chance. He’s a fundamentally doomed character from the beginning, with his own actions damning him in the end. 

His very existence in the tribe, the son born out of the most “proper” form of medieval Irish wedlock (seeing as there were nine, I hesitate to apply the term “bastard” to Bres, but the circumstances were NOT the ideal) to an unbetrothed noblewoman of the Tuatha (THE FUCKING SOVEREIGNTY OF IRELAND) and the king of a neighboring tribe, really warps the social structure, and it’s something he kind of carries throughout his life. He isn’t like Cú Chulainn, who is probably the one character who comes closest to him as far as his place in the tribe; he’s not content to serve the maternal side of his family as a champion, doing as he’s commanded. He wants power, and, when he’s removed from power, he takes desperate measures to take it back and, in the process, loses everything.

And, really, that essential liminality extends into his relationship with gender and power structures. While he’s supposed to represent order, as the king, he has no taste for the nobility; he makes them work (!!!!), he doesn’t give a bard due hospitality, he doesn’t give the warriors ale and meat. You get this image of him as this kind of distant, isolated figure in the tribe; not particularly JOYLESS, per se, at least in my interpretation of him (given we don’t see him happy all that often, the interpretation is open), but one who takes joy in things very, very different from the rest of the tribe, or at least from the men. Instead, his closest relationships in the tribe are to the women, who are the ones who elect him. His mother is his most constant ally, being willing to travel with him to see his father, even if it means leaving her own tribe to do it, and she’s the one he goes to IMMEDIATELY for help. And, when his mother addresses her father, it’s notable that SHE’S the one who takes control of the narrative, not Bres. Bres only confirms it when his father asks him. I wouldn’t say that he’s a feminine-coded character, specifically, though I think there are elements of that, but he definitely does not fit the expectations of how a medieval Irish nobleman is to behave with his own sex and with the opposite sex. At the risk of going full-on Pretentious Academic here, it reminds me of what Jeffrey Jerome Cohen wrote in his Seven Monster Theses, where he wrote, “By revealing that difference is arbitrary and potentially free-floating, mutable rather than essential, the monster threatens to destroy not just individual members of a society, but the very cultural apparatus through which individuality is constituted and allowed.” 

And, in other texts, I think there’s decent enough subtext to do a queer reading of Bres. Like, in Cath Maige Tuired Conga, which is a sort of prequel to CMT, Bres appears as the champion of the Tuatha dé, a completely normal part of the tribe, and he meets with Sreng mac Sengann, the Fir Bolg champion, and their meeting is…interesting to me, in how intimate it is, as far as two men from opposing sides sent to essentially size up the enemy. There’s a certain…familiarity with one another. They know that if their tribes go to battle, it’s going to be a bloodbath, and there’s really no personal dislike for one another. They even ask each other where they spent the night! (Which, it’s a common enough phrase that I’m not going to tie it to The Wooing of Emer, but…) And then, at the end of their meeting, they each give each other one of their sharp, pointy weapons to bring back to the tribe as a show of what the other tribe can do, and the text says, “They parted in peace after making a compact of friendship with each other.” It’s just…a very unusual scene, in terms of champions meeting up with one another, and it’s one that I think I could spend a lot more time with if I was given the opportunity. And curiously enough, they keep the vow of friendship! Throughout the rest of the fight, you see everyone being paired off against their equal, but Bres and Sreng never go head to head even when Sreng takes the arm off of Bres’ king. Instead, Bres goes for Sreng’s king. 

Personally, for me, he only really clicked when I was going over CMT again and I was looking over the scene where Bres meets his father for the first time and he says, “Do you have any advice for me?” and I was like…fuck. This is the first time he’s ever met his father, and the first words that his father’s ever said to him are essentially, “Why aren’t you leading your own people? What have you done wrong?” which is doubly painful when you realize that his father was one of the Fomorian lords who were raiding Ireland earlier. At the risk of going personal here, at the time when I read those lines and had them hit me, I was in the process of divorcing myself from my own father, who, like Bres, I had had a distant relationship with, as he lived across the country and was happier with the idea of having a picture on a mantelplace than a daughter who wanted something as inconvenient as his attention. Reading that, and thinking about my own situation, I was like, “Yeah, I get you” and, from then on, I really read him and the text in a wildly different light, especially when I started to think about the repercussions of, say, Bres having the growth of a 14 year old at the age of 7. Like, if you take this text realistically (which…you can or you can’t, because these texts are over the top by their nature), he never had a childhood. He was just moving from one stage of growth to another, with the tribe probably being all too eager to put a spear in his hand because Well, he has the growth for it now and That’s Just What a Man Does. Which is something that I ALSO understood, deeply, and is something that I wish more adaptations of CMT would take into account besides just forcing Bres into the role of “Entitled Brat.” 

Also, if my dissertation up there wasn’t enough: According to some genealogies, he’s The Morrigan’s nephew, given that both Eriu, Bres’ mother, and she are both listed as daughters of Ernmas. Like, if you don’t love him for the batshit insane, Extra antics he finds himself in (like the time the Dagda, his half-brother/father-in-law decides to distract the husband of the woman he’s banging by sending him on a mission to Bres), you’ve got to love him for his batshit insane, extra, goth family. 

(2) The Countess - Makt Myrkanna (AKA Weird Ass Swedish Dracula.)

This will hopefully be briefer than my little essay up there, mainly because there’s really not all that much information on her in text and it’s been awhile since I read her scenes (and even then, a lot of that was me rereading it so that I could write the Countess/Lucy smutfic that I am probably never, ever going to let see the light of day. Which. Vampire smutfic. Light of day.) 

BUT…why I like her. Makt Myrkanna is a very, very different work than the original Dracula, extending the scenes in the castle while condensing the rest of the novel to a truly dizzying extent, to the point where we have no idea whether Arthur Holmwood’s actually…alive by the end of the book given that the last time he was mentioned, he was stalking Lucy’s grave given that he thought she’d been buried alive. RIP Artie. To me, though, it really, really shows in the figure of the Countess, who is very different from the three women Jonathan meets in the original novel. There, even though there is a lot of subtext about what their relationship to the Count is, some of which might not have been printable in a Victorian novel (at least not one to be sold to the public), the brides really only have the two key scenes: Once when they tempt Jonathan and Dracula intervenes, and then again when they try to get Mina to join them and then Van Helsing goes down and stakes them. They’re probably one of the most memorable parts of the novel and certainly a BIG influence on the portrayal of vampire women in fiction, but they’re not…there all that often. 

The Countess, however, is a far more formidable figure. She does not seem nearly as pleased in her current position, seeming to be held in place by Dracula, who it’s heavily, heavily implied might have been her husband (?), though he also shows just as much disdain for the man’s actions towards her in life that it’s kind of hard to tell one way or another. (Like a lot of things in Makt Myrkanna, it’s toyed with and then never picked up again.) No matter what, he definitely wants to bang her and probably has on multiple occasions, given that he describes her, uh, attributes to Thomas while showing him his collection of dirty paintings. (Yes, Dracula has a porn collection in this one.) For the Countess’ part, there seems to be a certain…fear that the Count inspires in her, or at least a sense of caution with her quickly ushering Thomas Harker (inexplicably, Jonathan becomes Thomas in this translation) away. Obviously, she’s on Team Dracula in the end, she very much wants to eat humans, and she’s not a Broken Bird, but you do get the sense that she has some sort of agenda of her own and that, perhaps, there’s a sort of power struggle being waged in Castle Dracula that Thomas is more or less oblivious to (he’s a bit busy dodging human sacrifices). 

She also represents far more of a temptation than the original brides, who Jonathan…is interested in, with the reference to “almost wanting them to kiss me” (or something; I don’t have Dracula on hand and, if I spend too long searching, I know I’ll never get this done), but it’s still not…..in depth. Like, Jonathan loves and is faithful to Mina, even though he’s ashamed when he shows her his diaries because of that line. Thomas Harker, his counterpart here, though, reacts…very differently, trying to keep his calm but, “The moment she turned towards me and locked her incomparable eyes with mine, it felt as though an electric current surged throughout my body. I grabbed a nearby chair and held onto its backrest. She looked steadily into my eyes, and it didn’t even occur to me that I should have greeted her, or that my behavior was doltish. But evidently neither did she see a need for salutations. It felt as though we had already known each other for a long time and therefore didn’t need to explain ourselves.” There’s this hypnotic effect that she has on him, and unlike her three counterparts, she is perfectly willing to wait and talk with him for long periods of time.             

Also, unlike her other counterparts, we get her backstory detailed to us, with her being described as being just as ruthless and cunning as the Count even as a child, with her being described as, holding, “the hearts of men at [her] fingertips, playing with them as a child plays with grapes before sucking out the liquid.” And in her lifetime, she was powerful, with Dracula saying she, “Held the destinies of whole nations in her hands, though few suspected it. Heads of state, kings, and emperors, lay at her feet–or in her arms.” Ultimately, her only downfall was when her husband ended up locking her and her lover in the bedroom together so she could sex him to death. Literally. He jumps out a window. And then her husband had a funeral service performed but, given she’s walking around the castle, we can presume it didn’t stick.                                                                                                                                

(3) Asriel/Mrs. Coulter - His Dark Materials

I’m including both of them because it’s not necessarily the two of them I like as individuals; it’s their dynamic. I mean, I do very much like them as individuals, they are each favs in their own right, but their dynamic is essential to that as well. They both complement and bounce off of each other very well, having this kind of spark where, even though they absolutely despise each other for most of the trilogy, they are really the only two who match each other. They’re both incredibly magnetic; like, in his first scene at Jordan College, I was pretty blown away by Asriel’s presentation, in his confidence, his ruthlessness, his intelligence, his pride and his ambition, all of which are also mirrored in Mrs Coulter. They simply happen to have landed on separate sides, with Asriel trying to essentially tear down everything that Coulter stands for and Coulter seizing control in the Church because it’s the only thing she really has as far as options, since she lacks the privileges Asriel has as a man. 

They both do horrible things in the pursuit of their goals, including killing children, with Coulter being essentially the embodiment of Stranger Danger, and they both harm Lyra both physically and mentally. Still, when they let their guard down, on the FEW occasions they let their guard down, it is shown that they have some amount of love for Lyra, but they fundamentally don’t know how to be parents when all their lives have been spent in the pursuit of power and knowledge and all the ways those two intertwine. 

I’m not sure how much I fully believe in Mrs Coulter’s swerve to motherhood, whether it was the best writing decision, whether it leans into the overall weakening of female characters in the last book or so, with Lyra being another notable victim, but I do think there’s a tragedy in there, as far as her trying but failing. And there is something in the classic femme fatale, generally seen as sexual but cold and unmaternal, dangerous in her embracing of sexuality sans procreation and motherhood (and monogamy!) being allowed to HAVE those kind of feelings and to have a complicated dynamic with the father of her child who she still has obviously holds some feelings for. And for Asriel’s part, he WAS ready to sacrifice Lyra, but he was also HORRIFIED by it, and in the end, he does repeatedly show that he cares, I just think that ultimately he let his own lofty goals get in the way of that until it was almost too late. 

I really think that the best showcasing of them as characters tends to be with them together, such as in the third book when she steals the Intention Craft. She comes in there a prisoner, Asriel doesn’t WANT her there because he knows she’ll pull something, but she’s able to trap him in his own words by playing his commanders like a fiddle, and then she takes advantage over his desire to show off his new toy to get her an in, with Asriel then letting her go with one of his spies in the craft with her, knowing fully well what she’s going to do next and then going back to his improved prototype for more scheming. Like, they’re always trying to one up the other; it’s essentially a form of foreplay for them (as much so as you can get in a kid’s series about killing God), and I can only imagine what they were like when they were actually in a relationship, because they must have been terrifying and yet, for whatever reason, they both fell in love with each other to embark on a forbidden affair with each other, when she was married to a highly powerful man, risking everything. 

So, I’m going to be curious to see what the new BBC series ends up doing with them, both as individuals and as a pair. 

(4) Morgan le Fay - Like, a hundred different Arthurian adaptations 

I’ll be honest: Morgan le Fay in The Magic Treehouse was one of my first crushes. I was always strangely drawn to books with her in them, looking at the pictures for a while. 

These days, I have broadened my Arthurian knowledge significantly, though not nearly as much as I’d like to, but she’s still my eternal favorite. (Literally any book or film that tries me to root for Arthur over Morgan is going to fail miserably.) She is the embodiment of the Other in a woman, being otherwordly in her name and in her powers, but, like Bres and any other character from a long tradition, she is ambiguous in her presentation. Sometimes, she loves her brother and truly wants to expose the love affair between Lancelot and Guinevere to save his honor. Sometimes, she wants to create destruction for destruction’s sake. Sometimes, she reconciles with her brother and gives up the fight, sometimes she only relents when she sees his dead body there. She is always powerful, but the way that power is applied and, at times, not applied is part of what makes her fascinating and why, I believe, she is still subject to so much study after all these years. 

 The backstory as far as her mother and Uther gives her VERY strong motivation for why she would be less than pleased with Arthur, though I tend to favor the story of her expulsion from Camelot for having an affair with a kinsman of Guinevere’s for the delicious, delicious irony involved. 

 She is more of a schemer than her sister Morgause who, despite the oddness of her family, tends to be a loving mother (who just…happens to take a lover many, many years her junior and pays the consequences) in works that don’t take off from sexist Victorian bullshit. (I have many, many feelings over the portrayal of Morgause, and they’re very complicated so I won’t vomit them out.) Like, she successfully steals the sheath of Excalibur, and came very, very close to killing both Arthur AND her husband with the whole Accolon thing. 

Also, she literally has a dude come into Camelot dressed in green so she could terrify Guinevere AT CHRISTMAS and then continues to troll her nephew for a year (and a day!) Like, name a greater icon. 

(5) Shiloh - Saving Shiloh

 A Very Good Boi. Doesn’t die at the end, unlike SOME literary dogs that I could mention whose authors thought that kids needed the slow, creeping inevitability of death forced into them. A+ pupper. 

Tantra Is Dependant On Sacred Texts And It Isn't Pretty Much Intercourse The concept of tantric sex has probably crossed your horizon more than once if you're interested in sexual practices. an expected ancient Indian training, it emphasizes extremely sluggish, intimate connections with yoga breathing and particular rituals, and is generally conceived of being a holy, religious kind of tradition built to help individuals achieve enlightenment by having a hefty dosage of pleasure on the way. Nevertheless, that will nearly be just just what its practitioners that are original in head. Once we'll learn, tantric intercourse is just a perfectly great way to invest your time and effort, however it's had a somewhat odd history fraught with colonial Western attitudes and debauched monks, and that which we see these days is certainly much a unique Age creation, perhaps perhaps not a tradition that is ancient. This does not necessarily matter. Tantric methodologies so you can get it in are pretty awesome: you are expected to give attention to intimate touching that is non-penetrative respiration while stimulated, preferably for quite some time, sufficient reason for specific actions included. The ensuing sexual climaxes, should you choose get around to penetrative sex, could be excellent, and there is nothing incorrect with awesome sexual climaxes or becoming near to your lover. But there is more to sex that is tantric simply incense and an effort at enlightenment. Here is the low-down regarding the stranger components of tantric intercourse's history and just how that which we understand today isn't exactly perfect social training. The essential thing to understand about tantric intercourse is it is centered on a free number of spiritual texts in Sanskrit called tantra that come from the non-mainstream of Hindu, Buddhist, and tradition that is jain. The tantra were truly, put simply, challenging normal spiritual training, and also haven't always had the most useful reputation in their presence. They truly are additionally greatly centered on a complete great deal of various things, from secret rituals to spells and mantras. Their general viewpoint is complicated, it is usually on the basis of the proven fact that concentration can evoke relevant deities inside individuals and unleash their religious power. Additionally they stress that the body requires to be utilized to achieve greater states of awareness, possibly through yoga, or through satisfaction. Sex, as Loriliai Biernacki records in "The Yogini and also the Tantric Sex Rite," is sometimes not a high concern in the tantra; people concentrated on yoga do not point out it at all, and it's really perhaps not almost as "ubiquitous" among tantra texts while you might imagine. It Is About deities that are embodyingAnd Sacred Flu > What is intercourse surely got to do along with it? Well, there are certainly an answers that are few this. One is that the discussion of male and bodies that are female supposed to represent and embody male and female gods, Siva and their Goddess, and through the entire process of sexy sex-times, individuals could focus on "being" these holy numbers, channel their power, and acquire closer to enlightenment and salvation. In a few very early tantra traditions, it gets pretty certain: it is about intimate fluid. " In these previous or peripheral traditions, it had been using a sexually transmitted flow or movement of intimate liquids that the practitioner tapped in to the way to obtain that flow, the male Siva. Siva will not, however, stay alone in this flow of intimate liquids. right Here, their self-manifestation is effected through their feminine hypostasis, the Goddess, whoever own intimate fluid holds their divine germ plasm." These times, many tantric intercourse emphasizes "semen retention," or the training of maybe not coming for a long time and many years to develop energy that is spiritual. It is a departure that is radical. Our Very Very First Descriptions Of Tantra-As-Taboo Result From Christian Missionaries The truth that we conceive of tantric intercourse being a sex thing rather than a religion thing comes from some things. One of these is without question the simple fact in the West from the writings of horrified Christian missionaries who witnessed practitioners doing rituals involving eating meat and other "forbidden" practices that we first learned about it. The French Abbe that is missionary Dubois whom published a novel on their travels through Asia and somewhere else in 1807, noted in disgust: "Among the list of abominable rites practiced in Asia is the one that will be just too distinguished; it really is called sakti-puja; sakti meaning power or energy. It is sometimes the wife of Siva to who this sacrifice emerges; often they pretend that it's in honor of some hidden power. The ceremony occurs at night with additional or less privacy. The disgusting that is least among these orgies are the ones where they confine by themselves to consuming and consuming precisely what the customized for the country forbids, and where people, huddled together in indiscriminate confusion, freely and shamelessly break the most typical regulations of decency and modesty." Other missionaries would compose with horror of other items of ritual Tantric training, all, needless to say, in comparison to the anticipated chastity and purity of Christianity. Our image of tantric intercourse as decadent and delightful most likely times through the horrified Abbe. Disapproving Scholars Thought All Of It Started From Degenerate Monks You need to keep in mind that the tantras were not traditional training, and had been frequently highly disapproved of or regarded as sacrilegious. One theory how they may have emerged arrived of this works of Sanskrit scholars like Benoytosh Bhattacharyya within the very early century that is 20th who thought that tantra techniques turned up because monks at the beginning of Buddhist monasteries had been degenerates. It had been a number of years: scholars of Buddhism thought that this extremely distasteful and subversive lot of practices might have resulted in because "official" Buddhism might not have been enough for quelling the urges of monks whenever it stumbled on intercourse and indulgence, so that they made their very own "rites" to pay. We are no longer entirely certain that's the scenario, but it is a theory that is hilarious. It Had Been Popularized In Western Society By Way Of A Victorian Occultist Need to know exactly just how tantra landed within our awareness? The clear answer is, well, a little odd: a Victorian-era occultist once called "the wickedest guy in the whole world." Aleister Crowley ended up being the essential notorious figure of Victorian Europe and dabbled in virtually any mystic tradition he could easily get their fingers on, including, this indicates, tantra and sex that is tantric. Crowley, this indicates, saw intercourse being a source that is supreme of energy, though he might or might not have known a whole lot about tantra in general. It really is probably through him (he had written about this a great deal) that the relationship between intercourse and tantra became so firm within the Western imagination. (The Sanskrit texts had earlier been translated by Sir John Woodroffe, an Orientalist, whom for whatever reason decided he could just compose them beneath the title Arthur Avalon.) since that time, and even though numbers like Alexandra David-Neel, a formidable French traveller who became a specialist in tantra within the belated nineteenth century and lived an eccentric life in a Tibetan monastery, attended and gone in tantra's history, the legacy of the existence within the Western imagination is just a Sting estimate and a number of sexual satisfaction articles. A Lot Of Today's Tantric Sex Practices Have Absolutely Absolutely Nothing To With Tantra Whatsoever We now view as "tantric sex," and Tantra in general, is pretty different from what's actually in the texts and how it was practiced as you may have picked up, what. "as soon as the intimate period, the "mystic Orient" happens to be thought whilst the exotic globe of forbidden sexuality and dark sensuality," Hugh Urban records in Tantra: Intercourse, Secrecy, Politics, and energy within the research Of Religion, including that the majority of our interpretation associated with tantras arises from our personal strange material about intercourse under western culture, especially in the Victorian age, once they first showed up via colonial translations. David Gordon White goes further. He notes in Kiss regarding the Yogini that today's tantric intercourse industry is simply a "funhouse mirror-world," by which "Indian practitioners and gurus just simply take their tips from Western scholars and offer them to Western disciples thirsting for initiation in to the secrets associated with East." The difference that is fundamental he highlights, is the fact that tantra, when it relates to sex at all, is approximately the sexualization of ritual, perhaps perhaps not the ritualization of intercourse. It absolutely was usually supposed to make rituals that are certain for specific reasons in context, never to result in the work of intercourse itself somehow religious and awesome.

Tantra Is Dependant On Sacred Texts And It Isn’t Pretty Much Intercourse The concept of tantric sex has probably crossed your horizon more than once if you’re interested in sexual practices. an expected ancient Indian training, it emphasizes extremely sluggish, intimate connections with yoga breathing and particular rituals, and is generally conceived of being a holy, religious kind of tradition built to help individuals achieve enlightenment by having a hefty dosage of pleasure on the way. Nevertheless, that will nearly be just just what its practitioners that are original in head. Once we’ll learn, tantric intercourse is just a perfectly great way to invest your time and effort, however it’s had a somewhat odd history fraught with colonial Western attitudes and debauched monks, and that which we see these days is certainly much a unique Age creation, perhaps perhaps not a tradition that is ancient. This does not necessarily matter. Tantric methodologies so you can get it in are pretty awesome: you are expected to give attention to intimate touching that is non-penetrative respiration while stimulated, preferably for quite some time, sufficient reason for specific actions included. The ensuing sexual climaxes, should you choose get around to penetrative sex, could be excellent, and there is nothing incorrect with awesome sexual climaxes or becoming near to your lover. But there is more to sex that is tantric simply incense and an effort at enlightenment. Here is the low-down regarding the stranger components of tantric intercourse’s history and just how that which we understand today isn’t exactly perfect social training. The essential thing to understand about tantric intercourse is it is centered on a free number of spiritual texts in Sanskrit called tantra that come from the non-mainstream of Hindu, Buddhist, and tradition that is jain. The tantra were truly, put simply, challenging normal spiritual training, and also haven’t always had the most useful reputation in their presence. They truly are additionally greatly centered on a complete great deal of various things, from secret rituals to spells and mantras. Their general viewpoint is complicated, it is usually on the basis of the proven fact that concentration can evoke relevant deities inside individuals and unleash their religious power. Additionally they stress that the body requires to be utilized to achieve greater states of awareness, possibly through yoga, or through satisfaction. Sex, as Loriliai Biernacki records in “The Yogini and also the Tantric Sex Rite,” is sometimes not a high concern in the tantra; people concentrated on yoga do not point out it at all, and it’s really perhaps not almost as “ubiquitous” among tantra texts while you might imagine. It Is About deities that are embodyingAnd Sacred Flu > What is intercourse surely got to do along with it? Well, there are certainly an answers that are few this. One is that the discussion of male and bodies that are female supposed to represent and embody male and female gods, Siva and their Goddess, and through the entire process of sexy sex-times, individuals could focus on “being” these holy numbers, channel their power, and acquire closer to enlightenment and salvation. In a few very early tantra traditions, it gets pretty certain: it is about intimate fluid. ” In these previous or peripheral traditions, it had been using a sexually transmitted flow or movement of intimate liquids that the practitioner tapped in to the way to obtain that flow, the male Siva. Siva will not, however, stay alone in this flow of intimate liquids. right Here, their self-manifestation is effected through their feminine hypostasis, the Goddess, whoever own intimate fluid holds their divine germ plasm.” These times, many tantric intercourse emphasizes “semen retention,” or the training of maybe not coming for a long time and many years to develop energy that is spiritual. It is a departure that is radical. Our Very Very First Descriptions Of Tantra-As-Taboo Result From Christian Missionaries The truth that we conceive of tantric intercourse being a sex thing rather than a religion thing comes from some things. One of these is without question the simple fact in the West from the writings of horrified Christian missionaries who witnessed practitioners doing rituals involving eating meat and other “forbidden” practices that we first learned about it. The French Abbe that is missionary Dubois whom published a novel on their travels through Asia and somewhere else in 1807, noted in disgust: “Among the list of abominable rites practiced in Asia is the one that will be just too distinguished; it really is called sakti-puja; sakti meaning power or energy. It is sometimes the wife of Siva to who this sacrifice emerges; often they pretend that it’s in honor of some hidden power. The ceremony occurs at night with additional or less privacy. The disgusting that is least among these orgies are the ones where they confine by themselves to consuming and consuming precisely what the customized for the country forbids, and where people, huddled together in indiscriminate confusion, freely and shamelessly break the most typical regulations of decency and modesty.” Other missionaries would compose with horror of other items of ritual Tantric training, all, needless to say, in comparison to the anticipated chastity and purity of Christianity. Our image of tantric intercourse as decadent and delightful most likely times through the horrified Abbe. Disapproving Scholars Thought All Of It Started From Degenerate Monks You need to keep in mind that the tantras were not traditional training, and had been frequently highly disapproved of or regarded as sacrilegious. One theory how they may have emerged arrived of this works of Sanskrit scholars like Benoytosh Bhattacharyya within the very early century that is 20th who thought that tantra techniques turned up because monks at the beginning of Buddhist monasteries had been degenerates. It had been a number of years: scholars of Buddhism thought that this extremely distasteful and subversive lot of practices might have resulted in because “official” Buddhism might not have been enough for quelling the urges of monks whenever it stumbled on intercourse and indulgence, so that they made their very own “rites” to pay. We are no longer entirely certain that’s the scenario, but it is a theory that is hilarious. It Had Been Popularized In Western Society By Way Of A Victorian Occultist Need to know exactly just how tantra landed within our awareness? The clear answer is, well, a little odd: a Victorian-era occultist once called “the wickedest guy in the whole world.” Aleister Crowley ended up being the essential notorious figure of Victorian Europe and dabbled in virtually any mystic tradition he could easily get their fingers on, including, this indicates, tantra and sex that is tantric. Crowley, this indicates, saw intercourse being a source that is supreme of energy, though he might or might not have known a whole lot about tantra in general. It really is probably through him (he had written about this a great deal) that the relationship between intercourse and tantra became so firm within the Western imagination. (The Sanskrit texts had earlier been translated by Sir John Woodroffe, an Orientalist, whom for whatever reason decided he could just compose them beneath the title Arthur Avalon.) since that time, and even though numbers like Alexandra David-Neel, a formidable French traveller who became a specialist in tantra within the belated nineteenth century and lived an eccentric life in a Tibetan monastery, attended and gone in tantra’s history, the legacy of the existence within the Western imagination is just a Sting estimate and a number of sexual satisfaction articles. A Lot Of Today’s Tantric Sex Practices Have Absolutely Absolutely Nothing To With Tantra Whatsoever We now view as “tantric sex,” and Tantra in general, is pretty different from what’s actually in the texts and how it was practiced as you may have picked up, what. “as soon as the intimate period, the “mystic Orient” happens to be thought whilst the exotic globe of forbidden sexuality and dark sensuality,” Hugh Urban records in Tantra: Intercourse, Secrecy, Politics, and energy within the research Of Religion, including that the majority of our interpretation associated with tantras arises from our personal strange material about intercourse under western culture, especially in the Victorian age, once they first showed up via colonial translations. David Gordon White goes further. He notes in Kiss regarding the Yogini that today’s tantric intercourse industry is simply a “funhouse mirror-world,” by which “Indian practitioners and gurus just simply take their tips from Western scholars and offer them to Western disciples thirsting for initiation in to the secrets associated with East.” The difference that is fundamental he highlights, is the fact that tantra, when it relates to sex at all, is approximately the sexualization of ritual, perhaps perhaps not the ritualization of intercourse. It absolutely was usually supposed to make rituals that are certain for specific reasons in context, never to result in the work of intercourse itself somehow religious and awesome.

Tantra Is Dependant On Sacred Texts And It Isn’t Pretty Much Intercourse<

The concept of tantric sex has probably crossed your horizon more than once if you’re interested in sexual practices. an expected ancient Indian training, it emphasizes extremely sluggish, intimate connections with yoga breathing and particular rituals, and is generally conceived of being a holy, religious kind of…

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