#(and to clarify this is not an actual criticism of jane a's writing no-one come for me)

[hacash]

the literally only amendment I'd make to pride and prejudice is a flashforward where charlotte collins née lucas is tragically widowed in her late thirties/early forties and uses the financial independence of her widowhood to move to london, buy a nice house, go to parties, take some dashing naval officer ten years her junior as a second husband and pretty much have the life she never was able to have when she was young.

[justforbooks]

Dark Academia novels are some of my personal favorite novels, they are novels that centre on an academic setting. The term Dark Academia, is an unofficial name for the genre, as they, at least in literature, are called campus novels or academic novels.

Dark Academia novels contain elements of both satire and tragedy, and they tend to focus on the humanities and liberal arts, these tend to play a role as the passions of the main characters, which ends up driving them too far. The genre has a tendency to over-romanticize a liberal arts education, and it also generally disregards pock, women, lgbt+ and more. It has in many ways been centered a lot on straight white men, with women playing the role of an innocent, and the token gay man, playing the role of comic relief, and a way for the main character to experiment.

Some of the common tropes found in Dark Academia are:

Murder and death

Strong friendship

An adult authority figure is usually the opponent

Social class differences

These are usually the way in which the author brings forth the actual dark part of Dark Academia.

These strong friendships are usually used as a motivator for the murder in some way, whether it be a positive or a negative friendship.

This opponent also shows the opponent that is the societal norms, as this is also often a huge part of what the main character is fighting against.

The main character often comes from a working class family, while the majority of the peers come from wealthy families. This creates an inert need for the main character to please their peers, as they fear not fitting in.

As Dark Academia takes place in a campus setting, the stories are usually coming of age novels, that tell the story of how one event changed the life of the main character.

When most people think of Dark Academia they think of “The Secret History”, it basically fosters the genre and it is the home for many of the tropes talked about previously, it introduces the event right at the start, the murder of Bunny. This distinguishes the genre from other mystery and thriller novels, as those are usually who-dun-it, the secret history introduced the why-dun-it instead. This creates a thriller based more in the minds of the characters, and not so much in the actual crime committed.

“The Secret History” draws in many ways on the classical world, the main characters in the novel are all students at a liberal arts college, who study classics. This theme of classics also moves into the composition of the novel, as it is in some ways draws on Aristotle’s poetics.

In many ways one can say that the genre of Dark Academia is based in tragedy. In tragedies and in the “tragic vision” there are seven elements, those being:

The conclusion is catastrophic. The ending is perceived as the concluding phase of a downward movement. And the ending is  unhappy as it results in the hero’s or heroine’s fall from fortune and consequent isolation from society.

The catastrophic conclusion will seem inevitable. To the audience of a tragedy, the catastrophe will seem inevitable. Whether grounded in fate or nemesis, accident or chance, the operating forces assume the function of a distant power. 

It occurs, ultimately, because of the human limitations of the protagonist. Ultimately, the instances that we find in tragedy happen because of powerlessness, of undeniable human limitations.

The protagonist suffers terribly. It is because of the human limitations that suffering becomes basic to the tragic vision and the tragedies testify to suffering as an enduring.

The protagonist’s suffering often seems disproportionate to his or her culpability. It is because of the human limitations that suffering also becomes basic to the tragic vision.

Yet the suffering is usually redemptive, bringing out the noblest of human capacities for learning. Despite the inevitable catastrophe, the human limitation, the disproportionate suffering, the tragic vision implies that suffering can call forth human potentialities, can clarify human capacities, and that often there is a learning process that the experience of suffering induces.

The suffering is also redemptive in bringing out the capacity for accepting moral responsibility. Tragic protagonists more frequently have an active role, one which exposes not only their errors of judgment, their flaws, their own conscious or unwitting contribution to the tragic situation, but which also suggests their potentialities to endure or survive suffering, and to attain a complex view of moral responsibility.

These seven elements can roughly be used to describe novels in this genre, as many of them use tropes and archetypes from tragedies. One must always be wary and critical of these theories and models used to sum up entire genres of fiction, as it is never possible to sum up something so diverse and different with just seven elements, but it is a fun thing to analyse the Dark Academia novel with, and to see just how closely they resemble the classic tragedies.

Books in the Dark Academia genre, i have not read all these books but they are books which have been categorized as Dark Academia multiple times:

If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio

On the day Oliver Marks is released from jail, the man who put him there is waiting at the door. Detective Colborne wants to know the truth, and after ten years, Oliver is finally ready to tell it.

Ten years ago: Oliver is one of seven young Shakespearean actors at Dellecher Classical Conservatory, a place of keen ambition and fierce competition. In this secluded world of firelight and leather-bound books, Oliver and his friends play the same roles onstage and off: hero, villain, tyrant, temptress, ingénue, extra. But in their fourth and final year, the balance of power begins to shift, good-natured rivalries turn ugly, and on opening night real violence invades the students’ world of make believe. In the morning, the fourth-years find themselves facing their very own tragedy, and their greatest acting challenge yet: convincing the police, each other, and themselves that they are innocent.

‘What is more important, that Caesar is assassinated or that he is assassinated by his intimate friends? … That,’ Frederick said, ‘is where the tragedy is.’

The Rules of Attraction by Bret Easton Ellis

Set at a small affluent liberal-arts college in New England eighties, The Rules of Attraction is a startlingly funny, kaleidoscopic novel about three students with no plans for the future—or even the present—who become entangled in a curious romantic triangle. Bret Easton Ellis trains his incisive gaze on the kids at self-consciously bohemian Camden College and treats their sexual posturing's and agonies with a mixture of acrid hilarity and compassion while exposing the moral vacuum at the center of their lives.

No one will ever know anyone. We just have to deal with each other. You’re not ever gonna know me.

The Basic Eight by Daniel Handler

Flannery Culp wants you to know the whole story of her spectacularly awful senior year. Tyrants, perverts, tragic crushes, gossip, cruel jokes, and the hallucinatory effects of absinthe — Flannery and the seven other friends in the Basic Eight have suffered through it all. But now, on tabloid television, they’re calling Flannery a murderer, which is a total lie. It’s true that high school can be so stressful sometimes. And it’s true that sometimes a girl just has to kill someone. But Flannery wants you to know that she’s not a murderer at all — she’s a murderess.

She had the look in her eye when you kick and kick at the door and it doesn’t open, when you write a boy letters and letters and he never loves you, not ‘til the day he dies. Not even then.

The Lake of Dead Languages by Carol Goodman

Twenty years ago, Jane Hudson fled the Heart Lake School for Girls in the Adirondacks after a terrible tragedy. The week before her graduation, in that sheltered wonderland, three lives were taken, all victims of suicide. Only Jane was left to carry the burden of a mystery that has stayed hidden in the depths of Heart Lake for more than two decades. Now Jane has returned to the school as a Latin teacher, recently separated and hoping to make a fresh start with her young daughter. But ominous messages from the past dredge up forgotten memories. And young, troubled girls are beginning to die again–as piece by piece the shattering truth slowly floats to the surface. . . .

Yes, he had been preoccupied, but hadn’t that been what I was looking for–someone who wouldn’t pay too much attention, someone who wouldn’t look at me to closely?

Daily inspiration. Discover more photos at http://justforbooks.tumblr.com

[bughead-fic-request]

I would like to thank @leaalda for making these amazing banners.

This is an effort to spread the word about all fan fiction writers in our little fandom. If you would like to be featured or nominate a writer, please contact me. Please reblog this post if you can and check out some of @lessoleilscouchants work!

1. First things first, if someone wanted to read your stories where can they find them.

I’m singsongsung on AO3. My older work is available on Livejournal at ampersandstars.

2. Tell us a little about yourself.

I’m a twenty-something PhD candidate specializing in American Gothic lit. I’m an east coast Canadian living in a city and I really miss the beach. I take weekly ballet classes, I have a Starbucks addiction, I’m impatiently awaiting Tana French’s next novel, and my current favourite podcast is “With Friends Like These.” Like any good millennial, I treat my cat like she’s my child and enjoy avocado. I hope to one day get my act together and write a novel.

3. What do you never leave home without?

My phone, because I am a predictable citizen of the twenty-first century.

4. Are you an early bird or a night owl?

Definitely a night owl. Very much not a morning person.

5. If you could live in any fictional world which one would you choose and why?

I really struggled to come up with an answer for this one. I guess the world of Harry Potter, circa now, so that I could just do some magic and not have to worry about Voldemort.

6. Who is the most famous person you’ve ever met.

Noam Chomsky, I guess?

7. What are some of your favorite movies/TV?

I’m into Game of Thrones, Westworld, Mr. Robot, The Americans, Brooklyn 99, and of course, Riverdale. My favourite movie is The Sound of Music.

8. What are some of your favorite bands/musicians?

Lana del Rey, July Talk, The Lumineers, Fleetwood Mac, and I’m currently loving old-school Beyoncé.

9. Favorite Books?

I have so many! The His Dark Materials series by Philip Pullman, Light in August by William Faulkner, Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen, Caucasia by Danzy Senna, The Likeness by Tana French, The End of Everything by Megan Abbott, and about a hundred others.

10. Favorite Food?

Strawberries.

11. Biggest pet peeve?

People who don’t respect the fact that the left side of the escalator is for walking.

12. What did you want to be when you were little? What do you want to be now?

I wanted to be a ballerina. Now, I generally say I want to be a professor, but in truth I’d like to be a trophy wife with 12 dogs who spends her days writing in front of a window that looks out onto the ocean.

13. What are your biggest fears? Do you have any strange fears?

I’m scared of being trapped in one place. I’m fine with spaces of any size as long as there’s an exit available. If there isn’t one, I get panicky – airplanes are an excellent example of this.  I’m also terrified of raccoons and their creepy little humanoid hands. They’re not trash pandas, okay. They’re little devils.

14. When you are on your deathbed what would be the one you’d regret not doing?

I really regret letting my imposter syndrome prevent me from applying for grants. It was stupid of me, and it could have an impact on my future, but I can’t change it now.

Okay… lets talk about your writing!

15. Which is your favorite of the fics you've written for the Bughead fandom?

Probably “(my youth ain’t) tangled up in bad decisions” just because it’s been such a blast to write.

16. Which was the hardest to write, in terms of plot?

Thus far, “fragile little flame,” because I keep wanting to put Betty in situations so unrealistic that I can’t expect people to suspend their disbelief re: White House internships to that extent.

17. How do you come up with the ideas for you fic(s)? Do you people watch? Listen to music? Get inspired by TV/movies?

Music, almost always, though two fics I currently have in the works (including “fragile little flame”) were inspired by prompts. Movie/TV plot AUs are also fun, but I haven’t written any of those for Bughead yet.

18. Idea that you always wanted to write but could never make work?

There used to be this MTV show about students at a performing arts school called Taking the Stage, and I have, for years, wanted to write a fic based on that show. I tried to write a Gossip Girl one, and now (unsurprisingly) I want to write a Riverdale one, but the plot just never seems to work for me.

19. Least favorite plot point/chapter/moment you’ve written?

I didn’t love writing Polly and Jason’s wedding in “(my youth ain’t)…” The wedding was important to the plot and the progression of Betty’s feelings, but I felt like it kept dragging and I still kind of have “urrrghhhh” feelings toward that chapter.

20. Favorite plot point/chapter/moment you’ve written?

The end of chapter 4 of “we were both young (when i first saw you)”:

And then Betty begins to cry, great big breathless sobs in her chest, making strangled sounds that wrench at his heart. Archie unlocks the truck and Jughead opens Betty’s door, leaning into the car to put his arms around her. “Shh, I know,” he murmurs, holding her tightly. He puts his hand against the back of Betty’s head. “It’s okay, baby, I know.”

Archie has never, in his life, heard Jughead use a term of endearment before, not even sarcastically, but he supposes he’s also never, in his life, driven Betty across town in the darkness with the mark of her mother’s slap on her cheek and blood in the middle of her palms.

This was such an important moment for Betty, Jughead, and Archie, and I’m proud of the way it turned out. Even though I was in charge of Archie’s character development, given that I was writing the fic, I was still sort of proud of him, somehow? It’s a moment in which all three of them really have to grow up – and they do.

21.Favorite character to write?

Cheryl! Cheryl is so, so fun to write. But Betty is my favourite character if I’m choosing a PoV to write from.

22. Favorite line or lines of dialogue that you've written?

I don’t think dialogue’s my strength, but I’m fond of this exchange from chapter 2 of “(my youth ain’t)…”:

Veronica narrows her eyes, inspecting Betty for a moment before she turns her gaze to Jughead. “You look secretive.” He’s concentrating on his computer again, editing photos, and he doesn’t look up when he says, “That’s just my face.”

And this one from chapter 4 of “we were both young”:

“Yeah,” she says quietly. “He gives me something that I need, Arch. I don’t have the words for it.” Trying to keep his voice light, Archie says, “I remember you saying something about love.” “It’s more than that,” Betty says. Last year’s dead leaves, hidden under the snow for so long, dance along the sidewalk in the wind. “I’m not perfect. I’m actually… kind of a disaster. And it’s like… it’s like, that part of me, I can give it to him.” She sighs. “Does that make any sense?” Archie shrugs. “I hear love’s not supposed to.”

23. Best comment/review you’ve ever received?

There was a line in “(my youth ain’t) tangled up in bad decisions” that had a certain meaning I wanted to get across, but I worried that it was too subtle. I hemmed and hawed about it before finally deciding not to clarify it, since I generally try pretty hard to “show not tell.” It ended up not being super obvious, and none of the initial comments mentioned it – and then the next day one comment pointed it out, and I was so happy I may have shed a tear.

24. How do you handle bad reviews or comments?

I’ve never received a constructively critical review or comment, but I’d definitely welcome those. For ‘bad’ comments that are just rude, I delete ’em.

25. If you could change anything in any of your stories, what would it be?

All the fic I wrote in my youth could certainly use some help. Like, for the love of god, 2008!me, stop referring to eyes as ‘orbs’ in every third paragraph.

26. What is your favorite story you’ve ever written? Any fandom?

I think it has to be a tie between “make up words to songs you used to know,” a Gossip Girl Serena/Nate, Serena/Tripp fic and “give me a second, i (i need to get my story straight,” a Hunger Games Cato/Clove fic. 

27. What are you reading right now? Both fan fiction and general fiction?

Fanfiction: pretty obsessed with @stillscape “for the life of me” and “all the road we have to walk,” and also “heart rise above” by @onceuponamirror.

Literary fiction: currently rereading Little Sister Death by William Gay.

Fiction: Every Last Lie by Mary Kubica.

28. Do you have an advice for writers that want to get into this fandom but might be scared?

Just do it! Honestly. I dove into this fandom blind and I haven’t regretted it for a moment. If you have a fic in your head, write it down so you can stop musing over dialogue in the shower. Post it, and adopt a que sera sera attitude about whatever happens next.  

[utopianparadoxist]

“Jake isn’t selfish, you idiot”: A Response

So Vikomprenas has written out a pretty thorough response/criticism to much of my writing re: Active Pages and Passive Knights, and they actually make some pretty good points that I think are worth addressing. 

A lot of stuff they cite is either misunderstanding my points, missing context, or based on my own writing’s execution being flawed, so I think it’s worth clarifying a lot of it. The following is my response to their post, and as such I’ll be referring to them directly from here on in. 

First off, thanks for writing this. I appreciate people being willing to talk to me about this stuff, and even if you were kind of ornery, if most of your anger really is sourced in thinking I think Jake was actually the hypermanipulative abuser and that makes it ok, well--I get that. No hard feelings.

As such, just know the response is v much appreciated!

I’m gonna break this down into sections per character in hopes that’ll help me keep down the length. 

But first, on the Active/Passive distinction:

I’m against the lines “Yang to the wills of others” and “Yin to the wills of others”. I’d argue they should be dropped entirely. 

I’d be curious to hear why you oppose that bit specifically--I think it’s probably kind of stilted and ineffective since most people probably don’t have a strong grasp of those concepts anyway. I’m not exactly married to any particular bit of terminology, so yeah I’m willing to consider that aspect should be dropped.

I also argue that Page and Knight specifically are very close and malleable passive/active-wise, which is the main reason it’s easy to find evidence for either way.

I don’t think we disagree here as much as you think. I don’t think Page and Knight are particularly close or malleable exactly, but I do think the system as a whole incorporates malleability. Which brings me to...

Which of those do you think is closer to what you meant by saying that? Personally, I think the version with “selfless” is nonsense, but the version with “receptive” is very reasonable — and I completely agree with it. But you’ve defined passive, in the classpect sense, as much closer to “selfless” than “receptive”.

[...]

Which of those do you think is closer to what you meant by saying that? Personally, I think the version with “selfless” is nonsense, but the version with “receptive” is very reasonable — and I completely agree with it. But you’ve defined passive, in the classpect sense, as much closer to “selfless” than “receptive”.

I’m curious--did you see the part of the Class Masterpost that goes into the Lord and Muse classes? It’s totally on me if you didn’t--I added that section way after the fact, specifically because I thought it helped clarify this.

Suffice it to say, you’re right--Passive constitutes two different definitions. It’s not that I downplay one over the other exactly, but that I think the Receptive/Proactive distinction is one that can shift over time, while the Selfless/Selfish distinction is much more consistent. 

Alt!Calliope is certainly receptive to Space for untold years, but when she takes action, she exploits it knowingly--she simply does so for the benefit of others. Caliborn, meanwhile, describes himself as having to become “At ease with the forces of inevitability”, which definitely sounds like being Receptive to letting Time benefit him to me.

Hence why I stick to the primary definition of Active/Passive as being “For oneself” vs. “For others”--which can easily be parsed into Selfish/Selfless when framed as general mindsets. 

However, in this particular context, with Jake, I believe both apply. Reading Jake as receptive to whatever Dirk “Forces” him to do is part of why people read Dirkjake as abusive. Reading him as primarily motivated by making Dirk and the others happy is also part of it. 

The best way I’ve seen this put, hilariously, comes from the man himself. I don’t usually quote Hussie on stuff--I prefer to steer clear from Word of God, because by and large, I don’t think it’s necessary. But this is a pretty complicated subject, and this quote puts some ambiguity on Knights as active along with clarifying my point, so I may as well put it here.

You could also look to the passive/active nature of the classes in making some retroactive sense of the Derse/Prospit dreamer duality. Passive/active classes are also a pretty vague thing, and don’t resolve so easily into simple dualities like defensive/offensive and such. Those are the guidelines for understanding them, but there is clearly a lot of flexibility within that system. They seem to suggest tendencies rather than absolute capabilities. 

Like there isn’t a rule that says a passive class could never use an offensive technique. The system is meant to be very flexible, and in the story, classes suggest a little more about a hero’s path and role in the greater quest than what their battle capabilities are. But if we’re saying active/passive literally translates to offensive/defensive for the sake of this topic, then Derse would be very active and Prospit would be very passive. Derse’s job is to attack. Prospit’s is to defend. 

This seems to carry over to the roles of the dreamers too. Dave and Rose turned out to be very active players. Dave time traveling all over the place, making a fortune on stocks and such. Rose went on her crazy solo mission to break the game and fight Jack. 

Jade and John had more passive roles through most of that, players who were “acted upon” by other players and circumstances. John was always being led around by trolls this way and that, drifting around wherever the wind took him. Jade was especially passive for a lot of the story, spending a lot of time falling asleep (or being put to sleep) at key moments. 

It wasn’t until she reached god tier as a Witch (said to be a highly active class) that she became extremely active, making lots of stuff happen, rounding up planets and all that. Rose may have been a similar case, being excessively active as a Derse dreamer, but then flipping over to a passive role upon reaching god tier as a passive class.

Being from Derse means you are from a culture of offense and aggression. Being from Prospit means the opposite. You could argue that these are qualities that either rub off on the dreamers, or they are designated as those dreamers in the first place because of those qualities. 

You could take the view that these are innate tendencies to overcome, as seemed to be the case for Jade and Rose. Or maybe sometimes they are tendencies that are resisted, and need to be understood and embraced. 

As a Prospit dreamer, did Karkat struggle because he was actually passive in nature, but had a very active self image as a leader and conqueror? Was Vriska an even more extreme case of misplaced active behavior from a Prospit dreamer? 

These are yet more things to consider when looking at everything contributing to the hero story of an individual in this game.

Maybe that helps frame what I mean. Any player can behave Actively or Passively in terms of being self-directed or directed by others, or in terms of being proactive or being reactive--of course. People are flexible and multifaceted. But where do they shine? Where are they comfortable? What leaves them feeling fulfilled and happy? 

These are the questions I consider in proposing this system, and they don’t really dissolve into simple answers per Class--instead, the execution depends on the individual. 

Dirk is a very Active player, for example--but his happiest state of being is in being wanted and helpful to Jake specifically, and he spends most of his narrative being incredibly reactive to Hal’s behavior--a period of time in which he’s thoroughly miserable. 

Similarly, Jane is Active, but spends months tending to Jake’s emotional needs...even though she hates it and it leaves her feeling drained and unhappy. And like Rose, Karkat and Dave both grow more Passive as they get older on the meteor--Dave to the point of swearing off Time, Karkat to the point of giving up on Leadership. 

Which brings us to the characters, finally.

Tavros:

So he wants the best for his friends, but he’s not willing to just follow their instructions, preferring to figure out how best to help them himself?

When does Tavros think about his friends all that much, though? Tavros does not demonstrate the fixation on others that Knights, Sylphs, Bards, or Rogues have. He spends most of his session indulging his own personal desire, sleeping the adventure away because it’s what’s best for *him* specifically, and what *he* wants to be doing.

When Tavros reaches out to others, it’s pretty much always to get help from them in some way. 

I would argue that that’s more a matter of Vriska’s personality than it is of Tavros’s, personally — Vriska consistently giving away that she’s not all that comfortable with how hellish their world is, as much as she’d like to pretend otherwise — but analyzing Vriska is well past what I’m trying to do with this.

In your own words: Why not both? When a character showcases the ability to get pretty much every other character to help him in some way or another, and is part of a Class that *also* demonstrates that pattern, it seems kind of weird to remove their influence entirely from one particular case of...a character wanting to help them. Events in Homestuck are regularly caused by more than one thing.

Taking it doesn’t make him a selfish person, it makes him normal. Incidentally, it makes perfect sense for him to be more selfish when dealing with Vriska than he usually is. He’s rebounding from abuse, of course he runs the risk of going unusually far in the other direction. 

It feels like you’re putting a moral prerogative on Selfishness that I actively argue against, and that does not innately exist. Tavros being selfish about this doesn’t mean his contribution is worthless or compromised--it just means he was largely thinking about his own satisfaction and methods while making it. 

Vriska does the same thing, and nobody denies that she’s effective and adds value to the team at various points. Ditto Jade. 

Also, you ignored the part where Tavros immediately followed up the Ghost Army by getting something he wanted in his introduction out of Meenah. By talking her up, much the same way the other Pages do. It’s important to keep track of those consistent behavior patterns. 

Much later, it also allows him to build the army which is crucial to English’s defeat — after all, I doubt he would be particularly inspiring if he were still in a wheelchair. Any Prospit dreamer could easily have seen this in a cloud. Like, say, Kanaya, who conveniently enough also happens to be directly involved in the amputation. 

Holy shit, I am not touching that. Homestucks’ kind of bad treatment of disability aside (and you’re wrong by the way), are you arguing that Kanaya’s clouds could have shown her visions of *the very end of the story, in the Dream Bubbles*? 

Because...no. We have no evidence of that. 

The clouds have never shown events in the Horrorterror’s domain before as far as I can recall, and such reasoning would need to be justified in the story to make any sense anyway. 

As long as we’re indulging each other on being harsh, I can’t believe how bad this argument is. Tavros robolegs don’t even factor into building the army!

 Tavros can walk in the dream bubbles because he DIED AND IS A GHOST, it has nothing to do with his robolegs, he could’ve been evaporated into molecules and he’d still be able to walk and stuff as a ghost because he’s...dead!! Tavros exists as he imagines himself in the bubbles, this was an established thing! 

The end impact of Tavros’ robolegs are that Tavros benefits because he enjoys being able to walk. That’s literally it. Moving on. 

Dave:

This is using “passive” as “receptive” again, but even besides that, it’s just a matter of being a Time player — or anyone in Sburb, really, but Time players have it hardest by far since they’re the ones with actual time powers. I can’t see this as a sign that Knights are passive without extending it to mean that all Time players are passive, which goes against the fundamentals of the class system as Calliope described them. 

This is demonstrably untrue. It’s true all Time players will largely have to comply with loops or die, but Dave by and large managed to keep to his loops incredibly well. 

Contrast with Aradia--who exploited her own tendency to break loops to end up with thousands of copies of herself, and went on to use Time entirely for her own benefit besides after God Tiering, and who has additional Time-based psychic powers even beyond that.

Also contrast with Damara, who actively broke timelines just to hurt the other players--an extremely willful and selfish use of her Aspect, to be sure. All of the Time players must comply with loops on pain of death. That doesn’t mean they all will, or that they’ll do so the same way. 

The scene you linked reads fairly clearly to me exactly opposite of how you’ve read it. Dave simply ignores John telling him that he doesn’t care to hear rap at that moment, and raps anyway. Actually, you later describe a very similar eventas “overwhelm[ing] Tavros with a time-consuming and epically sassy document”. I don’t doubt that doing this to Tavros was far more intentional and malicious than it was to John, but it’s basically the same thing happening.

Uh… you’re giving examples of Dave forcing his aspect on others, and overwhelming them with it. This is exactly the opposite of Karkat refusing to offer his aspect to others. They’re not at all comparable.

I mean, you could read them both more generally as Knights picking and choosing where to send their aspect, but that could be done selfishly or selflessly, and both of these uses are selfish.

Basically. Here, I’m arguing for the use of the verb “Serve” as the delivery of rhetorical defeat. Karkat is “serving” Eridan by cutting off their former bond, Dave is “serving” Tavros by overwhelming him. Don’t know that I’d call Karkat’s behavior selfish, since he’s motivated by thinking about Feferi and Kanaya. 

I’m not sure I’d stand by the John case, in retrospect--all I’m trying to say is Dave is prone to giving his friends his Time, whether they want it or not. That’s not Passive behavior in the sense of receptiveness, but it is indicative of his focus on others. 

I personally read this as him being pushed into a passive persona (note, once again, the persona contrasts its owner in the passive-active dimension) by necessity — after all, someone needed to take care of the minutiae, Dave happened to be well-equipped for it powers-wise, and it already jibes with his persona being cool, collected, and capable of solving problems. And again, I want to stress that Dave certainly isn’t doing this illegitimately or deceptively — only that it’s not necessarily his default position.

This would make sense, if Dave getting healthier and more at ease with himself coincided with him getting more Active. But it doesn’t. Dave coming into his own coincides with him getting more Passive in an activity sense--much like Karkat and Rose. 

It certainly doesn’t diminish the fact that Dave’s focus is consistently on others--the group--rather than himself. This is also true of both Karkat and Latula. 

Karkat:

Actually, here’s a thought. What if the persona is the relationship-aid role? He does quite a bit less of that later in the story, and it would fit the idea that personas oppose their players on the passive-active spectrum as well — leadership can be selfish or selfless, but helping others with their relationships inherently can’t be selfish… Food for thought.

He doesn’t do that less at all. He focuses his behavior in that regard pretty much exclusively on Dave, is all--who sorely needs it. Dave specifically comments on and singles out Karkat above his friends in talking to Dirk and talks about how instrumental having people who cared about him was in helping him understand his own abuse and how to have relationships. 

He also pretty much defaults to engaging in the same behavior with John and Terezi, which notably calms him down. 

As for the leadership thing...did we read the same comic?

DAVE: just wondering how you felt about vriska usurping your leadership role DAVE: and if maybe you wanted to throw a vintage shitfit about that or... KARKAT: OH! KARKAT: OH!!!!! KARKAT: HAHA! KARKAT: HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! KARKAT: THAT'S A GOOD ONE DAVE! KARKAT: WOW! HAHA, HA, HAHAHAHA! ME LEADER?? TOO FUNNY! KARKAT: I AM ENTIRELY AND SINGULARLY BAFFLED THAT IT COULD STILL EVEN *OCCUR* TO ANYONE TO ENTERTAIN THE NOTION THAT I MIGHT STILL BE PLAYING *ANY* ROLE EVEN WITHIN SNIFFING ORBIT OF A LEADERSHIP POSITION OF THIS RIDICULOUS PARTY. KARKAT: WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME I DID *ANYTHING* OF A LEADER-LIKE NATURE, WITHOUT BEING TRUMPED BY VRISKA'S MACHIAVELLIAN LIMELIGHT GLUTTONY? KARKAT: OR FOR THAT MATTER, WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME THERE WAS ACTUALLY ANYTHING LEADERY *TO* DO, THAT DIDN'T INVOLVE SNUGGLING UP ON THE COUCH TO WATCH "GOOD LUCK CHUCK" FOR THE FIVE HUNDREDTH TIME?!

Karkat is not acting like a leader for most of the retcon timeline. This is in fact a huge point of grievance for many Karkat fans. 

I’ll say this much: I think it’s pretty much canon Karkat takes up a leadership role again, and I don’t think being a Passive player implies an inability to take on that mantle--Roxy and John are both described as leaders, and both are passive players too. 

But it seems implied to be one focused on relationships and society building rather than ruthless combat and victory over enemies, which seems fitting, because that’s always where Karkat struggled. It’s also easy to think he’d be a terrifically effective leader if he responded to people’s wills more and took them into account rather than imposing his own will. 

Both of which are fitting, because those were p much Karkat’s weaknesses in the first place. 

Actually, I honestly don’t get how you could think that at all. Karkat, throughout the story, spends a lot of time openly leading people, not just “Allowing” things. I honestly don’t understand why you could read him as “Allowing” anywhere near as much as he actively exerts his will.

I’m talking about instances Karkat seems to use his actual Blood *powers*. Dropping Sollux down the stairs is one example, establishing a Bond with Jack Noir is another. He resolves the conflict with Gamzee by entering a relationship with him, and resolves the conflict with Clover by making him *want* Karkat in a relationship. 

I think it would be significantly more lucky for Clover to not get distracted by stupid sexy Karkat — after all, he does have a job to do — but let’s call back to Act 5 Act 1, where Karkat runs a virus Sollux wrote, and then we get told that “Karkat and his friends and everyone they would ever meet thereafter would experience great misfortune on account of the curse” that the virus placed on them.

Pretty sure I’ve written about this. First off, Clover isn’t particularly noted as giving a shit about the job, and he’s described as being motivated to flirt with pretty much anything that moves--so I disagree. 

Kanaya questions the virus’ effectiveness in a pesterlog with Vriska, for one thing. And the bad luck virus is literally never mentioned or drawn attention to again, which...if it was relevant this far in, would be pretty poor storytelling. 

In any case, Karkat’s behavior already fits into a pattern of resolving conflict through forming or inspiring relationships, so I don’t really see a reason to overcomplicate Clover’s plot beat with an unmentioned virus when Classpects and Occam’s razor already explain it neatly. 

Jake:

Pretty much the entirety of your approach to my writing on Jake is based on a reading of him I advanced through poor execution, and then immediately regretted and took back. You seem to be basing it quite heavily on the piece on Jake’s relative intelligence, which I’ve posted about disliking in retrospect several times, including at the very beginning of Serving, Service and Ownage.

My view of Jake is not that he’s callously manipulating Jane OR Dirk. I’m not gonna comment on your rough timeline much, mostly because it’s pretty plausible, although there’s nothing in the text to really suggest he’s exactly panicking much.

It doesn’t really change anything though. Whatever Jake’s exact mental processes, he prioritizes his own desire to avoid confrontation even when he *knows*, for a *fact*, it requires sacrificing Jane’s emotional well-being, and does so for months. 

As you said yourself, Brain Ghost Dirk *is* Jake, and knows the truth, so Jake recognizes what he’s doing is wrong on some level. Still, his fear of confrontation leads him to ignore it. And he uses his ability to convince himself to believe anything to do so. 

Do I think he’s hyperaware of this and using it maliciously because No One’s Feelings Matter? No. I think Jake loves the hell out of Jane. All I’m arguing is that because Jake loves Jane a lot, his immediate response is to want to find a solution where he doesn’t have to hurt her feelings or let her down--and that ends up looking like Jake choosing to believe Jane never had feelings for him all along.

It’s not some hypercompetent display of malicious insight, and it’s not Jake being totally brainless either. It’s a teenage kid being shortsighted and scared of confrontation and handling his friendships badly as a result. 

Still, Jake is neither taking Jane’s feelings/needs primarily into account, nor is he being reactive and go with the flow here. By either definition, Jake is behaving Actively. That’s the important takeaway. 

I would personally say that Jake’s Adventurer Persona would be a pretty textbook active player if it were real.

Cool, except that part of Jake’s persona is a constant awareness of others that does actually come to Passive players but which he explicitly lacks:

Like Tavros’ general personal of hapless affability, Jake’s persona also allows him to get away with things he’d normally be held accountable for. Hence the point. By seeming passive and reactive in the extreme, Jake is able to indulge his own will to the maximum. 

Not saying he does it on purpose--the same way I don’t think Dave or Karkat are misleading anyone in setting up personas that are very active and in control in order to get others to rely on them. But it is the end result. 

This reading of Dirk and Jake’s relationship is utterly appalling. It’s no better than the one you spent four essays arguing against, and shipping it is just as reprehensible.Let’s recap. In a four–part essay series (with which I wholeheartedly agree), you describe a reading of Homestuck where Dirk manipulates Jake throughout their relationship, with no regard to what Jake wants or needs, and lay out all the ways in which this reading is flat-out wrong.

And now, you’ve just declared that you think their relationship is exactly the same thing in reverse.

No, don’t deny it. You’ve just explicitly stated that, as you see it, Jake’s only motivation for anything he does with Dirk is to get what he (Jake) wants out of it, ignoring everything Dirk needs. Actually, you’ve gone further — by reading Dirk as trying to live up to the image of Dave (who you still read as selfless, of course), you’ve implicitly established a dynamic where Dirk is far more vulnerable to this manipulation from Jake than Jake ever could have been to it from Dirk.

There is no reason that reading Jake as the abuser here makes a relationship with this dynamic any healthier. At all. Fortunately, Jake isn’t an abuser.

I will say, if this is the source of your heated approach to this, I understand. I will readily admit I kind of overstated things with Jake, at least partly because I’m--as I’ve readily admitted--so motivated by countering the popular perception of Dirk as an abuser. 

That said, all I attempted to describe in the section you quoted is why Jake fell in love with Dirk in the first place. Obviously, all the Alphas have made mistakes that they need to overcome in order to understand each other properly and treat each other well. 

I’m not arguing that Jake can’t and shouldn’t ever think about other people’s feelings--including Dirk’s--and take them into account in living his life. What I am arguing is simply that Jake’s canonically established love for Dirk is rooted in Jake feeling that he personally benefits from Dirk’s company, which runs a pretty strong counter to Dirk as abuser discourse. 

The fact that Jake and Dirk both fell into self-loathing and took the OTHER extreme--choosing to stay away from others--by the end of the story should tell you that Jake’s made some of that growth, though. 

As does the Masterpiece, where--as you stated--Jake acts to save Dirk’s life. That said, is every act done for another innately linked to selflessness? What do we make of Jade saving the entire session, in that case? Or Vriska wanting to fight Bec Noir to protect the others?

So if your view is rooted in me thinking that Jake does not and need not ever take Dirk into account, well--rest assured, that’s not what I think. I’ve written novel-length fanworks expressing otherwise, lmao.

Still, That’s down to poor execution on my end to some extent, to be sure. But if you’re writing thoroughly researched responses to people’s work I do suggest you try to take into account elements of it which they might have discredited.

If your premise is that Jake valuing Dirk being helpful to him is inherently predatory, though...no. It isn’t. Relationships are posited on give and take, and both Jake and Dirk get valuable things out of their relationship. 

For Dirk, that’s a sense of worth and goodness that he struggles with holding on to--he values that Jake believes in him, explicitly. For Jake, it’s that Dirk makes him feel safe and cared for. That’s all I was getting at. 

Sorry I didn’t make that clearer, for what it’s worth, because it’s a completely valid issue to take. My language falling onto the other extreme in counteracting Dirk as abuser discourse has been an issue before, but of course the ideal--and in my view, canonical--scenario is for them to reach a healthy balance with open communication. This is true of all relationships. 

I’ve already explained why I think that Jake is fundamentally a selfless person. But I’ll call up one more example specifically relevant to this point.

Tricksters are essentially the very core of a personality placed in an environment where it can never be unhappy again. When Jane becomes a Trickster, she immediately runs to Jake. Selfishly. She turns Jake Trickster as well, and guess what his basest personality turns out to work to do above all else?

Pleasing literally everyone who ever wanted him.

Yes, because Jake doesn’t want confrontation and already stated he’d been open to considering relationships with all his friends. Jane initially raises an objection to Roxy marrying Jake in that sequence, and Jake presses the issue to convince her. 

Jake is A) Attracted to all his friends and B) invested in the approach that solves all problems without causing conflict or unhappiness, because he’s personally frightened by the prospect. I don’t think it’s as simple as Jake just looking to make everyone else happy, is what I’m saying. 

While we’re at it, Roxy selfishly tries to steal Dirk, too, but she’s explicitly Passive. The tricksters are more complicated than just being the Alpha’s “True Selves”--Jane is the exception, not the rule. 

Finally, re: Jake saving Jane and Dirk

There’s not even any room for interpretation — not wanting to disappoint others is obviously selfless.

No...it isn’t? Do you not want to disappoint others out of a desire to live up to their expectations, or because you want to avoid judgment and confrontation? Those are pretty different motivations. One can obviously also be motivated by a mix of both. 

I’ll agree the rest of my execution is muddled and comes off pretty weak, though. It’s largely an attempt to contextualize Jake’s behavior in the context of his past--explicitly selfish--behavior, but I’m not even sure that that’s necessary. 

Someone can act selfishly at some times and selflessly at others, and Jake’s behavior for the majority of the narrative is self-centered. 

Dirk’s in particular is still questionable, given that the Masterpiece is immensely coded as being indicative of Caliborn demonstrating some blackrom attraction to Dirk, in which case even a degree of jealousy makes sense.

But whichever way you read Jake’s motivation, his behavior is pretty simply Active--he doesn’t really give anyone Hope, he doesn’t buff or empower anyone else. He gets really pissed off that Caliborn is beating up his boyfriend--the possessive language in explicit in the comic--and beats Caliborn in turn, using Hope as a weapon to do so. 

Once you establish that Pages can exploit that aspect as well as Knights can, it becomes a matter of taking stock of trends. Knights spend most of their time throughout the narrative thinking about others or advancing other’s wills. Pages spend most of their time thinking about themselves or advancing their own wills. That’s all I’m getting at. 

[yorkulife]

course feedback from a 2nd year film kid

Hello! Your course feedback tag helped me so so SO much when I was choosing courses in 1st year (and it’s still helping me). I was honestly relieved to find this blog as a resource for all york students! :)

I definitely want to give back to the yorku community & student body so being the shy person that I am, I want to give a bit of my feedback on courses I’ve taken at york so far as an anon, if we’re still able to. Not sure if it’s the right tag for this but hoping it is!

For reference, I’m going into my 2nd year of film as a BFA in Media Arts (new program for this year ooo). Previously I was in the BA for Cinema and Media Studies. This post might be a little long but pls bear with me! Thanks in advance. :)

FA/FILM 1400 9.00 *Not a 9 credit course anymore. Now it’s 6 credits.

Easiness - Introductory film course for all film kids. Teaches you the basics of film jargon, film history and film techniques. Pretty easy for a 6 credit course, but be prepared to write a couple of essays, and write them well!

Interestingness - Some movies were good, some were good to sleep through.

Usefulness - Useful because of what I learned from my TA! Took tutorial with Caroline. She’s really helpful at clarifying expectations and you can see she wants the students to learn. Don’t be afraid to ask for help to clarify theses, essay skeletons, or go to her with any concerns about tutorial participation (if you’re shy like me) if you need it outside of course hours! She’s usually very accommodating to that. 

Additional Comments – NO EXAM. If you don’t want to buy the textbook, you can find the textbook online, but the pages might be different due to diff editions! Just make sure you have the right reading for the week. Lectures are long but they’re only long because it’s usually 2 hours for film screenings and 2 hours of lecture (give and take). On good days, there’s only an hour of the prof’s lecture. You’re not obligated to stay if you can’t! Course breakdown: tutorial participation, Fall term essay, Winter term essay (weighs a bit more), and a solo or partner powerpoint presentation on a chapter of the textbook.

FA/FILM 1405 3.00

It’s a course about television studies, but I found it rather dry. There were a few times we screened the first few episodes of shows like The Wire, Jane the Virgin and Grey’s Anatomy, but otherwise, the majority of the actual material was boring (at least to me). We talked about the globalization of television, television companies merging into mainstream ones, American programming versus international, different types of camera work, etc. I thought I did bad in it, but ended up with a mark I was happy with, so although the course may not seem like it’s for you, don’t doubt it because it’s either a hit or miss. Definitely a course I didn’t love, but it IS a required course for film kids, so you just have to put up with it. But hey, at least there’s no final exam!

Breakdown: Tutorial participation, 3 in-class exams about the weekly readings (just 2 long answers for each exam), and a final essay. No textbook needed (all readings are online).

FA/FILM 1120 3.00

This is a screenwriting introduction course that’s required for all film kids. The grading is not too hard, you just have to be open to different ways you can form a story and tell it to your audience. Be open to constructive criticism! Your stories can always improve, and the TAs encourage you to do so. It is a writing course, but the assignments were short and not hard at all. You get to watch a few movies throughout the term, but overall, it taught me how to become a better storyteller. Lectures are long but just go to them for attendance!

No laptops in this class (unless you’re a student with special needs). Prof. Rebecca Schechter is pretty serious about that. No exam, no textbook required. Course breakdown: tutorial participation (includes asking questions), 4 short writing assignments (generally 1-4 pages), and your final script of an original story you create (can either write an outline of your story or a full-on dialogue script.

FA/FILM 1001 3.00

Easiness - Easy. As long as you can be (or at least fake) being creative in various ways by using different types of media resources, give this course a shot! If you’re worried about the courseload, Prof. Ken Rogers hardly touched on the readings, and even if he did, there was no test on them. The majority of the class didn’t do them. The assignments require a bit of creativity though, so if you really want to get an A, you should think “outside of the box” and express your ideas in different ways using media.

Interestingness - I didn’t do any of the readings and lectures weren’t even relevant to our assignments. Lectures were long-winded and mostly boring. You can work on other things while he talks tbh. The assignments were interesting though! You do a few assignments: a social media looping 10 second video of what represents you, an assignment on hyper-attention, a fake news assignment, a mapping assignment about what maps can signify, and a final desktop documentary & mock “budgeting” plan.

Usefulness - Very useful if you want to practice using different types of media while thinking in a critical way. You might be thrown off by the vagueness of the assignments because there is no limit to what you can do. Take advantage of it and think creatively!

Additional Comments – NO EXAM, no midterm, no textbook required. Make sure you have access to a computer - no fancy gadgets are required, but it’ll be easier for you if you’re decent with the computer and creative work. Just attend the lectures (for the sake of it) and attend tutorials. My tutorial was with David Han - he’s a pretty laid back guy and will give you some hints as to what he would like from you. Just approach him honestly, do your work, and you’ll be fine. 

AP/PHIL 1100 3.00 The Meaning of Life

Easy. A bit of work, but this is coming from a person who doesn’t like essays. It’s a good introductory course where you learn about a new philosopher each week and I really enjoyed the topics. There is a lecture video, a few readings, and a Moodle quiz every week on the philosophers, usually 10 questions and the best thing is that you can keep retaking the quiz if needed to get your desired score! One course kit is needed with photocopies of the readings. Try taking  with Rebecca Ring, and if needed, go and talk to her out of class at the philosophy department if you’re really stuck on one of the essays or assignments to clarify expectations. The final exam was 10 short essays - sounds like a lot but it wasn’t. Don’t let that scare you off because they were pretty understanding with the grades!

FA/DANC 1900 3.00

No, you don’t have to physically dance. DANC 1900 is a blended course where you watch movies every week, do a reading, and submit a 3-2-1 assignment onto Moodle weekly! (3 things you learned, 2 things you thought were interesting about the week’s material, and 1 question you have). No exam, no textbook - just participate, do the weekly work, and finish the final “essay” (not really an essay) where you choose a movie, create 3 questions about it, and answer the questions in paragraph form with minimal research. Super easy if you have the right TA. I recommend Megan, she’s really understanding. I had another TA before but had to transfer because I really did not enjoy the class when she taught it. If you’re having trouble with the course, need to clarify expectations or having some difficulty with your TA, contact Dr. Bridget Cauthery (the prof)! She was so sweet and accomodated me well.

You talk about racialized bodies and how they’re connected to dance, heteronormativity, social class, all the way down to communism and politics, while watching films like Saturday Night Fever and Cabaret. If you like movies and can make connections from film to other sociopolitical ideas, definitely try this course out!

FA/DATT 1939 3.00 *DATT not listed in courses page

Loved this course, but that’s just my experience. 1939 is a course where you learn a bit of everything for non-digital media majors - HTML/CSS, Javascript, Photoshop (minimal), Audacity (sound program). It would be easier on you if you have at least some knowledge about any of these topics or programs like Illustrator, Photoshop, and HTML, but it’s not required. It’s a coding class but also a mixture of design - you talk about gaming and actually create website “games” for your assignments. No exam, no textbook, but you might not enjoy doing the weekly readings (e.g. Lev Manovich) and (not weekly) quizzes. The short quizzes are on Moodle and based on the readings. You have to attend lab in order to do them! Definitely interesting and it’ll help you out a lot if you want to learn more about these programs and skills! You have to put the work in if you want a good mark though. Two assignments for the whole term - one assignment where you make your own interactive website narrative using HTML/CSS (the prof/ta will show you how), and the 2nd is a group (but you can do it alone) project to make a website game using HTML/CSS and Javascript. It’s easier to work in a group because of workload. For the assignments, the sky is the limit! You can literally do your assignments on any topic you want. Tip - just take it and see if you like it! Don’t take it if you’re a newbie to this and have a heavy courseload though - it’ll just be extra work on you to learn everything from scratch while balancing your other courses.

FA/ARTH 1900 3.00 *ARTH not listed in courses page

Introductory course to art history! Blended course - weekly tutorials and online audio lectures with follow-along powerpoints. Easy if you work hard! Course breakdown: tutorial participation, one assignment where you have to go to Nuit Blanche, and another where you complete a questionnaire at a smaller Artist-Run Centre/other art gallery. For the final essay, you have to go to the AGO, choose a painting to write an essay on and discuss the art techniques used in the painting. The course really helps you learn more about artists in Toronto and it’s fun to go in groups with your friends downtown! No textbook but there’s an exam, which was really easy if you study - memorize painting info and answer some short answer questions you discussed in tutorial. Took the tutorial with Ingrid - I recommend her.

[ladystylestores]

U.K. Sanctions, Facebook, Jair Bolsonaro: Your Tuesday Briefing

(Want to get this briefing by email? Here’s the sign-up.)

Good morning.

We’re covering Britain’s new sanctions on human rights abuses, discrimination against Europe’s Roma and a revival of Italy’s pawnshops.

They are the first sanctions that Britain has imposed since leaving the European Union in January — a move officials hope will cast the country as a human rights defender.

Among the 47 people who face travel bans and frozen assets in Britain: Russians accused of having involvement in the death of Russian lawyer Sergei Magnitsky, and Saudis accused of assassinating the Saudi columnist Jamal Khashoggi. The list did not include any Chinese officials.

What it means: Being blacklisted will probably not change the lives of those named and many are already blacklisted by the U.S. But sanctions are a weapon that Britain could use in the future on Chinese officials who are involved in Uighur internment or the crackdown on pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong.

Officials cite medical risks. But for many Roma, the lockdown exemplifies a centuries-old bigotry that has deepened in parts of Europe during the pandemic. Other places with similar caseloads in Bulgaria, they say, have not had such restrictions.

Quote of note: “It’s pure prejudice,” said Angel Iliev who tried to collect water at a spring beyond a checkpoint but was turned away by the police. “The discrimination was already bad, but now it’s even worse because of the pandemic.”

In other coronavirus news:

The U.S. is still in the pandemic’s first wave, its top infectious disease expert warned on Monday, with more than 250,000 new cases announced nationwide in the first five days of July alone. Deaths have surpassed 130,000.

Jair Bolsonaro, the Brazilian president and noted coronavirus skeptic, said Monday that he would take a new test for the virus after developing symptoms of Covid-19.

Israel closed bars, gyms and pools and curtailed gatherings as positive test results reached new heights.

New up-and-coming coronavirus tests, like the gene-editing tool Crispr, can spot the virus in less than an hour. But it will most likely be months before these tests hit clinics.

For millions of low-paid workers from Asia and Africa running Arab households, the pandemic has exacerbated the dangers of conditions that rights groups say can lead to exploitation and abuse.

The coronavirus is accelerating the shift to cashless transactions, with governments in India, Kenya, Sweden and other countries promoting digital payment for public health reasons.

Here are the latest coronavirus updates and maps of the outbreaks.

Facebook won’t turn over Hong Kong user data

Facebook and its messaging service WhatsApp will temporarily stop processing Hong Kong government requests for user data while it reviews the national security law imposed by China.

The company said it would consult human rights experts to assess the law. The decision is a rare questioning of Chinese policy by an American internet company, and targets the question of how the security law will apply online.

Telegram, another popular messaging app, said on Sunday that it would refuse requests from the Hong Kong authorities for user data until an international consensus was reached on the new law.

What’s next: Facebook’s move puts pressure on other tech giants, like Apple, Google and Twitter, to clarify how they will deal with the Hong Kong security law.

Related: Xu Zhangrun, a Chinese professor at the prestigious Tsinghua University, was arrested on Monday in Beijing — one of the few academics in China who have harshly criticized the ruling Communist Party.

Russia: A Russian military court on Monday convicted a freelance journalist on charges of “justifying terrorism” in a 2018 text critical of the security services. It tightened the screws on free speech, and even the Kremlin’s human rights council denounced the charges.

If you have 8 minutes, this is worth it

A pawnshop revival in Italy

Italians are turning to a safety net they have relied on for centuries through plagues, sieges, wars and downturns: putting up their valuables as collateral for loans. Pawnshops, above, an official part of the Italian banking system, saw activity increase from 20 to 30 percent immediately after the country’s lockdown because of the coronavirus.

“When things are going well, you can buy your stuff back,” said Claudio Lorenzo, who had pawned his and his wife’s wedding rings. “When things are going bad, you can’t.”

Snapshot: Above, a conductor on the Tshiuetin line, the first railroad in North America owned and operated by First Nations people, that runs through rural Quebec. Named after the Innu word for “wind of the north,” it is a symbol of reclamation.

Gentrification fight: When a developer tried to evict Nour Cash & Carry, a beloved grocer in south London, customers organized to save the store, saying its fate symbolized broader changes in the lower-income neighborhood.

What we’re listening to: The “Floodlines” podcast from The Atlantic about Hurricane Katrina. It “traces the racism-driven response to the Big One with the clarity of 15 years of hindsight,” writes Shaila Dewan, a national reporter and editor covering criminal justice issues.

Now, a break from the news

Cook: This mayo-marinated chicken with chimichurri is perfect for cooking on the grill or in a cast-iron skillet indoors.

Watch: “Grand Designs” is a bit like “The Great British Baking Show,” but in this series, the goal is to build dream homes, not frangipani and iced buns. It’s also deeply human.

Read: “Too Much and Never Enough,” an exposé about President Trump written by his niece, and a memoir from the poet Natasha Trethewey are among the 16 books to watch for in July.

Staying safe at home is easier when you have plenty of things to read, cook, watch and do. At Home has our full collection of ideas.

And now for the Back Story on …

Teaching about racism

Jane Elliott, now 87, came up with a lesson in 1968 to force children to experience prejudice firsthand. She split up her class into two groups based on an arbitrary characteristic: eye color. Those with blue eyes were superior to those with brown eyes, and were entitled to perks, like more recess time and access to the water fountain. Quickly, the children turned on one another. She reversed the roles and saw the same thing.

The anti-racism educator spoke with our In Her Words newsletter about how things have and have not evolved since 1968.

For the past few decades, you’ve been giving anti-racism lectures and workshops around the country. Have you noticed a shift in how they have been received?

I’ve been doing the exercise with adults for about 35 years. But in the last few years, I’ve only been doing speeches about it because we now live in a situation where people turn off immediately if they think they’re going to learn something counter to their beliefs, and I don’t want to be threatened with death anymore. I’m tired of receiving death threats.

Where did you grow up, and when did you come to truly understand the problem of racism in this country?

I was raised on a farm in northeast Iowa. When I went to school, I started to learn the standard elementary curriculum, which is that white men did all the inventing and discovering and civilizing.

Then I went to college, and in my first social studies education class, the white professor stood up in front of that group of students and said, “When you get into the classroom, you must not teach in opposition to local mores.”

A lot of white people are trying to reassess their own biases. Based on the work you’ve done, what can white people do to actually help in this moment?

First of all, you have to realize what I do isn’t hard work. What Black people do is hard work. I get paid for the work that I do.

And second, white people need to stop referring to themselves as “allies” — as if we can make it all right. They need to educate away the ignorance that was poured into them when they were in school and realize that they are the reason everyone is so angry.

That’s it for this briefing. Tips I needed for keeping good habits post-lockdown. See you tomorrow.

— Isabella

Thank you Theodore Kim and Jahaan Singh provided the break from the news. You can reach the team at briefing@nytimes.com.

P.S. • We’re listening to “The Daily.” Our latest episode is about new insights on how the virus takes hold in the body. • Here’s today’s Mini Crossword puzzle, and a clue: Guacamole ingredient (five letters). You can find all our puzzles here. • Kim Perry, who has worked on major digital initiatives in the Times newsroom, has been named director for international strategy and operations.

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[takenews-blog1]

The intercourse abuse scandal surrounding USA Gymnastics group physician Larry Nassar, defined

New Post has been published on https://takenews.net/the-intercourse-abuse-scandal-surrounding-usa-gymnastics-group-physician-larry-nassar-defined/

The intercourse abuse scandal surrounding USA Gymnastics group physician Larry Nassar, defined

Megan Halicek went to Dr. Larry Nassar as a 15-year-old gymnast affected by a fractured backbone. However throughout what was presupposed to be a routine appointment, Nassar assaulted her: “Once more and time and again,” Halicek testified in court docket final week, “he abused me, all of the whereas telling me tales about his Olympic journey.”

“I closed my eyes tight, I held my breath, and I wished to puke,” she recalled. “To today, these emotions are nonetheless there.”

Halicek is one in every of greater than 150 girls who got here ahead with harrowing testimony on the sentencing listening to for Nassar, a former physician for USA Gymnastics and sports activities drugs doctor at Michigan State College who has pleaded responsible to expenses of felony sexual conduct and little one pornography.

On Wednesday, after seven days of survivors’ statements, a choose sentenced Nassar as much as 175 years in jail for his crimes. “I simply signed your dying warrant,” Choose Rosemarie Aquilina mentioned upon delivering the sentence. The previous physician has already been sentenced to 60 years on federal little one pornography expenses.

Choose to Nassar:

“Sir, I’m providing you with 175 years which is 2100 months. I simply signed your dying warrant.”

https://twitter.com/CBSEveningNews/standing/956219568321638404

  Nassar learn his personal apology letter to the court docket earlier than his sentencing. Nassar, at one level turning to face the gallery, mentioned the victims’ phrases had shaken him to his core. ”There aren’t any phrases that may describe the depth and breadth of how sorry I’m for what has occurred,” he mentioned.

Choose Aquilina, nevertheless, wasn’t moved. She learn aloud a letter Nassar had submitted to the court docket throughout his listening to, by which he complained in regards to the size of the survivors’ testimony, deriding it as a media circus, and accusing the survivors of fabricating their testimony. The courtroom gave a collective gasp after the choose learn Nassar’s phrases: “Hell hath no fury like a girls scorned.”

Choose Aqulina reads from Larry Nassar’s letter submitted to the court docket: “I used to be a great physician as a result of my therapies labored and people sufferers who are actually talking out are the identical ones that praised and got here again…Hell hath no fury like a lady scorned.” pic.twitter.com/Ll1lE77XjT

“It’s my honor and privilege to condemn you,” the choose informed Nassar. “You don’t should stroll outdoors a jail ever once more. You might have carried out nothing to regulate these urges and wherever you stroll, destruction will happen to these most susceptible.”

Nassar will nonetheless face yet another sentencing listening to on the finish of this month, although, because the choose made clear on Wednesday, he’ll spend the remainder of his life in jail. His punishment concludes almost seven days of survivors’ statements, who recounted, generally by tears, their encounters with Nassar. Initially, about 100 girls had been anticipated to testify in 4 days — however, by the tip, greater than 150 spoke in court docket, or had prosecutors learn their statements.

Among the many victims are adorned US Olympians, together with Aly Raisman, Gabby Douglas, and Simone Biles. However the majority weren’t well-known opponents. They had been college students and younger feminine athletes — gymnasts, dancers, and volleyball gamers. Nassar’s repute as a well-connected, proficient physician received their belief. It additionally helped safe their silence.

Nassar’s sentencing comes amid a bigger reckoning about sexual assault and harassment in all arenas, from Hollywood to lodge rooms — and the individuals in energy negligent or complicit in defending these perpetrators.

Even given the headlines of the previous few months, the Nassar case is stunning. First, there’s the variety of recognized victims: Greater than 160 have come ahead, which, as HuffPost’s Alanna Vagianos writes, represents “almost as many victims because the Jerry Sandusky, Invoice Cosby, and Harvey Weinstein scandals mixed.”

Lots of the victims had been minors, generally abused with their mother and father within the room whereas they had been medically examined. There may be proof that Michigan State College and USA Gymnastics, the 2 elite establishments related to Nassar, had been gradual to behave on stories that he was abusing ladies and younger girls.

Right here’s what we all know in regards to the case towards Nassar, the place it stands now, and why elite gymnasts might have ended up notably susceptible.

  Nassar practiced on the very prime tier with a number of the most elite American gymnasts. In 1986, he started working with USA Gymnastics, the governing physique that selects Olympic groups, as an athletic coach. After he went to medical college at Michigan State College, he turned the chief medical coordinator for USA Gymnastics in 1996. At pictures taken on the 1996 Olympics, he’s pictured subsequent to American gymnast Kerri Strug after her well-known ankle damage, and he attended the video games in Sydney in 2000, Beijing in 2008, and London in 2012.

He was additionally a part of the school at Michigan State, the place he had taught and practiced drugs since 1997 — which means he wasn’t solely a famend sports activities doctor but in addition a part of an instructional establishment.

Then in September 2015, Nassar abruptly retired from USA Gymnastics with little fanfare. (He’d stepped down from his chief medical coordinator place however had initially deliberate to remain on because the group physician for the 2016 Olympics.)

A yr later, a flood of sexual assault allegations started to clarify why.

  In 2016, the Indianapolis Star ran a scathing exposé on USA Gymnastics’ systematic failure to guard younger athletes from sexual abuse and to report allegations towards coaches to authorities. It opened the floodgates and finally led to dozens of allegations towards the doctor.

The preliminary article targeted on coaches and didn’t identify Nassar, however Rachael Denhollander of Louisville, Kentucky, reached out to the publication along with her personal story of abuse and filed a felony criticism with the Michigan State College police. In it, she alleged that Nassar had sexually abused her in 2000, when she was 15.

Denhollander had sought therapy from Nassar for decrease again ache at his sports activities therapy clinic at MSU, and he or she alleged that the physician, with out gloves, digitally penetrated her vagina and anus, and at one other go to unhooked her bra and massaged her naked breasts with a “seen erection.”

“He’s the kind of one that is aware of the way to make you wish to belief him,” Denhollander informed the Indy Star within the September 2016 story. “There’s a purpose he’s risen to this place of prominence. And truthfully, a part of what grieves me a lot is that he has the whole lot he must be an unimaginable chief. He has the persona, he has the ability, he has the data, and he’s utilizing that to prey on individuals. What a waste.”

Across the similar time, “Jane Doe” (who later recognized herself as Jamie Dantzscher, who competed with Group USA in 2000 on the Sydney Video games), filed a civil go well with in California towards Nassar, alleging that he abused her repeatedly between 1994 and 2000.

Dozens of allegations adopted, all related, a few trusted physician who supplied aid solely to molest them beneath the guise of therapy.

“For years, Mr. Nassar satisfied me that he was the one one that might assist me recuperate from a number of critical accidents. To me, he was like a knight [in] shining armor,” Alexis Moore, who mentioned Nassar molested her beginning when she was 9, mentioned in court docket final week. “However alas, that shine blinded me from the abuse. He betrayed my belief, took benefit of my youth and sexually abused me lots of of instances.”

Ultimately, 125 girls filed felony complaints with police, and greater than 140 individuals have filed civil fits towards the physician and the establishments that employed him for therefore lengthy, most notably USA Gymnastics and Michigan State College. A few of the victims say coaches and directors had been conscious of complaints towards Nassar, however no actions had been taken towards him.

The victims, all girls, embrace notable US Olympians. Aly Raisman, Gabby Douglas, and McKayla Maroney, Jordyn Wieber, 4 members of the “Fierce 5” 2012 gold medal-winning group acknowledged publicly that Nassar sexually abused them. Wieber got here ahead for the primary time this Friday. Simone Biles, one of the adorned gymnasts of all time, simply mentioned this week that Nassar abused her too.

Nassar’s victims mentioned the physician cannily received over their belief, making them really feel particular or privileged due to his place with USA Gymnastics. He operated in a sport the place accidents can finish careers, and younger athletes deferred to his authority. Even Olympic athletes had been informed to really feel grateful for Nassar’s care; Raisman mentioned an official with USA Gymnastics informed her she ought to really feel fortunate for his therapy as a result of he was such a great physician.

Victims testified that he gave them presents, providing trinkets from his Olympic travels. He was additionally outwardly supportive, and type to lots of these he abused. “He was at all times, at all times, at all times on my aspect,” Raisman informed Time journal. “He was at all times that one that would stick up for me and make me really feel like he had my again. The extra I give it some thought, the extra I understand how twisted he was, how he manipulated me to make me suppose that he had my again when he didn’t.”

Nassar, after initially denying the allegations of abuse and defending vaginal penetration as a part of his medical therapy, pleaded responsible in two Michigan counties to a complete of 10 counts of felony sexual assault. The instances all contain girls or ladies who had been assaulted by Nassar through the course of a medical examination, besides one woman — a household buddy of Nassar’s whom he abused for six years, between the ages of 6 and 12.

Along with the fees in Michigan, federal prosecutors charged Nassar in December 2016 with possession of kid pornography, saying that the physician had about 37,00zero specific pictures in his possession. Investigators found this cache whereas executing a search warrant associated to an investigation into intercourse abuse allegations towards Nassar, which stemmed from his work with USA Gymnastics.

Nassar finally agreed to plead responsible in July to the possession of kid porn, however as a part of the deal, he averted the extra critical federal intercourse abuse expenses, which ESPN reported included allegations that he molested kids in his house, in his pool, and through “interstate/worldwide journey.” A choose sentenced him to 60 years in jail — the utmost prosecutors had requested for — final month. The sentencing this week is for the felony sexual abuse expenses.

As in different current sexual abuse scandals (involving retired soccer coach Jerry Sandusky at Penn State and throughout the Catholic Church, amongst others), an enormous query is what the establishments concerned knew and after they knew it.

Present and former members of USA Gymnastics have delivered scathing criticisms of the group for its dealing with of Nassar. Dozens of members are suing the group for negligence; a handful of lawsuits have additionally named famed US gymnastics coaches Bela and Martha Karolyi, who ran the coaching middle in Texas the place elite gymnasts educated. (On Thursday, USA Gymnastics ended its relationship with the Karolyis.)

USA Gymnastics heard about allegations towards Nasser in June 2015, in line with the Indianapolis Star:

A coach overheard the U.S. nationwide group member, who’s Manly’s consumer and one other elite gymnast discussing the physician on the Karolyi Ranch, the ladies’s nationwide group’s coaching middle in Texas.

The coach reported the dialog to USA Gymnastics senior vice chairman of girls’s program Rhonda Faehn on June 17, 2015, in line with USA Gymnastics, and Faehn instantly referred to as Steve Penny, the group’s president.

However the group waited 5 weeks to contact regulation enforcement officers in regards to the incident, justifying the delay by saying it had performed its personal unbiased overview. The Wall Road Journal later reported that the case, which bounced round FBI subject workplaces, didn’t start in earnest till about April 2016 — 10 months after the primary allegations had been reported.

“I’m so offended that, after realizing that we had been abused, they let him proceed to molest different gymnasts after they informed me there was an investigation happening,” Raisman informed ESPN’s Exterior the Traces, referring to USA Gymnastics. “They informed me to be quiet. I assumed that they had been doing the suitable factor, and I didn’t wish to tip off the investigation. I trusted them and I shouldn’t have.”

In the meantime, different gymnasts reached settlements that may maintain them from talking publicly: McKayla Maroney, who received gold with Raisman in 2012 in London, reportedly confronted a $100,00zero effective from USA Gymnastics if she spoke out about Nassar (she initially got here ahead in December 2016) as a part of a $1.25 million settlement. USA Gymnastics later issued a press release that mentioned it “has not sought and won’t search any cash from McKayla Maroney for her courageous statements made in describing her victimization and abuse by Larry Nassar.”

The issues at USA Gymnastics weren’t restricted to Nassar, as revealed within the Indianapolis Star’s intensive investigation. The Star found a sample of coaches and others failing to report intercourse abuse to authorities and later uncovered greater than 360 instances spanning 20 years by which gymnasts accused coaches of sexual misconduct.

Steve Penny, the CEO of USA Gymnastics for greater than 10 years, resigned in March 2017 because the scandal unfolded. (He was additionally named in a number of lawsuits.) This week, forward of a second week of survivor testimonies at Nassar’s sentencing listening to, three members of the USA Gymnastics board of administrators stepped down amid strain, together with chair Paul Parilla and vice chair Jay Binder.

The group additionally employed a former federal prosecutor, Deborah Daniels, final November to conduct an unbiased overview on the way it handles sexual assault allegations.

The overview, launched in June 2017, is hanging within the obviousness of its suggestions, together with that each one members of USA Gymnastics report abuse instantly to authorities.

USA Gymnastics is, in some methods, nonetheless reeling from the Nassar allegations. Daniels referred to as for a “full cultural change” on the group, and cited the ambiance — the place elite athletes are educated and taught to defer to authority figures similar to coaches — as contributing to the roadblocks of rooting out and reporting abuse. USA Gymnastics unanimously adopted all 70 of the suggestions for implementation.

  A lot of Nassar’s victims say Michigan State has but to reply for the Nassar fallout. A few of the lawsuits filed towards the college say coaches, employees, and different college staff knew of the allegations towards Nassar, and others have informed ESPN Journal and Detroit Information that they warned coaches, trainers, and different college officers about his misconduct lengthy earlier than he was lastly fired in 2016.

On Wednesday, MSU president Lou Anna Simon introduced she is going to step down, amid the constructing strain. Simon mentioned in a press release that “as tragedies are politicized, blame is inevitable. As president, it’s only pure that I’m the main target of this anger.”

ESPN Exterior the Traces interviewed 4 girls who mentioned they informed MSU coaches or trainers about Nassar way back to the 1990s. Two of these girls mentioned that they informed Kathie Klages, MSU’s longtime gymnastic coach, in 1997 about Nassar. Klages resigned in February.

Others got here ahead after that. Tiffany Thomas Lopez, a former MSU softball participant, informed ESPN she complained about Nassar to a few athletic trainers in 1998:

”I felt like they thought I used to be a liar,” Thomas Lopez says. She finally met with Future Teachnor-Hauk, an athletic coaching supervisor. “She brushed me off, and made it seem to be I used to be loopy. She made me really feel like I used to be loopy.”

A separate Detroit Information investigation discovered that a minimum of 14 MSU officers or representatives had been conscious of allegations towards Nassar within the almost 20 years earlier than his arrest. At the very least eight girls and ladies had made complaints, together with one who contacted native police officers.

In 2014, the college launched a Title IX investigation into Nassar after a current MSU graduate reported that she had visited his clinic for hip ache, and he had massaged her breasts and vaginal space and gave the impression to be sexually aroused as he did so.

The college closed the investigation after three months, in July 2014. It dismissed the lady’s declare, concluding that she hadn’t understood the “nuanced distinction” between sexual assault and an applicable medical process.

In accordance with the Indianapolis Star, the college consulted 4 consultants to attract their conclusions — all of whom had ties to each the college and Nassar. The college tried to reopen the 2014 Title IX investigation in December 2016, after a slew of girls got here ahead towards Nassar. (The lady concerned is now suing the college, together with dozens of others.)

The Title IX investigation additionally compelled police to open a felony probe. The Lansing State Journal reported that MSU police additionally launched an investigation (as required by the Title IX criticism), and the Ingham County prosecutors additionally declined to convey expenses.

In the meantime, Nassar was allowed to see sufferers throughout that 2014 felony investigation. What’s extra, each USA Gymnastics and MSU admitted that they didn’t talk to one another that Nassar was beneath investigation by their separate establishments, in line with Michigan Dwell.

As the ladies delivered their influence statements in court docket this week, in addition they referred to as out the college, alongside USA Gymnastics, for his or her lack of accountability. “It’s horrifying that MSU and USA Gymnastics should not stepping as much as their plate to confess their wrongdoing,” Olivia Cowen mentioned throughout her assertion. “I’ve gone from a raving fan of MSU to now seeing inexperienced and white in the exact same method I do Larry Nassar. I need MSU and USAG to know what they’ve carried out is on the exact same degree of accountability because the crime Nassar has dedicated.”

A lot of Nassar’s victims weren’t world-famous athletes, and as an alternative encountered abuse as scholar athletes at Michigan State, or elsewhere within the Michigan group.

“It’s onerous to really feel like, if I used to be an Olympic gymnast, perhaps this might be completely different,” Jessica Smith, who says Nassar abused her when she was 17, informed HuffPost. “If I used to be a soccer participant at MSU or a basketball participant at MSU, then perhaps the general public and MSU as an establishment would care extra.”

MSU has denied any cover-up regarding Nassar. “Any suggestion that the college coated up Nassar’s horrific conduct is solely false,” the college mentioned in a press release, in response to the sufferer influence statements this week:

Phrases can not specific the sorrow we really feel for Nassar’s victims; the ideas and prayers of the complete MSU group are with these girls as we hearken to their heartbreaking testimony. … We wish to say once more that we’re really sorry for the abuse Nassar’s victims suffered, the ache it brought about and the ache it continues to trigger.

The Michigan State Legal professional Normal has indicated he’ll overview the college’s function within the Nassar case, and the NCAA has additionally launched a proper inquiry.

The college is conducting an inside overview of the dealing with of the Nassar case, led by former federal prosecutor and White Home counsel Patrick Fitzgerald. Jason Cody, a spokesperson for MSU, informed Michigan Public Radio that if the overview turns up something felony, will probably be referred to regulation enforcement.

There’s a fair broader query of institutional culpability within the Nassar case: the establishment of elite gymnastics itself.

Abuse exists throughout Olympic sports activities. The US Olympic Committee has taken steps to handle this, together with opening the US Heart for SafeSport, now an unbiased nonprofit, which oversees abuse stories and schooling and coaching for all 49 Olympic governing our bodies.

Shellie Pfohl, the president and CEO for the Heart for SafeSport, informed Vox that one in every of their prime priorities is to verify those that come ahead with abuse allegations aren’t retaliated towards, and they’re attempting to foster a tradition change that places athletes’ security first. “Shield athletes it doesn’t matter what,” she mentioned. “Their well-being is extra vital than making the group or incomes a medal.”

However some argue that sure elements make elite gymnasts extra susceptible to abuse.

High gymnasts are normally nonetheless of their teenagers: Gabby Douglas received the person all-around title on the London Olympics at age 16 in 2012.

That implies that youngsters are dealing with grueling bodily coaching and an especially aggressive surroundings that may make them susceptible to abuse — an surroundings journalist Joan Ryan described in 1995’s Little Women in Fairly Containers, a e-book exposing the abuses prime feminine gymnasts and determine skaters face.

“My entire e-book was about actually framing what goes on in elite gymnastics as authorized, celebrated little one abuse,” Ryan mentioned. “There may be no person looking for these ladies.”

Women within the sport are determined to realize, and simply as determined to please the adults round them, she concluded. And that makes them susceptible. On this surroundings, Ryan mentioned this week in an interview with Vox, “the irregular begins to develop into regular.”

Ashley Stirling, a professor of kinesiology and bodily schooling on the College of Toronto, pressured that athletes of any age or gender aren’t any roughly inclined to sexual abuse than different teams of individuals.

However, she mentioned, the analysis has proven that amongst athletes, girls and ladies at “the approaching age of accomplishment” are essentially the most susceptible — which in gymnastics is often adolescents and younger teenagers.

“The youthful that age is, the extra in danger that sport is to sexual violence,” Stirling mentioned. She added the chance elements enhance for many who outline themselves as athletes — one thing notably true for an Olympian or different prime athlete.

Such opponents might concern talking out as a result of it might really feel as in the event that they’re sacrificing their objectives — and a part of their id.

That may enhance the strain to maintain quiet about abuse. Teenage ladies, mentioned Ryan, are coaching like skilled athletes, beneath monumental strain, and are grateful to be with the highest coaches. They’ve a brief window to achieve the game. Rocking the boat, so to talk, isn’t an choice.

“These are ladies,” she mentioned. “In case you are an elite gymnast you’re a perfectionist. You’re completely pushed. Completely targeted. Your mother and father have in all probability mortgaged the home they usually have so much driving in your success, [so] you’re not going to disappoint anyone.”

[tunesof1982]

72. Johnny Are You Queer - Josie Cotton

Cause when I see you dancing with your friends, I can’t help wondering where I stand!

Released: February 1982 Song history: Josie Cotton herself admits that the origins of the song are “murky,” but here’s what I can ascertain. “Johnny Are You Queer” was written by songwriters Larson and Bobby Paine, who were managing the Go-Go’s at the time. After an offhand comment by guitarist Jane Wiedlin about how all the cute boys were gay, they took an existing song by punk band Fear (whom they were also managing), rewrote it, and gave it to them to perform live. Later on, after the Go-Go’s and the Paine brothers split ways, the latter met Cotton and offered her the song. It was first released as a single in 1981 and then again in 1982, when it quickly took hold over here, climbing to #8 (#2 in Toronto). The story is long, crazy, and incredibly entertaining: you can find it here. Highest chart position in Canada: #8 Fun fact: The song quickly drew ire from both gay-positive and gay-negative publications, who criticized Cotton for promoting and demonizing homosexuality. Bonus fun fact: This is by far the best single cover of the year.

My take: Yeah, so this is a weird one.

I have no idea how this song got so big in Canada. Cotton’s treatise on the song, linked above, briefly touches upon its Canadian success but doesn’t go into why. It was poised to be a huge hit across the States, but ended up only really taking over California, the clubs, and here, where it hit #8. Like our previous oddball gay-themed hit “Homosapien,” its popularity in Canada is a complete mystery, and a one-off at that. We love our gay songs, I guess.

Anyway, once you take away all the controversy, it’s a pretty mundane, inoffensive little tune. Actually, let me clarify: I mean “inoffensive” in the sense that it doesn’t offend me in the slightest, not in the “ugh, so bland” kinda way. Because I actually really like it. It’s fun to have something that isn’t your standard het love song, and while it does carry the faint whiff of “novelty” based on the packaging and the clear humour involved, it goes a lot deeper than that. Falling in love with a gay guy is something that really happens--to a lot of people--and yet it’s so rare to see it portrayed in popular music. The value of talking about a real, untold experience cannot be overstated, and in that sense, “Johnny Are You Queer” is unique.

In music, however, it’s extremely derivative. Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, since the band they’re deriving this sound from--the Go-Go’s--is one of my faves. And this is hella Go-Go’s. The sparkling yet chintzy production, the sound of the synths, the drums, the handclaps--all of it owes a deep sonic debt to America’s first successful all-girl group. And I love every bit of it. This is my favourite new wave sound: first-wave, with synths as rhythmic lines or decorations in service of a more basic guitar/drums/bass template. Mod-rock+synths, basically, with snide, humorous lyrics that touch upon more modern subjects. I’ve been programmed to appreciate this sound ever since I discovered the Cars, who are also a pretty strong influence here. So yeah, I do like the music. A lot.

I also like Cotton’s singing. Josie Cotton is a great singer, able to affect a number of different personas on her songs (her debut album Convertible Music is an underrated gem). On “Johnny Are You Queer”, she picks up on the juvenile quality of the lyrics and plays the spoiled, naive teen-girl thing to the hilt, her voice nasal and whiny in a way that brings the song to life. You have to sing a song like this with a good dose of humour, or else it’ll come off as totally tone-deaf, and Cotton pulls it off with aplomb.

I first heard about this song from the brilliant, out-of-print book Rock on the Wild Side: Gay Male Images in Popular Music of the Rock Era. The author, Wayne Studer, writes about “Johnny Are You Queer” a hell of a lot more eloquently than I ever could. He writes: “Though Cotton repeatedly uses the word ‘queer,’ she never appears to do so with spite or contempt”--which I think is key to making the song work. She’s a naive, straight teenage girl in 1982; of course she’s going to use the word “queer.” But it’s not as though she ever thinks it’s a bad thing that her boyfriend could be gay. She just wants to know the truth. I don’t think this is a homophobic song by any means. It’s simply one that’s situated. It’s written very well from a particular perspective, effectively delivered by a great vocalist, and set to exactly the right kind of music. And it’s about something that hadn’t been covered in pop music before, and still isn’t covered much to this day.

All that said, I have gotten a bit sick of this song upon repeated listens. That’s just what happens when you have a whiny vocal. I don’t think this is the best tune of 1982--the music is good but not sensational, and the novelty appeal wears thin after a while. But I can see myself coming back and loving this again.

My rating: 8/10. Maybe I’m just being generous after so many samey 60s songs, but I love that this one’s about something different. That gives it mega points. Plus it’s just a really fun, interesting tune.

[furederiko]

Tis the start of the week, thus it's time for Random-News-Digest! Only a few categories, though...

Disney Live Action

"Beauty and the Beast" has had its big Hollywood premiere several days ago, following the UK one that was already held in a prior date. Which means, critics have begun voicing their opinions about it. From what I read so far, the response was... rather divisive. Some called it a loyal, bold, and faithful adaptation of the original, that would bring together old fans and new ones alike. Some praised the movie to the point of predicting it to be one of the year's first best-selling title so far, that it's going to make a lot of money. But on the opposite side, there were those who weren't as pleased with the adaptation. Collider called it "too much of a good thing", and The Hollywood Reporter likened it to a "crystal-meth-like narcotic high that lasts about two hours"! Both which... can mean good and bad at the same time. Of course, the rule of the thumb is, everyone has the rights to have their own personal and subjective opinion. So in the end, it's all just a matter of taste. Knowing that, it's hard to pinpoint which one of these responses is the accurate one, without actually seeing the movie with our own eyes. In fact, even you and I might have a completely different opinion about it. That's just the way it is.

Backlash to the movie also came in other areas. The first one was about Disney's approach to the 'renewed' sexual orientation of one character, that made fans both buzzing in cheer and jeer. The movie might not even gain access to Russia JUST because of it! WOW. In an interview with Attitude Magazine, director Bill Condon (who is openly LGBT, in case you're not aware) stated that Josh Gad's LeFou might be heading towards a more 'queer' trajection in the movie. Basically crowning him as Disney's first openly LGBT character in the big screen. This is said to be an update from the original animated movie, that originally placed his character as some kind of idiot manservant comic-relief to Gaston. Who, by the way, in the movie is played by the loveable dashing actor Luke Evans. Thus making perfect sense that anyone, regardless of their gender, might easily have a crush on him *wink*.

In my opinion (rhyming nicely with LeFou's actor's point of view), I see nothing wrong with it. In fact, this is a natural progresive albeit MINOR update that embraces the change in our culture and society. If not something that simply works as a subtle tribute to the late Howard Ashman, the original lyricist of the animated movie, whose fingerprints are all over the animated movie. C'mon guys, it's the year 2017! But why minor, you ask? Because if you actually pay attention to the character of LeFou in the animated movie, there has ALWAYS been a hint of attraction to his boss. Something that went beyond mere "I respect my boss so much, I'll go with him wherever he goes". It WAS there all along, so what Disney is doing, is nothing more than a confirmation. Problem is, there are people who simply don't want to accept this, and being an internet era, immediately voiced their disagreement. Especially after USA officially became a 'discriminative country' thanks to its new elected leader. This kind of reaction feels... ODD, if you ask me. But to each their own, so who am I to judge, right? Besides, just like above, I need to see the movie first before I can fairly say whether this update is for the better or opposite, or even worth the pointless argument alone.

The other negative buzz, was the ridiculous questioning of lead actress Emma Watson's feminism stand! With some even going so far as calling her... a hypocrite. YIKES! Yes, this came following her rather revealing photo shoot for an interview with Vanity Fair. This reaction, was also... ODD. Pray tell, WHAT is really the point of being a feminist? Isn't it, the FREEDOM of choice for women to express themselves, to stand proud without the need to be approved by men? Isn't that... what Watson was doing? Hmmmm. Which is why I'm feeling confused about the reasonings behind these decries. Does this mean, a fully grown-up actress (albeit growing on-screen from an innocent child one), is NOT allowed to do both? Posing elegantly in a magazine for a mature art piece, and still be a feminist who stands up for female rights? Once again, do tell me what's the point of feminism. Because the way I see it, if she's not allowed to perform such pose just because she's a woman, then isn't that... sexist instead? And for crying out loud, it's her own body too, not ours! Really, please elaborate me on this (which is a sarcastic rhetoric, in case you don't realize one). I thought being feminist is an ideal that extends more than just about women wearing pants...

As of writing, "Beauty and the Beast" is sitting at a score of 73%, aggregated from 44 critics on RottenTomatoes. This number will definitely fluctuate in the coming weeks, so it's not the end result. For the sake of pure numerical comparison only (not quality, that'd be subjective), Disney's previous two live action remakes ranked higher. Kenneth Branagh's "Cinderella" ended with a 83%, while Jon Favreau's recent Academy Award winning "The Jungle Book" finished with a heaping 95%. To be fair, I'm never a fan of the original animated movie in the first place, so my interest to see this movie hasn't been as high as those other titles. But now my curiousity has peaked at the highest level, because I just need to see whether these absurd complains are true, or that these people are only making too much of a big deal out of nothing. I have a feeling it's the second one...

Currently in production for a December 25, 2018 release, is the long awaited sequel "Mary Poppins Returns". Disney Studio has officially released the first look for lead actress Emily Blunt as the titular character via Twitter. And well, response to this one was generally positive. Which was on point, if you ask me, because Disney is keeping most of Poppins' signature looks in tact. That is something that would easily please fans of the first movie that starred the legendary Julie Andrews. Of course, with the risk of sounding pessimistic, "Beauty and the Beast" also had the same warm-welcome at first. But look at what is happening now, right?

Anyway, I expect we're going to see more of the other cast really soon. Just a reminder, Ben Whishaw and Emily Mortimer are set to portray the adult versions of Michael and Jane Banks, the children that Poppins nannied in the first movie. Lin-Manuel Miranda is set to play Jack, a street lamplighter who will aid Poppins in her mission to bring back joy to the Banks. While Meryl Streep will be playing her cousin. Will this movie be as captivating and genuinely endearing like the first one? Or will it suffer unnecessary backlashes, because people in the modern age are more prone to complain about everything and can't seem to shut their mouth for just a moment to enjoy something as is? As always, we'll see... hahaha.

X-Men Universe

Before you ask, NO, I won't talk about that X-Men TV show that had just cast its Polaris. I couldn't care less about it, so this is as far as I go on even mentioning one. Yep, I'll just focus on talking about the movies instead. But nope, I won't talk about that NOT-Supernova X-Men movie, which I couldn't care less. Not even "Logan" as well. Even if critics everywhere are praising the movie, seemingly unable to find any flaws in the R-rated gruesome comic book adaptation, that is already raking a great amount of money in its first weekend (and exceeding expectations too). I just don't have that much interest for Hugh Jackman's last foray as the titular character, and will not watch one until.... the home video is out. That's all I can say.

Instead, I'm going to talk about another title that seems to be in pre-production process. Yes, "Deadpool 2"! Sequel to the surprise hit that made FOX shifted direction into venturing the R-rated superhero business. Apparently, there's a short for the sequel that has been playing in front of "Logan". Not to worry though, because FOX and lead actor Ryan Reynolds has kindly released this 03:41 minutes butt-sho... er, I mean "No Good Deed" online for everyone to see. So it's not just limited to those who are watching "Logan" anymore. Lucky for me, eh? Then again, that's not such a big deal anyway (Deadpool: "R U effing kidding me?"), because writer-producer Rhett Reese has clarified that this footage will NOT be used in the movie itself. What's the purpose then? Simply a final message to Hugh Jackman before he rides off into the sunset. After all, with Wolverine officially gone, the burden has fallen to Reynolds' shoulder to carry the flag of the FOX-Marvel franchise. Reese also confirmed that his sequel is currently in casting mode, hence why there is no release date given for the movie just yet.

Speaking of casting, another big name has been thrown to the "Who Should Play Cable" hopefuls. This time, it's a popular name that would make Netflix's fans happy, particularly those who are watching "Stranger Things". According to The Wrap, Hawkins Police Department Chief himself, David Harbour, has been considered for the role of the future-based mutant. He even said to have screen-tested for the part. Of course, knowing what happened to previous contenders like Kyle Chandler, this doesn't necessarily mean Harbour is set for the role. So don't get excited too much too soon about it, because it might very well be just a passing news in the near future. Not to mention, The Wrap's source El Mayimbe isn't as reliable as he used to be anymore, with most of his scoops regarding "Logan" turning out to be false. Nevertheless, it's still interesting to see the range of actors they are looking for the character.

Personally, while I think Harbour's a fantastic actor, I just couldn't see him as Cable. Not saying that he won't be able to pull it off, but I'm expecting someone who's a little more... stern and naturally buffed, considering the character itself has always been like that. That's nothing Hollywood can't fixed of course, but those who already came with the built would be better. Perhaps, the likes of John Cena, or Joe Manganiello would fit my criteria for this role? Even the recently cast Black Bolt, could be a better choice... physique-wise. Anyway, let's just hope we'll hear more about the casting soon. With "Logan" already out on the market, and its actor posting a final message to Wolverine fans, it makes sense that FOX would be moving ahead with "Deadpool 2". To keep the hype strong for their favor, what else?

Marvel Studios

"Doctor Strange" has been released for home video for quite some time now. Thanks to this, director Scott Derrickson has been making rounds about his movie once more, either with the press or via social media. He's been answering questions on Twitter lately, and his response might have hinted on what we can expect from the as-of-yet-unnannounced sequel. To be honest, since "Doctor Strange" was a success and a easy hit among audience, even snagging some prestigious Awards honors ever since (like Academy Award?), a sequel is nothing more than a sure thing. Highly likely Marvel Studios consciously opts to not reveal too much about it though, to keep the momentum and attention towards current projects instead. Heck, confirming its sequel for Phase 4 could even be considered spoiler alert for "Avengers: Infinity War", right? A movie that will see Benedict Cumberbatch's second return in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Intriguingly, while Derrickson hasn't been confirmed to return for the directorial duty, the way he responded with ideas and everything, seems to have partially confirmed that he would definitely be back, or at least involved in the sequel.

As for what he said about the inevitable solo sequel, Derrickson has revealed several interesting bits. When asked about the potential of Jericho Drumm, or more familiarly known as the Master of Mystic Arts Brother Voodoo, Derrickson replied that his brother, Daniel Drumm's demise might not serve as a mere pointless random incident. After all, this IS Marvel Studios we're talking about, and not FOX nor Warner Bros. His death will surely triggered an after-effect from his younger brother. Since in recent years Jericho has become a Sorcerer Supreme himself, it makes perfect sense to see him joining the sequel as Strange's apprentice. To add credential to this, do remember that when Chiwetel Ejiofor was cast, many sites have speculated that he's playing Jericho instead of Mordo. As for which actor should play Jericho? Expect Marvel Studios to target big names. I don't know, how about... Trevante Rhodes from the latest Best Picture Winner "Moonlight"? *grins*

The brief inclusion of Dormammu the Dread in the movie, would naturally pave way to another key character in the Doctor Strange lore: his equally magical romantic interest, Clea. It wouldn't be surprising to see the character incorporated in the sequel, because as Derrickson himself stated, "you can't tell the story of Doctor Strange w/out eventually dealing w/Clea.". It's safe to say that we haven't seen the last of Dormammu, thus his silver-haired sorceress nephew will surely come into play as well. As for the villain, Derrickson mentioned the name Nightmare once again, but unlike before, he has backtracked a bit with a tinge of uncertainly because he's a "tricky villain to get right". In my opinion, going with Nightmare would allow Marvel Studios to completely venture to the realm of horror genre, and that's certainly going to be a challenge. It could open the gate for supernatural characters like Blade, or Moon Knight too. Especially since Derrickson is clearly a fan of the latter, as much as the Fantastic Four.

Promotional materials have begun hitting the internet, in anticipation of the arrival of "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2". We get to see more of Kurt Russel's Ego, as well as Yondu and Nebula who both have been hinted greatly to be joining the team. The movie will open on May 5, 2017 in the US, but I won't be surprised if it arrives earlier in other countries. In fact, I believe it will be available here late next month. Because that's how it has always worked for Marvel Studios movies. We almost always get a May movie in April. The good news is, even after seeing the third and latest trailer, I still don't have any clue about what the movie is all about. Which is good, because I'd love nothing more than some elements of surprise!

Meanwhile, the July movie, "Spider-Man: Homecoming" is said to have begun additional photography as we speak. Or 'reshoots', in case you prefer a much pessimistic sounding choice of words. According to reports from social media, a crew for the movie was spotted at Disneyland California. Not just that, a school bus scene apparently has been filmed outside of LA's Van Nuys High School. There isn't an official confirmation for reshoots like this, but it is said that lead actor Tom Holland and his personal assistant- best friend Harrison Osterfield will be meeting with co-star Jacob Batalon very soon. Is it for this reshoot? It's anyone's guess.

As for "Infinity War" that's currently in production, there's a rather startling news that was sparked from Atlanta Business Chronicle. Namely, the claim of Pinewood Atlanta Studios' co-owner, that there is a "largest film production ever with a $1 billion budget." going on right there. Easy bet obviously went to Marvel Studios, considering "Infinity War" is gathering a huge number of actors and resources, to create what seems to be a 'Two-Parts Finale' of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Mind you, NONE of this was official news. It was never stated openly that "Infinity War" was what the co-owner was talking about. It's all a result of speculation and pure assumption. But since we know how the internet works, it's more than enough to drive people talking. Both in praise and cynical tone.

Interestingly, this wasn't even new. Bleeding Cool, had also reported the same rumor before. Calling the combination of "Infinity War" and the 2019's UNTITLED Avengers movie to reach the exact same number. So is this true, then? Though I'm inclined to believe its possibility, there's always a high chance that it's nothing more than an exaggeration. After all, Bleeding Cool in particular has been known to be an anti-Kevin Feige fansite, who favors the side of Marvel Comics (as well as Marvel TV) more. That alone is enough to make me question the foundation behind their report. Not to mention, they don't really have a good track-record in reporting insider info. Remember, they were the one who assumed that Chiwetel Ejiofor would be playing Brother Voodo. And we all know how that turned out to be, right? Sean Gerber had posted a fine thinkpiece about how this situation does NOT make sense, pointing out some valid reasons for this to be illogical. Go ahead and read it on Marvel Studios News.

Marvel TV

Production has officially begun for Marvel's "The Inhumans" last week. Precisely on March 3, 2017. Photos of Black Bolt from the set has already begun circulating on the internet (courtesy of Reel News Hawaii)! So fast, huh? A few days prior, the remaining core cast members have been announced. Joining the already announced Iwan Rheon and Anson Mount, were the other Inhumans Royal family characters, as well as two more supporting ones.

The first one to be announced was gorgeous actress Serinda Swan, who was cast to play Medusa Amaquelin. Medusa is the wife of Black Bolt, which means she's the Queen of the Inhumans. Interestingly, this isn't Swan's first comic book role, as she has portrayed the magician Zatanna in the TV series "Smallville" before. Her casting announcement was followed by Asian-American actor Ken Leung, who will be portraying Karnak Mander-Azur. Similar to Swan, this wasn't Leung's first comic book role, as he has played the mutant Spike in FOX's critically panned "X-Men: The Last Stand". To put it simple, Leung is officially both a mutant and inhuman now. How cool is that?

Several others, and arguably lesser characters were announced all together as the production officially began. African-American actor Eme Ikwuakor is set to play Gorgon Petragon. Australian actress Isabelle Cornish will portray Crystal Amaquelin, who is Medusa's younger sister. Mike Moh, familiarly known by gamers all around the world as Ryu in "Street Fighter Assassin's Fist" web-series and its sequel, has been cast as Triton Mander-Azur, who is Karnak's blood-brother. Hawaiian native Sonya Balmores, will portray the Inhumans Royal Guard Auran, while Ellen Woglom's character is currently undisclosed to not spoil the storyline. The same announcement also confirmed the appearance of one key character of the Royal Family: LOCKJAW!!!

As for the characters they are playing, if the official announcements were any indication, then we might be seeing a very faithful adaptation of the comics. Black Bolt will have the power of his devastating voice. Medusa would have her 'powerful hair'. Karnak will be Black Bolt's brilliant strategist with the natural ability to pinpoint weakness in all things. The same with the other three. His brother Triton will have his fish-like ability, Gorgon will have his super strong legs and hooves, while Crystal is a master of elements. Just like in the comics! The only change that seems apparent, is the switching of Karnak and Triton placing in the Mander-Azur family. In the comics, Triton has been described as the older son. But seeing their actors age, it seems this might be reversed. Which shouldn't be a surprise, since many adaptations have been practicing the exact approach ("Ultimate Spider-Man" animated shows, for example). For more information on how these Royal characters are linked as a Family (they are literally siblings and cousins), MCU Exchange has provided an excellent infographic for our convenience. As for Woglom's mystery character, interestingly, she is said to be working at a private aerospace company, with a passion for all things space and lunar. This is a vague hint that the setting of the show would take place out of Earth, and perhaps on the Blue Side of the Moon. Could she be an important character from the comics too, then? That's certainly a possibility.

It's safe to say, that the hype level for the show just skyrocketed due to these announcements. For me personally, it's Lockjaw's inclusion as well as Moh's casting that basically sealed the deal. The moment I saw Moh's name, I think I nerded out, because I've been wanting to see him play a Marvel heroes. Sure, he'd make a far better Shang-Chi than Triton, who will be covered by scales and prosthetics throughout the show. And yes, he'd make a better Karnak too, since he's an actual martial art practitioner (in fact, I wonder why he's not switching role with Leung?). But the fact that he's a Marvel actor now, is enough to make me happy. Of course, it's when I read that the show will incorporate a 2000-pound giant mutt with the power of teleportation, that I basically lost it. After all, you simply can't have a faithful Inhuman show without Lockjaw!

Intriguingly, most if not all of the names in this cast are on a 'different' level than your average TV actors. If you pay attention, most of them have had big screen roles as well. Swan was in "Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief" and "Tron: Legacy". Leung was recently in "Star Wars: The Force Awakens". Cornish was as suspected, the younger sister of movie actress Abbie Cornish. She has been a contender for "Transformers: Age of Extinction" before, but more importantly, she's also a "Home and Away" alumn, a.k.a the show that gave birth to lots of Hollywood big names such as... yes, Chris Hemsworth. Mount was in "Non-Stop" among many other titles. Ikwuakor and Moh mostly had roles in TV, but have been involved in big movie productions before. There has been a wide speculation that Marvel TV was looking for actors who could fit both mediums nicely, considering "The Inhumans" will have an exclusive 2-weeks IMAX debut before proceeding later on as an 8-episodes TV show on ABC. Clearly, this IS indeed the case, and I'm genuinely pleased. Speaking of IMAX debut, the theatre chain itself had announced via Twitter that the first two episode will arrive in one feature-length movie format on September 1st, 2017 (additional scenes will be added for the TV version). This practically confirmed previous report that it will debut on Labor's Day. That's only less than 6 months aways!

If there's any lingering question I have about this show, is how it will play out in the MCU. How significant it will be in the bigger picture. Remember, Marvel Studios had this as a movie planned for Phase 3 once, before "Homecoming" and the sequel of "Ant-Man" shuffled it away to 2019. Kevin Feige had since mentioned that there's still a plan for the movie in Phase 4, but then ABC and Marvel TV announced it a mini-series. Will the one produced by Marvel Studios be using the exact same cast to this one? Will fans' expectation to see Mount's Black Bolt as part of an Illuminati that consists of Robert Downey Jr., Benedict Cumberbatch, Chadwick Boseman, and others, exceeds more than just a wishful thinking? Or will... everyone be recast, similar to the fate Linda Louise-Duan who is not reprising her "Doctor Strange" role in the upcoming Marvel's "The Runaways". As great as these actors are, I doubt they have the high-profile needed to sell a high-budget movie version to a global audience. Which is why many have imagined the likes of Vin Diesel, Jessica Chastain, and other A-list actors in these roles instead. Technically, this show CARRIES the greatest potential to be an actual bridge between the TV and Movie side. But judging from the current situation between Marvel Studios and Marvel TV, it'll be far wiser to not get our hopes up too high. Yes, ABC is a network owned by Disney, but even the House of Mouse has no power to settle what's happening between the two divisions. Especially since both are reporting to a different boss *sigh*. Let's just hope for the best, shall we?

As for the other shows, it seems Marvel's "Cloak and Dagger" has wrapped production of its first episode. At the same time, "Runaways" is close to wrapping its in production, as some candid photos and videos have hit the internet from Long Beach's Ernest McBride High School. Despite the intention to keep things tightly kept in secrecy, eager fans will still find a way to get information anyway. THAT my friend, is how our internet works! LOL. Unfortunately, as great of an idea these two shows are, the chance of me watching both has only continued to wane. As I said, unless it's through illegal means (which is NOT recommended) I don't think I'm going to watch both. Why would I purchase a Hulu and Freeform account to watch one show, right? Looks like it's a good thing that my interest for "The Inhumans" has spiked enormously. In the end, that might be the only new Marvel show I'd be watching. Or is it? According to IMAX CEO Greg Foster, they are "already looking for a second series" to work with. Could we be seeing more Marvel shows with "The Inhumans" treatment then? That's a possibility...

Netflix

The 4th and final Defender's member so far, the last character that Marvel TV promised several years ago, will be upon us in just one week from now. Yes, Danny Rand will be debuting on Marvel's "Iron Fist" on March 17th, 2017. Hype is high, as well as expectations, and as I said, if the last trailer was any indication, then this is going to be an interesting show. At least for me personally.

Unfortunately, just two weeks before all episodes of the show is released worldwide, showrunner Scott Buck just had to 'run his mouth' and well... revealed something underwhelming. That's like... taking cues of DC Films for their impressive bad-marketing stunt. In this case, it's concerning Danny's iconic costume. Talking to Games Radar, Buck stated that fans should NOT hold their breath to see Finn Jones wearing one. In this show, that is. To be fair, the same thing happened on the first season of Marvel's "Daredevil", where it took 12 episodes before Charlie Cox' Matt Murdock consciously shifted from black beany to a specially crafted costume. So there's no reason for us to be shocked. Even so, this news was still disappointing to fans nonetheless. Why? Because every Netflix shows afterwards, had been real shy on implementing one. Marvel's "Jessica Jones" only revealed one just to make fun of it, and Marvel's "Luke Cage" only featured a very quick glimpse of one in its 4th episode. Both ended up serving as mere passing nods. That's why somehow, fans are expecting a change in this repetitive scenario. Because once, or the first time, is okay, but doing it again and again every year? That will get old real fast.

And yes, I do feel slightly disappointed with this. I mean, if anything, at least Danny should be wearing a similar attire to the one Matt wore in his series' first season. That's practically an all-black version of Iron Fist's attire, right? Many fans (through various fansites) have also pointed out one VERY logical thing. Similar to rich characters like Bruce Wayne, Oliver Queen, and others, Danny has a reputation he has to protect. He's the heir of a wealthy businessman. He OWNS a company, and is supposed to be its long-lost CEO. Can he damage such esteemed position by openly beating up thugs and evil henchmen as a vigilante, exposing himself to the world? Even Buck's statement contradicted this very issue: "There was no good reason we could imagine to put Danny Rand in a costume because Danny Rand is still discovering who he is as a hero and where he is going to be, so he’s not yet ready to put on a mask or a costume.". Eventhough he backtracked a bit by saying "At the same time he is someone who is rather well known as a billionaire, so he can’t necessarily go out in public and do the things he does without being recognized. It does become an issue for the character.". Seriously? THAT makes for a good reason, right? Let this sink in to your brain for a bit. Of course, Buck might simply be hinting at some surprises in store, that we can only learn by watching the series. So for now, let's just give this show the benefit of doubt.

Pocket Monsters

Still playing "Pokemon GO", eventhough the addition of Generation 2's species isn't as big as it should have been? Well, worry not, because according to John Hanke, more "major new releases" will arrive this year. Yes, and there are 3 of them too! Speaking in an App Convention, the Niantic boss confirmed that there are major quarterly updates being planned for their successful App this year. There aren't any official announcement about what they will be, but two of them might have already been revealed through interviews.

The first one, is 'Gym System Overhaul'. A statement that came straight from Hanke himself. I can't help but wonder what this means. To be frank, I've been hearing many complaints regarding the state of Pokemon GO's Gyms nowadays. Either it's becoming rather dull due to being monopolized by high-level players, or the fact that it now mostly consists of the same types and species over and over again. This isn't surprising, since several Pokemon like Vaporeon, Gyarados, Snorlax, and others have become the game's top-tiers. Hence, their presence on Gyms have not only become a norm, it's an underwhelming and annoying repetitive sight. No wonder many players have walked out because of it. I'm curious whether the App will eventually choose to go the Core Game route, by assigning fixed Pokemon on Gyms instead of letting players assign their own. But what about the battle part? Well, that's where... 'Battling' comes to play. Just imagine how the fanbase will react when they know they can do Pokemon Battle with other players. Won't that be a lot of fun?

The second update, is something I have long expected to arrive in the App. And what is that? 'Trading'. Yes, the ability to exchange Pokemon with other players. This is the exact reason why I speculated that a Battling feature might be coming as well. Because the ability of Trading, means there will be interaction between players in the App. After all, just the thought of seeing an alert with the tune of "There's another Player near you" is enough to thrill me! Tatsuo Nomura, the Senior Product Manager for Niantic has even confirmed that this Trading system "won’t be through the internet ...The person needs to be in your proximity". This is GREAT news. I've mentioned on my First Impression last year, that "Pokemon GO" has massive potential it can explore. Trading, which might trigger Battling, is one of its key social feature, and is a step to the right direction. Not only it will enhance gameplay, it will also enhance real-life social aspect of the game. I can already imagine players meeting new people, interacting, and develop a healthy community if not deeper relationship with one another. That's precisely what Niantic's earlier title "Ingress" has successfully accomplished, right? It has even spawned a bishoujo Manga! So just imagine what "Pokemon GO" could be when it can replicate the same feature. Fans are going to love it!

A quick disclaimer note, do mind that what I just said on the previous two paragraphs are combination of fact, and personal speculations. The Gym Overhaul and Trading are facts, albeit not yet officially announced, while the Battling and other bits are my own wishful thinkings. So until we hear actual confirmation to these features, take it with grains of salt. Oh, and by the way, included in the Hanke's statement, was a "systemic solution to spoofers". I can't really comment on this, because I'm not quite sure what it means. Mind you, I'm not THAT fluent on the gameplay, due to being a casual gamer. But of course, the general notion is, Niantic is hard at work to stop players from cheating on the game. And that's a good reassurance to existing players.

Sidetracking a bit, the first trailer for this year's movie have been officially released by The Pokemon Company. There are two versions, the normal-length and shorter one, but the content of both are practically the same. Serving as the 20th anniversary movie, "Gekijouban Pocket Monster, Kimi ni Kimeta!" is a retelling of Satoshi's first encounter with his most loyal and trusted companion, Pikachu. After seasons of TV series, and 19 movies, that had the pair travelling together with various other Pokemon and close friends, it's time to revisit the harsh and tumultous starting point between the two. A fated meeting that has evolved into a strong bond that inspires many Pokemon fans all around the world. The movie will premiere in Japan on July 15, 2017. Will you come to the theatres to see this nostalgic tale? I know I would I could...

Nintendo

Nintendo's new hybrid console, the Nintendo Switch has been released! Have you purchased one? In alternate universe where financial situation is not an issue, I would've already been playing one right now. Heck, I might have been among the line of those first queue to get my hands on one *sigh*. So yeah, despite my desire to own one, I have no choice but to wait until things are more... stable. It could happen in a few months, later this year, or even next year, only time will tell (and God knows when).

Response for the release has been generally positive. Including that ODD-sounding cartridge mouth-testing stunts everywhere. LOL. Yes, some folks are holding back until Switch has more exclusive titles like "Super Smash Bros", a core "Pokemon" title, or the likes, but many who has purchased one are pleased with its features. As well as its launch titles. "The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild" in particular, is an easy crowdpleaser. Fans of the franchise immediately fell in love with the game, calling it fun and amazing. In fact, IGN rewarded it with a full score of 10 on their review! Something that is rarely done by the Entertainment Site. Of course, with the good also comes the bad. Other title, like the much anticipated "1-2 Switch" didn't perform as successful as it's expected. Then again, you can't have it all, right?

Nevertheless, Reggie Fils-Aimé, the President of Nintendo America has conveyed his thankful message to all fans who have supported Nintendo by getting Switch. It remains to be seen whether Switch will stand strong amidst competition with bigger Ultra-HD consoles like Playstation 4 or Xbox One. Moreso the rumored high-tech Project Scorpio from Microsoft's front. There's always the possibility that Switch will end up suffering like its predecessor Wii U, and not gaining much love like the groundbreaking Wii. Let's just hope this hybrid console will bring Nintendo back to its prime.

For now, gamers can enjoy other available games like "Just Dance 2017", "Disgaea 5", "Othello", and others, while they wait for more titles to arrive throughout the year. One of it is "Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers" that will released on May 26 in Japan, North America, and Europe. It's a remake of the classic title, with new characters and bonus features. And that's just one of the Switch's upcoming title! Here's hoping it will be getting even broader titles in the future. Like that rumored "Pokemon Stars", perhaps? That would be super dope... :D

[artsinsociety-blog1]

Interview Transcript: Merryn Stanger

Interviewer: Kate Armstrong Interviewee: Merryn Stanger Mode: Skype Date: January 12 2017

Begins: 11:45 January 12, 2017

KA: Thanks for agreeing to this interview Merryn and thanks for making the time to Skype with me

MS: No problem, I have a wine so I’m ready to go..

KA: Okay perfect! Haha, so I’m going to ask you a series of questions influenced by my research. Both the research and this interview are leading up to an exhibition which I already explained you in our previous correspondence,

MS: Yes…

KA: I chose a text as the starting point to my questioning it’s called Issues in Curating Contemporary Art and Performance, don’t know if you know it… but it’s a collection of writings edited by...Judith Rugg and Michèle Sedgwick. It’s actually a course text and I found it really interesting as a whole and later, after you introduce yourself I want to reference an essay by Jane Rendell called CRITICAL SPATIAL PRACTICE: CURATING, EDITING, WRITING... Okay so first, can you give us your elevator pitch - who are you, what do you do?

MS: Ok sure, I’m Merryn, Stanger and last year, or 2 years ago; 2015 I graduated from an Arts Administration Master at COFA in Sydney. Since then I have worked as an invigilator at the COFA Galleries and as a research assistant at the Art Gallery of New South Wales and I was also teaching curatorial techniques at Sydney University for some classes in their Department of Architecture, Design & Planning and I also curated an exhibition for them.

KA: Perfect, thank you - so let’s get started with Jane Rendell and her essay CRITICAL SPATIAL PRACTICE: CURATING, EDITING, WRITING in which she suggests that there is a stigma around multi-model and interdisciplinary exhibitions; she says they can be viewed as ambiguous. This lead to me to question how a curator actually makes sense of or clarifies disparate elements of a show and how or maybe IF your role is making the incoherent, coherent.

MS: Well, and I take this opinion mainly from my studies; the role of the curator isn’t to make things coherent. The curator should be the *mimes quotation marks* invisible hand - there is a theorist whose name I can’t bring to mind, but you can look it up later...

KA: I can look it up after...

MS: yeah, do - well yeah the concept is that the ‘curator’s touch’ should be seen in an exhibition but you should never see the ‘hand’ let’s say. The role isn’t to be didactic but to present an opportunity for the audience to engage and interpret. The curator’s roles isn’t to impose their thoughts on the audience it's to guide them I guess…

KA: Right, so with this idea of non-didactic methods in mind….can you talk a bit about the role of text in exhibitions? Should text be displayed with works or…

MS: Okay, this is a really big debate actually its always the discussion in contemporary curation, how much should you influence or even guide the audience as a curator...I mean it’s kind of what we were just talking about, you have the mid 20th Century curators like Clement Greenburg who were way more prescriptive but the more contemporary trend is for the curator to be heard but not seen like I said before. So it’s the same concept for text, if you’re including an essay of text, even a short amount, it can influence the way the audience reads the artwork. I guess in some cases it’s necessary to include dense text, like wall plates or explanations and other times I think it’s kind of industry habit...okay, an example...When I was working at the Art Gallery of New South Wales the Asian art galleries, you know on the top level at the far end…

KA: Yeah…

MS: well they have really in-depth wall texts and have lots of explanatory text, whereas the 19th Century collection doesn’t have much,

KA: Oh, really?

MS: Yeah yeah, I mean, it’s always a bit like that...

KA: So you’re saying that the AGNSW think that their public know less about Chinese art? I mean they feel they have to aid in the translation process - this is really interesting for our exhibition, because you know as it’s about cultural translations

MS: Oh yeah, of course…

KA: So do you think that's the deal,

MS: What, that people know about 19th century art? Hmmm I think it’s a general assumption that Australians have more knowledge about Western Art…

KA: It is also a value judgment as well as an assumption?

MS: Yeah, perhaps….I mean in school in, curatorial studies we focused a lot on the Western Canon. We did discuss people like Edward Said and Orientalism but there was a general, I don’t know, bias toward Western Art...

KA: But do you think that major schools like COFA focus on the West because in the industry there is an audiences driven demand or institutional demand….or….?

MS: Well, i can only speak for an Australian perspective but yeah, maybe both...but I’d say it is a cultural bias, a general social bias…that maybe isn’t reflected on as much as it should be. But I do think a change is coming, slowly but it’s coming...You know, some of my classmates did a course called Aboriginal Perspectives; I couldn’t get into it as I’d already done too many electives and I wasn’t even allowed to audit it, anyway….now, it’s part of the Post-Grad program as a required subject...

KA: But wait, before it wasn’t?

MS: Haha, yeah...no…

KA: Oh wow, but you did post-colonial studies?

MS: A bit, in the class - wait, let me get something…

(Merryn leaves the interview, returns with a book)

...this is the program of the class, well, it was called ‘Queering the Canon’ but when I’m looking…(flips through book) Yeah, okay it’s more like Gender and Marxism, there is one class on Orientalism...but yeah, anyway it’s kind of lumped in with the other constructs.

KA: Do you think it’s also reflected in the programming that works with gallery shows - like do non-western shows require more didactic programming?

MS: Um….not sure, do you mean to be more politically correct or?

KA: No more like, well I went to see Ben Quilty speak about a piece he created for an Indigenous Artists show at AGNSW and he spoke very didactically and the talk was part of a really extensive educational program...I don’t think you’d see this at a 19th century collection show….?

MS: Hmmmm, I guess different programs are created for specific audiences and perhaps the people going to see your classic representations of the Western Canon are more into classic un-provocative programming, hehe...not sure

KA: Ok cool, well following on from that, talking about adjacent programming, I want to ask you about the exhibition catalogue?

MS: Oh yes, I love exhibition catalogues…

KA: I thought so…

MS: Haha, I have so many!

KA: Oh perfect, so as someone who likes and reads catalogues can you talk a bit about their function?

MS: Well for me, the catalogue is the perfect place for the curator to explain their curatorial premise. You know I was saying about the curator being the invisible hand - you don’t want to impose your ideas on audiences, but the catalogue is almost a separate but connected space where you can really tell the story of the exhibition. I’m always unsatisfied when I go to an exhibition and the catalogue is just, name, title, date of all the works and a picture, it’s such a missed opportunity for the curator to tell their story and have a voice - it should be more informative and subjective…

KA: And is it fair to say it’s almost a legacy of the show and it’s concept…?

MS: Yeah for sure, I mean I collect catalogues and yeah, they become not only like a souvenir but a timeless extension of the exhibition.

KA: Lovely, so they have a real place in the curation of a show

MS: Absolutely

KA: Great, well I’d like to move on to discuss the most recent show you did which is coming back to the idea of interdisciplinary exhibitions...it was for Sydney Uni right?

MS: Yeah, it was a show for Sydney University Department of Architecture and Design and it was held in conjunction with a Design conference put on by a well known guy from the design world, John Alsop...he’s from the Design Computing world, it’s a bad name for what he does I think, because it’s more like wearable tech and gadgets, but um the show was called ‘Web Directions’

KA: ...and it was held in a gallery?

MS: No, no, it was held in a public space in the foyer of the conference and had all sorts of different things in it, lots of apps and there was a drone for farmers to track sheep - that sounds a bit boring but it’s actually really interesting and got lots of funding because you know these farmers in the desert have to use helicopters to track their flocks but this device makes it much easier...But anyway yeah all of the works were around the theme technology for social good, so they had to have an aspect that benefited wider society - like one guy had this cute backpack that worked as an indicator for your bike and was controlled by your iphone, like on the handle bars. Yeah. There were lots of different items - including portfolios and posters.

KA: So there were a lot of variables; various items, lots of different sizes, participation, opportunities for people to linger to read or even watch a video; also the fact that it was in a thoroughfare….I mean, I’m interested in how you controlled the flow, the interaction of people in the space, is it even possible?

MS: I have some really great resources on this that I’ll send you, about how to create space and define the actions of audiences. There is this American theory that in Australia is actually the opposite, it’s that people by nature turn right when entering a gallery space, because by habit they vear right, like on the road or using escalators…

KA: Oh yeah it’s like when you go to Europe and go to pass someone in the street and you habitually step to the left and they step to the right and...haha...you end up crashing

MS: Haha, exactly, yeah you really have to think about the use of space fairly subconsciously actually because well, people using it are everyday people. There are a set of let’s say ‘manners’ or an etiquette that can be followed, like how big text should be and how far away viewers stand from the wall but it’s all developed around human behaviour. Also talking about wall text and the correct number is in the slides i’ll send you but there's also a certain number of words that people are willing to read standing at an exhibition before they tune out...so that's also interesting to note and I guess also where the catalogue in the format of a book becomes useful...we’re used to reading long texts in the pages of a book.

KA: Yeah, that's true.

MS: So yeah there is a lot of human nature and common sense that goes into designing exhibitions

KA: ...and then, how do you, for want of a better word…’control’ viewers, like if you have video and books and texts and spaces that will encourage loitering and other spaces that require traffic flow…

MS: Well first you consider the elements and try to space them accordingly, like separate all the apps and all the films so they are not all together, and then well, you obviously would try to keep thoroughfares clear and the works that require more hang-time in areas of less activity. It’s difficult, I like to work with a working floor plan with multiple options and trial them in the space. It’s best to access the space to see how it operates, for instance I went to visit the foyer when it was both in use and not, to see where people naturally gravitated and what the actual user experience was.

KA: So you mocked up a floor plan or a diagram?

MS: Just a simple floor plan, well a few and then by hand sketched out where things could go.

KA: And if this was a public space, how did you go about security or artworks and tech?

MS: Urgh, security is so difficult, especially when you don’t have resources - for this design show there were so many apps on display we ended up having to sign-out ipad mini’s to the designers who wanted to show their apps and they had to take responsibility for them, they had to hold them the entire time.

KA: Oh wow, so you didn’t have holders? Like at the apple store or something?

MS: No...well the line-up changed so many times that by the time everyone confirmed what they needed it was far too late to work out specific security for the space and the risk was fairly high being a public venue. I mean when I was working at the College of Fine Arts Galleries it was located in the University and they had so many resources to be able to make the specific holders out of that plastic stuff, what is it…?

KA: Plexiglass?

MS: yeah right, so they’d make special holders,

KA: A frame?

MS: ...with yeah a frame over the top and the Ipad behind all screwed in with a hole for the on/off button and the cord plugged in all the time underneath. They made them for all the shows. I think if you’re at a gallery with resources it’s fine but generally it’s difficult and expensive…

KA: Like how expensive?

MS: Well we got quoted $2000 for that Design exhibition and that was before everyone decided to have iPads, so yeah it’s pricey.

KA: Okay well we’re nearing the end of the interview, but I have one more question, a bonus question that’s a little more off-the-beaten-track…

MS: oh good, ok…

KA: I was reading an article on news.artnet.com about the relevence of curators and how there is a trend away from using the work curator; pepole are instead using ‘Exhibition Organisor’ or just ‘Organised by…’ Do you have a comment about this…?

MS: Yeah I do, I actually was discussing this with my boyfriend just the other day, about how the word curating is so grossly overused. You know, you have people who ‘curate’ instagram feeds and community curators and curated collections of things...but you know where the word curator comes from? Fom a Latin word which means to take care of, so it’s a position of custodianship or someone who is the keeper of a collection. I think originally many art collections were held by churches too and so the word also has religious connections, or connotations. It’s not a word that just means organising, so yeah maybe these people are organising exhibitions but gallerists are closer to being curators in the true sense.

KA: So there’s a place for both?

MS: Yeah for sure, but maybe it’s better, Instagram feed organiser, haha…

KA: oh for sure. Well thank you so much for this Merryn, I really appreciate it and your insights have been very useful.

MS: Thanks for asking me!

Ends 12:22 January 12, 2017