taikova

[transmutationisms]

space photography is a weird case artistically b/c it's explicitly not intended to convey what the naked human eye could perceive but a heavily processed visualisation of data. so kind of more akin to like an anatomical diagram that has all the organs laid out neatly so you can see what the hell you're doing. but then space photography is also a weird case scientifically b/c it has aesthetic dimensions that account for its popular reception & also guide the data processing. like the choice of colours, saturation, &c are intended to produce a pleasing picture, & the picture is put to rhetorical ends: usually a kind of generic humanist delight with the advancement of (gov't) space exploration. so in that sense the space photograph is specifically most like the anatomy in eg a vesalius plate: an artistic piece, used to defend a certain metaphysics wrt 'man's place in nature' &c. not exactly an untrue image but certainly an artificial one (as in: the product of artifice; of an artistic process; not intended to provide a simple 1:1 visual translation of nature but to interpret & advance an argument about it)

[salty-accords]

Aphrodite Intro Pages

Let us delve into the realm of the Greek goddess Aphrodite, known as the Smile-Loving. She is a divine beauty, Her radiance rivaling that of the heavens, yet Her wrath can be as fierce as the sea She was born from. Emerging from the sea froth of Ouranos' castration, She is hailed as the daughter of Zeus. While She may be a minor deity of the sea, particularly associated with sea foam and creatures like tortoises, turtles, and clams, Her influence extends far beyond, shaping numerous myths and narratives as the Goddess of Passion.

These pages will give you a glimpse into my understanding and reverence of Aphrodite. The content, largely drawn from my grimoire, is a testament to my unique perception and worship of this goddess. However, it's important to note that the altar concept, while significant to me, is a conceptual representation and not a direct reflection of my daily worship. These visuals are crafted with the internet in mind and are highly aesthetic.

55. To Aphrodite (The Orphic Hymns, Athanassakis and Wolkow translation; excerpt)

Heavenly, smiling Aphrodite, praised in many hymns, sea-born revered goddess of generation, you like the night-long revel, you couple lovers at night, O scheming mother of Necessity. Everything comes from you: you have yoked the world, you control all three realms, you give birth to all, to everything in heaven, to everything upon the fruitful earth, to everything in the depths of the sea, O venerable companion of Bacchos. You delight in festivities, O bride-like mother of the Erotes, O Persuasion, whose joy is in the bed of love, secretive giver of grace, visible and invisible, lovely-tressed daughter of a noble father, bridal feast companion of the gods, sceptered, she-wolf, beloved and man-loving, giver of birth and life. Your maddening love-charms yoke mortals, they yoke the many races of beasts to unbridled passion. Come, O goddess born in Kypros: you may be on Olympos, O queen, exulting in the beauty of your face, you may be in Syria, country of fine frankincense you may be driving your golden chariot in the plain, you may lord it over Egypt's fertile river bed. Come, whether you ride your swan-drawn chariot over the sea's billows, joining the creatures of the deep, as they dance in circles, or on the land in the company of the dark-faced nymphs as light-footed they frisk over the sandy beaches, Come lady, even if you are in Kypros that cherishes you, where fair maidens and chaste brides throughout the year sing of you, O blessed one, as they sing of immortal, pure Adonis. Come, O beautiful, O comely goddess, I summon you with holy words, I summon you with a pious soul.

[lowliest-manifestations]

I get why Veiled Lodger doesn’t get adapted a lot. I get it. It’s a Holmes story where Holmes basically sits and listens the whole time. But it has so much potential!

To start I actually think that sitting and listening is integral to Holmes’ character! I think a good filmmaker could easily make this fun to watch if done right. I think Veiled Lodger is a story that has a LOT to say about who Holmes is, and just taking the most sensational parts of it and adding it to other stories (like Granada did) is a mistake.

That being said I do love the sensational parts of it… Lion tamers, mysterious veiled women, betrayal, doomed love etc. It’s super Victorian and dramatic and ridiculous and also genuinely quite sad! Delightful!

Veiled Lodger was definitely the Holmes story that conjured up the most vivid visuals in my head, just imagine the circus aesthetics… juxtaposed to Ronder’s sparse and depressing living space… Give me a film budget I could make this work.

Veiled lodger also has the line “Your life is not your own, keep your hands off of it.” Which is a fascinating sentiment and one of my favorite lines in the Holmes canon… Really the whole last page of this story bounces around my head like a screen saver and I’ve yet to see anyone explore it the way I would like.

I want to see Eugenia Ronder dealt with in modern hands, I think her character has a lot to say about agency! And I’m tired of women in canon getting the misogyny treatment.

[thewadapan]

Spent today checking out The Amazing Digital Circus and Murder Drones, and god, the kids today have it so good when it comes to this sort of content. When I was a teen, I was obsessed with Red vs. Blue and RWBY, which I think it's fair to say are the equivalents of the time, and the sheer gulf in terms of writing quality and production value is stunning. I hear there were some rumblings of unprofessional conduct from the production company, which would hardly be surprising considering this is yet another guys-working-from-their-basement success story, but much bigger companies with much shittier business practises consistently put out much worse content than this.

The Amazing Digital Circus is definitely the better show of the two, thanks to its slam-dunk premise and some great writing from Gooseworx. The producers have talked about aiming to fill a perceived gap in the market between kids' cartoons (The Boss Baby) and adult animation (Bojack Horseman), and I think they have successfully threaded the needle to create a very unique tone. There's a sense of these works existing totally outside the mainstream media machine; they're not getting BBFC rated, but you just know millions of kids are watching them. It's on YouTube and the fact that it looks like some Frozen Spider-Man kids' slop just means da parents won't question what their kids are watching.

But truth be told, there's nothing objectionable about the content of The Amazing Digital Circus whatsoever. It's unusually metatextual and loosely apes the aesthetics of much darker media, touching on slightly more existential themes than your typical kids' cartoon, but it still has a lot in common with those same cartoons. The zany characters are all fairly one-note, and the emotional arcs of the episodes are honestly quite straightforward. The second episode in particular has an absolutely textbook plot structure to it. It's a far more self-assured and traditional style of writing than you ever see in this kind of independent work—certainly far more so than Murder Drones, which is written by an insane person.

More than anything, I'm reminded of how I felt watching Puella Magi Madoka Magica: that it's a very solid work of fiction, but that the people who'd get the most out of the work are isolated teens struggling to make the transition into adulthood. Certainly if nothing else, the fandoms of these shows must be bringing a lot of kids together around the world. I adore this soundbite from Goose: "Above anything else, I just wanted it to feel kind of lonely." You see Pomni's worldview shatter, she suddenly finds herself in a body that feels completely wrong, and she has to construct a new kind of belonging for herself.

As for Murder Drones, that show's absolutely fucking nuts, yo. The writing is at once painfully basic and utterly incomprehensible. If someone just sat down and explained the plot straightforwardly, it would be fantastically boring. But man, the presentation, the sheer delight the animators seem to approach every scene with...! I'd say it's clearly trying to use "the characters are robots" as an excuse to expose da kids to some absolutely shocking levels of gore, much like the Transformers movies, but midway through the series it starts straightup swapping the oil and wires for blood and bones and you've got to respect that.

The writing itself is so excruciatingly irony-poisoned that it goes beyond cringe and somehow wraps back around again to being sincerely funny. The show kind of wants to have its cake and eat it in terms of constantly lampshading how flat and cliché the emotional plotting is, but also clearly aiming to genuinely tug at the heartstrings and whip fans into a frenzy. And it kind of succeeds, I think! The way it veers between bizarrely high-effort implementations of memes, seriously cool fight scenes and horror visuals, and big emotional moments is very disarming. If The Amazing Digital Circus is an attempt to faithfully rework the American-cartoon formula for a slightly older audience, Murder Drones aims to crib the aesthetics of high-school cartoons while actively rejecting every traditional narrative technique used in those stories. Which means it's kind of bad, which means it's also kind of great.

If it's not already, then within a couple of years it will be deeply cringe to have ever been into Murder Drones in particular or (to a slightly lesser extent) The Amazing Digital Circus, in much the same way that everyone seems embarrassed to admit they were ever a Homestuck fan. But like with Homestuck, I feel like these series are genuinely pushing at the frontiers of storytelling in a way that's commendable and might inspire new kinds of writing once the fans grow up.

ENA is also pretty good, for the record.

[tossawary]

So, the Jackson "The Hobbit" movies get rid of the dwarves having musical instruments, rather adding a very atmospheric humming to the "Over the Misty Mountains" song. And I like this adaptational choice just fine, I think it sounds good, and because the question of "What happens to the instruments? Are they taking clarinets and a harp and etc. on the quest?! Are the musical instruments magical?" has bugged me for years. And I do think this choice suits the general *waves hand vaguely* more "serious / grim / lower high fantasy" aesthetic cultivated by the previous Jackson "Lord of the Rings" films.

But I do like the mental image of the Company being a very literal band going on a quest, because I think it's funny and delightful and unique. If I was doing an animated movie in particular, I would not like to be rid of the musical instruments during that scene. The vibe is very magical. Very whimsical. And whimsy does not have to be wholly separate from very serious subject matters! I think it would be very cool if the dwarves had more casually magical tools generally, which would do some easy additional worldbuilding for the level of craftsmanship in this world, and could fit in perfectly well alongside hidden doors and invisibility rings and mithril shirts and glowing swords and jewelry that never comes accidentally undone.

If someone did a version where all the dwarves are carrying musical instruments throughout most of the quest in this way and the creator really leaned into the music generally and audio-visual relationship in film specifically, I would absolutely watch it. That sounds amazing. It wouldn't necessarily have to be a musical or an opera as well, though that would also be extremely cool. (Personally, I would even also watch a "Fantasia" version of "The Hobbit" FOR SURE. I am an artsy dork like that. Though it might not be my first choice in my ideal creative project.)

I think you could could do some great, whimsical scenes with the dwarves singing at various points on the road, the musical instruments breaking at certain emotional points, the dwarves trying to do little musical spells at various points, and so on. A lot of this stuff could even just be other members of the Company fussing around with these things in the background (trying to play a musical spell to light a fire) while Bilbo has a foreground conversation with Thorin or Gandalf or something. I LOVE in animated (and live) movies when you can see supporting characters bickering or getting into hijinks in the background of a scene. (Also, this world was sung into being in a way, wasn't it? Why not have more magical music?)

(OHHH, the way that Smaug could be done in a more audio- and music-focused version of "The Hobbit" would be SO COOL.)

Alternatively, generally, I've also imagined that there are other dwarves with wagons nearby to take the musical instruments away again (let's say the instruments are not magical in any way and taking them along would therefore largely just be impractical), and that the night at Bilbo's house was actually also a RITUAL meal/meeting for the members of a long journey. You're going on a quest? You seclude yourself with your company, eat, drink, talk, plan, and sing a little to bond as an exclusive group the night before heading off together. Normally, this would have been done back at their own home or something, but they had to get their burglar first.

I think this would be a cool way to slip in characters like Dis and Gimli even just in the background, as family members come to see everyone off, seen fixing Kili's hair or hugging Gloin as the Company prepares to leave Hobbiton that last morning. Thorin and Balin could be exchanging a couple quick lines about how Bilbo hasn't shown up yet, and in the background, we could see Dis hugging Fili (the true purpose of a well-done adaptation of "The Hobbit" is to break my fucking heart) and Gloin's wife drawing off with a wagon full of musical instruments while young Gimli waves tearfully! You wouldn't even have to have them say anything to slip them in!

Just... I'm listening to the Andy Serkis audiobook of "The Hobbit" right now and I want to see some gloriously artsy visual adaptations of this world.

[melodyjai]

🚨 ATTENTION PLEASE! 🚨

I'm Melody Jai, your 44-year-old fantasy come to life, and I've got a note for you: I'm all about that direct connection, so if you're looking to chat, slide into my DMs on LoyalF@ns & OnlyF@ns—but only if you're a subscriber! 🔒💬

😈 About Me: Standing at a statuesque 5'9" with a figure that's the perfect blend of slim and thick, I've got those thick thighs, big hips, and a booty that just won't quit. 🍑🔥 I am the "Original Whooty."

🥵 Off-Blog Adventures: When I'm not heating up your screen, I'm out there embracing life—hiking through trails, capturing beauty behind the lens, finding my zen with yoga, whipping up culinary delights, jet-setting to new destinations, and spreading laughter everywhere I go. Life's too short for boring, right?

👀 What You'll Find Here: My space is a curated mix of my own sizzling hot content and a selection of reblogs that align with my aesthetic and passions. Think of it as a treasure trove of the lewd and teasing, with a neon sign pointing you to the explicit and uncensored goodies over at my spicy sites. (Psst... All my links are conveniently placed below, so you won't miss out!) 🔗

🔥I'm not just about the visuals; I've got a rhythm that'll captivate you. With over 50+ custom dance videos under my belt and a trail of satisfied fans begging for an encore, I'm the muse you didn't know you needed. Head over to my site, fill out that request form, and let's create magic together.

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#MelodyJai // #whooty // #pawg // #Mature

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[cipheramnesia]

The "movie about a movie that kills you" is a surprisingly robust genre of horror. There's a wide range of approaches, but one key factor is the question of how good the deadly film in a film is, on its own. Some approaches are keeping the faux film entirely unseen, use brief clips, or make it real short.

Antrum: The Deadliest Film Ever Made goes in for a high risk approach and delivers a complete finished film, ostensibly made in the 70s and never released, framed by brief opening and closing info bites to set the stage of it.

Somehow this thing was completely off my radar, which means I was taken fully off guard as an ominous warning about the content in white text on black appeared on screen, giving a thirty second count down to leave if I wanted.

Wonderful showmanship and canny filmmaking that got me right in the mood to enjoy what followed. While I wouldn't call it a scary movie, I found it almost delightful in the atmospheric dread and devotion to its aesthetic of low budget 70s films. Nothing in it feels like a curse on its own, but it does feel like the sort of movie that could easily prompt psychological distress for anyone under psychotropic influences, pre-existing emotional vulnerability, or prone to delusional states. Not through anything supernatural, more because it works hard to keep the viewer in constant doubt over what is and is not real for the characters in the film. Combined with the framing device of it being a movie somehow able to influence the real world of the viewer, and the use of fractionally visible flashes of occult symbols on the screen, it generates an intense feeling of unreality which for me was an almost drug-like high and an immersive pleasure.

The premise of Antrum is simply a brother and sister decide to dig a hole to hell, and the movie plays out around this event by surrounding it with disturbing sounds and imagery, as well as real world dangers that weave the protagonists between the supernatural and mundane while keeping them in a state of terror and madness that grows until it becomes unrelenting.

In a certain sense it also feels cursed, like the kind of film where there are elements that feel very transgressive - in particular the opening scene which to my mind evoked Un Chien Andalou - not the infamous eyeball slicing scene, but the use of rotting animals. The few and very basic visual effects remind me as well of the early Survival Research Laboratory devices engineered by Mark Pauline.

However, the core question for me is also always what is the movie about besides the plot. If I had to identify some rough themes, I would say it's trying to explore the idea of understanding death and violence through the eyes of children who do not yet have the psychological tools for processing such matters, but who have been left on their own to do so regardless.

Many of the unusual elements in the movie can relate to death rituals poorly understood, starting from the very premise of digging a hole into the earth. And the same act is surrounded by strange rituals unclear in their origin, ideas which might be logical drawn from watching words recited over a grave without having a connection of purpose. Their encounters with other people are fully without possibility of communication as none of them speak the same language, and these mundane threats feel at times akin to a satanic Alice in Wonderland, rituals and violence whose meaning cannot be understood by the protagonists.

Likewise the supernatural is full of unprocessed images of death. Demons with black skin who look like mummified corpses. River crossings and empty chains dragging through leaves. It's as if death itself has manifested through the ambient world, surrounding the two children and refusing to let them leave its circle.

In combination with the intriguing use of sigils inscribed throughout, it creates a movie that is for me a joy to watch. An absolutely perfect Halloween spook for next year, but your mileage may vary between finding it full of pretentious nonsense or maybe the scariest film you'll ever watch. It can really come off either way, and I'm honestly not quite sure why my reaction was actual joy in the watching. Not to undercut the severity of the subject matter, but I just can't stop thinking about how happy I was to watch the movie at work mechanically, to enjoy the well oiled pieces fitting together, and then all topped off with the delicious extra treat of the framing device. Surely worth 90 minutes of your life.

[adobe-outdesign]

Can u review hydrapple

Hydrapple is certainly a strange one. Not because of the design or anything—the design's quite good—but it's such a weird addition to the Applin line. Why take a branching two-stage Pokemon and suddenly introduce a three-stage branch? Hydrapple instantly outclasses both Flapple and Appletun both because it evolved twice and for stat-related reasons.

I point this out because all of this could've easily been fixed by just... making Dipplin a regional? Dipplin really does not look that different than Applin; it just has syrup and a long horn. It being a regional would make sense thematically (it's a candy apple, a popular treat in Japan which fits with Kitakami's setting) and it would fix the imbalance issue—in most regions, Applin can evolve into Flapple or Appletun, but Kitakami Applin always evolve only into Dipplin and then Hydrapple.

Anyway, all of that technical stuff aside, I do really like Hydrapple. It's probably one my favorite designs out of the DLC, and it has both a solid concept and good aesthetics.

Thematically, Dipplin was already established to have two wyrms living together, so it only makes sense that it would evolve into what's effectively a seven-headed hydra (or Yamata no Orochi, judging by its Japanese name). This fits with the line's dragon typing and is a neat direction that's distinct from the other evos. The wyrms are also referred to as syrpents, which I think is delightful.

And visually, it's also pretty strong. Instead of having all the heads visible at once, six of them are kept tucked inside of the apple with only their eyes showing, and only four of them pop out during animations. This keeps the design from being too busy.

I also like how the main head that's visible at all times has a nice little identifier in terms of the mini apple and stem-like horn, which kind of feels like it continues from Dipplin's. The long necks are great and look a lot different from either Applin or Flapple, and I like the scalloped underbelly patterning as well. The apple itself also looks good, with some gooey drips on top and some more scalloped patterns to indicate further drippy-ness. And color-wise, the bright red pops out and compliments the duller greens nicely. Good stuff.

Anyway, overall, a really good design and concept here, and a welcome addition to the Applin line... if you can get over the weirdness of it just being a three-stage evolution, of course.

[annamarabella-grumble]

quick and dirty game review: KILLER FREQUENCY

it's really good!! why?

it's all your favourite 80s/onwards slasher flicks rolled into one

the premise is ropey as hell but it's self-aware enough to know that and make it FUN

the references are gonna be really obvious to horror connoisseurs but tbh for me they were subtle enough that they weren't overpowering the experience; it's not just fanservice held together by gaffer tape and string

there's one (1) jumpscare right at the beginning, so be aware of that, but it didn't send me running for the hills and while i haven't finished the game yet, it's fair to say the rest of the game does not rely on cheap thrills and scares

that said, the fact that there's a crouch mechanic deeply worries me

but still: without giving too much away, you experience the game by manning the radio station and taking calls from people being pursued by a serial killer. there's no narration or visuals, the tension relies entirely on voice acting and sound design -- and i think they did a spectacular job with that

there were so many moments where i (and chat, i was streaming it) was on the edge of my seat

the puzzles are absolutely doable but still really satisfying when you work them out; and there's timers only on some dialogue choices, so you have enough time to work things out in steps -- also makes it easier/more fun to let chat help hehe

when you do fail, you don't feel railroaded or tricked, which is important, though once or twice a lack of information can be a little frustrating because you're just gonna have to go with your gut

the characters have really interesting backstories, i can't wait to find out more 👀

according to the devs, the dialogue and backstories were all written collaboratively across the team, and the game somewhat responds to how well you do in keeping people alive

there's also clues throughout the story so you can try and put it together as you go -- delighted to find out what's the biggest red herring

devs say all players will get a satisfying resolution re: the killer's identity, but players who do well get a more complete picture -- raising the incentive for multiple playthroughs

there's moments of instant karma that are just *chef's kiss*

the environmental storytelling at the radio station ohmygod

is something lgbt happening to Peggy 👀👀

the dialogue choices match up with the tone of what your character actually says, so it's easy to mould his personality a little bit (and the bits where they get creative with punctuation to help convey that tone are really funny)

i'm about halfway through and so far nothing seems overplayed; instead the game just fully commits to the bit without being obnoxious

mechanics are simple: play records, play ad tapes, take calls, and occasionally run through the station for clues

sadly, you can't photocopy your butt

BUT you can shoot hoops from your desk (with paper balls) and the game tracks how many you got

if you're a horror movie or game fan, if this sounds like you'd enjoy it, i can only recommend it! i'm not super good with horror or survival games, but i had an absolute blast with this. here's a couple of screenshots so you can see the aesthetic they're working with:

it's got that cell-shaded telltale look -- easy on the eyes, colourful. and the carpets. my god

[astrolocherry]

The Archetypes of Venus in Leo - Golden Girls of the Astrology Age 

Nobody puts on a celebration like Venus and Leo together. While it may seem unusual for socialite Venus to relish in such a self-focused sign, there seems no doubt that Aphrodite delights where she can shine in the direct sun spotlight. There is natural sass and style, the heart illuminates an inner glow that cannot be replicated through cosmetics. 

Venus and Leo stand together on stage in the design of a magnificent character type. The heart is the audience’s object of desire, and the heart is never quite as tender, sensitive, raw, childlike, and big as when in Solar Leo. The self-gratification is giving and receiving love in return. 'Beautiful' to the Venus in Leo is all about demonstrating, enhancing, and utilising her organic beauty in the most enriching possible way

She is highly responsive to the feeling of being desired, being hungered and wanted for, being the climax of anticipation. Venus in Leo is a creative romantic. Though far from being hopeless, she is a hopeful romantic who knows that true love will come one day just like the sun rises each morning.

Southern Belle - Light and Dark Feminine: Interplay between the Feminine Angelic play with love, and the suggestive seductive Feminine following desire. Wholesomeness expressed with eroticism. Personal style as a dispensed aphrodisiac; visual innuendo, 'eye candy' The High Queen - even simple robes and aesthetics look majestic on her Royal Blood - Personification of the Royal Birth/Heiress

Lady in Red - Creatively generates feelings of lust and arousal. Exciting, enticing, tantalising; though dangerous should she be crossed. Exudes sexual command and prowess.

Based more on projections than actual intention. Intimate partners pass a clearance test, she is not readily available - to simply abide would only reduce her aura of mystery 

Queen of the Jungle - Bombshell, leopard fur two-piece, wild mane. Obeyed and protected by undomesticated animals. Strongly self-willed and directed by instinct, the rescuer romanticised by the rescued 

Amy Winehouse

Madonna

Coco Chanel

Dita Von Teese

Nicole Kidman

Cherry

[journalofanoldsoul]

Spooky Night Movie Club (Moon Edition)

⚙️ Moon in Aries - "The Texas Chain Saw Massacre" (1974): This movie is a high-octane, action-packed horror classic that perfectly complements the impulsive and adventurous spirit of individuals with Moon in Aries. With its fast-paced narrative and intense scenes, it mirrors the high-energy and daring nature of Aries Moon individuals who thrive on excitement and adrenaline.

🪄 Moon in Taurus - "Practical Magic" (1998): "Practical Magic" is a delightful and enchanting film that delves into themes of love, family, and the mystical. It's an ideal choice for those with Moon in Taurus, as it revolves around strong family bonds, a touch of romance, and a cozy, aesthetically pleasing backdrop. The movie weaves together elements of romance, witchcraft, and sisterhood, creating a visually appealing and heartwarming experience for Taurus Moon individuals who cherish comfort and emotional connection.

💀 Moon in Gemini - "Scream" (1996): The clever and communicative nature of "Scream" resonates with the inquisitive and chatty qualities of Moon in Gemini individuals. This iconic slasher film keeps the audience engaged with its witty dialogues and intricate plot, making it a fitting choice for those with a Gemini Moon who appreciate intellectual stimulation and quick-witted storytelling.

🏚️ Moon in Cancer - "The Conjuring" (2013): "The Conjuring" is a classic horror movie that explores the theme of protecting one's home and family, aligning with the nurturing and protective instincts of Moon in Cancer individuals. Based on the real-life paranormal investigations of Ed and Lorraine Warren, the film delivers spine-chilling and emotionally engaging experiences. It dives into the dynamics of family bonds and the profound lengths people go to shield their loved ones from supernatural threats, making it a compelling choice for those with a Cancer Moon who deeply value family connections and security.

🪓 Moon in Leo - "The Shining" (1980): "The Shining" is a visually stunning and emotionally intense horror masterpiece, which harmonizes with the dramatic and attention-seeking traits of Moon in Leo individuals. Directed by Stanley Kubrick, the film combines breathtaking visuals with a gripping narrative, creating a sensory experience that resonates with the theatrical and expressive nature of Leo Moon. It delves into themes of isolation, madness, and the eerie, making it a captivating choice for those who relish grand, emotionally charged storytelling.

👻 Moon in Virgo - "The Sixth Sense" (1999): "The Sixth Sense" is a film that meticulously delves into details and intricacies, mirroring the analytical and critical nature of Moon in Virgo individuals. Directed by M. Night Shyamalan, this psychological thriller centers around a troubled child who sees and communicates with the dead. Its focus on observation and unraveling mysteries aligns with the Moon in Virgo's penchant for scrutinizing and paying attention to the finer points of life.

🕯️ Moon in Libra - "Crimson Peak" (2015): As previously recommended, "Crimson Peak" is an exquisitely visual gothic romance horror film that appeals to the romantic sensibilities of Moon in Libra individuals. Directed by Guillermo del Toro, it combines romantic and haunting elements in a visually captivating narrative. The movie explores love, deception, and the eerie, making it a poignant choice for those with a Libra Moon who appreciate themes of beauty, love, and relationships.

😈 Moon in Scorpio - "Black Swan" (2010): "Black Swan" is an intense psychological thriller that aligns with the depth and intensity of Moon in Scorpio individuals. Directed by Darren Aronofsky, it explores themes of obsession and personal transformation through the story of a ballerina's descent into madness. The film's dark and enigmatic atmosphere and its focus on emotional depth make it a compelling choice for Scorpio Moon individuals who seek profound and psychologically complex narratives.

🍂 Moon in Sagittarius - "The Cabin in the Woods" (2012): "The Cabin in the Woods" is a thrilling and adventurous horror-comedy that resonates with the adventurous and exploratory nature of Moon in Sagittarius individuals. Directed by Joss Whedon, the film offers a unique twist on the conventional cabin-in-the-woods horror genre, adding elements of humor and surprise. It provides an entertaining and adventurous experience for those with a Sagittarius Moon who love a blend of thrills and comedy in their horror movies.

🔪 Moon in Capricorn - "Psycho" (1960): As previously recommended, "Psycho" is a classic psychological thriller directed by Alfred Hitchcock. It explores psychological depth and themes of control and power, which reflect the practical and disciplined nature of Moon in Capricorn individuals.

👹 Moon in Aquarius - "Donnie Darko" (2001): As previously recommended, "Donnie Darko" is a surreal and thought-provoking film that aligns with the unconventional and intellectually oriented qualities of Moon in Aquarius individuals. Directed by Richard Kelly, it delves into themes of time travel, alternate realities, and the human psyche.

💧 Moon in Pisces - "The Shape of Water" (2017): "The Shape of Water," directed by Guillermo del Toro, is a visually stunning and emotionally engaging fantasy film that appeals to the imaginative and empathetic nature of Moon in Pisces individuals. The movie offers a unique love story with elements of mystery and the supernatural, making it a captivating choice for those with a Pisces Moon who appreciate themes of romance, fantasy, and emotional connection.

I hope you've enjoyed this selection.

Stay tune for more astro posts.

xoxo J.

[missedmilemarkers]

🌸 The Enchanting Lilacs of Colorado's Urban Parks 🌸

Springtime in Colorado's urban parks brings a burst of color and fragrance, with lilacs taking center stage. These vibrant purple blooms, set against a backdrop of clear blue skies, create a stunning visual treat. Let's dive into the beauty and significance of these flowering marvels. 🌿

🌼 A Floral Escape in the City

Urban parks in Colorado, like those in Denver and Boulder, offer a refreshing retreat from city life. The blooming lilacs not only add visual appeal but also fill the air with their delightful fragrance.

🌸 Captivating Lilacs

Lilacs are known for their dense clusters of small, fragrant flowers. These hardy shrubs thrive in Colorado's climate, making them a beloved feature in urban parks. Their vibrant purple blooms signal the arrival of spring, bringing joy to all who see them.

📸 Photographing Lilacs

Capturing the essence of lilacs is a rewarding experience:

Dense clusters of purple flowers against a clear blue sky.

Close-up shots revealing intricate details of the blossoms.

The play of light and shadow on the lilac leaves.

These images highlight the lilacs' role in beautifying urban parks.

🌿 The Role of Urban Flora

Flowers like lilacs enhance the aesthetic and ecological value of city parks. They provide habitats for pollinators, contributing to biodiversity and inviting city dwellers to connect with nature.

Conclusion: Take a moment to appreciate the blooming lilacs next time you visit a Colorado park. Their vibrant flowers and enchanting fragrance are a testament to the beauty and resilience of nature in urban environments.

For more captivating photos and insights, check out our full blog post here. 🌸✨

[rigberts]

thinking about how insane the demon slayer art style and character design is. like, the the nose, mouth, and face shapes of everyone in the main cast are virtually identical regardless of gender, and yet every single character has a very distinct personality at first glance. And unlike other popular anime, it isn't their rainbow hair colors or painstakingly customized uniforms that help the audience tell them apart (though I do love their outfits).

It's almost entirely their eyes.

The best example of this is probably shinobu. Her eyes are enormous, round, and purple, things associated with femininity. However, they have no pupil or sclera and have a matte gradient effect. The gradient effect gives an appearance similar to an insect's compound eyes, giving a nod to her abilities and character aesthetic, but more importantly, the lack of reflected light makes her eyes look completely dead. This tells you everything you need to know about shinobu's character. She's beautiful and graceful in her appearance and mannerisms, but she's also lost the most important thing in her life, is capable of great cruelty towards her enemies, takes a sadistic delight in their pain, and her cheerful and benevolent persona is a facade. Basically, by just drawing a couple of carefully shaded circles, the artist lets you know that even if this character acts lively and upbeat, that fact that there is no light behind her eyes shows that it is false.

This is thrown into even greater contrast when a flashback is shown of kanae, shinobus late sister, who we know that shinobu seeks to imitate with her faux cheerfulness. Though their faces are identical, their eyes couldn't be more different. Where shinobus eyes are matte and reflect no light, kanaes are glossy and have three enormous highlights in each eye, making her look literally starry eyed, and that's reflected in her personality. Kanae is shown to kind, overly idealistic, and optimistic to the point of being airheaded: the exact opposite of shinobu, who is bitter, cunning, and capable of great cruelty.

Anyway demon slayer really makes the most of visual storytelling in even its smaller details.

Some other highlights in character design:

rengoku's constantly wide eyes with their rings of contrasting color that almost resemble an optical illusion perfectly convey everything about his most important character trait, his unrelenting intensity. Additionally, depending on context, his wide-eyed appearance can either be played for laughs or deeply unnerving, depending on whether his neverending enthusiasm is being directed towards complimenting tasty food or carving up his enemies with a smile.

Obanai has heterochromia identical to that of a cat, and let's be real, his personality is pretty cat-like. He's proud, disdainful, and judgemental of others, but he is also full of unconditional love for Mitsuri, even if he usually only shows it by quietly enjoying her company. Plus, it's also revealed that the reason obanai fell in love with mitsuri is because she is a genuine person who doesn't push his boundaries, giving him someone he can truly be comfortable around. Anyone who's interacted with a cranky stray cat before can tell you how familiar that sounds.

Nezuko has three separate sets of eyes throughout the series. As a human, her pupils are pink with complicated black shading and with a white highlight, once again hinting at her innocence. As a demon she usually has pink eyes with a circular highlight, but all the shading and therefore all the "depth" is gone. Since she doesn't remember that her family was killed and has somewhat regressed to a childlike state, nezuko still has her innocence (as shown by the highlight) but has lost her complexity that made her fully human. When she becomes enraged, her pupils become dark and slitted and her irises lose their reflective sheen, showing that not only is she monstrous, she has temporarily regained the capacity for anger and other dark emotions, and lost the ignorance/innocence that keeps her monstrous instincts at bay.

Muichiro has no memory of anything but the last three months of his life, and likewise, his eyes are foggy and dull

In the case of aoi, the square, blocky shape of her pupil implies a lot about her character: the fact that she's somewhat ordinary and a reliable, steady ally, even if she can be a little stiff.

I'm fairly certain that tanjirous red eyes were supposed to have narrative importance and signal that he is a descendant of yoriichi until it was decided at some point that yoriichi had no children and tanjirou was a descendant of a friend of yoriichi instead (either that or the reveal was planned from the beginning and the eye color was a red herring), but that's beside the point. Tanjirous eyes are red with dark shading, and do not have a highlight, though they do have a white pupil. This combination represents tanjirous emotional maturity, the combination of negativity and positivity. Unlike shinobu, who has no light in her eyes and is controlled by her resentment, and kanae, who has nothing but light in her eyes and was idealistic to the point of foolishness, tanjirou has both. Yes, he has suffered, he lost almost his entire family, even after he dedicated his entire self to caring for them after his father's death. However, tanjirou is still a fundamentally compassionate and hopeful person. No, Tanjirou is far from the first shonen protagonist who is kind and a genuinely good person (Luffy, Naruto, and Goku come to mind), he is one of the more emotionally intelligent ones. Tanjirou empathizes with the demons and recognizes the suffering that made them into monsters, but at the end of the day, he still kills them. There is no talk no jutsu, there is no transformation of enemies into allies, and there is no sparing of enemies out of respect for their fighting prowess. Though Tanjirou recognizes that demons are tragic and pitiful, he also knows that they are creatures that survive only on the slaughter of innocents. This isn't to say that stories about redemption or forgiveness or once-feared villains turning into the protagonists wacky neighbor are inherently bad, far from it. But for the story that demon slayer is, tanjirou is the perfect fit. And you can tell, just by looking in his eyes.

[electroniccollectiondonut]

season two of rings of power just came out and i'm watching it with my grama because she thinks it's delightful to activate my Sleeper Tolkien Nerd Rant Mode and i'm happy to oblige and yknow i think a lot of my problem with this show (aside from the total disregard for plot and lore and the fact that it's a blatant cashgrab) comes from its lack of aesthetic sincerity. like, if you're gonna make a show set in middle earth you gotta commit! and it doesn't. the elves are just people in shimmery robes. the southlanders are just people with dirt on them. the numenoreans are just people in armor. the hobbits are just people with plants in their hair. i don't hate the portrayal of the dwarves actually but it still has nothing on the Erebor In Its Prime scenes from the movies.

like, i was neutral about the casting in the movies. there was nothing wrong with them but none of them really hit like "they're the Visually Perfect Actor for that character!" (although some of them are pretty damn close.) the reason the casting in the movies is so good is because they cast people with acting chops and a fairly close appearance and then actually made them look the part. they made the elves ethereal yet diminishing and the rohirrim weathered but still standing and the gondorians grand but in decline and the hobbits quaint and the dwarves enduring. and the wizards werent Always otherworldly but when they needed to pull out the otherworldly ainu vibes they DID. but they just have not put in that same effort in rings of power. everyone is is a guy in a costume and you dont really get to forget that.

and the SETTINGS in the movies. O. M. G. bigger nerds than me have written many many words on this topic. the settings in rings of power are gorgeous in wide landscape shots but then you get into focus on the characters and its just okay. and the second age is middle earth in it's prime, so if your scenery is just okay you've fumbled the bag HARD.

[acepalindrome]

SDV Aesthetic Mod Recommendations (1.6 Edition!)

I’m back with more mod recommendations that work with 1.6! This time, we’re gonna focus on stuff that mainly just changes how things look: recolors, portraits, animal skins, etc. No major gameplay changes, but the visual changes can really enhance the experience or make the game feel totally different! Again, links will be in a reblog. And you can check my ‘sdv mods’ tag for my other recommendation post!

So starting off, recolors. I have three that I really love: Vibrant Pastoral Recolor, DaisyNiko’s Earthy Recolor, and Starblue Valley.

They all tone down the saturation and give everything a softer, more natural look. Vibrant Pastoral is probably my favorite because it makes the scythe-able grass look like it’s full of wildflowers! Also of note, Starblue Valley’s 1.6 update is a work in progress, so some parts might not be properly recolored. It’s such a pretty recolor, but you might want to just track the mod for now while they’re hammering out the kinks.

Next up, portraits! First, I wanna talk about Seasonal Outfits.

I love that vanilla has beach and winter outfits now, and this mod takes that ten times further! Not only are there outfits for every season (with matching sprites), there are also unique outfits for festivals! I love all the Halloween costumes for Spirits Eve! There are seasonal mods for Stardew Valley Expanded and Ridgeside Village too!

Next, Nyapu’s Portraits.

I love the cute, old school Harvest Moon vibe these have, but one of the really great things is that Nyapu has made portraits for almost every modded character in existence. I’m fussy about getting my portraits to match, because it’s just weird when you’ve got totally different art styles for different characters, and that is a non-issue with this collection! If there’s a character mod, there is probably a Nyapu portrait. SVE and RSV are just the tip of the iceberg! Also Nyapu is a real life farmer when they aren’t making adorable portraits, which I think is just cool!

I made a post earlier about Elle’s Cuter Coop Animals/Barn Animals/Cats/Dogs/Horses, but it’s worth mentioning again because they’re just too cute and the huge variety of different colors and species is unmatched.

And I mean. Highland cows. Just look at them. Elle also has mods for seasonal farm buildings and farmhouse kitchens with lots of different options! You really can’t go wrong with any of Elle’s mods.

And speaking of farm buildings, one of my absolute favorites is Gwen’s Medieval Buildings, and matching mod, Gwen’s Medieval Craftables.

The antique, overgrown vibes are just gorgeous.

If I do UI recolors, I usually just pick one that matches my recolor (Vibrant Pastoral, Earthy Recolor, etc) but I recently discovered Lavender Dreams UI Recolor and I adore it.

The colors are just so nice and soft, and the accents of moss and leaves in the menu is just delightful.

I’m on mobile and running out of pictures, so I’ll just talk about the next three that change your character. First is Female Farmer Overhaul. Despite the name, everything is available to any gender, although the style is definitely more feminine. It adds a lot of new hairstyles, clothes, hats, and has the option of short or long sleeves so you’re dressed appropriately for the season!

Next is Animated Hair. It makes your hair move as you run, use tools and so on. There are lots of hairstyles and it just looks so nice!

And one last one, Expressive Elf Ears. Like Animated Hair, they move around with your character! They are so floppy! If you want a little fantasy flavor to your character, they’re a must.

And that’s all for now! I might do content adding mods next time!