#However the aesthetic is on point so I have chosen to disregard this

[yetanotheralien-heartemoji]

Therapy? Expensive. Drawing your oc and her boyfriend in the outfits of one’s beloved childhood ship? Free!

References this specific art of Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Mask

(Sidenote, I’m not actually sure which book this particular illustration is from, so if someone could lmk that’d be stellar.)

[iamnmbr3]

I LOVE your meta! <3 can you tell me your opinion about the development of draco's and harry's feelings for each other as it was accidentally written into the story (even tho JKR clearly didn't intend for a romance)? when did you think it started for both boys? i'd be very interested to know what you think. :)

Thank you!!!! <3 What a great question. I've gotten so many good asks lately.

I don't think there was one definable moment. I think it grew between them. They were both drawn to each other in some ways right from day 1 and spent seven years paralleling and orbiting each other.

Draco tries to befriend Harry before he even knows who he is (even though Harry looks rather scruffy and surely Draco must already know the children of all the "important" Pureblood families). And then he tries again once he knows who Harry is and spends years smarting at Harry's rejection, seemingly unable to move on from it or from Harry.

He's determined to be a part of Harry's life, if not as a friend then as a rival. He can't cope with Harry's disregard and constantly seeks attention from him. Even Lucius can't stop him from openly antagonizing Harry despite cautioning Draco in book 2 that it's unwise to be so openly hostile to Harry at this point.

Meanwhile Harry constantly watches what Draco does and even dreams about him his very first night at Hogwarts. After being nearly murdered by Voldemort at the end of book 1, during the summer before his second year Harry thinks of Draco as his arch nemesis and also thinks about how he kinda misses him.

For the first 5 years they know each other, Draco's entire life revolves around Harry whereas Harry has other things that he's dealing with though he's always extremely aware of and attuned to Draco. In some ways this might lead one to think that Draco is aware of his feelings a lot earlier. But honestly I think they're both in deep denial, though I do think perhaps Draco has more of an inkling since he is the one seeking Harry out.

Still, given the sharpening lines of the war, especially from book 4 on, I think Draco knows this is something that he should not and cannot feel or pursue and he tries to tell himself it's just dislike. Especially since mortifyingly Harry despises everything he thinks he believes in.

I think Draco would be the first to admit it to himself though. Probably during 7th year, once he's started to realize how wrong he's been about so many things and once he's been forced to confront the fact that he is not and will never be the person he's supposed to be, that he hates and fears Voldemort and the Death Eater cause, and that he hopes somehow, somewhere Harry is alive and that all the whispers about him being the Chosen One are true and that he really can end this.

And maybe in that context he also starts to admit to himself that maybe he never really hated Harry after all, that maybe the whispered remarks his friends made when they were younger were true and maybe he does feel something for Harry other than disdain. And that maybe it's not just that he finds Harry's stupid messy hair and green eyes aesthetically pleasing. Maybe he actually likes him. As a person. Maybe he loves him.

By the time the war is over I think he's come come to terms with it. Harry is just another thing he's lost, his feelings for him another thing he realized far too late.

Meanwhile we know that from the end of book 6 on Harry stops thinking about Draco with rancor and instead pities and worries about him, doesn't blame him for anything, and tries to save him at every opportunity. However, Harry also has a job to do and he and Draco are on the opposite sides of a war. The reality is that nothing can come of any feelings Harry might have and 1 or both of them may very well not survive the war.

Harry compartmentalizes and shuts down all feelings he might have and all thoughts of what might have been. Especially after the Manor, when he realizes that Draco may well be tortured to death because of him, he blocks him from his mind. He can't afford to examine his feelings or he won't be able to go on. Plus, if Voldemort reads his mind it will put Draco in even more danger.

Besides, he has Ginny. Someone who is so much more acceptable to care about. Someone who symbolizes all the intangible things Harry imagines he will want after the war. I think post Manor is the closest Harry comes to really acknowledging and verbalizing to himself what he feels, but he doesn't quite get there. (Though you could also read it as Harry realizing his feelings after the Manor scene and then realizing how impossible it all is and shutting Draco out of his mind completely).

But then the war's over. Harry gets to have his relationship with Ginny. He gets to realize that somehow in the peace they don't quite click anymore. Maybe they drifted apart. Or maybe what they had wasn't that strong to begin with. He's not sure, though sometimes he remembers the way at the end of sixth year she thought he was going off to fight Voldemort because it was what would make him "happy" rather than because he felt he had to, and wonders if maybe they were never going to work out, no matter what.

And meanwhile Draco's cleaning up his life. Harry speaks for him at his trial. And somehow they find each other again in the postwar world. Because they always do. Because they haven't been able to do anything but orbit each other since they were 11. And when Harry looks at Draco he feels something. And maybe he's never really put it into words before, even to himself, but somehow it doesn't feel new at all. It feels inevitable.

[writingwithcolor]

“Weird West” Taiwanese first-generation gunslinger

Anonymous asked:

Hello, I’m writing a weird west story. One of the main characters is a first-generation Taiwanese gunslinger and I have a few concerns regarding how I should tackle their arc and character. They’re non-binary and their full name is Huang Hsiao-Ling. Full disclaimer that while I’m non-binary, I’m not Taiwanese.

They have complicated but ultimately strong family ties, having prompted their parents to pick one of their names as an act of respect towards them. Their own choice was Hsiao (骁) while their parents chose Ling (玲), making their full name “黃骁玲”. I was able to find people with the same romanization, but I don’t know whether the hanzi works or not and I’d hate for it to be clunky. The literal name being “valiant tinkling gem” is deliberate as it shows both the adversity between their chosen path (骁) and their parents’ wishes for them (玲).

There’s some family tension but it comes from a place of worry concerning their dangerous career rather than a sense of strictness or tradition from their parents. Their older sister followed a wholly different path, which veered in a much safer direction to their parents relief. Despite this, both siblings have a close relationship and I plan for their sister to make multiple appearances throughout the story. I don’t want to fall into the trope of the main conflict being them distancing themselves from their family due to pressure. Their arc does however deal with their struggle in accepting their family’s concerns, and their disregard for their own safety. What should I remain conscious of as I write this arc?

Regarding their occupation, they’d already be a highly sought-out, seasoned sharpshooter with years of experience behind them at the story’s start. Since they’d have mostly worked solo over the years, they wouldn’t be much of a conversationalist to begin with. I can see how this could easily fall into the “overly competent aloof East Asian” trope and I was wondering how to make it clear that it has much more to do with years of experience turning them a little dour and their occupation requiring a certain level of inscrutability. I was thinking that scenes with their sister would show another side of themselves, a much more open person who’s got a soft spot for their sibling. Similarly, regardless of their relationship with them they’d always worry for their parents.

Thank you for your time and all the work you pour into this incredible resource!

Regarding the style name: I would like to note that none of us here really know much about it, because the practice stopped around the turn of the 20th century. I have heard, though, that any hanzi can be used, and the name itself looks fine to me. However, when writing the names of Taiwanese people, make sure you’re using the Traditional system vs. Simplified, as the Traditional writing system is currently still in use in Taiwan. Therefore, the name would be written as 黃驍玲. 

Another thing to note is that while I don’t know much about the “Weird West” genre, I’m assuming this is using turn-of-the-century aesthetics and history as influences. If that’s the case, you may want to look up the Hokkien pronunciation of your character’s name, as Mandarin wasn’t widely used in Taiwan until after 1945, and it’s more likely they’d be speaking Hokkien instead.

When it comes to parents, I think you’ll be okay so long as the conflict between them and your character hinges on their safety and the parental concerns vs. wanting them to enter another profession due to either prestige or higher income. This was the main concern my parents had when my brother decided to enter the military because of the high safety risks he was subjecting himself to. I’d say so long as you have the parents coming toward this as being worried for their child’s safety and pointing out your character’s tendency to disregard it, you’ll be fine. 

(tbc on personality aspects and how maybe including flashbacks and past experiences leads character to harden up, along with maybe showing their softer side to others) --mod Jess 

Just a note (which could have been intentional on your part) from a nonbinary Taiwanese perspective about ‘gendering’ in the characters: 玲 is typically assigned to girls and 驍 to boys in binarized naming. Obviously, gendering in names is a weird concept, and I myself (and many other nonbinary Taiwanese people) don’t adhere to the system. So, I’d say it works!

I also agree with Jess- Taiwanese culture is very family-orientated and so long as they’re characterized as a complex human being with goals, bonds, experiences and whatnot.

--mod Em

[zzinvolterra]

Aro and the Volturi seems to be your favourite characters, may I ask why? I understand their roles they have (vampire government) but at the same time I don’t understand them exactly. Aro in the movies was portrayed at a power hungry crazy person but in the books he seems like he is keeping everything in check.

Hello you darling wonderful delightful soul, I love you already.

Disclaimer About the Movies

First, I'm just going to disregard the movies. The Volturi were changed to an irrefutably corrupt coven that's headed by power-hungry madmen. One of whom has a very unhinged laugh. But, the movies wanted a clear Big Bad to oppose the Bella/Edward arc, and so they created one.

However, given the Volturi, and particularly Aro, that are depicted in the films aren't true to the original characterizations from the books, I've elected to ignore it.

I Love Them, Your Honor

While the Volturi don't receive a ton of screen time considering they're meant to be the overarching antagonists, what we do see of them is incredibly interesting to me. The core coven has been banded together for thousands of years, united by a singular purpose. When immortality was thrusted upon them (or chosen, in Aro's case), they went and saddled themselves with responsibility. Heady stuff, lots of potential there.

So yes, I believe that they're keeping everything in check. Best-case scenario, without the Volturi, another coven steps in when they realize, hey, we need to keep some humans alive to munch on. However, I'm inclined to believe that this wouldn't happen given vampires' tendencies to eat first and think later.

But beyond being the unacknowledged protectors of human life worldwide, the Volturi are just composed of such a rich cast and a frankly brilliant concept that I personally don't find in the rest of the books. There's so much left to explore and so many gaps to fill. What were they doing in the two thousand years before Twilight? How much have they interacted with and shaped the human world? Have they ever had a cat?

To get to the point, I think the unexplored potential that the idea of the Volturi present us with is what's kept me in Volterra Hell for over a year now.

Him Specifically

(Ended up having to dedicate an entire section solely to Aro.)

Also, as anon pointed out, Aro specifically is my fave. Again, it's the idea of this Dracula-esque leader who's lived for about 3,500 years, amassed the largest coven in the world, and taken control of about everything. Except, he's extremely friendly and polite to a dangerous degree (in Caius' opinion) and probably is the one who wanted a cat. Also he murdered his sister and the core coven is over the tipping point of dysfunctional nowadays. Oh, and he reads every thought a person has ever had. Like?? There's an almost endless amount of material there to work with and I ADORE IT.

Things I Couldn't Word Properly (But Still Wanted to Mention)

Literally just excited word vomit here.

They're one of the few covens I can force a dark academia aesthetic onto and have it still make sense. So many pretty edit and video options.

Balance of power within the closest thing to the ruling coven, and the idea of willingly choosing to have a "Master" despite being the apex predator yourself.

Vampire! Culture! Vampire! Events! Vampire! Balls!

Going to cut this off before I start keyboard smashing, but yeah, they're by far my faves.

[a-long-walk-in-the-forest]

Astrology of Sasuke, Itachi and Naruto: a semi-comprehensive analysis

I’ve been wasting away months of my life on this task and I’m finally reaching relatively passable results. This is the fruit of my labour thus far.

I really tried to be as unbiased as possible and keep several different interpretations of the characters in mind but I can’t guarantee that my personal feelings and opinions didn’t seep through to some extent (specially with regards to that whole genocide thing). I also don’t like some of these characters as “people” so I’ll warn you beforehand, I ended up bad-mouthing Naruto and Itachi a bit.

This post is broken up into four sections. 

Section one is a quick run up of the planets (only the ones I’ve been working on), houses and aspects. 

Section two is about the signs I’ve chosen for the characters, how I’ve chosen the degrees, and natal aspects. 

Section three is focused on degree interpretations. 

Finally, we will have a quick look at synastry and composite.

I’ve used equal temperament house system and cross check with placidus though because I don’t have Konoha’s longitude and latitude I’ve used Japan’s ones. Also, in this post we are assuming that Naruto’s planet is earth and their moon (and other planets) functions the same way as ours.

The degree interpretations are supposedly translations of La Volasfera published by Sepharia in 1898 (the translations. La Volasfera is older), Walter Henson’s interpretations and Kozminsky’s interpretation in that order. Keep in mind that they lived in different times and some of the things they say reaaallly reflects that.

For aspect and midpoint calculations, I couldn’t be bothered to calculate everything by hand so I wrote a short program for it; however, I didn’t debug much. It should work fine but just in case something slips by, I’m giving a warning. I also didn’t proof read so please excuse any mistakes.

This is a long post. Any additional comments, opinions, ... are welcome.  

Section one: Planets, houses, aspects and additional notes

Planets:

sun: ego, the father, vitality, stamina, core personality, the self, takes around a day to move a degree, ...

moon: the emotional mind, the mother, comforts, instinct, habits, moods, need, takes a couple of hours to move a degree, ...

mercury: the logical mind, petty daily habits, communication, rationality, learning style, ... 

venus: values, things we like, wants, love style, sensuality, takes around a day to move a degree, ...

mars: our drive, how we get and go after things, aggression, passion, takes a little more than a day to move a degree, ...

saturn: restrictions, the mentor, the somber and sober, constraint, structure, the serious things, takes around 8 days to 2 weeks to move a degree, ...

neptune: the collective unconscious, allusion and disillusionment, spirituality, the veil, deception, intuition, takes around 6 weeks to move a degree, ...

pluto: control, power, transformation, magnetism, fears, death, rebirth, takes around 8 weeks to move a degree, ... 

Houses:

first (the cusp is the ascendant): shallow identity, our first impression, temperament and constitution, presentation, ...

second: self-esteem, tangible values, possessions, material gains, ...

third: communication, siblings, the everyday things, short distance travel ...

fourth: roots, family, the mother, home, comfort zone, ...

fifth: fun, children, light-hearted romance, hobbies, creativity, ...

sixth: health, coworkers, servitude, pets, work, routine, ...

seventh (the cusp is the descendant): interpersonal relationships, ideal partner, open enemies, part of ourselves that we have a hard time integrating or accepting, partnerships, aesthetic preference, ...

eighth: death, crisis, what we hide, other peoples stuff that we want, taxes, death and rebirth, occult, fears, intimacy, painful transformation, ...

ninth: travel, philosophy, higher education, wisdom, expansion, world view, ...

tenth: public perception, career, reputation, ambition, greater community, admiration, delayed gratification, ...

eleventh: friendship, aspirations and wishes, where we are more accepting, humanity, how we relate to society, liquid income, ...

twelfth: what is hidden from us, the unconscious, spiritual things, the vague and boundaryless, idealization, escapism, ...

Aspects:

square (90): tension, dynamic, needs adjustment, major, ...

opposition (180): polarized, projection, can be tense but less than square, dynamic, major, ...

conjunction (0): blending, can be dynamic, major, ...

trine (120): comes naturally, can be taken for granted, harmonious, major, ...

sextile (60): similar to trine but slightly weaker and more moving (a fun spark sort of energy but not dynamic), major.

inconjunction (150): awkward, can’t be compromised, has to be tolerated, minor, ...

semi-sextile (30): similar to inconjunction, some say it’s more workable, minor, ...

semi-square (45): like square but weaker, minor, ...

quintile and biQuintile (72 and 144): creative, dynamic but compatible and comfortable, minor, ...

sesquiquadrate (135): making a mountain out of a molehill, acting energetically without understanding consequences, putting a lot of energy but the more you try the less you get results but when you don’t try they work really well, minor, ...

Additional notes:

on a full moon sun opposite moon occurs. The moon would be 180-225 degrees away from the sun. 

during the last quarter phase, the moon is 270-315 degrees ahead of the sun (Sasuke was born on this phase). 

mercury is up to 28 degrees away from the sun and venus is up to 48 degrees away from the sun.

aspect between sun and moon could denote how you perceive the relationships between your father figure and mother figure.

neptune retrograde happens every year when neptune is opposite sun.

plutonian relationships tend to be controlling, obsessive, disrespectful, painful and manipulative but can be transformative and life-changing.

neptunian relationships and about falling for an idealized image and not seeing things for what they are, rose coloured glasses, a feeling of betrayal and disillusionment once those glasses are shattered, forgiving easily, lack of boundaries in both good and bad ways, worshiping someone and putting them on a pedestal and never seeing them for what they are (humans), overlooking vices that shouldn’t be over looked, ...

both neptunian and plutonian relationships can manifest in nice ways but generally they tend to not do that as both people involved would have to be quite “evolved”, mature and level-headed for that among other things.

Section Two: natal signs and aspects

We will start this section with Sasuke, then we will have a look at Itachi and then Naruto. I’ve checked to make sure that it is mathematically possible (though I didn’t get into retrograde cycles much) for the characters to have these placements both on their own and relative to each-other. 

I put a picture of each character’s natal aspects and wrote which degree I used. If it is between several possible degrees I wrote it in orange, otherwise, it's green. I didn’t discuss the aspect interpretations much because this post would become far too long if I did. I also used pretty wide orbs because the exact degrees weren’t certain but the overall range was extremely likely.

Sasuke’s planets and house placements:

Ascendant: Capricorn 21-22 or 23-34 degrees

Sun: Leo 0-1 degrees (7th)

Moon: Taurus 22-23 degrees (4th) 

Mercury: Leo 12-13 degrees (7th)

Venus: Cancer 15 degrees (6th)

Mars: Scorpio 12 degrees (10th)

Saturn: Cancer 28-29 degrees (7th)

Neptune: Libra 4-5 or 5-6 degrees (8th)

Pluto: Aquarius 10-11, 13-14, 15-16 or 18-19 degrees (1st)

His sun was decided by the author and fits him quite well so there is no need for speculation. Sun in the 7th seems iffy but he does only go for people he respects, deems as reliable/competent and all that (that sun-saturn conjunction in the 7th house) and some of his identity is based on his interpersonal relationships. He also has that passive, non-confrontational way about him where people intrude on his personal space and disregard his boundaries all the time and he really doesn’t react as strongly as one would expect.

There seems to be a common consensus about his Ascendant in the anime astrology community. It is also worth noting that capricorn ascendants are often mistaken as scorpios for some reason. He is driven, comes across as standoffish and serious, has a slight aloof way about him, it puts his mars in the 10th and his moon in the 4th which is perfectly him, ... (I actually considered cancer ascendant for him at first because he had those doe eyes, soft features, youngish face, paler than his brother/father, family oriented, ... but I was torn between that and capricorn and everyone said capricorn so capricorn it is.) 

With regards to his moon, as I’ve already mentioned in my previous posts, I saw how Naruto was born on a full-moon and how the relationship between his parents had that masculine-feminine polarization and some other things and decided to put his moon in aries and if we were to calculate Sasuke’s moon with consideration to the moon’s average speed and the time between his birth-date and Naruto’s, we get moon in taurus (3rd decan, in his 4th house), and the degree will be explained in the third section but the house placement is apparent, given that Sasuke’s heart and comfort has always been with family, home and roots (clan). The cancer one also works because, again, heart with family and an innate gentleness and the 6th house can bring a need to be of use and good organization skills and an attention to order, efficiency and good dietary habits which he certainly does posses. 

Mercury in Leo is self explanatory. It’s either this or cancer and his style of communication is blunt, straightforward, sarcastic, confident, direct and to the point, dramatic, ... and his learning style matches leo more than cancer.

Venus in cancer is one that I doubted quite a good deal and there isn’t a common consensus about it either. The options are gemini, cancer, leo and virgo. I’ve heard mostly leo and virgo but I personally think Cancer in the 6th house makes more sense than in Virgo in the eight. This is based on his aesthetic sense, my understanding of his values and his love style with the only person whom I’m 100% sure he loves (his brother). He really needed quality time to feel loved, he valued competence (6th house) and family (cancer), he cared about receiving compassion from loved ones more than many of the other characters, he expressed affection mostly through acts of service (6th house), he was verbally expressive and hugged his brother and all that so he wasn’t that distant or somber in his approach to expressing affection in general (cancer), he got sulky when his brother refused to spend time with him and pouted and blushed a lot (cancer), ...

Mars in scorpio is another thing where everyone is of the same opinion and it falling into the 10th house makes it even more fitting as he will be very driven and hyper focused on one thing and he can also spend a very long time not having anything to do with fun or sex or any of that. The 10th house is disciplined, it delays, it makes thing serious and it has much to do with self-restraint. This placement is very action oriented and Sasuke is exactly that (he doesn’t spend time just thinking about doing things or just talking about them, he does them).

Saturn in cancer aspecting both his sun and venus. He was only expressive and affectionate with people he was comfortable with and his relationship with his father and authority figures and his general demeanor practically scream saturn in hard aspect to sun. Misfortune in the home and family life and a rigid upbringing (military parents) which saturn in cancer can bring are also there.

Pluto is a generational planet but I’m convinced that it falls into Sasuke’s first house. He constantly attracts plutonic people, he has a mildly plutonic energy himself and if it’s there, it aspects a ton of his planets which would mean that in his relationships with people of his own generation, he would have a pluto heavy synastry (composite is a different matter). 

The aspects didn’t quite turn out how I wanted but they do make sense in my opinion and he has that grand cross with pluto, moon, mars and mercury which is just perfect. His heart, his head, and his drive are all in conflict and there is quite a bit of intensity, issues related to power and control, ... involved.

Itachi’s planets and house placements:

Ascendant: Virgo 20-21 or 26-27 degrees

Sun: Gemini 17-18 degrees (9th)

Moon: Scorpio 20-21, 21-22, 24-25 or 26-27 degrees (3rd) 

Mercury: Cancer 6-7 or 11-12 degrees (10th)

Venus: Taurus 6-7 or 8-9 degrees (8th)

Mars: Taurus 1-2, 3-4, 14-15, 16-17, 18-19, 24-25 or 28-29 degrees (8th)

Saturn: Taurus 24-25 degrees (9th)

Neptune: Virgo 23-24 degrees (1st)

Pluto: Aquarius 2-3 (I chose this but It still isn’t concrete enough, the last one also works), 5-6, 7-8 or 10-11 degrees (5th)

Again, his sun is canon and very fitting. Sun in the 9th house of philosophy and all that also fits his interests (this doesn't say anything about his competence). 

He is very into that whole “I’ve plan everything” and he talked waaay too much about perfection and all that for him to not have some sort of strong virgo/6th house. His ascendant in virgo puts the house cusps in nice places too. I’ll copy this part from my previous post on the subject. 

I considered virgo rising for him (but I’m not particularly attached to this idea)  since that would put scorpio as his 3rd house (intense relationship with siblings) capricorn (ruled by saturn which is restrictions and stuff) on his 5th (fun, children and all that), gemini on 10th (can easily change their persona and know by the general public as intelligent), taurus on 9th (likes philosophy and all that, tends to have different beliefs from what he was raised with (likely by family) and can be very stubborn about beliefs and once he finds them, is very unlikely to change them) and some other stuff.

Moon in Scorpio because I calculated and given the distance between his birthdate and Sasuke’s (if they are 5 years apart) his moon would either fall in sagittarius or scorpio and honestly, I think scorpio fits him more. 

Mercury in cancer because he’s somewhat verbally non-confrontational (would rather deflect and run away, in his case he does that with lies and that stuff) and passive-aggressive and speaks in a vague way instead of just getting to the point and being clear and concise and he’s good at emotional talk in a sense (although that doesn’t necessarily mean he is comfortable with it).

venus in taurus because when he isn’t busy being genocidal or dishonest, he likes some pretty taurusian things like hanging out at traditional coffee shops and getting some sweets. He’s also aesthetically very close to his root (traditional japanese stuff) in terms of preference and taurus likes the familiar. 

I calculated his mars and saturn sign after deciding Sasuke’s mars and saturn. It does match him in a way though. He has a taurusian feel in a way and he really seems to adore the look of security and stability (even when it’s not really there). Venus and mars in 8th because of his fascination and acceptance of the morbid, death and human nature. Also he has an inclination towards extremism in both his actions and adorations (that isn’t the same as being showy though).

Neptune in first because he obviously would have neptune in first. Those acting skills, a habit of dishonesty, being extremely inconsistent and unknowable, weak constitution, slow and lethargic movements, ... He has one of the worst manifestations of neptune in first in my opinion. And he should have more Than one planet in virgo.

Pluto in aqua in 5th solely because of sasuke and calculations, not because of what it says about him (though I also took synastry into account).

Naruto’s planets and house placements:

Ascendant: Leo 1-2, 3-4 or 5-6 degrees

Sun: Libra 17-18 degrees (3rd)

Moon: Aries 12-13, 13-14, 16-17, 17-18 or 20-21 (9th or 10th depending on house system)  or taurus 24 or 28 (10th)

Mercury:  it’s between virgo (2nd), libra (3rd) and scorpio (4th)

Venus: Libra 23-24 or 26-27 degrees (3rd)

Mars: sag 24-25, 25-26 or 29 degrees (5th)

Saturn: Leo 8-9 degrees (1st)

Neptune: Libra 6-7 or 7-8 degrees (3rd)

Pluto: same as sasuke since pluto is a generational planet and their birthdays aren’t that far apart (7th)

His sun is also canon.

His ascendant in leo makes sense because he was born late at night on the 10th of October and he has that leoish persona. There really isn’t much to say here, he embodies it. He has big movements, flamboyance, an outgoing “sunshine”y demeanour, ego-driven, loves to make everything about himself, ...

Moon in the 10th because his emotional security and self-worth and all that are very tied to what the general public thinks of him and he tries to achieve that through his career. Moon in aries and moon in taurus both fit him and the anime astrology community is also divided on this.

For mercury I have no clue. 

His venus could be in virgo, libra, leo, scorpio or sagittarius. I calculated venus in libra from Sasuke’s venus in cancer and then I looked at the degrees and plenty of them fit Naruto and he does have the power of charm so I just left it at that. I eventually narrowed the degrees a bit and found a range I’m comfortable with (in terms of both aspects and degree interpretations).

I used to think his mars makes harsh aspects to both his moon and pluto but it could be just one of them, in the end it ended up being neither of them. I calculated his mars sign from Sasuke’s mars and sag in the 5th seemed pretty fitting specially since his hobby was pranking people and he is a bit of a trickster, his earlier battles also had some creativity.  I used to think his mars is in taurus but it didn’t work out. And honestly he talks about working hard more than he actually works so mars in the 10th was kind of off either way.

Saturn was also calculated based on Sasuke but saturn in leo works pretty well. He got reprimanded for his “fun” and he has a lot of self-esteem issues and simultaneously has a bloated ego and a pretty low opinion of himself. He was so insecure that he had no problem taking credit for other peoples work so there is that. Saturn conjunct ascendant can cause people to have a hard time expressing their true self, often receiving criticism for the way they present themselves/the way they are, they can also often feel like no one will every truly love/like them (as people).

Pluto in the 7th house is extremely fitting for him, in fact, I would go so far as to say that I can’t imagine it anywhere else. He’s controlling, he’s manipulative, he’s possessive, obsessive, he’s all about taking what he wants/needs from relationships while not giving an iota of care to what the other party wants or needs, he’s stalkerish, ... he manifests pluto in the 7th house in one of the worst possible ways. 

Section Three: degree interpretations

Like the previous section, we will start with Sasuke and make our way to Itachi and then Naruto. 

edit: these need to be updated

SASUKE

Moon: 22-23

It signifies one who will suffer misfortune in the height of his career and whose fall will be dangerous in proportion to the height he has attained. The native will be too apt to depend on his own powers and will essay feats which will be beyond his natural powers. Ambition will lead him into dangerous positions, and at a weak moment he will fall. Let this be taken as equally affecting his physical, moral, and social welfare. It is a degree of COLLAPSE.

Doctors; art; projecting and the arts; medical fields; painting; homicidal tendency; alcoholism; has some unique quality (affected, may be an abnormal trait); an enthusiast who can inspire others with his plans, but thy may not always be successful; teeth.

Denotes one with strength of purpose and ability to sustain trials. The Dragon is lust, corruption, end the cold moistures of the earth. St. Michael is the life, solar energy, conqueror of decay; the black rain the evil which corruption draws. So when the native realizes his soul force he becomes a veritable victor over the monster into whose jaws so many unwarned and unguarded fall. It is a symbol of Victory.

Venus: 15-16

It indicates a person of much tenacity and strength of purpose; who by dint of extreme power, whether physical or mental, will overcome his greatest and most terrible enemies. The native will have much to contend with in life, and will encounter many dangers; but, as indicated, will finally overcome them. Together with this native strength, there may be blended a softness and gentleness of manner, which may induce others to attempt an advantage over him; but those Philistine who may have this Samson out (shorn and eyeless though he be) to make sport with him will rue the day. It is a degree of CONQUEST.

Business; music; good at mathematics, writing, or making money; a fortunate degree; taciturn; blindness or defective eyesight; gastric nerves.

Denotes one who is entrusted with a high mission and who is deeply inspired, having a spirituality entirely serene. To him has the mandate “Co forth and teach the people” been echoed from the heavens. He will be granted power and influence, so that the people will hear him call. The evidences of this peculiar mission are made manifest in his twelfth year and mature between the twenty-fourth and thirty-sixth years. It is the symbol of the Inspired.

Saturn: 28-29

It indicates a person of docile and tractable nature, combined with a certain subtlety of mind and high order of intelligence. One who will be held in restraint by others, or whose freedom will be taken by the hand of Fate and the force of circumstances. Although thus held in check, the native will be subject to dangers of an unknown character from secret enemies and jealous foes, and will be in peril of an untimely end. It is a degree of forced RESTRAINT.

An interesting person but sometimes unreliable and uncertain, conscious awareness of hair, often acts on inspiration or impulse; spleen.

Denotes one liable to be bound soul and body, who will be restricted in action and desire. But even so he may yet release his true self and meet the force flowing from the fountain head. Thus, though one side may frown and obstruct him, the other will smile and release him. It is a symbol of Obstruction.

Sun: 0-1

It denotes a person of extreme dignity of character, with much self-reliance, fearlessness, nobility and freedom of nature; an ambitious person and somewhat jealous of honor, being much subject to praise and flattery. The native will be apt in the government of others, and equally so in self-control; but unless the heart be kind, the native will be a mere pompous tyrant. It is a degree at DIGNITY.

Magnetic, brusque, and forceful; homicidal tendency; often seems to know things without taking the trouble to learn; left coronary artery.

Denotes one who will be enabled to grant or to refuse to grant the wishes of others. He will reach a position of importance and will receive many honors, and benefits will accrue to him. The demand is for an understanding of the use, not the abuse, of power. It is a symbol of Authority.

Mercury: 12-13

It indicates a person of firm and steadfast character; one who will resolutely hold to his own beliefs and principles, though it be to his disadvantage. In some ways the mind will be precocious and there will he some degree of self assertion shown; but, whatever the native may determine upon as the right thing to do will assuredly be done if within the compass of resolute striving. It is a degree of CONSTANCY.

Music, a degree of beauty; strong beliefs and disbeliefs; fortunate but restless; intentions are good; may be an orphan or may care for a parent or other relative; usually has special talent for some work where a well-trained eye and hand, plus his idealism and artistic tastes, enable him to excel al others; right heart chamber.

Denotes one of rugged, conservative, and patriotic nature who will be blessed with the goods of the world and who will use his blessings well. His position in life will be distinguished and his sincerity will command respect even from his enemies. He carries about him a fine and pure aura which benefits all who come within its radiations. It is a symbol of Exaltation.

Mars: 12-13

It shows one of a powerful and independent nature, relying on his own counsel and capable of standing alone. A degree of taciturnity and reserve will add to the general inscrutability of the mind of this person, and dispose him to command the respect and regard of others. His position will be elevated, his success in life will be assured by his own innate strength, and his fortunes will remain untouched by the hand of change. It is a degree of’ STADILITY.

Business: degree of attraction and repulsion; electricians; independent and self-reliant; stability; magnetic healing; dignity; artistic sensibilities; inclined to poetry; may be either mystical or unfeeling

Denotes one whose work is destined to live and influence men long after he has left the earth, one of an intensely psychic nature, sensitive, and mediumistic. He will have many earthly struggles and will find many sharp rocks in the way of his progress. He suffers more from his absolute lack of sympathy with earth matters as they are at present. His wanderings in the summer lands, however, bring him infinite peace and joy in the midst of pain. It is a symbol of Reveries.

Neptune:

4-5

It indicates a person of high intelligence and lofty aspirations but very prone to the use of force instead of persuasion. A man who is always getting in front of himself, so to speak, losing his temper against his desire, and letting his energies run away with his reason. He will be in danger of hurt by the sword or by fire. He must be careful of the martial element. It Is a degree of IMPULSE.

Fastidious, intellectual, optimistic, and sagacious; some women with this are dreamy and apt to have unsatisfactory love affairs; fear; honor, congeniality, order, and a lovable nature; benefics here a true friend and home lover, malefices here denote energy but sometimes misdirected. Oriental philosophies and painting; surgeons, sharp edges or clearly defined edges, martial arts (straight lines); sharp, incisive gestures, placing things side by side in deep contrast; goiter. Malpighi’s pyramids.

Denotes one who attains influence and a degree of power through aggression, forcefulness, and fighting. He is of an adventurous nature and endures a wound for the glory of getting it and the honor it gains him, and he will have many wounds. It is a symbol of Encroachment.

5-6

It denotes one very unfortunate, who will be constrained to severe and hard work for a certain period of his life. The native is patient, enduring, and capable of much self-government. In the end he will assuredly reap the reward of his labors, It is a degree of LABOUR.

Comparison; cruelty; homicidal tendency, sometimes a critical or top heavy mentality; apt to be fickle and indecisive; works hard for a living; degree of fear; pubis.

Denotes one of an artistic nature and a plodding but powerful disposition who is called to do work of a pioneering nature. He is an advocate of force, and the discipline with which he has been bended he would use on others. It is a symbol Pioneering.

Ascendant:

21-22

This symbol belongs to one that is capable of arduous and protracted labors. His inherent force of character will carry him through all difficulties and beyond all obstacles. He is endowed with much definition of purpose, determination and incisiveness, so that he will make headway against all obstructions and cut out a line in life for himself. He will in all probability find the recompense of his labor in association with agricultural projects, and in the utilization of old and waste materials, it is a degree of DETERMINATION.

A scholarly degree; active mind; persistent in his efforts; studies the past to guide him in his future; usually has more than one hobby; music; muscle endings.

Denotes one whose power is directed to the uplifting and advancement of his race—a stayer of war and strife, of plague and riot. He looks directly ahead, far ahead into the years to come when the new sun will illuminate the glory of a new age of gold. It is a symbol of Renewing.

23-24

This denotes a steadfast and capable person, whose life will be orderly and useful, whose mind will be open to the reception of truth and knowledge and whose passions will be well regulated. He will display a frank and even blunt nature, being free from all craftiness and subtlety; and his mind will have a sincere regard for all that is simple and natural in human nature, and a rooted distrust of the non-transparent. It is likely that he will be disposed to seek his livelihood in the vineyard or hostel, but in the highest capacity he can be will aspire to become a teacher and purveyor of spiritual truths. In any case, he is a man of the common walk and his sympathies are with the people. It Is a degree of SINCERITY.

A blunt, steadfast, and militant person; music; gastric ulcer; from upper to lower legs.

Denotes one who will escape three great dangers by reason of a faith which draws to him the protection of the higher Powers. The most threatening is the third danger, but his faith is proof against this also. He will have moments of intense feeling and will not permit others to usurp his position nor rob him of the fruits of his toil. He is a peculiar child of destiny, and destiny does not design him for a low position in earth life. It is a symbol of Favor.

Pluto:

10-11

This symbol is related to one in whose nature there is more force and energy than power of direction and self-restraint, and who in consequence will be continually running into dangers which to him will be wholly unforeseen though obvious enough to others. He will rely upon his strength and pushfulness to overcome his enemies, but it will be shown to him that there is nothing so insignificant as the strength of a man. Since he cannot overcome Nature let him learn to use her forces with discretion and moderation or he will be wounded in the conflict of life, and unseen dangers will lurk within the hour of exultation as snakes beneath the flowers. It is a degree of FORCEFULNESS.

Fame, leadership and skill at handling men when tact and courtesy are required; can smooth out difficult and antagonistic relationships; when inspired by an ideal; these people have tremendous power; where the cause is great; his work may have its effect on future generations; right crural band.

Denotes one of gifted mind and exceptional qualities, a singer of songs and a bearer of light, whose works gain for him respect and dignity, and whose name will be remembered long after his form has left this earth. Beautiful thoughts will cling to him as the ivy clings to the garden wall, and pleasant minds will come to him as the flowers which entwine the scepter. It is a symbol of Taste.

15-16

This symbol is related to the one who will show considerable aspiration in things of a spiritual nature and will be instrumental in awakening in the breast of man a belief in things supernormal, by fanning the spark of intelligent faith into a flame of conviction and consuming desire. His profession will be allied to the useful arts and his walk in life, although simple and devoid of ostentation, will nevertheless be of singular service to humanity. Great in soul and of immense aspiration, he will prove a veritable Vulcan. It is a degree of INSPIRATION.

Oil producing, literature; appreciation of the beautiful; the artist; often prominent in charts of those who have achieved literary eminence; judicial with good mentality and mathematical ability; fond of sports, music or reading; usually suited to law, finance, statistics, or literary work; lymph vessel of left lower leg.

Denotes one of a trusting spiritual nature who will have trials in life threatening and bitter, and who will often be storm-driven and held in the grip of hard circumstances. Now and then there are breaks in the storms of life which bring relief, no matter how small. But he must go on; his way is difficult and the night is dark, but in the morning light will come. It is a symbol of Experience.

13-14: 

This is the symbol of one whose life will be beset with unforeseen dangers, and who should therefore go warily and with much circumspection into the narrow walks of competitive life. About the middle of his life there will be a great catastrophe, by which he will either lose the use of a limb, or will suffer a total collapse of his affairs. He will then be in danger of liquidation and may become involved in serious trouble. Almost from his boyhood he will have to be self- supporting, and while he is sure to be of considerable service to others, and may even be author of much wise counsel, he will himself stand in need of help and sustenance ere his days are half completed. His future thereafter is in the keeping of Heaven. It is a degree of COLLAPSE.

Literature; idealism; music; “Jack of all trades”; apt to be a child of fate; fortune may push him up or down in unexpected ways; appreciation of the beautiful; degree of an artist; versatile ability; rheumatic fever; rheumatism; artery of left lower leg (fibula).

Denotes one who strives to do more than he can accomplish, who has “ too many irons in the fire,” and, while thinking to accomplish much, does but little. He may be two-sided or have two philosophies obtruding themselves at the same time. The life is restless, anxious, and over it hangs a threatening hand. Peace comes from the cultivation of the higher and the rejection of the lower. It is a symbol of Difficulties.

18-19

This symbol is related to one in whose life some great catastrophe will occur at a time when providentially there will be a friend at hand to rescue him from his danger. It indicates that a deficiency of tact and skill is liable to reader him subject to adversity of fortune, and he will suffer financial disaster and even peril of death. But there will be raised up to him a friend capable of sustaining him in his extremity, and he will not therefore sink into the depths. This will be in response to his great faith. The nature, although daring, is lacking in tact and strength. All his troubles will arise from failing to admit his own incompetence. He will travel afar. It is a degree of INSECURITY.

Musical ability; medical fields gain and recognition in any field; good intellect; well adapted to literary work. Bright’s disease; nervous system of the spinal cord.

Denotes one who has a graceful method of expressing his thoughts and who will reach his place when life’s midway has passed. He will accomplish much, and his words will ring so that many will stop to listen. His actions harmonize with his beliefs, and his soul is serene. It is a symbol of Proclaiming.

ITACHI

Saturn: 24-25

It indicates a powerful and haughty nature; one who is disposed to justify himself by force of arms rather than by intrinsic merit. Such a person will make many his servants but few his friends and in the end his state will be a pitiable as that of a dying lion. It is a degree of PRIDE.

Sometimes have theories and ideas of doubtful value; homicidal tendency; alcoholism; men with planets here are careful with their money; lower jaw.

Denotes one of natural talent who will be beset with difficulties in gaining recognition, but whose mental strength will be the more determined because of them. When his time comes his power will be felt. He will force acknowledgment by sheer ability and energy. It is a symbol of Premeditation.

Sun: 17-18

It indicates a person of lofty aspirations, keen mental powers, penetration and executive ability, one who will cut out his own line in life and excite attention, but who may, by his destiny, fail in achieving the result aimed at. It is a degree of EXECUTION.

Good imagination; cordial but caustic; energetic, enthusiastic, and intellectual; a dual personality - men may sometimes have feminine traits; homicidal tendency; Bright’s disease (kidneys); second rib.

Denotes one of great bravery who, feeling himself unconquerable, becomes a mark for the attacks of his enemies, who, thinking to smite him at the point of his weakness, raise about themselves the power which arises from his pain. It is a symbol of Invulnerability.

Neptune: 23-24

It denotes a person of misanthropic spirit and unsociable disposition, who will be estranged from his kindred and may be exiled or outcast from his country. In addition, the native will be short-sighted or have some moral obliquity. so, that be will incur severe troubles through this defect in various ways. It is a degree of LONELINESS.

Painters; “a ship at full sail”; a hard worker who has many ups and downs; sometimes hard to understand because he is not a good mixer and t other times he does not understand himself; benefics are favorable here, but other planets here may denote a lack of chastity; spine; tendons of liver.

Denotes one who may become vain of his earthly power and may use it for purposes which can be of no real benefit to him and no real gratification. Suffering may force him to hold himself in check and to understand that” he who conquers himself is greater than he who conquers a kingdom.” It is a symbol of Violence.

Ascendant:

20-21

The native will be of a penurious~ acquisitive, and mercenary nature; always counting the cost of all he does, and looking well to it that whatever be performs shall first be remunerative; then, if possible (though this is not important), just. He will acquire wealth by easy means, and will indulge in some very notable speculations. It is a degree of COVETOUSNESS.

Talent for mimicry; has the soul of a poet, but necessity often compels him to work along more prosaic lines; interested in diets, health, and laws of nature; gall bladder duct.

Denotes one of resourcefulness and determination who can be trusted to protect and safeguard his vital interests. Others, perhaps even amongst his own kinsmen, may interfere or attempt to interfere with the liberty of the native and prevent his free actions, and he may have to use craft to protect his rights and himself. It is a symbol of Finesse.

26-27

It denotes a person of a peculiarly incapable nature, unhappy disposition, and a certain awkwardness in his bearing. He will suffer ills through want of practical ness and executive power, and by reason of his backwardness will be liable to be victimized and deceived by the more active and wary. It is a degree of BLUNTNESS.

One of the strongest literary degrees. yet, unless the rest of the chart favors writing, Mercury here merely denotes interest, and Venus a love of literature, painting, good philosophy and honest bluntness along with artistic taste; combative but beneficent; strength of character; alert and aspiring; suicide; denotes art and literary ability; intelligence; honor, and riches in disgrace; hip veins.

Denotes one of a quick and critical mind who is gifted with powers of observation and discrimination He is able to turn points to his advantage, and does not hesitate to push forward with energy and activity to gain his desires. It is a symbol of Keenness.

Moon:

20-21

It is the symbol of a bold, independent and forceful nature, that knows either restraint nor law, and that will suffer great privations in order to maintain the semblance of freedom. It is a degree of INDEPENDENCE.

Doctors: music (variations of pitch); not as strong as most Scorpio degrees; alcoholism; violence; homicidal tendency; has little respect for rules and conventions but usually abides by them. Often so reserved that few people understand him.

Denotes one who conceives the dualistic nature of man. He holds that the connexion of spirit and matter is the initial force from which all other forces are brought into being. He admits no intermediate force, pressing home his beliefs with all the certainty of proven facts and with all the vehemence his powerful nature is capable of. It is a symbol of Forcing.

21-22

It is the index of a nature that is impelled by force of circumstances to precipitate and hazardous projects. A restless and impulsive mind, defective in foresight and never aware of danger till it is encountered. The life will be narrowed and confined, and so largely determined by the force of circumstances that it will be in danger of falling from one level to another until it is lost in obscurity and swallowed up in the sands of time. It is degree of COMPULSION.

Doctors; alcoholism; now; homicidal tendency; often found in charts of painters, poets, and astrologers, impulsive and restless yet loves home, solitude, and contemplation; (Unukalhai) immorality, accidents, danger of poison; ethmoid bone and ligaments.

Denotes one who is forced by circumstances to undertake duties which are not always of a pleasant nature. His destiny is to adjust and to demand, and the necessities of his life are opposed to investigations of an ideal or psychic character. It is a symbol of Gathering.

24-25

It is the indication of a predatory and adventurous spirit, a mind that is avaricious and cunning, quick to perceive and enforce its owl advantage, but slow to cultivate the more useful and sociable habits of life. Such will lead a distressful and contentious life, and will not long enjoy the benefit of his conquests. He will snatch an advantage and will be forced to surrender it to others; and because of his selfishness his own friends will berail him. It is a degree of SEIZURE.

Alcoholism; homicidal tendencies; strong desire to gain wealth or power, a malefic here usually denotes trouble with the opposite sex; some connection with magicians; ovarian ducts; coccyx.

Denotes one who is lost in the maze of worldly gain and whose sole happiness is in his ever- increasing wealth. His nature is hard and his estimate of his fellow-creatures is judged by his own standard. His motto is: Treat every man as a rogue until you find him out to be honest, and when you find him out to be honest, think again before you trust him. It is a symbol of Hardness.

26-27

It denotes one who has a forceful and yet pliant mind, a persuasive tongue and a brave spirit. Such an one will lead others by the power of authority which is vested in reason and sustained by the ability of expression. From such a man an appeal is equivalent to a command, and an exhortation equal to a rebuke. He will undertake high duties and grave responsibilities in life and will largely be moved by a power that is within him, unrecognized but potent. It is a degree of PERSUASION.

Usually seems well-balanced, genial, sympathetic, and philosophical, may be placed in positions of trust only to meet personal misfortune.

Denotes one capable of lofty thoughts and high mental flights. There is a subtle, strong diplomacy about this native which cannot be easily gauged by others, but he knows himself, his own ambitious spirit, and his ever-growing faith—a faith which never wavers, no matter if he basks in favors or shields himself from frowns. It is a symbol of Distinction.

Pluto:

2-3

This symbol is related to one whose life is liable to many and severe shocks of misfortune, the severing of ties and the disappointment of hopes. Nevertheless, he will show a spirit of steadfast resignation to the will of Heaven and therein will find consolation for his grief’s and sorrows. The task which he will have to perform in life will be honorable but unprofitable, and many will be the difficulties which encumber his upward path. He is nevertheless equipped for a long and arduous journey, and being endowed with a patient and firm will, he must eventually attain his goal. Only in the interval he will have to surrender all that he holds most dear in life. It is a degree of PERSEVERANCE.

Inquisitiveness; obesity; brings strange events into one’s life; women are much loved; men are natural leaders and follow some unusual line of work; right fibula.

Denotes one of a truly religious mind whose career will be as full of incident as the many pieces which go to make a mosaic pavement are full of color. Material life is not without its dangers— moral and physical—but the native is not born under the heel of fear. He sees beyond his times and bears his cross. It is a symbol of Faithfulness.

7-8

This symbol is indicative of a nature that is strong forceful and independent, loving freedom above all things and desiring death by hunger rather than servitude or restraint. Such a one will prove himself to be of greater service to the race when left to his own resources and given full freedom of action than when bound to a narrow or restricted walk in life. Nevertheless, he is liable to captivity or imprisonment, whether it be as a prisoner of State or as the victim of a hard and unrelenting Fate, and this will be entailed by his inordinate love of freedom. He will, suffer and will serve, and thus gain both wisdom and freedom for all time. It is a degree of ESCAPEMENT.

Hearing; anemia; may be especially good or clever at some particular thing; afflicted; an extremist; hitting at truth of life (something universal); vein of lower left leg.

Denotes one of a vital, vigorous, and martial disposition who endeavors to cut his way by mind or sword. Danger in early childhood may be overcome according to the power of the horoscope, but danger is never absent from him, and he is liable to be constrained or oppressed with enemies of his own making or he may be a dangerous enemy to himself. To pass through a barred window self- conquest alone knows the way. It is a symbol of Limitation.

5-6

This symbol is related to one who has considerable faculty for teaching (prophecy), and skill in manual crafts. As a director of thought, an exponent of religious teachings, as traveler, lecturer, even handicraftsman, he will show himself capable and will meet with distinction. He will be ambitious and will have a mind set upon things that are remote from his environment. Careful in his methods, and ambitious in his designs, he will have to travel far, nevertheless, for the results of his actions, and of him it may be said that what is remote from the sense is ever more attractive than things corporeal, and that which is afar than which is near. It is a degree of APPERCEPTION.

Medical; healing airmen (avoid air travel if Jupiter is afflicted); if prominent; it warns against accidents when traveling especially by air; inventive, unconventional, loves new and experimental schemes; interest in Oriental philosophies smoothness - silk, peace; singers, chanting, nerve of left fibula.

Denotes one on whom Fame smiles and who is fitted to receive her favor. For this native there is dignity and honor, which follows a degree of struggle, disappointment, and comparative obscurity. He is moved by many and varied feelings and is blessed with a vivid and fine imagination. He is cultured, neat in style, and artistic, with considerable psychic ability and occult understanding. It is a symbol of Ascending.

10-11

This symbol is related to one in whose nature there is more force and energy than power of direction and self-restraint, and who in consequence will be continually running into dangers which to him will be wholly unforeseen though obvious enough to others. He will rely upon his strength and pushfulness to overcome his enemies, but it will be shown to him that there is nothing so insignificant as the strength of a man. Since he cannot overcome Nature let him learn to use her forces with discretion and moderation or he will be wounded in the conflict of life, and unseen dangers will lurk within the hour of exultation as snakes beneath the flowers. It is a degree of FORCEFULNESS.

Fame, leadership and skill at handling men when tact and courtesy are required; can smooth out difficult and antagonistic relationships; when inspired by an ideal; these people have tremendous power; where the cause is great; his work may have its effect on future generations; right crural band.

Denotes one of gifted mind and exceptional qualities, a singer of songs and a bearer of light, whose works gain for him respect and dignity, and whose name will be remembered long after his form has left this earth. Beautiful thoughts will cling to him as the ivy clings to the garden wall, and pleasant minds will come to him as the flowers which entwine the scepter. It is a symbol of Taste.

Mercury:

6-7

It indicates a person of strong personality, but of a tyrannous nature, who, by force of arms and aggression, generally will press forward regardless of the merits of others and insensible of their feelings. His hand, though strong, is frequently unjust and cruel in its action, impelled by the motive that might is right; and, when opposed, is capable of extreme cruelty and selfishness. In certain natures, the influence of this degree generates the common-place bully. It is a degree of SELF-ASSERTION.

Not always diplomatic but appreciates diplomacy in others; physically fearless but sometimes emotionally vulnerable; well aspected, discipline; afflicted, sometimes denotes a bad habit; thoracic canal.

Denotes one who will by his own skill and ability receive and profit by impressions and reach a position which gains him the recognition due to him. To such, perseverance and faith are the essentials, and if he regards the meaning of these two words apart from the words themselves he will crown his labors with success. It is a symbol of Fame.

11-12

It denotes one of fatal tendencies, destructive to a degree; inclined to cruelty and oppression. This person will need to hold his passions in strong check or some fatality will surely come upon him. The nature is melancholy and taciturn; yet silently discerning, and capable of keen feelings. “It makes not, but it mars; and with the hollow eyes of death looks back with secret self-condemnation upon its unfruitful work.’ The end of life is tragic. It is a degree of UNDOING.

History; can work in solitude; degree of retentive memory; usually prudent, bright, and charming; magnetic personality; poison, possibly in working with chemicals; alcoholism; Bright’s disease; cancer; highly occult (the owl, dark subjects, collects owls, night owls); religious; large gastric curvature.

Denotes one of brave and generous disposition who is an earnest and sincere champion of the oppressed and who is one of that great band who cannot be deaf to the moans of the suffering many. He is a militant, generous force, and in his philosophy “charity covereth a multitude of sins.” It is a symbol of Humanity.

Venus: 

6-7

It indicates a person of strong personality, but of a tyrannous nature, who, by force of arms and aggression, generally will press forward regardless of the merits of others and insensible of their feelings. His hand, though strong, is frequently unjust and cruel in its action, impelled by the motive that might is right; and, when opposed, is capable of extreme cruelty and selfishness. In certain natures the influence of this degree generates the common-place bully. It is a degree of SELF-ASSERTION.

Not always diplomatic but appreciates diplomacy in others; physically fearless but sometimes emotionally vulnerable; well aspected, discipline; afflicted, sometimes denotes a bad habit; thoracic canal.

Denotes one who strives to stand erect. Time does not cast him down, for grandeur and beauty are his companions; but beauty, however sublime, is never without a flaw, for the flaw intensifies the beauty. The erect column indicates strength, the crumbling at the base fear, which alone can destroy if permitted to infect the whole. Where faith is, then fear will be never. True faith is knowledge absolute, and what knowledge so perfect as the consciousness in man of his own strength? It is a symbol of Gracefulness.

8-9

It denotes a man whose chief interest will be in his home, and in the care of his children; one who is attractive to young persons, and whose mind is pacific and benevolent; one who has the ability to inspire confidence and faith in other; whose footsteps will be followed in security and whose life goes by easy way to a peaceful end. It is a degree of MINISTRATION.

A born teacher and scientist; hearing (afflicted - may in - cline to deafness); inordinately fond of food; afflicted - gluttons; if the will is weak, may become a drunkard; a tendency to be contrary and stubborn, especially with planets in 27 degree Aries-Pisces; frequently their own worst enemies; has much to do with healing; cervical vein.

Denotes one who acquires much by work and application, but who lacks the faculty of watchfulness in protecting his gains from the greed of others. He has an easygoing tendency, but gains come from labor, craft, and the management of his own affairs. He may be the victim of deceit or treachery, and should never put himself in the hands of others when his own well-being is concerned. He should avoid things and circumstances he does not understand. It is a symbol of Misleading.

Mars:

1-2

It denotes one for whom life will be a severe lesson; whose ambition is likely to outstrip his power; one who will attempt great his discomfiture; whose efforts will prove futile, and whose hopes a will vanish as the clouds. It is a degree of SELF-PRESERVATION.

Magic; a pleasing personality; a person who is above petty things; loyal and serious-minded; some interest in occultism; magnanimous; opening of throat.

Denotes one capable of immense sacrifices who surrenders self, expecting no reward. The life will be often lonely, but ever threatened by storms. In the end wisdom and worth will triumph and the second half of life brings good promise. It is a symbol of Devotion.

3-4 (likely)

It denotes a person in whose life much sedition will prevail, whose affairs will be marred by his own violence, and whose house will be dismembered through strife, in whom wrath will affect great evils, and whose force will be turned against himself. If is a degree of DISINTEGRATION.

Literature (skill in working out plots); writers of detective stories; one accustomed to the exercise of authority; favors playwrights; military men. organizers who work to uphold the law; degree of plot; planning, tact, and scheming bodily injuries; destruction by fire, war or earth-quake; unscrupulous defeat; throat or larynx.

Denotes one whose destiny it is to come before the public in some professional capacity. The native will be impulsive, bold, and brave, and will be gifted with controlling and magnetic force. He will travel and move about a great deal, and will be exposed to danger with little or no hurt. It is a symbol of Intrepidity.

16-17 (this is also linked with explosions so I think Dei is likely to have something here)

This symbolizes a life of toil without much fruits; the misdirection of effort through ignorance of natural laws; a straining after that which Nature has not designed, and consequent failure in life. The native will be unpopular, moving against the stream, and by much exertion, hurting himself alone. It is a degree of FUTILITY.

Painting; business; musical ability (variations of pitch); singers; oratory; a powerful degree for men; color; and original person who has much influence on his sphere of society; ideas or popularity may grow by spurts, but unexpected falls sometimes follow too; homicidal tendency; abscesses of neck if with 25 degree Leo-Aquarius or 21 degree Aries-Libra; associated with explosions (of nuclear plants or bombings); often a tall person; tonsils.

Denotes one free as air, brave, spiritual, restless, and unfitted for the regular routine of daily life. Care in infancy is essential. He is of a wandering disposition and frequent changes are for him. It is a symbol of Wandering.

14-15 (likely)

It denotes a studious and intuitive nature, whose mental vision will see where others arc in the darkness; one devoted to the inner meaning of Nature’s workings, and acting from obscure motives; one of much self-reliance, inclined to solitariness, and yet always surrounded by friends; one who will be sought after while himself seeking none. It is a degree of MYSTERY.

Business; singers; a degree of exchange and barter; some times traveling salesmen or financiers; may live or die in foreign lands; circulation of blood as well as ideas and propaganda; causes disease, disgrace, ruin injury from beasts, sickness, and loss of fortune; epiglottis.

Denotes a person whose tastes and desires are directed to the understanding of the secrets which rest beneath the veil. He has brought to earth from other sources the knowledge which enables him to find the entrance to the cavern of hidden jewels, but it is doubtful if he can enter, for the gateway is guarded by sublime and intense colors caused by more excessive vibrations than can be endured by the human body. The light vapor approaching the “Ultra” stage is more powerful and effective than dragons of fire. It is a symbol of Initiation.

18-19

It denotes a gentle, inoffensive but weak nature, inclined to indolence or hopelessness, and thus while Nature is luxurious and fertile, and all around speaks of wealth gained by industry, the native remains in a poor condition for want of determination. It is a degree of INCOMPETENCE.

Music ( a trumpet); a person who rises from a humble birth place to a great renown through a process of unfoldment; hair; leader of party; often a tall person; maxillary artery.

Denotes one who is unable to estimate his abilities and who attempts things foolhardy and useless. There is a tendency to irritability and aggressiveness and lack of self-restraint. Thus he will court unpopularity and will suffer from his own actions. It is a symbol of Futility.

24-25

It indicates a powerful and haughty nature; one who is disposed to justify himself by force of arms rather than by intrinsic merit. Such a person will make many his servants but few his friends and in the end his state will be a pitiable as that of a dying lion. It is a degree of PRIDE.

Sometimes have theories and ideas of doubtful value; homicidal tendency; alcoholism; women with planets here are usually intuitive, poetic, lively, and flirtatious; men careful with their money; lower jaw.

Denotes one whose life is harassed by other people, and who will be held to a position to his disadvantage from which he will free himself and go where better conditions prevail, and where he will have better opportunities for employing his skill for his own good. Consult the horoscope. It is a symbol of Restraining.

28-29 (honestly, now that I think about it, this is Tobs through and through)

It signifies a tyrant, who takes delight in power apart from its uses, and whose opinions are bigoted and selfish. To rule, without regard to qualifications, is the passing ambition of one born under this degree. Death, which frees the slave, will bind the hands of a tyrant in irons forged from his own heart. It is a degree of DESPOTISM.

Good organizing ability; strong will; usually magnetic, proud and stoical; heavy drinking; suicide; a degree giving “something to cry about”; Trapizius.

Denotes one who is continually beset with difficulties and who finds it hard at all times to decide his course of action. He is ever between forces of opposite natures, and is quite as likely to do the right thing as the wrong one. These conditions must be subdued by the steady cultivation of the will. It is a symbol of Embarrassment.

NARUTO

Sun: 17-18

It denotes a person of hospitable and homely nature, ever ready with the best of fare to entertain friends and acquaintances. The native will grow to be much beloved for his open handed ness and sincerity of feeling. He will be both prosperous and happy, and will rejoice in the company of his friends. It is a degree of HOSPITALITY. 

Electricians; a romantic degree; rules poets; oratorical ability; violence; a person who will get considerable publicity; has many friends; ambitious to be the greatest; kidney illness; liked with sexual problems; subtle mind, shamelessness, and loss through friends and company, fatty capsule of kidneys.

Denotes one of a simple nature who is gifted with a strong spirit of self-sacrifice and endowed with inherent bravery. His way in life will be tangled at times, and he will need his energy to set it right again. He is a helper of himself and of others, and he does not count his own needs first. It is a symbol of Self-sacrifice.

Moon:

12-13

It denotes one who through suffering, pain and hard work, will at the close of life rise to much dignity and receive many honors. This degree is capable, of lifting, the native from obscurity to prominence as the reward of enduring effort. It is a degree of REWARD.

A degree of movement; medical fields - doctors (along with 23-24 deg Leo, Aquarius); sportsmen or athletes (with fixed signs); electricians; wrestlers (with fixed signs); lawyers (along with 23-24 Leo, Aquarius); hair, spiritual intuition; if afflicted - may start many things he will never finish; corpus callosum (band of nerve fibers).

Denotes bravery, love, and sincerity. Honor will come to this native, his thoughts and ambitions lead him upwards. By Love’s guidance he passes over obstacles and pursues an honorable course. His nature is somewhat proud, but he is generous and noble-minded. Influence and favor come to him. It is a symbol of Light.

13-14

It denotes loneliness and indigence in life; one who will lead a strange and outcast life, with few friends and those either unwilling or unable to help him. It. seems to contain the idea of much traveling, perhaps exile, and finally a lonely grave. It is a degree of ISOLATION.

Bakers; dietetics - food and drink; music (the beautiful); love of words; often found in charts of those who compete in games or sports, especially tennis; the physicians; gluttony; independence; freedom, love of wealth and honor, and keen intellect; gives a sixth sense. One cannot tell them a lie because they see through others. They are seldom mistaken in their judgment of others; rheumatic fever; rheumatism; frontal lobes .

Denotes one who reaches a position of responsibility, power, and influence, and seeks to find in man the spark which being agitated blazes forth in glory, guiding by its perfect light. Here we have the teacher who strives to lead men from the valley of darkness into the light of understanding, but who himself is threatened by Error and Hate, which if he permits to influence him will drag him from his throne. But if he join his own great soul to Truth and Love, what wonders may he not perform! It is a symbol of Intercession.

16-17

This is a degree indicating one of a speculative nature, selfish, and luxurious; one whose heart is divided between pleasure and wealth, but who knows not the true use of either. Such would gain wealth by. speculation, but waste it in extravagance. “The fool and his money are soon parted.” So here. It Is a degree of EARTHINESS. 

Music (a trumpet); electricians; interest in occultism, spiritualism, metaphysics or magic; persuasive oratory; public life; spinal cord canal.

Denotes a lotus-eater, a lover of pleasure, who delights in ease and the sweets of life. The fortunes are favored, but the native makes no personal effort to increase them. The mind is romantic and art- loving, and the form graceful. It ii a symbol of Luxury.

17-18

This denotes a person of an amiable and pleasant disposition, friendly to all, and beloved of his kinsmen. One who desires peace and concord, and who will meet with success through the intervention of some female friend. It is a degree of AMITY.

Oratorical ability; electricians; poets; children; a romantic degree; with Virgo-Pisces novelists; with Leo-Aquarius or Gemini-Sagittarius poets; often connected with tragedies of violence in either the chart of the attacker or the victim. Associated with divorce and separations; sexual emotionalism; linked with sexual problems; nerve connections.

Denotes sympathy. Many times will the native stumble and fall by the way, but ever will there be a bright light before him to dispel the darkness of the night and to dissipate his fears. The mind is aspiring, but to reach its ideal, pain and struggle are involved. The native must not falter, for very nigh unto him is his hope—a little sacrifice and endeavor will unite him to it. It is a symbol of Upraising.

20-21

It denotes a generous and hospitable nature; one that will succeed through good and worthy actions, yet has some sense of his own merits and powers, and is desirous of recognition. A steadfast and sincere man, who will make many friends and be held by them in respect. It is a degree of CONSCIOUS MERIT.

Electricians; active and adventurous; a degree of supreme sacrifice; abscesses; accidents; a traveler who makes plans and lives them; preparedness, steadiness, determination, and final success; a fortunate degree; eye muscle.

Denotes one who will be assailed by secret and open enemies, who will be liable to troubles and false accusations. In his dealings he should always exercise great care, and should not rely on word- of-mouth agreements. He will not be without devoted friends, who will not neglect him in the hour of his greatest need. His intense feelings will cause him trouble, danger, illness, and regret, and he will have to strive with the dark serpent. Let him unite himself with noble and good-living people, and put away from himself votaries of evil. It is a symbol of Contention.

24-25

It indicates a powerful and haughty nature; one who is disposed to justify himself by force of arms rather than by intrinsic merit. Such a person will make many his servants but few his friends and in the end his state will be a pitiable as that of a dying lion. It is a degree of PRIDE.

Sometimes have theories and ideas of doubtful value; homicidal tendency; alcoholism; women with planets here are usually intuitive, poetic, lively, and flirtatious; men careful with their money; lower jaw.

Denotes one of natural talent who will be beset with difficulties in gaining recognition, but whose mental strength will be the more determined because of them. When his time comes his power will be felt. He will force acknowledgment by sheer ability and energy. It is a symbol of Premeditation.

28-29

It signifies a tyrant, who takes delight in power apart from its uses, and whose opinions are bigoted and selfish. To rule, without regard to qualifications, is the passing ambition of one born under this degree. Death, which frees the slave, will bind the hands of a tyrant in irons forged from his own heart. It is a degree of DESPOTISM.

Good organizing ability; strong will; usually magnetic, proud and stoical; heavy drinking; suicide; a degree giving “something to cry about”; Trapizius.

Denotes one who is continually beset with difficulties and who finds it hard at all times to decide his course of action. He is ever between forces of opposite natures, and is quite as likely to do the right thing as the wrong one. These conditions must be subdued by the steady cultivation of the will. It is a symbol of Embarrassment.

Ascendant:

1-2

It denotes a person of an extremely vacillating and uncertain disposition; weak. minded, and subject to be driven about from one opinion to another; generally moved by consent to prevailing sentiment, and incapable of any firm and independent decision. The native will be liable to experience strange caprices of fortune; and will wander, with many a change of object, from one place to another, but little permanence for good will be assured to him. At times exceedingly hopeful, and anon depressed and nervous, the native will make little headway or progress. It is a degree of WEAKNESS.

Have a way of making themselves pleasing to the opposite sex but often seem monotonous to those of their own sex; prodigal sometimes vacillating; apt to use the other fellow’s ideas because he lacks confidence in his own; sometimes not dependable and apt to wander from place to place; aorta.

Denotes one whose early life is threatened and who in later years will gain possession of material secrets discovered by another which he has long sought to obtain. Having obtained them, he claims the discoveries as his own, gaining thus further professional advancement and reputation. His triumph may last till he breathes his last breath, then he will learn what in spite of all his learning he does not know, and his action of yesterday brings remorse on the morrow. It is a symbol of Artifice.

3-4

It denotes a person of the most prudent, circumspect, and patient mind; capable of sustaining great fatigue in the accomplishment of his desires; a mind gifted with much diplomacy, suavity, self-restraint, and watchfulness; keen in observing but slow to draw conclusions; capable when aroused, of much malice, but not of open anger. Firm in his attachments, a fast friend and unrelenting enemy. The native will succeed in life by dint of caution and perseverance. It is a degree of CURCUMSPECTION.

A benefic there or any planet well aspected there inclines too honesty and integrity; anarchism (not going with any thing); an active person; not easy to anger but capable of malice when aroused; usually sensitive and often hurt by lack of harmony in the home; a critical analyst, but sincere with good intentions; left carotid artery.

Denotes one who may be deceived by smiles and promises. He should be especially careful of those in power, and should be wary lest in negotiations he betrays his plans and aspirations to keen and subtle adversaries. Wisdom is in silence. It is a symbol of Treachery.

 5-6

It denotes a person of a proud, martial nature, with considerable tastes for athletics, deeds of daring and prowess, contests, feats of arms, and the like. Somewhat given to argument and contention. ever ready to rush into disputes regardless of danger. The native will succeed as a soldier, or in active service requiring courage and strength; but will be liable to some reverses of fortune following upon undue self-assertion. It is a degree of PROWESS. 

A medical or healing degree; hair; a martial nature with a liking for athletics; a leader, usually in some physical or military way; usually well-liked by inferiors; a person of great energy who may drive himself to ruin unless he controls his passions; entrance of pulmonary artery.

Denotes one who will be compelled to fight and struggle during a great part of his life and who will often have to use his ingenuity to release himself from entanglements and troubles. He may have financial difficulties or difficulties over property or estates. In the end���perhaps even in the midst of worry—his star rises and he triumphs over enemies and evil conditions. It is a symbol of Strategy.

Saturn:  (honestly these both sound kind of off)

8-9

It denotes a person of tasteful, but luxurious habits; one who will spend much upon mere show, and will depend much upon appearances to the neglect of more desirable uses. Together with these characteristics, there is a great deal of pride, which in the uneducated may run to ostentation and snobbishness. Yet, in any sphere of life the native will be fortunate among his compeers. It is a degree of DISPLAY.

Sense of hearing; anemia; skin; afflictions to planets here; love of solitude; generosity; travel in connection with business; talkative but incapable of pettiness; often misunderstood because they do not fully understand themselves, looks at things from positive standpoint; knows that even his troubles are of his own making; care and responsibility; a charitable and fostering nature; afflicted brings danger of a violent death, serious accidents or burns; the eyes; vena cava.

Denotes one fortunate, but somewhat vain, whose desire it is “to make a good appearance’ and who expends much money for this purpose. But the glories which shine forth from a great soul glitter more than the choicest diamond in the daintiest setting, giving a lasting beauty which age cannot change nor time obliterate. There are two sides to this symbol, and both reflect, for it is a symbol of Reflection.

9-10

It denotes one whose chief ambitions will not come to completion; but, either through disaster or untimely death, ‘will be prematurely brought to naught. To whomsoever this degree may appertain, the warning goes forth :—build not for the future, but for eternity, for it is very nigh; and if thou sowest aught, make no count of the harvest, for the seasons are not to thy hand; yet both sow and build for the greater good, and work in hope! In character the native will be versatile, somewhat morose and despondent, but strong in trial; and giving shelter even to the worthless out of pure goodwill. It is a degree of PERIL.

Alcoholism; army and navy; versatile, fearless, firm and sure but sometimes morose; often interested in the mystic secrets of life and death; sudden friendships and estrangements; bladder afflictions; jugular vein.

Denotes one of brave, fearless, and noble disposition whose natural greatness of soul is moved by the necessities of others, and who always puts the well-being of another before his own comforts. Envy is directed against him and malice turns her evil eyes on him. He will be exposed to many and grave dangers, for duty to him is ever the first thought. It is a symbol of Daring.

Venus: 

23-24

It denotes a person of much independence of spirit, self-confidence, pride, and no little love of distinction. The native will suffer on account of his isolated feelings, and will be in danger of betrayal by the machinations of perfidious enemies. At a time when he has reached a height of isolated distinction, he will fall under the jealous hand of his enemies. It is a degree of PRIDE.

Often associated with homosexuality (depending on aspects); gives success, renown, and riches; a love of arts and sciences; adversely aspected; unscrupulousness, unfaithfulness, and injustice to innocence; “sweetest star of the heavens”; “star of the artists” and promises honor and fame; prefers to work and plan in privacy, but his work may achieve great renown; vascular circulation of the renal cortex.

Denotes one who will suffer from an overconfident nature that neglects those details which, insignificant as they may appear, are as necessary for the safeguarding of his interests as water is to earth. His mentality is good, and he is capable of useful mental work, but he may lose the results of his labor. and suffer thereby in many ways. It is a symbol of Entrapping.

26-27

It indicates a nature that is attuned to works of benevolence and homely simplicity, careful in the affairs of daily life, solicitous of peace and comfort, and ever ready to shelter, befriend and succor the wayside traveler without neglect of those within his doors. It is a degree of BENEVOLENCE.

Detectives; artistic and sensitive; a lover of children; sympathies often on the unpopular side; peculiar mental quirks such as a mind that can do only one thing at a time; a cool courage; lack of moral and physical suppleness; slow-witted and slowly aroused; vascular system of the skin.

Denotes one who if saved from malefic planetary action is contented with little and is pleasant and kind to men and animals. His nature is devotional and sensitive, and is capable of obtaining knowledge from astral sources and atmospheric conditions. He influences others for good, spreading content in the halls of inharmony. It is a symbol of Harmony.

Neptune: 

6-7

It indicates a person of susceptible and weak nature, easily led away, and liable to be drawn to his destruction by the agency of the opposite sex. The native may attain to a high position in life, but whatever his position, he is in danger of an untimely fall. Let him take heed against the allurement. of the world. It is a degree of FALLING.

Aviation; birds; a child of fate; strange things happen to them; often psychic or intuitive; dancers, love of danger; goiter; nervous system.

Denotes one with a great message who will travel everywhere and whose thoughts and feelings are expanded and uplifted thereby. His wanderings are often directed beyond this earth to the heavenly fields and, to the lands dosed to those held in material bodies. He is capable of performing many good acts for others and is ever ready to resist actions unworthy of a true man, holding meanness in contempt. It is a symbol of Movement.

7-8

It denotes one of a melancholy and retiring nature, very sensitive, and of keen sympathies. The native will be in danger of early bereavement, and will at an early age be left devoid of family ties and friends. It is a degree of EFFACEMENT.

Rules animal life, usually loquacious; given to speculation; paint, perfume, or chemicals may play a part in the vocation; sudden death, dancers, love of danger, jaundice of the renal pelvis.

Denotes one who will have need to exercise very great caution as to the safe keeping of his worldly possessions. Such a one should keep away from speculations, ventures, and crafty people, and undertake nothing of a nature involving risk. It is a symbol of Forfeiting.

8-9

It indicates a person of quick, impetuous, quarrelsome, and aggressive nature, who will cause many disputes in life on account of his Irascible disposition, and will make many enemies. The native will be in danger of losing his life while engaged in sonic affray or quarrel, and should know bow to forefend himself by self-command, which Is the greatest of all conquests. It is a degree of FIGHTING.

Publicity or scandal (if Venus here, over a love affair or divorce); often causes one to become a widow; immorality; courage, talent for science, literature, or leadership; aggressiveness; linked with sexual problems; jaundice of the kidney and renal pelvis.

Denotes one who should avoid law and disputes. Inharmony is to him a state of evil which forces him into a groove of fate and holds him in bondage. He should endeavor by the power of his soul to keep the scales even and do nothing to prejudice his peace. It is a symbol of Unevenness.

Mars:

24-25

It is the index of a mind that is given to excessive indulgence and undue enthusiasm in matters of a spiritual and mental nature; one who will follow out his projects regardless of consequence, impelled as it were by a species of mental intoxication. The substance and form of this symbol is allied to the higher nature, but should the carnal appetites gain an ascendancy over him, he will in all probability degenerate into a debauchee. Moderation should be his watchword even in spiritual things. It is a degree of EXCESS. 

Usually quick perception; remarkable memory; good imagination; condyle of right femur.

Denotes one of romantic mind, loving and leaning to the philosophy and thought of other days, in which he is a master. The forces play around him and attempts from the two worlds will be made to draw him from his deeper thoughts to the frivolity, folly, and transitory joys of earth. Many times will he be shaken, but his power is too great for sensual over comings. Instead he throws to the world the wine of life that those who are able may drink. It is a symbol of Spiritual Struggles.

25-26

This is the sign of one to whom appearances are apt to count or much, but who will nevertheless be possessed of a really deep and sympathetic nature. Fidelity and friendship will be prominent characteristics of his nature. Fidelity will be dexterous in the use of arms, apt in the imitation of mannerisms, and would make a capable actor,. being gifted with powers of dramatic. representation. Of a kind and sympathetic nature, he will readily attract friends, and yet few will know him for what he really is. It is a degree of IMITATION. 

Anarchism; literature; better for benefics than for malefics, which bring trouble through the opposite sex; associated with nervous troubles, especially in his speech, if afflicted by Mercury or Uranus, sometimes due to a glandular deficiency; tyrannical disposition; love of liberty; good mentality; inventive, intutive, and emotional; gout; neurasthenia; if conjunct or opposition an afflicted luminary or its afflicting planet; impaired eyesight, perhaps blindness.

Denotes one who is attracted to the sport and gaieties of life, and to whom physical pleasures constitute the essence of existence. The native may indulge in extravagances and will feel the ups and downs of life. His philosophy favors the pursuit of happiness, and his mental gifts will be directed to the furtherance of his thoughts. It is a symbol of Pleasure.

29-30

It is the symbol of mind that is capable of sustaining great and arduous work, one to whom some of the dark secrets of Nature will be revealed. He may show some taste for agriculture culture or may follow the fortunes of some great mining industry or archaeological research, and in such he will be a discoverer. Whatever his walk in life, his work will be difficult and protracted, but success will ultimately crown his labors. Endowed with a sharp, incisive mind and strong purpose, he will ignore the advice of friends and rely wholly on is own efforts. It is a degree of DISCOVERY. 

Clairvoyance; imitators; aptitude for studying human nature; angina pectoris; large or peculiar teeth; especially if on the Ascendant; wants to be the “head man” unless a benefic is here; good intellect; sometimes art ability but better suited to commercial enterprises; gives an immoral; mean; slovenly nature; pear-shaped muscle.

Denotes one of active mental power who is indispensable to his friends and a thorn to his enemies. He is capable of seeing events far in advance of their materialization and counts the years of human progress in its pendulum-like motion. He has in him a strong spirit of fight and a feeling of naught else but victory. It is a symbol of Supremacy.

Pluto : Same as Sasuke.

Section Four: Synastry and composite

Based on the degrees I used for natals, I drew up a composite chart and a synastry chart for sasuke and itachi as well as for sasuke and naruto but I wont be providing interpretations since that would make this post far too long. Note that some of these aspects might be wrong as not all degrees are certain.

Before we get started let me just clarify the difference between synastry and composite. 

Synastry is conversations between different parts of people. An example would be if my mercury and your moon are in a nice harmonious aspect, I say something in my style of communication based on my thinking process, now you get what I’m saying at an emotional level because you feel the same way, your feeling process and my thinking process are similar, the way you express your emotions and the way I express my thoughts are close, so I get how you feel on a logical level and you get what I think on an emotional level. 

Composite is the overall, combined energy of the relationship. Lets say you have a very rational and to the point way of communicating but then you meet this person and with them, for some reason, as soon as you meet both of you seem to communicate in an emotional, passive-aggressive way (strongly aspected composite mercury in cancer). Or if you have tons of things in common with someone, you communicate in a similar way, you like the same things, but you just can’t seem to think of a single thing to say to them. You meet and your mind goes blank, there should be a world of things to talk about but literally nothing comes to mind, the conversation is dry and an absolute chore and then you look at that composite and there’s a tight saturn (restriction, block) conjunct mercury (communication) and everything makes sense. It also says things like why you got together (composite sun), how people perceive your relationship (composite ascendant), ...

So lets go see how these characters relate to each-other on a cosmic level.

edit: I removed the composite to natals part because they require extremely tight orbs so it’s kind of risky for something so uncertain.

Sasuke-Itachi synastry:

I forgot to erase that sun-sun semi-square (it’s out of orb) so just ignore it. Lots of harmonious saturn could lend itself to commitment and respect, lots of harmonious aspects to sasuke’s venus along with itachi’s sun in his 5th shows how fun and loving this relationship was for him (sasuke). Both their moons are getting lots of close aspects too. Those moon ascendant aspects and quick comfort and easy relating, an immediate emotional connection, Itachi’s mars aspecting Sasuke’s moon, ...

Sasuke-Itachi composite:

So this composite sun (purpose, nature of the relationship) in cancer (family) is perfect. I wonder if this was a coincidence or if Kishi really looked this up. Ascendant in scorpio is pretty nice as well. Plenty of neptune, lots of pluto, ... 

Composite sun in the eight very much paints their relationship, intense, obsessive, transformative and full of death (both metaphorical and literal). Composite moon in the third, communication is important to the health of their relationship and emotional security regarding it, ... There is plenty of stuff to unpack here so I’m not going get into it, specially since we don’t know much for certain.

Sasuke-Naruto synastry:

An interesting point here is that naruto’s moon would be in sasuke’s 4th house of family so that explains why he sees his family in him. Also, like I mentioned, plenty of harsh pluto, harsh mars-pluto giving lots of energy which if directed well, can contribute to good teamwork against outside forces and if not will lead to petty yet emotionally volatile arguments and controlling behaviour.

I put the ascendant opposition aspect there even though it’s out of orb because kishi went out of his way to make them opposites in the way they present/carry themselves and their aesthetic so this aspect would probably exist.

Sasuke-Naruto composite:

There are two extremely important personal planets missing here (jupiter and mercury) so the picture isn’t complete but based on what we have, we can tell quite a bit of the story.

Venus conjunct sun is a very good aspect which means the relationship makes the people involved in it feel good, have fun, ... Sun trine moon and venus trine moon are also great aspects to have so that’s nice. Mars trine saturn could make them more organized and better at acting together in a systematic way. Neptune trine mars could mean that they understand each other’s actions and drive (in a physical/tangible sense, not necessarily the reasons behind them) intuitively.

Sun square mars is similar to my previous point, lots of energy which will at best lead to working effectively together against outside forces and at worst will lead to violence, unhealthy rivalry/arguments and constant irritation. 

Mars-neptune, not seeing the nature of the relationship properly, delusion, illusion, escapism, an unwillingness to see the relationship for what it is, ... neptune-saturn and lack of proper boundaries. 

Ascendant in aries and the rival look, sun in virgo (coworkers, a work relationship), composite sun in the 5th, a fun, dramatic and creative relationship, composite moon in the first, projecting feelings about the relationship all over the place, it just can’t be hidden and the outside world sees you as emotionally tied together, perhaps more so than you actually are unless there are other strong moon aspects to personal planets, ...

One thing that is oddly not here is major pluto aspects, however, if lack of aspects to a planet in a composite chart is similar to a natal chart then it could make that planet’s themes more prominent because the energy has no proper outlet so it pops up everywhere.

Thank you for your time, any input is appreciated :))

[canardroublard]

TMFU, Gaby’s fashion, and some feminist film analysis

Back when I slapped together a reblog post about the men’s fashion in The Man From UNCLE in between physio appointments, which somehow got like way more notes than I ever really expected or even wanted, I didn’t address the fashion of the lead female character, Gaby. It was outside the scope of the OP, and I didn’t feel like I had anything new or interesting to say about Gaby’s fashion, or lack thereof.

(My beta says those earrings are the ugliest thing ever. I disagree. It’s a wonder we’re still friends)

Anyways, we see only one brief scene of Gaby in her own street clothes, and a slightly longer sequence of her in her work clothes. The rest of the film, she is wearing clothes chosen for her by Illya. Saying “we just don’t have enough info” is a perfectly reasonable approach to this. So this was the other reason I had no intention of making this post.

But then people started getting interested. Someone reblogged commenting about Gaby’s fashion, and I discovered that I have very strong opinions about something I’d previously claimed was unknowable, and it made me wonder what was going on in my brain.

Then I talked to some other TMFU friends who all seemed interested in what I assumed was common knowledge/nothing unique. So, they may have been feigning interest out of politeness, but it activated the art history side of my brain, and here we are now!

The boring stuff but please read this

I am not attempting to tell anyone how to interpret this film. I am not even trying to change people’s minds or persuade them to my thinking. All I am doing is sharing my thought process. I wasn’t even going to do this for Gaby until people asked. To this end, please don’t attempt to argue with me about this. I don’t want to argue. I won’t respond to it. If you disagree, then please, just move along.

And I’m going to remind people that I love TMFU. I love this movie so much it hurts. Why am I putting this reminder here? Because I am about to apply some critical analysis to it, and in places this will be cynical, and it will not always look kindly on the film. If you just want to exist in a happy “I love TMFU!” bubble and not hear anything less than 100% positive about the film (which is a totally valid choice, I don’t fault anyone for that), then don’t read. But don’t yell at me for being mean or criticizing the film, because I warned you.

Tldr; or, if I were still being graded for this stuff here’s my thesis statement

When analysing Gaby’s fashion, there exist considerations which don’t apply to the male characters. Namely, she is a woman and the male gaze is a thing. So I am very, very wary about taking at  face value any expressions of traditional femininity in the choices made  for her outfits, hair, makeup, etc. Therefore, when considering her character, I find it much more useful and informative to give more weight to the aspects of her appearance which do not connote traditional femininity, rather than those that do.

For readers who have studied enough  media analysis to follow my thought based on that alone, there’s the thesis statement, y’all can go home (or at least skip to the end where I come to a conclusion). If you’re lost, then read on.

(mobile readers, the cut here might not work, and if so I apologize for what is going to be a very long post. Tumblr’s “keep reading” functionality is inconsistent at best, but I tried)

Context is for kings essential for analysing media in a meaningful way

(Or, some brief background. Stick with me here, we’ll get to the good stuff soon)

So, art doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Attempting to analyze any artwork (in this case a film) while disregarding the culture it was created in and the intentions of the creator is...not going to get you very far. Asking “what is art” is a question that quite frankly exhausts me at this point (looking at you, Duchamp) but the closest I’ve ever come to an answer is that the only thing that separates art from everything else is intent. And intention only exists within cultural context. So yes, intent and context don’t just matter peripherally, they are one of the biggest considerations one needs to make when analyzing works of art. The creator in this case being Guy Ritchie et al, the culture being British/American Popular Cinema in The Year of Somebody’s Lord Two-Thousand-And-Fifteen. 

Everyone views and creates (if applicable) art through their own distorted, murky, imperfect lens of personal experience. And one of the most persistent Things in western art is that cishet men create art based on their experience of Being A Dude. This is crucial, because this lens of cishet male perspective literally underpins almost all of western culture including popular culture. And thanks to feminist film theorist Laura Mulvey, we have a name for this.

The male gaze and you

I’m going to quote Wikipedia here, because honestly this intro sentence sums things up rather neatly (with one exception which I will address momentarily).

In feminist theory, the male gaze is the act of depicting women and the world, in the visual arts and literature, from a masculine, heterosexual perspective that presents and represents women as sexual objects for the pleasure of the male viewer.

What does that all mean? That the Viewer and the Artist are both cishet men by default, and any women are Subjects of art. Women are viewed, never viewers. Men take action, women are subjected to actions. Furthermore, women are supposed to be pleasurable to view. By men. Since the Viewer is male by default.

But I would disagree that the pleasure is inherently based on women being sexual objects. That’s honestly a really damn limited read on the whole theory, and it’s one that Wikipedia itself contradicts later in the article. More broadly, cis men also derive other forms of pleasure from the presentation and viewing of female bodies, including aesthetic pleasure (the enjoyment of looking at beautiful things).

The theory of the male gaze is not without limits. As originally theorized, afaik it’s not particularly intersectional. It doesn’t really address queer perspectives or perspectives of POC. However, these issues are something I just can’t address here, unfortunately. And when looking at popular media, I still find the concept of the male gaze, imperfect as it may be, is a helpful means of analysis, so it’s worth having in your toolbox.

Circling back, the easiest way to sum up the male gaze, if you’re still not super clear on what it is, is with a demonstration.

Ever seen a shot like this in a movie?

And did you immediately roll your eyes? Feel gross? Congrats, you have just perceived and reacted to the male gaze.

Now we actually get back to TMFU

But the male gaze also shows up in many more subtle, insidious ways than fanservice-y boob shots. For this post, let’s focus on the following considerations, which might help everyone follow my thought process more clearly.

Gaby is a woman

She functions as the love interest of Illya in the script (I am not talking from a shipping perspective. What you ship does not matter for this discussion. I am talking about the narrative function of Gaby in the script as written. Put on your “cishet man” goggles for a moment)

Illya is a man who is attracted to women, specifically Gaby (again, I don’t care if your shipping conflicts with this. I am analyzing the film based on a literal reading of it as if I were a cishet man. Why? Because that’s who made the film. That’s who it’s “for”. I am all for queer readings of film--hell, I ship OT3, I myself have chosen a queer reading for how I interact with it, but I’m not critiquing people’s readings, I’m critiquing the film itself and to do that I have to critique its intentions and cultural context.)

Cishet men are traditionally only allowed to be attracted to women who are conventionally attractive. If they were to be attracted to anyone else it would destroy their fragile senses of self and their heads would explode or something. At least I assume that’s what must happen, based on how terrified they are of it.

Therefore, Gaby must be conventionally attractive, because it is literally required of her or otherwise the whole underpinning of western straight malehood crumbles and then where would we get such a pure, vast source of unadulterated toxic masculinity?

(Yes, this is a very cynical read on things. I’ve studied, like, three centuries worth of this bullshit. I’m tired. Let me be cynical.)

Or, to force myself to be less cynical, Gaby has to be pretty because...nope, this is still going to turn out just as cynical.

But what I will say in favour of this movie is that it gives Gaby and Victoria both a lot of agency and general awesomeness, which is quite unusual in this sort of big-budget action film, and it’s one of the big reasons I love it. I’m not saying that the entire film is sexist. On the contrary, there’s a ton of stuff to celebrate about how it portrays its female characters. But these aspects don’t change the cultural context, and we still have to consider the impacts of the male gaze.

Anyways, point being is that as filtered through the male gaze, Gaby is never given the option to, say, wear no makeup (or the appearance of such, as the guys are afforded, this being cinema where “no makeup” still means makeup) because that would look “ugly”.  Instead she needs to have a “baseline of pretty” which is way higher than reality because she is not a real human being with her own agency, she is a character created by a cis male writer/director team in a film directed by a cis man in a genre that caters to cishet men.

Gaby doesn’t exist in a vacuum. She exists battling centuries and centuries worth of sexist convention.

Now then, remembering all of that, let’s actually look at her. There are woefully few good pictures so I’m going to have to piece things together a little. Starting with the coveralls.

This is a great look, I love it. And I’m going to give Ritchie a lot of credit here because it would’ve been easy to go for a “Michelle Rodriguez in F&F sexy mechanic lady” look. In case I need to provide a visual:

(Repeat above gif about rolling my eyes)

Now, to be clear, I am not making any judgement about the way any real-life women dress. I’m sure there’s plenty of female mechanics who have their hair down and wear tank tops while working. That doesn’t bother me. I don’t care if real life mechanics choose to do their jobs in a string bikini. Or in cosplay of the bee from Bee Movie. I don’t care (and quite frankly it’s none of my business) because they are real people who can make their own decisions. But what I am talking about here is a fictional character who does not have her own agency. I am critiquing how male creators choose to dress their female characters.

So I personally choose to read much more into the unpretty  aspects of Gaby’s outfit, because these are not the “obvious” or “easy”   things. Obvious and easy are “of course she wears makeup” and “of course her hair looks good” and  “of course she doesn’t look like a swamp witch  who bathes in mud and spends her days cursing passing men”. Those things don’t challenge or disrupt the assumption that women must look attractive for male consumption.

Gaby’s introduction to us is with her in a pair of grease-stained, baggy coveralls, not wearing any obvious makeup (again, this is cinema, so she is wearing makeup. For cinema the goal posts around “wearing makeup” always need to be moved from where they’d be irl). There’s very little here that screams ‘pretty’. And that is fascinating to me.

I don’t know how deeply Ritchie thought this through when giving final approval to the costume, hair and makeup. But unpretty is not the default here. It’s a choice

And look at this. This is the stance and dress sense (and socks!) of a woman who does not give a damn about looking good for the male gaze, whether the in-movie gaze of Napoleon, or the implied gaze of the viewer and creator. It’s not ‘pretty’. And this is the only time in the film we see Gaby in her own everyday clothes, as she only escapes East Berlin with the literal clothes on her back.

So how do I think Gaby dresses? I think that for the most part she dresses....like this. Practical. Comfortable. With a few simple touches of things she likes/finds pretty, perhaps, but not with a specific interest in being pretty. She dresses for herself, not for others. And if that isn’t something to aspire to, I don’t know what is.

[anvils-and-dynamite]

On Tooniness: on what makes a cartoon (and any other media) “toony”

I didn’t expect to whip up a ramble so soon but I feel like I should go more in depth about what this blog is about and what it’s trying to achieve, so in this post I’ll attempt to define and describe the essence of what is a “toon”.

This might get a bit too long so I spoilered it for your convenience. I am by no means an expert on this kind of stuff, so if you’d like to present any counter-arguments, ask questions or discuss further what I’m going to talk about, feel free to do so in the comments, via PM or private chat.

“Toon” is a word associated with the animated media, often used to describe cartoon characters or characters drawn in a particular cartoony style (which is the case of, for example, The Legend of Zelda or Yu-Gi-Oh).

Beyond these definitions, there is also a tendency to stereotype the concept of a cartoon itself drawing from features and characteristics from early animated works from the 30s-40s, such as early Mickey Mouse works, Betty Boop and Looney Tunes. I think the best example I can come up with is this bit from Ed Edd n Eddy, an already very "toony” cartoon (jump to 9:47)

However, this essay argues that there is more to “tooniness” than certain design cues; that, beyond the white gloves, Pacman-shaped eyes and grayscale palette, there’s a series of principles that makes any kind of media (not just animated!) feel truly “toony”. While we also appreciate “toony” designs and overall aesthetic, this essay aims to go beyond mere aesthetic and try to identify what is “toony” in any kind of media’s presentation.

The whole purpose of this blog is, as its own description states, to celebrate “the tooniest of cartoons”; and, in order to achieve that, we find necessary to identify the core features of “tooniness”. We believe these core features are three, and, because this is toons we’re talking about, we’ve took the liberty to make their names alliterate: slapstick, sillyness, surrealness.

Slapstick

Let me begin this section by quoting one of my personal favourite quotes about toons: “See, your mother was right - cartoons are filled with senseless violence!” (Toon: The Cartoon Roleplaying Game, p.24).

Wikipedia defines slapstick as the following:  “a style of humor involving exaggerated physical activity which exceeds the boundaries of normal physical comedy.” In other words, slapstick is a form of physical comedy characterized by an exaggeration of violence and misfortune.

The animated medium lends itself well to physical comedy in general, since the latter relies on exaggeration (not only of violence, but also of expression, gesture...) and the former allows it to exaggerate it even further, beyond what a live-action actor can do.

Same can be said for slapstick, even to the point that several “toony” cartoons are based around slapstick comedy (Tom & Jerry and Wile. E. Coyote & The Roadrunner are the first ones to come to mind) and only have the bare bones of a plot, yet they are still successful and well-regarded.

In short, “toon” media has been associated, since the beginnings of animation, with physical comedy, and especially slapstick since the 40s. This doesn’t mean that toony cartoons cannot have other kinds of humor (such as dialogue-based, wordplay, referential...) but the qualities of the animation medium make it especially suitable for physical comedy and visual humor. Hell, this blog wouldn’t be called the way it is if one of the stereotypical characteristics of a “cartoony” cartoon wasn’t slapstick with falling anvils and exploding dynamite.

Silliness

noun The quality of being silly; foolishness; senselessness; weakness of understanding; extreme simplicity; absurd or contemptible folly.

(and now I realize I’ve been misspelling “silliness” all this time whoops)

While many of these adjectives fit toon media, let me get this out first: silliness does NOT mean toon media is necessarily lighthearted or even funny, but it is true that there is a sense of “happy-go-lucky” in it. This can be especially seen in Betty Boop shorts such as “Bimbo’s Initiation”, “Swing You Sinners” and “M.D.” (aka “the Jippo one”)

I’m not linking because Tumblr likes to mess up with my text if I insert another video. They’re on youtube, feel free to give them a watch before continuing.

You can see these three in particular handle pretty dark topics (cults, “I’m going to hell” kind of guilt... Hell, in the third one Betty Boop & friends straight up kill a man with snake oil!) yet, they there’s plenty of singing and dancing. It might be creepy, but it doesn’t give a “gritty” vibe: if anything, the fact that these subjects are handled in such a playful way makes it even more shocking and creepier. I think “happy go lucky” is the right term for that. The toon character approaches the world it lives in with curiosity, and no matter what horrible things they get put through in an episode, they’ll be in tip-top shape in the next one (non-linearity between episodes really helps with that). However, the defining name for this quality is “silliness” because another relevant philosophy that goes hand-to-hand with “happy-go-lucky” is that the toon media doesn’t take itself seriously. It acknowledges it’s silly, absurd and non-sensical and runs wild with it. And why is it so silly?

Surrealness

I found several definitions of “surreal” and they all agree on the following: what is surreal is fantastic, incongruous, and dream-like. This is the term we’ve chosen to define what is perhaps the most important characteristic of “tooniness”

Toons are not realistic, and they barely attempt to be. The toon world is loosely based on reality as to let its audience have something to hang on, and from that point, it goes wild. Characters act and talk exaggeratedly without caring for what’s considered socially appropiate, emotions and thoughts manifest in ways that could not be possible in reality (no hearts, no shoulder angels), and nonsensical things happen all the time (such as objects coming to life, gravity playing tricks or the infamous falling anvil).

This disregard for reality is what allows toon media to handle any kind of theme in its characteristic playful nature (silliness) and, together with the medium of animation, allow physical comedy to extend beyond the boundaries of reality (slapstick): because “toon” revels in its own status as fiction, and, as a child of animation, attempts to show us what a camera can’t (if someone can remind me where this quote came from, thanks).

I hope that, with this essay, I established the main characteristics of how toon media presents itself. As I mentioned before, I’m up for discussion on this and you can contact me via PM or chat. I will also reply to comments in reblogs!

[jacktherph]

Hey there Jack. We know you're not as well knowledged on discord rps but we value your opinion. We're a brand new discord rp based off the tv series t@gged. In our group you get to see how social media can effect everyone, and how hard secrets are to keep. No one is safe with King Cobra around. Could we bother you for an opinion? Public is perfectly fine.

hi there @newflashhq! i’m happy to give you an opinion. you specified public as being okay, but let me know if you want me to take it down at any time.

NOTE: all opinions expressed here are mine, jack’s, belonging to jack. i make no claims to knowing what is best for every group – i only offer advice based on my experiences, what i’ve seen in the community, and my personal knowledge. no one person knows what is best for you or any group other than yourself; because you were the one who put all of this together in the first place. so take everything i say as a suggestion, and remember that you have accomplished so much!!

and if you have any questions, want feedback on something specific, or want elaborations on anything said in this opinion, don’t hesitate to message me!!

start: 10.59 | pause: none | end: 11.12TOTAL: HERE 13 minutes to read all pages (please don’t take this as a measure of anything, I simply time myself and am a speed reader) 

I just want to say first off I don’t know the source material this rpg is based off of, so if anything I suggest or recommend contradicts with the canon please feel free to disregard it or let me know and I’ll remove it from the opinion!

So first impressions are good here!! You have a great colour palette and aesthetic going on with your background image and the relation to the plot. The banners underneath where the tags are sort of jarr me away from the content of your rpg -- it looks like stars which I couldn’t find in relation to your concept so maybe change that design?? But it isn’t a big enough deal to take me away from the idea in general. The custom fonts the theme uses are a bit off -- they look nice but the flowery nature of them doesn’t mesh well with the concept. But that’s a theme for you and can’t really be helped. If the theme maker doesn’t mind the custom fonts being changed, I could help you do that if you need! The thing that does take me some time and the change I would recommend you look at is the information in your sidebar. While all important, it presents as just a block of text that can cause eyes to glaze over. Maybe adding in some bold, italic, underlined, or different color font would help mix it up and keep it sort of fresh? That way it isn’t just “text wall here,” you know?

While I’m personally not a fan of themes that present this kind of navigation page -- where everything is sort of in different boxes and you have a lot of imagery at once, what I think about a theme is irrelevant to an impartial opinion. So y’all definitely utilized the space given to you really well. Your links listed are important and your calendar space will no doubt fill up over time. And the graphic made about the text is really cool!!

So objectively, your Plot is good. It provides all of the information needed for someone who knows the content/source material to get a good feel for what your rpg is gonna be about. But I think my not knowing the source material is actually a good thing in this case because it means I can tell y’all that if you don’t know the story, everything is… really hella confusing. I don’t know if you wanted to market to people who haven’t seen the show or leave your member base to people who have seen it, but that might be something to think about and revisit at a later date. Otherwise the length is good and I enjoy the introductory paragraph style and the summary at the bottom.

Your Rules are where I’ll be recommending the most changes. They are good, and have everything you need, but they’re very wordy. So much of what you say in a whole sentence you could simply make a bullet point with and be done with it. Long rules are good, but when its just a simple matter of what people need to know, potential members could end up intimidated by the sight of them. Your first rule, for example: “This group is a 21+ discord roleplay - for both mun and characters - don’t apply if you’re not at least 21 years old.” That could easily be condensed into: “newflashhq is a discord rp for muns/muses 21+” and done. I’d say look through all of your rules point-by-point and see where you can condense them. My one big change suggestion would be the rule about being open to all genders, sexualities, and races. An easy fix would be, for example: “We are a LGBT+ and POC inclusive group, and encourage diversity in our members and characters” or something of that ilk.

So while your Locations page is a good idea, I don’t know if you can see a few formatting problems on your end? Overall I think it’s a great idea and provides everything potential and current members will need, so it’s a great thing. But there are some issues with the theme. I’ll include a picture below of what I mean:

If you tried to install a custom font, it didn’t work and instead is showing Comic Sans. If you want that, that’s fine! If you don’t, that’s something to note. If you want a tutorial on how to install and host custom fonts I can link you to it!! Also, your images cut off and are not the width of the description boxes they are beside. I don’t know if that’s a you thing or a theme thing, but I’d look into it!

I like your Application a lot! Asking for headcanons tells you as admins things about that character and helps people as applicants think deeper beyond the character bio, so that’s a great thing to include. And you’ve check-marked everything I would normally look for in an app so I don’t have any recommended changes here.

So I clicked on a few of your Skeletons just to see the layout and such, and again I’m not a big fan of them but I can see why you chose it in relation to the theme you’ve chosen?? And they are aesthetically pleasing but I’m not getting a lot on the information of the character right away. But when you have more taken roles this will obviously change so I’m not judging! One thing however: in the “Inspiration” link I think you might have some broken links, because when I clicked on one for “The Runaway” I got this:

“https://newflashhq.tumblr.com/newflashinspo.tumblr.com/tagged/runaway”

If you’re trying to link to a new url, you need to include the “https://” in the link section of the theme because they’re set to automatically redirect to a page on the current url. So switching it to “https://newflashinspo.tumblr.com/tagged/runaway” will remove that problem!

Your Discord Guide is honestly so impressive and a great resource. Did you guys put it together yourselves?? Because not only did it answer my questions on how discord rps work, it also opened my mind to them because it provided a lot of information I didn’t know I needed. I’m sure it will also do that for people looking to join but hesitant because of the platform. Seriously guys, if you cleaned it up and added a few more points on an intro and went into more detail, it could be something you post on an rph and a great resource for the community. The one suggestion I’d recommend is explaining a bit about the Instagram and Snapchat sections in relation to your discord concept, because that lost me?? All of a sudden I was like “wait there’s stuff to do on instagram, too?” before understanding a little further down, so maybe just a quick sentence about how that pertains to the group would help a ton.

My FAVORITE THING about your rpg: probably your Discord Guide and, by affiliation, how helpful you appear to be in acclimating your members and potential members to how your group will be run. That’s always an important thing no matter what platform you use but with your concept it really helps.

My LEAST FAVORITE THING about your rpg: the Rules page, and that’s just because it needs some work before looking a little more formal and accessible to anyone looking at it. I recommended how to go about changes above, but let me know if I can explain anything else.

OVERALL, my excitement would be kiddy-corner to what I know about the source content, so I’m pretty impartial to your idea as a whole, but in terms of being a formatted rpg with information, skeletons, a concept, and a direction for your characters and members to go, you’ve done everything needed and then some!! I wish y’all the best of luck going forward!!

Sincerely,Jack

[orbemnews]

Beige on an S.U.V. Will Cost You, but for Pickups It’s Golden In 2017, a new Mazda MX-5 Miata RF, resplendent in Soul Red Metallic paint, listed for $35,901. By 2020 that jaunty two-seater had an average resale value of $24,112. If finished in stolid Machine Gray Metallic paint, however, that same model fetched an average of $1,046 less, thanks to the color alone. Because many other factors influence car value, color is easy to overlook. Yet both paint and car manufacturers maintain international departments of stylists and colorists who not only monitor what consumers are buying but — drawing from the fields of art, architecture, fashion, popular culture and consumer research — predict what people will want up to five years in the future. Decisions are exasperatingly complex. A popular color for sedans might not work for sports cars. A hit color in Florida might tank in Michigan. According to iSeeCars, a search engine catering to car buyers, the worst color for S.U.V.s was beige, which lost 46 percent of its value over three years. For pickup trucks the best color was … beige. Beige pickups lost only 18 percent in value in the same time period. The importance of color to cars is almost singular. It’s nothing to chuck a formerly fashionable fuchsia T-shirt, and you can repaint a room in a weekend. But repainting a car costs thousands and requires skilled technicians. With the possible exception of kitchen appliances, there are few color decisions as costly that consumers live with for as long. In a routinely quoted poll from 2000, 39 percent of car buyers said color was more important than brand. An iSeeCars analysis compared list prices for new 2017 cars with their resale prices in 2020 to see which colors hold value best in different vehicle classes. In addition, some larger paint manufacturers publish annual color popularity reports and predictions for the coming year. Combined, they help draw broad rules for picking the best values in car colors. And while color doesn’t wholly determine a car’s value, if it’s not part of a buying decision, you might get stuck with a gray Miata. Paint is also about durability, not just aesthetics. It was intended to prevent rust. Henry Ford famously offered customers “a car painted any color that he wants so long as it is black.” Black paint was durable and inexpensive — and using a single color sped up production, said Matt Anderson, a curator at the Henry Ford museum in Dearborn, Mich. “Popular myth says black was chosen because it dried fast,” he said, “but there’s no evidence that black dried any faster than dark greens or blues,” both among the colors that Ford initially offered. By the mid-1920s, a DuPont paint formulation helped expand the palette, and color was used as a marketing device; General Motors’ Oakland Motor Car division advertised the True Blue Six model after its bright color in 1924. Even Ford Motor caved in when it needed a marketing boost in 1925. “Colors then returned for the T’s final two model years in an effort to stimulate slumping sales,” Mr. Anderson said. Cars came in more than a dozen hues by the mid-50s — the better to attract the female drivers of the family’s second car, the thinking went. Those colors became more vivid in the psychedelic ’60s. Metal and paint technology upped rust resistance in the ’70s, and then a new process from Europe gained notice, said Clifford Schoff, a paint chemist who spent 30 years at the manufacturer PPG. Clear coating was about to arrive in America. “We started hearing about the ‘wet look,’” Mr. Schoff said. “The color plus clear meant you kept a higher gloss for a longer time.” Over the years, those technologies that improved the longevity of cars and paint may help explain the unprecedented 10-year run for white as the most popular color. Its functional advantages also help. White is good in hot climates and hides scratches and dings well, making it popular with fleet buyers. “Rental car companies love white,” said Karl Brauer, executive analyst for iSeeCars. But, as the iSeeCars data shows, there is a big gap between what is popular and what retains value. The 2020 Color Report from the paint provider Axalta (formerly DuPont) said fewer than 1 percent of new cars on lots in America were yellow. Yet iSeeCars data shows yellow retained the most value over all. An overwhelming 30 percent of cars on dealers’ lots are white, followed by 19 percent for both black and gray and 10 percent for silver. It’s the law of supply and demand. “It’s not that yellow is a popular color. It’s that yellow is popular in relation to how many people want it,” Mr. Brauer said. “You can’t go wrong buying the popular colors — black, white or silver — but you can’t go right, either,” he added. The most popular colors generally fall in the middle of the value chart. Rarity alone doesn’t guarantee value. Purple, brown and gold are about as rare as yellow yet retain the least value over all. There are other anomalies, such as the previously mentioned beige paradox. Trucks did well in muted colors, possibly because, as work vehicles, those hues show less dirt and company names painted on the sides are easy to read. S.U.V.s did best in flashy colors, possibly because the drivers didn’t want to feel like drudges. “You are buying the S.U.V. to avoid the minivan,” said Jonah Berger, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School with expertise in marketing psychology. A lively color, he said, “makes us feel like: ‘I am driving a fun car. I am a fun, exciting person.’” Apparently minivan owners are focused on utility. Blue retained the most value, losing 39 percent, but that wasn’t much different from the worst, brown, at 42 percent. This makes it difficult to assess the “best” color for a car. It might be better to consider the best color for a type of buyer. “People buy things for different reasons,” Mr. Berger said. “Sometimes we buy them for what they do. Sometimes we buy them for what they say about us.” People who buy cars for utility, like minivan and fleet buyers, seem to value subtle colors that are easy to care for. People who buy a car as a personal statement — sports- and muscle-car owners­ — value glitzy colors. That still complicates the paint choice for vehicles that defy categorization. Jeeps and trucks are utility vehicles for some and showpieces for others, who bolt on lift kits, light bars and custom grilles. The Jeep Wrangler retained the most value in Xtreme Purple, a color usually at the bottom of the overall chart. Purple Wranglers kept $2,398 more value than the same model in utilitarian silver. Color prognosticators agree that the new color to reckon with is blue. Last year it accounted for 10 percent of cars on lots, equal to silver. But which blue? Dark? Light? Metallic? People who make a livelihood from car paint see vast differences between shades of a single hue, even mundane white. “The white we have is not the white we had 20 years ago,” said Paul Czornij, head of color design for car paint at BASF. A carmaker might ask him for “a white metallic that is a little bluish, and from this grazing angle it has this property, and from this angle is has that property,” he added. “That is very exciting.” For consumers, those fine points appear to have little effect on value. The iSeeCars data shows that metallic paint’s value advantage over nonmetallic is insignificant. Ultimately, many buyers may choose paint color disregarding both value and popularity to achieve a third goal, Mr. Berger said: “Maybe having a color that’s different than white makes you happy.” Source link Orbem News #Beige #cost #golden #Pickups #SUV

[charlenelouise-gdc]

3.4.4 — SPMP:

2nd Pitch + Review

After my failed pitch, I needed to take some time to think about the direction of the project. What is the story I want to tell or what is the perspective I am working from? I looked at the material I was working with and the themes they deal with….

I reread my dissertation again and the themes they deal with. The writing talks about material culture and reflects on how items found in our teen bedrooms are a reflection of a version of ourselves. I realised that its ultimately about loving something; the items represented and brought a certain kind of joy in our lives (e.g. posters = discovery of band). However, they have a certain shelf life and will only serve us for a particular amount of time.

I looked at my old teenage possessions or things I gathered at the time. Despite how cringe they may be and how they’re chosen with “bad taste”, they did serve me at some point. In a way, it led me to where I am today. I thought this is something worth exploring.

This became the lead for my project…

An ode to “bad taste”; things I no longer love that once sparked joy.

Taking inspiration from the values of my dissertation, I aims to be a personally inquiry on my possessions and my relationship with them. As we disregard our old possessions and belittle them, we disregard a version of ourselves. We are easy to be embarrassed about these things or our past, but it made way for better things for us and lead us to where we are now. I think it would be interesting to offer it a “Marie Kondo” style philosophy and say thank you to those things, even though they no longer serve us.

I thought it would fitting to represent it in a diary format. I feel like diaries are also key features of girlhood/teenage hood. Also it’s a good way of distilling the teenage bedroom and the culture its revolved around it. I feel like it is the “teenage bedroom” miniaturised.

With that concept in mind, I thought Rookie Magazine was a good reference to build the foundations of the project from. Rookie Magazine was a former online magazine that actually documented girlhood during the 2010s and captured the zeitgeist of the time. It also encapsulated the essence of what it means to be a young girl, trying to figure themselves out; not only in the stories they posted on their website but also in their chosen aesthetic. I think its interesting that it also had a shelf life too; the magazine is still up online for viewing but the magazine itself closed shop in 2018. I got me thinking about how this could manifest itself in 2020s and what would its equivalent be.

I also started building a certain aesthetic for the project. As seen in the moodboard, I really think the diary and journal aesthetic would fit this project. More so, it should have like DIY elements to it. It should be free forming, informal and imperfect. I really would like texture to be a main part of its visual language too. I envisioned it as colourful and bright.

In response to the mood board, I thought it would also be good to start experimenting with the aesthetic and slowly build the visual language. I used a variation of digital and handmade items to form these collages. I want it to feel like a different page from a diary or journal; it may be random but it’s certainly full of life. I also started animating them to see what its like beyond still images.

As for the outcome, I want to produce a visual essay on the said topic. For the writing element of this project, I would like to build a personal essay of my own. I will use this as the skeleton of the project; the visuals will correspond to the story.

Feedback

The feedback for this project was a lot more positive and they found it interesting. They also offered interesting references like Virginia Wolf’s “A room of one’s own” and the apartment series on Nowness, detailing different artists’ homes and personal possessions.

I was also advised into re-imagining what a visual essay could be. My tutor encouraged me to think about Medium and other writing outlets, which tend to be boring and the images that accompany the story are often thought as secondary - when they should be going hand in hand.

I asked my peers if there is something that I missed and anything else about our childhood/teeanagehood (as a collective generation) that I should mention. I was encouraged to make it personal. It’ll loose its charm if I try to make it too general. People will relate to it regardless, if I’m specific about my experience.

I’m glad, despite the setbacks, I was able to reconfigure the project into something that is more viable and appropriate to do, but still interest me. I look forward to developing the project in the next few stages.

Creative writing experimentations + drafting out ideas

[oliver-crown]

ACP - Critical Essay

The use of Polaroid Instant Film in Ryan McGinley’s Contemporary Practice

A photograph is defined not only by its content, but also something tangible that exists in it’s own right. Whether this be a physical print, or a a trace of the image on a screen, made up by pixels and code, the materiality of the photograph has just as much affect on the viewer as the subject matter. Geoffrey Batchen (2004) highlights the ‘need to develop a way of talking about the photograph that can attend to its various physical attributes, to its materiality as a medium of representation’. This notes not only the objective features of the photograph that make it identifiable as what it is, but also the artists’ choice of medium, and how they have adapted it to its’ most realised potential. It is the physical attributes of the photograph that allow for more channels of communication between the artist and the viewer. Choices in materiality and physicality add context and meaning to why the artist has chosen to produce and present their work through a specific medium. 

We can analyse the materiality by identifying two key aspects of the photograph; the plasticity of the image itself, the chemistry, the paper it is printed on, the toning, the resulting surface variations’ and ‘presentational forms, such as cartes de visite, cabinet cards, albums, mounts and frames’ (Edwards and Hart, 2004). In short, we look at the materiality of production and the materiality of the outcome. Instant photography is a medium that has undergone lots of various, material aesthetic changes in history, due to the developmental technology used when producing prints. Using Polaroid as a reference, we can see the changes in technology that have enabled cultural shifts and how we interact with the medium. 

Polaroid have seen insignificant development since it’s release in 1947 is what Edwin H. Land dubbed ‘one-step’ instant film. His release was intended to cut the process of printing images down to simply ‘one step’ of taking the photograph, and letting the camera’s built in technology do the rest. Land’s first take on instant photography, saw the responsibility still sit with the photographer to remove the film from the camera and peel away the negative sheet. However 25 years later, with his release of the SX-70, this process was truly cut down to ‘one step’ with the automation technology relying on the new, integral film.

Polaroid enabled a shift in the relationship between the photographer and their equipment, by embedding the print technology into the camera itself (Hand, 2012). The development of ‘one step’ printing turned the process of making a photograph into a less skilled action, due to the lack of dark room printing processes a photographer had to do. Now lacking the human tactility when producing the prints, the new technology was widely rejected by amateur photographers (Buse, 2008), where there became a stigma that the medium was unskilled and didn’t show talent as a photographer. The release of the SX-70 discarded the physical negative, keeping it hidden inside the integral frame, making the new process even more dissimilar to analogue, dark room printing. 

But how has a brand that had so much cultural backlash when released, become a household name, and a medium that is still highly prevalent in contemporary artists work? One photographer that is at the forefront of the medium is Ryan McGinley, an American artist working in New York. ‘The Kids Are Alright’ was exhibited in 2000 at a small gallery in West Broadway, New York. Sylvia Wolf, after receiving a copy of the photobook accompanying the exhibition, helped McGinley to upscale the exhibition for a show at the Whitney Museum of American Art, where he broke the record as the youngest ever solo exhibitor. His exhibition and supporting photobook showcased hundreds of Polaroids, taken from the over 10,000 shot between the years of 1998-2003. The exhibition was revived in 2017 by curator Nora Burnett Abrams, putting the Polaroids on display in Denver alongside a collection of prints of his close friends and inner circle. Director and Chief Animator of the MCA, Adam Lerner, talks on the artists’ subject matter when explaining that ‘naked bodies abound in McGinley’s photographs’ (2017). But this isn’t a new feature in galleries and museums. Nudes have been recurrent in photography since the mediums’ invention in the 19th Century, but they have been constantly criticised for representing the real with a true likeness. McGinley pushes this further however, photographing his close friends in very personal circumstances. Lerner further explains ‘A woman is seen shovelling coke up her nose […] a guy is holding up his dick […] cum is dripping down his face’. This intimate subject matter shown by McGinley, taken on a medium that is personal and a symbol of shared experience between a photographer and a sitter, on the walls of a gallery is an insight into, put simply, his life. Thus, the intimacy of the photographs mirrors the cultural fact of Polaroid, both being this tangible, cherished exchange. 

McGinley gained a name for himself as a photographer for embracing the use of Polaroid, but in an interview with Miss Rosen for Dazed (2017) he explained that the medium ‘opened up (him) to being able to photograph the person for the rest of the day or night’. After carefully shooting the first frame of the sitter, McGinley would shoot dozens of rolls of film of whatever he wanted to shoot. In the same interview, he explains the ritualistic nature of the shoots ‘The person who is being photographed is being celebrated because I would take the Polaroid and then we’d look at it. I’d write their name, the time it was shot, and the date on the back and then I’d stick it on my wall’ (McGinley, 2017). 

Analogue processes, especially the use of Polaroid, enabled McGinley to create an identity as a photographer. It was the work that landed him his first large scale exhibition, which we associate with his body of work, even in contemporary practice. Although, McGinley has progressed into the use of digital for some projects, his prevalence and coverage in the media is almost solely based around his use of analogue processes. Although McGinley has progressed into digital photography for some work, he chooses an appropriate medium for each project, with no bias towards either analogue or digital. For example, for his 2018 project ‘Mirror Mirror’ McGinley instructed people to shoot 5 rolls of colour negative film following various instructions based around mirrors and reflections. McGinley provided all of his subjects with the camera, mirrors and instructions, however he wasn’t present in any of the images. He directed all of his models taking the self portraits through a series of detailed instructions. In the first set of instructions, McGinley explained ���the photographs are shot on film so the subject cannot see the results they are shooting’ (McGinley, 2018). The choice to produce this work on film was key to the intentions and outcome of the project, as if the images were shot digitally then McGinley’s subjects would be shooting the images in a completely different way. Not being able to see the images as they are being shot, allows for a lot more experimentation and playfulness in the images, as there is a lack of judgement between frames. 

‘New Originals’ was a project in collaboration with Polaroid Originals that took place in New York, 2017. McGinley was chosen by the brand to select 5 emerging photographers that shoot on Polaroid film to showcase their work in an exhibition celebrating the young creatives using the medium in their work. This idea was intended to be a commercial recreation of how McGinley was selected for his first solo exhibition by Sylvia Wolf in 2003, whilst also being good coverage for Polaroid Originals as a brand. In material terms, this collaboration was purely reliant on analogue processes and disregarding of technological advances, but social media had a large influence on McGinley’s choice of exhibitors. In an interview with Anna Zanes for Office Magazine he explains that ‘I wouldn’t say it’s all through Instagram, but I mean, isn’t that how everybody gets visual information these days?’ (McGinley, 2017). This shift in culture is a commentary on technology and it’s influence over how we see and interact with art and photography. In contemporary practice, almost all photographers have an online social presence, in one form or another. Whether it is used to post your actual work, interact with people that enjoy your work or just as a contact tool. McGinley is no exception here, running an account that showcases his professional work and occasionally shows an insight into his processes and personal life. 

Another case study is when Ryan McGinley released 15 never-before-published film images in collaboration with We Transfer, a digital online platform for users to transfer and share files. The project showcased McGinley’s analogue prints alongside an interview between himself and Kathy Ryan, renowned director of photography for the New York Times. The accompanying interview gave insight to his work process, as Kathy Ryan curated images that are inspired by his family life, his obsession with nudity and the constant theme of rebellion in his work. So even though this work was produced on film, taken on various road trips around America, when published there is still the influence of digital technology that makes the exhibition accessible to viewers. When shooting, McGinley wasn’t aware that the images would be shown online in a collaborative exhibition, however it was the influence of curator Kathy Ryan and what she did with the images that brought the analogue images into a digital context.

It is this point that makes us wonder whether in a contemporary setting work can solely be produced and shown using analogue techniques. In an essay for The Anxiety of Photography, Matthew Thompson explains ‘Photography is thoroughly and visibly connected to technological apparatus and […] technology is constantly changing’ (Thompson, 2011). This argues that the potential for creating a contemporary project without use of digital processes is less likely to occur when the technology that enables and accompanies photography has progressed so much. An exhibition such as McGinley’s ‘New Originals’, a project consisting of analogue prints mainly on Polaroid instant film, is now a project that wasn’t solely produced via analogue processes. The smallest involvement of digital process such as online curation or online coverage can alter the contextual factors affecting the work. For example, the material processes and techniques to produce work for ‘New Originals’ is undeniably analogue. The work was shot on Polaroid instant film, using Polaroid cameras, and the prints were created in camera using Instant integral film. As a viewer of this exhibition, it could be argued that seeing the work in person, without prior knowledge of how the artists were chosen is seeing the work of analogue processes. As soon as the work is posted online, or you learn of the online curation via social media, there is an added depth to the work which takes it out of an analogue context. 

A similar point can be made for the online exhibition in collaboration with We Transfer, whereby the production of the work was solely analogue, however Kathy Ryan decided to take the images and make them available online. This online publishing of the article and supporting images enabled McGinley’s images to be taken into a digital context, making them more accessible to wider audiences worldwide. 

This development of technology into a digital era for photography is a similar occurrence to what we saw with the progression of Polaroid Technology in the mid 1900s. As mentioned, the instant camera started off with more physical processes required to produce a print, namely removing the film from the camera and peeling off the negative slide from the print. However with technological advancements, we saw the process of shooting Polaroid become a completely different thing, with the camera developing the print itself automatically and leaving the only physical task for the photographer to do is remove the print from the camera. The development of technology allowed for the process of image printing to become easier and more accessible to those who didn’t have access to dark rooms or other analogue printing technologies. Similarly we have seen the development of digital technologies, and their large influence on the way we interact with photography, whether it is shot analogue or digital. In contemporary practice, it is so much easier to scan and post images you have made online making them more accessible to larger audiences than if they are only shown in exhibitions. But because of this ease now to put your work on social media, it has become more important to keep up with technology to an extent, in order to not fall behind. 

To an extent, a photographer should create an identity for themselves producing work in whatever style they desire, whether this is using solely analogue processes, the newest digital technologies and techniques or a combination of the both. Staying true to themselves is what helps to create consistency in a body of work, which is what Ryan McGinley has done throughout his career. After launching to fame with his project shot on Polaroid, he has continued to use the medium in his more contemporary work. What McGinley has also done, however is adapt to the advancing technologies that have become available to him. When contemporary processes are applicable or necessary to use for a project, he won’t disregard them. Whether the technology is a large influence like the method of shooting the project or a small influence of online curation for an exhibition, it is difficult for contemporary artists to work solely using analogue processes in a given context. 

References

Batchen, G. (2004). Forget Me Not: photography and Remembrance. New York: Princeton Architectural Press.

Buse, P. (2008). Surely Fades Away. Polaroid Photography and the Contradictions of  Cultural Value, in ‘Photographies’, pp 221 - 238.

Edwards, E and Hart, J. (2004). Photographs Objects Histories: On the Materiality of Images. Oxfordshire: Routledge.

Hand, M. (2012). Ubiquitous Photography. Cambridge: Polity Press.

Land, E. H. (1972). Absolute One-Step Photography, in ‘Photographic Science and Engineering’. 16 (4) pp. 247-252.

McGinley, R. (2017). ‘New Originals with Ryan McGinley’ Interviewed by Anna Zanes for Office, 6th December 2017.

McGinley, R. (2017). ‘Ryan McGinley talks coming full circle’ Interviewed by Miss Rosen for Dazed, 24th April 2017.

McGinley, R. (2018). Untitled. [Online]. [Accessed 20th April 2020]. Available from https://ryanmcginley.com/mirrormirror

Minniti, S. (2016). Photo-Objects and Analogue Instant Photography in the Digital Age, in Italian Journal of Science and Technology Studies. 

Ryan, K. (2017). ‘WeTransfer Studios x Ryan McGinley’ Interviewed by Kathy Ryan for WePresent, 7th November 2017.

Thompson, M. (2011). ‘The Object Lost and Found’ in Thompson, The Anxiety of Photography, Aspen Art Museum: 2011.

[chelsea-gilbert]

Spread 4 Development 2/2: Shrimp Buffet (24th March 2020) 

After finally deciding to use the typeface Escrow Banner Compressed for the titles of my article, I came back to the shrimp spread to update the text. I also decided to add brighter reds into the illustrations so that the same red colour is used consistently throughout the article. 

I like the idea of having lots of shrimps across the page, as this spread aims to make people understand how ridiculous it would be to expect that we could ever have a completely eco friendly all you can eat shrimp buffet. For this reason, I kept that idea the same as my previous idea for this spread. 

I decided to reduce the amount of text on this spread to only a title and a quote. This is roughly the centre of the article and so reducing the amount of text on these pages gives the reader time for a bit of a break or a pause before they continue on to the next spreads which will have more text like the first three spreads. I also did this so that there would be enough space on the left of the page to have another large title saying ‘Shrimp buffet?’. 

I think that even though this spread is one with the fewest words, it’s actually one that manages to summarise the TED talk the best. Everything that Barton Seaver is saying, is telling people to reduce how much they eat, to realise that if we disregard the effect we have on the oceans eco-systems and wildlife it will have negative consequences to both the ocean and us. And this is exactly what the few words I have chosen to write on this spread are saying. I think that by taking these words and putting them on their own spread, it makes them even more impactful and gets the reader to look for deeper meaning where they might not before. 

Turning the large text on its side was not only a way to make sure that there is enough space around the title to give it breathing room, but also acts as another way to get the reader to pause and reflect on this page. As the title is not easily readable and doesn’t follow the same rules as any other text up until this point, it means that the reader will either have to stop for longer to understand what is being said or even actually turn the page sideways to read it properly. Either of these means that the reader will spend more time looking at this spread. However, the text and the imagery appears very separated here due to the text all lining up in one column and the imagery being in more of a random arrangement. Not only this, but I added another paragraph style for the quote which I haven’t used on any other spread. I did this because the larger Pt. size meant that the text filled up more space so I think I need to get rid of this new and unnecessary paragraph style and try to rearrange the text using the original quote paragraph style. 

Adding back text: I changed the typeface of the quote to the standard quote paragraph style that I used for the rest of the spreads, but as the quote is quite short it meant that alongside such a large title, it was almost overpowered by it. I tried adding text back onto the page using the body paragraph style but this made the hierarchy confusing. As the text is all still in the same two columns, the text and imagery are still segregated and don’t fit together well. 

Paragraph Styles: Making the quotation text all the same paragraph style but splitting it up into smaller blocks worked more successfully. The arrangement of this text means that there is trapped white space above the red text and also a large empty rectangle at the bottom left page. This doesn’t work and I feel that there is no focus point for the reader to look at first as the imagery and title are fighting for attention. 

Rearranging Text: In order to try and resolve the issues from the previous stage of development, I moved the title and quote down towards the bottom of the page. This still left an odd shape of white space. 

Rearranging text: The above three screenshots are all showing me rearranging the text to try and make the imagery and text work more successfully with each other and reduce the amount of trapped white space on the page. 

Paragraph Styles: I still couldn’t find an arrangement that worked, so I wondered whether it was the typeface I used for the quote that was causing the issues. I tried changing the quote into the paragraph style that I used for the tagline in my introduction spread but this didn’t fit with the aesthetic of the imagery and was still causing issues with how it was arranged.  

Imagery Changes: I decided to change the layout of the imagery to try and solve the issues mentioned previously, and found that although I am still not happy with the layout of the text, the imagery and text are more interconnected. 

[thefloatingstone]

@lizhemera

Some of the examples shown included Ranma 1/2 for the older anime which is a shounen. As well as modern One Piece. Which is also shounen.

Specifically this gif

The examples provided by the other person for newer anime included Higurashi, which is not a shoujo nor a shounen, Haruhi which is not a shoujo, and Sword Art Online which is a shounen,

But if you would prefer Shounen examples instead I can do that.

Although Shounen might night be as insane with their moe designs for girls, they are still just as bad with everything else the previous post mentioned regarding character design, colour and shading, personality within the drawings, and realism.

First the obvious criticism; moe exists in shounen just as it does in Shoujo. it may not be as extreme or as widespread, but it also exists in Shounen. Shounen is not immune to this art choice.

Dominion Tank Police (pre-moe)

Hunter x Hunter (modern version)

However, even shounen that does not fall into the “skinny with moe face” pit still suffers from everything else. So let’s go through the post by the previous person again and apply it to shounen.

First, as they noted, colour and shading.

All the problems seen in shoujo and non-shoujo anime is present here as well. The skin-tone being bleached to the point of almost white, the hard shading and highlighting that robs skin of its texture and makes it appear glossy and kinda gross, lowering the realism into uncanny valley territory. (I know I am repeating the original post. I am just reiterating that this problem is exactly the same in shounen) It robs the characters of their realism and makes them appear more like plastic thank anything else. So that even shows that have more realistic proportions to their girls, cannot escape the unpleasantness that comes from the colouring.

Bubblegum Crises

Kuroko no basket.

Next, proportions. Although it’s true that Shounen does not have the willow-y proportions seen more often in shoujo (most of the time), the girls in shounen suffer all the other pitfalls of modern anime aesthetics. First and foremost is the obvious. Cup-size problems for girls in anime usually comes from shounen anime (although hilariously this is also a problem in shoujo anime... aimed at girls....) It’s most often in shounen where the ridiculous bust and wasp-waist is seen.

Dirty pair

Attack on Titan

Magi

But even ignoring that, the other problems are also present. Ribcages, tummies, collar-bones, natural folds in skin are all smoothed over. Contributing to the plastic effect. And of course... hands.

Hands are one of my biggest pet peeves in modern anime. Considering that after our faces, our hands are a humans most expressive body parts, its incredible to me how little regard modern anime gives its hands. Hands are these days drawn, regardless of genre, to be spindly, severely lacking in any detail, and flat. Whereas in the 90s and 80s great care was given to drawn hands as realistic, with folds, sometimes finger-nails, and a proper amount of flesh, these days they seem almost disregarded completely. I feel this is a microcosm of all the other anatomy problems in modern anime, as it’s an easy spotlight on all the other anatomy problems which might not be as obvious on first glance.

And even when given detailing, anime hands these days still feel pladtic, flat and lifeless thanks to proportions and colouring.

Also, although shounen may not employ the moe art style as often, they still flatten out their character’s facial features. Making them lifeless and bland. 80s and 90s anime also had extremely simplification with their facial features as well as the tropes of big eyes, small noses etc. But the styles chosen to simplify the features were still done in a way to breed life into the character, rather than make them “attractive”

thirdly. personality.

This does not refer to the actual human personality of the female character, but rather the personality given to her by the art. She could be written and voiced as the spunkiest, loudest firecracker anime of all time. But if the show refuses to give her the range of expressions, then the art lacks personality completely, and actually starts fighting the voice acting. As the previous post said, in an attempt to keep the female characters attractive at all times, they are not allowed to have exaggerated expressions. And when they are “exaggerated” it is usually in the form of short-hand symbols so often employed by anime. the “angry” head-vein symbol, the pointy teeth for a frame or do the squinty eye thing etc etc. And even then you’d be lucky to get that. Most of the time, the female characters are kept with very basic expressions that will not interfere with their attractiveness.

I could go on. Like for instance the degrading of line quality in all anime.

Patlabor

Naruto

Or the fact that I have a sneaking suspicion that anime studios no longer require their employees to do life drawing of any kind. Leading to incredibly stiff animation no matter how many frames they pump into it.

Magi. using a high frame count

Ranma 1/2 using a very low frame count

But I’m afraid Shounen is not immune to the problems of modern anime aesthetics.

You may notice that aside from the gif at top I didn’t use any One Piece as examples. That’s because I have no idea what One Piece’s art style is doing any more.

This is not to bash any of the modern anime used as example. Writing of the show has not been taken into consideration whatsoever. This is purely based on art, animation, and character design

[dinomightofficial]

An ABSTRACT Integration

THE FIVE CHOSEN AREAS OF CREATIVITY:

https://dinomightofficial.tumblr.com/post/165774917695/index-of-my-5-chosen-areas-of-creativity

Nihilism

Architecture

Graffiti

Color

Education

For a couple of hours I have been pondering about the possible links that may integrate my five chosen areas together, to sow them together with one thread. I had been stuck for a while just staring at the five areas as I had intentionally chosen areas in disregard to the fact that I would need to find a key connecting idea between them. I had done this intentionally because I did not want to make things easier for myself and instead choose five areas that are all somewhat close in ideas/topics. That would have been an easy connection but that’s not what I want because that would entail no challenge and a creative output.

My original intention for the method of connecting these areas together was... come to think about it quite stupid. I honestly thought that if I just stared at my areas long enough I would spontaneously come up with a connection. The reason why I thought this would work is because personally that is how I spawn my base creative ideas. For me I get the coolest idea when I just stare off into the nothingness. Often known as a shower thought it is common for people to get brilliant ideas when they have a clean slate of a mind. This concept wasn’t very helpful this time though...

I had to eventually give in and get an external interaction to act as the spark plug for my engine of a brain. Credits to Talia, Sheena and... Max (eww) for throwing ideas at me. Although I eventually crafted my own connection being Abstractness it was a good catalyst to work from.

Self Interpretive

My first thought I thought I had nailed the coffin because most of these was a typical art form such as: The use of color, architecture and graffiti. It got me thinking that a commonality that most art forms shared is self interpretation of the artist, even Nihilism could fit into this idea as whether we are withdrawn or optimistic about this concept could be interpretative. However, where it limited me was Education. I couldn’t really see or find a connection within the field of education and the text in which I had reviewed it under could fit. Baking per say isn’t self interpretative in a direct sense because the recipes NEED to be followed for a desired outcome.

Expressive

My second thought ties somewhat closely with self interpretation in the sense that how we interpret things may differ thus allow for unique expressiveness through the use of artistic mediums. As shown in the connection matrix only Architecture, Color and Graffiti were connected to this word. I guess Nihilism could have been forcefully connected under the idea that our perception of the meaning of life and what we get out of it is our way of expressing whether we are an optimist or a pessimist. But even then it would have been unfitting because that would rather be the idea that is to be expressed rather than the medium/act of expressing it in itself.

Poverty

The idea that poverty has a correlation between those who are less educated and those who commit illegal activities was an idea that led me to come up with poverty. Poverty not only reveals this correlation but can also mean that through the use of graffiti, color can be utilized and also through the use of graffiti it can change the meaning of a building no matter how boring the building is making architecture obsolete. However, in connecting the dots in this fashion it would be forced and it wouldn’t necessarily all connect to poverty and instead the areas would connect to each other without a centralized idea/concept. A forced integration was simply not ideal and so I could not use this, it although was useful in finalizing down to the bigger connection being abstraction.

Limitation

The integration effort of ‘limitation’ was an idea that Max had suggested for me as he pointed out that specific architectural designs may restrict/limit the available space for graffiti and I found this interesting enough to put it up. I then found that limitation of education will statistically lead to more illegal graffiti, I feel that this connection with education was kind of redundant however as this same reasoning was already covered by poverty. I couldn’t find a connection between color or nihilism and so this integration had to be cleared of a possibility.

Abstract

It was at this point I had shifted my perspective/thought process from focusing onto the five areas and instead focus onto the failed connections that I had been coming up with such as; poverty and expression. It was under the method that I needed to focus on the general connections rather than the areas itself. What I mean by this is that the best way to integrate my five areas/texts was to integrate the failed efforts of previous integrations. Abstract fell under all of the areas because almost anything really can be put under abstraction as it almost anything can be turned into a thought/idea.

Nihilism can be abstract because it is merely a concept in which it devours our mental will to do anything productive because it brings about depressive thoughts. However, the opposite spectrum of this being optimistic nihilism it can also enhance our will do live a life of risk and make the most of whatever it is our life is. It is abstract in the sense that its difficult to tell what all of this means and what we should get out of it. Education can be abstract through the pedagogical theory in which the method of teaching is examined and conceptualized. Color is abstract because colors can be self interpretative and psychologically expresses tone, mood and ideas merely by the use of a pallet of colors. Graffiti can be abstract because through the use of words, color, images and most importantly its location it can convey more than one idea/meaning/purpose. Architecture can be abstract because through the design principles and structural aesthetic buildings can convey not just a hospital structure but can also be an artwork that communicates an alternative idea/concept.

For the integrative summary I have decided to construct a poem that encapsulates all of these ideas into one. The reason why I have decided to do a poem instead of an essay, a video or a song is because I thought that a poem is an ideal format to communicate an abstract understanding of my integrative practice through the use of a self interpretative/expressive manner.

[thefinalcinderella]

DIVE!! Book 1 Chapter 6-BIG EVENT COMING

Ayyyyy we’re halfway through the book

Full list of translations here.

Previously on DIVE!!: Shibuki makes a big splash in his introduction.

The diving season arrived along with summer. Tomoki wondered whether or not his blood could detect the beginning of its arrival.

He felt bubbly. He felt slightly more red. He felt like speeding up straight away.

It was finally time to show off the painful achievements of practice, and his blood was flowing around his body in wild abandon as if it was floating without a tether. Well, wait, it’s the job of the brain to settle it down. I understand the feeling, but wait a second. You still haven’t chosen your entry event for the competition. If you want to put in new skills, you need more practice, and you have to pay attention to condition adjustment up until the competition.

Amidst this dual role of elevation and tranquility, the MDC’s practice gradually heated up as they turned towards the huge stage that came once a year.

For domestic competitions, the main ones aimed at Tomoki and other middle school students were the Junior High School Championships and the Junior Olympic Cup. Competent divers participated in both, and therefore left good results, so the faces who would appear on the podium were generally already decided. Tomoki, who had never set foot on the podium, intended to only focus on the Junior High Championships this year.

For high school students like Youichi, there’s the Inter-High and the juniors’ category of the Nationals. Also, there was no age restriction for the Japanese Championship, so anyone could participate as long as their entry event met the specified difficulty level. This year, Youichi was scheduled to compete at all three competitions.

If it wasn’t for Kayoko making her radical plans, both Tomoki and Youichi would had just gone through the summer as usual.

“First, I have a proposal for everyone.”

Kayoko launched the plan, as Shibuki was returning to Tokyo the afternoon of the next day. Not long after basking in the pleasure of her scouting success, she gathered Tomoki, Reiji, Ryou, Sachiya, Youichi, and Shibuki, who were doing dryland training in the training room, to the AV room, and immediately went to the next item of business. Kayoko was constantly on the move.

“I heard it from Coach Fujitani. Apparently, someone’s been saying that I’ve been specially watching over one of you, but what does that mean? Does that mean I’m offering special guidance to one of you? That I’m spending extra time with one of you? If you are dissatisfied with my coaching, please point it out more specifically next time. It’s Just like me telling you to raise your chin by five millimeters, or taking off 0.5 seconds earlier, don’t I always say stuff like that, right?”

Kayoko wasn’t at all perturbed by the matter of the complaints. It also seemed that she didn’t care, at the moment, that they knew she was the granddaughter of the former Mizuki president.

“Leaving that aside, there’s one more thing. Regarding the condition for the survival of the MDC that Coach Fujitani told you about, I’d like to have a more detailed talk about it today.”

The survival of the MDC. In the end, it was the only thing that occupied Kayoko’s mind.

“Anyways, I was going to talk about it one day, but I didn’t want to pressure you all. However, in order for the MDC to survive, we must have the right to represent at the Olympics. If none of you gets it, then this club will be shut down. That’s our reality.”

Kayoko expressed her plain, straightforward thoughts.

Youichi was the one who identified that straightforward ball, and hit it back where it hurts.

“For the survival of the MDC? So, you want us to go to Sydney for the MDC. No, or is it because of your dead grandpa? Or maybe you just want to protect your job?”

Kayoko thought about it for a while with her arms folded, and then smiled.

“Well, it could be for the MDC, for my grandfather, and for my own protection. But, what does that mean to you?”

“What…”

“Well then, listen up, Fujitani-kun. You do want to go to the Olympics, right?”

“Yeah, of course.”

“For whom?”

“…for myself.”

Youichi looked away, and Kayoko nodded.

“What’s important to you is your own feelings, not mine. If you go to Sydney, all the praise and emotions you acquire there are your own.  You won’t forget them there. Is there anyone else who wants to talk about this?”

“Um…” Sachiya timidly raised his hand. “There’s no way I’m aiming for Sydney, right?”

“You haven’t dived from the five-meter yet, so it’ll be difficult for you to suddenly represent at the Olympics. So, I think you’d like to go to Sydney with everyone else as their supporter, what do you think?”

Supporter. Although he didn’t know the specifics of that role, Sachiya seemed to like the sound of that. He smiled broadly and nodded.

“What else? If there’s nothing else, let’s go to the main issue.”

And so, Kayoko began to talk about the plan.

“The main issue is our proposition to the Olympics. Frankly, I think that’d be difficult as things are right now. A long career in diving means a lot in a competition, so the JASF (Japan Swimming Federation) would rather play it safe and pick an established diver for a crucial competition. Even though Fujitani-kun is considered strong, he still doesn’t have any overseas competition experience, right? Unless you have something exceptional, middle and high school students like you shouldn’t think you have a good chance at representing at the Olympics.”

So, Kayoko’s cat-eyes shone as she spoke.

“I want you to do something exceptional.”

“Something exceptional?”

“Tomoki-kun, Ryou-kun, Reiji-kun. May I ask you to give up on this year’s Junior High Championships?”

“Eh?”

“Youichi-kun, may I ask you to give up on all three domestic competitions this year?”

“What?”

Tomoki and the others were caught off-guard and worn out by the sudden, extraordinary proposals.

Giving up on the Junior High Championship, which was their target every year?

Giving up on Youichi doubtlessly sweeping the top awards at all three domestic competitions?

It was like saying they could have spring without cherry blossoms, summer without fireworks, autumn without red leaves, or winter without snow.

“There will be a big training camp in Beijing, in August.”

However, Kayoko had good reasons.

“It’s a two-week training camp where promising middle and high school divers from all over Asia gather. The number of participants will be three boys and three girls. There will be a qualifying trial to decide on the members, held at Tatsumi at the end of July.”

“July…”

“The JASF is willing to train Olympic athletes out of the six chosen.”

“!”

“Seriously?” someone let their murmur escape. Someone else also sucked in their breath. Excluding Shibuki, who had begun to doze off in the last row, everyone else’s eyes lit up as Kayoko’s words came back to them.

Asia Joint Training Camp—this time, it was the Chinese diving world that proposed and realized this event, but this was not the first time for the Asian countries to come together to focus on improving diving. There were diving officials from each country who taught traditional coaching methods, and diving exchange students being sent to deepen exchanges. It can be said that Asia was falling behind Europe and the United States, to the extent that they weren’t able to catch with them if they did not do all those things.

Originally, diving began in Sweden, and in the UK, the form of a competition was created, which then spread to the whole world. In order to compete against the Westerners with good figures in the limelight, Asians needed to refine acrobatic techniques that made full use of their smaller body builds, and to pursue a performance of “technique” against the Westerners’ “aesthetics”. China achieved that brilliantly and had climbed up to the top of the world. Through research on making the best of the physical characteristics of the Chinese, and a thorough educational system from early childhood, they were suddenly catapulted to the top of the world. The stereotype of the “Weak Asia” was destroyed through a hard struggle, and the podium of the diving competitions were no longer only for Westerners. It was the beginning of a welcome new era for Asian countries to follow in China’s footsteps.

But, it tended to be an era to prepare reigning champions to trials. Changes in the system of government and the declining leadership accompanying it, new regulations such as age fourteen or less could not participate in the Olympics, the hectic race between the US and Russia—these various factors came together and a gloom began to appear over the Chinese diving world, so after a while diving once again became monopolized by Europe and the US. It was too late after the impression of “Weak Asia” permeated. It had a mental influence on judges at international competitions, and was the root of evil that led them to be disadvantaged at contests. Asia had to become united in order to keep the impression of “Strong Asia”.

This feeling of crisis was lurking behind the Chinese diving world’s proposal of holding a training camp, and all of the Asian countries unanimously supporting it. The training of junior athletes was an urgent proposition for any country.

“It’s unusual for the JSF to announce their participation in the training camp this time and disregarding the extra expenses, so that’s probably a sign of the sense of crisis they feel. After all, it was probably as a result of the pride of being once known as a swimming superpower, though Japan was greedily learning techniques from America until now, there was a point where it turned its back against its fellow Asian country China.”

But, Kayoko sighed while continuing on.

“To be blunt, I won’t be able to say such things. Japan will be completely left behind from the rest of the world as it is. This impatience seems to exceed their pride. Of course, I think that the relationship of trust between Coach Sun and the JSF also had an effect in a big way.”

“Coach Sun…is he famous?”

“Yes, he’s a key figure that pulled the Chinese diving world to where they are now. He visited Japan frequently the last few years and deepened communications with the JSF. He is supposed to be the one to take overall command of this joint training camp.”

“That Coach Sun is…?”

“By the way, I heard that the JSF is also asking him to cooperate as an advisor for the selection of the Olympic representatives.”

A pipe chair squeaked behind Tomoki. He heard that sound every time Youichi fidgeted since the beginning of the talk. Youichi, who participated in a short-term training camp in the US every summer, wanted to go to China if as long as the money and practicing environment were arranged, and wanted to receive direct coaching from that Coach Sun. He had been saying that over and over again like it was his favorite phrase.

“You said that there will be qualifying trials to decide on the members of the joint training camp.”

“Yes, there will be six tickets that will have to be earned.”

“What are the entry conditions for the trials?” Youichi asked without waiting.

“First of all, you have to be a diver in middle or high school. Then, your entry dive has to meet certain degrees of difficulty. Don’t worry, all five of you are clear. However, the qualifying trials will be held four months later on July 29th. We already don’t have much time.”

“July…”

“It’s also close to the Kanto meet of the Junior High Championships. I think it’ll be difficult to make adjustments to participate in both competitions. If you want to join the training camp, you should abandon the Junior High Championships and focus on the qualifying trials. And also, if you want to go to Beijing, you won’t be able to compete in the Nationals or the Inter-High. It’s a dangerous gamble.”

While saying this, Kayoko didn’t relax her firm attitude.

“But, I think it’s worth it. As long as you become one of the six going to the training camp, you’d automatically be able to sell your face to Coach Sun. It’ll be a rough road for all of you to slip into the position of Olympic contender, as you’re all unknowns, but this is the best shortcut there. And next year’s Olympics are so close that we won’t make it in time without a shortcut.”

Abandoning the regular domestic competitions and focus everything on the qualifying trials.

Kayoko was pressing that decision on all of them.

But, not withstanding Youichi, how would Tomoki and the others, who had never participated in the national meet of the Junior High Championship, be able to become part of the chosen six at the qualifying trials, where middle and high school students gathered from all over Japan?

‘There’s four months until the qualifying trials. I will pull all of you up. I’ll promise you that. Of course, you’ll be the ones who will decide.”

Tomoki looked down at his dark feet.

Reiji and Ryou were looking at each other like they were reading each other’s thoughts.

Youichi was staring at Kayoko without moving at all.

Shibuki made little wheezing sounds as he slept soundly.

But at this time, everyone already had the determination in their minds to gamble on the qualifying trials.

Youichi was doing it for his ambition to go to the Olympics.

Tomoki, Ryou, and Reiji were doing it to be the one miracle in a million.

Shibuki was doing it for his contract with Kayoko.

--It was the spring of 1999. They of the MDC were trying to take their first step towards Sydney the following year.

Tomoki received a second proposal from Kayoko after that day’s meeting.

“Sakai-kun, last year you were only training for the high dive for the Junior High Championships. You passed on the springboard diving.”

Tomoki and Shibuki remained in the AV room, approaching dusk. Casting a sideways glance at Shibuki, who kept yawning as he woke up from his deep sleep, Kayoko talked to Tomoki first.

“Why?”

That was quite a difficult question to answer.

Currently there seemed to be two types of diving: high diving and springboard diving. High diving was diving off of a five-meter, seven and a half-meter, or ten-meter platform, and springboard diving was diving using the elasticity of a one-meter or three-meter springboard.

Tomoki hated springboard diving. He didn’t like the wobbliness, the feeling of the unsteady board beneath his feet, and he couldn’t get used to it no matter what. He was incompatible with the springboard. Originally, he was drawn to diving from the concrete dragon, so if possible, he only trained for the high dive to perform at competitions. He requested that when he was a first-year middle schooler, and Coach Nakanishi had agreed that was one type of strategy as well.

Originally, springboard and high diving required completely different techniques, and since long ago, China had trained distinct specialists for both springboard and high diving. In Japan, where divers were on the lower stratum of athletes, they had the existing condition where only a small handful of influential divers had to bear the burden of many different skills. But in truth, that system of allotments made practice more efficient, and there was the merit of being able to train and aim for just one event at competitions.

“Besides, Coach Nakanishi said it’s okay to do the springboard once I’m older…”

Kayoko unexpectedly agreed with the words of the former coach as he said it back then.

“Certainly, compared with the springboard dive which is used to say things about your career, the high dive is better for young people with their small and springy bodies. If you’re going to bet everything on the high dive for the qualifying trials, I’ll cooperate with you, provided that you single-mindedly bet on a performance of a certain level.”

“Performance of a certain level?”

“The forward 3½ somersaults.”

“Huh?”

“You don’t remember? I talked about it before I went to Aomori.”

Forward 3½ somersaults. That sounds familiar…Tomoki suddenly recalled those inconceivable words.

“Why can’t middle schoolers do 3½ somersaults? Because they are forbidden from diving off the ten-meter at junior competitions. Of course, there are other reasons, but I believe that is the biggest one. But, there are some odd loopholes for this rule.”

“Loopholes?”

“FINA of course had banned elementary and middle schoolers from diving off the ten-meter at competitions. But, that rule only applies to junior competitions. In other words, even elementary and middle schoolers could dive from the ten-meter on the same conditions as the other participants at non-junior competitions. Even so, such competitions are usually at the level of the Japanese Championship.”

“Huh?”

“And the qualifying trials in July isn’t a junior competition…so that means…”

“Wait a minute,” Tomoki interrupted the impetuous Kayoko. “Stop springing that on me so suddenly…the flight time from a seven-meter (1) and a ten-meter is definitely completely different, but it’s not so big that I can do another somersault, right? You can’t do something like 5½ somersaults off a fifteen-meter, either.”

“It’s a bad habit of yours to think something is impossible before you even start it. You never know how something will turn out until you give it a try. Everything starts from now on.”

“From now on…the qualifying trials are only four months away.”

“And the Olympics are only a bit more than a year away. That’s why.”

“That’s why?”

“You’ve certainly grown rapidly these past few months. But, for this moment there’s still a lot of people at the top. At a competition where middle and high schoolers from all over the country are competing fiercely against each other, how will Sakai Tomoki’s diving stand out? With 3½ somersaults. If you decide to count yourself among the very few middle school students who could do a successful 3½, the judges will acknowledge you. That kind of impression always has an effect on the scoring.”

Tomoki felt squashed by that strong gaze pinned on him. She’s serious. This woman is seriously trying to make me do 3½ somersaults.

He imagined excelling at the qualifying trials, able to successfully do 3½ somersaults. That would be an awesome, proud moment. He’d cleanly cutting through the water, and excite the spectators. A storm of applause. An unprecedented pleasure!

Sure enough, next he imagined failing the 3½ somersaults. That would be an extremely awful, disappointing moment. His body swells red from hitting the water, and cold eyes pour into him from the spectator seats. A drizzle of applause. Unprecedented humiliation…

“Are you doing it?”

At the moment Kayoko pressed him to make a decision, his successful self and his failing self disappeared from Tomoki’s head. In that moment, something more instinctual than determination, something unexplainable welled up inside of him, and Tomoki’s head bobbed vertically.

“I’ll do it.”

It might have been the voice of his own body that had had many painful practices up until then. Contrary to his mind, his body wanted to test Tomoki’s potential.

“I will cooperate with you then.”

Kayoko smiled, satisfied, and then turned towards Shibuki, who was still rubbing sleep from his eyelids.

“Okitsu-kun, you too. For the qualifying trials, you will also focus on the high dive, since you’ve never stepped onto a springboard.”

“Please do whatever you want,” Shibuki responded indifferently. “But, don’t forget about our contract.”

“I will keep our promise.”

“It’s a contract.”

After that curt exchange, Shibuki rose like an elephant that had finished its long nap, and quickly left the room. Kayoko’s eyes looked unusually tired as she stared at his retreating figure.

Kayoko and Shibuki. What exactly is the contract between them?

Tomoki felt something like a strange swell of fate as Shibuki left the AV room.

Kayoko had appeared just as the MDC was about to be destroyed, and now Shibuki appeared. Something was going to happen.

Will I be able to go along with that big wave, or will I be left behind?

Three and a half somersaults. That was the new trial imposed on Tomoki.

Everything might depend on its success.

“Hello, Sakai-kun?”

He hadn’t heard from Miu in a while, and tonight’s was the first phone call in a long time.

“Ah…Miu, I haven’t heard from you in a while.”

After coming out of the bathroom, Tomoki happened to be near the phone and picked it up, and suddenly tilted his head to one side.

Something feels different than usual.

But, he didn’t know what it was.

“It’s been a while, Tomo-kun, are you doing well?”

“The same as usual.”

“Is diving hard for you right now?”

“It’s still the same. Well, nowadays there’s many different kinds of things.”

“Still just different kinds of things?”

Miu’s giggle spilled out of the receiver. It was a sound like a child trying to resist being tickled. If he confessed that he was actually aiming for the Olympics, would this laughter fit that perfectly? Or would it get even stronger?

“I’ll talk about it soon. The more I talk about it, the realer it becomes.”

“Well then, I’ll listen to it soon.”

Miu didn’t pursue it further, and began to talk about things that happened at school and about her friends. But, the thought that there was something strange didn’t leave Tomoki’s head until he hung up.

There was always a forced feeling attached to Miu. The conversation topics she brought up were forced, and she acted with a forced cheerfulness. But somehow, that same forcedness felt different tonight.

“Well, it’s already late, so I’ll see you later.”

After a few minutes of conversation, it was surprisingly Miu who tried to hang up first, but Tomoki quickly cut in with, “Ah, just a moment.”

“Eh, what is it?”

“Is there something going on?”

“What?”

“No…if there’s nothing, then it’s fine.”

There was the brief sound of her breath being sucked in. After a silence of nearly five seconds, Miu finally spoke again.

“There’s nothing at all.”

However, Tomoki was more concerned about the five seconds of silence than her reply.

Something’s wrong.

Something’s wrong.

Something’s wrong.

Even after saying goodbye and hanging up, he felt anxious from that “something” and didn’t move from the spot. Tomoki, who was standing still next to the phone like a faithful dog, headed for the open door with the phone in his hand, when he taken aback to suddenly seeing Hiroya there.

Those first words—Miu, who always called him Tomo-kun, started her phone call tonight with something else.

“Hello, Sakai-kun?”

Translation Notes

1. A friendly reminder that seven-meter is just what divers say for the 7.5 meter platform

Next time on DIVE!!: I demand a spinoff novel on Shiraha.

[kynimdraws]

A little PSA: An explanation of Ovewatch Ana’s “Tal/탈” skin

I am getting tired of people hating on Ana’s Tal skin and while I have expressed my discontent over this unnecessary discourse on twitter I might as well crosspost on tumblr because of non-Koreans trying to spread misinformation about my home country’s culture.

(Ana voice): SHHHHHHHHHHHH calm down kids it’s grandma

Disclaimer: I am Korean. My mother is a Korean teacher who has taught me Korean history/culture. My uncle teaches in a University about Korean history. Chinese cultural appropriation topics will not be mentioned here, because I am not Chinese. Someone with better knowledge about that than make their own posts elsewhere (please).

A quick googling of “tal” or “탈” will give you the following definition (lifted from the all-accessible wikipedia page). I bolded the most relevant parts of this excerpt since I will go into more detail about it in the next paragraphs:

Korean masks have a long tradition with the use in a variety of contexts. Masks are called tal (Hangul: 탈) in Korean, but they are also known by many others names such as gamyeon, gwangdae, chorani, talbak and talbagaji. Korean Mask come with black cloth attached to the sides of the mask designed to cover the back of the head and also to simulate black hair.

They were used in war, on both soldiers and their horses; ceremonially, for burial rites in jade and bronze and for shamanistic ceremonies to drive away evil spirits; to remember the faces of great historical figures in death masks; and in the arts, particularly in ritual dances, courtly, and theatrical plays. The present uses are as miniature masks for tourist souvenirs, or on cell-phones where they hang as good-luck talismans.

The one Ana is specifically wearing is a type of 하회탈 (hahoetal), which describes a type of mask used during theatre (하회별신굿탈놀이) and dance (탈춤) since the 12th century. These performances consist of a cast of character archetypes, which are depicted by the masks. Many of the features in the masks are exaggerated for humorous and dramatic effect. Here are a general list of masks that commonly seen.

Fun fact, Ana’s mask is a hybrid of the Kaksi/각시 and Yangban/양반 mask. And maybe a little bit of the Halmo/할미 depending on the mask design.

These mask plays were performed in villages to ward off evil spirits and to convince the local gods to protect them and bring prosperity. A certain aspect of these performances are also comedic, and a chance for performers to poke fun of the ruling class and taboo subjects like sex. While this is not tied to the Lunar New Year specifically, such performances were done during special occasions like those holidays.

Now you may be asking “this is part of a religious thing! Isn’t that disrespectful??” And trust me, this depiction is FAR from being offensive to most Koreans.

Yes the tal was used for shamanistic rituals, specifically associated with “muism” (무교/신교). However, muism is not a popular Korean religion. While there has a recent uprise in people practicing it/being interested in it, Muism has always faced discrimination in Korean history. Confucianism, Christianity, and even Japanese colonialism has demonized this religion and it was nearly forgotten/eradicated. The most known incident of this is called the misin tapa undong (미신 타파 운동) describes a period from 19th century to the 1980s where various parties (both outside and inside Korea) tried to eradicate muism through various means, including burning down local shrines and villages that were known to practice them. People had to be in hiding so avoid persecution.

Fortunately the Korean government has indirectly protected Muism by making several aspects of their religious traditions as national Korean treasures, including the 탈 among other things. But it is important to note that whole 탈 culture is secularized now. It does not have the religious connotations that it was known for. Hell, the masks are one of the most recognizable features of Korean culture (and seen in many souvenirs). There are places in Korea that preserve this tradition and perform it to the public to spread awareness of its history (the 안동 village every September has an arts festival for all traditional Korean performing arts). FYI, Koreans who appreciate this are not muists themselves, and no one requires you to be one. Lunar New Year is largely a secular holiday, after all.

Now, do you want to see some of the reactions KOREAN FANS had about the Ana skin? Here are few I got off from twitter, with translations from yours truly:

BTW that Ana tal skin is my aesthetic - (x)

That Ana skin is really good ㅇㅁㅇ....tal is really making my heart flutter* - (x)

*간지뿅뿅 is not a really easy thing to translate since it’s a combo of a sound effect and an emotion??? It’s a positive response either way

Ana skin ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠtal is so good ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ - (x)

OMG Ana’s skin is tal LOL that is exciting - (x)

Many of these really are happy their culture is seen! And it’s not depicted in a mocking manner and the overall design is quite lovely, with Korean-design motifs in her clothes. The few relatively negative tweets about her skin are how the cloth may be too bright/gaudy compared to the mask, which is sort of true. The mask is supposed to be seen clearly to show what character the performer is playing out. But the color scheme really looks like those worn for the Bongsan talchum (봉산탈춤), another variety of tal (they are all within the same province btw). And a lot of Korean traditional color schemes are pretty gaudy too.

Alright, so I have told you all I can about the tal culture. Now the you may be asking the following question, summarized well by this tweet:

I think Ana looks awesome in general but what was the concept behind her new skin ???? She’s Egyptian so why wear a Tal? - (x)

To be fair, I was also fairly surprised by the choice for having Ana have the Korean-style skin before I became super ecstatic to see my culture be represented. I do agree it is odd to see a Muslim/Egyptian/Arabic character (two groups that don’t really celebrate Lunar New Year from what I can gather) to be chosen for a Korean skin, but that matter sort of falls into the “Muslim/Egyptian/Arabic culture is underrepresented in Overwatch and gaming media in general” topic and I am not knowledgeable enough to discuss that in detail. A Muslim Overwatch fan has written about this matter here if you want to check it out.

But back on point, is this skin an example of YELLOW FACE or CULTURAL APPROPRIATION? No! When did being Muslim/Arabic/Egyptian =/= you can’t celebrate/appreciate other cultures and their traditions? Did you only want Koreans to get the skin? I am all for D.Va getting more skins (and MAYBE more KOREAN OVERWATCH HEROES) but why restrict the Korean theme onto just one character? Cultural appropriation is when people INAPPROPRIATELY disrespect a culture by mocking them and disregarding the traditions of said culture. Ana is not doing any of this. Besides, Korean tal culture is not closed off to non-Koreans, and there are Korean cultural socities that are willing to offer classes on this and will even teach you how to do the dance/plays (i.e. Sejong University has a site for it). 

FYI because I am Korean, I cannot say how Egyptian/Muslim/Arab fans feel about Ana wearing Korean attire for Lunar New Year. I have talked to a few Muslim OW fans/friends about this and given their differing opinions on the matter (including the OP of the muslim underrepresentation post I linked earlier), I cannot really make a confident assumption on how these people generally feel about the skin. On Korean fandom’s end though, we love the skin! It’s great Blizzard took the time to research Korean culture and make a skin that isn’t mocking Koreans. And Blizzard does have some ties with Korea itself due to its HUGE gaming culture/fanbase, so it is possible BlizzKorea has gotten input there for this event. Being between two BIG Asian countries (Japan and China), Korea is often left out and this event was a really nice breath of fresh air. We are represented!! We are not some invisible culture between the big two!!!

And if you are not part of this culture, just PLEASE let other people speak out about the matter before getting on your moral high horse to talk about appropriation. 

Now, does that mean the Korean fandom thinks Blizzard is a perfect company? NO! Honestly the entire event is MOSTLY about Chinese culture (with some Korean stuff squeezed in between). Other Asian countries that celebrate Lunar New Year have been ignored (i.e. Southeast Asian cultures and some Indian cultures celebrate Lunar New Year and they are not included despite Symmetra being Indian, etc). These discrepancies are good starting points to discuss underrepresentation in media that Blizzard can learn about and hopefully include in their future updates. From what I can see, the Overwatch developers have been receptive to this feedback so it would be good to have that convo in their official forums too.

FYI, I personally feel like there could have been more Korean stuff for this event period. In America at least, it really sucks that Lunar New Year is ALWAYS called Chinese New Year despite other countries also celebrating it...RIP. But I appreciate that this game has made Korean culture more visible. Here’s hope to more visible Korean stuff in gaming and elsewhere! Where is my “새해 복 많이 받으세요” voice line for D.Va? I demand answers Blizzard!!!

Anyway, hope that has taught you something new, and Happy Lunar New Year to everyone!