#JAMES BROWN FANS

[emilyg36]

Worthless

 LOS ANGLES CALIFORINA CEMETERY  CHURCH  OUTSIDE  GATES 1987 1990 1922 1991 2013 2014 2015 2017 2018 2019 2020 2023 

 JANUTIOR THERE NOTHING YOU CANNOT ABOUT ADULT KIDS PLOTTE WHEN I WAS SCARED BODIES 

 WOMEN SHIRT HEAD HAIRS EARS EMILY ANN GUTIERREZ  ARMS LONGS SHOULDERS HANDS FINGERS  FACE LONG NECK EYES NOSE MOUTH AAAAAAAAAAAAAA  FAT BODY LONGS FEET WALK RUN  

 MAN SHIRT  HEAD EARS HAIRS  DANIEL INDING PARADA  ARMS LONGS SHOULDERS FACE LONG NECK  EYES NOSE MOUTH AAAAAA AAAAAAAAAA BODY LONGS LEGS FEETS WALK FUN 

WOMAN SHIRT HEAD HAIRS EARS NICHOLE  MAIRE PARADA ARMS SHOULDERS FACE LONG NECK EYES NOSE MOUTH AAAAAAAA  BODY LONGS LEGS FEETS RUN WALK 

COFFIN FIRES BIG TRASH BODIES GROUND FLOOR CA GATES 

GATES LOCK EMILY GUTIERREZ DANIEL INNDINGS PARADA NICOLE  WE ARE STUCK  FOR GOOD GATES LOCK  

COFFIN FIRES FRANK SINGS I TAKE MY LIFE  BABE  TOLD DEAD ROAD CAREERS TAKE LONG ME 

COFFIN FIRES PASTY CLINE SING PLANE LIFE HUSBAND BANDON ME I HAVE STRIKES ALL ITS PASS GONE ME      

 COFFIN FIRES  JAMES SING I COME MY LIFE CAREER DANCE  LIKE STEALING ALABAMA  STUFF  DEATH LIFE DOOM ME  

COFFIN FIRES ROCK  SING SAVE MY LIFE 100 BRAIN CANCER LIFE DUMB DEATH IS LONG ME    

COFFIN FIRES BETTY  SING ONCE  I TAKE TEAXS  MY WEDDING I CAN ACTING DUMB FEEL FAILURE LIKE ME 

 COFFIN FIRES ELIVS I WAS SAVE MY LIFE DRUG MY FAILURE HOTLE I WAS DEAD THEY FOUND ME  

COFFIN FIRES BETTY SING EVERY PEOPLE BULLY MY LESSON EVERY BODY BULLY MY LESSON I DONT. DESRVER LIVE THIS WAY ME MY SUMMER 

 COFFIN FIRES SAMEUL SING I DONT? REVSERTION MY LIFE GET INGORED PEOPLE  AT ME WHY IM HERE FOR ME 

COFFIN FIRES DEBBIE SING WHERE  MY SUNSET MY MAN BREAK UP  BAD  HURT ME WHERE VACATION ME  ANYWHERE 

COFFIN  FIRES RAY SING NOBDOY LOVE ME MY BLIND BLAMES ME MY LIFE I LOVE MY FAMILY  

ANGLES SINGS WATCH OUT ROAD LA HIGH WAYS 

[ssergiossotelo]

a new suit to maximize

the wolverine hunter and a new way to do his hair

a logan based from memory on the fallout poster and the ghoul's pose Oh and I drew DP blowing his brains out to warm up (I don't know why)

[brokenxmachine]

NOTHING BUT THIEVES - US Tour Diary, Los Angeles (live at the Wiltern 07.10.2023)

[doll-elvis]

Elvis and Sammy Davis Jr.'s friendship

“I have a respect for Elvis and my friendship. The only thing I want to know is, 'Was he my friend?', 'Did I enjoy him as a performer?', 'Did he give the world of entertainment something?' - and the answer is YES on all accounts. The other jazz just don't matter” - Sammy Davis Jr.

“Of all those guys out there, and certainly of the entertainers who claimed to be one of Elvis’s close buddies, only Sammy Davis, Jr., was really a friend. He never wanted anything except to have a good time” - Marty Lacker

“Sammy Davis Jr. was a wonderful audience for Elvis, always jumping up and down in his chair, applauding wildly and shouting encouragement. They were great friends. During a 1970 show in Las Vegas, Elvis took off the fifty-two-carat black star sapphire he wore on his middle finger and slipped it onto Sammy’s finger” - Joe Esposito

Sammy Davis Jr. performing at the 1978 Academy Awards where Elvis was featured in memoriam

[dischordantcerebralballistics]

Some more beautiful actresses 💗 💗 💗 💗 💗

[mj-forever-777]

2003 BET Awards

[romancomicsblog]

Who should play Lex Luthor in the DCU?

With the DCU casting its red caped hero last month as David Corenswet in Superman Legacy, the Man of Steel's archenemy feels just around the corner.

While nothing is confirmed, names like Nicholas Hoult, Alexander Skarsgard, and Bill Skarsgard have been rumored for the role.

While I have no problem with any of these actors or these Luthors, I feel we can do better.

So before James Gunn throws out a name that will likely break the internet, I thought I'd pitch my three ideas for The DCU's Lex Luthor. Unlike my last fancast (shameless plug for My Flash Fancast Article), I have one actor who I think truly stands beyond the rest.

But first, as always, let's answer a few questions:

What performances are we looking to emulate?

Much like the Man of Steel himself, Luthor has a number of appearances across DC media, including animation, film, and live action television. So unlike my Flash article, I will not be going through all of them, even the main ones.

While I don't think any performance has been perfect, I think there are several we can draw from to create a better Lex.

I'm going to try to remain positive and only look at performances I appreciate, so instead of dunking on Jesse Eisenberg for 45 minutes, I'll just say quickly: He's doing a real good Mad Hatter in Batman vs Superman.

1. Michael Rosenbaum - Smallville

There's a lot to love from this one.

Unlike most iterations of Luthor in media, Rosenbaum begins the series an ally to Clark, even a friend. Luthor is confident, smart, but has a likeability to him I think we have lost in more recent interpretations. All those aspects should be brought over to the DCU.

We need someone who you could believe the city loves almost as much as Superman.

Rosenbaum also had a physical presence and voice to beat. He projected strength, and felt like someone who could throw hands if he needed to.

Finally, his anger and rage were bubbling just beneath all that. He could snap at a moment's notice, and in those moments is where you see the villain. That's what I want from my Lex, someone who mastered masking his demons.

2. Clancy Brown - Superman the Animated Series, Justice League & Justice League Unlimited

If it wasn't for Rosenbaum, this would be my definitive Lex Luthor.

Clancy Brown has never misunderstood the assignment, as he plays a much more aggressive and fiercer Luthor in the DCAU.

What I love about this Luthor is his ability to become a bigger threat from season to season. Making deals with Darkseid, giving speeches to Amazo, and even fusing with Brainiac, this Luthor could hang and outsmart the best of them.

While he was a little quick to anger in my opinion, this Luthor had that same strength and confidence I absolutely love in Rosenbaum.

Something inbetween these two may make the perfect Luthor.

3. Jon Cryer - Arrowverse

While there is a huge gap between two and three, I think there is a lot to love about Cryer.

While he is harder to take seriously than the other two, he does show off one thing the others don't, the fun of being the richest, smartest person in the room.

Cryer always felt like Luthor was having fun toying with heroes. Only when he dealt with the Girl of Steel did he really go off the rails.

Do I want a performance as hammy or out there as Cryer? Not necessarily, but someone who can do a little comedy may be fun here.

What ethnicity is Lex Luthor?

This one doesn't have a definitive answer.

While in most iterations of the character he appears to be white, in Justice League/Justice League Unlimited, some fans speculate he is a person of color, specifically black.

I have mixed feelings on changing a villain into a person of color, as that can have its own implications, especially when their hero wears Red and Blue.

I do think leaving Lex Luthor as an only white character can take away from the depiction. Luthor sometimes is a self made man, and making him a person of color who clawed his way through oppression only to be seconded by another white man could be an interesting take.

Again my feelings are mixed, but for now I'm going to say either way works.

Any other stipulations?

Yes, a few.

For one, I will not bring back an actor who played him before, so I'm sorry Rosenbaum fans, maybe next time.

My Luthor will be either A) a friend to Superman of the same age or B) a mentor like figure, still a friend though, at least for the first movie. So age range is anywhere between 30-50.

Unlike Superman, Luthor's are usually played by actors with a name. Jesse Eisenberg and Gene Hackman both are heavy hitters, so I will be looking for actors of similar caliber.

I also don't want to go with actors who have been or are known for different superhero roles. That doesn't mean they can't have ever been in a superhero movie (hint hint) but we're not getting Downey Jr.

If they are bald that is a plus, but not necessary.

Again I think these picks all can do it, but I really love my number 1 pick.

3. Jason Bateman

This one will probably take the most convincing but think about it.

Known for his wide ranging work such as Ozark, Arrested Development, Game Night & Air, Bateman is a comedic and dramatic force.

At 54, Bateman is my oldest Luthor, but I think he can emulate better than anyone else on this list the fun of Cryer.

I have a few problems with this casting. While he has a great calming voice, I don't know if it's Luthor. It can be sinister, and it can be friendly, but I don't know how confident it can be.

My other main problem is this Luthor doesn't seem like he can fight. I think this Luthor would feel more like someone who needs the mech suit.

Overall I think this is a fun cast and would be a little unexpected, and a challenge for Bateman. But one I think he could nail.

2. John David Washington

If we want a cool, strong, and same age Luthor to befriend Superman, I think John David Washington slides into this very well. At 38, Washington still looks like a passable 30.

Known for his roles in Tenet and Malcolm and Marie, Washington I think is our best bet at emulating Rosenbaum. The swagger, the look, and the dangerous presence bubbling beneath the surface.

My main problem with casting Washington is always the same, does he fit better elsewhere?

Washington is such a versatile actor, he sometimes feels like a blank slate. Would he better suited for Cyclops? Green Lantern? An older Firestorm? Who is to say.

In any case, I'm sure he'll be casted in one of these sooner or later, but Luthor may be an example of right place, right time for Washington.

1. Sterling K. Brown

Several years ago, I saw an episode of Brooklyn 99, which to this day is my favorite episode, where Jake Peralta and Captain Holt try their absolute best to get this killer to admit his crime or slip up.

He is so intelligent, suave, and calm, that they are unable to break him, until they hit the right nerve, and the bubbling anger boils so hot, he admits everything.

That is Lex Luthor.

And that is Sterling K Brown.

Known for hit shows like This is Us, The People vs OJ Simpson, the Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, and movies like Black Panther and Waves, Sterling K Brown may be the most underrated actor working today.

Brown has an intensity about him that screams Luthor. He can play likeable and caring like Rosenbaum, he can reach that rage and intensity that Clancy Brown nailed, and have the fun of Jon Cryer.

Brown also has a kindness that reads extremely genuine. You'd get the sense in another world, this Luthor would be a hero.

At 47, he's old enough to be a mentor to Clark, but still feel formidable, especially with his current physical build.

Brown's Luthor I can see as a staple character for the DCU, appearing as an overarching puppet master, leader of villainous teams, tormentor of many heroes, or even uneasy ally when greater threats emerge.

No matter where they take Luthor as a character, Sterling K. Brown is the right pick to menace the DC Universe for years to come.

Thank you for reading! Let me know who you'd like me to fancast next for Marvel or DC!

If you'd like to support me you can follow me on my socials here!

[padfootastic]

hi there! First of all I want to mention that my ask doesn't contain racism or prejudice. What do you think about Indian James ? No matter how much I thought, I could not find the root. Maybe I have missed something in canon? Or is it a simple fanon thing? Also once again I want to say that my ask doesn't contain racism and I would NEVER EVER INSULT anyone.

hello friend!

uhh tbh, i have no idea where it stems from. i’ve seen some people argue that potter can be an anglicised version of some indian surnames, others argue that there’s some race-coding (but u couldn’t ask me to expand on that—i have no clue) but i mainly think it’s just a matter of representation tbh. people wanted a character of color and we got a v prominent desi potters situation lol.

re what i think about it: if i’m being brutally honest, i am…not a fan. but that’s mainly because i don’t really like identity headcanons in general (i very rarely see them done well, to my taste) and it also messes w my escapism real bad. to be clear, i’m not saying it’s bad or anything, and i’ll never shit on anyone who likes it, but it’s just not my cup of tea. i think the desi thing hits harder too. i’ve also seen some fics where the authors, despite being very very good-intentioned fuck up the cultural aspect of it so bad it makes me cringe 😭😭 but also, it makes me wonder if that’s how british people feel when us non-brits butcher their stuff so i always try to be graceful when that happens lol

[no-zzzom]

FWM

hand drew the album art too 💅

My new song pre mixing and mastering about learning who you are and how to love yourself without needing anyone else! True to who you are no matter what that means! Self discovery and true love. For fans of #jamesbrown meets #theweeknd type shit.

[queenclaudiabrown]

She’ll Be Coming With Us trailer is up!

@witchofthemidlands @whispers-of-gallifrey @chocolatesawfish @whatkindofnameisvolta @thegingergal

[littleprincefan]

im gonna be negative real quick look away

one thing that rlly annoys me about marauders fans is how they Plague every single fucking david bowie video or anything bowie related like idgaf about fuckin remus lupin it is 2024 and im not 12 anymore . STARMAN IS A LITTLE PRINCE SONG ‼️ FUCK OFF ‼️‼️‼️

[ssergiossotelo]

I don't know how to paint as a concept but I had to do things and well I used the leftover paint.

[ellecdc]

I can’t find many fics with this…but would you maybe be willing to right poly marauders x werewolf reader?

Not in like a super angsty way. Maybe just like the morning after the full moon and Sirius and James are teasing reader and Remus because “you guys are like puppies chasing after bunnies.” Or maybe like prep for the moon and wow all the chocolate is gone it’s barely been a day.

I love this! thanks for the request, I hope I did it justice <3

poly!marauders x werewolf!reader post full-moon [836 words]

CW: fem!reader, post-moon care, werewolves being giant goofy baby dogs, James being doting, sirius being soft af [my kryptonite], Remus being stupid in love

His eyes - though obviously clear and clean of any blood, sweat, or debris - feel like they are crusted over. His chest feels like it’s being weighed down by a herd of erumpants. And his mouth tastes like acid and iron.

But the first thing from his mouth is the sound of your name as it rips through the sandpaper that's coating his throat, blindly feeling around on the bed whilst refusing to open his eyes. 

“Easy, Rem.” James whispers, and Remus can feel gentle fingers card through his hair. “She’s okay.”

“Where is she?” Remus croaks, still blindly searching for you even though it has become clear Remus won’t find you there.

“She’s right here, Moons.” He hears Sirius murmur, further from him than James is, which makes him too far away. 

Remus finally wrenches his eyes open and turns his head on his pillow, his neck cracking audibly as he finally spots the bed you’re situated in.

If Remus didn’t know better, he’d think it rather looked like Sirius was the one in the hospital wing; laying back on the bed, his head propped up comfortably on the stack of pillows meant for you whilst you were situated between his legs, your cheek smooshed up against his chest that rose and fell in time with his breathing. 

But Remus does know better.

“What’re you doing in her bed?” Remus grumbles, but the inflection is more a result of his current state and less to do with any real ire. He’d be lying if he didn’t admit how sweet a picture it painted; Sirius’ onyx hair fanned out against the white of the pillow cases, the sun warming a few strands ever so slightly causing them to appear a chocolatey brown as your breathing continued in perfect rhythm. You seem so content, so secure, so loved that even whilst unconscious, you lean into them with your full trust.

“Same thing Jamie’s doing in yours.” Sirius responds breezily around a yawn, and Remus looks up to notice that James is actually perched on the head of his bed looking down at him - like he hung, well, the moon - massaging at his scalp that Remus swore saw any residual tension seeping from his body with every stroke of James’ careful fingers. 

“She okay?” Remus asks then, letting his eyes fall closed as Sirius lets out a indignant scoff. 

“‘Course she is, we’re not new here.” He sneers playfully at Remus, pulling you closer to him by the shoulders when you shift in your sleep and brushes his hand up and down your back in broad strokes; Remus is sure it feels heavenly.

“We’re fine too, by the way.” James teases as he leans down to press a kiss to Remus’ forehead. “Not like we were the ones doing all the hard work last night or anything.”

“Hard work.” Remus snorts. “I’m sorry; did your bones bend and break, and did your skin stretch and snap twice?” 

“No…” James admits, though it’s Sirius who continues the banter. 

“We were just in charge of chasing two giant, hyperactive puppies through the forest all night.”

“We’re not puppies.”

“Yes you are.” Sirius laughs, though Remus can tell - for Sirius’ part - he’s working very hard to dim his brightness in an attempt to keep you sound and not wake you. It makes Remus’ heart swell. “Dolly’s afraid of her own sodding shadow and yelped at every snapping twig, requiring plenty of reassurance, and Moony spent about twenty minutes chasing his own tail before he fell head first into a tree when he got dizzy.” 

“That’s not true, is it?” Remus whispers to James who quickly offers him an apologetic smile.

“‘Fraid so, Moons. The two of you also had what I swore was a howling contest last night, too.”

“Oh my gods.” Sirius laughs as he recalls the memory. “Moony’s voice actually cracked like a teenage boy going through puberty, and Dolly’s voice was completely hoarse by the time we convinced the two of you to knock it off.”

“She’s not going to be able to speak more than a whisper for the next foreseeable future.” James adds, looking equal parts fond, exasperated, and sympathetic for you as they watch you push your face into Sirius’ chest. 

“We’ll make her tea.” Sirius declares, his own voice but a whisper as he holds you close, eyes far away as if he’s focusing especially hard on keeping you comfortable and sleeping soundly.

“With lots of honey.” Remus agrees quietly, smile growing when Sirius’ eyes meet his and crinkle in the corners.

“Pandora told me she has a recipe for lavender tea; could be nice to try after a moon, hm?” James offers.

“You’d probably like that too, hey Moons? Lavender tea.” Sirius asks. 

And Remus couldn’t deny that he would probably like just about anything so long as he was able to enjoy it with the three of you; pre- and post-moons, recovering in the hospital wing, watching paint dry, steeping tea…whatever.

 “Yeah, Pads.” He admits. “I think I would.”

[boysmentfs]

Wrong shampoo.

The idea of living with his stepfather still didn't seem good to Jimmy, an 18-year-old boy who is skinny, nerdy, gay and a fan of comics, Even though Jimmy had already been living with his stepfather for 3 days, he still didn't like the idea but he had to get used to it, but how would he do it? His stepbrother, Jax, did not help the situation to improve either, Jax almost always made fun of him for being very skinny and short and told him that he would never be a real man and that frustrated Jimmy.

But Jimmy wasn't the typical guy who would cry over insults and that kind of thing, maybe just maybe with the days everything would change, so the days went by until Jimmy came up with an idea So that his brother would not continue making fun of him, he began to exercise at home, like squats, push-ups and all that.

One day when Jimmy finished exercising he went to shower as he always did, he grabbed his towel, his boxers and went straight to the shower, Once he was there he opened the shower, whenever Jimmy felt the water he closed his eyes to feel peace and tranquility, So since she had her eyes closed she grabbed a shampoo, his stepbrother's shampoo, he started pouring some shampoo into her hair and started bathing.

Once the shampoo made contact with his skin, Jimmy began to feel strange and a little hot, as he continued bathing, his feet began to lengthen and look more masculine, A little hair began to appear on his feet as more changes were on the way.

His once thin, hairless legs began to fill with muscle as his texture began to look more masculine, His thighs began to grow in size as they now looked like two soccer balls, Hair began to appear everywhere, now his legs looked like those of a soccer player adducting to the gym.

His bag began to grow and get thicker as it went from 5 centimeters to a mighty 11 centimeters, A forest of pubic hair sprouted on his bag, giving him a more masculine appearance.

His torso began to lengthen while his shoulders grew in size, two large pecs began to emerge while an 8-pack of worked abs began to appear on his stomach, On his pectorals, which now looked like chests due to their size, a layer of hair began to grow on his chest.

His arms also began to lengthen as muscle began to appear on them, biceps and quads They came out in his arms, it seemed like he was having a great time working his muscles in the gym a layer of black hair also began to appear on these, His hands, which were delicate and pretty, began to expand while his fingers lengthened and their texture made way for masculinity.

His back filled with muscles as he became bigger and bigger.

His voice became 5 tones lower,His Adam's apple began to bulge more on his neck, while his once brown hair began to turn black While he now had a cuter, more masculine haircut, his face began to creak, All the baby fat he had began to oxidize to give way to a sharp, sharp jaw, his lips filled out and became more kissable while his eyes grew a bit larger, His nose became cute while a small earring appeared in his ear, once Jimmy washed his hair well, his memories began to fade, A small fever began to burn in his body as he inexplicably cum and with that his memories left him giving way to new memories.

Now he was no longer Jimmy, he was James, Jax's younger brother, James was 22 while Jax was 23, James was well known in college for being the captain of the football team, for his muscles, and for being good in bed and he was also heterosexual.

once James got out of the shower he put on his black Calvin Klein boxers while his pubic hair was sticking out a little, he put on his favorite gold chain while grabbing his cell phone and taking a photo for his Instagram.

[maclad1888]

Looking down on Sevco.

vm.tiktok.com/ZMYLKtyj4/ Join me on Tik tok. #stevenmcnamara13

[cuddlytogas]

So I accidentally almost got into an argument on Twitter, and now I'm thinking about bad historical costuming tropes. Specifically, Action Hero Leather Pants.

See, I was light-heartedly pointing out the inaccuracies of the costumes in Black Sails, and someone came out of the woodwork to defend the show. The misunderstanding was that they thought I was dismissing the show just for its costumes, which I wasn't - I was simply pointing out that it can't entirely care about material history (meaning specifically physical objects/culture) if it treats its clothes like that.

But this person was slightly offended on behalf of their show - especially, quote, "And from a fan of OFMD, no less!" Which got me thinking - it's true! I can abide a lot more historical costuming inaccuracy from Our Flag than I can Black Sails or Vikings. And I don't think it's just because one has my blorbos in it. But really, when it comes down to it...

What is the difference between this and this?

Here's the thing. Leather pants in period dramas isn't new. You've got your Vikings, Tudors, Outlander, Pirates of the Caribbean, Once Upon a Time, Will, The Musketeers, even Shakespeare in Love - they love to shove people in leather and call it a day. But where does this come from?

Obviously we have the modern connotations. Modern leather clothes developed in a few subcultures: cowboys drew on Native American clothing. (Allegedly. This is a little beyond my purview, I haven't seen any solid evidence, and it sounds like the kind of fact that people repeat a lot but is based on an assumption. I wouldn't know, though.) Leather was used in some WWI and II uniforms.

But the big boom came in the mid-C20th in motorcycle, punk/goth, and gay subcultures, all intertwined with each other and the above. Motorcyclists wear leather as practical protective gear, and it gets picked up by rock and punk artists as a symbol of counterculture, and transferred to movie designs. It gets wrapped up in gay and kink communities, with even more countercultural and taboo meanings. By the late C20th, leather has entered mainstream fashion, but it still carries those references to goths, punks, BDSM, and motorbike gangs, to James Dean, Marlon Brando, and Mick Jagger. This is whence we get our Spikes and Dave Listers in 1980s/90s media, bad boys and working-class punks.

And some of the above "historical" design choices clearly build on these meanings. William Shakespeare is dressed in a black leather doublet to evoke the swaggering bad boy artist heartthrob, probably down on his luck. So is Kit Marlowe.

But the associations get a little fuzzier after that. Hook, with his eyeliner and jewellery, sure. King Henry, yeah, I see it. It's hideously ahistorical, but sure. But what about Jamie and Will and Ragnar, in their browns and shabby, battle-ready chic? Well, here we get the other strain of Bad Period Drama Leather.

See, designers like to point to history, but it's just not true. Leather armour, especially in the western/European world, is very, very rare, and not just because it decays faster than metal. (Yes, even in ancient Greece/Rome, despite many articles claiming that as the start of the leather armour trend!) It simply wasn't used a lot, because it's frankly useless at defending the body compared to metal. Leather was used as a backing for some splint armour pieces, and for belts, sheathes, and buckles, but it simply wasn't worn like the costumes above. It's heavy, uncomfortable, and hard to repair - it's simply not practical for a garment when you have perfectly comfortable, insulating, and widely available linen, wool, and cotton!

As far as I can see, the real influence on leather in period dramas is fantasy. Fantasy media has proliferated the idea of leather armour as the lightweight choice for rangers, elves, and rogues, a natural, quiet, flexible material, less flashy or restrictive than metal. And it is cheaper for a costume department to make, and easier for an actor to wear on set. It's in Dungeons and Dragons and Lord of the Rings, King Arthur, Runescape, and World of Warcraft.

And I think this is how we get to characters like Ragnar and Vane. This idea of leather as practical gear and light armour, it's fantasy, but it has this lineage, behind which sits cowboy chaps and bomber/flight jackets. It's usually brown compared to the punk bad boy's black, less shiny, and more often piecemeal or decorated. In fact, there's a great distinction between the two Period Leather Modes within the same piece of media: Robin Hood (2006)! Compare the brooding, fascist-coded villain Guy of Gisborne with the shabby, bow-wielding, forest-dwelling Robin:

So, back to the original question: What's the difference between Charles Vane in Black Sails, and Edward Teach in Our Flag Means Death?

Simply put, it's intention. There is nothing intentional about Vane's leather in Black Sails. It's not the only leather in the show, and it only says what all shabby period leather says, relying on the same tropes as fantasy armour: he's a bad boy and a fighter in workaday leather, poor, flexible, and practical. None of these connotations are based in reality or history, and they've been done countless times before. It's boring design, neither historically accurate nor particularly creative, but much the same as all the other shabby chic fighters on our screens. He has a broad lineage in Lord of the Rings and Pirates of the Caribbean and such, but that's it.

In Our Flag, however, the lineage is much, much more intentional. Ed is a direct homage to Mad Max, the costuming in which is both practical (Max is an ex-cop and road warrior), and draws on punk and kink designs to evoke a counterculture gone mad to the point of social breakdown, exploiting the thrill of the taboo to frighten and titillate the audience.

In particular, Ed is styled after Max in the second movie, having lost his family, been badly injured, and watched the world turn into an apocalypse. He's a broken man, withdrawn, violent, and deliberately cutting himself off from others to avoid getting hurt again. The plot of Mad Max 2 is him learning to open up and help others, making himself vulnerable to more loss, but more human in the process.

This ties directly into the themes of Our Flag - it's a deliberate intertext. Ed's emotional journey is also one from isolation and pain to vulnerability, community, and love. Mad Max (intentionally and unintentionally) explores themes of masculinity, violence, and power, while Max has become simplified in the popular imagination as a stoic, badass action hero rather than the more complex character he is, struggling with loss and humanity. Similarly, Our Flag explores masculinity, both textually (Stede is trying to build a less abusive pirate culture) and metatextually (the show champions complex, banal, and tender masculinities, especially when we're used to only seeing pirates in either gritty action movies or childish comedies).

Our Flag also draws on the specific countercultures of motorcycles, rockers, and gay/BDSM culture in its design and themes. Naturally, in such a queer show, one can't help but make the connection between leather pirates and leather daddies, and the design certainly nods at this, with its vests and studs. I always think about this guy, with his flat cap so reminiscient of gay leather fashions.

More overtly, though, Blackbeard and his crew are styled as both violent gangsters and countercultural rockstars. They rove the seas like a bikie gang, free and violent, and are seen as icons, bad boys and celebrities. Other pirates revere Blackbeard and wish they could be on his crew, while civilians are awed by his reputation, desperate for juicy, gory details.

This isn't all of why I like the costuming in Our Flag Means Death (especially season 1). Stede's outfits are by no means accurate, but they're a lot more accurate than most pirate media, and they're bright and colourful, with accurate and delightful silks, lace, velvets, and brocades, and lovely, puffy skirts on his jackets. Many of the Revenge crew wear recognisable sailor's trousers, and practical but bright, varied gear that easily conveys personality and flair. There is a surprising dedication to little details, like changing Ed's trousers to fall-fronts for a historical feel, Izzy's puffy sleeves, the handmade fringe on Lucius's red jacket, or the increasing absurdity of navy uniform cuffs between Nigel and Chauncey.

A really big one is the fact that they don't shy away from historical footwear! In almost every example above, we see the period drama's obsession with putting men in skinny jeans and bucket-top boots, but not only does Stede wear his little red-heeled shoes with stockings, but most of his crew, and the ordinary people of Barbados, wear low boots or pumps, and even rough, masculine characters like Pete wear knee breeches and bright colours. It's inaccurate, but at least it's a new kind of inaccuracy, that builds much more on actual historical fashions, and eschews the shortcuts of other, grittier period dramas in favour of colour and personality.

But also. At least it fucking says something with its leather.