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Bologna Children’s Book Fair – bigger than ever
Life is too short to read a bad book. – James Joyce
Hardly four weeks after the London Book Fair, it was Bologna’s turn to open its doors in front of a large demonstration for a cease-fire in Gaza and the liberation of all hostages, both those in Palestinian and those in Israeli custody.
The Bologna Children’s Book Fair was again configured in three co-located sections – the main children’s book fair, a generalist (non-children’s) extension under the heading Bologna Book Plus, and the Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids. New features in the program were the TV/Film Rights Centre in collaboration with the United Nations and the Society of Illustrators in New York, and the Audio Forum, added to the existing Literary Translation Forum in partnership with app developer Beat Technology. Also new for 2024 was the Licensing Portfolio Review, an opportunity to bring together consumer goods and audiovisual companies with illustration and design talents to create new business opportunities.
In its fourth year, BolognaBookPlus (BBPlus) included the topical programme India in the Limelight, with exhibition spaces, book jacket exhibits, copyright exchanges, and training workshops on rights selling, author representation, scouting, and writing and self-publishing. This year’s emphasis on the Indian book market was organized in cooperation with the National BookTrust of India. With BBPlus’ Literary Translation Forum returning for a third year, the centerpiece there was Taiwan’s book industry.
The Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids (BLTF/K), dedicated to brands and the licensing of content for children, teenagers, and young adults, was held for the 17th time as an integral part of BCBF, with a Licensing Business Lounge and features such as matchmaking events for companies in the fashion and retail sectors. In a collaboration with Licensing Magazine, BLTF/Kids also organized the 4th edition of the International Kids Licensing Days – three days of in-depth discussions with international brands on issues related to content for children and young adults, from licensing to publishing, from audiovisual to gaming. Some of the topics discussed continue to be available online on demand, including digital publishing, animation, omnichannel retailing, sustainability, and toys.
Bologna Global Rights Exchange online
BCBF also has an online rights exchange platform, the Bologna Global Rights Exchange database, GRE. Powered by the international rights platform PubMatch since 2020, it has some 20,000 titles and offers exhibitors the opportunity to present their titles and brands, create and name their own showcases, search content and trends, and schedule and hold calls directly on the platform.
The system is open to publishers, agents, agencies, scouts, licensees, licensors, developers, audiovisual producers, and service providers. It is free to all in-person BCBF exhibitors.
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Asia was also high on the agenda at the other two book fairs that were held recently – the Leipzig and Brussels book fairs. With 2085 exhibitors, including 445 at its Manga Comic Convention, the Leipzig Book Fair was attended by 283,000 visitors, both from the trade and the general public. At the Manga Comic Convention, several publishers from Japan, South Korea, and Malaysia had taken large booths. The Brussels Book Fair, with 380 booths and 75,000 trade and other visitors, had installed a large ‘Manga Village’ representing several Japanese publishing houses.
Bologna awards
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Among the winners of the BolognaRagazzi Awards, aimed at highlighting the most beautiful and innovative picture books published worldwide, three publishers from South Korea received special mentions – Atnoonbooks for its Mo Story, Woongjin ThinkBig for the book As You Drive, and Sakyejul for the title Rice Cake House of a Tiger.
Another of BCBF’s awards is the Bologna Licensing Award for agencies, licensees ,and retailers on an international level, to enhance the content link within the entire supply chain as the basis of success. This year, a new category was introduced, dedicated to the Best Licensed Sustainable Project, to reward companies and brands that care about the future of the planet through the development of sustainable consumer goods and projects for children, teens, and young adults.
The next BCBF has been scheduled for 31 March to 3 April 2025.
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Children's Magazines: Join Magazinesubscriptions.in The most popular to Get Now in Fun and Learning
Welcome to MagazineSubscriptions.in – A Single Source for Exciting Reading Journeys!
Are you ready to take your kids on an exciting adventure filled with fascinating stories, fun games, and unlimited learning opportunities? Never look more than MagazineSubscriptions.in – a single source for all of your magazine subscriptions, providing both kids and parents with a smooth and educational experience.
Indian magazines made particular areas for children's books in the active sector of children's literature. Due to their educational and entertaining value, these magazines are enjoyed by both parents and children. These magazines are valuable because of their creativity, educational value, and characteristic humor. If you're searching for an interesting read, check out this magazine, and buy magazine subscription in India.
Magic Pot Magazine:
Magic Pot magazine is a portal for creativity and the mind, more than a magazine. If you're looking to order magazines online, you may want to check out The Magic Pot's interesting fun. Because of its creative and informative balance, it's a wonderful friend for young minds who are interested in learning. It's simple to buy Magic Pot magazine subscriptions in India for those who are interested. The journal provides a variety of pleasures in the field of storytelling, thus the minerals it finds balance out its cost.
Magic Pot magazine buy online is a useful choice for users and those thinking about a Magic Pot magazine subscription, It provides a link to a creative domain. See the interesting field of tales with Magic Pot magazine. Dive into the enchanting universe with Magic Pot monthly magazine—a delightful journey awaits you.
Champak English Magazine:
With children's books, Champak magazine continues to be an amazing find. Children are taken into a world with interesting Champak comics making ideas come to life as users turn the pages, so more people may access its interesting products. Magazine subscriptions are easy to find for anyone who wants to learn more about this interesting topic, providing the comfort of buying magazine subscriptions in India and even ordering magazines online.
Since technology has improved, the attraction of buying magazines online has given the reading pleasure a new point of view. Online magazine subscriptions give people a link to a variety of creative accounts, making it simple to buy magazines online. The magazine stands as a wonderful option for buying journals online. Whether you're interested in Champak in English, exploring Champak magazine online, or checking the Champak magazine subscription price, Your various needs are responded to using the internet platform. For anyone interested buy Champak Hindi online or find Champak books in English.
Champak-Hindi Magazine
Are you ready to delve into a world where imagination knows no bounds? Look no further than Champak Hindi magazine. Champak Hindi magazine subscription is your key to unlocking a world of wonders. Subscribe today. For people who feel more secure in online environments, it's a draw of Champak story book in Hindi online is irresistible. You can easily buy Champak Hindi online, making sure you don't give up a chance to expand your collection with a fresh section.
Visit the colorful world of Champak comics in Hindi online, where every frame is a visual feast. With Champak Hindi online, entertainment is just a click away. A Champak Hindi subscription is not just a subscription. For people who value touching items with their hands, reading Champak magazine in Hindi online brings the joy of flipping through pages to life.
Highlights Champs Magazine
Best to the wonderful space of Highlights Champs Magazine, where education becomes a joy when imagination and interest meet. Our journal is a smooth extension of the popular Highlights Magazine. We kindly inspire you to enter into the wonder that is located inside the pages of this issue of Highlights Champs Magazine.
Increase the learning journey of your child by subscribing to our unique offerings on the Highlights Champs Magazine subscription. Avoid giving up the benefits of a Highlights Magazine subscription.
For our Indian readers, Highlights Champs Magazine is a lot more than just a work of art. Enjoy the speed of inquiry Highlights Champs Magazine online for free. Our devotion to the education of young children is shown by Highlights Magazine for Kindergarten. Become part of the vibrant Highlightsforchildren community by subscribing to Highlights Champs Magazine. Embark on a journey of exploration and learning with Highlights Champs Magazine.
Highlights Genies Magazine
If you're interested in learning about the Indian entertainment situation, take a closer glance at the Highlights Genies Magazine India review offers an infinite amount of information. Beyond Reviews Highlights Genies Magazine creates an interesting fabric of entertainment reporting. The magazine creates a sense of connection between celebrity and their audience by providing a means for people to get in touch with those they admire on a personal level.
As it continues to evolve, Highlights Genies Magazine India continues to be focused on leading a discussion about entertainment.
Tell Me Why Magazine:
Buying a subscription to Tell Me Why magazine provides the option of viewing the globe from the safety of your own home in India. The Tell Me Why magazine subscription price in India is a small amount of money that produces important information and generates interest in studying that continues for always. Buy magazine subscriptions in India and even order magazines online with a small amount of money that produces important information and produces an interest in learning that continues for always. Online magazine subscriptions, allow us to buy magazines online.
With an online subscription to Tell Me Why magazine, You create a portal to a limitless amount of knowledge, crossing over that line between interest and knowledge. Whether you're interested in a Tell Me Why subscription, exploring Tell Me Why magazine online, or checking the Tell Me Why magazine subscription price in India. Discovering Tell Me Why magazine all issues
Tinkle Magazine:
Through its famous Tinkle comics and stories, Tinkle magazine has built itself as a leading authority on Indian children's books by offering an interesting selection of entertaining and exciting titles. pleasantly, you may buy magazine subscriptions in India and even order magazines online, supposing you have permanent access to Tinkle's amazing world. Online magazine subscriptions are completely different in the way we obtain content. With the option to buy magazines online.
For people who are interested in Tinkle magazine subscription details, It's an opening to an infinite amount of knowledge that attracts interest and provides valuable life guidance. The Tinkle magazine price is a small amount of money that can buy countless smiles and happy moments spent with others. If you choose to buy Tinkle comics, subscribe to Tinkle magazine, or buy Tinkle online.
Disney Magazine:
Disney magazine creates an environment full of charming people and interesting stories. You can easily buy magazine subscriptions in India and even order magazines online, Making sure Disney's charm is not just a click away.
Online magazine subscriptions changed the listening process. Being able to choose to buy magazines online, people at Disney Comics. They might find it fascinating to interact with accounts, colorful activities, and interesting facts that are special to Disney. List of Disney comics waiting to be explored. The list of Disney comics subscription alternates guarantees a continuous supply of interesting information. It is special among the Disney comics magazines list, attracting viewers of all ages with an account that combines memory and modern storytelling.
Buy Magazine Online – Anytime, Anywhere!
By using MagazineSubscriptions.in, you're investing in the growth of your kid instead of just purchasing magazines. Come be a part of the group of content parents who have seen their kids benefit from high-quality literature.
Start your learning adventure with MagazineSubscriptions.in today to make learning enjoyable, friendly, and exciting!
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Children's Magazines: Join Magazinesubscriptions.in The most popular to Get Now in Fun and Learning
Welcome to MagazineSubscriptions.in – A Single Source for Exciting Reading Journeys!
Are you ready to take your kids on an exciting adventure filled with fascinating stories, fun games, and unlimited learning opportunities? Never look more than MagazineSubscriptions.in – a single source for all of your magazine subscriptions, providing both kids and parents with a smooth and educational experience.
Indian magazines made particular areas for children's books in the active sector of children's literature. Due to their educational and entertaining value, these magazines are enjoyed by both parents and children. These magazines are valuable because of their creativity, educational value, and characteristic humor. If you're searching for an interesting read, check out this magazine, and buy magazine subscription in India.
Magic Pot Magazine:
Magic Pot magazine is a portal for creativity and the mind, more than a magazine. If you're looking to order magazines online, you may want to check out The Magic Pot's interesting fun. Because of its creative and informative balance, it's a wonderful friend for young minds who are interested in learning. It's simple to buy Magic Pot magazine subscriptions in India for those who are interested. The journal provides a variety of pleasures in the field of storytelling, thus the minerals it finds balance out its cost.
Magic Pot magazine buy online is a useful choice for users and those thinking about a Magic Pot magazine subscription, It provides a link to a creative domain. See the interesting field of tales with Magic Pot magazine. Dive into the enchanting universe with Magic Pot monthly magazine—a delightful journey awaits you.
Champak English Magazine:
With children's books, Champak magazine continues to be an amazing find. Children are taken into a world with interesting Champak comics making ideas come to life as users turn the pages, so more people may access its interesting products. Magazine subscriptions are easy to find for anyone who wants to learn more about this interesting topic, providing the comfort of buying magazine subscriptions in India and even ordering magazines online.
Since technology has improved, the attraction of buying magazines online has given the reading pleasure a new point of view. Online magazine subscriptions give people a link to a variety of creative accounts, making it simple to buy magazines online. The magazine stands as a wonderful option for buying journals online. Whether you're interested in Champak in English, exploring Champak magazine online, or checking the Champak magazine subscription price, Your various needs are responded to using the internet platform. For anyone interested buy Champak Hindi online or find Champak books in English.
Champak-Hindi Magazine
Are you ready to delve into a world where imagination knows no bounds? Look no further than Champak Hindi magazine. Champak Hindi magazine subscription is your key to unlocking a world of wonders. Subscribe today. For people who feel more secure in online environments, it's a draw of Champak story book in Hindi online is irresistible. You can easily buy Champak Hindi online, making sure you don't give up a chance to expand your collection with a fresh section.
Visit the colorful world of Champak comics in Hindi online, where every frame is a visual feast. With Champak Hindi online, entertainment is just a click away. A Champak Hindi subscription is not just a subscription. For people who value touching items with their hands, reading Champak magazine in Hindi online brings the joy of flipping through pages to life.
Highlights Champs Magazine
Best to the wonderful space of Highlights Champs Magazine, where education becomes a joy when imagination and interest meet. Our journal is a smooth extension of the popular Highlights Magazine. We kindly inspire you to enter into the wonder that is located inside the pages of this issue of Highlights Champs Magazine.
Increase the learning journey of your child by subscribing to our unique offerings on the Highlights Champs Magazine subscription. Avoid giving up the benefits of a Highlights Magazine subscription.
For our Indian readers, Highlights Champs Magazine is a lot more than just a work of art. Enjoy the speed of inquiry Highlights Champs Magazine online for free. Our devotion to the education of young children is shown by Highlights Magazine for Kindergarten. Become part of the vibrant Highlightsforchildren community by subscribing to Highlights Champs Magazine. Embark on a journey of exploration and learning with Highlights Champs Magazine.
Highlights Genies Magazine
If you're interested in learning about the Indian entertainment situation, take a closer glance at the Highlights Genies Magazine India review offers an infinite amount of information. Beyond Reviews Highlights Genies Magazine creates an interesting fabric of entertainment reporting. The magazine creates a sense of connection between celebrity and their audience by providing a means for people to get in touch with those they admire on a personal level.
As it continues to evolve, Highlights Genies Magazine India continues to be focused on leading a discussion about entertainment.
Tell Me Why Magazine:
Buying a subscription to Tell Me Why magazine provides the option of viewing the globe from the safety of your own home in India. The Tell Me Why magazine subscription price in India is a small amount of money that produces important information and generates interest in studying that continues for always. Buy magazine subscriptions in India and even order magazines online with a small amount of money that produces important information and produces an interest in learning that continues for always. Online magazine subscriptions, allow us to buy magazines online.
With an online subscription to Tell Me Why magazine, You create a portal to a limitless amount of knowledge, crossing over that line between interest and knowledge. Whether you're interested in a Tell Me Why subscription, exploring Tell Me Why magazine online, or checking the Tell Me Why magazine subscription price in India. Discovering Tell Me Why magazine all issues
Tinkle Magazine:
Through its famous Tinkle comics and stories, Tinkle magazine has built itself as a leading authority on Indian children's books by offering an interesting selection of entertaining and exciting titles. pleasantly, you may buy magazine subscriptions in India and even order magazines online, supposing you have permanent access to Tinkle's amazing world. Online magazine subscriptions are completely different in the way we obtain content. With the option to buy magazines online.
For people who are interested in Tinkle magazine subscription details, It's an opening to an infinite amount of knowledge that attracts interest and provides valuable life guidance. The Tinkle magazine price is a small amount of money that can buy countless smiles and happy moments spent with others. If you choose to buy Tinkle comics, subscribe to Tinkle magazine, or buy Tinkle online.
Disney Magazine:
Disney magazine creates an environment full of charming people and interesting stories. You can easily buy magazine subscriptions in India and even order magazines online, Making sure Disney's charm is not just a click away.
Online magazine subscriptions changed the listening process. Being able to choose to buy magazines online, people at Disney Comics. They might find it fascinating to interact with accounts, colorful activities, and interesting facts that are special to Disney. List of Disney comics waiting to be explored. The list of Disney comics subscription alternates guarantees a continuous supply of interesting information. It is special among the Disney comics magazines list, attracting viewers of all ages with an account that combines memory and modern storytelling.
Buy Magazine Online – Anytime, Anywhere!
By using MagazineSubscriptions.in, you're investing in the growth of your kid instead of just purchasing magazines. Come be a part of the group of content parents who have seen their kids benefit from high-quality literature.
Start your learning adventure with MagazineSubscriptions.in today to make learning enjoyable, friendly, and exciting!
0 notes
Text
Children's Magazines: Join Magazinesubscriptions.in The most popular to Get Now in Fun and Learning
Welcome to MagazineSubscriptions.in – A Single Source for Exciting Reading Journeys!
Are you ready to take your kids on an exciting adventure filled with fascinating stories, fun games, and unlimited learning opportunities? Never look more than MagazineSubscriptions.in – a single source for all of your magazine subscriptions, providing both kids and parents with a smooth and educational experience.
Indian magazines made particular areas for children's books in the active sector of children's literature. Due to their educational and entertaining value, these magazines are enjoyed by both parents and children. These magazines are valuable because of their creativity, educational value, and characteristic humor. If you're searching for an interesting read, check out this magazine, and buy magazine subscription in India.
Magic Pot Magazine:
Magic Pot magazine is a portal for creativity and the mind, more than a magazine. If you're looking to order magazines online, you may want to check out The Magic Pot's interesting fun. Because of its creative and informative balance, it's a wonderful friend for young minds who are interested in learning. It's simple to buy Magic Pot magazine subscriptions in India for those who are interested. The journal provides a variety of pleasures in the field of storytelling, thus the minerals it finds balance out its cost.
Magic Pot magazine buy online is a useful choice for users and those thinking about a Magic Pot magazine subscription, It provides a link to a creative domain. See the interesting field of tales with Magic Pot magazine. Dive into the enchanting universe with Magic Pot monthly magazine—a delightful journey awaits you.
Champak English Magazine:
With children's books, Champak magazine continues to be an amazing find. Children are taken into a world with interesting Champak comics making ideas come to life as users turn the pages, so more people may access its interesting products. Magazine subscriptions are easy to find for anyone who wants to learn more about this interesting topic, providing the comfort of buying magazine subscriptions in India and even ordering magazines online.
Since technology has improved, the attraction of buying magazines online has given the reading pleasure a new point of view. Online magazine subscriptions give people a link to a variety of creative accounts, making it simple to buy magazines online. The magazine stands as a wonderful option for buying journals online. Whether you're interested in Champak in English, exploring Champak magazine online, or checking the Champak magazine subscription price, Your various needs are responded to using the internet platform. For anyone interested buy Champak Hindi online or find Champak books in English.
Champak-Hindi Magazine
Are you ready to delve into a world where imagination knows no bounds? Look no further than Champak Hindi magazine. Champak Hindi magazine subscription is your key to unlocking a world of wonders. Subscribe today. For people who feel more secure in online environments, it's a draw of Champak story book in Hindi online is irresistible. You can easily buy Champak Hindi online, making sure you don't give up a chance to expand your collection with a fresh section.
Visit the colorful world of Champak comics in Hindi online, where every frame is a visual feast. With Champak Hindi online, entertainment is just a click away. A Champak Hindi subscription is not just a subscription. For people who value touching items with their hands, reading Champak magazine in Hindi online brings the joy of flipping through pages to life.
Highlights Champs Magazine
Best to the wonderful space of Highlights Champs Magazine, where education becomes a joy when imagination and interest meet. Our journal is a smooth extension of the popular Highlights Magazine. We kindly inspire you to enter into the wonder that is located inside the pages of this issue of Highlights Champs Magazine.
Increase the learning journey of your child by subscribing to our unique offerings on the Highlights Champs Magazine subscription. Avoid giving up the benefits of a Highlights Magazine subscription.
For our Indian readers, Highlights Champs Magazine is a lot more than just a work of art. Enjoy the speed of inquiry Highlights Champs Magazine online for free. Our devotion to the education of young children is shown by Highlights Magazine for Kindergarten. Become part of the vibrant Highlightsforchildren community by subscribing to Highlights Champs Magazine. Embark on a journey of exploration and learning with Highlights Champs Magazine.
Highlights Genies Magazine
If you're interested in learning about the Indian entertainment situation, take a closer glance at the Highlights Genies Magazine India review offers an infinite amount of information. Beyond Reviews Highlights Genies Magazine creates an interesting fabric of entertainment reporting. The magazine creates a sense of connection between celebrity and their audience by providing a means for people to get in touch with those they admire on a personal level.
As it continues to evolve, Highlights Genies Magazine India continues to be focused on leading a discussion about entertainment.
Tell Me Why Magazine:
Buying a subscription to Tell Me Why magazine provides the option of viewing the globe from the safety of your own home in India. The Tell Me Why magazine subscription price in India is a small amount of money that produces important information and generates interest in studying that continues for always. Buy magazine subscriptions in India and even order magazines online with a small amount of money that produces important information and produces an interest in learning that continues for always. Online magazine subscriptions, allow us to buy magazines online.
With an online subscription to Tell Me Why magazine, You create a portal to a limitless amount of knowledge, crossing over that line between interest and knowledge. Whether you're interested in a Tell Me Why subscription, exploring Tell Me Why magazine online, or checking the Tell Me Why magazine subscription price in India. Discovering Tell Me Why magazine all issues
Tinkle Magazine:
Through its famous Tinkle comics and stories, Tinkle magazine has built itself as a leading authority on Indian children's books by offering an interesting selection of entertaining and exciting titles. pleasantly, you may buy magazine subscriptions in India and even order magazines online, supposing you have permanent access to Tinkle's amazing world. Online magazine subscriptions are completely different in the way we obtain content. With the option to buy magazines online.
For people who are interested in Tinkle magazine subscription details, It's an opening to an infinite amount of knowledge that attracts interest and provides valuable life guidance. The Tinkle magazine price is a small amount of money that can buy countless smiles and happy moments spent with others. If you choose to buy Tinkle comics, subscribe to Tinkle magazine, or buy Tinkle online.
Disney Magazine:
Disney magazine creates an environment full of charming people and interesting stories. You can easily buy magazine subscriptions in India and even order magazines online, Making sure Disney's charm is not just a click away.
Online magazine subscriptions changed the listening process. Being able to choose to buy magazines online, people at Disney Comics. They might find it fascinating to interact with accounts, colorful activities, and interesting facts that are special to Disney. List of Disney comics waiting to be explored. The list of Disney comics subscription alternates guarantees a continuous supply of interesting information. It is special among the Disney comics magazines list, attracting viewers of all ages with an account that combines memory and modern storytelling.
Buy Magazine Online – Anytime, Anywhere!
By using MagazineSubscriptions.in, you're investing in the growth of your kid instead of just purchasing magazines. Come be a part of the group of content parents who have seen their kids benefit from high-quality literature.
Start your learning adventure with MagazineSubscriptions.in today to make learning enjoyable, friendly, and exciting!
#magazinesubscriptions#magazinesubscription#magazine#subscriptionservice#subscription#subsccriptions
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OPINION: The Life and Times of an Indian Otaku
Makoto Shinkai's Weathering With You marked a historic first in my anime watching career. Contrary to popular belief, being the first anime to be released in Indian theaters is not the historic first in question (that honor goes to Shinchan: Bungle in the Jungle). Rather, Weathering With You would become the first film I'd ever watch on opening day — "first day first show" as we Indians call it. In the mad scramble to get tickets, I'd emerged a winner. Was it worth the struggle?
An emphatic yes. It was so good I went on to rewatch it twice.
To fans in India: I’m so happy to tell that ‘Weathering With You’ (Tenki no ko) will release in India this October! We have licensed the Indian distribution rights to PVR Pictures and BookMyShow backed company Vkaao.
— 新海誠 (@shinkaimakoto) August 10, 2019
The Indian theatrical release of Weathering With You in 2019 marked an important moment in the history of the Indian anime fandom. The story of how Shinkai noticed (and fulfilled) an online petition by Indian fans asking for its release here is already the stuff of legend. Because access to anime (especially in theaters) was so scarce in India, even in 2019, fans sought to have the film legally released in theaters. And thanks to Shinkai, it worked. To Indian anime fans, this represented the moment Japan — and the rest of the world — recognized our existence in the fandom. But Indian otakus didn't spring up overnight. Anime has had nearly three decades of history here. It just looks a little different than the rest of the world. The origins of anime in India go back to the '90s. Prior to the economic reforms of 1991, we had one — yes, only one — TV channel, the state-owned Doordarshan. The post-1991 wave of private TV channels brought with it a flood of international TV shows, among them anime like Robotech (which aired on the newly-created Star Plus). Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama, the anime adaptation of the Indian mythological epic of the same name, was released in 1992 and had a long and troubled production history, but the end product was a grand success, with its all-star Hindi cast and catchy songs turning it into a TV fixture for well over a decade. It even received a US release, with Bryan Cranston voicing the lead role. The remainder of the '90s would see various anime achieve varying degrees of success, from Nippon Animation's 1989 adaptation of The Jungle Book — which became a nationwide hit — airing in India starting in 1993, to late-night anime like You're Under Arrest and Gunsmith Cats. Despite this, there wasn't yet an actual fandom surrounding anime at the time. That would all change upon the turn of the century.
Cartoon Network revolutionized the Indian anime market when the channel arrived in 2001. The launch of dedicated anime programming block Toonami brought with it two anime that would permanently shape the future of the fandom: Dragon Ball Z and Cardcaptor Sakura (albeit in its heavily-edited Cardcaptors form). While I never watched Dragon Ball Z (compared to all my friends at school), I did watch some Cardcaptors with my sister, which would actually be the very first anime I watched. My own viewing habits notwithstanding, DBZ was very much the anime of the moment. Schoolkids would frequently shout out famous lines from the iconic English dub. We'd even invented various hand games based on attacks and moves from DBZ. In 2003, another monumental shift would come as the childhood classic Pokémon hit the small screen, followed closely by Digimon, Yu-Gi-Oh!, and Beyblade. The merchandise associated with these franchises turned them into smash hits with a younger audience. All the cool kids had Pokemon cards and Beyblade tops. Battling with them at school was the stuff childhood was made of. To this day, these toys continue to sell well. Beyblade tournaments are still very much a thing. While many of my schoolmates were avid fans of DBZ, there were other trends in anime that could be observed, trends that had to do with language. From my experience, certain anime were only available dubbed in Hindi — a language spoken largely by the northern half of the country. Coming from a south Indian city with a significant north Indian population, I could observe a clear trend wherein Hindi-speaking north Indians grew up with these Hindi-dubbed anime, while people in the south (who spoke other languages) largely grew up with titles that were available in English (or Tamil, as fans of DBZ's Tamil dub can testify). Interestingly, these Hindi dubbed anime tended to be ones that were popular in Japan but not so much in the West — stuff like Doraemon, Shin-Chan, KochiKame, and Case Closed. This gave the north Indian anime scene a rather unique flavor. An even more interesting case is that of India's northeastern region (comprised of states like Nagaland, Manipur, and Meghalaya). Being culturally different from the rest of India, these states have had a history of consuming Korean and Japanese media, and they embraced anime and manga in a way the rest of the nation had not. Anime-related cosplay is huge in the northeast, with some of the best cosplay conventions in the nation taking place there and becoming a part of the local fashion scene. The general acceptance of otaku culture in the region continues to be high.
Eventually, anime would become a little more accessible to all. The launch of dedicated channel Animax in 2004 represented another watershed moment in the fandom. The shows Animax brought over were unlike anything we'd seen in the medium. Shows like Bleach, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, Inuyasha, and K-On! redefined what anime meant for Indian audiences who had previously seen anime as a childhood interest and no different from other cartoons. As the channel slowly began to shift its focus to the older teen/young adult demographic, more mature anime like Cowboy Bebop, Hell Girl, Akira, and Welcome to the NHK challenged our conservative notions of what was acceptable to air on TV, especially considering these shows aired in daytime slots rather than late-night. This honeymoon period did not last. Animax was delisted by service providers in 2012. The years to come would be some of the most frustrating for us anime fans, as availability was at its most inconsistent and uncertain. While the channel attempted to make a comeback later on in 2016, it eventually disappeared for good in 2017. Despite all these problems, I look back on Animax fondly. Thanks to it, we became aware of the existence of the entity known as "anime." We began to actively seek out anime over other forms of animation. In short, it resulted in the formation of an actual fandom centered around anime. Anime fan clubs began to pop up in major cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, and Kolkata. Widespread conventions outside of the northeast region came next. Anime Con India was started in 2010, followed closely by Delhi Comic-Con in 2011. Anime conventions in India are a curious thing. They are very unlike the sprawling, sophisticated conventions of the West. The funds simply aren't there for that sort of thing. I don't recall a single Indian anime convention that was attended by a voice actor, animator, or the like. So what are Indian cons about? In an interview with The Citizen, Anime Con India founder Nitesh Rohit talked about his reason for starting the con: "like any other belief and faith they all needed a temple to congregate (at)." This statement really resonates with me, and sums up what Indian cons are about. What they lack in scale and facilities, they make up for in intimacy and a feeling of togetherness. They are more or less small-scale events for anime fans to find other fans, to network with them, and basically feel less alone. Because feeling alone was part of the original Indian otaku experience. The early fandom was largely an urban phenomenon, as going to cons wasn't an option for everyone and the internet wasn't what it is today. So, you had these disconnected pockets of fans. People around you were unlikely to share your interest in anime and may have even judged you for it. The general consensus in India was (and still is) that animation is a medium for children. And remember, for a long time, anime accessibility varied by region. So, if you were lucky enough to find a kindred otaku, there was no guarantee they were into (or had even heard of) the same titles as you. This meant that we hadn't really had the ability to develop any sort of unique culture or traditions of our own. Things like going to cons, renting anime DVDs, memes and in-jokes — these things didn't exist for the vast majority of early fans who were school-going kids or college students of little means. A culture of our own wouldn't arise until much later — when that generation grew up.
Of course, it wasn't just us who grew up — technology did, too. The internet became more ubiquitous. Social media and forums enabled us to network with each other regardless of location, in ways we'd never have imagined. To the scattered fandom of the early days, this has been nothing short of a blessing. The other big change ushered in by the internet was the era of streaming. Until then, most of our anime viewing took place on television and as previously stated, was not always very consistent. Accessibility improved greatly with the launch of Netflix in 2016. In today's India, Netflix is a household name, with a significant portion of young adults having access to a subscription. With a catalog of over 200 anime, Netflix has been responsible for pulling in many new fans. Plenty of people "come for the movies, stay for the anime." Series like My Hero Academia, Death Note, and One-Punch Man have become mainstream successes in this fashion, with a significant following even among non-anime fans. Another streaming service that is beginning to make inroads into the Indian market is Crunchyroll, with simulcasts like Boruto and originals like Tower of God, and the fact that it is free makes it accessible to anyone with an internet connection. Most Indian anime fans I know of have heard of Crunchyroll, and as more titles get licensed it is inevitable that its popularity will rise. And us otakus are doing plenty to help it do just that.
The success of Weathering With You is a shining example of the tight-knit nature of the Indian anime fandom. All it took was one person (an anime fan named Divishth Pancholi) to create a Change.org petition asking for its release in Indian theaters. The petition went viral, getting over 50,000 signatures and attracting the attention of Shinkai and the producers, resulting in its release here. Today, that event is seen as a smaller part of a greater Indian anime movement that is pushing for increased availability and acceptance of anime in India. Hashtags like #IndiaWantsAnime frequently make their presence felt on social media. This fandom isn't without its problems — it isn't the most inclusive when it comes to non-male fans, the "animation is for kids" specter hasn't been fully shaken off, and I'd love for anime BluRays/DVDs to be more widely available here. But I am grateful for the fandom's existence for getting me into anime in the first place. Without them, I'd have never been sitting in a movie theater on October 11, 2019, watching Weathering With You.
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10 Crazy Things Gen X,Y, and Z Have Accomplished
1. Have made sites like Google and Wikipedia widely accepted They are not academically accepted, but considering in the 4th grade (2000-2001) the school librarian told our class “Google is useful but it will never replace a library for finding information!” I think we’ve come pretty far...
2. Have flipped retail on its head It was originally “They who had the most physical stores was the leader” but thanks to the rise of online shopping, physical store locations are now taught to be a unnecessary cost and has caused a number of franchise giants to tumble
3. Have Integrated Technology Into Daily Life In the fifth grade (2001-2002) I wrote a letter to my local MP explaining how computers could be used to save trees by saving paper, as well as give students less weight to carry with textbooks and such, and could raise accuracy in spelling and math. The response I got was that it was a nice idea, but computers were so complicated and expensive that we probably wouldn’t see this for another 30-40 years. Here we are less than 20 years later and look how far we’ve come! Side story: In the second grade (1997-1998) we were given basic calculators for $15 to learn how to use them and were told that while they were powerful, they were too expensive so we shouldn’t get used to them as the day would never come where we could just have a calculator on us at all times.
4. We Have Survived and Established Ourselves During The Great Recession The 2008 housing market crash has been bad.... We are STILL suffering from it... Companies over 100 years old have gone bankrupt... whole countries have gone bankrupt! The entire concepts of business that have been taught were flipped on its head. The great recession has been reported as being at least twice as severe as the 80′s recession and closer to the great depression from an economic standpoint. Yet here we are. If we can’t afford our own house, we’ll share one. If we can’t get a job we’ll make one. If we can’t afford things we’ll make our own. This generation is far from a comfortable one... I sometimes tear up thinking about how my “wild dream” is one day having a bedroom, kitchen, and bathroom all to myself... and how greedy I feel if I say a laundry room to myself would also be nice.... but we’re surviving! This economy is a mess with people clinging to what little they have until they die and we’re still moving forward. That is crazy.
5. We Are So Educated, We Have Made Degrees Commonplace Have you ever wondered why job requirements are so crazy? Like “Entry Level Job: Must have masters degree and 8 years experience!” It’s because of supply and demand.... So many people have university degrees, that the value of a degree on its own has bottomed out.... Yes this makes it a pain to get any kind of job.... and is INCREDIBLY rough on those without degrees... but think of how crazy that is!! How many times in history have so educated?? We may not have the value appreciated by other jobs, but think of how much we can do and understand that people before us never could! Information is power. Wisdom is steering. Understanding is direction. Just think of what we’re capable of?
6. We Have Changed Media Forever Think about how many areas of education has changed. Television has lost its monopoly due to streaming services, youtube, and livestream services. The concept of “Celebrity” has changed with social media celebrities. We’ve seen the rise of consoles with the fall of PC games, and the fall of consoles with the subsequent rise of PC games. Digital media, indie games, web comics, flash animations, deviantArt, Tumblr.... All of these things had never existed before. As a kid I used to spend hours trying to draw comics on dot matrix printer paper because I wanted to be a newspaper cartoonist when I grew up... Now with webcomics and online news, the whole industry has been flipped upsidedown. It is both incredibly accessible and incredibly difficult to stand out.
7. We Have Made The World More International I know people in Japan, Sweden, Norway, England, India, Africa, UAE, China, Australia, Holland, America, Mexico, and more places.... In fact I probably know these people more than I know the people who live on my street! The world has become incredibly international. Business has changed as you can work in real time with someone halfway around the world. Friendships have changed, as you can comfort and encourage people you’ve never met in real life. Science and History has changed, because countries that originally could only compare notes once every so often, now do so in real time, and we can see and talk about the variances between what we’ve grown up knowing.
8. We Have Changed Priorities From “The Most Stuff” to “The Most Experiences.” From “Financial Security” to “Mental Stability.” From “The Most Fame” to “The Most Impact.” The rise of arts. The rise of casual familiarity. The desire to learn. All of these priorities have changed as our generation has grown.
9. We Have Shaken Franchise Culture Franchises owned the world. The Ma and Pa shop had fallen to the names such as Walmart, Target, McDonalds, Wendy’s, etc. While franchises still exist, they seem to really be a shell of who they once were. Some franchises have even taken on the business strategy of “We will survive until I retire.” with no thoughts of what will be left afterwards. Meanwhile freelancers, entrepreneurs, startups, and online services have grown exponentially. They may not have the most money and power (yet) but there has been a change that has occured. One of which the results have yet to be fully seen.
10. We Continue to Grow Our generation puts up with a LOT. Our unemployment/underemployment rate is massive (though this is usually brushed over with statistics). The lives we’ve worked 20-some years for seems to crumble away from us. We’re forced to live 4-8 people per house due to the ridiculous prices of housing. We often work numerous jobs just to earn enough to get by. We get blamed for being entitled, lazy, and killing industries like fabric softener. (Wish I was kidding on that).... And yet we still live.... We adapt... We apply what we’ve learned.
We can’t afford hotels, so we go AirBnB. We can’t afford designer clothes so we go to Etsy or Amazon. We can’t get funding for medical conditions or emergencies so we help each other through GoFundMe, Patreon, or more... We are tenacious. We are adaptive. We don’t give up!
It’s easy to feel like we’re powerless in this world. We don’t have much money. The news stations rail on us all the time as the world’s biggest mistake. We’re forced to work jobs we don’t want for pay that barely keeps us going... It’s easy to feel powerless, weak, forgotten.... But look back on what we’ve done... this is just a small portion, I’m sure you can think of more! These are the things the history books will remember. These are the things our children and grandchildren will one day ask us about.
We Are World Shakers!
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Grayshaw
*Enjoy!
Science Fiction Book Club
Interview with Bruce Sterling October 2018
Bruce Sterling is a prominent science fiction writer and a pioneer of the cyberpunk genre. Novels like Heavy Weather (1994), Islands in the Net (1988), Schismatrix (1985), The Artificial Kid (1980) earned him the nickname “Chairman Bruce”. Apart from his writings, Bruce Sterling is also a professor of internet studies and science fiction at the European Graduate School. He has contributed to several projects within the scheme of futurist theory, founded an environmental aesthetic movement, edited anthologies and he still continues to write for several magazines including Wired, Discover, Architectural Record and The Atlantic.
David Stuckey: Have you considered a return to the world of "The Difference Engine" for stories or another novel?
*That won’t happen.
David Stuckey: If you were going to write "Involution Ocean" today, what would you change or do differently?
*Well, alien planet adventures are a really dated form of space opera. On the other hand, they’re great when you’re 20 years old. If I were doing a project like that today I might make it a comic book. Or a webcomic. It might make a nice anime cartoon.
Richard Whyte: In the 2018 'State of the World' conversation on the Well, you said you were in Ibiza working on a novel. Are you able to tell us anything about it yet?
*I dunno if I’m ever gonna finish this epic novel about the history of the city of Turin, but I seem to get a lot of work done on it when I’m in Ibiza. It’s about Turin, but when I’m actually in Turin I tend to work on weird technology art projects and goofy design schemes.
*Also, look at this palace. I’m supposed to work on my novel in the attic of this villa. That’s pretty weird, isn’t it? This villa was built in the same era as the book I’m working on, which has the working title “The Starry Messengers.” Like this villa, it’s big and baroque and complicated.
https://fenicerinnovata.tumblr.com
Andrzej Wieckowski: We read 'Sacred Cow' for one of our short story reads a few months' ago. Were themes such as Bolton's historic connection to the Indian cotton industry and immigration to this country deliberate or unconscious? And as it's my home town - did you visit? :)
*There aren’t any towns in Britain without some historic connection to India. As it happens I’m flying to India day after tomorrow to meet with some Indian science fiction writers.
*I used to hang out in Great Britain rather a lot. Brexitania I don’t much care for. It’s a hostile, troubled place.
Gary Denton: You were active in the Viridian sustainable design movement that many readers may not know about. Do you think that major corporations have taken that over and it is less fringe now?
*I tend to do activist stuff. Also, you get more done if you don’t ask for any credit. I’ve come to understand that a lot of my most influential writing was stuff that I never got paid for. Some of it never got published.
*I was just at the Whole Earth 50th reunion about a week ago. They’re a good example of a “movement” that was super-influential and somehow a dreadful failure at the same time.
*As far as major corporations, meaning large public enterprises with a lot of shareholders, I don’t worry about them any more. It’s actually moguls and oligarchs who are the big problem nowadays.
Gary Denton: Do you also see a change in the major polluters now compared to 25 years ago?
*They’re a lot more violent. Blood for oil, killing off opponents in sinister ways, not a problem for them any more. They’re quite grim and red-handed. They used to be engineers, but now they know that they are culprits.
Gary Denton: You once said that the cyberpunks were the most realistic science fiction writers in the 80's. Who do you think are the most realistic science fiction writers now?
*Could be the Chinese.
Richard Whyte: Whenever someone here asks about the angriest SF work ever, I always seem to end up recommending your fine short story 'Spook'. Do you think of it as an angry story?
*Well, not really. It’s a rather severely disaffected story from the point of view of a person who’s not human and knows it. “We See Things Differently” is rather an angry story; it’s about a terrorist assassin with a righteous grudge.
Eva Sable: What is the experience of collaborating with another author like for you? Especially when working with someone who, like yourself, is rather an individual. (Never met William Gibson, but he strikes me as someone who would be more comfortable working on his own)
*I tend to collaborate rather a lot. It helps if the two of you are combining forces in order to learn something together. Gibson and I agreed that we couldn’t possibly write a work like DIFFERENCE ENGINE alone. We used to urge each other to do it, but eventually we just had to have a lot of long, abstruse discussions of what a book like that ought to do.
*If you read the stories I wrote with Rudy Rucker you can see that a lot of those texts are basically him and me discussing weird ideas. We’ve got a reason to write those stories – a high-concept, and then there are pages of bizarre hugger-mugger where we push the concept as hard as we can. Then we give up.
*Nowadays I spend a lot of time negotiating or collaborating with artists, designers, architects. I don’t get jealous about the origins of good ideas.
Richard Whyte: Your 1980s SF criticism seemed very much in favour of 'Radical Hard SF'. To what extent do you think your own fiction 'takes its inspiration from science, and uses the language of science in a creative way'?
*I wrote a lot of that in the 1980s. Nowadays I tend to write speculative work that’s more influenced by industrial design rather than by science.
Richard Whyte: In the early 1980s I believe you were associated with a group of like-minded SF writers known as 'The Movement', who were subsequently renamed as 'cyberpunks'. Overall, do you think this name change was a good or a bad thing?
*If people notice you, you’re gonna get a public slang name anyway, so it’s good if you can cheerfully put up with it. As for forming like-minded groups, that’s a valuable life-skill.
John Grayshaw: Who are your favorite science fiction writers? And how have they influenced your work?
*Well, those favorites change with time. In different decades of my own life I’ve had different ambitions for my own science fiction. I tend to write pastiches. Lately I’ve been writing a lot of “science fiction” that’s heavily influenced by Italian fantascienza, or, really, Italian fantasy generally.
*I’m a long-time Juies Verne fan. I wouldn’t describe Jules as a personal “favorite,” but I recognize him as a titan of my genre. Knowing the personal details of the guy’s career as a working creative has been of a lot of help to me.
*I had a couple of professional SF writers who I regarded as my literary mentors. They’re both dead now: Harlan Ellison and Brian Aldiss.
John Grayshaw: I heard that you are currently dividing your time between Belgrade and Turin, do you miss living in Texas? Or America in general?
*I’m back often enough that I don’t really “miss it.” I find that if I stay in one place too long, I tend to miss travelling. I roam a lot. If I get too old and tired to lift a suitcase and I settle somewhere, it probably won’t be Austin, Belgrade or Turin.
John Grayshaw: I recommend everyone read your essay "Cyberpunk in the Nineties" (http://lib.ru/STERLINGB/interzone.txt) to understand that Cyberpunk was a movement and can't be removed from its time and place...But a Cyberpunk aesthetic has emerged over the years and that is what writers like Neal Stephenson or Richard K. Morgan are emulating. Was this aesthetic conscious at the time?
*Well, we spent plenty of time fussing about it. A lot of that conceptual work doesn’t really show on the surface. Aesthetics interest me a lot. For instance, I’m the Art Director of the Share Festival in Turin, which is an Italian technology-art fair. Italians are good at fussing about how stuff looks.
John Grayshaw: Did "Mirrorshades" have a theme? What directions or guidance did you give the writers?
*It didn’t have a set theme. Mostly I was trying to pick work from colleagues I respected, that I thought put them in a good light.
John Grayshaw: Other than writing what are your interests/hobbies?
*I like design and technology art. Also I travel a lot. I spend a lot of time in arcane online research.
John Grayshaw: Why do you think Steampunk has become a popular subgenre/aesthetic in the last 30 years?
*I think it’s about the craft aspects of steampunk. Hobbyist people like the costumes and the gadgets. It’s like traditional historical recreation groups, but with an alluring fantasy aspect.
John Grayshaw: Can you explain why you have said that Artificial Intelligence is a bad metaphor?
*I think the AI metaphor gets in the way of actual progress in the field, with actual hardware and software. Rodney Brooks explains the problem a lot better than I can, and nobody can understand his explanations either. That’s not exactly fair – actually I get what Rodney’s saying enough to more or less agree with him. He’s an expert, so I’d refer you to him.
*”Deep Learner” and “neural net” are kinda better metaphors than “Artificial Intelligence,” but they’re still metaphors. We haven’t created sharp, focused words for what these odd devices really do. “Intelligence” is not what they’re doing.
John Grayshaw: Cyberpunk was a dark look at the future. Do you feel optimistic or pessimistic about the future?
*People always ask that. People in Russia never thought that cyberpunk was “dark.” Also, whenever you get to “the future,” no matter how scared or happy you are about some particular historical episode, there’s always more future on the way. Eventually people are dead, so if you ask if I’m optimistic or pessimistic about the 20th century, the whole idea sounds silly. The future is a kind of history that hasn’t happened yet.
John Grayshaw: In cyberpunk technology often contributes to society’s ills. What lesson do we take from this? That we must learn how to live with tech or that we should reject it and live like the Amish?
*Kevin Kelly kinda likes the idea of living like the Amish. Kevin’s an interesting guy. If I myself wanted to “live like the Amish” I’d probably move to Christiania in Denmark, where at least they have reggae music.
John Grayshaw: Do you keep up with the latest technologies? Or do you stay "off the grid?"
*I do both, actually. I’m generally so “off the grid” that I’m not even in its time-zone. I don’t have a business card, there’s no settled mailing address, I’m never on Facebook, and no one knows my phone number. Like they say in the world of electronic privacy, “I have nothing to hide, but I have nothing I want to show you, either.”
John Grayshaw: Do you think people will have "immersive" VR type experiences on the internet in the next 20 years?
*They have it already.
John Grayshaw: What do you feel is your legacy?
*Hard to say. It’s like asking a Beatnik writer what “his legacy” is. The Beats wrote a lot of more-or-less memorable stuff, but there’s also the existence proof that somebody was able to live like that, and that is their legacy. I lived in a different historical period than the Beat writiers, but a lot of the stuff that entertained and engaged me is also quite archaic nowadays. I don’t thing people aspire to emulate Bruce Sterling, but they do like the idea of operating in the same cultural spaces that I do. That something lively can exist between “science” and “fiction,” or between “cyber” and “punk,” that’s a valuable thing to know.
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Ms. Marvel is more a marvel than a miss (warning: spoilers)
When it comes to a lot of the media I review, I’m going to obviously “age out” of many of the shows involving South Asian girls and women, which really only begs the question of why in general, so many narratives stick to underage, over-sexualized characters, who at their oldest, are high school seniors often played by people older than me, a 27-year-old high school teacher. Because so far, I’ve only written (both positively and critically) about sexually repressed high school nerds, and Kate Sharma from Bridgerton Season 2.
I have to mostly rave, however, about Ms. Marvel (2022), a Disney+ mini-series, spotlighting newcomer Iman Vellani, a 19-year-old Pakistani-Canadian actress, playing Kamala Khan, a 16-year-old Pakistani-American Muslim girl growing up in Jersey City, New Jersey.
There is so much that Ms. Marvel does right, starting with having diverse writers, directors, and showrunners of a South Asian, West Asian, Arab and/or Muslim background inform the narrative and dialogue responsibly, respectfully, and even comedically. They have successfully woven culture, language, and history that is either deeply misunderstood, polluted with misinformation, or straight up erased from mainstream American media and public education textbooks into this production.
Phrases in Urdu that I recognized, specific quirks of over-protective immigrant parents and elders, Hindi and Punjabi songs at the opening and closing of an episode, the generational trauma of the 1947 Partition of India, the double life that Kamala must juggle (well before even discovering her cosmic powers) were never things I expected to see in a Marvel production. And they are not included in passing; they are very much a part of the show.
Growing up as a Marvel fan, I didn’t consider the impact of only seeing white men, who were either lovably lanky nerds or hunky grizzled tough guys, as superheroes until I myself couldn’t write, consider, or find myself to be as interested in anything else.
Why didn’t we explore Storm as much as we explored Logan/Wolverine? How come so many people got to be Spiderman and we barely develop Rogue or Elektra who I only vaguely remember from my childhood?
By the time I was in my early 20’s, people (mostly incels online) were complaining about “the feminists ruining comic book movies” as if these characters didn’t exist and have their own plotlines prior to joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
And for the record, the in-depth stories of Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow, Gamora, Captain Marvel, Wanda Maximoff/the Scarlet Witch, Jessica Jones, and Jean Grey/Dark Phoenix only came recently. I’m talking 2015 onwards. I heard so many criticisms about how movies and shows were “trying too hard” and “pushing diversity”, when Ms. Marvel is the only production with a woman of colour in the lead. She’s not a side character, and this is no spin-off. This is the introduction of a role that will be reprised in the Marvels movie set to release in 2023. It’s a big deal.
Kamala is a real reflection of so many kids as a fully-fleshed out, multidimensional (no pun intended) child of immigrants growing up in a community I have seen and been a part of. She is challenging tradition, she is curious, she is stressed out. She negotiates and compromises and loses to the challenges of having multiple identities.
Her older brother lives at home until he gets married and the experiences of men and women in the community are depicted in highlighting double standards, without vilifying Muslim men. This is tricky to balance because while misogyny and patriarchal double standards are a serious obstacle in the culture, creators have to be intentional about not perpetuating harmful stereotypes that Muslim or brown men are inherently sinister and cruel, particularly towards women. This is something Marvel has notoriously done with the entire Iron Man franchise that was rooted in Islamaphobia and burned the “middle eastern terrorist” image into the minds of audiences everywhere. Islam is shown in practice accurately, with the mosque as a frequent setting for many scenes, and with the antagonistic forces of the U.S. government depicted in their discriminatory abuse of power. At one point, the sheikh has to correct a government agent who disrespectfully walks into the mosque without a warrant and with her shoes on and tells him she’s not interested in listening to his quranic quotes by clarifying, “Actually, that was Abraham Lincoln.”
Kamala’s personal experiences of having members of the Pakistani/mosque community keeping tabs on her, several people in her family policing her attire and social life, the conflict of reconciling her past (particularly the complex one of Pakistan’s violent inception) with her present as an American teen with a crush, secrets, and super powers – it is difficult to put into the words the significance of seeing this validated and valued enough to be told as a story to millions on a platform, associated with names like Disney and Marvel.
When Kamala confides to her formulaically written tech-wiz sidekick/best friend Bruno (the Ned Leeds to her Peter Parker, I suppose) that “it’s not really the brown girls from Jersey City who save the world”, she is speaking truth to the message that brown girls from all over the western world have been told their whole lives: you are not the protagonist, the coveted love interest, the hero.
And although viewers had to wait every week to see it, we got to see this doesn’t have to be true.
Although Ms. Marvel, like other Disney+/Marvel miniseries, followed the traditional weekly release model of archaic cable television days, it wasn’t as successful in numbers, as other shows that relied on audiences sustaining anticipation, following key information regarding the mythos/connection to the MCU, and posting fan theories online related to their prior knowledge of the characters. It was reported that Ms. Marvel had decreased viewership from week to week. However, the demographics that were watching were significantly larger groups of South Asian, Black, and Latino youth. Several people took to Twitter to quote-retweet news of Ms. Marvel “flopping” with reiteration that important changes were happening, and the popularity among historically under-represented and misrepresented groups should not be dismissed. As a matter of fact, that is one of the major facets of Ms. Marvel’s appeal and why it will be exciting to see what happens next with her character: because you truly cannot know.
Each episode presents both novelty and a twist, with the challenge of sustaining balance to captivate all sorts of audiences. Reading ahead will expose you to a handful of spoilers, so continue at your own risk or after you have finished the series.
Episode 1:
Sometimes, I expect cringey writing where everyone gives away everyone’s relationship to each other immediately, with a line like “We’ve been best friends since kindergarten; I would never lie to you!” or “Ever since you got engaged, Mom and Dad have been pretending I don’t exist!”
This is done only minimally for a pilot episode, with Kamala’s two best friends, Nakia Badahir (played by 19-year-old Yasmeen Fletcher who is of Lebanese descent on her mother’s side) and Bruno Carelli (played by 21-year-old Matt Lintz). Nakia is also Muslim and is an outspoken hijabi who in later episodes calls out how little time is spent on Persia in world history class compared to European history and eventually runs for (and wins) a position on the mosque board, which doesn’t currently have any young or female board members. Bruno is, I fear, the best friend experiencing unrequited love, but I really don’t want her to end up with the jealous white guy.
Other classics of the genre:
high school outcast in a montage of embarrassing moments to establish characterization
losing a friend to popularity (in this case, Zoe Zimmer the social media influencer who draws attention to Kamala’s first act of heroism at AvengerCon while in a Captain Marvel costume content that somehow successfully hides her identity).
Bruno’s longing glances at Kamala and the fact that he tells her he already sees her as a superhero is pretty clear foreshadowing and I expect him to say at some point in a fit of jealousy that she’s changed and he misses the Old Kamala when her powers or a love interest take hold and he feels that his role in her life is threatened or won’t ever develop into a romantic one
Some refreshing moments:
The clothes! Aamir, Kamala’s older brother, is dressed in traditional clothing, and characters weave Urdu and Arabic into conversation when speaking English, which feels very naturalistic and presents them as a more believable family unit
Time spent exposing the unfair commentary made by elders/women in the South Asian community who sexualize, shame, and gossip about young girls
Characters, including Bruno, who is, as we have established, white pronounce words and phrases like “Pakistani” and “batti kolo” (turn the light on) correctly. He familiarizes himself with, engages with, and appreciates the predominant culture of the community around him rather than Kamala being expected to center whiteness and assimilation.
Episode 2:
A South Asian love interest for a South Asian lead who respects, affirms, and connects with Kamala culturally? Revolutionary. About damn time. I was so giddy for Kamala. When they debate Shah Rukh Khan’s best films and referring to Bollywood staples by their acronyms, it felt like having an inside joke with the South Asian characters, which isn’t a feeling I often have with American media.
I also found it hilarious that Kamran, the crush who arrives as a new student/transfer senior, keeps calling Bruno “Brian”. I wonder if the writers included that as a reclamation of the universally annoying experience of South Asian kids when our names are butchered.
Mythos around the magical bangle that activates Kamala’s powers is developed, and the episode largely centers around the Muslim festival of Eid-al Adha at the mosque, where more attention is drawn to her and her placeholder superhero name coined by Zoe, Night Light.
There’s an incident at the mosque that shakes Kamala’s confidence in her abilities while also further catching the attention of the Department of Damage Control to send people after her, a move catalyzed by implicit bias towards the Muslim community. I like that the show didn’t shy away from the motive and prejudice of the DODC. Sadie Deever is the most trigger-happy agent and is played by Alysia Reiner, who you might recognize as the corrupt warden, Natalie “Fig” Figueroa in Netflix’s prison comedy-drama, Orange is the New Black (2013-2019). She really was made for these types of roles.
Episode 3:
Kamala learns of another even stronger connection to Kamran when she meets his mother, Najma. Najma knew Aisha, Kamala’s great grandmother who was a fellow Clandestine, a mystical being from another dimension. Among what is uncovered: context behind a vision, a family history that Muneeba, Kamala’s strict mother, refuses to discuss because it brings her great shame, and dangerous, deadly ulterior motives.
I know this episode is setting up the conclusion to season 1, but it seemed like the plot was moving too quickly, leaving no room for mystery or relationships to develop. There is a beautiful wedding scene and dance numbers at Aamir and Tyesha’s wedding, but there is too much chaos swirling around in this episode. Too many characters are revealed too quickly, there is very little room to build suspense or theories of your own or really learn all the names/stories, and the episode was filled with a mish-mash of mini conflicts that seemed more so to exist to fill up time than anything else. The A plot is obviously Kamala learning more about who and what she is and the truth about her powers, but if you can’t commit to properly developing a B or C plot, you probably shouldn’t be throwing in even more minutiae with a D or E plot.
Episode 4:
The second half of the season is my favourite. Kamala arrives in Karachi with her mother after her Nani (maternal grandmother) Sana calls them with an urgent message to visit, a call related to Kamala’s heritage and powers, that Muneeba can no longer deny or chalk it up to her own mother and grandmother’s insanity.
Sana, and episodes 4-5, do not shy away from the darkness of the partition and mention it throughout as a major factor in Muneeba’s hesitation to believe the stories of her family history and let Kamala get wrapped up in it. Sana has no photos to remember her parents by and therefore keeps their memory alive through her art, which Kamala finds. Her grandmother tells her, when asked of her childhood and feelings of a lost identity, “People are claiming their identity based on an idea some old Englishman had when they were fleeing the country. How is one to deal with that?”
The question left me reflecting on how much animosity lingers between Pakistanis, Punjabis, and Indians in general, between Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs. The divide-and-conquer tactic of the British worked painfully well for the colonizers.
Footage of Pakistan isn’t oversaturated with the turmeric filter of so many western films that intentionally depict West and South Asian countries as dusty, dirty, and hot. And we get to see Kamala wandering around the city, exploring the bazaars (markets), and hanging out with her colourful, lively cousins who are not out-of-touch with modern technology or fashion, which is also a common misrepresentation. She eats Pakistani food, befriends a local named Kareem (another possible South Asian love interest) who is part of a secret society of warriors known as the Red Daggers, and she is for the most part safe from the dangers of being in Jersey City with both the DODC and the other Clandestines after her. However, they do eventually catch up with Kamala, Kareem, and the leader of the Red Daggers, Waleed.
There was an upside, however, to not knowing how many conflicts or plot twists are going to occur. Because if even with everything established until this point, even if the story is constantly going in so many different directions, episode 5 and 6 have the opportunity to be really strong because they’re unpredictable.
Episode 5:
After an attack that strikes the bangle sends Kamala back in time, a story of a growing family during British colonial rule and the subsequent Partition becomes the centerpiece of this penultimate episode.
And it’s a poignant, rich episode filled with historical context surrounding the Partition of India, which resulted in the formation of Pakistan and the separation/death of thousands of mostly Muslims, Sikhs, and Christians who were forced to leave their homes to move to the other states, including a separated Punjab. India was formed mostly of Hindu regions and to this day, government leaders and radical religious groups push for Hindu nationalism and continue to commit hate crimes, pass legislation, and perpetuate acts of genocide against non-Hindu minorities. The 1947 partition led to the largest forced migration of people that has ever happened, which wasn’t due to war or famine.
The episode opens with a 1940’s old school title sequence announcing news of the time period in India with mentions of other religious minorities/communities impacted by government decisions, naming Sikhs and the cities of Amritsar and Lahore. Still, my ears had to adjust to this. “They are talking about my culture, cities I have been to, places I am from; they are saying words in another language that I can understand, playing music my Naanima enjoys, showing events my Naanaji witnessed. Marvel is really showing this; it’s giving me an actual reflection for the first time in my entire life.”
Episode 5 recounts the story of Kamala’s great grandparents, a strong and unlikely couple that fell in love, faced numerous challenges in protecting their family and livelihood, and begin the story of Kamala’s powers in connection to the magical bangle.
The events and ongoing impact of the partition is rarely if ever discussed in public school world history classes, and many Pakistani and Punjabi people that I know have, like myself, have known about it directly through the lens of our grandparents and great grandparents who were there. That’s how recent this all is.
To see a family begin to rip off the bandage of something as painful and difficult to talk about as disconnections from one’s lineage or misunderstandings of history was really powerful to see, and I can’t help but feel a sense of pride and admiration for Kamala for seeking out answers and ultimately helping the women in her family find their way back to each other.
Episode 6:
Because Episode 5 was emotionally the season’s strongest and had the biggest personal impact on me, I think it was hard for the finale to deliver as once again, attempts to clean up conflicts and create cliffhangers prior to Ms. Marvel’s reappearance in the 2023 Marvels film were messy.
Even though I continued to love the soundtrack, the references to specific South Asian quirks and rites of passage (like bargaining with the tailor at a bazaar and telling your family all about the deal you got on the presents you brought back for them), I was left with a lot of questions that didn’t make me interested in getting the answer later more than it just solely confused me.
One of which is the weird parental switch up in the last episode when Yusuf (who is generally pretty chill compared to his wife but still is a protective father) and Muneeba have a change of heart to information that characteristically, I would think they would have serious concerns about. How transformative was the trip or the time lapse over the season for Muneeba to loosen the reins that much and even present Kamala with that desi stylized custom gift? (It was a dope gift, but still!)
The kids’ response to the ongoing threat of the DODC looked like a writers’ room group project gone wrong. It made no sense and appeared incredibly weak to the sheer manpower, stealth, and expertise of the government entity. How does a show simultaneously do the following so well:
Speak to how Muslims are used to living in a surveillance state
highlight the violence of white ignorance in showing how Agent Deever mistook a quote from Abraham Lincoln as being from the Quran
Depict the dangers of the adultification of youth of colour particularly Black and brown boys) among law enforcement in perceiving them as fully grown men while, as the actual adults in the situations, you are making the immature and harmful decisions
And then compose something reminiscent of wacky Disney Channel antics as a stronghold against Marvel villains?
And oof, when I heard that nostalgic electric guitar tune upon Bruno explaining Kamala’s DNA and her powers, I just about threw my hands up in exhaustion thinking “How much are they really trying to throw into this show?”
If you’ve seen Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022), perhaps you can understand my fatigue with the wild narrative flailing that is occurring among recent Marvel productions as they try to resuscitate appeal post-Avengers: Endgame.
However, the origin of what becomes Kamala’s superhero identity of Ms. Marvel is revealed at the end, and it is very different from what I thought. I thought having a superhero girl who is a fan of Captain Marvel/Carol Danvers call herself Ms. Marvel was a weak choice that presented confusion, but even then, I was given the pleasant surprise of culturally informed storytelling.
I never made the connection that I had always heard the Hindi phrase “kamaal hai” in Bollywood films to describe something wonderful, something “marvelous” until Yusuf explains it to Kamala.
And ultimately, that’s just what this series has been. And I’m looking forward to the development of Iman Vellani’s career as one of the new faces of this next generation of Marvel characters because maybe, there is hope after all.
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Webtoons Market Set to Witness an Uptick during 2021-2030 | Research Dive
The 90’s kids have grown up watching iconic cartoons like Tom & Jerry, Powerpuff Girls, Johnny Bravo, Duck Tales, Dexter’s Laboratory, and many more. But online comics, or webtoons, have been a hit among youngsters in the recent times since they can be watched anytime and anywhere on their mobile devices at utmost convenience.
What are Webtoons and Why are They So Popular?
Webtoons are digital comics that can be easily accessed via internet on any device like tablets, smartphones, laptops, etc. Webtoons were originated in South Korea with an objective to compete against the predominant Japanese manga and expand the South Korean cultural influence worldwide. Webtoons are fresh and appealing to readers and consist of visual images and textual content that appear in vertical strips. With an estimate of nearly 700 million monthly users and above 1 billion views annually, the webtoons market has gained immense momentum in regions like Europe, Asia, and the US.
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Below-mentioned are some factors of the webtoons’ boom:
Communication
During the paper-cartoon era when comics and magazines were the only source of enjoyment for youngsters, the audience couldn’t connect with the writers directly. All they could do was discuss the episodes and share opinions with friends. But with webtoons, the audience can now directly reach out to them with appreciation comments, thus strengthening their communication with the writers.
Accessibility
The development of new devices like laptops, smartphones, and tablets have made it easier for the users to access websites and read webtoons whenever and wherever possible. Moreover, unlike paper-cartoons which readers used to buy from bookstores or borrow from friends, webtoons are free and easily accessible via internet.
Cultural Influence
Visuals tend to stay with us for a long time and are appealing to the readers. And that’s why countries choose webtoons to expand their cultural influence to other parts of the world and educate them about their deep-rooted traditions.
The Influence of Webtoons in India and Other Regions
Considering the immense popularity of Japanese manga and webtoons in South Korea, India too attempted to keep up with the trend. The Graphic India group recently announced the launch of Toonsutra, a webtoons platform for mobile devices which can be widely operated in India by the 2nd quarter of the year. The platform will specifically provide webtoon comics based on famous Indian TV shows and movies like The Legend of Hanuman, Baahubali, Chakra The Invincible, etc.
Similarly, a comic book publisher Dupuis launched Webtoon Factory, the first European platform to offer original digital comics. Moreover, another France-based publishing company Delcourt launched Verytoon, an application for relishing original digital comics. The platforms offer a variety of genres like humor, fantasy, romance, thriller, and horror.
Are There Any Other Webtoon Mediums?
Besides these platforms, comic creators and webtoonists are actively creating digital comics on other applications like Canvas, Procreate, and Medibang. Additionally, live streaming mediums like Netflix and YouTube are also considering webtoons adaptation into movies or animated series to garner larger audience.
Webtoons’ 10 High-rated Stories
Many of the webtoons have gained so much popularity since their adaptation into other mediums like animated web series and TV series. For instance, Cheese in the Trap is a Korean TV series that was adapted by Webtoons that was later considered to be the top-rated toon. Similarly, Tower of God, another popular webtoon was also transformed into an anime series that amassed huge attention.
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Here are some of the 10 top-rated Webtoons:
Lore Olympus
True Beauty
unOrdinary
The Remarries Empress
Age Matters
Mage & Demon Queen
Cursed Princess Club
Castle Swimmer
Weak Hero
Unholy Blood
What Does the Future of Webtoons Market Seems Like?
Since webtoon comics are amusing and have fresh and appealing visual images, and now sound as well, many production houses are seeing this as an opportunity to adapt webtoons for the big screen or perhaps OTT platforms
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Long time no see... This time sharing the story of one of India's finest collectors; Ramnath Rokkam AKA @ramrokk He's been a friend of the store and an ABSOLUTE gem of a person. Let's find out what keeps him going; "Hey there. I've been a collector, I guess since I could remember. As a kid I used to keep my toys in a display and not play with them so that they wouldn't break. My pocket money was saved for getting toys. The most memorable one was a spawn figure I had for many years! I still remember waking up at 8am to watch Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Transformers and Master Of The Universe shows. I used to have an amazing collection as a kid but relocating to a different place had made me lose most of my stuff. I've collected comics too for most of my life but also lost them. I think i really started collecting in 2015. I discovered some groups on online, where it was possible for me to get my stuff. I've been a comic book reader first rather than a movie buff so I stick to mostly comic based collectibles. I hardly have 4-5 movie collectibles. During these few years i have bought so much stuff! Recently I've streamlined my collection because the more you have the harder it is to maintain them. As a collector it's not important for me to complete lines but that the figure or statue I get, should be appeasing to me. I don't compromise and get something for the sake of getting something. My motto is quality over quantity! The more important thing for me in this journey was that I've made a good number of friends who have helped me procure stuff, been there in the good times and bad, who have had my back, who have even let me stay at their places when I've visited them. It's more of a brotherhood than friendship. For new collectors I would have one piece of advice; Know what you collect and do not listen to anyone who says that collecting a company's collectibles will make you more of a serious collector. Collect for yourself rather than for others. My collectibles are memories because throughout my life I've been reading comics and watching cartoons/movies. So pave your own path, take advice but do what makes you happy. Excelsior! — view on Instagram https://ift.tt/JQcqAn0
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7 Zines That Helped People Work through Mental Health Issues
For the uninitiated, a “zine” is often defined as a self-published, small-circulation magazine that documents the happenings of a subculture or a niche topic. But in practice, the art of the zine is governed by “non-rules.” A zine can be consist of 40 pages, or just one. It can be entirely made up of pictures or feature no pictures at all. It can make sense, but it doesn’t have to.
During the 1980s, zine-making often involved taking a pile of collages, poems, essays, images, or doodles; lining them up, just so, over the glass of a Xerox machine; then making copies, and stapling together a series of printed pages like this. Copies might be shared with friends or left in a stack at a local record store. Today, publishing a zine can be as simple as one person creating a web page or as elaborate as a small editorial team collaborating on a printed periodical with a cover star. But the non-rules haven’t changed: If you make it and publish it yourself, and it has text, images, or both, you can probably call it a zine.
Perhaps because of this flexibility, artists and other creatives have found in zines a judgment-free space, and for some, it’s a prime medium for discussing serious, personal issues, like mental health. This point was made late last month when an art exhibition in India, organized by one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people, Dr. Vikram Patel, illustrated how zines can help break down the stigma surrounding mental health. To explore the topic further, we share below seven examples of such zines, with insights from their creators on how these creative projects helped them navigate their own experiences with mental health.
For Girls Who Cry Often (2016)
Excerpt from Lina Wu, For Girls Who Cry Often, 2016. Courtesy of the artist.
Excerpt from Lina Wu, For Girls Who Cry Often, 2016. Courtesy of the artist.
Lina Wu, a Toronto-based artist and illustrator, collected stories and testimonies from over 20 contributors to create the 40-page zine For Girls Who Cry Often. “It’s a nice feeling to be a part of something bigger,” she said of the collaborative creation process.
For the zine, Wu focused on exploring mental health through a femme lens and let her own experiences inform her process. “For much of my life, I noticed that ‘getting emotional’ was seen as a girly or feminine thing—meaning it is often dismissed as dramatic and frivolous,” she explained.
Wu created a dreamy pink atmosphere to backdrop the contributors’ candid and sometimes dark confessions. The zine’s adolescent tone is a nod to the fanzines of the 1990s that gave teenage girls a voice. In fact, Wu points out that zines are accessible art objects because people can easily share and buy them (readers buying copies of For Girls Who Cry Often are encouraged to pay what they can afford).
An interdisciplinary artist, Wu experiments with poetry, illustrations, comics, photography, and design in her zines. And while she doesn’t bring For Girls Who Cry Often to zine fairs anymore, she noted that making it has helped her grow as an artist.
Fuck This Life (2005–present)
Excerpt from Dave Sander, Fuck This Life, 2018. Courtesy of 8ball Community.
Excerpt from Dave Sander, Fuck This Life, 2018. Courtesy of 8ball Community.
Today, Dave Sander (a.k.a. “Weirdo Dave”) is a visual artist known for collaborations with Vans and Supreme. But back in 2005, Sander was cramming newspaper and magazine clippings into his desk drawer almost out of habit. “After I got a lot,” Sander said, “I thought it would be time to make a zine.”
Flipping through the pages of any issue of Fuck This Life is like witnessing the end-of-life montage people describe after a near-death experience. For Sander, zine-making can be an aggressively cathartic process: “You get to kill shit in your own way,” he offered.
Fuck This Life is a stream-of-consciousness compilation of found imagery—like the mushroom cloud of an atomic bomb or porn stars mid-orgasm—the result of Sander channeling his pain to “create a beautiful, loud, brutal fantasyland.” He refers to the zine ashis deepest, darkest best friend. “It was my reason for living, so I guess it saved me,” he said.
Grief Poems (2017)
Excerpt from Chloe Zelkha, Grief Poems, 2017. Courtesy of the artist.
Excerpt from Chloe Zelkha, Grief Poems, 2017. Courtesy of the artist.
Chloe Zelkha describes her father’s death as a “sudden, heartbreaking shock.” Within months, she’d printed out a collection of poems she found in books or discovered through teachers and grieving groups, then spread them out on her kitchen table. There, the Berkeley-based Zelkha began painting onto the pages, cranking out one after another in succession, without drafting or revising. As she found more poems, she created more pages. The result was Grief Poems, a 26-page exercise in letting go.
Zelkha’s introduction to zines was Project NIA’s The Prison Industrial Complex Is… (2010–11), a straightforward explainer zine with minimal text and simple black-and-white illustrations. She sees zines are an inherently raw medium. “That permission that’s kind of baked into the form,” she said, “is liberating.”
Poems by everyone from Kobayashi Issa to W.S. Merwin are coated in Zelkha’s uninhibited brushstrokes. She compared her process with child’s play or dreaming: “If you watch a kid play on their own for long enough, you’ll see lots of fears, feelings, ideas eeking their way into their game, and then transforming in real time. Or when we dream, and different people, places, concerns visit us in weird ways.”
Identity Crisis (2017)
Librarian–slash–zine-maker Poliana Irizarry is probably better known for their autobiographical black-and-white zines, like My Left Foot (2016) and Training Wheels (2013). But with Identity Crisis, the San Jose–based artist seemed the most vulnerable they’ve ever been. “My abuela suffered many miscarriages at the hands of American doctors, and her surviving offspring also struggle with reproductive issues,” Irizarry wrote. “Many Puerto Ricans do.”
Before the birth control pill was approved by the FDA in 1960, nearly 1,500 Puerto Rican women were unknowingly part of one of the earliest human trials for the pill. Between the 1930s and ’70s, nearly one-third of Puerto Rico’s female population of childbearing age had undergone “the operation,” often without being properly educated on its effects.
Irizarry made Identity Crisis,their first full-color art zine,during a South Bay DIY Zine Collective workshop. Personal and family histories intersect across fragmented pictures of succulents and Southwestern landscapes in a half-prose, half-verse journey through Irizarry’s identity. In just a few pages, Irizarry wrestles with intergenerational trauma and their own post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Irizarry speaks directly to their oppressors, defiant and resolute: “I live in spite of you.”
Shit I Made When I Was Sad (a.k.a. sad zine)(2018)
Excerpt from Shit I Made When I Was Sad a.k.a. sad zine, 2018. Courtesy of Malin Rantzer and Anna Persmark.
Excerpt from Shit I Made When I Was Sad a.k.a. sad zine, 2018. Courtesy of Malin Rantzer and Anna Persmark.
It started when Swedish friends Malin Rantzer and Anna Persmark were showing each other drawings and writing in journals they’d made while they were feeling low. “I noticed that some of the stuff we’d drawn resembled the other’s drawing,” Malin remembered, “and I think at that point we realized we should make a zine about being sad.” Rantzer turned to social media and put out a “swenglish/svengelska” (Swedish-English) call for submissions.
The then–Sweden-based duo (Persmark has since relocated to Portland, Oregon) made sad zine by cutting out and taping or pasting their artworks onto new pages, then scanning them and folding them into a booklet. Persmark sees zine-making as one of the most intimate ways of sharing her feelings; she goes out in person to share copies with her community.
“Even if all the submitters did not know each other,” Malin explained, “they were all friends’ friends or friends’ friends’ friends, and maybe that also can contribute to an atmosphere where it is safe to be vulnerable.” While making the individual works helped them heal, Persmack noted that the process of compiling the zine proved to be revelatory: “Sadness is both intensely personal and universal,” she said.
Sula Collective Issue 3: Mental Health (2015)
Oyinda Yemi-Omowum, An Emotional Response to Colours, 2015. Excerpt from Sula Collective Issue 3: Mental Health, 2015. Courtesy of Sula Collective.
Sula Collective calls itself an online “[maga]zine for and by people of colour.” Initially an exclusively online zine—different from a blog in name and ethos—it reflected its Gen-Y creators and their new ideas of what a zine could be. It’s one of the more visible new zines, among many, with the purpose of turning an online network into an IRL community. Ever since they founded it in 2015, co-creators Kassandra Piñero and Sophia Yuet See knew they wanted to dedicate an issue to mental health.
Sula Collective Issue 3: Mental Health sheds light on how teenagers of color navigate their parents’ more conservative understanding of mental health issues. “We wanted to discuss the things we kept hidden from our parents or couldn’t talk about with friends,” Piñero and Yuet See explained.
The issue was published in November 2015 and serves as a record of how today’s young artists are taking intersectional approaches to dealing with mental health issues. For example, Oyinda, a then–16-year-old Nigerian girl living in London, submitted a color-coded collage of self-portraits and textures called An Emotional Response to Colours. The literary submissions are paired with original artworks, sourced from Sula Collective’ssubmissions inbox, which range from digital art to watercolors. When asked about what makes zines a unique medium, Piñero and Yuet See answered, simply, “control.”
Shrinks: A Retrospective (2018)
Excerpt from Karla Keffer, Shrinks: A Retrospective, 2018. Courtesy of the artist.
Excerpt from Karla Keffer, Shrinks: A Retrospective, 2018. Courtesy of the artist.
Shrinks is part of Karla Keffer’s zine series “The Real Ramona,” where she discusses being diagnosed with and treated for PTSD after almost 30 years in therapy. The Mississippi-based artist found a sense of direction for her work, and Shrinks in particular, through learning about the Satanic Panic of the 1980s.
This phenomenon (which gave daytime television hosts the ratings of their dreams) involved psychologists across America fueling a nationwide hysteria by diagnosing patients with satanic ritual abuse (SRA) and sending them off to tough-love camps.
“Shrinks are human and fallible,” Keffer explained. “I had put a great deal of trust in their infallibility.” In Shrinks, Keffer created profiles of every therapist she’s ever had—like Julie the gaslighter and Jill the racist. Survivors of abuse are often—and paradoxically—burdened with the task of seeing through the abuse and saving themselves. “One of the things I found difficult was sorting out what had happened with each therapist—like, did she/he really say that outlandish thing?” Keffer recalled.
So much of zine-making is about reclaiming—reclaiming the freedom of expression, reclaiming space, reclaiming the past. And, as Keffer put it, “you’ve made your own book, which is not something you experience when you’re writing short stories and sending them to lit mags.” If any one thing can define zines as a medium, it’s the unbridled control it gives artists.
from Artsy News
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How can you keep your children active during lockdown?
Many of us think children are always burden. They help in nothing and keep irritating us. Actually that's a myth, how do you treat your child matters a lot. Many people expect a lot from their kids, which turns into failures and sadness at last. Childhood is the best age to adapt anything.
Make you children active during this lockdown. There are lots of activities to keep you children engaged.
Healthy routine
Show them some of the healthy personalities and share their daily routine. Make them be physically active during the day so that they've less health issues. Try to engage them in little household work like keeping things neat and clean. It can be beneficial to both of you.
Best from waste
This is the best activity for any child. Give them some old stuff and guide them to make something new and useful. Give them rewards for their work. Make them feel appreciated. Once you appreciate them they'll behave more focused and determined next time.
According to psychology studies have shown that if you praise your child they do better work next time.
Singing
Yes, it is. Your child can get engaged into singing. Give him online guidance. You can also start online classes for singing.
This art doesn't help only in singing, it's equally beneficial in representing his knowledge by giving speeches and presentations. Singing doesn't has only any verbal communication. if you are having guitar or harmonium at your place you can use it to teach your children. If you cannot spare your time they can watch the videos online to learn these instruments.
Reading
Reading is the best hobby somebody can start. If your children are too younger give them comic books, which help them grow. Give them
puzzles and Sudoku
to solve, which can increase their brain power.
If you can manage you can also read good stories to him, before bedtime. Make him understand the hard words and illustrations which come in story. It also helps you to make your bond stronger.
Dancing
Along with workout indulge your children into dancing. Lots of online coaching and videos are available for dancing. Suggest them to follow the steps and learn dance at home. It will keep them
busy and healthy as well.
Dancing burns calories and it releases
dopamine
, which makes them happier for longer period. If they're feeling shy to dance, leave them alone in their rooms when nobody is watching so that they can dance actually without any judgement.
Drawing
Drawing is the most favorite activities of many children. Give them all the available products to make new
paintings and drawings
. Help them to bring out their creativity. Tell them they can also convey some messages using the drawing.
Using the mud or even the grains and lentils they can make beautiful pictures. Nowadays online drawings are more famous. You can teach them online drawing using various software. To take proper guidance you can also start some online animation drawing classes, in which they can also build their career on a longer time.
Education with fun
Education is too much important in the life of children. Learn them some
tricks to include their education in the songs and some charts
, to memorize it easily. Finding easy and effective ways to study can be beneficial for their grades. If they're finding it hard, give them online guidance or help them personally.
Teach them the lessons using online stories. lots of online videos and available to teach good and moral stories to your kids.
These stories don't help them only in academics but also give them some good life learning lessons.
Coding
Coding helps to make new applications and software. Coding has become a new study in this time. It can be lunch online without needing any past degree or certificates.
Give them online coaching classes for learning the coding. This classes will help them to to bring out the caliber hidden within them. Coding has broad growth options. Your children can make any useful software for applications using this coding knowledge. Just because schools are not fully open the doesn't mean there growth will stop. Use some interesting tricks to keep them productive and keep engaging them into the useful activities. Try to make them all rounder. The more they learn, the more curious they become, which helps them to grow. Use this valuable time to build their future better. These information was provided by 3MEDS the best online pharmacy selling app in India. As we can make the plant as we like, we can also teach our children as we like. If you who properly and politely with them, they will surely understand you and listen your words. Keep them engaged in some productive activities. Such activities help them to grow their career as well.
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Best Teen Fiction Books for Girls
You can find a variety of amazing fiction books in the markets these days. From kids to youngsters to adults, these books are liked by everyone. The popular science fiction books include "Invisible Man," "Time Machine" etc. These stories are unpredictable. They have suspense, thrill and fantasy. Fiction can be defined as imagination in the form of a short story. It is imaginary and shows the hidden desires of people. These stories can be based on real life incidents or the experiences of other individuals. You may want to check out best teen fiction books for girls for more.
Sometimes they have social messages through which people learn something. The popular fiction stories include stories with a thriller element, romantic story, stories about family relationships, etc. In fiction stories, you will get to read imaginary tales, situations or places. Fiction is not limited to novels, comic books or movies only. Romantic fiction novels can have a tragic end with a bit of action. Popular fiction like romance and science fiction stories are scary stories. We always want to know what is going to happen next. We feel as if we are in a different world and experiencing the situation of the story.
The fiction story titled "The Double Bind" is a story by Chris Bohjalian. It tells you the story of a young woman, Laurel Estabrook who is attracted with the pictures taken by one of her clients. The pictures have links to Laurel's own past. The fictional photographs in the book tell Laurel as much about herself as they do about the photographer. The author takes you through a haunting journey of a woman. This thriller story has two main characters, Laurel and Talia. Every character in this story is truly terrific. Once you complete the story, you might feel to go to the pages of the book once more and start reading the whole book again. The twist in the end compels you to go back and read the story again and again. The book is beautifully written and is a must read for fiction lovers.
Another fiction story is "Beneath a Marble Sky," which has been written by John Shors. This is a imaginary story of Taj Mahal that brings life to a story of love, war and beauty. This fascinating fiction is a quick page turner and has a passionate story. After reading the story, you will start taking interest in the history of India. The story grabs the reader with its thrilling plot. This historical fiction is a flashback by Jahanara, the favorite daughter of the Mughal leader Shah Jahan. The story is well written and worth reading. You would enjoy India of the seventeenth century.
The fiction story "Burning Bright" by Tracy Chevalier is another historical novel. This story takes us to the history of 18th-century London. The story is about William Blake and the relationship between young Jem and his neighbor Maggie. You would enjoy the role of characters Maggie, Jem and Mr. Blake. The plot is interesting and well laid out. The characters in the story are brilliantly crafted and you would get connected with them. The realistic and entertaining story is worth reading by everyone.
The "Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time" by Mark Haddon will appeal ever book lover. The cleverly written novel attracts readers with its sweet story. The story begins with Christopher finding a dead dog on his neighbor's lawn. The novel is written as if the author was writing a class assignment. He tries to find out who killed the dog, which is a mystery worth solving. He makes some brave decisions and the joy of his achievements is devastating.
This story will make you see the world through different eyes. The novel entertains you a lot. It will engage you in the story. The writer fulfills the most important requirements of fiction. The story is entertaining and gives you some sound knowledge. This unique and compelling story would surely fascinate you. You would be fascinated by reading popular fiction books like romance fiction books, fantasy fiction books, crime fiction books, etc. Browse through the online shops and select the books that interest you most.
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Things to do this week in Toronto
What's happening in Toronto April 15-19, 2019
MONDAY, APRIL 15
3rd Monday Nights Free at the Royal Ontario Museum: Bring family and friends to the ROM on the 3rd Monday Night of each month and enjoy free admission from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm.
Education Town Hall with Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath: Discuss the impact of Doug Ford’s education changes. This is a free event and the venue is accessible. Light refreshments will be served.
TechTO April Edition at RBC WaterPark Place: Join the TechTO Community to meet and learn from Toronto’s technology leaders, innovators, and enthusiasts.
Pop Music : Better Now or Better Then? Is music better now or was it better back in the day? We play a new number one hit, then pick a random year out of a hat and play the number one hit from that year and let the audience decide: better now or better then?
Etobicoke Camera Club presents Rob Stimpson: The Challenges (and Rewards) of Travel Photography: professional photographer, Rob Stimpson, will discuss capturing images on the go focussing on the challenges and rewards of travel. Guest fee of $10.00 in effect for non-club members.
Jaymz Bee's Caravan of Music at Old Mill Toronto: Jaymz Bee’s Caravan of Music is a four hour event where you can explore the various rooms at Old Mill Toronto. Experience 20 bands in 10 rooms. Proceeds will support the Unison Benevolent Fund.
Eric Andersen and Scarlet Rivera: Performing at Hugh's Room Live. Doors open at 6 p.m., concert at 7:30 p.m.
'This Is Me' at Fairview Library Theatre: showcases talented artists from Centennial Colleges PAFS before they make their leap into stardom.
TUESDAY, APRIL 16
Humber Docs Film Screening at The Assembly Hall
Humber College School of Media Studies and IT would like to cordially invite you to the annual Humber Docs Screening, showcasing the documentary film work of the Third Year Bachelor of Film and Media Studies Students. Free admission.
ALSO ON TUESDAY
Toronto Lit Up: Alexandra Kimball at The Ossington: Alexandra Kimball is releasing The Seed: How the Feminist Movement Fails Infertile Women and will be celebrating its publication with a Toronto Lit Up book launch.
Canadian Children's Opera Company's Junior Open House: Does your child love music, drama, and theatre? The CCOC is just who they're looking for. Join them to find out what a CCOC music education looks like and learn about our programs for kids aged five and up.
F*ck Sh*t Up: Trans + Non-Binary Cabaret: A night of performances by trans and non-binary artists and performers! Featuring M A N G O S A S S I, Ravyn Wngs, Robbie Ahmed, Ben Agiter and Velvet Earl. Hosted by Babia Majora and Fluffy Soufflé.
Pro-Case Tuesdays at Absolute Comedy Toronto: Event features headliner Tommy Savitt and host Alastair McAlastair, with Joe Vu, Noor Kidwai, Perry Perlmutar, Rhiannon Archer and Sam Feldman.
Kelvin Wetherell at Cafe Mirage: Cafe Mirage Grill and Lounge presents Kelvin Wetherell on Nov 6. The performance runs between 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm in the evenings with a 15 minutes break in between. Cafe Mirage is one of the leading restaurants in Scarborough.
Hot Breath Karaoke at The Handlebar: Ridiculous game show style karaoke, with prizes.
Westway Christian Church Food Bank: The Westway Christian Church Community Food Bank is open for clients to receive food on Tuesday evenings from 5-7 p.m.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17
Caught in the Net by Ray Cooney
Teens Gavin and Vicki happen to meet surfing the internet. They are attracted to each other and yet are amazed by all the coincidences — each having a father with the same name, same age, and same occupation. Why? Find out in this farce.
ALSO ON WEDNESDAY
2019 Cannabis Capital Conference: Benzinga is the go-to source for investors who need the latest news in the cannabis sector. This is the event that connects companies with investors.
Coloured bodies: Material Moves by Dori Vanderheyden: Dori Vanderheyden’s work layers and enfolds themes of sexuality, the body and colour as a way to evoke questions of what it means to be a human in the universe at this time.
OCAD University’s President’s Speaker Series presents: Burton Krame: Kramer was a professor at OCAD University for over 20 years and in 2003 was one of the first to receive an honorary doctorate from the institution.
'My Father's Son' releases new single at The Dakota Tavern: Montreal's 'My Father's Son' releases his new single, "Ribbon in the Wind", ahead of his second full-length album, The Greatest Thaw.
Who run the world? QTBIPOC: A free drop-in workshop series on relationships for youth. Learn skills and connect with other 2SLGBTQ Black, Indigenous and youth of colour (16-29) at this Beyonce-themed workshop series on relationships-- with pals, family, partners and yourself.
Off The Rails Comedy Competition at Comedy Bar: 'Off The Rails Comedy' is an interactive, improvised stand up show where Toronto's bravest comics make up their acts based on your suggestions! You have the power!
Christian Bernard Singer and Heidi Leverty: HABITAT: In this exhibition we bring together two artists whose artistic practice embraces our relationship with our Habitat, the exhibited works create a striking narrative between the chaotic and the sublime.
The Liveable City? Transportation: As Impressionism in the Age of Industry takes viewers on a journey through a period of immense change in 19th century Paris, we invite speakers across various disciplines to enter into conversations around urgent issues facing Toronto today.
Chocolate Groove: A weekly social dance celebration featuring Toronto’s best DJ’s in one of the most visionary alternative venues in Canada: Alternity.
THURSDAY, APRIL 18
Great Art: Rembrandt in Black and White: The Printmaker
Art historian Anne Thackray shows how Rembrandt’s immensely creative and fertile imagination embraced the expressive possibilities of prints, the most widespread art form of his times.
ALSO ON THURSDAY
Toward environmental rights in Canada: A panel discussion: To mark Earth Week, educators, activists and thought-leaders will convene for a half-day symposium on environmental rights. The event will map a rights-based approach to climate, water and health challenges in Canada.
The Experiment at Comedy Bar: Come see a hilarious improv show featuring performers from CBC's Workin' Moms, Baroness Von Sketch, Sunnyside, and Netflix's Umbrella Academy!
Sketch Swap Showcase: The best of Toronto's Sketch Comedy Scene will be performing the best sketches seen on Toronto stages in the last year and they're not allowed to do their own material! A fun night full of laughs, drinking, and stupidity!
Casual Chess Club at Beaches Library: Join other chess players in a friendly and welcoming environment for casual play. All ages and skill levels are welcome.
Online Reputation Management with Veronica Chail: The CEO of VC Strategies examines the current online culture and provides tools to help you: Curate content that aligns with your brand; Build trust with your audience; Monitor your reputation; and React promptly to avoid crises.
Rock for Dimes Toronto 2019: The annual fundraiser supports MODC's After Stroke suite of programs. Acts include Fresh Water Sharks, Oui B. Jamon, Bit o' Brit Collective, Martha Rocks and Envy & The Cants. Maie pauts of boom 97.3 will host.
Earth Love & Learn - Yoga, Meditation & Earth Talk: Join Irina Andreea and Cassidy Thedorf for this celebration of earth day. A portion of proceeds will be donate to One Tree Planted to help support global reforestation.
RuPaul's Drag Race Viewing Parties: Fans of the hit reality television series can watch new episodes every Thursday at several spots around the city, including The Gladstone Hotel, The Beaver and Striker.
FRIDAY, APRIL 19 (GOOD FRIDAY)
The Toronto Passion Play at Church on the Queensway
The Christian Performing Arts Centre presents 'The Toronto Passion Play' this Easter Season. This spectacular musical depicts the life of Christ, in a brand new riveting story that is sure to delight and please audiences of all ages. April 19-21.
ALSO ON FRIDAY
Mike Rita's 'Pot Comic' album release party: A fresh voice in a haze-filled room, Mike Rita's Pot Comic riffs on being at the forefront of the “weed generation”, how his mom came to love pot, and the hilarious ways in which legalization has changed Canadian lives.
Hey Girl Hey: Bad Friday! Come get bad with us at The Baby G at your fave queer hip-hop and r&b dance party celebrating female and non-binary artists.
International Fan Festival Toronto at Metro Toronto Convention Centre: International Fan Festival Toronto is the newest Anime Convention in Toronto. IFF Toronto is a multi-day, multi-fandom, Japanese focused event. Our featured events include, exclusive Fate/ stay night talk shows with the main casts of the series.
Kidnetix 13th Annual Easter Egg Hunt: Egg-citement for the whole family! Hunt for thousands of Easter candies in our indoor playground. Free photo booth with the Easter Bunny. Crafts, fun interactive petting zoo, and video game theatre.
Friday Night Jazz at Ripley's Aquarium of Canada: Explore the waters of the world the second Friday of every month with live jazz music as you sip on a drink (alcoholic and non-alcoholic available) under the sea.
C'mon, Angie! at The Assembly Theatre: Told with humour, heart, and unflinching honesty, C’mon Angie! is a new play by Amy Lee Lavoie that dramatizes a difficult and all-too familiar situation, as two character navigate consent and sexual assault following a one-night stand.
Brooklynn Bar Comedy: We’ve put together some of the best Pro Comedians in the city with help from 'Perfect 10 Comedy' for a VIP comedy show.
Redwood Comedy Cafe: A weekly comedy showcase featuring Canada's top comedians at the intimate Redwood Cafe in Little India.
After Hours: Comedy Bar's beloved late night ensemble party show returns with a fun lineup of some of Toronto's favourite stand ups.
ONGOING
Annual Beaches Easter Parade Weekend: Easter weekend celebration includes: Good Friday Easter Egg Hunt at Kew Gardens, which includes children's entertainment and a meet and greet with Peppa Pig. Easter Sunday Parade on Sunday at 2p.m. along Queen Street East.
Neighbourhood Trust at Lakeshore Arts: A collaborative project examining the state of affordable housing in Toronto through the lens of those directly affected. Runs until April 18.
Angélique at Factory Theatre: Inspired by historical transcripts from the infamous trial, Angélique is a moving account of Black Canadian history beyond the Underground Railroad.
Winter Stations 2019: Featuring six unique art installations. Runs until April 21.
Art Show & Sale by Marley Berot at Starving Artist Restaurant: Trini-Ja Canadian Marley Berot is opening her first show at the Starving Artist Restaurant and Gallery at 467 Danforth Avenue. Her acrylic paintings will stay on the walls until May 18th.
PRECIOUS: An Exhibition of Contemporary Art and Jewellery: By creating precious artwork and art jewellery from everyday and discarded items, Micah Adams, Christine Dwane and Lawrence Woodford remind us that our world is shaped by the decisions we make. Whether disposable or sustainable, beauty is everywhere. On display through May 23.
Being Japanese Canadian: Reflections on a Broken World at the ROM: Explore the original exhibition through the eyes of curators Bryce Kanbara and Katherine Yamashita. Runs until May 25.
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IV Vitamin Drip Therapy Toronto Clinic - The IV Lounge
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Best Teen Fiction Books for Girls
You can find a variety of amazing fiction books in the markets these days. From kids to youngsters to adults, these books are liked by everyone. The popular science fiction books include "Invisible Man," "Time Machine" etc. These stories are unpredictable. They have suspense, thrill and fantasy. Fiction can be defined as imagination in the form of a short story. It is imaginary and shows the hidden desires of people. These stories can be based on real life incidents or the experiences of other individuals. Sometimes they have social messages through which people learn something. The popular fiction stories include stories with a thriller element, romantic story, stories about family relationships, etc. In fiction stories, you will get to read imaginary tales, situations or places. Fiction is not limited to novels, comic books or movies only. Romantic fiction novels can have a tragic end with a bit of action. Popular fiction like romance and science fiction stories are scary stories. We always want to know what is going to happen next. We feel as if we are in a different world and experiencing the situation of the story. Have a look at best teen fiction books for more info on this.
The fiction story titled "The Double Bind" is a story by Chris Bohjalian. It tells you the story of a young woman, Laurel Estabrook who is attracted with the pictures taken by one of her clients. The pictures have links to Laurel's own past. The fictional photographs in the book tell Laurel as much about herself as they do about the photographer. The author takes you through a haunting journey of a woman. This thriller story has two main characters, Laurel and Talia. Every character in this story is truly terrific. Once you complete the story, you might feel to go to the pages of the book once more and start reading the whole book again. The twist in the end compels you to go back and read the story again and again. The book is beautifully written and is a must read for fiction lovers.
Another fiction story is "Beneath a Marble Sky," which has been written by John Shors. This is a imaginary story of Taj Mahal that brings life to a story of love, war and beauty. This fascinating fiction is a quick page turner and has a passionate story. After reading the story, you will start taking interest in the history of India. The story grabs the reader with its thrilling plot. This historical fiction is a flashback by Jahanara, the favorite daughter of the Mughal leader Shah Jahan. The story is well written and worth reading. You would enjoy India of the seventeenth century.
The fiction story "Burning Bright" by Tracy Chevalier is another historical novel. This story takes us to the history of 18th-century London. The story is about William Blake and the relationship between young Jem and his neighbor Maggie. You would enjoy the role of characters Maggie, Jem and Mr. Blake. The plot is interesting and well laid out. The characters in the story are brilliantly crafted and you would get connected with them. The realistic and entertaining story is worth reading by everyone.
The "Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time" by Mark Haddon will appeal ever book lover. The cleverly written novel attracts readers with its sweet story. The story begins with Christopher finding a dead dog on his neighbor's lawn. The novel is written as if the author was writing a class assignment. He tries to find out who killed the dog, which is a mystery worth solving. He makes some brave decisions and the joy of his achievements is devastating.
This story will make you see the world through different eyes. The novel entertains you a lot. It will engage you in the story. The writer fulfills the most important requirements of fiction. The story is entertaining and gives you some sound knowledge. This unique and compelling story would surely fascinate you. You would be fascinated by reading popular fiction books like romance fiction books, fantasy fiction books, crime fiction books, etc. Browse through the online shops and select the books that interest you most.
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Text
Scarlett Spider #1
(Hey, kids. It’s Director’s Cut time again, the time when I find really old fanfics and make them better and/or worse through the power of second drafts. One of these days, I’m gonna run out of subjects that I personally was involved in, but today’s not that day. Let’s talk Spider-Man, bitches!)
(Spider-Man was one of my favorite super heroes growing up. Part of that could have been the whole “every day nerd turning out to be a super cool guy” thing that became standard procedure for YA fiction in the nineties and 2000′s, or it could have been the fact that Spider Man was a super hero who dealt with terrible, life-threatening scenarios by snarking at them, making him my spandex clad spirit animal. It sure as hell couldn’t have been the spider part, because I’m pretty sure even now, I would not want to be even in the same room as a radioactive spider, even if its bites made you a super hero and didn’t, say, just give you spider-cancer.)
(Of course, one of the best things about the comic book universe, in my opinion, is the fanfiction side of things. Rather than indulge in complex sexual fantasies involving mass murderers being made tame in the presence of horny women or turning potentially years worth of established canon on its head to justify two men being reduced to a rudimentary desire to touch each others dinguses, the world of comic book fanfics gives us a greater chance of running into power fantasy of a very typically male bent. Such is the case with our buddy, the appropriately named Max Mercury, and his story about a totally not like the author teenage boy who’s best friends with a super hero and then becomes one because he’s also best friends with mad science. This is gonna be a fun one.)
Dark Alley
Ethan is in a dark alley when he comes against three thugs.
Thug 1: Hey kid gimme your money!
Ethan: I don't have any.
Thug 2: What did we say!
(Thug 1: Fool, you didn’t say nothing.
Thug 2: Bro, I know that, all right? We been over this. I’m just tryna establish a “united front.” Like, your words are all our words, and shit. Businessmen in, like, Japan and shit do it all the time.
Thug 1: We ain’t in Japan, neither. Quit fucking around.
Thug 2: Bro... Bro... holy shit. I know we ain’t in Japan, alright? I ain’t a moron, or nothing.
Ethan: Should I just leave you guys alone, or something?)
Thug 3: I think this kid needs to be taught a lesson.
Scarlet Spider: Get away from my friend!
Thug 1: The Scarlet Spider.
(Scarlet Spider: People’re usually a bit more surprised when I sneak up on them.
Thug 1: We’re nameless thugs in a fanfiction. This was pretty much a guarantee.
Thug 2: Hey, Spider-bro. It’s all good. Maybe we could exchange business cards’re something. You know, businessmen in Japan...)
The Scarlet Spider beats up the bad guys.
They get up and run away. Scarlet Spider: Stay here Ethan I'm gonna take out the trash!
Ethan: Go take them punks out!
Classroom – Daytime
Ethan Masters, a 15 year old African American Male is sitting in class asleep (dreaming) when his teacher calls him. (Well, it’s good that we have the barest description of the character in the scene after he’s been introduced. Also, what’s he dreaming about? I choose to believe he’s having the “I have to go to the bathroom, but there don’t seem to be any in this building” dream.)
Teacher: MR MASTERS!
Ethan (Groggy): What, huh?
Teacher: WAKE UP!
Ethan (Groggy): I'm not sleep.
(Teacher: WELL GOOD! I’D HATE FOR THIS CLASS TO BE BORING FOR YOU!
Ethan: Man, do you have to yell like that all the time?
Teacher: WHAT? OH, SORRY! I JUST TEND TO GET REALLY EXCITED ABOUT TEACHING! *clears throat* Now, then...)
Teacher: What's the answer to number 3.
Ethan: Um 17!
Teacher: That might be right but we're in history class.
(Ethan: No, that’s what I mean. UM ‘17. The Utrechtmarkt of 1717. You know, Dutch East India Company and all that.
Teacher: Oh... well... Good job, Mr. Masters. You managed to remember a thing.)
The class laughs at him. The bell rings. And they leave. _______________________________________________________
Hallway – Daytime
Ethan is walking thorough the hallway as his girlfriend Lenina a 16 year old African American Female comes thorough the hallway and sneaks up on him.
Lenina: Hey baby.
Ethan kisses Lenina and begins to grab her butt.
Lenina: Not here baby.
Ethan gets off.
(Lenina: *recoils* Ugh, Ethan! I said not here! You and your stupid hair-trigger...)
Ethan: Sorry. What's up baby?
Lenina: We goin to the movies tonight.
Ethan: I can't.
Lenina: Why not?
Ethan: I gotta go over to Doc Samson's lab tonight.
Lenina: Again. You've been goin over there all week.
Ethan: But today the Doc's ready to test the Neogenic Recombinator. I gotta be there to see it. We've workedreally hard on this.
(Lenina: Oh, right. Pardon me. I was just offering boring old action flicks and some hot over-the-pants rubdown action when we made out in the car. I should have known that I couldn’t compete with a teenage boy and the siren call of cutting edge genetic engineering.
Ethan: Don’t feel bad, baby. I still like over the pants rubdowns. It’s just, we can do that any old day, and we often do. How many opportunities does a guy get to stand on the threshold of God’s domain and drop a flaming bag of dog crap on the porch?)
Ethan goes over to his locker and opens it up showing pictures of Spiderman and even more of the Scarlet Spider.
Lenina: I could see idolizing Spiderman but that other guy. (Actually, now that I think about it, isn’t it a bit weird you only have pictures of muscly men in skintight spandex bodysuits in your locker, that you fawn over constantly?)
Ethan: The Scarlet Spider was bangin girl! You don't know what you're talkin about. He busted up bad guys better in the short time he was a round than Spidey ever did. And if Philly had a hero I wish it had been him.
Lenina: Whatever. I got to get to the bus on time so I'll see you later.
They kiss and they go their separate ways.
_______________________________________________________
Doc Samson's Lab – Daytime
Ethan walks in Doc Samson's lab and puts his equipment on.
Samson: Ethan I've got the recombinator up and online.
Ethan: Great. (Glad to know you’re able to run the machine that allows you to do your job, Doc. I was worried we were just gonna be staring at the thing all day, without plugging it in.)
Ethan goes over to Freddie, Doc Samson's pet, genetically engineered Spider.
Ethan: Hey Freddie.
He puts his hand in the cage and the spider bites him.
Ethan: OUCH! Your tarantula bit me.
(Samson: Well, why did you put your hand in the cage? It’s a spider, not a puppy.)
Samson: It's not just a tarantula, it's been spliced between a water spider, a tarantula, and a black widow. I devenomized him he won't poison you. (I also gave him racing stripes and the ability to whistle. I’ve created a mockery of natural design, and God save me, I don’t ever want to stop!)
Ethan: Good let's fire this baby up!
Samson: Okay we're gonna do some genetic crossing like I did with Freddie there. (I’m thinking today, we’re gonna combine a dog with a fish. I’mma call it a dosh!) Once we activate it.
Ethan: Cool.
Samson: Let's prepare for a test run!
Doc. Samson turns it on and the beam fires up.
Ethan (Raising his voice over the noise of the beam): Got a good flow.
Samson (Raising his voice over the noise of the beam): Yeah nice and smooth!
The Recomnbinator begins to overload.
Ethan (Fearful): It's overloading!
(Samson (over the noise of the beam): What? I can’t hear you! Did you say it’s overloa-)
The blasts come toward them.
Samson: GET DOWN! I'm gonna get the reflector.
Ethan is down while Doc. Samson gets the reflector. (The reflector was actually an umbrella, made of aluminum foil, but the Doc really seemed to get a kick out of using it.)
A beam goes toward Doc. Samson but he reflects it and hits Freddie then the same beam hits Ethan. Ethan springs to his feet. He tries to turn the Recombinator off. But it continues to overload.
Samson: It's to late get out while you still can!
Ethan: But Doc. (We can still save it. I mean, you wouldn’t be so stupid as to design a machine that deals with this much energy and not give it an emergency shutoff or some other safety feature, right?
A heavy, awkward silence fills the room, punctuated only by the chaotic rumbling of the Recombinator.)
Samson: GET OUT!
The room begins to explode and Ethan jumps out of the nearby window and lands on the ground running as fast as he can from the scene.
(Doc Samson stares at his machine, watching the arc of electrical shorts as they run along its surface, and opens up his reflector umbrella.
Samson: This is gonna suck, Freddie. You know what to do.
Freddie: *whistles the ending credits theme to the Incredible Hulk 1970s TV show*
Samson: *tears up* Good boy... good boy.)
Streets – Daytime
Ethan is running down the street as Police and Paramedics and firemen pull up and assess the situation putting the fires out etc. Police questions him as he returns to the front of the building. After a tough session he goes home.
Ethan's House – Daytime
Ethan's parents are watching the report of the science building exploding worrying about Ethan as he comes in. They hug him.
Mom: We thought you were dead.
Dad: We were so worried about you (I mean, not worried enough to go check it out, but...)
Mom: Are you okay?
Ethan: Yeah I'm fine I just want to go and rest. Mom: Okay honey take all the time you need.
(Ethan: Really? So, I could, like, get out of going to school tomorrow?
Mom: Yeah, not even a good try, kid.
Ethan: Crud)
Ethan: Thanks.
Ethan's Room - Nighttime
Ethan is in his room talking to himself.
Ethan: Man I almost didn't get outta there today good thing I jumped from the window. But it was on the top floor, how did I survive. I don't care I'm just glad I did. (Yeah, it doesn’t matter that my mentor’s probably dead and that I got out of an exploding building unscathed. I wonder if there’s still time to take Lenina up on that date...)
Ethan hears pots landing on the floor startled he jumps to the ceiling and sticks to it. He looks down.
(Ethan: Wait a minute... pots? In my bedroom? Pots don’t belong in my bedroom. And neither does this stove. Or this refrigerator. Also, I appear to be hanging from the ceiling.)
Ethan: What the hell's happening to me.
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