#Prestige Art Trends

[joeruggieroblog]

Welcome To High Point Furniture Market!

[natalyarose]

𝓈𝒶𝒷𝓇𝒾𝓃𝒶 𝒸𝒶𝓇𝓅𝑒𝓃𝓉𝑒𝓇 (𝓋𝑒𝒹𝒾𝒸 𝒶𝓈𝓉𝓇𝑜) ♡

My little sister introduced me to Sabrina Carpenter and I gotta say I loove her!! Not necessarily my type of music, but the older I get, the more I realise how every genre has something so beautiful to offer and it just makes me so happy to see ART and joy in this world of any kind :')

My first thought is she's gottaaa be Sun influenced- the pastel, literally sunny visuals, the bubbly smile & attitude, the 'lightness'. I find Solar women possibly the easiest to spot- even Sun women I've met who have 'darker' personalities & aesthetics still offer this light energy. I checked, and she is Krittika Sun! (I know she's getting very popular now so this is all probably old news to a lot of people lol but just thought I'd share).

ALSO, I've noticed people remarking on how she is bringing the element of dance and full 'performance style' back into music. Krittika is intimately connected to the art of dance.

Then she has Moon conjunct ascendant in Purvabhadrapada, in the 1st house! Classic Jupiterian sass & vocals (Jupiterians often have gorgeous and or very powerful voices since Jupiter traditionally rules the throat) + Purvabhadrapadas position as the archetypal 'femme fatale' is referenced in her song 'Feather'. Religious imagery is common to see with Purvabhadrapda natives too given the bhadrapada Nakshatras relation to sacrifice.

Since she has Purvabhadrapada Moon; this makes her yoni animal the lion- glamorous, proud, strong.

I noticed someone comparing her energy/demeanour/look in her music video for her song 'Espresso' to Sharpay in Highschool Musical, who is played by Krittika Ascendant, Ashley Tidsdale. Definitely a nice depiction of Krittika energy- being in Taurus, we see Venus (beauty, pleasure, luxury, art) combined with Sun (joy, warmth, self love, authority). Edit - y'all I think I got confused between different birth time sources, but Ashley is in fact mostly Bharani ascendant HOWEVER, with Venus in Krittika ruling her chart.

As well as Sun & Jupiter Nakshatras' abundant qualities, I think Sabrina having Moon in the 1st definitely helps to garner likability & widespread appeal. Moon reflects whatever is around it, so she's going to be somebody who as an artist, is naturally attuned to public opinion. Moon in the 1st can have a knack for identifying what is popular, and reflecting it back through their persona or art in their own way.

With Sabrina's Sun, Moon & Asc consisting entirely of Purvabhadrapada & Krittika, this makes the energies of the 'brahmin caste' extremely relevant to her. Brahmin Nakshatras tend to be associated with spirituality, knowledge, education, prestige or a 'priestly' quality. Of course, not always especially since the ways in which each Nakshatra works is very unique; but heavily Brahmin influenced people tend to find themselves in very privileged positions in life- even if they're in a rough spot, they carry themselves with an aura of importance and therefore tend to easily attract what they desire.

As I talked about in my Vishakha women post, especially Vishakha but honestly strong Jupiter influence in general is often somewhere in the charts of those who have the type of fame where they are ever expanding & deeply influencing the masses.

Anyway, I'm eating up her music videos lol, the solar energy is so uplifting- sorta makes me nostalgic for the 2010s, when mainstream music & trends was a lot more solar inclined in that way. Some may have considered it shallow (my edgy 12 year old self sure did lmao) but honestly I think there can be something very spiritual about artists making music that's just fun, joyful and silly.

Thankyou for reading & I definitely want to do more small observational/analysis posts like this! ♡

[kinky-pen]

Got any general Ouran headcanons?

More disorganised, general thoughts!

Tamaki:

When Tamaki found out about renfairs, the whole host club wasn't just dragged to one (I don't believe they're a thing in Japan, but I may be wrong), Tamaki made them help him organise one. Yes, Kyoya had thought he'd escaped budgeting for Tamaki's whims in adulthood, and yes he felt stupid for thinking that.

Paints his nails frequently. It's an activity he finds fun, but he also repaints them constantly because he changes his mind about the colour constantly! He also wants them to match his outfit, and god forbid he plan ahead.

Was raised Catholic in France, but finds much more love for the aesthetics and community than the religion himself.

Haruhi:

Haruhi was always androgenous, but she embraces her gender nonconformity and identity even more as they become and understands themselves. Lots of lovely suits, both masc and fem. (They do use all pronouns, also, but use she/they the most)

Keeps the short hair!! I know she grows it out in the manga, but the short hair is nicer, more in character, and Haruhi said on multiple occasions that they prefer it.

When she's a lawyer (not if, let's be real), she's actually scary good at employment law and making sure companies compensate and treat their worker's fairly (comrade Haruhi, everyone)

Kyoya:

Keeps a sketchpad handy a good portion of the time. He found art really relaxed him, and he's pretty talented at it, but he'll keep it to himself as it's something he actually considers for him, not profit or prestige.

Has had a crush on every member of the host club, at some point, except Hanni for obvious reasons (boo, you whore)

Has diagnosed depression, and is half convinced he has a personality disorder of some flavour. He can be a bit of a hypochondriac, however, and his doctors haven't confirmed anything as of yet. Who knows.

Hikaru:

Dyes his hair constantly, all sort of colours. Like Tamaki and his nails, Hikaru recolours his hair very often - as soon as he gets bored of it. It got to the point where he dyed it four times in a month, fried it all off, and had to get a buzz cut. He eased up a little after that.

Loves getting tattoos. He's one of those people that really love the sensation of it, and he also gets a cool piece of art on his body forever! Yes there's something wrong with him, he's seeing a therapist!

Loves spending time in his office, tinkering about with new things - whether it be finding new ways to put together certain pieces of hardware, or coding new software. He can disappear in there for days straight, sometimes (he has a mini fridge stocked with drinks and snacks, don't worry)

Kaoru:

Goes through phases of growing out his hair, then cutting it all off again. Changes hairstyles frequently. When you're head of a designer brand, you do have to balance keeping up with the latest trends with setting them, and I think Kaoru does well with both sides of that.

Loves flower arranging (which is semi-canon), but it's something he keeps up his whole life.

Kaoru actually does have some """mild""" HPD (that's the phrasing he uses, but he generally means he's high functioning) he's just like me frfr

Mori:

This man matures like a fine wine. Will always be attractive, honestly. He went from hunk to DILF to GILF effortlessly.

Still wins Judo competitions and such well into his early fifties, but decided to retire from competing at 53 due to some joint issues. Still keeps it up for fun and health, though.

Had a bit of a revelation about putting his foot down and protecting his boundaries during university. It actually helped him a lot with the self destructive tendencies he has in canon.

Hunni:

Living his best life with his goth wife! He just adores that girl so much and she'll kill for him! (Ask her to kill for you, Hunni, she really wants to)

Takes up baking his own cakes, which does actually save money in the long run - not that they need to worry about that.

Had a similar revelation to Mori in university, caused by Mori standing up for himself more. He realised that he can still be true to himself and what he wants, without running roughshod over those who care about him. He can still be a little selfish, but better than what we see in canon.

Also, as this is a kink blog and I don't really want to encourage engagement from people not into NSFW/are minors - please only 'like' this post if you're the aforementioned :)

[eirikrjs]

So with Kaneko back to doing stuff for the industry (as offhandedly as he is, and as nefarious the projects he became associated with are) would you expect to see him credited in an Atlus title at any point in the future? I think I know the answer already, so I guess what I mean to ask is more on the lines of, is the approach Atlus currently takes to its subject matters fundamentally incompatible with what artists like Kaneko were trying to achieve and express? What do you think of this disconnect, if so?

Kaneko ain't doing stuff with Atlus anymore. He'll still be credited for legacy demon designs, though.

Atlus has a well-oiled art machine now:

Soejima & his persona team artists that emulate his style, for the "prestige" products (Metaphor and Persona)

Whatever "Atlus Art Team" is at this point

Doi for SMT and possibly other non-prestige products (new spinoffs that don't exist and may never exist)

Contract artists for low tier games they have little faith in (Soul Hackers 2)

So yeah, I just don't think Kaneko really had a niche at the company anymore ("product" is a key word here). He was simply no longer needed and his style has never been very marketable.

Kaneko unfortunately became the kooky old guy who should've just retired, but didn't, and is now looking desperate and/or out-of-touch by chasing embarrassing trends.

I would wager he would refuse to do more work for Atlus, not out of bad blood, but because he considers it part of his past. He's literally moved on. The only consolation prize we get is that we will get to see new Kaneko art for Colopl, for whatever that's worth.

...Merry Christmas?

[7grandmel]

Rip of the week: 24/06/2024

YO-Kai Direction

Season 7 Featured on: Now That's What I Call Quality! 3

Ripped by DonnieTheGuy

Y'know, funny story: a part of me genuinely thought I'd made this post already, and I had to double-check my posting archive three times over just to make sure. Because for as much Season 7 glazing as I've done on here, YO-Kai Direction is the kind of rip that absolutely deserves that love, as such a perfect rip from one of SiIva's most surprise breakout events in recent memory. Hell, last time I was covering the event in question, this rip only barely lost out from being covered instead of Beautiful Dreamer - but, in earnest, I believe two legends should indeed be able to coexist.

I've learned a lot from running this blog, but one of the biggest breakout surprises to me was learning just how incredible of a ripper DonnieTheGuy truly is. He joined the team around when I was paying less attention to the channel in general, and didn't exactly have a loud internet personality for me to learn of otherwise - yet rip by rip, from the blog's very first in Running Through Cookie Country to later-covered examples like Epic Rap Battles of History: Funny vs. Funnier and Remember when this song was the one related to toilets?, I began realizing just how powerful the guy is. A master chef that works in the background, even working to provide tons of assets to help people get into ripping themselves, sharing samples, samples and much more. But even if I wasn't aware of all that, even if I wasn't aware of just how much of a menace he is even off of SiIva when it comes to Twitter shitposts (the Digital Circuit edit trend where he made like 20+ edits on his own for instance), YO-Kai Direction would've likely convinced me on its own of DonnieTheGuy's prestige.

I recall saying to myself back when I wrote Beautiful Dreamer that one of the reasons that I picked it over YO-Kai Direction was just due to how much I'd already featured YO-KAI Disco, and Yousuke Yasui's music in general, on here. 【＝３】e-MUNO Disco (vs. 音MAD AGENT) was effectively the rip that made me INVESTED invested in the art of high quality ripping, WA-HOO DISCO shows just how much Super Mario 64's sound can and has been pushed by the SiIva team, Siiva Lining just outright slaps - you get it. But we're now in the golden age of ripping quality, where it feels as if every rip made is touched by some benevolent gods ensuring that it does WAY more than it necessarily needs to in order for its proposed joke to work. Because like, YO-Kai Direction is an incredibly simple premise on the surface, mashing up the all-too-known YO-KAI Disco with What Makes You Beautiful by One Direction as part of the One Direction event. Back in, say, Season 1, that would've been the end of it, but there's so many small touches added by DonnieTheGuy that shows just how invested he was in utilizing One Direction's sound to the fullest.

And honestly, when the One Direction event began, I was initially a bit disappointed, as it took the place of the channel's annual "9/11 event", which had previously given us incredibly bait-and-switch events like what brought us SUNGORE in 2020. Initially I figured that I had no stake or familiarity with One Direction and so the event was completely out of my wheelhouse...but not only was I SURPRISINGLY familiar with What Makes You Beautiful in particular, I also had no clue that the team was so excited and ready to start using it. It gave me flashbacks to Season 6's Big Time Rush event which brought us Famous Surprise, only with even more people firing on all cylinders for it. Because again - in many other eras, YO-Kai Direction would've just been a mere mashup, but DonnieTheGuy goes the extra length to pitch-shift it all to something absolutely heavenly.

Without ever leaving that original pitch for the rip, YO-Kai Direction masters the art of escalation in a way that's so well done, it's hard to even notice with how well it fits in. It begins as a seemingly normal mashup with a slightly increased BPM speed of YO-KAI Disco being used as to match the One Direction song, but then at the second go around at the verse's melody it becomes more YTPMV-esque, editing soundbytes from What Makes You Beautiful into the melody of the source track, as if to communicate the two tracks merging - "You're insecure, but you walk-walk through the do-o-or!" is pulled off with just a slight stutter and pitch-shifting that's immediately noticeable if you're paying attention to it, yet fits so well as to initially sound just like an extension of the initial mashup. This then carries on into the bridge, before finally exploding in the chorus - wherein every part of One Direction's vocals are pitch-shifted to amazing effect. It's hard to put into word without repeating myself just how well done this build-up is, but the end result is obvious - a genuinely amazing listen.

All the while, slight elements of What Makes You Beautiful's instrumentation seem to be sprinkled into the rip, sounding almost as if they had just been dug out of the mix of the original YO-KAI Disco. That's the theme of the whole rip, and to be clear - ABSOLUTELY not meant as a negative. The way in which DonnieTheGuy managed to make YO-Kai Direction sound almost as if it was a natural collaboration between One Direction and Yousuke Yasui is actually insane, yet it still subtly honors the traditions of what makes the greatest SiIvaGunner rips as good as they are. I won't sugarcoat it - on many days, humming YO-KAI Disco in public, THIS is the version I'm humming.

[pierre-priestly]

The Tiresome Truth About Trends

By Pierre Priestly

Another season, another barrage of supposedly "must-have" looks and accessories bombarding us from all angles. The relentless cycle of fashion trends and consumer culture has me utterly fatigued. When did it become acceptable - enviable, even - to mindlessly chase after each new fad like lemmings obediently gulping down the latest "It" product?

This disturbing lack of individuality and inability to think for oneself makes me want to cancel my subscriptions and burn every magazine that hits my desk. How many faux pas-filled celebrity looks and cringeworthy street style galleries can we possibly consume before recognizing the vapid excess for what it is?

The fashion world used to be a brilliant bastion of exclusivity and taste-making prestige. Visionaries like the iconoclastic Elsa Schiaparelli rejected boring conformity in favor of avant-garde sophistication and magnificent whimsy. Her iconic Surrealist collaborations with artists like Dali and ingenious abstruse designs - like the beautiful Lobster dress and Skeleton sweater - redefined modern chic as something wildly imaginative yet supremely cultivated.

That singularity of creative brilliance has tragically become all too rare. We've become a culture enslaved by newness for newness' sake - addicted to the adrenaline hit of fevered hype and perpetual want for more, more, more. And for what? A fleeting high that dissipates into self-disgust and emptiness as soon as the next big trend hits the scene? I think not.

While the breathless herd chases after each passing novelty, the true fashion greats understood something more profound: The art of cultivating a signature aesthetic that transcends temporal vagaries. Like when Hubert de Givenchy brought rarefied elegance and modern glamour to his sculpted, minimalist creations for muse Audrey Hepburn. Their discreet sophistication has far outlasted the momentary blips on fashion's radar.

Even the house of Prada - built on the avant-garde conceptualism and progressive feminist spirit of Miuccia's anti-status nylon handbag - has managed to retain uncommon dignity and intelligence amid industry hoopla season after season. While others flit about chasing ephemera, Prada has stood for something greater.

My dears, isn't it time we awoke from this materialistic trance and reclaimed our discerning taste and sense of self-respect? When you find yourself coveting an "It" item or look solely because the echo chamber of social media and fast fashion has manufactured a frenzy around it, pause. Ask yourself: Does this piece inspire true sartorial artistry the way an iconic Schiaparelli design or Armani masterwork does? Or am I simply chasing windswept vagaries and momentum for momentum's sake?

It's a question to which the answers may prove quite unflattering at times. The truth often is. But I have far more respect for those brave enough to think for themselves - to forge an identity of substance over hollow want-mongering and wanton consumerism.

The path of individuality and self-actualization is arduous and unending, but taking the road more discernible is a matter of self-respect. It starts by canceling the noise and rediscovering what you truly hold dear.

So I'll leave you with this: What trite trends and ill-advised impulse buys are no longer serving you? Let today mark a renaissance of reverence for true style over senseless materialism. Discern what is built to endure and inspire like the creations of Schiaparelli, Prada and Armani. Only then can you ascend from the incessant thirst trap of consumerist trends. Who's with me?

[frederichry]

The Henry.

Full Name: Frederic Henry Wei (魏)

Place & Date of Birth: Singapore, October 30, 1990

Nationality: Singaporean

Education: Harvard University, B.A. in Economics

Profession: Senior Executive at Wei Financial Holdings

Interests: Classical music, tennis, philanthropy

Early Life and Education

Frederic Henry Wei, known to his close friends and family as "Fred," was born into a prestigious family in Singapore. The Wei family has a long history in the region, tracing their roots back to early Chinese immigrants who settled in Singapore in the late 19th century. The Wei family surname is written as 魏 (Wèi), symbolizing strength and prestige, and it is recognized throughout the country.

From a young age, Frederic was exposed to a blend of Western and Eastern cultures. His father, Herman Wei, is a prominent businessman in the finance sector, having built a financial empire from the ground up. His mother, Margaret Huang, is an accomplished lawyer with a strong passion for philanthropy. Growing up in a bilingual household, Frederic is fluent in both English and Mandarin, which has served him well in his diverse social circles.

Frederic attended one of Singapore’s top international schools, where he excelled academically and was particularly drawn to economics and international relations. He was also an avid participant in extracurricular activities, particularly in debate and tennis, where he demonstrated leadership and a competitive spirit.

Higher Education and Career

After completing his secondary education, Frederic went on to study at Harvard University, majoring in Economics with a minor in Political Science. His time at Harvard was transformative, exposing him to global perspectives and allowing him to build a network of influential contacts. Frederic's thesis on the economic development of Southeast Asia received high acclaim and was published in a leading academic journal.

Upon returning to Singapore, Frederic joined his father’s company, Wei Financial Holdings, as a junior analyst. Over the years, he worked his way up through various departments, gaining a comprehensive understanding of the business. His innovative ideas and keen insight into market trends quickly earned him a reputation as a rising star in the finance industry.

Personal Life and Interests

Frederic is not just a businessman; he is a man of many interests. He has a deep appreciation for the arts, often attending gallery openings and supporting local artists. He is also a philanthropist, much like his mother, and actively contributes to various charitable organizations focusing on education and poverty alleviation.

Despite his busy schedule, Frederic makes time for his personal passions. He is an accomplished tennis player and enjoys playing matches with friends and colleagues. He also has a love for classical music and is a skilled pianist, often performing at private events and family gatherings.

---

BEHIND THE MASK

First Name: Guang Han

Family Name: Xu

Native name: 許光漢

Also Known as: Greg Han, 许光汉, 許光漢, Hsu Kuang Han

Nationality: Taiwanese

Gender: Male

Born: October 31, 1990

Age: 33

Greg Hsu, also known as Greg Han or Hsu Kuang Han, is a Taiwanese actor and model. He is best known for his roles in the dramas Q Series: Love of Sandstorm (2016) and Someday or One Day (2019). He has been nominated for the Best Supporting Actor at the 52nd Golden Bell Awards.

[secondhanddevil]

Interlude with Yuza and Tamara, with absolutely no subtext whatsoever

“I didn’t know you had opinions on the decor.”, Yuza remarked as she examined the multicolored fabrics laid before her. Each one was a work of art, labored over for months by the many talented weaver guilds of Illium. Each guild clamoring to have the prestige, and subsequent notoriety, of having their works hang in The Voice of the Nontricates own home.

“You never said anything about the last hundred rounds of selection.”, Yuza said to the woman at her side. Knight-Comander Tamara was an imposing sight regardless of the situation. Even in her casual wear, people made comments when they thought she couldn't hear, likening her to a mountain glacier- cold, harsh, and completely merciless. Yuza disagreed, she knew her sister better. Tamara was closer to a deep ocean than a mountain. Just as intimidating but with so much more beneath the surface.

“I have options, I have just never felt the need to share them.”, Tamara said with a shrug while Yuza picked up one of the rolls of fabric, a deep roiling violet with gold geometric designs stitched into it.

“Oh? And what monumental event has caused you to share your previously secret opinions on curtains?”, Yuza asked her sister with a smile, an eyebrow raised.

“You’ve been rearranging a lot of furniture in the house.”, Tamara stated, her face as impassive as ever, “‘Replacing a lot of our old furniture with new fleeting trends”.

“I don’t think these are fleeting trends...” Yuza said exsmining the bolt of cloth in her hands, “Besides, it’s not like I’m getting rid of any of the old furniture, just moving it around”.

“For now, but you’ve already moved one dresser into storage, what’s next? A bed frame?” Tamara asked pointedly, her eyes boring into Yuza's.

“Hells,” Yuza thought in resignation, “So we’re having this conversation now.” Her tail twitched anxiously. She should have expected it. Tamara was not one to keep her options hidden from her, but danm, if Yuza hadn’t just fallen for one of Tamara's tricks. Just because Tamara often wasn't subtle doesn’t mean she was incapable of it.

“Well, I’ve had that dresser for what, 70 years now? I think it’s time for a change wouldn’t you agree?”, Yuza asked as she put down the curtain.

“That cabinet has been tried and tested, made from sturdy wood and hasn’t shown any signs of wear and tear.” Tamara replied, walking past her sister to examine a different roll of a fabric. “It has served you well for decades, there’s no need to replace it now.”, Tamara said, as she picked up the new roll. It was from one of the older weaving houses, one of Belegar’s people if Yuza remembered correctly. The fabric was a deep crimson and bronze, with clouds woven out of spun brass. It would be much heavier than the violet one, but would provide more protection from the elements.

“I like this one better.”, her sister stated.

Yuza furrowed her brow, “And what about this one calls to you?” She asked.

Tamara turned and looked down at her sister, “We’ve bought their curtains before, they are good quality, and we’ve never had any problems with them since we bought them.” “Perhaps I desire a change of pace, something new.” Yuza said, looking at the fabric and knowing exactly what Tamara was talking around. She had been trying to avoid talking about Jax since the breakfast but her sister was nothing if not dogged in her pursuit of letting her displeasure be known.

“It will not be as good as the ones we have.” Tamara replied, her teeth starting to grind against her tusks, a sure sign she was getting just as frustrated as Yuza at this line of questioning.

“How do you know?” Yuza responded, arms crossing in front of herself subconsciously.

Tamara gave a short, sharp exhale out her nose “Because, Yuza, it has not been tested as much as our existing curtains. It has not gone through the same rigors. We have had these type of curtains for several years now and they have served us well. I can see no reason to change them now all of a sudden.”

“Well maybe I want something new!” Yuza's voice rose sharply, her tail lashing behind her, “Maybe I am tired of having the same heavy curtains in my home, always blocking the light. Perhaps I wish to feel the rain on my skin when I look out on the balcony!”

Silence followed Yuza’s proclamation, Tamara looking down at her and Yuza breathing slightly heavy from the outburst. Her tail coiling itself around her legs defensively. Tamara said nothing as she walked towards her sister, leaned down and pressed her forehead to Yuza’s.

“Everything I do is to protect you, even if you don’t like it.” Tamara whispered.

Yuza nodded, reaching her hands up to grasp Tamaras’ face, “I know, but I cannot keep making the safe choice and expecting things to change. I need to make different ones, even if I might get hurt.” Yuza locked eyes with her sister, “Perhaps one new curtain, to try it out.”

Tamara sighed, “I do not like it but can accept it. What about the furniture?”

Yuza gave a wry chuckle “I will stop rearranging the furniture for now.”

“Good, Tamara said her face serious, “I hate getting new furniture.”

[zorilleerrant]

"why do people like [character] more than [other character]? why is there so much content about them?"

well, you see, when people draw/write about/make meta about [character] they get a lot of positive and friendly comments. and when they try that with [other character] they get a bunch of people angrily decrying everything they got wrong and telling them they're a terrible person who should stop creating art.

"why do people like [ship] more than [other ship]?"

when people interact with [ship] they get a lot of positive comments. and when they interact with [other ship] they get people complaining that they're doing it wrong and being inappropriate and the way they like the ship isn't sufficiently worshipful.

"why do people like [prestige category] more than [minority]?"

when talking about the prestige category, people get a lot of praise for interpretation, and positive interaction of people adding on to their ideas and running with them. when they talk about minority characters/relationships/media they get crickets. or they get called a bigot. or they get bigots advising them to create more bigoted interpretations of things.

"why do people want to ship things instead of creating elaborate breakdowns of media?"

shipping gets a lot of positive feedback. literary analysis gets people ignored. or gets angry people saying dumb bullshit. (it also attracts fascists pretty much no matter what.) or an elaborate, often hostile, disagreement, because it's much harder to see things the same way the more depth they have. it's also a lot of work for way less engagement. if it's thorough, there's not a lot for anyone to add on, so no one continues the conversation. if it's not thorough, then the author gets called an idiot for missing obvious things. even if someone likes it, they add in a bunch of things complaining about other things in fandom that OP often finds fun.

...like, I get it, there are trends you don't like in fandom, but I only ever see complaints about those trends. I don't see the same people, say, promoting the content they do like. and I see so many complaints, without any corresponding rec list. create things about the unpopular character/ship/media - more importantly, find the ones other people have already created. promote the things about or by minorities. find the viewpoint or lens you like - there is so much meta out there, and so little of it gets interacted with.

and for fuck's sake, stop blaming everything you don't like on other marginalized groups just because you don't get the same thing out of something that they do. and stop randomly bringing asians into it when they have nothing to do with anything.

[joeruggieroblog]

Fashion Plate!

[imasloid]

SHINY COLORS FASHION ANALYSIS - L’Antica (アンティーカ) PART THREE

This is PART THREE of the L'Antica fashion analysis thread (had to separate because of picture limit)! Click these links for part one and part two.

-----

Encadrement Coupé (アンカードルモンクーペ) continued

Key points of “Encadrement Coupé” mainly include strong Medieval knight theming with Victorian and Romanticist influence. This does not only include the clothing, but also the colors used (black and gold) have strong symbolism and meaning in tincture used in heraldry.

Heraldry refers to the design and display of armonial bearings, while tincture refers to the the use and symbology of colours and patterns used in heraldry. The main colors in “Encadrement Coupé” are gold/or (faith and obedience) and black/sable (constancy and grief).

The songs that are associated with this costume give more insight into why or and sable were chosen as colors. In their song, “A Certain Story of Heroes” (とある英雄たちの物語), five knights (L’antica) of different orders get into a bloody duel and fight against each other to the death.

This story continues with the song “Unsung Heroes” where it’s revealed that fighting occurred between the five orders to see who could best serve their lord, & the five knight leaders had a final battle to see which order remained, thus fitting the themes of grief and obedience.

The “Encadrement” part of the costume’s name is very important as well, as one of the main points of the costume are the frames that surround the members with their swords. Victorian (and especially Pre-Raphaelite) painters had a fixation on frames and how they complimented art.

Knights were often painted not as they were but how they would want to be remembered. As such, they are in a battle-ready, dynamic pose (unusual as subjects of paintings would have to sit still for a long time) with an embellished gilded frame around them.

Different frames were used depending on the size or medium of the art piece, but also based on the content of the piece. Gilding, or application of gold leaf on a wood frame, was a common practice and often represented royalty, beauty, or prestige (Lord Leighton Frederic's Crenaia, the Nymph of the Dargle).

If you want to know more about Victorian and Pre-Raphaelite frames and framing techniques, this blog post is really interesting and informative!

---

Haute Couture ArtePiece (オートクチュールアルテピエス)

“Haute Couture ArtePiece” is L’Antica’s eighth costume, featuring the members as socialites visiting an amusement park with animate stuffed animals. In the first time in a while, this costume marks a return to the heavy steampunk theming that L’antica is known for.

Haute couture refers to custom-fitted high end fashion design, reserved for the runway or upper-class socialites and celebrities. It was coined as a term during the Victorian Era by Charles Frederick Worth to delineate “houses” or “salons” that were of quality and prestige.

The biggest style inspiration for “Haute Couture ArtePiece” is that its heavily based off of late-Victorian haute couture and upper-class fashion. The silhouettes and fabrics/features are shared between the two, but L’Antica’s costume has a more modern twist.

Key points of “Haute Couture ArtePiece” include a marriage between the haute couture trends of the Victorian era with the trends of today. While there is a common silhouette and general style reminiscent of an earlier period, little details elevate it uniquely to the current day.

Another key point I’d like to expand on is the makeup of this costume. Compared to old costumes where the makeup was not noticeable or used for “horror” purposes, this costume has a full, polished look including eyeshadow, blush, and lipstick.

Though the costumes themselves are moreso Victorian, the setting is very reminiscent of a steampunk universe. The amusement park, covered in gears and mechanical joints, is all powered by steam power.

Even the stuffed animals have gears for eyes, metal appendages, and appear to be mechanical as well!

Watching the animation, it’s a fun contrast to see the members in very upper-class high fashion but also having fun in an amusement park: Kogane in a parade, Mamimi on a teacup ride, Sakuya on a carousel, Mitsumine on a swing ride, and Kiriko on a ferris wheel.

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This is it for L'Antica! This section will be updated with new unit costumes when come out.

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Next section: Kogane Tsukioka

[littleporksausage]

Yet another skin release, yet another disappointing prestige skin, this time for Katarina.

My main gripe with prestige skins when it comes to design is that they're just... boring? And I don't mean that they lack detail or skill, absolutely not, the in-game effects are stunning. But the design details are just stripped away

Let's look at the latest prestige skin, Faerie Court Katarina. First, the base one

I won't get into splashart structure too much, since that is a different topic entirely, but I will mention the colour palette is vastly different from other skins in this line, already distinguishing Katarina as someone in a different position, an outsider even.

Now, for design details. I'll list the ones that stick out to me the most

The blades are very thin, resembling insect wings or some type of mandibles. Insect

In the wing patterns there are eyes, reminiscent of some species of moths, and the wing shape is sharper, again leaning more towards moths instead of the butterflies of other skins

While it is a very fantasy design, the outfit clearly has armored pieces in it, immediately establishing her as a warrior of some sort, albeit distinct from Kalista. Her outfit is light, but protective, maybe less a brawler but more a, you know. Assassin (this is all ignoring the boob window. We all know the deal with boob windows, in a design analysis it may as well not be here)

The shoulder pads have scales and fur. The scales fit in with the general bug theme, while the fur further alludes to moths

A splashart specific design detail - in the art Katarina looks like she's emerging from a cocoon. The butterfly and moth theming is very strong

Now, let's compare that to the prestige version of the skin

Here the colour palette is, of course, changed to fit the prestige style, which is completely fine. The composition is more reminiscent of other prestige skins aswell, which means that Katarina's pose and surroundings don't reflect the theme as well as the base splashart.

And for the details I mentioned above

The blades are now shaped exactly like Katarina's base swords, with the added wing shapes at the handles

The wings are more rounded, and in the spots that had the eyes, there are now holes (which. Why. Cmon)

The armor pieces are all gone, including the shoulder pads with the fur and scales

The outfit has more fragments reminiscent of butterfly wings and flower petals

These changes are not inherently bad. They make for an attractive design. My issue is that the design is boring. Clearly a lot of thought went into the base design, adding many subtle but recognizable visual allusions to moths and insects in general. The prestige skin has nothing of the sort, only having some flaps of fabric that look vaguely wing-like

I think the design philosophy of prestige skins is immensely disappointing. I noticed that trend first with Star Guardian Syndra and Space Groove Nami, who both had those same issues, taking away the pieces of original design that made those designs unique and representative of their skin line

When Riot announced they would be changing the way they treat prestige skins, I was excited to see what they come up with, but honestly? All these prestige skins do is make me appreciate the base ones more

[panvani]

Also everything The Menu had to say about art was shit like literally just inventing problems to appeal to the "let people enjoy things" crowd. "Not everything has to be analyzed or deconstructed or an intellectual exercise" is not a real problem in any industry and using the restaurant industry's current treatment of haute couture/fine dining as an attempt at metaphor is so fucking stupid and shallow because 1. trends in fine dining are not actually analogous to media criticism at all and 2. you cannot be a part time small town homegrown prestige TV director

[cashthecomposer]

i agree with you that sunday is a better musical but do you think it’s possible you’re getting a little heated over a silly internet poll? like this isn’t an award show, there’s no prestige here it doesn’t matter who wins. treating it like a high stakes issue when it’s literally just a poll on a tumblr blog is a little much right? if the “wrong” show wins its not like the world will go “okay fuck sondheim take away his accolades the people of tumblr decided it.” especially since you seem to be aware you’re talking to kids, calling them idiots for enjoying a different show more feels really unnecessary

I'm a teacher, specifically a music teacher. Sometimes kids need to be told they're idiots. It's not an insult- idiocy isn't something to be protected and harbored, it's merely ignorance, and ignorance is something easily amended. If you're nice about it, most of the time, the student doesn't understand the gravity of their ignorance- if you're blunt, and honest, and use words like 'idiot', then the reality kicks in.

If you think I'm being mean to my students (and by using the same language here, to my followers), think again. I'm critical, because I respect my audience, in both. If I treated my students with kid gloves, couching everything in soft words, that would not be respectful, that would be diminutive and derogatory. I don't coddle, and I don't condone coddling. Grow the fuck up and get off anon, say the criticisms you want to say without hiding. I do. I'm an adult, and don't mask that fact on this site; I will speak freely on here, especially in regards to topics about which I harbor strong passions.

I don't care if it's not an important award, instead just a silly internet poll, it's still hundreds of people voicing an opinion about what the "best musical" is based on 1) a lack of adequate information about both competitors, and 2) a fierce loyalty to fandom for the sake of fandom. And that's an insult to a great man, and to add insult to injury, it further diminishes the incredibly important nature and message of the show itself.

There are plenty of shows that could win against Sunday, and I'd understand and accept that. Phantom, Les Miserables, Hamilton, Rent, to name a few; hugely impactful musicals that have strong scores, stories, characters, and have stayed the course strongly, more successfully than Sunday. There are even some shows that don't necessarily fit all of these arbitrary qualifications that I would understand- for example, The Drowsy Chaperone if pitted against Sunday would be an interesting match that Sunday might lose, given that they're both introspective odes to art, and Drowsy in particular is specifically about the theatre, thereby more relatable for audiences. Or Sweeney Todd, which pushes more boundaries than any other show in existence in literally every facet. Heck, even Dear Evan Hansen, which I hate, might stand solely on its strong message of the difficulties surrounding mental health.

But an Internet musical that's merely slightly clever in its meta nature, following the trends established by the hyper meta media people seem to love lately, is not a contender. Voting for that because you don't know the other option is disingenuous, and voting if you know both is ignorant.

If it were high stakes, I wouldn't be talking about it on Tumblr, ffs. This is the low stakes site for low stakes things. There's a reason I'm sitting front and center at the first public performance of his last show, and there is a reason my own musical, a piece a decade in the making, is looking to make its own local premiere in my hometown next season. It's because of Sondheim, and his magic, and how strongly he inspired me. And I'm going to defend that tooth and nail until I die.

[casadecorshop]

Green has two paradoxical meanings—one being nature and the environment and the other being money. When it comes to nature, green represents renewal and growth. It is also associated with wealth, prestige, and greed. Inspired by @katespadeny green. @pantoneindia @pantone @italianbarklab @italianbark @leatriceeiseman #casadecorshop #boneinlay #kadespade #bone #bonefurniture #furnituredesign #furniture #furnituremaker #designinspiration #decorideas #inlay #inlayfurniture #designtrends #art #artist #craftsman #craftsmanship #trends #trendsetter #pantone #coloroftheyear2023 #katespadenewyork #home #decor #decortrends https://www.instagram.com/p/CokJ_IpPamq/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=