#They remind me of Harmony and Horror surprisingly enough

[djadecutie]

Another one🤗

I had to dress pumpkin patch up she's JUST-

💖💞💕💝💖💝❤💗❤❤💗💓💗❤💗❤💕💝💝💖💝💕💝💞💕💝💞💖💝💝💖💝💖💝❤💗❤💗❤❤❤❤❤💀💀💀💀💞💝💕💝❤

@wowiezowiebaby 's o'cs as always😊

[noddytheornithopod]

top 5 video games?

(For this)

I’m going to list five franchises and list specific games there because I’d feel bad if I let one take up the majority of space here. In no specific order besides maybe how easily they come up in my mind right now:

Danganronpa: No surprise to anyone who’s known me over the past two years. Visual novels watching a dwindling cast of characters as they’re all murdered was not something I ever expected to get into. Even if there’s some very obvious problematic stuff, the engaging story and characters sucked me in completely. The main trilogy of games are all pretty close in terms of how much I love them. Even if I have a very special place in my heart for the original Trigger Happy Havoc (particularly because Kyoko Kirigiri is still probably my favourite character in the series, but also because it had to set up this entire world and has a level of groundedness and realism to it that makes it stand out), my favourite is definitely V3: Killing Harmony. Favourite cast, favourite score, favourite trial (THAT FIRST TRIAL WILL FOREVER HAUNT ME AND BREAK MY HEART), my favourite... almost everything. Some of the art is a bit wonky and there’s of course the usual problematic missteps (*shakes fist* Angie!!!!), and the third trial is ironically one of the weakest for me, but when it hits, it hits HARD. Still not over stuff like the impact of Kokichi Oma and the game’s ultimate twist and what it ended up meaning for basically everything.

Little Nightmares: Anyone paying attention to my tumblr may have noticed this crop up occasionally on my blog. I pretty much got into this on accident, an artist I followed was streaming the first game, and that subsequently reminded me of seeing it on a YouTube I follow and liking how the game looked there. Not one for straight up horror usually, but I appreciate more atmospheric stuff like this. Of course there’s the usual very sus things you expect from the genre (seriously, did a fat person hurt someone at Tarsier Studios???), and I will say that I’m not used to puzzle solving that involves a lot of lateral thinking so that did annoy me sometimes (or maybe I just suck with my aging mid-twenties brain lol), but I’m really happy to have a horror experience that isn’t soft on you but also isn’t overwhelming and indulgent in things like gore and jumpscares. I also like the world that’s been created, especially after Little Nightmares 2, which is easily my favourite of the games. Why? Well, besides just naturally evolving and improving from the first game, the story hits a lot harder. I went into the game expecting scary times, but I came out utterly heartbroken and stunned at the twist at the end and all of its implications. It’s all very abstract, sure, but I think that adds to the power of many of these moments.

Crash Bandicoot: Probably the franchise that’s stuck with me the longest, playing these games is almost like second nature to me. I definitely think the cartoony nature of the games and their wide cast of characters helped draw me in, too. My favourite is probably Crash Bandicoot 2, I feel like it was expansive and varied enough while not going as overboard with stuff like vehicles. That being said, I definitely think Crash Bandicoot 4 is rivaling that position, it manages to keep that classic gameplay while escalating pretty much everything in a way that I appreciate. Also have to say I love Crash Team Racing, I’m especially happy with Beenox remaking the game. The original trilogy and the newest Crash 4 are probably the most polished games for me out of the main ones, but I also have a soft spot for Mind over Mutant, which I know is blasphemous to many fans, but I just really like how the game utilises the characters and humour there for the most part, and it’s surprisingly good at worldbuilding and tying to the rest of the series despite on the surface appearing very different.

Spyro: Yeah, given my interest in Crash it’s not a surprise I like the Spyro games, being a sibling franchise in a sense. The games are just really easy and fun to get into. Well, the original trilogy anyway. Everything after it is... something alright. I actually think the Legend of Spyro games are probably the best we got after the original trilogy, because they at least were willing to do their own thing. Dawn of the Dragon was frustrating to play, but from what I understand it was even more rushed and had more budget issues than even the others in the trilogy so yeah. Favourite Spyro is definitely Year of the Dragon. It’s a nice midpoint between the first two games even if overall it’s basically Spyro 2 but done way better. People see it as a rehash and running out of ideas (and I mean the latter wasn’t true, that’s why we’re playing as a flying penguin and space monkey as part of a larger cast of characters lol), to me Spyro 2 has just a lot of issues that 3 is honestly just what the game would be if it were more polished and thought out. I definitely have a soft spot for the original Spyro the Dragon too, sometimes simple treasure hunting and dragon saving is all you need, and it probably has the most fun exploration to it.

Ratchet and Clank: Spyro came from Insomniac games, so when they dabbled back in platforming, I eventually found Ratchet and Clank too. Hybrid platformer/third person shooter with ridiculous weapons and gadgets? Sold. Favourite game is honestly a hard pick. You can tell in the PS2 era they were trying to figure out what exactly they wanted to be, so the Future games definitely are more polished overall in terms of gameplay. Even with this, I really like the PS2 games, they have a satirical edge to them (well, ignoring whatever 3 thought satire was lol) and the first two games having more platforming is really cool. If I had to pick a favourite it would probably be the second game, it was the first Ratchet game to really lean into the weapons more. Even so I really like the first game being quite unique (and it probably has the best story in this era), Deadlocked while at first was a bit too edgelord for me has really grown on me with really honing in on specific things to focus on, and well Up Your Arsenal even if I find some things about it weird (mainly in terms of story) it’s still a really fun game that solidified what the second created. I’m not as into the PS3 and beyond games from a story perspective, but like I said I do think the games are more polished overall. A Crack in Time is definitely my favourite, mainly because they got the story to work best out of the new space opera tone the Future series was going for (nonsensical time travel rules aside). It also has probably my favourite boss in the series, the final one really surprised me when I first saw it and it still sticks out in my mind. Also have a soft spot for Into the Nexus, which even if it’s too short and probably a bit undercooked (eww low framerate) has a really unique tone to it that I’d love to see returned to someday.

[technicolorpestilence]

When Tomorrow Comes (Gregstophe)

Christophe wasn’t used to the silence. Gregory was never this quiet, the blond was always harping on animatedly about his causes and opinions on said causes, whether it be politics or other things Christophe couldn’t care less about. There were times when he wished for him to shut up, but now he was regretting such thoughts.

 All he wanted was to hear him nag and pester him now. He would give just about anything to hear the Englishman say in that arrogant pompous undertone of his “you know, Christophe, you really should pay more attention to this stuff. It’s important.” Then launch into a long-winded lecture about how as mercenaries it was their job to be up to speed on current events going on in the world should the job require it.

Always prepared, always resourceful.

A lot of good that did him, Christophe thought bitterly.

He released a heavy sigh, rubbing at his weary eyes. The overhead lights were too damn bright, he couldn’t fathom how Gregory was able to sleep with them glaring down upon him. He sat back in his chair, wincing from the ache in his back. Why must hospitals make their chairs so damn unpleasant? Weren’t they supposed to make sure the patients' visitors were comfortable? This was the opposite of comfortable.

His fingers curled around his knees, digging into his cargo pants. He itched to hold a cigarette, to feel the burn of tobacco in his lungs, the smoke clouding his brain and numbing his senses. No, a simple cancer stick wouldn’t suffice, not with the current stress he was under. Make that a pack or two. Maybe a bottle on the side to curb his nerves.

He was quick to berate himself for having such a thought and being so weak. He had made an unspoken vow not to smoke. Gregory had always hated the smell and would complain about how it sticks to everything. Prissy bitch. His lips curled into a nostalgic smile at the memories where the Englishman would belittle him for the habit, citing all of the negative effects and how it would surely kill him. Christophe had just scoffed derisively and blew a cloud into his face, serving only to infuriate him further as he then proceeded to rant about the dangers of secondhand smoke.

Christophe decided then that if Gregory pulled through he would give up smoking for good; switch to those stupid e-cigarettes that tasted like cherries that all the teenagers seemed to be into like every other passing trend. Yes, he would willingly go against his own morals if it meant his blond returned to him. Anything for Gregory.

Instead, to sate the urge to smoke, he busied himself by petting the other man’s hair. Calloused fingers gently gliding over the soft golden curls, untangling them when they knotted around his fingers. It was just as much of a comfort to him as it was to the Brit. Gregory was still and made no move to intercede, in fact, he didn’t stir at all. Christophe gazed at his face as he slept; he looked peaceful despite the ugly abrasions and contusions marring his perfect skin. He pressed a kiss to his forehead, whispering in the shell of his ear.

“Je t’aime, mon ange. Please wake up.”

He sighed, running a hand through his own hair, dishevelled and wild in contrast to Gregory’s neat and meticulously tamed curls. He’d taken the liberty of styling his beloved’s hair for him, brushing it daily since he could not. Heaven knows Gregory couldn’t stand looking like a mess, it was uncouth of a gentleman such as himself. He would gawk in mortified horror if he could see himself now; swathed in bandages with tubes and wires running through him to the various machines in the room. Not really a pleasant sight for the esteemed leader of La Resistance.

Christophe's hand found Gregory’s again, intertwining their fingers. He was careful not to disturb the bandages as he rubbed his thumb in a calming circular pattern over the skin. It felt so strange to hold his hand and not be met with the leathery material his signature gloves were made out of. He raised it to his lips and kissed the bruised knuckles. The skin was soft and smooth to the touch, perfect just like the rest of his fiancé.

Fiancé

His mind slipped back to the night Gregory proposed. It wasn’t the most ideal time to propose, thinking about it made his heartache rather than rejoice. He could remember everything so vividly with amazing clarity despite the shock he was in at the time. Dark blood soaking his shirt, Gregory trembling as he held him. The conviction in his cerulean eyes clouded with pain, barely clinging to consciousness as well as the lapels of Christophe’s jacket. Christophe was panicking and swearing up a storm, but Gregory was strangely calm considering his predicament.

“Tophe...” he wheezed, his breaths shallow and laboured. “If we...make it out of here...I want you to marry me...”

His robust voice wavered, taking on an almost desperate plea as he looked up into Christophe’s face, his eyes growing heavier. Christophe could only see a glimpse of blue beneath the thick lashes.

“Will you...marry me...?”

He used the remainder of his declining energy on that question. Dramatic bastard. It was a rather bold and daring move, fitting for someone as spontaneous as the blond. Christophe was sure the blood loss had just made him delirious, albeit he couldn’t find it in himself to turn him down, not when he looked so fragile and pale. He could only kiss his forehead and mutter his response, “Oui.” Gregory smiled faintly, satisfied with his answer before he succumbed to the pain and exhaustion, going limp in his arms.

He refused to leave his side since, cussing out the paramedics as they pried him out of his arms, fighting tooth and nail for a seat beside him in the ambulance. He simply sat and waited diligently, clinging to Gregory’s hand and reassuring the blond that he wasn’t going anywhere. The uncomfortable backbreaking chairs became his bed, he didn’t shower (not that he had much prior to the incident) if anyone tried to get him to leave they would be met with a perpetually pissed off Frenchman and possibly a shovel to the face. By now the staff knew to leave him be, apprehensively going about their duties as cold eyes challenged them, following their every move when they came in to check Gregory’s vitals or change his bandages.

Simply put, he was a wreck both emotionally and physically. How dare Gregory do this to him, didn’t that idiot know how much he meant to him? He was his rock, his anchor, the only person who could keep him grounded when he was spiralling out of control. The only person he dared let close enough to see through the walls he had built around himself and with one well-placed kick sent them crashing down like a house of cards. He couldn’t imagine living without him, it was impossible. If Gregory died then he would die along with him.

Damn that cocksucking bastard for trying to take the only good thing in his life from him. He’d already taken everything else, wasn’t that enough? Why Gregory too? Was this a harsh reminder that he was taking him for granted? Fuck if he knew. He didn’t understand anything about the man upstairs, nor did he understand Gregory’s faith in him.

Stupid blond, damn him for going off and getting himself hurt. Christophe knew his recklessness would be the death of them both someday. As he sat and pleaded for the Brit to come back to him he couldn’t silence the nagging thought that it should’ve been himself instead. Gregory was an idealist, an activist, he was going to make history one day. What was he? A cynical nihilist who only believed in the spitfire sun he orbited that was his fiancé. He hadn’t contributed anything to the world, he was expendable. Let Satan take him instead because surely God wouldn’t, not that he would want to live in his so-called paradise. Fuck him.

“Goddamnit, bête. Wake up. I get you need your beauty sleep, but this is ridiculous. Besides, you’re pretty enough, you don’t need the extra hours,” he mumbled as an afterthought.

Silence

He didn’t expect an answer. He’d grown accustomed to holding one-sided conversations in this room. The monotonous blip of the heart monitor reminded him that he wasn’t just shouting at empty space. He still had an audience. Gregory was still there. That was all the motivation he needed to keep going. He would wait like the loyal partner he was. He would wait until the end of the earth for him.

Christophe gently stroked the Englishman’s cheek, fingers tracing jagged edges of small gashes bestowed upon pale skin. He started to hum; it was a familiar melody; one he had heard Gregory sing on many occasions when he rallied the troops.

“You see the distant flames that bellow in the night. You fight in all our names for what you know is right, and when you all get shot and cannot carry on, though you die, La Resistance lives on...”

He affectionately smoothed back the blond’s hair so it was no longer in his face, continuing the anthem with the hope that the other man could hear it. His voice was surprisingly soft and gentle, a stark contrast to his usual aggressive and standoffish demeanour. Only a rare few had gotten the privilege of hearing him sing, Gregory being one of them. The Brit adored his voice and would often ask him to sing for him. Sometimes they would sing together in perfect harmony. It was a breathtaking sight. Their own little infinity where nothing else mattered but each other.

Christophe cycled through a few more of Gregory’s favourite songs from musicals he knew he liked. His voice faltered slightly, yet he pushed back the tears and carried on. Gregory needed him to be strong for him, he would not bow to his own emotions. He wouldn’t break down knowing his beloved was fighting just as hard as he was. He would not grieve him because he was still there. Gregory had been through worse before, he always came out on top. Christophe didn’t doubt that he would again—not for a second.

He willed him to open his eyes and grace him with their beauty, to give him that cocky confident smile that both infuriated him and made his heart skip a beat. He ended up dozing off with his head on his fiancé's chest, drowning out the shrill beeping of machines with the steady drum of the heartbeat in his ears as well as Gregory’s breathing.

~~~~~~~~

He was reading a passage from War and Peace; one of Gregory’s favourite novels when the blond finally began to stir. His hand twitched in the Frenchman’s, giving it a small squeeze. Christophe immediately froze, abandoning the chapter in favour of watching Gregory’s face. His finely trimmed brows furrowed as he emitted a groan, cerulean eyes slowly but surely fluttering open to meet his own.

“Tophe…?”

Christophe’s face lit up at the sight of the half-lidded eyes eyeing him drowsily. His heart nearly leaped from his chest upon hearing his name spoken by the beautiful rich accent he never thought he would have the pleasure of hearing again. Granted, it was cracked and horribly strained, but it was him. He was alive.

Christophe’s lip trembled as he choked back a sob. He could feel the cool dampness on his cheeks from the tears he knew were falling unabashedly. He didn’t care however, making no move to wipe them away as he smiled at the groggy revolutionary. His first real genuine smile in days, leaning over to press a kiss to his forehead and chuckling softly.

“Salut, Sleeping Beauty.”

[dustedmagazine]

Three Queens in Mourning — Hello Sorrow/Hello Joy (Textile)

Hello Sorrow - Hello Joy by Three Queens in Mourning / Bonnie 'Prince' Billy

It takes some stones to cover “I See a Darkness” on the same bill as Bonnie Prince Billy; it is the song that, for me, most closely encapsulates Will Oldham’s death-haunted, raspy minimalism, influenced by stark Appalachian tradition, but freshened with a modern angst. It’s as close to Bonnie Prince Billy entire as you can get in the space of less than three minutes (though without teasing humor). It’s hard to imagine launching into it at a book party to celebrate the Kentucky bard’s volume Songs of Love and Horror. And yet, this is exactly what Three Queens in Mourning did, repeatedly, during the waning months of 2018. Oldham liked it enough to return the favor, covering a song each from the trio of Jill O’Sullivan, Alex Neilson and Alasdair Roberts — and that mutual admiration makes up the core of an excellent two-part album which taps into what’s special about each participating artist while shifting it slightly. Same again but different.  

Specifically, Hello Sorrow is the album-length collection of Three Queens’ Bonnie Prince Billy covers. The companion Hello Joy surrounds Oldham with a crew of Nashville session mainstays to interpret a song each from Roberts, Neilson and Sullivan, plus the uninhibited and evidently new “Wild Dandelion Rose,” from Oldham himself.

Of the three Scots, O’Sullivan and Roberts deliver Oldham’s tunes in very different timbres, while Neilson’s voice rests in much the same gruff, whispery tenor range as the original. The contrast yields some sharp piercing pleasures, as when O’Sullivan takes on the Palace Music song “Stablemate” in a keening intensity or Roberts’ traces the contours of brief “Christmastime in the Mountains” in his distinctively way, with the vowels flattened out by a steamroller and a whistling nasal twang in the higher notes. Neilson’s voice is cracked and weathered, wedged in the interstice between melancholy reminiscence and a defiant shout; he is very fine in harmony with O’Sullivan. Most of the songs move a little faster and carry a bit more instrumental weight than the Bonnie Prince Billy version. “Stablemate” offers a ragged, distorted guitar solo that might remind you of Arboretum, while O’Sullivan’s fiddle is a constant, serpentine presence, unfurling around minor key, death-pale melodies with something like giddy joy. “Madeleine Mary,” also from I See a Darkness takes on a frolicsome air that is wholly absent from Oldham’s version, with plain two-party harmonies lilting and canting in play and a tidal wash of guitar sound crashing over its folk tune melody. On the whole, their arrangements are louder and closer to country rock than the originals. You could almost see through the paper-y sepia tones of Palace Music’s “Ohio Riverboat Song.” Three Queens in Mourning blow it out into a rollicking swagger.

Bonnie Prince Billy’s contributions are also quite good, fleshed out in a clean, well-lighted way by a stellar cast of session men. Oldham navigates the twining, twisting melody of Roberts’ “Coral & Tar” with assurance, a choir of voices gathering around him for the big finish; you can hear Roberts’ plainspoken version as the skeleton of it, but there’s a lot more meat on the bone. Neilson’s “Coward’s Song” lets Oldham’s wry humor get a few licks in, as the singer tries out verses like “Conscience is a term used by cowards to keep their greatness in check” in a fluttering falsetto. And O’Sullivan’s “Dead Man’s Island” takes on raucous, unruly life, swaggering with country guitar, full drums, bass and wafting voices.  It’s the best, by a good bit, of the second set.  Oldham’s song is an x-rated hoedown, describing surprisingly specific carnal pleasures against a walloping two-step rhythm. It’s silly and fun, and you can imagine it being a big hit on stage.

And that song that I mentioned, at the top, the one that’s so synonymous with everything Bonnie Prince Billy? It whirls and swings in bittersweet reverie, long fiddle tones flaring and subsiding, brushes swishing on the snare, while Roberts and Neilson trade rueful counterparts, coming together in certainty and tight minor key harmony at the chorus. It’s lusher and more communal than the original, looking at the void but pulling back into the solace of others. If you’re going to be in mourning, best to surround yourself with queens.

Jennifer Kelly

[redsunsetxiii]

**Please do not repost without credit**

[TRANS] 2018.04.27 SONE NOTE LIVE vol. 15 with Yuri

Staff: You tried making Japanese food today! You proposed the plan this time, right?

Yuri: Yes! I watched the J-drama, “Midnight Diner", and recently became really interested in cooking. I’ve made Korean and Western food before, but not Japanese food. The various dishes that were in the drama were of course very interesting, but it was very impressionable how all the dishes were made from the heart and how that flavor comforts the one who is eating it. With that, I thought I’d like to try making it myself.

Staff: Do you usually eat Japanese food? Or please share if there is something you especially like!

Yuri: I eat Japanese food a lot. During the Japan tours I ate it all the time, and I like it enough to go to Japanese restaurants in Korea! Recently I like donburi and I especially like curry katsudon. I like tonkatsu and okonomiyaki, too. Also, that tofu dish, what was the name...ah! Agedashi tofu! I like that too.  Moreover, I like unagi, and I really like hitsumabushi. It’s to the point where one asks, why do I like it so much? (laughs) It is so delicious, full of nutrients, and gives lots of energy. I have it as a stamina dish when I’m tired like after a concert to bring out my energy, so to me hitsumabushi is a healing food (laughs) Also, before debuting in Japan, I had fried oysters for the first time when I traveled with Sooyoung, and it was very new to me because that’s an unusual dish in Korea.  And, I also like sukiyaki...I like way too many things that I don’t know what my favorite is (laughs) I believe that I just like Japanese food as a whole ^^

Staff: What kind of flavors do you like?

Yuri: I usually like those that bring out the original flavor. When I want to taste something strong, I don’t have rice and instead have something sweet.

Staff: How was the flavor of nikujaga today?

Yuri: It was really good! I didn’t think that I’d be able to make it that well (laughs) It is my first time making Japanese food... I was unsure if I’d be able to make it well, but I still have the memory of how it tasted in Japan, and in some way or another managed to imitate that (laughs)

Staff: Any difference between the flavors of what you made and what you’ve had?

Yuri: It might be because I made it, but I feel that what I made today was the most delicious! (While she was eating) It’s really good~♪ I want to eat this together with SONE JAPAN~ ^^

Staff: I believe that Japanese cooking has differences in Korean cooking, such as how to cut the ingredients, how to make the soup stock, but please share if there were any difficult or creative points. 

Yuri: It was a surprising experience and really curious to make dashimaki tamago. I didn’t know that it took such careful time to make. Without knowing that, I just ate it without a thought up until now... It would be good if I had it while properly knowing thoroughness needed to make it. I thought about all the daishimake tamago that I had up until now while making it today (laughs). Other than that, the dishes I made had surprisingly few steps and were quick to make. I could make them at home! The hardest to make was dashimaki tamago. I believe it’s a dish that requires a lot of skill. I still don’t have the technique to roll it well enough or the persistence for making it (laughs).

Staff: Come to think of it, you were probably nervous when making the dashimaki tamago, but you had a cute mistake of spilling egg from the bowl since you were concentrating so much on the frying pan ^^

Yuri: You caught that (laughs) However, I think I was able to calmly cook 5x than normal today. The teacher helped me out a lot and there was a camera in front of me (laughs) Today I was able to cook while the teacher helped clean up, but at home I get rushed and have to do everything alone. My mother always said to clean up while cooking. She always said to me that cooking needs 3 things done at the same time, but honestly I didn’t really understand what she meant. However, with today’s experience, I really know how amazing my mother is (laughs).

Staff: It seems that you’ve really come to learn the points about Japanese food.  You made three dishes today; which one did you like the best? Please also share the reasons of why you like it, like how it’s made, the flavor and coloring. 

Yuri: It’s hard to choose... but probably nikujaga. Of course some corners were cut for time, but I was surprised how I could properly make it since there were only a few cooking steps. And I think that I can make donburi using nikujaga! I often make bentou, but the keyword when making them is “simple”. I often make fried rice or something like a donburi for bentou, but a nikujaga-don would be perfect for that. I’ll try it later.

Staff: Dishes and tableware are an important point for Japanese food; how were the ones you used?

Yuri: I could feel the Japanese culture from the tableware today, and it had good harmony with the food. The food itself is important, but I believe that it is complete because of the tableware. The dishes for Japanese food are very pretty, and among the ones from today, the green from the shiso leaves and the yellow from the egg was beautiful had good harmony, so the tableware for the dashimaki tamago was my favorite. 

Staff: Also, did anything stand out for you when you tried to serve the food?

Yuri: While arranging the food, I thought that cooks are wonderful because they comfort the soul. That’s because the ones that cook think about the ones who will eat the food. I think that true happiness is to make something for someone. Feeling the enjoyment and love while being able to cook was really great. Of course, I ate my own cooking today... (laughs) When you eat delicious food, you feel the care and comfort from the ones that made it and I believe you can feel happiness. 

Staff: Come to think of it, you split some of today’s cooking with the staff.

Yuri: I like to enjoy eating with others. I also like home parties. Also, my mother really loves cooking to the point where she has a certification, and I grew up seeing her cook food for everyone around her, so I enjoy having delicious food with everyone.

Staff: With today’s experience, have you thought about trying to make Japanese food at home?

Yuri: Yes, of course! To the extent that I want to have a Japanese cooking series on SONE NOTE LIVE! I want to try cooking even more enjoyable dishes or something a little more difficult.

Staff: What would you like to try to make?

Yuri: Okonomiyaki.  That reminds me, I tried making takoyaki with the members, but it was such a failure (laughs). I received a takoyaki cooking plate as a present and tried it out, but it got soft and all the ingredients inside came out (laughs) I think it’s better to eat it at a takoyaki stand (laughs)

Staff: What would you make if you were going to cook for the members?

Yuri: I’d want to make sukiyaki for the members. I’ve also tried making this before, but I didn’t have Japanese ingredients and got Korean ones instead, so I somehow made it but the flavor was a little different. That’s why I want to try to make it again, and it’d be perfect to split and eat it with everyone, as it’s a favorite among everyone. 

Staff: Do you usually cook? If yes, what’s your best dish or what do you often make?

Yuri: I often make mackerel cooked with kimchi. It’s very good. Also, since I like donburi, I also often make spicy beef bowls. I also make kimchi fried rich, jaja fried rice, misochige nabe, kimchichige nabe, etc. I’m the type to try making a lot of things at home. I can also make wakame soup with beef.

Staff: What’s your kitchen like?

Yuri: I have a lot of cookware. I have so much that I don’t know where everything is (laughs) I have a pot for cooking things like sweet potatoes, but that has rocks laid inside. Sweet potatoes are usually boiled or cooked inside an oven, but they can be cooked in a really short time with that pot. It’s really amazing! That’s my favorite cookware.

Staff: Is there any cookware that you used today that you’d like to take home?

Yuri: The frying pan used for the dashimaki tamago. I saw it before in videos. Recently, I like watching videos and I often watch videos that have to do with cooking. That frying pan is something I’ve always wanted!

Staff: You talked about cooking games during today’s experience.

Yuri: I’m not really the type to play a lot of games, but I enjoy ones like cooking games, beauty games, and games where you run a theme park. If I cooked with such caution like today, all the customers in the game would be angry and go home (laughs) I found a cute cooking game recently and even recommended it to Tiffany. 

Staff: Do you have any interest in Japanese culture besides the food?

Yuri: Yes, a lot. I like anything that’s cute like character goods or accessories. I lose track of time when I enter a store and get caught up in the quality and craftsmanship of the goods. 

Staff: You tried Japanese cooking today, but please share if there’s anything that you recently came interested in. 

Yuri: I’ve returned to basics. Before, I really enjoyed listening to music and watching movies and dramas, but all of that is related to work, so I’ve tried to distance myself from all that when I rest. However, recently I’ve listened to a lot of music and watch a lot of movies. I’ve made a room into a theater at home and watch movies there! I watch all genres, sweet romances, thrillers, and horror films. I’ve surprised fans on SNS with what genres of movies I watch.

Staff: The Winter 2018 Olympics happened in Pyeongchang. Are there any sports that you were particularly interested in? 

Yuri: I was moved by all the sports and athletes, but I was especially interested in speed skating. It was the most exciting competition in Korea. The athletes showed great effort and I enjoyed watching them!

Staff: Not just restricting it to winter sports, but is there any sport that you’d like to try?

Yuri: I’ve recently started pilates and it’s really great. It’s difficult to subtly move the body’s muscles one by one, but its fun. 

Staff: Please share if there’s any hot topic or a memorable episode among the members recently. 

Yuri: Recently, everyone gathered at Tiffany’s to celebrate Sooyoung’s birthday and I brought along my dog. There are a lot of members who have dogs and we all love them. I have a silver toy poodle, which Hyoyeon really favored and she immediately got one of her own. Afterwards, Taeyeon also got a silver toy poodle! We’ve talked about how fun if we all got our dogs to meet and play together. It’s fun to share updates on our dogs ^^

Staff: Last year was SNSD’s 10th anniversary; looking back is there any achievement that left an impression?

Yuri: The first Japan tour was the most impressionable. I was so nervously excited at that time, and was half hopeful and half uneasy. It was our first Japan tour, so it felt like an unknown world and I had a lot of anxiety and worries. I worried if a lot of Japanese fans would come, and it was the first time working with Japanese staff, so all of it was new and thrilling... But at any rate, it was fun. I’ll never forget it.

Staff: SONE NOTE LIVE is where we give preference to what the members what to try out, but do you all talk about your SONE NOTE LIVE activities?

Yuri: We often ask each other what we’ve done! I was really jealous when Hyoyeon tried out horseback riding~. It’s because I love riding them, too (laughs) I told Hyoyeon that a photo shoot while on horseback is the best.

Staff: Finally a message for SONE JAPAN please! 

Yuri: I’ve really, really thankful that you’ve all waited for such a long time, and for watching over us. I really want to see SONE JAPAN. I’m in the middle of shooting a drama in Korea now, but I believe there will be a chance for you all in Japan to see it as well. I want to have a concert and fan club event in Japan again♡

Translation by RedSunsetXIII source: SONE JAPAN website

**Please do not repost without credit**

[thereallygoodblogshow]

MA Fashion and Textile Practices Major Project Path - 9th April

After looking at the colour white, I wanted to look at the colour black, as this seems to be the colour of choice for me at the moment within the work I am creating.

Black

In Western culture black is a colour often associated with death, we usually wear black to a funeral and to mourn. We us the word black at the beginning of the words such as ‘blackmail’ and ‘blacklist’ as unfavourable responses. Black can be seen as a colour of depression or evil, so not surprisingly the colour black is seen as a negative colour, but in other respects black is perceived as sophisticated, classy, sexy, mysterious, authoritative, powerful and adorns the wealthy. Combine black with other colours, such as white or red it can be very impactful, black can assist in adding contrast and definition to design. Again on his website Color Meanings Jacob Olesen (2019) describes black as such;

“In color psychology, the color black relates to protection against emotional stress. It creates a barrier between itself and the outside world. It provides comfort while it protects its feelings and hides its vulnerability, insecurity and lack of confidence.”

I suppose this is partly what I am doing within my work, my lack of confidence in my design path is hidden within the use of a strong and impactful aesthetic and the mixing of black and white makes a statement whilst at the same time masking my insecurities - a colour oxymoron!

The colour black is of course synonymous with fashion, who doesn’t remember Audrey Hepburn dressed in one of the most famous ‘Little Black Dresses’ of all time  - designed by Givenchy - in her role as Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany’s? In a role originally sited for Marilyn Monroe, Hepburn is cast as a girl striving for the better things in life and doing some risqué things to get them. She plays Holly Golightly a Cafe Society girl - or ‘lady of the evening’ as described by film director Lee Strasberg, who advised Marilyn Monroe against taking the character as it could bad for her image. Almost as an opposing role characteristically to that of her role in My Fair Lady, she is seen in Breakfast at Tiffany’s wearing simple black dresses or clothing of strong block colours, maybe to emphasise the darker side of her character as well as hiding her vulnerability and insecurity. It was filmed at the beginning of the 1960′s and depicted a life that would have been considered quite controversial and mysterious, but the 1960′s were also a time of exploration and empowerment for women, so this possibly highlighted this and helped in the films success.

Kettler, S. (2019). The Parallels Between Audrey Hepburn and Holly Golightly. [Photograph]. Retrieved from https://www.biography.com/news/audrey-hepburn-holly-golightly-breakfast-at-tiffanys-similarities.  

In the early 19th century black was adopted by romantic poets such as Shelley, Keats and Byron because black was associated with their melancholic writings, melancholy being the overriding tone of romantic poetry. One of my favourite artists the 19th century English illustrator and author Aubrey Beardsley used black ink almost exclusively in his illustrations, these were heavily influenced by the style of Japanese woodcuts but focused towards the grotesque, the decadent, and the erotic. Beardsley was one of the main members of the Aesthetic movement - a movement which championed the phrase ‘art for art’s sake’ which looked more to the sensual and visual qualities within design over the narrative and practical aspects. Beardsley was also a major contributor to the Art Nouveau movement where his poster designs were highly influential.  

Beardsley, A. (1893). The Climax. [Illustration]. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Climax_(illustration).

Beardsley work has always appealed to me. I love the style of his illustrations and the impact of the black ink on white, and I like the sensuality within his strokes, the subject matter usually with some erotic, murderous or melancholic back story. The use of black in art has been contested through the centuries, some artists avoided the heavy use of black, such as Kandinsky who used it more towards the end of his life, almost like a death signifier. Others embraced the use of black, such as in Picasso’s anti-war masterpiece Guernica.   

Picasso, P. (1937). Guernica. [Oil on canvas]. Retrieved from https://emptyeasel.com/guernica-famous-cubist-painting-by-pablo-picasso/.

Using a monochromatic palette Picasso produced Guernica as an anti-war protest and a display of anti-Fascism in response to the bombing attack on the small northern Spanish town. The painting is shocking and disturbing to this day. I remember my mum recalling seeing it in real life and crying. The painting does not display any specifics details of the attack but more so depicts his general disgust of war itself. Guernica combines his pioneering style of Cubism along with elements of Surrealism. Here again black is used for impact and contrast combining in a haunting and powerful display of the horrors of war.   

On his website Color Meanings Jacob Olesen (2019) also discusses the contrast of black and white;

“Black hides things, while white brings them into the light. What black hides, white brings back again. We all use the black color at different times in our lives, in one way or another, to hide from the world around us.”

So I can assess from this that using black and white as a colour combination is literally and psychologically a contrast, the white bringing positivity and new beginnings, the black adding contrast whilst aiding the white to come forth. It reminded me of Yin and Yang - the concept of dualism within Chinese philosophy. The concept of Yin and Yang dates from the 3rd century or possibly earlier which suggests that all things have an opposite such as; light and dark, male and female, young and old which are contradictory yet inseparable from each other, as the symbol for Yin and Yang illustrates;

Heritage, A. (2017). What is Yin and Yang?. [Illustration]. Retrieved from https://www.heritage.com.sg/blogs/tcm-basics/what-is-yin-and-yang.

In the symbol for Yin and Yang each side has the core element of the other, represented by the eye, or dot. Neither of the sides are superior to the other, and if one were to increase it would decrease the other, so a perfect balance of both must be had in order to achieve harmony. The name Yin and Yang originated from the Chinese school of Yinyang which studied this philosophy and cosmology in the 3rd century. The Yin and Yang philosophy was mainly devised by cosmologist  Zou Yan (or Tsou Yen) who believed that as we travel through life we pass through 5 different phases -  fire, water, metal, wood and earth -  which a continuously altered and changed to maintain harmony throughout our life. 

So if they are opposite forces what does Yin represent?

Feminine, black, dark, North, water, passive, Moon, Earth, cold, old, even numbers, valleys, poor, soft, and provides spirit to all things.

And what about Yang?

Masculine, white, light, South, fire, active, Sun, Heaven, warm, young, odd numbers, mountains, rich, hard, and provides form to all things.

I can actually relate well to this philosophy. I am female so do relate more to the Yin side, I like the colour black, the Earth (being the Earth sign Taurus in astrology) the Moon, the soft and spiritual in things. I am quite a grounded person but do like to try and understand the spiritual aspects of life, so I do lean more towards the dark side, not that I will be joining Darth Vader anytime soon! I also see elements of Yang in me too, I am quite young at heart, enjoy warm relationships, feeling safe and having enough money to not stress over things in life - money being something which has been lacking for quite a few years! Achieving this MA will hopefully resolve that aspect of my life, as well as gaining some balance and harmony too.     

Website: Olesen, J. (2019). Black Color Meaning – The Color Black. Retrieved from https://www.color-meanings.com/black-color-meaning-the-color-black/.

Website: Cartwright, M. (2018). Yin and Yang. Retrieved from https://www.ancient.eu/Yin_and_Yang/.

Website: Wikipedia. (2019). Black. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black

Website: Tate. (n.d). Aubrey Beardsley. Retrieved from https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/aubrey-beardsley-716.

Website: Empty Easel. (n.d). Guernica by Pablo Picasso. Retrieved from https://emptyeasel.com/guernica-famous-cubist-painting-by-pablo-picasso/.

[doomonfilm]

Thoughts : Upcoming Films 2019 (January - June)

I’ve started digging around seeing what 2019 holds in store for us movie fans, and man oh man do we have a lot to look forward to... so much, in fact, that what was meant to be a comprehensive 2019 list has turned into a six-month preview due to the volume of releases I have opinions on.  Without further ado, here are my thoughts about upcoming first half of 2019 releases.

Possible Gems

The Lego Movie 2 : The Second Part (February 1) : This just looks like fun, and a ton of it.

Alita : Battle Angel (February 14) : Initially, I had my reservations about this anime being remade into a live-action motion picture, but after the first round of previews, it seems to be set enough in its own style to possible work.

Captain Marvel (March 8) : No need for ‘possible’, this will more than likely be amazing.  It will also be a table-setter for the inevitable atomic bomb of entertainment that is Avengers : Endgame. 

Under the Silver Lake (April 19) : Wrote an entire blog entry on this one.  Nice job releasing it near 4-20, hopefully they don’t change the release date YET AGAIN.

Avengers : Endgame (April 26) : The one that most of us have been waiting for, and waiting for quite a long time.  This should be a benchmark moment in the MCU, as it will more than likely serve as the close of one chapter and the beginning of a new one for the MCU and its vast range of stories to tell.

Pokemon : Detective Pikachu (May 10) : Ryan Reynolds has found his groove in a major way it seems, and this film looks like it will keep his successful run of ridiculousness alive and well.  Possibly the most intriguing film of the year.

John Wick 3 : Parabellum (May 17) : Watch out Tom Cruise, because it seems like Keanu Reeves is aiming square at the top spot in terms of domestic action franchises.  The John Wick series continues to gain momentum with each film, getting bigger and more badass with each entry, so the third one should really hold some big shock and awe for us all.

Toy Story 4 (June 21) : Word on the street is that you better bring all of your tissues to this affair.

The Intriguing

Glass (January 18) : Just when we thought M. Night Shyamalan was done with the twists, Split left us with a little something to thing about... cut to a couple of years later, and that seed has grown into a full-fledged motion picture that is bringing together the M. Night Cinematic Universe we didn’t know existed (and didn’t know we were dying to explore).  In a career full of ups and downs, wins and losses, this is poised to be an early big win in 2019.

Happy Death Day 2U (February 14) : I’m not quite sure how I feel about this sequel... it took me a while to get around to the original, and I did enjoy it, but it seems like a one-off kind of idea.  Who knows, maybe they’ll find ways I am not thinking of to dig new ground out of this premise... I guess we’ll all have to wait and see.

Us (March 15) : Had someone told me 5 years ago that Jordan Peele of Key & Peele fame would be the modern day equivalent of Rod Serling or Alfred Hitchcock, I would have laughed long and hard.  After the success of Get Out, however, and the very unsettling trailer for Us, that statement seems like a certified fact. 

The Beach Bum (March 22) : Harmony Korine and Matthew McConaughey are both riding hot streaks right now with no end in sight, seemingly.  Maybe, with their powers combined (as well as a ton of cameos and supporting start talent), the streak will continue through 2019.

Hellboy (April 12) : Not sure if I can put this in the remake category, as it seems to be more of a second run at a film franchise for this beloved comic series.  The buzz so far seems positive... let’s see if the finished product can match the hype!

Missing Link (April 12) : The first preview for a 2019 animated film that I may actually want to go see.  The animation reminds me of Wallace and Gromit, and the humor looks like it’ll appeal to both children and adults. 

The Kid (May 24) : I have no idea what this is about, but seeing Vincent D’Onofrio in the director’s chair has me interested immediately.  Seeing Chris Pratt starring has my head spinning in terms of the possible chemistry between these two.  I’ll have to look more into this one.

Godzilla : King of Monsters (May 31) : The Godzilla remakes have slowly but surely gotten better, and now that they are opening up the possibility to the other monsters in that canon, we may have some fun on our hands for years to come.

Men in Black : International (June 14) : Tessa Thompson?  Yes please.  Plus, Thompson and Chris Hemsworth have displayed great chemistry in the past, and we know this series works in terms of an Odd Couple scenario, so what’s not to love about this series continuing?  Could’ve done without the Fergie song in the promos, though.

Son of Shaft (June 14) : The Superfly update in 2018 worked surprisingly well, so why not take a stab at continuing the legacy of Shaft that’s been committed to film already?  This film is supposed to pick up where the Samuel L. Jackson entry left off, and with not trailer material out yet, I don’t have enough to base a judgement on, so I will go on pure speculation for placement on this list.

Should They Remake This?

What Men Want (February 8) : I feel like Taraji P. Henson is too good for a remake of the Mel Gibson vehicle What Men Want.  The premise is dated, and Henson will potentially have to dumb down her abilities to fit it.  Thankfully, her pedigree is (hopefully) strong enough to survive what feels like an automatic ‘L’.

Dumbo (March 29) : Disney has already committed to a run of live-action remakes for their classic animated films.  While the film fan in me knows these will probably be cool, the purist in me wishes they’d leave well enough alone.

Pet Sematary (April 5) : For a writer as prolific as Stephen King, why stick to books that have previously be adapted?  Where’s that The Girl That Loved Tom Gordon movie that I (and probably only I) have been waiting for? 

Aladdin (May 24) : Why remake all these Disney films, especially in the same year?  And, why Guy Ritchie?

Rocketman (May 31) : 2019... the year of the Disney remake, it seems.

Child’s Play (June 21) : Part of the charm of the original Child’s Play series is the dated nature of the series.  Rebooting this series gives me the fear that we are inching towards Saw territory for what was formerly a campy horror delight.

Red Flags

Tyler Perry’s A Madea Family Funeral (March 1) : I hate to be mean spirited, but I hope that the funeral is for the Madea film franchise. 

Shazam! (April 5) : Has Warner Brothers really done anything at all to install faith in the DCEU?  Short of Wonder Woman 2, I don’t see a winner in their future. 

Dark Phoenix (June 7) : Sony and the X-Men film franchise has been in trouble for a long time, and Dark Phoenix does not look like it’s going to right the ship.  It may be time to put this series to rest and allow the X-Men to come home to the MCU, where they will (more than likely) be given the cinematic treatment that they deserve.