#Vol 188

[completeoveranalysis]

[6]

It’s been a while (years?) since this the last world where he could do this but I absolutely adore when Fai comes out and says all the detailed observations about the location outloud. THANK YOU FAI I LOVE IT. 

I'm also THRILLED that Yukito is back in the narrative, if only in reference. Yet another tie back to the beginning of the manga and a reason to remember everything that happened in Chapter 1 to prepare for whatever follows this moment. 

Though it’s interesting that Sakura was being prepared to take over the position of High Priest, considering Yukito knew she wasn’t really going to be available for that, and presumably so did Clow. Did Yukito just go along with it so that Sakura didn’t know what her future would be like? Or is there still some time shenanigans in play here and this is from an alternate place in time where they DIDN’T know about Sakura’s tragic fate?

We just don’t know!

(just kidding it’s only me)

MOKONA CRACKED THE CASE!

Our little detective trying so hard to contribute to the plot HAS DONE IT! She asked the question that unlocked the backstory. I’m so proud. 

And the DARKNESS in that panel when Lava Lamp says Always! The tragedy! The drama! OOH I love it. 

However the possibility of further timeline shenanigans are swinging right around back to 100% oh dear god here we go

OH GOD EVERYONE HOLD ON TO SOMETHING WE’RE PLUNGING OFF THE CLIFF INTO OUR DOOM HERE WE GO

AHHHHH GOD DAMNIT

NOW HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO KEEP TRACK OF A SINGLE THING THAT HAS EVER HAPPENED?

[psy-ay-ay]

i am having a hard time taking mr 3 seriously in little island now that i have seen him running around with buggy in impel down lmao

[anamon-book]

ロッキング・オン・ジャパン 2000年6月号 VOL.188 ロッキング・オン 表紙＝BLANKEY JET CITY

[neixins]

the yotd art exhibition has me acting UNWISE on ebay dot com…………

[shazna]

BUCK-TICK FOOL'S MATE August 1991 Vol.188

[iliosflower]

Isis and Demeter: Symbols of Divine Motherhood

Author: Vincent Arieh Tobin

Source: Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt, Vol. 28 (1991), pp. 188-89, link

[scarlet--wiccan]

Scarlet Witch reading guide

This is not meant to be a comprehensive list of every appearance, but a walkthrough of what you need to read to understand Wanda's lore, history, and personal life events. I also have a breakdown of the Maximoff's powers and an explanation of their parentage and ethnic background. [This is an updated + condensed version of this post-- the formatting is messed up and I can't edit it, so I made a new one]

X-Men Vol 1 #4-11-- Wanda & Pietro's first appearance as teenage mutants & Brotherhood members.

Avengers Vol 1 #16-27-- The twins join the Avengers. Known as the "kooky quartet" era.

Avengers Vol 1 #128-- Wanda meets Agatha Harkness and begins studying witchcraft.

Giant-Size Avengers #1-4-- Wanda meets Robert Frank and believes he is her father; Wanda and Vision confess their feelings and are married.

Avengers Vol 1 #181-183-- introduces Django Maximoff.

Avengers Vol 1 #185-188-- also known as Nights of Wundagore, the twins return to Transia and learn about their birth on Mount Wundagore & the origin of Wanda's powers; Wanda is possessed by Chthon.

Vision & the Scarlet Witch Vol 1 & 2-- Wanda & Vision acclimate to married life. Pietro's daughter Luna is born; the twins learn that Magneto & Magda are their birth parents; Wanda becomes pregnant and gives birth to twin boys.

Avengers West Coast #42-62-- includes Vision Quest & Darker Than Scarlet storylines. Vision's memories and emotions are erased; the babies are destroyed by Pandemonium and Mephisto; Wanda learns that she is a Nexus Being while suffering the manipulations of Immortus.

Force Works (1994)-- Wanda acts as team leader and begins a relationship with Simon Williams.

Scarlet Witch (1994)-- a miniseries which introduces Lore and expands on the concept of Nexus Beings.

Avengers Vol 3 #1-3; 10-11-- Wanda learns more about chaos magic and resurrects Simon Williams.

Avengers Vol 1 #503-507-- a storyline titled Chaos, which kicks off the Avengers Disassembled crossover. Wanda suffers an apparent mental breakdown and causes a series of calamities as her powers escalate to uncontrollable reality-warping.

House of M-- a sprawling crossover event set within an alternate reality of Wanda's creation; concludes with Wanda inadvertently erasing a large percentage of the mutant population. This is referred to as the Decimation, or M-Day. Wanda disappears and remains missing for several years.

Young Avengers; Young Avengers Special; Young Avengers Presents: Wiccan & Speed-- introduces Billy Kaplan and Tommy Shepherd, who learn that they are Wanda's reincarnated sons and begin searching for her.

Avengers: Children's Crusade-- the Young Avengers, Magneto, and Quicksilver discover Wanda as an amnesiac living in the care of Doctor Doom. They help her recover her memories and her powers are returned to normal.

Avengers vs. X-Men-- Wanda rejoins the Avengers. Alongside Hope Summers, Wanda helps banish the Phoenix from Earth and causes a proliferation of new mutant to manifest, the first step in her redemption for M-Day.

AXIS-- Wanda & Pietro learn that Magneto is not their father after all, and they're not actually mutants.

Uncanny Avengers Vol 2 (miniseries)-- the twins learn that their powers are the result of the High Evolutionary's genetic experiments.

Scarlet Witch (2016)-- Wanda returns to her magical focus and has henceforth been written as an adept spellcaster. The series does a lot of worldbuilding around witches and witchcraft. The twins learn that their birth mother was actually Django's sister, Natalya Maximoff, and that they are descended from a long line of Scarlet Witches.

Doctor Strange (2016)-- Wanda is featured in the Last Days of Magic storyline.

Uncanny Avengers Vol 3 #26-30-- Wanda rejoins the Avengers Unity Division and begins a relationship with Doctor Voodoo.

Avengers Vol 1 #675-690-- a crossover event titled Avengers: No Surrender.

Quicksilver: No Surrender-- an excellent miniseries following the previous event. Wanda and Jericho use magic to aid Pietro.

Avengers: No Road Home-- a sequel to No Surrender.

Strange Academy-- Wanda becomes a faculty member at a school for young magic users.

Darkhold (2021)-- the original Darkhold is discovered; Wanda's prior experiences have made her strong enough to handle it without corruption; she merges the Darkhold with her own soul and uses it to bind Chthon.

Trial of Magneto (2021)-- Wanda stages her own death as part of an elaborate scheme to gain access to, and magically enhance, the Krakoan resurrection system, leading to her final redemption for M-Day.

Scarlet Witch (2023)-- Wanda opens a metaphysical shop in upstate New York and constructs a magical portal called the Last Door, which opens anywhere in the world for those in need.

Avengers (2023)-- Wanda joins a new iteration of the Avengers, led by Captain Marvel.

Contest of Chaos-- a crossover event. Agatha attempts to create a new Darkhold, much is revealed about the origin and nature of chaos magic.

Scarlet Witch & Quicksilver; Scarlet Witch (2024)-- a special anniversary miniseries which leads into the solo title relaunch. The twins are hounded by an abstract entity called the Griever and begin to expand their powers beyond their previous limitations; new context is given to Nexus beings; Chthon escapes containment.

[seekers-who-are-lovers]

“Yatagarasu” characters and their ages+ when the anime has begun *

Wakamiya/Nazukihiko, 16/17 years old (from the novel Vol 2/Vol 5) upon meeting Yukiya. I must add that character designer Takumo Norita canonically made that Wakamiya stands 188 cm tall despite his young age. Chisato Abe wrote: “Yukiya heard that His Highness was sixteen or seventeen years old, but for his age he turned out to be quite tall and slender.” (His possible birthday month could be August/summer. ** During the Shōwa Era [1926-1989], he was 25 years old.)

Yukiya, 13 years old at the start of the episodes, but turned 14 (his birthday probably falls in spring, Shōwa Era**) after his stint in the Ravine/Taniai (from the novel Vol 2, manga, and the short story, “Thinking of Fuyuki” ). Yukiya, on the other hand, is small for his age, according to Wakamiya and Rokon. The boy stands 150 cm tall, while mangaka Natsumi’s rendition that Yukiya is three centimetres lower, 147.

Sumio, between 18 and 19 years old (he finished the three-year rigorous education program from the Keisoin Academy and was the top of his class. Children usually enter this institution when they are 15 years of age.)

Natsuka, 21/22 years old (from the novel Vol 2 and anime)

The Princesses/First Arc

Asebi, 18 years old (from the fan book), has turned 19 at the time for Wakamiya’s bride selection. Chisato Abe wrote on the fan book that Asebi and Hamayu are of the same age.

Hamayu, 18 years old (from the fan book), must have turned 19 during the bride selection

Masuho no Susuki, 16/17 years old (from the fan book)

Shiratama, 14 years old (from the anime), has turned 15 for the next spring

Others

Yukima, 14 years old but will turn 15 that year to celebrate his coming of age during the New Year’s banquet with the North House first couple (from the manga Chapter 2)

Fujinami, 12/13 years old

Yukichi, 8 years old (from the manga)

Kazumi, 18 years old (from the manga and novel)

The Golden Raven arc

Yukiya, now 15 years old (Chapter 2 of the Book 3: The Golden Raven), he left Wakamiya’s service only to return to him, but this time voluntarily

Koume, 15 years old, the same age as Yukiya

*Subject to change

** Source: Volume 5: The Girl for God (Timeline happens in 1995, calculating back, it seems that Nazukihiko was born in 1970, when it says that he is 25 years old in the book. Yukiya, on the other hand, was born in 1974.)

[wordsbyhisheart]

Causes of forgetfulness

A big cause of forgetfulness - the bane of knowledge, is sin which weakens memory. Therefore, Sayyiduna Imam Shafi’i رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْه has stated:

شَكَوْتُ إِلىٰ وَكِيْعٍ سُوْ ءَ حِفْظِی

فَأَوْصَانِيْ إِلىٰ تَرْكِ المَعَاصِيْ

فَاِنَّ العِلْمَ فَضْلٌ مِنْ الٰہٍ

وَفَضْلُ اللّٰهِ لَا يُعْطیٰ لِعَاصِی

Translation: I made a complaint about my weak memory to my teacher Sayyiduna Wakee’ رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْه. So, he advised me to leave off (committing) sins since knowledge is a blessing from Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ, and Allah’s blessings are not bestowed upon a sinner. (Ashi’at-ul-Lam'aat, vol. 1 pp. 188)

[therantfairysblog]

A literal rant lmao

Y'all, please learn to find source for something you read online ...

I have been quite active in other fandom before but i never seen so many misinfo spreading like willfire than kny fandom pls 😭

Iguro DID NOT keep ring in his estate for mitsuri y'all he deem himself unworthy and only accept her proposal for their NEXT LIFE. Pls read chapter 188 carefully y'all. <---- the irk i found about this popular hc is stonk bc this is clear mischaracterization of him. Iguro is soooo broken even though he found light in Mitsuri, he couldn't freeing himself from his self loathing 😭

The other popular hc like burying together, i find it cute but its not canon y'all and i feel like burying them separately is more appropriate plus they usually cremating their dead like zenitsu's gramp.

Another popular hc that people treat it like canon that irked me is regarding shinobu didn't tell giyuu only and telling other hashira. Noooooo they'll against it too why do you thing gyomei or Mitsuri, her bestie will allow it???? The only canon one is she telling kanao, That's it. 😭💔

If u writing headcanon, pls tell people honestly it's just a hc nothing more don't treat it like canon. I was wondering for a bit when i read all this where tf y'all found this info.

There's this canon source that y'all need to read/cross checking . Unless it was stated in this sources, whatever you read online is a headcanon 🥲

The whole manga

Anime original scene. (Yes it's canon and tight up some missing connection in the manga)

Gaiden (giyuu and rengoku)

Light novels

Corps record (official fanbook there's 2 vol if im not mistaken)

Taisho secret.

Official interviews from Gotouge (I'm not sure if there's any)

Sorry to breaking your heart obamitsu lover but here a bit anecdote from light novels as a compensation 🙏

Iguro was so worried about Kanroji's less appetite and he aware sth was troubling her. She got a little injury in her face and he get angry and want to kill the demon who did it before kanroji explained that she's already kill it. (Butterfly wings ln if I'm not mistaken) -this LN is also deal with mitsuri and shinobu close relationship and it's really cute 🥰.

When discussing about the consequences of the marks, gyomei expressed his worry on muichiro as he was so young and asked if he's okay. Muichiro telling him he may be a bit concern about it but asked gyomei back why shouldn't he worry about mitsuri, or iguro? Gyomei wonder why he brought up iguro and muichiro telling him that he was obviously in love with mitsuri. In this specific convo, gyomei aware that muichiro has become more observing and opened up to them which he was glad to see. Also this implied that the two were like a lovebirds to everyone else (except sanemi maybe bc he canonically dense about relationships) but they aren't aware lol. (Chap 4 of The Wind's Telltale Signs LN)

[lianchuann]

❓ Kind of dropped BROKE

❓ setting aside fei lai and dragon blood for now

📖 replacing the evil way

Hoping to read/continue:

📚 poyun

📚 pi nang

📚 tgcf vol 1

📚 mingwang

📚 all for the game series

listing here my current reading list~

📖 tunhai

📖 BROKE

📖 replacing the evil way (will start)

📖 JR vol 5

📖 fei lai

thinking if I should buy:

📚 guardian vol 1

📚 tgcf vol 1

[completeoveranalysis]

[7]

OK LAVA LAMP LET’S SIT DOWN FOR A MOMENT

YOU TURNED BACK TIME??

I’m sure we will get more about this next week but WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

DID YOU TRAVEL BACK IN TIME BY YOURSELF, INTO YOUR OWN TIMELINE, OR DID YOU SOMEHOW PAY ENOUGH TO REWIND THE ACTUAL TIMELINE ITSELF TO THE POINT WHERE YOU WERE ABOUT TO TURN SEVEN?????

WHAT WOULD EVEN BE ENOUGH TO PAY FOR THAT?

I’m reeling what does this even mean. Is ALL OF THIS just Round Two of the plotline? Did Lava Lamp and Sakura just grow up happily in Clow until they got to [insert age here] before he turned back time to start it all again?

Or did Evil Wolverine’s influence happen that time too, and he ALSO went on a journey to save Sakura and this is actually the second time it’s all happened?

And what is it exactly that Lava Lamp is trying to prevent? What happens to Sakura that he rewinds time all the way back? It would definitely line up with Evil Wolverine’s timing, but it might not necessarily be that. 

What was he supposed to have figured out here, at this point in the timeline, like he mentioned before? And did he mean when he was genuinely 6 years old or when he was 6 years old the second time and so secretly not 6 years old at all? 

Did 2nd Time Around 6 Year Old Lava Lamp KNOW something about the plot that he could have figured out here, with context? And he laments not putting the pieces together?

LAVA LAMP I THOUGHT I WAS SO CLOSE TO ACTUALLY UNDERSTANDING YOU AS A CHARACTER AND NOT ONLY WAS I WAY OFF BUT NOW I GENUINELY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT’S EVEN HAPPENING

THANKS.

[nordleuchten]

Turn Week 2024: Day 6 - Cross-Over/International Kissing Day

I do not have anything to contribute to Cross-Overs … but I thought to capitalize on the 6th being International Kissing Day!

Kiss our dear Henriette twenty times for me.

The Marquis de La Fayette to his wife Adrienne, March 7, 1777.

Idzerda Stanley J. et al., editors, Lafayette in the Age of the American Revolution: Selected Letters and Papers, 1776–1790, Volume 1, December 7, 1776–March 30, 1778, Cornell University Press, 1977, p. 27.

Kiss our little Anastasie a million times. Alas, she is all that is left to us. I feel that my once divided fatherly affection is now completely for her; take great care of her.

The Marquis de La Fayette to his wife Adrienne, June 16, 1778

Idzerda Stanley J. et al., editors, Lafayette in the Age of the American Revolution: Selected Letters and Papers, 1776–1790, Volume 2, April 10, 1778–March 20, 1780, Cornell University Press, 1979, p. 79.

Ah, my dear heart, when shall I be close to you? When shall I be able to kiss you a hundred times?

The Marquis de La Fayette to his wife Adrienne, September 13, 1778

Idzerda Stanley J. et al., editors, Lafayette in the Age of the American Revolution: Selected Letters and Papers, 1776–1790, Volume 2, April 10, 1778–March 20, 1780, Cornell University Press, 1979, p. 173.

A thousand and thousand tender kisses for my dear Anastasie, and a big hug for George. Farewell, my love.

The Marquis de La Fayette to his wife Adrienne, May 6, 1780.

Idzerda Stanley J. et al., editors, Lafayette in the Age of the American Revolution: Selected Letters and Papers, 1776–1790, Volume 3, April 27, 1780–March 29, 1781, Cornell University Press, 1980, p. 10.

My Most Respectfull and Affectionate Compliments to Mrs. Knox; I am so impudent as to take the liberty to Adress a kiss to Lucy-and a paternal one to My Son. Adieu Yours forever

The Marquis de La Fayette to General Henry Knox, August 18, 1781.

Idzerda Stanley J. et al., editors, Lafayette in the Age of the American Revolution: Selected Letters and Papers, 1776–1790, Volume 4, April 1, 1781–December 23, 1781, Cornell University Press, 1981, p. 334.

My Best Respects Wait Upon Mrs. Knox, and Miss Lucy. I most affectionately and fatherly kiss my Son Harry.

The Marquis de La Fayette to General Henry Knox, January 8, 1784.

Idzerda Stanley J. et al., editors, Lafayette in the Age of the American Revolution: Selected Letters and Papers, 1776–1790, Volume 5, January 4, 1782‑December 29, 1785, Cornell University Press, 1983, p. 188.

My most affectionate tender Respects wait Upon Mrs Washington—I Beg she will give a kiss for me to the little girls, my friend tub

The Marquis de La Fayette to George Washington, December 21, 1784

“To George Washington from Lafayette, 21 December 1784,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/04-02-02-0167. [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Confederation Series, vol. 2, 18 July 1784 – 18 May 1785, ed. W. W. Abbot. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1992, pp. 226–228.]

Chevalier de Caraman presents His Best Respects to Mrs Washington and to You—I kiss Squire tub, and the young ladies.

The Marquis de La Fayette to George Washington, March 19, 1785.

“To George Washington from Lafayette, 19 March 1785,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/04-02-02-0305. [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Confederation Series, vol. 2, 18 July 1784 – 18 May 1785, ed. W. W. Abbot. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1992, pp. 449–451.]

My Best Respects Wait on Mrs. Hamilton. I kiss Phil, and the Young lady. Adieu Your affectionate friend

The Marquis de La Fayette to Alexander Hamilton, April 13, 1785.

Idzerda Stanley J. et al., editors, Lafayette in the Age of the American Revolution: Selected Letters and Papers, 1776–1790, Volume 5, January 4, 1782‑December 29, 1785, Cornell University Press, 1983, p. 318.

My Most affectionate Respects Wait upon Mrs. Knox, Miss Lucy, all the family. I kiss my God Son.

The Marquis de La Fayette to General Henry Knox, May 11, 1785.

Idzerda Stanley J. et al., editors, Lafayette in the Age of the American Revolution: Selected Letters and Papers, 1776–1790, Volume 5, January 4, 1782‑December 29, 1785, Cornell University Press, 1983, p. 322.

Adieu, my good friend, my most affectionate Respects to Mrs. Knox, and a kiss to Lucy, my Son, and the little one. Your affectionate friend

The Marquis de La Fayette to General Henry Knox, June 12, 1785.

Idzerda Stanley J. et al., editors, Lafayette in the Age of the American Revolution: Selected Letters and Papers, 1776–1790, Volume 5, January 4, 1782‑December 29, 1785, Cornell University Press, 1983, p. 330.

[lurkingteapot]

I've been going through my collection of old (pre-2016 for the most part) academic papers on BL and thought, hey, why not re-read some of them and sum them up so folks can see whether they want to check them out in full?

Today's offering:

Beautiful, Borrowed, and Bent: “Boys’ Love” as Girls’ Love in Shōjo Manga by James Welker, originally presented at the Third International Convention of Asia Scholars, August 19–22, 2003, Singapore, and published in Signs, Vol. 31, No. 3, New Feminist Theories of Visual Culture (Spring 2006), pp. 841-870, UChicago Press. [Jstor]

Welker starts off with a brief explanation of what the BL genre is, what terminology he uses ("BL" as an umbrella term that includes the earlier names of tanbi, shōnen ai, yaoi, and the long-form 'boys' love'):

“Boys’ love” manga emerged as a subgenre of shōjo manga (girls’ comics) around 1970 just as women artists were taking over the shōjo market.(*) It quickly became among the most popular shōjo manga genres, and its creators became some of the best-loved artists in the industry. (* First published in the monthly Bessatsu shōjo komikku in December 1970, Keiko Takemiya’s “In the Sunroom” (Sanrūmu nite [1970] 1976) was probably the first boys’ love narrative. See Aoyama 1988, 188.) - Welker 2006:841

He goes on to challenge the common perception of BL as a genre "by straight women for straight women":

[T]he genre is widely considered to offer a liberatory sphere within which presumably heteronormative readers can experiment with romance and sexuality through identification with the beautiful boy characters. […] Members of the Japanese lesbian community have, however, pointed to boys’ love and other gender-bending manga as strong influences on them in their formative years […] Clearly boys’ love manga can be viewed through a different lens from that which most critics and scholars have been using, and hence the full potential of boys’ love is largely overlooked: that of liberating readers not just from patriarchy but from gender dualism and heteronormativity. - Welker 2006:842-843

He introduces the texts he will analyse (Takemiya Keiko's Song of Wind and Trees 風と木の詩 kaze to ki no uta, 1976-1984 and Hagio Motō's Heart of Thomas トーマの心臓 tōma no shinzō, 1974), and concludes the essay's intro section as follows:

This reading will employ lesbian critical theory, visual theory, and reader responses to these and similar texts to show how 1970s boys’ love manga is not merely queer on its surface but how it opened up space for some readers to experiment with marginalized gender and sexual practices and played a role in identity formation. - Welker 2006:843

Welker goes into the questions of applicability of theories that weren't originally developed for this specific context – visual theories were largely developed through film analysis; European and North American models of gender and feminist theory, while also having informed academic discourse in Japan, in their origin operate on culturally specific assumptions and need to be applied with care.

He talks about the tradition of androgynous and cross-dressing heroines of early shōjo manga and their connection to the earliest BL manga, the dilemma of the "beautiful boy" characters' gender and sex and how to read these – are they boys? idealised self-images of girls drawn onto boys' bodies? neither male nor female? sexless altogether?, and the way Japanese readers in the 1970s, already culturally familiar with gender performance through kabuki or the all-female Takarazuka Revue and similar troupes, received the gender-bending nature of BL stories. He also comments on the role fan interaction via magazines, and the way readers were learning about queer life in Japan:

By the early to mid-1980s, the magazines’ readers were learning in real terms about the world of Shinjuku ni-chōme, Tokyo’s well-known gay district, described as a world full of “beautiful boys like those in the world of shōjo manga” (Aran 1983, 15), as well as various aspects of lesbian life in Japan (Gekkō 1985). In spite of the connections drawn on the pages of these magazines, the possibility that these narratives might be seen to actually depict homosexuality remains broadly denied. To allow that the narratives might truly be about homosexuality—between these girls-cum-beautiful boys—would be an apparently unthinkable invitation to read the narratives as lesbian. - Welker 2006:857

Welker briefly explores how the example texts of Song of Wind and Trees and Heart of Thomas "serve many of the functions lesbian critics and theorists have outlined as roles of lesbian texts" (Welker 2006:858), then goes on to analyse the flower imagery of roses and lilies that is very prevalent in both titles, the intertextuality of these stories with European and French literature (and how the readers were expected to catch on to this intertextuality). On the transgressive and queering nature of writing and reading BL, he says:

[T]hrough acculturation to gender performance in Takarazuka and kabuki and by such cross-dressing manga icons as Sapphire and Oscar, as well as the deliberate ambiguity of the beautiful boy, the reader is encouraged to see not just a girl but herself within the world of boys’ love and, ultimately, is encouraged to explore homoerotic desire, either as a beautiful boy or as herself, either alone or with others, either as her fantasy or as her reality. […] Regardless of whether boys’ love manga were created merely to offer heterosexual readers a temporary respite from patriarchal restrictions on their desire, some readers found in identifying with the beautiful boy a way through the looking glass to a world outside the patriarchy. And regardless of whether he is read as a boy or a girl, the beautiful boy can be read as a lesbian. […] For readers whose experience of sexuality and gender contravenes heteronormativity, works like Song and Thomas offer narrative safe havens where they can experiment with identity, find affirmation, and develop the strength necessary to find others like themselves and a sense of belonging. - Welker 2006:865-866

I've been out of academia so long that I've lost any sense of what a good proportion of direct quotes to original text is, or whether it's even appropriate to quote as much as I did here. This is emphatically NOT an academic article in and of itself -- I'm posting on bloody tumblr. If anyone wants to add to this, I'll be thrilled.

One of the most commonly voiced criticisms of BL is that it's about, but not (or did not in significant part used to be) by or for gay men. This article does not address this point further—Welker does go into this in his more recent articles, iirc; if you've got beef with this aspect, @ him not me. I do however think it's worth noting that this 17-year-old article already recognises that the genre is queer, and has been since its inception.

[burningvelvet]

“Lines to ⸻.” also known as “Sonnet to Byron” written by Percy Shelley (1821, fair-copied in 1822) and published posthumously. Shelley had threatened to give up writing due to his lack of success. Byron’s fame and Shelley’s great admiration for his recent works often frustrated Shelley and worsened his depression, despite Byron generally encouraging him. In an early draft below, Shelley began with the line “I am afraid these verses will not please you, but” before seemingly drawing over it with trees.

“If I esteemed you less, Envy would kill

Pleasure, and leave to Wonder and Despair

The ministration of the thoughts that fill

My mind, which, like a worm whose life may share

A portion of the unapproachable,

Marks your creations rise as fast and fair

As perfect worlds at the creator’s will,

And bows itself before the godhead there.

But such is my regard, that, nor your fame

Cast on the present by the coming hour

Nor your well-worn prosperity and power

Move one regret for his unhonoured name

Who dares these words. — the worm beneath the sod

May lift itself in worship to the God.”

The fair-copy was made about six months before Shelley, Edward Williams, and their boatman Charles Vivien all died in a sailing wreck during a storm while returning from visiting Lord Byron and Leigh Hunt. Thomas Medwin said that Byron never saw the poem, and it’s likely, given that it was never shared or published until long after Byron died (about two years after Shelley).

Sources: Percy’s handwritten draft from the Digital Bodleian Library, MS. Shelley adds. e. 17 p. 94 https://digital.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/objects/0f0cba27-6264-4c4e-8b03-3a83c700c1f5/surfaces/1d16ddc7-3cf9-4c96-b435-36f2077168d1/ - Percy’s handwritten fair copy from the British Library Digitized Manuscripts Collection, Zweig MS 188 https://www.bl.uk/manuscripts/FullDisplay.aspx?ref=Zweig_MS_188&index=16 - Transcriptions from The Manuscripts of the Young Romantics: Percy Shelley, vol. 8 (Garland, 1997) https://archive.org/details/faircopymanuscri0008shel/page/249/mode/1up?q=Sonnet+

[antiqueanimals]

Cow Resting. William Maris.

From The International Studio: An Illustrated Magazine of Fine & Applied Art. Vol. 47. No. 185-188. 1912.

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