#bear with me with the graphic design is my passion image

[yuni-c]

[historicity-was-already-taken]

This morning I picked up my paper copy of the New York Times and I was greeted by an extremely graphic article about rape as warfare in Israel/Palestine on the front page. I put the paper down, but it got me thinking about the value of reading about violence. When is reading these testimonies bearing witness to history, and when is it masochism? How do you discern between productive discomfort and unnecessary anguish?

I don't expect you to have the answer to these because they are such immense questions and also things vary from person to person, but I am interested to hear your thoughts on the issue as a historian who is outspoken about the effects of secondhand trauma through genocide research. My degree isn't in history, but I'm an aspiring museum professional (if the job market isn't too cruel, lol. I'm open to other careers but I'm passionate about weaving archival materials into public storytelling so *gestures vaguely*). I also have a really thin skin. I tend to avoid graphic depictions/descriptions of violence, but sometimes I wonder what I'm missing by avoiding that.

Anyway! Feel free to answer this privately, publicly, or not at all if you're swamped with other things. Thank you for running such an informative and interesting blog!

Hi! Sorry this was buried in my inbox.

It's a good question, and I'm not sure how to answer it in regard to contemporary, ongoing events, vs. history. I do think that the 24/7 news cycle has exposed us all to an amount of suffering and stressful information that we're not like...designed to be able to handle.

So I'm going to answer you like a museum professional, and use that shared language. Back in 2009/10 I was a Collections Management Intern at the 9/11 Memorial and Museum. This was before it opened to the public. While I was mostly cataloging, the staff was great about letting us listen on on ongoing higher level conversations.

I'm putting the rest of this under a cut, for reason which will be clear when you read what's under said cut.

Now, two of the (imo) most traumatic aspects of the history of that day, is 1) the photographs and footage of people who jumped from above the impact zones; and 2) the audio from phone calls and voicemails made from inside the planes, inside the towers, etc.

The museum handled those by making them optional. You want to listen to the last thing a woman in an office above the impact zone will say to her child? Ok. You have to make the choice to pick up audio mechanism, and press play. You want to watch footage of people jumping to their deaths to avoid burning to death? You have to make the specific choice to walk into a cordoned off vestibule, and view that material.

If you choose not to listen, or watch, you're not ignoring those histories or refusing to bear witness. You're fully cognizant of the fact that they happened, and you're simply choosing not to expose yourself to traumatic content. Bearing witness doesn't mean traumatizing yourself for the sake of bearing witness, you know?

I think it's enough to know that certain horrific things happened. Going that next step, looking at them, that's not necessary, and can't be rushed. When I was in undergrad I chose to focus on Ancient Near Eastern History as opposed to WW2 and the Holocaust because I know I wasn't ready to look too closely. I wasn't even really ready in grad school. It's really in the last 5/6 years that I've been able to do it. And I still don't think I'll ever be able to engage with detailed material about medical experimentation. But I know it happened. I know it was horrifying, and that's enough.

So, back to news media. I didn't see/read that article, but what I can say is that I appreciate when newspapers decline to put certain kinds of images on the front pages, and give the reader the option to look or not to look. I also appreciate when you're reading articles online, and you have to click multiple times to explicitly consent to view disturbing images.

[codys-designresearchii]

Developing My Item's

Now making my poster properly, I needed to write out proper paragraphs for each and every object included thus far, including their link to my design work. I also went out and took / found images to link to each one.

1. Amethyst Necklace

For her 20th Birthday, our third birthday together, I bought me and my girlfriend matching Amethyst and Silver necklaces. We had planned to get some ages back but never got around to it, although they are a new item, the necklaces are very dear to my heart as a symbol of our relationship. Me and my girlfriend are both Designer's at AUT, we work together and inspire one another, this relationship is essential to me as a designer.

2. D20

Since 2017, Year 10, me and my friends have been playing Dungeons and Dragons. I have ran two full campaigns to completion and been in four others.  The D20 is a universally recognized symbol of the game that has shaped many of my friendships and supported possibly my favorite hobby. I have done an excessive amount of design work for these games, applying my study's to a function within the real world.

3. Sootie

Sootie is the name given to my childhood teddy bear. I purchased him myself at the age of eight in the Woburn Sands Safari park made of Alpaca fur he is one of the first things I ever bought with my own money. It rests atop my bedside table, and is very dear to me even still. We are not born into this world fully formed, our passions are formed through our childhood, and therefore our childhoods are incredibly important to reflect on in our design.

4. Smoke Machine

My dream is to one day run my very own shop, a one stop party shop and equipment rental store. In May of this year I started working towards this goal with the online launch of The Gear Merchant. We are still very early day’s but since then, this Smoke Machine has been my most purchased product and is fueling my ambition. I have done a large amount of design work for this project, posters, photography, logo's and web design. It is my greatest example of applied design within my recent years.

5. Wheels Keep Turning

My Grandmother on my Fathers side wrote and published an entire book detailing the story of her family, the Whelans. This book is a connection between me and my family history, and teaches me more and more about where I come from every time I read more of it. Our family's shape who we are as people, and to neglect the tie they have to us in our career life is insulting.

6. My Camera

My Camera is not only one of my most valuable possessions, it is also the conduit that enables one of my other passions, Photography.  This camera is an essential in my life, as a hobbyist, a student and an artist. This is one of the most important tools to me as a graphic designer, and artist at large.

7. Ski's

Me and my family travel to the slopes of Ruhapahu every chance we get to enjoy skiing together, it is one of a main family events and I love these trips with a passion. These Skii’s not only enable these vacations but are a reminder of vacations gone and memories my family formed together. It is often on these vacations that I get the most of my planning and conceptual work done, a break from hassle and a chance to clear my head.

8. Yard Glass

My 21st Birthday was this year, a milestone achievement and a mark of adulthood, so of course I had to throw a rager. My party was an amazing night for me, featuring many people from my high school, old and new friends, many students in this class, family, and even a friend visiting from England. The Yard glass I downed that night is a reminder of my adulthood, the fact I am no longer a child or teenager and I am no longer just working towards a school project, but a career.

9. VR Headset

Looking forward into the future, I have recently purchased a VR headset which I ave spent far more time using than i’d like to admit. This headset connects me to the VR Space and all the fun, function and freedom that comes with it. I feel it is greatly important as a designer to work with the most recent tools at our disposal, to stay relivent and up to date as the world evolves.

10. Doctor Who DvDs

Doctor Who has been a hyper-fixation of mine ever since I was a young child, I feel glad to have a physical copy of this show that I am an absolute nerd for, and get to use to show my interest to anyone willing to watch it with me. My earliest art projects, and even some now, are related to this show, and my fan art of this show as a child developed many of my skills I use today.

11. Borin Badrian

My girlfriend custom built me a mini-figurine of my main-villain / main-character of my own DnD campaign, and novelisation of the world. I have spent a lot of time with, playing as, and developing this character and new possibilities for him have been stuck in the back of my mind ever since. The written work, and design work I have surrounded this character with has developed my skills greatly, and I owe Borin Badrian for keeping my design fun.

12. Ugandan Mace

While touring Uganda, on a humanitarian project for World Vision, one of the locals gave me this Wooden Mace. It is an authentic piece of Uganda brought back to New Zealand, and connects me to the wider world, a world very different to our own. When we are designers, it is important to reflect on the wider world, and the cultures that surround us, in order to approach a wider audience with respect and dignity.

13. AUT

My University, AUT. AUT was my first choice of University out of all four I considered as I had heard all about their great reputation regarding Design graduates. This university is the cornerstone of my identity as a student, and the foundation of my life as a Designer.

14. My PC

I have a brand new high-powered PC, bought with my Design future in mind. I installed a secondary monitor for extra efficiency and bumped up the RAM and storage compared to my old device. This has increased my comfort and flexibility in my design work, and I can't remember how I ever survived without it!

15. Our Travel Map.

In my formative years, from 7 - 12, I lived in England. During this time we traveled all throughout Europe, and through this experience, I saw the world in a different light. These travels have broadened my perspective on the world, and this map is a reminder of the journeys I went on and the memories I made.

[undercovergamer]

✨A Bookworm’s Vengance✨

⚠️This fic focuses mainly on tickling. Please do not read it if that upsets you.⚠️

banner giving off “graphic design is my passion” vibes /ref LMAOOO (I couldn’t find better images to combine and I don’t wanna use fan art, so-)

After spending enough time with Alhaitham for him to become comfortable with hugs, Itto decided that some playful mischief was in order. (Oh how the turns will table…)

Note: This is a silly scenario I made up with a friend. She loves Alhaitham and I love Itto, so we kinda just put them in the same room to see what would happen. Basically Itto is in Sumeru because lazy writing and he’s staying with Alhaitham and Kaveh until he returns to Inazuma, also because lazy writing. We don’t need logic in silly fics like this, right?

Word count: 2682

Ah, a quiet afternoon. A perfect time for some peaceful reading. That’s what the acting grand sage Alhaitham thought anyway. He was off the clock, just minding his own business, enjoying some much needed solitude. With his noise cancelling headphones switched on, there was nothing that could disturb his peace… or so he thought.

Entirely consumed by his reading, he was about to finish the last chapter. He was stood in front of a bookshelf in preparation to put the book away and choose a different one to read. After a few more minutes, he closed the book and placed it in the shelf. While trying to decide what to read, he felt a sudden shift in the room’s vibes. He didn’t think much of it until he suddenly got jumpscared by a pair of arms wrapping around him from behind.

Ambushed? In his own home? Who would even DARE to-… wait a minute. Looking down and switching his headphones off, he quickly recognized the culprit. The one and oni, Arataki Itto. Had the scribe not looked down and seen his arms, he would’ve instinctively fought him in self defense.

“Hahaha! I got you good, didn’t I?” The oni’s joyful laughter was hard not to recognize.

“Itto, what’s gotten into you?!” Alhaitham was quite annoyed.

“What?? Can’t I give my favorite scribe a hug?” Itto replied, hugging his grumpy friend close.

“You scared me.” Alhaitham sighed, having just calmed down from the sudden ambush.

“Haha, sorry bro. Just feeling silly. What are you doing?” Itto looked over the scribe’s shoulder in curiosity.

“I’m trying to read. You’re disturbing my peace and quiet.”

“Ugh, but reading is sooo boring! Don’t you wanna do something else? Let’s hang out!”

“No thanks. I’d prefer to just read in peace. Alone.” Alhaitham wanted Itto to leave, but he didn’t seem to have understood.

“Oh come on, you haven’t even picked a book yet! You can read later! I’m bored.” Itto rocked back and forth impatiently.

“That’s too bad. I’m sure you can find another way to entertain yourself. Now, please stop moving like that, I can’t read.”

“Read what? You don’t even have a book yet…” Itto huffed and stood still as commanded. Alhaitham was somehow already focused on finding something to read. But then that silly oni decided some playful mischief was in order.

“Itto, let me go. I’m trying to think.” Alhaitham said in his usual monotone voice.

“Suuuure, I’ll let go. Lemme just-” Itto tightened the hug, lifting Alhaitham into a strong bear-hug while laughing happily.

“Ack- put me down!” Alhaitham struggled to break free while trying maintain Itto’s balance. They’d both get hurt if he fell.

“Come on! Can’t you smile a bit? I can help you!” Itto grinned and put him down, but kept hugging him for the funny.

“What are you talking ab-?!” Haitham choked on his words, interrupted by a …sudden urge to laugh? What?

“Are you ticklish? C’mon! Smile! Hehe.” Itto had started tickling him while holding him in place with the mighty hug. To both of their surprise, Alhaitham had been caught so off-guard he couldn’t hold back his deep laughter for more than a few seconds. The moment he burst into laughter, Itto couldn’t help but laugh along with him with a bright smile.

“Aw, I didn’t know the acting grand sage was so ticklish! Hahaha! Tickle tickle tickle~!” Itto playfully teased him for the funny, tickling him silly.

“Ahahahahaha!! Itto wh- hahahahah!! W-What are you dohohoing?!” Alhaitham protested and tried to break free, but Itto’s cursed nails tickled so bad he couldn’t focus properly. Even though this oni was incredibly irritating right now, hurting him was out of the question. That’d be an unforgivable crime.

“What’s the issue? I’m just helping you loosen up! You’re always so tense.” Itto replied innocently, switching spots and playfully scribbling all over the scribe’s abs, which actually earned him a surprised squeak. “Hehehe, I heard that! Do it again!” Itto said playfully, tickling the man’s tum.

“Lehehehet gohohohoho! AhahahahAHAHAHAH!!” Alhaitham began bucking and squirming more, trying very hard to break free from Itto’s clutches. But no matter where he squirmed to, the oni would follow. That and he felt embarrassed that he had just made such a high pitched noise.

“Hehe, you need to smile more!” Itto started to playfully tickle and poke at his ribs and sides, making the scribe arch his back and laugh louder before bending forward, trying to protect himself with his arms.

“Sh-shut uhuhup! AhahahAHAHAHA!! STAHAHAHAHAP!!” Unfortunately, Alhaitham was somehow unable to squirm away to safety, since Itto kept following his movements the whole time. Why the heck did it tickle so bad?!

“Aha! A weak spot! Hehehe. Tickle tickle tickle!” Itto was loving it! Seeing the usually grumpy scribe laughing out loud was certainly rare. The oni thought it was hilarious, but he stopped tickling after a few more seconds. After all, Alhaitham did say “stop.” Itto hugged him real tight again before letting go, giggling to himself.

“You good, bro? You alright?” Itto patted Alhaitham on the back while he caught his breath.

“I’m… I’m fine.” He replied, composing himself. He hadn’t been tickled in such a long time that he had completely forgotten he was ticklish. It was quite embarrassing.

“You know, you’ve got a pretty nice laugh! You should laugh more often, to be honest.” Itto said, poking Alhaitham in the side, making him jolt away. Itto giggled at his reaction but received a rather angry looking glare in response.

“Just what do you think you’re doing?” Alhaitham said angrily.

“W-What do you mean? I thought we were having fun, I was just playing!” Itto got kinda nervous, seeing how serious Alhaitham looked. “I-I didn’t know you’d get so upset..”

“Did you really think I’d to let you get away with disturbing my peace like that? Hm. Looks like I’ll have to teach you a lesson.” Alhaitham cracked his knuckles and stepped closer. Itto took a few steps back in fear.

“W-Wait, wait! Chill! I-I was just playing! Uh-” Itto tried to think of how to calm the situation down, until he made eye contact with the scribe. He wasn’t nearly as angry as he thought.

“I’ll get you for that.” Alhaitham said with a mischievous smirk, rolling his shoulders in preparation.

“Uh, um, y-you’ll have to catch me first!” Itto exclaimed, quickly dashing out of the room. Alhaitham chuckled softly to himself before chasing after him. Perhaps this would be a more entertaining way to spend his time.

The chase just lead them to the living room, with Itto running around the furniture to keep distance between himself and the scribe, but also trying not to knock anything over.

“Haha! You can’t get me!” He taunted, playfully poking his tongue out.

“Tch, how childish. Just you wait, oni.” Alhaitham replied, unaware of his own smile.

The playful chase continued like this until Haitham managed to grab Itto’s arm, quickly pulling him closer. The two then wrestled until the oni had gotten himself pinned to the floor, laughing happily at their game. He never thought Alhaitham could be so playful!

“Predictable. You put up quite the fight, though. It’s a real shame you couldn’t win.” The scribe said, looking smug.. sort of.

“What?! I’m still winning! I just- uh… I-I’m not giving up yet!” Itto replied, stubborn as ever, giggling and struggling to escape.

“Tell you what, I’ll let you go if you surrender and apologize.” Alhaitham said with a stern glare.

“Pfft- What? No way man! Why do I have to apologize? I haven’t do anything wrong!” Itto protested with a cheeky smile, trying to push his opponent away.

“Really? Attitude in your position?” Alhaitham rolled his eyes… “Sounds like you need some convincing.” …before quickly poking Itto’s sides, making him jolt and snicker.

“W-Wait! Pfft-“ Itto covered his mouth in an attempt not to laugh.

“Apologize.” Alhaitham poked his ribs.

“Pff-! N-Never!”

“Suit yourself, oni.” Suddenly, his fingers quickly began spider-tickling Itto’s ribs and sides, immediately sending the oni into a fit of loud, boisterous laughter.

“BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!! Thahahat’s nohoho fahahahahair!!” Itto whined, laughing and squirming around.

“Oh, you wanna talk about fairness now, huh? The way I see it, this is fair game after you held me in place earlier. I’m just giving you a taste of your own medicine.” Alhaitham replied calmly while trying to prevent Itto from grabbing his wrists.

“C’mohohohon!! Thihihis ihiHISN’T FAHAHAHAIR!! Aha-hahahaha!! Ahahat leheast y-you could s-stahahaHAHAHAND!!” Itto couldn’t do much to defend himself. Every time he managed to push those tickling hands away, they’d break free and come back in mere seconds. The scribe was relentless! He was trying to figure out which areas would grant the biggest reactions. This was a punishment, but it was almost obvious Itto was having lots of fun. Tickling him like this was very effective, but it could be worse, right?

“EEK!! BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!” Itto suddenly started laughing louder as Alhaitham began switching spots, tickling from his ribs to his tummy.

“Tickle tickle.” Alhaitham said with a slight smirk, now tickling all over Itto’s abs and tum to check his reactions. “AhahahahAHAHA!! WAHAHAHAIT!!”

“Oh? What was that?” He noticed how Itto’s laughter would rise in pitch every time a specific area was brushed over.

“N-Nohohothihihing!!” Itto tried to control himself, hoping the scribe wouldn’t notice.

“Hmm…” Based on the gathered information, Haitham made a guess and began tickling right below Itto’s ribcage.

“AAHAHAHAHAHA!! WahahAHAHAIT!! NAHAHAHAT THEHEHEhere!!” Vibrating fingers into that area made the oni throw his head back and laugh uncontrollably, so the scribe decided to linger there for a while.

“BAHAHAHAHAHAHA!! NahahahAHAHA!! IT TICKLES!!” Itto squealed, cackling and kicking uncontrollably, trying to block the sensations with his arms… which didn’t work.

“Hm. Who would’ve thought the almighty crimson oni would be so easily taken down by mere wiggling fingers?” Alhaitham bullied him calmly.

“NAHAHAHA-!! SHUHUHUT UHUHUHUP!!” Itto could hardly believe it. How dare he say such a thing? To the one and oni nontheless?

“But it’s clearly true, is it not?”

“Shuhuhut ihihit!! AHAHAHA!! Thihihis is nohoHOHOT FAHAHAHAHAIR!!” Itto protested, getting a little frustrated being unable to protect himself properly.

“That’s too bad. Do you want mercy?” Alhaitham asked, quickly tickling up and down Itto’s sides and waist before he could defend.

“EEK! Y-YehehEHEHEHES!! AAHAHAHAHAHA!! Stahahahahap!!” Itto squirmed and wiggled, trying very hard to protect his sides.

Alhaitham stopped tickling for a moment so Itto could breathe.

“Ready to apologize yet, tough guy?” he asked after letting Itto calm down.

“Ehehe..! N-Nuh uh..! Haha..!” He wasn’t going down that easily.

“You really shouldn’t be so stubborn in your position.” Alhaitham said with a glare.

“Haha! Ehehe… is that all you got?” Itto replied, with a smug grin.

Alhaitham rolled his eyes in response. “Seriously?”

“I’m not giving up! I never lose! Because I’m the one and ohOHONIHIHEHEHE!! Wahahahait!! NOHOHOHOHOHO!!”

“Suit yourself, then.” Alhaitham replied, tickling Itto in random areas to keep him on his toes, and to experiment so he’d surrender.

He couldn’t help but notice a specific reaction Itto would have every time his sides got tickled; he would press his arms against them like his life depended on it whenever Alhaitham tickled upwards, which was quite suspicious. So the scribe moved the tickling elsewhere to distract him and make him move his arms, which worked quite well. Itto managed to grab Alhaitham’s wrists and push them away, but he was too tired to retaliate.

“Hahahaha..! W-What now, huh?” Itto said through his giggles.

“You’ve fallen right into my trap.”

“H-Huh..?”

Alhaitham freed his hands and quickly shoved them into Itto’s armpits, earning a loud shriek as his arms instantly shot to his sides, pressing hard to defend.

“Oh? That was surprisingly high pitched.” Alhaitham remarked, keeping his hands still. Maybe he should’ve switched his headphones on first…

“Sh-Shuhuhut it! Quiet! Pfft-” Itto tried to contain himself, which wasn’t easy with two hands right in his death spots. Squirming couldn’t do anything to save him!

“Feeling ready to apologize yet? Or should I tickle it out of you?” Alhaitham couldn’t help but smile, realizing how goofy the whole situation was. It was ridiculous, even.

“P-Plehehehease! A-Anywhere but thehehehehere!!” Itto couldn’t stand the anticipation, but he wasn’t about to admit that.

“Hm. Must be a pretty bad spot if it’s got you laughing and begging this much already.”

“Sh-Shut your m-m-*mpfft-* I-I d-dohon’t behehEHEG- GWAHAHAHA!!”

Alhaitham wiggled his hands to see what would happen, which immediately sent Itto into hysterical cackling, thrashing and wild kicking. His laughter even rose an octave. “Oops.” It certainly seemed as if Itto was incredibly ticklish there.

“AAHAHAHAHAHAHA!! WAHAHAHAIT NOHOHOHO!! EEK! STAHAHAHAP!!” He squeezed his eyes shut in hysteria.

“Last chance, Itto. Apologize, or else this’ll get much worse.” Alhaitham threatened.

“AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!! OHOKAY OKAHAHAHAY!! EHEHAHAHAHA!! I- EEK! EhehHAHAHA!!”

“Apologize.” Alhaitham slowed down so Itto would have an easier time speaking through his laughter.

“EHEHEHE!! Ahaha!! I’m- pfft I’M SOHORREHEHEHEHE!! I’M SORRY!!” Itto squealed, wiggling and kicking his legs in desperation.

“For?” Alhaitham squeezed with his hands a few times to deal the final blow, making the oni arch his back and scream.

“HYAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!” Quite a rare sight indeed. He was very loud, though…

“For what?” Alhaitham finally stopped the ticklish torment so Itto could calm down and catch his breath. His face was flushed red from laughing so much, gasping for air through his giggles.

“Ahahahah…! Hehehe…! Phew…!”

Alhaitham waited a moment before asking “Well?”

“I-I’m sorry for- hehe.. for ambushing you…! A-And… huff… and tickling you..! Ehehehe…”

“Hmm. You’ve had enough. I suppose I can forgive you this time. Please wait here for a moment.” Alhaitham said, pulling his hands out and getting up to leave the room for a bit. Itto was still giggling and recovering on the floor, slowly sitting up and wiping away his tears of mirth. Alhaitham quickly came back with a glass of water.

“Here. Drink up. You must be exhausted after all that...” He said with a concerned expression, handing the glass to Itto.

“Aha.. thanks bro!” Itto replied with a smile before drinking the water. He finished it rather quickly, accidentally swallowing too hard, but he didn’t say anything about that. Alhaitham reached his hand out to Itto and helped him up, feeling a bit worried.

“Are you alright? Although you kind of deserved that, I… I didn’t go too far, did I?” Alhaitham said, concerned.

“Huh? … Oh! Uh, nah, don’t worry about it. I’m a-ok!” Itto replied, smiling brightly. He recovered surprisingly quickly.

“Really? How-… I-… How? Surely getting tickled like that would’ve caused distress...” Alhaitham couldn’t believe it. How was this man “a-ok” after all that laughter? Where’s the logic in that?

“Hahaha! Not for me, at least! Somehow..? Huh, you have a point actually. Guess I’m just built different!” Itto replied, shrugging. “I am a bit tired, though, haha…”

Alhaitham just looked at him with a puzzled expression.

“Besides, I trust you, y’know. I knew you’d let me live, hahahaha! Plus, we had fun, didn’t we? I saw you smiling! Haha!” Itto said, giving the scribe a nudge.

“Wait, you thought that was fun?!” Alhaitham was shocked.

“Ha! See? I knew you had fun too! Didn’t deny it, did ya? Heheh.”

Alhaitham put his hand in his face and shook his head, chuckling to himself. “You are truly ridiculous.” he said.

Itto laughed at that remark. “Who knew such a stern bookworm like you could be so silly, eh? Hahahaha!” he said, delivering a light punch to his bro’s arm.

Alhaitham rolled his eyes and went back to his office, but was stopped by another “ambush,” except it was expected this time. Itto quickly hugged him tight from behind again, but without tickling. Then he let go when asked to so Alhaitham could read in peace.

They did, in fact, have quite a lot of fun. Alhaitham even felt relaxed, but he’d never admit that. Itto ended up taking a nap to recharge, so in the end peace and quiet was truly achieved. Surely he’ll think twice before trying such mischief again, right? Oni time will tell, hehe…

[sleepingpatterns]

“Should I use InDesign to lay out my books?” - A Passionate Guide

Ok, if you are like me, you recently stumbled upon @armoredsuperheavy​‘s brilliant blog about bookbinding and fanfiction, and now you are excited to throw yourself head-first into bookbinding.

This also means that you are about to invest a fair amount of time into figuring out how exactly to lay out books. What you end up getting comfortable with will most likely be what you end up using long term, so it is worthwhile giving it some thought. The question really comes down to this: who's name will you be cursing for the foreseeable future? Adobe? Or Microsoft?

Full disclosure: I only started using InDesign because I was forced to. I worked as an editor at a newspaper, and that was what we used. The beginning was hell. I won’t sugar coat it, it sucks. In the end it was worth it. Once you figure it out, InDesign’s potential far outstrips Microsoft Word (in my opinion).

That encouragement means very little when you open this treacherous program for the first time and see THIS:

“What?! I will literally give you $100 if you guess what all the buttons on the left are for. How the fuck do I make the margins disappear!?”

So, if using InDesign means figuring out what at least one third of the tools on the left are for, lets talk pros and cons.

Let’s get the cons out of the way.

It is expensive. Adobe is not fucking around. This puppy costs 20 bucks a month (Canadian) to RENT. If this is out of your price range, do you still have options? Yes. Do they range in legality? Also yes. I think I could potentially get in trouble for telling you to find your friendly neighborhood torrenting site and steal this software. I will say, outright, that no one should steal software ever. Got it? I would be very upset if someone were to message me for specifics. As you naturally wish to be law-abiding, there is also the quasi-legal option of repeating the 14-day free trial. My friend works at a professional print studio in Russia, and this is the tactic they use: every 14 days they uninstall all of the software from all of the computers, and reinstall it with a new trial. Every 14 days! At a professional operation! My friend hates working there.

It is not initially intuitive. I’ve covered this, but it bears repeating because it is a serious hurdle. Keep in mind, that with time, InDesign becomes more helpful than other software. Now when I use Word I find myself reaching for keyboard shortcuts automatically, and feeling bereft at the lack of my favorite tools. Nonetheless, expect a time commitment up front learning how to harness this glorious and confusing computer program.

It can run kinda slowly, depending on your computer. Up until two months ago, I had the world’s most precarious laptop. I bought it for $200 in 2015. It once took half an hour to restart. Inexplicably, when it got stressed, it would switch to Spanish. It was literally and figuratively falling apart. And yet, it ran InDesign. Granted, it worked slowly. If I asked it to process too many images at once it would panic (again with the Spanish), but for the most part, it worked. If you have a slow computer and are patient, then InDesign will probably work fine on your computer. If you are not willing to suffer, stick to Word.

You will also need Photoshop (sometimes). Part of what makes InDesign glorious is that it is professional software that is designed specifically to work with print and anything text-heavy. I love that about it. It even manages to do some handy things with images! But, inevitably, you will need to learn some Photoshop to punch up your graphics. I have, admittedly, only learned the bare minimum Photoshop in order to feed my InDesign addiction. It was a pain in the butt. For example, inexplicably, Adobe has not standardized keyboard shortcuts across the suite. As with InDesign, now that I’ve learned the tricks, I adore it. But you should go into this knowing that with Adobe, the fun never ends.

Printing signatures is the WORST. Adobe, please explain to me, in front of God and everyone, why the hell you would make this software specifically for laying out books etc. and not include a method of printing signatures?! I’m livid. This is absolutely where Word wins the day. It is almost worth using Word just to print the signatures so nicely and easily. I’m not kidding. Me—a person who has used InDesign professionally—almost wanted to switch software entirely just because of this. Hands down, InDesign’s biggest goof. Despite this crime against bookbinders everywhere, you have options. You can export your design to a PDF and literally print each signature separately (I am fucking livid) or you can complain enough to your friends that they offer to buy you a lovely program called BookletCreator for your birthday. It costs $20 bucks USD and it was worth every penny. However, Adobe, FOR THE AMOUNT THAT YOU CHARGE FOR YOUR PROGRAM, I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PURCHASE ANY ADDITIONAL SOFTWARE IN ORDER TO PRINT MY BOOK. Did I mention that I am livid?!

But InDesign must be worth something, right?! Otherwise why would I be writing a long post encouraging people to use it? Let’s talk pros:

The horsepower on this baby will blow your mind. Forget what I just said about printing signatures; imagine using software that was literally made for this. You wanna do a thing? InDesign has got you. Are you a perfectionist? This software was designed by people as pedantic and obsessive as yourself. It gets you. Dream it, google how to do it, and InDesign will deliver. This is really the main reason to use InDesign; it is the professional standard for a reason.

There are so SO many resources available to help you learn. Almost everything I’ve learned about InDesign I learned from Google or YouTube. Honestly, if you have a question, I promise that other people have already asked and answered it. The advantage is that because this software is specifically for laying out books, there is lots of information available specifically about how to do what you want to do. (This may also be true for Word, but I’ll be honest, I only used Word for a book layout once, so I can’t say for certain either way.)

Once you figure it out, InDesign will give you back hours of your life. Things like master page spreads, clipping paths, tint, the eyedropper tool, and the one-hundred-percent adjustable text are just... lifesavers. My experience with Word is limited, so my frustration using it was probably due to my own ineptitude, but honestly, when putting together my thesis, the tears I cried trying to get page numbers to format correctly were some of the most bitter text-related tears I have ever shed. I can take care of the whole operation in InDesign in a matter of minutes. Hours. Of. My. Life. Saved.

This is an actual marketable skill. Ok, bear with me here. I have used InDesign for every single job I have had since I worked at the newspaper. That includes working as a bookkeeper and a kindergarten teacher. Hell, I even made my resume to get those jobs in InDesign. There is no job that I forsee in my future that doesn’t include some form of text-based design. Even when my work has absolutely nothing to do with layout (see: kindergarten teacher) I still found some way to use it. My previous boss was actually so thrilled about my InDesign skills that she had me run a 101 seminar for the other employees. (Did any of them end up using it? I suspect not. Did they look at me strangely for being so enthusiastic about design software? Absolutely.) I’ve even managed to use InDesign to branch out from freelance editing to take on design projects as well. In short: if you learn how to use InDesign, put in on your resume. You will be surprised at how much mileage you get out of it.

With Adobe, the fun never ends. I know I joked about it before, but really, I love seeing what this program has in store for me next. For example, thanks to bookbinding, I discovered that InDesign will do a lot of things that I had previously assumed were the domain of Word, such as spell check. I literally stumbled onto a measuring tool today that I wish existed irl to help me glue my covers together. Part of the beauty of this software being so intricate is that there is always something new you can do. I love learning how to harness a new feature, and then watch my design improve over time. Using this program you really get the feeling that the sky is the limit. Look, just the fact that I’ve now resorted to saccharine platitudes about computer software tells you that InDesign is remarkable. Considering that this program has made me suffer so significantly, I have either seen the face of God, or I have Stockholm syndrome. Take your pick.

TL;DR, at long last:

How complicated would you like to go? Either way, for bookbinding you’ve got to learn to use software in a new way.

Do you just want to get your book laid out reliably with little fuss? Word is for you! Are you interested in delving into the details? Do you have the patience of a saint? Try InDesign!

Both work. Both are good. But you can pry InDesign from my cold dead hands because I adore it.

[itsmepards]

FILM REVIEW: Heneral Luna "A Filipino Biopic Film that Keeps you on the edge of your Seat"

Heneral Luna Film is one of the greatest movie that have been ever produced in the Philippine movie industry. There should be more movies like this to be given to people especially Filipinos, because it helps us more to understand why our country is like this in the first place and how it can shape us to be a true Filipino. At first, I thought it was a boring film because it didn't easily capture my attention but I was wrong, it reminded me the quote "Do not judge the book by its cover". It was really a magnificent and flabbergasting film.

"Tremendous" the word that can describe about Historical. The movie , character, plot, setting and climax are perfect. The movie is not trying hard but it is very entertaining to watch because the comedy present was nice addition to the film. Humor was such an unexpected yet integral element of the script, from those crisp off-color expletives of Luna to those sarcastic side comments of Lt. Rusca (Archie Alemania). The part of the movie that depicted reality in history was the battlefield/ great war of the Philippine soldier with their General which is Antonio Luna against the American Invaders. Luna Forge Ahead to the American Invaders because some of the soldiers were killed in that war and because of that the American invaders step-back because they saw the unity of the Philippine soldiers forge ahead to follow their general. The setting in the film was perfect and it portray the history by taking the film in the places where did the historical events happened. Their costume and props was nice and well-appreciated, it was full of effort because they coordinate to color, size, period and etc. and their setting and way of life really matched the historical events by revisiting the Philippine history , and showing the Consumption that the Filipino's experiencing. There are invaders , yet General Luna (John Arcilla) is indeed fiercely brave, ferocious and madly passionate but if we notice there is no solidarity to be found amongst countrymen only in fighting , personal interest and politicking. "Elegant" the word that can describe the historical storytelling it was very clear, exciting and engaging from beginning to end , with a fresh graphic novel to it by its attention-grabbing introduction which is the first key to hooked the audience/viewers.

About the Cinematography, words cannot describe my satisfaction about it, this film will grab you with its gorgeous cinematography. The images on the big screen had such vivid colors and innovative angles especially in the scene where Luna is attacking the american Invaders and when he is infront of the Philippine flag interviewed by Joven(journalist). The period production design and the costume design were meticulous detail in the scene where Ignacio recounts that the flashback scene to Luna's childhood. During a beautiful edited flashback sequence, there was a stylist scene about Rizal's execution that was so uniquely abd hauntingly rendered. There are most gruesome and graphic special effects showing the violent brutally of warfare which will shock you, the dark scenes means gloomy and keeping the information from someone. The narrative framing help the film so much because the frame to a story can do a lot of things, it can provide further context to the story, telling the audience how to view these events; it can suggest that the story is fiction or truth; it can give us exposition dumps efficient without impacting the pacing of the main narrative; or even draw attention to the artifice of the medium. The film-making is stunning , slick and stylish and the production looks pretty neat because the movie is paced nicely even at times its layered to different events , but put itself together consistently. For me, the most striking part/scene is in the cabinet meeting when General Luna said/ask to a part of cabinet who agree in the side of Sr. Paterno "Negosyo o Kalayaan, Bayan o Sarili. Pumili ka! ". He showed the loyalty , ultra-nationalism and a character of a great leader, what he wanted was to secure our country from the American Invaders and by saying that line, it mark my heart and teaches me not to become selfish but to become selfless and we need to bear in mind that "Bayan muna bago sarili ". The part of the film that has hidden meaning was the ending when the Philippine flag was burned because for me it symbolize that we are not totally free from our greatest enemy which is ourselves. The flow of the story was spectacular and magnificent because it is well elaborated, the historical events and the flow of the film reallt captures the viewer's attention that makes them understand easily the message.

"Sensational" a word that can describe about the characters, the actors really give justice to their role because their acting is beyond impressive specifically John Arcilla as Antonio Luna, he brings a genuine humanity and at the same time a really compelling sense of madness which terifically lives up to the complexity of its subject. The supporting also lend real gravity and even delight on screen really an awesome performance and acting skills that really give justice to their role. Aside from Luna, the most striking personality was Pako and Ruska because they serve and become faithful to one leader, you can see their efforts, determination and perseverance to do their job as a soldier which is to defend our nation from the enemies and invaders. They actually have the capacity to spread peace and unity, they have the willingness in their heart, they embody the spirit of volunteerism and a person that is " Where you go, I go" , they became the image of bravery and strength. The portrayal of the Characters help the film so much because without those portrator the film will not be made perfectly, it will not be effective without them , they are the one who give life to the film that give tbeir efforts to help the film succeed.

[About the Context], Our country is experiencing and facing hardships and problems nowadays but the politicians and their traits that we see in our government today. All the bickering , mudslinging and turncoatism for the sake of more riches and power in becoming a commodity inside the Philippine Politics. No wonder that our politocians (not generalizing them) wants the majority to remain poor and ignorant fpr them to easily manipulate the masses. "Self-Interests" the undying sin of our history and likewise in our current situation, the root of all corruption has been rampant in our society , some of the leaders easily dont care about what problems this country's facing what really is important for them is their self- interest. Just like Luna said " Wala ba tayong karapatan na mabuhay ng malaya?" , we are living in a Democratic country and in the law it state in Article 3, section 4 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution that we have the freedom in our country but we are not totally free from ourselves, we are not free from the chains of self-interest and underlying principles in life. There aee some leaders that are Quisling but also there are some soldier who is willing to die for our "Inang Bayan" a real hero like Luna.

Overall, Heneral Luna is not just a film but a wake up call driving the ever reminder that some things never change. Its message- we Filipinos are our own greatest and worst enemies, lacking in resolution and torn by self interest. It is a story representative of not just our current and still chaotic political landscape but of who we are and what we can do but don't. Though it may not be perfect in its execution , the film does it's duty in leaving with the question lingering " Negosyo o Kalayaan, Bayan O Sarili."

[theescapingspectre]

BLOG’s March 2018 Issue Collar x Malice Unlimited Translation

「Overcoming the days I can not see him」  

Kei Okazaki

CV: Yuki Kaji

"You lost... ...Sooo can I tell you that I love you?"

「A very high spirited SP of the Security Division who behaves at his own Natural pace. Has a unique soft air that affects people. He has a special skill where he can sleep anywhere and anytime, together he and the heroine settled The "X-Day Case, he returned to the main office and his normal duties as an SP.」

CLOTHES CHECK!

Although he only spends his time at work in a pattern-like suit, his private Attire is a lovely but rough style.The main focus is a very vivid wine red Gradation like scarf to impress and contrast with the inner white of his Shirt. He also shines with a black hat and studded accessories. 

GAME PRODUCER REIKO SHIMA

I plan to focus on the difference between work and private with a important Emphasis at a later date. I think that you can enjoy this "fandisc" pacing and It’s graphics. We hope that you also take a hat and scarf to appear more relaxed And enjoy the sweet air that is unique to this private outfit as you close your Mind in the distance. 

CHARACTER DESIGN MAI HANAMURA 

I tried to give out a sense of extraordinary with scarfs and hats based on his Unbelievably very stylish dressed clothes such as his cardigans. The character Motif 'x' is also in such places such as his hat and his accessories, etc.

「Okay Yoshinari-kun is not a ordinary person!」

「I don’t feel like being praised!」

Mineo Enomoto

CV: Saito Sōma

「ANOTHER INCIDENT IS COMING DOWN?! 」

In this work, "Another Story " 「Interlude 」occurs during the X-Day Incident was still unresolved and is re-told in Interlude. In the midst of chasing the X-Day incident, the detective office that Aiji Yanagi And the Others are a part of will suddenly receive a certain request that has been Bought to the office location and it’s members attention. 

「"Just in this case do not go out just yet"」   

A criminal is hiding in the dark.The hero who is aware of the dangerous Situation, embraces her strongly to protect her, despite suspecting the hero as An enemy, the hero, Mineo who kept evading the surprised protagonist question Of "why did you help me?" with him replying with affirmation of "I do not need Such a reason why" as his answer. 

Mineo「Do not move, stay quiet and let me protect you...」

Enomoto-San is holding me....he is hugging me.

Heroine「But Enomoto-san it’s dangerous in this position, what if Something goes wrong, what do I do...」

Mineo「It is more dangerous to leave. In this case don’t poke yourself out You can not go just yet.」

Heroine「The other party has a knife... If I misstep I could be seriously Injured.」

Mineo「I have not had time to think to myself nor jokingly. I could be Stabbed, so do not hesitate to defend. That’s when I noticed it and my Body moved on it’s own.」

Heroine「What is... ...that... ....」

Heroine「It seemed like he was avoiding me... ...Why was that... ...」

Mineo「A man should always protect women, no matter what.」

「Who is the client that visits the Detective Office?」 

A young man appears a client at the Detective Office where it’s members Are based. They are trying to decline the request and informing him that they are not genuine detectives, but he declares that he was involved with the Mastermind of the X-Day affair, Adonis......

Official Affiliate File.02

Chisato Tachibana 

"Hey you, why are you so serious. I do not dislike those children. "   

A individual with a expressive, friendly and charming personality. He is the client Of the detective office who he cooperates and help those that are involved in the Case of Adonis. 

CV: Junya Enoki

CHARACTER DESIGN MAI HANAMURA

A character that reflects brightness and light. He bears a somewhat close image To the heroine’s younger brother, Kazuki with a lot of accessories and clothing Preferences.

「I can’t not wait anymore」

A sweet and passionate kiss after a long absence!

The heroine whose boyfriend and lover is a SP, however the resolution of The X-Day, Okazaki went back to headquarters and is kept busy, rarely Leaving any time for the two to meet. After a long absence, he arrives and Kisses the heroine who was making dinner and tells her I can’t endure it And takes the main character to bed. 

Kei  「Ha~aa..... 」

Heroine  「... ... ...um...um... 」

Something like glass was pressed against my back takes away my chance Of escape with a comfortable coldness. Only a mere 10 seconds after he Came through the door his lips greeted my own greedily to get a taste of Me. 

Heroine「So painful」

In his effort to kiss me, I was getting dizzy, the world was spinning, I will Be outdone as it is as I was barely upright. However he was still was Standing. Because there was not a opportunity to see and meet each other, nowadays it was always like this. 

Heroine「......Wait please... ...just give me a minute. I know it’s been such a Long time since we last saw each other, can we relax just a bit?

Kei 「No」

Heroine「Wh........ 」

Kei 「.................. 」

Kei 「I can not endure it」

Heroine「But, as soon as I got back... ...I haven’t eaten dinner yet, what About you?」

Kei「Yeah I am hungry........」

Heroine「So I came here ahead to begin cooking because it’s almost Impossible--」

Kei「No, dinner later, I am here now.」

Heroine「Again.......」

 I was held lightly, as a soft and comfortable bed embraces my back.

END ❤ SORRY FOR THE LONG WAIT YOU GUYS!

Scans are courtesy of katokathy ❤  and can be found here! Do not re-post The scans without the owner’s consent. 

[miaclarkportfolio]

Raising understanding for Danish culture

Final Evaluation 

2020

I explored the societal and historical context of Denmark’s culture, specifically raising understanding as to why the systems in place function well, questioning why Denmark is considered the most content country in the world. My instant initial impression was to explore my Danish heritage;; I knew I would find passion within this cultural theme as I have an in-built affection for it.

I have shown understanding of the subject context of Danish culture by making my own judgments of my personal connection to the heritage. Placing my family at a table at the centre of the piece mirroring the communal role each Dane plays to construct Danish community, a tightly bound society in which everyone has trust and cooperation. This is supported by my use of continuous line inspired by Pablo Picasso, an underlying representation of the collective lifestyle. I have described my aims of raising understanding toward the culture through my construction of an informative explanatory device in the form of a hand-out leaflet for spectators. Inspired by Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts club band 1967 album cover designed by Peter Blake, it involves a numbered guide to each feature of my piece, where audiences can be included in investigating my intentions and why Danish culture is this way. My purpose is clarified through the emphasis of progressive areas of Danish economy, including illustrations of free healthcare and education, high wages, and sincere attempts at tackling climate change. I could have shown understanding of the subject context more effectively by exploring both positive and negative aspects of Danish culture to give a more valid approach on ‘raising understanding’. For example, due to Denmark being so tightly-knit as a community, racism often circulates the culture toward people of the non-white Danish background and they have built an intolerance for immigration. Instead I explored only the optimistic cultural qualities of Denmark in order to appeal and intrigue audience.

Initially I recorded primary research of my preceding knowledge on Danish culture, as well as my own opinions and experiences. Followed by some in depth secondary research, I was significantly impressed by how much I learnt and how little I had known beforehand. I gathered sufficient relevant information by researching Patrick Kingsley’s book, How to be Danish, a journey to the cultural heart of Denmark. Broken into 8 organised categories of Danish culture, it was crammed with useful information, yet it became excessive and I found it difficult to harvest the beneficial areas, and especially finding a way to document it. I recorded research from the BBC Documentary, Art of Scandinavia – Once Upon a Time in Denmark, which was useful in not only speaking of Danish artists, but more the historical importance of architects, authors, sculptors, even Kings, that played roles in the construction of modern Danish society. I tried to implicate my research of the 1864 empire collapse within my work through the illustration of a Danish Viking healing a map of Denmark with a plaster;; an allegorical representation of the maintenance of Denmark as they accepted and developed themselves as a small country. I further developed my research through devising ideas on how to convey it through illustration. I was successful in transferring my thought process into an organised table, a method I found very helpful. My research channeled through to the very final outcome, evident in my handout leaflet graphic product. However, I did fail to gather research from Danish manufactured sources, which in turn I now see is rather biased, as I only collected information from British bases.

Research into artist’s techniques proved to be most effective and beneficial to my project. As I had been informed from my life drawing lessons, my strongest skills involved illustration, so I wanted to explore artists Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse who both use a fluid bold black line as a tool to create simplistic nonetheless powerful illustration. Their vision puts a twist on a child’s sketch, where one illustrates as simply as possible, what they see. This enforced me to keep my designs one-dimensional. Allison Kunath maintained my inspiration within these themes, as she used techniques of ‘blinded continuous line drawing’ resulting in these distorted facial expressions piercing through. She helped me to be free in my line work, and focus on areas that make an image recognisable. Her techniques benefitted in constructing the familiar faces in my family portrait. Christiane Spansberg put an influential spin on Picasso’s continuous line work for me, in which I learnt a new line style creating emotion through the placement and composition of facial features. I studied how she paths the lines specifically in a way that creates angles in the areas where line overlaps, and it assisted my approach to construct illustrations with a singular line. When researching into David Hockney’s work, not only did I love his line style, I was intrigued by his ability to convey powerful communications and meaning within his work. I was most inspired by his emotion captured in illustrations surrounding homosexuality and empowered me to ensure I embed hidden meaning in my work. My research into Danish artists following my visit to Midjyllands Kunstcenter reflected how they individually represented Danish culture into their work, be it intentionally or not. For example, Lil Thelin’s middle finger painting mirrored how raw Danish life is uncensored. It made me think of how Danish radio stations never blur out swear words, as it’s unnecessary and masks the reality of true life. Kim Phil was significant in prompting my stress on Danish patriotism, due to his constant use of flags and symbolism in his work. He denotes how the flag is used as a sign of celebration in Denmark, as a decoration, and focuses the pride Danish people confide in their country. I wanted to go into further analysis of Danish art culture to create a greater effect and knowledge of the subject context, and I therefore booked a trip to Copenhagen to explore urban Danish culture. Disappointingly, it was not possible as the trip was postponed.

Some of my research sources did not prove as useful as others. My visit to New York for example, was not completely beneficial in terms of my project themes. I tried to work around this and use the contrast in cultural differences between capitalist America and liberal Denmark to my advantage. Nevertheless, the trip brought about some interesting artefacts. I came across some Picasso originals in the MoMA, that were nowhere to be found online. I also stumbled across a Hans Wegner chair. The fact that a Danish designer, has been talented enough to place his work into one of the worlds most renowned artistic museums worldwide overwhelmed me (especially as I have his iconic Wishbone chair design in my own home). I also used a lot of time during my experimentation process on the research of different materials including pen type, inks, paper types, acetate, etc. But the research concluded to be futile as I would later switch to digital illustration. That is not to avoid that I learnt a great deal during this process and improved my illustration and line work in a diverse manner. If certain circumstances did not arise, I would have taken my hand illustration further onto larger workspaces and produced a professional tangible final piece. 

I demonstrated effective planning structure through my project proposal, developing into satisfactory results, bearing in mind problems came about consistently throughout the course. The most substantial and interruptive to my project was the covid-19 virus, instigating a worldwide quarantine. It obligated all schools to close, including Cambridge Regional College, and therefore disturbed the production of my final piece. I was unable to use the facilities of the college, therefore paused my ongoing material investigation. I was incapable of bringing my large-scale wall illustration vision to life, hence my shift in technique, where I began to continue my experimentation digitally in Affinity, a program which was unexpectedly successful in achieving the same tasks as Photoshop. I tried to express my visualisation through creating a mock-up of the final piece scale, giving the impression of how the piece was intended to appear. I would want this to make an individual feel overwhelmed, as if it was there in front of them. Although it was a disruptive process, I felt I worked around the difficulties as best as I could and was open to alternative ideas in order to solve creative problems.

I constantly admired the feedback from others: peers, tutors, family, social media following. Using it to power the decision making within my project, I overcame my own opinions and discovered new creative pathways. If I had not taken critical responses into account, my final piece would contain no colour, and would not reflect the celebration of Danish culture effectively. I was pleased to hear multitudes of applause and praises received from my family in Denmark when I sent off the final product. In future, had I known the responses I would receive from them, I would have included them in an ongoing feedback development of my final major project. 

Studying a Foundation course has allowed me to become more responsive to feedback and free with my approach/process. For instance, I advanced with illustration due to tutor judgment and consequently, I evaluated and rediscovered my strengths. I have learnt how to work around disruption and use it to my advantage by adapting my work digitally after the extents of coronavirus. I’m really happy with my final piece and how it successfully conveys the message of raising understanding for Danish culture. On a personal level, I have learnt so much more concerning my cultural heritage. This has sequentially shaped my outlook on the future, as it has further encouraged me to live there sooner.

[musiccovercorner-blog]

Are You Proud of Me?

[~Kisaragi Gentarou~] [~D R A B B L E~] [~Are You Proud of Me?~]

It was finally time for Gentarou to head home. Another long day at school, another Zodiart-fighting spree was done, and hanging out with his friends was accomplished. After all, it was the joy of youth that got him from various points in his life. After all, it was the enjoyment of friends that helped make him who he was.

He couldn't help a smile crossing his features as he took up his carrying bag, his smile brightening even more when he saw the flame-styled pattern over the front of it. A good friend of his had decided to turn graphic designer and had created it for him. Naturally, he had asked to be able to get it printed out and utilized it as part of his every day attire.

Picking up the speed as he raced through the winding streets of Amanogawa, the teenager continued to press onward, his mind contemplating the events of the day, the new friends he had made, and those that he still had to get close too as the school year continued to fade.

"Oh well, that doesn't really matter," he stated as he recalled the date. Only a few months were left in the school year; only a few more months to befriend the rest of the school. Including the teachers and headmaster of course! Regardless, it wasn't going to be the sunset of his life yet. It wasn't yet evening. If anything, it wasn't even lunch time. A lot could change in just a couple of months, and he was going to prove that to everyone!

Bursting through the doors, he dropped his bag, his hands ending up on his knees as he breathed in the soft smell of the house, smelling the grease from the garage attached to it where his granddad did a lot of repairs on cars and other gadgets.

"I'm home!" he shouted to the other man, a smile crossing his features again. Waiting for the response to be given and gathering banter back and forth, the teenager headed up to his room to work on the copious amounts of school work that went along with the event known as school.

He sat down at his desk, his gaze scanning over a picture of a man and woman that was sitting on his desk. His smile faded slightly, a kind of sadness entering his gaze before he shakes it off, nodding his head to them.

"Okaa-san. Otou-san," he starts, leaving his bag on the ground beside him for just a moment as he picks up the photograph. "Ne.. If you saw me now, would you be proud of me? Did I grow into the man you wanted me to become?"

"I’m not that smart. I'm not that sensitive. In fact, I don't even know if you could consider me anything like you guys. Impulsive. Thickskinned. Perhaps a bit naive."

Gentarou smiled again as he looked closer at the smiles on the photo. "You would be proud of me regardless, ka?" he asks, shaking his head slightly. "Of course you would be. I guess... I guess I'm not the only person that tries helpin' others out after all, ne?"

Quietly, he reaches into his bag, pulling out an image of the Kamen Rider Club that was taken a bit earlier in the year. "I want to introduce you to some of my friends I have made, share some of our adventures together. I have made a lot of friends; I want to think I actually did some good in the lives of others."

Why was he doubting himself? Maybe it was just the fact that he wasn't doubting himself... he just missed having those two people around that he could tell everything too. If he told his Jii-san... He might decide for them all to pack up and leave again, if only to keep Gentarou out of trouble. He couldn't do that. After all, his buds were the reason why he could do everything. His buds were the reason everything had been running so smoothly.

"I am sure you remember Yuuki, Okaa-san. You really used to like her passion for space and the smile she always used to wear. She is the exact same, not really changing since third year in primary school. I heard she is going to become a true astronaut as soon as she gets out of high school. Isn't that amazing?"

He points to the next student on the list, a grin widening. "This is my bro. This is Kengo; we didn't really start off on the right foot, but we got things going a while after. We began to trust in each other, understand one another. I guess like you always said, Tou-san, different people require different time. Hmm.. Maybe I can get him into the Youth Race after all!" After all, his dad was the one who taught him that, every day when he was brought home from school.

"This girl is Miu. She is a senpai, along with her boyfriend, Shun. Miu is a hardworker, does everything she can for the position she holds. Shun too; he works hard, plays hard, and wants to enjoy himself to the fullest. We ran into some hard times, but we got through it."

Slowly he went around to each of the others. JK, the playboy and jokester of the group, the one that they never thought would be worth anything, but who had shown to be a true friend in the end. Someone who worked hard on dancing and wanted to make a career of it.

Tomoko, someone who was afraid of who she was, who thought she had to change in order to become something special and different, and who was already perfect as her own person. Someone who had shown Gentarou a few things about acceptance and love as well.

Finally, there was Ryusei. The man that had been enemy to become friend, a friend who had proven time and time again that he could be trusted. Someone who had carried such a strong burden on his own two shoulders for too long and that Gentarou was adamant to help save.. After he came too, they were all great friends, friends that he could count on. Friends that he would never have to do without."

Sometimes, it scares me. It gets me right in the heart. Then I remember that we can do anything together as long as we try. We can take on the world and infect it with our friendship!" He pumps his arm high into the air as he says the term. Friendship had always meant something special to Gentarou, and he knew that if nothing else, the energy he had would spread to everyone, living, and perhaps, to his parents that were far gone.

"This has been a good year, Okaa-san. Tousan. A year that I will never forget in my entire life. They made my mind up for me; I am going to become a teacher when I graduate. That will be my straight line to the future. A future where, one day, everyone can hold hands and be able to be proud of the bonds they share with one another.

"Our Club is made up of so many different people, so many walks of life. Each of us have our own problems too, but we help bear them with each other. That's what makes us friends.

"Oops! I have homework to do. I'll talk to you again soon, ne?" Placing the picture back on the desk, he scoots it into a safe corner, placing the picture of his beloved Kamen Rider Club beside it. His friends, his family, past, future, and present, all right there where he could grab them without a problem.

His resolve strengthened again by the knowledge his parents would be proud of him for being who he was, he pulls out his book and starts to study; though in the end, he was really just doodling in the pages of the notebook.

A smile creeps across his features as he takes another look at the two photos, a bright smile crossing over his face.

After all...

Tomorrow was another day.

A new friend would be made tomorrow.

[ymd3signs]

Famous Graphic Designers Who Changed Everything

Changing an entire industry is by no means a small feat. The list of designers below still managed to profoundly changed the graphic design landscape as we know it. They helped shape the discourse of branding, the fundamental theories of design and did it all with an acute understanding of the cultural backdrop they tried to represent. Here’s how the greatest famous graphic designers made their mark on the world.

1)  Paul Rand

Paul Rand ought to arguably eclipse all of the beneath neath designers in reputation and legacy. The American Modernist's ground-breaking designs for IBM, ABC and the unique UPS emblems have stood corporation in the century. However, it's miles his theories on layout expressed in his mythical books to stand the check of time.  He flipped American marketing and marketing on its head whilst he becomes named Art Director of marketing and marketing organization William H. Weintraub & Co, a function formerly held through the copywriter. Donald Albrecht, curator of the 2015 exhibition on Rand's paintings Design Is Everything, claimed Rand flipped the method to marketing and marketing on its head. Instead of permitting the reproduction to dictate the layout, Rand u-grew to become an attitude and made photo layout the forefront. "He concept he become bringing artwork to marketing and marketing".

In essence, Rand is answerable for telling the arena that layout is, indeed, everything.

2)  Neville Brody

Neville Brody confronted grievance early in his profession after analyzing at The London College of Printing at some stage in the 1970s. His designs had been untried and strove for a brand new shape of mag artwork which sharply contrasted with the school's conventional printing and layout methods. The fashion dressmaker, emblem strategist, and typographer received his suggestion from the enormous push in his profession, the Punk motion. "London has a specific set of politics and cultural impacts that has been surely instrumental in growing the paintings that I do" he defined in an interview with Dezeen. He desired his paintings to mirror and constitute the converting panorama of London, politics and track; letting all designers understand that taking suggestion from the present-day weather can assist form you as a fashion dressmaker.

3)   Milton Glaser

Milton Glaser is entirely unstoppable in his marketing campaign to be topped the maximum celebrated photo fashion dressmaker of all time. His psychedelic method to the enduring Bob Dylan poster is contemplated in his more fantastic latest method to the Mad Men titles, and his stylistic path leaks into his way to typography. Although Glaser warned in his monograph Milton Glaser Graphic Design that he is "now no longer a kind fashion dressmaker", his Baby Teeth typeface which become designed for the Dylan poster advocated designers international to test with extraordinary forms.

His effect is deeply felt of path withinside the Big Apple, however, stretches past New York. Not handiest does the serviette on which he at the start drafted the I Heart NY brand completely are living withinside the Museum Modern Art, however, in 1976 he additionally designed the whole lot of the eating place which resided withinside the World Trade Centre,  Windows at the World. "I had no concept why it have become an icon now no longer handiest for New Yorkers", stated Glaser, "however for the complete bloody international."

4) David Airey

Now, as famed for his extraordinary running blog capabilities in addition to his outstanding layout portfolio, David Airey has made a call for himself as one of the contemporary-day masters of Graphic Design. His ebook Logo Design Love has emerged as a useful emblem all through itself, with a twitter following achieving 110,000 in its call. His speciality is living in constructing emblem identification via layout with businesses tripping over themselves to get a slice of his expertise. One of the various marks he has left up to now is the fee of self-promoting withinside the virtual age for photo designers, and the sheer energy of the net as a platform to excel your profession. "Without my blog, I doubt you'll understand approximately my paintings" he recently claimed in Design M.ag, "The Internet can open such a lot of doors, and it's as much as every one folks to tread our personal path".

5) David Carson

Texan born David Carson has honestly earnt his proper withinside the Graphic Design Hall of Fame and did it and not using regard for the rules. Experimental and formidable describe his ruthless willpower to interrupt the mould of typography and mag layout and stimulated a technology of younger designers to suppose differently approximately typography theory.

Clean reduce typefaces had been scrapped for distorted lettering that demanding situations the viewer, and his paintings in magazines Ray Gun and Nine Inch Nails are used as works to examine publications around the arena. However, his maximum critical lesson is geared closer to coaching photo designers to accept as true with themselves. "One of the early criticisms of my paintings become that it become 'self-indulgent'" he told Huck Magazine, "and I'd say, 'Hell yeah it's miles, I'm absolutely into it, I'm absolutely absorbed in it, and a part of me hopes it receives regarded and I wouldn't need any person operating for me who wasn't simply as into it."

6)   Stefan Sagmeister

Outspoken and unapologetic, Stefan Sagmeister is an imperative parent in contemporary-day pop & artwork culture. His genuine ardour is expressed via album covers, which he believes is the remaining problem for photo designers. "I do accept as true with that track is in the end the maximum emotional of all of the arts. To be capable of create the visible that comes out of that emotion and fasten it to some thing this is inherently non-visible is an exceptionally thrilling endeavor."

The perfect combo of images and typography form his mind-blowing portfolio and incorporating humans into his layout relentlessly captures emotion. His putting fashion certainly caught the hobby of Mick Jagger, Lou Reed and David Byrne, and with a platform of such superstar his paintings, in conjunction with his layout philosophy is deservingly celebrated. "Try to the touch the coronary heart of the viewer".

7)   Aleksandr Rodchenko

Although now no longer a not unusual place family call, Aleksandr Rodchenko helped outline attitudes to fashionable-day layout in significant ways. He becomes a Russian artist and photo fashion dressmaker who become pivotal withinside the Constructivism motion of the Russian Revolution. Born in 1891, Rodchenko demanded that conventional theories of the layout had been altered. The "Constructivists" noticed layout as something to be engineered, no matter gender and classical artwork principals. His designs are nearly scientifically calculated with a restricted colour palette, and it becomes the primary time the arena had visible typography and photographic factors offered in such political paintings.

8)   Saul Bass

Perhaps one of the top family names on our list, Saul Bass' paintings is immortalized inside universally recognizable conventional movie posters. He reimagined how movies had been represented through portraying iconic scenes via a more fantastic summary sample described through symbolism and shapes.  His brand designs on average, have a lifespan of a whopping 34 years earlier than they may be even taken into consideration a redesign, or even then the maximum, minimum versions are applied. His real effect on is living withinside the transformation of establishing sequences in movies. Before Bass got here into the picture, identify movie sequences had been stagnant and dreary. In an interview with Herbert Yager, Bass defined the delivery of film titles as we understand them. As a part of my paintings, I created movie symbols for advert campaigns. I occurred to be operating at the signs for Otto Preminger's Carmen Jones and The Man With The Golden Arm, and at a few point, Otto and I checked out every different and stated, "Why now no longer make it move?"

9)   Adrian Shaughnessy

London-primarily based layout Adrian Shaughnessy spent 15 years as Creative Director of layout studio, Intro earlier than he has become an unbiased fashion dressmaker and writer. His layout instinctively is stimulated through the styles and sorts of the track, and he strategies every layout with bearing in thoughts its ubiquitous presence in a day by day life. His designs stability motive with beauty, experimenting with kind and colour at the same time as making sure practicality stays intact. "Most of what we see is vacuous, or worse, a form of industrial hysteria. But there also are many right and profitable makes use of of photo layout; usages that make our lives better."

10)   Ivan Chermayeff

Ivan Chermayeff's paintings are peppered throughout the US. Pan Am, NBC and Mobil are titans of clients, and who's call will convey Chermayeff into the VIP area of layout forever. Minimal, identifiable and distinguished designs. From company emblems to charity identification, Chermayeff serves as a reminder that every so often in photo layout, heading again to fundamentals with formidable shapes and recognizable colours will create success emblems that last.

11)  Paula Scher

Paula Scher spent nearly two decades in Pentagram as an associate of their New York office. Her passionate technique to intensify the emotion in the back of layout began out to shape after seeing Kathy McCoy speak approximately layout, and claiming the great praise a fashion dressmaker ought to get hold of is that your paintings are 'clean'. "C'mon, there's gotta be greater than that" she stresses "What approximately expression, what approximately emotion, what approximately feeling? ... If you can be neat, it appeared that you can obtain it…If every person can obtain it, why trouble to do it, why don't all of us do it ourselves?"

12)   Annie Atkins

Wes Anderson's movies are famed for his or her exceptional layout and specific, nearly surrealist fashion. Working as a photo fashion dressmaker on Anderson's The Grand Budapest Hotel, Annie Atkins carved her take at the director's imaginative and prescient. When operating in movies usually, photo designers take a script and mark whatever which can also additionally fall below their creative freedom. For The Grand Budapest Hotel, Atkins quickly realized the whole movie ought to fall below her inventive responsibility. The film, with its reliance on snapshots and aesthetics, sincerely allowed Atkins to reinvent photo layout for cinema.

13)   Massimo Vignelli

Visionary Italian fashion dressmaker Massimo Vignelli fashioned his profession through making use of European Modernist view to the American layout panorama. A self-branded "facts architect", Vignelli has included his imaginative and prescient so inextricably from ordinary life, from the New York Subway device to American Airlines and Ford. He noticed layout as a technique to explicit facts; this is difficult to comprehend. His legacy is summarised through primary photo fashion dressmaker Tom Geismar; "What usually amazes me approximately Massimo is his cappotential to take plenty of facts and by some means make clear it".

14)   Alvin Lustig

Alvin Lustig is the King of ebook cowl layout. Pastel colours that offset stunning typography thread in the course of his paintings, and he become properly conscious that withinside the first 1/2 of the 20th century – pretty early days for photo Design - he becomes on the sunrise of an enterprise approximately to boom. "The simple distinction among the photo fashion dressmaker and the painter or sculptor," he writes in his essay titled Graphic Design, "is his look for the 'public' as opposed to the 'private' image."

Conveying literature via photo layout become a knack Lustig had right down to a T, and the use of the image in the course of his paintings is a tenancy that designers can be encouraged through for a long time to come.

15)   Max Miedinger

Born in Zurich in 1910, Max Miedinger created one of the maximum broadly used typefaces in photo layout history; Helvetica. The font is so ingrained inside our day by day lives that few even recognize its ubiquity. Miedinger has likely designed the arena's handiest typeface to have a function duration documentary made approximately it. The international first has Eduard Hoffman to thank, who commissioned Miedinger to layout the sans-serif typeface, which becomes named Helvetica now no longer till 1960.

16)   Armin Hoffman

Originally a lithographer, Hoffman quickly has become one of the maximum famed theorists in the back of photo layout that ever lived. A robust present-day of area and shape body cultural and social troubles that helped power the "Swiss Style" motion. Designers Journal claimed that without Hoffman, contemporary-day photo layout could be unrecognizable. "The clarity and cleanliness of the fashion in addition to its uneven layouts, use of a grids and sans-serif typefaces have helped outline how we layout today."

17)   Max Bill

Maybe one of the maximum uncommon designers we've visible, Max Bill added his specific fashion to paintings, architecture, sculpture in addition to photo layout. Colourful geometric styles are utilized in his poster paintings which contributed to the Swiss Style again. Attention to detail, progressive kind and production of format had been the constructing blocks of the 30's Swiss motion and redefined our attitudes to photo layout.

18)   Anton Stankowski

Famous German-born photo fashion dressmaker Anton Stankowski become at the start a church decorator, who later has become one of the first photo artists to create a Theory on Graphic Design. Not handiest did he create emblems for large organizations inclusive of the Deutsche Bank, however his cautiously calculated structural layout stimulated a brand new manner of thinking.

19)   Wally Olins and 20) Micael Wolff

During the 1960s, Wally Olins and Michael Wolff fashioned one of the maximum pioneering layout studios the United Kingdom had ever visible. Wolff Olins become the maximum regarded industrial branding organization in Britain. They used the globalization of businesses as a foundation to shape their branding, and his ardour for cultivating the accept as true with of manufacturers shines via his paintings. "Brands and branding are the maximum great contributions that trade has ever made to famous culture" Olins boasts in his ebook Wally Olins on Brand, and their efforts to craft success manufacturers from BT to London itself, that humans go back to time and time again.

[buttonholedlife]

Eclair Fifi and also Afrodeutsche chat Aphex Double, household raving as well as techno music office chairs - Artists - Mixmag

Clair Stirling: It was actually momma and also daddy popular music, but it was additionally cool. I regularly appeared up to my parents, so I was intrigued by it. As well as they paid attention to effective Mum and also Daddy popular music as well: Neil Youthful, Speaking Scalps, Alarming Straits ... on a family holiday approximately the Highlands, the music in the auto would suddenly switch over from Veggie Plush to Talking Heads. Thus to me, all of it mixed into one and also it didn't definitely matter.

H: I was talking with my mum recently about all the various other stuff our experts used to pay attention to. She will place Best Of The Pops on, but she would certainly supply it in with the stereo system in the other space. As well as certainly, she will possess to await the primary to attack. I remember just bouncing around to Soul II Heart along with my mum, and whenever I pay attention to them right now I level back right into my living room.

H: I was only a little too young to head to free of charge parties, however events were taking place near where I stayed in Devon and Cornwall. They took area deep in the timbers. My best buddy was a couple of years much older, and also I was actually acquiring leaflets and mixtapes that would inform you when the next one was actually going to be. So it was this unexplainable planet that I was resting alongside.

C: I had a similar introduction to rave. A lot people would certainly satisfy in the IKEA parking area, and you 'd must adhere to an automobile that will come and also get 10 autos a time and also take you specifically where it was. This was actually around 1999 or even 2000. But sometimes, these raves were functioned through my uncle, so I definitely would not tell my dad that I went. When it's that mystical as well as thrilling and cool, you enter into the mystique and get into it a great deal much more definitely. Certainly not that youths today aren't as passionate, however back then, it was thus exciting.

H: The file outlet near me was actually called Red onion Heart. It was actually owned through a person phoned Mike, and not only performed he acquire truly great songs, but he would certainly book actually good artists for parties. You just really hoped somebody would acquire all the way to Devon and you could ask to determine the beat you will heard. Making an effort to locate and also get the popular music you were actually listening closely to become one more enjoyable part.

C: It is actually accurate. I still enjoy a bunch of those outdated mixtapes that I possess, and also I wish to obtain an irreversible tape deck to digitise them. And also there are actually still songs I can not ID! Thirty years later on as well as Shazam's not carrying out everything for me. I think I stumbled around your songs when I will only chosen to begin a tag, but I hadn't considered the launch or even the remixers. I most definitely desired to start by speaking to friends. That was my priority, truly, to raise individuals. And also your songs just sounded therefore right away new. It appears new, however also a reversion. I recognized you participated in piano and drums, yet I would certainly never heard your songs, and also on the first listen I was actually so satisfied and also fired up.

H: I already possessed a great deal of respect wherefore you would certainly been performing, furthermore the volume of your time I 'd found you as well as simply totally dropped my crap. I bear in mind finding you support Autechre in Glasgow and also it being actually totally wild. After you were actually completed playing, you boiled down for a dancing after that and also your face was actually pure happiness. It was actually a no-brainer for me. I was just so chuffed you inquired!

H: When I figured out, I merely shed tears. And after that I could not cease. I failed to possess any sort of words! He's been actually a significant influence on me coming from when I to begin with listened to 'Vordhosbn', coming from 'Drukqs'. It's fucking beautiful, as well as there's something different each time you listen closely. Just how performed you obtain into Aphex?

C: It was through 'Selected Ambient Functions', when I was actually a child. My dad is a designer and also utilized to put it on to operate to, at nights, typically along with Panels Of Canada. So it tells me of youth. I know there are some mental keep tracks of on it, yet it's generally pretty tranquil. And also I keep in mind finding the video recording for 'On' on TELEVISION, and then later on, as a youthful adult, my bro and also I were actually stressed along with factors like 'Donkey Rhubarb' and 'Elephant Tune'-- all the keep tracks of he did that were more motivated by gabber and also hardcore. It's amusing, though: I typically can not keep in mind the labels of Aphex monitors, I simply know all of them through the appearance of the plastic!

H: I certainly never analyzed it or even went to university, but I have actually always wanted graphics and also the aesthetic appeals of traits. I can easily never ever always remember the labels of anyone! As for rave society goes, I utilized to possess an assortment of A6 flyers for events like Fantazia, and for the livestream I simply carried out at Dekmantel we imprinted a lots of 90s rave posters but simply place my face on all of them, and also the guidelines for a game of musical sculptures on the spine. Offered your background in image are you going to receive associated with the art work for [your brand new label] Stream Rapid?

This content was originally published here.

[dippedanddripped]

 3pm on June 29th, a raucous crowd of 150 young people had gathered at the corner of Surrey Street and the Strand in central London. Though few would have guessed it from their heavy-for-the-weather streetwear – down jackets, tracksuits, layered T-shirts, baseball caps and beanies – they were the cognoscenti. Although it was a full 17 hours before the official announcement, they knew that the shuttered shop front on this unremarkable block, situated between Somerset House and the Royal Courts of Justice, was where it was going to happen.

To most passers-by, it – the release of a collection of clothing made by two fashion brands working in collaboration – would have meant nothing. Yet to this excited cluster, the hundreds who would join them the following day, plus the thousands more who would line the streets (many having slept on them overnight) at similar pop-up launches in Tokyo, Paris, Los Angeles, Beijing, Sydney, Seoul and Miami, this event meant a great deal indeed. For they were about to witness the result of a union between the world’s most famous luxury brand, 163-year-old Louis Vuitton, and the world’s most famous streetwear brand, 23-year-old Supreme.

“This is pretty much uncharted territory,” said Martin Ologunja, 19 years old, from Hackney. “As a Supreme head, I was never expecting it to get into the high-fashion side. And I’ve got the utmost respect for LV.”

Richard Blackman, also 19, added that he had come because of a rumour on Instagram. He said: “I’m here for the culture of hype products. Supreme is a really nice fashion brand – a street brand – that most of us kids wear.”

Were they hoping to flip (resell, in street parlance)? “Absolutely!” said Alex Tarrant, 18: “I think the profits could be in the thousands.” Ologunja said, “One person said to me that resellers are the new drug dealers, but I don’t think so. I think resellers are the new art dealers.”

Just then, a bald and bearded American-accented man in a suit – a suit! – shouted for attention. We gathered around him. “Congratulations to you all,” he said. “You are the first! You made it! But the council and the police are adamant – nobody can loiter on the street, so if you do, there will be nothing happening here. There will be announcements on social media.” Slowly, and with some chagrin, we straggled down the pavement towards a Pret A Manger.

This curious scene was elegantly explained in economic terms by Adita Varavina-Grover, 18, who (exam results permitting) hopes to take up an offer to study at the London School of Economics this September. “The more limited the item is, the more stressed out people get. It’s like inelastic demand. Even if the price goes up the demand will always stay the same, because of all this hype.”

were already rumours (there always are), but that hype officially began in January during the Spring/Summer men’s fashion shows in Paris. Kim Jones, who has overseen the menswear designs at Louis Vuitton since 2011, invited me to preview his collection the day before his show at his sprawling studio in the former headquarters of the La Samaritaine department store. His main collection, the exclusively Louis Vuitton stuff, was beautiful: a New York-artist-inspired wardrobe of loose-cut clothes in cashmere, vicuña, silk and denim which referenced Jean-Michel Basquiat and Andy Warhol among others.

This was advanced menswear for PhD-level aesthetes, requiring a certain connoisseurship – luxury masculine geekery – to read and relish it in full. Scattered within it, however, were items with a much more direct message: baseball shirts and work jackets in light Japanese denim on which was a grid of tufted shapes – the famous LV monogram pattern interspersed with the word “Supreme” in larger sans-serif letters. The same combination was on sneakers, backpacks, holdalls and a trove of other accessories that ran from bottle openers and pen-knives to handkerchiefs and badges. There were even trunks – Louis Vuitton’s original product – including one designed especially to hold a LVXSupreme patterned skateboard.

Ah, the irony of that skateboard! In 2000, Supreme released a skateboard deck upon which was decaled Vuitton’s monogram pattern, but with the LV replaced by an S. It was blatant and shameless logo abuse. Two weeks later, after Vuitton threatened a lawsuit, it was withdrawn. Now Vuitton – the Paris label positioned at the top-most point of the pyramid of the world’s largest luxury conglomerate – was working with a vaingloriously named unluxury New York upstart that it once rightfully accused of copyright infringement. How come?

It was chiefly down to Jones. “Michael Burke, the CEO of Louis Vuitton, called me up one day and said, ‘Do you know the people at Supreme, because I’m really interested in the brand and would like to talk to its founder’, who’s James Jebbia, whom I know. So I said ‘You can get his number off me if we can do a collaboration with them!’ And we sort of started from there.” Work on the collaboration, he said, had already been under way for over a year. “In this world where everyone wants the new, new, new, it’s nice to be able to throw in something that’s completely fresh…all I’m trying to do is create customer excitement and create things that I enjoy.”

At Louis Vuitton’s show the next morning the rapper Travis Scott took his seat on the front row wearing a T-shirt bearing the Supreme white-on-red box logo and the LV initials. David Beckham wasn’t wearing the collaboration – he opted for Louis Vuitton proper – but said that his kids were “really into” Supreme. Kate Moss fondly recalled that in the mid-1990s Supreme once appropriated and repurposed (in Supreme parlance, logo-flipped) a fashion campaign she’d done for Calvin Klein. “Later,” she added, “when they’d made loads of money they paid me to do an ad.”

Out came the collection. Around Jones’s core of refined raffishness, those Supreme pieces were strung like scarlet tinsel. Online, websites that specifically cater to “streetwear” – sports, work and military-attire-based fashion labels – exploded in rapture. The rumours were true! Their beloved anti-establishment upstart and the world’s most famous, establishment luxury brand were expecting! By June expectation had matured to fever pitch.

Supreme was created by James Jebbia, who moved from Britain to New York in the 1980s, after stints running a wholesale fashion store and working alongside Sean Stussy – streetwear’s equivalent to high fashion’s Coco Chanel – in the opening of a Stussy boutique.

As an explicitly skateboarding-inspired label, Supreme has long harnessed the sport’s image as a rebellious, artistic and sometimes illegal passion. Its own logo is strikingly similar to graphic elements and fonts in the work of artist Barbara Kruger – an inspiration Jebbia has acknowledged. The Louis Vuitton and Calvin Klein “logo-flips” are not Supreme’s only copyright infringements, but many of its collaborations are consensual.

These feed its retail operation – ten stores around the world plus a website selling goods with low production costs such as cotton T-shirts, maple skate decks and nylon jackets – which borrows much from high luxury’s business model. Each line is sold in strictly limited numbers. New goods are released in “drops” every Thursday, encouraging fans to queue every week to check out the new items before they disappear, perhaps for ever.

Justin Bieber has the LVxSupreme fever

That has created a community of fans – most of them young, along with others who wish they still were – who have defined themselves as a tribe while waiting in line. And the policy of enforced scarcity has enlarged further the community of Supreme-lovers by creating a frenzied secondary market within which the goods are traded and speculated upon.

For Louis Vuitton, the value of the collaboration lies in those kids. For Supreme, the sight of its street-rat logo on one of the world’s most venerable and iconic luxury products, a Louis Vuitton trunk, represents a stratospheric status upgrade – as if Banksy were hung in the Louvre. To have its co-branded products both manufactured and sold by Louis Vuitton – yet under Supreme-curated conditions of hype – is one in the eye for anyone who reckons it is an all-mouth-no-trousers brand for suggestible kids.

10am on Day One of the sale, a queue of about 600 people stretched down the Strand and along Surrey Street. Martin, Richard, Alex and Adita were all there. Running the queue for Louis Vuitton was security specialist Lex Showumni. “This is my first experience with Supreme. I was told it was going to be crazy, a lot of people pushing and shoving, but we haven’t experienced that so far.” The Supreme faithful have their own, slightly dubious, process of queue-management based on attendance and standing. It mostly works, but some people were unhappy: a trader had left the head of the queue to withdraw £12,000 from an ATM. He returned without the cash having lost his number 1 spot; eventually, after some animated discussion, he slipped back in near the front.

Each customer was admitted to the store for 15 minutes and allowed to buy six items. Successful trophy hunters included Ari Petrou, with a flipped T-shirt (around £400), that he was definitely keeping. Jeremy Wilson bagged a coveted red-logo baseball shirt (£730) that he planned to resell.

Within an hour, three main secondary exchanges had been set up outside the official store: one in the Pret A Manger, the other beneath a tree, and the third next to a municipal toilet. One dealer, who asked not to be named, explained that he had paid ten people a set fee to get early places in the queue and would give them a cut of the resale value of anything they could get their hands on. “It’s business!” he laughed. Wodges of cash were exchanged and stashed in newly acquired Louis Vuitton bags.

One of the trunks, priced at £40,000, remained unsold while I was there. A young dealer agonised about whether he should borrow the cash and risk everything on it. Perhaps fortunately, it was way out of Martin Ologunja’s league. He emerged, disconsolate, with nothing. “A lot of the ready-to-wear is gone. No T-shirts, no hoodies, they haven’t even got a lot of the collection. Apparently Tokyo is getting the red stuff this week and we are getting the black. There was pretty much nothing I wanted.”

Would he return? “Definitely! I’m coming every day. I’m not ready to swallow this. I’ll be back!”

[callmemoprah]

Feminist Viewpoint The Continue Duchess, To be able to Her Coy Mistress, as well as Admin Chant

The Duke ended up being distraught which he had been struggling to manage the girl not liable blushes, or favorable joy during people. The poetry is definitely preceded through “Ferrara:“, suggesting how the phone speaker is probably Alfonso A couple of d’Este, the fifth Fight it out regarding Ferrara (1533-1598), that, within the chronilogical age of 20, hitched Lucrezia di Cosimo de’ Medici, a 14-year-old daughter connected with Cosimo We de’ Medici, Great Battle each other regarding Toscana, in addition to Eleonora di Toledo. On the start from the poetry your Duchess is actually displayed as on it’s own plus cut off: “That’s this continue Duchess displayed on your wall, Searching just like your woman had been alive” (1-2). The poem is constructed inside free verse.

This is a relaxing affirmation to absolve what needs already been the influx associated with pitiful, snobbish problem from the duke. Though there are a handful of small group that happen to be proven the girl’s picture, your woman won’t be able to converse pertaining to she is. We have to keep in mind his or her over stated claims, talk habits, as well as format to understand his individuality. My Final Duchess

The actual painter whom made that will portrait “worked busily a day.” Then an fight it out admires alcohol the electrician, pertaining to Fra Pandolf offers coloured your duchess to be “Looking as though your lover had been still living.” Nevertheless, a challenge each other proceeds to grumble concerning his / her wife’s behavior. Together straight down, there. Once we didn’t go on [to university], we’d have to get wedded, in any other case grow to be old service personnel; though a fantastic range of qualities, this dismaying pay in the highway could be delayed for any while” (5). Sir, ‘twas not / The woman husband’s presence only, called which spot.” Unlike the common daring couplets the location where the line is end-stopped, the rhyme design in this poem is usually structured in https://www.bsc.edu/academics/krulak/exp-con/bulletin/files/assets/common/downloads/page0006.pdf couplets, which can be AABBCC.

My Last Duchess is written within iambic pentameter, which is, your collections include all 5 iambic ft . “Nine instances out from twenty your lover basically resolved her own concerns,” nonetheless in other cases she had await a reaction to your ex suspending concern, and the narrator represents “the suspense, the actual looming risk – the specter of remaining pounced upon, called through name, instructed to speak” (Only two). Eventually, Browning also uses symbolism, and that is instrumental throughout displaying this Duke’s envy, which often perhaps would have triggered a Duchess’ decline. In.r.: Cambridge Oughout Mass media, 1960. We may write any customized article upon “My Past Duchess” simply by Henry Browning for a person for exclusively 16.38 13.90/page

Title: Fictional Critisism with My own Continue Duchess simply by Robert Browning

Broke inside orchard , the white mule The fact is, his referring to connected with Ferrara inside the epitaph appears to be just like he could be getting the particular displays of participate in. The particular Fight it out had been distraught that he or she seemed to be unable to command her innocent blushes, and also welcoming joy with other people. I Per repeat, The Count your mas Or ter’s known Or muni Per ficence Is am Or ple war Or ish that Per absolutely no just Versus pretense Of mine Versus pertaining to dow Or stion will And end up being dis Or allowed; Though his And fair daugh ter’s self, Per because I And avowed At star / ting, is And the ob ject. 3.Plot of land, individuality, story technique 4.Specific features interact with each other to generate a unified whole Maybe, a whole new see the previous troubles aids you to know disfavor the majority of girls encounter together with also to make a community where by vibrant Dukes would likely bring training every single child fresh paint their life partners, buffs would likely get pleasure from women’s need to be a pure, and also business men would certainly identify females and models, making the first kind more joyful even on doing work sites.

“THAT’S this final Duchess colored on the wall, (These are the exclusively notices supplied) I call/That item amazing, today: Fra Pandolf’s hands/ Did wonders busily a day, where there she stands” (Meyer’s 721). Over my lady’s hand a lot,” as well as “Paint We will have to bear in mind their unsupported claims, speech patterns, and syntax to grasp his personality. Well, this duke has a tendency to feel that it must are just them exactly who could have manufactured the actual duchess rose what should the artisan had wanted your ex to indicate a bit more weed ( Your ex layer, ( space ) or perhaps cloak : includes too much of the girl wrist) as well as suggested this this type of rose could not be effectively duplicated around coloration.

Will’t please you remain and look her? I personally reported “Fra Pandolf” by way of style and design, regarding under no circumstances go through Strangers like you of which described countenance, The degree and passion of solemn peek, But to me they made (since nothing leaves simply by The window curtain I’ve enticed best possible custom dissertations in your case, however) And felt as they quite simply would certainly consult myself, should they durst, How this kind of peek emerged generally there; therefore, definitely not the initial Are one to convert and inquire hence. Who’d stoop responsible This variety of trifling? Even had what to do In speech—which I’ve not—to make your may Quite crystal clear so that you can a very a person, in addition to point out, “Just that Or that in your soul disgusts me personally; below anyone miss, Or now there meet or exceed the particular mark”—and in case your lover make it possible for Herself often be lessoned thus, not simply set Her senses to your own, forsooth, generating excuse— – E’en in that case can be quite a few stooping; so i pick Never to stoop. They cleans away any one the girl’s powerful phrases associated with experience, and identifies the girl seeing that flirty plus simple. Friend, ’twas not really Her partner’s reputation solely, so named place Of delight in to the Duchess‘ oral cavity: most likely Fra Pandolf chanced to mention “Her top layer moment “Over my woman’s hand an excessive amount,In . Who’d stoop accountable This form of trifling? Sometimes received what to do In speech—which We have not—to build your is going to Quite very clear to help this sort of a person, along with state, “Just this Or that will in the human body disgusts everyone; the following you actually overlook, Or presently there go beyond a mark”—and in case the girl permit Herself always be lessoned hence, neither of them plainly established Her senses to you, forsooth, making excuse— – E’en and then will be quite a few stooping; and that i pick out Never to be able to stoop.

The word your title

He’s a real estate agent of the count number who is going to prepare her daughter’s union while using the duke. Lightly browning works by using the actual Duke’s monologue in order to make out and about images in the reader’s head in the Duchess their self, and also the threatening identity in the Challenge each other. It is useful to notice that the envoy is placed on a bench and is particularly any quiet crowd on the Duke’s statements, to the painting them can be concealed at the rear of a window curtain, and can be driven just by way of the Fight it out. Most likely the duke required some sort of hate to the girl continual not liable optimism along with the same strategy to most approach to life.

As well as this individual have gotten your ex closed in a new convent.Inch [3] Once more there exists objective viewpoint, it is really as if the particular challenge each other feared her as ‘Too quickly impressed’ implying that she appeared to be irs, ” light “, not able to detect regarding the vital as well as the not reportedly used important (There, ’twas most a person!) If your Challenge each other ascribes the girl’s when enjoying a “heart” that has been way too easily in awe of modest gift items along with attractions connected with dynamics, them describes the girl’s childlike, carefree characteristics plus the reality this kind of impulsiveness confirmed to be a new problem throughout movie stars. Worked busily per day, high your woman stands. When while we’re talking about his past spouse, according to him: “There the woman stands And Just as if living.

My Very last Duchess

Since the Fight it out goes on together with his conversation, he vividly provides a graphic of your Duchess. They places blame on his spouse with regard to smiling back with courtesy to every one who the woman came across in their existence. He or she sometimes addresses regarding his / her dearly departed better half, only describing his / her opinion of your situation former your ex death. The phone speaker is really a gentleman with indicates, your battle each other truth be told, of Ferrara possibly, an american city with Italy. The Challenge each other: It can be Browning’s interpretation of your inner complexity of your sole audio, the Battle each other that produces the poem a motivating demonstration of email realistic look; an element which in fact have certainly not also been utilised in Victorian Great britain during Browning’s some time to that naturally shocked the overall reader habituated to read gentle in addition to very subjective Affectionate verses. Precisely how? Though his / her truthful daughter’s self, as I avowed

Right from the subject, the actual poet comes with a glimpse of a possessiveness on the Battle each other. My Very last Duchess ended up being printed in the Victorian era, if females were noticed a lot more because property or home inside of a wedding in comparison with real mankind perfect for really like. Lightly browning endeavors to stand for exactly how appreciation, coveted by, plus self-esteem are usually usa within a gentleman making the pup happy plus dissatisfied, weak and strong, heroic along with cowardly while doing so. He / she wipes out his innocent spouse beyond are jealous of. Paradox: Your Challenge each other confesses that will within strains 30 along with Thirty seven that he is season loudspeaker, Although the terms according to him tend to be aurally eye-catching, the message they molds is actually curbing and tricky.

Free papers in addition to expression newspapers with regard to students

Browning picks a person adult ed that belongs on the Battle each other throughout Renaissance Italy as being the setting up regarding his or her composition. Any kind of composition. THAT’S my very last Duchess decorated on the wall, Women gets to spend so much occasion bills . By bringing up the Claus with Innsbruck your fight it out is usually displaying that will he’s truly inside for cash as well as esteem. Duke is actually portrayed like a quite handling lady.

A limited summary

They allegedly include questions regarding the girl’s, nevertheless the Challenge each other replies all queries themselves. On the other hand, they is constantly summarize this family portrait by stating: “Sir, ’twas never Or The girl’s husband’s profile solely, called that area Of joy in to the Duchess’ cheek: possibly Fra Pandolf happened to convey “Her top layer laps / Above our lady’s hand an excessive amount,” or “Paint Should certainly not aspire to duplicate your pass out Versus Half-flush that will passes away coupled the girl’s throat”: this kind of products Or Was politeness, the woman assumed, as well as lead to enough Per For calling up this location of joy” (13-21). “Fra Pandolf” by way of style, to get never ever read 121 writers online Sir, Per ’twas not Her hus Or band’s pres Per ence on Per of all, called that will spot Of joy Per into Or the actual Duch Per ess’ cheek; / perhaps (pyrrhic) Fra Pan dolf chanced And in order to say, Per “Her man And tle laps Over Or my personal la Versus dy’s wrist / as well much,” or even “Paint (trochee) Must nev Per er hope Or to be able to re Versus produce And the faint Half-flush Per that dies And along Versus the woman’s throat.” Versus These types of stuff Was cour Versus tesy, Versus she thought, And and also cause Or enough For call Or ing up / this spot Per regarding joy. However, females will be the gentler making love, as well as guys you can forget this particular fact so you can use women’s capabilities and private. exterior aspects of a work.

Interpreting the heroes of this Victorian poem

Your Duke recounts what sort of painter, Fra Pandolf flatters the girl’s wonderful dermis by way of announcing, “Paint Ought to in no way anticipate to replicate the actual slight /Half-flush that will is disapated down your ex throat” (17-19). Any issue. The Battle each other recounts that this artist, Fra Pandolf comments the girl attractive skin through saying, “Paint Will have to under no circumstances aspire to duplicate a weak /Half-flush of which dead combined her throat” (17-19). He has not been that special so that you can her. The factor would be that the writer will start the description of this animal from the limbs, which have to distinguish your ex to be a women. “My Final Duchess” is actually a composition through Chris Lightly browning, usually anthologised as one example of the remarkable speech. The Duke and then sought to be able to remarry, nd this time around, their proposed fiancee was the actual sis of your depend associated with Tyrol, Barbara.

Starting while using the poem

The alternative characters titled from the poem – painter Fra Pandolf along with sculptor, Claus regarding Innsbruck – usually are misinformation. I And repeat, The Count Versus your mas And ter’s known Or muni Or ficence Is am ple war ould like that absolutely no just Or pretense Of mine Versus regarding dow Versus lery will And be dis / allowed; Though his Versus truthful daugh Or ter’s self, And while I Per avowed At star / ting, is the ob And ject. Their beautifully constructed wording tend to be published on the web and in publications. This sort of absent-mindedness from the female as well as the wish to be friendly with many different people can not be grasped with the Duke. “My Previous Duchess” is really a poetry that will reflects the effectiveness of speech. When the Challenge each other ascribes the girl as aquiring a “heart” that had been far too simply impressed by tiny gift items along with points of interest involving characteristics, the idea describes the girl’s childlike, happy-go-lucky nature as well as the actuality these types of spontaneity turned out to be any problem in royalty.

Source: http://mobimatic.io/2019/04/02/feminist-viewpoint-the-continue-duchess-to-be-able-to-her-coy-mistress-as-well-as-admin-chant/

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WEEK 13, 14 & 15 (Part 2)_ MASCULINITY and IDENTITY: the male experience with self-image

London January 2019

                   GRAYSON PERRY exploring the male experience

Grayson Perry is an English contemporary artist. Known for his work with ceramic, tapestries and his cross-dressing passion, as well as his observations of the contemporary world and art scenes. I was first introduced to his work by our tutor Luke when trying to find some references for the topic of  THE MALE EXPERIENCE with IDENTITY and IMAGE. Although, I don't recall ever learning about him and only properly inspected his work recently, still his work has a familiar feeling to me. Maybe I have experienced his art before as a child as I would regularly go on exhibitions with my parents. An maybe this is the reason why it might be,  subconsciously, stuck in my brain.  Nonetheless, I found my self very interested in his work as I am an advocate and lover of DRAG. As with most movements related to self-expression through fashion in combination with androgeny. I am also a big fan of the '60s and '70s with all their bright colours, MOD movement and POP ART.

The artist explores themes such as Identity and Self-reflection. Most of is work is connected to some kind of introspect or reflection on modern society. Specifically the modern MAN and as a subtheme, he tackles subjects such as Masculinity and questions if this concept is outdated. He is also known to work with topics that deal with populism, the celebrity and modern Britain.

For this post, I read three different books by Grayson Perry. The first one titled The Most Popular Art Exhibition Ever!, 2016.  The book focuses on explaining and inspecting the thoughts behind the exhibition with the same name. The author goes to explain the nature of this name and how it became first than the content itself.

For many artists, the word POPULAR is "a bit of a dirty word". Most people first reacted to his exhibition with "laughter". Many think that art is not for everyone, Grayson Perry strongly disagrees. He wants to "widen the audience without dumbing it down". He goes on to explain that in the artist world POPULISM and POPULARITY is bad and tasteless. The author questions why does popularity threatens the art appeal. He writes about how Artists like exclusivity. When creating an exhibition entitled "The Most Popular Art Exhibition Ever!" people found very od to have an event bosting itself in such context (Perry, 2017).

In Perry´s words, an exhibition is "like creating a world or a club that people only get in if they GET art" (Perry, 2017) as in, one must understand it. This a very classical ideal as later contemporary artist support the idea that one must FEEL and experience art, rather than understanding it.

He goes to explain that education, especially art education, used to be for a small privileged elite. And that the relation between POPULARITY and EXCLUSIVITY “reflects something fundamental about us humans”. We are in the end animals that work in packs. We want to belong in a group. It's our nature. HOWEVER! We strive to create a strong INDIVIDUAL IDENTITY. This creates tension in our existence as a species (Perry, 2017).

“ Part of a reason we choose to consume culture is how it might reflect on our status"(Perry, 2017). This seems to be a common statement from people that are interested and study human behaviour in connection to identity. And one that seems to create disagreement and insurgency, as proven in our in-class conversation. I think some people are too afraid to admit that us humans are flawed and very much self-created. Personally, I don't see this statement as a bad thing, ultimately. It means we are able to shape our selves to be the best version possible. But, I come to understand that it represents a threat to some people that like to think of us humans as this perfect and harmonious beings.

A few days I heard this quote but I can't remember from who or where. It goes like so: " Human beings are a broken mess, in a variety of ways. That is one of the things that actually unify us all". I think is very much true. We need to admit and understand we are not perfect and that is ok instead of repressing our fluid and creative ways.

Coming back to the context of art and being a "sell out" the artist says that he disagrees with such a concept in relation to POPULARITY. However, that is sad how “ what starts as a creative revolt soon becomes corrupted as the fastest way to make money” (Perry, 2017). And that just shows the society we are inserted in with such capitalist ways.

Then in one of his ceramic pieces, Perry comments that it is a “funeral urn for outdated masculinity” (Perry, 2017). A big part of his work and a recurrent motif is masculinity and questioning it. I will add on to it later on this topic and with some other texts from this author we understand where his passion for this subject comes from. 

“My Job is to notice things that other people don´t notice”.

In the book Grayson Perry: My Pretty Little Art Career  I will be mainly analysing the artist work and style and some of his principal stylistic characteristics and themes.

First of all, I want to address the presentation of the book. Aesthetically and the way the content is presented to us. The exterior os the book show amazing design and craftsmanship. It is very appealing as it is a great representation of the art style with all its bright colours and many textures. However, it is done with great taste and its not overpowering to the reader. It also reflects a good representation of the artist work throughout the year providing a lot of images references in time and some explanation to the artwork, similar to the last book. The design pays great attention to detail as it carries interesting and intelligent use of symbolic references to symbols notorious in Perry's work - such as the golden bear.

The artist represents an interesting mixture of the Old and the NEW. The classic or even prehistorical with his works with mediums such as tapestries, vases and intricate objects that retain something similar to artefacts. However, upon further inspection, we realise it is, in fact, contemporary art. His work with ceramics and vases- ar first glance- reminds us of classical objects but the usual images from mythology are no replaced with the westernised world, technology and pop culture.

The modern and contemporary ints of POP ART and the use of elements from graphic novels in his work, alongside some references to pop culture and advertising, create this perfect parody.

His illustration work is a twist on what, at first, might look like a Victorian etching but the themes are now modern. Perhaps some of his characters and symbols, for example, THE DOLL might help to create this illusion and taking us back to the INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION.

    THE DESCENT OF MAN book review

In connection to the first book, we see that Grayson Perry has a passion to make his art accessible while keeping it meaningful and proposing a comment on society. He wants people to think about these topics and perhaps help in changing mentalities. For this reason, it is understandable and actually smart how he tries to make is work so approachable and apeling.

The main topic of the book is without dought MASCULINITY and the modern man. This book is much more personal to the author as he shares his own childhood stories and feelings.

I will be mentioning some of the titles of the different chapter for this book. I found them very catchy and personally interesting in the user accessible language and popular sayings.

“ What sort of man would make the world a better place for everyone?” (Perry 2016)

The main goal of this book is to QUESTION what is masculinity and weather is working for us as a society. The artist what to bring awareness to toxic masculinity. He says finds it VERY IMPORTANT because it's "the tool used to hurt so many minorities". It is "so destructive"  to him that he claims that "most bad things in the world can be traced back to toxic masculinity". Crimes, toxic relationships, abuse, Sex crimes, Suicide, Corruption, Racism, abuse of power, child abuse and trauma (Perry 2016).

He then claims he’s not blaming  MAN directly,  but blaming the way society shapes man. The then says “ beneath… men are naked and vulnerable- humans even" (Perry 2016). He explains that in our society many people say that examining masculinity is a luxury and that he strongly disagrees. He thinks it is very important to bring light to this topic and that by thinking its a privilege to address this issue we are holding back society.

"Masculinity is a straight jacket keeping MAN from being human and being themselves" (Perry 2016).

“I am not against man _ neither against all masculinity” (Perry 2016). Perry then talks about GENDER and SELF EXPRESSION. And says that they are NOT singular. People assume that because he is "travesty" it gives him an insight into the opposite gender. He says “that’s rubbish! How can I as a man, know anything about the experience of being a woman". Claiming that would be an insult to women.

He talks about IDENTITY as an ongoing performance. Has seen in many other texts that I have reviewed this is as a popular opinion and many artists in different rams have commented on this. Even Shakespeare himself famously said:

“All the world's a stage, and all men and women merely players: they have their exits and their entrances, and one man in his time plays many parts, his act being seven ages” (William Shakespeare).

This brings us to the interview with Gonçalo where he compares lives with being on stage, in his case quite literally as he is an actor. The same thing applies to all of us as we creat portrait of ourselves daily and our identity is very much forged although it might come to us very naturally.

In the introduction If it ain´t broke, don’t fix it,  he talks a lot about his upbringing. Shares stories about this childhood as well as introducing us to some main characters in is live. Also, the relationship he was with male figures in his childhood hand his relationship with his teddy bear. This specific character later transforms into a very important symbol in his work. 

In the INTRODUCTION part of the book, I question MASCULINITY a lot but also shares some experiences. He says “Men don’t know how to deal with pain so they transform it into hanger!”(Perry 2016). He mentions this when recalling an instant from his childhood. He describes this moment in the 3rd person. A passage says “ Sobbing. He is crying for help, but he is also in a boiling rage”, this particular quote reminded me a lot of little brothers behaviour. And we realise how this instant put into the world seems so sad and harsh, when in reality it happens right in front of our eyes. 

The author then comments, “I  can't help my self to say: I hope your son can afford a good psychotherapist when he grows up”.  He criticises these types of behaviours and the ways we teach young boys. Future man.

My analysis will end here as my reading, for now, is mainly focused on the introduction chapter of this book. I haven’t finished the book yet. I decided to continue my reading as I found myself truly interested and immersed in the text and Perry´s standpoints. It stood out to me how he answers questions that I didn’t know I had but felt like I was looking for. I strongly recommend this reading and I really enjoyed learning more about Grayson Perry as an artist and author.

 “The truth will set you free, But first it will piss you off” (Gloria Steinem) 

                           REFERENCES

Perry, G. (2017). The Most Popular Art Exhibition Ever! Penguin Books. Perry, G. (2016). Grayson Perry: My Pretty Little Art Career. Perry, G. (2016). The descent of man.

[artcenterstories]

Full Circle: Meet Director Libero Antonio Di Zinno

ArtCenter: What are you working on right now?    Libero Antonio Di Zinno (BFA 89 Photography), director: I’ve blessed to be on the inside of a brilliant project, Endangered Activism. I got pulled in by Shannon Galpin, my esteemed partner in Mountain2Mountain, a nonprofit focused on helping women and children in Afghanistan. Now, we are working with the next generation of activists following Shannon’s daughter Devon, 12, who’s pursuing her own passion of protecting the big cats. We’ve spent a year traveling with Devon who is being home-schooled around the world to meet artists, athletes and researchers. 

AC: What have been some of the most memorable twists and turns in your professional/creative journey after graduating ArtCenter? LZ: Following my passion for storytelling into motion pictures from still photography has been the greatest adventure. It has allowed me a kind of passport into the lives of people that I admire, respect and am fascinated with.

AC: What’s been the most unexpected or valuable takeaway from your ArtCenter education?  LZ: The most unexpected thing was that I would be asked to return to speak, share and teach at my alma mater after the reputation I made for being kind of an upstart/disrupter myself … to say the least! It has turned out to be one of the most rewarding experiences in my life. Also, partnering with fellow alum Mariana Prieto on her new enterprise The Design for Wildlife Collective — working with her is a perfect example of how teaching can ultimately lead to collaboration!

AC: How do you define success?   LZ: Having the freedom to choose the subjects and projects to fulfill one’s curiosity, passions and then share these stories.

AC: Do you have any superstitions? LZ: No, although I do have a lucky number 27 — does that count?

AC: What’s design cliché are you most tempted to use? LZ: “It’s a heartbreaking work of staggering genius!”

AC: Where do you go when you’re taking a break? LZ: On a daily basis I go to the beach near my place in Venice.

AC: What do you do to detox from media and screens?

LZ: Nature, mountains, desert, glaciers, wild places and things.

AC: Where do you get inspiration? LZ: Some people are molded by their admirations, others by their hostilities. (I am of the former.)

AC: What’s the one tool you can’t do without?   LZ: iPhone.

AC: If you could trade jobs for a day with anyone, who would it be? LZ: Today? Maybe … Lewis Hamilton or Sting.

AC: What’s the first site you look at when you open your computer in the morning? LZ: Facebook.

AC: What books are on your bedside table? LZ: Space Odyssey by Micael Benson, Steve McQueen by William Klaxton, Once by Wim Wenders.

AC: Who are the most interesting artists in your field working today?   LZ: Julian Schnabel, Terrence Malick, Emmanuel “Chivo” Lubezki.

AC: Who are some unheralded artists you like? LZ: Joe Penna, Daniel Milnor and Chris Delorenzo.

AC: Describe the moment in your childhood where you first identified as an artist or designer? LZ: 8 years old … Life magazine … Olympic preview issue … Mark Spitz double-page spread image, full-bleed by Co Rentmeester. Turns out Rentmeester was an Art Center photo alum from way back, and it must have made an impression upon me since I ended up following in his footsteps to ACCD many years later.

AC: How were you exposed to great art and design as a child?  LZ: Both of my parents were mad about movies when I was a kid. Our dinner conversations revolved around actors and directors of every genre. This passion for cinema led me to believe in the medium as the height of accomplishment and collaboration in all of the art forms it encompasses: writing, photography, music, acting, editing, directing and more.

AC: If you had superpowers, what would they be? LZ: That's easy - to save endangered species from extinction!

AC: What is your most irrational fear? LZ: Leaving the planet before I am finished making, exploring and learning things.

AC: What is your most rational fear? LZ: Er, (ahem) …  leaving the planet before I am finished making, exploring and learning things!

AC: What is your current obsession? LZ: NASA + Space-X.

AC: What is your prized possession?   LZ: The authentic replica race helmet of my first Grand Prix hero Gilles Villeneuve that sits on my desk.

AC: What possession do you most aspire to possess?   LZ: Peace of mind.

AC: What is your happy place? LZ: Ammassalik Island, Greenland.

AC: How would your closest friend describe you? LZ: Loyal, blunt and sincere … and maybe just maybe a grizzly bear in a previous life!

AC: How would you define your personal brand or graphic identity? LZ: Authentic and seriously addicted to … JOY.

[fandomwritingau]

Consequences |LRH|- Chapter 22

Chapter 22:

Evie

Let’s go home for Christmas, he says. It will be fun, he says. As much as I love my family, and the traditions we sort of, not really have, I knew the one day of kindness would be short lived. The bullying and degrading nature of my parents  which was majority of the time directed towards me subsides for a day then is swung back in full force. They weren’t bad people per say, just the kind that thought belittlement led to betterment. They were always nicer when we had company.

Our Aunt Olivia and her boyfriend Bailey were spending the day with us, normal but always fun. She was one of my closest family members, the only one who didn’t make me think I was less than enough. She was always there for me, letting me spend the night when I would show up at her apartment in the city because I was just too tired of home. Then I left, moved to LA to get away and this year was different, the comments more focused on the things I couldn’t change about myself and about the dreams I was already afraid of never achieving.

“Why can’t you be skinnier like her?” “Why can’t you be more successful like your brother?” “Why can’t you-”, is basically all I heard. Why couldn’t I be enough written in their coded questions.

By the time we got down to playing around with our cricket set outside in the summer sun  and were sitting down for dinner, I wanted to crawl under a rock and hide. Olivia and James had been running interference all day, taking the brunt of the hits and deflecting them away only for more to be thrown. We were exhausted. Then my mum just had to notice the pinking scar that reached out from under the many bracelets upon my arm.

“What is that? Are you so desperate to be a complete waste that you’re harming yourself now too?” My heart practically fell out of my chest, Olivia gasping as she hit my dad in an a get her to stop motion but no one was paying attention, all eyes on the pink line. James reached out like he was going to push up apart the bracelets and I immediately ripped my arm away. They couldn’t know of New York, not like this and certainly not right now. Not when panic was seizing in my chest and I felt like I was minutes away from passing out from the lack of oxygen; I couldn’t cry if I held my breath.

“Ev,” He whispered, eyes broken as he tried to reach for me.

“I can’t do this right now.” I practically yelled, shooting up out of my chair. I couldn’t hear anything but the pumping of my heart, the feeling of my blood rushing to my cheeks. I had to get out of here, I couldn’t let them see me like that.

Slamming the door to my bedroom, that had been converted to a guest room the moment I moved out, I slid down til my butt hit the floor. My tears fell the moment I hit the floor, shaking hands going to cover my mouth as I tried to keep from sobbing. I could hear my aunt whisper yelling at them, something about stepping over a line. Absentmindedly my hand reached for my phone before noticing the scar myself, and ripping my hand back.

I couldn’t call Luke, he didn’t need to deal with this days before going on vacation. He wasn’t my boyfriend and even if he was, I wouldn’t bother him with this. No, I could handle this like I had been for months, no years. I have to get through this, I have to know I’m strong enough.

The light knock on my door echoed throughout the quiet space around me, pulling me from my thoughts. I don’t answer, knowing she’ll let herself in anyway. I simply scoot over so she can get through. Her glowing green eyes met mine as she slipped through the door, a sympathetic smile on her face. She was petite with hair the same colour as mine, besides the light pink tips brushing her shoulder blades. She was pretty. Prettier than I could hope to be.

“I'm not going back out there, if that's why you're here.” I sigh, glancing back out the window that led to the side garden by my house. That was always my quiet spot when I lived here, no one really went there so they could never interrupt me. I liked it like that, it was my escape.

“No, i just wanted to talk to you. I haven't seen you in a long time remember?” She chuckled, sitting down beside me and gripping my hand. “A year if I’m not mistaken?”

“Yeah, something like that.” I say looking back to my aunt as she leaned back, leg up as she propped her right arm on her knee and her head resting on the wall. It was silent for a long moment as we regarded each other curiously. Olivia has always known what I needed, and it wasn’t any different.

“So first things first. Boys!” she cracks a smile, this is always how we behaved. Our conversations would always start on this normally light topic, i would have no news of anyone and she would tell me of something that Bailey had done for her. Bailey and Auntie Olivia have been together since she moved to Sydney 5 years ago now; 3 years before my family did. He was perfect for her, he supported her in everything she did; and i mean everything little thing, even if it was me coming to stay with them. He knew how important it was to her to make sure that i was okay.

“So? Is there someone new in your life you wanna tell me about? Someone i might need to have a chat with?” She smiles again, pulling a stupid face trying to get me to smile. Thoughts begin flowing through my mind, from meeting Luke, to our dates, our first kiss upon the roof of my apartment building at sunrise and to New York, everything we have been through together. Every second being edged further into my memory. I go to finally open my mouth and speak but hesitation sets in, if i tell Olivia about Luke then that means i have to talk about New York, both the good and the terrible. In my mind i know that i need to talk about what happened in New York with someone before it kills me.

“Yeah look you remember the time that i was asked to do the photo shoot for Rolling Stone Magazine back in October?”

“Of course i do! I was jumping around the house when you told me and Bailey couldn't get me to stop.”

“Anyway,  i met someone there. But it's complicated.” that was the simplest way of putting it. Complicated.

“How do you mean?” she asks, actually completely interested in me and my life, like no one else would ever be or is. She is one of what has now grown to five people that i trust and that i know care for me and my well being and will do anything for me.

“ When i met him, i was free. Being around him made me so happy. We’ve been seeing each other for 8 weeks, unofficially.”

“That's great Evie! Who is he?” She beams pulling me into a huge hug. But then she pulls back with a puzzled look on her face. She sits back on the floor, her knees mirroring mine and resting against them. “Wait. Whats complicated about that?”

“There is two things and you can't freak out about either of them okay? Promise me?” I hold out my right hand with my pinky extended, this is how we have always sealed a promise, ever since we were kids. Olivia was more of a sister rather than an aunt. She is only 5 years older than me and we were inseparable up until Olivia moved to Sydney for University to study Graphic Design. She hesitated before mirroring me and linking her pinky with mine.

“I promise, but you have to tell me everything! Deal?” I nod in reply, here goes nothing.

“Okay, so his name. His name is Luke. Luke Hemmings.” his name rolled off of my tongue so cleanly, so smoothly, so perfectly. Just like him.

“Oh Evie that's so- Wait did you say Hemmings? As in Luke Hemmings from 5 Seconds of Summer?”

Again, hesitation stops me, it's not like i don't know who he is. I know exactly who he is. He is a 6 foot 4 blonde hair, blue eyed boy from same country as i call home with a voice of an angle and the passion and nature of teddy bear.  He is my Luke, yes he may also be a famous rockstar, but that doesn't bother me. I just wish i wasn't like this, that, that whole night in New York didn't happen and we were the same, still together unofficially. I can’t form words, the vivid image of Luke in my mind causes me to loose my voice, my head just slowly nods up and down.

“And that is who this is for?” she asks, placing  a small box on the floor in front of me. The pick. Olivia is a graphic designer and i had enlisted in her help a few weeks ago to have this guitar pick made, especially for Luke. I open the box and see the small familiar shape sitting upon a black fabric covered cushion. The small pick is black in colour and the word ‘yes’ in white with a small read heart underneath it. It was perfect, exactly how i imagined it. I nod in reply. I stay silent, everything has changed since i asked Olivia to help me with this.

“Whats wrong? Isn't it right?” she panics.

“No it's perfect. It's just that things have changed since then. Between he and I, that's the complicated part.” i sigh, i'm going to have to tell her what happened. What happened in New York.

“Do i have to set Bailey on to him? I'll do it, he will be willing because you are his favourite!”

“No Aunty Liv, it's not him that's the complicated part. It's me. A nearly a week and a half ago I was in New York for a photography competition and I met up with Luke while i was there. Before New York everything with Luke was so good, like no one could tear me down. I could be myself around him, i didn't have to fake anything; not a single utterance. We were on the verge of perfection. But now i can't help but feel that i have ruined it.”

She says nothing. The look on her face gives it all away though. It's the look of the wheels turning in her head, contemplating different scenarios, playing the game of what if over and over again. Finally she then speaks.

“What could have happened to ruin it? If it was basically perfect then nothing could break that. Unless?” She gives me a look as if to ask did you? Did you do it?

“No I didn't cheat! I would never!!” I paused “We went out with the boys and they didn't know and still don't know that he and i were a thing. One of them, Michael, was talking to someone that i had known from a previous job. And he had tried to hit on me, no force himself onto me, all before Luke and i were a thing. Anyway, i got pushed off with him by someone and i felt terrible for even going with him. But both Luke and i knew that i had to pretend that i was okay with it so that we didn't come out to everyone in the club, then everyone in the entire world. The guy, Josh, he-he got me one drink, one drink!  But in that one drink he had put something in it, he drugged me. I don't even know what hep put in my drink, all i know was that it took effect so quickly, everything is fuzzy or just completely blacked out. All I remember was that he dragged me out of the club, throwing me down stairs in a race to get me away from people and he..” I suck in a deep breath, holding back the tears which had already begun to fall. I had to keep going, i have told her this much.

“Oh god Evie, he didn't-?” Olivia flinched at the thought brewing in her mind.

“If Luke hadn't been watching and hadn't managed to..” i pause, i just need to get to the point; for both of our sakes. “No, he didnt. But he did put me in the hospital for a few days.”

“Oh god Evie! Come here.” she leans into me and wraps her arms around me. Her petite body holding me tightly, like she always did. Like family would. She then pulls away from me and pushes herself off of the floor. “Evie, i know what you've been through is a lot and i don't even know how you are dealing with it. But you need to call him. Like now. It's obvious that he is very important to you and that you are very important to him.” then she was gone, just like that. But she was right, i needed him. I needed my Luke.

A/N: Hi there lovelies, so @madmusings  and ive finally managed to get the next chapter up! Im just going to say now that im not sure when the next one will be out, but i am going to be working as hard as i can on it. So PLEASE stay tuned, so fun and interesting stuff is soo to happen!!!

Kisses

Emma xxx <3