#but the best picture books are so creative with the medium

[22degreehalo]

The world is full of so many beautiful things both natural and manmade and I just want to contribute to them SO MYCH graaagagGHHHHHH

[collectivecartomancy]

Quick & Easy Tarot Card Meanings (Yes, All 78)

The Modern Phrasal approach is a novel method of learning tarot.

It queers older card meanings by applying them to a wider context of human life.

Each phrase is built for modern concerns, attention spans, and situations. 

I developed the Modern Phrasal Approach during my twenty-two years of tarot study.

Temperance Queer Tarot, my tarot service for queers, feminists, and leftists, has been in operation for the past twelve years. 

The Modern Phrasal Approach also comes out of my lifelong work as a poet. I hold an MFA in Creative Writing from Columbia University.

SLINGSHOT, my first book of poems, won several awards. It also reminded me of the importance of the phrase to language. 

The primacy of the phrase is what poetry understands better than all other forms of writing.

The Modern Phrasal Approach combines tarot, storytelling, and poetry to paint a picture of possible futures. 

You may notice that there are no reversed card meanings.

This is because the reader is intended to read reverse as a return to the unlearned lessons of the previous card.

That is the best method of reversal reading for this system. Of course, you may elect not to read reversals at all. 

Ok, let’s go!

(P.S. I don’t know how to put in anchor links so control + F is your friend!)

Major Arcana

0: The Fool

Keywords: Risk-Taking. New Beginnings. Variability.

Love & Sex: Androgynous and/or Bisexual Lovers. Risk-Taking in Love. Asking Someone Out.

Friendship: A Scattered, yet Affable Friend. New Friendship. 

Money: Making Money Through Gambling, Speculation, and Other Risks. Money Lost and Won. 

Career/Business/Work: Self-Employment. Do What You Love and the Money Will Follow. 

 1: Magician

Keywords: Initiation. Manipulation. Communication. Technology. Alchemy. 

Love & Sex: Making the First Move. Manipulating a Lover (Especially with The Fool). 

Friendship: Forming or Forging a New Friendship. Initiating a Friendship. 

Money: Creating Money Out of the Ether. Money Drawn Through Clear Communication. 

Career/Business/Work: Technologists. Scientists. Alchemists. Clear Communication At Work. 

2: High Priestess

Keywords: Mystery. Prophesy. Intuition. Three-Faced Goddess: Maiden. 

Love & Sex: Lesbians. Sex Activating Deep Desires. Mysterious Love. Secrets in Love. 

Friendship: Covens. Clandestine (Informal) Gatherings. Psychic Friends. 

Money: Money Made From Secret or Hidden Sources. Money Made From Psychic Work. 

Career/Business/Work: Therapist. Psychics. Mediums. Religious Leaders in Feminist Traditions.  

3: Empress

Keywords: Three-Faced Goddess: Mother. Fertility. Abundance. Nurturing. Creativity. Nature.

Love & Sex: Being Worshipped By a Lover. Getting Pregnant. Creative Sex. 

Friendship: Abundant and Nurturing Friendships. 

Money: Financial Ease and Abundance.  

Career/Business/Work: Nannies. Housewives. Career Success Without Much Work.

4: Emperor

Keywords: Power. Valor. Stability. Direction. Hierarchy. Decisiveness. Masculinity. Experts.

Love & Sex: Aggressive Sex. Love With Someone Who Has Power. Older Lovers. 

Friendship: Being Friends With Your Boss. Friendships With People Who Have More Power.

Money: Making Money Through Wise Decisions or Powerful Connections. Money Moves. 

Career/Business/Work: Brokers. Military Leaders. Power. Expertise. Promotion. 

5: Hierophant

Keywords: Religion. Order. Secret Organizations. Organization. Governments. Three-Faced Goddess: Crone.

Love & Sex: Serious Relationships. Missionary Sex. Marriage. Escalator Relationships. 

Friendship: Socially Sanctioned Friendships. Mentorships.   

Money: Money From Investments, Banks, and Business. Money From Religious Work. 

Career/Business/Work: Clergy. Trustees. Security. Working Up an Established Business Ladder. 

6: Lovers

Keywords: Love. Romance. Choice. Harmony. Balance Between People and Sides of Yourself.  

Love & Sex: True Love. Deep Romance and Understanding. Loving Sex. Self Love. 

Friendship: Spiritual Friendships. Loving Friendships. Friendships That Encourage Self Love.

Money: Money Made in Harmonious, Easeful Ways. 

Career/Business/Work: Harmonious and Spiritually Aligned Jobs.  

7: Chariot

Keywords: Ambition. Success. Drive.  Self-Determination. Missions. Journeys. 

Love & Sex: Landing an Idealized Partner. Satisfying Sex. Athletic Sex. Competitive Dating. 

Friendship: Friendships That Bring Success or With Successful People. Competitive Friends. 

Money: Money Gained Through Ambition, Drive, or Brute Force. 

Career/Business/Work: Professional Success. Military Service. Sports. 

8: Strength

Keywords: Boundaries. Force. Grace. Human/Animal Dichotomy. Willpower.  

Love & Sex: Breaking Old Patterns in Love. Setting Boundaries. 

Friendship: Setting Boundaries With Friends. Helping a Friend Advance Emotionally.

Money: Applying Grace To Your Financial Life. Being Honest About a Financial Situation. 

Career/Business/Work: Strength of Will At Work. Overcoming Rivals. 

9: Hermit

Keywords: Seeing the Light. Being Alone. Leading the Way. Self-Isolation. Loneliness. 

Love & Sex: Celibacy. Needing To Put Yourself Out There. Frigidity. Too in Your Head. 

Friendship: Need To Make New Friends. Philosophical Friendship. 

Money: Money Made in Isolation. 

Career/Business/Work: Work That Requires Long Periods Alone To Complete. Scholars.

10: Wheel of Fortune

Keywords: Gambles. Wild Rides. Fate. Turning Your Present Condition Upside Down. Cycles.

Love & Sex: Relationship Ups and Downs. Fated Meetings. New Relationships. Karma. 

Friendship: Fated Friendships. Changes in Friendships. Long-Term Friendships. 

Money: Surprise Money Gain or Loss. Money Appears From an Unexpected Source. Gambling. 

Career/Business/Work: Gamblers,Poker Players, and Card Sharks. Taking a Chance At Work.

11: Justice

Keywords: Balance. Fairness. Legal Decisions. Karma. Retribution. 

Love & Sex: An Equal Romance. You Reap What You Sow in Relationships. 

Friendship: Being in Right Relationship With a Friend.  

Money: Money From Legal Settlements. A Fair Split. A Fair Wage. 

Career/Business/Work: Contracts. The End of a Business Dispute. 

12: Hanged Man

Keywords: Patience. Surrender. Sacrifice. Martyrdom. Enlightenment. 

Love & Sex: Waiting For the Right Person. Getting a New Perspective in Love. Pillow Queens. 

Friendship: Tripping With Friends. Friends Who Change Your Beliefs or Attitudes. 

Money: Money From Alternative Healing. Waiting For Money To Come. 

Career/Business/Work: Yoga Teachers. Wise People. Allowing a Boss To Show Their True Colors.  

13: Death

Keywords: Endings. Clearings. Rebirth. Transformation. 

Love & Sex: Breakups That You Could See Coming. Strong Orgasms. Relationship Transformation. 

Friendship: Ending Friendships. Life-Changing Friendships. 

Money: End To a Source of Income. Clearing the Way For New Money. 

Career/Business/Work: Losing a Job. Moving On From a Career. Working With the Dead. 

14: Temperance

Keywords: Balance. Budgeting. Human/Divine. Miracles. Healing. Spiritual Expansion. 

Love & Sex: Making Up After an Argument. Equitable Sexual Encounters. 

Friendship: Friendships That Come From or Lead To Spiritual Expansion. 

Money: Creating a Budget. Putting Money in the Correct Accounts. Expansive Financial Thinking. 

Career/Business/Work: Philosophy. Spiritual Work. Exceeding Your Estimations At Work. 

15: Devil

Keywords: Obsession. Abuse. Capitalism. Celebrity. Greed. Sexuality. Addiction. 

Love & Sex: A Volatile, Abusive, Dangerous, or Manipulative Lover. A Lover With an Addiction.

Friendship: Friends Who Bring Trouble. Charismatic, yet Abusive Friends. 

Money: Developing an Unhealthy Relationship To Money. Greed. Money Over Everything. 

Career/Business/Work: Film Industry. Jobs That Use Underhanded Tactics. Watch Your Back.  

16: Tower

Keywords: Shock. Surprise. Confinement. Revolution. Major Changes. Potential Danger. 

Love & Sex: A Surprising End or Change To a Relationship. A Quickie. 

Friendship: Shocking End To a Friendship. Major Changes in a Friendship. 

Money: Changes in Wealth, Like Sudden Home Moves and Bank Account Closures. 

Career/Business/Work: Working in Prisons or Hospitals. Job Loss or Radical Job Change. 

17: Star

Keywords: Healing. Faith. Renewal. Guidance. Prophecy. Wisdom. Altruism. Social Justice.

Love & Sex: An Altruistic Relationship. Healing in Relationships. Asking For Relationship Advice. 

Friendship: Renewal of a Friendship. Wisdom Gained From Friendship. 

Money: Money Made For the Social Good. Giving Money To Charity. 

Career/Business/Work: Social Justice Organizations. Listening To Internal Guidance At Work.

18: Moon

Keywords: Emotions. Confusion. Illusions. Psychic Ability. Repressed Emotions and Trauma. 

Love & Sex: Problems and Confusion in Relationships. Trauma Affecting Relationships. 

Friendship: Emotional Illusions in Friendship. False Friendship. Confusion Due to Friends. 

Money: Money Made Through Night Work, in Theaters, Hotels, or Nightclubs. Financial Illusions. 

Career/Business/Work: Any Work That Creates Illusions. Wait For the Truth About a Job. 

19: Sun

Keywords: Revelation. Clarity. Children. Optimism. Heat. Passion. 

Love & Sex: Clarity in a Romantic Relationship. A Partner With Whom You May Want Children.  

Friendship: Friends With Children. Clarity About Friendships. Optimism About Friendships. 

Money: Revelation of a New Way To Make Money. Summer or Seasonal Jobs. 

Career/Business/Work: Optimism About Your Career Careers in the Public Eye. 

20: Judgment

Keywords: Decisions. Accountability. Outcomes. Awakening. Recovery.

Love & Sex: Making Romantic Decisions. A Lover Holds You Accountable. Turning Points in Love. 

Friendship: The Outcome of a Conflict With a Friend. Deciding Whether or Not To Stay Friends.

Money: Successful Business Deals and Financial Endeavors. Careful Where You Put Your Money. 

Career/Business/Work: Be Decisive At Work. Becoming the Person in Charge. Responsibility. 

21: World

Keywords: Completion. Attainment. Breaking Cycles. Moving Up in the World. Fulfillment.  

Love & Sex: Major Life Events in Love Like Starting a Family or Moving in Together. 

Friendship: Events Where Friends Can Watch You Succeed Like a Graduation or Wedding. 

Money: Confidence in Financial Endeavors. Financial Success After Hard Work. Public Trading. 

Career/Business/Work: Traveling For Work. Fulfilling Jobs.

Minor Arcana: Wands

Ace of Wands 

Keywords: Beginnings. Conception. Sex. Invitations. New Jobs. Opportunity.

Love & Sex: Flings. Impatience in Love. Sex Without Love. Quickies. Meetings.

Friendship: New Friends. Sudden Return of Old Connections. 

Money: Quick Cash. Temporary Increase in Income. Gambling. 

Career/Business/Work: Move Quickly Towards a New Opportunity. Invitations.

 Two of Wands

Keywords: Working Together. Expansion. Making Decisions. Road To Success. 

Love & Sex: Wandering Eye. Grass Always Greener On the Other Side.. Practical Decisions. 

Friendship: Working With Friends. Friends Made At Work. 

Money: Money From Small or Self Owned Businesses. Helping Your Job Make More Money.  

Career/Business/Work: Interviews. Evaluating Potential Employers. Collaboration. 

Three of Wands

Keywords: Media. Communication. Travel. Evaluating Your Companions. Taking the Next Step.

Love & Sex: Decisions About Love. Traveling Together. Online Dating. Ultimatums. 

Friendship: Traveling With Friends. Online Friends. Expansion. Early Stages of Friendship.

Money: Making Money Online. Investing in Yourself. E-Commerce. 

Career/Business/Work: Remote Work. Online Donations. Advertising. Creative Business. 

Four of Wands 

Keywords: Surprises. Success. Celebrations. Luck. Rites of Passage.

Love & Sex: Good News. Weddings. Baby Showers. Wedding Showers. Housewarmings.

Friendship: Celebrations With Friends. Joyous Occasions. Graduations. Creating Memories. 

Money: Hosting Parties For Money. Enjoying Your Money. Down Payments. Abundance. 

Career/Business/Work: A Thriving Team. A New Workplace. Joyful Work. 

Five of Wands

Keywords: Conflict. Play. Team Sports. Young People. Debate. 

Love & Sex: Conflict. Arguments. Difficult Conversations. Light Kink. Group Play. 

Friendship: Banter. Conflict With Friends. Disagreement. Team Sports.  

Money: Auctions. Fighting For a Contract. A Competitive Financial Environment. 

Career/Business/Work: Friendly Rivalries At Work. Professional Competition. Business. 

Six of Wands

Keywords: Power. Drive. Moving Quickly. Success. Accomplishment. Achievement. Esteem.

Love & Sex: Attractive Companions. Coming On Too Strong. Success in Love.

Friendship: A Successful Friend. Making the First Move. Success With Friends. 

Money: Winning Grants and Awards. Promotion. Asking For a Raise. 

Career/Business/Work: New Jobs and Promotion. Success in Business Assignments.

Seven of Wands

Keywords: Battle. Drive. Uncertain Outcome. Defending Yourself. Hostility. Arguments. 

Love & Sex: Surprising Conflict. Too Much Sex. Differing Sexual or Romantic Needs. 

Friendship: Arguments With Friends. Annoying or Competitive Friends. 

Money: A Competitive Field. Feeling Like There Isn’t Enough Money. Overwork. 

Career/Business/Work: Unrealistic Demands. Rivals. Overbearing Boss. 

Eight of Wands

Keywords: Swift Movement. Letters. Information. Quick Results. Communication. 

Love & Sex: Flirtation. Love Letters. Sexting. Sneaky Links. Unexpected Connections. 

Friendship: Sexy Parties With Friends. Being a Wingwoman/Wingman. Flirting With Friends. 

Money: Quick Flow of Money. Spending Money. Money Spent To Advance Yourself. 

Career/Business/Work: A Fast Moving Project. Hearing Back From an Interview. Internships. 

Nine of Wands

Keywords: A Pause in Battle. Attractiveness. Health. Considered Action. 

Love & Sex: Being Admired. Multiple Love Interests. People Fighting For Your Attention. 

Friendship: Working Out With Friends. Friend Who Has a Crush On You. Conflict Between Friends.

Money: Negative Attitude About Money. Bank Charges. Temporary Loss of Money. 

Career/Business/Work: Negative Performance Reviews. Need To Work Harder. 

Ten of Wands

Keywords: Overwhelm. Burdens. Taking On Too Much. Demands. Final Straw.  

Love & Sex: Too Much of a Good Thing. Need To Take a Step Back. Too Much Work To Date 

Friendship: A Needy or Demanding Friend. Picking Up the Slack For Irresponsible Friends. 

Money: Low Return On Investment. Not Planning For Taxes. Money That Becomes Burdensome. 

Career/Business/Work: Too Many Jobs. Too Much Work. Suffering Under Your Own Ambition.

Page of Wands

Keywords: Young People. Active or Sporty People. Fun. Casual, Short-Term Relationships.

Love & Sex: Dating Around. Casual Sex. Short-Term Relationships. Younger Lovers. Speed Dating.

Friendship: Younger Friends. Immature Friends. Acquaintances. 

Money: Figuring Out How To Make Money. School or Learning. Gig Economies. 

Career/Business/Work: Playing Around At Your Job. Gig Work. Still Figuring Out What You Want. 

Knight of Wands

Keywords: Rushing in. Valor. Enthusiasm. Being Seen. Physical Attractiveness. 

Love & Sex: Partners Who Aren’t Taking You Seriously. Affairs. Heartthrobs. 

Friendship: Opinions About Friends’ Romantic and Sex Lives. An Attractive Friend. 

Money: Grabbing a New Opportunity. Getting the Financial Upper Hand. A New Idea About Money.  

Career/Business/Work: Changing Jobs. Becoming the Office Hero. Creative Problem Solving. 

Queen of Wands

Keywords: Popularity. Influence. Grace. Glamor. Magnetism. 

Love & Sex: Waiting For Lovers To Come To You. Having Your Pick of Lovers. Feeling Sexy. 

Friendship: Popularity. People Who Seem To Be Friends With Everyone. Powerful Women Friends.

Money: Feeling Control Over Your Financial Life. Influencing or Being Influenced About Money. 

Career/Business/Work: Businesses That Empower Women. Motivational Speaking in the Office. 

King of Wands

Keywords: Powerful. Self-Directedness. Leadership. Paramour. Businessman. 

Love & Sex: An Unavailable Man. A Sexy, yet Short-Term Relationship. Cheating. Hot Sex.

Friendship: Friendship With a Business Mentor or Superior 

Money: Making Your Own Money. Money That Comes Based On Image or Appearance.  

Career/Business/Work: Owning a Small Business. Becoming a Leader At Work or Business.

Minor Arcana: Swords

Ace of Swords

Keywords: Information. Endings. Truth. Death. Cutting Through the Bullshit.

Love & Sex: Finding Out the Truth About a Lover. A Turning Point in a Relationship.  

Friendship: A Crisis in a Friendship. A Secret Is Revealed About a Friend. 

Money: Money From Legal Decisions. Security Deposits. Making Financial Decisions. 

Career/Business/Work: Applying For New Jobs. Communicating With Your Employer. 

 Two of Swords

Keywords: Inability To Make a Decision. Fear of Moving Forward. Denial. Legal Issues. Delays.

Love & Sex: Filing For a Divorce. Applying For a Marriage License. Denial About a Lover. 

Friendship: Difficulty Making a Decision About a Problem in a Friendship.  

Money: Delayed Money From Legal Sources. Process Difficulties With Money.  

Career/Business/Work: Delays in Signing Contracts. Uncertainty About Leaving a Job. 

Three of Swords

Keywords: Heartbreak. Sudden Endings. Miscarriages. Pain. Unavoidable Ruptures. Discord. 

Love & Sex: Break-ups. Arguments. Misunderstandings. Affairs. Hurt Feelings. 

Friendship: Ending a Failing Friendship. Big Fights Between Friends. Being Abandoned By Friends. 

Money: Expected Money Fails To Come Through. Contracts May Be Dissolved. Finances Stalled.

Career/Business/Work: Job Loss. Communication Problems. Workplace Harassment. 

Four of Swords 

Keywords: Rest. Healing. Confinement. Loneliness. Isolation. 

Love & Sex: Missionary Position. Boring Love. Healing Conversation After a Fight.  

Friendship: Visiting Friends in the Hospital. Not Having Many Friends. Missing Friends.

Money: Finances On Hold. Considering the Next Financial Move. 

Career/Business/Work: Taking a Leave of Absence From Work. Considering Your Options. 

Five of Swords

Keywords: Impasse. Deception. Duplicity. Abuse. Selfishness. Abandonment. Worry. Strife.

Love & Sex: Two-Faced Lovers. Verbal Abuse. Selfishness In Bed. Sexual Abuse. Ghosting. 

Friendship: Friends Who Use You. Entitled Friends. Abandoning a Friend.

Money: Theft. Scams. Things That Appear Better Than They Are. Taking Advantage of Others. 

Career/Business/Work: Abusive Workplace. Wage Theft. Bait and Switch In Business.

Six of Swords

Keywords: Moving On. Getting Away From Abuse. Travel and Movement. Finding Safety.  

Love & Sex: Establishing a New Pattern of Healthy Relationships. Leaving Abusive Relationships.

Friendship: Staying With Friends. Moving in With Friends. 

Money: Making Money Through Travel. Finding a Clear Path To Make Money After a Hard Time.

Career/Business/Work: Traveling For Work. Finding More Harmony in The Workplace After Strife. 

Seven of Swords

Keywords: Theft. Cheating. Doing What’s Best For You. Forcing Change. Surprising Behavior.

Love & Sex: Infidelity. Leaving Suddenly. Lying. Considering Multiple Partners. 

Friendship: Lies and Deception in Friendship. Sudden Changes in Friendship. 

Money: Getting Over On Others. Stealing Money. Scams.  

Career/Business/Work: Lying To Your Boss. Going Behind Your Colleagues’ Back. Hidden Rivalry. 

Eight of Swords

Keywords: Feeling Trapped. Fear of Moving On. Being Stuck in Hostile or Painful Patterns. Incarceration. Addiction.

Love & Sex: Being Trapped in Abusive Relationships. Fear of Leaving. Limiting Beliefs About Love.  

Friendship: Friends That Hurt You. Continuing Painful Friendships. 

Money: Limiting Activities Due To Lack of Funds. Repeating Patterns That Keep You Broke. 

Career/Business/Work: Being Stuck At An Unsupportive or Bad Job. 

Nine of Swords

Keywords: Trauma. Grief. Shadow Work. Sadness. Humiliations. Betrayal. 

Love & Sex: A Relationship That Causes Pain. Fear of Relationships Because of Past Hurt. 

Friendship: A Painful Event in a Friendship. Difficulty Making Friends Due To Trauma. 

Money: Financial Stress. Poverty Trauma. Money Worries. Self-Worth Issues Related To Money. 

Career/Business/Work: Prolonged Unemployment. Stressful or Unrewarding Work. 

Ten of Swords

Keywords: Final End. Release. Destruction. Goodbyes. Relief Caused By Letting Go. 

Love & Sex: Unresolvable Issues. Emotional Catharsis. Feeling Better After a Relationship Ends. 

Friendship: Ending a Friendship For Good. Resolving Old Issues. 

Money: Failure of Some Kind in Finances. Ending a Period of Hardship By Making New Decisions. 

Career/Business/Work: End of a Job. Termination. Lay-offs. 

Page of Swords

Keywords: Gossip. Chit Chat. School Groups. Casual Conversation.

Love & Sex: All Talk. Relationship Gossip. Flirtatious Texts. Getting To Know Each Other.

Friendship: Casual Friend Groups. Gossipy or Shallow Friends. 

Money: News and Documents Related To Money. New Plans to Make Money.  

Career/Business/Work: News About a New Job or Potential Job. Applying For Jobs. 

Knight of Swords

Keywords: Breath of Fresh Air. Fools Rush in. What’s Done in the Dark Will Come To Light. 

Love & Sex: Intellectual Companions. Romantic Banter.

Friendship: Sparring Partners. School Friends. Debate Partners. Intellectual Friendship.  

Money: Surprising Information About Money. Possibly Bad News Related To Money.   

Career/Business/Work: Information About a Possible Job. Communication. Marketing. 

Queen of Swords

Keywords: Exacting. Cold. A Single Parent or Divorced Person. Could Be a Widow/er/x.  

Love & Sex: Frigid. High Standards. Wants a Partner, But Doesn’t Need One. 

Friendship: People Who Are Difficult To Get To Know. Friends Who Seem To Have It All Together. 

Money: Wise Financial Decisions. Independent Assets. Clear Financial Communication. 

Career/Business/Work: Working Independently. Nurses. Thought Leadership. Witches.

King of Swords

Keywords: Smart. Logical. Unemotional. Professional. Charming. Lacking Empathy. 

Love & Sex: A Professional. Someone Who Needs To Feel Above or Removed From Others.

Friendship: A Collegial Relationship. A Professional Friend. 

Money: Anticipating Future Needs. Wills. Trusts. Bonds. Financial Deals Go Well. 

Career/Business/Work: Law. Communication. A Charming Boss. An Intellectual Environment.

Minor Arcana: Cups

Ace of Cups

Keywords: Emotional Beginnings. Outpouring. Abundance. Fertility. 

Love & Sex: Conception (Especially With the Ace of Wands.) Orgasm. New Love. 

Friendship: New, Emotionally Fulfilling Friendship. Emotional Sharing With Friends. 

Money: Creative Money. Outpouring of Money. 

Career/Business/Work: Jobs in Creative Fields. Renewal in Business Life. 

 Two of Cups

Keywords: Partnership. Harmonious Relationships. Romance. 

Love & Sex: Romantic Love. Lovemaking. Early Stages of a Great Romantic Partnership.  

Friendship: Harmonious Friendships. Friends To Lovers. 

Money: Making Money Through Strong Business Partnerships. 

Career/Business/Work: Mixing Love With Money. Counting On a Good Team. 

Three of Cups

Keywords: Friendship. Parties. Gatherings. Revalry. Socializing. 

Love & Sex: Group Sex. Friendly Relationships. Taking a Lover To Meet Your Friends.

Friendship: Friend Groups. Parties and Events With Friends. A Sweet Time With Friends. 

Money: Money Made In Groups. Money Made From Social Events. 

Career/Business/Work: Working With Groups of People. Harmonious Group Dynamics At Work. 

Four of Cups 

Keywords: Meditation. Isolation. Shutting Out Information. Trance. Transcendence.  

Love & Sex: Ignoring Potential Suitors. Not Listening To Your Partner’s Needs. Celibacy. 

Friendship: Not Returning Texts. Feeling Like You Don’t Have Friends. Isolation. 

Money: Focus On a Particular Stream of Income. Ignoring Sound Advice About Money. 

Career/Business/Work: Overworking To Avoid Emotional Problems. Honing Your Craft.

Five of Cups

Keywords: Grief. Loss. Counting Your Blessings. Reevaluation. Taking Things For Granted. 

Love & Sex: Grief Over a Lost Relationship. Emotionally Unfulfilling Sex. 

Friendship: Losing a Friend. Mourning Lost Relationships.

Money: Losing Money. Poverty Trauma.

Career/Business/Work: Underemployment. Considering Leaving Your Job.

Six of Cups

Keywords: Reunion. Innocence. Immaturity. Sharing. Mutual Aid. Karma. Children.

Love & Sex: Getting Back With an Ex. Synchronicities With a Karmic Link. A Younger Lover.

Friendship: A Younger Friend. Reunion With Friends. An Immature Friend.  

Money: New Beginnings With Money or Potentially a New Source of Income. 

Career/Business/Work: Working With Children or Teens. Harmonious Work Environments. 

Seven of Cups

Keywords: Choices. Illusions. Social Media/Online Environments. Spiritual Journeys. 

Love & Sex: Online Dating. Choosing Between Partners. Promises That Don’t Materialize. 

Friendship: Choosing Between Friendships. New Friendships You’re Idealizing.

Money: Money From Spiritual Work. Money With Hidden Strings.

Career/Business/Work: Choosing Between Jobs. Contracts That Aren’t Exactly As They Seem. 

Eight of Cups

Keywords: Moving On. Leaving the Past Behind. Ending Abusive Dynamics.  Disappointment.

Love & Sex: Trial Separation. Going To Bed Without Resolution. Sexual Disappointment. 

Friendship: Ending a Friendship. Recognizing Unhealthy Dynamics in a Friendship. 

Money: Financial Loss. Moving Forward With a Bad Investment. 

Career/Business/Work: Leaving a Dead End Job. Drudgery At Work.

Nine of Cups

Keywords: Wishes. Manifestation. Satisfaction. Pleasure. Egotism. 

Love & Sex: Great Sex. Manifesting a Partner. A Partner Who Is Too Good To Be True. 

Friendship: Trying To Make Friends Jealous. Wishing For Friends. Manifesting With Friends. 

Money: Manifesting Money. Desired Money Arrives.

Career/Business/Work: A Seemingly Perfect Job. A Job That Gives You a Big Head.

Ten of Cups

Keywords: Creating a Family. Lasting Love and Friendship. Joy. Abundance. 

Love & Sex: Excellent, Loving Sex. Life Partnerships. 

Friendship: Friends That Are Family. Happiness in Friendship.  

Money: Money Through Those You Love. Money That Comes With Happiness. 

Career/Business/Work: Joyful Work Environments. Family Businesses. 

Page of Cups

Keywords: Becoming Emotionally Aware. Naivete. Creative Beginnings.

Love & Sex: Getting Attached To a Casual Date. Emotional Hookups. Good First Dates. 

Friendship: New Friends. Playing With Friends.  

Money: A Small Amount of Money From a Creative Source. 

Career/Business/Work: Being Creative At Work. Creative Employment. Creative Apprenticeship.

Knight of Cups

Keywords: Fools Rush in. Pitching Woo. New Suitor or Date. 

Love & Sex: One of the Best Indications of a New Lover. Short, yet Passionate Romance. 

Friendship: A New Friend Who Becomes Emotionally Invested Quickly. An Earnest Friendship. 

Money: Money or News About Money Arrives Quickly From a Creative Source. 

Career/Business/Work: Delivering a Presentation With a Creative Element. 

Queen of Cups

Keywords: Nurturing. Parenting. Psychic Power. Mysterious Emotions. Femininity.

Love & Sex: Kind and Sweet Lover Who Can Be Overgiving. Sensitive Partners. 

Friendship: Friendships That Have a Caretaking Element. Caring Friendships. 

Money: Money Made Through Intuitive Prediction. Money Made in the Care Economy. 

Career/Business/Work: Work Helping Others. Working With Mothers. 

King of Cups

Keywords: Emotional Control. Creative Power. Self-Mastery Through Emotional Understanding. 

Love & Sex: An Emotional Lover. Drama Queens. Romantic Environments.  

Friendship: Friendships With People Who Like High Drama Settings. Emotionally Mature Friends.

Money: Money Made Through Others’ Emotional Responses. 

Career/Business/Work: Theater. Artistic Professions. Working For an Emotional Boss.

Minor Arcana: Pentacles

Ace of Pentacles

Keywords: Financial Beginnings. New Homes and Businesses. Beginnings of Stability.

Love & Sex: A New Relationship That Could Go Somewhere. Sex For Conception. 

Friendship: A New Dependable Friend. Money that comes through friends. 

Money: A New Source of Income That Could Last. Investing.

Career/Business/Work: A New Job. A Promotion. A Raise.

 Two of Pentacles

Keywords: Balance. Robbing Peter to Pay Paul. Juggling Responsibilities. Financial Fluctuation.

Love & Sex: Creating Balance in Relationships. Overwork That Affects a Relationship.   

Friendship: Juggling Social and Professional Responsibilities. Sharing Responsibilities.  

Money: Money Comes and Goes Fast. Economic Change. Stock Markets. Gambling.

Career/Business/Work: Promotion or Demotion. Revolving Door Jobs. 

Three of Pentacles

Keywords: Building. Collaboration. Creation. Communication. Religious Spaces. 

Love & Sex: Co-creating a Future With a Lover. Getting Serious.  

Friendship: Working With Friends. Creating Something With a Friend Group. 

Money: Money Made Collaboratively. Sometimes Money Made From Building and Construction. 

Career/Business/Work: Real Estate. Clergy. Construction. Working Together To Meet Goals. 

Four of Pentacles 

Keywords: Stinginess. Hoarding. Control Issues. Greed. Afraid To Let Go. 

Love & Sex: Selfishness in Bed. Controlling Your Partner. Putting Pressure On  a Relationship.

Friendship: Forcing a Friendship. Controlling Your Friends. Rubbing Your Gains in Their Face. 

Money: Holding On To Your Money. Greed. Bank Accounts.  

Career/Business/Work: Working With Money. Being Selfish At Work. 

Five of Pentacles

Keywords: Poverty. Unwilling To Ask For Help. Feeling Shut Out of Care. 

Love & Sex: Relationship Problems Caused By Financial Problems. Emotionally Cold Sex. 

Friendship: Feeling Shut Out of Friend Groups and Friendships. Friends Talking Behind Your Back. 

Money: Loss of Money. Needed Money Doesn’t Come Through. 

Career/Business/Work: Job Loss, Business Failure, Economic Problems. 

Six of Pentacles

Keywords: Charity. Philanthropy. Hierarchy. Provider. Financial Harmony.

Love & Sex: Making the Relationship Officiall. Crumbing. Stone Top/Pillow Queen Dynamic. 

Friendship: Lending Money To a Friend. Feeling Secure in a Friendship Due To Established Rules.

Money: Money Comes in From an Established Source. Money Through Charity or Venture Capital.

Career/Business/Work: Charity Work. Working in Philanthropy, NGOs, or Non-Profits.

Seven of Pentacles

Keywords: Investment. Patience. Sowing So You Can Reap. Doing the Hard Work.  

Love & Sex: Quality Time. Long Sexual Sessions. Orgasm Denial. 

Friendship: Long-Term Friendships. Investing Time Into Your Friendships

Money: Investing Your Money. High-Yield Savings Accounts. 

Career/Business/Work: Working Overtime. Working At Banks, Trusts, and Financial Institutions. 

Eight of Pentacles

Keywords: Apprenticeship. Higher Education. Philosophy. Working Towards a Professional Goal. 

Love & Sex: Breakthroughs. Learning Each Other’s Sexual Desires.. Working On a Relationship. 

Friendship: Friends Made Through School or Internships. 

Money: Money From Academic Gigs. Building Wealth. Grants. Fellowships. 

Career/Business/Work: Academia. Professorships. Internships. Apprenticeships. Mentors.

Nine of Pentacles

Keywords: Beauty. Isolation. Self-esteem. Healing Alone. Reaping the Fruit of Your Labors. 

Love & Sex: Relationships With People You Already Know. Masturbation. Friends To Lovers. 

Friendship: Lovers To Friends. Dinner Parties. Garden Parties. 

Money: Easy Money. Having More Than Enough Money. Abundance. 

Career/Business/Work: Gardener. Independent Wealth. Domestics. Home Offices.

Ten of Pentacles

Keywords: Inheritance. Elderhood. Wisdom. Maturity. Family. 

Love & Sex: Sex or Relationships With Older People. Solid Relationships. Families. 

Friendship: Very Well Established Friend Groups. Sou-Sou.  

Money: Money Gained Through Family or Inheritance. 

Career/Business/Work: Estate Planning. Wills. Working For Long-Established Organizations. 

Page of Pentacles

Keywords: Financial Support. Moving Toward Stability. 

Love & Sex: A New Prospect That Represents What You Ultimately Want in Love.

Friendship: Solid New Friends That Could Become Close Over Time.

Money: Small Amounts of Money From a Raise or a Small Promotion. 

Career/Business/Work: Financial Literacy and Education. Starting a Retirement Fund. 

Knight of Pentacles

Keywords: Money is Coming. Caught in a Financial or Career Whirlwind.  

Love & Sex: A Stable Prospect Arrives. A Reliable Lover. Reliable Orgasms, Quickly. 

Friendship: A Trustworthy Friend Arrives. News About a Close Friend. 

Money: Money Arrives Shortly. News About Money. Digital Banking (Venmo, PayPal, Cash App). Transfers.

Career/Business/Work: Bank Tellers. Truckers. Security Personnel. News About Income.

Queen of Pentacles

Keywords: Pregnancy. Growing Money. Watching Over Your Money. Patience. 

Love & Sex: A Good Spouse. Love That Creates Family Relationships. Submissives.

Friendship: Mom Friends. Friendships With People in Traditional Lifestyles. 

Money: Being a Good Steward of Your Own Money. Checking On Investments. 

Career/Business/Work: Stay At Home Parents. Daycare Workers. Teachers. On the Right Path.

King of Pentacles

Keywords: Financial Stability. Mastery in Career. Patriarchs and Matriarchs. 

Love & Sex: A Predictable, yet Stable Romantic Relationship. A Partner Suitable For Marriage.   

Friendship: Mature Friendships With People Who Are Established in Their Lives. 

Money: Money Made in Traditional Ways. Having Mature Insight On How To Make Money. 

Career/Business/Work: Bankers. Patrons of the Arts. Business People. Mastery in Career. 

[literaticat]

Hello. I know an older person (a relative) who is a very good illustrator (as a hobby). They do have an email address but don't have a website (yet anyway). I'm encouraging them to draw maybe half a dozen or a dozen illustrations so I could submit them to some publishers on their behalf (those who are looking for or open to illustration submissions). Some of these sites mention having a website, others don't. Would the person have to be a professional illustrator or would this be okay? And would it be better for me to see if I can teach them to draw on an iPad or could I just scan on their handdrawn illustrations and email them for them? They're open to the idea but don't think they're good enough. I think they have a lot of natural raw talent, just wondering would publishers be open to illustrations from an older person who is very green to this and has no experience. What do you think? And could you give me/them any other advice? Thank you so much. Happy New Year!

I'd strongly suggest you not do this. I know you have the very best of intentions, and it's lovely that you're such a cheerleader for your relative. I'm sure they are very talented. BUT. Start by finding out what their goals really are. There are plenty of other ways for them to get their work out there. Maybe there are local art classes, where they can explore different mediums and just have fun and meet other artists and potential mentors. Art contests, or local magazines or journals that might publish work from local artists. If they really want to start a little cottage artwork business from home maybe they can create beautiful cards or prints that can be stocked at a local shop or something like that, and you can help them print them out and be their 'sales rep' if you like. Investigate these types of outlets for your relative's creativity, there's no need for their fun and pleasant hobby to become a difficult, demanding career, unless that is something they are TRULY passionate about.

(Not everything needs to be monetized. Normalize just doing things because you like them!)

Because yeah - - you can't really "dabble" in professional book illustration. Either you are a professional illustrator, which means publishers might hire you -- or you aren't, which means they definitely will not. Now, you can be a NEW professional illustrator, that's a thing, people aren't born as professionals -- so, again, if that's really something that your relative WANTS TO DO, truly wants it, OK -- but they are gonna have to do the legwork. You can't be submitting work on their behalf or holding their hand the whole time. Age is not a factor, but professional illustrator is a real job, not a fun-time hobby, and they do have to be willing and able to do the work themselves.

So if becoming a professional children's book illustrator is truly of interest to them, I'd suggest they start by:

-- Taking some picture book illustration classes, whether online or in-person -- specifically those, not just general "art" or whatever. The rules and goals of book illustration are just different from other kinds of art! This is not, strictly speaking, necessary, some artists are indeed entirely self-taught -- but it would probably be QUITE helpful to make them feel more confident (or alternatively, help them realize that this is not where their talent wants to take them!). COST VARIES.

-- They should also read a lot (A LOT) of modern children's books to see what the level of work is that they'd need to be doing, and different ways to tell a story through art. Because it's not just about having pretty images -- that's great, but they have to be able to *tell a story* through the pictures, also, otherwise they have just created random images, not a book. Start with the books that have been Caldecott medalist and honor winners for the past 5 years, they should all be available at your local library. FREE FROM LIBRARY.

-- I'd strongly recommend getting and studying a used or library copy of WRITING WITH PICTURES by Uri Shulevitz. While there is one section that is quite dated (because PB illus are typically delivered digitally now, and this book is from before the digital days) -- the majority of the book, about the actual craft of telling a story through pictures, is super-informative and brilliant. FREE FROM LIBRARY OR UNDER $10. USD

-- Consider joining the SCBWI; it does cost money to be a full member, but if they are serious, it may be worth it -- there are loads of resources online and in person, conferences, local meetups, workshops, etc, where they can connect with other creators and professionals to research and learn the ropes of children's book publishing; there's also a forum where they can ask questions, etc. $99. USD

-- Alternatively (or in addition), there are also kids-book oriented Facebook groups for this kind of thing that have seasoned pros answering newbie questions -- KIDLIT411 would be a smart one to join, if your relative is on Facebook. (Kidlit411 also has a website with resources!) FREE.

Once they have done all these things, they will need a professional-looking digital portfolio -- these can be physical works that are scanned in, or works created digitally (or a combo -- physical works that the artist tweaks layers in photoshop, etc). There are other posts here about what should be included in such a portfolio, look in the FAQ. This way they aren't just sending publishers random images all loosey-goosey, they'll be presenting themselves as somebody that might actually get hired. But I really wouldn't bother with this part until/unless they've done most or all of the previous suggestions.

[quaranmine]

Hi, not sure if you remember me, but i sent an ask a while ago saying how i love the Incadescence of a dying light and that i talk about it with my friend and how we both really liked the story and are juts you know discussing it well update to now. we still do that lol. i cant stop thinking about it, i listen to the firewatch OST on the daily, resonating with each track at a time. I love it. I live it. I am enamored. Everytime Im studying Polish (my native language) and revising each epoch for my upcoming finals i cant help but connect themes and motives to that wonderful story of yours. If i land on a fitting topic in my oral final exam (like pop-culture, creativity and arts, certain themes in modern media) you BET Ill be talking about this fic (with all the credit I can give of course!) cause USARWSETDYRVUHUISC I cant get it out of my head. Its such an amazing example of how the media of fanfiction elevates the story to its maximum potential. How knowing the characters makes it so much easier to connect and resonate, even though Mumbo is absent from the majority of the fic, we still feel hurt after finding out whats happened to him. Like, its such an amazing creative medium I love fanfiction and TERSSXEFJNKVCRXSERARXSXERCDJNGIKKDc :thumbsup: oh gosh The Incadescence of a Dying Light. yeah so fun fact i actually had to look up what it means cause i didnt know the word before and oh. oh. oh its so much worse and more painful. really love it, i do, oh i do! I now have acquired (idk how to spell it lul) the never subsiding lust for nature and outdoors and hiking and being a part of it. I love it, you made me regain my love for it. I loved it before, yes, but i was caught up in my own head and had so much stuff i had to do, but now i love to look out my window even more, i love strolling in my garden. i love it. thank you, thank you, thak youuuuu!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :thumbsup: So yeah, this fic is one of my faves of all time, i like it a lot, it has inspired me to live more and be alive basically and also. and for the end a fanart of an alternative ending where Mumbo somehow survives and just lives in the forest like a wild animal, living his best life, eating berries (i decided on drawing him eating berries [peace love and plants] instead of chowing down [is chowing a word??] on some rabbit lol) and then grian finds him and its super awkward

HI! Yes, of course I remember you! First of all, had a really wild day yesterday at work, but I read this at soooome point on my phone during the middle of the day and it made me smile :)

This ask is just so??? AAAAAAA???? I almost don't know how to respond, because it's just SO wonderful to hear this about something I created. Like I did that? I made a thing that is sticking deeply with people? I'm just soooo <333333

I like your point about how fanfiction can maximize story potential! I think it'd make a wonderful essay topic honestly. I have thought about this in connection with fanfic a lot--specifically, the divide between original fiction and fanfiction. In original works, you have to make the audience care. You have to introduce me to a character, setting, and story I will be interested in. I've read a lot of negative book reviews that start off with "the author didn't make me care about the characters" (i have also...said this myself about books I ended up not liking.) With fanfic, you skip that step! It lets you jump right in. I don't have to explain Mumbo and Grian's friendship or demonstrate it to you. You just Know. Someone reading it fandom blind would get the implication about how important they are to each other simply by seing the depth of Grian's grief, but for my intended audience, I can do whatever I want because I trust you to already have the background information you need.

The title is from a line I really like in a song (Post Humorous by Gus Dapperton). It just...painted such a nice word picture. Especially for a story about grief death and fire!

I just. Love that this fic helped you regain a desire for nature? That just makes me feel...warm, I guess, to know that I was able to spark that with something I created. I hope it goes well for you, and you get to take many walks. This spring I've been using the trails near my aunt's house (not.....hiking paths. too urban.) much more. I wanted to walk this week but I was too busy lol. I hope you have many wonderful experiences out in the Great Outdoors <3 one of these days, I swear I'll up and move to a place with "better" nature and "real" trails close by.

Also, SKFJSLFJSKFLSJKF your fanart made me laugh so much. I have like. Entertained this idea. Not as an actual or serious part of the story but I was like man wouldn't it just be off-the-wall if he was just vibing Out There 😭😭😭 You've caught the vibe perfectly LOL

this was all around such a special message to hear, thank you SO much!

[waateeystein]

Frankenstein Adaptation Review #2: Frankenstein (1931)

Masterpost of my Frankenstein Reviews

Title: Frankenstein

Year: 1931

Medium: Film

Director: James Whale

Produced by: Universal Pictures

Synopsis/Intro

One of Universal Pictures original monster films, Frankenstein (1931) sets a precedent for many future adaptations of Shelley’s story. It is also responsible for creating many of the iconic symbols that we associate with the mythos of Frankenstein (even if those symbols have little to do with the original story.) I went in mostly blind, but was very pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this film, and better appreciate the creative license it took when adapting the novel. This is the first in a long series of Frankenstein-based Universal monster movies, and I am very curious to see where the films go from here! Buckle in because this is a long one…

Grading

Faithfulness to the Source Material

First off, this film is extremely different from the book. I didn’t realize this going in, I knew there would be some differences obviously, but even just from the opening credits I was so surprised at just how different it was. Right off the bat, we establish that our main character is actually named Henry Frankenstein, and Victor takes the role of what would loosely be Henry in the novel. (Elizabeth does stay the same and I think that is very iconic of her.) I think this name swapping is really interesting, and I’m sure some film/literary scholar has a much deeper thematic analysis on this than I could write. My take is that it was a way of distancing this version of the story from the novel right from the get-go, letting audiences know before the first line of dialogue is even spoken, that this story will be a very different story from its inspiration, and your expectations of this story will be literally flipped. Henry also now has a sidekick/apprentice named Fritz, who I assume is the original version of “Igor” that we see in other adaptations (but I guess I must continue watching more movies to prove that assumption!) I won’t go through every single character here, but those to me were the stand-outs worth mentioning in my own game of spot the difference.

Like the novel, Henry is indeed a college drop-out, although here he leaves academia to create his creature, rather than as a result of his creation. This adaptation also makes our Frankenstein more open to sharing his creation with others, although he still does this begrudgingly. And in general this Henry is not too dissimilar in characterization to the novel’s Victor. They are both obsessive scientists who crave the power of great discovery, and want to overcome the state of death and create life from it. They also both put their work before their love, ignoring Elizabeth and their father in the name of their occupation and obsession. I think Frankenstein’s characterization here, although not one-to-one with the novel, does the most work of relating this film back to the novel, especially when so much else of the plot and characters are completely different. Frankenstein the novel, and Frankenstein the Universal Monster movie are two very different mythos that I am coming to understand are often conflated. I want to better understand and explain how this film created its own modern mythos, but I also want to specifically highlight that Frankenstein himself is very similar between the two. 

More on that modern mythos I was talking about, this film is responsible for so much of what we today associate with Frankenstein. The lighting table hoisted into the sky to give life to the creature, the hunchbacked sidekick of Frankenstein, the very iconic “it’s alive!” line, and of course the creature design itself. Most of these are not present in the book at all, or at best are very loosely based on certain descriptions in the novel. But I also don’t hate that they exist here! The lighting table is an homage to the lighting strike that book Frankenstein witnessed as a child that helps spark (pun-intended) his interest in science. Fritz here could be interpreted as a loose allegory for Henry Clervil in the book. Frankenstein’s gleeful “it’s alive!” is also a great foil to the immediate regret and fear that book Frankenstein feels at the successful creation of his creature. I think the film pays a lot of respect to its source material while still being its own creature (once again pun-intended). “Frankenstein”, in my opinion, is a very difficult novel to 100% faithfully adapt. This version chose to completely change the story to serve its own artistic goals and resources, their goals being to create a more horror-oriented and visually-minded adaptation of Shelley’s novel. And we know they were successful because it is one of the most iconic and famous monster films of all time. 

So to conclude this section, no, this film had very little accuracy to the novel, but for all the reasons above, I do think in many ways it was still a good and somewhat faithful adaptation in its own right.

Total Category Score: 7/10 points

Production Design

There is so much to say here about this film’s design, both scenically and costume-wise. Starting with the production design, this film distinguishes itself from the novel by putting our setting in a German village set at about the film's release of 1931. Obviously this is another big change from the source material, but I like this decision for two reasons. Firstly, it was probably more practical from a production/costume design perspective, because with all of the other special elements of creature creation in play, adding a period setting on top of that would have an added difficulty that would not be present by just setting it in their modern day. Secondly, I think setting this film in a modern time to its original viewers makes the horror feel more plausible and real to those original viewers. Obviously us viewers over 90 years later won’t feel the same way with this exact film, but it’s probably a similar feeling to what we feel when we watch contemporary horror films today. On the other hand, I am not a huge fan of setting this film in what I presume to be Germany. There are a few different European countries that play a role in the novel, and Frankenstein is a very German-sounding name (I don’t have the linguistics knowledge to tell if if it actually is or not), and some of the creatures time in the book is spent in Germany, so I understand where the decision probably came from. However, I still wish it was set in Switzerland instead. I think this is another way that the mythos of this film tends to overshadow the actual events of the novel, and although it is a minor point, the backdrop of the Swiss alps where Frankenstein lived and where much of the actual conflict between Frankenstein and his creature took place would have been so cool and beautiful to have from a design standpoint. And without doing more research, I don’t have the off-hand knowledge to say how accurate the design of this German town/costumes were, but as a viewer it was beautiful and it did give a strong sense of the given setting. Finally, I want to acknowledge how interesting the windmill was as a choice of setting for Frankenstein’s laboratory. Many adaptations put him in some kind of castle situation, but the windmill feels right for the setting they chose. It gives the impression that Frankenstein cobbled together this somewhat remote lab as to be far enough from the village to have privacy and a high elevation, but also still be close to home and Elizabeth for their upcoming wedding. And the imagery of this burning windmill at the film’s ending is just so epic and even gives a somewhat ambiguous ending as to if the creature was able to escape or not. Although, upon further inspection, the interior was almost entirely stone and the exterior was entirely wooden, so with this continuity error I don’t know how well it would have actually burned, but maybe that’s for me to do more historical research on. (Also I am very excited to one day visit the Frankenstein windmill restaurant that is being built in Universal’s new park in Orlando.)

And now the obvious star of the show, the costume and creature design. Another reason I like their choice of time period is because we get to see these late 20’s/early 30’s garments that tend to get forgotten for the more stereotypical 20’s and 30’s silhouettes. In particular, I was in love with every costume we see in the wedding scenes. Elizabeth’s wedding dress was so beautiful, and the way her veil/train would drape across entire rooms when she moved evoked art nouveau fashion plates which I am obsessed with. The menswear also did not disappoint, I love the outfit he changes into for the final scenes of the film with the flare-hipped breeches. I did a little bit of research and learned that although these garments were mostly associated with motorcycle policemen, they were also associated with big-game hunters, which is perfect for Frankenstein as he is attempting to literally hunt his creation in these scenes (fun fact this garment is also called a “Jodhpur”.) They are a big goofy considering he is not wearing them while horseback riding, but it makes sense thematically so it gets a pass from me. 

The creature design gets its own paragraph because there is so much to unpack here. Going in to watching this film, I knew what the creature design would be. It is extremely iconic, and it is what most people associate with the character and is the basis for most adaptations after it. Conversely, because it is so iconic, I was seeing it out of its original context and I was actually not a huge fan of the design in terms of faithfulness to the novel. But now having seen the film and seeing this design in context, I think I’ve mostly changed my mind. The novel only gives us a vague description of the creature, but we know that Frankenstein built him to be beautiful but he ended up being terrifying to all that saw him. I was surprised to realize that the film's design balances this pretty well. He is obviously still grotesque, with his elongated head (a possible nod to the creature design of the 1910 silent film version), neck screws, darkened facial features and scars across his body. But he is also very well-kept and handsome in many ways. His hair is neatly and intentionally styled, the scars are symmetrical and surprisingly neat for being a bunch of separate body parts stitched together. Even his outfit, which is intentionally designed to be too small in some proportions to make him appear larger and more hulking, is a clean suit and pants. The designer has managed to give him these humanizing aspects, while still making him appear horrifying and other-worldly. And it is a testament to the genius of these design decisions that this creature’s design has stood the test of time. The only things I might have changed would be putting his screws at his temples rather than his neck, and changing out his dark t-shirt looking garment for some kind of collared shirt (only because he unintentionally looks like he’s from the 80’s, but I guess it is kind of cool that this creature dressed in trends 50 years before they actually happened.) Obviously that is me being nitpicky, but I absolutely get the obsession with this creature design now, and I am excited to see how or if it evolves in this film’s sequels. 

Total Category Score: 9/10 points

Entertainment value

Despite the extensive creative liberties that this film took in adapting Shelley’s novel, I still had a great time watching it. There is always a worry with watching these old films that they will automatically be boring to a modern eye, but I don’t think this film had that issue. I was always anxious to see what Frankenstein or the creature would do next, and knowing the plot of the book, I was always surprised because the plot of the film was so different. The creature’s kill-count is much lower than in the book, here he is only responsible for killing the doctor and a young girl named Maria. The scene with the creature and Maria was one of my favorites. It was a necessary moment to show the creature’s humanity, and that it only really meant to hurt those who had antagonized him first. He accidentally and very suddenly kills the young Maria, and this is what ignites the village to hunt him down.  [edit: I had a later realization that this scene parallels a scene in the book where the creature saves a young girl from drowning. It’s interesting that in both mediums, whether the creature saves her or accidentally dooms her, he is persecuted. Another example of how this movie literally flips the script of the book.] Like the novel, he is continuously misunderstood and mistreated by everyone he meets. But unlike the novel, where the young William immediately distrusts the creature, little Maria only shows him immediate kindness, and reminds us of the innocence of children. I like that the film implies that children are not born with hatred, but learn it instead, a theme that we mostly don’t see in the novel. And that’s the great thing about film adaptation, we get to explore themes and ideas that might have been glossed over or missed in the source material, and I am very glad that this film did that. And obviously the horror of this very old film will not feel the same watching it today as it would have when it was originally released, but at times I still found myself feeling the horror which was surprising. 

Total Category Score: 8/10 points

Bonus Points

Character(s) included/mentioned (1 point each):

- Robert Walton and/or Henry Clerval: no. - The DeLacey Family: no (Maria and her father are a close allegory though.) - Justine Moritz: no. - William and/or Ernest Frankenstein: no.

Victor(y) points (1 point each):

- Is Victor aged 18-26 years old: Yes! - Is Victor a college dropout: Yes! - Does Victor have an accent that is not American or British: no.

Miscellaneous (1 point each):

- Setting is primarily in Switzerland: no. - Are there homoerotic undertones: no. - Does the Creature have intelligence: no.

Total Category Score: 2/10 points

Final Score: 26/40 points

[Housekeeping notes: I had to change to the legacy post editor because this review was literally too long for the new editor to handle. If anyone has some tips for that let me know, in the meantime the text formatting might just look slightly different. Also I’ve been making slight review formatting changes, so I may go back and update previous posts to reflect those changes, although the content of the review will be the same. Thanks y’all!]

[pachekovisk]

AWARD SEASON #1

'Across the Spider-Verse' is one of the best superhero films ever made, maybe even the very best

(Annie Awards nominee, BAFTA longlist, and Oscars shortlist)

★★★★½ - excellent

After the absolutely amazing film that was 'Into the Spider-Verse' (2018), it is fair to say that the sequel had some big shoes to fill. But, at least in my opinion, it had no obligation to fill those shoes, so to speak.

For one, the first film had a storyline that was pretty much set and done at the end. It had room to expand the universe and characters, for sure, but it didn't have to do that. The conflict was pretty much resolved, and even with that (kinda) cliffhanger ending, it could've all just ended there.

What I mean to say is that, considering how incredibly good the first film was, the second one had no obligation to exist, let alone be just as good as the first. It also had no obligation to be better than the first one. It had no obligation to be much better. And it certainly had no obligation to be one of the best superhero films ever made, maybe even, dare I say, the very best of the genre.

So I am very glad to say that 'Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse' (2023) not only accomplishes all that, in some ways it surpassed all expectations I could ever have for a picture like this. In that way, it certainly deserves its place among films like 'The Dark Knight' (2008) and 'Avengers: Endgame' (2019), as one of the best superhero films out there.

'Across the Spider-Verse' once again proves that quote by Guillermo Del Toro -- "animation is not a genre, it's a medium" -- to be correct, in so many ways. I feel like a few years ago a lot of people kept repeating this quote without fully understanding it, and I think films like this one really help to show how true it really is.

You could try to make a film like this work in live action, but all that would do is limit everything to the boundaries of physical reality (and the always existing limitations of CGI in live action). The medium of animation allows for so much more creative liberty, exploring so many different genres, styles, and ways to tell a story. And I feel like both the Spider-Verse films use animation to its full potential in this sense. It uses animation to both create stories that could never be fully told in live action, and to enhance the emotional impact of the stories that possibly could.

Speaking of which, the animation in this film is stunning. Every shot better than the last. Just like the first film, the whole animation is based on a comic book æsthetic, that shifts and changes for each universe, each character, even with each emotion the characters are going through. My mouth was agape throughout almost every scene. The action, the pacing, the fluidity of the animation, it all works wonderfully.

One scene in particular, in which Gwen talks to her father in her universe, legitimately made me want to cry. Both because of how beautiful the animation looked, and for the amount of character and humanity this film is able to show through that animation.

And that is what makes this film work completely. The characters.

Every important character, old and new, is so fleshed out, so well developed, and so charismatic that you can't help but be genuinely invested in what they go through and the challenges they have to face. Gwen's storyline, for instance, is so incredibly well done, she's so marvellously developed in this, that I think I love her character even more in this film than I did in the first one. She has a central role in the film that sometimes makes her even more important, and interesting, than Miles.

That is not to say, of course, that Miles doesn't play an important role or that he is not interesting. Far from it. I may have found Gwen's story more interesting at times, but the struggles Miles goes through are, in fact, the heart of the film.

I won't go into spoilers here, but let's just say that his story taps into the Spider-Man mythos in a way I have never seen any other film do. It explores what makes Spider-Man a hero in such a meta way that I think it's just brilliant. This is, in fact, one of the most brilliant films that has ever used the concept of multiverse and parallel realities that I have ever seen. And saying that in a reality where both 'Everything, everywhere, all at once' (2022) and 'Rick and Morty' (2013-) exist is really saying something.

Amazing animation, amazing use of animation, amazing characters, and an absolutely brilliant exploration of the Spider-Man mythos. What more could you want? This was just fantastic.

[metapoetix]

There are lot here, so just pick whichever ones you want to do.

I O P S V (cyrus / aurelius / andrea)

AD AE AN AR

BB BD BE BF

oh that is a lot! jokes on you, i’m doing all of them :3

I. Are there any stories you have been brainstorming but haven’t written yet? so, so many. i have two prequels to sic semper tyrannis up my sleeve, a pirate story set after the death of their beloved captain in which they wrestle with their grief and their conflicting feelings about him, a couple of stories set in the world 9 year old me created as a coping mechanism and a retelling of herodotus’s story of mycerinus (look it up if you don’t know it – it’s an incredible tale!)

O. Which writer(s) influenced your style? Alternately: which writer’s career do you wish you had/hope to achieve? i want so badly to write like maggie stiefvater……also, i want my worldbuilding to be as good as ursula le guin’s in her earthsea series (my childhood)

P. What draws you to a story idea? (Example: themes, a fun character, Aesthetic, etc.) god…..i have no idea. story ideas sort of just appear in my brain and shout at me until i’ve written them down. sometimes they’ve come from songs, sometimes from images, a few times even from dreams! what draws me to them, i guess, is probably the characters and how they feel and view the world and whether that’s compelling enough?

S. Are you a pantser, planner, or plantser? (How much planning do you put into your stories?) i love the idea of pantsing but ultimately i can’t write without a scene-by-scene plan so i am very much a planner.

V. Original fiction: Do you have a face claim for (character)? most of them i make on picrew…. that’s cyrelius at the top and, from left to right, elias digby, adrien bennet, nora atkins and andrew spencer from merlin motors:

AD. If (story) were adapted in another medium (comic, tv show, etc) what would it be? i have this incredible movie adaptation of honourable dishonour that lives in my head bcs i just know it would be visually so stunning……and i have all these ideas for how you could use the medium to your advantage, especially because in the book sunlight is a motif that runs throughout and it would be so cool

AE. What is one word or phrase you catch yourself using weirdly often? ohhhh so many how do i pick. probably ‘laughed disbelievingly’ or ‘wrinkled her nose.’ not sure but i do know this happens a lot

AN. If you could collaborate on a story with any author, living or dead, who would it be? JANE AUSTEN sorry but she’s actually my best friend

AR. You are a famous author (you are to me!) and someone comes to your house to interview you and take pictures of where the writing magic happens. What is your ideal writing space and how does the interviewer describe the meeting to their audience? (IE: what kind of vibe do you hope to give off as an author?)

BB. How do you come up with titles? Do you dread this or love it? they appear to me in a vision only when i am at my absolute wit’s end glowing and haloed and tell me ‘be not afraid. i am the perfect title for your wip and i have been staring in your face for like a month and you haven’t even noticed’

BD. What do you like most about your writing? my prose, specifically descriptions. give me any setting and tell me to write 2k words on how beautiful/ugly/eerie/scary/empty/lively etc it is and i am in my comfort zone forever <3

BE. Original fiction: (story) is getting published and you get full creative control for the cover. Describe what you envision. oooo ok so. first of all they wouldn’t be photos they’d be quite simple art designs. i think sic semper tyrannis would have a raised fist in the middle, and then around that fist the silhouette of a bear’s paw or a bear’s head. cyrelius i imagine maybe an image of the rooftop since that’s an important motif OR of like a crown. or actually maybe a hand coming up from the bottom left holding a wine glass and a hand coming from the top right and stirring the wine with the finger…..or something to do with hektor since he’s essentially the keystone of it all?

BF. What is one question you have always wished someone would ask about your story/writing/character? Answer that. “talk to me about the motifs in cyrelius?” omg wowww what a great question pippa. ok this is gonna get a bit long sorry

honour: so. all the politicians in the royal court have the title of ‘honourable minister’ and addressed as your honour, which is in direct contrast to their obvious corruption, greed and self-interest. at one point the group have a debate with an elderly noble relating to the definition of honour – he believes its defined by heritage, wealth, land, prestige, having important family, titles. cyrelius go on a business trip in which they end up having to solve a mini-mystery and resolve a dispute, and at the end they praise a poor farmer for his honour. when they are condemned and brought to the king at the end he says that they have betrayed ‘both their personal honour and the honour of their nation.’ the rooftop: so aurelius loves sitting on the rooftop of cyrus’s cabinet building and later cyrus ends up joining him there. it’s where they have their first kiss, where they stay up late to talk and where they go to escape from the monotony of paperwork. it’s also where they hide their diaries and letters when they learn that they’re going to die. it’s significance is that it’s actually one of the highest points in the city, and therefore they can see what most politicians are blind to: the slums. this is significant bcs it represents how they see and care about the injustice that most of the royal court either ignore or actively exploit. and those are just the main ones…….

[kingofthewilderwest]

If the rumour that Dean Deblois is returning to direct a remake of HTTYD is true, I hope this time it's a more faithful adaptation of the books!

[Edit: I notice you didn't mention live action in your message at all. This is what I get for answering an ask on a fever. Apologies!]

I hear this every time conversation of live actions returns to the HTTYD fandom. XD And so I'll say my hill I'll live on again, ahaha, if that's alright with you. To be honest and with all kindness, I think a live action would be an extremely poor match for the whimsical charm of the books. If the books were to be adapted faithfully, they'd require the opposite: the levity of good 2D animation style! ^.^

I wouldn't want to see a Toothless visually limited by the bounds realism or semi-realism... but a highly expressive, emotive Toothless whose obnoxiousness and voice can be best transmitted to us through the zany, colorful, flashy, fast, and limitless world of animation. He works better as an animated, cartoonish creature, as even Cowell's art illustrates. Wouldn't a Toothless limited by the slower, sloggier bounds of a live action be dull and not up to par with the imagination? Wouldn't it be so much more fun and charming to see the Hairy Hooligans with wild beards and all the colors of the world and bright animation of every wacky dragon you could think of?

Cowell's writing is like a child's sketchbook, uninhibited and ridiculously creative and unrealistic and free. It deserves a style to match.

I understand wanting a faithful adaptation of the books because I think a cute 2D animated short TV series could be a fantastic way to do them and I'd enjoy it, but personally, if someone said "live action HTTYD movie remake of the books," I'd be heavily worried and know it would turn out bad. It's a mismatch of styles. The live action would drag everything down. The reason the movies changed plot in the first place was trying to adapt the story to a new medium, the Hollywood movie, and I respect them for that.

In the end, anything vaguely touching DreamWorks Land is going to care about capitalizing on DreamWorks's success. Its 2010 animated movie obviously started one of its most successful franchises ever. It's proven screen success and that's all a big corporation backing it will care about. They're going to adapt that because that's where the brand, the money, the public knowledge, and the audience is. At this point, you'd have to get an entirely separate creative team entirely separate from DreamWorks starting from the ground up to expect something more books-related. And frankly, probably something from smallish organizations, too, since adapting closer to the HTTYD books would now be more of a "niche" project.

I know the books fandom wants that adaptation bad because people keep saying this over and over, but I vote that instead of people desperately raising live action to the table (because eveeeerrrything has a live action now), lean into the heart of what the books convey, and want an adaptation that'd do it proper.

As far as information about DeBois returning, it's in news sources like the Hollywood Reporter:

Taking a massive swing, Universal Pictures has put in motion a How to Train Your Dragon live-action movie, with Dean DeBlois, the filmmaker behind the original animated trilogy, back in the saddle as writer, director and producer. The feature project is already steps into the development process. Universal has dated the feature for a March 14, 2025 release. And sources also say the casting process is already underway. This new Dragon will adapt the trilogy of movies that were made by DreamWorks Animation and released in the 2010s to great acclaim. One of the creative challenges facing the filmmakers is trying to find the balance of making the dragons appealing and friendly, like some were in the original movie, and realistic.

John Powell has posted about it on Instagram:

(screencap: my own)

It's interesting to note DeBlois's comments on live actions over the years. For instance, from February of 2019:

There have been a few directors who are known for animation moving across into live action recently, like Brad Bird and Travis Knight. Is that something you’d want to do? It definitely is. I’ve wanted to add live action to the toolbox for a long time. Between Lilo & Stitch [DeBlois co-wrote and directed that film with Sanders] and How to Train Your Dragon, I spent about seven years setting up live-action projects to write and direct. And each one kind of hit the rocks. But it has kind of left this open ambition to try it again. I don’t know if it’s the next project that I’ll do – I haven’t actually made any decisions about what’s next. But I do hope that there’s an opportunity in the future to do something in live action that that appeals to my sensibilities and where I could apply the skills I’ve developed in animation.

But yet he also said:

There has also been a recent trend of remaking classic animated movies into live-action films – even Lilo & Stitch has been mooted for the remake treatment. What’s your take on that? I find it off-putting, to be honest. In one sense, I think it’s easy because all of the hard work of finding the story and honing it has been done – so now you get to take a movie that’s been a success and just make it in a different medium. But more than that, I feel that the live-action adaptations negate the animated ones in some way; as if to say that they are better than the original. You know, “let us improve upon your flawed medium.” So as somebody who loves animation, I think it loses the charm.  Maybe it appeals to a wider audience – and they certainly do well. So I am probably in the minority. But especially for a film like Lilo & Stitch, which was such a singular, quirky vision – we were basically a group of people trying to make Chris Sanders’ idea for a storybook come to life. And it’s so personal; it’s not an age-old fairytale or a known legend. It’s such a specific story. So to remake it, particularly with a new group of people that weren’t part of that original team… Yeah, that seems like an odd one to me.

So. I'm not 100% sure what to make of what he said then in light of what we're hearing now. But yeah. I'm sure you've seen some of the info, but in case you or others haven't, that's where this is coming from.

[justsomeoneintoomanyfandoms]

Hello! I've always thought matchups were interesting, this will be my first one!

Fandom: Mystic Messenger

About me: I'm 5'10 and i have some muscle, i like to lift weights (although i haven't been able to do it much recently ^^;). I have short colored hair and can never go anywhere without a grandma sweater.

My enneagram is 2, i'm an INFJ (i've also gotten ENFP haha), and i'm a Sagittarius. I'm female, and i'm also a straight asexual!

Likes/Dislikes/Hobbies: I'm also an artist, my mediums are mostly color pencils, oil paints and digital art (i'm hoping to get my BA in animation soon). I have a small collection of books that I'm beginning, i love story telling (especially though my art), botany, and i like to find cursed and wholesome ways to mess with my friends. I have a wonderful senior dog (she's the best girl, i had to mention her).

I'm Also not a big fan of loud or bright places, as i have sensory issues. Or things with harsh smells. I also don't like it when people talk through movies. I honestly can't think of many dislikes. That's really all i can think of for now.

Anyways, thank you. and i hope you have a lovely day :]

Hi Anon! Thank you for your request, and thank you for choosing me as the person to do your first matchup! Sorry it took a while. I hope you like your matchup!

In Mystic Messenger, I match you with...

You and V get along amazingly well. You’re both really creative people so you bond mainly over your art.

Constant compliments on your latest art project. It doesn’t matter if it’s nothing but a hastily scribbled idea on a scrap of paper, V’s complimenting it nonetheless.

He knows how wonderful and draining art can be so he thinks there’s no point in making negative comments. He’ll give you pointers and suggestions where needed but he’ll always help you focus on the best parts of your work.

If you’re comfortable with him taking photos of you, V will be capturing every moments he can. You’re hard at work on your latest project? He’s got a picture. Reading a book? Another photo. Playing with your senior dog? He’s pinned that photo on his wall because he loves it so much.

Speaking of, V loves your senior dog. He thinks she’s the most lovely creature of all time. He loves taking naps with her during lazy afternoons.

Since you both have sensory issues (though for completely different reasons), you and V can help each other out. If either of you notice something that might set off the other’s issues, you can help guide them away from it.

[byleranalysis]

You’re saying lightning is massive and then say st has a bigger budget than the avengers? 😂 one of the highest grossing films out there which you can google by the way there’s at least 4 avenger films in the top 10 including the most recent Spider-Man which all falls under marvel not to mention Disney links funding more money. Sorry but not buying st has a bigger budget with that one. Your biased shows highly too. Are we supposed to ignore the words spoken by characters? M said he loves E not w

The first Avengers has a budget lower than Stranger Things four. I was picking movies that are quite popular/people would recognize. I don’t like Marvel a whole lot if I am being honest.

Also… what am I supposed to feel by your words? Oh no! A marvel movie where a majority of the shots are CGI has a more expensive budget! Yeah? Budget is great. It plays into making each shot right and the creativity in being able to execute such. Disney will fire PA’s in an instant because they climb a ladder wrong, etc (happened to one of my friends rip). They are that specific with how sets are run because so much has to be right to get the frame you want (also safety/disney doesn’t like to be sued lol).

However, if I asked you who DP’d on those movies could you tell me? I know! Not because I am better or whatever but because I like to know who was in charge of the lighting department. Actually let’s take a look at that. Do you even know about the different departments on set? Let me remind you that this argument is about how looking deeper into shot composition is not looking into nothing. It’s literally why film is such an amazing medium. It’s visual. You can make every frame a painting! To think there is nothing deeper to them is like reading a classic book and saying there is no symbolism or figurative speech.

But let’s talk The Avengers. Cinematography Seamus McGarey in an interview he did— talks about his other work he has done aside from Avengers. It’s clearly obvious that lighting is used to heighten the audiences emotions and increase the subtext about the narrative. Note also: the camera is inherently incorporated in how he achieved these looks and feel.

Also— guess what? You talk about google? Why don’t you look up how importance visuals are in film or simply how they work.

Secondly, don’t trust the dialogue! You’re absolutely correct 👍🏻 It’s a “show, don’t tell medium”. While dialogue is important, it should be used to further understand the characters or provide depth that would otherwise not be known to the audience via visuals.

Wasn’t even trying to argue ships. I was simply explaining how shots are not just done for the aesthetic. There are millions of dollars being thrown on screen and to say there is no depth to such is throwing away the visual storytelling that is inherent to Stranger Things. Hell! The Duffers loved Spielberg growing up…

“The most amazing thing for me is that every single person who sees a movie, not necessarily one of my movies, brings a whole set of unique experiences. Now, through careful manipulation and good storytelling, you can get everybody to clap at the same time, to hopefully laugh at the same time, and to be afraid at the same time” - Spielberg.

If a movie or show has every made you cry, laugh, feel happy, or inspired— it’s from carefully manipulative things like lighting, shot type, etc, along with good storytelling.

I find it interesting that many are split about the monologue when the duffers have almost always been spot on with how the audience feels during a specific scene.

I feel every shot, every camera move, every frame, and the way you frame something and the choice of lens, I see all those things are really important on every shot. - Roger Deakins (easily the best cinematography… ever imo).

“The director of photography visualizes the picture purely from a photographic point of view, as determined by lights and the mood of the individual sequences and scenes. In other words, how to use angles, set-ups, lights, and camera as a means to tell the story” - John Alton

We disagree. Deal with it.

[dearestones]

Twisted Wonderland Matchup: Cater Diamond

Warnings: Fluff.

@danzalladaggers Request: Hello could I get a romantic twst matchup? I’m a bisexual, she/her pronouns. I headcanon myself in Ignihyde. For personality I’m creative, introverted, and individualistic. Though I’m introverted, around my friends I can be quite talkative, humorous and outgoing. However I definitely treasure my alone time the most. My interests are digital art focused. I’m currently in art school working with both digital mediums. I love my practice and everything from interaction design/coding to 3D Modeling to video/film to video game design to digital illustration. I do work in some traditional mediums like graphite and ink. As for hobbies escaping to new worlds while reading books/comics, watching movies, and playing rpg video games. My favorite genres are fantasy and sci-fi. I also love working out. Likes: coffee, chai tea, dark chocolate, rock/blues/jazz/indie music, cafe art shows, arcades, comic book stores, roller blading to classic rock, quality alone time. Dislikes: people i am unfamiliar with and have to make small talk with, the biting cold, rain, non fiction, staying too close to reality and not being allowed to daydream/roam freely in my thoughts, too much physical touch, overly crowded areas. Thank you!

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After going through the description given, I believe that you best pair well with Cater Diamond!

Even though you have many of the characteristics of an Ignihyde student, that doesn’t stop Cater from pursuing you. You might think that he wants to initiate a romantic relationship with you because it’ll make himself more approachable and trendy on Magicam, but that’s the farthest thing from the truth! Sure, he’ll want to take you out on cute dates and post pictures of the both of you looking adorable and romantic (with your permission), but it’s because he’s truly into you!

He may seem like a vivacious character on paper, but to be honest, he’s actually pretty introverted on the inside. Because most of his time is spent trying to please others and create an image of himself that is dissimilar to who he is on the inside, it’s no wonder that all he wants to do is find a person that he can be with if only to relax. 

With you, he feels like he can truly be himself. Not Magicam Cater. Not photogenic Cater. Just himself as Cater Diamond. When you go out on fancy dates to popular cafes in town or just hanging out in the dorm, you’ll find that his personality is somewhat muted compared to his much lighter and vibrant tones that he would often display on screen. Here, you’ll find that his smiles are softer, smaller, but they are so much more genuine. 

Even when the both of you go on certain dates that you think are only used as a ploy to get more followers and interactions on Magicam, his eyes are usually on you. His phone will always be poised for great pictures of you, both candid and posed. If you’re more on the shy side, he’ll back off from taking photos without your permission and he’ll double check if you want them posted. However, if you want to flaunt your style, not only will he trust you to take great photos of the both of you, he’ll also give you free reign to add filters and tags without any supervision!

Creativity and good humor go well in hand! It’s one of the things that attracted him in the first place. He’ll use those traits of yours to enhance his posts—actually, can you please update his tags so that they seem cute, but not cringy? He doesn’t want to let his adoring audience think that he’s lost his magic touch. 

Don’t worry if you think Cater can be overbearing at times. There are times when he can be self-aware that his overabundance of appearing trendy to the masses can be off putting to some people, but sometimes you need to tell him that you need room to breathe. At first, he’ll feel guilty for intruding in your personal space and taking too much of your time, but later on he will understand. There are times when he wants to be alone as well, it’s just that he forgets sometimes that spending time alone can be something that can be done without remorse or regret. 

Oooohhh, and you’re such a talented artist! Please, please, please, pretty please can he showcase some of your art on his Magicam? If not, he’ll try to convince you to make your own account so that you can show off your skills to the rest of the world! If you’re worried about not reaching a big enough audience, his social media handle will be more than enough of an impetus for people to start following you. 

(But mostly, he wants to watch you sketch in whatever medium you find the most comfortable. No time lapse videos, no pictures of your progress. All he wants to do is simply be with you, to be a part of the process even if he is just a spectator).

Cater loves skateboarding and you love rollerblading. Can he call this a match made in heaven? Pictures and videos are a definite must! Seriously, people would eat up such quality content of an influencer hanging out with his partner on their respective choices of cool transportation. And besides, instead of simply walking to dates, you can race each other to the arcade, cafes, or whatever worthwhile place you want to visit. 

As for your dislikes, after you’ve made your displeasure clear about certain things that he might have done (like too much physical contact and crowded areas), he’ll make sure to seek your permission first before breaching your boundaries. Again, he can be a bit much at times, and perhaps somewhat socially unaware when it comes to his personal relationships with others, but when it comes to you, he has his heart in the right place. He would love to hold your hand from time to time, though, so be on the lookout if he wants to intertwine your fingers together. (Don’t worry, it’s not for any photos). 

From what I can tell, Cater is a complex character that needs to be challenged by someone who is well aware of their boundaries and is willing to put him in his place if he gets too much. However, his needs for stimulation and need for validation from his followers will introduce you to a more spontaneous and fun loving lifestyle. Embrace it! Just like you would with Cater. 

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If you want to donate a Ko-Fi, feel free https://ko-fi.com/devintrinidad.

TWISTED WONDERLAND MASTERLIST

[seothe]

The Art of Newborn Photography: Capturing Precious Moments

Newborn baby photography is a beautiful method of keeping the earliest moments and the most precious days in the life of a child. These photographs become precious jewels, capturing the innocence and beauty of a baby as well as the fragility of the first days in life. Professional photographers for newborn babies try to create images that tell unique stories and give families memories that will last them forever. This blog will talk about the significance of newborn baby photography, how to prepare for a session, techniques used by photographers, and what makes this genre special.

1. Importance of Newborn Baby Photography

The newborn phase is short-lived since babies grow and change in a matter of weeks. Newborn baby photography will capture the essence of the phase, freezing early moments when every detail-from little toes to delicate eyelashes-is new. These images will prove priceless for parents and remain reminders of their child's earliest days.

Pictures taken during this time are full of deep emotion and love not only through the presence of the baby but also through the involvement of parents and siblings, making it a family affair.

2. Timing and Preparation: Planning the Perfect Session

Best time for baby photography is between 5 to 14 days after delivery. At these ages, babies are usually asleep and can be posed cutely without discomfort. This becomes difficult when babies are older and more alert and active.

Pre-Shoot Preparation :

Book in advance: A session can be booked even before pregnancy so as to book a time for a session.

Informing of preference: Communicate to the photographer of parents what they prefer-the natural candid shot or something done up with props in set positions.

Comfort for baby: Warmth and a nice comfortable place to hold baby and ensure he doesn't cry.

3. Settling Comfort and Security

Primary things needed with newborn baby photography is keeping the safety. Professional photographers know how to take a step while handling the baby along with making sure that each position the infant will be placed in keeps them safe and has everything put first, above its best interest. Here's one more definite dos with this type of photography:

Neck and head are supported entirely.

Soft props and pillows must be used so it never causes discomfort and never gets hurt.

Forced to not make any uncomfortable pain and harm.

In a studio, white noise or soft music usually calms the baby. Sessions would then be slow with breaks and feeding among others to keep a happy baby.

4. Newborn Photography Poses and Styles

Newborn photography encompasses so many styles for this style of baby photographs-from traditional studio portraits with almost a formal atmosphere in front of a backdrop. Others will take candid and natural-looking lifestyle shots done in their home. For popular newborn photography poses, the themes are as follows:

The Wrapped Pose: It is a pose in which soft blankets are used in order to carefully wrap the baby, leaving them to feel secure. It has a focus on the tiny size of the baby and delicate facial features.

The Froggy Pose: The pose presents an adorable and peaceful face by propping up the hands of the baby under its chin. Photographers use multiple images for this particular pose to make sure the baby's safety through composite editing.

Parent and Sibling Shots: These photos take the capture of the bonding between the baby and the rest of the family. Pictures of parents holding the baby and kids playing sweetly with the baby are common shots found in this category.

Lifestyle Photography: Candid photos that are organic in any setting at home and incorporate the baby in his or her living space, interacting with his or her parents, and exploring the new world in general.

5. Props and Themes: The Added Creative Touch

Props are also a popular medium in newborn photography to add creativity and uniqueness in it. Some common props are baskets, blankets, stuffed animals for the coziest setup; seasonal theme like Christmas outfits or autumn leaves; and some personal and sentimental items, like heirlooms or personalized accessories.

Props indicate the personality and style of a family during the session. However, it should be balanced with simplicity so the baby would still be the center.

6. Lighting in Newborn Photography

Lighting is a huge player in newborn photography: It is the one responsible for the mood and can be quite softening the shots. Natural light seems more common because it appears softer, warmer, and rather flatter, but photographers working with studios may well control this environment using professional lighting equipment.

Lighting Tips:

Softbox lighting produces smooth, diffused illumination like natural daylight

Window lighting creates a softer look with lifestyle photography.

Backlighting: It gives a soft, dreamy look, emphasizing the baby's slight features.

7. Editing and Post-Processing: The Fine-Tuning of the Final Image

At the end of the shoot, photographers fine-tune their images to achieve ultimate beauty. The fine-tuning process typically involves the following:

Baby skin is smoothed but not losing its natural texture

Colours are soft and pastel for a gentle look.

Composite images are made for challenging poses

Post-processing ensures there is perfect detail and still carries that original look of the baby's expression.

8. Emotional Impact: More Than a Picture Captured

Newborn baby photography is more than just cute pictures. It captures a moment in time. These pictures elicit emotions from parents long after they have been captured. They remind them of the early days of their baby, strengthening family ties and forming part of their family history.

Parents view these pictures to remember the happiness, love, and amazement they experienced when they first laid eyes on their baby. The images take on a whole new significance as the baby grows and changes, so that families can see how much things have changed.

9. The Right Photographer

The sheer fact that hiring the right photographer will make all the difference in a newborn session is immense. Look for a photographer who:

- Is experienced in newborn photography and knows safety measures inside out.

A portfolio that reflects what you want—posed, candid, or themed.

Recommendation letters and comments from happy clients.

Newborn professional photographers, such as the experts at Gisele Becker Photography, are masters in patience, creativity, and care with the small creature. With this expert attention, you are rest assured that every photo shoot experience would be both pleasant and meaningful for your baby, you, and your love for each other.

Conclusion: A Timeless Investment in Family Memories

This really makes all the difference as a good newborn baby photographer when taking that special baby's photo since time with their child is fleeting. Good photographs of this age group mean preparation with the photographer as well as creativity; all these factors bring great delight to a family's collection of photographs over years, just like those lifestyle shots candidly taken or some stylized studio portraits born through newborn photography, to present parents with an unparalleled treasure: time immortal photographs for one of the most significant experiences in life.

If you are looking to book a session, there's no better way to go than to book a professional photographer such as Gisele Becker Photography where you can ensure that this experience will be as memorable as the photos themselves. Such is how photographers blend their creativity with care and create the images that tell your family's unique story and preserve these memories for life.

[x----tine]

You recently published your second book of poetry, Goodnight Sweet Thing, and you’re known as a visual artist and filmmaker, too. At what point did you feel it was necessary to move between these different disciplines?

Well, I’ve always written poetry. I remember we first started studying poetry, in fifth grade, just Shel Silverstein and Robert Frost type stuff. We would have to write a lot of poems, and people liked my poem so much they would let me read them to them during the class, and I really enjoyed that. They were pretty silly poems, but ever since then, I didn’t really stop writing poetry. I didn’t really start taking it that seriously until I was 17 and that was the first time I was trying to get published.

I was very solitary, I had a best friend and she was also writing poems in high school, so I could only talk to her about it. I saw the Basquiat movie, the Julian Schnabel one, and I saw René Ricard’s character in it, and I was drawn to him because I was like, “Oh, he’s Puerto Rican,” and I’m Puerto Rican, and I hadn’t really seen anybody who was cool and Puerto Rican, into the things that I was into, that was also Puerto Rican. I looked him up and I found his book of poems, God with Revolver, which is my favorite book of poems. Most formative, for sure. His writing really influenced me, because I didn’t know that poems could be like that before I had been exposed to him. Very confessional and candid and like a knife being stuck into you.

I finally got published when I was 24 or something. I have a lot of poems from that time. A lot of the ones that I think are good enough are in the first book, which is the second half of [Goodnight Sweet Thing], that just spans a decade. I was being extremely picky.

To answer your question, though, when I was in high school, I was in TV production and had a crush on this punk kid who introduced me to Miranda July and David Lynch. I really wanted to impress him, and he used to stay after school and use the analog video editors to make video art. I was like, “Well, I guess I have to make a cool video, too.” I didn’t really think about it as video art then, but it totally is, and I was just making weird videos to impress him.

Because he was obsessed with The Wizard of Oz, I gave him this aluminum foil Tin Man that I made, and I put it in a Barbie box and painted it all and I made it look like it was prepackaged. I remember his impression of that. I didn’t really think about it as, “Oh, this is a sculpture,” or something, but I remember he was just so impressed by it. I guess he was the first person that really made me see myself as an artist. Seeing his response to it is what really made me feel like it was something that I really wanted to do. I think that experience was really formative, and he’s like a brother to me now.

What is your way into a poem? Does it start for you with a specific idea or an image, or is it something that’s kind of more malleable and amorphous, and is it similar with other mediums you work in?

They’re kind of different for me. With poetry, I would say it’s both. It depends on the poem. Sometimes I write a poem just for the sake of exercising the experience of writing a poem, which can be very playful and malleable, and I don’t usually know where that’s going to go. It’s just kind of a lot of word games, or just play with language, or just thinking about how the words connect. Also, there’s a natural impulsive intuitiveness to it. I would say most times I’m writing to document a feeling that I’m having, and I see them more like emotional pictures or something, of experiences that I’m having that I can’t really articulate or document in any other way, because I think those kinds of feelings are very fleeting, and I think that poetry is really good to capture fleeting emotion.

Earlier, when you were talking about how some of the poems that you didn’t put in your first book of poems, you were being really picky about it. What is it about looking at those that makes you say, “This is not something that I want,” or, “This is not up to my standard”?

I definitely have really high standards for what I reveal to the world, because I don’t want to embarrass myself, and I don’t like wasting people’s time. I feel like poetry in particular skirts a fine line between being really profound and beautiful, and being extremely corny and contrite. I’m always super mindful of that distinction.

I think poetry is definitely so vulnerable to me because it’s extremely personal, and it’s kind of the only space I give myself to be very direct and unapologetic. I feel like with my artwork, even if it has probably accents of that, it’s very mediated, just the very nature of it, the way that I’m presenting it.

Even if not all the poems are about me or about anybody, it’s very confessional. It’s funny because I looked back, I found the drive with all the really old poems, and I found all these ones that I’d never published, and I was like, “These are good.” I feel like it’s almost like, with the distance, I feel so removed from myself from over 10 years ago that I could look at it with more clarity. Whereas before, I don’t really know what that inhibition is, that kind of self-censorship feeling. Maybe I feel more sure of myself now that I have a lot more public validation.

In terms of reflecting on the totality of your career in arts, what is one thing that you wish you’d known when you were first starting out? Do you ever look back and say, “Maybe I should have done something differently?”

It’s funny because I was having a conversation about this with somebody the other day, and it’s a very dialectic thing. On one hand, choosing to be an artist, and I wasn’t the kind of artist that was like, “Oh, I want to do graphic design part-time or get a part-time job.” I was just like, “I’m all in.” I was a waitress. I’d done a lot of really random jobs, and the benefit of that is that I had preserved my own energy and my own time. But on paper, it was harmful in terms of kind of financial security. It’s really just a question of financial security versus your psychic security, because the time of the you afford yourself, or being on your on your own schedule. My energy gets really easily polluted by my environment, and if I’m in an environment that is really in opposition to myself for a very long time, it’s very hard for me to feel like I have the mental space to be where I need to be, to be creative in a way that is realistic.

My energy levels are so sensitive. I guess you can have a lot of critical acclaim, and it doesn’t mean that you’re going to have financial security. That’s all I need to say. It’s a very practical thing, but especially now, more than ever, the way social media has engineered this massive machine where we all have our own channels and we’re all kind of competing for attention to have the most visibility, and if you have the most visibility, then you have the most chances of having financial security, I think that’s what [people expect] the end result [to] feel like. After a certain point, you have a moment where you look back and you’re like, “Was it all worth it?”

I have asked myself that a lot lately, as I’m getting older, but for me, it was worth it. I wouldn’t be who I am. Material things aside, I feel very complete as a person, mentally, and I feel very happy with my internal space, and I think that’s just a trade-off. It’s what I need.

There’s a poem in Goodnight Sweet Thing titled “Change My Money with Your Life.” I’m thinking of the lines: “making cheap outfits yet again / poverty solutions.” How do artists, especially young artists, rectify that anxiety between needing to just make money and have our basic needs met, and also then time to create, while trying to build that career? Is it just trying to say yes to every opportunity that you can? Is it a mindset?

I think it depends on how young we’re talking. You do have to be careful about what context you place yourself in. I think when you’re really young, it’s normal to make a lot of mistakes or make decisions that you’ll regret later, maybe be embarrassed of. I certainly, have had to learn a lot. More than anything, I think you just have to have the drive. If you don’t have the drive and the will, this kind of urgency to express, then I think it’ll be very difficult, and maybe directionless, too. You have to have a strong drive in order to get anywhere with any creative field of this nature, like writing, when you’re the sole author, and it’s not a kind of commercial job. There’s a lot of loneliness in it, you’re doing it alone for so long, and you might always do it alone, and you just don’t know. It’s just probably one of the few jobs where you could work your ass off and do everything right, and there’s no promise that anything’s going to come of it.

If we were doctors, or, I don’t know, if we were in some corporate structure or something, there would be upward mobility that was very clear and delineated, for the most part. I know there’s issues with that too, but at least you would get a paycheck, I guess.

Do you ever hit a point where that urgency has ever gone away, and you’ve had to figure out how to get it back?

After I accomplished a certain number of things, I felt more subdued in my urgency, because I think before, it was like, I had to prove it to myself that my work was worthwhile or that people could connect to what I’m doing, but I have enough proof to know that people like what I do and that people do connect with it. Now, I still have compulsions to create things, and I could do so much more if I had more resources. Because I have had so much experience with various types of ways of presenting my work and working with other people, that I feel like probably this next decade would be the best for me creatively, and that would just depend on—mean, with or without this—but if I do get more financial investment on making things, I know that I could do stuff that’s really brilliant. I’ll just have to wait and see.

What is day-to-day life for you as a full-time artist?

Well, out of a lot of chaos, I have managed to create a very structured way of working for myself. That was not natural. It took many years for me to get to the place where I could organize my schedule. I can say I’m going to be at a certain time in certain place and do certain things, so I like to start my day with exercise. I like to go to the gym, and then I like to go to the studio. Because I have different mediums, it depends on what the deadlines are like, what the priority is, and if I don’t have any pressing deadlines, then it’s what’s most compelling to me personally. I juggle the filmmaking stuff, art stuff, and then the poetry. Poetry is more… I see poetry more as a hobby, if that makes sense, because it’s kind of like the performance art of literature. Only people who really like it do it. Anybody who does poetry is because they’re a real poet, I think, and I think that’s very beautiful, because you don’t have to censor yourself to kind of cater to any commercial needs. You can just let it be.

Is there anything that has surprised you about the business side of having to be an artist, even with poetry?

I have a lot of feelings about it. I mean, the artist has to do everything. They have to be their own administrator, manager, at least until you can afford to hire somebody to do it for you. We have wear so many hats throughout different phases of creative production. I feel like it would be very helpful if professors could have space to talk about the business of art in school. I don’t know how it is now, but when I was at school, it was kind of a taboo thing to talk about the practicalities of this profession, and I think I just felt so blind when I graduated from my bachelor’s. I had no idea how to make anything feasible in a kind of economy of art. It was only self-taught, really.

What would you say is the most useful thing that you’ve had to teach yourself about that process?

Don’t expect anybody to do anything for you, advocate for yourself and don’t low-ball yourself. I think a lot of times, artists and writers are put in a position to be grateful for any attention, because we’ve been vying so hard for attention for so many years. In the beginning, at least, I felt like it was like, “Oh my gosh, they want to do this thing.” You don’t think to yourself, “Oh, let me just ask for proper compensation.” With poetry, too, it’s the same, even having to… I know with bigger book deals, it’s not like this, but with smaller presses, you can get more fair royalties, 50/50, after production or whatever, of the cost. It’s very reasonable, but that seems like a hard thing to ask for, too.

I think a lot of people take the work for granted in terms of financial compensation. I can only speak for myself, but it felt like, “I’m going to get in trouble if I ask for it.” There were so many years of me selling myself short, but now I’m very clear about that, and I think creating a very practical way for you to get compensated fairly that fits for you, you’d be surprised. Most times you can get it.

How did you learn to make this shift?

Well, I think it’s just, maybe it was catastrophizing, thinking that, oh, if I ask for something, the other person’s going to be so insanely reactive that they’re going to want to rupture all ties or something, which is insane. That’s never happened to me. Really, the worst thing they can say is no, and that’s how I operate now. It’s good to exercise even thinking about what that looks like for you. What does fair compensation look like for you? Because, I felt like for a lot of time, I was just waiting for somebody to tell me, to be like, “Oh, this is what we give you.” If you just learn how to negotiate, you usually can get a little bit more, or everything that you wanted, and very rarely is it a hard no. Then, if it’s a hard no, you can decide if it’s worth any of it.

In terms of when you are working on a poem or a project or a film and it’s there, you’ve done it, how do you know when that feels ready?

It’s very personal. I generally don’t show work until it’s done unless I want feedback, but each process is different. Filmmaking is very communal, and it’s very collaborative, so it’s very natural to share multiple drafts and stuff of scripts and things with your producers or trusted people. With art, sometimes I’ll ask my husband. We share a studio and he’s an artist, too, and so we talk about that. I’ll ask him for feedback sometimes, but for the most part, I feel like I know when it’s done. It’s when I feel like, as I try to put myself in the position of the audience, and if I were to look at it, how would I assess it? I’m very strict, I have very definitive things that I look for that I find make me feel that it’s complete, it’s my own inner critic. Satisfying my own inner critic. When my inner critic is satisfied, then I feel like the work is done.

Are you willing to share some of your very strict rules that you have?

Don’t be lame, don’t be corny. The craft has to be there. I feel like I’m just such a craft snob. I just don’t respect people that don’t… I mean, whatever, it’s your thing if you don’t care about it, but it’s like, if you know about it, you know it when you see it. Also, every masterpiece has incorporated so much craft into it, and there’s no way that you can do it without thinking about it. Very rare, I think. I definitely have my own checklist across painting, film, poetry. Like, is it clean? Everything absolutely has to be there. If there’s anything that doesn’t have to be there, it doesn’t belong there. Making sure that it’s well-made on top of everything. Don’t sell yourself short. This is your product. This is what you’re giving to the world. There’s nothing worse than wasting a person’s time. People who spend time reading a book or watching a movie or going out of their way to go to a museum or art show to see something, why would you waste their time, but also waste your own time? Why would you waste your own time to not ask yourself these questions? It’s just, I’m a very rigorous person, I guess is what I want to say, and I expect this of other people, and I expect it of myself, so I’m not lax with myself, because when it’s there, it’s there.

It’s about being hard on yourself, but in the right way, right?

Yeah, because you don’t want to be hard enough that you don’t do anything. It’s really having the kind of distance where you can really be clear. Don’t have a big ego, because if you have a big ego, you’re setting yourself up for a lot of failure. I don’t think things should feel too easy. Sometimes things are easy and they’re flowing, but I mean, there’s so much that we digest culturally and in media, visually, words. We consume so much, so you want to be able to distill or separate the stuff that your brain is just processing from what your actual expression is, versus repeating another expression. Or maybe this expression feels normal because of our societal roles or something, but you don’t realize that your expression is hurtful to other people, because you’re not thinking about your societal role. It’s hard articulate. I’ve never really had to think about it in this way, but I just expect the same for myself as what I expect from the things that I love most, that I feel are really moving, strong works, and that’s what I aspire to do, is to make really strong, moving works. I see it as an Olympian challenge.

Some Things

Cristine Brache Recommends:

The books: God With Revolver by René Ricard, Making Of by Mara Mckevitt, and The Kiss by Kathryn Harrison.

The film, Funeral Parade of Roses (1969) by Toshio Matsumoto.

Weegee’s 1940s photo series of New York City’s moviegoers entitled, Movie Theaters and Kohei Yushiyuki’s 1970s photo series, The Park.

The song “Cowboys and Angels” by George Michael.

[drew-mga2022mi6011]

Research | A Breakdown of the Possibilities

After looking at all the winning and other miscellaneous entries to the Silent Book Contest, I really wanted to understand what exactly it is that I could do for this module. As such, I decided to ask myself two key questions that could help enrich my final submission.

What are the key aspects of my brief? How can I explore them?

"The book project must not contain words, with exclusion of the title and possible subtitle. The narration must be realized exclusively through the illustrations and have narrative and stylistic coherence. There are no limits regarding age or reader group, and the subject matter is open. The illustrations featured in the book projects can be in colour or black and white, with unlimited traditional or digital techniques and media."

The entire premise of this project revolves around creating a story that is narratively and stylistically coherent. But what even is a narrative? Does it need to be linear? How abstract can I push the concept of a "story"?

My story would be based in the ideas of the extinction of the Atlas Lion and French Colonialism in the North African region, told through the journey of self acceptance in a desolate world. Do I make these ideas as clear as day to the average reader, or do I want to leave these things up to interpretation?

I mentioned in an earlier blog post that I wanted to create a story that speaks to the human condition, to existence and emotions. Does that story need to be explicitly coherent? For example, Neon Genesis Evangelion is a critically acclaimed anime focusing on the mental state of the main character, and is famously known for not being comprehensible on first watch. However, the themes of the story and its creators ideology come through magnificently through the visuals. I don't want to create a story that is necessarily confusing, as some form of narrative coherence is required, however I think leaning into this abstract idea of a narrative may be for the best going forward.

Additionally, the age group and subject matter being left open provides an interesting opportunity to create something that might not necessarily be just for children. The previous winners of the competition tended to create childrens' books, which is an idea I want to stray away from. I do not want to lock children out so much as expand my demography beyond children through the multi-layered storytelling approaches I intend to pursue.

As the illustrations could be in colour or black and white, one idea that I had was that the majority of the book project could be in black and white, but as the main character learns to accept themselves the palette would slowly become more vivid and bright, representing a paradigm shift in the main character. The option to use non traditional media also creates an interesting opportunity for mixing media for narrative purposes. The place in which the story takes place, the Atlas Mountain range, is topographically and texturally diverse, morphing from sands to cliffs to snowed areas, each of which the Barbary Lions were known to inhabit.

Overall, this brief offers a sense of freedom that others do not, which allows for ample creative expression down to the simplest of concepts such as narratives and media.

What can my chosen medium achieve that no other medium can?

As a book, the potential for creativity is far less than an animation for example, however the analogue nature of the medium does provide some interesting quirks. Certain restrictions have been placed on more apparent physical features such as the submission of pop-up books, however the perks of being a product that will eventually be printed creates interesting opportunities to experiment with capturing emotions with a single image. As the saying goes, a picture speaks a thousand words.

Since the art that I am producing also does not need to be animated, that means I can add much more detail than I would if I was making an animation within the same time frame. Finally, it also allows me to be more abstract, as not every illustration needs to necessarily lead into the next, as long as the idea of narrative coherence is preserved.

This exercise in exploration has really helped me narrow down what exactly I want to do in terms of the medium of my project. Now I can move on to previsualisation and developing the ideas that I already have.

[aspectabundgaze]

It's Just Memes, Myself & I!

Do I like memes?? Heck yeah! Who doesn't like them? Ah, memes, my digital best friends in this oh so very vast online landscape. I gotta admit to you guys, got this soft spot for these pictures, short videos, gifs (geef or jeef, potato puhtatoe, same thing, okay?) that I often see on Tumblr, Twitter (I refuse to call it by its new name) and occasionally Instagram. Truly makes me laugh, giggle, and even chuckle. Now according to Merriam-Webster, a meme is an amusing or interesting item, often encapsulated in a captioned picture or video, that spreads like wildfire across social media. I enjoy in the feeling of silliness  they bring to my screen, offering that soft tiny bit of happiness it gives from the turmoil my daily life also gives. But I am here to talk about political memes. I find myself walking on this fine line. While I'm not the biggest politics fan out there, I understand the power these visual anecdotes hold behind my screen. These type of memes serves as picture-perfect companions to complex political narratives, like pictures or drawn illustrations you’d found in a book or descriptions next to artifacts in a museum. Even when politics gets a bit too serious or complex for my taste, these memes become a show how digestible snapshots, allowing someone like me to sort of decode the intricate storyline of the political realm with a touch of humour and feeling that media being relatable.

Personally, I grew up with memes, especially in the late 2000s and early to mid 2010s. But one thing I noticed from reading comic strips from newspapers like The Borneo Post is that it has made me realize that memes and politics go WAY back. Like I said in my previous statement, memes showed up to be this dynamic and engaging medium for conveying political information, creating a wedge between laughs and frowns without trying so hard. By making complex political issues into concise and relatable formats, let’s not lie to ourselves and say that memes aren’t making politics more accessible to a broader audience. Their effectiveness lies within engaging with younger people, taking advantage of the presence of social media platforms. The share this on my timeline quality and viral nature of memes contribute significantly to the rapid dissemination of political messages, creating dialogue and discussions among diverse groups of people. However, like what Spider-man’s Uncle Ben said “With great power comes great responsibility”. It is a reminder for consumers to approach political memes critically, verifying information for accuracy and being mindful of potential biases embedded in the humor. 

Mortensen, M., & Neumayer, C. (2021), states that using memes are considered to be playful appropriations are used to move and demarcate frontiers in various political, cultural, and platform-specific contexts. Memes, as a form of playful appropriation, challenge and regenerate populism, carving out spaces for new identity to be formed while creating a sense of togetherness when things seemed tense. Playful humour in politics involves the creative appropriation of contexts at the intersection of the political and the humorous, allowing for a critical approach to political issues through creative expression. Mortensen & Neumayer also talked about the downsides of memes being used in politics, as it can also be a took contributing to the normalization of racist, sexist, discriminatory jokes and in the wrong hands, could be used for extremism to flourish. The constant playful appropriation of contexts and the contrast of new frontiers allow memes to effortlessly travel between subcultures and wider media environment (Mortensen, M., & Neumayer, C., 2021).

Like I said again and again, memes are amazing, it can be used to contribute to discussions about political issues in a productive way but I've seen it gone down in a Oh. Ma. Gawd. WHAT? kind of way. It has this potential to oversimplify things, causing people to not really understand the bigger issue. And sometimes, I've seen people make memes related to politics and human rights and used it to make a mockery out of the struggles and hard work people put into solving or easing the problems. You might be wondering, why is everything so repetitive. It is repetitive for a reason. With the main purpose to explain how memes = good but also memes = bad. You can make a light joke with a meme about a movie, a fashion show, maybe history but politics? It also depends where you are too. So before I end this post, let’s just say that it’s good to find humour and relativity in memes when it comes to politics, but don’t depend onto it too much that it becomes your sole source on understanding political issues.

References

Mortensen, M. and Neumayer, C., 2021. The playful politics of memes. Information, Communication & Society, 24(16), pp.2367-2377, viewed 29 November 2023

Meme definition & meaning', Merriam-Webster, Merriam-Webster, viewed 30 November, 2023, <https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/meme>

[vermilionhealth]

3 Easy Steps to Creating an Effective and Motivating Vision Board!

Visualizing what you really want in life can be one of the most powerful ways to manifest your dreams.

A vision board can be a simple and yet truly powerful tool in visualization.

Vision boards are also known as goal maps, goal boards and treasure maps, and the concepts behind them have been used for generations.

Still, they're gathering renewed interest as people realize how powerful they can be in bringing dreams to life.

Use these 3 simple steps to create this tool for yourself:

1. A vision board begins with a foundation. This may be a poster board, foam board, tri-fold board, or cork board. Whether your dream is to lose weight or bring in more abundance into your life, use what works best for you. Choose a foundation that speaks to you, one that you feel you can easily and effectively build upon.

2. A vision board includes imagery. You can clip pictures out of books, magazines, or the newspaper. If you prefer, you can draw the images yourself. What matters here is that images are present, because your vision board needs to be visual in nature. Seeing pictures of your priorities, dreams, and goals will help you focus on them.  Allow yourself to experiment with different mediums while creating the images for your vision board. Find photographs, sketches, clip art and other images; then draw any subjects for which you couldn't find an appropriate piece of art.

3. A vision board includes writing. Writing isn't mandatory, but it can play a role in identifying the key pieces of information. You want to make sure that you can look at your vision board at any point in the future and know exactly what you intended by each picture, word or thought included on it.

Your goal map is limited only by the extent of your personal creativity.

It may be simple and strategic or it may be a highly detailed work of art.

Ultimately, it's up to you to decide what best suits your needs.

The general elements in an effective and motivating vision board are:

1. Visual. Your subconscious mind tends to work in terms of images and pictures, and so your vision board should be as visual as you can possibly make it. Supplement the images with phrases and words as needed.

2. Emotional. Every image on your goal map should evoke some type of positive emotional response out of you. Seeing it should fuel your motivation to achieve your dreams.

3. Strategic. This tool should be placed strategically in a location where you receive maximum exposure to it. Seeing your vision board as often as possible will help you stay focused on your goals and dreams.

4. Personal. Your vision board needs to emit positive energy. If you think that you'll be criticized or forced to justify yourself for your vision board, then keep it in a private location so nobody else can bother it or you.

Beyond these basic guidelines, let this tool be whatever you want to make of it.

Ultimately, it's yours to design, develop and utilize as you see fit.

You can add to it and change it over time as your goals and focuses change.

If you love today’s tips, please share!

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