#especially west australian culture

[rebellum]

To me the autism to autism communication thing seems very interestingly like cross cultural communication. Idk it reminds me of how while I love speaking to people from the middle east who moved/are visiting here, because they're SO FRIENDLY by canadian standards, if they're new here then they also often don't know about Canadian personal space bubbles, which are rather large by many cultures standards. Like they'll just stand like.. right there. Just in front of me. Speaking directly into my face. And to them I'm sure canadians seem rather standoffish and a little cold, like how Scandanavians seem to Canadians.

[whenua-and-moana]

Banaba

How the West Made an Island Unhabitable (and Consumed its People's Bones)

Banaba, aka Ocean Island, is a small island in Micronesia. It's legally part of Kiribati [kih-rih-bas] but geographically, culturally, and politically very distinct. At three hundred kilometres from its nearest neighbour, Banaba is one of the most isolated places on earth.

It is also among one of the most ecologically devastated.

In the 1900's, a UK / Aotearoa / Australian owned mining company dug up and shipped away huge amounts of Banaba's phosphate-rich soil for use as fertilizer. They grew rich and created Aotearoa's massive agricultural industry from literal stolen land.

More than just the physical earth was taken. Phosphate mining stripped the layers where Banabans had buried their dead for thousands of years. The dust of their bones fed the lands of the West, creating rich green fields that Banabans would never see the profits of.

When I say 'huge amounts' of earth; 90% of the island's surface was stripped away.

[Left image: an aerial view of Banaba showing a roughly oval island with no vegetation in the centre. The outside is ringed by a thin strip of forest. Right image: a photo of the edge of a mining area. In the background is a forest, but then the ground drops off sharply into irregular rocky terrain.]

The ancient sacred caves were destroyed. The island's only source of fresh water was irreversibly polluted and left it unusable to this day. The interior of Banaba became one great hollow of uneven rock, so full of dips and pillars that it is now almost completely impassable on foot. It was left a barren land.

Banaba is not the only Pacific island devastated by phosphate mining; most notably, its neighbour Nauru had 80% of its surface stripped away. But nowhere has been exploited to quite the same extent as Banaba.

There were further indignities and horrors inflicted on the Banaban people, including indescribable atrocities carried out by Japanese occupiers during WWII, and tbe Britain-led forceful relocation of Banabans to Rabi Island in Fiji. Many still live there today. Others have migrated away.

[Image: Banaban girls performing a traditional dance on Rabi Island.]

The traumatic experiences of Banabans, the mass murders and the separation from their ancestral land have all caused significant cultural loss. This includes the loss of the Banaban language.

Approximately three hundred Banabans have returned to their home island, surviving due to supplies shipped in every few months. The only freshwater source remains unusable and severe droughts strike Banaba every three to four years. Although a desalination plant exists there, the vulnerability of the island became all too clear in 2021 when the plant broke down in the middle of a drought. It took three months for repair equipment to arrive. During that time the residents had no fresh water. Their only food was fish because all of their crops had died. They survived by sucking the liquid from fish eyeballs.

And an Australian mining company wants to do it all again.

Part of the reason that people returned to Banaba, despite the difficulties of life there, was to protect it from further mining. But in August last year, the Australian mining company Centrex announced a plan to restart phosphate mining on Banaba. The plan has been paused due to protests from the Banaban people, but it could be restarted again at any time.

We cannot leave it here. If you want to do one small thing to help, you can sign this petition from Banaban community leaders to stop the proposed new phosphate mine. But more than that, Banabans have been campaigning for Australia and Aotearoa to fund ecological restoration projects, especially for the sacred caves that were once the island's source of fresh water. As Katerina Teiawa says:

"We need to move away from this same continuous narrative of ‘the poor Banaban people, who have no water, help them’ and move towards an approach that is actually finding a solution.

This whole thing is a series of crises. We can’t just keep telling the story of devastation and vulnerability over and over again. Where does the crisis end, if not with justice?"

[historia-vitae-magistras]

Could you go into the meaning behind the aesthetics? I'm intrigued but I'm uncertain if I'm fully grasping everything I want too!

Character by character? Sure. Clockwise from the top left: young anglos only I will have to do the others another time

Alfred: Clockwise from the top left: chalkboard to represent his math and science oriented brain from early days especially as he predates calculus in multiple handwritings to show the collaboration of science. Lady liberty emerging from the fog, his ideals looming over him. The microscope is a sign of innovation. The moon is his hops and ambitions ever upward. The car both the american auto industry and the innate loneliness of it. The national bird, the eagle in flight, the ferocity and aim he often has for his goals. the horseshoes for the old west but also the odd nostalgia Alfred has for things that never were. Then the star, rusting on a warship. theoretical end of empire but never the end of american airpower. And finally his portrait is his spacesuit. The only one without hair/visible human features because no country has ever projected such a strong image around the world and it obscures him.

Matt: Whittling with a small knife because he's got anxiety and a lot of woods. a looming moose for the darker force and mystery of nature and his own personality. Pancakes because he's a domestic fuck when permitted. a hatchet. Lots of wood an also war crimes. his tools are often weapons too. Maple tapping. A reliance on the natural resources at his disposal that shaped his culture tightly. man's outline in front of a fire is for Matt's propensity for salt and burning and personally annihilating obstacles when properly motivated. sunrise through a frosted window. Spring and hope rising over winter and despair. A repeating rifle. He too, is the result the arms of empire. And finally his 'portrait' a young man facedown in the sheets, lots of curls. This one is popular for Matt aesthetics for the hair but he's a tired, depressive bastard who tends to linger in safety rather than push himself for better.

Jack: a selection of fossils. The happiest part of his childhood was in natural history but these very collections are soaked in empire. A kangaroo and joey. His fauna but also his instincts of aggression about his environment and sometimes his sister. Meat pies because they're popular but also, born a penal colony he lacked a lot of agency over his own food and being as fast growing as he was he's a chronic snacker. map of Australia. could be self explanatory but even all the way down there he's pretty concerned about his place in the world and tends to look at himself at globes when he sees one. Two horses. Man and his country love to race but also I picked two because he really is not a person who prefers to be alone for long periods of time, as misanthropic as he can be. Surfboards: he loves his water-sports but the sunny, 'no-worries, mate' attitude too. Coffee on books. He's always been very keen to prove his wine, coffee, cuisine and tastes can stand up to the snobs and a flat white was an Australian invention. Golden wattle is the national flower and symbolizes resilience, often appearing first after fires and floods. And finally the portrait. A young man with a collar pulled up and one hand on the back of his neck, pondering his future? being a bit sheepish? both suit him.

Zee: Two sheep gently headbutting each other. Sheep and a stubborn affection is something she shares with Jack even if it probably influenced her culture more. Books because she's the best educated of her generation for a long time but the titles for birds, fairytales and oxford classic texts are for her famous birds, her two sets of folklore and culture and her oxford education. Kiwi box on bike handlebars. Bicycles were a massive part of early feminism and her own independence. The box and kiwi silhouette see something she probably knocked together herself. She's handly like that. Silver ferns are a national symbol and very hard to kill, resilient and the shape is very elegant and invokes Māori art and resistance. A grumpy looking Kea. This image looks very cranky but they're the goofiest and probably smartest birds on the face of the earth. Map of new zealand on a globe. Her name is bigger than she is on the map because its somewhat imposed on her nd there's also her brother always in the corner. A canoe or boat to symbolize her maritime culture, but also her own ability to build and engineer and pilot one. Her portrait I chose a woman with her hair type elegantly put up and looking away, back to a wall, a hint of a smile on her face because she has her strict lines and a slog of struggles but also a pretty decent place in the world.

[ladyimaginarium]

Indigenous History Month ask game !

What is your Indigenous identity/identities?

Are you connected, semiconnected reconnecting or disconnected to your culture?

What is your favorite indigenous character? (Canon, headcanon and OC's are okay!)

What does your indigeneity mean to you?

Where are your traditional lands?

What's something that you'd like to see for indigenous representation in media and why?

Can you speak your traditional indigenous language(s)? If so, can you say something in it?

Can you share some traditional knowledge if possible?

If you're connected, semiconnected or reconnecting, can you share a favorite traditional story of your people?

What's an unpopular opinion you have?

What's an intracommunity discussion you'd want to see be talked about more?

Do you have any pet peeves surrounding your community?

How does your indigeneity effect your queerness?

How does your indigeneity affect your plurality, if you are plural and if applicable?

What are your peoples' architecture like?

If you could share one thing with your ancestors, what would it be?

Indigenous vampires or Indigenous werewolves?

What's something you'd want nonindigenous peoples to understand?

What is your faith, if applicable?

Do you practice your traditional indigenous religion?

If you don't practice your indigenous religion, what do you practice, if applicable?

What's something that you feel the loss of with colonization?

Do you own traditional attire?

What is your favorite cultural clothing?

Do you have plant & ecological knowledge?

What's something that makes you proud of your indigeneity?

How has decolonization impacted you?

How do you show up for your community?

Who's your favorite indigenous celebrity, if applicable?

What's something you'd want to say to your future descendants, biological or otherwise?

Note: this is by Indigenous people for Indigenous peoples ONLY! While this was mostly made for Indigenous peoples of Turtle Island, it's by no means exclusive to these groups, it's not specific to one culture, but nor is it open for all POC to use. This inherently includes First Nations, Métis, Inuit, Indigenous Americans, Alaska Natives, Greenlandic Inuit / Kalaalit Nunaat, Indigenous Mexicans, Indigenous Central Americans, Indigenous peoples of Abya Ayala (South America), Afroindigenous people in the diaspora (ie Black ndns, Black Americans, Black Canadians, Black South Americans, Black Carribeans, Black Mexicans, etc), Indigenous Africans (Maasai, Somalis, Tigrayans, Xhosa, Zulu, etc), African Diasporic Asians (ie the Siddi in India), Pasifika (Native Hawaiians / Kanaka Maoli, Polynesians, Melanesians, Micronesians, etc.), Aboriginal Australians & Torres Straits Islanders, Māori, Papuans, Black Austronesian peoples, colonized people in China (ie Tibetans, Uighurs, etc), the Ainu of Ainumoshir & Ryūkyūans/Okinawans of Ryūkyū in Japan, colonized people in India, Central Asia & Southeast Asia, Indigenous Taiwanese, peoples of West Asia (Indigenous Palestinians, Jewish people predominantly in the diasporas, Armenians, Kurds, etc.), Indigenous Europeans (Sámi, Karelians, Basque, Crimean Tatars, Irish Travellers, etc.), Indigenous Siberians, Romani & mixed race indigenous peoples! Do not use these for yourselves if you're not Indigenous in any way and especially not if you're white. Zionists, Kahanists, blood quantum purists & enrollment enforcers & assimilated Indigenous peoples who have no intention of connecting to their cultures whatsoever & do not fight for indigenous sovereignty DNI with this post. Please no discourse in the notes or with each other, I want us all to be kind to each other and to have fun with each other, ty!! 💕

[mybeingthere]

Bark paintings by John Mawurndjul.

John Mawurndjul (born 1951) is an Australian contemporary Indigenous artist. He uses traditional motifs to express spiritual and cultural values, and is especially known for his traditional cross-hatching style of bark painting techniques.

Mawurndjul was born in 1951 in Mumeka, a traditional camping ground for members of the Kurulk clan, on the Mann River, about 50 kilometres (31 mi) south of Maningrida. He is a member of the Kuninjku people of West Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, and grew up with only occasional contact with non-indigenous people.

He was tutored in rarrk, a traditional painting technique using fine cross-hatching and infill by his uncle Peter Marralwanga and elder brother Jimmy Njiminjuma and began producing small paintings on bark. During the 1980s he began producing larger and more complex works, and in 1988 won a Rothmans Foundation Award.

During the 1990s his work was included in major exhibitions dealing with Aboriginal Australian art, such as Dreamings in New York (1988), Crossroads in Japan (1992), Aratjara: Art of the first Australians in Germany and the UK (1993–1994), and In the heart of Arnhem Land in France (2001).

In 2000, Mawurndjul's work was amongst that of eight individual and collaborative groups of Indigenous Australian artists shown in the prestigious Nicholas Hall at the Hermitage Museum in Russia. The exhibition received a positive reception from Russian critics, one of whom wrote: "This is an exhibition of contemporary art, not in the sense that it was done recently, but in that it is cased in the mentality, technology and philosophy of radical art of the most recent times. No one, other than the Aborigines of Australia, has succeeded in exhibiting such art at the Hermitage. (retold from wiki)

Images are via newguineatribalart.

[psychotrenny]

Sorry I’m stupid but I want to understand more. Is an Anglo an English European-decent(?) speaker with no Spanish heritage (aka not Hispanic) and if yes is that often relevant in discussions abt the fictional concept of race and ethnicity? I feel like in America whiteness usually is treated as a monolith so even if u speak Spanish as long as it’s Spain Spanish no one cares but I might be wrong and completely unknowlagable abt the sub-divisions of white in America (or ur not even American and so it’s just relevant to where u live so u put it in ur bio)

Oh I put Anglo in my bio because I spend a lot of time on the internet talking to people from outside Anglophone nations so it felt relevant to note that I'm culturally and linguistically English/English-Adjacent. Anglo is a loose term with a specific meaning that can vary depending on context but I'd normally use to mean someone whose cultural/ethnic background is of a majority English-Speaking nation (as opposed to say a nation that uses English as an official language but most people still retain indigenous first languages for use at home), especially if they themselves speak English as their first language. For me specifically I'm an Australian entirely descended from North West Europeans; mostly Cornish (a traditionally celtic speaking people who had been assimilated into speaking English by the end of the 18th century) and Lowland Scottish (a people who by the 14th century spoke Scots, an Anglic Language related to but distinct from English) with some English, Welsh, Irish and Breton if you look far back enough. Still, even if I had non-British heritage I'd probably still consider myself Anglo if I lacked any sort of real cultural connection to it. The fact that I'm neither geographically or lineally *English* English is why I use a broad term like "Anglo" rather than "English" more specifically

[mintaikk-deadaccount]

Trying to be more positive, and I don't like people associating me with things I hate irl, so here are some things I love. Reblog this with things you love!

-Art. Pretty much any art. Paintings, sculptures, digital art, traditional art, etc

-Cartoons. I really like shows like Pokemon, Helluva boss, Hazbin hotel, Lego monkie kid, Bluey, and my favorite cartoon movie is The Lego Batman Movie

-Drawing. Definitely one of my favorite things, and I do it all the time. My entire account is a drawing blog, lol

-Video games. I'm not really a "gamer" in the traditional sense, but I love video games like Pokemon, Hollow Knight, Minecraft, and I'm trying out Cookie Run Kingdom

-Pokemon is going in its own little section. I literally have about 5 roleplay blogs for it, lol. I also really love drawing Pokemon and studying the lore of the games

-Birds. I really love birds! I have bird feeders which I haven't filled in a awhile, but I loved watching the birds come down and eat. I hear a crow and a Bluejay every morning, but I've only seen the Bluejay once, and I really want to see them again! And there's a Robin, a Sparrow, and a dove couple that live in my tree and I really love them

-Plush toys. Most of them are in the basement as I redecorate my room, but there are some that I still sleep with. My favorite one is this teddy bear named Bosco

-Plants and herbs. I find that stuff very interesting, and I love learning about plant life and the different uses and symbolism of flowers and herbs

-Mythology and fairytale. I love going around and reading books and fairytales from different cultures. I'm currently reading 2 books called Journey to the West, an old 1600s Chinese book, and the Red Swan, which is a book containing a bunch of Native American myths

-Crystals. I have a Crystal's collection, and I really enjoy learning about them

-Demonology and whatever the study of angels is called. I have like 30 page papers on different demons and angels in Abraham's religions because I find that stuff so interesting! Thank my sister for letting me rant to her for 30 minutes about it, lol

-Moths. Moths are very cute. My favorite moth is the Luna Moth (even if they only live for a week in their moth form, lol)

-Possums. Opossums are one of my favorite animals, but Australian Possums are cute too

-Fashion. I like a bunch of different fashion senses, especially androgynous and alternative fashion

-Weirdcore, dreamcore, and traumacore. It teaches us not to be afraid of the unknown, and can help people cope with their trauma

-Music. Music is my entire life. My favorite genres are classical, rock, screamo, whatever fantasy music is called, pop, and showtoons, and whatever the genre for video game music is called

-Stickers, pins, figurines, etc. They're all very cute

-The cafe aesthetic. I don't go to many cafes because I don't live near many where you can sit down, but I still really like them.

-Borzois. They're so freaking goofy

-Goijg on walks. Mostly at the evening, because that's my favorite time of day

-Room decorating. Currently decorating my room right now, and planning on how to do it is very fun

-Shipping. As someone who doesn't really care for dating, I really like shipping characters in fiction

-Cryptids. I love cryptids a lot! And I p9ve studying them as well

-Mythical creatures. I love them a lot. Fairies, dragons, sirens, etc

-Cottagecore. Nature also works, bit cottagecore has a nice feeling to it. The scenery is very comforting to me

-Mushrooms. Mushrooms are very interesting, and I like the names and visuals of them. The food is okay

That's all I can think of right now, lol. Thanks for reading if you got this far!

[mattydemise]

I remember when Australia had a distinct identity and the more media you’re exposed to, the worse it gets. This is what happens when you grow up watching American television series and movies, being exposed to nonstop American propaganda. I grew up resenting Australia because it wasn’t America. I even got myself an American honey because no Australian was good enough for me. The reality is that after I grew up and as I’ve matured I realised that America isn’t this infallible empire and the last bastion of humanity. In fact, it’s the opposite. American culture has bled into every country in the west. Good thing, bad, that’s up to you to decide, but I distinctly remember Australia being different than it is today, especially the youth culture which is now an extension of the worst aspects of the urban America you see in the media.

DO NOT LET SOCIAL MEDIA TURN YOU INTO AN AMERICAN

[patheticbatman]

West of the Sun, East of the Moon Explanation

Main Text • Glossary

So this is the second longest story I’ve ever written, clocking in at 31 printer pages if you condense the formatting. And that’s not including this or the dictionary I whipped up! 

In terms of Ada, this started because of the Avatar the Last Airbender (ATLA) resurgence of 2020. If you know anything about ATLA, you know the show is largely based on East Asian cultures, with little bits of Southeast Asia, South Asia, West Asia and Alaskan cultures thrown in. The Fire Nation is largely based on Japan with SEAsian tidbits. The Earth Kingdom is largely based on China, Korea, and a little bit South and West Asia. The Air Nomads and the Air Nation are based by Himalayan cultures. The Northern Water Tribe is basically a European fantasy country with enough ice and Alaskan culture details to make it seem different. The Swamp Tribe is SEAsian inspired. And the Southern Water Tribe is the most based on Eastern Russian and Alaskan cultures (this including those cut off by the USA/Canadian border) prior to colonization, with a bit of Indigenous Australian flair in terms of Sokka’s boomerang, but is the least portrayed and the least accurate of the show. 

I follow a blog called mostly-mundane-atla (MMA) on Tumblr, and they’re Iñupiat. They talk about the show from an actual Indigenous Alaskan perspective, share details from various cultures from that area, nuances that the show missed out upon, and hold a little art festival called Kuspuk week. As the show mimics the early era of colonization for Alaskan peoples, that would mean kuspuks would exist, as they were an invention of that period. But the show keeps its Water Tribe members in parkas, to make them feel (to a less knowledgeable audience) more simple and old-fashioned. A choice with which MMA strongly disagrees, as it distances and romanticizes audiences from actual Indigenous peoples alive today. To put it plainly, they’re tired of that treatment, which is very common in media. MMA wants more modern representation! Indigenous people are NOT extinct and remnants of the past - they are alive!

All this to say, West of the Sun, East of the Moon (WSEM) was inspired by MMA’s efforts to encourage accurate portrayals of living Indigenous people, especially Indigenous Alaskans.

The tale, originally called ‘East of the Sun, West of the Moon’, is one of my favorite fairy tales - I think one of the first adaptions I read was Edith Pattou’s East. It fits into the Cupid and Psyche type tales, which to modern audiences would likely be grouped under ‘Beauty and the Beast’ type tales. I love those types of stories to bits and pieces. But frankly, it’s been done a billion times, and the combination of ‘white girl with non-white Beast man’ has definitely been overdone.

But when my pan-but-in-the-closet Dominican-American friend Laurie, on whom Dani is based, and who also enjoys those types of romances, nearly moved to Alaska for a nursing degree oppurtunity, I had an idea. Instead of writing a story about a white girl trapped into learning to accept a Man of Color despite his rough edges and (to her) peculiarities (also known as cultural elements outside those of the majority), what if

The ‘bear’ was a nonbinary lady

The ‘bear’ was not cursed. Many tales make becoming an animal a punishment, and many modern fantasy movies especially put this punishment on characters of color. For example, the majority Disney movies that have a main character of color have that character spend the majority of the run-time in different bodies. It’s an institutional racism thing, not wanting to depict People of Color as much and feeling the need to punish them in this way.

The ‘bear’ was in a happy, comfortable environment

The ‘girl’ chose to be there far more willingly, and can leave far more easily.

The ‘bear’ and ‘girl’ get together at the beginning and like each other. 

The ‘bear’ actually helps the ‘girl’ explore her own aspects of her heritage she repressed to fit with the majority

The ‘bear’ does not have to mimic all recognizable signs of (Western, colonialistic) civility to be loved prior to being ‘fixed’

For again, the ‘bear’ does not need to change and stays a ‘bear’

The ‘bear’ gets to keep his bear form. I always thought it was lame that he couldn’t turn back if he so desired. And besides, the ‘bear’ type character should not have to give up all that makes them not align with what is normal for the majority. 

The ‘girl’ learns to detach herself from her unhealthy family but not reject her roots

The ‘bear’ is not the only one keeping secrets - in this story, the ‘girl’ tortures herself with her instinct to bite her tongue, after years of crap from her family.

The ‘girl’ is not punished by outside forces for her mistrust - it’s very self-inflicted. But also, the ‘bear’ is not blameless either. In both the traditional and WSEM versions, the ‘bear’ IS keeping secrets. 

The ‘bear’ being a bear is not made out to be the crux of the problem, but rather their lack of communication. Though all the Cupid and Psyche stories have this problem, few lay it out plainly, frustrating more maturing readers into yelling about how they’re stupid because they cannot tell each other the truth. In reality, while honesty is the best policy, the little reasons to keep such things to yourself grow quickly and crush one’s soul - it takes a lot to make coming clean feel worth it after a while. Even to the detriment of a loving and worthwhile relationship. I’m not saying I’m a rocket scientist for writing it this way, I just know a couple years ago I would not have had the life experience to understand it. 

The plot still hinges on inopportune candles a bit, so I’m pleased about that. But I decided to up the ante a bit by also making other light phenomena relevant to the story. While Disney’s Brother Bear is another example of romanticizing and distancing Alaskan cultures, I adored it as a kid and still love its art and the memories it made. Especially in that it made me fall in love with the idea of seeing the Northern Lights. 

I made sure this story was set in this year, 2024, because we’re actually at the height of a 12 year magnetic cycle! From summer 2024 to 2025, the auroras will be brighter, more frequent and reach much further than usual. In fact, on May 12th, they actually reached as far south as Georgia! I was asleep though, I’m actually devastated I missed it. Hopefully this strong cycle reaches this far south again. But I digress - I figure seeing a fogbow, sunrise and sunset on Ada and Dani’s oceans, AND the northern lights would be pretty cool. 

Another cool theme that runs throughout is food. MMA points out that traditional Alaskan cuisine is often seen as weird and backwards, but essentially is no different from sushi. Many Alaskans did not have a lot of wood for fuel, and plants are scarce in the winter, and so they developed a safe way to eat qassaq and quaq! It’s pretty ingenious, and I’d like to try it one day. I love seafood. (Yes Annika is my self-insert character.) Combined with my enjoyment of the show Dungeon Meshi this year, and my interest in helping combat the stigma surrounding foods not often cooked by white Americans, I wanted the story to center around food and how availability and environment affects cuisine*. Lots of immigrant parents dearly miss food from home, and Laurie’s family was no different. Every time I slept over her house, her mom made crêpes. As a kid I didn’t like them, but as an adult I’d like to try them again! My palate used to be comically narrow. 

Speaking of Laurie, let’s talk about Dani! Dani and her family are very similar to Laurie and her family, though I don’t think was able to capture Laurie’s quick wit very well. Limits of the author, etc. Laurie’s real name is similar to Dani, and so is the way her mother says her name, I always loved hearing her say it. Laurie does have severe reactions to heat, and swears up and down one of these days she’s going to move up north. Currently she’s thinking Germany, but she’s trying to get her degree first. 

Dani’s reconnection to her Dominican and Karifuna heritage is not the focus of the story, aside from the scene where she gets her hair done, but it kind of occurs on the sidelines. She slightly speaks more Kwéyòl as the story goes on, she opens up about her heritage, she starts wearing her hair in a more natural fashion, and starts wearing earrings inspired by Garífuna ⁂ art.

Laurie feels constrained by her life. I’m not sure I’ll ever show this to her, but I wanted to create a little world where she’s free to be who she would like to be and do what she wants and love who she without guilt. Dani never wears skirts for a reason.

Ada is based on my friend Rose (though she’s more feline than ursine) and my attempts at making a more modern Indigenous person with MMA’s ideas in mind. Ada is trans but doesn’t feel pushed to perform complete femininity - hence they keep their mustache. A lot of Asian and Indigenous people have difficulty growing facial hair, and I like to think that Ada is proud of it. 

She does have a lot of tuniit (The puberty on, the self-sufficiency and the ready for marriage ones), which was specifically a woman tradition. Men rarely got or did tattoos. She gets her kakiniit done off screen but during the course of the story. Her wrists have a bunch of y-shapes on it to show that she has the tools to hunt and take care of herself. She likes to hunt! MMA said that while these tattoos are highly personal, they would rather more Indigenous Alaskan characters have them than not. Just like with the tattoos of the Māori and other Pacific Islander cultures, they’re making a comeback! So unlike my Whale Rider adaption, I did end up drawing tattoos. Plus I gave Ada spider bites because I thought they fit with her look. Both her tattoos and piercings were later additions. I did adapt a Nunavut Inuit story a while back, ‘Lumaaq & Loon’, and I did not draw tattoos on either the mom or the sister. I think I would now, but still not draw the tattoos for Whale Rider. Regardless, what was done is done.

Rose DOES know about this character, and wanted to see more transfem characters where their trans-ness is relevant to the story. Thus, Ada going from using exclusively they/them to also using she/her. 

Ada being a WEIOlympian activities as well as being a great cook was an addition that kind of came to me as I wrote the story. I knew I wanted to include Nalukataq, because that seemed really fun and because Laurie/Dani like festivals. And since I drew the pictures before doing the writing (and thus more research) I did not realize that doing flips at Nalukataq is pretty top tier stuff. So yeah, I wasn’t going to redraw that lol.

Ada is from two Indigenous peoples because many Indigenous people are mixed! Sometimes parents marry outside their race or even just to neighboring peoples, but since Indigenous people are not a monolith, that makes them mixed. And since the USA government (I am unsure about the other colonizing governments) requires a person to be a certain amount of just one nation in order to be considered legally native, many lose their rights as legally Indigenous people despite possibly having no other heritage. It’s a system designed to squeeze people out of their rights and heritage, which is crazy.

But since a lot of Indigenous representation, especially ones from or set in older times, portray mostly unmixed people, mixed Indigenous characters don’t get a lot of representation! Even if they’re still completely Indigenous!

So Dani is both Iñupiat and Yup’ik, with a hint towards maternal white heritage that is not explored. They’re Iñupiat because I wanted them to have family up in Utqiagvik, and Yup’ik because I wanted them to have family in Kotzebue/Qikigtagruk (K/Q). I set the story in K/Q because I wanted to learn more about the southern end of coastal Alaska ever since I read Michaela Goade’s ‘Berry Song’ book for one of my education classes (it was a class everyone had to take about fostering literacy). While Ms. Goade is from the Tlingit and Haida nations, which are further south and east, I went down a berry rabbit hole for a while. Her illustrations made everything look so pretty and delicious. But I did not want to set the story as far south as her island on the edge of a wide, wild sea, because polar bears are not found that south. I could’ve made Ada a grizzly or a Kodiak or even a pizzly bear, but it did not feel the same. And besides, MMA pointed out that Indigenous Alaskans aside from the Inuit/Iñupiat don’t get as much attention, because they aren’t generally located in the stereotypically icy areas that are romanticized, like the tundra. As such, Ada is both Yup’ik and Iñupiat.

And they’re also a bear. I spent hours figuring out their lore for being a bear, and it didn’t come up naturally in the story *at all*, especially since Ada and Dani set reasonable boundaries about secrets, so I’m going to dump the bearlore here.

A lot of peoples in Alaska really respect bears, especially polar bears. Many believe/d that animals who were especially powerful, like bears, could shapeshift to human at will. And powerful angakkuit could shapeshift into animals - bears being on the impressive side. 

Also, many Alaskans believe in a type of reincarnation. For example, if you live in a small village and your grandmother dies, then the next baby born is her! The baby might not be a girl, but they both will have the exact same atiq. So regardless of a baby’s sex, they were named after the latest person who passed away.

Combining this together: once upon a time, a powerful angakkuq was an incredible polar bear shifter (I’m not going to route where he was always a polar bear). He died, and his atiq was passed on, and on, and on, until an Iñupiat woman named Ada❧ was born. She eventually died of old age. Barbara, our Ada’s mom, did not keep up with the atiq/naming tradition, partly because Ada was assigned male at birth and partly because she was still reconnecting. So when Ada started turning into a polar bear around puberty, the two of them had to figure things out quickly. When Ada finally realized who they got their powers from, they changed their name to Ada.  

Ada started out as a polar bear cub. She used to change when sad, but can now do it at will. Her polar bear form can only age when she stays in that form. As such, while Ada is in her late twenties, her polar bear form has barely reached adulthood. Similar phenomena with illnesses, injury, hunger and thirst. If a polar bear only gets hungry every 12 hours, then if Ada are in polar bear form right before returning to human form, she has another 12 hours as a polar bear before she needs to eat again. 

Alright, I’ve talked inspiration, characters, timelines - let’s get on to the art!

The title picture was something I whipped up two years ago, when I was blowing though title pictures when because they were easy and didn’t require knowledge about any changes to the stories I would make. Well, I was wrong. To reflect that I moved the setting to a (nearly) opposite longitude, I changed the ‘directions’ in the title. To be quite honest, the title does not make as much sense anymore, because the ‘girl’ character Dani does not travel to an unknown land, but the name strikes my fancy, so that’s that. As such, it is now WEST of the Sun (like how when Ada and Dani were west of the sunrise in New Jersey), and EAST of the Moon (like how when Dani drove Ada home, they were east of the moonset.) I’ve included the original below, so you can compare the versions and how I moved things around. The letter ‘t’ is supposed to look like a little star! Also I forgot to include the Iñupiat or Yup’ik version of the title.

The second picture was the one I finished first, though it took two weeks. I’m somewhat unsatisfied with how I portrayed Ada’s progression from bear to human, but it’s done. Dani’s glasses gave me a hard time. I actually drew and inked this one before I decided Ada wasn’t a guy (see the next sketch)(to be honest old-Ada looks like one of my classmates). I changed them digitally after I took the picture of the actual drawing. The window is probably a bit large for such a cold area, but it’s a sacrifice of realism for artistic purposes.

The third picture was probably the one that suffered most/caused most suffering because I drew it before writing the story. I didn’t include a big enough crowd, I could’ve drawn Barbara, and I ended up editing Dani’s hairstyle to fit into the timeline. BUT. It is finished, and I did a decent job of portraying a flip and a truck! I hate drawing cars nearly as much as I dread drawing horses. This is the fourth to last story to draw for this long coloring book project and I’ve been avoiding horses for a bit now. As both Ada and Dani lean more towards feminine, both wear female kuspuks, which have a bit of a skirt on the bottom. But it’s not a skirt in place of pants, so it does not count. Here’s a picture I drew a couple years ago for MMA’s Kuspuk week, featuring the character Jet as a nalukataq. 

On the back end of the truck is a red hand MMIWG sticker. MMIWG, which stands for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, is a call to attention the disproportionate crime against Indigenous ladies. They are six times more likely to get murdered, attacked and/or disappeared in comparison to the average American and Canadian woman, which skews white. As modern Indigenous AND female characters, it would have felt wrong not to include such a reference. If you ever see somebody with a red handprint over their mouth, it’s a good indicator that they are aware and support survivors and families of MMIWG. 

The naluaqtit are just random faces basically.

The fourth picture was the last one I finished (if you don’t count the title picture).  It was honestly a bit of a breather for me, as I’m pretty good at drawing faces. Though I did overdo the lip on Ada’s polar bear form, and had to erase it digitally later. I wanted to draw a kunik and later a kiss as both equally important loving gestures, and that’s why they each get their own picture. I probably should have drawn them closer, but I’m going to say Ada has a strong nose in that form, as most polar bears do.

Last picture was an exercise in clothing and kisses mostly. I wanted to get the wrinkles and the positioning just right. They’re both things I avoid. I’m pretty pleased with how I drew Dani’s shoes. Ada’s shoes are heels I like looking at, but they hurt my feet so I can never wear them. 

As the last four stories illustrated (though in my original plans, they’re split across different volumes) I wanted each to reference my Snow White adaption in some way, as that was the first I finished, and in my head these stories are grouped in fours.

4. West of the Sun, East of the Moon: Ada’s final outfit is based on Snow White’s wedding outfit in my version, which in turn is based on the dress Disney’s Snow White wears for most of the movie.

3. Chantha Rasphone: the Magic Mirror that the stepmother uses to spy on Snow White finally becomes a character! It ended up being a bit more affable than I originally intended, but I’m still growing as an author, please extend me some grace. The Mirror, or Spejo (Spay-hoe) as it is called in Chantha Rasphone, appears in Snow White, Beauty and the Beast, Swan Lake, Aladdin, The Snow Queen and now Chantha Rasphone. I would be happy to talk more about it, but that’s for a different explanation, methinks. I’m getting distracted.

2. Tatterhood: this is a stretch, but I finally made a dwarf lady a main character! In Snow White, it does not get very explored, but her best friend is a girl named Valentine, who is descended from a colony of dwarfs† who escaped being court slaves. A helpful, magical dwarf (like in the Nose Tree, though in my adaption the dwarf is Valentine and not the usual male)  and a mischievous, evil dwarf (like in Snow White & Rose Red, a story I thought a lot about adapting but ran out of time) are stock characters in many fairy tales. But rarely are they the focus! I’ve only ever (casually) came across one published stlry that had a dwarf main character, ‘Jepp, who Defied the Stars’ by Katherine Marsh (it’s excelent). I figured I could add to the number!

1. The Acacia Tree: the second to last  picture is of the evil stepmother looking into a mirror. It’s not going to be The Mirror, Spejo, but it’s a reference to the second (non-title) picture in my Snow White, where the stepmother looking in the Magic Mirror to see some form of her stepchild. I wanted to end and begin on such a story.

I’m proud of a lot of the sketches, and Ada changed quite a bit, so I’m including a bunch of sketches. 

*I barely touched on how much economics affect food - which is a TON. But I also wanted to write a story based on stereotypical Romance Movie rules, where money does not come up too often and everyone is at least *okay* financially. While many romances do feature economic differences, I did not want that to be an issue for these characters. It is sadly one of the more fantastical aspects of my story. But it’s also a story with a woman who turns into a bear. So work with me here. ⁂ Garífuna is a a maroon culture [Black and Indigenous] from St. Vincent. While Dominica and St. Vincent are about 200 miles away from each other, they’re close neighbors in terms of sea and history. The Garífuna have a similar though distinct culture as the mixed peoples of Dominica. I could not find much in the way of explicitly maroon art of Dominica, but I did run across the art found in the Garífuna Museum of Los Angeles and based Dani’s earrings off paintings from there. 

❧ Our Ada is named after Ada Blackjack, an Iñupiat woman who got stranded on the uninhabited Wrangel Island for nearly two years, alone for eight months except for a pet cat, Victoria. She had joined an expedition as cook and seamstress, all so she could pay for her son’s tuberculosis treatment. While our Ada would not get powers from this lady - I feel uncomfortable ascribing such fantasy to a real woman’s life - I liked the name and thought it would be nice to honor her legacy. It also felt like an accurate character name, as it was the name of an actual Iñupiat person. Plus, a lot of transfemmes I know like older/‘grandma’ names, so that worked out!

†The magic creature dwarf has the plural ‘dwarves’. To differentiate themselves from the mythological creature, very short humans prefer the plural ‘dwarfs’.

[dsandrvk]

Saturday, August 31 - Rabaul, PNG - Part 1

The port of Rabaul is the former capital of the PNG province of East New Britain which shares a fairly large island with West New Britain. It lies at the head of an elongated bay, which is actually a caldera, and is surrounded by several active volcanoes, including Tavurvur, which is considered one of the most active volcanoes in PNG. An eruption in 1937 pretty much destroyed the town, but it was built back until another major eruption in 1994 covered much of the city in ash, collapsing 80% of the buildings. At this time, the decision was made to move the capital away from the caldera and down the coast. Now there is little here but buildings supporting the port and a few other businesses and some housing.

Rabaul was originally the capital of German New Guinea, before being captured by the British in the early days of WWII. It then became the capital of Australia-mandated Territory of New Guinea, until it was captured by the Japanese during WWII and became Japan's main base of military and naval activity in the South Pacific. The caldera is an excellent natural harbor and the surrounding cliffs are mostly tuff, which is easy to tunnel into. The Japanese created and used tunnels to hide boats and other ordinance, as well as personnel and the area was so heavily defended that the allies never tried to retake it until the end of the war.

We had an included morning excursion to several places that spoke to this history. The first was to the Kokopo War Museum, which is a collection mostly of old Japanese guns, tanks, torpedoes, etc., all slowly decaying out in the open. Of more interest to me was a traditional building that housed some native cultural items, such as large masks used in the Baining Fire Dance (which we were scheduled to see this evening). These are immense masks that are actually worn in front of the dancer rather than over the head. I will have more about all of this in the second post for today.

From there we went to the Bita Paka War Cemetery, which is a beautiful and sobering place. It is managed by an Australian commission and contains the graves of many Australians who fought here or were prisoners of war nearby, as well as a section of Indian troops who fought alongside. There is a row of markers to help folks find the graves, although due to the nature of the war, of the 1,120 Commonwealth graves, 500 are unidentified. The cemetery also contains the remains of some from WWI, who were moved here from elsewhere on the island. The plantings here are exquisite and everything is beautifully maintained and well guarded. There is a parklike area outside the official cemetery where the locals like to hang out, but the cemetery itself is off-limits for them.

We headed back and made a stop at one of the Japanese tunnels, which are now a tourist attraction. The one we stopped at had an old barge still in place, and vendors outside selling sarongs and clothing. We didn't have much time there, as were already quite behind schedule heading back to the ship. One of the reasons was that although the main roads are mostly paved, they haven't been maintained and are full of major potholes. Our little van driver was extremely skillful in avoiding them, but we had to weave all over the road and go slowly.

In addition, there were numerous areas where the streams had washed away the pavement and we drove on ash-covered muddy stretches with even more potholes and washboarding. But the slower speed allowed us to look around - many of the signs for little stores, etc. were sponsored by Pepsi, especially around Rabaul, but by Kokopo the majority were sponsored by Coke. Also every little stand offered "Top up hia" (sound it out - - a lot of the signs are in pidgin) for your cellphone. Surprisingly, we had service through T-Mobile throughout the island.

Public transportation here is the little trucks with covers we have seen in other places - everyone seems to know which one to get on and where it will go, and since it was Saturday, there were lots of people going to markets, etc. But there were also stands all along the road selling fresh fruit, fish, as well as beer, snacks, and soft drinks. It was all quite lively, and everyone waved and yelled hello to us as we drove by.

We got back in time for a late lunch, a chance to rest up a bit, and get ready for our evening outing to the Fire Dance. This is performed by only one group up in the hills from here and is a highlight of this area. To be continued in Part 2...

[cheerfulomelette]

This is especially egregious in the UK, because drag acts are part of our culture.

Christmas pantomimes (are those common outside the UK? If not, they're comedic plays based on fairytales, like Puss in Boots) have roles specifically for drag acts - panto dames and the lead male character are played by men and women, respectively.

Dame Edna Everidge and Lily Savage were drag personas who hosted primetime family TV shows

Dame Edna Was Australian and worked there, in the UK, and in the US. She hosted her own talkshows, appeared on serious TV like Parkinson and 60 Minutes, in an event celebrating the Queen's Golden Jubilee, and was a major feature in the Closing Ceremony of the 2006 Commonwealth Games. She did insurance adverts. She was in Ally McBeal and the Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band film. She had multiple Broadway shows. She was on a commemorative postage stamp and was given the key to the city of Melbourne.

Not even remotely controversial

Lily Savage was less wildly prolific, but equally diverse.

She guest-presented Top of the Pops, appeared on the radio show Woman's Hour, and acted in films and West End plays. She was on children's TV, and hosted breakfast shows. She narrated documentaries, and hosted Saturday night TV shows like Blankety Blank and Lily Live!. She advertised cars, bingo, soft drinks, and hosiery.

She was also not a controversial figure

And that's before you get into the role of drag in the wider canon of British entertainment going back to vaudeville and beyond. Drag shows were a staple act of comedy and charity events. The Monty Python crew dressing as women in their skits and films was utterly unremarkable. Yet somehow, we're supposed to believe that drag is both new and dangerous when it's neither... unless you're a Nazi:

Wherever and whenever it occurs, anti-drag rhetoric is manufactured outrage from people who are desperately hoping that, if they pretend hard enough and loud enough, we'll believe their version of history is the one that's true. It isn't, and we won't let them get away with pretending it is.

[hztghfzdgn]

Discover the Perfect Blend of Comfort and Convenience: House and Land Packages in Rockbank

The Appeal of Rockbank

Rockbank’s appeal lies in its perfect balance between modern living and natural surroundings. As an emerging suburb, Rockbank is witnessing significant investments in infrastructure, ensuring that residents enjoy a high quality of life. The region is characterized by its peaceful atmosphere, green spaces, and family-friendly vibe, making it an ideal place to settle down.

One of the key factors driving interest in Rockbank is its strategic location. Despite being slightly removed from the hustle and bustle of the city, Rockbank is well-connected to Melbourne via the Western Freeway and the Rockbank train station, which offers regular services to the city. This means that residents can easily commute to work or enjoy the cultural and recreational activities that Melbourne has to offer, all while returning to the tranquility of suburban life.

Benefits of House and Land Packages

House and land packages in Rockbank present a unique opportunity for homebuyers and investors. These packages allow buyers to choose both the land and the house design, providing a level of customization that ensures the home perfectly suits their needs and preferences. Here are some of the key benefits of opting for a house and land package in Rockbank:

Affordability: Compared to established suburbs closer to the city, Rockbank offers more affordable options without compromising on quality or convenience. House and land packages are often more cost-effective than purchasing an existing property, house and land in rockbank especially in such a growing area.

Modern Designs: Buyers can choose from a range of contemporary home designs that are tailored to maximize space, natural light, and energy efficiency. These homes are built with the latest materials and technologies, ensuring they are not only stylish but also sustainable.

Customization: House and land packages allow for a high degree of customization. Whether you’re looking for a spacious family home with a large backyard, or a compact, low-maintenance dwelling, there’s a design that can meet your requirements.

Investment Potential: As Rockbank continues to develop, property values are expected to rise. Investing in a house and land package now could yield significant returns in the future, making it a wise choice for both first-time buyers and seasoned investors.

Community Living: Many house and land packages are situated within master-planned communities that offer a range of amenities such as parks, schools, shopping centers, and recreational facilities. This fosters a sense of community and provides residents with everything they need within close proximity.

Why Choose Rockbank?

Rockbank is more than just a suburb; it’s a growing community with a bright future. The suburb is planned to accommodate modern living with its carefully designed infrastructure, while still maintaining its natural charm. With new schools, retail hubs, and public transport options in the pipeline, property for sale melbourne Rockbank is set to become one of the most desirable locations in Melbourne’s west.

For families, the presence of quality schools and childcare centers makes Rockbank a practical choice. Meanwhile, the availability of parks and recreational facilities ensures that there’s always something for everyone to enjoy. The suburb’s emphasis on green spaces and outdoor living aligns perfectly with the lifestyle aspirations of many contemporary Australians.

[simplicius-simplicissimus]

World in Upheaval

Many Americans are frighteningly uneducated and ignorant when it comes to international issues and history - because they often know and consider nothing else except their own country, culture and history. This „Ego orientation“ - often combined with excessive nationalism ("God's Own Country") also blocks the way to self-reflection…and maybe proper behavior abroad. Donald Trump is a telling example of this characteristic.

Trump pushes Prime Minister of Montenegro aside

„Most Americans are close to total ignorance about the world. They are ignorant. That is an unhealthy condition in a country in which foreign policy has to be endorsed by the people if it is to be pursued. And it makes it much more difficult for any president to pursue an intelligent policy that does justice to the complexity of the world.“

-Zbigniew Brzezinzki - the former US National Security Advisor of President Jimmy Carter

On my 2nd trip through Australia with an international tour group made up of Brits, Americans, Dutch, Danes, French, Germans, Japanese and of course Australians, I also took part in a sailing trip through the beautiful Whitsunday Islands. Our Australian skipper said the following telling words (this was at the end of the 90s): “I don't need to travel because I already live in one of the most beautiful places in the world - and the whole world is coming aboard my boat. Among those who come, the Americans are often the least likeable - because back at their home everything is always nicer, bigger, higher, better!“

This statement surprised me at the time - since America was always seen as the positive and shining role model for the world. But I guess, that our Australian skipper also had the opportunity to make an educated, direct comparison.

This statement also prompted me to draw parallels with our own German history, because we Germans once began to behave in the same way when Germany was unified at the end of the 19th century. Due to success in economy, science and technology, a rapid cultural development and growing military strength many Germans thought that they were superior to others and could dominate them. Hypernationalism is a bad attitude - and pride often comes before decline. Germany had to discover the hard way that if you want to enforce your interests against the will of many others (e.g. your neighbors), you will encounter great resistance - especially if you use armed force. If you are looking for confrontation, it helps to have strong alliances, persistence, and the necessary strength to be victorious. Germany has reflected and processed those dark times and is embedded in the EU today. There you learn to see the world through the eyes of your multicultural partners and to make compromises.

After World War II, America was the biggest beneficiary of the conflict. The country was not destroyed, suffered only moderate loss of life and was well equipped militarily. It was the only nation to have nuclear weapons. From this position, the USA was able to shape the world to its liking - also because its intentions were viewed as “noble and honest”. The USA went about it quite cleverly: it avoided direct confrontation with the new opponents (Soviet Union and China), only waged a series of (often less successful) proxy wars - but was at least able to contain its opponents. Ultimately, the USA emerged victorious from the East-West conflict (“cold war”). The reason was the economic superiority of „the West“ - this important pact that the USA forged after World War II. The friendly countries (especially the “Western industrialized countries”) largely left the international arena to the USA and accepted the dollar as the international reserve currency - in return they were supported by the USA in rebuilding their destroyed countries or benefited from the USA as the “engine of the world economy”. This was not just an act of philanthropy, but rather the USA was securing its investments made during World War II. In particular, the dollar as the reserve currency is a major advantage: it allows the USA to finance itself purely by printing money - as long as the dollar remains recognized in this function. For decades it was a win-win situation for everyone of the „Western Alliance“.

However, times have changed considerably in the meantime:

Since the fall of the Soviet Union the USA is acting more and more openly as a hegemon for whom international law and values only count when it is advantageous (invasion of Iraq, „America First“) - and is questioning old partnerships (especially Trump). As a result, some countries (also important emerging economies) have already turned away from the USA towards China.

Europe is also learning that it will have to take more care of its own security in future since the USA does not seem to be a reliable partner anymore. But from a position of economic and! military strength, the EU will also be able to formulate its own positions more confidently in future. The process of military rearmament and consolidation will certainly take some time.

Russia and China in particular have strengthened economically and militarily and are now openly challenging the USA in its leading position. The invasion of Ukraine and China's expansion in the South China Sea are nothing other than testing the determination of the USA.

But that's not all: through the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), Russia, China and, more recently, Iran have formed a counterbalance to the world order initiated by the USA after World War II. The aim of this partnership is to break the dominance of the USA and the US Dollar. The old East-West conflict is back - however today's opponents are more cunning and stronger than yesterday's. Perhaps the Americans need their "old partners" today more than ever, because these "old adversaries" have one thing in particular in common: grievance!

"Potentially, the most dangerous scenario would be a grand coalition of China, Russia, and perhaps Iran, an "anti-hegemonic" coalition united not by ideology but by complementary grievances. It would be reminiscent in scale and scope of the challenge once posed by the Sino-Soviet bloc, though this time China would likely be the leader and Russia the follower."

-Zbigniew Brzezinzki

Hard times ahead - and Trump due to his character is probably the wrong person to build and strengthen the necessary alliances to face this threat. On the contrary - he wants to leave NATO.

-Simplicius Simplicissimus

[replica-weapons]

Let's Time Travel with Replica Western Guns

The replica Western guns are perfect gifts for history lovers. Those who collect guns and those who want to get an original creation would love to add this great gun to their collections. Nowadays, everyone desires uniqueness and actuality, for which Western movies are gaining popularity. The bullets that are kept inside these guns are the stuff that literally was appropriate for a different era. 

They depict the characters of Cowboys, Outlaws, and Lawmen of the Open Range, which is a part of the culture of the Wild West. These replicas are designed to be as similar to the actual firearms as possible so that one does not require a gun license to fire them. 

There are specific types of ornaments or railings that would like to attract the attention of collectors. Each of the replica guns appears to be in all its mechanical and external attributes the guns that were produced in the nineteenth century. Whether it is the reproduction of the old-fashioned revolver or the rifle with the lever-action, those props make history look so real. 

Exploring Replica Revolvers 

Thus, among the replica western guns, the replica revolvers are special and in great demand among the users. These well-known guns played their role in the history of the Old West. From the Colt peacemaker revolver model to the Musket Enfield, these guns were the side arms of many men of the West. 

There are various categories of replica revolvers that are produced in various styles and constructed in different kinds of finishes. Some are produced with a highly polished glossy State and some are scratched to make them look as if they are real. Big fans prefer to acquire revolvers due to their history within the handguns' production and the effort that was invested in the development of such models.

Western Australian Gun Stores: Here is Your Local Source 

To be an Australian, it is not extremely difficult to look for replicas of Western guns. Stores that are located in Western Australia have some of the best collections of these historical guns. These stores are niche-oriented, thus guaranteeing that you will be able to find the ideal replica that you are seeking. 

If you plan to buy a gun in Western Australian stores, then you can be assured that the personnel attending the store will take time to explain to the client the available options. These people realize the relevance of originality. They can assist you in locating a replica that serves your purpose. 

The Craftsmanship of Replicas of Western Guns 

The replica Western guns are largely considered counterfeit products. Every detail of these guns emanated perfection, especially the finishing. The replicas being produced here are not just counterparts but genuine ones. In Western Australian gun stores, the artists invest a lot of time in their creations. 

Even details like the weight and balance, handles and studs, fonts for inscriptions, and decorations are meticulously recreated. Making the replica revolver involves using more traditional techniques by the craftsmen. This passion for detail also boils down to the fact that if you are holding a replica Western gun, then what you are holding in your hands is a piece of history. 

Why Choosing Replica Western Guns?  

There are some factors why replica Western guns are extremely popular. To some others, it would be the historical link that they have in common. To others, finding appeal in these replicas is in the workmanship and the quality of the stitching. Replica guns are also preferable for people who want to have an atmosphere of historical firearms without owning real ones legally. 

They can be put in your house, used in mock battles, or be appreciated for artifacts they are. These replica Western guns help people to have an interaction with the past in a very special manner. These guns are brilliant for any collection, and whether it is the elegance of the Old West, the precise workmanship, or the practicality of having a reproduction, then these guns must be seen to be appreciated. 

As a result, Western Australian gun stores can be considered a local source for acquiring these fantastic replicas. It will not be a problem to choose a perfect addition to one's collection. Go back in time and feel the cowboy with an aesthetically designed copy of the Old West gun.

[vixen-experience-of-mda20009]

Week 7 of mda20009: Body Modification

Body modification, in the most literal meaning, is to deliberately modify your body mostly by tattoos, piercings, teeth modification, and gym/steroids. And especially plastic surgery, which is this week's topic, plastic surgery delves into the mind of humans in their unending pursuit of beauty and perfection, especially on social media platforms.

Body modifications have existed for thousands of years, dating back to ancient Egypt, where people would often tattoo hieroglyphics in their reverence of the gods, and the present, they still have massive cultural ties to them, for example, the Polynesian people use tattoos to distinguish themselves, displaying their social status, rank, geographic origin, familial history, courage, and power. Another example is that many tribes still extend the neck in Thailand and Africa, and filing one's teeth is regarded as attractive in Bali. Even the fairly popular "alternative" habit of expanding one's lips and ears in the West nowadays has its origins in Africa, where it is still practiced (Bradley University, 2021). The relationship between social media and body alteration, as well as the potential consequences for public health, are notoriously unhealthy.

According to Dorfman et al. (2018), p. 332, Instagram had more than 400 million active monthly users in 2016. This number has likely grown substantially in the subsequent years. According to Dorfman et al. (2018), p. 333, "Instagram has become a dominant channel for business marketing to young adults, and its usage in plastic surgery continues to rise." This is because the platform is becoming bait for consumers, with plastic surgery ads and influencers constantly suggesting that option to them. However, these "aesthetic templates" frequently propagate an unrealistic standard of beauty, with photoshopped or otherwise altered images to give the impression that they are on the good side of things. Regardless of the amount of plastic surgery a person undergoes, It is nearly impossible to ever look like the influencers that dominate their social media feed, no matter how many workouts or what they consume. The unrelenting quest of meeting society's distinct standards for physical perfection—which vary depending on gender—is also fueling the growth in eating disorders and mental diseases. Eating Disorders Victoria (2021) estimates that 1 million Australians may experience eating disorders at some point in their lives, and global statistics indicate that eating disorders are becoming more common. Furthermore, as stated by Mavroudis (2021), "research indicates that Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is associated with young people managing the conflicts between their offline bodies and whom they aspire to be on social media." This leads to an unhealthy obsession with perfect “body types” and makes people worry about how they appear on social media.

In conclusion, the fault is not because of people who willingly choose to modify their bodies purely for themselves and their culture, the fault lies in the lack of regulation of social platforms.

References

Dorfman R, Vaca E, Mahmood E, Fine N & Schierle C 2018, ‘Plastic surgery-related hashtag utilization on Instagram: implications for education and marketing’, Aesthetic Surgery Journal, vol. 38, no. 3, pp. 332-334

Eating Disorders Victoria 2021, Key research and statistics, Eating Disorders Victoria. <https://www.eatingdisorders.org.au/eating-disorders-a-z/eating-disorder-statistics-and-key-research/?gclid=Cj0KCQjw1PSDBhDbARIsAPeTqrdjMEzThC-fN4HWPBsTxhs7tLBLtzAcLHF0FME3XdI15oirws8GOxkaAqrEEALw_wcB>.

Mavroudis, J 2021, ‘Week 6 - Digital citizenship and health education: body modification on visual social media’, MDA20009 Digital Communities, Learning materials via Canvas, Swinburne University of Technology.

[corvids-cryptids]

I'm not American so I can say this is also a common thing in other places as well! You are not off the hook non-Americans! This became a pretty long post about the stereotypes people with certain Australian regional accents deal with that then morphed into smacking people from certain states over the head with a cricket bat so they learn to think before talking about the less populous states, so I'm adding a cut.

It's also almost always tied to the income of the area as well. Here in Australia we have three regional accents with interesting stereotypes: Queensland, Tasmania and South Australia. These three are distinct from each other as well, especially the SA accent, which sounds more English than the rest of the country. They're also 3 of the 4 poorest states in the country.

I'm South Australian so I know in depth how my accent is stereotyped and it drives me up the fucking wall. If we get any representation of our dialect in media (because yes, it is a slightly different dialect to the rest of the country, and Australian media is so Sydney-based I hear an SA accent every few years) it's as a rich conservative or a racist methhead. Part of this is semi-based in truth: we do have a major problem with meth addiction because we're a poorer state based on manufacturing and the manufacturing has left, and our accent shares some similarities with the socioeconomic "cultivated" Australian accent (it's not a cultivated accent, we have our own version). The rest isn't and the "west and Tasmania and Queensland are racist backwaters" take is still very common in NSW/Vic/ACT.

This also really unfortunately leads to a lack of understanding of the history of our communities. I'm sure plenty of people have seen Rainbow History Class on tiktok. They're Australian and based in Melbourne. They're actually coming to SA soon for our queer festival. They also still state that the 1978 Mardi Gras was the turning point for queer rights across the country. Which is mostly true. Except that SA legalised homosexuality in 1975. In part because of a career-long campaign from Premier Don Dunstan, who was as openly of a bisexual man as he could be without getting arrested and who spent the later years of his life with a male partner. The other major parts were the murder of a gay man by cops, and the involvement of queer people in our local arts and festival scene, of which we've always been immensely proud of. I've still met people who argue that homosexuality was not legal in the country until the 1978 Mardi Gras because they completely ignore the western states. We were the first place in the world to let women stand for election back in 1894, as a direct fuck you to the guy who tabled the idea in parliament in an attempt to kill women's suffrage. The reason Australia has always had women's suffrage is SA - we made it a requirement of our involvement in federation (obviously with the usual racist caveats - only women of European descent could vote or get elected).

There's also a tendency to ignore the state culture and how those play into the speediness of laws being changed. Our abortion law here in SA was changed too late. But it also wasn't as urgent as people think. SA has a big tendency towards "don't ask, don't tell" and running on technicalities when it comes to outdated laws. Abortion was technically illegal without the permission of multiple doctors. Which doctors very easily gave based on teeny chances of things maybe occurring. Because there wasn't urgent change required we had a years-long debate, which ended in us having some of the most progressive laws in the country (our state government will pay for your abortion!). The law on paper legalised abortion, but in reality made it more convenient and accessible.

And before anyone puts words in my mouth I'm not saying these states are perfect. The fact that no SA electorate returned a yes vote in the recent referendum is not brilliant! The "technicalities" thing now has us involved in another years long debate about sex work legalisation, which everyone knows will happen because hardly anyone is arrested under our current laws but the conservatives are opposing anyway. What I want is people from the eastern states to recognise that every state has a checkered history. South Australia isn't the most progressive state and I'm not pretending it is. We've also been a historical leader in queer and women's rights. I changed my gender marker very easily here, while in NSW I'd still be unable to. I'm sure Tasmania, Queensland, the NT and WA all have been historical leaders in some regard, I just don't know about them. On the flip side, NSW and Vic's treatment of the Murray is horrifying and speaks volumes about how little they care about the ecosystem of the river and the states downstream.

Anyway this got away from me but yeah, if I see any goddamn Australians on this post pretending that this sort of divide is only American or that the Australian one is "right tho" I will personally release 100 mozzies into your room as you sleep.

I think it should be discussed how in American media, a southern accent is nearly always narrative shorthand for “this character is dumb, belligerent, and racist”.