#gammel media

[whitewaterpaper]

Kort och insiktsfull krönika om den pågående hybridförlagsdebatten. Delar den mest för att jag vill och för att jag uppskattade att man nämner både SF och Fantasy som något som blir lidande när stora förlag söker efter det kommersiellt gångbara.

[desire-mona]

gerard pitts. to me (because of flat top)

[sixty-silver-wishes]

I feel like a lot of my music and media tastes have like. very similar energy? like if you knew I liked any one of these things and heard I liked the other ones, you’d say “yeah, that checks out”

media and theatre:

- the cabinet of dr. caligari (and other german expressionist films. but mainly that one)

- monty python

- a series of unfortunate events

- the musicals “sweeney todd” and “cabaret”

- weird 19th century literature (this is vague but for an idea. my favorite poem is robert browning’s “porphyria’s lover”)

- nikolai gogol

- the legend of zelda: majora’s mask

- wozzeck

- the black rider opera

music:

- celtic and eastern european folk music

- klaus nomi

- tom waits

- tom lehrer

- shostakovich

- mahler

- weill

- ustvolskaya

- lemon demon

- sea shanties

- peter maxwell davies’ “eight songs for a mad king” Specifically

visual artists:

- junji ito

- stephen gammell

- edward gorey

- virgil finlay

- william hogarth

- otto dix

[godzilla-reads]

🎃 Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark by Alvin Schwartz and Stephen Gammell

When I was in elementary school I remember checking this book out from the media center and staying up late to read it by flashlight, getting spooked by the different short stories and even more scared by Stephen Gammell’s drawings.

It’s was fun to reread this again! My two favorites are “The Viper” and “The White Wolf”, which also stuck out to me when I was young.

[statecryptids]

Another Spooky Season book review

CORPSE COLD: NEW AMERICAN FOLKLORE by John Brhel and Joseph Sullivan with illustrations by Chad Wehrle

Corpse Cold is an anthology inspired by urban legends and folklore. These are stories your friends might tell around a campfire or on a late-night drive with only the headlamps and the green glow of the dashboard cutting through the darkness for miles around. These are stories that could maybe, possibly be true. Or, at least, they have that weird familiarity that makes them feel true.

Chad Wehrle’s nightmarish illustrations take clear inspiration from Stephen Gammell’s work for the classic “Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark” series, though Wehrle’s own style clearly shines through.

The stories are often grisly, as folk tales usually are. Some, such as “A Morning Fog” and “Jesup” are cautionary tales. Others like “Moss Lake Island” and “It That Decays” are dark twists of fate. Several are based on modern fears like the dark web and “simulated burial” rides at amusement parks. Other tales, such as “The Black Dog” and “Czarny Lud” showcase timeless monsters that have existed for generations.

While not every story is memorable, there are no real bad pieces. Although “The Blue Hole” is a bit disjointed and isn’t helped by the accompanying illustration of a cartoonish soft-serve-style pile of fecal matter.

One of the cooler things about the book is the extensive appendix of notes at the end which explain the inspirations and background details for each story- another nod to Alvin Schwartz’s seminal “Scary Stories” books.

Fans of creepy urban legends, and those who grew up with the original “Scary Stories” books, will love Corpse Cold.

[miaproject2]

Statement of Purpose

The “sad girl” aesthetic was created through a series of images and discussions online to express emotion in an often humorous way, sharing ideas related to depression, mental health, and medication. For many women, this can help them to accept a diagnosis or prescription. Though, on the other hand, many women will wallow in this aesthetic, simply making them more sad. Thus, in society, there is a dichotomy created between the awareness brought to the difficult subject of depression and mental health, compared to the negativity spread throughout the “sad girl aesthetic”. My argument is that, despite the origin of the movement being so similar, there is a divide between the positive and negative effects of the sad girl aesthetic on social media. Social media, such as Instagram and Tumblr, can be easily used to spread awareness and help young women cope with mental health, or it can lead the young women to internalize their aesthetic, attaching themselves to the “sad girl” as an identity. These effects were not purposeful; the divide on social media, as well as society, is noticeable, despite its origins being so similar. Many women report feeling empowered, while others report feeling worse. The negative effects can lead to problems with identity, as young women internalize and adopt the aesthetic. In addition, many women are making humor online of the use of medicines in the treatment of their mental health. I will show examples of these images or memes in my work to demonstrate how this is shown online in everyday life. 

However, another dichotomy is created here, as the treatment can be interpreted in different ways. For some women, taking a medicine, such as to help their depression, is viewed as positive and empowering. Though, this can not coexist with the negative aspects of medicalization. Many women view it negatively, internalizing it, as if they have become “medicalized”, or broken. They may believe that they have to act a certain way now, changing attitudes, thoughts, or behaviors; this has become their identity. This is clearly displayed in the peer-reviewed article by Deanna J. Gammell and Janet M. Stoppard, “Women’s Experiences of Treatment of Depression: Medicalization or Empowerment?” My work will also reference Social Media Sadness: Sad Girl Culture and Radical Ways of Feeling Bad, written by Fredika Thelandersson. While the first article discusses depression from a medical and research perspective, the second article goes in depth with the sad girl aesthetic online. However, both articles notice the juxtaposition between the beneficial aspects of the movement, and the harmful effects, both online and in society. My work aims to discover the effects of this movement, and if, overall, there are positive or negative effects. I can judge, or state my own opinion, but I will continue to highlight the positive and negative aspects of the aesthetic, to show how both are clearly demonstrated. The reader should understand that, even if the intent is positive, the effects of the sad girl aesthetic are not always beneficial. Similarly, certain concepts, such as prescribing medicines for depression, are not always considered in the intended way, and it is best to understand the views of both sides. 

[mrcowboytoyou]

50 Art Piece pt 1

This contains the first thirty. All sizes are in inches unless specified otherwise. Sequel post found here.

Prometheus Bound

Jacobs Jordaens

Oil on canvas

1640

96.5 x 70

Death on a Pale Horse

William Blake

Pencil, pen and ink, and watercolour

1800

15.5 x 12.2

The Acrobats

Gustave Doré

Oil on canvas

1874

88 x 72

Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse

Viktor Vasnetsov

Oil on canvas

1887

28.3 x 53.5

Neptune's Horses 

Walter Crane

Oil on canvas

1892

34 x 85

Dream Idyll (A Valkyrie)

Edward Robert Hughs

Gouache and pastel on paper

1851-1914 (1902)

43 x 31

Sacro-Wi-Dance (sun dance)

Oscar Howe

Casein on paper

1965

28 x 22.5

Valentine

James Bidgood

Photography

1965 approx

31 × 31

Barberella

Boris Vallejo

Oil paint on board

1968

Size unknown

Paladin Charge

Roger Dean

Mixed media

1972

24 x 41

Trans-fixed

Chris Burden

Performance, documentary photographs

1974

Size NA

The Girl who Loved Horses

Paul Goble

Watercolour, ink, and crayon on paper with acetate overlay

1977

Size unknown

Rest Energy

Marina Abramović and ULAY

16 mm film, 4:07 min.

1980

Size NA

A Portrait of the Artist As a Shadow of His Former Self

Kerry James Marshall

Egg tempera on paper

1980

8 × 6 1/2

The Haunted House

Stephen Gammell

Pencil

1981

Size unknown

Fuga da New York

Renato Casaro

Tempera on cardboard

1981

27 x 39

Harold

Stephan Gammell

Pencil

1991

Size unknown

Untitled (Men in Cities)

Robert Longo

Charcoal, graphite and ink on paper

1984

49 1/2 x 37 3/4

Army of Darkness

Michael Husser

Oil painting on a wooden board

1992

Size unknown

Butterwings

Robin James

Coloured pencil

1993

Size unknown

Recipes for Disaster

Gary Larson

Ink

1994

Size unknown

Arches Mist

Roger Dean

Oil on board

1996

48 x 72

The Weather Project

Olafur Eliasson

Semi-circular screen, a ceiling of mirrors, and artificial mist

2003

Size unknown

This Is Just So Emotionally Crippling

Billy Schenck

 Oil on canvas

2006

55 x 50

Officer of the Hussars

Kehinde Wiley

Oil on Canvas

2007

108 3/16 × 105 7/16

Cathedral Royal

Rafe Terry

Acrylic on panel

2008

 36 x 24

One Floor Up More Highly

Katharina Grosse

Soil, wood, acrylic, styrofoam, clothing, & acrylic on plastic

2010

25½ × 55 × 271 feet

Gnarled at Arches

Erin Hanson

Oil paint

2011

40 x 30

Hellblazer283

Simon Bisley

Acrylics on bristol board

2011

Size unknown

Loose Lips will Kill You

Billy Schenck

Oil on canvas

2012

36 x 36

[efrost]

Global Bitters Market to Scale New Heights as Global Bitters Market Players Focus on Innovations 2022 – 2027

Advance Market Analytics released a new market study on Global Bitters Market Research report which presents a complete assessment of the Market and contains a future trend, current growth factors, attentive opinions, facts, and industry validated market data. The research study provides estimates for Global Bitters Forecast till 2027*.

A bitters is traditionally an alcoholic preparation flavored with botanical matter and its end results are characterized by bitter, sour or bittersweet flavor. There are numerous brands of bitters which were developed originally as patent medicines but now they are sold as digestifs and cocktail flavorings. Bitters also help in enhancing the top notes of light cocktails without masking the true personality of the spirit and in other cocktails, it adds a subtle unique taste regardless of the spirits used. It soothes the acidity in citrus-based cocktails and adds depth to creamy creations.

Key Players included in the Research Coverage of Bitters Market are German Mast-Jagermeister (Germany)

Underberg AG (Germany)   

Kuemmerling

Italian Frateli Branca

Gruppo Campari (Italy)

French Angostura

Pernod Ricard (France)

Danish Gammel Dansk (Denmark)

Hungarian Unicum (Hungary)

Scarppy’s Bitters (United States)

Kuemmerling KG (Germany)

Stock Spirits PLC (Czech Republic)

Fee Brothers (United States)

What's Trending in Market: Authenticity in audio-visual display market is the trend for the market.

Challenges: Consumer preferences for flavored bitters as cocktail drink and manufacturing such drinks is posing a challenge for this market.

Opportunities: High Sale of the bitters in restaurants services is providing an opportunity for manufacturers of this market to innovate in bitters market.

Market Growth Drivers: Increasing number of ageing consumers

The popularity of bitters in special occasions

Benefits of Bitters to aid in digestive health in the number of ways.

The Global Bitters Market segments and Market Data Break Down by Type (Cocktail Bitters, Aperitif Bitters, Digestif Bitters, Medicinal Bitters), Application (Restaurant Service, Retail Service), Growth rate (38-50%, < 38%, >50%) To comprehend Global Bitters market dynamics in the world mainly, the worldwide Bitters market is analyzed across major global regions. AMA also provides customized specific regional and country-level reports for the following areas. • North America: United States, Canada, and Mexico. • South & Central America: Argentina, Chile, Colombia and Brazil. • Middle East & Africa: Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Israel, Turkey, Egypt and South Africa. • Europe: United Kingdom, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Belgium, Netherlands and Russia. • Asia-Pacific: India, China, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Australia. Presented By

AMA Research & Media LLP

[actuma]

Tot 18 jaar cel geëist wegens ongekende overval op waardetransport

Het OM heeft vanmiddag achttien jaar cel geëist tegen zeven mannen die verdacht worden van de overval op een waardetransport en een bedrijf in edelmetaal in Amsterdam-Noord op 19 mei 2021. Ook worden zij ervan verdacht tijdens hun vlucht in Broek in Waterland gericht op de politie te hebben geschoten. Van de ruim 14,5 miljoen euro is ruim vier miljoen euro nog niet teruggevonden. Een 23-jarige man die verdacht wordt van medeplichtigheid aan de overval hoorde vijf jaar cel tegen zich eisen. De overval werd in de media als ‘on-Nederlands’ gekwalificeerd. Een wildwest-overval waarbij dankzij het snelle professionele en heldhaftige optreden van de politie snel aanhoudingen konden worden verricht. In totaal zijn er in deze zaak veertien verdachten. Afgelopen dagen stonden er acht personen terecht. Drie verdachten zullen op een later moment terecht staan en twee verdachten zijn nog spoorloos. Eén verdachte is tijdens zijn vlucht overleden. Gericht geschoten De kern van de juridische discussie is of de verdachten nu wel of niet gericht op politiemensen en hun voertuigen hebben geschoten, zeiden de officieren van justitie op 9 november en vandaag op zitting. Volgens de verdachten hebben zij in de lucht geschoten, één verdachte zegt überhaupt niet geschoten te hebben. Het OM ziet dit echter anders. Drie verdachten, twee Fransmannen (39,43) en een 44-jarige Belg, zouden met hun automatische wapens niet alleen in de lucht hebben geschoten om de politie op afstand te houden, maar ook gericht kogels hebben afgevuurd op de agenten en hun voertuigen. Dat zou volgens het OM zijn gebeurd op de A10 tijdens de achtervolging en in Broek in Waterland. Het OM komt tot deze conclusie op basis van verklaringen van agenten. Zij verklaren onder meer dat ze in de loop van een lang wapen hebben gekeken, pluimen rook uit de loop hebben zien komen en doffe knallen te hebben gehoord. Die verklaringen worden ondersteund door meldkamergesprekken en burgergetuigen die verdachten op verschillende momenten gericht hebben zien schieten. Dat er geen kogelinslagen in de politievoertuigen zijn aangetroffen, is volgens het OM te verklaren. Er is met drie oude militaire automatische aanvalswapens met verroeste lopen geschoten. De spreiding van de kogels was hierdoor te groot en dat beperkte fors de trefkans bij gericht schieten Daarnaast waren de verdachten geen geoefende schutters waardoor de trefkans nog verder werd verkleind. Verder ontbrak elke vorm van controle volgens een wapenexpert van Defensie die onderzoek deed naar het schieten. Er is vanuit rijdende auto’s geschoten, terwijl er met hoge snelheden werd gereden. De verdachten zaten op de achterbank en hebben door een geopend raam naar achter geschoten. Ook werd hun zicht beperkt. Niet alleen door de hevige regenval, maar ook door de verduisterde achterruit. Als laatste werd de trefkans nog meer beperkt door het gebruik van verschillende soorten munitie en de uitgeklapte kolven van de automatische vuurwapens die zijn aangetroffen. Met wapens met een vaste kolf kun je beter en gerichter schieten maar de klapkolf heeft speling, is gammel en biedt onvoldoende ondersteuning voor de schutter. Die ondersteuning is nodig omdat dit soort vuurwapens een vrij harde terugslag hebben. Alleen geoefende schutters zouden volgens de deskundige weten om te gaan met die speling. Grondig voorbereid De impact die deze zaak heeft gehad op de betrokken agenten en medewerkers van het waardetransportbedrijf en het bedrijf in edelmetaal is enorm. Allen hebben moeten vrezen voor hun leven. Maar ook voor omstanders en bewoners van Broek in Waterland die ongewild getuige waren was de impact buitengewoon groot. Sommigen ervaren nog steeds fysieke dan wel psychische klachten. De verdachten die nu voor de rechter staan worden verdacht van het medeplegen van de overval, het medeplegen van poging gekwalificeerde doodslag, medeplegen bedreiging en medeplegen vernieling danwel brandstichting. Ze worden ervan verdacht in totaal goederen ter waarde van 14,5 miljoen euro te hebben buitgemaakt, medewerkers met tie-wraps te hebben vastgebonden en met automatische wapens in de richting van politieagenten en politievoertuigen te hebben geschoten. Het politieonderzoek heeft uitgewezen dat de overval grondig is voorbereid. De verdachten hebben simkaarten, telefoons en portofoons aangeschaft om onderling te communiceren. Ook regelden ze snelle auto’s voorzien van valse kentekenplaten en werden er voorverkenningen gedaan en een vluchtplan gemaakt. En ten slotte regelden ze automatische vuurwapens, pistolen, een hagelgeweer, een mes, verschillende soorten munitie, bivakmutsen, tie-wraps en kogelwerende vesten. In de nacht voorafgaand aan de overval slapen de verdachten op één na in een appartement in Antwerpen waar de wapens worden gebracht. In dit appartement is niet alleen de overval van begin tot eind besproken, maar is ook gesproken dat met automatische wapens de politie op afstand gehouden moest worden. Het OM houdt al de verdachten die bij de voorbespreking aanwezig waren medeverantwoordelijk voor de schoten en de pogingen tot gekwalificeerde doodslag op de agenten. De 23-jarige Belg die niet aanwezig was bij de bespreking moet volgens het OM hiervan worden vrijgesproken. Wel is hij medeplichtig aan de overval. Strafeisen Bij het bepalen van een passende straf kijkt het OM in de regel naar richtlijnen, oriëntatiepunten en naar straffen die zijn opgelegd in vergelijkbare zaken. In deze zaak is dat eigenlijk niet mogelijk. Volgens de officieren van justitie komt een overval van deze omvang en hoeveelheid geweld gewoonweg niet voor in de richtlijnen. Ook niet in de oriëntatiepunten van de rechtbank. De officieren van justitie: “Als we kijken naar deze zaak ligt deze gewelddadige overval door dit zwaar bewapende internationale commando en de daarop volgende niets ontziende pogingen gekwalificeerde doodslag van 12 agenten en de bedreigingen aan het adres van nog eens 12 agenten, aan de absolute bovengrens van ernst.” Tegen zeven verdachten eisten de officieren vandaag een celstraf van achttien jaar. De 23-jarige Belg die verdacht wordt van medeplichtigheid hoorde vijf jaar cel tegen zich eisen. Bron: OM Read the full article

[bodoposten]

LESERINNLEGG: Nordmenn lider og media tier

LESERINNLEGG: Nordmenn lider og media tier

Pressestøtten til gammel-media må kuttes og alderspensjonene til nordmenn, enslige og uføre trygdede må økes. Ærlig talt! De aller fleste veletablerte norske medier mottar en eller annen form for statsstøtte, og har i dag en kraftig politisk slagside, som utvilsomt skader demokratiet: informasjon sensureres, farges og manipuleres på alle tenkelige måter iht. en venstreliberal, globalistisk og…

[rubykgrant]

I made a slightly condensed version of my Spooky Ref list; it still has a heck ton of movies and books, but now I combined certain categories, eliminated a few, and removed some of the titles that don’t quite fit. If you are looking for things to watch or read so you can get into the Halloween mood (or of you just like some creepy content), here you go!

Movies and Books for October

These range from children’s media to adult content, so be sure to check the ratings/reviews, this way you’ll find ones that are suitable for the right viewers. The dates of movies and names of authors for books are included to make searches easier

(a * symbol is for when a title is in both sections, a book that got made into a movie, ect)

Halloween and Ghosts

Movies- Hocus Pocus (1993), *the Halloween Tree (1993), the Nightmare before Christmas (1993), Trick r Treat (2007), Monster House (2006), Halloweentown (1998), the Legend of Sleepy Hollow (1949), Scary Godmother Halloween Spooktacular (2003), Poltergeist (1982), the Haunting (1999), Casper (1995), Ghostbusters (1984), the Haunted Mansion (2003), Thirteen Ghosts (2001), the Others (2001)

Books- How to Drive Your Family Crazy on Halloween by Dean Marney,*the Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury, the Haunted Mask (Goosebumps) by RL Stine, Dark Harvest by Norman Partridge, Stonewords a Ghost Story by Pam Conrad, Deep and Dark and Dangerous by Mary Downing Hahn, Ghost Beach (Goosebumps) by RL Stine, All the Lovely Bad Ones by Mary Downing Hahn, the Crossroads by Chris Grabenstein, Wait Till Helen Comes by Mary Downing Hahn

 Witch/ESP/Mental Powers

Movies- *Practical Magic (1998), *the Wizard of Oz (1939), *the Witches (1990), Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989), Scooby-Doo and the Witch’s Ghost (1999) *Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001), the Craft (1996), the Witches of Eastwick (1987), *Carrie (1976), *Firstarter (1984), *Matilda (1996), the Last Mimzy (2007)

Books- *Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman, *the Witches by Roald Dahl, Charmed Life by Diana Wynne Jones, *Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by JK Rowling, *the Wizard of Oz by L Frank Baum, T*Witches by HB Gilmour and Randi Reisfeld, the Worst Witch by Jill Murphy, *Carrie by Stephen King, *Firestarter by Stephen King, *Matilda by Roald Dahl, Scorpion Shards (Star Shards Chronicles) by Neal Shusterman, the Witch’s Boy by Michael Gruber

 Vampire and Werewolf

Movies- Blade (1998), the Little Vampire (2000), Hellboy Blood and Iron (2007), *Hotel Transylvania (2012), Fright Night (2011), What We Do in the Shadows (2014), Alvin and the Chipmunks meet The Wolfman (2000), Ginger Snaps (2000), Van Helsing (2004) Wolf Children (2012), the Wolfman (1941)

Books- Bunnicula by James and Deborah Howe, Dracula by Bram Stoker, ‘Salem’s Lot by Stephen King, Red Rider’s Hood by Neal Shusterman, the Werewolf of Fever Swamp (Goosebumps) by RL Stine, Werewolves Don't Go to Summer Camp (Bailey School Kids) by Debbie Dadey and Marcia Jones, Blood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis Klause, Night of the Werepoodle by Constance Hiser

 Zombies and Slasher/Gore

Movies- Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island (1998), ParaNorman (2012), Night of the Living Dead (1968), *Pet Sematary (1989), Zombieland (2009), Resident Evil (2002), Dawn of the Dead (2004) Scream (1996), a Nightmare on Elm Street (1984), *I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997), Kill Bill (2003), Happy Death Day (2017), the Hills Have Eyes (2006), US (2019), Friday the 13th (1980), the Thing (1982), *the Girl with all the Gifts (2016)

Books- *Pet Sematary by Stephen King, the Haunting of Derek Stone by Tony Abott, Welcome to Dead House (Goosebumps) by RL Stine, *I know What You Did Last Summer by Lois Duncan, the Dark Half by Stephen King, The Dead Girlfriend (Point Horror) by RL Stine, Another by Yukito Ayatsuji, the Prom Queen (Fear Street) by RL Stine, *the Girl with all the Gifts by MR Carey

 Demons/Possession/Afterlife

Movies- the Omen (1976), Insidious (2010), the Exorcist (1973), *Christine (1983), City of Angels (1998), All Dogs go to Heaven (1989), Fallen (1998), *Rosemary’s Baby (1968), Bedazzled (2000), What Dreams May Come (1998), the Book of Life (2014), Flatliners (2017), *the Lovely Bones (2009), Coco (2017), Jennifer’s Body (2009), the Mummy (1999)

Books- *Christine by Stephen King, Needful Things by Stephen King, HECK where the bad kids go by Dale E Bayse,* Rosemary’s Baby by Ira Levin, Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett, Paradise Lost by John Milton, Inferno by Dante Alighieri, *the Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

 Monsters/Mythology/Dangerous Animals

Movies- Monsters Inc (2001), Godzilla (1998), *a Monster Calls (2016), *Jurassic Park (1993), King Kong (1933), Doug’s 1st Movie (1999), Darkness Falls (2003), Atlantis the lost empire (2001), Sinbad Legend of the Seven Seas (2003), *the Last Unicorn (1982), Urban Legend (1998), *How to Train Your Dragon (2010), the Flight of Dragons (1982), Shrek (2001), *the Hobbit (1977), Quest for Camelot (1998), Ferngully the last rainforest (1992), Lake Placid (1999), Jaws (1975), *Cujo (1983), Deep Blue Sea (1999), Anaconda (1997)

Books- *a Monster Calls by Patrick Ness, Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, *Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton, Sasquatch by Roland Smith, *the Last Unicorn by Peter S Beagle, the Moorchild by Eloise Jarvis McGraw, the Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians) by Rick Riordan, the Boggart by Susan Cooper, *How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell, Jeremy Thatcher Dragon Hatcher by Bruce Coville, *the Hobbit by JRR Tolkien, *Cujo by Stephen King, Cat in the Crypt (Animal Ark Hauntings) by Ben M Baglio, Congo by Michael Crichton, Watership Down by Richard Adams, the Dark Pond by Joseph Bruchac

 Dolls and Toys, Circus/Carnival/Clowns, Comedy Horror

Movies- *Coraline (2009), the Adventures of Pinocchio (1996), Child’s Play (1988), Toy Story (1995), 9 (2009), We’re Back a dinosaur’s story (1993), the Care Bears Movie (1985), Little Nemo adventures in Slumberland (1989), *Something Wicked This Way Comes (1983), *Big Top Scooby-Doo (2012), Killer Klowns from Outer Space, *IT (2017), *Beetlejuice (1988), Army of Darkness (1992), Gremlins (1984), Arachnophobia (1990), Jawbreaker (1999), Tremors (1990), the Frighteners (1996), Twilight Zone the Movie (1983), Little Shop of Horrors (1986), Eight Legged Freaks (2002), the Goonies (1985)

Books- Frozen Charlotte by Alex Bell, *Coraline by Neil Gaiman, No Flying in the House by Betty Brock, Doll Bones by Holly Black, Joyland by Stephen King, *Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury, the Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, *IT by Stephen King, the Cuckoo Clock of Doom (Goosebumps) by RL Stine, a Dirty Job by Christopher Moore jr, Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (Treasury) by Alvin Schwartz and illustrated by Stephen Gammell, JTHM (Director’s Cut) by Jhonen Vasquez

 Gothic/Dark Fantasy, Curse/Transformation

Movies- *the Addams Family (1991), Rebecca (1940), Edward Scissorhands (1990), Mama (2013), the Phantom of the Opera (2004), Crimson Peak (2010), Legend (1985), the Dark Crystal (1982), Labyrinth (1986), *the Neverending Story (1984), *the Secret of NIMH (1982), Anastasia (1997), Howl’s Moving Castle (2004), Pan’s Labyrinth (2006), Willow (1988), *the Last Unicorn (1982), the Princess Bride (1987), *Legend of the Guardians the Owls of Ga'Hoole, Beauty and the Beast (1991), the Princess and the Frog (2009), the Swan Princess (1994), the Thing (1982), the Mask (1994), Freaky Friday (2003), Song of the Sea (2014), Pirates of the Caribbean the Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)

Books- the Raven by Edgar Allen Poe, the Shining by Stephen King, Remember Me by Mary Higgins Clark, a Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket, Well Witched (Verdigris Deep) by Frances Hardinge, Poison by Chris Wooding, *the Neverending Story by Michael Ende, *Mrs Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C O'Brien, a Tale Dark and Grimm by Adam Gidwitz, the Dark Portal by Robin Jarvis, Zel by Donna Jo Napoli, *the Last Unicorn by Peter S Beagle, *Guardians of Ga’Hoole by Kathryn Lasky, Owl in Love by Patrice Kindl

 Mystery/Thriller/Psychological/Suspense

Movies- Clue (1985), *Holes (2003), Get Out (2017), Hot Fuzz (2007), Minority Report (2002), Kidnap (2017), Saw (2004), Wind River (2017), Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988), the Great Mouse Detective (1986), Eve’s Bayou (1997), Breaking In (2018), Cube (1997), *Secret Window (2004), Silent Hill (2006), the Sixth Sense (1999), the Good Son (1993), Psycho (1960), Donnie Darko (2001), Fargo (1996), the Game (1997), the Invisible Man (2020), Breaking In (2018)

Books- *Holes by Louis Sachar, the Lost (the Outer Limits) by John Peel, We’ll Meet Again by Mary Higgins Clark, When the Bough Breaks by Jonathan Kellerman, *Secret Window Secret Garden (Four Past Midnight) by Stephen King, House of Stairs by William Sleator, Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, Dolores Claiborne by Stephen King, Tangerine by Edward Bloor, Lord of the Flies by William Golding, the Girl who Loved Tom Gordon by Stephen King

 Sci-Fi/Space Aliens, Robots and Technology

Movies- I Robot (2004), the Iron Giant (1999), the Terminator (1984), AI artificial intelligence (2001), the Stepford Wives (2004), Wall-E (2008), *Screamers (1995), *Sphere (1998), *Blade Runner (1982), *2001 a Space Odyssey (1968), MIB (1997), Mission to Mars (2000), Galaxy Quest (1999), Alien (1979), ET the extra terrestrial (1982), Independence Day (1996), Spaced Invaders (1990), Buzz Lightyear of Star Command the Adventure Begins (2000), Chicken Little (2005), *War of the Worlds (1953), *Contact (1997), Signs (2002), Treasure Planet (2002), Frequency (2000), Back to the Future (1985), the Time Machine (1960), Planet of the Apes (1968), Lost in Space (1998)

Books- the Terminal Man by Michael Crichton, Feed by Matthew Tobin Anderson, *Second Variety (Screamers) by Phillip K Dick, *I Robot by Isaac Asimov, Cell by Stephen King, *Sphere by Michael Crichton, *Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep (Blade Runner) by Philip K Dick , *2001 a Space Odyssey by  Arthur C Clarke, a Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle, Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card, the Dark Side of Nowhere by Neal Shusterman, *War of the Worlds by HG Wells, *Contact by Carl Sagan, Childhood’s End by Arthur C Clarke, Aliens Don’t Wear Braces (the Baily School Kids) by Debbie Dadey and Marcia Jones, the Invasion (Animorphs) by KA Applegate

 Dystopia/Disaster, Other Worlds

Movies- Waterworld (1995), the Matrix (1999), Escape from New York (1981), *Demolition Man (1993), the Day After Tomorrow (2004), Volcano (1997), the Fifth Element (1997), Titan AE (2000), Armageddon (1998), Twister (1996), the Birds (1963), the Book of Eli, (2010) Spirited Away (2001), *Alice in Wonderland (1951), Pleasantville (1998), *the Phantom Tollbooth (1970), *the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005), *Hook (1991), the Pagemaster (1994), *James and the Giant Peach (1996)

Books- Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix, Uglies by Scott Westerfeld, the Road by Cormac McCarthy, the House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer, 1984 by George Orwell, Armageddon Summer by Bruce Coville and Jane Yolen, the Giver by Lois Lowry, the City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau, *Brave New World (Demolition Man) by Aldous Huxley, Malice by Chris Wooding, * the Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster, *Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, the Golden Compass (His Dark Materials) by Philip Pullman, *The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe (the Chronicles of Narnia) by CS Lewis, *James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl

 Anime/Manga and J-Horror

Movies- Akira (1988), Perfect Blue (1997), Ring (1998), Dark Water (2002), Ghost in the Shell (1995), Tokyo Godfathers (2003), Cat Soup (2001), *Cowboy Bebop the Movie (2001), Blood the Last Vampire (2000), Pokemon the First Movie (1998), Sailor Moon R Promise of the Rose (1993), DBZ the World’s Strongest (1990), Digimon the Movie (2000), Ju-On (2000)

Manga- Claymore by Norihiro Yagi, Death Note by Tsugumi Ohba and illustrated by Takeshi Obata, *Yu Yu Hakusho by Yoshihiro Togashi, *Fullmetal Alchemist by Hiromu Arakawa, *Blue Exorcist by Kazue Katō, *Soul Eater by Atsushi Ōkubo, *Inuyasha by Rumiko Takahashi,

Anime- *Yu Yu Hakusho, *Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood, *Soul Eater, *Blue Exorcist, *Inuyasha, *Cowboy Bebop, Mob Psycho 100, .hack//SIGN , the Promised Neverland, Paranoia Agent, Tokyo Ghoul, Hellsing Ultimate

 Super Hero

Movies- Hellboy (2004), Ghost Rider (2007), the Incredibles (2004), Batman Beyond return of the Joker (2000), TMNT (2007), Logan (2017), Black Panther (2018), Sky High (2005), Spider-Man into the Spider-Verse (2018), Justice League Crisis on Two Earths (2010), Batman Under the Red Hood (2010)

Comics- Animal Man (New 52, 2011) DC Comics, Swamp Thing (New 52, 2011) DC Comics, BPRD Dark Waters (2012) Dark Horse Comics, Nextwave (Agents of HATE, 2006) Marvel Comics

Animated Series- Batman the Animated Series, X-Men Evolution, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2003), Darkwing Duck, the Powerpuff Girls, Teen Titans (2005), Static Shock, Green Lantern the Animated Series

 Cartoons and TV shows

Over the Garden Wall, The Simpsons (Treehouse of Horrors), Regular Show (Terror Tales of the Park), Adventure Time (Stakes), Scooby-Doo Where Are You/What’s New Scooby-Doo,  El Tigre the Adventures of Manny Rivera, Phineas and Ferb (Night of the Living Pharmacists), Gravity Falls, Good Omens, Miracle Workers, Grimm, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, What We Do In the Shadows, Hotel Transylvania the series, Wolf’s Rain, Danny Phantom, Aaahh Real Monsters, the Munsters, So Weird, Tutenstein, Gargoyles, Xena Warrior Princess, Are You Afraid of the Dark, Tales from the Crypt, Goosebumps, Samurai Jack, Metalocalypse, Super Jail, My Life as a Teenage Robot, Futurama, the Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy, *Beetlejuice (animated series), Sabrina the Animated Series, the Owl House, Bewitched, Growing Up Creepy, the Addams Family (animated series), a Series of Unfortunate Events, Courage the Cowardly Dog, Star VS the Forces of Evil, Amphibia, Infinity Train, Penn Zero Part-Time Hero, Murder She Wrote, the Venture Bros, Avatar the Last Airbender, Invader ZIM, People of Earth, Star Trek Next Gen, Rick and Morty, Buzz Lightyear of Star Command

[brightbeautifulthings]

I'm so behind on updating, but right on schedule with my reading for The Summer Bingo Challenge, hosted by Forgotten YA Gems! I had to do a little last minute switching around to get some of those four-hundred-page novels off my list and include things I actually had a hope of finishing. More bingos, yay! Heading for a blackout card!

Tunnelville by Troy H. Gardner & Erin Callahan (one word title) I read Wakefield two years ago, and I've been meaning to get around to Tunnelville ever since its release. I like the characters and the cool urban fantasy world, but like the first book, it has most of its action concentrated in the last chapters, making it somewhat slow-moving. Excellent option for branching into more small/indie press or self-published authors though! 3/5

Unwind by Neal Shusterman (recommended to you) Omfg. I can't believe I waited so long to read this. I thought I was pretty done with the YA dystopian genre, but I was wrong and more wrong. This is disturbing, ethically complex, well-plotted, and featuring an amazing cast of characters. It could easily be read as a standalone, but there's no way I'm ready to leave this world. 5/5

Persepolis 2: The Story of a Return by Marjane Satrapi (nonfiction) I read the first Persepolis for last year's challenge, so it was nice to wrap it up in this year's. More personal and less political than the first installment, but no less moving or immersive in a culture that's not often depicted in American media. Well worth reading. 4/5

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark by Alvin Schwartz (illustrated) My older sister scared the shit out of me with this book when I was a kid, and I never returned to it until now. It holds up well as a collection of creepy folktales and urban legends, some more familiar to current popular culture than others. Absolutely terrifying illustrations by Stephen Gammell. 4/5

[sixty-silver-wishes]

Reading Junji Ito's "Billions Alone" from a post-lockdown, culturally individualist perspective

Today, I met up with some local writers at a cafe/comic shop for some group discussion and writing. One of them is a fiction writer like myself; the other is a video essayist. Since becoming more involved in the local artistic scene, both as an artist and a writer, I feel like my mental health has been improving, at least when it comes to my personal life- I'm building a circle of like-minded creatives, surrounding myself with others who have similar beliefs and interests as me. As I'm finding community in the creative scene, however, I'm also realizing that many people I'm meeting feel much of the same way.

At the writers' meeting, while we discussed our stories, our goals, and our writing challenges, the idea of "third spaces" also frequently came up as well. My video essayist friend was talking about a new project studying how public infrastructure is designed to favor drivers over pedestrians, and we all agreed on something that I've been hearing many times in online circles- the internet itself is changing. Despite social media platforms supposedly promising to bring people together, they've only become more isolating as they've become more corporate, AI, and algorithm-driven. We talked how lots of online users are returning to the "old internet," forming their own blogs and seeking an escape from the increasingly stifling major platforms. We discussed how while everything is filled with SEO and short-form content, nobody actually likes TikTok or Instagram, but they've become so ingrained in online society that we tolerate them, using them to promote our small businesses or connect with others.

After the meeting, I decided to look around the comic store, and was drawn to a copy of Junji Ito's manga collection, Venus in the Blind Spot. I'd become a Junji Ito fan way back in college, and his art style has had a big influence on my own work. While I also take heavy inspiration from styles like Expressionism and New Objectivity, and artists such as Edward Gorey and Stephen Gammell, Junji Ito's painstaking pen-and-ink hatching, bulging eyeballs, and grotesque faces have played a distinct role in my artistic growth. However, I didn't own any of his mangas (having read some online), but I'd been wanting to get one so I could study his art style up close. I ended up buying Venus, and after my conversation with my writer friends, it was strangely coincidental that the first story in the collection was Billions Alone.

Junji Ito's Billions Alone tells the story of Michio, a reclusive young man who has a crush on his former classmate, Natsuko. Natsuko is planning a school reunion, and invites Michio to reconnect and meet her new friend group. Meanwhile, a mysterious series of mass murders have been taking place, as a group called "Billions Alone" appears to be killing people en masse and sewing their bodies together. As Michio and Natusko's friends are killed and the heaps of bodies grow bigger and bigger, the public is warned not to form gatherings, and to isolate from one another. Eventually, Michio sees military planes that he thinks are attacking Billions Alone aircrafts, but are actually dropping pamphlets about "coming together" onto the town. As he thinks the government is finally taking action against the murders, he goes to tell Natusko, only to see her sewing the bodies of her family together, implying that the murders have not been carried out by an organized crime group as suspected, but rather civilians being compelled or brainwashed into killing each other. I've seen analyses before that Billions Alone is a commentary on Japan's collectivist culture, and that many of Junji Ito's works critique different aspects of Japanese culture- for instance, Gyo has been interpreted as a metaphor for the Japanese government's denial of atrocities committed by Japan during WW2, such as in Nanking, China, while My Dear Ancestors has been read as a criticism of the concept of filial piety. While these interpretations are certainly fascinating, I admittedly don't know enough about Japanese culture to properly analyze Ito's works from that lens, and will leave that up to people more knowledgeable than I am. However, coming from the United States, which has a heavily individualist culture as opposed to collectivism, Billions Alone resonated with me in a different way, especially after the Covid lockdowns and the increasing isolation of people, ironically in part due to the internet, which has simultaneously allowed people to "come together" and drive them apart.

Before I get into my thoughts on Billions Alone from my own cultural perspective, I want to add a disclaimer- just because Covid lockdowns are over doesn't mean that Covid itself is over. People still get the disease, it's still contagious, and it's still deadly. If you're sick and going out in public, it's common decency to wear a mask; public health is still important. This analysis is not anti-mask or anti-lockdown, but does discuss the social and psychological effects of lockdowns. I'd also like to say that when I call myself "culturally individualist," I mean that I come from an individualist culture, not that I consider individualism to be a superior ideology; both individualism and collectivism have their pros and cons. That being said, back to Junji Ito.

One thing that stood out to me the most in Billions Alone is the way the concepts of togetherness vs. isolation are framed in both positive and negative ways. Natsuko is a very social character; she has a friend group, a fiancee, and is planning the school reunion. She's also the only character shown sewing people together at the end. Meanwhile, Michio is very isolated; he's spent the last seven years at home. He misses Natsuko at the beginning of the story, and while he wants to confess his feelings towards her, while he's been shut up in his house, she's found someone else she loves. Togetherness prevents social death, but it also means physical death. Isolation means mental anguish and loneliness, but it also means survival.

The characters in Billions Alone both crave and are terrified of togetherness. As they're ordered to stay separated by the authorities, many young people, including the main characters, ignore the orders to gather in groups. This definitely brought the Covid lockdowns to mind for me; like the characters in the manga, to protect ourselves and the people we loved, we had to avoid gathering with them. Michio thinks that by the end, the Japanese government "finally" decides to take action combatting Billions Alone, but only after the death toll has become impossible to ignore and increasingly large masses of bodies begin to appear in public spaces. Worse yet, the planes he sees are in the control of Billions Alone, dropping propaganda to even more people (this page points out they're possibly an allusion to Allied planes during WW2; the allusion to John Lennon's music on the radio also makes a possible case for an analysis of the Billions Alone group symbolizing western globalization, but that's a study for another time). Notably, the bodies don't appear in workplaces or the home, but rather in "third spaces"- public parks, hiking trails, and areas being used for parties, like the school reunion. To survive, people must avoid these places, leading them to become more and more isolated. Natsuko's desire for social connection leads her to continue with the reunion despite Michio's insistence, justifying it as a "memorial" for the members of her friend group. However, the auditorium is empty, and she and Michio are confronted with a large web of bodies.

Looking at Ito's (frankly amazing) drawings of the corpses (I found myself analyzing his use of hatching and texture in every single one), I was reminded of the discussion my friends and I had about the modern Internet. In the story, technology is shown as a way to keep people connected while isolating from each other; Michio watches the news on the television for updates, calls Natsuko on the phone, and reads online forums to see what people are saying about the murders. But, as in real life, technology is not a substitute for social interaction, and while people can communicate and receive information over long distances while being isolated, they still continue to gather, despite knowing about the murders. They increasingly rely on technology, but still crave connection, enough to risk their lives for it; even Michio, who is used to being alone, says he wouldn't mind being sewn to his crush Natsuko as he ventures to see her again despite the risks. It's a line that was probably intended to be humorous, but speaks to the fact that even for him, there's only so much isolation he can take. When he sees the military planes, she's the first person he goes to talk to- if not the only person he knows who's still alive.

Overall, I think there's a lot to analyze with Billions Alone, and while I saw some people on the internet also drawing parallels with the Covid lockdowns like I did, I think what we can interpret from it in terms of the long-term increasing isolation of society- while we paradoxically "come together" with the internet- and the disappearance of third spaces is just as interesting. Like my friends and I in the comic store today, the characters are desperate for connection, and lament not being able to have it. Even if isolation may help them survive, they ultimately fall victim to their desire to live.

[provigjen]

På Helheims Veg / Road to Hell - Hadestown

André De Shields (Hermes) in Hadestown © Helen Maybanks 2018

Another Norwegian version of a Hadestown song - this time of Road to Hell. This is the introduction of the story and the characters, sung by Hermes. 

As I’ve translated it to Norwegian, I also wanted the scene to fit a Norwegian setting. I have this idea that the musical could be preformed on one of the many shut down railroad stations, preferably in my own home region along the Røros line (Rørosbanen). The building of the railroad was hard work. In the original Hadestown setting, there are references to the industrial era and the culture of black workers and slaves. To make a similar parallel to Norwegian history, I wanted to reference the rise of the working class and socialism. This was a very red period, reflected for example in the songs by Hans Rotmo. Since it doesn’t make as much sense in Norwegian to use the term “Brother”, I have therefore changed these to “Kamerat” (comrade).

“The road to hell” is a term used in many American songs and other media. In Norse mythology, there was a literal road to hell - Helveg. This was the road (veg) to Hel - the Norse underworld and afterlife. Since the story is mythology based, but the translation should fit a Norwegian audience, I chose to refer to the Helveg. I thought this to be a fun touch, but others might disagree.

På Helheims Veg

En gang i tida gikk ei linje her

"Men kamrat, hvor?" - jo lytt og lær

Det var Helveg - det var harde tider

En tid for guder

Og folk!

.

Er en gammel sang

Det er en gammel sang fra den gang da

Er en gammel sang

Men vi synger den enda

.

Guder og folk, ja

Vi har noen guder her i dag.

.

Og på Helheims veg gikk en gammel linje

Og der var tre kvinner kledd helt likt

Du hører dem alltid i drømmene dine

Folkens, møt skjebnene!

.

Og på Helheims veg var en togstasjon

På perrongen ankom en kvinne

Som bringer årets sommer-rasjon

Persefone - en gudinne

.

Og hvis du går ombord

Går ombord 

Og tar toget til siste stopp

Hvor det slites og det svettes og klages

Tusen gruver, ett eneste slott

Og mørke Herre Hades.

.

Var det flere da?

Ja, jeg glemte nesten

.

Og på Helheims veg var en togstasjon 

Og en mester kledd med fjær på føtten

Som hjelper deg til din destinasjon

Herr Hermes, du har møtt'n

.

For noen må jo synge den

Uansett om det går bra

Kanskje det går bra i dag 

På Helheims veg, på vår togstasjon

.

Er en trist sang

Er en trist sang om en gammel venn

Er en trist sang

Men vi synger den igjen

.

Ja, selv guder sliter

Ikke glem, det er tøffe tider

Tøffe tider for dødelige menn

La meg introdusere noen av dem

Det er verdt å kunne gi ordet 

kamerater, gutter og jenter

Til det hardtarbeidene koret

Som leverer mer enn jeg forventer

.

Og sterkere enn før

Hør på hva vårt band kan gjør'

.

Åh, på Helheims veg var en togstasjon 

Og en mann som skriver ei vise

Mor hans var en venn av meg

Han var sønn av ei muse

På Helheims veg, på vår togstasjon 

Du kan si han var begavet

Elsket av folk og guder sjøl

Gi en hånd- for Orfeus

.

Det var en sjel til på Helveg

Kjære, kom inn og sett deg

På Helheims veg, på vår togstasjon 

Ei frøken på leit etter noe å spise

Kamerat, slik starter vår vise

Om Orfeus og Eurydike

.

Er en kjær sang

Om kjærlighet som aldri dør

Er en kjær sang

Om to stykker som tør.

Er en gammel sang

Er en gammel sang fra den gang da

Men vi synger den

Vi synger den

Vi synger den enda

[darealeliyellowbear]

Inktober Day 31: Rotten

Stephen Gammell's The Thing. He has been such a huge inspiration growing up and opening my eyes to the horror media and art.