#it’s all relative of course

[on-softs]

📓

I AM DAYDREAMING ABOUT AN ENDING TO ARCANE S2 THAT HONORED THE GOD TIER THEMATIC WRITING OF THE FIRST SEASON

[popfizzles]

Scientists and professors have begun documenting wild Eevee with little to no human socialization that are becoming reclusive, feral, harder to capture, and eventually growing to undocumented sizes.

It's a well known fact that Eevee's normally unpredictable and Volatile DNA stabilizes after evolving. However that seems untrue for Eeon, as it retains a largely diverse moveset, embracing its constantly changing genetic structure.

This instability and lack of human interaction makes Eeon threatening to stumble across in the wild, and caution is advised.

[scythlyven-art]

Ok so I used this image to determine Vex’s height since tlovm Percy is canonically 6ft even (I used a ruler for this and I tried to cut off where their heads actually stop without hair)

If he’s 6ft then in this shot that puts Vex at a height of (roughly) 5ft 4inches

[abirddogmoment]

sulking after her new year's eve bath

[yingdu-lover]

One of the best things 'The Eye' and 'Lull' have done is helping me reinterpret the romantic under(?!)tones of the previous openings and endings without any weird guilt (of forcing my gay agenda on anything, which I know is idiotic but anyway). Go back and listen to Vortex, Dive Back in Time and The Tides, everything falls into place all of a sudden. And ALSO, read the damn lyrics of Overthink!

ps : I forgot Break and Flash - the gayest gay ones. I will discuss if I want later :3

Yingdu is standing there with a scythe or something as I write this but I am actually feeling very content right now. Oh, also! found a theory on twitter thread titled This isn’t the dead wife you’re looking for: how Link Click leverages the “dead wife�� trope for CXS while actively subverting it (bro wrote an almost academic paper, delicious arguments really, a similar discussion I was having with a friend the other day) which really makes a lot of sense! The form and content aligns very perfectly if we keep that theory in mind.

Edit : Some more Shiguang ramblings I posted.

I have tears in my Shiguang eyes cause I skipped lunch to edit this, I am hungry and I feel like crying.

[canisalbus]

I find little Machete being happy over bread baking to be so endearing, especially because I can imagine a world in which helping with baking was one of the few childhood joys he had (due to the lack of art of him happy as a pup), and then remembering the art you did months back of modern Machete making a souffle, I can see reincarnated Machete being drawn towards baking in his free time due to those residual feelings from his past life.

.

[manchesterau]

15 Years

pairing:

dan howell/phil lester

summary:

Their lives, forever intertwined.

[freckleslikestars]

You know, you were right. It's actually very beautiful.

FARSCAPE | 1.16 A Human Reaction

[sunfloweraro]

For writing requests, how about sharing traditional holiday foods from their eras?

Oooh I love this request! I kept making myself hungry while I wrote it, but enjoy!!

***

“Everyone ready?” Time called out into his dining room.

A chorus of voices from all over his home responded: “Ready!”

Time gathered the clean plates, tower of cups, and boat of gravy, then followed Malon as she led the way into the dining room, her decadent lamb roast in tow. They were the first to set their food down on the heavy oak table, and Malon placed it right in the middle, shifting it so it sat just right and gazing down at her work with pride. Potatoes, carrots and sprigs of rosemary enveloped the steaming roast.

Malon turned to him, her eyes softening with fondness, and he reached for her hand before she had to say a word. Together, they sat at the table and waited as the rest of the group filed in.

The rest of his companions joined them as one, each carrying a tray of steaming food, or a plate with a delightful treat to enjoy once they had stuffed themselves silly and announced they had no room left for dessert. The pleasant tingle of spices greeted his senses, mingling with the sweetness of roasted pumpkin and the saltiness of seafood. The comforting scent of freshly baked bread came next, and Time sighed in appreciation. Dishes were set down with pride, compliments murmured, before everyone settled down at the table.

Malon and Time went first: “My grandmama used to make us a delectable roast every holiday season,” Malon said, her eyes drifting as she reminisced. “I may not be able to make it the same as her, but…”

“It’s something I look forward to every holidays,” Time finished for her, face softening as he met her eye. “My favourite meal, and the gravy she prepares is to die for.”

“Aw, you’re too sappy, fairy boy.”

“Only for you.” His words were met with boos and groans, and he took every one with a smirk. Only Sky cooed, eyes crinkling with warmth as he thought of his own beloved back home.

Wind jumped in next. “My Gramma always makes us this seafood paella. I couldn’t find the exact mussels and prawns she catches, but it’ll still taste like home!” Wind had gone above and beyond with presentation, mimicking Wild’s extravagance and creating rings of peeled red prawns atop a bed of rice. Mussels hadn’t been easy to find, it seemed, but Wind had scattered a few around the dish alongside wedges of lemon.

“It looks wonderful, Sailor,” Warriors said, nudging his young friend in the shoulder. “I’m sure your gramma would be proud.” Wind beamed under the praise, leaning into his friend’s side as they continued.

“The Gorons back home let me join their holiday celebrations,” Wild began. “Curry pilaf has always been my favourite of their dishes.” Time had no doubt the Gorons had introduced Wild to the dish; his eyes watered with the close proximity to the heavily spiced dish, and though he knew his eyes would stream, he would devour the meal and all its delightful flavours, even if he might regret it tomorrow.

“I can’t wait for it, Cub,” Twilight said, and though apprehension lay in his eyes, similar to Time’s own, he knew his descendent would devour the pilaf like a starved man if it made Wild smile. “And it seems Sky and I had similar ideas.” Twilight waved a hand over their dishes, sitting side by side on the table. Twilight had brought a stuffed and roasted butternut pumpkin, and Sky had brought a deep bowl of pumpkin soup accompanied by a fresh loaf of artisan bread.

“I take it your home town grows a lot of pumpkins?” Sky asked, eagerly eyeing off the stuffed butternut.

“The very finest,” Twilight said, a daring light to his eyes.

“I don’t know about that, my friend. Have you ever tried pumpkins at altitude?”

“Have you ever tried them on land?”

“Settle this later, folks,” Time cut in before the friendly banter could go any further. His stomach was rumbling, irritation brought on by hunger flaring deep within. They could continue their playful argument after dinner.

Twilight and Sky shared a look. They nodded to one another, their argument put on the back burner.

“Your stuffing skills are impressive,” Sky praised.

“I’ve never known anyone who could make a pumpkin soup so smooth,” Twilight said in turn, and with a grin to each other, they let it be.

“We don’t have as many dishes these days, when food is hard to come by,” Hyrule said, and all eyes turned to him and the treat before him, a decadently sweet aroma wafting from the pastry covered in a light green dust. “But things have been growing back, and this is one of the first desserts I ever had the pleasure of eating and then learning to make. Folks back home call it baklava.”

“Oh, my uncle used to make that for my birthday,” Legend piped up, eyes sparkling as they took in the dessert. Time wasn’t certain if it was eagerness or nostalgia that brought the glimmer to them. “I haven’t had it in years.”

Hyrule’s face softened. “I hope it can live up to his.”

“I’m sure it will,” Legend assured him, before realising what he had said and blushing. Clearing his throat, Legend pushed his own dish forward, a yellow rice dish with a colourful array of vegetables, cashews, and spices. “When we celebrate the holidays back home, Hilda and Zelda visit. Ravio and I always make this biryani together.”

Warriors hummed, a knowing look on his face that made Legend blush deeper. “Oh yeah?”

“Shut it, you,” Legend snapped. “What did you bring?”

With a roll of his eyes, Warriors pushed forward his dessert, a round pudding topped with a drizzle of white icing and raspberries scattered on top and around it. “Plum pudding. Back in the war, we didn’t have many options when it came to holiday treats, but this one was always my favourite, and it put a smile on my soldiers’ faces when I brought it out.”

“I’m sure they appreciated it,” Time said. “What better way to boost morale than dessert?”

Warriors chuckled. “That was my thought process too. It boosted the spirits of everyone, myself included, gave us strength when we began to wane…”

“What an honourable thing to do,” Time said, and Warriors smiled. “Now, I believe we have one more dish—Four?”

No dish lay before Four, and he looked away shyly. When Time followed his gaze, he saw an odd little structure resting on his kitchen counter. “My dessert isn’t for us to eat,” Four said, and then quickly hushed complaints. “No, let me explain. Back home, we have a special tradition where we bake gingerbread and create little houses from it. We leave these houses out in the living room for the Minish, and come morning, the house has been eaten.”

“What’s the point of that?” Legend asked, earning a glare from Four.

“Let me finish.” With a roll of his eyes, Legend waved for him to do so. “The Minish always help us out, planting rupees and kinstones in the grass. In turn, we give them this. And sometimes, if they enjoy the meal enough, they leave us little presents to find come morning.”

“That sounds like a wonderful tradition,” Time said, and he meant it. “Let us hope our luck is high tonight. If not… it’s still kind to do something for others and expect nothing in return.”

Four dipped his head. “That’s the idea. We don’t do it for the presents, although they’re always interesting. It’s our our way of telling the Minish we appreciate them even when most folks can’t see them any longer.”

“We can set it out on the table after dinner,” Malon promised, her eyes shimmering at the idea. She had always loved giving back; it was part of why she and Time took care fo replenish their sugar water every day. If Navi returned, then that came as a bonus, but looking after fairies when they did so much for him felt right, and the two of them would continue to do so until they no longer could.

“Well, everyone. What do you say we dig in?” Time’s words were met with cheers and the screeching of chairs as everyone stood, rushing to grab their meal. Time met Malon’s eyes, smiled and squeezed her hand around his own.

Hours later, after everyone had eaten their fill and sung and danced until feet and throats were sore, after everyone had drifted off with warmth in their hearts and smiles on their faces, little Minish ventured out from the rafters, sliding down strings of lights or clambering their way down on bookshelves and chimneys. They delightedly raced over to Four’s little gingerbread house, tearing chunks out and humming in appreciation. Come morning, little gifts had been left all around the house in turn to surprise each of the Heroes. And on the table, only a few crumbs remained.

[il3x]

Any idea how more power solves the problem of being a good person?

With more POWER, you can protect your teammates. With more POWER, you can defeat the Aberrant criminals who kill and extort and farm children for Rapture. With more POWER, you can avenge Jaeil. With the right kind of POWER, you could reform the Aberrant Corps from a killer, his killer, into a true hand of justice. You could impose Goodness across the entire world. With enough POWER, you wouldn't even need violence to do it.

And on the smaller scale... POWER can erase your mistakes. Good? You could be perfect.

[puppppppppy]

man

[watcher1ngellvar]

BIG VEILGUARD SPOILERS!

Been thinking about Hardings story, and the timing of what it means for her to find out about solas creating the blight, so...

Important thing to remember, before 'the heart of the titan' means after weisshaupt, but before the lead in quest to 'heart'.

[withthewindinherfootsteps]

Parallels in the Yi City arc: Yi City Quartet & 3Zun

(Long post ahead!)

I think one overlooked detail about the Yi City arc is how closely its characters parallel the story of 3Zun �� with Xiao Xingchen as Lan Xichen, Xue Yang as Jin Guangyao, and Song Lan and A-Qing as aspects of Nie Mingjue! Though we can't know if its intentional, the sheer number of similarities does suggest to me that it shouldn't be overlooked – so, let's investigate.

Both Xiao Xingchen and Lan Xichen play the role of the 'betrayed' — significantly, because of some sort of blindness.

While for Xiao Xingchen this is physical, Lan Xichen is also blind to Jin Guangyao's true nature. This blindness has been shaped by their betrayer: Xue Yan blinded Song Lan, leading to Xiao Xingchen sacrificing his own eyes for him, while Jin Guangyao deliberately acts to make himself appear honourable and innocent to the people he encounters. This means Lan Xichen cannot 'see' anything contradictory to this about him. This theme of blindness becomes important to the thematic implications of this arc, which we'll talk about later.

In both cases, the 'betrayer' has some role in shaping this blindness, and uses it to their advantage.

Xue Yang blinded Song Lan, causing Xiao Xingchen to give up his eyes for him. Jin Guangyao's crafted persona is the reason Lan Xichen doesn't suspect anything about him. Xue Yang uses Xiao Xingchen's blindness to conceal his identity/nature and thus get close to an unsuspecting him; Jin Guangyao is likewise able to be unsuspected, while using Lan Xichen's generosity to murder Nie Mingjue and gaining a strong ally/defender. Regardless of intent towards Lan Xichen himself, this is still true.

This leads to an identity reveal and betrayal, in which the former party is blindsided (...pun not intended, I couldn't find a better word).

Xiao Xingchen is shocked that Xue Yang is Xue Yang when A-Qing tells him; Lan Xichen likewise does not want to believe Jin Guangyao isn't the person he thought he knew (though, he does promise to evaluate his beliefs!), and when Jin Guangyao ends up sealing his spiritual powers and betraying him, he doesn't see it coming.

Additionally, Lan Xichen and Xiao Xingchen are both tricked into stabbing a member of their group, as a part of someone else's revenge.

For Lan Xichen, it's an outside party (Nie Huaisang); for Xiao Xingchen, it's another member of this group (Xue Yang). Nie Huaisang wanted to take revenge on Jin Guangyao, and Xue Yang wanted to take revenge on Xiao Xingchen himself.

Also, Lan Xichen was tricked by his Xue Yang counterpart into being an instrument for a group member's murder, which could also parallel these events on Xiao Xingchen's side!

So, why is this important?

A common theme in MDZS is being critical of information/rumours. Don't accept something at first glance – question the validity, the evidence, the reason it's being brought up. We see this in the way Lan Wangji acts (eg when discussingg the case of the Chang clan) and in how he teaches the Juniors; we see this in how Wei Wuxian questions the words and intentions of Sisi and Bicao, even when having people suspect Jin Guangyao would be beneficial to him; we see this in the very premise of the novel, as something we were led to believe was true at first glance (by the title and prologue) is proven to be entirely false.

And, in Lan Xichen and Xiao Xingchen's case, we see the dangers of the opposite. That's not blaming them – Jin Guangyao is a very good manipulator and I’d argue Lan Xichen handled the situation very well when it was raised, and Xiao Xingchen was physically blind and couldn’t have guessed the body on the roadside would be Xue Yang of all people – but factually, both characters believed something without having seen the full picture, and were stabbed in the back for it. Lan Xichen could have considered Nie Minjue's words to provide another perspective, and Xiao Xingchen could have inquired into this mysterious person's background and questioned whether they were exploitative (even if it may have been unreasonable, and wouldn't have changed much since Xue Yang is a very good liar), yet both didn't. They both do accept or try to accept what we know is the truth when it's raised to them, but unfortunately it's too late and both pay a steep price. It's also worth noting that both are considered righteous figures (you can debate about Lan Xichen, but that's his in-universe perception), and neither had malicious intent towards any group member. But it doesn't matter how good your intentions are, or how good of a person you are – if you believe things unquestioningly, it'll still lead to harm. Both to you, and unintentionally by you, too. After all, this unquestioning acceptance of one-sided hearsay is a major driver of the mob mentality so heavily critiqued in the book.

And yes, this could've worked had their stories not so closely paralleled each others' – but I'd argue Xiao Xingchen's physical blindness serves to lampshade the metaphorical blindness of Lan Xichen, accentuating this theme. And also having two similar stories helps draw attention to what both of them are saying much more easily than if the stories had been very different.

At the end, however, Lan Xichen is left alive and able to reflect on what led him to this scenario – unlike his spiritual predecessor. Perhaps this is a glimmer of hope, a sign that there is more room for the questioning of rumours and for critical thinking skills in the world now, especially as the younger generation who embodies this begins to grow up; or perhaps it's just another detail of just how doomed Xiao Xingchen was, because despite embodying this theme, was there anything to reflect on and do differently, that would've changed the outcome of his story? As we said before, Xue Yang is a very good liar, and there really wasn't a reason to constantly suspect him from the information Xiao Xingchen had and (more importantly) could feasibly gather. Regardless, the difference in where they end up is important when analysing similarities, and I'm inclined to believe it is a small sign the world can change for the better.

(Similarities on other members under the cut – because there are a lot for everyone else, too, and this post isn't just about the two mentioned above. Once more, we'll be analysing both the 'what' and the 'why'.)

Xue Yang and Jin Guangyao play the role of the 'betrayer' or 'villain', hiding the fact that they're causing and wanting to cause harm – successfully from one member, unsuccessfully from the other(s).

The 'What'

Both kill the suspecting, the main difference being who they're targeting with this action (for Xue Yang, this taints Xiao Xingchen further, whereas Jin Guangyao was simply targeting Nie Mingjue and not Lan Xichen at all). Additionally, both are from a lower-class*, non-cultivator background, who were taken in by the Jin sect and rose to power through this and through doing… morally dubious things. Both share revenge as a motivator – specifically, revenge against an older, male Sect Leader who used them, rejected them and physically harmed them in some way too (Chang Ci'An due to Xue Yang being a street child; Jin Guangshan due to Jin Guangyao being the ‘son of a prostitute’). However, they have both accomplished this revenge goal at the time of their main story. They also have worked together and helped each other in their actions in the past (Villainous Friends extra). Also, both end up losing a hand to Lan Wangji, coincidentally enough.

The 'Why'

Though classism is a present theme in both their stories, I wouldn’t say this is what the parallels are drawing attention to — it’s drawn attention to much more when dealing with Jin Guangyao, and the idea that being treated badly isn’t an excuse for your actions is more prevalent in contrast (with characters like WWX and A-Qing) than similarities. Thematically, they instead serve to show just how easily information can be twisted and distributed – and again, why it's so important we don't accept everything at first glance. Outside of themes, their parallels do contrast them slightly, too — after all, Jin Guangyao’s treatment of Lan Xichen** is much more positive than Xue Xang’s of Xiao Xingchen, despite the ‘betrayed’ treating both of the similarly. But, one could argue, how much does this actually matter? Considering the eventual harm brought to this figure by them regardless, and everything else each of them did? Whatever the answer, the questions are raised by these similarities between them.

Finally, Nie Mingjue is paralleled by both Song Lan and A-Qing in different ways, though the Song Lan parallels are more prominent.

The 'What': Song Lan

All three were killed by the ‘betrayer’ — however, both Nie Mingjue’s and Song Lan’s murders occured before the betrayal, and their deaths and post-mortem identity reveals play an important role in it. A-Qing witnessing Song Lan’s death (as well as just discovering Xue Yang’s identity from Song Lan) is what makes her tell Xiao Xingchen who Xue Yang is, catalysing that betrayal, and Xiao Xingchen discovering Song Lan’s identity makes the betrayal have… let’s say even more of an impact :’). Meanwhile, the identity reveal of the mysterious corpse triggers the investigation of Jin Guangyao, and also starts to catalyse his downfall, leading to the events of the Guanyin temple. Additionally, both turn into fierce corpses encountered by the cast of the main story (both fighting Wen Ning and starting more antagonistic than they end up), with these corpses having been modified in some way by the ‘betrayer’: Nie Mingjue’s corpse is cut up, and Song Lan’s has the needles inserted and is under Xue Yang’s control. I wouldn’t especially say there are themes or questions raised here, it’s more similarities in the group dynamic, but it’s still very interesting to see.

There isn't as much to say here on the 'why' side of things, though there may be something I'm missing. The role of these characters here is mainly in service of the themes in the other characters' arcs – but it's still useful to analyse just how many factual similarities there are, again to give us hints as to whether these parallels between the groups were intentional or not.

The 'What': A-Qing

A-Qing and Nie Mingjue have less parallels, but they definitely exist. Their role here is their constant suspicion — they both suspect and keep suspecting the ‘betrayer’’s actions, despite the trust of the ‘betrayed’ in them (though Nie Mingjue is certainly more violent in this regard). Additionally, both play an important role in the death of the ‘betrayer’ as undead beings: the ghost of A-Qing by constantly tapping her bamboo pole to reveal Xue Yang’s position, and Nie Mingjue’s fierce corpse by directly killing Jin Guangyao. Both are souls through which Wei Wuxian experiences the events of their stories, and both also end the story in some sort of container — Nie Mingjue in the coffin and A-Qing’s broken soul in a spirit-trapping pouch — but admittedly that’s much more flimsy than the rest of my points.

The 'Why': A-Qing

Though at first glance it seems like this suspicion didn't do anything positive for the characters – both ended up dead at the hands of the one spreading/taking advantage of misinformation – it's important to note that these characters are the characters the truth is revealed through. Though I'd argue Nie Mingjue was probably blinded by his own assumptions as much as Lan Xichen was blinded by his own, even if it did end up lining up more closely with the truth, he still plays the same role as A-Qing in questioning and suspecting somebody despite it appearing – on the surface – that there's nothing wrong. And I don't think it's coincidence that in both these cases, the truth is revealed through somebody who did play this role.

Final Thoughts

Though it is possible these parallels were still coincidences, there really are a lot of similarities between the groups' storylines – and they do serve the purpose of important themes within the book. Therefore, I don't think it's unreasonable to assume they were intentional on some level! And even if I'm reading too far into things and they weren't? It doesn't mean they hold no value.

Finally, these parallels are really interesting on their own, but it’s also really interesting to compare where each group ended up. Both groups ended up destroyed due to murder done by the ‘betrayer’, with only one person left standing. However, while Xue Yang was the survivor of the Yi city group (and was later killed by LWJ), the survivor of the Venerated Triad was Lan Xichen — someone who, as mentioned, though heavily affected, now has the chance to grow as a person and fully take things with all their context because of it. So despite the prevalence in the Jianghu of the attitude MXTX is critiquing, despite Wei Wuxian, Lan Wangji and Mianmian only really being able to find peace by stepping away rather than changing it, despite the tragedy of the stories of both the Yi City quartet and of 3zun... ultimately, these parallels could indicate hope.

—

*Although there is a big difference in how much lower this class is, of course.

**There is also the aspect of Xue Yang having a negative past with Xiao Xingchen before, with the opposite being true for Jin Guangyao and Lan Xichen. Jin Guangyao is known to have a good memory and hold grudges — so, if the pairs’ roles were reversed, would anything fundamentally change?

[gingermintpepper]

hi I love your tags so so much! they were so sweet and so interesting and creative and the whole Aphrodite type of beauty thing sounds really interesting do you have any articles and recommendations to read further into it??

-hogoflight

Hello my fine feathered (I am assuming possession of feathers if you are, indeed, capable of flight) @hogoflight! I'm always always happy to hear that people appreciate my frenzied rambling in the tags :D! I have a lot of articles and recommendations :D!! Ancient Greek notions of beauty and representations of it in their art and sculptures is a pretty well studied topic! There isn't any way for us now to know definitively what the beauty standard was (it varied widely from region to region and culture to culture after all) but here are a couple of my favourite reads about Aphrodite and what her representations tell us about idealised beauty!

Probably the most empirically extensive one I can list is Krönström's thesis which compares statues of Aphrodite and literary text referring to both the goddess and mortal women to determine physical ideals for women in five specific eras of Grecian antiquity. Including measurements of the statues there are many descriptions of Aphrodite as 'curvy' with a 'voluptuous figure' and with 'ample buttocks and bosom'.

"When the beauty traits are described in the texts, they are never extreme or anything that could not be found in normal people just that they are more beautiful in every aspect. Furthermore, the sculptures’ physical forms look healthy, they are tall and have distinct curves. Great examples of this are the Knida sculpture and de Milo (the Melian) sculpture."

Of course, these images are still idealised, and there was still a concept such as 'too fat' or 'too skinny' found in written records (and this thesis even includes analysis of pornographic writings and descriptions of the fashion and stylings of pubic hair of women from different regions!!) but from an interpretational standpoint? There is absolutely no reason why these can't refer to a fuller figure. Height was also a very important factor after all and over the course of many eras, it seems like being well proportioned in addition to the length and appearance of one's hair were the most important factors (and, like Apollo, greater beauty was given to those with curlier hair)

Mireille M. Lee's 'Other Ways of Seeing' essay which talks about the forgotten female viewers of Knidian Aphrodite which is also extremely illuminating on how Aphroditic sexuality and sensuality was perceived totally differently from the well documented male voyeuristic gaze (which was overly preoccupied with the statue's nakedness and therefore over-sensationalised the statue's physical appearance) vs women's perspective on the statue which is more centered on the beauty of simplicity in Aphrodite's garment and decoration and in her power and ability to captivate both in her finery and without it. I think it's especially useful in exploring the importance of finery, jewellry and adornment in representations of Aphroditic beauty.

"Some of the small-scale copies are heavily jeweled, especially those from the eastern Mediterranean, for example the Hellenistic gilded terracotta statuette in the Çanakkale Museum (Fig. 5) in which the goddess wears, in addition to the armband on her (right) arm, the following: a necklace with multiple pendants; cross-bands extending over both shoulders and hips, with a cascading pendant in the center; a coiled snake armband on the left arm and another snake on her left thigh, and a twisted anklet on her right leg. (The left leg has been restored, and might also have featured an anklet.)"

"Jewelry is especially associated with Aphrodite in Greek literature. As seen above, in the Homeric Hymn to Aphrodite, the goddess adorns herself with gold jewelry, dress-pins, and earrings in the shape of flowers (162–3)..."

Finally, and to me, the most important one in the argument for an interpretation of Hyacinthus as fat, beautiful and fundamentally Aphroditic comes from Brilmayer's brilliant brilliant thesis done on Aphrodite's work and influence in Archaic Greek Poetry which does away with all of that masculine preoccupation with physical proportion, measurement and bodily ideals for a focus on a Sapphic Aphroditic ideal centered in clothing, ornamentation and, most importantly cunning as symbols of Aphrodite and ultimately a feminine idealised form of beauty. This paper also discusses Pandora and Helen in these terms and it is just kind of a wonderful read tbh.

"Combining Homeric and Hesiodic elements with her own ideas, she [Sappho] alters the way female beauty is viewed. For example, the Homeric war chariot – a symbol of male, military prowess - comes to symbolise the totality of Aphrodite’s power uniting in itself male and female qualities. Having addressed the concept of beauty directly, Sappho then concludes that beauty lies in the eye of the beholder. With the help of Helen of Troy and her beloved Anaktoria, Sappho sets out to reinvent the concept of female beauty as a godlike, subjective quality that may be expressed in many ways, yet remains inspired by Aphrodite."

The conclusion to all of this of course is that Aphroditic ideal beauty is much more fluid compared to its stricter Apolline masculine standard. The nuances and understandings of both are of course, constantly being studied, analysed and scrutinised but really, if Dionysus who was both bearded and clean shorn, effeminate, birthed and rebirthed (and twice gestated!) and strongly associated with vegetation can be popularly portrayed as fat and handsome, why can't Hyacinthus?!

[bookshelfdreams]

americans learn what the middle ages are challenge

[rearranging-deck-chairs]

about what i said abt the gaps and diffuseness; the way shes all eyes & light & reflection. the focus on hands that dont hold anyone anymore. half of her initial definition in this sequence comes from the tardis and with the first touch she immediately explodes. shes obscured by light, and there must be a word for that thats not an oxymoron but it fits; cloudless climes and starry skies