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opinionsaremagic · 2 days ago

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rewatching ever after high because my evil ex ruined it for me

Part Three: Interventions and Elections

Did I already post today? Yes

Am I kind of addicted to this series as if it was catnip? YES.

I hate to give Evil Ex Situationship Girl who told me to watch the Netflix specials that first time this. But she had good taste.

Going to watch a couple of YouTube webisodes now! I don't believe I've ever seen these before EVER as opposed to what I remember from my first watch

As always, here are the color codes for possible references I may make: Disney, My Little Pony, Hunter from Ginny and Georgia, Descendants comparison (Descendants is what my sister was raised on and what I'm much more familiar with), and the newly inducted category, joke about Evil Ex

"Stark Raven Mad"

- THE PIED PIPER IS A MUSIC TEACHER THAT'S BRILLIANT

- The daughter of the Cheshire cat is so silly. She even has the disappearing smile from the movie

- But since she's part cat wouldn't she want to eat all the rats that Mr. Pied Piper just summoned??

- what fairy tale is baba yaga from?? clearly i am not as well-read as i thought i was

- "Me?" "Yes, you." *Sudden music sting that did not need to make me laugh as hard as it did*

- INTERVENTION?!

- Of COURSE that headmaster is behind this. of COURSE.

- "Raven... I adore you" gay?? change my mind about not liking apple white that much challenge has begun

- "You're not SUPPOSED to apologize" "Bet" a young Evil Ex said, taking Apple's words here to heart and never apologizing for anything ever again

- This is the worst intervention ever 😭

- I LOVE YOU BRIAR AND MADDIE

- dang okay Lizzie Hearts... this is the first time i meet you in this series and you have such murderous intent

- Chicken headmaster man is the BEST headmaster man. Petition for Raven to NEVER change him back as proof that she is a good guy

"True Reflections"

- If I had a roommate like Apple trying to be the next American Idol, I would definitely poison her. Raven is so much stronger than me

- RAVEN BROKE THE AFFIRMATION MIRROR NOOOOO

- i like how snippy the mirror is now and if it were me i would call it an upgrade

-the close up on raven grabbing her wrist... oh god i hope these two are gayer than i remember them being because they sure seem like it

- I simply love Raven so much she clearly is so done with everyone but is still putting up with them to help Apple (role model material)

- I'm so glad Apple and Daring aren't officially dating. I thought they were at first but I have NEVER been happier to be wrong because that man is SO mid

- 😡 girl she spent all day helping you find a new mirror and you STILL think she's evil??

- HAHAHA that ending actually got me to laugh

- I'm picking up on some Not Straight vibes between these two and because of it I'm starting a new category in my color coded thoughts: This Seems A Little Gay

"Here Comes Cupid"

- Oh my god is this how I realize Monster High and Ever After High are the same universe

- That tracks. Both are Mattel doll lines about children of folklore characters going to high school

- Cupid is the Adopted Daughter of Eros, hmm? Imagine a Greek God High, the children of Greek gods go to school there... and Cupid has a THIRD Mattel doll universe to travel to!!

- Fun fact, Monster High was considered demonic for me growing up. What good times I had avoiding that franchise like the plague as a young religious girl

- But now that I'm older and agnostic I can do just about whatever I want... Hooray for free will. I could totally watch Monster High once this series is over

- NO WAY HUNTER IS AN IPAD KID AND IT'S UP TO CUPID TO GET HIM HIS GIRLFRIEND

- awwww cupid the matchmaker 🥹

- FROG PRINCE!!

- Imagine being so bad at rizz that you turn into a literal frog every time you say something wrong

- and then in your frog form you're fucking SHAKESPEARE until someone kisses you, then rinse and repeat forever

- Oh he's into Briar!! That's cute

- calm down cupid Dexter is not that hot he still looks like my old fifth grade crush (who was admittedly not very handsome looking back on it)

- The moral here: Lipsyncing solves everything! 😄 Until it doesn't! 🐸

"Maddie in Chief"

- Apple White may be pretentious but I wouldn't complain about politics nearly as much if SHE was in the White House

- OH MY GOD PRESIDENT MADDIE?! YES THIS IS WHAT WE NEED

- "I will reside over this school like I will my future kingdom" ...Don't tell her that student government doesn't actually DO anything (at least in my experience)

- Can we talk about how Apple didn't even answer the question? She's BORN for politics!

- Me and the five other people in line to vote for Maddie are so proud of her right now! You GO girl!! Speak your truth... even if that truth is about Acorns and Steak

- Hunter just spoke and he doesn't even sound like Hunter from Ginny and Georgia. My disappointment is immeasurable and my day is ruined

- this school didn't already have accomodations for giants?!

- Co presidents!! YESSSSSSSS!!

- This one reminded me of the Barbie Life in the Dreamhouse episode where Raquelle runs for mayor so Barbie's seven year old sister runs against her

-Except instead of them both LOSING they both WIN

-ALRIGHT WOOP WOOP next time we're doing some more webisodes! huzzah!!

#watching ever after high because my evil ex ruined it for me #eah #ever after high #apple white #raven queen #maddie hatter #ca cupid #daring charming #headmaster grimm #disney #ginny and georgia #hunter #briar beauty

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hologramcowboy · 1 year ago

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What does it take to become a Hollywood A-lister?

In the interest of not ending up writing a book as an answer: lol

Treating acting like an athlete treats the Olympics. Training at an Olympic level, like a fiend.

Developing your casting bullseye and ensuring ALL about you is in alignment with that, marketing materials especially.

Surrounding yourself with key people that serve your actor brand. Building a team to reach the next tier.

Self producing - actors don't like to hear this but it's a surefire way to stand out and take control of your career.

Pitching yourself to your well studied target list in an on brand way.

Ensuring you are physically fit to meet the demands of your dream roles.

Networking with industry professionals that match your brand. Those you are a solution for.

Employing PR intelligently.

And much, much more. But, at the end of the day, if you are a one trick pony that can't take directions who can't act at an A list level you will never make it. Don't expect to reach A list without working on your actual craft. Your instagram followers won't make up for your poor acting. Only a lazy actor is comfortable with being typecast, A list actors transform into various roles, look at any actor who has won an Oscar, look at the transformations involved, the sacrifices, the work. What I am saying is that, if you are lazy, just forget about reaching A list. If it seems like I am referring to Jensen then, yes, I am. It seems he is set on being typecast and what's worse is he's not even authentic in what he's being typecast for. He's not Dean like. He is a privileged ex model turned actor who doesn't know the first thing about hardships, roughing it up and danger. So it is absolutely hilarious that he is dead set on being typecast as something he could never embody. Don't be like Jensen, be like Ryan Gosling, Jared Leto and many other actors who transform for their characters without losing their authentic essence.

#jensen critical

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digitalmore · 3 months ago

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#IFTTT #Digital More

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mach10automotive · 5 months ago

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From Horsepower to Hyperdrive: The Evolution of Auto Performance

Introduction

The automotive industry has come a long way from its humble beginnings when early vehicles barely exceeded a horse-drawn carriage in speed. Over the decades, the quest for more power, efficiency, and innovation has driven the industry toward groundbreaking advancements. From the roaring muscle cars of the 1960s to the cutting-edge hypercars of today, performance has always been at the heart of automotive engineering.

However, raw power and speed aren’t the only aspects that shape the auto industry. Behind the scenes, automotive inventory management ensures that the right vehicles and parts are available to meet consumer demand, while succession planning plays a vital role in maintaining business continuity in this ever-evolving industry.

In this article, we’ll explore the transformation of automotive performance, the role of inventory management, and the importance of planning for the future of the auto industry.

The Birth of Horsepower: The Early Days of Auto Performance

The term "horsepower" was first coined by James Watt, a Scottish engineer, to compare the power output of steam engines to that of horses. When automobiles first emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, they were slow, clunky machines powered by small engines.

Early cars, like the Benz Patent-Motorwagen (1885) and the Ford Model T (1908), focused more on mobility than speed. Performance was measured in single-digit horsepower, and there were no sophisticated engineering feats like turbocharging or aerodynamics.

However, as technology improved, engineers pushed the limits of speed and power. By the 1920s and 30s, automakers like Bugatti, Bentley, and Duesenberg introduced faster and more refined vehicles, paving the way for performance-focused automobiles.

The Muscle Car Era: Raw Power on the Streets

The 1960s and 70s were the golden age of muscle cars. Automakers realized that consumers wanted not just transportation but thrilling driving experiences. American manufacturers, like Ford, Chevrolet, and Dodge, led the charge with high-performance V8-powered machines.

Key Muscle Cars That Defined the Era

Ford Mustang (1964) – The birth of the pony car revolution.

Chevrolet Camaro (1967) – A direct rival to the Mustang, offering raw speed.

Dodge Challenger (1970) – A muscle car built for drag strips and highways.

Plymouth Barracuda (1970) – A combination of style and sheer power.

Muscle cars were all about high displacement engines, aggressive styling, and roaring exhaust notes. However, rising fuel costs and stricter emission regulations in the 1970s slowed down the muscle car era.

The Age of Turbocharging and Fuel Efficiency

By the 1980s and 90s, automakers had to rethink performance due to oil crises and government regulations on emissions and fuel economy. This led to the adoption of turbochargers, fuel injection systems, and lightweight materials.

Key advancements included:

Turbocharged engines for more power without increasing engine size.

Fuel injection replacing carburetors for better efficiency.

Aerodynamics playing a crucial role in speed and fuel economy.

Sports cars like the Porsche 911 Turbo and the Nissan Skyline GT-R became icons of this era, proving that performance could be achieved without massive displacement.

Modern Hypercars: The Future of Speed and Performance

In the 21st century, automotive performance has reached hyperdrive. Hypercars—vehicles that push the boundaries of speed and technology—represent the pinnacle of automotive engineering.

Top Hypercars Leading the Charge

Bugatti Chiron – 1,500 horsepower, breaking speed records.

Koenigsegg Jesko – A hypercar built for aerodynamics and raw power.

Rimac Nevera – An all-electric hypercar redefining speed with 1,900+ horsepower.

Tesla Roadster (Next Gen) – Combining EV technology with hypercar performance.

With the rise of electric vehicles (EVs), AI-driven driving systems, and hybrid powertrains, the future of performance cars is shifting rapidly.

Automotive Inventory Management: The Backbone of the Auto Industry

Performance cars might steal the spotlight, but behind the scenes, automotive inventory management keeps the industry moving. Dealerships, manufacturers, and distributors must manage a delicate balance of supply and demand.

Challenges in Inventory Management

Overstocking – Holding too many vehicles can lead to depreciation losses.

Understocking – Running out of high-demand models results in lost sales.

Market Fluctuations – Economic trends and consumer preferences constantly change.

Implementing AI-driven predictive analytics, automation, and real-time tracking can help dealerships optimize their stock levels.

Succession Planning in the Automotive Industry

The auto industry isn’t just about cars; it’s about business sustainability. Many family-owned dealerships and manufacturers face challenges when transitioning leadership.

Key Steps in Succession Planning

Identifying Future Leaders – Training the next generation.

Documenting Business Processes – Ensuring knowledge transfer.

Legal and Financial Planning – Avoiding disputes in ownership transitions.

Proper succession planning helps businesses adapt to industry changes while maintaining stability.

Conclusion

From the early days of horsepower to the era of hyperdrive, the automotive industry has seen incredible transformations. While performance innovations continue to evolve, inventory management and succession planning play crucial roles in sustaining the industry.

As we look to the future, AI, automation, and electric propulsion will redefine automotive performance. The journey has just begun, and the road ahead promises even greater advancements.

#Succession Planning #Automotive inventory management

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florestawpc · 2 years ago

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How Floresta Contributes to Green Building Practices and Sustainability

Introduction

In the age of eco-friendly building practices, Wood Polymer Composite (WPC) has emerged as a game-changer, offering a sustainable alternative to traditional waterproof plywood. Let's learn about how Floresta's WPC sheets and doors contribute to green building practices and foster a more sustainable construction industry.

1. Environmentally Responsible Material:

Floresta's WPC is crafted from a blend of wood fibers and polymer resins, creating a sturdy and durable material without the environmental impact associated with traditional waterproof plywood. By utilizing recycled and renewable resources, Floresta minimizes the strain on forests, contributing to the conservation of natural habitats.

2. Reduced Carbon Footprint:

The manufacturing process of Floresta's WPC involves lower energy consumption compared to conventional plywood production. This results in a significantly reduced carbon footprint, aligning with the principles of sustainable construction. Builders and architects opting for Floresta's WPC actively contribute to mitigating climate change by choosing a greener alternative.

3. Enduring Durability:

WPC sheets and doors are designed to withstand the test of time, reducing the need for frequent replacements. This durability not only extends the lifespan of buildings but also minimizes the demand for raw materials. As a result, the construction industry is moving towards a more sustainable model, prioritizing longevity over dispensability.

4. Water Resistance without Harmful Chemicals:

In the realm of waterproof alternatives, Floresta's WPC stands out for its exceptional water-resistant properties. Unlike some traditional waterproof plywood alternative treated with harmful chemicals, Floresta's solution achieves water resistance through its intrinsic composition, eliminating the need for environmentally damaging additives. This ensures that the material is safe for both construction workers and the environment.

5. Versatile Applications:

WPC isn't just a one-trick pony; it offers versatility in design and application. From WPC sheets used in interior finishes to WPC doors enhancing the aesthetic appeal of a space, the versatility of this material allows architects and builders to explore creative and sustainable solutions for various construction needs.

6. Minimal Maintenance:

Green building practices extend beyond the construction phase into the maintenance of structures. WPC doors require minimal upkeep, reducing the need for frequent renovations or repairs. This low-maintenance characteristic not only saves resources but also promotes a sustainable approach to building management, aligning with the long-term goals of green construction.

7. Responsible Waste Management:

Incorporating Floresta's WPC into construction projects contributes to responsible waste management. The material is recyclable, allowing for efficient utilization of resources at the end of its life cycle. This closed-loop approach aligns with the circular economy principles, further establishing Floresta as a frontrunner in sustainable construction solutions.

Conclusion

In conclusion, WPC is more than just a waterproof plywood alternative – it's a catalyst for change in the construction industry. By choosing Floresta, builders, and architects embrace a greener, more sustainable approach without compromising on performance or aesthetics. As we look towards the future of construction, WPC stands tall, embodying the principles of green building practices and paving the way for a more environmentally conscious industry.

Also, Read:

The Role of WPC in Sustainable Architecture: A Case Study on Floresta's Contributions

The Future of Construction: WPC Sheets and Floresta's Vision

Originally Published by: https://florestaproducts.blogspot.com/

#floresta #wpc sheets #wpc doors #waterproof plywood alternative

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drsteggy · 2 years ago

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Pony Thing?????????????

Yeah, I found it cleaning up my Google docs, so I don’t know if I planned to do anything with it, or if it was just a cute scene I needed to put down. It definitely was not cut material from some place. I like the idea of my older Link interacting with his adoptive granddaughter, it must be odd for him to be a role model.

“Can you reach up and touch your pony’s ears?”

This princess Zelda is only five, and horse crazy. Link is not very secretive about how pleasing he finds this. The girl looks at him, and reaches her hand forward, keeping the other in a death grip on the pony’s mane.

“That’s good, but I bet if you stood in your stirrups and really stretched, you could touch her ears.”

Link isn’t sure who first called the princess Zizi. It’s a nickname he seized on, though.

Zizi drops her hand and grips the bay pony’s mane.

He changes his tactics. “Take my hand, Zizi.” He keeps one hand on the pony’s bridle and holds the other to the princess. She readily grabs his hand. He smiles at her, feeling his heart soften. Her grandmother has that same line on her forehead when she concentrates.

“Now, just stand up. I won’t let you fall.”

“Okay, Papa.” Slowly, Zizi stands in her stirrups, her body shaking as she tries to keep her balance.she leans hard into Link’s hand.

“That’s great, Zizi.” He smiles at her, delighting as she glows under his praise. “Now, I want you to stretch forward. You can still hold my hand. You can put your other hand on Ladybug’s neck, she won’t mind,”

She tightens her grip on his fingers. “I won’t ever let you fall. Stretch for me.”

Slowly, the little girl places a tentative hand on pony’s crest, and leans her body forward.

“So good!” Link cheers. “I’m going to move my hand forward, and if you’re ready, touch her ears.”

Zizi laughs as he slowly pulls her arm forward. Ladybug wuffles and shifts her weight, making Zizi wobble and cry out.

“It’s okay, Z. You’re good.”

Zizi looks at him again and squeezes his hand, and reaches forward. With a quick motion, she lets go of his hand, brushes the pony’s ear, and grabs his hand again.

“I did it!” She squeals, laughing. “I did it!”

#my fic #uneasy lies the chosen of farore #yeah this is cute and I like it #saphoblin #my writing #ask game #fic writer asks

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jupyyter · 2 years ago

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infodump for characters in a little thingy thing i’ve made

Francis:

• 14 years old

• talks to their schizophrenia

• pretty sure they’re meant to be in jail

• murderer by profession and hobby

• gender, who?

• if you asked for pronouns they’d stab you, so who really knows

• has a pet pig :3 her name is Sonnenschein (Sonny for short)

• the local farmers nicknamed them ‘the anti-shepherd’ because they keep killing sheep

• also throws stones at birds, except corvids and blackbirds

• are they one person? are they four? who knows!

• nobody knows where they live, they’ve just been seen running into forests for days on end

• Mommy issues™

• 73 mental illnesses and banned from most public spaces

• bities. screamies. stabbies.

• probably wants Matt dead

• Lani is safe though

• the Great War <3

• couldn’t tell you what you said a second ago but can tell you everything you would need to know about the first world war

• fuck cops

• practices witchcraft!! they suck at it!!!

• they’ve probably tried cannibalism before

• speaks in a confusing jumble of English, Spanish, Irish and German

• on the topic of their languages, they use a different surname depending on their language. German is Durchdenwald, Irish is O’Dubhthaigh and Spanish is Vasco. they won’t use their English (birth) Surname

• also each country thinks they’re a different person because when they go for the yearly visits they change appearances

• their dads are a teenager with the mentality of a two year old and their imaginary friend

• hasn’t cut their hair in ???

• can probably see ghosts

• like bigfoot if he was just some guy

• they probably talk to Mothman about his day, they’re friends with cryptids we think

• always cold, like always always cold

Schizophrenia:

• told you Francis spoke to their schizophrenia

• kinda a hallucination/delusion in herself

• just a little shadow girl

• Schizo or Schizy by name, sometimes gets Skips as a nickname

• she wears a my little pony shirt and still acts like the baddest bitch alive, what a role model

• has tried to fist fight people who don’t even see her

• can inflict a single symptom of schizophrenia on anyone, but only one symptom and one person at a time

• annoying af

Sammy:

• the imaginary friend who gained too much sentience

• tulpa probably

• soldier from the Great War!

• also a pacifist

• he was conscripted to the war and was shot for cowardice after a year of service

• had a baby called Francis who died due rations not providing enough, hence why they latched on to this Francis

• can talk Francis out of killing when they’re still semi sane

• professional alcoholic

• taught Francis to use a musket and a flame thrower

• has a little gas mask, puts it on Sonny sometimes

• dad of the year award goes to

Danny:

• about 19 years old? no-one knows for sure how old he is

• likes women but is still somehow the gayest guy to exist?

• has a horse called Stormy, Francis gets to ride her

• would love a dog, might get one some day

• speaks English and a small bit of German

• dumbass by trade

• Francis’ dad by law, older brother by bond, partner in crime by police registration

• has been arrested 3 times

• wants a kid but won’t have one because of his reputation, he doesn’t want the kid to be fatherless like he was

Matt:

• huge history and geography nerd

• from Francis’ history class

• has suspicions that Francis is the local murderer but hasn’t said anything

• has a huge crush on Lani

• bullying material

• intimidated by Francis, but wants to be their friend

• is followed everywhere by his dog

Lani:

• knows full well Francis is the murderer, has seen them kill

• her dad is a cop

• she still won’t say anything

• wouldn’t consider Francis a friend but they’ve spoke a few times

• would help hide a body

• thinks Sonny is cute

• girlboss <3 we stan Lani

• cannot stand Matt

• might steal his dog

• pretty sure she had a crush on Danny a while back

Sonnenschein:

• oink

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studiesof-fandom-primaryblog · 5 years ago

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Library Update

Fan Culture Anastasia Salter; Bridget Blodgett - Toxic Geek Masculinity in Media: Sexism, Trolling, and Identity Policing Katherine Larsen; Lynn S. Zubernis - Fan Culture: Theory/Practice Linda Duits; Koos Zwann; Stijn Reijnders - The Ashgate Research Companion to Fan Cultures

Fandom & Fan Practices Bob Rehak - Materializing Monsters: Aurora Models, Garage Kits and the Object Practices of Horror Fandom Francesca Davis DiPiazza - Fandom: Fic Writers, Vidders, Gamers, Artists, and Cosplayers Joseph Brennan - Queerbaiting and Fandom_ Teasing Fans Through Homoerotic Possibilities Lucy Neville - Girls Who Like Boys Who Like Boys_ Women and Gay Male Pornography Matt Yockey - Monster Mashups: At Home with Famous Monsters of Filmland Melissa A. Click - Anti-Fandom: Dislike and Hate in the Digital Age Nancy K. Baym - Tune In, Log On: Soaps, Fandom, and Online Community Roos Gerritsen - Intimate Visualities and the Politics of Fandom in India Suzanne Scott - Fake Geek Girls: Fandom, Gender, and the Convergence Culture Industry

Fanfiction Ashton Spacey - The Darker Side of Slash Fan Fiction: Essays on Power, Consent and the Body Heather Urbanski - Writing and the Digital Generation: Essays on New Media Rhetoric

Boys Love & Yaoi Sandra Youssef - Girls Who Like Boys Who Like Boys: Ethnography of Online Slash/Yaoi Fans

Games Melanie Swalwell; Helen Stuckey; Angela Ndelianis - Fans and Videogames: Histories, Fandom, Archives

K-Pop Crystal S. Anderson - Soul in Seoul: African American Popular Music and K-Pop

Specific Fandoms [Buffy] Allyson Beatrice - Will the Vampire People Please Leave the Lobby? True Adventures in Cult Fandom [Comic Books] Bill Schelly - Founders of Comic Fandom: Profiles of 90 Publishers, Dealers,Collectors, Writers, Artists and Other Luminaries of the 1950s and 1960s [Doctor Who] Matt Hills - Triumph of a Time Lord: Regenerating Doctor Who in the Twenty-First Century [Doctor Who] Paul Booth; Richard Wallace - Fan Phenomena: Doctor Who [Harry Potter] Christopher Bell - From Here to Hogwarts: Essays on Harry Potter Fandom and Fiction [Harry Potter] Travis Prinzi - Harry Potter for Nerds: Essays for Fans, Academics, and Lit Geeks [Jane Austen] Deborah Yaffe - Among the Janeites: A Journey Through the World of Jane Austen Fandom [Jane Austen] Sarah Glosson - Performing Jane: A Cultural History of Jane Austen Fandom [Music] Daniel Cavicchi - Tramps Like Us: Music and Meaning among Springsteen Fans [Music] Eoin Devereux; Aileen Dillane; Martin J. Power - Morrissey: Fandom, Representations and Identities [Music] Mark Duffett - Popular Music Fandom: Identities, Roles and Practices [Music] Toija Cinque; Sean Redmond - The Fandom of David Bowie: Everyone Says Hi [Supernatural] Katherine Larsen; Lynn Zubernis - Representations of Fans on Supernatural [Supernatural] Travis Langley; Lynn S. Zubernis; Jonathan Maberry; Mark R. Pellegrino - Supernatural Psychology: Roads Less Traveled [Westworld] James B. South; Kimberly S. Engels; William Irwin - Westworld and Philosophy [Twin Peaks] Marisa C. Hayes; Franck Boulègue - Fan Phenomena: Twin Peaks [Hunger Games]Nicola Balkind; Emma Rhys - Fan Phenomena: The Hunger Games [Mystery] Marvin Lachman - The Heirs of Anthony Boucher: A History of Mystery Fandom [Lost] Jon Lachonis, Amy Johnston - Lost Ate My Life: The Inside Story of a Fandom Like No Other [My Little Pony] Edwards; Chadborn; Plante; Reysen; Redden - Meet the Bronies: The Psychology of Adult My Little Pony Fandom [Shakespeare] Johnathan H. Pope - Shakespeare’s Fans: Adapting the Bard in the Age of Media Fandom [Sports] Adam Brown - Fanatics: Power, Identity and Fandom in Football [Sports] Carrie Dunn - Football and the Women’s World Cup: Organisation, Media and Fandom [Sports] Dağhan Irak - Football Fandom, Protest and Democracy: Supporter Activism in Turkey [Sports] Erin C. Tarver - The I in Team: Sports Fandom and the Reproduction of Identity [Sports] Gary Armstrong; Alberto Testa - Football, Fascism and Fandom: The UltraS of Italian Football [Sports] George Dohrmann - Superfans: Into the Heart of Obsessive Sports Fandom [Sports] Jamie Cleland; Mark Doidge; Peter Millward; Paul Widdop - Collective Action and Football Fandom: A Relational Sociological Approach [Sports] Mariann Vaczi - Soccer, Culture and Society in Spain: An Ethnography of Basque Fandom [Sports] Nina Szogs - Football Fandom and Migration: An Ethnography of Transnational Practices and Narratives in Vienna and Istanbul [Sports] Phil West - The United States of Soccer: MLS and the Rise of American Soccer Fandom [Sports] Radosław Kossakowski - Hooligans, Ultras, Activists: Polish Football Fandom in Sociological Perspective [Sports] Stacey Pope - The Feminization of Sports Fandom: A Sociological Study [Sports] Steve Redhead - Post-Fandom and the Millennial Blues: The Transformation of Soccer Culture [Sports] Tamar Rapoport - Doing Fandom: Lessons from Football in Gender, Emotions, Space [Sports] Younghan Cho - Global Sports Fandom in South Korea: American Major League Baseball and Its Fans in the Online Community

#library update

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justgottafinishthischapter · 6 years ago

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Worldbuilding Tips: The Five Visitors

You’ve done it. You’ve come up with an idea for your fantasy world, but right now it’s mostly curb appeal and decorations without much else. So, you have the skin and flavor of your fictional world, but what if you’re having a bit of trouble coming up with the meat needed to make your world juicy and delicious? Well, I have a little game that can help flesh out your world.

Imagine a ship or whatever other kind of vehicle arriving on the shores or outskirts of your fantasy land and from that vehicle emerges 5 people from our own mundane world: a historian, an economist, an anthropologist, a diplomat, and a cartographer. There are some other visitors, but these are going to be the most universally beneficial.

The Historian:

This person is going to be interested in the backstory of your world. They don’t need to know every minuscule detail (though they wouldn’t turn that much information down) and just a general overview would be much obliged. Many fantasy worlds such as Tolkien’s Middle Earth and Martin’s Westeros are far more rich and interesting due to the amount of effort put into crafting their world’s histories. If you’re stumped, look to real world history for inspiration. It doesn’t even need to come from the middle ages so long as it works for your story. You should be able to answer questions like: How long has the dominant civilization been around? What are the biggest defining moments in your world’s history? What things are common knowledge that every child is expected to learn (such as George Washington being the first president of the USA) and which stuff is known more by historians and social studies teachers? And as you’re discussing the rest of the visitors, think back on how the answers you give would impact the historical aspect.

The Economist:

You don’t have to know the exact cost of every single thing in your world, but have a good guess. Be able to at least have a scale of price. If someone can buy a loaf of bread for 13 of your world’s currency, but a house costs 17, that would mean that either that bread is very expensive, that house is very cheap, or each unit of your currency is equal to a lot of real world money. Whatever you use to refer to your currency, keep not only price scaling in mind, but economics. If you have a port city, there’s going to be a lot of merchants in that area. The first primary export you’re likely to see in such a port town would be seafood, but also keep in mind the things that are closet to that port, as well as the climate. Greece for instance is a very rocky and mountainous country, so while they can grow crops, they would not have been any match for medieval French Aquitaine, the crown jewel of medieval farming territory. It’s also worth remembering that food in the middle ages was far more valuable than it is today. There was an old saying that wheat is worth its weight in gold. It was southern France’s bountiful soil that caused it to become one of the richest and most coveted territories in medieval Europe. So, keep in mind where resources would come from and where they would need to go, as well as trade that would be useful. A seaside farming town might not have any good access to raw minerals, while a city in the frozen mountainous north might not be able to grow crops, but are bountiful in minerals. The correlation of supply and demand now opens a vital trade route between them. This becomes more complex when the topic of war comes into play. The kingdom that supplies your crops and food is at war with your oldest ally. Now there’s a dilemma between having enough food to feed your people, or betraying the trust of a long time friend. Now your world building can be used as a part of your drama and narrative tension. The economy also impacts culture. What is considered a display of wealth, or is a common status symbol? What are the living conditions of the poor, the working class, the rich, and the aristocrats? Is there upward mobility? In the middle ages, you were what you were for the most part, especially serfs: peasants tied to their land. It was illegal to leave your territory, but there was a saying in the middle ages that “city air makes you free” that once a serf made it to a city, they’d be free of the life they’ve escaped.

The Anthropologist:

Every society has a culture. The way they act, think, dress, believe, talk. It’s all impacted by culture. Beliefs tend to be tied either to what has come before, or based on the world as observed. While many modern fantasy pantheons are based on ancient Greece, it’s not the only model to live by. In a loose interpretation, religion in it’s earliest stages was a rudimentary science used to explain why things happened. A culture that developed along rivers, sea coasts, and other popular trade routes are far more likely to be diverse melting pots due to the frequent traffic of people coming and going, and the common sight of foreigners choosing to set down roots. Meanwhile, a more out of the way and isolated culture is far less likely to have widespread cultural diversity. Tying back into history, a country that has experienced a number of successful wars may tend to think of themselves as invincible, or may try to police the issues of other countries, assuming they’re always on the right side, or that they can’t be defeated. The same culture may ask a high price of any other culture that asks them for militaristic support. Ask what things your people value, be they material or abstract ideals. However, try to refrain from creating a Planet of Hats, a trope often seen in Star Trek and similar Sci-Fi shows and even some Fantasy stories where everyone of a single race all have mostly the same skills, interests, personalities, and roles in the global culture. This is also the time to start thinking about myths, legends, folk heroes, and historical people and events worth celebrating, as this may be when you start to craft holidays or celebrations. This could also lead into discussing religion, and the gods or lack there of that might be celebrated by your culture. How does your society reflect itself in art, music, literature, dance. Does the way someone dresses tell you something about their place in society? Some taboos come from simple logic. The reason it’s frowned upon to eat a cow in India is the same reason it’s immoral to eat horse in western culture. Both are beast of burden livestock worth a lot more alive than dead. Cows produce milk, a source of nutrients and health. Horses are strong and were used in just about everything from plowing fields to pulling entire families or communities a great distance. Horses even became status symbols, as even in modern culture, owning a horse or pony is still considered to be (largely) a snobby rich person thing. Understanding not only what your people believe, but even just a vague idea why they would believe it is a vital aspect.

The Diplomat:

As this landing party is your fantasy world’s first contact with our own reality. How would they react to the newcomers? If there’s more than one society in your world, how would each society, country, kingdom, race, etc. react to something completely foreign? Would they try to forge an alliance? Open trade negotiations? Declare war? Prepare a feast? How would they feel about the way we dress? act? talk? How would they react to different levels of progression in technology? Could an unbiased third party from our world help two feuding sides come to peace with one another? How would they feel about knowing of a world beyond their own? Are there actions or behaviors acceptable in our own society that are considered offensive to them?

The Cartographer:

Although it’s not necessary that all fantasy worlds have a fully designed map, it is a good idea to have at least a rough idea of where things are in relation to one another. This can tell you about climate, resources, wildlife, natural borders, natural disasters, food chains, and more. It’s worth at least taking a crash course in understanding how geographical biomes tend to be laid out in order to make your world feel more real. Some authors claim that a world map is the single most important feature, others say it’s not that important. Frankly, trust your gut based on the kind of world you have. You may need a map, you may not. It really depends on the size and scope of your world. For instance, with Disney’s

Zootopia

, the entire world doesn’t matter. The audience doesn’t need to know where in the world Zootopia is, or what climate or biome it’s in. Zootopia itself is the world being built, and the separate districts and biomes of the city explain the world that’s being focused on.

Secondary Visitors:

They may still be important to your world, but are less likely to be universally helpful to all people.

Biologist: if your world has creatures beyond those found in our real world, it may be worth exploring how their bodies work on a more scientific level in order to give more realistic weight to their supernatural abilities.

Linguist/Translator: If you feel compelled to come up with a language no matter how basic or complex, it may be worth while to consider the problems with communication. this may also extend to unique idioms, colloquialisms, and slang native to your fantasy world.

Teacher/Scholar: Regardless of whether or not there is a formal education system in place in your world, a teacher may be interested in how knowledge is passed down, and what information the culture might have that would be unknown to people of our world. Whether that’s how to keep a wild animal from charging you, to knowing how to forge a mineral that exists only in your world, being able to readily answer questions is generally considered to be a good thing.

Healer: There may be healing spells in your world, there may not, but most fantasy stories tend to involve either action or adventure, both of which tend to cause fights. And since fights tend to lead to injuries, it’s important to know what can and cannot be treated, and how readily available these healing abilities are to the public.

#world building #worldbuilding #fantasy writing #writing tips #writing advice #writing worldbuilding

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dragonturtle2 · 5 years ago

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What’s The Use in Feeling... Pink?

Long long ago, Cadence, Princess of Love was the most controversial story development in Friendship is Magic. Accusations abounded of corporate mandates, cheapening the Alicorn mythology, straying from the “original vision of the creator” (nowadays that statement makes me gag), and either being redundant next to the Magic of Friendship, or MAKING it redundant.

I was never in that last camp (although I WAS expecting some origin by next season or so). From the very start, I saw that the different types of loves could complement each other, just like Sun and Moon. Even though it was clear early on that the show wouldn't be exploring situations of romance for main characters.

Halsemon by Dani2540

The Crystal Empire draws heavy inspiration inspiration from Greece, which has an very interesting naming convention for the different types of love:

Philia is friendship, in which a person tries to make life better for close associates, and subsequently improving themselves as a person. This is the premise of the whole show, so not much to go over. So is that obviously Twilight's domain? I would say no. The line between a [i]platonic[/i] and [i]romantic[/i] relationship is that with the latter, it can evolve from Ludus and Eros. But not exclusively. So Shining and Cadence could represent Philia-Ludus and Philia-Eros.

"Eros" is infatuation, and the Greeks could often portray it as dangerous, but still very real and healthy. Cadence could maybe represent this, but of course, it's also associated with subject material not quite appropriate for a kids show. Ludus is playful flirtation and young infatuation. But that stage of love isn't what Canterlot Wedding was meant to be touching on. When most people think of a 'love story,' they think of the two leads on their own, then meeting for the first time. But like Twilight, the audience is thrown into their story when they can already make things work, and like Twilight, we have to deal with it. Although the excellent IDW arc featured Cadence and Shining's first date, and it's classic Ludus. Done much better than with Twilight and Flash or Timber.

Maybe Eros could be represented as a Mania corruption by Chrysalis, who is initially presented as a foil to her. Chrysalis doesn't lust for any person, but sees love as a mindless devotion to exploit. It could be said she has a boundless lust for power though. Or perhaps “Pragma,” which nowadays seen as a societal relic when marriages were seen perfectly acceptable vehicles strictly for money and governing.

"Storge" is depicted in raising Flurry, but it could also be counted in how Celestia and Luna view all their little ponies in Equestria. But with how the Two Sisters nurture an entire society, looking at the long-term and big picture way more often, they could also connect to Agape, our basic respect and dignity towards complete strangers. If we had to assign one to each, Celestia would be Storge, and Luna Agape. While Celestia is mainly defined through the relation with her apprentices, Luna's conflicts have more to do with public relations (usually based on damage she feels responsible for). Luna is also noteworthy because although she always liked Twilight, back in "Crystal Empire," she questioned the soundness of staking so many lives on Celestia's favorite graduate. So again, that's her focus on the lives of the many.

Also of note is Philautia, self love. I'd say that the gold standard for this in cartoons is Steven Universe, culminating in "Battle of Heart and Mind" where Steven's Id and Superego literally need to hug each other to save the day. Legend of Korra has this theme running throughout, but the PTSD storyline of Book 4 is of it’s greatest renown. Lessons on Philautia come in a lot of shapes and forms through the Mane 6, but I don't think any of the existing Princesses can effectively be assigned to that branch of love. Twilight has moments of intense self doubt for a lot of the finales, but a lot of times that just rounds back to relying on others as a lens for herself, or a motivation to press forward (this is hardly a bad lesson though). When I think of other Princess(-esque) characters with pivotal moments of learning self love, I think of Luna, Sunset, and Starlight. But with those three, their arcs feel more like lessons in forgiving oneself for having done sincerely monstrous things. For pony characters going through great Philautia arcs of varying stages, I recommend everyone check out the Pandoraverse next-gen storyline by @lopoddityart. Of course, I recommend her work at the drop of a hat, for her excellent illustrations, writing, and journals. This entire post started as a response to one of her Patreon posts.

I suppose if we wanted to count Discord, he'd be the aspect of Ludus, with him treating everything like a performance or game, and his interactions can be a pretty catty.

But enough of me dreaming up a pony god love pantheon. Back to Cadence's involvement, even though her introduction was jarring, I really liked how we had a new pair of Royal Sisters(in-law) with a theme of complementing values. A shame Cadence got shoved aside. I could accept that this show was GOING to be focused on Twilight and Ponyville. That Hasbro wouldn't order new episodes to suddenly shift to the married couple. But although I never thought the show writers RESENTED Cadence, they found a reason pretty quick to keep her segregated from the rest of the story. Lauren Faust has stated that Cadence was created on request for Season 2, and wouldn't have been an Alicorn if the final decision came down to her. The show would make use of her in the role of being a big sister for Twilight, which was wholesome, but in terms of affecting world events, major storylines, or politics? Minimal, even by the light standards of this show. By the finale when we see Twilight ruling the entire country, we couldn't be bothered to even glimpse Cadence.

At least the Crystal Empire got a bone, with a stain glass mirror showing that Flurry turned out pretty rad and takes care of them. I think Cadence was viewed (not correctly) as a concept that threw off the broad character path that Lauren Faust set up, and that the showstaff wanted to reach at the conclusion. Even with the positive role she ended played for Twilight anyway. Twilight got a female role model that wasn't just the motherly authority figure Celestia. (While writing all this, it's made me realize how dang rare it is for any media, for kids or adults, to ever portray that much of a positive relationship between in-laws. Even when someone does, it's mostly guys.) But honestly, besides the wonderful symmetry of a new Diarchy, I would have wanted Cadence and Twilight to ascend to de-facto rulers just because it seems unfair for Twilight to get SO MUCH work.

The Third Alicorn, Donut Days, and The Premiere! by NCMares @ncmares @ask-majesty-incarnate

Princess Cadence sonic love boom by Dormin-Kanna

#my litte pony friendship is magic #princess cadence #mi amore cadenza #alicorn #magic of friendship #magic of love #lopoddity #halsemon #NCMares

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mostlysignssomeportents · 6 years ago

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#5yrsago Disneyland's original prospectus revealed!

Thanks to an anonymous benefactor, Boing Boing is pleased to present the first-ever look at the original Disneyland prospectus.

Thanks to an anonymous benefactor, Boing Boing is pleased to present the first-ever look at the original Disneyland prospectus. These extremely high-resolution scans were made from one of the three sets of pitch-documents Roy and Walt Disney used to raise the money to build Disneyland. There are no archive copies of this document. Neither the Walt Disney Company nor the Walt Disney Family Museum have it. But we certainly hope both organizations will download these documents for inclusion in their collections.

Roy Disney -- the Disney brother who controlled the company's finances - -- didn't like the idea of Disneyland at first. Walt Disney poached the best talent from the studios to help him flesh out his idea for a new kind of amusement park, eventually winning over Roy, who helped him raise the $17 million it took to build Disneyland.

The first animator Walt took into the project was the legendary Herb Ryman. Over the course of a weekend in 1953, Walt and Herb drew the storied first map of Disneyland, as pictured here. An additional eight typed pages of description and sales copy were added to these pages and the resulting "brochure" was used as an unsuccessful pitch session that Walt and Herb conducted for three different New York bankers.

This document changed hands at auction last year. The new owner has not indicated his interest in exhibiting or sharing the contents of this document. The new owner is Glenn Beck, a noted jerkface, so this is not surprising.

As for the document itself, there's a lot of interesting detail in it. I was quite struck by the extent to which the document focuses on Disneyland as a unique place to shop. This being the post-war boom-years, shopping was coming into its own as an American recreational passtime. And indeed, Disneyland has, at various times in its history, focused strongly on unique gifts. In the 1950s and 1960s, doing your Christmas shopping at Disneyland was quite the thing in LA (in those days, there was a separate, low charge for admission, and ride tickets were extra, so it was very cheap to pass through the gates in order to shop). In the 1970s and 1980s, the parks sported loads of wonderful, bespoke materials (I loved the Randotti souvenirs, especially the Haunted Mansion material). At various times since, the corporate emphasis on merchandise has varied wildly, though thoughtful, high-quality, distinctive merchandise now appears to be back in the mix.

But Walt's vision for what the company at one point called "merchantainment" (!) was more ambitious than anything yet realized inside the berm. Page one boasts of a "mail order catalogue" that will offer everything for sale at Disneyland (a kind of super-duper version of today's Disneyland Delivears). This catalogue was to feature actual livestock, including "a real pony or a miniature donkey thirty inches high."

Once we get to "True-Life Adventureland," we learn of even cooler (and less probable) living merchandise: "magnificently plumed birds and fantastic fish from all over the world...which may be purchased and shipped anywhere in the U.S. if you so desire."

The contrafactual Disneyland of 1953 wrestled with the future just as much as today's Disney parks do. The prospectus promises "slidewalks," a scientifically accurate space-simulator, robotic open kitchens and (of course) merchandise. But what merch! This being the golden age of science kits, Walt and Herb promised to send kids home from Disneyland with "scientific toys, chemical sets and model kits." We were also promised space-helmets. (I want a space helmet!)

Futurism and science fiction have been tough nuts for Disneyland to crack. When the park opened in 1955, there wasn't much budget to kit out Tomorrowland, so a bunch of corporate sponsors were quickly brought in to host some pretty dubious exhibits: the Kaiser Aluminum Hall of Fame (a giant tin telescope, a tin pig, and exhibits about the role of aluminum in American industry); a Dairy of the Future that featured models of cows with IVs in their hocks gazing at videos of pastures; the Dutch Boy Color Gallery (exploring the future through paint mixing). The crowning glory was a big-top tent housing the special-effects kraken from the film of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea; it was staffed by a little person who hid inside it all day, making the tentacles wave.

There have been several attempts to remake Tomorrowland, of varying success. At one point, it became a focal point for insouciant Orange County goths, who congregated there every day after school, making good use of their annual passes. These days, Tomorrowland is thoroughly grounded in fiction from recently acquired franchises -- not futurism and the "factual world of tomorrow." There's a rather good Marvel Comics exhibit in the otherwise lacklustre Innoventions building, and lots of Star Wars-themed stuff to go with the revamped Star Tours ride (which is also rather good). No one seems to mind that a franchise set "a long, long time ago" is a dominant feature in Tomorrowland. Pixar is represented through a Buzz Lightyear ride/shooting gallery (where my wife regularly and thoroughly trounces me).

Finally, the prospectus makes a big deal out of the idea of a miniature walk-through land, "Lilliputian Land," where "mechanical people nine inches high sing and dance and talk to you." This is clearly inspired by Walt's experiences touring Copenhagen's Tivoli Gardens, and is the lineal ancestor of the Small World boats (created for Unicef's pavilion at the 1964 NYC World's Fair) and the Storybookland Boats. More to the point, it shows off how much Disneyland was really an elaborate plan by Walt to let extend the miniature train-set he'd build in his garden as therapy after his mental breakdown. The classic photo of Walt Disney hanging out of a train locomotive, grinning with pure, unfaked joy contain, for me, the real story of Disneyland: a man who struggled with depression and his relationship to the company he founded, restless with corporate culture and anxious to lose himself in play in a world of fantasy.

We are forever grateful to our anonymous source for this extraordinary document. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do.

Disneyland Original Prospectus [archive.org]

A zip file of high-res TIFF files [4GB!] is also available.

https://boingboing.net/2014/05/20/disneylandprospectus.html

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monstermaster13 · 3 years ago

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Corey and Oats in…

Cinnamon: Princess of the Flowery Forest

-------------------

It’s no secret Oatsie loved feminine things and he loved to play female roles, he loved being a ‘mommy’ to his unicorn family, he loved being a nurse, he loved being a model, and he loved being a princess. His biggest desire was to be beautiful, beautiful enough to be admired by other horses, he would go out of his way to request clothing that was as pretty as possible including flowing dresses, pink bikinis for the summer, pink hats, and he even wanted to have his mane dyed pink.

He loved sniffing flowers and wearing some in his mane and on his dress, he wasn’t an actual princess but he always felt like one and on the afternoon of December 10th, 2022 he was going to meet another princess, you see there was this princess who had her eye on him and she was a pony and her name was Cinnamon, she was a very beautiful pony who neighed, whinnied and talked in such a cute way.

Oats and Corey sat together singing a special birthday song with Mel as they were excited to celebrate, that’s where they saw her entering…the lovely Princess Cinnamon, the flowery equine princess had caught glimpses of Oats and she liked what she saw. ‘You must be Oats, I am a huge fan of yours.’ ‘Oh my goodness, it is her…it is Cinnamon.’

Cinnamon galloped over to Oats as she picked up some flowers and gave them to him, he smiled and thanked her. Corey introduced himself to the pony princess as he and Oats both asked Mel to take them on an adventure, and Mel replied with yes. ‘Since Cinnamon is our guest, she should get to choose the adventure.’ ‘That sounds amazing, Cinnamon, would you like to show us a magical adventure?’ ‘I sure would.’

Cinnamon pulled out a special magical wand from inside her stable and used it to create a special pathway which led to an enchanted meadow and flower patch with lots of flowers and adorable pony princesses in floral dresses. ‘These are all beautiful, I wish as pretty as those girls.’ ‘Oh Oatsie, you don’t need to be anything but yourself.’

“Definitely, you are fine as you are.”

‘Yaaaay!’ Oats cheered as he hugged Cinnamon as she showed him around the garden, picking flowers and singing happy equine songs together. She showed him and Corey to her palace where they were given a special royal tour, and they got to explore the palace and the garden. Cinnamon invited them over for a tea party and they had some lovely tea sandwiches and cakes, and even had cookies. Oats took part in a gardening session with the flowery pony as he frollicked around.

The duo came across a pond with wishing stones and Oats tossed a stone into the pond and made a wish, he didn’t tell Cinnamon what his wish was but he felt like he didn’t need to, because it had come true already, which was to have a friend, a special friend.

“Cinnamon, you’re the prettiest pony ever.”

“You’re also really pretty, Oatsie.”

An hour later Mel gestured for the duo and Cinnamon to come home, as a flowery carriage materialized and they hopped inside it and it took them back to their house in 28 Rosemary Avenue, when they got back they had lunch and some carrot cake for afternoon tea which Oats shared with Cinnamon.

When dinnertime came around Oats and Corey sat at the table and had dinner, after dinner they relaxed and had fun, listening to music and playing webkinz. They had some treats for dessert, which theyl oved.

They ended their sessions at around ten thirty that night when Jill and Mel told them it was time for bed, when it was time for bed, Oats and Mel put on their nightclothes and got into bed along with Corey and all of the microbes, their fun day came to an end but they never forgot their magical adventure with their new friend, they listened to Radio NZ Concert as they drifted off to sleep and had sweet dreams.

This may be over but that doesn’t mean their adventures for this week are, stay tuned for several more specials and a few new upcoming stories including a new 2022 holiday special.

#tumpix please pick this up #Monstermaster13 #fanfic

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vm-design-posts · 5 years ago

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Celtic Sculpture

Given their preference for abstract or stylized forms, it is scarcely surprising that the Celts should have left us comparatively few images of their gods. Most of the finest examples of Celtic sculpture involve disciplines like metalwork and jewellery art, as well as stone carving. Of the stoneworks, many of the finest surviving examples were placed in or near important burial sites.

Cernunnos

Pride of place is usually given to depictions of Cernunnos, the horned-god, since he is the only deity that has been positively identified through an inscription. This was discovered on a rather worn altar relief, originally located beneath the present-day church of Notre-Dame de Paris. The monument was erected by Parisian sailors and was dedicated to Tiberius. On the strength of this, a number of other portrayals of the deity have been identified.

The most notable of these is a Gallo-Roman altar from Reims, which shows Cernunnos sitting cross-legged between the figures of Apollo and Mercury. The sculpture dates from the 1st century CE, after Gaul had been Romanized. This accounts for the overtly classical appearance of the group. Even so, several of the god's traditional attributes are clearly recognizable. These include his horns, the torc around his neck and the animals at his feet. In his lap, he holds a sack of money, which represents abundance. The rat above his head relates to the underworld and, in this instance, probably refers to Mercury rather than Cernunnos. The horned god was most popular in Gaul, although evidence of his worship has also been found elsewhere. On some of his shrines, the deity's antlers were removable. This implies that the rites associated with him may have been seasonal, coinciding with the natural growth of a stag's antlers.

Epona

After Cernunnos, the most widely represented deity was the horse-goddess, Epona. This may be due to the fact that, alone of all the Celtic divinities, she was worshipped at Rome. In most cases, Epona was shown riding side-saddle on a mare or, alternatively, standing between a pair of horses. On coins, she was occasionally represented as a horse with a woman's head. The goddess represented fertility, particularly in relation to horse-breeding, but she was also linked with death. On some images, she was portrayed with a key. One of her roles, it seems, was to conduct human souls to the Otherworld and the key symbolized her access to this legendary realm. Predictably, the cult of Epona was especially popular with cavalrymen. Her name is the source of the English word 'pony'. Iconographic Themes

Regrettably, many of the surviving items of Celtic religious art (sculpture) can no longer be identified. Nevertheless, they can be classified under a number of different thematic groupings. It is noticeable, for example, that many Celtic deities had zoomorphic overtones. Cernunnos himself was often represented with cloven feet, and this tendency can be discerned in a variety of other figures.

Euffigneix Statue

The tiny sandstone statue from Euffigneix in eastern Gaul (1st century BCE) is particularly striking. Measuring just over 25cm, it was probably intended for private devotions, rather than for a larger tribal shrine. The stylized face has been damaged but this is overshadowed, in any case, by the spirited depiction of a boar on the front of the figure. Its dorsal bristles are erect, an aggressive feature which normally underlined the creature's role as a war symbol. On one side of the statuette, there is also an outsized carving of a single human eye, its prominent eyebrow echoing the line of the boar's crest. No one has been able to find a satisfactory explanation for this combination of motifs, although the figure is sometimes thought to represent a hunting god.

Bouray Bronze Figure

Sculpted from bronze rather than stone, the curious figure from Bouray (50 BCE - 50 CE) falls into the same category. A cursory glance might suggest a classical source, but closer examination reveals not only the torc around the neck, but also the figure's awkward, squat-legged position. The tiny legs, which are out of proportion with the rest of the figure, resemble the hooves of a deer. Indeed, if it were not for the complete absence of antlers, it would be tempting to interpret this as a depiction of Cernunnos. The figure was dredged out of the River Juine, to the south of Paris, in 1845. It was fashioned out of sheet metal, and it seems quite possible that its designer was a specialist cauldron-maker. Certainly, there are some stylistic affinities with the figures on the cauldron from Rynkeby.

Pillar Statues

Many of the other worthies represented by Celtic stonemasons take the form of pillar-statues. This reflects their original purpose, which was to crown the summits of ancient burial mounds. One of the oldest discoveries in this vein was the life-sized figure of a warrior, carved out of sandstone, which was found near the German tomb of Hirschlanden. The statue dates back to the 6th century BCE and was originally placed at the top of the barrow, until it was broken off at the feet. Its various attributes - the conical helmet, the weighty neck-ring, the dagger hanging from a belt, and the erect phallus - were all designed to emphasize the heroic status of the princeling in the tomb below. The distorted facial features are sometimes thought to represent a mask. The stone monuments at other Celtic burial places offer variants on this theme. At Pfalzfeld in the Rhineland, the stele takes the form of a tapering, four-sided pillar. This was decorated with a series of stylized human faces, each with a leaf-crown headdress and a lotus-bud carved on its forehead. The emphasis on various plant forms suggests that the pillar may have been intended as a representation of a sacred tree. The shaft of the pillar is broken at the top, and it is likely that it was once surmounted by a larger version of the stylized heads. Janus Heads

Janiform figures provided an alternative format for the pillar-statue. With their ability to gaze out in two directions at once, Janus heads were particularly appropriate for the tops of tumuli, dominating their entire surroundings. The best surviving example is a sandstone pillar-statue from Holzerlingen. This is slightly more than life-sized and shows Celtic stylization at its most severe. The mouth is nothing more than a horizontal gash and the heavy, hooded eyes exude menace. Unlike the Hirschlanden figure, which was meant to glorify the occupant of the tomb, this is clearly a deity of some kind. By tradition, Janus figures fulfilled a protective, custodial function, and this may well have been the intention here. Originally, there was a horn-shaped protrusion between the heads. It is not clear whether this was a variant of the leaf crown, as seen on the Pfalzfeld pillar, or whether the deity was actually horned. Smaller janiform figures have also been unearthed at the Gaulish shrine of Roquepertuse, in Provence. Here, the finds consist solely of heads and there can be no doubt about their watchful purpose. They were designed to be placed over a doorway or entrance. This is confirmed by the fact that there is no modelling on the sides of the sculpture, emphasizing that it was never meant to be seen from that angle. At an early stage, the heads were painted and, as is so often the case with Janus heads, the two faces are different. The frown on one of them is rather more intense than the other. Roquepertuse

The sanctuary at Roquepertuse was thoroughly excavated in the 1920s, offering a rare insight into Celtic ritual practices. It may date from as early as the 6th century BCE and it was in continuous use for several centuries, until it was destroyed by fire at the start of the 2nd century BCE. At the entrance to the shrine, there was a portico consisting of three limestone pillars. These contained niches, where the skulls of defeated enemies were triumphantly displayed. Similar activities were carried out at Entremont, another Provencal retreat. This featured the same arrangement of severed heads, nailed into cavities in pillars, but at Entremont there were also a number of carvings of these grisly trophies. On these, the faces had no mouths and were shown with their eyes closed, pointing to the fact that they were dead. At Roquepertuse, archaeologists also made a number of other discoveries: a series of carved birds, a crudely executed frieze of horses, damaged statues of two cross-legged figures, and traces of animal paintings. Originally, there were five statues, perhaps mounted on pedestals. The remaining pair have lost their heads and arms, making it hard to determine their initial purpose. It is likely that they represented either heroic soldiers or war gods. Sections of armour can still be discerned at the top of the torsos and, like the Janus heads, the figures were once coloured. It has also been suggested that the missing hands may once have presented severed heads towards the spectator. This theory is based on comparisons with the Tarasque de Naves, a chilling sculpture which portrays a ravening monster, probably a form of lion, holding two severed heads beneath its paws. From its jaws, a human arm dangles lifelessly. A similar creature was found at Linsdorf, in Alsace. In both cases, the inspiration is thought to have come from classical funerary art. The Romans often used scenes of animals devouring humans in this context, to symbolize the triumph of death. Votive Figures

Comparatively little wood-carving has come down to us from the Celtic era, largely because of the perishable nature of the material. The majority of the surviving pieces are votive figures, which were cast into the water at sacred springs or river shrines. Unlike the magnificent weapons and items of jewellery that were discarded at other sites, these wooden figurines were usually plain, cheaply made objects. They were also deposited for a very specific purpose, namely to invoke the healing powers of tutelary deities. The most important healing shrines that have come to light are both in France, at Chamalieres in the Massif Central and at Sources-de-la-Seine near Dijon. The latter was dedicated to Sequana, the personification of the River Seine. Between them, these two sites have yielded up several thousand votive offerings. In general, the sacrificed items appeared in two main guises. Often, they took the form of the limb or organ that was diseased. In other words, the supplicant might offer up a wooden image of a damaged hand in the hope that, in exchange, the deity would restore their real hand to health. The second type of offering was the so-called 'pilgrim' figure, representing the actual donor. These ranged from fairly naturalistic pieces, frequently betraying the influence of classical art, to stylized, armless figures, wearing thick, hooded cloaks. Their appearance is reminiscent of the Cucullati, the hooded deities who were worshipped in many parts of the Celtic world.

Other Celtic Sculpture

Famous monumental Celtic stonework such as the La Tene style Turoe Stone in County Galway Ireland, the Killycluggin Stone in County Cavan, the Mullaghmast Stone in County Kildare, the Derrykeighan Stone in County Antrim, and the Navel Stone at Delphi, in Greece, is more engraving than sculpture. Likewise the 3-D goldwork of the Broighter boat and other similar artifacts is considered under Celtic Metalwork art rather than sculpture.

As for the famous ringed Celtic High Cross Sculptures, sculpted during the medieval period (c.750-1150) of early Christian art, such as the 10th century Muiredach's Cross, the Celtic-style designs (eg. the interlace, knotwork and spiral designs on the South Cross of Clonmacnoise, the St. Mullins Cross, and the Ullard High Cross) are almost all abstract (the few exceptions being zoomorphic images), while the figurative reliefs owe little to the art of the Celts.

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shirlleycoyle · 5 years ago

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Why Are Résumés Still a Thing?

A version of this post originally appeared on Tedium, a twice-weekly newsletter that hunts for the end of the long tail.

Is there anything more nerve-wracking than having to sell yourself to a prospective employer?

They don’t know you. You don’t know them. And much of the pressure of making sure that connection makes sense too often falls on the individual rather than the potential employer.

At the center of this is the résumé, a document sent to potential employers, often with a customized cover letter, that explains who you are, what you’re doing, and the references you’ve gained over the years.

But where did this approach come from, and why are job applicants seemingly slaves to this dog and pony show?

Let’s look into the history of the résumé—and analyze whether they even make sense anymore.

“Having now sufficiently seen and considered the achievements of all those who count themselves masters and artificers of instruments of war, and having noted that the invention and performance of the said instruments is in no way different from that in common usage, I shall endeavour, while intending no discredit to anyone else, to make myself understood to Your Excellency for the purpose of unfolding to you my secrets, and thereafter offering them at your complete disposal, and when the time is right bringing into effective operation all those things which are in part briefly listed below.”

— Leonardo da Vinci, in a famous letter to Ludovico Sforza, then the duke of Milan and also known as Ludovico il Moro, offering his services to the Lord. This letter, featured in full on the excellent site Letters of Note, is often cited as the first résumé or cover letter. (Some, however, cite the letters sent to guilds in the Middle Ages.) While not as sharply structured as a modern résumé, it shares much in common with the application letter, a common structural element used for job applications hundreds of years later.

Typewriters, with their ability to indent, helped formalize the application letter. Image: Laura Chouette/Unsplash

Before the world of employment became obsessed with the résumé, we called them application letters

The business world is defined by its ever-changing terminology, and one sign of this is that we used to rely on a far more straightforward term to describe what a résumé effectively does.

For decades, we called them “letters of application,” or “application letters.” Written about in business correspondence books of different kinds throughout the late 19th and early 20th century, the documents slowly evolved in level of formality, and were reliant on recommendation letters from prior employers. In the 1883 book The Universal Self-Instructor, a general reference manual, it’s portrayed as serving a similar role to a simple cover letter. An example from the book, for an apprenticeship:

GEORGE S. GORDON, Esq.:

Sir :—

I beg to apply for the situation mentioned in the above advertisement, clipped from today’s Morning Post. I have been employed for the last four months in the foundry of Wheeler & Co., where I was bound apprentice. The recent failure of that concern and closing of the foundry has caused the canceling of my articles, and I am now anxious to obtain work elsewhere. I am permitted to refer to Mr. Charles Wheeler and Mr. Edwin Hoyt.

Hoping that you will be willing to take me on trial, I remain,

Very respectfully,

SAMUEL HENDERSON, 220 Main Street.

This type of letter would appear in books about “business correspondence,” which were a form of reference book for their day. While many books of this nature appeared throughout the first half of the 20th century, they were not written around the résumé, as many later books were.

This type of cover letter-like thing, once handwritten, eventually became more formalized with the addition of the typewriter, which allowed for some rudimentary organizing through the use of indents and tab stops. The approach became more rigid over time, the realm of bullet points and horizontal lines.

As the 1930 book A Course in English for Engineers puts it:

The application letter is essentially a sales letter. It is the means by which a person seeking employment attempts to market his training, his experience, and his personality. He who is successful in selling his services by letter is usually the one who has thoroughly analyzed every essential detail that goes into the writing of an application.

But the interesting thing is that the résumé, as the application letter came to be called, eventually evolved into a much more important form of business correspondence than anything else … at least for a while.

“While a résumé alone almost never earns a job for a person, a good one often serves as the deciding factor in obtaining the all-important interview.”

— Jill Smolowe, a The New York Times contributor, discussing the nature of the résumé in a 1979 article for the paper, written as part of a “Careers in the ’80s” insert, that in many ways seems to be written to introduce the concept to readers.

How the application letter evolved into the résumé

If you walk into any bookstore or library in the world, you’re going to see dozens, possibly even hundreds of books about how to write a good résumé, how to structure it in a way that maximizes what you do best—complete with a great cover letter and a minimal number of typos. Many will tell you to keep things under a page if you’re not above a certain age range; others will tell you that there’s nothing worse for making a first impression than a misplaced comma or repeated word.

But one thing that you likely will not find is a book that explains how to make a résumé that dates before 1970 or so. (Probably the first book on the topic with any long-lasting authority is Richard Bolles’ long-running What Color is Your Parachute? series, a self-help book that discourages the use of spray-and-pray tactics.) Most of them will date to 1980 or beyond, in fact.

While both the résumé and the curriculum vitae existed before then and were frequently asked for in want ads as early as the late 1940s in some professional fields, something appears to have changed in their role starting in the late 1970s and early 1980s—around the time when many service-oriented fields first gained prominence—in which the résumé, particularly in North America, turned into a de facto requirement when applying for most new jobs.

Companies started treating humans as resources around this time, and many workers traded in their blue collars for white ones. It was a big shift, and the résumé was in the middle of it.

Why the name change, though? There are a lot of reasons why “résumé” won out over “application letter,” but I think one of the biggest might come from the education field of the era. The U.S. Department of Education’s Education Resources Information Center launched in 1965, and early in its life, relied on the terminology “document resume” to refer to its bibliographic entries. This information reached schools through documents produced by the Education Department, and my theory is that the influence of this material on educators might just have touched the business world, too.

The shifting nature of work also made the need for more personalized applications more necessary. A 1962 book, Analyzing the Application for Employment, noted the overly complex nature of fill-in-the-blank application forms, and that they would often take hours for prospective employees to fill out. In the book, author Irwin Smalheiser of Personnel Associates highlights an example of one such person stuck dealing with complex application processes:

One man we know, who perpetually seems to be looking for work, has devised a neat system for coping with the application blanks he encounters. He has taken the time to complete a detailed summary of his work history which he carries in his wallet. When he is asked to fill out the company application form, he simply copies the pertinent dates and names of the companies for which he worked.

In many ways, a résumé solves this problem. While some level of modification comes with each specific job, you often can reuse it again and again without having to repeat your work—no need to repeat your references for every job opening, but a cover letter refresh might be helpful. Sure, job applications stuck around for lower-end jobs, like fast food, but the résumé stuck around nearly everywhere else.

In a slower world, it was the best tool we had for applying for a new job. The problem is, the world got faster—and the model began to show its flaws.

This 1995 book, from the Princeton Review, is a good example of a job search advice book.

Five factors that made the résumé a more prominent part of workplace life in the ’80s and ’90s

Culture. With a growing number of companies able to compete on a regional, national, or even global scale, this created additional complexity that facilitated the need for new types of hiring and employee management practices. Starting in the late 1970s, the field of personnel administration took on the name human resources management (HRM), and the role became a more significant element of many companies.

Regulations. The 1965 creation of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in the U.S.—part of a general movement against workplace discrimination—along with regulations on issues such as safety, created a need for a more objective approach to hiring. This played into the need for human resources departments to ensure that the company was an equal opportunity employer.

Technology. Sure, typewriters were nothing new, but access to them, along with the then-new computer and the growing ubiquity of the copying machine, made it easier for people to apply for multiple jobs at once. It was simply easier to apply for a job through the mail than it was to fill out an application form. (And when we got the internet, some of the earliest digital hubs, such as the free web host Tripod, offered résumé writing and job-hunting services to their users. And that was years before LinkedIn.) And when graphical interfaces and word processors became a thing, the first experience many people got with word processing software such as Microsoft Word was in modifying a cover letter template.

Economy. In many ways, the rise of the résumé reflected a shifting role of the employee in an economy built around white collar work. “Indeed—a point to be stressed—HRM in most companies was and is primarily concerned with managers and white-collar employees, not blue-collar workers,” George Strauss, of UC Berkeley’s Institute for Research on Labor and Employment, wrote in 1991. The résumé, for better or for worse, shifted the burden of hiring onto the employee in most cases, particularly during economic dry spells.

Publishing. I wouldn’t put it in the same category as “going viral,” but the business press had a major surge in presence during the 1980s and 1990s, with the nearly century-old Harvard Business Review being rethought for general audiences, old-guard magazines like BusinessWeek and Fortune reaching the peak of their influence, and newer players like Inc. and Fast Company gaining readership. Likewise, reference and resource books targeting business audiences—especially those about how to get a job—had a real moment around this time. The combined result likely helped reinforce the résumé’s role in the business world.

Does the résumé really work anymore? Maybe not.

When I wrote about my desire to research the history of the résumé on Twitter the other day, something interesting and surprising happened: The result attracted a few business types that complained about the ineffectiveness of this tool and the problems it surfaced along the way.

Initially, this bothered me, because it seemed like it was getting away from my main reason for researching this history. But having thought about it some, it makes sense—it hints at the fact that we’re stuck with this outdated research tool, that nobody seems to be happy with, because it fails in a lot of subtle ways.

For all its success in the 1980s and 1990s, the rise of the résumé creates brand new issues.

While they generally do not include photographs, they can allow for latent discrimination, as prospective employers can judge a worker’s eligibility not on the quality of their work or their potential for success, but their implied background. Even a name is enough to throw off a potential employer.

Then there’s the ease of being able to make stuff up, something that has caught up some big-name companies over the years—most famously Yahoo, who lost a CEO, Scott Thompson, after it was revealed he lied about his education.

There’s also the factor of investment: It's often a game of who has the most polished result, not who has the most qualifications. Around 1988, Reagan administration White House staffers ran to professional resume-writing firms to get a layer of slick polish to their job history in an effort to get hired on with then-President George H.W. Bush. Good for them, and anyone else who can pay a lot of money for a professional resume rewrite—but what about people who don’t have the resources to play that game?

And as with things like standardized testing, they put a focus on surface issues that will not correctly tell the story of a person’s true potential. In many ways, work experience matters less in a world where modern technical skills won’t stay the same even five years after the fact.

Too often, many experts note, they focus on the wrong things. Speaking to Fast Company, Carisa Miklusak of the algorithmic hiring firm tilr notes that prior experience matters far less than current abilities and skill set. As a result, results have been pushed off to the side quite often.

“Employers are interested in skills and the results someone can generate, rather than titles or previous employment,” Miklusak told the magazine. “Focusing on skills provides a fuller understanding of the candidate’s experience and capabilities, and opens up more opportunities.”

Some of the most recent startups in the employment space largely eschew the résumé approach entirely. Triplebyte, for example, offers a really challenging quiz intended to find the best technical employees out there for equally technical jobs, leaning on a skill-based referral over a good cover letter in helping to fill a potential dream job. Likewise, other parts of the tech economy are leaning on abilities over degrees.. Likewise, other parts of the tech economy are leaning on abilities over degrees.

Is that strategy going to play out long-term? Who knows. But let’s just say that the CV, or whatever you call it, is really starting to show its age.

Building a good résumé is often a challenge, because the rules keep changing.

As a designer, it was only one part of my portfolio, and I had to combine everything together, cover letter and all, while making it look well-designed and clever. That often meant it was a little less straightforward, because that was the field I was competing in. (No templates here.) As the web came into play, that portfolio needed a digital element. And it also needed to live in other contexts.

As a job seeker I had a pretty decent track record, barring that time I interviewed at a newspaper on the day Pope John Paul II died. (That’s not made up. It was an odd situation that probably cost me a job, but one I don’t blame on the newspaper itself. Plus, it earned me an opportunity at an equally good job a couple of months later.)

For a while, I would update my résumé and portfolio every year, even if I wasn’t looking for a new job, just to keep in the habit, because the ground is always changing. But increasingly, I sort of feel like the approach had grown out of date—it especially doesn’t hold up well to career changes. For the last job I legitimately applied for, roughly eight years ago, I sent over a design portfolio and a one-sheeter about a website I ran. My current position didn’t even have very much to do with graphic design, but it was what I had been doing, so that was what I sent along.

I feel challenged to explain what I do today in this form. I feel like, if you care, you’ll find me—because that’s what the “gig economy” is all about.

In a way, this philosophy isn’t all that far off from the thinking of one of the earliest innovators in resume writing, an English land surveyor named Ralph Agas. During the 16th and 17th centuries, he used a variety of methods to market his relevant skills to the public, and one of those was by creating flyers that told the public of his sizable skills as a surveyor. He was advertising at a time few other people were, and it stood out.

Often, this is cited as one of the first cover letters, but I think it’s something else: This might be the first Facebook Page, and he might be the first influence marketer, beating out Bob Vila by 400 years. (Sorry, Bob.)

Maybe that’s the problem: Getting a job means standing out—and because the résumé has gotten so old and staid, it’s not doing that anymore.

Why Are Résumés Still a Thing? syndicated from https://triviaqaweb.wordpress.com/feed/

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mtwy · 8 years ago

Photo

Vanity Fair

USA August 1985

The media have really got ants in their pants over Madonna. Holy cow, you’d think she was the Linda Lovelace of the microphone. Doubting Thomas JAMES WOLCOTT went to check it out

Let the Mascara Run

Madonna Louise Ciccone (hallowed be her name) always seems to have her finger in the cake icing. Pleasure for her packs calories. She makes a slow raid on the street, a guiltless show of self indulgence. Like Mae West, Madonna knows how to loll, how to primp; in Desperately Seeking Susan she looked as if she could be happy lazing away the afternoon sampling chocolates and reading trashy magazines, turning a suburban sofa into a royal barge (with an investment banker as her Mark Antony).

Unfortunately, Madonna doesn’t have Mae West’s husky, musky aplomb as a boudoir hostess. In interviews, she comes across as a me-first snot. Yet vertical, Madonna moves generously, even wittily; repartee rides on her hips. In her Virgin Tour performances she slapped a tambourine off her bottom like Ann-Margaret in Viva Las Vegas and, flanked by a pair of sequined go-go boys, gyrated into a land of a thousand dances. She did the Pony, she did the Swim, she did the Hitchhike, she did the Cool Jerk, she did the Shake ‘n Bake, she did the Mashed Potato. It was like seeing reruns of Shindig and Hullabaloo transmitted through one electric-boogaloo outlet. Even more amazing is her white-mink work in the “Material Girl” video, a spoof of Gentleman Prefer Blondes in which she plays a diamonds-are-a-girl’s-best-friend gold digger, but sane and funny. A Marilyn Monroe without cracks in the porcelain.

More vamp than vampire, Madonna has been vilified in the rock press as if she were an invitation to a gang bang and a threat to the nation’s morals. The anti-Madonna diatribes have gone beyond professional criticism of her music, act, persona; they’ve become stabbingly personal. Madonna bashers seem to be trying to carve “Die, Bitch” in her high-school yearbook. Why are they all in such a righteous huff? No one considered Tina Turner a threat to the Republic when she made moaning throaty love to the microphone in Gimme Shelter. Prince didn’t even catch as much grief for flouncing about like a Regency-dandy pimp in Purple Rain. Could it be the white critics expect black performers to be loose? Or that they can accept sexual forthrightness only when accompanied by bluesy suffering?

The latter, perhaps.

Unlike Prince, to whom every orgasm is a knock on God’s door, Madonna doesn’t sacramentalize sex and self-arousal. In her songs, the bed is not a satin altar. And this seems to bug Madonna’s buggier critics. According to the Los Angeles Reader, “her brand of uncomplicated eroticism and autoeroticism is the very antithesis of Prince’s, in which the world of sex has a flip side of guilt, self-denial, and divine love.” I don’t know about divine love, but as for guilt and self-denial - thanks, but I already went through adolesence.

Madonna, with her crass on stage allusions to her “box” (”Every lady has a box, but.....mine makes music”), belongs to the frank she-cat tradition of coquetry that stretches back to Zola’s Nana and culminates in that audacious moment in Last Tango in Paris when Maria Schneider lifts her wedding dress in the elevator and, smiling, presents her pubic hair. Madonna, descending a staircase with a wedding bouquet in her “Like a Virgin” number, is also proclaiming her sex from beneath a curtain of white lace. So no wonder she’s considered a bad role model for her legion of girl fans. Certainly the audience for the show I caught in Chicago was teenage-tease heaven, all bared navels and white mesh gloves and thick applications of mousse. Yet there was also something harmlessly overdone about this dress up, and it was the best-behaved rock audience I’ve ever seen (no booze, no wafts of marijuana, no firecrackers); I didn’t have the impression that they were on an express train to Gomorrah. For all its camp, even Madonna’s mod bridal outfit seemed finally an emblem of pop liberation. Virginity is mine to claim, is Madonna’s message. I’m pure as long as I belong to myself. This seems to me healthier than Brooke Shields campaign to make a national shrine out of her hyman.

Detractors are eager to dismiss Madonna as this year’s model, a disposable craze, a pet rock. She will end up, they suggest, in the remainder bin with Deborah Harry and all the other bottle blondes who came to the sad end of their peroxide. This seems to be fantastically mistaken. If she doesn’t turn coy, Madonna could be the American star who fulfills the erotic promise teased to a fire in Last Tango. Like Scheider’s Jeanne, Madonna clearly has the nerve to confront a sexual equal on his own turf, redefine the boundaries of desire, then walk away from the bed unscathed. Body confidence like hers is rare - even in an R movie her strut and pout would say X. So perhaps those Nervous Nellies who worry about Madonna’s wayward influence are right after all. But it’s too late for her to tuck in her skirts and aerosol the room with good intentions. Madonna’s walk has to be on the wild side. Let the mascara run.

Photo Credit: Bert Stern

#1985 #vanityfair #bertstern #virginera

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