#richard dyer

[booksrockmyface]

I haven't been on here much in a while.

But, folks, it's almost National Novel Writing Month!!!!

So I will share on my writing blog @daniwritessometimes through the month.

The last few years have been a bust, but I'm going to really try to win this year. I am going to work on an Osborne (Love Never Fails) Series book that has age gap where the leading lady is older than the leading man. I don't have many other details sorted because I'm a pantser when it comes to writing. It will take place at the LM's country home as the LL is besties with his sister and has invited LL to the home for a few weeks after her initial mourning period for her father.

Main romantic characters are Victoria (Tori/Torey/Vick-haven't fully decided on her nickname as I have an employee named Tori and I'm not sure I want that name or spelling) and Richard (Little Dickie). The others will have names at least by November 1st, even as place holders.

I would appreciate any and all support with this. If you want to follow along, follow the writer blog tagged above.

[secretsofthewilde]

About your post about misogyny in fandoms and shipping spaces, I do 100% agree how a lot of female fans do have internalized misogyny based on how they navigate fandom spaces. It doesn’t have to be extreme like hating all women, but people do have biases where they tend to gravitate to more male-dominated shows or would justify why they hate m/f or f/f bcuz it’s uncomfortable for them to write about the female body due to personal reasons. Which i used to be as a teenager but overtime i learned to come to terms with my own version of feminitity and became more comfortable with writing m/f ships. Sometimes when i see that brought up, im like “okay dont u see there is a problem there? like u discomfort of the female body has some ties to misogyny and u cant just write it off as an excuse for the majority of female fans.” Even the defense of the lack of female characters is also flawed due to the fact that some ppl would desperately two male characters together even tho one character was in two scene for less than 2 minutes yet completely ignore the other female ccharacter that has more interactions with the male lead. You could also throw in racism as this is also always used for WOC and justified as “oh not everything has to be about shipping” when those the same ppl that ship anything and everything in other fandoms

Yes, you are so very right!! And thank you for giving me an excuse to continue to talk about this. (Post anon is referring to is here x)

I tried not to generalise too much in the initial post bc I think there's different reasons and I guess flavours of internal misogyny which contribute to individual fans dismissal of f/f. Your example isn't exactly relatable to my personal experience, but it is one that makes sense to me and is something I assume is the case for many others too (including one of my best friends actually!). For me personally, I knew I was queer around the same time I got into fandom (so quite young), but despite being aware of this I still found myself feeling uncomfortable or even guilty for looking for anything f/f. I think that this was bc there was this ingrained fear that by engaging with female characters in any way I was sexualising them*. Which is ridiculous in retrospect, considering there's no sense of guilt for so many of us to engage with male characters in ways that are actually sexualising them.

Bc of the patriarchal society we live in we tend to see male characters as "neutral" ones (the same way whiteness is considered "neutral"**). By engaging with male characters repeatedly and normalising both the general celebration of them but also the sexualisation or queering of them, we ended up somehow creating an environment where male characters being queerified in fandom is seemingly more neutral than doing so with female characters - by which I mean that we expect to see people in fandom creating and celebrating m/m or m/f ships of male characters in any given fandom regardless of who they are canonically, whereas to do so with female characters is often considered to be unconventional or strange. I mentioned briefly in the post about the projecting of self onto male characters, and I think that's because they offer us a "neutral" character to explore queerness but also just multifaceted characters in general. There's so much more fanworks exploring things like the nature of morality or mental health issues using male characters than there are with female ones. That's because our engagement with female characters is kind of stuck in this area where we can't be neutral with them.

With the way that fandom discourse works nowadays we often analyse our characters as being figures of representation***. This means that even though we are now getting more media with female characters at the front of it, we often view them through the overly critical lens of "how is this representing us?". Even something as shallow as a joke about the character enjoying retail therapy then becomes something that is used as an excuse to tear the character apart, because we don't want to be seeing what we have been taught to view as negative female traits on our screens. Women can be bitchy, they can be jealous, and even evil. We need to learn to recognise that our discomfort in seeing them portrayed as such on our screens isn't always due to being upset about the representation of all women, but rather our discomfort in seeing these traits within ourselves.

*There's something particularly difficult about combating internalised homophobia when you're young and also learning about feminist ideologies where we want women to not be viewed as sex objects. I think this may also be a huge contributing factor for queer fangirls' tendencies to subconsciously project themselves onto male characters.

**'The Matter of Whiteness' by Richard Dyer explains this theory really well and is an academic essay that I highly recommend everyone read. I also think it's a pretty good starting point if you're not familiar with reading academic texts and are interested in intersectionality, racial bias, media analysis etc

***I'm borrowing from Dyer's theory here, which essentially argues that a black character's existence will always be viewed (and judged) as a representation of all black people. In comparison we will watch white characters and view them as their own individual character. To apply this to my above points; we don't question whether it's bad representation for our male lead to enjoy watching action films because we just view that as a character trait of his, whereas we will be critical of the female lead who enjoys watching chick flicks because we will then view her as a shallow representation of women.

[daniwritessometimes]

NaNo 2023 - Just shy of 2500 words!

"You're late!" Beryl said to Rich as he walked into the drawing room the next morning.

"Please don't shout." He dropped into the closest chair and accepted the cup of tea sat at his elbow a moment later.

"You stayed out drinking all night with your friends again?" She scolded.

"I did. And then came here afterward, of course." He sipped the tea. "I'm going to go to bed and sleep until the ball." He looked up at a comotion at the door. There was a familiar-looking woman just a little older than him. In his foggy brain, he remembered who she was. "Victoria Osborne?" She looked at him a moment and then smiled.

"Little Dickie!" He groaned.

"Sir Richard, if you please." He stood, rubbing his head. "I will see you both this evening." He walked out of the room, but turned slightly as he walked past Victoria to examine her figure.

Beryl cleared her throat, she noticed it seems.

[blithe--spirit]

2 Richards

In the early 80s I was working for my dad (a self-employed builder and plumber) in a big lodging-house in Paddington (West London). There were a lot of students living in the property, and one had recently vacated one of the rooms, in which I found a copy of Richard’s Bicycle Book.

I hadn’t been on a bike for about five years, but I read this tatty old paperback from cover to cover over the following couple of days, and Richard Ballantine’s enthusiasm for cycling was so infectious I was consumed with the urge to get back on the saddle as soon as possible.

Richard Ballantine

So I bought a Raleigh Ace road bike from Club Row market in East London for £79 and became a cyclist. Thank you, Richard, you changed my life for the better.

Raleigh Ace (with me on it), 1984

A couple of years later I met Richard Dyer, who bumped my enthusiasm up a few more notches by introducing me to the London To Brighton Bike Ride and once again the passion was infectious. Once my eyes were opened to this wonderful two-wheeled world, there was no looking back. My half-hearted intentions to learn to drive and pass the driving test and get a car were abandoned and have never returned.

Richard Dyer (now a transport and climate campaigner for Friends Of The Earth). This photo is from 1985, and he still rides the same bike today.

Now I’m in my sixties and have been a “serious” cyclist for nigh on forty years and still cycle every day and this is in part thanks to the two Richards above.

Richard Ballantine's contibution to the world of cycling can’t be overstated. If you ride a bicycle - in any capacity - you owe it to yourself to hunt down a copy of Richard’s Bicycle Book and any of his other fine titles.

[failed-version-of-both]

I know it's probably 101 level reading or whatever, but White by Richard Dyer was so eye-opening to me...you can never unsee it it's everywhere

[nightwonder7]

evil.

[corruption-connoisseur]

Bad news, guys. Alice got not-them'd. In Arizona of all places. Stay safe out there. And ty @spiralling-spires for being a helpful fiend

[leezuhh]

it's crazy to me that there are people out there who still think that media and fiction do not affect how people think at all

[mychameleondays]

U2: Songs Of Innocence

coloured vinyl

Island 4704888

Released: October 10, 2014

[musicmags]

[lunarcovehq]

VERONICA BISHOP (ELLA PURNELL) IS LOOKING FOR...

Connection: Sibling(s) 1/2

Suggested Name: UTP, last name Bishop

Age Range: 28-35

Species: Preferably Human, though possibly turned into a vampire or werewolf after October 2023

Suggested FCs: Needs to look like they could be Ella Purnell's sibling. Some suggestions: Francois Arnaud, Olivia Cooke, Kit Harington, Jenna Coleman, Natalia Dyer, Richard Madden, Aaron Taylor-Johnson

Connection Description:

Your character grew up with Ronnie in Darien, Connecticut, to the wealthy Henry and Josie Bishop, and had a very cushy up-bringing. Their parents were distant and best at showing affection through gifts, not attention. While your character was definitely spoiled, there was no doubt that the family youngest, Ronnie, was even moreso.

Perhaps your character's relationship with Ronnie is soured. Maybe they didn't approve of her attitude or the way she behaved, or maybe they just thought she was a brat. Honestly, your character could have just been indifferent, too focused on their own life to really care about forming relationships with their entitled family. Maybe your character and Ronnie actually got along rather well in their childhood

It's likely that no matter what, however, that your character and Ronnie (and a third sibling! whoever they may be) grew apart, and weren't really in contact for a while.

At the end of April, 2023, Ronnie went missing from her apartment in New York, and, a few days later, a crime scene was found with enough of her blood for investigators to rule that she'd been murdered. Your character's family mourned as much as they knew how.

However, something didn't seem quite right, and, somehow, your character found out that their sister might actually be alive out there somewhere. Which led them to Lunar Cove, the last safe place for supernaturals in the world, and the most likely place to find Ronnie, for better or for worse.

Please be sure to contact the player before applying:

Virginia is available for DMs on @itsronniebish!!

[randomrichards]

HUMAN TRAFFIC:

Young British slackers

A full weekend partying

90s nightclub scene

[denimbex1986]

'Before he became one of cinema’s most prolific actors, Cillian Murphy was all set for a music career. He even attracted an incredibly tempting recording contract but changed course at the last minute to pursue a career in the movie business instead. Now, he stands as one of the greatest actors of a generation, bringing a mosaic of weird and wonderful characters to life on screen, including Scarecrow in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight trilogy and the more recent J. Robert Oppenheimer in Oppenheimer.

As someone who once said, “I’m less interested in the good man’s life, I’m more interested in the conflicted man’s life or the contradictory man’s life”, Murphy’s interest in books comes as no surprise – particularly as many of his favourites tackle subjects like the complexities of human existence. For example, he cites Appointment in Samarra by John O’Hara as one he regards highly after being drawn into “the atmosphere and pressure of what it must have been like to be alive in America at that time”.

Similarly, John Healy’s The Grass Arena makes the cut for the power held over Murphy, who decided to read the book after years of recommendations. “It is the story of determination and rebirth,” Murphy says. “The tale of a chess champion who overcomes a savage childhood to live again. A powerful book indeed”.

One of the more heartbreaking works comes with Patrick McGabe’s The Butcher Boy, which details the story of a young boy who descends upon a fantasy world to escape from his troubling home life. For Murphy, the book left a lasting impression on account of its ability to blend a series of dichotomous emotions: “[It’s] dark, fiercely funny, compassionate, and unashamedly Irish. Its depiction of a young boy’s descent into isolation and madness in small-town Ireland has never left me”.

Meanwhile, one of Murphy’s all-time favourite Irish writers is John Banville, who also became known for his humour and sharp, wintery wit. His 2000 novel Eclipse, while being a complete contrast to The Butcher Boy, also etched its world into the mind of Murphy. “In this beautifully mediative tale,” he says, “Alexander Cleave is a celebrated actor who returns to live in his childhood home. The book seemingly has little or no plot, but the sheer towering beauty of its language, atmosphere and insight make it impossible to put down or to forget.”

The late J. P. Donleavy, best known for his novel The Ginger Man, was an Irish writer who wasn’t afraid to completely disrupt the common consensus. So much so that The Ginger Man was actually initially banned in the United Kingdom and Ireland for its obscenity. According to Murphy, this is a book designed to be “savoured over the course of a life”. He also praises its subject matter, stating that its mischief and humour go perfectly with its empathy, particularly in relation to the “outsider struggling to imagine a purpose in this world”.

Cillian Murphy’s 10 favourite books:

The Ginger Man – J. P. Donleavy The Butcher Boy – Patrick McGabe Eclipse – John Banville The Sportswriter – Richard Ford Rabbit Angstrom – John Updike Jeff in Venice, Death in Varanasi – Geoff Dyer Grief is the Thing with Feathers – Max Porter The Old Man and the Sea – Ernest Hemingway The Grass Arena – John Healy Appointment in Samarra – John O’Hara'

[daniwritessometimes]

I am super behind! But here's some sexy times:

In Richard's room, Vick took hold of the front of his shirt and pulled him in for a deep kiss. She loosened all the buttons and pushed it off his shoulders. He allowed her to take charge, not touching her until he was in just his pants.

Then he took hold of her hips and guided her toward the bed. He slowly untied her dressing gown and then pulled it away. "Are you wearing any knickers under that nightgown?"

She shook her head with a wicked grin.

"Glorious." He pulled the gown up slowly as he took charge of the kiss once more. His fingers finally brushed against her bare skin and he grasped tightly. "You already feel fantastic. I can't wait to be inside you."

"Slow down, young man. We have quite a way to go before that happens."

He let out a growl. "I like you reminding me you're older than me. Does it make you experienced, Victoria?"

"I've been with my fair share of men. I know what I'm doing." She slipped her hand down his pants and started rubbing him.

He lifted her hand away. "As you said, not yet." Richard pulled the nightgown over Victoria's head and dropped it to the side on top of her robe.

"Get on the bed," she ordered.

He pushed his pants to the ground and did as she commanded.

She followed. Hands and mouths roamed. Victoria felt herself growing more and more aroused, but she also sensed something was holding Richard back.

She cupped her hand over his face and looked at him. "Is something wrong?"

He sighed. "I've been struggling with impotence."

She trailed her thumb over his lips and then kissed him. "This isn't a problem. Perhaps it will all work out of we give it a bit more time."

"And then perhaps not." He slipped his hand between them. "I can at least help you. If you want."

"I do want." She moved closer and draped her leg over his hip.

His fingers gently rubbed over the hard nub as he kissed her. She ground her hips against him. He slipped his fingers inside her and pressed his palm against her clit.

"God, that's nice." Her voice came out in a pant. "So nice."

"Tell me, are you close?"

"So close." She wrapped her arms around him and pressed her nails into him. "Richard," she moaned and then pressed her mouth into his to stifle her groan as she came.

[wolftheidioticfan]

oh god a bunch of terrible people.

https://toyhou.se/EggSalt/characters/folder:3991137

[filosofablogger]

♫ Jumpin' Jack Flash ♫

Welcome to day #2 of Rolling Stones Week!  I see now why Jerry suggested two weeks for this one … I never realized what an extensive body of work the group has!  I already have enough suggestions and ideas to do a full Rolling Stones Month, but don’t worry … not gonna happen!  I might do a second Rolling Stones Week sometime in the fall, though, since I’m definitely not going to be able to get to…