#she is an artistic visionary

[jerksbitch]

Chappell Roan - 2024 MTV Music Awards

[nyanimisu]

hiss 🐍

[uglyseason]

um doechii for paper magazine ...... life changing stuff

[dirhwangdaseul-archived]

okay before i go mostly non-verbal again, the repercussions, the psychic damage of that that playpen episode @decisiontoleave was so right to remind me of that damn shovel because poppy just keeps doing it, she keeps dreaming of going forward but she just can't help and take others with her, to her own ego's unwillingness too, how much is it ian telling her to be on top of others, how much is her own desire and understanding that she shares everything in the end because that's how her own form of art exists, even when you makes this for yourself, you have to know that other which will have fun playing the game like how much you mix that into making and into being so much that you're just a person in the end, you're others and so you do things for for for others...

and so the fact that poppy creates the damn thing just to entertain ian and dana and that's more fun than whatever she has made of hera till that moment, and she she she fucking does it by calling it shit during the whole process apparently so and afterwards too, the fact that she keeps downplaying how incredible it is for sth she shat out in a second apparently like even when she's just being an asshole about what her work did, there's that streak of depreciation that hasn't quite left her, people have called her a genius but i dont think she believes it, and so dana doesnt stop telling her how much fun she had making games in that thing like she has fucking made and communicated the joy of creation to a bunch of people already and it was just "shit", and so, the fact that it's almost accidental that it's almost uncannily natural for her to just create shit for other people, she just keeps being generous even when she tries to be selfish i dont get her except i do because deep down she just needs someone to meet her exactly where she has run away to, fucking poppy li, but like dana straight up giving it to other people and like the way she keeps taking from both ian and poppy's attitudes and meets them in middle spaces with her own creativity, like virtually literally virtually, and to both their barest bones......

[moatual-moved]

i love sunmi so much

[the-virgoperspective]

françoise hardy has passed. playing her on repeat today. my heart hurts.

[makingqueerhistory]

The Bone People

Keri Hulme

The powerful, visionary, Booker Award-winning novel about the complicated relationships between three outcasts of mixed European and Maori heritage"This book is just amazingly, wondrously great." --Alice Walker In a tower on the New Zealand sea lives Kerewin Holmes: part Maori, part European, asexual and aromantic, an artist estranged from her art, a woman in exile from her family. One night her solitude is disrupted by a visitor--a speechless, mercurial boy named Simon, who tries to steal from her and then repays her with his most precious possession. As Kerewin succumbs to Simon's feral charm, she also falls under the spell of his Maori foster father Joe, who rescued the boy from a shipwreck and now treats him with an unsettling mixture of tenderness and brutality. Out of this unorthodox trinity Keri Hulme has created what is at once a mystery, a love story, and an ambitious exploration of the zone where indigenous and European New Zealand meet, clash, and sometimes merge.

Winner of both a Booker Prize and Pegasus Prize for Literature, The Bone People is a work of unfettered wordplay and mesmerizing emotional complexity.

(Affiliate link above)

[chewnotchoke]

i see beauty in everything you do - h.taesan

requested by anon!

warnings: taesan x fem!reader, reader has low self-esteem, mentions of insecurities, model!taesan x camera shy!reader, extrovert taesan x homebody reader

genre: fluff, established relationship

word count: 1.5k

taesan took you out on a date and it lingered a lot of convincing before he finally persuaded you. you weren’t one who’s fond of taking pictures, going out for a walk, or discovering new places. you were more like a homebody with quite a low self-esteem. your boyfriend, on the other hand, defies the law of harmony—a model, the complete opposite of you.

taesan exudes an ethereal presence. his gaze, piercing and enigmatic; his silhouette, a living canvas adorned with the latest creations of the world's most visionary designers. he was perfect, and from the two years of dating him up to this day, you couldn’t fathom how can one so flawless be in love with you.

“would the art gallery be a good choice?” he asks, making sure you wouldn’t feel even the slightest discomfort like an itch you couldn’t scratch. “hm, yeah. sure!” you timidly answer, knowing that you probably won’t take even a single shot of a picture. he only gives you a reassuring smile. “alright, i’ll make a reservation now.”

taesan knows of it too, he’s your boyfriend after all. he knows of the doubts whispering in your head, and the gloom taking over the landscape of your mind. but he never forgets to reassure you and cheer your spirits up. affirming you with words comes out naturally to him like he was born to praise you, every feature of you. but like the loser you are, you couldn’t help but question if he really means it, or if he’s just saying it because he’s tired of your insecure ass.

“no one could ever be prettier than you.” is what he would always say.

upon arriving at the entrance of the art gallery, your eyes wandered around the people who were there as well. taesan makes sure you don’t cover your pretty face so he tried to stop you from wearing a mask today. you got dolled up for your date, but you still think you didn’t look the best. taesan clasped his fingers onto yours before walking inside the place.

you were welcomed with frames of emotion in picture form hung on the white-washed wall. it felt like the artists were speaking through your soul. you felt a rush of exhilaration and taesan noticed how your gaze were filled wonder, as if the stars themselves had descended to illuminate your eyes.

“you like it here?” you obviously do, but you still answered him “yes! it’s good we went here…” taesan placed a kiss on the top of your head. it wasn’t a while after that moment when a middle-aged woman walked up to you and said, “i think you’re prettier than those paintings.” she left with a smile, and also left you confused.

you looked at taesan, “was she talking about me?” his eyes scanned you up and down, full of adoration, before telling you that the woman was indeed talking about you. you didn’t take it seriously, thinking she must have mistaken you for someone else.

you marched to the next frame and took pleasure in the painting in front of you. taesan stood behind you as he watched you from behind. he loved how the wonders of existence that stand before him, shone brightly, worthy of honor and esteem. and then you heard the shutter of the camera, catching you off-guard. you saw the device on your boyfriend’s hand and ran up to him, asking him to show you the photo. “here, you look pretty.” he says.

“yeah, because it isn’t showing my face.”

“you still do even when it doesn’t.”

while taking a look at your photo, another stranger came up to the two of you with a smile beaming on their face, a lady who’s about the same age as you. before coming, you were prepared with how some people would probably notice your model boyfriend, and so you weren’t surprised anymore if women suddenly surrounded him and asked for his picture.

you thought this lady was the same, she has long legs, big eyes, and a bright smile ‘she looks like taesan’s type.’ you stepped away, giving them space just in case but the lady walked in your same direction and said, “hey! i love your makeup! did you do it yourself?”

you hesitated before answering in case she wasn’t referring to you, but her eyes were glued on you, making you flustered. “uh, yeah! i did my makeup today…”

“girl, you look hella nice!” she waved and left with a smile flashed on her face and did not even bat an eye at your boyfriend, and you knew she really was referring to you. taesan comes over to you, watching your cheeks turn crimson, and cupped your face with his palms.

“my girlfriend really sure is stunning.” you fanned your face, not used to receiving compliments pouring like a rain shower, one after the other. the two of you decided to take a quick rest after all the walking around the room.

“babe, can you take a photo of me? i’ll have to post it on instagram.”

“sure!” taesan posed naturally in front of the frame, making it hard to distinguish which one was a work of art. you looked through the screen with his face on it. taesan’s features were a perfect blend of symmetry and beauty, framed by meticulously styled hair that catches the light with every turn of his head.

his poses exude confidence and charisma no wonder countless brands reach out to him. you have always been a supportive girlfriend and were there for every shoot and schedule he had. you often watch the cameras flash, capturing him in a moment of timeless elegance that will grace the pages of magazines and fashion blogs nationwide.

and there you were, like a shadow lurking in the background fed with comparison, and self-doubt. insecurity wrapped around you like an invisible cloak. but taesan was the best boyfriend you could ever ask for because always brought out the best in you. he’s always there to assure you that there will never be a threat enough to make your palms sweat. in everyone’s eyes, especially in his, you have always been beautiful.

“y/n’s pretty much my muse. she carries an effortless grace that never fails to take my breath away. when it’s just the two of us, her beauty is almost overwhelming, and her beauty stands out above everyone else. when she’s curled in the couch reading a book, or walking downstairs in her pajamas with a messy bun, there’s just an effortless charm to everything she does. if only she could see herself through my eyes, she would know how much she carries a natural charm that touches my heart with warmth and grace. i wish she’s aware that in those moments where she looks at me with unwavering pure love, i know that i’m the luckiest man alive for having the privilege to call her my ‘girlfriend’.” taesan once mentioned you in one of his interviews that you never knew of.

after taking a few shots of photos, taesan invites you to take a photo together. “come here, let me brag about you on my insta too!” you hesitated at first, but you could see in his eyes how much he wanted to capture this moment with you. you barely take photos of yourself but when you do, it’s either always your side profile showing subtle features of yours, or you facing behind. it’s different when you’re with taesan, after all, he brings out the best in you.

you saw this kid, his height barely reaching taesan’s torso, staring at you for a while now. “noona, i can take a photo of you and your boyfriend.” he offers. both you and taesan lightly laughed before handing your phone to the young boy. it’s always during this time when you get self-conscious of smiling in front of others.

“hyung, i want to have a beautiful girlfriend like yours when i grow up.” when the kid caught you smiling from his comment, he took the chance to click the button and take the picture. the photo went out pretty well and you were kinda satisfied, at least your boyfriend looks good. the kid walked closer to the two of you and taesan crouched down to pat his head. “right? but what should we do? i don’t think you can find someone as pretty as her?” taesan teased.

the young boy looks up to you and said, “noona, i hope you know your boyfriend is proud of having you, as much as you’re proud of having him.” then he went back to his parents who were waiting for him with their lips curled. the multiple compliments you got today overwhelmed you in a good way, and you have never felt so good about yourself. you stood in silence, while taesan subtly grips your hand.

“did you hear that? i love you, y/n. and i’m so in love with you.” he pushes the strands of your hair behind your ears before leaning in, gently brushing his lips into yours. there is more beauty in the touch of his lips than in every fashion magazine ever printed. “now let’s go have dinner, shall we?” you agreed and walked together to the exit.

as you approach the exit, a small piece of paper falls from your back unnoticeably.

and there wrote, “please compliment my girlfriend! she deserves all the nice things in the world! -by his loving bf, taesan.”

i hope you guys loved this one! also, sorry anon if it took quite a while! pls give me your thoughts abt this short fic! enjoyed writing this one please give taesan to Me .

[solanasreality]

†⠀⠀ㅤֺ⠀ INTRO 2 DESIRED REALITY : FAME DESIRED REALITY .

﹒MARIJOSIE YURI LANE — a burst of color on the hollywood scene, she is everything you’d expect in a modern-day serpentine and more, a mesmerizing blend of mystery, allure, and unapologetic individuality.

﹒physical characteristics — with the delicate sharpness of a sculptured dream, her face mirrors the haunting delicates of twilight, as if painted by the softest brushstrokes of shadow and light.

── AND ACTION!

﹒marijosie got her start on the broadway film of annie (released in 2004), the groundbreaking production that reimagined the classic story with a urban twist. as part of this trailblazing moment in cinema, marijosie brought a luminous depth to her role, standing out with a presence that was equal parts raw and magnetic.

﹒in 2012, we had the chance to catch her again, starring as herself in a comedy skit on the cult-favorite show loiter squad. known for its offbeat humor and unpredictable antics, the series provided a glimpse into marijosie’s playful side, showcasing an ability to cloud her bucket of humor behind an ethereal mystique with sharp comedic timing.

﹒by 2019, marijosie had fully cemented herself as not just a performer but as a visionary artist, stepping into both starring and directing roles with the release of K-12. the fantastical, dreamlike musical film showcased her ability to weave surreal visuals with poignant storytelling, tackling themes of self-expression, individuality, and societal critique.

﹒at the age of 29, she appeared on the stage, firmly establishing herself as one of hollywood’s most compelling talents with her portrayal of claudia in interview with the vampire. she brought a rare intensity to the role, effortlessly balancing the character’s youthful appearance with her centuries old wisdom and turmoil. with this role, marijosie once again demonstrated her versatility, proving she can command both the screen and the audience with every nuanced gesture.

﹒in 2024, marijosie took on the iconic role of elphaba in the highly anticipated wicked film adaptation. with her undeniable presence and captivating vocal ability, she brought a new dimension to the beloved character, imbuing elphaba with a mix of fierce independence and vulnerability that deeply resonated with the audience.

── DISCOGRAPHY.

﹒ marijosie’s musical journey began in 2011 when she joined the provocative and genre-defying collective odd future. her entry into the group marked the beginning of a career that would never conform to traditional expectations. that same year, she released Z, a debut album that immediately turned heads with its blend of ethereal vocals, experimental beats, and raw, emotionally charged lyrics. Z was a captivating exploration of self-discovery and introspection, setting the tone for marijosie’s distinct sound—a blend of haunting melodies, intricate production, and deep, often surreal storytelling.

﹒ in 2012, she released speak for yourself, an album that propelled her further into the spotlight. with this sophomore effort, marijosie began to refine her unique style, weaving themes of defiance, independence, and vulnerability into tracks that resonated deeply with fans. the album’s raw energy and poignant lyrics showcased her growth as both a vocalist and a composer, with standout tracks that blurred the lines between soul, indie, and alternative rock, further establishing her as a trailblazer in the music world.

﹒ after a few years of experimentation and self-reflection, she returned in 2015 with crybaby, an album marked by a darker, more melancholic tone. the project explored themes of heartache, emotional turmoil, and personal transformation, with a gritty edge that was both haunting and cathartic. crybaby cemented her status as a bold, uncompromising artist, pushing boundaries with its raw emotion and unapologetic approach to vulnerability. the album was praised for its lyrical depth and sonic complexity, capturing the chaos of personal upheaval while embracing the beauty of the struggle.

﹒ in 2019, marijosie released K-12, a groundbreaking album that tied into her film of the same name. with this album, she fully embraced her vision as both a performer and a director, creating a concept album that was as cinematic as it was sonically diverse. K-12 became more than just an album—it was an artistic statement, blending surreal, dreamlike soundscapes with poignant, socially conscious lyrics.

﹒ in 2021, marijosie released preacher’s daughter, an album that delved deep into the conflict between spirituality and rebellion. Infused with religious imagery and a sense of existential reckoning, preacher’s daughter was a personal exploration of faith, family, and the search for truth. with a more stripped-down sound, the album highlighted her vocal prowess, while the lyrics explored the complex relationship between divine love and personal autonomy, striking a balance between vulnerability and empowerment.

﹒ her latest album, alligator bites never heal, released in 2024, marks another evolution in her musical journey. the production itself mirrors the album’s themes—lush, unpredictable, and occasionally jarring—echoing the internal chaos of a woman trying to navigate her pain while asserting her power. it’s a sonic tapestry that feels as jagged as it does beautiful, reflecting marijosie’s growth as an artist who refuses to fit into any one box. the project is at once a battle cry and a healing mantra, blending dark, moody undertones with glimmers of hope.

── AND, YOUR PEN NAME?

﹒ another aspect of her artistry lies in her writing. an author of three books, her prose mirrors her music—haunting, poetic, and deeply evocative. her debut novel, a haunting tale of a teenager navigating war, burdened by the past, a god that feeds on grief, and a country’s fate tied to the history she’s running from, has cemented her place as a rising star in the literary world. with a TV adaptation (by yours truly) in the works, she’s poised to step into yet another creative realm, embodying the characters and world she’s crafted with perfect authenticity.

[diminuel]

Crocodile office photos be like: so-grumpy-its-goofy candids of Dragon. Photos of snuggly, sleepy, babies. Photo of The kids neatly groomed and dressed to the 9s (or at least as close as croc could get them.) little clay imprints of the babys’ hands and feet. Crayon family portrait by one of the kids. Extremely cute drawing of a bananawani by one of the (older) kids. Photo from the one Christmas(?)(some holiday) where Dragon and the kids “decorated” one of Baba’s Bananawani.

Dragon office be like: obscenely sultry pregnant and tastefully-somewhat-nude Wani photo that an EMBARRASSING number of RA members have seen on accident now DRAGON (put it somewhere ELSE). Photo of Luffy holding a bug he found. Photo of Wani with all the kids piled ontop. Commemorative photo from that time at All-you-can-eat-and-drink-island where Ivankov convinced Dragon to take their “Dragon challenge” and he almost died. Snipped 50 year old newspaper photo from the time the Roger Pirates held him hostage. (Totally did not win Roger over into snatching up/adopting the next needy child he saw). Newspaper snippet of all his kids (who yknow. Have them.) Newspaper snippet Sabo found him where in the background of the actual photo you can see Garp getting decked.

Dragon also gets/keeps all the shitty little kid crafts. Popsicle stick picture frames. Pipe-cleaner flower. Rock with googly eyes. (If any of the kids develop like higher-quality artistic skill/interest, Crocodile is all over it. He gets the “good” pieces — which is fine with Dragon he just loves everything the kids make. He’ll take toddle crayon chicken scratch and get teary eyed thinking about how bright-eyed and energetic his baby is. Probably used every crayon in the box… a visionary….

Oh gosh X'DD That's adorable and funny!

Crocodile's office has very lovely decoration, which of course clashes with Crocodile's sometimes downright terrifying presence.

Walking on Dragon's office on the other hand is a hazard. Nobody expects to see partially naked pictures of Crocodile and yet here we are. Koala is trying to give him a report about weapons they confiscated but she just can't stop staring at the naked picture of Sir Crocodile. Walking into Dragon's office and seeing images that are hardly work-appropriate seems to be an RA rite of passage *lol*

[butchsophiewalten]

There's this interconnected web of Walten Files Information that keeps coming back into my mind which I meant to make a post about a while ago. Which is as follows:

-We know from the Richie audios in Findjackwalten/caretakerlibrary that Rosemary had already been banned from (or at least highly discouraged from entering) Bon's Burgers by the 1st of July, which is quite a ways away from when she disappeared on the 19th. I definitely wouldn't put it past her to sneak into the restaurant during its off-hours, but we know at least that her being there wasn't formally sanctioned.

-From the way he talks to and interacts with Susan in TWF4, it seems that Bon's 'Selection Process' for who he 'beautifies' is not arbitrary, nor is it necessarily opportunistic. Which is to say that he's not picking people at random, and he's not picking people only because they would be an easy target. He watches them, and chooses them based on criteria they exhibit which appeal to him. In essence, he picks people he likes, who he thinks belong in his Wonderland.

-There's a near-undeniable but Implicit fixation that Bon has on Rosemary, which we only learn through many, many small things. The 'shrine' we see him create for her in Souvenir is relatively elaborate, (in that it seems to contain more than one object that is associated with her,) and he put her in Sha, which is the companion animatronic to his Bon. Rose's death scene in TWF2 also makes it seem like he spoke to her, as the Bon animatronic, before killing her. What he says exactly is notable, too. "Rose broken. Will fix you. You will beautiful." It's, one, an explanation of what he's doing. Bon did this for Susan too, but not in the 'physical world,' before he actually hurt her. Also, it's comfort. A soothing reassurance. I'll fix you. You'll be beautiful. Then also, of course, he calls her Rosie. "I know where he is, Rosie," is a line that haunts me forever, thinking of it coming from him.

This all paints a specific sort of picture in my mind. I like to think that Bon likes Rosemary a lot, and that she's a favorite of his, because she designed The Showstoppers. I think he likes Susan quite a lot for a similar reason, she was the woman who gave him his flesh and his bone. Who forged the vessel that he now lives for. But Rosemary is the artist who made it what he loves. She was the visionary who made him Beautiful.

So I think that Bon had his heart set on Rosemary for Wonderland. And it makes me wonder if the contentions between her and Felix that kept him away from her really pissed him off. But the core of my 'theory' here is just that Bon wanted her in the restaurant, that night. That she maybe wouldn't have been there at all, if someone hadn't asked her to be.

[fortuna-et-cataclysmos]

In defense of s5 finale

I hear and see a lot of people expressing dislike of the season finale, some also in the tags and comments of my analysis/speculation posts. So I wanted to further expand on this.

Gabriel's victory -being remembered a hero despite everything wrong he did, especially abuse to Adrien- has left a sour taste in many people's mouth; many blaming the scenarists and not shying away from calling it "bad writing."

But I think that that was exactly what the scenarists wanted to do? The perfect world Gabriel leaves behind is unsettling, unfair, and I think that the creators have done their best to show that implicitly but clearly. I think that we are supposed to be irked by the finale.

Why do I think that? Because there were a lot of small things that gave the message that, as @emsylcatac iconically put it, "this is the bad place." I touched upon some of those in my previous post on how this was a victory for Gabriel and Lila, and a defeat for Ladybug. I'll try to list them more clearly here.

Gabriel a hero

This is the one thing everyone has the most problem with. At the end, Gabriel was declared the hero who gave his life to defeat the Monarch, who was none other than himself. Some artistic choices here are so over the top that I believe they were specifically made to irk us.

If the silver statue itself wasn't enough, the exact quote of Caline Bustier is:

All the rings that have been highjacked by the Monarch have been recycled into a statue in honour of the great Gabriel Agreste.

Then Tsurugi Tomoe goes on to say:

Beyond the visionary entrepreneur and genius creator that he was, we are celebrating a hero today.

See, everything bad about Gabriel has been flipped. If you count literally exploiting people visionary entrepreneurship, sure, he was that. And genius? He couldn't get the miraculouses of two teenagers for an entire year despite having all the resources, and he ended up succeeding only with the help of another extremely powerful person (Tsurugi Tomoe) and even then he ended up dying himself.

As of creator, he was literally a destructor. He destroyed Paris more times than anyone can count, and everything was fixed every time only thanks to Ladybug. Let's not also forget how he destroyed the Miraculouses to exploit their power.

Adrien's comment about his father

This is another thing many people have had problem with. It is so outrageous that I won't believe the creators would expect us to take at face value.

At the end, Adrien acknowledges that his father died to take down the Monarch, and says:

I don't know if one day I'll manage to become like him.

Lo and behold, the man who had emotionally neglected and abused his son to no end has turned into the said son's hero and role model. Adrien not only looks up to him, but also wants to make an active effort to become like him. Hell, he even doubts if he can be as good as him.

No way this line can taken at face value. There are many children's shows with abusive parental figures nowadays (like She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, the Owl House) that have all handled the conclusion to that abuse generally well. The watchers' expectations are high in this respect; the scenarists would know that such conclusion, if not ironic, would not satiate the expectations of the spectators.

Lack of accountability: Gabriel and Tomoe

As many many people have pointed out, the general lack of accountability in this season finale is infuriating. So Gabriel mentally tortured THE ENTIRE WORLD POPULATION and not only never faced consequences in life, but also is remembered as a hero in death?

What about Tomoe?

Not only she has not faced any repercussion for being basically a supervillain, but also she is still a respected public figure who can go and make a speech backed by the mayor, in front of the freaking French flag. If that doesn't irk you, I don't know what will.

Worse is that, she goes as far as saying in her speech that:

I'll make sure to continue his legacy.

So she'll continue to be evil. Great hint that she'll continue being an antagonist in season 6.

As you can see, the new world that has been created is extremely unfair and problematic. No way this can be "the good place," an actual "happy ending."

Everything is fixed! No problems anymore!

Also, you'd realise that the world is perfect, a little too perfect. It is like a green utopian dream.

Caline Bustier has been the mayor "only for a few weeks" (direct quote from the episode), and she has already fixed all the problems possible in Paris. Not only that, she has also solved inequality and class struggle (again, mentioned by herself). Let's make Caline the President of the World already.

Funny that LITERALLY ALL THE PROBLEMS of a city could be solved, while the exact same episode showed Majestia, the freaking Supergirl of the ML universe, acknowledged in her nightmare that:

Even with all my superpowers, I'll never manage to solve all the problems of the world.

Well, Bustier says that she has no superpower, that people working together can accomplish that. Kudos to her and her democratic spirit. But like, perfect city in a few weeks? Even Mayor Bourgeois who wanted to send all the trash of Paris to space would realise that that's impossible.

There is no perfect solution, yet the world is perfect

Ladybug acknowledges that there is no perfect solution to Gabriel's situation. Trying to bring back his wife, he has caused irreparable damage to himself and to Nathalie, effectively leaving Adrien an orphan. He still hopes that Ladybug can fix it all. But she can't because of the nature of the wish: for one thing gained, another thing should be lost. In Ladybug's words:

There is no perfect wish. Every time a power is used for personal gain, it causes catastrophes. (...) We'll find a solution, but it will never be as perfect as one would wish.

Interesting, given that the world ends up being completely perfect?

All the problems are solved, literally everyone is happy, Marinette and Adrien are finally together. But the wish was made for personal gain, no? So where are the consequences? Where is equivalent exchange? The catastrophe, the price of the perfect, green, just world? I think we'll see that in season 6.

The dream world

The new world is seriously giving me weird vibes. Like it is a movie set. For those who have watched The Good Place, you'd know how in the town everything feels a bit too bright, artificial, perfect. I get the same vibes from the post-wish world.

The Agreste mansion is covered by green vines?? Way to hide the atrocities that were planned and happened here.

Here is a screengrab I found on the internet from The Good Place (the ladybug is a funny coincidence lol)

I am getting the exact same vibes!

Also, I have expanded on that in my post on "running out of time" theme, but basically in the ML universe usually the "real" stuff are associated with the night and the rain while things that happen in the sun turn out to be fake or erased/forgotten. So the feeling that I get from this finale is that, this new "perfect" world is not genuine; that the seeming happiness it brings will be soon destroyed (I doubt erased), just as it happened in other fake reality episodes like Chat Blanc, Ephemeral, Oblivio, or Jubilation. As I argued before, this is not a permanent victory. Hell, it isn't even a real victory, not with the secret Marinette is left to keep from Adrien.

Not a real victory

Another thing that makes me think that this ending is not genuine is the lack of Chat Noir in the finale. Yes, I am a fervent Ladynoir stan who was hoping for some Ladynoir action (if not reveal) and was hugely disappointed by the lack of Chat's engagement in the final fight, but now that I think of it, this may have been on purpose.

Notice how in Conformation, Ladybug says:

Our only way to win against him is to fight him together.

And yet, soon thereafter, she is catapulted into a fight with the Monarch.

Notice also it wasn't her choice to unify the miraculouses and face the Monarch alone. She had to, because Chat Noir wasn't there.

Let's remember that this show spent the entire season 4 explaining how Ladybug assuming all the responsibility alone leads to disaster, how she needs Chat Noir to share the burden with him.

Let's also remember how in season 5, especially at the beginning of it, we see Ladybug change her behaviour towards Chat Noir: she gives him more responsibilities (the Bunny Miraculous, the identity of certain holders if I am not mistaken), and how at one point she confesses that Chat Noir has been very serious and responsible lately (and then promptly develops a crush on him).

So taking on the Monarch herself is really against everything they have built up in season 4 and the beginning of season 5. That's why I think that this "victory" is so wrong: it was "won" only by Ladybug. Maybe if Chat Noir were there, he would have prevented the Monarch from making the wish (hypothetically, then we would have an entirely different timeline). If his identity were revealed the way Marinette's was, Gabriel could have controlled him through his amok. In any case, their defeat or victory would have looked very different from this.

In the end, we must remember that this world is far from being a victory for Ladybug: she has, after all, LOST. She couldn't stop Gabriel from making the wish. And while this world looks perfect, and we got what seems like a forever happy after ending for Adrinette, their happiness is set in a non-genuine victory and world.

So I think we shouldn't be angry with the show-runners: there is a reason why this ending feels and is wrong. If it were all wonderful, it wouldn't be the season finale. It would be the finale, period. And I believe that everything that has been disturbing us in this season finale will be addressed, if not consist of the core conflict of season 6. Let's all take a deep breath and turn to fan fiction or fan art till we get the new season now :) (at least that's what I'll do lol)

[witchwithmermaideyesblog]

Lucifer, Satan & other Devils: The Occult art of Rosaleen Norton, the Witch of Kings Cross

‘Lucifer and the Goat Mendes.’

The most notorious witch in Australian history was an artist named Rosaleen Norton (1917-79) who scandalized her ultra-conservative homeland with her outrageous bohemian lifestyle and strange occult beliefs during the 1950s.

The press dubbed Norton the “Witch of Kings Cross”—a low-rent artists’ quarter and red light district in Sydney, New South Wales. They claimed she was an evil Satanist who revelled in perverted Black Masses and unnatural orgies with her sex-mad coven. It was true Rosaleen (Roie to her friends) liked sex with both men and women. She enjoyed sex and saw no shame in admitting that she did. She also practised sex magick and made no secret of its powers. But Rosaleen was no Satanist. She was a pagan who followed her own particular belief in Pan.

From earliest childhood Rosaleen felt she was different—and felt compelled to prove this indeed was the case. As her friend and biographer Nevill Drury later recalled:

[Rosaleen] revelled in being the odd one out, purporting to despise her schoolmates. She argued continuously with her mother. She ‘hated’ authority figures like headmistresses, policemen, politicians and priests. She had no time at all for organised religion, and the gods she embraced - a cluster of ancient gods centred around Pan - were, of course, pagan to the hilt. She regarded Pan as the God of Infinite Being.

Pan was undoubtedly a rather unusual god for a young woman to be worshipping in Australia. But then Roie was different. And she was different in an age when it was quite a lot harder to be different than it is now. She was bohemian, bisexual, outspoken, rebellious and thoroughly independent in an era when most young ladies growing up on Sydney’s North Shore would be thinking simply of staying home, happily married with a husband and children. Roie was not afraid to say what she thought, draw her pagan images on city pavements, or flaunt her occult beliefs in the pages of the tabloids. To most people who read about her in newspapers and magazines she was simply outrageous.

Rosaleen was certainly outrageous. She was expelled from school for drawing pictures of vampires, pentagrams and demons during art class, which were claimed to have terrified her fellow classmates. In 1952, when a collection of her work was first published in book form as The Art of Rosaleen Norton three of the images contained therein—“Black Magic” (which depicted Rosaleen herself having sex with a panther), “Rites of Baron Samedi” and “Fohat” (which depicted a demon with a large muscled snake for a penis)—caused such offence that the publisher was prosecuted for obscenity and the pictures removed from all future printings. In America the book was deemed so pornographic that all imported copies were destroyed by custom officials.

Worse was to follow in 1955 when a woman named Anna Karina Hoffman was arrested for vagrancy. When questioned by police, Hoffman claimed she had participated in horrific Satanic black masses organized by Rosaleen. It was this accusation that led the tabloid press to dub Rosaleen the “Witch of Kings Cross” and promulgate the series of trumped-up news stories about her lurid (s)excesses.

However, the following year, one of her lovers, the highly respected composer Sir Eugene Goossens was arrested by Australian customs for attempting to bring some 800 pornographic images into the country—many of them marked “SM” for “sex magick.” The ensuing investigation by officials was heavily detailed by the press. It destroyed Goossens’ career and further denigrated Rosaleen’s character.

Still Rosaleen continued on her own way—painting pictures, following her own religious beliefs, enjoying a varied and active sex life and even dropping LSD to “induce visionary states” to enhance her awareness as an artist.

It was this visionary aspect which was at the heart of Rosaleen’s art:

From an early age she had a remarkable capacity to explore the visionary depths of her subconscious mind, and the archetypal beings she encountered on those occasions became the focus of her art. It was only later that Roie was labelled a witch, was described as such in the popular press, and began to develop the persona which accompanied that description. As this process gathered momentum, Roie in turn became intent on trying to demonstrate that she had been born a witch. After all, she had somewhat pointed ears, small blue markings on her left knee, and also a long strand of flesh which hung from underneath her armpit to her waist - a variant on the extra nipple sometimes ascribed to witches in the Middle Ages.

Roie’s personal beliefs were a strange mix of magic, mythology and fantasy, but derived substantially from mystical experiences which, for her, were completely real. She was no theoretician. Part of her disdain for the public at large, I believe, derived from the fact that she felt she had access to a wondrous visionary universe - while most people lived lives that were narrow, bigoted, and based on fear. Roie was very much an adventurer - a free spirit - and she liked to fly through the worlds opened to her by her imagination.

Roie’s art reflected this. It was her main passion, her main reason for living. She had no career ambitions other than to reflect on the forces within her essential being, and to manifest these psychic and magical energies in the only way she knew how. As Roie’s older sister Cecily later told me, art was the very centre of her life, and Roie took great pride in the brief recognition she received when the English critic and landscape artist John Sackville-West described her in 1970 as one of Australia’s finest artists, alongside Norman Lindsay. It was praise from an unexpected quarter, and it heartened Roie considerably because she felt that at last someone had understood her art and had responded to it positively. All too often her critics had responded only to her outer veneer - the bizarre and often distorted persona created by the media - and this was not the ‘real’ Roie at all.

Today no one would I doubt if anyone would bat an eyelid at Rosaleen’s lifestyle or beliefs—which shows how much our world has evolved. This year marks the centenary of her birth which should bring a new assessment of her life and work and introduce a new generation to the artist behind Australia’s most notorious witch.

‘Black Magic.’

‘Self Portrait with Occult Animals and Symbols.’

‘Fohat’—a demon with a snake dick or as Rosaleen described it: ‘The goat is the symbol of energy and creativity: the serpent of elemental force and eternity.’

‘Untitled.’

‘Bacchanal.’

‘Jester.’

Black Magick.’

‘Wer-Plon.’

‘Geburah.’

‘Belpiglet.’

‘The Blueprint.’

‘Triumph.’

Rosaleen Norton, January 1950.

|

[lizardsfromspace]

We talk a lot about people rewriting history to claim problematic authors were always bad but there's a inverse phenomena where people rewrite history to give artists they agree with a ridiculously outsized reputation

You see this with conservatives falling over themselves to declare that "Kid Rock is better than Bruce Springsteen!" bc Kid Rock agrees with them but also

TERFs have gone from claiming JKR is the best British children's writer of her generation, a defensible belief (one I'd disagree with, that's motherfucking Philip Pullman, and that's what I thought as a kid too), to increasingly ridiculous and lavish praise about her being the greatest female writer, the greatest living writer, the writer of the best first sentence in literature, after Dickens and Orwell of course, you have to be modest and acknowledge the classics. It's not enough for her to be an acclaimed best-seller, she has to be literally the greatest writer in history, for some reason

Which is wild enough with Harry Potter, but when they apply it to her detective books it gets bizarre. Her detective novels, which only sold well (but not Harry Potter well) after her identity was revealed, and which get mixed reviews as they crest past a thousand pages a book, a ludicrous length for a murder mystery novel. They absolutely do not have a rapturous reception anywhere but in TERF circles, where they're unimpeachable masterpieces and the fact that they aren't more popular is suspicious, so you must buy Mission Earth Comoran Strike, and talk about it, and do anything you can to support visionary author L. Ron Hubbard JK Rowling as she changes the world forever

[d-criss-news]

Renegades | Darren Criss & Helen J Shen Tackle Finding Love as a Robot

Welcome to Renegades, Gold House’s newsletter series spotlighting Asian Pacific leaders and creatives who are carving their own paths and defying stereotypes along the way. This week features Emmy and Golden Globe Award winner Darren Criss & Helen J Shen, co-stars of Broadway’s Maybe Happy Ending. Maybe Happy Ending is the offbeat and captivating story of two outcast robots near the end of their warranty who discover that even robots can be swept off their feet.

Helmed by visionary director and Tony Award winner Michael Arden, with lyrics by the internationally acclaimed duo Will Aronson and Hue Park, Maybe Happy Ending is a fresh, original musical about the small things that make any life worth living. Darren and Helen talk to us about their journeys through the world of theatre, what originally drew them to the role, and the nuances of playing robots in front of a live audience. Get tickets to Maybe Happy Ending on Broadway now!

What did you want to be when you were growing up and how does that compare to where you are now? Helen: I wanted to be a singer growing up, and now I get to sing for my job. I kind of feel like I won the lottery. Darren: I’m very fortunate that I have always known what I wanted to do. Because of that, I feel like I haven’t spent a day of my life that wasn’t working towards that. Most of my young life was very targeted to be working as a performing artist in some kind of professional space. So it wasn’t something that I fell into, it was a sight I set. And I would like to think that my younger self would be pleased! It’s exactly what we worked towards.

Your new Broadway show Maybe Happy Ending is an incredibly unique musical about two “helper” robots who fall in love in the not-so-distant future. How did you first come across the project and what pieces of this one-act musical attracted you most to the role? Helen: I was sent a request from my agents to do a self-tape of the Maybe Happy Ending material. Then after I sent it, I got a request to come in to do a chemistry read with Darren Criss. The day after the chemistry read, I found out I got the job. I was most drawn to the music initially. The lyrics were so specific and evocative, and the music beautifully supported the imagery. I was enamored and hungry to sink my teeth into the material. Darren: I’ll say the number one thing about this show, before really knowing anything about it, was Michael Arden. Michael Arden is a visionary force: I’ve been friends with him far longer than I’ve had professional relations with him because of our own personal lives. Getting the opportunity to work with him was something that I always kind of hoped would present itself as an opportunity. Jeffrey Richards is also a lead producer on this, who I did American Buffalo with and who I’m very fond of. Having those two men believe in a new project like this says something about the material itself, because both gentlemen could do anything they want. The fact that they were doing something like this, a producorial risk because it’s brand new, it’s a harder thing to put together. That actually makes my ears perk up because I go, “Wow, if these two guys want to do it then there must be something special going on.”

What was the most challenging part of playing the role of a robot that conveys human emotions in front of a live audience? Were there any new performance tips or tricks you and your co-star picked up or ideated along the way? Helen: Knowing how Claire (a model 5) functions, as opposed to her counterpart Oliver (a model 3), as well as how she interacts with her human owners, was a great starting point to understand the nuance of "robot acting", or lack thereof. What actually has become fun and challenging is maintaining some of the same line readings tonally, while still keeping the lines fresh and not going monotonous or predictable to a new audience's ear. Darren: One of the great ironies about the performance choice of this piece is that you can’t be a human being; there are a lot of really big emotions happening, but it's the one thing we can't really do. You can't emote to the level that a human being would, because that would be directly against the characterization of what we're experiencing. The only people in the room that are allowed to feel that catharsis is the audience, because the people on stage can't. So you have to reprogram your brain accordingly, everything is telegraphed on the surface, facial expressions, physicality, a lot of the things that are happening to these people, you can read on the outside, just like an animated movie.

Darren, over the course of your decorated career, you’ve performed across both the silver screen and the theater stage, having starred in television phenomena such as Glee and American Horror Story, as well as acclaimed stage productions such as How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying and Hedwig and the Angry Inch. As a performer, have you started to form a preference for one medium over the other? Are there other performance mediums you’re eager to try next? Darren: I think it always comes down to the story and the character. Working as an actor is such a ludicrous life choice already, that getting to work at all is always the preference. To have any job at all is such a blessing. The next job is certainly never guaranteed. So just working at all to tell stories, which is something I'm so passionate. I've been lucky enough to be able to hang out in a few of the different avenues that are available for that passion. But I think just by nature of it, being my first love and experience, theater is the sort of de facto, quote, unquote, preference. But it isn't that black and white!

Helen, with a long background in the arts, having studied the piano very seriously from quite a young age, you eventually pivoted to theatre by the time you got to college and went on to act Off-Broadway last spring in the ensemble cast of Michael R. Jackson musical Teeth. What was the primary driver of that career switch for you? Helen: The main pull I felt towards theater was collaboration. I loved playing piano and loved the feeling of painting a picture, telling a story with the music, but I craved doing those things with other people. Every time I got to closing night of a musical that would only play for one weekend as a kid, I felt some kind of magic. I've been chasing that high ever since. I was really inspired by Lea Salonga, specifically in the 10th anniversary concert of Les Mis that played on PBS Great Performances every so often. Her ease and grace as Eponine became a beacon of possibility for me.

When speaking about his Broadway show Yellow Face, actor and activist Daniel Dae Kim recently said “It’s not often that we see an Asian American play on Broadway told in such a deftly skillful way.” Maybe Happy Ending was not only co-written by South Korean playwright, Hue Park, but it also debuted in South Korea under the direction of Kim Dong-yeon. As an Asian American performer, do you feel the theater world in the U.S. is making progress in terms of showcasing diverse characters, stories, and themes? Helen: I feel that we are absolutely making huge strides in the theater world to showcase diverse characters and stories. I also feel that there is still a breadth of diversity to still discover. I'm excited about the fact that Maybe Happy Ending spotlights nuanced, flawed, painfully human characters that also happen to be Asian and have Asian features. That kind of visual and physical representation is everything to me. It is not lost on me that I stand on the shoulders of countless trailblazing, talented, unbelievable Asian artists. I hope I can provide beacons of possibility for others hoping to pursue art as well. If Maybe Happy Ending can add to an ever-expanding canon of Asian American theater, we have already won a million times over. Darren: Just the fact that this is a question being asked is, I think, indicative of a more common place, more understood awareness of the importance of representation in general, across the board, for all peoples and backgrounds and stories. It's something that I think we've taken a wonderful, newly invigorated consideration of in the past 10 years, and it has directly affected the stories we tell and the people who tell them, and it's exciting. We have folks from all over the Asian diaspora, involved in the show, and it's a really cool thing to be part of that. But it's not what makes the show specifically singular and interesting: it's a wonderful ingredient, and there's such marvelous representation, but what makes the story so exquisite and enduring is its universal human themes, just like anything else. I'm excited that there is even an example of a show that was created in South Korea that can come to Broadway, which is the highest commercial form of theater that can exist in the United States. That's exciting. I've never really heard of that before. And maybe this is the beginning of a future of many shows being kind of fed through a new pipeline of Korean arts and culture.

The performing arts can be a challenging world for aspiring artists to break into. What advice might you offer to those looking to get their start? Helen: Keep pursuing your most authentic self. That journey is lifelong, and actually harder than one might think. It's easy to look sideways and compare, or look at someone's career and just try to emulate it. The feeling of "making it" is so nebulous and complicated, but the times that I have felt my sense of purpose align with my actions are when I feel like I'm pursuing my most authentic truth. The world doesn't need another fill-in-the-blank-artist, the world needs YOU. Darren: My one thing that I could say that hopefully could apply to everybody is to just open your mind to as much art as possible along the way. Especially if you're a student, you get a student ID, presumably, that's your key card to getting discounts for as much art that you'll ever get in your life. You know, watching film, seeing plays, reading plays, going to concerts, going to the symphony, hearing about some weird of. You know, type of art you've never heard of before.

What are you most excited for audience-goers to see in the show? Helen: I'm most excited for audience-goers to experience a completely new story maybe for the first time in a very long time. It's rare that Broadway embraces a new story that is not based on a book, movie, or is a revival of some sort. As the theater community, we have to champion new, original ideas, and be cheerleaders for new perspectives. I just feel proud to have a part in bringing Will Aronson and Hue Park's poignant and powerful story to new audiences. Darren: Well, if you don’t know anything about Broadway, you're in luck, because you don't need to know anything about Broadway or theater to hopefully enjoy this show. I can safely say categorically that this is unlike anything I've ever seen, and I think a lot of people coming to see it will feel the same way, and that's really exciting, because they have nothing to compare it to. They're not encumbered by previous experiences, unless they know the show very well from Korea. So that would be the one caveat to that. Other than that, this is a very new thing, and that's exciting on Broadway.

Lightning Round

Morning Routine Darren: One routine: just caffeinating, man. Helen: Coffee, gratitude journal, maybe some pilates to get the body moving, and a high protein breakfast. I love an egg or two. Soft scrambled, please. Hidden Talent Darren: I can, like, name songs very quickly, Helen: I love to crochet. Comfort Movie Darren: A comfort movie is like those rainy days when you're not leaving the house and you have free time, and you just turn on the TV, and this happened to an entire generation of people, which is why it's such a huge hit. But you just turn the TV on and it's like the beginning of Shawshank Redemption, and you're just like, “Hell, yeah, that's my day. I'm gonna watch Andy Dufresne go through this little journey.” Helen: The Chronicles of Narnia 2: Prince Caspian Favorite Song from a Musical Helen: “Arlington Hill” from Passing Strange Darren: There's too many songs. There's not one singular thing that makes my robot wiring glitch out.

[nerodivergentgrimreaper]

Castle Audio's HighSchool HC's

(Poll Winner!!!!)

Highschool Claire was definitely the hot jock that everyone wanted but no one could get. She would spend a lot of her time studying or she was at lacrosse/hockey practice so outside of those and pack activities there wasn't much seeing her. Because of her dedication she became captain of both teams her senior year.

Highschool Beth was an absolute party animal of a jock. Her grades were ok but she only put in what was required for her to pass by. When she wasn't also at lacrosse practice she could be found either at some house party or in the theater costume department. To most people's surprise she only had one short relationship (despite her being a known flirt) that was broken off shortly after her mom died.

Highschool Knight was awful at school and only passed thanks to Evie's genorouse tutoring. They ran track and took a break during the winter. They tried their best to stay under the radar especially after Claire and Beth graduated. But no matter how much they kept to themselves they were still always found sitting off to the side during Evie's cheer practices waiting for her to finish

Highschool Seer was the type of person who was never at class but still somehow managed to get straight A's. Because of frequent migraines and other magic related issues they were regularly absent. When they were present however you would commonly find them in the schools art classrooms sketching and painting, they were commonly described by their teachers as an "Artistic Visionary"

Highschool Ranger was apart of a lot of clubs especially ones that involved a lot of fundraising. Not only were they in student government, but they were also in the school nature appreciation club and on the yearbook committee. They loved organizing bake sales and would spend their summers at a local summer camp alongside their friend Isaiah.

Highschool Evie was not only a cheerleader but also participated heavily in her high schools tutoring program. She was a little shy as a freshman which earned her some unwanted attention but was surprised when one day the bullying just stopped. It almost seemed like the bullies were afraid of her for some reason. She never did find out why but Knight also seemed to redirect the conversation if it was ever brought up.

Highschool Rose was always very quiet and well read. She tended to keep to herself and always had her nose in some kind of literature. She was a "pleasure to have in class" according to her teachers and fell in love with english and writing based courses. When she wasn't at school she spent a lot of her time working or studying.

Highschool Abigail was the type of student that was taken to a seperate room to take tests because she had a difficult time focusing but she had great grades and loved to learn. She did morning announcements for her school and tried to establish a cryptid club (but it never became official). She didn't have many in school friends and was unfortunately picked on throughout most of highschool but in her senior year she found a great online community and started her podcast.

Highschool Bud was an average student but they were the type of person to be "friends" with everyone. They didn't have any close friends but they always had a place to sit at lunch and people to talk to just no one to really know them beyond basic friendship. They did also have a great relationship with their english teacher and would often spend their lunch or free period's in said teacher's classroom

Highschool Chloe was the kind popular girl that everyone wanted to be friends with who also had great grades. She was on her schools swim and debate teams and always ready to help when one of her friends needed someone. She graduated salutatorian and is still to this day a little peeved about coming in second

Highschool Dewdrop was an incredible swimmer on their schools team but they unfortunately had to drop the sport their senior year due to their chronic pain becoming harder to deal with. With all the new free time they put all their time into their studies and fell in love with biology and the other sciences