#the art of being extraordinary is still engraved in my mind

[pxmlx]

Anything by @groovebunker and @starsthatburn honestly

u ever read a fanfic so good that you want. fanfic of the fanfic

[gryffindors-weasley]

Finding A Light

Ron Weasley x Fem!Reader

Summary: Ron was left broken in the aftermath of the wizarding war. In an attempt to build a better life, he feels he may have unknowingly met someone who could put those pieces back together.

Warnings: angst, mentions of death, grieving, fluff

A/N: Remus is very much alive in this series! This will be more than one part, I hope you enjoy!

Ron Weasley was a man of few words when presented the daunting task of expressing his emotions, preferring to stuff them down and deal with the consequences later. He never outright says what he’s feeling unless it’s pried from him, and in those times it’s usually expressed through anger. He isn’t great with his words either, so it didn’t come as a surprise to Harry and Hermione to see him so closed off after the war had concluded its disastrous rampage.

It was a battle that anyone and everyone involved was more than likely to never forget, the losses and hardships engraved in their minds as a permanent reminder should their memory allow it as they age. Some had come out on the other side more fortunate than others. Some had handled it far better than others. Ron was not one of those people.

His long awaited ambitions on becoming an Auror were rapidly diminished and pushed to the very back of his mind for a good while. He had wanted absolutely nothing to do with magic beyond that very day, thought that maybe if he hadn’t used it, it wouldn’t remind him of his tragedies. That maybe that part of his life would be forgotten in time if he tried hard enough. So, his wand, his robes, his Hogwarts letters and what was left of his sentimental wizarding memorabilia were hastily shoved into a cardboard box, taped shut and stuffed away to collect dust. Out of sight out of mind was his reasoning, though it didn’t quite work out that way.

The loss of his childhood home paired with the devastating loss of one of his older brothers had been a weight too heavy to bear, pressing down on his chest with each day that passed. He nearly lost two of his closest friends amidst the chaos the Dark Lord left in his wake. Such a lifetime of pain and loss was something he never anticipated to experience all by the young age of eighteen, and it left him feeling like a mere shell of the person he once used to be. As if the years of extraordinary magical endeavors prior to that day were completely erased and replaced with utter heartache.

It took him four years to bring himself out of the pit he found himself stuck in and find some semblance of strength, if only for his mother, and he wanted to build a better life for himself. One without so much sorrow written into his story. He wasn’t entirely sure how to go about doing so, knowing a return to a normal life simply wouldn’t be feasible. Not that his life had ever been considered normal per say.

The emotional scars were something that would never go away, he understood that, but he didn’t think he could go another day having the same mundane routine night and day. He felt ready for more.

Now, at the age of twenty-two coming up on twenty-three, he found himself returning to Hogwarts with hopes to become a professor. His heart nearly beat out of his chest when he arrived, sick to his stomach with nerves as he stopped and stood in the middle of the newly constructed stone bridge. His letter crinkled under the pressure of his tightly clenched hand, luggage in the other, eager students curving their stride to avoid running into him. The castle was more grand than he’d remembered it to be, perhaps they’d made it bigger to house more young witches and wizards, perhaps it wasn’t. Either way, against his instincts, he forced himself to swallow the lump in his throat and continue forward before he convinced himself to turn around and apparate home.

He quickly found that things had been kept fairly the same as he roamed the grand halls in curiosity, as similar to the school he’d grown up in as it could be. The wondrous ceiling of enchanted candles in the Great Hall was a detail that briefly gave him watery eyes; the varying hues of reds, oranges and yellows coloring the Gryffindor common room, down to the house flags pridefully ornamenting the new quidditch pitch. He found himself turning to express his awe to Harry or Hermione on more than one occasion, but was only met with the unfamiliar faces of new students. His shoulders would slump as he exhaled a deep sigh.

It had taken him nearly two months to fully adjust to his newfound routine, to come to terms with the memories that flashed in his mind of their own volition. Whether they be good or bad, they had a habit of making themselves known at the worst of times. Over the course of that time period crumpled pieces of parchment had accumulated around the desk in his room, unsent letters to his mother of his wishes to return home. All of which were written hastily in either frustration or tears, or a mixture of the two. And of the ones he had sent, they were promptly returned with enchanted letters vocally telling him with the utmost of love and sternness that he will be staying, he needs this. Those letters kept him going on those days.

Amongst those days and nights it was strange not having his two best friends there, loneliness still having its hold on him.

Remus Lupin had made his return all the more welcome though, himself and McGonagall being two of the only familiar faces that he’d truly connected with. He felt it was an honor to be taken under his wing and trained, he always had been Ron’s favorite instructor of Defense Against The Dark Arts. He’d even go so far as to say he’s the best if he was being honest.

Regardless, despite his own personal conflicts, he was beginning to feel more comfortable residing there than he had ever thought he would. It was as if the nagging rain cloud dumping over his head was starting to dissipate for the time being.

“You did very good today, Ron,” Lupin says once his final class of the day has left, “the teaching of boggarts is never easy I’ll say, and if I recall correctly it wasn’t your favorite lesson.”

Ron chuckles at the thought, pushing his chair in when he stood. “Not particularly. I still have a nightmare or two about that bloody spider.”

Lupin laughs, nodding at the pleasant memory. Things fall quiet for a few moments as Ron moves to sling his bag over his shoulder. “Off you go, Mr. Weasley, enjoy your weekend,” he urges, grabbing Ron’s attention again before he gets too far. “Here’s your weekly report. You’re becoming a fine up and coming professor I’d say. I have no doubt that I will be leaving my classroom in the best possible care.”

Ron nods with a soft laugh, cheeks flushing a pale crimson at the reassurance as he takes the parchment from him, tucking it into his bag to be read later. “Thank you, Professor Lupin, really. It means a lot to hear.”

He smiles appreciatively before making his way across the long classroom, stopping in his tracks. He takes a breath to gather his thoughts before spinning on his heel to face him again, returning to the desk he sat at. “Can I ask you a question?”

“I suppose.”

He offers Ron a smile upon seeing the clear hesitancy written all over his face. Ron gulps, fumbling with the strap of his bag that rested on his shoulder. He could practically see the gears turning in the ginger boy’s head if such a thing existed. “Was it…was it hard coming back here? After the war, I mean.”

Lupin huffs out a soft laugh at the sudden ask of such a deep question, though he can’t say he was surprised. “I was waiting for this question to arise,” he says, lifting a hand to stop Ron from apologizing. “To give a short answer, yes. It took great thought. To give a long answer, one you may not like but I’m sure you already know, there will always be bad days after experiencing such trauma. It is not easy being born into a life where magic is real and not just a trick of the eye. While it can be wonderful it also brings with it a great deal of damage.”

Ron nods as he listens to his words, stuffing his hands into his pockets.

“Despite all of it, Hogwarts is a place that can be good just as much as it can be bad. You just have to take it in your stride. You’re stronger than you think, Ron. If you really want to be here, I believe it is worth it to try.”

Ron exhales deeply, taking a moment to process his insightful words, a certain wisdom he appreciated. It left him feeling considerably lighter than he had before, like he was a bit more hopeful of a better experience here. “Thank you.”

That’s all he can manage to say.

The blue eyed man in front of him nods. “Go on now, you’ve had a long day, Weasley.”

—

Ron found himself to be rather excited for this weekend. It would be his first time making a trip to Hogsmeade in nearly five years, though he’d been putting it off because the experience wasn’t quite the same when doing it alone. Third years buzzed around him with the excitement of their newfound privileges and independence, bouncing from shop to shop to fully take in all that it had to offer.

He, however, walked at a leisurely pace amongst the students bustling around him, taking a moment to fully appreciate everything he hadn’t seen for so long. Catching details that otherwise went unnoticed like the chipping pink paint on the curved windowsills of Madam Puddifoot’s Tea Shop, and the happy young couples residing inside. The vibrant green moss that formed inbetween the crumbling cracks of the old cobblestone walkways. However, the sight of Zonko’s Joke Shop made his heart lurch in his chest the moment he saw it.

He averted his gaze immediately, swallowing thickly as he tugged at his shirt collar that suddenly felt a little too constricting. It had been Fred and George’s favorite shop to frequent, always buying new things to add to their inventory of pranks. But now that one half of the pair was missing it wasn’t such a fond memory anymore, moreso a taunting one.

The sound of a couple students joyously greeting with a chorus of ‘Hi Mr. Weasley!’ pulled him from his thoughts and he was quick to smile, giving them a half wave as they had already begun to walk away. He let his hand fall back to his side, huffing out a sigh as he continued to walk along the path towards the one place he looked forward to the most, Honeydukes.

The little bell overhead alerted his entrance as he opened the door, the air noticeably sweeter than outside. He found himself smiling as his gaze bounced around the near unchanged shop, any candy you could possibly think of lining almost every brightly painted wall. Though not every single one is a desireable find, he learned that one the hard way. He almost didn’t know where to begin, much like how he felt the first time he ever entered the place, and every time after that for that matter. So he perused the shop, something he’s never done by himself.

His eyes landed on familiar chocolates, and he was quick to grab a box for Hermione because he knows they’re her favorite. Despite such knowledge she still adamantly denies having a sweet tooth to this day. To go along with that, he snags one of the last chocolate frogs for Harry.

It was a fond memory when he thought of it, a tradition they’d had as young students. He’s still got the cards he’d collected from each frog, they were tucked away in that box filled with other things. Maybe when he returned home he’d have the courage to reopen it.

He continues to look around for a bit more, finding himself wishing he had the same sense of enjoyment and innocence as some of the younger students held. For they were fortunate enough to narrowly miss being involved with such negative events. He had to remind himself that it wasn’t looming over his head anymore, to let himself enjoy this very moment. So, he tried his best to clear his mind and bring himself back to his current situation in the middle of an aisle filled with hard candies.

When he had turned the corner of said aisle he collided with something, someone to be more specific, the box clutched in his hands opening on impact and sending the assortment of sweets clattering to the ground with the addition of others. The chocolate frog had fell from its decorative box and hopped out of sight before he could process it.

“I’m so sorry!” A soft voice sounds in front of him, a warm hand enveloping his wrist.

“It’s okay…” Ron trails off when he matches the voice to its owner, blinking slowly as his mouth hangs slightly agape. He found himself staring at the girl, he was quite sure he’d never seen someone so alluring, so captivating. He didn’t know if he could manage to stop gawking. “I-it’s okay.”

His cheeks redden when he realized he’s repeated himself, the fiery heat of embarrassment burning from the very tips of his ears down to his neck, leaving his pale skin flushed. You too came to the realization that you were still gripping his arm, quickly dropping it as you laughed softly to stave off any awkward silence. He averts his eyes momentarily, needing a moment to regain his composure and not make a complete fool of himself in front of the prettiest girl he’d ever seen. Though he’s quite sure he already has.

“I told Mr. Flume it shouldn’t be quite so cramped in here, but he never seems to listen,” you laugh, looking at the smattering of sweets scattered around the two of them. Ron was focused less on the mishap and more on the way you smiled brightly at him, knowing his cheeks were undoubtedly the same shade as his hair. “Give me just one moment, please!”

He nods just a little too late as you rush off around another corner and out of sight, leaving him to stand there awkwardly as students in the vicinity stared at the mess sprawled at his feet. Shortly, you indeed did come back, a new box of chocolates and what was now the last chocolate frog in your hands. You thrusted them in his direction with a warm smile, one that made his heart flip in his chest. “Take these, it’s on the house.”

“Oh I couldn’t do that,” Ron rushes.

“Please, it was my mistake. I insist.”

He laughs softly, nodding after a moment. “At least let me help you clean up?”

You nod up at him with a laugh of your own, “deal.”

He tries not to think about the way your fingers brush over his as they pick up chocolates from the checkered floor, tossing them into the nearby trash bin. And he tried not to think about the way you’d had his stomach twisting in knots as if he was a thirteen year old again experiencing his first crush.

“I’m Y/n, by the way.”

He scrambled to think of a response, seemingly forgetting his own name momentarily. It hadn’t gotten any better when you looked up at him politely as if waiting for a response. “I’m Ron…Ron Weasley.”

He could’ve kicked himself for being so awkward, knowing him stumbling over his words couldn’t possibly give off any sort of appeal. He brushed his hands off with a sigh as he stood to his feet. Though you didn’t seem to mind his nerves as you brushed your hands off on your jeans.

“Nice to meet you, Ron. I only wished it were on better circumstances.” The pale blush on your face deepened a shade.

“That’s quite alright,” he says with an airy laugh, brushing his hair out of his eyes. “It was nice meeting you too.”

That same silence took up the absence in conversation again as Ron tried desperately to think of something to say, not quite ready for the interaction to be over. You beat him to it.

“I hope to see you around here again, maybe without the mess,” you say with a soft smile, “and don’t forget your chocolates.”

He was confused for a moment, too caught up in the way your eyes sparkled as they looked at him, or the way your hair fell around your face before following where you’d been pointing. “Oh! Y-yeah…thank you,” He grabbed his sweets in his shaky hands, feeling rather bold suddenly, “I’ll see you around then, Y/n.”

He was sure your words were only friendly, something you probably said often as a kind gesture. Probably not because you actually wanted to see him again. But he let himself think otherwise if only for a moment.

You simply nod, your grin widening a fraction, “bye Ron.”

—

Ron’s lifted spirits did not go unnoticed, not by Mrs. McGonagall who made it a point to bring it up at dinner later that evening. He could tell she picked up on it, could tell by the very way she’d glanced at him frequently. Though he wasn’t sure he was hiding it very well. He pretended not to notice, focusing his gaze on the rows of tables occupied by dozens upon dozens of students seated at them, the hardwood adorned with some of the best food he’s ever eaten. Second only to his mother.

“Is there a particular reason you’re so cheery, Mr. Weasley?” She finally asks, and he sighs at the question.

“Not particularly,” he responds using her wording, glancing at her as a smile pulls at the left corner of his mouth. He watches as she raises a skeptical brow; he knows what’s coming.

“I haven’t seen you smile like that in a number of years, Ronald. I know when you’re lying,” she says with a soft laugh, though she doesn’t pry.

Ron chuckles down at his plate as he shakes his head, pushing his food around as he thought about her. The way she smiled at him, so brightly the corners of her eyes crinkled. It still felt as though those butterflies were still fluttering around in his stomach. He quickly found himself wanting to hear your voice again, or hear your laughter—

“I’ve met a wonderful person today, that’s all,” he blurts, looking to his side.

She gave him a fond yet knowing smile, nodding her head. “I know the look of young love when I see it.”

“I’m not in love, Mrs. McGonagall,” he urges almost immediately, cheeks reddening once more at her preposterous conclusion, “I’ve only just met her today.”

“If you insist, my dear.”

“I do insist.” He tries to be sure of himself despite his inability to get you off his mind, but he hides his smile behind his goblet as he takes a sip.

Later that night he went to bed with something other than sorrow clouding his thoughts, instead feeling rather optimistic about the week ahead. Or maybe it was the plans he’d had at the end of it that had him so eager, time feeling agonizingly slow. It was definitely that. He couldn’t wait to see you next Saturday.

—

[iristial]

Extraordinary You for the ask!

Favourite character: Haru! Amnesiac, bad boy, recovered, sageuk, it doesn’t matter because he’s still kind and thoughtful to the core. Also his love for Dan-oh - so deep, so true, it raised my standards far too high, he’d put her happiness above anything else and luckily for him he’s her happiness aGH

Funniest character: Dan-oh. It’s not every day when the innocent ill maiden is snarking at herself and her supposed love interest for the ridiculous situations the writer puts them through. Second place goes to Dohwa, he deserves a place after the drama kicked him aside

Best-looking character: It’s July 2020 and I’m still convinced Haru (and therefore Rowoon) is the handsomest guy I’ve ever seen in my entire life

3 favourite ships: Haru/Dan-oh is the supreme OTP and the only other ships I considered were Dohwa/Jooda and Semi/Soochul

Least favourite character: More like hate, but Baek Kyung. The issues he’s gone through and such aside, that’s no excuse to treat the girl you supposedly like in a horrible fashion, on and off stage. Also he thought about murdering Dan-oh so she could lose her self-awareness. That was a deal breaker

Least favourite ship: Any Baek Kyung or Namjoo ship (I don’t mind if anyone has ships for these characters though). Neither of them are prepared to deal with romantic relationships. One of them needs to navigate through his issues and develop healthy friendships first and the other one needs to develop self-awareness

Reason why I watch it: On the surface it’s a high school drama. Then you take a magnifying glass to see the potential, the questions it raises about everything we take for granted as autonomous beings, what it’s like to live as an extra and not the main character of a piece of fiction. The love story is so beautiful and sweet!! It transcends life times and what the author dictated for them?? The music!! You know that one where Haru’s sitting alone in the art room, crying because he can’t reach Dan-oh? Yeah. That one. Also the meta people wrote for this show?? I recommend @/dangermousie and @/its-chelisey-stuff, their meta was so beautifully written I could engrave it on my heart forever

Why I started watching it: Posts and clips were floating around, and an anon recommended the drama to me. I got interested, checked it out, and now I feel like no drama will have the same impact for me (aside for Hotel del Luna, which is another story). I also have a recording of my mental breakdown over episode 29~30 haha

give me a tv series and i’ll tell you

[comments-on-kai]

[YouTube] Jongin's viral TEMPO showcase fancam hits 600K views

EXO KAI's fancam is a sensation among knetz; receiving rave reviews & praises for his outstanding stage & keeps impressing Muggles+ Non-fans; gaining even older male fans upon their new discovery + viewers keeps coming back for re-watch with the "1Day1Kai" syndrome

181102 EXO COMEBACK SHOWCASE - Tempo KAI (2 Angles Mixed) by Mr.Destiny

- On Facebook this video is Daebak among Muggles! I think the video on FB has like 490,000 views so if the views for FB and Youtube are combined it's already more than 1 million viewsㄷㄷㄷ If a genius works hard and even enjoys what he is doing the outcome is this incredible result everybody is praising him

- I only know the name "Kai" and his face but I'm so shocked after watching this video. Wow...it's as if he was possessed by a real God of Dance of the Universe...

- This is is not an Idol...isn't he an Artist;;

- Even from a 31-years old ahjussi point of view he is fvcking cool and his charms are amazing. If even I am like this, let alone the people of various age and gender

- The harmony between Kai's body and strength is so good...it's the best. He's not the main dancer for no reason

- Not even a fan but I feel like faintingㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ seriously how are the fans doingㅜㅜ how could such an amazing creature even exist

- I'm not an EXO-L but this appeared in the suggested video so I came to watch it and I'm in shock...this is Daebak.. the quality of the video and Kai's dancing is no joke

- I only know the name "EXO" and have no idea of who are the members and had no interest in them. Recently I really liked the song Tempo and searched for it and came to this point. But honestly this doesn't even make any sense..Of course the other members are all handsome and good at dancing, but Kai's visual, dance, his facial acting, his command of the stage...those are almost at National Treasure level??? I'm so very taken aback at the fact that there is a figure like him among currently active Idols...Of course he shines as a member of EXO but I think he could hit Daebak if he has separate promotions as a Solo

- As I am a guy with zero interest in male idols, I never thought I'd keep coming back to watch a male idol's fancam. How could someone dance with so much flavor? The dance itself is really awesome but in the meantime the facial expressions that was shown is also quite addictive..I have no idea of the other EXO members but as far as Kai goes I will definitely remember him even in the future

- Kai will become the meaning of "more than just an Idol"...although he already is wow it's crazy seriously overwhelming all the dance movements and expressions..Kai the perfect piece of art

- Wow honestly this has the qualities of an American advancement

- This is SO GOOD I've never seen a fancam like this my whole life..

- I'm here again I have to watch this 10 times a day

- Is Kai's smile insured...? If it's not please insure it right now and don't regret later...

- I'm a Muggle but this is crazy ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ his skills are one thing but his talent is unlike a regular human being it's like he's a monster ... not human

- 1 Day 1 Kai (T/n: an expression to describe watching the fancam at least once per day)

- I'm here again to watch this... this is seriously THE legend of legendary male idol fancams world ---->(Reply): EXO's turning even me into gay

- Wow seriously Kai dances as if his life depended on it and he jumps around so vividly on stage...seriously his expressions and details all of it is crazy

- He is playing around (feeling amusement) beyond the dance and the music, like smoothly flowing water. On Kai, not even one beat or tempo is wasted. An extraordinary state.

- Anyone here again to watch this for today?

- seriously fvcking cool...somewhat a Hollywood feel to him

- This is seriously legendary

- Wow...his dancing is too fvcking good I searched all the Tempo dance covers but Kai's dance is engraved on my brain that everything else sucks. The "listen this will be enough" ddun ddun part his control of strength and facial acting FVCK just too cool and because of the outfit it's like Michael Jackson concept..perfect -->(Reply1) That's definitely a homage to MJ...I can see a few MJ's signature movesㅜㅡㅜ sobs...really crazy..the people who covered Kai's parts are really good but Kai is beyond the fourth wall ㅜㅡㅜ ------>{Reply2) Ah I thought I was the only one who thought of MJ and was thinking "Am I being over the top" but when I scrolled down I wasn'tㅋㅋㅋㅋ from 0:35 I went Oh? ㅋ���ㅋㅋYou can see the moving he did for controlling his strength it's based on MJ and his expressions made it even more so..I knew he's good at dancing but watching him through a fancam kind of video?this is a first time for me seriously he's no joke

- I'm thankful for the fact that I was born in a generation where I can see God's Masterpiece moving

- After watching Kai's fancam, fancam of other idols became just a DanceIdol1 (T/n: like a code name, means OP has no interest in knowing the Idol's name) video that feels common and boring. I can't find any other idol that danced from the beginning to end,with the perfect angle and lines from his head down to his feet as a true dancer would. If we consider perfection to be non-existent than he would be the closest thing to being perfection. Total 10 points for both Technique and Art

- I typed "Tempo" and this video was there so I watched it, he dances so well...no I don't think I could do it justice by saying "he danced well" I'm so surprised that there is a dancer like this coming out from idols. It's to the point that the thought of he is the best dancer among idols entered my mind

- Kai!!! This is beyond being cool,should I say it's Phenomenal? This young man is amazing how much effort did he put in...This person is the real deal

- He's similar to that statue in the Greek Temple..the concept this time is really Daebakㅠㅠ

- How is he THIS good...I'm shocked

- I never write comments when I watch but this is Daebak

- His physique is very beautiful

- I'm here to watch this again today..I've been getting my stamps (of attendance) for one whole week now. Kai-ssi you dance so amazingly

- I know he's good at dancing but rather than an idol's choreography it's like watching a modern dance piece

- I want Kai to go on a program that can show more of his dancing and be even more successful ㅠ ---->(Reply) I share the same opinion. Whether in the US or wherever Kai should be shown off more. It is such a waste of his talent (if that isn't done). I have only seen his dance for 1 week and already I have this kind of thought, I think it's even more for EXO fans right? ------->(Reply2) I really hope Kai could be exported worldwide too

- Ah I received such a SHOCK...let's designate Kai as a National Treasure

- Kai's dance seriously slays with the awesomeness I'm not even a fan but I keep looking this up...so cool

- Kai-nim today I'm reporting for duty again here...the song Tempo is so good and I'll keep reporting myself here every day until this fancam hits 1 million views

- Wow....this is simply.. art

- This is my first time seeing Kai dance...this is beyond dancing dilligently, it's because he is enjoying himself while dancing that makes him so much more natural, and with his own unique interpretation of the song, he could carefreely dances the part that he wants to be carefree while powerfully dances the parts that he wants to dance powerfully and it seems like through this he is making the song his own. Could tell how much he's enjoying himself through his expressions.

- The thing with Kim Jongin's dance is despite the intensity of the dance you can still feel his restraint and gracefulness. It's difference than randomly dancing on the streets and this is why critics of popular culture can't help but to acknowledge him

- his face is half-covered but his handsomeness could be felt just from his jaw also his expressions of enjoying the stage...I love itㅜ

- Wow... can't take my eyes off him...so very outstanding and superior...really...!

- No..what the heck is this...it's at the level where no words are needed this is not idol dance it's like artㄷㄷ

- Cra...zy...wow...my eyes are opened to a brand new world

- There might be people who never watched this for even once, but there will never be people who could watch this only once after they've watched it ㅠㅜㅠㅡㅠ I'm reporting for duty once again today

- A drug-like video

- SM you have someone of Jongin's caliber show us more of his dance!!! what are you doing ! give us the contents!

- Wow. At first the smirks are melting at then towards the middle the part he wasn't smiling ..seriously could feel his force of being focused on the dance and the music...I'm from another fandom but I keep coming here to watch this ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

- he's shooting a Musical all by himself,,, I'm speechless about his dancing lines,, seriously the details of his expressions are amazing,,it's too wow,, it's the level where you should pay money to watch this

- I have a different person as my bias but I just can't take my eyes off him in this video. He is really...the Real deal.

- I came here and he cuts me with his dancing lines... seriously how could he dance like that...too good at dancingㅠㅠ

- Wow what did I just see...I think he's best dancer I've ever seen...he's dancing that well but his face is so handsome and his body is good tooㅠ Isn't that unfair....

- seriously how hard did he work and practice in his own field. I had no idea I would look at a dance video and self-reflected on myself..ㅜ

-???? Are the stans still alive??? I'm not even into EXO and I'm like..dying seriously he's too sexy it's crazy

- They say if the word "sexy" transformed into human form it's EXO Kai..this is daebak

- Ah seriously he's in another class of his own...I'm going crazy

- Definitely the top among all idols I've seen. From the control of strength in his dancing to his facial expressions. Wow

- Can't help but moaned at the ending poseㅎㅎ His physique (thumbs up)

- Amazing...so cool..watching Jongin's fancams means the world to me his expressiveness and his facial expressions, there are no empty portions I don't know where to take a breath ㅠㅁㅠ really makes me want to scream "thank you for dancing"..

- he is totally in a different genre

- he captured art in his dancing

- Everybody knows he's a great dancer but how should I say this, seeing his happiness on stage makes even me feel happy? He is the very person who made someone like me who loves singing a lot realized how attractive a dance could be.

- Kai is a dance genius his overall control and expressions are daebak...;; everything from his head to his feet are moving it's incredible

- Ya...so this is talent! the dancing is art

- I have fallen for Kai

- Even from a man's point of view he's really cool

- Whoa... he dances in such a great way. first off the expressions are already different. wow.

- Wow (for me) as a man Kai is really cool it’s worthy to do a Cover (of this)

- How could every movement that came from his body looks so cool... as expected he dances the best among all the idols I've seen so far...it's not just the typical kind of "good dancing" he's somewhat different

- How many times have I watched this.........

- I could see he's enjoying himself while dancing...he looks happy

- so he's the type to feel the dance while enjoying it. This is the first time I look at a younger man and think that he's cool

- check out his dancing lines I'm reminded of Michael Jackson

- there's a huge joy in watching Kai's dance in nano-scale... his hand gestures, body movement and facial expressions...it makes time passes by so quickly while watching a 3-minute song(performance) that I don't feel bored

- Fvck his expressions are real solid...I felt Michael Jackson's vibesㄷㄷㄷ

- "There are a lot of people who dances but nobody dances like Kai" I really agree with these words a thousand hundred times

- I saw you for 1 second in the mixed-stage edit and came searching for this...wow I thought you danced really well but I had no idea I would fall for you in 1 second you are really sexyㅋㅋㅋ

- Fvck me...seriously this is a real person? Seriously I could empty my soul and life for this

- his facial acting is crazy seriously...is he a genius I keep coming for this I can't even praise his dancing anymore

- Okay so at this timing..how about releasing a solo...

- I'm not the type to comment (on Youtube) but this is a video with a magical spell. I would like to thank the person who took this video.

- as long as I have lived  I've never been a fan of a singer ... is this what people say becoming a stan?

- Ah fvck I'm a BT* fan I think I'm gonna stan EXO ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ truly going crazy ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ fvck this doesnt make any sense but I think I'm gonna be a stan no I think I already am

- Personally I think he dances even better than Rain. I think when Kai comes out as a Solo it's gonna be no joke. He has the feels of Rain+Seven combined (T/n: Rain and Seven are two of South Korea's most loved male Dance Singers in mid-2000s era)

- not saying this simply because I'm a fan but I think his dancing is even more incredible because this is a dance of someone who spent 10,000 hours in his effort. He takes meticulous care for even one simple angle and you need more than talent to do that and Kai has now debuted for 7-8 years yet he could still accomplish that ㄷㄷ I think I know now how passionate he is about dancing

- His dance and facial expressions are fvcking incredible..seriously I do not compare just any dancer to this man but like what the person above mentioned, I saw a bit of Michael Jackson in him plus his outfit and the hat is seriously a miracle move;;

- really I'm not a fan (of EXO) but he's fvcking goodㄷㄷ

- Oh he kinda have the Yoo JunSun Choreographer-nim vibes both of them are really so cool ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ(T/n: Junsun Yoo of famed 1MILLION Dance Studio)

- Wow I had no idea he could dance this well...this is Daebak

-Ohmygod... the moment I saw this I'm reminded of Michael Jackson he's so amazing

- I'm just a Muggle passing by...please save me,,

- The representative of Michael Jackson's Kids who grew up well. The best in the history of South Korea's performers

- Watching Kai's stages, his expressions and overall control of the dance changes depending on the atmosphere of the stage. And for Tempo stage, Kai's expression at the stage for music shows and Kai's expression for the Tempo performance during showcase is different. It makes me think that he's a person who understand the circumstances and songs very well...he's more experienced and seasoned than his 7 years

- This is not a broadcasting station camera but personal fancam??? I'm so shocked at the dancing but what is this camerawork??

- Kai is seriously unrivalled

- Seriously he's the type who dances in the most ludicrous way...like every joint in his body is working organically, each and every part of his body is dancingㅠㅠㅠ his expressiveness is incredible and I think the Korean stage is too small for himㅠㅠ

- Really a dance that can't be described with words...no I think this is the first time I'm completely gobmacked just by watching a dance

- Is this the legendary fancam where even fans from other fandoms come to watch everyday?

- I'm fainting. The best among Idols. Too beautiful.

- This is crazy. Even from a man's point of view he's very sexy. I had no idea  he's to the level that had me constantly overlapping him with Michael Jackson. Are you not going to release a solo!(T/n: this was written in formal speech...like respectfully lol)

- You can see how much he is enjoying himself on the stage and he doesn't do things lightly he always gives his all. Kai is forever the center of EXO nobody could argue with that

- I was going to see Kyungsoo but when I see Kai..Heok! This is the first time I've ever fallen for a male idol's dance..so sexy

- The way idols dance changed a lot before and after the appearance of Kai; especially after Kai appeared there were many dance idols who danced with that possessed scientist(?) vibes but Kai is really that sensational, you know just by looking at this fancam

- what is this...it's a level that doesnt need any words it's not Idol's dance but like a piece of artㄷㄷ.....

- he's so good,,,, watched this and kept thinking of the singer Rain during the height of his career and also Sevenㄷㄷㄷ if only Kai could come out as a Solo... I think he could be a male dancer singer that's worthy of anticipation after a long time

- his dancing is amazing but when he takes off the hat I was shocked at his handsomeness

- It's phenomenal I always feel this when I watch Kai dance but there is nothing lacking in either his dance or facial expressions it's like he was born to be an entertainer. He has this special thing that's incomparable to anyone else. Isn't it that specialty his key in successfully still pulling the public in even for a long run?

- I'm reminded of Michael Jackson...just that kind dignity of the dance and the feel of the dance

- to simply say that he dances well is very lacking... his dancing is TREMENDOUS his level is beyond that of an Idol

- This is a Kai-stanning entry video that surpassed The Eve fancam he's like the Devil and also an Angel

- Wow I keep coming here to watch this ㅋㅋ when watching it time passes by real quickly ㅋㅋㅋㅋ his expressions are sexy and because he's enjoying himself as he danced it makes him looks so much cooler. I think I know the reason why EXO is the best. It's because even after they reached the top, they're still presenting the perfect stage

- his strong pelvic bounce and the cute smiles in between, his sexy chest muscleㅠㅠㅠㅠㅜㅜ it's crazy he's so sexy why is his body so good,,, I see nothing but Kai

- Personally, the singer who I think has a very cool dancing line and dance so well to the point it made me think "this is how a dance should be done" was Uknow Yunho, seems like Kai quite formidable too...the feeling is like he is personally showing "this is how Tempo should be danced"

- Really to say that Kai dances the best among idols won't be an exaggeration...his dancing line is so beautiful

- His dance made my heart beat faster....the reason for the saying "Kai is God" is clearly verified in this video..Wow daebak WHAT IS THIS PERSON

- I think I've watched this 50 times just for today..at first I didn't like the song but after watching this video I liked it...he's so good at dancing it makes me keep watching

- I think it has been such a long time since I  thought a male idol looks so cool..Awesome

- The fact that there are still so many people freshly shocked at Kai's dance...everybody as expected this is Kai~~

- His dancing is shocking...I don't think he's human

- The fact that he's good at dancing comes second, even his facial expressions are perfect;;

- Kai's dance is really amazing his facial acting is excellent and he knows how to enjoy dancing and is full of that feeling

- His completely free changing expressions from 0:43 - 0:48 ...God-given body movements and facial expressions

- Wow..I'm from another fandom and I know Kai is a good dancer but I had no idea it is to this level...It's like he's saying "Yo this is what a dance is!"... he's amazingㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ

- the kind of dance that SM wants...the ultimate feel..by having the eyes covered that's already half-giving up on expressing things through facial expressions and yet by looking at the comments, compliments of  "his facial acting is daebak, his vibe is good" are hanging on it. This is (why he's) Kai.

- Seriously I had zero interest in EXO and don't even know their names ... and somehow I ended up seeing this,,,, I love you Kai

- I have heard of EXO Kai's name and have seen him once in a drama... but he was actually EXO's main dancer?ㄷㄷ he's a fvking good dancer...damn cool..whoever it was who made him wear that intricate outfit you shall be blessed.. at the end what's up with taking off the hat like that...seriously my heart was almost attacked wow... ------>(2 hours later) Ah I'm getting so angry? Why do I only know of him now... EXO debuted a fvcking long time ago what was I doing  ㅋㅋㅋㅋ I  totally had no interest in EXO ah I'm so mad ㅋㅋㅋㅋ ㅋㅋㅋㅋ seriously he's so cool it's crazy sdjhkfjls;

- So kids this is why y'all go so crazy for EXO huh? Just by chance I watched Music Bank after so many years to check out who are the recent singers of today and I saw Kai with his lunatic expressions on stage and I searched for this. Ha. I need to find more of his other stuffs. ----> Reply(same person who was angry about discovering Kai so late): That's what I'm saying yo kids seriouslyㅋㅋㅋㅋ so this is why you kids kept going around saying EXO EXO to death...I should have listened more attentively...I should've known sooner I'm pathe..

- the seriously fantastic thing about Kai is (the fact that) he IS the center of EXO

- he's fvcking fvcking good at dancing but even the face that was revealed at the end when the hat was taken off is perfect;;;

- I am a BIGBANG fan but honestly this is awesome

- If Kai releases a solo it will be daebak...also kinda similar to Taemin but anyways it's like Kai alone is playing on stage

- Just looking at his lips and I could feel his handsomeness and sexiness

- I had no idea I would feel so touched just by watching an Idol singer's dancing video...I know now why people are always saying Kai this and Kai that- I don't even like Idols but I'm doing this as 3 viewings per day. I have no words except you're the best

[watchesreview]

A. LANGE & SÖHNE CABARET TOURBILLON HANDWERKSKUNST

The A. Lange & Söhne Cabaret Tourbillon Handwerkskunst shares much in common with the Cabaret Tourbillon, first released in 2008. This latest creation features many mechanical details that enhance the ownership experience. However, its magnificence is not limited to its mechanical virtues, it also extends to the artistic treatment of the dial and movement.

Theo Jansen, the contemporary Dutch artist, once said ‘the walls between art and engineering exist only in our minds’. It seems very apt when looking at a Lange timepiece.

Although Bauhaus, the famous German design school, is based on the notion of ‘form follows function’, some examples of this approach can appear a tad utilitarian. In contrast, Lange surpasses the merely functional, imbuing its products with exquisite aesthetic elements. For example, virtually all models are endowed with a hand-engraved balance cock. From a functional perspective this component could have been stamped out, rhodium plated and left unadorned, however, A. Lange & Söhne would never countenance such a perfunctory approach.

While Lange could expedite the making of a watch by focussing solely on the essential, it chooses not to. Indeed, it creates wonderfully engineered watches that encompass über-refined finishing. Black polishing and hand-chamfering are not the products of haste, but rather demonstrate a mindset that always favours excellence. In my opinion, the engineering manifest with the Lange’s fine watches is conjoined with art.

In 2011, the brand from Saxony, eager to showcase even more of its artistic capabilities, unveiled its first Handwerkskunst timepiece. Its name means ‘craftsmanship’ a reference to the high quotient of artisanal input. For the inaugural model, the German marque chose to breathe upon its famous Tourbillon Pour le Mérite. This limited edition Handwerkskunst model sported a fascinating honey gold dial enriched with an extraordinary texture. This finish is achieved by using a technique called ‘tremblage’, where a small burin is lightly tapped against the dial membrane to create a myriad of dimples.

The following year, in 2012, the Zeitwerk Handwerkskunst was unveiled and enjoyed favourable coverage in many horological publications and websites. This contemporary watch featured the aforementioned artisanal technique, a form of adornment that would eventually be employed on several, but not all, Handwerkskunst models. Moreover, the luxury watch brand shrewdly chose to apply black-rhodium plate to the white gold dial, bestowing the horological vista with a sizeable dose of modernity.

Over the last 10 years, Lange has released several Handwerkskunst models. Some have featured tremblage while others encompassed grand feu enamelling. In 2017, the prestigious watch firm unveiled the 1815 Rattrapante Perpetual Calendar Handwerkskunst. The white gold dial was dressed in blue enamel and adorned with contrasting blue stars. To the rear of the watch is a hinged caseback was embellished with tremblage and relief engraving, all surrounded by a circlet of enamel.

The Handwerkskunst experience is not restricted to the dial and case, it often extends to the movement. This includes different forms of finishing to the ‘standard’ model. In addition, it can also encompass technical changes to the movement specification. For instance, the calibre L043.1, fitted to the standard Zeitwerk, features a variable-inertia balance. The balance wheel is fitted with c-shaped masellotes, set in-board. The Handwerkskunst version is equipped with the Calibre L043.4 which is also fitted with a variable-inertia balance, however, it uses traditional timing screws to adjust the rate. By using c-shaped masellotes, there is nothing protruding beyond the rim of the balance, mitigating air turbulence, thereby augmenting precision. While the screwed balance is technically inferior, many purists appreciate its traditional appearance. The Handwerkskunst movement eschews Glashütte ribbing in favour of a frosted three-quarter plate.

Now, the Manufactory has produced a new work of art, the A. Lange & Söhne Cabaret Tourbillon Handwerkskunst. The ‘standard’ Cabaret Tourbillon was first released in 2008, however, this latest version of the model still looks fresh-faced and brims with a number of additional artistic details.

The dial

There is a reason why most watches are round; they are more likely to sell. When a brand veers from this accepted wisdom it exposes itself to a greater risk of commercial failure. However, over the years, some of the most eye-catching designs have embraced lozenge, rectangular and tonneau-shaped forms. In this instance, A. Lange & Söhne has boldly chosen not to make yet another round watch but instead has conceived a rectangular-shaped timepiece. I can already say at this juncture, with just 30 pieces planned and legions of Langephiles dotted around the globe, the demand for the A. Lange & Söhne Cabaret Tourbillon Handwerkskunst is short to outstrip available supplies.

The lancine-shaped hour and minute hands are rhodiumed gold and convey meaning in a softly spoken, clear manner. Each hour is marked with matching diamond-shaped indexes, save for 3, 6, and 9 o’clock where Roman numerals denote the hours.

Disciples of the Manufactory’s work will immediately notice the power-reserve indicator at 4 o’clock. It is an indication that features on the Lange 1, arguably the brand’s most iconic model. The display on this model is snailed, employs a monochrome palette and features the German words ‘Ab’ and ‘Auf’. A small seconds display is positioned opposite the power-reserve indicator, employing much of the same design language as its aforementioned counterpart.

An aperture in the southern territory of the dial reveals the eponymous tourbillon. The purpose of this device, patented in 1801, is to counter the adverse influence of gravity on the balance. Housed within a rotating cage, the escapement and regulation organ follow a circular path, turning 360° every minute. This highly complex mechanism negates positional errors, enhancing the overall precision of the movement.

In many cases, despite being designed to augment accuracy, a tourbillon seldom allows the wearer to hack the seconds and synchronise the time with a reference clock. When the Cabaret Tourbillon was released in 2008, it allowed the wearer to instantaneously stop the balance inside the rotating cage merely by pulling out the crown. This meant the wearer could synchronise the various time indications with a reference clock and simply pushing the crown home again, set the balance running again. It is an eminently logical feature but one that continues to elude most other watch brands.

In 1990, when A. Lange & Söhne was ‘re-registered’, it released four models, one of which was the Lange 1. Its oversized date display was inspired by the Five-Minute Clock in the Semper Opera in nearby Dresden. The date indication employs two discs, one for the tens and the other for units, delivering a widescreen indication of the prevailing date. Perpetuating this tradition, the A. Lange & Söhne Cabaret Tourbillon Handwerkskunst is also endowed with a large format date display. This confers superb legibility and its proportions look perfectly at ease with the watch, delivering a harmonious mien.

Arguably the pièce de résistance is the artistic embellishment of the white gold canvas. The inner area of the dial is hand engraved with a ‘lozenge pattern’. The regular appearance of each lozenge element might fool you into thinking it has been performed using a machine. However, its uniformly geometric pattern and the absence of any flaws is the product of a deft hand and much patience. A thin line of tremblage delineates one area of the dial from another.

The dial’s epidermis is suffused with a semi-transparent enamel layer, imbuing the dialscape with a wonderful depth.

At the base of the dial, the watch’s country of origin is specified in a crisp font, while in the bottom right-hand corner, the word ‘Glashütte’ effectively signs the masterpiece.

The case

The A. Lange & Söhne Cabaret Tourbillon Handwerkskunst is housed in a 950 platinum case measuring 29.5 x 39.2 x 10.3mm. This noblest of metals is more challenging to machine than steel or gold. When platinum is milled using a CNC machine, great care is needed to avoid excessive heat generation as this can make the material even more challenging to work with. To avoid heat issues, the milling times have to be extended, thereby heightening production costs.

Nevertheless, the additional machining costs and the high price of platinum are justified by the properties it confers. Platinum, which is far rarer than gold, exhibits a becoming silvery-white hue, is reassuringly dense and delivers a wonderfully lustrous sheen.

Each of the bezel’s four sides gently slope towards the case middle. The caseband is straight for the most part, but step outwards near the lugs. Despite its obvious complexity, the watch remains elegant and tastefully understated. For example, the lugs do not unduly project from the case, but peep beyond its main body, drawing the strap close.

One of the highlights of Lange ownership is undoubtedly the movement beating within the case. The German marque indulges the wearer with sublime views of the calibre L042.1, courtesy of an exhibition caseback.

The watch is presented on a black hand-stitched leather strap paired with a deployant buckle, again in 950 platinum.

The movement

The Cabaret Tourbillon is fitted with the calibre L042.1, a hand-wound movement with a tourbillon escapement. The tourbillon features an upper and lower bridge, each fitted with a diamond endstone. As stated earlier, the purpose of the tourbillon is to enhance rate accuracy.

Beyond its functional benefits, the tourbillon provides another vehicle for the German brand to showcase its finishing skills. For example, the upper tourbillon bridge (or bar), spanning the dial aperture, is beautifully polished and secured by two screws, each with wonderfully defined slots. The wearer is indulged with a dynamic spectacle of the escape wheel, pallet lever, balance wheel and hairspring all in motion.

Lange has equipped the movement with a screwed balance, a respectful nod to traditional watchmaking. The two barrels deliver an impressive power reserve of 120 hours, assuming the watch is fully wound. As well as the two barrels delivering greater autonomy, they also contribute to rate accuracy. Indeed, by employing two barrels the power transferred via the gear train to the escapement is more consistent thereby ensuring the amplitude also remains relatively constant.

As stated earlier, the watch has the facility to stop the balance from rotating merely by pulling out the crown. This ingenious system employs an ‘arresting spring’ which cleverly preserves the potential energy of the balance spring so that the balance can restart instantly as soon as the crown is pushed home and the arresting spring is retracted.

Confusingly, the movement within the A. Lange & Söhne Cabaret Tourbillon Handwerkskunst shares the same reference as the movement within the 2008 model, despite both movements looking different.

The Glashütte-based company has respected fine watchmaking etiquette. The calibre L042.1 is rectangular shaped, emulating the shape of the case.

Whereas the movement on the ‘regular’ Cabaret Tourbillon is embellished with traditional Glashütte ribbing, the Handwerkskunst model features a frosted finish. Lange is famous for its hand-engraved balance cocks. In this instance, this exquisite demonstration of the company’s artistic prowess extends to the tourbillon and intermediate wheel cocks. Where the original model is engraved with a filigree-type pattern, the Handwerkskunst version features a ‘lozenge’ shaped motif.

Finally, the movement features 45 jewels, several of which are set in screwed gold chatons, upholding another Lange tradition.

Closing remarks

Most watches impart time, however, it is the method they employ that often differentiates the mediocre products from those brimming with excellence. Personally speaking, I accept that a quartz watch delivers precision, but find them to be soulless. They may fulfil a basic need, but they fail to elicit any emotion.

In some cases, mechanical watches can be devoid of virtue, but the finest examples, the exemplars of Haute Horlogerie, charm the onlooker and lead watch aficionados to smile with delight. A. Lange & Söhne painstakingly crafts watches for discerning souls. The brand’s clients are not merely seeking a functional timepiece but an exquisite object made without compromise.

Since the brand was re-registered in 1990, the firm’s watches transcend the merely functional and incorporate beautifully considered engineering, peerless finishing and numerous examples of tasteful adornment. Lange clearly has a desire to surpass its customers’ expectations, something it has demonstrated over and over again.

The A. Lange & Söhne Cabaret Tourbillon Handwerkskunst embodies everything that is magical about this prestigious firm, but it also encompasses several artistic crafts that few other companies have the necessary expertise to attempt. Based on the evidence, it is clear, when it comes to A. Lange & Söhne, engineering and art are intertwined.

[ineffablyrandom]

So long, Farewell

It was all the things from day one to the day we no longer keep track.

It led us where we are today and I reckon I was ready since then. This was a long time coming. I know it without a shadow of a doubt.

It was the long days of dreading the inevitable. I was hopeless, reckless, and losing my mindfulness. You were there throughout, keeping me sane. It was the long walks on a sidewalk bumping our elbows. The sweet nothings and slow conversation about the cracks on the street floor to the vastness of our universe, having small to bigger questions of our lives. It was all those lazy afternoons and freaky mornings. It was the feeling of being with someone, being important, being in love. It was all those “I miss you” when we are not together. The relief when we finally see each other again. It was the heartbeat pounding from my chest to my ears. It was calming my nerves and keeping me alive more than ever. It was the way you look at me like I am the world’s greatest mystery that you wanted to unfold, thus full of adoration and curiosity. It scares me then, I wondered, if someday when all of the skeletons in my closet come out, when all of my everything was eventually heard, when all of my mystery finally unfolded, when you memorized all of it, all of me, every fiber of my consistency, what then? Will it be enough for you? Will you ever be satisfied?

No, I think it wasn’t just that. It was also the libraries you went into with me, even if you are bored to death and just wanted a coffee in your hands. It was the museums we roam into and staring into the art much longer, that you tend to be restless standing in front of it. It was the grunts and slow whispers, pulling me for a hug, breathing in my scent, then letting go of me because you knew I wasn’t going to be satisfied if I never wandered the entirety of it. It was the stolen photographs, letting me scribble on my notepad, taking it all in, writing the dates and the things we saw, rhyming words, constituting, and creating poetry inside. Then it was the tired faces of us sitting in a restaurant or a cheap fast-food chain. It made me tired, but I was glowing happily. It was you complaining about your legs aching. I didn’t get the chance to ask you, your perspective, your take from all of that. What in the world and why in the world do you take me to museum dates, even if you don’t like arts? You’re not even curious enough. What interests you to me?

It was the day, night, and midnight dates. We’re clinging to something more profound than us. Wanting something to mean something. Avoiding that, perhaps, the compatibility was never on our side. You see, it was the slow days and the exhilarating days in your apartment. It was me cooking for you, dancing around in your kitchen, wearing your shirts. It was humming songs and melodies in your bathroom. It was me looking at you across the bedroom to your balcony, watching you breathe in the cigarette and exhale it into the void. Just staring ahead, and I wonder, what were you thinking most of those times?

It was me and you, scattering our clothes on your bedroom floor, pulling on the sheets, and making love over and over again until we can’t anymore. It was me spilling out impromptu paragraphs and poetry onto your heavy eyelids, kissing them, and kissing you while your arms are around me. It was for you, when we were lying there in your unlit bedroom, out of breath or calm as the ocean you were gazing at while I was running barefoot on the sand on the beach that we went to a few months back, or chaotic enough as the world revolves around us, my mind was running. There were words and sentences, so I tell them all to you. Wishing that somehow, you’ll know that those words are not just mere words. It was all of me and you, and the feelings that come between us. It has been just simple words. I never write extravagantly. My words were simple. But you never really understood it, do you?

It was us cleaning your entire apartment because I have nothing else to do and you were lazy to do something. The dust we brushed off on your countertop and the small pieces of trash from the pizza nights, game nights, movie nights, slow dancing nights, or the bits of popcorns that you spilled because you forgot to put the cover of the casserole while you were cooking, it was there, all of it. In the corner of your kitchen cabinet, below your couch, beside the trash can, into the small crevices of the stove. We made your apartment clean and sleek. No traces of anything. Not even my fallen hair on your couch. A clean slate. We got rid of all of that, haven’t we? What else did we remove actually?

It was me painting in your living room or your bedroom, scattering all of my art stuff, then deciding to just paint in your balcony. Because somehow, I like the view and it was peaceful enough. It was you staring at me across the room, asking me what I was imagining. Asking me to put all of my unnecessary art stuff away because your floor is getting messy. It was you looking onto my shoulder, seeing if I was already finished with what I’m doing, or just asking me what am I creating. It was me telling you that I honestly don’t know, that I’m just stroking my brush to where I feel like it. It was just a kind of feeling. It was you telling me that it doesn’t make sense. It was me telling you that art doesn’t need to always make sense. It was you dismissing it, then asking me to just do your portrait, and I will always do your portrait, the sketch of you. It was the sex in the middle of me having an art block. It was me accidentally brushing the paint on your face. It was the small breaks of kissing then getting back in my art zone. Did it not make any sense to you? Did we make sense?

It was me hunched back sprawl out on your couch scribbling away. It was the scattered papers and scratch paper in your trash can and on your living room table. It was you telling me to get myself together and clean up. It was you asking me to stop writing. It was me shell shocked by what you’re asking me, and I knew then that I will leave you if it ever comes to a point where I will have to choose to stop writing just for you. You already knew, didn't you? I’ll never stop writing again, not for you, not for anyone else. What else did you ask me to stop? What else did I stop after that?

It was the long talks on your balcony, about everything, anything at all. It was us not minding if it was getting late until it was already 5 AM and the streaks of morning dew came into view, marking the start of a new day. It was me hoping it will remain that way. It was me describing it in my mind in all of its glory, making a mental note to put it in a paper, the words that will be eternally engraved on my memory on how that morning looks with you beside me, hugging me or just sitting or standing there. It was you kissing me for a late kiss Goodnight, then smiling and lying there on your bed face down. It was you snoring the night-long wakefulness away. Did something start anew? Did we start something as remarkable as that morning dew streaks of pink and blue and red in the wee hours?

It was you and me learning something new every day, from each other, for each other. It was you and me sitting in front of the piano clicking the notes away. It was me learning how to play instruments with you. Adding melodies and harmonies into our lives. What were we playing? Are we not aware of the consequences each of us makes? The subtle playing along with the flow of events directly in front of us. Did we not just play along?

It was the fights from 11 PM till 3 AM and the silent treatment, cold shoulders. It was the screaming and crying then making out. It was all those heavy feelings. It was us tiptoeing around the conversation. It was you slamming your fist on the wall. It was me crying myself to sleep. It was all those stupid, lowly, and big fights. But did we fight for what it’s worth? Did we fight until there’s nothing left but to give up? Was everything so worth it baby?

Somewhere in the middle of all of that, I knew the ending already. It was when I looked at you, and you noticed that bit of a smile forming on my lips while looking at you with a sad eye. Remember those catch phrases and one-liners, the out of the blue sentences, and the snippets of a song? Darling, it was a goodbye premonition. Because somehow along the way in all those mundane and extraordinary things we do, I had that feeling, gut-wrenching feeling. We were not going to make it you and me. It was the look on your face whenever I stare into your soul. It was the panic feeling whenever I felt something different from your touch. It was like a volcano waiting to erupt, we were doomed right from the very beginning. I was there, it flashed before my eyes. In between sex, loving, fights, and kissing, I mourn. I started mourning and grieving. Remember the day you went home and you found me on your bathroom floor crying my eyes out? I told you I was just having one of my breakdowns. I didn’t tell you then, it was me saying goodbye. It was me grieving for the lost chances and the inexplicably wrong choices and I love you, I loved you, but I’m not the one who can and who will fix you. I was there crying because somehow, I’m moving on. Do you think it’s not possible? That while you were still with me, I’m learning to move forward and move on without you. That somehow, I love you and I’m starting not to.

So, when you said your first and last goodbye, it was my thousand times already. I said goodbye to you over a thousand times while I was looking at you in your boxer shorts eating a cereal. The first time I said goodbye was when you were sleeping beside me, embracing me. I stroke your face, kiss you on your forehead and your lips, you are such a heavy sleeper. I said the words “I love you so much” out loud. Then I whisper into your ears the words “I’m letting go”, “goodbye”, “I’m moving on”, and “thank you”. Haven’t you noticed that I’m letting go? Or did you just let me slip away?

So, when we stare at each other’s eyes, that one last night, you knew didn’t you? It was the end. The silent goodbye we were always making was finally having a sound, clear as the sky, bright as the city lights that capture your eyes. Reflecting everything that shines, shadowing the silhouette of me. There were tears, sobs, and soft curses. We were letting go and I was ready because I let go of you long before you knew, I let go of you already on that fateful night when I told you “I love you so much it doesn’t feel real anymore”. So, when I turned my back and you didn’t even hold me back, I was crying on my way out. I knew then that we were right in so many wrongful ways.

I want you to know that I wouldn’t want it any other way. The kind of love we had was so peaceful and so light that when I started accepting the fact that, that is all we are going to be, my heart was broken and mending and healing all at the same time. You are a rare one. It was everything I figured it would be. So full of content, silent calm love, and yet so loud with all our shattered pieces together, breaking the banalities of love that was penned over a decade ago. I was saying goodbye with every fiber of my being. You are a rare one, that goodbye is needed over a million times over, and I will say it, and I will do it again over different timelines and different lifelines.

As I was standing in front of a painting, a few weeks back before the ending, when we had our last museum date, I knew then, that someday, I will be saying my one final goodbye.

This is it, love, over a thousand goodbyes. This is it.

So long, farewell.

[oliverphisher]

Benjamin Gilmour

Benjamin Gilmour was born in Germany in 1975, but has lived most of his life in Australia where he works as an ambulance paramedic, filmmaker and writer.

Warrior Poets: Guns, movie-making and the wild west of Pakistan By Benjamin Gilmour

His first book, Warrior Poets - Guns, Movie-making and the Wild West of Pakistan, was published in 2008, based on his experiences directing the award-winning feature film Son of a Lion.

His latest book, ‘The Gap’, is published by Penguin. He lives in Northern NSW, Australia.

What are one to three books that have greatly influenced your life?

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn By Mark Twain

Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain set me on the path to adventure. I remember living in Calcutta for a couple of months in 1994 and talking to an old Aussie bloke in the Salvation Army Hostel who knew about raft building. He sketched a plan of a raft for me and when I got back to Australia I build one and drifted down a river near my parent's home in Sydney. The river even had a Mississippi-style paddle steamer on it. I was 18 years old. I read a great deal of poetry at that time, as I still do.

Thunder Road, Thunder Heart By Peter Bakowski

I remember a book of poetry Thunder Road, Thunder Heart that I picked up at nineteen, a collection by Melbourne poet Peter Bakowski. I loved his work so much I sent him one of his books via his publisher, asking for an autograph. I wondered if it was the first time he'd ever gotten such a request through the mail. In the front of the book he wrote, 'All the best with the road and the word'. I still have his poetry books and my roads and my words have come a long way.

What purchase of $100 or less has most positively impacted your life in recent memory?

I bought an Afghan knife in Jalalabad with an AK47 engraved in the blade with which I whittle sticks into boats, faces and birds for my children.

How has a failure, or apparent failure, set you up for later success? 

While shooting the feature film Jirga, we set out to make the film in Pakistan but were blocked by the secret service who would not issue permits. The faced the collapse of the project. We had a DoP flying in from Australia, an art director from London, cast booked. It all fell apart. But this resulted in us moving the shoot to Afghanistan where the film was set. Although a more dangerous environment, we did not realise at the time this was an enormous blessing. The genuine location gave us so many gifts of authenticity and meant we did not need to cheat anything. We came away with a drama film that feels as real as a documentary.

Are there any quotes you think of often or live your life by?

When you're inspired by some great purpose, some extraordinary project, all your thoughts break their bonds; your mind transcends limitations, your consciousness expands in every direction, and you find yourself in a new, great and wonderful world. All your dormant forces, faculties and talents become alive.' PATANJALI

What is one of the best investments in a writing resource you’ve ever made?

I carry black Moleskin notebooks (and a pencil) with me everywhere.

What is an unusual habit or an absurd thing that you love?

I play Indian bamboo flute to relax.

In the last five years, what new belief, behaviour, or habit has most improved your life?

That obstacles and difficulties in your work and private life are not only a natural part of your life's journey, but are part of every interesting human story. Films and novels demonstrate this, and I wonder why we expect our own lives should be so easy, why we get shocked or depressed when they are not. If you expect and accept (even embrace) struggles, then you will be calmer and more clear in getting through these challenges.

What advice would you give to a smart, driven aspiring author? 

Being smart and driven are good qualities. But there's more and it has to do with heart and honesty and having a knack with words. Be authentic, write about what you know about, find deeper meaning or something important and valuable to say, and make it accessible. It's not something I like saying or a situation I'm entirely happy with, but these days if you want to be a published author you do also have to think about what people might want to buy and read. I also aspire to write musically. If you find the music in your writing, if it reads melodically, it suddenly become more accessible and enjoyable for people. That's where reading and writing poetry first helped me get into prose later.

What are bad recommendations you hear in your profession often? 

Persist. It's a very valuable quality, but it's not enough. Persistence can end up being like banging your head on the wall.

In the last five years, what have you become better at saying no to (distractions, invitations, etc.)? 

I don't like to say 'no' to people. But I have become better at recognising that a 'good idea' is not enough to carry you through a project. I've become better at saying 'no' to myself. Now I ask myself do I have the passion to dedicate 3 - 5 years to this?

What marketing tactics should authors avoid?

None. Except those they have to pay for themselves!

What new realizations and/or approaches have helped you achieve your goals? 

People often need a 'wow' factor, be that images in your film, surprising story twists, or page turning aspects in your book. People love novelty and surprise, they love wonder. They love events and images that stick in their minds, stuff they can't forget.

When you feel overwhelmed or have lost your focus temporarily, what do you do? 

Take a deep breath and come back to the starting point. The reason you're doing this, the core element. If the motive is right and connected to your passion, then it's like checking your compass again and getting back on track. Always take that breath, stay cool, come back to your heart and think your way out of it.

________

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source https://www.thecommunitywriter.com/blog/benjamin-gilmour

[wristwatchjournal]

Hands-on – The 2020 Breguet Classique 7337 Calendar & Moon With New Dials

Earlier this year, Breguet unveiled its models for 2020 including this Classique 7337 Calendar & Moon watch. One of the main themes at Breguet for 2020 has been the introduction of blue dials in its Classique family with the 7137 Moon & Power Reserve, this 7337 Calendar & Moon and the 5377 Tourbillon Extra-Plat. Like so many Breguet watches, the 7337 was inspired by a historical pocket watch (well, in fact, two historical pocket watches) made by founder Abraham-Louis Breguet in the early 1800s. The exquisite layout of the original dial with its impeccable guillochage and the off-centred arrangement has been the muse for various iterations over the years. However, having had the privilege of a hands-on session with both the rose gold/silver dial and white gold/blue dial models of 2020, the only problem we had was deciding which one was our favourite.

Historical References

During his lifetime (1747-1823), Breguet’s innovative and highly technical mind led to the invention of the spring-gong for repeater watches, the first shock-absorber device (para-chute), the Breguet balance spring, the sympathique watch, the tact watch, and of course the tourbillon, patented on 26 June 1801. But Breguet was also famous for his aesthetic approach to watchmaking creating a new design language that eschewed the overly decorated watches of the day. Rebranded in more contemporary marketing jargon as the ‘unmistakable signs’ of a Breguet watch, features like guillochage, off-centred displays, enamel dials, caseband fluting, Breguet hands and numerals, and a host of other Breguet decorative dictates are rigorously upheld today.

Extract from the book Breguet – Art And Innovation In Watchmaking, by Emmanuel Breguet

One of the historical inspirations that is not specifically mentioned by the brand, but that we believe inspired the  7337, was the Breguet tact watch no. 4579. A delightful gold pocket watch, no. 4579 was sold to Monsieur De Roos on 1 June 1829 for the sum of 5,080 francs. (A quick search throws up the name of John Frederick Fitzgerald de Roos, a British Royal Navy commander. Was he the mystery man who bought this watch?) Displaying a moon phase indicator at noon, two lateral apertures for the day of the week and the date, a large off-centred hour ring for the hours and minutes, and even a small power reserve indicator, no. 4579 also featured Breguet’s ingeniously simple way of telling the time by touch. Using a pointer on the outside case to reproduce the position of the hour hand, the wearer could then calculate the time by counting the studs on the sides of the case. Sold from 1799 on, tact watches were sometimes known as ‘watches for the blind’ but you can imagine the utility of this system in a long-winded meeting or in a dark cabin below deck. It is a feature of elegant women and men, in order to tell the time without having to pull your watch out of its pocket.

The other pocket watch – no. 3833, sold in 1823 – is officially cited as the inspiration behind the reference 7337. It certainly displays the same layout and practically the same functionality as the current reference, but it was a half-quarter repeating watch. Whichever way, and taking into account that the power reserve indicator on the historic models was abandoned in exchange of a small seconds counter, there can be no doubt that these historic pocket watches were behind Breguet’s ref. 7337.

The 36mm Breguet Ref. 3330, the first wristwatch to reintroduce the elegant calendar & moon display seen in historical watches above. Photo by Antiquorum

Following the acquisition of the brand by Swatch Group in 1999, a wristwatch closely modelled on the above-mentioned pocket watches (and earlier models made when Breguet was owned by Investcorp) appeared in Breguet’s collection. Known as Ref. 7377, it was released in yellow, white and rose gold with silver dials. The two new 2020 models join this illustrious family displaying the subtle but effective design modifications on the dial and the novelty of a ‘Breguet blue’ dial colour. The case, the case size and even the movement are all identical to the existing models.

The modern evolution of this typically-Breguet display, with the new editions of the Classique 7337 – which includes this appealing blue model.

eccentric harmony

If you were to take all the features of the dial and lay them out on a table and then ask somebody from outside the watch industry to arrange them harmoniously, chances are you’d get a pretty ugly dial. Therein lies Abraham-Louis Breguet’s extraordinary talent for arranging disparate elements on a dial to create a harmonious effect. Instead of settling for a more conventional arrangement of peripheral hours and minutes and the phases of the moon at 6 o’clock, Breguet went for an extremely unorthodox layout.

Here, for example, you have a plump, bottom-heavy figure-eight composed of the hours and minutes chapter ring surmounted by a smaller arch-shaped moon phase indicator, exactly the same as the arrangement found on the historic pocket watches. On either side of the hour ring are two bosom-shaped apertures inclined at an angle, one at 10 o’clock for the day of the week and the other at 2 ‘clock for the date. And then there is the running seconds disc inserted inside the hour ring at an odd 5 o’clock position.  What is remarkable is just how harmonious and appealing this unconventional layout results.

The most apparent modification has taken place in the moon phase aperture at noon. The older 7377 models have a classic golden ‘Man in the Moon’ face surrounded by golden stars. The new silver embossed moon in the aperture is far more realistic. Complete with craters, the silver moon floats in a midnight blue sky punctuated with different sizes of silver stars. Another subtle modification is the use of slightly thinner, less heavy numerals on the hour ring (Roman) and the age of the moon (Arabic). The hands are classic Breguet open-tipped hands, which Breguet designed in 1783.

Guillochage

Breguet was the first watchmaker to apply guillochage to his dials and used different styles of guillochage to delineate the different functions and enhance legibility. Even without modern-day inventions like luminescent paint, you have to admit that the dials of both the 7337 watches are remarkably clear and easy to read; perhaps even more so in the blue version, which benefits from a greater contrast between the blue guilloche background and the silvered tracks.

The technique of guillochage has barely changed since Breguet’s days and guillocheurs in Breguet’s manufacture still rely on historic rose engine lathes operated by hand. You can get a feel for what this entails in our article and this short video filmed at Breguet. Starting life as a solid 18k gold blank, an engraver chisels the areas on the dial that will feature guillochage. Here you can see the central part of the dial has been decorated with a hobnail pattern (clous de Paris) while the small seconds at 5 o’clock has a chequerboard (damier) motif and the rest of the dial is engine-turned with a barleycorn pattern (grain d’orge). In addition to delineating the different functions, the guillochage provides a matte glare-free background that enhances legibility no end. Some light hand-engravings are also found next to the moon indication, which has also been updated with a realistic moon surface instead of a ‘face’ in previous editions.

The case is faithful to Breguet’s philosophy of neo-classical elegance and simplicity. Measuring 39mm across and with a height of 9.9mm, the case – in white gold or rose gold – is the essence of sobriety with a minimum of decoration, save for the hallmark fluting on the caseband.

Calibre 502

Underneath the sapphire crystal caseback is Breguet’s classic calibre 502 – in this case, the 502.3 QSE1. An ultra-thin automatic movement, the calibre has a thickness of just 3.80mm. Echoing the eccentric layout of the dial and the guillochage decoration, the rotor is also offset and decorated with guillochage. The bridges are bevelled and decorated with Geneva stripes and you can just discern the profile of the open barrel spring. Comprised of 236 components, with 35 jewels and running at a 3Hz frequency, the power reserve is 45 hours. It also features modern components like the incorporation of a silicon balance spring and a lever escapement with silicon horns.

Thoughts

Owning a Breguet Classique 7337 Calendar & Moon is like wearing a slice of history on your wrist. Practically every design detail harks back to the founder’s aesthetic dictates. What is surprising though is the timelessness of Breguet’s unusual layouts, as intriguing today as they were two hundred years ago.

While the silver dial model is classic Breguet to the core, the ‘Breguet blue’ model is even more intriguing. I know that Brice prefers the silver dial (editor’s note: I indeed prefer the silver version… but I have zero objectivity regarding this watch, being my all-time favourite Breguet watch), a colour that you won’t grow tired of in the long run, but my heart goes out for the blue dial. The crisp contrasts and the elegant shade of blue make it hyper-easy to consult and give it a more contemporary mood.

Price & Availability

Depending on the model selected, the Breguet Classique 7337 Calendar & Moon is accompanied on a blue or brown alligator strap with a folding buckle matching the case material and shaped like the brand’s logo. The price for these two new versions (7337BB/Y5/9VU, white gold and 7337BR/15/9VU, rose gold) will be EUR 41,900. Both models are now available from boutiques and selected retailers.

More details at breguet.com.

The post Hands-on – The 2020 Breguet Classique 7337 Calendar & Moon With New Dials appeared first on Wristwatch Journal.

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[kayym1593-blog]

Week 11, Chapter 9

Chapter Nine Blog

           The majority of Chapter nine touched base upon the different kinds of art present within this time frame, but I felt majority of the chapter itself revolved around the art that was Architecture, Colosseums, Buildings, and more so the relevance it held to the Ancient Rome civilization during this time frame. Although this chapter talked briefly about the background, and history of Ancient Rome, the adaptation of the laws, and the civilization as a whole, “The political genius of Rome lay in it’s ability to encompass, govern and assimilate cultures very different from its own. As time went on, Roman law made it increasingly easy for people from distant regions to attain citizenship even if they had never been to Rome. The city itself was the center of a great empire.” (Pg. 125, Para 1) I felt although it did give this brief overview and background of Rome, the majority of this chapter delved into the architecture, and very brief art of sculptures, and other art that was created within this era as well.

           I feel a majority of these chapters more so recently then not, tend to Compare Greece to Rome more so than not. “There were important differences between the Greek and Roman approaches to history, which in some sense parallel the differences in their views of art.” (Pg. 126 Para 3) Although I found that the architecture that was present during this time frame, such as the Hadrian’s villa which was “Built from A.D 118 to 138 near Tivoli which consisted of many buildings including libraries containing works in Greek and Latin, baths courtyards, temples, plazas and a theater.” (Pg. 129 Para 4). Was extraordinary and beautiful, I personally do not find myself drawn to Architecture more so then others, but as expressed prior due to the last chapter we had read, I do enjoy and rather appreciate reading about the history of, especially gaining a better insight as to how it came forth, what sparked the creation and how it ultimately was created. I do believe architecture has beauty, and is art itself. I personally just never had much of an interest in such pieces of art myself. It seems as though, within this time period a lot of these temples, and or buildings that were created, were mostly used as places of Worship for the Gods that they believed in during this time period. In a way it was kind of a shrine for these great gods, warriors, and emperors. “the apses contained statues of gods or emperors.” (Pg. 131 Para 1) I found it particularly interesting that a lot of these temples were also more so used for Court holdings, and or legal proceedings. This in itself kind of sparks that question of, did America gain majority of what we do in today’s world from Ancient Rome, or Greek? Is everything that we more so learned, and brought forth in America just a replica of what history is present during the Greek and Roman times? Because It just seems rather intriguing that majority of what I have read throughout this term, seems to be a lot of similarities with how America, our society and or are government runs things. Such as these temples specifically for court hearings etc. “Colonnades on either side of the nave provided an articulated space for socializing, people awaiting trial, and for those transacting business.” (Pg. 131 Para 2) I just find it extremely interesting that majority of what we see today, is extremely relevant and or similar to how things were back than in an entirely different country. Like is everything America has more so a clone? Just a rather interesting thought that crossed my mind during this reading.

           I also found it fairly sad that majority of these temples, such as the Forum has since been depleted, “Forum Cullum became the prototype for all later imperial forums, it must have presented a magnificent architectural spectacle but is now in ruins.” (Pg. 131, Para 2) Not only is it sad that something so unique has since decomposed among other things, It also sparks that curiosity of if something as such has since been destroyed, how in fact is any of the information or history of it truth? How does one know such history of if in fact it no longer stands? I felt that reading about all the different kinds of temples, buildings and what they were used for overall was extremely unique, and simply gives me a better idea of how and why things are the way they currently are in today’s world. It brings forth a variety of questions and then allows me to analyze and think more upon each.

           The last thing I will touch on is the Sculptures that were created during this time as well. The detail of the art itself is Extravagant. Just being able to create such beauty with such little materials is seriously amazing and inspiring to me. I really liked and admired the Young Flavian, and the Bacchus and the four seasons. Just the detail used within these sculptures themselves is remarkable. In today’s world it seems rather easy for one to “sculpt” such a piece of art, yet during this time frame, that ability to truly engrave that much detail into this stone, really is inspiring to me. I admired it deeply, and it seemed that the Rome’s did during this time frame as well. “busts were usually carved in marble, often from a wax death mask, so that even the most specific physiognomic details were preserved.” (Pg. 146, Para 1) “Deep carvings creates strong oppositions of light and dark that add to the sense of mass supported by the delicate, smoothly carved surfaces of the face and neck.” (Pg. 146. Para 1) Although majority of their sculptures were admiring the God’s and or Goddesses, I still found that they held much beauty among them.

           The Last portion of the chapter was about painting, and mosaic, “Roman murals are among the most significant legacies of the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Hundreds of wall paintings and mosaics have been discovered among the ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum. They provide the greatest evidence of Greek Hellenistic painting most of which no longer survive.” (Pg. 149, Para 3) Even though some of it holds beauty, I personally felt a lot of this art was extremely terrifying and brutal, minus the “still life, or the columns and pediment. The few art that was present within this chapter, I found extremely odd. It seemed to me as if the painters were expressing more evil than not. Which in turn makes one question why? Why was the paintings more graphic and or seemingly more “evil” then compared to some of the other pieces of art we have read about throughout this course. The first one they spoke of was the Issos Mosaic, which depicts three witches.” (Pg. 149 Para 5) It expresses within this chapter that pieces of art as such were popular in “private houses, as well as public buildings.” (Pg. 149 Para 5) But why? Like it to me isn’t even fascinating it’s rather scary actually. The second pieces is The villa of the mysterious, which “is clear that some kind of sacred ritual is taking place.” (Pg. 150, Para 1) Like how in the world is this considered art? I get it though, every culture is different, but it just seems very angry. And then makes one wonder what did many who expressed and created these paintings participate in during this era? Were there human sacrifices? Was witchcraft extremely common during this time period? Why did majority of these gods and or people drawn seem to express a heck of a lot of anger toward others? I get that Greek mythology has an array of death and majority of those during this era praised those gods, and majority of what is being painted is of a great god defeating say an evil one, yet it just seems rather dark compared to what I’ve seen in the previous chapters.

           I think this chapter held a lot of great information and expressed a lot of history upon this time frame, I personally enjoyed reading about this history more so than not.  I really think I enjoyed the sculptures the most among the rest of them.

[a-h-arts]

A Stunning Survey and Beautiful Presentation of Our Ancestors Through Their Cave Art An absolutely stunning book. The writing is not only scholarly but the photographs are beautiful. The author is an outstanding expert in this field and has had access to other experts in the field as well as access to many of the caves and sites which are now closed to the public. The text is a survey that enables to reader to have a historical trip through the grand, overawing beauty of the art expressed by our remote ancestors. This volume allows us a peek into this world and what it must have been like at times. This is a must for anyone who loves art, the role it plays in people's lives and how our remote ancestors interpreted their lives through their art and through time. Go to Amazon

an artistic cave-art book Jean Clottes's book is the ideal coffee-table book of Paleolithic cave art. The covers are an eighth of an inch thick, and the paper is about as thick as the cover on a typical mass-market paperback. The whole thing weighs four and a half pounds. There are a short introductory text followed by nearly 250 color photographs, mostly of painted or engraved art found deep in caves. The arrangement is chronological, with emphasis on Chauvet, Lascaux, and Niaux caves as representative of their periods, although many other caves are represented. Most of the photos are at least a half-page in size, and many cover a full two-page spread, which works well because the binding allows the book to open nearly flat anywhere. Each photograph is accompanied by a long paragraph of description, including a statement of scale. Still, I regret the customary lack of anything for scale in photos of Paleolithic art; reading that a bull in Lascaux is 395 centimeter long is not the same as seeing that for oneself.--Bill Mixon Go to Amazon

comprehensive, very well-illustrated This work is full, wondrously detailed, and offers a comprehensive view of the amazing art that was painted in caves across a rather discreet geographic region in France and Spain. In addition to paintings, a variety of artifacts are included as well. Go to Amazon

I mean I'm biased in describing it because I like cave paintings so much but it's a large book ... This book is a must have for anyone interested in cave paintings. I mean I'm biased in describing it because I like cave paintings so much but it's a large book with large detailed, well lit photographs on each page and it's extremely thorough. It goes through each period of art in different chapters too briefly describing what is in each photo between photo pages. Incredible book. If you like cave art or want to know more about it this is the book you want to buy. Preservation of these caves mean few people should ever go into them and this book is a perfect way to see the cave art without damaging the cave art in the caves. Go to Amazon

If you are interested in paleolithic art, this is a good book. This large book has photos of a variety of caves in France and Spain. The photos are very good, the text is well written and informative. Go to Amazon

Five Stars A great book to learn about cave art. Well written with photos Go to Amazon

The next best thing to being there. This book is the next best thing to being in the caves themselves. For those of us who long to examine this ancient, yet so modern, art without grueling travel and extraordinary difficulty, this is the best way. The photos are amazing and give us access to the expression of early human's minds. In the text, Clottes helps us to see what might be almost impossible to spot unaided. He carefully avoids drawing conclusions that are not called for and leaves us to marvel at the work and wonder at the thought behind it.  Go to Amazon

A must for anyone interested in prehistoric cave art In mid-winter I became fascinated with the prehistoric caves that were painted by early humans. I checked out what books were available at the library and bought a couple that were primarily text after watching a DVD about the Chauvet caves. I could not find a book with enough photographs of the cave art to suit my need to study the art in detail, however, until I stumbled upon this book at Amazon. It is a wonderful collection of photographs of prehistoric cave art, much of which is no longer (or was never) available for public viewing. I only wish there were more photographs of the so-called Venus statues. Even so, it's a must for anyone interested in the subject. Go to Amazon

Five Stars Five Stars Paperback is a great value, but the binding doesn't allow the pages ... Five Stars Coffee Table Book Exactly what I was looking for! A work of art Five Stars Cave Art

[shaquanm]

Paper 1:

The part in the white devil that I am finding most interesting was the fact that the economy was declining, and people were dying of illnesses. Killers were murdering people without consequences, yet higher authority wanted to commemorate the landing of Columbus in America. This puzzled me because Columbus is being celebrated for leading a civilization in America, in which is full of crime, violence and poverty. At this time, the English, who have settled and capitalized in America is nothing more than blood sucking vampires, feeding on the land and the people (including their own). The exhibits that catch my attention are The Eskimo Village,  Penobscot Indians, The Chinese Theater, The South Sea Islanders, Java’s Quaint, The Aztecs. I would love to add the Slave Trade, and when it was abolished. The connection that I can make between other books and topics is that: where there is physical power, there is greed and darkness, and where there is poverty and suffering, there is creativity and strength.

THE ESKIMO VILLAGE - In the fall of 1892, there arrived at Chicago a colony of Esquimaux, taken from a point as far south in Labrador as Esquimaux could be found, and labeled as denizens of a land as far north as could be reached. But southerners as they might be, in Labrador, it was feared they would do ill in Chicago, where great heats prevail in July; hence a whole winter was allowed to them for acclimatization. In order to give them a supposed advantage, the colonists were admitted to Jackson Park proper, where they were allowed to build a stockage and charge an admission fee. No sooner did summer appear than dissensions arose; the fur coats were thrown aside, whereas the public desired to see the customary habiliments of the North, and at last ten of the twelve tribes set up a kingdom elsewhere, claiming that they had been deceived by the contractor who had taken them from home. Our picture shows the nearly deserted settlement as it appeared after the revolt, and the northmen at the game they constantly played with "black snake" whips. One of the semi-spherical huts may be seen at the left of the native on our left, and the meager attendance of visitors is representative of the small patronage that rewarded their exhibition. Had the Esquimaux settled on Midway Plaisance and held together, their remarkable ethnological character would have received earnest public attention. 

PENOBSCOT INDIANS - The engraving represents the exhibit of four familes of Penobscot Indians, living in their birch-bark wigwams, near the Ethnological Building, under the care of Mr. H. E. Hunt, Indian agent at Oldtown, Maine. These Indians had birch-bark canoes which they paddled in the waters of the Exposition, particularly on the South Pond, near by. The birch-bark hut, on the left, was one of several belonging to the living representatives of the Iroquois who lived in Jackson Park all summer as part of New York State's exhibit. They also had bark canoes and dug-outs on the South Pond. The presence of these red men, with many others, gave to the directors of amusements an opportunity to secure impersonations of aborigines on the floats at night, and red men multiplied prodigiously after dark on festive occasions. The good behavior of these first families of North America during their residence in Chicago was the subject of universal remark, and it was learned by the whites that they have not yet secured the self-control and sense of equity which the Indians displayed on all great days. The ticket-takers averred that the Indians were best fitted to be in an assemblage like that of Chicago day, when seven hundred and fifty-one thousand people were present. To classify the American Indians, and understand them ethnologically seems a hopeless task to the layman, but those who may be interested in the Penobscots will find an article by L. Sabine, in the Christian Examiner, volume 62, pages 27 and 210. An article entitled "Ancient Penobscot, or Panawanskek," is in the Historical Magazine, volume 21, page 85.

THE CHINESE THEATRE - Although a considerable distance from the western gate, this structure was the most noticeable object on the north side of Midway Plaisance, going in. Its color was blue, its trimmings were reddish, and its architecture was too open and too evidently ornamental to please the Western taste. The Wah Mee Exposition Company was organized by a Chinaman named Sling, who came from Ogden, Utah. The fact that Chicago carpenters built this temple may account for the somewhat angular appearance of the principal towers, and the early bankruptcy of the Wah Mee Company suggested either the prejudice of Americans against the Chinese, or their lack of the qualities of entertainment. As the Receiver continued in business, it is probable that the patronage of the last months of the Fair was more satisfactory. A large troupe of actors played a drama called "A God in Heaven," with Joss and other idols on the stage. Men impersonated female parts, as in the early days of our own drama. A perfectly hideous noise made on a great brazen gong rendered the stay of a Caucasian terrible in these precincts, and probably ruined the commercial prospects of the enterprise. In the bazaar, entrance to which was free, a very wise Chinaman, with huge and mirth-provoking spectacles, told fortunes to an admiring circle of men, women and children. The wise man had an interpreter, who read and explained the prophetic writings.

THE SOUTH SEA ISLANDERS - Opposite the Javanese Settlement, at Madison avenue, on Midway Plaisance, was the rude theatre and village of the Samoan and Wallis Islanders, and these were the best physical specimens of manhood offered by the World's Fair. The engraving shows five of the men seated for a song. Their Kava-house is in the background. The Samoans were the most industrious entertainers on the Plaisance. On a high platform overlooking the street were two hollow logs. Two men usually belabored these logs in the name of music, and as there was much rhythm and some variation of sound, this music, like that of the Turks, would soon take possession of the mind. Forming in single procession, the villagers would march out of their front gate and by semi-circle into their theatre, enticing a dozen, a score, or a hundred of followers at a fee of twenty-five cents. This march would be repeated while the audience waited, and when a sufficient "house" was obtained the four dances and songs which comprised the programme would be given with ardor and realistic effect. The engraving shows their costume. Their skins were of a bright yellow, well oiled. They were not Kanaks, and were superior in all ways to that great but unhappy tribe of men. There were four women and a little girl, who were dressed in the latest American fashion. The dances were quite remarkable, showing unity, skill, and ingenuity. 

  JAVA'S QUAINT EXHIBIT - The exhibit which is portrayed in the engraving was placed in the east gallery of the Agricultural Building, and it was by covering a window and creating this artistic typanum that the picturesque effect was produced. While it might be thought that this was an out-of-the-way nook, and that few would care to note the quaint and modest display of the humble Javanese, still enough millions came that way to entirely destroy the matting, which, as may be seen in the picture, was beginning to give away when this scene was perpetuated by the camera. On the central show case was the model of a Javanese bridge, made after the fashion of Javanese engineering without nails, screws or mortises, but by merely lashing the timbers together. Here the principles of the truss and arch are demonstrated. The Japanese operate in a similar way. The show case contained bunches of grass and tea, for the Javanese, like the people of Ceylon, while famous as coffee makers, are most desirous to secure some of the tea trade which China and Japan enjoy. The glass jars contained samples of tea or coffee in the leaf or berry. The scene in the center of the tympanum is an English painting of a Javanese landscape, while the low estate of native art may be noted in the rude carvings and paintings which are seen at the sides. THE AZTECS - Between the Scenic Theatre and the Illinois Central Railroad viaduct, on the north side of Midway Plaisance, during the last sixty days of the Fair, a band of Mexican Indians was settled behind the structure which is here portrayed, and for the sum of ten cents the visitor might enter. The sign reads: "The Aztec's Village. Alive and on exhibition here. Original home-life and industries. Weavers and metal workers; sports, pastimes and ceremonies; singing and dancing." The people in the photograph are going westward, and the entertainment is not open. It was never a successful enterprise, following, in this respect, the history of other far Southwestern exhibitors that have come to Chicago. Lieutenant Schwatka's Cliff-Dwellers, the original Moquis, utterly failed to arouse either scientific or lay attention, when shown in the Owings Building, several years ago, and the poor creatures endured extraordinary privations before they reached their own country again. There was some doubt, too, in the public mind as to the genuineness of the Midway Aztecs. Their serapes were said to have been made in Germany. Their booths were filled with trinkets, however, and if general knowledge of Mexican aborigines had been greater, a good trade might have gone on, for the Midway was crowded. There are so many different tribes of Indians in Mexico that only such scholars as Prof. Powell can even name them.

[imaginarydaydreams]

All that Glitters Turns to Tarnished Gold

Concept: “They say that one’s eyes are a window to the soul. But what happens when someone tries to change the color of their own?” Character study and backstory of Custom MC Yukari Jang. Date Written: 1/30/17 Thoughts: I always think about how all of the Cheritz heroines have golden eyes, as well as the profile picture MC 1 having semi-golden eyes. It fits in with the story I created for Yukari, and yet…I still feel conflicted.

They say that one’s eyes are a window into one’s soul. That was what Yukari’s parents told her. They had said that a person’s eyes shine with all the colors of that person’s soul, painting the landscape with splashes of the various tints and shades reflected on the surface. According to her parents, there were five main types of eye and soul colors. People with blue eyes saw the world clearly, as if looking upon the calm, reflected surface of a lake at the mere hours of dawn, when life remains still asleep and tranquility fills the silence left in the gaps. Those with red eyes hid a passionate flame behind those fiery irises, lit with the talents and determination that burned through the very core of their being, ever confident in their abilities to be the best in their fields. Ones with green eyes weaved together the tales whispered to them upon the winds, words of freedom laced through their words, the magic of fairies and magicians dancing behind their mischievous naivety. Individuals with hazel eyes always watched reality pass by through a multifaceted spectrum; the light of the world shone through the kaleidoscope of their eyes, an array of colors bouncing off one another to create a beautiful work of art sparkling behind their irises. And lastly, those with deep, dark eyes—as deep as the night sky—pierced straight through the souls of others. Their eyes bore directly into their very core, pulling out the secrets hidden deep within and dragging them to the surface. But their eyes also shone with a special type of warmth hidden underneath, one that spoke of the subtle serenity lingering in the darkness of the night. However, there were always a few select people who are born with rare eye colors, colors that went against what was considered normal. Most people feared and scorned those people, believing them to be an ill omen sent from the universe. Yet, it was quite the opposite. These people, with their “unnatural” colors, were innovative; their reality glittered with the colors of a completely new astral plane, separate from the rest of the world and, because of that, they were always ready to challenge the norms and eager to recreate the world to include their colors. Yukari’s parents had taught her at a young age that her soul was rare—the color of her soul was inherited from a long line of unique artisans who entertained the world with their special talents and arts. And, as such, she bore an extremely unique eye color to reflect that. Her eyes sparkled bright like the sun, flecks of precious golds glittering on the surface as they stared out into her surroundings. They took in everything—the flowers blooming in the spring, the gentle smiles that echoed the love and warmth of her family, the gleaming stars that came to visit her windowsill at midnight—using these varied images to sculpt the world into a mirror of the one resonating within those deep pools of sunlight.  This was evident in the colored paints that decorated her canvases and the words that flew past her fingertips, recreating her daydreams in real time. Already at such a young age, she was demonstrating the extent of her unique soul, sharing with the world the reality that she saw through her own eyes. It was then that her parents knew. Though this rare eye color hadn’t been seen in the family line in quite a long time—the last known Jang with golden eyes had been born in a time lost to the ages—Yukari surely was blessed by their ancestors. They would have been so proud of their great-granddaughter. This raw, natural talent of hers would surely take her far in life, allowing her to easily capture the hearts of those that even so much as glanced at these beautiful masterpieces.

Much like herself, Yukari’s siblings were extremely talented in their own regard. Like her, they also showcased extraordinary abilities in varied disciplines. Yukito, her older brother, showed amazing perception and extreme attention to detail. His skills with a camera rivaled that of their mother’s, a world-famous freelance photographer. Her younger twin sister, Yumeko, although completely different from the rest of the family, demonstrated an uncanny love and skill for computer programming. And much like with Yukari, her parents showed nothing but encouragement and love for their children, guiding them to further pursue their goals. And it was soon that the young Jang siblings’ talents caught the attention of the world. Yet, with every blessing resides a double-edged curse. Due to the vast fame that encased the family name, Yukari and her siblings were always forced into the spotlight. Everyone’s eyes were on them—whether for better or for worse. Everyone was interested in the genius that again emerged as per the Jang name. Their parents tried to protect them, make sure that they could live semi-normal childhoods, going so far as to making sure that their appearances were obscured so that no one could ever recognize them randomly on the streets and harass them. However, that never stopped those that endlessly searched and searched for any bits and scraps of information on the young protégés. That didn’t stop some people from finding out about Yukari’s rather unique eye color. Tabloids practically wrote themselves, debating the poor young girl’s “true heritage” and how there was no possible way that Yukari was truly part of her own family. Others spouted venom-laced rhetoric about how Yukari Jang’s “abnormal eye color meant ill tidings.” Ha-Yun and Min-Jun Jang had done nothing but raise Yukari in an environment of love and protection, and they would be damned if they allowed these people to break their little girl. And protect Yukari they did. Her mother and father shielded her away from those papers that printed nothing but lies. They refused to throw a bone to these lowly beings that would try and harm their children—a child—in any way. As a result, the bright golden eyes of their second youngest child still sparkled under the light of the sun, her worldview still tinted in blissful ignorance. That soon changed when Yukari entered the second grade. She could still remember every detail of that day. How could she not? Those thoughts pervaded her mind so often that they practically engraved themselves on the back of her eyelids. The quiet stares of the other children trained upon Yukari unnerved her as she was gently ushered into the classroom by the teacher. Her eyes flittered around nervously, glancing to and fro from the door to the various vibrantly-colored decorations strung along the walls. After years of her young life spent travelling, the Jangs finally returned to their home country of South Korea. Her parents had told her that it would be good to make friends; although they enjoyed hearing tales about the newest thing that their clients had taught the Jang children, it would be nice for them to have friends their own ages. As such, they were enrolled in the best schools, close to their home at the center of Seoul. And that’s where young Yukari Jang found herself: standing at the front of a classroom full of strangers, who did nothing but stare blankly at her. The teacher bent down to give the small girl a reassuring squeeze of her arm and a soft smile. His nature coincided with the tales that Yukari’s parents ingrained into her and her siblings. She took comfort in that, returning his kindness with a bright grin befitting of those glittering golden suns. The teacher nodded before standing and turning towards the class, loud but kind voice echoing off the walls. “Class, we have a new student joining us today,” he began, smiling again at Yukari before moving his gaze back to the other students. “This is Yukari Jang. I’m sure you or your parents know about her and her family; she comes from a family of extremely talented artists who travel the world.” Everyone’s eyes lit up at those words. “They just moved back to Korea from—” He turned to look back at Yukari—“where did you say your family moved here from, Yukari?” Yukari looked around at the kids focusing their gazes on her. They were so intense. “My family and I just came back from America,” she mumbled, shifting her weight. Their gazes were so intense. “Everyone was nice there.” “I see,” the teacher said, acknowledging that last statement. “Well, I’m sure you’re happy to be back in Korea. You might need to teach us about the countries that you’ve visited.” He gave a mirthful chuckle before continuing, “And we’ll make sure that you’re treated just like you were while your family was in America. Won’t we, class?” A cheerful “yes, sir!” reverberated through the air, blank stares turning to joyful grins. Maybe this wouldn’t be as bad as Yukari thought— “Why are her eyes weird-looking?” The question hung in the air as a boy sitting in the back stood up from his seat. Yukari froze; her eyes were…weird-looking? Her mind raced back to the descriptions given to her by her parents about the different eye colors. None of them ever talked about someone’s soul being “weird-looking.” The boy advanced to the front of the classroom, standing next to Yukari and giving her an once-over. The others only looked on curiously. He turned towards the teacher, repeating the same question. “Teacher, why are her eyes weird-looking? And how do you know she’s really famous? My mom and dad talk about the Jang family all the time and they’re always saying how their daughter, Yukari, couldn’t be part of the family since her eyes are weird-looking.” He turned back towards Yukari. “My parents also told me that no one could have been born with that kind of eye color; it’s too uncommon. And if they are, it means something bad’s gonna happen.” Yukari could only stare in shock at this boy’s hurtful statements. But she couldn’t tell what hurt more; those words that pierced painfully through her heart? Or the fear and scorn that quickly replaced the kindness previously reflected in her classmates’ eyes? From then on, Yukari’s entire world flipped upside down. Everyone treated her like the plague, avoiding and scorning her despite the teachers’ firm request to be kind to her. No one heeded their words though; they were too caught up “trying not to get cursed by the weird-eyed girl!” They always picked on her, refused to play with her, refused to even let her help with group projects—they kept hating her even more whenever she would get perfect grades on the art assignments, saying that she was just using her fake parents’ talents. Yukito and Yumeko were the first to find out about the bullying. Sometimes Yukari would just stand there and take the insults, bottling up the sadness deep within her. Sometimes Yumeko would beat up the kids that made her twin cry, glaring at anyone around them, challenging them to lay a finger on Yukari. And other times, Yukito would have to walk his sisters to school in order to protect them from any harassment lest Yukari come back home with her pigtails tied together again. Eventually their mother and father found out about the bullying, pulling all three children from the school and enrolling them in a new one. Yet the same thing happened again. And again. And again. And again. This continued for a short while before Ha-Yun and Min-Jun decided to have their children privately taught. However, the damage was done. Despite her parents and siblings vehemently trying to convince Yukari that the others didn’t see what they saw, the damage was already done. No longer did Yukari Jang believe in the tales of the souls. No longer did Yukari Jang believe in the tales of unique innovators marked by rare souls as per their supposed “unique” eye colors. No longer did Yukari Jang believe that her eyes were a blessing from her ancestors, as her parents had always told her. Instead, she viewed them as a curse, silently hating them as she tossed and turned at night, hateful voices filling her dreams for years to come.

Yukari stood before the mirror of her apartment, staring into those cursed golden eyes that had plagued her for her entire life. Nothing reflected upon the surface, not like it had before all those years ago. Instead, she was met with the dulled glassy sheen more fitting of her mood. Her hand moved towards the cabinet to her right, sifting through miscellaneous bottles of medication and beauty supplies before pulling out a small blue case. She eyed it carefully, almost as if wary of its contents and hesitant about whatever came next. A heavy sigh left her mouth as she pulled the contacts out from their case. A hand moved to her face, two fingers keeping her eye firmly opened while the other placed the contact onto the surface. Suddenly, the gold disappeared, replaced by the dark, dark brown that matched the rest of her relatives. “Mother, Father,” she said aloud to herself, moving her hands to place the other contact in the opposite eye. She looked back up at the mirror, staring at the now-deep brown eyes that stared back. “I know that you told me before that there are people born in this world with the power to invent a new world view.” She placed her contacts case back on the shelf, moving to grab her purse hanging from her bedside table. “But,” she said, walking towards the door to her room. She took one long glance back at her reflection before sighing and turning off the lights. “How can those innovators ever change when all everyone does is turn what once glittered into tarnished gold?”  

[oliverphisher]

Benjamin Gilmour

Benjamin Gilmour was born in Germany in 1975, but has lived most of his life in Australia where he works as an ambulance paramedic, filmmaker and writer.

His first book, Warrior Poets - Guns, Movie-making and the Wild West of Pakistan, was published in 2008, based on his experiences directing the award-winning feature film Son of a Lion.

His latest book, ‘The Gap’, is published by Penguin. He lives in Northern NSW, Australia.

What are one to three books that have greatly influenced your life?

Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain set me on the path to adventure. I remember living in Calcutta for a couple of months in 1994 and talking to an old Aussie bloke in the Salvation Army Hostel who knew about raft building. He sketched a plan of a raft for me and when I got back to Australia I build one and drifted down a river near my parent's home in Sydney. The river even had a Mississippi-style paddle steamer on it. I was 18 years old. I read a great deal of poetry at that time, as I still do.

I remember a book of poetry Thunder Road, Thunder Heart that I picked up at nineteen, a collection by Melbourne poet Peter Bakowski. I loved his work so much I sent him one of his books via his publisher, asking for an autograph. I wondered if it was the first time he'd ever gotten such a request through the mail. In the front of the book he wrote, 'All the best with the road and the word'. I still have his poetry books and my roads and my words have come a long way.

What purchase of $100 or less has most positively impacted your life in recent memory?

I bought an Afghan knife in Jalalabad with an AK47 engraved in the blade with which I whittle sticks into boats, faces and birds for my children.

How has a failure, or apparent failure, set you up for later success? 

While shooting the feature film Jirga, we set out to make the film in Pakistan but were blocked by the secret service who would not issue permits. The faced the collapse of the project. We had a DoP flying in from Australia, an art director from London, cast booked. It all fell apart. But this resulted in us moving the shoot to Afghanistan where the film was set. Although a more dangerous environment, we did not realise at the time this was an enormous blessing. The genuine location gave us so many gifts of authenticity and meant we did not need to cheat anything. We came away with a drama film that feels as real as a documentary.

Are there any quotes you think of often or live your life by?

When you're inspired by some great purpose, some extraordinary project, all your thoughts break their bonds; your mind transcends limitations, your consciousness expands in every direction, and you find yourself in a new, great and wonderful world. All your dormant forces, faculties and talents become alive.' PATANJALI

What is one of the best investments in a writing resource you’ve ever made?

I carry black Moleskin notebooks (and a pencil) with me everywhere.

What is an unusual habit or an absurd thing that you love?

I play Indian bamboo flute to relax.

In the last five years, what new belief, behaviour, or habit has most improved your life?

That obstacles and difficulties in your work and private life are not only a natural part of your life's journey, but are part of every interesting human story. Films and novels demonstrate this, and I wonder why we expect our own lives should be so easy, why we get shocked or depressed when they are not. If you expect and accept (even embrace) struggles, then you will be calmer and more clear in getting through these challenges.

What advice would you give to a smart, driven aspiring author? 

Being smart and driven are good qualities. But there's more and it has to do with heart and honesty and having a knack with words. Be authentic, write about what you know about, find deeper meaning or something important and valuable to say, and make it accessible. It's not something I like saying or a situation I'm entirely happy with, but these days if you want to be a published author you do also have to think about what people might want to buy and read. I also aspire to write musically. If you find the music in your writing, if it reads melodically, it suddenly become more accessible and enjoyable for people. That's where reading and writing poetry first helped me get into prose later.

What are bad recommendations you hear in your profession often? 

Persist. It's a very valuable quality, but it's not enough. Persistence can end up being like banging your head on the wall.

In the last five years, what have you become better at saying no to (distractions, invitations, etc.)? 

I don't like to say 'no' to people. But I have become better at recognising that a 'good idea' is not enough to carry you through a project. I've become better at saying 'no' to myself. Now I ask myself do I have the passion to dedicate 3 - 5 years to this?

What marketing tactics should authors avoid?

None. Except those they have to pay for themselves!

What new realizations and/or approaches have helped you achieve your goals? 

People often need a 'wow' factor, be that images in your film, surprising story twists, or page turning aspects in your book. People love novelty and surprise, they love wonder. They love events and images that stick in their minds, stuff they can't forget.

When you feel overwhelmed or have lost your focus temporarily, what do you do? 

Take a deep breath and come back to the starting point. The reason you're doing this, the core element. If the motive is right and connected to your passion, then it's like checking your compass again and getting back on track. Always take that breath, stay cool, come back to your heart and think your way out of it.

________

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