#the rodrigo stans are the ones that are living i'm sure

[ducavalentinos]

☕ Borgia historiography nowadays

Hm, it’s pretty messy?? lol.But we should take into consideration that the Borgia family’s name has been vilified for centuries (their enemies created a strong and effective propaganda against them that lives on until today) and a re-evaluation of their lives, and of Alexander VI’s papacy only really begun in the 18th/19th century as far as I’m aware, which it’s relatively new if you think about it. So it’s not exactly suprising that is it the mess it is.I think many of the scholars/historians have good intentions you know, but others just want to sell their books. But in both cases, they do end up repeating the same informations/rumors without any kind of examination of the sources. And they are all very passionate about the subject, which I completely understand. But like if you are writing a book about people that actually lived, you do have a responsability there, and you should at least try to be fair and honest and have a sort of balance with all of them? And in my opinion that seldom happens. They all have their different agendas, different narratives they want the readers to buy into to, and different “ships” ( Bradford is a hardcore Cesare and Lucrezia shipper and Sabatini is a hardcore Cesare and Charlotte shipper for example.) So any kind of a real, serious study gets lost in all of this. They are also particularly keen on saying their opinions as facts, with a tone of how it is the truth, and appealing a lot to how the person felt and it irks me to no ends. For example Chamberlin saying that if there was one person in all of Rome that knew Cesare had killed Juan, that person was Lucrezia??? And that she feared Cesare from that point on??? I mean��what am I supposed to do with this? Should I conclude that he has Lucrezia’s secret journal? Wouldn’t it be easier if he had said: It is our opinion that Lucrezia could have suspected him and feared him for that point on? Even though there is zero evidence for him to make that assumption, I could accept that. At least it would more honest.So all in all, these are some of the problems I notice with Borgia historiography nowdays, don’t get me wrong, it’s definitely better than it was before, but I believe there’s still a long way to go. I think most Borgia scholars are better writers than they are historians, at least with the Borgias. Their writing is engaging and entertaining, yes, but they do seem to lack substance most of the time. Obviously you can and will learn a lot about the family, I did and I don’t regret reading any bios, but you cannot trust their word alone and take everything they say at face value, and google is your friend here. Also a notepad at your side to write things down is always welcoming. It was and it is what saves me from this wild maze of informations Vs.opinions and all the different theories.Send me a ☕️ and a topic and I’ll talk about how I feel about it lol

[love-letters-to-tooru]

If you're here, WELCOME!

You can call me Kaashi (hii)

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I'm a minor, so please no weird stuff

I got into anime pretty recently (think September 2021) so if you have any suggestions I would love to hear them <3

I'm an avid reader, so if you want to talk about books instead, feel completely free to message me about that too! On a side note I do have a personal blog about everything I’m into so a) I'll probably reply faster there b) It'll help make sure this blog isn't too crowded so feel free to follow it @kaashi-and-her-nine-lives

I'm also a major swiftie , takes a deep breath so if you want to geek over that with me, you are again, more than welcome to!

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Animes I've watched (shows only)

Yuri on Ice (this is what got me into anime)

Haikyuu! (obviously)

Balance Unlimited (Haru >>>> Daisuke)

Banana Fish (just pure pain I'm telling you)

Violet Evergarden

Spy x Family (current obsession)

Animes I'm currently watching (please no spoilers) (shows only)

Given (episode 6)

Kuroko No Basket (season 2, episode 18)

Jujitsu Kaisen (episode 1)

Sk8 the Infinty (episode 1)

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Books/Series to I'd love to talk about (if you don't see a book or series here, just ask I've probably read it as I read a lot + if not I'll gladly read it if it seems like my type of book)

Six of Crows/Shadow and Bone (Nikolai the apple of my eye, the medicine to my pain, the reason for my existence - I have a whole Pinterest board just for you)

The Seven Husband's of Evelyn Hugo

The Cruel Prince (Jude babe I love you)

A Thousand Splendid Suns

Red Queen

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Artists I listen to in no specific order (if you bully my music taste I will block you I swear)

Taylor Swift (you'll have to notice as I'll make lots of references to her + lots of Haikyuu! x Taylor Swift posts)

Marina and the Diamonds (what kind of Oikawa stan doesn’t lmao)

Mitski

Girl in Red

Olivia Rodrigo (how could I possibly not)

Chase Atlantic (total 180 from the artists I just mentioned, I know)

The Neighborhood

Doja Cat (just pure adoration for her music)

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Random stuff about me

I really like learning languages and want to learn Japanese and Spanish at one point

My biggest fear is drowning - although the college applications looming over my head and my classmates are also strong contenders

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If you're still reading this thank you!!

Lots of love, Kaashi

[topconfessions]

I agree with everything you said in the Normani ask! Lsa is mostly darkskin black women so I strongly assume that they live through Normani and see every type of criticism as a direct insult to themselves. I know it sucks, that there aren't any darkskin mainstream female singers, but Normani truly isn't it. She's so boring and her eyes look so hopeless. There's truly nothing wrong with not being a big superstar. They're defending a pretty multi-millionair who doesn't know them, as if their lives is depending on it lmao. And the song was bad, I don't understand the Du du du part. It's just another mediocre sex song. The Aaliyah sample, which they claim is a coincidence, was so badly embedded and everyone can tell, its One in a Million. But most of LSA are just trying to guilt trip everyone into agreeing with them, bc no one wants to be labelled a colorist or racist. I wish they'd come out of their forever-a-victim-shell, not all criticism that goes to her is a direct take on her skin color or race ffs. And I've only seen a handful of posts that have mentioned that she's not pretty in the face, never the skin color. And 98% of the criticism are about the lackluster song and that her fans are annoying lol. But the oversexualization of black women has desensitized me that it doesn't even bother me anymore. But I honestly liked Motivation, I hoped she would have gone the pop route because her voice would've meshed with the upbeat melody, so it wouldn't stand out so much, that her vocals aren't the best. And agree, Chloe also shows wayyyy too much ass. Both of them and Saweetie, are trying to be a persona, that they don't feel comfy with and you can clearly tell. I also thought Doja Cat would be the breakout star after Say So, but her album kinda tanked besides Kiss Me More, Ain't Shit and Woman I think. Those are the sounds that are very popular on Tik Tok rn. She is indeed really really weird. Idk if you saw it but I was so putt off after she posted that pic of her on the toilet naked on twitter, with the pad stuck in her underwear. I get that people now do the most; to get a buzz reaction from stans but after some time people won't react anymore, even if you show your cooch lmao. I'm still waiting, if she truly did peak with Say So. I have hopes on Halle Bailey, when the little mermaid comes out, because her and Chloe sing like angels but I'm not sure because there were soooo many racist Disney adults and they make up the majority of Disney consumers and they'll probably force their kids to not watch it. They won't tune in for a black mermaid, even though it literally won't change the fucking story lmao. I'm just worried that if she doesn't act good she'll be demonized. She also has a too unique look so I don't know if many people would be for that, many superstars are somehow conventionally attractive and uet very unique. I also don't get the point of live actions movies but whatever lol. But she also shows a lot of skin, it just doesn't get the press talking bc she's not as thick as Chloe. The decade has only begun, but I'm kinda hoping for a wholesome black woman. If Taylor Swift never has to show ass, I don't see why we can't have a cute black girl-next-door-superstar. I also have my theory that, if she exists, when shows up, she's going to be like the Rodrigo girl, a 'unique' sound and no one has ever heard of her (minus the industry plant part lol). LSA really wants the next superstar to show up already, with the many posts about Normani, Megan, Doja, Chloe and who ever else and trying to push them into superstardom already. What most don't get is, while they may be popular in the US, most of the time the rest of the world doesn't know who they are.

Exactly 10000% agree with you and tbh over there it does feel like they take disagreements with Normani as hate on themselves. I'm like Gina from Martin complexion so I can't relate to them and this entire thing with Norm.

Also y'all will kick my ass but honestly.. Unpopular opinion here, my own confession:

I really feel like Normani had more personality and soul as a person when she was in 5th harmony as well as when she was allowing her dislike for Camilla to show. LSA always spins it as Camilla bullying Normani and the group but it was equally messy in my eyes. Ironically look who went on to be a star first and isn't struggling with a boredom management crisis. But this will be equated to Camilla getting everything the way she did cause of her ethnic background etc. Camilla is on the chill out rn and Normani is having her moment but I would pay to go see Cam before Normani sadly and Normani is more talented than Cam. And yes not everybody needs to be a world star mega star.

Is it just me or is the American market very strange these days? So much narrow competition to be a BIG thing like damn can't y'all be okay with just a career and being in the game? Cause to me feel it feels like that after the 2000s it's just narrow now. Normani wouldn't have even been a star in the 2000s honestly cause she lacks that much personality and only ones who go for her are the ones who are invested in her beyond the music who are pushing her to win. But she deserved a shot at making it but I feel she is better off as a dancer.

Right. Tbh say so was enough for Doja to be known internationally cause it got turned into a Japanese version and I think she doesn't realize there is untapped potential there cause say so did sound like a kpop female idol solo song no cap. She has crossover potential but not well traveled and smart enough to realize and utilize that. There just aren't any smart girls that can do it hell none of them have the wits to do it. Meg is cool in general but she won't be it cause she does not have mass appeal out of America. I'm sure if she did a world tour it would sell of course but honestly her music is niche to the world and not every black person who isnt an African American is dying for a BBL large butt I'll make a man nut in 5 secs bad bitch savage aesthetic. It's tired already and meant more when Lil Kim and Nicki did it. Chloe x Halle are nobodies beyond that on a national scale outside of Western market although of course they have overseas listeners maybe. They all carry themselves and behave like they aren't going anywhere in life beyond America. This is why Beyonce and Michael Jackson are goats cause they had mass appeal. Also none of them followed beyonce formula and stuck to teetering on white aesthetics with the constant variations of blonde hair to the point you'd assume she was born with blonde hair and keeping her skin complexion light at times when it benefited her. A

And yes the next superstar may an Olivia type. Ella Mai and Jhene Aiko give me those vibes but Jhene fell off and Ella is still doing her. And that's the major divider and difference. A lot of white artist don't have get naked and sing about sex 24/7 to make it yet we keep falling behind cause our own resort to this 24/7 as their main sound and wonder why in regular life black women are always seen as a "fetish"