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yuneu · 1 month ago

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Hey youu<33

Yes, I'm Italian. With a very flavoured and spicy side of German and Polish genes :) But yeah I'm Italian.

I would love to encourage you but unfortunately what you said is true, the education system sucks and is indeed very confusing, as it changes its rules every school year, sometimes even during the school year itself, and more than once. My mom works in special education and OMG I've seen her through her many breakdowns because of that. Let's just say, we still have a fascism-oriented school system, unfortunately. But no one seems to care about it, except for way too little teachers and the way-too-many students whose mental health is permanently damaged by it. And this ain't that helpful. I don't mean to sound diminishing, but lately things have been worse and worse here :/

Beside that, I love living in Italy. What I love is literally all the history. Culture. Art. Literature. Years-long traditions. I'm in love with my country when it comes to humanities. I'm just not so in love anymore when it comes to modern humans, instead, though :)

OMG please we're so connected on the holiday thing!!!! We watch ET some unspecified time between Christmas and New Year's Day, too. For no reason at all. IM SO LAUGHING AT THIS. IT'S FUNNYYY

OMG your mug!!!!! Need one. Will find one. Will buy one. The Comfort™️

Your taste in music? So me-coded!!! I literally grew up with my grandparents' love for some good ol' classic Italian singer-songwriters, a heavy-metal father, a Wham! mother, and classical musicians as my uncles. I go from Taylor Swift to Bach to David Bowie to Leonard Cohen to Judy Garland to Iron Maiden to Stravinskij to Katy Perry to Vivaldi to Bob Marley to Kiss to George Michael to Bon Jovi to Metallica to Pavarotti to Frank Sinatra to Queen to Gracie Abrams to Einaudi to Elton John WAY TOO EASILY lol (I am very sane, I promise. Well, kind of)

Wow you sound like my parents' idea of their perfect daughter in their wildest dreams!! LMAOOO my mom is CRAZY about figure skating!!! She loves it sosososoooo much. Unfortunately, it was way too warm in her (and my) hometown for it being an actual thing, so she never got to try it. But her eyes literally sparkle when she sees any figure skating performance. And I sometimes watch some of them with her. I'm not a huge fan like I know names or technicalities, but I do enjoy watching it very much. While my dad is a HUGE f1 fan! But this one, I don't enjoy at all :/ I love athletics though! I really do! I always watch it and follow it a lot. It's actually a family thing LOL cuz my dad used to do it. Besides that, I'm not really into other sports. Neither watching or practicing. I tried out some volleyball, basketball, football/soccer (you know, the Italian one LOL), swimming, yoga, and even ballet. I'd just always get too bored LMAO The longest I stuck with would be swimming and yoga, though. What about you? Do you do any sports?

New questions: fav fruit? Fav food? Fav solo activity? Fav group activity? Do you have any hobbies?

Talk to you soon, have a good night.

— Your Deer Santa 🦌🎅☃️

PS: rereading this, it's so emoji-less. Pretend there's some weird emojis scattered throughout the boring words LOL

hi darling!!!

i get that. my high school italian professor used to teach in italy and had Complaints(TM) about the syllabus lmao. she made a point to teach us, in france, both the beautiful and not so beautiful aspects of past and modern italy. i still love it a lot and i have hope that once miss wannabe mussolini is out of here, there will be easier times for education and for italians in general :) tbf you’ve got one of the most complex histories AND are one of the most consistently resilient european people so that’s good to keep in mind!!!! (me vs my unyielding faith in humans & education)

hahahaha i love a girl with an eclectic music taste!! yas!!! italy has some of the best classical music, you’re so lucky to be able to just Understand what they’re saying in operas 😭 it took me so long to be able to listen to turandot and understand what’s being said lmaoo

you have the COOLEST parents omg. my mom did 17 years of ballet but never really made me watch it haha

and that’s so fun, i love watching athletics too though i SUCK major ass at it 😭 i used to do triple jump and loved it but never managed to get far cause im a hobbit. i did some basketball but i also sucked at it (i mean i am 4’11…. but no one wanted to Tell Me and ruin my dreams lmaoo) and then i did some dancing, which i liked but gave up after like a year cause idk reasons i guess 🤷🏻‍♀️ mostly lately as far as sports go i mostly just do some light hiking and a bit of weightlifting with my friend (cause im Not paying for a gym subscription lol)

fav fruit: it’s always been between raspberries and nectarines! i love refreshing fruits tbh

fav food: that’s such a GOOD question tbh. in true french fashion i am inclined to say just like… cheese lmao 😭 but i love anything italian (polenta >>>). my favorite *dish* is probably turkey escalopes à la normande. i grew up with it and it just stuck lol

fav solo activity: im gonna be a basic bitch and say probably writing. i just love sitting down and typing away, any kind of stuff from stories to essays and dissertations (especiallyyyyy when there’s no academic stake lmaoo). i also rather enjoy cleaning and organizing lmao, my apartment is always so neat (except for Thag One Chair. you know what i mean right. the sacred messy chair)

fav group activity: shopping 😭 world’s most basic bitch known to man! it’s so much fun to just wander around stores with friends tbh even when we don’t buy anything. i would love to go karting in group though, i feel like that’d be my favorite thing ever if only there were karting places around here :’)

hobbies: my current favorite is bracelet making lol, ive learned to do fun things with little beads so i love doing it while watching stupid tv. ive also gotten into bookbinding recently!!! im putting together my first project (rn im planning to bind ‘the knight of the cart’ and ‘le città invisibili’ by italo calvino!!)

what about you?? tell me all!!!!!!!

#❤️🩷❤️🩷❤️#🎅🏻

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adcliq · 3 months ago

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katejyublog · 6 months ago

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How to Choose The Right Summer Camp For Your Child in Dublin

1. Identify Your Child’s Interests- Understanding your child’s interests is the first step in choosing the right summer camp. Take time to observe what activities they naturally gravitate towards and ask them about their preferences. Do they get excited about sports, arts and crafts, nature exploration, or science projects? Knowing what your child enjoys can help you select a camp that aligns with their passions, making the experience both enjoyable and enriching.

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2. Consider The Camp’s Philosophy And Values- When selecting a summer camp, ensure its philosophy and values align with your own. Yang Fan Academy, for instance, focuses on holistic development, nurturing not just academic skills but also social, emotional, and physical growth. This balanced approach ensures a supportive environment where children thrive in all aspects of their development.

At Yang Fan Academy, activities are designed to challenge and stimulate the mind, body, and spirit, promoting well-rounded growth. Academic sessions enhance intellectual skills, sports activities improve physical fitness, and social interactions build communication and empathy. This nurturing environment encourages children to explore new interests, build confidence, and develop meaningful relationships, fostering a balanced and enriching camp experience.

3. Evaluate The Camp’s Programs And Activities- Review the camp’s programs and activities to ensure a diverse and engaging experience for your child. Yang Fan Academy’s Summer Camp in Dublin is known for its innovative curriculum, which includes outdoor education, creative arts, sports, and team-building exercises.

Outdoor education teaches respect for nature and fosters independence, while creative arts nurture creativity and problem-solving skills. Sports activities improve fitness and teamwork, and team-building exercises enhance social skills and cooperation. This variety keeps children engaged and excited throughout their camp experience, promoting comprehensive growth and development.

Yang Fan Academy prides itself on having dedicated educators and counselors who are passionate about working with children. Our staff members are carefully selected for their expertise and commitment to creating a positive, enriching environment. They are trained in child development, safety, first aid, and conflict resolution, ensuring a safe and supportive atmosphere for all campers.

By fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment, our staff helps children build confidence, develop friendships, and fully engage in camp activities. When choosing a camp, consider the staff’s qualifications and dedication to ensure a safe, enjoyable, and educational experience for your child.

5. Safety And Health Considerations- When choosing a summer camp, prioritize safety by inquiring about the camp’s protocols for emergencies, health guidelines, and overall safety measures.

At Yang Fan Academy, we maintain rigorous safety protocols, including regular drills and supervision, to ensure a secure environment for every camper. Our staff is trained in first aid and emergency response, with medical professionals on-site. We adhere strictly to health guidelines, ensuring clean facilities, nutritious meals, and proactive illness management.

By focusing on safety and health, Yang Fan Academy provides parents with peace of mind while offering campers a nurturing and secure environment to thrive in.

6. Location And Accessibility- Consider the convenience of the camp’s location for drop-off and pick-up. Yang Fan Academy’s Summer Camp in Dublin, CA, offers a centrally located venue that is easily accessible to families in the area. Situated in a vibrant community with excellent amenities, our camp ensures a straightforward and stress-free experience for parents and campers alike.

8. Schedule And Flexibility- Ensure that the camp’s schedule aligns with your family’s needs. Look for camps that offer flexible scheduling options to accommodate different routines. Yang Fan Academy offers various session lengths and flexible options to fit busy family schedules.

Conclusion- Choosing the right summer camp in Dublin, CA, can provide your child with a memorable and enriching experience. By considering factors such as your child’s interests, the camp’s philosophy, programs, staff qualifications, safety measures, location, reviews, and schedule flexibility, you can make an informed decision.

For an exceptional summer camp experience in Dublin, consider Yang Fan Academy. Their diverse activities, experienced staff, and commitment to holistic child development make them a top choice for parents seeking a rewarding summer camp for their children.

Visit Yang Fan Academy’s website or contact them directly to learn more about their Summer Camp in Dublin and secure a spot for your child today. Let your child embark on a summer filled with fun, learning, and new friendships!

Name :Yang Fan Academy

Address :4160 Hacienda Dr STE 100, Pleasanton, CA 94588, United States

Contact :+1 925–268–7798

Website : https://yfacademy.org/

CODING CAMP SUMMER CAMP 2024 l YANG FAN ACADEMY

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jasonp01 · 6 months ago

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How to Choose The Right Summer Camp For Your Child in Dublin

Choosing the right summer camp for your child is a significant decision that can shape their summer experience and contribute to their personal growth. In Dublin, California, there are various options available, but selecting the best fit can be challenging. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you make the best choice, with a special endorsement for Yang Fan Academy’s Summer Camp in Dublin. 1. Identify Your Child’s Interests- Understanding your child’s interests is the first step in choosing the right summer camp. Take time to observe what activities they naturally gravitate towards and ask them about their preferences. Do they get excited about sports, arts and crafts, nature exploration, or science projects? Knowing what your child enjoys can help you select a camp that aligns with their passions, making the experience both enjoyable and enriching. At Yang Fan Academy, we recognize the importance of catering to diverse interests. Our summer camps offer a wide range of activities designed to engage and inspire children. Whether your child loves the fast-paced action of sports like table tennis, the creativity of arts and crafts, the adventure of exploring the natural world, or the curiosity-driven experiments in science, Yang Fan Academy has something to offer. Our goal is to ensure that every child finds an activity they love, fostering their growth and happiness throughout the camp experience. By aligning the camp’s offerings with your child’s interests, you can help them develop their skills, build confidence, and make lasting memories. 2. Consider The Camp’s Philosophy And Values- When selecting a summer camp, ensure its philosophy and values align with your own. Yang Fan Academy, for instance, focuses on holistic development, nurturing not just academic skills but also social, emotional, and physical growth. This balanced approach ensures a supportive environment where children thrive in all aspects of their development. At Yang Fan Academy, activities are designed to challenge and stimulate the mind, body, and spirit, promoting well-rounded growth. Academic sessions enhance intellectual skills, sports activities improve physical fitness, and social interactions build communication and empathy. This nurturing environment encourages children to explore new interests, build confidence, and develop meaningful relationships, fostering a balanced and enriching camp experience. 3. Evaluate The Camp’s Programs And Activities- Review the camp’s programs and activities to ensure a diverse and engaging experience for your child. Yang Fan Academy’s Summer Camp in Dublin is known for its innovative curriculum, which includes outdoor education, creative arts, sports, and team-building exercises. Outdoor education teaches respect for nature and fosters independence, while creative arts nurture creativity and problem-solving skills. Sports activities improve fitness and teamwork, and team-building exercises enhance social skills and cooperation. This variety keeps children engaged and excited throughout their camp experience, promoting comprehensive growth and development.

4. Check The Staff Qualifications- The quality of the camp staff is essential for your child’s experience. Ensure the camp employs experienced and qualified professionals trained in child care and education. Yang Fan Academy prides itself on having dedicated educators and counselors who are passionate about working with children. Our staff members are carefully selected for their expertise and commitment to creating a positive, enriching environment. They are trained in child development, safety, first aid, and conflict resolution, ensuring a safe and supportive atmosphere for all campers. By fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment, our staff helps children build confidence, develop friendships, and fully engage in camp activities. When choosing a camp, consider the staff’s qualifications and dedication to ensure a safe, enjoyable, and educational experience for your child. 5. Safety And Health Considerations- When choosing a summer camp, prioritize safety by inquiring about the camp’s protocols for emergencies, health guidelines, and overall safety measures. At Yang Fan Academy, we maintain rigorous safety protocols, including regular drills and supervision, to ensure a secure environment for every camper. Our staff is trained in first aid and emergency response, with medical professionals on-site. We adhere strictly to health guidelines, ensuring clean facilities, nutritious meals, and proactive illness management. By focusing on safety and health, Yang Fan Academy provides parents with peace of mind while offering campers a nurturing and secure environment to thrive in. 6. Location And Accessibility- Consider the convenience of the camp’s location for drop-off and pick-up. Yang Fan Academy’s Summer Camp in Dublin, CA, offers a centrally located venue that is easily accessible to families in the area. Situated in a vibrant community with excellent amenities, our camp ensures a straightforward and stress-free experience for parents and campers alike.

7. Reviews And Recommendations- When choosing a summer camp, consider researching reviews and seeking recommendations from other parents. Yang Fan Academy in particular receives high praise from parents who appreciate its commitment to excellence and the positive impact it has on children. Many highlight the quality programs, dedicated staff, and nurturing environment that contribute to a rewarding camp experience. 8. Schedule And Flexibility- Ensure that the camp’s schedule aligns with your family’s needs. Look for camps that offer flexible scheduling options to accommodate different routines. Yang Fan Academy offers various session lengths and flexible options to fit busy family schedules. Conclusion- Choosing the right summer camp in Dublin, CA, can provide your child with a memorable and enriching experience. By considering factors such as your child’s interests, the camp’s philosophy, programs, staff qualifications, safety measures, location, reviews, and schedule flexibility, you can make an informed decision. For an exceptional summer camp experience in Dublin, consider Yang Fan Academy. Their diverse activities, experienced staff, and commitment to holistic child development make them a top choice for parents seeking a rewarding summer camp for their children. Visit Yang Fan Academy’s website or contact them directly to learn more about their Summer Camp in Dublin and secure a spot for your child today. Let your child embark on a summer filled with fun, learning, and new friendships!

Name :Yang Fan Academy

Address :4160 Hacienda Dr STE 100, Pleasanton, CA 94588, United States

Contact :+1 925–268–7798

Website : https://yfacademy.org/

Kids Yoga & HIIT l Yang Fan Academy Summer Camp 2024

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criticalbennifer · 2 years ago

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The Unbearable Sadness Of Ben Affleck

The Ben Affleck of the late ‘90s was a charm machine: goofy, self-effacing, and deep in a highly public bromance with the equally winning Matt Damon. Within five years, he was a punchline. It took a decade for his career to recover. Today, he's once again at war with his image. So what's Affleck so ashamed of?

By: Anne Helen Petersen

March 28, 2016

The year after Daredevil, Ben Affleck told People magazine that “I can’t imagine doing another action movie.” In 2002, he called his earlier desire to do blockbusters “an adolescent aspiration.” In 2003, he described his “fundamental code” as “being honest, doing things with which I can live, rather than be ashamed of — doing estimable things.” In 2006, he told USA Today that “I’ve been in movies that earned a lot of money that ... I wish I wasn’t in, honestly.” Later that year, in an interview for his “comeback” role in Hollywoodland, he was relieved because “I don’t have to feel, like, embarrassed anymore.”

Affleck has an issue with shame. Over the last 20 years of stardom, he’s voiced that shame about the roles that he’s taken, the relationships he’s made public, his lack of education, his drinking habits, and, most recently, his tattoo, which, after a swift and public backlash, he quickly (and rather dubiously) claimed to be “fake.” He has not, it should be noted, been ashamed of his gambling habits or his extramarital affair — allegations of which, at least publicly, he still denies.

During his career renaissance in the late 2000s, the shame receded: He was directing, which is much less embarrassing than acting in bad movies, and in 2013, he won a Best Picture Oscar for Argo. But recently, Affleck has returned to the source of his embarrassment: In signing up for the role of Batman, he’s wed himself to a decade of action movies. Reviews for Batman v Superman are so bad that fans of the film have conjured a conspiracy theory that they were paid for by (DC Comics rival) Marvel. And in videos like this one, currently meme-ing its way across the internet, you can watch, in real time, as that old shame creeps in:

It’s the same look he sported at the Gigli premiere in 2004, laden with the realization that he’d done something horribly, irrevocably wrong. It's a look that shows up so often there's an entire deliriously well-stocked Tumblr of “Ben Affleck Looking Sad.” But the Sadfleck look doesn't inspire pity. Instead, there's a palpable desire to punch him in the face.

Stars, the understanding goes, should be grateful for what our fandom has given them. They should be gracious when we award them their fame, and when reviews are bad, they should smile and keep spinning, as Henry Cavill gamefully does in the Sadfleck Interview. And they should do all of this because they are getting paid mountains of money.

Affleck breaks that implicit pact. It’s one thing to make fun of your past, but it’s quite another to resent your present. Especially, in the case of Batman v Superman, because Affleck has been through it all before: He hates action movies. He especially hates superhero movies. His self-flagellation is off-putting because it’s tinged with resentment — toward the very filmmakers who would hire him again and, by extension, the millions of fans who’ve paid to see him.

It wasn’t always this way. Before the slew of genre films that made him seem like a paint-by-numbers leading man, Affleck had something like charisma. Early on, he played beefhead bullies in supporting roles — see Dazed and Confused (1993) and Mallrats (1995) — in part because, at 6’2”, he towers over most actors. “I had some producer try to talk me out of casting Ben in Chasing Amy,” director Kevin Smith told People magazine. “Because he was ‘too big’ to be a romantic leading man.”

In Chasing Amy (1997), Affleck was finally in the lead role, but he was still no leading man: just a New Jersey schmoe who, like the movie itself, doesn’t really understand lesbians. The moment when Amy (Joey Lauren Adams) takes the stage and begins singing to someone in the crowd, and Holden (Affleck) thinks that someone is him — it's a sublime moment of oblivious doofery. Not slapstick, just complete ego annihilation. As Holden, Affleck is all goatee and bad cardigans, but you have to trust me when I say it was hot for the time. It also helped launch his career: As Amy hit theaters, Good Will Hunting, Dogma, and Armageddon were all in production.

Good Will Hunting was a ready-made Oscar campaign, elevated to even more epic levels with the help of the Weinsteins — who, in 1997, were at the very top of their promotional game. According to the well-recited narrative, Affleck and Damon had met as kids in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Damon went to Harvard; Affleck went to the University of Vermont where, after two months, he dropped out and went to Hollywood, chasing the dream of acting after he’d appeared in a few bit roles as a teen. Damon, by contrast, wrote a screenplay, which sat in wait until he dropped out of school and moved to Hollywood, where he and Affleck started to act out scenes, rewrite, expand, and refine the script, anchoring it in big, meaty moments where one of them (or the psychologist character, played by Robin Williams) could give tour-de-force performances.

Which helps explain why the movie endures as a collection of scenes: the “Dem Apples” moment at the bar, Williams talking about his wife, Affleck telling Damon that he’ll kill him if he decides to squander his talent. The image of Damon and Affleck as a pair of hometown-boys-made-good was at the center of the publicity campaign, but Damon was clearly the star — and given most of the credit for the screenplay (at least, that is, when others weren’t floating conspiracy theories that the script had been written, or at least heavily doctored, by someone else).

“I took the whole writer thing very seriously,” Affleck told Talk magazine in 2000. “In retrospect, if I’d known then what I know now, I would have expanded the part that I played. Matt had a bigger part in School Ties and he had been a lead in Geronimo. Both movies totally bombed, and nobody was offering him any parts, but you could make the case that he was the actor. I’d only had supporting roles, and there wasn’t a lot of room [in the script] for us both to star, especially because we needed to have a big name [Robin Williams] in order to get it made. So I felt like, well, okay, we’ll cut my scenes out.”

When the pair won the Oscar for Best Screenplay, they were scrappy favorites — wearing gifted tuxes and bringing their moms as dates — that fit, in many ways, with their onscreen images as working-class Massholes. They remained self-deprecating (Damon: “If you put us together, you might actually make a whole, creative, interesting individual”) and graciously accepted the next step in their Hollywood wunderkind path: blockbuster stardom: Damon, with Spielberg, in Saving Private Ryan; Affleck, with Michael Bay, in Armageddon.

Still, Affleck managed to avoid insufferability. He still wasn’t the lead lead — that was reserved for Bruce Willis — instead, he gamely played with animal crackers on Liv Tyler’s stomach. But in his first big cover story forVanity Fair in 1999, hints of his macho self-consciousness started to become visible. “He may not be Bike Guy or Adrenaline-Junkie Guy, but spend a few minutes with Affleck, who’s usually seen around town in baggy army pants, a t-shirt, and a leather jacket, and one thing becomes clear: he sure as hell is a guy.” “He longs for the time when models looked like Christie Brinkley,” the profile declared. “He thinks Tom Cruise is a god. He stands behind Hootie. He has been known to forgo sex for video games.”

And as a guy, a guy’s guy, still friends with all his friends from home, Entourage style, Affleck was terrified of the feminizing effects of publicity. “His favorite words seem to be ‘chump,’ ‘weak,’ and especially ‘jackass,’” the profile continues. “‘Jackass,’ to Affleck, is the worst of insults. A jackass is what he fears he sounds like in profiles like this one.” Later in the interview, Affleck admits that the media version of his friendship with Damon was “so gay.” “If I had gone by the tabloid stories of it,” he elaborated, “I would have been like ‘Look at these fuckin’ chumps. I just want to smack these people.' And I kind of wanted to smack myself.”

Vanity Fair goes on to declare that Affleck, in his self-awareness, is the opposite of a jackass, but that fear — of the way that publicity will effectively castrate him — was merited. Male and female stars have always required publicity (posing for photo shoots, sitting for interviews) in order to maintain their status in the public eye and promote their newest product. But there’s a type of publicity that’s masculine (profiles in men’s magazines, photos in classy suits, interviews in established newspapers) and another that’s feminizing (gossip magazines, tabloids, photo shoots that signal a willingness to believe that you’re hot). The cover of Vanity Fair isn’t feminizing. Being named People’s Sexiest Man Alive — and posing for a mildly embarrassing photo shoot — is.

It’s a counterintuitive process: that becoming a heartthrob can de-masculinize you. Attractiveness to women should up a male star’s virility quotient, but in truth, or, at least, in media, it makes him subject to the gaze — a passive pin-up. It’s what happened to Rudolph Valentino back in the ‘20s; it’s what nearly happened to Burt Reynolds in the ‘70s, when he posed nude for a Cosmopolitan centerfold that he’s recently admitted he regrets. (Leonardo DiCaprio has fought the impulse by getting as ugly as possible in every other film.)

Whether Affleck was conscious of that process or not, publicity clearly inflamed his anxiety — which, judging from his own comments, sprung from an acute case of class consciousness. Affleck described his upbringing as “working class” — his mother was an elementary school teacher, his father was, among other things, a mechanic, a bookie, a construction worker, a bartender, and a drunk, who left the family when Affleck was a boy, leaving his mother to raise him and his brother Casey on a single income. Affleck’s mother, Chris, was raised on the Upper East Side and attended Harvard; her father (Affleck’s grandfather) had been a Democratic activist — an inclination that was passed down to Affleck, who has been active, in some capacity, in Democratic politics his entire adult life.

Which is all to say that Affleck, living in Cambridge, surrounded by schools like MIT and Harvard, and living with a Harvard-educated mother, was incredibly attuned to class differences. “I’ve always been insecure because I only had a little bit of college and knew a lot of people from fancy schools,” Affleck told Rolling Stone. “All that sort of resentment in Good Will Hunting about people who went to college came from me feeling on the fringe.”

He hated being called “fratty” because it pointed to a class level that he also never achieved. “The idea that I’m this frat guy is odd, because I only went to college for one semester,” he told Talk. “I was never in fraternity. It speaks to a kind of upper-class upbringing that I didn’t have.”

Which isn’t to say that he didn’t dress and act like a different style of frat boy: His idea of the good life, according to longtime friend and producer Chris Moore, was “eating at Subway and playing video games”; when Bay cast him in Armageddon, his first order was that Affleck get his teeth, one of the ultimate signifiers of class, fixed.

At the same time, Affleck had affixed himself to Gwyneth Paltrow — arguably the most high-class star of the last 25 years. Paltrow, who, pre-Goop, was still the woman who’d attended the most exclusive New York private school, who’d grown up surrounded by Hollywood, and who'd, according to writer-director Don Roose, offered Affleck “lots of unsolicited advice” about his decor. “To hear her talk you’d think there were mattresses on the floor and Led Zeppelin posters on the wall.”

In truth, it was more like a keg of Guinness and a rotating set of friends in his Hollywood home, but Paltrow, according to People, “wanted to show that there’s a real man inside him, a thinker and a sensitive guy. She doesn’t let him skate by on that frat-boy thing.” Put differently, she was trying to reform — re-class — him.

Anxiety over the public perception of his intelligence, apparently fueled by his own girlfriend, might have been part of why Affleck so eagerly stumped for Al Gore, embraced plans to adapt Howard Zinn’s People’s History of the United States, or spoke publicly at Harvard with Damon and Zinn about raising wages for the university’s service employees. “They spoke very passionately,” Zinn said. “Ben talked about how his father had worked at Harvard at a menial job and how he understood what it was like to work for an enormously rich corporation and get a pittance.”

Affleck’s affiliation with Zinn, whose work also made an appearance in Good Will Hunting, crystallized his ambivalent relationship with his own class: He wanted to be a populist — someone who’s not ashamed of his working-class roots — but everything around him, including his own girlfriend, wanted him to disaffiliate with that same past in order to be famous.

Affleck and Paltrow broke up in 1999, but his subsequent roles suggest an oscillating desire to align himself with the (high-class) art house film and the (not-so-high-class) genre film — there’s his wan straight man opposite Sandra Bullock in rom-com Forces of Nature, a return to Smith in Dogma, classic indie ensemble work in 200 Cigarettes, and what was intended as a prestige role alongside Paltrow in the unremarkable Bounce: “If you don’t like my performance in this movie,” Affleck proclaimed, “then you will never like me or believe me in any movie, and probably should never go see another movie I do.”

He agreed to make Reindeer Games because its director, John Frankenheimer, was responsible for The Manchurian Candidate; he said yes to Daddy and Them because it was Armageddon co-star Billy Bob Thornton’s first directorial project since Slingblade. He did Boiler Room, one can assume, because he wanted to have a juicy Glengarry Glen Ross-type speech, though it did not transform him into a serious actor — or at least the sort of actor that wouldn’t have to do the kind of PR that would make his class an issue.

And so Affleck leaned into handsome-leading-man roles, even though, as he was quick to admit, he felt alienated from them. He was unmemorable in Pearl Harbor, fell flat taking over for Harrison Ford as Jack Ryan in The Sum of All Fears, was just fine opposite Samuel L. Jackson in Changing Lanes, and had every scene stolen from him by Jennifer Garner in Daredevil.

And then there was J.Lo.

Consider Affleck’s mindset at the time. He’d spent time in rehab (brought to the Promises Center in 2001 by Charlie Sheen after an all-night bender; just think about that for a second) as a “pre-emptive strike” to counter what he viewed as a family inclination toward alcoholism. After the disappointments of the late ‘90s and early 2000s, he’d become a major and successful movie star. But not a respected one — especially when compared, as he always was, with Damon, who’d given a tour de force performance in The Talented Mr. Ripley and attached himself to much less flashy (and better) franchises with Bourne and Ocean’s Eleven. If Damon’s career choices were Whole Foods, Affleck’s were increasingly Costco.

When Affleck began working with Lopez on Gigli in 2002, she was married to dancer Cris Judd, and enormously successful, but, at heart, a celebrity, not a star. The two became close on set, but according to Affleck, only as friends.

It was during this friendship that Affleck decided to publicly assert the extent of Lopez’s talents. In March 2002, he took out $20,000 in ads in Variety and The Hollywood Reporter declaring how much he loved working with her — and how impressed he was with her acting skills. “In a lot of ways it was in contrast to what some of my preconceptions were about Jennifer,” he wrote. “I thought I’d write a paragraph saying what a professional, decent person she is and how kind she is.” (Note: the Hollywood trade magazines have a long history of congratulatory ads, but this particular ad “raised eyebrows.”)

They were "just friends," but Affleck was nevertheless concerned with the public perception — which goes unnamed here, but can be insinuated as “low class” — of his co-star. To be sure, Affleck did actually find Lopez impressive, professional, decent, and kind. But to take out an ad proclaiming as much says more about how he’d like to be perceived for working with her and less about his actual concern for her image. Put differently, she wasn’t ashamed; he was.

In June 2002, Lopez announced her separation from Judd; a month later, she and Affleck announced their relationship, as one does, via public appearance, dining with Lopez’s manager and producer Babyface at “New York’s see-and-be-seen” sushi restaurant Nobu. “They were cuddling at the table,” an employee told Us Weekly, adding that Lopez had worn beige-and-white sweatpants with her name embroidered across the back.

Thus launched one of the most high-profile — and heavily degraded — relationships in the modern celebrity era. They were the first couple to win a celebrity moniker, “Bennifer,” which pointed to the ways in which their relationship became the central commodity, exploited and expanded by the burgeoning rivalry between People magazine and the newly rejuvenated Us Weekly.

Dozens of couples had been tracked with similar ferocity before, and dozens would be in the decade to come. But the sentiment that hovered around Bennifer was one of distaste. The press was filled with reports of their lavish gifts to one another — a $100,000 toilet seat encrusted with jewels, a 6.1-carat pink solitaire ring, a six-figure Aston Martin sports car. While modern celebrity is distinguished, in no small part, through displays of conspicuous consumption, Bennifer’s tipped into new-money gaudiness — too conspicuous, especially when paired with equally conspicuous displays of affection.

Usually, we love when celebrities kiss or hold hands for the cameras, but Bennifer exceeded the unspoken limits of good taste, especially when Affleck appeared in the video for Lopez’s “Jenny from the Block” — cuddling, kissing, cupping her ass on the back of a yacht. “The reason I did the video was as a commentary on the crazy tabloid paparazzi attention,” Affleck explained. “But it was covered without any irony whatsoever.” Instead of satirizing paparazzi surveillance, it seemed like Lopez and Affleck were celebrating, or at least catering, to it.

In the press, Lopez was figured as a “bad fit” for Affleck: She was "ravenously ambitious” (Vanity Fair), “the Zsa Zsa Gabor of our generation” (Rolling Stone) who wore velour J.Lo jumpsuits and loved Deuce Bigalow. “The problem, of course, is that J.Lo is no Julia,” an editorial for The Hollywood Reporter explained, comparing her to Roberts, whose love life had also been in the press. “You never saw Roberts show up at the Oscars dressed in Saran Wrap, for instance. No one gushes about Roberts’ rear end as being intrinsic to her success.”

The unspoken connotation of all this rhetoric? Lopez was trashy. She wasn’t talented like other Hollywood stars — she was an OK singer, a forgettable actor. Instead, her celebrity was rooted in her raced, classed body: in her dancing ability, but also in her body’s beauty, which she exploited without shame. She had been arrested, along with ex-boyfriend Sean “Puffy” Combs, in connection to a Manhattan shooting. She was the opposite of Paltrow.

And even though Affleck attempted to emphasize the similarities between him and Lopez — "We are both from working-class families in culturally diverse neighborhoods in east coast cities,” he told The Mirror — the rhetoric around their relationship remained that of a mismatch. When Vanity Fair asserted that Lopez was “perhaps the last woman on earth Affleck should have chosen if he really wanted to maintain a lower profile,” he responded: “That occurred to me. Why did I fall in love with this person? What does that say about me? Maybe I am conflicted, but I also have a contrary streak.”

Which might explain Affleck’s conflicting impulse to both defend Lopez and transform her. He corrected those who called her “J.Lo” instead of Jennifer, a move that presaged Tom Cruise’s attempt to turn Katie Holmes into “Kate.” He toned down her sexuality: “Jen has had fewer boyfriends than your average high-school junior,” he said. “In the physical sense, she’s extremely chaste. She’s had a much simpler, more easily explainable, more clean romantic history than I have.” He encouraged Lopez to fire her longtime manager, who’d help craft the tabloid-friendly strategy that made her famous. The “popular theory,” according to Newsweek, was that Affleck wanted to “sophisticate his wife-to-be’s image in case his long-rumored aspirations of a political life as a congressman from Massachusetts become a reality.”

The pair went on Dateline in late July to promote Gigli, which was set to premiere August 1, 2003. The interview itself was overkill (Entertainment Weekly charted its progress with a “Pain-o-Meter”), but the distaste was further amplified when, the night that it aired, Affleck was “caught” at a strip club in Vancouver with Christian Slater and Tara Reid — where, depending on the report, he either drank water all night and touched no one, or hooked up with a dancer, went back to Slater’s house, and had sex with her.

Affleck and Lopez issued statements maintaining that Affleck had attended the club with Lopez’s permission, but it mattered little — he was still at a strip club. If anything, her “approval” simply reinforced her lack of class. When the pair showed up to Gigli, the looks on their faces as they posed on the red carpet were overly bronzed and pained.

Gigli became a legendary flop, immediately likened to ur-flop Ishtar; studio head Joe Roth called its $7 million international gross, on a budget of $54 million, “humiliating.” A month later, Affleck and Lopez called off their $2 million wedding, purportedly due to too much media scrutiny. By January 2004, the pair officially ended their relationship. But they still had a second collaboration — Jersey Girl — to promote, and Affleck was back on the publicity circuit in March, making fun of Gigli and his own overexposure, owning the shame and sporting a hideous goatee and tatted-up arms on the cover of Rolling Stone.

He’d also been thinking about why, exactly, his relationship had incited such vitriol. He suspected it “had something to do with race and class,” he told Vanity Fair. “That pushed a button. This is a country that flew into a gigantic uproar about Janet Jackson’s breast. There’s still a heavy-duty puritan influence going on, and we still hold ourselves to a pretty chaste ideal, which includes, buried within it, the tradition of people being with people like them. We were thought of as two different kinds of people, not just racially but culturally.”

The explanation didn’t feel credible at the time, but in hindsight, race and class anxieties were redolent, if coded, in the rhetoric used to describe their relationship. Affleck himself seemed to have internalized that anxiety. He turned away from publicity, at least until, a year later, he began dating Jennifer Garner — a woman who, in addition to her burgeoning role as avatar of the middle-class femininity, upholds, as Affleck had put it, “the tradition of people being with people like them.”

It was literally Bennifer 2.0, but Affleck kept the relationship as low-key — as classy — as possible: They married yet rarely appeared together in public, Garner’s career receded, and the only images of their three children were playing, as a family, in the park. Garner didn’t offer him the class elevation that Paltrow would’ve, but she also didn’t inflame his own working-class connotations the way J.Lo had. She was wonderfully, soothingly safe, roundly respectable — an image that slowly, by extension, became Affleck’s as well.

As Affleck’s halo of shame receded, his likability increased. He was humble and tragic in Hollywoodland, was easy to root for as the director of Gone Baby Gone, and gave a completely unflashy performance in Argo. He’d found his low-key niche — the one, back in the early 2000s, he’d dreamed of. But something happened in the aftermath — as if he’d forgotten the lessons of a decade before. He seemed cocksure, arrogant; he was gambling and fighting constant rumors of infidelity, specifically with Gone Girl co-star Emily Ratajkowski. He’s great in Gone Girl not because he’d returned to the gleeful doofiness of Chasing Amy and Shakespeare in Love, but because the doof had grown up, soured, turned on itself. “He’s perfect in Gone Girl,” a friend told me, “because that movie knows he’s trash.”

When Affleck and Garner announced their divorce, it was against a backdrop of continued gambling problems (in October 2014, Affleck was thrown out of a casino for counting cards) and an alleged affair with the family’s nanny — perhaps the trashiest in the tabloid hierarchy of affairs. Yet it came as no surprise: We’d seen this cycle play out once before. Now that Batman v Superman has been pummeled in the press, his reaction feels not just like sadness in the wake of bad reviews, but a deep shame stemming from a series of disappointing decisions.

Class and race are the primary ways that we decide a person’s worth in this country, and while the history of Hollywood stardom is filled with men and women who transcended their original class, any anxiety, regret, or shame about their current or past class is carefully scrubbed from their images. That sort of insecurity isn’t read as sympathetic or relatable — instead, it’s a sign of image instability.

Even though we encourage the people who surround us to grow, change, and deliberate, there’s an expectation that stars, and the ideologies their images come to represent, remain static. Affleck’s oscillation between class anxiety and class capitulation — in his actions, his facial expressions, his interviews — makes him seem like a man who refuses to own himself or his decisions.

Back in 2000, still in the first act of his career, Affleck turned philosophical: “Being in the position that I’m in now, I tend to look at lot of these older actors and say, ‘Well, where are their lives now? Who do you want to be in life?’ So many of them seem so unhappy and so fucked up: confused or lost or bitter or hateful or venomous or in agony. None of them are happy. And you think, God, I don’t want that life.”

It seems, at least publicly, that Affleck has found in that vortex of stardom, still at war with his image, his career choices, and what he’s come to represent. That’s the realization that seems to descend upon Affleck in the clip: the dark understanding that even an Oscar can’t rescue him from the specter of his past shame — compounded by time and regret and failed relationships and superhero carapaces and the everlasting comparison to Damon — returning for him.

#ben affleck #press/article #buzzfeed #2016

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bbyquokka · 2 years ago

Text

Opposites attract ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆

🐣: pairing: Lee Felix x F!reader

🐣: genre: fluff, angst, smut. 18- DNI

🐣: synopsis: forever thinking that opposites dont attract due to what society says, a new exchange student makes you trust in fate.

🐣: warnings: smut, protected sex, college!au, fingering, brief mention of drugs and alcohol, labels, pet name (baby, petal)

🐣: words: 5.3k

🐣: a/n: i ditched my jisung fic for this after getting attacked by the COMEBACK TEASER. LIKE HELLO, WTF IS THAT. skz, pls let me live my life in peace, i beg.🙏🏻 dw, i will be going back to my Jisung fic after i posted this.

felix looked too good in the teaser that i had to write something. i love long haired felix that i wanted more of it and now i have been blessed. jisung, you’ll always be my ult bias, but lemme simp for felix for a while pls. this took me less than a day to write, lmao.

likes, feedback and reblogs are welcome, especially reblogs as they help get my fics and blog out there. pls consider leaving comments or spam my inbox! ty all for the love as of lately!

lmk if i missed anything in the warnings & enjoy 🖤

🐣: master list

They say that opposites attract but is that always the case?

College is a fairly eventful place to be. Parties, pranks, heartbreak and rumours. When you entered college, you didn't want to get involved in any of that. You wanted to get your education and go, start living your life with no strings attached.

How naïve you are.

It’s pretty common for college to have social groups. Just like in movie: mean girls, you have the jocks, the cheerleaders who want to get into the jocks pants, the nerds and the alts.

You wasn't a fan of these labels but if you had to pick, you'd be classed as a nerd. You like art, manga, anime. You're majoring in art and design. You cared about the way you look, but you wouldn't willingly wake up at 5am to get ready. A flannel t-shirt, jeans and hair scrapped back was enough for you. You're an art student, you don't have time to care about the way you look.

You only have a handful of friends and that was enough for you. If you spent more than thirty minutes with people, your social battery starts draining so you'd think of an excuse to go back to your dorm and relax. Socialising is not for you.

College life was rather peaceful for you. Top student, handful of friends and being able to do the things you want do as well as living on your own – which is a bonus. It wasn't until rumours started spreading that an exchange student had started halfway through the semester – which is uncommon and odd because now, they have a lot of catching up to do.

You didn't get a chance to see him considering you was swamped in work. Deadlines are coming up and you wasn't even halfway done with your work, so you was either in the art room or in your dorm. Stressed was an understatement.

But you did hear rumours. Rumours spread like wildfire in college. You heard that his family had power, that they knew the mafia. Whilst everyone believed it, you thought it was ridiculous. 'child's play' You heard little things about him though, that he had dark hair, Australian, he would smile so bright, the sun got jealous. Of course, you was yet to see him, so you believed the rumours with a pinch of salt.

Your first glimpse of him was on a sunny day. You was sat on the grass, doodling whatever came to mind. You was suffocating in the art room and decided it was best to get some fresh air. As you took a sip of water, you took the chance to look around, people watch.

The jocks were practising whatever sport it was that they did. Cheerleaders practicing their cheers. You wasn't a massive fan of these groups, but you admired them a little. They have led the college to championships which is admirable in itself. You also felt a little sorry for them. must be lonely when your life revolved around sport and cheer.

The nerds were sat at a picnic bench, playing dungeons and dragons. You'd join in, if you wasn't such an introvert and if you knew how to play. An argument erupted between the group, claiming that its not how the game goes or whatever.

You chuckled to yourself before your gaze fell on the alternative group. A group of 8, dressed in the typical alternative clothing. Skinny black jeans, band tees, converses, Doc Martens. Eye liner lining their eyes, nails painted, tattoos covering their skin and, of course, the metal that decorated their faces.

Chan, Jisung and Changbin have known each other the longest. They met in high school and share a passion for music. They even released a few tracks onto SoundCloud. You hate to admit but, you liked a few of them, even if it wasn't your style of music. To no surprise, they all major in music.

Minho and Hyunjin love to dance, taking part in dance competitions inside and out of campus. Minho being the more experienced dancer. Hyunjin loved art, just like you do. He didn't look like the type to so you was surprised to see him in your class and Minho is obsessed with his 3 cats. You heard that Felix also loved to dance, so its no surprised that Minho and Hyunjin took him under their wings

Seungmin and Jeongin have voices of an angel. You heard rumours that they're really talented at singing. You thought it was nonsense until you attended the campus talent contest. You felt like your ears were being baptized.

Love them or hate them, you cant deny that they're a talent bunch of young men

"Oi Felix! Over here!" You looked over to who was shouting and who he was shouting to

Bang Chan was stood on the picnic table, arms waving and smiling. You looked over and saw someone running to him. "Must be the exchange student."

Everyone greeting Felix before he sat down and joined in on the conversations. He was sucking on a lollipop, the stick hanging out off his mouth, resting on his bottom lip. You took this time to admire him. Considering how close you was sat, you could hear his voice over the sounds of many others.

His voice was deep and smooth, like velvety chocolate. You've never heard a voice that deep before and his accent was thick. It was hot. His black hair tied half up, half down, black jeans and boots whilst wearing a white vest and a sleeveless, leather jacket.

You couldn't help but feel physically attracted to him. He looked so sweet and so innocent that is hard to believe that his family knew the Mafia. Maybe one day, you'd draw him. He had that aura around him that felt warm and welcoming. You couldn't help but notice how deep his laugh is, how his eyed would crinkle at the corners and his white teeth would be on display due to the big grin he would show.

Maybe you was staring to much because Felix turned and instantly locked his eyes onto yours. He grinned at you, giving you a little wave. You flushed red, cheeks and the tips of your ears turning red. You looked back at your mindless doodles on your paper, feeling shy and embarrassed that you got caught.

Felix turned to his friends, enquiring who you are. Nobody really knew, expect Hyunjin. He told Felix your name and that you two are doing the same major together. Hyunjin said that you two rarely spoke but when you do, he found you to be sweet.

Felix hummed and nodded, looking over his shoulder at you. You was too absorbed in your drawing at this point to notice. Felix was curious. He wanted to know who you are. He made it his mission to find out who you are.

Your first interaction happened shortly after. You was up to your neck in work, feeling stressed beyond belief. you felt overwhelmed and anxious that you wasn't going to finish in time. You spent the majority of your day in the art studio and by six pm, you had enough.

Your head hurt, mind blank and all you could see was various colours of the paints you've been using. Deciding that trying to get any more work done was useless, you packed up your things.

Walking out the door, bag over your shoulder, supplies piled high in your arms, you bumped into someone, your supplies crash landing beneath your feet.

"Fuck. I am so sorry!" You bent down, collecting your things feeling embarrassed.

"It's okay. I wasn't really looking where i was going so it should be me apologizing." That deep, Australia voice ran through your ears. You looked up to see Felix bending over and helping you.

You couldn't help but notice how beautiful he looked up close and the fact that he has freckles that adorned his skin, made you weak. You find freckles beautiful, they're your weakness.

You stood the same time as Felix. He handed you your art book which you took. His fingers decorated in rings and fingers nails painted.

"Thank you." You smiled, taking your book off him.

"Do you need any help? I can help you carry some stuff if you want." You thought about it for a second before agreeing. He took some stuff off you. 'Lead the way."

You made your way to your dorm. starting conversations was not your strong point. You cursed yourself for being an introvert and wished you knew what to say but making the first move always felt awkward to you.

"So (Y/N) you enjoying art" You looked at Felix, eyebrows knitted together.

"How do you know my name and that i do art?"

'Well, considering I'm carrying your art supplies should be a big giveaway. Anyways, Hyunjin told me."

Ah, of course, that made sense.

"You asked about me?" Felix hummed.

"After i caught you staring at me, i was curious about you. So i asked. Seems like you tend to keep yourself to yourself." You flushed red at the mention of getting caught staring at him for too long.

"Sorry about that. I was just interested in who you are and what you look like." Felix laughed, the sound giving you goose bumps and butterflies in your stomach.

"Don't worry about it. I'm pretty sure you've heard the rumours. By the way, my family are not part of the mafia." He shook his head, rolling his eyes at the ridiculous rumour.

"I never believed that, you're too sweet to be part of something like that." The words left your mouth before you could register. You looked at Felix, who had a pink tint across his cheeks at your compliment.

"Thank you." You looked at your feet, feeling shy as you reached your dorm. You rummaged around for the key and opened the door.

"You want to come in? i don't have much to drink but i do have a collection of energy drinks you can have."

"As much as i would love to-" Felix handed back your things "I have to dash. I have practise and Minho doesn't like it when people are late."

You nodded and smiled, taking your things off him. "Okay, you best get going then."

"yeah, I'll see you around?" You nodded again, smiling and saying goodbye as Felix ran to the dance room. You closed the door behind you, noticing your heart was pounding against your ribcage, butterflies in your stomach.

Slowly but surely, you're getting feelings for him and there is nothing you can do to stop it, no matter how hard you tried to ignore it.

Weeks went by after that. Your interaction's with Felix started of as small and minimal. He would occasionally wait outside the art room after class for Hyunjin, exchanging small hello's whenever you would pass each other.

He once brung a tub of homemade brownies and passed them around his friend group before offering you one. You thanked him as you took one, the chocolatey gooeyness satisfied your sweet tooth. You asked him how he made them, which he happily told you. Soon, you conversated about anything, chemistry bouncing back and forth between you both.

You exchanged contact details and soon enough, you was texting each other everyday, all day. You would text each other good morning, ask how classes are going, bitch about the teachers or how much work you had to do.

Felix would send you videos of his dancing and you admire how his body moved and flowed with the beat. He's a natural and you understood why Minho and Hyunjin praise him so often. He would occasionally send you mirror selfies, typically after practise.

You couldn't help but notice how his sweat would cover his skin, hair sticking to his face. You could tell he was – or has been – working out just by looking at his arms. You recalled him saying he would like to work on his body and have Changbin to help, noting that Changbin knew his stuff about the human body and he too, also liked to bulk up.

You sent more photos than videos. You rarely sent selfies, instead sending him photos of your art work. It made you giddy when he complimented your work. No matter how many times you showed him a new piece, he was always stunned by your talent. You thieved of his praises and compliments, it gave you confidence.

You soon started to try new styles of art. Oil paint, pen, digital, even painting with coffee and having a go at animation – all because you wanted to impress Felix.

To the outside world, you two were a mismatch, you didn't seem to fit together. However, you both had much in common and conversation just flowed between you both like melted butter. The more you got to know him, the more time you spent, the more your feelings grew.

You tried to ignore it. You didn't have time for relationships right now, but you caught yourself daydreaming about him in art class causing the teacher to scold you. You'd be checking your phone ever five minutes, think about him day in and day out. He invited you to his dorm, which you said yes. You watched him bake his signature brownies whilst you drew a pencil sketch of him.

Felix noticed and you got instantly shy, anxious and worried that Felix would hate you for drawing him, especially since you didn't ask permission. Instead, Felix was wowed by it, complimenting it over and over again making your ego balloon.

He kept the sketch. He framed it and hung it in his bedroom.

You thrived off the morning messages, they made up your day. You noticed the littlest things about him, like how he would cover his face with his small hands when shy, his ears turning red. How his bottom lip would always stick out when he wanted something. You knew him better than he knew himself and the same could be said about you.

You never mingled with his group though. You did start to speak to Hyunjin a bit more in class and said the occasionally hello to them if you saw them passing by, but that was about it. They knew something was going to happen if it hadn't already, but they kept quiet.

Its Felix's life and what he chooses to do with it, is up to him.

You woke up at 8:30am, the ping of your phone being the first sound your heard. You grabbed your phone, smiling wide as you felt giddy.

sunshine 💛🌻: good morning! i hope you slept well 🥺 you have classes today right? x

you: good morning, lix 😚 i do, sadly ;-; but it is only one and lasts for hour and a half 😁 x

sunshine 💛🌻: so, after class you have a free day? x

you: yeah, why? x

sunshine 💛🌻: meet me in the dining hall at 1? i made cookies for the first time and need an honest opinion. the boys are useless at feedback sometimes 🥲🙄 x

you: haha, oh lix 🤣 ofc i will come and tastes the cookies, which i am sure taste oh so yummy 🤤😋 x

sunshine 💛🌻: yeah yeah. you're just saying that 🤭 just make sure your sweet ass is in the dining hall 😉 x

you: sweet ass? 🤨 dw lix, i'll be there. i get to see you so ofc i'll come down 😚 x

sunshine 💛🌻: smooth (Y/N) 😏 see you soon, gorgeous 🥰💛 x

you: see you soon, lix 😚💛 x

you squealed, locking your phone and giggling like a school girl. you made an effort in getting dressed. styling your hair and wearing clothing no one has seen you in before. You even put on make-up which you rarely did. No normal person would put in this much effort just to taste some cookies, so why are you?

Because you've fallen for him, that's why. Realising that pushing away and ignoring your feelings only made them stronger, you decided to embrace it and accept the fact that you love Felix, more than a friend. It was never going to go away. Felix made you happy so why shouldn't you grab this happiness and embrace it? You deserve to be happy and loved.

Your class went by agonisingly slow, mainly because you kept checking the clock every five seconds. People didn't recognise you at first, thinking you was a new student. When they realised it was you, they were shocked and impressed that you had style. You even got a few compliments which made you feel more confident

When your lesson finally ended, you raced out of there in a heartbeat, speeding to the dining hall where Felix would be waiting for you. The closer you got to the hall, you increasingly became more nervous. nerves and excitement was all you could feel, you felt slightly sick but you wanted to see Felix.

Walking into the dining hall, you looked around and noticed the table Felix and his friends were sitting at, his back to you. You slowly approached them. The closer you approached, the more of their conversation you heard. You stopped as soon as you heard your name, deciding to eavesdrop.

"C'mon man, we all know something is happening between you and (Y/N)!" Changbin exclaimed, determined to get some gossip about the two of you, out off his friend

"Dude! nothing is happening. We're just friends, that's all!" Minho scoffed and rolled his eyes.

"Felix, friends-" Minho quoted with his fingers "don't text each other every single day. They don't spend half as much time as you do with her!"

"So?" Felix shrugged "She's good company, nice to be around. She's calm, unlike some people." Felix glared at his friends, laughing.

"Ok, but friends also don't text each other sweet morning messages that end with kisses. We see you Felix, grinning at your phone like a looney." Minho poked Felix's shoulder.

"C'mon man, its nothing that!" Felix protested

"Then what is it like?" Jisung asked. The boys full attention on Felix, interested in his answer. Felix blushed, going shy.

"We're just friends! nothing more. Now stop teasing me!" everyone laughed before falling silent for a few seconds. The silence was broken by Hyunjin.

"What do you two talk about?"

"Mhm, anything really. Why?"

"Well, she doesn't seem like a very interesting person. when we speak, its not super interesting. isnt she like, boring and dull to be around?"

As soon as Felix opened his mouth to say something, you rushed passed him. He noticed, his own heart sinking. He shot Hyunjin a glare before chasing after you. Seungmin and Jeongin took turns in flicking the mans forehead.

Felix dashed after you, calling your name. You hurried to your dorm, ignoring his calls. Your heart shattering into pieces, tears blurring your vision

"(Y/N)! Let m-" You slammed the door in Felix's face. Felix knocked on the door, calling your name over and over again. You ignored him, walking to the bathroom. You washed your make up off and changed back into your simple, comfortable wear.

You felt stupid. Of course Felix wouldn't like someone like you. Of course he finds you boring and dull. Everyone else does, so why wouldn't he? He probably just pitted you, felt sorry for you so he forced himself to hang out with you.

That stung. it stung so much, it made you want to throw up. You deemed yourself as smart, a level headed person so how could you have been so stupid to the truth?!

Was it the truth though? did Felix pity you or did he genuinely enjoy your company? It didn't make sense, none of it makes sense! You hastily wiped your tears from your cheeks, phone pinging.

sunshine 💛🌻: im not leaving until you talk to me. even if i have to camp outside your room. 😶 x

Sighing, you walked to the front door and opening it, walking away as Felix walked inside and closed the door.

"what do you want Felix?" Your tone was cold, emotionless, back turned to Felix so he couldn't gauge your emotions.

"let me explain."

"explain? explain what? that hyunjin is right and that all this time, you just hung out with me because you felt sorry for me? save it Felix, I'm not interested."

"what? no! that's not what i came to say!" Felix walked to you, hand on your shoulder gently. He spun you around to face him. You avoided his gaze by looking at the walls, furniture, paintings.

"If you stayed, you would have known that I was about to defend you. You're not boring or dull. Hyunjin just, doesn't think before he speaks." Felix sighed, running his fingers through his silky black hair.

"but its true." You all but whispered. "i am boring. i am dull. i hear it all the time from people."

"nono, you're not!" Felix lifted your chin up with his hand, forcing you to look at him, his own heart shattering once he say your tear stained cheeks and hurt evident in your eyes. "I've had, the most amazing time with you. you've been a joy to be around, petal. I haven't found your boring, or dull in the slightest!"

you sighed, arms crossed against your chest. you avoided his gaze once again.

"Felix, stop. we're opposites. Oil and water. we don't mix."

"opposites attract though!" Felix sounded hopefully, only for it to be shattered by a single shake of your head.

"no. no felix. not in this case. we don't. I'm just some boring, dull art student who dresses like a plain jane and loves to go for walks, take photos and go to museums. i dont have many friends because it tires me. id rather stay at home and watch a cheesy drama than go and get drunk at a lame, jock party that's filled with people taking drugs and having their cocks sucked!" You paused, looking Felix in his eyes for the first time

"and you? you're some badass guy who isn't afraid of what people think. you tell people to fuck off when they make comments, defend your many friends to the death. I even caught you defend some poor guy who's belongings were being thrown around by a jackass jock! people take one look at you and they're intimidated by you. people want to be you and people want to be with you. were not the same, we never have been!"

By now, you was sobbing. your tears cascading down your cheeks. your heart hurts. it hurts so bad, its suffocating. as much as you love Felix and would love to be with him and call him yours, its not possible. you deluded yourself of this fantasy. Today helped you realise that.

"What are you scared of?" Felix's question took you by surprise.

"what?"

"who cares about how you dress. who cares about if you like to take photos. who cares about that type of stuff, because i don't. in fact, I love that about you. i love your little quirks, i love how i feel when I'm around you. i dont have to pretend to be someone else."

"stop.. this is too much." you shake your head, hands coming to your face, hiding it.

"no! i wont stop! you're cute, adorable, sweet, funny, an absolute dork and very attractive!" You backed away from Felix, back hitting the wall. Heart swelling up with love, making you feel giddy.

You had to protect yourself, protect your heart from anymore heartbreak. you cant allow yourself to be swooned by his sweet talk. you’re opposites. you dont and shouldn't mix, society says so.

Felix gently removed your hands away from your face, cupping your cheeks. His face inches away from yours. "(Y/N), stop running away. you're so special to me. I've been feeling things that I've never felt before and, until now, I'm aware of the fact that - i think i love you."

You shake your head rapidly, unable to process his words. unable to process that your feelings are mutual.

"stop.." you whispered. Felix shook his head.

"no." his lips found their way onto yours. you tensed, a little unsure on what to do. deciding to just, go for it and let your walls down, you cling onto Felix's shirt, lips moving together in a slow and passionate kiss.

the kiss was filled with love for one another. it was tender, slow and made you feel so many butterflies that you felt you was drowning in them. his lips are soft against yours, his touch tender and soothing. fuck what society says, fate decided that you two are made for one another, so who are you to go against fates choice?

"Felix, i cant." You whimpered out. during the kiss, you both somehow managed to strip of all clothing and make your way to the bed. You're currently sprawled out on the sheets, naked and shy whilst Felix is by your side, his lips doing work on your neck whilst his middle and index fingers are thrusting inside you at a steady pace.

"shh baby, i got you. you're doing so well for me." he murmured against you skin, which is now decorated in purple bruises. You clenched around his fingers, your juices coating his digits.

Felix asked if you was a virgin judging by the way you acted so shy whilst stripping. You claimed you wasn't but the last time you did anything sexual with someone was a while ago. "just means i have to take extra special care of you.”

You gripped onto Felix's wrist, his fingers curled inside you as his pace quickened. The sounds of your wet cunt and soft moans bounced off the bedroom walls, making Felix hum

"you make the prettiest sounds for me, petal. you're so precious." You whimpered at his words, his thumb coming to contact with your clit. He applied pressure, rubbing circles on it as your back arched a little, moans in the form of Felix's name rolling off your tongue.

you felt warm, your pussy throbbing as the knot in the pit of your stomach was forming. you dug your nails into his soft skin, leaving marks.

"Felix.." you whimpered out, legs shaking as you tired to delay your orgasm until felix said you could cum

"want to cum?" you nodded fast, eyes pleading as your brows knitted together. "then cum petal. cum around my digits like a good girl."

You groaned out, legs shaking as your walls fluttered around felixs fingers. Felix thrusted his fingers slowly, rubbing lazy circles on your clit, helping you ride out your high. Once calm, Felix removed his fingers and kissed you softly and tenderly, you reciprocating the feelings.

You could feel Felix's hard cock poking the outside of your thigh. You went to reach for it, to relive him when he suddenly grabbed your wrist gently to stop you. You looked at him, confused.

"you dont have to do anything to me, let me care for you. tonight is all about you. besides, you'll have many opportunities to touch me in the future."

Your heart fluttered. so there's going to be more times that you and felix will be doing this type of stuff? You blushed at the thought. Felix shifted onto his knees, between your legs. He reached down and grabbed a condom out off his wallet, tearing it open.

he gave himself a few gentle strokes before rolling the condom on. Grabbing your legs, he pulled you closer to him, tip daring to enter you.

Felix held the base of his cock, teasing and rubbing your entrance before looking at you. "you ready? you absolutely sure you want this?" His voice sincere.

you nodded. "I've never been so sure about something in my life, lix." You smiled before groaning as Felix pushed himself inside you. The stretch burned. Felix leaned over you, weight supported by his arms that was on either side of your head.

"Petal, relax. It's okay. You're okay. im here." Felix planted gentle kisses on your forehead and cheeks, helping you calm down. He was halfway in you before he stopped, allowing you to adjust.

You nodded, feeling yourself relax. "move." you whispered. Felix thrusted into you, movements slow. He scanned your face for any signs of displeasure and when he saw none – when he heard your moans becoming frequent and the grip you have on his biceps – he picked up the pace.

pain turned to pleasure. your body hot, pleasure running through your veins. sweat started to form on your skin, mouth turning dry with the pants and moans. His movements were not slow, but they were not fast either. They held feeling, passion, love.

Felix captured your lips into his in a sloppily, breathless but passionate kiss which you gladly reciprocated. Your hands trailing up his back to his neck, holding the sides. His body was also hot and sweaty, hair sticking to his skin.

You pulled away and looked at the beautiful man above you. His long hair falling past his face, which you tucked behind his ear, showing more of his facial features. You ghosted your finger over his freckles, humming.

"so beautiful, lix." You whispered, causing Felix to blush.

"not as beautiful as you, petal." you clenched around Felix, causing him to groan. "shit.." you smirked at his reaction before your hand travelled down your stomach to your clit. You rubbed circles on it as Felix thrusted into you. your moans mixing with each others, kisses sloppily and lazy.

you felt the knot form in the pit of your stomach for the second time that night. Felix felt it by the way your walls clenched around him. Felix's thrusts soon turned sloppy and uncoordinated, indicating he was also close.

"you close lix? he grumbled, his facial expression desperate. "then cum, lix. don't hold back."

"want to – want to cum with you." He breathed out. You almost lost it at his words, your own high approaching rapidly. Your body tensed up, movement quickened on your clit.

"cum. im going to cum, lix." you cried out.

"together?" You nodded before the knot snapped. Your walls fluttering around felix, his name falling out of your mouth in soft whines and whimpers. Felix's movements stopped, groans escaping his lips as he emptied inside the condom, before shallowly thrusting, helping you both to ride out your highs.

once calm, he slowly pulled out and took the condom off, tying it and throwing it in the trash. he collapsed next to you. he turned to his side, facing you.

"so?" you turned your head, looking at him and humming. "wanna go on a date or something?"

You laughed. "bit backwards, no?" Felix looked at you and blinked "normally, people would go on a date then fuck. not fuck and then date."

Felix blushed, fiddling with his fingers "well, if you don't want to, that's fine too. I understand, especially after what hyunjin said."

You shook your head. "Hyunjin is Hyunjin. You cant control what he says. anyways, Chan seems like the sort of person to scold him so, i’m sure that has happened already."

Felix laughed, agreeing with you. Chan has for sure scolded Hyunjin, making him promise to apologise to you when he next sees you. He also had to stop the two youngsters from flicking his forehead so much.

"but i'd like that lix. i'd like to go on a date with you." you smiled at him as he gave you his big, toothy grin.

"perfect! tomorrow night at 7? meet me at my dorm" You nodded, your heart swelling and bursting with love and joy.

opposites do attract after all.

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mggpleasedontlookhere · 5 years ago

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home run

request: Spencer Reid and reader go undercover at a baseball game and their really close friends but then they get put on the kiss cam 👉👈

word count: 1,204 reading time aprox: 4 mins 30 secs

masterlist

“Did you know that essentially baseball is based on the physics of fluid dynamics, and a pitch produces a turbulent wake of air behind the ball. At which gets deflected depending upon which way the ball rotates. The rotation, actually causes the ball to move across the plate according to the same principles-” Spencer rambles, maneuvering his fingers around to motion to a spherical form rotating on it’s axis.

“And why would I know that Reid?” I laughed while playfully pushing him to the side, making sure he didn’t fall sideways on the steps we were trudging on. “You know for a guy who knows about the physics of sports, you don’t seem to actually like the sport itself” I criticized, watching Spencer cringe and crinkle his nose.

“I prefer the sport of chess” He retorted, scanning his eyes over the various crowds of middle age dads, young children, and die hard fans that populated the stands.

We were working a case here in New York City, comprised of a retired MLB investor who’s been suspected of 4 homicides of past athletes that played for the Mets.

I scoffed in amusement at the articulation of his words. “Remind me to educate you on being a normal human being after we’re done with this case” I teased whilst profiling the event. The floors of the stadium were tarnished in the sticky residue of spilled soda combined with leftover popcorn kernels.

“Oh be quiet Y/L/N, you were nowhere close to being normal when we were kids” Spencer commented, referring to my theater phase where I enacted and memorized every line from The Phantom of the Opera.

Reminiscing on my glory days, I remember compelling Spence to drop his physics textbooks when he was studying for his finals in high school, so that he would recite the entire play with me. “Okay but you were an atrocious Phantom to my Christine” I countered.

We both laughed at the memories we’ve made together, taking our seats in the process as the game resumed from it’s halftime show. “Our unsub a 35 to 45 year old white male” I reminded him, examining the game in process. “But that’s literally almost everybody in here” I groaned, seeing the lack of diversity in the stands.

“Yeah, but remember we’re looking for someone in posh clothing with the possibility of being overweight, which matches with the corresponding insecure factor of our unsub” He noted, taking a look at the VIP box that hung just above the top rows of the stadium. “He’s still regarded as a figure of influence so he may be in there” He gestured pointing to the location where many high class individuals usually resided.

“You may be right, let’s go-” I began my sentence but was abruptly interrupted by the sound of the announcer’s voice broadcasted all over stadium. “Ladies and Gentlemen, I hope everyone’s having an extraordinary time with us-” The man on the speaker said, although I drowned out his words as my focus derived from allocating our suspect in the VIP box.

The man began announcing advertisements and I took that as an opportunity to leave. “Come on Spence, you go into the room and I’ll-” I instructed while maneuvering out of the stands until a man twice my height and size unexpectedly occupied the seat at the end of the row, impeding my exit strategy. I went up to try and tap the individual to motion for him to leave, but instead he brought his legs up and settled them on the spine of the seat in front of him.

What a jackass

I reached for my badge that hung on the hemline on my pants when I felt Spencer nudge at me in hesitance. He then pointed up to the big screen on the opposite side of the stadium when I had realized that both of our faces were shown in pixels. Bewilderment flooded my thoughts until I saw ‘Kiss Cam’ in big bright animated letters lay coolly on the screen.

I gulped, watching Spencer looking at me for answers while he rubbed his hands on the material of his pants. Noticing his panicked state, I waved off the camera, indicating that I didn’t want to be part of the tradition, but was revoked on the choice when the crowd began to chant.

“KISS! KISS! KISS! KISS!” permeated both mine and Spencer’s eardrums making my heart race increase. Spencer continued to look at me in apprehension, dread probably running through that pretty little head of his.

“Spence, forget them, we don’t have to anyway” I turned around tugging at his arm to walk away from the cameras, but he took his stance. I peered at him in puzzlement, questioning his actions until he practically yanked my arm to where we were chest to chest.

A red tint had blossomed on the apple of my cheeks as I felt his breath fanning over my face. “Spence I-” I stuttered, not knowing how to go about the situation.

“Just shh” Spencer reassured. “Can I?” He sweetly asked, staring at my lips as I did so to his. I nodded in affirmation, the warmth shared between us making the small interaction more intimate. With my consent, he leaned down pressing a chaste kiss on lips.

Kissing him felt like I was jumping on clouds or floating in space with nothing tethered to me. The skin on his lips were soft and supple as he maneuvered them sublimely against my own. Regardless of the short and affection gesture, he lingered after he was finished, placing another kiss on my forehead.

The kiss cam then traveled to another pair, but time seemed to stop on it’s own as we stood gazing at one another. “I- Spence you didn’t really have to-” I spoke, shaking my head in disbelief at what had occurred.

“But I wanted to” Spencer professed, cutting me off mid sentence and denying me of the radical accusations I’ve made.

“You’ve never told me, that you know, you liked me or a-anything. I jus-st thought that you didn’t like me, especially with JJ when we f-first started and then-” I rambled, unable to produce regular sentences without getting my words caught up in each other.

Spencer reached over, grabbing my chin with his forefinger and thumb to acquire my attention. “I’ve never taken the chance to” He admitted shyly, caressing his thumb over the soft skin of my face.

His hazel eyes emitted nothing but a loving and genuine gaze that made my heart melt right into his hands. In all the years that I’ve been with him, I’ve never noticed his affection towards me.

“It’s funny how you’re a profiler and you haven’t been able to figure it out Y/L/N” He taunted, grinning at me while the blush on my cheeks grew exponentially.

“Shut up Spence, you’re just lucky I even let you kiss me” I retorted, shaking my head at him as we were finally able to surpass the ignorant man wouldn’t let us out of the aisle.

“Yeah I am lucky aren’t I” He praised, wrapping a firm arm around my waist as we walked towards the VIP box.

“Damn straight, Dr. Reid”

A/N

woah two imagines in one day, i must be going crazy

btw, i have one more request to write, then i’m going to be writing pt. 2 of ‘It Should’ve Been You’

#spencer reid imagines #spencerreid #spencer reid #spencer reid imagine #spencer reid icons #spencer x reader #spencer x you #spencer x oc #spencer reid x you #spencer reid x oc #spencer reid x y/n #spencer reid x reader #matthew gray gubler #matthew gray gubler imagines #matthew gray gubler imagine #criminal minds #criminal minds fic

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charlieconwayy · 4 years ago

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D3: The Mighty Ducks (1996) is the best Ducks movie and a flawless coming of age movie

It’s no secret that The Mighty Ducks are a beloved trilogy. The three films spawned a professional NHL team named in their honor, 2021 sequel series, as well as many knockoff films released in the 1990s. But with any movie series, fans tend to rank the films and have passionate opinions on which is the best. For most Ducks fans, the answer is simple: D2. It has the Bash Brothers, Team USA dominating, the iconic “Ducks Fly Together” scene and two Queen songs. What’s not to love? But upon a rewatch of the trilogy, I came to realize that it’s not D2, or even the original, that is the best in the series.

It’s the criminally underrated 1996 D3 that for me, is the most mature and has the most heart. Perhaps it’s that the Ducks are now old enough to carry their own weight on screen. Perhaps it’s that the film takes a look at trauma, specifically trauma in teenagers, and how that manifests itself. Perhaps it’s that the film is maybe ahead of its time, in the way it discusses classism, racism and sexism. There is so much about this overly hated film that makes it the best Ducks movie and a perfect coming of age film.

The movie starts presumably a few years following the Ducks’ win against Iceland. They all look noticeably older - definitely older than the middle schoolers we left behind in 1994 - and all of the male Ducks’ voices have dropped a few octaves. Gordon Bombay, played by Emilio Estevez, is presenting the team (except for unfortunately, Jesse Hall, a leader among the Ducks who would’ve made for a strong presence in this mature film, as well as Portman, but we’ll get to him later) with scholarships to his alma mater, Eden Hall, a preparatory high school in Minnesota. Charlie Conway, played by a young, pre-Dawson’s Creek Joshua Jackson, is the Ducks’ captain and unspoken leader. There’s been much debate over the years over whether or not Charlie is the true captain of the Ducks. Adam Banks, played by Vincent Larusso, is far and away better than practically every Duck combined. Fulton Reed, played by Elden Henson, has shown more maturity and leadership at this point. It’s probably true that the Ducks as a team think that Charlie is Captain because of Bombay’s favoritism towards him (and his mother), but I think that this film makes it abundantly clear why Charlie is the captain.

D3 is Charlie’s story. We see that in the opening scene, when Bombay tells Charlie he will not be following the team to Eden Hall, accepting a job instead in California. We learned in the original Mighty Ducks film, that Charlie and his mother left a bad situation in Charlie’s father when Charlie was very young. We also hear about Charlie’s mother, Casey’s marriage to a new man in the D2, who we can assume from what Jan says, that Charlie doesn’t like. We see in that first film, Charlie’s reaction to Bombay announcing that he is leaving the Ducks after the two of them have formed a bond. It is very clear that Charlie deals with abandonment issues, stemming from trauma in his early childhood. Charlie freaks out when a D3 Bombay announces the same thing, and storms off.

Change is the biggest theme in D3. We see how change affects each of the Ducks, even those who don’t get many lines. Some, like Russ Tyler, played by SNL’s Kenan Thompson, think it’s a good thing. All of the Ducks don’t come from good neighborhoods and we assume that most of them don’t have the best home lives, especially when Charlie tells their new coach, Orion, played by Jeffrey Nordling, that the Ducks are the only good thing that any of them have had. Going to a preparatory school should be a good thing for them. But for most of them, it’s not. The new Ducks (who by the way, three of which are people of color, and one of which, is a woman) are immediately told that “their kind” is not welcome at Eden Hall. The Varsity team claim that they feel this way because the captain’s younger brother was not admitted onto the JV team because of the Ducks’ scholarships, but it’s very clear what they really mean. Russ commented that he’s the only black person on the whole campus earlier, and he, Luis Mendoza (The Sandlot’s Mike Vitar) and Ken Wu (Justin Wong) are the only people of color we see in the film. Change takes a toll on each member of the team. We see it the most in Charlie, but we also hear from Fulton on how the separation from his best friend, Dean Portman (Aaron Lohr), who decided not to enroll at Eden Hall, is taking a toll on him. Connie (Margerite Moreau) and Guy (Garrette Henson) have presumably broken up, as the two small scenes we get of them, they are arguing. It’s a transition period, one that the first year of high school often is. But it’s also a look on how a rich, white privileged world is vastly different than the one that the Ducks are used to.

Coach Orion seems like a hardass, especially when he tells Charlie at their first practice that he will no longer be “Captain Duck” (as coined by D2’s Gunnar Stahl, played by Scott Whyte, who now plays the level-headed Varsity goalie Scooter). This, to the Ducks, is a line in the sand. Ever since Bombay turned District 5 into the Ducks four years previous, Charlie has been their captain. They’re in a whole new environment, where the man who gave them so much happiness and so many friendships isn’t, and their “little Duck tricks” won’t work anymore. Orion thinks Charlie is a showoff, and perhaps he is. This Charlie is vastly different than the sweet, shy Charlie we see in D1 and D2. But this Charlie is older, has just been abandoned by a man he considered a father, and is being harassed on a daily basis for being, as Varsity Captain Reilly puts it, “white trash.” I find it hard to believe sometimes that fans can look at Charlie from the outside, and not see who he is on the inside. All of Charlie’s closest relationships that we see portrayed in this movie, are with women. His mother (who he, as a teenage boy, says “I love you” to in the final scene of the movie), his teammates, Connie and Julie, who he gets a lot more screentime with, and with new love interest, Linda (Margot Finley).

I think now is a great time to talk about the shockingly impressive way all of the female characters are portrayed in this series, particularly this movie, especially for a 90s sports film. Connie has always been a leader on and off the ice. She’s in a relationship with Guy, but it’s not her only character trait. Dubbed “the Velvet Hammer” by Averman (Matt Doherty), she stands up for herself, and for her shy teammates (she literally shoves Peter Mark - a character cut out of D2 and D3 for good reason - in D1 when he insults Charlie) and stands up to the entire Varsity team despite them telling her that they hope they can “fight” with her later. Julie “The Cat” Gaffney (Columbe Jacobsen) is the second best player on the Ducks, despite the little ice time (thanks, Bombay) we see her have. She is the first person to tell of the Varsity, telling Captain Reilly that his little brother “just wasn’t good enough.” She’s a huge facilitator in the fire ant prank and despite the very weird and out of character game she had against the Blake Bears, shows that she deserves the number one goalie slot that Reilly gives her - despite what Goldberg, and the obvious underlying sexism there, have to say. I’ve also always been very impressed with Charlie’s mother, Casey (Heidi Kling). Although she has a romance with Bombay in D1, she makes it clear from the get go that her first priority is Charlie. We know that she took the two of them away from an abusive situation, and she’s a goddamn hero for that. Her scenes in D3 are limited, but they always show her chastising Charlie’s antics and encouraging him to stay in school. It goes unsaid, but it’s clear that she knows that he’s not going to get an education this good in the problematic public school system. But according to Linda, Charlie’s love interest, the private school system is no better. The first time we see Linda, she is protesting the “outdated” Warriors team name. This was in a 1996 kids movie, no less. She holds her own against Charlie, calling him out when he’s wrong. No one aside from Charlie, and maybe Fulton, get much screentime or lines aside from Bombay and Orion, but her presence and the point of her character is clear - not every rich person agrees with the horrible things that wealthy people do.

Back to the plot.

When the Ducks receive their positions, they learn that Banks, as a freshman, has made Varsity. From an outside perspective, they seems obvious. Banks is the best player we see in any of the films, definitely miles better than the losers on Varsity, so it seems obvious that he would be promoted. But Banks is unhappy with this. Adam Banks is a fan favorite character, definitely due to the sweet, understated performance by Larusso, but we don’t see much of him. From what we do see of him though, he underwent a huge character arc from D1 to now. In D1, Banks goes against his father’s protests and joins the Ducks, claiming that he “just wants to play hockey.” Here in D3, we see that Banks is utterly miserable despite playing with some of the best players in the state, purely because he’s not with his friends. At the end of the film, he makes the (questionable) decision to rejoin the Ducks and go against the Varsity. But Varsity seems to feel that Banks fits in with them, for obvious reasons. He’s the only Duck who comes from an affluent background, and he’s definitely the most clean cut. Captain Reilly is visibly angry in the final showdown with the Ducks that they no longer have Banks on their side, as if he’s betrayed “his kind.”

The turning point of the film comes when after Charlie has quit the freshman team (no longer the Ducks), Hans, a father figure to the Ducks and Bombay, suddenly passes away. It’s an insanely dark moment for a Disney film, especially when Bombay returns to the funeral and reminds the Ducks that it was “Hans who taught them to fly” and Charlie storms off, crying. I think Joshua Jackson, in the Ducks films, as well as in Dawson’s Creek, is phenomenally good at portraying teenagers who wouldn’t normally be seen as leading men. Who let their emotions overtake them, who have anger issues, who deal with familial problems. Characters like that in leading roles were almost unheard of in the 90s, and in the upcoming scenes, it reminds us why this side of Charlie that we’ve seen throughout the movie is not the only side of Charlie.

Bombay takes Charlie to the rink to see Orion skating with his disabled daughter, who was injured in a car accident. He reveals to Charlie that Orion quit the NHL to take care of her, and this immediately changes Charlie’s opinion of him, but he’s still unconvinced about rejoining the team. The next scene is without question, the greatest and most important scene of the trilogy. The last two films spent way too much time telling us how great of a person Bombay was, how he was the Minnesota Miracle Man,despite us seeing so little of that onscreen. We see him making mistake after mistake, hurting the team, being an unjustified dick to those around him. But this scene more than makes up for all of that. I’ve put the quote from this scene below.

Bombay: I was like you, Charlie. When I played hockey, I was a total hot shot. I tried to take control of every game. I wound up quitting. So I tried the law. I ruled the courtroom, but inside, I’m a mess. Start drinking. Man, I was going down. But then this great thing happened, maybe the best thing ever - I got arrested and sentenced to community service. And there you were - Charlie and the Ducks. And as hard as I fought it, there you were. You gave me a life, Charlie, and I want to say thank you. I told Orion about all of this when I talked to him about taking over. I told him that you were the heart of the team and that you would learn something from each other. I told him that you were the real Minnesota Miracle Man.

Charlie: You did?

Bombay: I did. So be that man, Charlie. Be that man.

It’s a callback to D2, when Jan tells Bombay “Be that man, Gordon. Be that man.” This scene is flawless. Every good thing that has happened to the Ducks, came because of Charlie’s heart. It came because of that game when Charlie refused to cheat, and made Bombay see his wrongs. It came because of when Bombay first tried to quit the team, and seeing how hurt Charlie was, agreed to stay. It was Charlie who stepped out of the game against Iceland so that Banks could play. It was Charlie who found them Russ. Giving the credit to a young, emotionally unstable teenager, rather than their Emilio Estevez, hotshot Bombay, is the best thing this series ever did.

This movie, in my opinion, is nearly flawless. Every moment has been planned to make the same point - change sucks. Especially when you’re a teenager. Even more so when you’re a teenager with trauma.

#the mighty ducks #gordon bombay #charlie conway #meta #i'm so proud of this pls read gay people!!!

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izloveshorses · 4 years ago

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bro are we about to kiss rn?

college au, 1.6k. maybe this will grow into a full fic? remains to be seen what my silly little brain will come up with next lol

“Do you want me to grab you a drink?” Dmitry asked over the roar of the speakers.

“If you let me follow you,” Anya answered. No way was she going to be left standing alone in the middle of a crowded frat house without a defense against a bunch of drunk football players.

He laughed and tugged her wrist behind him. She swallowed, unable to focus on anything but the warmth spreading from the contact all the way to her heart.

This party was a bad idea, she decided. Marfa was friends with a few of the guys in this fraternity, but even though Anya did enjoy the occasional tailgate or basketball game or even her sister’s sorority event, frat house parties were a little too much. Dmitry hated them, too, so neither of them ever accepted Marfa’s invitation until now. He suggested it as a joke, and Anya didn’t see any harm in at least checking it out. But only minutes after arriving, she was already overwhelmed by the smell of alcohol and the crowd of unfamiliar bodies, already wanting to escape. Wanting it to just be her and Dmitry.

And maybe she was a little bit in love with him, but that was irrelevant.

Ugh. they should’ve snuck into the greenhouse on the top floor of the biology building again. The hum of the fans and generators were better sounds than whatever music was playing now.

She’d known him since Freshman year, when he sat behind her in an econ lecture everyone was forced to take, and she’d hated him immediately. To her dismay she found out he was friends with Maria and even her new friend, Marfa, and later discovered he was a barista at the cafe she did her homework. They even lived in the same dorm— there was no escaping his self-absorbed smile and apathetic demeanor.

But the next year, when she got a job at the library and had to work the closing shifts, he’d unintentionally offered to walk her back home, and something shifted. It was small at first. He was always skateboarding back from the computer lab at that hour after working late on one of his projects and would just so happen to pass the library at the exact time she’d need to cross campus. And then she needed her laptop fixed at one point, and of course he was working in the tech support department, and he made a joke about someone finally asking for something other than connecting their Macbook to the wifi, and… well. She realized underneath all that cockiness and brooding angst, they weren’t so different, even if they did come from completely different backgrounds. She stopped insulting him when they were hanging out with Marfa and he stopped teasing her about being too studious for something not worth her time. She learned why he was so bitter and admired how hard he worked to keep his scholarships and earn money to pay for his tuition, and he made her laugh. Through him she saw a side of the world she’d been ignorant of before, and through her he saw a light he’d been blind to. Slowly, with each shared laugh, each hour spent studying together, each midnight drive to Taco Bell, he sort of grew into her best friend.

And then, for some reason, this year it changed again. Butterflies would stumble into flight in her stomach when she’d make him laugh or he’d casually snag her hand, and there was that one time he tried to teach her how to skateboard and his hands were on her waist to keep her steady and— well. You get the idea. She pieced the clues together and she wasn’t stupid enough to not know what they meant.

Somehow this boy who acted like he hated the world but would share random facts about the constellations in wonder, who said formal education was a waste of time but aced every project, who pretended like he was invisible in class but secretly knew every answer the professors threw at him, who could drive her insane but knew how to read her mind, had slowly crept into her heart, like he’d always belonged there. She’d realized that now. What she didn’t know, however, was what to do about them. So she did nothing. Because she didn’t know what she would do if she lost him.

And here she was, standing against the wall at the edge of a party, unable to hide from the truth she was denying, to avoid the way her heart skipped a beat in her chest every time he even stood next to her.

“So, what now?” Dmitry asked, snapping her out of her thoughts.

She feigned a smile. “I don’t know the protocol here.”

“Well, we already said hello to Marfa, the person who invited us.”

“Check.”

“We have our drinks,” he waved his solo cup as punctuation.

“Yes.”

“You’re sporting a crew neck with the school logo, making you fit right into the preppy cliche.”

“It’s comfortable and it’s festive!”

He rolled his eyes but smiled behind his cup. Of course he’d teased her about that. Tonight he was wearing a flannel over a white t-shirt, the spitting image of the I’m-rebellious-but-I’m-still-vain-enough-to-care-about-my-appearance look. “But what’s next?”

She frowned. “Now, this is the part where we go dance, but the music is… bad.”

“That’s fair.”

“Or, alternatively, I think this could be the part where we mingle, but I don’t know anyone here.”

“That hasn’t stopped you before.”

She looked up at him then. “What do you mean?”

“I’ve seen you at football games and stuff, you’re good at making friends.” He shrugged. “Or just… finding something to talk about and including everyone. I used to envy you for that, you know.”

She snorted. “You’re good at talking to people too.”

“Yeah, but not like… you know. I’m good at being charming, but you genuinely like people.” She didn’t know how to respond so she didn’t, making him shake his head. “Just accept the compliment already, Romanov.”

She grinned. “I guess I can’t think of a reason anyone else here is worth my time.”

He tilted his cup back. After a quiet moment passed he spoke again. “Can I ask you something?” She glanced up, waiting for whatever question he had for her. “Why waste your time with me, then?”

Her brow furrowed. “I don’t think you’re a waste of time.”

“Yeah, but you could get along with literally anyone else here, and you choose to stand against this wall with me to complain instead.”

Her throat tightened. Couldn’t he see it? Wasn’t it written all over her face? She’d sit in a walmart parking lot with him if he asked. The words that would ruin their friendship bubbled up and she was the world’s worst liar and there was no hiding from those dark eyes of his and the silence was growing and—

“This is the part where I get some air,” she stuttered, stumbling outside before he could respond or see what she was thinking.

She found a quiet spot on the wooden deck in the backyard, the breeze sending a chill down her back. She set her drink down and fiddled with the cuffs of her sleeves that stretched long past her fingertips. This party was definitely a terrible idea— now her head was cloudy and she almost slipped up her words and there were too many people around. Maybe sneaking into the greenhouse again would’ve also been a terrible idea, because who knew what she would’ve done if she’d been alone with him, but at least no one would be watching her fall apart like she was now.

“Anya, are you okay?”

Oh no.

Dmitry’s footsteps fell behind her and she couldn’t bear to turn around yet. “I’m sorry if I said something to upset you.”

“No, you didn’t!” she turned then, hoping her resolve wouldn’t crumble and that he would let her be. “I’m fine.”

He saw right through her. Taking her hand, he said, “We can go, if you want.”

“No, I’m fine.”

He nodded, and her eyes fell to the hand enveloping hers, keeping her warm. “I’ll leave you alone, then. If you’re okay.”

But the thought of his hand pulling away made her panic. “Don’t go.”

She didn’t have to look up to know he was confused. But he stepped closer again, back to his original spot, and then another step. And another. His other hand found her freezing one and her shoulders relaxed.

Still staring at his hands, she mumbled, “You’re never a waste of time. Not to me.”

When she risked a glance up at him the column of his throat bobbed. His eyes searched hers and she was too tired to look away and hide, and when he found whatever it was he was looking for he smiled, a quiet one that only creased his dimples a little bit. And then to her shock he asked, “Is this the part where we kiss?”

Her heart tripped over itself like it was falling down the stairs. She blinked rapidly, her brain not prepared for this tonight. “You tell me.”

His grin spread, and she almost laughed at herself for thinking she once hated it. But then he leaned in and all thoughts that had nothing to do with the way his lips tasted or the way his hand felt under her sweatshirt on her back or how soft his hair was between her fingers or how sturdy his chest was under her palm were no longer important. No, nothing mattered now in this moment, except the inexplicable happiness spreading from her chest down to every tip of her limbs, so much that she couldn’t help the little laugh that escaped her lips into his smiling mouth, because she was kissing Dmitry and she was a little bit in love with him and he was kissing her back.

She made a mental note to thank Marfa later for the invitation to the party.

#anastasia broadway #anastasia musical #dimya #fanfiction #my writing #i am once again coming to u with a fully-written fic from a vision i had in the middle of the day

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jennibeultimate · 4 years ago

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Legends of Gymnastics: Q & A with Evgeniya Kanaeva (RUS)

19/02/2021

From 2009 to 2012, Rhythmic gymnast Evgeniya Kanaeva (RUS) proved nearly unbeatable, but the Omsk-born superstar never got ahead of herself. “I never thought I was the best, even when I was winning,” she says.

The secret to success in Rhythmic Gymnastics, as explained by one prestigious Russian coach, goes like this: should you win a competition, while you are on the medal stand you should enjoy your moment, for you have worked hard and been recognised for it. But from the instant you step down from it, the counter resets to zero, and you must work like you have never won anything at all.

Evgeniya Kanaeva was educated in this school of thought, and the philosophy was one she embraced throughout her long and extraordinarily successful career. “I never thought that I was the best, even when I was winning,” the 2008 and 2012 Olympic champion explained in a recent interview with the FIG.

Yet win she did, and a lot: in the years between her Olympic Games, Kanaeva rarely lost a competition. In 2009, she became the first gymnast in any FIG discipline to sweep the golds at the World Championships, a feat she repeated in 2011. She also swept the podiums at The World Games 2009 in Kaohsiung (TPE), the only Rhythmic gymnast in three decades of Games history to do so. Her results in Kaohsiung lifted her into the finals of The World Games Greatest Athlete Of All Time competition earlier this year, where she finished sixth among 24 stellar athletes in a public vote.

An adaptable, collaborative gymnast, the young Kanaeva earned the nickname “Mother Teresa” for her kindness and willingness to help others. For herself, she reserved a fastidiousness and work ethic that surpassed everyone around her. Yana Kudryavtseva, the world champion from 2013-2015, once said she learned what it meant to work hard from watching Kanaeva train. Kanaeva looks back on those days with nothing but pleasure. “I really love Rhythmic Gymnastics! Sometimes I did not even notice the difficulties because I was doing what I loved,” she said.

A true student of the sport, Kanaeva diligently analysed recordings of her work and strove to learn from her teammates as well as her international rivals. “I was very lucky with my coaches and the people who surrounded me. And there was also a little help even from those people who criticized me - and there were a lot of them - because of the inner spirit of competition inside our team,” she confided. “Their criticism helped me in drawing attention to my weaknesses, and I took advantage of it, tried to work even harder and fix it so that there were no faults to be found in me.”

After retiring from the sport following her successful Olympic title defense in 2012, Kanaeva became a coach, which has allowed her to savor every victory her young protegees achieve. In this Q&A, edited for clarity, the Omsk native revisits her past and present in the sport. “I love my job, and I am the happiest person ever because I do what I love,” she said. “When I work with people, I experience emotions with them, I get more adrenaline, I share every success with them, I support them in difficult situations, I teach them to overcome obstacles and not to give up. I continue studying together with them.”

Would you say that your character as a gymnast and your character as a person were different?

Evgeniya Kanaeva: “I think no, not different. In life, I am sociable, active and quite patient. And in sports, it helped me a lot. Sociability helps when you work in tandem with a coach and you listen to each other, it gives good results of your work. Purposefulness was also there; I really liked to achieve goals, starting with the appearance and techniques (like mastering new elements), although it was sometimes extremely hard, it's worth it. I also loved watching our coaches celebrate our success together, no matter if it was a new element, a ‘perfect’ routine or winning a competition. My self-criticism has been with me all my life, in sports, too. Maybe it helped to some extent, but I was never happy with myself as a gymnast and as a person. I am very emotional. In the gym, there were flashes of emotions, and frustration, and fatigue… after all, my sports career was quite difficult, and there were different stages, and ups and downs.”

Did you have a lot of contact with fans as a gymnast? What is the nicest thing someone said to you about your Gymnastics?

E.K.: “I did communicate with them! And that really motivated me! It is inexplicably pleasant to perform when your name and your country are chanted, and you feel you are ready to move mountains and do incredible things. They gave me a lot of handmade gifts, talismans, poems. In fact, there are a lot of fans, but each one is in my heart. Relatively recently, a girl came up to me and asked me to hug her. Then she burst into tears on my shoulder and told me that my performances had helped her survive a most severe injury. It inspired her to get on her feet again and overcome difficulties. It moved me to tears…”

After your success in Beijing, what made you decide to continue?

E.K.: “I was interested in going through the entire Olympic cycle as a senior gymnast. Most likely, it was a challenge for myself. But I initially had no plans to retire after Beijing. I was too ‘hungry’ for sport, and I felt that I had not done everything I could yet.”

In which period of your career did you experience the most difficulties?

E.K.: “In 2006 – 2007, when I started my senior programmes, it was not easy. That was the moment when I started performing together with the girls older than myself and needed to look good at their level. There was still no confidence in whether I could reach such a high level. Then, after the first Olympics, the new rules were accepted, and it was terribly hard both mentally and physically to continue my sport career after the success.”

You won so often that many considered you unbeatable. Did that bring pressure or confidence?

E.K.: “The pressure was indeed there, I understood that if I was to be the leader, I had to work even harder and invent even more new things, so that not to bore the audience and the judges. Victories give you more confidence, but they are a test of strength. I didn't consider myself invincible and I understood that if it was not me, it would be another gymnast.”

Was your second Olympics in 2012 easier than your first?

E.K.: “Both were very difficult. At the first Olympics, there was a difficult selection. Initially, at the end of 2007, I was not supposed to be included in the national team, and it seemed that it was not really possible to compete at the Olympic Games. But then there were more and more competitions, and I started taking part in all Grand Prix and World Cup events. There was no limit to my happiness; I did love to perform, and I no longer thought about whether I could go to the OIympics or not, and I just enjoyed the moment. In accordance with the sport principles, I was included in the Olympic team. I didn't understand what was going on around me at the time. And there were people who did not believe that I would perform well at the OIympics. Of course, it was all very difficult psychologically.

At the Olympic Games I was completely euphoric that I was there, and for me it was like a fairy tale. My coaches helped me then, so that I could mentally withstand this load. Vera Shtelbaums said ‘Go and perform as if it’s a school competition’. She understood that I was a very responsible person, and she tried to calm me down. Irina Alexandrovna Viner [Russian national coach] told me, ‘Forget about your responsibility and just perform.’ It was all very calm and comfortable. Only the first routine was a bit nervous, and I thought my heart would blow up! And then, thank God, everything went well.

The second Olympiad was very difficult too, as there was a lot of competition within the national team, and you just do not have the right to relax. My teammates were younger than me, and they had not yet experienced what victories meant. And they had a great thirst to win. I am very grateful to each of them - we grew together as athletes, and we were progressing from one competition to another one. But the desire to get to the second Olympics and achieve my goal was still growing in me. All the difficulties that were on my way made me stronger.”

When you win so much, do you feel obligated to maintain your level in order to continue winning? Did you struggle with this?

E.K.: “Yes, it's a big responsibility, because everyone expects something new from you. When you are the leader, and if you want to remain the leader, you must surpass yourself with each season, surprise with new elements and images. I really loved the process itself, and I liked to come up with new elements. I always wanted to do something that was difficult to repeat.”

How has Rhythmic Gymnastics changed between 2012 and now? How do you feel when you watch the sport today?

E.K.: “It has changed significantly. Gymnasts are now working at a very high speed. They began handling their apparatus more masterfully. Body and apparatus difficulty scores have become unlimited. Girls often try to do as much as possible to gain more apparatus difficulty and earn more points. And it is very difficult to combine complexity with artistry and create a masterpiece in your composition. Of course, very few gymnasts can now demonstrate their individuality. Very few of them will take risks and spend a lot of time and effort on working out original complex elements and images. But those who can do it deserve delight and respect! I understand how hard it is to work every day and what a commitment it is for gymnasts, coaches, choreographers and all the team staff.”

#rhythmic gymnastics #evgenia kanaeva #interview #rg

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katejyublog · 7 months ago

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Quality After-School Education: Who Stands Out In Dublin

When it comes to after-school education in Dublin, parents are spoilt for choice. However, one program consistently rises above the rest for its commitment to quality, innovation, and child development: Yang Fan Academy’s After-School Program.

Comprehensive Educational Approach

Yang Fan Academy differentiates itself from typical after-school offerings through its unique and holistic approach to student development. This exceptional program balances comprehensive academic support with an extensive array of extracurricular activities, catering to the multifaceted needs of each student. This dual focus ensures that children are not only progressing academically but are also developing a broad range of skills and interests that nurture their intellectual and creative potentials.

The Academy’s academic framework is designed to provide more than just basic homework help. It incorporates structured time for completing school assignments under the guidance of skilled educators who are adept at fostering a deep understanding of the material. This allows students to not only finish their homework with accuracy but to engage with the content on a deeper level, enhancing comprehension and retention of learned concepts. Teachers at Yang Fan Academy are committed to transforming routine homework tasks into interactive and enriching learning experiences that promote curiosity and a love for learning.

Furthermore, the program is enriched with a variety of activities that extend beyond traditional classroom subjects. Yang Fan Academy offers everything from STEM workshops and language arts to music, arts, and physical education, each designed to complement academic studies and stimulate personal growth. These activities are carefully selected to help students develop new skills, think critically, and express themselves creatively.

A Focus On Whole-Child Development

Yang Fan Academy recognizes that a child’s development encompasses more than just academic achievements; it includes nurturing their social, emotional, and physical growth as well. To this end, the academy offers a comprehensive program that encourages children to participate in a wide range of activities, from sports and physical education to music, arts, and creative pursuits.

By incorporating these diverse activities into the daily routine, Yang Fan Academy ensures that each child has the opportunity to explore and develop various interests. This not only enriches their educational experience but also helps them build a more well-rounded personality. For instance, engaging in team sports develops teamwork and leadership skills, while music and art provide a creative outlet that can improve cognitive functions and emotional expression.

Furthermore, the academy places a strong emphasis on the emotional and social aspects of child development. Activities are designed to promote interaction and communication among peers, which helps children develop strong social skills. This includes learning to work cooperatively, resolving conflicts, and building empathy with others, which are crucial skills in both school and life.

Physical activities are also a core component of the program, encouraging students to adopt healthy lifestyles. Regular physical exercise not only improves fitness but also enhances mental health by reducing stress, anxiety, and depression. Yang Fan Academy’s diverse offerings ensure that physical education is both fun and engaging, motivating children to remain active and energetic.

Experienced And Passionate Educators

Yang Fan Academy prides itself on the quality and dedication of its staff, which forms the foundation of the academy’s success. The team consists of experienced educators who are not only passionate about teaching but are also deeply committed to the holistic development of each child. These professionals strive to create a nurturing and stimulating environment that encourages students to embrace learning and personal growth.

The effectiveness of Yang Fan Academy’s program is significantly enhanced by maintaining a low student-to-teacher ratio. This approach ensures that each child receives individualized attention, allowing teachers to tailor their instructional methods to meet the unique needs and learning styles of each student. Such personalized attention helps to identify and cultivate the strengths of each child, address their weaknesses, and encourage them to explore new interests.

Moreover, Yang Fan Academy’s educators are adept at integrating academic learning with a wide array of extracurricular activities, ensuring that education extends beyond traditional classroom boundaries. Whether it’s through arts and crafts, science experiments, or physical activities, the teachers use these opportunities to reinforce core academic skills as well as to promote critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.

The educators at Yang Fan Academy also focus on fostering a supportive community within the classroom. They encourage collaboration among students, which helps build essential social skills such as communication, cooperation, and conflict resolution. This community-oriented approach not only enhances the learning experience but also helps students feel more connected and engaged, contributing to a more positive and inclusive school culture.

Safety And Community

Safety and security are top priorities for any parent when choosing an after-school program for their children. Recognizing this critical concern, Yang Fan Academy has established stringent security protocols to ensure that all students are safe and protected while in their care. The academy’s facilities are equipped with the latest security technologies, including surveillance cameras, secured access points, and strict visitor screening processes. These measures are in place to create a secure environment where children can focus on learning and development without safety concerns.

Beyond physical safety, Yang Fan Academy is committed to fostering a nurturing environment that promotes emotional security and well-being. The program emphasizes the development of a strong sense of community among students, parents, and staff. This sense of belonging is cultivated through regular communication, family engagement activities, and community-building events. These initiatives help to create strong bonds within the academy, ensuring that parents feel connected and involved in their children’s education and social environment.

Moreover, the staff at Yang Fan Academy are trained not only in educational practices but also in first aid and emergency response, ensuring they are prepared to handle any situation that may arise. This comprehensive approach to safety and community fosters a supportive network that extends beyond the classroom, giving parents peace of mind and making the children feel like they are part of a caring and attentive community.

By integrating these safety measures and community-building efforts, Yang Fan Academy ensures that the children’s educational experiences are conducted in a safe, secure, and supportive environment, making it a preferred choice for parents who value both educational quality and the overall well-being of their children.

Engaging Local Community

Yang Fan Academy distinguishes itself not only through its exceptional educational programs but also through its active engagement with the local Dublin community. By establishing partnerships with local businesses, cultural institutions, and community organizations, the academy provides students with unique opportunities to interact with the world around them. These interactions are designed to enhance their educational experience and foster personal growth by connecting classroom learning to real-world situations.

This community engagement is manifested in several ways. Students participate in field trips to local museums, libraries, and science centers, where they can see the practical application of their classroom lessons. Additionally, local professionals from various fields are invited to speak at the academy, giving students insights into different career paths and expanding their understanding of what they can achieve.

The academy also participates in community service projects, which are a core part of the curriculum. These projects not only help to instill a sense of civic duty and social responsibility but also allow students to contribute positively to their community. Whether it’s through organizing local clean-ups, participating in food drives, or assisting at community centers, students learn the importance of giving back and the impact they can have on their surroundings.

Furthermore, these community interactions help students develop a sense of belonging and identity within their local environment. They come to understand their role and potential impact within the broader society, which can be incredibly empowering for young learners. This sense of belonging is further enhanced by the relationships they build with community members, enriching their social networks and providing them with additional support systems outside of school.

Conclusion

Selecting the appropriate after-school program is an important decision for parents who are keen on enhancing their child’s educational journey and personal development. Yang Fan Academy goes beyond typical after-school care by offering a structured pathway to both personal and academic success. Located in Dublin, it stands out as a premier choice for parents seeking an after-school program that delivers a holistic educational experience.

At Yang Fan Academy, we understand that education encompasses more than just academics. Our program is designed to nurture various aspects of a child’s development including social skills, emotional well-being, and physical health. This approach ensures that children are not only successful in school but are also well-prepared for the challenges of life.

Our curriculum includes a broad range of activities, from homework assistance to creative arts, science experiments, and physical activities, all structured to engage students in a meaningful way. This diversity in programming allows each child to explore their interests and develop new skills in a fun, engaging environment. Our activities are designed to stimulate curiosity and encourage lifelong learning.

Furthermore, Yang Fan Academy prides itself on fostering a strong sense of community among its students, parents, and educators. This supportive network enhances the educational experience and provides a safe space for children to express themselves and grow. Our committed staff ensures that every student receives individual attention, adapting teaching methods to meet the unique needs of each child.

For parents in Dublin looking for more than just after-school supervision, Yang Fan Academy offers a comprehensive program that prepares children for the future in all aspects of their lives. By choosing our academy, you are investing in a program that cares deeply about the well-being and success of its students, ensuring they have the best possible foundation for their next steps in life.

Visit our website or contact us today to learn more about our program and how we can help your child achieve their full potential.

Learn More About Yang Fan Academy:

Name :Yang Fan Academy

Address :4160 Hacienda Dr STE 100, Pleasanton, CA 94588, United States

Contact :+1 925-268-7798

Website : https://yfacademy.org/

YouTube Channel : https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtAkSNFX3JDR0DF9F-14kLg

Subscribe and Follow for more updates!

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jasonp01 · 7 months ago

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Quality After-School Education: Who Stands Out In Dublin

Comprehensive Educational Approach

A Focus On Whole-Child Development

Experienced And Passionate Educators

Safety And Community

Engaging Local Community

Conclusion

Visit our website or contact us today to learn more about our program and how we can help your child achieve their full potential.

0 notes

timothypines · 4 years ago

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Is Classical Music Dead? (Essay)

How does society determine when a particular genre of music is dead? From this question, multiple others are born. For example, do we consider that the inspiration from music continued throughout popular genres as the survival of what it was originally? Or is it dead because it has changed into something different from its original form? When it comes to classical music, it isn’t really as question about whether or not it is dead, but if it’s dying. Classical music is still being performed, listened to, and celebrated in communities today, so calling it dead seems premature, even foolish. That’s not to say that the average person believing classical music is dying is without merit; classical music isn’t usually on the radar for say a random person asked off the street. However, when looked at from the perspective of the musical community, classical music is positively flourishing and doesn’t seem to be going anywhere anytime soon.

In a New York Times Article, a violinist showed concern that the classical music industry was dying. Some readers responded in letters reacting to the concerns she expressed. The violinist started by saying, “A schoolboy recently asked me if Richard Wagner was a pitcher for the Yankees. At that moment I feared that classical music in America was doomed” (Dreyer). Like this violinist expressed, most people in the music community, and outside the community, acknowledge that classical music isn’t a subject that most people going through life know a whole lot about. While many know some parts of classical pieces and perhaps some names of famous composers, their knowledge is surface level and, for the most part, they don’t seek to learn more. This reflects in some worrying trends in the industry. Classical radio stations were shutting down, concerts were being reduced and canceled, less and less were classical musicians being discussed (Dreyer). Classical music simply isn’t popular. But from this trend came a great wave of musicians, teachers, and lovers of classical music who were determined to spread the love and knowledge of a music they deemed immensely important, and rightfully so.

Most all of the music we have and enjoy today has elements that came from classical music, from the most basic to the more complex. The major-minor scale system that is commonly used in the majority of today’s music was first put into use in the baroque period. It was in this period that the scale system was also standardized (Willoughby). In fact, the baroque period standardized a great many musical tools, styles, and elements. From this period developed keyboard music, which lead to the invention of the modern piano, an instrument that can be argued to be the most important instrument when it comes to creating music, harmony, a base element in most music performed today, and the establishment of the orchestra (Willoughby). It would take a long time to list all of the musical elements gained and standardized in the baroque period, but it is certain that music would not look nearly the same if not for the major development that occurred.

The baroque period, while very important, wasn’t the only period that significantly influenced music. The romantic period brought what was missing from music in the baroque period back into the musical community, emotion. A big emphasis on music today is how it makes the listener feel. While the baroque period brought technicality, all emotion was sacrificed for ridged structure and extremely complex technique. Beethoven put emotion into his music, effectively shifting people’s approach to composing. Willoughby writes, “These attributes of Beethoven mirror the attributes of the Romantic period as a whole; it was a time when artistic expression became highly individual and personal, and also highly emotional” (Willoughby, 253). With this wave of emotion came another change; music started being made for music’s sake. Composers started writing what they wanted to hear instead of what was popular or what the church needed for service. A large part of what music is now has come from classical music, and most people within the music community, of many genres, understand and respect this.

It is important to be noted that while people respect the roots that classical music has provided, that doesn’t mean that people are very supportive of how it exists, or rather, how they believe it exists. There is a notion that classical music is elitist, for the rich and privileged only. One could point to the expensive ticketing for opera and ballets and orchestra performances to prove this point, but there are many things that are just as or even more expensive than these tickets that people don’t find elitist—for example, sporting events (Cross-eyed Pianist). Some people will point at the etiquette and dress for attendance at a concert hall. The fact remains, however, that opera houses and concert halls have no official dress code or strict rules everyone must follow. Music blogger and commenter goes on to say, “It troubles me, this negative perception of classical music and its fans, and it strikes me that currently there is an image crisis surrounding classical music. It wasn’t always like this. When I was growing up in the 1970s, there was more classical music in our everyday lives” (Cross-eyed Pianist). Most people have the notion that classical music is only accessible to and is only made for those better off than themselves, even though it has been available to and made for everyone’s ears for centuries now.

With that in mind, the love for classical music itself has not died out yet. There is a vast and passionate community of musicians, teachers, and listeners who adore classical music and saw it failing in the wider community. These people have worked hard and are continuing to work hard to spread a passion for classical music. An excellent example of some people doing this is the YouTube duo who run the channel Two Set Violin. On this channel they make comedy sketches, play games, and react to videos. All of this content is tied together by one thing, classical music. Brett and Eddy, the two friends who run Two Set, are professionally trained violinists who decided to make a YouTube channel to try and spread love for classical music. It was also important to them to make classical music and the education of classical music more accessible. They teach about music in an engaging, funny way all while encouraging their audience to create and perform music. Their saying is simply ‘practice’. They encourage their musician audience members by reminding them that no one who is really good at playing an instrument got there without hard work and tell them to keep practicing. Two Set has even brought on large musicians like Hillary Han and Benny Chen to talk about their experiences and the importance of practicing. This helps to break the stereotype of not only what a classical musician looks like, but how they act and how much work goes into their music. In one video, while reacting to an American Idol performance with two violinists, one of the judges says, “It’s so nice to see such young, good looking guys that play the violin because usually they’re like old and bald and, you know, a bit greasy” (Two Set Violin). They respond by pointing out that they themselves are young and that this is a negative stereotype. In another video they react to a man that says he is the fastest violin player in the world. Brett says, “the world needs to know that classical music is more than just playing fast” (Two Set Violin). In these two videos, Brett and Eddy are challenging the media’s, and greater public’s, view of classical music, the view that classical music is old, for old people, and the people who participate are elitists who only care about perfection and technicality. And they have done so much more than videos like these reaction to other musicians. They have had videos where they have their followers compose a piece and send it to them to play. They have asked people to send in clips of them performing for them to react to. In so many ways these two violinists have gotten so many people involved in classical music. Over the years they have grown a great following of people who love participating in classical music, whether that be through performance or listening; as of today, they have almost 3 million subscribers (Two Set Violin). Brett and Eddy aren’t the only people who have gotten the public more involved in classical music. As social media has grown, classical musicians have become increasingly accessible to the public. The violinist Hillary Han often posts on Instagram videos of her practicing and other music related things, but she also speaks on social issues and gives insight into her life. This shows all 300,000 followers she is human (violincase).

It is difficult to say whether or not a musical genre is dead, and even harder to say if it’s dying. The act of music dying would take centuries, and even then, there are arguments to be made that because other music that exists was influenced by the ‘dead’ music, it still lives. Classical music was the popular music for centuries, its memory will not so easily fade, especially to the point where it is considered a dead genre. Even if it is not a popular genre today, classical music is being kept alive by the musicians who perform it and the people who love to listen to it. Music is art that decorates and marks time, and so, as long as people paint time with classical music, it is not dead.

Work Cited

Dreyer, Les. “Sunday Dialogue: Is Classical Music Dying?” The New York Times, 2012. https://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/25/opinion/sunday/sunday-dialogue-is-classical-music-dying.html

Willoughby, David. The World of Music. McGraw-Hill Higher Education. Kindle Edition.

The Cross-Eyed Pianist. “Who Made Classical Music ‘elitist’?” The Cross-Eyed Pianist, 2019. https://crosseyedpianist.com/2019/07/24/who-made-classical-music-elitist/

Two Set Violin. “The World's FASTEST (and most INACCURATE) VIOLINIST!” YouTube, 2018. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvsvaCU6i1M&ab_channel=TwoSetViolin

Two Set Violin. “Classical Violinists React to Mainstream Violin Competitions” YouTube, 2019. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_uVN5Fb_Z44&ab_channel=TwoSetViolin

Han, Hillary. “@violincase” Instagram.

#classical music #music #twosetviolin #hillary han

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