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aeolianblues · 7 days

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Thinking about Fontaines D.C. again. They’re quite different from any other band of the 2020s that I can think of, somehow they’re simultaneously both completely of this decade in their themes, context and sound, and still have something almost old-fashioned, maybe even timeless about them.

Like they’ve got that sound, depth and emotional complexity that makes people believe there’s something more to them, they’re no flash in the pan, they aren’t chasing any trends or whatever. And still, their post punk sound was so placeably 2018-2022 that you’d listen to it and you have to say yep, these lads came up in the wake of bands like IDLES at the same time as bands like Shame, very 2019.

And you never think, ‘oh I wonder what happened to them, I haven’t heard from them in a while,’ despite the fact that they are basically not active at all on social media. They have the band IG and each member too, but half of them last posted in like 2022 once. They aren’t doing any ‘trends’ or challenges or too many behind the scenes stuff— nothing. It feels almost like a classic band, like someone from the 90s or for the last time, the 00s.

And yet they feel modern, maybe it’s just that they speak to pretty modern fears and anxieties. I don’t know. But then, they’re also still doing the band grind. They’re not famous for anything except their music. No gimmicks, no collabs, they’ve never had a viral hit. People buy their whole albums because nothing they do misses. They sell more on vinyl than some of artists who are much bigger than them and monopolise the record pressing plants (coughs and dies).

Their best known songs are widely known because of fantastic televised festival performances in 2019 and 2022 (Boys In The Better Land, R+L 2019, R+L 2022 when they had that 18 y/o fan join them on guitar; Big Shot with the strings and piano and I Love You, Glasto 2022). Nothing about that is modern, and yet here they are. I couldn’t really see them coming up in another age, not because of the music but the context and themes.

I know, some of their songs sound like they could’ve been observational poems by Keats, Yeats, modern ones like MacGowan. Grian has said he’s still drawn to nature poetry despite being a city boy, but you listen to something like Oh Such A Spring and tell me he couldn’t write an ode to a landscape. Songs like I Love You, the album Skinty Fia in it’s whole. I personally nearly cried hearing it the first time, because as much as musicians have often written about being misfits, about not fitting in, it wasn’t very often that you’d hear someone explicitly framing that from the theme of an immigrant, of someone away from home, neither any longer a part of their home place but noticeably a stranger in the new. About having his Irishness almost heightened by not being in Ireland anymore. All of that. Oddly for the times, and very relevant. Songs like Bloomsday as well. Going back home and realising why you left in the first place. In some ways, Fontaines could only be a band of the now. And yet, there’s been something so traditional about their ascent.

Got big off the back of solid songwriting, they come off as clear-eyed romantics, still with a bit of the mystery and distance afforded to a rockstar of the past, yet not rockstars because they’re such ordinary people. The everyday poets, with a bit of mysticism about them. Amongst many of the bands that have got big in the last four years, they’re the only ones who are still truly independent, all the rest are on Island (UMG subsidiary). They have, if anything, gone more independent now: they’ve moved from Partisan to XL Recordings, both independent labels, and XL is part of the Beggars Group, perhaps one of the largest to still remain completely independent. At this stage in their career: chart topping albums, huge physical sales, a Grammy nomination, Irish Choice Prize nom and a BRIT win, surely if they wanted to, they could easily get on any of the majors. They could bypass the subs and go directly to like, Warner. They’d definitely get signed if they wanted. They’ve chosen to remain independent, admirably.

In some way, it adds to the appeal of the band. There’s a bit of the old band charm to them. I want to be careful not to over-romanticise or turn to folklore a group of very real human beings who have indicated at times that they are perhaps not very comfortable being put up on a pedestal (they are right), and I respect and honour that notion. But there’s certainly something special about this band. And perhaps Starburster has only reignited my admiration for this band, man they’re good.

#Music #long #sorry #fontaines d.c.#fontaines dc #Excuse me if you will because I’m a music journalist; if I don’t who will?

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kiwidotcom · 1 year

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yall im about to expose myself so bad right now but i cannot believe what just happened to me happened.

ok backstory. i got completely burnt out in 2020. like had to quit my jobs and stay at the hospital. its been really really hard to get back to work since.

but then i started working at this place called mission possible. its a work placement non profit that helps people get back into the work force. its actually amazing and im so grateful for it. its needle and litter pick up, plaza washing, power washing, landscaping etc. i just tell ppl landscaping because as grateful as i am im also embarrassed as fucking hell. And i feel guilty as hell because its not like i think anyone in the program should be embarrassed!!!! i swear!! its just, hard when no one i know is .. failing at life... quite like me. and i love mp so much, but it kinda sheds light on that.. so its hard. I’m always thinking someone i know might see me. but surprisingly only one person i know ever has and ive worked there over a year. and it was nbd

and additional thing im anxious about is that people think im doing community service. strangers have asked me multiple times. sometimes its fun because im always like ‘ya i robbed 100 banks’ . but still.

ok backstory part 2/2 i dated a guy in 2016. he was my first everything. so kind of a big ass deal. but its not like i harboured feelings. i broke up with him yadda yadda. hes had me blocked since 2018. not because anything happened. but last summer he unblocked me out of no where and hit me up to catch up, we made plans but they fell through. and we hadnt talked since.

Guess who i saw while working today.

When we talked last summer he mentioned he lived in that area. him and his girlfriend were just having breakfast. AND oh my god so (lol) i looked worse today than average because i was with someone last night/ this morning so i looked messier. and they have the same fucking name lmao. very different as people but they have the same name. anyway. i acted a DAMN FOOL and was ridiculous. it was painful.

i messaged him that we need to catch up when im not wearing the high vis/ steel toe ensemble. i require vindication.

he asks me if im doing community service. he makes a joke but he genuinely asks.

i reply with a joke and say no. he then says “we both assumed it was community service"

Fucking y'all

so if you want to feel better. i ran into my ex and after i left, him and his girlfriend discussed how im likely doing community service.

someone end me pls

#its not long long #but too long to post regualrly #but yea holy fucking shit #gunna make toast in the shower brb #like i feel like shower would work right lmao #i dont like baths #ok sorry my brain is just so fucked right now #lmaooo

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bluebudgie · 2 years

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10 YEARS OF GW2 – A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE

Hello peeps! As a little countdown to GW2's launch anniversary on August 28 I decided to dig up some old memories and take a small look at my personal journey through the game. Each day I'll make a post about another year.

DAY 9: 2021

I mentioned the sort-of-kinda-semi-hiatus last post... you know what pulled me back deep into the game in 2021?

Sometimes all you gotta do is have a scenic stroll through the jungle at 3 in the morning. Hopped on Tvekks, decided to complete the most tangled of all maps. It was such a relaxing experience late at night it unironically pulled me back into playing actively.

I could probably just sum up the entire year by saying “Tangled Depths” because my god did I start dissecting that map in and out. But seriously look at it, it’s so, so pretty.

I haven’t really talked about any of the characters I created throughout the years because it would really explode the scope of these posts, but I do want to point out this little brat:

I had wanted to make a character that goes with the endless ocean weapons ever since the set released in 2019, and two years later I finally did it! I don’t know why, but somehow his creation felt very significant to me. I have no idea. Maybe because he was the first character I created in a really long time.

Other than running around like an unhinged photographer taking a bazillion landscape screenshots (approximately 75% of those in the jungle) and starting to do chak gerent regularly (one day it will be... the chak egg sac.. and me...), my girlfriend and I decided to replay the entire story starting from LS2 in preparation for the upcoming End of Dragons! This time we did it on different characters than our usual commander duo. Our extra objective for that playthrough was to pose in as many inappropriate places as possible.

I also got to see Cmaj perform this year! The concert was so fun to watch, it’s incredible how much effort goes into these perfomances.

That aside, most of my screenshot folder looks like this:

Or, uh.. this.

I think that about sums up the year, really.

Lastly, apparently I made a reminder for myself (that I didn’t remember)?

Good to know, thanks past self. But why?

Permanent additions to the character roster that year:

Links to all posts: 2012 // 2013 // 2014 // 2015 // 2016 // 2017 // 2018 // 2019 & 2020 // 2021 // 2022

#budgie plays gw2

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racheleng1369 · 5 months

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THE BTS Army Fandom

INTRODUCTION

In the vast landscape of digital communities, fandoms have grown to become one of the most prominent communities, connecting individuals from diverse backgrounds and around the globe through their shared passion and enthusiasm. The BTS Army, a passionate fandom for the South Korean boy band Bangtan Boys (BTS), is one such fandom that has a strong and solid community in the online sphere. They are one of the most successful fandoms to have built a sense of community within their members globally. Therefore, The BTS Army will used as a case study for this blog post.

BTS is one of the most famous South Korean boy bands to reach international fame with their captivating music and breathtaking performances. According to Farley (2022), the band has over 140 million followers across the different social media platforms they use. These fans, known as the BTS Army, have played a significant role in driving the band’s success by utilising digital platforms to connect and share about them in their community. At the core of BTS Army is their shared love and passion for BTS’s artistry and showmanship, which has allowed them to build a sense of community. Social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, Weverse and V Live (to be merged into Weverse) are central hubs where fans can share their admiration or content regarding the popular band (Farley 2022). The accessibility of these platforms has allowed fans to further develop their identity and sense of community through their mutual love for BTS.

THE STRENGTH OF THE BTS ARMY

The BTS Army has also shown an impressive ability to harness the use of social media to build an international digital fandom. Hashtags regarding BTS regularly trend on Twitter and Instagram, allowing them to create a sense of participation within the community. The fandom is also very active video content creators, especially on YouTube (Cho 2018). According to Cho (2018), they create and post reaction videos of themselves regarding BTS’s music videos, merchandise or variety shows. Cho (2018) also states that some fans also create dance covers of BTS songs, which is common within the K-pop fandom community. As can be seen in these activities, the BTS Army is an active member of the participatory culture of BTS. As a result, online spaces like social media are compelling spaces for fandoms like the BTS Army to build communities and a sense of belonging.

Moreover, the BTS Army is a good example of how fandoms can serve as a solid support network for many individuals. Social media platforms are able to provide the fans an online space where they can share their personal stories, struggles and joys (Haulenbeek 2022). Members of the BTS Army can express their sense of belonging within the fandom as they often find solace with one another, empathizing with each other’s experiences. One such movement that showcases this is the Army Help Center. The Army Help Center (formerly an X account) partnered with the Crisis Text Line to help provide mental health support to fans who need it (Mcnamara 2020). Mcnamara (2020) states that the Army Help Center account also shares mental health tips and self-worth reminders on top of the option for people to directly message them if they need someone to talk to about their problems. With this movement, it can clearly be seen that the BTS Army has created a supportive community that is able to back each other up.

THE PROBLEM WITH FANDOMS

Although the BTS fandom has brought about many positive changes to society, it is also crucial to acknowledge the problems that arise from fandoms. It is also natural for fandoms to experience disagreements, conflicts and even toxic behaviours (Sihombing et al. 2022). For example, differing opinions and perspectives on music video interpretations that are not resolved can lead to tensions being created within the community. One reason for this is the fanatics within the community. According to Sihombing et al. (2022), fanatics are usually unrelenting and even provocative in their behaviour as they believe their opinion regarding their favourite celebrities is always right, leading to toxic fights within the community. However, the BTS Army has demonstrated in several cases that they are able to regulate their behaviour to a certain degree, addressing the different opinions they have and maintaining a positive and inclusive environment for everyone.

In conclusion, the BTS Army is a solid fandom that is able to showcase how digital communities can build a sense of identity and belonging within their members, although toxicity within the community must be regulated.

REFERENCES

Cho, M 2018, ‘3 Ways that BTS and its fans are redefining liveness’, Flow Journal, 29 May, viewed 23 November 2023, <https://www.flowjournal.org/2018/05/bts-and-its-fans/>.

Farley, A 2022, ‘How the BTS ARMY turned their fandom into the future of entertainment’, Fast Company, 3 August, viewed 23 November 2023, <https://www.fastcompany.com/90721903/bts-hybe-korean-record-label-weverse#:~:text=The%20band%20has%2044.4%20million,group%20has%2014.7%20million%20fans.>.

Haulenbeek, SK 2022, ‘Mental health, community, commitment, and the growth of individual identity in the participatory fandom of the BTS ARMY’, OUR Journal: OCU Undergraduate Research Journal, vol. 9, no. 5, viewed 24 November 2023, <https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1116&context=ourj>.

Mcnamara, B 2020, ‘BTS ARMY Help Center partners With Crisis Text Line for mental health support’, Teen Vogue, 25 January, viewed 24 November 2023, <https://www.teenvogue.com/story/bts-army-help-center-crisis-text-line>.

Sihombing, LH & Andini, SAP 2022, ‘Fanaticism: an analysis on BTS’ “Army” fan behavior on Twitter’, Jurnal Ilmu Komunikasi, vol. 5, no. 2, viewed 24 November 2023, <https://ojs.uniska-bjm.ac.id/index.php/mutakallimin/article/view/9161/4729>.

#MDA20009 #Week9 #Fourthpost #Fandom #BTS #BTSArmy

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islaroserichardson12 · 6 months

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Taylor Swift's Terrifying Political Agenda

When talking about Taylor Swift it is easy to be caught up in the gossip. Boyfriends, new albums, tours etc, but what if I told you Taylor Swift has a large impact on American democracy and civil rights? On the 20th of September 2023, Taylor Swift posted a short message on her Instagram story encouraging and empowering her fans to vote. In her passionate call to action, Swift leveraged her incredible power and influence to inspire her fans to embrace their civic duty and vote. Swift's post not only showcased the intersection between media politics and citizenship but also highlighted the evolving role of celebrities in shaping discourse in the public sphere.

When Taylor Swift speaks, her fans listen. Taylor Swift's cult following of over 270 million followers were directed to the non-profit Vote.org, which recorded over 35,000 registrations according to the organisation. (Sullivan, 2023) The 35,000 new registrations on National Voter Registration Day were the most since 2020 and a 23% increase since last year. The number of 18-year-old registered voters was more than double what it was in 2022. Andrea Hailey, CEO of Vote.org, called it a "highly encouraging sign of voter enthusiasm," especially among voters who are newly eligible since turning 18. These numbers show Taylor Swift's influence, especially amongst young people and the court of public opinion.

Until recently Taylor has steered clear of politics, she famously declined to speak about politics in public. “That all changed in 2018 when she came out in support of Tennessee Senate candidate Phil Bredesen, a Democrat, while slamming his Republican opponent Marsha Blackburn on her track record with LGBTQ2+ and women’s rights.” (Mannie, 2023) Swift shortly released the statement “In the past I’ve been reluctant to voice my political opinions publicly, but due to several events in my life and in the world in the past two years, I feel very differently about that now,”. The candidate she backed Phil Bresden went on to win the election. Following this in 2020, Swift also endorsed Biden and Kamala Harris’s campaign, stating that she believed America “has a chance to start the healing process it so desperately needs.”

The short Instagram post from Swift highlighted the symbiotic relationship between media and politics and we can see this in the widespread coverage and discussion sparked by the post. Both traditional media sites and social media were involved with and amplified the message, transforming it into a national conversation in the public sphere. The convergence of the media and political spheres showcased how the dissemination of information can have a large impact on participation in civic duty. By urging her fans to vote and participate in the democratic process, she became an example of the potential influence media figures have on political engagement.

Swift's advocacy of the importance of voting transcended mere political endorsements, it highlighted the importance of active citizenship. In a time where celebrity voices carry weight, Swift's call for her fans' involvement reflected the evolving landscape of civic responsibility. This narrative made fans consider the shift between passive consumerism and active participation, emphasizing the role that each individual plays in shaping the current political landscape.

This being said, Swift's post also triggered debates about the appropriate extent of celebrity influence on politics. Sceptics could question whether pop icons and entertainers should be able to wield such great power, emphasising the delicate balance between free speech and expression and the potential misuse of influence.(Daly, 2022)

In the Meanings of Public Opinion, Carol J Glynn raises the question “ If citizens don't support a government is it likely to collapse?” (Glynn, 2016) Although the title of this blog “Taylor Swift Terrifying Political Agenda”, I'll admit, is clickbait, it does raise an interesting discussion about the huge influence she has politically. We have seen the impact she has, with the surge of registrations, especially from the younger generation. Voting is the backbone of most democratic societies so the surge of voters is definitely a good thing. But the cynic in me asks, what if Swift was promoting not-so-acceptable politics? This would be unlikely with the current cancel culture and Swift's track record but it isn't impossible. If Swift came out in support of say, far-right politics, there would be instant backlash. But if I have learnt anything whilst researching Taylor Swift, it is obvious that her fans will listen to her, as lots of them are impressionable teens. ALthough not a concrete source of evidence Taylor Swift at this time has 274 million followers on Instagram alone, with the president of the United States Joe Biden who has 19 million. This doesn't show the magnitude of their potential influence but it does show the reach that Taylor Swift has on the younger generation.

Although I do believe this post from Swift had a positive impact as it encouraged more people to vote, perhaps people who hadn't thought of voting before. I do think it is important to have discussions about the influence pop culture figures have on politics and how to differentiate between free expression and the misuse of influence.

In conclusion, Taylor Swift's call for fans' participation in voting highlights the impact entertainers have on the current political and public sphere. It serves as a poignant example of the evolving dynamics between celebrities, the media, politics and civic duty. The short Instagram post highlighted the potential the influential figures have to inspire civic engagement while prompting a broader discussion around the responsibilities and possible limitations of celebrity advocacy in the political realm.

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airadam · 10 months

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Episode 169 : Thirteen Squared, Fourteen Years

"Paid my dues, now pay my fee."

- Pete Rock

Another year in the books! This is the fourteenth birthday episode of the podcast, and it's wild to look back at how different the landscape looked back in 2009 when I started it off. At least nowadays, I don't have to explain what a podcast is!

I needed a selection worthy of the milestone, and I think you'll enjoy it - Hip-Hop basically end-to-end, with some virtuoso performances on the mics, the boards, and the turntables. Turn the volume up and check the styles...

Book a ticket to see me play live in Salford with the 45 Kings and Queens on July 8th here!

Gigs & streams calendar : events.airadam.com

Twitter : @airadam13

Twitch : @airadam13

Playlist/Notes

Swizz Beatz ft. Jadakiss, Benny the Butcher, and Scar Lip : Take 'Em Out

Huge new single to open things up for this month, and a track I can already tell is going to make my list of top Spotify tracks this year. As part of the 50th year of Hip-Hop celebrations, Mass Appeal have released a couple of producer-led EPs with a selection of MCs, and this is of course from Swizz' contribution. It's not the production style most would think of when Swizz Beatz is mentioned, but listen for the classic "The Bridge Is Over" drums accompanied by what sounds like a pipe organ with the "evil" stop pulled all the way out - vicious. And the MCs, my goodness! LOX legend Jadakiss opens up, hands off to modern-day street rap giant Benny the Butcher, and cleanup duty is handled in fine style by the young and hungry Scar Lip. The video is great as well - chaotic, dark, monochrome, giving me just a taste of the same energy as the visuals for Ice Cube's "Wicked" back in the day. The whole package is hard like titanium.

Onyx : Throw Ya Gunz (Instrumental)

After starting the show with a track sampling the yelled into Onyx's first single, which was a big tune in its day, I decided to follow up with the instrumental as I hadn't heard it in so long. RIP to Chyskillz, the producer, who passed away in 2018.

Coach NYM : Work Ethic

One from my gym playlist for you, taken from the "Healthy Gangsta" LP. Part of the RBG movement, NYM gives a message on this track and the rest of the album that very much aligns with the innovative "Workout" LPs that stic of dead prez (their lowercasing, btw) released in 2011 and 2020. Turn this track up and get your motivation right!

Bronx Slang : Excuse Me Again

My man Jerry Beeks accurately and sadly points out that the subject of this track will continue to be relevant into the foreseeable future. Following up from the original "Excuse Me Officer" from the "Bronx Slang" LP, this is, in Beeks' distinctive style, a run-down of yet more Black people who have been murdered by the police. The producer Fake Blood gives it a soundtrack with just a hint of melancholy that still makes you nod your head thanks to his drum programming, and leaves enough space for you to hear every work clearly. Find this on the appropriately-named "Substance" album.

Blak Twang ft. Fallacy : Homegrown

I promise I didn't just try to find every track that sampled Onyx and throw them into this episode! The b-side of the incredible 1996 "Real Estate" 12", this is not only pure lyrical rawness from both MCs (Blak Twang/Taipanic/Tony Rotton and Fallacy) over a beat from V.R.S, but it's also the source of an incredible number of samples. If you go and check the excellent Blak Twang LP "19 Long Time", you'll be amazed how many times he samples himself, and from this specific cut - EPMD would be proud :)

The Musalini ft. Pete Rock and 9th Wonder : Carmel City 2

The vast majority of times, a sequel track is done by the original artist (for example, EPMD's "Jane" series, Ice Cube with the "Gangsta's Fairytale" pair), but this is an interesting exception. Pete Rock, the producer of the original "Carmel City" from his and CL Smooth's "The Main Ingredient" LP is here...but only on the mic, and even then only as the featured guest! Lead duties are taken by Bronx native The Musalini, and production is by a man who would absolutely name Pete Rock as an influence, North Carolina's 9th Wonder. This track has had a lot of rewinds in my headphones over the last month!

BusCrates : Get It Going

The brand new BusCrates LP, "Control Center" released this week, and it starts off with this serious groove, one which I had to let you get a good helping of before my voiceover! The new LP is overally lower in tempo than his "Blasting Off" album, and leans a little more in the direction of Hip-Hop while maintaining his funky and soulful style. BusCrates is an exceptionally skilled producer and DJ - as well as a thoroughly nice guy - who absolutely deserves your support.

Little Brother : Sittin Alone

This track will, depending on your age, inspire mocking laughter or wry recognition! The time comes to all of us where the thought of hitting the clubs on a Saturday night sounds...kind of tiring. If nothing else, I'm sure everyone can relate to the flyer with eight different fonts on it :) Mixing real feelings with a great bit of humour, it's just one example of the grown man rap on the "May The Lord Watch" album. As an aside - paying child support is not, of course, just a Black thing!

Kev Brown : Homework Part 1

Like most of the tracks on the "Homework" album, I wish this were a touch longer, but the man from Landover has a gift for leaving everyone wanting more! You can certainly hear his characteristic bassline action, while the high end is actually really prominent on this too, in a lo-fi fashion - almost sounds like a rough draft, but you know it's all intentional and provides a canvas for him to kick some lyrics, in case you forgot he puts in work on the mic too :)

Prodigy & Nas : Self Conscience

One of those great mixtape tracks from a previous era that you just don't hear around anymore, but absolutely deserves an airing. A concept piece lyrically, this has the late great Prodigy talking to his conscience, going back and forth, before Nas closes things out. The beat is by Infinite Arkatechz, who were basically the patron saints of sampling New Age and prog rock records (you might recognise this one). Find this somewhat forgotten classic on the "Nas & Ill Will Records Prsents...QB Finest" compilation.

dead prez : The Game Of Life (Score)

The "Soul In The Hole" soundtrack may be better known to many than the excellent film, but either way, here's the top-notch opening track, bringing a message to set the tone and frame the events of the story in a much wider context. This is actually my favourite iteration of the dead prez sound - tracks like this and "Sellin' Dope (Drugs Oppress People Everyday)" really stood out sonically from the mass of releases of the same time period. The production is provided by Da Heads - according to Discogs, only ever credited for this one song, but I'm wondering if somehow, somewhere, DJ Spinna is in the mix...

[Swizz Beatz] Nas : Salute Me (The General) (Instrumental)

Thumping, militaristic instrumental from the keyboard era. I love the opening on this before it settles down into the rhythm of the verses, which is even better on the vocal version with the opening adlibs.

Gunshot : Clear From Present Danger

RIP MC Alkaline. For those that don't know, Gunshot were truly one of the defining groups of their era, standard bearers for what became known to many as the "Britcore" style. The beats were almost always uptempo (this isn't even that fast compared to many), dramatic and dense, with a clear influence of The Bomb Squad - as time went on, this style went on to help give birth to other UK electronic music genres. The lyrics and delivery were always aggressive - as I say on the voiceover, think "action film" rather than trying to make you believe they were gangsters. This is one of the classic singles from this crew out of Leyton, East London, complete with a full lyric sheet on the back of the sleeve if you can get hold of the vinyl.

DJ Supreme ft. Son Of Noise : R.I.P.

More UK Hip-Hop royalty from the same era as Gunshot - the legendary DJ Supreme of Hijack producing for the mic-destroying Son of Noise on a 2016/7 release that shows that neither half of this combo have lost a step since they first came out. Raw, hard-edged, unapologetic British Hip-Hop on a battle tip.

Rob Swift ft. DJ Klever and Melo-D : 2-3 Break

One of the greatest DJs of all time and also a fierce defender of DJing ethics, rights, and responsibilities, Rob Swift is a man that should be held up high by all those who claim to represent Hip-Hop culture. On this 2002 cut, he pays tribute to the original "Two, Three, Break" by The B Boys (with the great Chuck Chillout on the wheels), and combines with two other turntable titans, Klever and Melo-D of Beat Junkies for a turntable workout over some classic beats and breaks. I was pleased to find that Rob's second LP "Sound Event" that this is drawn from is on streaming platforms, so don't miss out having a listen to the rest of the album.

Tobi Sunmola : Not The One

If you've heard me DJ on Twitch in the last few years, you may well have heard me play this absolute heater to great response! From Lagos to Manchester, Tobi Sunmola is a real talent with his own style, and kills it on this uptempo cut from his 2018 EP "Good Guys Don't Survive". Let's hope that this one does.

Ilajide : INDYNSUMRLUV

Faithful podcast listeners will already know how I rate this man, an incredible producer out of Detroit who hammers the funk into a sequencer like few can. The bassline is simple, but is just what's needed underneath those drums, where the hi-hats are doing the work of bringing the complexity while the kick and snare keep time. Very dope business from January's "NO SAUCEPAN TUESDAYS" album/beat tape. I'm assuming Tuesdays are for air fryers only.

Tobe Nwigwe ft. Coast Contra : DESTRUCTION

Tobe Nwigwe and his team are continuing to have success which is great to see - it's been four years since I first played him here (which is not when he started), and it's been constant elevation from there. This cut from last year's "moMINTs" album is big, booming, and as heavy as the title suggests, with Tobe, Nick Humes and Nick Baker on production. Guesting on several mics are the crew of dangerous Los Angeles MCs that is Coast Contra, who bring the heat to help close the episode in dramatic fashion. By the way, I realised how much time is flying when I realised that two members of Coast Contra are the sons of Ras Kass!

Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!

Check out this episode!

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nerdwriting · 3 years

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The Creative Directors Behind Fate: The Winx Saga Must Not Be K-Pop Fans

Also, they have a pretty wrong idea of the role fashion should play in a show.

There are a few words that will stand out across most reviews of Netflix's Fate: The Winx Saga - drab, boring, flop, flat, unimaginative. Critics and audiences consensus is that the show is not only a mediocre-at-best story, but also an atrocious (and ultimately confusing) choice of adaptation of the color pop and fairy magic cartoon it’s based on, 2004 italian cartoon Winx Club.

Fate has plenty of it's own issues - white washing and erasing characters, cringey dialogue, outdated melodrama, etc. But where it truly, unequivocally fails is as an adaptation. Fate misses everything that was magical and lovable about the original series, in all levels, from bizarre writing choices, - such as never actually developing any sense of friendship between the characters, who are based on a cartoon about…..a group…….of friends -, but it's especially and immediately felt in the art direction and costume design.

Winx Club is set on a fantastical world, Magix, where each of our main characters hail from a different planet, à la Sailor Moon. Alfea, the fairy school they attend, is the most common background: a pastel colored, futuristic high tech-meets-fantasy, art nouveau inspired castle. Alfea sets the tone for the whole visual of the cartoon: bright, colorful, futuristic meets vintage, leaning into the technological positivism of the Y2K style, uniting it with magic, DnD worthy monsters and, of course, fairy wings. Often featured are also the Red Fountain school, where the Specialists train, and especially Cloud Tower, the goth and gothic inspired witch school Alfea has an OxBridge rivalry with (How cool would that be in a live action? I guess we’ll never know…).

On Fate, Alfea is the only school we ever see, and it’s another beige boarding school in not-Britain, somehow set in a magical world where everyone has the exact same technology and even social media that we have on Earth in 2021, no transformations and, most egregiously, no fairy wings.

This lack of visual creativity is pervasive throughout the whole show, and its most heartbreaking iteration is in the characters' wardrobe. The styling has the barest bones of a color scheme, - such as 'Bloom has to only dress in red since fire, duh',- the clothes are ill fitting, bland, dark and very dated. These are supposed to be teenagers who enjoy fashion, and yet they look like varying types of soccer moms from 2010.

The series seems to operate on an old and tired vision that women and girls can’t have depth and have adventures and fight monsters while also caring about fashion, a vision that the original show played a big, big role in challenging in the early 2000's. Fashion and costume design sets as much of the tone of a visual medium as the script does; through clothes we can gauge characters’ backgrounds, passions, and personality.

Winx Club has some of the best examples of this in the cartoon sphere - Bloom’s comfortable and bright style, Stella’s glitzy and bold, Musa’s edgy and cool, Aisha’s sporty and fun, Techna’s neon and tech gear inspired, Flora’s earthy and romantic, they all work as extensions of each character and serve a narrative purpose. And that’s not even mentioning how insulting it feels that in their quest to make Winx “edgier, darker” and fit for an older audience, the creators of Fate somehow decided that was in opposition to caring about style and fashion. Most “girly” shows, including the Winx Club are just as much adventure action shows as the ones geared towards boys, and it’s emphasis in fashion, friendship and color does not detract from that. The original run of the cartoon deals with war, violence, grief, abusive relationships and even genocide; leaning into those plotlines would not require Fate to erase any integral parts of what made Winx so beloved, and the fact that they did shows that the Netflix team completely missed the point of fashion in the original show, and really, the point of fashion and costume design in the world building of any show.

That, however, is not a mistake K-Pop makes very often; (This might seem like a bit of wild swerve in topic, but stay with me here). Unlike it's western counterpart, the Korean pop scene never lost the emphasis on music videos and how the visual medium can complete and potentialize music and performance; the K-Pop culture is very album and concept oriented in a way that has been all but lost in many other pop circuits, and the music video, styling and set design of a ‘comeback era’ is a key point of excitement among fans.

As such, music videos that follow storylines, connected universes, boundary pushing concepts and visual effects are the norm, rather than the exception, and a list could be made of works that are beautiful examples of what a live action Winx adaptation could look like. In fact, and very smoothly, here is a small list of exactly that!

A Small List of K-Pop Music Videos That Are Better Winx Club Live Actions Than Fate: The Winx Saga

3. Red Velvet - Psycho

If it was a darker and more somber look that Fate wanted, there was a way to make it actually appealing. While it still feels a liiitle too grown up and elegant for Winx, (maybe this author is biased, as a full proponent for the Y2K fun) Psycho makes a very compelling argument for a witchy, mysterious, fairy tale-esque show that could look scrumptious and definitely not boring, or even a gorgeous example of what the witches in Cloud Tower could look like. Black and white, dark green, pastel blue and pops of jewel tones make Psycho's color palette. To add interest to the understated colors, the styling is heavy on textures; We see plenty of stonework, intricate embroidery, tassels, lace on lace on lace, feathers, bows, opera gloves and lots of glitter. All of that is offset by bold, dark makeup, leather accents and eerie cinematography. Needle & Thread, Marchesa Notte and Self Portrait lend their hyper feminine and intricately detailed tulle gowns, juxtaposed with the creepiness of the lyrics and the dark backgrounds; their deep berry and green fairy tale looks are built with pieces from Zara to Nina Ricci to Dolce & Gabbana to Alexander McQueen.

Red Velvet’s more edgy styling for 2018's Bad Boy would also not feel out of place on the Trix.

2. IZ*ONE - Fiesta

IZ*ONE kicked off 2020 with sweet and fun Fiesta. The MV features rooms with mismatched décor that go from retro to space opera, rocky faux landscapes that feel other worldly, and visual effects that would look perfect on the back of a transformation sequence. Mirroring the set design, the girls wear various outfits by sustainable up and coming brand Chopova Lowena. Their signature skirts made with discarded and repurposed fabrics give a cool and interesting twist on a schoolgirl look that would look very sweet for a band of school fairies that occasionally go off to save the world. Also, wouldn't those bedazzled headphones look great on Musa's fairy outfit?

1. Aespa - Black Mamba and Next Level

Aespa is what fans call a monster rookie. With only three music videos under their belt, they still have some of the most visually interesting work in the industry right now. Their concept is very tied in with high tech, featuring even AI avatars of each member, packaged in a glitzy, fantastical and futuristic aesthetic, candy pop meets cyberpunk. I think I’ve exhausted ways to say that is exactly what a perfect Winx adaptation should feature.

Their debut smash hit, 2020’s Black Mamba is truly a perfect moodboard for live action Winx. Wearing a sequined and colorful mix and match of Dollskill, Gucci, Didu and Balenciaga to a backdrop that features some alien fairy forest realness, a pyschedelic fever dream, rooms straight out of a Y2K catalog or donning lime green and black techwear inside a metro fighting the "black mamba", Aespa look through and through the part of fashion loving fairies who save the world together, while looking fierce, stylish and, most importantly, interesting.

The styling and the sets jump seamlessly from more casual colorful fits with blouses, shirts and baggy pants to barren, darkly lit backgrounds and fringe-and-glitter heavy pieces necessary to fight giant snakes, in a way so fitting to transformation outfits for magical girls we could cry.

In their third MV, 2021's Next Level, the cyber in their concept is taken up a notch (get it. because Next Level-), set to a futuristic urbanscape intersped with a planet made of crystals and the ocasional alien fauna popping up again. We get treated to Monse, The 2nd Skin Co., Johanna Ortiz and The Attico styled to fairy princess standards, sporty sky racers and a white and sequined group styling that is top ten fairy busy saving the world uniform material, or maybe even a specialist worthy getup.

This particular look from Ningning is so Techna that it almost feels as if it's mocking Netflix.

And doesn’t this Karina trapped inside the "black mamba" in Alexander McQueen feel like a perfect Dark Bloom moment?

These are only a few examples of interesting and creative designs that are in line with what a live action Winx Club should have given us. There are so many more I could list, even among other TV Shows, like Sex Education and even polemic dark Euphoria, that know how to have fun with style and design without losing the depth of their stories. In the end, it's hard to justify why Fate creators even wanted to make an adaptation that didn't even try to capture the heart of its source material, and all we can do is watch one more "Restyling Fate: The Winx Saga" video on Youtube whilst mildly dreading season 2.

#winx #winx club #fate the winx saga #fate: the winx saga #tv #tv/movies #cartoons #k-pop #kpop #red velvet #aespa #iz*one #fashion #costume design #art direction

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oan-envs3000-w22 · 2 years

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07: Nature & Music

Music is everywhere. As corny as that sounds it's true, at least in my interpretation. Music isn't just the same generic song blasting 24/7 in your cities Forever 21, and it isn't just a century old Mozart composition. Music is all around us and allows one to feel a variety of emotions. Music in nature is a bird's mating call, or the roaring of a river. It can be the sound of ice cracking under your feet or rustling leaves in the wind. These sounds we hear in nature are presented in such a way that it produces beauty, emotion and euphony; music. From crashes of thunder to ocean waves, we have nature to thank for the melodies that calm us.

Music as a form of interpretation is a very powerful tool we should be grateful for.

"Put it before them briefly so they will read it, clearly so they will appreciate it, picturesquely so they will remember it and, above all, accurately so they will be guided by its light.”

–Joseph Pulitzer

What better way to spread information through entertainment and emotion than music? With music not only are we able to reach various groups of individuals, but we are able to reach beyond park boundaries (Beck, Cable, & Knudson, 2017) and set a lasting, creative memory in the audience's mind. It's beautiful to think of large groups of people with different values and beliefs all sharing this one moment together, listening to the same song. The sense of unity felt through music is quite difficult to replicate.

Nature in music is a more complex thought. After some reflection however, I’ve realized aspects of nature are present in various forms of music. We don't need to look too far for examples, Indigenous peoples are known for the deep history and meaning behind their music, full of hidden ecological knowledge. These traditional songs are embedded with history and sense, passed down from generation to generation. Kwaxsistalla Wathl’thla is one crucial example; a man who revealed an ancient ya’a song that led researchers to the mystery of lokiwey (clam gardens). Through his song we were able to discover that cultivation of clams in clam gardens as a popular 3,500 year old practice for Coastal First Nations. Through one song Wathl’thla caused an immense surge in research surrounding traditional management practices and educated communities on how Indigenous landscapes thrived. Plus it was a great step in clam management improvement (White, 2020)!

As for a more personal example, nature is present in a lot of music of my culture. There are many examples of songs and poetry that use various examples of nature to prove how beautiful life is whilst being thankful to the creator that made it. Though not everyone can relate to the religious aspects, the lyrics regarding nature are impactful enough to reach any group. This gives me the perfect segway to share a song that immediately takes me back to a natural landscape;

The song (more of a poem actually) was written by Jalāl al-Dīn Muḥammad Rūmī, a 13th-century Persian poet. Last summer in Pakistan, sitting at the top of a mountain with my headphones on, this poem came on shuffle. I don't know if it was due to the extreme cold at the peak, my sudden fatigue, or the beauty of this poetry and the nature surrounding me; but I had never felt more at peace. For someone with stress levels constantly through the roof, this piece of music never fails to bring me back to the peak of that mountain top and a peak moment in my life.

Here’s me back at the bottom of the mountains, as you can likely tell by my flyaways and peaceful grin, that experience really shaped my future mindset. I will never hear this poem and not have a wave of bittersweet gratitude wash over me.

References

Beck, L. Cable, T. Knudson, D. (2018). Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage for a Better World. Sagamore- Venture Publishing LLC. ISBN 978-1-57167-865-2.

White, S. (2020). Indigenous song keepers reveal traditional ecological knowledge in music. The Conversation.

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southeastasianists · 3 years

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Amid record-high COVID cases, Malaysia’s newest Prime Minister from UMNO, Ismail Sabri Yaakob, was sworn in this past week. More than three years after its National Front government was voted out of power, UMNO, the largest party in the current government, regained the powerful prime minister position without an election. The change evokes a strong sense of political déjà vu, but how much is this a return to the politics of old? Here, I briefly assess the extent to which it represents a return to the pre-2018 reign of the National Front, a continuation of the most recent National Alliance government, or a new and unstable political reality. I also consider what the implications of the latest shift in the ruling elite has for the prospects of reform.

Malaysia’s political institutions: battered and circumvented

The appointment of the new prime minister comes during a bruising period for Malaysia’s political institutions. The 2018 elections brought an end to the decades-long rule of the UMNO-led National Front, but the victorious Alliance of Hope (PH) coalition government collapsed in less than two years. In its place, a fragile new government headed by Muhyiddin Yassin of the UMNO-breakaway party Bersatu brought UMNO back into the ruling coalition. For 17 months, he staved off a political reckoning by circumventing basic democratic institutions. By early 2021, with a declaration of Emergency assented to by the King, Muhyiddin halted elections and suspended parliament and state legislatures, ruling instead through his cabinet. The latter swelled to record size as he sought to shore up tenuous political support. Critical voices were punished, and all public assemblies banned—perhaps most vividly shown when riot police were deployed after opposition MPs gathered outside the suspended parliament. Yet even with these tactics, Muhyiddin was unable to stem increasing public discontent with his government’s leadership, a highly public reprimand from the King for avoiding parliamentary debate on the Emergency, and eventually a loss of support from UMNO.

Ismail Sabri’s unlikely ascension to prime minister has not deviated from the new COVID-era political normal. It marks the second time in a row that a prime minister has been selected, and governing coalition formed, without an electoral mandate or vote of confidence in parliament. Instead, Malaysia’s MPs privately indicated their preferred candidate to the King, who then declared who was most likely to command the support of a majority in parliament. In both cases, the “winning” prime ministerial candidate was backed by a slim or ambiguous majority, comprised largely of parties that had been rejected by a majority of voters in the 2018 elections.

While the Emergency ended on August 1, constraints on public gatherings remain, and its institutions are still unprepared to resume full functioning. The government has still not developed a plan for a full in-person or remote sitting of parliament, instead opting to cut down length and frequency of meetings and the number of MPs who can attend. The Elections Commission has not announced a plan on how to safely hold a national election during the pandemic, despite a number of countries successfully doing so.

An UMNO-led coalition government, but different

In this context, UMNO’s return to power without election simply seems to cap a period of democratic regression in Malaysia. But since UMNO last held national power, Malaysia’s political landscape has changed in significant ways. First, the new prime minister came to power on the thinnest of margins, with a support coalition that is almost exactly the same as his predecessor. At the time of writing, Ismail Sabri commands the support of 114 MPs—just three more than a simple majority in parliament. It is a far cry from the commanding support that UMNO’s National Front held for decades in power, or even from the solid majority that the Alliance of Hope (PH) government had until 2020.

Second, the well-ordered parties and coalitions that defined Malaysian politics for decades have fragmented. In contrast to the tight backing coalition that the party enjoyed for decades in power, UMNO’s new prime minister is backed by a mix of parties, regional coalitions, and individual MPs, with less allegiance to UMNO and even mutual antagonism. While UMNO’s internal divisions may be smoothed over by a return to power, several members of its top leadership, including current and former party presidents Zahid Hamidi and Najib Razak, have corruption cases still working their way through the courts.

The current permutation of government is still delicate and is contingent on rewarding backers with ministerships, patronage positions, and policy demands. It is too early to tell how (or whether) the new prime minister will successfully expand and stabilise his support. The government under UMNO is likely better positioned than its predecessor to hold together a coalition with a fresh prime minister. But in the near term, much political energy and focus will be spent on keeping together and expanding a fragile governing coalition. With a scheduled vote of confidence and budget deliberations looming, the new prime minister has two immediate tests to survive in the coming months.

Yet just as the current government is momentarily weak, so too is its opposition. Mostly comprised of parties from the former PH government, the opposition was sidelined throughout the Muhyiddin administration and lacked the venue of parliament to exercise oversight. Even though PH still controls a significant bloc of seats in parliament, its perennial prime ministerial candidate Anwar Ibrahim was unable to shift support to his side. For now, the public statements of the opposition suggest a conciliatory tone to the new PM, setting their sights on how to make gains in the next election, which must be held before July 2023.

Whither the reform agenda?

The need for political and institutional reform has come into even clearer relief over the past two years. Although it failed to implement many of its promises while in government, the Alliance of Hope (PH) coalition that briefly ruled after 2018, and Malaysia’s civil society organizations, have laid out comprehensive proposals for political and institutional reform.

An optimistic reading of events would see the instability and fluidity of Malaysia’s current politics as offering space to implement some of those ideas. The very tenuousness of the current government opens some avenues for reform-minded politicians to offer support in exchange for implementation of reform. At the end of his term, former prime minister Muhyiddin (allegedly in negotiation with opposition politicians) offered a number of reform proposals in exchange for the opposition’s support. Although the offer quickly fell apart, some of the proposals—including parliamentary reforms and equal allocations given to opposition MPs—suggest such reforms could become future bargaining chips for political support. Along those lines, the NGO Bersih has proposed that the opposition enter into a confidence and supply agreement with the government, ensuring a modicum of political stability while extracting reforms.

Although still hampered by COVID-justified restrictions, public discontent with the political situation and handling of COVID is increasingly visible. A white flag campaign saw Malaysians hanging flags to appeal for urgent food or financial aid; a newer movement called on Malaysians to hang black flags to display their discontent with the government and handling of the pandemic. In July, the #Lawan movement organised a protest in defiance of the bans on public gatherings. The appetite for political change appears stronger, especially compared to the muted response to the collapse of the PH government in 2020.

On the other hand, there is little to suggest that the governing parties or prime minister are interested in pursuing broad political reforms even during a period of relative weakness. UMNO has strong incentives to keep the opposition PH coalition at arm’s length while maintaining the habits of semi-democratic rule that were revived under Muhyiddin and his government. Similarly, new PM Ismail Sabri’s limited public track record does not indicate a reformist agenda. Prior to his rapid rise in the previous government, Ismail was a prominent figure in organising 2018 protests against ICERD, the UN convention on the elimination of racial discrimination, and made incendiary comments about the threat to Malay rights and supremacy by racial minorities and the majority ethnic Chinese party DAP. He is certainly not the only UMNO leader to have employed such rhetoric, but notably, he had not tried to depart from the mould.

An uncertain future

UMNO’s return to power is itself not surprising. From a comparative perspective, former dominant authoritarian parties like the PRI in Mexico and the KMT in Taiwan did not disappear after national political defeat, but instead remain enduring and important political players. In the case of Malaysia, however, the return of UMNO and many of the parties voted out in 2018 was done without elections and was accompanied by a return to authoritarian tactics to quell dissent and ensure political support.

Judging by the outpouring on social media and on the streets, ordinary Malaysians are angry at the continuous politicking and elite political machinations that have occurred since 2020. This anger has been increasingly visible as the country grapples with economic downturn and escalating cases and deaths from COVID. The instability at the top, however, is not just a question of elite positioning. Instead, it has had real social, economic, and political consequences during a national and global public health crisis. The appointment of a new prime minister does not settle the simmering intra-elite conflict. Yet Malaysia already has the appropriate institutional framework—namely elections and the parliament—to not only negotiate these conflicts and ensure effective oversight of decision making, but also to provide an opportunity for ordinary Malaysians to provide an electoral mandate to a governing coalition.

The country’s political elites have revealed a worryingly loose allegiance to these norms and institutions over the last several months. A commitment by the new government to using democratic avenues to govern and prove mass support would increase the chance of effectively dealing with the significant challenges facing the country. But a commitment to playing by the democratic rules is unlikely to be realized any time soon. The promise of the “New Malaysia” that would emerge after the historic 2018 election has been delayed again indefinitely.

#Southeast Asia #Malaysia #Politics

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aboutanancientenquiry · 3 years

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The nostalgy of the colonial era in the “cosplay” of some Egyptologists and its meaning

https://hyperallergic.com/595896/how-academics-egyptologists-and-even-melania-trump-benefit-from-colonialist-cosplay/

This is a link to a very interesting article (by the scholars Katherine Blouin, Monica Hanna and Sarah E. Bond ), published on October 22, 2020 on the online forum Hyperallergic.

Its title is :

“How Academics, Egyptologists, and Even Melania Trump Benefit From Colonialist Cosplay”

It concerns a couple of distinguished Egyptologists - Dr. Colleen Manassa Darnell, known as “Vintage Egyptologist” (VE), and her husband, Dr John Darnell, who are in fact perhaps the most popular Egyptologists today on the different social media. The couple has adopted in their dress and behavior public personas of a vintage re-enactment of the colonial period in Egypt and in archaeology.

I reproduce here some paragraphs from this article :

“Behind closed doors, many Egyptologists have been making fun of VE on the ground that its branding is narcissistic and ridiculously colonial. Yet public critiques by fellow academics, including Egyptologists, remain few, and those who have spoken up have generally been met with dismissive arguments from inside the field. Many academics suggest that what matters is the content, not the container; so criticism of this type amounts to nothing more than uncollegial gossiping.

We beg to differ. To us, Egyptologists and scholars in antiquity-related fields, the “vintage” part of VE is as meaningful as the “Egyptologist” part. Indeed, the highly curated, and professional, pictures and videos produced by VE are the result of conscientious, deliberate choices. These testify to a vision of Egyptology that is intimately tied to the reproduction of colonial imageries.”

‘The “Darnells,” as the couple also call themselves, have also led “vintage cruises” aboard the SS Sudan steamboat. The tour is organized by the travel company Goodspeed & Bach inc....

An Instagram post commemorating the gala night of their 2018 tour at the Grand Cataract Hotel in Aswan gives us an idea of their audience. In addition to the Darnells, all the vintage dressed people featuring in the photographs are white. “

“As we observed above, apart from its Pharaonic ruins, landscapes and, on rare occasions, galabeya-dressed men pictured in subaltern roles, today’s Egypt is conspicuously absent. The focus is more particularly on the fashion in vogue in the 1920s. In a clip posted on Facebook, Dr Manassa Darnell explains her particular love for clothing of that period: “There’s just something special about putting on clothing that’s rooted in a particular time and, often, place.”

What, then, was that particular time like in the “particular” places the Darnells work and live in?

In the 1920s, Egypt was ruled by the British. During that time, there was an acceleration of European archaeological missions in the country, and also a rise of international (essentially European and North American) tourism. (See for instance Malcolm Reid’s Whose Pharaohs? and Contesting Antiquity in Egypt as well as Rachel Mairs’s and Maya Muratov’s Archaeologists, Tourists, Interpreters). More generally, as Timothy Mitchell and Jennifer Derr have shown, the period of British rule over Egypt, which VE celebrates as the “Golden Age” of fashion, Egyptology, and travel, was also a period of pervasive colonial violence. Back in the USA, the aftermaths of WWI had led to the “Great Migration,” and ongoing racial segregation and violence towards Black Americans fueled the “New Negro Movement’.” Unsurprisingly, VE does not engage with this type of “vintage,” but promotes instead a sugar-coated, romantic, and Orientalist image of that time period. ”

“To be clear, we don’t think that “vintage” fashion is an issue per se. In many ways, “vintage” objects and sartorial items can become creative, ecologically responsible ways to express oneself. And yes, vintage fashion is beautiful. Yet what happens when 1920s (European-inspired) hairdos, clothes, and accessories are purposefully featured on a white body in a way that celebrates colonial-era archaeology and travel? And what does it mean for two white, affluent American scholars to continue to produce such content now, in the age of Trump, Black Lives Matter, and Indigenous fights for decolonization? We argue that VE is very successful because it occludes: the colonial violence that, under British rule, made possible the ideas of Egypt and Egyptology they are celebrating; the complexity, multifaceted identity, and shifting nature of Egypt’s land, peoples, and histories; and many (Egyptian, American) pasts, and presents. By doing so, it stages and celebrates a white-supremacist type of vintage Egyptology.

Take this passage from the 2020 Vintage Cruise pamphlet, which concerns “Day 14: Kom Ombo and Aswan”:

“ This morning, SUDAN steams toward Aswan at the frontier of traditional Egypt, where ancient Nubia begins. The mighty desert slowly replaces cultivated land as we proceed up the Nile. It is easy to see that this is where pharaonic civilization once ended. The lands above the great cataracts nourished the Nile Valley with mineral-rich silt during the floods. Nubia also provided Egypt with gold, precious woods and ivory, as well as soldiers for its military machine.” [I reproduce here in bold letters the initial italics of the article].

To whoever is acquainted with the deep, entangled histories of Egypt and Nubia — and this includes the audiences of the recent virtual talks by Stuart Tyson Smith and Solange Ashby — the simplistic, racially charged, and anti-Black subtext of this passage is striking.

For Dr Manassa Darnell and her husband, vintage living serves as a portal through which they — equipped with the intellectual capital brought about by their association with Yale University — can disseminate knowledge about Pharaonic Egypt to wider, non-academic audiences. What does the success of this strategy mean, about the broader reception of ancient Egypt, about Egyptology’s ongoing colonial entanglements, and about the relationship of most of the members of our fields with public-facing scholarship?

VE’s curatorial anchoring resides in the realm of the Orientalist fantasy, far, far away from anything written since Edward Said, and in disjunction with the historical experience and sensibilities of most inhabitants of modern and contemporary Egypt. The “Egypt” it portrays is reminiscent of the frontispiece of the 19th century French multivolume series Description de l’Égypte published after Napoleon’s conquest. This fictive, deserted landscape was cut through by the Nile river and dotted with impressive pharaonic monuments covered in hieroglyphics, ready to be “explored” by white “experts,” whose lavish and civilized lifestyle matches the long-gone sophistication of ancient Egypt’s mystical grandeur. In this regard, the Classical-style frieze (which shows an Apollo-looking, Muses-leading Napoléon driving the Mamluks out) surrounding the Description’s frontispiece’s rendition of Egypt serves as a powerful statement of the power relationship at stake: Egypt is defined by and for the male, European conqueror’s ability to penetrate, occupy, and, to paraphrase a now famous political slogan, “make her great again”.”

Well, it would be also interesting to read a different point of view on this story, as one might oppose that perhaps the authors of this article somehow exaggerate in their accusations against the Darnells.

Moreover, I am not sure that I agree totally with what the three authors support in other articles and works of theirs about the need of “decolonization of the Classics”, a notion which may cover different things. I will read more about this ongoing debate and I will write what I think about it when I will have a better image.

Concerning this “decolonization”, I will say now only two things about Herodotus (who is the main subject of my blog), firstly that I have already showed that his account on Egypt is not racist and should not be seen as the first and “foundational” work of the “White Orientalism” (https://aboutanancientenquiry.tumblr.com/post/653271093301411840/on-herodotus-and-egypt-iii-an-othering-racist ), and secondly that his work may be read as containing an important anti-imperialist message for all times.

But the three distinguished female scholars-authors of this article have convinced me that the whole public persona adopted by the Darnells is not politically, ideologically, and historically innocent.

And I think that it becomes once more evident from this story with the Darnells that there are much bigger problems in contemporary Egyptology and the contemporary perceptions of ancient Egypt than what Herodotus may have written in Book II of the “Histories” (which is overall a good source for the Late Period Egypt) and that Herodotus is not today the “main source of misconceptions” about ancient Egypt, contrary to what the egyptologists on this site pretend that they believe.

Moreover, I wonder whether the tumblr egyptologists -so vociferous in their “F...K Herodotus” campaigns- would have to utter any criticism toward the mentalities and practices of the Darnell couple.

I doubt it. I suspect that the mentality of reticence toward criticism of other members of the discipline -and especially members so distinguished and powerful like the Darnells- will make them remain rather silent on this matter.

I suppose that it is is much easier to promote to ignorant people campaigns and merchandises of “F...k” the one or other long ago dead great classical author than to take a sincere and courageous position on the current problems around your discipline and field of studies...

#egyptology #vintage egyptologist #tumblr egyptologists #decolonization of the classics #herodotus

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dansnaturepictures · 3 years

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Rutland Water blog 1: 20/08/2021-Lyndon Nature Reserve Part 1 of 2: Ospreys, dragonflies, Muntjac and more

As mentioned in my post about 19th August on 20th August we headed to Rutland Water, where we came every summer between 2008-2019 to visit the Bird Fair, rightly not going ahead this or last year due to the pandemic. But our wild year aligned for a trip to the nature reserves around this enormous reservoir to be very useful so me and my Mum came away staying Friday night and returning Saturday night to visit the Lyndon and Eglton Rutland Water nature reserves. I didn’t take my laptop on a one night stopover so the blogs about the time away are retrospectively posted so will read in the present tense of the date at the top. I have four blogs about the two days away, two each day and the part two of the days carry straight on from part one and its both part twos that have my Wildlife Sightings Summary for each day. Writing this bit at the time of posting: I shall aim to have part two up for each as soon as I can after.

So going back to Friday now; today on a pleasant journey from Hampshire to the East Midlands I knew we were approaching this area that means so much to us when I saw the picturesque agricultural landscape of Leicestershire which is the heart of England. The landscape was painted well with an interesting summery shade of brown as it was all journey and so often is at this time of year. There were nice well grown and vegetated road verges too. Today we started this trip as we do every one here by coming to Lyndon nature reserve at the south of Rutland Water. As we came down the steep winding road towards the visitor centre which was adorned by pink great willowherb, it was great to see the stunning scenery and get tremendous views down into Rutland Water. I took the first, third and fourth pictures in this photoset here today.

It was so brilliant to be back, and not much had really changed in the initial glances here. There were dragonflies, for me a key wild attraction of this reserve flying around from the off. I did wonder, with dragonflies being something I have focused on a lot more the past few years, whether me associating the Bird Fair with being a strong point in my year for dragonflies was because it stood out against the rest of the year where maybe I didn’t look for dragonflies a lot. But being so focused on them now particularly with the Lakeside walks working from home seeing some I can say once more as I address below this is an extraordinary and special site for dragonflies. And I was reminded how brilliant it was for them today.

Something that is new since I last came here as I said when I went to Blashford Lakes for the first time since early last year recently is the depth of my interest in and more knowledge of flowers. Today I saw so many lovely flowers, including the sweet great willowherb that was widespread today as well as purple loosestrife and water mint fitting for beside the water, with ragwort too, bee nettles, nice pink marsh woundwort in front of hide and some bright red fruited cuckoo pint looking stunning and red near the visitor centre both new for me, the similar to the woundwort hedge nettle, self-heal, Herb-Robert, red campion still going strong, rosebay willowherb, yarrow, cow parsnip, hemp acrimony, a tiny forget-me-not, scabious by the visitor centre and some nice yellow flowers by there too. It was also great to see some sloes whilst walking around a key image of this time of year.

Such a key part of our Lyndon and Bird Fair visits are going in the huge selection of varied bird hides with different habitats. In the first we went into, the first going west from the visitor centre it was great to notice a bright Great White Egret lurking at the end of the water. This has became a really key bird for Rutland Water but I believe this is the first we saw at Lyndon.

On the way to the next hide we got an early key moment of the trip when I was stunned to see a deer skulking out of vegetation, running across a field over the fence and back into the thick vegetation at the base of the water. I was amazed to get a clear view of it to be able to see it was a glorious Muntjac Deer. It was a stunning view of this sweet little mammal. I was so happy and thrilled to see this exceptional species. And there is a big history with this mammal and our Rutland trips as it’s my fourth ever sighting of one, and three of them were at Rutland Water. The first ever one we saw at our first ever Bird Fair at Egleton the part of the reserve the fair is held. And then we didn’t see one again until one at Lyndon in 2019 when we were last here. This is the third year running I have seen a Muntjac Deer now after seeing one at Blackwater in the New Forest in 2020 which is really smashing for a species I saw early on in my wildlife interest and then not again for a few years. This sighting made me feel very happy.

And then it turned into a brilliant few minutes as first of all typically for the species on the wood of a bench outside the second hide along was an excitingly red male darter dragonfly. And after photographing and examining it I was thrilled to see the jet black with no yellow on the side legs to show it was a Ruddy Darter and not Common Darter that I have enjoyed a lot this year. This was a very precious sighting for me as a year tick and I didn’t see one last year at all so this felt really good. I initially tried for photos with my normal lens which I had on at the time. I tend to use zoom lenses for dragonflies whilst my macro lens and all its closeup detail would maybe be the preferred option like all other insects. But the dragonflies land less frequently than butterflies say and after faster so I don’t normally have time to get my macro lens out or bend down to get the picture. Rare macro dragonfly pictures I’ve got in recent years have been down to luck at having my macro lens on my DSLR camera at the time. But this one was landed so frequently, always returning and settling again on the wood so I had time to get the macro lens out and take pictures possibly the extra bit of details I needed to get the ID over the line which I got the second picture in this photoset of. A brilliant view of a fine dragonfly and flipping back to the time of posting for a second I didn’t realise until I got home that Friday was ten years to the day that I saw my first ever Ruddy Darter dragonfly also at Rutland Water one I am fond of so this was special.

Then in the hide we spotted a blue beauty of a big dragonfly parading in front of the hide over vegetation, it was the smashing species a Migrant Hawker one I see as a very notable species. I have seen these three years running now too with sightings of one on different days at Lakeside last year sandwiched by today and last time here in 2019. It was fantastic to see a couple of these together. And with that the two dragonfly targets I had for this trip big parts of it for me had been seen which I was thrilled with almost straight away. It took my year list to sixteen making my year list my joint second highest ever levelling my 2018 total and behind only my 2019 total now, with my mammal year list on the same amount and riding high when comparing to past years too and I know today will be a big dragonfly focal point in another very successful dragonfly and damselfly year for me.

In the hide too I liked seeing a Little Grebe pair on a nest which was very interesting as I’d not seen them on a nest before unlike their cousins the Great Crested both grebe species on nests a very notable thing around the reserve lately it seems. There was a bare tree covered in Cormorants which was great to see with another one further up too as well and a Grey Heron flying over was nice.

A big event of the day occurred afterwards as we made it to the hide at the end, one of the two you can see the Ospreys within. It’s always a big moment whenever we come here and I was so thrilled today to see one as soon as we got into the hide a possible juvenile we think and it stayed sat on the Osprey pole for the whole time we were in this hide. And it was fascinating to see it had a fish in its talons. It was such a precious view of a bird that has been one of my very favourites for so long and such a key part of this usually annual trip for us. I was so delighted to see three more Ospreys join it as the time in this hide went on sitting on posts, the nest the one that has a webcam on it which I quite often watch and going through the big and prominent trees. It was wonderful to see and there was a very key moment of the whole trip when one Osprey flew out over the water in pursuit of a Grey Heron for a bit of heavy duty aerial tussle which put a lot of the ducks up unsurprisingly. This gave me some of best flying Osprey views for a few years it really was spectacular. I loved watching this and taking in the pure joy and pleasure of seeing it and taking photos as I did the whole time with the Ospreys. I took the fifth, sixth, seventh and ninth pictures in this photoset of the Ospreys still and flying today. After being so lucky to see the Rutland Water originated bird at a local reserve for us Fishlake Meadows to keep Ospreys in our lives this year and last I was so grateful to get to see these here today.

Also from this hide it was great to see the quirky scene of some cattle in the water which is a strong memory. A Pied Wagtail made a great sighting here too and it was delightful to see a charm of Goldfinches fly down onto the shore of the water with their splash of colour a few times. Lapwings were all over the place here which was brilliant too and it was entertaining to see them together. I reflected on how I’d probably not seen the two of them together before. Common Terns sat on posts and hovering made a great sight here too as it so often does and I liked seeing lots of Sand Martins with later on seeing them at the third hide along landed in vegetation which was very interesting to see. It was a splendid day of egrets and herons with Great White Egret, Little Egret and Grey Heron all present which was very interesting to see and is always brilliant to see. On a good run I am on for them and a great year I’ve had for them Stock Doves were a highlight this afternoon too with one flying over and one by a nest box type area. I took the eighth picture in this photoset of one of a few Greylag Geese about flying in to land on the water too.

I also had a great moment with my macro lens again when I saw two sweet orbweaver spiders very intimately on webs over the hide windows. It was interesting taking one spider picture and seeing the shadow of a prominent clump of trees which I always enjoy when coming to Lyndon across the lake behind it and this was the tenth and final picture in this photoset that I took today.

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architectuul · 4 years

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FOMA 38: Five Examples of Sacral Architecture in Kaunas

In June 1940, Soviet army entered Lithuania. This was a beginning of a 50 year long occupation. Catholic Church was one of the biggest enemies of the Soviet Union. Because of atheist policy, churches and other sacral buildings of all confessions were being closed and turned into warehouses, sport halls and galleries, therefore ignoring their architectural and cultural heritage value.

The poster with the “Monumental Church of the Resurrection in Kaunas” from 1940s. | Photo via Lietuva Senose Fotografijose

A lot of valuables were stolen, but the largest damage for the buildings was done by the weigh of goods stored on wooden floors – it crippled the walls, meanwhile the humidity and rainwater which leaked through the holes in the roofs damaged the interiors of abandoned churches. [1]

St. Michael Archangel Church was transformed into the Gallery of Sculpture and Stained Glass. | Photo © Nacionalinis Čiurlionio dailės muziejus

A choice to turn a church into a warehouse is rather interesting, since a warehouse had a symbolic meaning in the Soviet Union. Some researchers believe that converting churches into warehouses “was not the abolition of the holy but, so to speak, its replacement. The warehouse is just as ideal an order in the material world as the church is in the spiritual world. The warehouse is a materialist church, but instead of collecting people who are seeking in prayer an exalted form of the soul, it houses a multitude of objects that have found a precise inventoried form.”[2]

Vilnius Cathedral Basilica in 1847 | Lithography via Katedra.lt

Nevertheless, according to various data from 1953 to 1959 nearly 15-20% of churches were closed while some of sacral buildings went through radical transformations. Vilnius Cathedral Basilica (1783) by Gucevičius was closed in 1949. During 1950 sculptures of saints, which were on the rooftop were removed and destroyed. Since the Cathedral was closed a lot of artifacts were stolen while the interior was ravaged. The Cathedral become part of the Museum of Art and was in1956 transformed into a gallery. The building was returned to the Catholic community in 1988.

A synagogue of Kulautuva constructed by Trakman (1935) was turned into the warehouse. In 1967−1968 the building was reconstructed and masoned, so that it could be used for a library and a cultural centre.

The original constructions of the synagogue were uncovered in 2016 and was due to its poor condition demolished. | Photo via autc

Kaunas and Kaunas District are well-known because of the modernist buildings that were built during the Interwar Period. Five examples of Kaunas modernism – five sacral buildings - that were pushed to the politics of the oblivion in the Soviet times and are celebrated as architectural and cultural heritage today will be presented in this edition of FOMA.

Christ’s Resurrection Church had a flat roof, what was not common for catholic churches at the time of construction. | Photos © Lukas Mykolaitis

The Christ’s Resurrection Church was designed by Karolis Reisonas in 1929 as a 82-meter tall spiral tower crowned by a 7 meter tall statue of Jesus Christ. However, this project was too pricey and not very well accepted by the people of Kaunas, therefore abandoned. A new project was inspired by modernist spirit and designed in 1932. It was believed that the new church would become a monument of XX century architecture because of its contemporary style, advanced construction and quality materials. Its size was also extraordinary and exceptional in the context of the Baltic States.

Local granite was used for the construction, and the window frames and doors were made of oak. | Photos © Lukas Mykolaitis

The construction of the church was complicated because of lack of funding. Therefore the community engaged in the collection of donations for the church. In 1938 the walls were masoned and the roof was covered in concrete. In the spring of 1940 main construction works were completed, but when Lithuania was occupied by the soviets, it stopped and the building was confiscated. During the second world war the church was used as a paper warehouse.

The inside of the church was reconstructed, adapting it to the needs of the Kaunas Radio Factory. | Photo © Kauno miesto muziejus

In 1952 a decision was made to turn the church into the Kaunas Radio Factory, later named Banga. The inside of the church was reconstructed, adapting it to the needs of the factory: three stories in the side naves and five stories in the central nave were constructed. Crosses were removed, the chapel was demolished and large industrial windows were installed.

During 1930s Vaclovas Michnevičius designed a neo-gothic church for the Evangelical and Reformed community in Kaunas and the project was not built since its design didn’t fit well with its surroundings.The other project designed by Karolis Reisonas represented current modernist trends with a flat roof, smooth shape and its functionality. Narrow vertical windows added greatness to the image of the relatively small church.

Evangelical and Reformed Church looks similar to Christ’s Resurrection, designed by same architect. | Photo © Skeivys, 1956, KTU ASI archive.

The Evangelical and Reformed Church was finished in 1940 and remained unused due to the Soviet occupation. The top part of the tower was torn down, the building was nationalised and turned into the warehouse for tobacco and alcohol manufacturers. Afterwards was given to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, which adapted it for the use of special school. When Lithuania regained its independence in 1990, most of the churches were given back to religious communities, however, this case was different: since the owner of the building was an educational institution, the rules of returning the property did not apply. For nearly 20 more years the Evangelical and Reformed Church in Kaunas was used as a sports hall and a canteen, until 2019 when the church was given back to the community.

The believers were allowed to pray on Sundays. | Photo Wikimedia

Pažėrai Sacred Heart Church, a masterpiece by Stasys Kudokas, was built in a small village of Pažėrai in Kaunas district. The construction started in 1936 and was funded by the catholic community. The construction of modernist red-brick building was interrupted during the Soviet occupation. In 1967 the function of Pažėrai Sacred Heart Church changed as it was given to a collective farm and used as a grain warehouse.

The church has two towers, with a high raised apse and the main space of the building is covered by a dome. | Photo © Lukas Mykolaitis, 2018

When Lithuania regained the independence, the church was returned to the congregation in 1991.The reconstruction began shortly afterwards and in 1997 the nearly-finished church was consecrated. The plan of the church in the form of a Greek cross has an unique, dynamic composition, and it is an example of rational modernist architecture.

Kaunas Mosque also known as Vytautas the Great Mosque is one of four remaining mosques in Lithuania. Its design reminds the mosques in Northern Africa, a compact, small-volume mosque combines historical forms with oriental motifs like an elliptical dome and a small minaret, which was never used for its traditional purpose.

Kaunas had a wooden mosque built in 1860. | Source postcard from 1940s

In 1941 the mosque was closed and robbed: its windows were smashed, carpets, furniture and ancient hand-written Quran were stolen. The ownership rights were transferred to Kaunas City Archive which turned the building into a warehouse. In 1986 the building became a library and a warehouse of M. K. Čiurlionis Museum of Art. During the soviet times murals were painted over and there are plans to recover the old murals by 2030 when the mosque will celebrate its 100 anniversary.

The mosque was returned to the Muslim community of Kaunas in 1989 and restored in 2007-2008. | Photo © Lukas Mykolaitis, 2017

Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Šančiai neighborhood is a great example of modernist sacral architecture. The church is built of reinforced concrete, the nave is covered by supporting arches and the caisson shell. The exterior is minimalist and composed of regular geometric shapes: square front door and narrow rectangular windows.

During the war, the church was damaged, instead of stained-glass window a brick wall was built. | Photo © Justinas Stonkus, 2020

Kaunas2022 European Capital of Culture program Modernism for the Future tackles the questions of preservation, interpretation and dissemination of modernist heritage and promotes various initiatives by building owners, heritage community and cultural organizations.

[1] R. Čepaitienė. Vilniaus bažnyčių likimas sovietmečiu (1944-1990). Liaudies kultūra, 2002/5 (86), p. 32-37.

[2] M. Epstein. Russo-Soviet Topoi. The Landscape of Stalinism: The Art and Ideology of Soviet Space.ed. E. Dobrenko, E. Naiman. University of Washington Press, 2011, p. 301.

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#FOMA 38: Ugne Marija Andrijauskaite

Ugne Marija Andrijauskaite is a historian, who investigates social and cultural history of XX century Lithuania. In 2017 she defended her PhD thesis, which investigated urban workers and organized labour movement in interwar Lithuania. Currently she is working at Kaunas2022 European Capital of Culture program Modernism for the Future. The goal of the program is to awaken responsibility for the environment that surrounds us and create an emotional connection with the urban landscape and culture.

#foma #forgotten masterpieces

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trilliontrees · 4 years

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seth-the-hobbit · 3 years

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I think it’s interesting how being aro/aro-spec is the thing that’s been the hardest for me.

I read the word ‘nonbinary’ in April 2015 and went “yeah that’s me”. I still doubt it and question it sometimes but ultimately I know it’s right and I’m nonbinary.

Ace-spec was pretty much the same, one day I realised I was asexual not ace-spec easily and went “yeah that seems more correct” and never looked back. It was easy. Sex is not something that interests me and despite society’s preoccupations of it, it’s not something that has ever worried me. Both of those were things I had experienced already but now I had a name for. I was different from my peers but it wasn’t bad. Other people felt that too.

I knew I liked boys. That wasn’t something I ever had to debate. I knew I felt differently about boys than my peers (“I wasn’t like other girls”) but realising that I’m nonbinary and asexual made that make sense. I find women very attractive and I enjoy looking at them - the same way I enjoy looking at a satisfying piece of art of a beautiful landscape. My attraction to women is purely aesthetic, which took a while I admit, but wasn’t really a shock when it came. I struggled a bit between gay and bi because enbies but that was okay. I wasn’t questioning who I liked, just which label felt the best. It was like I’d chosen a top and just had to figure out which size was for me. Queer always had my back anyway.

I started to question if I was aro-spec the summer of 2018. I really went “I am aromantic” in autumn 2020. Even now I’m still a little hesitant but I’m getting there.

I had a bit of a breakdown in August 2018 and convinced myself I’d have to break up with my then partner because I’d realised I was aro-spec even though I knew I loved them. We talked about it though and our relationship developed into a QPR which took away a lot of my worries. Christmas Eve that year my partner told me they weren’t comfortable being in a QPR. We talked again and I realised that I was happy with how I was and didn’t mind how our relationship was defined as long as we were still together. When we broke up about a year later I was sad but content enough to be by myself. I had just started college so I had that newness and new friends and I was happy.

I met a really lovely lad online last April and we quickly became good friends. I suspected he had a crush on me and thought I did too. I was excited to talk to him and wanted to meet up properly and hold hands and I got caught up in the sappy feeling of newness. We met up when restrictions allowed and yes we held hands and kissed on the cheek. It was exhilarating. He was really respectful of my boundaries and knew that I was ace and aro-spec and wouldn’t - couldn’t - feel the way he did. He was okay with it. Everything was great. Then we started dating and I started avoiding him. He started saying sappy, romantic things and calling me pet names and I knew he liked me much more than I liked him and I felt like I couldn’t breathe. I had no space because he was always there. I realised that a relationship was not something I actually wanted and romantic things made me uncomfortable. We broke up and I was so relieved.

I think I just got caught up in the new friend feeling and confused it for a crush. Even though I broke up with him because I was aro I still found it hard to really accept that? I couldn’t imagine a future where I didn’t have a generic, faceless being beside me. It was a scary thought and one I struggled with a lot.

But I followed aro meme pages and aro discussion pages and bought an aro pride pin that I was excited for and it helped.

I know I want companionship and I think the ideal setup for me would be something like what I have at the moment - I’m living in a flat with two friend who are a couple. We often eat together and chat and it’s really domestic. I want people to share space with and life with but without the strain of being everything for one person. People I can hug and hold hands with probably and do grocery shopping with. People I can call family without feeling like I am depriving them of something. Three is a nice number. I’ve always done well in threes. I had two best friends in primary school. I have two best friends now. Three is a balanced number in a way two isn’t.

#my own post #this has been in my drafts for yonks because I felt it was too personal to post but some people on Instagram said it hwlped them so here #aromantic #aro #aro spec #questioning #lgbt #lgbtq #queer

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victoriareyloficlists · 3 years

Text

13 February 2021 Additions to Reylo Work Environment

These fics have been added to the Work Environment list located here.

Boss/Employee Relationship

acquisition by bitterbones (AO3 2020 Rated E Complete, 3 Chapters, Modern AU, Quick Synopsis: In which Rey decides she's ready to start a family of her own and Ben Solo, her boss and dear friend, would make the perfect sperm donor.) How Much Can Kylo Ren Endure This Christmas by reylology (AO3 2017 Rated M Complete, 10 Chapters, Modern AU, Quick Synopsis: As the CEO of the number one commercial enterprise in New York City, Kylo Ren would think that bringing home a girl for his parents to meet should be the least of his concerns. But when a phone call with his mother takes an absurd, aggravating turn, he finds himself shoved headfirst into a lie. Desperate to prove his parents wrong, Kylo would do anything in order to see the shocked looks on their faces. Even if it means seeking help from the random girl that had just walked into his office for a job interview.) Designs on you by ReyloBrit (AO3 2020 Rated E Complete, 14 Chapters, Modern AU, Quick Synopsis: CEO Ben Solo has a difficult reputation and trouble hanging on to his assistants. But his latest one, Rey Sands, he certainly doesn't want to lose, even if he's not sure his feelings for her are entirely appropriate. This new job will be Rey's first step to becoming an architect. But can she put up with her temperamental new boss long enough to gain the experience she needs and to pay off her debts?) Make Me Over by Hellyjellybean, Twisted_Mirror (AO3 2020 Rated E Complete, 2 Chapters, Modern AU, Quick Synopsis: Ben Solo is a man with a past. The famous actor has used everything from drink to sex to try and fight his demons but maybe all he really needs is the love of a good woman? Rey Johnson is excited to have been appointed MUA to the lead actor on her first film set. From the moment she meets Ben Solo, she's a goner but does he feel the same?) workin' on my fortnite moves by infrarad (AO3 2020 Rated E Complete, One-Shot, Modern AU, Quick Synopsis: Rey has been babysitting for divorced dad Ben Solo for a while. When he comes home late from work one night and finds her playing his son's favorite game, she offers to teach him.) Cassonade by CoraRiley (AO3 2016 Rated E Complete, One-Shot, Modern AU, Quick Synopsis: Ben Solo's world was turned upside down when his wife left him over a year ago. Suddenly alone with a six month old baby girl, Ben's life was in shambles...that was, until, he hired a sweet little College Student named Rey to watch his precious daughter. After months of fantasies and flirting, Ben Solo is finally ready to make his intentions known.) Twas the night before Sithmas... by Hellyjellybean (AO3 2019 Rated T Complete, One-Shot, Modern AU, Quick Synopsis: Ben Solo is alone...and he likes it that way. What more does he need on Christmas eve? He has his whiskey and his bitterness to keep him warm. But Christmas magic can do wonderful things, and a visit from a mystical being throws Ben into a world very different from the one he knew. A world were he is married to the love of his life, he is close to his family and a little boy with dark eyes calls him Daddy. But is it all a dream? Or will Ben really get everything he has ever wanted this Christmas?) Blame it on the Mistletoe by deedreamer, HopelesslyReylo (AO3 2018 Rated E Complete, 5 Chapters, Modern AU, Quick Synopsis: Rey Wilson doesn’t necessarily hate Christmas, it’s just that she’s never really enjoyed it. It’s too over the top, too full of the same repetitive music and consumerism. That’s not to say she doesn’t enjoy some things about the holiday... So when her new boss —and secret crush— Ben Solo catches her singing in her office, she lies to avoid looking like a grinch. Now she’s agreed to spend the holiday with him and his over-the-top Christmas fanatic family.) morning light at daybreak by panoramic (worrylesswritemore) (AO3 2020 Rated T Complete, One-Shot, Modern AU, Quick Synopsis: Engineer Ben has found a way to fire every single assistant Leia keeps hiring for him. This new one, Rey, will be no different. He’s certain of it.) Professional by Celia_and (AO3 2020 Rated E Complete, One-Shot, Modern AU, Quick Synopsis: Ben is a new bodyguard trying his hardest to do well at his job and be professional. Rey doesn’t see any reason why he can’t do that and fuck her too.) Goodbye, Ruby Tuesday by CaliforniaQueen (AO3 2020 Rated E Complete, 20 Chapters, Modern AU, Quick Synopsis: Celebrating finishing school and getting a teaching job, Rey Jackson and her friends go out for a night of drinks and letting their hair down. When she meets the beautiful stranger at the bar, she decides tonight she's going to break a rule and be the bad girl for a change. Their one night together turns out to have disastrous consequences for everyone involved. But is being tied down as bad as Rey thinks it is, or is she just afraid to let herself be happy?) Prank Wars by Hellyjellybean (AO3 2020 Rated E Complete, 5 Chapters, Modern AU, Quick Synopsis: An office AU where Ben and Rey are office rivals pranking each other, & she sends him a glitter bomb.) broken crown by SecretReyloTrash (BadOldWest) (AO3 2019 Rated E Complete, 4 Chapters, Medieval AU, Quick Synopsis: After he is wounded in battle, Sir Ren makes a shocking discovery about his Squire, Reymond.)

Coworkers

Ben and Rey Self-Quarantine by kalx58 (AO3 2020 Rated E Complete, 2 Chapters, Modern AU, Quick Synopsis: Coworkers Ben and Rey must quarantine together after returning from a work conference.) Nocturnal Studies And Other Peculiar Magic by WaterlilyRose (AO3 2017 Rated E Complete, 6 Chapters, Harry Potter AU, Quick Synopsis: Hogwarts was the first home Rey ever had. Now she has a chance to return as a grown woman to be the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. She cannot tolerate the Potions Master and former Death Eater that she duelled and scarred so many years ago. Yet unity must be upheld. Gryffindor and Slytherin will unite in ways never before.) Meet My Pussy by Hellyjellybean, spicytofuuuu (AO3 2020 Rated E Complete, 2 Chapters, Modern AU, Quick Synopsis: When Rey adopts a kitten, she invites Ben over to meet it. He misinterprets this as an invitation for something else. When Ben comes over, Rey says she'll be right back (to get the kitten). He starts taking off his clothes...) Nocturnal Studies Sequel: Into the Lumos by WaterlilyRose (AO3 2017 Rated E Complete, 11 Chapters, Harry Potter AU, Quick Synopsis: What happens after the Happily Ever After? Ren and Rey during their life at Hogwarts. Follow up to Nocturnal Studies and Other Peculiar Magic. Star Wars in a Harry Potter world.) Trope Come True by MWolfe13 (AO3 2020 Rated T Complete, One-Shot, Modern AU, Quick Synopsis: Grumpy Ben saves Rey.) Labor & Delivery by ReyReySolo (AO3 2020 Rated T Complete, One-Shot, Modern AU, Quick Synopsis: Ben is an eminent, stubborn OB. Rey is a brilliant, heartwarming midwife. Will their methods and professional judgement clash or can they find a way to come together for their patients and for themselves?) Loveliness Itself by riffraffes (AO3 2016 Rated E Complete, One-Shot, Modern AU, Quick Synopsis: In which world-famous actor Kylo Ren refuses to see any potential in up-and-coming actress Rey until they finally act alongside one another, and then she's brilliant, so brilliant that his entire philosophy on the crippling emotion of love is altered. None of that seems to matter, though, because Rey absolutely despises him.) First Order IT, Can I Get Your User ID? by krossartist (AO3 2019 Rated T Complete, 3 Chapters, Modern AU, Quick Synopsis: Whenever Rey had to call IT, which was about twice the amount of times a normal person would call "excessive," she got the same IT guy. Every. Damn. Time. She named him Fuckhead. He had grown to hate her fondly.) Something Wicked by violethoure666 (AO3 2018 Rated E Complete, 10 Chapters, Modern AU, Quick Synopsis: In the early 2000s Ben Solo and Rey Kenobi were America's sweethearts. Stars of the hit show Something Wicked, they took the world by storm, partying across a gritty Los Angeles landscape and making every headline. By 2017, they aren't speaking, in fact Rey despises Ben and when they are cast together in a rom com, all hell breaks loose. Jumping between the early 2000s and present day, this is the story of two people who found each other, lost each other, and found each other again.)

#reylo #reylo fanfic

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