#Marriage customs are different between cultures and time periods!

[hazelcephalopod]

Considering Fjord’s just barely “I guess my last name is Stone. That’s the shit name they gave me at my shit orphanage” attitude. I propose that when they marry we break with tradition and just let him be Admiral/Captain-Mr Fjord Lavorre.

#critical role #Plz understand even in our own world naming customs are so much more diverse than #women takes mens last name or maybe their husband adds her. Which each got form their father #There are so many other naming customs #It’s honestly weird to be exandrian doesn’t have more of them #Go look up Spanish names rn #Or places where they don’t have last names at all #Or are still using the “child of (ok usually father but you could use mother or parent) #On the one hand I get they worldbuilding based on what they know #On the other… the world is way more complicated than that #Marriage customs are different between cultures and time periods! #Not everyone uses rings! #Its fine but… also I have a lot of opinions #(Idk why this turned into a rant but it did) #cr spoilers #critical role spoilers

[theoi-crow]

The original Hymn to Demeter (aka the Hades and Persephone myth) is a lot more empowering than the modern retellings of the myth!

Reducing Demeter's role in her own myth not only hurts the original culture whose myth modern authors have distorted but it also cheapens the very empowering message that shook ancient Greece!

The reason why this story has always stood out was because it was a story about a loving mother caring for her daughter's well being by fighting the world along with every god that got in her way.

Modern retellings disregard the original context and choose modern topics like the difficult relationship between an overbearing mother and a tired daughter who dreams of freedom. Without proper historical context, they superimpose their own complicated relationship with their mothers and assume their desire to leave the house they were raised in might also be true for Persephone. These retellings show that modern authors don't understand the difficult life ancient Greek women had to face.

To an ancient Greek mother, the death of a daughter was NO different than her daughter's wedding because she was expected to be okay with never seeing her daughter again.

This is why Persephone marries the god of the Underworld. As a goddess that cultivates the earth by creating life, this was the one place Demeter could not visit at the time of Persephone's kidnapping.

The marriage between Persephone and Hades also represented young girls who died before they were able to marry because young girls who died before their wedding were buried in their wedding attire and were called the "brides of Hades" with their deathbeds also being described as their eternal bridal chambers: (Source Link)

There's an example of this custom in Sophocles' Antigone when the king of Thebes, Creon, sentences his niece Antigone to death and as she is getting ready to die she describes her death prison as a bridal chamber and says Persephone's name: (Source Link)

This was also a time period that placed a higher value on sons over daughters! This was a world that ignored the pain of a mother losing her daughter but that same mother was expected to mourn her son via performing an elaborate ritual that required her to tear out her hair and scar her face: (Source Link)

Also, most women in ancient Greece did not have a say in who their daughters married and since it wasn't unusual for grooms to come from out of town they often didn't know where their daughters would be living. The details of the marriage was between the groom and the bride's father who were often close in age, which is why Hades is older than Zeus since Zeus is the youngest of Chronus' children.

Neither the mother nor daughter knew about the arrangements between the father and the groom so bridal kidnappings were very common as well. The kidnapping of the bride was also an ancient Greek custom, which is why Hades kidnapped Persephone when Demeter wasn't looking.

Marriage was also a defining feature of a girl turning into a women so most brides were married by the time they were 14 though some we're younger while others were a bit older depending on the law and political arrangements: (Source Link)

So if Hades went through the proper channels to marry her, then why is it so empowering?

Even though Hades and Zeus followed tradition to pass Persephone from the realm of the living to the realm of the dead without telling Demeter, Demeter broke customs because of the love she had for her young daughter. She was supposed to quietly accept Persephone's fate especially since the most powerful gods among the Olympians were the three kings so who was she to fight two out of the three kings?

Demeter understood her predicament but when Zeus told her there was nothing she could do about it. She did just that. She stopped and did NOTHING.

She stopped cultivating the earth, she stopped making things grow, she stopped feeding the humans and the animals used for sacrifices and soon everything and everyone started dying.

Hades had an unexpected influx of the dead all repeating Demeter's message of longing to see her daughter and Zeus started getting harassed by gods who panicked about their worshippers dying, losing more worshippers who thought this was their fault and losing sacrifices. Both gods were being pressured to give in to Demeter's demands.

The hymn to Demeter was so impactful it became a secret cult: Not only did she win the ability to see her daughter for part of the year but Demeter's love for Persephone became so legendary that it kick-started the Eleusinian Mysteries (LINK) which also established the Elysian Fields since it was believed that heroes who had proven their worth and those initiated into the mysteries would be granted access in the afterlife (this is often described to be the closest place to an Abrahamic heaven) : (LINK)

Prior to the kidnapping of Persephone, Hades only had one area for dead humans which is described as such a miserable place that in the Odyssey, Achilles said he would rather be a slave to the poorest man in the land of the living than be in the land of the dead: (LINK) so we can date the beginning of the Elysian Fields becoming a prominent feature of Hades after the Odyssey was written (8th century BCE).

Allowing Demeter to be the main character in her own hymn gives a voice to mothers and ancient women

so by reducing Demeter's role you reduce their voices as well. By taking away Demeter's achievements and importance you take away the struggles real women had to face.

By making Demeter seem overbearing and Persephone tired of being "trapped" by her mother you not only lose the context that Demeter had been previously raped by both Zeus and Poseidon so she feared Hades might be doing the same to her daughter but you cause a rift between the relationship of these two goddesses whose love for each other was so strong it rearranged the original map of the Underworld and caused a climate shift that now featured Fall and Winter.

Demeter's myth also explains ancient marital customs and death rites:

By making Persephone seem like a willing participant in her own marriage you are stripping the meaning of these old traditions. It was very rare for a bride to have a say in who she was marrying, that was between her future husband and her father (or whichever man was the head of the household at the time).

Persephone also represents the cruelty of sudden death taking girls who never got to marry so making her a willing participant makes her seem like she's eager to take her own life in order to get away from her mother which might be how some modern people feel about their toxic relationship with their own mothers but it strips the ancient cultural context and meaning.

By changing the role of Demeter you lose the historical context attached to the original myth. You lose the struggle these women had and cheapen the severity that comes with losing a loved one and being forced to accept that you will never see them again. By making Hades seem like an ideal husband you lose Persephone's dilemma of having to accept that she'll never see her mother again and she never even got to say goodbye. And by doing the kind of retellings that are seen today you lose the fact that in the original myth neither Persephone nor Demeter consented to this arrangement because ancient women were not allowed autonomy over their bodies or their fates so:

Demeter forcing both Zeus and Hades to return her daughter she forced them to acknowledge their autonomy and although not entirely successful she gave ancient women a fighting chance

#Demeter #hades and persephone #Persephone #greek gods #greek mythology #hymn to demeter #long post

[lemonhemlock]

My favorite thing is TB stans calling you a sexist when you say Rhaenyra having bastards she passes off as legitimate (to the point of threatening his 11 year old brother with torture when he tells the truth) and plans to put on the throne is in fact, not the exact same thing as Aegon having bastards with whores in fleabottom.

speaking of myself specifically, TB hate it when i use the bastardposting tag. it gets them riled up like you wouldn't believe. it's always much easier to conserve brain power and chalk the whole discussion to misogyny and bastardphobia (LOL) instead of considering that the very material conditions of feudalism and manorialism, the lack of a diversified economy, the only way of obtaining wealth being via land ownership etc made inheritance laws the way they were. marriage between wealthy people being a literal financial contract that ensured the passing of goods and land and titles to a very specific person and not a rando child who is not related to both families. blood relation being considered the ultimate bond & deterrent from harm in the conceptualization of said culture (hello kinslaying).

they have a mental block in understanding that the reason (in western societies) today we have a much fairer distribution of wealth between living descendants, regardless of parental marital status, is because we are not so dependent on land in the accumulation of said wealth in the first place. generally-speaking, back then, the more you divided up a plot of land, the more power centres would appear - mini feudal lords who were much poorer than the previous generation and would engage in violent conflict with each other in order to acquire more land and wealth. on the other hand, when wealth is consolidated and a clear hegemon arises, the possibility of contestation diminishes bc it becomes much more difficult to displace that specific ruler.

does that make it fair? no, ofc not. there are many unjust aspects about that particular layering of society or about hegemonic stability theory. for instance, i stumbled upon an article that argues that feudal fragmentation sometimes generated technological advancements as a result of the reduced regulation capacity of landlords, which, in turn, stimulated competition between economic actors. however, as the author herself points out, "In the feudal period under investigation, the absence of a strong ruler who could abuse property rights may have made it possible to commit to investment in fixed capital, but the absence of contract enforcement may have thwarted those incentives". in addition, the historical period in question was characterized by great political instability, i.e. "warfare, the breakdown of authority, and a lack of central protection of property rights".

so, the topic is obviously much more nuanced and we should definitely leave some space for the discussion of actual avenues for lasting change, be they incremental or more ample in scope, but i'm not about to be having those conversations with TB any time soon, as they're too busy pretending that the laws and customs of a specific time had nothing to do with the technological advancements, the economic landscape and the interactions between different social spheres. that you could just click your fingers and change the world for the better, instead of considering for a moment that certain changes would require massive systemic upheavals that no one was interested in undertaking (or even had the resources or knowledge on how to initiate such an operation in the first place)

#ask #anon #bastardposting

[dismemberment-on-a-tuesday-night]

World building checklist

Not all of this is going to apply to every story, so don't feel obligated to answer every question.

Religion:

• Paganism or monotheism?

• What deities are believed to exist?

• What are the domains of different deities?

• Is the religion true, or superstition?

• What are religious positions?

• How does one become a religious figure? (Such as a priest)

• Are there gendered roles within the religion?

• Do any animals have religious significance? Which and why?

• Are animals, plants, or humans sacrificed?

• When are sacrifices held?

• What holidays exist? When are they? Why do they exist?

Habitation:

• What kinds buildings are important?

• Population?

• What do their homes look like?

• Do people own property or is everything communal?

• What climate do they live in? How does this affect foods and clothing?

Food:

• What plants are grown for food?

• What animals are domesticated for food?

• Is hunting wild animals or slaughtering domestic animals more popular?

• Is gathering wild plants or harvesting domesticated plants more popular?

• What are important cultural dishes? How did they gain popularity?

Relationships:

• Monogamy or polyamory?

• Are marriages lifelong?

• What are views on divorce, if it exists?

• How long do weddings last?

• How is sex outside of marriage viewed?

• What is the age of consent?

• At what age does marriage become legal?

• Is marriage required or optional?

• Do people decide on their own partners? If not, who does?

• What are views on homosexuality?

• How are age gaps viewed?

• How common are arranged marriages marriages?

• How do marriage customs differ between classes?

Sex and gender:

• What genders exist?

• Are intersex conditions known to exist?

• Does sex always equal gender?

• Is being transgender and/or nonbinary allowed?

• Do transgender and/or nonbinary people have religious importance?

• What gender roles exist and why?

Government:

• What is the form of government?

• What are the different government positions?

• Who is in charge?

• Is succession based on lineage, merit, or election?

• Who are important past rulers?

• How did the government start?

• Who founded the government?

Economy and employment:

• What is the economic system?

• Is there currency or a pure barter system?

• What is considered valuable?

• Are there any precious metals or gems?

• What are they?

• What jobs are common?

• What jobs are desirable or undesirable?Is education free?

• Do colleges or universities exist?

• Do job apprenticeships exist?

Entertainment:

• What are popular past times?

• What children games exist?

• What adult games exist?

• Do theaters, books, films, and/or musical performances exist?

• What are some popular plays?

• How common are books?

• Who is allowed/able to read?

• What are some popular moving pictures?

• What musical instruments exist?

Clothing:

• What are the rules on modesty?

• What are common garments?

• What is considered a masculine, feminine, or gender neutral style of dress?

• What is considered promiscuous?

• Can clothing be overly modest? How?

• What styles of clothes and shoes are common for different classes and occupations?

• What jewelry is worn by different social classes?

• What cosmetics are worn by different social classes?

•Are costumes worn during holidays?

Technology:

• What real time period is the level of technology closest to?

• Is technology less or more advanced than what we consider modern?

• What pieces of technology are used for day to day life?

• What pieces of technology do society depend on?

• What technology is reserved for the rich?

• What technology is solely used by the poor?

Coming of age:

• What is the age of adulthood?

• Do different genders become adults at the same age?

• What are the rites of passage for entering adulthood?

• Are rites of passage rigid or flexible?

• Do rites of passage differ between gender?

As always, feel free to add on ♡♡♡

@heavenly-whumper

#World building #World building checklist #Writing #Writblr

[lesbiansforboromir]

Hello! I am here today to post an agonisingly long HC about Gondorian-Dunadain/Faithful held beliefs and philosophies on sex and marriage. As per Tolkienian necessity when trying to apply to canon, this is going to be incredibly catholic, homophobic, racist and sexist BUT we’re also subverting it later so... keep hanging on!

Firstly, to define the generally accepted in-world scholastic origin for a lot of these beliefs, some of which are metaphysically ‘true’ for the in-universe offered mechanics of souls. I will be initially stealing a few concepts from an ancient magnum opus fanfic called Hands of the King, namely that   Silmariën (daughter of Tar-Palantir in Numenor, ancestress to Elendil and essentially the mother of the Faithful Dunadain) had a massive and foundational impact on the culture of the Faithful. The Silmariën Discourses are a well reproduced and distributed collatation of all her writings on all aspects of living a ‘Faithful life’ that she wrote throughout her life. And whilst they touch on many diverse topics, sex and marriage is one of them. 

Of course, these ideas were heavily influenced by Numenorean understanding of elven traditions, hence LaCE is also an in-universe document in a manner of speaking, written by even earlier Numenorean scholars during the periods of great friendship between elves and Numenor. 

And then, whilst the Silmariën discourses serve as the basis for these customs in Gondor and Arnor and are still quite a common sight within Gondorian libraries and upperclass bookshelves, even taught in schools to a certain degree, other sages and scholars in both Arnor and Gondor have added too or debated their details for generations since then. Hence amongst the Southern and Northern Dunadain you will find differences of custom and perspective. 

And finally, whilst this is technically the attitude of the ‘dominant’ culture in Gondor, it is at the same time technically a culture belonging to an ethnic minority. Even if it is the widespread and reinforced perspective, taught to every citizen within Gondor, it is in no way the only perspective and opinions upon it are complex and diverse throughout the many people groups that make up the country itself. With all that in mind, here is the basic framework of the traditonal viewpoint;

- Obviously, the first major point; sex is for marriage and procreation alone. It is a joy, but only when it is shared between you and your 'one', your partner in body and soul. Otherwise it is a corruption and a symptom of your tragic fall from grace. - In Elves this concept is spiritually enforced, the Faithful (and elves themselves) believe that elves cannot have sex outside of marriage for sex to them is a matter of bonding souls in and of itself and to share that intimacy with anyone who wasn’t your bonded partner would cause harm to you. This is because elves interact with the world using their souls, their bodies are more like vessels, it is their souls that bind them to the world. - However, because humans are connected to the world by their bodies and when they die they leave the circles of Arda never to return, they have been allowed the clemency and mercy of a less restrictive and more fluid matter of choice. It is a grievous hurt to be separated from your soul’s partner, so the atani are allowed ‘lesser’ bonds of love and companionship as they pass through the world. - But this clemency has a downside, it allows room for corruption. This corruption appears in many forms, such as polygamy, queer attraction, promiscuity, marriage for anything but love and sexual violence, but each of them are all to be deeply pitied as signs of a weak and feeble mind and heart that has succumbed to the evil influences of Arda-marred. Such people can resist their corruptions, but they should not be allowed to influence others. - As Silmarien explains it; "If Men are made to be visitors of short passage, then it is right that they shall be loath to bind themselves to someone else and be sundered from that beloved; two wills are deprived of their choice and much grief must follow. Men could give their forms in marriage, yet withhold their full will, something the Elves simply could not do. While this might lessen their grief at the inevitable passing of their mate, it also left open the door for corruption by the Enemy, for Men were tempted very easily into bestial ways, abusing this grace by sharing their bodies promiscuously." - It is generally accepted amongst the Dunadain that, if you are 'a man of high race’, you are more protected against this corruption than those of less blessed lineages. And the truer the blood of Numenor runs in you, the more you are expected to lead a ‘blessed’ life and wed your heart’s true partner. But you are not exempt! Through life or evil thoughts, one might still become corrupted and be inspired to baser deeds and corrupted lifestyles, making you alike to the heretics of old Numenor. - But the Atani should not despair, for (uncorrupted) men are still capable of the same depths of devotion in marriage as elves. Those of high race can indeed experience similar aspects of soul-bonding, ‘willing’ their souls together and knowing that person on a more intimate and spiritual level, sensing their presence and so forth. And this is believed to be the ‘true nature’ of men. - And in combination with that, as a combat to this problem of corruption, marriage as a ceremony allows a more physical solution to the issue of men’s wills and partners, both as a public declaration of that will, as well as an aid to those averagely-corrupted men. Marriage creates an environment that will, hopefully, lead men towards their natural ‘willing’ and a blessed life. 

There is some division over one passage within Silmarien’s discourses;

"While Men may not be compelled to will their marriage in the manner of the Eldar, holding forever steadfast to a single choice, still they are capable of it and it is their proper nature. In marital congress are their wills given unity with their forms. It is known among the Dúnedain for some to will thusly from the start or all at once, and those who do are changed and never repent of their choice. Most who will, however, come slowly to this state; their willing is weaker and may sometimes be broken or relinquished. Even so, most Dúnedain will know this joy. To be pitied are those who, like lesser Men, cannot or will not fulfill their natures. They are corrupt."

In Gondor, in the later third age, it is no longer socially acceptable to speak the opinion that ‘lesser men’ are incapable of the same depth of love as the Dunadain. This does not mean none hold that opinion, only that society has enough middle men within it, even in the higher classes, that they have pushed social graces toward a less derogatory view. Though it still often influences the Southern Dunadain philosophy. 

However, within the northern dunadain, it is still a fully accepted wisdom and partly accounts for both their isolationism and the lack of Dunadain marrying into wider families in Eriador. Cautionary tales from Northern Dunadain to their sons and daughters run thus; it is tragic but you must not fall for the illusion of love in the eyes of these middle men, their devotion cannot be true, you are destined for a higher love.  

SO! That’s all the bigotry out of the way, now for my headcanoned ‘true’ mechanics of all this that I am holding as canon for my character and world interpretations on this blog. These hcs both semi-apply to the ideas of ‘fea’ as they are set out, but also allow gay people to exist and for elves to be able to sleep with who they want without canonically being a sickness of the soul or whatever. 

So, yes, Elves have souls that are more seperate from their bodies. They are immortal, as in they live so long it might as well be classed as forever within the confines of Aman. And their body is not what keeps them there, it is just the way they move around the world and interact with it physically. Whereas mortals,  (putting a pin in dwarves for the moment) such as humans and hobbits are bound to Arda by their bodies alone and when their bodies are killed so is their connection to this world and they leave to ‘somewhere else’. Unspecified. As such, elves and their bondmates will not suffer the sorrow of parting forever, whereas humans might. Hence, elven souls ‘bond’ during sex, whereas humans must ‘will’ for it to occur.

Which, in terms of morality, are all neutral facts until you include the machinations of the Valar and Eru and what they WANT it all to mean. I am galvanised by the idea that, whilst some technical aspects of these things are true, the actual meaning of them have been distorted, first by colonialist elves, who then encouraged colonialist humans, and whom were all inspired by Valar unwilling to believe themselves wrong in any way despite the fact that Morgoth also distorted their understanding of the world they had sung of to begin with. And meanwhile Eru does not care about any of it, he only cares if his 'right to the throne of the world’ is being challenged. 

The concept I am running with is the idea that the true ultimate 'divine' aspect of the world comes from the Secret Fire, which Eru used to kindle life yes, but which is in fact a distinct entity from him, unknowable even to him. And in kindling life, it naturally diversified into it’s own aspects of life in completely neutral ways that were meant to coexist and collaborate to produce a harmonious world for the benefit of all. But, upon being placed into a world still ruled by Valar (whom are canonically flawed in actions, motives and understanding whilst also possessing great power) that world and the new life within it was subject to their influences and persuaded by their held beliefs of the ‘right’ way of life, that some of the diverse aspects the secret fire took that they did not understand were ‘corruptions’. Hence the elven faithful belief system was born.

Which, (completely and utterly whoops by accident and unbiased happenstance on my part) creates the situation where Boromir and all of Gondor can say 'I don't care what is divinely ordained to be right as god claims it and I do not care if it is for some great plan I could never understand, I know it to be wrong in my heart' and they are fundamentally correct for saying that, because they (and all other creatures in arda) ARE the secret fire and are therefore actually more divine than Eru is in the end.

They can be handed all of these truths about souls and bonding and death and all the works of the Valar and Morgoth's corruption and so forth that all SEEM to support these Valar-originated concepts and the elves and Eru's divine supremacy and ownership over all creation etc and still say I don't care, I don't care if I'm divinely wrong. I'm humanely right and I would rather hold to that mundane choice than be holy in the eyes of a divinity that claims these things.

Hence some ‘heretical’ elves can nod and agree, yes, elves bond, souls become entangled. I have bonded many times, I have shared my soul with many, both in the elven way, the dwarven way and the human way. I unlearned what I was taught and listened to what my soul told me, that elves can create their own realities, we can decide what things mean to us, what a soulbond of love looks like. The fact that I am more soulfully made up of all the pieces of many people who loved me is a beautiful strength not a corrupted weakness.

And Boromir, whom had in essentials been agnostic to the whole thing as a young man and was then confronted by the strange evidence of him being ‘of high race’ in his natural ‘willing’ to Theodred. He eventually acknowledges, yes, I am experiencing some of these things people talk about, which makes it seem like what the Faithful preach is true, and therefore I am corrupted and my love for Theodred is a corruption, despite my ‘willing’ to him. But I have decided I don't care. This is the life I lead, this is the love I have. If it is not acceptable to God then he should have given me a different life and made me a different man.

And Denethor who spends his whole life trying to negotiate with divinity, he cares, he does, he wants to be faithful, he wants to be good! But faith keeps failing him, failing everyone and everything he cares about, he has been abandoned by God in the midst of a holy way FOR God, and yet so many of these seemingly innocuous things are wrong? And eventually he is angry and betrayed and says fine, I will be what you believe me to be, this thing you call a great sin is far kinder and far more just than anything divinity has ever asked of me.

And all of them are right! Because the Secret Fire is divine, in and of itself, and what it wills is what is right for it’s own existence. 

THERE again so sorry, this is even longer than I thought it would be.

#gondor meta #tolkien meta #soap operas in mannish sindarin #erran vs tolkien #boromir #gondor #dunadain #text post #tolkien #lotr #gender and sexuality in gondor #borodred #denethor #long post #longpost #long post cw

[neechees]

I know she's not much of a character beyond "sweet beloved dead wife," but what is your take on Lysandra, the Spartan wife of Kratos? It came to me because I had this idea that Lysandra, as a good Spartan woman, would probably not get along with Faye at any level

That's an interesting thought! I firstly like to imagine she would like Faye just because 1. I need to see Kratos catch a goddamn break & be happy with his wives & kids!! Omg. & 2. I think she's a little unconventional as far as Spartans go, and 3. For her characterization & interactions in game, it kinda depends on how we navigate cultural, historical, & mythological accuracy in terms of correlation with the game series' canon, which takes a LOT of artistic license for all. If we're being strictly historically accurate & assume Lysandra is a good Spartan woman, I think you'd be right!

But with Lysandra herself, I say she's "unconventional" as a Spartan just because of some of her actions & the way she is in the games: when Calliope is seen to be sick when she's born, Lysandra reacts by refusing the throw Calliope off Mount Taygetos & instead demands she be given a chance to live so Kratos find a cure for her, but a more "proper" Spartan wife & mother might've reacted by letting Calliope die. Additionally, Lysandra also is the one to tell Kratos to his face that he was being too crazed & violent when he was serving under Ares, despite being a very successful Spartan General & doing it under the command of a literal war God. So in the very least, this lets us know that Lysandra is more than willing to go against Spartan custom, especially regarding her family. To me, in addition to being a kind person & loving & devoted wife/mother, she's a very independent & outspoken person who doesn't care much about what people think of her & doesn't have a problem with telling people what she thinks of THEM. Lysandra is a tough lady, maybe a little intimidating. She's the cookie monster pjs girl in high school. I imagine she's also very sexually liberated as well, & I headcanon that she met Kratos when they were younger & convinced their parents (usually who set up arranged marriages, which was the norm) to let them marry.

& as her possible feelings towards Faye & their resulting family dynamic, I think it could even depend on the time period for Lysandra and Faye? Like, afterlife wise, I don't imagine they'd have anything to beef over (assuming they're in a happy afterlife & have reconciled with the events in their lives, which seems to be canon), they're already dead & have lived their lives, & both loved Kratos, so I imagine they'd at least both appreciate that about each other. Like, "well, I loved my husband, he loved me, and he must've loved you for a very good reason, so I'll try to get along with you." As for their kids, I actually think they'd LOVE each others' kids as well in any scenario, & they'd probably be a big reason why they'd try to get along.

I've also thought about this with Kratos & Faye, because I actually thought they were going to meet (or there was going to be a reference to her) in the Egyptian era comic, & that was when Kratos was still a VERY different person vs the Norse era. There was a lot of time between gow3-4 for him to improve as a person (which I think he did a lot on his own, I don't think Faye singlehandedly "fixed" him, but she definitely helped) and ruminate on his actions. Like if gow3 Kratos met a younger Faye, I don't think they'd initially like each other at ALL. He'd obviously be attracted to her, but I imagine he'd still be in his Spartan mindset that Northern peoples are "barbarian" or generally not as good as Spartans & probably see her kindness as naïvete, she'd think he was a mean asshole all around & would probably hate being around him & would never in the world imagine marrying him ("you are the last man in the world I could ever be prevailed upon to marry" Elizabeth Bennet chewing out Mr Darcy type shit). But I could still imagine them getting together, it would just have to be WAY later & either the slowest burn in the universe or separating & then meeting each other again in the Norse era & THEN falling in love lol

So in terms of Lysandra, depending on the setting & situation, it could be the same deal as above? If Lysandra was somehow alive & met Faye pre-Norse gow4 era, it might be the same as above with gow3 Kratos. However, I could also see Lysandra in the very least being impressed with Faye's abilities and combat skills & going "okay I see why he likes you" sort of way, probably also feel a lot of sympathy for her since Atreus was sick all the time, & think Faye was a good mother. If in some kind of setting where Lysandra would be alive & Kratos married Faye as well (or even just slept with her), best case scenario, if we assume Lysandra keeps that very Spartan mindset, then I imagine it would be something like an extremely awkward relationship similar to the Triss/Yennefer/Geralt (complete with the Raven haired lady vs redhead aspect) love triangle from the Witcher, but tolerating each other for their kids & Kratos. I like to think she'd eventually like Faye at least to some degree (they do seem to have some stuff in common), but it'd be weird & tense, maybe some jealousy there. Worst case scenario we'd probably end up with a Ragnar/Lagertha/Aslaug from Vikings dynamic LOL.

But the Norse & gow4/5 era setting changes EVERYTHING. if Lysandra was alive during gow4/5 & changed in a similar way Kratos did (becoming more open minded & not xenophobic) or if we assume that Lysandra is not a conventional Spartan (which gives her possible reactions to Faye more leeway, dead or alive), then I think her relationship with Faye would be a LOT better. Lysandra loves Kratos & wanted him to make better choices & forgive himself, so once/if she realizes that's precisely what Faye helped him to do & made him happy, I think she'd appreciate that about her. Not only that, but the game devs have said that Kratos's ashes are FADING, possibly because of the gesture of Faye getting Kratos to come to terms with her death by asking him to spread HER ashes & going on the adventure. That, I think, would absolutely cement Lysandra's respect for Faye, in addition to admiring her combat ability & her care for Atreus. & from there we could get the Fayetosandra polycule development lol. (& in an afterlife setting, this is what I think she thinks of her)

So yeah, I guess it really depends!! But that's just my thought on her. There's really no way of knowing how she'd react to Faye for sure since she died before they could ever meet, so any setting you put them in would have to be an AU, & there's a lot of factors for that depending on what kind. And unfortunately, we don't have a lot to go off of for Lysandra in the first place (which sucks). Great question!!

#this is soooo long svfcrcd #im normal about this game #orchidzach #gow #long post

[daeron-dondarrion]

BLACKHAVEN -  Culture & customs

The people of Blackhaven speak the common tongue as all Westerosi, however, they also have their own regional dialect: Euskera. Several of their folkloric songs as well as their prayers are in this language. 

There is a very strong culture of music and dance in Blackhaven, which come from traditions of old that have endured for centuries, which they call flamenco/flamenkoa. There isn’t an exact record of when this particular genre of dance and music emerged, but it did a long time prior to Aegon’s conquest in the southern coast of the Stormlands, a tradition that survives only in Blackhaven to this day (more detailed information here).

This form of music and dancing has been integrated into marriage ceremonies, in which specific songs are to be played and danced. Wedding ceremonies for the people of Blackhaven last at the very least three days: one day must be for the pedimento (an official ceremony in which the groom asks the bride to marry him), day two is for the casamiento (the actual wedding ceremony), and day three and onwards is for the celebration, in which the groom invites nobles and smallfolk alike as a gesture of good faith and to continue fostering the sense of community between the people. Food is offered to the less fortunate ones as a sign of devotion to both men and gods. People give their gifts to the groom and bride at this point, however big or small, and the women of the families being united hand over carnations to thank them.

Blackhaven is rife with bazaars, or merkatuak, as they’re called there. While they’re open every day, it is during the weekdays that they fill with people, particularly after the people come out from the visits to the sept. Street food is sold, both sweet and savory, and there are street performers playing music and dancing. All sorts of foods can be found there as well as spices such as peppers, cumin, thyme and cilantro, which are harvested there. It’s worth noting there is a large guild of shoemakers in Blackhaven, so nobles and smallfolk alike can find plenty of different footwear, and these craftsmen often engage in exporting to all of the Stormlands.

The cuisine of Blackhaven is rich and varied, often specializing in meals that include rice as well as vegetables, and either beef or venison all mixed together and seasoned. There is a very homely quality to the food, and sharing meals together is a very important aspect of life in Blackhaven. So much so that they even have a word (mahaigaina) for the period of time families and friends stay at the table to continue talking even long after their dinner is over.

#daeron: headcanon #( blackhaven )

[kazeofthemagun]

👤 for a muse headcanon ; 🌍 for a worldbuilding headcanon - specifically when it comes to romance, both personally for Kaze and in Windarian culture :>

Worldbuilding

Romance and intimacy in Windarian culture

Love in an age long past

[Heeeyyy!! Thank you for the ask! It really made me think. Windaria is both canon in name as well as an original world crafted by me almost entirely from scratch, much like Kira's Misterica. It warms my heart whenever people want to learn more about our boys' worlds and cultures. It's definitely a good exercise for me as well. Making these people so very alien and yet, so very human in the metaphysical sense of the word.]

Romance among Windarians was an important aspect of life as it is for us, especially considering how harsh both the planet and society were. Before the unification of the warring clans by Lahriktaar and subsequent uniformization of culture, each sovereign clan with a large enough territory had its own patron spirits, customs and social expectations. Smaller clans typically served the sovereign clans and adhered to their cultural norms and rules. There were many different ideas of how both romance and sex life should look like, but polyamory was widely practiced, seeing as more children usually meant better survival. Mingling between feuding clans, however, was considered a grave offence, as well as a blood curse. Any Romeos and Juliets were typically met with a rather grim fate, as were their children. It was a prime example of Windaria's various superstitions, dominating the people's subconscious even well into the Unified Era.

After the end of the Warring Clans period, the state of Lahriktaar's culture became the dominant one on Windaria. In Lahriktaarese custom, there was no official marriage. Furthermore, there was no stigma on homosexuality, but a man (especially a warrior) was still expected to father a child, so gay couples with a concubine (or concubines) were commonplace. Likewise, female warriors too were expected to "spread desirable genes", and infertility among either gender was stigmatized, although some warrior clans refused to conform to reproductive standards out of pride and valued bodily autonomy higher than the opinions of the religious caste. Depending on family status, certain dogmas were unenforcable and powerful clans typically retained some of their own beliefs and laws.

Relationships were based on mutual, consensual attraction and it was not too uncommon to date more than one person at a time. Whether that resulted in polyamory or rivalry was up to the individuals involved. Dueling over a partner (with the partner's consent) was legal, if eccentric and primarily practiced among quarreling Wind Warriors. Gift giving was an important love language, and sharing food could be considered romantic if it was eaten from the same plate.

The Windarian goddess of love and fertility was Inaret, one of the Mistresses of Rain and Drought alongside Alaeyra and Kaahtentuuri. Her blessing could be earned by ritual consumption of svachka meant; Smoking the rabbit-like animal and serving it upon its own cleaned hide. Certain herbs were also considered Inaret's holy plants and consumed around the Lahriktaarese Festival of Rain, acting as mild hallucinogens and aphrodisiacs.

Inaret also possessed her own tattoo designs, traditionally passed throughout the generations within clans devoted to her worship. Young Windarians in love frequently sought out these so-called "heart painters", having their bodies marked with an ink produced with a mix-in of the goddess' herbs. Another sign of deep devotion (extending to romantic and platonic love alike) was the gifting of blood jewelry, cast from a person's own blood and mixed with special tree sap.

Kaze and love

Black Wind grew up with a skewed view of love as a concept, but ultimately was very much capable of falling in it. As a precious few of you know from the buried canon, Kaze's first and only love was ill-fated, as it was his own sister, Golden Aura, with whom he had been separated at birth and thus the two were oblivious of their true relation. Having met Aura during a celebratory ceremony in the capital, he was captivated by her beauty. From there on out, they talked often, and grew mutually fascinated with one another. As a young clan warlord rising to fame, Kaze harbored dreams of forging a peaceful life for his people and fell hard for Aura's selfless devotion to the same ideal. Her kindness hit close to home, considering Kaze himself most likely would not have survived the sun-scorched streets of Tonnavrel without the charity of a small local temple.

Throughout his days and all his hardships, Black Wind grew bitter and disillusioned, especially after having his dreams simultaneously fulfilled and shattered by being appointed as the next Champion of Magun. Nowadays, years after the fall of Windaria and Aura's death, Kaze is not thinking of romance in any degree. As the now-immortal Hunter of Chaos, he is unable to ever again live a remotely normal life and thus, unable to provide any kind of stability to a partner. Furthermore, the trauma and dishonor from his and Aura's relationship still haunt him, making him unwilling to seek out emotional intimacy. Though he experiences close to zero romantic attraction, he does have a sex drive, but any such activities with him will never result in anything "more".

#areapermostcapricious #[[ask response #[[headcanon #[[Windaria - Land of the Winds #incest tw #incest mention tw #just in case #thank you for the ask!!! #[[Inaret #[[Alaeyra #[[Kaahtentuuri #new tags for their various deities

[alexsfictionaddiction]

Review: Pyre by Perumal Murugan

I have to admit that I had no idea what to expect from this book. However, I am a big fan of Pushkin Press and the cover for this sparked huge intrigue.

Young lovers Saroja and Kumaresan have just got married without their families’ blessings. As they make the journey back to Kumaresan’s village, Kumaresan is convinced that his family and neighbours will be OK with the inter-caste marriage. Saroja isn’t as convinced. Sure enough, Saroja’s suspicions are correct and it isn’t long before the dangerous consequences of their match begin to unravel.

I don’t know much about the caste system in India and I’m not sure what time period this book is set. However, there is a recurring obsession with Saroja’s caste. Neither Saroja nor Kumaresan tell anyone the truth and insist that they are of the same caste. Saroja appears to be of a higher caste than Kumaresan and for some reason, this displeases his people. Perhaps because they believe she can’t possibly understand them but she never purports to. The idea of class division is something that is present in most societies and is certainly more prevalent in some. It seems to be the driving force behind absolutely everything in this book and yet it still wasn’t really given much context. Perhaps that wasn’t the author’s intention though.

There are a lot of people who seriously want Saroja to come to severe harm in this book. It’s really quite scary but I don’t think I really grasped the reasons behind their anger. It might simply be a case of ‘she doesn’t belong among us and therefore, she can’t be married to one of us’. If that’s the case, the book is simply an illustration of an extremely volatile, narrow-minded society and the horrific things they can do. If the reasons for hating her are deeper than that, I’m afraid I completely missed it, as she is definitely a sweet, charming girl.

As with many women who marry into a culture different to their own, there are certain rules and customs that Saroja has to learn. Her life has undoubtedly changed forever by her falling in love and marrying Kumaresan. One thing I loved was seeing how loyal and loving he remained to her. Everyone was telling him to cast her aside and his silent refusal was so beautiful and admirable.

There is some discussion about the tension between a mother and her daughter-in-law. Of course, Kumaresan’s mother is very cruel to Saroja because everyone in the village is. However, there are characteristics of their relationship that can be applied to any mother-in-law/daughter-in-law dynamic where unresolved issues lie. I would have liked to see this relationship soften or go some way towards a resolution but the entire story was a burning hot rage towards Saroja and everything that she seemed to represent.

Pyre is a brief glimpse into the horrors that a young woman faced at the hands of her husband’s community, purely for being of a different place and background. It explores extreme intolerance and the violent behaviour that can inspire. It’s quite a slow read but the final part sees the pace amp up several settings and it was only in the final paragraph that I spotted a glimpse of hope. I think I’d have enjoyed Pyre more had it been longer with more detailed prose. I needed a lot more context than I got, so it was perhaps too brief a read for me.

#pyre #perumal murugan #literary fiction #book review #review #books #bookworm

[adiabolikpastel]

Can you tell us how you imagine Shu and Callista's wedding?

What kind of decorations would there be? Who would be the guests of honour? Would Burai or Alrick come to the wedding? Where would the honeymoon be? What is Callista's dress like and what would Karl wear on the wedding day?

Sorry if it's too many questions, but I LOVE fanfics about arranged marriages.

Ohhhhh gosh, strap in Anon! This is a very long post, so pictures and explanations under cut. Thank you so much for the ask!

This was all simply a more general idea, if you would like me to elaborate on anything, please let me know!

Before I dive into this, there are a few things I want to state, to help paint a picture of their world by the time Shu and Callista are wed:

There is talk of war; unrest has set in between all of the different major clans

Kalheinz is still in power, as Shu has not killed him yet

This marriage will secure the alliance between the Adler and the Bat clan, should things move to war

Decorations

So lets start with, probably, the most intricate part of your question. First, we'll cover the alter - or where they say 'I do.' It must be outside, as Adler Demon's celebrate all things as such. They will choose a location where you can see how vast and beautiful the sky is. Using the natural beauty of the world being their best decoration.

The reception would be simple as well. Allowing nature to be their decorator more than anything. I am torn to think of how LARGE the wedding would be. I mean of course it is a rather important affair - however, most in attendance would be nobles.

Guest

On the topic of - the guest of honor, perhaps you meant maid of honor? and best man? I have never heard of a guest of honor at a wedding - that wasn't the bride and groom. Callista's Maid of Honor would more than likely be one of her elder sisters. If not them, they would be bride's maids. Same with Shu and Reiji, along with his brothers.

That being said though, Demon Ceremonies would be different from human ones, I can go into more detail about that in another ask if you would like. Ultimately for this ask, I would have to say no one would take those rolls - as that is not a custom that Demon's practice.

Burai and Alrick would be invited - yes. Whether or not they would attend is the question. The Vibora and Adler clans are at the heart of the conflict that exists in this future. Adler's wanting to commit to an alliance with Humans, and Vibora to stay the way things are. The invitation would be out of good will, as Ajax does not want this conflict to occur. (@the-sloth-woman given that information, how do you think Burai would respond?)

Honeymoon

Another concept that I don't quite think Demon's would practice. Something similar though, perhaps. A period of time for the couple to be alone and away from others - the goal being to come back with the woman pregnant. This is basically what Honeymoons are, however, we in this modern time have moved away from pregnancy being the goal of it.

In that sense - Shu and Callista would get away. More than likely escaping to the Human World - far away from all the conflicts at home. Where they would go - I am not sure. Callista would probably want to show Shu all of the beauty that the Human World has. It's natural sights, the people, and culture. Shu would definitely go along for the ride.

To the point of the get away, that would be of no avail. Shu and Callista are unable to conceive an heir by the time they come back from the get away. This not being from a lack of trying - that goes much deeper into their plot.

Clothes

Callista loves dresses. So, for a wedding dress, originally I was thinking something big and puffy. However, the more I looked, the more I fell in love with these more a-line types. Something with a long trail, or a veiled cape. I LOVE the idea of something that could flow out like wings! Of course it would need to be strapless or at least show off her cleavage for Shu.

For Karlheinz, while not the center of attention, his outfit would be something that grabs it. He is still the Bat Clan King - and as such, there is an appearance to uphold. Since Skye came into his life, he has taken his fashion choices a bit more seriously.

#ask answered #ask mun #Shista

[wedding-rings1122]

Wedding Rings: Symbolism, Trends, and Choosing the Perfect Band

Introduction to Wedding Rings

Wedding rings hold a profound significance in the institution of marriage, symbolizing eternal love and commitment between partners. These timeless pieces of jewelry transcend cultural boundaries and have remained a cherished tradition for centuries.

Types of Wedding Rings

When it comes to wedding rings, couples have a plethora of options to choose from. Traditional metal bands crafted from gold, platinum, or silver remain popular choices, while others opt for gemstone rings adorned with diamonds, sapphires, or other precious stones. Additionally, there's a growing trend towards unique materials and designs, such as wood, meteorite, or even recycled materials.

Factors to Consider When Choosing Wedding Rings

Selecting the perfect wedding rings involves considering various factors, including budget constraints, personal style, and lifestyle considerations. While some may prefer extravagant designs, others may opt for simpler, more practical bands that align with their everyday activities.

Shopping Tips for Wedding Rings

Before making a purchase, couples should conduct thorough research to understand the different options available and educate themselves about ring quality and pricing. Additionally, ensuring the correct sizing and fit is crucial, as wedding rings are intended to be worn for a lifetime.

Customization Options for Wedding Rings

Many jewelers offer customization services, allowing couples to personalize their wedding rings with engravings, unique designs, or matching sets that symbolize their bond and commitment.

Trends in Wedding Rings

In recent years, there has been a shift towards sustainable materials, vintage and antique rings, and stackable bands that allow for versatility in styling.

Maintenance and Care of Wedding Rings

Proper maintenance and care are essential to ensure the longevity of wedding rings. Regular cleaning and upkeep, as well as periodic repairs or resizing, will help preserve their beauty and shine over time.

Symbolism and Tradition Associated with Wedding Rings

The circular shape of wedding rings symbolizes eternity and the unending bond between spouses. The exchange of rings during wedding ceremonies is a poignant moment that signifies the couple's commitment and love for each other.

Alternatives to Traditional Wedding Rings

For those seeking alternatives to traditional bands, options such as tattooed rings, silicone bands, or heirloom pieces passed down through generations offer unique alternatives.

Emotional and Sentimental Value of Wedding Rings

Beyond their material worth, wedding rings hold immense emotional value for couples, serving as tangible reminders of their love and commitment to each other.

Famous Wedding Rings in History and Pop Culture

From royal engagement rings to iconic movie and TV show props, certain wedding rings have achieved legendary status, capturing the public's imagination and inspiring countless replicas.

The Evolution of Wedding Ring Trends Over Time

Over the years, wedding ring trends have evolved in response to changing fashion, cultural norms, and societal values. Understanding these shifts can provide insight into current preferences and future trends.

The Role of Wedding Rings in Different Cultures and Traditions

Across different cultures and traditions, wedding rings play a central role in marriage ceremonies, symbolizing unity, fidelity, and commitment in diverse ways.

Ethical and Sustainable Considerations in the Wedding Ring Industry

As consumers become more conscious of ethical and environmental issues, there's a growing demand for ethically sourced and sustainably produced wedding rings that minimize harm to people and the planet.

Conclusion

In conclusion, wedding rings serve as powerful symbols of love, unity, and commitment, transcending time and cultural boundaries. Whether traditional or unconventional, the perfect wedding ring is a deeply personal choice that reflects the unique bond shared between partners.

[acharyaganesh123]

 The Significance of Kundli Matching in Indian Marriages

Marriage is a sacred institution in Indian culture, and the process of finding a life partner involves various traditional customs and rituals. One such crucial aspect is Kundli matching, a practice deeply rooted in Vedic astrology. Kundli, also known as horoscope or birth chart, is a detailed astrological chart that represents the position of celestial bodies at the time of an individual's birth. Kundli matching plays a vital role in Indian marriages, as it is believed to provide valuable insights into the compatibility of the prospective bride and groom.

Understanding Kundli Matching:

Kundli matching involves comparing the horoscopes of the bride and groom to assess their compatibility in various aspects of life, such as personality, health, financial stability, and family life. The process is based on the principles of Vedic astrology, which considers the positions of planets, stars, and other celestial bodies at the time of birth.

The Kundli comprises several components, including the Navamsa chart and the Ashtakoot system. The Ashtakoot system, also known as Guna Milan, evaluates the compatibility of the couple based on eight different factors. Each factor, or "koot," holds a specific significance and contributes to the overall compatibility score. The higher the score, the better the compatibility between the prospective partners.

The Importance of Kundli Matching:

Compatibility Assessment:

Kundli matching is believed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the compatibility between the prospective bride and groom. It considers various aspects of their lives, ensuring a more harmonious and balanced relationship.

Family Harmony:

In Indian culture, marriage is not just a union of two individuals but an alliance of two families. Kundli matching is thought to predict the compatibility not only between the couple but also between their families, ensuring a smoother integration into each other's lives.

Financial Stability:

The positioning of planets in the Kundli is thought to influence an individual's financial prosperity. Matching the Kundlis helps in assessing whether the financial goals and aspirations of the couple align, minimizing potential conflicts in this area.

Health and Well-being:

The Kundli also provides insights into the health of the individuals. Compatibility in this aspect is considered crucial for a long and healthy married life.

Dasha Analysis:

Kundli matching includes the analysis of dasha (planetary periods) to predict the influence of different planets at various stages of the couple's life. This aids in understanding potential challenges and opportunities they may face together.

Conclusion:

While modern society may view Kundli matching with a degree of skepticism, it remains an integral part of Indian matrimonial traditions. Many families consider it a guiding factor in the decision-making process, relying on the insights provided by Vedic astrology to ensure a strong foundation for a successful and enduring marital relationship. Whether one believes in astrology or not, the practice of Kundli matching continues to shape the course of countless Indian marriages, reflecting the cultural richness and diversity embedded in the fabric of society.

#astrology #vastutips

[qu-film-history-to-1968]

The 1960's and the decline in confidence of public institutions. (Franco Morgante)

The 1950’s and 60’s were a time where consumerism and distrust of public institutions started to become more prominent amongst the working class of the western world. Two films that look to show the real-world opinions of the working class are Salesman and Chronicle of a Summer. Salesman follows a group of four salesmen as they travel the west coast trying to sell bibles and encyclopedias to low-income neighborhoods. The film features very little narration and primarily focuses on showing the salesmen in action. According to an article from Maxine Haleff.” The Maysles shot Levine informally in many private and public situations. They did not ask for a release until after they had shown Levine the unedited footage”, (Haleff, 19). The limited editing of this film is what gives this film a distinct identity as it feels a lot more realistic and less curated than other documentaries. Unfortunately, many of their attempted sales end up unsuccessful for various reasons like some of the customers being uncomfortable around them. What's fascinating though is that since this documentary takes place during the 60’s, which is a time when religion was much more prevalent in the lives of the average American, yet many were still unsure if they should purchase these bibles. This could mean that around the 60’s people started to distrust religion as an institution. 

According to a survey from Henry E. Brady & Thomas B. Kent, the trust in religious institutions has been decreasing overtime. And later on in the article they say, “The story for each institution is probably somewhat different: for religion it is the rise of the Christian right” (Brady & Kent, 18). This time period was also dominated by the rise of the Christian right and how they believed that America’s culture was being destroyed by the degenerate counterculture. But with this rise in cultural power, religious institutions became more and more of a politicized institution rather than a norm-enforcing institution. This could be the reason why many of the potential sales in the documentary ended in failure, as the people may have thought that these men were just trying to get rich off of them rather than trying to spread the word of God. This film displays this lack of faith by showing the salesmen going to different states throughout the New England area to show that this distrust isn’t just a phenomenon in one state.

  In Chronicles of a Summer, sociologist Edgar Morin and anthropologist Jean Rouch try to figure out what was the key to happiness amongst the French working class. The film is structured like a traditional documentary with famous conventions like interviewers on the streets and quick cuts between the responses of the various interviewees. They also heavily emphasize that the reactions of everyone that is interviewed is a real-life reaction and not rehearsed. This was in response to a lot of documentaries at the time, as according to an article from Drew Associates” They were dull. Most all relied heavily on on-camera correspondents reading scripts, telling viewers what they were watching and what they should think about what they were watching. “Real life never made it onto the screen,” he lamented” (Drew Associates, paragraph 2). In one section the interviewers directly ask random people off the street what makes them happy. Some said it was their marriage, some said they were just happy to be alive, and some said their happiness depends on how much money they have. This last quote seems to be the most revealing as it could be related to the consumerist mindset that had just started to get popular. With all the new innovations like television and cars becoming more accessible, for many people it seemed that happiness was tied to material possessions. So, this could be the reason for why some believed that having lots of money was the key to their happiness.

This comment could also relate to working class confidence in the economy. As housing and other necessary products get more expensive, it could be that the working class of France thinks that money is the key to happiness as it is necessary just to survive. This feeling seems to be shared by the American working class as well, as trust in America’s economic institutions seems to be heavily dependent on the strength of the economy. According to the article from Henry E. Brady & Thomas B. Kent, “In addition, the GDP growth rate is positively associated with about 30 percent of the variance over time in confidence in Wall Street, 11 percent in business confidence, and 11 percent in confidence in banks” (Brady & Kent, 8). Since many people see institutions like Wall Street and banks as ones with near unlimited amounts of money, it seems that people are quick to blame them once the economy starts to fail. 

And while labor institutions like unions have a generally more positive view in the eyes of the working class, they also aren’t immune from economic ridicule. According to Henry E. Brady & Thomas B. Kent, “The unemployment rate is negatively associated with about 24 percent of the variance in trust in labor, but there is no significant correlation of confidence in labor with growth rate”, (Brady & Kent, 8). This quote displays how even labor unions will be blamed for poor economic performance and can cause a lack of faith in even the more respected public institutions. But the feelings of the French working class and American working class seem to have similarities. It is a little difficult for this documentary to display this lack of faith in these institutions as the film only shows the people the interviewers are able to get on the streets. Which can introduce some bias in the findings. 

While both of these documentaries aren’t perfect, they do display how confidence in public institutions started to decline around the 60’s when moral institutions like religion started to become more political. And the economic institutions started to be blamed for the struggles of the working class.

  Sources

Brady, Henry E., and Thomas B. Kent. “Fifty Years of Declining Confidence & Increasing Polarization in Trust in American Institutions.” MIT Press, MIT Press, 15 Nov. 2022.

“Cinema Verite.” Drew Associates, drewassociates.com/cinema-verite/. Accessed 26 Nov. 2023. 

Film Comment, 1964, Vol. 2, No. 2 (1964), pp. 19-23

#submission

[bridalmakeupkbr]

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Bridal Makeup Artist in Delhi keep up to date with the most recent patterns and strategies, reliably pushing the limits of their masterfulness. They explore different avenues regarding new items, application techniques, and imaginative styles to convey looks that are new, immortal, and enrapturing. From the perfect "no-cosmetics" cosmetics focus on the hypnotizing fabulousness of smoky eyes, these craftsmen capably offset the latest things with the lady's singular inclinations, guaranteeing a look that is both on-pattern and credible.

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The connection between a lady and her cosmetics craftsman is based on trust, correspondence, and coordinated effort. Bridal Makeup Artists in Delhi grasp the meaning of successful meetings and cosmetics preliminaries, where they listen mindfully to the lady's desires, give master direction, and make a common vision. They work intimately with ladies, guaranteeing that their cravings are met while giving proficient guidance and ideas, at last conveying an outcome that surpasses assumptions.

The Essence of Timelessness:

While patterns travel every which way, Bridal Makeup Artists in Delhi comprehend the significance of making looks that endure for an extremely long period. They figure out some kind of harmony between consolidating the latest things and embracing exemplary polish, guaranteeing that the lady of the hour's magnificence stays immortal even a very long time after her wedding. Through careful item determination, talented application, and meticulousness, these craftsmen make an enrapturing and persevering wedding stylist that will be esteemed in photos for a long time into the future.

Conclusion:

Bridal Makeup Artists in Delhi are the unrecognized yet truly great individuals who assume a fundamental part in making a lady of the hour's big day genuinely extraordinary. Their aptitude, imagination, and devotion flawlessly make them a vital piece of the wedding venture. From tweaked works of art to embracing social variety, these craftsmen draw out the best in each lady of the hour, upgrading her regular magnificence and causing her to feel like the most brilliant form of herself. With their talented imaginativeness, they guarantee that ladies in Delhi set out on another section of their lives with certainty, elegance, and magnificence that will be treasured until the end of time.

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Discover the passionate, emotional world of historical fiction romance from a published Historical Fiction Romance Writer

Are you a fan of love stories set in the past? Do you find yourself drawn to the romance and intrigue of historical times? Then, welcome to the world of historical fiction romance! As a genre that combines captivating storytelling with richly-researched history, it offers readers an immersive experience like no other. In this blog post, we will take a deep dive into what makes historical fiction romance so special and explore some tips for writing your own masterpiece in this exciting genre. Plus, we'll introduce you to some talented authors who are making waves as Historical Fiction Romance Writer. So buckle up and get ready to discover the passionate, emotional world of historical fiction romance!

What is historical fiction romance?

Historical fiction romance is a genre that combines historical accuracy with romantic storytelling. It transports readers back in time to experience the sights, sounds, and emotions of a bygone era while weaving in elements of love and relationships. One key aspect of historical fiction romance is the research involved. Authors must extensively study the period they are writing about, including customs, beliefs, and societal norms. They then use this knowledge to create an authentic backdrop for their characters and plotlines. While some stories may focus more heavily on historical events or figures, others place greater emphasis on the romantic relationship between characters. Either way, historical fiction romance aims to immerse readers in a richly detailed world while also delivering an engaging love story. With its blend of history and passion, it's no wonder why so many readers find themselves drawn to this unique genre!

Why read historical fiction romance?

There are plenty of reasons why you should read historical fiction romance. For starters, this genre allows you to travel back in time and experience the culture, customs, and societal norms of a different era. Historical fiction romance also offers an escape from reality as it takes you on a journey filled with passion, drama, and emotion. One of the most significant benefits of reading historical fiction romance is that it gives readers insight into how relationships have evolved over time. In these novels, we see how love has changed throughout history - from arranged marriages to passionate affairs. By immersing ourselves in these stories, we can gain a better understanding of our own experiences when it comes to matters of the heart. Another reason why people enjoy reading historical fiction romance is because they get to explore different settings and cultures. These books take us on journeys through various countries and continents giving us glimpses into their unique histories. Reading historical fiction romance can be an excellent way to learn about history in an engaging manner by bringing human emotions into events long past that might otherwise feel dry or dull when presented purely factually or academically. Whether you're looking for a bit of escapism or simply want to broaden your horizons while enjoying some steamy romantic scenes along the way, there's no denying that historical fiction romance has something for everyone!

How to write historical fiction romance

Writing historical fiction romance may seem daunting at first, but with the right approach and mindset, it can be a fulfilling creative endeavor. Here are some tips for aspiring writers looking to tackle this genre: Research is key when writing any kind of historical fiction, including historical romance. You need to have a solid understanding of the time period you're writing about in order to create an authentic setting and characters that fit within it. When crafting your characters, make sure they feel true to their time while also being relatable to modern readers. It's important not to impose modern values onto historical figures or situations. Your plot should be driven by both the events of history and the emotional journey of your main characters. Balance is key here - don't let one overshadow the other. Make sure your language and dialogue fit within the time period as well. Avoid using anachronistic phrases or words that didn't exist during that era. Don't shy away from tackling difficult topics like societal norms, class differences, gender roles, and politics - these issues were often central themes in historical eras. Remember that research isn't everything - at its core, historical fiction romance is still a story about people falling in love. Focus on creating compelling character arcs and building tension between your romantic leads alongside accurate depictions of history.

Historical fiction romance writers to follow

If you're looking for some historical fiction romance writers to add to your reading list, there are plenty of talented authors out there. After being inspired to read more of her work by the Outlander TV series, one of my current favourites is, of course, Diana Gabaldon. Her books take place in 18th century Scotland and follow the story of Claire Randall, a nurse from World War II who finds herself transported back in time. Another author to consider is Philippa Gregory, known for her Tudor-era novels like The Other Boleyn Girl and The White Queen.

She combines romance with rich historical detail to create engaging stories that transport readers back in time. And if you enjoy reading about this time period, Elizabeth St. John's The Godmother's Secret is definitely a must-read. Based on one of England's biggest historical mysteries, it is a fascinating story about what happened to the fabled Princes of the Tower recounted through the eyes of Lady Elysabeth, Prince Edward's godmother.

For lovers of more recent historical settings, Beatriz Williams' books might be up your alley. In her book, A Hundred Summers, which is set in New England in the 1930s, love and loss are explored against a background of social change.

If you enjoy stories with African American main characters set in America during Reconstruction and other periods in history, Beverly Jenkins writes them, with Indigo being a top choice. There are, naturally, a lot more authors I could be talking about here. I have only mentioned just a few indicative examples to demonstrate how historical fiction authors provide something special for you, whether you favour classic tales or new variations on popular romance themes placed in a thoroughly researched historical context.

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Nagas in India and Asia part 4

When considering the other Asian Countries we can find many Naga related cultures and folk lore in Thailand and cambodia

In thailand we find the Phaya nagas to be semi-divine, demi-creatures, which possess supernatural powers as has been described in Buddhist and Hindu cosmology.[54] The "Kamchanod Forest" (ป่าคําชะโนด; RTGS: Pa Khamchanot) Ban Dung district, Udon Thani province, which is held in high reverence and fear across Thailand, is believed to be the border between the human world and the netherworld, and is frequently depicted in Thai folklore as the site of many hauntings, but more frequently is considered to be the home of the Nāga.[55]

According to Shan folklore of Nánzhào Kingdom (now southern China and Southeast Asia during the 8th and 9th centuries, which was centered on present-day Yúnnán in China), the Nāga inhabited the Ěrhǎi lake and is the creator of the Mekong.[54] In China, the Nāga (Chinese: 那伽) is generally more considered to be a dragon.

and this Naga apearance is some what different from the Indain Naga we see

further there is a story sarounding the Meekong River

Phaya Nak or Phaya Nāga (Thai: พญานาค; RTGS: phaya nak; lit. 'lord of Nāga', phaya derived from Mon which mean high nobility) or Nakkharat (Thai: นาคราช; lit. 'king of Nāga') in Thai beliefs, nagas are considered the patronage of water. nagas are believed to live in either water bodies or in caves. According to a popular legend, the Mekong River in north-eastern Thailand and Laos was said to be created by two Nāga kings slithering through the area, thus creating the Mekong and the nearby Nan River. The Mekong is synonymous with the unexplained fireballs phenomenon which has long been believed to be created by the nagas that dwell in the river.[48][49] Common explanations of their sightings have been attributed to oarfish, elongated fish with red crests; however, these are exclusively marine and usually live at great depths.[original research?]

Due to the strong relation with everything water, the Nāga in Thai belief does also play a role in rain control. The concept of Nak hai nam (Thai: นาคให้น้ํา; lit. Nāga granting water) is used for annual rainfall prediction. It is still practiced nowadays, most notably during the Royal Ploughing Ceremony. The oracle ranges from 1 nak hai nam (1 Nāga granted water); meaning the abundant rainfall should be observed that year, to maximum 7 nak hai nam (7 nagas granted water); meaning there might not be adequate rainfall that year.[50]

In northern Thailand, the Singhanavati Kingdom had a strong connection with nagas. The kingdom was believed to be built with aids of nagas, and thus, nagas were highly revered by the royal family. The kingdom, for a period of time, was renamed Yonok Nāga Rāj (lit. Yonok the nagaraja)[51]

Cambodia also contains a story hoe their culture was made it is said that Preah Thong (Kaundinya I / Y Da) and Neang Neak (Queen Soma / Y Ga) are symbolic personas in Khmer culture. They are thought to have founded the pre-Angkorian state of Funan. Much of Khmer wedding customs can be traced back to the marriage of Preah Thong and Neang Neak.

According to reports by two Chinese envoys, Kang Tai and Zhu Ying, the state of Funan was established by an Indian named Kaundinya. In the first century CE, Kaundinya was given instruction in a dream to take a magic bow from a temple and defeat a Naga princess named Soma (Chinese: Liuye, “Willow Leaf”), the daughter of the king of the Naga. She later married Kaundinya and their lineage became the royal dynasty of Funan. Kaundinya later built a capital, Vyadhapura and the kingdom also came to be known as Kambojadeśa.

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