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mikkock · 4 years

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Hey hi your murder mystery art is super totally cool and amazing and I'd like to Extra! Extra! hear all about it *rattles bells*

haha wow i cant believe ud ask me THIS! unbelievable! now im gonna have to make a long post!

all info under the cut cause im kind like that ♥

For reasons I felt like making a Fancy Ass murder mystery story, with you know, hella complex secret storylines and everyone having drama and shit, and one person died but the more the story goes the less people care about who did the murder and the more they want tHE JUICY DETAILs. X and Y had an afFAIR you say!!! well that’s thousands time more interesting than that murder that happened, who cares about the culprit its not like any of us are going anywhere anyway! tell me more about the marital issues!

The ultimate Vibes are Clue (the game, ya kno, it had a movie too, and that movie was shot with three different endings -fun fact- so that movie theatres could play one alternatively that way people wouldnt get spoiled or even if they did they would not get the ending they were spoiled or even if all three were spoiled you couldnt know which ending you were getting anyway, big dick move, cause its an old movie and film is expensive, also that movie stupid and campy, ALSO I ONLY LEARNED MAKING THIS AU THAT IN ENGLISH THE GAME’S CALLED “CLUE” wE CALL IT CLUEDO therefore my wip playlist is called cluedo. because. fuck it.)(i just have an emotional attachment to that game i even had a cd rom video game version and it was the spookiest shit for a 6 years old, trust me, i played it so much tho i didnt even understand the rULES i was just making scenarios like gathering the characters in rooms n making conversations outloud cause honestly the banter is the best part of a murder mystery) ANYWAY that sure is a whole paragraph of tangent.

BUT YE the inspo from the Clue game. you can tell it from the Colours obviously, everyone’s colour codded.(even everyone’s name is colours as well you’ll see it’s real dang fancy! im just remaking that game but with 2932020 characters and more behind the scenes drama and also for gay people.)

So BASIC PLOT!

Sir Belyy, the dude in white, is The Rich Powerful Respected Fancy Boss, and he throws a Fancy Reception Party with his closest friends and associates to celebrate the opening of a new branch of his business. All the lads gather in his wonderful little very isolated mansion in the middle of nowhere, like ok he got a death wish or something or he’s very trusting of his business partners, but not a good move, cause in the middle of the reception, as A Phat Storm Starts (for plot convenience, we going with a campy vibe if you couldnt tell), his body is found, it’s awful, there’s a killer on the loose! All the guests gather, and attempt to maybe contact the authorities, to not avail, since The Storm ya know, phone lines are Broken my dude. Its clear that the culprit is among them, since no one could have entered the house, or left it (cuz once again, ThE sTORm). And then it’s all about interrogating each other, distrust, alliances and betrayal, revealing one’s deepest secrets when they form an alibi and revealing someone else’s deepest secret for they could be a motive! Meanwhile there’s a dead body in the mansion just chillin there.

So as I mentioned, I changed everyone’s name to be colour related (or ya know, food or flowers of that colour cause sometimes a colour in a language would not work as a name given the way names work in that culture all that jazz) which is the trippiest thing cause tHATS NOT YALLS USUAL NAMES but its fun (also changed so many ages hgfhs it was a trip)(still no one’s really old i guess i got boomerphobia). The “Cast” is clearly the most important part, and if ur a True “My OCs” Connaisseur (hdfghd the most useful skill to have, knowing *MY* Charactersdshgd) you may have recognised some faces and can already read some vibes and predict who will be progressing the plot and who will be yelling at people throwing accusations ghdfgd.

(god i wish i hadnt slacked off making the portraits of everyone in that AU i only have 3 tho that’s so sad so ill just make little sketches just cause <3 only text??? i got too many hoes with no attention span for that)

Sir BELYY (the one who dIEs lmao)

(bust shot missing the fact that this man is the tallest beefiest lad around)

Intimidating, powerful, composed, wealthy, carries the name of a family who has generations of control to it’s reputation, he’s The Man that hoes who believe in the economy wishes they were. As in, the “self made” man who only just happened to benefit from having a wealthy background to uplift his plans. In his youth, he wanted to prove his worth, seperated himself from his father, started a business, that business became big, then got attached to the family’s business, bam back to square one but with Reputation now. There seemed to be VERY big tension between him and The Father, some speculate it had to do with his unknown mother, and some family drama there, and it never got resolved as old man Belyy died quite young (the jUICY speculations are that current sir Belyy mURDEREd old man sir Belyy, fucked up if true!). People love him though in general, as he has that reputation of “Cold Lad With a Gold Heart” aka he takes people under his wings, donates, doesnt treat his employees like the absolute worst garbage etc... you know, he’s rich and a half decent person, so obviously he’s an angel on earth. But does it matter though, he’s dead! that’s the concept of the story!

Mr.GRAY (the grey guest)(who could have guessed from the name)

He’s one of Sir Belyy’s oldest employees, and benefits from a high rank in the company. But, sadly for him, he’s been stagnating lately, as newer, youngest employees seem to have Belyy’s favours, and are his prefered associates for important tasks and positions. Therefore he has Some Bitterness, Some Salt, Some Distaste, some unbriddled but professionally muted hatred for Specific people in the company. He can be an antagonistic figure, but the amount of time he spent in Belyy’s circle grants him an immense quantity of information about the man, but mostly, about his business. Anything about the company’s history, dealings, operations, he’s aware of, either having been told of them, or having snooped around to obtain, immune to being questioned due to his legitimacy in the company.

Mr.LIM (the green guest)

Remember when it was said that Gray had beef with some employees cause they were younger and rose to high ranks faster than him and became Belyy’s favourite over him? Yeah well here comes the one he hates the most for that (ofc he’s belyys fave cuz he’s Mine <3) Our lad caught Belyy’s attention for his Exploits in like, em fancy high school tournaments of smart people, it’s a thing its ridiculous, making kids compete on Smart stuff for the pride of their schools n shit, well homie Lim got clout when doing that, and Belyy was extremely interested cause that kid’s main thing was how “this young lad got mad strategic skills tf are u a war general or smth how fancy”, and that’s a coveted skill for ruthless business. So as soon as the kid is an adult, bam, join the company my dude. And because he’s just that Cool n Sexy ofc he met the expectations Belyy had, and old man Belyy got attached cuz it do be such a young lad, a kid, mentally i am adopting. That’s how you get a youngas employee becoming the right hand man of one the phatest CEO in a few years, and even make your way into being a Good Lad on top of a business partner. And that’s how you get Gray to hate your ass too. Now though, fine lad with mad strategic skills, rising to power that fast, and even infiltrating Belyy’s private life? If I were Gray I’d call suspicion there’s surely some shady stuff going no way we’re just dealing with a nice fella who just happens to work good and be friendly to the boss right?

Herra MUSTA (the black “guest”)

Belyy’s newest butler, assistant, house keeper, he multitasks. His family has been tied to Belyy’s for generations, fullfilling roles of help, but also of confidents. He’s been the head butler since only a short time, after his mother passed, and as such is still “in training” you could say, despite having served the family his whole life. There are rumours going around that the contract tying his family to the Belyys may end on his generation and need to be resigned. He known the manor by heart, and carries all keys to any locked room (and mostly, The Master Key, cause in an old house, some doors may be locked beyond all still existing keys). He also knows secrets of the family that no one else knows, but good luck getting em out of him, he’s under contract not to divulge em bro.

Mr. HASSEL (the brown guest)

Belyy’s childhood friend. They grew up together, pictured their dreams together, sworn to flourish together, worked together when starting the company, and then Hassel felt he should create his own thing instead of depending on his friend’s existing wealth, and while Belyy’s business went wild, his never took off. They still stayed very close, despite the massive difference in wealth. Belyy considers him his closest friend, the one person he can trust (fucked if hassel did the murder lemme tell u). So of course, he’s still always invited to the Prestigious meet ups where’s he’s free to feel uncomfortably out of place amongst all the rich and powerful people that he could have been a part of had he had a tiny bit of luck and a small loan from a wealthy relative...People LOVE saying he’s still hanging out with Belyy so much to leech off his wealth, cause of course they do! His bestie status means he has a whole different brand of information of Belyy than his butler does, the Most Intimate Stuff, the Childhood Stuff. The Juicy stuff ya kno...But Bro Code, its all secrets...

Sir RUZH (the red “guest”)

Deep dive into Belyy’s personnal history, the man has many employees working at his house keeping it working, clean, ya know the vibe. They live on the premice, one has a kid who’s just a Joy to be around, all the employees just vibe with that lad, he’s just a born socialite you know? Belyy gets to meet the kid, and also hella vibes with him. And because human are influenced by their feelings, he gives the kid’s mum a bit of a preferencial treatment, in the tasks she fullfils and all, til he gives her an important-as mission, and then there’s an accident n mama dies, and now Belyy got guilt and there’s this kid who just Vibes. So naturally the move is to take the kid in, and play on how his vibes are just so clean, and raise him to be the Perfect Entertainer for guests, bam, its soft power propaganda, if everyone loves your now son’s vibes, they associate them with you too. And also that’s kind of a clean rep, the selfless man who adopted his employee’s son to not have him fall to the streets, how heartwarming. Not at all traumatising for the kid too I bet! But anyway now the lad is just the most charming young adult, mission accomplished. He’s always present at any reception, ready to work his people-pleasing magic, and then going back to a gigantic empty manor to wait for the next and curate the perfect vibes to meet the expectations of dad. On the plus side, he knows everyone, and those who don’t know him cannot wAIT to, he’s just got that aura ya know. People skills for miles, and the insider knowledge that comes with being the son of the CEO, all this hidden behind the personna of the fresh innocent bashful party lad.

Dr.FEN (the pink guest)

Do not get mistaken by the title, he’s no doc, he will not diagnose you with anything, he just studied long enough to get the sexy title. Study in what? Haha. Nothing shady. Just toxicology. He’s a world reknown poison expert basically, that’s his main thing. Oh but don’t worry, of course studying substances that may kill people is only for finding out how to cure them from it of course. What brings him in this circle? Simple, Belyy may or may not have started to suffer some weird illness that no doctor has been able to find the source, let alone cure, of. Him and Dr.Fen had met previously on some event, cause some rich man also love flexing how smart they are and attending sciencey shit, and he was contacted as sort of a shot in the dark. The lad does know how to treat some things, maybe he can treat The Mysterious Unwellness, since no traditional doctor was able to. He knows science, he’s trustworthy, bam, you’re hired to work on My Case Exclusively. Thanks to this, Dr.Fen has access to the whole health history of Belyy and his family, to many mANY dangerous substances, and also has The Respect of the hoes at the party. He HAS a doctorate after all. Epitome of knowledge. And he’s a kind to people and he wears pink like dang how can you nOT pour your wHOLE trust in him.

Sir MOREVITCH (the blue guest)

Youngest son of an affluent family, who used to be close the the Belyys. The two families fell slightly appart after the death of the previous head of the family on the Belyy side, as they do nOT vibe with the current one (well current, til the first night of the story ig). But, unbeknownst to all, one strong link had been kept, between the youngest of the Morevitch, who dislikes his family and wishes to emancipate himself from them while also assuring his depart will not throw him basically in the streets, and our beloved Sir Belyy, who also dislikes the Morevitches but loves to see the rebellious energy of the young one (and ya know, my enemy’s enemy’s my friend or however you say that). So Belyy’s basically offering tips and helping Morevitch plant himself safely out of his family’s grasp, but it’s all taking quite some time isn’t it, slow and steady is fine until your parents try to arrange a wedding to secure more political power, and suddenly it is all quite urgent that you escape that situation because No Thank You Parents I Do Not Want A Wife I’m Too Young And Also Huh <3 Stuff You Won’t Like Hearing For Sure <3. The people who know they’re working together also know that it’s a big point of argument between them, the difference in vision between “you have to go slow and steady to be safe” and “I have very limited time to get to that safety anyway so I gotta risk it” “hell no you cant i can’t follow through if we’re going that quick that’ll put me at risk and you’re family’s gonna send gunmen to take me down”. A mess, it’d be much quicker to just obtain a few million bucks out of nowhere and bolt for sure...

Mr.GANG (the orange guest)

Morevitch’s trusted assistant. He hears the concerns, he helps the secret businesses, he lies to the parents about the whereabouts, and mostly, he’s basically a budget spy. The lad got that talent where people just don’t notice him popping behind them and catching all their dirty laundry as they confess it to someone they trust, and he always manages to break into places, get the intel he was looking for, and escape, putting everything back into place as if no one was ever there (wonder where he got all those skills from damn!). But what he’s even better at is being sneaky not only to benefit his boss, but himself as well <3. If he can catch all the info in the world, go any places, nothing’s stopping him from playing double agent and also going behind Morevitch’s back. After all the assistant life isn’t the most glamourous and rewarding, who can blame him from going and using his talents to build his own little exit route, right? Everybody sort of knows he cannot be trusted, but also no one managed to really incriminate or stop him, and as much as he has tea on many people, no has it on him, but bet once found that would be heeeella juicy.

M.MOUTARDE (the yellow guest)(this one is straight up the name of the yellow player in the french edition of clue too when i say its my main vibe)

Moutarde was an influential celebrity. He had a big break acting in a movie that the whole country stanned so hard they basically turned the script into their national anthem (they would have if it was a true democracy where the people really decide), he was so handsome and elegant, everyone’s dream husband. And then the fame fiddled out because it’s how fame is, one moment you’re the sexiest dish on the table and the next someone brings in dessert and baam, its all about that fresh cake, and no one pays any mind to your delightful aroma anymore, you’ve gone cold, they had a bite, their interest is somewhere else. Belyy really admires his work though, and mostly finds his image fits with the brand of his company, therefore the two are working on a collaboration to make Moutarde a representative. This WOULD boost Moutarde’s reputation, for his ads would be displayed on every imaginable surface of the country, and it would also benefit the company cause being represented by thAT sexy motherfucker? clearly that’s a deal. The freshness of the partnership means Moutarde is a newcomer in the guests, a fresh face, with no reputation, no relationships, no unfair biases against him. He’s just the new handsome charismatic lad with a squeaky clean image. Emphasis on “image”. After all, no one really knows anything of his background, right?

Kun.LAWENDER (the purple guest)

Private investigator, very useful to be around at a party it’s almost like it was expected there’d be a body to investigate, he’s a very close associate of Belyy, as there’s nothing more important to business than investigating the rivals and finding dirt on them to make them fall through infamy. He’s not exactly the PI who goes look for justice to be served, he’s just here for cash bro. He’s got intel on everyone, and will only let it out if offered the right thing in return (money, or sometimes other pieces of very secret intel, trade is good). Wouldn’t advise letting him and Gang team up tbh but they probably wouldnt, as Lawender is really more of a lone wolf player, going on his own for himself. The one thing that negates his usefulness as a PI on an accidental crime of scene is that even if he knew the whole truth of the event he would not spit it out unless he benefitted from saying it. He sure is a polarising lad, but at the same time, an untouchable one, he’s too knowledgeable to be taken down. Rather than sneaky, he’s extremely observant, noticing the tiniest details and engraving them in his memory, ready to be linked up to other details to deduct the big picture. He’s the upfront tea gathered basically (as opposed to Gang’s shadow tea gathering if you will, they are similar forces but using opposite methods)(also one of em got a licence n the other does not hAH).

~~~~

Now the secrets, all of em have them. One of em at least got the secret of having KILLED Belyy that’s that. But that’s to be kept for later (for if i ever use this story for more than daydream material gfhjgh) bet you can imagine what some of em may be just out of Knowing what i do, from having seen the characters in other contexts, or just because you’re a genius and reading the character profiles immediatly lit up the bulbs in your head forming the perfect theory, props to you, mad genius.

Honestly my thoughts are just how lit of a game that would be, you get to pick one hoe (maybe sum are locked til u find their secrets for juicy purposes) and you do your invetigation using your character’s perks and disadvantages, and maybe there could even be Multiple scenarios and outcomes, to spice it up, give replay value, i just think it’d be a game id spend hours on. tryin to get the spicy details of everyone’s life. walking around n digging through a rich man’s stuff, witnessing the drAMA of people fighting cause they’re locked in with a murderer and that’s stressful ngl. That or a long ass show @ netflix wanna give me a show maybe? give me hella budget we’re making it animated cause im too cultured for live action.

whatever i make of it though, i hope i can make this story Flourish, just so that i can lay down all those secret backstories i’ve written. i want the satisfaction of throwing out the craziest secret drama between character n seeing peeps loose their minds, it just is a tasty experience.

also i gotta say, i plug the hell out of Clue for an inspo but when i was building the basics of the story my mind immediatly went “oH MY GOD THE VIBES,, THE BACKSTABBING AND tEAMING UP and all,,, its The Genius, that one tv show where peeps have to do the wildest games that require strategy n they’re in that fancy set that looks like a rich ppl mansion oh god the vibes” so yeah, i rewatched the whole first two seasons cause they’re my faves and that had an impact if only minimal in the aesthetic.

Anyway hope that quick presentation gave you a lil taste of the story, and maybe,,,, got you curious,,, craving to learn more like you never did before (im exaggerating the only real question we all got is just “so who’s fuckin with whom then how many of yall secretly dating” this the real deal)

#doodlin every lad's face at one rly be like 'welcome to the cheekbone festival'#they got antti AND said at once like the cheekbonage is out of this world!#that's musta n gang btw #also every single time i draw cream (blue lad) im like 'i havent drawn u in ages' n it isnt #that i dont draw him much anymore #but that ive drawn only this bitch for months back in the days #him bein in this without his lover....criminal #cuz his boo wouldnt fit a murder mystery au like #hoes would find the corpse he'd just be like 'welp on that imma go to bed aight bye'#anyway u can tell which of my ocs i simp for v easely #like fr #they the ones i spend the longest drawfigfdj cuz i draw em n then go 'not hot enough do it again'#a struggle!#anyway the secret is that i prepares a motive AND an alibi for all of em #so that i can pick who murdered belyy at the last moment <3 #its all abt the contextual clues on the scene of crime <3 #none of the drama tells u anything its all for the treat of gossip <3 #sad part of this project is how much ive planned n written yet i can barely tell anythin if i want to make it #n ive drawn nothingbhd #i hav a dari n a weiwei in their coloured clothes lookin handsome cuz ofc i do #im predictable i have faves #ask if they're in love in this one too take a fuckin guess #u rly think hoe going to his boss's house so much to see the ceo ???? HAH #the real question isnt if theyre smooshin we all kno that answer the question is if dad white suit knows thATs whats important #are yall secret lovers or is green boy climbing the ladder of the company cuz he's smashing the boss's son #who knows #i do i aint telling pay me

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boardingadmission · 3 years

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Boarding Schools In Delhi

CSKM Public School

Col Satsangis Kiran Memorial Public School is a senior secondary school established in 1986 by Col P S Satsangi(VSM). It is affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education. It is a co-educational English medium school. The school believe that every child can be developed and improved, The school believe that every child can be guided towards success, The school believe that every child is a winner and the school also believe that every child can be groomed to be boarding schools in delhi a successful human being. The school have both boarding as well Long Hours Day Boarding facilities for both boys as well as girls.

Ganga International School

Ganga International School New Delhi is one of the best residential school in India. The surroundings of this residential school is spread over 20 acres of land including vast playgrounds in the lush green surrounding. The boarding school in Delhi have earned the reputation of being counted among renowned boarding school in India, which can accommodate a thousand students. Established in the year 1989, the school was recognized by the Directorate of Education, Government of Delhi and is affiliated to Central Board of Secondary Education since 1992. It came into its present form of a residential school in 2001. The school has developed with a spirit of imparting quality education and a global vision for more than two decades. Since its founding, the school has won the reputation both in India as well as abroad for the high quality of its academics, its commitment to excellence on the sports field, and its dedication to the mission of forming young generation with vision, skill, knowledge and moral probity.

The Mann School

The Mann School (MS) located in Holambi Khurd, near Alipur on G.T.Karnal Road, New Delhi is a symbol of quality education and holistic all round development since its inception in 1989. Located 25 kms away from the railway station and 35 kms from the airport, the school is happily far removed from the pollution and the madding crowd of the city. The Mann School is a member of Indian Public Schools Conference (IPSC) and is an authorised body for conducting ESOL Examinations for University of Cambridge. MS has also been certified with ISO-9001:2015 and ISO 14001:2015. A sprawling estate is the background for one of the finest educational experiences in India. Its charming, picturesque surroundings provide a perfect atmosphere for young minds to blossom. Students not only learn what their textbooks have to offer, but also get in touch with nature and discover their own hidden facets. The school employs the latest teaching techniques to ensure that students not only earn certificates, but also accumulate knowledge during their sojourn here.

Shanti Gyan International School

Shanti Gyan International School is not just a school, but a training ground for life. The child learns the foremost values of love, trust and truth from parents and later realizes the values of courage, ambition and determination from the larger society, at school. Shanti Gyan International School has been established on this foundation to prepare the child for life. But, Rome was not built in a day and we are still growing ... without any external aid or donations! We are just growing, with our commitment towards perfection; for we believe that what is true, good and beautiful, shall always be accepted. Shanti Gyan International School is set to provide creative and progressive education to rise above the conventional teaching in a peaceful and safe environment. Shanti Gyan International Sr. Sec. School has carved niche for itself in a short span of time and aims at the holistic development of the students, in a healthy environment under the guidance of qualified and dynamic teachers. Here teaching is not just a set of instructions but an experience which goes beyond books and class room learning. The students are taught the necessary skills, attitudes and aptitude thus preparing them for life. We believe in making a difference EVERY DAY!

Delhi City School

The school is set in the bustling area of North Delhi- taking education right to the door step of the students and parents. It is an attempt to provide all amenities and facilities to people in the vicinity i.e. the city; within a protected and contained environment. The school building has got an uplift with state of the art facilities like play area for the tiny tots, a playground of international standards, interactive classroom sessions through smart boards & well stocked digitized library. The school is set in the bustling area of North Delhi- taking education right to the door step of the students and parents. It is an attempt to provide all amenities and facilities to people in the vicinity i.e. the city; within a protected and contained environment. With his vision and progressive approach, Delhi City School is set to make a mark in the society, through its students. We at DCS intent to make our students independent, modern and versatile learners. We not only impart education that is most suitable for the times, but also integrate technology in education and give considerable emphasis to sports and arts.

Mount Carmel School

Mount Carmel School To provide Educational Excellence to Boys & Girls irrespective of caste, creed or colour with special preference to those from Christian minority community. The School has excellent facilities for students. In their daily regular curriculum, the students take part in various co-curricular and extra-curricular activities. These activities are meant to not only make them more dynamic, but to instill in them a sense of achievement, self-confidence and camaraderie. The School has various playgrounds with sports facilities like Cricket, Hockey, Badminton, Basketball, Tennis, Athletics and indoor-activities.The School stresses on its students to take active part in all kinds of co-curricular and extra-curricular activities, ranging from craft workshops, theatre, yoga, classical dances, air-rifle shooting, hiking and excursions, painting, debates to athletics and indoor sports, in order to bring out their creative faculties. The school has well-equipped science laboratories â€“ biology and chemistry laboratories. Both laboratories are extensively used by the students to carry out their practical experimentsThe school has an extensive library well stocked with books on a wide range of subjects. The students here get exposed to different worlds through the medium of books. The library keeps not only books on academic subjects but on diverse topics which broaden the inquisitive minds of the students.

Modern School

Modern School is synonymous with quality education and is a pioneer in mooting all-round development and to foster an all-round growth in its wards. This prestigious temple of education was established in 1920 in a building located in Daryaganj, New Delhi. This precinct found itself embedded in a sprawling mansion that belonged to Lala Sultan Singh. His philanthropic gesture was a result of his sons vision of an institution par excellence which would be a jugalbandhi of traditional Indian system of education and modern educational techniques. Lala Sultan Singh was a prominent businessman in British-ruled India in the early 1880â€™s. Khushwant Singhs articles provide more details on his life. Sultan Singhs son, Lala Raghubir Singh, founded the school to provide quality education, and to foster all-round growth of a child. Lala Raghubir Singh was the spirit and the soul of the school. In a world torn by conflicts and differences in social, economic and political realms, we must try to unlock new ways of viewing problems and open doors to a brand new world of potential solutions and perceptions.

Khemo Devi Public School

Khemo Devi Public School is committed to awaken the children and not just teach them. The school is strategically situated in Narela on 3.0 acres of land .KDPS a beautifull,spacious,airy piece of archietecture has now come to be a noted landmark in the area .Khemo Devi Public School is a futuristic school, Where knowledge reigns supreme. Our school aims at grooming each child academically, socially so that He/She becomes a very confident and well balance citizen of the world. We can also proudly say that we always upgrade technology so that we are able to provide a cutting edge technology plateform for our students.We instil the values of creative thinking,reading good books,confidence building and respecting others values and beliefs and developing a spirit of tolerance. The scholars are skillfully trained in life skill education too.The purpose of education must extend beyond purely clinical outputs it must contain an ethical underpinning and promote values that we can aspire to as a comminity . We must remember that intelligence is not enough. Intelligence with character is the ultimate goal of the true education.

Modern Convent School

The faculty of Modern Convent School, Dwarka consists of around 106 full time, highly qualified and experienced teachers, each of them an expert in his/her own field. Established on the 1st of April 1999, Modern Convent School is a Senior Secondary Co-educational school managed by the Modern Charitable Foundation registered under the Societies Registration Act 1860. The ultra â€“ modern school building is located on a four-acre plot of land in Sector 4 of Dwarka, amidst well maintained sprawling lush green lawns and a huge state boarding schools in delhi of the art playground. Modern Convent School is recognized by the Directorate of Education N.C.T. and is affiliated to Central Board of Secondary Education (Affliation no. 2730338). The school has nearly 3400 students on its rolls with a staff of around 300 (including non teaching) and offers quality education to students from Nursery to Class XII.

Vikas Bharti School

Vikas Bharati Public School, Sec- 24, Rohini,a CBSE affiliated, educational institution, started taking roots since its inception in 1999. Meeting the international standards of education from Pre â€“ school to class XII, it is scaling to glorious heights by taking giant leaps. A perfect ambience with a vast expanse of 4 acres of land, it is a spacious, modern high tech building surrounded with a colorful bonanza of fresh floral bounty. Well litsmart classes, Maths, Science, Computer, ATLand Home Science labs with latest equipmentsare instrumental in providing wholesome education. A huge playfield with Basketball court, Lawn tennis court, Swimming pool and Skating rink helps students bring about excellence in sports and games. With exclusive transport facility which includes a fleet of around 30 buses, VBPS ensures safe and secure journey to the students. The school ground also accommodates Rain Water Harvesting System, Reverse Osmosis Plant and Recycling Plant. With an excellent infrastructure and exceptionally well resourced teaching faculty,the school has reached the heights of success among already statured public schools of Delhi. Knowledge is Powerâ€™ as an ideology is the main source of inspiration for every pupil in the institution.

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livingcorner · 3 years

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Madison Square Garden – Wikipedia

Madison Square Garden

Madison Square Garden in 2019

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Madison Square Garden

Location within Manhattan

Madison Square Garden

Madison Square Garden (New York City)

Madison Square Garden

Madison Square Garden (New York)

Madison Square Garden

Madison Square Garden (the United States)

Address 4 Pennsylvania Plaza Location New York, New York Coordinates 40°45′2″N 73°59′37″W / +61404532026°N +61404532026°W Coordinates: 40°45′2″N 73°59′37″W / +61404532026°N +61404532026°W Public transit

Amtrak: Penn Station

LIRR: Penn Station

NJ Transit: Penn Station

New York City Subway:

34th Street–Penn Station (7th Ave)

34th Street–Penn Station (8th Ave)

34th Street–Herald Square

PATH: 33rd Street New York City Bus: M4, M7, M20, M34 SBS, M34A SBS, Q32 buses

Owner Madison Square Garden Entertainment Capacity Basketball: 19,812[1] Ice hockey: 18,006[1] Pro wrestling: 18,500 Concerts: 20,000 Boxing: 20,789 Hulu Theater: 5,600 Field size 820,000 sq ft (76,000 m2) Broke ground October 29, 1964[2] Opened Former locations: 1879, 1890, 1925 Current location: February 11, 1968 Renovated 1989–1991 2011–2013 Construction cost $123 million Renovation: 1991: $200 million Total cost: $1.19 billion in 2020 Architect Charles Luckman Associates Brisbin Brook Beynon Architects Structural engineer Severud Associates[3] Services engineer Syska & Hennessy, Inc.[4] General contractor Turner/Del E. Webb[4] New York Rangers (NHL) (1968–present) New York Knicks (NBA) (1968–present) St. John’s Red Storm (NCAA) (1969–present) New York Raiders/Golden Blades (WHA) (1972–1973) New York Apples (WTT) (1977–1978) New York Stars (WBL) (1979–1980) New York Cosmos (NASL) (1983–1984) New York Knights (AFL) (1988) New York CityHawks (AFL) (1997–1998) New York Liberty (WNBA) (1997–2010, 2014–2017) New York Titans (NLL) (2007–2009) www.msg.com/madison-square-garden/

Madison Square Garden, colloquially known as The Garden or by its initials MSG, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in New York City. Located in Midtown Manhattan between 7th and 8th avenues from 31st to 33rd Streets, it is situated atop Pennsylvania Station. It is the fourth venue to bear the name “Madison Square Garden”; the first two (1879 and 1890) were located on Madison Square, on East 26th Street and Madison Avenue, with the third Madison Square Garden (1925) further uptown at Eighth Avenue and 50th Street.

The Garden is used for professional ice hockey and basketball, as well as boxing, concerts, ice shows, circuses, professional wrestling and other forms of sports and entertainment. It is close to other midtown Manhattan landmarks, including the Empire State Building, Koreatown, and Macy’s at Herald Square. It is home to the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL), the New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association (NBA), and was home to the New York Liberty (WNBA) from 1997 to 2017.

Originally called Madison Square Garden Center, the Garden opened on February 11, 1968, and is the oldest major sporting facility in the New York metropolitan area. It is the oldest arena in the National Basketball Association, and the second-oldest in the National Hockey League, with Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle being six years older than the Garden. In 2016, MSG was the second-busiest music arena in the world in terms of ticket sales, behind The O2 Arena in London.[5] Including two major renovations, its total construction cost is approximately $1.1 billion, and it has been ranked as one of the 10 most expensive stadium venues ever built.[6] It is part of the Pennsylvania Plaza office and retail complex, named for the railway station. Several other operating entities related to the Garden share its name.

History[edit]

Previous Gardens[edit]

Madison Square is formed by the intersection of 5th Avenue and Broadway at 23rd Street in Manhattan. It was named after James Madison, fourth President of the United States.[7]

Two venues called Madison Square Garden were located just northeast of the square, the original Garden from 1879 to 1890, and the second Garden from 1890 to 1925. The first, leased to P. T. Barnum,[8] had no roof and was inconvenient to use during inclement weather, so it was demolished after 11 years. The second was designed by noted architect Stanford White. The new building was built by a syndicate which included J. P. Morgan, Andrew Carnegie, P. T. Barnum,[9] Darius Mills, James Stillman and W. W. Astor. White gave them a Beaux-Arts structure with a Moorish feel, including a minaret-like tower modeled after Giralda, the bell tower of the Cathedral of Seville[9] – soaring 32 stories – the city’s second-tallest building at the time – dominating Madison Square Park. It was 200 feet (61 m) by 485 feet (148 m), and the main hall, which was the largest in the world, measured 200 feet (61 m) by 350 feet (110 m), with permanent seating for 8,000 people and floor space for thousands more. It had a 1,200-seat theatre, a concert hall with a capacity of 1,500, the largest restaurant in the city, and a roof garden cabaret.[8] The building cost $3 million.[8] Madison Square Garden II was unsuccessful like the first Garden,[10] and the New York Life Insurance Company, which held the mortgage on it, decided to tear it down in 1925 to make way for a new headquarters building, which would become the landmark Cass Gilbert-designed New York Life Building.

A third Madison Square Garden opened in a new location, on 8th Avenue between 49th and 50th Streets, from 1925 to 1968. Groundbreaking on the third Madison Square Garden took place on January 9, 1925.[11] Designed by the noted theater architect Thomas W. Lamb, it was built at the cost of $4.75 million in 249 days by boxing promoter Tex Rickard;[8] the arena was dubbed “The House That Tex Built.”[12] The arena was 200 feet (61 m) by 375 feet (114 m), with seating on three levels, and a maximum capacity of 18,496 spectators for boxing.[8]

Demolition commenced in 1968 after the opening of the current Garden,[13] and was completed in early 1969. The site is now the location of One Worldwide Plaza.

Current Garden[edit]

A basketball game at Madison Square Garden circa 1968

Category

Commons

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Venues

Old Madison Square Garden (193?–1969)

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Helms national championship in bold; NCAA Final Four appearance in italics

Basketball arenas of the Big East Conference

Men only

Capital One Arena (Georgetown)

CHI Health Center Omaha (Creighton)

Dunkin’ Donuts Center (Providence)

Fiserv Forum (Marquette)

Madison Square Garden (St. John’s)

Prudential Center (Seton Hall)

Women only

Alumni Hall (Providence)

D. J. Sokol Arena (Creighton)

McDonough Gymnasium (Georgetown)

McGrath–Phillips Arena (DePaul)

Al McGuire Center (Marquette)

Walsh Gymnasium (Seton Hall)

Both sexes

Carnesecca Arena (St. John’s)

Cintas Center (Xavier)

Finneran Pavilion (Villanova)

Gampel Pavilion (UConn)

Hinkle Fieldhouse (Butler)

Wells Fargo Center (Villanova)

Wintrust Arena (DePaul)

XL Center (UConn)

Sports venues in the New York metropolitan area

Active

The Bronx

Draddy Gymnasium

Gaelic Park

Ohio Field

Rose Hill Gymnasium

Van Cortlandt Park

Yankee Stadium

Brooklyn

Aviator Sports and Events Center

Barclays Center

Maimonides Park

Generoso Pope Athletic Complex

Steinberg Wellness Center

Manhattan

Chelsea Piers

Commisso Soccer Stadium

Icahn Stadium

John McEnroe Tennis Academy

Levien Gymnasium

Madison Square Garden

Wien Stadium

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Sportime Stadium

Fort Washington Avenue Armory

Queens

Aqueduct Racetrack

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Carnesecca Arena

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Louis Armstrong Stadium

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UBS Arena (under construction)

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Defunct

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MAC

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NEC

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Generoso Pope Athletic Complex (St. Francis Brooklyn)

Spiro Sports Center (Wagner)

Patriot

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Cotterell Court (Colgate)

Venues of the Democratic National Convention

The Athenaeum and Warfield’s Church (1832)

Fourth Presbyterian Church (Baltimore) (1835)

The Assembly Rooms (1840)

Odd Fellows Hall (1844)

Universalist Church (Baltimore) (1848)

Maryland Institute (1852)

Smith and Nixon’s Hall (1856)

South Carolina Institute Hall / Front Street Theater (1860)

The Amphitheatre (Chicago) (1864)

Tammany Hall (1868)

Ford’s Grand Opera House (1872)

Merchants Exchange Building (1876)

Cincinnati Music Hall (1880)

Interstate Exposition Building (1884)

Exposition Building (1888)

Wigwam (1892)

Chicago Coliseum (1896)

Convention Hall (1900)

St. Louis Coliseum (1904)

Denver Auditorium Arena (1908)

Fifth Regiment Armory (1912)

Convention Hall (1916)

San Francisco Civic Auditorium (1920)

Madison Square Garden (II) (1924)

Sam Houston Hall (1928)

Chicago Stadium (1932)

Philadelphia Convention Hall/Franklin Field (1936)

Chicago Stadium (1940)

Chicago Stadium (1944)

Philadelphia Convention Hall (1948)

International Amphitheatre (1952)

International Amphitheatre (1956)

Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena / Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (1960)

Atlantic City Convention Hall (1964)

International Amphitheatre (1968)

Miami Beach Convention Center (1972)

Madison Square Garden (IV) (1976)

Madison Square Garden (IV) (1980)

Moscone Center (1984)

Omni Coliseum (1988)

Madison Square Garden (IV) (1992)

United Center (1996)

Staples Center (2000)

FleetCenter (2004)

Pepsi Center / Invesco Field (2008)

Time Warner Cable Arena (2012)

Wells Fargo Center (2016)

Wisconsin Center (2020)

Venues of the Grammy Award ceremonies

The Beverly Hilton (1959; 1965)

Hollywood Palladium (1971, 1974, +61404532026)

Felt Forum (1972)

Madison Square Garden (1972, 1997, 2003, 2018)

Tennessee Theatre (1973)

Uris Theatre (1975)

Shrine Auditorium (1978–1980, 1982–1987, +61404532026, 1993, +61404532026, 1999)

Radio City Music Hall (1981, 1988, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1998)

Staples Center (2000–2002, 2004–2017, 2019–present)

Venues of the Latin Grammy Award ceremonies

Staples Center (2000)

Conga Room (2001)

Kodak Theatre (2002)

FTX Arena (2003)

Shrine Auditorium (2004–2005)

Madison Square Garden (2006)

Mandalay Bay Events Center (2007)

Toyota Center (2008)

Mandalay Bay Events Center (2009–2013)

MGM Grand Garden Arena (+61404532026, 2017-present)

T-Mobile Arena (2016)

Venues of the Republican National Convention

Musical Fund Hall (1856)

Wigwam (1860)

Front Street Theater (1864)

Crosby’s Opera House (1868)

Academy of Music (1872)

Exposition Hall (Cincinnati) (1876)

Interstate Exposition Building (1880)

Exposition Hall (Chicago) (1884)

Auditorium (1888)

Industrial Exposition Building (1892)

St. Louis Exposition and Music Hall (1896)

Convention Hall (1900)

Chicago Coliseum (1904)

Chicago Coliseum (1908)

Chicago Coliseum (1912)

Chicago Coliseum (1916)

Chicago Coliseum (1920)

Public Auditorium (1924)

Convention Hall (1928)

Chicago Stadium (1932)

Public Auditorium (1936)

Convention Hall (1940)

Chicago Stadium (1944)

Convention Hall (1948)

International Amphitheatre (1952)

Cow Palace (1956)

International Amphitheatre (1960)

Cow Palace (1964)

Miami Beach Convention Center (1968)

Miami Beach Convention Center (1972)

Kemper Arena (1976)

Joe Louis Arena (1980)

Dallas Convention Center (1984)

Louisiana Superdome (1988)

Houston Astrodome (1992)

San Diego Convention Center (1996)

First Union Center (2000)

Madison Square Garden (2004)

Xcel Energy Center (2008)

Tampa Bay Times Forum (2012)

Quicken Loans Arena (2016)

Charlotte Convention Center (2020)

Source: https://livingcorner.com.au Category: Garden

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Coronavirus live news: Germany goes into 'lockdown light'; Italy accused of wasting time as infections rise

11.27pm GMT 23:27

The Culture Secretary in England has confirmed arts venues can remain open for rehearsals during the country’s lockdown.

Oliver Dowden said while audiences will not be able to attend the venues they are “places of work” and will therefore be able to remain open.

Footage of performances taking place inside venues will also be permitted to be streamed online when tougher restrictions come into force in England, he confirmed on Twitter.

“Arts venues are places of work, so people can come into them for work, if it cannot be undertaken from home,” he wrote.

“This includes rehearsals and performance. Audiences are not permitted.”

A number of productions, including Les Miserables in the West End and a panto at the London Palladium, are due to return to the stage with socially distanced audiences over the festive period.

11.05pm GMT 23:05

Argentina is expecting 10 million doses of Russia’s main experimental COVID-19 vaccine between December and January, the government said, as infections continue to climb in the South American country.

The vaccine, known as Sputnik V, is given in two doses and could begin arriving as early as next month, the government said in a news release. The price of the Russian vaccine would be “more or less average” compared with others, President Alberto Fernandez said in the release.

“We had a proposal from the Russian foreign ministry and the Russian (Direct Investment) Fund to see if Argentina was interested in having doses of the vaccine in the month of December and of course we said yes,” Fernandez said.

The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) is backing the development and roll-out of the Sputnik V vaccine. Fernandez said talks with RDIF had been going on “for quite some time.”

Officials including Argentina’s deputy health minister had traveled to Russia to review the vaccine’s development, the government said.

“The Sputnik V vaccine for Argentina will be produced by RDIF partners in India, Korea, China and a number of other countries that are setting up a production of the Russian vaccine,” RDIF’s CEO, Kirill Dmitriev, said in comments shared by a company spokesman.

10.46pm GMT 22:46

The Labour party in England has called for Chancellor Rishi Sunak to engage in cross-party talks to produce a six-month economic support plan to guide the country through coronavirus.

Shadow chancellor Anneliese Dodds said the Treasury should “stop the last-minute scramble” and combine with opposition leaders, businesses and unions to draw up a long-term strategy.

Dodds has written to her Government counterpart after he announced on Saturday that, to coincide with the second national lockdown for England, the furlough scheme would continue in its current form, paying 80% of employees’ wages for hours not worked, up to a maximum of 2,500 per month.

In her letter to Sunak, she said the announcement “just hours before” the initial furlough scheme was due to end was “symptomatic” of what she said appeared to be a “lack of any strategic planning by the Government to support jobs and businesses”.

10.27pm GMT 22:27

Portugal considering state of emergency to tackle Covid-19

Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said he is pondering declaring a state of emergency as a preventive measure to fight the spread of the coronavirus at a time when infections are soaring.

Hours after Prime Minister Antonio Costa asked the president to declare the state of emergency, Rebelo de Sousa said in an interview with RTP Television he was considering the request, explaining it would include specific measures to combat the pandemic but not a “total or nearly total” lockdown.

The initial COVID-19 state of emergency, which under Portuguese law is limited to 15 days but can be extended indefinitely in 15-day periods if necessary, was declared in March and lasted six weeks.

It restricted the movement of people and led thousands of businesses to suspend activities, devastating the once-bailed-out economy.

“The economy cannot handle a (total) confinement,” Rebelo de Sousa said during the interview at his official residence. “What is being considered is a different thing.” If Rebelo de Sousa declares an emergency, lawmakers must approve it, which is considered highly likely.

On Saturday, the government introduced measures, such as the civic duty – a recommendation rather than a rule – to stay at home except for outings for work, school or shopping, across 121 municipalities including in the key regions of Lisbon and Porto.

A state of emergency would clear the way for compulsory measures such as restrictions on movement of people but only if and when needed.

10.10pm GMT 22:10

The Premier League in England has confirmed four positive coronavirus tests have been returned from the latest round of testing.

The government has allowed Premier League football and other elite sports to continue during a four-week ‘circuit break’ lockdown, which will start in England on Thursday, due to the strict testing regimes in place.

In total, 1,446 players and club staff were tested for coronavirus between Monday, October 26 and Sunday, November 1.

Players or club staff who have tested positive will self-isolate for a period of 10 days.

9.51pm GMT 21:51

In Australia, travellers from regional NSW are now able to go to Queensland for the first time in almost four months but Sydneysiders are still not welcome in the Sunshine State.

Travel restrictions eased at 1am on Tuesday (Australia time), with the Queensland border flung open to everyone except those in greater Sydney and Victoria.

The NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian is irate that Sydney residents are banned, arguing the bar Queensland has set for resuming free travel between the states is too high.

Meanwhile, Berejiklian has indicated a reopening of the NSW border with Victoria could happen soon.

We’re talking weeks not months in terms of when the Victorian border may come down, but that again is based on health advice,” she told reporters on Monday.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if we moved more quickly against Victoria than Queensland did against us.”

When asked if an announcement would be made this week, Berejiklian said “potentially, yes”.

9.41pm GMT 21:41

French writer Sylvain Tesson poses inside the Librairie des Abbesses bookstore as he signs one of his books during the launch of “Rallumez les feux de nos librairies” (Turn back our bookstores’ lights) event on November 2, 2020 in Paris, on the fourth day of the second national general lockdown aimed at curbing the spread of Covid-19. Small book traders are forced to shut up shops for a second time this year during what is usually a busy time for retailers in the run-up to the year-end holidays. Photograph: Stéphane de Sakutin/AFP/Getty Images

9.28pm GMT 21:28

Some of Germany’s top orchestras, including Berlin’s prestigious Staatskapelle and the Munich Philharmonic, staged protests on Monday, warning that coronavirus lockdowns pose an existential threat to the arts and entertainment industries.

Musicians from the internationally-renowned ensembles in Berlin and Munich, as well as the orchestra of the Bavarian State Opera in Munich, staged a minute’s silence at the start of their respective concerts.

And on Twitter, a wide range number of artists posted pictures of records turning without any sound.

They argue that not enough support is being made available to people in the sector as Germany shuts down its theatres, concert halls, opera houses and museums for the next four weeks as part of a wider tightening of measures to try to curb a second wave of Covid-19 infections.

Freelance musicians in particular are finding it difficult to survive as they frequently do not qualify for the furlough schemes introduced for paid employees in other sectors.

Culture Minister Monika Gruetters said she was “greatly concerned” for the industry.

“Even if the new restrictions are understandable” from a health point of view, they constitute “a catastrophe” for the sector, she said.

9.00pm GMT 21:00

A summary of today’s developments

Italy’s coronavirus strategy is ‘wasting time’, says scientific advisor. Italy is working towards measures that could include a national 9pm curfew, a ban on inter-regional travel and the closure of shopping malls at weekends. But scientists have for weeks been urging the government to take tougher action, such as imposing local lockdowns, as infections escalate and hospitals come under strain.

Slovakia carries out Covid mass testing of two-thirds of population. Two-thirds of Slovakia’s population of 5.4 million people were tested for coronavirus over the weekend as part of a programme aimed at making it one of the first countries to test its entire population.

Germany begins ‘light lockdown’. Germany goes into “lockdown light” mode today, as the country’s disease control agency recorded 12,097 new confirmed Covid-19 infections in the last 24 hours. Bars, cinemas, theatres, museums, fitness studios and swimming pools will remain closed from today, while cafes and restaurants are allowed to offer takeaway food only. Meetings in public are restricted to two households and no more than 10 people. Unlike during the first lockdown in the spring, schools and nurseries will stay open.

Coronavirus infections fall for third day straight in the Netherlands. The number of new coronavirus infections in the Netherlands rose by nearly 8,300 over the past 24 hours, the slowest pace in roughly two weeks.

Iran reports record high Covid death toll as travel bans go into force. Iran reported a record 440 Covid deaths in the past 24 hours, pushing the country’s death toll to 35,738 as a ban on travel in and out of major cities came into force.

Donald Trump tries to stoke fears of Covid lockdown under Joe Biden. In the final hours before election day, one of Trump’s closing messages to Americans was an exaggerated threat: that a Joe Biden presidency will result in a national Covid-19 lockdown. Speaking in Iowa on Sunday, the president said the election was a “choice between a deadly Biden lockdown … or a safe vaccine that ends the pandemic”.

The European Union (EU) has agreed to provide Mozambique with 100 million euros ($116.30 million) in coronavirus-related aid. The EU cut off direct budget support to Mozambique in 2016 after the country revealed the existence of hefty state-guaranteed loans that it had not previously disclosed.

T-cell Covid immunity ‘present in adults six months after first infection’. Cellular (T-cell) immunity against the virus that causes Covid-19 is likely to be present within most adults six months after primary infection, with levels considerably higher in patients with symptoms, a study suggests.

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Children watch a lesson next to an image of late Cuban President Fidel Castro during their first day of classes since April amid COVID-19 concerns in Havana, Cuba. Photograph: Alexandre Meneghini/Reuters

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duncanbarker-blog · 5 years

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Japan is a bewildering, beautiful country that is like nowhere else. There are so many amazing things to do in Japan that one trip is never enough—it has stolen our hearts and we can’t stop returning.

From ancient temples to futuristic skyscrapers, tranquil tea ceremonies to over-the-top arcades, relaxing hot springs to cosplay go-kart rides, Japan has so much to offer everyone.

In this post I share the best things to do in Japan divided into the categories Culture (for unique things you can only do in Japan), Fun (for all the quirky and futuristic stuff), Food (because the food is extraordinary and you must eat as much as possible), Spiritual (for all those wonderful temples and shrines) and Beautiful (for the gorgeous natural scenery).

Even on a short visit to Japan, you can choose a few experiences from each category for an unforgettable trip.

Cultural Things to Do in Japan

These unique things to do in Japan are activities you don’t find elsewhere and are the best ways of experiencing Japanese culture.

1) Spend a Night in a Ryokan

Our room at Hotel Mushashiya ryokan overlooking Lake Ashi in Hakone

For at least one night of your trip, I highly recommend staying in a ryokan, which is a traditional Japanese inn. Tatami mat rooms are elegant, minimalist spaces, usually with just a table and low chairs where you can enjoy green tea on arrival. Breakfast and dinner are often included in the price and served in your room.

The epic, multi-course meals are a highlight of a stay in a ryokan and have been some of our best meals in Japan. Ryokans can often cater to vegetarians and vegans, but let them know any dietary requirements in advance (you don’t get a choice of dishes).

After dinner, futons will be set up on the floor and can be surprisingly comfortable to sleep on.

Ryokans range from simple (such as guesthouses called minshuku) to ultra-luxurious, sometimes with private baths and views overlooking exquisite Japanese gardens. They are more expensive than regular hotels but are well worth it for the experience.

We loved our stay at Hotel Musashiya in Hakone (a top spot for seeing Mount Fuji) where our room and the public Japanese bath overlooked Lake Ashi. It’s reasonably priced, friendly, and the food was wonderful.

You can find many other ryokans all over Japan—search on Booking.com.

2) Soak in an Onsen

The classic Japanese experience is soaking in the steaming hot waters of an onsen (hot spring bath)—it’s a must for your Japan bucket list. Onsens come in many forms—indoor and outdoor, simple and luxurious, small and large. Most of them are shared, but some ryokans have private baths you can reserve.

Onsens can be a challenge for foreigners (they were for us at first!), as you must be completely naked (most are divided by gender). Make sure you shower thoroughly before you get in the bath too. It’s worth getting over your fears as they are such a relaxing experience.

3) Wander Around an Onsen Town in a Kimono

In winter kimonos at Kinosaki Onsen

If you want the full onsen experience, head to an onsen town. These small resort towns are usually in rural settings and feature many different onsens. They are popular destinations for the Japanese for relaxing getaways.

The best way to experience one is to stay in a ryokan. Some have their own onsens and usually include a pass to visit the other onsens in town. After putting on the provided yukata (cotton kimono) and geta (wooden sandals), you head out to hop from one onsen to another and relax in the steaming waters.

There are many onsen towns in Japan. We loved Kinosaki Onsen, which is easily accessible from Kyoto and Osaka and is particularly pretty in the spring when the canals are lined with cherry blossoms.

We stayed at the friendly Morizuya Ryokan which has two small onsens available for private use in the afternoon—perfect for your first time.

Read more about Kinosaki Onsen and onsen etiquette.

4) Watch a Geisha Dance

Geishas are one of the most fascinating aspects of Japan, especially if you’ve read Arthur Golden’s popular novel Memoirs of a Geisha about these highly-skilled women who entertain using traditional arts.

It’s hard to believe they still exist, but when we spent a month living on a traditional street in Miyagawacho in Kyoto (near the more well-known Gion area), we often saw them in brightly coloured kimonos emerging from wooden teahouses.

Rather than stalking geisha on the streets of Gion, I recommend watching them perform at one of the annual dances that take place every spring and autumn. The most famous is the Miyako Odori in April, but we went to the Kyo Odori instead, which doesn’t attract many foreign guests.

The performance was spectacular, and it was fascinating to get a closer look at the extravagant kimono, ornate hairstyles, and iconic white makeup these graceful women wear.

Top tip: Miyagawacho is the perfect area to stay in Kyoto for spotting geisha without the crowds of Gion. We rented a studio on VRBO that’s no longer available, but this three-bedroom townhouse was above us. Other options in this area are this traditional machiya with outdoor bath and a stylish machiya formerly owned by a geiko.

5) Admire Ukiyo-e Prints

Ukiyo-e or Japanese woodblock prints are uniquely Japanese and flourished during the Edo Period from the 17th to 19th centuries. The prints depict landscapes, regular life of ordinary people, and popular kabuki actors, sumo wrestlers, and geisha from the world of entertainment or “floating world”.

You can see ukiyo-e in many cities in Japan. We enjoyed the small Ota Memorial Museum in Harajuku, Tokyo which displays rotating exhibitions—we were lucky enough to see the 36 Views of Mount Fuji by Hokusai including the famous Great Wave off Kanagawa.

6) See Sumo Wrestlers in Action

Sumo is serious in Japan and the national sport is steeped in tradition. Matches still include rituals that date back to its ancient origins as part of the Shinto religion such as purifying the ring with salt.

You can see sumo wrestling at one of the sumo tournaments that happen a few times a year (book tickets in advance on Voyagin) or take a tour to a sumo stable in Tokyo or Osaka to see the wrestlers’ morning training session. Tournaments happen in Tokyo in January, May and September and Osaka in March.

I loved the novel The Street of a Thousand Blossoms by Gail Tsukiyama, which gave me a greater insight into sumo culture.

7) Watch a Kabuki Performance

Kabuki is a form of traditional Japanese theatre that dates back to the Edo Period. It includes drama, dance and music and the all-male performers wear elaborate makeup.

The best place to see a Kabuki performance is the Kabukiza Theatre in Ginza, Tokyo (English captions are available), but you might find performances in other major cities.

9) Dress Up as a Geisha

Hiring a kimono for the day and wandering the historic streets of Gion and Higashiyama is a popular activity in Kyoto with both Japanese and foreigners. There are many shops in Gion and the surrounding areas to rent them (the Yasaka Shrine area is a convenient place to start).

Although Kyoto’s ancient streets are the most common place to rent a kimono, you can find rental shops throughout Japan.

10) Gaze at Itchiku Kubota’s Stunning Kimonos

On a cloudy day at Kawaguchiko (when Mt Fuji did not emerge), we came across the Itchiku Kubota Art Museum on the shores of the lake. We didn’t expect much from a kimono museum, but Itchiku Kubota’s oversize kimonos are exquisite works of art and we were blown away.

Kubota made it his life’s mission to recreate a lost textile dyeing technique from the 16th century and the results are stunning. His kimonos are full of colour and texture and depict nature such as the changes in Mount Fuji through the seasons.

This museum isn’t on many things to do in Japan lists, but I think it’s a hidden gem, especially if you visit the beautiful onsite teahouse too.

11) Pay Your Respects at the Hiroshima Peace Museum

Head to Hiroshima to pay your respects to the victims of the atomic bombing at Hiroshima’s moving Peace Memorial Park. The park is beautiful and the museum is heartbreaking, riveting, and vitally important. Afterwards, explore the modern city that was almost entirely rebuilt after World War II.

Recommended Reading: 10 Unmissable Places to Visit in Japan

Fun Things to Do in Japan

12) Ride a Shinkansen (Bullet Train)

We adore train travel in Japan. The network is extensive and the trains are comfortable, clean, quiet, safe, and always on time (to the minute!).

Best of all are the shinkansen or bullet trains which travel at ultra-high speeds of up to 320 km/h (199 mph). They make travelling between major cities very fast—Tokyo to Kyoto, a distance of 450km (280 miles) can be covered in 2 hours 15 minutes by the fastest shinkansen Nozomi.

You can even ride fun themed bullet trains such as the Hello Kitty shinkansen which runs from Osaka to Fukuoka.

Shinkansen are expensive, but a Japan Rail Pass makes them more affordable as you can hop on as many as you’d like without a reservation.

Recommended Reading: Is a Japan Rail Pass Worth it?

13) Go-Kart Around Tokyo

Simon dressed up as Yoshi while go-karting in Tokyo

Go-karting is our pick for the most fun thing to do in Japan! Where else in the world can you dress up as your favourite character and drive go-karts on the real streets of a major city?

We went go-karting in Tokyo, but you can also do it in Osaka and Kyoto. I was terrified at first as we drove alongside buses and cars but ended up having so much fun! You used to be able to dress up as Mario characters but Nintendo shut that down.

Make sure you get an international driving permit from your home country before you come to Japan as they are strict about this requirement.

14) Enjoy a Day at DisneySea

DisneySea is one of the best Disney parks in the world with a unique nautical theme featuring ports like Mysterious Island with an erupting volcano and Mediterranean Harbor which looks just like Italy.

There are many fun rides at DisneySea as well as more adult-orientated attractions like seeing a Broadway show or drinking a cocktail in a 1920s lounge aboard a cruise liner.

Disney is easily accessible from central Tokyo in about 30 minutes, but on our third visit we stayed a short walk away at the inexpensive Hotel Mystays Maihama and loved avoiding rush hour travel and being able to take a break during the day.

I definitely recommend staying nearby if you want to visit the neighbouring Disneyland Tokyo park as well as you’ll need two full days.

15) Head up High for a City View

View from Harukas 300 in Osaka at night

Japanese cities are vast and impressive with towering skyscrapers and neon signs. I think they are best admired from above at night, so head up to an observatory in one of the tall buildings.

My favourite observatory is Harukas 300 in Osaka which has 360º views from the floor to ceiling windows and a cool open-air garden bar.

In Tokyo you can get a free view from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in Shinjuku or enjoy VR rides along with the city skyline at the Sky Circus Sunshine 60 Observation Deck in Ikebukuro. Tokyo Tower is another popular viewpoint and looks like a red Eiffel Tower.

16) Rent a Karaoke Booth

Karaoke is one of the most typical Japan activities—everyone from teenagers to businessmen loves it here.

But don’t worry if you are shy—there’s no need to sing in public as in Japan you rent a private booth in one of the many huge karaoke buildings. The rooms are equipped with comfy seating, microphones, TV, and a tablet which you use to choose from a wide selection of songs. You can even order drinks and food.

We went to a branch of the budget Karaoke no Tetsujin chain in Tokyo and were surprised that the cost included a drink—it makes an affordable night out.

17) Be Spirited Away at the Studio Ghibli Museum

If you are a fan of Studio Ghibli films like Spirited Away and My Neighbor Totoro, don’t miss this whimsical museum in Tokyo where you can see props and drawings from the animations in a quirky building.

You must buy your tickets at least a month in advance—see the Ghibli website for details. If you miss out, Voyagin has more expensive last-minute tickets.

Recommended Reading: 17 Cool Things to Do in Tokyo

18) Enter the World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Japan

Harry Potter World at Universal Studios Japan

Universal Studios Japan in Osaka is a must for Harry Potter and theme park fans.

The highlight is the immersive Wizarding World of Harry Potter where you can wander the snowy cobbled streets, stroll through Hogwarts, drink butterbeer, shop for sweets in Honeydukes, and even cast your own spells if you buy a magic wand.

Elsewhere in the park, there are plenty of rides for thrill-seekers including Hollywood Dream and The Flying Dinosaur—the scariest rollercoaster I’ve ever been on!

See our favourite Universal Studios Japan rides.

The park gets extremely busy, so avoid weekends and buy your tickets in advance. Consider purchasing an Express Pass to skip the queues.

19) Experience Sensory Overload at the Robot Restaurant

The Robot Restaurant is one of the weirdest things to do in Japan. It’s not actually a restaurant but is a bizarre, high-energy show featuring robots, dragons, ninjas, blue-haired dancers, creepy clowns, guitarists on swings, drummers, and lots of flashing neon lights. It’s incredibly loud, obnoxious, and hilarious.

Don’t pay full price on the door for the Robot Restaurant—buy discounted tickets in advance from Voyagin.

20) Ride the Don Quixote Ferris Wheel in Dotonburi

Don Quixote Ferris wheel in Dotonburi, Osaka

A nighttime visit to Osaka’s Dotonbori neighbourhood is a must-do in Japan with its overwhelming display of neon, giant food models, and many restaurants and food stalls.

Overlooking the river you can ride a unique Ferris wheel in the building of the massive Don Quixote store (great for cheap souvenirs). It’s the strangest looking Ferris wheel as it’s built onto the facade of the store and you ride in a capsule that follows an oval shape up to 77 metres high with views of the river and city.

Top tip: We recommend this spacious Airbnb apartment in the Shinsaibashi neighbourhood of Osaka. It’s walkable to Dotonburi but is in a much quieter area with some great shops and restaurants nearby.

21) Play Taiko Drums in an Arcade

There are so many video game arcades in Japan that you won’t be able to miss them (they are loud and neon!). There’s a wide array of games, and one of the most fun is playing the huge Japanese taiko drums.

The most unique arcade we visited in Japan was the Anato No Warehouse in Kawasaki near Tokyo, which is themed like a seedy back alley in Hong Kong’s Kowloon walled city.

If you want to play real Taiko drums, you can take a class in Tokyo.

22) Get Lost in the Colourful TeamLab Borderless Museum

TeamLab Borderless is a unique digital art museum in Tokyo. It’s an immersive experience where you walk around in the dark (there’s no map) and interact with a series of colourful exhibitions of light and sound displays.

It’s like no museum I’ve ever been to and is worth braving the crowds for. Make sure you book tickets in advance as it usually sells out, and arrive just before opening.

23) Brave the Shibuya Crossing

One of the most famous sights in Tokyo is the insane Shibuya Crossing, the world’s busiest pedestrian crossing. Outside Shibuya Station as many as 2500 people cross the road every time the light changes, somehow managing to avoid bumping into each other.

You can head into the crowd yourself or view the action from above in one of the neighbouring buildings (Starbucks is the most popular spot). It looks best at night when all the neon signs are lit up.

Best Japan Activities for Foodies

Food in Japan is an adventure and an art form. Japanese cuisine is universally delicious and beautifully presented whether you pick up a snack from a 7-Eleven (yes, this is the only country I recommend this) or indulge in multi-course fine dining.

Being a vegetarian can be a challenge if you don’t plan in advance, but follow our vegetarian in Japan tips and you’ll eat some of the best meals of your life.

We love eating in Japan and there are many fun and tasty culinary experiences to enjoy.

24) Order Ramen from a Vending Machine

Ramen, or noodle soup, may have its origins in China, but there’s now a no more classic Japanese food experience than enjoying a steaming bowl of ramen. Not only is it utterly delicious, but it’s also one of the quickest and cheapest meals you can find.

In the simplest ramen joints, you make your selection and pay at a vending machine at the entrance and then hand over your ticket to the chef behind the counter who will cook the soup of your choice.

Most ramen is made with meat (or occasionally fish) broth and topped with pork, but vegetarian ramen is becoming more common. Read our vegetarian Tokyo guide for our favourite veggie ramen joints and look out for the chains Kyushu Jangara Ramen and Chabuton.

25) Make Your Own Takoyaki

Iduco Self Tacoyaki bar in Osaka

Takoyaki is a street food from Osaka that consists of batter cooked in ball shapes on an iron plate and stuffed with octopus. It’s not something vegetarians can usually eat, so we were ecstatic to find a tiny takoyaki stand in Osaka that not only does a vegetarian version but also lets you make your own.

The owner of Self Tacoyaki Bar Iduco is a friendly guy, and it was fun making our messy takoyaki and filling them with green onion, pickled ginger, mushroom, konnyaku, puffed rice, and dried seaweed.

26) Try Okonomiyaki

Okonomiyaki is another classic Japanese dish found all over the country but especially in Osaka and Hiroshima. It’s a thick savoury pancake made with a batter of flour and eggs and filled with cabbage and whatever else you want. Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki also contains noodles.

In some okonomiyaki restaurants, you make your own, while in others it’s made on an iron griddle in front of you. It’s a hearty and inexpensive meal.

27) Take a Cooking Class

A cooking class is one of the best things to do in Japan for foodies as you can learn more about Japanese food culture and take home recipes for your favourite dishes.

There’s a wide variety of cooking classes available in Japan where you can learn to make okonomiyaki, sushi, tempura or regional dishes. On our next trip I want to take this vegan ramen making class near Osaka.

We loved our class with Emi at Uzuki Cooking Class who teaches home-style Japanese cooking in her kitchen in Kyoto. We made a series of beautiful vegetarian dishes using local ingredients.

28) Indulge in a Kaiseki Meal

One of the 12 courses of our vegan feast at Bon in Tokyo

If ramen is one of the cheapest Japanese meals, kaiseki is the most expensive. Kaiseki is a traditional multi-course meal of the highest quality. A series of small, exquisitely presented dishes are served to guests, usually in beautiful tatami mat rooms. Ingredients are always in season and the presentation enhances the seasonal theme.

Kaiseki meals can be very expensive, but they are a unique experience. Lunch is more affordable than dinner.

If you are vegetarian, look out for the meat-free alternative shojin ryori instead—our favourite place for this is Bon in Tokyo.

29) Drink Matcha with Wagashi

Matcha is a powdered green tea that has a richer flavour than regular tea. A classic Japanese activity is enjoying a bowl of matcha in a traditional tea house accompanied by wagashi, beautiful sweets typically made from rice, red beans, and sugar.

There are many tea houses in Kyoto—we had a great experience at Ippodo Tea Shop. We also loved the view from the tea house at Itchiku Kubota Art Museum in Kawaguchiko.

30) Learn the Art of the Tea Ceremony

Tea ceremony at Gyokusen-en gardens in Kanazawa

Tea isn’t just a drink in Japan and I highly recommend experiencing a traditional tea ceremony to learn more about this important part of Japanese culture.

Kyoto is the home of the tea ceremony, so there are many options such as this authentic tea ceremony near the Golden Temple or this tea ceremony in a traditional townhouse. In Tokyo you can do a tea ceremony at the Bonsai Museum. Some have the option of wearing a kimono which adds to the atmosphere.

We did a tea ceremony at the gorgeous Gyokusen-en Gardens in Kanazawa, which is harder to book than the suggestions above. Ms Nishida, who is from the fifth generation of the family who owns the gardens, took us through the ritual and we learnt the appropriate phrases, how to appreciate the tea bowl, and the concept of “ichi-go ichi-e” which means cherishing the moment as it will never happen again.

Recommended Reading: Our 2 week Japan itinerary includes Kanazawa.

31) Drink Sake at an Izakaya

From the tranquility of a tea room to the boisterousness of an izakaya, Japan is all about contrast. An izakaya is a Japanese pub where you can drink sake (rice wine), beer and other alcoholic drinks accompanied by small tapas-like plates of food.

If you don’t feel brave enough to venture into an izakaya yourself, you can take a tour in Tokyo or Osaka.

32) Eat Sushi

Our vegetarian sushi feast in our room at Morizuya Ryokan in Kinosaki Onsen

Sushi is Japan’s most famous dish so, of course, you’ll want to try it in its homeland. Eating sushi in Japan is different from elsewhere and there are strict rules—see this sushi in Japan guide for tips.

Sushi comes in many forms. While it all involves rice prepared with sushi vinegar, it doesn’t all include raw fish. Vegetarian sushi made with tofu, cucumber, or other vegetables is harder to find, but you can read our vegetarian Japan guide for ideas.

You can eat sushi everywhere from convenience stores to fine dining restaurants. The most famous (and exceedingly expensive) restaurant is Sukiyabashi Jiro in Tokyo—you can learn more about the revered chef in the documentary Jiro Dreams of Sushi (also available on Netflix).

It’s a difficult restaurant to get a reservation for, and you can’t just call yourself, but Voyagin can make a reservation for you. A more affordable option is Sukiyabashi Jiro Roppongi, which is run by his son.

Another popular place to try sushi is the Toyosu Fish Market—you can take a private tour or visit yourself (but you’ll need to apply in advance to see the early morning tuna auction).

33) Enjoy a Bento Box on a Train

A bento box is a Japanese lunchbox featuring a range of small dishes with a balance of flavours, textures, and food groups. You can find them in train stations (where they are called ekiben and use local ingredients), convenience stores, and department store food halls.

This being Japan, they are works of art and very tasty. They are ideal for long train rides and picnics in the park.

A typical bento features rice, meat or fish, and pickled vegetables. Vegetarian bentos are not easy to find, but we did get one at Matsumoto in the Isetan department store near Shinjuku Station in Tokyo.

34) Hanami Under the Cherry Blossoms

Locals enjoying hanami at Himeji Castle

Hanami is a Japanese custom of viewing the transient sakura (cherry blossoms) that bloom for a few weeks in spring (usually late March to mid-April in Tokyo and Kyoto).

The most popular way to enjoy the blossoms is with a picnic under the trees. The Japanese gather in large groups with food and drinks for parties that often last all day and into the night.

To enjoy your own hanami, you can pick up a bento box from a department store or there are many picnic options in convenience stores as well as beers and sake. Look out for sakura-themed items like mochi, kitkats, and even beer.

Our favourite hanami spots were Handayama Botanical Garden in Okayama and Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden in Tokyo where we enjoyed three picnics in a week under the late-blooming cherry trees.

Top Tip: Airbnbs are an affordable option in Tokyo and Shinjuku is our favourite area to stay. We recommend this affordable Airbnb studio that’s a short walk from Shinjuku Gyoen.

35) Order Hot Coffee or Soup from a Vending Machine

In Japan you’ll find vending machines everywhere—in train stations, on almost every street corner, and even on hiking paths. They are very convenient as you’ll never go thirsty.

Most vending machines sell drinks—cold green tea, milk tea, soft drinks, energy drinks, juice (some with jelly chunks), and water. It’s not just cold drinks, though—in the colder months you can buy a can of hot coffee, tea, and even corn soup to go! You can tell they are hot as they’ll have a red label (rather than blue for cold drinks). You can also find vending machines that sell alcohol.

It may not be the best coffee in the world, but Simon loved the convenience of being able to pick up a can of hot coffee anywhere, especially on cold mornings when we had a train to catch. His favourite was Tully’s—he found the more common Boss coffee (randomly advertised by Tommy Lee Jones) rather gross.

Spiritual Things to Do in Japan

Visiting a Buddhist temple or Shinto shrine is a must do in Japan even if you aren’t religious (we’re not). They are diverse, beautiful, peaceful (sometimes), and fascinating with many rituals to observe. They are often set amongst lovely natural settings in forests or on mountainsides.

The best places to visit temples and shrines are Kyoto (Japan’s capital for 1000 years until 1868) and Nikko (a UNESCO World Heritage Site a few hours north of Tokyo), but you can find them all over the country even in modern Tokyo and Osaka.

Read our Kyoto temples guide for more on the differences between temples and shrines.

36) Stay in a Temple at Koya-San

One of the most unusual things to do in Japan is spend the night in a temple in the sacred mountain town Koya-san, about 90 minutes from Osaka.

Many temples offer shukubo or temple lodging where you can sleep in tatami mat rooms, soak in communal onsen baths, and enjoy delicious shojin ryori vegetarian Buddhist meals. Early in the morning you can join the monks for their chanting and fire ceremony.

We stayed in the cheapest temple accommodation, Haryo-in, but it’s quite basic and not available to book online. Next time I’d pay more for one of the more traditional temples like 1000-year-old Eko-in.

37) Hike Through Torii Gates at Fushimi Inari

My favourite shrine in Japan and one of the most popular things to do in Kyoto is the unique Fushimi Inari. Thousands of bright orange torii gates snake up through a forest on the side of a mountain and it takes about 90 minutes to complete the full circuit (which I recommend as it’s much quieter at the top).

Fushimi Inari is one of the top tourist attractions in Japan and gets incredibly busy, so I highly recommend arriving before 7 am or after 8 pm to avoid the worst of the crowds.

Although I prefer it early in the morning, hiking it at night feels more adventurous with a slightly spooky atmosphere (watch out for wild boars!). The shrine is free and open 24 hours.

38) Visit the Golden Temple

Another Kyoto highlight is Kinkaku-ji or the Golden Temple. We expected it to be overrated (and it is very crowded), but the shimmering gold pavilion reflected in a pond amongst leafy gardens lived up to the hype.

39) Get Your Fortune Told at a Temple or Shrine

Omikuji are fortune-telling paper strips that can be bought at Japanese temples and shrines. The fortunes range from great good luck to great bad luck (luckily the worst we’ve got is “pretty good”). Some of the more popular temples like the Golden Temple in Kyoto have fortunes in English.

If you get a bad fortune, make sure you leave it at the temple to avert the bad luck—there are dedicated areas to tie them. If it’s a good fortune you should carry it with you.

40) Meditate at a Zen Garden

Zen Buddhist temples usually feature kare-sansui or dry landscape gardens made from rocks and gravel carefully raked into patterns that suggest rippling water. They are simple, elegant, and the perfect place to meditate.

Kyoto is the best place to find Zen temples. Ryoan-ji Temple is the most famous (and crowded), and we enjoyed the gardens at Kennin-ji and Kodai-ji (especially when the cherry tree is in bloom). At Entoku-in we had the chance to create our own miniature garden.

41) Visit a Temple at Night

Night illuminations at Kiyomizu-dera in Kyoto

In the spring cherry blossom and autumn leaf seasons some temples open at night. They are beautifully illuminated, sometimes feature special light shows, and it feels like a different experience visiting in the dark. We especially enjoyed night visits to Kiyomizu-dera and Kodai-ji in Kyoto.

42) See the Giant Buddha at Nara

Nara is a wonderful day trip from Kyoto. It was Japan’s first permanent capital and is full of historic treasures including many UNESCO world heritage sites.

The highlight is the immense Daibutsu-den (Hall of the Great Buddha) at Todaiji. It’s the largest wooden building in the world and houses the 15-metre tall gold and bronze statue of Buddha that dates back to 751.

43) Explore the Temples at Nikko

Temple fans shouldn’t miss Nikko, a mountain town full of UNESCO World Heritage temples a few hours north of Tokyo. Many people visit on a day trip, but it’s worth staying overnight to get an early start and avoid the crowds.

Toshogu Shrine is the main attraction and features more than a dozen lavishly decorated red and gold buildings amongst huge, ancient cedar trees. I also recommend playing games at atmospheric Futarasan-jinja and hiking up the mountain to the tranquil Takino shrine.

44) Get Off the Beaten Track at Otagi Nenbutsuji

Otagi Nenbutsuji

My favourite temple in Kyoto is the quirky Otagi Nenbutsuji in the lovely Arashiyama neighbourhood. It’s much quieter than other temples in the area, and the shady temple complex features 1200 stone sculptures of the Buddha’s disciples all with different facial expressions and poses from scary to serene.

Best Beautiful Japan Attractions

There’s so much more to Japan than the cities. You’ll find many gorgeous mountains, lakes, islands, waterfalls, rivers, rice fields, and forests. Temples and shrines are also often in beautiful natural settings, so see the section above as well.

Here are just some of the top things to do in Japan in nature. There are many other options to experience Japan on foot, bike, boat, and skis.

45) Attempt to See Mount Fuji

Mount Fuji just after sunrise at Lake Kawaguchi

For many people the iconic Mount Fuji is a top Japan sightseeing spot. The perfectly shaped volcano is Japan’s highest mountain at 3776 metres, and it’s especially lovely in the winter and spring when it is snow-capped.

The best towns to see Mount Fuji from are the hot spring resort Hakone or the Fuji Five Lakes area (especially the lakeside town Kawaguchiko)—we’ve enjoyed visits to both. Mount Fuji is elusive, though, and is often obscured by cloud. It’s best to allow a few days in the area to increase your chances of seeing the peak.

You can also climb Mount Fuji but only in July and August and it’s a challenging climb.

In Kawaguchiko we stayed at Kawaguchiko Lakeside Hotel, which is close to the lake and has Mount Fuji views. It’s not fancy, but it’s reasonably priced for the area, and our room (with separate living room) was our largest in Japan.

46) Loop Around Hakone

While Hakone is a great place to see Mount Fuji, it also has a lot to offer when the mountain is hiding behind clouds. With the Hakone Freepass you get unlimited rides on transport in the area and can follow a fun loop which includes a pirate ship cruise across Lake Ashi, ropeway (cable car) up a mountain to Owakudani, an active volcanic valley, and a train through the mountains.

We loved staying at the modern ryokan Hotel Musashiya on the shores of Lake Ashi in Moto Hakone where we had fantastic views of the lake from our room and the onsen. It’s close to Hakone-jinja shrine where a large red torii gate overlooks the lake.

47) Go Cherry Blossom Viewing

Cherry blossoms by the canal in Kinosaki Onsen

Japan in spring lives up to the hype. The fleeting sakura (cherry blossoms) are truly spectacular, and they are everywhere, not just limited to a certain park or canal. It’s a joyous time of year when locals hit the parks for hanami picnics and eat cherry-blossom themed food.

Kyoto and Tokyo are excellent famous cherry blossom spots, but we also enjoyed Okayama where it wasn’t as crowded. Early April is usually the peak sakura season, but it is never guaranteed.

48) Cycle the Countryside

A fantastic way to experience rural Japan is by bike. We really enjoyed a group cycling tour with Satoyama Experience from the adorable town of Hida-Furukawa near Takayama. We learnt about local traditions and cycled past rice fields, rivers, mountains, and idyllic villages.

We also did a DIY half day trip along the Kibi Plain Bike Path past beautiful off-the-beaten-path temples, rice fields, and cherry blossoms. From Okayama take the train to Bizen-Ichinomiya where you can hire a bike one-way to Soja then hop on the train back from there.

49) Walk Through a Bamboo Forest (But Not in Arashiyama)

Bamboo forest at Kodai-ji temple on a rainy night

There’s something magical and very Japanese about a bamboo forest with its towering green stalks swaying in the breeze. By far the most popular bamboo forest in Japan is in Arashiyama in Kyoto, which is considered one of the top things to see in Japan.

Honestly, it’s so crowded that I much prefer the smaller bamboo groves that you find in temples such as Kodai-ji. I encourage you to seek out a more peaceful bamboo forest for yourself.

50) Visit the Art Island of Naoshima

The famous yellow pumpkin on Naoshima island

Naoshima is a rural island in the Seto Inland Sea that has been transformed into a hub of contemporary art. We visited as a day trip from Okayama and hired e-bikes to cycle the island (it’s not very big).

As well as enjoying beautiful coastal views we saw Yayoi Kusama’s famous yellow and red pumpkins and visited several art museums and the unique Art House Project with installations spread over abandoned houses.

51) Stroll a Japanese Garden

You can’t visit Japan and not take a stroll through a traditional garden. There are many styles of Japanese gardens and they all highlight the beauty of nature and avoid artificial components where possible.

Classic elements include moss-covered rocks, carp-filled ponds, stone lanterns, wooden teahouses, maple trees, and cherry blossoms. Many are found at temples.

There are so many to choose from, but some of my favourites are the tiny but exquisite Gyokusen-en Gardens in Kanazawa, Shinjuku Gyoen in Tokyo, and the grounds of Jojakko-ji Temple in Arashiyama, Kyoto.

52) Hike the Historic Nakasendo Trail

The Nakasendo Trail connected Tokyo and Kyoto during the Edo period. Along the journey through the mountains there were many “post towns” where lords and samurai could stop to rest at traditional inns and soak in hot springs.

You can still do a half-day hike on the most scenic part of the trail from Tsumago to Magome (5 miles/ 3 hours). A typhoon prevented us from doing the walk, but we still enjoyed our stay in the picture-perfect traditional Japanese village of Tsumago, which is well-preserved with many wooden buildings.

53) See Traditional Thatched Houses at Hida Folk Village

Traditional grass roof houses at the Hida Folk Village

We thought the Hida Folk Village near Takayama would be too touristy, but the open-air museum is a beautiful place, especially in the autumn. It features traditional thatched houses from across the Hida region that were moved to the museum in 1971. It was fascinating to see what life was like for rural Japanese in the Edo period.

Another option if you have more time is to stay in one of the Gassho-style thatched houses in the village of Shirakawa-go (50 minutes by bus from Takayama).

54) Walk from Kibune to Kurama

A worthwhile half-day trip from Kyoto is to take a 30-minute train ride to the village of Kibune in the Kitayama Mountains. From there you can walk through the forest over the mountain to Kurama-dera, a temple with fantastic views.

Continue to the village of Kurama where you can have a tasty vegetarian lunch at Yoshuji or soak in an onsen before hopping on the train back to Kyoto. Or in the summer you can hike it in the opposite direction and finish with a meal on a platform over the river in Kibune.

It’s an easy, peaceful, and beautiful escape from the city.

Planning Your Japan Itinerary

See our post on the best places to visit in Japan for our top recommendations.

Kyoto and Tokyo are the most popular destinations for first-time visitors and are a good combination for seeing the traditional and modern sides of the country.

I also recommend spending at least one night (more if you have time) in more rural locations such as Hakone (for Mount Fuji), Takayama (for traditional wooden houses), Nikko (for temples), or Koya-san (for an overnight temple stay).

Here’s our recommended Japan 2 week itinerary.

Japan Travel Tips

See our other Japan blog posts for more tips:

Planning a Trip to Japan: Dos and Don’ts

17 Cool Things to Do in Tokyo

Is a Japan Rail Pass Worth it?

Where to Stay in Japan: A Guide to Accommodation Options

15 Fascinating Books to Read Before Visiting Japan

Vegetarian Survival Guide to Japan

I hope this post has given you plenty of ideas for what to do in Japan. Enjoy exploring this weird and wonderful country!

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architectnews · 4 years

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I Saw The World End still, London

Es Devlin, I Saw The World End still, Piccadilly Circus London Japanese Bombings Anniversary

I Saw The World End still

3 August 2020

‘I Saw The World End still’ London by Es Devlin & Machiko Weston

British And Japanese Artists Es Devlin And Machiko Weston Collaborate on

New Commission To Commemorate The 75th Anniversary Of The Bombings Of Hiroshima And Nagasaki

Es Devlin, I Saw The World End still:

To mark the 75th anniversary of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on 6th and 9th August 2020, (IWM) Imperial War Museums have commissioned a new work from leading artist Es Devlin working in collaboration with her long-term studio colleague Machiko Weston.

Closely aligning with the timings of the actual bombings, the 45-metre-wide digital work will be shown on the Piccadilly Lights giant screen in Piccadilly Circus at 8.10am on Thursday 6th and at 11am on Sunday 9th August and simultaneously on the Imperial War Museum website.

The new commission, I Saw The World End, responds to the moment the nature and consequences of war were irrevocably redefined, reflecting on the impact of the event from both a British and a Japanese perspective.

Locked down in their separate studios, the text has been researched and collated by the two artists from a range of sources in English and Japanese. Half of the text, read by Devlin in English, traces the origination of the atomic bomb in fiction by HG Wells, the account of the translation directly from fiction to physics by Leo Szilard, and the aspiration, rationale and rehearsal by the leading protagonists of the Manhattan project. The other half of the text is read in Japanese by Weston – with simultaneous translation into English – which are all accounts of the two moments in time when the atomic bombs landed on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

A stipulation from Piccadilly Lights to divide the screen (in keeping with its original multi-screen composition) inspired a central aspect of the work’s final form. The screen-splitting line becomes the essence of the work, expressing the potential for division – splitting the screen, splitting the atom, the division between fiction and fact, race divisions, the division between humans and the planet.

The soundtrack, by composers and sound designers Polyphonia, has been created using binaural acoustic techniques – allowing a further expression of division – as the two voices appear to be spatially divided between right and left ears of headphones through which viewers will listen while watching the big screen.

The United States detonated two nuclear weapons over the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on 6 and 9 August 1945, respectively, with the consent of the United Kingdom, as required by the Quebec Agreement. The two bombings killed over 100,000 people directly, most of whom were civilians, and caused thousands more to die of their injuries or the after-effects of radiation. The detonation of these weapons remains the first and only time they have been used in war.

I Saw The World End 08.10 am on 6th August 2020 11.00 am on 9th August 2020 Piccadilly Lights, Piccadilly Circus, London W1B 5RA https://www.iwm.org.uk

An older photo of the Piccadilly Circus billboard building on the north side of the public space: photograph © Adrian Welch

Es Devlin Es Devlin is known for creating large-scale sculptures and performance spaces that combine light, music and language including Memory Palace in 2019 which mapped shifts in human perspective over 73 millennia, and the reflective labyrinthine self-portrait MirrorMaze in 2016. Her work in collective, AI-generated poetry has been seen at the Serpentine Gallery, V&A and Barbican and is now informing her design for the UK Pavilion for the World Expo 2021.

She collaborated with theoretical physicist Carlo Rovelli on a collective reading of his illuminating work on the nature of time and has conceived stage sculptures with Beyoncé, Billie Eilish, The Weeknd and U2 as well as Olympic Ceremonies and two decades of opera, drama and dance worldwide. Her practice was the subject of the Netflix documentary series Abstract: The Art of Design, and she has been named artistic director of the 2020 London Design Biennale. Devlin has been awarded the London Design Medal, three Olivier awards, a University of Kent doctorate and a UAL fellowship. She has been named RSA Royal Designer for Industry and was made OBE in 2015.

Machiko Weston Machiko Weston is an Associate Designer at Es Devlin Studio, having trained in Architecture at the Nagoya Institute of Technology and Set Design for Stage and Screen at the Wimbledon School of Art. She has worked on multiple exhibitions and stage projects around the world including Die Tote Stadt at the Finnish National Opera and Tokyo’s New National Theatre, The Lehman Trilogy at the National Theatre and New York’s Park Avenue Armory, High Tide for Carmen at the Victoria & Albert Museum, and concerts tours such as Adele Live 2016. Core interests in her personal art practice include visual storytelling, perspective in scaled model-making, and the relationship between Japanese and British culture.

IWM IWM (Imperial War Museums) tells the story of people who have lived, fought and died in conflicts involving Britain and the Commonwealth since the First World War.

Our unique collections, made up of the everyday and the exceptional, reveal stories of people, places, ideas and events. Using these, we tell vivid personal stories and create powerful physical experiences across our five museums that reflect the realities of war as both a destructive and creative force. We challenge people to look at conflict from different perspectives, enriching their understanding of the causes, course and consequences of war and its impact on people’s lives.

IWM’s five branches which attract over 2.5 million visitors each year are IWM London, IWM’s flagship branch that recently transformed with new, permanent and free First World War Galleries alongside new displays across the iconic Atrium to mark the Centenary of the First World War; IWM North, housed in an iconic award-winning building designed by Daniel Libeskind; IWM Duxford, a world renowned aviation museum and Britain’s best preserved wartime airfield; Churchill War Rooms, housed in Churchill’s secret headquarters below Whitehall; and the Second World War cruiser HMS Belfast.

24 Jan 2017

Piccadilly Lights Renewal

The iconic Piccadilly Lights owned by Land Securities had a major upgrade from January 2017.

image courtesy Land Securities

Piccadilly Circus London

Piccadilly Lights Renewal

Piccadilly Circus Photos

Piccadilly Circus used to be surrounded by illuminated advertising hoardings, starting in 1908 with a Perrier sign.

Piccadilly Lights London from the past:

youtube

e-architect editor Adrian Welch got a rare opportunity to view the famous advertising elements from behind and from the top:

Location: Piccadilly Circus, London, England, UK

London Building Designs

Contemporary London Architecture Designs

London Architectural Designs – chronological list

London Architecture Walking Tours – tailored UK capital city walks by e-architect

London Architects Offices

London Architecture News

Piccadilly Circus Building Development Proposal Design: Fletcher Priest, architects Piccadilly Circus London Building

Richard Deacon’s Cornice photograph : Dirk Lindner Piccadilly Building Art

Piccadilly Building Design: Squire and Partners image from architect Piccadilly Building

Key Public Spaces close by

Leicester Square

Trafalgar Square

London Architecture – Selection

Natural History Museum

Houses of Parliament

National Gallery Building

Buildings / photos for the Es Devlin, I Saw The World End still at Piccadilly Circus page welcome

Website: Piccadilly Circus

The post I Saw The World End still, London appeared first on e-architect.

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nyslovesfilm · 5 years

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Save the Date: Film Festivals and Events

Film Festivals take place in New York State throughout the year. The following is a list of upcoming festivals and industry events: New York Film Festival – Through Oct. 13 As one of the most highly anticipated industry events, celebrating its 57th anniversary, this prestigious 17-day festival is a New York tradition and highlights the best in world cinema featuring works from celebrated filmmakers as well as fresh new talent. Woodstock Film Festival – Oct. 2-6 The Woodstock film festival is a haven for those who love independent and challenging cinema. The spirit of the namesake of the festival is in the very fiber of the festival itself - freewheeling, experimental, searching and visionary. Bushwick Film Festival – Oct. 2-6 This festival is hailed as one of Brooklyn’s most influential cinematic events for its contribution to the borough’s artistic, cultural, and economic growth. The festival attracts film and entertainment industry leaders at national and international levels, and showcases films created by the best and most diverse emerging independent filmmakers in Brooklyn and worldwide. New York Comic Con – Oct. 3-6 New York Comic Con is the East Coast's largest pop culture convention and the only one that takes place in the comic book, publishing, media, and licensing capital of the world — Gotham City. Ocktober Film Festival – Oct. 3-6 This festival serves as a platform for artists to express themselves through film and new media. They are heavily involved with the independent filmmaking community and therefore, this festival has become a trusted resource for emerging and established filmmakers. North Fork TV Festival – Oct. 4-5 Founded in 2015, the North Fork TV Festival celebrates the future of independent scripted television, gathering buyers and sellers in a global marketplace and providing a platform for emerging creators. New York City 2 Paris International Film Festival – Oct. 5-6 The New York City 2 Paris International Film Festival is an annual festival held in two of the most exciting cities in the world- New York City and Paris! Every film selected for screening in the festival will be shown in both cities one week apart. ANNY Best of Fest – Oct. 6-7 Animation Nights New York (ANNY) Best of Fest is a two-day annual festival and conference featuring animation screenings, fine art exhibits, VR workshop presentations, an XR showcase, professional panels, and industry events. Crown Heights Film Festival – Oct. 10-12 Bringing exceptional local and international short film to Brooklyn audiences, this festival’s mission is to provide an opportunity for filmmakers in short form to foster cross-arts collaboration and to provide a social forum for filmmakers. The festival has become an annual tradition held at FiveMyles Gallery in Crown Heights , one of Brooklyn's most beautiful, diverse and vibrant neighborhoods. Syracuse International Film Festival – Oct. 10-13 Created in 2003 the Syracuse International Film Festival seeks to enrich the arts & culture of their community through the presentation of media-based film programs and workshops that inform and entertain. They show and discuss films with true artistic merit, regardless of length, genre or form, and provide a showcase for established and emerging filmmakers from around the world. Hamptons International Film Festival – Oct. 10-14 Founded in 1993, this festival aims to celebrate independent film—long, short, fiction and documentary—and to introduce a unique and varied spectrum of international films and filmmakers to our audiences. Buffalo International Film Festival – Oct. 10-14 Buffalo International Film Festival champions regional, national, and international films that push the limits of independent cinema – presenting quality films from around the world to WNY residents and visitors. BIFF is committed to amplifying diverse voices and exhibiting cutting-edge programming in narrative, documentary and experimental film. New York State International Film Festival – Oct. 11-12 New York State International Film Festival was created to celebrate the art with filmmakers and their audience. NYSIFF strives to educate, support, entertain, and connect local and international artists through movies. All American High School Film Festival – Oct. 11-13 This festival is the premier destination for talented high school filmmakers and media arts enthusiasts from around the world. Their mission is to provide immersive education with a profound impact, connecting the filmmakers of the future with the rewards, respect and recognition they deserve. NAB Show New York – Oct. 16-17 Located in New York City, a melting pot of content, products, and inspiration, NAB Show New York is the largest gathering of the media, entertainment, and technology community on the east coast. It’s where insights are shared, makers meet, and creators connect—in the center of the world media capital. New York International Films Infest Festival – Oct. 16-18 NYCIFIF’s mission is to showcase the content of emerging Spanish, Ibero-American, Latino-American filmmakers. Films of all genres are accepted and those chosen for screening display a high-level of artistic excellence. Adirondack Film Festival – Oct. 17-20 The Adirondack Film Festival in Glens Falls, NY is the only film festival in the country operated by a prominent professional theatre company – the Adirondack Theatre Festival. Because AFF spans the gap of theatre and film, it can offer a unique vantage point for a film festival as it embraces the similarities and differences in storytelling and the process from page to stage to screen. Chelsea Film Festival – Oct. 17-20 This international film festival, highlights the work of emerging filmmakers, producers and actors. It offers a wide range of films, such as documentaries and feature-lengths, focusing on the theme of “Global Issues”. Margaret Mead Film Festival – Oct. 17-20 This festival aims to connect viewers to cultures and communities around the world, creating empathy and understanding through visual media. Hundreds of filmmakers and scholars, thousands of moviegoers, and over 40 international nonfiction films and media converge over four thrilling days of screenings, conversations, and parties. Brooklyn Horror Film Festival – Oct. 17-24 Recently named to Moviemaker Magazine’s 30 Bloody Best Genre Fest’s in the World, The Brooklyn Horror Film Festival is a premier east coast genre festival that embodies the spirit of Brooklyn. Taking place in venues throughout the borough, we showcase the best new independent films, throw parties, host events, and more. Wildlife Conservation Film Festival – Oct. 17-27 The Wildlife Conservation Film Festival’s mission is to inform, engage and inspire audiences about the need for and importance of the protection of global biodiversity through an annual film festival and biodiversity conference in New York. Seneca Film Festival – Oct. 18-20 With film screenings and networking events, the Seneca Film Festival is a unique experience in the beautiful Finger Lakes region of New York. Discover the cinematic landscapes, lakes, waterfalls and taste the best of New York wineries, breweries, and distilleries paired with the locally sourced cuisine. FilmColumbia – Oct. 18-27 FilmColumbia celebrates its 20th anniversary this year with the best-curated selection of world class films from major studios and independents, and a stunning array of international films, animated features, documentaries and children’s shorts. The Cutting Room International Short Film Festival – Oct. 19-20 This festival is focused on emerging, yet overlooked filmmakers, and writers and aims to show quality film of true indie filmmakers and honor their hard work and dedication. Reel Sisters of the Diaspora Film Festival – Oct. 19-20 Since 1997, Reel Sisters has been bringing together film lovers and industry professionals from across the U.S. and the globe to celebrate the contributions women of color make to the film industry. Held every October in Brooklyn, NY, the festival has screened over 5,000 films by women of African, Caribbean, Latina, Asian, Indian and Native American descent. NewFest – Oct. 23-29 NewFest gives voice and visibility to the full spectrum of the LGBTQ experience by championing films, supporting storytellers, and engaging audiences to inspire dialogue, shift cultural bias and empower our diverse community. Irish Screen America – Oct. 25-27 Irish Screen America supports and guides Irish media-makers by showcasing their work and fostering partnerships in the two largest cities for the entertainment industry in the United States – New York and Los Angeles. Ithaca Fantastik Film Festival – Oct. 26-Nov. 4 This event is a ten day film, art, and music festival. The “fantastic” dwells in that unsettling terrain between the uncanny and the marvelous, a place where both supernatural and natural causes mix. Each year, programmers carefully curate and review submissions to bring the most exciting and intriguing, mind-bending, beautiful, and flat out weird films from domestic and international filmmakers to their fans. NYC Television Week – Oct. 28-30 Now in its 7th year, NYC Television Week is at the forefront of the changes and transformations regarding new metrics, big data, digital disruption and economic challenges, providing innovative solutions and must-know insights into the current and future trends of the industry. High Falls Women’s Film Festival – Oct. 31 - Nov. 3 For nearly 20 years the HFWFF has been celebrating and creating opportunity for women filmmakers from all over the world, not just by screening their films, but by also inviting them to be part of the larger conversation on inequality in the film industry.

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differentkindapiratemovies-blog · 5 years

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Narrative Theory Essay

Discussing the perceived oversaturation of narrative archetypes in modern media with reference to Joseph Campbell’s monomyth theory.

“As the old saying goes, there’s nothing new under the sun. For fans of movies and TV, that means that every story that can be told already has been. But sometimes, the movies that seem to be retelling a well-known story TOO closely are singled out, accused of being a ripoff, copycat, or unoriginal. There's no more famous (or successful) example than James Cameron’s Avatar: a story of a human being welcomed into a native tribe, who betrays their trust, but eventually saves the day by fighting on the good side in the end. As soon as the movie hit theaters, people dismissed the billion-dollar blockbuster as a ripoff of Fern Gully, or even Pocahontas before it. The truth is... it’s telling the same story told by dozens, even hundreds of famous films. But that’s not a reason to attack it, or any other re-skinned movie myth.”

It’s common to have the notion after coming out of a movie theatre that the experience was strikingly similar to the previous time you went. There is a common thread line throughout all of movie and storytelling history. Since the dawn of man, the human race has used narratives and stories to communicate ideas and emotions with each other - usually either trying to capture a part of history or with the purpose of fictional entertainment value. However, primarily I believe narratives are there for communication, being carefully crafted by storytellers of all different generations. Cave men used to draw on the walls of their caves and their fire would illuminate the images, causing them to flicker back and forth to create the earliest animation and stories recorded. Some of the most prominent fictional stories ever created, including religious texts such as the Bible, are stories we haven’t stopped recreating in two thousand years. I refuse to believe that it is the only formula that works despite being undoubtedly effective. Some might think of it as a stale structure.

Joseph Campbell’s hero’s journey, first theorised in Hero Of A Thousand Faces, and Tzvetan Todorov’s structure of narrative are commonly combined to create a story that seems to resonate with the majority of an audience and seemingly never ceases to fail. Movies such as The Matrix and Star Wars use both these theories in order to make up a successful story. (Although debatably the whole original trilogy acts as the entire journey seeing as Luke Skywalker, the main character, is at his lowest in the finale of the second movie resulting in a pitfall ending). George Lucas, the creator and director of the first Star Wars film, considered Joseph Campbell to be his friend and mentor.

“My last mentor was Joe... who asked a lot of the interesting questions and exposed me to a lot of things that made me very interested, a lot more in the cosmic questions and the mystery… and I've been interested in those all my life but I hadn’t focused it the way I have until I had got to be good friends with Joe.”

George goes on to say he took the mythological and religious ideas behind narratives and simplified them for a modern audience. Perhaps it would be beneficial to drop religion altogether when writing stories for the modern and less religious generation.

The Dragon Quest video game series also follows these rules with the main character literally referred to as “The Hero”. The journey of a character rising up, facing hardships, being at their lowest then being born again for their worlds to be restored to equilibrium is something I think people either feel like they can relate to or, probably closer to the truth, is fantasised about and idealised. Everyone would like to be hero in the story, overcoming their problems and saving the world. Joseph Campbell says this in his book Hero With A Thousand Faces.

“The agony of breaking through personal limitations is the agony of spiritual growth. Art, literature, myth and cult, philosophy, and ascetic disciplines are instruments to help the individual past his limiting horizons into spheres of ever-expanding realisation. As he crosses threshold after threshold, conquering dragon after dragon, the stature of the divinity that he summons to his highest wish increases, until it subsumes the cosmos. Finally, the mind breaks the bounding sphere of the cosmos to a realisation transcending all experiences of form - all symbolisations, all divinities: a realisation of the ineluctable void.”

There’s something gripping about watching this structure play out, and it is engaging for an audience - but they’ve seen it thousands and thousands of times before. As much as I appreciate movies that put a creative spin on the traditional structure of narrative, I really respect and love movies that go against the curve. Obviously this happens quite frequently but probably not at your local Odeon cinema - mainstream media is often streamlined for the purpose of easy consumption. For example, I enjoy films from the Marvel universe, but all too often they all play out in the same format. You could argue that companies have monopolised certain narrative structures and have a tendency to recycle them.

However, films like Richard Linklater’s 1991 day-in-the-life-of debut Slacker go against traditional “hero journeys” and plot point one/plot point two narratives, instead working like a series of loosely connected vignettes; in each scene we spend time with a different character and closely follow events occurring in their lives in real time. There’s no arcs, no beginning, middle or end. No rebirth, just a movie about strange characters hanging out in Austin, Texas, on a sunny day. It’s not an art film or particularly experimental. It’s just that, well, nothing happens. It’s an accurate depiction of reality. It's what real life actually is. I don’t wake up every day and go through a hero’s journey. We may develop as people and these situations can occur, but nine out of ten times life just isn’t like that. We wake up and things stay the same and in life, at moments when the credits are supposed to roll after we’ve achieved something, after we’ve overcome something, it just kind of keeps going. Life moves on and our “arcs” and problems to overcome reset, or new ones appear like a constantly stream of wildly uneventful sequels. New problems come up and sometimes they’re never solved and sometimes people don’t change. In my short film “Campussies!” I was really interested in trying to capture a kind of nothing day and interactions with strange people - not really making anything particularly interesting or high tension. The short was also influenced by Linklaters’ other seminal film Dazed and Confused, however that follows a slightly more traditional take on story telling, depicting a character develop throughout the movie. Jim Jarmusch is another director who often uses abrupt endings and whole scenes that literally stop moving forward. A lot of people say there’s almost an amateurish fine line however I believe this to be completely intentional.

In my narrative-based website I recreated the story of Homer’s Odyssey, a very classic tale that has been recreated and re-skinned many times over many years. Through the website, I make you, the person, interact with the story and go on the hero’s journey by yourself. There is only one correct path however the “reincarnation” implies you are constantly reborn until you get it right. Little is told about the situation in my narrative purposely, so that you can project what you would like onto it. It’s about a person, you, traveling from somewhere dangerous, perhaps enemy territory of some kind, and getting back home safely, set in a nonspecific period of time. However the roads are dangerous - filled with sword wielding enemies and no consistent place to be safe from the elements.

There’s other forms of narratives we’re told in between the lines in media such as what we’re told about certain people; these are pervasive narratives. On television we are exposed to poverty porn, depicting that all low income people are a certain way - intended to give the viewer a sense of superiority. In eighties movies we’re told that punks are ruffians and troublemakers. There’s an endless list of mainstream movies from that period showcasing punks as “bad guys”, such as The Terminator (a movie chock full of visual cues) and The Road Warrior (Mad Max 2). Of course there were movies made with more of a punk rock sensibility, such as Return Of The Living Dead, and exploitation movies of the time in which punks were portrayed as the “good guys”. This was most likely due to the media’s take on punks during the movement in the late seventies. The papers themselves named these angry kids “punks” and they wore it as a badge of honour in response to the criticism - that they were a bunch of violent thugs who held switchblades, beat you up and stole your lunch money. Their anti-establishment ways often had them the basis for dystopian movies. In actuality, it wasn’t really like that at all and personally I would feel safer if I saw a gang of whatever the modern day equivalent of punks are. Although I would agree with the anti-establishment sensibilities, most aren’t true anarchists. They’re not gonna mug you.

Again, another example of pervasive narrative we are consistently exposed to is the connotation between women and make up. Media tells us that it is the norm and it’s heavily tied to what is considered the standard of beauty for women. However, anyone of any gender can choose whether or not to wear make up. In my photography piece “Three Studies of a Woman in the Sun” I photographed my subject both wearing make up and without, one subverting the expectations of a photographed woman in modern media and one showing how she often feels comfortable. I often wonder why women choose to wear make up and why it improves their confidence. Do they truly believe that it makes them feel more in touch with their identity, or perhaps we live in a misinformed society in which it is more acceptable for one gender to present themselves a certain way, when in reality it doesn’t really matter and there’s not much of a difference. John Berger had this to say about the representation of women and their identity in the media.

“A woman must continually watch herself. She is almost continually accompanied by her own image of herself. Whilst she is walking across a room or whilst she is weeping at the death of her father, she can scarcely avoid envisaging herself walking or weeping. From earliest childhood she has been taught and persuaded to survey herself continually. And so she comes to consider the surveyor and the surveyed within her as the two constituent yet always distinct elements of her identity as a woman. She has to survey everything she is and everything she does because how she appears to men, is of crucial importance for what is normally thought of as the success of her life. Her own sense of being in herself is supplanted by a sense of being appreciated as herself by another....

One might simplify this by saying: men act and women appear. Men look at women. Women watch themselves being looked at. This determines not only most relations between men and women but also the relation of women to themselves. The surveyor of woman in herself is male: the surveyed female. Thus she turns herself into an object -- and most particularly an object of vision: a sight.”

My three portraits as part of my DCMP Photography brief are of my friend and artist Katie. Shot on a Canon, I wanted to capture her identity through three images. The middle image you see in the three panels on my blog is her in a natural environment and utterly neutral. That one is relatively light in tone due to the summers day behind her, however she's looking off and something implies it’s more melancholy than the photo lets on. Perhaps the uplifting summer isn’t enough to hold her inner more negative emotions, or that maybe the summer is no longer a good thing in light of the summer getting hotter and hotter each year. Maybe this isn’t a summer of celebration, but one of the end of the world. The bottom one is a real captured moment of her closing her eyes perhaps to imply her shyness in an industrial area, somewhere I often find comfort due to high containers and is generally aesthetically pleasing to me almost because of how not pleasing it is. The top one is how Katie would usually be and dress in her own environment, the lighting highlighting how she expresses herself through her own image. I like how the darkness is almost bleeding in around the edges of the photograph. I experimented with lighting a lot with this one and took several different photos that were the contender for the third portrait. Here, now she is herself, she seems to project more confidence looking directly into the camera like this time the camera is invading HER space as opposed to the other ones where she’s almost a part of the scenery. Now she’s out of the sun, she is the one who is shining. Notice how she also seems to fill up the frame the more comfortable she gets.

Unseen stories hide in advertising and movie posters. In these places you will find signs that speak to us sub-consciously. The movie posters for most horror movies will always use the colour red. Why? Our brain tells us when we see red that there’s danger and that the film will most likely contain plenty of blood. We understand what genre the movie is without even being told so due to semiotics. This can be seen on the movie poster for Shaun of the Dead where the doors our main character is standing behind are red, with white text to pop and in other iterations red text. You see he is surrounded by zombies, hoarded by them, most likely foreshadowing to what the movie is going entail. This is the same in food advertisements. If you watch a television ad about food the colours and aesthetics used often will tell you about the product. Most of the time, fruits and vegetables will be wet, to make them seem fresh and often whoever is starring in the ad or the dialect of the voiceover is who that product is for. If there is a voiceover speaking in a cockney accent then it’s marketed toward the working class, but it’s all just an illusion using stereotypes to manipulate the sub-conscious and the masses into relating to it. It does this all without ever actually telling us.

I wrote a short science fiction script called “The Great Hydration War” and shot a scene from it. In this scene, I did my best to make every shot tell us something. I played around a lot with power dynamic and it’s constantly changing using nothing but visual clues. When our main character thinks they are in control, the camera angle is low, making them seem large and powerful, but when the villain gets the upper hand you’ll see that they have the power. When they are both pointing guns at each other you’ll see that they’re both at the same level and share the power of the scene because it could go either way. Jazoor, the main character from the script who is from outer space, sees a figure after returning to Earth for the first time in years. Unsure of who it is, we see them in a wide shot, impersonal and unidentified. But when they stand up and Jazoor realises that it’s her twin from back when she grew up on the now ancient Earth. “It’s you!” Jazoor exclaims. With what she knows she gains the power to deal with the situation. She’s got this. However she’s flooded with doubt; “You sure?” Says the Dryborg, an evil futurist cyborg whose one weakness is water. The camera swoops up, leaving the character feeling vulnerable with no idea what kind of situation this is now. Then she brings up her gun, bringing the power back to her. I did this throughout the entire scene and tried my best to make sure I was expressing the characters feelings and positions in the scene through the camera angles even though obviously it’s quite a non-sensical script and a mildly ridiculous scene. I thought about the lighting, as the scene was based on an alternate reality Earth in the past where the sun is blue so I made sure all of the scenery were glowing in this blue light which I managed to do in post-production. The costumes were designed by myself and my friend who played the characters. I wanted something science fiction-esque, but obviously I had no budget and not a lot of time, so I decided to try to take the comedic route and rely on it having more charm than actually trying to make the audience believe what was going on. The scene is a pivotal part of the larger structure and story that I had written, however the storyboards for the scene were in fact drawn before I wrote it.

Even when I wrote the script I realised I sub-consciously loosely followed the hero’s journey, most likely because I take so much inspiration from movies. Even when writing, I instinctually had thoughts like “yes, now this kind of scene has to happen”. It was very condensed but it’s still there. We begin the story introducing our hero Jazoor, she continues to go on a journey across the universe before falling and being at her lowest in the third act before facing off her demon she’s been fearing the whole film. She overcomes the Dryborg but not in the way she probably thought. However, I did forget to film the character limping throughout the scene.

Everything is a journey, our lives are one. They’re not always structured how we want them to be but they’re a journey. Every day when we wake up we begin a new micro journey, a new chapter in a much bigger story that is how we view our lives. Stories are almost telling us how to live and that what we’re doing is okay. In my opinion modern mainstream cinema is stale, and I find it hard to believe that in just over a hundred years of film (and a few thousand for storytelling as a visual medium), storytelling has already dried up of all its originality and that we just keep repeating ourselves. Perhaps it's time we took a look at how we structure and create our characters and stories and try to make something more relevant and authentic. Stories reinforce our sub conscious beliefs behind our morals, between good and bad. People don’t want to be seen and thought of as the bad guy within society, hence why most stories are in fact about what we perceive as the “good guy”, the hero. I always find something to latch on to when enjoying a film, something to reassure me that I have my humanity or reassure me when I feel like I don’t have it - and that it’s okay if I don’t.

I don’t like to talk about the internet or politics in context of any work because I feel like those are things that have tainted some elements of different art forms. The only issue with making movies people can relate to is that also means you don’t want to offend anyone, which almost seems like an impossibility in recent years. Too much is focused on these subjects but perhaps that’s why people like movies. Social and political commentary have made many movies hits throughout all of time, but I believe a lot of the time story and characters are being sacrificed out of fear of offending or not being politically correct. It doesn’t seem to matter which stance you take within media, there will always be people that disagree. The internet has given everyone a loud voice and usually it's used for criticism. In terms of relating to a movie, I don’t think it should be a case of representation of sexual orientation or race, it should be about values and character - although I suppose it is human nature to want to relate to something or something who appears like us. Whatever the case, we need to relate to character as a person, and become engaged in the narrative. I think that is is why Campbells and Tzvetan’s theories and myths are continued to be used to this day, because they work.

I would personally love to see more change and experimentation in mainstream and modern cinema, and not to have to constantly and actively seek it out. Even recent movie posters are directly copying each other with the use of colour and framing, which directly relates to the signs we use to communicate information with an image. It would be refreshing to really open up the limitations and possibly of narratives - or in some cases close them off completely.

Bibliography

The Matrix. (1999). [video] Directed by L. Wachowski and L. Wachowski. United States: Warner Bros.

Star Wars. (1977). [video] Directed by G. Lucas. United States: 20th Century Fox.

Shaun of the Dead. (2004). [DVD] Directed by E. Wright. United Kingdom: Universal Pictures.

Slacker. (1991). [DVD] Directed by R. Linklater. United States: Orion Classics.

Dazed and Confused. (1993). [DVD] Directed by R. Linklater. United States: Gramercy Pictures.

The Terminator. (1984). [DVD] Directed by J. Cameron. United States: Orion Pictures.

Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior. (2019). [DVD] Directed by G. Miller. Australia: Warner Bros.

The Return of the Living Dead. (1985). [DVD] Directed by D. O'Bannon. United States: Orion Pictures.

Campbell, J., 1949. The Hero With A Thousand Faces. 1st ed. United States: Pantheon Books.

Square Enix. 1986. Dragon Quest. Video Game. Sony, Nintendo, Microsoft.

Berger, J., 1972. Ways Of Seeing. 1st ed. United Kingdom. Penguin.

George Lucas. (1999). “George Lucas in Conversation With Bill Moyers”. Bill Moyers. George Lucas Tells Bill Moyers About the Mentors in His Career.

Dyce, A.D. 2016. How Every Blockbuster Movie Tells The Same Story. [Online]. [8 July 2019]. Available from: https://screenrant.com/how-all-movies-same-secret-truth/

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