#manifesto commentary

[crescentmoonrider]

If this unreliable self can become someone... - Part 4 (Annotated Edition)

Yuuta falls ill. Toji wouldn't say he was expecting it, wouldn't say he knew the gods would never let him have something good without taking it from him again, wouldn't say this knowledge terrifies him. There's nothing he can do anyway. -or- After a summer storm, Yuuta wakes up in front of a bridge, Rika-chan by his side. She looks so much smaller than he remembered. [Edo AU]

read on AO3

read on FFn

For the final time, welcome to my research notes for this series ! I hope you enjoyed the ride, I certainly enjoyed working on this project on my end ! I hope I can revisit this universe someday, I certainly have some ideas left, but for now this is the end.

Thank you to everyone who decided to try out this weird little story of mine, but now, on to the historical notes !

Face the river Sanzu and walk backwards into life

The Sanzu River (三途の川) is what separates the world of the living from the afterlife in Japanese Buddhist mythology. Before being allowed to cross, you have to pay a toll of 6 mon, and then there are three ways to cross it, depending on how you lived your life. The simplified version is this : the righteous can simply walk across the bridge, most people find themselves having to go through a ford, and the wicked have to swim in the waters (that just so happen to be infested by dragons). Of course, as with all myths, there are variations, and I had personally never heard of the ford crossing before doing research for this fic.

Also, the riverbank is supposed to have red spider lilies on it, leading to these flowers being associated with death (also, they bloom in early fall). So if you’ve ever wondered why these flowers are so prominent in, say, an anime like Jigoku Shoujo, this is why.

Of course, all of this serious talk about death is kind of undermined by my usual title bullshit, this time featuring the iconic dril tweet “If the Zoo bans me for hollering at the animals I will face God and walk backwards into hell”. Such a good line, honestly

“There’s fields around the road, but no one working in them.”

Toji was raised as an old-fashioned samurai, and thus doesn’t know shit about agriculture. Depending on the crops, summer might very well be a period where you mostly stay home and do other work, like cut wood to prepare for winter, work at the loom, maybe go into town to sell other products, because your fields just need to grow, and they’re not going to grow faster if you stay nearby.

I also very purposefully did Not specify what kind of crops are growing in these fields, one because I doubt Toji would be able to differentiate between (for example) millet and buckwheat, both of which were grown in Japan even before the Edo era. Surprise, people didn’t just eat rice ! Turns out rice is a pretty finicky plant, and most fields just can’t grow it properly.

But also uh, I didn’t want to have to figure out the harvest periods for various crops to make sure no one would, in fact, be in the fields at the time this part takes place. Which would be around August ? I think ? Anyway, feel free to theorize on what’s growing in these fields with that knowledge haha

Pilgrim

Pilgrimages were surprisingly highly codified during the Edo era. Or maybe it’s not that surprising. The shogunate at that time was pretty big on laws and social structure.

Anyway, the point is that, in part because of the belief that outsiders to a community would be a corrupting influence, laws called tochi kinbaku (土地緊縛, literally “binding to the land”) were put in place to limit the movement of regular folk.

As a result, people who wanted to go on a pilgrimage to one or multiple temples (with very few exceptions, pilgrimages in Japan target Buddhist sites), out of religious fervor or to pray for recovery from an illness – these people would have to fill the appropriate paperwork with the authorities of their hometown in order to get a permit, maybe fill more paperwork on landing if they went to Shikoku, follow specific routes in a predetermined time limit that usually didn’t allow them to stay in towns more than one night, and get their permit stamped at every temple. Local authorities, be it daimyo bureaucracy or village officials, would be allowed to check the permits of people coming through at any time, and would in turn report to the shogunate.

Now then, how realistic is it for Toji and Yuuta to be on the road all the time, with this in mind ?

Well, for one, the reason pilgrims were limited to specific route is that, you know, turns out that unless you want to build a wall all around your domain (with the exception of a few gates), it’s pretty much impossible to really regulate people’s movements. Also, between Yuuta’s knowledge of plants (and travelling healers were a thing at the time) and Toji’s physical strength, I have no doubt they would be able to make themselves very useful to the locals of whatever town they’re passing through, and thus wouldn’t get into too much trouble with the authorities.

And well, I guess Toji can always fuck the mayor if he risks getting thrown out ú.ù

Kayu

It’s congee. Yuuta is in fact getting his sick people food

Kakebuton (掛け布団)

The blanket part of the futon. I know these notes are getting short, but I’m writing them in parallel with the story, at the same time as I’m writing the second draft, and I’m kind of getting caught up in the emotions

Namu Amida Butsu (南無阿弥陀仏)

A phrase meaning “I take refuge in Amida Buddha” at the core of the Pure Land doctrine. Followers of this school of Buddhism believe that chanting this phrase will lead them to attain rebirth in the Pure Land of Amida Buddha, even if one only chants it on one’s deathbed after a life of evil acts.

Originally, the principle seems to have been to meditate on Amida Buddha rather than simply chanting the phrase, but current Nenbutsu practice focuses on recitation.

“They were eleven.”

Until pretty recently (I’d say Meiji era, but this one I’m really not sure about), ages in Japan were counted from birth. So a two days old baby would be one year. Rika’s age was the same as canon when she died in this world, it’s just the counting convention that has changed

#jujutsu kaisen #fushiguro toji #toji fushiguro #yuta okkotsu #yuuta okkotsu #okkotsu yuuta #rika orimoto #orimoto rika #jjk edo AU #manifesto commentary #yumi writes #well. this is it huh #its been fun writing this one #made me almost cry writing this part but hey #thats par for the course #hope i managed to convert at least One person #to this dynamic haha

[thatdiabolicalfeminist]

CONSERVATIVE, OR BOURGEOIS, SOCIALISM A part of the bourgeoisie is desirous of redressing social grievances, in order to secure the continued existence of bourgeois society. To this section belong economists, philanthropists, humanitarians, improvers of the condition of the working class, organisers of charity, members of societies for the prevention of cruelty to animals, temperance fanatics, hole-and-corner reformers of every imaginable kind. ... The Socialistic bourgeois want all the advantages of modern social conditions without the struggles and dangers necessarily resulting therefrom. They desire the existing state of society minus its revolutionary and disintegrating elements. They wish for a bourgeoisie without a proletariat. The bourgeoisie naturally conceives the world in which it is supreme to be the best; and bourgeois Socialism develops this comfortable conception into various more or less complete systems. In requiring the proletariat to carry out such a system, and thereby to march straightway into the social New Jerusalem, it but requires in reality, that the proletariat should remain within the bounds of existing society, but should cast away all its hateful ideas concerning the bourgeoisie. A second and more practical, but less systematic, form of this Socialism sought to depreciate every revolutionary movement in the eyes of the working class, by showing that no mere political reform, but only a change in the material conditions of existence, in economic relations, could be of any advantage to them. By changes in the material conditions of existence, this form of Socialism, however, by no means understands abolition of the bourgeois relations of production, an abolition that can be effected only by a revolution, but administrative reforms, based on the continued existence of these relations; reforms, therefore, that in no respect affect the relations between capital and labour, but, at the best, lessen the cost, and simplify the administrative work, of bourgeois government. Bourgeois Socialism attains adequate expression, when, and only when, it becomes a mere figure of speech. Free trade: for the benefit of the working class. Protective duties: for the benefit of the working class. Prison Reform: for the benefit of the working class. This is the last word and the only seriously meant word of bourgeois Socialism. It is summed up in the phrase: the bourgeois is a bourgeois—for the benefit of the working class.

-The Communist Manifesto, Karl Marx and Frederich Engels

#reformism #the communist manifesto #quotes #i'm not sure the tone of all of this is obvious but i'm trying not to really do commentary on this rn just get ppl to read things #bookblr #thatdiabolicalfeminist

[frontlinebicepsoftheninth]

john is so interesting because i don't think i've ever consumed a piece of media where there is a character who is a god and became one within a pre-exisiting cultural context of other gods, which they then use to justify their actions. like by the end of the gospel of john within ntn it is clear that john was power hungry and he killed everyone on earth because no one could stop him and he felt he had the right to decide the fate of all of humanity because he knew better than everyone else... and he's trying to convince himself everything he did was fine and good because the earth needed to be wiped clean to begin anew without evil, like the story of the flood. he genocided everyone on earth and killed the rest of the planets in the galaxy to consume all their souls and get revenge on the trillionaires who were going to abandon everyone to the climate apocalypse and he's using christian mythology to justify it. there's a lot to unpack there

#including the social commentary of muir choosing to make him essentially an ecoterrorist #when the attacker in the 2019 christchurch mosque shootings had racist ecofascist ideology in his manifesto #but i don't know enough about that situation to speak on it with nuance #tlt #the locked tomb spoilers #the locked tomb #tlt spoilers #ntn #nona the ninth #nona the ninth spoilers #ntn spoilers #nona spoilers #jod #john gaius #mine

[searchingweeds]

just rewatched graduation day and omg i love the mayor as a villain because of how human he is compared to other antagonists, he is evil but that is not ALL that he is. he still retains parts of his humanity, like his genuine care for faith, his politeness, humour, and his dislike of germs, all these traits make him a much more real villain. he is more than just a monster. the mayor is the evil that no one can see, hidden behind a guise of friendliness and charm, the evil that lives within those corrupted by power and greed, the evil that is enabled by institutions (i.e. education, law enforcement, capitalism) and unquestioned by the population, his biggest power lies within his humanness. the mayor is manipulative, hiding his true nature and intentions behind good manners, which is true for so many evil men in real life, they are not so easily distinguished as bad, unlike some other villains in the show who are uncomplex (*cough cough* the master, adam) and that fits in with a big theme of s3 which is the fight against oppressive systems hidden in plain sight,,, in the season premiere buffy literally leads an underground worker's uprising wielding a hammer and sickle like cmon, so the big bad of the season being a corrupt bureaucrat that seems pretty normal at first makes so much sense, its about the hidden evil, its about institutions restricting and harming adolescent lives. which makes the finale episode so juicy, because the youth collaborate and take up arms to overthrow an evil oppressive government, the big fight scene is about solidarity and unity of teenagers revolting against tyrants,,,,,

like YEAH maybe it IS possible to start a revolution and change our fates in this corrupt system if the youth unite to fight the evil TOGETHER,,,,,, i could talk about season 3 and the institutional antagonists for AGES, but in conclusion the mayor is one of the best villains because of his humanity, his closeness to real life, the mayor is scary because of his power and status in human world,,, and like truly theres nothing more terrifying than a politician

(dont even get me started on the mayor as a symbol for white supremacy)

#btvs #meta #btvs s3 #this is a rambling mess but i had to get it out sorry #season 3 is basically the communist manifesto #btvs meta #fuck yeah revolution #AND the fact that hes been around since the beginning of sunnydale... like the kids are revolting against tradition and conservatism hell #s3 is SO GOOD for the social commentary

[bisexual-paleontologists]

I wanted to highlight one of the best parts of the treasure trove of old Alan/Billy fandom sites that I came across.

We’ve long since known and loved the Alan/Billy Shipper Manifesto from LiveJournal, but here is an earlier instance of an Alan/Billy thesis statement from Evolution: The Alan/Billy Fanlisting at evolve.amiss.org:

"Didn't see the slash?!  That's like not noticing the dinosaurs!"

//Alan & Billy

In JP3, we see Alan and Billy in what could be called nonheteronormative behavior.  There are a plethora of smiles, laughs, quick touches, a scene where Billy accepts a dinner invitation on both his own and Alan's behalf, not to mention the final scene with the two where he returns Alan's hat and they have a rather long and intimate moment with one another.  

Were Billy a female character rather than male, I don't think anyone would object to the theory that Alan is having a relationship with his research assistant.  It is the fact that Billy is male that causes people to say that no such relationship exists in the film.

Does a relationship exist?  It can't be proven either way, but the thesis that Alan and Billy might involved with one another can be somewhat supported by the following observations:

In the first "Jurassic Park" film, Alan tells Ian that he and Ellie are together by saying, "Yeah," when Ian asks.  We never saw much physical interaction between the two, save a few hugs and a conversation about children.  It could then be said that their relationship was not defined so much by passion for each other but passion for the past and a shared interest.  By the third film, they've obviously broken up as Ellie is married to someone else and has two children.  They're still on good terms, however.   He says of her when asked by Eric, "She was the person I could always count on. I owe her a lot." In contrast, Alan and Billy seem to have a familiarity with one another that is more relaxed and arguably closer than what Alan and Ellie shared.  

When we first see Billy, he's on his stomach helping a fellow researcher distinguish between fossilized bone and rock.  It's clear in the scene that she's flirting with him, and he smiles back and is friendly, but the moment Alan shows up at the dig site, Billy jumps to his feet and calls, "Dr. Grant!" to which is replied, "Mr. Brennan!"  And the girl is quite forgotten.   Billy helps Alan unload his truck, and once it's just the two of them, they've reverted to "Alan" and "Billy" instead of the formal titles.   They go into a tent where Billy has set up the machine capable of replicating the vocalizing chamber of the velociraptor.  There's a long moment where Alan looks at Billy with a slight smile as he watches him work.  They're interrupted by Paul Kirby, who stands at the entrance to the tent. Billy stands in the mouth of the tent, arm above his head, while Alan talks with Mr. Kirby.  Mr. Kirby specifically invites *Alan* to dinner, though he apparently knows Billy as he said, "Hi, Billy" to him when first arriving.  Alan expresses that he's tired from travelling, but Billy walks up behind them and says, "We'd love to."  Alan doesn't contest this, just smiles over Mr. Kirby's shoulder at Billy.  

An established rule of the group on Isla Sorna was NO SHOUTING on the island because, "That's a bad idea!"  However, we see shouting from both Alan & Billy on two occasions in the film. When Billy fears that Alan has been killed by raptors, he calls out for him in the midst of the woods, "Alan! Alan!"  He even climbs up to where the Kirbys are sitting in a tree and asks, "Is Alan with you?"  The following morning, fearing that Alan is dead, he's obviously upset, no emotion on his face. Incident number two is when Billy goes to sacrifice himself to save Eric.  Alan realizes what Billy is about to do and goes running after him shouting, "Billy, Billy! Billy, stop! Billy, stop! Don't, Billy! Billy!"

An interesting moment is when the two groups are reunited on either side of the large fence.  The Kirbys hug, and Alan and Billy shake hands.   Billy says how glad he is to see Alan, and "Hey! You've got my bag."   Alan smiles and says, "Yeah. Lucky strap."  The look on Sam Neill's face when delivering this line makes me think that there was either an inside joke regarding the bag on set, or that the phrase 'lucky strap' has some sort of double meaning.   Also, interesting to note:  although Billy repeatedly tells Alan that he can carry his own bag, Alan continues to carry it for him.  

When Alan discovers the eggs in Billy's bag, Billy says to him, "I swear, if I'd known you were gonna end up with them..."   Although it's not entirely clear what Billy meant by this, it's plausible to assume that Billy was genuinely concerned for Alan's well being.   The eggs were with the group ever since Billy picked them up, so he wasn't fearing for safety as a whole: he was afraid that Alan himself might be harmed because of the eggs.   Alan's reaction to the discovery that Billy took the raptor eggs isn't just that of anger but of true disappointment.  "Billy, as far as I'm concerned, you're no better than the people who built this place," he tells him.  Had Paul Kirby taken the eggs, it's likely that Alan would've reprimanded him but I doubt he would've resorted to character attack the way he did with Billy.  To me, this signifies that the two know each other very well, that Alan has certain expectations about Billy's character that were not met in this situation, and that he was both hurt and angered by what Billy did.  He spoke to him as a friend, not as a research assistant.   The emotional level in the conversation crossed professional bounds.

During the time span when Alan assumes Billy is dead, he berates himself for speaking to Billy the way he did.  "Do you know what the last thing I said to him was?" he asks Eric, and then recounts what happened.  He glorifies Billy's memory, something it's doubtful a world expert would do for any ordinary research assistant.  It goes beyond the boundaries of a professional relationship.

When Alan realizes that Billy is alive, he goes to his side and kneels down.  "You made it," Billy says, and Alan says, "Yeah."  He looks down, his eyes crinkling, and he smiles.  He blinks quite a lot, also, and doesn't look Billy in the face for a moment.   Billy presents Alan with his hat, and it's clear that Alan is truly touched.  "Well.  that's the important thing," he says, apparently referring to the hat.  The tone in his voice, however, indicates that he's not speaking about the hat but rather the fact that Billy's alive. He is asked to sit down, and takes one last look at Billy, stands, touches him on the shoulder with the brim of the hat, and takes his seat.  Billy stares after him with a  smile on his face. Alan sits toward the front of the helicopter, hat in his hands, turning it over and over.  Eric catches him doing this, and they smile at one another.   The pteradons are seen flying next to the chopper, and the Kirbys have a moment together.  Alan watches them reconcile their relationship; it's clear they're going to get back together.  Then Alan looks back at the hat in his hands, smiles and puts it on.  He looks up, beaming.

//Quotes

"I'm sorry about Billy."  -Eric

"You know what the last thing I said to him was? I said, 'You're as bad as the people who built this place.'  Which wasn't true.  He was just...galliant. That's all.  I have a theory that there are two kinds of boys: those who want to be astronomers and those who want to be astronauts.  The astronomer, the paleontologist, gets to study these amazing things from a place of complete safety." - Alan

"But then you never get to go into space." - Eric

"Exactly. That's the difference between imagining and seeing, being able to touch them.  And that's.  That's all Billy wanted." - Alan

...

"Alan, I wanna thank you for bringing me along." - Billy

"The truth is, you got me into this. I have no intention of being on my own with these people."  - Alan

...

"What're you doing?" - Alan

"I was photographing the nests." - Billy

"Don't do that again."

"I'm sorry."

"If I lose you, it's just me and the damned tourists."

...

"Boy, am I glad to see you.  Hey! You've got my bag." - Billy

"Yeah. Lucky strap." - Alan

...

//A final note on A/B

So that's what we mean by "subtext."

Not saying it's definite, just that it's possible to interpret the film this way.  That, and they really are cute together.  C'mon.  Admit it!   You know they are.

by Jess/nortylaK circa 2003

#Alan x Billy #billyalan #billyalan community #fandom archive #commentary #Jurassic Park III #JP3 #I would have included the link to the LJ shipper manifesto #but LJ these days gives me the run around about login and crap #and I'm simply not going to unleash that site on my browser without my blockers #to see if it's still there #and the wayback machine never got a clean capture of it apparently so #I have it saved elsewhere I think

[aztrosist666]

ive been getting so many videos from dreading true crime and psychology in my recommended recently and after watching a few i realized that like halfway through they just give up and do something like play unedited interview footage with no commentary/analysis. like im someone who loves longer-form content and will gladly sit through a 2 hour true crime video but it’s not engaging AT ALL

#i was in the middle of one about nathan larson and almost an hour and a half of the video is the dreading guy just reading larsons manifesto #with absolutely no commentary or anything #the first half hour of the video was really good and engaging but like. it’s jsut fluff!!!! the video could have ended at 30 minutes!!!! #🐋

[pochapal]

watched glass onion the other day and i can't stop thinking about it and i also can't decide if i actually liked it or not even after watching it twice which is very frustrating

#:) #see like i half get the hype for it. but only halfway #it's a fun and clever movie but i think the whole anti-mystery isn't well executed #in that the movie just feels like it's lacking substance? #i am aware this is a very subjective take but since i wasn't overly compelled by its sociopolitical commentary #i was banking on the other elements of the film to carry me through and outside of its 'rich people are dumbasses' central manifesto #there's kind of not too much else to grab onto? #like sure there's the cool subtle stuff but it feels too much like easter eggs rather than meaningful content #i think the second act fumbles by virtue of not going far enough in its reinforcing of its point/revenge narrative interweaving #all the components are there but the execution of it just doesn't do it for me #because i feel like if you're gonna do a film with a specific message #that message should have more bite than a milquetoast liberal culture war-esque dunk on rich people in the abstract #i really want to like this film and i should like this film! and yet #it should have gone further. it should have been more insane. not enough people died. this is my verdict

[forestfullofberries]

watching Motorcity in the year 2022 is so funny because it's a story that is fundamentaly against capitalism and authoritarianism, with a greedy CEO for an antagonist and a lovable team of underdogs who dumpster dive for resources and fashion their own gear, and selflessly protect their community for protagonists...

and then this show equates freedom to cars.

#motorcity #fia.post #i may be missing some historical context about detroit. im not even american #i mean the show is not exactly communist manifesto. it was supposed to be a toy commercial after all #so it's more interested in cool action scenes than political commentary #but like. today's left is pretty much at agreement that Cars Bad #(at least from what ive seen) #at some point they steal a bunch of cars to give them away to motorcitizens and they call it 'the hope and future of motorcity' #guys. guys. get them some pedestrian infrastructure. i know it's possible with your level of technology #but making sidewalks is not as exciting as car chases with lasers and explosions right? #i mean i still love the show don't get me wrong #it just feels wierd sometimes

[gunkbaby]

Maddie is my most underrated OC. I need to show her some love.

She’s like. The girlboss Lyra wishes she could be. She’s destroying lives, families. She’s a capitalist Kween. A true girlboss. She knows exactly what she wants and who wants to be.

Maddie burns a house down for good instagram lighting. Fast fashion icon. Her makeup business is radioactive and she literally made a weight loss drug that turned people into ghouls (acidentally, but queen slayed regardless)

She’s an icon. An activist. Burning the earth one shein haul at a time. I love her, terribly. A true menace to society. We love to support a small business queen.

#maddie was meant to be a commentary on ultra corporate wokeness but it was funnier to make a capitalist nightmare #karl marx wrote the communist manifesto in protest of maddies existence ml #maddie #a queen #at least she’s a decent girlfriend to flop lyra #gunk #oc gunk #gunkbaby ocs

[persimminwrites]

i have a lot of thoughts on glass onion and how im seeing people hyping it up as more than a who done it that happened to take jabs at billionaires and capitalism. if it was trying to convey a meaningful message about capitalism and the bourgeoisie (which I don't think was the intent and would have genuinely been an oxymoron just bc of what it inherently means to make a movie) it was always set up to fail due to the simple fact that we live in a capitalist society and it shapes everything!!!

it was entertaining it was fun and it was a well crafted story but was it saying anything actually meaningful and insightful about capitalism as a structure......

bc as much as that movie says billionaires are stinky and should burn (hopefully literally) it says almost nothing about the system that allows for the existence of billionaires and it was never going to bc that simply wasn't the point!

#like it was an entertaining story but was it compelling.... #something something due to ppl living in capitalist hell its difficult to make any meaningful commentary in media on capitalism bc #what we're saying is inherently shaped by capitalism #like movies have to make money.... they have to make a profit otherwise .. no more movies for that director/team #which just inherently reinforces the goals and core values of capitalism soooooo... #like to be clear i liked the movie but it was a manifesto my guys #*wasn't #glass onion #min says

[crescentmoonrider]

If this unreliable self can become someone... - Part 2 (Annotated Edition)

"I'll teach you," Toji-san had said, and Yuuta was thankful for it. "I'll teach you," Yuuta wants to say in turn. There's no way he can ever show how truly grateful he is, but the least he can do is try. [Edo AU]

read on AO3

read on FFn

Once again I bring y’all commentary on my own writing, because I am unstoppable. As promised, there are plants and samurai in there ! And swords, although that’s more for the fic itself.

“The weather here is warmer than back home […]”

My personal headcanon is that Yuuta comes from Aomori, the northernmost region of Honshu (Japan’s main island). The reasoning actually comes from Rika’s backstory, with her dad taking her hiking in the mountains and then them getting lost in a blizzard… I don’t know, I just think it makes sense for them to be from a very cold, snowy region.

Anyway in this story he doesn’t come from Aomori itself, but rather from a small mountain village in what will become the Aomori prefecture. The kind of small village that doesn’t even have a name, because it’s the only one in the valley and the closest other settlement is on the other side of a mountain in another valley and you only see the people from there maybe once of twice a year when the weather allows it.

Fun unrelated fact, but in Switzerland some mountainous valleys in Graubünden were so isolated that they developed different dialects. So now we have multiple versions of Rumantsch, which has like 40k speakers in total.

Yomogi (ヨモギ)

A species of mugwort also known as Artemisia Princeps, or Japanese mugwort. Its leaves are used in cooking to make kusamochi, but the juice is also used in traditional medicine as a way to prevent bleeding or to lower fevers.

Antiseptic

I kept this one vague, because while I do know that in the European Middle Ages, wild leek and related plants would be used as medicinal plants to prevent infections, I am not sure if that was the case in Japan. Probably was, since those are pretty common plants and that’s usually the basis for that kind of use, but I have no certainty and I don’t want to say anything stupid.

I do know that leeks are supposed to cure colds according to Japanese folk medicine, so that’s something at least. If you have a cold, tie a leek around your neck and you’ll be fine in no time ! (probably)

The paste for the bruises

Once again, my knowledge betrays me. I do have the titles of references I could turn to, but unfortunately they’re in Japanese, and my reading abilities stop at comics. Not even sure I could even get my hands on them if I could read them, anyway.

What I can tell you about folk medicine though, is that in the Alps (and generally northern Europe) we use Arnica Montana grinded up to a paste for bruises and insect bites, although its effects haven’t been proven scientifically. It’s still a very popular remedy in any case, and if anything putting something cold on bruises helps with the pain, whether it has actual medical properties or not.

How do you even stop being a samurai ?

Technically, there are a few options. If your daimyou dies and you find yourself without a Lord to serve, or if you just get kicked out of his service, you’ll become a rônin. Same if you run away for some reason. That’s not exactly a good thing, but it’s nothing that can stop you from finding a normal job and just living life as a commoner (like lots of actual samurai were also forced to at the time), or from finding another Lord who will take you into his service.

Of course, the Zen’in hate Toji’s guts, so they instead had him declared officially dead. Which is immensely more permanent. It also means Toji lost all privileges given to the samurai caste, such as the right to bear sharp weapons (like swords). Not that it’s going to stop him, since there’s not much of a law enforcement on the road.

It’s also worth noting that the Zen’in are, safe for a few ghostly details, a pretty traditional samurai clan – serving a daimyou, probably participating in poetry contests and the like from time to time… During the Edo era, the number of samurai capable of keeping this way of living got much lower, due to the long-lasting peace, with most of them having to turn to commerce or to governmental offices like the machikata to make a living. So for the Zen’in to be able to remain the same way as they used to before the Edo era… it speaks to their wealth and political power.

Laundry

You can actually make soap with wood ashes, although normally you should let it rest for way longer than in this story. Apparently pines make the best ashes for that purpose ?

If you can, please use a softer support than rocks when doing the actual washing though. Wood works good, and risks damaging the textile way less.

Quarter-hour

Hours in Edo-era Japan were worth roughly two of ours. So Toji has actually been scolding Yuuta for 30 minutes, or what feels like it at the very least. Press F for our boy ú.ù

Sun (寸)

An old unit of length used in Japan before the Meiji era (although it’s still used currently for some trades, like carpentry). It’s equivalent to the Chinese cun, and measures about 3cm (or 1.2in).

And we’re done ! This time was much shorter, but I guess that’s to be expected when the characters are mostly isolated from civilization. Next time though, we’ll be back in town babey !!

#jujutsu kaisen #yuta okkotsu #yuuta okkotsu #okkotsu yuuta #fushiguro toji #toji fushiguro #rika orimoto #orimoto rika #yumi writes #manifesto commentary #jjk edo AU #here i go again #i Will make this dynamic popular i swear

[flannelepicurean]

Yo, fellow artists

Okay, lemme ask you a question, with a somewhat lengthy preamble.

I've noticed that I have a tendency to just kind of label everyone "beautiful." Like...my "hotness" meter is kinda still functioning? Maybe? Tricky territory. But my "beautiful" meter, for general aesthetics, has a VERY wide range. And I think this might be in part due to the fact that I have some complex (or maybe not that complex) feelings about our society's need to violently base people's worth on their physical appearance, but also in part due to the fact that I'm an artist.

Like...people who would be seen as "ugly" in some respects, my brain sees them and goes, "OHHHH, THAT FACE AND/OR BODY IS UNIQUE AND SO BEAUTIFUL," and I don't know if that's kinda...fetishy, in some way? Like, the novelty of someone being VISUALLY INTERESTING, especially because part of my brain immediately starts thinking about how I would draw them...I dunno. It's something I think about.

And at the same time, like...these bodies and faces deserve to be part of art! Art should have bodies and faces that droop and sag and wrinkle, that have fat rolls and scars and hair and bumps and blemishes and "imperfections!" The "imperfect" should not be invisible! Imperfection should be celebrated, because it's real, and it's rich. And I hesitate to call it "beautiful," because that's such a loaded construct, and "valuable" has similar problems. But it's something, y'know.

Anyway, any of y'all dig what I'm laying down?

#question #asks #fellow artists #art #art question #beauty #aestheitcs #beauty standards #sense of perspective #social commentary #body image #body image tw #tw body image #manifesto

[neurodecadence]

internal conflict between "Actually ask person what the hell they were talking about a week ago when they made that point" and "knowing I'm too stupid and opinionated by having a personal stake in the matter" being won by the surprise third competitor "I am so so sleepy"

#I'm so goddam tired of being dumb about shit #I try and read any theory heavier than a manifesto and my ability to parse text just breaks #and it turns out you can win any argument at a certain point by saying 'clearly you haven't read gleepsnarks commentaries' #and you're right I haven't- I got three pages in and got a migraine #I want to know things but also am cursed to know I'm a damn idiot

[queenofnohr]

I got a custom cocktail for Ajax back last night and I’ve been running around in the heat to get ingredients to make it x.x

Almost…….. done…….. just gotta make the strawberry syrup and then everything will be prepared for later tonight to make the cocktail in full :3

#the thirst manifesto #I’ll also be posting it after I make it! i wanna give my commentary first though~

[unsquared]

When a regular ol’ person (tax payer, professional employee, landowner, friend) reads the communist manifesto and realizes its just a piece of social theory and it’s really just a relatively accurate observation of the modern world and not some nonsensical anarchist war call against all of humanity

#marx #marxism #communism #communist manifesto #political theory #theory #social commentary #writing #thinkers #bourgeoisie #proletariat

[seraphic-saturn]

3rd House in Signs : Writing

3rd House in Aries:

Writing Style: Bold, assertive, and action-oriented.

Handwriting: Sharp and quick, with strong and decisive strokes.

Tone in Writing: Energetic, direct, and enthusiastic.

Genre of Writing: Adventure stories, fast-paced thrillers, and motivational content.

3rd House in Taurus:

Writing Style: Descriptive, sensual, and grounded.

Handwriting: Luxurious and deliberate, with a focus on beauty and comfort.

Tone in Writing: Calm, indulgent, and sensory.

Genre of Writing: Romance novels, culinary reviews, and descriptive poetry.

3rd House in Gemini:

Writing Style: Conversational, witty, and informative.

Handwriting: Quick and changeable, with an emphasis on communication and versatility.

Tone in Writing: Playful, curious, and engaging.

Genre of Writing: Journalism, comedy scripts, and educational materials.

3rd House in Cancer:

Writing Style: Nurturing, emotional, and introspective.

Handwriting: Flowing and sentimental, reflecting emotional depth and empathy.

Tone in Writing: Sensitive, empathetic, and nostalgic.

Genre of Writing: Memoirs, emotional fiction, and heartfelt poetry.

3rd House in Leo:

Writing Style: Dramatic, confident, and attention-grabbing.

Handwriting: Grand and bold, with a flair for the dramatic and expressive.

Tone in Writing: Authoritative, passionate, and proud.

Genre of Writing: Autobiographies, theatrical scripts, and bold editorials.

3rd House in Virgo:

Writing Style: Analytical, precise, and informative.

Handwriting: Neat and organized, with attention to detail and clarity.

Tone in Writing: Practical, informative, and instructional.

Genre of Writing: Self-help books, technical manuals, and critical analyses.

3rd House in Libra:

Writing Style: Harmonious, diplomatic, and balanced.

Handwriting: Graceful and balanced, with a focus on aesthetics and symmetry.

Tone in Writing: Charming, diplomatic, and persuasive.

Genre of Writing: Relationship advice, persuasive essays, and romantic fiction.

3rd House in Scorpio:

Writing Style: Intense, probing, and insightful.

Handwriting: Mysterious and intense, with a focus on depth and hidden meanings.

Tone in Writing: Mysterious, investigative, and profound.

Genre of Writing: Psychological thrillers, investigative journalism, and dark poetry.

3rd House in Sagittarius:

Writing Style: Expansive, adventurous, and philosophical.

Handwriting: Bold and free-spirited, with a sense of adventure and exploration.

Tone in Writing: Optimistic, adventurous, and philosophical.

Genre of Writing: Travelogues, philosophical treatises, and inspirational speeches.

3rd House in Capricorn:

Writing Style: Authoritative, structured, and disciplined.

Handwriting: Disciplined and organized, with a focus on clarity and professionalism.

Tone in Writing: Practical, disciplined, and authoritative.

Genre of Writing: Business reports, historical non-fiction, and self-help guides.

3rd House in Aquarius:

Writing Style: Unconventional, progressive, and intellectual.

Handwriting: Unconventional and eccentric, with a focus on innovation and individuality.

Tone in Writing: Unpredictable, visionary, and intellectual.

Genre of Writing: Science fiction, social commentaries, and revolutionary manifestos.

3rd House in Pisces:

Writing Style: Imaginative, dreamy, and empathetic.

Handwriting: Dreamy and fluid, with a sense of compassion and artistic flair.

Tone in Writing: Compassionate, poetic, and evocative.

Genre of Writing: Surreal poetry, magical realism, and spiritual reflections.

#astrology writing #astrology 3rd house #astrology observations #astrology hand writing #astrology #3rd house