#notebook novemeber

[sunmaea]

Two rapid poems that I wrote during Notebook November. I like how these pieces turned out, so I thought I'd type them out here. i. When your world comes tumbling down do you find anything worth holding onto do you find that you have the wherewithal to love anything at all? Because I went to the places where the lights are so bright that you cannot see my words – YOU MUST GUESS AT THEM and that, believe me, shall be your folly. YOU MUST GUESS AT THEM. and the things i set aside as beauty and poetry conspired and became little more than myth... The second poem is under the cut since the formatting made it pretty long!

ii. i became very good at finding you when you had no desire to be found and i promise you that i regret that now i am sorry for all the pain i caused by refusing to let you stay hidden and i am sorry for the sad way that things worked out but since we are here and we are together forever until the end of time would it really kill you to smile My quick writer's note would be... I really love the word 'wherewithal'.

[ncis-nerd]

The Case Of The Purring Kitten

grey novemeber au

older!nat x reader

Liho purred in your arms. Nuzzling her head against your ankle. The sweet little kitty of Natasha's had made her way into your room. Of course you were shocked when the cat just strolled in like this was a casual occurrence.

You didn't complain though, you loved that kitty. She smelled like Natasha and meant a lot that even her cat wanted to be around you. You stroked the cat as you continued to draw in your sketchbook. A purr escaped from Liho.

When you were close to finishing, you swapped your 2b pencil for a heavier pencil, Liho jumped out of your lap. Appear she was making her rounds because she just waltzed out of your room. That silly cat.

----☆-------☆-----☆----☆-----☆-------☆----

Later that day, there was a knock in your door. You had been locked up in your room all day. There was no meeting planned for today so who could it be? "Come in" you mumbled, wrapping up in your latest art project. Natasha made her way into your room. You jumped, not expecting it to be the the red-head, you immediately shut your notebook. Not wanting to ruin your surprise.

Natasha looked at you, furrowing her eyebrows. "Hiding something, hun?' She glared at you. You shook your head and looked at her with your doe eyes, knowing that would distract her. And it definitely did.

She loved seeing you so wide-eyed. So innocent. Nothing but love and pure thoughts behind those eyes. She cooed at you and caressed your back. "hi honey, you still here with me?" she gave you a gentle smile.

You nodded, "m' here natty. want you though" you mumbled, fidgeting with her hoodie drawstring. Her eyes widened at your statement. "What do you mean hun?" She looked at you, her cheeks turning red. Obviously not expecting your boldness. "wanna lay down in your lap, want you to hold me" you mumble.

She smiled at your innocent request. Of course that's what you meant, she mentally facepalmed herself. She gladly took up your offer, taking you into her lap. Your head laid in her lap, she stroked your hair as your eyes began to flutter. "go to sleep, angel." she whispered softly.

----☆-------☆-----☆----☆-----☆-------☆----

It was later that day, Natasha had retreated to her room, allowing you to get back to business. The so called business was the drawing you were working on earlier. You had finally finished and made your way to Natasha's room. Natasha is gonna love it!

You knocked her door and slipped the folded up drawing under her door before retreating to your room.

Natasha opened the door, she saw no one so she closed it. Huh that was odd, she thought. She felt something beneath her foot. It was a paper, she picked it up. As she unfolded it, a beautifully drawn picture of Liho appeared. Y/n. Of course, this was so kind. Her heart melted your generosity.

She wanted to make it up to you.

----☆-------☆-----☆----☆-----☆-------☆----

Your favorite activity with the russian is to drink hot chocolate and watch a movie wrapped up into her. She grabbed your favorite fluffy blanket of hers, a bunch of pillows, some a big bowl of popcorn and rich hot chocolate.

She opened up the TV to the streaming platform, leaving it for you to choose the movie. all that was left was to grab you. The older woman made her way to her room where you had been reading a novel you bought recently.

----☆-------☆-----☆----☆-----☆-------☆----

You were humming the tune of that new song by Taylor Swift when you heard a knock at your door. Who could that be? You assumed it would be the russian, especially after giving her your drawing earlier and fleeing. your stomach turned in knots, nervously you stood up to open the door.

You were greeted with the green-eyed spy giving you a warm smile. "Hey honey, I love the gift you gave me! As a thank you, I have a little surprise in the living room. Please join me?" She spoke softly, waiting for a response. You blushed, this was so kind of her. You didn't expect something in return. Just wanted to show how much you love her little fluff ball. "Natasha you didn't have too.. but I'm glad you like the drawing!" You said, shyly.

Natasha took your hand and led you to the living room where she had a pile of blankets- the kind you like, hot chocolate- your favorite, popcorn- you NEED popcorn whenever watching a movie. Your eyes started to tear up. "Natasha, wow... This is.. Amazing" you gasp.

The russian admired your reaction. You were adorable, her hand found it's place on your back and motioned for you to take a seat. "Wanted to show you how special you are to me, dove." She hummed, handing you the remote to pick out a movie.

----☆-------☆-----☆----☆-----☆-------☆----

taglist: @ssa-shaylam @madamevirgo

[dragon-swords-prophecies]

How about 1, 4, and 9 for the ask game!

hi!! thanks for the ask!!!

1. what was your writing-highlight this year? what made it special and how will you reflect on it next year?

writing highlight of this year was probably herald at dawn. spefifically, winning (half, 25k) nano, which was amazing. but also herald at dawn in general, because its the most words i've ever written on a draft i'm proud of (the original frost & fire was 40k, but it also isn't something my current self is really proud of.) and its, in my opinion, the best plot in terms of fleshed out-ness and character arcs & development & shit

4. what is your favourite line you wrote this year?

defineity this.

“You can’t stick papers in their spines! It falls out. You know what mine can do? Have paper shoved in its spine and paper stays in its spine!"

out of context I think its fucking awesome, but in context i still love it so much. (this is during leo and james' argument about notebooks and which one is better, spiral bound or sewn bound (? is that what its called--), and this is (one of) leo's arguments for why sewn bound notebooks are better.)

9. create a meme or moodboard that captures your past writing-year!

(i then proceeded to get him stabbed)

(pretty much all of my writing year was in novemeber)

[inkykeiji]

hate to be a bother and absolutely no pressure, but will there ever be a part 4 to the step brother touya series? i’m just curious!

never a bother sweetpea never a bother!!! at the moment, no, i don’t have a part four planned. i’m really satisfied with the way part three ended and i think it wraps up the story of the beginning of their relationship well.

but!!!!! i have like, a million and one oneshots planned that are set in that AU, so hopefully that makes up for it!! <33 also thank you for being so kind and respectful in your question, i really appreciate it!! <3

[theoptia]

We must have one love, one great love in our life, since it gives us an alibi for all the moments when we are filled with motiveless despair.

Albert Camus, from Notebooks 1935-1951; Novemeber 16, 1937

[unlucky-watcher]

Walls Are Coming Down (Drabble)

Billy once told him the day before graduation, sitting on the hood of his car and smoking cigarettes as the moon hung in the sky, “Never look back Harrington, the future is forward not behind you.”

That was probably the most poetic thing Steve had ever heard come out of the blonde’s mouth. That’s probably why he remembered it so well.  

That was over four years ago, Novemeber 1989. The annual chill was beginning to cling onto everything that touched the borders of Hawkins. Frost decorated the windows, the faintest bits of snowfall were touching the branches of the trees.

Steve spent most of his time working now, going to the local community college so he can get his marks up to go to university in Indianapolis. He wanted to be a teacher now, help kids in ways other than combating monsters. When he wasn’t at school he was working at the local daycare where the kids there thought that big dogs were the scariest things on earth. 

It brought normalcy to his once chaotic life. 

Right now they felt as if they were between places. The place between high school and adulthood. Currently Billy was unemployed and spent his time away from his house as much as possible. He was afraid his father would ship him off to the armed services if given the chance. Most nights Billy stayed the night, whispering promises.

  “I’ll pay you back.”

  “I owe you everything.”

  “I’ll make sure I’m pulling my weight soon enough.”

Steve doesn’t want to hold it against him. 

He enjoyed having another person in the large, empty house. It had been years since he had to use his bat, but sometimes the slightest noise made him want to use it.

Billy was the comfort he craved and it made up for all the nights he snuck into the Harrington house and slept beside Steve. Hands often finding each other, backs pressed against chests as they cuddle. The soft kisses along skin, each carried a promise of a brighter future. 

Looking forward, never back.

He was studying for a test the following afternoon when there was frantic ringing of the doorbell. Steve didn’t know exactly who it could be, Billy usually didn’t sneak in through his window until sundown. He closed his notebook and got up, assuming it was one of the party in some sort of emergency they seemed to find themselves in. 

  “I’m coming! I’m coming!” He could hear from the other side of the door, “You only say that when we’re in bed together.”

Steve opened the door to find Billy Hargrove on the other side. He looked excited, hands shoved in the pockets of his jean jacket and looking directly at the other young man.

  “Real funny, are you okay? Did you get high again?”

Billy rolled his eyes, “No, I was driving here to tell you something and I heard on the radio. Something’s happening with the wall.”

  “The wall?” Steve asked, arching his eyebrows in curiosity. He couldn’t quite connect the dots of what Billy was trying to get to.

  “The wall, Harrington. The wall, come on turn on the news!” Billy pushed past Steve, not bothering to kick his shoes off like he normally did but rather settling himself down in front of the television like an over eager child.

  “What wall?”

Billy turned to look at him, “I knew you were bad in history, but not this bad. The Berlin Wall, the Iron Curtain. Come on you know.” He leaned back to the coffee table and grabbed the remote.

Steve locked the door and went to sit beside Billy. 

The blonde quickly changed it to the news station and began watching with complete fascination.

A woman stood in front of a crowd of people, all armed with pick axes, shovels, hammers, anything to tear down the concrete wall.

  “It seems as if guards haven’t been stopping people from crossing to the other side! Some people have even gotten up on top of the wall to try and take it down! It sure does appear to be a special night only for the people of Berlin, but everyone around the world!” The woman said over the commotion behind her.

People in droves crossed the checkpoint, each moved at a quick pace as if the border was going to shut in any minute. The frantic anxiety could be felt through the television screen.

The guards in their green uniforms and guns at their hips didn’t move an inch. They allowed the people to move freely as they should’ve been allowed to do this entire time. 

  “Tonight is Freedom night here in Berlin” The reporter said, “Soldiers are now joining in the effort to tear down the wall!”

It was a sight to behold, people tearing down the parts that the recently brought in machinery haven’t gotten to yet. Man and machine working along side one another to bring the neighbourhoods back together that had been divided for almost three decades. 

The impossible had just become a reality. 

Steve’s eyes remained locked on the screen. 

Billy’s hand curled around his and held it tight. Steve could feel it be drawn up to the other’s lips. A soft kiss being placed on top. 

The citizens continued to break down bits of the wall as others rushed past check points to meet with loved ones. 

The future is always forward, never back. Always in front, never behind. 

  “Wow.” Billy said.

They couldn’t stop watching, emotion ballooned in their chests. Small tears slipping down their face.

Their entire lives, the Berlin Wall had been a constant. It was never going to be taken down. Just like the sky is blue and gravity exists, the Berlin Wall was always going to be around. It was always going to divide east and west, the United States and the USSR, capitalism and communism. 

Now it was being taken down, the Iron Curtain had a massive hole in it. 

Billy turned Steve’s head to look at him. They said nothing, gazing at each other while the rumble of the news continued one. Their watery eyes reflected the light from the television. 

Steve leaned in for a kiss. Something like this was worth celebrating. 

Billy kissed him back, taking a hold on the front of the other’s shirt. The kiss was like the ones they had hundred of times before in the span of their almost five year relationship.

But the tears in their eyes and the thumping under their veins from the sight on the television made this kiss feel different. It was celebrating, even though they were in Steve’s comfy home in Hawkins, Indiana. This was history, an opportunity to move forward. And that gave them an excuse to kiss the way that they were. 

They broke the kissed and continued to gaze at one another. Billy even pushing back some of the hair from Steve’s eyes to get a better look at those watery doe brown eyes. Even swamped with tears they were still so beautiful in Billy’s opinion. Fighting monsters at seventeen, not twenty two and finishing up college, with ambitions outside of this town. 

He was really Billy’s match.

Steve wiped his eyes with the heel of his hands and gave a smile. 

Just like that the a large slab of concrete got reduced to rubble. People climbed over what remained of the wall and were embraced by people on the other side. The camera panned to people crying in each other’s arms, loud sobbing. Hearts filled with joy, the wall was being torn down. Berlin and Germany was no longer divided. 

The two young men looked at one another, under the glow of the television. They kissed again, Steve placed his hand on the side of Billy’s head while Billy wrapped his arm around the other, pulling them closer together. 

  “Why did you want to come here originally?” Steve asked, his voice to now speak over the television as if it could hear them.

Billy wiped his eyes, “I actually came by to tell you that I got a new job. They needed someone to work on cars and I was the most qualified.” He broke into a smile, the kind he gave when he was being genuine, “Guess the future is looking brighter.”  

  “The future is forward not behind you.” Steve whispered.

Billy smiled and leaned forward, he pressed another kiss. It wasn’t rough, or hard. It was soft, almost gentle. It was warmed with excitement and love. 

A new future for the world, out the of clutches of the Cold War. But on a personal level, a new future for them. It felt like the cold of Novemeber had bloomed into a warmth that only lasted the moment that they kissed.

Looking forward not backwards. 

[debbiiiss-blog1]

This is typically where I spend each morning 😊 My coffee, notebook, phone & laptop. Watching a video or two. Catching up on all my overnight notification. & Cassie Walker. Lol She's been a consistent part of my mornings. We touch base every morning. Make a game plan, get eachother all pumped up to be awesome for the day! Lol This is the busiest part of my work day 😉 Doesn't sound to shabby right? Friends, videos, coffee, Facebook, Insta! Lol I've decided for Novemeber, I can now train 2 more people to do what I do! 1 on 1 training! I'll always be a click away for anything you'd ever need 😁 I'm definitely open for questions! If you could ask me ANYTHING about what I do to make money, comment or Message me & just ask! You can even text me if you'd rather! •740.497.6424• I promise I won't harass you after 😂😂 If you are even the slightest bit curious though, I have an amazing opportunity for you to TALK to one of my leaders! To hear their story! Don't be scared! Let's here those questions! 😊 ⬇⬇⬇

[arandomname5-blog]

Ethnics Notebook 3 (Written)

Focus/Change: The object is still the Samoan Tatau with specific focus on the male specific Pe’a tatau. The emphasis is on the object itself and its meaning and connection to identity for the male Samoan.

 Relational: The object connects to the idea of indigeneity and relates to the American Indigenous tribes and their struggle of establishing representation/existence of their own nation. These connections emerge from the Indigenous Regeneration movements which have been centered on a growing awareness that the Indigenous nations are still active and existing. The same concept here applies with the Samoans and the resurgent use of the tatau. This is because, the tatau works as a basis for establishing the cultural identity of the wearer and likewise makes them, as a people/nation, prevalent and existent in the modern-day society. It reflects their identity among the nation, as the tatau often has genealogical roots, and represents the wearer’s pride in the culture. While in their own homeland it is a way to continue tradition, out in the Samoan diasporas, such as the one in the United States, it carries the same importance as the attempts that the indigenous people perform to keep their existence ongoing and known. The tatau itself serving this role because of the sudden reemergence of its use that characterizes the attempt of reestablishing cultural relevance as a nation of people.

While the connection between the other indigenous tribes in the US is there, the more obvious relation is the similarity between the Samoans and the other Pacific Islander nations. They all suffer from a major loss of identity, more of an invisible identity, that emerged from the systems of colonialism that had previously tied many cultural groups, individual small nations, to greater colonial powers that have hidden their existence. One example, is the homogenization of the various Pacific Island nations as one people, which resulted from Western Colonial influences that tried to view them as similar indigenous groups (Sowell “Introduction to Polynesian Art”). This possibly resulted in an overall loss of identity for the various cultural groups, small nations of people, who were part of different chieftains – or even entirely different cultural groups- and were all seen as one people. This is a problem that many American Indigenous nations have faced before as they were also grouped together as if they were part of one massive nation, one type of people. This is where the significance of the tatau proves to provide more relevance especially when it comes down the Pe’a which has been exclusive to the male population of the Samoan people (Taule'alo). Although there are various other Pacific Island nations that likewise use the tatau, the symbols and art style that are used in the Pe’a are exclusive to the Samoan people (Sowell “Samoan Archipelago”). Thus the object proves to be a solution for a problem that is predominantly exclusive to indigenous nations/cultures. It creates a physical marker that is vital to the identity of the individual but at the same time circulates and portrays the existence of a nation of people that is often invisible to the rest of the world. This is where the object has ties in with the idea of indigeneity. As the object is what marks and keeps alive the idea of indigeneity of the people as its deeply rooted in their culture. The relation to indignity is less of a political factor and based more on cultural pride and identification. The tatau establishes a long history of cultural identity and has genealogical roots to their ancestors. It works to connect the Samoan diasporas together and back to their origins in their original homeland that has changed through time because of colonialism. The object itself is rooted back to origin stories in Samoan history and mythology.

   References

 Sowell, Teri. “Introduction to Polynesian Art.” VIS 21A. Pepper Canyon Hall, UCSD, La Jolla. 6 April 2016. Class Lecture

Sowell, Teri. “Samoan Archipelago.” VIS 21A. Pepper Canyon Hall, UCSD, La Jolla. 17 May 2016. Class Lecture

Taule'alo, Vanya. “ Tattooing In Contemporary Samoan Society,” Tatowier Magazin. Germany, Novemeber 1999. Samoaobserver. Web. Published 13 June 2016. Accessed 28 January 2017. <http://www.samoaobserver.ws/en/13_06_2016/columns/7358/TRADITIONAL-TATTOOING-IN-CONTEMPORARY-SAMOAN-SOCIETY.htm>

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[inkykeiji]

aaaa yes !!⛄this might sound/be weird but part 4 calms me down. just the raw & mixed feelings i get whenever i read that part (probably bc im detached in real and numb when it comes to real people) and fic like yours make me feel alive TT in short i love being in pain or just being bittersweet. also thank you bc ur blog's one of my safe spaces (*˘︶˘*).｡.:*♡ and yes i do play snowman whenever i miss him SIGHHH the lyrics fit touya so perfectly + the way you write him!!,, can i be 🐟 anon?

no that doesn’t sound weird at all!!! don’t worry ehehe i have a list of horror movies (yes, horror movies) that are comfort films for me/calm me down so i understand where you’re coming from, at least in theory!! aaaah bittersweet yes!!! if i had to describe my work in one word, it would be bittersweet ehehe 🙈🙈 to me, my work kinda encompasses the bittersweetness that is life; or, at least, that’s my goal ahahahaha

oh my gosh, one of your safe spaces!? aaaaah thank you so much for sharing that with me anon oh my, that means so much to me <333 i’m very very glad to hear that this blog offers other people a safe space to hang out online and comfort as much as it does for me <33 that’s incredible ehehehe 🥰🥰 and yes!! i already had the idea for the cabin fic in my mind, and had it roughly plotted out in my notebook and whatever, and then i was listening to christmas music at the end of novemeber as i was gearing up to begin writing it and snowman came on and i was like !!!!!! holy shit omfg YES ahaha

yes bb you can absolutely be 🐟 anon!! welcome to the emoji club wooo!!! <33

[arandomname5-blog]

Ethnics2: Notebook 2

Object: Samoan Tatau (Specifically the Pe’a tatau)

Theme: Indigenous (Inter)Nationalism

 Context 1: Los Angeles, United States, Contemporary Time (1960+)

           Due to the possession of some of the Samoan Islands by the United States there has been an influx of Samoans onto the mainland where many have become adapted to the urban life there and incorporated parts of their own culture into the new setting. With the increasing social movements that gained traction in America around the 1960s and even into modern times, a great deal of attention was often placed on indigenous groups and people

“Samoa became independent in 1962. Cultural practice that were subdued or lost during colonial rule are trying to reemerge with festivals like ‘The Teuila Festival’ held every year giving breath to old games, crafts and tattooing” (Taule'alo).

By bringing back these cultural traditions back many of the Samoans in the diasporas began to desire reintegrating themselves in the old traditions and cultures. Such a case is seen in the film Tatau: What One Must Do as it focuses on the life of a Samoan man in Los Angeles who desires the acquisition of his own Pe’a to feel like he was a man and part of his culture. To him, as too many others living in the diaspora, the need to have a tatau was there because they wanted to have an ethnic identifier that is meant to express their identity and ties to their homeland. “Samoan body tattooing cuts to the very core of the concept of identity. The quest for identity marks the individual desire to be tattooed and is a connection to the ancestral and cultural past. It also shows that the culture is still very much alive today, not just in Samoa but wherever tattooed Samoans are living” (Taule'alo).

           So not only in the diaspora that exists in the United States but wherever they go, the tatau serves as a piece of Samoan identity.

 Context 2: Independent State of Samoa (Samoan Archipelago) and American Samoa, Contemporary (1960+)

           Following their independence and the resurgence of their old customs many Samoans became connected with their homeland.  Many of the Tatau artists, tofuga, began to reappear and practice their trade once more. It reintegrated the idea into the population that having a tatau was important to your identity as Samoan.

“The pain was extreme and the risk of death by infection was a great concern. But to shy away from tattooing was to risk being labeled a pala'ai or coward and reviled by the clan. Those who could not endure the pain and abandoned their tattooing were left incomplete, wearing their mark of shame throughout their life” (Pacific Islanders in Communication).

           With the revival there was a likewise similar revival with other Polynesian cultures in which the Samoans were the ones coming in to educate them on the proper methods of tatau making (Sowell).  Nonetheless, the revival was essential in reasserting the identity of the Samoan nation. It was an object that travels around with them and states their ethnic identity.

“Another reason is spiritual; it makes someone accepted in the society. Here in Auckland having a tattooed person in the community is necessary for ceremonies. Once you have had a tattoo you have to identify yourself as set in that culture, and all things pertaining to that culture” (Taule'alo).

 National Binds: Citizenship in the sense of being apart of a Nation, Origin Story and Religion

           These binds are based on tradition and origin. The tatau itself is an object engraved into the origin of the people and its founders and it was tradition for all the members of the nation, here defined as the group of people of a similar culture, to acquire the tatau that was a marker of status and connected partly to their religion. Basically it was a marker that not only provided your ethnic identity but at the same time granted acceptance as a “true” member of the community, or as a part of the nation (Sowell).   The reason for why the tatau had such importance was because it was defined as a manifestation of “mana” or the life force that grants power (Taule'alo). So it was vital that an individual has a tatau like the Pe’a because it provided and represented the mana it provides to the individual.            During the age of colonial rule there was a massive suppression of their culture and traditions and the use of the tatau was drastically affected. As, “missionaries were aware of the cultural significance of tattooing and must have realised that mana was conferred on the individual so they attempted to eradicate it, along with ancient gods and customary practices which they saw as pagan, lewd and debased” (Taule'alo). There was instead a period in which Christianty took over as the dominant form of Religion and affected the way Samoans identified themselves as. There was a push towards “Whiteness” and there was little possible resistance as it proved to be difficult to acquire a tatau. This lasted until the 1960s in which the colonial rule was lifted, although some islands are still American territory. During this time there was a revival of traditional ideas and concepts and the resurgence of the tatau. Which once again worked to as a national bind that expressed cultural identity and in a sense unity as it connected all the diasporas back to their home.

           Traditionally speaking, anyone who lived in the tribes or villages was considered to be a Samoan by the standards of Western perspectives. These people felt connected and saw themselves as one group based solely on the area and village they inhabited, and were under the “rule” of one chieftain. The chieftain was tradition-bound to acquire a Pe’a, if male, and wear it with pride to symbolize the pride of his people. Likewise, anyone serving the chieftains also had to acquire a tatau as they had to be considered “full” members of society (Sowell). The film Tatau: What One Must Do also described the need to acquire one. It was considered a rite of passage to adulthood and adulthood itself was what allowed one to be a full member of his community. Thus those individuals who refused to acquire one were pressured to do so or to be seen as a sort of outcast that could not be fully accepted.

 Intersectional:

           This all ties together back to the idea of Indigenous (Inter)Nationalism. This idea is one that states that indigenous peoples/nations are still very much alive and present in the various parts of the world. They are existing and proud of who they are and the concept of their nation is one that is evermoving and changing. In this case the object of the tatau is what determines identity but its meaning is tied to a more prevalent sense of masculinity. The Pe’a is one type of tatau that is often limited to only males and restricted to females as the process of attaining one is excruciating and potentially deadly. In the Samoan islands, prior to the onset of colonization, the acquisition of the Pe’a by a male was almost mandatory. As a man without one found it difficult to find a mate that would accept him (Sowell). Thus the tatau was at the very concept of masculinity. If you wanted to be an adult male, then you had to have a Pe’a. These ideas of masculinity were thus embedded to the meaning of the Pe’a. It was a vital part of the Samoan male and without it many would feel powerless, as the tatau represent this “mana”, and would often feel like they were not really people. At least not truly a man. With the revival of the traditions and cultures that were surpressed by the Christian settlers these views of the tatau emerged in the moder world and was the reason why many Samoan males in the diaspora once again desired to acquire a tatau. It was an important tradition that presented the status of the family line and many males felt that it was mandatory to continue the tradition (Pacific Islanders in Communication). The example comes from the film Tatau: What One Must Do, with the Samoan man presented here. He believed that he was not as connected to his culture as he could be and had beleifs that he was not truly a man. He wanted to acquire the Pe’a in order to prove to himself that he was strong and capable of supporting his family and of course go through his rite of passage to manhood. Thus it can be noted the intersectional value of the tatau. The same applies to some women as there is a female equivalent to the Pe’a but it was not an idea that was as engraved into them as it was with the males.  To a male of this ethnic background, the very notion of being a man relied on having a Pe’a.

 References:

United States National Park Service. "Samoan Art in the Tatau." National Parks Service. U.S. Department of the Interior, n.d. Web. 13 Jan. 2017. <https://www.nps.gov/npsa/learn/education/classrooms/samoan-art-in-the-tatau.htm>

Sowell, Teri. “Samoan Archipelago.” VIS 21A. Pepper Canyon Hall, UCSD, La Jolla. 17 May 2016. Class Lecture.

Tatau: What One Must Do. Micah Van der Ryn. Pacific Island in Communications. Flying Fox Films, 1997. Film

Taule'alo, Vanya. “ Tattooing In Contemporary Samoan Society,” Tatowier Magazin. Germany, Novemeber 1999. Samoaobserver. Web. Published 13 June 2016. Accessed 28 January 2017. <http://www.samoaobserver.ws/en/13_06_2016/columns/7358/TRADITIONAL-TATTOOING-IN-CONTEMPORARY-SAMOAN-SOCIETY.htm>

Pacific Islanders in Communication. “History of the Tattoo,” Skin Stories: The Art and Culture of Polynesian Tatto. PBS. Web. Published 2003. Accessed 28 January 2017. http://www.pbs.org/skinstories/history/

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