#and I absolutely love those depictions of self discovery and gender

[mattastr0phic]

Could you explain tally? I was under the assumption he was dead and brain can’t compute the file 😔

There's a lot more information about Tally in the Like Clockwork series! In extremely short summary, it follows Talloran as they're engulfed in 3999's torture, forcing them to spiral through the events of their own life and process themself as a person, eventually escaping(?) the entity.

It's not the best summary, because it's 4 something am and my night's been rough, but if you're fine with the content warnings I absolutely recommend giving it a read.

[ladyloveandjustice]

Spring 2021 anime overview: Quick Takes

Now for my Spring 2021 anime thoughts! I’ve decided from now on if a season’s like, 20- to-24 episodes I’m just going to wait ‘til it’s done to review it unless I feels super passionately, so though I watched To Your Eternity (it’s good!) and MHA (eh), I’ll comment on them next time. Also, for the record, I watched the first eight eps of Joran: Princess and Snow of Blood but I dropped it because it had clearly crossed the line from entertainingly dumb to boring dumb. 

I will probably give Supercub and some other stuff a shot later, this was a stacked season! May give updates on all that later, but this is what I have for now.

ODDTAXI

Quick Summary: A mild mannered middle-aged walrus taxi driver is drawn into a case involving a missing girl, yakuza, Youtube clout-chasers, manzai comedians and idols with big secrets.

It’s rare to walk away from media and be like “that is a singular experience I will definitely never see repeated again” but ODDTAXI is definitely one of those. A tense noir thriller murder mystery starring cartoon animals that spends an entire episode detailing the one (cat)man’s very fall into darkness triggered by addiction to gacha games and an online auction for a novelty eraser? Also there’s a porcupine Yakuza who speaks entirely in rap? Also there’s tons of meandering conversations about stuff like manzai comedy and the struggle to go viral on Twitter?

Admittedly, I had a hard time getting into the first episode, the dry meandering humor not being enough to hold my attention while I was sitting still, but once I watched this while I was working out at the end of the season, I found it an easy binge. A ton of characters with dark secrets or dangerous ambitions, each with their own part to play in a tableau of intersecting events- and it all actually comes together really well.(As for the female characters, it’s a pretty dude driven story, but they do get nuanced characterization and even some good heroic moments from one of them.)

 It’s a great example of a carefully planned narrative paying off, with all the twists appropriately seeded and foreshadowed to reward viewers who paid attention. Even when it ended on a perfect “OH SHIT” moment and denied me closure, I couldn’t help but respect it. If you that all sounds interesting to you, definitely check out the first couple episodes and see if you like it- you’re likely to have a memorable, satisfying experience!

Shadows House

Quick Summary: Emilyko is a ‘living doll’ who’s told she was created to act as the ‘face’ of her shadow master, Kate. The shadows and their ‘dolls’ all reside on the mansion and are required to pass a ‘debut’ to prove they’re a good pairing. If they don’t pass, they might be disposed of. And so the mystery of the Shadow mansion grows...

This slice of gothic intrigue was my favorite of the season, tied with ODDTAXI. With an interesting premise, slightly tense undertones and a strong focus on character building and relationships, it kept me hooked the whole way through. And for any squeamish fans put off by the hype about it, don’t worry, while there are some suspenseful elements, I wouldn’t qualify it as horror. I thought the relationship between Kate and Emilyko might end up being a completely sinister one, but it’s thankfully a lot more complex than that and it’s really interesting to follow how both their characters and relationship grow. The focus of the show is, unsurprisingly, on the “dolls” slowly discovering their autonomy and personhood as they struggle under the rigid system imposed on them by the mysterious elders of this weird Victorian mansion. Can they develop a more equitable relationship with their shadow “masters” (who are also shown to suffer under this system)? There’s a lot to dig into there, and the show has the characters develop through learning to understand and appreciate each other, which is pretty heartwarming. Our hero, Emilyko, is the typical plucky ball of sunshine (they even nickname her sunshine), but she’s also shown to be clever in her own off-the-wall way and she bounces off the far more subdued and cynical Kate well, not to mention the other ‘dolls’ she ends up befriending. 

What’s more, the show spends plenty of time to developing several other character pairings and combinations, and they all have their own interesting dynamic that makes you want to see more of them. Same-gender bonds are at the forefront of this show, and many of them are ripe for queer readings (I definitely appreciated the healthy helping of ladies carrying ladies), but even outside that it’s nice to see a show where a strong, complex bond between girls is at the forefront. My only real complaints about the show are the anime original ending is noticeably a bit rushed (though it’s not too bad, and leaves room for a season 2) and I wish the animation used the whole “shadow” theme more strikingly (like the opening and endings do)- instead the colors are a bit washed out which makes the shadows blend into the background sometimes. The “debut” arc also drags a bit in places, but it makes up for it by having a lot of good character integration.

I hope to check out the (full color)! manga soon and see more of this quirky, shadowy story. There’s some physical abuse depicted, sad things happening to characters and naturally the whole “oppressive familial system” thing, but otherwise not much I can think of to warn about. I give this one a big rec, especially If you’re a fan of gothic fairytales and stories of self discovery.  

Zombie Land Saga Revenge

Quickest summary: In this sequel season, everyone’s favorite zombie idol group must claw their way back into prominence after a disastrous show- the fate of the Saga prefecture LITERALLY depends on it!

This was a fun follow-up to the first season- if you liked the first zombie-girl romp, you’ll probably enjoy this one. In fact, there were a couple areas it improved on- namely, Kotaro failed, ate crow and embarrassed himself a lot more this season, which made him more likeable (as did the fact the girls gained a lot of independence from him). This season also shed more light on what the ‘goal’ of this zombie raising project is and what kind of shit Kotaro got involved with to make this happen, and it’s appropriately off-the-wall and ridiculous. We finally got some backstory for Yugiri too! I wish it had focused on more of her interiority, but she got to be a badass in it, and it was a treat to see this zombie idol show turn into a period piece for a couple episodes (also her song ruled).

 Tae also got a cute focus episode and there was a particular SMASHING performance early on! Also That revelation last season that had the potential to turn creepy hasn’t yet, and hopefully never will. The finale was heartwarming with big hints of more drama to come- I’m definitely down for more zombie hijinks!

Vivy: Flourite Eye’s Song

Quickest Summary: A songstress AI named DIVA (nicknamed Vivy) is approached by another AI named Matsumoto, who says he’s from the future and they must work together to prevent AI exterminating all of humankind 100 years from now.

This show is absolutely gorgeous visually with some really nice action scenes, but when it comes to the story my feelings basically amount to a shrug. It’s fine! I guess! Vivy starts out as an interesting layered character- and I guess still is by the end- with her stoic but stubborn determination bouncing off her fast-talking bossy partner Matsumoto well. She never listens to him, which is delightful. The way the show took place over the course of 100 years was an interesting conceit as well. However, it bought up a lot of themes and then sort of... dropped them. For instance, Vivy interprets her mission (PRIME DIRECTIVE if you will) as protecting humans at all costs, no matter how destructive said humans are or what their fate is supposed to be, and is perfectly willing to murder her fellow androids to do this, showing she inherently thinks of androids (herself and her own people!) as less worthy. Which is a little alarming! There’s a very dramatic point in the show where they bring this up as a potential conflict for her character but then it’s sort of...dropped. Pretty much.

Actually, despite the premise, the show doesn’t dip into the “AI rights” as much as you think it would with the main theme being more about Vivy’s search to find her own creativity and discover what it means to ‘pour your heart into something’. Vivy herself doesn’t actually care if she has rights or anything. Which is in some ways fine, because ‘AI as an oppressed class’ has been done to death, but IT’S ALSO KIND OF IN THE PREMISE, so that means that the show just shrugs really hard at a lot of the questions it brings up  basically just going “humans and AI should work together probably” and that’s it. There’s a lot that feels underexplored. The antagonists in the show also either have motivations that don’t really make sense or have boring hackneyed motivations. In the finale in particular, it feels like a lot of things happen “just because” and it falls a little flat.

I also have to warn that one of the arcs focus on a robot ‘pairing’ where the dude-coded robots actions toward his partner are straight up awful and rob her of her autonomy, but it’s played like a tragic love story. I suppose you could read it differently too, but it definitely made me go ‘ew’ the story seemed to want me to sympathize with this robo dude,

Overall, I wouldn’t anti-recommend this show, it’s an all right little sci-fic romp (and definitely SUPER pretty). My favorite element was definitely the episodes where Vivy develops an entirely new (an loveable) personality, because it played with the idea of of an AI getting “rebooted” really well and interplay between her two “selves” was done really well. But there are a lot of other parts of the show that just feel...a little underexplored and empty, making me have an ‘eh’ feeling on the show overall. It’s definitely an ambitious project, and while it didn’t quite stick the landing, there’s something to be said for a show that shoots for the stars and falls short over a show that just languishes in mediocrity.

Fruits Basket The Final

Quick summary: The final season of that dramatic drama about that weird family with a zodiac curse and the girl who loves them.

It’s very weird that after not cutting a lot out, they kinda sped through some material for, you know, the finale. I guess they thought they couldn’t stretch this final arc to 26 episodes? Or weren’t cleared for another double cour? However, though there were a couple places that felt awkward, despite being a bit condensed it mostly held together pretty well for a D R A M A T I C and ultimately heartwarming conclusion. I was really disappointed they kept the part where Ritsu cut their hair for the ‘happy ending’, I thought  their intro episode not showing them in men’s clothes meant the anime had decided their presentation didn’t need to be “fixed” but WELL I GUESS NOT. That was the only big upset for me though, otherwise the adaptation went about how I expected, sticking to the source material. Furuba has a lot of bumps, from weird age gap stuff to ...gender, but it also has a lot of important feels and great character arcs. It was a gateway shoujo for many and has its important place in animanga history, so I’m glad it finally got a shiny, full adaptation.

[forestofbeginnings]

while I do agree with what you’re saying about character’s sexualities needing to be explored rather than being seen as the easy option, having “just a few” LGBTQ+ characters means every LGBTQ+ player is SEVERELY restricted in terms of who they can choose to be with, ESPECIALLY since those few LGBTQ+ characters run the risk of falling into harmful stereotypes to make it “obvious” that they are those characters. it leaves a LOT of room for separation rather than inclusion, for distance between players and characters bc the player may not think the other characters are worth getting to know when those characters arent the “few” LGBTQ+ ones. as much as it is important to have the detailed representation, as a member of the LGBTQ+ myself, I am equally happy with stories going in depth on character’s sexualities as I am with them just being completely normalised. video games are pleasant, peaceful escapes for people, and as much as it would be “realistic” for them to experience some kind of discrimination or self hatred, I personally prefer the idea that in the world of the game, everyone is just fine with it, as they should be. that leaves room for discussion on why the real world ISNT like that already, how we can HELP it become that way by assisting in the normalisation of it, etc. this is in no way a direct argument against you, it’s solely my standpoint on the whole LGBTQ+ marriage options. I just think it should be a fair game to everyone, and no player should feel their options are limited based on their own sexuality and having just a few characters in the game who match that, instead of it being equal for everyone, if that makes sense

That's a very good point, thank you for sending this to add to the conversation! I'll try my best to respond to all the good points you make.

(my reply is very long and under the cut and includes a lot of my Opinions of queer rep in video games so here we go)

I know you're probably talking about Fire Emblem when you're talking about the severely limited LGBT+ options. And it does suck, I'm pretty lucky that I fell hard for one of the few bisexual offerings in FE3H (looks fondly at Mercedes). But on the other hand...my primary experience with LGBT+ rep are Bioware games, where everyone has their own distinct identity. In Dragon Age Inquisition, out of the romance options there's 1 straight woman, 3 straight males (albeit two are limited to elves/humans), 1 pansexual male, 1 bisexual female, 1 gay male, and 1 lesbian. And most of the writing does not focus on their identities. In a majority of the romances, the most you get is a "sorry, not interested" from a character if you're not what they're into. The only route with clear focus on sexuality is for the gay man, which is fantastically written (and is written by a gay man about his personal experiences so take that as you will). All of the other LGBT+ characters’ stories don’t focus on their sexuality at all and don’t face discrimination for it. 

The game isn't perfect (the writing for the lesbian is bad in the base game, just straight up bad), but it's what I think of when I say "everyone has an identity." No matter who you play, not all options are open to you. Doesn't matter if you're straight or LGBT+, your options are limited. And honestly, despite the more limited options...the impact that games like Fire Emblem and Dragon Age gave me are still things I remember fondly as a bi/ace woman. I loved Mercedes' romance in FE3H because she was specifically bisexual like me. I was absolutely giddy when Josephine's romance (the bi option in DAI) did not include a sex scene, which meant she could be asexual like me. And to me, I don't get as much excitement playing SoS or SDV. The girls like me because I'm the player. That's it. It’s not because they’re bisexual with their own identity, it’s because I’m the player. And it just reminds me of that quote from The Incredibles like "if everyone is super, nobody will be." Everyone is ""bisexual"" and...

I think when you talk about people not being interested in learning about other, non-LGBT+ characters, that's more a flaw in farming sims in general? Because you can't really...befriend a romance option. You can't learn their full story unless you're romancing them. Which, again, isn't a thing in Fire Emblem or Dragon Age. You can A support anyone in FE and it only becomes romantic if you choose to S support them. In Dragon Age, you learn a character's full story and learn about them regardless of romance. I don't think people will be less interested in knowing other characters...it's just if you don't want to romance them...you can't really know them? So why befriend a character if you can’t just be friends?

But I do really want to touch on the point you make on how LGBT+ romance doesn't need to be realistic and can be idealized. I 100% agree. Making it not a big deal and not put under a microscope helps it become normal. It's actually the kind of rep I prefer. I don’t like when huge deals are made about LGBT+ characters because it just accentuates that they’re different and ‘the other,’ rather than just another person that happens to not be heterosexual.

But literally the only romance-based video game I've played where a realistic struggle of an LGBT+ person is focused on is Dragon Age Inquisition. With the gay route I mentioned and touched on with a non-romancable trans man. Sexuality is not really spoken about in FE3H. Some characters are just...bisexual. Nothing more to it. Mercedes certainly doesn't say anything about it. She can just be romanced by both men and women. It is barely spoken about in Dragon Age games aside from character preference and Dorian's romance. In Dragon Age 2, one bisexual romance option mentions his first experience with a man. Another option is hesitant to date a female because of cultural reasons. That's it.

I do get your point. We don't need to include the realities of the world in our video games. But also...we're allowed to still acknowledge sexuality in video games. I joke about my bi/ace-ness all the time. Even in a perfect world of a farming sim...I'm pretty sure a character can make wisecracks about liking both men and women...or only men/women. Being bisexual always means some kind of discovery that you like more than one gender. Has this love interest dated someone of the same or opposite gender before? Will they tell me off-hand that I'm the first girl they dated? Will they express interest in a character of the opposite gender but can be romanced by a same-sex player? Representation doesn't need to be a sanitized thing completely removed from reality. Even in a completely perfect world where there is no such thing as discrimination against the LGBT+ community, we’re still allowed to speak about our sexualities. It’s a part of who we are. 

When I say I want specific representation, I don't want a realistic depiction of the current-day struggles our community faces. I just want a character to say something that makes me know that they're like me. That they're specifically bisexual or specifically pansexual or so on. That they have their own preferences and are their own character and aren't blindly into me because I'm the player.

I do get why you want representation to be equal across the board. It is the easy option and a simple thing to do. But I want quality over quantity. I don’t want a character to marry me because I’m the player. I want a character to marry me because they’re bisexual or pansexual or a lesbian or asexual with romantic preferences or so on and so forth. And the reason why I’m so passionate about this and want farming sims to go towards this direction is because I’ve seen it done in other genres! It can work! 

Inclusion of LGBT+ romance options does not have to be at the sacrifice of the identities of bisexual and pansexual individuals. And now I get off my soap box and drink some water because I just got my 2nd COVID vaccination. 

[recentanimenews]

Sympathy for the Devilman: The Legacy of Go Nagai's Magnum Opus

I've always had a thing for villains. Unlike my brothers, as a kid I'd always choose the "bad guy" action figures. If they went for the ninja turtle Leonardo, then I'd go for the uber-buff Super Shredder. I personally identified with villainy because of how it connected to the idea of "evil." I personally see evil as a generalized concept that expresses antagonism toward violent and dominant societal structures. Due to a coercive religious upbringing, I now see how my younger self unconsciously found ideologically-oppositional comfort in "evil" art. This eventually led me to one of my most cherished pieces of fiction: Devilman.

Devilman has left an indelible mark on manga and anime creators over the last few decades, inspiring major industry heavyweights such as Hideaki Anno, Kentaro Miura, and Kazuki Nakashima. The series was created by Go Nagai, a manga auteur also responsible for Mazinger Z, Cutie Honey, and Violence Jack (which is a Devilman sequel). Although Devilman retains much of the explicitness native to Go Nagai's usual fare, it uses these graphic elements uniquely to deliver a haunting, unforgettable, and compassionate message.

Let's explore the surprisingly relevant political and social significance of Devilman, along with a few of its animated offshoots. Read on but be forewarned, this article contains major spoilers!

  Devilman (original manga, 1972) 

via Seven Seas Entertainment

  The Devilman manga is a dark antiwar narrative in deep contrast to the standard monster-of-the-day, "evil fights evil" set-up of the anime (which ran at the same time as the manga). Ryo Asuka — who turns out to be Satan, the leader of all demons — helps convince the world that anyone dissatisfied with the status quo could turn into a demon and needs to be killed. Every nation starts a war with each other, and Japan creates the "Demon Busters" to murder anyone suspected of being a demon. This plot twist is the most explicitly political angle in Devilman and a clear critique against the genocide of marginalized peoples. One page features a taste of the global hate brewing around the world: a collective white desire to murder Black communities, the renewal of German anti-Semitism, and hatred for any protestor. There are also many moments that display the horrors of historical genocide when Akira and Ryo travel through time.

Devilman builds additional nuance around this theme with Ryo's character. In the manga's final scene, Ryo describes how demons were once oppressed by God, and that they in turn preyed upon humans in the same way that God preyed upon demons. Ryo recognizes that he continued the same cycle of genocidal hate and marginalization he once suffered. This is a striking moment that functions as a cautionary warning against abusing imbalanced power dynamics, and how even once marginalized groups are still capable of enacting horrors against those with less power. 

via Seven Seas Entertainment

  Ryo's character also made a groundbreaking stride in the representation of marginalized gender and sexual identities. His true form as Satan is easy to interpret as trans, possessing emotional, mental, and physical traits that defy the standard gender binary. The manga also makes it clear that Ryo considers Akira more than a friend, and is actually in love with him. Amazingly, Go Nagai does not use Ryo's trans-coded self or his queer love for Akira as fodder for insulting or disrespectful commentary from other characters. Ryo's gender-variant form is certainly mentioned, but it's never negatively framed or conflated with his murderous attitude toward humanity. Additionally, the manga never suggests Ryo is evil because of his romantic feelings for Akira (a simple, yet important distinction). It feels all the more impressive when you remember that this was made in 1972. Devilman's subversive portrayal of non-normative gender and sexual identity could still be considered groundbreaking even by today's standards.

Devilman OVAs

  The first OVA, The Birth, covers Ryo and Akira's discovery of demon existence, with a very brutal early sequence that shows the bloody survival-of-the-fittest origins of life on Earth (which beautifully expands upon and mirrors the same sequence from the manga). It concludes with a gore-soaked finale where we see Akira's fateful transformation into Devilman. The sequence is filled with face stabs, top-notch body horror, and decapitations galore as Devilman rips apart demon after demon in a nightclub setting.

  The second OVA, The Demon Bird, had the same crew that worked on the first OVA and contains a very similar feel. This OVA is more action-oriented than the first since it doesn't spend time on the build-up and exposition leading to Devilman's initial appearance. The animation and art design is probably even better than the first episode, which is most notable during the fight with Sirene. On a side note, the Manga Entertainment dubs for these first two OVAs are absolutely essential if you're seeking a fun evening with fellow anime nerds with a decent sense of humor. Their typically sleazy dubs — where Manga Entertainment excessively hyped up the seedier, more "adult" side of anime in order to market their products as wildly different from cartoons for kids — contain an assortment of unnecessary profanity and generally crude dialogue compared to the Japanese source material, to great comedic effect.

The third OVA, Amon: The Apocalypse of Devilman, is based on Amon: The Darkside of Devilman manga, an alternate-universe offshoot by Yu Kinutani. This OVA contains a reworked version of the end of Devilman and has a much darker edge compared to the first two OVAs. This entry in the series has an ugly, grim quality to it – such as the horrific depiction of Miki and her brother getting slaughtered by an angry mob — that initially felt off-putting to me. I started to enjoy it more on subsequent viewings however, when I remembered that, well, the entire Devilman mythos is pretty damned bleak in general. I think the desolate mood would have been more bearable had Akira felt like the compassionate, tragic hero of the manga.

Actually, overall I'd say that Akira's portrayal is one of my biggest complaints about these OVAs. He displays a cold lack of care for human life — like in the Demon Bird when he unconcernedly tears through an airplane while fighting Sirene and allows its passengers to presumably plummet to their deaths — that for me, offsets one of the biggest strengths of Devilman's core: that although Akira has the body of a demon, he never loses the tender heart of a human. With that in mind, let's explore Devilman Crybaby. 

  Devilman Crybaby

Devilman Crybaby is my favorite animated incarnation of Devilman, period. I might be in the minority with that opinion, but I think there's a lot to love. Masaaki Yuasa is already one of my favorite recent anime directors — Kaiba, Mind Game, and Lu Over the Wall are highlights  — so it's no surprise I'd be head over heels for his take on a classic Go Nagai story.

Yuasa impressively shifts the '70s setting of the original into modern-day Japan: The group of surly highschoolers from the manga are replaced with rappers and smartphones are everywhere. In the hands of a lesser writer, a modern setting would be no more than a cosmetic, surface-level change of scenery to an already-written narrative. In contrast, Yuasa avoids this trap by using the modern setting to make incisive social commentary relevant to our times: social media is the means for both horrendous and beautiful moments in the show. It leads to Miki's murder when she posts on Instagram to defend Akira, but also serves as the online catalyst that unites Devilmen across the globe (in contrast to the original manga, where a set of demon-possessed psychic monks unite the Devilmen). Yuasa explained this in a 2018 Japan Times article:

"Today's situation is a lot closer to 'Devilman' than it was when Nagai wrote it in the '70s," he says. "The popularity of social media means people are a lot more connected, for good and bad – like someone getting shot over a video game. We learn about unarmed black people being killed by police, people being tortured and the rise of nationalism in politics. In Japan, too, where a lot of problems are openly blamed on foreigners.

"But it can also help spread good that we wouldn't otherwise know about. We see people coming out as gay or trans on social media, and there's a greater opening up and acceptance of different opinions and lifestyles."

  Another beautiful aspect of the show is how Yuasa amplifies the queer elements present in the manga. Ryo and Akira's relationship feels even more loaded with romantic undertones, and Yuasa also introduces two queer characters unseen in the original manga. One of the characters is named Miki Kuroda, initially portrayed as a jealous antagonistic foil to the Miki we all know and love. Miki Kuroda changes as the episodes progress and she becomes a Devilman, and we eventually see her sacrifice herself in an attempt to save Miki Makimura, who she confesses her love to before dying. It's refreshing to see a queer woman represented in a story that previously had none, and incorporated in a way that feels organic and thoughtfully integrated within the larger narrative.

  In contrast to the Akira of the OVAs, I absolutely adore this incarnation. Yuasa did a stellar job showing not only Akira's horny goth-jock side but also his compassionate traits. As the name implies, there's a lot of crying in Devilman Crybaby, and Akira is responsible for at least half the tears throughout the brief 10-episode series. Akira evokes such intense compassion and cares for people around him, which is a noticeable deviation from his cold demeanor in the OVAs. The human heart at the core of Devilman is on full display here, taking the emotional elements from the original and turning the volume up to 11. Though the art style and setting might be drastically different from what you'd typically expect of a Devilman remake, Yuasa did a masterful job honoring the source material while injecting it with fresh life and even fresher modern resonance. 

What other aspects of Devilman  — or its many incarnations  — did you find important or interesting? Let me know in the comments below!

Do you love anime? Do you love writing? If you have an idea for a features story, pitch it to Crunchyroll Features!

By: news+feed@crunchyroll.com

[rawloadstaken]

Oh, and Tumblr? One more thing.

I love the fact that you’re getting rid of adult content, but still embracing abuse, kink-shaming, white supremacy, harassment, death threats, animal abuse, neo-Nazis, conspiracy theories, and all kinds of hatred.

Lions and tigers and bears, oh my.

And before you cry outrage, please allow me to explain:

You see, you say that you can ban all of the “female-presenting” nipples, eliminate sex workers’ safety, remove artists whose work focused more on kink than kittens, and consensual sexual enjoyment between one or more people simply by flipping a switch.

Simple, yes?

And yet, regardless of your claims of making Tumblr a more welcoming environment, I can think of at least fifty blogs focused on white supremacy, neo Nazi glorification, non-consensual degradation of the opposite sex, gleeful cackling about non-Christian hatred, and glorification of murder and violence that I’ve stumbled across in the last week alone.

And what was I doing with my kinky self that led me to finding those blogs?

I was looking for recipes

I was following some fantastic photographers

I was watching costuming videos

I was enraptured with makeup tutorials

I was reading memes

I was keeping abreast of up with the news

I was reading serialized stories

I was looking for Christmas gifts

I was weeping with a friend over the loss of her cat

I was delirious with joy when my favorite author released a new book

I was chatting with friends

I was reading about a new restaurant

I was rolling my eyes at various animal antics

I was learning more about foreign countries

I was snorting with laughter at some truly execrable puns

I was watching movie trailers

I was trying to figure out whether or not I could replace the base model dash unit in my car on own, or if I should leave that job to a professional (side note: I’m leaving it to a professional)

And yes, I have to admit that I was taking a bit of time to appreciate and enjoy some of the kink and carnality that makes Tumblr the platform it is.

Or, as of tomorrow, what once made Tumblr the platform it was.

After all,

Tumblr celebrates creativity. We want you to express yourself freely and use Tumblr to reflect who you are, and what you love, think, and stand for.

https://staff.tumblr.com/post/180758987165/a-better-more-positive-tumblr

And that was what I was doing.

But even ignoring my own situation, here’s the biggest problem I have with your claims, and how they don’t hold up to your actions.

Are there blogs that have both content that well may deserve being banned at the same time as having content that shouldn’t? Absolutely. And, that said, if your software and personnel were as on-point as you claim they are, you should be able to recognize them.

Are there blogs that have content that you’re now deeming should be banned, even though it’s completely legal, completely consensual, and completely focused on expressing ourselves freely, and using Tumblr to reflect who we are, and what we love, think, and stand for? Indubitably. And, that said, if your software and personnel were as on-point as you claim they are, you should be able to recognize them.

It is our continued, humble aspiration that Tumblr be a safe place for creative expression, self-discovery, and a deep sense of community. As Tumblr continues to grow and evolve, and our understanding of our impact on our world becomes clearer, we have a responsibility to consider that impact across different age groups, demographics, cultures, and mindsets. We spent considerable time weighing the pros and cons of expression in the community that includes adult content. In doing so, it became clear that without this content we have the opportunity to create a place where more people feel comfortable expressing themselves.

Bottom line: There are no shortage of sites on the internet that feature adult content. We will leave it to them and focus our efforts on creating the most welcoming environment possible for our community.

https://staff.tumblr.com/post/180758987165/a-better-more-positive-tumblr

Thank you for that, Tumblr. Thank you ever so much.

Thank you for telling us that we don’t belong. That we don’t need a place to call home. That we should go back into the closet, or onto the streets, or head to a place where there’s nothing but porn, because you think someone who draws hentai as well as kittens and flowers should be relegated to Xtube or PornHub rather than risk upsetting the delicate sensibilities of your investors shareholders other users.

Thank you for telling us that we have the choice of the wimple or the walk of shame.

What is "adult content?"

Adult content primarily includes photos, videos, or GIFs that show real-life human genitals or female-presenting nipples, and any content—including photos, videos, GIFs and illustrations—that depicts sex acts.

What is still permitted?

Examples of exceptions that are still permitted are exposed female-presenting nipples in connection with breastfeeding, birth or after-birth moments, and health-related situations, such as post-mastectomy or gender confirmation surgery. Written content such as erotica, nudity related to political or newsworthy speech, and nudity found in art, such as sculptures and illustrations, are also stuff that can be freely posted on Tumblr.

https://staff.tumblr.com/post/180758987165/a-better-more-positive-tumblr

Thank you for telling female-presenting individuals -- regardless of their gender, and regardless of whether or not they’re choosing to go through with gender confirmation surgery -- that they’re to cover themselves up as long as they look like females.

Thank you for telling at least half of your membership -- or, to be more specific, at least half of the world’s population -- that they should be ashamed of their bodies, and they should cover them up because ... because of ... wait ... other than Puritanical nonsense and the notion that men can’t control their lustful thoughts should they catch sight of a well-turned ankle in a high-buttoned boot, why should they have to cover them up? 

As a global platform for creativity and self-expression, Tumblr is deeply committed to supporting and protecting freedom of speech. At the same time, we draw lines around a few narrowly defined but deeply important categories of content and behavior that jeopardize our users, threaten our infrastructure, and damage our community.

https://staff.tumblr.com/post/180758987165/a-better-more-positive-tumblr

Thank you for telling us that we -- the very community for whom you claim concern -- are creating content and practicing behaviors that jeopardize your users, threaten your infrastructure, and damage your community.

Thank you for telling us that we’re not allowed to be comfortable expressing ourselves because -- ironically enough -- you wanted to "have the opportunity to create a place where more people feel comfortable expressing themselves.”

Thank you for letting us know that you’re more comfortable sending an eighteen-year-old to a porn site to try and understand their sexuality than you are telling a forty-year-old that a smile and a thong might be a touch too risqué for their profile photo.

Thank you for telling us that our very existence is harmful.

We recognize Tumblr is also a place to speak freely about topics like art, sex positivity, your relationships, your sexuality, and your personal journey. We want to make sure that we continue to foster this type of diversity of expression in the community, so our new policy strives to strike a balance.

https://staff.tumblr.com/post/180758987165/a-better-more-positive-tumblr

Really? That’s why you’re doing this? To strike a balance?

A balance between censorship and ... what?

What balance, precisely, are you seeking?

You’re getting rid of the people who came here because of the community, and who helped make this one of -- if not the -- premier blogging platforms, attempting to fob off your actions as “we don’t think porn fits in with our current business model,” and then trying to claim that these steps you’re taking to marginalize, evict, and shame us are a means of striking a balance.

Really? Really? That’s the line you’re choosing to take?

Bollocks to that.

You see, if you were trying to strike a balance, you’d be a little more focused on how to make sure what you refused to allow was harmful, and what you chose to allow ... well ... wasn’t.

But thank you. Really, I mean that. Thank you.

Thank you for telling us that our self-flagging isn’t good enough.

Thank you for telling us that our choice to set our blogs to explicit isn’t good enough for you.

Thank you for telling us that you don’t screen your membership to prevent underage individuals from accessing explicit blogs.

Thank you for telling us that our lives are less important than your pocketbooks.

Thank you for telling us that we don’t matter to you.

And thank you for proving that -- for all your claims of being intolerant of behavior that you feel shouldn’t be made available at risk of offending others or making them feel unwelcome -- you’re more interested in keeping hatred alive than you are happiness.

Oh wait ... didn’t you claim that you were intolerant of that? Let me check ...

---

The new Community Guidelines will go into effect on September 10, 2018. After that, if we determine a post or blog is promoting hatred, glorifying violence, or is engaging in the unwanted sexualization of another person, it will be taken down. This includes (for example) posting Islamophobic, anti-Semitic, or anti-LGBTQ+ content to promote or incite violence or hatred; using symbols of hate movements to intimidate or harass others; and the glorification of mass murderers

https://staff.tumblr.com/post/177449083750/new-community-guidelines

---

Well will you look at that? You actually pretended that you cared.

Sure Tumblr. Sure.

Let’s face it: you’ve done a really good job of getting rid of the blogs that make people clutch their pearls as well as their sphincters, but you’re doing a piss-poor job of getting rid of the people who would love to bash the people you’re saying don’t deserve a place to be themselves.

Do you want to get rid of pedophilia and bestiality blogs? I’m behind you 100%

Do you want to get rid of actual sex trafficking? I support that wholeheartedly.

Do you want to get rid of the porn bots? For the love of all that’s holy, please do.

But here’s the thing: you’re not just hoping to get rid of them, you’re getting rid of all of the people who have used you in good faith for over a decade, and who are now being told that you’ve decided they’re not worth supporting because they believe in healthy sexuality, well-deserved self-empowerment, and the right to not only be who they are and who they want to be, but to be safe while doing so.

You’re getting rid of the blogs that help people focus on their sexual health

You’re getting rid of the blogs that help people understand that sex isn’t bad, or evil, or something to be afraid of

You’re getting rid of the blogs that help sex workers network, and reach out for support, and tell funny stories about their lives, and share with each other the best ways to stay safe

You’re getting rid of the blogs help people understand that their bodies aren’t weird just because they’re underweight, or overweight, or thinking about breast reduction/enhancement surgery

Bollocks to that.

You’re not just erasing our blogs, you’re doing your best to erase who we are, and to fit a number of oddly-shaped pegs into your startlingly square holes.

And you claim to be doing it because you care about supporting your base, many of whom have relied on you since your inception to not only support us, but to allow us to support one another.

Let me repeat something I quoted above:

We spent considerable time weighing the pros and cons of expression in the community that includes adult content. In doing so, it became clear that without this content we have the opportunity to create a place where more people feel comfortable expressing themselves.

https://staff.tumblr.com/post/180758987165/a-better-more-positive-tumblr

Mmm.

Without that content you have the opportunity to create a place where more people feel comfortable expressing themselves.

It does make me wonder, though, why that content is so bad, when other content seems to hang about.

You know, sites like Good Night Zionist Parasite. Admittedly, it’s only been around for five years, reported a few dozen times, and had a number of other bloggers post their pleas begging you to do something about it, so it’s probably been grandfathered in.

And I can almost understand why you’ve left the three-year-old blog européenne alone. After all, it does showcase some truly some stunning photographs, and I’m sure you didn’t want to lose those even with the dozens of images of racially-charged and sexuality-based hangings and beheadings scattered through it, and its calls for nationalist pride weren’t too terribly prevalent.

And in your defence, you may not have known that Honour the 14 Words was a white supremacist blog: not many people know that it’s tied to the slogan David Lane wrote, even though it has been the most popular white supremacist slogan in the world for over a decade.

I do wonder, though, how White Warrior 1423 and Sieg Heil slipped through the cracks. Now they are only about two years old, and they only brag about the number of times they’ve been reported and cleared a few times, so I’m sure that wasn’t too upsetting to your team; and, once I realized that those blogs passed your litmus test, I really can’t complain about you allowing The Nazi Master, Snow White Pride, Conservative Kings, Nazifacista, Pasternak, Pride Makes us Strong, Eternal Hitlerian, Blitzkrieg Fritz, You Cant Stop Us [sic], and White Lives Matter to make the cut as well.

I do have a few questions about how My Beautiful Rocket -- which has some of the most stomach-churning images of death, gore, and dismemberment I’ve ever seen, and that includes the two autopsies I’ve observed -- is acceptable to you, but perhaps it’s being kept around as a reminder of how not to look when one’s been beaten to death, or had their skull split open, or had their tongue torn out. Hm. or was that another one of the half-dozen gore and mutilation blogs I had the misfortune of stumbling across? Well, no matter: I’m sure you have your reasons.

And really, with those being acceptable, I probably shouldn’t complain about the multitude of blogs focused on self-harm, or the ones showing men tying up and torturing other men by breaking their arms and fingers, or by leaving their significant others with bruises, visible contusions, and -- in one case -- broken stumps of teeth tearing through their gums. In those cases, I’m sure they would have liked to be able to reach out to the owners of the blogs where the users talk about the quantity of crystal meth they’ve purchased, and how they show the difference between smoking for relaxation and pain relief vs injecting it for a euphoric rush and burst of energy. 

Then again, I have to admit that those sites fit hand in glove with the ones filled with video after video of explosive regurgitation, those focused on squeezing pimples and evacuating clogged sinuses, and the ones where people are crying out for help and the majority of the comments are begging them to kill themselves, sending links to blogs about how they deserve to die and the best ways to do the deed, and offering to supply the rope or gun.

To be fair, though, the youngest one of those is only a couple of years old, so I’m sure -- regardless of the number of times they made it through the review process and a token time out or two -- that it wasn’t that much of a problem.

After all, none of them had any photographs of female-presenting nipples.

And so that brings me back to my original point: you claim that you’re kicking us out and saying that we are -- in essence -- unworthy of being on your site because our very existence jeopardizes your users, threatens your infrastructure, and damages your community.

Really? You want to make this a better place? You want Tumblr to be a safe place for creative expression, self-discovery, and a deep sense of community? You want to create a place where more people feel comfortable expressing themselves?

Prove it.

If you want us to even begin to believe that you’re doing this because you honestly care about making Tumblr a better place, or that you have even the slightest shred of integrity and self-awareness, then put your monetization where your mouth is and kick off at least another quarter of your user base, because if you’re forcing people off your platform because they dare to show a bit of skin or talk more freely about sex and sexuality than you would like, then you can be damn sure that we’re going to call you out on your blatant and unrepentant hypocrisy at not doing the same thing to the people you claimed to find distasteful well before you decided to kick the kink to the curb.

[katesattic]

Pride Month Questionnaire

Questions were taken from this post because I was too eager to answer all of them than waiting for the numbers to come into my ask.

the following questions are meant to make people familiar with the various shades of love, attraction and identity, feel free to add your own. happy pride 🌈

What is your sexuality? Pansexual

what gender do you identify as? Cis female

How long have you been aware of your sexuality/gender? I’ve only been identifying as pan since February 2017 but identified as bisexual previously (for about 2 years). And had been questioning/denying my sexuality for years before that.

Do you have any preferences? In regards to what?

Share a positive memory about coming out! To my baby brother. I came out as bi very casually to my family on FaceTime in December 2016 (I didn’t fear coming out - they just never bothered to ask, so I never bothered to bring it up before then). But my baby brother was away so I texted him something along the lines of “because you weren’t there and I told the rest of the family, I figured I’d let you know that I’m bisexual.” and he responded with something like “Cool. I love you and support you”. I probably have a screenshot saved, but I can’t remember exact words at the moment.

How do you feel about pride month? LOVE IT!

Do you participate in Pride related events? Any other events? Not usually. I’ve been heavily active on Tumblr for Pride. But I might not be able to participate in my city’s Pride due to summer classes. Next year I’d love to go to Toronto Pride, though!!

How do you feel about LGBTQ+ roles in media? MORE PLEASE!! There really aren’t enough of them. Especially ace spec, nonbinary,  pansexual, transgender, and bisexual need to be more represented. This community is far more than simply homosexual. Bless Thomas Sanders for his representation of this and other communities.

Do you feel pride in who you are? Yes.

Who has been your supportive idols in your self-discovery? In what way? In general no one. In having crushes on different genders, and realising  I like-liked them, several. I’ve had crushes on a few nonbinary individuals *cough*Thomas Sanders’s friends*cough* in the past, as well as had crushes on women like Laverne Cox, Hannah Hart and Kate McKinnon. As for men, I’ve had many crushes, far too many to list I would suggest Thomas Sanders as someone super supportive of the LGBTQ+ community especially because he produces some much needed LGBTQ+ content. Seriously, check out his shorts.

Tell us about your first crush? OK, so I was 3. I don’t remember much of it. He was our adult next-door neighbour. Apparently, three-year-olds aren’t subtle flirts.

What sort of advice do you have for LGBTQ+ teens? Come out if and when you’re ready. Don’t sweat the small stuff and don’t feel like you need a label right now. I didn’t come out to myself until I was 21. There’s no need to rush it.

Have you come out to friends and family? Yes. I came out to my friend about a week after she came out to me. Then I came out to my immediate family in December 2016, then I kind of just treated myself as “out” so if it was a surprise to my extended family, oh well.

How do you feel about the term “coming out”? I have nothing against it.

Do you believe there is a “closet” to come out of? Not for everyone, but definitely for some people. I never felt as though I was hiding a part of me, so I never felt closeted. I saw it as discovering a new side of myself rather than hiding something that was already there. But everyone’s experiences are different.

Any tips on coming out? As stated above, I never really felt closeted. But my advice would be to come out to those you feel safe around before coming out to others.If you decide to come out at all.

What’s your biggest pet peeve when it comes to LGBTQ+ characterization in media? The lack of representation of many identities as well as the trope that bisexuals are very promiscuous. Or being the punchline/butt of a joke.

What’s your favourite parts of LGBTQ+ characterization in media? That we’re slowly getting more of it. And characters are being depicted as human and no stereotypes.

What did your teachers say about the LGBTQ+ community in school? Luckily, I live in Canada, so there wasn’t too much negativity. And there wasn’t any by the staff. One of my teachers was openly gay, and I was in the GSA doing his tenure. 

Do you practice safe sex with the same gender? I’m kind of not sexually active at the moment, but YES. I would practice safe-sex with ANY GENDER!

What’s an absolute turn off for you in the opposite/same gender? Being an assbutt. I don’t need your negativity.

What’s an absolute turn on for you in the opposite/same gender? Cliché but a good sense of humour. Also being kind and compassionate. Personality is more of a factor that looks in who I find attractive.

How do you feel about LGBTQ+ clubs/apps/websites? I’ve got nothing against them. 

How do you feel about the term “queer”? I’m not personally a fan of it. Unlike gay, the word never really had positive connotations, to begin with. Gay at least meant happy. Queer meant weird, odd and abnormal.If people choose to identify with this, that’s fine. I’ ll use it for them. But I don’t think we should use it as an umbrella term for the entire community because I know people who still, very much, see it as a slur. Allow those who wish to use it, use it but don’t force it on those who consider it to be offensive.

 How does your country view the LGBTQ+ community? Relatively positively. I mean, Toronto Pride is one of the largest pride festivals in the world. I don’t live near Toronto currently, but I would LOVE to attend Pride there in the future.

favourite LGBTQ+ actor/actress? ... um ... I mean, I mentioned a few before, but I think you can predict who I’m going to say ...

any tips for heterosexual and/or cisgender people on how to handle LGBTQ+ events/news? Be positive. Be nice. Be an ally. Bigots aren’t welcome.

What’s the most annoying question you have ever gotten? “threesome?” always. that. one. Like, no. Fuck off. 

How do you feel about receiving questions about your sexuality/gender? Considering I made a separate post just to answer all of these, I think I’m fine with it?

[i-like-your-genitalia]

I want to know as much as I can about you, could you please answer all of the questions from the pride month questionnaire?

1. what is your sexuality?

I identity as bisexual at the moment ♥️

2. what do you identify as?

I identify as female (my designated/biological gender)

3. how long have you been aware of your sexuality/identity?

I realised, or identified myself as bisexual when I was 15, so that 3-4 years ago!

4. do you have any preferences?

I would say generally I go for guys, but it changes all the time sometimes I feel more attracted to women and other times to men. I would say on average 60% to men 40% to women.

5. share a positive memory about coming out!

I think all my friends were just chill, one of my good friends came out as bisexual and then transgender. And I’m not sure if they still identify as bi or if they identify as gay. But that was kinda the first of my friends to come out, and it wasn’t a big deal. So when others in the group came out. It was kinda just “oh cool, join the club!”

6. how do you feel about pride month?

It’s awesome, I think having a month where sexuality’s and identities can celebrated in the open and appreciated in awesome! For so long those in the LGBT++ community have been taught to ashamed of who they are. And having a month were it’s celebrated is fantastic!

7. do you participate in pride related events? any other events?

Unfortunately no, I’m not out with a lot of family, my sister and a few cousins know. But it’s not something I want to risk at the moment! So I as much I want to involve myself in pride. I can’t at the moment

8. how do you feel about lgbtqa roles in media?

We need more, it’s amazing how far we have come, but it would be awesome to see more and a bigger variety. And I think accurately depicted by the media as well!

9. do you feel pride in who you are?

Yes, it’s amazing to feel comfortable and have a support group who can help you through some of the crisis of coming out, or changing your identity or sexuality!

10. who has been your supportive idols in your self discovery?

Not gonna lie, when I first came out I had no idols. Just my friends in real life and on tumblr. There have been a couple of people who’ve helped by reblogging or posting informative writing and learning now to help with coming out and such. But I don’t have anyone specific

11. tell us about your first crush?

Girl Crush or Boy crush???

My first guy crush that I remember was in year 10, and he was the one where you stare from afar. I had an art class with him and I sat facing him and his friends. And it was awkward because everyone knew I liked him but I didn’t like speaking to him or interacting with him.

My first girl crush was on a friend I had, she was one of the first girls I was aware I was attracted too! But she was straight so there was no desire to take things further than a crush and it faded after a while! So I went from being friends….crush……back to being friends! And they wasn’t any romantic feelings lingering!

12. what sort of advice to have you lgbtqa teens?

Don’t be afraid to change your mind, labels aren’t everything! Yes they’ve helped with explaining who you are, but don’t feel obligated to stick to it. Just because at 16 you feel as tho you identify as bisexual or lesbian or gay, doesn’t mean that at 27 you’ll identify the same.

Also with coming out, especially during pride month! There is a huge pressure to come out, don’t ever feel like you “need” to come out. Especially if you are in a household that could potentially become unsafe if you did!

13. have you come out to friends and family?

I came out to my sister, and a few cousins. And the majority or my friends know I’m bisexual! So I’m not necessarily closeted, but I don’t put it out for every single person to know!

14. how do you feel about the term “coming out” ?

I have no feelings about it really, it’s a convenient saying for finding the ideal sexuality, or identity for yourself. I know some feel negatively towards the saying. But for me it’s a simple, well know phrase that is easy to use when talking about my bisexuality and discovery.

15. do you believe there is a “closet” to come out of?any tips on coming out?

For so long, the LGBTQIA community has been forced to hide who they are, because of the prejudice and hate of others towards them and their “lifestyle” and the closet is that place. I feel like there are better terms with less negative connotations than “closet” and “coming out” to do with the identifying of your sexuality and gender. However it’s part of our history as a community and maybe we should take control and take away the negativity that comes with the word closet and closeted. But I mean our whole community is based on unashamed of who you are. And I don’t think it’s shameful to be in the “closet” as long as you aren’t being homophobic or transphobic or all the other sexuality and identity phobias while your aren’t able to come out yourself..

I think first of all no pressure, for some being in the closet can do more harm than good, whereas it’s the opposite for some being out would cause more trouble than they are equipped to deal with. So I think do it when you are ready, don’t feel pushed or pressured to either remain in he closet or to come out! And I think start with the safest person, maybe a close friend or sibling or a parent. Don’t feel like you have to leap out and let every person know! It’s an anxiety inducing process! So start off with those who are low risk and then build up to those who are high risk. Because then you’ll have that group of being who love and support you. And it’s what you need when you get rejected for being who you are!

16. what’s your biggest pet peeve when it comes to lgbtqa characterization in media?

1. They die2. Portrayed as stereotypes, that don’t show that the lgbtqa as a diverse group of people3. There aren’t enough healthy and accurate portrayals of the community

17. what’s your favorite parts of lgbtqa characterization in media?

I think that they are proud of who they are, even when they aren’t particularly proud of themselves as individuals but as a community.

18. what did your teachers say about the lgbtqa community in school?

Well my health and P.E teacher was lesbian so we probably got a bit more of a lesson on sexuality then most. But it wasn’t a big throng yet when I took it as a compulsory class, it was very briefly covered but not in depth.

19. do you practice safe sex with the same sex?

I haven’t had sex, but yes, safe sex is key to any sort of relationship, straight or gay.

20. what’s an absolute turn off for you in people?

Racism, misogyny, all the phobias related the sexuality, identity and genders. And I think the lack of a desire to change ones opinion, and stay stuck in a imbedded and wrong way of thinking!

21. what’s an absolute turn on for you in people?

People who are inclusive, happy, always keen to learn and change and grow! Definitely those who are confident but not arrogant!

22. how do you feel about lgbtqa clubs/apps/websites?

I think they can be awesome places to get support, information and get to know people like you! In a “safe environment”

23. how do you feel about the term “queer” ?

I personally don’t mind it, it’s a good blanket term for those in the community or don’t come under strictly one label! Or who aren’t quite sure where they fit in the community just yet!

24. how does you country view the lgbtqa community?

Well New Zealand was definitely open and okay with it and it’s similar in Spain! I think you still find people who are against it whether or not you live in a LGBTQIA friendly country

25. favorite lgbtqa actor/actress?

Kristen Stewart ♥️

26. any tips for heterosexual people on how to handle lgbtqa events/news?

Don’t make it about you, if it’s something bad (like the pulse shooting) things like “my heart goes out to the families and friends who lost someone” “what a tragic loss of life” “this is such a horrible crime/incident” and if it’s a positive thing (gay marriage becoming possible) “congratulations” “it’s exciting to see progress” “I’m glad they achieved what they wanted” and most of all if you have the desire to make it about yourself or say something homophobic then keep your mouth shut!

27. what’s the most annoying question you have ever gotten?

“If you are with a girl, doesn’t that make you lesbian?” Or “if you had to pick one would you chose girls or guys?”

28. how do you feel about receiving questions about your sexuality/idenity?I don’t mind, I’m happy to talk about it!

29. what is your romantic affiliation?

I’m romantically attracted to both females and males!

[painterlegendx]

Ten Top Risks Of Attending Abstract Painting 6 - Abstract Painting 6

What a year it was for women artists — unprecedented, glorious, diverse. In New York, the Kenyan-American Wangechi Mutu’s aerial caryatids currently advanced the Metropolitan Museum. In Shanghai, the Colombian Doris Salcedo won the countdown $1m Nomura Art Award, the world’s better art prize. In London no appearance compared, for memories of colour punching the eye, with the magentas, bounce greens and cutting dejection of Lee Krasner’s abstruse paintings at the Barbican: a blissful revelation. Dora Maar’s photomontages and Nan Goldin’s photo account “The Ballad of Animal Dependency” at Tate Modern, Cindy Sherman’s character puzzles at the Civic Portrait Gallery, bless women as dogged antecedents in photography.

6 Abstract Paintings/Stories | ido art karen robinson - abstract painting 2010 | abstract painting 2010 “Why accept there been no abundant women artists?” Linda Nochlin asked provocatively in 1971. Half a aeon later, the assize is actuality prised open. In April, the Civic Gallery’s Artemisia will be the aboriginal UK appearance of the Renaissance painter (and abduction victim) Artemisia Gentileschi. In the vengefully ablaze “Judith Beheading Holofernes”, Gentileschi depicts her aggressor as the Assyrian general, herself as the biblical charlatan slashing his throat: a #MeToo icon. In June, the Royal Academy’s Angelica Kauffman stars a portraitist who fought 18th-century blowing advantage to coin a career that accomplished from Britain to Russia.In museums above the world, the cutting actuation in the 2020s will be added representation of women. Choir that a decade ago were bounded and marginalised are now boilerplate and global. It is an animating archetype shift, but not straightforward. Change is complex; the best art does not necessarily bark the loudest.There are pitfalls back gender is admired over talent: the Civic Portrait Arcade in London’s anemic Pre-Raphaelite Sisters exhibition is a case in point. And those who actuate what art is shown, seen, bought — curators, gallerists, audiences, collectors — accept more deviating demands.The bazaar is adamant on gender. The amount allotment at bargain of art fabricated by women in the aftermost decade? Two per cent. Of the hundred best big-ticket works anytime sold, none is by a woman. In 2018-19, the almanac set for a active blowing artisan was £71m — Jeff Koons’ “Rabbit” — against £9.5m for a woman, Jenny Saville’s nude “Propped”.“Female artists are the bargains of our time,” says banker Iwan Wirth. Lower prices action windows of opportunity, sure, but the economics is brutal. In 2007, Broadway 1602, a Manhattan arcade absorption on alone 1960s-70s names such as the pop painters Evelyne Axell and Marjorie Strider, showed the rarer aptitude of Alina Szapocznikow, a Holocaust survivor and blight dead whose aflame adhesive sculptures harrowingly advertence illness. At Frieze in 2011, Tate bought “Tumour” from the arcade — at a discount. Aftermost year, Broadway 1602 declared bankruptcy.Szapocznikow, its best admirable discovery, is now represented by the able Hauser & Wirth; a London appearance in February promises to be a 2020 highlight. The artist, who co-opted minimalism and pop “to acclaim the ephemeral” admitting accurate materiality, exemplifies an outstanding abstruse aptitude now accomplishing recognition. But the amount is generally borne by beginning spaces disturbing to burrow beginning work.

Daily Art of the Day, Thursday May 6, 6 ORIGINAL .. | abstract painting 2010 A few midsize bartering galleries accept apparent commitment. Victoria Miro’s Mayfair amplitude opens 2020 with an agilely advancing aboriginal UK appearance of the Romanian-American Hedda Sterne’s bendable burghal abstractions, ambiguous automated forms and backward white-on-white drawings, evoking the floaters and flashers bridge her eyes in old age; Sterne died in 2011 age-old 100.The all-around actualization of the acutely old woman artisan is a accurate 21st-century celebration — the luck of analysis advancing with amusing change. Still alive are Carmen Herrera, 104; Etel Adnan, 94; Jagoda Buić, 89. Richard Saltoun’s 2019 Frieze presentation of Buic’s bolt awash out in a day, including a Tate acquisition.But the acumen for this rediscovery of old-age artists is mid-career neglect. Today’s big blank at institutional akin is women in their 50s and 60s. 2019’s anxious abate exhibitions showcased several superb talents who accept lacked above building exposure. At Victoria Miro this winter, we saw painterly chronicles of interiority by the 60-year-old Celia Paul. Earlier in the year, Leicester’s Attenborough Arts Centre had Lucy Jones, 64, assuming angry Fauvist landscapes and cruel-tender self-portraits that almanac what it’s like to alive with bookish palsy. At London’s Bowman Sculpture, Emily Young, 68, is currently announcement mesmerising, unfinished-looking carved bean active that brood on our accord with the Earth, time and ecological change.A arch painter from the hardly adolescent YBA bearing is Cecily Brown, 50, whose feverish, adult canvases reprise and alter abstruse expressionist blowing language, accumulation accepted imagery. Yet back 2005’s bunched affectation at Modern Art Oxford, there has been no building exhibition of her paintings in the UK.Perhaps ironically, the bazaar and clandestine galleries can be saviours for important women artists who abatement below the alarm of today’s identity-and-gender agendas. Brown’s bargain almanac is £4.9m. And booty the top women at bargain in 2018-19: Yayoi Kusama, Joan Mitchell, Louise Bourgeois, Georgia O’Keeffe and Agnes Martin, in bottomward order.Four accept enjoyed accomplished Tate retrospectives, cartoon out the feminist aspects of their work. But Mitchell, the greatest 20th-century changeable painter, has never had an exhibition at a above European museum.

6 - 'Open Cage', an abstract painting, watercolor on pa .. | abstract painting 2010 Although she battled bigotry throughout her career, Mitchell’s art — an absolute cheeky argot of transience, slippage, gestural abandon — makes no apparent feminist argument, so fails to fit accessible arcade curatorial politics. “When I allocution about love, I don’t beggarly admiring a boyfriend. I beggarly admiring a tree,” the artisan already said. The all-embracing appearance of her “Cypress” and “Two Sunflowers” at Paris’s Fondation Louis Vuitton was admirable and packed.Footfall proves that audiences appetite beauty, characteristic achievement, arresting voices. Tate’s best accepted shows in 2019 were Van Gogh (422,000 visitors), Pierre Bonnard (248,000) and Don McCullin (175,000). By contrast, Dorothea Tanning (115,000) and Natalia Goncharova (89,000) were disappointments. Although Tanning lived long, she alone produced absorbing assignment — crisp, surrealist compositions — for a decade; too abundant of her attendant comprised blowsy, backward semi-abstractions. Goncharova, accessory and derivative, captivated up yet worse at abounding stretch.The ballsy anatomy of the attendant atrociously exposes those artists who did not sustain long, evolving careers — generally women, for amusing reasons.“There are acceptable artists who accept children . . . they are alleged men,” Tracey Emin has said.Tate administrator Maria Balshaw told me: “I don’t strive for shows 50 per cent by women because that’s a feminist gesture, but because we appetite to accredit to the apple we alive in.” That is incontestable, and advantage knows women in art charcoal a assignment in progress. Ernst Gombrich’s The Story of Art, the acknowledged and best affecting art history anytime written, aboriginal appear in 1950 and now in its 16th edition, contains aloof one changeable artist: Käthe Kollwitz.How crazily this sits with today’s institutional shifts, decidedly in the UK. Following new accessories in the aftermost few years, four out of bristles Tate admiral are now women. In bounce 2020, for the aboriginal time all four Tate galleries will host women abandoned shows: Berlin-based Candice Breitz’s video accession about refugees (Tate Liverpool); Zanele Muholi, who photographs South Africa’s LGBTQ association (Tate Modern); Korean accession artisan Haegue Yang, who explores “non-binary aesthetic languages” (Tate St Ives); and the atramentous British allegorical painter Lynette Yiadom-Boakye (Tate Britain).

Abstract Painting | Abstract art, Pink art, Art photography - abstract painting 2010 | abstract painting 2010 Topical themes? Tick. Racial, ual, geographic, media diversity? Tick. But what about the abounding ambit of art, above political and feminist agendas?The Venice Biennale of 2019 embodied these tensions. Magnificently, the alien 35-year-old Lithuanian artisan Lina Lapelyte took the Golden Lion for her lyrical, inclusive, aboriginal achievement accession “Sun and Sea (Marina)” about altitude change, co-created with the administrator Rugile Barzdziukaite and the biographer Vaiva Grainyte. But in an overwhelmingly feminised biennale, abounding civic representations by women were black contest in political correctness. For Britain, Cathy Wilkes offered decrepit dolls, a hectoring eyes of calm austerity; for Austria, Renate Bertelmann presented awkward knifepoint vulva-flowers — 1970s adverse feminism.In Phaidon’s Abundant Women Artists, appear in 2019 in acknowledgment to Nochlin’s catechism and featuring 400 names, editor Rebecca Morrill argues that “greatness is not inherent to art itself”.She suggests that we “let go of any attenuated atypical analogue of greatness . . . embrace every forgotten, disregarded or undervalued artist . . . until equality, above all institutions, has assuredly been reached”.Equality over affection agency mediocrity. Krasner insisted: “I am an artist, not a woman artist.” From Krasner to Lapelyte, the best arresting artists are capricious and charge no appropriate pleading. If in the abutting decades we artlessly appearance the best art — irrespective of gender or character backroom — Nochlin’s catechism will become obsolete.Follow @FTLifeArts on Twitter to acquisition out about our latest belief first. Listen and subscribe to Culture Call, a across chat from the FT, at ft.com/culture-call or on Apple Podcasts

6 Abstract Paintings/Stories | ido art karen robinson - abstract painting 2010 | abstract painting 2010 Ten Top Risks Of Attending Abstract Painting 6 - Abstract Painting 6 - abstract painting 2010 | Pleasant to be able to the blog, on this moment I will demonstrate concerning keyword. And after this, here is the primary picture:

Untitled June 6, 6..abstract painting | 6"x6", Acrylic o .. | abstract painting 2010 Read the full article

[cover2covermom]

Hello bookworms!

While on my quest to diversify my reading, I realized that I needed to read more books within the realm of LGBTQIA+ fiction.  So today, I am brining you mini reviews for two young adult book that I’ve recently read, and I think you should as well.

Books included in this post: Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Bengamin Alire Saenz & Symptoms of Being Human by Jeff Garvin

Author: Benjamin Alire Sáenz

Genre: Young Adult • Contemporary • LGBTQIA+

Version: Audiobook (7h 29min listening length)

Narrator: Lin-Manuel Miranda

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio

Source: Hoopla

Amazon • Goodreads

Book Synopsis:

Aristotle is an angry teen with a brother in prison. Dante is a know-it-all who has an unusual way of looking at the world. When the two meet at the swimming pool, they seem to have nothing in common. But as the loners start spending time together, they discover that they share a special friendship—the kind that changes lives and lasts a lifetime. And it is through this friendship that Ari and Dante will learn the most important truths about themselves and the kind of people they want to be.

My Thoughts:

Is Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe the longest book title ever?  I wonder what the record is?  It has to definitely be up there…

“I had a feeling there was something wrong with me. I guess I was a mystery even to myself.”

Honestly, I was anticipating a fluffy YA romance, but that is NOT what this book is.  Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe is Aristotle’s (Ari) journey towards self discovery.  Ari is a Mexican-American teenager who seems more at ease when he is alone.  To say that Ari keeps to himself is an understatement… that is until Dante walks into his life.

Dante has my heart.  As many of you know, I am such a sucker for quirky characters.  Dante walks to the beat of his own drum and does not apologize for it.  He is so secure in who he is, something that I greatly admire in characters.  The friendship between Ari and Dante was everything.  This is the type of friend I want by my side.

I will say that I did not find this book predictable in the slightest.  I kept thinking that I knew what was coming next, waiting for “the moment,” but that moment did not come when I was expecting it to.  I found myself second guessing my theory throughout the entire book… I’m sure those of you who have read it know what I am talking about.

Can I just say kudos to the author for including positive family dynamics in a YA book?  Sure there was some family drama and secrets, but both sets of parents in this book not only loved their sons, but supported them.  It is so rare to see parents who are so involved in YA, which is such a shame because strong parental relationships are so important during the teen years.

Unfortunately, the pacing for the first 60% of this book was a big issue for me.  I remember reaching the 60% mark and thinking to myself, “Is anything going to actually happen in this book?”  I feel like the majority of this book was some serious angst.  I understand this book was about Ari discovering who he really is, but I felt like this book was way too heavy for the first half of the book, thus feeling very dense.  I feel like it was missing some balance. 

“We all fight our own private wars.”

With that being said, the last 40% of this book was a 5-star read for me.  The ending was absolute perfection.  I feel like this book could be very relatable to so many teens who don’t yet fully understand themselves.

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe is a very character driven story, so if you are one for action-packed plots, this probably isn’t going to be your cup of tea.  HOWEVER, if you are looking for a beautiful book about self discovery, you need to give this one a go.

My Rating:

*3.75 Stars

About the Author:

Benjamin Alire Sáenz is an author of poetry and prose for adults and teens. He is the winner of the PEN/Faulkner Award and the American Book Award for his books for adults. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe was a Printz Honor Book, the Stonewall Award winner, the Pura Belpre Award winner, the Lambda Literary Award winner, and a finalist for the Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award. His first novel for teens, Sammy and Juliana in Hollywood, was an ALA Top Ten Book for Young Adults and a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. His second book for teens, He Forgot to Say Goodbye, won the Tomás Rivera Mexican American Children’s Book Award, the Southwest Book Award, and was named a New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age. He teaches creative writing at the University of Texas, El Paso.

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Author:  Jeff Garvin

Genre:  Young Adult • Contemporary • LGBTQIA+

Version: Audiobook (7h 47min listening length)

Narrator: Tom Phelan

Publisher: HarperAudio

Source: Hoopla

Amazon • Goodreads

Book Synopsis:

The first thing you’re going to want to know about me is: Am I a boy, or am I a girl?

Riley Cavanaugh is many things: Punk rock. Snarky. Rebellious. And gender fluid. Some days Riley identifies as a boy, and others as a girl. The thing is…Riley isn’t exactly out yet. And between starting a new school and having a congressman father running for reelection in uber-conservative Orange County, the pressure—media and otherwise—is building up in Riley’s so-called “normal” life.

On the advice of a therapist, Riley starts an anonymous blog to vent those pent-up feelings and tell the truth of what it’s REALLY like to be a gender fluid teenager. But just as Riley’s starting to settle in at school—even developing feelings for a mysterious outcast—the blog goes viral, and an unnamed commenter discovers Riley’s real identity, threatening exposure. Riley must make a choice: walk away from what the blog has created—a lifeline, new friends, a cause to believe in—or stand up, come out, and risk everything.

My Thoughts:

You all know how much I sometimes struggle with the YA genre, but I am here to tell you that Symptoms of Being Human is YA done right!  Not only was I educated about all kinds of LGBTQIA+ issues and terminology that I didn’t previously fully understand, but I was also highly entertained while I was learning.  These are the types of YA books that I enjoy, those that both educate and entertain at the same time.

“The first thing you’re going to want to know about me is: Am I a boy, or am I a girl?”

Symptoms of Being Human was my first book with a gender fluid main character.  I have read a book with a gender fluid secondary character before, but this one is the first book I’ve read where the focus is on gender issues and that really explores what it means to be gender fluid.   I must admit, before reading this book I did not fully grasp the concept, but after reading it, I really feel like I have a good understanding.  I am amazed at how Garvin was really able to take a very complex idea and simplify it into an explanation that is easy for everyone to understand.

“The world isn’t binary. Everything isn’t black or white, yes or no. Sometimes it’s not a switch, it’s a dial. And it’s not even a dial you can get your hands on; it turns without your permission or approval”

This book goes into some deep issues like suicide, hate crimes, bullying, etc.  There were some shocking statistics mentioned in this book…

“64% of transgender and non-binary people in the US experience sexual violence in their life—12% before they graduate high school. 41% will attempt suicide. “

41% of transgender and non-binary people attempt suicide?! This number literally had my jaw on the floor.  64% have suffered from some type of sexual violence?  This is NOT acceptable.  According to a 2008 National Transgender Discrimination Survey, these statistics are fairly accurate.  I only hope that these rates have been reduced since 2008 as more and more people are becoming aware of transgender and non-binary experiences.  This is one reason why this book is so important, it can help enlighten readers about the injustices and violence that non-binary gender individuals face, thus hopefully creating empathy.

“People do judge books by their covers; it’s human nature. They react to the way you look before they hear a single word that comes out of your mouth.”

I was pleasantly surprised to find that Riley, our main character, suffers from anxiety.  I’m sure we all can relate to having some form of anxiety at moments in our lives, but I feel that Garvin accurately depicts how debilitating it can be to those who suffer from sever anxiety.  Anxiety is definitely something that needs to be better represented in literature overall, so I was happy to see it represented here.

From what I’ve mentioned in this review, you would think that this book is a bit of a downer, but it also has some lighter moments with a touch of romance, friendships, and family dynamics.  The friendship included in this book was so heartwarming.  Riley, Bec, and Solo reminded me a lot of the dream team in Harry Potter: Harry, Ron, and Hermoine.  I also appreciated the family dynamics included: Riley’s parents were not perfect by any means, but they did love their child and were involved and supportive of Riley.

While it is true there are definitely some tough topics addressed in Symptoms of Being Human, it definitely ends on a positive and uplifting note. This is a very important book that brings to light *some* of the experiences of those who are gender fluid (also referred to as non-binary gender or genderqueer).  Books like these need to exist.  If you are fuzzy on these concepts, I strongly encourage you to pick this book up.  Educate yourself, so that you can in turn educate others.

My Rating:

About the Author:

Jeff Garvin grew up in Orange County, California, the son of a banker and a magician. He started acting in high school, and enjoyed a fifteen-year career including guest-starring roles in network television series ranging from The Wonder Years to Roseanne to Caroline and the City, as well as several independent features.

While studying at Chapman University, Jeff won awards for classical guitar and visual storytelling before graduating with a BFA in Film. As the front man of his rock band, 7k, Garvin released three albums and toured the United States. When the band dissolved in 2011, Jeff, who had always written short stories and lyrics, found his passion in full-length fiction.

His debut novel, SYMPTOMS OF BEING HUMAN, tells the story of Riley, a 16-year-old gender fluid teen who starts an anonymous blog to deal with hostility from classmates and tension at home. But when the blog goes viral, a storm of media attention threatens Riley’s anonymity. Coming February 2, 2016 from Balzer + Bray / HarperCollins.

Jeff lives in Southern California with his music teacher wife, their menagerie, and a respectable collection of books and guitars.

Website • Twitter • Facebook • Instagram

Have you read either of these books?  If so, what did you think?

Comment below and let me know :)

Diverse #YoungAdult Books in Review: #AristotleandDante & #SymptomsofBeingHuman. #BookBlogger Hello bookworms! While on my quest to diversify my reading, I realized that I needed to read more books within the realm of LGBTQIA+ fiction.