#assignment

[one-time-i-dreamt]

I was given an assignment to write a song in the style of Panic! At the Disco. I got them mixed up with Fall Out Boy and didn’t realize my mistake until I woke up.

[winterr77]

ੈ✩‧₊˚Self Improvement Habits

ੈ✩‧₊˚self improvement habits to slowly implement

✩no social media before 10 am and after 9 pm (even better if you delete your social media, I only use pinterest and tumblr)

✩sleeping around 6-8 hours everyday and not sleeping later than 12pm

✩ figure out your bodies needs, what are you defficient in?(e.g iron and vitamin D) Do you need acne meds? (they saved my skin) Take vitamins and minerals daily and invest in your health early to prevent issues.

✩waking up early (this can vary but I try around 5-7am)

✩reading 15 min a day and slowly increasing by 3-5 min, I recommend classic literature such as Woolf, Dostoyevsky, Tolstoy, etc

✩working out once a week for beginners to slowly 3 times a week

✩eating healthier through nutritious meals, fruits and nuts and avoiding very sugary and overly processed junk food.

✩practicing writing, journalling, or any other form of creative expression

✩pick up an instrument to learn (proven to increase brain activity and improve brain health)

✩reconnect with nature, spend an hour or more outside, no music just listening to your natural surroundings

✩choose a skill and hone it, this can be from Edx or Skillshare, e.g CS50 course from Harvard at Edx

✩work on your goals for at least 30min a day

ੈ✩‧₊˚

good luck with your studies !!!

~winter

ଘ(੭ˊᵕˋ)੭* ੈ✩‧₊˚

[jokingluna]

[reinekoya]

AGAIN POSTING THIS BEFORE CLASS TMR WHEN I MIGHT CRY FROM CRITIQUE

JOHN PRICE BARRY SLOANE PRICE PRICE PRICE PRICE PRICE

Heres the ref btw-

@goatgoesmbe

[noctilionoidea]

Very happy with this especially considering how it’s FUCKING charcoal. Also used a white conte and grey oil pastel. Hope it does well during critique Thursday (which is the day I made the imaginary opera performance because we had to have one in our final pieces). The assignment is a poster for La Bohème in my narrative composition and illustration class

I was a little sad because this composition doesn’t work with 1830s hairstyles and I really wanted to draw Mimi with a super cute updo (this is literally the only composition that didn’t have 1830s hairstyles) but this was the best of the 20 I did. Also… she’s dying… I’m pretty sure she has a pass.

[chipmunkweirdo]

Eleanor-bounding for work yesterday.

She did a great job on the drop box (even in the rain.)

And she was able to shelf read a WHOLE row. We’re now done with 4 of 5 shelf reading assignments.

[susanghanmessenger]

The Men We Want and the Women We Love to Hate: Gender Roles in Mystic Messenger

Mystic Messenger (수상한메신저) is a 2016 otome game developed by the South Korean indie game company Cheritz. It was an immediate hit upon release, largely due to its unique format for the otome genre as a whole: the game takes place in real time over a period of eleven days via a series of chatrooms, texting, and phone calls with each of the love interests.

The story centers you as the main character (hereafter referred to as "MC") accidentally downloading an app that acts as the main chatroom for Rika's Funding Association (hereafter referred to as the R.F.A), a charity organization that fundraises through throwing parties. Rika, their namesake, has since passed away; in her absence, the remaining members attempt to keep the parties going in her memory, but without success. You agree to become their new party coordinator and begin organizing right away, bonding with the rest of the members and gathering guests for the party, all while gradually unraveling all of the locked away secrets the organization is hiding.

I'll be primarily addressing question three of the assignment, albeit on a broader scale to include ways in which the game regards femininity:

How is ideal masculinity presented in these games? What aspects of virility, behavior, values, physical beauty, social status, and more are being offered up to the consumer? What are these men fulfilling that is “missing” in mainstream culture?

Heavy spoilers for most of the game under the cut.

One of the more interesting aspects of Mystic Messenger is the way in which its core cast is characterized. The R.F.A members tend to cater towards certain fantasies or archetypes as is typical for the genre—Jumin, for example, appears on the surface to be a shoe-in for the "wealthy CEO" trope—but due to the game's long-form format are afforded a deep emotional complexity to flesh out, individualize, and humanize them all in a way that's difficult for similar games to fully achieve. This is, of course, all part of the fantasy, as their complexity at its core stems from and centers around their roles as love interests, which itself is tied to their overall gendered appeal.

Let's continue to look at Jumin as an example:

Jumin's character is very easy to get the gist of within having a couple of chats with him; he's stoic, calculating, cautious, and logical, taking his work and his role in the organization seriously. But he is also is obsessed with his cat, unflinchingly deadpan and sardonic in his humor, and at multiple points is willing to put his entire career on the line for the sake of helping the members of the R.F.A. As the player becomes closer to Jumin and begins his route, however, cracks quickly start appearing under the surface and Jumin begins to unravel. You learn that Jumin is naturally a deeply sensitive, emotional man, and his seemingly cold and uncaring attitude is just a front to protect himself under the fear people will only want to be close to him for personal gain due to his status. This eventually caused him to develop a crippling loneliness and paranoia and, in turn, is the reason for his obsession with cats: he was given his own cat by Rika, one of the only people Jumin had ever let into his life, to help with this same loneliness, and after her passing, his cat became a projection of the complex emotions he felt towards Rika due to his inability to process his grief. This is why, when his cat runs away, he has a nervous breakdown; he's not losing his cat, necessarily, but being "abandoned" by the last bit of Rika he's able to connect with. The MC, ideally, is expected to be supportive and understanding, gently helping him learn to process his emotions while emphasizing the need for balance and trust before eventually starting a relationship once he's more stable.

This multifaceted nature isn't unique to Jumin; every single main love interest offer a spectrum of different traits and fantasies. However, the struggles of each and every character—707's guilt, Yoosung's grief, ZEN's anxiety, Jumin's self-doubt, literally everything V and Ray have going on the entire time—are framed by the very nature of the game as not something that's part of their personalities and lived experience separate from gender, but rather a byproduct of the masculinities they're meant to represent and stand in contrast to. For example, 707's trauma and sense of humor, while integral to consider when engaging with his character, can't be divorced from the fact that traditional masculinity discourages men from outright displaying vulnerability.

Mystic Messenger is also unique in the ways in which the identity of the MC is approached. As stated before, Mystic Messenger is chatroom-based; none of the characters know what "you" look like until the day of the party. So when you're interacting with them, deepening your bond and getting to know them, the characters have no reference. They're falling in love not with your looks, but who you are as a person—your kindness, your humor, your support. This is part of what set it apart and made it popular, and while there is a faceless, nameless, stand-in MC, anyone can be her. I say "her" since, by virtue of being an otome, you are assumed to be feminine (the game goes as far as to mock initial insistence of masculinity) and, as such, your interactions with the R.F.A. members—and, by extension, how their character traits feel to the player—are seem through this lens. MC is kind, nurturing, selfless, patient, quick-witted, emotionally intuitive; she is a passive figure who solely exists to comfort and be pursued. She's the ultimate desirable woman, in stark contrast with to many of the other women in the game. Rika, Echo Girl, Glam, Sarah, Jumin's mother—they are framed as obstacles; jealous, manipulative, villainous. They subtly embody the "wrong" types of femininity: those that are too sexual, too confident, too emotional, too controlling. MC can be anyone she wants to be, and her association with the player inherently uplifts her—but even still, she must be a woman in a way that's non-threatening, that downplays her own being in support of the man she loves.

It's through the MC that the very traits discussed with the male love interests earlier are codified as a kind of masculinity, since these struggles are inherently filtered through a romantic lens and shaped by the influence of the MC. It's not about being a man; rather, it's about the romantic fantasy of a masculinity that's seen as desirable. None of their traits are inherently "masculine," and indeed, many jokes are made at the expense of the characters for going against what's expected of them. But because Mystic Messenger is designed to be about what kind of man you want to love, this fantasy is shaped around a romantic idealization of gender roles in the first place.

[florasstudyjournal]

assignment work, 19.03 WED

Happy wednesday!! My assignment is due this Friday so I’m getting ahead on the mini-study to write it. It’s only a short response, but I feel I need something to work off??

Anyways, the essay is basically on a keyword or phrase that contributes to American writing and America itself. It’s the importance of the keyword/phrase, its meaning, and then its themes in the American context.

Also peep the iced tea — it’s lemon and earl grey !!

[abybweisse]

Ch207 (p3), You've known me long enough

We get a vague understanding of what life was possibly like for Artie before coming to F. O. L. Orphanage...

...and we learn that Artie and Theo already knew each other before then, too.

But what does Artie mean by telling Theo to not "get scared now" after knowing Artie so long? Afraid of holding a gun... or afraid of Artie? Makes me wonder what Artie did before they both ended up in that orphanage!

Before Artie can elaborate (though he probably wasn't going to right then anyway), he and Theo realize more staff are headed their way.

Of course, that fan translation of the above page was very wrong about what Doll says. She doesn't say she will find a way to keep him/make him hers. No one calls anyone "baby". 😮‍💨 This does not, however, rule out the possibility that Doll tries to have Snake turned into a bizarre doll, if he dies. We do have to worry that bizarre doll Snake might turn against Finny and our earl simply because Finny left him to die. Same problem if Snake somehow lives (which I highly doubt); he could feel abandoned and choose Doll. Snake remaining loyal to our earl might not matter, though; Undertaker could turn him into a basic bizarre doll in order to simply show him off to our earl -- and possibly Finny, too -- later, just to make them feel worse about his death.

The fan translation of the next page isn't nearly as bad. The language here is more formal, but the gist of it was right:

I agree with @fwippysays, who said Finny might be thinking back to his master being arrested, then comparing it to now with Snake dying, because these are moments when Finny feels powerless to help those he cares about.

I hope Snake hears Finny's heartfelt apology for leaving him behind. Thankfully, the snakes are there to witness this: that Finny wanted to destroy Doll and take Snake with him. It's just that he felt he had to focus on their mission, otherwise Snake's death would be in vain.

Now what? Kill the approaching staff?

If Snake dies, I hope the snakes paralyze Doll and find the kids outside. Then they could burn the barn down. No bodies, no bizarre dolls.

[mrkmciver]

#Procrastination

[one-time-i-dreamt]

I had to write an essay about Marc Anthony and, as part of the same assignment, remix some random song that wasn’t even his.

[winterr77]

ੈ✩ Habits for your academic life

Below are some habits and rules to keep in mind throughout your studies and some tips that will elevate your learning experiences.

☆ Setting boundaries and learning to say no

It is always easy to say yes and join every social event that one is invited to, however its crucial to consider your own personal life and the consequences of your decisions. Hanging out with friends is a needed event as a social creature, however it's better to exercise caution and know when to say "no" to focus on your own goals and dreams. Don't get pulled into the pace of others and focus on finding a routine and schedule that works for your own benefit.

☆ Being comfortable with your own company

You will find in uni that there are lots of times that you will spend alone, and maybe feel a little anxious that you're the only person who isn't constantly in the company of someone everyday like you maybe were in high school. However, realise that even the time to yourself is a time of value, and treasure those moments to focus and work on your own goals. It is easier to get lost and lose sight of your ambitions when with others who don't have the same aspirations as yourself. Use your own time to sit down and work out what you want to achieve and quietly put in the effort to win.

☆ Never being scared to ask questions

It can be quite daunting to ask questions in lectures, so I prefer to ask my questions during times that aren't forced into a short time interval, such as tutorials, office hours, and other forms of learning support that your university/college provides. This way there is no rush to answer my questions and take my time in working through concepts and ideas. Ask questions based on your own conclusions, questions that challenge current rules and perspectives. Think deeper into your lessons and seek to make use of every bit of information.

☆ Being curious

This is very much related to the point above, that being that personal interest really aids with the brains memory retention. The more things you approach with an enthusiastic attitude, the easier it is for your brain to remember and categorise. Having curiosity, even if it is forced, gives a great advantage where you seek to interconnect the information you learn with other data, and grow more networks of neurons that allows your brain to stay healthy and active.

☆ Initiating contact

Struggling with a theory or assignment? Great, it shows that you are actively trying to understand a concept and working your brain muscles. Now the best way to comprehend or complete what you are struggling with is to access support materials. Still difficult? Reach out. Your teachers, professors, tutors are all there for your benefit. Use them intelligently and squeeze every drop of assistance and support from them while they are still available to you.

☆Watching educational content to aid your studies

You can never lose from learning a bit more every day. However make sure to fact check and find your information from trusted and quality sources. In general, it's always a win to be educated in various topics from health, sciences, arts, humanities and more to gain a better understanding of ourselves, our world, and humanity.

For example, I watched a ted talk today, and here is my conclusions from my notes:

ੈ✩TedX: Why Reading Matters by Rita Carter

Summary:

☆Your brain needs a workout as much as your body. And reading fiction seems to be one of the best workouts you can get. (I recommend quality fiction, with that being classic literature because it genuinely exercises your mind with its intricate language techniques and diverse vocabulary)

☆Not only is it good for you, but it's also good for society as a whole because the brain is like a muscle: the more you force yourself through books to take other people's perspectives, to sympathise, to empathise with other people, the more empathetic a society we will have.

ੈ✩‧₊˚

good luck lovelies

~winter

ଘ(੭ˊᵕˋ)੭* ੈ✩‧₊˚

[subtextures]

The Name of Things

A hawk slips between the trees,

silently like a child’s paper plane.

Here is no truth lassoed tightly

by a smug Wonder Woman.

For what is truth? The mountain

is still a mountain, despite its name.

We see it—imposible to deny—

but we insist words mean more,

tripping over them like shoelaces

as we cower in the short grass, and

listen for air as the hawk descends.

(February 6, 2025)

[shadelorde]

also can we stop doing the whole "400 words of an essay is NOTHING i'm a fanfic writer and i write 400 words every day" let's not fucking pretend that writing 400 words of a story you like and are personally invested in for fun is the same effort level or even skill set as writing an academic essay that's required to follow certain formatting procedures and wording. okay.

[chilipepprr]

Hyena :3