#epic century spanning background story

[princess-ibri]

Toying with the idea of having Snow White’s mother be Rose-Red, from 'Snow-White and Rose-Red" and naming her daughter after her sister.

Or if we want to keep the whole 'three drops of blood on the white snow' bit for how The First Queen decided on Snow White's name, I could go with version of the story where both girls are named "Rose", ala Rose-White and Rose-Red.

Anyway here's a disney style doodle I did over Jessie Willcox Smith's illustration of the fairy tale.

[thebunnybooknook]

Books that should be inducted into Coquette 'Girlblogger' Canon

The Color Purple by Alice Walker

A powerful cultural touchstone of modern American literature, The Color Purple depicts the lives of African American women in early twentieth-century rural Georgia. Separated as girls, sisters Celie and Nettie sustain their loyalty to and hope in each other across time, distance and silence. Through a series of letters spanning twenty years, first from Celie to God, then the sisters to each other despite the unknown, the novel draws readers into its rich and memorable portrayals of Celie, Nettie, Shug Avery and Sofia and their experience. The Color Purple broke the silence around domestic and sexual abuse, narrating the lives of women through their pain and struggle, companionship and growth, resilience and bravery. Deeply compassionate and beautifully imagined, Alice Walker's epic carries readers on a spirit-affirming journey towards redemption and love.

Plum Bum: A Novel Without Moral by Jessie Redmon Fauset

Written in 1929 at the height of the Harlem Renaissance by one of the movement's most important and prolific authors, Plum Bun is the story of Angela Murray, a young black girl who discovers she can pass for white. After the death of her parents, Angela moves to New York to escape the racism she believes is her only obstacle to opportunity. What she soon discovers is that being a woman has its own burdens that don't fade with the color of one's skin, and that love and marriage might not offer her salvation.

Comfort Woman by Nora Okja Keller

Comfort Woman is the story of Akiko, a Korean refugee of World War II, and Beccah, her daughter by an American missionary. The two women are living on the edge of society—and sanity—in Honolulu, plagued by Akiko's periodic encounters with the spirits of the dead, and by Beccah's struggles to reclaim her mother from her past. Slowly and painfully Akiko reveals her tragic story and the horrifying years she was forced to serve as a "comfort woman" to Japanese soldiers. As Beccah uncovers these truths, she discovers her own strength and the secret of the powers she herself possessed—the precious gifts her mother has given her.

Freshwater by Akwaeke Emezi

Ada begins her life in the south of Nigeria as a troubled baby and a source of deep concern to her family. Her parents, Saul and Saachi, successfully prayed her into existence, but as she grows into a volatile and splintered child, it becomes clear that something went terribly awry. When Ada comes of age and moves to America for college, the group of selves within her grows in power and agency. A traumatic assault leads to a crystallization of her alternate selves: Asụghara and Saint Vincent. As Ada fades into the background of her own mind and these selves--now protective, now hedonistic--move into control, Ada's life spirals in a dark and dangerous direction. Told from the perspective of the various selves within Ada, and closely based on the author's own personal experiences, Freshwater explores the metaphysics of identity and mental health, plunging the reader into the mystery of being and self. Freshwater dazzles with ferocious energy and serpentine grace, heralding the arrival of a fierce new literary voice.

Luster by Raven Lelani

Edie is just trying to survive. She’s messing up in her dead-end admin job in her all-white office, is sleeping with all the wrong men, and has failed at the only thing that meant anything to her, painting. No one seems to care that she doesn’t really know what she’s doing with her life beyond looking for her next hook-up. And then she meets Eric, a white middle-aged archivist with a suburban family, including a wife who has sort-of-agreed to an open marriage and an adopted black daughter who doesn’t have a single person in her life who can show her how to do her hair. As if navigating the constantly shifting landscape of sexual and racial politics as a young black woman wasn’t already hard enough, with nowhere else left to go, Edie finds herself falling head-first into Eric’s home and family.

Brunt Sugar by Avni Doshi

In her youth, Tara was wild. She abandoned her loveless marriage to join an ashram, endured a brief stint as a beggar (mostly to spite her affluent parents), and spent years chasing after a dishevelled, homeless 'artist' - all with her young child in tow. Now she is forgetting things, mixing up her maid's wages and leaving the gas on all night, and her grown-up daughter is faced with the task of caring for a woman who never cared for her. This is a love story and a story about betrayal. But not between lovers - between mother and daughter. Sharp as a blade and laced with caustic wit, Burnt Sugar unpicks the slippery, choking cord of memory and myth that binds two women together, making and unmaking them endlessly.

Dogs of Summer by Andrea Abreu

High in the mountains of northern Tenerife, the sun hides behind a seemingly endless ceiling of cloud cover that traps the region's inhabitants in an abject, infernal heat. There, in a ramshackle village far from the island's glamorous beach resorts, two adolescent girls pass a treacherous summer in each other's all-consuming company. The nine-year-old narrator is known to us only as Shit - a pet name given to her by her best friend Isora. Blonde, brash, beautiful Isora, who isn't afraid to mock the boys around town or gossip with the adults; who, though she is only one year older, has already grown breasts and pubic hair. Together, Shit and Isora wander the streets, shooing away the neighborhood's many pitiful dogs; they try to keep skinny by vomiting up sweets; they dream of shiny BMWs that will take them down to the beach, where they will finally get to enjoy the sea, just like the tourists whose vacation homes Shit's mother cleans for a living. But as June turns to July, and July to August, the narrator's simmering love for her friend erupts into a painful sexual awakening, just as Isora begins to heed the first calls of womanhood. Shit tries to keep up with her, but learns that growing up is a path one must walk alone; a journey so solitary, it can lead even the most intimate friendships to violent ends.

Ugly Girls by Lindsay Hunter

Perry and Baby Girl are best friends, though you wouldn’t know it if you met them. Their friendship is woven from the threads of never-ending dares and power struggles, their loyalty fierce but incredibly fraught. They spend their nights sneaking out of their trailers, stealing cars for joyrides, and doing all they can to appear hard to the outside world.With all their energy focused on deceiving themselves and the people around them, they don’t know that real danger lurks: Jamey, an alleged high school student from a nearby town, has been pining after Perry from behind the computer screen in his mother’s trailer for some time now, following Perry and Baby Girl’s every move—on Facebook, via instant messaging and text,and, unbeknownst to the girls, in person. When Perry and Baby Girl finally agree to meet Jamey face-to-face, they quickly realize he’s far from the shy high school boy they thought he was, and they’ll do whatever is necessary to protect themselves.

Jesus Saves by Darcey Steinke

Jesus Saves , a  New York Times  Notable Book of the Year, is a chilling horror story, a suburban gothic set not among green manicured lawns and cul-de-sacs, but the trash-filled woods between subdivisions and superhighways and the strip malls and duplexes on the back side of town. It’s the story of two Ginger, a troubled minister’s daughter; and Sandy Patrick, who was abducted from summer camp and now smiles from missing-child posters all over town. Layering the dreamscapes of  Alice in Wonderland  with the subculture of  River’s Edge , Darcey Steinke’s  Jesus Saves  is an unforgettable passage through the depths of literary imagination.

Cats Eye by Margaret Atwood

Cat's Eye is the story of Elaine Risley, a controversial painter who returns to Toronto, the city of her youth, for a retrospective of her art. Engulfed by vivid images of the past, she reminisces about a trio of girls who initiated her into the fierce politics of childhood and its secret world of friendship, longing, and betrayal. Elaine must come to terms with her own identity as a daughter, a lover, and artist, and woman—but above all she must seek release from her haunting memories. Disturbing, hilarious, and compassionate, Cat's Eye is a breathtaking novel of a woman grappling with the tangled knots of her life.

[kustas]

Watched all of Heike Story. It is a show with a refreshing art style, who has very good designs and animation. Writing wise, I have not read the source material (it is an anime adaptation of medieval japanese epics) so I cannot comment on the accuracy. From what I gathered, the story was extremely condensed and the main character is an addition to symbolize the tradition of biwa (a stringed instrument) players, who were the ones to pass down these old tales orally to the later centuries. Despite being a very anime-y addition as a cutesy girl character, I never found her gimmicky or annoying myself.

It's true that the story felt a little condensed - the show is only 11 episodes and spans decades of complex political happenings - and you did not have much time to know some characters. I did not find this too much of a let down, it only made the story a bit tough to follow.

Again, this is speaking as someone who does know much about medieval Japan at all, but from that POV I appreciated that the story /felt/ like preserving the morals of the time. It shows a people with a culture that are a tad alien to a modern eye, where things like arranged marriage, complex nobility and ritual suicide are accepted facets of life. As a history enthusiast, it's very interesting. It doesn't try and frame the life of these people with modern judgement. This being said, the downsides of it being an adaptation of famous texts is that...if you watch it like a drama, knowing your history means that you will have no surprises at the plot, at all. Talk about spoilers. Woops

As for the art style - browsing anilist criticism, a lot of people are, it seems, total strangers to the animation process. The truth is that it's a show with minimal visible post production and stylized art. Most of the show does not have shadows or lights, only flats. This alongsides heavily stylized "flat" background art gave several people the impression of a cheap, unfinished show. This is not true. This show has a lot of care put in its art - the animation is beautiful and smooth, the character designs are detailed and drawn with care, and the style of the backgrounds is deliberate. And interesting! Where a lot of anime will have differing art styles for its characters, rare are the shows that dare having backgrounds with a bold art style. Here, they are lineless and made of flats and reminded me of woodblock prints, fitting for the old timey settings.

Since it's a bit of my thing, a word about the character designs. This show fights back anime sameface with grace! The main cast being all more or less related, there is a special care put into making siblings and children actually look related in their facial features. The background characters and main cast alike have fun, varied appearances. They also did not beautify the characters for the modern eye - as far as I know, fashion and makeup are historically accurate, even in aspects that might seem weird to us nowadays, like men applying a full face of makeup before battle or noble ladies wearing pants.

As a very short show, it took me an afternoon to watch and was very pleasant. If you have any interest in it, given it's short runtime I definitely recommend it. Worth watching for the art alone.

[enterdisney]

Unveiling the Magic: DisneyPlus.com/Begin Experience

In the realm of entertainment, few names command as much reverence and adoration as Disney. With its storied history spanning nearly a century, Disney has captivated audiences worldwide with its enchanting tales, beloved characters, and unparalleled storytelling prowess. Now, in the digital age, Disney's magic has found a new home: DisneyPlus. In this article, we embark on a journey to explore the wonders of Disney's online realm, delving into the enchanting experience that awaits users at Disney, also known as disneypluscom login/begin or simply Disney+

The Gateway to Endless Enchantment: DisneyPlus

As technology continues to evolve, so too does the way we consume entertainment. Disney, always at the forefront of innovation, recognized the shifting landscape and seized the opportunity to bring its timeless tales to audiences in a whole new way. Thus, Disney+ was born – a digital gateway to a treasure trove of content that spans generations.

At DisneyPlus, users are welcomed into a world where magic knows no bounds. With a few clicks, subscribers gain access to an extensive library of Disney classics, Pixar favorites, Marvel epics, Star Wars sagas, and much more. From beloved animated classics like "The Lion King" to blockbuster hits like "Avengers: Endgame," Disney+ offers something for everyone, regardless of age or background.

Seamless Access, Unmatched Convenience: DisneyPluscom Login/Begin

One of the hallmarks of Disney's online platform is its user-friendly interface, designed to provide seamless access and unmatched convenience. Whether accessing Disney+ via web browser or the dedicated mobile app, users can navigate with ease, allowing them to dive straight into the magic without any unnecessary hassle.

Upon visiting DisneyPlus, users are greeted with a visually stunning homepage that showcases the latest releases, timeless classics, and personalized recommendations based on viewing history. With a simple login process, subscribers can pick up right where they left off, whether they're watching on their smart TV, tablet, or smartphone. Disney's commitment to accessibility ensures that the magic is always within reach, no matter where life takes you.

A Universe of Possibilities: Disney+

At Disneyplus.com/begin, the possibilities are as vast as the imagination itself. From animated adventures to live-action spectacles, the platform offers a diverse array of content to suit every mood and occasion. Whether you're embarking on a nostalgic journey through childhood favorites or discovering new worlds alongside beloved characters, DisneyPlus. nvites you to explore, discover, and dream like never before.

But the magic doesn't stop there. Disney's commitment to storytelling extends beyond the screen, with behind-the-scenes documentaries, exclusive interviews, and insightful featurettes that offer a glimpse into the creative process behind your favorite films and series. With Disney, the enchantment never ends – there's always something new to discover, something to inspire, and something to delight.

Conclusion: Embracing the Magic of DisneyPlus

In closing, Disney+ stands as a testament to Disney's enduring legacy of storytelling excellence. By embracing the digital frontier, Disney has succeeded in bringing its timeless tales to audiences in ways never before imagined, ensuring that the magic of Disney is accessible to all, anytime, anywhere. Whether you're a lifelong fan or a newcomer to the enchanting world of Disney, Disney Pluwelcomes you with open arms, inviting you to embark on a journey of wonder, adventure, and endless possibilities. So why wait? Visit Disneyplus today and experience the magic for yourself. After all, with Disney, the adventure is just beginning.

[pirateboomboomus]

Unveiling the Legends: The History of Pirates and Their Pirate Armada

Introduction :

Ahoy, matey! Prepare to embark on a thrilling journey through the captivating history of pirates and their fearsome Pirate Armada. From ancient seafarers to the legendary buccaneers of the Golden Age of Piracy, the tales of these swashbucklers have fascinated generations. In this blog, we delve into the intriguing world of pirates, their exploits, and even uncover a Free Pirate Games called Pirate's Boom Boom that brings their adventures to life.

The Origins of Piracy

Piracy has a rich and varied history, dating back thousands of years. Ancient civilizations, such as the Phoenicians and Vikings, were known to engage in maritime raiding and plundering. However, it was during the Golden Age of Piracy, spanning the late 17th and early 18th centuries, that piracy truly flourished. The Pirate Armada, composed of numerous pirate crews, wreaked havoc upon the seas, targeting merchant ships and amassing vast fortunes.

The Pirate Armada Rises

As piracy gained momentum, the Pirate Armada grew in strength and influence. Notorious pirates like Blackbeard, Captain Kidd, and Bartholomew Roberts commanded fleets of ships, terrorizing the Caribbean, Atlantic, and Indian Ocean. The Pirate Armada became a force to be reckoned with, striking fear into the hearts of sailors and coastal communities alike.

Life as a Pirate :

Contrary to popular belief, life as a pirate was not all buried treasure and endless adventure. Pirates faced harsh conditions, enduring cramped quarters, disease, and constant danger. The Pirate Armada was a diverse community, comprising individuals from different backgrounds seeking fortune and freedom. They operated under their own code of conduct, known as the Pirate's Code, which governed their actions and ensured a degree of fairness among the crews.

Pirate's Boom Boom: A Mobile Pirate Game :

Experience the thrill of the high seas and the Pirate Armada in the New Pirate Games, Pirate's Boom Boom. Set sail as a captain, build your pirate fleet, and engage in epic naval battles against rival players. Commandeer enemy ships, discover hidden treasures, and form alliances to dominate the pirate-infested waters. With stunning graphics and immersive gameplay, Pirate's Boom Boom brings the swashbuckling world of pirates to your fingertips.

The Decline of the Pirate Armada :

The Pirate Armada's reign eventually came to an end as naval forces and governments intensified efforts to suppress piracy. Powerful naval fleets, like the Royal Navy, hunted down and executed notorious pirates, effectively dismantling the Pirate Armada. The era of piracy gradually faded into history, leaving behind tales of adventure, buried treasure, and legendary figures that continue to captivate our imagination to this day.

Conclusion :

The history of pirates and their fearsome Pirate Armada is a fascinating chapter in maritime lore. From their origins as ancient raiders to the height of their power during the Golden Age of Piracy, pirates have left an indelible mark on history. As we delve into their captivating stories and adventures, we can also explore the thrilling realm of piracy in mobile games like Pirate's Boom Boom. So, get ready to set sail, seize the wind, and embrace the legacy of these daring seafarers.

[questwithgis]

Top WAR Online Quest Types Guide - Warhammer Online Strategies and Leveling Guides

Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning has been praised for its very extensive and very detailed background story, one that spans centuries and includes hundreds of fantastic characters and epic events. If you want to immerse yourself in the myth and legend of Warhammer Online, the best way to do so would be to go on a quest. Any gamer, seasoned or not, can learn a lot (and gain a lot, too!) from doing and completing quests. The great thing is that Warhammer Online has not just one or two quest types, instead there are several. The Top WAR Online quest types Guide include public quests, RvR quests, Kill collector quests, exploration quests, and tome quests. I will give details on each one. But before I do so, let me just give a brief description of the general format of quests in the Warhammer world.

In Warhammer Online, quests are divided into chapters. Some of these quests are limited to that chapter alone, while others link with several other chapters and must be completed as you go ahead and play the game. These quests that I'm talking about are defined as:

Charges - quests that occur in one chapter alone and only serves to give light to that chapter's tale. Adventures - quests that go on and link chapters to other chapters, but within one tier or level only.

Epics -

quests that cover multiple chapters and all levels

The Warhammer Online quest types are the following:

Public Quests - quests like these are easy to spot since they occur in a specific area inside the game's realm. Anyone currently in that area can join the quest. RvR Quests -

these types of quests present more challenge than public quests. Also knows as conflict quests, RvR quests is defined as quests in which you are given a goal which your enemy would fight against. For example, you have to keep a creature alive, while your enemy would do his best to kill it.

Kill collector quests -

perhaps one of the most common of the Warhammer Online quest types, kill collector quests involve killing mobs or specific groups or creatures. Exploration quests -

as what the name suggests, this quest's main goal is for the player to explore the Warhammer world and get rewarded for his or her efforts.

Tome quests -

a still unclear type of quest, Tome quests are those quests that a player gets directly from his Tome of Knowledge (very much like a log book of his adventures in the Warhammer realm).

Now, what you must remember is that all of these quests offer rewards. The rewards often depend on how difficult the quests you completed were. This is the usual formula in most online games. Rewards vary from potion ingredients to magical items and even rare fragments and essences. Most importantly, completing quests also boost your level. Trying out one or all of the Top WAR Online quest types Guide will surely be beneficial in your climb to be a powerful Warhammer player and would surely make your character the one to beat and watch out for.

if you need more information http://www.questwithgis.com/ kindly cheakout our site.

[nenya85]

1 11 19 and 46?

@emblematik - Thanks for asking! 1. Do you listen to music when you write?

No.  Whenever I concentrate on writing (or just about anything else for that matter) I tend to tune out all background sounds, even pleasant ones.  

11.  Books and/or authors who influenced you the most

My knee-jerk reaction is to say J.R.R. Tolkien, because “The Lord of the Rings” is hands-down the most influential book on me as a person.  In terms of writing, the thing that made the most impression on me about his books is the need to totally believe the story you’re telling. However, as far as my own writing goes, I think his example was more intimidating than influential.  (There’s a reason I’ve never written any Tolkien fanfiction.)  

In terms of my writing fanfiction, I’d have to say, AmunRa’s “Intruders” (cw: the story contains rape and its emotional impact. I haven’t read it in a decade so it might need other warnings.)  I’d always assumed that ordinary people couldn’t just write a book.  On some level, I figured that you had to be some kind of literary genius with a book contract and maybe a job as an Oxford professor, or failing that, living in 19th century England probably helped.  My baseline belief was that I couldn’t tell a story that anyone would want to listen to.  Even further, I assumed I had neither the discipline nor the ability to plot out an entire, coherent story. 

And then AmunRa proved that someone writing on FFNet under a pseudonym could write what turned out to be an ambitious epic spanning millennia that had me eagerly awaiting each update.  It was such a freeing realization – that writing was something that didn’t belong solely to people with their names written in gold leaf on library shelves. And that encouraged me to give myself permission to start telling sweeping and overly long stories of my own.

19.  How do you keep yourself motivated?

That’s a pretty well timed question, because right now, I’m honestly dealing with feeling discouraged about writing.  Sometimes I still struggle with that baseline belief I mentioned above.  Usually I try to write through it if I can, even if I delete 99% of what I write later.  This time, I decided to post this Ask!

46.  Do you reread your own stories?

Is it egotistical to say, “Yes?” The funny thing is, that I’ll forget parts of stories, particularly if I haven’t read them in years, so sometimes I’ll come to something I have absolutely no memory of having written.

[bemused-writer]

Fanfiction questions: 6, 22, 28, 38!

Thanks for sending this in!

6. List your OTP from each fandom you’ve been involved in.

Oh, so many fandoms.... This won’t include everything by default of there probably being too much but I will list what I can think of! I’ll start with my more current fandoms:

Wei Wuxian/Lan Wanji (The Untamed) - There’s so much I like about these two in the live action. Their loyalty to one another, their growth over the course of the series, and they way they learn to understand one another so well. Other things I really liked was how pleasantly romantic things were between them. The music, the longing, and how they can work together in unison.

Noé/Vanitas (Vanitas no Carte) - I... almost don’t need to say why I like this ship. It’s taken over all my writing. 8D Still, they are such a great balancing act and Mochizuki is writing their adventures so well.... I’m just very impressed. I also really like Jeanne/Dominique but they haven’t gotten much attention in the series yet. :0

Aziraphale/Crowley (Good Omens) - I just love how they’re nontraditional entities, uniquely eccentric, and that while their friendship has spanned centuries they still have new things to learn about one another.

Oz/Echo (Pandora Hearts) - They didn’t get much time together but they were both in a unique position to understand each other’s suffering in a unique way. I really like these two. The one “date” they went on left quite an impression on me; I think if they’d been given the chance they could have really improved one another and brought a special light to each other’s lives. 

Sherlock/Wato (Miss Sherlock) - It’s hard not to ship every version of Holmes and Watson and these two were no exception! I really hope we get a second season but I loved seeing the progression of their relationship in this show and loved how unusual the cases were. Thought they handled things very well.

Eleanor/Tahani (The Good Place) - Honestly, I like all the ships on this show but these two and their kind of background flirting is just great. Love them. 

And now some fandoms I’m a little less active in (at least at the moment):

Dean/Cas (Supernatural) - I don’t know if I’m really holding out for this to happen in canon in any overt kind of way. It’s been long enough since I’ve watched the show that I’ve created a little distance there. Probably for the best. XD Even so, I always thought these two had something special! 

Korra/Asami (Legend of Korra) - I remember watching season 1 and thinking “These two would be cute together but that’s unlikely to happen.” I’m very glad I was proven wrong. They’re just as epic together as I’d hoped!

Ned/Chuck (Pushing Daisies) - Such an ideal couple. They talk things out, they love each other dearly, and they’re both pretty unusual in all kinds of ways.

Yuuko/Watanuki (xxxHolic) - Pretty sure I’m one of the only people shipping this. XD But it is my opinion that Watanuki had feelings for Yuuko that surpassed his feelings for everyone else. Were they reciprocated? I don’t think they were returned romantically, but I ship it all the same.

Kamui/Subaru (X/1999) - I remember, at some point, this ship had a lot of people disliking it. More recent people will use their familial relationship in Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle as a reason but back in the day it was just because it got in the way of all the Subaru/Seishirou and Kamui/Fuuma shippers. At any rate, in X/1999 Kamui and Subaru are not related and they are pointedly portrayed as a healthier version of the Seishirou/Subaru relationship. Anyway, I think they would have been really nice with each other and I still need the ending of this series in case CLAMP ever wants to, you know, do that....

Willow/Tara (BTVS) - Before certain events, they were just adorable and also a power couple.

Cain/Riff (Cain Saga/Godchild) - Tragic, loyal, and bizarre. This sums up their relationship and the series pretty well. I’m always moved by these two.

Data/Deanna (Star Trek: TNG) - Probably also the only person shipping this, but you know? It would have been cool. Also, I think I’m probably only supposed to pick one ship per show but Q/Picard is just also incredibly good. 

Miharu/Yoite (Nabari no Ou) - Just everything about these two is great and tragic and awesome.

Cosima/Delphine (Orphan Black) - They had a lot of troubled points in their relationships but they pulled through and that was nice to see.

Louis/Armand (The Vampire Chronicles) - It’s been quite some time since I’ve read this (I’m due for a reread) but I distinctly recall rooting for these two because I was (and am) convinced Lestat isn’t good enough for Louis. I’m not exactly caught up on the series, so maybe I would change my mind but... I don’t know...

I’m forgetting so many....

22. Is there anything you regret writing?

At the moment, no! I had a phase when I was a teen where I regretted writing all of my fanfiction, though. It was a difficult time in general and I just felt like none of it was that good and I shouldn’t have spent so much time on it--it seemed like I should be doing other things and there was just a sense of shame. It’s weird thinking back to that time because I’ve definitely moved past it. Unfortunately, I deleted my fanfic from that era. Now I’m trying to recover it so I can see the progress I’ve made, but there’s been so-so luck in that regard. Anyway, this is why I encourage people to at least keep a copy of whatever it is they do. You might want it in the future even if you don’t at this point in time!

28. If someone were to draw a piece of fanart for your story, which story would it be and what would the picture be of?

Hmmm, I’ve actually been fortunate enough that someone did draw some fanfic for one of my stories! But, this is talking about something that hasn’t been created yet. Honestly, I would love to see art of Jeanne taking down VotBM in The Descent. I feel like that is the best action scene I’ve done to date and there was something just... really awesome about her throwing a sword across a room with pin point accuracy. 8D I’d also like to see art of the characters in The Dark Wanderer (the sequel to that), especially Dominique dressed as the necromancer.

38. Do you use established canon characters or do you create OCs?

Generally speaking, I try to keep with pre-established characters since I figure we’re all reading fanfic to see more of them! However, most stories can’t make it on their own with just those characters. Many plots will be too big to only have that limited number, so I create OCs as well to better serve the story. For example, there are a lot of OCs in my interpretation of Vanitas’s background (Dealing with Monsters) because we haven’t yet seen his backstory. If I didn’t create any OCs, there wouldn’t have been much of a story. XD

[itsflyingbird]

Best historical novels for all time in Marathi

History is best topic to read and to understand also. Benefits of reading of reading such type of books is we can improve our behavior from mistakes that can harmful to us. Also, it helps to understand why the present rules or world are like this? (history tell us the reasons behind that) with that it gives the chance to understand our real hero’s and legends, sacrifices done for peace.

So, Here are the 5 historical books suggestion that can help you to improve yourself.

Mrutyunjaya by Shivaji Sawant

Mrutyunjaya is the autobiography of Karna, and yet it is not just that. With deceptive case, Sawant brings into play an exceptional stylistic innovation by combining six "dramatic soliloquies" to form the nine books of this novel of epic dimensions. Four books are spoken by Karna. These are interspersed with a book each from the lips of his unwed mother Kunti, Duryodhana (who considers Karna his mainstay), Shon (Shatruntapa, his foster-brother, who here-worships him), his wife Vrishali to whom he is like a god and, last of all, Krishna. Sawant depicts an uncanny similarity between Krishna and Karna and hints at a mystic link between them, investing his protagonist with a more than-human aura to offset the un-heroic and even unmanly acts which mar this tremendously complex and utterly fascinating creating of Vyasa.

Shriman yogi by Ranjit desai

This is a biographical novel on Shivaji Maharaj. This historical novel has created history in the world of literature and books. Shivaji Maharaj is the most worshipped person in Maharashtra. Every single household here knows Shivaji Maharaj. He is the most respected character. He was a dream come true. Shivaji Maharaj was born as a Hindu but at such time when Hinduism was forgotten by the Hindus. In his novel Ranjit Desai pictures Shivaji from his birth rather he starts with the days prior to his birth. Before writing this novel Desai has searched history, he has not left any stone unturned while doing so. Writing on Shivaji Maharaj was a very difficult task. Shivaji Maharaj had many qualities and the last 34 centuries have changed people`s view about him. They have become more possessive about him adding unnecessarily, and untruthfully to his qualities considering him a god. On this background it was very difficult to portray Shivaji Maharaj as perfect as possible Desai had realised his responsibility. He has pictured Shivaji Maharaj meticulously in this novel. Religious but not superstitious, strict but not wicked, adventurous but not impetuous, practical but not aimless, realistic, visionary but not dreamy. Graceful but not prodigal. Desai has succeeded in highlighting Shivaji Maharaj human nature. His base was that of a human. He valued all, respected every religion. He was an expert commander. He awakened the love for motherland in the sleeping mind, of people. He ignited their confidence. While describing this, Desai has brought many of Shivaji Maharaj qualities into limelight. Shivaji Maharaj was a noble king but he was a nobleman. He also had his own sufferings. He lost many, but his first preference was his motherland. As we go on reading, we get involved in the book so much that we live each moment and when Desai ends the novel, we feel that “WE” have lost Shivaji Maharaj.

Shaymchi aai by sane guruji

Shyamchi Aai (Marathi: श्यामची आई; English: Shyam's Mother) is hailed as one of the greatest tributes to mother's love in Marathi literature. It was written by famous author and social activist Sane Guruji. this book is representing the love between mother and her child.

Shyamchi Aai is an autobiography of Sane Guruji belonging to a Brahmin family in Konkan region of rural Maharashtra during British Raj. Sane Guruji, fondly called Shyam during his childhood, is narrating his memories to a group of children in a nightly sitting.

Chapters in the book are named ratra meaning "night" in Marathi. They are named first night, second night and so on. Every passing 5, the story takes you into the family setting in rural Konkan and its beautiful seaside landscapes with adjoining ranges of Sahyadri.

As the title suggests the central character is Shyam's mother and the kind of enormous influence she has on Shyam's life and upbringing. It involves sticking to one's ideals even though one is neck deep in abject poverty.

The narration is flamboyant and involves readers in the setting smoothly. As the story progresses, we come to know the deterioration of Shyam's debt-ridden family. The communication between father and son, mother and son, and siblings is exemplary. It shows that if love is present in a person's life, the person can be content; no matter how poor he is.

The book starts with Shyam's mother getting married into a wealthy family, its slow progression into debt-ridden poverty, and ends with illness and death of his mother.

Pavankhind by Ranjit desai

Maharashtra, the state in Western India, had been under the rule of the Muslims since the thirteenth century. For about four hundred years it had tyrannical and intolerant kings from outside who never allowed the local population to live in peace. Loot, exploitation in the name of religion, rape and violence were rampant until Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj challenged the rulers and set up a Maratha empire in the seventeenth century. His mission was not a cakewalk: he had enemies from within, outside the state as well as those from other countries (the Portuguese and the British had made their present felt by then.) Loyalty of his followers was one major factor that helped Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj build an empire which was held in awe. Pavankhind is a historical novel that covers the events leading to the War of Pavankhind. (Pavankhind is a pass near Kolhapur.) The king successfully made his way through a siege of the pass; thanks to Baji Prabhu Deshpande who made the break through possible. Ranjit Desai (1928-1992) tackled the genre of novels with such ease that his collection includes all types of novels: historical, social, mythological, and biographical. He was also a playwright and has to his credit short stories.

Panipat by vishwas patil

The third battle of Panipat was fought over the throne of Delhi between the Marathas and the king of Afghanistan, Ahmad Shah Abdali. While the face-off had stretched for months, the actual conflict took place on 14 January 1761. And within a span of twelve hours, 150,000 soldiers lost their lives. About 80,000 horses, bullocks and elephants were slaughtered too. And even though the Marathas fought like absolute heroes, the battle ended up bringing their empire to its knees, emptying out its coffers and decimating an entire generation of youth.  Panipat has received thirty-eight awards since its release in 1988, and sold more than 200,000 copies. Published in English for the first time, this translation is going to be an absolute treat for connoisseurs of historical fiction.

[takashisnatsume]

Vinland Saga Episodes 1-5 Review

Ah, Vinland Saga. Where do I even begin? Cards on the table, I'm almost certain this is a masterpiece in the making and that anyone who sleeps on it is going to regret it.

I'm here to tell you, if you're on the fence about giving this show a shot: Do it. It's worth it.

If you gave it a try and found the first couple episodes didn't grab you initially: Stick with it. It's worth it.

If you're a fan of the original manga who's unsure about retreading old ground or you're fearful at what an anime might do to sully the perfection of your precious, precious baby: Rest assured. It's worth it.

If you're squeamish about a series exploring all the lovely topics associated with vikings including murder, pillaging, slavery, and sexual assault in a way that is unflinching in its portrayal of brutality but doesn't use it to gratuitous effect: Maybe try to push past it for the sake of a compelling narrative but take care of yourself first and foremost and know that a good show or a great one isn't worth your health. Drink some water. Pet an animal. Give this one a pass with my blessing and feel no guilt or shame in putting yourself before some Chinese cartoons.

Full disclosure, I benefit from having the entire source material available at this time under my belt, so while it will definitely sway my opinions of the series going forward since I'm not going in completely blind, new fans will still find this very enjoyable. With a series like this, it's very easy to let the overwhelming hype heighten your expectations past a reasonable level only to be let down.

This is not that type of show.

Or at least, for me it wasn't, because I was initially immune to the hype. I'd passed up on Vinland Saga before this. I knew about it only in the vaguest sense and ignored recommendations to give it a chance. I dismissed it as a violent gorefest for dudebros obsessed with Preserving Western Values, one that prioritized pandering to the exact type of person who's a little too interested in sweeping proclamations about his proud warrior heritage in this day and age. I went into the first episode of the anime with a vague sense of disinterest but a willingness to be impressed.

One episode, and I was intrigued. Two episodes, and I was invested. Three episodes, I was chomping at the bit to get my hands on the manga so I could see how the set-up would conclude. I tore through 160+ chapters at record speed and I'm a willing convert here to spread the good word that we're in for a wild ride if all goes well. Tears will be shed. Fists will be pumped. Conceptions will be challenged and layers will be uncovered.

But that's all future predictions. What about right now? Well, this early on, we've got some beautiful worldbuilding, breathtaking scenery, and characters who, while not extremely fleshed out just yet, do have hints of hidden depths just begging to be explored. The voice work that goes into bringing these characters to life is impeccable, with special mention going to our main character's child voice actress for an absolutely chilling performance in the fourth episode. We're encouraged to see this world through the eyes of its protagonist: equal parts idyllic and exciting, where the simplicity of childhood clashes with a cold dose of reality that comes knocking at the front door and bringing with it an end to the notion that adventure waits just around the corner for the brave and pure of heart.

Poetry aside, life's a real kick in the teeth, and whether it's the present day or the 11th century, that ain't changing. What, were you expecting a happy show? It's heavy and at times emotionally draining, yes, but carries with it a kernel of hope that grows as the narrative progresses onward. This series aims to deconstruct the bog-standard motivation of vengeance before reason, honor before morality, and warrior pride before compassion and empathy.

Now, to moderate expectations: You may not be impressed by the pacing. Vinland Saga is a sprawling epic that takes places over the span of 17 years and counting, and it takes its time getting to where it needs to go in the beginning. It thoroughly fleshes out its world and makes it feel truly lived-in, with anime-original scenes to keep the manga readers on their toes and fill in the gaps left by the source material. This is not a show with blazing fast traction, it's a slow burn, and it's one of the best examples I've seen in anime to date. We start out with our protagonist as a young child and stick with him throughout the entirety of his journey into adulthood, which means we're not going to see the full brunt of an unstoppable killing machine right away.

Some people (like me) really jell with this kind of methodical, thoughtful pace, but others might be bored to tears and just want to see some guys hack pieces off of one another like god intended. I urge you to settle down and let the story unfold. Be patient. It's coming, and it's worth the wait. (Or just read ahead in the manga like I did and spend the next several days stewing in a pool of your own tears, that works, too.)

In the meantime, if you don't need a bloody battle every two minutes to keep your attention focused, you can instead feast your eyes on the beautiful artwork and animation, particularly the backgrounds. It's WIT Studio of Attack on Titan acclaim at the helm here, so it comes as no surprise that Vinland Saga is an audiovisual treat, but I found myself constantly taken aback by just how lovely it consistently was. Some of you might find the occasional CG jarring, but here it's used sparingly and effectively, so I had no issues with it whatsoever. Where the series really shines is its background artwork and its environments, how it makes everything feel vibrant and true to life. The sound design goes even further in selling the idea that we're really experiencing Europe from a thousand years ago. The music is unobtrusive when it needs to be and used to stunning effect in its most important scenes. From a purely technical standpoint, everything here is rock solid and builds a strong foundation for the story to build from.

So, where does that leave us? While I think the Vinland Saga adaptation exceeds expectations and could turn out to be the overall best way of experiencing the narrative if its current quality holds up over the course of its run, the only way to know for sure if it's everything I've promised is to experience it for yourself. Dedicate a solid hour and a half to let this show transport you into a bygone age set over a millennium ago, and if you walk away disappointed after that, no amount of throwing you against this wall is going to give you a breakthrough.

There's no such thing as a story that's perfect for everyone, but for me, Vinland Saga was exactly what I needed it to be, and I can't overstate how eager I am to see where it takes me. I hope it does the same for you.

[davidmann95]

The Kingdom Hearts III Reaction

First thing’s first: yes, I got the responses to my initial reaction letting me know I could use L2 to cycle through triangle commands, and oh my god that made things so much more manageable, so thank you.

Gameplay wise, I said what I had to say right off the bat earlier: lot of fun, best version of the traditional playstyle. Gorgeous except for when it’s the most gorgeous. Way more game than I could handle on the margins, but it felt like fun available options I could choose whether to pursue or not rather than overwhelming.

Under the cut I’m gonna talk some broad structural stuff; I’ll avoid anything overtly spoilery, but it would certainly be understandable if you’d rather stay away. Under another bolded sign though I’m going to get into MAXIMUM spoiler territory, so those who just want my basic impressions but would prefer to hold off on more than that until they have their own go at it can know where to get off.

So this game does like 90% of everything I ever wanted it to do, plus so much MORE than I ever would have expected, resulting in a finale even more grand and resonant and satisfying than I might have imagined after nearly 13 years of waiting. The problem is that all that stuff is in the last 8 hours, and it is very, very clear that’s the part of the game Nomura and company actually cared about. This wasn’t interested in being Kingdom Hearts III, it wanted to be Kingdom Hearts III Part 3/3: The Finale after Dream Drop Distance and A Fragmentary Passage covered the other biggies, to the point of as mentioned before critically compromising the beginning of the game. It reached the point where Dream Drop Distance went from just baaaaarely pulling ahead of 358/2 Days to dead damn last in my ranking of these, because it not only set the tone for what went wrong here - even if this succeeded in the end in a way that couldn’t - but sponged off vital reveals and the conclusion to Riku’s character arc, both of which 1,000,000% needed to be in here so this could be a complete sequel rather than in an intermediary story where they were weakened by context.

Long story short, Nomura and Square are going to have to think very, very hard about what kind of a role the Disney worlds are going to play in these going forward, because the enthusiasm for them on the part of the writers is visibly dead. Not across the board, passion clearly went into the likes of the Toy Story and Big Hero 6 worlds, but it could not have been plainer that Monsters Inc. and Frozen were checkmarks being crossed off, perfunctory in a way I genuinely don’t feel the Disney worlds were in the past (though that may be in large part because this time around Sora is literally just there for level grinding, rather than an immediate search for friends, stripping away the central underlying emotional urgency of I and II). It would’ve been alright if there had been a major act break of the sort II had to provide a sense of forward momentum, but as is it really is just marking time while characters other than Sora drive the plot in the background, mostly in the form of catching up with what the audience already knows. They’ll always be a part of the franchise, and obviously the iconic Disney figures in Mickey and the rest will always be central, but unless the powers that be find a fresh new angle I think it’s getting to be time to scale the movie settings back in favor of the main story and original worlds, if not to the extent the Final Fantasy elements have received.

So I spent most of the game disappointed, figuring it would pull it all together for the finale and more than satisfy me, but not enough to retroactively redeem the game as a whole. And then it retroactively went and redeemed the game, because when I say it kicks off in the last 8 hours I don’t mean that that’s where things start getting parsed out in time for the finale. I mean it’s 8 solid hours of climax, physical and plot and character, the most intense and overwhelming of the franchise, answers to real-life-decade spanning mysteries and character resolutions and endgame-scale setpieces and catharsis being delivered just one after the other after the other. It’s the entire emotional underpinning of the game in a single titanic endrun, in an experience and at a pitch I’ve never seen before. Even the parts that should have been set up earlier in the game still have the entire rest of the series and years of anticipation leading into them, and while it’s a shame it had to bank on that advantage, it worked, because when I look back on the game in years to come it’s going to be this that I’ll remember, and when I someday a long time from now play through the franchise as a whole, I’ll go through the parts that previously irritated me with a smile on my face because it’ll just be a charming interlude rather than a dead stop. I can’t put this over II’s more well-rounded experience because of those structural issues, but while 0.2 is maybe the purest expression of intent thus far in the series, its brevity, and the fact that as good as it gets its best isn’t as good as this gets, puts III neck-and-neck with it as the franchise runner-up for me.

Okay, BIGGEST SPOILERS IN THE FUCKING WORLD UNDER THE IMAGE

So being a person who exists online in the 21st century, I had some key images of the ending spoiled for me well in advance, which sucked but was also maybe a blessing in disguise, because if I hadn’t been braced when those last three seconds came...that would have been rough. It was startlingly rough as is, which is odd because as much as I’ve always liked Sora as a character and appreciated the odd way his nature as a Disney hero in a Final Fantasy dark epic makes him a perfect lead and counterpoint, I never realized the depths of emotional investment I’d attached to his specific fate until the rug got pulled out. It would be as blatant a “but there’s no body!” moment as any there’s ever been even without the secret ending and the confirmation on Nomura’s part that Sora will remain the main character, it’s an emotional blow and a setback and a mystery for the others to solve rather than a full tragic ending (and one would have to imagine the characters themselves would believe that and will act accordingly given this entire story was itself about bringing back a bunch of Very Definitely Dead Folks), but it’s harsh as hell even if it’s very clearly the next step in a Master Plan rather than purely blueballing players for the cruel joy of it. Still, even if it’s reminiscent of stuff we’ve seen before, a melancholy-at-best ending is fully within the franchise wheelhouse; if I’m right and there’s one full trilogy of main games remaining in the series (I’m guessing without many if any spinoffs, Nomura’s bosses are definitely going to have his nose to the grindstone to get through the remainder of this thing on a sane timescale so as not to have another...well, this), maybe it’ll fully establish a sad-odd-numbered-ending, happy-even-numbered ending pattern, with IV having a gleeful reunion, V ending with all seeming lost, and the grand finale letting the heroes have their happily ever after.*

Before getting into the gushing praise for the rest of it, the reason this is at 90% of everything I wanted rather than complete: Kairi is bizarrely shortchanged here compared to every other central character, especially given her relationship with Sora is the foundation of the very end and she’s the logical main protagonist for IV. Even her ‘death’ isn’t my issue so much - by the end of the game Sora has rescued literally every other main character from beyond the veil of the afterlife or a living hell in fairly rapid succession, she’s just the last and biggest deal to him personally - as that even a few more scenes with her would have shored up so much. Not that her material isn’t good when she is there, I absolutely do think it was, and the emotional buildup from the series up to this point was more than enough in my opinion to carry her stuff through, but it’s the equivalent of, say, Lois Lane appearing out of nowhere at the end of a Justice League story to provide the impetus for Superman: obviously this works and makes sense because we know how much they mean to one another, but in the context of this as a lone narrative it’s a little out of nowhere. Riku gets it pretty bad too, if not as much so, but he has the ‘excuse’ of having his character arc resolved in Dream Drop Distance. Still though, it means the central trio is scarcely a thing in here the way it was in the past, though it looks like the next game is going to be entirely about getting them back together and hopefully they’ll stay as a complete unit from there on out.

Also prior to gushing praise: if Dream Drop Distance hadn’t happened, it would be so easy to restructure this in a way that would make the whole thing satisfying instead of just a perfect chunk of it. Open the game with Sora and Riku going into the Realm of Darkness to save Aqua, have Sora succeed but in the process of THAT lose his powers (making it a noble sacrifice on his part foreshadowing the end rather than a non-fuckup that the player pays for); Aqua has to recuperate, preferably with Kairi and Lea so they can get more screentime, Sora’s off regaining his powers and tracking down clues to the location of Castle Oblivion since it was under Organization control and therefore hidden, and Riku’s off with Mickey having his DDD arc. Stick the reveal of the real Organization XIII midgame, and keep the finale almost exactly as is. That way, plot and character’s doled out throughout, character screentime is rebalanced, and everything that worked stays working and comes to the exact same conclusion.

Gushing praise time: holy fuckin’ cow, this hit me in ways I did not see coming. The reunion of the other two trios was something I looked forward to well enough but not anything I fully expected to outright bowl me over, but by god they pushed those buttons as hard as they could and made them everything anyone could need them to be. But that was expected, to one extent or another; what I don’t think anyone could have seen coming was, in the final gasp of this saga of hilariously, broadly Arch villains, every single one of them turning out to be a real goddamn human being with understandable emotions and motivations and implied history and arcs. Monsters see the light (with the contextually hilarious exception of the one character fandom MOST wanted to see get a face turn with Vanitas, and even he finds understanding and peace) after a whole series of believing there’s one in the darkness when only one or two major characters had made a turnaround, and it doesn’t just make this game richer, it retroactively improves the entire series thematically and emotionally, as well as setting the stage for more of that approach based on what we know of what’s to come. And action-wise, it really does go for trying to beat II’s last Xemnas fight, and while I don’t know that it manages it in sheer cool thanks to that final laser blocking/dual wielding finale, it I think really does come out on top in the fights leading up to it and the spectacle and the emotional power and the beautiful interface screw (after the shit with the tornado earlier!), nevermind the absolute end where Our Nerd Dad Luke Skywalker** shows up to give his blessing to the franchise and usher out the story as it was.

As for the pair of post-credits scenes: in each instance I had something spoiled for me, but also in each instance not the BIG thing. I knew Xigbar would live and summon the Foretellers, which honestly is not that shocking for me. That he IS one of them, that he’s been putting on an act (one clearly in the shape of his teacher) and been a bigger villain than Xehanort THE ENTIRE TIME? I believe that got a literal gasp out of me, and THAT’S before it turned out that after bullheadedly clinging to the idea that she’s still a main villain for all these years, Maleficent might actually end up a main villain again. And the secret movie? I had the title spoiled - and god what a perfect twist, the most gleefully apeshit moment in the game and already probable best moment in gaming of the year coming back around in a completely serious way to define the future of the franchise - but assumed wrongly that it meant Sora would be in some way ‘reincarnated’ amnesiac as Yozora and needing to be returned to himself. But nope, Sora’s for real out there alive as himself in...something like the real world? Or The World Ends With You, which I understand is at least a lot closer? And Riku’s gonna wind up stuck out there too? And because Yozora’s there it means they’re in some kind of fuckin’ Flash of Two Worlds! situation?! Or if it’s in the same physical realm (which I have to doubt or Sora would rush home as soon as he got a ship) it’s the equivalent of that dope two-part Terra Obscura arc in Tom Strong?! Sora and Riku, trapped in a world where Kingdom Hearts is a Dark, Realistic Modern Urban Fantasy (which, if Sora got here by dying, does...does that mean Gritty Realworld! AU Kingdom Hearts fanfic is that universe’s version of hell? Because that would be beautiful) (did “This is a fantasy based on reality” end up carried over as the logline to Final Fantasy XV from Versus XIII? Because if not, absolutely use it here to keep that gag going) and having to fight their way back to their world and friends, hopefully with Kairi going on her own playable adventure on the other end of the cosmos to find them since there’s no way she wouldn’t be leading the search? And with the Master of Masters waiting in the wings, the perfect villain in general because if Sora is the MOST Disney character in this universe he appears to be the LEAST, and especially perfect here now that Sora’s symbolically if not possibly literally on his turf? Waiting I’m guessing another 3-5 years is gonna be hell (I’m guessing IV’ll be announced next year or maaaaaaaybe late this year because thus far Kingdom Hearts has never gone with no announced games on the horizon longer than the end of the next calendar year, and we’ll see how development goes after that; like I said, I imagine the pressure is on for Nomura), but this could not look more like my shit.

So that’s, after all these years, Kingdom Hearts III: an understandable, maybe unavoidable, but still crushing disappointment that undermined itself narratively before it even began production and ran on a burned-out crew that could never meet the impossible expectations surrounding it. Until it suddenly winks, brushes itself off, and lives up to damn near EVERYTHING on its shoulders in the most incredible ways possible while also transcending its previous limitations as a story right in front of you, and then breaking your heart before planting the seed to repair it and charting a path towards an even more exciting future. All said and done, I liked it a whole lot, and it’ll always be special to me.

* At this point, I really could go for the ending of the whole thing literally being Sora and Kairi walking into the sunset together, with the camera panning up into the sky and text (not mysterious narration like in the past, but old-school Disney-cartoon-style outside-the-world of the story cursive text) appearing to declare 𝒜𝓃𝒹 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓎 𝓁𝒾𝓋𝑒𝒹 𝒽𝒶𝓅𝓅𝒾𝓁𝓎 𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓇 𝒶𝒻𝓉𝑒𝓇. That is the level of closure and myth and satisfaction it’s gotta be building towards after everything thus far and everything to come.

** If you are reading this without having played or watched the game: given I know that’s now in the realm of possibility, no, I don’t literally mean Luke Skywalker showed up.

Yet.

[laoyangtutor]

老Yang教员组今天给各位留学生带来一篇纯原创代写电影观后感范文，讲的是To Live这部电影，希望这篇可以帮助到各位留学生，同时需要代写也可以直接联系我们老Yang客服vx  (vx:  ymf2531)进行咨询。

The film To Live, adapted from Yu Hua's novel of the same name, is widely regarded as a masterpiece by Chinese director Zhang Yimou. To Live tells the story of the involuntary destiny of the common people under the merciless torrent of history. The protagonists performed by Ge You and Gong Li in the film are very representative of the Chinese people from in the 20th century. The classic image provides people with the key to interpret destiny and humanity in the context of special historical times. The film spans through the eras of the time under the KMT rule, the Civil War of China, the era of the Great Leap, and the Cultural Revolution that lasted for a decade. The film has a certain degree of epic and history condensed into the fate of individuals. Zhang Yimou has created a series of lively and full-fledged characters for the audience in the historical background, and has covered the pain of being unable to control their own lives in the wave of history.

 The director uses a contrasting tactic to portray Fugui's character image, the transformation and sublimation of human nature completed in the years of change. At the beginning of the film, Fugui, played by Ge You, is a young master of the landlord's family and lives a carefree and wealthy life. The “fu” in the name has all the meanings of fortune, but it can be said that fate has shaped such a blessing character into a person’s life that has nothing to do with blessing. It is also the true demonstration of black humor. Fugui loved gambling from the beginning of the film. In the sharp contrast of such a situation of life, the typical character of Fugui's image is clearly highlighted. He represents the decaying class of the old landlord classes in China who were blind to the changing era. At this time, Fugui was no longer the young wealthy master, but a penniless, impoverished ordinary folk. After his wife returned with his daughter and son, Fugui finally decided to lead an honorable life. However, this was when the Civil War broke out in China, and he had no choice but to enlist.

 In Fugui’s image and character, the use of props makes this character more complete, realistic, and credible. Fugui's optimistic and open-minded character survived the painful family upheavals. Due to his fate, Fugui became a self-reliant urban poor. The sign of this turning point was the shadow puppet. In the film, Zhang Yimou combines the scenes of the shadow puppet show with the scene of steel making, symbolizing that in this absurd movement, Fugui was like a puppet under the control of the destiny. Before Youqing was killed by a car and Fugui rushed to the body of his son in blood, Zhang Yimou gave him a close-up shot. Fugui stood blankly in front of the shadow window of the shadow puppet play. Obviously, Zhang Yimou used this lens to tell people that in the face of an irresistible destiny, Fugui was like being played in the palm of fate’s hand.

 In the era of the Great Leap Forward in 1958, China set off an unrealistic and delusional national campaign to move beyond the UK and the USA in economic development. Even the iron wire on the shadow puppets had to be removed to make more steel, to make the most crucial two bullets for the liberation of Taiwan. Fugui managed to save the puppets, as he also saved his past as a human being. Years later, during the Cultural Revolution, in the midst of a turbulent wave, his shadow puppets failed to escape the catastrophe. All things related to the cultural heritages were to be destroyed. Under the supervision of the mayor, the shadow puppets were finally burned. Despite the importance of clinging to one’s past, the need of survivial, to live, prevailed. Despite the continuous and heavy blows of the fate, Fugui was still managed to keep an ordinary life, to be alive, humble, and full of hope for a better future. In the process, Fugui surpassed his own convictions through perseverance to take up the burden of the family. The shadow puppets are used to help Fugui complete a spiritual return to human nature and the growth of life.

 The film spans more than 30 years, depicting a violent turmoil of Chinese history. The life of the Fugui’s family before the founding of PRC, during the Great Leap Forward period, during the Cultural Revolution, and in the early 1980s was described. The characters’ joys and sorrows, life and death were marked by the times. The scenes transferred from the small gambling houses in the 1940s, the battlefield between the KMT and the CCP armies, to the irrational China in the 1950s rushing for unrealistic development, and to the end of the crazy and catastrophic era of Cultural Revolution since the end of the 1960s. The history of the country is reflected vividly through lives of individuals. On the other hand, the fate of individuals is also represented by the shadow puppets, powerlessly drifting in the waves of history. Overall, the film is a bit sad, sometimes amusing, and nostalgic in general. 

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[dawittiest]

HOW $#@! DO I READ NEW AVENGERS?

New Avengers (Vol. 1) is one of the most recommended Avengers runs by me and it’s a classic. Great, so how do I read it? Not by picking up the first issue and hoping for the best, that’s for sure. To get it, you have to know the context behind Avengers Disassembled and the House of M, and it’s a good idea to maybe read Young Avengers v1 too, and when you finally start reading actual New Avengers run then you get to Civil War and things get… confusing. (This is going to be a long post).

SO! Welcome to the biggest cluster of events in Marvel U history! It’s also my fave.

(see also: totally subjective intro to avengers comics)

Most of it is a brainchild of Brian Michael Bendis – now, to be a proper Comics Fan™ you need to be aware of the Bendis Discourse. My good friend Brian here is the definition of a Problematic Fave; he has written a good chunk of my favorite comics ever – he’s also written some of the worst. Now, I’d argue that his New Avengers era (running impressively from 2005 to 2012) is his Peak moment and one of the best creative moments in Marvel’s history. But it’s a fuckton of comics.

First in the NA run comes Civil War – the original limited series written by Mark Millar is probably one of the most controversial Marvel comics to be published (up until last year’s Secret Empire but we don’t talk about that). It’s, well. For starters, it’s not great for the characterization of all involved. Then there’s the issue that it seems not a single editor was involved in publishing this comic (is Matt Murdock in jail or prowling the streets? Who the fuck knows!! Certainly not the author). It’s aggressive. It’s over the top. It’s very Millar.

But Civil War is undeniably one of the most iconic storylines in modern comics. And while the original series is, let’s say, problematic, some of the tie-ins and aftermath issues are good. Plus, Civil War practically singlehandedly birthed the SteveTony fandom into existence. What can I say, I’m biased.

Once upon a time in my younger and more foolish ways, I decided to read the entirety of Civil War, spanning over 100 comics total, over the course of one summer month. I came back from this experience aged with wisdom to obliterate Bad Discourse with my encyclopedic knowledge of all relevant panels and to tell you which Civil War comics you should read for best experience. Honestly, no regrets (well, maybe except Moon Knight. I regret reading that a little).

Mind that this is a completely subjective selection. Also, seeing as Civil War spans over one-fucking-hundred comics I didn’t list all that are worth reading – just those that are most relevant to the story. It’s still a Lot.

BEHOLD – CIVIL WAR!

Prelude

-       The New Avengers Illuminati v1 #1 (one-shot)

-       Amazing Spider-man v2 #529-531

-       Civil War #1

-       Amazing Spider-man v2 #532

-       Civil War Frontline #11

1 CW Frontline is great. It’s also 11-issues long. If you’re not intimidated by the sheer number of comics to read, I really recommend it. If you’d rather cut the unnecessary comics out of your diet you can skip it on first reading, though I recommend you go back to it someday – it guarantees to make you look at certain players in Civil War through whole different eyes.

-       Civil War #2

-       Civil War Frontline #21

-       Civil War Frontline #31

-       Amazing Spider-man v2 #533

-       New Avengers v1 #21

-       Civil War #3

-       New Avengers v1 #22

-       New Avengers v1 #23

-       Black Panther v4 #182

2 The real wedding of the century! It’s not really all that important in the grand scheme of things but I included it because it’s just one issue and really, it’s iconic. Definitely worth the read.

-       Civil War Frontline #41

-       Civil War Frontline #51

-       Amazing Spider-Man v2 #534

-       Civil War #4

-       Amazing Spider-Man v2 #535

-       Civil War Frontline #61

-       Civil War Frontline #71

-       New Avengers #243

3 You can skip it, really.

-       Civil War #5

-       New Avengers v1 #25

-       Iron Man v4 #13

-       Iron Man v4 #14

-       Amazing Spider-Man V2 #536

-       Civil War Frontline #81

-       Civil War Frontline #91

-       Iron Man/Captain America: Casualties of War

-       Civil War #6

-       Civil War Frontline #101

-       Amazing Spider-man v2 #537

-       Civil War #7

-       Amazing Spider-man v2 #538

-       Civil War Frontline #111

-       Captain America v5 #254

4 It’s part of the Brubaker’s run on Cap, which means it’ll probably throw you on a few occasions since you don’t have the full context. Still, you should read it, it’s important; besides, not knowing what tf is going on is just part of the Comics Experience.

-       Civil War The Confession

The Aftermath

-       What If – Civil War

-       Fallen Son: Death of Captain America

-       Iron Man Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. (IM Vol. 4)5

5 Do you like TEARS and PAIN and some BODY HORROR? This run is for you. You don’t really need to read it right after CW; it’s acts pretty good as a standalone and you can always go back to it later. But I really recommend you do – it’s some of the best comics there are.

-       Captain America Vol. 54

4 Ah, the (in)famous Brubaker Cap! Some love it, some hate it. I have to say, it’s one of my favorite runs, period. It’s epic-length so I don’t recommend you dive into it right this second, but you should go back to it sometime – it will give you some further insight to the NA era and it’s just good storytelling. (There is some misogynistic bs to beware of, but honestly, that’s like token warning for all comics).

So you’re done with Civil War! Time for a breather, right? Wrong. Marvel has another event in store for you and this one is probably my most favorite of all.

BEHOLD – SECRET INVASION!

When you’re done with Civil War’s aftermath, you can continue reading NA up until you hit

-       New Avengers v1 #37

then you proceed to

-       New Avengers Annual #2

in which Brian wraps-up his pre-SI storyline and the next issue after that begins

Prelude: The Infiltration

-       New Avengers v1 #38

-       Mighty Avengers #7

-       New Avengers Illuminati v2 #1-#56

6 You don’t really have to read all of them, but I recommend you do. If you recommend I shove it, read at least #1 and #5, as the events in these will be brought up again and again.

-       New Avengers v1 #39

SECRET INVASION

-       Mighty Avengers v1 #127

7 Mighty Avengers are great for further insight into SI! But you don’t really need them. You can always go back to those later.

-       New Avengers v1 #40

-       Secret Invasion #1

-       New Avengers v1 #41

-       Mighty Avengers v1 #137

-       Secret Invasion #2

-       New Avengers v1 #42

-       Mighty Avengers v1 #147

-       Secret Invasion #3

-       New Avengers v1 #43

-       Mighty Avengers v1 #157

-       Secret Invasion #4

-       New Avengers v1 #44

-       Mighty Avengers v1 #167

-       Secret Invasion #5

-       New Avengers v1 #45

-       Mighty Avengers v1 #177

-       Secret Invasion #6

-       New Avengers v1 #46

-       Mighty Avengers v1 #187

-       Secret Invasion #7

-       New Avengers v1 #47

-       Secret Invasion #8

The Aftermath

-       Mighty Avengers v1 #20

We’re saying good-bye to Secret Invasion with MA #20 and moving up to an even darker period in Marvel’s history

BEHOLD – DARK REIGN!

Now, Dark Reign isn’t considered an event per se, because Marvel just advertised it as “The New World Order” (see how long that sticks). But I’m still gonna treat it as one, since it’s hard understanding just what tf is going on if you don’t have some background reading.

-       Dark Reign The Goblin Legacy8

8 This is not as much as a new comic but a reprint of some older comics that give you much-needed background on Norman Osborn/Green Goblin. Don’t get discouraged by the silly Silver Age-ness – the comics are the product of their time and anyway, this is basically required reading.

-       Secret Invasion Dark Reign9

9 Not a required reading but an entertaining behind-the-scenes look. Definitely recommended.

-       Dark Avengers10

10 Okay, again, not required but so much fun. If you like asshole antiheroes and more in-depth look at Norman Osborn’s twisted shenanigans you will really enjoy this book. And Victoria Hand is everything. (If you decide to read it right now, I recommend you read NA up to Siege and then read all of DA up to Siege too).

-       Dark Reign New Avengers: The Reunion

-       Invincible Iron man: World’s Most Wanted (IIM v1 #8-19)11

11 Cool concept, uneven execution, cool characters, uneven characterization – Fraction’s IIM in a nutshell. Plus, Larroca’s ugly-ass art. I have sentiment for this arc but admittedly, you can probably go back to it later.

Continue reading NA up to

-       New Avengers v1 #60

after which you should read

-       New Avengers v1 Annual #3

which leads you up to

SIEGE!

Maybe I’m biased but Siege is a pretty lukewarm event. Still, you need it, so I’m going to give you bare required reading.

Prelude

There’s like… 15? Thor issues leading up to Siege but they’re boring and I didn’t read all of them so you can skip them too.

-       Captain America: Reborn12

12 I don’t really think you should read it without reading Brubaker’s Cap first or you’ll be very confused. All you need to know is Steve is back! And you can read up on everything leading up to that in CA v5 later.

-       Invincible Iron Man: Stark Disassembled (IIM v1 #20-24)13

13 Fraction is back at it again! And just like before, you can probably get back to it later. Still, I dig the whole Disassembled concept.

SIEGE

-       Siege #1

-       Dark Avengers #1314

14 only if you decide to read the series

-       New Avengers #61

-       Siege #2

-       Dark Avengers #1414

-       New Avengers #62

-       Siege #3

-       Dark Avengers #1514

-       New Avengers #63

-       New Avengers #64

-       Siege #4

-       Dark Avengers #1614

The Epilogue

-       The Sentry: Fallen Sun

-       New Avengers: Finale

Aaaand that’s that! Wow, you read a fucking load of comics. Get back to me when you want to devour even more.

NEXT STOP – HEROIC AGE!

[aion-rsa]

Marvel’s Eternals Trailer Breakdown: Who Are The New Characters of the MCU?

https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

Marvel’s Eternals trailer is here, and with an all-star cast and an Oscar-winning director (in the form of Chloe Zhao) it looks like an ambitious, surprisingly cerebral new addition to Marvel Cinematic Universe lore. It doesn’t reveal much, but what it does is more than enough to make us hopeful for all the cosmic surprises that MCU Phase 4 has in store for us.

Watch the Eternals trailer here if you haven’t already…then we’ll get to talking about who all these cool new characters are!

And here’s the official synopsis, courtesy of Marvel Studios:

“Marvel Studios’ Eternals welcomes an exciting new team of Super Heroes to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The epic story, spanning thousands of years, features a group of immortal heroes forced out of the shadows to reunite against mankind’s oldest enemy, The Deviants. The outstanding ensemble cast includes Richard Madden as the all-powerful Ikaris, Gemma Chan as humankind-loving Sersi, Kumail Nanjiani as cosmic-powered Kingo, Lauren Ridloff as the super-fast Makkari, Brian Tyree Henry as the intelligent inventor Phastos, Salma Hayek as the wise and spiritual leader Ajak, Lia McHugh as the eternally young, old-soul Sprite, Don Lee as the powerful Gilgamesh, Barry Keoghan as aloof loner Druig, and Angelina Jolie as the fierce warrior Thena. Kit Harington plays Dane Whitman.”

So who are all these cool new characters joining the MCU? We’ve got a breakdown for you here.

Richard Madden as Ikaris

Eternals is going to give us a veritable Game of Thrones reunion with Richard Madden as Ikaris, the most famous member of the Eternals. Of course “most famous” is relative when dealing with Marvel creations this relatively obscure, but hey, it worked for Guardians of the Galaxy, it’ll work here.

It’s not yet clear exactly what everyone’s power sets will be like in this movie, but in the comics, Ikkaris had the powers of flight, energy projection, super strength, and limited teleportation. Like most of the characters in this trailer, Ikaris was created by Jack Kirby in 1976.

With him in the above photo is…

Gemma Chan as Sersi

Sersi is a powerful sorceress, and the member of the Eternals with perhaps the most love for humanity, and the trailer hints at that by seeing her walking among regular folks in different time periods. We’re also willing to bet that she’s the Eternal most likely to pop up in other MCU movies, as the character has been a card-carrying member of the Avengers in the comics.

Kumail Nanjiani as Kingo

Another Jack Kirby creation (albeit one who didn’t make his way into the pages of The Eternals comics until 1977), Kingo has a power set similar to Ikaris. In the comics, he became an action movie star, although based on the brief glimpse we get of him in this trailer, he may have opted to become a Bollywood actor instead. Check out Nanjiani’s badass Marvel-ready physique!

Lauren Ridloff as Makkari

Every good super team needs a speedster, and what’s better than a speedster? A nigh-immortal one! Like Quicksilver, Makkari (note the similarity in name to “Mercury”) has been known to be a little bit impatient thanks to the gift of speed. Fans of comics to screen adaptations will recognize Lauren as Connie from The Walking Dead.

Anyone spot any MCU Easter eggs in this reading room? One thing is for sure, that isn’t Dane Whitman’s Black Knight armor…because we saw that in a museum in Spider-Man: Far From Home!

Brian Tyree Henry as Phastos

Phastos is a relatively recent addition to Eternals lore, first appearing in 1985 where he was created by Peter Gillis and Sal Buscema. Phastos is an engineer, inventor, and weapons master…all useful skills when you’re practically immortal. Here he seems to be using his innate cosmic abilities to create something wondrous and beautiful.

Fans of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (and really, who ISN’T) will know this isn’t his first trip to the Marvel Universe, having voiced Jefferson Davis in that film.

Salma Hayek as Ajak

The voice you hear in the trailer is that of Salma Hayek as Ajak. The original comics lineup of the Eternals was pretty male-heavy, and Ajak was portrayed as a man on the page. One of the key figures of the early Kirby comics, Ajak has been worshipped as a god at various points in history.

Lia McHugh as Sprite

Sprite may look young, but they’re as ancient, wise, and wily as the rest of the team. Think of Sprite as the trickster of the team (at least if the comics are anything to go by), and their antics could cause havoc for the Eternals’ place in the MCU.

Don Lee as Gilgamesh

You’ll note the similarities of many of the Eternals’ names to mythological gods and warriors. That’s no accident, as it’s generally accepted that these characters’ adventures were interpreted into folklore and mythology over the centuries. Here, one of the oldest recorded stories in human history now has a place of sorts in the MCU. Here he’s played by Don Lee, and if you haven’t seen Train to Busan yet, you should just go ahead and fix that immediately. Thank us later…it’s one of the best horror movies of the century.

In Eternals comics, Gilgamesh was known as “The Forgotten One” for some time, but it was ultimately Sprite who convinced him to return to the fold. He adopted the name of Gilgamesh “officially” when he joined the Avengers for a time. Perhaps it’s no accident that our best look at him in this trailer comes when the team is having a discussion about who will lead Earth’s Mightiest Heroes in the wake of Tony Stark and Steve Rogers.

This version of Gilgamesh was created by (wait for it), Jack Kirby, and first appeared in the comics in 1977.

Barry Keoghan as Druig

Another Kirby creation, Druig is Ikaris’ cousin. Described as an “aloof loner” in the film’s synopsis, Druig has a checkered past in the comics, and could cause some trouble at some point.

This isn’t Barry’s first brush with a comic book-related project. At one point he was set to star in the long in-development and troubled TV adaptation of Y the Last Man, and also has a role in the upcoming The Batman.

Angelina Jolie as Thena

Warrior, scholar, and all-around badass Thena is another potential leader of the Eternals, although in the comics that has brought her into some conflict with Ikaris from time to time.

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Kit Harrington as Dane Whitman

Remember that Game of Thrones reunion we promised? Well, it’s here in the form of Kit Harrington’s Dane Whitman. But Marvel fans may recognize the name of Dane Whitman as belonging to the heroic Black Knight (another occasional member of the Avengers…hmmmm…there’s a lot of those in this trailer). We wrote more about the history of Marvel’s Black Knight here.

What else is hiding in this trailer? Well…

Is That a Celestial?

If you look very closely in the fiery part of that volcanic eruption, it seems there’s a giant figure there. Could this be one of the Celestials, one of the giant beings who travel the cosmos conducting experiments on the inhabitants of various planets? And speaking of which…

What are these two up to?

That sure appears to be a partially formed human body in the background there. Is this a hint that the existence of super powers in the MCU is a result of cosmic intervention by the Celestials?

We’ll find out when Marvel’s Eternals opens on Nov. 5.

The post Marvel’s Eternals Trailer Breakdown: Who Are The New Characters of the MCU? appeared first on Den of Geek.

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[wazafam]

Star Wars: The High Republic – Light of the Jedi is the novel that formally kicks off the new and hugely ambitious High Republic multimedia storytelling initiative, but it just may be doing something else sneakily in the background: setting up Darth Plagueis, the Dark Lord of the Sith who would, one day, go on to teach – and be murdered by – Darth Sidious, the main villain of the Skywalker Saga.

The High Republic epoch starts some 200 years before all of the current (and most of the upcoming) Star Wars films and television series, and it depicts the antithesis of those stories: a galaxy at peace, an Old Republic that is idealistic and prosperous, and a Jedi Order that mostly lives out in the field, being a part of the galactic community that it has sworn to guide and defend. Unfortunately, audiences have already been made well aware that this golden period is doomed to end in the long slide toward deterioration and collapse, as the Galactic Senate becomes corrupt and the Jedi become insular, priming for the return of their mortal enemies, the Sith.

Related: Disney’s Three New Star Wars Eras Explained

But beyond one or two tantalizing clues or innuendos, the ancient Jedi enemies are nowhere to be seen in the pages of Charles Soule’s Light of the Jedi. Instead, readers are introduced to a brand-new High Republic villain, Marchion Ro, a man with a long and mysterious past and a seeming blood vendetta against the Jedi, who have apparently afflicted his family before. Being the symbolic leader of the Nihil, a band of savage space pirates and marauders that hitherto have been too small to show up on the Republic’s radar, Marchion concludes that it’s only a matter of time before Supreme Chancellor Lina Soh and the Jedi Council start to close in on him, stripping him – and the rest of his “people” – of their way of life.

Ro, then, begins a vast and hugely complicated plot that will transform his Nihil, preparing them for the war that is to come, and awaken his true nature, allowing him to shed the placid, spoiled life of a figurehead and transform into the cunning, calculating, bloodthirsty strategist that he always secretly was. Even at this early juncture of his overarching plan – remember that The High Republic is designed to run for some five or six years – one can’t help but compare the convoluted, multifaceted scheme with that of Lord Sidious’s throughout all nine films of the Skywalker Saga. All of which begs the question: is Marchion Ro secretly Darth Plagueis, much like how Supreme Chancellor Sheev Palpatine concealed the true identity of Darth Sidious? There are several hints buried in the text that would seem to point in this direction.

Decades before the events of Star Wars: The High Republic – Light of the Jedi, Mari San Tekka uses her strange, probably-Force-fueled power to locate special routes through hyperspace to help her family come to fame and prominence, establishing them as the dominant hyperspace prospectors of the galaxy – and, thereby, providing a familial lineage to their distant relative, Lor San Tekka, the old explorer who helps locate Jedi Master Luke Skywalker during the events of Star Wars: The Force Awakens. At some point, an individual by the name of Asgar Ro takes Mari as his own, using her pathways that are otherwise computationally impossible to help transform a low-level group of Outer Rim pirates into a sizable, menacing force – and rendering himself as their leader.

That band of marauders is called the Nihil, and Asgar becomes their Eye, but it is only a symbolic position as opposed to a substantive one. Eventually, this comes to an end with a blade in the back – one of the actual, on-the-ground commanders wishes to eliminate him in a power grab. Marchion Ro, Asgar’s son, instead assumes his father’s mantle and role and is, at first, content to merely toe the line, collecting his share of the plunder and maintaining the status quo. This is until the Republic's Chancellor Soh begins the effort to consolidate the Republic’s presence in the Rim in the form of the Starlight Beacon space station. Seeing the writing on the wall, Marchion decides it’s time to remake the ragtag group into an actual fighting force, with himself firmly positioned as their grand general.

Related: Star Wars Reveals Two Jedi Council Members Were Much Older Than You Thought

The impossibly complex plan starts with Mari San Tekka, who is well over a century old now and who is kept alive in a type of medical cocoon. Still believing she's prospecting – and making money – for her family, Ro has her deliberately chart a “Path” for one of the Nihil vessels that lands it directly in the way of the ship, a massive cargo freighter called the Legacy Run (itself a hundred years of age) that is transporting supplies and settlers to a new life out on the wild frontiers of space. The Run is torn to pieces after it attempts to avoid the collision, and its parts – some of which still contain living, breathing passengers – emerge from hyperspace all across the region, shredding through space stations and ships and slamming into worlds and moons. Billions of sentients die.

In the chaos that ensues, Marchion provides his people with projections of exactly when and where the remaining remnants of the Legacy Run will drop into realspace, with instructions to exploit the information for gain (blackmailing one planetary governor, for instance). In the process, the Nihil intrinsically become linked with the Great Hyperspace Disaster, and the Republic predictably marshals a defense fleet to eliminate the threat – which, in turn, helps to unite the disorganized ravagers in common cause. Ro is only too happy to step up to meet the sudden needs of the moment – much like Supreme Chancellor Palpatine does in the unexpected start of the Clone Wars centuries later – unveiling a new usage for their unique hyperspace Paths as he does so: combat, which throws the traditional war playbook out the window and demonstrates the true potential of a unified, cohesive Nihil.

While Disney and Lucasfilm may have shown a propensity for hewing to certain elements or characters that were originally established in Star Wars Legends stories, that original, now-defunct version of the Star Wars Expanded Universe, they have also demonstrated a willingness for going their own way, “overturning” classic storylines. Odds are good that Darth Plagueis may very well go the way of the latter – meaning that his backstory, and even his previously established species of Muun, could be wiped clean (it’s never established what type of alien Marchion Ro is in Light of the Jedi, but it’s very obviously not that). This, in turn, could mean that Lord Plagueis will get some sort of grand introduction somewhere in The High Republic – and Lucasfilm and the architects of the epic multimedia initiative could even attempt to position him upfront, right before the eyes of audiences right from day one.

This isn’t as big a leap as it may at first sound. With the upcoming Disney+ series Star Wars: The Acolyte chronicling the rise of the dark side of the Force during the nadir of the High Republic, it has the golden opportunity to show how the Dark Lords of the Sith maneuvered themselves into the position to enact their revenge, slaughter the Jedi Order, and reinstate their interstellar empire. By having the centuries-spanning High Republic transition from a time of peace and prosperity to the secret rise of Plagueis and his newly appointed apprentice, Darth Sidious, it would strongly parallel the narrative structure that George Lucas himself enacted with the prequel trilogy.

Related: Star Wars Reveals How Palpatine Cut the Jedi off from the Force

Another parallel – or “rhyming,” as Lucas liked to put it – would be Marchion Ro hiding his Sith identity for the majority of the story, only revealing it at just the right, climactic moment, in the throes of some type of victory or another, just as his student would do over the course of Episodes I through III. And just what that victory could be is already established in the very last scene of Light of the Jedi: a Force vision that’s set in a sickly purple light and that shows “horribly mutilated” Jedi fighting battles they can’t win and fleeing in open terror from “awful things that lived in the dark.” The prophecy ends with an image of “evil, horror, sweeping across the galaxy like the tide” – which could very well be another rhyme with the ravages of the Clone Wars and the establishment of the Galactic Empire during the Skywalker Saga.

And then there’s a mysterious device that Ro brandishes, a rod which has also long been part of his family and whose description sounds very much like some sort of ancient Sith relic (lest that sound too far-fetched, Light of the Jedi introduces another Jedi who wields a recovered kyber crystal that was plucked from an old Sith lightspear and purged of its red-hued misery and pain). This weapon is covered in bizarre symbols – such as screaming faces – and emits a purple glow, which only seems to seal the Sith deal.

There are many instances in the novel where it could seem like Ro might have a secret Sith identity. Whether or not Marchion Ro turns out to be Darth Plagueis in disguise, fans of The High Republic have plenty of tantalizing clues to keep them guessing, and a thrilling storyline even without that connection to the Star Wars trilogies.

Next: Star Wars: New Canon Keeps Making Yoda Even More of a Failure

Is Star Wars: High Republic Villain Marchion Ro Actually Darth Plagueis? from https://ift.tt/3aoRyFC

[jeremystrele]

10 Unmissable Exhibitions To See In 2021!

10 Unmissable Exhibitions To See In 2021!

Art

by Sasha Gattermayr

Hilma af Klint: Paintings for the Future at the Solomon R. Guggenheim in New York. Photo – David Heald.

Left: The Ten Largest, Group IV, No. 3, Youth by Hilma af Klint, 1907. Right: Group IX/UW, The Dove No.2 by Hilma af Klint 1915.

Hilma af Klint: The Secret Paintings 12th June – 19th September 2021 Art Gallery of New South Wales

You might recognise the pastel tones and soft, mystical forms of Swedish visionary Hilma af Klint. The 2019 exhibition of her newly discovered paintings at New York’s Guggenheim drew record-breaking crowds, and was broadcast all over Instagram. But nothing substitutes for the real thing!

The 100 works that comprise The Secret Paintings will premiere in the Asia Pacific at the Art Gallery of New South Wales this winter, which will be the first major survey of the experimental artist’s work in the region. The existence of the enormous, ambitious canvases was not known until recently when they found in storage after being kept there for the last few decades… unbeknownst to the art world!

Now brought to light, the dazzling exhibition represents an outpouring of appreciation for the trailblazing modernist artist. Don’t miss this international art sensation!

‘Friend Under the Tree‘ by Mirka Mora.

MIRKA 14th February – 19th December 2021 Jewish Museum of Australia, Victoria

It’s no secret we’re HUGE Mirka Mora fans, but this is big… even for us! MIRKA is the most expansive survey of the late, great artist’s work and dives deep into her rich personal history as well as her vibrant creative oeuvre.

After pushing back the opening due to last year’s restrictions, the Jewish Museum of Australia will transform into a ‘Mirka-world’ on Valentine’s Day, featuring more than 200 unseen pieces from the Mora family home and Mirka’s studio and archives. These will be featured alongside pieces from Heide’s permanent collection to create a vivid account of her life as a Holocaust refugee in Australia.

Visitors will be guided through the exhibition of artworks and personal effects by an audio soundscape of stories and memories – narrated by Mirka herself! This will be a truly immersive show of a Melbourne icon.

Left: The Royal Tour (Self Portrait 1), 2020. Right: The Royal Tour (Vincent and Elizabeth), 2020.

The Royal Tour (Charles, Vincent and Elizabeth), 2020.

Vincent Namatjira 8th – 25th September, 2021 This Is No Fantasy

2020 was Vincent Namatjira’s year. The artist received an Order of Australia in June, and then took out the prestigious Archibald Prize a few months later, becoming the first Indigenous artist to win the country’s most prestigious portrait prize. AND he released a book in December!

Originally from Ntaria (Hermannsburg), Northern Territory (125km South West of Alice Springs), Vincent identifies as Western Aranda. Today, he is based at Iwantja Arts in the remote community of Indulkana in South Australia’s APY (Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara) lands.

Vincent’s bold, unique paintings position notable historical figures (often political leaders or members of the British monarchy) in the vivid Australian desert, or himself in diplomatic scenes between international heads of states. His subversive style questions the nature of history and politics we understand today.

This Is No Fantasy gallery represents the of-the-moment artist and will host an exhibition of his recent works later this year. Details are yet to be finalised but mark the date in your diary, it’s going to be excellent!

Left: Cloud formations by Cecilie Bendixen, 2020 and Capitolviscera appliances mural by Jim Shaw, 2011. Photo – Tom Ross. Right: C=O=D=A by Cerith Wyn Evans, 2019–20. Photo – Tom Ross.

Triennial 2020 December 2020 – April 18th, 2021 National Gallery Victoria

Given this all-encompassing contemporary showcase only happens once every three years, its pretty much the defintion of ‘unmissable’.

With pieces scattered throughout the NGV’s permanent collection, the Triennial displays the work of over 100 contemporary designers and artists across many mediums and creative disciplines. From enormous digital landscapes by Refik Anadol to colourful installations by interior designer Danielle Brustman and an enormous iridescent Jeff Koons sculpture, the exhibition celebrates the diversity and  of contemporary creatives around the world.

And to really sweeten the deal, entry is free! Make sure to book ahead.

The Lume at MCEC presenting Vincent Van Gogh’s Sunflowers.

The Lume Permanent installation – opening Autumn 2021 (stay tuned!) Melbourne Convention Exhibition Centre

Digital art isn’t usually our arena, but an epic-scale digital rendering of classic masterpieces that deposit you INSIDE the painting? Sign us up! The Lume is an immersive art experience that casts projections around a large observation room, enveloping the roaming visitor in the world of a painting.

Opening with the masterpieces of Vincent Van Gogh, visitors enter the world of the Dutch master via a symphony of light, colours, sound and even smells. The moving imagery guides viewers through the Netherlands, Paris and the French countryside, allowing them to visit the locations of the artist’s most famous scenes before arriving at the paintings themselves. The multi-sensory experience gives a sense of Van Gogh’s own thoughts, feelings, emotions and surroundings as he painted.

If quiet, white galleries is not your ideal art-viewing environment, The Lume is for you. It’s like the planetarium of art galleries!

Improvisation No III (Munich) by Erica McGilchrist, 1961.

House of Ideas: Modern Women 1st May – 31st October, 2021 Heide Museum of Modern Art

One of the best things about Heide is the history of the grounds itself, the bedrock of the Australian modernist art movement. House of Ideas: Modern Women celebrates the creative women connected to the iconic site.

From writers to artists, poets and progressive thinkers, these visionary female creatives have been largely forgotten by history, though making just as significant contributions to the bohemian movement as their male counterparts. The exhibition includes the work of Sunday Reed, Cynthia Reed Nolan, Barbara Blackman, Mary Boyd, Joy Hester, Mirka Mora and more to illustrate the central role these women played in creating the cultural and intellectual environment we understand today.

Left: Assemblage of the Fragmented Landscape by Mehwish Iqbal, 2020. Right: Fragile Ecologies by Lauren Berkowitz, 2018.

The National 2021: New Australian Art

The National is a six-year long partnership between three key galleries in New South Wales: the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Carriageworks and Museum of Contemporary Art Australia. This year’s show is the last in a series of three biennial exhibitions, with works spread out across all three locations.

The National: 2021 is a sprawling survey of contemporary Australian art, bringing together artwork from artists of different generations and cultural backgrounds around the country. Thirty-nine artists, collectives and collaboratives present their responses to present-day Australia through a chosen medium, from sculpture to mural to bark painting.

Museum of Contemporary Art Australia 26 March– 22 August 2021

Carriageworks 26th March – 20th June, 2021

Art Gallery of New South Wales 26th March – 5th September 2021

The 2020 finalists on display. Photo – Charlie Bliss.

National Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander Art Awards (NATSIAA) Museum and Art Gallery Northern Territory

The Telstra National Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander Art Awards is a milestone event in the art calendar every year, and the 37th iteration will be no different!

The awards program and accompanying exhibition unites emerging and established Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists at the Museum and Art Gallery Northern Territory in Darwin. The diversity of media displayed among the finalists in the last few years represents the richness of the contemporary art practices among leading Indigenous artists, and the fresh perspectives they bring to the artistic fabric of contemporary Australia. This show is knock-out every year.

Dates are yet to be finalised for this year’s program, but fingers crossed for an IRL ceremony and exhibition!

Left: ‘Sunflowers’  by Vincent van Gogh, 1888. Right: ‘Hillside in Provence’ by Paul Cézanne, c1890–92.

‘Four scenes from the early life of Saint Zenobius‘ by Sandro Botticelli, c1500.

Botticelli to Van Gogh: Masterpieces from the National Gallery, London 5 March – 14 June 2021 National Gallery of Australia

Hold onto your hats, there’s a masterpiece blockbuster on its way to Australia!

Spanning five centuries and seven key artistic periods, Botticelli to Van Gogh: Masterpieces from the National Gallery, London brings together 60 paintings by big time European heavyweights including Titian, Rembrandt, Vermeer, Velázquez, Goya, Turner, Renoir, Cézanne and Gauguin. These titans bookend Western European art history, starting with the Italian Renaissance and ending with the birth of modern art, catching the Dutch Golden Age, 17th-century Spanish movement and British portraiture in between.

This showstopper is presented in partnership with the National Gallery, London and is exclusive to the NGA.

The Green Room (Omega Project) by RONE, 2017.

RONE in Geelong 27th February – 16th May, 2021 Geelong Gallery

Rone is a longtime favourite in the TDF office, so just try and stop us from getting down to Geelong to see this!

From stencil works to archival photographs of his signature street murals and digital recreations of his installations, this is the first comprehensive solo survey of the artist’s iconic work. The exhibition culminates in a site-specific piece where one of the gallery’s rooms has been completely transformed into a RONE-style space.

The new multimedia commission will respond to the architecture and history of the building, reforming the grand reception area into a decayed and derelict room – reminiscent of his installations at the abandoned Burnham Beeches building in 2019. It will also contain a new soundtrack by composer Nick Batterham.