#genre: biographical

[blackinmotionpictures]

THE FIRE INSIDE (2024) dir. Rachel Morrison

[chicago-geniza]

Charmed that the strongest impression you get from Elizabeth McGovern interviews is "this woman is literally always reading biographies" :)

[meshitsukai]

#Moviedle #2024-06-15

🎥 🟥 🟥 🟥 🟥 🟥 🟥

https://likewisetv.com/arcade/moviedle

[agroveinthesavagegarden]

This year the Dracula Daily tag has me thinking about how people assume authors are revealing themselves through fiction, and genre fiction in particular. Like instead of making deliberate artistic choices authors of horror (or fantasy or sci fi or romance) just sort of let their subconscious bleed onto the page without thought or intention. Every scary thing that happens is something the author is personally afraid of. If the scary thing is also a little sexy, that’s the author’s secret fetish coming through. If a “good” character is wrong about something, then author is also wrong about that thing or if a “bad” character believes something then author condemns it.

I’m not saying it’s not fun to spectate about how an author’s personal life influenced their writing choices, but I do think it’s good to periodically remember that they are choices and not just like, involuntary outpourings of id. Otherwise this sort of armchair biographical criticism can easily diminish any craft on the part of the writer.

[novy2sirius]

ACTING ASTROLOGY

— your fifth house planets

· your 5th house planets can tell about your acting talent and the type of films you’d do best in. if you want to know what type of characters you’d specifically play best and another acting astrology technique, click below

· types of characters you’d play well

· tw: porn (18+ only), trauma, cults, and gore

₊˚⊹☆┊5H SUN

one of the main themes in your life is putting forth your talent by expressing yourself. you naturally have a talent for entertaining others. you attract lots of attention and can be very famous. acting or entertaining others is likely a huge source of happiness in your life. you would do best in film genres such as drama, comedy, romance, action, and children’s films as well

₊˚⊹☆┊5H MOON

your soul has a natural desire to express itself emotionally and creatively through art. you have a face that makes others easily be able to read your emotions which can make you an amazing actor if you are able to feel all the emotions a character feels and fully immerse yourself into that characters energy and aura. this is also a popular fame placement in general. you would do best in film genres such as melodrama, romance, family, and indie as well

₊˚⊹☆┊5H MERCURY

you naturally have the right mannerisms for acting in such a way that when people watch your films it comes off very realistic as if they’re watching a normal video of someone. this placement can indicate starting out on social media or in short films before making it big in the film industry. often people with this placement always wanted to be the main character or take on as many roles as possible in their school plays. you would do best in film genres such as comedy, reality, and short films

₊˚⊹☆┊5H VENUS

you have a talent for all artistic careers, but this is an especially common placement among actors. you would do best in film genres such as romance, romantic comedy, musical, artistic, lgbtq, and dance films as well

₊˚⊹☆┊5H MARS

you have a talent for putting passion and enthusiasm into your expression when acting. you would especially play aggressive roles better. you would do best in film genres such as action, thrillers, horror, gore, slasher, war, medical, lgbtq, and superhero films

₊˚⊹☆┊5H JUPITER

you have an abundance of acting talent. this is a common placement among those who were in theater growing up. this can indicate gaining lots of popularity from acting and gaining success from it more easily than others as well. you would do best in genres such as adventure, thrillers, athletic, comedy, religion and action

₊˚⊹☆┊5H SATURN

this can indicate your job involves acting since saturn represents work. you may not become successful until later in life when acting with this placement though. sometimes it can also just indicate playing more serious characters though instead of a late start in your acting career. you would do best in genres such as history, historical fiction, biographical, documentaries, indie, and also silent films

₊˚⊹☆┊5H URANUS

this can indicate being in films/shows that are more popular on things like netflix or hulu rather than in theaters. people with this placement have the ability to play really unique roles. you would do best in genres such as sci-fi, thrillers, lgbtq, and pornographic films

₊˚⊹☆┊5H NEPTUNE

people with this placement have a natural talent for lying and deceiving others, so they can be really talented actors. you have the ability to put on a good illusion through your self expression. you would do best in genres such as fantasy, fiction, animation, mystery, spiritual, disappearance, and also musical films

₊˚⊹☆┊5H PLUTO

you have the ability to play really powerful characters. you’re good at transforming yourself into someone you’re not and putting on a good show. you would do best in genres such as crime, mystery, horror, action, superhero, vampire, cult, sexual, and thrillers as well

₊˚⊹☆┊5H NORTH NODE

your life purpose could involve acting and entertaining others. you have a natural talent for expressing yourself creatively in artistic ways and through the arts

₊˚⊹☆┊5H CHIRON

you have a talent for putting your inner wounds that have caused you emotional pain into your acting. the more trauma these people have the better the actors they are. you would do best in films that are more so on the sad side

© novy2sirius

[niceonet]

TRAİLERDB - DEVASA+ (2)

As the film industry continues to evolve, sneak peeks into upcoming releases offer us a tantalizing glimpse of the stories, characters, and visual spectacles on the horizon. Whether you're a fan of thrilling blockbusters, heartwarming dramas, or spine-chilling horror flicks, there’s something for everyone to look forward to. 

New Movie Trailers

As we dive into the world of cinema, new movie trailers are a crucial part of what excites fans and sparks discussions before a film's release. Each year brings a wave of trailers that not only provide a glimpse into what to expect but also set the tone for upcoming films. From thrilling blockbusters to indie gems, the latest movie trailers give us a sneak peek into groundbreaking stories, captivating performances, and stunning visual effects.

The anticipation builds as studios release new movie trailers, often showcasing the top talents in the industry. The art of creating a compelling trailer has become a skill in itself, as filmmakers and marketing teams work diligently to distill the essence of a movie into a short, enticing clip. Whether it’s the heart-pounding action of a superhero flick or the emotional depth of a biographical drama, these clips are designed to hook audiences and keep them talking.

Every film genre has its unique traits that shine through in new movie trailers. For instance, horror films employ eerie soundscapes and unexpected jump scares, while romantic comedies highlight heartfelt moments and witty dialogue. The best trailers leave viewers wanting more, teasing just enough to spark curiosity without giving away key plot points.

Moreover, latest movie trailers are a great way to gauge audience reactions. Fans often flock to social media platforms to share their thoughts and predictions, creating a buzz that can significantly impact a film's opening weekend. Additionally, trailers can also offer retroactive enjoyment, as audiences revisit them after watching the film to appreciate the marketing and artistry involved in their creation.

With numerous film festivals and award shows showcasing new movie trailers, the excitement only amplifies. Events like San Diego Comic-Con and the Sundance Film Festival are just a few examples where audiences are treated to exclusive previews of highly anticipated films. These moments not only build hype but also reflect the creativity and diversity of storytelling in contemporary cinema.

In conclusion, new movie trailers serve as a vital connection between filmmakers and audiences. They encapsulate the essence of what’s to come, setting the stage for cinematic experiences that captivate viewers around the globe.

New Movie Trailers 2024

As we step into 2024, the excitement for upcoming films is at an all-time high. New movie trailers are being released at a brisk pace, teasing audiences with glimpses of thrilling plots, stunning visuals, and star-studded casts. Below are some of the most anticipated new movie trailers 2024 that have already caught the attention of film enthusiasts.

1. Action-Packed Blockbusters: This year promises a wave of adrenaline-pumping action films. One of the standout new movie trailers showcases the return of a beloved franchise, with high-octane sequences that leave viewers at the edge of their seats. Expect epic battles, mind-bending stunts, and heart-stopping suspense.

2. Exciting Adaptations: Fans of literature and comics will not be disappointed, as several new movie trailers reveal adaptations of popular books and graphic novels. The trailers give us a sneak peek into how filmmakers are bringing these stories to life, with stunning visuals and captivating performances that honor the source material.

3. Thought-Provoking Dramas: 2024 also promises to deliver a slate of new movie trailers that focus on compelling narratives and character-driven stories. These films address contemporary issues and human experiences, showcasing talented actors in powerful roles that are sure to leave a lasting impression.

4. Family-Friendly Flicks: There’s something for everyone in the upcoming year, with new movie trailers featuring animated films and family comedies. These trailers highlight the creativity and humor that make them perfect for audiences of all ages, filled with endearing characters and heartwarming stories.

5. Highly Anticipated Sequels: Fans of franchise films will be delighted to see the new movie trailers for sequels that expand on beloved stories. With returning characters and fresh plotlines, these films promise to deliver the nostalgia and excitement that fans crave.

In conclusion, 2024 is shaping up to be a remarkable year for cinema, with a variety of new movie trailers set to ignite the passion of moviegoers around the globe. Stay tuned as more trailers drop and the release dates approach, because this year is sure to be unforgettable!

Latest Movie Trailers

As movie lovers know, the excitement for a new release often begins with the unveiling of its trailer. The latest movie trailers give us a glimpse into upcoming films that promise to captivate audiences and spark conversations. With a wide array of genres, these trailers highlight the creativity and talent of filmmakers, showcasing their unique storytelling approaches.

This year, we have seen some incredible trailers that have set high expectations for moviegoers. From thrilling action sequences to heartfelt dramas, the latest film previews provide tantalizing sneak peeks into the narratives we can expect to enjoy on the big screen. Movies like Dune: Part Two and Killers of the Flower Moon have already generated a buzz through their stunning visuals and compelling storylines presented in their latest trailers.

One of the most exciting aspects of latest movie trailers is seeing our favorite actors and directors return to the forefront of cinematic storytelling. Not only do the trailers highlight their impressive performances, but they also give insight into the dedicated craftsmanship behind the scenes. Whether it's a gripping suspense thriller or a light-hearted comedy, the trailers are carefully crafted to deliver maximum impact and entice audiences.

In addition to the theatrical trailers, some films also offer teaser trailers, creating an air of mystery and anticipation. These short clips foster an engaging conversation among fans, fueling speculation about plot details and character arcs. Social media platforms have become a hub for sharing these insights, leading to a vibrant fan community eager to discuss the nuances observed in the latest clips.

As we venture further into 2024, the influx of new movie trailers continues to build excitement for the upcoming releases. Movies such as Ghostbusters: Afterlife 2 and The Marvels are generating significant hype, with trailers that showcase not just the actors but also the innovative special effects that cinema has to offer. This wave of new trailers keeps audiences engaged and eager for more.

Stay tuned as we anticipate the release of these films. The latest movie trailers are just the beginning of what promises to be an exhilarating journey through the world of cinema.

[familyabolisher]

Sorry to ask something somewhat related to the recent discourse, but do you have any advice to someone trying to teach themselves lit analysis or lit theory? Seems like most online advice ends at "get an English degree lol"

first of all sorry for leaving this for so long, between work and various other Demands in my life i didn’t really have the time/energy to sit down and write up a proper answer for a while. anyway: imo, what’s more important than working your way through a long list of critical theory is honing an ability to respond to a text yourself; being able to take notice of your emotional responses, being able to ask questions about what the text does and what it responds to and whether you think it succeeds or fails. questions like ‘what is the text about?’ are often too vague, and assume that critical practice is a task limited to investigating the ‘correct’ metaphysical properties of a text that we have to uncover, as well as presenting literature as wholly utilitarian (under this framework, a text becomes a vehicle for a ‘theme,’ and nothing more.) in the list below, i’ve tried to be a little more precise about the kinds of questions that can help you become a more confident + critical reader.

[disclaimer: i am not any kind of expert, i have studied english lit at degree level and i do read a lot / make a habit of talking about what i read, but i would not consider myself especially ‘qualified’ and nor should you. i’m explaining a process that works for me, not providing a one-size-fits-all solution to the question of analytical methodology.]

the essence of literary practice is that a text has a terrain where it has to be met with, and where it will be accountable to forces that are often beyond its control or beyond its immediate borders, and a terrain where it asks to be met with, and towards which it will attempt to navigate the reader; the reader’s job is to meet with it on both terrains, synthesise them, and respond to them. so, some of the questions you should be asking about a text include:

what is its context? this can mean a lot of things: when and where was it written, and how might the conditions contemporary to its creation be informing the inner working of the text? is it considered part of a particular literary movement; how does it interact with the core characteristics of that movement? does it invoke other works; if so, how does it respond to them? what biographical information about the author might be relevant to the piece? some books will come with an introduction which, if written well, would cover at least the outstanding details on this list; you can also have a look on wikipedia or other such websites to get a feel for the conditions under which the text was created.

how does it respond to this context? rather than assuming a text to be a passive body onto which its external conditions are exerting their unilateral force, we should always understand a text as being in active dialogue with the context that shaped it. what are the questions typically posed within the movement or genre to which it belongs; how does it answer these questions? does it build on its predecessors in any way? if it’s a responsive text (ie. consistently invoking an earlier text), what does it have to say about the text to which it responds; how does it develop or contravene the template from which it was building? how might it be responding to the questions of its time; which paradigms are challenged? which are endorsed, actively or tacitly? what goes unmentioned? i emphasise critical engagement with context so heavily because it’s often where the meat of the text can be found. 

what are the conditions which made this text possible? this is a little different to questions about context, which have a far broader scope; this is a question which seeks to treat a text not as a thing that came into existence of its own accord, but as a thing that emerged as a result of a process of material production that depends upon particular conditions. is it a mainstream publishing house, or an indie press, or self-published? how does this affect its authority, or the standard to which we hold it? how does this affect its relationship to narratives of cultural hegemony? what can that tell us about what hegemony can and cannot absorb? this is me being a big marxist about it but i think this question is woefully neglected in literary studies lol

why did the author make the choices that they made? one of the most important things to remember when it comes to literary analysis is that every choice made in a text is deliberate; every choice about what happens, what a character says and does, what a character looks like, how particular characters interact, how scenes and objects and settings are described, what prose style is employed, what word is used in a sentence, etc., is a deliberate choice being made by an external agent (ie. the author, sometimes/arguably also the editor, also the translator if a text is in translation), and those choices are accountable both to the deliberations of the author and the external cultural narratives with which they necessarily enter into a dialogue. ‘why does a character behave in a particular way’ is not a question that invites you to treat the story like a riddle for which you can find an ‘answer,’ but a question that engenders the following: what does their behaviour reveal about the character, and how might this be situated within the discourse of the wider text? does this behaviour reveal any biases on the part of the author? what sort of expectations does this behaviour establish, and are those expectations met or neglected or subverted? the same process can be applied to themes, settings, plot beats - anything, really. why is this particular adjective used - does it have other connotations that the author might want to draw attention to in relation to the object being described? why does this chapter end here and not here? nobody in a novel has agency that extends beyond the boundaries of the novel itself; part of the practice of analysis means discerning which choices were made and why, and whether those choices were good or bad. 

what is your response? analysis is a misleading term for this practice; it’s less about dispassionately picking at a text in search of an ‘answer’ and more about evaluation - assessing the text’s successes and failures and cultivating your personal response to it, which means paying attention to your responses as you go along. some people would argue that ‘did you like/dislike this’ is a juvenile question, but i would disagree - knowing whether you liked or disliked something and being able to describe why it evoked that reaction in you is crucial to an evaluative practice. a text can be conceptually excellent, but falter if its prose is clunky or uninspired or unimaginative; being able to notice when a text isn’t engaging you and asking why that is is an important part of this evaluative process. similarly, what do you make of the themes and developments present in the text; does it dissect its themes with precision, or does it make broad gestures towards concepts without ever articulating them fully? is it original? does it have sufficient depth to it? do you agree with it? are you compelled by it? if you were asked the questions that the novel tries to respond to, what would you say; do you think that the novel misses anything out? has it challenged your own perspective? what are its limitations?

literary analysis is a learned skill, but by its nature of being a skill it gets a lot easier over time, and some of these questions will become intuitive. a good way to hone the skill and develop a greater intimacy with a text is through close reading; this refers to the practice of selecting a passage (or even just a sentence) and picking it apart line by line (word by word, even) to describe in intimate detail exactly how the sentence(s) came to be formed in the way that it/they did. i’ll use the first few sentences of daphne du maurier’s rebecca as an example.

Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again. It seemed to me I stood by the iron gate leading to the drive, and for a while I could not enter, for the way was barred to me. There was a padlock and chain upon the gate. I called in my dream to the lodge-keeper, and had no answer, and peering closer through the rusted spokes of the gate I saw that the lodge was uninhabited.

so a close reading of these sentences might identify:

‘last night i dreamt i went to manderley again’ is in iambic hexameter; this rhythmically satisfying invocation makes for a smooth opening sentence, and contrasts with the longer, more complex sentences that follow on. the change in rhythm through such a contrast helps to maintain momentum throughout the paragraph.

the first sentence also introduces a few key pieces of information - that this story is being told from the first person, that we are opening with a dream (and that the narrative places stock in the significance of dreams), and that the speaker is going to manderley ‘again’ - ie. that this is opening after an event in which manderley was significant. that the speaker going to manderley ‘again’ in a dream holds importance implies an exile from manderley in the ‘real’ world; this already gives us hints at the broader shape of the narrative. 

the speaker’s intimacy with manderley and disregard for ‘telling’ the reader what it is (we do not get, like, ‘manderley is a house’ or something - the passage continues as though we know what manderley is already) helps to develop our sense of immersion in the dreamscape. it also sets manderley up as a place of immense significance.

both ‘it seemed to me’ and the later ‘i called’ have a matter-of-factness to them, a certain dry reporting of the events of the dream which, rather than situating the reader within the texture of the dream itself, refortify us as outside of it, listening to it be explained after the fact.

‘for a while i could not enter, for the way was barred to me’ continues the theme of implied exile that the first sentence gestured towards. the iambic trimeter on ‘the way was barred to me’ creates a lilting cadence which, along with the use of the passive voice, detaches the speaker from an emotive response to this being ‘barred’; it is a reported dream that will not consciously acknowledge the speaker’s feelings about being exiled from manderley at this time. (we instead infer these feelings through how the chapter develops.)

‘there was a padlock and chain upon the gate,’ as a short sentence, falls into the same matter-of-fact register as that which i alluded to above, partly through the use of the passive voice, and - as i explained earlier - varies the length of sentences such that the paragraph retains a particular buoyancy. 

the development from the speaker calling to the lodge-keeper to not getting an answer to seeing that the lodge is uninhabited tells a story wherein the speaker at first has authority such that a lodge-keeper would respond to her and let her in; this authority is negated by the lack of response; the lodge-keeper is found to be absent in a development that took place whilst she was herself away, presumably in the state of exile that we have inferred her to be in. ‘uninhabited’ is the kind of word you would expect to be used for an area of land, often with a colonial connotation; this introduces a theme that this chapter (& the book as a whole) goes on to develop, of manderley being a site of colonial decay; as reinforced by the ‘rusted spokes.’

in my experience, close reading is a technique best practiced on poetry, but it’s a very helpful skill to develop in general, and implementing it with prose can elucidate the nuances of a text far more clearly than you might initially realise. in a well-written novel, language is very deliberate and precise!

i think the best thing you can do to develop your skills as a critical reader is to read carefully, and to keep track of your responses to a text as best as possible. keeping a note of what you think a text achieves and how you respond to it each time you read one can be a good way of sorting your thoughts into something coherent and developing your ability to articulate a response. anyway, hopefully this has provided something resembling a guide for how to develop the thought processes that go behind critical practice!

[markscherz]

Hii!!

Just wanted to ask if you have some authors recommendations for the topics of Herpetology, Biology or Ecology

Thanks!!

Jonathan Losos has put out some fantastic books that range from popular science (Improbable Destinies) to actual textbooks (Lizards in an Evolutionary Tree), and he is also the originator of island biogeography study in anoliid lizards of the Caribbean.

I really quite enjoyed Platypus by Ann Moyal. Great writing on a bizarre and fascinating subject.

Andrea Wulf's The Invention of Nature is simply fantastic science history biographic writing. It blew me away. I had never read anything like it before.

Regrettably, I have a longer list of authors in these genres that I did not enjoy (e.g. Robert Cowie, John Wright, Kate Jackson), and an even longer one I have not yet read but are on my to-read list (Harry Greene, Thor Hanson, Erica McAlister, Neil Shubin, Rachel Carson, Frans de Waal, etc.). Currently I am not making any headway on the latter list because I am currently working my way through all of the Discworld books in their order of publication. And I barely have/make any time for reading for pleasure anyway.

[scotianostra]

On September 5th 1750, the poet Robert Fergusson was born in the Canongate in Edinburgh.

Most of you will not have heard of Robert Fergusson, he suffered from ill health, physical and mental, during his short life, he passed away in barbarous conditions in Edinburgh's notorious Bedlam.

Doctor Andrew Duncan, the name might be familiar to those from Edinburgh, on finding Fergusson before being admitted to the "hospital" described him as being in a "state of furious insanity" he saw no choice but to have Fergusson taken to the city's Bedlam madhouse.Conditions at the Bedlam, which was attached to the Edinburgh Charity Workhouse behind modern-day Teviot Place, were notoriously awful. Patients were treated as inmates, locked in cold stone-flagged cells, with only straw for bedding.

Fergusson may have only lived for 24 years, the last of which was traumatic, but those short years not only inspired Scotland’s best-known bard Robert Burns and the writer Robert Louis Stevenson, it also paved the way for better treatment of people with mental health conditions thanks to the aforementioned Dr Duncan.

Robert Fergusson was born of Aberdeenshire parents in Cap-and-Feather Close, in Edinburgh’s Old Town, on 5 September, 1750. The street has since disappeared, having been demolished during Fergusson’s lifetime to make way for the North Bridge, many of you will have walked over where Cap-and-Feather Close, it is said to have been where the junction at the Tron Church is, the road that now takes you over North Bridge towards Princes Street.

After primary education in Edinburgh, Fergusson entered the city’s High School in 1758, attaining a bursary to attend the Grammar School in Dundee in 1762. Two years later, he enrolled in St. Andrews University. As a student, Fergusson became infamous for his pranks, having once come close to expulsion. Despite this riotous reputation, the poet’s education stayed with him, he moved back to Edinburgh to support his mother, after the death of his father.

He got a job as a copyist for the Commissary Office main concern was, of course, poetry, and on 7 February, 1771 he anonymously published the first of a trio of pastorals in Ruddiman’s Weekly Magazine. Originally he wrote in English but by 1772 he had started to use the Scottish dialect in the standard Habbie verse form - a form which would later be copied and made famous by Robert Burns, indeed this style is now called the Burns stanza, perhaps it should be The Fergusson Stanza?

Fergusson’s own muse was Allan Ramsay and, like the be-turbaned Ramsey, followed a bit of a bohemian lifestyle in Edinburgh, which was then at the height of an intellectual and cultural tumult as the nerve centre of the Scottish Enlightenment. He wrote a total of fifty poems in Scottish English and thirty-three in the Scots language, but it is for his remarkable exploits in the latter genre that he should be acknowledged and acclaimed. His poetic subject matter paints vivid accounts of the life and characters of ‘Auld Reekie’ and drunken encounters with the notorious Edinburgh City Guard of Captain Porteous, the ‘Black Banditti’ of ‘The Daft Days’.

Fergusson began to suffer from depression in 1773, biographers have described his condition as ‘religious melancholia’, but regardless of whether or not that was the case, he gave up his job, stopped writing, withdrew completely from his riotous social life, and spent his time reading the Bible. He had heard about an Irish poet, John Cunningham, who had died in an asylum in Newcastle. That inspired 'Poem to the Memory of John Cunningham', and Fergusson became terribly afraid that the same thing was going to happen to him. Tragically, his dark prediction came true. In August, 1774, Fergusson fell down a flight of stairs and received a bad head injury, after which he was deemed ‘insensible’. His friend, the good doctor Andrew Duncan, had no choice but to admit him to Darien House "hospital", Bedlam, where after a matter of weeks, he suddenly died. He had only just turned 24.

I return to the fact that Burns was a fan and after Fergusson’s death Burns wrote of him, “my elder brother in misfortune, by far my elder brother in the muse.”

Fergusson was buried in an unmarked plot in The Canongate Kirkyard. On visiting Edinburgh in 1787, Burns paid for a headstone over his long-neglected grave, commemorating Fergusson as ‘Scotia’s Poet. I have taken many friends to visit Fergusson's last resting place over the years, mainly down to my late mother's love of Burns, but also because I love showing people around my home town.

The picture shows the statue of Robert Fergusson outside the Canongate Church, if passing go pay your respects to the man, who inspired Rabbie Burns, who, under different circumstances might have been lauded as our National Bard, if you like a wee whisky perhaps raise a glass tonight on what might have been "Fergusson's Night"

This few lines are from The Daft Days, by Fergusson, you will get the drift of Edinburgh being a comforting, hospitable place where they aren't afraid of a drink, which is a s true today as it was in 1772 when they were written.

Auld Reikie! thou’rt the canty hole,

A bield for many caldrife soul,

Wha snugly at thine ingle loll,

Baith warm and couth,

While round they gar the bicker roll

To weet their mouth.

[lothlorienlover]

When he began writing The Lord of the Rings in the 1920s, J.R.R. Tolkien was a professor at the University of Oxford.

At the time, fantasy was not considered a “serious” genre.

So, one of his contemporaries explains, Tolkien was mocked by his Oxford colleagues.

They said he was wasting his time “lavishing such incredible pains upon a genre which is, for them, trifling by definition.”

One of Tolkien's biographers writes, “He was regularly asked in a mocking manner, 'How is your hobbit?'”

Amidst a crowd of people who make fun of you, who tell you you're wasting your time, who encourage you to do something less trifling and more prestigious—sometimes, all it takes is one person's support.

For Tolkien, that person was the great writer C.S. Lewis.

“The unpayable debt that I owe to [Lewis] was not influence but sheer encouragement,” Tolkien said. “He was for long my only audience. Only from him did

I ever get the idea that my 'stuff' could be more than a private hobby.”

Takeaway 1:

In his essay, How To Do What You Love, Paul Graham writes, “You shouldn't worry

about prestige...Prestige is like a powerful magnet that warps even your beliefs about what you enjoy. It causes you to work not on what you like, but what you'd like to like.”

Tolkien wasn't warped by his Oxford colleagues and their belief that what he was working on wasn't prestigious.

And after his works of fantasy went on to sell more than 600 million copies, Tolkien would eventually be widely called the “father of high fantasy.”

He is just one example to remind us that what is considered “prestigious” isn't stable in time, and that “if you do anything well enough,” to quote Graham again, “you’ll make it prestigious.”

Takeaway 2:

Tolkien, Lewis, and another writer named Charles Williams were part of an informal literary club known as The Inklings.

Shortly after Williams unexpectedly died, Lewis realized he stopped hearing the way Tolkien used to laugh at the way Williams used to tell a joke. Which made him then realize,

“In each of my friends,” Lewis wrote, “there is something that only some other friend can fully bring out. By myself I am not large enough to call the whole man into activity; I want other lights than my own to show all his facets.”

If not for the encouragement of his friend, Tolkien said he would not have been large enough to call the whole of him into activity.

“But for [Lewis'] interest and unceasing eagerness for more,” Tolkien said, “I should never have brought The L. of the R. to a conclusion.”

- - -

“Just do what you like, and let prestige take care of itself.” — Paul Graham

Written by Billy Oppenheimer

[likeadevils]

I trust your opinion. If you were making bets about what TS11's themes, concepts and sound would be like.. What would you like& prefer? and what would you think Taylor would do?

thank you for trusting my opinion but i am god awful at predicting what taylor is going to do next. that being said:

i think something taylor learned with all too well, anti-hero, and cruel summer is to… trust her instincts, i guess? not that she hasn’t in the past, but she’s mentioned that those songs were her favorites of their respective albums, and she didn’t expect that the general public would enjoy them as much— at least, not to the degree that they have been. but they’ve all been #1s, and more impressively to me, they’ve all broken through into wider pop culture in a way that’s super hard to do nowadays. like can you tell me what’s #1 right now because i can’t. but anyways i think she’ll be following what she wants to hear a little bit more, and trusting that her and the general public’s taste is pretty aligned at the moment. so like, to boil it down into a bingo card prediction, the lead single is going to be taylor’s favorite song on the album

also, bingo square, the color will be white. no evidence just vibes

i think another thing taylor recently learned is trusting that not only her fanbase, but the wider pop landscape would accept complex ideas delivered with a complex vocabulary. in some ways i think she was really burned by me!— she had been taught that it’s the we are never ever getting back together and shake it offs that you send to pop radio, not the all too wells. and then me! got torn apart (deservedly or not), and then the world shut down and it’s not like she needs to find a tour off her next album so what the hell, let’s take out the immediate hooks and replace it with flowery language. and it was a massive hit! twice! but it’s not the kind of music she wants to make forever. so midnights was an added gamble— can you marry the hooks with the collegiate vocabulary? and you can! anti-hero was her biggest chart success ever! so i expect more dictionary/thesaurus starter pack memes in our future, no matter what genre it’ll end up in

that being said, i think she’ll be staying in pop. i maaaaybe could see a kind of pop rock thing happening— think like, the electric guitar she adds to don’t blame me when it’s preformed live.

regardless i do think she’ll be pulling in more rep influences— i’m not super in the buisness of trying to track down when exactly she’s been re-recording, so this is coming from swiftie brain rot not timeline brain rot, but if i had to guess i would say she was mostly recording rep over the summer and with the occasional ts11 track thrown in as well. but i could be wrong maybe she has three albums recorded. idk. i am very interested in what the rep sounds like though, i think that’ll be the biggest clue to what ts11 will sound like

i’m curious how auto-biographical it’ll be. honestly, i could see taylor creating a single character to inhabit and tracking their story throughout an album, which would parallel the emotions she’s going through, but not the exact situations. but that’s me projecting what i would need to do to process the fucking year she’s been through, and taylor has consistently been saying how much she gets from having people sing back the words thought she must be alone in thinking, so like maybe it’ll be intensely About Her, who knows

as for release, i’m a big post eras tour believer. like i know it’s been said a million times but god how impossible would it be to add another set to that thing. like we might get the announcement and lead single while still on tour, but not a full album

i’m also expecting a more talk-y rollout. i would bet we’re getting a couple of print interviews— not anywhere near 1989 or lover levels, but like, you know. rolling stone, vogue, maybe another time, that kind of thing. and in front of camera stuff too— zane lowe, a bbc live longe, some late night appearances, maybe going on kelly clarkson’s show. and maaaaybe a hot wings episode. maybe. i think taylor got a bit burned by the long roll out for lover, and regardless she had other priorities when it came to the midnights release, but it’s been a while and she does like to surprise people by doing something completely predictable. but also this is totally me being like pleaseeeee give interviews they help me with timeline research so much

i predict this every time but visual album!!! if i keep saying it one day it’ll be true!!! it just makes sense she’s been getting so into directing!!!

while we’re in the realm of things that would make me specifically go insane i just think it would be funny if she got paul mccartney to feature on a song. just to be petty. imagine your ex is releasing an album and she gets one of your favorite musicians to play on it. and after the sweet nothing debacle too. oh. so ouchie. also she would have paul fucking mccartney on an album that’s insane in its own right

while we’re throwing spaghetti at the wall. two word title. let’s get crazy maybe 3+ words why not (this is by far the least serious prediction if the title is more than one word i’ll lose my mind)

maybe some religious imagery for the visuals? i’m trying to think of aesthetics taylor hasn’t thoroughly explored. what’s coming to mind is stained glass windows and like, the wild west. this is not at all influenced by me being raised catholic in the american southwest what are you talking about

so to sum up i think i want a pop rock opera with a title along the lines of “the blank of firstname lastname” about a woman in the wild west that has climatic scenes in a cathedral?? i guess that’s the shape i want?? i was not aware that’s what i wanted when i started writing this post okay

[blackinmotionpictures]

CHEVALIER (2023) dir. Stephen Williams

[honeysylvan]

Aiko Shimizu for @dreambot's Lovers Rock BC Challenge!

Cringe video game streamer and wannabe idol! More info under the cut 🩷

BIOGRAPHICAL

Name: Aiko Shimizu Age: 23 Pronouns: she/her Gender: Woman Sexuality: Bisexual Ethnicity: Japanese Traits*: Cringe, Lovebug, Geek, Music Lover, Animal Enthusiast + Gregarious Additional Traits: Happy Infant, Happy Toddler, Practiced Host, Compassionate, Irresponsible, Chopstick Savvy, The Knowledge, Night Owl Aspiration: World-Famous Celebrity Degree: N/A Career: Pro-Gamer (Video Game Streamer) Celebrity Level: Rising Star ★★✩✩✩ Celebrity Perks: Corporate Partnership, Influencer, Noticeable Celebrity Quirks: A Stan! Lifestyle(s): Techi Likes & Dislikes:  Activity - Acting, Comedy, Dancing, Media Production, Mischief, Photography, Romance Skill, Singing, Video Gaming | Bowling, Fishing, Research & Debate, Rocket Science Color - Pink | Orange Conversation Topics - Affection, Compliments, Discussing Hobbies, Gossip, Jokes, Physical Intimacy, Silly Behavior | Arguments, Deception, Malicious Interactions, Potty Humor Sim Characteristics - Funny Sims, Idealist Sims, Pet Enthusiasts, Spirited Sims | Argumentative Sims, Nature Enthusiasts, Pessimistic Sims Music Genre - Classical Music, Pop Music, Romance Music, S-Pop Music, Winter Holiday Music | Americana Music, METAL MUSIC, Ranch Music, Strange Tunes Turn-Ons & Turn-Offs:  Way of Life - Interpersonal, Media & Technology, Performer, Sense of Humor | Engineering, Taken Characteristics - Emotional Decision Makers, Idealist, Optimistic, Pet Enthusiast, Spirited | Ambitionless, Argumentative, Messy Romance Styles - Affection, Gift Giving, Physical Intimacy, WooHoo | N/A Hair Color - Auburn Hair, Black Hair, Blonde Hair, Brown Hair, Hot Pink Hair, Orange Hair, Platinum Hair, Red Hair | Gray Hair Outfit Color - Black Clothes, Blue Clothes, Red Clothes | Brown Clothes, Orange Clothes Fashion - Costumes | N/A Skills: Acting - 6 | Baking - 3 | Charisma - 7 | Comedy - 5 | Dancing - 3 | Entrepreneur - 5 | Logic - 6 | Media Production - 4 | Mischief - 5 | Photography - 4 | Programming - 6 | Romance - 4 | Singing - 8 | Video Gaming - 9 | Wellness - 4

STORY

Like so many children, when Aiko was a kid she dreamed of becoming a world-famous pop star. Unlike so many adults, Aiko never grew out of that dream.

When Aiko was four and growing up in Mt. Komorebi, she saw her first S-pop idol performing on TV. She was instantly hooked and knew she wanted that to be her life, and knew that one day her wish would be fulfilled.

Except, it wasn’t.

Aiko was just a little bit too… weird to become a popular, successful, palatable idol, not to mention her complete lack of drive. She might’ve wanted the idol life, but between her cringe-y humor, obsession with all things nerdy, and chronic lack of responsibility, Aiko never got the life she dreamed. At least, not yet. Despite being 23—nearly retirement age for idols—and having zero experience, she’s convinced that someday, she’ll be recognized as the talent she is and finally, finally make it to stardom.

That’s not to say she has no experience in the spotlight, because she does—just not as an idol. Aiko’s obsessive love of “nerdy” hobbies ended up paying off for her when she started a video game streaming channel and managed to secure a decent following. Her “weird” behavior and lackadaisical personality—traits that were points against her in the idol world—came off surprisingly endearing on-screen, and she quickly rose to minor-celebrity status on SimTube and other streaming platforms.

But while Aiko might enjoy her life as a streamer far more than she’d expected, her newfound fame is, to her, simply a means to an end—the chance for her childhood dream to finally be made a reality. Perhaps, if she amasses a big enough following, she can finally secure an agent… and what better way to boost her popularity than to apply to the hit new dating show, Lovers Rock?

FUN FACTS

Is a very eclectic gamer—she loves a wide variety of video game genres, though her favorites are single-player RPGs

One of her signatures is that she’ll try any game at least once. This leads her fans to rally and mass-suggest the strangest games they can find, especially since somehow she always manages to make them entertaining to watch

Moved from Mt. Komorebi to San Myshuno the day she turned 18

Despite desperately wanting to be an idol, she’s too irresponsible to actually put the work in to even try. She sort of tripped into being a semi-successful streamer

Had a great childhood and very loving parents, who support her dream but are pretty clueless about “idols” and “streamers”

Is an only child and was spoiled rotten

A hopeless romantic who wants a whirlwind romance to sweep her off her feet. But she’s never had a relationship that’s lasted more than a couple months…

Is very affectionate (physically and verbally) and kind. While she seems like she’d be self-centered, she isn’t—just a bit delusional about her lifelong dream. When it comes down to it, she’s a good person!

Is actually quite good at singing, and a passable dancer, so she wouldn’t actually make a bad idol in that regard

LOVES animals, and owns one very affectionate cat

Her favorite animal is cows, and her favorite fruit is strawberries, so she decided to embody the “strawberry cow” aesthetic as much as possible

Despite wanting to be a pop star, her favorite type of music is actually show tunes

*I use the More Traits in CAS mod, but the first 3 personality traits (cringe, geek, lovebug) alone work just fine!

If you read this far... omg thank you so much LOL

Private DL if chosen!

[phoenix-manga]

Evonie Apfel

CV: Hikasa Yoko

Biographical Information

Gender: Female

Age: 19

Birthday: March 6

Starsign: Pisces

Height: 175 cm

Eye Color: Forest green

Hair Color: Black

Professional Status

Dorm: Pommeneige

School Year: 3rd Year

Class: 3-B | Student no. 3

Occupation: Student | Dorm Leader

Club: Theater Club

Best Subject: General Magic

Fun Facts

Favorite Food: Apple Dumplings

Least Favorite Food: Brussel Sprouts

Dislikes: Handling Highness’ tantrums and poachers

Hobby: Singing rock songs and fencing

Talents: Fast Reflexes

Idol Stats

Performance: Flexible range of vocals depending on the genre

Choreography: Quick to adjust to different choreography styles

Styling Jewel Outfits: Elegant | Gothic | Cool

Evonie doesn’t mind if she gets a bit dirty when accomplishing a task but she makes sure that she still looks presentable and cleans up to maintain her image as a dorm leader.

She is decently sociable but it is clear that there is a wall she puts up. If she is with people she can be vulnerable around, she doesn’t hold back on what her opinion is to an extent. Those close to her know that she will support her friends throughout their issues.

She has a mild level of patience; she can tolerate small mistakes but if the mistakes keep repeating then she might have to consult the person to see if there is anything wrong.

But if it is anything like Allison does, she definitely won’t tolerate that will sternly reprimand them. Her patience reaching its limit is rather rare, but when it happens then expect yelling and spells being thrown about.

Evonie is good at multitasking, she can hold a full conversation even if she is not looking at what she is doing to face the person she is speaking to. It’s something she developed at home.

She is very competitive, it is something she developed with her dads, and she loved the feeling of being victorious. So, if she ever loses, she is determined to come up with ways to win next time. It may get irritating to lose but she is a good sport, unless she finds out the opponent is cheating, then she won’t tolerate that.

Although she is aware of people and their behavior, she doesn’t always have an accurate conclusion of what the person would do and she would be a bit suspicious but without any concrete evidence she will drop her assumptions and leave it alone.

She makes sure she has proper table manners when eating, but if she is in private, she will slouch and eat to her own standards of comfort, she still keeps in mind of any crumbs that might fall.

Like Snow White, she has a fear of anything scary. She dislikes going to dark places by herself and if she sees something out of the corner of her eye then she will turn her head so fast to make sure nothing was there. She loses her composure and will activate fight or flight mode on instinct.

Hometown: Town of Orchard Fields

Family Life

Evonie was adopted by Rote and Schnee Apfel who became her parental figures. Her birthmother gave birth to her but knows that her illness will be detrimental for Evonie’s future. She contacts the Apfel couple who were acquaintances of hers and asked them to adopt Evonie.

The couple agrees and they raised Evonie in the Town of Orchard Fields. The house is built near a border with a large forest with a lot of wildlife and plants, it’s like a big backyard for her to explore.

Rote was the closest acquaintance of Evonie’s birthmother and it was he who made the decision to adopt the girl. Schnee teases him how during the first few years of raising a baby he went overboard in baby-proofing the house that they had so many pillows and Styrofoam than they know what to do with.

Evonie grew up as a polite girl, though she always had this curiosity to anything she thought might be a cute animal. Schnee made sure to teach her about the safety precautions when approaching a wild animal after he saw his daughter come home with a boar.

Though he doesn’t cook as much as Rote, he does know one recipe that he always taught Evonie, it was apple desserts that were pulled from his great grandmother’s cookbook. He’s kept that cookbook with him and hopes to one day pass it down to Evonie. Evonie’s favorite is the apple dumplings made by Schnee, she can’t get enough of it.

Childhood Memories

At first, Evonie was enjoying her time at school because everyone was very friendly to her. Of course, she is kind to them back to the point where she didn’t want to disappoint them. Until she found the outcast kid that the kids make fun of because of their appearance.

Evonie builds up courage to defend them and befriend the outcast. Which she thought was the right thing to do, at first, the outcast and Evonie got along and they were grateful for their help.

It wasn’t until the other kids cornered them and told the outcast how Evonie was just being nice because they were pitiful and how dare they think they’re equal to Evonie. This made them bitter and slowly drift apart from Evonie who had no clue what was going on.

When she heard news of her friend moving away, she wanted to say goodbye but when she managed to face them, the outcast hurled blame at her for their suffering. Telling her how she has it easy because she’ pretty and she thinks she’s so great but she was arrogant.

Evonie was silent but tears were flowing down her face, both of their parents heard the commotion and awkwardly bid farewell, they didn’t know what was wrong because they thought they got along well.

After that friend left, Evonie took what they said to heart and soon she started to realize how people kept complimenting her appearance instead of her skills. The people who admired her didn’t care about her at all, they just wanted to feel like they’re the popular clique by including Evonie. The ones who didn’t made it clear that they think she’s got it easy because of her looks.

This led Evonie to change her perspective, she didn’t wear pretty dresses unless it was necessary but she kept it simple and didn’t go all out. She didn’t socialize as much with people and often spent her days helping out at home or exploring the forest.

She preferred the company of animals more than people, knowing they care more about her compassion rather than her appearance.

The words of her ex-friend still linger her to this day, she would internally get annoyed whenever someone says she’s better suited for something else or disregards her effort.

Evonie is a 3rd Year Pommeneige student and is the current dorm leader.

Evonie is a model student, always makes sure to be efficient and ensure her dorm students wouldn’t fall behind by offering to help them in their studies to the best of her abilities. When she takes a break, it would be either a walk through the woods or just snacking on anything she craves.

The dorm students at first were unsure of s dorm leader who doesn’t quite portray the innocence of the Princess of the Dwarves, but they find her diligence and mature aura appealing and sometimes compares her to a prince. They nicknamed her the “Apple Knight”.

Evonie excels more when it comes to sports, especially fencing. Her Papa taught her and often sparred with her when he has time. Cooking is also another strong point in her education besides general subjects.

Regarding magic, she is more combat focused and often likes to physically incorporate spells with her movement like swinging a sword.

She thought that most students in DCA would be like the ones back home, only caring about appearances but she finds out that there are a lot of different girls here. She feels at ease to know that she can at least lift the weight on her shoulders.

Somewhere down the line, she developed this second persona to fully explore her wild side. Evonie wanted to feel free without having to think twice about her image. So, she set up a persona to really let herself go.

She showed up as a mystery idol once and it all developed from there. People have called her persona “The Masked Maiden” and she takes great measure to make sure no one can figure out her identity. So much so that she joined the theater club to improve her façade.

Evonie’s grades are fairly high, though she enjoys PE more because their coach has thrilling obstacle courses that really spark her motivation. Evonie is most skilled at fencing compared to the rest of the exercises.

School Relationships

Evonie is more drawn to befriend girls who can light up the competitive fire in her as well as genuinely enjoying her company. Vidya and Jinlong became her rivals due to their athleticism and how they always do things their way. Evonie admires them for wanting to be true to themselves so she follows their example.

Ella is another close friend of Evonie, though she barely remembers meeting Ella. Ella remembers Evonie as the Glaciel family went to Orchard Fields for a vacation and she remembers this pretty girl with dark hair who was nice enough to show her around the stalls and offer her some apple tarts. Though Ella seems like someone Evonie wouldn’t befriend at first, the girl’s kindness won her over.

They got even closer when Ella confided about her previous stepmother who left scars on her, mentally and physically. Evonie has not experienced that kind of abuse but she understands when Ella worries about appearance and wanting to hide what bothered them. She tends to shield Ella from anything bothering her out of habit.

Allison was a pain in the neck for Evonie, she can’t find common ground with the girl at all! She can somewhat understand not wanting to do etiquette but it’s still a class requirement. Evonie thinks she’s too reckless while Allison thinks Evonie is too hung up on maintaining an image. The only time those two can agree on something is through cooking, thought that ends quickly when Allison slips any raw fruit other than apples into her mouth.

Perrine and Evonie often share recipes and both found a common ground in sharing family traditions learned from past generations. Though Evonie can’t decide whether to be impressed or revolted when Perrine makes that weird food combination and eats it like it was 5 star.

Evonie’s relationship with Applette, her dorm fairy, is akin to her seeking comfort in the little creature. Applette’s form is derived from Evonie’s desire to feel genuine connections with other people. Applette is always sweet and kind, a contrast with Evonie’s cool and somewhat stern personality.

The fairy is there to be sympathetic as well as paint Evonie as a reliable sister figure to the dorm students.

Highness

Highness is a purple peacock that was given to Evonie when Schnee found an abandoned egg in the forest but there was no parent to be found. Highness was rather clingy as a chick, always looking for Evonie and crying whenever she went to school.

But Evonie still can’t understand how his attitude changed when he grew up, she guessed it might have been puberty that made him this way. She remembered using up all her saved money to buy him all those pricey bird products… it was definitely when she put too much effort into his care that he became this way.

Highness is arrogant and would stomp on anyone that he doesn’t deem worthy to get close to his personal space. Not even Evonie was spared but he does it less often when the threat of being sent to the vet was used.

Highness has his own personal trunk full of jewelry that he has Evonie dress him with, she doesn’t tell him that they’re mostly made from glass by Ella. There was no way that Evonie could afford such expensive jewelry so imitations are good enough as long as he doesn’t know.

Her unique magic is called, “Friends of the Forest”. The unique magic developed when Evonie felt awful after the confrontation with the ex-friend that she made the mistake of running into the forest during a rainstorm. She ended up crying under a hollow log from how hurt and scared she was.

Remembering the lullaby her dad often sang to her when she was scared, she quietly hummed the song unaware that the animals in the forest gathered around to comfort her. She was shocked at first to see so many animals around her but they brought her the comfort she needed until her parents found her.

Evonie often did this in private because it felt like her sanctuary if she ever gets stressed. She’s developed a soft spot for animals, Highness is a complicated case though.

She also excels in using fire magic due to her living in the woods and her family often having to camp out on special occasions. She can also use this offensively during matches by either setting projectiles or a dome trap.

Rote Apfel

Rote Apfel is called, “Dad” by Evonie and he has red hair and a large build that may seem intimidating but he is actually quite sweet and efficient in several handiwork around the household. Rote is only muscular because he did a lot of errands before which included chopping wood and heavy lifting.

He runs an animal sanctuary that cares for injured or abandoned animals. Quite a few of them have been adopted as family pets so it is expected to find a few animals lounging in their household.

Rote can’t help himself, all of the animals seem so cute to him, and he wished he had a bigger house to adopt them all. Schnee had to remind him that there is a limit to how many animals they can keep in the house.

Rote taught Evonie a lot of life hacks and tips on easy fixes on problems that usually need professionals to fix.

He is such a protective papa bear and often times his pouting face looks so intimidating without even meaning to. He is the empath that contrasts with Schnee’s parenting style.

Schnee Apfel

Schnee Apfel is called, “Papa” by Evonie and he has white hair and a slim build but he is very athletic with good reflexes. At first glance, he doesn’t seem intimidating due to his beautiful face but the moment he gets angry is when he becomes terrifying.

It comes with his job as a park ranger, he works in the town’s tourist park. There are times when he was called to handle a rampaging animal that might harm people nearby. But there are also entitled bastards or people with barely a brain cell who get themselves into trouble at the park.

Schnee doesn’t tolerate any nonsense in the park and is often called to handle the problematic visitors.

Schnee was the strict parent but he doesn’t go overboard in discipline. Most of the punishments when Evonie did something wrong was just household chores while he explains to her why it was wrong. He makes sure to properly teach her without being too harsh as he knows that children will be children.

He is the tough love kind of father which contrasts Rote’s parenting style.

Character’s name derives from “Ebony” with a few letter changes while her last name, “Apfel” is the German word for Apple.

Evonie can’t eat any other fruit raw besides apples, it’s still a mystery to her as to why. They’re fine when it comes to desserts or even jam but the raw product never fails to make her dislike it.

Despite her confidence, she actually can’t stand anything related to horror. She will shriek and hide away.

Her early concept was supposed to be a more confident and badass, Snow White. Her first two designs looked too similar to Weiss Schnee from RWBY, so she was redesigned.

[lord-squiggletits]

The hard thing about writing therapy sessions into fics is that like. The story is predicated on drama, and even in therapy characters are still people that may or may not be able to communicate, and then there's the fact that even when you're successful in therapy you still have to deal with relationships and life outside of that where your coping is actually put to the test

Like it's weird because "characters dialoguing in therapy speak" is a current day hated trope, but in this case the characters going to therapy (sometimes even with each other) is LITERALLY part of the plot. But then you don't want the therapy to just instantly solve every interpersonal conflict so the characters still need to beef over something. Which, fine, lots of people go to therapy and don't cooperate during the session, are unwilling to apply the advice IRL, other things happen due to the flawed nature of existence, etc.

What I'm trying to say is that at least in stories/worlds with no therapy, ppl being severely malfunctional and getting in deep shit makes sense bc there's no education or support or help for them to make the optimal choices. But in stories with therapy, you want the therapy to be an in-universe part of the world that characters react to as real people react in therapy. But you don't want the therapy to turn into a meta device that you as an author use to magic away a character's emotional/interpersonal problems effortlessly with disregard to how long/difficult therapy is.

I feel like this might be a genre issue, idk? There's just so few stories that involve therapy (many of which are biographical in nature and not fiction/narrative focused), maybe due to how mental health is only a recently destigmatized/educated topic. So this feels like a writing problem exclusive to some sort of contemporary, "just like the real world" genre of writing that I'm unfamiliar with and maybe the answer is just "yeah you have to write it as a fictional story but also like it's real life." Idk.

[the---hermit]

Maus I and II by Art Spiegelman

This graphic novel classic has been on my radar for years. Ever since I started reading this genre I remember seeing this book in bookshops and being pulled to it. I have no idea why I waited so long to finally pick it up, but I am very happy I finally did. As you might know, if you have read some of my book reviews before, not only I really love graphic novels, but I also have a whole section of biographical graphic novel and historical graphic novels. This book in particular is telling the experience of the author's dad during the second world war. The author mixes scenes in which he as an adult asks is father about what happened, and his father's life as a Polish Jew who survived the Holocaust. The book is divided in two volumes the first going from before the war to the invasion of Poland and the author's father experiences until he was brought to Auschwitz, the second volume is telling is experience in Auschwitz all the way to the end to the war.

One of the peculiarities of the book is how the author portrays characters, as he usues animal as a metaphor. Jewish people are represented as mice, nazis are represented as cats, Polish people are represented as pigs, French people as frogs and Americans as dogs. The contraposition between mice and cats is really strong, and it was a very clever way to represent his characters in my opinion. This book is incredibly layered. There's a lot of feeling to it, not only obviously linked to everything that happened during the war, but also between the author and his father. I liked how the author portrayed how complicated his relationship to his father was, it felt very honest and vulnerable. Of course the main body of the story, being set during the war is very emotionally heavy, but it's also told extremly well. To see one specific experience of that time makes all the terrible events we all know about hit even harder. It shows, as the author says himself, that to survive it did take luck, but also every move a person made or not could count and make a difference. His father was a very resorceful and intelligent man who played all the cards he had in order to survive everything he had to face.

As you probably know this book has been banned in the US a lot in recent times (which thankfully also made a lot of people finally pick it up), and I cannot stress enoug hhow important it is to read books that are being banned. In my personal opinion this book could very well be assigned as a reading in high school when studying WWII. We used to have assigned reading that sometimes had to do with whatever we were studying in other subjects, and honestly this book would work very well. The art is indescribable, it's perfect for the story it tells, there's a lot of symbolism that adds a whole other layer to the narration as I was saying, it's very dark and helps to carry the feelings of what is happening. It's a book you should read no matter who you are. It's a classic in the graphic novel genre for a reason.