#her camera motif was also fun to make

[comfymoth]

Do you ever think about what cutie marks your OCs would have if they were ponies? It's so fun to think of how to capture their essence or talent in a simple design

I always enjoy when people make their OCs into ponies or make mlp aus of fandoms because you get some that are like "so it's two dice becasue of the plush die he has on his car but also the two dice represent him and his brother and the snake eyes represent his snake tattoo and how he's unlucky in general and the dots are hearts instead of dots because they represent his wife's earings" and some that are like "pineapple 👍🏻 because he eats them :D" which is also very valid and fun

Idk why but I suddenly started thinking about that lol

- 🦷

omg i have been thinking about this so hard ever since you sent this ask………. okayokay so, explanations under the cut, in no particular order:

milo: his cutie mark is his little star pattern, because how could it not be, it’s all over him, but also as kind of a north star motif? milo’s very metaphorically and also literally lost, so it’s a silly little nod to that! (a mutual also pointed out that he almost serves as a north star for leon with the way he’s something constant to follow and that made me sniffle so :,3 stars!)

leon: a roseee, because it was on the ptv shirt i originally drew him in, haha ^-^ it’s kind of a silly nod to him being a beyond-hopeless romantic, but more seriously, i think it has to do with the thorns. you could either read it as the thorns he’s learned to grow in self defense, or the ones he’s had to push through while still holding onto the things he loves

quinn: KANDIII, she’s a bracelet maker, she’s an artsy crafty girl!! but it also represents the way she builds relationships. she reaches out in her own way, but once you meet her there? once you’re in her circle, you’re there for good, she’d do anything for you. she takes that plur handshake fucking serious

ravi: a camera and a blank polaroid, because he’s looking for real, solid evidence of ghosts, man!! he’s trying to see shit you can’t see. but on another level that’s also just what ravi’s generally good at— seeing things for what they are. and even when he can’t, and the picture’s not turning out so clear, he tries. he really, really tries. bonus points because it also kinda suits the career we gave him in the post-canon, but hey, we haven’t gotten there yet :3c

[apollosgiftofprophecy]

God Games

I absolutely love this song. It’s fun, it’s catchy, and the visuals on the livestream were spectacular!

And speaking of the visuals, I have some thoughts to share that seized me just after the livestream.

Before we begin though, I do want to say that I do love the animated visuals we got in the stream! They are all so beautiful and I could NOT look away! Zeus going Beast Mode? Amazing. Athena fighting her way up the stairs? Aweing.

So this is in no way criticizing the visuals, or Jorge’s vision of them! I just want to share something I think is cool, and wanted to share :3

@gotstabbedbyapen i think you might like this too >:3

In short, I think it would have been cool if the other gods had been involved in the final part of God Games- but not in the way you think.

Hear me out.

Long version:

Let me set the scene. Let's see if I can explain the visuals in my head.

We're at the moment Zeus goes Beast Mode. He's going "THUN-DER, BRING. HER. THROUGH. THE. WRINNGEERRR" you know the part.

and as "SHOW HER I'M THE JUDGEMENT CALL, THE ONE WHO MAKES HER KINGDOM FALL" is said, we flash between Apollo, Hephaestus, Aphrodite, Ares, and Hera, before landing on Athena, all looking up at the thundering god, wind rushing around them.

They are all wearing various levels of worry/concern/"uh-oh", because Zeus has gone Beast Mode...and then Athena gets struck.

We cut to Ares saying, and looking distinctly concerned, "Is she dead?"

Camera pans out to show Athena lying on the ground, smoke coming off of her, deeply injured.

The slow Warrior of the Mind motif plays. Apollo's the first to move, checking on her, and we slowly zoom onto Athena's face as she blearily opens her eyes.

Camera change: we're now in Athena-vision. Everything is blurry. Then the faint outlines of Odysseus, Penelope, and baby Telemachus (like in the livestream) slowly come into focus. They get clearer, and towards the end of the slow motif, Athena blinks, blinks again, and we have a clear image of all five of the gods hovering over her.

The music swells. Apollo offers his hand out to her, and Athena grasps it. She clasps Hephaestus's next, and Aphrodite and Ares take her arms, while Hera does so from behind.

They help her up, Athena leaning a bit on the others as she stares at Zeus, who has calmed down, and looking at them.

Athena, bleeding heavily, still says; "Let him go, please. Let him go." And passes out.

End scene.

It's a lot more dramatic in my head (as all things are) but I hope this is all cohesive! XD

So why do I like this idea?

Because it shows that the gods have solidarity. As much as they hurt each other, they do, in fact, love each other too. The five gods in God Games know that Athena won fair and square, and that Zeus is being unreasonable. And let me be clear: Zeus is not a tyrant. The other gods keep him in check, which is what would be happening here. The five of them helping Athena would be enough to snap Zeus out of his rage and ego-trip.

Speaking of Zeus, this would also give him time to cool down and realize how rash he’s being, something he has done in the mythology! (ie, calming down before throwing Apollo into Tartarus) In fact, he's calmed down after the interference of other gods, so this would track well with the mythology too :3 (ie, Leto was the one who got him to rethink the Tartarus idea)

"But would the other gods even help Athena?" Some of you may be asking- I say yes. Apollo and Athena in the myths are actually very friendly with each other! Hephaestus and Athena were on the same side of the Trojan War! Aphrodite has no real beef with Athena, and while it's a popular idea that Ares and Athena hate each other, that's simply not true either. And Hera? She and Athena were practically besties in The Iliad. They all would help her, especially if it would temper Zeus's anger and stop him from causing too much damage.

Again, I loved the visuals on the livestream!! There is no doubt about that!!

It's just this juicy idea came to me after the live-listen and I've been stewing over it since :3

[bluenerdtastemaker]

The Backless Revelation

We Miss You sequel (2)

--

Esteban Ocon x Pierre Gasly x Charles Leclerc | 1.3K

--

Esteban wasn’t sure what had possessed him to agree to this. Maybe it was the earnest sparkle in Erina’s eyes when she’d asked him to model for her fashion design project. Or maybe it was the fact that he’d known her for years—she was his neighbor’s daughter, a sweet, determined fashion student with a dream of making it big in haute couture.

“Please, Esteban,” Erina had begged, clutching her sketchpad like it was her lifeline. “I just need one male model for my final collection. It’s bold and unconventional, but I think it’s perfect for you. You have the frame, the poise... and you’d look stunning.”

He’d laughed nervously at her passionate pitch, unsure of what he was signing up for. But Esteban was nothing if not a people-pleaser, and he didn’t have the heart to say no.

Now, standing in front of the camera in Erina’s tiny makeshift studio, he was starting to regret his decision.

“Trust me, Esteban,” Erina chirped as she adjusted the fabric of the suit, her fingers deftly arranging the black material over his shoulders. “You’re going to look amazing. This backless design is the centerpiece of my collection—it’s daring, elegant, and androgynous. It’s meant to break stereotypes.”

Esteban glanced over his shoulder at the mirror, taking in the plunging backline of the suit that left most of his spine exposed. A temporary tattoo—a delicate butterfly and rose motif—sat perfectly at the center of his back. It was bold, yes, but undeniably beautiful.

“Are you sure about this?” he asked, fidgeting slightly. “I mean, it’s... a bit much.”

Erina gave him an encouraging smile, her warm brown eyes filled with gratitude. “You’re perfect, Esteban. Just trust me, okay? And thank you so much for doing this—I owe you big time.”

Her sincerity melted his nerves a little, and he sighed, nodding. “Alright. Let’s do this.”

The photographer, a fellow student with a talent for capturing raw emotion, guided Esteban through the poses. Erina fussed over every detail, ensuring the suit draped just right and that the tattoo caught the light beautifully.

“Lift your chin a little,” the photographer directed. “Now turn your head slightly to the left... perfect. Hold that.”

Click. Click. Click.

As the shoot went on, Esteban found himself relaxing. The initial awkwardness faded, replaced by a quiet confidence he didn’t know he had. Erina’s energy was contagious—she radiated pride and excitement every time she looked at the shots on the camera screen.

“You’re killing it!” she exclaimed after a particularly striking shot. “You’re going to make my collection stand out at the showcase.”

By the end of the session, Esteban was actually smiling. Erina handed him a bottle of water and beamed up at him like he’d just won her an award.

“You were amazing,” she said, practically bouncing on her toes. “This is going to be the highlight of my portfolio. And don’t worry, I’ll make sure you get credit when it goes public.”

Esteban chuckled, ruffling her hair affectionately. “You’re the real star here, Erina. I just stood where you told me to.”

She shook her head fiercely. “No way. You brought my design to life. I’ll send you a copy of the magazine when it’s published, okay? Thank you again, Esteban. You’re the best.”

As he left the studio that evening, Esteban felt a strange mix of pride and trepidation. He couldn’t deny that the experience had been fun, but he also couldn’t shake the thought of how Pierre and Charles would react when they saw him in that backless suit.

Little did he know, their reactions would be far more dramatic than he anticipated; The morning started like any other in their home—a comfortable quiet broken only by the sound of birds outside and the faint hum of the coffee machine. Pierre was the first to stir, padding barefoot into the kitchen with his hair sticking up in every direction. Charles followed not long after, still rubbing the sleep from his eyes as he joined Pierre at the counter. As for Esteban, he was still asleep due to overtime at work, it seems the new project Alpine in seems to take more time than he expected.

Their peaceful routine was abruptly interrupted when Pierre’s gaze landed on something new resting on their coffee table. A glossy magazine sat there, slightly out of place among their usual stack of car and sports publications. The cover featured models in bold, modern designs, but what caught Pierre’s attention wasn’t the magazine itself—it was the image tucked inside.

“Charles,” Pierre called, voice sharp with intrigue. “Come look at this.”

Charles leaned over Pierre’s shoulder as he flipped open to a page bookmarked by chance. And there he was. Esteban. Their Esteban. In a sleek, black backless suit that hugged his slim frame perfectly. His back was exposed, highlighting the delicate arch of his posture, while a temporary tattoo—a striking design of a butterfly and rose—decorated the center of his spine.

The suit was bold, unconventional, and effortlessly elegant. His face was soft yet captivating, lips slightly parted, as though daring anyone to look away.

“Mon dieu…” Charles murmured, jaw dropping slightly. “That’s… our Esteban?”

Pierre couldn’t help but laugh, though it came out more breathless than amused. “Why didn’t he tell us he did this? Look at him! He’s a work of art.”

Esteban, of course, was still asleep upstairs, blissfully unaware of the effect his photo shoot had on his boyfriends. Charles immediately grabbed the magazine and started flipping through it for more pictures. Sure enough, there were a few pages dedicated to him—poses that showed off his lanky yet graceful frame, the elegance of his hands, and the soft tilt of his head.

They didn’t even bother finishing their coffee. Instead, they marched upstairs, the magazine in hand. Pierre was the first to push open the bedroom door, revealing Esteban still curled under the blankets, his hair a messy halo on the pillow.

“Esteban,” Charles called gently, his voice filled with a mixture of amusement and adoration. “Wake up.”

Esteban stirred, blinking up at them groggily. “What’s going on?” His voice was still thick with sleep, making him look even softer in their eyes.

“Oh, nothing,” Pierre said, smirking as he sat on the edge of the bed. He held up the magazine, flipping to the now-infamous page. “Care to explain this?”

It took a moment for Esteban’s sleep-addled brain to catch up. When his eyes focused on the image, his face turned scarlet. “Oh my god,” he groaned, burying his face in his hands, mumbling. “I forgot I put the magazine at the coffee table.”

Charles slid into the bed on the other side of him, pulling Esteban’s hands away from his face. “Forgot? How could you forget something like this? You’re stunning. Breathtaking. Look at you.”

Pierre leaned closer, his eyes gleaming with mischief. “You should’ve warned us, though. How are we supposed to focus on anything now?”

Esteban couldn’t find a way to defend himself. His heart was racing as Pierre and Charles took turns teasing him, flipping through the magazine to point out their favorite shots.

“You’re wearing our shirts for the next week,” Pierre finally declared, his hands tracing a path up Esteban’s arm. “No one else deserves to see you like this.”

Charles nodded, pressing a kiss to Esteban’s temple. “Agreed. We’re keeping you all to ourselves.”

They started showering him with kisses, soft and lingering, trailing from his cheeks to his forehead, and down to his lips. Esteban was quickly overwhelmed, his protests dissolving into quiet, breathless laughter as they cornered him in the bed.

“You’re ridiculous,” he finally managed to gasp, though the fondness in his tone was unmistakable.

Pierre grinned, his hand brushing a strand of hair away from Esteban’s forehead. “And you’re ours.”

As Esteban sank back into the pillows, utterly spoiled and glowing from their attention, he couldn’t help but think that he didn’t mind being their doll after all.

[love-takes-work]

Streamily Signing with Kimberly Brooks as Jasper and AJ Michalka as Stevonnie

AJ Michalka and Kimberly Brooks signed some stuff for fans on the Streamily! It's listed as a Steven Universe event but combined with other characters for both of them (AJ signed some Catra prints and Kimberly signed some Allura and Ashley prints).

After some technical difficulties (which Kimberly says dealing with Streamily and Instagram at the same time is a one-two punch like Jasper would do), they get both voice actors to get on the stream and can both hear each other. They catch up with each other and Kimberly says the first time she met AJ she was wearing awesome sneakers so Kimberly bought the same pair.

AJ points out that her first VIP to sign is not even Stevonnie--it's Catra--and then they take turns, and Kimberly signs one featuring winter Jasper.

Kimberly says playing Jasper was an awesome opportunity and she loves working with Rebecca Sugar. AJ feels like she only did about 10 episodes.

Kimberly points out that she "tends to be confused at all times."

AJ signs another Catra print while pointing out that she doesn't draw, but sometimes signs and does a little "cat scratch" motif on the print. She thinks it originated with a fan asking for it and she incorporated it into anything where she is asked to draw. Kimberly is also asked to draw on a print and says she can't draw either. They both have thought about learning to draw because they're going to a lot of conventions.

Kimberly is asked to draw a cat and says it's appropriate because she's a Leo and cats are always coming into her yard. She has a dog that doesn't like the cats. She thinks about drawing lions and likes that there's also a connection to her character Allura in Voltron (she pilots the Blue Lion). Kimberly draws a cat and the word "meow," and specifies that Jasper would definitely only say that very sarcastically.

AJ says she plays guitar and piano and makes reference to her band with her sister having a 20-year anniversary for their first album coming up soon. Her latest record is called With Love From, but they have a new one coming out next year in spring.

They discuss how neither of them are coffee people and AJ prefers matcha for the extended release of caffeine and the tastiness.

AJ wants to do a video game someday like Kimberly did as Ashley Williams on Mass Effect, and Kimberly says it's actually not that fun to do the actual recording but it's still cool to portray the character. Kimberly talks about how cool it was that the player character for Mass Effect could be male or female and you could still romance various genders of characters--that at the time it was uncommon.

Someone who sent in a request for a print asked Kimberly to sign the print with what she thinks Jasper would say in response to being called "Jaspie." She eventually decides to write "Call me 'Jaspie' again and I'll pound you into the ground." AJ thinks Kimberly's Jasper voice transition is so cool.

AJ is asked to put a favorite Stevonnie quote and chooses "I'm an experience."

Kimberly and AJ rizz each other up a bit and when Kimberly says she'd really like to be in a band or sing.

Kimberly writes another Jasper quote about pounding people into the ground. She points out that it's hard to come up with quotes so far after the fact.

They discuss how fans want a Steven Universe movie but agree that neither of them have heard of any news about one.

When signing for someone who says Jasper is their favorite character, she says thank you for admitting that Jasper is their favorite character--that Jasper is everyone's favorite character but only brave people can admit it. Haha!

AJ discusses that her name initials stand for "Amanda Joy."

AJ and Kimberly agree that if Catra and Jasper were on the same show there'd be too much anger and too much emotion--they're somewhat similar characters in some way.

Kimberly stays a little longer after AJ has to go and signs the non-VIP posters on camera too even though it wasn't required.

Kimberly's last signature has the quote "Jaspers don't give up. Jaspers keep going until we get what we want" from "Crack the Whip." She says she's forgotten what episode that was from and doesn't remember the context, but wants someone to remind her.

[maryrouille]

It's Amy Winehouse, but with female rage. About Back to Black (dir. Sam Taylor-Johnson) 2024

Recently, a film telling the life story of the British singer Amy Winehouse was released. I came here to talk a little about the aesthetics of this film, which, by the way, cannot be accused of poor music (Marisa Abela sings Amy's songs in her own voice and she does it brilliantly!) or ugly shots.

In the film we see the transformation from a rebellious teenager with a guitar into an emotionally and behaviorally unstable woman (without a guitar). Of course, this turn of events could have been reflected in Amy's real life, but one gets the impression that the film is set in a different time. It feels like the 2000s have been filtered, sugar-coated, and embedded somewhere in the 2024 aesthetic of angry girlbloggers on Tumblr.

Romanticizing drinking alcohol and mental instability

You probably know the tendencies related to #just girly things and the explanation of all depressive states and tantrums by just being a girl. It is a kind of expression of the life and consciousness of today's young girls living in the rather unoptimistic times of social media and consumerism. But is this aesthetic good for Amy's story? It seems to me that romanticizing alcohol, drugs and blind love leading to complete self-loss and ultimately death is a poor approach.

And while watching the film you definitely feel that something is wrong, but at the same time you fall into this beautified world. Amy's life was darker and more brutal, and her problems were not only limited to matters of the heart, glass and flashbulbs of cameras. Unfortunately, living with addictions is dirty and disgusting. And you can't put a bow on it. But it seems to be a sign of our times.

You Know I'm No Good (song)

Adding the ending to this song title: but I'm not going to rehab. And here we should ask the question about the level of public awareness in 2008 (the year when Amy received five Grammy Awards) and today. In 2024, acceptance and knowledge about all behavioral therapies, addiction treatment and toxic relationships is much greater. And Back to Black, under the guise of nice outfits, make-up and a few minor falls, gives the impression of being up-to-date.

Will someone watch this movie and say they want to live like Amy (just like it was with Coppola's Priscilla)? This is quite possible, because in the end we get the image of a slightly rebellious femme fatale and a slightly weak girl who is harmed by others. And many of us would fit this description.

Live fast, die young, be wild and have fun (song)

Finally, I have to quote Lana del Rey, because today's girl blogging draws from her in handfuls. Is joining the 27 Club really that romantic? The departure of such young people from the world is primarily a tragedy, which later becomes a beautiful myth. That's why it's worth mentioning Lana's example here. She uses aesthetics very well and, above all, separates moving around motifs and drawing visual inspiration from them from real life.

To sum up, movie Back to Black is really worth seeing. However, it is also worth being aware that this is a colorful fiction for 2024 built around the true story of Amy Winehouse.

Edit 24/04/24: I have to mention the update here. I just came across an article from British Vogue that confirms my thesis about drawing inspiration from image of Amy (also Kate Moss, so heroin chic is back in fashion?) Quoting a fragment of the article:

The legacy of Winehouse also lives on in Back to Black, due for release on 12 April. (...) While we’re in no way condoning or glorifying the hobbies of Winehouse and her erstwhile friend Doherty, there was a scene during that time and a smudgy, smeary aesthetic that somehow worked.

[otogariado]

frieren episode 26 thoughts! i haven't done this since the end of the first examination and now we're almost at the end...

firstly: the camera angles in the flashback to fern and frieren talking about their strategy is great — they went for something similar to the handheld camera effect, wherein we follow the perspective of frieren's and then fern's eyes respectively. it's a great choice given that the conversation is so intimate, which only makes it more personal. this is between a mentor and her mentee who she believes has the capacity to rise so far above her. i like how, when we cut to fern's perspective, she's slightly looking up to frieren since she's sitting down whilst frieren is standing—it's a bit on the nose, but i like that metaphorically, fern still looks up to frieren, but frieren is not unreachable to her at all.

secondly: the side characters in this exam arc are so interesting and once again they get highlighted here. i love methode and her "i have many talents, but i'm really great at stopping people". i love wirbel's "i don't trust people easily, but i'm not stupid enough to let a winning horse get away."

but i think the easy highlight of this episode is übel. übel is so fascinating as a character, because she's so scary because of her capabilities. if she wanted to just go rogue and kill everyone, she very much could. so it's been really fun seeing her interact so thoughtfully with other characters, particularly her budding friendship with "glasses boy". i also like that we hardly know anything about her background, but we do get so much info from her brief flashback to her sister watching her sister cut fabric—in that her sister probably has a lot of influence on her and helped shape her character. i haven't sat down and thought about übel enough but i undoubtedly think her sister was a good influence on her.

thirdly: i love the themes of the second exam being about working together and being strong in numbers. if they had done this from the start, they would've done a better job. but i like that they obviously don't lol this is what makes them so believable as characters, after all. still, it shows that despite starting off scattered through the dungeon, it's never too late to try to work together, and make it work they did.

something i also like about this exam is the motif of knowing when to quit. "we can retake the exam in three years" is a sort, but very a heart-wrenching moment.

[umbraastaff]

I'd love to hear your general thoughts on the new gn! I personally think Wonderland was a little rushed, but I loved reunion tour.

was fun in some ways and fell short in others! i overall i agree with you on that as well. more specific thoughts, in no particular order:

some really really cool visuals in this book. lucretia in the hourglass at the start, some awesome panels with space and the hunger and stuff... barry regaining his memories on page 212 is probably my favorite page in the whole book

the choice to make the Chug & Squeeze be painting instead of pottery is baffling to me. the title of the place made sense with the original… the choice to change it so that it doesn't fit, and then also make fun of that, feels a bit like i am being made fun of as a fan/audience member, regardless of whatever the original intent was

(compounded with the total loss of the original depth in this scene… no vulnerability from taako, just a good 'ol fanservice kiss…)

similarly bizarre, the choice to make lucretia lose 30 years instead of 20...? 20 not bad enough? she needed to be 60 instead of 50? what's happening lol

i feel vindicated on a spiritual level for being the only person i can remember drawing mullet ponytail barry - like 95% of fanart i see draws him either short haired or with long hair free n out like in HTBG graphic novel... never ponytails. im winning

more bafflement with magnus even THINKING on the question of forgetting julia... the kalen thing is a much more interesting conflict to me given (a) it makes sense to be uncertain about and (b) relates directly back to his love for julia. and they established AND NAMED kalen in eleventh hour, why not use that...

feels like they swing back and forth on how much they trust the audience to pick up subtext... being hit over the head with magnus continuing the "id hate it shut the fuck up" thing to rly look at the camera and wink and tell us how much he loves julia, but then the comic version of the "love barry trust barry" was VERY dependent on picking up cues and seeing taako's attitude change

speaking of, i did really love the "love barry trust barry" scene. and both times lup jumps into barry's arms is so cute ugh

i know it's a product of how rushed everything has to be putting 10+ hours of audio into a singular COMIC book, but for fuck's sake, removing KEATS..........?????? so now lydia & edward have no depth??? & no parallel/foreshadowing for the way liches work??? OKAY???

mannequin magnus design and the way they enabled him to do expressions was preddy good. enjoyed it. also the whole possession + wonderland final fight action is cool and fun

while i am disappointed the bell is all fancy and weird instead of being a very plain and small thing as it was described in canon (which felt more in character for barry), i DO really really really like the flower on top... the wither-and-bloom motif... tasty

oh yeah griffin disappearing is such a great way to foreshadow a thing beyond planes coming down to consume... ahh i love playing with meta stuff

so so much good barry content man. so much. thank god we got so much good fun reunion tour stuff. hes so dumb as rocks i love him

actually pretty cool they more explicitly canonized the explanation for barry physically attacking davenport. also barry/lucretia interaction so so so so good

as cute as the original scene is with them planning and writing the note for magnus' body, i think the way they split the party in this version was smart

i dont need to contribute more to the pool on fan feelings on blue twins, BUT given there was no choice but to have her be blue, lup is very cute

taako falling to his knees instead of like pointing the staff at lucretia... :/ eh

given how much literally this entire series has suffered from being so scrunched up, i'm also not SUPER looking forward to stolen century and S&S being condensed into one book, but ohhhh wellllll

TL;DR i don't really read these books because i have a lot of faith in the way they Tell The Story, but it still had a lot of fun moments and scenes and visuals that got my heart! fun to see thorough visual takes on my fave podcast.

[rawliverandgoronspice]

I wish mineru got to me an actual character because every single theme we get that has to do with her (thunder islands, spirit temple, construct factory) are so gorgeous and made me fall in love with her, the soundtrack does so much heavy lifting in this game

You're so correct about the soundtrack, it tells such a compelling tale and it really builds off itself constantly, it's genuinely one of my favorite parts of the game!!

Honestly Mineru had tons of potential. I really liked the entire quest to find her and her body, it was the part of the game that kind of sold me the most the mystery and wonder of having such a big world spanning the sky all the way to the Depths. The atmospheric mood of the Thunderhead Isles was wonderful, loved following the light all the way to the Depths (I had already stumbled upon the actual Construct Factory in them before). It was the part of the game that "felt the most zonai" to me, this sort of puzzle-like intricacy of how their influence permeate the world that their name alone was meant to invoke. I regret the lack of worldbuilding here, even a very light one (what was were the Thunderhead Isles? What significance did they have in zonai culture? What about the structures on the ground in the jungle? I would have *loved* more... anything in the Construct Factories), but it was still a treat as a gameplay experience.

(I mean I hated having to pilot the Construct Body itself, but that's more a me problem than a game problem, thankfully the boxing match was a ton of funs regardless)

The character herself though.... Like I feel like there's a lot of potential inherent to her status as one of the last zonais AND her status as the king's sister (not to mention her engineering proclivities). She feels like she should have a very unique perspective on the entire situation, insight about what caused the fall of the zonais (or their departure/refusal to engage with Hyrule), have both tenderness but also criticism towards her brother his wife might not have (as his lover and as an inherently lesser being bound to his good will, she's a priestess so she probably prays to the gods and zonais are said to descend from gods can we talk about that also), share a unique relationship with Zelda through their common love for knowledge (I think Zelda having a strong relationship with Mineru sounds more meaningful than her having one with Sonia as of now tbh, and it would have helped their scenes to be more interesting than an excuse to infodump, I almost said that it's a ship before remembering they're technically related SOMEHOW?? so mayyybe not).

But in practice, she has no desires of her own. She's but an extension of her brother's will, except softer, muted, heartbroken not for her loss (and the fact that her entire race is about to die out once she does), but for Hyrule's perdition. I am still not over the fact that when she swears her oath of fielty to Link, she *touches her brother's hand*, aka the only meaningful relationship in her life that we got to see, zonai skin touching zonai skin for... probably the last time ever? And the camera couldn't care less. No lingering, no body tension, not even one of the little sounds that BotW/TotK characters love to make in cutscenes everytime anything happens, not even any callback to the explicit motif of people touching each other's hand as a sign of support and unity (so you know what symbolism/allegory means game!!! you know this!!!!), the game doesn't seem to be aware that she should be a person with feelings that extend beyond her performative guilt about a situation that has basically nothing to do with her/she couldn't have done anything about/she did everything she could about, actually! She's just here to be a vessel for the restoration project of her brother's kingdom (Rauru being the only one allowed any emotion of genuine grief and upset, and it only lasts like half a second --which sucks!! I wish that, if Sonia was to be fridged anyway, it at least motivated him to become vengeful and furious and make a mistake that costed him his victory, which would have made him sliiightly more compelling instead of reverting back to a fancy cardbox of unquestionned perfection).

Also she's technically the last one you're supposed to get (but you can get her first??? this is such a weird choice sometimes linearity is good nintendo!!!), and after such a long quest, there should have been a narrative reward to finding her that goes harder than "and then Rauru decided to hype you up like crazy to Ganondorf, also Zelda is probably a dragon but you probably already know that" in my opinion. Some modicum of depth; a different emotional texture to the conflict. After that much build up, the payoff didn't land for me.

Yeah. Mineru. She really could have been the aqua-glue holding that ultrahand-ass of a plot together, but Alas.....

[im-a-king-baby]

hellooo i don't know if anyone has asked this before but if you had to pick five songs that you'd associate simme with what would you choose? I'd choose "art deco" by lana del rey, "midas" by skott, "you're somebody else" by flora cash, "my ordinary life" by the living tombstone and "youth" by daughter. i think the vibes and the lyrics just fit so well with his character. and all of these songs always make me cry and all I've ever done while reading ELYN is sob until i can't even breathe so I'd say they go quite well together :') also... hope you are staying healthy and taking care of yourself!💜����

Thanks for your reccs, I will resist the urge to send them right back to you but they all fit so well! ('Setting fire to our insides for fun,' from Youth in particular hits hard, I had never heard this song before but I love it) I have so many Simme thoughts when I see pictures and music and all sorts and it's so wild and amazing that other people are out here also having feelings about him! That this story exists! Outside my head! So thank you so much for sharing!

I am still technically working on an ELYN playlist that an anon asked about, uh, months ago so I will try not to spend months overthinking my answer to this one and just go with my first instincts!

FIVE SIMME SONGS

King - Years & Years -- there are a few Y&Y songs that I used to get the vibe of Simme-in-concert, but this one also fits with the general trapped-ness plus we love a King motif right?

Don't wanna wait for you, don't wanna have to lose All that I've compromised to feel another high I've got to keep it down tonight And oh, I was a king under your control

Queen of Hollywood - the Corrs -- This is probably the song that is the furthest from what Simme would actually play but it's an old favourite so it gets a place.

Now her mother collects cut-outs, And the pictures make her smile But if she saw behind the curtains, It could only make her cry She's got hand prints on her body, Sad moonbeams in her eyes Not so innocent a child

Falling - Harry Styles -- I always associate this song with Simme in the moment after Wilhelm leaves the hotel room, but it also fits him more generally.

What am I now? What am I now? What if I'm someone I don't want around? I'm falling again, I'm falling again, I'm falling

No Pressure - Mahalia -- Someone on AO3 recced me this one and it's been on my ELYN playlist ever since.

Smile for the camera, always looking right at ya, no There's no time to be sad, There ain't ever space for that, no There is not a place for that here, But no pressure, no pressure, dear

Give me Love - Ed Sheeran -- I don't really have lyrics here, it's more about the pace and the build of it. The desperation of it, seeking something and never being satisfied.

Oh, give me love

+1 ELYN SONG

Everybody Loves You Now - Billy Joel -- listen to it. Picture Wilhelm staring at unanswered text messages while Simon's voice plays on the radio. Picture Simme in a dressing room hearing the crowds roaring his name while staring into his reflection in an empty bottle. You're welcome. <3

All the people want to know your name Soon there will be lines outside your door Feelings do not matter in your game Yeah, 'cause nothing's gonna touch you anymore

So your life is only living anyhow And everybody loves you now

[goobydolls]

Monster High G3 - Frankie Stein - Signature Doll

One of my faves from G1 has made their way to become, yet again, one of my faves in the current gen!

When the dolls first got leaked by that Coffin Bean playset box photo, Frankie was the one I got extremely excited for. I'm a sucker for the preppy-punk aesthetic, and I think Frankie nails that well enough! I'd have preferred a darker blue color scheme but it's honestly a non-issue. I get that the neon blue, pink, and lime colors suit their personality way more. I'm glad it's mostly four colors and just some hints of a fifth one so it's not as busy as Clawdeen's color scheme.

The inclusion of the prosthetic leg makes total sense for the kind of monster they are. Even the little doodles on the leg are nice finishing touches and really brings out their personality. I know the body prints on the earlier batches rubbed off pretty easily, but mine still haven't so I'm thankful. Her lower leg, however, has discolored into a yellowish tint, but I can't capture the accurate color on camera. I don't know if it's because of the print or if the material is just different from the upper legs, but it does bother me a bit. They eyebrow piercing though!!!

The shoes are okay. It leaves a lot to be desired but it's still coherent to their aesthetic. I do wish they were black instead of pink, because like the color of Clawdeen's shoes, they're kind of disconnected from the main outfit.

All of Frankie's accessories are wonderful. The lightning bolt motif is pretty apparent on almost every item, but I don't mind it! This is the core doll so I appreciate that they're introducing their motifs strongly. The clear lightning bolt backpack with the keychain is a fun but I think the little Instax camera steals its thunder (lol) because it's easier to put on them than the other. I appreciate that it came with the photos too! It doesn't come with a little ring for the doll to hold it though, so it's just gonna hang around like a bag.

For the smaller accessories, they come with a pair of clear shades with some lightning details molded on the frames. It's a lot darker on the actual doll but I'm glad it's still transparent enough to show their eyes! I am kinda bummed that they missed out on their water bottle though. I'd have swapped the screechza for it, for sure. They also come with their iCoffin that's molded with a personal touch of electricity.

The jacket becomes rather difficult to put on at times. It's tailored large enough to fit the shirt sleeves but I could never fit it enough for the shoulders to sit correctly. I still appreciate the additional clothing piece! There's definitely some mix and match potential here, but I barely use it unless I remove the shirt and keep their vest on, or wrap it around their waist.

Here's Frankie next to their budget version! Personally, I prefer the budget version because I think the outfit structure is more unique and the shoes are way more detailed than the core version. They also came with a handbag in this one, which I prefer a lot more than the backpack. The shoes also capture the creativity that MH shoes typically have, and they come with some dangling lightning bolts in the back! The pink glasses are from a different doll but I thought the colors complement the shoes more than the blue ones.

Overall, I was not disappointed with signature Frankie. They're still one of my top three signature dolls and my opinion has not changed from when I saw the leak to when I had them in my hands. While I still like the budget version better, this one has more restyling potential and I feel like all their accessories are definitely worth their inclusions.

Bonus photo! I restyled them recently, and this is their outfit when they're out on a little lunch date with Cleo. That hairclip is holding on for dear life lmao.

[electrictouchhq]

Album Cover Ranking

Starting off with the covers I think are the best, flawless no notes, stunning works of art.

Red original is stunning. The use of light and shadow, the limited pops of color which serve to highlight the album's color scheme. Perfect no notes.

Folklore, I mean, a gorgeous black and white photo lost in the woods wondering. It perfectly encapsulates the whole feeling of Folklore in a single image.

TTPD the Anthology. The tormented pose, the dark color scheme, this looks like a classical painting pose. Moody and perfectly sets the tone for the expansion of TTPD

♥♥♥

These covers I think are good, beautiful, but fall a little short of being perfect.

Original 1989 is a classic. The polaroid of a girl who looks a little lost. The way the camera has framed her is interesting and pairs well with the polaroid theme.

Midnights. I like the off center framing. It's a little off, a little threatening. The grainy nature fuzzes out some detail. Taylor's fixation on the fire while being framed by her 13 sleepless nights paints a vivid picture.

Evermore is a good album cover. It's distant and intimate at the same time. Taylor is right there, we are much closer than on Folklore, but she's turned away, still called by those trees that are now barren.

TTPD standard, a very good visual for the album in the themes of intimacy and the contrast of light and dark. The focus on the body and vulnerability is very stunning as is the soft contrast of light and dark.

The original Speak Now is so unique because it's the only one of Taylor's covers that's a painting. The mixing of photography and the painting creates this really magical quality in the cover, which absolutely reflects the movement and more hopeful moments on Speak Now.

♥♥♥

Now we are at covers that I think are fine. They aren't bad, but they have some issues.

Red TV falls short compared to the original Red cover. It is a lovely photo and framed nicely, but the muting of the color red to more of a burgundy doesn't really do it.

1989 TV is lower simply because we saw there were better covers possible in the variants. I love Taylor smiling on this cover, but would have likes something with her hair staged a little better. Possibly with her outfit slightly more visible.

Lover. I love the cotton candy clouds, but the rest feels pretty basic for the concept of the album. I think there are a lot of missed opportunities with the visuals here. I do like the background and the placement of the title.

Speak Now TV. This is a gorgeous cover in concept. Love the moody lighting and richer purple color palette. However the full tulle dress is a bit much and also the hair has a spot where the curls completely fell apart.

Reputation, this is probably my hottest take. I love love LOVE the graphic design, the magazine motif and the different ways Taylor's name is written. However I am not in love with the photo of Taylor, the slicked back hair and off the shoulder sweater just feel off. That may be the point but I feel like there might have been other looks that could have really served Reputation as well.

♥♥♥

This is the tier where I really think the covers needed serious help.

Debut cover Taylor looks stunning. The photo is great but that background with the messy fade and just the random collage is not it. I get it captures the early 2000's aesthetic but it could be significantly better.

Similarly Fearless has some issues. Mainly the Photoshop around Taylor's hair is really noticeable and hard to look past. That and I am not in love with this pose.

Finally Fearless TV feels low effort and doesn't really pull on anything going on in Fearless. The dress feels more Folklore/Evermore than Fearless, so it's really just not the vibe for the album.

I do have a special attachment to each one of Taylor's album covers, they really were with me throughout the different stages of my life so far, so this is really just for fun. I am an artist so I like picking apart what makes things work for me.

I will update as we see more album covers!

[uniquezombiedestiny]

I have become insane llolollol, here’s yet another story route(?) bc I was reading upon Snow Queen’s info to refresh my memory:

Bella, who became imprisoned in ice by the Snow Queen, prompts Rein to go and save her. It’s just that with the known issue that Rein tends to have low Fortitude, it was an agonizingly long struggle. “But as long as Bella is trapped in the Snow Palace, Reinhardt will eventually engage in the inevitable duel with the Snow Queen.”

Of course, there are two main outcomes:

Rein is able to win the duel and rescue Bella. Flowers bloom, and the two held hands, cuz I guess that’s their main motif of friendship. He may be cold all over, but some warmth remains.

But if Rein fails to win, what if instead of them both dying, Rein survived, unable to have save Bella. A sorta mirrored version of the “Comfortless Words” route.

(It was for the best.) “No, this shouldn’t have happened.”

(Look at what happened to you because of me…) “I would’ve come after you regardless.”

(Please, don’t mourn for me…) “My only wish… was to bring you back to warmth.”

Rein speaks into nothingness, as if she can hear him, holding her frozen, rigid corpse.

(Also, I don’t know much about Alt!Bella, but it would be funny if she suddenly appeared and mockingly/mimicking one the last lines from Snow Queen’s story; “I remember you. You were a kindhearted person.” Rein would Distort fr.)

ohhhhh man...

judging by the text from bella, the happy ending would actually be pretty bittersweet, since bella didn't want to be saved. she'd try to just play along with the happy ending, but it'd ring hollow, knowing she's probably stuck forever in a world she's "not meant for." eventually, though, that dam would break; she wouldn't be able to just go along and accept it, and would quietly make her feelings known. itd all happen in the ensuing interaction/conversation in the snow queens unit - the queen already knows, after all.

"Why go through all the effort to save me?" then, "...Y'know, it would've been nice if you didn't."

almost as a foil to reinhardt, she'd be growing warmer, yet feel incredibly cold on the inside/act colder than ever. ofc, things would get better with time and healing/care, but in the moment its so bittersweet

as for that bad ending... funnily enough, that can be managed :3

the alternates.... are kind of strange lol. they originated from lc tumblr rp as a fun crossover event that spread among us like wildfire and became a whole like. ongoing arc with them. and that was kept in bellas story outside of the rp/in the main c127 canon. but this does give them the ability to exist in technology - alt!bella can lurk in the facility's cameras or in people's computers (though not without showing it. camera lights will turn her eye color, she appears on monitors, etc.).

so i can see her saying the text in parenthesis through the intercom, forming an actual conversation between them, before physically appearing at the unit's door and saying those mocking final lines as herself, the abnormality. then she'd mimic bella again, calling, "Well, what are you waiting in there for? I'm out here!"

...though i wonder if reinhardt would think he's just losing it lmao, knowing that this scenario seems to be like. the exact outcome he feared for her - the one he saw coming but didn't know how to stop. and now.... it's too late. bella is gone; she's dead. and yet... she's right there, on the intercom, at the door, insisting she's alive...

it wouldn't all be just to fuck with him either lol - the alt would really "come back" as bella. (after all, a lot of why bella tries to die is to placate alt!bella and stop her from being violent to try and achieve her goals. "This is what Bella wanted," she'd say. "Now everyone can be happy!") ...although, in fc canon? the alternate is likely never actually in the facility. plausible deniability is what gets bella, because, well, she's not here... but she could be.

which also allows for silly things like this to get 10x worse. thanks alternates <3

[jedivoodoochile]

ON THIS DATE (50 YEARS AGO)

October 29, 1973 - John Lennon: "Mind Games" b/w “Meat City” (Apple 1868) 45 single is released in the US.

"Mind Games" is a song written by John Lennon, released as a single in 1973 on Apple Records. It peaked at #18 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #26 on the British singles chart. It was the lead single for the album of the same name in the US but released the same day as the album in the UK.

This song, which was begun in 1969 and can be heard in the Beatles' Let It Be sessions, was originally titled "Make Love Not War," a popular hippie slogan at that time.

Four years later, the lyrics evolved into "Mind Games", which was inspired by the book of the same name by Robert Masters and Jean Houston (1972). In keeping with the original theme, the lyrics advocate unity, love, and a positive outlook. The lyric "YES is the answer" is a nod to his wife Yoko Ono's art piece that brought them together originally. The song was recorded as Lennon split with her for his 18-month "lost weekend" with May Pang.

__________

CASH BOX, November 3, 1973

JOHN LENNON (Apple P-1868) Mind Games (3:59) (John Lennon, BMI—J. Lennon) From his forthcoming album of the same name, John comes through with his most powerful recorded effort in some time. Top flight vocal performance backed by that steady, yet driving, tempo accentuates some great lyrics, all in making for a great song. Definitely Top 5 within a matter of weeks. Flip: no info, available.

__________

BEATLES BIBLE

Written by: Lennon

Recorded: July-August 1973

Producer: John Lennon

Released: 16 November 1973 (UK), 29 October 1973 (US)

John Lennon: vocals, guitar

David Spinozza: guitar

Ken Ascher: keyboards

Gordon Edwards: bass guitar

Jim Keltner: drums

The title track of John Lennon's fourth solo album began life as Make Love Not War, a protest song in the vein of Give Peace A Chance.

The first-known recording of the song was made on 11 February 1970, the date the Plastic Ono Band appeared on the BBC television show Top Of The Pops to promote Instant Karma. Yoko Ono's former husband Tony Cox was documenting events on camera on this and the following three days and captured a guitar performance of Make Love Not War by Lennon.

Lennon recorded a piano demo of the song towards the end of 1970 at his home in Ascot, England. It was released on the 1998 box set John Lennon Anthology, although it was incorrectly annotated as coming from 1973. The demo went no further than the descending chords of the verses, and the lyrics "Make love not war/I know you've heard it before" and "Love is the answer/And you know that it's true".

During the same session, he worked on I Promise, which was based on a piano motif similar to Paul McCartney's song Oh! Darling. The brief recording also contained the "Love is the answer/And you know that for sure" lines, suggesting Lennon was unsure of what to do with the idea. This recording also appeared on John Lennon Anthology in edited form. In the original tape, he commented: "I keep using the same middle eight for every song."

"It was originally called Make Love Not War, but that was such a cliché that you couldn't say it anymore, so I wrote it obscurely, but it's all the same story. How many times can you say the same thing over and over? When this came out, in the early Seventies, everybody was starting to say the Sixties was a joke, it didn't mean anything, those love-and-peaceniks were idiots. [Sarcastically] "We all have to face the reality of being nasty human beings who are born evil and everything's gonna be lousy and rotten so boo-hoo-hoo..." "We had fun in the Sixties," they said, "but the others took it away from us and spoiled it all for us." And I was trying to say: "No, just keep doin' it."

~ John Lennon, 1980, All We Are Saying, David Sheff

Another version of Make Love Not War was filmed for the Imagine project, but was left out when the original 85-minute documentary was cut to 55 minutes. At this time the song was barely any closer to completion than it had been a year earlier.

On 10 September 1971 Lennon and Ono made a film, Clock, in the St Regis Hotel in New York. The hotel was their first home before they were able to arrange more permanent accommodation.

Clock marked the passing of one hour by focusing on the hands of a hotel room clock, but more interesting was the soundtrack. As Ono made arrangements on the telephone for her forthcoming art exhibition This Is Not Here at the Everson Art Museum, Lennon played a number of songs on an acoustic guitar. These included rock 'n' roll classics, some songs which appeared on Imagine and Some Time In New York City, and fragments of tunes he was working on. He performed the chorus of Make Love Not War, but still took it no further.

Eventually Lennon pulled all the song fragments together into Mind Games. Before entering the studio to record the album he spent a fortnight in pre-production, writing a number of new songs and finishing several others.

In the studio

The Mind Games album was recorded in July and August 1973. Lennon had abandoned most of the anti-war sentiment of the demos, although the fade-out did contain the lines "I want you to make love, not war/I know you've heard it before".

The new lyrics were based on a book, also called Mind Games, by Robert Masters and Jean Houston. The book promoted mental fulfilment through raised consciousness, and several of the key themes found their way into Lennon's lyrics.

The song was a clear return to upbeat pop music, a departure from the rock 'n' roll and radical sloganeering of 1972's recordings with Elephant's Memory. On Mind Games Lennon used a selection of New York session musicians who were able to create an appropriately lush sound for the the songs that Lennon wrote and produced.

"The seeming orchestra on it is just me playing three notes on a slide guitar. And the middle eight is reggae. Trying to explain to American musicians what reggae was in 1973 was pretty hard, but it's basically a reggae middle eight if you listen to it."

~ John Lennon, 1980

Mind Games was the only single released from the album of the same name. It was not a success, peaking at number 18 in the United States and 26 in the United Kingdom.

Despite being Lennon's most assured song for two years, his commercial standing had taken a hit by the political nature of the Some Time In New York City songs, and the public reception for his new material was less favourable than it had been. Had Mind Games being completed and recorded two years earlier, and issued shortly after Imagine, it would most likely have fared better.

[ahdkshax]

alright im just over halfway thru the series and here are my thoughts and updated ideas

first off. i find that my "strange" aspect was, in fact, right. i just missed an "r" at the end. really funny move on my end. it makes up for the wrong predictions

currently the sacrificial avatar theory i have isnt looking the most promising right now, but it still hasnt been refuted completely. in fact i feel very proud about deducting the eyes influence in some parts of jons actions. otherwise im really enjoying his development into becoming an avatar for the eye, and im certain that he will become a full fledged one, its really the only way his character can go.

(plus i got spoiled about a couple things, one was becoming an avatar (im pretty sure, it had all the fanon jon design aspects) and the other i looked myself in the podcast descriptions lol)

im also a big fan of how hes being increasingly referred to as 'the archivist' and not jon. looking forward, my guess is that he becomes more monstery and ends up shedding his name. really cool stuff this is awesome. and weve got a lot of time to shed that humanity :D

im currently enjoying elias being a minor antagonist in this chapter, hes definitely becoming my favorite main character lol i think hes funny. im not sure if hes going to become a major villain later (i really dont see it, especially as jon gets drawn closer and closer to the eye) but who knows. if he becomes a major antagonist i will be one of his fans i <3 villains

all i know is that the stranger is a really cool and very logical villain for the eye--the horror of knowing versus not. tbh this feels like an endgame development...

maybe the unknowing will be disrupted but not completely be halted, like with the distortions spiral or what it was called. micheal was still the distortion, and its still about fucking around, but to a lesser extent as to what it was doing before, considering it was a large enough problem that gertrude killed off one of her cherished(? i think lightner mentioned they were cherished?) assistants. this is also a little concerning with jon being led by elias to the stranger... if it wasnt for the eye motifs in jon art i would think that this move could cause him to be snatched by the stranger, but also hes less human than bait micheal was... hm

part of me is thinking back to season 1 where the hive hated the eye bc it saw everything and ruined its mystery. i wonder if thats going to happen, since jon is becoming a pillar of information rather than a watcher. my eldritch read was really good lol

anyways. current favorite aspect is distortion. im so glad transition saved helen. plus when i started to design micheal and helen i made a note that their hair should be tangled in the dragon curve fractal and that micheal has cow motifs (bc i DID call him the minotaur) and for my own sake, helen should have something of a mirror motif (id say camera but idk how to do that other than thru mirrors. in my mind she reminded me of the end of hol ok)

final note: i find it really fun that "serving your god" can be described as compulsions. ocd world forever.

this is doubly funny bc last year while working as an ra i was basically(?) diagnosed with ocd by a therapist because i would stay up until ungodly hours in the morning sitting in my chair by my door listening to my hall instead of doing anything else. sometimes id leave my room to walk thru the hall. i was so paranoid that i had to constantly watch my floor because if something bad happened (which was often) something bad, in turn, would happen to me (it never did). i got an ra job next year so im probably gonna try and get into therapy a bit earlier if i start drowning like that again

in tma world thats probably not good news to have develop isnt it

very excited for the next half of this

sorry for tma posting but i really want this archivist to give his reaction to house of leaves. i just listened to episode 30 and this is one of many abnormally-shaped area episodes and i just. i just think the dull, unbelieving reaction would be great with something as wild as hol. number one navidson record hater. his ass would NEVER believe johnny truant

anyways. still having fun noticing the trends appearing with the different Trends that are emerging. i remember hearing the name of the Trends but i forgot it and im not looking it up to spoil myself so im calling them different aspects bc i remember i asked abt them once and that was what they were compared to. i also remember hearing in a post that season 2 is when things really Kick Up so im excited to eventually get there

[remesrobotics]

Snap Woman

DHN.009 - スナップウーマン “In a minute; I almost have this shot perfect.”

Good Point - Patient Bad Point - Hyperfocus Like - Natural beauty Dislike - Film

7’ (213.36 cm)

A non-combat robot built for civil engineering projects by Dr. Harp. She is based on the alligator snapping turtle (Macrochelys temminckii).

After Dr. Harp got over the heartbreak of losing Monitor Woman, she finally built another robot dedicated to filming, and photography. However, this time, instead of high speed 3D visualization for planning, Snap Woman specializes in timelapse; she will survey a specific area over a long period of time while another project is being done, and the footage is used to plan around patterns in weather, traffic, and other potential interference.

She is very slow and tough and extremely precise and patient with tedium. She does not necessarily have to sit still and do nothing while she records, due to the nature of her snapping single photos and assembling them into a sped up video. She is, however, extremely good at placing herself in the exact position each time she needs to take an image so as to create the illusion of a single, long shot.

She tries to do her work from vantage points where she can take photos of other interesting things between shots, preferring areas with nature, but if not, will settle for a good, high-up viewpoint where she can take additional timelapses of clouds, sunsets, and starscapes. She also adores taking photos of wildlife, especially macrophotography of invertebrates and other small animals.

On the downside, once she’s set on something, she will stick to it, usually completely ignoring anything outside of her immediate attention. She doesn’t get annoyed if interrupted; she just won’t be interrupted.

If she needs to defend herself, she can bite down hard enough to generate a concussive shockwave capable of deflecting physical ordinance (Gigaton Jaw).

Snap Woman has a basic pun name:

She is based on a snapping turtle

Her penchant for photography, indicated by the ‘snap’ of an old-fashioned shutter (even though she uses digital by necessity)

[apatheticlexicographer]

all of the lighting in stranger things is intentional, please stop saying it isn’t ( -sincerely, somebody with industry experience)

i’m pretty sure that the people who shit on the byler light symbolism theories have never been near a film set before. the idea of any kind of light being “accidental” on one of the most expensive shows ever made isn’t remotely credible if you have any kind of experience with the film industry. that being said, i know that most people don’t have firsthand experience or even secondhand knowledge of how the industry functions on the ground. as somebody who has both of those things, i figure i can try to spread the knowledge around a bit!!!

so, here we go!!! lexi’s fun fact science corner about film lighting, from the experience and knowledge of somebody who’s been on and around film sets and surrounded by filmmakers since they were 6 years old.

first of all, all the light on your screen is a lie.

(well, not all of it all of it, but most of the fun stuff is Big Lightbulb’s doing)

you see huge lights like these:

pretty much anywhere you go on a film set. any film set. and yes, that includes outdoor scenes: the sun is a ball of fire and spite with a specific vendetta against filmmakers and the clouds are its loyal minions. natural light is a bitch and should not be trusted. 

all light in a scene, even seemingly ambient light, has been curated very intentionally. the angle, the intensity, the tone, how sharp or soft it is. part of this curation is done in postproduction using editing software, but a lot of it is done on set by moving and covering lights. the quality and angle of light is pivotal in changing how a scene comes across. 

let’s look at an example unrelated to byler, to prove there’s no conflict of interest here:

here’s max while she reads her letter to billy. she’s backlit, leaving her face in the shadow. this is a lighting technique commonly used to communicate dramatic effect, tension, and an ominous feeling. the shadow cast by the backlighting isn’t hugely intense as the outdoors light conditions are otherwise very flat and quite pale. this gives the whole shot an exposed feeling: there is nowhere for max to hide. in retrospect we know what’s about to happen to max, which now makes the accuracy of that emotional signaling very blatant. while watching it for the first time, however, this lighting motif is intended to make you subconsciously uneasy. even before you know exactly what’s coming, you’re set a little on edge. as you should be!!! there is no tension without foreshadowing, just as there is no tension with too much foreshadowing.

here’s a closeup on her face, to show it more clearly:

notice how no direct light at all is hitting the right side of her face.

now here’s max a few minutes later:

...sorry.

anyway, see that light hitting half her face, while the other half is shadowed??? the position of the light source hasn’t changed, it’s still hitting her left side, but because the camera has moved she’s now being sidelit. sidelighting usually communicates mystery and conflict. Of course max is conflicted here!!! she’s facing the physical manifestation of her trauma, right after forcing herself to verbally process her joint feelings of relief and bereavement over billy’s death. as for mystery, there’s the short-term uncertainty over whether max will live or die, and the long-term uncertainty pertaining to vecna and what exactly his deal is. These are mysteries to both the viewers and the characters.

also, briefly: the tone of the light has changed from slightly warm in the first picture (nostalgia, comfort) to slightly cold (fear, death). it’s a subtle shift, but very clear.

the whole sequence is actually a very neat piece of lighting work!!!

“but lexi, how do you know that was intentional??? are you sure the sun didn’t just happen to be shining that way while they were shooting???”

yes. 

see, the biggest bitch about natural light is that it doesn’t last. the entire scene with max in the graveyard takes place within a very short span of time canonically, but there are a lot of different shots involved. it’s also a highly important and emotionally charged scene, which means it needs to be acted perfectly, however many takes that requires. the sidelight would not remain consistent across the filming of the entire scene if it wasn’t artificial. it probably wouldn’t last a single take!!!

“oh, but lexi, you’re talking about a really important scene. the lighting here might be intentional, but that doesn’t mean it’s always so important!!!”

wrong!!!

well, you are right to an extent. the lighting isn’t always super pivotal, but it’s not an optional element of film production. you can’t film your important scenes with super thoughtful lighting and just rely on the sun and the ceiling lamps for the rest of the show. lighting definitely isn’t always inspired and meaningful but it does always have thought and intention behind it (and effort!!! lighting guys are criminally underappreciated).

also, the byler scenes that people analyze the lighting of??? they’re all important scenes too!!! they might not have much bearing on the main plot at the moment, but they’re keystone scenes in the joint arcs of two of the show’s main characters. the graveyard scene is important to the plot, obviously, but it’s huge in max’s character arc. and what do you know??? most of the lighting symbolism is tied to the character aspect of the scene, and not the plot aspect.

so, to recap: the sun is evil and mostly fake, lighting symbolism can be clearly mapped, and it’s typically used to communicate deeper insight about the character being lit, which will register subconsciously.

i’m very much not done here yet lol, i have a lot more to say about colour, the lighting work done in postproduction, and the way lights are physically manipulated on set. however it’s also 7am and i’m an idiot who stayed up all night reading scientific journals about mould. i’m gonna turn in, but i plan on making a part 2 in the not too distant future!!!

hopefully this has been at least mildly interesting or informative lmao. when i see people saying stuff about what they think of byler as people working in or studying film i always forget that i am... also that lmao. also though, those posts tend to come at things from the perspective of scripting and preproduction. since most of my experience is on the ground i hope i can provide a slightly different angle to that of other film people of the tag.

til next time <333