#lesson 348

[mentaltimetraveller]

Jennifer Packer, A Lesson in Longing, 2019

Oil on canvas, 108 1/2 × 137 in. (275.6 × 348 cm).

Whitney Museum of American Art, New York

[thecraftybaroness]

The Bog Unicorn

Inspired by the fantastic artwork of Emmrich riding the Bog Unicorn here

Sabriel, Emmrich, and Taash’s journey through the bog was marked by mist and the scent of decay. As they navigated the treacherous terrain, Emmrich lagged behind Sabriel and Taash, the mire sticking to his boots. Something glints just off the path. Emmrich cautiously approaches, raising his staff aloft to extended the green light from it to see a tarnished blade sticking out of the mire.

No, not from the ground. He saw as he stepped closer.

From a skull.

The creature picks its head up and turns in his direction. He can see more clearly the withered muscle tissue and skin, pulled back in places revealing the white bone underneath. It watches him quietly. The flick of an idle tail behind it.

“Hello there." Emmrich said gently, gauging the beast’s temperament.

It clopped a few steps towards him and pressed it's muzzle to his outstretched hand.

Emmrich's breath caught. "Fascinating," he murmured, patting it with reverence.

---

Later, at their camp, Emmrich tended to the creature with meticulous care, brushing its matted mane and murmuring soothing words in Nevarran.

Sabriel approached, eyebrows raised. "So... we're keeping it?"

Emmrich glanced up, a rare smile playing on his lips. "It's a marvel of preservation. A testament to the thin veil between life and death."

Taash, standing a few paces behind, grimaced. "It's got a sword in its head."

Emmrich nodded appreciatively. "Indeed. A symbol of its past and its resilience. I did offer to remove the sword but …it prefers to keep it."

---

As they prepared to traverse the Eluvians, Emmrich led the horse towards the portal.

Sabriel sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "You're bringing it into the Crossroads?"

Emmrich looked genuinely puzzled. "Why wouldn't I?"

She shook her head, chuckling. "Fine. But if it starts glowing or chanting, it's your problem."

---

Manfred is astride the horse.

Wobbling.

Emmrich walks alongside with one hand lightly on the reins, guiding him like a proud tutor leading a child through a lesson.

“Back straight, Manfred. Shoulders relaxed. Very good.”

Bellara, Sabriel, and Taash are watching from a distance.

Bellara, completely frozen, finally mutters, “I have… so many questions.”

Sabriel leans closer, eyes narrowed. “Do you think he’s going to teach it to jump?”

“It’s dead,” Taash says flatly. “It’s not supposed to jump.”

Manfred waves. Happy hiss.

---

The rest of the Veilguard gather.

Lucanis tilts his head. "That's...new."

Neve whispers, "It's kind of beautiful, in a haunting way."

Davrin muttered, "I've fought things less creepy. This is just...strange."

Harding approaches last, eyes widening. "Ohhhhhh, that's where it went."

The group turned to her in unison.

She shrugged. "The Inquisitor had it for a while. We called it the Bog Unicorn. Disappeared one day. Glad it turned up somewhere.”

[bumblingbabooshka]

I’m fascinated by the previous ask’s mention of anime “or the Vulcan equivalent” since anime is literally just Japanese animation would Vulcan animation have a distinctive enough style to warrant a distinct name? What is the Vulcan cultures’ views on animation as an art form (in your opinion).

I don't know enough about animation or art as like an evolving discipline as it relates to society/culture to say much about it in an intelligent way but the newest Dungeon Meshi Extra makes me think about it in a purely 'what would be fun' way

Vulcans also have an incredibly long lifespan so it'd be funny if Vulcans were used to listening to stories that are much longer than other species. [See: Tuvok singing his children a 348 verse story as a lullaby and his children loving it]

You know those soap operas that go on for like decades? Vulcan soap operas are going on for CENTURIES.

I think a lot of the most popular stories on Vulcan center around enlightment or war. In fact I think a lot of Vulcan is probably dedicated to those topics - I headcanon that there are multiple museums and monuments about the many wars Vulcan fought with a heavy emphasis on the great toll it took on their people and how awful these actions were. They almost blew up everything with nukes! But then logic saved them...I believe this is also a common thread in stories that aren't about war - being saved by logic. A woman almost falls for charlatan...but logic saves her. A man almost kills his brother...but logic stills his hand. Etc Etc. A Vulcan author could probably write thousands of books in their lifetime, depending on the age they started. I think having an author with hundreds of books is fairly common and Vulcans are often a bit anxious about reading very good authors of other species...what if they die before they finish writing?? Television shows having like 40 seasons isn't that rare and I think their method of storytelling would probably have to differ from ours in order to facilitate that. That's interesting, isn't it?? I wonder about Vulcan media that isn't Surak's teachings. Like, Tuvok says he likes to read - what's he read about? In 'Riddles' Neelix mentions a "Proto-Vulcan Drama" called 'Clash on the Fire Plains' which has 23 parts. Tuvok apparently has this in book form in his quarters but he's often reading things off his PADD which I assume are also Vulcan literature. It seems that a lot of Vulcan stories we hear about are meant to teach some sort of lesson even if they are also entertaining. When it comes to ongoing media (EX: Television show) I think they'd probably follow a series of arcs and situations with the same characters learning and growing. If you start watching season 82 of a Vulcan program then go back to season 7 it's like a whole new set of characters but they just changed because of their experiences. (As your Vulcan friend will rant to you). It gets a bit ridiculous but it's a bit fun too~ I headcanon that Vulcans in Starfleet will often get together to watch popular Vulcan tv shows' new episodes...alleviates some missing home. Others join in and soon we're seeing tv shows from all over the universe! Surprisingly, Vulcan and Klingon programs are fairly similar in the aspect of 'a lot of battle focused shows which teach lessons' but the exact lessons differ, of course. Oh I bet Vulcan tv shows would also have so much intrigue and drama about clans and marriage and propriety etc which Klingons would love. Klingon: So T'Eyanra is going off with Sarun? Even though she was made aware that Sertik is ill and might be plagued with fever? Vulcan: Yes. And do not forget - Sarun's clan changed the water rights of her own, though she does not know this yet. Klingon: -settling in- Sarun's clan is without honor! That knave... -gasp- and the Ektinslahrah ritual is tonight! Vulcan: -also settling in- Indeed. Oh god this was about anime wasn't it? Well just apply all that stuff I said to anime somehow...Vulcan anime is like one piece's length and death note's complexity but with a shocking amount of painstaking slice of life. I think animation would be taken as seriously on Vulcan as it is on Earth - I can't think of anything that'd make them take it more or less seriously? I picture Betazoid animation would have a heavy emphasis on showing feeling though - like visibly as an ever present cloud behind the characters' heads and you have to know what all the colors mean.

[laurelwen]

The Battle of Forbie

As you may have noticed, I am not a proponent of any portmanteau names for Alex and Nigel. Call me weird, but none of them please me, so I will continue to abstain from using them.

HOWEVER

In a spirit of generosity, I have come here today to feed the Forbie enjoyers. I give you:

The actual Battle of Forbie

The Battle of Forbie, also known as the Battle of La Forbie or the Battle of Hiribya, was fought October 17, 1244 – October 18, 1244 between the allied armies (drawn from the Kingdom of Jerusalem, the crusading orders, the breakaway Ayyubids of Damascus, Homs, and Kerak) and the Egyptian army of the Ayyubid Sultan as-Salih Ayyub, reinforced with Khwarezmian mercenaries. The resulting Ayyubid victory led to the call for the Seventh Crusade and marked the collapse of Christian power in the Holy Land.

The capture of Jerusalem by the Khwarezmians in August had caused great alarm among both the Christian and the Muslim states. Al-Mansur, the Emir of Homs and an-Nasir Dawud, ruling Kerak, joined the Templars, the Hospitallers, the Teutonic Knights, the Order of Saint Lazarus, and the remaining forces of the Kingdom of Jerusalem to take the field against the Egyptian Sultanate.

The two armies met near Forbie, a small village northeast of Gaza. Over 5,000 Crusaders died. 800 prisoners were taken. Of the troops of the knightly orders, only 36 of 348 Templars, 26 of 351 Hospitallers, and 3 of 400 Teutonic Knights survived.

Hiribya (Forbie) - not appearing on this map. I highlighted Ascalon, as Forbie was nearby.

I have also taken the opportunity to highlight Sidon and Maraclea for those who aren't already familiar with the locations. It's worth reiterating that despite the way the movie uses Maraclea as a personal name to refer to the person involved, the story itself is about a lady OF Maraclea and a Templar knight or lord of Sidon.

Ever since @currentlyonstandbi speculated about it, I have solidly embraced the head canon that perhaps the original story was actually about two men, past lives of Alex and Nigel, but the story was later changed to a man and a woman due to homophobic pressure. After all, the skull symbolism of this story is reportedly part of the accusations made against the Templars for "head worship"-- the veneration of skulls as idols in violation of the precepts of the Church. The other major charges laid against the Templars? Homosexuality and sodomy.

Was any of this intended by Greg? Of course not. That man blindly stumbled through this script running on fumes from half-remembered random articles and vague conceptions gleaned from the shallow pop culture portrayals of occult societies that were plentiful at the time. But it fits together well in a way that feels satisfying and with reasonable internal consistency.

Imagine two Templar knights who fall in forbidden love while fighting in the Holy Land. The tragic death of his lover drives the other mad with grief and leads him into dark acts of desperation. Their story gives rise to a potent myth that Nigel reads 700 years later. The myth calls to them with familiarity, directs their fate, and leads them to the same tragic outcome.

(Excuse me while I sob on the floor for the next 5 hours.)

A Few Key Dates for Context:

1209 - Massacre of the Cathars at Beziers (Kill them all; God will recognize his own.)

1244 - Battle of Forbie

1307 - Downfall of the Templars, under accusations of heresy and homosexuality/sodomy.

1300s - Playing cards arrive in Europe. There is speculation that the cards were adopted from the Egyptian Mamluks by the Crusaders in the Holy Land who then brought them home to Europe.

That concludes today's unhinged lesson in the power of random Google searches and paying close attention to the history of certain tags on Tumblr. I'm still not gonna use #forbie, but I can at least enjoy the strange coincidence here.

Like Minds Masterpost

[abwwia]

Jennifer Packer (American, b. 1984), A Lesson in Longing, 2019. Oil on canvas, 275.6 × 348 cm

[kyokosasagawa]

art resourcese (especially curated for beginners who might not know terminology, fundamentals, etc)

General Resources https://eyedropper.org/ - open source app that picks colors from web pages https://krita-artists.org/ and https://krita.org/en/ - forum and website for free open source painting program "Krita"

Vocabulary

https://artmuseum.arizona.edu/vocabulary-art-terms - simple

https://www.modernsculpture.com/art-terminology-a-glossary - intermediate

Study Schedules Examples

note: you do not need to follow an art schedule to get better at art. this is mainly for reference purposes.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1J9pBJTeVF7oCdUxBt5LrYJBR34YLmOsoK0DHtzMIC6Q/edit#gid=0 - 7 month art improvement curriculum, no times just someone's weekly schedule that they went by for 7 months https://www.brendanmeachen.com/soloartist - 2 year, 3 month long art curriculum that utilizes mainly free resources. lots of good resources. https://cubebrush.co/mb?product_id=ts8nza - an art study schedule by marc brunet. good structure to take inspiration from (for example, seperating it into "AM and PM" instead of by hours https://www.deviantart.com/suzanne-helmigh/art/Make-your-personalized-work-schedule-447913008 - ideas on how to make an art study schedule. make your own art schedule! https://www.amazon.ca/Natural-Way-Draw-Working-Study/dp/0395530075 - traditional focused, but essentially a book that is one big giant art lesson. has a lot of schedules to look at that start off with beginner and steadily increases, though they might be complicated to read.

Study Tips

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hD0G9uEWgRc - "How to develop an effective study routine" by UnJaded Jade https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhG7DENh-uk - "The Scientific Way to Improve your Art FAST! - How to Practice and Remember Efficiently" by YanSculpts

Inspirational / Philosophy / Creativity / Art Block

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_Nhi1AfGNI - "The only tool you need to create" by Kesh https://www.amazon.ca/Unleashing-Artist-Within-Breaking-Restoring/dp/0486831868 - a book on creativity, anxieties, and perfectionisms when it comes to art. caution, some advice may be unwise for people with OCD (example: recommending to get "obsessed" with art), but its otherwise a pretty good book. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWfav3dGA_I - "3 Ways You're Creating Artist Block Without Knowing It" - Adam Duff https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m559PUX3bJI - "LEVEL-UP YOUR ART IN 2022 (most important tips)" by Marc Brunet https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9Aj6UK0B8U - "Your art sucks, and that's OK" by Astri Lohne https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSKLJRTN-kE - "🧠 Art habits you NEED to have (to get good)" - by Marc Brunet https://kickinthecreatives.com/kick-creatives-podcast/ - podcast on art, inspiration, so forth

Fundamentals https://drawabox.com/ - Dedicated to learning construction, shape, and form, along with how to handle your tools https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuEkb6FNptE "My Top 10 Composition Tips for Artists" by Tyler Edlin https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTslVOUJ0jI - 6 Habits for Good Line Quality by Proko https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJkIaMECW6c&t=348s - "Improve Your Art with Better Shadows"- by Sinix Design https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZH6E_n51-BQ "Figure drawing will make sense after this video" By Love Life Drawing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNP5V8nGxRc - "Life Drawing | Line of Action" - Josh Papaleo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qj1FK8n7WgY - "Understanding Color" by Blender Guru https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTYGWfiZnMA - "Essential Values for Painting, Lighting and Design" by Marco Bucci https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8HFcC5wreY -"Secrets of Shapes in Professional Art" by Tyler Edlin https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uigc8ofhDuo - "# 7 Ways Simple Shapes Can Improve Your Drawings" by Proko https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0ufz75UvHs - "Iterative Drawing - The Fastest Way to Improve" by Proko https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KHLmBAWFvY - "KNKL 368: Using reference to create new original poses! (45min LIVE drawing + posing demo!)" - Kienan Lafferty

Clothing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d07NanfYT8U - "Understanding Every Type Of Clothing Fold" by Marco Bucci https://archive.vogue.com/ - "The entire history of Vogue at your fingertips."

Digital Art https://www.ctrlpaint.com/ - teaches you from the very beginning how to draw digitally https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mosDbZSqVGU - "My 6 Steps to Digital Painting" by Aaron Blaise https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LroqHa24o-Y "Let's Improve Our Brushwork! (Digital Painting Tips)' - by Aaron Blaise https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_E1ARR_AAg - "Anatomy Quick Tips: Skin" by Sinix Designs

Traditional Art https://www.learntopaintpodcast.com/ - how to paint podcasts https://www.creativebug.com/ - recommend if your library has access to it, but you can get a free trial for 2 months as of writing (may change in future))

**References https://www.pureref.com/ - software to organize your references as an imageboard https://www.adorkastock.com/ - Pose references https://line-of-action.com/ - References of figures, animal drawings, hands/feet, facial expression, scenes/environment https://pixabay.com/ free-to-use photographic references https://www.si.edu/openaccess - open access images by the smithsonian (has a lot of interesting old art pictures) https://naturalhistory.si.edu/visit/virtual-tour - national museum of natural history virtual tour https://grafitschool.gumroad.com/ - Paid pose references https://www.deviantart.com/theposearchives - Pose references https://digitalcollections.lib.washington.edu/digital/search - University of Washing digital collection

Podcasts https://open.spotify.com/show/46YccBlYhfOKq4zD4NHoxn - Draftsmen. Created by Stan Prokopenko and Marshall Vandruff. Two professional artists talk to eachother, and others, on art. https://www.svslearn.com/3pointperspective - 3 Point Perspectiive. Created by Will Terry, Lee White, and Jake Parker. Three professional illustrators that deal with children's illustrations.

Professional side of things https://artprof.org/pro-development/business-selling/art-commissions/ - guide on art commissions https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHoFS-PyS5M - How to make a Character Design Portfolio by Jackie Droujko https://artprof.org/ - website of art resources, including art school research, portfolio information, etc. majority of content on here is free. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gnhxny0STrk "How I Built My Art Business From Nothing - My Business Strategy and Journey To Being An Illustrator" by Mimimoo Illustration

[sethcohnn]

For anyone with no patience, here are the captions of Jeronica in Riverdale 7x17:

WARNING: Spoilers for tonight’s episode

23

00:01:02,818 --> 00:01:05,121

So, how do you wanna do this?

24

00:01:05,155 --> 00:01:08,058

Wanna go in first

and I mosey on in

30 seconds later?

25

00:01:09,259 --> 00:01:10,492

Absolutely not.

26

00:01:10,526 --> 00:01:12,661

Veronica Lodge's signature

color may be purple,

27

00:01:12,695 --> 00:01:14,197

but she is no shrinking violet.

28

00:01:15,031 --> 00:01:16,199

So, come on.

29

00:01:16,232 --> 00:01:18,935

Let's give these cubes

something juicy to goss about.

30

00:01:18,969 --> 00:01:20,869

["Come On" playing]

—------------------------------------------------------

44

00:01:51,767 --> 00:01:53,003

Wowza.

45

00:01:53,036 --> 00:01:54,770

I've never had so many

peepers on me at one time.

46

00:01:54,803 --> 00:01:56,373

Well, if it's any consolation,

47

00:01:56,406 --> 00:01:57,873

I haven't gotten

this much attention

48

00:01:57,907 --> 00:02:00,243

since I arrived to school

wearing my sexy witch costume.

49

00:02:03,712 --> 00:02:05,382

Sexy witch costume?

50

00:02:05,415 --> 00:02:06,916

Jughead Jones.

51

00:02:06,950 --> 00:02:10,153

Do you have a thing

for sexy teen witches?

52

00:02:10,186 --> 00:02:11,388

Well, yes.

53

00:02:11,421 --> 00:02:12,621

[chuckling] Yes, I do.

54

00:02:12,654 --> 00:02:14,623

But I also know a boss idea

when I hear one,

55

00:02:14,656 --> 00:02:17,093

and sexy teen witch

is a very boss idea.

56

00:02:17,127 --> 00:02:20,863

Hmm. Well, glad to have

inspired something.

57

00:02:22,598 --> 00:02:23,799

Catch you later, alligator.

—----------------------------------------------

142

00:06:34,883 --> 00:06:35,918

[Veronica] <i>I have to tell you,</i>

143

00:06:35,952 --> 00:06:39,022

this is the bee's knees,

Jughead.

144

00:06:39,055 --> 00:06:40,890

I didn't realize

you could draw too.

145

00:06:40,923 --> 00:06:42,692

[Jughead] Well,

I'm no Ethel Muggs,

146

00:06:42,725 --> 00:06:46,262

but I think this brain egg

could be the thing

to save Pep Comics.

147

00:06:46,296 --> 00:06:48,965

Mr. Fieldstone is looking

for a fresh breakout character

148

00:06:48,998 --> 00:06:51,234

to get past the code

and bring in new readership,

149

00:06:51,267 --> 00:06:54,704

and I think it's

Veronica the Teenage Witch.

150

00:06:54,737 --> 00:06:56,205

[footsteps approaching]

151

00:06:56,239 --> 00:06:58,341

Veronica, you're not

gonna believe who's here.

152

00:07:00,677 --> 00:07:03,279

Miss Josie McCoy.

—------------------------------------

333

00:15:59,916 --> 00:16:02,919

[Veronica] <i>Veronica</i>

<i>The Teenage Witch</i>

<i>is too sexy, you say?</i>

334

00:16:02,953 --> 00:16:04,887

I mean, he's not wrong.

335

00:16:04,921 --> 00:16:07,157

I am cut from the same cloth

as Veronica Lake

336

00:16:07,190 --> 00:16:11,727

and therefore,

too provocative for

those feeble-minded censors.

337

00:16:11,760 --> 00:16:13,395

It's their loss.

338

00:16:13,429 --> 00:16:15,531

On top of which,

I have to figure out

a new name,

339

00:16:16,266 --> 00:16:18,068

something more magical.

340

00:16:18,101 --> 00:16:22,538

Hey, did you happen to see

that Audrey Hepburn picture

that came out last year?

341

00:16:22,571 --> 00:16:24,640

Her character had

a superb name in that.

342

00:16:26,309 --> 00:16:27,877

What was that movie

called again?

343

00:16:27,911 --> 00:16:29,212

<i>Sabrina.</i>

344

00:16:29,246 --> 00:16:30,679

Audrey played

the title character.

345

00:16:30,713 --> 00:16:31,747

Sabrina.

346

00:16:31,780 --> 00:16:32,815

Yeah.

347

00:16:34,251 --> 00:16:36,086

Yeah, that could be the ticket.

348

00:16:42,758 --> 00:16:47,330

"In the bloom of Eden's garden,

the first transgression.

349

00:16:47,364 --> 00:16:50,466

A simple apple,

Eve learned her lesson.

350

00:16:52,601 --> 00:16:55,537

Different garden,

same temptation.

351

00:16:57,439 --> 00:17:00,809

A young man

seeking an education.

352

00:17:05,315 --> 00:17:07,951

A teacher's pupil

brings her apples,

353

00:17:07,984 --> 00:17:10,653

and sinful thoughts

with which he grapples.

354

00:17:10,686 --> 00:17:14,124

While she teaches,

he sits through classes

355

00:17:14,157 --> 00:17:15,691

wondering how she looks

356

00:17:17,093 --> 00:17:18,194

without those glasses."

—--------------------------------------------------

590

00:31:42,125 --> 00:31:44,227

[Veronica] <i>I'm so</i>

<i>sorry, Jughead.</i>

591

00:31:44,261 --> 00:31:46,897

Sabrina The Teenage Witch

is a brilliant idea,

592

00:31:46,930 --> 00:31:49,331

and I'm not just saying that

because I inspired her.

593

00:31:49,365 --> 00:31:50,733

She's just ahead of her time.

594

00:31:52,969 --> 00:31:54,703

Give it a few years.

595

00:31:54,737 --> 00:31:58,507

Let the hysteria die down

and there will be

no stopping her.

596

00:31:58,541 --> 00:32:03,213

I just feel like Pep Comics

is sinking in quicksand.

597

00:32:03,246 --> 00:32:05,148

Listen, if you're down

in the mouth

598

00:32:05,182 --> 00:32:06,983

and not in the mood

for a premier,

599

00:32:07,017 --> 00:32:08,484

I'd completely understand.

600

00:32:08,517 --> 00:32:10,386

Are you kidding?

This is probably

the only chance

601

00:32:10,419 --> 00:32:13,756

I'll ever be invited

to a Hollywood premiere.

I'm not going to miss it.

602

00:32:13,789 --> 00:32:15,324

-The only thing is--

-You don't have a suit.

603

00:32:16,725 --> 00:32:18,929

I barely have any clothes

without an S on them.

604

00:32:18,962 --> 00:32:22,132

I thought we might

run into this predicament.

605

00:32:22,165 --> 00:32:27,103

So I may or may not have taken

some precautionary measures.

606

00:32:28,337 --> 00:32:31,908

Tailored exactly

to your measurements.

607

00:32:31,942 --> 00:32:36,246

I think you'll find nothing but

the best for my flutter bum.

608

00:32:36,279 --> 00:32:37,379

Yowza.

609

00:32:40,016 --> 00:32:42,118

Are you absolutely sure

you're not a teenage witch?

—-----------------------------------------------

[minhanh06]

WOII Compulsory: Week 5 & 6 – Design Analysis and Field Trip

✨ Apply the analysis framework to design works observed in the Golden Landmark Shopping Complex and Kampong Glam, and systematically document your findings.

We often think of design as something we see. But in truth, design is something we feel, live with, and interpret. Effective design begins with analyzing the objects and works around us. In Week 5, we categorized our group’s items into two key themes: memory and materiality. To explore these themes further, we had a visit to the Golden Landmark.

Design is never neutral. One of the key insights I gained from the Week 5 lesson is that every choice—form, color, material—carries meaning shaped by context. As Barrett puts it, “Designs are not mute; they speak to users and viewers” (Barrett 43). A simple chair, for instance, might not just be about comfort, but about status, accessibility, or cultural heritage. This perspective taught me that analyzing design can uncover hidden narratives and power dynamics that shape our environment.

However, this way of thinking also led me to reconsider: are we always uncovering what’s truly there, or are we sometimes projecting meanings that were never intended? Not every object is born from deliberate symbolism—many are created out of necessity, habit, or economic constraint. Over-analysis can risk distancing us from the direct, physical relationship people have with objects in their everyday lives. These intuitive, embodied experiences may resist neat interpretation but still hold value. This made me realize that critical analysis must be balanced with openness and humility—not only asking what is this trying to say, but also what might I miss if I listen too hard for meaning that isn’t there?

This trip was both a refreshing break and an exercise in observation. It deepened my understanding of how design is shaped by culture, history, and context. I’ve learned to approach design with a broader perspective, using analysis to uncover deeper meaning. Moving forward, I will apply this mindset to my design training, ensuring my work is not just visually refined, but also empathetic, inclusive, and grounded in both critical thought and lived experience. In the end, perhaps the most powerful designs are those that don’t just speak to us, but also leave space for us to speak back.

(348 words)

Works cited and referenced: Nguyễn Minh Châu. Bến quê. The Writers' Association Publishing House, 2000.

Barrett, Terry. Interpreting Art: Reflecting, Wondering, and Responding. McGraw-Hill Education, 2011.

Bloom, Jonathan M., and Sheila S. Blair. Islamic Arts. Phaidon, 1997.

Necipoğlu, Gülru. The Topkapi Scroll: Geometry and Ornament in Islamic Architecture. Getty Center for the History of Art and the Humanities, 1995.

[malec-ao3feed]

Of Magicians and Monsters

read it on AO3 at https://ift.tt/kC517mw by BridgeInBetween It's the weeks after the war with Gaea that devastated both Camp Half Blood and Camp Jupiter, and all Percy Jackson wants is to spend time with his family, friends and girlfriend, take a break from the continuous monster attacks, and relax before his last year of high school. Unfortunately, fate has other plans. Simon Lewis never expected a perfect night, but this double date with Clary and Jace has been steadily turning into a disaster all evening. It stands to reason that such a terrible night would end with even more terribleness: demons extremely determined to kill them all. Set during the summer between Simon's first and second year at Shadowhunter Academy, which is also the summer of the war with Gaea. It is a Shadowhunters × Rick Riordan crossover and canon compliant. Remember the road trip Simon mentioned in Tales from Shadowhunter Academy? This is the story of that cross country journey where worlds clash. How long before heroes break? Learnt my lesson last time so no posting schedule- updates as and when I finish writing. Subscribe to get the notifs! Do leave comments and kudos as they mean the world. Words: 348, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English Fandoms: Percy Jackson and the Olympians - Rick Riordan, Percy Jackson and the Olympians & Related Fandoms - All Media Types, The Shadowhunter Chronicles - Cassandra Clare, The Mortal Instruments Series - Cassandra Clare, Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy - Cassandra Clare, The Heroes of Olympus - Rick Riordan Rating: Not Rated Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Categories: F/M, Gen, M/M Characters: Percy Jackson, Annabeth Chase (Percy Jackson), Clary Fray, Jace Wayland, Alec Lightwood, Isabelle Lightwood, Magnus Bane, Simon Lewis Relationships: Annabeth Chase/Percy Jackson, Clary Fray/Jace Wayland, Magnus Bane/Alec Lightwood, Simon Lewis/Isabelle Lightwood read it on AO3 at https://ift.tt/kC517mw

[whichuniverseisthis]

New chapter! Beware of spoilers!

First - Vs Starly

Previous - Vs Roserade II

Next - Vs Probopass & Magnezone

Last - Vs Dialga & Palkia VI

Chapter 11 / Chapter 348

Anime moment. Also I've just realized Pearl is adjusting Platinum's bike.

This will be me finally getting on a bike after literal years spent without touching one.

This frame is kinda cool. Also I love when they show little moments of what other characters are doing.

To be fair, if I were the Stunky I would get annoyed too.

Love the difference between Dia's and Pearl's approach. Dia is instantly worried and tries to help right away, while Pearl looks at the bigger picture and knows what Platinum actually needs to learn her lesson. Dia is thinking about her emotions, Pearl is thinking about her willpower.

This is funny.

This is a somewhat anime scene. I see this and I think of the ice rollercoaster Dawn did with Buneary and Cyndaquil in the anime. Though I'm kinda sure this came out a lot earlier.

I love, love, love the relationship between Pearl and Prinplup.

You can find Stunky under the cycling road, right? In the route before Gible's cave.

This is me when I try to drive.

[gintamacaps]

[gintamanga]

[terminusantequem]

Jennifer Packer (American, b. 1984), A Lesson in Longing, 2019. Oil on canvas, 275.6 × 348 cm

[darkcircles4lyfe]

Rivals and Heroines: a lesson in expectation

I’ve thought for some time that Horikoshi is most likely knowingly taking advantage of the fact that most people see BNHA as predictably shounen, in more ways than one. Stories can receive a lot of recognition and acclaim for dismantling tropes outright, but what about a story that pretends to play along? Previously I've had a hard time presenting evidence for Horikoshi possibly having hidden motives, but now, after ch 348, I think I have a slam dunk. What used to be little more than my musing about what kind of writing I would love to see has become a subtext so obvious it’s basically just- textual. 

Now I can finally lay out how we expected these past few chapters were going to go, vs how they turned out: 

Toga + Uraraka + Izuku in a fight together looked at the very least like it would = Izuku finding out about Uraraka’s crush. Even I thought this. I called it “inevitable.” And whether folks wanted it to happen or not, that looked an awful lot like a setup for canonizing them as a couple. It would be pretty cliché and ill-timed, but what do you expect? Of course a shounen would do that. My optimistic prediction was that it would be an opportunity for Uraraka to dismiss the whole thing once and for all, but I knew what was far more likely: Toga acting as a catalyst for Izuku and Uraraka discovering they have feelings for each other, because Toga likes both of them too and of course she’s gonna gush about that and make them flustered. 

But let’s talk about that word, “likely.” Based on what? Not Horikoshi’s own pattern of writing, but of those around him. It’s “likely” because shounen media is always heteronormative, usually reducing female characters to their romantic potential, and generally prone to neglecting the overall narrative complexity of a romance subplot. He’s a boy. She’s a girl. Can Hori make it any more obvious? But if you consider Horikoshi as one individual storyteller, it all falls apart. Suddenly there is no basis for assuming anything. (I have talked about this aspect already so I’m just gonna link to that.) 

Now let’s talk about what actually happened. BECAUSE NONE OF THAT^ ACTUALLY WENT DOWN. Bless her, it was Tsuyu who really came through and personified how brutally our expectations were defied. She arrives at the last second just as Toga is about to reveal Uraraka’s crush, which obviously cannot be a coincidence. She’s all like nope! Now is not the time! Izuku doesn’t belong in this fight, and Uraraka can handle it herself. While technically this could just constitute a tease, like, “whoops! guess you’ll have to wait for the big reveal until later!” The dismissiveness of it reads a lot more final. This is self-awareness on Horikoshi’s part, showing us he’s conscious of the cliché. Through Tsuyu, he is telling us that it all ends here. No more coy blushy flirty immature shallow nonsense. No more stringing you along. No more red herring. Because it’s time to show you what’s really going on. This is the chapter that reframes everything. 

There’s a whole cyclone of ideas circulating in this chapter and all the other moments it harkens back to, spinning around each of these characters, who are learning from each other. These are the real reasons all of them had to collide in this moment together. They are as follows-

1. A lesson for Uraraka: villains are people worth saving

This idea was first mentioned by Toga, technically, as she wonders in the wake of Hawks killing Twice, whether any of the heroes think of villains as people. Izuku also independently arrives at the idea of saving Shigaraki. Uraraka has a less concrete inkling toward that conclusion, and it is ultimately Izuku’s perspective that gets her to realize she wants to save Toga, and that it’s a valid goal. 

2. A lesson for Toga: love is kind

A seed of this idea was most likely planted by Twice, because he cared for her and showed her kindness, and his death broke something in her. But the world has rejected her, so she rejects the world. Her parents never showed her love, so she had to define it for herself based on the desires of her quirk. If Uraraka can find out about how Toga is mourning Twice, she can use that knowledge as a tool for uncovering Toga’s desire to not only become like her loved ones, but to value their wellbeing. Toga also deep down wants someone to value her wellbeing, and to accept her. This could play out a number of ways, and tbh my prediction confidence on this front is not strong so I won’t dwell on it, but I did notice one thing: In the midst of Toga confessing to Izuku and asking him her question, Uraraka is panned over to two times: 

ya know, in a Realizing Things kinda way. The first is ambiguous, but in the second, she’s having a flashback to when Toga asked her that same question, noticing that when she and Toga had their confrontation during the first war, Toga approached her in the exact same way. It may seem obvious to us, but perhaps Uraraka here is realizing for the very first time that Toga had romantic feelings for her.

3. A lesson for Izuku: the depths of admiration

Up to this point, Toga’s idea of love has only been explained to Uraraka, because Toga says the two girls are alike in that their love for Izuku manifests in wanting to be like him. Now, Izuku is prompted to look inward and see if he can relate to admiring someone the way Toga does. In the moment, the first person he can think of whom he admires is All Might, but Toga wasn’t talking about that kind of admiration, she was talking about romance. Izuku is currently incapable of conceptualizing the depth of admiration beyond his fanboy comfort zone. 

Let’s get into the details of 348 here. Izuku says he “can’t imagine wanting to share the same heart and mind as (All Might).” What a romantic phrase, “share the same heart and mind.” He knows what Toga is talking about, but not who he would apply it to. He admires All Might, but not like that. This shortsightedness is also highlighted at the beginning of the chapter, where a narrator calls Izuku out for being, despite his heroic accomplishments, essentially still (as I heard JP twitter calling him) a virgin otaku (lol). He’s oblivious, awkward, inexperienced, and possibly in denial. The whole narration sounds affectionately chastising, wistful and almost nostalgic looking back from some hindsight. 

Now... the question on everyone’s mind: if this is a gag meant to point to how Izuku is oblivious of and/or awkward about Uraraka’s feelings (assuming that all of this was supposed to lead to them being a couple, as was our expectation), then why, oh why, was the phrase “kuso nado” (translated in officials as “damned nerd”), used by the narrator? That’s Katsuki’s phrase, obviously. So Katsuki is the one calling him oblivious to someone’s romantic feelings, almost as if this is something Katsuki already knows about him, from previous experience, and it is relevant to their own relationship? This is what I was talking about with speculation turning into blatant subtext. There really is no other explanation for this. It’s just. Right there.

So anyway, the whole All Might comment reiterates how Izuku is really out of touch with romantic feelings. Uraraka could relate to wanting to “share the same heart and mind” with someone, but Izuku says he can’t. And yet, that is not exactly the crux of the irony, or else Uraraka would have been the narrator at the start of the chapter, maybe referencing how she originally called him plain, not “damned nerd.” I swear, this is so cut and dry. Actually, when you think about it, Izuku’s obliviousness has never been a source of dramatic irony for Uraraka’s crush in the first place, like, ever. It’s never, “ooooo if only he knew~” it’s just, “ooooo you like him~” and that’s it. On the contrary, Izuku never knowing about her feelings can hardly be his fault considering Uraraka intentionally shoved down and ignored them.

(edit: turns out the “same heart and mind” line is a mistranslation ! luckily it doesn't really affect much)

 On the flips side, obliviousness and misunderstanding have always always ALWAYS been a part of Izuku and Katsuki’s relationship. Oh boy, let me count the ways. From when they were little kids and Izuku tried to help Katsuki up out of the river and Katsuki mistook it for being looked down on, to the bullying, to Izuku having to tell Katsuki about getting his quirk from someone else, to Izuku having no idea how All Might’s forced retirement was weighing on Katsuki, to Izuku being embarrassed to admit he saw Katsuki as his image of victory (*ahem* a level of admiration more personal than what he had for All Might!), to Izuku hiding the fact that emotions related to Katsuki triggered Black Whip, to Katsuki being unsettled by Izuku’s self-sacrifice, to Katsuki sacrificing himself, to Izuku running off to fight alone again anyway, to Izuku being shocked by Katsuki’s apology.... every. step. of. the. way. 

I feel like a broken record but seriously everything is all so obvious now. There is nothing tongue-in-cheek-shipping-brainrot about this. This isn’t rivals being accidentally homoerotic, or a female character being neglected by a misogynistic male author. I practically have no choice but to assume that Horikoshi has been planning a complete 180 fake-out and Izuku and Katsuki are about to be canon instead, or at least left open. I truly do believe now that this whole time, narratively speaking, Uraraka has been masquerading as the heroine/love interest, while Izuku and Katsuki have been playing rivals, all in service of Horikoshi leading us to expect this manga to turn out like any other shounen. But now he’s finally starting to show his hand. It’s like a trope-defying plot twist. I know a lot more of y’all can feel it now too. I bet even the homophobes are about to jump out in a big way, from the sudden insecurity. It’s. I’m. I dunno what to say, man. This is really wild and I can’t believe we’re here.

Folks, the end is nigh. I can’t wait.

...And that’s all the hyper-analyzing of quotes I got in me today, yep. No more. That’s definitely it. 

(major spoilers for Blue Flag/Ao no Flag under the cut)

pshh, crepes.

That’s not even a romantic trope, as far as I know. 

How do you even share a crepe, anyway? Like, you take a bite, and then they--

wait

b-but no, it’s not like there’s a shounen manga out there that made everyone think it was just a het romance with tragic one-sided gay pining form the main character’s childhood best friend--

but then it turns out the main character just needed to figure himself out as he grew up--

and then him and said childhood best friend end up MARRIED?? hah.. haha, what?

[yurimother]

Deaf Character Featured in Newly Licensed Yuri Manga 'The Moon on a Rainy Night'

On Sunday at Anime NYC, Kodansha USA announced that it will publish Kuzushiro's romance manga The Moon on a Rainy Night (Amayo no Tsuki) in English. The manga is notable for featuring a deaf character, Kanon, in its central Yuri storyline.

The publisher describes the manga:

One day, while rushing to a piano lesson, a girl named Saki collides with someone on the street. As Saki collects herself, the stranger picks up the sheet music Saki dropped, hands it to Saki together with a band-aid, and continues on her way-all without saying a word. Saki is left wondering about the identity of the tall, lovely stranger, only to discover the next day that she is one of her classmates at her new high school. The girl's name is Kanon, and though she is hearing impaired, she refuses any kind of support or "special treatment" from her teachers or classmates. Over the course of the year, Saki slowly grows closer to Kanon and begins to chip away at her cold exterior.

The Moon on a Rainy Night has received mostly positive reviews from critics and audiences. Erica Friedman of Okazu gave the first volume an 8/10 score, praising Kuzushiro's signature artwork and the way the manga "neither fetishizes nor romanticizes deafness." However, she criticized some elements of the story, like the early chapters pacing and the bully characters. The first Japanese volume holds a perfect five-star rating on Amazon with 348 reviews.

The manga began serialization in June 2021 on Comic Days, with new chapters releasing every other week. It is one of several LGBTQ+ works serialized on the platform, alongside Keito Gaku's Boys Run the Riot, Asuka Miyazaki's X-Gender, and Koyubi Sugawara's My Idol Sits the Next Desk Over! Kodansha publishes three volumes of the manga in Japanese.

Kuzushiro is a Japanese mangaka known for her Yuri series, including Inugami-san to Nekoyama-san, Love Death., and Living With My Brother's Wife, which is published in English on Square Enix's Manga Up! app.

The first volume of The Moon on a Rainy Night will be released in English in the Fall of 2023.

[dekusleftsock]

I think there are two reasons toga has never had Izuku’s blood, no matter how much she wanted it: if she were to use ofa it might not work (similar to monoma’s quirk) and two, she doesn’t like Midoriya Izuku.

Now, let’s talk about what exactly separates togas attraction to uraraka and her attraction to Izuku. When toga meets Uraraka she finds her “cute” and how she wants to be involved with them. And right off the bat she can just tell that ochako is similar to her. She acts like those she loves. Toga, of course, wishes to relate to that and be friends with her during this point. But I almost feel like the more we see her use Ochakos blood, indirectly interacting with ochako (seeing as she has a deeper connection to people THROUGH blood) the more she grows to like her. It’s a much more normal view of attraction. Dekacchan (someone here on tumblr) made a whole post about horikoshi’s view on love and it’s worth reading.

But toga falls in love with her, over time. And when she’s rejected by her she starts crying and runs away after her confession, THAT OCHAKO DIDNT EVEN KNOW WAS A CONFESSION! She has this moment where it all *clicks* in her head in 348 bc toga says the line, “what do you wanna do to me hero?”

But this is absolutely NOT the same experience she has with Izuku. At all, ever. From start to finish it feels, forced? Lets start with when she first MEETS Izuku. She, off the bat, has an attraction to him. She LIKES seeing HIM specifically all beat up and bloody because, once again, she has a certain connection to people through blood. Not only that, but it’s also because he looks like a boy that she may have genuinely liked in her past that she killed. That’s it though. Because, this is the thing, toga himiko has no clue who midoriya Izuku actually is. And love requires time, work, energy to both have and then give to another person. And she HAD that time, work, and energy with ochako. But never with Izuku. She acted as ochako/kamie that one time during their hero licenses, but that was it. That was the closest she EVER got to knowing who he was and what he stood for. And strategy Izuku is not normal Izuku. She has no clue who he likes, how he likes them, how he understands people and the world, or his impact on other people. But she knows that for ochako.

And this is the thing. Toga never had Izuku’s blood because if she did, it would blatantly expose the fact that she does not in fact actually have feelings for him. And by extension, ochako would not have feelings for him. Why? BECAUSE THE ENTIRE BASIS OF THEIR RELATIONSHIP IS THEIR “SHARED ATTRACTION” TO HIM! And if toga does not have feelings for him, then that means that she doesn’t either. They are parallels. And this point is still shown in more subtle ways.

Because this is a lesson horikoshi wants to teach you. Love at first sight does not exist. Love does not just simply appear because the people around you ASSIGNED a word for a feeling you were having. It takes work. Genuine work. Love is complicated, it’s not a simple little crush that they both share and then get together at the end, love takes time. It takes moments, shared experiences, shared issues. All of it. Special moments. All of these things toga and ochako have, and same with Izuku and Katsuki, but not for Izuku and ochako. They have few and far between moments. Little things that never go that far.

And I can’t say this enough, but mha shows that love wins. Queer people can win. We can hope and we will. We can be confident. We have the evidence. All of the pieces were put together for us. All we have to do is put them together.

We can make what used to be dreams of the past come to reality as queer people in shonen communities. Because I’m done with this shit. I’m done with being treated like genuine trash in shonen fandoms because of what? Shipping two same sex characters? We are apart of fandom too. And by having this big of a show come to a reality where bkdk or tgck may be canon is just absolutely beautiful and amazing.