yowetremmle - Tumblr blog

[yowetremmle]

i used to dream this way... now i just dream about everyone making a livable wage.

One day I wanna be rich enough that I can just like. Give away hundreds of thousands of dollars every year in like scholarships or grants or whatever. That when I see someone make a post like “hey can I get $50 for groceries” I can just donate $1000. Or tip my server their rent money. Like that’s the dream

[yowetremmle]

acowar countdown challenge week 6 | favorite quote

↳ Feyre and Rhysand, A Court of Mist and Fury

[yowetremmle]

[yowetremmle]

oh my god not another lwymmd thinkpiece

I haven’t even posted on this account in MONTHS, but (fun fact!) I used to be a pop music writer and watching all the discourse around Look What You Made Me Do has me amused, so HERE I AM.

I think most analyses  of the song and video completely miss the point, which is that Swift isn’t actually playing the victim. She portrays herself as a zombie clawing her way out of a grave, then burying her old self in it, but the old self is smiling and perfectly okay with being in there. Plus, “[she] rose up from the dead, [she does] it all the time,” right? Right. Okay. This is the theme for most of the video- she’s not actually positioned as the victim in most of the depicted situations. This is important, because it provides context for the times when she is framed as the victim- specifically in the car crash scene. 

Let’s get something straight here- cheetah-print Taylor in the car is not Katy Perry. She is also not Kim Kardashian. In fact, she goes out of her way to show that she is, in fact, Taylor herself- first by holding up a Grammy (Katy and Kim don’t have Grammys, so why would they hold one?), and second by hanging the number 13 around the cat’s neck. 13 is Taylor’s lucky number, it’s a number she identifies with herself and with good luck- why would she plaster it on someone else? If you slow the video down right before the crash, you can see the initials TS on the front of the car- why would someone else be driving Taylor’s car? Furthermore, why would there be so many Taylors and just one non-Taylor in the final scene of the video? I’ll admit that I don’t fully understand the reciepts/editing comment at the end in light of that character being Taylor herself, but the idea that she’s playing a character other than herself in that costume doesn’t make sense. Much like how Taylor’s played with duality in the past- for example, by playing both the “cheer captain” and the girl “on the bleachers” in You Belong with Me, she’s playing with her own image, not someone else’s.

This scene is about the danger of the paparazzi, and their power. The fact that she holds up her Grammy the first time she says “Look what you made me do,” while the paparazzi snaps a million pictures is kind of the key to the whole video- they did this. They gave her the massive press coverage that allowed her to win a zillion awards and rise to the top of the food chain. The “what” that Taylor “does” is become massively successful. She’s not playing the victim, she’s winning the game. Later, when Taylor walks away from the accident unscathed, they’re so busy watching her walk away that they forget about the danger beside them, which literally blows up in their faces.

With that in mind, I want to draw a parallel between the line “Look what you made me do,” and The Weeknd’s “Look what you’ve done” in Starboy, another song in which the singer points a sarcastic finger at the media for giving them a platform only to complain that the singer got popular. Similar to LWYMMD, Starboy’s video opens with a current version of the singer murdering their past self, then destroying stuff (including things related to their own fame), only to drive off in a ridiculously expensive car with a jungle cat riding shotgun. Now combine that with the fact that some people see Taylor’s crash scene as an homage to Madonna’s “What It Feels Like For a Girl” video, a song about how men and women are held to different standards... go ahead. Draw your own conclusions. I’m not here to think for you.

I know I’m going out of order here, but now I want to jump back to the bathtub scene. Again, Swift is not being Kim Kardashian, nor do I think she’s mocking Kim (and anyone who says she’s mocking Kim’s Paris robbery- you do realize what a heavy accusation that is, right?). The hair and makeup makes it really obvious she’s playing her Blank Space character- which, as she’s explained in interviews, is a character she invented based on the media’s portrayal of her maneating ways, and which she’s always called a joke, saying that her fans understand that it’s just a parody. It’s almost like she wanted a litmus test to see who’s really paying attention- here’s this super well-known fictional character I’ve not only played in the past, but who I’ve point-blank explained was fictional and is representative of a media portrayal of who I am and not my real self. Let’s see who did their homework.

And this is the point where I as the author of this essay jump in and say I’m not exactly a Taylor megafan. I was into country music when she first debuted- I remember the first time they played Tim McGraw (her song, not the person Tim McGraw) on my local country radio station, actually- but I’ve never paid a whole lot of attention to her, and I’ve never owned any of her music or merchandise. I don’t say any of this to distance myself from her- I just want to point out that I know all this stuff about her without actually trying very hard. When I saw the big number 13 on her hand in the final scene, I Googled “Taylor Swift 13″ and found out very quickly what it meant. Her whole professional life is out there and easy to research, so anyone who’s written about her and misses major stuff like this... why are you writing about her, exactly? What purpose does it serve when you write what you don’t know?

Ahem. Back to the main attraction.

So people keep accusing the video of ripping of Beyonce, which I almost don’t want to address because it seems pretty groundless to me? If anything, the initial teaser images were maybe supposed to give the illusion of ripping of Beyonce (playing with the idea that Taylor somehow “stole something” from Beyonce by winning that infamous VMA over her), but the actual performance isn’t very Lemonade-like at all. I don’t know- maybe it’s just because I’ve been into K-Pop for so long, but the image of a bunch of dancers in a V-formation dancing in heels and crop tops just doesn’t really belong to Beyonce in my mind. To me, it seemed like another Madonna reference. As far as the bat in the heist scene? I mean it might be a Beyonce reference, but it seems a bit far-fetched- it could probably just as easily be argued as a Harley Quinn reference? I don’t think it actually is a Harley Quinn reference, I just want to point out that bats as weapons are, you know, everywhere. Other than the fact that she’s using a bat as a weapon, I don’t see anything else in this scene that calls back to Lemonade at all. (I believe the scene in the bridge where she stands on a pile of past Taylors is also a Madonna reference, with a capital T standing in for the crosses Madonna has hung herself on and and danced in front of, etc. I feel like this is also a reference to an old painting of Jesus hanging on a cross with demons or people or something crawling up the bottom of it, but for the life of me I can’t remember who the painter is or what it’s called and Google isn’t helping but I can’t be the only one who sees this, someone help me!!!  Ahem.)

People also seem to read this scene as a dig at Tom Hiddleston- just like they took the Nils Sjöberg gravestone at the beginning to be a dig at Calvin Harris. Look, I mean- it’s possible. It’s all possible. I’ve seen some convincing posts about how the positions of the necklaces on the floor beside the bathtub and an empty ring box in the heist scene are also references to her relationship with Harris, and I’m not going to say there are no direct references to her famous rivalries hidden in the video. I mean, the dollar in the bathtub is VERY CLEARLY a reference to the dollar she won in her recent legal battle. But, it still seems to me that the gravestone and shirt have more to do with her own image than with the guys she references. Taylor reportedly wrote “This Is What You Came For” under a pseudonym to see if she could write a hit without having her name attached to it- and yes, while having Calvin Harris and Rhianna on the track definitely tipped the odds in her favor, she’s still proven her point to herself and she’s done hiding behind a fake name.

The idea that she’s be “calling out” Tom Hiddleston is a bit funny- as far as anyone knows, that was an amicable breakup, right? She’s not mocking him, she’s mocking the assumptions people made about their relationship, which reached peak ridiculousness when he wore the “I <3 TS” shirt. Now, while I didn’t draw this conclusion myself (believe it or not, I don’t pay enough attention to Taylor’s love life to know how many famous exes she has), some people have mentioned that the eight dancers might be a reference to Taylor’s eight publicly known exes. That, combined with the “I <3 Taylor” shirt as a symbol of peak ridiculousness in relationship speculation, may be a dig at the media for caring so much about her love life.

I’m not a Taylor apologist- like I said before, I’m the most casual of fans. I could be all kinds of wrong about this. That said, people have this weird thing where they think everything Taylor does is a ploy to both make herself the center of attention while putting everyone else at fault for her problems. I think LWYMMD is Taylor turning the camera around on the media and reminding them that if they’re so sick of hearing about her narrative, they could put an end to it any time they want- they just won’t. 

[yowetremmle]

[yowetremmle]

[yowetremmle]

I would sell my soul

[yowetremmle]

“but... you’re so smart!!!”

“yeah i mean i get distracted super easily too, i’m so adhd.”

“you’re too lazy to be adhd.”

“stop making excuses. you’d [remember the thing/do the thing/etc] if you cared enough.”

(for the record, i was diagnosed add back when that was still a thing, and i generally still use add instead of adhd when talking about myself specifically because the ‘h’ in adhd tends to derail the conversation)

Hey, ADHDers!

“Favourite” misconceptions about ADHD? As in, which have you experienced the most and would like to see debunked in a blog post, which you could then share with people who are being ridiculous?

[yowetremmle]

@elumish, @rosettared

I AM HOME. *cracks knuckles* okay here we go! I’m going to assume you’re talking about dancing today? If you’re not, let me know and I can try to help you with something more period-appropriate.

You’ve got a few basic kinds of ballroom dancers:

Social - people who go to social dance events held by dance studios or organizations (such as USA Dance). These people usually take group and/or private dance lessons at a studio on their own time.

Teachers - people who teach dance, haha. Some teachers own their own studios, while others just work at studios. Teachers may have started as either social or competitive dancers before transitioning into teaching, but I have known a few dancers who became ballroom instructors without prior ballroom instruction. These teachers usually have a background in something like ballet or jazz, in my experience.

Competitive dancers - these are the people you see on Dancing With the Stars, etc.

The first key to writing about ballroom dance is knowing which kind of dancers your characters are, and what kind of event they’re attending. A competitive dancer is going to have a very different relationship with dance than someone who’s just a social dancer, etc. Also, knowing how long they’ve been dancing and how good they are at it is important- there’s a huuuuuge difference between someone who took a couple foxtrot lessons for their wedding and someone who goes dancing on the regular.

I’m a social dancer, so when I go to a dance it’s usually at either my studio (the same room I take classes in, mirrors and everything) or in a multipurpose-type room, such as a gym. One of the local colleges happens to have a “ballroom” in the student union, so my local dance organization goes there a lot. If you go to a super fancy event (like, say, the Big Yearly Formal!!! that every organization/studio has at some point), there will probably be more decorations than usual, but most dances aren’t decorated like crazy. My studio usually just turns the lights down, lights up the disco ball (most studios I’ve been to do, in fact, have disco balls in them), and lights some candles on the tables around the edge of the floor. If your studio is on the smaller side, there may just be chairs around the edge and no tables. My local dance organization will actually get color-coordinated tablecloths and maybe some inexpensive centerpieces for the tables (like, the kind of stuff you buy at a cheap party store), but they don’t have a lot of extra money floating around so it’s not usually too crazy. Again, if you let me know what kind of event your characters are attending, I can tell you more about what the ballroom might look like.

As far as dancing itself, again, it kind of depends on your story and the characters in it. As a social dancer, my dancing is more about having fun than looking pretty, so I’ve worked really hard to be a good follower. Ballroom is, unfortunately, still a very gendered dance form- 99% of the time, men will be the leaders and women will be the followers. If you’ve ever watched any ballroom dance movie, you’ve probably heard the old adage about how ~the man is the frame and the woman is the painting~, right? I’ve heard that same phrase from every dance instructor I’ve ever had. In ballroom dance, the man decides what moves you’re going to do, when you’re going to do them, where you’re going on the floor, etc., and the woman’s job is to make everything look good.

The concept of “lead” and “follow” is very important, especially in social dance. If I’m waltzing with someone, there’s no set choreography to follow- he just decides what he wants us to do, and I have to know what he wants me to do based just on how he’s pushing and pulling on my body and how he’s moving. The only way to get good at leading and following is through practice, both in class and in social dance situations. I’m a pretty good follower, so if I’m dancing with someone who knows what they’re doing, I can follow everything they lead with my eyes closed if I want to (I’ve actually done this, but it’s kind of scary! I do not recommend!!!).

Something worth keeping in mind is that there are differences between ballroom dancing, Latin club dancing, and swing dancing, even though there are Latin and swing dances in the ballroom lexicon. They’re not impossibly different, but they’re different enough that a dancer would know one from the other.

I’m trying to think of what else I can add, but ballroom is such a big topic that it’s really hard without a little more information on your story and characters. Please feel free to hop in my inbox with more details so I can give you some actual helpful information, haha.

Hello! If you don't mind me asking, do you have any tips and ideas for writing dance/ballroom scenes (emphasis on the ballroom dancing and the ballroom!)

Unfortunately, I know virtually nothing about that. Followers, any thoughts?

[yowetremmle]

im going to have a stroke

[yowetremmle]

[yowetremmle]

i'm a ballroom dancer and a writer, and i'd be happy to answer any questions when i get out of work!

Hello! If you don't mind me asking, do you have any tips and ideas for writing dance/ballroom scenes (emphasis on the ballroom dancing and the ballroom!)

Unfortunately, I know virtually nothing about that. Followers, any thoughts?

[yowetremmle]

Viva la revolutíon!

[yowetremmle]

My class 10/10 lost the plot today. I don’t even know where to start or how to explain to their parents that I think they’ve all turned into tiny little rebels.

9:10 - we are studying a report about Chernobyl in guided reading. Several are looking at me gone out when I explain that nuclear power can be dangerous. “So why use it?” one asks. Why indeed. 9:12 - we are now discussing renewable energy. Several more express outrage and ask why the country doesn’t have to use renewable energy. Several more state that we should avoid pollution because it kills polar bears and stuff right, Miss? 9:13 - I mention that it’s a complicated issue because of different viewpoints, and that certain people, say Drumpf, don’t believe in climate change. 9:14 - chaos. 9:15 - small child suggests someone murder Drumpf. I say that murder is both bad and illegal. 9:16 - the class have learned the word impeach and are shouting IMPEACH TRUMP IMPEACH TRUMP IMPEACH TRUMP while banging on the tables. 9:17 - headteacher comes in to see what is going on. Small child tells him quite angrily that SOME PEOPLE JUST DECIDE TO NOT BELIEVE IN SCIENCE WHICH YOU CAN’T DO BECAUSE IT’S SCIENCE. He backs out of the room quite quickly. 9:25 -I have abandoned plans for grammar and the children are now writing persuasive pieces about Why We Should Use Renewable Energy.

The saga continued after lunch when we continued our WW2 topic work, learning about the holocaust.

1:35 - we are discussing Kristalnacht. The class are collectively outraged and appalled. One is in tears. 1:40 - “Miss, I fucking hate Hitler.” that’s okay, but please express your hatred of fascism without the F word or I’ll have to ring your Mum again. 2:00 - small child who suggested murder earlier says “isn’t this exactly what Drumpf tried to do to the Muslims?” There’s a heady mix of realisation and outrage in the room. 2:13 - “Racism makes no sense” says a child, looking quite confused. 2:33 - “Hitler would have killed me because I’ve got cerebral palsy, right?” says a boy. He is tackle-hugged by a girl from across the table. I have to pretend I’m not crying. 2:34 - The rest of his table have made a pact to never let anyone hurt him. I am still pretending to be super chill. I am obviously failing as another child offers me a hug. 2:37 - I ask the children to look at nine examples of things the nazis did against Jewish people, and then arrange them in a diamond with what they consider the worst at the top. 2:38 - Mutiny. They all collectively decide to arrange all nine cards in a line and say that they’re all awful things so they all go at the top. 2:39 - I tell them if they kind find a way to fit a line of all nine in their books then fair enough. Smart child suggests a circle. Everyone cheers. We have a break, and they go outside raging about Hitler, Drumpf, racism, prejudice and injustice in general. I am handed a very strong tea by my TA who congratulates me on my gang of angry eleven year olds. Faith in humanity both challenged and restored. Bring on tomorrow.

[yowetremmle]

who needs tags when you have this

“Why do you beat yourself up so much over little mistakes?”