resonancewitness

[resonancewitness]

rejoice, my Quaker heart. in the military setting he personally would choose a peaceful and caregiving role.

not the one who takes lives; not the one who interrogates people; not the one who suppresses protests; the one who supports lives.

made the viewers think, did you? is it what you aim for?

wang yibo - formed police unit weibo update

At the premiere, the members of the peacekeeping team each chose their favorite military and police careers. Wang Yibo’s response was unexpected😬The film is on pre-sale, May 1st, see you there!

#rescuing the humanistic message from the propaganda #values #inducing reflection

[resonancewitness]

April time capsule of questions

April, again, was for me a month very full of experiences in fandom. As I look at things through a weird lens (“their private digitally-mediated communication may be monitored and shouldn’t leave a significant recoverable trace that could be used against them”), I see things weirdly; so I will share not what I look at, how I look at it and what I see, but what it made me think of. 

What is the beads bracelet meant to protect from? What else happens on the days when it is worn, besides appearing in a public event? 

If there are visits to be reminded by powers-that-are of the important values to be example of, how one prepares for such visits? How one lets the significant other know that the visit went reasonably well, all things considered? 

When there is physical and mental discomfort, as in, say, “this dose of medicine stopped working with a vengeance and I am not due the next one yet, or maybe I should get a different prescription altogether”, how do they ask each other for support in a long-distance relationship? 

Does one send the other flowers on important dates? 

How much input do they have in scheduling new endorsements, so they would have another special day to celebrate something together?

How do they congratulate each other and celebrate in a long-distance situation? 

Do they attempt to discuss serious issues with no clear solutions in view? Do they argue? Do they get angry at each other, and how to they convey this in a long-distance situation? How does one show to the other that he is not angry anymore? 

How do they express “bids for attention” in general in such situation, and how do they respond to them? How do they ensure the other feels heard and loved?

Do they give each other access to their photo- and audio- upload storage? 

When can a break from work can be scheduled? How does one cope when he is very much overdue for a break? 

#time capsule of galaxy brain questions

[resonancewitness]

"If you've been given lined paper, write across the lines" ~ Rafael Alberti

the young master is playing again 🙇‍♀️🙇‍♀️🙇‍♀️. they noticed that the scarf was supposed to be around the doll’s neck. but bobo moved it on it’s “head”. like a cap? a turban?

this is him caught in the act 😂😂😂😂

#reclaiming agency #even in the smallest ways?

[resonancewitness]

Loving me, you said, would mean falling in love with loneliness. 

But you should write, you said, your letters help me remember

our beginnings, the curve of your lips, what we are hoping for. 

Across the distance, amidst work travels, under surveillance, 

I want to help you remember. I want to help myself hope. 

I wish I could be in two places at once. I wish I could

steal you away from the mobs, keep you safe and happy, 

hide you selfishly in my sleeve, everyday, forever.

I wish I could, like the magical heroes of old, 

transfer my energy to help you heal.

In the meanwhile, bodies and souls thirst for sweetness, 

carry the ardent flame hidden, deep under the cool façade,

it is not easy to be a passionate youth this season. 

But I don’t wish to free myself from longing for you. 

Waiting for you, worrying that I will be forced to leave 

before you arrive, let me remind you what is that we are missing. 

From my memory and imagination to yours, let these 

blazing images drive you also, as they are driving me, 

marching double time, day and night, keeping the long view, 

running to you with all I have. 

#far fetched interpretations #running to you with all i have #loving you means to fall in love with loneliness

[resonancewitness]

Happy birthday to the community!

It is something special, to be united by this shared experience, faith and hope.

Happy 6th Anniversary BJYX!

6 years, 4.17 million members in the supertopic, and there are new turtles being hatched daily! 🐢 💛. This fandom is strong!

Happy anniversary to all the turtles who help make being a turtle so fun and meaningful!

BJYXSZD!

#bjyxszd #bxg #witnessing something precious #i just want to guard what you've given me with all my heart #yizhan

[resonancewitness]

hurry up to meet every day before sunset

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, "The Little Prince"

Chapter 6.

Oh Little Prince! Gradually I understood, how sad and monotone your life had been. For a long time you had only one thing to entertain yourself: you watched the sunset. I got to know about this on the fourth morning, when you said: 

“I love sunsets. Let’s go watch the sun go down.”

“Well, we’ll have to wait.”

“To wait for what?”

“For the sun to go down.” 

First you were very surprised, and then you laughed at yourself and said:

“I am still thinking I am back at home!”

Indeed. Everybody knows that when it is noon in America, in France the sun is already setting. And if one could transport oneself to France in a minute, one could watch the sunset there. Unfortunately, France is very, very far away. And on your little planet you just needed to move your chair a couple of steps. And you could watch the sunset skies as soon as you wanted to…

“Once there was a day when I watched 43 sunsets!”

And a little bit later you added: 

“You know… when you are feeling very sad, it is good to watch the sun go down…”

“So, on that day, when you watched forty three sunsets, you were feeling very sad?”

But the Little Prince didn’t respond. 

#living apart together #long distance relationship #bjyxszd #yizhan #cpn

[resonancewitness]

Visiting the Police University requires wearing a wig? The previous haircut is considered too non-regulation, may give example of not-good-enough-for-this-place values?

source: GlobalFever全球热丨0805x1005

#an example of what entails being an example

[resonancewitness]

love is the force that moves the world forward

four years ago today, in slightly less than two months since 2/27, a manifesto of resilience and hope. And, of course, love.

Believe in your intuition

what it has shown you hasn't changed

from the beginning, you recognised

it withstands countless change 

the world is unpredictable

so move steadily and quietly 

embracing the future no matter how far away

looking at the details of everyday through a special lens

every moment with passion blazing 

that we've got one life, one world

so let's go together 

we'll weather the storm

a rain of colours

look up to the sky

we're all made of shooting stars

we are made to love 

we are made to love 

we are made to love 

we are made to love 

we are made to love 

the scattered crayons, the fragmented, blank world remains there 

then I would

oh yes I would 

draw a bridge that connects the memories and the reality

then I would

trust me I would 

push beyond the limits, transform myself

the place where our paths crossed, became our source of light / became flooded by the spotlight

that we've got one life, one world

so let's go together 

we'll weather the storm

a rain of colours

look up to the sky

we're all made of shooting stars

we are made to love 

we are made to love 

we are made to love 

we are made to love 

we are made to love 

life is unimaginably small

it isn't easy to deny oneself the fullness of living

striving to become my truest self, oh yeah

tomorrow, be it rain or shine

let us give love more meaning

love is the force that moves the world forward 

that we've got one life, one world

so let's go together 

we'll weather the storm

a ring of colours

look up to the sky

we're all made of shooting stars

we are made to love 

we are made to love 

we are made to love 

we are made to love 

we are made to love 

#we are made to love #xiao zhan #resilience #a gift that keeps on giving #songline

[resonancewitness]

dehumanisation and re-humanisation in MDZS/ CQL

this is, arguably, the main theme of the whole masterpiece

Being of mixed Eastern-European, Jewish and Roma (gypsy) descent, I easily see the ghost of Nazism in the Wen Clan supremacy. "We are the one and only supreme race/ clan, we are entitled to anything we fancy, and all others must prostrate themselves before us and surrender to our rule, otherwise they must be exterminated". "I give the orders here, and you all are nothing but my dogs", says Wen Chao. An extreme example of dehumanisation.

But the Jin Clan, using the remnants of the Wen clan (non-combatants, pacifists, healers) as bait, is also a blatant example of dehumanisation/ objectification practice. And, strangely enough,

most people there take it for granted, or even if they disagree, they do not actively protest. A nice demonstration of the definition of privilege ("when something is not considered a problem because it does not affect me personally").

The only person who openly objects to this and voices aloud the similarity in the dehumanisation practices of the Wen Clan and the Jin Clan, is Wei Wuxian, by that time already himself being objectified by the rumour-mongering mechanisms of "creating an enemy". He is a necromancer, doesn't this mean that he is treating people as objects?

The most amazing, for me, part of MXTX's masterpiece is that she gives the most clear and defined re-humanising stance to Wei Wuxian. All the Burial mounds settlement arc is based on Wei Wuxian staunchly refusing to deny the Wens their humanity. He treats them as human beings, deserving to have as much dignity as possible.

One of the very few people who fully understand this is Lan Wangji, and not the least important in this understanding is the seemingly small incident at the banquet, when Jin Zixun challenges the Lan brothers to drink with him. Lan Xichen is facing a dilemma: to say "Lan Wangji can't tolerate alcohol" means to publicly embarrass him, but to let him drink is to cause a complete loss of face. In CQL, the earlier drinking scene in Gusu is necessary to make Wei Wuxian the only person in the world to know what kind of laughingstock Lan Wangji turns into when drunk. So, coming into the banquet hall and swiftly evaluating the scene, Wei Wuxian drinks the cup meant for Lan Wangji, saving his face and protecting his dignity (...and this uncouth behaviour wouldn't tarnish Wei Wuxian's reputation much more that it is already tarnished, would it?). For Lan Wangji this becomes some sort of revelation.

When Wei Wuxian promises to bring back Wen Ning's consciousness, this is the most obvious re-humanisation project, in a way — the central line of the whole story. Wen Ning is the most soulful, gentle and humane walking corpse that ever existed. But at the same time, people who use dehumanisation as a normal modus operandi, think of Wen Ning as a tool, a weapon, a "knife". The whole part of the story of the relationship between Wei Wuxian and Wen Ning during Wei Wuxian's second life is about Wen Ning re-asserting his own agency over his life and choices, from kneeling before Wei Wuxian and calling him "master" to breaking his promise to him, choosing to honour his own values instead (and telling Jiang Cheng about the golden core), and finally choosing independence from Wei Wuxian.

But there is another re-humanisation project that Wei Wuxian is involved in, more subtle and possibly more difficult, from a certain point of view: re-humanisation of Lan Wangji. Because being made into the "epitome of perfection", into an example, — is also a form of dehumanisation and objectification. It is difficult to do, because Lan Wangji has internalised this practice and he constantly dehumanises himself in this way. Wei Wuxian's compassion, appreciation of merit and "flaws", and easy-going attitude creates a different environment in which Lan Wangji finds himself.

The same dehumanisation/ re-humanisation is the source of the tragedy of Lan Xichen. Whereas Jin Guangyao takes dehumanisation to a level of particular "finesse" (everyone for him is either an asset or a liability, a tool to advance himself or an obstacle to be removed), Lan Xichen's respect, friendship, trust and loyalty is a constant re-humanisation of him, — unfortunately, only in Lan Xichen's own mind.

#mxtx #mxtx meta #wei wuxian #lan wangji #lan xichen #jin guangyao #wen chao #wen ning #dehumanisation #dehumanization #re-humanisation #re-humanization #cql #mdzs

[resonancewitness]

a quick review

The "Jade Dynasty" (2019) movie could be a very fertile ground for fanfiction; in other words, the plot is so thin and hole-y, that it hardly makes sense on its own.

It might have fared better if it was a 40-episode drama, allowing some backstory, laws of the world, and intrigue to be developed and incorporated.

Or if it was only a prequel to the real story, explaining how Zhang Xiaofan has become the wielder of the weird mixture of magics. But it would have looked better as a series of fragmented flashbacks in the main story.

Moral choices of the protagonists? Them finding out their vulnerabilities and being forced to overcome those? Inner conflict? Something that would engage the viewer and make them cheer for or worry for the protagonists? ...Gimme that! I want that!

...And what's with the monkey?..

#jade dynasty

[resonancewitness]

a couple of words about relational identity

"A human being is a node of connections", said Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. Each of our precious connections, friendships, colleague-ships, and loves, allows us to be the person we would like to be. In other words, in each important connection an aspect of our identity is performed, that cannot be performed anywhere else in the same shape or form. When a connection is lost, a possibility of a certain important part of self is lost, too.

For me being a turtle means believing that for yizhan their connection allows each of them to be his own preferred self in many ways, and without this connection it wouldn't have been possible (in the same way, with anybody else). This is what makes the connection so precious as to be maintained, and cherished, and protected, and developed, despite all the obstacles. I can imagine many people in somewhat similar circumstances who would have given up on the connection, given the difficulties; when we reconstruct the untold story in ways that make us believe that they didn't give up, enhances the meaningfulness and the preciousness of the connection.

For me being a turtle means assuming that the connection may be one of the central "bearing pillars" in their lives, one of the main answers to the question "who am I (becoming)", "what makes me who I am". Maybe even "what helps me survive and overcome difficulties", "what is one of the important sources of meaning in my life".

And also for me being a turtle means asking myself the question "who am I becoming because of them existing in my inner world, and me experiencing some sort of one-directional connection to them?" Is there something that I can become, some aspect of my preferred self, that otherwise would not be possible, only in witnessing (or imaginary dialogue with) each of them, or both of them?

#yizhan #witnessing something precious #bjyxszd #bxg #we are made to love #resonance #relational identity #how reconstructing an untold story transforms us? #performance of identity

[resonancewitness]

Something in the way @1321626 formulated their request touched me deeply, and I am trying to formulate what it was. For me, "maintaining dedication to something" sounds like practice, something that you do with attention, intention and repetition. A practice of faith, of sorts, of believing that something exceptional and good exists; a practice of hope, that the story would not turn into a tragedy, given the circumstances. A practice of acknowledgment, that the light that shines through them transforms our own lives for the better, in some ways. A practice of awe in regard to moral beauty and outstanding talent and perseverance.

I am thinking that for me personally, what touches and inspires me most, is the willpower and faith in the circumstances of high uncertainty, the decision to stay optimistic and continue to take steps. The Big Environment, as in the expression that Chinese language offers us, changes in ways that often make me wonder if whatever I am doing makes sense, and if I ever would live the life I had dreamed of before everything started to go pear-shaped with wars and dictatorships etc. It is easy to succumb to apathy and despondence. When I think of GGDD, I think "how do they cope with this life day in and day out", what do they say to themselves when there are difficulties?

As in "maintaining the dedication", my question for myself is "what is it that I am going to dedicate?", because dedication of something to something is a certain internal (or external) gesture, making something relate to the inner sense of sacred, giving it extra meaningfulness, taking more responsibility and being more present while doing it.

I dedicate my daily intentional actions that require effort and willpower, the going against the current, the being an alive fish swimming upstream, not the dead fish floating downstream (belly-up). I dedicate the stance of faith, hope and optimism in situations where there is no valid reason to have them. As I wish for them the fulfilment of their dreams, whatever they may be, so I wish the same to myself, and take better care of my dreams.

I dedicate the act of expanding the feeling of connection. I see something of my own story and experience reflected (or read-into) the reconstruction of their story, and I give words to the feeling of resonance: what connection do I experience today? How does it connect me not just to them, but to other people experiencing similar things? I highlight experience of connection and belonging to the human situation, as opposite to experience of division. I dedicate my intentional actions of the day to everyone who shares a facet of human experience, naming a new facet every day, so it continues to be an alive, non-mechanical, upstream, creative practice, and not an empty formality. It creates a space where people (not GGDD, others) feel seen and acknowledged, where they are invited to reflect and to feel the belonging.

You are amazing! I found your blog back in October when I became obsessed with The Untamed. I'm usually not a Chinese drama fan nor do I follow too closely with celebrity culture but something about the way Xiao Zhan and Wang Yibo got to me. One thing led to another and I find myself deep in the Yizhan rabbit hole as I slowly transformed into a turtle. I wouldn't call myself knowledgeable about their past or present besides what's posted on YouTube and on here. I'm curious as to how you maintain your dedication to their love story.

Hi new turtle! 💛🐢💛

Thanks so much, I'm glad you're enjoying my blog! 😊

I wouldn't say that I'm 'dedicated to their love story', so much as I'm dedicated to each of them as individuals. I think that's the key to fully enjoying being a turtle - loving them each individually first and foremost, and viewing their relationship as icing on the cake.

Over the years I've found that the turtles who go about it the other way around - fixating on their relationship and not really looking at them much as individuals - tend to have more of a negative or roller coaster ride as turtles, and tend to get bored, have emotional meltdowns, lose interest or look for candy in unhealthy places out of desperation to feed their addiction to 'their love'.

I just enjoy the boys. I enjoy the content they put out, I enjoy their dramas and projects, I enjoy their photo spreads and interviews. I trust them both to take care of their careers, their relationship and each other, and I don't really have that 'high maintenance turtle' attitude that leads a lot of people to extremes of emotion.

A lot of turtles have a very binary way of looking at everything GG and DD put out into the world: either as proof their relationship is real, or as proof it's not real or that they broke up. This leads people to a lot of unnecessary agony. In reality, very little that GG and DD put out into the world will have any bearing on their relationship at all. This is totally normal.

So as a new turtle my advice to you is to avoid that at all cost. Just enjoy GG and DD and the rest will happen naturally.

As a new turtle you might also find my masterlist post helpful.

#how do you cultivate? #how reconstructing an untold story transforms us? #witnessing something precious #how do they cope with this sort of life day in and day out #dedication of intentional actions #awe #moral beauty #attention intention and repetition #bxg #yizhan #eyes and smiles we cannot unsee

[resonancewitness]

我们对自己的要求会更高

(Thank you for reminding me again of those beautiful words, 

each of them in the right place.) 

Now I am thinking all the time of those poignant scenes, 

When you argued so eloquently about the rules, 

And it was your beautiful words about the right and the wrong

That I took with me to the place of punishment, 

To continue to act in full accordance to my nature, 

Spirit unconfined and ever faithful, 

Indomitable and with integrity. 

How can you stop what you have been doing?

What choices have you been given? 

And I will tell you again:

Walking down the single-log bridge until darkness falls,

Is not so bad. 

[resonancewitness]

not so much wwx's logic, but lwj's vivid imagination...

Wei wuxian logic 🤣

#the untamed #wei wuxian #lan wangji

[resonancewitness]

也是有难同担的兄弟伙伴

Reading the fine print in the celebratory greetings, 

Terms and conditions in all the existing agreements, 

Marking out the impossible contradicting requirements. 

Where and when can the disobedient servants forget to come for inspection? 

What could really happen if the truth spills out? If we stop pretending? 

What will be ruined, what will be our livelihood, where could we find solace? 

What is the right thing to fight for? What is the essence? Where the heart is? 

How can one, in the whirlpool of the masses, regret his actions halfway 

and try to get out? What is that we have to break through? What will get broken? 

Honestly, under such constant controlling gaze, with people reporting on other people, 

it is not life, it is not what we had signed for, 

At least not what we thought we did sign for. 

Be that exile or hiding, the great hermit in the noisy world never forgets his soul.

We have been healing each other, supporting each other in our dreams and ambitions.

Whatever is the trouble you have been in, or will be in, we will face it together. 

And if we need to build from scratch, 

We will build something again, something fresh and new. 

There are those who believe in us, and we can count on their aid. 

Even if there is hardship, there will be no regrets.  

Step by step, we will build the life that we really want. 

#cryptic cryptography #far fetched interpretations

[resonancewitness]

Excuse me. (passing through a shop, couldn’t resist placing these two guys together on a shelf)

#yizhan #bxg #bjyxszd

[resonancewitness]

contemplating a choice of objects

yujinxiang 郁金香

yujin, xiang 于今, 想 ?

yu, jinxiang 欲, 尽享 ?

剪刀 jiandao 见到

信封 xinfeng 信奉,  欣逢

"In Chinese culture, tulips are often associated with fame and being perfect (...)

Today, the significance of tulips has expanded to various arenas. They're seen as symbols of resilience because they're among the first flowers to bloom in spring, signifying rebirth and new beginnings. In contemporary decor and fashion, they embody elegance and timeless beauty. Charities and organizations, too, adopt the tulip to symbolize hope, especially in campaigns related to health and wellness.." (source, italics mine ~ rw)

the golden mask (金色面具 jinse mianjiu, JM)  is not worn, it is an external object (taken off? not put on?) that is being contemplated in the box with the words "the art of craftsmanship"

gosh, all the objects in this picture can have punny/ homophonic wordplay

#witnessing something precious #sacred reading of visual texts #far fetched interpretations #cryptic cryptography #language of flowers