#it's right up there with any form of human musical artistic expression

[bumblequinn]

hi @sourpatchsquids! thank you for your question.

as an artist with ADHD, i know this struggle very well. unfortunately offering advice on this kind of thing can be tricky, because what works for me may not work for you (and vice versa!). nonetheless, i can try; take whatever works for you, forget the rest, or reshape any part of it as you see fit. :)

but before i offer any actual tools, i have one caveat. i want you to take a moment to reflect and consider if you should be:

changing expectations

the timing of this question seems fated, because just the other day i had a therapy session wherein i expressed my grief and frustration over struggling to work lately due to my seasonal depression. it's not fair that i'm struggling just because it got a little darker outside! i just want the spark i had in the summer! i was so much more consistent!

my therapist's response: nothing about human beings is consistent. we get sick, we get tired, we get hungry and thirsty (and thirsty) and sad and lonely and restless and stressed and overwhelmed. this all gets amplified for folks who are atypical in some way or another.

when my therapist compared our seasonal cycles to those of plants and other animals, who wilt and slow down and hibernate, i protested aloud that i wanted to be a perennial instead. at this she said: even perennials change with the seasons. rose bushes have to be pruned, sometimes down to half their height! it was a dose of perspective i didn't particularly want, but really needed.

so when you're struggling to work through executive dysfunction, burnout, or brain fog, it can help to first check in with yourself about a few things. what do you have the capacity for right now? do you need any accommodation? and if so, what changes you might make to accommodate yourself?

with practice and self reflection, i've learned a handful of specific routines that help me when i'm struggling with creative work, which i'll detail next. note that while your question is specifically about music and i am specifically a musician, i believe that all of these suggestions can apply to most any form of digital creative work.

with that in mind:

#1: work slower

when i'm at the top of my game, i can get a LOT done in a day. but when i'm depressed, fatigued, or distracted, i just can't go full steam. sometimes i'll try to convince myself that i can if i just push harder, but what actually ends up happening is that i'm just fiddling with settings and going in circles rather than moving forward.

instead of that, when i want to work a lot but can't, i try to work slow. how slow? however slow i need to. take four hours to figure out the melody for a single verse. take all day to figure out that drum groove. yeah, i take a lot of breaks in between. who says i have to be my Absolute Most Productive Every Day Or Else? that's the puritan work ethic talking. kill it. be kind to yourself.

i'm reminded of advice i once read about some super successful and prolific author (gaiman? king? pratchett?) who said they wrote only four hundred words every weekday. that's already less than the word count of this post, and i'm only—[travels into the future to check my final word count]... 22.8% of the way through writing it!

now, i don't think i could function that way, because ADHD means some days i'm hyperfocused like crazy, and other days i just have no steam at all (more on that in #4-6). but it seems to me that if even someone highly respected in their profession can achieve what they have with only a little bit of work on a regular basis, maybe i don't have to punish myself for not pumping out a finished work every single week.

doing less work per day means you're much less likely to burn out, which does a lot for working more consistently. if that consistency still doesn't look like a five-day work week, that's okay! as long as it helps you work even a little more often when you want to, it's something worth doing.

however, if you're still feeling truly stuck, all hope isn't lost. you can still try:

#2: switch projects

sometimes the reason i'm moving slow is because of a bad brain day, but sometimes the reason is that i just cannot muster the motivation to do the specific task i'm trying to do right now. ADHD is fueled by novelty and interest, and if i'm not interested in what i'm doing, or it's feeling stale, that's a sign that i need to switch gears.

this is why first it's helpful for me to have more than one project going at a time. this might mean completely unrelated works, or it might just mean related tracks as with the music for a game like SLARPG or susan taxpayer.

the idea here is not to start a dozen different projects and bounce around them like i'm playing whac-a-mole—though i have done that. (i don't recommend it.) the idea here is to have a manageable number of different projects i can be working on so that if i get bored or stuck on something, i have fallback options.

what that number of projects is depends entirely on the week. maybe right now it's two, maybe another time it's three. i would probably be getting carried away if i tried more than that, but that's just my own limit. maybe yours is different. that's something for you to think about.

but it doesn't have to stop there.

#3: switch focus

maybe there is this one project that i just HAVE to work on, but the task i'm trying to do at this stage just isn't coming to me. okay, well, why don't i try working on a different task?

let's say i can't figure out what i want to do with the melody in one part of the song:

what if i try jumping ahead to a different part of the melody? ...no, i'm stumped on melodies today. okay, how about working on the drums instead? ...hmm no, i think i'm just completely tapped out on writing parts right now. alright, what if i organized my tracks, making sure they're all grouped and named in a way that i can work with easily? what if i did a rough volume balance for the mix?

and so on. if that's not enough to shake the off stuckness, i might consider: what can i do to make this project more interesting to me?

what happens if i try using an instrument or effect that i almost never reach for? what if i try sampling something obscure? what if i bang out the drums using my midi keyboard instead of drawing it in on the piano roll?

any approach that breaks me out of my usual habits is bound to get that feeling of novelty and fun back when i need it.

or maybe i can't do any of that right now, and so i take the time to answer a question from a fellow musician instead. i consider that part of my work, too, in a broader sense. check in with yourself and figure out what you can do right now. the rest will still be there later.

but okay, let's say you try switching gears, and switching again, and again, and nothing is moving. you try new approaches, but that wall of awful is insurmountable in this moment. it happens! the next thing you might try is:

#4: learn something new

when you aren't able to make progress on your projects, you can still make progress on your knowledge and craft. i often find this stokes a flame of inspiration in me where there wasn't one before. and even when it doesn't, it still gets my brain out of that feeling of stuckness and dread and into one of thought and action. learning also benefits in the long term because it adds to the well of knowledge from which you draw for all your future works.

for all the awfulness that exists on the internet, it remains an absolute treasure trove of teaching. there's an endless ocean of videos, blog posts, and articles from which you might learn something about your craft. (and if you sail the seven seas, plenty of book PDFs as well. 🦜🏴‍☠️)

it's true that the quality and depth of information out there can vary wildly, but in my experience most resources get at least some things right. and the more you research, practice, and figure out what works for you, the better you will learn to differentiate between the advice worth keeping, and the advice to forget. (that goes for all of what i'm saying here, too!)

that said, since our shared focus is music, a few resources i would highly recommend are:

music theory and composition music matters, 12tone, charles cornell, music with myles, 8-bit music theory, and this introduction by andrew huang

mixing and production dan worrall (especially this series for fabfilter), kush after hours, red means recording, andrew huang, alice yalcin efe, in the mix

general inspiration nahre sol, ben levin, david hilowitz, game score fanfare, posy, jerobeam fenderson, open reel ensemble, and ELECTRONICOS FANTASTICOS!

(if any readers have their own helpful resources for creating music or any other media, feel free to share in the replies & reblogs! 💓)

of course, on an especially bad day, it might be a challenge to seek out information, let alone retain it. that can feel pretty bad, but remember: be kind to yourself. the next thing you might consider trying is:

#5: consume art you love

not just music. books. shows. movies. games. illustration. animation. whatever moves and inspires you.

but do it intentionally. don't just pull up some random thing the algorithm suggested! check in with yourself about what you want (or are able) to engage with right now. choose accordingly. if you get a little way into it and realize it's not scratching that itch, hit the bricks. check in with yourself again. wash, rinse, repeat, until you find whatever it is that speaks to you right now.

and do it actively, if you can. don't just let it go in one eye and out the other! really pay attention to the work. what do you like about it? what are its themes and motifs? what makes it work so well? what are its flaws, and how much do they matter? what might you do differently? you can write notes as you do this if it helps, but even simply noticing and thinking goes a long way.

what you don't want to do is come at this with a lens of shame or envy. you're not here just to say to yourself, "ugh, if only i could do THAT." it's okay if it happens. use that thought as a springboard for curiosity: "well okay, how DID they do that? do i have the resources for it? if so, how could i apply that to my own work? if not, how can i adapt it, or what do i need to learn?" keep your mind open and approach the work with a sense of wonder.

as a creative person, it's very easy to think, "i should be making something right now, not watching a movie!" but that thought forgets something vital: your art is a response in a conversation. of course the "language" you use is your own, and maybe if you're lucky you'll invent a new word. but most of the words you use have been around long before you were born. you're just one voice in a dialogue that spans continents and generations, and that's okay. it's even the whole point.

none of us is an island. we are profoundly social animals. just as we can't live without eating, we can't make without learning. so half of making art is consuming it. consider this part of the process as well.

and finally,

#6: rest, and live your life

let's say you're in really dire straits. you've tried working slower. you tried changing focus, you tried changing projects. you want to take in new information or actively engage with your favorite art, but you're not in the headspace for it. what now?

take a nap. take a walk. take a shower. eat a nice meal, or an okay one. talk to a friend. maybe even do that chore you've been putting off (you know the one).

it's human to always crave making, but you're not a machine—and even if you were, machines need regular maintenance, too! you wouldn't drive a car that's completely out of gas, and you won't do yourself any favors treating your body that way either.

i know that when you take a break it feels as though you're not accomplishing anything, but you are: you're taking care of your animal self. and while you do that, your creative brain doesn't stop working! much like windows, it has countless background processes running at any given moment, with inscrutable names like "cbdhsvc_692da" or "Microsoft Edge Update Service." it's true, i checked.

when you're stuck on a project and you step away to rest, your brain is still chipping away at your ideas unconsciously. i like to tell people, "it's percolating." much like waiting for a pot of water to boil, that idea is still heating up, even when you take a step away. just be sure to check in on it once in a while. the time will pass, and it'll be boiling again before long. :)

before i go, i'll leave you with one last thing to keep in mind as you try all of these strategies:

be kind to yourself.

being human is just about one of the hardest things you can do. let alone being a human trying to survive capitalism while living with disabilities! the last thing you need on top of that is to overwork yourself, talk to yourself negatively, or treat yourself harshly. there are plenty of other people in the world who do that to you—don't be one of them.

i'm not saying that you shouldn't try to challenge yourself, to test your limits and go above and beyond your ambitions, if that's what you want to do. just remember that hard work and self compassion are not mutually exclusive. so be careful not to bully yourself. take pride in the progress you make, even when it seems small. encourage yourself like you would a friend who's going through a hard time. and when you challenge yourself, be your own cheerleader.

i hope you find this advice helpful! remember, this is just what helps me, so don't feel like you have to follow any of it exactly. maybe taking time to learn new information helps break you out of your rut more than working slowly, so you reach for that tool first. maybe having multiple projects going at once is too distracting for you, so you prefer to stick to one at a time. whatever your needs are, feel free to alter and adapt these ideas to fit you.

thank you for reading, and i wish you the best of luck in your creating.

with care, bee 🐦

#adhd #advice #asks #from #sourpatchsquids

[jmdbjk]

The song “Letter”

Just one thing I want to say...

When Jungkook said the dumpling incident was more than what we’ve been told, that it was serious shit... let that be a reminder that it is possible that not everything we see or hear is the total truth. That everything they show us or tell is us is possibly NOT the whole story. 

It’s not that they are lying to us or giving us half-truths, on the contrary, they want us to know the catalyzing moments. But divulging the less-than-savory details, or details that are too personal, takes away from the point of sharing the moment. I hope that makes sense.

That being said, on the surface and in general, “Letter” is a song for Army. To Jimin, who wrote the song, his music is for the fans in general. He frames the song as one for the fans. We all know what he says is true. ALL of the music is for fans. That’s why they are doing this for a living. And this song is one he wanted to single out as special, and he wanted to offer it in a special way by having it “hidden” on the CD. 

Yet, many interpret the meaning of the song as something else, as is their right to. The song can have multiple meanings to different people. And that is exactly what music is for, to be interpreted in many, many ways that can resonate within us.

Those of us who acknowledge the special relationship he has with Jungkook interpret their relationship along the lines of: this is “possibly NOT the whole story.” 

And Jimin maybe acknowledges that by having Jungkook participate on the song, knowing that the song can now have another more specific and personal meaning applied to it. Jimin knows we know that. They both know we know that. Is there a “level” of this meaning that needs to be applied? No. We all are allowed to interpret it to the level we are each comfortable with.

The general fandom will see it as a special song even more so because another BTS member participated. And that’s it. Which is ok. 

But there are those who specifically do not want the song to be interpreted that way at all in any way shape or form and they spend an inordinate amount of time and energy trying to knock down those interpretations. Why do they spend so much negative energy on that? Who knows? 

Does Jimin need to come out and explicitly explain other meanings for the song? No, why would he? Why SHOULD he? He already said its a song for and to Army. We know where his heart and emotions were when he wrote it. Just because he doesn’t openly explain other meanings, does not mean there is only one interpretation of the song. IT IS ART!

Interpretation of art is the attribution of meaning to a work...giving meaning to a work. This process is subjective, meaning there is no right or wrong way to interpret the meaning of a work. We schlepp our own personal emotional baggage in everything we do and it is through this lens that we view and react to the world and that includes art. 

Where we often get hung up is whether we agree or disagree if the artist’s intention is relevant to how it is interpreted. 

Did Jimin ONLY mean for us to take his literal words as the meaning and then STOP, no other meanings apply? Or do we also include his literal action of having Jungkook, a specific member of BTS, participate on the track as a specific intention? 

If you don’t get it, that’s ok, it is just something that I’ve seen a lot of debate about and now I’ve said my piece.

Keep in mind that Jimin is an emotional animal. He lives, breathes, speaks, expresses himself with emotions. He is not a surface skimmer. He literally wrote songs about his literal emotions. 

For his sake, think deeper and be a good human.

#jimin face #jimin letter #jikook #jimin the walking emotion of the day #jk checking on jm 3 times a day #possibly not the whole story #we are not entitled to every single detail #know your boundaries as a fan #we move on quickly in this Bangtan world #jungkook's love language is tongue exercising #and appealing to jimins appetite #and just being there because he loves him

[alexibeeart]

ooookay i'm about to pop off for a little bit RE: comments i keep seeing about Daft Punk just being whoever puts on a costume and mixes whatever music. so please forgive in advance. here's two examples of what I'm talking about, screenshot and reposted to not put ops on blast:

#1 is hot garbage, get it out of my sight. #2 is ... okay i get where it's coming from in an alternate universe rpg way, sure, cute, pretty harmless but like.

Daft Punk was the 28 year long passion project of two childhood friends who formed their unique talents into an even more unique collaboration; we're lucky to have experienced it! They were always very clear and exacting about their artistic vision. It's not an empty mantle for anyone to just pick-up. The Robots are creative identities developed and embodied by Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem Christo so they could a) have a sense of privacy, b) have their music standalone without celebrity gossip, and c) build a fun little fictional world with a cool aesthetic to hype it all up. The media would often make flippant comments wondering if it was really "them" at events, interviews, even their own concerts. They mostly ignored that noise–famously declining an appearance on The Colbert Report in 2013–but Thomas responded to an interview during their Alive 2007 tour: "Of course not. Who would want to trade such a spot?" The only time anyone other than Thomas and Guy-Man wore the helmets in an officially endorsed capacity was for their film Electroma, which had actors playing robots while Daft Punk directed.

It's important, especially right now as we continue to fight against AI scraping art for marketable content, to defend artists as people who have put blood, sweat, and tears into their craft. And to value that craft. Bangalter, in 2023:

"Now the story has ended, it felt interesting to reveal part of the creative process that is very much human-based and not algorithmic of any sort. [...] We tried to use these machines to express something extremely moving that a machine cannot feel, but a human can. We were always on the side of humanity and not on the side of technology. [...] As much as I love this character, the last thing I would want to be, in the world we live in, in 2023, is a robot."

sorry to get all serious business, yes i hear myself lmao, but Daft Punk is Daft Punk. okayyyy beep boop bye x

#sorry sorry lmao #i am in my daft punk fangirl era #i am in my defend daft punks creative vision era #daft punk #thomas bangalter #guy manuel de homem christo #posting this and then disappearing into the void x #long post #just to be safe #human after all

[caramellashton]

'this is like wanting your kid to get better by yelling at them and hitting them… you know it won't change/fix anything.'

EXACTLY I have been saying this for so long!! it's not gonna work and it's just gonna make everything worse. it's not a form of activism to just bully people until they conform to what you want; humans are autonomous people capable of choosing good, and like. we could be in the fandom of another band that doesn't even try, whose fans have given up on them and are just there for the music and the drama, but it's like the minute they do try to do something good they have to do activism a certain way and it almost becomes a kind of purity culture and purity culture is famously about control and not good for anyone.

but it's also people trying to be funny in the comments with thinly veiled frustrations that come out as insults about their appearance (which especially gets to me bc like. does body positivity stop if you're famous? or are they just idealised figures/bodies/personalities for us to look at and pretend our bodies don't change over time and we don't like it when they remind us that they actually do?) or their partners or how they express themselves. and it's the aura of entitlement that erodes their right to autonomy and individuality that gets me, not only because the way we get the creative music they make is them expressing that.

anyway i do think we as a fandom can do better and i want to attempt to start a conversation about that rather than trying to call people out in the comments. still thinking of how. there's a lot of people in the fandom who are struggling and exasperated with life and relate to their songs and the pressure has to come out somewhere; it ends up being in comments they feel like won't ever be seen except for by people who agree with them, at people who seem to far away and too big to ever see getting hurt by their comments. at least that's what I assume happens. but yes, they were bullying a cat

I agree with everything...

Was it always like this? It can't be because this is too much, none of the hate was on me and I couldn't take it, I wonder how the guys (or any celebrity) feels, being judged about the tiniest move you do, it's crazy I would totally lose my mind.

That's not how life is... yes I would love to be a fan of good people but if the gf/partner of the artist you're a fan of is bad and their friends are bad what does that make them? Maybe it's on you, maybe YOU should pick better idk 😭.

#like you don't have to like everyone around the guys they're not your friends. You don't know them. #maybe I'm the worst person to agree to this because yes i look up the ''drama'' or whatever and I'm nosy but i never thought for a second- #-that I can tell them what or who to hang out with... #because it's stupid. like here I am from across the planet and I'm gonna fix 5sos and their friend group yes totally not mental... #please 😭😭 #Also is it activism if you tell them how they should say it and do it? If they say something it's not enough- #-if they don't they're the worst to walk on this earth. If they apologize for a mistake it's not sincere and won't be accepted. #How will anyone change if you don't even let them? #this fandom can do better but will it ever try? Maybe when it's too late. #too late as in they stop interacting with us ever... and i wouldn't blame them.. #call me bald everyday i will write a paragraph about how you ain't shit. you WILL see me in fan wars lmao... ashton is better than me. #are the tags too much? im sorry i feel more comfortable here lol 😭 #ask #5sos

[abimee]

I hope I'm not misinterpreting what you said; your comment on people's reaction to abstract art and things along those lines is how I feel about experimental and abstract music made as a form of art (which some people seem to Hate but is a very important art form to me). I don't have any fancy insightful commentary, but a lot of people just dismiss this stuff because it doesn't instantly draw their attention or makes them uncomfortable for whatever reason. It could be the artist expressing their emotion, trying to showcase a technique, etc any other hundreds of reason. I think regardless of if it's something made in satire, a genuine expression of emotion, or "it just looks/sounds cool!" or anything else they're all worth looking at and thinking about. That person's comment about "I don't think it's worth looking at" makes me a bit sad for that reason

no youve hit it right on the nail. i think a lot of people can be adverse to trying out new genres or even music styles theyre not used to because theyve become accustomed to like, i dont wanna call it ''palatable'' music but music where once again like art they can find something to project/latch onto. like people who refuse to listen to speedcore or lyricless music because they so badly need lyrics/something to attach to and cant feel the emotion within the instruments themselves

im not too well versed in more like experimental music but i know this was peoples reaction to 100 Gecs when they first showed up, because to them it was just ''loud, obnoxous autotune music'' and couldnt see the fact that within the music was laura les' expressions of her identity and emotions. this also just directly happens with classical music. people just wont listen to piano or symphonic music unless its like video game tracks or whatever cause they dont see any worth in sitting through ''long and boring pieces'' and have no concept of like how people express emotions and stories and invigorate a mental image without using words.

i also see this with vocaloid too where english speaking americans just outright refuse to listen to vocaloid/lump it together as an entire genre they ''dont like'' when vocaloid is nothing but an instrument used by thousands of different artists in different genres for different means. like you cant tell me that siinamota's "Metamorphose'' sounds anything like matryoshka by hachi. its all the same people just disrespect art like crazy for the dumbest of reasons

this especially pisses me off with people who only like the ''human sounding AI synth vocaloids'' in a way i cant explain. they cant get over the speed bump of a robot singing to engage with so much beautiful art made by people across the world telling their own emotions and ideas and stories and decide the entire thing is a waste of time. drives me up the wall

[soleilsogolden]

Madonna: a Cultural Icon

There isn't much room for debate when it comes to Madonna's impact on pop culture and society as a whole. Madonna lives up to her “Queen of Pop'' title, and more. She is often praised for the feminist ideologies she voices through her music, and for her efforts in blurring the lines between gender, race, and sexuality in her art. When asked to write a piece on a musician through a culturally-critical lens, I am writing about Madonna with no questions asked. Madonna challenged taboos in and outside of music throughout her career and is recognized for “leaving a mark on every facet of culture” from music to fashion, and even film.  Of course, this sort of carefree spirit attracts criticism, and Madonna was no stranger to controversy. However, Madonna carried her rebellious attitude in spite of any bad press she received, and she continued to express herself and her ideas in the most in-your-face, offensive way possible. Madonna single-handedly transformed pop music, and as a tribute, I’ll reflect on her cultural impact and how her most popular songs from the 1980s challenged the status quo at the time. 

Imagine it's the 1980s Reagen era: Political Conservatism, the emergence of the  HIV/AIDS epidemic and ongoing LGBTQ+ stigma, a divide between Anti-Sex and Pro-Sex Feminism, oh, and big hair and colorful clothes. The transition from the 1970s to the 1980s brought about a decline in activism. The general social mood reflected a belief that the earlier movements of the previous decades had gone too far (Anti-War Campaign, Women's Liberation, Civil Rights, and Environmental Awareness, just to name a few). The perspective and core values of the Reagen administration, which was characterized by a rejection of 1970s American culture, had direct substantial impacts on American life in the 80s. Reagan won over the support of Religious Conservatives by standing for traditional family values and morals-  ironically, he went on to be the first U.S. president to have been divorced. 

Reagan remained steadfast in his efforts to uphold conservative ideologies, especially in the discussion of the relationship between men and women, and the role of women in society. He publicly expressed his aversion to feminist activism by opposing the Equal Rights Amendment in 1980 and instead supporting a “Human Life Amendment” which would have banned abortion and several forms of birth control. Reagan's conservative approaches to women’s rights trickled into the views of the average American, serving as a major blow for the feminist movement which lost some momentum at the time. And in the heat of it all, there was Madonna who stood firmly in the studio and created music and a reputation for herself that rallied resistance. 

In the late 2010s, musicologist Eduardo Viñuela in conversation with Radio France Internationale argued that analyzing Madonna was to delve into the evolution of many of the most relevant and significant aspects of society in recent decades. For one, she was the first female artist to make use of the full potential of a music video. She collaborated with some of the top designers and photographers of the time, creating avant-garde cinematography and sexual imagery with inspiration from the underground club culture. Some videos reflect the “Feminist Sex Wars” of the 1980s- a major feminist movement that consisted of a conflict between self-identified feminists who were anti-porn and those who were pro-sex. The collective debates amongst feminists were fueled by disagreements regarding sexuality, pornography, prostitution, erotica, and other sexual matters. From the ingènue newly-wed character she created in “Like a Virgin,” to the red-dressed sinner who sexually provoked a saint in “Like a Prayer,” Madonna played around with the taboo themes of sexuality of the decade. By doing so, she was pushing people’s buttons and making a career out of her unapologetic self-expression.

For a female pop star to create art that has overarching political statements was rare and rather unthinkable during Reagan’s presidency. Then and now, she has been regarded as a sexual icon and as the leading sex symbol of the era. Her consistent usage of explicit  sexual content in the videos and lyrics caused her to face constant censorship by MTV and other entities- She was even threatened to be arrested by Toronto police on the grounds of “lewd and obscene behavior” for pretending to masturbate during her live performance of “Like a Virgin.”  But, Madona’s efforts pushing boundaries and challenging the deep-rooted sexism in American culture was absolutely necessary at the time. Madonna took ownership of her own sexuality, capitalized off of it, and utilized it as a source of power- which was absolutely terrifying for the population of men who felt entitled to control women’s choices, particularly women’s bodies. 

In the face of the early-80s AIDS crisis and a peak in homophobia, Madonna stood as an ally for the LGBTQ+ community. She was never shy about her adoration for the community, and has even been tagged as the first major mainstream artist to give LGBTQ+ images and themes mass treatment and exposure. Madonna was intimately connected to a wide community of gay men in the earlier years of her career as an artistic collaborator, a political ally, and as a friend, says Christopher Glazek, the founder of the YALE Aids Memorial Project. The 80s time period significantly affected the community; In spite of the stigma and criticism, Madonna appreciated, represented, and credited gay culture in her performances and musical endeavors, and made it a point to publicly denounce homophobia in the midst of a political and social climate riddled with homohysteria.

Madonna’s contributions to modern popular culture have been widely remarked by many, globally. British journalist, Matt Cain, assured that “without Madonna, from music to fashion to the whole concept of celebrities, today’s pop culture landscape would simply not exist as it is.” She took the values of American culture and communicated them in a way that was unheard of.

#Madonna #Vogue #Ballroom Culture #LGBTQ #1980s #80s #pop culture #music #Youtube

[greatseedling]

✿ permanent plotting

woah, i’ve been here on and off for four years with martel and i’ve apparently never made one of these?? better late than never, i suppose!! as much as i love all the spontaneous dynamics that have emerged over the years, i’d like to consider some longer-lasting and current relationship dynamics for martel. 

as per usual, by liking this post you are expressing permission for me to...

hit you up ooc to talk plotting and things regarding our muses

reach out to you during events and other group activities for plotting

send you a butt-ton of memes on fridays

engage with your minis and opens

slap you starters (with permission ofc ofc)

for transparency, i prefer to interact ooc with other 18+ muns only. thank you!

below is a non-all-encompassing list of vibes to start. feel free to like this post or comment on it and i’ll reach out to you, or beep me if you want to reach me ooc and talk more about any or all possibilities:

✿ ACQUAINTANCES/FRIENDS this is a pretty easy place to land yourself, martel is a very loving and gentle person who can easily find the good in just about everyone. if your muse breaths... they could probably land themselves in here. while she’s friendly with most, it actually takes quite a bit of trust building for her to open up to the more sensitive bits of her life. her friendships are something she takes very seriously-- she’d bend over backwards for them. catch her stopping by to see your muse often, bringing them food and giving them tons of physical proximity. generally, if u just need a friend, she’s a wonderful one to end up with, and she particularly is good with those lacking self esteem especially.

✿ FOUND FAMILY did u want a mom?? a big sister?? just a mom friend?? she’s got you covered. martel is very maternal, especially with children and teens. she’ll fuss over you, set your bed time, and occasionally baby you. oops. she’s got a softeness for children, having raised her baby bro. if ur a child, you’ve probably already been adopted in her mind. she’s got a very fussy bit to her, she means well, but she might step into well-intentioned patronizing territory.

✿ ENEMIES you have to be a really unredeemable person who is hellbent and back to being terrible to land here firmly, but even if that was the case you’d likely be picking a fight with the other kharlan heros before she’d ever have a chance to response. if you want to be mean to her or have your muse hate her, you’re 100% welcome, but she doesn’t do conflict so... good luck. she’ll still try to win your favor.

✿ ROMANCE oh boy, good luck. while certainly possible, martel has a lot of complicated feelings here. she’s demisexual, and requires a close bond with someone before romance can truly be on the table, but its totally possible. sometimes she can come across as flirtatious, but most the time is unintentional. but if down the road something connects between our muses, let me know! martel has a partner, so i’m no longer open to romantic dynamics 👍

✿ HEALERS although she’s perhaps not in the best shape right this minute, martel’s a very seasoned magical healer and is studying human forms of herbal healing. she makes aromatherapy products and is great at bandaging up your scrapes and cuts. let her nurse your sicknesses. and injuries, she’ll take good care of you. conversely, if your muse knows healing, especially medicine/non-magical methods... teach her!! she’s super interested in learning more.

✿ GARDENERS/ARTISTS martel has been volunteering for years in community gardening and landscaping around spirale. she’s always found planting, moving, and tending to the flowers and bushes around the different sectors. maybe your muse has a green thumb! or maybe your muse is just looking for some fresh air! she’ll teach you about plants n nature...or even help you with your plant babies! or maybe your muse loves music? martel plays the panpipe as a little hobby and loves music and dance... she would love to listen to your muse play music or learn a new instrument. she also is secretly a fabulous still life sketcher. she does really impressive charcoal sketches, and she’d love to do a portrait of your muse!! arts n crafts are always welcome.

✿ WAR SURVIVORS / HALF-ELVES / FELLOW DEAD PEOPLE  hello, let’s bond. there’s a lot of shared experience here with people intimately involved in wars, discrimination, and death. she was born into a longstanding war, and comes from a world that was hostile and cruel to her. she died once, woot woot!!  i think there’s a lot of possibility to find companionship in shared experiences and this might be a good compliment for forging a friendship. lets get deep into it.

✿ TEACHERS so martel has zero education. she can’t read or write much beyond a kindergarden level. i think it’d be really sweet if someone with patience would like to try and teach her!! she’s a bit anxious, but she’d make a good student. ooooor, if you’d like to teach her how to cook or do something else... power to you! she’s curious, so she’ll totally

✿ ETC literally slap me with whatever vibe you’ve got. let create something spicy.

#sets this down and lays on the floor #i may wake up in the morning with more to add but 4 years later... i finally did it #isola rp ad #i guess?? idk i love u tho <3 come write with me

[braintapes]

21, 30, 7 hehe

21. Art styles nothing like your own but you like anyways

Art styles that rely heavily on linework, or a solid ink kinda style, are SUPER cool. My usual style is 'glob of colors exploded haphazardly onto the canvas' so anything involving a lot of tiny detail ESPECIALLY with the lines makes me go heart eyes. I also really enjoy cartoony, exaggerated styles. I love love love super stylized facial expressions, they're SO fun.

Some examples of artists/artwork I really like and am inspired from:

Niccillustrates has a beautiful style that features solid, largely unshaded colors and gorgeous linework/inking, which is most obvious in their Undertale fan art. Seems like they've taken down a lot of their older stuff which is a shame, this piece is one of my absolute all time favorite inspirations of mine. The little lines in everything, especially the flowers...AGH!!! Here's a more recent work! The contrast is gorgeous and I adore the shapes in this so much.

Retroautomaton's art has this overall pleasantness and smoothness to it that makes me feel like I'm drinking a milkshake, but like in visual form. Here's a few pieces I especially like. The fluidity and sense of movement in the lines/figures along with the bright, poppy colors is just!!! so lovely!!!!

ArtsyDudeJude's pieces are so EXPRESSIVE!!! The way he really pushes facial expressions in particular is super inspiring - all his original character design stuff in general is tbh. I look at linework like his and go. man I couldn't do that but it looks SO GOOD. Here's some of my favorites!

Last one I swear but I wanna mention my pal Dana, RedEyesRetroDragon on here! The way she stylizes characters is SO fun and dynamic I love it a lot. I don't know barely a thing about ygo BUT I care these guys bc of Dana's art. PLUS her inking!!!! Holy woah! LOOK AT THIS PIECE!!! AND THIS ONE!!

30. What piece of yours do you think is underrated?

Hmm this is hard! Usually when I get reception on my art it's really kind and lovely and when I don't, I generally chalk it up to people just not being online/not seeing it at that time so I don't worry too much about it.

I suppose...since I draw a lot of fanart, it's easier for my original stuff to sort of slip by the wayside. So I'll use this one as an opportunity to gush a bit about this piece I did a little while ago!

People have left some really kind and sweet comments on it so I can't say it's underrated but it is my favorite original piece I've ever done. I felt clever about the caption because you can see it a few different ways - maybe 'taking form' refers to the canvas, reaching out and taking over the person. Or maybe the person is reaching IN, merging with the painting. Maybe the painting isn't taking form as in stealing, but taking form as in manifesting itself a human body. The possibilities are endless! Also I like the silly goofy expression here <3

OH AND WHILE I'M HERE. This piece is also not underrated but this was pretty cool too.

7. A medium of art you don't work in but appreciate

SO MANY!!!!! But the first one that comes to mind is photography! Photography is so cool and fascinating and while I don't think I could ever get /super/ into it, I have a huge amount of respect and admiration for the craft! A good photograph is SOOO satisfying to look at, like it's literally the art of composition and lighting!! How cool is that??

ALSO music!!! Gah I want to make my own music so badly!!! But there's SO MANY building blocks I'm finding it kind of difficult to learn. That said I have such an appreciation for people who make songs and sounds and things!! OH AND SOUND EFFECTS. EDITING. THAT'S AN ART TOO AND I LOVE IT.

Production work in general!!! To me it's art and it's beautiful and I want to be a part of it. If I could have any job in the world no questions asked, I would want to work in stage lighting. Concerts, theatre, idc, that kinda work is right up my alley. There's just something I adore about like, all the little details that go into making a production work that most people don't think about or notice because it's designed not to be noticed, but people still worked on it!!! People still put their time and effort and craftsmanship into it! <3 <3 <3

this is about to turn into a whole essay about all the different art mediums i love efjkdshajhg Sorry this is so long but i really can gush for hours about this stuff. Thank you so SO much for sending these!!!

#THANK U AGAIN #i have so much love in my heart for art #i also keep a folder full of art pieces i rly lke that ive reblogged over the years #im at almost 2000 images now and nowhere near done sorting everything

[princessmia-tarot]

Divine Feminine Activities

WRITTEN BY CHATGPT

Divine feminine activities encompass a wide range of qualities, actions, and pursuits associated with the positive expression of feminine energy. These activities can vary depending on cultural and personal perspectives, but here are some examples of divine feminine activities:

Self-Nurturing and Self-Care: Engaging in practices that prioritize self-care, self-compassion, and self-love. This can include activities such as taking baths, practicing mindfulness, setting healthy boundaries, and engaging in nurturing rituals.

Intuition and Inner Wisdom: Cultivating and trusting one's intuition, inner knowing, and wisdom. This involves listening to one's inner voice, honoring gut feelings, and developing a deep connection with one's own inner guidance.

Creativity and Artistic Expression: Exploring and embracing creative outlets such as art, dance, writing, music, or any form of self-expression that allows for the exploration and embodiment of emotions, beauty, and intuition.

Collaboration and Community Building: Fostering connections, nurturing relationships, and creating spaces for collaboration and mutual support. This includes activities such as networking, supporting others' growth and success, and cultivating a sense of sisterhood and solidarity.

Emotional Intelligence and Empathy: Cultivating emotional intelligence, empathetic listening, and compassionate understanding of oneself and others. This involves acknowledging and honoring emotions, holding space for others' experiences, and fostering emotional well-being in relationships.

Healing and Transformation: Engaging in practices that promote healing and transformation, both for oneself and others. This can include energy healing, bodywork, counseling, spiritual practices, and any modality that supports emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being.

Wisdom and Intuition: Embracing and sharing wisdom, insights, and guidance. This includes sharing personal experiences, offering counsel, and being a source of support and inspiration for others.

Connection with Nature: Nurturing a deep connection with the natural world and honoring the cycles and rhythms of nature. This can involve spending time in nature, practicing eco-consciousness, and connecting with the inherent wisdom and healing power of the natural environment.

Advocacy and Social Justice: Engaging in activism, advocacy, and social justice work to promote equality, justice, and the empowerment of marginalized communities. This includes standing up for human rights, gender equality, and intersectional feminism.

Sacred Rituals and Ceremony: Creating and participating in sacred rituals and ceremonies that honor and celebrate the divine feminine. This can include moon rituals, meditation, goddess worship, and other practices that connect with the spiritual essence of the feminine.

Remember that these activities are not exclusive to any gender and can be embraced by individuals of any gender identity. The divine feminine represents a balanced and positive expression of feminine energy that is beneficial for personal growth and collective well-being.

#personal development #personal

[akaraboonline]

The Ed Sheeran lawsuit is a threat to Western civilization.

Imagine a painter getting ready for a show in their studio. The scenery being painted by the artist. The night sky is navy blue. It is Kelly green in the valley. Mountains loom in the background, their magnificent color reflecting the glorious sunset. The artist raises his vermillion brush before pausing. They pause and wonder if anyone has the legal right to use this colour of crimson. Will I face legal action for this? That'd be absurd, right? Sadly and wonderfully, the aesthetic equivalent of this way of thinking is no longer as ridiculous as it used to be in the music industry. Presently on trial in federal court in Manhattan is the issue of who has unrestricted access to the musical metaphorical color wheel. The wife and heirs of Ed Townsend, who co-wrote the 1973 hit song "Let's Get It On," have accused English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran of ripping off their father's work by stealing their song "Thinking Out Loud" from Marvin Gaye. The purported proof? Both songs use the same chord progression as their main motif, which is similar but not identical. In its most basic form, a chord progression is a series of notes that are linked together and arranged according to the composer's preference to produce a melody, which serves as the foundation for almost all compositions. The lawsuit and its ramifications are the musical equivalent of telling a painter: You'll have to pay to use red, to finish the metaphor. It was used first by someone else. The argument revolves around whether the centuries-long tradition of music-making is something that should be preserved for upcoming generations of composers, songwriters, and listeners, or whether vast swaths of a human art form's fundamental vernacular should be divided up and parceled out as intellectual property for the exclusive use and profit of a select few. Even by the standards of today, this effort to monopolize and profit off the wonder and joy of individual expression is malevolent on a level that is almost astounding. The consequences and ripple effects could be so terrible that they cannot be described. The Townsend estate's argument is overtly cynical and intended to capitalize on common misconceptions about how songs are written. Music has endless potential, just like arithmetic or literature, but strangely needs to repeat itself. It makes no more sense to copyright any chord progression, much less one as popular as the one heard in "Let's Get It On," than it does to copyright the numerals 6 and 13 or the conjunctions "and" and "but." Townsend was a skilled songwriter, Gaye was a total genius, and "Let's Get It On" is an undeniably outstanding tune. However, neither the litigants nor the wind or the rain have a legal claim to "own" that progression. It is primordial. There are several examples of those chords being played in that order before "Let's Get It On," including a number of well-known ones listed by Sheeran's legal team. Such things belong to the global human consciousness and must always remain as such. The alternative represents a hideous stride toward insanity. Software is already available that can mine recorded music to find more or less countless instances of songs that are "similar" to one another. It will further embolden the unmotivated and litigious to drag musicians into court and demand they prove the impossibility: that they were not, on any conscious or subconscious level, inspired by another piece of music. If Sheeran is forced to split writing credits and pay damages to the Townsend estate. A once-vibrant, albeit incredibly flawed, ecology of songwriters and artists has already been destroyed by greed. That infrastructure has been systematically destroyed by the streaming economy, which has choked off the revenue streams of all but the most bankable organizations and sold off all of recorded music history as a loss leader to promote cellphone data plans. The next obstacle is this trial. The process of reducing popular music to a consensus-driven pay window for tech entrepreneurs and corporate opportunists will have reached its pinnacle if artists must pay a tax for using the most prevalent modes and tones of composition. Gaye was a pivotal American musician who crafted an exhilarating and entrancing original sound by fusing together a rich tapestry of gospel, jazz, doo-wop, and R&B. He serves as sort of the embodiment of why the kinds of restrictions that this lawsuit threatens to impose would be a historical blight. With "Let's Get It On," Gaye and Townsend created a stunning musical scene. Townsend's estate is attempting to seize ownership of nature with its outrageously expansive lawsuit.   Read the full article

[luke-hitchcock]

The Art of Exploration: A Manifesto for Creative Curiosity

As a curator of the arts, I believe that the essence of art lies in exploration, in the search for meaning, and in the curiosity to engage with the world around us. In my blog, I have explored a diverse range of artistic expressions, from visual arts to music, cinema, and literature. However, what unites these works is not their form or style, but rather their capacity to spark curiosity, to question assumptions, and to inspire new perspectives.

The chief value that I seek to promote through this manifesto is creative curiosity. By this, I mean the willingness to engage with the unfamiliar, the willingness to explore diverse forms of expression, and the willingness to question established norms and assumptions. I believe that creative curiosity is not only essential for artistic expression but is also a crucial aspect of personal and social growth.

At the same time, I recognize that creative curiosity is often stifled by societal pressures, including the pressures to conform, to follow established norms, and to seek easy answers. Therefore, this manifesto opposes any form of dogmatism, authoritarianism, or narrow-mindedness that threatens to stifle curiosity and creativity.

To illustrate the importance of creative curiosity, I would like to draw upon five examples from my blog that embody this value.

The first example is the painting "Starry Night" by Vincent van Gogh. This painting is not only an expression of the artist's personal struggles but also a celebration of the beauty and wonder of the natural world. Through his use of color and form, van Gogh invites us to see the world anew, to appreciate the complexity and richness of the world around us. The painting exemplifies the importance of curiosity, the willingness to engage with the world, and the capacity to see beauty in unexpected places.

The second example is the song "A Change Is Gonna Come" by Sam Cooke. This song is a powerful expression of the civil rights movement, but it is also a testament to the human spirit's capacity for resilience and hope. By acknowledging the pain and struggle of the present while pointing towards a better future, Cooke's song embodies the importance of curiosity, the willingness to question established norms, and the capacity to imagine a better world.

The third example is the film "Moonlight" by Barry Jenkins. This film is a profound exploration of identity, sexuality, and personal growth. Through its three-act structure, its stunning cinematography, and its nuanced portrayal of complex characters, "Moonlight" invites us to see the world from a perspective that is often marginalized in mainstream culture. The film exemplifies the importance of curiosity, the willingness to explore diverse perspectives, and the capacity to empathize with others.

The fourth example is from the public art assignment before this assignment I saw a beautiful work of art in fort Myers. I saw an eagle carved from a tree. After exploring this work of art I learned of a beautiful story that turned a dying tree into a amazing work of art that will last a lifetime. This particular example just shows that there is always more to art than what you see at the surface. This work encourages viewers to explore the story of the piece to gain better understanding.

The final example The abstract painting untitled 2013 nasrollah afjei. This work of art may not look like much other than a large amount of wavy lines but when one takes a deeper look into this painting they see that it is made up of the word love. The artwork showcases the significance of being curious, having an open-mindedness to explore varying viewpoints, and possessing the ability to perceive love amidst ambiguity.

In conclusion, the Art of Exploration is a manifesto for creative curiosity, a call to embrace the unknown, to question established norms, and to celebrate diversity and complexity. As a curator of the arts, I have learned that art is not just about creating beautiful things, but also about exploring the world, engaging with others, and discovering new perspectives. By promoting creative curiosity, I hope to inspire others to embark on their own journeys of discovery, to find beauty in unexpected places, and to imagine a better world.

[coolsaimon-blog]

The Role of AI in the Future of Art: A Look Ahead

Art has always been a reflection of human society, culture, and emotions. Throughout history, artists have used their talents to express their thoughts and feelings about the world around them. With the rapid development of technology, the world of art has been transformed in unimaginable ways. One of the most exciting developments in recent years has been the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into the world of art.

AI is revolutionizing the way art is created, produced, and consumed. From generating artwork to enhancing it, AI has opened up new possibilities for artists and audiences alike. AI-generated art is no longer just a novelty; it is becoming a legitimate form of artistic expression. Let's talk about the role of AI in the future of art and its potential impact on the art world.

One of the most significant contributions of AI to the art world is its ability to generate art autonomously. AI algorithms can now create art that rivals the quality of human-made art. With AI, artists can create digital paintings, sculptures, and even music without ever touching a brush or instrument. These AI-generated artworks can be personalized to fit an individual's preferences, making them more accessible to a wider audience.

Moreover, AI algorithms can now analyze data and make predictions about consumer preferences. This ability can help artists to create art that resonates with their target audience. For example, if an artist wants to create a painting that appeals to a particular demographic, they can use AI algorithms to analyze data on the preferences of that demographic and create a piece of art that is more likely to resonate with them.

Another way AI is transforming the world of art is by enhancing the creative process. AI can be used to generate ideas, explore different styles, and even suggest new color schemes. AI algorithms can also help artists overcome creative blocks by providing them with fresh ideas and inspiration. With AI, artists can expand their creativity and push the boundaries of what is possible.

AI is also changing the way art is consumed. With the advent of virtual and augmented reality, AI is allowing art to be experienced in new and exciting ways. With virtual reality, audiences can immerse themselves in a digital art exhibition, walk through galleries, and even interact with artwork. Augmented reality is also making it possible to create interactive public art installations that respond to the environment and engage with audiences.

However, as with any new technology, there are concerns about the role of AI in the art world. Some critics argue that AI-generated art lacks the emotional depth and authenticity of human-made art. They also worry that AI could lead to the homogenization of art, with artists relying too heavily on algorithms to create works of art.

Furthermore, there are concerns about the ethics of AI-generated art. Who owns the rights to an AI-generated artwork, the artist, or the machine? As AI becomes more advanced, these questions will become increasingly important.

In conclusion, the role of AI in the future of art is significant and multifaceted. AI has the potential to transform the way art is created, produced, and consumed. It is creating new opportunities for artists, audiences, and the art industry as a whole. However, there are also concerns about the impact of AI on the authenticity and emotional depth of art. As AI continues to evolve, it is important for artists and the art industry to consider these issues carefully and ensure that AI is used ethically and in ways that enhance, rather than replace, human creativity.

#ai art #ai #ai image #aiartcommunity #artificial intelligence

[vistisenurquhart4]

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[nachos-and-movies]

Fuck it. I want to talk about the wildebeest scene in Lion King

I recently had the misfortune of watching the (sigh) live action remake of the Lion King. I PROMISED myself I wasn’t going to sit through it but I had to know. I NEEDED to know! I’ve had a teacher who worked on the movie, I had to know if it sucked as much as everyone kept saying!

…. It does. But in an offensive way.

I’m not going to repeat what critics and reviews have said already, they’re all fucking true. It’s not as good as the original, there’s no point to it beside playing cash-cow, there could’ve been so many ways this could’ve worked but they didn’t because that required effort and time and money and actual goddamn love and passion for the thing you’re making. I even said, right after I saw the trailer, that it would’ve been so much more interesting had they just played this like a documentary, where none of the animals speak and the story is told through animal body language! Would it have been popular? Hell no. But my god it would’ve been DIFFERENT. And interesting, and artistic and revolutionary, the pioneer of a new way of storytelling (not really)! Hell, had they done it like the broadway musicals where all the characters are humans in elaborate costumes with lights and colours and choreography and an ode to African cultures, it WOULD’ve been popular! There’s a lot of reasons Black Panther worked so well!

Just… SUCH a missed opportunity. And I get it, you know. These dumb, ugly remakes fund the shit that DOES work and people DO like, like the Mandelorian. But I’d much rather they work on quality before quantity, i don’t need 3 marvel movies shat out every single year.

But anyway, I watched the god-awful remake and to cleanse my soul of all movie sins, I watched the GOOD one too. And here’s the honest truth: I disagreed with the notion that Lion King is The best Disney movie ever made. No no no, I thought Lilo and Stitch deserved to sit on that throne. And though, after rewatching Lion King, I don’t think Lilo needs to be thrown off the throne, but merely that they…. Scoot over. Lion King, best Disney movie of all times… I see it now. Because of the wildebeest scene.

Let’s keep this part short, okay: the remake done goofed it. Animation, though realistic, was soulless as hell, colours were faded, voice acting was done as if from a couch, music was average. Did what it was supposed to do: show up. The scene is there because the iconic “long live the king” moment needed to happen or how else will the audience know they’re watching Lion King. It was a mark on the to-do list that they checked off and they moved on. Bravo, well done, congrats for not even doing the bare minimum, I hope you’re proud. Come the fuck on. Even when the scene has literally already been done before and all you had to do was redo it beat per beat, YA GOOFED IT.

The wildebeest scene is a literal emotional rollercoaster. The build-up, the tension, the conclusion is all done masterfully in a way that only people who can make moments in time Tangible could’ve done. As if everyone who was involved in that scene has gone through a trauma like that and managed to cough it out and molded it so anyone can be transported to that moment as if they themselves were experiencing it. It’s the height of art in any form. Creating an experience in a way that you can transport others to feel any emotion you want them to feel. It’s a skill that’s very hard to learn and teach, it’s something every artist has to practice. Musicians, actors, painters, video game developers, fuckin amusement park queue designers. It’s a form of psychology that’s not even considered psychology (and I’m NOT bitter).

It starts off so peaceful but so wrong, you KNOW something is off with the scene where Scar and Simba talk. but it’s just them in the great big empty, there’s no music, just them talking like close family talks, it’s the basic of basics, and yet you KNOW it’s off. Animation: Scar’s shifty expressions, though not exaggerated, and Simba’s complete obliviousness, someone spent days drawing those expressions and movements. Then the reveal: wildebeests are nearby and hyenas wanna fuck shit up and Scar knows it. Storyboarding: the camera panning up from the canyon to the wide fields where the mass of wildebeests just never seems to stop. Now it’s a ticking time bomb. Then Simba practices his roar and the stampede begins, first from soft drumming and the dust on the ground moving, to that agonising string music becoming louder and louder, the wildebeests appearing from over the edge and then the rapid zoom-in on Simba’s fucking horrified expression. That’s writing, sound design, composing, storyboarding and animation all working together in perfect harmony to make you feel: our child main character is about to get trampled to death. And he thinks he caused it. Then of course we see the hyenas edging the wildebeests on and we know that Simba didn’t do shit, BUT HE DOESNT KNOW THAT. And here, again, storyboarding: instead of just showing the hyenas egging them on from a distance, we see one of them snap and almost bite a beest, right in our goddamn faces, about 2 inches from the imaginary camera. We’re the camera, this happened 2 inches from our faces, it’s intense, it’s scary, you almost want to run and start a stampede too.

Then Simba’s running for his life: voice acting and animation on the facial expressions, he’s scared, terrified. If he had pants, he’d poop them. Then the little tidbit of Scar getting Mufasa, uh oh. Back to Simba, the music is so intense, it literally makes my heart race everytime I hear that soundtrack. The drums going absolute wack, the strings sounding chaotic and controlled at the same time, the choir going for those short high notes, my leg is BOUNCING - and for once it’s not annoying everyone around me cus their legs are bouncing too! It’s exhilarating, I cannot think of any other soundtrack that gets me so into an action scene like that and that’s also so iconic. Everyone knows this score, everyone can see the action right in front of them as it plays, you don’t even need the movie anymore.

Then Mufasa gets there to help. First Zazu goes in to see the situation and even his lame-ass gets a kick-ass shot of him flying straight down the canyon and the camera following him. Mufasa gets down, right into the action and you bet your ass we’re right in there too! Camera smack down in the middle of incoming wildebeests, near the ground, their legs are so near us, and we’re not standing still, following Mufasa as he makes his way to Simba. And it’s not clean, he stumbles, he needs to avoid and retract his steps to avoid getting hit, but it’s exactly like how cats move and it’s SO *chef’s kiss* And it doesn’t work immediately, Simba gets thrown off the branch he’s clinging to and Mufasa has to literally dive for him and get him to safety immediately OR ELSE. And I don’t think the camera ever goes higher than the wildebeests’ horns, you know, we stay close to the impending doom, close to the action, we’re in it, we could get trampled any time here. And then Simba’s safe but Mufasa isn’t yet. We lose him in the stampede, the crowd so thick we can’t see past the beests or the dust. Again: animation on the expression, Simba looks so desperate for a sign of where his father might be, is he still moving; the music hitting that minor chord, all hope is lost, he’s gone. And then back to bombastic chords where Mufasa jumps out of the stampede and clings to the canyon wall. Ot’s victorious but still in minor key cus we’re not out of the woods yet, almost though!

And then…. That. It’s… what, two lines of dialogue? Mufasa, with the stampede in the background, right below him, begging for a hand yo. Scar, cool as a cucumber, takes up the whole shot, the camera is looking up at him, like we’re the stinky king brother he wants to renocide. He’s shaded??? Even though there wasn’t a shadow on him before??? I love it??? And then Scar grabs his brother with his CLAWS EXTENDED THAT BITCH, and the shade goes over both of them, the only thing still illuminated are the EYES. And the music, perfectly composed to follow the beats of what’s happening: Mufasa climbs, music calms down - Mufasa begs and Scar looks indifferent, the music wavers, as if the string quartet in the background is like “uuh… why isn’t he helping?” - Scar grabs Mufasa and smiles cruely, the music swells up briefly like a really well done jumpscare - Scar says his dirty famous words, the music quiets down again so you can hear it and never forget it ever again - Mufasa realises he’s fucked, the music swells again with that gosh darn horror choir - Scar lets go, music swells - Mufasa falls, music goes into the final swelling, giving it their all - Simba screams and stand alone atop the canyon, music stops as if gasping and then sighing in relief… or something. The director went to Zimmer like “here’s what we got for the storyboard, now make it worse” and then Zimmer did THAT and went “storyboarders…. Make it even worse” and back and forth until we have this horrible concoction that brings me right back to that feeling of when I was in a car crash where everything felt horrible and fast but not fast enough and oh god.

And then the perfect conclusion. We ended on a gasp, now we’re holding our breath. It’s quiet and almost peaceful and wrong again just like before, but not like before, because there’s less light and there’s dust everywhere. Then one last wildebeest interrupts the quiet to thematically lead us to the consequences of this whole thing: father is dead. (Starting a trope that will never be silenced.) And the music starts up again because Zimmer knows which literal strings to pull to make us weep like babies. And AGAIN, THE ANIMATION! Mufasa doesn’t look like he just got trampled, because think of the children, but he’s limp. I cannot explain to non-animators how difficult it is to animate something dead. Your job is to make drawings come to life, and there’s always the risk of animating a bit too stiff because you wanna draw on model and that’s hard. But Mufasa is completely limp. However he’s moved, his body falls in a way a non-living thing would. It’s SO well done. And of course, Simba’s voice acting, Simba’s facial expressions, his lines, the way he reacts like a kid would react and GOD that’s a horrifying thought.

And basically, right up until Scar shows up, it’s a perfect scene. There’s literally nothing wrong with it, there’s no conceivable way you can improve it because it’s already perfect. Well- perfection doesn’t exists but this scene gets pretty dang close to it. It’s so good, it’s so so good, i’d analyze every single frame if I could and shower it in praise.

#lion king

[frankentyner]

Alright...so it’s 2:48 AM...I just watched MST3K: Deathstalker And The Warriors From Hell...and I want you to know...look, I’d never do anything to enact it as law BUT.............................if you don’t honestly recognize Hogan’s promo on Savage regarding life support prior to Wrestlamania V as HIGH ART...like...HIGHEST ART...like time capsule for Humanity art...I’m talking like...it’s on a monitor...and the monitor has laser triggered security system protection in The Detroit Institute of Arts ART just for laughs...then I don’t feel good about you operating any heavy machinery...fork lifts...tractors....anything John Deere brand...stuff like that.  I’m just sayin’.

#truth #it's right up there with any form of human musical artistic expression #seriously #I'm talking Freddie Mercury at Wembley during Love Of My Life #levels here

[apompkwrites]

reader impact || first meeting: archon edition

series masterlist characters: venti, zhongli genre: fluff summary: a game has been released entitled genshin impact, consisting of otherworldly abilities relying on the basic elements of nature. the game follows the story of an interdimensional traveling twin in search of their other half. along this journey, they meet different characters that live in this world. including you. notes: i still don't know if this will be a series but last post would've been too long if i had all four in one

venti's playthrough -

hoo boy, venti's streams would be VERY chaotic.

this boy has nothing to tie him down except for his own mortality, but will that stop him? no.

lots of late night or early morning streams because his sleep schedule is practically nonexistent.

he does a lot of singing or storytelling streams, which is why the time is perfect.

he'll sing lullabies and read bedtime stories at night. in the morning, he'll sing soft songs to wake up his viewers and talk about the rare dreams he'd have once he passes out.

he'll also have drinking streams where he just drinks as much as he can. he's a drunkard, what can i say?

anyway, gaming is something he isn't opposed to, but mainly ones with music or just pure crackhead energy.

when his viewers suggest genshin impact, he'd be somewhat hesitant?

he needs games that are chaotic and filled with energy to keep his attention.

his mods and viewers, however, are able to convince him because of a certain drunken character.

as soon as he sees the non-spoiled description of your character, he's off to download.

he actually enjoys a lot of the adventure aspects of the game, even if he's known as a lazy streamer.

anyway, his viewers definitely should have warned him about your appearance.

they never told him you were such a cute character!

"don't be afraid. it's alright now, i'm back."

"HASGDGSJFK"

he shrieked when you started talking.

"HOW ARE THEY SO CUTE?!?!"

he gets sad when his character sets off dvalin...

you disappear and your dragon friend flies off... now venti's just sad he might've made you upset.

he's pouting the whole way through mondstadt, thinking of ways to make it up to you.

he doesn't care if you're a video game character, he loves you nonetheless.

and once dvalin shows up in mondstadt, he's genuinely excited. he knows your bound to appear again because your friend is here.

when you help venti fly behind dvalin, his chat is teasing him because of the grin on his face.

he's so soft for you, man...

he will spend hours just ranting about you when he's going through the domains with the standard characters.

when he finds the other statues in mondstadt, he likes to climb up it to admire your archon design.

even though he's known you for a few minutes, he will automatically recognize your face in the game.

he knows it's annoying but he can't help but ask his chat if he'll get to see you again soon. he really doesn't want to spend hours without hearing you and seeing you in game.

he likes to yell at paimon whenever she makes fun of you

he shrieks again when he sees you running past the fountain.

he almost cries when he sees you playing your lyre for the first time.

you're perfect in his eyes and all he wants is to spend every minute of this game with you.

although, he did have to take a break the first time he saw your archon form illustrated.

you just... look like an angel and his body can't handle that.

he loves listening to your tales. like the battle pass story that occurs every time it renews, he never skips it. soon, he'll memorize it and recite it with you once it appears.

"oh! i remember you two. you both scared dvalin away!"

"I'M SORRY"

please forgive him. he knows you won't because the game doesn't require it, but he decides to always call stormterror dvalin to make up for it.

"ah, right! i haven't introduced myself... i'm (name) the bard!"

please this boy is so smitten for a video game character.

when you're revealed to be the archon, he's not too surprised? i mean, he already recognized you from the statue.

he is so excited to steal the lyre for you.

it takes him a bit, though, just because he has a bad attention span and ends up revealing his location.

he's even more excited to learn you're a regular at diluc's tavern.

he would do anything to drink with you.

he'll reluctantly end the game there just because it's time for his bedtime songs/stories.

"i'll be back tomorrow, (name), my love! i promise!"

zhongli's playthrough -

zhongli's a really good streamer even when he doesn't try to be.

he is basically the king of just chatting streams.

daily tea times and storytime streams are a go!

his voice is what lures them in and his charm is what traps them there.

he's still poor, though...

he relies on the donations from his viewers but he always expresses his gratitude.

man's respectful, what can i say?

anyway, he does play games every now and then. he doesn't tend to enjoy fighting games though.

although, he's rather good at them... for some reason.

his gaming streams tend to be a lot longer because he picks games with an overarching story.

i'm talking long games like night in the woods, detroit: become human, really any long game with deep meanings and stories.

his viewers will pay for him to just sit there and read to them.

anyway, someone donates to him and recommends he play genshin impact because of the long story and hidden lore.

he definitely enjoyed the beginning of the story, but got even more attached once he reached liyue.

he seems very intrigued when he begins the quest by watching liyue's archon fall dead on the ground.

he would definitely go on a long rant about gods and goddesses that have fallen.

when he meets childe, he does take a liking to him.

now, this man is known for being stoic and serious, so it comes as a surprise when he almost loses his composure when you appear.

keyword being almost.

he manages to stay composed but his chat knows for a fact he's freaking out over you.

your fancy suit/dress reminds him of the anthropological tales of gods/goddesses and kings/queens.

let this man drink tea with you please--

"it is an honor to meet you. i have heard tell of you from mondstadt."

"... they have quite the pleasant voice."

his chat is going wild at this point.

they get to listen to two heavenly voices talk to each other at the same time?! it's a dream come true!

another man that will let your long lines of dialogue play, listening intently to the stories you tell his character.

he actually really likes the image of his character talking to you.

he's so short compared to you--

he also really likes your animation when you're standing still.

not your idle animations, even though those are really nice as well. i'm talking about the movement of your clothes when your character is standing there. it's just so... soothing to him.

the gradient of your hair color to your elemental gnosis is also a nice detail to him. he likes how there are subtle ways archons look compared to normal citizens in teyvat.

when he finds out you are also a person who struggles with money... oh boy, this man cannot relate more.

you both can be broke together.

he will look to his chat for help every time a bargaining option occurs.

similar to venti, he'd be able to tell you were an archon automatically, mainly because of the way you carry yourself and your design.

when you give away your gnosis, he was really interested in the fact that you were so dedicated to your title of the archon of contracts that you would just willingly give your gnosis away.

when he meets the adepti, his chat jokingly says that the yaksha is yours and his adopted child.

"... i would not be opposed to that idea."

all of the artists and writers in his chat are dying at this point.

he'd look up all of the lore, especially ones involving you, and use them for his storytime streams.

#genshin impact x reader #genshin impact #genshin x reader #genshin impact headcanons #genshin impact imagines #genshin impact scenarios #reader impact #genshin impact fluff #genshin impact venti #genshin impact zhongli #genshin venti #genshin zhongli #genshin impact barbatos #genshin impact rex lapis #genshin impact venti x reader #genshin venti x reader #genshin impact zhongli x reader #genshin zhongli x reader