theeleganceofthehedgehog

[theeleganceofthehedgehog]

It’s weird to grow up in a family where you know you’re loved but you don’t feel loved. And then later in adulthood you understand how almost impossible it seems to cross that distance and let yourself experience closeness, how otherworldly love feels now and how love feels unbearable at times. You flinch when someone tries to wholeheartedly love you. And over and over you see so clearly how you cannot be loved unless it's from afar and love is mixed with that familiar sensation of distance and coldness.

#hmmmmm #I've run into this feeling #but i think it has to do with acceptance #it's like #yes they love me #but do they love ME? as I am now? someone different from the person they used to know? #or do they love the idea they have of me without knowing me very well? #if they really KNEW me #would they be able to accept the person I've become? or would they try to love me but not be able to accept the real me? #but then ultimately it's not about them #the real question is: do I love and accept MYSELF fully? if I don't no one else will either

[theeleganceofthehedgehog]

Loki’s costume at the end of S2E6 was perfect.

Yes, every part of it, down to those slippers.

And here’s my unsolicited (and delayed) thoughts on the matter.

First, let’s talk about his robe. Not only was it utterly beautiful, down to the draping and the deep, rich shade of green (and I mean come on, would we expect anything less?), its style was incredibly symbolic.

If you look at previous Loki ensembles, especially the ones that include a horned helmet, there is an air of grandeur and finery about them. The exquisitely stitched, buttery leather; the shiny gold trimmings and metal armor accents; the dramatic, billowing capes and overcoats. Even the silhouette of these looks is broad and structured — one might even say severe. Everything about these past looks screams “Look at me; I’m important” and reinforces Tony’s own observation in The Avengers that Loki is a “full-tilt diva” — he longs for the respect and attention that he deserves (and has been denied almost all of his life) and that longing is reflected in his clothing. They are reminiscent of the royal palace in which he was raised. They allow him to be battle-ready, because he’s had to fight and claw for every scrap of love and attention he’s managed to get. They represent a broken prince. A warrior cloaked in royalty. A would-be-king.

Now, compare that to his robe in Loki S2E6. It isn’t flashy. It has a soft silhouette. The shade of green is deeper and richer than we’ve seen; more earthy. An earthy shade of green which, in my opinion, is a nod to Yggdrasil, the cosmic tree that he will weave the branches of the multiverse into. The gold trimming across the front is subtle and understated - I even missed it at first and didn’t realize there was any gold trimming on the robe at all until I got a closer look later. It is simple. The draping is reminiscent of the robes worn by Buddhist monks. His robe reflects a Loki that has more wisdom and humility, and who has realized that being a good king — a proper god — means he will spend his life in service to others. It is the robe of a man who is confident and self-assured and knows exactly what kind of god he needs to be.

Now let’s talk about the slippers. I noticed that they got quite a bit of flack immediately after the finale aired. And I get it — they’re an odd choice, especially when we are so accustomed to the dramatic boots and finely-crafted and statement-making dress shoes he typically dons. For similar reasons as the robe, they are symbolic and fitting for Loki’s development into a wiser, more humble character. Don’t get me wrong, these loafers are still impeccably stylish, and no doubt they are of the finest craftsmanship, because this is still Loki we are talking about here. But they have a purpose, and that purpose is to get him to his final destination. These simple slippers barely even protect Loki’s feet, showing us a kind of vulnerability that we’re unaccustomed to seeing from Loki. He isn’t guarded in this moment; he’s open, connected to his purpose, and sure of himself. The shoes aren’t for battle; they aren’t meant to impress. They are meant to serve.

Now, about what is, quite possibly, my favorite feature of the costume. The horns. These iconic horns which we’ve associated with Loki from the very beginning take on an entirely reimagined look in the finale. First of all, they are bigger than any set we’ve seen resting upon Loki’s brow. So big, in fact, that they weren’t actually a physical part of the costume Tom Hiddleston wore. So big that they would likely hinder his performance if he actually had to bear their weight on his head.

In addition to their size, the horns are made of the same temporal-infused material from which both HWR’s talisman and the citadel at the end of time are constructed. Gone are the opulent golden horns that glisten and shine with the grandeur of royal finery. These horns are dark and heavy. They symbolize the unfathomable weight of the burden that Loki bears in his godly endeavor to save the multiverse. The golden temporal material that runs throughout the horns like veins is reminiscent, to me, of Kintsugi, the Japanese art of mending broken things with gold. And in a way, Loki is a broken thing that has been healed and mended throughout his personal journey of self-acceptance and friendship, and is now more beautiful than he ever has been. More humble. More selfless. More godly.

In addition to the horns, the cape, too, is the largest we’ve seen Loki wear. And while at first, this dramatically oversized cape may seem to stand in opposition to the humility that the rest of the outfit encapsulates, it works. It works because, like the horns, it is symbolic of the burden Loki has chosen to bear. This cape would be unbearably heavy; it would make even the most basic movement difficult. And on top of its sheer size, his cape even becomes torn into strips that are woven into the timelines themselves, literally securing his burden — his service to the multiverse — around his neck.

Lastly, I want to talk about the way this outfit manifested. There’s been a common thread throughout this discussion about the humility and selflessness that this ensemble puts on display. And while that’s true, we’re talking about a relative level of humility and selflessness, when compared to Loki’s previous tendencies. This is still Loki we’re talking about here. He’s got a flair for the dramatic. He’s nothing if not intentional about the way he presents himself. And the way he marched down that gangway like it was his own personal runway, while his clothing fell away in shreds and tatters to reveal this completely fresh but familiar look, was completely on-brand for him. It was theatrical. It was glorious.

His outfit at the end featured accessories that were heavy and larger than life. Those parts were a burden.

It wasn’t short on the style and drama that we’re so accustomed to seeing from Loki. It was glorious.

And every part of it, down to his humble shoes, was fit for purpose.

One look at this finale costume and you know, without doubt, that Loki is burdened with glorious purpose.

A/N: If you’ve made it this far, thank you for reading my unsolicited thoughts on this beautiful piece of costume design! Also, apologies for the delay in posting. I know some of you have been told this post was coming since the night the finale aired, weeks ago. Thank you for your patience with me as I gathered my thoughts and found the time to organize them and type them out.

🏷️ @peachyjinx @acidcasualties @muddyorbsblr @lokischambermaid @lokisgoodgirl @mochie85 @tallseaweed @give-me-a-moose @fictive-sl0th @coldnique @maple-seed @loopsisloops @gigglingtiggerv2 @simplyholl @superficialdomina @mischief2sarawr @ijuststareatstuffhereok89 @wheredafandomat @liminalpebble @ladyofthestayingpower ++

[theeleganceofthehedgehog]

Facebook: @ artoftimetravel

Glorious Purpose

[theeleganceofthehedgehog]

Lady on the bus next to me: Tell me again- what are you not going to do in daycare today?

Little boy: I will not hit the teacher with a light saber.

Lady: And why are you not going to hit her with a light saber?

Boy: It is my toy, and my choice, but if I hit her with the light saber, I’m acting like a Sith.

Lady: Do you want to be a Sith?

Boy: No! I am Obi-Wan!

[theeleganceofthehedgehog]

Tom Hiddleston talks about Loki and Mobius

[theeleganceofthehedgehog]

Incredible colorised footage from 1929 of construction workers on the Chrysler Building in New York.

[theeleganceofthehedgehog]

This shot should be a meme

[theeleganceofthehedgehog]

[theeleganceofthehedgehog]

for single friends: what do you do/do you do anything to celebrate valentine's day? (Or galentine's day for that matter)

#hmm it's my little brother's birthday #so valentine's day always comes in second in my head #maybe i should pay more attention to it though

[theeleganceofthehedgehog]

Wardrobe to wonders | source

#i want one

[theeleganceofthehedgehog]

Something that I first applied to working with children, and have applied in a limited form to working with adults: you don't need to tell someone when they read your instructions wrong. Sometimes it's enough to point out what they did right and then whatever they didn't do? You ask them to do it in more precise words, and you make it sound like it's a new request. Remarkable how fast things get done this way.

#yes yes yes #i teach children piano #and even the youngest ones respond to this #and the more you point out what they did right the more they remember to do those things in the future #and if instead of just pointing out what's wrong you clarify it for them or try to figure out what's causing them trouble #they solve those problems very quickly too #and my teaching skills get better every time which is an added benefit

[theeleganceofthehedgehog]

i showed LOTR to my baby sisters for the first time and here’s how it went (in order, from FOTR to ROTK)

Keep reading

#this makes me want to go do this with my siblings

[theeleganceofthehedgehog]

How many people’s most beloved childhood stuffed animals are actually teddy bears, like I feel like that’s a thing someone made up. Reblog this and put what your longest owned and/or favorite stuffed animal as a child was in the tags, inquiring minds want to know

#I actually did have a teddy bear #which i got when i was three #and still have #i named him Vest-Bear because he was wearing a little red vest #but also called him Best-Bear #and he has been through a lot with me #i also had a white cat #which i also still have thanks to my very self sacrificing little sister #one year my mom decided we had too many stuffed animals and had to give some away #she collected a bunch of them and my white cat ended up in the pile #somehow my sister ended up sacrificing some stuffed animal she had in trade for my white cat back #so i still have it #also I really don't think i ever appreciated my sister enough #she was always extremely generous

[theeleganceofthehedgehog]

many problems are caused by the mindset that the world is divided into good people and bad people and the bad people can be "found out" and removed, eventually leading to a utopia containing only good people.

[theeleganceofthehedgehog]

As a person with clinical depression and anxiety the best thing to happen so far has been loving another person with depression and anxiety, because I while I KNOW I'm not the worst person alive and I KNOW people would be sad if I was gone it didn't really click until I found someone like me and realized that I really do love them and cherish them and am heartsick at the idea of losing them and maybe someone really does want me to be okay, too

#truth

[theeleganceofthehedgehog]

[theeleganceofthehedgehog]

jenny slate / two, sleeping at last / an oresteia, euripidies (trans. anne carson) / the chaos of stars, kiersten white