Why is the play wrong in Mansfield Park?

We know that Jane Austen wrote and acted in home theatre productions herself, so why is it so bad that Tom and Yates want to put on a play in Mansfield Park?

They have chosen almost as bad a play as they could

1. It’s about the play they chose. Lovers’ Vows features a fallen woman, Agatha, who had a child out of wedlock. The first act also involves a lot of touching between Agatha and Frederick (her natural son). Amelia, who was toned down from the German version, declares her love for a man before he does, which was seen as very vulgar. Even the bold Mary Crawford struggles with Amelia’s lines! And the Count is also sexually immoral, which is discussed.

It would shew great want of feeling on my father’s account, absent as he is, and in some degree of constant danger

2. It’s about Sir Thomas being in danger. And you may wonder, do we need to have no fun whenever someone is at sea? Maybe? We see in the society that Jane Austen writes about a lot of performative mourning. Someone you barely know dies and you wear black ribbons and don’t get engaged for a while. So it’s not like you can’t have fun when the head of your family is possibly being attacked by pirates, but maybe don’t publically put on a play. They also use Sir Thomas’s study while he is away.

it would be imprudent, I think, with regard to Maria, whose situation is a very delicate one, considering everything, extremely delicate.

Keep reading

this has been living in my draft for a while, but since it's topical again... why do people hand-wring about the "power dynamic" between female songwriters and their male partners? it's a multifaceted issue (right to privacy is one that i don't touch on here), but i genuinely believe A LOT of people are just uncomfortable that a man is "at the mercy" of a more powerful woman.

and no, this isn't some ~women can only chuckle~ kindergarten feminism idea. (as jaime said, i know swifties often weaponize misogyny for silly things.)

i think this concern is directly connected to how people see women in power (subversive, unnatural) vs men in power (normal, expected) and, as a result, how people expect them to wield it. taylor, as the more famous and wealthy partner, is expected to be twice as graceful/merciful at every turn - furthermore, joe is given double the sympathy, because not only is he less powerful than his extremely famous girlfriend, but he's also a man. it's embarrassing, awful, and painful for him that she now "controls" his reputation! he must be protected!

this situation is unique as well, because it's art. no one is accusing taylor swift of financially abusing her less wealthy boyfriend, or threatening his job prospects, both of which would be wrong. people are questioning whether she should be "allowed" to write about her side of a breakup or relationship, if it's about less powerful people, especially if they're men.

if we (big we) normally enjoy taylor's autobiographical writing, but start suggesting she shouldn't make it when it's about her male partners - because those male partners are defenseless, less famous, less wealthy - what are we suggesting? especially when some of those partners (jake, john) were older and arguably just as if not more powerful than her when the same criticism was made?

to me, it just means the gender is a huge part of the critique.

Happy Independent Bookstore Day!

I'll be visiting Watermark Books today to read and sign POETRY COMICS. Go out and support your local bookshop!

Am I getting a good grade in tumblr mutual?

Words of Wonder: Poetry Month Edition

Today's words are inspired by the poetry of Pablo Neruda. Listen to a few of his magnificent odes and hear more about these words here:

https://incidentalcomics.substack.com/p/pablo-nerudas-words

NO OTHER PLANET IN OUR SOLAR SYSTEM GETS TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSES!! THE SIZE AND DISTANCE OF OUR MOON FROM EARTH AND THE SUN MAKE THE PERFECT CIRCUMSTANCES TO GET TOTALITY!!! THE EARTH AND MOON ARE SOOOO COOL AND OF COURSE OUR SUN!! I LOVE LIVING ON EARTH I LOVE YOU EARTH I LOVE YOUUUUU MOON I LOVE YOU SUN

FYI whale sharks are filter feeders, they cannot bite or chew, humans are not in danger from them, THEY are in danger from US.

Dick Grayson | Nightwing

and if you feel comfortable sharing what song(s), let us know in the tags!

MISS CONGENIALITY (2000) dir. Donald Petrie

Stan Fields: Describe your perfect date.

i’m obsessed with the mum from ponyo. driving single lane on a cliff edge? drift those turns in your nissan cube. husband has to work an extra shift? tell him to fuck off in morse code. pet fish turned into a child on your driveway? adopt her. town drowned in a tsunami? leave your 5 year old in charge, he’s the man of the house now

Introduction to The Iliad, Emily Wilson

tbh shoutout to the over 40s on tumblr, sorry the internet acts like yall belong in the retirement home when ur literally just regular adults with hobbies