I’m reading No Crying in Baseball, about the making of A League of Their Own (film), and it keeps making me tear up lol. It was such a novel experience for so many of these actresses to get to work with so many other women all at once and not just be like the love interest or a set decoration. They got to be tough! And dirty! And ugly!! And there was a lot of hooking up behind the scenes! But the part that really got to me was that the studio was so worried about who was going to see it, because it’s a sports movie and those are For Men (🙄) but they didn’t think men would watch “girls playing baseball” (🙄🙄🙄🙄), and then someone involved in production screened it for his daughters who were 10 and 6 and they went absolutely bananas for it, so the studio realized that this was going to be huge with young girls. And none of them had stopped to consider what having this movie would mean to little (white) girls. They hadn’t even realized it would mean so much and be so enduringly popular!!!

Conventions of Fantasy Monarchs, Queens, and the Subversion Thereof

I think a lot about Megan Whalen Turner’s use of monarchy in her novels and how that compares to royalty as presented in children’s fantasy fiction (as well as adult fantasy fiction, although I think there has been a strong turn away from rulers as absolute moral arbiters in the past twenty-five years, maybe, in favour of portrayals that are not necessarily more nuanced or realistic but are certainly more corrupt and far from divine) and Turner as a feminist writer and how these two aspects of her writing are interlinked. The nature of her approach to her Queen’s Thief series, however, requires a finer focus to begin from the wide view. While other authors world build with brick and mortar, Turner’s books create their world through origami. Each book is a separate piece and is folded into the next.

In "The Thief", Turner starts by establishing the three kingdoms of the Little Peninsula: Sounis, Eddis, Attolia. King, Queen, Queen. Although “The Thief” is wholly Gen’s story, the King of Sounis appearing briefly at the beginning, the Queens of Attolia and Eddis appearing at the end, they are established as the powers that be, the decision makers, the three figures trying to maintain their country and their identity in balance with the martial and economic pressures from all out sides. We know little about any of the monarchs, beyond that Sounis is older and Eddis and Attolia are both young. That the young women are queens, not princesses, is immediately a quiet triumph, an eyeshiver of subverting the unquestioned status quo (you think now, as an adult, of all the uninterrogated eternal princesses in your media, the young women without fathers or with fathers specifically deceased, and the refusal to permit their ascension to an adult title).

Indeed, in “The Thief” it is impossible to envision them as princesses for they are not given names. This is not an oversight on Turner’s part, not a diminishment of their personhood or, at least, not a diminishment of personhood that is not considered part of the parcel of governance. The three monarchs are frequently referred to simply by the name of their country, even dispensing with King/Queen of [Country]. Of course this implies a degree of the individual as their country, their country as the embodiment of the individual, the placing of country before self which, in and of itself, calls on the typical mythos found coupled with a hereditary monarchy. But it also shapes the reader’s understanding of the dynamic between the three monarchs as equal. Queens instead of princesses is adult and the further step of country in lieu of title degenders them, allowing the reader to move beyond their expectations for these titles, these roles, based on previously consumed media or even an awareness of those monarchies which continue today.

It is easy to overlook these socially conditioned expectations; the woman who is a doctor but regularly addresses as “Ms.” without second thought versus the rudeness of anyone forgetting to address a man by his professional credentials. Turner lifts the reader away from expectations they may have for such archetypes as ‘king’ and ‘queen’ without any fanfare given for what she is doing.

Moving beyond the scope of the three monarchs, into the matter of Eddis and Attolia, the only female characters in "The Thief". When the women appear, Turner sets up a familiar feminine binary between the two queens. Eddis is ugly but kind. Attolia is beautiful but cruel. Subsequent books prevent this from being a reductive portrayal of women without invalidating the initial descriptors. Eddis is never described as particularly attractive, but in certain eyes she is beautiful, without it ever seeming like a case of a perceptive/quality man perceiving a non-traditional beauty. Her kindness is tempered, prevented from being a weakness as she makes hard, sometimes ruthless decisions in “The Queen of Attolia” and those decisions are not motivated by possessing greater kindness than Attolia. Instead, she is equal to Attolia in her fierce love and protection of her country and its people. Attolia, the supremely beautiful woman who is cruel, is not the beautiful but evil queen not because she is not truly cruel, but because her cruelness is an expression of her ruthlessness. It is not petty, this is not a governmental expression of a Madonna-Whore dichotomy. It is two women who are physically very different operating in very similar roles with identical goals.

The physical difference is not significant; it is fact.

The important difference, the real dichotomy, is not a question of which of these women is good and which is evil, which woman is ugly and which is beautiful, which woman is pure and which is corrupt. It is, in fact, not a reflection of the women at all, but a reflection of the society and men around them.

More than the other books, the complete understanding of how Turner has taken superficial expectations of kings and queens and the portrayal of two women who, by existing in the same text will always in some way be positioned against each other, is achieved in “The King of Attolia”. Not, as might initially be thought in “The Queen of Attolia” in which the Wicked Queen is given the history and explanation that Explains her; for once we understand why she is wicked, will her actions not seem more understandable and forgivable? Turner in fact says no, Attolia’s cruel acts remain cruel; the nightmare consequences of one particular action continue throughout the series in the form of literal nightmares. “The Queen of Attolia” also gives Attolia a stand-in for someone who appears to be filling the role the evil advisor who leads a good woman astray for his own power and gain in the form of Nahuseresh.

“The King of Attolia” has a protagonist who is not of the nobility and from his perspective the reader gains a deeper understanding for how Attolia the country has been affected by Attolia the queen, the disruption of tradition rippling out to a disruption in the land and its greater politics. Initially, Attolia is a queen governing without a king, contrary to tradition. As a result, Attolia is surrounded by men wishing to control the country through her, their own schemes kept at bay by Attolia making ruthless example of a few individuals and setting the survivors against each other, focusing their attentions on the immediate threat of their peers rather than the abstract threat of not having direct control of Attolia yet. There is a sense given that the history of Attolia’s reign has been a steady escalation of ruthlessness as the scheming and the impatience of her barons persists and under the distraction of infighting, spies, beheading, and torture she secures alternate sources of power which strengthens the tie of loyalty binding the lower classes to her by instituting policies of a non-traditional nature like: meritocracy in the military, terms of indentured servitude having finite limits, and financial compensation for people working for the crown.

Attolia’s political actions, once the reader comes to understand them, are actions which elevate the powerless in her country and in doing so it enables to cement her own power: the power of one who, traditionally, would also be powerless. That we only become aware of this, truly appreciating the impact of Attolia as queen, instead of just the difficulties and hardships personally suffered, from the point of view of an insignificant young soldier and guard, who both fears and is loyal to the queen, imbues this interpretation of Attolia as one of greater truth than what is shown in the previous books. The narrator of “The King of Attolia”, Costis has a simpler view of the matter, a man on the ground view. He has no experience of living under the rule of anyone but this queen. He is not affected by the wider inter-country politics, his position is one formed by experiencing Attolia’s rule. It does not read as propaganda or apologia for the actions of this woman which are influenced by our ancient history and the politics therein.

Turner’s series has now come to an end and the number of main female characters never expanded beyond Eddis and Attolia but, in a genre that frequently fails women, even now, Eddis and Attolia are nuanced characters, powerful characters stretching the expectations of their archetypes and growing beyond them. The way Turner constructs her novels builds slowly and subtly into works that are feminist, despite the predominance of male characters, and strong with class solidarity and an anti-monarchial bent, despite the majority of the protagonists and point of view characters being members of the nobility. The genre and demographic do not need to steer the politics and ideas of a narrative and, in turn, those aspects cannot be accurately represented by simple numbers and Megan Whalen Turner demonstrates this often overlooked truth with each of her books.

CARDI B - PRESS

[6.00]

"Cardi don't need more press", apparently, but surely a little coverage from her favourite independent singles blog can't hurt...

Katherine St Asaph: I'm sure I'll change my mind after hearing her next splashy pop feature, but absolutely relentless Cardi might be my favorite Cardi. [8]

Andy Hutchins: Pugilism is one of Cardi's fortes, and keyboard savants Slade Da Monsta and Key Wane outfit her with some stunning ring-walk music on "Press," with plinking alien transmission synths and a squashed organ that befit their flyweight champ. And when the snares start rattling, this sounds like a wonderful inversion of the Lex Luger trap sound that stomped so a thousand imitators could walk, run, slouch, and so forth. But Cardi's not really going anywhere, exactly, just shadowboxing the same targets and talking the same shit as ever, and the gunshot sounds that punctuate the hook are distressingly generic for a song that strives to be more. A better prelude than entrée. [5]

Alfred Soto: On realizing that Cardi wasn't covering Paul McCartney's burbling High Reagan wonder, I settled for a manifesto no different in its sanctimony than comparable efforts released from Elvis Costello and Madonna to New Kids on the Block and The Smiths, even if it's more exuberant in its vituperative spirit. Like "Money," "Press" entertains the troops with the artist's tried-and-true while she prepares for the next phase -- if she's got one. This time 'round I savor the pronunciation of "ding DOOOOONG" and a vocal attack that's like a pistol, ahem, pressed into your gut. [7]

Jacob Sujin Kuppermann: This is so ugly and unmusical that it turns those seeming disadvantages into strengths -- the fact that you're listening at all translates into an argument for Cardi's magnetism. "Press" is not likely to have the same earwormy quality of Cardi's prior hits -- I don't think sorority girls will be rapping along to it a year and a half on from its release -- but it's certainly a memorable work of pop mythmaking. [6]

Taylor Alatorre: The indomitable largeness of the production prompts Cardi to up the ante in order to be heard, with the result being that this sounds more like a losing struggle for dominance than a haughty proclamation of one. It's as if she's in a shouting match with the beat itself, and it makes this record sound oddly insular despite its outward-facing subject matter. The parts where the beat drops out are placed seemingly haphazardly throughout, without the satisfying build-up that's needed in order to make the release enjoyable. The only thing here that remotely qualifies as "subtle" is when she briefly imitates Offset's flow, which should maybe serve as a warning sign of diminishing returns ahead. [3]

Iris Xie: Cardi B, I'm convinced that you could murder me anytime, and I'll die gladly and willingly. However, if I was the subject of "Press," I should know that whatever I did definitely deserved receiving her ire, and whoever Cardi B is pissed about should fucking run for their life. The opening bars sound like slowed-down mutations of The Nightmare on Elm Street, It, and The Twilight Zone theme songs, followed quickly by crouching beats and hostile snare drums as merciful warnings. Cardi B only gives you a few brief seconds before, whoops, you've been sent to another dimension. It is a joy to witness this, because in "Bodak Yellow," her easygoing, sexy, infectious demeanor thinly veils her coiled, simmering preparedness to smash faces to the ground. There is no such buffer in "Press." Other people talk a big game, but Cardi B has a playful-but-forceful presence that is deeply in tune with her desire to never suffer disrespect and to know exactly where to hit them with all of her abandon. Her attempts aren't always successful; the chorus surprisingly needs a slightly deeper mockery and a bit more variance in its cadence to match the ugly venom of the verses, which diminishes a song whose short runtime means every line is a valuable currency. Fortunately, this misstep is quickly smoothed over with the final burst of "pop up, guess who, bitch?" that blends her presence with the twofold horrors of jump scares and gunshots. Still, she hasn't always been this daring; her 2016 track "I Gotta Hurt You" shows hesitation, where the tiny bit of malice gets hidden by goofy EDM trappings. Here though, Cardi B's wit chameleons to reflect that danger, with the lyric "ding dong! must be the whip that I ordered" displaying her keenness to Amazon Prime whoever disrespects her. (Also unintentionally, this line may be prime as a new meme, utterly destined for queers on Twitter ready to spring "she has a big strap" and "please step on me" references.) Her last repeat of "press, press, press" at the end is more successful in expressing a sly mockery that dissolves into a careless apathy. As for me, I've been craving songs that exhibit a willingness to play, exert power, and dive into dangerous, malicious moods, like f(x)'s "Red Light", because since I've been looking for better examples of art willing to fully tap into its dark side, I've noticed how often potentially great songs tiptoe that edge but never make the leap. Case in point, "Press," even with its faults, is what I wished TSwift did with "Look What You Made Me Do." There, our maligned heroine needed to stop hiding behind the goofy melodies, lyrics, and passivity in order to assert her glorious potential as a full-blown Dark!Taylor. Both stars have such incisive intelligence and are terrifying in their precise perception, but Cardi B is willing to do what Taylor didn't and takes her punchback at the press all the way to the edge -- making better art for it. Her readiness to be that candid, combined with her skill, makes Cardi B a standout. She reminds us that, often, there's literally nothing to lose beside ourselves in expressing our honest feelings, and that it's worth the risk, as long as you do the work (and edit afterward.) So, to those hesitant, what the hell are you worried about? [7]

[Read, comment and vote on The Singles Jukebox]

For The Most Up-to-date Know-how About Fashion, This Information Is Where It’s At

Sometimes, fashion just means wearing clothes with matching colors. Other times, this means hours inside the bathroom preparing yourself to get a big day. There is absolutely no day in your daily life where you could not save a couple of minutes with the right fashion tips and concepts. Keep reading into this informative article for paragraphs loaded with them.

Looking great does not have to be very expensive. If you wish to develop your wardrobe but don’t possess the funds to get the look you’re after, have a look at your neighborhood thrift and consignment stores. These stores offer an array of fashion options at a fraction of their retail price.

It is now fashionable for men to utilize clothes which can be very baggy, but this needs to be avoided. This will make you appear sloppy and can make you look larger than you truly are. While there is no need to use something that is simply too restricted, one size larger than your actual size needs to be the limit.

Always remember to give these shoes you intend on wearing to some party along while you shop for your perfect dress. This enables you to discover how the sneakers look with all the dresses you are considering. It will also offer you a sense of any alterations that might need to be produced.

If you like a shirt or skirt think of getting it in several color. Because clothes are available in a lot of varying cuts and styles, you’re likely find it difficult to find clothes that fit well for you type. Whenever you do exactly get a couple of to help you feel great more often.

In case you have thick or very wild hair, employing a gel product will help you to create the style you desire. Work this product into towel-dried hair after which style it as you would like. You may give it time to dry naturally, or utilize a hair drier. This is particularly useful in humid weather.

One part of clothing that never goes out of style will be the simple black dress. A black dress looks good on anyone since it generates a slimming effect, that is something each lady want. You will discover this dress yourself in any discount store, but if you want one who lasts, you need to search elsewhere and be prepared to spend more money.

Lessen the pumping action with your container when you apply mascara each day. Doing this actually will not put much more about the brush, but it does trap air molecules within the bottle. That may create bacteria. Instead, just swirl the brush  go home and be a family man throughout the container.

Do not be frightened of reinventing yourself. There is not any rule which says you must always dress one certain way. In reality, in the event you did, it might be quite boring. Look into Madonna. She changed her look numerous times through the years, that is element of her appeal. In case you are considering going blonde, practice it. In case you have had long hair your life, try out short hair. Every day life is about taking changes, and this definitely applies to fashion.

Be noticeable by embracing your features. Some may see high cheekbones or birth marks as flaws, but highlighting why is you the person you might be will set you apart. People will remember you for the “flaw” and can even find you more pleasing for doing it. That cute little mole or dimples could be your selling point.

Speak with a professional regarding the best colors for yourself. Colors look different according to complexion, eye color and also hair. Knowing which colors are truly “yours” will help you select the most dazzling fashions.

If you are intending to remain the hot weather, wear clothes that are made from natural fabrics so your skin can breath. Cottons and silks are ideal materials for summer clothes. Avoid synthetic fibers, like polyester, which are not as good at keeping you cool mainly because they usually stay with you.

A bulging tummy could make your fashion experience a horrible nightmare. In the event you get caught in this category, you need to ensure that you just do something to correct your issue, as wearing the correct clothes is not going to fix the problem over time. Try a variety of a balanced diet and a good training routine.

With a bit of time used on research, you will discover seasonal clothes that flatter your style. By researching and following advice, you make sure that your clothes will match your style, occasion and season.

Sometimes you need matching color clothes for an exercise class, or you may be helping a bride or groom get ready for their marriage ceremony. You may spend a minimum of a few minutes each day focused entirely on fashion. Save some of those moments for something diffrent with all the time saving tips on this page that make fashion easier.

Source:http://sweetbabyphoto.com/to-wow-your-mates-through-fashion-check-out-our-tips/

from Pablo Chambers Sweet Baby Photo, Southern California Baby and Child Photographer:: Serving Orange County, the InIand Empire, Los Angeles and San Diego https://pablochamberssweetbabyphoto.wordpress.com/2017/05/29/to-wow-your-mates-through-fashion-check-out-our-tips/

For The Most Up-to-date Know-how About Fashion, This Information Is Where It’s At

Sometimes, fashion just means wearing clothes with matching colors. Other times, this means hours inside the bathroom preparing yourself to get a big day. There is absolutely no day in your daily life where you could not save a couple of minutes with the right fashion tips and concepts. Keep reading into this informative article for paragraphs loaded with them.

Looking great does not have to be very expensive. If you wish to develop your wardrobe but don’t possess the funds to get the look you’re after, have a look at your neighborhood thrift and consignment stores. These stores offer an array of fashion options at a fraction of their retail price.

It is now fashionable for men to utilize clothes which can be very baggy, but this needs to be avoided. This will make you appear sloppy and can make you look larger than you truly are. While there is no need to use something that is simply too restricted, one size larger than your actual size needs to be the limit.

Always remember to give these shoes you intend on wearing to some party along while you shop for your perfect dress. This enables you to discover how the sneakers look with all the dresses you are considering. It will also offer you a sense of any alterations that might need to be produced.

If you like a shirt or skirt think of getting it in several color. Because clothes are available in a lot of varying cuts and styles, you’re likely find it difficult to find clothes that fit well for you type. Whenever you do exactly get a couple of to help you feel great more often.

In case you have thick or very wild hair, employing a gel product will help you to create the style you desire. Work this product into towel-dried hair after which style it as you would like. You may give it time to dry naturally, or utilize a hair drier. This is particularly useful in humid weather.

One part of clothing that never goes out of style will be the simple black dress. A black dress looks good on anyone since it generates a slimming effect, that is something each lady want. You will discover this dress yourself in any discount store, but if you want one who lasts, you need to search elsewhere and be prepared to spend more money.

Lessen the pumping action with your container when you apply mascara each day. Doing this actually will not put much more about the brush, but it does trap air molecules within the bottle. That may create bacteria. Instead, just swirl the brush  go home and be a family man throughout the container.

Do not be frightened of reinventing yourself. There is not any rule which says you must always dress one certain way. In reality, in the event you did, it might be quite boring. Look into Madonna. She changed her look numerous times through the years, that is element of her appeal. In case you are considering going blonde, practice it. In case you have had long hair your life, try out short hair. Every day life is about taking changes, and this definitely applies to fashion.

Be noticeable by embracing your features. Some may see high cheekbones or birth marks as flaws, but highlighting why is you the person you might be will set you apart. People will remember you for the “flaw” and can even find you more pleasing for doing it. That cute little mole or dimples could be your selling point.

Speak with a professional regarding the best colors for yourself. Colors look different according to complexion, eye color and also hair. Knowing which colors are truly “yours” will help you select the most dazzling fashions.

If you are intending to remain the hot weather, wear clothes that are made from natural fabrics so your skin can breath. Cottons and silks are ideal materials for summer clothes. Avoid synthetic fibers, like polyester, which are not as good at keeping you cool mainly because they usually stay with you.

A bulging tummy could make your fashion experience a horrible nightmare. In the event you get caught in this category, you need to ensure that you just do something to correct your issue, as wearing the correct clothes is not going to fix the problem over time. Try a variety of a balanced diet and a good training routine.

With a bit of time used on research, you will discover seasonal clothes that flatter your style. By researching and following advice, you make sure that your clothes will match your style, occasion and season.

Sometimes you need matching color clothes for an exercise class, or you may be helping a bride or groom get ready for their marriage ceremony. You may spend a minimum of a few minutes each day focused entirely on fashion. Save some of those moments for something diffrent with all the time saving tips on this page that make fashion easier.

Source:http://sweetbabyphoto.com/to-wow-your-mates-through-fashion-check-out-our-tips/