#dogma noir | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

ladyloveandjustice · 4 months

Text

My Favorite Books I Read in 2023

I read a ton of good novels last year- 36 in all (and uh, 78 manga/graphic novels, but we'll examine that in another post). Here's a link to my Goodreads year in books (the manga is at the beginning, the novels start with Siren Queen) and my storygraph wrap up.

I reread a ton of Discworld this year, and it's as spectacular as ever. But what about new reads?

Well, here are my favorite books I read in 2023!

In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado

This is an autobiographical memoir about the abusive relationship the author went through with her ex-girlfriend. It's absolutely gut-wrenching, and at times, achingly beautiful. Machado uses the house she shared with her girlfriend, which she calls the "dream house", as a back drop. It's a place she always wanted and also a place she became trapped in, Machado's language is beautiful as she explores the relationship from different lenses-- The Dream House as Lesbian Cult Classic, the Dream House as Noir, the Dream House as Creature Feature, the Dream House as Stoner Comedy....All facets of the relationship are explored in a way that grips you by the throat and makes you remember everyone who ever tried to suffocate you-- but it also explores the hard work of moving on, of picking up the pieces, of living and embracing tenderness along with hardship.

I especially related to Machado's struggle to talk about abuse between queer lovers because of her fears of giving homophobes more ammunition...and when she says "we deserve to have our wrongdoing represented as much as our heroism, because when we refuse wrongdoing as a possibility for a group of people, we refuse their humanity", I felt that deeply.

This wasn't just one of my favorite books this year, it goes on the list of all-time favorite books. I wish I had this kind of writing style. I'll be returning to this again and again.

Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor by Xiran Jay Zhao

A middle-grade novel about a Chinese-American teen who feels a bit alienated from his heritage, which becomes a bit of an issue once he finds out the First Emperor of China has possessed his A.R. Gaming Headset. Now he needs to close a portal to the underworld with the help of other kids possessed by emporers.

This was a whole lot of fun, and often quite poignant. I was unsure if I could really enjoy middle-grade books as an adult, and this absolutely proves I can. There's a lot of really interesting Chinese history blended with action-packed fantasy, and exploration of the complicated feelings a kid can have about their own heritage . The dynamic between Zachary and Qin Shi Huang was so entertaining with the Emperor being villainous, heroic, charismatic, detestable-- and Zachary realizing how his complicated feelings about him mirror his relationship with his culture at large. There was also a lot of fun with other historical figures, and Xiran's take on Wu Zetian is a joy. (Also, if you like Yu-Gi-Oh!, you'll probably like this, since Xiran says it was one of their influences).

Camp Damascus by Chuck Tingle

Rose is young woman who's raised in a fundamentalist Christian household, and she's a devout, obedient daughter. But some weird things are happening. She's seeing a terrifying demon everywhere, insects are coming out of her mouth....and she's possibly having feelings about other girls. What's going on?

Yes, this is by the Chuck Tingle who makes all those Tinglers. But THIS one... will make you tingle with fear! It's a great horror novel! It's skin-crawlingly creepy at times, but also does a great job digging into how fundamentalist dogma harms queer people, and the hypocrisy of such beliefs. The conversion camp aspect is handled tastefully, and overall it was a great spooky read that's also ultimately very affirming, cathartic, and hopeful.

Qualia the Purple by Hisamitsu Ueo

You might go into this thinking it's just a quirky yuri light novel about a schoolgirl and her crush who sees everyone around her as robots (like literally, when she looks at someone she sees a robot instead of a human). But it quickly becomes surreal queer psychological horror steeped in absolutely wild applications of quantum mechanics and thought-provoking time travel. Some of the quantum mechanics exposition dumps were a bit much but I deeply enjoyed having my mind cracked open by this book.

It's one of the most interesting takes of time loop stories I've seen. But it definitely covers a lot of rough subject matter, including a relationship with a serious age gap and extremely messed up relationships, so be cautious if you have triggers.

Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield

This book follows Miri, whose wife goes missing on a deep-sea submarine mission for six months. Miri thought her wife dead, but she miraculously returns one day...but her wife has changed. She's like a stranger. She may have bought the horrors of the sea home with her.

This is a gripping exploration of grief and loss combined with a delicious, slow horror that creeps under your skin. There's excellent Lovecraftian and body horror elements to the novel, but it works very effectively as a metaphor for a loved one going through trauma, and a relationship starting to crumble because everything seems different. A moment that really stuck out to me is when Miri copes with her wife's disappearance by frequenting an online community where women roleplay as wives with husbands missing in space. The way the online drama of the community interacted with her grief was both funny and heartbreaking.

This is another example of a book that makes me deeply jealous with its lyrical writing, and another one for the ever-lengthening all time favorites list.

Otherside Picnic Volume 8: Accomplices No More by Iori Miyazawa

The latest entry in a series about two girls exploring an alternate dimension full of creepypasta monsters, while also falling in love with each other. See my other reviews here and here.

This volume has the payoff to a lot of careful character work and relationship building, and it was completely satisfying. In fact, it was...show-stopping. Spectacular. Incredible. I loved the exploration of how love, sex, and romance are so different for different people and it's impossible to put it in neat boxes. The frank and messy conversation our leads have about their relationship was perfect and so was that absolutely bonkers, wonderful finale. This is another one for the all times favorite list, and I loved it so much I wrote a extremely long review/recap here.

Queer Ducks (and Other Animals): The Natural World of Animal Sexuality by Eliot Schrefer

This was a well-researched, well-crafted, easy to read book that explores queerness (mainly homosexuality, bisexuality, trans and genderfluid expressions in animals, and even the question of if and how animals can related to gender) in the animal kingdom. Though it's definitely aimed at teens, I learned a lot from it (who knew female bonobos were such life goals) and it presented its information in a fun way. It included some interesting examinations of how proof of homosexuality and bisexuality in animals was historically suppressed and filtered through homophobic assumptions. If you want to learn a little animal science in an accessible format, definitely check this out.

Night’s Edge by Liz Kerin

The story follows Mia, a woman in her 20's living with her vampire mother. Her whole life revolves around not drawing suspicion towards her Mom. She also has to make sure to feed her Mom some of her blood every night--lest her mother fall back in with her abusive boyfriend and start hunting humans. But when Mia meets a cute girl, she starts to dream of living her own life...

It was a really interesting use of vampirism as a metaphor for both living with a parent struggling with addiction and having an abusive parent. It's just a well-told, heartwrenching tale that got deep into the character's mindsets. I thought the ending was bit abrupt and rushed, but it did make more sense once I realized this was the first in a duology. It's a fascinating take on vampires, and I'm interested in seeing more.

The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty

This novel follows a middle-aged Muslim female pirate living around the Arabian Peninsula. She's supposed to be in retirement, but wouldn't you know it, she's lured in for one last job! I she rescues a kidnapped girl, she'll have all the riches she needs to set her family up for life. So Amina begins her adventure of fighting demons and monsters and ex-husbands. But the job might not be all it seems.

This novel is full of all the entertaining swashbuckling action and shenanigans that any pirate story should have. It's a rollicking good time, and feeds my craving for middle aged women going on quests and kicking ass. Amina's journey is a fun, wild ride full of dynamic characters and interesting mythology!

Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

Juniper is friends with a successful Chinese-American author, Athena Liu, and has always been deeply jealous of her. When Athena dies in front of her, Juniper decides to steal her manuscript rooted in Chinese history and claim it as her own. But plagiarism might catch up with her...

This is a strong example of a book I thought was really well-done, but one I'm probably never going to read again. The way it depicted Twitter drama is just too accurate and I got anxiety. It did such a good job putting you in Juniper's awful shoes so you can feel the pressure close in along with her. The book's commentary on the insidious racism of the publishing industry was effective, and it made a horrible character's journey fascinating to follow. I was so intrigued yet anxious I had to force myself to finish the last few pages.

Bonus read:

Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldtree

A very cute novel about an orc named Viv who decides to retire from the violent life of a bounty hunter and run a coffee shop instead. She ends up getting a lot of assistance from a succubus named Tandri...and my, is that a slow-burn coffee shop romance brewing? This book reminds me a lot of various cozy slice-of-life anime, and it's nice to be getting more of that feeling in book form. I wish there was a little more specific to the fantasy world rather than making it a coffee shop that line up 1 to 1 to a modern day shop, but it was definitely a sweet read.

#year in books #my reviews #our wives under the sea #in the dream house #zachary ying and the dragon emperor #camp damascus #qualia the purple #otherside picnic #queer ducks #night's edge #legends and lattes #the adventures of amina al sirafi #books #queer lit #yellowface #r.f. kuang #xiran jay zhao #carmen maria machado

132 notes · View notes

virtualmemoriespodcast · 1 month

Text

Bonus Episode - Dean Haspiel

LEAN INTO DEAN! Cartoonist, playwright, schmoozer, etc. Dean Haspiel returns for a Bonus Episode to talk about his new Kickstarter, THE RED HOOK X DEAN HASPIEL (closing March 28, 2024)! We get into why he's making the plunge into Meta-Mem-Noir and bringing Dean Haspiel as a character into his New Brooklyn comics universe, what it's like to be part of the story, and how this podcast is also becoming more autobiographical with each passing week. Plus, we talk about getting old and not being able to stay out all night (even though he tried this weekend), what it's like to treat comics as a reductive art rather than a rendering one, the play Dino's working on, what he's learned from his previous Kickstarter projects, Covid Cop and Billy Dogma and Jane Legit, why he's holding off on reading the finale of Howard Chaykin's Time2 project, and more! Follow Dean on Substack, Instagram and . . . LiveJournal!? • More info at our site • Support The Virtual Memories Show via Patreon or Paypal and via our e-newsletter

Check out the new episode of The Virtual Memories Show

#podcast #books

3 notes · View notes

chiefofstafftanner · 5 months

Text

TAG NINE PEOPLE YOU’D LIKE TO KNOW BETTER!

I. Favourite Colours: gray, black, forest green

II. Favourite Flavours: Grape, coffee, raspberry/chocolate combo, spearmint, cinnamon, gochujang, a strong tea, hazelnut

III. Favourite Genres: urban fantasy, high fantasy, silver age sci-fi, space opera, noir,

IV. Favourite Music: classical/opera, Goth/industrial/ebm, techno/edm/dance, bedroom pop, lo-fi, trip hop, Celtic, death metal, 80's new wave, film scores (especially Two Steps from Hell, Bear McCreary)

V. Favourite Movies: The Third Man, Citizen Kane, 90% of the James Bond franchise (Favorite Classic is: From Russia With Love, Craig Era: Skyfall), Dogma, Pi, Pink Flamingos, Shock Treatment, Scotland PA

VI. Favourite Series: Good Omens, Ripper Street, Doctor Who, Torchwood, The Magnus Archives (fictional podcasts count right?), Penny Dreadful, Whites, Black Books, Jonathan Creek.

VII. Last Song: “Sunrise” Simply Red

VIII. Last Series: Good Omens (I can stop watching it, I swear)

IX. Last Movie: The Adventurer: Curse of the Midas Box (me? obsessed with Michael Sheen? Shhh)

X. Currently Reading: “Zen and The Art of Motorcycle Maintenance” by Robert M. Pirsig

XI. Currently Watching: Good Omens (re-watch number...I don't even know anymore), War and Peace

XII.Currently Working On: Making Christmas gifts for people, and hopefully catching up on all of my blogs before the weekend is out. (my apologies to those I owe)

~*~ Tagged by: @brooklynislandgirl (thank you! This was fun!) Tagging: @asoulunbound @tealeavesandthorns @starmen-in-the-sky @kingofthewebxxx @dontcxckitup @cardigansandearlgrey @deathtransformed @resignedworkaholics @dontcxckitup (and if you see this and want to do it. Boom, tagged)

#ooc #I love stuff like this #this was so fun #now let's try some writing

6 notes · View notes

ao3feed-ladynoir · 1 year

Text

Defining Dogma

Defining Dogma by Talik Sanis

Adrien and Kagami desperately seek out Marinette to help them resolve another disagreement of paramount importance in their relationship.

After guiding them through their last crisis, helping them to complete their list of the "top ten cutest things in the world" (Which was capped off by “Marinette with her hair down.”) Marinette is justifiably concerned about the subject of their latest argument.

Can she help give them the answer?

Of course! She's Marinette F'ing Dupain-Cheng, badass hyper-competent superhero!

Now, if she can only stop cowering behind her best friend...

Words: 2205, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Series: Part 10 of Adrigaminette Crack Fics

Fandoms: Miraculous Ladybug

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: F/F, F/M, Multi

Characters: Alya Césaire, Adrien Agreste | Chat Noir, Kagami Tsurugi, Marinette Dupain-Cheng | Ladybug

Additional Tags: Hot Mess Marinette Dupain-Cheng, Bisexual Kagami Tsurugi, Bisexual Female Character, Bisexual Marinette Dupain-Cheng, Adrigaminette, Crack, Fluff, Bisexual Disaster Marinette Dupain-Cheng | Ladybug, Fencing, Sexual Tension, Humor, Dorks in Love, Good Friend Alya Césaire, Making Out

Read Here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/44307058

#AO3 Feed #FanFiction #AO3 Adrigaminette #🐉#❤️#⚔️#Adrigaminette #Miraculous Ladybug #♣#R:T #A:Talik Sanis #Fluff

16 notes · View notes

jacobsneed · 1 year

Text

♜ I go by David (he/him) and I’m an autistic stoner in my 20s with a hyperfixation on far cry 5 :) I mainly post fc5 related stuff and OCs on here, and I have a more multifandom/personal blog @sluttypostaldude, my art +occasional writing blog @rottenpozzum, my OC sideblog @david-rambles, and my gta sideblog, @dimitrirascalov I also recently made an Ao3 acc: RottenPozzum! If we're mutuals, feel free to ask for my discord! Not super vocal, but I enjoy sending and seeing funny pictures!

Want to be added to the taglist for picrews/quizzes/wips/etc? leave a like on THIS post ♡＼(￣▽￣)／♡

Status: Temporary Hiatus- having a pretty bad chronic illness flare up (but I’m stubbornly still online, shh!)

Inbox: 3 💙 (oc asks for Cricket & Ljubica and Jacob x Cricket ship ask)

*Bold = mainly focused on

🎮 GAMES 🎮

Currently Playing:

Grand Theft Auto Online // Grand Theft Auto: Vice City //

Currently Replaying:

**PAUSED - Low Spoons**

Backburner:

Cyberpunk 2077 // Far Cry 5 // Grand Theft Auto IV //

Games to Play/Replay Next:

Baldur's Gate 3 // Code Vein // Mass Effect series // Dragon Age series // Mafia series // Dragon's Dogma // Dishonoured // Divinity: Original Sin 2 // Red Dead 2+online // GTA Trilogy Remastered // My Time At Portia // Stardew // L.A. Noire //

🖥️ TV Shows 🖥️

Currently Watching:

House MD //

Back Burner:

KUWTK // How to Get Away With Murder // The Good Place //

Watchlist:

The Young Pope // The Sopranos // Better Call Saul // Succession // Narcos // Arcane //

Tags

#david's ramblings - any posts made by me

#david's art - my art

#david writes - my writing

#wip - works in progress

#david's ocs - my characters

#david lore - anything about me

#oc: [name] - tag for my ocs

#tagged - picrews, quizzes, etc...

#references&resources - exactly as it says

#ask games - mainly oc ask games

#asks - answered asks

#judge not and queue will not be judged - queue

Other Blogs

@sluttypostaldude - unorganized personal/multifandom

@david-rambles - OC blog

@dimitrirascalov - gta blog

@rottenpozzum - art blog

#blog intro #pinned post #david's ramblings #david's ocs #judge not and queue will not be judged #david lore #David’s art #asks #ask games #references&resources #tagged #wip #david writes

13 notes · View notes

catboydogma · 1 year

Text

i DO have polls now ...

#this will likely have zero bearing on what i actually do bc i go where my insp takes me #but i wanna see what ppl say :)#i ALMOST put 'finish straight to the heart' but i don't. actually want to finish it rn. so.#also the fics i have promised to ppl who did vide noir art are like. actually going to be prioritized over this other stuff #BUT. again. i wanna see.#croidhe #polls

1 note · View note

asvrodroyx · 2 years

Text

Art made by my beloved @fanofrandomawesomeness

Nehemiah, Warlock-knight/"Asvrodroyx", the one who thirsts for blood: [old as time itself]

An eldritch deity, who sees herself as a woman, decided to allow a sliver of her true form to come down to the material plane from a lightning bolt that struck a cemetery. That very moment a beautiful, 6"6 dark elven woman with red eyes and lips, long straight black hair with blue highlights, and pale skin emerged from the gate of the cemetery. Some say that the woman is a bloodthirsty vampire; others say that she's a ghost or undead who has unfinished business. But all accusations are false, for the woman who proclaimed herself as a warlock-knight named "Nehemiah" is something far from their comprehension. Forging her armor from the blood, souls, and bones of other weaker gods, and used her own blood to create an adaptable greatsword, she set out to persuade monsters, demons, devils, and the most vile and evilest creatures to join her ever growing army. She uses many spells (that are found in different games such as Skyrim, Dragon's Dogma, Elden Ring, Dragon Age: Inquisition, Dungeons and Dragons, etc.) and weapons in battle, and won't hesitate to bend reality to her will if she's getting bored of the fight. Not even death itself can claim her, as her mortal form can and will come back to life in 24 hours. She has a pet shadow mastiff and a hellhound that obey her every order, a large pet fruit bat named Nibbles, and a black unicorn named Noir. Nehemiah also has the ability to transform into a red and black dragon who's body is made of shadows and dark matter, towering over mountains. She managed to take over a large kingdom and allowed its citizens be slaughtered and feed on by her army. During her travels, Nehemiah met Ivan Dorinescu (@fanofrandomawesomeness), a 7" Romanian death knight who is a blacksmith and from a royal background that became corrupted due to slaughtering outsiders that weren't from his homeland and drank their blood. Although he is merciless to anyone he sees as "invaders", he loves his people and trusts outsiders who have gained his respect, such as his dwarf general, Grig. He owns a hellsteed (hellfire horse) named Vlad. [Straight/Straight] (Dungeons and Dragons)

#dnd #dungeons & dragons #death knight #eldritch gods #eldritch #warlock #knight #female knight #evil #hellfire steed #shadow mastiff #hellhound #overlord #warlord #supreme dominator

2 notes · View notes

trendagon · 8 months

Text

Top 10 Action-Packed PS5 Games to Look Forward to in 2024

Year after year, PlayStation has been home to remarkable titles that have left an indelible mark on gamers. With exclusive single-player adventures, unforgettable narratives, and stunning visuals, Sony's PlayStation 5 continues to dazzle us. As we eagerly look ahead to 2024, here are some of the most anticipated PS5 games that have us on the edge of our seats.

1. Sword Of The Sea

For those who appreciate games for their beauty and emotional impact, Sword of the Sea from Giant Squid is a highly anticipated title. Inspired by games like Journey and Abzu, it promises breathtaking landscapes, enchanting melodies, and memorable moments. Hovering over shimmering copper sands while dolphins soar in the sky is just a glimpse of the stunning experiences this game offers.

2. Marvel’s Wolverine

Insomniac Games has consistently delivered exceptional gaming experiences, from Ratchet & Clank to Spider-Man. Marvel's Wolverine presents a thrilling opportunity to explore a grittier side of the superhero universe. With few details available, the prospect of a darker Wolverine story has fans intrigued. Whether it becomes a noir-style adventure or something entirely unexpected, the anticipation is palpable.

3. Stellar Blade

Stellar Blade, formerly known as "Project Eve," has caught the attention of gamers with its captivating combat and engaging animations. With limited information available, the promise of dynamic action and character-driven gameplay has players eagerly awaiting its 2024 release.

4. Dragon’s Dogma 2

Dragon’s Dogma 2 may not have revealed much yet, but fans of the original game are buzzing with excitement at the prospect of returning to the captivating world of Gransys. With the little we've seen already looking gorgeous, the allure of medieval fantasy worlds remains strong.

5. Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth

Square Enix's approach to Final Fantasy 7 Remake with titles like Rebirth has gamers intrigued. Deviating from the original while staying true to its essence is a promising formula. The mystery surrounding the narrative direction and the anticipation for the trilogy's continuation make this a highly anticipated release.

6. Skull And Bones

Skull and Bones, despite its lengthy development journey, has piqued curiosity. A hands-on technical test left a lasting impression, and despite the game's tumultuous development history, it continues to intrigue. The prospect of becoming a pirate in a vast open world is a captivating one.

7. Crimson Desert

Crimson Desert, from the creators of Black Desert Online, has transitioned the MMO's immersive elements into a single-player adventure. The prospect of exploring a world inspired by their MMO experience is exhilarating. The hope that it offers a less microtransaction-driven experience adds to the anticipation.

8. Prince Of Persia: The Lost Crown

Starting the year with a new Prince of Persia game developed by the team behind Rayman Origins and Legends is an exciting prospect. The gameplay revealed in trailers, coupled with the experience of a demo at Gamescom, has gamers eagerly awaiting this early 2024 release.

9. Death Stranding 2

Death Stranding 2, while shrouded in mystery, offers a unique and therapeutic experience. The enigmatic world of Death Stranding is one that players are eager to revisit. Whether it continues the same journey or takes a completely new direction, it promises an engaging adventure.

10. Bye Sweet Carole

Bye, Sweet Carole is a hidden gem among indie games. Its unique combination of horror and platforming, set in a Silver Age Disney-inspired world, has captured the attention of gamers. With every frame hand-drawn, it promises a visually stunning and nostalgic experience.

The year 2024 holds a plethora of exciting titles for PlayStation 5, catering to a wide range of gaming preferences. From breathtaking visuals to compelling narratives, the future of gaming on the PS5 looks incredibly promising.

#upcoming games #most anticipated games #ps5 #ps4 #games #gaming #video games #Sword Of The Sea #Stellar Blade

1 note · View note

dogmanoir · 8 months

Text

By Dogma Noir

#dark art #darkart #vampire #vampirella #tattoo #illustration #art #goth #gothic #alt #alternative #pencil #dogmanoir #dogma noir

16 notes · View notes

brews-and-pubs · 10 months

Text

Accomplice Beer, Cheyenne WY

20 June 2023

There were two places in Cheyenne that I thought looked good, and I decided this would be the better of the two. More on that later ...

The space itself is interesting (this isn't all of it) and is really eclectic. I sat at the bar and ordered a flight which came in sort of a random order. I'll try to describe it left to right:

Double Noir (unknown ABV, unknown style) - This one was "one of their old standbys" that had recently been brought back. It wasn't yet on the menu or the website ... but it was, I have to admit, my favorite of the five.

Alicia (4.3% Mexican Style Vienna Lager) - Is that a mashup of styles, or what? But it was pretty decent and it didn't have that strong "Mexican lager" flavor that you sometimes find.

WYPA (4.4%, American IPA) - This was my other almost-favorite of the set. Nothing about it really stood out, which says a lot about how I felt about the others, I suppose.

Pils-Czar (5%, German Pilsner) - It's hard to screw up a pilsner. This one was fine.

Nue Dogma (6.2%, NEIPA) - On the other hand, NEIPAs are generally more balanced than this one -- this one was extremely hoppy.

There were several food items they were out of because they hadn't been resupplied yet after huge crowds over the weekend. I opted for the Fish & Chips, minus the Chips but with both regular chips and kale salad.

This was a huge serving of fish! There are two more pieces underneath the pieces you can see.

I have to say that the kale salad was quite tasty. Enough said (I don't like fried fish that drips oil and isn't quite fully cooked in the middle).

And with that, I decided that my visit at Accomplice was finished. Check the next post for the spot I should have gone to first (and stayed at).

0 notes

faktoriaindustrial · 1 year

Text

faktoria Podcast#17 Mixed By Shouji Sakurai (Gutenberg)

Electronica,Ambient,Dark Ambient,Experimental,Drone... https://www.mixcloud.com/faktoria_gutenberg_tpkaichou/faktoria-podcast17-mixed-by-shouji-sakurai-gutenberg/ ■ ■ ■ ■ 1. Mapstation / Antistasis (Bureau B) https://mapstation.bandcamp.com/album/my-frequencies-when-we 2. mamenoki / Short Delay (faktoria) https://faktoria.bandcamp.com/album/short-delay-ep 3. Sunroof / 1.6 - 7.5.19 (Mute) https://sunroofmusic.bandcamp.com/album/electronic-music-improvisations-vol-1 4. Eva|3 / Lost (ant-zen) https://ant-zen.bandcamp.com/album/a-world-within 5. Empusae / Asok https://empusae.bandcamp.com/album/oeuvres-au-noir 6. Contagious Orgasm + Kotodama / Unsubstantial Organism (sssm) https://sssm.bandcamp.com/album/blackout 7. mamenoki / TAC (faktoria) https://faktoria.bandcamp.com/album/short-delay-ep 8. Erik Schilke / one spirit (Hymen Records) https://hymen-records.bandcamp.com/album/synthesis 9. HAMMER / voice https://hammer0419.bandcamp.com/album/collection-ambient-works 10. Jérôme Chassagnard / spring leaves (Hymen Records) https://hymen-records.bandcamp.com/album/tales-of-the-piano-part-1 11. ODA takumi / Reincarnation (sssm) https://sssm.bandcamp.com/album/water-sanctum 12. Gnome & Spybey / separated (ant-zen) https://ant-zen.bandcamp.com/album/the-seventh-seal 13. mamenoki / Long Delay (faktoria) https://faktoria.bandcamp.com/album/short-delay-ep 14. Anatoly Grinberg and Andreas David / smechanical synchronicity (ant-zen) https://ant-zen.bandcamp.com/album/silence-noise 15. Hyakuyoso / Dogma Part1 https://hyakuyoso.bandcamp.com/album/dogma Keith Berry / Untitled 12 (Infraction) https://infraction.bandcamp.com/album/towards-the-blue-peninsula-2 ■ ■ ■ ■ Enjoy It”!

0 notes

extrabeurre · 2 years

Text

CLERKS III de Kevin Smith : Il était une fois le Quick Stop

Kevin Smith a déjà été le nouvel espoir du cinéma indépendant américain (Clerks, Chasing Amy). Il a aussi tenté de conquérir le monde de la comédie hollywoodienne grand public (Mallrats, Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back). Il a flirté avec la comédie romantique (Jersey Girl), la comédie policière (Cop Out) et même le film d’horreur (Red State), avant de décider de suivre sa muse jusqu’aux recoins les plus inusités de son inspiration (Tusk, Yoga Hosers). Puis en 2019, il a renoué avec le View Askewniverse avec Jay and Silent Bob Reboot, qui était plus que jamais conçu pour ses fans — lui-même en tête!

Clerks III est en continuité directe avec ce modus operandi. Kevin Smith souhaite avant tout se faire plaisir en tournant ce troisième volet de sa trilogie, en plus de plaire à ses loyaux admirateurs — j’en suis. Mais comme toujours depuis longtemps, rien ne fera changer d’avis ses détracteurs, qui s’entêtent à aller voir ses films simplement pour les haïr. Arrivant sur les écrans 16 ans après Clerks II, le nouvel épisode débute alors que Dante (Brian O’Halloran) et Randall (Jeff Anderson) travaillent toujours derrière le comptoir du Quick Stop, dont ils sont les propriétaires depuis la fin du précédent. Entre deux clients à servir, les deux vieux chums, ainsi qu’Elias (Trevor Fehrman), qui les côtoie depuis leur passage chez Mooby’s dans Clerks II, jasent de tout et rien, autant de pop culture que de religion, des sujets qui fascinent le réalisateur de Dogma, on le sait. La crypto et les NFTs sont également abordés, notre curieuse époque de plus en plus virtuelle oblige.

Or, tôt dans le récit, Randall subit une massive crise cardiaque et frôle la mort, comme ce fut le cas pour Kevin Smith en 2018. On comprend que c’est un scénario très personnel pour ce dernier, qui plonge son protagoniste dans une crise existentielle. Après des décennies à travailler comme commis de dépanneur/club vidéo, Randall craint d’avoir gaspillé sa vie et se cherche une raison d’être… qu’il trouve en décidant de s’inspirer de ses expériences au Quick Stop pour tourner un long métrage sur place, après la fermeture, avec un budget d’environ 25 000 $, en noir et blanc...

Bref, Clerks III est une œuvre méta racontant en grande partie le tournage de Clerks — ce qui n’est pas sans rappeler Zack and Miri Make a Porno, qui s’inspirait également des débuts comme cinéaste de Kevin Smith, de façon détournée. Cela met la table pour une foule de call-backs et d’inside jokes, en plus de tonnes de caméos par les personnes importantes de sa vie, qu’elles soient célèbres ou non. On n’y échappe pas, c’est un film purement pour les initiés, qui sera indéchiffrable pour quiconque n’est pas étroitement familier avec la filmographie — et la vie — de l’interprète de Silent Bob.

Mais si on est fan, il y a quelque chose de touchant à regarder cet exercice nostalgique complaisant, mais sincère, où Kevin Smith fait réaliser à Randall — son alter ego à l’écran — que ce n’est pas tant le fait de tourner un film qui donne une valeur à son existence, mais bien les amis avec qui il mène à bien cette aventure, Dante en tête. Clerks III — toute la trilogie en fait — est ultimement une ode à l’amitié, parfois humoristique, mais encore plus souvent sentimentale dans ce chapitre final.

Clerks III est distribué exclusivement en salle par Lionsgate, en partenariat avec Fathom Events.

Au Québec, des séances sont à l’horaire dans les cinémas Cineplex les 21 et 25 septembre.

Kevin Smith en personne viendra présenter son plus récent film à L’Olympia de Montréal le 17 octobre dans le cadre de Clerks III: The Convenience Tour.

#clerks III #kevin smith

0 notes

ambipolis · 2 years

Text

Jeudi 25 août 2022

Lars von Trier

Et si le cinéaste vivant dont les films illustrent et illuminent l’univers politique du XXIème siècle était Lars von Trier, cinéaste danois dont le père biologique était allemand ?

Von Trier comme Von Stroheim. Forte influence dans sa jeunesse du cinéaste russe Andreï Tarkovski.

Il a connu déjà la dépression qui rode dans son œuvre cinématographique. Une dépression parfois lyrique comme dans Breaking the Waves et surtout Dancing in the Dark. Un romantisme noir et rouge, rouge sang.

Fils de fonctionnaires communistes, animé par une colère créatrice, aux marges de la folie. Ses films incarnent à la fois un monde à la dérive, violent et cruel, mais aussi la force de résistance et de détournement qui réside dans un imaginaire sans limites, insaisissable et sans cesse renaissant tel un Phénix. Dogville, Antichrist et Melancholia en attestent, mais aussi Element of crime et The House That Jack Built.

Connu aussi pour ses provocations, son sens aigu de l’auto-dérision, il a déclaré lors d’un festival de Cannes entre célébration et excommunicatons - pour lui un hommage - qu’il était « un caillou dans la chaussure » mais aussi « le meilleur réalisateur du monde ». Nombreuses polémiques, excuses souvent retirées, désavouées, à propos du nazisme et singulièrement d’Albert Speer, il aura brouillé presque toutes les pistes.

Y compris à propos de Dogma 95 et ses 10 règles en vue d’un cinéma épuré et simplifié. Comme en ne réalisant pas encore le 3ème volet de sa trilogie sur les USA.

Né en 1956, il a donc 66 ans. Quelles surprises nous réserve-t-il ? On ne saurait le prévoir. Car Lars von trier reste et restera toujours incertain, imprévisible et dangereux. En cela il incarne parfaitement le monde dans lequel nous vivons déjà et le monde qui se profile.

Certes d’autres grands réalisateurs encore vivants ont apporté et apporteront leur contribution à ce cinéma métaphorique qui tisse sa toile d’araignée entre cinéma et politique.

On y reviendra dans un 3ème volet de Cinéma et politique si le Dieu du numérique mondialisé et des technologies nous prête vie.

Jean-Loup ARNAUD

0 notes