rachel ze*ger: *bashes Disney's Snow White as a dated portrayal of women without substance and says her Snow White will actually have to learn lessons throughout the film, unlike the original*

actual quotes from the original film that depict some of the lessons Snow White both learns and teaches during her narrative, identifying her value to past and future audiences:

"I really feel quite happy now. I'm sure I'll get along somehow. Everything's going to be all right." The power of positivity and optimism yields resilience in the face of adversity. Snow White was almost murdered and had to run away from the only home she'd ever known. She had a panic attack and allowed herself to process her emotions in a healthy way, and once she acknowledged her feelings, she instantly felt much better and began to make plans on how to rebuild her life. You can't become a product of the things that have happened to you- you have to continue moving through life. So yes- acknowledge what's happening, process your emotions, but also don't let circumstances outside of your control destroy you. Get back up and keep going, even when it seems impossible. You're capable of so much more than you realize.

"Please don't run away. I won't hurt you. I'm awfully sorry. I didn't mean to frighten you. But you don't know what I've been through. And all because I was afraid. I'm so ashamed of the fuss I've made." Despite what you're currently going through, you can't let that bleed through to how you affect and treat other people. Always be mindful of the impact you have on others and never allow yourself to become a victim of your own misfortune. While it's important to allow yourself to fully experience the weight of your own emotions, sometimes getting too stuck in your own circumstances can make a situation worse and create additional barriers for you to conquer. Keep everything in perspective and keep your eyes open to the communities around you.

"And as you sweep the room, imagine that the broom, is someone that you love and soon you'll find you're dancing to the tune." Always infuse even the most mundane things about you with love and suddenly your work, no matter how seemingly inconsequential it may be, will feel meaningful.

"When hearts are high the time will fly so whistle while you work." Doing something with lifted spirits and in a state of happiness makes a job ten times easier than setting about to accomplish something in a miserable mood. Nine times out of time, working on something when you're in a good disposition will also provide better results and findings.

"I know! We'll clean the house and surprise them. Then maybe they'll let me stay." Never expect anything from anyone. While Snow White assumed that the cottage belonged to orphans, making it an orphanage- and she, herself, is an orphan and she'd then have a rightful place there if, indeed, it was an orphanage- she didn't expect free room and board. She looked about her and noticed that there were gaps to be filled- namely in cleaning and cooking- and then went about fulfilling those tasks, which she hoped to leverage to bargain shelter for herself.

"Now you wash up the dishes. You tidy up the room. You clean the fireplace. And I'll use the broom!" Divide and conquer! Snow White delegated the various tasks of cleaning to the different animals and accomplished what would've individually taken her all day in a single afternoon. Identify the strengths and weaknesses of those around you, and work together as a collective to bring yourselves closer to a shared goal.

"You think their mother would- maybe they have no mother. Then they're orphans. That's too bad." Never assume anything about other people because you don't know the path of life they walk down and their situation. Never judge someone by what they're wearing or what they look like or the house they live in because you're never going to be fully aware of their circumstances and you'll come across as ignorant. Lead with compassion, always.

"If you let me stay, I'll keep house for you. I'll wash and sew and sweep and cook..." To avoid being kicked out of the haven she'd found, Snow White needed to pitch her values to the future landlords. As mentioned above, Snow White noticed the gaps that were needed to be filled in the house and pitched her services accordingly to tempt the dwarfs into letting her stay. It's hard to argue in the face of facts. Snow White knew the value she could bring to the Dwarf's cottage and wasn't shy about presenting it to them in a plea to allow her refuge.

"Oh, [you've washed] recently? Let me see your hands!" Never take anything anyone says at face value. If you're doubting them, call them on their bluff and ask for proof- and never be afraid to voice your doubt.

"March straight outside and wash or you'll not have a bite to eat!" Despite the fact that the Dwarfs nearly kicked her out before agreeing to letting her stay, Snow White had ownership of the tasks related to cooking and cleaning and she wouldn't budge until the Dwarfs behaved accordingly to the standards she set in place. She treated them as equals which, in turn, made them treat her as an equal. Sometimes, people are too afraid to come off as bossy or intimidating, or to throw their weight around, but there are moments you'll need to assert yourself and if you play second fiddle to someone, they'll treat you as just that.

"Bless the seven little men who have been so kind to me." Before wishing for anything for herself, or allowing herself to fall into a line of self despair over the tragic events of what happened to her earlier in the day, Snow White is grateful among all else. She thanks the Seven Dwarfs for their generosity toward her and asks for God to bless them. With a grateful heart, you can accomplish anything, and if you're thankful for the good things in your life and don't take anything for granted, your fortune will only multiply.

"Well, aren't you going to wash? What's the matter[, Grumpy]- cat got your tongue?" Snow White wasn't afraid to match Grumpy's energy in the moments he exhibited hatred toward her, but she always kept it playful and never meanspirited. If we encounter hatred in the workplace or at home, sometimes it behooves us to stick up for ourselves or comment on the apparent behavior others are exhibiting toward us. Always be mindful of limitations and how to express this in a safe way though- Snow White never pokes a hornet's nest or says anything toward Grumpy that would threaten the home she'd made for herself in the cottage. She knows exactly how close to walk up to the line.

more lessons we can observe from snow white in the 1937 film from her body language and different plot points:

Leave a situation that's dangerous and frightening to you. The minute the Huntsman tells Snow White of the Queen's motives, Snow White flees into the forest for refuge. She didn't try to sympathize with the Queen or reason her way out of it. Snow White recognized the potential danger she was in and she worked quickly to remove herself from it. A girl I worked with once said Snow White was dense for this- after all, why wouldn't she work with the Huntsman to ensure he'd bring her food and water while she was in the forest or assist in finding her a place of shelter? But the fact of the matter is, Snow White trusted the Huntsman once and that resulted in him nearly killing her. Cutting ties with him was the most conducive way to a safe future. Even if he didn't want to hurt her, if Snow White's whereabouts were known to him, there's no telling what the Queen would do to him to retrieve that information or to force him into using that knowledge to put Snow White in a place of danger, once again. More on this in the incredible post my friend made.

Make your intentions known! Snow White, in many ways, is a product of manifestation. Her mother wished for a child as white as snow, as black as the ebony on her window-frame, and as red as blood, and she received just that from the universe. Likewise, Snow White didn't shy away from making her wishes known to the wishing well- the wish of love after years of neglect and isolation and abuse- and her love came to her by the end of the song. Later, during the scene with the apple, she again voices her wish to be reunited with her lost love- and sure enough, it comes true!

Trust your instincts! So many people overlook this lesson that Snow White teaches, but she was visibly uncomfortable by the hag during their shared scenes. Her body language depicts her consistently shrinking away from the other woman, and generally behaving in an uneasy demeanor with tense facial expressions and a disturbed energy. She even openly says, "I feel strange" after consuming the apple. The hag applied to Snow White's compassion, identifying it as a "weak spot", because she could tell Snow White was growing increasingly vague and guarded.

Don't judge a book by its cover. Snow White wasn't frightened by the hag because of her unconventional appearance, but the frightening energy with which she interacted with Snow White. However, Snow White never judged the hag's appearance and when the hag feigned a heart attack, Snow White's compassion motivated her to nurse the old woman back to health and give her a drink of water. Juxtapose this with the Beast from Beauty and the Beast who couldn't see past the hag's outer appearance and refused to offer her shelter for the night. In turn, he was cursed until he learned the lesson that Snow White had already known.

Never expect anything from anyone or rely on a title. Snow White is the Princess of the land the Seven Dwarfs dwell in, yet she never once relied on her title or power in her interactions with them. She easily could've pulled rank and pointed out that since their property fell on the land of her rule and her former parents' rule, they should be more than willing to accommodate her. Instead of relying on these false barometers of social standing, Snow White interacted with them on a human level and offered to work in exchange for her room and board. This led to the Dwarfs interacting with her as an equal in return and they had so much more love for her than they would've if she pulled a "do you know who I am" card, leading them to rush to the cottage that much more quickly when they sensed she was in danger and surrounding her coffin in eternal vigil prior to the ending of the film.

Be open to different ways of thought and to the world around you. We live in a nuanced, vibrant world with so many different ways of thought and methods of approaching a conflict. One of the top attributes employers look for in future hires is a teachable spirit. There are many times throughout the film where Snow White askes those around her for ideas and is open to advice. "What do you do when things go wrong?" "Maybe you know where I can stay- in the woods, somewhere? You do? Will you take me there?" Snow White is always open to experiencing the world around her and never discounts the opinions and thoughts and values of those around her. In turn, she leads a very full life and this resourcefulness serves her in moments in dire need- like when she's homeless in the woods with no future prospects or connections.

The Message Of Our Lady Of Akita - Eerily Similar To Fatima

The Messages to Sr. Agnes:

July 6, 1973

"My daughter, my novice, you have obeyed me well in abandoning all to follow me. Is the infirmity of your ears painful? Your deafness will be healed, be sure. Does the wound of your hand cause you to suffer? Pray in reparation for the sins of men. Each person in this community is my irreplaceable daughter. Do you say well the prayer of the Handmaids of the Eucharist? Then, let us pray it together."

"Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, truly present in Holy Eucharist, I consecrate my body and soul to be entirely one with Your Heart, being sacrificed at every instant on all the altars of the world and giving praise to the Father pleading for the coming of His Kingdom."

"Please receive this humble offering of myself. Use me as You will for the glory of the Father and the salvation of souls."

"Most holy Mother of God, never let me be separated from Your Divine Son. Please defend and protect me as Your Special Child. Amen."

When the prayer was finished, the Heavenly Voice said: "Pray very much for the Pope, Bishops, and Priests. Since your Baptism you have always prayed faithfully for them. Continue to pray very much...very much. Tell your superior all that passed today and obey him in everything that he will tell you. He has asked that you pray with fervor."

August 3, 1973

"My daughter, my novice, do you love the Lord? If you love the Lord, listen to what I have to say to you."

"It is very important...You will convey it to your superior."

"Many men in this world afflict the Lord. I desire souls to console Him to soften the anger of the Heavenly Father. I wish, with my Son, for souls who will repair by their suffering and their poverty for the sinners and ingrates."

"In order that the world might know His anger, the Heavenly Father is preparing to inflict a great chastisement on all mankind. With my Son I have intervened so many times to appease the wrath of the Father. I have prevented the coming of calamities by offering Him the sufferings of the Son on the Cross, His Precious Blood, and beloved souls who console Him forming a cohort of victim souls. Prayer, penance and courageous sacrifices can soften the Father's anger. I desire this also from your community...that it love poverty, that it sanctify itself and pray in reparation for the ingratitude and outrages of so many men.

Recite the prayer of the Handmaids of the Eucharist with awareness of its meaning; put it into practice; offer in reparation (whatever God may send) for sins. Let each one endeavor, according to capacity and position, to offer herself entirely to the Lord."

"Even in a secular institute prayer is necessary. Already souls who wish to pray are on the way to being gathered together. Without attaching to much attention to the form, be faithful and fervent in prayer to console the Master."

After a silence:

"Is what you think in your heart true? Are you truly decided to become the rejected stone? My novice, you who wish to belong without reserve to the Lord, to become the spouse worthy of the Spouse, make your vows knowing that you must be fastened to the Cross with three nails. These three nails are poverty, chastity, and obedience. Of the three, obedience is the foundation. In total abandon, let yourself be led by your superior. He will know how to understand you and to direct you."

October 13, 1973

"My dear daughter, listen well to what I have to say to you. You will inform your superior."

After a short silence:

"As I told you, if men do not repent and better themselves, the Father will inflict a terrible punishment on all humanity. It will be a punishment greater than the deluge, such as one will never seen before. Fire will fall from the sky and will wipe out a great part of humanity, the good as well as the bad, sparing neither priests nor faithful. The survivors will find themselves so desolate that they will envy the dead. The only arms which will remain for you will be the Rosary and the Sign left by My Son. Each day recite the prayers of the Rosary. With the Rosary, pray for the Pope, the bishops and priests."

"The work of the devil will infiltrate even into the Church in such a way that one will see cardinals opposing cardinals, bishops against bishops. The priests who venerate me will be scorned and opposed by their confreres...churches and altars sacked; the Church will be full of those who accept compromises and the demon will press many priests and consecrated souls to leave the service of the Lord.

"The demon will be especially implacable against souls consecrated to God. The thought of the loss of so many souls is the cause of my sadness. If sins increase in number and gravity, there will be no longer pardon for them"

"With courage, speak to your superior. He will know how to encourage each one of you to pray and to accomplish works of reparation."

"It is Bishop Ito, who directs your community."

And She smiled and then said:

"You have still something to ask? Today is the last time that I will speak to you in living voice. From now on you will obey the one sent to you and your superior."

"Pray very much the prayers of the Rosary. I alone am able still to save you from the calamities which approach. Those who place their confidence in me will be saved."

History of Ecclesiastical Approval

February 27, 1978 — Pope Paul VI approves the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith's Norms of the Congregation for Proceeding in Judging Alleged Apparitions and Revelations. These norms provide the criteria for evaluating such phenomenon and establish the local Ordinary as the competent authority to do so. They also provide that regional or national episcopal conferences may intervene (as has occured with regards to Medjugorje) if warranted, as may the Holy See.

April 22, 1984 — After eight years of investigations, Rev. John Shojiro Ito, Bishop of Niigata, Japan, recognizes "the supernatural character of a series of mysterious events concerning the statue of the Holy Mother Mary" and authorizes "throughout the entire diocese, the veneration of the Holy Mother of Akita, while awaiting that the Holy See publishes definitive judgment on this matter."

[Despite claims that Cardinal Ratzinger gave definitive approval to Akita in 1988, no ecclesiastical decree appears to exist, as certainly would in such a case. However, some individuals, such as former Ambassador of the Phillipines to the Holy See, Mr. Howard Dee, have stated that they were given private assurances by Cardinal Ratzinger of the authenticity of Akita. In any case, in keeping with the current norms, given the absence of a repudiation of Bp. Ito's decision by his successors, or by higher authority, the events of Akita continue to have ecclesiastical approval.]

Maladaptive Daydreaming II

I appreciate that somehow There is something darkly amusing About my current predicament That I am trying to fix I spent some time running From a hometown that hurt me From a name that never felt mine From memories, sharp and raw Soften the edges a little bit Soft filter blurring what I recall Til the shapes become fuzzy and unrecognisable My hair is redder somehow, and my body is smaller Smaller even than it was when I was younger And in this idealized self I am Treated kindly and fairly by those around me In ways I would have begged for in where I originated But these fuzzy daydreams are in stark contrast To the conflict and chaos in my real day to day My bedroom is scattered with rubbish and I haven't found time To brush out the tangles in my fading red hair Too busy building gentler spaces in my mind Escapism, it seems, is my strongest addiction Perhaps my only one, whatever form it may take I used to wonder why dissociatives were popular at parties with my generation When my mind is so broken it gives me that for free But unlike ket wearing off, I can't control this dosage It formed when I was too young to notice it was a problem When I was seven I'd sing myself stories to sleep to And whilst the plot lines are forgotten, the setting's the same I think I'm dressed like Titania out in the woods There used to be other characters but I am finding that I Can no longer convince myself of their authenticity when in my reality I've barely left my house for months So I'm no longer sure how a person should work My companions have been tv shows, Riker and Quark But as much as I want a Star Trek future, I am trapped in the present With no guarantee our species will ever overcome The hurt that keeps so many of us jailed in our daydreams Maybe less in the present, maybe more trapped in the past I want to break free but I'm scared to acknowledge How isolated and broken and worthless I feel For if that were not the case, why am I so compelled to deny it To create vast universes in my mind instead of Recognising which people around me jut want to laugh at me How can I escape escapism? Without being dead?

Chart First Impressions - Vernon

For more SVT astrology posts, follow my blog! Check out my masterlist to see all the readings I’ve done so far and what I’ve got coming up! 💫

This is just a very general reading of the member’s charts — the parts that popped out to me, things I personally liked, things I thought were interesting or contrary to the image I have of them. I’m not looking at anything in particular with each reading. Some of their readings may be more aspect focused, where some may just focus solely on their personal planets and their signs. If you have any questions on specific aspects or want to request a more specific reading, feel free to send me an ask!

two aquarians down, one more to go. 

so i do feel the need to explain why i’m not here arguing why i think vernon or even dk may be either a pisces/aquarius sun.

(tho tbh if either of them were to lean towards pisces, i think it’d be vernon). 

but really for me it just comes down to the fact they feel very clearly aquarian.

with woozi, his energies were a lot more vague/muddled and harder to organize where as it’s a lot simpler and cleaner a break with these two aqua/pisces cusps. 

generally, aqua and pisces influences feel very different to me. 

for me to consider them more pisces, i would be looking for them to appear much more yielding within a group and i don’t get that sense.

i’d also be looking for a certain degree of people-pleasing, or at least a strong courtesy towards how they contribute to the room’s energy. an aqua wouldn’t be as conscientious of this. they may be aware of it, but they wont let themselves be inhibited by it. where as a pisces would be hyper aware of this and very cautious. 

not only that, but i’m not looking charts that would be void of explanation on either sign/element’s influence if they leaned either way. 

woozi had no other scorpio in his chart if his sun wasn’t in scorpio.

where as with vernon, regardless of whether he’s an aqua or pisces sun, he’s still got a strong aqua and pisces influence in his chart to begin with so his reading wouldn’t be drastically different if he turned out to be a pisces sun. 

similar with dk, where as his cancer influence in tandem with his aqua and libra would make it so the rest of his reading wouldn’t be horribly compromised. 

if either one of them were to end up being a pisces sun, my reading of them would still be very similar just reorganized.

where as with jihoon, it was an entirely different story. 

so it’s a mixture of pisces and aquas being a lot easier to differentiate than sag/scorpio, and also their charts having both influences in their other personal planets that i’m not too stressed about figuring their suns out. 

but lets focus back on vernon. 

his sun and mercury is in aqua. 

i think vernon exemplifies exactly what i expect with an aquarius — like picture perfect artsy-brand aquarius. 

his style (for one) has been so clearly created by him without any regard with what everyone else is doing. 

and i think this is an important distinction to make with aquarians. 

a lot of people like to think that aquarians like to be contrary for the sake of being contrary, and tbh i do know enough aquarians to know that sometimes that IS the case (but i dunno i think they just like messing with me) 

but i do genuinely believe that when it comes to art and their work, the stuff that they do is genuinely so unique and out there because that’s just how their mind’s work. 

for example, if you’re looking at a painting you’re generally going to focus on the focal points of them. the subject, the name of the painting, the artist, maybe context if ur interested. you’re going to take the evidence given to you to try and form a linear narrative. you’re going to focus on what you think the painter wants you to notice. 

whereas an aquarius is naturally drawn elsewhere, maybe the background. maybe they’re noticing how it looks with the other paintings around it, or how the light is hitting it. maybe their placing the painting in a wild alternative universe and creating a story around it. 

they’re less concerned with building a narrative around what the painter is trying to show, and is more concerned with finding new, uncovered things about it. 

and that’s kinda a very vague glimpse into how aquarians build these crazy alternative worlds and perspectives they live in. 

aquarians are a very progressive sign, this is certainly because they have a strong set of principles that lean very humanitarian. 

but it’s also because they simply hate whatever may threaten one’s ability to exert autonomy over themselves, their expression, and how people perceive/treat them. 

whether it’s them personally, or generally, or symbolically. 

i don’t think it’s a direct correlation (like he thinks this way because he’s an aquarian) but when he was on happy together and they were talking about how his korean was very good and he was like “i mean, i AM korean.” 

this is a very aquarian thing to want to blur the lines, and encourage people around them too approach these potentially hard to understand concepts simply and a matter-of-factly. 

(tho i think in this specific instance he was really just combating the perception that he was more foreign to the MCs than he actually was).

anyway, back to aquas being lovable weirdos. 

i like to think that the many ways aquas like to present themselves isn’t just for show/for the sake of being different. 

sometimes it certainly takes a very physical/in your face form such as with fashion, but i like to think that they dress and act the way they do because they like being in the state of opposition and friction. 

by having this imagine of themselves reflected back to them in how drastically different the other side is, that is something that both gives them excitement as well as a sense of comfort through purpose and identity. 

they like sticking out because it’s a declaration of their character. 

not only that, but they love the ease of just doing what they want without having to think or feel the weight of “what is everyone else going to think?” 

that freedom is very important to them. 

how interesting is it tho that we’ve got two aqua suns with water moons?? 

vernon’s scorpio moon is gonna be VERY different from dk’s cancer moon. 

as social as an aqua can be in concept, they can really and honestly go either way. 

either they are the popular kid whose in every extracurricular and is student council president, or they’re the kid sitting in the corner who just doodles all day in class. 

you throw in a scorpio moon and it really makes him a pretty solitary guy. 

extreme lone wolf vibes. 

he likes being by himself, and it’s partially cuz the world is loud and his mind is entertaining in and of itself, and partially him being an incredibly independent and self-sufficient person. 

he’s got the least social chart in all of seventeen, and any anti-social behaviors he may have simply come from the fact that looking outwards to others is not in his immediate logic. 

it’s not in his muscle memory. 

if he gets excited about a project, he’s probably going to lock himself up in his room and burry himself in it, as opposed to getting others involved.

“i need to get something? great i can leave right now.”

he doesn’t think to ask others if they wanna go because they aren’t a part of his immediate checklist that’s integral to his day/wellbeing. 

his energies churn inwardly, and this is also why you find him just sitting around staring into space. 

not because he doesn’t want to talk to people or doesn’t care about people, but because he’s very comfortable living in his mind and simply doesn’t care to experiment too much with his immediate effect on the world around him. 

you take someone like jun who has so much energy bubbling in him, he can’t help but start doing things just to see what will happen and how people will react. 

vernon may have a similar curiosity, but it’s much more imaginative, abstract, and isolated. he can play out those scenarios in his mind. 

and this has many facets to it: his aqua influence makes him inventive and original in his thoughts where he as absolutely no shortage of daydream material. you throw in that pisces mars that is half daydreaming all the time, and that scorpio moon that makes him very intentionally reserved/independent and you’ve got vernon. 

so vernon’s scorpio moon is everything we’ve talked about before about water moons: empathetic, intuitive, sensitive. 

i think his scorpio moon is more interesting because of the darkness that a scorpio influence implies. 

there’s a alarming depth from where his emotions rise from, which is surprising considering how chill he seems outwardly. 

when it comes to his emotions, whatever it is, he wants them unabashed and unfiltered. no shame whatsoever. 

this is due to his scorpio influence’s desire for authenticity, but also his aqua influence’s deep dislike for the superficial. 

this would make him very discerning and generally pretty good at knowing when someone is trying to manipulate him, though his pisces mars may confuse him here and there. 

he’d really be great for any deep, wild, out-there, maybe even taboo conversations you may wanna have. 

pretty much anything would be on the table.

this is because his aqua influence would be prepared to entertain anything and everything, and is equally prepared take it seriously as you do.  

while his scorpio moon isn’t particularly afraid of whatever you may bring up, and is pretty attracted to the more out-there topics. 

it’d honestly just take a lot to really freak him out, and he’s really just open/excited to entertain any random idea you may have. 

even if he reacts viscerally or even negatively, he’s still very slow to write something off. 

his scorpio moon is sextile his cap venus

this softens his chart up a little bit, may mellow out his out-there qualities and give him a greater appreciation for more classy & romantic things. 

this makes him more fluid in his interactions with people than his forthright aqua and unyielding scorpio may connote. 

wonwoo has this same aspect, too, actually. 

this would make him much more dynamic and flexible in how he expresses/receives affection. 

would certainly also make him a lot more dedicated and stable in relationships than a aqua/pisces influence may imply where normally aqua wants independence and pisces may not be as present. 

then you also have his scoprio moon trine pisces mars.

this is the aspect that really turns this chart upside down on it’s head imo. 

aqua, scorpio, cap? they sound ready to fight at the drop of the hat. 

but you have water meeting water in this trine, and this very seamless exchange of energies between emotion and action really turns him into this amazing peace-keeper because of how level-headed it makes him.

i think i remember they were talking in svt club about how vernon never gets angry, and if he gets angry it’s probably because other people are fighting and he’s like. 

“i don’t get this. why?” 

this is because he really doesn’t understand how people can get so swept by emotion that they’d start arguing with each other. 

and he feels this way because, with a harmonious aspect between moon and mars, energy flows through him incredibly smoothy and easily. 

good, bad, sad, excited. all that fun stuff flows through him and doesn’t experience much of a road block, and so with that he’s not only very familiar with the passing of these emotions, but he’s able to process and regulate them pretty easily without trying. 

this would make him that excitable, expressive, reactive vernon we know and love because the emotions just flow through him. 

but this would also mean that, because of that, he understands how to ride the waves of his emotions so that they don’t end up sweeping him in their undercurrent. 

so when people do get into these heated arguments, he struggles to understand why they’d handle it in certain ways. 

with that being said, he does have his moon square mercury which means he isn’t the BEST at communicating his thoughts on this matter. 

he wants to so badly to put everything he feels into comprehensible words and concepts because of his aqua mercury. 

but that aqua mercury may make his viewing/expression too far reaching to understand, while his scorpio moon may make his emotions hard to grasp and translate in the first place. 

at the end of the day, his way of thinking is far too intuitive and abstract to put into words. 

so, lmao, don’t invite him to mediate ur next fight. he’ll probs just confuse you both. 

but if you need someone to chill with to cool you off and calm you down? he’s great because all that water turns him into this fantastic shock-absorber, and as i said before, his aqua/scorpio means that almost anything is on the table. 

the last thing i’ll talk about is his pisces mars! 

he’s a gentle, gentle boy. 

if it wasn’t obvious enough already, there really isn’t a single angry bone in his body (that’s an exaggeration, we’re all capable of anger). 

but he has such a gentle approach to life thanks to this pisces mars, and he goes about this with such sincerity and it’s so unfiltered and out there that you can’t help but appreciate how earnest he is, no matter how weird at the same time. 

this would also turn his aquarian interest in a much more creative direction.

i know he said he can’t draw, but he has such a strong knack for creative thinking with that unique aqua and his pisces mars giving him a very fluid means of expression and deep understanding of artistic nuance. 

everything he does, even if he’s not particularly good at, will have his signature stamp because he has such a great outlet for him to express his super strong, aquarian sense of self. 

(and that, in and of itself, is an artistic feat). 

super empathetic, a lot more emotional than he lets on. 

but again, due to his moon’s harmonious aspects, even with all that deadpan and logical aqua, emotions are never ultra-abrasive to him so it’s genuinely really hard to catch an extreme emotion out of him unless he’s in a negative place generally.

he just gets emotions, and if he doesn’t understand them immediately he knows how to sit with them and live in them. 

a very healing person to be around. 

i absolutely loved jojo rabbit! i was baffled by the critics' lukewarm response. it was dark but funny and so full of warmth and love for elsa and jojo's characters, their friendship was beautiful to watch develop, & i loved seeing jojo break away from his conditioning and think/feel critically for once in his young life. were there any parts of the movie that you thought could've been done better? i wish we got to know a little more about elsa's life before the war personally

congratulations on having taste! i totally agree about everything you liked about it. jojo and elsa are enchanting and authentic characters and i’m full of love for them. the warm, wry tone is everything i’ve ever wanted in a movie. and jojo’s arc is just transformative to watch. mandatory viewing. 

there are some minor things i could suggest cleaning up. cutting some sam rockwell scenes is an obvious first step. also, making some changes to the way characters talk about jojo’s father--i’m on board with there being some mystery around his loyalties, leading to the other kids teasing and distrusting jojo, but i didn’t like the way jojo and elsa spoke of him after [spoiler] as if he was going to be jojo’s savior. also, removing jojo’s lie, honestly. i understand it was a nod to the novel, and it was very cinematic, but it didn’t give jojo enough credit for the work that he’d done. the fact that taika wrote and filmed multiple versions tells me that he wasn’t quite sure about it either.

to your point: i absolutely see where you’re coming from. but... eh. i’m not sure.

elsa is the single most compelling character and so for that reason, of course i want to know everything about her. but would she really be willing to share the private details of her life before--with jojo? i don’t think elsa wants to talk about her life before. of course, she thinks of her past constantly in the dark of the attic room. she has literally nothing else to think about but those memories. but in the world she’s cultivated with jojo, she has her first opportunity to shift her focus and experience new moments that are real and present--even if they’re undeniably infuriating, insulting and claustrophobic. experiencing a present and clinging to it without forgetting her past is elsa’s only path forward. the film makes no attempt to soften the reality that her past is gone. she knows it. so part of the film’s grim honesty is denying us a look at who elsa was before, because whoever she was, she won’t ever be that person again. the only witness to elsa’s past is elsa. we have to sit in that loss and feel it acutely.

so i don’t think she would talk about her past. and i also don’t think we have any right to see her past through POV or flashbacks, nor any reason why we should. the film is really specific about not spending too much time outside of jojo’s POV. that intentionally limited perspective gives it its sense of focus and its vividness. apart from the two scenes shared between elsa and rosie, we see everything through jojo’s perspective. he is the most unreliable narrator, with his fantasies of a playful hitler and his horror-movie-lens through which he views elsa and his brightly colored view of nazism, but his rose-colored glasses allow us as the audience to see the truth starkly. and as jojo reaches his moment of clarity, the shift in perspective is palpable. it needs to be that sharp of a contrast. we can’t afford to spend time outside of jojo’s eyes. the change in perspective would warp the tone, or, if the tone was preserved, it would mean completely losing the film’s argument--that only someone as naive and lonely as jojo rabbit betzler could see the grim and violent world in that peculiar, vivid, hopeful way. 

God’s Country

Colossus [Marvel Comics Presents #10-17]

Above-average adventure, with pretensions.

Pages 1-8: Peter has taken a break from being Colossus. Buying a newspaper he gets into a heated debate with a vendor about pornography and politics. Nearby, a family of 4 on a picnic are also discussing politics. This is a strong start. There's a heck of a lot of dialogue but, in fairness, it all feels authentic. It's heavy with meaning, but there are people who talk/think like this. And, of all the X-Men, Peter is absolutely the right one to have these thoughts. 8/10

Pages 9-16: Peter meets the family, and rushes to the rescue when the kid is about to be killed. We meet the villains. Both the ones in the field, and the one behind it all. Politics is still to the forefront of the storytelling, but it works really well. 8/10

Pages 17-24: Plenty of action as Colossus defeats the super-powered hit-team and escape to the police. But the police can't be trusted, and soon the family is on the run and turning the family home into a fortress. Colossus works really well as a solo hero. Partly because, for all his powers, Peter is such a sensitive and kind soul. The dialogue is still full of political debate, which is unlikely now, but certainly helps create a conspiratorial air. This is a story where the heroes can't trust anyone. 8/10

Pages 25-32: The family is holed up inside the house, and eventually an attack comes. Before the bullets fly there's a heck of political debate. This chapter probably has more than any other, so far. And it's unlikely that these characters would argue this much, about America and Russia, while they are fearing for their lives. Also, it slowed down the progress of the story. 6/10

Pages 33-40: One of the Cold Warriors - called Number Six - switches sides. She tells Peter everything and he leaves the farmhouse to get Alexander, the person calling the shots. The dialogue is still heavy with meaning and political observations, but this chapter moves the story forward quite a long way. Even the characters - Bruce, in particular - are starting to change/grow/soften. 7/10

Pages 41-48: Colossus beats the crap out of the Cold Warriors. Back at the farm, an attack causes chaos inside the house. This is probably the best chapter. It's certainly the most action-packed. Colossus is way better on his own, as a solo hero, than expected. 8/10

Pages 49- 56: Colossus confronts Alexander. The weakest chapter. The plot is weighed down by unlikely character developments. Everyone in the family seems to have mental health issues. All of them are saying and doing things that pull the reader out of the story. Even Colossus is babbling about stuff as he goes into battle. It doesn't ring true. 5/10

Pages 57-64: There's a death at the farmhouse, but not from the violence. All the bad guys are arreted, but will the truth ever come out? The bit with the death is silly. It doesn't work. And it detracts from the stuff with the potential conspiracy, which is pretty solid storytelling. 5/10

Overall: Colossus makes a good lead. The story is sometimes weighted down by political debate. At times, the characters are a little too quirky to be believed.

6.9/10

Congratulations, GABE! You’ve been accepted for the role of ARIEL. Admin Julie: Imagine my delight and surprise to see an Ariel application in the inbox after having them on the masterlist for such a long time, desperately hoping, wringing my hands --- and here they are! Gabe, your application blew me away. Your ability to pin down their mysticism while also humanizing their loneliness and their distance from their own identity was something I really connected with in a way that had me incredibly emotional. I cannot wait to see where you take them, and am eager to watch as you go! Please read over the checklist and send in your blog within 24 hours.

WELCOME TO THE MOB.

OUT OF CHARACTER

Alias | Gabe

Age | 29

Preferred Pronouns | He/They

Activity Level | I can reply at least once a day, excluding weekends.

Timezone | EST (GMT -5)

Triggers | My triggers are already covered in the blacklist.

How did you find the rp?  | Alexei told me about it.

Current/Past RP Accounts | None

IN CHARACTER

Character | Alva Fae - Ariel

What drew you to this character? | In The Tempest, Ariel  is rescued from entrapment by Prospero, who then presses him into service. If Ariel wants to be free, he has to serve. However, he is not a weak creature, as he can command gales and has “fearful power”. Alva’s history, thus far, only goes through the phases of getting out of “entrapment” ie the arranged marriage, unhealthy filial dynamic and subsequent use and abuse by the men they choose to be with. Their rescue by Mona, although seemingly altruistic, still has the tethers of servitude to it. Alva has a place because they are useful.

This sort of dynamic and backstory resonates with me. Over the years I’ve had several characters with similar issues, and I find that I enjoy their arcs; the meek becoming bold, the downtrodden becoming frightfully strong. Sometimes these characters can get lost in their own flaws, becoming weaker, desperately clinging to their savior, doing anything they can to stay alive and to feel alive. For Alva, I feel like if they survive the current gang war in Verona, that they could become a stronger, more powerful force than they are currently.  

I can see how they learned from their mistakes, and how they could fall into the same traps. They strongly desire a life of freedom, a life that is their own, but they’ve never actually had to be in charge of themself. They ran away from a highly structured environment right toward a group where they could have a place, from structure to structure, from patriarchal figure to patriarchal figure. The only difference in their current situation is that they were offered to join a matriarchal figure’s structured environment, and they’re jaded enough to know to keep some secrets in case they have to run away yet again.

They desire freedom, but I think it actually scares them. Having no one to fall back on, having no one around them to guide them, no one to consult, having to just go out there and make decisions; it’s not something he really thinks hard on. If he was in charge, what would he actually do?

Who is Alva. Even Alva doesn’t know. They’ve done some things they aren’t proud of, but those things don’t truly define them. They were once a forgettable son, then a runaway, then a bedwarmer, now a lounge singer. They are an information gatherer, but that’s a job, that’s not Alva. It took them a while to get used to social media, having had a rather basic phone, and an interest in pleasing those around them. Now that they have a little time to themself, they can see how people their age act, how they see themselves, and they wonder if any of this can inform the person they are supposed to be. But is it worth it to be the kind of young adult that is growing up these days? They don’t know, in this life they are just trying to survive.

Also, growing up in a religious environment gives them a complicated relationship with God and the tenets of their religion. While they might renounce their beliefs, or their participation, they now have all this niche knowledge specific to their childhood religion. I wasn’t raised Mennonite, but I dealt with this at younger ages, having never really fallen into believing, but being raised by and around believers. It’s complicated when the people around you believe in something that doesn’t seem to have mercy or love for someone like you, even if you aren’t open about who you are. It makes you somewhat cynical, as you learn to read the behaviors of those around you and see what they choose to believe and practice, and what they conveniently ignore. This can influence what Alva chooses to do, how they interact with religion and how they interact with others.

What is a future plot idea you have in mind for the character?|

Wisdom of the Naive

Naivete is what led Alva away from their constrained position in New York to a wandering soul in Europe. They believed that they could run away and that the people who took them in would keep them safe and would allow them to be their true self. As was evident, they were only a ragdoll to the leader, and they ran away again. Alva thought a name change would change themself, but they still ended up in bed after bed, with men who didn’t deserve them. After being rescued by Mona, have they learned not to be too trusting? Yes, perhaps. However, they’re still so young and there’s still hope buried inside of them. They are still looking for something. Alva won’t believe the sweet words of a suitor, but what of a friend? They don’t exactly have the life experience necessary to navigate the dark underbelly of Verona. They could befriend the wrong type, and end up in the wrong place at the wrong time. It would take every bit of wisdom they’ve learned, all the wariness they’ve adopted to keep from being the victim yet again. They are good at coaxing information out of others, and have realized their ability to draw others in. Their experience with people has been one of use, thus Alva knows they have to remain useful, but they yearn for freedom. If they can connect with the right people, they could build a network which would free them from servitude and carry them over the minefield that is Verona under the Montagues and Capulets.

Killer Consequences

Alva had to escape a bad situation by killing a man, and it weighed on their soul. While they would do anything to live, they don’t want to ever have to take another life again. This may or may not be possible with the way Verona is rapidly becoming a war zone. Being neutral won’t save them from random violence. Knowing that, they also know that they can and will protect themself if they have to.

If they’ve learned anything from the relations between the Montagues and the Capulets, its that killing has far-reaching repercussions. Alva is still looking over their shoulder from what happened in Spain. While nothing has yet to reach them, that doesn’t mean nothing ever will. They have to guard their secrets closely, no matter how friendly they may get with Verona’s people.

One slip-up and they can find themselves drowning in dark waters.

No Place Like Home

Alva is terribly lonely. Despite feeling so constrained in New York, their family was always around. It was a comfort to know that there were several people they could hide behind, or blend into. They feel exposed in Verona, with only the lounge affording them the business that was like his home.

Alone in their room at night, they feel a terrible weight crushing them. That weight led them from bed to bed and it takes everything in them not to succumb to it again. Nightmares wait behind their eyes, ready to torment them. They know, in their heart, that going home is not an option. They are probably disowned for running away, and that guilt; the guilt of leaving their mother; threatens to steal their breath. It’s hard to stay focused, but it gets easier if they stay in the present, working towards a future only they can see.

If someone were to offer them the building blocks of their future, and not just a safe haven to dart in and out of, they could very well realign themself. He’s left one mother behind, and he could do it again, it’s his nature to change for his own benefit.

Identity Crisis

Alva, although born and raised in New York, doesn’t have the authentic New York experience. Nor do they have more than a taste of their Vietnamese culture. They haven’t remained too long in any one place in Europe to really absorb the “citizen of the world” mentality. Their only strong tether is the religion they were raised into, and they recognize that the tenets were used to shape them into what their father thought they should be.

Having such a complicated set of identities, they often feel like no one among others. Having to keep their own secrets to avoid consequences, they also feel inauthentic when socializing with others. This feeling of being nobody has been with them since they were a child, and it was a defense mechanism to keep from being the object of their father’s ire.

They have an identity right now, as Mona’s lounge singer, but that’s just a hat they wear on their workdays. They are trying to craft their own identity, browsing social media for inspiration, and trying to keep themselves well-informed.

They desire to really, truly, be someone and this feeling of being no one often leads them toward people with strong personalities, for good or ill.

Are you comfortable with killing off your character? | Sure, you can’t always walk the line of neutrality and remain safe.

IN DEPTH

In-Character Interview:

What is your favorite place in Verona?

“The Cathedral,” they say, the answer coming off their lips in a rush. It’s embarrassing how easily the answer– the true answer –is gotten from them. They smile, an expression that comes with practiced ease; a slight lift of the corners of their mouth, a softening of their gaze. “The acoustics are just lovely, and the architecture… simply amazing.” Which is not the full truth. The church means more to them than the way sound travels around its marvelous walls. There is the comfort of being within it, the way it dwarfs everything with effortless grandeur. Everything is small compared to the church, everything is simple, nothing but worship matters within its walls, and it doesn’t care who you are. If they listened closely, if they closed their eyes and stood very still, they could even feel the presence of God. But this lounge singer isn’t known very well for being religious, and so they sigh and tilt their head into their hand, curling their fingers against their cheek. “It is the most beautiful building in all the city, don’t you think?”

What does your typical day look like?

They chuckle and lean back a little, crossing their legs under the table. “Oh you’d be jealous.” They make a show of thinking about their particular routine, touching a finger to their lips, eyes tilted up to the ceiling. Wake up sweaty from a nightmare, bathe, pray, practice their vocals, dress, go out to eat, linger to observe others, browse social media, eat again, window shop, maybe actually shop, go back to the Dark Lady, get ready for work, perform, coax secrets out of others, that’s their routine. “I work as a lounge singer, right? Well, work doesn’t start until the building opens, so I get to sleep in. Sometimes I go out with friends, sometimes I stay in and entertain myself. Then it’s singing, socializing, and going to bed when I tire of it all.” They make it seem like they make their own hours, but they know they have to be in the Dark Lady before she opens, and they have to be picture perfect before the first patron walks through the doors. They only leave when they have enough information to justify leaving the lounge. It’s not a mandate, but the last thing they want to be accused of is taking advantage of Mona’s kindness. If they can’t offer her up whispers, then all they are is a singer, and singers aren’t that hard to come by.

What has been your biggest mistake thus far?

Several things come to mind, all of them decisions they thought they made. Running away, running away again, getting involved with this or that man, killing a man to run away again. “I think there are many little errors I’ve made, but perhaps the worst of them all was leaving my family with no way of contacting me.” It’s a lie, but Alva sounds so remorseful. They regret it all, but leaving their mother still makes them weep on their darkest day. They should have taken her with them, but would she have even gone? With seven other children to look after, would she have chosen to leave with them? Their mother’s welfare often keeps them up at night. How is she? How is she doing? Would things be different now if they’d gone to her, proposed the idea of leaving? Would she have come? Would she have? The frown on their face is small, and their brow is furrowed. They are making a concentrated effort not to emote as strongly as they feel. “But in order to live in my dream city and sing for a living, I had no choice but to go. Perhaps I should have had a proper farewell.” They sigh, a sad puff of breath. Then they reach for the carafe on the table and pour two drinks. Gone is the wilted lily, and a wide, playful smile spreads across their face. “Let’s drink to that, what do you say?”

What has been the most difficult task asked of you?

Their brows lift, an expression of surprise. “I don’t think anything too difficult has ever been asked of me.” They gesture, as though there is a raised stage on their left. “Perhaps singing in front of important clientele? It does make me more nervous. I want to make a good impression, you see.” Nothing exists outside of the microphone when they sing, but there have been difficult secrets they’ve had to learn. They’ve had to decide between keeping secrets or telling them, and the consequences often keep him paralyzed on the subject. “I have it pretty good here, all things considered.” And while not a harsh end to the conversation, their words have a finality to them. That is all that will be said on that subject.

What are your thoughts on the war between the Capulets and the Montagues?

Ah, time to play a vapid young adult. This is done easily, as they’ve experienced the love of gossip and vapid words from people their age on social media. They know far too much about what’s going on between the Capulets and the Montagues. So many have died, so many dangerous plots enacted, territories lost and gained. Their biggest fear is the Montagues and Capulets choosing the Dark Lady as yet another site for their feud. However, instead of concern, or even a minute amount of trepidation, they lean forward, lowering their voice, necessitating their guest lean forward in turn. “Things are so dangerous, are they not? You can’t have been in Verona long without hearing what has happened?” It’s like they are fishing for information they do not yet have. “Like with Alvise Vernon, or that crazy day in October? They say that you couldn’t walk the streets without seeing ghosts or apparitions. Then there was that day in November, I stayed inside, but the noise. I heard that someone blew up the bridge.” And tried to kill Cosimo, but they only have to know the silly fluff-headed things that seem important to the youth of this age. All these young ones care about is clout and money and looking smart, but not actually being smart. Besides, straying to the far more political side of the youth is asking for it, here in Verona. When it seems like they won’t get anything out of their guest, they lean back with a pout. “Ah well, it’s all very dangerous, I only know bits, but I know enough to stay inside if things seem a little off.”

In Character Para Sample:

Alva sat on the edge of their bed, their head resting heavy between their hands. Sweat beaded on their bare skin, rapidly cooling clammy skin. No sound but their breaths, no light save the neon glow of their clock; it was two in the morning. Their eyes were open; too afraid to close them and replay the lurid tableau they’d woken up from.

There had been a man with a black hole for a face, but he recognized those hands; the gold pinky ring with a scorpion motif and jet inlay, the expertly manicured nails, long fingers and wide hands. He had been a big man, the Spaniard, and the hole in his face… Alva had put it there. Those hands had reached for them, grabbed their wrists with a grip like iron. That awful black-hole yawned in front of them and just before the Spaniard leaned toward them, displaying the gore of the inside of his head, Alva woke.

They could hear the beat of their pulse, feel it shake their body with its strength. “God,” they whispered, pausing to lick the salt from their lips. “God forgive me.” There would be no lengthy plea tonight, no monologue for the Lord to listen to. Alva could barely put their thoughts together, let alone a paragraph of poetic prayer to a deity they were sure was consumed with busier things.

For a half hour they sat, paralyzed by paranoia, unable to move for fear of small noises, creaks and groans. Finally, too cold to ignore their discomfort, they reached down and pulled the sheets around their shoulders. Standing was an exercise; a long, drawn-out stretch that left Alva wanting to lie down again.

But, they couldn’t go back to sleep.

Sighing, they padded to the kitchen, the sheets gliding across the floor behind them. Eyes half-closed from weariness, heart settling in their chest, they reached laboriously for the lightswitch. The light would be blinding, but it was a well-known and oft-recieved pain. Their hand swatted the wall, missing twice before snagging the switch.

Alva’s eyes narrowed to slits in the brightness of the kitchen and they grudgingly draped the blankets over a chair so they could move about the kitchen unhindered. Everything was too loud, but it was the small routines that kept him from coming undone. They put two slices of bread in the toaster and put water on to boil, lurking by the sink, watching, waiting. Their gaze was fixed on nothing, and they drifted from the sink to the chair, to wrap themself up.

Alva’s mother used to do this, sit in the wee hours of the morning watching water boil. The coffee was for their father, the toast too, but they liked to imagine that their mother sometimes did this for herself. One time, they’d wandered into the kitchen and she was there, whispering a prayer they couldn’t hear. She’d heard them, stopped her whispering and got up to usher them back to bed, but not before they’d seen the tears in her eyes. What had she been crying about?

The toast made them jump, coming out of the toaster so suddenly. Annoyed, they stared at it as they waited for their heart to settle again. Alva let the sheets go, rising from their cocoon of warmth and took a plate down from the cabinet. They fished their toast out with their forefinger and thumb, only burning themselves a little. The butter was too cold to spread, so they cut two thick squares and let it melt atop the bread while they went to tend the water, switching the burner off.  

Coffee was a luxury, one they were still meaning to indulge with some kind of fancy machine. As it was, they made do with instant; a capital sin in Italy, but who’d catch them? They stared dully into the pot as they stirred in the coffee, watching as it turned black. Black like– they tore their gaze from the pot and reached up to grab a mug from a hook.

This one was yellow, bought in a street fair. It was in the shape of a bear, and always made them smile. Even now, they could feel a tug at the corners of their lips as they looked into the yellow bear’s face. They poured themselves half a mug and set it on the counter, taking the can of sweetened condensed milk from the fridge. The poor thing was on its last use, and Alva was on their last can. The bread was down to the ends, and there was only a tablespoon of butter left.

Honestly, when had they forgotten to do a little shopping? The inside of their fridge was sad.

Alva leaned on the counter top, pouring the last bit of condensed milk into the coffee, watching as it swirled into the deep, and idly reached for a spoon from the drawer beneath. They poured and stirred until their coffee was an orangey brown, until all they wanted was a sweet sip and a bite of crispy toast.

They tossed the can into the recycling after washing it out, and adorned themselves with their blanket, arranging it so they could carry a plate and a mug without becoming a tragedy of spilled breakfast and twisted sheets.

When they settled, their breakfast on their nightstand, curled comfortably in their bed, it was three in the morning. Oh well.

Extras: I was wondering if, perhaps, Alva could have an anonymous online persona. Perhaps they use that to gather even more information than they would talking to people in the lounge. Although having had to learn social media, he’s become pretty fluent in it, and can comb through social media to gain bits and pieces of important news.

Vietnamese Food Guide, as I think he might be very into “home cooking” being a runaway and all.

okay, in light of the Zootopia pro-life comic (a phrase I never predicted I would have to type) I think that some people need kind of an explanation for why there is so much bizarre furry content. Insofar as I can give one. The quick answer is "people are just fucked up" but why furry content in particular? It's not because everybody watched funny animals in Disney cartoons as a kid and got a fetish for that right?

Prrroobably not, even if that's likely true for some people. The same reason why Disney cartoons did the funny animals in the first place is why people project personal qualities onto anthro characters. Animators use expressive designs combined with the sort of "character" we have internalized about each kind of animal, often passed down from our parents. Kind of like memes? Cats are quiet, foxes are sneaky, rabbits are meek, cows are dim, lions are noble, wolves are majestic, etc.

But any time there is that very deep level of personal projection is where things begin to get a little weird. The definition of "anthropomorphism" is assigning human attributes to nonhuman entities but I find it is the opposite. Adding easily-decoded animal traits to humans is a way to symbolize their internal qualities with external features. So someone who feels a connection with the collection of ideas that make up "wolf" or "cat" or "bear" or whatever, may represent their normally-invisible mentality with basically a funny animal mask.

This kind of authenticity means that furry subcultures are host to a lot of self-expression that would otherwise go unsaid or be invisible. For example, there is an overwhelming amount of lgbt+ furries, and many people who are in the closet might find it easier to reconcile their sexuality or gender wearing that mask. People who feel ugly in real life might feel free in an identity where no one would look at their human face. People who wouldn't normally be sexual explore their sexuality. Even, uh, really out-there sexuality.

unfortunately for every trans person who begins to explore their gender there's going to be some creepy repressed religious person who feels that anthro (especially cartoon anthro) content softens what they have to say. Or makes it less disturbing/invasive-feeling for them to present. Same way that there's inevitably going to be a snuff fetishist who thinks that a cartoon fox biting a cartoon rabbit to death multiple times is less fucked up than watching two human characters do the same.

its... still gross when the religious fundamentalist and the snuff fetishist are the same dang guy, I admit.

51 Armchairs That Add Effortless Comfort To Your Living

While some people do prefer a sofa, an armchair remains one of the most important functional pieces of interior. This multitasker has to be chosen with a lot of purposes in mind. Is it meant to be just a pretty accent? Then it has to look spectacular. Should it host you throughout many hours in the day, adequate anatomical support is a necessity. And sometimes your legs demand to fit, too. Finally, it doesn’t matter if you need a place to snuggle in with a book, practice armchair philosophy, or enjoy the visitors’ compliments to your taste. Choose wisely, and your new favorite sitting spot will fill all check-boxes at once.

$264BUY IT Modern Tufted Armchair: This contemporary piece can fit a range of different interior styles. Its minimalist form is enriched with a timeless nailhead trim and button tufting, adding a layer of sophistication with a diamond stitch pattern. Comfort and functionality of this clean structure are amplified with a tuxedo arm design. Stable and durable, elegantly turned birch wood legs ideally complete this tasteful setting.

$507BUY IT Yellow Wingback Armchair: How to bring more sunshine into your room? A yellow armchair could be an answer. This contemporary model is more than just a showpiece. With its strong, yet non-imposing hue and a playful pop of color, it presents a wonderful choice of a statement item. Still, it’s equally good as a place for an afternoon rest. The featured pillow emphasizes the comfy nature of the chair while adding a layer of sophistication to the design.

$236BUY IT Contemporary Velvet Armchair: Stylish and self-conscious. That is how we see this modern lady of a chair. Its wonderful burgundy color is a perfect fit for the velvety nailhead finish. Somewhat strict lines calm emphasize it’s dominant nature while keeping it classy. The final result is a contemporary armchair that is maturely refined rather than braggy. It’s a chair for a room that knows what it wants.

$394BUY IT Sophisticated, Transitional Accent Armchair: Timeless elegance, as the main feature of this little velvet armchair, is uplifted with a sleek line and golden legs. If you want to give a stylish patina to a studio or a small room, this accent piece will make a great choice. It’s space-savvy, petite, charming, practical, and easy to fit. What more could we want?

$155BUY IT Modern Swivel Armchair: Can a chair be classical and modern at the same time? This swivel armchair gives an answer with a twist—literally. The perennial style reminds of a muted-down Chesterfield armchair, softened with a more friendly curved shape and sustainable volume. This is a comfy armchair for a typical contemporary living room, but it wouldn’t feel out of place in a grandeur salon.

$392BUY IT Le Corbusier LC2 Style Mid-Century Modern Armchair: The LC2 armchair by a design legend Le Corbusier is modern as much as timeless. Its unique, authentic form plays a significant role in the history of furniture design, with a good reason. Ever since it’s debut in 1929, this worldwide icon presents an archetype of the modern symbiosis of style and comfort. The metal structure and leather upholstery present an ideal balance between durability and aesthetics. Meanwhile, its shape -although rigid- grants the unbeatable comfort.

$180BUY IT Mid Century Style Armchair With Wooden Legs: If you are looking for an eclectic, sustainable, charmingly natural wooden armchair, this is the piece worth considering. The wooden frame is structured to conform to modern interior standards. Still, it has been executed in a way that emphasizes the material’s original organic character rather than denying it. The 2021/22 trend predictions are all about sustainability, and this comfy armchair will have its place in the spotlight.

$138BUY IT Transitional Modern Armchair in Teal: If this velvet armchair was a person, it would be the type you can send to charm your teacher or boss (and possibly get you out of trouble). The shape is sleek and smooth, and the calming hue of blue is simply irresistible. This is the chair to snug in and meditate. The only problem is, if you have just one of these armchairs in the room, the guests will have a hard time trying to catch it for themselves.

$254BUY IT Traditional Recliner Armchair With a Chic Twist: Traditional means “proven to be great”, but that still doesn’t mean it couldn’t be improved. There are a few better ways to upgrade a classical type of armchair then turning it to a recliner. A contemporary embroidery twist to an old-style pattern turns this comfy model to a very stylish statement fit for modern interiors.

$215BUY IT Small Armchair With Ottoman: Tiny doesn’t have to be dull. This small armchair design is not new, but it’s still around, and for a good reason. The simple curved form is suitable for a whole range of room styles. At the same time, it presents an excellent choice for waiting rooms or offices. Furthermore, it looks equally great in velvet and leather finish, and literally any color.

$630BUY IT Checkered Comfy Armchair: While it feels like “that seventies” sign is written all over this armchair, it’s still perfectly suitable for “these twenties”. Inherently comfortable, it invites you to sink in with a book and switch off for hours. The checkered pattern is a refreshing change to what we see every day. Whether you are looking for something to fit with colorful walls or a discrete accent for a monochrome interior, this comfy armchair might be the right one for you.

$110BUY IT Contemporary Massage Recliner Armchair: If turning to a recliner is a perfect way to refresh a typical armchair design, topping that off with a massage function makes the item dangerously seductive. That is exactly what this model has to offer. Masked as a plainly innocent, contemporary armchair, it is actually a fully functional massager. While it promises unbeatable comfort, you may find yourself in a struggle to get up once you experience the whole package.

$582BUY IT Modern Wingback Armchair: The playful and happy design makes this wingback chair truly stand out. Its specific charm awakes distinctive memories of a childhood, while still being self-conscious enough to fit an all-grown-up interior. Contrasting dance of neutral gray and lighthearted yellow makes it a great statement piece. At the same time, it’s comfortable and friendly enough to become everyone’s favorite spot in the room.

$213BUY IT Mid-Century Swivel Armchair With Brushed Steel Accents: To the contrary of the former one, this armchair wants to be taken very seriously. Its mid-century swivel design reminisces clean and minimal office style. This sharp form is softened with a contrasting embroidered pillow, for an ideal balance between rigid and comfortably friendly. Ergonomic back support guarantees convenience even after many hours of use.

$505BUY IT Linen Fabric Modern Armchair With Wooden Legs: A combination of linen and wood bears a certain organic feel that softens any modern design. The slightly disproportional form of this chair is a fine crossover between minimalist, practical, and sustainable. It can fit with ease to most of the contemporary or modern interiors, but won’t be out of place in the eclectic setting.

$438BUY IT Green Armchair With Luxurious Glam Vibe Art deco will be stylish forever, no matter how many fine twists the time puts on it. This chair bears all the glamour of the past century, with its emerald green velvety finish and sleek golden structure. Still, the minimalist shape makes it equally fit for the modern interiors one-century later.

$253BUY IT Pink Tufted Button Armchair With Gold Accents: Here comes more of the ’20s and ’30s vibes with a modern polish. Soft, powdery pink hues fit beautifully with the thin, elegant golden frame. Discrete buttoning inside is a playful moment that doesn’t ruin the overall harmony. This little dame of a chair will surely attract a lot of attention and compliments in any refined room setting.

$558BUY IT Modern White Armchair With a Modern Twist: A true Snowhite among chairs, this exquisite beauty brings a serious dilemma – should we sit and enjoy its comfort, or stay at distance and admire its appeal? The lines are clean but not cold, the finish is refined but not uninviting, and the overall form is structured but not dull. This modern armchair will surely elevate the look of any room.

$733BUY IT Timeless Elegance of a Comfy Green Armchair: Luscious curves of this charming green armchair promise pure comfort while compromising nothing on beauty. Its thin golden legs stand in a stylish juxtapose to the massive shape, adding dynamics without ruining the balance. The featured pillow is a discreet but convenient addition that enhances the overall coziness. This is an ideal chair for a long coffee break of an afternoon tea and cookie session.

$602BUY IT Leather Armchair: The classic-contemporary leather armchair in brown, with sturdy form and buttoned back, is a safe game. This is another timeless piece that can easily fit the industrial-type city apartment interior as well as a rustic countryside cottage. You may choose between adding a pillow to make it warmer and more inviting or leaving it in its natural form as a bolder, more masculine statement.

$290BUY IT Modern Armchair With Chrome Legs: When it comes to the masculine, this retro piece packs a punch. It’s not hard to imagine agent 007 sitting in it, observing a bad guy while playing with one of Q’s pens. Sharp angles, rigid geometric, sleek chrome, bold joints—this mid-century armchair has it all. Don’t get fooled by the appearance, though. It’s still very comfortable.

$296BUY IT Transitional Contemporary Swivel Armchair: This model may bring some warm childhood memories. It’s truly transitional in nature, with a well-known classical design that emphasizes softness, comfort, and simplicity. Velvety finish bears a feeling of warmth and coziness, while the swivel function enhances the convenience of use. This is the armchair for all generations, easy to fit into numerous interior styles.

$430BUY IT Weathered French Country-style Chic: This charming parlor armchair bears the spirit of a true French country style. The nailhead rim connects a solid oak and engineered wood base with chic striped upholstery. The rustic item was hand-curated by Kelly Clarkson and presents a great accent piece for any room. Its versatile elegance is suitable for a country villa as well as a stylish coastal mansion.

$710BUY IT Classic Chesterfield Armchair: If you are looking for a way to add some vintage style to your living space, a classic Chesterfield armchair is an excellent choice. Its solid, massive style is a base for elegantly rolled arms and beautiful tufting, while the luxurious leather finish gives it its final grandiose look. This timeless tufted armchair will effortlessly elevate any seating group.

$840BUY IT Modern Chesterfield Armchair: While the classic Chesterfield armchair is an established statement of refinement and luxury, its modern versions are a treasure of their own. This elaborated, modern armchair features a chrome base and a rigid geometric structure but loses nothing of the original spirit. It presents a very successful transition of a classic, launching it straight to the 21st century.

$960BUY IT Hollywood Glam Style Chesterfield Armchair: Nothing is effortlessly charismatic like the Golden Age of Hollywood. This silky diva brings us back to the time of luscious curves, glamorous femininity and highly polished luxury. While its buttoned upholstery and sensual luster call for a long evening dress and a platin hair, this armchair easily fits any modern interior as an ultimate statement of alluring style.

$235BUY IT Rustic Leather Sling Chair: Safari, anyone? This rustic armchair feels like coming straight from Africa, handcrafted under a coconut tree. A beautiful multicolored wooden frame offers a structured but organic quality. The leather upholstery emits an undeniably pastoral vibe. This chair feels at home anywhere in the country. However, within an eclectic setting, it can perform surprisingly well in the city center too.

$316BUY IT Coastal Style Wingback Armchair : A true transitional piece offers traditional quality with a hint of modern flair. This wingback armchair features beautiful linen upholstery in an inviting silhouette. A silver nailhead trim secures a loose seat cushion and the base on ash-finished, solid wood, turned feet. The striped pattern makes it an ideal choice for a coastal villa, but it will also make a great accent at any other place.

$1080BUY IT Modern Oversized Armchair With Toss Pillows: Sometimes sitting straight is just not enough. Nothing beats the coziness and comfort of an oversized armchair that lets you relax in every meaning of the word. Plenty of room for a variety of position, an abundance of soft pillows and a throw blanket—all that’s left to acquire is a book or a movie. There’s even enough space for some company, too.

$98BUY IT Cuddly Toddler Armchair: Every child needs a huggy, plushy, soft toy of a chair. This is more than a sitting item, it’s the new best friend and protector. Smooth but sturdy, mushy but safe and stable, this comfy giraffe can keep even the most energetic toddler in place…for a while, at least.

$860BUY IT Transparent Transitional Armchair: You like Gothic shapes but not the flamboyant, ornate finishes they commonly feature? There’s a solution. This transparent, transitional armchair is made of clear poly-carbonate, as a bold hybrid of modern materials and a traditional silhouette. Almost invisible, yet guaranteed to attract a lot of attention. Moreover, this is an excellent choice of a statement chair for small rooms. It presents no visible barrier for the eye, thus adding to the optical illusion of spaciousness.

$2200BUY IT Rustic-Industrial Leather Armchair: This rustic-industrial armchair presents a remarkable combination of minimalism and elegance. The rigid geometric shape is upholstered in brown top grain leather, featuring a tight back with wide track arms. A massive, sturdy wooden base sits on the metal spindle legs. Contrasting woven cushion enhances the feeling of comfort and softens the composition, giving it a more contemporary vibe.

$274BUY IT Mid-Century Wingback Armchair in Teal: A mid-century armchair in a perfect teal elevates the style of any seating ensemble. It’s founded on a solid oak wood frame, featuring an iconic silhouette with a dramatic wingback and flared arms. Velvet upholstery with button tufting and detail stitching emphasize the elegance, while foam cushioning provide supportive comfort. This distinctive accent chair will find its place in a variety of interior settings, as a part of any room.

$215BUY IT Classic Red Tufted Armchair This interesting velvet armchair offers an embracing comfort in its dramatic curves, tufted back, and arms. Lustrous highlights and tufted buttons enhance the traditional quality of the classic style while making a perfect fit with the modern color palette. Espresso-finished oak legs further enhance the transitional character of this comfy armchair.

$440BUY IT Orange Armchair: This armchair’s modern personality is embodied in its highly defined geometric shape. Harsh lines are somewhat softened with smooth angles and light curves. However, it’s the pillow-y back that puts a stamp in its comfortable character. The smooth upholstery fits well with simple wooden legs. This is a versatile chair, easy to fit into many diverse settings.

$340BUY IT Rustic Traditional Wooden Armchair: Another Kelly Clarkson French country armchair on our list is made on a solid rubberwood frame. Spindled details along its legs, arms, and back define its character as both rustic and traditional. Plush foam cushions secure the comfortable feeling, together with padded armrests. For added convenience, cushions are removable to enable easy cleaning.

$1160BUY IT Stylish Italian Velvet Armchair: No elegance is stylish and polished as the Italian one. This traditional armchair is beautiful, modern, and stately at the same time. A solid wood frame carries a foam-filled velvet upholstery with a timeless pattern and impeccable luster. A true statement piece of furniture will effortlessly elevate any room as an effective and valuable asset.

$230BUY IT Floral Patterned Armchair: This multiple-use accent chair is a statement on its own, and could easily become your new favorite seat in the house. Its high-density pad is sturdy yet soft, providing ultimate coziness and comfort. The statement pattern adds a chic vibe to your living room or home. Birchwood legs are durable, holding well under pressure to secure a firm foundation for extended use.

$184BUY IT Traditional Victorian Armchair: The dramatic, elegant Victorian armchair is the perfect way to bring the stylish nature of your living space furniture decor to a new level. This chair features a beautifully carved frame with a high back, cushioned foam seating, and swooping arms. Complex and romantic, it’s a great accent in a living room, but also perfect as a vanity addition in a bedroom—or even as a dining chair.

$220BUY IT Wingback armchair: Clean lines of this modern contemporary wingback armchair are perched atop four tapered legs, and wrapped in foam-filled upholstery. Button-tufted details enhance the sense of comfort, delivering a mid-century look at the same time. Rigid geometry emphasizes the modern side of this chair’s character. Its carefully structured silhouette provides a statement of taste while securing a great comfort to support your seating posture.

$1070BUY IT Platner-Inspired Velvet Armchair: The Platner-inspired iconic design of this mid-century armchair features a barrel seat on a gold base, cushioned with gray velvet fabric. The alluring stainless steel frame adds a lot of glamour to the classic design. This high-quality, timeless piece can be used as an accent chair in a living room, but also as a posh dining chair.

$1265BUY IT Contemporary Comfy Armchair: A comfy, contemporary armchair is timeless in its design, while also family-friendly. Despite the gentle appearance, this upholstery is resistant to stains, liquids, and pills. It’s base consists of tapered legs and the frame, both crafted of durable hardwood to ensure maximum stability. Its feather-and-down filled cushions guarantee long-lasting comfort even with prolonged and demanding use.

$899BUY IT Peacock Rattan Armchair: Ever since its worldwide introduction in the early sixties, peacock chair has been a renowned staple of bohemian decor. It’s one of the rare armchair designs that fits equally well indoors and outdoors. This elaborated woven rattan armchair features a delicate line that is both lightweight and sturdy. Decorate it with eclectic pillows, blankets, or even flowers, and add a true vintage statement to your interior.

$1755BUY IT Eclectic Leather Armchair: The geometric parawood frame of this rustic armchair is combined with top-grain leather upholstery and side straps. Leather straps provide this chair with the element of surprise, a hand-crafted touch, and a distinctive pastoral vibe of a ranch life. Although fundamentally rustic in nature, this piece can present a chic addition to any contemporary room.

$1838BUY IT Versatile Coastal Comfy Armchair: With an iconic silhouette with family-friendly fabric, this armchair is a classy transitional mix of the tailored with the traditional. Its streamlined shape provides a modern touch to the classic, elegant rolled arms. The striped pattern gives it a hint of a coastal character. Turned wood legs add to its grace, while the comfy armchair seat is truly made for lounging.

$5638BUY IT Alvar Aalto’s Tank Armchair: The iconic Armchair 400 was first designed by Alvar Aalto for an exhibition at the Milan Triennale. Its nickname “Tank” came from the wide and sturdy armrests made of form-bent birch lamella, as well as its robust upholstery. This frame offers a flexible, comfortable seat that made the timeless chair a crowd’s favorite. Ever since the 1930s, the Tank remains modern, easily adaptable, and fit with any material or pattern.

$1862BUY IT Arne Jacobsen’s Rattan Armchair: Another mid-century vintage yet timeless gem looks and feels effortlessly contemporary. This lounge armchair design by Arne Jacobsen features a sturdy, elegant structure and an anatomic shape. Its striking curvature makes an elegant and comfortable statement, evoking the feeling of a functional sculpture. Ever since its introduction in 1925, the Paris rattan armchair never fails to impress.

$59BUY IT Eames style armchair: The versatile design of this chair makes it a perfect mix of style, practicality, and comfort. The Eames Style Armchair is an iconic designer piece and functional, modern family item, all packed into one simple seat. The shapely form allows you to sit back and relax, while the elaborated composition makes it a great addition to any room, as well as to a dining table.

$2685BUY IT Moooi Nest Chair: This comfy armchair by Marcel Wanders is all about cushions. Its design presents a sturdy yet lightweight net of a linear, clear metal structure. The powder-coated steel frame is suitable even for outdoor use. This nest is padded with the plump, soft pillows in a variety of finishes and patterns, including the signature “flower bits”, filled with mixed foam, feather and fiber flock. All cushion covers can be removed for convenient cleaning.

$1265BUY IT Scandinavian-Style Modern Armchair: The renowned Scandinavian style gets a modern take with this Gus Modern Hilary Chair. It’s a transitional combination of modern fluid curves and tailored lines, with the classical subtle detailing on the high backrest. This is complemented with a splayed, bent, wood base that contrasts the colorful fabric while preserving the signature naturalistic character of true Scandinavian design. The result is a modern furniture piece that is clean, elegant, and versatile.

$1400BUY IT Versatile Philippe Starck Iconic Armchair Design: Philippe Starck’s “Masters” chair for Kartell consists of layered shapes of three classics: the “7 series” chair by Arne Jacobsen, the “Eiffel chair” by Eames, and the “Tulip” by Eero Saarinen. Set together, they form the ultra-sculpted, supporting back of the seat. Slightly redesigned, with gold patina, this armchair presents an ultimate statement of impeccable taste, that elevates the otherwise simple interior to the level of refined luxury.

Recommended Reading:  51 Lounge Chairs That Every Book Lover Dreams About 51 Barrel Chairs with Statement-Piece Potential

The post 51 Armchairs That Add Effortless Comfort To Your Living first appeared on Interior Design Ideas.

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Sweet Smell of Success (1957)

When Alexander Mackendrick’s Sweet Smell of Success was released to theaters in 1957, critics noted the film’s seeping ironies, its jaded tones. The film’s cast and crew might have been surprised that the film’s target – gossip columnist Walter Winchell, who wielded the power of his typewriter for libelous attempts to destroy the career of his personal and professional enemies – has faded into historical obscurity. Yet charlatans and peddlers of “alternative facts” will always be a feature of popular culture and politics; ambitious individuals wielding their fame and stature for ill are to be opposed. All of these themes intersect in Sweet Smell of Success, which stars Burt Lancaster as the Winchell-esque columnist and Tony Curtis as a publicist looking to push his clients further up the rungs of professional success. The world shown in the film – of smoke-filled, high-end Manhattan restaurants, oversized apartments for oversized personalities, and the soggy streets of a chilly New York – is seen as zero-sum to its central characters, making casualties of those who make their acquaintance.

J.J. Hunsecker (Lancaster) is the New York columnist, whose fiery pieces can ruin careers in a few sentences. He has tasked desperate publicist Sidney Falco (Curtis), whose flailing career is not what he envisioned for himself, to have his Hunsecker’s sister Susan (Susan Harrison) break up with jazz guitarist Steve Dallas (Martin Milner; who has sometimes been criticized for his uninteresting acting here – a development who I think plays into the relational dynamics between J.J. and Susan) – who are secretly engaged to marry. Falco has found little success, but his prospects brighten when he convinces a rival columnist to fabricate a story that Dallas is a marijuana-smoking Communist – yes, younger readers, marijuana usage could destroy a career at one point. But Hunsecker, after a confrontation with Dallas, wants to mutilate the young musician’s image, and requests that Falco frame Dallas and have him assaulted by a crooked policeman (Emile Meyer). Falco refuses, believing that proposal to be unprincipled – he changes his mind when offered to write Hunsecker’s column during a vacation.

Whether intentional or not, The Sweet Smell of Success is in some ways reminiscent of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. The banner to Hunsecker’s column in the fictional newspaper and across advertising boards in Manhattan are the top of Lancaster’s head – his hair, his eyes and squarish glasses. This striking column banner recalls the billboard eyes of T.J. Eckleburg in Gatsby – which, to explain for the sake of brevity, symbolized the emptiness of the American Dream and God’s eyes looking upon the moral wastefulness of those all around – and serves, in Sweet Smell of Success, as a reminder of Hunsecker’s influence over police, politicians, pushy publicists. The introduction of both Gatsby and Hunsecker in their respective works occurs later than most would anticipate, having first established the dilemmas of a character through whom the story is told. The relationship between Gatsby and Nick Carraway is an imperfect parallel to that of Hunsecker and Falco, but both pairs have a mutual regard for the other half of their friendship, and both Nick and Falco are used as means to an abusive, sexually-laced end (where Gatsby is attempting to reconnect with his old flame, Daisy, there are hints of either asexuality or incestuous feelings towards Susan on Hunsecker’s part).

Repressed sexuality and loneliness – Falco and Hunsecker have acquaintances in which they gather information on others, but do they have anybody that they could trust fully in spilling out their vulnerabilities – are a notable feature to Sweet Smell of Success, despite being set in the heart of America’s largest city and being surrounded by women immodest by 1950s standards. Screenwriters Ernest Lehman (on whose novelette this film is based on; Lehman was also slated as director but had to depart from that and his screenwriting roles before production began due to health concerns) and Clifford Odets combine Hunsecker’s serrated eloquence (in a scene where he is introducing Falco to a United States Senator)...:

Mr. Falco, let it be said at once, is a man of forty faces, not one – none too pretty, and all deceptive. You see that grin? That's the... Charming Street Urchin face... He's got a half-dozen faces for the ladies. But the one I like, the really cute one, is the quick, dependable chap... Mr. Falco, whom I did not invite to sit at this table tonight, is a hungry press agent, and fully up to all the tricks of his very slimy trade.

... and Falco’s street-like conciseness (”The cat’s in the bag and the bag’s in the river.”) It has been reported that Lehman (1959′s North by Northwest, 1965′s The Sound of Music, 1967′s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?) was most responsible for the former, and Odets (1944′s None but the Lonely Heart, 1946′s Humoresque, 1954′s The Country Girl), who was brought in the finalize the screenplay, contributed most to the latter.

With Burt Lancaster and Tony Curtis starring, the Lehman-Odets screenplay has two tremendous actors to verbally spar with the other. Curtis, then contracted to Universal, had to fight his home studio to star in Sweet Smell of Success as Universal executives had grown dependent on Curtis’ image as a charming matinee idol. In this one picture for United Artists and Burt Lancaster’s co-owned production company of Hecht-Hill-Lancaster, Curtis did just that. He’s still a pretty boy here – hell, even one of the characters makes such a suggestion – but is a dangerous figure whose characterization is not softened even when Curtis (and the screenwriters) is offered the opportunity to do so. Burt Lancaster, who can sometimes be so forceful in his performances one might swear he was a Method actor exudes a restrained, but whip-cracking ruthlessness in Sweet Smell of Success. Lancaster, capable of physically challenging roles and also reportedly clashed with Mackendrick’s direction throughout shooting, is nevertheless a physical menace in the less-cluttered scenes when he is alone with the likes of Harrison or Curtis. Even the choice of glasses for Lancaster’s character of Hunsecker emphasizes his character’s tastes of political and cultural influence, staring intently into the anxieties and fears of the person sitting across from him.

The man responsible for the glasses and Sweet Smell of Success’ atmosphere was cinematographer James Wong Howe. Howe’s suggestion for these thick-rimmed glasses proved an asset – especially when Lancaster is filmed from above his browline. Combined with the occasional smudging of Vaseline on those lens, Howe's decisions allow Lancaster’s eyes to be hidden behind an oily glare – concealing part of his reactions at certain moments of the film. Howe, an under-celebrated figure in Hollywood history who wore an “I am Chinese” pin to escape anti-Japanese remarks while serving as Warner Bros.’ first-choice cinematographer the decade before, photographs New York City in the early or late wintertime, amid the lights of midtown Manhattan as well as the Times Square/Broadway area. Unlike the Times Square of the present day, there was no LED lighting or enormous panels that filled the sides of buildings in the 1950s, so even among the lights there are areas of darkness that Howe uses to capture the anonymity of individuals passing through his lens outside. Howe and Mackendrick, while scouting locations for Sweet Smell of Success, devised plans to begin scenes from Manhattan exteriors – shooting at low angles to emphasize the characters’ entrapment – and follow characters as they made their way indoors. Numerous indoor scenes – restaurants, nightclubs – are filled with extras. Howe, an early user of deep-focus cinematography, captures an inordinate amount of background movement in these frames. But this decision never distracts from what plot developments are occurring directly in front of the camera; the deep focus deepens the secrecy of Hunsecker and Falco’s stratagems, and provides Sweet Smell of Success an authenticity that would never have been accomplished if this film was shot by someone other than Howe or if Mackendrick had made the decision to shoot on a set.

Composer Elmer Bernstein (1956′s The Ten Commandments, 1960′s The Magnificent Seven, 1962′s To Kill a Mockingbird), the son of a Ukrainian-American mother and Austro-Hungarian father, was a classically trained pianist who had graduated from Juilliard and studied composition with Aaron Copland. So it is all the more surprising that Bernstein, nearing the pinnacle of what would be a sixty-year career, composed a score mostly cued in the style of West Coast jazz to accompany events onscreen – some of this score even appears as diegetic music performed by the Chico Hamilton Quintet. The harmonies are unusually layered for an Elmer Bernstein composition, alongside an unorthodox instrumentation during the jazz quintet scenes – which includes cello, flute, and guitar. The harshest repeating theme – and there are few discernible leitmotifs in Bernstein’s score (another oddity given Bernstein’s compositional history and this era of film scoring) – is saved for the most dramatic moments involving Falco, and is best used at the film’s opening and closing minutes.

Sweet Smell of Success, in some ways, fulfills the promise of the synchronized sound film: uniting the communicability of moving imagery with the expressiveness enabled by music and diction. The film’s moving parts are numerous, operating with breathtaking efficiency and meticulous artistry. Is a figure like Walter Winchell or, in the case of Mackendrick’s film, a J.J. Hunsecker, relevant for cinematic audiences or – more broadly – a general public? Nationally-syndicated newspaper columnists still wield some influence, but the democracy of information and misinformation in a technologically-advanced, interconnected world has changed where the Winchells and Hunseckers might disperse their reckless rhetoric. Their motivations to exert power through their words – at least, in the view of Mackendrick, Lehman, and Odets – might force sycophants and flatterers to bend to their will, but such behavior creates enemies from unwilling friends, unwilling friends from authority-starved or actually starving bystanders. Whether or not individuals still operate like that – they need not be newspaper columnists or publicists – is a debatable point. But this story of mutual admiration through a litany of deceit and deceptions with total abandon is as immediate and salient as it has ever been.

My rating: 10/10

^ Based on my personal imdb rating. Sweet Smell of Success is the one hundred and thirty-eighth film I have rated a ten on imdb.

Close Encounters With the Truth

I was recently listening to a recording of Anthony de Mello, an inspirational Jesuit priest and psychotherapist when something he said stopped me in my tracks.  The story that he told seemed to go to the heart of what it means to be honest with ourselves.  It also spoke to what has gone terribly wrong in our society regarding what we call The Truth, a  problem that seems to have reached some kind of critical mass in the era of Trump.             

 De Mello describes a lecture that he was giving to a group of fellow Jesuits regarding certain tribal cultures.  The central idea had to do with how innocent and good these people were before ever having read  the gospel or known anything of Christianity.  Following the presentation, he was approached by an elderly Catholic missionary who had devoted the last forty years of his life to working with the very tribes de Mello had been speaking about.  The question that this clergyman posed struck me as remarkable for its courage and its candor.  He said the following:

 “ I’ve been reflecting on what you spoke about today and wonder if I haven’t spoiled these people  by introducing Christianity into lives that already possess  innocence and goodness.”

 One thing that I take away from this story has to do with the willingness of an individual to consider a view of the world contrary to what he had always believed to be true - to allow doubt to cast a shadow on something he once thought of as God’s work.  Regardless of what we may personally believe or feel about the work of missionaries, we can still marvel at the strength and faith that this priest displayed.  When confronted with evidence challenging the value of what had been his life’s work, he was willing to question whether his efforts had been of any value at all.

 I can’t say whether or not the truth will always set us free or even that we’ll feel better having faced a truth.  What  I can say from my experience as a family member and from what I’ve learned from my work with families is that our life-long relationship with the truth is possibly the most important connection that we will ever have.

 Sometimes I find myself asking clients faced with an important life decision, “In your heart of hearts what do you believe to be true?”  Often, the underlying questions I am asking are: “How well do you really know yourself?”  and,  ”Do you honestly feel that you can live with this situation or relationship in your life without it eroding your sense of self?”

 Polonius’s final words of advice to Hamlet in Shakespeare’s most performed play is: “Above all else to thine own self be true.”   The wisdom that he offers Hamlet beyond the virtue of being honest with himself  has to do with being courageous in the face of difficult realities.  I take this to mean that we place ourselves in jeopardy when we ignore or deny what we underlyingly know to be true.  The reason that we avoid exploring things more deeply is usually because they frighten us or take us out of our zone of comfort.

 Close encounters with the truth can also arise in our jobs and careers. One run-in that I had with the truth had to do with my work as a family therapist.  With the benefit of hindsight I can say that in the 1990s I had  “fallen in love” with an approach to treatment called family systems therapy and the theories of Murray Bowen.  This approach had been very helpful to me in my work on my own family issues and some clients of mine reported growth in other parts of their lives after having examined and established more mature relationships with extended family members.                                                                                                                            

The danger I fell prey to was believing that the theory should work in all cases even when some of my experiences with clients didn’t support that conclusion.   I was finding that there were clients of mine with more severe symptoms - usually eating disorders and post- trauma problems - who seemed to derive little benefit from this type of treatment.   It was emotionally difficult for me to let go of my belief in the universality of this approach.  But I would have eventually faced my own crisis of honesty and integrity had I continued to apply a method that was contradicted by the evidence that I was witnessing in my daily work.                                                                                                                            

“The Fog of War,”  a 2003  documentary memoir of  Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara was a film that left me with a deep respect for truth telling as confessional - a  public figure’s way of making amends for policies that wreaked death and destruction on entire populations.  McNamara was a figure reviled by the American Left in the 1960’s, one of the architects of the Vietnam War and a Pentagon number cruncher who always came across  to me as devoid of feelings and humanity.   But watching this frail eighty-five year old bare his soul and humbly admit to the miscalculations and moral failures of himself and others during that era was a lesson in humility.  I felt like I was witnessing  a different kind of power in his willingness to tell the truth.  And this in turn left me with a begrudging respect for a man whom I had once held in contempt.

 It is important that we bring truth to bear in our careers and in examining the regrets we may carry around past decisions that we have made, but it is our intimate relationships that challenge us to face the most difficult truths about ourselves and others.  As a couples’ counselor I have found that  almost all marital problems are crises of honesty in one form or another.  Resentments build when people ignore or deny the sincere criticisms and requests their partners offer them.  Our narcissism becomes the enemy of the truth when we are unwilling to take a closer look at the negative and sometimes even destructive aspects of ourselves.   

 Another reason that we are susceptible to lying to ourselves and distorting the truth is because of our early need to be cared for and to trust our caregivers.  This leaves us forever vulnerable to the self-deception of being seduced.  Life partners, friends and relatives can become surrogate and symbolic caregivers who can abuse their positions of power and exploit the powers that we hand over to them.  This kind of adulation can extend to gurus and politicians who we deeply want to believe in.

  I have sat in my office with emotionally and even physically battered women who have defended the husbands who abused them daily.  They would insist that, “ Underneath his hurtful behaviors I know that he really loves me.”  When I have inquired further about any evidence they might have to support that belief they generally have had little to offer.  When we create mythologies around other human beings and brainwash ourselves into believing that they are OK when they are not, we do so at our own risk.  We also harm the other person whose distorted ideas and behaviors remain unchallenged.

 The denial of reality that I have witnessed in women who defend their abusive partners is part of what we are witnessing in the election of and continued support by large segments of our population for Donald Trump.  The idea that underneath his crass bombast he is really a good guy who is looking out for us, the common people, is almost identical to the myths that women create about their abusive partners. The fact that Trump is himself a chronic liar is compelling in itself, but the daily reports of his breaking major campaign promises is something  that few can deny.  And yet that denial of reality is exactly what is happening with his political base.  The cruel irony of the Trump phenomenon is that the people who saw him as the authentic, straight-talking, non-politician who would “drain the Washington swamp” and fight for the little guy now have significant evidence to prove that they were betrayed once again.

 Trump’s assault on the truth is part of an epic, global battle that will probably determine the direction of the entire world.  The Russia connection and Putin’s placing his thumb on the American electoral process by hacking into computers and planting fake news on the internet is designed to create confusion and undermine our democratic institutions, raising the question, “is there anything that we can believe in or trust?  On-going investigations will soon determine whether there was collusion between Putin and Trump’s election campaign that could have tilted the election in Trump's favor.  Many people are left with the question: Who do we believe? - the press and investigative agencies or a leader and his own media entourage who daily attack mainstream journalists and declare that what they are exposing is  “fake news?”

 The Trump regime certainly seems to have an Orwellian character built on distortion and lies.  In the dystopian novel 1984, Big Brother’s credo for the masses is, “War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery and Ignorance is Strength.”  In this absolutist, totalitarian state the “Department of Justice” is the agency of torture and mind control.  But is this “new-think” much different from the Environmental Protection Agency in the era of Trump which is headed by the very man who sued it multiple times in the past, is rapidly dismantling regulations on the chemical and oil industries, and is being “advised” by the lawyers of the corporations that it is charged with regulating?  Is this all part of what activist Naomi Klein has called the “Shock Doctrine?” - a flipping of reality on its head and sowing confusion about what is real? - a further softening us up as a prelude to our acceptance of  the authority, protection and wisdom of the Great Leader?

 Much is at stake in the willingness of people to be open enough to re-examine what they hold to be true.  What is in jeopardy has to do with some people’s very survival - the  coverage they receive in our American healthcare system and the environmental fate of our planet.  The direction we move in as a nation may be based in large part on the willingness of a portion of our society to take an honest look at the political package they were sold and to consider fighting back against the beginnings of  tyranny.  Or, on the other hand, will people double down on what they'd rather believe to be the truth out of some misplaced loyalty and shame, without ever considering the facts or other possibilities?

 If we connect the dots, we can begin to draw a line between the Jesuit priest who was listening to the DeMelo lecture, Defense Secretary McNamara’s early look backs at his role during the Vietnam War, the person in a relationship who knows that she is not being treated in the way that she deserves and the citizen in a democracy who is confronted with critical political choices that challenge his ingrained prejudices and group loyalties.  What each is being called upon to struggle  with is his relationship with the truth.  This is the part of our humanity that may be even deeper than the influences of social class, gender, race and  culture.  It has to do with the qualities we all need to cultivate in order to get things right in our personal lives and in our society -  curiosity, honesty, courage and the willingness to be open to new ideas.  They are the parts of our humanity that may unsettle us, but may also bring on the necessary internal shake-ups that challenge our narrow, tribal beliefs.  Hopefully, they will keep us on a never ending quest for what is true.    

4, 12, 18, 19, 34

Has your character ever witnessed something that fundamentally changed them? If so, does anyone else know? When Akira was very young, he overheard his mother talking about him in one of her dark moments, and while he did not understand her words, he could feel the emotion behind them. It was in that moment that he realized that there was something about him that was different from everyone else in his home. That memory has stayed with him, and while Akira has long since forgiven his mother, it significantly affected how he saw himself and how he should conduct himself when it came to her (and others). 

In what situation was your character the most calm they’ve ever been? The first time he held his niece in his arms has and will always be the calmest Akira has ever been. Akira has always loved babies/children, and their presence had always been met with excitement. He was the little kid that was making funny faces at all the babies he spotted at the park just to get them to smile. It was not until he held Hana in his arms that a sense of peace washed over him, and she instantly became the apple of his eye. It was his first taste of true fragility, and every face she made was perfect. He vowed that day that he would be her best friend, and that little girl has had him wrapped around her pinky ever since. 

Is your character more likely to admire wisdom, or ambition in others? Akira is a seeker of knowledge at his core. He admires wisdom a great deal and places the most value on it over ambition. This does not mean a person needs to spit out a bunch of facts on space or history to be admired. Wisdom is also reflected in how much a person knows about themselves as well. There was a long period of time when Akira was at a loss as to who he was as a person, and he greatly admires those who have grown to accept themselves and their flaws. This is something he is still working on in his adulthood. 

What is your character’s biggest relationship flaw? Has this flaw destroyed relationships for them before? Akira’s biggest relationship flaw is that when he loves, he loves hard, and that has led to situations where he has quieted parts of himself in order to fit within the puzzle. He will do just about anything to make something work, even if that means possibly hurting himself in the process. This is something he has picked up in his childhood and has found the behavior very difficult to shake off.  As a child, Akira felt as if he had to fight for his mother’s love and had to prove himself worthy. In many ways, this mentality has followed him into adulthood, in that he tries very hard to present himself as worthy of love/affection in any capacity. He is that friend that will pick you up at 4 am when you’re having a shitty day. He is that lover who will try whatever sparks your interest at least once even if he is unsure of it. He puts his best foot forward in hiding what he feels are his undesirable traits in order to be accepted. His ultimate goal in any relationship (friendship or romantic) is to be with someone who accepts him for who he is, and not what he could be. His behavior causes him great conflict within himself. You can’t find true acceptance if you’re not being your most authentic self, and while Akira is very much who he presents himself to be, he also has darkness and a number of insecurities, too. His last brush with a possible relationship did not end very nicely, both in part of himself and the other party. Instead of speaking up on what he had noticed, Akira stayed silent, held back and soften himself in what he hoped would give the other person time to find acceptance. Akira is not selfish in his quest to find acceptance, he is aware of the struggle in other people, too. But there are times when being honest would have possibly worked out in both parties favors, and saved some hurt. 

Is your character more likely to keep trying a solution/method that didn’t work the first time, or immediately move on to a different solution/method? Akira uses the scientific approach to most things in that he will question what he has noticed, formulate a hypothesis on what he feels could be going on, test his theory, analyze the results, and retest if need be. If the first method didn’t work then something else might, and he is open to trying whatever it takes. 

In my previous post about Presentation, and positive Representation, I listed many of the first times I saw Myself. Because of shows like The Cosby Show and A different World, we now have so much Black Love and Excellence seen on TV today. I am proud to be a youth in a society where my people are renaming what is is to be Black, the ivtersectionalities that exist in our community. I am proud to see a vast color spectrum, a variety of Continental Africans, Western African Americans, Caribbean, and West Indians. The fact that I can choose which beautiful melanin drenched scripted magic that enforces our Glo. It is trailblazers like Donald Glover, Issa Rae, Ava Duvernay, and Mara Brock Akil, that continue to push us forward and make it alright for us to Shine. This list encompasses my favorite shows that promote healthy living healthy black plight and success in the black community. The shows don’t glamorize or dehumanize black people to un-attainable level but rather show the real in the black community, giving real models not role models. I’m blessed to have such positive and real representations in my life that are relatable while being a guide and versions of what life can be in both negative and positive reinforcements. The first of the many beautiful productions is Queen Sugar.

“Queen Sugar is a visually stunning production, making the most of the waterlogged bayous and swampy farmland of rural Louisiana.”(Saraiya) This colorful description of how Queen Sugar’s production is a visually pleasing aesthetic that takes the mud and swamp and makes it powerful and poetic. Queen Sugar is epic with its glossed frames and natural back drops. Using the actual land to bounce of the melodic skin tones of its leading stars Rutina Wesley, Dawn-Lyen Gardner, Kofi Siriboe playing the conflicted Bordelon siblings. The rough lives of community organizer, wife coping with adultery and separation, and a convict turned business man makes for many interesting tales. This contemporary drama, created by Ava Duvernay (my shero) with writing credits from Anthony Sparks, and on Oprah Winfrey’s network, stands in the sun and speak Confidence. I am Here is the theme for almost all of the positive shows on this list.  The impactful and strategy dedicated filming is important to note. From the director of photography Ava Berkofsk of Insecure, to executive producer Ava Duvernay of Queen Sugar new tactics of shaping black faces has become major in creating these needed figures.  “The sunlight filters through the clouds and over the shoulders of the Bordelon family with celluloid fluidity, rendering everything within the frame weirdly beautiful”(Saraiya). The importance of Queen Sugar is the humanizing of the south and the softening of our stereotype’s of it. The south is gorgeous, hot, sweaty, has good food, ghetto/country people, very masculine, behind in the times, and all about cooking, farming, and family. These are many stereotypes and fantasies of what the Black South life looks like. Queen Sugar stands up to the bar in order to show some discourse in the dehumanization of people with African ancestry. Although Aunt Vi can throw down and prepare food for her family she has aspirations for her talents. Being an ex-con doesn’t make Rah an unjust person it doesn’t take away from his heart. He is the personification of Tough Times not Lasting but Tough People lasting. While Nova likes to dance and enjoy the herb of the earth she also stands for a cause that isn’t just herself, she stands for her people. To be honest we all found Charlie extremely strong, to leave Davis, along with others I thought she was a role model of how to act with strength in abundance. But that over examination of black women has been in our movies, shows, and literature. Charlie’s character defies this. Having moments of breaking down, and being vulnerable is okay, and even better we will go on. I thank them for the tearing down and rebuilding of the black face. Thankful for the representation.

“…Because the lens so actively humanizes the Bordelons even as others in the narrative would diminish them.”

If we don’t tell our stories and show our face who will?

Continuing to look at how production and media representation is changing, the next show that is standing in truth and reality is Insecure. The white director of photography on Insecure, Ava Berkofsk, wants every scene to be aesthetically pleasing, like a photograph or painting. She says “When I was in film school, no one ever talked about lighting non-white people. There are all these general rules about lighting people of colour, like throw green light or amber light at them. It’s weird.”(Eweniyi)

 The reason for this teaching is because the world we live in and the society we stay in have said white people are the worthy, they are going to be the ones on tv shows and movies so we need to not worry about how to light black skin because there will be no black skin in our all white cast. It is important that we are treated and seen as the prepossessing, light defying kings and queens that we are. Insecure captures that. With its writing on real issues that affect young black adults navigating who they are in their communities how to impact their communities and societies for the better, how women are viewed especially black women, and who is the narrator of our experience. The show brings to the table discussion of sexuality and how women are hindered by what they pursue, and how double standards afflict the black community by destroying itself from the inside out. It touches on losing our selves on the journey of life and how we can find our identity once again. There is talk about this show alone saving the “Black Sitcom,” and I believe in it. The ideals of teaching lessons thru humor and good dialogue are what our 90s Black sitcom was built on. The resurgence of genuine music and reality balancing each other out is giving us Soulful renditions of our movies and childhood. We are yet again given a model who exemplifies what is it like to be flawed and living in it day by day. Issa has repeated over and over that she didn’t want to create a show about “the struggle of being black,” but rather, one about “regular black people living life.” Which is a poetic way of giving different perspectives into how we live and continue to rise higher. I am thankful for this representation, and I am thankful to Issa Rae, Melina Matsoukas, Yvonne Orji, Amanda Seales, Natasa Rothwell, and Ava Berkofsk, I see you.

Honorable Mention: On January 10, 2018 at 8:30 on Freeform formally known as ABC family, Grown-ish the clever spin-off of Black-ish will premiere. The parallel of Cosby Show and A Different World, Brownish is exactly what college students like me are looking for. Similar to Denise’s story on The Cosby Show, Zoe goes to a fictional school, away from home leaving behind her younger siblings. Gratitude for this much needed series is more than overdue. For young-adults like me who love A Different World and aspire to be like the characters, having our own A Different World will be powerful. We Thank You Kenya Barris.

Dear White People, even with the freaking title we stepping on necks. Like honestly, this show was one of the best things to come out of this terrible year. With the alternative perspectives and new faces the meaning of what it is to be unapologetically black push through. The show is close to my own experience now, besides the bomb ass love life Sam has, with the pulling of many black groups, the division we face at PWI’s both from white people, disconnect with authority, and the hard journey of one of our most thought of attributes. Being black isn’t saying Dear White People you all are racist, insensitive, horrible, malicious people, but the show focuses on the pointing out of differences not ignoring them but the steps to readjust and fix the oppression that continues on our community. From intersectionalities and finding oneself through characters like Lionel, to the common feeling of trying to make black parents proud despite your goals in Troy, the outright nobility and courage in Reggie, the fear of failing and heavy value on americanization in Coco, and the restlessness and eager spirit of liberation and logic of Sam. Dear White People excels. I’m thankful for the experience of a black community at a White Institution. For me going to Towson is similar to DWP description of Winchester College. Issues like having more Black organizations than you can recall, and all being different in their own right, to slightly being attracted to a white boy, and feeling this betrays your Pro-Black personality, to the dynamic of having all white classmates who aren’t remotely close to you and all under the direction of a White Male teacher. So I thank Justin Simien for your bravery and transparent authenticity.

     Another Honorable Mention: Survivors Remorse gives us a glimpse into why many of our pro athletes go broke, get caught up, or loose the bag all together. This show has taken many turns but I am glad to say I still love it- Even tho they killed off my Unc Julius. Still salty on that one.

Everyone’s favorite show to hate and love, Power always ignites a fire in black people to see a Boss like Ghost battle with keeping his footing in his place with success. From Black mothers being mad because Ghost starts falling in love with a white girl (who isn’t even really white, but because she isn’t black- she’s white), and siding with Tasha. To Tommy being a completely impulsive and un-resistable tough guy, who men love to watch. To Ghost making us fall for his charisma, fear his ambition, and be weary of his choices. Only one word sums the feeling of this show- Power.

From Mahershala Ali’s unforgettable, incomparable, and unbelievable performance as Cotton-mouth in only seven episodes, to Mike Colter’s  irresistible stone face, Luke Cage makes us proud to be one of the newest Black Supper Hero series.

Honorable Mention: The Get Down and The Life of Jessica James. The series takes place in the Bronx during the 70s, and is all about the discovery of self through the arts, essentially music.

The parallels of different in the black community which usually end up being represented as weird. The fashionable love the 5 Kings have for each other. The rejection aesthetic that Jessica toys with. The love for the moments they all encompass. I’m thankful for both of these representations. I was initially so sad, and heated that Netflix pulled this all POC/black show, due to ‘funding,’ because I felt this was about race. But the way we can look at this is in the aspect of shows like Freaks and Geeks who only had one season and stand as Iconic, so Will the Get Down. Also sidebar Jessica James should be a series, she is literally a style, and self icon. I appreciate the representation.

This show made me wish the people who left my life wellness, had me write a new post-it every minute I felt ANYTHING, and made me see a glimpse of what my life could maybe consist of. Being Mary Jane. A show that doesn’t get enough attention or notoriety,  but doesn’t need it. It pulls its weight in dialogue and interest in the community and isn’t affected by its lack of awards nor nominations. Of course as a day one fan of the show since the movie/pilot, I wish that one year my girl Gabriel Union would’ve swept best actress, or we would’ve won best  Drama, but so is life. Being Mary Jane does a purposeful job and is deliberate. Of-course it has its times where we do not agree with the subject matter or find it demeaning, but this is seldom. The show gives us enough to be proud of and even more to relate to as growing black women in our careers. It gives light and passion on who we are and can be. I am thankful for this representation of a successful women who truly doesn’t have it all together, a real model. I praise you Mara Brock Akil and Gabriel Union.

Lastly and principally on the list is Golden Globe and Emmy winner, Atlanta. A dream winner who deserved all the accolades we wished them. This epic triggered so many emotions and did so in only one season. Remarkable is the only word to describe the progress. Many counted the rapper Childish Gambino out, thinking how can a rapper know anything of how to make a realistic and interesting show. But the realness Donald Glover brings to the screen is unbearable. From the light and cinematography to the use of trap music, rap, and social issues that strictly matter to the exploration of self, Atalanta is a crazy representation for real life. I praise Donald and Stephen Glover, Lakeith, Zazie, and Brian.

As I said in the first part of this two series epic, these beautiful people continue to promote positive energy for us as adolescence and young adults. It is major to my perspective especially, going to a PWI, that I have loved forced on me in different ways. The shows and short film up top have done just that. As the great hood scholar Tupac Amaru Shakur said “Marvin Gaye use to sing to me, He had me feeling like BLACK was the thing to be…” These souls are speaking to me and re-enforcing in me that Black indeed is the thing to be. We are More than Enough, Worthy, Beautiful, Important, and Needed, we continue to Shine, and to be amongst this ensemble of historic past and future makes me intensively proud each day. Peace x

  Positive Representation: How We continue to Shine In my previous post about Presentation, and positive Representation, I listed many of the first times I saw Myself.

How to Raise a Strong, Independent, Bitchy Woman

We're happy to present this article by Laura Lifshitz from one of our favorite sites, YourTango. I am not a b*tch all the time, sadly. I am a go-getter and I am usually straightforward about how I feel, but I don't assert myself like a b*tch does. Why would I want to be a b*tch, you ask? And what is a b*tch, b*tch? Well, to the outside world, the word "b*tch" has a negative connotation: a nasty woman who tears others down and selfishly only acts in her own interests. A b*tch cares about nobody but herself! But I've reframed the definition to be positive and I'm recommending - yes, recommending - that you raise your girls to be b*tches. Here's how: 1. A b*tch never diminishes her character. A b*tch is a female who acts in her own interests and considers others' needs as well, but not to the point of diminishing her own character. There have been times in my life when I have been a dreadful doormat. I said yes to things I didn't want to say yes to, and reluctantly let men walk all over me. A b*tch thinks of others - but not to the point in which her self-esteem and life suffers. When my daughter told a 40-year-old man to "please move" because it was her turn during a game of basketball, I was impressed with her chutzpah. Was she direct? Yes? Did she hurt him? No! She acted in her own interest in a healthy manner. A b*tch doesn't apologize for taking care of herself. Encourage your girls to speak out when someone is hurting them or treating them badly. Encourage your girls to articulate what they need from you and other people. When they have grown up, you won't be there to speak for them, so teach them to speak for themselves now. 2. A b*tch does not apologize for her feelings. One day, a strong woman somewhere decided to say how she felt without dumbing it down, softening the blow, or apologizing for her feelings before she opened her mouth. And then she was called a b*tch. I ask each one of you: how great does it really feel to always have to "soften" the blow about your hurt or angry feelings? Do you feel amazing when you have to apologize for your emotions? It sucks. It sucks to have to cater to everyone else. Do men do that? Not usually. If being a b*tch means telling people how you feel honestly and being able to stand up for yourself, then sign my daughter up today for the course on "How to Be a B*tch." I cultivate honesty in my daughter and tell her that if others make her feel bad, she needs to speak up and then ignore them and walk away. I teach her that she doesn't need to be around negative people and that when someone hurts her or makes her angry, she should speak up and say something - even if it's me she's mad at! Nurture that trait in your little girl: say something and don't be afraid. Most importantly, reconceptualize what it means to be assertive and female. Asserting yourself does not make you a jerk: being an aggressor does. Women are happier and stronger when they can assert themselves in healthy ways and not reduce themselves to passive-aggressive behavior. 3. A b*tch is not a "good girl." We often tell our daughters to be "good girls." What this typically means is please share, be quiet, avoid making mischief, and be polite. These are all wonderful and good, of course - nobody wants a rude child. But sometimes when we tell our girls to be good and quiet, we're actually saying, "Don't speak up, don't question anything, and do what everyone else wants you to do!" This is problematic. Do you want to raise a follower or a leader? Sure, not every person will be a leader, but if you can foster a sense of independence in your girl, you're giving her a leg up in the adult world later in life. Let your child do things for herself. Give her chores. My 4-year-old feeds the dog, sets the table, and puts her dirty laundry in the hamper. I am teaching her that she can own her own actions. When she's rude to someone, I make her solve the problem. I've had her apologize to a cashier before when she was only 2 years old. When she's with kids and they're acting out or perhaps she's bordering on making a bad choice, I ask her to think about it. I let her learn from her own natural consequences. If she can make a choice that won't hurt anyone, like pick her own clothes or decide an activity for the day, I let her. And sharing? Sharing is important, but let's be real here: sometimes we don't want to share our stuff - and that's OK. Teaching your kid when to share and when to say, "Sorry, this is my piece of cake," is crucial. Nourish that independent spirit in your daughter. That quote, "Well–behaved women rarely make history," is right for a reason. Embrace your daughter's right to be a b*tch. She will succeed later on in life. 4. A b*tch can do anything the boys can do. No b*tch (i.e., a successful, strong woman) believes she just "can't" do something because it's out of her skill set or not for women. When you start to segregate how "this is for girls" and "that is for boys," you essentially tell your daughter there are only certain things fit for her to do. False! The world is your child's oyster. Don't put up walls for her to break down: our society will give her walls to conquer as it is. There is no such thing as impossible. Let your daughter know this. Even if she wants to do something that's naturally difficult for her, cheer her on and let her figure out how to tackle her own goals and dreams. A b*tch owns her choices, pushes ahead, and goes for what she wants. Which would you rather be? A doormat whimpering in the corner? Or a b*tch who's eating that cake with a smile? Who is your daughter? Face it. Your daughter is who she is, whether that's quiet, bossy, demure, loud, or tough. Accept it and love her for her flaws, no matter what. My daughter is very blunt and doesn't sugarcoat what she thinks. While it sometimes surprises me to hear this little person's two cents served up straight, I admire her and know where I stand with her at all times. She's not like her sensitive Mama and that's fine. When we accept our children as is - rather than how we imagined them to be - we give them the permission to live authentically, and this should be what we want for our kids. A happy, true life. No one needs to pretend to be someone he or she is not. Allow your girl to be who she is with no apologies necessary. B*tches know who they are - and not only do they accept that, but they love themselves whether they're crazy as a bedbug or quiet as a mouse. You want your daughter to love herself, not hide out in a corner, hoping no one notices who she is, flaws and all. I have lived most of my life halfway between a doormat and a b*tch. I have always walked to the beat of my own drum and expressed how I felt, but I've also felt bad for who I was at times, apologized too much, and doubted my own potential. After my divorce, I am becoming more and more of a b*tch, and I'm glad. It is a long time coming. I refuse to let my daughter spend a day being sorry for who she is, and so should you. Raise your b*tch and raise her proud. We need strong female leaders to find a backdoor and say, "Screw the glass ceiling. I've got my entryway and I found it all by myself." More great reads from YourTango: Dear Moms: If Your Kid's Whiny, You Only Have Yourself to Thank The Life-Changing Lesson My Dad Taught Me After My Divorce 4 Reasons Promising to Love Someone "Forever" Is a Load of Sh*t NO, Asking to Be "Dominated" Doesn't Make Me Less of a Feminist 5 Stages of "New Person Sex" Every Divorced Woman Goes Through http://bit.ly/2n7aHS0