tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3925596787030297432022-11-07T19:01:44.983-06:00Simple Syrup - A Sweet Mix of LifeOne woman's musings on life, contemporary issues, and random things that bring her joy.Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10221797602545825383noreply@blogger.comBlogger75125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-392559678703029743.post-32891480278114002182016-10-08T08:00:00.000-05:002016-10-08T08:00:20.755-05:00What's Your Favorite (Campy) Scary Movie?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img alt="woman screaming in shower" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8np8FF1hoSw/V_icky4V0vI/AAAAAAAAB4s/QHW4qYIN38U2Ss_59YDnEU0qF1B-DAOmgCLcB/s1600/scary-movies.jpg" title="iconic shower scene from Psycho" /></div><br /> <p>I would be lying if I said I was a movie aficionado—that would imply I watch more than the odd mainstream flick every few months—but if there's one genre I love, it's campy horror movies.</p> <p>In honor of my favorite holiday, I've created a list of 31 of my favorite not-so-scary movies that run the gamut from hilariously bad to straight-up comedy.</p> <h2>Zombeavers</h2><p>There are bad movies that try really hard to be good movies, and then there are bad movies that fully embrace their horrible decisions. Zombeavers falls into the latter category. Beaver puns, zombie sex, and feminist undertones—did I mention it also has a theme song? This movie is amazing. Fight me.</p> <h2>Evil Dead I & II</h2><p>No horror movie list would be complete without two of the most cult zombie classics of all time, made famous by seriously bad effects and questionable morals.</p> <h2>Army of Darkness</h2><p>Classic, incoherent, massively referenced, and instantly quotable. Start from the first Evil Dead to watch a serious attempt at horror quickly devolve into slapstick and puns. "Hail to the king, baby."</p> <h2>Sharknado</h2><p>The best low-budget monster movie to ever come out of SyFy. I suggest playing the drinking game and binging all four.</p> <h2>Shaun of the Dead</h2><p>Not many movies could feature a zombie beat-down (zom-beat down?) choreographed to Queen and still maintain an air of seriousness. What I love most is how it tackles zombie tropes with such lackadaisical purpose.</p> <h2>Fright Night (the 2011 remake)</h2><p>Colin Farrell as a vampire? Yes, lawd.</p> <h2>An American Werewolf in London</h2><p>The dry, British comedy does a fantastic job reminding you that, while somewhat humorous, this is still a horror movie. The grotesque transformation sequence is still stomach-churning, even after all these years.</p> <h2>Scream</h2><p>This movie gave me nightmares as a child, but then again, so did pretty much everything. (Why was a child watching these, you ask? Who cares, you're not my real dad!) Scream (and all subsequent sequels) are fantastic, self-aware gore fests that acknowledge tired slasher tropes and uses them anyway.</p> <h2>Cabin in the Woods</h2><p>Much like Scream, this is one of those meta horror flicks that touches on almost every classic horror movie cliche.</p> <h2>Jason X</h2><p>I haven't seen every Jason movie ever made, but I imagine this one is a solid contender for the Worst One. Jason, in space for some reason, and also there's an android. The crew trying to tempt robot Jason with simulated promiscuous campers is by far one of my favorite movie scenes.</p> <h2>Little Shop of Horrors</h2><p>A cult classic simply for the "FEED ME, SEYMOURE!" song. Great for quoting when hangry.</p> <h2>Dracula 2000</h2><p>Hoping to ride the coattails of Blade (released a few years prior) and into action-vampire success, it instead failed miserably. It won out over Keanu Reeves' Dracula because reasons.</p> <h2>Attack of the Killer Tomatoes</h2><p>This would be the most ridiculous movie ever made, if not for the sequel: Return of the Attack of the Killer Tomatoes. The title alone should clue you in as to why. My mom would sometimes sing the theme song in a silly voice, and I would groan and pretend I hated it. Good times.</p> <h2>Young Frankenstein</h2><p>I'm not sure this counts as horror, but I'll give it a pass because it's a classic.</p> <h2>The Rocky Horror Picture Show</h2><p>Nothing will ever be as perfect as a sci-fi musical about an alien transvestite who engineers a hunky lover. Society has reached peak camp.</p> <h2>Gremlins</h2><p>If this wasn't a childhood favorite, you missed out. Wistful nostalgia makes a modern-day re-watch that much sweeter. Without it, the movie's kind of dated, even if Gizmo is the most adorable monster.</p> <h2>Thankskilling</h2><p>"Nice tits, bitch!" Great line, 10/10, amazing cinematic experience. This one's for you, Sam.</p> <h2>The Lost Boys</h2><p>Alternative title: The Two Coreys Take On Blonde Mullet Vampire and His Gang of Angsty Blood Suckers</p> <h2>Dead Snow</h2><p>I've never not heard this referred to as the Nazi zombie movie, and really, that's all there is to say about this one.<p> <h2>Killer Klowns from Outerspace</h2><p>What if the clown invasion gripping the country is actually an alien invasion?? The spelling of clown with a "k" is a dead giveaway of this movie's awfulness.</p> <h2>I Married an Axe Murderer</h2><p>This movie is a silly romcom, which is good because Mike Meyers doesn't belong in a non-comedic movie unless that movie is Halloween and Mike Meyers is actually the name of the murder and not the acclaimed actor of the same name.</p> <h2>Jennifer's Body</h2><p>"Come for Megan Fox, stick around for the potential girl-on-girl action." - Jennifer's Body's marketing team</p> <h2>The Return of the Living Dead</h2><p>Zombies, punk rock, and more than a little bit of nudity. Fun fact: this film is actually noted for introducing brain eating into zombie lore.</p> <h2>Ju-On</h2><p>Ju-On is the original Japanese movie The Grudge was based on. It's only slightly less terrifying, but the low-budget appeal might help stave off nightmares.</p> <h2>Aaah! Zombies!! (also known as Wasting Away)</h2><p>This is a zomb-com that switches perspectives between the zombies (who still think they're human) and how the world perceives them (as unintelligible zombies). <h2>Sleepy Hollow</h2><p>I watched this quite a bit as a kid because of Johnny Depp. Upon re-watching this as an adult, it's 1000x more ridiculous than I remember and almost as embarrassing.</p> <h2>Hocus Pocus</h2><p>I loved this movie so much I named my black cat Binx. Anyway, my point is that this movie is, and always will be, the best.</p> <h2>Zombieland</h2><p>What can I say, I really like zombie movies, especially hilariously self-aware ones that play up the worn-down tropes.</p> <h2>Buffy the Vampire Slayer</h2><p>This movie somehow spawned a hugely successful television series. Buffy as a "gag me" valley girl is kind of awful, even if she's sassy.</p> <h2>Teeth</h2><p>Horror and sex have a storied history, and movies that thoughtfully explore that dynamic are fascinating. Traditionally, women are hyper sexualized and punished for their unchaste transgressions. Teeth is an unflinching reversal of this trope. It's also about a vagina with teeth, that bites off dicks. Perf.</p> <h2>The Cars that Ate Paris</h2><p>A crazy movie that's worth watching if you're a fan of any of the following: cars, old horror-comedies, Mad Max: Fury Road. To elaborate, the cars in the movie were used as inspiration for one of the crazy Wasteland vehicles. There are also power tool lobotomies, if you're into that sort of thing.</p> <h2>Troll 2</h2><p>To be honest, I haven't seen this one and thus have no comment, but the Internet seems to agree this is hands down the best worst horror movie ever made.</p> <p><strong>Super Special Bonus:</strong></p> <h2><em>Hush</em> from Buffy the Vampire Slayer</h2><p>Not actually a movie, but an iconic episode that is worth revisiting.</p> <p>What is your favorite scary movie? Did yours make the list? Yell at me in the comments!</p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><br /><small><em>This post is © <a href="http://asimplesyrup.com">Simple Syrup</a> & licensed under a <a rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/">Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License</a>.</em></small></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10221797602545825383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-392559678703029743.post-74654864962198204522016-04-07T10:00:00.000-05:002016-04-07T10:00:13.553-05:00Bookish Delights: The Golden Compass Meets Zoo City<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img alt="book cover art for Zoo City by Lauren Beukes and The Golden Compass by Phillip Pullman" border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-60nGwwWlNKk/VwVX6R2PP_I/AAAAAAAAB2I/StCFGuQEK6sEbHhlla_LXcXdymZDyEb2g/s1600/zoo-city-golden-compass-blog.jpg" title="Zoo City by Lauren Beukes and The Golden Compass by Phillip Pullman" /></div><br /> <p>A while back I had the coincidental fortune to read <em>Zoo City</em> by Lauren Beukes directly after Phillip Pullman's <em>The Golden Compass</em>. For those not aware, a central focus in <em>The Golden Compass</em> is the symbiotic relationship between humans and inexplicable creatures called daemons. Daemons are the manifestation of a person's soul in the form of an animal companion, not entirely unlike a familiar. Humans and their daemons keep each other company, provide support, and sometimes act as an intuitive entity. <em>Zoo City</em> has a similar conceit, with the exception that only murderers have the misfortune of being tethered to an animal—or so it can be assumed. These people are referred to as aposymbiotes or "zoos" and are outcasted by society, doomed to a life restricted to the lowest rung of society.</p> <p>At one point in <em>Zoo City,</em> Beukes makes a cheeky reference to a fictitious documentary within the universe called "Steering by the Golden Compass: Pullman's fantasy in the context of the ontological shift." Obviously, the novel is heavily inspired by the trilogy, and it got me thinking, why the hell should I not explore this? It's an interesting concept. These two works compliment each other strikingly well that it would be a shame not to cross-reference them in order to explore a few of the themes further.</p> <h2>Wearing Sin</h2> <p>Both books are rife with religious overtones, <em>The Golden Compass</em> being the most heavily afflicted of the two. A key element of both novels is the physical conceptualization of sin. In Pullman's universe, scholars have begun to suspect that a mysterious particle called Dust has a tangible connection to original sin via daemons, compounding permanently in a human once a child reaches maturation. Although Dust is only fleetingly referenced in the first installment of the His Dark Materials series, it plays a larger role explaining the bond between human and daemon later in the series. The antagonists' primitive understanding of the particle leads them to perform gruesome experiments in severing the bond between children and their daemons in an attempt to preserve their innocence. Once separation (called intercision) occurs, the host either dies or become a empty husk.</p> <p>Intercision also exists in <em>Zoo City</em>, though it's never explained whether anyone has successfully separated from their animal in this manner. Often, the animalled person will perform separation or outright destroy their animal as a form of radical suicide. Such actions forcefully bring about the mysterious calamity known as the Undertow—a reference to hell's undertow—which is a zoo's ultimate fate. But I'll get back to that later.</p> <p>It's easy to argue that animals in both universes symbolize a physical manifestation of the soul. Both novels support a system in which humans and their animals are aposymbiotic, or symbiotic beings that live apart from each other. It is impossible for people in either book to be removed from the vicinity of their animal without experiencing extreme negative effects, namely pain and severe anxiety. Furthermore, the physical state of each is directly passed to the other (in <em>Zoo City</em>, the connection seems to be one-way with the human influencing the animal and not vice versa).</p> <p>In <em>Zoo City</em>, one is only unfortunate enough to be bestowed with an animal once they commit the ultimate crime. In religious circles, this is thought to be original sin. At first glance, applying these rules to <em>The Golden Compass's</em> universe legitimizes the theory that everyone is born with original sin; however, a few key things leave this open for debate in my opinion.</p> <p>For starters, the rules are unclear. It's only implied that murder will land you with an animal familiar, but it's never fully explored whether this applies to indirect murder as well. My speculation is that this is likely true because it seems to work as a functional "shadow of guilt" that hovers over the person for the rest of their life. Given this theory, a possible interpretation is that original sin doesn't exist within the universe, and when applied to <em>The Golden Compass</em> universe, means that the initial speculation regarding the link between original sin, Dust, and daemons is false.</p> <p>While this ultimately makes <em>The Golden Compass</em> incompatible or at least inconsistent within Zoo's universe, it supports the explanation given later in the His Dark Materials series (mild spoilers): Dust pertains to consciousness, not original sin. Where then, do the daemons fit in?</p> <p>My belief is that viewing the animals in either novel simply as the personification of sin is reductive. Both of these works are about the conscious, self-awareness, and redemption. While <em>Zoo's</em> animals function as a scarlet letter for their owners, they are portrayed as loyal companions who care for the safety and wellbeing of their owners, and also grant their host access to an otherworldly talent, such the ability to find lost objects. Though most struggle to coexist with the burden of their sins either emotionally or physically, some are able to live out average lives. </p> <p>Additionally, neither novel offers explanations as to the animals' true purpose. Daemons are capable of shape-shifting until maturation, which also coincides with the presence of Dust, so a possible interpretation for <em>The Golden Compass</em> could be the death of self. Or am I reaching too far?</p> <h2>The Undertow</h2> <p>Ahh, the Undertow. Described as a sort of apocalyptic undoing for zoos in <em>Zoo City</em> and always referred to as an entity. An ominous being of evil that exists to drag you to justice for your transgressions. <em>The Undertow is coming for you.</em> Applied to <em>The Golden Compass</em>, it defines a system that is consistent with the "rules" of both novels: if your animal dies, so you do and vice versa.</p> <p>But it's not that simple. The Undertow is your karmic destiny, and it'll come for you eventually. In this regard, I don't consider it much removed from the notion of destiny (which plays a huge part in <em>The Golden Compass</em>). You can fight the Undertow, but for how long? You can rebel against your destiny...or can you?</p> <p>It's a universal quandary that ties these universes together. Death is inescapable, but it's the way you handle that truth that defines you as a person.</p> <p>Although they're radically different stories, they're great companion pieces. Each novel presents a complex world filled with utterly nerve-wracking action that spans the scope of the human psyche. Both authors paint their stories with a palette of grays so beautifully it's hard not to become immersed. It's that simple theme, the struggle against basic human nature that makes these two novels delightful reads.</p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><br /><small><em>This post is © <a href="http://asimplesyrup.com">Simple Syrup</a> & licensed under a <a rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/">Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License</a>.</em></small></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10221797602545825383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-392559678703029743.post-64485867366048232772016-03-24T09:30:00.000-05:002016-10-07T21:32:20.194-05:00The Fitbit Hype Machine, Or: Activity Trackers Are Pointless<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img alt="Fitbit app graph data displayed on a smart phone" border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ioKCQXi4ZLw/VvMGAq6WwxI/AAAAAAAAB1s/9kzM_Ts8abE2BlbyRHyrkKyh4gkEPiwQg/s1600/fitbit-blog.jpg" title="Fitbit app data displayed on a phone" /></div><br /> <p>"Should I buy a Fitbit?"</p> <p>Type that query into Google and see what pops up. I'll give you a hint: it rarely leads to a substantial answer. Article after article trying to explain the appeal of strapping an electronic device to your person to help show you how (un)healthy you are and the supposed benefits. It's a testament to consumerism as well as the marketability of healthy living that something so popular should leave its users struggling to articulate what, exactly, it does for them. Eventually, most reviews come to the same conclusion: the data is neat but kind of pointless.</p> <p>Activity trackers might be trendy, but statistics suggest people seldom commit to them longterm, which might have something to do with the fact that we don't know what's to be gained by owning one. The <a href="http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2015/06/24/1-red-flag-that-fitbit-inc-investors-cant-ignore.aspx" target="_blank">number of registered Fitbit users far outweigh the number of active users</a>, and that gap only grows every year. Understandable, given the confusion regarding their purpose. I'm a bit of a data junkie, so I was intrigued by the prospect of quantifying my health. But the question remained: do I really need one?</p> <p>The short answer is, probably not.</p> <p>But I bought one anyway. What follows is the detailed breakdown of my experience over the first month. For science.</p> <h2>Week 1:</h2><p><strong>Neat New Thing</strong></p> <p>So cool! So shiny! So chrome! (Not really.)</p> <p>I wear the Fitbit constantly except while showering for the first week. I remark how comfortable it is and how quickly I adapted to its permanent fixation on my wrist. After the first few days, I develop a tender area where the heart rate monitor makes contact with my skin. The Internet advises that I'm wearing it too tight, so I loosen it even though I feel like it was already pretty loose to begin with.</p> <p>Every night before I go to bed, I meticulously clean the band and sensor with either a mild face wash or rubbing alcohol. Tales of persistent rashes and MRSA horrify me into following this cleanliness ritual. By the end of the week, I've already ditched this habit.</p> <h2>Week 2:</h2><p><strong>All the DATAAAA!</strong></p> <p>I've become a Fitbit challenge addict even though I never win.</p> <p>I've joined no fewer than five groups and added somewhere in the ballpark of 50 friends, only a few of which I know personally. This ensures that I receive a steady stream of challenge invites daily. I obsess over numbers, checking my step ranking several times per day. Since I have a desk job, this is depressing. I rarely hit the stock goal of 10,000 steps/day.</p> <p>"How can someone average 100,000 steps every week?" I ask, on more than on occasion. "That's not possible, right?" I briefly consider deleting everyone who consistently ranks higher than I do. They disgust me with their smug, happy faces.</p> <p>I go out of my way to get more steps, which inadvertently leads me to do some pretty dopey things, like pacing my kitchen late at night. Guilt creeps up on me. As an active person, why am I failing to meet the pre-defined metrics? Am I deluding myself about my level of fitness? I must do better.</p> <p>After the initial "fun" of tracking my sleep wears off, I remove the tracker at night. It doesn't help that I'm convinced the damn thing is the reason why my sleep productivity always hovers under 94%. The band vacillates between comfortable and cumbersome too readily for my taste, and the rapidly flashing heart rate light—which is an eye-piercing neon green—jolts me awake when my arm isn't stuffed under the covers.</p> <h2>Week 3:</h2> <p><strong>Unhealthy Obsession</strong></p> <p>I forget to wear the tracker for a few days because it's easily overlooked when not attached to me 24/7. This leads to a few worrisome meltdowns. <em>What about the steps? My ranking is going to drop! Ugh, my "friends" are going to be all smug about how much better they're doing than me.</em></p> <p>This is bullshit.</p> <p>No one cares. Repeat it with me. <em>No one cares.</em></p> <p>Except that one dude who somehow manages to average 40k steps <em>daily</em>. Fuck him.</p> <h2>Week 4:</h2> <p><strong>Stage Four: Mild Detachment</strong></p> <p>You know what's only tangentially cool? Going on vacation and being able to see that, WOW, you really did walk, like, a whole 5 miles when you were trying to find a halfway decent local food joint didn't look like a tourist trap. Or that you walked up so many flights of stairs that you hypothetically climbed to the top of a small mountain. Unfortunately, no one is interested in your vacation stories, and even less so in the weirdly specific data you have to accompany them.</p> <p>Within the first month, it was already obvious that none of this information was making me a healthier person. A weirder, more neurotic one perhaps, but not healthier. Sure, it helped me identify my highs and lows, but then again, any tracking method can easily accomplish the same thing. Even writing down the words, "I worked out today," will give me the same basic overview of my health over time.</p> <p>Some people claim that in order to get the most out of your wearable fitness tech, you need to go all in. Track your workouts. Track your food intake. Track your water consumption. Track every minor fluctuation in your weight. Maybe if I had made use of the native food tracking app (which is garbage), it would have proven more useful to me. But probably not. Maybe if I had paired it with Fitbit's Very Expensive Scale, I'd have had an epiphany about my body composition that would help me achieve Peak Fitness. But probably I'd obsess over <em>those</em> numbers even more, feeding into a toxic feedback loop pertaining to weight and body image. Hard pass.</p> <p>I'll stick to wearing my Fitbit when I remember it, using it mostly as a touchpoint for my heart rate and the time. Once a week, I might still ooh and aah over the numbers, but I generally just ignore them. It's better that way.</p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><br /><small><em>This post is © <a href="http://asimplesyrup.com">Simple Syrup</a> & licensed under a <a rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/">Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License</a>.</em></small></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10221797602545825383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-392559678703029743.post-33646712434601474412015-10-29T11:39:00.000-05:002015-11-08T18:50:01.208-06:00Spooky Internet Finds to Get You in the Halloween Spirit<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img alt="cute ghost hovering over the word spoopy" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Hgu6kOMujVk/VjJJuiZt_1I/AAAAAAAABqA/3gJIkuf8ReU/s1600/Untitled-2.png" title="2spoopy4u" /></div><br /> <p>It's almost Halloween and which means you only have a few more days to get your fill of deliciously dark and twisted entertainment before it's no longer seasonally relevant. There's plenty of books and movies at your disposal if that's your thing—and hundreds of "Best Of" lists for you to take your pick from—but if you're like me and prefer to segment your limited free time with bite-sized bits of content, the Internet is your best bet to satiate your cravings.</p> <p>The unfortunate downside of turning to the Internet for your spooky needs is that it takes some serious work to filter out all the truly disturbing and horrific content floating around. If you're in the mood for risky clicks that may lead to eternal emotional scarring, just Google "creepy stuff on the Internet" (as it turns out, my definition of creepy might be misaligned).</p> <p>But if you want fun-scary and only mildly disturbing? Don't worry, I got you covered.</p> <div style="text-align:center"><h2>WATCH</h2></div><br /> <h3>Teddy Has An Operation</h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe width="100%" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AdYaTa_lOf4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div><br /><p>Regardless of whether or not you ever performed surgery on your beloved stuffed friends as a child, you're no doubt familiar with the concept. This video morphs the idea into something pseudo-realistic. It's not exactly the stuff of nightmares, but it's weird enough to leave an impression.</p> <h3>Proxy: A Slender Man Story</h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe width="100%" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gVGhsFqRN74" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div><br /><p>Short indie horror films by Youtubers aren't usually synonymous with quality, but this one is incredibly well produced. Mike Diva is one of my favorite YT personalities/film directors because of his skill with digital effects.</p> <h3>Don't Hug Me I'm Scared</h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe width="100%" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9C_HReR_McQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div><br /><p>Are you a fan of stuff that makes you think, the fuck did I just watch? Perfect! This is right up your alley. Dont Hug Me is a series of British horror-musical short videos that juxtaposes Sesame Street-style puppets with macabre themes and disturbing imagery.</p> <h3>Take This Lollipop</h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><img alt="blue lollipop with a razor inside the candy over the text "I dare you"" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fd-nq4viExI/VjI9sVocPZI/AAAAAAAABps/EXCqUi7yZv8/s1600/I-DARE-YOU-Take-This-Lollipop%2Bcopy.jpg" title="Take This Lollipop" /></div><br /><p>The scariest concepts are often the most relatable, and nothing's more hot topic nowadays than online privacy. This short film integrates with your Facebook (don't worry; the app doesn't store any of your personal information) to create a personalized scare. <a href="http://www.takethislollipop.com/" target="_blank">Check it out here</a>.</p> <h3>11B-X-1371</h3><p>After digging around, I've decided not to embed or link this video for personal reasons, so Google at your own discretion. Some places have this billed as a cryptic puzzle and possible promo for an upcoming Dan Brown movie, but after further analysis, it seems to be filled with disturbing coded imagery and threats, included tortured and mutilated women. Either way, it's definitely disturbing, and maybe not in a fun way.</p> <div style="text-align:center"><h2>PLAY</h2></div><br /> <h3>The Binding of Isaac</h3><p>I've put a few hundred hours into the <a href="http://bindingofisaac.com/" target="_blank">Binding of Isaac and it's reboot, Binding of Isaac: Rebirth</a>. It's a twisted, sometimes funny dark and gruesome game that has strong religious themes. The gameplay is roguelike, meaning every playthrough is different; rooms, items, monsters, and bosses are randomly generated. The newest DLC, Afterbirth, is set to release the day before Halloween.</p> <h3>Five Nights at Freddy's</h3><p>You can't play this one in your browser, but it's available on <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.scottgames.fivenightsatfreddys&hl=en" target="_blank">mobile</a> and <a href="http://store.steampowered.com/app/319510/" target="_blank">PC</a>. FNaF is a series of jump-scare games that has spawned a massive cult following and potential movie release. At Freddy Fazbear's pizza—a kiddie hangout much like Chuck-E-Cheese—the animatronics come alive and roam free at night, and don't take kindly to strangers who hang around after the lights go off. There's a sprawling mythos surrounding the characters and events at the pizza joint over the course of the games that adds to the creepiness.</p> <h3>The Static Speaks My Name</h3><p>If you're looking to pack maximum psychological fright into a ten-minute window, <a href="http://thewhalehusband.itch.io/thestatic" target="_blank">The Static Speaks My Name</a> is a great choice. It's a bizarre experience that will leave you haunted.</p> <h3>Slender: The Eight Pages</h3><p><a href="http://www.parsecproductions.net/slender/" target="_blank">The Eight Pages</a> is a bit dated by Internet standards but it's still one of my favorites. The game was later re-released as Slender: The Arrival with even more creepy additions packed inside.</p> <h3>Deeper Sleep</h3><p><a href="http://armorgames.com/play/15698/deeper-sleep" target="_blank">Deeper Sleep</a> is a point-and-click browser game (part 2 of a trilogy) in which the player navigates a lucid dreamworld. The atmosphere is unsettling and without relying on overtly in-your-face tactics like the FNaF franchise. Plus it's free.</p> <div style="text-align:center"><h2>READ</h2></div><br /> <h3>Creepypasta</h3><p>Ahh, the infamous breeding ground of modern-day urban legends. The site houses the horrific legacies of boogymen like The Rake and Slenderman, and chilling shorts like <a href="http://creepypasta.wikia.com/wiki/Squidward's_Suicide" target="_blank">Squidward's Suicide</a> and <a href="http://creepypasta.wikia.com/wiki/Pok%C3%A9mon_Black" target="_blank">Pokemon Black</a>. Depending on which circles you run in, <a href="http://www.creepypasta.com/" target="_blank">Creepypasta</a> might also be synonymous with "awful stories with terrible writing" so your creepy mileage my vary.</p> <h3>Sixpenceee</h3><p>If you're looking for all things weird and maybe the occasional Tumblr aesthetic post, <a href="http://sixpenceee.com/" target="_blank">Sixpenceee</a> is a good reference. They post a good mix of real-life strangeness and fiction, and often reposts fan submissions.</p> <h3>Only Quality Horror</h3><p><a href="http://deadlytales.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">Quality Horror</a> is a crowd-sourced blog that aims to only post, well, quality horror fiction.</p> <h3>SCP Foundation</h3><p>The <a href="http://www.scp-wiki.net/" target="_blank">SCP (short for Secure, Contain, Protect)</a> is a creative writing website that serves as a (fake) society for documenting paranormal and supernatural lore, somewhat similar to Creepypasta but with more stringent guidelines.</p> <h3>I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream</h3><p>Okay, so this doesn't technically count as Internet-sourced, but it's worth a read. <a href="http://hermiene.net/short-stories/i_have_no_mouth.html" target="_blank"><em>I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream</em></a> by Harlan Ellison is a post-apocalyptic sci-fi short that won a Hugo award in 1963. It's also pretty disturbing.</p> <div style="text-align:center"><h2>LISTEN</h2></div><br /> <h3>Welcome to Night Vale</h3><p><a href="http://www.welcometonightvale.com/" target="_blank">There's a rash of paranormal goings-on in the city of Night Vale</a>, but it's probably best if you tried to not to look too closely. With a town motto of "If you see something, say nothing and drink to forget," you can expect anything but the ordinary in this podcast. Don't worry, I'm sure Carlos will figure it out. And now, the weather.</p> <h3>Pseudopod</h3><p><a href="http://pseudopod.org/category/podcasts/" target="_blank">Pseudopod</a> features short fiction that is intended to deeply disturb. Stories may contain a bevy of themes that might be considered triggering, so listen at your own risk.</p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><br /><small><em>This post is © <a href="http://asimplesyrup.com">Simple Syrup</a> & licensed under a <a rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/">Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License</a>.</em></small></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10221797602545825383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-392559678703029743.post-50215654459497227122015-10-12T10:30:00.000-05:002015-10-15T14:40:22.235-05:00Fashion Friday: Lazy Halloween Costumes the Third<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VvBxsnxS2zo/VhtCC3HydzI/AAAAAAAABpA/8ID1Hix9Jcc/s1600/xbox-box-blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="man on a bench wearing a box as a costume" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VvBxsnxS2zo/VhtCC3HydzI/AAAAAAAABpA/8ID1Hix9Jcc/s1600/xbox-box-blog.jpg" title="Silly Halloween costumes" /></a></div><br /> <p>Most peoples' Halloween traditions include parties, scary movie marathons, and lots of sweets. Mine involves coming up with cheap, last-minute costumes that approximately resemble pop-culture icons.</p> <p>This year the costumes have a somewhat unintentional theme: badass ladies from popular cartoons. If you know me, you know how much I adore cartoons (and how little I watch tv in general). Cartoon characters' outfits are usually pretty straight-forward, so it's a win-win for everyone.</p> <div style="text-align:center"><h2>Stevonnie from Steven Universe</h2></div> <div align="center" style="margin:0 auto"><div style="position:relative;"><a target="_blank" href="http://www.polyvore.com/diy_stevonnie/set?.embedder=8809541&.svc=copypaste&id=179142019"><img width="500" alt="DIY: Stevonnie" src="http://cfc.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-set/.sig/2i8l7r4y0dDouBxH88VjA/cid/179142019/id/nAnAgXBw5RGMx7Jf6ODk1w/size/c500x413.jpg" title="DIY: Stevonnie" height="413" border="0" /></a></div></div><br/><div style="text-align:center"><small><a target="_blank" href="http://www.polyvore.com/diy_stevonnie/set?.embedder=8809541&.svc=copypaste&id=179142019">DIY: Stevonnie</a> by <a target="_blank" href="http://amanda-duncil.polyvore.com/?.embedder=8809541&.svc=copypaste">amanda-duncil</a></small></div><br /> <p>For being a (so far) one-off character, Stevonnie is a popular cosplay. Stevonnie is an undeniably cute and meaningful character, but I speculate a large part of the appeal is that the costume is one of the few from the series that doesn't require body paint to pull off. The hardest part is making a gem, and thankfully there are <a href="http://crystalgemcosplay.tumblr.com/masterlist" target="_blank">plenty of resources</a> to help you out.</p> <div style="text-align:center"><h2>Tina Belcher from Bob's Burgers</h2></div> <div align="center" style="margin:0 auto"><div style="position:relative;"><a target="_blank" href="http://www.polyvore.com/bobs_burgers_tina/set?.embedder=8809541&.svc=copypaste&id=162331564"><img width="500" alt="Bob's Burgers - Tina" src="http://cfc.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-set/.sig/xCRIjBdlbzksOWEIrssiw/cid/162331564/id/6iBXnuYE5RGAJgBQnCklpg/size/c500x625.jpg" title="Bob's Burgers - Tina" height="625" border="0" /></a></div></div><br/><div style="text-align:center"><small><a target="_blank" href="http://www.polyvore.com/bobs_burgers_tina/set?.embedder=8809541&.svc=copypaste&id=162331564">Bob's Burgers - Tina</a> by <a target="_blank" href="http://kpacko.polyvore.com/?.embedder=8809541&.svc=copypaste">kpacko</a></small></div><br /> <p>Tina is my teenaged-self's Patronus. She's undeniably awkward and a huge mess of conflicting emotions, and she oscillates between different personality traits in her search for herself. She's figuring herself out without facing ostracization from her family or feeling ashamed for being a teenaged girl.</p> <p>Her look is simple yet iconic, so the chances of being asked "So...what are you supposed to be?" all night long is slim.</p> <div style="text-align:center"><h2>Mabel Pines from Gravity Falls</h2></div> <div align="center" style="margin:0 auto"><div style="position:relative;"><a target="_blank" href="http://www.polyvore.com/mabel_pines/set?.embedder=8809541&.svc=copypaste&id=154163495"><img width="500" alt="Mabel Pines" src="http://cfc.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-set/.sig/NtxADOeqXcmp0T19fOwsw/cid/154163495/id/0G_yC-3X5BG5CoY9GhGRpA/size/c500x421.jpg" title="Mabel Pines" height="421" border="0" /></a></div></div><br/><div style="text-align:center"><small><a target="_blank" href="http://www.polyvore.com/mabel_pines/set?.embedder=8809541&.svc=copypaste&id=154163495">Mabel Pines</a> by <a target="_blank" href="http://leslieakay.polyvore.com/?.embedder=8809541&.svc=copypaste">leslieakay</a></small></div><br /> <p>Are you pure of heart? Pair a tacky turtleneck sweater with a solid skirt and a headband and you've successfully created a Mabel-inspired outfit. There are even tutorials for <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzfs_Jzx23M">making face braces</a>, if you're that committed to the role.</p> <div style="text-align:center"><h2>Bee from Bee & Puppycat</h2></div> <div align="center" style="margin:0 auto"><div style="position:relative;"><a target="_blank" href="http://www.polyvore.com/diy_bee_puppycat/set?.embedder=8809541&.svc=copypaste&id=179146742"><img width="500" alt="DIY: Bee & Puppycat" src="http://cfc.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-set/.sig/WzoTEfxt6JeQr3hiG0JR5A/cid/179146742/id/6MT-mnlw5RGX9muR6ODk1w/size/c500x383.jpg" title="DIY: Bee & Puppycat" height="383" border="0" /></a></div></div><br/><div style="text-align:center"><small><a target="_blank" href="http://www.polyvore.com/diy_bee_puppycat/set?.embedder=8809541&.svc=copypaste&id=179146742">DIY: Bee & Puppycat</a> by <a target="_blank" href="http://amanda-duncil.polyvore.com/?.embedder=8809541&.svc=copypaste">amanda-duncil</a></small></div><br /> <p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNs9shgQ2rI" target="_blank">Bee & Puppycat</a> is a series created for Cartoon Hangover on YouTube by Natasha Allegri, a former storyboard artist from Adventure Time. Bee is a slacker and generally unmotivated adult who is befriended by a sassy alien creature that uses her for his own ends. She has a few outfits that follow a similar theme of yellow + pink, but the most iconic is probably the sweater and shorts combo from the pilot. I can personally vouch for this costume's simplicity—I actually pieced it together one year for Comic Con</p> <div style="text-align:center"><h2>Scarecrow</h2></div> <div align="center" style="margin:0 auto"><div style="position:relative;"><a target="_blank" href="http://www.polyvore.com/diy_scarecrow_costume/set?.embedder=8809541&.svc=copypaste&id=136917657"><img width="500" alt="DIY Scarecrow Costume" src="http://cfc.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-set/.sig/AXdDTaRmukjJSO7cVHDSQ/cid/136917657/id/ziB7kC9P5BGLO2vWmu7EJQ/size/c500x562.jpg" title="DIY Scarecrow Costume" height="562" border="0" /></a></div></div><br/><div style="text-align:center"><small><a target="_blank" href="http://www.polyvore.com/diy_scarecrow_costume/set?.embedder=8809541&.svc=copypaste&id=136917657">DIY Scarecrow Costume</a> by <a target="_blank" href="http://elmtree87.polyvore.com/?.embedder=8809541&.svc=copypaste">elmtree87</a></small></div><br /> <p>Since I usually include a few non-specific costume designs, I figured I should round out the list with a non-cartoon character. Now that overalls are back en vogue, it'll be easy to piece this one together whether you "shop your closet" or hit the thrift stores. The face makeup gives the costume the illusion of effort, and you can get as intricate or sparse with product as you like while keeping the spirit of the design. You don't even have to be good at makeup—just go ham with some eyeliner and a little blush and you'll be perf.</p> <p>See more ideas at my <a href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/collection?id=3035765" target="_blank">DIY Halloween collection</a> on Polyvore, and be sure to check out <a href="http://www.asimplesyrup.com/search?q=lazy+halloween">parts 1 & 2</a> of my Lazy Costume series. Do you have any easy costume ideas? Tweet me your Polyvore collection or leave a comment and you might be featured on the blog!</p> <p><a href="http://www.asimplesyrup.com/2013/10/fashion-friday-lazy-halloween-costumes.html">Lazy Halloween Costumes Part 1</a> | <a href="http://www.asimplesyrup.com/2014/10/lazy-halloween-costumes-2.html">Lazy Halloween Costumes Part 2</a></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><br /><small><em>This post is © <a href="http://asimplesyrup.com">Simple Syrup</a> & licensed under a <a rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/">Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License</a>.</em></small></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10221797602545825383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-392559678703029743.post-15451949768454737412015-07-07T09:30:00.000-05:002015-10-15T14:39:02.207-05:00Indie Game Weekend<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_oU-j1V-QB0/VZtrowVGEnI/AAAAAAAABmo/PqejCHQHee4/s1600/Fez.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="video game character from Fez" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_oU-j1V-QB0/VZtrowVGEnI/AAAAAAAABmo/PqejCHQHee4/s1600/Fez.png" title="indie gaming" /></a></div><br /> <p>Today I'm recovering from an extended weekend of blissful sedentation. My Independence Day break was spent binging indie games, partially because I thought it was a clever play on words (INDIE, INDEpendence Day, haha...) but mostly because I needed an excuse to work through some of my backlog. As with most things, I had some thoughts that I wanted to write down. I previously wrote about a few of my favorite Steam indie game purchases from last winter <a href="http://www.asimplesyrup.com/2014/03/indie-favorites-from-steam-winter-sale.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</p> <h2>Ori and the Blind Forest</h2> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4S_vMn5pfME/VZrhkDHVOlI/AAAAAAAABl4/iLWuuvcWv5M/s1600/ori.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Ori and the Blind Forest" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4S_vMn5pfME/VZrhkDHVOlI/AAAAAAAABl4/iLWuuvcWv5M/s1600/ori.jpg" title="Ori and the Blind Forest" /></a></div><br /> <p>Ori is visually stunning, immersive, and backed by an evocative soundtrack. The game is spectacular by virtue of its graphics alone, but the appeal runs deeper than aesthetics; Ori features some of the best storytelling I've experienced to date, undoubtedly aided by stellar animation and cutesy character design. I wasn't prepared for a punch in the feels within the first 10 minutes, and I stupidly thought it couldn't get any worse. <em>I was so, so wrong.</em></p> <p>Little Ori's goal is to run around the forest restoring the elements that have vanished from the world while avoiding an evil owl. Gameplay takes a less-is-more approach, giving you limited control over the growth of your character while slowly feeding you new skills to help you explore the different areas of the world. It isn't particularly difficult, but it does require that you be careful.</p> <p>For a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metroidvania" target="_blank">Metroidvania</a> style game, Ori handles the traits of the genre like a pro without being burdened by them. Aside from the open-world system, which can be fatiguing with it's trollish lack of fast travel or waypoints, gameplay is surprisingly fluid. Unlike more modern games, some areas close off upon exit, making it possible to miss collectables and prevent 100% completion of the game. Oh, and after you've beaten the game, your save file is permanently locked for re-entry. So much for those last few achievements I needed.</p> <p>Speaking of which, achievements are—as of this posting—incredibly bugged on Steam. Many failed to record progress on the game overview page and would only pop retroactively, meaning you had to close the game and reopen it to force it to award the achievement.</p> <p><em><u>Tl;dr</u>: Beautiful, fun, sad. Play it with a controller.</em></p> <h2>Starwhal</h2> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XP-K2SIGGPM/VZrgKdfPivI/AAAAAAAABlw/k5u7-JpJtFI/s1600/starwhal.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Starwhal gameplay" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XP-K2SIGGPM/VZrgKdfPivI/AAAAAAAABlw/k5u7-JpJtFI/s1600/starwhal.png" title="Starwhal" /></a></div><br /> <p>Two words: Narwhal jousting. Oh, and you can customize your 'whal with funny hats and accessories.</p> <p>This is one of those novelty games that's good for a good laugh. The physics are kind of jank and I swear it gets harder to control the longer you've been playing. Pull it out at a party and take sweet, sweet vengeance on your friends.</p> <p><em><u>Tl;dr</u>: This game is terrible. In a good way.</em></p> <h2>Nihilumbra</h2> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5O14WTr1Z3Y/VZrfF-Ftc5I/AAAAAAAABlo/1PmmZDsV4PI/s1600/nihilumbra.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Nihilumbra" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5O14WTr1Z3Y/VZrfF-Ftc5I/AAAAAAAABlo/1PmmZDsV4PI/s1600/nihilumbra.jpg" title="Nihilumbra" /></a></div><br /> <p>Nihilumbra is a pretty game devoid of any actual substance, which is quite ironic given the theme is—ta-da!—nihilism. This wouldn't be such a bad thing if it didn't try so hard to shoehorn meaning into every available crevice. The game is a good example of how an interesting gimmick will fall flat without a solid foundation. The premise is that Sad Little Man is fruitlessly trying to escape a relentless Void that wishes to envelop everything in it's path. You have to utilize colors corresponding to different elements in nature in order to navigate an unforgiving terrain occasionally crawling with monsters.</p> <p>A disembodied voice follows Sad Little Man, constantly reminding him of his worthlessness and espousing a watered-down philosophy 101 lesson to the player. In many ways the disembodied voice is much more terrible than the Void itself. He supplies the essential narrative, but the writing and delivery are awful. Throughout the game, you're beaten over the head with the same pretentious message about nothingness and finding humanity, generally following the script of "You feel _____." "You are _____." Presumably, the goal is the build an emotional rapport with the Sad Little Man, but instead it's just meaningless drivel. It reminds me of a crass attempt to replicate the abusive narrator from Alex Ocias's <a href="https://ocias.com/loved.php" target="_blank"><em>Loved</em></a>.</p> <p>The puzzles in the main game are mindless and unfulfilling. In "void" mode (Nihil's version of New Game +), the difficulty of the puzzles aren't scaled per se; the gameplay simply becomes a platformer contingent on split-second timing and quick reflexes. Even with the challenges this mode presents, completing stages offer no satisfaction aside from what little can be had with the absence of the narrator.</p> <p>Nihilumbra is a shell of a game. It wants to tell a story without understanding how. Backstory is supposed to enhance the gameplay and vice versa, not force prolific meaning in order to make a statement. It just doesn't work. What's frustrating is that Nihilumbra is only one of many puzzle-platformers that follow this disappointing formula.</p> <p><em><u>Tl;dr</u>: Nihilumbra is try-hard philosophy lesson dressed up as a puzzle platformer. Pretty graphics alone can't save it from being shallow and boring.</em></p> <h2>Hammerwatch</h2> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bDIC5u1XP_g/VZrdwVwoWMI/AAAAAAAABlg/9Ce4yBxbxDQ/s1600/hammerwatch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Hammerwatch" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bDIC5u1XP_g/VZrdwVwoWMI/AAAAAAAABlg/9Ce4yBxbxDQ/s1600/hammerwatch.jpg" title="Hammerwatch" /></a></div><br /> <p>The bridge is broken and you're stuck! You have no choice but to ascend Castle Hammerwatch to try to escape but not before taking on swarms of baddies and looting everything in sight.</p> <p>This game is a fun throwback to old school fantasy hack-and-slash. It's fun, fast-paced, and unrelenting. It's the encapsulation of early 90s dungeon crawling, button-mashing goodness with a little bullet hell thrown in. For maximum enjoyment, it should be played with a group of people. I've played through the main campaign a few times now with my boyfriend and it's been a huge source of both frustration and entertainment for the two of us. Mostly frustration.</p> <p>To be honest, there's nothing innovative or especially noteworthy and that's why it's such a perfect co-operative adventure. There's nothing more satisfying than mowing through a room full of skeletons.</p> <p><em><u>Tl;dr</u>: Play with friends! Just make sure you find all the planks.</em></p> <h2>Apotheon</h2> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZBn3cMFKXk8/VZrcwTXKcdI/AAAAAAAABlc/ck65cv1Ejek/s1600/apotheon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Apotheon gameplay" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZBn3cMFKXk8/VZrcwTXKcdI/AAAAAAAABlc/ck65cv1Ejek/s1600/apotheon.jpg" title="Apotheon gameplay" /></a></div><br /> <p>Apotheon is an action RPG platformer set in ancient Greece. The Gods have forsaken civilization and now it's up to you to fight your way to Mount Olympus to put an end to the their cruelty.</p> <p>Admittedly, I haven't gotten far enough in this game to have anything substantial to say about it. The art style is unique and makes my mythology-loving nerdbrain giddy with excitement. The combat is unfortunately lackluster. Most reviews refer to it as "floaty" and that's the only way I know how to describe it. Sometimes navigating the map feels sticky and sluggish. I'll update once I play through it more.</p> <p><em><u>Tl;dr</u>: Mythology! Weird combat! Pretty fun so far.</em></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><br /><small><em>This post is © <a href="http://asimplesyrup.com">Simple Syrup</a> & licensed under a <a rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/">Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License</a>.</em></small></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10221797602545825383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-392559678703029743.post-2786200437322619852015-06-26T11:58:00.002-05:002015-06-26T13:49:06.488-05:00#LoveWins<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FzI-VAxGC_4/VY2DtGojRlI/AAAAAAAABjQ/l9gFy5qIwuI/s1600/pride.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="pride flags at supreme court" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FzI-VAxGC_4/VY2DtGojRlI/AAAAAAAABjQ/l9gFy5qIwuI/s1600/pride.jpg" title="#LoveWins" /></a></div><br /> <p>Today is a monumental day in history as SCOTUS rules in favor of marriage equality across the U.S. I'm proud to celebrate love, equality, and the perseverance it took to make this a reality.</p> <p>If you haven't read it, the final paragraph of Justice Anthony Kennedy's majority opinion is incredibly moving:</p> <blockquote>"No union is more profound than marriage, for it embodies the highest ideals of love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice, and family. In forming a marital union, two people become something greater than once they were. As some of the petitioners in these cases demonstrate, marriage embodies a love that may endure even past death. It would misunderstand these men and women to say they disrespect the idea of marriage. Their plea is that they do respect it, respect it so deeply that they seek to find its fulfillment for themselves. Their hope is not to be condemned to live in loneliness, excluded from one of civilization's oldest institutions. They ask for equal dignity in the eyes of the law. The Constitution grants them that right. The judgement of the Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit is reversed. <strong>It is so ordered.</strong>"</blockquote> <p>As we bask in happiness and rainbows, let's not forget that this is just a single step toward the progression of equal rights. It's not enough to legalize marriage when discrimination is so rampant that it's still dangerous to be openly gay. I want to take a moment to commemorate all those who lost their lives in the pursuit of their individual freedoms and are not with us to experience this victory. May you rest in power.</p> <p>For everyone who has watched their world crumble around them, for everyone who has struggled with feeling isolated in the midst of prevailing hatred, you are stronger than you could possibly imagine. May we continue to grow and undermine the systematic oppressions that hold us back. Let's do it together.</p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xcmN1WEABKA/VY2A95CeC1I/AAAAAAAABjE/LYI94v1pk9I/s1600/hopeless.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="rainbow" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xcmN1WEABKA/VY2A95CeC1I/AAAAAAAABjE/LYI94v1pk9I/s1600/hopeless.jpg" title="hyperbole and a half" /></a></div> <div class="blogger-post-footer"><br /><small><em>This post is © <a href="http://asimplesyrup.com">Simple Syrup</a> & licensed under a <a rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/">Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License</a>.</em></small></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10221797602545825383noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-392559678703029743.post-59006223801272799652015-05-21T10:30:00.000-05:002015-06-29T09:32:36.968-05:00Joss Whedon & the Fear of Criticizing Our Idols<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o3oalhy_YeY/VZFW3p8uIiI/AAAAAAAABkk/Q3MhQK87iA8/s1600/joss.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Joss Whedon" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o3oalhy_YeY/VZFW3p8uIiI/AAAAAAAABkk/Q3MhQK87iA8/s1600/joss.jpg" title="Joss Whedon" /></a></div><br /> <p>This isn’t a post about <em>Avengers: Age of Ultron</em>. At least, not directly. It would be misleading to say it’s not tangentially involved given the events that have unfolded following the movie’s release.</p> <p>Backstory:</p> <p><em>AoU</em> released amid the typical fervor associated with a new superhero movie, and it’s reception was lackluster. It wasn’t just because critics wrote it off as a three-hour snooze fest of bad writing and cliche plot, though that alone was enough to guarantee below-average reviews and angry posts from disappointed fans for the rest of the summer; the upset came from people wanting to know why Joss Whedon made some questionable choices regarding Black Widow.</p> <p>But like I said before, this post isn’t about that. I don’t know enough about the films to make an assessment either way, but by now it’s ubiquitous knowledge that those darned social justice warriors had such immense hatred for the film that they’ve been blamed for bullying Whedon off Twitter. Harassment and threats are never okay, and it's upsetting that geek culture defaults to this type of behavior when they're unhappy with any little thing. It's unfortunate that people slinging threats effectively overshadowed those trying to strike up a conversation, making it appear to be a Good Guy vs. Rabid Fan Base scenario. I'd like to clarify that within the context of this post, "criticism" refers to concerns that are expressed sans harassment. Whedon continues to receive plenty of criticism in this manner, though they way people react to negative statements you'd think there was no distinction.</p> <p><a href="http://jennytrout.com/?p=9106" target="_blank">Jenny Trout’s post about the Twitter debacle</a> does a great job of framing it in context of Whedon’s purported feminism. In reference to a list of his past transgressions, she writes,</p> <blockquote>“I am never reluctant to point out that Joss Whedon, fan-appointed feminist savior of nerd culture, writes, well, exactly how a white man who’s been raised to the pedestal of blameless authority on all social issues would write. There are so many problems in his work and his interactions with fans.”</blockquote> <p>That, ladies and gents, is a gem if I’ve ever seen one.</p> <p>Almost immediately after Whedon quit Twitter, denying any link between his departure and the threats he received re:<em>AoU</em>, Mark Ruffalo took to Reddit to defend his honor, saying how sad it was to see Whedon under fire from his own kind because “he’s such a feminist.” Interestingly enough, responses from the community took on a different tone, and the overwhelming backlash against the AoU outrage came from people who were angry to see the fanbase turn against Whedon because of the many great shows and movies he’s given us. In their mind, Whedon was gracious enough to bestow us with the gifts of <em>Buffy</em> and <em>Firefly</em> and this is not how you treat someone who you want to continue making awesome things for you.</p> <p>To which I say: you are delusional if you think that’s the way the world works for someone like Whedon.</p> <p>(A more realistic worry is that he will continue making things that get cancelled halfway through the season.)</p> <p>It’s not just a handful of off-base comments, either. Going back to Trout’s comment, this mindset proliferates anytime there’s controversy with a geek idol who also happens to be a decent human being, and it’s incredibly toxic. Just because someone is a talented and respected creator doesn’t mean they're above scrutiny. Whedon doesn’t get a free pass for life because <em>Buffy</em> and <em>Firefly</em> had a solid cast of strong, complex women or because he’s an outspoken ally. Neither show is a bastion of perfect feminist media like the fandoms would have you believe, and his witty interview answers don’t negate his capacity for sexism.</p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5gjYoJ_r6CY/VV31Q8kvNHI/AAAAAAAABhY/_D8GlmpoyO8/s1600/nice%2Bthings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="nice things" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5gjYoJ_r6CY/VV31Q8kvNHI/AAAAAAAABhY/_D8GlmpoyO8/s1600/nice%2Bthings.jpg" title="nice things" /></a></div><br /> <p>But my point isn’t to castigate him for his alleged wrongdoings, it’s simply to show that this isn’t an issue of right or wrong.</p> <p>You could argue all day whether or not the criticism surrounding Black Widow is valid or justified or whatever; that’s precisely what critical discourse is for. No two people will experience a piece of media the same way, through the same cultural lens, and that’s okay. It bears repeating: <strong>Criticism isn’t a personal attack on your interests or morals.</strong> Whedon receiving threats <em>as well</em> doesn't make the criticism any less valid or deserved, nor does it make them inherently malicious. Even if the incident passed without a single "go kill yourself" shouted in his direction, complaints would still have been treated as a betrayal. The fact that they did happen just made it easier for fans to write off despondent viewers as angry, violent abusers.</p> <p>If it burns you to see your favorite director/actor/whatever called out on their actions regardless of the issues that are being addressed or their validity, maybe take a step back and examine why you feel that way. Underlying guilt? <a href="http://www.socialjusticeleague.net/2011/09/how-to-be-a-fan-of-problematic-things/" target="_blank">It’s okay to like problematic things</a>, as long as you aren’t making excuses for them. Pointing out that Black Widow’s storyline could or should have been handled differently doesn’t mean you can’t love the movie, but it also doesn’t mean that it (and by extension, Whedon and his previous works) wasn’t ruined for other people. And guess what? <em>That’s okay too</em>.</p> <p>So before you reblog a text post on Tumblr calling people hypocrites for having the nerve to enjoy <em>Buffy</em> but dislike Whedon based on recent events, stop. Walk away from the computer. Learn to paint or some shit and let people set their own limits. I promise Whedon will continue making movies regardless of what people think of him.</p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><br /><small><em>This post is © <a href="http://asimplesyrup.com">Simple Syrup</a> & licensed under a <a rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/">Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License</a>.</em></small></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10221797602545825383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-392559678703029743.post-48018521593122874472015-04-23T15:00:00.000-05:002015-06-29T09:40:44.783-05:00Realistic Recipes for Every Meal is live on the Toast!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TMWAujx4SAs/VZFYrI3rgHI/AAAAAAAABk0/0L6kUIqFpec/s1600/salmon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="salmon and lox on crackers" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TMWAujx4SAs/VZFYrI3rgHI/AAAAAAAABk0/0L6kUIqFpec/s1600/salmon.jpg" title="the fanciest recipe in my box" /></a></div><br /> <p>Exciting news! <a href="http://the-toast.net/2015/04/23/realistic-recipes-for-every-meal/" target="_blank">My first-ever piece for The Toast</a> goes live today! Check it out and totally don't feel pressured into leaving a comment on the site, because even though that would be super awesome of you, it's your choice! Really! I am absolutely not demanding that you do so for my sake. <em> It won't hurt my feelings at all if you just ignore it like some heartless person.</em></p> <p><em>Recipes</em> (as it will now be referred) is a piece I came up with while spouting nonsense on Twitter which is the unsurprising origin behind the bulk of my projects. In the future when I am a well-to-do writerly type, you can bet I'll be the dork who cites a social media site best known for being a vast abyss of nothingness as the source of their inspiration.</p> <p>As far as domestic abilities go, I fall somewhere on the spectrum of "person who likes food but is too lazy to put forth much effort" with regards to food-prep capability. Once upon a time, I was very invested in baking and culinary arts because I figured it was a skill I needed to have lest I resign myself to a life of frozen dinners and fast food. In college, I was like Maggie Gyllenhaal's character in <em>Stranger than Fiction</em> except I did well in school and didn't go on to open a bakery because baking is a joyless act and running a bakery is actually very hard work. Being that I was living in apartments and crappy rented houses with little to no kitchen functionality, I did little cooking. Ultimately, I made various desserts once a week and ate whatever was easily slapped together and heated in some fashion.</p> <p>Now, if you can cook in any capacity, you already know: (food) recipes are mostly bullshit. Following one successfully requires finesse, three additional arms, and a kitchen to rival the Food Network. There is a reason why most comments on recipe blogs are people explaining what they did differently; you can pretty much throw whatever in a pan and the result will still probably be edible (no comment on it's overall disappointment level). But when you come from a background of only ever using recipes to make delicious desserts, you put a lot of stock in following a recipe to a T. And boy, is that a mistake.</p> <p>Suffice to say, my piece is pretty good and you should <a href="http://the-toast.net/2015/04/23/realistic-recipes-for-every-meal/" target="_blank">go read it</a>. Oh, and if you know anyone who's in the business of estimating cook times, send them my way. I'd like to file a grievance.</p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><br /><small><em>This post is © <a href="http://asimplesyrup.com">Simple Syrup</a> & licensed under a <a rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/">Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License</a>.</em></small></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10221797602545825383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-392559678703029743.post-45859390091056923952015-04-18T10:00:00.000-05:002015-04-18T10:00:04.094-05:00Furbabies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LtbogdeqxxA/VTAbR2nxfGI/AAAAAAAABf4/egIlDtPpyhQ/s1600/paws.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="cat paws on carpet" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LtbogdeqxxA/VTAbR2nxfGI/AAAAAAAABf4/egIlDtPpyhQ/s1600/paws.jpg" title="kitty paws" /></a></div><br /> <p>I grew up in a house without any real pets. There's a resident outdoor cat that we claim as our own and who sometimes spends time sulking around the house, but you can't pin down a free spirit so that's how I know she doesn't truly belong to us. One day she goes outside and never comes back. She's gone for a week before we even notice. I scoop out a handful of earth in her favorite spot in the yard and plant a fistful of hand-picked wildflowers in the shallow hole. I don't believe she's dead, but I want to do something for her in case she comes back so she knows we miss her.</p> <p><div align="center">~*~</div></p> <p>I'm twelve and I'm begging my grandparents to let me take in my friend's dog, a beautiful "Lassie" with long brown-and-cream fur. She's trained, I plead, she's super friendly, and I know we'll be best friends. Everything I know about the magic of pet ownership has been derived from <em>Homeward Bound</em> and <em>101 Dalmatians</em>. I daydream about the epic adventures I could have if only I had a furry companion, which furthers my heartache when I am inevitably denied.</p> <p><div align="center">~*~</div></p> <p>During spring break my mom comes home with a kitten in a tiny cardboard box. She buys food and a litterbox, saying there's no way my grandmother would turn out a kitten who already had everything he needed. I shower the thing in affection, and in return he introduces me to his claws. He is not interested in being a friendly, devoted companion. He terrorizes me for the better part of a decade until I move out.</p> <p><div align="center">~*~</div></p> <p>Lonely and living in a small city, I seek the irrefutable bond between man an animal that I've believed my entire life thanks to Disney and animated movies and books like <em>Black Beauty</em>. For a short time, I keep fish. Fish are boring and expensive, but I ugly cry when they die. I hide my equipment in the shed and vow to never think about them again. In college, I adopt two rabbits and fall in love with their twitchy noses. They chew up my carpet and eat through the wires of my expensive electronics. I learn to not grow so fond of my things. I jokingly refer to teeth marks as distressed adornments. My roommates don't find it as funny as I do.</p> <p><div align="center">~*~</div></p> <p>One Thanksgiving, a stray gives birth to kittens. Our house is full of tiny, mewling bodies. We give away all but one. The mother doesn't survive. My friend tells me she'll take good care of the babies she took home with her. She doesn't.</p> <p><div align="center">~*~</div></p> <p>I'm twenty-five and live in a house with two rabbits, a hyperactive dog, and a cat. People ask me when I'll have kids. I laugh. "I have plenty of children," I tell them, "and lots of love, too."</p> <hr> <p>This was my post for the Absolute Write April blog chain. This month, we had to incorporate specific words into our writing. Be sure to check out the other participants!</p> <p><a href="http://jelyzabeth.com/2015/04/06/absolutewrite-april-blog-chain-2015/" target="_blank">jelyzabeth.com</a><br /><a href="http://www.futureconscience.com" target="_blank">futureconscience.com</a><br /><a href="http://awritersprogression.blogspot.com/2015/04/sunrise-absolute-write-blog-chain.html" target="_blank">awritersprogression.blogspot.com</a><br /><a href="http://jozebwrites.blogspot.com" target="_blank">jozebwrites.blogspot.com</a><br /><a href="http://www.vinjii.ch" target="_blank">vinjii.ch</a></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><br /><small><em>This post is © <a href="http://asimplesyrup.com">Simple Syrup</a> & licensed under a <a rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/">Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License</a>.</em></small></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10221797602545825383noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-392559678703029743.post-62436364003642913472015-04-03T09:30:00.000-05:002015-04-03T09:30:03.640-05:00Fashion Friday: 3D-Printed Chic<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eGtwklHiCsE/VRYRaGtn1yI/AAAAAAAABW0/rfX1f_H_Bkk/s1600/3D%2Bprinting%2Biris%2Bvan%2Bherpen.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="3D printed runway dresses" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eGtwklHiCsE/VRYRaGtn1yI/AAAAAAAABW0/rfX1f_H_Bkk/s1600/3D%2Bprinting%2Biris%2Bvan%2Bherpen.png" title="Iris van Herpen collection" /></a></div><br /> <p>In the past few years, tech fashion has gone from a geeky approximation of fashion to a commercially viable market, even if that "market" is currently focused on pushing out half-hearted attempts at cramming a mobile device in various accessories in order to capitalize on our collective obsession with being plugged in. Wearables may be lucrative, but 3D printing is poised to revolutionize the product manufacturing industry just as soon as they figure out a way to make the printers more efficient and cost effective. In the meantime, it's comforting to see the shift away from pseudo-futuristic sci-fi wear to something the general public can get on board with. Not even high fashion can make heavily LED-lit, holo-print, or—heaven forbid—<em>tweeting</em> attire look cool.</p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tMR11KppzF0/VQhPcDocswI/AAAAAAAABVQ/MiIYbWBO6Ew/s1600/lightuprave.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="img search for light up rave attire" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tMR11KppzF0/VQhPcDocswI/AAAAAAAABVQ/MiIYbWBO6Ew/s1600/lightuprave.jpg" title="light up rave attire" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I suppose they do have the raver market cornered, though.</td></tr></tbody></table> <p>3D-printed fashion opens the door for clothing designers to put the spotlight on concepts that are out of the realm of possibility for traditional materials, such as <a href="http://www.materialise.com/cases/iris-van-herpen-debuts-wearable-3d-printed-pieces-at-paris-fashion-week" target="_blank">this collection from Dutch designer Iris van Herpen</a> who collaborated with a major 3D printer manufacturer to create a line for Paris Fashion Week in 2013. Herpen and her team employed precise geometric patterns to create stunning, impossibly intricate garments that quite literally showcase the beauty of movement.</p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9GtHmepghYw/VQhV2gkz-pI/AAAAAAAABV8/ot1OSNfuJVI/s1600/materialise-3d-printed-dress_lowres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="black 3d printed dress" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9GtHmepghYw/VQhV2gkz-pI/AAAAAAAABV8/ot1OSNfuJVI/s1600/materialise-3d-printed-dress_lowres.jpg" title="dress by Iris van Herpen" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There's something truly satisfying about the geometric elegance of printed attire.</td></tr></tbody></table> <p>While the designs for 3D-printed clothing are undoubtably gorgeous, it's a challenge to coax the printing material into something that resembles the natural flow of fabric. Current design software has serious limitations in this regard but it isn't impossible. <a href="http://www.wired.com/2014/12/dress-made-3-d-printed-plastic-flows-like-fabric/" target="_blank">Nervous Systems</a> designed a cute floral dress with a geometric algorithm specifically formulated to imitate fabric. It took the studio an entire year <em>after</em> initial concept creation to work out the kinks in order to successfully print it, but damn if it isn't magnificent.</p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YrGU627Vntc/VQhQs8AM6wI/AAAAAAAABVc/1t32QBLYFBM/s1600/nervous%2Bsystems%2Bdress.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Nervous System's floral 3D printed dress" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YrGU627Vntc/VQhQs8AM6wI/AAAAAAAABVc/1t32QBLYFBM/s1600/nervous%2Bsystems%2Bdress.gif" title="Nervous System's floral 3D printed dress" /></a></div></br /><p>The dress takes two days to print and costs about $3,000 to make, so don't expect to see this (or any other printed piece) in your wardrobe any time soon.</p> <p>It's far more likely that the first printed items we'll start assimilating into our collections are <a href="http://design-milk.com/3d-printed-jewelry/" target="_blank">shoes and accessories</a>, which is admittedly more exciting to me. I can't be the only one who thinks shoe shopping is a hassle, right? I always struggle with finding the perfect shoes for an ensemble, so naturally a print-your-own thing appeals to me.</p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tMJtROVPE5g/VQhTVf9jQnI/AAAAAAAABVo/uZ8UiOnGF1g/s1600/3d%2Bprint%2Bshoes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="3D printed shoes" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tMJtROVPE5g/VQhTVf9jQnI/AAAAAAAABVo/uZ8UiOnGF1g/s1600/3d%2Bprint%2Bshoes.jpg" height="250" title="3D printed shoes" width="400" /></a></div><br /> <p>And matching accessories? Yes please. Geometric designs are in style right now, so can we get on this?</p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I1pdu9KiuJE/VQhTVdYR-bI/AAAAAAAABVs/BUUZDzQD-OQ/s1600/3D%2BPrint%2BJewlery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="3D printed jewelry" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I1pdu9KiuJE/VQhTVdYR-bI/AAAAAAAABVs/BUUZDzQD-OQ/s1600/3D%2BPrint%2BJewlery.jpg" title="3D Printed Jewelry from MYBF" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This amazing collection is from <a href="http://design-milk.com/mybf-my-best-friend-3d-printed-modern-jewelry/" target="_blank">MYBF</a></td></tr></tbody></table> <p>Crazy shoes and statement pieces aren't usually made from textiles, so there's more focus on aesthetic. The caveat here is that the results are sometimes strongly reminiscent of the 80s when jellies and cheesy costume jewelry were popular.</p> <p>We're not a long way off from seeing 3D printers as an everyday household item. In fact, there are already several affordable models available, though they're obviously limited in functionality and I can't vouch for their their quality besides. Still, how cool would it be to pop out ready-made clothes or accessories from your very own magic item-making machine?</p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><br /><small><em>This post is © <a href="http://asimplesyrup.com">Simple Syrup</a> & licensed under a <a rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/">Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License</a>.</em></small></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10221797602545825383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-392559678703029743.post-91170943464340015462015-03-24T10:00:00.000-05:002015-03-24T10:00:07.525-05:00Review: Overdressed Darlings<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EoIOV-jcuQI/VQ-a0ni2WgI/AAAAAAAABWY/9JixI8RsSKw/s1600/ODD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="band album cover" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EoIOV-jcuQI/VQ-a0ni2WgI/AAAAAAAABWY/9JixI8RsSKw/s1600/ODD.jpg" title="The O.D.D." /></a></div><br /> <p>The hometown band that's taking the metro area by storm is going public with its eponymously titled second EP. <em>Overdressed Darlings</em>, or O.D.D. for short, is an indie pop/alt collective with musical stylings in the same vein as <em>The Hush Sound</em> and <em>Wake Owl</em> with a touch of <em>Radiohead</em>. The band has described itself publicly* as "the ironic dressing up of overwrought public appeal, but sexier." <p>O.D.D. indeed dials up the sexy, incorporating elements reminiscent of speakeasy-era lounge music into their modern sound. Their live performances are a treat in spite of their exclusivity and perhaps to the aid of their mystique. The group prides itself on its authentic, pre-Internet underground aesthetic, preferring to utilize word-of-mouth and cheap posters in lieu of the "inorganic approach" of advertisement via technology. Last weekend, I caught them off stage following a pub appearance boasting to no one in particular that their social media presence was virtually nonexistent. "Have you heard of O.D.D?" bass player Alec Herveaux asks when he notices me hovering at the edge of their space in the crowded bar. "Yes," I tell him. A palpable wave of disappointment washes over his body. He refuses to acknowledge me for the rest of the evening.</p> <p>While they may be reveling (or not) in their moderate success, the band has been through some tough times in its brief existence. Frontman Alan Riddley confirmed that the previously released album titled <em>Subarctic Monkeys</em> (10 rare tracks comprised entirely of the band's first arguments spoken over soft, melodic harmonies) will not be reproduced following a copyright lawsuit. They intend to continue to incorporate the vintage tracks into their live set as a nod to fans who supported them prior to the litigation that inevitably led to bankruptcy and drove former guitarist Conrad Vale to alcoholism, may he rest in peace.</p> <p>ODD's EP is out now but only available for purchase at one of their three live shows. Show dates and locations can be found by listening to the wind breathe its secrets on a midsummer's day, or by invoking the wisdom of a small cluster of hipsters at your local fair-trade coffee house.**</p> <p>For entirely convoluted reasons, the band has requested that I not review individual songs in an effort to preserve their integrity. As such, I can only confirm that the album is, in fact, music of some sort.</p> <p>The complete track listing is as follows:</p> <p>1. Everything and Nothing<br />2. Druthers<br />3. Don't Acquiesce<br />4. Subservient Patriarchy<br />5. Incognizant Masses</p> <p><em><span style="font-size: 8pt;">*Publicly in this instance meaning once or twice in a crowded room.</span></em><br /><em><span style="font-size: 8pt;">**As with all hipster encounters, approach with caution and be sure to lead with a handmade gift of no discernible value, preferably a hunk of distressed wood or exceptionally ugly tribal wristband.</span></em></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><br /><small><em>This post is © <a href="http://asimplesyrup.com">Simple Syrup</a> & licensed under a <a rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/">Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License</a>.</em></small></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10221797602545825383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-392559678703029743.post-39746715885547022812015-03-15T21:00:00.000-05:002015-07-29T09:58:54.897-05:00Write Now: Clair's Island<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nWbXVySoRvA/VQZ0wGwoVsI/AAAAAAAABU8/jrSiJxDedUE/s1600/secret%2Bof%2Broan%2Binish%2Bblog.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="girl on a hill overlooking the sea" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nWbXVySoRvA/VQZ0wGwoVsI/AAAAAAAABU8/jrSiJxDedUE/s1600/secret%2Bof%2Broan%2Binish%2Bblog.png" title="The Secret of Roan Inish" /></a></div><br /> <p>This is my post for the <a href="http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=303187" target="_blank">AW March Blog Chain</a>. In honor of St. Paddy's Day, the theme was all things Irish. </p> <p>For a while now I've been researching mythical creatures and have been particularly interested in exploring selkie lore in fiction. Selkies are similar to mermaids in that they're part human and part creature. Selkies are seals who can shed their skin and take the form of a human. Most of the stories I've read about them have been pretty sad in a Stockholm Syndrome kind of way. See, when a selkie loses it skin, it can never return to the sea. Most legends tell tales of men stealing a selkie's skin in order to force her to be his wife. Sometimes a genuine bond forms, but more often than not the selkie will find her skin years later and leave to go back home forever.</p> <p>I find this recurring theme pretty depressing and in some cases downright awful, so I wanted to try something else. It was written pretty quickly, but I hope you enjoy it!</p> <h2><div align="center">Clair's Island</div></h2> <p>Clair swirled her toes in the lough, absentmindedly tracing shapes on the water's surface and watching them dance and come to life. The sun dipped low on the horizon, casting an unflattering light on the rocky pathway that connected Clair's patch of untamed grass and soil to the mainland. This was her secret place, a secluded slice of heaven where her imagination ran wild, but tonight, and for the past few weeks now, her getaway had been abnormally quiet. Long forgotten were the playful island creatures she'd thought up and befriended—Mergles, she'd called them—along with her diligent search for fairy rings and other magicks buried in the land. Instead, she simply dipped her toes in the murky water and watched the sun make its somber descent.</p> <p>It was Millie's turn to cook for the dormitory, and the prospect of a steaming bowl of her favorite soup lured her from seclusion early. Warm meals were a rarity at The Proper Ladies' Home except on the coldest of winter days, and Millie was the only kitchen maid clever enough to coax extra firewood rations from the Headmaster. Clair reached into her pocket for the crumpled piece of pink stationery she'd stashed there and dropped it in the water. As she she expertly climbed her way back to shore, slipping only once by accident, the paper bobbed and then all at once disappeared beneath the water.</p> <p><div align="center">~*~</div></p> <p>Every afternoon for a month, Clair made her lonesome pilgrimage to the lough. Three days before Midsummer's Eve, she was surprised to find a strange girl wading just off the coast of her island. Reluctantly, she settled into her usual spot, trying her best to ignore the intruder.</p> <p>"Hey! My name's Aine, what's yours?" the stranger asked. When Clair didn't answer, she reared her hand back and sent a large spray of water crashing into her.</p> <p>"Oi! What's your problem!" Clair roared, shaking water from her limbs.</p> <p>Aine flashed a cheeky grin and disregarded the question. "Are you here to watch the seals?"</p> <p>Clair let out an exasperated sigh. "Seals?"</p> <p>"They won't come this way, you know. They prefer the warmer water over there."</p> <p>Clair didn't bother to see where she was pointing. "What makes you think I care about stupid seals, anyway?"</p> <p>"Don't you want to see them transform for the Midsummer Festival?"</p> <p>"I don't believe in that baby stuff," Clair huffed, crossing her arms triumphantly.</p> <p>"Suit yourself," Aine shrugged and flopped backwards into the water.</p> <p>Clair sighed again. As much as she just wanted to be left alone, she couldn't help but think what Headmaster would do if she knew how rude she'd been. Proper Ladies are always gentle and kind, she would repeat firmly, flicking the birch switch against her legs until they were red and blistered. She shuddered at the thought.</p> <p>"My name's Clair," said Clair. Aine just splashed around. "Do you really believe in selkies?" she asked quietly.</p> <p>Aine stopped wiggling and sat up. "Sure," she replied. "Seen 'em with my own eyes."</p> <p>"You're lying!" Clair bit her tongue. <em>A Proper Lady is non-confrontational.</em> "I mean, you shouldn't lie about things like that," she amended haughtily.</p> <p>"I ain't lying," Aine shot back. "I'll show you if you promise to keep it a secret."</p> <p><div align="center">~*~</div></p> <p>The next day, Clair snuck out of Proper Ladies early to meet Aine at the place she said the seals would be. There was no way to get there without swimming, so she had left her overclothes hidden next to a boulder on her island for safekeeping. She would probably get scolded for her messy hair when she went back to the Home later, but at least her uniform would be dry.</p> <p>Aine took one look at her and let out a howl of laughter. "You look like a drowned rat!"</p> <p>"Hush it!" Clair glared daggers at the small girl who had at least had the foresight to wear a swim top. "Why are we here so early, anyway? I thought the seals didn't change until Midsummer Eve."</p> <p>The girl pointed in the distance, still giggling to herself. A group of seals were swimming together toward the shore, barking and playing happily as they swam.</p> <p>"The Midsummer thing is just a myth, you know," Aine explained when she'd calmed down enough to make words. "Selkies can change whenever they want. It's just traditional that they celebrate in human form for the Festival."</p> <p>"What? No way." Clair cocked an eyebrow skeptically.</p> <p>"Mhm, if you sit real still, you can watch 'em do it." Sure enough, once the seals reached land human shapes began climb out off their skin. Clair gasped, unable to believe her eyes.</p> <p>The pair sat in silence watching the lithe figures sun themselves on the shore. Clair preoccupied herself with memorizing the face of each person so she would recognize them if she ever brushed shoulders with them on land.</p> <p>"I know you miss her terribly," Aine blurted suddenly.</p> <p>Clair was taken aback. "What?"</p> <p>Aine produced a soggy wad of pink mush from her pocket. It was mostly destroyed, but Clair recognized it as one of the several notes she'd discarded in the lough over the past month.</p> <p>"Where did you get that?" she asked, anger rising in her voice. "It's private!"</p> <p>"Then why would you throw them away?" Aine asked innocently.</p> <p>"They were for <em>her</em>," Clair mumbled.</p> <p>"I know. I read them all." Aine dropped the pink blob into the water. "That's why I brought you here. You were so desperate to see if the myth about drowned souls becoming selkies was true."</p> <p>Clair shifted uncomfortably, not wanting to be having this talk with an outsider. "It's not, is it?" the other girl asked.</p> <p>"No," she replied in a whipser, tears welling in her eyes.</p> <p>"Maybe she's out there somewhere," the girl suggested. "Souls are strange things, ain't they? Suppose she's one'o them, but looks different now?"</p> <p>"What do you know?" Clair snapped suddenly, ignoring all her Proper Lady training. "You didn't know her. She's gone forever and I'll never see her again! Just leave me alone!" She pulled her knees up to her chest and buried her head in her arms, sobbing.</p> <p>"I'm sorry," she heard the girl say some time later. "I hope you find her some day. I'm sure she misses you, too."</p> <p>She heard the rustle of grass, the delicate splash of water. When Clair finally looked up, she was alone. Swimming away from her was a beautiful grey seal.</p> <p><div align="center">~*~</div></p> <p>Thanks for reading! Be sure to check out the other participants in the chain: </p><a href="http://jelyzabeth.com/2015/03/09/ireland/" target="_blank">jelyzabeth.com</a><br /><a href="http://awritersprogression.blogspot.com/2015/03/a-nip-of-ol-irish-absolute-write-blog.html" target="_blank">awritersprogression.blogspot.com</a><br /><a href="http://jozebwrites.blogspot.co.uk/2015/03/the-trouble-with-troubles.html" target=_"blank">jozebwrites.blogspot.com</a><br /><a href="http://laylalawlor.com/wordpress/blog/2015/03/18/healers-daughter-absolute-write-march-blog-chain/" target=_"blank">laylalawlor.com</a><br /><a href="https://sudoone.wordpress.com/2015/03/22/fiction-because-of-what-the-leprechaun-said/" target="_blank">sudoone.wordpress.com</a><br /><a href="http://wrgingell.com/2015/03/25/leprechauns/" target="_blank">wrgingell.com</a><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><br /><small><em>This post is © <a href="http://asimplesyrup.com">Simple Syrup</a> & licensed under a <a rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/">Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License</a>.</em></small></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10221797602545825383noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-392559678703029743.post-90774163094344180812015-02-20T09:00:00.000-06:002015-07-29T09:57:54.359-05:00Write Now: Novlr Beta<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aTrdOBHmzLA/VOZkQsDckJI/AAAAAAAABSk/hH47LTbPBaY/s1600/novlr-blog.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Novlr" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aTrdOBHmzLA/VOZkQsDckJI/AAAAAAAABSk/hH47LTbPBaY/s1600/novlr-blog.png" title="Novlr" /></a></div><br /> <p>A few weeks ago I received a follow on Twitter from the online writing software company <a href="http://novlr.org" target="_blank">Novlr</a>. There's a good chance that if you tweet about writing, especially with the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/amwriting" target="_blank">#amwriting</a> tag, you've already seen the company pop up on your TL. While I'm not keen on this particular advertising tactic (more so in regards to people who do this as a way of self-promotion or to build mass amounts of followers), it's hard to argue its effectiveness. The service is currently in open Beta, so I signed up to see what it's all about. Here are my thoughts:</p> <h2>Lovely Interface & Attractive Design</h2> <p>My first impression upon visiting the site is that the design is striking. It's bold, clean, and minimalistic. The color choices are pleasing, the font is clear, and the contrast draws attention to the right places. The write page is a soft, off-white with a reddish hue, which makes it easy on the eyes. Their designer obviously understood how to make good use of whitespace. Overall, it makes me feel confident they know their stuff.</p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xTR4My05iv0/VOZIlQeNkLI/AAAAAAAABSQ/GF9U-tFdFls/s1600/novlr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xTR4My05iv0/VOZIlQeNkLI/AAAAAAAABSQ/GF9U-tFdFls/s1600/novlr.jpg" height="252" width="400" alt="Novlr write page" title="Novlr"/></a></div><br /> <h2>Online Scrivener Lite</h2> <p>Aside from the main writing page, there's not much else to Novlr. The concept is contingent on users' desire to have their work available to them on any platform. The text formatting options are fairly basic: typographical emphasis only. This is part of the appeal; too many features can be intimidating and clutter up the available space, but ultimately you'll be forced to export to a different word processor for formatting. I haven't tried the export feature at length, so I can't speak to it's ease of use.</p> <p>It feels like Scrivener Lite because of its near constant autosave feature and focus on chapter organization. They also plan on adding several Scriv-esque features later on such as detailed character notes.</p> <h2>It's Novlr.ORG Not .com</h2> <p>Seriously, I can't stop making this mistake.</p> <h2>Neat Concept...for a Beta</h2> <p>If Novlr were a romantic partner, it would be a casual hookup. Fun and pretty to look at, but offers nothing to keep me coming back for more. I don't imagine I'll feel inclined to continue using it once it switches to a paid service, even at the proposed monthly fee of $5 (which is another a drawback for me; I dislike subscription services). It's not strong enough on its own for me to ditch my current online writing programs, and I don't prefer to scatter my work across several accounts. Currently, its strongest draw is obviously aesthetic, which isn't a bad thing! Aesthetic is important, just look at <a href="http://www.ommwriter.com/en/" target="_blank">OmmWriter Dana</a> (which I adore). But as it stands, its features are too similar to other online word processing services with the exception that it's hyper-focused on the novel-writing process.</p> <p>Access to the service is free (for now) with the limited option to buy a lifetime account for $100. That's a steep price to pay for what is essentially an alternative version of Evernote, and it's still subject to the typical risks associated with early access projects. There's no guarantee the project won't stall after the initial hype subsides or that it'll see significant updates. In fact, it seems Novlr is using the money from the sale of lifetime accounts to fund the addition of new services since their <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/novlr/novlr-novel-writing-simply" target="_blank">Kickstarter ultimately failed</a>.</p> <p>Lastly, if you're looking for online word processing alternatives, there's no shortage of free services. Here are a few:</p> <p><strong><a href="https://drive.google.com/" target="_blank">Google Drive/Docs</a></strong> — There's a reason why Google is ubiquitous: their products are interconnected, free, and work brilliantly. Docs is a great replacement for Word if you're looking for a place to keep backups of your work online. It also allows collaboration and sharing via a unique link. Couple it with <a href="https://ifttt.com/" target="_blank">IFTTT</a> and it's hard to beat. If you're well-entrenched in Google products, why not?</p> <p><strong><a href="https://evernote.com/" target="_blank">Evernote</a></strong> — The new design changes have made Evernote look a bit more "fashion forward." Everything is bigger and less compact (take from that what you will), and the writing space is more open. The service has quite a vocal following and even though I find it to be more useful as a scratchpad or place to collect ideas and small notes, some people swear by it for longform writing.</p> <p><strong><a href="https://yarny.me/" target="_blank">Yarny</a></strong> — Yarny is a blank doc that works a bit like Evernote but is more geared toward writing. You can create groups of notes and add tags and a target word count. You can also create character and setting sheets that are organized separately, which is pretty handy. It's like an uglier Novlr, but with a few more features. <p><strong><a href="http://www.litlift.com/" target="_blank">LitLift</a></strong> — 100% free with no premium upgrades. Interface looks similar to the compose screen for a blogging platform. It's a little cluttered and uninspired, but packed with some robust features and maybe more to come.</p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><br /><small><em>This post is © <a href="http://asimplesyrup.com">Simple Syrup</a> & licensed under a <a rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/">Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License</a>.</em></small></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10221797602545825383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-392559678703029743.post-85230078563794885862015-01-08T14:00:00.000-06:002015-01-13T15:26:19.409-06:00Realistic New Year Resolutions<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DgHQKZ8PjJU/VK7kFg9kOyI/AAAAAAAABQs/zyP5FWZa1Wo/s1600/use%2Bnew%2Byear2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="New Year" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DgHQKZ8PjJU/VK7kFg9kOyI/AAAAAAAABQs/zyP5FWZa1Wo/s1600/use%2Bnew%2Byear2.png" title="New Year" /></a></div><br /> <p>Ah, the New Year. Time to embrace the forcibly contrived notion of new beginnings and a fresh start by pretending that the past 365 was just a warm-up to the inevitable awesomeness that one more year of life will bring. What better way to say "So long, asshole!" to the end of a calendar period than by attempting to re-evaluate your life in a desperate attempt to escape soul-crushing mediocrity? There isn't one, that's what. Nothing screams "bitter disappointment" like facing the fact like you are a fallible human who has little capacity for change quite like this ritual, so in order to soften the blow, how about we lower our expectations this year? Here goes!</p> <h5>1. Wake up in the morning.</h5><p>Or early afternoon, whatever works best.</p> <h5>2. Spend no longer than a month accidentally writing 2014 on everything out of habit.</h5><p>HAHA no one else makes this mistake and you are the worst person ever! Try not to fuck up so much!</p> <h5>3. Achieve singularity with the couch.</h5><p>We are one. We are...Netflix.</p> <h5>4. Eat food. Any food.</h5><p>Sometimes eat food that's good for you. Other times gorge on terrible delicious awfulness.</p> <h5>5. Participate in social events when it doesn't conflict with your hermit status.</h5><p>"Sorry, I can't go out tonight I'm already in my PJs from this morning."</p> <h5>6. Continue owning a gym membership.</h5><p>And do what you will with it.</p> <h5>7. Be productive once in a while.</h5><p>Other times, waste a whole afternoon on Twitter. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯</p> <h5>8. Have a responsibility that you satisfactorily fulfill on occasion.</h5><p>Reminder: pets need food at least sometimes to live.</p> <h5>9. Continue doing things you like doing</h5><p>"Don't fix it if it ain't broke" sort of applies in this situation. Not really, but let's pretend!</p> <h5>10. Make enough money to physically survive.</h5><p>Gainful employment? Productive member of society? Don't ask, don't tell!</p> <p>Not to brag, but it looks like I'm already on track to making 2015 the most consistent year yet! What are <em>your</em> drastically reduced goals for 2015?</p> <div class="blogger-post-footer"><br /><small><em>This post is © <a href="http://asimplesyrup.com">Simple Syrup</a> & licensed under a <a rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/">Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License</a>.</em></small></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10221797602545825383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-392559678703029743.post-70501330723171713342014-11-19T09:30:00.000-06:002014-11-19T09:30:04.176-06:00Shameless Plug: GenTwenty’s Guide to College Success<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eOPiK_ODe7I/VGy1D14e61I/AAAAAAAABPU/FVYk36zpkJg/s1600/On-Desk1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eOPiK_ODe7I/VGy1D14e61I/AAAAAAAABPU/FVYk36zpkJg/s1600/On-Desk1.png" /></a></div><br /> <p>I'm excited to announce that some of my past work has been featured in <a href="http://gentwenty.com/guide-to-college-success/" target="_blank">GenTwenty’s Guide to College Success: How to Ace More Than Your Finals</a>. Isn't it glorious?</p> <p>Contributing to <a href="http://gentwenty.com" target="_blank">GenTwenty</a> was a wonderfully enlightening experience and I'm glad to see the site grow and flourish over the past few years. I learned a lot from this group of talented folks, especially in terms of editorial management, organization, and writerly voice. The site is a wonderful resource for navigating life in your twenties, and I encourage you to check them out!</p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://static.lulu.com/browse/product_thumbnail.php?productId=21900434&resolution=320" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://static.lulu.com/browse/product_thumbnail.php?productId=21900434&resolution=320" /></a></div><br /> <p>From the back cover:</p> <blockquote>Following our college graduations we have collectively experienced the tumultuously dynamic employment landscape over the past few years as millennials in the workforce. In this book, we are sharing the tips and tricks we learned to get the most out of your college years. We place a heavy emphasis on how your choices during your college years affect you post-grad and into the early stages of your career. We want students who are in college today to know what we didn’t and to be more prepared than we were for building the foundation for a satisfying and fulfilling career.</blockquote> <p>Did I mention that it's entirely written from experience? Check it out and maybe <a href="http://www.lulu.com/shop/nicole-booz/gentwentys-guide-to-college-success/paperback/product-21900428.html" target="_blank">buy it</a> for the youngins in your life.</p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><br /><small><em>This post is © <a href="http://asimplesyrup.com">Simple Syrup</a> & licensed under a <a rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/">Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License</a>.</em></small></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10221797602545825383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-392559678703029743.post-30464653352005560392014-11-12T14:19:00.002-06:002015-01-08T12:23:04.032-06:00Words We Should Ban Indefinitely<p>Today, Katy Steinmetz over at TIME posed an incredibly important question: <a href="http://www.donotlink.com/cgir" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Which Word Should the World's Most Powerful Magazine Ban in 2014?</a> (Did you know TIME had the legal authority to ban words from general usage? Me neither!) Katy (I can call you Katy, right?) is totally spot on about everything, including the part about "kale" and the general idea of banning words that are trendy because trends are dumb and you're only cool if you hate them, but like, in a snobby person way, not in a hipster way. </p> <p>Unfortunately, the list was—in my opinion—<em>lacking</em>. Below are my candidates for additional words that should drop out of usage because reasons. But instead of voting on them, I propose everything should be banned effective immediately to save time. I'll just assume it was a unanimous decision. </p> <p><strong>colloquial</strong> - I mean, how awful is this word? Professionalism is next to godliness, as the phrase goes. It's never okay to be casual, especially with your speech! </p> <p><strong>blogger</strong> - We're called journalists, <em>thankyouverymuch</em>. We do important work and never ever pander to sensationalism and clicks. </p> <p><strong>clickbait</strong> - This is a term used to delegitimize a source based on its headline alone which makes it some sort of -ist, I'm sure. </p> <p><strong>any words related to social media</strong> - Youth culture secretly reminds me of my own mortality and it's terrifying. See also: technology. </p> <p><strong>sexting</strong> - UGH. YOUTHS. FEMALE YOUTHS IN PARTICULAR. *strangling sound* </p> <p><strong>selfie</strong> - See previous. </p> <p><strong>ratchet</strong> - AAVE annoys and confuses me, but only in a legitimate, concerned way because it's incorrect English. It's about integrity and definitely not in any way connected to classism/racism. </p> <p><strong>myopic</strong> - I have no idea what this word means but I hear it on a regular basis??? Usually when I rant about genuinely serious topics such as words that should be banned????? </p> <p><strong>misogyny</strong> - I'm tired of hearing about it because I'm cool unlike those other girls so if we ban the word it'll just go away, right? </p> <p><strong>quiche</strong> - I hate the stuff! Awful! Gross! </p> <p><strong>vegan</strong> - Aren't they just the worst? </p> <p><strong>politics</strong> - Governmental issues are such a bore, right? Major snooze-city. I don't care for politics, so can we all please stop mentioning it? Period. But why stop there? We should just shut up about everything relating to politics. No more annoying labels like Republican, Democrat, Liberal, Conservative, GOP, gerrymandering, electoral college, etc. Whatev, toss it all out! </p> <p><strong>all slang</strong> - Slang corrupts your internal OS and should not be installed. If your brain has become infected with slang, combination words, words with meanings differing from their original intent, and/or buzzwords, please report to the nearest cleansing facility for detoxification. Please note: Miriam-Webster is NOT compatible with your current firmware version and should never be trusted. Language is not a construct, it is a rigid utilitarian tool with strict, never fluid or evolving rules. </p><br><p><em>It should go without saying that this entire post is satire, but I'll say it anyway: this post is satire.</em></p> <div class="blogger-post-footer"><br /><small><em>This post is © <a href="http://asimplesyrup.com">Simple Syrup</a> & licensed under a <a rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/">Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License</a>.</em></small></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10221797602545825383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-392559678703029743.post-58828365056226961782014-11-04T09:30:00.000-06:002014-11-04T13:28:11.157-06:00Women YA Authors Don’t Need John Green to Succeed<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zb204jWUQT0/VFbN40PU-mI/AAAAAAAABOo/R_CUPUgXdws/s1600/john-green-edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="John Green" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zb204jWUQT0/VFbN40PU-mI/AAAAAAAABOo/R_CUPUgXdws/s1600/john-green-edit.jpg" title="John Green" /></a></div><br /> <p>My love for books is boundless, but discussing my predilections is a source of anxiety. Over time, I’ve learned that inquiries about my favorite titles are rarely expressions of genuine interest, but rather a litmus test for intellectual prowess based on a set of arbitrary expectations. As a writer, my merit is subject to scrutiny based on the contents of my bookshelf, and my female identity ensures the expectations are exponentially increased. It seems I am destined to suffer from a never-ending barrage of “well-meaning” comments regarding the direction of my work and preferred hobbies, or as I like to call it, concern-trolling.</p> <p>The notion that erudite literature is the only type worth exonerating is inextricably linked to the preconception that all writers aspire to become the next literary great. Among other things, this assumption creates a schism between adult and young adult publishing, culminating in the sentiment that children and young adult titles are frivolous things incapable of the same level of complexity and depth as their grown-up counterparts. Though much of this is the by-product of a culture that conflates self-worth with job status, gender ostensibly plays a large part in how societal roles are conceptualized.</p> <p>The gender disparity is evidenced by the media that examines “women’s interest” authors and the language used when engaging them, including the denotation of “women’s interest” (I shouldn’t need to point out that gendering a subject is self-serving and reinforces negative stereotypes.) Unsurprisingly, casual sexism is rampant in discussions of genres predominantly populated by female authors.</p> <p>A while back, <a href="http://nyulocal.com/entertainment/2014/02/26/nyu-local-recommends-young-adult-lit/" target="_blank">NYU Local</a> caught fire when they purported that “if you’ve ever had a roommate or a little sister or a mom or your monthly period,” you’ve undoubtedly heard of John Green. This cringe-worthy assertion is subsequently followed with the proclamation that even though the YA genre is “crafted specifically for [the] small, zitty and hormone-crazed” teenagers, there are some non-Green gems out there, even though the author repeatedly reiterates that Green is the figurative father of the genre.</p> <p>The majority of the suggested novels NYU lists are old favorites written by authors with more literary commendations than Green, and yet he’s presented as the brilliant mastermind of the genre. Clearly, NYU intended to invoke his name and pending movie as a hook for a relevant-interest article, but instead created a problematic source for which the non-initiated will adhere.</p> <h3>The John Green Effect</h3> <p>Love him or hate him, John Green is a powerful force in YA publishing. But lauding commendations on his shoulders for turning a generation on to a long-standing and previously thriving genre is not only presumptuous, it’s offensive to every other author in the business and plays victim to the trope that an author’s crowning achievement is to be the front-runner of it’s genre. Big-name blockbusters emerge from the every genre on a regular basis, but no single instance should be viewed as the absolute driving force behind the genre. Literature is highly subjective, but the reason many mass-popular titles come into popularity can usually attributed to an effective marketing and promotion team. Publishing is no simple matter.</p> <p>Relevancy aside, it’s a challenge to find recent articles about YA lit that don’t focus on Green; his name tends to to dominate the discourse, even when it shouldn’t.</p> <p>The Daily Dot’s Aja Romano <a href="http://www.dailydot.com/fandom/john-green-young-adult-publishing-overshadows-women-criticism/" target="_blank">recently attempted to explore the implications of gender in YA publishing</a>, but the result was abysmal and inaccurately represented the issues at hand and (unsurprisingly) used Green as the focal point of the conversation. People were appropriately outraged, and Twitter was abuzz from these two pieces.</p> <div align=center><img alt="Tweet from E.M. Kokie" src="http://feminspire.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Screen-Shot-2014-03-06-at-1.30.37-PM.png" title="E.M. Kokie tweets about gender in YA lit" /><img alt="Tweet from Maureen Johnson" src="http://feminspire.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Screen-Shot-2014-03-07-at-12.59.17-PM.png" title="Maureen Johnson talking about the John Green Effect" /></div><br /> <p>You can read all of Sara Zarr’s thoughts via <a href="http://storify.com/sarazarr/ya-john-green-the-adolescent-experience-women-the?awesm=sfy.co_baoo&utm_campaign=&utm_medium=sfy.co-twitter&utm_source=t.co&utm_content=storify-pingback" target="_blank">Storify</a>.</p> <p>At the time Romano’s article was published, it opened with a call-to-arms against author John Green that had been circulating on Tumblr (it’s since been edited at the behest of authors who called it out for the absolute ridiculousness that it was). The all-caps decry of a famous author segued into the article’s central message: Male authors—Green specifically—shoulder the blame for female authors’ success or lack thereof within the YA genre simply because they exist within the same space.</p> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fQ7fnYSntss/VFbP1_JH2iI/AAAAAAAABPA/feKcOoGMiuE/s1600/eleanor%2Band%2Bpark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fQ7fnYSntss/VFbP1_JH2iI/AAAAAAAABPA/feKcOoGMiuE/s1600/eleanor%2Band%2Bpark.jpg" height="320" title="Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell" width="213" /></a> <p>The “John Green Effect” is described as being the phenomenon that occurs when Green gives his mark of approval to select titles he reviews and they magically become popular. One example is the delightful Eleanor and Park, by Rainbow Rowell. The problem with this theory is that it is no more than typical conspiracy-theorist tripe. It assumes Green has the direct power to manipulate trends and that author success is firmly dependent on his approval, which is untrue. In the case of Eleanor and Park, it was popularized with librarians and book bloggers well before Green got around to showering it with accolades.</p> <p>Let’s be clear: Reinforcing a male vs. female dichotomy is counterproductive. YA is not expressly a women’s interest genre, and men who enter it are not co-opting women’s issues, much as women entering other areas of publishing are not co-opting a male space. YA is unfairly stigmatized due to reasons I listed previously, and the fact that gender is pertinent within YA publishing correlates with ingrained gender views that persist in all areas of society.</p> <p>“Do male authors overshadow their female counterparts?” is not the conversation we should be having. YA lit is an important part of publishing and deserves acknowledgement for the important role it plays, and shouldn’t be characterized by elitist notions that aim to stigmatize its presence or detract credibility from its creators. It’s reductive to categorize it as childish material or eschew it entirely until a man can “reinvent” it, and it’s useless to argue that talented ladies like Rainbow Rowell require male approval to succeed.</p> <p>Yes, gender’s intersectionality with the treatment of YA authors is a topic that should be explored, but if we want to talk about women, we should do it by celebrating their work, not by derailing the conversation to focus on men.</p> <p><strong>Originally published on <a href="http://feminspire.com/women-authors-dont-need-john-green-to-succeed/" target="_blank">Feminspire</a>.</strong></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><br /><small><em>This post is © <a href="http://asimplesyrup.com">Simple Syrup</a> & licensed under a <a rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/">Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License</a>.</em></small></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10221797602545825383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-392559678703029743.post-59513994702727016942014-10-24T14:00:00.000-05:002015-10-15T14:44:59.144-05:00Fashion Friday: Lazy Halloween Costumes pt. 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DnFf-U2rC78/VEhpKpYfSnI/AAAAAAAABNk/S2S6u1V01oE/s1600/halloween%2Bghost%2Bfashion%2Bfriday.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="child dressed as a ghost" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DnFf-U2rC78/VEhpKpYfSnI/AAAAAAAABNk/S2S6u1V01oE/s1600/halloween%2Bghost%2Bfashion%2Bfriday.png" title="Fashion Friday - Classic sheet ghost"/></a></div><br /> <p>Halloween always seems to creep up on me, following me silently until it's two weeks till and I have again failed to assemble something resembling a costume. After taking a peek in my closet and realizing I have exactly one costume, I decided that I probably wasn't dressing up again this year (alas, I'm too lazy even for lazy costumes). I may have resigned to my fate, but you don't have to choose this path, dear reader, for born from my cheapness and penchant for simplicity comes another slew of "technically-passing" costumes for Halloween. Or cosplay. Really, whatever floats your boat, I don't care.</p> <div style="text-align:center"><h2>Stylish Freddy Krueger</h2></div> <div align="center" style="margin:0 auto"><div style="position:relative;"><a target="_blank" href="http://www.polyvore.com/freddie_krueger_inspired/set?.embedder=8809541&.svc=copypaste&id=127015050"><img width="500" alt="Freddie Krueger Inspired!" src="http://cfc.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-set/.sig/uw7WoftMYcnbWKLBoRqgw/cid/127015050/id/Jj45WYEB5BG002KRNxsv_g/size/c500x719.jpg" title="Freddie Krueger Inspired!" height="719" border="0" /></a></div></div><br/><div style="text-align:center"><small><a target="_blank" href="http://www.polyvore.com/freddie_krueger_inspired/set?.embedder=8809541&.svc=copypaste&id=127015050">Freddie Krueger Inspired!</a> by <a target="_blank" href="http://littlemissrocker1998.polyvore.com/?.embedder=8809541&.svc=copypaste">littlemissrocker1998</a></small></div><br /><p>Pair with dark, dramatic makeup for maximum stylishness, and maybe buy one of those Krueger claw gloves from the nearest Halloween store. The Monster is a cute idea but only if you're prepared to explain a dorky pun all night.</p> <div style="text-align:center"><h2>Mako Mori from Pacific Rim</h2></div> <div align="center" style="margin:0 auto"><div style="position:relative;"><a target="_blank" href="http://www.polyvore.com/diy_mako_mori/set?.embedder=8809541&.svc=copypaste&id=138257368"><img width="500" alt="DIY: Mako Mori" src="http://cfc.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-set/.sig/iTO9Xdq0sMBqi4bcRhqvxw/cid/138257368/id/6HMnHQZa5BGVUUldNxsv_g/size/c500x501.jpg" title="DIY: Mako Mori" height="501" border="0" /></a></div></div><br/><div style="text-align:center"><small><a target="_blank" href="http://www.polyvore.com/diy_mako_mori/set?.embedder=8809541&.svc=copypaste&id=138257368">DIY: Mako Mori</a> by <a target="_blank" href="http://amanda-duncil.polyvore.com/?.embedder=8809541&.svc=copypaste">amanda-duncil</a></small></div><br /><p>Becoming a badass mech pilot is easier than ever! Just get a wig and throw on your "today is laundry day and all my other clothes are dirty" outfit, and BAM. You're Mako Mori in the middle of a training sesh.</p> <div style="text-align:center"><h2>Lois Griffin from Family Guy</h2></div> <div align="center" style="margin:0 auto"><div style="position:relative;"><a target="_blank" href="http://www.polyvore.com/diy_lois_griffin/set?.embedder=8809541&.svc=copypaste&id=138280513"><img width="400" alt="DIY: Lois Griffin" src="http://cfc.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-set/.sig/lnDknuw1IfgsRHRNk5pcQ/cid/138280513/id/wEIfQS9a5BG1IQiWNxsv_g/size/c400x474.jpg" title="DIY: Lois Griffin" height="474" border="0" /></a></div></div><br/><div style="text-align:center"><small><a target="_blank" href="http://www.polyvore.com/diy_lois_griffin/set?.embedder=8809541&.svc=copypaste&id=138280513">DIY: Lois Griffin</a> by <a target="_blank" href="http://amanda-duncil.polyvore.com/?.embedder=8809541&.svc=copypaste">amanda-duncil</a></small></div><br /> <p>Button downs are great for most occasions, so if you don't already own a few, you should probably get on that. The same goes for khakis. And flats. Really, I think Lois is just practicality personified.</p> <div style="text-align:center"><h2>A Minion from Despicable Me</h2></div> <div align="center" style="margin:0 auto"><div style="position:relative;"><a target="_blank" href="http://www.polyvore.com/despicable_me_diy_halloween_costume/set?.embedder=8809541&.svc=copypaste&id=136818103"><img width="500" alt="Despicable Me DIY Halloween Costume" src="http://cfc.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-set/.sig/Lviyrq8T5Ia3cwa1sQ9A/cid/136818103/id/CKgScD5O5BGNyRCzq2AFrA/size/c500x499.jpg" title="Despicable Me DIY Halloween Costume" height="499" border="0" /></a></div></div><br/><div style="text-align:center"><small><a target="_blank" href="http://www.polyvore.com/despicable_me_diy_halloween_costume/set?.embedder=8809541&.svc=copypaste&id=136818103">Despicable Me DIY Halloween Costume</a> by <a target="_blank" href="http://sarah-crotty.polyvore.com/?.embedder=8809541&.svc=copypaste">sarah-crotty</a></small></div><br /> <p>Overalls are back in fashion now, and I can't think of a better reason to buy a pair than this costume. Honestly, how much cuter can you get? Hint: NOT MUCH.</p> <div style="text-align:center"><h2>A Titan from Attack on Titan</h2></div> <div align="center" style="margin:0 auto"><div style="position:relative;"><a target="_blank" href="http://www.polyvore.com/diy_titan/set?.embedder=8809541&.svc=copypaste&id=138260165"><img width="500" alt="DIY: Titan" src="http://cfc.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-set/.sig/HpmLTyx3zp8o8Xrk9tssw/cid/138260165/id/YmP2XQ9a5BGpqLOSq2AFrA/size/c500x548.jpg" title="DIY: Titan" height="548" border="0" /></a></div></div><br/><div style="text-align:center"><small><a target="_blank" href="http://www.polyvore.com/diy_titan/set?.embedder=8809541&.svc=copypaste&id=138260165">DIY: Titan</a> by <a target="_blank" href="http://amanda-duncil.polyvore.com/?.embedder=8809541&.svc=copypaste">amanda-duncil</a></small></div><br /> <p>Okay, this is neither cheap nor lazy, but it's genius idea. Alternatively, you can opt for a less expensive <a href="http://www.partycity.com/product/adult+muscle+morphsuit.do" target="_blank">muscle morphsuit</a>, or if you'd rather be a regular run-of-the-mill Titan, a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Eurotard-10129-Sleeve-Unitard-Large/dp/B003NZMT3K/ref=sr_1_7?s=apparel&ie=UTF8&qid=1414418506&sr=1-7&keywords=nude+unitard" target="_blank">nude unitard</a>.</p> <p>Be sure to check out <a href="http://www.asimplesyrup.com/search?q=lazy+halloween">the other installments of Lazy Halloween</a> and my <a href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/collection?id=3035765" target="_blank">DIY Halloween collection</a> on Polyvore for maximum inspiration. Do you have an idea for a costume? Tell me about it in the comments!</p> <p><a href="http://www.asimplesyrup.com/2013/10/fashion-friday-lazy-halloween-costumes.html">Lazy Halloween Costumes Pt. 1</a> | <a href="http://www.asimplesyrup.com/2015/10/lazy-halloween-costumes-3.html">Lazy Halloween Costumes Pt. 3</a></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><br /><small><em>This post is © <a href="http://asimplesyrup.com">Simple Syrup</a> & licensed under a <a rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/">Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License</a>.</em></small></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10221797602545825383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-392559678703029743.post-17118253687743184442014-10-20T13:00:00.000-05:002014-10-29T09:49:31.873-05:00Diverse Summer Reading Recap + A Giveaway<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rntM7wV8CLA/VDsxAa34KGI/AAAAAAAABMM/wytzqYcCSsk/s1600/summer%2Breading%2Bchallenge%2B2014.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto;"><img alt="summer reading" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rntM7wV8CLA/VDsxAa34KGI/AAAAAAAABMM/wytzqYcCSsk/s1600/summer%2Breading%2Bchallenge%2B2014.png" title="summer reading" /></a></div><br /> <p>Earlier this week, I reached the deadline for my <a href="http://www.asimplesyrup.com/2014/06/diverse-summer-reading-challenge.html" target="_blank">Diverse Summer Reading Challenge</a>. My goal was to read 8 books that featured non-traditional representation and/or diverse themes. I also tried to restrict my choices to authors of color and women as much as possible.</p> <p>Let's see how I did:</p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-liprAcwiRk0/VESML1jyUHI/AAAAAAAABNY/u7EKxm1dCAg/s1600/summer%2Breading%2Bfinal.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Diverse Summer Reading Challenge" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-liprAcwiRk0/VESML1jyUHI/AAAAAAAABNY/u7EKxm1dCAg/s1600/summer%2Breading%2Bfinal.png" height="298" title="Diverse Summer Reading Challenge" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <p>Results: not so good. I am such a slow reader.</p> <p><strong>Pantomime</strong> was a fun read about a runaway who joins the circus as an aerialist. I loved the characters and world-building, but wasn't thrilled with the pace and felt that the marketing didn't do it justice. You can read my thoughts in-depth <a href="http://www.asimplesyrup.com/2014/09/fiction-intermission-pantomime.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</p> <p><strong>The Summer of the Mariposas</strong> is an alternative re-telling of the Odyssey with a touch of magical realism and Aztec folklore. It tells the story of five sisters who are struggling as a family after the sudden disappearance of their father. I felt the author did a great job giving <em>las hermanas</em> distinct voices and personalities, even if their bickering wore me out. It was a cute read rich with culture and history.</p> <p><strong>Beloved</strong> interweaves the personal narratives of a group of former slaves and the grim past that haunts them. Morrison doesn't pull any punches with this one; it's uncomfortable and depressing and maddening. I enjoyed it insamuch as one can derive pleasure from such a tough subject. That's not meant to detract from its value—it was an excellent albeit devastating read.</p> <p>I started reading <b>Kafka on the Shore</b> but ran out of time. I haven't read enough to have formed an opinion about it.</p> <p>So what the heck happened with my goal? To be completely honest, I got hung up on Beloved for over a month and a half. It was a difficult read in more ways than one, and I probably re-started it three times in a single week. I was also lured away by temptation in the midst of all the August end of summer sales (thanks a lot <a href="http://emilybooks.com/" target="_blank">Emily Books</a>!) and ended up reading through a few of my purchases instead of sticking to my syllabus. For shame!</p> <p>The good news is I'm giving one of those books away because I'm just a nice person like that.</p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1328774734l/12807506.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" alt="How To Get Into the Twin Palms" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1328774734l/12807506.jpg" height="320" width="239" title="How To Get Into the Twin Palms by Karolina Waclawiak"/></a></div> <p><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12807506-how-to-get-into-the-twin-palms" target="_blank"><strong>How To Get Into the Twin Palms</strong></a> by Karolina Waclawiak is about a young Polish-American woman who feels displaced by both cultures. Her identity is conflicted; she feels no deep yearning for her Polish roots and no strong connection to her American present. The novel is not a traditional immigrant story. Instead of seeking reconciliation, she wishes to reinvent her identity by passing as Russian in order to to gain entry to the exclusive Twin Palms. The writing is concise and sparse, making it flow like a light, airy read for such a deep and nuanced subject. Even so, Waclawiak paints a vivid narrative without the aid of superfluous descriptors and flowery language. </p> <p>If that sounds like your idea of a good time, enter the raffle below to win a DRM-free digital copy for your Kindle. (It's a .prc and will work with all Kindle devices & apps.) Good luck!</p> <a id="rc-481b0a1b0" class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/481b0a1b0/" rel="nofollow">A Rafflecopter giveaway</a><script src="//widget.rafflecopter.com/load.js"></script><div class="blogger-post-footer"><br /><small><em>This post is © <a href="http://asimplesyrup.com">Simple Syrup</a> & licensed under a <a rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/">Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License</a>.</em></small></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10221797602545825383noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-392559678703029743.post-45811315354056177732014-09-23T10:00:00.000-05:002015-04-13T12:14:11.889-05:00Bilbo Baggins Accused of Plagiarism<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NVNVTK4dGa8/VC_J0fme-_I/AAAAAAAABJs/Ifs_Cnt4VuA/s1600/Bilbo%2BBaggins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Bilbo Baggins" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NVNVTK4dGa8/VC_J0fme-_I/AAAAAAAABJs/Ifs_Cnt4VuA/s1600/Bilbo%2BBaggins.jpg" title="Bilbo Baggins" /></a></div><br /> <p><em>This originally ran on <a href="http://www.reelnewsnetwork.com/posts/view/Bilbo_Baggins_Accused_of_Plagiarism" target="_blank">Reel News Network</a>. I'm reposting here as personal use for my blog/portfolio</em>.</p> <p>Shocking reports of plagiarism have surfaced in Middle Earth as Gandalf the White, previously known as Gandalf the Grey, accused former friend and colleague Bilbo Baggins of stealing his life’s work and passing it off as his own.</p> <p>Baggins, Shire resident and known shut-in, recently published an extensive memoir documenting several years of purported adventures. The novel, titled <em>There and Back Again</em>, received critical acclaim and became an overnight bestseller.</p> <p>In lieu of factual evidence, Gandalf insists that Baggins never once left the Shire and rarely ventured out of the comfort of his Hobbit-hole. The wizard says he would spend hours in the Hobbit’s cramped dwelling recounting his past adventures to Baggins in an attempt to keep him company.</p> <p>“I guess you could say I was worried about him always being by his lonesome, but really I just liked to brag,” Gandalf said. “It made me feel great to say ‘Yeah, I looted a dragon’s cave, no biggie,’ and watch his reaction.”</p> <p>Gandalf estimates that 95% of Baggins’ book was copied verbatim from his stories. A cursory investigation discovered that Baggins began writing shortly after rumors of the wizard’s death began to circulate.</p> <p>“Bilbo jumped on the opportunity to profit on a dead man’s words,” Gandalf said, “but he took too long to finish and now I’m alive again. I probably would have done the same.”</p> <p>Baggins dismissed the allegations as “frivolous” and asserts the general accuracy of his work. He explained that any discrepancies were minor and the result of his artistic license.</p> <p>“It would be a fallacy to say that I absolutely never exaggerated even in the slightest bit while telling my tale,” Baggins tells RNN. “Of course I did! What, do you think I wrote everything down as it happened?”</p> <p>“Gandalf is just jealous. He can’t even use magic,” he added.</p> <p>This isn’t the first lawsuit sparked by <em>There and Back Again</em>; earlier this year, a rogue band of Orcs filed a defamation claim stating that Baggins’ gross misrepresentation of their character severely affected their quality of life. The lawsuit was eventually dropped after several of the Orcs mysteriously died.</p> <p>Baggins released an official statement Monday saying he wasn’t worried about “haters” and suggesting that his fans know the truth. He is currently drafting a sequel called “Again and Again” in which he details his solo trip to Mt. Doom to destroy the One Ring. The novel is anticipated to be on shelves within the next several decades.</p> <p><em>Originally published on <a href="http://www.reelnewsnetwork.com/posts/view/Bilbo_Baggins_Accused_of_Plagiarism" target="_blank">Reel News Network</a>.</em></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><br /><small><em>This post is © <a href="http://asimplesyrup.com">Simple Syrup</a> & licensed under a <a rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/">Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License</a>.</em></small></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10221797602545825383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-392559678703029743.post-4726597982984037262014-09-17T09:30:00.000-05:002014-10-29T09:52:57.280-05:00Bookish Delights: Pantomime<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yOs2ngMau4I/VC_FG7o-h6I/AAAAAAAABIo/ZngvuqN4H2g/s1600/Pantomime.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Pantomime by Laura Lam" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yOs2ngMau4I/VC_FG7o-h6I/AAAAAAAABIo/ZngvuqN4H2g/s1600/Pantomime.png" width="640" title="Pantomime by Laura Lam" /></a></div><br /> <p><em>This book was my first read for my Diverse Summer Reading Challenge. Potential spoilers below!</em></p> <p>Historians believe Ellada was once a veritable utopia brimming with magical splendor and technological wonders. But life hasn't been the same since the mysterious Alder disappeared, taking the lifeforce of the world with them and leaving only sparse remnants behind: precious Vestige artefacts whose magic is nearly used up and mysterious blue Penglass domes that speckle the landscape like shining drops of dew.</p> <p>To get a glimpse of old world charm, one only need visit one of the many traveling circuses, such as R. H. Ragona's Circus of Magic which touts dazzling feats of human acrobatics and curiosities salvaged from the past.</p> <p>For young Micah Grey, a vagabond with a sordid past and a knack for climbing, the allure of the circus doesn't end when the curtains fall, and he soon finds himself entrenched in the lifestyle of an impoverished performer. Surrounded by a troupe of strangers masking dark secrets--and hiding a few of his own--he attempts to carve out a place where he truly belongs while coming to terms with his identity.</p> <p>At this juncture, I should mention Iphigenia Laurus, who in official marketing copy is vaguely offered as a main character opposite of Micah although this is quite misleading. Iphigenia, who would rather you call her Gene <em>thankyouverymuch</em>, is a young lady of aristocratic status who is decidedly not interested in playing the part expected of her in high society. She likes playing with the boys and is especially adept at physical activities deemed unbecoming of a lady.</p> <p>This is where things get a little weird, from a marketing standpoint. As the <a href="http://thebooksmugglers.com/2013/02/joint-review-pantomime-by-laura-lam.html" target="_blank">Book Smugglers</a> mention in their review, the original cover copy fails to accurately represent the plot of the novel it is selling; instead, it sets up the narrative in a way that makes it sound as though it is a story about two star-crossed runaways that find each other in the circus and either fall in love or discover they are long lost siblings or some other standard YA fare. Unless you've previously read reviews or heard through the grapevine that the book deals with LGBTQIA+ themes, you'd most likely go into this book with the assumption that it was a novel about dual fates or some such nonsense. This couldn't be further from the truth because spoiler/not spoiler<strong>*</strong>, the two main characters are the same person.</p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348428535l/15797050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Pantomime by Laura Lam" border="0" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348428535l/15797050.jpg" height="320" title="Pantomime by Laura Lam" width="210" /></a></div><strong>Revised summary, courtesy of <a href="http://thebooksmugglers.com/2013/02/joint-review-pantomime-by-laura-lam.html" target="_blank">The Book Smugglers</a>:</strong> <p><div style="margin-left: 2em;"><em><strong>An intersex teen</strong>, Iphigenia Laurus, <strong>or Gene</strong>, raised as the daughter of a noble family, is uncomfortable in corsets and crinoline, and prefers climbing trees to debutante balls. <strong>Gene’s parents wish to force a decision on which gender Gene will spend the rest of Gene’s life as, so Gene runs away from home, assumes the identity of Micah Grey</strong>, a runaway living on the streets, joins the circus as an aerialist’s apprentice and soon becomes the circus’s rising star.</em></div></p> <p>I'll get back to the marketing disaster a little later.</p> <p>Laura Lam's <em>Pantomime</em> is an exciting tale that takes two wildly different perspectives of the same world and weaves them together in a single brilliant narrative. Ellada is a sort of fantasy Victorian era ruled by a Monarch, and Micah and Gene represent the upper and lower echelons of society. Both stories are interspersed throughout the novel, so you see glimpses of his past as Gene while you follow him on his current journey as Micah. The alternating chapter structure works well with this sort of narrative, but at times I felt like Gene's backstory kept the momentum barreling forward while Micah's plot dawdled along.</p> <p>For a story that sells itself with magic and intrigue, there is little to be found until the last third of the book. Micah's plot obviously focuses a good deal on daily life in the circus, and although it's incredibly fascinating, it often felt as though it was continuously skimming the surface, not daring to go too deep too soon, lest there be dragons. Or sharks.</p> <p>(Or both.)</p> <p>So by the time the fantastical elements surface and the pace begins to quicken, the book has ended. Abruptly, for that matter, with a cliffhanger that will make you grateful that there is no waiting for a sequel to release.</p> <p>Micah/Gene is a wonderful character for a number of reasons. He's ostracized and Othered simply for existing in a body that defies the norm. As Gene, he is compelled to partake in a gender role that doesn't suit him while struggling with issues of gender/sexual identity and gender performance. Since he was socialized as a female, he questions his sexual attraction to women while wondering what it means to also be attracted to men. This is a twist on a common trope of the tomboyish lady unwilling to conform to the the limitations placed on her because of her gender. (<em>See also: Arya Stark.</em>) The story arc alternates between shame and acceptance as Micah explores his desires and learns to overcome self-imposed limitations with regards to gender. It's refreshing to see a character like Micah who is written delicately and doesn't fall victim to hilariously misrepresented stereotypes.</p> <p>Unfortunately, the stellar representation falls flat once intersex is revealed to be conflated with a magical demi-god figure called the Kedi--super strong, magical beings that are half man, half woman, and were once worshipped in society alongside Chimeras (half human, half magical beast). The Kedi are used to empower Micah and reassure him that he is not alone, but are invoked in a way that furthers the Otherness of being intersex by implying abnormality. Micah isn't simply an intersex teen, he's literally defined by his genitals.</p> <p>That isn't to say it's not an enjoyable novel, and I highly suggest nabbing a copy <strong>now</strong> if you're the slightest bit interested because Strange Chemistry, the publisher, has closed shop. There's a good chance <em>Pantomime</em> and its sequel <em>Shadowplay</em> will find a new home, but until then they could also go out of print.</p> <p>Now, going back to the issue I touched on earlier: I'm not thrilled with the way this book was marketed by Strange Chemistry.</p> <p>In the context of the novel, the official cover copy don't make sense. Since the book was ultimately marketed ambiguously with Micah and Gene sort of pitted against each other in a fill-in-the-blanks kind of way, it wanders into straightwashing territory. Were the publishers hoping to reach a wider audience by using choice omission?</p> <p>Furthermore, it's impossible to discuss the novel without revealing Micah's intersex status, which is considered a spoiler by some since the blurb's wording makes it sound as though this is some sort of twist in the story. This is a fallacy because it is absolutely obvious from the beginning that Micah and Gene are the same person. His intersex status not used as a spoiler, gimmick, or plot twist. There is no climactic build to a grand "reveal" or "surprise twist;" in fact it's treated with deliberate purpose. Lam doesn't write either character differently and doesn't attempt to bury facts that would tie the two together. It may not be explicitly stated until later in the novel, but it's painfully obvious well before then because <strong>it's what the entire novel is about.</strong> The Book Smuggler explains:</p> <blockquote>To try and play this as well as the fact that Micah/Gene is intersex as a secretive plot twist is to expect this news to be shocking and mindblowing. To us, this reads at best as exploitative and at worst as playing into the self-fulfilling assumption that readers need to be tricked into reading a LGBTQ novel.</blockquote> <p><em>Pantomime</em> won the Bisexual Book Award in Speculative Fiction for 2014. In her acceptance speech, Laura Lam mentions how she feared the book would struggle to find a publisher because of the low diversity rate in YA publishing because bisexual and transgender characters receive the lowest rate of representation. The fact that her book was able to find a home, albeit one who felt the need to make it pass for straight, is a huge achievement. Diverse books are still hard to come by. Queer representation is still depressingly low, and bi/ace/trans*/intersex-erasure is still a legitimate problem. Why are we still trying to benefit from obscuring queer media?</p> <p><em><strong>This article was featured on <a href="http://feminspire.com/pantomime-laura-lam/" target="_blank">Feminspire</a>.</strong></em></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><br /><small><em>This post is © <a href="http://asimplesyrup.com">Simple Syrup</a> & licensed under a <a rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/">Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License</a>.</em></small></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10221797602545825383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-392559678703029743.post-56299470340672583532014-09-15T10:00:00.000-05:002015-04-13T12:14:11.893-05:00Peeta Mellark to Compete in New Baking Reality Show<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TKsfqNSxG5c/VC_H0OKC01I/AAAAAAAABJI/kUrkMXp67wU/s1600/hunger%2Bgames%2Bmockingjay.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Peeta Mellark and President Snow" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TKsfqNSxG5c/VC_H0OKC01I/AAAAAAAABJI/kUrkMXp67wU/s1600/hunger%2Bgames%2Bmockingjay.png" title="Peeta Mellark and President Snow" /></a></div><br /> <p><em>This originally ran on <a href="http://www.reelnewsnetwork.com/posts/view/Peeta_Mellark_to_Compete_in_New_Baking_Reality_Show" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Reel News Network</a>. I'm reposting here as personal use for my blog/portfolio.</em></p> <p>Two-time Hunger Games challenger Peeta Mellark is destined for stardom once more as the Capitol announces plans for the first annual baking contest to air on live television.</p> <p>The show will feature seven of the Capitol’s best bakers as they compete in rigorous challenges to earn the title of Master Baker and the chance to win their own upscale bakery. It is currently in the final stages of production and expected to air this Spring.</p> <p>Eyewitnesses say Mellark arrived in the Capitol shortly after the Quarter Quell was interrupted by “technical difficulties” and has been often seen in the care of President Snow.</p> <p>Recent video transmissions from the Capitol confirmed rumors of the duo, showing Mellark standing next to Snow as he addresses Panem. The cryptic videos have citizens in the districts concerned about the fate of their beloved District 12 victor, but Mellark says not to worry.</p> <p>“A lot of people have been wondering about my appearance here in the Capitol,” said Mellark. “I haven’t been able to say anything until now, but it’s finally official. I’ve been asked to star as a celebrity contestant in The Great Capitol Baking Competition.”</p> <p>Mellark says he’s excited for the opportunity to actually get to do something useful for once and hopes to learn a thing or two from the other bakers.</p> <p>“It’s always been a dream of mine to work alongside the finest bakers the Capitol has to offer,” Mellark said, “but I guess now I’ll get to show them what this bread boy can do.”</p> <p>Mellark refused to comment on the subject of his estranged fiancee and criminal-at-large Katniss Everdeen, talking instead about the different styles of cake decorating that would be featured in the competition.</p> <p>“I don’t want to spoil anything, but it’s going to be great. You won’t want to miss it,” he added.</p> <p>President Snow explains that after the technical mishap in the Hunger Games arena and the disappearance of Head Gamemaker Plutarch Heavensbee, the Capitol decided to take the concept in a different direction.</p> <p>“The Hunger Games were a huge success, but the audience here wants to see luxury they can relate to,” President Snow said in the press release this morning. “The people of the Capitol truly love their food. It’s simply a shame there won’t be any leftovers for the rest of Panem.”</p> <p>In the press release, the Gamemakers hint that there will be plenty of action despite the lack of violence present in modern baking.</p> <p>Producers expect ratings to be phenomenal since viewing will be mandatory.</p> <p><em>Originally published on <a href="http://www.reelnewsnetwork.com/posts/view/Peeta_Mellark_to_Compete_in_New_Baking_Reality_Show" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Reel News Network</a>.</em></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><br /><small><em>This post is © <a href="http://asimplesyrup.com">Simple Syrup</a> & licensed under a <a rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/">Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License</a>.</em></small></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10221797602545825383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-392559678703029743.post-13445611359758642972014-09-02T10:00:00.000-05:002015-07-29T09:40:31.383-05:00Fight Like a (Rude) Sharkpony<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lYxjq7yTrK8/VDHIbQu87eI/AAAAAAAABJ8/RNOMQrl8SsE/s1600/sharkpony.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Fight Like A Sharkpony" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lYxjq7yTrK8/VDHIbQu87eI/AAAAAAAABJ8/RNOMQrl8SsE/s1600/sharkpony.png" title="Fight Like A Sharkpony" /></a></div><br /> <p>I don't follow the art scene as closely as I used to, and it's a shame because it's full of wonderful people doing amazing things. So for this interlude, I'd like to showcase a few artists whose projects flip the script on traditional tropes.</p> <p>I'm a big proponent of media that deviates from the norm and contrasting common themes with the unexpected. The outcome is sometimes ridiculous–which I also love–, but it's also a great tool for introspection. The projects that I've picked out are feminism-oriented in that they challenge gender roles and binaries. If you're active on Tumblr, there's a good chance you've seen these before.</p> <h2>Fight Like A Girl Sweet Tooth Sticker Series by <a href="http://sugarbones.net/" target="_blank">Sugarbones</a></h2><p>Through sheer serendipity and aided perhaps by complex algorithms, I happened across Cheyenne Federiconi (a.k.a Sugarbones) while trawling through Tumblr. Her latest merch, a "girl power" sticker set, was trending with feminist and art blogs alike, and demanded a place on my new skate helmet.</p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_QBQcijJAUA/U_UtOAFSvvI/AAAAAAAABBA/VPL2RGUdEfE/s1600/fight%2Blike%2Ba%2Bgirl.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Fight Like A Girl sticker set by Sugarbones" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_QBQcijJAUA/U_UtOAFSvvI/AAAAAAAABBA/VPL2RGUdEfE/s1600/fight%2Blike%2Ba%2Bgirl.PNG" title="Fight Like A Girl sticker set by Sugarbones" /></a></div><br /> <p>These little beauties are the bomb! Fight Like A Girl are cute little stickers that blow the socks off the dainty feminine trope by juxtaposing traditionally "girly" themes with an aggressive message about gender and consent. The visual effect is delightfully jarring and incredibly cute. The seamless blending of cutesy imagery and abrasiveness is right up my alley as someone who is sometimes a little of both of those things.</p> <p>The more I followed Federiconi's artwork, the more I fell in love. She beautifully "combines cute imagery, gore and eroticism," and describes her work as "provoking both attraction and unease." Aside from Fight Like A Girl, her pieces consist of vibrant pin-ups featuring anthropomorphized dessert, mythical creatures, and zombies. Her latest sticker set, <a href="http://sugarbones.net/image/95296274008" target="_blank">Sweet Tooth</a>, showcases her signature babes.</p> <p>You can nab both of these sets and other goodies from her <a href="http://sugarbones.storenvy.com/" target="_blank">shop</a>. Sets appear to be in limited print (the artist hand cuts each vinyl sticker by hand and personalizes each package that goes out) so grab them before they're gone!</p> <h2>Sharkpony and the Glitter Riders Vol. 1 by <a href="https://twitter.com/NeilaK20" target="_blank">Sarah "Nelia" Elkins</a></h2> <p>I discovered Neila through a combination of Twitter and John Scalzi. After a short bout of hysterics over the existence of a shark who is also a rainbow pony, I impulse bought this comic and the rest is history.</p> <p>Four manly space criminals get in touch with their "<a href="http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/MagicalGirl" target="_blank">magical girl</a>" side when they're transformed into Sharkpony and the Glitter Riders. The story follows these guys as they try to get a grasp on their new identities. Instead of storming the universe as ambassadors of hyper-masculinity, they're forced to perform feats of (anti-)heroism in the form of a woman. The result is Sailor Moon with a dudebro twist. Sharkpony steals the show, of course.</p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kcbWIj-Z0Gc/U_UwSvUYhWI/AAAAAAAABBI/aKVlK0mHUyI/s1600/sharkpony%2Bvol1.png" imageanchor="1" margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto;"><img alt="Sharkpony and the Glitter Riders by Sarah Neila Elkins" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kcbWIj-Z0Gc/U_UwSvUYhWI/AAAAAAAABBI/aKVlK0mHUyI/s1600/sharkpony%2Bvol1.png" title="Sharkpony and the Glitter Riders by Sarah Neila Elkins" /></a></div><br /> <p>I love the concept because it's a role reversal of sorts as well as an examination of gender performance; it's refreshing to see the role of reluctant sexy hero(ine) relegated to a male character. The "kickass women" genre of entertainment is plagued by Fighting Fuck Toys, or ladies who are allowed to be unadulterated badasses so long as they're overly sexualized and scantily clad.</p> </p>SatGR also parodies several other tropes frequently associated with anime and manga, though the themes are universally common. (I could be wrong, but I'm <em>pretty sure </em>the name was derived from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Princess_Gwenevere_and_the_Jewel_Riders" target="_blank">Princess Gwenevere and the Jewel Riders</a>, which was an American cartoon in the 90s.) </p> <p>You can buy volume 1 and other miscellaneous Sharkpony merch <a href="http://www.storenvy.com/stores/66032-paragon-ketch" target="_blank">here</a>. You can also support Neila through her <a href="http://www.patreon.com/user?u=206359" target="_blank">Patreon</a> page, which you should totally do because she's an awesome person.</p> <h2>Rude Foxes by <a href="http://eglads.tumblr.com/post/80295978518/cant-stop-drawing-rude-foxes-stickers-and" target="_blank">Eglads</a></h2> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1luSAcDqi2w/U_uDf9ezjtI/AAAAAAAABBo/TIduqk-kIc4/s1600/rudefox.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Rude Foxes" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1luSAcDqi2w/U_uDf9ezjtI/AAAAAAAABBo/TIduqk-kIc4/s1600/rudefox.png" height="244" width="320" title="Rude Foxes by Eglads" /></a></div><br /> <p>Rude Foxes are (in my mind) spiritually related to Fight Like A Girl. Thematically, they're similar: cute + brash exploration of femininity. They're just as blunt but not "violent" (which was an actual criticism of the latter apparently). I like that both focus on entitlement and preservation of self over social convention.</p> <p>Being friendly to a fault is one of those ingrained qualities expected of females that I've railed against ever since I was a small child. I try to be as personable as possible (I'm from the South, after all), but it's unrealistic and downright dangerous to assume one should be accommodating no matter the situation. And anyway, every person gets to set their own boundaries, including who they choose to engage with and to what extent. So I guess my point is: you do you, rude foxes. You do you.</p> <p>T-shirts and stickers available at <a href="http://www.redbubble.com/people/eglads/collections/274652-rude-foxes" target="_blank">Redbubble</a> and totes, prints, and pillows are available at <a href="http://society6.com/eglads?promo=191d77" target="_blank">Society6</a>.</p> <p><em>Have you seen any amazing art lately? Share it with me in the comments!</em></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><br /><small><em>This post is © <a href="http://asimplesyrup.com">Simple Syrup</a> & licensed under a <a rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/">Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License</a>.</em></small></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10221797602545825383noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-392559678703029743.post-57607699868105407772014-08-27T09:30:00.000-05:002014-10-29T10:00:17.900-05:00Guest Post | The Killing, The Bridge, The Fall: The Rise Of the Female Detective<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y1Srl7xB4XU/VDS4qQZM2qI/AAAAAAAABKc/AklOAUsoASo/s1600/ladies%2Bin%2Bcrime%2Bdrama.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Law & Order New York" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y1Srl7xB4XU/VDS4qQZM2qI/AAAAAAAABKc/AklOAUsoASo/s1600/ladies%2Bin%2Bcrime%2Bdrama.png" title="Law & Order New York" /></a></div><br /> <p><em><strong>This is a guest post from Jason Horn of <a href="http://www.literaryramblings.com/" target="_blank">Literary Ramblings</a>.</strong></em></p> <p>When <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098844/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1" target="_blank">Law and Order </a>(L&O) debuted in 1990, it was the paradigm of the police procedural, and it was also a paradigm of the ‘old boy club’. Each episode followed Sergeant Max Greevey (played by <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001169/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1" target="_blank">George Dzundza</a>) and his partner Detective Mike Logan (<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0636562/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1" target="_blank">Chris Noth</a>), as they investigated homicides under the supervision of Captain Donald Cragen (<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0282648/?ref_=nv_sr_1" target="_blank">Dann Florek</a>). Upon completing their investigation, they would send the case off to D.A. Adam Schiff (<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0384696/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1" target="_blank">Steven Hill</a>), who would supervise Executive A.D.A. Ben Stone (<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0605363/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1" target="_blank">Michael Moriarty</a>) and A.D.A. Paul Robinette (<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1444462/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1" target="_blank">Richard Brooks</a>) as they tried the case. The roster was full of testosterone and short of a few X chromosomes. This was the start of a new decade on television, and given that 1980’s had introduced the world to a police procedural that featured a double female lead in <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083395/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1" target="_blank">Cagney & Lacey</a>, it seemed safe to assume that a police procedurals in the 90’s might be at least as progressive. L&O was a hit and the franchise has been a mainstay on network television for twenty-five years, but it would be four years before they introduced any female leads. A cursory review of police procedural today, however, suggests that there has been a significant expansion in the presentation of women in the traditional police procedural. Female partners are often senior detectives, not just sidekicks, and many shows have circumvented the clichéd romantic subplots and reliance on maternal qualities in the workplace. Indeed, when looking at the structure of popular programs like <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1637727/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1" target="_blank">The Killing</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2294189/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1" target="_blank">The Fall</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1733785/?ref_=nv_sr_2" target="_blank">The Bridge</a> and the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_%26_Order_(franchise)" target="_blank">L&O franchise</a>, it is clear that women on police procedurals are no longer relegated to romantic subplots or maternal caricatures, but are oftentimes competent, exceptionally qualified, and professional investigators.</p> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://wac.450f.edgecastcdn.net/80450F/screencrush.com/files/2013/01/The_Killing_S2_0031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="The Killing" border="0" src="http://wac.450f.edgecastcdn.net/80450F/screencrush.com/files/2013/01/The_Killing_S2_0031.jpg" height="212" title="The Killing" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Killing</b></td></tr></tbody></table> <p>One of the biggest problems in the presentations of women is their frequent hypersexualization. Whilst programs like <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0073972/?ref_=nv_sr_3" target="_blank">Charlie’s Angels</a> boasted multiple female leads, they were perpetually framed as the object of sexual desires. Peripheral characters, like <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daisy_Duke" target="_blank">Daisy Duke</a>, of <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078607/?ref_=nv_sr_1" target="_blank">The Dukes of Hazzard</a> fame, were likewise included as an objects of sexual desire in programs the centered on solving crime, but seldom played a significant role in the plot's solution. Most programs have moved away from this kind of hypersexualization, however, perhaps most notably in The Killing. The show follows detective Sarah Linden (played by <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0257969/?ref_=nv_sr_1" target="_blank">Mireille Enos</a>) as she tries to solve the case of a young woman who was murdered. In the opening scene, Linden is seen jogging around the parks of Seattle, and though she is wearing yoga pants, the rain jacket she has on extends well below her waistline. There are no gratuitous shots of her backside. The function of the scene is to demonstrate that she takes care of her body and is physically qualified for her job. There are no short shots, exposed midriffs, or shots with cleavage placed not-so-subtly in the center of the screen. In other scenes, Linden dresses pragmatically, with warm, bulky sweaters. There are no plunging necklines, or form fitting tops that accentuates the bust line of actress Mireille Enos. Her attire is strictly pragmatic and professional, and though Enos is stunning woman with exceptional beauty, the writing staff and director do not exploit or focus on her appearance. The character is not hypersexualized, but rather, is a model of professionalism. The same can be said of actresses <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002127/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1" target="_blank">Mariska Hargity</a> and <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002062/?ref_=nv_sr_1" target="_blank">Kathryn Erbe</a>, who are featured in <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0203259/?ref_=fn_al_tt_2" target="_blank">Law and Order: Special Victims Unit</a> (L&O:SVU) and <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0275140/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1" target="_blank">Law and Order: Criminal Intent</a> (L&O:CI) respectively. There is never an attempt to dress these women in attire that is anything short of professional and appropriate for their jobs, so the hypersexualization that was popular in the 70’s and early 80’s is all but extinct in contemporary police procedurals.<p> <p>Part and parcel with this sexualization, is the clichéd romantic subplot. This template was perhaps most successfully outlined in the show <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088571/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1" target="_blank">Moonlighting </a>as private detectives played by <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000246/?ref_=tt_ov_st" target="_blank">Bruce Willis</a> and <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001732/?ref_=tt_ov_st" target="_blank">Cybill Shepherd</a> acted as partners both professionally and romantically. Shepherd’s character was a former fashion model gone bankrupt who turns to running a detective agency she once kept as a tax write-off. She is the paradigm of beauty and the romantic interest of Willis’s character, who is the actual detective. Though she does contribute to the resolution of the narrative, her primary function in the show is as a love interest, negating her contributions. Similar formulas have been used more recently in programs like <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0460627/?ref_=nv_sr_1" target="_blank">Bones </a>and <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1219024/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1" target="_blank">Castle</a>, where male/female partnerships are formulated, and romance follows. Though the women in these more recent programs are presented in a more progressive manner in that they are central to solving the crimes, they still function as romantic interests and such subplots can serve to undermine their competency. So while the title character in Bones, Dr. Temperance Brennon (played by <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0221043/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1" target="_blank">Emily Deschanel</a>), can certainly be read as an empowered feminist character, the romantic subplot can serve to dilute this.</p> <p>Other recent programs have forgone that romantic subplot altogether. In the popular program <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0368479/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1" target="_blank">Cold Case</a>, the senior detective is Lilly Rush (played by <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0606700/?ref_=tt_cl_t1" target="_blank">Kathryn Morris</a>). Though she is a strikingly beautiful woman, and though the partner, detective Scotty Valens (played by <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0992694/?ref_=tt_cl_t5" target="_blank">Danny Pino</a>), is an attractive man, there is no office romance. The show instead focuses on Rush’s ability to crack cold cases that others were not able to bring to trial. In L&O:CI, though <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000352/?ref_=nv_sr_1" target="_blank">Vincent D’Onofrio</a>’s character, detective Robert Goren, is the lead character, it is Erbe’s Alexandra Eames that is the senior detective. Though the two work together for a decade, there is never any hint of a romantic relationship between them. Theirs is a strictly professional relationships. This mirrors the relationship between detectives Olivia Benson (played by Hargity) and Elliot Stabler (played by <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005221/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1" target="_blank">Christopher Meloni</a>). Stabler is the senior detective, but Benson is the show’s lead, and there is never any hint of a romantic relationship between the two. Like Eames and Goren, Benson and Stabler are supportive and respectful of each other, but romantic subplots simply never enter the equation, allowing all the characters to focus on the job at hand while letting their aptitude for solving crimes to be the focus of the audience. A similar template is employed in both The Killing and The Bridge, as male and female partners navigate their professional lives and keep their romantic lives separate.</p> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.fashioneditoratlarge.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/The+Fall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Stella Gibson - The Fall" border="0" src="http://www.fashioneditoratlarge.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/The+Fall.jpg" height="193" title="Stella Gibson - The Fall" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Gillian Anderson as Stella Gibson in The Fall</b></td></tr></tbody></table> <p>Not all contemporary detective shows have opted to exclude sex from the programs, but many of the shows that do include it use it to challenge the double standard linked with sex and gender. In The Fall, a BBC production starring <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000096/?ref_=nv_sr_1" target="_blank">Gillian Anderson</a> as Stella Gibson, a Detective Superintendent tasked with tracking down a serial killer, Anderson’s character indulges in a casual sexual relationship with a subordinate officer. That officer is soon killed, and when Gibson reports the nature of her relationship with the officer to her supervisor, he questions her professional judgement. She is quick to fire back at him that he had no issue with such behaviour when it was him having sex with her, despite the fact that he was married at the time, and then questions the nature of his objections. The Scandinavian production of The Bridge likewise features a female lead, Saga Norén (played by <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0375138/?ref_=nv_sr_1" target="_blank">Sofia Helin</a>), who adopts sexual behaviour that is more traditionally associated with masculinity, as she has casual sex with men she meets in bars, but this behaviour does not impact her professional life. She does not pursue romantic relations with her partner, and it is frequently Norén who uncovers key pieces of evidence and links them together. While programs like L&O:SVU and L&O:CI buck past trends by removing romantic subplots, programs like The Fall and The Bridge serve to challenge gender stereotypes by drawing attention to the double standards.</p> <p>There are, of course, gender stereotypes outside that of sex, most notably found in the maternal caricatures that often creep up in fiction. Even in Cagney & Lacey, whilst Christine Cagney (played by <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002102/?ref_=nv_sr_1" target="_blank">Sharon Gless</a>) was a single, career-oriented woman, her partner, Mary Beth Lacey (played by <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002033/?ref_=tt_ov_st" target="_blank">Tyne Daly</a>), was a maternal figure and working mother. Hargity’s character in L&O:SVU, though not a mother, portrays motherly instincts in the show, so many programs have and still do indulge in such tropes. The issue with this is that it reinforces stereotypes, though it does simultaneously demonstrate the importance of characters traits deemed ‘feminine’. This maternal figure, however, is not a uniform archetype in all programs. Anderson’s character in The Fall makes no effort to coddle those who work under her. Likewise, L&O’s Lieutenant Anita Van Buren (played by <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0580924/?ref_=tt_cl_t1" target="_blank">S. Epatha Merkerson</a>) does not project ‘maternal’ instincts. Van Buren, though short in stature, is an assertive and demanding, but fair supervisor who has expectations of the detectives in her charge and is not afraid to put pressure on them to perform their job. Perhaps more importantly, the men under her command never question her and always respect her authority. When she asserts herself, there is no bemoaning when she’s left the room or misogynist terms used to belittle her. Even in The Killing, though the lead character is in fact a mother, she displays an utter lack of maternal instincts, frequently forgetting familial obligations in favour of professional ones. This is not a positive portrayal of womanhood, but it is one that serves to highlight the flaws we frequently see in men. When male leads forgo familial obligations for work, there is seldom an issue associated with it. In The Killing, the narrative demonstrates the impact this absenteeism has on a family and highlights the double standard, whilst at the same time demonstrating that women, and even mothers, are not defined strictly by their roles as a parent.</p> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://pmctvline2.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/law-order-svu-finale-season-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Law and Order: Special Victims Unit" border="0" src="http://pmctvline2.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/law-order-svu-finale-season-13.jpg" title="Law and Order: Special Victims Unit" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Cast of L&O: SVU</b></td></tr></tbody></table> <p>The last twenty-five years has also seen a growing diversity in casting. When L&O was cast twenty-five years ago, all six leads were male. Ten years later, in the first season of <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0247082/?ref_=nv_sr_1" target="_blank">CSI</a>, two of the five lead characters were female. Of the six actors who have appeared in 180 or more episodes of <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0364845/?ref_=nv_sr_1" target="_blank">NCIS</a>, two are women. The program Bones has even better numbers: three of the five actors who have appeared in 160 or more episodes are women. Even roles traditionally written for men are being replaced by women as the most recent incarnation of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sherlock_Holmes" target="_blank">Sherlock Holmes</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2191671/?ref_=nv_sr_1" target="_blank">Elementary</a>, has cast <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005154/?ref_=tt_ov_st" target="_blank">Lucy Liu</a> as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dr._Watson" target="_blank">Dr. Watson</a>. The L&O franchise may be the best litmus test of all, given that there were literally no female actresses cast as regulars in the original production. The only show in the franchise that is still running is L&O:SVU. Of the ten actors who have appeared in 74 or more episodes, five are women. The franchise has seen significant improvements in terms of the representation of women. There are only eight actors who have appeared in over 260 episodes, three of whom are woman: S. Epatha Merkerson, Mariska Hargity, and <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0376890/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1" target="_blank">Leslie Hendrix</a> (who has appeared in four different installments of the franchise). Merkerson holds the title for most appearances, while Hargity may rank second in the franchise for most appearances by the end of this upcoming television season depending on how many episodes are scheduled for L&O:SVU this year. Pretty impressive considering the franchise’s men had a three-year head start on any of the actresses involved with the various shows. The number of lead roles given to women in detective shows is also promising; L&O:SVU, The Fall, The Killing, The Bridge, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1551632/?ref_=nv_sr_1" target="_blank">Rizzoli & Isles</a> and Bones are all current shows that have female leads and each are successful programs. Though The Killing has just completed its run, other recent shows, such as <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098898/?ref_=nv_sr_1" target="_blank">Prime Suspect</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0830900/?ref_=nv_sr_1" target="_blank">Saving Grace</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0458253/?ref_=nv_sr_1" target="_blank">The Closer</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0412175/?ref_=nv_sr_1" target="_blank">Medium</a> and <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2103085/?ref_=nv_sr_1" target="_blank">Top of the Lake</a>, have also had female leads.</p> <p>While these numbers may be promising, they are still not ideal. The overwhelming majority of lead roles still go to men, and women still make up well under 50% of the regular roles in detective programs. There are also still programs, like Castle and Bones, that rely on romantic subplots to push their narratives, and the trope of the maternal figure is still central in shows like L&O:SVU, though this is not an entirely bad thing. The recent success of the program <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2356777/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1" target="_blank">True Detective </a>seems to fly in the face of this progress, given that it had an exclusively male police outfit, but creator <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm4446305/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1" target="_blank">Nic Pizzolatto</a> has acknowledge this flaw and is consciously trying to include female characters moving forward in the series. So while not all the news is good, the future looks promising. At the very least, we can be thankful that women no longer have to wear <a href="http://retropopplanet.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/daisy-duke1.jpg" target="_blank">daisy dukes</a>, <a href="http://images2.fanpop.com/image/photos/13100000/Charlie-s-Angels-TV-charlies-angels-tv-13115683-1024-763.jpg" target="_blank">see-through tops</a>, <a href="http://images2.fanpop.com/image/photos/13100000/Charlie-s-Angels-TV-charlies-angels-tv-13115692-1024-768.jpg" target="_blank">bikinis</a>, and <a href="http://le-boxon-de-lex.fr/galerie/originales/Archives-M-R/Pamela-Anderson--VIP--10.jpg" target="_blank">miniskirts</a> while investigating crime on television as they did in the late 70’s and early 80’s, and even in the 90's.<p> <p><em><strong>Written by Jason Horn. You can check out more of his work at <a href="http://www.literaryramblings.com/" target="_blank">Literary Ramblings</a> or follow him on <a href="https://twitter.com/JasonJohnHorn" target="_blank">Twitter</a>.</strong></em></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><br /><small><em>This post is © <a href="http://asimplesyrup.com">Simple Syrup</a> & licensed under a <a rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/">Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License</a>.</em></small></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10221797602545825383noreply@blogger.com0