elisi's humble abode

Watched/Listened to this recently and thought I'd share because it's very good, very thoughtful and very indepth. It's not about Neil Gaiman as such (no unpleasant details, no delving into the allegations), instead it grapples with how we interact with texts and creators.



Icon by me. It's Calliope from 'Episode 11' of Sandman S1 - an extra episode that's not part of the main story. If you have watched it, you'll know the significance. The text is "He is nothing, he is just a malaka".

I don't speak Greek, so I checked wiki:

While it is typically used as an insult, with its literal equivalent in Commonwealth English being "wanker” and “jerk off” in American English, the meaning varies depending on the tone and context used. It can be an exclamation of pleasure, an expression of dark horror, a cry of anger, a declaration of affection, and other different things. Common alternative meanings include "asshole", "motherf*cker" "jerk" or "idiot", and the contrasting "dude", or "mate", depending on the context. It has been described as "the most used Greek slang word".

So there you go. A useful word for when speaking of NG. It was NOT used with affection.

(The allegations are even on the BBC now.)

I'm terrible at updates, but let's try!

- First of all, today is Impish Girl's Birthday. (As well as being Juneteenth of course - happy Juneteenth! <3) She turns 22, but we had to have all the celebrations yesterday because today (and for the next few days) she is in Manchester for her first proper acting job in TV! She has 1 line, and a few scenes in the background, but it's a proper big TV thing (like... BBC or ITV or Channel 4 or something, she's not allowed to say beyond 'TV') and they've put her up in a hotel and done costume and hair/make-up etc. She is Quite Overwhelmed, but we are sure she will have a great time. Also, one heck of a birthday story to tell. ^_^

- I've lost touch with the Ao3/OTW mess and just hope they manage to sort it out. I remember the Before and really want the whole idea to work, because the basic concept is good and important. However, by now it all seems a bit like this, what with the various infighting between those trying to hold the OTW to account:



- Sidebar: Speaking of Monty Python, then this is a very nicely considered short video:

John Cleese & Recontextualizing Art
(The comments also make sure to point out that Eric Idle is supportive of trans rights! <3 Delightful interview here, talking about Stan/Loretta at 11 minutes in.)

- Anyway, I have created a Squidgeworld account (if nothing else just to make sure no one takes my name) and it's always good to have a back-up. But ugh, so much work if/when I decide to upload stuff.

- Have also set up a Squidge Images account (not sure if the platforms are linked at all, or if the name is a co-incidence?), because at some point LJ will stop adding paid time to my account and I need to think of somewhere else to store images. And it's difficult to find a good place. :(

- I also checked in with the Teaspoon and uploaded a fic - and then got the message about a moderator going to check it and omg I had completely forgotten that was even a thing!

- magnavox_23 has icons for OFMD icons ep 6

- TV watching... We are currently watching two shows which are complete opposites:

Show 1) Shiny Happy People, which I knew a bit about, having read a few articles etc, but is still just... *hands* Cults are scary, yo.

Show 2) ANNIKA. This on the other hand is a delight. We tried it on a whim a week or two ago, as it looked like Scandi Noir but set in Scotland, and we generally like Scandi Noir. Except - it's not Noir! Annika is funny! Now it's a detective show, so there are murders and all that, but the throughline isn't grimdark, but oddly light-hearted. It's difficult to explain, although one part that I remember particularly is in the very first episode when Annika goes to meet her new team for the first time (she has just been promoted). She turns to the camera and says: "They were going to send me on this management course, but I went on holiday to Spain instead. Kinda regretting that now." Also all detectives should have teenage daughters!

In short, there are some shows that are just amazing, some that are brilliantly written, some where the actors are outstanding etc etc. This is a show where I just want to hang out with everyone: it's a comfy happy blanket [with murders].

Also ( Casting spoiler )

~~~

ETA: OMG!

Boris Johnson denied special access to parliament as MPs endorse report which said he lied
MPs voted by 354 to 7 to back the report's findings.

Do something funny for money. We didn't watch, but below the cut are two short Doctor Who-y sketches.

( Read more... )

I keep meaning to post, and then just... not.

Everything Everywhere All At Once won all the Oscars which made me very happy. What an incredible movie: wildly inventive and innovative, with rich and complex characters, outstanding actors, full of heart in every way, and dealing with deeply human issues such as family and culture and the meaning of existence... ♥ ♥ ♥ I have watched it twice and would happily watch it many more times - I'm sure that every re-watch would bring more facets to light.

~

Some links:

Why I Decided to Update the Language in Ursula K. Le Guin’s Children’s Books
Literary Executor Theo Downes-Le Guin on What That Means For Readers, Past and Future

A World Without Men
The women of South Korea’s 4B movement aren’t fighting the patriarchy — they’re leaving it behind entirely.

And I have been meaning to share this FOREVER...

you have reached the OTW, please hold for greater transparency

(It makes me sad that the OTW has decided to go down this path and really hope they can turn it around.)

The most amusing thing of this whole 'SHINY NEW DOCTOR EVERYONE IS EXCITED' is scrolling through Twitter and seeing all the people deciding they want to get back to the show, but have heard it's rubbish now, and receiving endless reassurances that 'RTD Is Coming Back, Everything Is Going To Be Amazing Again' and just...

*hands*

I REMEMBER LAST TIME. Fandom hated him. Moffat might as well have been the Second Coming. I wonder how long it'll take for things to turn again. (Not that he cares. *g*)

~~~

ANYWAY. If anyone is missing Moffat Who, and timey-wimey shenanigans, they should watch Russian Doll. We finished S2 last week and I'm beginning to recover. Darcy described it as 'Catharsis in a Rubik's Cube', which is absolutely spot-on and genius.

Stay far far away from spoilers, just jump in. It's clever and smart and has awesome female characters and there is zero hand holding.



Oh and S2 might make you cry. It might not seem like it, because there is a LOT going on, but once you realise what it's actually doing it's packs a punch (softly, beautifully).

Warning: The whole thing is basically about trauma (childhood/inter-generational), so please be aware in case that's a trigger. ♥

~~~

ETA: Tumblr is reading Dracula (it's a thing where you get emailed a bit every day? Because the book is mostly in a diary format). It's hilarious! Tumblr + Dracula = pure delight

I keep thinking I ought to do an update and then... not.

So instead I'll try to do a bit of a summary.

RL:

- One reason I've not been around is that my parents came to visit (for the first time since February 2020!). Which was nice, but also VISITORS and I spent all my time with them.

- Bonfire night we went round to the in-laws which was also lovely and there were fireworks and fire and small children and it was lovely.

- Today we (rather spontaneously) decided to go to York for the day. We were looking for a winter coat for the Cherub and also we need a new teacosy, but mostly we were just walking around York and enjoying a day out. (We got neither coat nor teacosy - the coat because she wants a pink teddy bear coat which we couldn't find a version of that she liked, and the teacosy because they are IMPOSSIBLE to find.)

Fandom:

- Saw Dune on my birthday and have many thoughts that I am still no nearer to organising... I'll try to get there, but there is so MUCH. Chewy, chewy goodness and endless layers and great adaptation to try to get to grips with. Much much goodness, my fannish cup runneth over. I have notes, just nothing actually written down yet.

- Doctor Who is back and I have very little to say. Ep 1 was solid set-up, but the whole of Chibnall Who still feels like some sort of AU. Although for non-UK fans you should go read this Den of Geek introduction to John Bishop, because he is lovely. I also need to write something about the return of RTD - again, I have notes. They just haven't turned into anything solid. Mind you, I have time. ;)

- Good Omens is of course a source of never-ending joy and the set pictures from S2 are unfailingly making me flail and squee. Honestly, they could spend the whole of S2 just reading the phone book and I'd be happy.

ETA: Squid Game! How could I forget Squid Game? We basically binged it, and I think it's brilliant and deserves the hype. Unsure if I know what to write about it, because the it's a very blunt and open critique of capitalism that doesn't really need any kind of meta. ETA2: This shouldn't be taken to imply that it's a simplistic show - it's clever (and gruesome) and with absolutely fantastic richly developed characters.

~

Finally I should get back to posting Dimash, because there is so much more and he is my daily delight and the soundtrack to my life. For now however, have this amazing duet:

Daily Dimash: A Question of Honour

Dimash performed 'A Question of Honor' with Zarina Altynbayeva - a famous Kazakh soprano - at the opening ceremony of the 28th Winter Universiade (held in Almaty in Jan 2017). The production/set/performance is amazing - dancing, ice skating, people flying and fountains - the only downside is that the audio is slightly out of sync with the singing. But it reminded me how much I love pageantry; the thumbnail is completely wrong, the thing is hugely colourful and exuberant. (Original song by Sarah Brightman, with an added aria snippet from 'La Wally'.)

ETA: Zarina has it on her channel:



Although this one is better quality I think.



(The Charismatic Voice analyses it here if you are curious)

It was filmed between the recordings of episodes 3 and 4 of Singer. Dimash flew to Almaty, Kazakhstan to perform in the 2017 Winter Universiade opening ceremony, on January 29, where he preformed this song with Zarina Altynbayeva.

Dimash Masterpost

Today you get Doctor Who, by the way of James Corden! First of all a cosplay contest, with people who are NOT cosplayers. (It should be noted that DT's hair has now reached a reasonable length and he looks rather foxy in his Doctor outfit. HUGE improvement over his hair & hoodie in Staged. *g* A lot of lovely stills here.) (Yes, I know he got extensions for a role before lockdown, and I am v impressed with his willingness & ability to look a mess.)



Then a LOVELY interview:



~

And speaking of fandom, then here is a good thing you could do:

If you've been frustrated by the OTW's recent (lack of) action around fandom racism, we suggest you sign this open letter. We both have. https://t.co/G3QFxYnpud

— Fansplaining (@fansplaining) June 20, 2020

(I haven't followed this discourse at all, but I love AO3 and I want it to be on the ball with this.)

~

And today's art is by Ethiopian artist Makeda Bizuneh, 'The Roofs in the Moonlight'. (x):

So, for anyone going 'Can she talk about anything besides Doctor Who & Good Omens?' my favourite two Festivids:

Grounds for Divorce
Fandom: Hamlet (2009), the one with David Tennant
Summary: There's a hole in my neighbourhood down which of late I cannot help but fall

Victorious
Fandom: Moulin Rouge! (2001)
Summary: This story is about truth, beauty, freedom; but above all things, this story is about love.


Both vids have a fragmented, broken quality that I love.


ETA: Actually, you get my favourite Hannibal vid also (nothing to do with Festivids):

Heathens
Please don't make any sudden moves
You don't know the half of the abuse

(I'd say there are a ton of spoilers, but then there's also a ton of dream sequences, so if anyone is curious about Hannibal go ahead & watch and see if you might like it.)

AO3 Wins 2019 Hugo Award for Best Related Work

And thoughts on this: We Did The Thing: Musings On the AO3, Wiscon, and Winning the Fandom Culture Wars

Good Omens related:

The Mary Sue: Good Omens Finally Made Me Feel Represented as an Autistic Person Who Grew up Under Anti-Vaccine Ideology

And just because it's too wonderful not to share:

Belgian Biker Saves Tiny Kitten In The Middle of A Busy Highway

Found this via my flist (thank you yourlibrarian!). And it's just making me so very happy:

Vid: The Greatest

Summary: "Don't give up." A celebration of some badass characters of color in recent science fiction, fantasy and horror TV and movies. Made for resolute as part of the Fandom Trumps Hate 2017-2018 charity auction.

More info at AO3 (including a list of fandoms & spoilers).

The editing is exquisite and the only thing I can really compare it to 'We Didn't Start the Fire'. Which was of course about fannish history, whereas this is celebrating POCs. And how. If I had to think of one word to describe this, it'd be 'joyous'. ♥

Know Hope.

Tumblr Man
A Parody of “Piano Man” by Billy Joel
Written and Performed by Codot