I Didn’t Know I Needed This, Maybe You Do Too 💕💕

Credits to @lovingtaeonmain on Twitter

“Nevertheless, although the way the Bathhouse is staged recalls a megalopolis, Miyazaki did not choose to show it from a futuristic angle, in contrast to Tezuka Osamu. The references are more ninetheenth and early twentieth century: the forge, the apothecary’s cabinets, the tatami room, the tasuki sashes, the old-fashioned elevators, the curtains and wall hangings in the old woman’s apartments, as well as her hairstyle, and so on. It is the world of bourgeois order. The old woman’s face, her Victorian bun, and the way her rooms are decorated all suggest it - at the very top of this closed and vertical universe lives an Anglo-Saxon-looking witch. However, neither the Japanese people nor Japanese culture (starting with the public-bath tradition) are entirely remote from this world. In fact, they are completely taken with it and are confirmed stakeholders in it; one of the more obvious reminders of this is that the outside of the Bathhouse clearly brings Sino-Japanese architecture to mind. But it is not an ancient architecture recalling a specific style. It is a hybrid building, almost a pastiche; it is made not of wood but of conrete painted and decorated in the 1930s style known as Imperal Crown, like the Tokyo National Museum. Miyazaki thus evokes the Rokumeikan palace, built in 1883 by the Japanese government to welcome Westerners, and the salons of Gajoen and Meguro, popular spots for bourgeois weddings.”

“[…] Even though allusions to the West are the most pronounced, it is interesting to note that there are also references to Buddhism, a religion that in Japan is consistently described as a foreign creed. There are at least three allusions to Buddhism, each of which could plausibly be accidental but collectively leave no room for doubt of their working together. The first is in the name borne by the witch’s son, Bôh, a word often used in Japanese to mean just “boy” or “kid” but that primarily means “monk”. The second occurs in a quick scene that takes place on the banquet level, where we see a small sign that says “Pure Land” (Jôdô). And finally, the big mole on the witch’s face is placed where one might usually find the “third eye” in Buddhist iconography. Buddhism is thus clearly associated with the upper spheres of society, with power and money. Beyond socio-historical criticism, however, the allusion to Buddhism indicates that the vertical world is first and foremost one of eschatological promises.”

“The possibility of reaching the world of horizontality is granted to Chihiro thanks to her resistance to the laws of verticality - she never espouses the system of mimetic desire. Not only does she refuse the gold that Kaonashi offers her, but she refuses to give in to her new friends’ desire for wealth. Her attachment to people, beginning with her parents, is sincere and unwavering. She does not, however, have just one thing in mind (restoring her parents to human form, for example), which would amount to a form of fantasy. She handles situations in real time, based on circumstances, and solves problems as and when they occur. This is why she gives the antidote that could have saved her parents to Haku and Kaonashi, who need it immediately. She also avoids being reduced to the object of other people’s desire while still remaining sympathetic and compassionate, as we see from her relationship with Kaonashi.”

“In short, Chihiro is driven by the power of her heart, which also dictates her moral sense. She is quite willing to imitate the way poeple look or act (she has no problem dressing like a servant and does her best to wash the floor like a practiced hand), but she does not adopt their aspirations. She can therefore have genuine relationships with people. She forges strong and lasting bonds, as symbolized by the tasuki - the white sleeve ties that she wears in the film’s poster. Miyazaki thus contrasts the fake depth of the Bathhouse, which is of Western origin (but into which modern Japanese culture has been completely absorbed) and which keeps individuals in a state of severe and ridiculous anxiety vis-à-vis death, with the real expanse, the real depth, which is an awareness of the bonds that link people to one another under any set of circumstance and in real time, and that link mankind to nature.”

Imitation and Creativity in Japanese Arts; from Kishida Ryūsei to Miyazaki Hayao, Michael Lucken, 2016.

𝓌𝒾𝓃𝓉𝑒𝓇 𝓈𝓀𝒾𝓃𝒸𝒶𝓇𝑒 𝓉𝒾𝓅𝓈

my skin and lips tends to become extremely dry, dull and flaky in the winter months due to freezing weather and drying indoor heating, so here are some tips to help you guys out!

• moisturize!! seriously!! twice a day!!! this balances out oily/ dry patches of you skin, and will reduce inflammation if you have sensitive skin (like mee)

• you don’t need to exfoliate too often, i use my face scrub once a week (variable depending on your skin type), this boosts skin regeneration and makes product absorption better 

• drinks loads of water, or green tea, or herbal teas, or warm water with lemon e.t.c whatever keeps you hydrated! it’s so easy to forget when you’re busy, so carry a water bottle wherever you go, and aim to drink all of it by the end of the day for example

• eat foods with high water-content, examples include strawberries, apples, oranges and veggies like celery and cucumber. an adequate diet will benefit your skin and well as ur physical health

• use organic, good-quality lip balm, ones like burt’s bees, pangea organics, the body shop will really help chapped lips

• remove dead skin from your lips by wetting them with luke-warm water, and scrubbing them dry with a towel. my friend said scru cream is a good exfoliater, but i haven’t tried it

• get enough sleep!! if you’re sleep-deprived, your body produces the stress hormone cortisol, which will stress out your skin, and cause inflammation

“In 2020, feminism is as simple as buying the right products. It requires no thought, no critical analysis, and no changing any other behavior of your own. When everyone is a feminist, no one is. And the fallacy of empowerment basically stuck a whole generation of women with the idea that being hot is the same thing as being powerful, without realizing that if your power goes away as soon as men don’t want to fuck you anymore, it was never yours to begin with.”

- @kendallroy, this post

In case anyone is unsure about what skin type they are, here’s an easy test to help you out!

under the table - fiona apple

[ID: two images of a multicolor ransom letter collage of the lyrics “i would beg to disagree, but begging disagrees with me” from fiona apple’s song “under the table” over a black background/end ID]

What she says: I’m fine

What she means: In Howl’s Moving Castle Sophie goes back in time and witnesses Howl making his original deal with Calcifer thus discovering the way to break Howl’s curse and before she leaves she tells Howl to find her in the future and if you recall to the beginning of the movie Howl saves Sophie from some highly questionable and rapey soldiers and tells her “there you are sweetheart, sorry I’m late, I’ve been looking everywhere for you” because he took what she told him as a child to heart and has been looking for her ever since and if that’s not the tightest shit ever I don’t know what is

Yuri: *Is busy doing the housework*

Victor: *Is lazing about on the couch like a slob*

Yuri: *Sees Victor and puts his duster down, sauntering over and getting atop him* Babe... *Takes his glasses off, flushes his hair back and smirks, licking his lips before leaning down, pecking Victor on the lips* You busy?

Victor: *Is immediately turned on* NO.

Yuri: Good. Do the fucking dishes.

Viktor and Yuuri before the Halloween Ice Gala 🎃😆

Sickfics - Yuuri Edition #2

April Fools by spare | T | Yuuri/Victor, Yuuri & Victor & Yuri P. | 1k

“There’s a Japanese saying for this, isn’t there? ‘Colds can’t catch fools’, or something to that effect?”

On the anniversary of Victor’s arrival in Hasetsu, a drunken swim leaves Yuuri with a cold. Good thing Victor’s there to help him get well. (Ufun.) Three interconnected scenes in three perspectives.

Bumps and Bruises by IllyasJames | G | Yuuri/Victor | 1k

After getting distracted by his own thoughts Yuuri flubs a jump and lands on his head a bit hard. When the day progresses Yuuri starts to feel worse.

Feverish by KasumiChou | G | Yuuri/Victor | 2k

He didn’t want to admit that everything hurt.

That he had a pounding headache that felt so bad that Yuuri almost wanted to bash his head against the wall, because the pain would probably be less than his pounding headache.

He didn’t want to admit that the room was spinning.

That he felt like throwing up, despite not having eaten much in days.

But he couldn’t stop.

He needed to lose more weight, he still wasn’t thin enough.

He needed to practice his jumps, they needed to be perfect.

He needed to improve his step sequence, it needed to be better than ever before.

He couldn’t stop now.

More Than Words can Say by mypoorfaves | G | Yuuri/Victor | 3k

Yuuri gets sick with a cold in Hasetsu and loses his voice! How will he and Victor be able to communicate? How will Victor care for Yuuri? Takes place somewhere between episodes 5 and 6.

Not too bad by DesertRainFrog | G | Yuuri/Victor | 1k

There is a certain amount of pressure you can put on a body, but if you take it away it crumbles.

Yuuri overworks himself and Victor takes care of him. Basically your standard sickfic… give it a read!

Of Fevers and Family by mypoorfaves | G | Yuuri/Victor | 1k

Yuuri is fevered and emotional and starts crying because he thinks Yuri hates him. How will Yuri react?

Out but not down by IllyasJames | M | Yuuri/Victor | 2k

After having to have dealt with Victor and his fever, Yuuri seems to have caught it himself. Bad luck for Victor, If he thought he was clingy Yuuri got him beat. Not to mention, having a fever, beats being drunk as well.

Reunion by CheekyPotato | NR | Yuuri/Victor | 2k

After a month apart due to competitions, Yuuri finally reunites with his fiance but it doesn’t go as planned.

Right as Rain by mypoorfaves | G | Yuuri/Victor | 2k

Yuuri runs to the pharmacy to get medicine to stave off his oncoming cold, all whilst keeping his illness a secret from Victor. Then Yuuri gets caught in the rain, which doesn’t do good for his already-weakened immune system. How will Victor react when Yuuri comes home soaking wet and freezing cold, and how will Yuuri recover?

The Let Down Effect by Icypeach | T | Yuuri/Victor | 1k

Yuuri’s body is past it’s limit after the second grand prix assignment

To Have and to Cling To by mypoorfaves | G | Yuuri/Victor | 1k

Yuuri comes home exhausted after a long day, and Victor takes care of him. Sappy domestic caretaking fluff ensues

Water and Warmth by mypoorfaves | G | Yuuri/Victor | 1k

Yuuri wakes up exhausted and heads to take a shower in the hopes it will help wake him up. But things take a turn for the worse when it turns out Yuuri isn’t just tired, but coming down with a cold. Now Victor has to take care of Yuuri who feels like he’s freezing despite the fever he’s running.