A Place for the Self

Han. She/they. a catalogue of my masters research of unmasking through movement Please respond to my questionnaire below!! https://forms.office.com/e/c7Ca4pQ8hi

[aplacefortheself]

✨hello!!✨

My name is Han and I am currently a master's student in Dance Leadership and Community Practice. As someone recently diagnosed with ADHD, I have become aware of how pervasive masking is for me and I began to realize that I felt most myself, most unmasked, when I was dancing. This account is just here as a catalogue of my personal practice as part of my research into unmasking. Through an exploration of identity and public facing persona, this research aims to explore the presence of masking in public life for all neurotypes and the possibility of using movement to deconstruct that mask. If you're at all interested in the research (or even just watching me wiggle around in the studio) I'd love it if you gave this account a follow! x

[soloh]

I hate when I say things like "oh I want an ipod classic but with bluetooth so I can use wireless headphones" and some peanut comes in and replies with "so a smartphone with spotify?" No. I want a 160GB+ rectangular monstrosity where I can download every version of every song I want to it and it does nothing except play music and I don't need a data connection and don't have to pay a subscription to not have ads and don't have popups suggesting terrible AI playlists all over the menus.

Gimme the clicky wheel and song titles like "My Chemical Romance- The Black Parade- Blood (Bonus Track)- secret track- album rip- high quality"

[foone]

Tangara is an open source iPod clone, which includes bluetooth:

Tangara

The music player you wish you had in the early 2000s

[piranya]

[hussyknee]

If I tell you this is a horror dance number it still won't prepare you. That last move was so terrifying even the judge was like "Let go! Let go!" If you told me they're actually possessed I'd believe you.

The music is a remix of the song Mere Dholna from the Bollywood movie Bhool Bhulaiyya, a remake of the classic Malayalam horror-comedy Manichitrathazhu. It's about a young bride that seemingly becomes possessed of Manjulika, a dancer of the ancient royal court whose tragic death has turned her into a vengeful spirit, one who evokes the wrath of the goddess Durga Kali. In the iconic scene that is repeated across remakes, the groom and his family discover his bride dancing in the dead of night in a manic, disassociative fugue, wearing a moth-eaten dancer's costume and a face smeared in kohl, ash and vermilion. She's hallucinating that she's Manjulika dancing carefree for the court with her lover. The upbeat music is deliberately incongruous with the pathos and creepiness of the scene in reality, especially as it crescendos in the bride's head to the moment when the king decapitates Manjulika's beloved in a fit of jealous rage.

This specific number is by the all-male troupe B Unique, performed for the Indian reality talent contest Hunabaarz. It's a modern fusion based on Bharatnatyam that turns up the creep factor by 200% and is basically a showcase of contortionism and synchronicity. One of the most perfectly choreographed and executed dances I have ever seen. Truly incredible!

The group is still taking their work across the world's talent shows. And yes, that guy is hypermobile enough to do that with his neck. XD

[alexaloraetheris]

I did not realize 'horror dance' genre existed but HOLY FUCK

[boyjinx-deactivated20260111]

We need shittable cities (actively maintained public restrooms).

[scientia-rex]

A city without well-maintained restrooms is a city where many of the chronically ill cannot leave their homes, and where the homeless are criminalized for bodily functions. If I had a nickel for every day I haven’t gone somewhere with friends because I didn’t know the bathroom situation, I’d have enough to put in a sock and beat a couple of billionaires to death.

[gwydionmisha]

I literally can't visit Seattle anymore for this reason. I am glad I didn't move there.

[aspiringwarriorlibrarian]

American Restroom Association does a lot of good advocacy for things like this, and Project for Sanitation Justice maps out public toilets in the San Diego area. This article has a few more suggestions for places to start.

And for the people who seem convinced that leaving bathrooms open 24/7 is dangerous, you know what else is dangerous? Cholera.

[teenslib]

Other people who need public restrooms:

Rideshare, taxi, and private drivers

Delivery drivers

Postal carriers

Children

Tourists

Anyone who likes to just walk around on a nice day

[aplacefortheself]

Introduction/Questionnaire Invite!

Hello! I am currently pursuing research as a part of my master’s degree in dance leadership and community practice. I am interested in how others experience masking and its relationship to movement. I am looking for people who have or had a movement or physical practice (e.g. dancing, running, weight lifting, hiking, etc.) to complete a 10-20 minute questionnaire to support my research. This questionnaire aims to expand your understanding and explore your experience of masking and its presence in your daily life. If you are interested in participating in this questionnaire, follow the link below!