my friend just told me that there's a secret second dashboard that solely contains posts from people you've turned on post notifications for, and when i click the link in the messages it opens it within the tumblr app, so the tumblr app also has a secret second dashboard for post notification blogs, and the only way to access it is to open the link for it within the app.
is that female character really that uninteresting and irrelevant and lacking personality or do you just choose not to read any of her scenes as deeply as you would with a male character
When I was in college, my Creative Nonfiction professor would regularly have us do something she called "hotspotting" (she didn't know that this was already a term tbc) with our rough drafts. Basically, hotspotting is when you look at your draft and pick out your favorite sentence, or one of your favorite sentences--one that you're really proud of--and write it down in a blank sheet in a notebook. Not a new document, a physical notebook. (You are not allowed to use technology for hotspotting.) And then you set a timer for however long--like maybe ten to twenty minutes--and you elaborate. You treat that one sentence as if it's the opening sentence to a new draft, and you write from there, until the timer is up.
It sounds like a gimmick, but honestly, some of my best writing in that class came from hotspotting. Usually, the sentence you consider the "best" is the one that really gets to the heart of something you're trying to convey. In a rough draft, it tends to be that you're fumbling around a bit before you really hit on the heart of things. So with hotspotting, you're starting from a less fumbly place, which means you're able to dig into your subject in a much deeper and more precise way. It makes you feel like a surgeon, a little bit.
So I do recommend trying it, even just for fun, even if you think the rough draft you have is already good. You might surprise yourself with what you come up with! :)
⤷ ゛where they take you out on a first date - drabbles ˎˊ˗
٠࣪⭑ ot8!ateez x gn!reader
٠࣪⭑ synopsis ╰┈➤ where each ateez member would take you on a first dating if they asked you out
٠࣪⭑ word count╰┈➤ 2.7k (total); 300-375 per member
٠࣪⭑ cw ╰┈➤ just fluff!
ᯓ seonghwa - picnic
Hwa would definitely take you to a park or botanical garden while the weather is fair (after thoroughly checking his weather app everyday to make sure the weather was perfect). I find it cute that he would have the entire date planned and mapped out days before, such as packing your favorite fruits and cheeses in the wicker basket he purchased just for this occasion. Even the blanket the both of you were going to sit on was your favorite color. The basket of food he packed would definitely be too large for you to carry because Seonghwa would have over-packed food with the fear of you being hungry during the date.
He wants the day to feel special for you; he doesn’t want to appear “selfish” and ask for too much from you, even if he really just wants to ask to hold your hand while you both walk in the park. The whole day would be filled with selfless acts of service such as him letting you wear his jacket when the winds ever got too strong, or him feeding you whatever you craved. I think Hwa definitely would rather have you initiate most of the physical touch between you two; however, I believe he would timidly ask to lay his head on your lap after you both finish eating because I just know he loves your delicate fingers combing through his dark locks while he builds you a Lego flower.
Seonghwa would be sad for the date to end. While you both hug at your doorstep, his hands would be gently running up and down your back before he delivers a kiss on your forehead. I also think that the moment he gets home, he would be sooo adorable by already planning the second date. Seonghwa would also probably spam you a bunch of photos he took of either you or the scenery you both walked through. To your surprise, he would let you keep the wicker basket of all the remaining food, even if he secretly wanted it all to himself instead.
ᯓ hongjoong - jazz club
Hongjoong would know that you’re a music lover through and through. Regardless of what type of music you like the most, he decides to take the both of you to a jazz club to not only get to know you better, but to also learn about your appreciation for music. I feel like he would make you so comfortable by being such an attentive listener by constantly asking questions about you, your family, your friendships, or anything else about you. While the jazz musicians would perform on stage, he would definitely take this time to sneak glances at you while you gave your full attention to the music.
Hongjoong would take you to a nearby rooftop restaurant shortly after you both had some light drinks at the jazz club. You can’t convince me that he’s not the type to say “whatever you order is on me.” Like urgh I just know he’d spoil you so bad. Like I mentioned earlier, Joong would definitely continue to listen to your slightly-tipsy ramblings with that big squirrel-like grin he always has. The moment you start asking questions about him, though, he starts getting unexpectedly shy and humble at all of his accomplishments. I think his shyness would cause him to jokingly try and change the subject back to you each time you pry into his life, which is so cute to think about.
When he drives you home, he’s definitely the type to keep one hand on the steering wheel while the other is kept on the gear shift, slowly tapping on the console. Better yet, he would probably decide to bring his convertible to this date so your hair can flow in the evening breeze (definitely not because he’s trying to impress you!) If he didn’t bring it, however, he promises you that on the next date he will. After he would walk you to your apartment hand-in-hand, I can imagine Joong, with full eye contact, pressing his lips softly against the back of your hand before he watches you enter your apartment with a kind grin plastered on his face.
ᯓ yunho - fair
I feel like we can all agree that Yunho would take you to some place really fun and stimulating, likely a fair or a carnival. I also feel like he planned this as a surprise and did not tell you where he was taking you until the day of the date. Yuyu would walk around the fair with you, trying to win you prizes especially at those stalls where you have to shoot basketballs into hoops (he says because of his height you basically can win infinite prizes, which did not end up being true). Yunho is competitive, but he wouldn’t feel intimidated if you won more prizes than him. And because you did, you were kind enough to spoil him with some of your prizes.
At the beginning of the date, I think Yunho would be afraid to touch you, even if he asked for consent. But as time progresses, I think he will get really energetic with the most games the both of you play and become touchy with you such as instinctively resting his hand on your shoulder when you’re both idle, or resting his hand on your leg when you both sit down at a vacant bench to eat. Yunho would definitely be the type to wipe off food from your lips with his thumb and then proceed to lick it off. When he did it, you both cringed so bad (he let you make fun of him for the rest of the night).
When Yunho got home, he was likely on the verge of tears or just very moody because he missed you. He would be so dramatic and rewatch the videos you took of him while he was playing games, or he would look at the selfie he took of you both, with both of your smiling cheeks being pressed together. Before he went to sleep, he probably sent you a short text message about how much he misses you and how much he can’t wait for the next date.
ᯓ yeosang - cafe + museum
I feel like he would take you out for coffee on a cloudy day with light rain solely because he wanted to stand under an umbrella with you. Though, being Yeosang, every time the both of you would either walk too closely beside each other he’d awkwardly apologize and give you some space. Yeosang isn’t much of a talker, but he loves to listen to whatever you have to say about literally anything. So I think sitting you down at a cafe to get to know you more would definitely be his vibe. He’d probably buy you both a pastry for you both to share. Since he likes to hear your opinion on things, he’d absolutely enjoy sharing his food with you to see what you think about it.
While he was planning the date, he thought about how much he’d miss you after only spending time at a cafe. So afterwards, I think he would take you to a nearby museum too. I think during this part of the date, Yeosang would probably become a little more talkative around you, likely due to him becoming less awkward around you. Though, you can still sense the nervousness off of him. He would also chuckle nervously every time he caught you trying to take candid pictures of him while he was walking around the museum, even promising that he’d take some of you too.
Yeosang would walk you up to your apartment door when the date concludes. After saying your brief goodbyes, there would be a moment of silence as you both stare at each other, the both of you not wanting the night to end. In the end, you gave him the sweetest peck on the cheek before you entered your apartment. I don’t think Yeosang would’ve moved from the door even after you went inside simply due to disbelief. That night Yeosang texted you pictures of the date with the goofiest grin on his face before he wished you a goodnight.
ᯓ san - bowling
The moment San found out you were competitive, he immediately started planning the perfect date for you two. He eventually settled on bowling, which wasn’t something either of you were great at, but it at least made for great bantering! San definitely picked you up in his car and immediately started the playful bantering, saying that he was absolutely going to win and that the loser had to pay for dinner. Of course, all of this was a bluff, because he was going to pay for dinner either way.
While you both were bowling, he made sure to take videos of you (you were mostly oblivious to this though). When you lost by 2 points, you would ask San for a rematch, to which he responded smoothly saying that he’ll bowl with you again on the second date. When you both walked to dinner, his demeanor shifted slightly, which was a good thing! He went from acting all childish and playful during bowling to behaving like a courteous prince. You didn’t lay a single hand on any doors or any checks that night; everything was taken care of by San. Of course, he would still tease you during dinner occasionally because he just adored your smile!
When he walked you to your apartment door, you both stood there and chatted mindlessly for nearly 10 minutes, reminiscing on the day and poking fun at each other. Sannie was absolutely staring at you longingly those entire 10 minutes contemplating on if it would be appropriate to kiss you on a first date. Before you could even fully walk into your apartment, he would’ve grabbed your wrist, quickly apologizing with a faint blush on his face before he leaned down and kissed your cheek. He really wanted to go for the lips, but he was too afraid to ask. I just know when he texted you that night, he promised you that on the second date he won’t wimp out on the kiss (Sannie </3).
ᯓ mingi - dinner + karaoke
I feel like Mingi wouldn’t be entirely interested in super sophisticated or fancy restaurants (unless you expressed otherwise), but he did want you to eat something tasty and unforgettable. He would probably take you to go get sushi on a Friday evening. During dinner, he would’ve definitely been swooned by your humor and your ability to make him laugh nearly every time you spoke. I feel like Mingi would be so dorky and awkward around you at first. I’m not really sure why, but he just really gives off hot dork/nerd energy.
When dinner ended, he drove you both to go do karaoke. Initially, he saw that you were a little nervous about singing in front of him, even if it was just a joke. Mingi would definitely be the type to embarrass himself in front of you so you could feel more comfortable around him. And that is exactly what he did; I feel like he would gain so much euphoria from being able to make your stomach hurt from giggling at his horrible singing. Eventually, you would feel comfortable enough to start singing in front of him. For the last song the two of you would do, you probably sang a really cheesy, romantic song together while giggling in the microphone for most of it.
For the entire ride home, you both continued the karaoke session by singing random songs that came on his playlist. When you guys would reach your apartment, he would walk you up to your door and shyly ask you for a picture together since he had forgotten to ask the entire night. I feel like his face would get red as you rested your head on his shoulders as he held out the camera, and I certainly feel like he would’ve been even more flustered when your lips pressed against his cheek. When he gets home, Mingi would’ve spent all night staring at the photo he captured of you kissing his cheek while he had the biggest, gummiest smile on his face.
ᯓ wooyoung - drive-in theatre
Wooyoung really wanted to see a movie that had come out recently with you, but he would definitely be the type to talk during movies so he would end up taking you to a drive-in theatre. I think that Wooyoung would pick you up early so you both could stop by a cheap fast food place that you both liked to bring into the theatre. I also wholeheartedly believe that Wooyoung would’ve packed blankets (mostly for you), extra napkins, an extra jacket for you to take home. While the movie is running, I’d imagine you two curled up in the front seats of his car eating the food he purchased while Wooyoung is yapping away about the movie. I don’t think he’d annoyingly complain about the movie while watching it, but rather I think he’d be so overly invested in the movie that he would probably start running his hands through his hair from the stress.
Wooyoung would definitely not shy away from innocently touching you, but he always made sure to ask beforehand. He did notice that you kept glancing at him while the movie was playing, so he would offer you to come cuddle in the seat with him. I think Wooyoung would also tease you about your shyness about being so close to him at first, but once you laid in the reclined seat with him, he would probably start getting nervous too (he would NEVER admit that though).
The drive back to yours would be loud to say the least. I can imagine the both of you discussing nothing but the movie. I also feel like you both would’ve sat in his car for another hour initially talking about the movie but later steering off to talk about the most random topics. Wooyoung really would try to distract you from going back home so he could talk to you, but he would eventually let you go. At your door, he would give you those types of hugs that would make you yelp at how tight he hugs you. I know when Wooyoung gets home, he sends you videos about the movie you both watched, hoping for you two to continue your discussion the next morning.
ᯓ jongho - paint and sip
I feel like you and Jongho would first meet each other at a bar, or you both would already establish beforehand that you both enjoy drinking. Jongho immediately knew what to do with you on a first date; I think he would take you to a Paint and Sip, where the both of you could drink while painting something on a canvas. Just like San, I don’t think Jongho would let you touch a door or your wallet at all. During the date, I think you both would be painting each other something as a surprise, so your easels would be faced away from each other. Jongho would’ve definitely drawn you a flower based on whatever color you were wearing that day.
Jongho is definitely super suave around you; I don’t think he would pretend to be cool, I would just think that he is cool around you. At least for the most part. At home, he would’ve probably overthought what fragrance to wear on the date and whether he dressed for the occasion or not. Regardless, I can imagine Jongho easily making you giggle with sly jokes while he keeps a smug smirk on his face. Jongho is addicted to hearing you laugh and making you happy, but the moment you start making jokes about him, he definitely gives you this tongue-in-cheek smirk as he nods along.
As he walks you home, it would be so cliche, but I think your hands would brush up against each other. Jongho, after noticing you don’t move your hand away, takes the initiative and gently grabs your hand with his large ones all while not breaking the flow of conversation. When you both have to say goodbye, his hands don’t leave yours. Instead, I feel like he’d pull you into a comforting bear hug, leaving you with a kiss on your forehead. As soon as Jongho gets back home, he would put up the painting you drew for him in his hallway, staring at it for a few minutes with a satisfied smile on his face before going to sleep.
٠࣪⭑ a/n ╰┈➤ yooo... so remember when I said everything would be out by 12/16...mb... better late than never though </3 I hope yall enjoyed this because this was quite fun to write! I barely proofread though so if there were any mistakes please lmk ₍^. .^₎⟆
the i “shave for sensory reasons” argument is so funny bc a lot of times those girls are doing stuff with their makeup hair nails and clothes that would be much more of a sensory discomfort than hairy legs. it’s just so interesting that what they can and can’t tolerate perfectly matches up with society’s beauty standards for women…crazy coincidence…
So like, here's the thing. With Ateez being mostly Earth sign deficient (they should go to a doctor about that), it stands to reason that the chances of there being some nice aspects between their charts goes up by an amount corresponding to math I can't do right now (25%? 33%?). Although we're missing some rising signs between them, overall, there's a lot of good shit going on and it definitely shows when you look at their interactions. Even though there are some pairings that are pushed more than others, I think on the whole you can see a lot of their dynamics being compatible. That being said...
Hongjoong and Seonghwa with their opposing rising signs has got my heart in a chokehold? Plenty of jokes about mom and dad hahaha but it's RIGHT THERE in their charts. Seonghwa with his maternal energy (Because Cancer is MOTHER) and Hongjoong being all serious Capricorn in the first. And I know I'm biased because my own father is like...the biggest Capricorn to Capricorndog, but it's such dad energy to have a Cap Rising IMO.
BUT THEN the ante is upped because All of Seonghwa's Mars bullshit is in Hongjoong's 4th house, the house of home. Meanwhile Hongjoong's Scorpio bullshit is in Seonghwa's 5th house, the house of fun and pleasure. AND ANOTHER THING WITH the Jupiter trining Hongjoong's Venus. Ugh so good.
Is it all sunshine and roses? No. Do I think they're actually a couple IRL? LOL. But does it make me really happy that the two oldest members of Ateez have each other as support? Yes 💖 The more I look at it, the more it's both complimentary AND balancing. Amazing.
Taylor Swift is Derivative nonsense, not intellectually placed allusions. I'll die on this hill, and I have many more examples beyond just the one listed below.
Let’s talk about the difference between being derivative and utilizing allusion in text. :)
I’ve seen a lot of defenses for Taylor Swift’s work that hinges on the theoretical concept of intertextuality. People don’t often know that they are arguing over the validity (or emotional impact) of intertextual cessions in Swift’s writing, but they are.
Intertextuality, if you don’t already know, is a set of determinable interwoven texts that all correspond on a particular thematic point. This encompasses, but is not limited to, the literary device of allusion.
There are many examples of intertextual works, since it is intrinsically post-modern. Yet, I want to talk about how Taylor Swift attempts allusions that only ever fall into flat-facing derivative blandness. I want to talk about how, yes, Swift is in the spirit of the age; yet her work devolves into derivative insincerity simply because she is not an artistic writer.
Now, for an egregiously bad allusion. (I think it’s worse because Romeo and Juliet is my favorite Shakespeare play). In “The Albatross” Swift writes, “A rose by any other name is a scandal” in which the obvious allusion is to Shakespeare's, “A Rose by any other name would smell as sweet” from the play Romeo and Juliet. The line in the play is often misquoted, so perhaps Swift is just ignorant, however the line means to draw attention to the fact that names are just words the that do not actually dictate the internal nature of someone.
The full line, from Shakespeare, reads “O be some other name/ What’s in a name? That which we call a rose/ by any other name would smell as sweet;/ So Romeo would, were he not Romeo call’d” (Romeo and Juliet). Thus, Juliet is lamenting the full divisive way in which her family is at odds with Romeo’s family; upon deeper consideration too, Juliet is modulating how social pressures, often outside our control particularly in youth, can impact and modify the discourse between reality, doing what is proper in accordance with the majority, and intrinsic human desire to fulfill our own needs. So, the line is not only explaining how Romeo and Juliet cannot be together overtly due to familial dispute, but in the same words it explains the full breadth of social dissertation for the pursuit of individual need. Afterall, he would still be Romeo "were he not Romeo call'd." Juliet is admitting that she would still love him with or without the constraint of social obligation due the environment, or family, in which we are born; thus, we can see how individually human desire can be placed at odds with the demands of mainstream society.
This is a nuanced conversation when considering it through moral theory. For instance, we often talk about how people should not go against the mainstream for immoral pursuit of individual desire and that is reasonable; yet herein Shakespeare's work the thematic point is on the morality of love and desire to go against social convention. Shakespeare is saying, "Love is a greater moral good than that of social obligation to follow tradition and to hate who you are trained to hate based on parental teaching." It's a genius fucking line, in a genius fucking play. Now, we all know how the play ends, the lovers run off together, they have a brief day in the sun. However, social pressure and adult obligation catch up to them again and thus they die for it. They die for their courage to love and to go against the mainstream.
Let’s return to Taylor Swift, the human embodiment of mainstream social pressure, as she writes that "a rose by any name is a scandal." As such, she is saying that all roses everywhere are just a scandal waiting to happen. If everything is a scandal, rather than speaking to any nuance grief to the pervasiveness' of social pressure to adhere to mainstream. Swift is simply throwing petulance to the world, by saying “Rose by any other name is a scandal” she limits what a rose could be, or become in using the verb “is” to fully solidify a rose as a scandal; which is a message that is diametrically opposed to the thematic point Shakespeare is making with his line. For Swift, there is no redemption, no nuance, and there is no subtext in which implicit messaging lay to tell people that going against the mainstream might just be the last thing you ever do but God is it worth it. To live with that brief day in the sun. And die for courage. Swift is just saying the opposite and stating that the mainstream is inevitable- there is no use in fighting it. A name is a name. It remains to tell the rose exactly what it is. Swift lacks imagination.
I would argue that Swift does make obvious attempts at allusion in her work, yet it is so poorly done because she does not actually see or use the thematic point of the source material from which she pulls her allusions. For allusions, to be done in an artistic impactful manner, we must keep to the thematic point of the source material. When the allusion is done correctly there is a “layering” effect in literature that redoubles the overarching themes of human experience in a way that calls us from the past, Shakespeare, to the present. Thus, is the theory of intertextuality in literary works.
(I made that bold because it's the main point of this, and I don't want anyone to miss it).
Taylor Swift’s work here simply does not measure up to anything artistic, thoughtful, or well-done. It is simply derivative of Shakespeare, but I don't think it qualifies as a true allusion.