siwe

“I don’t want to make somebody else. I want to make myself”

[rrondo]

[lustcannibalism]

you have destroyed and betrayed yourself for a nuanced reason

[oggeminivenus]

[kingoftheu]

One tragic aspect of the Odyssey that I've never really seen handled by any adaptation is the link between Odysseus' marriage and the Trojan War itself.

When Helen was of age to be married, all the Lords of Greece came to seek her hand. This was an issue for her stepfather the King of Sparta who could only pick one husband and then would have to deal with the far greater number of angry rejected suitors.

One suitor was Odysseus, then a younger man. He quickly ascertained that he had no chance of marrying Helen. Ithaca was too poor for him to even bring any proper gifts, let alone a dowry. But he did catch the eye of the King's niece, one Penelope.

Now Penelope was still a bit out of Odysseus' league, but not so much as Helen was. So he makes a deal with the King of Sparta. Support my bid to marry Penelope, and I'll give you a solution to this suitors problem. The King agrees, so Odysseus suggests all the suitors swear an oath to defend Helen's marriage from anyone who might strike against it. They all, including Odysseus, so swear, and Helen is married to Menelaus. The King proves as good as his word, and Penelope is wed to Odysseus.

Of course this means that Odysseus has now bound himself to fight for Helen and Menelaus. After an attempt to feign madness he is forced to fulfill his duty.

So his own plan, to marry Penelope and stop a hoard of ravenous suitors, ends with him forced to defend his own marriage from a hoard of ravenous suitors.

[drawnheadlights]

[kimwxller]

I am the vampire Madeleine Eparvier. And my immortal companion is Claudia. My coven is Claudia.

[archvillainofromance]

The Vampire Lestat 3.06 Montreal

[realitytvshow]

[fromtheheather]

Lesson Study on Jersey Coast (1881) - John La Farge

[weepingwidar]

Jonny Negron (Puerto Rican, 1985) - Untitled (2012)

[julytrees]

Ella Fitzgerald in the midst of a soulful performance at Mr. Kelly's nightclub in Chicago, Illinois, ca. 1958.

[dontliveinthefuture]

great advice honestly

[misscromwellsmonocle]

Still You Bloom in This Land of No Gardens (2021) by Njideka Akunyili Crosby

[siwe]

june media

books

Piranesi, Susanna Clarke

Female Fear Factory, Pumla Dineo Gqola

Born to Kwaito, Esinako Ndabeni, Sihle Mthembu

The Days of Abandonment, Elena Ferrante

movies

The Prince of Egypt (1998)

Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)

Losing Ground (1982)

Daydream Therapy (1977)

Dream Scenario (2023)

One of Them Days (2025)

Miss Juneteenth (2020)

tv

Hacks S5 (2026)

The Trials of Winnie Mandela (2026)

House of Guinness S1 (2025)

[siwe]

new life forms

[sofiaswaves]

artwork for new avatar by Kelela, photography by Neva Wireko, hair by Matt Benns, makeup by Raisa Flowers, nails by Dawn Sterling, creative direction by Yasser Abubeker, graphic design by Seenahm, styling by Jahleel Weaver, May 2026

[julytrees]

Tina Turner captured dancing in the garden of her fomer villa ‘Anna Fleur’ within the South of France, ca. 2000.