Exhausting Titles and Fresh Perspective

My total mileage after I finished my run this morning. I thought...

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 11:01:31 -0400

My total mileage after I finished my run this morning. I thought it was too perfect not to share.

dressthesavage: narwhalsareunderwaterunicorns: anglofile: spicyshimmy: how is it possible to...

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 20:10:30 -0400

narwhalsareunderwaterunicorns:

anglofile:

spicyshimmy:

how is it possible to love fictional characters this much and also have people always been this way?

like, did queen elizabeth lie in bed late sometimes thinking ‘VERILY I CANNOT EVEN FOR MERCUTIO HATH SLAIN ME WITH FEELS’

was caesar like ‘ET TU ODYSSEUS’

sometimes i wonder

oh my GOD

the answer is yes they did. there’s a lot of research about the highly emotional reactions to the first novels widely available in print.

here’s a thing; the printing press was invented in 1450 and whilst it was revolutionary it wasn’t very good. but then it got better over time and by the 16th century there were publications, novels, scientific journals, folios, pamphlets and newspapers all over Europe. at first most were educational or theological, or reprints of classical works.

however, novels gained in popularity, as basically what most people wanted was to read for pleasure. they became salacious, extremely dramatic, with tragic heroines and doomed love and flawed heroes (see classical literature, only more extreme.) books in the form of letters were common. sensationalism was par the course and apparently used to teach moral lessons. there was also a lot of erotica floating around.

but here’s the thing: due to the greater availability of literature and the rise of comfy furniture (i shit you not this is an actual historical fact, the 16th and 17th century was when beds and chairs got comfy) people started reading novels for pleasure, women especially. as these novels were highly emotional, they too became…highly emotional. there are loads of contemporary reports of young women especially fainting, having hysterics, or crying fits lasting for days due to the death of a character or their otp’s doomed love. they became insensible over books and characters, and were very vocal about it. men weren’t immune-there’s a long letter a middle-aged man wrote to the author of his favourite work basically saying that the novel is too sad, he can’t handle all his feels, if they don’t get together he won’t be able to go on, and his heart is already broken at the heroine’s tragic state (IIRC ehh).

conservatives at the time were seriously worried about the effects of literature on people’s mental health, and thought it damaging to both morals and society. so basically yes it is exactly like what happens on tumblr when we cry over attractive British men, only my historical theory (get me) is that their emotions were even more intense, as they hadn’t had a life of sensationalist media to numb the pain for them beforehand in the same way we do, nor did they have the giant group therapy session that is tumblr.

(don’t even get me started on the classical/early medieval dudes and their boners for the Iliad i will be here all week. suffice to say, the members of the Byzantine court used Homeric puns instead of talking normally to each other if someone who hand’t studied the classics was in the room. they had dickish fandom in-jokes. boom.)

Good news is, I have my sexy new iMac all up and running. The bad news is I have to now transfer...

Sat, 08 Jun 2013 18:24:36 -0400

Good news is, I have my sexy new iMac all up and running.

The bad news is I have to now transfer all of my crap from my laptop.

First world problems, amirite?

theartofanimation: Luc Desmarchelier

Tue, 04 Jun 2013 15:47:27 -0400

theartofanimation:

Luc Desmarchelier

lizthefangirl: okayshae: b0n—iver: This is perfect. these...

Sun, 02 Jun 2013 16:42:14 -0400

lizthefangirl:

okayshae:

b0n—iver:

This is perfect.

these are so good. oh my god it hurts

She is incredibly talented.

usatodaysports: Russia, FTW! Sochi organizers unveiled the...

Fri, 31 May 2013 09:04:00 -0400

usatodaysports:

Russia, FTW! Sochi organizers unveiled the 2014 Winter Olymics medals Thursday.

(AP Photos)

I just became very sad realizing that I have to wait another whole year for the Winter Olympics. I desperately miss Norway’s curling team:

What a fantastic sport.

Hey guys. I made a thing.

Sun, 26 May 2013 21:41:14 -0400

Hey guys. I made a thing.

Some days you just feel like a cat stuck in a sock.

Sat, 25 May 2013 17:12:13 -0400

Some days you just feel like a cat stuck in a sock.

I want a kitten, real bad.

Sun, 19 May 2013 13:23:20 -0400

I want a kitten, real bad.

A fine Thursday night out.

Thu, 16 May 2013 18:58:27 -0400

A fine Thursday night out.

carry-on-my-wayward-butt: improbablenormality: l-s-lovegood: W...

Thu, 02 May 2013 16:00:38 -0400

carry-on-my-wayward-butt:

improbablenormality:

l-s-lovegood:

Whattttt? how did I not know about this?

Source

Source

Quick note: the lines don’t have to point upwards and straight next to each other, you can point them in any direction you want.

time to learn a new language

Shelby, I know what we’re doing this summer.

Photo

Thu, 02 May 2013 07:43:08 -0400

Photo

Sat, 27 Apr 2013 08:00:08 -0400

Why does everyone try to take my bludgers all the time?...

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 22:14:02 -0400

Why does everyone try to take my bludgers all the time? Don’t they know better?

College Problems #78

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 17:54:16 -0400

Does anyone else have that problem where your papers hit the required page limit while still single spaced?

No?

Oh.

I think there is a special circle of hell reserved for roommates who cough and sneeze freely whilst...

Sat, 20 Apr 2013 17:48:41 -0400

I think there is a special circle of hell reserved for roommates who cough and sneeze freely whilst in the kitchen.

mspacacia: In Florida we don’t say “i love you” we say “I’ll have an alligator hurricane beach...

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 07:32:39 -0400

mspacacia:

In Florida we don’t say “i love you” we say “I’ll have an alligator hurricane beach party with a double side of humidity. oh no is it lovebug season? why are they fucking everywhere??? get them out of my hair” which roughly translates to “dont live in florida” which i think is beautiful.

I am thiiiiiiiiiiiiis close to finishing the last French paper I'll ever have to write as an undergrad.

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 23:45:52 -0400

I have mixed feelings.

Cat blogs are more fun than writing French papers. Yes indeed.

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 18:10:30 -0400

Cat blogs are more fun than writing French papers. Yes indeed.

It’s my bludger, and you can’t have it.

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 23:58:09 -0400

It’s my bludger, and you can’t have it.