Meerkat-meow
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My grandmother - the bad-ass :)
3 min read
My grandmother was a bad-ass. Not the going-in-guns-ablazing- kind of bad-ass. But the ordinary, every-day kind. The older I get, the more I see her strength.
My granny Maj-Britt, who was born at the beginning of the 1900s, was the first female on her block to wear long pants instead of a skirt. Her mother made them out of a linen sack. My great-granny was amazing at sewing; just closed her eyes and drew up a sketch of what she needed, and then went to work. The neighbours, especially the women, were aghast at Maj-Britt's audacity. The horror! A young girl wearing pants! How incredibly... unsuitable! They complained, of course, claiming it was not the sort of thing a young woman should be doing. Pants were for men, and women should not show their legs. My great-grandmother just looked right back and them and responded "You actually see less of her legs this way, so what is the problem?". I would have liked to meet her.
When Maj-Britt had married my grandfather, Tore, she was one of the first women to start working outside of home. Later, she was one of the first women to get a driving license. She was also politically active, fighting for what she believed in and voicing her opinions. At the same time she tried to fit in with what was expected of her as a woman at that time. A spotlessly clean home. Two well-mannered children. That can't have been easy! The older I get, the more I feel what a struggle it must have been at times.
My granddad worked very hard as well. Tore was a bit unusual in that he didn't mind that his wife worked outside of their home. He was also getting complained at by men of the neighbourhood for hanging the laundry, which they considered women's work - they said it made their wives ask them to do it as well! How ghastly, indeed!
As hanging laundry to dry was very heavy work at the time, my granddad thought it would be unfair to have Maj-Britt do it. After all, he was physically stronger than she. So, he continued doing it. No matter what anybody else said.
Were my grandparents perfect? Of course not! They were human, and humans make mistakes. They were products of their time, just as we are. But they were striving to do things their way, to create a better world... And whenever I think about their every-day struggle, I feel proud to be their grandchild. I feel proud to come from a line of strong willed people who tried to make the world a better place. I feel especially proud for having had a grandmother who, through her way of life, affected what was the female gender role at the time.
Yes, my grandmother was a bad-ass. In the best sense of the word.
I write this in loving memory of Maj-Britt and Tore Enqvist. Two amazing people!
My granny Maj-Britt, who was born at the beginning of the 1900s, was the first female on her block to wear long pants instead of a skirt. Her mother made them out of a linen sack. My great-granny was amazing at sewing; just closed her eyes and drew up a sketch of what she needed, and then went to work. The neighbours, especially the women, were aghast at Maj-Britt's audacity. The horror! A young girl wearing pants! How incredibly... unsuitable! They complained, of course, claiming it was not the sort of thing a young woman should be doing. Pants were for men, and women should not show their legs. My great-grandmother just looked right back and them and responded "You actually see less of her legs this way, so what is the problem?". I would have liked to meet her.
When Maj-Britt had married my grandfather, Tore, she was one of the first women to start working outside of home. Later, she was one of the first women to get a driving license. She was also politically active, fighting for what she believed in and voicing her opinions. At the same time she tried to fit in with what was expected of her as a woman at that time. A spotlessly clean home. Two well-mannered children. That can't have been easy! The older I get, the more I feel what a struggle it must have been at times.
My granddad worked very hard as well. Tore was a bit unusual in that he didn't mind that his wife worked outside of their home. He was also getting complained at by men of the neighbourhood for hanging the laundry, which they considered women's work - they said it made their wives ask them to do it as well! How ghastly, indeed!
As hanging laundry to dry was very heavy work at the time, my granddad thought it would be unfair to have Maj-Britt do it. After all, he was physically stronger than she. So, he continued doing it. No matter what anybody else said.Were my grandparents perfect? Of course not! They were human, and humans make mistakes. They were products of their time, just as we are. But they were striving to do things their way, to create a better world... And whenever I think about their every-day struggle, I feel proud to be their grandchild. I feel proud to come from a line of strong willed people who tried to make the world a better place. I feel especially proud for having had a grandmother who, through her way of life, affected what was the female gender role at the time.
Yes, my grandmother was a bad-ass. In the best sense of the word.
I write this in loving memory of Maj-Britt and Tore Enqvist. Two amazing people!
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Since I agree with what Mikhal-Strange has to say on the Mary Sue-matter, I am reposting the journal entry here! So, here we go!:
"The Mary Sue Complex...
Journal Entry: Mon Jan 12, 2015, 9:55 AMWatch Me ∫∫ Gallery
...IS A MYTH.
I'm writing to you all to let you know you can drop the notion that your character is a Mary Sue.
She does not exist.
Reasons:
1. The Mary Sue was invented as a ways to tear down Fans with big imaginations Who:
a) Have yet to discover their skills in writing
b) Would like to enter interact / date a character from a fandom
c) Want to see their Character succeed.
2. This Mary Sue Complex also gives one the false excuse to attack these young writers.
THIS IS WRONG
And just plain rude
NEVER is it okay to treat someone like shit, ESPECIALLY over practice writing and writing for fun
That is how writers learn.
(Most of what I know about writing came from an OC based on me, dating Link with all the powers of the sages from Ocarina of Time. I'm sure many resented me for it- I was just fortunate enough to not be shut down by them and kept writing until I learned my lesson.)
These tests I keep seeing are unnecessary and cruel.
Take Marvel's Jean Grey the Pheonix.....Isn't she a "Mary Sue"? -Yet she's published....And raking in money for Stan Lee....What makes us any different?
The Point
Your character can be as powerful and similar to you as much as you like so long as:
a) You write, rewrite and rewrite until the human aspect comes out (flaws and quirks that make a character alive)
----------You hone your skill.
And to hone- you must WRITE. (Maybe not share it- but write none the less)
b) You construct a plot structure that is engaging to the audience you are targeting.
Writing is like a bean stalk. You need a structure to let it climb.
~Mike Strange
My Advice:
A professional playwright once told me that becoming a writer is like popping a zit:
You're over flowing with ideas, but when you start to put them on paper all that comes out is puss. But it must come out first before the juicy blood starts coming through: the juicy scenes and vibrant characters.
Don't beat yourself up if your writing is not affecting people at first- you're just in the puss stage. And that can last for years by no fault of your own.
It's just the process of learning to write.
Which is why I would ignore anyone that hunts for Mary Sue's. It's a form bullying and discouraging.
Yes, give advice to writers that ask for it- but in a tactful constructive way.
Leave Mary Sue to Rest In Peace.
If you agree: Post this in your journal!
If you don't: Keep your thoughts to yourself.
Have questions or wish for more writing tips? Please comment.
Love is the true edge sword that cuts through all fear."
...IS A MYTH.
I'm writing to you all to let you know you can drop the notion that your character is a Mary Sue.
She does not exist.
Reasons:
1. The Mary Sue was invented as a ways to tear down Fans with big imaginations Who:
a) Have yet to discover their skills in writing
b) Would like to enter interact / date a character from a fandom
c) Want to see their Character succeed.
2. This Mary Sue Complex also gives one the false excuse to attack these young writers.
THIS IS WRONG
And just plain rude
NEVER is it okay to treat someone like shit, ESPECIALLY over practice writing and writing for fun
That is how writers learn.
(Most of what I know about writing came from an OC based on me, dating Link with all the powers of the sages from Ocarina of Time. I'm sure many resented me for it- I was just fortunate enough to not be shut down by them and kept writing until I learned my lesson.)
These tests I keep seeing are unnecessary and cruel.
Take Marvel's Jean Grey the Pheonix.....Isn't she a "Mary Sue"? -Yet she's published....And raking in money for Stan Lee....What makes us any different?
The Point
Your character can be as powerful and similar to you as much as you like so long as:
a) You write, rewrite and rewrite until the human aspect comes out (flaws and quirks that make a character alive)
----------You hone your skill.
And to hone- you must WRITE. (Maybe not share it- but write none the less)
b) You construct a plot structure that is engaging to the audience you are targeting.
Writing is like a bean stalk. You need a structure to let it climb.
~Mike Strange
My Advice:
A professional playwright once told me that becoming a writer is like popping a zit:
You're over flowing with ideas, but when you start to put them on paper all that comes out is puss. But it must come out first before the juicy blood starts coming through: the juicy scenes and vibrant characters.
Don't beat yourself up if your writing is not affecting people at first- you're just in the puss stage. And that can last for years by no fault of your own.
It's just the process of learning to write.
Which is why I would ignore anyone that hunts for Mary Sue's. It's a form bullying and discouraging.
Yes, give advice to writers that ask for it- but in a tactful constructive way.
Leave Mary Sue to Rest In Peace.
If you agree: Post this in your journal!
If you don't: Keep your thoughts to yourself.
Have questions or wish for more writing tips? Please comment.
Love is the true edge sword that cuts through all fear."
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Random babble...-ing.
2 min read
Since I can't really draw (and I'm not saying this to appear humble. It would not be strange for a person to look at my drawings and say "That's a very nice... er...hippo? Vacuum cleaner? Oh! It's a meerkat? Really????? Wow..."), this is something of an experiment. I joined so that I could watch material meant for people over the tender age of 18... *blushing slightly* And I found so many cool drawings in here! Not just of the... er, mature variety.
I have read comic books, graphic novels and such since I was a child. It started with Tintin and Lucky Luke, continued with "Valérian and Laureline" (sci-fi comic books) and the I "hopped" onto horror comics à la Dracula. The comic book versions of the old Norse mythology ("Valhalla" by Madsen) were easily accessible at the local library, and my siblings and I devoured them (not in the literal sense, of course... imagine the paper cuts alone!). Since then, I have periodically been reading "Get Fuzzy", "Nemi", "Spiderman", "X-men"...well, I think you get my point. I like comics. Of different kinds. And that is pretty much the only real knowledge I have of visual art.
Now, as for visual art: I can tell that I like or dislike something, and I enjoy playing with colours. Painting is fun - as long as nobody expects me to actually produce anything. But if somebody were to start speaking of brushstrokes I would most likely be... confused. If I ever put something up here, it will probably not be drawings. It might be texts; maybe fanfiction. Or just random weirdness. I suppose what I'm trying to say is this: I'm able to enjoy the work of others, and admire it. Many of the cartoons and pictures here are amazing! But I'm not really an artist. I'm here for fun. Maybe later for a bit of writing, or such.
So, a big HELLO to the wonderful and mysterious world of Deviant Art, and its inhabitants! I think I'll like it here. I may not be an artist, strictly speaking, but I am definitely a deviant! Hehehe...
Links:
Valhalla:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valhalla…
Valérian and Laureline:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Val%C3%A…
I have read comic books, graphic novels and such since I was a child. It started with Tintin and Lucky Luke, continued with "Valérian and Laureline" (sci-fi comic books) and the I "hopped" onto horror comics à la Dracula. The comic book versions of the old Norse mythology ("Valhalla" by Madsen) were easily accessible at the local library, and my siblings and I devoured them (not in the literal sense, of course... imagine the paper cuts alone!). Since then, I have periodically been reading "Get Fuzzy", "Nemi", "Spiderman", "X-men"...well, I think you get my point. I like comics. Of different kinds. And that is pretty much the only real knowledge I have of visual art.
Now, as for visual art: I can tell that I like or dislike something, and I enjoy playing with colours. Painting is fun - as long as nobody expects me to actually produce anything. But if somebody were to start speaking of brushstrokes I would most likely be... confused. If I ever put something up here, it will probably not be drawings. It might be texts; maybe fanfiction. Or just random weirdness. I suppose what I'm trying to say is this: I'm able to enjoy the work of others, and admire it. Many of the cartoons and pictures here are amazing! But I'm not really an artist. I'm here for fun. Maybe later for a bit of writing, or such.
So, a big HELLO to the wonderful and mysterious world of Deviant Art, and its inhabitants! I think I'll like it here. I may not be an artist, strictly speaking, but I am definitely a deviant! Hehehe...
Links:
Valhalla:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valhalla…
Valérian and Laureline:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Val%C3%A…
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