The title is an awesome quote from an epic Hetalia fanfic. No, it's not as dirty as the quote makes it seem.
K, I've decided what course I'm doing for uni. I'm definite on it, now. Naturally, it involves Japanese. I'm also wanting to learn Italian. 'Cuz Italian is cool.
I wasn't into learning languages until last year. Oh, how things change. Don't get me wrong, I've loved Japanese culture for a few years now. I love their games. I love their television. I love their music. I just never felt the need to learn the language. Then, after watching Death Note, I discovered the band ナイトメア。Or Naitomea. Which is really just the Japanese approximation of the word nightmare. Gotta love all the ways of reading Japanese katakana.
Anyway, I was listening to them and absolutely adoring Yomi's vocals. He is very emotional with his singing. So I looked up a translation of the lyrics. But... it wasn't the same. I mean, the translations made sense and all, but it's not quite like hearing it for yourself. I realised then that I wanted to hear the song in its mothertongue. I didn't want a translation. I wanted to hear how it was written, the way it was supposed to be heard. I wanted to understand the vocalists intent rather than just read a translation that lacked the kind of emotion you could hear in the song itself.
That, my friends, is why I decided to learn Japanese. To listen to one band. Is this sad? Possibly. But it's kinda maybe changed my life (insert more corny phrases here). I mean, I ended up really loving the language. I soon came to appreciate the differences between English and Japanese; how rounded the language sounds in comparison, how simple it is grammatically, how complex the formalities are and just how different it is. And once you start really researching it, you can see how the culture is reflected in the language as well. It's interesting. It's fun. I've developed a love for the language, the history behind it, the country itself, the people, everything. Really, the language barrier is pretty bad. You miss out on so, so much by speaking only one language.
So I decided, hey, I may as well use this to my advantage. What can I do with Japanese? Well, I love video games and anime. Could I... I don't know... translate them?
Yes. Yes, I most certainly could.
It was only recently I decided I should do Italian. I watched the film The Bicycle Thief earlier this year and decided that this language sounded really, really cool. I ended up looking up plenty of languages, just to see how they all sound. I came back to Italian in the end though. Screw what everyone else says, French isn't the language of love. Italian is. It's beautiful, mmkay? I could talk for hours about what that language does to me. I adore it. Oh hay, you speak Italian? Excuse me while I take off my clothes.
I guess I'm also learning it so I can go to Italy and sample the pizza and pasta there. Viva Italia! :3
This has all lead to me looking up countries in general. I started watching Hetalia when I got an interest in countries, and that certainly jump-started things. I ended up learning some (slightly modified. Yeah, slightly...) world history through humour. Trust me, that's the best way to learn ^^. After watching each episode I'd look up the references. I started reading the webcomic as well. Eventually I started just outright looking up the countries online regardless of whether Hetalia had touched on said country and its history. I'm slowly but surely gaining knowledge on all sorts of world cultures, languages and history, for no reason other than my own interest.
Random fact: I've always hated flags, you know? They seem pointless and... I don't know why I dislike them. I just do. These days I do enjoy looking up the flags of each country and learning about what they represent, though.
And to think, all this random culture-immersion-stuff came from me listening to one band. xD
In conclusion, I am now going to study Japanese and Italian. And I have completely faith in myself with this. I'll get through, because I'm studying things that I enjoy. I will emerge triumphant in my language studies. Hopefully I will emerge with my shirt still firmly placed over my torso, though.
You know, watching Eurovision this year isn't really linked with all that. My good friend Tuo is very much in love with the show, and I am very glad I followed his lead. It also helps that the Hetalia fandom also appreciates this show. That said... I'm mostly watching now for the unintentional double entendre's that I kept hearing. Israel's entry for Eurovision this year was one of the more obvious ones. Honestly, the lyrics can be taken in a rather... awkward way.
♪Ding dong, say no more
I hear silent prayers
And it's making me high and fly
I know where to go and I'm coming now
See what I mean? I don't know how to take that. That last line... good lord, woman, keep it in your pants please. ^^
Showing posts with label nightmare. Show all posts
Showing posts with label nightmare. Show all posts
May 16, 2011
Mar 20, 2011
My Top Five Fashion Styles (Warning: Image heavy post.)
I'm not big on fashion. In fact, I do believe I'm the worst person to go to if you're after fashion advice. Generally, I wear extremely casual clothing regardless of where I'm going.
However, if I did have some cash, these are the styles I'd totally invest in. I'd get some weird looks, but that's fine. People look at me oddly anyway =)
Countdown time!
5. Brechtian Punk Cabaret (ie: some sort of fusion between punk, dark cabaret, vaudeville and something I'm not able to put my finger on)
No, I'm not necessarily talking scantily clad, Chicago styled cabaret (though corsets are very attractive). I do love top hats, long gloves, over-the-top black lace and stockings, though. I tend to prefer the male attire more than anything. I love my tailcoats.
It's kinda hard to describe the style I'd wear. Think The Dresden Dolls or the outfits Panic! At The Disco wore during the live concerts from their first album.
Actually, just think The Dresden Dolls. Amanda Palmer is the one who coined the term 'Brechtian punk cabaret' which sounds a lot cooler than any name I could think of.
4. There was something for place 4, but I forgot. I think it was something to do with boots and belts and industrial-ish based clothing, but I cannot think of what it was now. Oh well.
3. Lolita
Not to be confused with the book which is about some paedophillic relationship.
Lolita fashion originates from Japan and is mostly based off of clothing from the Victorian era. 'The Lolita look consists primarily of a knee length skirt or dress, headdress, blouse, petticoat, knee high socks or stockings and rocking horse or high heel/platform shoes, though other kinds of shoes are also incorporated' (totes stole that from Wikipedia). There are subgroups of Lolita. Sweet Lolita, which is more childlike and is often in pastel colours (like in the image on the right). Strangely enough, you'll also find a lot of food items printed on the skirts, like cakes and fruits. Then there's Punk Lolita, which is (obviously) a mix of Lolita and punk. You'll get a lot of plaids, ties, chains and crazy (read: awesome) hairstyles. Classic Lolita is supposed to be in the middle of the sweet and gothic styles, and is usually more sophisticated. Or something. I don't know, it sounds boring to me.
Gothic Lolita is Lolita clothing that (gasp) is also mixed with some gothic styles. Dark colours, defined eyes and religious symbols are commonly used. It seems to be influenced by some Visual Kei styles, which is pretty epic.
If you have time, click here to view this DeviantArt page. There are some amazing photos there
1. Visual Kei
(Uhm, this im
age is more punk than anything, but... she's hot. So like... whatever.)
So, this is my favourite clothing style. Kei translates to 'style', so it's literally called 'visual style'. This one also comes from Japan and is mostly associated with J-Rock. Basically, it's like scene, but much better. Elaborate everything. Elaborate hair styles, elaborate clothing, elaborate make up, just... over-the-top. Primarily black with fluro highlights and with lots of seemingly random influences. You'll get elements of punk and goth especially. Oh, and it's often not symmetrical. At all.
The people wearing visual kei tend to be rather... erm, androgynous. It's not unusual to see someone in said attire and be rather confused about their gender... there's nothing wrong with that, though.
Here, have a video of my favourite visual kei rock band. It's not their best song, but this video should give you an idea of what visual kei looks like. Sort of.
However, if I did have some cash, these are the styles I'd totally invest in. I'd get some weird looks, but that's fine. People look at me oddly anyway =)
Countdown time!
5. Brechtian Punk Cabaret (ie: some sort of fusion between punk, dark cabaret, vaudeville and something I'm not able to put my finger on)
No, I'm not necessarily talking scantily clad, Chicago styled cabaret (though corsets are very attractive). I do love top hats, long gloves, over-the-top black lace and stockings, though. I tend to prefer the male attire more than anything. I love my tailcoats.
It's kinda hard to describe the style I'd wear. Think The Dresden Dolls or the outfits Panic! At The Disco wore during the live concerts from their first album.
Actually, just think The Dresden Dolls. Amanda Palmer is the one who coined the term 'Brechtian punk cabaret' which sounds a lot cooler than any name I could think of.
4. There was something for place 4, but I forgot. I think it was something to do with boots and belts and industrial-ish based clothing, but I cannot think of what it was now. Oh well.
3. Lolita
Not to be confused with the book which is about some paedophillic relationship.
Lolita fashion originates from Japan and is mostly based off of clothing from the Victorian era. 'The Lolita look consists primarily of a knee length skirt or dress, headdress, blouse, petticoat, knee high socks or stockings and rocking horse or high heel/platform shoes, though other kinds of shoes are also incorporated' (totes stole that from Wikipedia). There are subgroups of Lolita. Sweet Lolita, which is more childlike and is often in pastel colours (like in the image on the right). Strangely enough, you'll also find a lot of food items printed on the skirts, like cakes and fruits. Then there's Punk Lolita, which is (obviously) a mix of Lolita and punk. You'll get a lot of plaids, ties, chains and crazy (read: awesome) hairstyles. Classic Lolita is supposed to be in the middle of the sweet and gothic styles, and is usually more sophisticated. Or something. I don't know, it sounds boring to me.
Gothic Lolita is Lolita clothing that (gasp) is also mixed with some gothic styles. Dark colours, defined eyes and religious symbols are commonly used. It seems to be influenced by some Visual Kei styles, which is pretty epic.
If you have time, click here to view this DeviantArt page. There are some amazing photos there2. Steampunk 
I love me some steampunk. This also links back to the Victorian era somewhat. From when, you know, steam power was prevalent. In both steampunk art and fashion, you'll find gears being used a lot. For those of you who love your musicals, think of the Wicked set. It screamed of steampunk. I suck at describing. It's just... lots of metal, leather, gears, and goggles, for some reason. Goggles are a strangely important part of this, even if you can't possibly see out of them due to the lenses being covered by the various gears used.
Ah, the video for The Ballad of Mona Lisa by Panic! At The Disco fits into this style quite well.
I love me some steampunk. This also links back to the Victorian era somewhat. From when, you know, steam power was prevalent. In both steampunk art and fashion, you'll find gears being used a lot. For those of you who love your musicals, think of the Wicked set. It screamed of steampunk. I suck at describing. It's just... lots of metal, leather, gears, and goggles, for some reason. Goggles are a strangely important part of this, even if you can't possibly see out of them due to the lenses being covered by the various gears used.
Ah, the video for The Ballad of Mona Lisa by Panic! At The Disco fits into this style quite well.
1. Visual Kei
(Uhm, this im
age is more punk than anything, but... she's hot. So like... whatever.)So, this is my favourite clothing style. Kei translates to 'style', so it's literally called 'visual style'. This one also comes from Japan and is mostly associated with J-Rock. Basically, it's like scene, but much better. Elaborate everything. Elaborate hair styles, elaborate clothing, elaborate make up, just... over-the-top. Primarily black with fluro highlights and with lots of seemingly random influences. You'll get elements of punk and goth especially. Oh, and it's often not symmetrical. At all.
The people wearing visual kei tend to be rather... erm, androgynous. It's not unusual to see someone in said attire and be rather confused about their gender... there's nothing wrong with that, though.
Here, have a video of my favourite visual kei rock band. It's not their best song, but this video should give you an idea of what visual kei looks like. Sort of.
Mar 16, 2011
Thoughts of a Boy-Obsessed Mind
...it doesn't have the same ring as the vacant mind title, does it?
As can be seen from previous posts, I like making lists. I big like making lists. 総目録が大すきです。
Google translate says that means 'I like large general catalog'. I love you, Google translate.
So anyway, I have decided to make another list. I was reading some of my friends blogs and thought "hey, let's make a list on the type of guys I like!"
I wouldn't rule a guy out because he doesn't make the criteria (it's not like I choose who I like now, is it?) but this is just, you know, general stuff I tend to notice.
I should totally test guys before I date them. I'll make a questionnaire for them with important stuff like do you have a good sense of humour? Are you likely to do something idiotic? What are your opinions on drugs and alcohol? Do you know what lolcats are?
I'd totally make them write an essay on why they'd be a good boyfriend, and then I'd assemble some judges who will rate the essay and, using some complex system, will decide whether this boy is worth my time or not. ツ
Ahem. Anyway. Here are my dot points.
Appearance:
- I don't like muscles. At all. They creep me out.
- Height isn't a big thing, though I do like guys who are taller than me
- I love me some red hair. Black hair is also stunning and attractive.
- I do like skinniness. Not anorexic skinny, just thin-enough-that-it-looks-like-they-could-snap. Yes, there is a difference.
- Strangely enough, I'm still into slight chubbiness as well. I guess size isn't that important (double entendre not completely intended).
- Piercings... eh... no thanks. Same for tattoos.
- I like my scene boys, but most of them turn out to be jerks so...
- I don't like body hair =/
- I don't like broad shoulders.
- I've always loved pale skin. I have three friends that are really pale, and I am so jealous.
- I love eyes. Big, round eyes. Especially in blue or green. (Random fact: my favourite sims all have red hair and mostly green eyes.)
- Just to completely go against those last two dot points, I do lust over quite a few Japanese men. This is probably just a side effect of my current obsession with Japanese culture.
- Especially Japanese men in Visual Kei clothing.
This is ナイトメア［Ｎａｉｔｏｍｅａ］, also known as Nightmare. The short guy in the middle? That, my friends, is Yomi. I would tap that so hard.
Personality
- Just to be generic, I like a boy with a sense of humour.
- I also like brains. No, I'm not a zombie (though sometimes I do appear to have a vacant mind. Title drop!). I like someone with a good head on their shoulders. No, no, I don't have some sort of head fetish. I like... um... intelligence. There we go.
- Alright, screw this, I need a paragraph here.
I do like my nerd boys. This is independent from the intelligence line, by the way. I like my fandom nerds. And video game nerds. If you have a conversation with me, chances are I'll at some point bring up TVTropes, anime, fanfiction.net, Nintendo, or possibly some sort of band. You're going to be a bit of a nerd if you can talk to me about the first four.
If I ever find a boyfriend who'll cosplay with me... my life will be complete.
Back to dot points.
- My humour is kind of... sexual. Guys, you need to know when I'm joking around, k?
- This will seem really bad, but I don't like being treated like a chick. If you playfully shove me I'll assume you see me as being on your level, rather than below you. Thus, I'll be more likely to befriend you.
- I like arguments. Be opinionated, but not forceful. Don't tell me I'm wrong, give me reasoning as to why you're correct and I'm not.
- Don't be offended easily.
- Seriously, back to the nerd thing. If I tell you that the Zelda games are linked by a split-universe theory that stems from when Zelda sent Link back to the past during Ocarina of Time. There are two continuities; the child link one, and the adult link one. For the child timeline to work, you have to assume that Link alerted the King of Hyrule to Ganondorf's intentions before leaving for Termina, allowing them to banish him to the Sacred Realm, thus creating the Twilight Realm etc etc, you'd better be able to keep up with me and either agree with me, or give me some damn good arguments as to why I'm wrong. And maybe come up with some extra theories with me. If I find a man who will theorise VG plots and timelines with me, I will love him forever.
Honestly, though, a lot of that can be discarded. If I find a guy who is funny, not easily offended and isn't going to look down on me in any way, I'll be happy. But, then again, the heart works in mysterious ways. I could fall for someone who is overly-muscular, dislikes videogames, is rather serious and doesn't like arguments. Who knows?
That'd be kind of unfortunate, though... Here, have an image for no apparent reason.
Sad banana is sad =(
As can be seen from previous posts, I like making lists. I big like making lists. 総目録が大すきです。
Google translate says that means 'I like large general catalog'. I love you, Google translate.
So anyway, I have decided to make another list. I was reading some of my friends blogs and thought "hey, let's make a list on the type of guys I like!"
I wouldn't rule a guy out because he doesn't make the criteria (it's not like I choose who I like now, is it?) but this is just, you know, general stuff I tend to notice.
I should totally test guys before I date them. I'll make a questionnaire for them with important stuff like do you have a good sense of humour? Are you likely to do something idiotic? What are your opinions on drugs and alcohol? Do you know what lolcats are?
I'd totally make them write an essay on why they'd be a good boyfriend, and then I'd assemble some judges who will rate the essay and, using some complex system, will decide whether this boy is worth my time or not. ツ
Ahem. Anyway. Here are my dot points.
Appearance:
- I don't like muscles. At all. They creep me out.
- Height isn't a big thing, though I do like guys who are taller than me
- I love me some red hair. Black hair is also stunning and attractive.
- I do like skinniness. Not anorexic skinny, just thin-enough-that-it-looks-like-they-could-snap. Yes, there is a difference.
- Strangely enough, I'm still into slight chubbiness as well. I guess size isn't that important (double entendre not completely intended).
- Piercings... eh... no thanks. Same for tattoos.
- I like my scene boys, but most of them turn out to be jerks so...
- I don't like body hair =/
- I don't like broad shoulders.
- I've always loved pale skin. I have three friends that are really pale, and I am so jealous.
- I love eyes. Big, round eyes. Especially in blue or green. (Random fact: my favourite sims all have red hair and mostly green eyes.)
- Just to completely go against those last two dot points, I do lust over quite a few Japanese men. This is probably just a side effect of my current obsession with Japanese culture.
- Especially Japanese men in Visual Kei clothing.
This is ナイトメア［Ｎａｉｔｏｍｅａ］, also known as Nightmare. The short guy in the middle? That, my friends, is Yomi. I would tap that so hard. Personality
- Just to be generic, I like a boy with a sense of humour.
- I also like brains. No, I'm not a zombie (though sometimes I do appear to have a vacant mind. Title drop!). I like someone with a good head on their shoulders. No, no, I don't have some sort of head fetish. I like... um... intelligence. There we go.
- Alright, screw this, I need a paragraph here.
I do like my nerd boys. This is independent from the intelligence line, by the way. I like my fandom nerds. And video game nerds. If you have a conversation with me, chances are I'll at some point bring up TVTropes, anime, fanfiction.net, Nintendo, or possibly some sort of band. You're going to be a bit of a nerd if you can talk to me about the first four.
If I ever find a boyfriend who'll cosplay with me... my life will be complete.
Back to dot points.
- My humour is kind of... sexual. Guys, you need to know when I'm joking around, k?
- This will seem really bad, but I don't like being treated like a chick. If you playfully shove me I'll assume you see me as being on your level, rather than below you. Thus, I'll be more likely to befriend you.
- I like arguments. Be opinionated, but not forceful. Don't tell me I'm wrong, give me reasoning as to why you're correct and I'm not.
- Don't be offended easily.
- Seriously, back to the nerd thing. If I tell you that the Zelda games are linked by a split-universe theory that stems from when Zelda sent Link back to the past during Ocarina of Time. There are two continuities; the child link one, and the adult link one. For the child timeline to work, you have to assume that Link alerted the King of Hyrule to Ganondorf's intentions before leaving for Termina, allowing them to banish him to the Sacred Realm, thus creating the Twilight Realm etc etc, you'd better be able to keep up with me and either agree with me, or give me some damn good arguments as to why I'm wrong. And maybe come up with some extra theories with me. If I find a man who will theorise VG plots and timelines with me, I will love him forever.
Honestly, though, a lot of that can be discarded. If I find a guy who is funny, not easily offended and isn't going to look down on me in any way, I'll be happy. But, then again, the heart works in mysterious ways. I could fall for someone who is overly-muscular, dislikes videogames, is rather serious and doesn't like arguments. Who knows?
That'd be kind of unfortunate, though... Here, have an image for no apparent reason.
Sad banana is sad =(
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