Senior Literary – Page 12 – Literary Arts Blogspace

First Impressions: Where the Crawdads Sing

Image result for where the crawdads sing

Recently, I watched a movie with a friend of mine. Totally captivated by the plot, of course I sought out a book to match. Something about the coming-of-age murder-mystery had me intrigued, and as a true Literary artist does, I wanted to find the written text to match the piece of media I had been so interested in.

So of course, I went to my mother, the librarian, knowing that she had either read the book, or knew where to find it. And of course, she had one I could borrow.

Now, one may ask, Adele how can you write a first impressions blog about a plot you have already seen? Now, that. That is a wonderful question, and in response to that wonderful question I want to mention the infinite ways that movies and the books that they are based on are different. In reality, It is incredibly hard to bring all of the beautiful aspects that make up an original text into a two-hour rendition of the same plot.

Synopsis:

Where the Crawdads Sing is a coming-of-age murder mystery about a young outcast that lives in the southern marshes, aptly nicknamed Marsh Girl, who is accused of the murder of a local handsome, young man. The intertwining story lines take the reader on a journey that has the audience questioning everything they know.

First Impressions:

From the first chapter, the most striking part of the text is the beautiful imagery the author uses to describe the southern marsh, which many people would not view as such. Owens opens on a jolting scene that really sticks with the reader. The scene where the main character, Kya, watches her mother walk down the dirt road away from their humble home on the marsh, never to be seen by the family again. The only indication that she has left for good being her alligator skin shoes and the carpet bag in her hand.

In this chapter, the time jumps to heartwarming memories between her mother and herself, and eventually back to a memory of her and her siblings. The chapter really does a good job of showing what her core values are and how the family unit Kya was born into is damaged.

She is the youngest of five siblings, and her father is a horrid, neglectful man. This fact made the impact of her mother leaving her earlier in the chapter even more heartbreaking.

Overall, I really enjoyed the emotion put into this first chapter, and I definitely am excited to keep reading.

Assumptions:

Okay, since I have already watched the movie I am going to skip out on this part of our regularly scheduled programming.

I am so excited to get into this novel, especially since it merges two of my favorite genres, and a setting that has so much depth. There are hundreds of ways that this book will definitely be different than the movie that I watched, so I am not going in with any expectations as to how they will be the same.

What makes a scary movie… scary?

Hello everyone and welcome back to this month’s blog! By the time this is put up it should be October! If you know me then you definitely have heard of my love for horror movies! So, in honor of this month, I will be going through a few different techniques used in horror movies that really amp up the fear factor! I will also be putting examples from different movies linked in the list! Enjoy.

Story

The story is one of, if not the most, important aspects of creating a horror movie environment. It can either make or break a horror movie in my opinion. For example, The Conjuring does an amazing job of creating a truly terrifying story, especially since it’s based on true events. Their story had me engaged, invested, and practically hypnotized into the film. They created bonds between characters that felt so real and so strong, so that when the threat came you were almost falling out of your seat to make sure each person is safe and sound. On the other hand, the Saw franchise is an example of how a lousy story can break a movie. In the first movie, things were okay. It was intense and all, but I felt nothing towards those characters except for sympathy pains, which are caused by the overuse of body horror (my least favorite kind of film). It relies on gore and gruesome bodily harm to scare the watchers instead of creating depth and real deeper fear.

Locations

Location is another aspect of horror cinematography that I think also decides the type of fear that the watchers feel during a film. It can create a wide fear or a narrow fear. For example, Scream takes place in Woodsburrow, a quiet suburban town where nothing really happens. This creates a wide fear of unsafety within somewhere you would have already perceived as being safe. You could even go as far as saying that Texas Chainsaw Massacre could create a fear of backroads and hitchhikers. An example of a location that seems to create less fear for me, is in the movie Old, where they end up on a beach that makes them age super quickly. I find this particularly un-scary because of the very low possibility of this ever happening to me or anyone I love.

Sound

Sound is by far my favorite aspect to talk about. I can sit through a horror movie and afterward talk about how scary or how impactful the soundtrack was. Sounds within a movie can also become a cult-classic detail that thrives within the horror community, like the Halloween theme that I learned how to play on the piano. While that soundtrack has become less terrifying over the years of popularity, the original impact has stuck with horror movie fans for years. On the other hand, one of James Wans’ newer films Malignant had a magnificent soundtrack, and in some scenes, the lack of sound was what made it amazing. My first time watching it, the sounds made me sit up straight, and I have terrible posture. I will link those two songs used in scenes from those movies below.

Halloween: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPSXZxia23k

Malignant: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2J2Gr65tp8

Lighting

In many newer films and some of the old ones, light has been used in creative ways to create a sense of dread. As humans, we always wonder about what we cannot see, whether it be under the bed or the dark end of the hallway that we can’t quite see. The idea of the dark and what may lie beneath has inspired so many great films that are great because of the use of lighting. Like, Lights Out, outright tells you what they’re going to use to scare you, and it worked. The scene I linked below is the one that stuck with me the most.

Lights out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tw84SFLxC_o

Angles

Finally, we have come to the last aspect that always stands out to me when I watch horror movies. Angles, paired with lighting and sound create the most fear-inducing combination. There are so many different ways to use angles in movies as well. For example, The Blair Witch Project and As Above So Below are two found footage films that use the found footage format to their advantage, by being able to hide parts of the set while also being able to do quick turns to lead the watcher right into the scare. Another way to use angles is what I call a predatory angle. It’s most well described as the perspective of the predator. It makes you worry for the prey, mentally begging them to turn around and catch their stalker but it also gives you insight into the stalker’s motives or patience. Jaws and He’s Out There have really good examples of this that I will link below.

As Above So Below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekqjBZdbYJU (Graphic imagery warning)

Jaws: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrEvK-tv5OI (around 1min in)

Thank you all for reading this month! Have a very scary Halloween. See you next time! <3

World Building Project pt. 14

…there is one tragic event that can further explain the stigma against aliens, even centuries after the Great Tunnel War. Of course, I use the term “Aliens” as a rather broad word, but I only mean to define differing sentient species which share no common planet, culture, or ancestor, in an unbiased fashion. In order to understand the modern world and its ongoing conflicts one must understand how they were first rooted, and to say that this event did not inspire the ever-present vitriol of today’s society would be foolish at best, and a lie at worst.

Anyway, it began with the celebration of flowers; ironically, an annual festival dedicated to the unity of different peoples through nature, which lasts for five days. While the holiday is celebrated everywhere, it is especially prominent in the Postaton planet of Flux, where (due to the planet’s rotation) the days are longer, thus, the celebration is as well.

Though, as the fifth day turned to night mobs began to form at the Postaton capital of Mirrelm. This could have only been the result of a controversial bill that was passed during the celebration, in an attempt to avoid hostilities on the Postatons part. Specifically, the bill had to do with the conservation of sentient species, through the capture of a few dozen randomly chosen citizens. That may not sound so terrible, but the manner of containment is widely considered… unethical. The captured citizens are put under a medically induced coma and are essentially dissected in order to store genetic samples and such, should the species ever go extinct. These captured citizens range from Lilarianads, Sterges, to even many nomadic peoples like the Buboes, Erucians, or Nule.

As the night went on, the mobs turned into riots and even a few vigilantes broke into the Postatons storage facility to free the captured citizens. This is the falling domino that spurred off the Postaton’s next drastic move.

The Postatons, who had long warned against any mass upheaval in their lands, had finally kept their word. With their complex knowledge of metallurgy and electronics, they set their Titan Enforcers loose on the crowds and the whole city of Mirrelm. While said vigilantes were killed, so too were the captured citizens and 207 rioters. The carnage made in the midst of the festival of flowers would earn the notorious name “Night of Red Petals”

In the following years, this event was used as an arrow in the quiver of many isolationist groups, denouncing the holiday of unity as a demonstration of how different sentient species should never be intertwined.

let’s talk spooky movies!

hey, blog! for this post, i wanna talk about one of my favorite genres of film–spooky. not necessarily horror movies, just films that have a fantastical, scary, or autumnal vibe. (a legit horror movie list will likely arrive later). i’ve been rewatching lots of my halloween favorites lately, and i figured this was the perfect place to recommend some of them! so, without further ado, (and in no particular order) here are some great spooky movies!

practical magic (1998)

NEW PRACTICAL MAGIC | Perry O'Toole A&D

this is a movie that i watched for the first time recently, and i fell totally in love with it (thanks, locklyn)! it’s got the perfect blend of romance, nostalgia, and fantasy. plus, sandy bullock, stockard channing, and nicole kidman–how can it get any better? the soundtrack, too, is truly a beauty to behold. stevie nicks, joni mitchell, elvis–all my favorites in one place. another thing i love about this movie is that the dynamic of the family reminds me so much of my own. i could see glimpses of my mom, aunts, cousins, and myself in the characters. 10/10 spooky girl power comfort movie for sure.

the rocky horror picture show (1975)

The Rocky Horror Picture Show Very Rare Vintage Original ST Promotional Poster | eBay

fellas, this is one of my absolute favorite musicals, and the 70s movie is my favorite adaptation of it. rhps is hands-down one of the most creative, odd stories ever told, and this movie is the definition of a campy glam rock masterpiece. susan sarandon and tim curry (as always) are phenomenal and make this wacky, low-budget movie stand the test of time. the songs are bangers from start to finish, and the script is endlessly quotable.

p.s. msa students are putting on a production of it on halloween night, and i may or may not be playing janet weiss!

the addams family (1991)

The Addams Family (1991) - IMDb

let’s get one thing straight–when i reference the addams family, i am always, always referring to the 1991 version! what a fun, campy, macabre masterpiece. when i was little, i got so excited when this movie came on tv because i was always compared to wednesday–and maybe, in hindsight, that was meant as an insult to my pessimistic nature or rbf, but i took it as the highest compliment because in my eyes, wednesday was the coolest ever. to this day, i want what morticia and gomez have. talk about a family who minds their business, keeps their circle small, and looks out for their own. the american dream, if you ask me. the cast is a delight, as well–houston, ricci, and julia deserve nothing less than three academy awards apiece. the perfect comfort movie for little girls who have dark humor and can’t seem to fit in anywhere.

well, that’s all for now. ’til next time, have a happy halloween!

(and come see msa’s production of rocky horror!)

First Impressions: A World Without You

As a literary artist, I often times get burnt out on writing which in turn also seems to discourage me from reading. Too many words in such a short span of time makes my head spin, but as I am in my senior year, I have been working on many things that could make my writing process more productive and less destructive.

One of those things being a steady writing and reading schedule. So as I started this journey, I thought to myself – What could hold me to reading new books every month? And the conclusion I have come to? Blog.

In this series of blogs, I am going to review the first chapter of every book I read, and hopefully, remember to do a final recap of my thoughts towards the end of the year. There is so much to get from an initial chapter of a book, but I can only assume that my first impressions will be far different from what I leave the book with.

For the first blog in this series, I am going to be giving my initial thoughts based off of the first chapter of “A World Without You” by Beth Revis. Before I give my thoughts on it, I do want to give a warning for slight mentions of death, nothing specific, but the first chapter does involve a funeral.

The book opens up from the point of view of Bo, a seventeen-year-old boy at Berkshire Acadamy, a school on a small island off of Massachusetts. He describes the island as a gloomy place that barely ever sees sun, and from what he says about it, I imagine it to be almost like the island in “Miss Peregrines Home for Peculiar Children” which I love.

In the chapter, Bo is heading towards some kind of ceremony, but it isn’t really clear that he is heading to a funeral until the second page when he comments on all the food in the kitchen. “Why do all old people cook when there is a tragedy?” So true.

After that, Bo is lead to a ceremony in the courtyard of the school by “Doctor” who is introduced as a teacher of sorts. This is where the reader finds out that Bo’s dearest friend, Sofia, has passed away – although it isn’t clear how. At the ceremony Bo and a few other people are asked to say a few words and release a lantern in honor of Sofia, but Bo’s distaste for the whole situation leads him to opt out of speaking much.

After, Bo manages to slip away and the chapter leaves off on him saying he is going back to the last place he saw her.

Okay, now that we are through with the synopsis, here are my first impressions of the book.

1. Something is off…

So from the first chapter, I was able to gather that the untimely death of Sofia had some suspicion surrounding it, or so I believe. Just the way Bo describes how uncomfortable he is with the whole situation leads me to think that there is something more to just a young girl who passed away.

2. Bo has family issues?

At the ceremony, Bo sees his family seated and glares at his father. It seemed to me that there were some underlying issues that may be the reason Bo is now at a boarding school

3. Bo was very in love with Sofia.

This one is the assumption I am most sure about. Just the way Bo describes his mourning over Sofia is different to that of a friend. I am really interested in the relationship between the two… even though I know this book will likely leave me sobbing.

So far this book already has me hooked on the concept and I am really excited to see what the plot develops into.

Hopefully, I will keep up with this blog series… If I do I’ll update when I am done lol.

my top 5 monster high characters

In the spirit of Halloween, what is more fitting than monster high? So for this blog I will be listing my top 5 monster high characters. Whether it be for looks, personality, or the movie they are in these are the ones that have always stuck with me. Monster High was a big part of my childhood. Even my little brother (who was obsessed with the power rangers) enjoyed the movies as well. I feel honored to have grown up and been able to experience the magic of Monster High in real time. There was always a rush of excitement whenever a new movie would be announced. I always looked forward to seeing what new character designs we would get to see. Now currently Monster High is being rebooted, and while I’m happy, nothing will ever beat the original. Lets get started.

Starting with number five:

C.A Cupid

I have just always loved Cupid so much. Cupid was introduced in “Why Do Ghouls Fall in Love?”. I was obsessed with her character design. I love her pink hair, and her heart shaped lips so much. I also loved her role in the movie. (I’ll try to include a picture, but it might not work)

At number four we have:

Elle Eedee

I was OBSESSED with her doll so much. I just remember being in love with her color pallet and design. Her hair was a combination of purple and blue, and it was just the most beautiful thing to look at. Elle is a robot who appeared in the Boo York movie. Her name is a pun and I thought that it was so clever. (L.E.D)

For number three we have:

Honey Swamp

Honey was introduced in the “Frights Camera Action!” movie. Her character design is just flawless to me. I love her color pallet, but her hair is definitely my favorite. Also her name is so cute. I wish I could have gotten her doll.

At number two we have:

Lagoona Blue

Lagoona was the first monster high doll that I ever owned, and she is also a part of the main cast. I love everything about Lagoona. I love her Australian accent, and her personality as well. Her hair is gorgeous as well. One thing about monster high is they’re going to make sure that the hair is perfect. There is no telling where my Lagoona doll is now, but wherever she is may she rest in peace.

And now for number one:

Operreta

Operreta has just always stuck with me for some reason. Her character design is absolutely gorgeous, and I love the fact that she has a southern accent. Operreta is the daughter of the Phantom of the Opera, and she loves music. She will always have a special place in my heart.

Honorable mention:

Ghoulia Yelps

Ghoulia is just so cute to me. I love how she’s a zombie, but shes probably the smartest character in the entire series. I love everything about her!

On an Unsociable Family… and a relatable poem.

Recently, I one of my favorite hobbies is to hit “generate” on a random poetry generator. More times than not, I find myself liking a poem, but not really relating to them. But the other day I found this poem that I became obsessed with.

Some of my favorite poems are the ones that portray mundanity in a way that carries over to almost anyone who reads it. This poem is slightly a different variation of a portrayal of mundanity. In this poem, Elizabeth Hands tackles explaining her family dynamic in a way that many can relate to. Throughout the poem, she shows the reader how even in her own family, she often feels as if there is no real connection.

One of the lines that really stuck with me was when Hand states,

“O what a strange parcel of creatures are we,
Scarce ever to quarrel, or even agree;
We all are alone, though at home altogether”

Through these words Hand perfectly sums up the feeling of monotony that comes with her family’s perfectly “fine” relationship. She shows how the in between that her family’s interactions reside in is often lonely, because it results in the unintentional distancing from each other.

I think this poem really speaks to the time we are in. Especially with the way technology consumes us today, many times you can feel alone while in a room full of people. Elizabeth Hand really connected this feeling in a later portion of poem too.

“Like social companions we never fall out,
Nor ever care what one another’s about;
To comfort each other is never our plan,
For to please ourselves, truly, is more than we can.”

This line ends the poem on such a relatable note. At first I only thought about the poem on surface level and didn’t think I could relate to it. I have a wonderful family, and most of the time, I feel like we are all very connected to one another. But as a reread this poem I realized that it speaks to so much more than what it was intentionally written to mean.

This poem really captures the energy of how many of Gen Z feel when surrounded by our older family members. We, as a highly technological generation, have formed a sort of disconnect with the older generations unintentionally. Because we are so enraptured by the technology and all the information we have at the tip of our fingers, many times we forget to connect with our families and friends physically. We forget the importance of human connection.

I think this really speaks to the reach of art and how even after decades, art can speak to anyone.

some of emma’s recent favorite movies

howdy, guys! in this blog, i’ll be talking about some movies i watched recently that i absolutely love. some i watched over the summer and some during the first few weeks of school whenever i’ve had time, and i’ll be sharing a few of the highlights here! it goes without saying that elvis (2022) belongs on this list, but i already did a blog on it, so it’s not here. (and, hey, you know the drill–no spoilers and no particular order.)

terms of endearment (1983)

y’all…i don’t even have words for this movie. it’s one of my mom’s favorites, so we watched it together one night this summer, and i literally could hardly sleep after it because i just could not stop thinking about it. it’s the sweetest, most heartwarming movie ever but it’s also gut-wrenchingly sad. terms is so extremely relatable to me with my relationship with my mom and how i imagine myself as a mother. it paints a gorgeous, truthful picture of the challenging transition from girlhood to womanhood with unflinching empathy and humor. i actually rewatched it with my roommate last night and sobbed uncontrollably in spurts for the rest of the night. if you like steel magnolias, this is the movie for you. shirley maclaine is so wonderful, it’s my favorite jack nicholson role, and don’t even get me started on debra winger. the talent is unbelievable here. please, please give this one a chance. i’m so glad that i did.

Terms of Endearment | The Soul of the Plot

girl, interrupted (1999)

this is a movie that i’ve always wanted to watch but have been saving for just the right time. ever since i first heard of it, i knew that i would love it because the cast, subject matter, and overall aesthetic just seemed like something crafted just for me. even the soundtrack has some of my favorite songs ever. i was definitely right. i’ve never related more to a movie in my life. to spare you from an extremely long rant about how much i love this movie, i’ll just include a brief review that i recently wrote for it:

“as someone who has suffered from a mental disorder my entire life, and as a young woman, this movie was a huge step forward in my healing process. it held a mirror to my flaws and to my strengths, it made me realize that i am not alone, and it helped me to connect with the other women in my life who love this film for the same reasons. so, yes, i do hate to see this film written off as an exploitative romanticism of the mentally ill because, for me, it’s the best representation of life with my disorder.

i understand and respect why some people feel inaccurately represented or offended by this film; but that simply wasn’t my experience with it. mental illness, especially amongst young women, is grossly misunderstood and often polarizing—girl, interrupted is a prime example of that. it’s far from perfect—it’s melodramatic, grimy, and sometimes over-the-top.

that being said, i do think it’s something everyone should form their own opinion about. i’ve read reviews saying that no one with mental illnesses could ever relate to this or act the way the characters do, which is extremely harmful, because, when i watched this, i related to it so vividly. harsh generalizations like the ones in those reviews are counterproductive and just as invalidating as the film was to the people who wrote them. so, please, take my opinion as well as any others you read with a grain of salt—watch this movie for yourself.”

Girl, Interrupted (1999) - IMDb

the eyes of tammy faye (2021)

i was super excited when the ads for this movie came out, and i couldn’t wait to see it in theatres, but it sadly never came to any near me, and i didn’t hear much about it, so i assumed it wasn’t very good or something. i was so, so very wrong. as a longtime fan of both andrew garfield and jessica chastain and someone extremely interested in the topic of religious scandal, i enjoyed this movie more than i can say. jessica just totally captures tammy’s beautiful spirit, and the film is a wonderful love letter to the amazing person she was and the…less than amazing person jim is. this movie is campy, glitzy, heartfelt, and brilliant–just like tammy faye was. may her spirit live on forever.

The Movie Waffler

dolores claiborne (1995)

this has got to be one of the most tragically underrated stephen king adaptations ever. admittedly, i can understand why, though. this movie does move at a fairly slow pace. even i didn’t watch it all in one sitting. so, why did i love it so much? two words–kathy. bates. she is such a genius. easily one of the best actresses of all time, and horror is a specialty of hers. at first, i was unsure of jennifer jason leigh’s direction with her performance, but the further i got into the film, the more i understood the merit of what she was doing and just how well she was doing it. i think that when we watch something by king, we expect it to be upfront horror, but this is more of a slow-burning psychological terror. in the past, i’ve been a critic about king’s portrayal of women and still am, but in this particular case, i was pleasantly surprised. i found it extremely relatable in many ways, and the dynamics between the female characters are nothing short of brilliant. this is an amazing story of revenge, motherhood, and women sticking together. the ending makes everything make sense, every slow moment necessary and worth the watch. i cannot wait to watch it again, knowing what i know now. it’s super quotable, too. i have notebook pages full of the dialogue from this movie. just so, so good.

Dolores Claiborne (1995) Original One-Sheet Movie Poster - Original Film Art - Vintage Movie Posters

well, if you made it this far, thanks for reading! a neat thing about this list is that it also kinda doubles as a good list of movies every feminist should watch. all these stories contain strong, powerful women and their journeys, and i highly recommend them for both educational and inspirational enjoyment! see y’all next time!

as a treat for making it through that blog, here’s a picture that represents my mental state at the time of writing it:

Arrested Development Season 5 Episode 2 Review: Self-Deportation | Den of Geek

old poem

The Chair Tells Stories

I open the door and the bell does a chime

My presence is made known to those who’ve arrived

My appointment was scheduled for 12:30

But I came in at 12, just in case she finished up early

I’d rather be safe than end up sorry

Her time is money, so she cannot wait

I took my seat on the chair against the wall

One of the few chairs that weren’t drowned in hair

I looked in front of me at the pictures

I wonder what’s the story behind them

I listen to the scissors performance

The music ends, and she says that it’s my turn

She dusts the hair away and I sit down

But the hairless chair failed to last long

One thing that I love about poetry is the ability to tell a story in such a few amount of words. Poetry has always been something that I naturally have a love for. There are many different kinds of poetry. Some kinds follow a distinct set of rules, while other times you can just do whatever you want. I appreciate the amount of freedom that poetry allows a person to have. You can express anything that you want too with multiple stanzas or just a few lines. I typically like to rhyme in my poems, but I chose not to in this one. Rhyming comes so natural to me and it just so fun to do, but I also like the way that a poem does not have to rhyme. The possibilities are truly endless. I find that I am able to write best when I have a specific idea in my head. I can not think on an idea for too long, and try to create something that was never there in the first place. I have to already know exactly what I want to execute before I actually start on my piece. It helps things flow more smoothly for me. Writing drafts is a great way to get all of my ideas down. Sometimes at night I will have a random burst of inspiration, so I will open my notes app on my phone and write out everything until I feel like I have a stable base for one of my pieces. The prompt for this poem was to write about a distinct setting, and for some reason the idea of writing about a hair salon seemed so perfect to me. When I wrote this poem I had hair that was all the way down my back that I just didn’t know how to love any more. I dyed it, I cut bangs, I gave myself layers, but nothing ever satisfied me for long. I damaged my hair in the process and I knew that I had to let it go sooner or later. My hair meant everything to me, so cutting it off was something that was far from easy. It took a few months to detach myself from its hold, but once I did I knew that I was ready. When I cut my hair off I felt nothing but relief. It felt good to have a fresh start. I cut off 17 years worth of hair and I regret nothing. So if you have to take one thing away from my poem, it’s do whatever you want with your hair. Remember that it will always come back, so if you’ve ever thought about dying it a new color, cutting bangs, or going completely bald, do it. It will all come back one day.

Ancient Greece – pt. 2

“The rise and fall of Ancient Greece revealed.”

I’ll just be calling the book IEAG for short, as the full title is The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Ancient Grece, an Authoritative Account of Greek Military and Political Power, Architecture, Sculpture, Art, Drama, and Philosophy; (Written by Nigel Rodgers.)

–

As per Locklyn’s comment on my first blog post of the year, I will be talking about art, love, war and society in this post. We start on page 476, titled Drinking Together, Symposia and Bars. Symposion literally means ‘drinking together,’ by the way. Anyway, a symposium was an event catered to socialization and drinking. (The only alcohol the Ancient Greeks consumed was wine, so that was what they drank.) Symposiums could be started with celebrations of sporting events- or simply a friend coming by uninvited. The nights’ entertainment at the most luxurious symposiums were dancers, flute girls, and serving boys. Sex was shown to be common throughout these parties, and I cannot continue past that because this blog will not be posted if I do.

“A symposium otok place in a house’s andron (‘men’s room’), a special windowless room on the ground floor. Its floor was raised at the walls, against which couches were arranged.” We’re ignoring the weird windowless room thing; I assume that was for ambiance. What we will instead focus on are the reclining couches. If you have ever seen images painted, drawn, or reconstructed still-lifes, you will see Greek men reclining back on couches. (The Romans and Etruscans also copied this dining method.) Many things would happen if you were to attend one of these symposiums. First, your sandals would be removed by slaves. You might be adorned with flowers and have oil smeared onto your body before being shown to a couch, which you would share with another man. You would eat the food mainly with your fingers, throwing your scraps to the floor where the dogs would eat them.

That entire scenario only happens if you’re a male born into an important, rich Greek family. What would you do if you did not have the funds to throw a grand party? You would socialize in a bar/tavern called a kapeleion. “Citizens could eat snacks and buy wine in flasks to take away along with torches to light their way home through Athens’ unlit streets.” If I were to equate these kapeleions to anything, it would be to a modern British pub. Brawls and riots broke out often, if not at least small disturbances.

I can’t fully discuss the topic of sexuality within the Ancient Greek world, but I can give you this quote from IEAG; “Ancient Greece was once seen as a sexual arcadia where happy pagans, free from Christain restraint, enjoyed sex in ways damned by the Bible or law. In particular, homosexuality, male and female, was openly celebrated. Such views of Greece as a homosexual paradise owe as much to fantasy as to reality.” In simple words, the Greeks didn’t have the same ideals about sexuality that we do now. Bisexuality was the unspoken norm, but not how we might think. Please look this up further, as I cannot discuss it.

I swear we’ll move to happy topics sometime.