Thank you, Summer!
Querants rarely divulge their questions beforehand, let alone any details. Even to me, it's frankly a bit creepy how accurate the cards are!
And that's the part where I really don't know how it works. I think I'm pretty good at reading them, but how is it that the right cards show up to be read?
Persons of all persuasions are of course welcome. Come in modern dress, 1920s, futuristic, as an animal or robot or whatever. Dressing in the sim's native baroque fashion is not required.
Grand Opening Celebration!
My new tarot parlour is located amid eastern splendour in the former Byzantine church (upstairs from the taverna) in Rocca Sorrentina.
Please come enjoy a reading - 25% off in July.
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Westphalia/22/136/29
I did finally see the film. It didn't go quite as far as I had imagined, from articles, in painting Dido Belle Lindsay as being -
1- an activist
2 - privy to her uncle's ruminations
3 - influential in his final decision.
As I recall, we didn't see that much interaction between those two, and the focus was more on the love story. But being the story also of a woman who had no status in society, high or low, and thus was above some marriages and below others, so was destined to live a spinster; well, being that story, it may have been more realistic than the story I expected.
It has now been many months since I watched it, so I think I'll watch it again and see if that impression that remains with me now is changed at all by reviewing.
Looking into it further, I've learned that the originator of the project, on seeing the painting, wasn't director Amma Asante but writer Misan Sagay. Anyway, the painting was still the catalyst. I think that it's great that a knowledge of art history, and the ability to see that there was something different about this painting, was what uncovered the fascinating story of Dido, prompting its retelling.
Director Amma Asante viewed an exhibition on people of colour in art, and learned that in 18th c portraits we were usually represented as pets or appendages to the principle subject, the person of colour placed lower than the subject, eyes never focused outward toward the viewer but looking, and gesturing, often in praise or supplication, toward the subject. The people of colour were ornaments which helped show the status of, and draw the eye to, the subject.
Some time later Asante saw this portrait, and realised immediately that the very different nature of this painting was a clue to a very different story.
Dido Belle Lindsay was on a level with or even a touch higher than her white cousin Elizabeth. Both young women meet the viewer's eyes with their own lively gazes. Dido doesn't gesture towards Elizabeth, but the opposite. And when Asante investigated further, she learned that there was indeed a fascinating story to tell, about Dido, born a slave, raised a gentlewoman, and who may have played a role in the abolition of slavery in England.
And what did I notice about this portrait? The fashions, of course! See? Dido is wearing a turban a la Turque.
I haven't seen the film Belle yet but hope to on Monday. Has anyone else seen it?
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2404181/
Interview with Director and Star:
Hear, hear! I appreciate your points about diversity.
I agree with the suggestion to try something non-European, and with the kudos to Jo Yardley's 1920s Berlin as an example of how authentic any historic RP sim can be, and above all with the urging to follow your own historic passion. How many people really wanted to RP the Wiemar Republic before Jo Yardley's passion engaged them? Build it and they will come, whatever is "it" for your heart.
How fascinating! I find it particularly delightful that the keys to this decoding were Arabic, and science, as the manuscript comes form an era when Arabia was the place to go to study math and science.
Thanks! I'll be looking for more on the Voynich manuscript.
Oooh, fascinating! The movie Belle brings to my attention another lovely example of Turquerie, in the portrait of the protagonist which inspired the director.
