Four New Favorite Things

The past six months have been great for discovering new ways of entertaining myself when I'm avoiding writing papers and such, and these are some of the best. Check one out and enjoy :)

4. Vlogbrothers

My faves. {via}

John and Hank Green might just be the most adorable, fast-talking fact machines on the planet. Their two short videos a week always make me laugh, smile, and learn something new, and I'm addicted to their fabulously humble personalities and their adorkable smiles. I hope that they continue to vlog for many years to come, and Hank, I'll see you on Friday. Watch them here.

3. Tumblr

Some lovely person put this gif on Tumblr. Bless you.

Tumblr is the best thing ever. I wish that I was joking. Whether you want to find the smuttiest of fanfics or cry over insane fan art or laugh at the dumbest, truest text post on the internet, Tumblr has you covered. I'm obsessed with the live blogging that occurs during Supernatural and Grey's Anatomy every week, and it is so cool being able to post my Photoshop work for a legitimate audience of fangirls.

2. Coriolanus

Tom being awesome. {via}

I don't always like Shakespeare, but when I do, I quote it until kingdom come and look up summaries just to make sure my theories about the meaning of a passage are correct. That I am longer to live most weary. And okay, okay, you caught me. The production I'm speaking of stars Tom Hiddleston. He's been nominated for an Oliver for his performance as Caius Martius Coriolanus, and holy sweet baby Jesus, he deserves one. Here are links to Part 1 and Part 2, in case you want to see what I'm talking about.

1. Grey's Anatomy

My current favorite couple. {via}

I know that I'm ten years late to the party, but goddamn, it is one hell of a party, and I'm so glad I finally got here. Marathoning Grey's was hugely enjoyable, and despite buckets of tears shed, I'll be sticking with Dr. McDreamy and Dr. Medusa Grey until the very end. (AHEM. DON'T KILL CHRISTINA, SHONDA. I WILL BREAK WINDOWS AND FACES.)

Thanks for dropping by, lovely readers. (How is March almost over. I'll try to squeeze in another post this weekend.)

With love,
Laney

Movie Review of Dallas Buyers Club

PSA for anyone who isn't educated on this topic:

Transgender: a person whose self-identity does not conform unambiguously to conventional notions of male or female gender.

Transvestite: a person who derives pleasure from dressing in drag/cross-dressing; not always the same as cross-dressers; not always homosexual.

Transsexual: a person who emotionally and psychologically feels that they belong to the opposite sex.

Genderqueer: people who do not subscribe to conventional gender distinctions but identify with neither, both, or a combination of male and female genders.

Cisgender: people who, for the most part, identify as the gender they were assigned at birth.

*There is a lot of cross-over here, and people do not fit into nice and neat little society boxes with pretty labels on them. This is for awareness.

{via}

Spoilers. Duh.

I want to first say that this was a very good movie. It was. I loved it. But all of the message that this movie puts forward to its audience is vastly diminished by Jared Leto's role as Rayon.

But, the Oscar? Shut up and listen. I'm not saying that Jared did not do an absolutely fantastic job in that role. Rayon was my favorite character hands down. He played her with grace; she was funny and kind and just awesome in general. But he should not have been cast in that role.

They should have cast a trans woman to play Rayon. Plain and simple. There is no excuse. Jared Leto is a cis man in high heels in Dallas Buyers Club, and director Jean-Marc Vallee should be ashamed.

The thing is, the whole premise of the movie is to promote the eradication of transphobia and homophobia. It was supposed to support the understanding of the AIDS epidemic that has and still plagues the LGBTQ community. So why get this beautiful film all put together on paper and say Hey, ya know what would really drive home the point of acceptance and equality? Not even trying to cast a trans woman as a trans woman. Yeah. That'll teach 'em.

WHY

I mean, Mcconaughey, did a great job. He was sweet at the right moments and violent at others, and he did a lovely job of showing the transformation, not just of his sick body, but of his own understanding and love. The film in general did a nice job of displaying how intense fear of a group of people, due to lack of research and active avoidance/hatred/violence, can completely erase someone's humanity. And I mean that in a general sense for the person harboring hate and in a point-of-view sense of the person being hated. Everyone is humane unless you steal that right from someone else.

The film is also an example of the less than honorable dealings that go on between the FDA and the pharmaceutical companies, which can impede the distribution of viable drugs HARMS AND KILLS A SHIT LOAD OF PEOPLE SO STOP DOING IT.

So yes, I really liked this movie quite a lot. The make up crew deserves a standing ovation for the fluctuations between good days and bad days. The acting was awesome. The story is important.

BUT FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THINGS HOLY. Cast trans men and women to play trans men and women. Then, you may actually be doing something good for humanity, instead of just making a movie about a horrible man who got sick and learned that there are no monsters but money, and nothing healthier or more normal than fighting for a friend.

With love,
Laney