Give me Chocolate or give me Death!

In antiquity, in the Grecco-Roman cultural world across multiple centuries, marble was a common and extravagant material used for sculpture and architecture both. In the centuries since the Roman empire, much of these works fell into ruin, from lack of maintenance or from explicit quarrying for materials by the people that lived there. Between the 1400s and 1800s, archaeology developed and classical art became popular again, as a direct reference to antiquity. This lead to the rise of the Neoclassical movement, a style of art and architecture that sought to directly emulate the stark white marble and architectural forms of Roman art. Cities like Washington DC in the United States were built in this style, to evoke Rome.

It was only with further advances in archaeology was it discovered that Classical architecture and statuary was not white: it was painted. Buildings were colorful and statues were painted to appear as lifelike as possible. But the paints were far less equipped to survive the ages compared to the marble, so the visuals did not persist.

This became a piece of common trivia in the early twenty-first century. Perceptions of classical art are locked to the stark white seen in museums and in neoclassical buildings, so this deviation from trained expectations made for a striking bit of information, similar to dinosaurs having feathers (in violation of previous expectations).

In comparison, Brutalism, an architectural style from the mid 20th century, is explicitly a dreary, colorless brutal style. The drab grey of concrete is the intended feature, made to evoke utilitarianism and drab reality, without ostentation beyond form and function.

joke about classical art

and architecture.

Rumors have been circulating that Enchant was taken down from streaming to be remastered. EA confirmed those rumors in a newsletter today, announcing a remaster—and that the remaster would be done live in the Inner Circle.

Dearest friend and fellow Inmate,

More than a few Plague Rats have reached out over the last few months to ask what happened to the Enchant album after it had gone missing from all the (evil) streaming sites. The first letter surprised me, and I assumed it would be the only one. It wasn't.

What I learned is that I have utterly no idea what work of mine people are attached to, or even aware of—and how far back that thread goes.

The simple fact is, I had taken down my earliest material for remastering. I didn't think anyone would notice, let alone be upset, and for that ignorance, I apologize.

If you are one of those Ratties who misses "What If" or "Castle Down" or "Across the Sky," I have news I suspect you'll be glad of: The original 1999 Enchant album is being remastered...tomorrow!

It happens live, inside the Asylum Inner Circle, streaming directly from Striped Stocking Studio, where you can watch and listen to every step of the process.

And if you're not a Circle member, fear not—the remastered edition will be available everywhere the moment it's finished.

And of course, the cover—which I only possessed in my archives as a 300×300px jpg—has been remastered as well.

I will never cease to be shocked at how many years it took me to realize I'd put my "W14A" tattoo exactly where I once drew "enchant." It seems there is rather a lot I hadn't realized...

While I'm not part of the Inner Circle, I suspect the live remastering is being done, in part, to prove she isn't using AI to process the songs. But it remains to be seen how she's remastering, or what qualifies as a remaster.

I also don't know what she means by original 1999 album, unless she simply means some of the songs were recorded in '99 even though the album was released in 2003.

A spell to speak the thing you want into existence

Like to charge

Say what you want to happen

A spell to thank the universe for the blessings it has granted you

Likes charge

A spell for the next seven days to be filled with your wishes coming true

Likes charge

Reblogs cast

A spell for a life changing yes. You’ve been approved for that thing you applied for. You got that job. You get that help you need. Whatever it is, the answer is yes, yes, absolutely yes. Smile and thank the universe.

Like to charge

according to this AI art defender I don't deserve to live off of being an artist... Yeah, because that's just what I needed, won't fuel the imposter syndrome, will it...?

No compassion, no empathy. I hope he gets what he dishes out.

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