gdp's Comments

http://markspoils.blogspot.com/ : The Black Market

Thu, 12 Jun 2014 06:32:31 +0000

I've been caught up in family goings-on with a niece in the hospital, so I STILL haven't gotten around to catching up on Mark Watches Utena yet, but I thought I should share my links with everyone who may still want/need them. So last week's episodes of Utena 16-20 are available here: http://markdoesstuff.fetchapp.com/get/yhwego And I have this week's available here: 21 & 24: http://markdoesstuff.fetchapp.com/get/hwcree 22: http://markdoesstuff.fetchapp.com/get/pzwcsu 23: http://markdoesstuff.fetchapp.com/get/cskfae 25: http://markdoesstuff.fetchapp.com/get/enuveb Enjoy! Hopefully I can catch up with everyone and return to commenting on posts again soon. :( I don't want to miss all the fun.

Mark Watches : Mark Watches 'Revolutionary Girl Utena': Episode 9

Thu, 29 May 2014 16:00:02 +0000

Qb lbh guvax fb? V nyjnlf gubhtug sebz gur pbairefngvba ng gur raq jvgu Gbhtn gung guvf uvpphc jnf npghnyyl abg bepurfgengrq ol Raq bs gur Jbeyq. V pbhyq or jebat gubhtu, Nxvb'f cerggl qnza tbbq ng erirefr cflpubybtl naq gevpxvat crbcyr vagb qbvat rknpgyl jung ur jnagf gurz gb.

Mark Watches : Mark Watches 'Revolutionary Girl Utena': Episode 9

Thu, 29 May 2014 15:58:06 +0000

Mm, yeah, I tend to include a lot of things under "facelessness", which is probably too vague for what I want to use it for. There's just SO MANY instances of this show hiding a character's face/expression and it's always meaningful.

Mark Watches : Mark Watches 'Revolutionary Girl Utena': Episode 9

Thu, 29 May 2014 15:56:30 +0000

Okay, last post before I have to get back to packing. <img src="http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a502/dianemeetsmarkdoesstuff/MW%20Utena%20episode%209/vlcsnap-2014-05-29-11h05m38s135_zpsd3837df3.png" border="0" alt=" photo vlcsnap-2014-05-29-11h05m38s135_zpsd3837df3.png"/><img src="http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a502/dianemeetsmarkdoesstuff/MW%20Utena%20episode%209/vlcsnap-2014-05-29-11h05m56s58_zpsa34b5884.png" border="0" alt=" photo vlcsnap-2014-05-29-11h05m56s58_zpsa34b5884.png"/><img src="http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a502/dianemeetsmarkdoesstuff/MW%20Utena%20episode%209/vlcsnap-2014-05-29-11h06m34s178_zpsff470733.png" border="0" alt=" photo vlcsnap-2014-05-29-11h06m34s178_zpsff470733.png"/><img src="http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a502/dianemeetsmarkdoesstuff/MW%20Utena%20episode%209/vlcsnap-2014-05-29-11h06m38s220_zpsfe516f94.png" border="0" alt=" photo vlcsnap-2014-05-29-11h06m38s220_zpsfe516f94.png"/><img src="http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a502/dianemeetsmarkdoesstuff/MW%20Utena%20episode%209/vlcsnap-2014-05-29-11h06m40s250_zps478fd8d9.png" border="0" alt=" photo vlcsnap-2014-05-29-11h06m40s250_zps478fd8d9.png"/> Anthy is inside a giant coffin nestled in a blooming red rose. When Saionji and Utena arrive to see this, the rose coffin grows rapidly into the air, with only a few platforms here and there growing to similar heights. One of them is directly under Utena, lifting her up to the same level as the rose coffin. Anthy seems to be completely unconscious here, not responding to her name or moving at all among the white roses in her red coffin. (Look at dat color symbolism, aw yeah.) Her hand is limp as Utena reaches for it and grabs hold of it to save her from the coffin. Series spoilers: Boivbhfyl, guvf zveebef gung urnegoernxvat svany fprar orgjrra Hgran naq Nagul va ure pbssva. Hgran gnxvat n yrnc [bs snvgu] gb ernpu bhg gb Nagul. Gur qvssreraprf urer ner vzcbegnag gb abgr, gubhtu. Nagul vf fgvyy pbzcyrgryl yvzc naq hazbivat sebz ure pbssva bs juvgr 'vaabprag'/'aboyr' ebfrf. Gur pbssva bcraf yvxr n qbbe, engure guna n fyvqvat pbssva yvq. Compare this to young Utena in her coffin from earlier in the episode, and you’ll see that both of them are curled up in the fetal position, a defensive and despondent position that withdraws from the world outside the coffin. As Utena says earlier in the episode when the boys tell her she’ll be found there: “Then I’ll find another coffin to hide in.” Opinion: Gur pbssvaf ner, fvzcyl, ercerfragngvir bs qrngu/fgntangvba - bs ershfvat gb tebj be zbir ba cnfg gentrql. Culfvpnyyl orvat erzbirq sebz gur pbssva ol na rkgreany sbepr qbrf abg artngr be urny gur vagreany tevrs gung unf 'xvyyrq' gur crefba va gur pbssva. Bs pbhefr, guvf oevatf hc gur dhrfgvba gb svefg gvzr ivrjref: jung chg Nagul va gung pbssva? :) And yet, as soon as Utena rescues Anthy from the coffin, the crumbling castle and platforms disappear and are replaced by the untouched castle in the sky. As implied by the conversation Touga has on the phone, this was orchestrated by him, not End of the World as Saionji believed. Series spoilers: Juvpu zrnaf Nxvb jnf (cbffvoyl) abg vaibyirq va bepurfgengvat gurfr riragf. Tbvat ol zl gurbel gung Nagul vf fhopbafpvbhfyl va pbageby bs gur funcr bs gur Neran, fvapr vg'f ohvyg nebhaq URE pbssva naq pnfgyr, guvf zrnaf gung jr whfg jvgarffrq n ceryhqr gb gur svanyr, n pel sbe uryc sebz Nagul'f fhopbafpvbhf. GUVF FUBJ VF NAGUL'F FGBEL NOBHG GUR TVEY FUR SRYY VA YBIR JVGU JUB FNIRQ URE SEBZ UNGVAT UREFRYS NAQ ABGUVAT PNA PBAIVAPR ZR BGUREJVFR NHTU YBBX NG GUVF Y B B X NG ZL CERPVBHF NAGUL V pna'g jnvg sbe Znex gb ernpu gur raqvat ubyl shpx.

Mark Watches : Mark Watches 'Revolutionary Girl Utena': Episode 9

Thu, 29 May 2014 15:34:40 +0000

FACELESSNESS <img src="http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a502/dianemeetsmarkdoesstuff/MW%20Utena%20episode%209/vlcsnap-2014-05-29-10h47m51s238_zpsefe724db.png" border="0" alt=" photo vlcsnap-2014-05-29-10h47m51s238_zpsefe724db.png"/><img src="http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a502/dianemeetsmarkdoesstuff/MW%20Utena%20episode%209/vlcsnap-2014-05-29-10h49m22s87_zps3a437bf9.png" border="0" alt=" photo vlcsnap-2014-05-29-10h49m22s87_zps3a437bf9.png"/><img src="http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a502/dianemeetsmarkdoesstuff/MW%20Utena%20episode%209/vlcsnap-2014-05-29-10h50m46s163_zps0a3e4293.png" border="0" alt=" photo vlcsnap-2014-05-29-10h50m46s163_zps0a3e4293.png"/> When the girls are speaking and cheering, we see practice swords falling all over themselves within the confines of a metal, gated box. I considered this a simple way to reference these fawning girls as practice tools in Saionji and Touga’s eyes. I don’t really get what the broom represents. Also, I barely know a handful of kanji - can anyone translate what is on the bucket here, please? Are they meant to be ‘cleaner’ than the other girls represented by the practice swords?? <img src="http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a502/dianemeetsmarkdoesstuff/MW%20Utena%20episode%209/vlcsnap-2014-05-29-10h53m19s159_zpsba46ad57.png" border="0" alt=" photo vlcsnap-2014-05-29-10h53m19s159_zpsba46ad57.png"/> We can tell this is meant to be a young Utena by her hair, but for some reason she is faceless, the same way that the princess is faceless in the fairy tale opening. Opinion: V guvax guvf fubj graqf gb hfr snpryrffarff nf n jnl gb fubj gung gur punenpgre orvat cbegenlrq vf abg orvat ubarfgyl ercerfragrq ol gurzfryirf - gung gur pheerag aneengbe/crefcrpgvir frrvat gur snpryrff punenpgre vf zreryl frrvat gur ebyr gurl unir chg gurz va. I’m totally open to different thoughts and interpretations on this one. :D BANDAGES <img src="http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a502/dianemeetsmarkdoesstuff/MW%20Utena%20episode%209/vlcsnap-2014-05-29-10h52m14s9_zpsb23d340b.png" border="0" alt=" photo vlcsnap-2014-05-29-10h52m14s9_zpsb23d340b.png"/> <img src="http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a502/dianemeetsmarkdoesstuff/MW%20Utena%20episode%209/vlcsnap-2014-05-29-11h07m31s245_zps4bc76feb.png" border="0" alt=" photo vlcsnap-2014-05-29-11h07m31s245_zps4bc76feb.png"/> The emphasis on the bandages over the characters themselves (such as when they are silhouetted) seems to imply a forced sympathy, to me, as if the narrative is going LOOK HOW HURT THEY ARE! But as we can see in Touga’s silhouette here, it’s uh, not impeding his after school activities. BICYCLING <img src="http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a502/dianemeetsmarkdoesstuff/MW%20Utena%20episode%209/vlcsnap-2014-05-29-10h52m30s187_zps47ed304c.png" border="0" alt=" photo vlcsnap-2014-05-29-10h52m30s187_zps47ed304c.png"/> Series spoilers: BXNL FB PBAFVQREVAT NYY IRUVPHYNE ZBIRZRAG VF ZRNAG GB OR FRKHNY - Nxvb'f pne, gung bar fprar jvgu Fnvbawv/Gbhtn ba n zbcrq, Hgran plpyvat ure yrtf va gur nve qhevat gung rcvfbqr jurer fur tbrf ba n qngr jvgu Nxvb - GUVF NYJNLF PENPXF ZR HC. YBBX NG GUR YVGGYR CERGRRAF NAQ GURVE SVEFG NGGRZCGF NG N ERYNGVBAFUVC. LBH JRER "CENPGVPVAT FCNEEVAT JVGU LBHE FJBEQF" RU?

Mark Watches : Mark Watches 'Revolutionary Girl Utena': Episode 9

Thu, 29 May 2014 15:18:18 +0000

Mark Watches : Mark Watches 'Revolutionary Girl Utena': Episode 9

Thu, 29 May 2014 15:02:08 +0000

Predictably, life has only gotten busier since my site went on hiatus, and I’ve managed to miss commenting on most of these posts so far. ;_; I was super excited to grab this episode early on, because this is where I feel RGU really starts to show off its hidden depth. (I’m probably going to end up coming back and replying to everyone’s comments en masse in a couple weeks, ergh. Dang it, life, stop getting in the way of Utena.) I didn’t have much time to write this, but I have some analysis below in reply to this comment!

Mark Watches : Mark Watches 'Revolutionary Girl Utena': Episode 2

Tue, 27 May 2014 05:41:39 +0000

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS COMMENT! I have no clue when it comes to astrology, so this is awesome new info.

Mark Watches : Mark Watches 'Revolutionary Girl Utena': Episode 4

Fri, 23 May 2014 04:04:37 +0000

Gung svefg bar jnf n cnvashy ynhtu...

Mark Watches : Mark Watches 'Revolutionary Girl Utena': Episode 3

Thu, 22 May 2014 13:56:09 +0000

THAT IS BEAUTIFUL AHAHAHA

Mark Watches : Mark Watches 'Revolutionary Girl Utena': Episode 3

Wed, 21 May 2014 15:33:22 +0000

AH! I had never considered that aspect of the packet thingy that Chu-Chu eats!

Mark Watches : Mark Watches 'Revolutionary Girl Utena': Episode 3

Wed, 21 May 2014 15:31:03 +0000

Oh my god that IS hilarious!

Mark Watches : Mark Watches 'Revolutionary Girl Utena': Episode 3

Wed, 21 May 2014 15:26:53 +0000

I thought of the dogs in the Shadow Play here to mean something like responsibilities? When the girl is being told about the ball, she holds the leash to her dog as well as a basket of food. When she is dancing with the boy, he is holding the leashes to two dogs. So it's a fantasy of wanting your prince to spin you in a carefree dance while taking care of your responsibilities. Hence the "man trap" reference (though that might be my poor subtitles).

Mark Watches : Mark Watches 'Revolutionary Girl Utena': Episode 3

Wed, 21 May 2014 15:20:28 +0000

Bu zl tbq. Ubj qvq V arire pbaarpg guvf gb gur zbo fprar. Znex'f ubeebe bire gur pbzcnengviryl zvyq Ananzv/Gbhtn jr'ir frra fb sne vf znxvat zr pnpxyr va nagvpvcngvba sbe jurer vg pbagvahrf naq gur frpbaq vaprfghbhf eryngvbafuvc vg yrnqf vagb. Bbbu, V yvxr vg! V'z nqbcgvat gung vagrecergngvba.

Mark Watches : Mark Watches 'Revolutionary Girl Utena': Episode 3

Wed, 21 May 2014 15:09:40 +0000

Dang it. Work is dragging me away until Sunday. I'll be able to read & like comments on my phone, but posting anything is a pain in the butt. Guess I'll see you all again Monday! Keep up the lovely meta! (At least I was able to watch 6-10 last night.) Side note, is there any easy way for me to rot13 stuff on mobile??? :(

Mark Watches : Mark Watches 'Revolutionary Girl Utena': Episode 2

Wed, 21 May 2014 04:24:07 +0000

1) Have you seen all the endless roses plastered on every surface available? If End of the World has anything to do with Ohtori’s roseplosion, the apocalypse has a romantic flare that borders on psychotic. 2) If it is, thanks for sharing. I’ve been puzzled about what game they’re playing for ages. 3) All of the above How rich is Ohotori Academy? Hella. B-) I think Chu-Chu’s name is probably meant to be based on the squeak, but as Lesbrary said - in Utena, the answer is usually “both.”

Mark Watches : Mark Watches 'Revolutionary Girl Utena': Episode 2

Wed, 21 May 2014 04:15:51 +0000

I tend to agree on Chu-Chu being a little bit of all 3 of those theories. As well as Froborr's theory. Chu-Chu is ALL THE THINGS. YES YES YES to the duels being about the emotions involved moreso than action!

Mark Watches : Mark Watches 'Revolutionary Girl Utena': Episode 2

Wed, 21 May 2014 04:12:45 +0000

Wakaba is getting out of the rose game entirely by reading about magnolias instead. Utena is stuck for now. (gravity is overrated!) she forgot to say "no takebacks.” Okay, your post here cracked me up for at least five minutes. Is the card game they’re playing Old Maid? I’ve never played it before; I’ll have to go look it up and see what it is. Saionji is one of those privileged assholes who doesn’t understand why the world is not constantly centered around and catering to his needs. V jbaqre jul. Saionji says she'll "disappear" from the campus if she refuses to duel or otherwise ignores the Council; Utena thinks this means expulsion, but I'm not so sure… I thought the same thing! >_> pbhtu Oynpx Ebfr Nep pbhtu Sometimes on rewatches I wince at how absolutely oblivious and self-centered Utena can be. tsuntsun.

Mark Watches : Mark Watches 'Revolutionary Girl Utena': Episode 2

Wed, 21 May 2014 04:04:14 +0000

Bless your rot13. So many nuns. <3

Mark Watches : Mark Watches 'Revolutionary Girl Utena': Episode 2

Wed, 21 May 2014 03:38:52 +0000

Bbbbu! V qvqa'g rira guvax nobhg ubj boivbhfyl guvf eryngrf gb Nxvb'f fgnetnmvat! Tbbq cbvag... Maybe I'll hunt down some astrology info after all. Probably not until the weekend when I have time to do research, at the least, though. Also, rather than adding another reply for it - thanks for the VLC tip in your other comment! :)