MDZS Volume 4 Annotations

As promised, here is my post about the names of the 5 main sects. Along with some possibilities for English-language names. This is a long-ass post, so please bear with me:

Keep reading

You have questions! We might have answers.

What is this collection?

As Maria puts it: this collection is a critical look at some of the things that we, the editors, think have made CQL such a hit around the world. Of course, part of that success comes from the webnovel MDZS and the show CQL themselves—we love the characters, the mystery, and the drama, who doesn’t?! However, the authors in our book also look at topics like translating danmei (both officially and unofficially), adapting danmei for new audiences, and interacting with fandoms and fanworks. The larger argument of the book is that all of these things played a huge role in CQL’s visibility and success, and we wanted to start making those moving pieces visible, especially for audiences who mainly watched CQL in translation.

You keep using the word “academic”—what does that mean, exactly? 

Maria: Ok, not to get pedantic here, but this actually touches on some things that I’m really excited about for the book. Traditionally, academic work is written by people who have a deep expertise in the subject (signified by having a PhD and doing specific kinds of research), and then the work itself is peer-reviewed (i.e., sent to other experts in the field for them to evaluate whether it’s sound, original, and interesting enough to publish, without knowing who wrote it). And both of these things are true about our book—our authors have deep knowledge and the book was peer reviewed—but also. We specifically asked for chapters from younger scholars and from fans who also have deep knowledge about topics that academia doesn’t always know or value enough, and we include an interview from the fan-translator K. who did the Exiled Rebels translation. So the hope is that: this book is academic, and also—more!

Who are you? 

Yue studies adaptation, fantasy, and popular culture texts using a feminist lens. She wrote an early, influential article about danmei adaptations and also has a book about feminist adaptations of Chinese fantasy.

Maria studies fanworks, contemporary fantasy, and genre literature. She’s scrambling to finish her dissertation right now.

How were the chapter spotlights chosen?

Voluntarily! The concept of a small social media promo was kicked around by some of the contributors and those interested in the idea filled out a short interview with what they wanted to share. We'll be posting about 2 introductions and 2 spotlights a day for the next week or so!

Are you making any money off of royalties from this book? 

LOL not even remotely

Where can I find this book? 

You can find our listing on Peter Lang’s website here. As for other retailers, a quick search should turn us up!  

How can I access this book if I cannot buy it from Peter Lang / [book retailer of choice]?

As collection editors and contributors who signed a legal agreement with Peter Lang, we have granted Peter Lang exclusive right and license to edit, adapt, publish, reproduce, distribute, display, and store our contributions, and we must cooperate fully with the Publisher if the Publisher believes a third party is infringing or is likely to infringe copyright in the contribution. 

That being said, these are academic papers, which means that contributors may make copies of the contribution for classroom teaching use! (These copies may not be included in course pack material for onward sale by libraries and institutions). Of course, any linking, collection or aggregation of chapters from the same volume is strictly prohibited.

(FAQ may be updated periodically!) (all posts on Catching Chen Qing Ling)

Stars of Chaos 杀破狼 Vol 1, Notes 2

Pages 86 - 146

More translation and cultural notes:

It’s obvious in Chinese that Priest just means “his eyes were red with hatred,” but really eloquently.

More under the cut.

Yup. Priest fit in a pun/joke related to male-exclusive anatomy, and it’s just really cute.

It’s a cute turn of phrase where Shen Yi is being appropriately humble as a servant of a prince, and Chang Geng is using the exact same phrasing but saying “I’m not a prince.” And it’s all very concise.

There’s this thing called 歇后语 which Pleco translates as “two-part allegorical saying” and is really just yet another type of cultural inside joke. They’re so fun.

This one is 老寿星上吊 — 活得不耐烦了, for those who can read Chinese. (The translation is pretty spot-on, too).

Yet another nice way to talk about death and the dead.

Yah. I had to look that up.

Stars of Chaos - All The Notes List

All The Seven Seas Books Masterlist

I’m rereading 杀破狼 by Priest (Sha Po Lang) (“Stars of Chaos”). It took me forever to read it the first time, but I don’t really want to leave this universe, so….

I love how in the first 5 chapters, Priest perfectly conveys how Chang Geng is terribly in love with Shen Shiliu, completely against his own better judgement. Chang Geng is just entering adolescence and is having his usual nightmares, but now some of them are wet dreams, and he just doesn’t know what to do about all these feelings and Shiliu is not making it easy on him.

Shiliu is blind and deaf (or pretending to be) and lazy (not pretending there) and constantly trying to distract Chang Geng from his studies. He’s always calling Chang Geng over to play and waste time. He’s always throwing his arms around Chang Geng and giving him childish presents. He’s infuriating! And so, so handsome.

But Chang Geng is already building his life around Shen Shiliu. He has to become smart so that he can earn enough money to support Shiliu. He has to become strong so that he can protect poor blind, deaf Shiliu. He will be a good godson and take care of godfather, Yes.

Chang Geng is frustrated and confused out of his mind, and Shiliu keeps grabbing him as if one of them were a child!, but, even at this tender age, he knows who he wants to be with. Even if that person makes him mad in every sense of the word.

This scene killed me, quite unexpectedly.

Babe, I’m with you. Our Shining Days

Stars of Chaos 杀破狼 Vol 1, Notes 1

pgs 12 - 81

Here are some notes from Stars of Chaos Vol 1. Some are quick translations that don't really matter in the grand picture, but which are really fun and clever and it would be so much better if you could just see and understand it right now!

Here they are:

More under the cut

Did any of you learn the Ballad of Mulan (poem)? Yah. That poem talks about the difficulty of determining a rabbit’s sex, especially when it’s running.

I think “equipped” could be the correct word, but I’ve never seen it used as a verb in this context. It just means he put the thing on.

You will see many, many “Yifu!”s from here on. It’s a non-religious “godfather,” closer to “adopted” or “sworn” than “god.”

Remember: in Chinese, it’s good to be old :)

It’s a 蛟 jiao, not a fancy 龙 long。

Chinese has the Best Euphemisms for death! My favorite is 驾鹤西去: fly on a crane to the west(ern paradise).

Stars of Chaos - All The Notes List

All The Seven Seas Books Masterlist

It’s always affirming to discover that your obsession is an actual academic discipline.

Articles/books about Danmei (Chinese BL)

Hello!!! I made a folder for sharing articles and books about danmei and related topics

There's a lot of academic research into danmei, so I thought it'd be interesting to share to the western danmei fandom so people can know more about danmei's context and history!

I will be adding PDFs semi-regularly, but if anyone wants me to add any specific articles or books to the folder you can reply with the name and author, and I'll try my best !!

They're all really interesting, so if you want, check out the titles or abstracts to see if you'd be curious! 💕💕💕

(link in reblogged version! )

Super-Vocal 声入人心

I have been obsessed with listening, and occasionally watching, song clips from Super Vocal recently.

YouTube

声入人心 单曲纯享

声入人心 单曲纯享

Yes, yes - everyone who likes 周深 Zhou Shen had recommended to watch the whole thing multiple times, but I never had any desire to expand beyond Zhou Shen until recently.

Maybe it was seeing 刘宪华 Henry Lau's expressions as he watched other people sing.

Such a cutie. A polyglot polymath cutie with really nice abs (you all saw the movie Double World, yah?)

Or maybe it was Zheng Yunlong (I still don't think he's fair. Nothing about Zheng Yunlong is fair. Not his height, not his face, not his singing. It's just not fair. Especially when they put him in costume. Any costume. Or do his hair. Any hairstyle. ）

And it's all been incredibly wonderfully ... gay? Since they only have men on the show, all the duets have been between guys. They didn't even bother changing the lyrics to pretend they were singing about girls -- it's just "Oh, 哥 big brother, I miss you" etc. So awesome.

And the men are so wonderfully put together. And talented.

Anyway, I highly recommend it. Everyone was right - Super-Vocal is totally worth listening to / watching. (Maybe someday I'll get to watch the entire thing instead of just listening at work.)

The Husky and His White Cat ShiZun, volume TWO 2 二

(The one with the very pale cover)

(English 7Seas version) Notes 3 of 4

Pages 208-327

More under the cut.

Back to my Masterlist.

(We’re taking a calculus final. The TA is a well-known Lord of the Rings fan, and we’ve had running LotR jokes all semester.)

TA: “Okay, guys, everyone look at me. We’ve been over the rules, but just in case: no notes, pencil your answers in on the scantron sheet, and graphing calculators only – no more ‘can I just used my cell phone’ nonsense.”

Student: “[TA's name], my calculator batteries just died! What should I do?”

TA: “Here, I’ve got a big box of spares.”

Student: *struggling* “I can’t get this packaging open…”

Student 2: “Here, I’ve got a pocket knife.”

TA: “And I’ve got a pair of scissors if you need them.”

Student 3: *from the back of the room* “OR MY AXE!”

(Everyone starts laughing.)

TA: “The only axes allowed on the exam are in the graph section.”

(Everyone groans.)

TA: “Oh, come on, you’re in a math class. Deal with the math jokes.”

(The professor enters with a stack of exams. With him are two exam proctors.)

Professor: “Tolkien jokes already, [TA's name]?”

TA: “Hey, I didn’t start it.”

(The professor starts handing stacks of exams to the TA and proctors.)

Professor: “But I’m about to finish it. [TA], take these exams down the left flank. [Proctor 1], follow the desks down the center. [Proctor 2], take your exams right, along the wall.”

(At this point, many of the students have realized where this is going: Theoden’s lines from ‘Return of the King.’)

Professor: “Forth, and fear no problems! Solve! Solve, students of calculus! Points shall be taken, scores shall be splintered! A pencil day! A red-ink day! Until three thirty!”

(The professor pulls out a pencil, holding it out like a sword, and runs down the first row holding it out. Students hold up their pencils, hitting his as he passes.)

Professor: “Solve now! Solve now! Solve to good grades and the class ending! MAAATH!”

Entire Class: “MAAATH!”

Professor: “MAAAAATH!”

Entire Class: “MAAAAAATH!”

Professor: “Forth, exam-takers!”

(The entire class rises to their feet and gives him a standing ovation. A week later, we get an email from the professor.)

Professor: *at the end of the email* “PS: I appreciate all of you who wrote in their evaluations that I was the one professor to rule them all, but the best one yet was the student who called me ‘Mathrandir.’”