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snarryathonmod (snarryathonmod) wrote in snape_potter,
@ 2009-04-23 22:31:00

Entry tags:

rating: r, snarry-a-thon09

Snarry-a-Thon Art: Dream of Love
Title: Dream of Love
Artist: jojo_meow
Rating: Mature
Media: Photoshop
Warning(s): No warnings, all above board (at least above 18 years old that is!).
Prompt: 196 - The Death Eaters have control of the wizarding world, whether with or without Lord Voldemort. A young Harry Potter is sold to a brothel by his Uncle Vernon. Harry is raised in a difficult environment, but manages to survive on his own. One day he has a fateful meeting with a very powerful official in the Ministry of Magic, Severus Snape, and is instantly smitten with Snape. He instantly decides that he must do everything in his power to eventually become Severus Snape's consort. (AU with the same basic premise as Arthur Golden's Memoirs of a Geisha)
Summary: Severus as Hatsumomo, Harry as his forbidden lover Koichi. "A geisha is not free to love, or to pursue their own destiny."
A/N: The Japanese calligraphy in the back, is 'Dream'.

dream

Think you know who created this beautiful piece of art?
Let us know! snarryathon@googlemail.com

There is a prize for the person with the most correct guesses!
(Please remember to include the art name in the title of of the email)
Need a reminder of the participants?

(Post a new comment)

	eriador117 2009-04-23 11:14 am UTC (link)
	Oh, I love the Japanese influence, I just got Memoirs of a Geisha to read last week, LOL! And the phoneix on Snape's kimono/outfit, very nice :) (Reply to this)

Dream of Love

slashpine
2009-04-23 02:33 pm UTC (link)

Ok, I love looking at this but the prompt and the summary - and the two in combination - are WTF? They make nothing clear.

I guess I have to do *homework* (aka Research) to understand this? A couple of links would have helped, O Prompt person & artist.

Mind, I do like it, as I say. I just find it frustrating to read a summary & prompt that explain nothing of the intertextuality except that "Harry is sold to a brothel" which of course means he's a prostitute, and a book (?) title referencing a geisha, which means very elite, Japanese prostitute/companion in aesthetic tastes. Which seem to be contradicted by the gorgeous art showing Harry as more of a ... um... workman? young athlete? and Severus looking geisha-like.

So I'm not getting how Harry is a geisha,"instantly smitten" with a "very powerful official in the Ministry of Magic, Severus Snape," and becoming his consort. It looks more like Snape is the geisha-cum-consort, and Harry is ... bzuh? Not an official, nor a geisha. LE SIGH. I get that I'm not very good at reading art, but in this case I can't read any sense out of the summary and prompt, either!

*off to fill in the missing pieces*

...sneaks back to drink in more of the gorgeous, gorgeous, GORGEOUS coloring and poses. Note to artist: if I didn't LOVE this on first sight (too bad I read the header!! some people skip them all and now I see why ;-) I wouldn't even comment. Much less do "homework" when I'd rather this be my snarry happyplace without, liek, *work*! But this art is ZOMG so lovely, I am going to go spend the middle of my day reading up on the characters of a film & book I only barely know about. All for the Beauty of This Work. !!!!

(Reply to this) (Thread)

Re: Dream of Love
(Anonymous)
2009-04-23 05:35 pm UTC (link)

thankyou so much for your comment.

i'm sorry its not very clean for you (and others i am sure) but hopefully i can clear that up now.

You see i didnt use the prompt, ignore the pormpt! The only thing i used from the prompt was that it was set in the 'memoirs of a geisha' world.

So snape isnt the chairman, he is hatsumomo, who in the book is a ghisha of high standing, but she is an utter bitch! Very head strong, loves the respect she holds in her house, but utterly hates what she does. She feels she is better than it.

Harrys character in the drawing is koichi, which i wouldnt be surprised if people missed if they saw the movie, and perhaps even skimmed over if they read the book. Koichi in memoirs is a young man, who has a secret relationship with hatsumomo. Hatsumomo loves koichi, and koichi enjoys hatsumomos attentions.

So what i am trying to show in this piece, is harrys (koichis) fierceness for severus (hatsumomo) and the fact that though severus wants to enjoy harrys intentions, he cant allow himself to fall too deeply inlove with harry, becuase he is not allowed, as he is a geisha. Read into that was ever you want.

thankyou

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

Re: Dream of Love

slashpine
2009-04-23 06:31 pm UTC (link)

OOOH, Dear artist of Wonder! Thank you so much! THANK YOU THANK YOU! Now I understand. Actually, it's better than that.

You see, I went off and read about MOAG - the book, and the movie. It took a while to find any mention of Koichi. As you say, he's a minor character in the movie. But so important, because he's Hatsumomo's lover and revealing this is how Satsu (who becomes Sayuri as a geisha) gets back at Hatsumomo for tricking her into defacing Mameha's robe, and all of Hatsumomo's other jealous and mean tricks.

So I figured out who these characters were. But more than that, now you are telling me how YOU see them, and WHY you decided to show the complex and fierce and difficult relationship of Koichi and Hatsumomo. OMG! This, *this* is so powerful, what you're telling me. Poor Hatsumomo! She *is* Snape, isn't she? Beautiful and skillful, but "hates what she does" as you say, and almost can't help being mean because of it. (Or, maybe just meaner. LOL)

And Koichi is so much like Harry. He just loves her with a simple, happy joy. But Hatsumomo is torn between her desire for that love, and her pride in her position. Which she loves - being "top geisha" - but also hates, because of all the reasons you mention. WOW WOW WOW This is perfect Snarry!!!!

Also, such beautiful, romantic, angsty art! This is like an *opera*!! I guess I've seen a lot of people call MoaG a "soap opera," but this is not as trivial as that implies. It's truly a situation in which Hatsumomo!Snape is torn by huge conflicts, both revered for her position and oppressed by it.

The powerful dusky reds in your art really convey this passion, its strength, how it pervades and rules her entire life, and the implacable bind it puts her in once she meets Koichi, with his simple, open love. Koichi!Harry's open, simple garment, with its clear, ordinary colors show what he offers Hatsumomo!Snape. She's torn - her kimono is open; she shows Koichi how much she wants this. The phoenix on her kimono, and the lush silk print of her obi, remind us how exotic and rare the geisha is, how rich the life that she risks by loving Koichi!

The color of their skin, bright and lively, proclaims their love. It's so clear that underneath the dress of manners and their social positions, they want to burst into joy together, with nothing hiding it. But Hatsumomo turns her face away, because she also doesn't want to give up the only prestige she's ever had, which she fights so hard to keep.

I love how her hair ornament cascades down across her face like red tears, the tears of passion and a tragic fate. Also, how your calligraphy of "Dream" hovers over her as a terrible reminder of what she cannot have.

OK, this is totally too long... I'm just so EXCITED by your comments! It means so much to hear the artist's thoughts - I can see so much more in the work, and appreciate all the thoughts behind your choices of what to show, and how. I'm going to go squee wildly in my IJ now... Thank you again, so much, for telling me this!

(Reply to this) (Parent)

Re: Dream of Love

b_e_skrewt
2009-04-23 07:07 pm UTC (link)

thank you for explaining! it is much clearer. I also was trying to reconcile the prompt and the picture, until I read your explanation.

I absolutely agree with your character-casting. Snape would make a PERFECT hatsumomo, temperamentally. And Harry - clumsy, plain, get 'er done golden-hearted Harry - is a great match for Koichi's role. I had never thought too deeply about the Hatsumoto / Koichi subplot in Memoirs of a Geisha before, your art has shown it to me in a whole different light. Instead of seeing Hatsumoto as a self-centered, spoiled girl dallying with a boyfriend in churlish defiance of the rules, you gave me a glimpse of her as a tragic heroine who, just like Snape, is bitter and lashes out because she's trapped. And you also gave me a fresh insight on Snape's character in drawing the parallel between his position and Hatsumomo's.

I'm glad you shared this, it has given me a new perspective on both stories.

And the art? Gooooorgeous. I love the expressions on both their faces, very subtle and finely done. You can see so much about Harry/Koichi just from the cast of his mouth. And I just love what you have done with Snape's face. With just a few lines at the eyes, brow and mouth, you made Snape-as-a geisha convincing, and you convey so much about his guarded heart in one expression.

So well done!

(Reply to this) (Parent)

	katiebell_0408 2009-04-23 03:56 pm UTC (link)
	This is really beautiful. I love the deep reds and blacks of the background, and Sev's kimono(?) is beautiful. Well done. (Reply to this)

	cnary_crem_dght 2009-04-23 04:47 pm UTC (link)
	The textures are great. :) It's very much in the same vein as the book. (Reply to this)

	alisanne 2009-04-23 05:53 pm UTC (link)
	What a gorgeous, luminous piece. The coloring is FABULOUS. I am NOT artistic at all, but it seems to me that it must be very difficult to make it look like their skin is glowing. And the fabrics look so tactile. Just beautiful. (Reply to this)

	antigone_x 2009-04-23 07:03 pm UTC (link)
	Mad love!! I have a thing for geisha!snape :) Gorgeous pic (Reply to this)

	the_kinky_pet 2009-04-23 10:38 pm UTC (link)
	Very beautiful. Thank you! (Reply to this)

	shadowess 2009-04-23 11:04 pm UTC (link)
	oh very pretty. I love the drape of the fabric on Severus. His turned away face contrasts nicely with his body language (Reply to this)

	jin_fenghuang 2009-04-24 04:47 am UTC (link)
	I really love the textures and the sense of drama. Great use of that movie/book. (Reply to this)

	snarry_fan7 2009-04-24 09:17 am UTC (link)
	I really love this! I love the colors you used and how everything looks in general. Grand work!!~Sophia (Reply to this)

	torino10154 2009-04-24 11:42 am UTC (link)
	Severus is especially beautiful with his long hair and the red accents. Love their clothes as well as the dark background-it really highlights their paler skintone. Very clever AU interpretation of these two. Well done. (Reply to this)

	szefi 2009-04-24 12:41 pm UTC (link)
	Very nice:-) (Reply to this)

lost_stray_cat
2009-04-24 07:58 pm UTC (link)

You already know how much I love this. Snape's black kimono is beautiful, as well as his sash and the red band in his hair and the hair decoration. And I still say Snape is amazingly sexy, even as a geisha. That man.... Harry's loin cloth is awesome! ^_^ As well as the tigers on his clothes. The colours are wonderful, you did an awesome job. Also, I totally adored the above discussion and explanations, it totally gives me appreciation of this art on all new levels! :-) I just love this!

(Reply to this)

	entrenous88 2009-04-24 10:25 pm UTC (link)
	Lovely and tantalizing! (Reply to this)

	centaury_squill 2009-04-25 06:05 am UTC (link)
	Gorgeous colours! An intriguing relationship, too - I must read Memoirs of a Geisha now. (Reply to this)

	ivylady 2009-04-25 09:13 am UTC (link)
	Gorgeous. I love the colors and their poses. Severus looks so tragic yet regal in his pose. I'll admit that I've neither read the book nor seen the movie, but I enjoy this piece. (Reply to this)

	djin7 2009-04-26 12:40 am UTC (link)
	I simply must know who you are. Like, this weekend, holy shit! this is gorgeous - GORGEOUS! Wow. Email me at snarry.mod@gmail Wow. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	(Anonymous) 2009-04-26 09:49 am UTC (link)
	that would be cheating...and i am such a gryffindor when it comes to the rules. blushes will waiting be too painful? Thankyou for the love though. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	snarryathonmod 2009-04-26 07:49 pm UTC (link)
	I believe she wants to ask if you would like to participate in the Snarry Games. Feel free to do whatever you like, but I wanted to let you know I have no objections to you contacting Djin7. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	djin7 2009-04-27 10:38 pm UTC (link)
	I'm not obvious at all, huh? Thanks Accio!! ♥ Her secret is safe with me. Cheers! (Reply to this) (Parent)

	amanuensis1 2009-04-26 07:35 pm UTC (link)
	This is just lovely! I love Severus's obi--I love the whole thing! (Reply to this)

	galad222000 2009-04-27 01:17 am UTC (link)
	The work is stunning and I'm so glad you said to ignore the prompt. I couldn't match the prompt to the summary, so am glad taht is cleared up. The picture is so perfect for the summary and is wonderful. Thank you for sharing this. (Reply to this)

	elvirablue 2009-04-27 10:29 am UTC (link)
	How incredibly elegant from the beautiful, wine-red background to Severus’ exquisite garments. He looks graceful, yet masculine, and somehow very dignified despite his posture and the circumstances. I love his glowing skin, the wild strands of hair and the way he holds his fingers. (Reply to this)

	accio_kilt 2009-04-28 02:46 am UTC (link)
	Wow!! Very unique! Nicely done! (Reply to this)

	stupid_drawings 2009-04-29 01:03 am UTC (link)
	Wow, lovely! (Reply to this)

	winoniel 2009-04-29 07:34 pm UTC (link)
	What a striking use of color! The black/red is powerful, and the long angled lines are incredibly eye-catching (I could stare at Severus' shoulder for hours)! I am so taken by how the deep richness of Severus' clothing, the detail of the floral spray and belt, and Harry's garment contrasts with the sheen, color, and shading of their skin. A masterful entry! (Reply to this)

	secretsolitaire 2009-05-01 10:12 pm UTC (link)
	Gorgeous! Love the style. (Reply to this)

	vividzephyr 2009-05-06 05:06 am UTC (link)
	The texturing and patterns are really nice as is the kanji. It's quite an interesting Snarry interpretation to Memoirs of a Geisha. Great work! (Reply to this)

	boopsieanne 2009-05-07 09:27 pm UTC (link)
	I must say how I appreciate your explanation of the picture to an earlier poster. It's so beautiful just to look at, but to know the story behind it, oh! It takes my breath away! (Reply to this)

	majmunka 2009-05-09 05:54 pm UTC (link)
	Beautiful colours and enthralling atmosphere. Quite breathtaking. (Reply to this)