"This started as an April Fool's joke..."
August 29, 2022 5:53 PM Subscribe
Making an OnlyFans for Saucy Victorian Ankle Pics. Historical costumer Bernadette Banner turns a prank idea into the real thing. Totally safe for work, except for mention of OnlyFans and exactly how one signs up to use and what happens when you produce ankle pictures. Also, how did this whole historical ankle obsession come about, anyway?
I would never have expected this of Bernadette, but this was an utter delight. I have zero interest in that particular website, but it was intriguing to see what her experience in dealing with it was, especially given what she was ah, offering. Also, at one point she seems to be having a drone photograph her from above, which was so weirdly modern!
She made it into the top 11% and "I'm very relieved to know that the allure of the saucy ankle picture persists into the modern day." That said, she has now shut it down since then, but she thinks the market is wide open if you want to do your own...
I would never have expected this of Bernadette, but this was an utter delight. I have zero interest in that particular website, but it was intriguing to see what her experience in dealing with it was, especially given what she was ah, offering. Also, at one point she seems to be having a drone photograph her from above, which was so weirdly modern!
She made it into the top 11% and "I'm very relieved to know that the allure of the saucy ankle picture persists into the modern day." That said, she has now shut it down since then, but she thinks the market is wide open if you want to do your own...
My best friend sent me this the other day. (She did not know I had just rolled my ankle earlier that afternoon, which made it somehow darkly hilarious.)
I was impressed and — with apologies to Queen Victoria — very much amused. Glad to see it here as well. Thanks for sharing!
posted by armeowda at 6:11 PM on August 29, 2022 [1 favorite]
I was impressed and — with apologies to Queen Victoria — very much amused. Glad to see it here as well. Thanks for sharing!
posted by armeowda at 6:11 PM on August 29, 2022 [1 favorite]
That was delightful! Huzzah, jenfullmoon!
posted by rrrrrrrrrt at 6:45 PM on August 29, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by rrrrrrrrrt at 6:45 PM on August 29, 2022 [1 favorite]
When I first heard what OnlyFans was, I immediately put it out of my mind. But she's put something on the site that actually made it interesting, if only for a brief moment.
posted by eye of newt at 6:47 PM on August 29, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by eye of newt at 6:47 PM on August 29, 2022 [2 favorites]
i, too, have been flogging this vid for the past two days as it has insight and wit.
posted by wmo at 6:54 PM on August 29, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by wmo at 6:54 PM on August 29, 2022 [2 favorites]
I so appreciate Bernadette Banner’s love of her area of interest and expertise, as well as her pleasure in sharing it. This is a fun and witty project, and seeing her shoot the drone shot was a particular delight.
posted by Songdog at 6:56 PM on August 29, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by Songdog at 6:56 PM on August 29, 2022 [3 favorites]
Ankles. Psh. (but I do love the video)
In a comment back in July, regarding 'ah, but can they sing the Big Note?' from a musical, I included some links.
I refrained from including anything from the Glitter and Be Gay finale from Candide; which due to physical lung capacity and ribcage muscle control requirements, might have proved to be too overstimulating for any MeFite armpit enthusiasts.
Scarlett Strallen just brazenly takin the girls out for a walk might have been too much glamour and sex for some. But oh that Meagan Miller with the slow reveal! That's what the opera binoculars are for!
posted by bartleby at 7:16 PM on August 29, 2022
In a comment back in July, regarding 'ah, but can they sing the Big Note?' from a musical, I included some links.
I refrained from including anything from the Glitter and Be Gay finale from Candide; which due to physical lung capacity and ribcage muscle control requirements, might have proved to be too overstimulating for any MeFite armpit enthusiasts.
Scarlett Strallen just brazenly takin the girls out for a walk might have been too much glamour and sex for some. But oh that Meagan Miller with the slow reveal! That's what the opera binoculars are for!
posted by bartleby at 7:16 PM on August 29, 2022
Straight out of Amish Paradise.
Apparently way back in Japanese history, when (noble) women were kept secluded behind screens, catching sight of a sleeve was considered high erotica.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 7:34 PM on August 29, 2022 [3 favorites]
Apparently way back in Japanese history, when (noble) women were kept secluded behind screens, catching sight of a sleeve was considered high erotica.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 7:34 PM on August 29, 2022 [3 favorites]
I loved this so much. Her taking a drone-aided photo of herself, as a Victorian woman pretending to be a medieval woman was just :chef's kiss:.
posted by gemmy at 7:35 PM on August 29, 2022 [7 favorites]
posted by gemmy at 7:35 PM on August 29, 2022 [7 favorites]
she is flashing an awwwwwful lot of inner forearm as well, the slattern
posted by logicpunk at 7:36 PM on August 29, 2022 [9 favorites]
posted by logicpunk at 7:36 PM on August 29, 2022 [9 favorites]
Apparently way back in Japanese history, when (noble) women were kept secluded behind screens, catching sight of a sleeve was considered high erotica.
The Great Wave Off Kanagawa and The Dream Of The Fisherman's Wife come from the same artist.
posted by mhoye at 8:52 PM on August 29, 2022 [5 favorites]
The Great Wave Off Kanagawa and The Dream Of The Fisherman's Wife come from the same artist.
posted by mhoye at 8:52 PM on August 29, 2022 [5 favorites]
I heard one of her simps bought her a horseless carriage.
posted by vorpal bunny at 9:07 PM on August 29, 2022 [6 favorites]
posted by vorpal bunny at 9:07 PM on August 29, 2022 [6 favorites]
That was amazing and amusing and also I would read all the historical erotica that used those shots as cover photos.
posted by jacquilynne at 10:04 PM on August 29, 2022
posted by jacquilynne at 10:04 PM on August 29, 2022
Awesome. Thanks.
posted by SoberHighland at 5:27 AM on August 30, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by SoberHighland at 5:27 AM on August 30, 2022 [1 favorite]
Apparently way back in Japanese history, when (noble) women were kept secluded behind screens, catching sight of a sleeve was considered high erotica.
The Great Wave Off Kanagawa and The Dream Of The Fisherman's Wife come from the same artist.
So, this is from court culture in the Heian period, which is *classical* Japan and corresponds to the European High Middle Ages, many centuries before the end of the Edo period which is when Hokusai lived. Think the times of William the Conqueror and the Normans vs. George IV and the Regency. These Heian court ladies wore a lot of layers (the kimono will eventually evolve from the underwear in this getup) and it was considered impolite to show their faces in public. So they covered their faces with wooden folding fans, moved around in closed ox-drawn carts (with sleeves hanging out for display), sat behind bamboo curtains or folding screens, and tended to make social life at night with very low light. And obviously, what was incredibly exciting if you were a courtier was seeing a noblewoman's face.
Incidentally, the color combinations in the layers of clothing had meaning and, besides the court lady's poetry and handwriting, being attuned to the poetically appropriate theme with your color combination was a way to display your refinement and intelligence. So showing your sleeves (but never your face) was the ideal.
You can read The Tale of Genji to see how this developed. Genji is a horndog and the beginning of the book is full of scenes where he's trying to peek through some fence or window and take a good look at women's faces as a prelude to extremely problematic seduction scenes.
As for Hokusai's time, and returning to Bernadette's video, pay more attention to bijinga: high class courtesans (which is to say: very expensive sex workers) are depicted wearing a lot of clothes, but often their naked feet peek out from under all that cloth. Because they are ~naked~ under all that. Sexxy.
posted by sukeban at 6:34 AM on August 30, 2022 [14 favorites]
The Great Wave Off Kanagawa and The Dream Of The Fisherman's Wife come from the same artist.
So, this is from court culture in the Heian period, which is *classical* Japan and corresponds to the European High Middle Ages, many centuries before the end of the Edo period which is when Hokusai lived. Think the times of William the Conqueror and the Normans vs. George IV and the Regency. These Heian court ladies wore a lot of layers (the kimono will eventually evolve from the underwear in this getup) and it was considered impolite to show their faces in public. So they covered their faces with wooden folding fans, moved around in closed ox-drawn carts (with sleeves hanging out for display), sat behind bamboo curtains or folding screens, and tended to make social life at night with very low light. And obviously, what was incredibly exciting if you were a courtier was seeing a noblewoman's face.
Incidentally, the color combinations in the layers of clothing had meaning and, besides the court lady's poetry and handwriting, being attuned to the poetically appropriate theme with your color combination was a way to display your refinement and intelligence. So showing your sleeves (but never your face) was the ideal.
You can read The Tale of Genji to see how this developed. Genji is a horndog and the beginning of the book is full of scenes where he's trying to peek through some fence or window and take a good look at women's faces as a prelude to extremely problematic seduction scenes.
As for Hokusai's time, and returning to Bernadette's video, pay more attention to bijinga: high class courtesans (which is to say: very expensive sex workers) are depicted wearing a lot of clothes, but often their naked feet peek out from under all that cloth. Because they are ~naked~ under all that. Sexxy.
posted by sukeban at 6:34 AM on August 30, 2022 [14 favorites]
She is a treasure, for what she does and the joy she takes in it.
posted by bonehead at 7:18 AM on August 30, 2022 [5 favorites]
posted by bonehead at 7:18 AM on August 30, 2022 [5 favorites]
Oh wow, this is excellent! I actually clicked and watched the link before chucking out a comment for once. Was interesting seeing the experience of an already-established online creative putting stuff together for a new project/platform, plus the amount of effort involved. Real behind-the-scenes feel. The historical context/debunking stuff absolutely made it. Ankles weren't too shabby either
Victorian gentlemanly hat tip to her for donating the inadvertent profits to Stonewall and cheers for sharing, would never have happened across it otherwise
posted by I'm always feeling, Blue at 12:29 PM on August 30, 2022 [1 favorite]
Victorian gentlemanly hat tip to her for donating the inadvertent profits to Stonewall and cheers for sharing, would never have happened across it otherwise
posted by I'm always feeling, Blue at 12:29 PM on August 30, 2022 [1 favorite]
I loved this so much. Her taking a drone-aided photo of herself, as a Victorian woman pretending to be a medieval woman was just :chef's kiss:.
Also, this! One of my infinite minor bugbears is how popular culture so often depicts a period as entirely self-contained, rather than in dialogue with its history the same way we are
posted by I'm always feeling, Blue at 12:40 PM on August 30, 2022 [3 favorites]
Also, this! One of my infinite minor bugbears is how popular culture so often depicts a period as entirely self-contained, rather than in dialogue with its history the same way we are
posted by I'm always feeling, Blue at 12:40 PM on August 30, 2022 [3 favorites]
The video diary of the whole process was pretty great. I'm glad people like her exist to both collect and provide the knowledge and fun on past fashion.
posted by The_Vegetables at 12:51 PM on August 30, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by The_Vegetables at 12:51 PM on August 30, 2022 [1 favorite]
[this is good]
posted by dg at 2:25 PM on August 30, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by dg at 2:25 PM on August 30, 2022 [1 favorite]
LET ME SEE THOSE DIRTY ANKLEZ
(ZADOK THE MOTHERFUCKING PRIEST)
posted by BiggerJ at 7:11 PM on August 30, 2022
(ZADOK THE MOTHERFUCKING PRIEST)
posted by BiggerJ at 7:11 PM on August 30, 2022
Sensational, and she did it all with mirth as well as respect for those not making satirical accounts
posted by The Adventure Begins at 9:29 PM on August 30, 2022
posted by The Adventure Begins at 9:29 PM on August 30, 2022
I'm not an ankles guy -- well, not before this, anyway -- but I found her incredibly engaging and loved her voice. I can rarely endure long YT videos, but stayed with this one all the way through.
The weaving together of how she learned the ways of OnlyFans, the effort in selecting outfits, the historical digressions and debunkings, the humor, the whole thing was totally charming. Thanks, jenfullmoon!
posted by martin q blank at 8:04 AM on August 31, 2022 [1 favorite]
The weaving together of how she learned the ways of OnlyFans, the effort in selecting outfits, the historical digressions and debunkings, the humor, the whole thing was totally charming. Thanks, jenfullmoon!
posted by martin q blank at 8:04 AM on August 31, 2022 [1 favorite]
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*points toe for inspection*
...cankles, dammit!
posted by BlueHorse at 6:05 PM on August 29, 2022 [8 favorites]