Word and image

[wongkk.livejournal.com]

You've had a couple of feel-good items from me lately, so look away now if that's all you can take.  I'm sorry - this is a more difficult topic and is written for a Gackt-fan friend who lives in a house dominated by someone with depression.  On a personal note, I'm trying hard not to think that my posting the piece at this particular time has anything at all to do with the frustration of obtaining R&RII tickets - surely not!



I don't know the original source for this image so I can't even guess at the copyright in the un-edited version.  The words are mine.

Comments

[shinimegami21]

wow, these words are really powerful! :o And I thought my angsty poems were, well, angsty. You are a really good friend! ^^

[wongkk.livejournal.com]

I was shy of exposing this because it is, as you say, quite powerful and distinctly uncomfortable.

In fact, someone off your UG site, I think, suggested that I post the difficult items under a health warning; I have stuff uploaded on Flickr but not posted anywhere - sometimes because I want to improve it, sometimes because I've forgotten about it, and sometimes because it's hard stuff to read. But life is life, eh? And depression is a large part of life for some people.

A good friend? I certainly think that friendship is important (should mean more than just enjoying the same things) but, with this poem, I couldn't help wondering if I have other friends who struggle with depression, directly or in another person, but I don't know cos they keep it secret. Well, if so, this poem's for them too.

Thanks for braving the dark face of Gackt! Poor man - the things I do to him. And for managing to find something positive to say ;)

[shinimegami21]

oh yes, life isn't always rainbows and fanservice. Depression is a scary thing, and sometimes you can't help but feel a certain way, but at least there is always help, in some shape and form.

[wongkk.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it would be wonderful if pics and poems could provide a cure. I'd feel like a medium-sized hospital!

[proud-snapist.livejournal.com]

That is an amazing poem. Poignant and powerful. I hope you have better luck getting the RetRII tickets!!

[wongkk.livejournal.com]

Thanks - I'll put your luck with my Japan guide book in the box marked, "Gackt tour 09"!

The original image is far less psychotic in appearance: it's coloured with red tones to the fore and is much softer than my version (which I've put through the neat software off my digital camera). However, I was entirely hooked by the side of his face that wasn't there! And the more I looked, the blacker and more powerful it got.

Thanks for reading and for leaving a comment.

[maygray.livejournal.com]

I have the original color version of this pic and it's one of my favorites for the warm fire light tones but I haven't thought much about the mysterious dark half... and probably wouldn't have come up with the same theme even if I did. ^^ But your version struck a chord once I saw it. Someone close to me has depression too and I never know how to help without making things worse, not having experienced it myself to be able to truly understand it. :(
Ah, R&RII tickets, I'm trying to get some too. Best of luck to both of us!

[wongkk.livejournal.com]

Yes, best of luck to all of us trying for those elusive tickets! Do think the Gackt Army will have Campaign Medals for those lucky troops who get drafted onto that particular overseas mission?!

The original photo for this item is not, as you say, depressing and I don't always like the way I can see "other" things in pictures or scenes. Soemtimes the only means I have of purging the effect is to make a piece of art (poem, song, painting, story) out of it - and then you all suffer ha ha

I wanted to offer something Gackt-related for this topic and for the people who live with it because, like you, I don't really have any other way to help. Ignoring the topic feels like rubbish-ing its significance - at least, it feels like that to me.

Thanks for reading and for talking about your thoughts.

[lilyginnyblack.livejournal.com]

Personally, feel good stuff every now and again is okay, but I love such dark and interesting topics such as these. They are the portions of the life and the aspects of human nature that are constantly being covered up by humor or some kind of romanticism.

But not this poem. The words themselves were blunt, even though the way they were crafted was in a mysterious way so to speak. And the power behind them is just astounding. I think it is wonderful, amazing, and very brave of you to bring up such a heart breaking and touchy topic, but you handled it rather well.

Finally, and I must say this, that image of Gackt just completes this poem and makes the piece brilliant. Thank you for posting and sharing this, it was a very intriguing read that I thoroughly enjoyed. ^^

[wongkk.livejournal.com]

Ah - "that image of Gackt just completes this poem". I'm always delighted to find that (so far!) there is always a Gackt photo which fits! Just another piece of his magic.

Thank you for your encouragement about the posting. If some people are willing to consider difficult topics through a favourite (Gackt! oh - and poetry) medium then I can maybe let a few other "dark" items find their way here. I didn't want to spoil the good feeling that we all have about Gackt!

On that note, I wonder what Gackt himself would make of something like this if it popped up in his fanmail? He's never shied away from the dark side so maybe he wouldn't mind.

Anyway, I'm pleased that YOU liked the presentation. I'll try to put only decent work here, and, if the topic is tricky, I'll be particularly picky about the quality to make sure that it's worth the read! Thank you for leaving your comments.