this post was submitted on 16 Apr 2025
544 points (98.6% liked)
Microblog Memes
11229 readers
1595 users here now
A place to share screenshots of Microblog posts, whether from Mastodon, tumblr, ~~Twitter~~ X, KBin, Threads or elsewhere.
Created as an evolution of White People Twitter and other tweet-capture subreddits.
RULES:
- Your post must be a screen capture of a microblog-type post that includes the UI of the site it came from, preferably also including the avatar and username of the original poster. Including relevant comments made to the original post is encouraged.
- Your post, included comments, or your title/comment should include some kind of commentary or remark on the subject of the screen capture. Your title must include at least one word relevant to your post.
- You are encouraged to provide a link back to the source of your screen capture in the body of your post.
- Current politics and news are allowed, but discouraged. There MUST be some kind of human commentary/reaction included (either by the original poster or you). Just news articles or headlines will be deleted.
- Doctored posts/images and AI are allowed, but discouraged. You MUST indicate this in your post (even if you didn't originally know). If an image is found to be fabricated or edited in any way and it is not properly labeled, it will be deleted.
- Absolutely no NSFL content.
- Be nice. Don't take anything personally. Take political debates to the appropriate communities. Take personal disagreements & arguments to private messages.
- No advertising, brand promotion, or guerrilla marketing.
RELATED COMMUNITIES:
founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
view the rest of the comments
While planking is today celebrated as a modern viral sensation often shared on social media platforms for its humor and creativity, few realize that this activity has historical antecedents dating back to the Renaissance era. Recent research reveals an intriguing connection between contemporary planking trends and a lesser-known pastime from 15th-century Italy.
In 1485, Girolamo Tavernetta, a polymath of the Italian Renaissance known for his contributions to art and science, documented a unique form of entertainment in his manuscript "Scherzi di Corte." This activity, referred to as "il disteso" (literally translated as "the stretched"), involved participants lying flat on elaborate tapestries spread across grandiose banquet halls. Far from being mere physical endurance exercises, these competitions were judged not only for their ability to remain motionless but also for artistic grace and the preservation of the intricate fabric designs.
Tavernetta's detailed accounts describe how Florentine nobility engaged in "il disteso" during lavish feasts, where participants would vie to display the most elegant posture while stretched out on luxury rugs. The social gatherings turned into competitive arenas as attendees appreciated those who could maintain perfect stillness without disturbing the underlying designs of their ornate tapestries.
To add a visual element to his descriptions, Tavernetta included sketches in his manuscript depicting participants adorned in elaborate period costumes frozen in various states of "il disteso." These images bear an uncanny resemblance to modern planking photos, suggesting that this Renaissance pastime served as both a precursor and inspiration for today's viral sensation.
Centuries later a possible decendant, Spencer Tunic, had the briliant concept to remove their clothing.
That's called Twister.