#They do not have to be explicitly canon anyway

[elumish]

The responses to this post make me think of the book For Such A Time.

For those of you who don't remember or aren't familiar with For Such A Time, it was a 2014 romance novel that was nominated for a RITA Award, which was controversial because it's an "inspirational" romance between a Nazi SS officer running a concentration camp and the blond, blue-eyed Jewish woman forced to masquerade as a Christian and serve as the officer's secretary.

There was a lot of backlash to this book and particularly to the nomination, which largely boiled down to "it's horrible and horrifying and grotesque to write a romance between a Jewish woman trapped in a concentration camp and the SS officer running it." I think a lot of people would consider this backlash entirely justified.

The reason the responses to this post make me think of this book and this controversy is that many of the responses seem to be some version of "fuck you, you can't tell me what to do and I don't need to listen to you if you do" with a strong undercurrent of "absolutely nothing is out of line or off-base in fandom."

And to be clear, I am not saying that an author's word is law or that you are required to follow every request from every person on the internet. We are all randos. None of this is inviolable law.

But I do wonder where a line should be, if there should be one--and why to so many people in fandom that line seems to be different for fandom than for a book like For Such A Time.

At some point in the yonder days of like 2017, I remember in some somewhat niche part of the internet, there was backlash against Jewish Star Wars fans asking people (especially goyim) not to write Kylo Ren as Jewish, because he is canonically part of a group that is explicitly modeled after Neo-Nazis. And, of course, nobody had to follow the request of those Jewish Star Wars fans (we are all randos on the internet) but is there a point where we stop and ask ourselves "should we be doing this?"

If it's inappropriate to publish a romance novel with a romance between an SS officer running a concentration camp and a Jewish woman during the Holocaust, should you write a fanfic with a romance between a Nazi and a Jewish character? Should you write a fanfic with a romance between a white slave owner and a Black slave in the United States?

And if the author explicitly states that they don't want those two characters shipped, do you do it anyway?

I don't believe in the idea that an author's word is law when it comes to writing fanfic about their work. Write all the Interview with a Vampire or A Song of Ice and Fire fanfic that you want. Write queer stuff or kinky stuff or whatever even if the author hates it. Stick it to The Man. Be free.

But is there a point where you look at where an author has drawn a line and think, yeah I agree with that line? I'll respect it? I'll follow it? Not because of some call to authority but because there are lines we all should draw in our own approach to morality and to writing.

I don't have a perfect answer here. I don't think it's an easy "always yes" or "always no." But based on some of the responses to this post, some people get so caught up in their anger about their contrived idea that listening to another person means that that other person is censoring them that they seem to miss the fact that sometimes other people are right. Sometimes there are things we shouldn't root for or support or write fanfic for. Sometimes we should draw lines about what we find acceptable, and sometimes other people are the ones who ask us to draw those lines.

If the creator or something explicitly states they don’t want two characters shipped will you respect it?

[kitkat5628]

This morning, a dear friend asked me this: "Isnt canon Jason supposed to be ugly? Whats up with artist making him so unworldly beautiful???"

As the good, nerdy, geeky, totally not obsessed friend I am... I sent her a whole rant <3

SO, I'll try to make it a bit shorter:

First off, I have absolutely no idea where the whole "Jason Todd is canonically ugly" thing is from. It might be because of the art style in some comics? Cause, ya know... Why does he often look like a 30 y.o.? I understand the stress and all but man💔...

Anyways... This guy canonically looks like Dick Grayson. How? I wonder that too, but he does. And we all know Dick Grayson is this very attractive pretty boy who was a model and a stripper once. If they do look alike, either Jason is beautiful too or it's Dick who's actually ugly too, lol.

Titans Together #1

And if it's Donna saying that we shut up and believe her☺️

Now, I've also made a post once about them all looking like each other. It was a bit of a stretch with some characters, lol, but for this matter. Dick also looks like Bruce, apparently.

Batman #692

And even when it's Selina talking we shut up and listen to the queen😌

So if Dick looks like Bruce and Jason looks like Dick... Yeah. What were the odds lol. No way this man is ugly.

Jason Todd is a pretty boy.

Again, I have no idea where the whole "he's canonically ugly" thing is from. Maybe they mentioned something in a comic I've either missed or forgot about, but from what I know, there was never a comic explicitly calling him ugly. (Unless, again, I forgot about it. Maybe my brain is trying to remove the trauma)

But genuinely this guy looks like Dick, who looks like Bruce, and Bruce looks like Clark, and Kon is Clark's clone, those guys are a copy paste and all attractive😭

Honestly? It if was said in canon, I believe it means something else. Like, not ugly as in "his face is meh". Something like, ugly inside? We have this say where I'm from, where telling someone they're ugly doesn't necessarily meant on the outside. It could be the most handsome man alive, but twisted inside in a bad way. So "you're an ugly person" = "you're a very bad person inside, who does a lot of bad things" get what I mean? And, as we all know, some writers tries to make us believe he's the worst human being ever. So I wouldn't be surprised...

If not this, it must be a fanon thing. The Jason haters who spreads rumors around.

If you're new on this blog, hi! I'm Juliette and I mostly talk about Dick Grayson and Barbara Gordon, favorite characters and ship together. Being a Barbara Gordon fan especially I can tell you this: Many things you hear about her and how bad she is are from other universes, taken out of context, bad writing or misunderstood. Sure she did some... Interesting choices, but I've heard things that makes you wonder where did they pull that out. Her haters spreads the rumors around, people share, and other people believes it and share, and bam. She's horrible. For something out of context. I told my friend that this could be the case, too.

If you hate the character, you'll probably skip all the stuff about them. So imagine this: I'm a Jason hater, he's bad, he should have stayed dead and he's ugly. I make this post saying he's canonically ugly, no context, and if there are "proof" maybe those are also out of context. I post it, and another hater who never read much about the character shares it. Then another, then another... Without knowing that it's not true at all. New fans might read it and, seeing how popular of a thing it is, blindly believe it, because it's popular and a "known" fact.

Surprisingly, the "he's canonically ugly" thing is actually popular? It's not my first time hearing it, it's not the first time friends who are getting into the character ask me about it. Who needs proof to share it at this point? It's already well known, it must be true, right?

So my theories are these: It's either a misunderstanding because of the artists, or haters spreading rumors (very possible it's both.)

But canonically ugly? Nah. Not even inside, unlike they want you to believe. I mean sure, he did bad things, but he's no monster.

The only canon thing about Jason's look that we know is: He looks like Dick. And Dick is hot.

Conclusion: Jason is canonically hot.

"I'll try to make it a bit shorter", I've said. Gods it's even longer than my messages to my friend😭 I'm sorry guys I ended up yapping again...💔 Still, I hope I've explained myself well enough and that this makes sense;;

[jesncin]

Since your commentary about how much the more recent dystopic and imperialist versions of Krypton are just basing their worldbuilding in colonialist thinking and views on other cultures, i have been thinking about how much this is true to the larger way the comics have always used orientalist shorthands to build their space stuff and how this just goes unnoticed or not aclnowledged by most writers and fans.

Many of the classic recurring dc alien characters and species, are just awful asian stereotypes, there's the Khunds who have originated in the Legion of Super-Heroes comics and existed for decades only as a sort of generic east foreign menace, like a sci-fi Soviet Union rival potency to the Legion's United Planets sci-fi US/West but ethinically coded as a mongolic warrior race and there are the dominators, also from Legion and later sprawling to the overall dc universe, who have just a disgustingly yellow peril based appearance, they are even literally yellow. Of course there's Superman villain Mongul who's name already says it clearly, and is also literally yellow. Ah, and the absolute cape comics classic of the exotic non-white woman who rapes a white man is also echoed by the character of Stealth from L.E.G.I.O.N. comics (the Legion of Super-Heroes ancestors in our present day), who is again a yellow alien who's race in the text explicitly has a monstruous, murderous, uncontrollable sexuality who compels her to commit sexual assault against Vril Dox II, Brainiac's son, technically green-skined but blonde and clearly thought of as white. That's a lot and most if not all of this has never been properly adressed or changed in dc canon. The dominators are still everywhere with their racial caricature appearances and nobody thinks twice about it. Of so many retcons, reboots and reinventions those stereotypes are truly a constant in canon, the Legion of Super-Heroes is always being made again in a new fresh take but the Khunds and the Dominators are solidly kept the same.

Anyway, sorry for any problems with the english, it's a language i have contact with mostly through media like comics and the internet (your blog being one of the things here on tumblr helping me learn it, i really dig your long texts, that Ma'alefa'ak restrospective was a delight, i hope you go through with continuing it) and sorry for the long text but it's just that i have been reading a lot of Legion and space dc comics in general recently with your criticism in mind and i think the effects of colonialism in the depictions of those fictional cultures and societies just needed to be brought up and called atention, this is my first ask i ever sent to you or anyone else here on tumblr because this is somenthing that i saw i had a real necessity of saiyng and contributing to the debate.

In building depictions of aliens the writers have the opportunity to come up with anything and let their imagination run wild, but they consistently ended up just reproducing very explicit racist tropes and iconography. Like you said before in discussions about Superman, the white american imagination is astoundingly limited and uninsterested in ever truly going beyond its comfort zone, with all the attempts to renew and diversify, it always comes back to roughly the same picture where it matters the most.

In a final note i just want to thank you for your criticism, it peeves some people but it's something we're severely lacking and needing, you do a really great and inspiring work!

Can I just say that this is a fantastic use of taking my metas and criticisms, then applying it to other stories I haven't touched! While also truly understanding how these comics are a reflection of larger systemic biases. Also your english is fantastic and I'm humbled that my blog posts help you out in that regard, haha. Ma'alefa'ak rambles are out here helping people with english, that's wonderful.

While I haven't read the LEGION comics, I am generally familiar with them and am nodding at your assessment. Alien invader characters in the american context largely came from the fear of immigrants but especially the influx of Asian migrants moving into the US. The idea that these foreign people are now wearing american clothes, assimilating into american customs, and marrying into american citizens? It manifests in fiction sometimes subtly through alien invader shapeshifter characters- other times it's just yellow peril aliens that are transparent racial stereotypes. And after a post-911 fear of terrorist world? A world growing more self-aware of the atrocities of colonialism? Alien invasions are sneaking their way back into our fiction, many times uninterrogated. Rebooted and reimagined, but their original racist context remain unchallenged.

There's this excellent quote from an article about Orcs and fantasy racism: "If you find a way to scrub an explicit signifier from a racist expression, but keep the expression intact, you preserve the racist dynamic without the explicit identification."

And that's where stepping back and looking at the culture of American comics as a whole is important. Fandom criticism can't just hyper focus on the many times women of color characters are depicted as perpetrators of assault on white (or white coded) men and deem them despicable villains. Step back, and see the whole xenophobic and racist context with which these women exist in.

Thank you so, so much for bringing this into the discussion! And I will absolutely be continuing the Ma'alefa'ak essay (I had a technical fiasco with my research notes but that's been sorted! Now if only netflix would get the last season of YJa so it's less of a hassle for me to watch lol)! I'm very honored that you sent in your thoughts into this discussion, especially since it's going to be very pertinent talking points once I open up discussions on the latest Superman movie.

Exactly! And when these limited white-imagination depictions of alien worlds go uncriticized, we're just letting these depictions continue to exist, unchallenged. So when it comes to our media criticism space, these biases are necessary to dissect, interrogate, and discuss.

Thank you once more! It's discussions like these that make the occasional annoyed fanboy worth it, lol! Many times I'm having enlightened criticism and analysis from people who are fans of the things I'm criticizing, so I'm truly thankful when people maturely join in on discussion with whatever comic or media they want to bring into the discussion.

[starlightshadowsworld]

Crack Concept: Beast Chuuya is the one with memories from the other worlds.

This is because he’s a vessel for Arahabaki who is a being that dragged from outside space and time.

And here the singularity that gave him his ability was also used to try and reach a world outside his own.

So in this universe Chuuya didn’t lose his memories when he escaped the lab, he gained those of his other self, the other singularity like himself.

Bsd Chuuya may not know as much as Bsd Dazai but he knows more then people believe.

And it pisses Beast Dazai off to no end because Beast Chuuya is always one step ahead of him. Always knows what he’s about to do before he does it and it is sooo annoying.

And intriguing.

But mostly annoying.

Though unlike in Beast canon Chuuya does end up telling Dazai what he knows. As annoying as it is to admit he knows this isn’t something he can do alone.

And besides, they are partners after all.

Now there are things Chuuya can’t say explicitly but he can lay out enough clues that Dazai is able to figure things out.

Which technically doesn’t count so fuck off universe and your vague as fuck rules.

It also means that Dazai is more inclined to believe him this way. That’s not to say it didn’t throw him for a loop (and yes Chuuya did record his freak out) but in time he accepted it.

And the two of them stand side by side to keep this world from falling through.

Chuuya because it’s his, and he’s lost more than enough (even more so now) and no one will ever take it or those he cherishes away from him again.

Dazai because maybe it’ll give him the answer he seeks of this thing called life. And well…if Chuuya cares about it so much maybe it’s worth saving after all.

“And you know someone had to keep your dumb arse from destroying the world by accident.”

“Who are you calling a dumb arse?!”

“If the hat fits.”

“Says the half bandaged mummy.”

“…..”

“Ha ha! Tell him Atsushi!”

“You’ve corrupted Atsushi?! Against me! Atsushi how could you?!”

“Chuuya gives me better snacks.”

“Suck it! I’m the better executive than you are.”

“Then why did I get promoted first?”

“He’s got you there.”

“Whose side are you on kid?!”

“Depends on the bribe. Anyway I’m gonna go meet Akutagawa and Gin for at the Agencies cafe with Kyouka.”

“Typical we finally persuade the boss to make a truce and you’re the first to reap the benefits. Ah well have fun but remember-“

“Yeah yeah, don’t do anything Dazai would do.”

Pathetic Dazai noises

“And don’t do anything Chuuya would approve of.”

“Wait-”

“Bye!”

“…Are you seriously crying?”

“No!”

“How anyone thought you were in contention to be the new boss is beyond me.”

“Ew don’t remind me. So much responsibility it makes my skin crawl. And besides don’t act like you didn’t need me down here with you.”

“Tch as if.”

[d0ritos-4nd-frit0s]

Old Beavhead fics be like

[exutrio]

liam talking about fearneorym (+ chetney) at dorym's future wedding is something that can be so personal actually

[bakudekublogblog]

shigaraki being like “I’m killing you bc you’re izuku midoriya’s baby girl and it’ll send him into the rage” is SO LOVE INTEREST it’s so YOURE HIS PRECIOUS SOMEONE if something happens to YOU he’s gonna LOSE IT if you wanna go for izuku’s HEART you TAKE HIS KACCHAN

[kalosian-woods]

froakie must've felt so satisfied for achieving success by choosing ash after so many failed attempts with other trainers

the mere fact that he finally found that "love" he always wanted must've already been such a big milestone for him in life.

-🦋

In a way I really did enjoy how they mixed things up with Ash's obligatory 'tough' Starter this time, especially as most of them were abandoned by their Trainers (Charizard, Infernape, Pignite) or just didn't have any contact with people before (Sceptile). But instead Froakie wanted to find a Trainer and has picked them out himself, reversing the way the relationship usually starts out, and being a great foil with the other Starters/Pokemon as well.

The fact that Froakie has been searching for a while before Ash is something that I've always thought about, myself. He's left at least 8 people considering the shadows? And the way that Olympia said that humans taught it that in order to be stronger he needed a bond (but through feelings, not words), the way he wanted a lot from his Trainer, that he was searching for someone that was worth risking everything for, looking for 'love' - to me, it is an all-encompassing feeling that he's been searching for. Love so much that you would do anything for Pokemon like he would do anything for you. Give and take. Froakie did not expect a relationship where he had to carry out everything that the Trainer wanted without question - he wanted a relationship where his opinions and thoughts mattered just as much, to deal with the potential he always felt inside of him. And it is a lot, to balance a relationship in that manner. A lot of new Trainers would not even realise that is an option, and that's what initially threw him off.

Froakie is very persistant, it's true, but he can also be impatient at times. Would he have bothered to stay by Sycamore's lab any longer, considering how he was up and around Lumiose watching Ash? Would he still stick by his resolve to find the perfect Trainer, no matter the failures he had recieved? I don't think he would lower his standard, but at some point, he probably did wonder if there was someone out there who held the love that he wanted. When he first laid eyes on Ash, noticing how Pikachu was and their shared interest in battle, it piqued his interest. But it was the way they faced down Team Rocket despite being overpowered, Ash helping Pikachu even though he couldn't stand up to their might, that's when Froakie saw what he wanted.

To him, I think that feeling of love felt like the static shock he felt when being hit by that Electro Ball being reflected by Wobbuffet. Twice as strong, utterly paralyzing, weakening him completely. But also-- the feeling of two hands around him, and a voice calling out to him, and the wind as he was rushed into care. Love was knowing that someone had your back and will support you, even when the odds were impossible. And considering how much they'll go through, I don't think Greninja regretted a thing.

[essektheylyss]

Finally got around to listening to Unend "Hollow" and there's plenty to say that I'm sure has been said but all I personally have to say is: Dot gray-ace freakout? Gray-ace freakout??? For me???

[ngc-5194]

man i love fandom. where else can i go to see so many people all uncritically agree with the stupidest takes imaginable just because they're widespread

[megamozartx]

"Hey Mozart, what kinds of things do you draw?"

Occasionally good, mostly shitposting, and apparently I redesigned Piano to be a judgmental goth.

And here's one time I drew Ruby-Spears Bass + Piano + Zero:

I've been drawing since I was 8 years old I'm very serious.

[mamawasatesttube]

saw someone being wrong about kon on the internet again (i know. shocking) and you are all so lucky i'm sick and feverish and lazy because i DID just seriously entertain the thought of writing up a small essay complete with issue and panel citations about why it's simply incorrect to say that kon never really seemed to reciprocate any sort of crush on tim before geoff/tt03. this is just not true. you dont have to actually ship them but to downplay their importance to each other even in the earliest days is simply incorrect. i'm too tired and achy to bother digging through comics to pull up all the issues that have the bits i want to point at but like... they were both very mutually important to each other from early on. it was in no way shape or form one-sided, whether you want to read that as platonic or romantic. man.

[charophyte]

middle aged transfem and her crossdressing husband that helps her do her makeup and goes clothes shopping with her

[crystalkitty1220]

Man I wonder where the leader of the fear realm could've gone, it's alMOST LIKE NEVIN HAS AN

[blujayonthewing]

the thing that's weird about dnd gnomes is that they're described as rare and secretive, their communities hidden and disguised from outsiders as a form of defense

and the thing is that's all well and good, except that even by RAW dnd tends to operate on a lot of 'it's basically like now with a ye olde hat, don't worry about it too much' basis wrt to the production and distribution and availability of goods and materials, and the thing about THAT is that I'm actually usually fine with handwaving Fantasy Globalization for the sake of ease-of-use as a ttrpg backdrop EXCEPT that it's hard, at least for someone like me, to handwave past something like 'if these villages are hidden and secret then where are they getting all their stuff'