owldalek

[owldalek]

Fantastic Four SPOILERS //

Okay, I’m going to preface this by acknowledging that this moving has overwhelmingly been very well received and I respect that. I agree that this is the best adaptation of the Fantastic Four that I have seen and I did enjoy this movie. Nothing that I’m about to say should negate that it is an enjoyable movie. Now, on to what I am well aware are a bunch of hot takes.

This was the most trad-wife white Christian geared movie I’ve ever explicitly seen outside of God’s Not Dead or Hallmark.

This does not mean I didn’t enjoy the movie. We have seen a lot of references to old Hollywood and being in a recession naturally makes people nostalgic for “better” times. However, it’s dangerous when that comes with no acknowledgement that these times weren’t perfect.

I’ve seen a lot of comparisons between the Fantastic Four and The Incredibles, and this makes a lot of sense. They are both superhero films about a family of four in the ambiguous 1950’s/60’s who fight a mole man and need to stop a villain with much greater technology than our own. However, the Incredibles had social and political commentary that the Fantastic Four simply did not have. The Incredibles addressed McCarthyism and the villain was a powerful narcissist who was essentially hinting superheroes to use a guinea pigs in order to create very harmful weapons to prop up his own self image. The Fantastic Four seems to be set in a perfect world where everyone cooperated with their plans no matter what. They’re described as beloved and dear to the people’s hearts. The UN goes along with everything Sue says, and the only noted dissent is Latveria’s representative not being present. Similarly, when New York is asked to evacuate everyone does it with no questions asked. There’s not a lot of world building aside from the fact that’s these four are universally loved.

Now, my issue with that is the aesthetic and the language used around why they’re loved. This takes place in a futuristic 1950’s and 60’s. It plays on the ideals of the American Dream and what many probably thought the future would look like (think The Jetsons). They’re not described as heroes or loved because they’re heroes, they’re loved because of the sweet story of them being a family. Reed and Sue are married, Ben and Johnny are perfect uncles. And they risk their lives to rescue us, not from actual real life threats we can recognize, but from superhero masked villain threats. They don’t interfere with world politics, they still work with the US government, and we’ve happily given them this power and it’s viewed as okay because there’s nothing subversive about them. They don’t oppose our traditional values, nor are they championing any radical ideology and they don’t have to. There are no problems in this world. They’re also very Christian coded. Ben even highlights that they hold a special Sunday dinner. Sue and Reed could have been late for any old dinner, but Sunday Dinner especially should never have been missed.

Now, let me get to Ben. Ben is Jewish in the comics, and I was really excited to have a Jewish adaptation of Ben especially as Marvel has shied away from making any of their other Jewish characters actually Jewish(Wanda, Spider-Man, Moon Knight*, etc). I was really excited to see the Jewish neighborhood and the Hebrew school, and the synagogue which Ben keeps eyeing the whole movie. But it falls short for many reasons (as I admit almost all Jewish representation does). The Jewish quarter is seemingly the only quarter that lacks the futuristic idealism the rest of this New York has. Similarly, Rachael and Ben are the only characters with thicker New York accents. I know that historically there was a wealth disparity between Jews and non-Jews, but if this gets to be the ideal future for everyone else why are Jews still class-coded to be poorer? Also, we had the opportunity for Ben to go and pray in a synagogue, we had the opportunity for him to say the Shema before Galactus came, and he doesn’t. He explicitly states that he’s not that Jewish and only enters the synagogue to talk to Rachael. And I understand that most Jews are not religious, but it would have been really cool to see a character do what they do because of their Jewish values, as we see Reed and Sue have motivations because of their family and traditional values.

Now, I don’t think that there is anything wrong with having traditional family values. Sue made a great speech which many have likened to Captain America’s “we don’t trade lives” but similar to the Sydney Sweeney ad, these messages and the way they are represented. The aesthetics, the language, don’t exist in a vacuum. They exist to capitalize on what is popular and what is safe, and the Fantastic Four is a far cry from Black Panther. Similar to the Sydney Sweeney ad we see these bright diverse universes traded in for muted whiteness and traditionalism because it is what is safe. I’ve also seen Sue compared to Wanda in terms of doing what she needs to to protect her children. Which is valid. I don’t think Sue should have given up her baby because I do believe in the idea that we shouldn’t trade lives. However, that’s not the language used because that’s not the audience she is speaking to. She is speaking to a 1950’s/60’s audience and appeals to them through the language that to be a parent is to be called to a higher purpose. She places motherhood at the same value as her role as a super hero, and I don’t think that’s wrong, but within the socio-political context that we exist in it sends a specific message especially when she later sacrifices herself and is brought back by the love of this child. In many ways it’s giving the protect everyone message that Superman gives, but through a very traditional lens which ends immediately when the life of her child is threatened. I think there is also a difference between Wanda and Sue in that Wanda’s actions are partially motivated by her trauma and want for personal autonomy. She’s been used as a weapon and then told who she is but the US government. She just wants to be left alone to live a peaceful normal life and has to face the reality that she is not normal. Whereas Sue just takes it all in stride as this perfect mom and superhero who doesn’t give up being one to be the other because to her they’re the same thing.

I really enjoyed the Silver Surfer and Johnny’s arc. That was the most compelling part of the movie and I really wanted to see more of Johnny’s background in linguistics. Though it felt weird that they’re all supposed to be brilliant astronauts and they still treat Johnny like he’s an idiot or incapable of doing anything intellectual, and I understand that he’s meant to be portrayed as a hot head, but just the way that this team was set up made it feel that his apparent lack of intelligence felt out of place and kind of belittling. It takes a lot of work to learn and reconstruct a language so I want to know if he does have a background on linguistics and that’s why he was chosen, or was it just a kind of nepotism where Reed just chose his family.

At the end of the day it is a feel good movie which will cause absolutely no controversy whatsoever and I think it was done by design because Marvel honestly needs a win at this point. That being said, feel good movies ultimately lack serious teeth and for me I think comic books exist to react to what is going on politically, not to give in to them which I believe this movie does. It’s not a bad movie, I greatly enjoyed it, but I couldn’t watch it without noticing that this movie definitely falls into Operation BEIGE, and is likely not inspiring the masses the same way that Superman is.

*I have feelings about the Jewish representation in Moon Knight, but that can be a separate post if y’all want it.

[owldalek]

[owldalek]

Okay, something which I’ve been thinking about a lot is the relationship between Rusty Quill and the fans and how they’ve chosen to transition main characters from The Magnus Archives to The Magnus Protocol. I was going to write an essay in this, but my co-author went missing for a week and ultimately my class assignment had to be changed to the Doctor Who and Disability essay yall have already seen.

What I mean when I talk about the relationship is that Jonathan Sims, the Archivist, is most commonly, though not unanimously, portrayed as South Asian despite being given no character descriptions alluding to such in TMA. When asked about this most people who responded to my post stated that this was likely done in order to diversify fan art and South Asian was the most likely POC demographic to be found in London.

In The Magnus Protocol we are given Sam as our main protagonist, or at least the entryway to the series. Like Sims, Sam has a past with the Institute, or with the entities which the institute studies. Sam is also explicitly written as South Asian and voiced by a Pakistani voice actor. I find this very interesting because it almost feels like the Rusty Quill team is responding to fan Jonathan Sims depictions and giving us a South Asian character because we seemingly want that representation. However, there has not been an outpouring of fanart and enthusiasm over Sam the same way that Sims had and continues to have. Alice is the favorite character, which makes sense she’s a trans badass voiced by a trans badass.

However, according to my co-author, who has reappeared, he is fine, dw, who is Pakistani, and looks almost exactly like all fan Jon depictions he feels this shows that the fandom wants the South Asian aesthetic, but not an actual South Asian character. He points to the fact that any fan works rarely contain allusion to a South Asian background. It’s more important to the fandom that he’s gay, then the fact that we’ve made him Desi. I think this is also why Alice is so popular as a trans woman, than Sam as a (seemingly straight) brown man, and as a fandom we really need to evaluate whether we actually want diverse racial representation in these works or if we just want to feel better about ourselves for retroactively making a character South Asian.

Of course, Sam’s lack of popularity can be due to a number of factors such as character type, dialogue, and shipability. Between the two Alice is much more dynamic of a character, and her combative nature makes for many an enemies or rivals to lovers AU, and similarly her obvious care for Sam is very compelling. But I think it is something that we should think about when there seems to be such a blaring connection between fan response and content output.

[owldalek]

SPOILERS FOR SUPERMAN///

My initial thoughts and reactions. More in-depth thoughts to come.

1. This is the most perfect superhero film ever.

2. I believe in superheroes again, and I believe in Superman specifically who I have never been a fan of.

3. Altruism as a radical act. I am so here for that commentary.

4. This is the best Lois Lane ever given to us.

5. I am sooooo interested in the new Supergirl movie.

6. Hawk Girl is so fucking important and the fact we see so little of her just makes me more intrigued about her. I’m obsessed.

7. The detail of Luther’s programmers for the portal being mainly college-aged interns reminds me of how Lockheed Martin outsources from colleges and that’s such a great world building detail and I love it so much.

8. The pacing was great and I never felt like I wanted to leave the theatre. I was sat the entire time.

9. The detail of Ma and Pa Kent being uneducated, rural farmers is a dimension to Superman’s backstory which I n e e d e d. The classism has me frothing at the mouth.

10. His determination to save every single thing no matter how big or small feels like a giant fuck you to every single cynic and Dark Age fan.

[owldalek]

Hey y’all, I decided to write my final essay about disability representation in the newest season of Doctor Who. I’m linking my essay below, please read it and let me know what you think. Throughout all of the discourse about the newest season and RTD’s writing I haven’t seen much about the major disabled storylines and characters we got, and I think this is a discussion that we need to have.

[owldalek]

No this actually felt so special to me and I cried. It’s like they were forgiving each other for their failures and really showing the kindness which the fandom didn’t give them.

I loved that we finally got some type of interaction between the 13th and the 15th doctors during The Reality War 💜💙

While I love David Tennant as The Doctor, there was so much hype around Ncuti being cast as the next doctor that Tennant suddenly showing up just to have a few more episodes really overshadowed 13th's final moments & left a shadow that the 15th then had to fill. It didn't help that the 2 seasons he was in were each shorter than the 1 season that Eccleston was in. These two doctors are probably going to be underappreciated, and it's really not even their fault.

[owldalek]

I 100% agree. I’ve seen so much discourse on how this season “isn’t enough of an entry point for new fans” why does it have to be? Since when have we ever cared about a season being a new entry point? I’ve also really enjoyed this season and yeah why do we seem so fucking determined to tear down this piece of media that we supposedly love so much. I think it’s great that RTD is bringing back all these classic characters. It’s like he’s trying to encourage people to watch classic who. I definitely don’t think it’s perfect, but it’s like every single episode is a chance to slander him when literally a few years ago we were praising the ground he walked on because we thought Chibnall was shit. I don’t think y’all will ever be satisfied with anything this show does because you can’t go back and watch it with the eyes of a child anymore. Where’s your fucking whimsy?

IDK man, as someone who actually has quite enjoyed the Davies/Gatwa years to date, there's just something so fucking exhausting about the way people talk about it, and it's really flared up this season. The sheer level of contemptuous glee with which some people seem to welcome the possibility of cancellation is just really, truly getting me down. I'm not even talking about the people who are being tiresomely racist, because they're just an extension of the same people who have been being tiresomely sexist for nearly seven years now.

But just, like... I dunno, man, there's a level of vicious meanness to fandom's present discourse that's really been bad for my mental health all around, and has honestly played a big part in my slowing down my writing, because any time I want to write something earnest and heartfelt about how a given piece of media affected me I end up second-guessing myself because I feel like nobody wants to read anything like that. Instead they'd much rather just pounce on the latest rumour drummed up by vile publications like the Sun, where like... even if the cancellation goes through, do you really want to be on the side of the Sun?

I think the hatred of Wish World broke something in me, because I really liked it, I thought it was a surprisingly barbed little number that picked at nostalgia and conservatism. Plus, like a lot of RTD2 its earnest engagement with what it means to be queer genuinely means a lot to me as someone who started realising they were queer right as The Star Beast hit (and eventually ended up realising they were trans) and who has been grappling with a lot of fear and uncertainty as a result.

So, y'know, going online and just seeing everyone be all "Oh it sucks," "It's garbage," "RTD L," "Wow they really betrayed the character integrity of the Rani" (what the fuck are you even talking about with that one, what character integrity did the Rani ever have, for Christ's sake?). My point is never that one should just be a blind, mindless consumer. Far from it. If anything, I would rather people actually pause to think "Hmm maybe this piece of media is trying to say something." And I mean I get if it doesn't resonate with you. I get if you think it's crashingly unsubtle, or if there are aspects of its commentary that you find lacking. I've had some criticisms of the Gatwa Era as well, and I can acknowledge them.

But on the whole, I've had a great time, and I dunno, it just... makes me feel like shit to see so many people so violently disagreeing and dismissing any possibility that any of these stories could have any kind of resonance with people.

[owldalek]

I know we’re all going to say it’s trash, but do you know who liked the episode? Me! I enjoyed it! I loved everything about it! And everyone else can shut the fuck up. Who is Wish World catering to? Me 😌

[owldalek]

Say what you will about Steven Universe, but I really do quote it for advice almost all the time.

[owldalek]

Why am I just learning that Ncuti Gatwa’s family escaped the Rwandan genocide and that’s why they moved to Britain??

[owldalek]

RTD: *holding the entire fandom at gun point* Every time someone complains about Woke Doctor WHO it will be woker! I am not above making Belinda trans, and having Muslims on screen!

[owldalek]

SPOILERS FOR DOCTOR WHO////

1. I have to imagine the Doctor heartbroken after Dot and Bubble. This is the first time he could not save someone because of how he looked. 13 still made sure that there was respect by virtue of her name despite her woman, but this racism was new. Ruby probably tried to comfort, but she couldn’t. Not in a way that matters. The Doctor is always alone as the last timelord, but now he was isolated even amongst humanity whom he loved so much. The TARDIS lands in Nigeria, because she knows when the Doctor is sad and always takes him where he needs to be, and after this devastating loss he is welcomed with open arms. Welcomed as family though no one had seen him before. Ruby doesn’t quite understand it, how can she, but she smiles, happy for him.

2. This is totally a analogy for African exploitation. “I just want credit for my work” how all the gods named were white except for Anansi. African labor created all the Western world has and it still does. But where is the credit to them? Where is the credit to the kids of the DRC who are responsible for our phones, our diamonds, or chocolate? Where is the credit to Egypt for being the birth of civilization? Where is the credit to African American slaves who built the wealthiest nation in the world? This was a celebration of African futurism.

3. Sapphic Black women!!!

4. I genuinely don’t think Belinda is a mystery. I don’t think she’s significant in a Bad Wolf or Impossible Girl kind of way. I think, just as the Doctor said, the ordinary is the richest story. He wants Belinda to be special so badly. But in his want for her to be special he is creating the environment for her to be special. He’s placing her on a pedestal and creating his own mystery for her. She is special. Her being herself is what makes her special, but I don’t think he’s going to let her leave very easily. He needs her too much for a mystery that is not there.

5. This man still hasn’t caught on to Mrs. Flood, and low key I love that for her.

[owldalek]

Having seen more posts about this episode I think I just need to boost this post a little bit more.

that and COVID denialism, obviously, which i somehow managed to miss despite *this* plot point below

UNIT aren’t always cops. they’re a nebulous enough fictional organisation that they can be whatever the show wants them to represent. in Lucky Day, they’re the NHS, the WHO, and they’re climatologists.

[owldalek]

Hey y’all, I’m doing a project on fan work and race for a class and I was wondering if anyone could explain to me why the Magnus Archives fandom has near collectively decided that Jonathan Sims, the archivist, is South Asian.

I am a huge fan of TMA, but I joined the fandom pretty late so this concept was already well introduced when I got tumblr. To my knowledge (and various listen throughs of the series) there is nothing in TMA to indicate any race for this character.

Does anyone know when this idea was introduced and why it has stuck around as the predominant depiction of Jonathan Sims?

[owldalek]

I love her i fear

[owldalek]

Belinda Chandra you beautiful beautiful soul

DOCTOR WHO — THE ROBOT REVOLUTION (S41E01) ››› Varada Sethu as Belinda Chandra ››› Ncuti Gatwa as The Doctor

[owldalek]

SPOILERS FOR DOCTOR WHO

Belinda Chandra my beloved. She is like a mix between Teagan, Clara, Donna and Martha and I am sooooo here for it. She fucking owned the entire episode. The power and strength that she conveyed by taking initiative to sacrifice herself without question and without hesitation. The way that she put the Doctor in his place immediately upon entering the TARDIS. She cares so deeply for people. I admire her so much. I’ve only had her for a day, and if anything happens to her I’ll kill everyone and then myself. But the thing is I know something has to happen to her. Idk if it’s going to be like Teagan who just witnessed too much death, or Clara who did end up sacrificing herself, but I know that when the time comes for her to leave I will be weeping.

Acting phenomenal, character writing? Phenomenal. Hotel? Trivago