#ANYWAYS! i'm so normal about them.

[freckliedan]

danandphilcrafts and the tarot's devil

a queer perspective

dan and phil crafts is a short horror film quartet created by famous queer youtubers dan howell and phil lester. there is intentional use of imagery from the devil tarot card in the climactic shot of this installment, as you can observe below:

(images used with permission from the wonderful @danrifics' post)

phil has a long history of including tarot on his channel in videos such as robot death machine (2009), PREDICTING MY FUTURE! (2017), PREDICTING DAN"S FUTURE! (2017), trying to predict 2021 (2020) shorts doing readings for astrological signs on lessamazingphil (2022), and in viewers pick my birthday gifts 2024 (2024).

as someone who's been both a fan and a tarot reader for over a decade, i find this nod to the devil card one of the most essential shots in communicating the complex themes addressed in this video and the craft series as a whole.

how so? i'll start with discussion of the devil tarot card and how it relates to the lovers.

in tarot, the lovers and the devil are both a part of the major arcana, the 22 cards representing more significant, intense & impactful life moments than the cards found in the minor arcana. they are two of very few major arcana cards that mirror each other visually: the other duos in the major arcana are the high priestess + hierophant and empress + emperor. 

in both other cases, the cards hold connected meanings as applied to different areas of life, but reflect a gendered difference - the high priestess and empress are women, and the emperor and hierophant are men. from this we can conclude two things. 

first is that the connected imagery between two cards connotates connected meaning. even without the connected imagery, these cards would be an inverse of one another; they're sibling cards, sharing the same numerology (6).

so what do the lovers symbolize? the lovers symbolize healthy, balanced relational connection, collaborative communication, choice, etc. their relationship is blessed/holy/watched over by an angel. 

the devil, on the other hand, symbolizes unhealthy relational connection, exploitation, addiction, hedonism, etc. the figure in this card is the demon baphomet, and the relationship is taboo.

the other conclusion we can take from the pattern of meaning found in visually similar cards is that the variation between these cards is related to gender/sex/sexuality. 

it is extremely straightforward to conclude that the couple in the devil card differs with the couple in the lovers card by being sexually deviant in some manner, and all forms of queerness fall under the umbrella of sexual deviance. 

baphomet as the specific demon in this card ads to the overall queerness associated with the devil. i am not able to speak about it at length as i am not an occultist, but you can read at length on wikipedia. i know i’ve read good posts about baphomet from occultists on tumblr, but am struggling to find those that go into detail. what i’m able to remember is this: depictions of baphomet always show her with a mix of sex characteristics, typically both breasts and a penis, making her either transgender or intersex.

(a baphomet post in line with the one i’m looking for)

my goal with this essay is a queer reading of the devil, though, not a reification of the societal norms regarding gender and sexuality as held when the rider waite smith deck was created in 1909. we can queer the devil by being critical of the institutions and social norms that name the deviance depicted in the devil as bad.

when doing this, the devil can become an empowering figure signifying acceptance of and actualization of queer sexuality, rejection of internalized homophobia and transphobia, freedom from normative expectations, solidarity taking action, and connection with/creation of community. 

you can see similar subversions of christian ideas of the devil in the work of lil nas x, particularly in the music video for MONTERO (call me by your name) - it’s a common queer theme. the rates at which satanic imagery and touch between two men appear increase both rapidly and in tandem with each successive video in the DanAndPhilCRAFTS back catalogue.

i'm not going to delve too deep into past videos, but i will mention that the horror in the first three exists largely in implication: the pentagram in glitter faces is has happened before and happens whether they're trying to make it or not; the "he" they are "friends" with in potato prints never appears onscreen.

tying this back to the devil as a card that stands in opposition to societal homophobia and gender roles, the first indications of this theme appear in DanAndPhilCRAFTS-Slime's opening still:

and the dialogue taking place from 0:17 to 0:24 of the video, which i've transcribed below.

DAN: We've had important events to prepare for. PHIL: I've been in a box. [footage of a presumably deceased PHIL from DanAndPhilCRAFTS - Potato Prints] DAN: They tried to stop us. PHIL: But they didn't.

from these two moments in the film, we can infer that the "they" who tried to stop dan and phil includes the church of england, and that phil's death at the end of the previous video was not permanent.

how does the story change if our baseline assumption is to trust its protagonists rather than the vague "they" trying to stop them, the "they" who recovered the footage?

on that note: how does the fact that dan and phil came out between potato prints and slime impact the way that the story is consumed, and the way that the story is depicted?

i am not well versed in horror. i cannot meaningfully speak to the tradition of horror and its elements and how they manifest in this film particularly.

i can point out what i can identify as worth talking about: the things that are portrayed as horrific. the presence of blood; to lose one's life - specifically to kill or be killed by a penetrating weapon; allying oneself with demonic forces. to my knowledge there's a lot to dig into with that, both regarding horror in general and horror through the lens of queer analysis.

what i'm able to come up with is this: blood is a bodily fluid disease can pass through, and there's a lot of history there with both AIDS and more recently monkeypox; many people lose the life they had before when they come out; i don't think i even need to elaborate about penetration; religious homophobia's insistence that queerness is of the devil is extremely old news.

i would love for someone more versed in horror and queerness than I am to elaborate where i can't.

something i can elaborate on is this: how the video was received.

this video wasn't posted to the gaming channel or either main channel; the only people who will have seen it are people who never unsubscribed to the crafts channel or people who are connected to phannie spaces. this core swath of dan and phil's audience primarily consists of queer people: those of us who are aware of their relationship. those of us who are in on the joke.

to a cisheteroallo audience, especially one completely unfamiliar with dan and phil, this video would likely be experienced as straightforwardly scary. this hypothetical audience doesn't know, as we do, that it's deeply unrealistic that dan or phil would ever harm one another as depicted in the film.

the reactions i have seen in phannie spaces have all found and delighted in the humor in it, and many have enjoyed the well executed horror. but beyond that, this queer audience widely perceives and enjoys the eroticism of the film.

there is intimacy in the violence, and a thrill in the transgressions required for two people to align themselves with the figure of the devil.

something i particularly enjoy: despite the sources of horror i listed earlier, none of them result in consequences for the characters dan and phil play. they end this film in a place of power beside the devil figure. what is frightening is the threat they pose to the "they" who tried to stop them, the threat they pose to institutional cisheteroallo normativity.

the way that DanAndPhilCRAFTS - Slime presents imagery from the tarot's devil card is unequivocally, undeniably queer and in opposition to oppressive structures. the way this film expresses ideas is incredibly coherent, and the nod to tarot serves it so well to that end!

thank you for coming to my fucking ted talk.

and thank you to @danandphilandthedevil, @dnphobe, and @yonpote for hanging out with me on discord and contributing feedback as i wrote the first... half? of this.

EDIT: there've been a bunch of wonderful & insightful additions to this post, so i'm going to link to a few of my favorites in case folks haven't seen the extended versions of this post that are also circulating!

ry @dnphobe's addition: on killing & being killed with a penetrating weapon

hazel @dapg-otmebytheballs' additon: more on tarot + demons and desire in horror

tess @danswideslit's addition: a queer perspective on loss of innocence in horror

and barry @milfygerard's replies: on horror in a similar vein, especially found footage

[biggest-gaudiest-patronuses]

finally at that age where i'm thinking i should get a tattoo. not bc i feel strongly about it, just seems like a waste not to. i've got so much skin i'm not using

[hailsatanacab]

A Persuasive Argument - dpxdc

"Great!" Danny says, clapping his hands together to get everyone's attention. The dinner table falls silent as everyone looks towards him. It's a full house today and, honestly, Danny's a little nervous. "I'm sure you're all wondering why I gathered you here today."

"It's dinnertime. In our house." Duke mutters, while doing a very bad job of concealing his yawn. He holds his fork poised over the braised beef, but, just like everyone else, still looks towards Danny before tucking in. It's intriguing enough to wait.

"Yeah, no one misses Alfie's dinner." Dick says, with a brilliant smile that Danny can't help but return.

"Precisely! What better time to talk to you all than when you're all actually here!"

"Wait, I thought you came round to work on our English essays?" Tim asks, blinking owlishly.

"I'm afraid I've lured you here under false pretences, Tim."

"This is where I live."

"I would still really appreciate help on that essay though, I mean, what the hell is Hamlet even about? I just don't get that old time-y language, like 'Hark! A ghost hath killed me!' - absolute rubbish, what does that even mean?"

"The ghost never kills anyone in Hamlet, he's there to tell Hamlet that he was murdered. Have you actually read it?"

"No, but it sounds like you have. Tim, I want this guy to help me with my essay instead. I know for a fact that you haven't read Hamlet, either."

"So? We don't need Jason, I've read the Sparknotes."

"Hi Jason, I'm Danny, pleasure to meet you, summarise Hamlet in three sentences or less."

"Am I auditioning to help you write your essays? I can't believe you’ve gone through your whole school life without reading it, it’s good!"

"Hamlet, along with a number of other classics, was banned in our house because it portrayed ghosts as intelligent and sympathetic beings rather than evil, animalistic beasts. I didn’t even get to see The Muppet's Christmas Carol until last year with Tim! It was surprisingly good, and I hate Christmas because everyone always argued and it sucked. But we're getting off topic. I—"

"No, no, please go back to that, because what the fu—"

"Boys, please." Bruce interrupts, looking to the world as if he wants to hang his head in his hands. "Danny, you were about to say something?"

"Oh, yeah, Mr. Wayne! Thanks!"

"Please, call me Bruce."

"Well, that very succinctly brings me to my point, because I'd actually really like to call you dad."

Nobody says a word. Nobody even blinks, all as shocked as the other, watching open-mouthed as Danny pulls his laptop out from beside his chair. Bruce can definitely feel a headache coming on.

"Before you say anything, I've prepared a 69 slide PowerPoint presentation on why you, Bruce Wayne, should adopt me, Danny Last-Name-Pending. Please save your questions, comments, and verdict until the end, thank you."

[hansoeii]

I'm very much not normal about loki and mobius right now

[oddthesungod]

they're a little bit fucked up and i love them a lot 🥰

[asweetprologue]

i'm loving the little garden arc rn bc I think zoro's behavior is a peak example of how luffy changes him as a person. when he and the others were getting turned into statues he was completely serious and was about to cut off his own legs so he could try to go out fighting. dire situation that he was treating with a dramatic sense of urgency. and then he sees luffy for 0.2 seconds and immediately starts doing bits. he's bleeding out and turning to wax and he's ribbing nami about striking a cool pose. the instant luffy is within shouting distance zoro reverts to a silly little guy. which is really just what luffy brings out in him all the time. zoro is fundamentally a goofball but he only drops his serious façade when he knows luffy has his back

[c-hrona]

hey!! may i suggest number 19 for vashwood for the things you said prompt?

Things you said when we were the happiest we ever were.

Ask game (request closed u.u)

[mispelled]

Sanders sides au idea before I get slaughtered by today's dndads episode

[soup-or-who-lock]

something something "Why on earth would you believe that [I hated your violin playing]?" "Because you said literally said that to me once, dad!" something something children remember the fucked up things their parents do or say like major historic events, while parents forget them like average tuesdays...or something

[subtle-as-an-earthquake]

"Well, we were kissing, it was secret..."

[tantamounttoflirtation]

Hannibal saying "I was worried you were dead" in Fromage and then saying "I don't care about the lives you save; I care about your life" in the NEXT FUCKING EPISODE. I'm going to explode they make me sick

[royalarchivist]

[A sad violin song plays over an image of a sad hamster]

Pac: This doesn't have anything to do with me – I wear a blue sweatshirt, you're crazy, this mouse doesn't even have a sweatshirt, this hamster! [Reading chat] Am I a depressed hamster?

[ Transcript continued ↓ ]*

–

Pac: Actually– that's fine! I embrace that idea – of course I'm going to be depressed, are you crazy? [He hits his desk, then starts counting off people on his fingers] Fit is gone, Richarlyson is gone, Ramon is gone, Bagi and Empanada who were always there when we were there are also gone, I haven't seen them! It's just me and Tubbo, and sometimes Philza shows up.

Pac: I lost Chume Labs, I lost the Favela, I lost Murder Mystery, I lost Ilha Chume Labs, it's crazy! Look at how much I've lost, and I've gained nothing! Of course I'm going to be depressed, are you crazy?! How am I supposed to be happy?!

Pac: [Reading chat] "You have us Pac," that's true, thank you. No, that's true, sorry.

* NOTE: Please note that this is an incomplete transcript, as I was primarily relying on Aypierre's translation mod at the time and if I am not confident of the translation, I do not include it. As always, please feel free to add on translations or message me corrections.

[sysig]

Blood sugar levels (Patreon)

[avephelis]

every time someone mischaracterises jay ferin as the therapist friend a fairy loses its wings btw. put some respect on her emotionally-constipated ass.

[tyriongirl]

Genesis 4:1-5, translated by S. R. Driver, from The Book of Genesis, 1905

A Clash of Kings, Prologue - Maester Cressen

Emanuel Krescenc Liška – Cain (1885)

Claus Westermann, Genesis : a commentary, 1984

Arthur Segal - Kain und Abel (1918)

A Clash of Kings, Prologue - Maester Cressen

Natalie Diaz, A Brother Named Gethsemane, from When My Brother Was an Aztec

Lovis Corinth - Kain (1917)

Genesis 4:6-9, translated by S. R. Driver, from The Book of Genesis, 1905

A Clash of Kings, Chapter 33 - Catelyn IV

Odilion Redon - Cain and Abel (1886)

A Clash of Kings, Chapter 33 - Catelyn IV

Genesis 4:9-14, translated by S. R. Driver, from The Book of Genesis, 1905

A Clash of Kings, Chapter 31 - Catelyn III

St. Omer, Benedictine Abbey of St. Bertin; c. 1190-1200

A Storm of Swords, Chapter 36 - Davos V

S.R. Driver, The Book of Genesis, 1905

A Clash of Kings, Chapter 42 - Davos II

Lazzaro Pisani - Death of Abel (1885)

S.R. Driver, The Book of Genesis, 1905

A Clash of Kings, Chapter 42 - Davos II

A Clash of Kings, Chapter 42 - Davos II

Cain and Abel - City of Zeven - 2015 (source)

Genesis 4:14-16, translated by S. R. Driver, from The Book of Genesis, 1905

[hopeswriting]

was thinking about takeshi and how he's my favorite brand of unconditional devotion btw. the utter and absolute and all-consuming kind that runs so deep to the very core and is so intrinsic and fundamental to it, it can only express itself in the most casual and natural and certain way. without second thoughts, without any room for doubts or for any moral dilemma to be had over it, because of course he ought to always be breathing and living for his chosen person first and foremost. of course he ought to hang on their every word and make them true no matter what, no matter what he has to do to make it happen, no matter what he has to do to other people to make it happen, and no matter what it might turn him into in the process. because it's obviously the way the world should be for his chosen person. at their feet, ready to bend over backwards and break and build itself again to better answer to all their needs even if they don't ask it for it. it's the only right way it should be for them, and of course takeshi's going to do his utmost at all times to make it a reality as much as possible.

and his devotion comes out as naturally as breathing, comes out lighthearted and nonchalant like he might as well be talking about the weather, but it's not unaware of itself. it's not that takeshi doesn't know it's unhealthy and wrong and that he's willing to go entirely too far in its name for anyone's good. it's not that he wouldn't hear you out if you were to sit him down and explain to him just why he needs to tone it down a little (a lot). logically, he'd agree with you and know you're right. and then he'd tell you he's still not going to do anything whatsoever about it. that he's not bothered by it and doesn't feel the need to change anything to his attitude. makes it a point to never let anyone or anything sway him even an inch in the stand he took when it comes to that, no matter how many thousand of times you might go over the subject with him.

because the morality of his devotion isn't the point at all. is entirely irrelevant to it and doesn't affect the way he expresses it all. it's not the metric with which he draws a line in the sand to hold it accountable to. because the thing is, takeshi's entire world revolves around tsuna--tsuna is his entire world altogether, and it's just a matter of fact, that simple. to him it's a truth as unchanging as the sky being blue, and so being the way he is according to that truth is the only way he can imagine being that'd feel right to him. and so the actual and only metric that matters here is "would tsuna be happier if i were to do this?" and/or "is this something tsuna needs me to do?"

and like. i don't think takeshi ever stops being a kind person capable of compassion and understanding and mercy and forgiveness even ten years later once they became mafia through and through. and i don't think either he grows up to be feared and called a monster per se despite the things they inevitably had to do during those ten years (and the things they'll inevitably keep having to do as long as they keep being mafia), at least not in the way, for example, they'll never stop fearing and calling mukuro one. but i do think that among the tenth gen, he ends up being the one with the most ruthless, merciless and horrific blood on his hands of that particular and distinct loving kind. you know the one i mean, right? he comes to be the one most expected and the one first expected to be willing and to take it upon himself to go through with it when the need arises. and to think little of it after, if anything at all. all in the name of making tsuna's reign as easy on him as possible.

and it's to the point where it's the kind of blood that makes even mukuro pause at times. or, when takeshi is the one coming up with solutions himself during meetings, makes even reborn blink. not because it's unjustified or wouldn't be safe or efficient or anything of the sort, but because it is unwarrantedly thorough in its retaliation. and sometimes, at times like this, he's the one tsuna needs to step in for the most, because he's the only one who can reason with him that "yes, this would work in getting rid of our problem" but "no, please, don't do that takeshi". because if tsuna is the only thing that infers on just how much and in what ways he'll let himself be devoted to him, then of course, he's also the only one takeshi's willing to reign himself in for without second thoughts. because he'd hate to ever do something tsuna would disapprove of or wouldn't want him to do. or do something that'd make tsuna see him differently or love him back less even in the slightest.

and it's also like. his devotion isn't an undisciplined one. it's not one he doesn't have control over, the very opposite. it's a very purposeful and conscious choice he chooses to keep making over and over again every step of the way, and he taught himself to have control over it, to know when it's needed and/or wanted, and how much and in which ways it is when it happens, and to keep it down otherwise. and, yes, to also reign it back in at tsuna's request at times when it still slips past his control. because it's all about making tsuna's happiness easier and secure and long-lasting, and never about burdening him with just how committed he is to do that.

so it comes down to this: takeshi willing to go above and beyond and more for tsuna unless tsuna explicitly asks him not to. and to tsuna needing to ask him not to every now and then. and to other people pointing out to him how too many times tsuna's already needed to stop him, and that maybe there's a hint for him to take there. and to takeshi seeing the hint, looking it straight in the eye and recognizing it for what it is and just. deciding it doesn't apply to him because it's all perfectly normal behavior to him. because it's the only kind of behavior that makes sense to him and feels right.

and so—to circle back to my first point—he can only express his devotion as naturally as breathing, so casually, almost like it's something inconsequential and not worth talking about despite how unmistakably it couldn't be further away from being the truth. it's the only way he could have always known how to express it, because, after all, who has ever taken time to ponder about the details and the hows of the way they breathe?

and i, for one, absolutely eat that shit up every time, thanks for coming to my ted talk <3