#discuss lessons learned

[be-it-so]

I love that Odysseus doesn't really change during all of his (mis)adventures. When he comes back after all these twenty years, he is still the same person he was when he left.

The only real change happening to him during these years is that he progressively becomes more and more tired.

[spaghetti-machete]

oh god. nandor's finally stable and happy and he's going to have his heart crushed by guillermo, isn't he

[dawntheduckrb]

Edward Hopper

(from beginning, Nighthawks, 1942; Automat, 1927; Summer Evening, 1947; Early Sunday Morning, 1930; New York Movie, 1939; House at Dusk, 1935; Room in New York, 1932)

Modernist work is all about critiquing the arrival of modern society; celebrating it's advances in technology and culture and the arrival of a new, energetic way to live... or turning it's back on the chaos, sinfulness, and loneliness of city life and seeking a return to an older, more "civil" way of living. A notable amount of Modernist work sits somewhere on this spectrum, more often than not acknowledging how hectic modern society has become with things busy compositions or offensively bright colors, or... bold... use of the human figure (whatever that meant at the time, at least).

Hopper's work here carries those same ideas, but his execution of them was a bit of a change of pace. When looking at his work, there's a sort of mellow tone that highlights the emptiness and spaciousness of modern life in these less-exciting moments; the silence of a lone worker in between movie showings... the eerie emptiness of a street right at dawn, at a moment between the fun parties and the start of the work day... a moment of time at a cafe or a bar, with people coming to sit in silence after work, or maybe even to find something to wake up to after a sleepless night.

When I discussed these works in a class this year, we couldn't decide whether these seemed to be criticizing society for having turned out this way, or if these scenes were made simply to say, "this exists, and this is what life has become, whether you want to think about it or not." Even now, I'm still mixed; despite that, these still resonated with me. These peaceful moments are valuable times of respite, but sometimes seems to highlight just how tired everyone is. Or, to quote my professor, "what the world looks like when coffee stops being something to partake in socially and turns into a requirement to make it through the day. "

[angy-grrr]

I don’t get why ppl keep saying bkdk is dead or Horikoshi broke off bkdk. If that were true, this extra would look very different as you pointed out multiple times. The extra was still heavily focused on them and I hate how ppl are letting one no dictate the entire relationship. Izuku asks him to be a special lecturer too. I think the no just needs more clarification but other than that it is mostly fine. If a ship were to be shut down by the creator, it would look very different. Same logic for if a ship were to be canon, it would look different than what we got in the end for izu///ocha. This extra was bad in different ways from ships. It was just a whole lot of nothing that doesn’t meaningfully add anything to the story but I guess we shouldn’t be surprised since it is an extra. It is still an ambiguous ending that can be pretty fixable by one shots by Horikoshi in the future or even better by fanfiction lol. Except for the Toga part. That is just inexcusable

himiko-chan :(

and yeah! like even tho 431 is terrible not only for pairs but also for the whole story, it only confirmed Katsuki feels something really strong for deku and he doesnt notice bc he doesnt consider himself to be that great; they keep talking, and they keep being in each other's lives with no problem -they also imply they will work on communicating their feelings, as the special lecture is about this topic and deku also thinks katsuki doesnt see himself in a high regard. This is actually something that could be used in the future, as their relationship and arc isnt completely finished -in the way that they arent at a point of no miscommunication, no yearning, etc. They still need something to work with in regards to themselves and each other in the process. When it comes to midoriya and uraraka, idk what exactly could develop from what 431 tell us -seems to be mostly about paying attention to the ppl in your life instead of just letting life happen I guess? But idk what conversation or arc they could have together that wasn't resolved already, it was a really weird choice to focus on them as if there needs to be more explored -which is why choosing to not make them talk to each other nor think of the other in these years is potentially interesting, like the only way they could actually need to talk things up or have a separated special moment is if they just stop being friends and want to talk more from now on. Like, if they kept their friendship these years and were part of the other's life, there wouldnt be a moment like this at all.

I think it hurt mostly ochako -and deku if we interpret it as "deku just wants to be teacher, he is super happy about it, and loveeees so much his ex bestie after 8 years of no contact and never thinking about her"-, more than the bkdk relationship.

It would be interesting to see those one shots, if he does them -I know he said he wanted to do more things and little drawings and content for it, but idk if he will do something elaborate or just one page of something silly. I think he still has to opportunity of working with the material and make something at least not this bad -or completely ignore 431 and just continue with their adventures like 430 implies lol If he wants to double down with the "romance" I have no idea how he could do it with what he has tbh, unless he just ignores the plot and their personalities.

[reverseenchancia]

Detailed Analysis- Day of the Sorcerers

I know we all love this episode ❤️ and I couldn't help myself

Character Dynamics

Cedric's Internal Conflict

Cedric's character is central to the episode's narrative. Throughout the series, Cedric has been portrayed as a character with a complex mix of ambition and vulnerability. In Day of the Sorcerers, these traits are brought to the forefront. Cedric's longing for recognition stems from his perceived failures and the constant overshadowing by other sorcerers. His decision to ally with Grimtrix is a manifestation of his desperation to change his status and prove himself. However, this alliance is fraught with moral dilemmas, as it requires him to betray Sofia, someone who has shown him genuine friendship and trust. Cedric's hesitation and eventual refusal to harm Sofia highlight his internal struggle. Despite his ambitions, he can not fully commit to a path that would hurt someone he cares about deeply. This conflict between his desires and his conscience is a pivotal aspect of his character development.

Sofia's Role as a Moral Compass - Sofia serves as a moral anchor in Cedric's life. Her unwavering belief in Cedric's inherent goodness is a testament to her empathy and understanding nature. Throughout the episode, Sofia demonstrates maturity beyond her years by seeking to understand Cedric's motivations rather than simply condemning him for his actions. Her compassion and willingness to forgive play a crucial role in guiding Cedric towards redemption. Sofia's approach to conflict resolution—emphasizing understanding and forgiveness—reflects her growth as a character and her influence on those around her. She embodies the values of empathy and second chances, which are core themes of the series.

Thematic Exploration

Ambition vs. Friendship - The tension between ambition and friendship is a central theme in Day of the Sorcerers. Cedric's ambition drives him to make choices that threaten his relationship with Sofia. The episode poses critical questions about the cost of ambition: Is it worth sacrificing personal relationships for success? Cedric's journey illustrates the potential pitfalls of unchecked ambition, highlighting how it can lead individuals astray from their true selves.

Redemption and Forgiveness - Redemption is another key theme explored in this episode. Sofia's capacity to forgive Cedric underscores the importance of empathy and understanding in relationships. Her actions suggest that everyone deserves an opportunity to make amends, reinforcing a message of hope and personal growth. This theme resonates throughout the series, emphasizing that mistakes do not define a person but rather how they choose to rectify them does.

Narrative Significance

Setting Up Future Arcs - Day of the Sorcerers serves as a catalyst for future narrative developments in Sofia the First. Cedric's decision to ultimately side with Sofia against Grimtrix signifies a turning point in his character arc. This choice not only impacts his relationship with Sofia but also sets up potential storylines involving his journey towards redemption and acceptance within Enchancia. The introduction of Grimtrix adds a new layer of conflict, suggesting that Cedric's path will be fraught with challenges. This external threat serves as both an obstacle and an opportunity for Cedric to prove his loyalty and growth.

Character Evolution - The episode marks significant evolution for both Cedric and Sofia. For Cedric, it represents a moment of self-realization—acknowledging that true power lies not in domination but in integrity and friendship. For Sofia, it reinforces her role as a leader who values understanding over judgment. In conclusion, Day of the Sorcerers is a rich episode that delves into complex themes of ambition, friendship, redemption, and forgiveness. It deepens character relationships while setting up intriguing possibilities for future episodes, making it a pivotal moment in the series' narrative arc.

[beebeesiims]

See this is why I give people the benefit of the doubt when it comes to “common Simblr knowledge” because I cannot COUNT the amount of times I’ve seen someone comment about something or make a statement about a behavior while having never seen the behavior myself, just the result.

[goldkirk]

I ate half a serving of some really really good pesto pasta in the evening. Just rocketed out of bed at 3 AM after an hour or so of intense rounds of pain and I’m not going to go into details but holy shit I wish I never ate more than a couple bites of it and just brought a smoothie or soup to the restaraunt instead this is AWFUL. Literally hauled myself into the bathtub with warm water just to breathe.

[deliajackson]

Imagine saying the Gods from the Myths are not the embodiment of natural law because you don't like how they are portrayed in a children's book.

[hey-heigo]

group project partner (derogatory)

[teh-nos]

when a government department offers u the information in one of the other two UK languages, Welsh or Large Print

[prozach27]

.

[pentacass]

ves and lana politicking

expectation: masterful political maneuvers. ingenious plots and counterplots. two keen intellects at war.

reality: lana Strategically™ distracts ves during dark council meetings by sending post-gym thirst trap photos of herself in the mirror, hem of her racerback bit between her teeth to show her abs

[dimonds456]

Aight, what you see above is an article that's getting passed around by proshippers. I'm making my own post separate from theirs to discuss the contents of this article and why I believe everyone *should* read it, while also I don't believe the article is correct.

The article was written by a Japanese artist who had been harassed for "proshipping" online, even though they themself did not partake in anything more than aging up 15-year-old characters to 19. As far as they claim, that was it (though the artwork itself is not provided).

Someone had DMed them, asking if they were a proshipper, or a "problematic shipper", to which they shrugged and went "I guess so?" and then that person-referred to as A- started spreading it to all their friends that A was a proshipper and to avoid them, leading to soft blocks, harassment, ect.

Something I'd like to point out that is correct about this article is the meaning of "proshipper." It doesn't mean "problematic ships." Instead, "pro" is the prefix, not an abbreviation. The meaning is in reference to someone who is unbothered by any specific type of ship, and/or supports the creation of problematic ships. This difference is, I feel, important, not because the definition is changed, but because how people view that definition changes substantially.

Keep that in mind.

Something else of note here is the cultural difference. The artist is from Japan, and according to them, Japan allows ships of any kind. Japan, as a country, is proship, which creates vast and varied artistic expressions. Any and everything is allowed.

And, according to worldpopulationreview.com, the age of consent in Japan is 13 (though articles are saying they're rethinking this law).

Again, I recommend reading the article for yourself to fully understand the artist's point of view, but I'd like to break down where the author was wrong about many things. A lot of them stem from cultural differences and are normalized, so you can't really blame them, but it's good to keep in mind when interacting with proshippers from all over the world.

Something they're right about is harassment. I don't think people should be being harassed for stuff like this. Blocked? Yes.

The first thing they got wrong was the general assumption that fiction doesn't affect reality, or that antis cannot tell the difference between fiction and reality. This (at least for a lot of us) isn't true. Using myself as an example, it's clear to me that fiction and reality are two different worlds.

However, to say that fiction doesn't affect reality is false. Both worlds influence each other. If an adult starts dating a 13-year-old in fiction, younger audience members who watch that will see that relationship play out. Depending on how it's portrayed, this can either help or harm that audience member. If this relationship is deemed bad in that piece of media, then the younger members of that audience will remember that, vs if they say it's okay, THAT'S where you've crossed into proship territory that is actively harmful towards your audience.

I am a firm believer that anything should be allowed in fiction, as long as the author is respectful, responsible, and considers the ramifications of their work towards a real audience. So like, having a relationship between a 19-year-old and a 13-year-old should be allowed to be portrayed, as long as it isn't positive. By not allowing these stories to be told at all, that's leaning into some book burning shit.

What the author did, aging up 15-year-olds to 19, is not inherently bad, especially since they say it wasn't sexual in nature (but again, the art itself is never presented).

The second thing they get wrong is calling us a minority. I don't believe there were any studies done on this, but I don't think the majority of Americans go around talking about shipping children with adults? Again, it's a cultural difference that was influenced on this specific artist BY other proshippers. It's a biased view from both sides. I do not believe any studies have officially been done on this subject, so you cannot call us a minority. But, we can't call you a minority, either. I'm not sure how many there are on either side.

But also, I don't think that really matters. Continuing my topic from before with fiction affecting reality, if someone in that audience can get hurt because of your story, then it doesn't matter if the majority don't. It's still harmful and can affect reality- THIS reality- in negative ways. By drawing proship art and saying it doesn't matter because it's fiction, you're helping to normalize this art for ACTUAL predators. It doesn't matter how many proshippers there are, this is STILL harmful.

Something else I noticed, but I cannot point specifically to this article as evidence for, but it may be influencing the author, is the idea of in-fandom vs outside-fandom. The author mentions this a couple times, though usually in reference to the cultural differences between Japan and America.

The author is outside the US fandom, and so doesn't fully understand its inner workings or why so many of us are anti-proship "purest"s. I don't know how else to explain this besides going up to your grandparents and asking them if they think proshipping is okay.

Upon hearing the actual definition- being unbothered or perpetuating any type of relationship between two or more characters in fiction- they might go "yeah I agree with that," because that does sound nice on paper. Freedom of expression.

But what antis have come to realize is that fiction DOES affect reality, and if you were to ask your grandparents if they thing a child should be in a relationship with an adult, they'd probably go "no."

This is purely because they don't understand the culture of being online, and the several, several subcultures that came to be. We know what proshippers are and what they represent, but someone outside fandom space wouldn't.

And now, to any proshippers reading this: first of all, thank you for hearing me out, lol. But then, I ask you to please re-evaluate why you're a proshipper. Is it for the freedom of expression idea, do you just not give a shit, or do you genuinely enjoy seeing kids and adults together? Maybe something else? I'm not going to tell you how to feel about that- you can come to your own conclusion- but I do ask that you re-examine that idea.

If the author is SOMEHOW reading this, first of all, thank you too. My goal here was not to harass you in any way, but to point out the core of why this article doesn't really work. I'm sure in Japan things are vastly different, and that's not your fault, OP. And although I don't stand by what A did to you, I do ask that you think again. Stuff like this does affect reality, even in small ways (but when it comes to p*dos, it can be FAR more harmful than good).

Proshippers help normalize unhealthy behaviors that can seriously hurt children for the rest of their lives. Do proships exist in reality? ...Yes. Not between fictional characters, but those characters can influence people in real life to go "oh yeah the incest ship was okay in this anime, which means it's fine if I'm like that, too." It's not fine. It's not okay.

Again, I'm not here to harass you, and ultimately it's up to you whether you choose to listen. I'm sorry for the harassment at all, that should not have occurred.

Back to my general audience, though, yeah. Again, read the article for yourself (which I do still highly recommend). It gives a good glimpse into the minds and ideas of some proshippers out there. I don't think OP is a bad person, just misinformed. And I believe the same of a lot of proshippers out there. We can't change their minds, but we can make sure misinfo like what is in the article is debunked, and spread correct information regarding the subject.

Some sources:

Again, read the article, do some thinking (on BOTH sides), and have a good one, guys.

[misiahasahardname]

i suddenly remember why i hate drawing over my art

i'm never doing pen outlines again

[ineloquent-tumbling]

I have never before had an online class in which I actually found the mandatory discussion posts useful. I’m really surprised to find the exception in a class about grammar.

[frauenfootball]

I would not be sad with Aussie-Sweden final. I can't see Norway making it to the semis or the US finishing 2nd in their group though.

I feel like if Norway does face Japan in Ro16 and the Netherlands in QFs, they've got a good chance of making it to the final.

Norway's front/attacking players have been in amazing form, and are often the best players in their club teams. If that club form translates to country and they play together well, it's going to be so good to see! You'll have Maanum as CAM, Hegerberg as central striker, and Reiten and Graham-Hansen on the wings. I suppose it's the back line you'll have to worry about + how the midfield will gel. But Mjelde's been looking solid... I'm gonna believe 😁

I do agree it's unlikely that the USA will finish second, but I'm banking on chaos on that one.

I guess if the USA does finish 1st in their group and Norway faces them in the quarterfinals, it would definitely be much more difficult for Norway.