#justice for dionysus

[superkooku]

Dionysus' iceberg

This post is what remains of an initially very long rant idea. That means there will probably be a part 2 😏.

Here's the reason for my title :

In theory, you can stop there since my meme pretty much summarizes my complaints. But since I like ranting, I'll continue 😈

The tip of the iceberg

When you think "Dionysus", which words come in mind first ?

Probably "wine", "party", "alcohol" "fun god".

These words are what most people remember about Dionysus. And yes, I'm not going to deny, they fit.

Unfortunately, my problem comes with the fact that 9.5 times out of 10, Dionysus' personality will exclusively revolve around these aspects.

Since the issue is about modern adaptations and perceptions, I'll use a modern term.

I'm sure most of you are familiar with flanderization, right ? If not, the link to TV Tropes' article on the subject is available.

Many adaptations fell into that trap for, I think, every single Olympian.

Hades, god of the dead, lord of the Underworld = Satan, evil death god, darkness and sorrow

Aphrodite, goddess of love and beauty = Superficial bimbo who only cares about her pretty face

Zeus, king of the gods, lord of the sky and thunder = 100% pure God OR more recently : evil king god who constantly abuses women.

The gods are stripped of their complexity to fit simpler and more "digestible" characterizations. It doesn't help that the cultural context surrounding them is also taken away...

But this is about grape boi, right? Well, Dionysus is no exception to that rule. In fact, he might be one of the worst cases.

So far, he was never really portrayed in an "insulting" light, like Apollo in Lore Olympus or Hades in the Percy Jackson movie. Fortunately.

But, from all the popular adaptations I've seen, none of them manage to portray Dionysus ! None ! Does that make them automatically bad ? No, of course. It's just something I noticed.

God of war ? Doesn't appear, only mentioned

Disney ? Don't even try 🤣. Just a drunk goofball. Yes, that includes the fantasia segment and Hercules.

Lore Olympus? Well, he's a baby for 99.99999% of the time, so it doesn't count. But he's still a quiet little Gucci bag for Persephone.

Hades I ? Just a nice guy. But hey ! He can give us useful boons ! And I like his sass.

Maybe he'll do more in Hades II. They're usually more accurate than most, right ? Though that's not a very high bar. And they know about Zagreus ! Surely that's a good sign, right ?

Nevermind...

Here's what all these adaptations tell us :

Dionysus is the god of wine, feasts and parties

He's an Olympian

He likes to get drunk and party 🥳

And that's it.

Again, I'm not blaming anyone, but if the myths stopped with those three points, wouldn't everyone wonder why he's even an Olympian ? I sure did when I was a kid.

We have the god of thunder, the goddess of wisdom and war strategy, god of music/arts/medicine/100 other things, the god of the oceans ! Many cool gods !

And some drunk dude. He's not given any particular power, except the power to stay super passive no matter the stakes ! If the story revolves about epic godly fights (which is often the case), he's absolutely useless.

Heck, Hades II even actively depicts him as a pacifist who can't handle war. While he's not physically a weakling, he sure psychologically is.

Why is this a problem ?

I am not going to beat around the bush: this gives us a very incomplete and incorrect perception of the god.

Even the things that aren't forgotten about him (like his link to wine) aren't explored.

The thing with Hades II (that's the last time I'll mention it) is that it tries to deepen the flanderized version of Dionysus. He's not stupid, but afraid. He drinks to forget his issues.

While this characterization can be very interesting taken separately, we must remember that this isn't an OC, but an interpretation of a cultural figure.

It must be accurate ! While I can accept some liberties, I think that those should mostly be an extension of the original material, not a total deviation.

Dionysus isn't a scared little boi or a stupid drunkard you can manipulate. In fact, that's quite the opposite. And he's not afraid to get his hands dirty.

(even if the "dirt" in question is the blood of his enemies).

Under the surface

Though it's rather "stuff you can find on Wikipedia". Or by reading the myths.

More about it in part 2 of the rant...

It'll be about theater, madness, travels, link between mortality and immortality and... pirates turning into dolphins.

The actual interesting stuff about Dionysus.

Edits :

1. Thanks to @st4riel-the-w1tchling for clarifying the situation about Percy Jackson. I made my own research about BoZ. My opinion is basically still the same. Again, nothing terribly offensive, but nothing that interesting for Dionysus either.

2. I made part 2 a while ago, might as well add it here :

[katerinaaqu]

Epic the Musical:

Athena: Please dad help Odysseus! I realized he is my good friend and needs help!

Zeus: Who? That shameful man I made him choose to kill himself or his men? Why would I do that? It was so fun!You just seek attention! I'll tell you what though; if you convince others then I shall release him! Let's play

Athena: *does that*

Zeus: How DARE you!

Zeus: *strikes her*

The Odyssey:

Athena: Please father how could you forget on Odysseus who was always pious to the gods?

Zeus: Me? Forget about him? How can I? He is like one of the best when it comes to sacrifices and respecting the gods.

Athena: Then why won't you help him?

Zeus: I have nothing against the man. But my hands are tied! He committed hubris and nemesis had to find him and my brother is pissed off at him. I can't do much.

Athena: I cannot face him but now he is away please help Odysseus at least escape Ogygia! Send Hermes to bring the message and I shall go to help his son! The prophecy needs to be fulfilled!

Zeus: you speak the truth. Let us try.

[pennysucks]

Have the gods being silly cuz I was bored during class 😘

Also an excuse to make a design for Artemis, Dionysus (even if they aren't in Epic) and Poseidon

@sewerpalette @your-ne1ghbor y'all might wanna see the designs, I like Artemis' personally 😜😜😜

[batcavescolony]

Me: Red Hood comes back in like 05 and I'm reading Young Justice which ended in 03 so I won't see Jason in this.

YJ comics: ok but WHAT IF?

Me: ?????

(It's a 'What if Young Justice never existed' comic so it's not a main thing but it through me for a loop to see him)

[sephospaganplace]

Happy Anthesteria!

Day 2, flowers!

Process (and flowers!) under the Cut

[auntcl3morgan]

I hope Zeus dies in season two. Like I can tolerate trying to end the human race but KILLING DENIS?!?! WAS THAT REALLY NECESSARY???!!!

[ephiesoul]

Question: I know your art is purely SFW, but if I were to ask for Dionysus from the game Hades, would that be okay?

It’s okay by me, let’s see if I can draw him 💜 (sometimes I’m awful at drawing new characters)

[poppitron360]

The ONE thing that I don't like about TLT musical is the line about Beckendorf cheating on Selena.

BECKENDORF WOULDN'T DO THAT YOU TAKE HIS HOLY NAME OUT OF YOUR DIET-COKE-DRINKING MOUTH YOU SLOBBERING LITTLE BITCH OF A GOD!!!

[caramelmacchiato07]

ok the next cabins at camp half blood need to be amphitrite and persephone. why?

well hera gets a cabin, why shouldn’t they? they’re the big three’s wives, they literally all deserve cabins. who cares if they don’t have demigod children, hera doesn’t and she gets one! and all three of them are queens. like these bitches know what’s up and they deserve some respect.

AND! why are only zeus’ kids on the olympian council? why not any of poseidon and hades kids? why isn’t triton or melinoe or benthesikyme on the council? why are their wives not on the council? but zeus’ kids get too and his wife? that’s not even right.

[falllpoutboy]

mr d only having two demigod children at chb whilst serving out his century long punishment there is so funny like 😭 imagine coming to camp and not knowing who your dad is and you see mr d about to claim you like this

[a-supersonic-whistle]

anyway the sun and the star came out and i have. thoughts. good and bad. will contain tsats spoilers!!!

i LOVED the canon queer characters, esp the minor campers mentioned (paolo, malcom, jake). not 100% sure on why it was such a big deal/why nico was such an inspiration considering how gay greek mythology is in the first place but appreciated it anyways

they mentioned octavian! wish he was talked about more (esp in the trials of apollo) but i'll make do with the crumbs i have

so wished they delved into will's guilt/healer complex a lot more. it was obvs more of nico's POV but i wish we got some more deep thoughts from will too

SO MUCH UNTAPPED POTENTIAL FOR DIONYSUS. I WILL MAKE A WHOLE POST ABOUT THIS I SWEAR.

no idea what happened to apollo's character arc? where was he? what was the whole point of TOA if he didn't ever show up for will or nico???

on that note, there was not enough mention of nico's friends (hazel, frank, reyna, CONNOR)

i lowkey vibed with the whole "will not understanding the darkness and the underworld" thing BUT it did get a biiiit on the nose sometimes. which i understand considering i'm reading a kids book. but still.

WILL PLAGUE POWERS. not much more to say

i loved all of will's freaking out moments (ie him realizing tartarus was alive). could have done with a lot more.

will wearing cargo shorts in tartarus healed my soul

i? wanted? more? out? of? nyx's? kids? these gods/demons could have been so powerful, so much more center stage and relevant. i can make a whole post about this too.

tbh i wanted more of the gods in general

i'm obsessed. OBSESSED. with the cocoa puffs. also the whole idea of nico literally letting go of his demons makes me so happy

i wanted more michael and lee angst! where was it!

the story of nico first realizing will liked him was so cute

ALSO ALSO the fact that he was hanging with connor during that time was amazing, esp since connor was one of the first ones to ever meet him waaaayyyyy back in the titan's curse. love that they're still besties (hope that nico can now defeat him in poker)

but i did want more cecil and lou ellen :( or more of will's personal life in general

like delving into his (once-mentioned) loneliness, life on tour, being a year rounder...

stiiiillllll iffy on the context of their first kiss being... nico's grief over jason dying

on the topic of jason. i wish we interacted with him! maybe a ghost or even a dream

love that nico called piper at the end, but i wish we got a leo call too ngl

liked the concept of the whole maria/bianca thing (even though I don't get how she's in elysium if she chose rebirth??)

NICO HAVING A CRUSH ON ARES

WILL HAVING A CRUSH ON HERMES

the book didn't fall into the miscommunication trope. i loved that.

buuuuttttt they worked through their problems just a smidge too fast for me, especially for traumatized teens in their first relationships in a place that brings out their worst thoughts

the first date story was so cute i think it broke me

anyway that's all for now it's 1 am and i finished the book like 10 hours ago give it time to marinate in my mind :)

[superkooku]

+ Orpheus, through the maenads

And Perseus is the only one who didn't lose 🤣

[capricorn-the-goat]

I wanna see a comic where aquaman decides to go into the deepest parts of the ocean and discovers and witnesses different sea monsters, stuff like megaladons and giant crabs. He goes even deeper and discovers stuff like krakens, even further he finds something like Cthulhu chilling. He goes to the deepest part of the ocean, where he has to wear a suit to protect himself from the heat of nearby volcanoes. He sees this monstrosity that we don’t even see, just his horrified face and then him returning to the surface with bags under his eyes that go deeper than the Mariana Trench.

[thoughtsofadionysuskid]

Sometimes I just wonder... why leopards. Like what about Tigers? Tigers are awesome

[king-nyx]

Sometimes all you need is two delusional gays...

.....that are mentally ill and in love

[batcavescolony]

A new reason for why Young Justice is all 17 and not aging. They started a Dionysus-style cult centered around Cassie to see if they could make her into a Goddess, and it worked. In return, she made them all her immortal companions'.