#metaphor

[tomicscomics]

04/26/2024

It's a metaphor!

What's a meta for?

Nothin! What's a meta for you!

*wheezes for six minutes straight without taking a breath*

___

JOKE-OGRAPHY: 1. In this Bible story, Jesus describes Himself as a vine (like a grapevine), and His disciples as its branches. Branches can only bear fruit while connected to the main vine. If their connection is severed or tainted, they wither and die, and then they're pruned, suitable only for being tossed in a fire. Jesus is warning His disciples that their mission's fruitfulness depends on their continued, dedicated, healthy connection with Him and His Father. 2. In this cartoon, after hearing Jesus's metaphor, Peter declares that he and the other apostles (the "branches" in Jesus's metaphor) will "stick" with the vine. A "stick" is a long, thin piece of wood (like a branch), but "stick" can also mean "stay connected to." This is an inferior pun, because while the word "stick" has the two above meanings, only one of those meanings makes grammatical sense in Peter's comment (the latter). 3. Jesus replies that the vine (Him, in the metaphor) will be "rooting" for them. "Rooting" can either mean "laying down roots" (as in a tree growing its roots into the ground), or "cheering on" (like an audience cheering for a sports team). This is a superior pun to Peter's, because both meanings make grammatical sense in Jesus's comment. His declaration can be taken to mean either (1) that, as the vine, He'll provide the apostles with roots to nourish their fruitfulness, or (2) that, as their teacher, friend, and Lord, He'll be cheering them on and supporting them in their mission.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: This is another "Tomics Resurrection," where I have plucked the desiccated husk of an old cartoon from the withered branch of the past, and gorged it with so many steroids and hormones that it blasphemes nature but looks way more colorful! Also, it's been slightly reworded to flow better while maintaining the meaning of the passage; the disciples have been moved inside to the Last Supper, since this reading takes place either during or just after; and the image of the grapevine is in the second panel now, including a lush branch and a withered branch to illustrate what Jesus is saying. Tell me, how does it compare?

[365filmsbyauroranocte]

The Holdovers (Alexander Payne, 2023)

[strnvloz]

Never posted this on here its pretty old

[saja-star]

One of my favorite things about learning about traditional textiles is the little ghosts they left in the language. Of course the ghosts are there, now that I know to look for them. Once upon a time, half the population spent a majority of their day making textiles. Spinning, at the very least, has been a part of humanity since the Neanderthals. That kind of knowledge doesn't just disappear.

A heckle was a device with sharp metal spikes, and people drag flax through the spikes to separate out the fibers from the chaff. When you say someone heckled a performer, you think you are being literal but you're speaking in an ancient metaphor.

When my grandpa says "spinning yarns" to mean telling stories, he knows that one's not quite literal, but its vividness is lost to him. There is no image in his mind of rhythm, muscle memory, and the subtle twist that aligns clouds of fibers into a single, strong cord.

When a fanfic writer describes someone carding their fingers through someone's hair, that's the most discordant in my mind. Carding is rough, and quick, and sometimes messy (my wool is full of debris, even after lots of washing). The teeth of my cards are densely packed and scratchy. But maybe that's my error, not the writer's. Before cards were invented, wool was combed with wide-toothed combs, and sometimes, in point of fact, with fingers. The verb "to card" (from Middle English) may actually be older than the tools I use, archaic as they are. And I say may, because I can't find a definitive history. People forget, even when the language remembers.

[asharestupid]

I don't like sushi. I don't want to eat sushi. But you don't hear me DENYING that sushi EXISTS. I've never told someone that likes sushi that their INDOCTRINATING people into liking sushi. You won't catch me SLAPPING sushi out of someone's hand and telling them not to eat it. So don't do that with lgbtq+ ppl, okay? =]

[puzzled-pegasus]

Here's some silly little metaphors that I think the dragon tribes would use

SkyWings

“Don’t count your clutch before they hatch.” (Don't plan too much too soon)

“Gold is better than silver, but silver is better than nothing.” (If you can't do it perfectly, still try your best. Most dragons forget the second part.)

“‘Sorry’ can't suck the fire back in.” (The damage is done and now you're dead to me.)

“You been eating too much burnt meat or something?” (Are you nuts?)

“Stop all this smoke and use your fire.” (Stop rambling and get to the point already; or stop complaining and do something)

“Doesn't know his tail from his wings.” (Stupid or clumsy)

“You fly like a depressed pigeon.” (Slow flier)

“There's no fire in a rainstorm.” (Stop feeling sorry for yourself and get to work.)

“Nighttime is for the NightWings.” (What are you doing up? Go to sleep.)

SandWings

“She’s all rattle, and no strike.” (Like all bark no bite)

“A diamond in a pile of quartz.” (Like a needle in a haystack)

“You’re watering the cactus and ignoring the sapling.” (You’re focusing on the wrong thing; barking up the wrong tree)

“Everyone thinks the camel looks silly until the dry season comes.” (Don't listen to them, they don't know how unique and strong you are)

MudWings

“Crocodile tears.” (Fake crying in order to gain sympathy)

“You can only catch a trout if your mouth is open.” (Be open to new experiences)

“If the tree gives away too much, it ends up as a stump.” (Don't let people take advantage of your generosity)

SeaWings

“Happy as a clam in high water.” (Very happy)

“The flying fish feels like a fool when it sees an osprey.” (Don't compare yourself to others, run your own race.)

“Plenty of fish in the sea.” (Plenty more opportunities to come.)

“You’ve got ink in your eyes.” (You're blind to something important)

“Lobsters only die when they don't leave their shell.” (Keep yourself busy with new experiences and you'll life a long life)

NightWings

“Sleep is for the dead.” (Why waste your time sleeping when you could be productive)

“SeaWings know their fish and SandWings know their cactuses, but we NightWings know everything else.”(NightWing supremacy propaganda)

“Being nice to a deer never got one in my mouth.” (Other dragons don't matter, only your goals.)

“A prophecy always comes true.” (I told you so but more cryptic)

"You're counting the stars." (You're doing something tedious towards an unachievable goal)

RainWings

“Gray’s her favorite color.” (She's a huge bummer)

“A lemon is yellow on the outside, doesn't mean they're not sour.” (Referring to someone who is two faced or fake)

“I love honey, but I’d rather not get stung by the bees.” (I could do this, but it requires effort so I don't wanna)

“Nobody likes a rotten banana.” (Nobody likes a bummer/downer)

“Don't tie your tail in a knot” (don't get all upset)

“I have all my berries in a basket” (I have everything sorted out)

“You couldn't sneak up on a pineapple” (insult to one's camouflage skills, popular among children)

IceWings

“The seal who asks why the orca is chasing him is the first to get eaten.” (A favorite of parents telling their kids to shut up)

“Not the sharpest icicle on the roof” (kinda stupid or slow)

“Clear as polished ice” (i understand or see it very well)

“You're looking a little pink in the face” (you look sickly. IceWings can turn pink from eating too much krill; a symptom of malnutrition. This line can be applied to any illness.)

“Blue blood kills, red blood spills.” (Patriotic propaganda implying that IceWings win every fight

“The SkyWings toss their blue eyed hatchlings because they're worried they'll be as strong as an IceWing.” (More propaganda)

HiveWings

“Pretty is for the SilkWings.” (Vanity is stupid and impractical)

“If it buzzes like a bug and bites like a bug, it's a bug.” (Don't ignore the obvious)

“Clearsight works in mysterious ways.” (I don't know the answer to your question, now go away)

SilkWings

“It's not always good to know how the honey gets made.” (Don't stick your snout where it doesn't belong)

“She's got a couple of threads loose.” (Calling someone a little crazy, threads refers to weaving)

“The bee minds its flowers and the spider minds her silk, it's when they mix that bad things happen.” (Mind ya business)

LeafWings

“Flytraps only trap because the soil doesn't feed them.” (Dragons don't get angry out of nowhere)

“Looking like a leaf only hides you in the forest.” (Time and place)

“If a branch doesn't bend, it breaks.” (Be flexible)

“Even the corpse flower attracts the flies.” (Even someone who seems ugly to one dragon they can seem irresistible to another)

[fuckingwhateverdude]

@nosebleedclub / jan. #24

[zoomar]

Poverty

[thunderandsage]

“food as metaphor for love” this “food as metaphor for love” that when do we get HUNGER as a metaphor for yearning and aching for affection

[cannibal-love-confessions]

Everyone always talks about how much they love cannibalism as a metaphor for intense love and intimacy but the moment I bring up necrophilia I get stones thrown at me.

[365filmsbyauroranocte]

My Own Private Idaho (Gus Van Sant, 1991)

[sputniks-taboo-thoughts]

if i see one more pomegranate metaphor tiktok im going to shit myself. its a fucking fruit and you turned it into misogyny. women gentle men rough. women soft men hard. women weak men strong. how about i gently beat the shit out of you and stuff pomegranate seeds down your throat until you choke huh? are your offensive gender roles going to help you then? women swallow men spit? is that how you think?

[blackswanwaif]

does this make sense lol

[syggwolf]

You know, this fight between "werewolves are too doggified and we've lost touch with what animals are actually like and they're a symbol of the dark feral side of mankind blah blah blah" and "BIG PUBBY OUPPY BOOFER PET IT BOOP THE SNOOT" is kinda missing the point. Did not the original wolf fear and hate the fire, and those who tended it, but ultimately yearn for its warmth anyway? Does not the feral, deranged part of us only wish to be understood and safe? Y'all have forgotten that the light contains the dark and the dark contains the light. A werewolf could yearn for acceptance and actually find it, and grow, and change, but a werewolf has to start out as a feral, misunderstood, feared and rejected beast. Or a werewolf can be tamed, almost domesticated, only for those around it to find out exactly how wrong they were. And don't forget, a werewolf that has changed can fall once again, or work to be gentle once more... The war people wage for acceptance is the voice of the werewolf and vice versa. We are the outcast, but we wish to be warmed and known. We yearn for safety yet we contain the feral rage of the rejected. The werewolf is versatile, vagaries of a friend, the potential of the known but gently frightening dog, or the bared fangs of the rejected, the outcast, the cursed and hated wolf. The werewolf is nothing less than the Samsara of our pain, our potential, our rage, our ability to love, our oppression, and the need to heal from it.

There is no wrong way to be a werewolf.

[elistodragonwings]

I think Todd plays a more important role in Nimona than just to be the annoying bully for viewers to hate. His overt bad behavior removes any possible rational basis someone could claim for the Director's absolute faith in the superiority of the noble class as knights.

Without Todd, the only other high status knight we'd get to know is Ambrosius, who, for all his faults, is still largely the kind of upstanding person knights are "supposed" to be. Without Todd, it would be possible to imagine a world where the Director has only ever worked with knights like Ambrosius and thus is perhaps naive.

But instead we have Todd, openly acting terrible in a way the Director can't miss, indeed, she *doesn't* miss it, even commenting on his behavior directly, and yet her faith in the system and her distrust of commoners doesn't change.

Todd exists to show how evidence alone doesn't hold up to blind faith and fear of others. And this makes sense. The world of Nimona isn't a metaphor for America as a whole, but for the America that exists under evangelical and fundamentalist Christianity, which rejects reason and openness to others and the possibility that it might be wrong, instead favoring obedience to tradition and heirarchy and conclusions-first reasoning. Todd's existence reveals through the Director just how dangerous valuing faith and belief above all else can be.