#perceptions and norms

[fraseris]

one thing about me is that im obsessed with 20th century politics and counterculture movements

[fromtheseventhhell]

Imagine being 9 years old and asking your dad about the things you're interested in doing when you grow up and he's like "No ❤️! But you can get married, have babies, and then maybe your sons can do those things ☺️🫶 "

[kirby-the-gorb]

[inexplicably-spookified]

diversity win! this witch is bi... lingual?

[crimeronan]

there's an amity POV thing i wanna write for the princess luz AU, but it's truly plotless n largely just involves her being a spectator to one event that has already happened within the AU canon. which is fine i guess, i can do whatever i want and all that

but. i must admit. that 98% of the reason that i want to write this is.... just for amity watching hunter and luz be How They Are. & having a very long moment where she's genuinely and not-unkindly like. okay. Wow. you two really truly honest to god are complete freaks. god bless, love and light, diplomatic phrasing and all that, but jesus FUCKING CHRI-

[the-magpie-archives]

*please put your country in the tags! :)

[acaciapines]

stumbling out of the newest dndads episode. guys i think i might be a scary/normal shipper.

[thirdity]

To make biological survival possible, Mind at Large has to be funneled through the reducing valve of the brain and nervous system. What comes out at the other end is a measly trickle of the kind of consciousness which will help us to stay alive on the surface of this particular planet. To formulate and express the contents of this reduced awareness, man has invented and endlessly elaborated those symbol-systems and implicit philosophies which we call languages.

Aldous Huxley, The Doors of Perception

[llumimoon]

…having thoughts abt gnc or transfem sparrow……

[suncaptor]

Something about how Sam is attached and never denies being tied to masculinity, but also is denied it because of how people perceive him.

[melodiclyre]

A common societal trend I’ve noticed is quite prevalent is the romanticization of certain mental disorders and the infantilization of others. This trend thoroughly befouls our perception of people with such disorders, and in certain circumstances this can be quite harmful.

Disorders such as depression, OCD, and, even to a certain extent, anxiety are all heavily romanticized in literature and media. Characters with these conditions are constantly sought after, and seen as beautifully broken. Their suffering is seen in itself as an art of its own.

Whereas characters, as well as people, who are on the autism spectrum or have ADHD, are very often infantilized, their behaviors being described as childlike. They may be seen as annoying, bothersome, or just a pain to deal with in general. Their pain is not seen as poetic, but essentially meaningless, because their plights seem so trivial. If they are doted on, it’s often demeaning.

I’m certainly not blameless in this cultural phenomenon, but I do believe that it’s truly messed up. I wish to understand why mass behaviors such as these exist. Why do we perceive certain conditions in different lights, and is it possible that society’s preconceived notion of these disorders can change?

[starryvomit]

“9-5”

-S

[fromtheseventhhell]

I also find it funny that fandom will only accept Lyanna being her non-conforming, wild self in the context of saying that Arya isn't meant to be pretty; Any other day we get back-to-back posts about how Lyanna is actually super traditionally feminine cause she sniffled at a song once, so she's actually more like Sansa. Instead of constantly speaking on Arya and Lyanna, how about you guys reflect on why your standards of beauty for women are attached to how well they perform feminity within the patriarchy?

[ghostdrinkssoup]

Hey I hope you don't mind a question. This is related to a snippet of the recent ask you posted:

also I think using “good” and “evil” to describe will isn’t helpful in an analytical context simply because the show goes out of its way to blur moral absolutes? he exists within the complicated grey, blurring with hannibal. again, much of the show is about deconstructing polarities, particularly the difference between humanity and monstrosity

I wanted to push back on the idea that there aren't moral absolutes in Hannibal and see if I could get any more thoughts.

It seems to me like Hannibal (character, not show) is presented as entirely, unquestionably evil. The show never gives him anything resembling a redemption arc, and only makes the vaguest allusions to a tragic backstory. He does some nice things, but nothing seems like a serious attempt to paint him as morally gray.

Even his love for Will is presented as obsessive, possessive, violent, and controlling, right up to 3b when he makes an earnest attempt to murder Will's family. He has no reason to believe Dolarhyde will fail.

Obviously there is no balancing force of absolute good, but I still feel like Hannibal (show, not character) is more about, like, the way Hannibal (character) warps the morality of everyone around him in an almost gravitational way.

hi !! and yeah of course, I’m always happy to throw ideas around and discuss the show with other people :D

it’s interesting, because as I was thinking about how I wanted to approach answering this ask (and word my thoughts) I found my answer was similar to the previous ask about will’s morality, but in reverse. it’s fitting since will and hannibal are “just alike” isn’t it? identically different, mirrors, the negative space of each other, etc. I’ll explain what I mean

like with the previous ask, I think my interpretation of hannibal stems from 1) the nature of his character progression (and the role of the person suit) 2) his worldview as shown/set up in the show’s first season and 3) his foil dynamic with will and how their romance changes him (or rather, changes his perception of himself). I agree that hannibal is an irredeemable character and I love that the show never tries to redeem him or paint his violent, atrocious behaviour as “misunderstood”. I don’t think we’re supposed to think hannibal is good, or that he was right in any capacity, however, I do think the “absolute evil” we’re presented with is an aspect of his person suit, and that hannibal isn’t irredeemable because he’s an inhuman monster, but because he’s a horrible human being

to me, hannibal’s character is defined by a want for absolute control and dominance over others as a response to losing his sister and being stripped of all power and autonomy. as such, both the cannibalism and the “shattering teacup” are metaphors for his desire for control. he tries to recreate a family for himself and “reverse time” in order to hide from his own limitations and, as ridiculous as it sounds, mortality. he’s incredibly selfish, has a god complex, and absolutely delights in the idea that he is above humanity. this idea empowers him. we see this in s1 when he smirks after bedelia calls the person suit a “human veil”, like he’s pleased she sees him this way. because if he’s the devil pulling the strings then he’s not weak; if he consumes those who cross him then he must be superior; if he’s never attached then he can never lose anything or anyone. he is free from the human condition, and being perceived as “evil” fulfils this purpose perfectly

his romance with will completely shatters this illusion. the reason will still doesn’t understand hannibal in the s1 finale (when he realises hannibal is a serial killer) is because the “ripper” persona is another mask. it’s theatre, which means it’s performative. in s2 will’s person suit begins to mirror hannibal’s, the two of them becoming the “evil” versions of themselves, however, in mizumono this idea is completely deconstructed too, not because hannibal is suddenly a good person, but because by becoming attached to will, and being successfully manipulated by him, he finally loses control. he’s no longer the all-seeing god pulling the strings. not only that, but his love for will is not something he can control. ironically, the ripper has been ripped open, and his humanity is exposed as the ugly, bleeding wound it is (metaphorically, of course)

in s3 we learn the point of hannibal’s arc is to see the deconstruction of his person suit, like how will recreates the crime scenes to see the human underneath the killers he analyses. again, not to apologise for them, but to see them. hannibal is absolutely humiliated as punishment for his arrogance, and that untouchable monster we’re introduced to is exposed as the pathetic toddler he is in reality. he’s no longer in control, and never has been. hannibal wishes he was above humanity, he wishes he was absolutely evil and sitting on the devil’s throne, but he’s not. in fact, in s1 he’s just as desperate to hide from his “humanity” as will is to hide from his “monster”. still, they only realise the truth of themselves when these concepts begin to blur and merge together

on that note, I think something the show goes out of its way to challenge is the notion that humanity (and love) is synonymous with goodness. it would be easier to distinguish people as either good or evil (humans or monsters) because either persona is palatable and tolerable in a society that has certain expectations and roles we’re meant to follow. the person suit itself is a metaphor for conformity, but the show also suggests that the suit (or “mask”) is a prison in of itself, and that there is no freedom in constructing a false version of yourself to present to the world, no matter how terrible the human inside is. it’s why hannibal gives himself up in s3, and why his arc is complete when he relinquishes control and lets will pull him off the cliff in twotl, because he realises he’ll never be free if he’s never understood, accepted, and forgiven for his grotesque humanity. no one else in the world can do it (because he’s fucking awful) but will can, because he’s the same

[bookwyrminspiration]

Could you talk about the relationship between keefe and Grady and how it could evolve?

Absolutely I could, thank you for your patience! Notably, we've recently seen a huge step between the two of them with Grady beginning to train Keefe in his new ability, something that almost feels unreal given how much people spoke about this prior to it actually happening.

Right now, I think Keefe reminds Grady of himself. They're on similar journeys, but one Grady is much further along, and that's set the scene for a large percentage of their interactions. Maybe Keefe is a troublemaker, maybe he's not good, but he's hurting. And he's hurting in ways that are familiar to him, ways that are an echo of his own pain from centuries past. So Grady is setting aside some of his reservations for the chance to do him so good, to connect with him in a way that no one else is capable of.

From Keefe's perspective, I think this is more about being accepted as part of Sophie's life than about the training. Instead of being pushed away from her family, now there's a bridge. For once, something he's doing (his fondness and presence in her life) isn't a rebellion; he's not breaking the "rules" to do it, it's accepted (if with a bit of grumbling). A bond with Grady is like permission to be in her life, you could argue.

However, this is all new and tenuous, so there's room to grow and evolve. Interaction beyond training, for Grady to learn who Keefe is without the bias of seeing him as a troublemaker. For Keefe to see him as someone to learn from and respect instead of as another authority figure to skirt around and rebel against. I think there's opportunity for the two to really learn from each other, and to potentially even form a more familial bond. They're very likely going to have the time to do so if Keefe starts hanging around Havenfield even more to see Sophie. He'll become part of the family and Grady will learn to appreciate him, even if he's exasperated at times--at least that's where they seem to be heading

I'm curious to see what becomes of the two of them, so thank you for asking :)

[gay-spock]

genuine question: i haven’t seen snw but i have every intention of watching before s2 comes out. but like. i feel like a LOTTTT of what i’ve seen about it, and based on trailers and scenes, is it as. romance and couple heavy as it seems? like it seems like they’re constantly throwing random pairs together to see what sticks (and nothing seems to stick tbh) and it’s been like. the reason i haven’t watched it