ok but i love it when the important moments that have been built up from LONG in stories actually turn out to be really... humanly normal? Yet fitting? The meeting with that once in a lifetime love you been hyping us up for 9 years (see: how i met your mother) actually just happens under rain, on a station and they actually just joke about how the guy once entered the wrong class to teach. Confessions being accidental, transformative moments not appearing like that without the hindsight etc etc.
On A TANGENT, I ALSO love when the moments happen with a full cheesy bang and boom, if it calls for it! yall been beating around to bush for 4 seasons (see: Kaguya-Sama: Love is War) and THE MAN FINALLY confesses with an elaborate set up, on a special night with a hunt and hundreds of balloons timed, the lighting timed and on the damn roof of highschool???
its just good seeing stories be apologetically *themselves*. I think we are becoming too hyper aware of tropes, irony and a lil too critical of unrealistic fantasy that something just leaning into fully being ITSELF, trying hard, being cheesy is just FRESH.
Ah, I babbled.
As more and more time passes, I feel more and more attached to the few representations in media we have. Being on a-spec is awesome in its own way, but I only wish if I could see more of it in media. Not because I wanna feel seen. But because I wanna see what future might look like for someone on a-spec who doesn't want any sort of partnership. I saw some posts earlier talking about how a "single" life is extremely hard to sustain in current economy and that's extremely true. I also remember my friend saying "you can always adopt kids! You need someone to look after you in old age!" And... she was somewhat right, in a way. I don't want kids, but... what exactly is my future going to be like? Who is going to be there for me in a world where romantic relationships are prioritized before anything else? Its just all very very... in dark. There is no movie or book to look at and say "hey! Thats the kind of life I want!" Because every single media shows a version of life that isn't for me. I talk to my friends about wanting to live as a "single queer cat lady" but... realistically, how sustainable and possible is that?
US
This. because what do you mean you have watched that show I absolutely adore, you little fuck, don’t ruin it for me.
Absolutely nothing worse than finding out that you share interests with someone you hate. Has you thinking things like fuck you I'm better at enjoying star wars than you are
Villainification of Perfectly Reasonable Anger; A Queer Feminist's Rant.
I am so tired of the entire 'man hating' feminist narrative and everything surrounding it, honestly. Yes, I am angry, Kevin. And this anger is here to stay. I am angry because you are quite literally making me debate if I deserve human rights or not? If my gender deserves healthcare or not?
I was watching a video (Essayist: Contrapoints) today where the woman perfectly articulates the immense emotional disdain and burden felt by the person of minority when they are asked to sit and 'debate'/explain why they deserve the bare freaking minimum, why their existence is valid, to their 'oppressor'-- and it almost made me tear up, because I have been put into that position to explain/debate so so many times. Topics like abortion, equal pay, LGBTQ rights-- that I have had to discuss 'rationally' with people in my life, because they simply have differing 'opinions'. I could never put that terrible feeling into words.
My dear, you are putting people in the position where their entire existence is put to question and placed up for debate like a simple small political issue-- and then you ask them to not be angry? When they argue back, why is it an 'overly emotional' and 'irrational' response? Is their pain, sadness and fury not warranted? Is it really an overreaction, or simply the most natural fucking response?
Is feeling hurt and angry because people who I am surrounded with, live with, frequent places with, talk daily with, cannot-- forget accepting my identity--even wrap their head around it sometimes, that unreasonable? I would say.. it isn't. So my rage is here to stay. And whilst it won't be directed at you, it will stay until we have fixed this accursed state of society.
Or nevermind that.
Which brings me to my second point.
The Romanticisation of Cold Logic and Neutral Stance
Why have we started romanticizing 'neutral cold hard logic' or 'detached stance' so much? A person who remains emotionless in the argument is not the winner. They simply do not have enough leverage in the topics being discussed (especially in cases of gender issues).
You say 'let's discuss why women shouldn't be allowed body autonomy' and you expect me to be like 'oh dear Jared, of course, let's have a calm and collected "debate" about our body rights. Do you want a tea while we discuss this little measly political issue?'
Jared, the only reason you aren't loosing your shit right now is because this thing won't ever affect you the way it does the person opposite to you. So don't ask me to 'chill out'.
We are angry and it's fucking valid.
Peace.
My reactions today while reading blackwater arc (vol 4):
Hm..hm.. HUH?!?! MING YI....? Oh... oh he xuan- shi qingxuan.. *near to cryin-- SHI WUDUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO STOPPPP *gapes at the words* *dies out of shock* *confused at the hulian scene after that trauma???*
Do you ever have a mood like "I will change the world, work my ass off" and next second you are like "its just 1 life, I should live it to fullest" and just proceed to watch TV for hours.
Just finished reading the secret history and lemme tell ya, the moment I reached 450 page mark- it was a whole another moment. audibly yelled, "what, what the fuck, what the fuck is happening" at what the fuck was happening.
"No country would ever consider it an act of evil to deny a pig human rights.
Therefore, if you were to define someone speaking a different tongue, someone of a different color, someone of a different heritage as a pig in human form, any oppression, persecution, or atrocity you might inflict upon them would never be regarded as cruel or inhumane."
--Eighty Six, Vol. 1
The Ambiguous State Of Tevyat
Tevyat has its own laws in a lot many contexts, but do you ever wonder, does sexism and homophobia exist in the world of tevyat and so correlating to the world of Genshin Impact? Let me know your views.
I read about that confirmation from Arcane’s creators that homophobia and sexism does not simply exist in the universe of Arcane– and I think this is one of the reasons why the representation and the character writing (women’s especially) shines in arcane. There has already been enough praise about Arcane’s writing so I won’t get into it here.
But that made me think that Is that not the perfect setting to write endearing characters in? It eliminates a much more complicated aspect and leaves you with people as an empty blank slate– whose grievances will be based on class struggle, capitalism etc– sure. But it lets everyone be just… everyone. If that makes sense. Why I also relate to that method of storytelling is because (I promise it's about genshin, wait for it) I do end up writing my stories that way– at least a lot of my characters, who have mostly deconstructed most of their ingrained prejudices by the time the story starts, so I can focus on their struggle as related to the story then.
It also got me thinking about Genshin.
SEXISM in the world of Tevyat…
Does not exist. I believe and concur so. Gender-specific crimes have been implied (see Lynette’s story), but in the entirety of its socio political landscape, sexism does not exist in tevyat.
In a world where women harness powers greater than men a lot of times, rule nations and none bats an eye. Soldiers exist as soldiers, knights exist as knights– not women, not men. (My egalitarian perspective’s start to ideal world, really)
I think sexism not existing in the world of Genshin is just very obvious, by the nature of it being an anime-stylised gacha game as well.
HOMOPHOBIA in the world of Tevyat…
Is harder to discuss because even if homophobia does not exist in tevyat, it sure does exist in China. A lot.
But despite that fact, let’s discuss it. HYV has always massively queer-coded their games (go argue with the wall, this is an obvious fact). Even in the face of strict censorship laws, they haven’t really been afraid to confirm (gay) relationships in some other games (see Bronya-Seele from HI3 and Kiana-Mei from HI3). Genshin taps a wider audience thus shies away from direct mentions. But the amount of queer coding? It’s there. Even if you are not a shipper.
I think I would like to mention one of the more highly-implied stances of queer relationship–
See Yoimiya’s story quest 1. The two guy ‘best friends’ who we help make up and their yearning to watch the fireworks together.
Of course, this is all very ambiguous. But with so many characters being into the traveller (despite the gender dynamics) and despite which twin you chose–
For example, Shenhe’s implication that Xiao must have found someone special in a voiceline exists even if you chose Aether or Lumine. It makes me think and believe that homophobia also does not exist.
No wonder I love the game so much.
This might all be very obvious to some people here and I might just be over-explaining it, but this assumption of Tevyat being exempt from sexism and homophobia was only a subconscious one for me until recent times and I just wanted to hear everyone’s thoughts on it as well.