#it's a pattern

[lasnevadaslaborunion]

It frightens and discourages me how pervasive "tribal" stereotypes and imagery are in the fantasy and adventure genres.

It's all over the place in classic literature. Crack open a Jules Verne novel and you're likely to find caricatures of brown people and cultures, even when the characters are sympathetic to the plight of the colonized peoples - incidentally, this is the biggest reason I can't recommend 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea to everyone, despite Captain Nemo being one of my favorite fictional characters of all time.

You can't escape it in modern cinema, either. You'll see white heroes venturing bravely into jungles and tombs to steal from natives who don't know how to use their resources "properly." You'll see them strung up in traps, riddled with sleeping darts, forced to flee and fight their way out. Hell, Pirates of the Caribbean, a remarkably inclusive franchise in many other ways, had an extended sequence of the white heroes escaping from a cannibal civilization in the second film.

And when fantasy RPGs want a humanoid enemy, the "bloodthirsty natives" are the first stock trope they jump to. World of Warcraft is one of the most egregious examples, with the trolls - blatant racist caricatures with faux-voodoo beliefs, cannibalistic diets, Jamaican accents, and a history of being killed in droves by (white) elves and humans - being raided and slaughtered in nearly every expansion.

It doesn't matter how vibrant and distinctive the real-world indigenous, Polynesian, Caribbean, and African cultures are. It doesn't matter how much potential these real civilizations offer for complex and sympathetic characterization. Anything that doesn't make sense to the white western mind is shoved under the same "savage" umbrella. They're different. They're strange. They're scary. They have to be escaped, subjugated, eliminated, ogled at from the safety of a museum.

Modern writers, directors, and developers don't even seem to realize how horrifying it is to present the indigenous inhabitants of a place as "obstacles" for non-native protagonists to overcome. "It's not racist," they say, "because these people aren't really people, you see." And if you dare to point out anything that hurts or offends you as a descendant of the bastardized culture, you're accused of being the real racist: "These aren't humans! They're monsters! Are you saying that these real societies are just like those disgusting monsters?"

No, they're not monsters. But you chose to design them as monsters, just as invaders have done for hundreds of years. Why would you do that? Why can you recognize any other caricature as evil and cruel, but not this?

This is how deep colonialism runs.

#tw racism #critical #this isn't even about any specific media anymore #it's a pattern #and it's a pattern that seems so obvious #but it's so omnipresent that even the most progressive folks can't seem to recognize how terrifying it is #these tropes were written in blood

[mollysunder]

What If Jinx and Local Cuisine (LC) Were in Cahoots?

A writer for Arcane confirmed that Jinx does have friends that will be revealed next season, and I realized LC might actually fit the bill as one of them.

First, I should explain what kinds of traits make people gravitate towards Jinx.

From the few scenes we see of LC, he actually demonstrates the kind of traits that would make him compatible for Jinx's circle. People in Zaun, from regular chempunks to Inx members admire (and even champions like Sylas) Jinx because she satisfies/inspires their desire for revenge against their oppressors in Piltover. These are people that accept the necessity of violence and choose to go further by reveling in it as a source of catharsis.

What does this have to do with LC? Well the first time we meet LC is at the brothel where he was seen wearing the Wolf's mask. The Wolf is a part of a twin personification of death in Runeterra, known as the Kindred. The Lamb represents quick and painless death and wears a wolf mask, while the Wolf wears a white lamb mask and represents violent and painful death. The Wolf associated with punishment because when you refuse the Lamb's "gift" by resisting death the Wolf will relentlessly hunt down the fying to tear them apart to make them submit.

LC's association with the Wolf, related to violent death, has fueled speculation on his purpose going into season 2. Even if you don't subscribe to the theory that he's related to the princess beheaded by Ambessa and he's on a revenge quest, the show chose to depict him as an entity kills with a violent passion.

If the theory's true why wouldn't LC want to see Piltover burn as much as the Medardas if the theory's true? The princess theory offers solid motivation for why he wouldn't just be targeting the Medardas, but Piltover too. While Noxus is the warmongering expansionist empire that killed the princess, Piltover is the nation that facilitates its survival as vital trading partner to the empire. The advent of the hexgates has likely only improved the efficiency of Noxian warband supply lines. People like the Medardas invest in Piltover to keep themselves wealthy and on top, hell the practically run it now.

A righteous thirst for revenge and no compunction with violence against Piltover makes Jinx and LC potentially birds of a feather. If that's true then LC could theoretically fulfill a critical component for Jinx's operation, information.

For Jinx to pull of even half her exploits she needs an intel source, and LC is the most obvious connection. LC is the only character from Zaun that can regularly move between the two cities on legitimate business to meet his high profile clients like Ambessa without drawing attention. If most of his Piltovan clients act like Ambessa, then they probably talk about sensitive topics at and around him all the time, like the one between Ambessa and Jayce that led to the refinery raid. LC is probably the best source of informal knowledge on ongoing developments in Piltover's highest circles of society.

There's no way Jinx could pull of the heist without prior inside knowledge. The shipment raid and the heist all happened on the same day, Progress Day, within a handful of hours. Jinx would have had to know that there was a hexgem to steal in the first place, because that was a guarded secret. Even the first time she robbed a home in Piltover required an outside party, Ekko, to case the joint for her. Instead of robbing a nice trinket from a great house for Silco as an apology, which she was entirely capable of, instead she KNEW to target the hextech workshop. Jinx knew where the guards would be posted and what abandoned building to set on fire and rig with explosives. Almost like she already had intel on the hexgem and decided to strike when it was convienent.

I'd also like to include the fact that even in the concept art for Jinx's hideout we see Jinx in the zone on her work bench while a mysterious figure comfortably leans into her space.

While the figure has few discernible features that matches with most of Zaun's cast in the show and the concept art, there is one determinable feature. The figure has a sleeve with a red and gold stripe pattern similar to the one LC wears at the brothel.

The mysterious figure also lounges on the rail in a similar fashion to how we the audience were first properly introduced to LC.

Personally, I think it makes sense for Jinx to make friends with figure like LC because not only do the have similar goals, Silco would likely approve of it too. Silco doesn't like Vi or Ekko because they threaten his relationship with Jinx, someone like LC, who doesn't work for him, but is still under his purview won't do that.

And honestly, LC gives the same vibes as Chadd, a violent, organized, and prominent member of the Inx (Jinx followers), just with less hero worship.

Sidenote: Wouldn't it be hilarious if it were the case that the only reason Jimx knew how to break into the Kiramman's home is because LC told her about it. You can bet this dude went on jobs as an escort to atleast one Councilor's party in their home.

#lc is also the only character in the cast outside of caitlyn who has a change of clothes to fut in with zaun and piltover #and caitlyn had to steal them #the only time ambessa kicked lc out was when the conversation was going to be EMOTIONALLY vulnerable between her and Mel #violent intense well dressed dudes flock to jinx's personality #it's a pattern #pretty boy arcane #local cuisine arcane #jinx arcane #arcane #arcane meta

[tsuraiwrites]

me: idk why but all the smut I've written so far for bg3 is with villains. they gave me all these great, hot companions and I just want to write about fucking evil people-

my boyfriend: it's because you're queer

#took me out in one hit #bg3 #seriously tho my smut so far has been #kar'niss #raphael #and now gortash lol #it's a pattern #on writing #queer stuff

[approximateknowledge]

gender euphoria and guns: the game

#sao #ggo #it's a pattern

[hazbinfictivesofabiggersystem]

We're taking a short break from non-stop Hazbin Hotel to watch Helluva Boss and uhh as a whole bunch of bitches with mommy and daddy issues I'm pretty sure Vivzie has both mommy and daddy issues.

#hazbin hotel #vivziepop #helluva boss #did osdd #did system #hazbin fictive #there's Charlie with her parents #and Octavia and her parents #and blitz and his parents #it's a PATTERN #and explains a lot about why we're so attached to this show and the characters

[thehornedbasterd]

There's ONE thing that keeps appearing in both Helluva Boss and Hazbin Hotel....

"DADDY ISSUES"

#hazbin hotel #helluva boss #viziepop #I JUST realised it!!! #it's a pattern

[scienter]

Apparently, Greta Gerwig's films direct themselves.

#this is the 3rd time greta gerwig's film was nominated for best picture #while gerwig was *not* nominated for best director #look - mathematically i don't believe that most 'snubs' are really a thing #if you have 10 best picture nominees but only 5 best directors nominees than 5 directors will not be nominated #it's basic math - but this is the THIRD TIME this has happened to gerwig #it's a pattern #wtf #greta gerwig #barbie #academy awards #the oscars #pop culture #whatever #misc

[elisacifuentes]

Tatort Zürich: Seilschaft (2023)

#tatort #tatort zürich #tessa ott #isabelle grandjean #mine* #gifs* #about every second episode a woman tries to flirt with them #it's a pattern #one day they will flirt back. i speak it into existence. #though tessa kind of did in sk but that was undercover wasn't it #anyway i read reviews that was an expectedly terrible idea #i know i'm biased bc i love them so much but c'mon that ep wasn't terrible #it was great! i had so much fun #they're growing as characters and i love it #someone tell me what to gif next or it'll be the pizza scene from sk #probably

[hyp3r4ct1v3-h0rn3tz]

people draw basil hallward and say "ok time to give him the best hair youve ever seen" and then just dont mention it

#basil hallward #it's a pattern #ive seen it with my own 2 eyes

[bookishjules]

florida!!! is such a vibe for a girl who literally escapes to florida every time things get a lil too rocky

#i lose my mind and i fly to florida #it's a pattern #taylor swift #ttpd

[gildeddlily]

teen! nakahara chuuya as Teen Idle by Marina, but "wish I'd been a teen idle, wish I'd been a prom queen fighting for the title, instead of being sixteen and burning up a bible" as him wishing something different for himself, something better, even if he tries to hide it cause such weakness is not good for him but he's aching, and he's sixteen and realizing how nothing will ever be easy for him, "the wasted years, the wasted youth" as his 18ys self realizing how he has lost whole years of his life in that constant pain and fighting that exhaust him, "the pretty lies, the ugly truth" as him covering up his own misery by surrounding himself with richness and luxury, desperate to show himself that he has grown, and trying to hide how- deep inside he's still the same poor orphan that had to protect himself, "I want back my virginity so I can feel infinity" as how he lost his innocence, who has never really been there, not since he was a malnourished and hurt kid wandering in the streets not even knowing what bread was but able to recognize freaking paper, "the mirror when I'm on my own- oh God, I'm gonna die alone" as him accepting that with the life he's pursuing he'll never truly be happy and satisfied, because he needs people to be happy and he knows it, he has seen what happens to the people in his life, the ones he loves or tries to love

be happy be safe be loyal to teen chuuya

#bungou stray dogs #chuuya nakahara #bsd #soukoku #burn the gays #teen chuuya nakahara #chuuya supremacy #teen idle is my anthem #ab to cry #the random angst things ab chuuya i post every twelve days #it's a pattern #my tyler the creator fan!chuuya agenda is #just #bsd manga #bsd chuuya

[lenievi]

Kirk will just always choose hitting Spock when Spock isn't in his right mind...

#if kirk can do that why can't amanda? #condemn them both or neither #yes amanda is spock's mother. kirk is his commanding officer and a friend #but no. one is fine and the other isn't *rolls eyes* #spock needs to be slapped in order to think clearly again #it's a pattern #or he needs to see that he hurt someone with his actions. either physically or psychically #that's also a pattern #tos rewatch

[xieyaohuan]

Me: send me asks please uwu

Me (5 minutes later): why do I have so many unanswered asks in my inbox and when am I going to answer them all? 🤔🤔🤔

#it's a pattern #sigh #about me #asks

[fictionadventurer]

My toxic tumblr trait is getting hyper-focused on developing a Jane Austen Superhero AU for two weeks in July, getting a handful of people interested in it, and then just after crafting a couple bare-bones introductory scenes, losing all interest and abandoning the project until next July.

#powers and prejudice #adventures in writing #this has happened only twice #but two nickels and all that #it's a pattern #my reading/writing life is heavily built upon patterns #and powers and prejudice has always been a blatant distraction from other projects #so even when i lose interest i can't tell myself i should get to work on it #because i never should have been working on it in the first place #powers and prejudice is a strictly early july phenomenon it seems #and unfortunately late july/early august is all about fairy tale retellings #anyway this is just to say i'm sorry to anyone who thought this was going anywhere #there are a couple of scenes in my head that could become short stories #but there can be no promises since this is so strictly seasonal

[pk-smokey]

as a medic main who goes by any pronouns, it's funny seeing how many medic mains go by any pronouns

#just had conversations with 4 different medic mains today who all went by any pronouns #it's a pattern #tf2 #sexy thoughts from my massive brain

[gay-jewish-bucky]

interesting (/s) how they chose not to include the only canon jewish howlie from the comics when they made tfa.

#marvel #justice for izzy cohen #my boy you deserved so much better #it's a pattern #personcole