#its the effort that matters

[catmask]

does anyone have like an anti aesthetic. like something you look at and can recognize as a complete fashion/interior design/artistic movement and understand it but it makes you shudder seeing it. i am not talking like “its morally bad” “its poorly structured” like just sheerly devoid of joy for you actually invites a repulse response.

#also if it wasnt clear this isnt ‘its bad its lazy’ there is a level of like #completion consistancy i am thinking for with this #personally i really do not enjoy the like. vintage chic long red nails fur coats noir esque aesthetic HOWEVER 💥💥💥 #i can recognize that it is put together it is Intentional #i feel like a lot of people are going to say minimalism on this so LET ME SAY 🫰☝️ i recognize that minimalism is Considered an aesthetic #but i *PERSONALLY* do not consider it an aesthetic i consider it the void of one #it is a lapse in aesthetic or personality in the same way a silence in a song is still technically a ‘beat’ but no music is played #however the importance of Space or Breath in design is more akin to a purposeful silence in music #because that silence matters in the same way rhythm and breath in design do #so i guess minimalism is more comparable to like. white noise. the sound of a fan #very little effort and there is a comfort in it i suppose but its not. A Design. okay #TO ME 🤫 #if minimalism has one hater its me if minimalism has no haters im dead

[dirtytransmasc]

saw someone say they're we're happy Alicent's and Otto's deaths forced them "realize what they had done" and like...

Otto's one thing, I get the animosity. but Alicent? your getting hot and bothered over her realizing she failed, she failed to save her children, she failed to protect them, to them alive? that she tried so hard, so fucking hard, making every hard decision, trying to get between her children and the fate they were damned to by Viserys and Rhaenyra? that she damned her kids, who were already damned to die to begin with, and had to suffer the guilt of them dying to her own hand? that she's going to drive herself mad with grief over her children, her grandchildren?

like... it's not satisfying (especially for show Alicent) watching a woman go so mad with grief it literally kills her because she fought with everything she had to save her children only for them to die anyway. ever since her father's exile, when Rhaenyra's lies took Viserys's favor, when Viserys ignored the Rhaenyra's sons bastardhood at the risk of the whole house, or when Luke took Aemond's eye and Viserys demanded good will; she knew her children's lives were forfeit. then Daemon killed Vaemond and her children's coffins were built, catching cobweb's all the while. she knew and she fought it desperately, taking risk after risk, living in fear until her moment came, she could out Aegon on the thrown, she could protect her kids, maybe, just fucking maybe they'd be safe... only for it to lead to a war that would kill her entire family.

her death, slow and tragic as it was, is heartbreaking. she didn't deserve it, she deserved to feel safe, to feel as though she could allow her past friend take the thrown without her children being at risk to feel as though she and her children weren't being circled by wolves and picked at by vulture's. she didn't deserve to live alone and die alone. she didn't deserve to have her hands coated in her children's blood.

#the fact that her (amongst many other greens deaths) get so many TB fans dicks hard is actually nauseating #like do you not realize how fucking awful her death is going to be? #like I cant imagine her pain #imagine risking it all after years of literal torture by her own families hand #her father manipulation. Viserys's abuse snd neglect. Rhaenyra's betrayal. #to save her kids #knowing they were damned #thst they would die if she didnt try #and than they died horrifically anyway #despite her efforts to save them #to be a good mother #to not fail them??? #and this isnt to blame her if that isnt clear #its just such a fucked up situation she was in #they were going to die regardless (in my opinion the war was going to happen no matter what they did and it would have claimed their lives) #but in trying to save them it felt like it was her fault #if you get what i mean #which makes her descent into madness so sickeningly horrific #alicent hightower #alicent my beloved #pro team green #pro alicent hightower #hotd #house of the dragon

[carnivalcarriondiscarded]

some silly Wally & Barnaby western au scribbles

#and a case of bad hat hair #im very passively thinking about this au but its fun to doodle #tbh id barely classify it as an au #when i make aus i put Effort into it so this doesnt quite make the cut #but its fun. and thats what matters #im not interested in making any legit aus yet #but when i am... ohoho when i am... i Will be joining the party... probably loudly. maybe. #welcome home #welcome home puppet show #scribble salad

[genderkoolaid]

tbh its not entirely fair to paint all blatant rep as poor in comparison to queercoding (altho i do love some good queercoding). i think the reason so much blatant rep is Like That, while queercoded stuff feels so much more meaningful and real, is because the blatant rep we often experience is made to Market To The Queers. while it may have queer creatives working on it, the reason its created is to make money off of queers. its trendy. so just write a fairly surface level fluffy movie about white queer teens and get some cash! its blatant, which means it will be treated as a groundbreaking queer media especially by liberals.

while queercoded media on the other hand (intentional or not) cant or wont just slap two conventionally attractive teens on screen and make them kiss and get those rainbow dollars. its an expression of queer silencing, the quiet thats left when you arent allowed to say what you desperately want to. when you cant spoon-feed your audience queerness you have to. yknow. actually think about what it means and how to express that artistically. you have to show and not tell.

thats all to say, there is blatant queer rep that is good. but you probably aren't gonna find it on amazon prime. that kind of rep is being made by queer artists making indie films. i promise you its not either "blatant queerness that feels shallow" or "deep queerness thats not allowed to be blatant". theres a secret third option and its "capitalism will never liberate you and you need to actually support indie queer artists and actively reject queer capitalism to experience the breadth and width of what queer art is capable of being and doing."

#m. #like verilybitchie has talked about “bad queer rep” in a video essay (check her out) #and she mentioned one bisexual tv show made by a bisexual #that was both blatant and interesting #or uhhh that transfem vampire movie #like. this shit exists. you just need to put effort into #breaking free from spoonfed capitalist media and interact w indie art #not trying to be pretentious either! #if you enjoy fluffy capitalist queer media good for you fr thats 100% fine #and its not NOT important that we CAN have that pandering now #but like. from an artistic standpoint #capitalism prioritizes money not art. it will never care about you #queer media is only being produced bc enough people will go see it that studios will put it out #its not even a matter of homophobia rlly. we only matter as long as we make money #when queers stop being profitable to netflix queer indie artists will still make thought provoking takes on queerness

[pencilofawesomeness]

I was so caught up in the euphoria of making shit up, I forgot I wasn't uncontested. Wild that canon exists and is ongoing. Wild.

#this can to applicable to so much but its jjk #the new issue leaks reminded me that my initial headcanon is looking to be correct #even though I ignored every implication of it when I dived into my new fic #i'm 45k deep sukuna is stuck with this backstory no matter what canon says #but #jjk spoilers #ill tag that so my blabbing doesn't ruin anything #i DID forget it was implied he had a brother #completely forgot #i gave him nameless siblings to kill but I very much forgot that canon bit #hm maybe whatever they throw out me this weekend will not change anything #also Jin I put too much effort into this loving malewife he's mine now #i did always think he was related somehow because of resemblance #but I was so lost in the fanfic sauce it was unimportant #eh its an au anyways #i'll subject yall to it soon enough #just had to meme and make fun of myself for a sec

[lollytea]

Tbh I think the Barbie movie handled its theme of existentialism better than the feminism.

#the feminism of the barbie movie is nothing new #its nothing you wouldnt have seen in a 2016 tumblr post #and in its efforts to platform the struggle of misogyny it unintentionally shrinks the issue of other forms of bigotry #like it IS about a cis conventionally attractive white woman and the prejudice that she applies to her #because shes a woman. so is not on the TOP of the privilege scale and is going to face bigotry as a result #like Greta Gerwig clearly wrote what she knew #and she didnt feel she was educated enough to touch any other topics #the mistreatment of women is a layered topic and it is a complex matter depending on the varied range of women in this world #queer women trans women women of colour #they dont all experience misogyny in the same way that Barbie does #so its definitely not a very rounded discussion #like even Gloria focuses entirely on the pressure of just women in general #like you can claim that shes speaking from her own experience but. its very mouthpiece-ish #her speech is for the purpose of whacking you over the head with the film's message #yknow i think the focus leans too heavily as ''look what we as girls have in common'' #but doesnt touch enough on ''but look how we differ too.'' a balance between those two concepts would have been nice #i feel like Sasha being like ''hell yeah white saviour barbie!'' was like a lazy acknowledgement that theyre AWARE of this issue #but like. theyre too deep into the script now #anyway yeah i was just thinking about this cuz of that gifset #Barbie feeling unsafe and being objectified in a public space #while Ken faces no issues whatsoever. even tho he is a loudly colourful flamboyantly dressed man on rollerskates #because we are going for a misogyny message here. so we need to poof homophobia out of existence for a bit okay?? #like this is basically what i mean. putting misogyny under the spotlight #and as a result quietly pretending other social disadvantages dont apply right now. bending reality to reinforce the message that we want #this isnt like. a scathing criticism on barbie btw. i dont have a film critic brain #im dumb and i love everything #also im really not the person whos qualified to talk about this #this is just some word vomit because i cant stop thinking about it #anyway i think the themes of what it means to be human and live and breathe fucked royally #i loved that stuff

[tangledinink]

You've mentioned that rarely Swanatello's family is unable to come visit him. What would make it so that they couldn't?

Overall, they're very on top of coming to see Swannie and making sure someone is with him at just about all times, but there have been one or two occasions when things have popped up-- and even then, it's not that the family didn't come to visit him for the day, but rather that they were delayed. Think things along the lines of "X villain is doing something completely fucking batshit and we need all hands on deck to make sure no one dies and get things under control before we can go visit" and/or just simple miscommunication about what the plan is. It should also be noted that they are currently almost entirely reliant on Leo to portal them over to the Lake. If Leo is incapacitated or occupied for whatever reason and can't portal them over... then they can't visit.

#it doesnt happen often but it does happen #and they all always feel awful when it does #but it can be hard making sure that they ALWAYS have at least ONE PERSON with donnie #they'll do it absolutely without question because it's 1000% worth it to make sure donnie is ok #and to get to spend time with him #but its not without its challenges and occasionally they drop the ball a little #despite their best efforts #also almost... all of them have long-term injuries/lasting effects from the invasion still #mikey was gonna go but his hands are spasming really bad today so they send someone else but they have to make sure mikey is okay first #and that its safe to leave him alone #if raph is having a panic attack splinter cant just walk away to go sit with donnie instead until hes sure red is alright #is leo having a panic attack? flashbacks? disassociating? otherwise incapacitated? #well then they cant go visit #it doesnt matter if someone else is good to go #they cant portal over without leo and if hes not able to make a portal then it is what it is #swanatello asks #asks #anon

[tea-earl-grey]

listen Chakotay/Seven is bad for many reasons but it really doesn't bother me as much as it should because it's so poorly written that it just ends up feeling like both Chakotay and Seven were in love with Janeway and realized it would never work out so they just shrugged and starting dating each other. (i'm not even that much of a shipper either but like. the subtext is there for both JC and J7.) you cannot convince me that they didn't mutually break up before they even landed on Earth and then they never talked about it again.

and to add to the comedy, both Janeway and Seven know that if Voyager didn't get home then Seven and Chakotay would have gotten married and both died, etc etc while Chakotay, if i recall, just Never Learns This. Chakotay goes about the rest of his life thinking "oh yeah i went on a few dates with Seven but it never went anywhere" and then Seven and Janeway are just haunted by this alternate timeline. peak comedy tbh.

#if the writers put more effort into c7 it really would have pissed me off more #but as is its so easy just to write off and not think about #like do the other voyager crew members even learn that they were dating??? #the writers tried to throw in a romance for more drama or whatever but it literally doesnt matter #voyager #star trek voyager #chakotay #seven of nine #kathryn janeway #my posts #anyways i need to finish a commission today but what if i kept writing about voyager. i need to study this crew like theyre bugs. #i need to write a picard era fic of raffi slowly learning all the weird shit that was happening on voyager

[stardustedknuckles]

It would just be so easy for Steel to start behaving overtly controlling and War-minded at literally any point (seeking control and owning up to what that means) and at that point it would become easy to dislike her and her sway over Suvi but that's not the POINT, she is GENUINELY wise and so, so brilliant and she loves Suvi so truly and she is infuriatingly level headed and sincere in her efforts to help and so very kind, and I love her character more than I can adequately put into words and the inevitable clash of ideals, the rift that will and must develop, is going to destroy me. Because I genuinely don't know if Steel could choose Suvi over the empire and in fact I think it's pretty clear that she wouldn't, but that does not diminish the love she has for Suvi and the two things being true simultaneously have me biting the air. Steel is a goddamn masterclass in examining characters who act from fundamentally kind intent within a twisted framework of lifelong indoctrination and beliefs that have taught her a distorted view of what that should look like. Bringing the empire's light to the world is the ultimate kindness to her, and she wants nothing more than to be a key part of the mechanism by which that will happen. Because it will happen. And we're not told this, we're shown a brilliant and devoted mother figure who will stop at nothing to make a better world in the image of the empire her life belongs to.

Every single time something goes wrong with Ame and/or Eursulon (and even Suvi) I brace for the kind of overbearing "us VS them" mentality that never comes. She genuinely wants collaboration and answers so she can help. she very much means well, as do they all. It compels the absolute hell out of me.

#I want steel to come with Suvi on this eventual journey #But she has been installed as the very right arm of the establishment #And though she more than most wizards would hear out the turmoil the empire's existence is causing others #There is no future where its dissolution is something she agrees to #If not dissolution is the empire itself the removal of its place of authority #She means so well to be balanced and fair but she will be blind to the inherent threat and imbalance going on here #And it's very likely nothing will move her #So basically I'm setting myself up for abject heartbreak but I love her so much #wbn spoilers #Wbn #suvirin kedberiket #The wizard steel #Steel wbn #I'm learning I might be a tragedy enjoyed #I never thought that was possible bc I found tragedies depressing for no reason #But what I'm starting to see is that the efforts are what make the tragedy hit the way it does #It only matters because everyone cared so much #Everyone was doing their best #It was inevitable it could have been avoided at so many points but everyone cared too much #Ugh god okay sleep time

[blluespirit]

I sort of like the thought that Zuko and Aang take the Sun Warriors' warning not to tell anyone about the dragons a little more seriously… and they keep it between them. Of course, they trust Sokka, Toph and Katara. Of course they know they wouldn’t tell anyone, but now three people (including Iroh) know the truth about Ran and Shaw. And that’s three too many when you’re trying to keep a secret.

(and there are other people at the temple as well - like Haru, Teo and The Duke - who, while trustworthy, aren’t as close to them as the others, and when it comes to secrets with as much consequence as this one, you can’t afford to take any chances.)

Furthermore, the culture within the Fire Nation since Sozin’s rein has been warped. The culture is not to respect the dragons as the original firebenders, it’s to conquer and kill them. It’s the ultimate proof of your strength as a firebender. All it takes is one mistake before rumour spreads, and people go looking for the ultimate hunt. It’s not something Zuko or Aang can risk.

Whether Katara, Toph and Sokka (and Suki) ever find out the truth is up to you. But post-war, after Zuko returns from a strange, poorly explained trip with a dragon, and eventually develops the ability to use rainbow fire, either the others have some questions about Aang’s knowing look, or they are finally let in on a monumental secret.

#it’s a kids show so i think for that reason it was played for laughs about keeping the dragons a secret is not necessarily a bad choice... #the show does that sometimes where it says something off hand and then leaves me lying face down contemplating ✨the consequences✨ of that #but there are some… implications there about being too loose lipped with the truth in leading up to the end of and immediately post #war fire nation. just because zuko understands the spiritual significance of a dragon it does not mean the rest of his people will. actuall #its more likely that they'd reject zuko's opinion considering that he's basically coming into power and then telling everyone that #they've been lied to their whole lives. the fire nation is drowning in propaganda. for a lot of people this opinion of dragons and #firebending's true nature being violence and destruction is all they know. fire is LIFE but to most people that's an alien concept #and in terms of keeping secrets - it’s not even a matter of trust it’s a matter of too many people knowing #you might not even realised you’ve revealed some incredible information to someone who has the means to spread it or pursue it #so… i think zuko would be hyper aware of this. since he grew up hearing stories about the 'glory' of dragon hunting #and since iroh has also made a concerted effort to keep this information hidden i think it makes sense he’d be very hesitant to let it #get out to the public #aang would agree i think esp if zuko explained the importance of hiding them even from loved ones #ALSO random but it also makes me wonder what the fire nation said about roku in wake of the war #he had a dragon but he didn’t kill it. he didn’t ’conquer’ it #sozin would have had to work his ASS off to reframe history as him being the more… loyal(?) patriotic (?) of the two #did he frame it as roku didn’t have the courage to kill a dragon??? that he lacked the strength of a true firebender? #the avatar works hard but sozin's propaganda machine works harder 🧍‍♀️ #zuko #aang #avatar the last airbender #zuko & aang #jack talks #sun warriors #book 3 #what is it with me having a whole separate post in the tags 👁️👄👁️

[itty-bitty-sunshine]

I don't think my life could be any happier than it is now

#pov: your friends and putting love and effort on things to make you happy and special and you have never felt more seen #its the little things and that's all that matters in life #ill never not say how much i love them and how much they mean to me #there is hope in humanity and it is in the voice giggling behind me while telling me to not look because they are making a birthday gift #while i come over to visit anyway #anyway. sappy moment #sunshine talks

[br1ghtestlight]

im glad everyone in the belcher family isn't really academically smart (louise definitely COULD BE but she doesn't try or see any real value in it) or particularly knowledgeable but their accomplishments are always celebrated within their family!!! because all of them (except louise which once again isnt really relevant) are terrible at math but that's fine and literally Normal for their family. and when gene gets a B- in science and they make a whole event of it bcuz they're so proud of him!!!! i see a lot of sitcoms where there's one Super Smart genius sibling and then the others kinda get pushed aside or their accomplishments aren't celebrated but bob's burgers celebrates all the achievements in the family no matter how small and theyre always so supportive :)

(it's funny bcuz gene is literally a savant musician but they don't treat him or his sisters any differently bcuz of that. and louise is incredibly intelligent but neither of them are ever made to believe they're BETTER than other people bcuz of that or that their accomplishments are all that they are. which is much healthier imo)

#I HAAAATE the super intelligent genius sibling trope even as someone who is without a doubt the stupidest out of my siblings #and i hate when the other siblings are pushed aside or ignored in favor of the Smart One because intelligence is all that matters in life #and being good at school #none of the belchers (or teddy) are really all that good at that but they try their hardest. and they can't do math <3 #if louise put in like 10% more effort she'd be the smartest in her grade but i also think its fine if she doesn't want to do that #she's got other stuff going on #txt #bob's burgers

[hazellvsq]

canon scenes influencing the direction of my pjo yellowjackets au:

annabeth:

piper:

rachel:

hazel:

thalia:

bianca:

reyna:

#for piper and annabeth its about control and fixing all the problems and also their highly specific neuroses #for reyna and thalia its acceptance or the lack thereof. its about the effort and if it matters. #for bianca and hazel its about realizing the inevitable and the things you cannot escape even 500 miles from civilization. #for rachel it is all of these things #piper mclean #annabeth chase #reyna avila ramirez arellano #thalia grace #hazel levesque #rachel dare #bianca di angelo #yellowjackets au

[daz4i]

i think that unless you're talking about stuff that's like purposely and maliciously created with the goal of endangering people (e.g. nazi propaganda or cult recruiting etc) you should probably retire the term "irredeemable media". like i don't think this cartoon meant for children or niche webcomic or barely known indie game are as dangerous as you think they are

#even if they do end up harming people somehow. literally any media has that potential if the wrong ppl consume it bestie #it's not a question of media it's a question of literacy #(i say 'wrong people' but like. it's not a person thing. again it's literacy. it's about effort and thought put into it) #my point is. once you start marking every random thing that may contain problematic elements as irredeemable - #- you will never finish. bc that's literally everything in the world. #is this piece of media actually this problematic or do you just dislike it? be honest. #could it be that perhaps you refuse to engage with the text beyond surface level bc it contains a few slurs so you can't see its merits? #(don't get me wrong. it's completely valid to avoid things like that. but as soon as you start condemning fans and creators of the thing - #- that's where you should draw the line. especially ESPECIALLY when talking abt small or indie creations. tho not only) #i have a lot of thoughts on the matter but the tags aren't the place and now isn't the best time for that lol #ik this is a bit controversial tho so like every time i post smth like that. don't fight me or send me hate over this. just block me 🫡

[theworldisabrokenbonebutitishome]

Kang Yo Han is the walking embodiment of I'm Not Okay (I Promise) and relates to Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge far more than is healthy. In this essay I will-

#twabbbiih's edit #tdj #the devil judge #tw blood #kang yohan #kang yo han #a character study via legendary emo classic Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge #I put so much effort into this I really hope the fandom enjoys it #I know I don't exactly go here in a big way but guys please #girl does a tdj rewatch for the fun of it and spirals so far into making bad edits she has to try and figure out how to just get the text #from an album cover to make a mock one like some unhinged loser who barely knows how editing software works #you guys have NO IDEA #I spent an entire night pestering mid-n0vember about how this album is perfect for KYH 2 years ago and so finally I did something about it #to the end has especially been rattling around my brain for WAY TOO LONG because that is not a house or home to KYH #it's a constant reminder of the people he's lost and the horrors he suffered due to the utter shithead that was his father #ive been debating between 2 edits i did for that song for two nights and I've ended up picking the more literal one because I didn't want #too many close up images of peoples faces for this. but just know there is a file on this laptop of kyh crying while hes literally haunted #by memories of his father #I really did try to use a shot from the knife scene for the album cover because it would have been SO GOOD as a mirror to the original albu #however my editing skills are not good enough to make the background less distracting and I'm working with not HD images so it looked worse #so a moments silence for what could have been #no one asked but its 2am and that means oversharing so #Interlude absolutely had to be the on a line by itself because despite everything else going on with KYH keeping Elijah save is Rule One #it's supposed to kind of overshadow everything else because keeping her safe and unaware of Certain Things absolutely does for him #whether it actually translates is a different matter #kgo being on his knees (yet again) is what swung it for that picture otherwise it would have been kyh looking on as jae hee grabs her

[tweedstoat]

the smallfolk being horrified at blood and cheese and eventually rioting (in part) because of Helaena Targaryens suspicious death + the smallfolk being one of the few groups of people who still cared about the “butchery of Rhaegars children” years after Roberts Rebellion and claiming that the Lannisters were cursed for what they did like the nobility has been so corrupted by the system they uphold and benefit from that the peasantry are the only ones who have normal reactions to atrocities anymore

#the smallfolk are an indictment of the system! they matter! #actually one of my more contraversial asoiaf opinions is that i just dont like ned very much #i fully do not understand how he couldve been all buddy buddy with robert after he saw what happened to rhaenys and aegon #AND HE IS CONCEALING THEIR HALF BROTHER #I get on a human level why ned couldnt let go of his old friend but on a human level i also just dont like him that much for it #actually its quite interesting that basically no one outside of Helaena/Elias family ever tries to get justice for what was done to them #they have to rely on their families/the cycle of vengeance that these families enact on one another for revenge #which still isnt justice because youre just committing worse and worse crimes in an effort to outdo each other #so why ever bother to change the system because youre locked into it #no one is helping or caring about you beside your family #and maybe the smallfolk if they riot for you