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linisiane · 2 years

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The Prescient Dichotomies of Penelope Scott’s Born2Run

“Born2Run” by Penelope Scott is an electronic folk song in the footsteps of Bruce Springsteen’s “Born to Run”—a rock song that embodied the escapism of a younger generation, in fast cars and confining towns, dreaming for more. Scott’s version of this youth anthem, however, with its dreams of assaulting the capitol, is mired in its own prescience. Scott, indeed, wrote and released this song about a storm on the Capitol just a few months before the actual Jan 6 Storming of the Capitol, which makes interpreting it before and after the assault two very different experiences. Despite this contrast, the two interpretations share a remarkable scrutiny of current American politics through the lens of the generational divide.

Before the Jan 6 Attack on the Capitol, “Born2Run” is about a last-resort reclamation of Congress by the progressive youth through a “storm of the Capitol,” taking it back from the more conservative, older generations. Here, Springsteen’s influence is much clearer, with the storming of the Capitol representing an escape from the cage of a confining, apathetic America into a freer, more empathetic one. Scott characterizes both sides of this wide, societal conflict by framing each side as a part of conversations between disapproving parent figures and the song’s young narrator. By using words like ‘thots’—a derogatory slang term for promiscuous girls—and ‘soft boys’—a slang term for more feminine boys—to make up the narrator’s vocabulary, Scott marks the narrator as a part of the younger generation, Gen Z. Thus, when the chorus first asks if she was really gonna “save the world… with [her] tits half out on Instagram,” and she replies that she was “gonna wear this shit to Congress,” Scott grounds this storming of Congress with a familiar exchange between a conservative parent and their child. Ultimately, by characterizing the parent as more interested in sexually shaming the narrator over trying to save the world with her, Scott highlights how the conservative values of older generations are apathetic to creating meaningful change and restrict freedom. This exchange also equates reclaiming the Capitol as a part of saving the world, and while she first describes it as “thots and animals [storming] the Capitol,” which sounds derogatory and violent, it’s because she’s repeating the rhetoric of right wing politicians who view their opposition as lesser beings, calling attention to their dehumanizing, shaming, and fear mongering language. She contrasts their perspective of the youth against her narrator’s in the bridge of the song, where she uses the words “soft boys and their succulents” as a positive flip on “thots and animals,” rehumanizing them by framing them as trying to make things better. Because, while this is a protest song that calls for a reclaiming of the Capitol, Scott’s dream is ultimately of a better world for both sides, where the youth can “say [they’re] sorry,” “call [their] dads,” and peacefully reconcile with the older generations.

Her call for a reconciliatory reclamation of Congress is in direct contrast to the actual storming of the Capitol by the alt-right to keep Trump in power. Ironically, due to the violence of the attack, Scott’s tongue-in-cheek repetition of fear mongering rhetoric against young progressives becomes an apt description of the behavior of the conservative, older generations that stormed the Capitol. Thus, after the Jan 6 Attack on the Capitol, “Born2Run” transforms into a condemnation of the older generations for their betrayal of democracy and the younger generations. This is best embodied by the line: “And how could you do this when I learned my rights from you?” This highlights the hypocrisy of these older generations, as they had betrayed the progressive and democratic values they taught to the younger generations by trying to violently prevent a democratically elected candidate from entering office. This is then emphasized when Scott describes their “Nixon smile” making her narrator feel sick, referencing another president condemned for using the rhetoric moral superiority while actively undermining American democracy for his own gain, which historically rhymes with the president who orchestrated this attempted coup.

#penelope scott #folk music #literary analysis #meta #teen angst aesthetic #my thoughts #i originally wrote this for class so it sucks but maybe ill come back to this one day #probably not tho #adhd nerfed me

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americangodstalk · 4 years

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Cultural backgrounds: Thoth

Mr. Ibis is the American Gods version of Thoth, or Thot, a god from Egyptian mythology.

Myths don't agree on how he came to be. The Hermopolitan cosmogony claims that Thoth was the original demiurge, existing before all of the other gods, the chief of the primordial divine Ogdoad and the one responsible for the creation of the world (to no surprise, the nome of Hermopolis is where Thoth's cult began). Other texts and legends rather refer to him as the son of Rê/Ra, the Sun God, either born from Rê and the goddess Neith, either manifesting out of Ra's heart during a moment of sadness. Another myth rather claims that he is the son of Seth: during the feud between Seth and Horus, Horus, to humiliate his uncle Seth, put his sperm into Seth's favorite food, a salad. Seth gulped it without looking twice, and from this fecundation was born Thoth, who sprang out of Seth's cranium.

God of intelligence and science, keeper of knowledge, he was highly considered by the other gods. Being the vizir to Ra's pharaoh he was the divine clerk present in every tribunal, from being the arbitrator settling divine disputes (such as the conflict between Seth and Horus) to being the scribe noting down the results of the weighing of hearts in the afterlife. He was considered the patron of sciences and scribes. [1] According to mythology, he created the language, the writing, the geometry, the mathematics, the weights and the measurements, not only as a way to spread knowledge to the mortal beings but also to organize the world itself. As the inventor of writing, it was considered that most, if not all, of the sacred texts had been written by him and then left on Earth for the humans to use. He was said to have been behind the delimitation of Egypt into nomes and the creation of its geographical fronteers. It was also said he was the one to offer the art of architecture to humans. Finally, Thoth was a god of knowledge in its most esoteric form, being known as a healing god of medecine, and as a god of magic and astronomy. [2]

However legends explain that, while Thoth was respected and admired by his peers, he was still a very boring, annoying and prideful god, the other divinities finding his long, complex, flowery and pompous speeches irritating. (A famous sentence was said by Isis when Thot, asked for a cure to save a dying Horus, started a long speech full of digressions: "Thoth, how you are wise of heart, but slow to decide!"). [3]

The other major role of Thoth was to be the moon in the night sky. When Ra, the Sun God, decided to leave the mortal, earthly realm he started his eternal travel, going through the sky during the day and passing through the underworld at night. Since he had to abandon earth to the darkness half of the time, Rê asked Thoth, his faithful advisor, to spread light during night, thus making Thoth the god of the moon.[4]

As a god of measurements, calculations and the moon, he was strongly associated with calendars. A myth even explains how he shaped the modern 365 day calendar. Indeed a year used to be only 360 days long, but Nut the Sky-Goddess was cursed by her father Shu to not be able to give birth to her children during any day of the year. Thoth, wishing to help her, gambled with Iah, a moon god, over a game of "senet" (a popular Egyptian board game), and won portions of Iah's light, that he used to create five additional days during which Nut could give birth to her five children.

Thoth's association with the afterlife went further than him assisting in the trial of the dead. If a dead was judged worthy of accessing Osiris' realm, Thoth, alongside Anubis, was the one charged with giving the dead a "new breath" so that he may begin his new life in the underworld. [5]

Thot usually appeared as an ibis or a man with an ibis head but he could also appear as a baboon or a man with a baboon head. These two animals are actually strong symbols of Thoth's functions: the ibis' beak was associated with the scribes calam, especially when it "wrote signs" while the bird was searching in the earth for food, while the baboon was associated with the cult of the Sun and the light because of how it screams at sunrise. [6]. When it became an habit to associate each god of the Egyptian religion with a wife and a child in order to create a divine triad, Thot became the husband of the goddess Nehmetawy (or Nehemet Aouaï, goddess of law and justice) and the father of the god Hornefer. Other legends claim that Thoth's wife was rather the goddess Seshat, "She who writes", a divinity protecting books and libraries, guardian of the divine archives recording the different rules of the Pharaohs. [7]

Thoth was a very popular god in Egypt, with numerous temples dedicated to him. He was also very popular in foreign lands, such as Nubia and Sudan. His cult included several oracles. The Ancient Greeks identified him with the god Hermes, due to both Thoth and Hermes being associated with intelligence, science and language. This fusion later gave birth to the figure of Hermes Trismegistus. In popular culture Thoth knew a great fame ever since the 20th century. Aleister Crowley created the "Thoth Tarot" or "Book of Thoth" in 1944, a tarot card game inspired by the god. Socrate's "Myth of Theuth", an allegory reflecting on the relationship between writing and memory, science and truth, was reused by the philosopher Jacques Derrida to prove the instability of Truth, and how writing is both a poison and a cure. Finally the current logo of the Cairo University, the oldest university in Egypt, is Thoth sitting on a throne. [8]

#cultural backgrounds #egyptian mythology #mr. ibis #thoth #god #american gods

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lesbiansforboromir · 5 years

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Thots on aragornXboromir? BUT, it's movie!Aragorn and Book!boromir.

I was wONDERING when this ask was gonna come around so lets HAVE AT IT.

Upon just initial consideration, I’m not really for it. Their personalities and compatibility alone don’t seem promising. Boromir and Gondor as a whole is full into dadaistic and nihilistic humour whereas movie!Aragorn seems to take everything so seriously. I feel like Boromir’s sardonic joviality would fall on kinda deaf ears and leave a lot of awkward silences. Meanwhile Boromir just doesn’t find Aragorn’s more intellectual humour very funny. Like! Was he really gonna kill Boromir on top of that mountain? Were you gonna stab Boromir on this mountain in broad daylight, Aragorn. Also could you not have been even mildly less weird when you met film!Boromir in Rivendell like what the fuck was that bit honestly.

Admittedly if it’s book!Boromir we’re adding in here, the dynamic will be changed significantly. No angry outburst at the council, no bitter rejection of Aragorn’s kingship. Boromir remains a reliable, calm and confident leader whilst Aragorn is still umming and arring about whether he wants to be King at all. Which I think would cause a different kind of conflict between them, because Boromir’s fully content to lead or be lead, either one will do. He just needs to know which it is, and whilst book!Aragorn is very very clear who the leader is, film!Aragorn is kinda... soft spoken, quiet and not overly dominant. He’s one of the types who are good at leading but they also don’t like it and avoid it if possible. Which I think would annoy Boromir to no end.

He tries to lead, and Aragorn disagrees with him or casually undermines his authority without meaning too. He tries to follow, and Aragorn doesn’t step up to fill the role. Gandalf is only partially a leader and Boromir needs STRUCTURE and CLEAR LINES. And since the elf can’t take anything seriously and Gimli thinks himself too young and inexperienced, it has to be one of them! But this wouldn’t really manifest in anything specific, he and Aragorn work alright together most of the time, I’d say it’d just make Boromir annoyed and generally not amenable to any romantic feelings.

Of course, this changes with the film’s narrative, Aragorn steps up to a more leadership role when Gandalf dies, but if we’re going with canon then we’re very close to Boromir beginning to fall thoroughly under the ring’s control and I don’t think he’d have time or space to appreciate this sudden change. SO LIKE. Just going by likelihoods and chemistry, I don’t think there’s much there. They have a nice friendly manner with each other certainly, and I like the sense of easy teamwork they get in the books, but more than that I can’t see realistically.

Then again... I do really... QUITE like the concept of the ‘Boromir makes Aragorn see his humanity in a different light and Aragorn inspires the hope in Boromir he never imagined he could find again’ themes the film gave us being played out romantically... like I do feel that neat dynamic. Like what better way to scrub Aragorn of his elf fetishism than to have him swoon over literally the least elven man imaginable? He doesn’t realise how much he’d come to value and depend upon Boromir’s girding and pushing presence until he’s gone ect ect

It would have to be in a Boromir!Lives AU, since there really just isn’t the time otherwise, which gives some nice reunion elements to it and-... I am basically planning out a slow burn fic that spans the entire damn story aren’t I. Look I’m not gonna half ass thinking about anything Boromir related.

WITH THAT IN MIND I have other issues with this pairing and, indeed, with any mlm pairing that Aragorn’s given. What do you do with Arwen? If it’s film Aragorn, I suppose he assumes they broke up when he left Rivendell, but does that mean it’s just really goddamn awkward when Arwen arrives to find her fiance’s just gone and found a bear instead? And yes I know, Aragorn has two hands, but I really can’t imagine Boromir being amenable to some kind of poly hinge situation, especially with it being Aragorn, his lawful wife and Queen vs the Steward he keeps as his... secret lover? Boromir’s too proud for that. And I always have issues with mlm ships that get rid of a Lady to make it work.

And t h e n if I’m being honest and stepping out into the fandom rather than canon for a moment, all the boromir/aragorn fics are... w i l d. Boromir is either a 41 yo stroppy man-child that Aragorn has to top into submission or a rough barbarian who Aragorn ‘tames’. All the fics I’ve seen that try to consider a more complex dynamic still end up just saying ‘Aragorn tops the pride and King-suspicion right out of Boromir’ and like... lmao... ok you’re a numenorean and all Aragorn but dick ain’t that good. And of course it assumes that Boromir’s just automatically distrustful of the Kingship because of pride and power hunger alone which is false on literally every possible level, including the premise itself. Boromir doesn’t gIVE a shit about Aragorn being King, he doesn’t care! They’re all about to die he really doesn’t care, Aragorn can wield a cool sword and is willing to help OK great lets gooooo.

... SO. YEAH. As with everything about Boromir, I have mixed feelings and a lot of opinions, but here with this one thing I think I’m pretty much against it. Merry/Boromir and Gimli/Boromir are way better fellowship ships in my opinion.

#boromir #tolkien #erran vs tolkien #chats #lotr #lord of the rings #Anonymous

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undertaleimaginationland · 6 years

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“You wanna sleep? Coward.” with Underfell Sans requested by @anonymous.

Okay, this one is a bit longer, so it’s under the cut. I had this one be pre-relationship so y’all could suffer. Enjoy~

Underfell

Red-

It’s four in the morning when you hear a ding from your phone. A small sound that lights up your phone and the dark room around it. An odd time to be up, indeed. Even for you. Perhaps that nightmare of yours was a bit too much. You don't quite remember the whole thing, but you suppose it's for the best.

With nothing better to do, you open your phone and check the notification.

thot: u up??

Oh stars, you forgot about that name. It makes his texts all the more fitting-- and utterly hilarious.

In your once quiet bedroom, you become a giggling mess.

You: Now I am

thot: lmao did i wake you

You: Nah, I was up already

There’s a brief pause in the conversation before he replies.

thot: got somebody over?

A part of you wants to rock the boat. Just to stir a reaction out of him. So, of course, that’s exactly what you do.

You: Obviously. Why else would I be awake??

His reply comes in an instant.

thot: who

thot: who is it

You grin as you close out of the messenger app. Somewhere in the depths of your photo gallery, you have an album of memes saved for moments like these.

Without a second doubt, you send him a photo of a laughing Kermit.

You: He’s cute, right <333

You wait a couple of seconds before receiving a selfie-- erm, a skelfie. It’s Red, grimacing as he gives the camera a one finger salute.

thot: fuck you

You: Lmao he has that covered already

Smartass. Your phone begins to ring. A blaring “Spooky Scary Skeletons” tune that startles you into answering the call.

“hey, asshole.”

“What’s up, thot?”

“stars-- ya still have that fuckin’ name fer me, don’tcha?”

Intuitive, as always. You’re unable to contain yourself, laughing out a mirthful, “Nope~”

“liar,” he says with no real conviction. “what’s gotcha up this late, doll?”

“My man,” you reply with a grin. “He’s right here if you wanna talk to him.”

There’s a decisive sigh on the other line. “put em on, sweetheart.”

And with that, you muster your best Kermit impersonation: “Hello, motherfucker--”

He bursts into full-blown belly laughter. Uncontrollable guffaws that have you cracking up as well.

“what the...when the fuck didja,” Red is only able to speak in fragments, absolutely floored. “the fuck are you doing?!”

You decide to keep up the act. “Well, my lady and I were busy--”

“fuck off!”

“--super busy, I should add. When you interrupted us.”

His breathing is labored from all the laughing. “stars, dollface. yer killin’ me here.”

“We’re trying to sleep here, pal.”

“you wanna sleep? coward.”

Your throat begins to hurt, so you drop the accent. “Don’t talk to my man like that. He has a point.”

“then sleep, you coward.”

“I’m not a coward!”

“oh really?”

“Yeah, really!”

The line fizzes out on the other end. He gives no response. “...Hello? Red?”

“heya.”

“Shit,” you stumble out of bed with a yelp, landing flat on your butt. Now leaning smugly on your bedroom door is Red. His grin is sharklike as he saunters forward.

“need a hand?”

“Fuck off,” you say, letting him help you to your feet. “You’re gonna kill me one of these days.”

“yeah, probably,” he takes your hand and flops back in bed, dragging you down with him. “not today, though. m’too tired.”

“Lucky me then, huh?”

“for sure,” his gaze travels up the wall, to the ceiling, and back to you. “ya never answered my question.”

“What?”

“what’s gotcha stayin’ up this late? and dun say it’s fuckin’ kermit. i know that ain’t the reason.”

You laugh once more, but in an instant, your gaze drops to your hand. He’s still holding onto you. His fingers seem longer up close, riddled with small knicks and calluses, as he massages your knuckles.

“I can’t sleep,” you admit, mouth going dry.

He says something, but you’re finding it impossible to focus. Instead, you stare into those burning red pinpricks of his. They’re lulling, despite the color. A floating crimson glow that has you thirsty for a cup of wine. Or… perhaps something else.

“yer starin’ at me, doll,” Red muses, though you notice there’s a titter to his voice. “you okay?”

Just like that, you break from your trance. God, what the hell are you thinking? He’s your friend. Best friend. He’s not here to...to…

“I’m fine.”

“really?”

“I said I’m fine, Red,” you insist, and Red visibly flinches away. The sight breaks your heart. “Sorry, I’m just...kinda out of it. Bad dreams and all that crap.”

He grunts. “ah, that sounds about right.” He gets up slightly, just enough to pull the covers over you. “i can stay if ya want, sweetheart.” His cheekbones flush at the offer. “help, uh, ya know-- chase the shitty dreams away.”

As great of a friend he is, he sure has some terrible timing. The one day your breath catches. The one time your heart’s hammering in your chest. That very moment where the world shifts into something new, more exciting, and absolutely terrifying.

He chose this day of all days.

“Uh.” Don’t say yes, don’t say yes, don’t say-- “O-Okay then.”

...Damn.

His eye sockets go wide, elated. Like he didn’t expect you to agree. “i, erm, wait. really?”

Welp, there’s no backing out now. “Yeah, really. I’m cool with it.”

He goes quiet for a moment, conflicted as he looks from you to the ground. “...am i...am i makin’ ya uncomfortable, doll?”

“What--”

“i’ll take the ground if that’s the case,” he continues, the warmth of his hand fleeting as he moves away. “s’no big deal.”

“No,” you insist, grabbing ahold of him once more. This seems to stop him in his tracks, so you continue. “I-I mean… I don’t mind. Not at all, in fact. Do you?”

Shut up, Y/n.

You feel his eye lights on you, but you’re looking down. Hoping, praying, that he doesn’t find this the most ludicrous thing.

He laughs, a little breathless, like he’s been holding it all in, before laying by your side. “quit hoggin’ the blankets, asshole.”

#sans #uf sans #underfell #skeleton prompts #oof i got carried away with this one #it's okay at least #i made red such a softie in this oh wow

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music-of-silence · 7 years

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elated Very good book! Learned much on a subject that I thot I KNEW much about. I was around when it all happened. Great but ultimitely sad. Highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn more about Kurt! Very happy customer! Go to Amazon

Kurt-need I say more Bought this for a girlfriend who is in a state prison. Already bought her journals & montage of heck. She is a fan of Nirvana & loved this book. Go to Amazon

AMAZING READ Excellent book, fast shipping, book arrived undamaged Go to Amazon

this book was certainly heavy This book gave a great insight into the troubled soul of Kurt Cobain. I found it very revealing, funny at times but mostly sad. It's hard to imagine that someone with so much talent could have that much internal conflict and pain. The authors take on Kurt's relationship with Courtney Love gave me a newfound respect for her. She really seemed to work her ass off to get him clean while continuing to battle her own demon's. Great read!! Go to Amazon

Five Stars :) Go to Amazon

Too sad to review I need to have a good cry - finishing this book about ten minutes ago. Go to Amazon

Excellent read - you get a real look at Kurt I am still reading it, but that's mostly because the picture Cross paints is so poignant that I get crying and have to put it down. I highly recommend this book. True Kurt fans should read this book. A cool side story - I ordered my book from the Seattle Goodwill's Amazon store, and it came autographed by the author. :) Go to Amazon

Amazing read! Great book, very well written. I grew up not really a fan of Nirvana but Kurt Cobain and his death always fascinated me. It's sad to see how his childhood really affected him throughout his short life. The final chapter where Cross details Cobain's final days really got to me. I felt sick to my stomach after reading it. I have not read a book since. Next read definitely needs to be lighthearted. Very heavy indeed!!!! Go to Amazon

Good read Good book. Someone smart please reopen the case and use all the evidence ... I actually like him less than I did before reading it A complex and harrowing study of the human condition, and the dilapidated effect of self-hatred... Reads like a mediocre rock magazine Great read Five Stars Well-Written

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