starshower1215

[starshower1215]

Hey hey, greetings from your Secret Santa! Just wanted to ask, what pronouns do you prefer for Hange? I use both she and they interchangeably in my works, but in case you have a preference, do not hesitate to tell me!

Have a great day 🦊

Hello! I prefer they/them, if it's not much trouble. Thanks for asking, you also have a nice day, haha. 🐿️

[starshower1215]

A Flaw in the Argument for Female Hange

One thing continuously irks me, and it is a flaw in the logic of the argument itself, not in the actual perception.

The gender of the character, Hange Zoë, is often the subject of debate because the author of the manga omits any indication of their gender and, as it seems, has stated that their gender is ambiguous. However, in the transfer from the manga to the anime, the animators decided to give Hange a biologically female body. This is made plain in the depicted image:

which is often used as a form of evidence for the argument that Hange is female, as you can clearly see that Hange has breasts here.

Regardless of one’s stance on being transgender, there is an undeniable normalisation of the cis gender. This is not a limited belief, and manifests itself in transgender people as well, typically as a form of distress known as gender dysphoria, or the discomfort rooted in the difference between one’s gender identity and their birth-assigned sex. Even in transgender people, there is a preconceived notion that gender and sex should align, despite the entire basis of being transgender having been built on the fact that they do not. This is one of the reasons that many undergo gender affirmation surgeries, as having a body visibly align with a certain sex, or at least the sex that isn't whatever you're going for, is a minefield for misgendering. For example, there is an expectation for a “real” nonbinary person to have undergone any necessary surgical procedures in order to curate an androgynous figure. If you do not resemble the normal image of a nonbinary person, then obviously, there is no possible way you could ever be a person of that gender, right?

A related argument that is sometimes made consecutively is that the people of Paradis are not so advanced in terms of medicine and technology that they are able to perform gender affirmation surgeries anyway. I am not an expert on the development of technology, but upon a bit of research, the AMA states that the first documented sex reassignment surgery took place in Germany in 1931 (see here). This combined with the fact that the post-time skip technology aligns with that of the World Wars, 1914-1945, or at least that of the early 20th century, means that the countries outside of Paradis such as Marley and Hizuru may have possessed this technology. However, it is emphasized that the nations revealed after the time skip are more advanced in technology, so we may be able to assume that indeed, Paradis did not have this technology.

Still, I digress, because a lack of the necessary resources to carry out any desired surgeries does not equate to a sudden lack of transgender people, lol. Not having the resources to perform a mammoplasty does not make Hange not nonbinary, it simply makes it harder to be perceived as nonbinary, at least from the get go. The definition of transgender is "denoting or relating to a person whose gender identity does not correspond with the sex registered for them at birth." To say that Hange is of the female gender because they're of the female sex in the anime is like saying, "Well, Hange can't be trans because they're cis." It doesn't make sense.

Again, this isn't against a portrayal of a female Hange overall. If their gender is ambiguous in the manga, then it really can be anything, but if you decide to push your opinion onto others, you should at least manipulate your argument so that it doesn't disregard such a crucial aspect.

[starshower1215]

Deleted scenes from ch 126, just Hange trying to take care of Levi

[starshower1215]

He looks like a South Park character.

Headcanon that Levi lives for the dirty gossip of all the rich people that he hates lol

[starshower1215]

Reading the manga, I definitely took notice of how Levi's state of almost internal exhaustion is very evident in his facial expressions and body language. As is said here, "He's often almost shrunken in on himself, face down-turned, eyes exhausted, shoulders drooping, like there's a weight pressing down on him," then if I were describing him through prose in a piece of writing, then he would literally be drooping. And maybe I'm about to include an anime version of one of the above images, I don't know, but this post reminded me of this scene:

I'm 90% sure it's taken from the manga, but either way, Levi's clearly isolated himself in the above image, and I'm aware that that's common with the feeling of depression. Or maybe it's a perceived sense of isolation, but with some people, that perception itself is what leads to actual isolation. Levi is someone who sees himself as a sort of tool for others' success, benefit, or happiness, and he builds any semblance of self-worth which he has off of this. So, I think if he feels someone is rejecting him or isolating themself from him, he won't make the effort to "chase" after their affections, so as not to place his weight on them as a burden, as that's his perception of himself, and therefore a bias in his impression of the situation. That's my loosely related interpretation. I thought it was worth pointing out, but I'm thinking out loud here. Still, this post is completely correct, he really isn't the cold, emotionless soldier that people make him out to be, and it's quite the opposite.

One thing that gets me about the way Isayama draws Levi, is how well he captures Levi's depression. I don't think it really gets talked about enough, but I think it's fairly obvious that Levi suffers from depression, and it's not clinical with him, but rather a result of the life he's lead. All you have to do is take one look at Levi in the manga, and you can see that he's had a hard life. That he's been through and seen things that are genuinely spirit crushing. He wears that, not only on his face, but in the way he holds himself. He's often almost shrunken in on himself, face down-turned, eyes exhausted, shoulders drooping, like there's a weight pressing down on him. People always talk about Levi having a stoic expression, or a cold, emotionless expression, but I think that's completely wrong. To me, he more often just looks sad. He looks pained. You see this most in shots of Levi when he's just standing around, when he's not engaged in any particular action, when he's in repose. That tells me that Levi's general state of being is a depressed one. And it astounds me that anyone could ever accuse him of being unfeeling, or untouched by the destruction, death and despair around him. I think Levi carries the weight of those things more obviously on him than anyone because he feels the weight of those things more keenly than anyone. It all affects him, it all leaves its mark on him. That he pushes through that pain, the sadness and depression, is testament to his strength, to his commitment to others. But to think every death, every hardship, every instant of suffering doesn't impact Levi to his core is to simply not understand Levi at all. You get as much out of the visuals in "Attack on Titan" as the text, sometimes more, and with Levi, I think it's particularly important to pay attention to the way he looks, because he doesn't often express what he's feeling in words. But he always shows what he's feeling, through his expression, through his body language, the way he holds himself, etc... Levi just strikes me as a hurting unit. He's a deeply, deeply hurt man. He's hurt by the suffering of others, by the struggle and desperation he sees around him, by the unfairness and cruelty of life and the human condition. And it's always so evident, that hurt he feels, just to look at him.

[starshower1215]

This entire analysis and the conversation that follows really just blows me away. I always admire the intellect that shows up in both of the users conversing, as I've noticed there's a consistent pattern of incredible insight in anything they say about the story, so seeing a discussion go on is like an informational heaven, lmao. Well anyway, @scarletskiesinthepaths, thank you for writing this, for sharing the knowledge you acquired, no doubt through a lot of painful studying, from your formal education like this. I can't describe how cool it is to read such high-quality, in depth content, so I just have to express my gratitude. It has really helped me in my attempts at writing Levi's character accurately, especially with numerous instances of manga evidence which you've included throughout the post.

Also, my one thought about this through all the gushing was unfortunately formed via the side of my brain that's locked on Levi and Hange's relationship, lol. On the part where he displays signs of avoidance, and the analysis revolves around how those who know are those who had direct exposure or participation in Levi's past, I thought of this scene (from the anime), somewhere in Season 3, where Levi says something, I believe about Kenny, and Hange responds in some way like, "You mean when you lived with him as a kid?" This had been brought to my attention through a Levihan post, though, so the source has some bias and the point was to prove that Levi had revealed some of his past to Hange, a sign of the deep intimacy of their relationship. I don't know if that was taken from the manga or produced only in the anime, though, but well, I'm just thinking out loud.

Levi and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

TW: mentions of rape and childhood sexual abuse

Throughout the course of Attack on Titan, and even before the canon timeline, Levi experiences innumerable traumas, not the least of which are repeatedly experiencing the deaths of his closest friends and comrades. By the end of the series, Levi has lost every single person he had been close to, being the last of the Survey Corps' veterans. Given the truly immense amount of traumatic events Levi suffers, it'd be difficult to believe that he wouldn't have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and indeed, he does display several key features of the disorder.

Paraphrased, the DSM-5-TR PTSD criteria are as follows (American Psychiatric Association, 2022, p. 301):

Criterion A: stressor (one required)

The person was exposed to: death, threatened death, actual or threatened serious injury, or actual or threatened sexual violence, in the following way(s):

Direct exposure

Witnessing the trauma

Learning that a relative or close friend was exposed to a trauma

Indirect exposure to aversive details of the trauma, usually in the course of professional duties (e.g., first responders, medics)

Criterion B: intrusion symptoms (one required)

The traumatic event is persistently re-experienced in the following way(s):

Unwanted upsetting memories

Nightmares

Flashbacks

Emotional distress after exposure to traumatic reminders

Physical reactivity after exposure to traumatic reminders

Criterion C: avoidance (one required)

Avoidance of trauma-related stimuli after the trauma, in the following way(s):

Trauma-related thoughts or feelings

Trauma-related external reminders

Criterion D: negative alterations in cognitions and mood (two required)

Negative thoughts or feelings that began or worsened after the trauma, in the following way(s):

Inability to recall key features of the trauma

Overly negative thoughts and assumptions about oneself or the world

Exaggerated blame of self or others for causing the trauma

Negative affect

Decreased interest in activities

Feeling isolated

Difficulty experiencing positive affect

Criterion E: alterations in arousal and reactivity (two required)

Trauma-related arousal and reactivity that began or worsened after the trauma, in the following way(s):

Irritability or aggression

Risky or self-destructive behavior

Hypervigilance

Heightened startle reaction

Difficulty concentrating

Difficulty sleeping

Criterion F: duration (required)

Symptoms last for more than 1 month.

Criterion G: functional significance (required)

Symptoms create distress or functional impairment (e.g., social, occupational).

Criterion H: exclusion (required)

Symptoms are not due to medication, substance use, or other illness.

--

I've indicated the symptoms that apply to Levi, or that I believe likely apply, based on canon content in purple. Let's go one by one.

Criterion A: stressor

During the canon timeline, Levi was exposed to both large amounts of death and threatened death, primarily due to titan casualties, but also due to the circumstances of poverty and deprivation in the Underground. Notable examples include witnessing his mother die and decay while he starved as a young child; Furlan and Isabel's deaths; the deaths of Petra, Oluo, Gunther, and Eld during the Female Titan arc; the loss of Kenny; Erwin and the new recruits' suicide charge against the Beast Titan; and Hange's sacrifice.

Levi experienced multiple instances of serious injury, with the most significant being his injuries resulting from the thunderspear explosion and the Battle of Heaven and Earth. Given the nature of blast injuries, it is likely Levi suffered from internal damage—in particular, rupture of the respiratory and hollow organs, such as the lungs and bowels. We're also shown he suffered complete separation of the index and middle fingers of his right hand, as well as ocular damage to his right eye. A concussion and perhaps a traumatic brain injury following the blast is also likely, as well as hearing damage. Following the Battle of Heaven and Earth, he also experienced significant injuries to one of his legs, necessitating the use of a wheelchair three years post-Rumbling.

In regard to actual or threatened sexual violence, Levi was born and lived in a brothel, in which his mom was a prostitute. It's not an exaggeration to say Levi was likely the result of rape. Given the circumstances of his upbringing, it's also likely he witnessed the sexual encounters between his mother and the brothel's patrons and was perhaps sexually abused himself when his mother was unable or unavailable to protect him. Given the Bad Boy panel previews, we also know he was directly threatened with sex trafficking on at least one occasion.

Only one stressor is required to meet this criterion, and Levi meets all of them. He very much fits the profile of someone with complex trauma or C-PTSD, although that diagnosis has not yet been added to the DSM.

Criterion B: intrusion symptoms

Canon evidence of intrusion symptoms is a bit harder to find, given the heavy plot focus of Attack on Titan; however, I do believe there is enough to make some inferences.

During the Uprising arc, Levi takes note of a starving woman with her baby on multiple occasions, who appears to remind him of his mother. This indicates to me that he thinks of his mother and the circumstances in which he grew up with her with some regularity.

When he later confronts Kenny in the same arc, he specifically questions Kenny regarding the relationship he had with his mother, again indicating that Levi's mother took up significant space in his thoughts.

While we know Kuchel chose to keep Levi (rather than abort him), thus indicating Levi was a desired baby, it's evident that Levi's upbringing overall was damaging and distressing due to the severe poverty, food insecurity, and violence he endured as a young child. Accordingly, it's safe to assume that these memories related to his mother were likely to be both unwanted and upsetting.

We also have this panel during the War for Paradis arc, during which Levi ruminates on the deaths of his comrades and the purpose behind having saved Eren's life so many times. His facial expressions are truly crushing and filled with deep despair.

In terms of nightmares, we know that Levi experiences some truly disturbing dreams from the "Smartpass Good Night, Dear and Sweet Dreams Vol. 02" short story, in which he envisions his closest comrades all morphing into a sea of blood on a red carpet. Clearly, the affect of his dream has been influenced by the specter of death constantly looming over him.

Criterion C: avoidance

The full phrasing of this symptom (trauma-related external reminders) is, "Avoidance of or efforts to avoid external reminders (people, places, conversations, activities, objects, situations) that arouse distressing memories, thoughts, or feelings about or closely associated with the traumatic event(s)." Similar to the unwanted upsetting memories symptom under Criterion B, there is not direct canon evidence, but I do believe there is enough to make some inferences.

Primarily, what sticks out to me about Levi is the fact that no one near him seems to have knowledge of his past, which indicates he does not talk about it. When his past is brought up, it's always people who have some direct knowledge about it speaking on it (e.g., Kenny or Erwin). This is shown both directly in canon, such as when Petra speaks to Eren regarding the rumors of Levi's recruitment into the Survey Corps, and in supplemental Smartpass content, like the Close Up interview with Erwin and Levi.

This comes across to me as an effort to avoid conversations, and thus, reminders and memories about the topic.

Criterion D: negative alterations in cognitions and mood

There's quite a lot of evidence for these in canon.

In terms of overly negative thoughts and assumptions about oneself or the world, Levi has plenty. He appears to have the persistent belief that he only exists to be of service and use to others; he views himself as a tool, one which has no value if he is not directly contributing to something. This is exemplified by the following panels:

When Erwin asks Levi if he would be willing to be in charge of keeping the titan serum and determining whom to use it on, Levi answers with, "Why would you bother asking me?" This shows that Levi has no regard for his own personal feelings.

When Erwin and Levi are discussing the plan to take down the Beast Titan during the Reclamation of Wall Maria, Levi expresses his agreement with the plan by remarking that taking down the Beast Titan will act as him "[making] amends for failing to kill that armored brat earlier." This shows that Levi viewed it as his responsibility, and thus, his failure to take down Reiner. He placed an undue burden on himself here, casting blame for outcomes that should not be solely attributed to him.

And then there's this panel in the lead-up to the final battle, in which a severely wounded Levi is being reprimanded by Armin for being reckless and not resting, in light of his injuries. Levi responds, "... You want me asleep in bed? You're going to forget I even exist if I rest any longer." Levi suffered truly disabling injuries, and yet, he shows complete disregard for himself—concerned that no one will remember him if he is not actively fighting. This shows a projection of his own lack of self-worth onto how he believes others view him: if he is not useful, then he does not matter. Levi also shows disdain at the concept of resting and having been asleep, as if that's somehow a sign of laziness on his part, which is of course, untrue. No one would have faulted him for resting—he truly needed and deserved to rest.

We also know that Levi blamed himself for Kenny leaving him, which can be surmised from interviews with Isayama and the expression on Levi's face when Kenny abandoned him. Levi also asks Kenny why Kenny left him, which shows a certain preoccupation on Levi's part, wherein he worried there must have been something inherently wrong with him to make Kenny leave.

On the topic of Kenny and Levi, Isayama is quoted as saying:

"Levi still had the experience of being separated from Kenny during his childhood. He was constantly troubled by the thought of "Kenny left because I couldn't fulfill his expectations." When the Uprising occurred within the walls, and he confronted Kenny again as an enemy, Levi sought to meet what couldn't be satisfied previously." (x)

Regarding both negative affect and difficulty experiencing positive affect, Levi's expression and mood is frequently shown as depressed. There's a great post by @cosmicjoke on the topic. In terms of the latter, Levi laughs and smiles so infrequently that it's a significant moment at the conclusion of the Uprising arc when he smiles after Historia playfully punches him.

For decreased interest in activities, the full phrasing is, "Markedly diminished interest or participation in significant activities." Levi's character is contrasted with all the other characters in the series in the sense that he has no dreams of his own. Both Armin and Hange have that greater curiosity about the unknowns of the world, represented by the sea and titans; Erwin is similar in that he desired to validate his dad's theories about the outside world and the existence of other humans; Eren craved freedom above all else; etc. Levi, on the other hand, is never shown as having those same dreams and ambitions. Hence, I would say he demonstrates a markedly diminished participation in significant activities, as even though his complete lack of self-interest is immensely admirable, it is also deeply tragic—particularly as dreams and ambitions are often crucial for one's psychological well-being.

And then we also have feeling isolated, for which the full phrasing is, "Feelings of detachment or estrangement from others." On the topic of Levi and relationships, Isayama is quoted as saying, "It’s likely because he is afraid of forming close relationships. Because he exists in a world where one can be eaten by a Titan at any time, he consistently avoids building 'family'-like connections with others." (x)

This manga panel is a good example of how Levi views himself as detached from others. Pay attention to the phrasing: "And I doubt normal people think about these things on a daily basis... So that means I'm abnormal... Probably because I've seen far too many abnormal things."

Criterion E: alterations in arousal and reactivity

With all of the above laid out, Criterion E becomes very easy to meet.

For irritability or aggression, this is one of Levi's known character flaws, borne as a result of his upbringing.

For risky or self-destructive behavior, we have clear instances of Levi engaging in battle to the detriment of his physical well-being.

For hypervigilance, the last manga panel I attached provides a good example of that.

For difficulty sleeping, Levi is famously an insomniac, often quoted as getting 2-4 hours of sleep a night.

Criterions F, G, and H: duration, functional significance, and exclusion

Have the duration of Levi's symptoms been greater than one month? Yes.

Do the symptoms result in distress or functional impairment? Yes.

Are the symptoms more attributable to the physiological effects of a substance or another medical condition? No.

Thus, Criterions F, G, and H are met.

Citations

American Psychiatric Association. (2022). Trauma- and stressor-related disorders. In Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed., text rev.).

[starshower1215]

🇵🇸 Very important ‼️

Please don’t skip 🙏

I’m Ayoosh-gaza brother 🧑

Ayoosh vatted by gaza-evacuation-funds click here

Please listen me💔

Hello, I am Ahmed, 20 years old, studying computer engineering. I had big dreams and ambitions, but because of the war, I lost everything 💔😭

I was exposed to many dangers 💔

Last January, the occupation ordered us to evacuate our house, and I am the sole breadwinner for my family. We were displaced on foot for a long distance under the showers of bullets and rain. From that day until today, I have been homeless, without shelter, and without work. Our house was demolished, I lost my car, and my university was bombed by the occupation, so I want to complete my studies and education and build my dreams again 🥹😭

Please donate and help me

https://gofund.me/8d28e7d4

[starshower1215]

Another one! Finally, the story enters tag territory a little. It continues to be written with vigor, and thus, another self celebratory post is in order.

[starshower1215]

Hange has the sniffles

I don't even know

[starshower1215]

**Time is Running Out**

Imagine enduring a harsh winter in a tent made of tarpaulin, with nothing to shield you from the elements.

Every day brings the threat of freezing temperatures, and rainwater can flood our small space, putting us at risk of drowning. The cold can lead to serious health issues, such as chest infections and chronic illnesses.

You can see

I am pleading for help to save my family from this life-threatening situation.

Please, we need your support to escape this danger and find a safe place to live.

[starshower1215]

Save my little family Urgent message to everyone who sees this.

My name is Rimas, I am 20 years old, a nurse in one of the hospitals in the Gaza Strip. I live with my father, mother and little brother in a dilapidated tent that is not suitable for housing or living after we used to run around our homes safely without fear, and also my little cat who shared my pain and fear in every place my family and I were exposed to.

To bombing, cold and hunger.

The big goal and first is to be able to study and get a bachelor's degree because of the war that destroyed my university, and this is a very heavy burden on my heart. I am a person who perseveres towards success and hope for every patient and every person who is in pain and wounded. I lost it in a single moment during the displacement to an area devoid of everything we need, but I will not give up. I will continue to search again for support and assistance to complete my studies thanks to the contributions of donations to me.

This is why I resorted to the fundraising platform so that I can help my family to safety and provide them with moral and material support to live with dignity.

You are our only hope in that so that we can survive this injustice. A year has passed since this suffering, hoping that it will end without loss 💔🙏🏻

. I hope that I can collect $ 5,000 for each person in my family, the price of one ticket.

We are only 4 people to travel through the Rafah land crossing.

Do not hesitate to help if you can help me, you can change my life to survive and live better than this fatigue.

My greetings to you

Reemas 🙏🏻🤍

#Palestine

[starshower1215]

My name is Aya, I'm 29 years old. I'm married to Jihad, who is 32, and we have three beautiful children: Abdelrahman (7 years old), Jori (5 years old), and Adam (2 years old). We live in the northern part of Gaza.

Abdelrahman, Adam, and Jori are the heartbeat of my heart and the light of my life.

Abdelrahman: the lion of the house, the helpful and loving boy to his siblings and family.

Jori: my beloved girl, the one closest to my heart, and my little mini-me.

Adam: my little hero and my spoiled child.

Since the onset of the latest war in Gaza, our home has been completely destroyed, forcing us into displacement. We’ve had to move more than thirteen times in search of safety. During this harrowing journey, we faced severe hunger and malnutrition that nearly took my life and the lives of my children. Additionally, we were exposed to numerous contagious diseases and dangerous epidemics.

Before: This is our home, our dream, and our promising future.

My children have to travel long distances just to get water and stand in line for hours to get food. Their mental health has been shattered by the war, their education has come to a halt, and they have suffered from catastrophic hunger that almost claimed their lives.

After: This is our home, built with our sweat and effort, and it has been completely destroyed.

The Right to a Peaceful Life

My children deserve to live a peaceful life free from fear and anxiety. I dream of your help to support my family and escape this genocide. Your assistance means the world to me and my children.

Your donations can be a beacon of hope for us. Every dollar can help save my children's lives and give them a chance to live in peace. Your prayers for us to overcome this ordeal and lift the siege are greatly needed.

[starshower1215]

Bunch of Hanges

[starshower1215]

This is the magic lucky word count. Reblog for creativity juice. It might even work, who knows.

[starshower1215]

Update on the vampire au by @sunflowersunite and me!! 📢

Here you'll see:

a creepy guy throwing champagne

a shitty father

some breakdowns

Levi getting a haircut (by whom?? Take a guess 😏)

an eremika bar fight and reunion with a mysterious uncle

The light over her head flickered, blinked. He moved and Hange instinctively stepped back, against the door. But he simply raised a hand in the air and the next time the streetlight shined it caught on a flute glass, swirling with pale, golden liquid. Champagne.

Happy reading!! 😁

P.S. this chapter was A LOT to write and plan, hope you enjoy

[starshower1215]

It's so obvious, given that Hange is so unhygienic and Levi straight up despises anyone who doesn't live up to his standards. He automatically resorts to calling them horribly rude names like shitty glasses, too, how could anyone ever think he actually likes them? What a silly proposition.

i luv them so much much much mu-

[starshower1215]

Ohh, I'm heartbroken. I'm so heartbroken about this. I think later on, Hange learns to understand Levi's decision of choosing to let Erwin die (they seem to be resentful at first. Erwin was their friend, after all), so they would better understand the thought of being put to rest. Hange would never say to Levi on his deathbed, "Please don't leave me," then, not unless they think he can't/won't hear it.

Still alive (both Levi and I)

Neglected tumblr a little, sorry guys, i'm more active on instagram and patreon! 🥺

Edit: It's not Petra omg it's Farlan and Isabel