#A Step-By-Step Process to Fundamental Analysis

[truedatafinancialpvtltd]

How Do You Do a Fundamental Stock Market Analysis for Beginners

Fundamental stock market analysis is one of the key pillars of the investment journey. It provides investors with a solid framework to assess the long-term potential and financial health of companies. While it requires time and skill to master, fundamental analysis helps investors build a solid foundation for making strategic investment choices aligned with their financial goals. 

How do you do a fundamental stock market analysis?

[australianwomensnews]

Medical research has a major problem: an alarmingly high number of trials are based on fake, fraudulent or misinterpreted data.

Research misconduct sleuths call them “zombie” studies. They look like real research papers but they’re rotten to the core. And when these studies go on to influence clinical guidelines, that is, how patients are treated in hospitals and doctors’ rooms, they can be dangerous.

Professor Ben Mol, head of the Evidence-based Women’s Health Care Research Group at Monash University, is a professional zombie hunter. For years, he has warned that between 20 and 30 per cent of medical trials that inform clinical guidelines aren’t trustworthy.

“I’m surprised by the limited response from people in my field on this issue,” he says. “It’s a topic people don’t want to talk about.”

The peer review process is designed to ensure the validity and quality of findings, but it’s built on the assumption that data is legitimate.

Science relies on an honour system whereby researchers trust that colleagues have actually carried out the trials they describe in papers, and that the resulting data was collected with rigorous attention to detail.

But too often, once findings are queried, researchers can’t defend their conclusions. Figures such as former BMJ editor Richard Smith and Anaesthesia editor John Carlise argue it’s time to assume all papers are flawed or fraudulent until proven otherwise. The trust has run out.

“I think we have been naive for many years on this,” Mol says. “We are the Olympic Games without any doping checks.”

How bad science gets into the clinic

Untrustworthy papers may be the result of scientists misinterpreting their data or deliberately faking or plagiarising their numbers. Many of these “zombie” papers emerge from Egypt, Iran, India and China and usually crop up in lower-quality journals.

The problem gets bad when these poor-quality papers are laundered by systematic reviews or meta-analyses in prestigious journals. These studies aggregate hundreds of papers to produce gold-standard scientific evidence for whether a particular treatment works.

Often papers with dodgy data are excluded from systematic reviews. But many slip through and go on to inform clinical guidelines.

My colleague Liam Mannix has written about an example of this with the hormone progesterone. Official guidelines held that the hormone could reduce the risk of pre-term birth in women with a shortened cervix.

But those guidelines were based on a meta-analysis largely informed by a paper from Egypt that was eventually retracted due to concerns about the underlying data. When this paper was struck from the meta-analysis, the results reversed to suggest progesterone had no preventative effect.

There’s a litany of other examples where discounting dodgy data can fundamentally alter the evidence that shapes clinical guidelines. That’s why, in The Lancet’s clinical journal eClinical Medicine, Mol and his colleagues have reported a new way to weed out bad science before it makes it to the clinic.

Holding back the horde

The new tool is called the Research Integrity in Guidelines and evIDence synthesis (RIGID) framework. It mightn’t sound sexy, but it’s like a barbed-wire fence that can hold back the zombie horde.

The world-first framework lays out a series of steps researchers can take when conducting a meta analysis or writing medical guidelines to exclude dodgy data and untrustworthy findings. It involves two researchers screening articles for red flags.

“You can look at biologically implausible findings like very high success rates of treatments, very big differences between treatments, unfeasible birth weights. You can look at statistical errors,” says Mol.

“You can look at strange features in the data, only using rounded numbers, only using even numbers. There are studies where out of dozens of pairs of numbers, everything is even. That doesn’t happen by chance.”

A panel decides if a paper has a medium to high risk of being untrustworthy. If that’s the case, the RIGID reviewers put their concerns to the paper’s authors. They’re often met with stony silence. If authors cannot address the concerns or provide their raw data, the paper is scrapped from informing guidelines.

The RIGID framework has already been put to use, and the results are shocking.

In 2023, researchers applied RIGID to the International Evidence-based Guidelines for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), a long misunderstood and misdiagnosed syndrome that affects more than 1 in 10 women. As a much maligned condition, it was critical the guidelines were based on the best possible evidence.

In that case, RIGID discounted 45 per cent of papers used to inform the health guidelines.

That’s a shockingly high number. Those potentially untrustworthy papers might have completely skewed the guidelines.

Imagine, Mol says, if it emerged that almost half of the maintenance reports of a major airline were faked? No one would be sitting around waiting for a plane to crash. There would be swift action and the leadership of the airline sacked.

[grey-sorcery]

Title: Shadow Work: First Steps

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Shadow Work Concepts Emanations of The Subconscious Dualities Biases in Witchcraft Finding Balance Divination Basics of Spellcasting Basics of Astral Projection Fundamentals of Energy Work Spell Design What is Witchcraft?

Important: Shadow work is in no way necessary for witchcraft. Nor should magical applications of shadow work be the crux of your self-reflection.

The concept of the shadow holds a lot of significance to most witches today. The shadow, as elucidated by Carl Jung, represents the concealed and often repressed aspects of an individual's psyche. It encompasses the less desirable qualities, such as fears, insecurities, and suppressed emotions, which are typically kept hidden from conscious awareness. Engaging in magical shadow work entails embarking upon a journey of self-discovery and self-integration, allowing individuals to explore these hidden depths in order to achieve greater personal understanding and growth. And while Jung may not have been the most savory character, his contributions were and continue to be very useful! I highly recommend looking into his ideas and how you can potentially modify them to better fit your own life.

The Shadow

The shadow, as defined and utilized in shadow work, refers to the concealed and often repressed aspects of an individual's psyche. The shadow represents the repository of thoughts, emotions, and impulses that are deemed unacceptable or incompatible with one's conscious self-image. A lot of the shadow’s characteristics are forged through traumatic experiences and manifest themselves as trauma responses. These hidden aspects of the self reside in the unconscious mind, remaining largely inaccessible to conscious awareness.

Shadow work involves a deliberate and introspective exploration of these suppressed elements. It is a process of bringing to light the aspects of ourselves that we may disown or deny, aiming to integrate them into our conscious selfhood. By engaging with the shadow, individuals gain insight into their fears, insecurities, and unresolved conflicts, shedding light on the hidden motivations behind their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. This exploration of the shadow is not limited to psychological analysis alone. It encompasses various practices and techniques, such as magic, divination, self-reflection, journaling, therapy, and emotional intelligence development. Shadow work allows individuals to confront and confront their shadows in a compassionate and non-judgmental manner, promoting personal growth, self-acceptance, and authenticity.

Techniques for Exploring and Integrating the Shadow

One approach to delving into the depths of the shadow is through the practice of meditation. By cultivating a focused and contemplative state of mind, individuals can delve into their subconscious and uncover suppressed emotions, memories, and beliefs. Through consistent meditation practice, one can gradually bring these shadows into conscious awareness, allowing for a deeper understanding of oneself.

Rituals and spellwork can serve as transformative tools in shadow work. Rituals provide a structured framework within which individuals can confront and engage with their shadows. By employing symbolic gestures, such as the use of correspondences or ritual objects, or the implementation of astral projections and energy work, practitioners can externalize their inner struggles and navigate the complexities of their shadows in a controlled and intentional manner. Through spellwork, it is possible to influence the psyche, open up self awareness, make it easier to gain access to repressed memories, aid in inducing relaxed states, and form energetic representations of emotional states. 

Archetypes and symbolism serve as potent vehicles for exploring the shadow within magical practice. Archetypes represent universal patterns and primordial images that exist within the collective unconscious. By working with archetypal energies, individuals can gain insight into their own shadows and access the transformative potential residing within them. Symbolism, too, can play a central role in shadow work, as it allows practitioners to express and explore complex emotions and experiences that may be difficult to articulate directly. By utilizing symbols, such as colors, animals, or mythological motifs, individuals can unlock the safety, self-awareness, and confidence contained within their shadows.

Magical Shadow Work

One of the primary benefits of engaging in magical shadow work is the revelation of hidden aspects of the self. By courageously diving into the shadow, individuals can shed light on the suppressed emotions, desires, and beliefs that have influenced their thoughts and behaviors. This process of self-exploration enables individuals to develop a more comprehensive understanding of their true nature, promoting authenticity and self-acceptance.

Magical shadow work also holds the potential for healing past wounds and traumas. By addressing the suppressed emotions and traumas stored within the shadow, individuals can initiate a process of emotional and psychological healing. Confronting and processing these experiences in a supportive and intentional manner allows for the release of stagnant energy and the restoration of emotional well-being. Engaging with the shadow can lead to personal transformation and empowerment. As individuals become aware of and integrate their shadows, they gain the ability to reclaim the aspects of themselves that were once repressed or denied. By embracing the full spectrum of their being, individuals unlock their true potential and experience a greater sense of wholeness and authenticity.

Before engaging in magical shadow work, It would be wise to approach it mundanely first. At the very least, mundane shadow work will give you an idea of what your shadow is, the shape of it, its reactionary patterns, its roots. Without mundane shadow work, or a very experienced healer, you’ll be flying blind. Shadow work is an intimate process of getting refamiliarized with the sum total of your being, your life. If you’re ready for magical shadow work, here are some spells that can help. (Be sure that they’re of your design for best results.)

Anti-anxiety spell candle

Spell to remember dreams

Spell to make accessing sensitive memories easier

Binding your own trauma response (temporarily)

Cord cutting (Actual cord cutting, not that candle & string tiktok bs)

Glamour for self-love and acknowledgement 

Reveal truth spell

I may write some spells for this purpose, If I do, I will link them here in this section.

Mundane Shadow Work

Mundane shadow work refers to the process of exploring and integrating the hidden aspects of the self from a psychological and self-care perspective, without invoking supernatural or metaphysical beliefs. It involves delving into the unconscious patterns, beliefs, and behaviors that shape an individual's thoughts and actions; as well as taking the time to care for yourself, even when the cost required to do so means draining yourself. Unlike magical or mystical approaches, mundane shadow work focuses on psychological principles and practices to uncover and address these hidden aspects.

From a psychological standpoint, mundane shadow work involves examining the unconscious patterns and behaviors that influence an individual's life. The unconscious mind plays a vital role in shaping thoughts, emotions, and actions, often driven by deep-seated fears, unresolved conflicts, and unacknowledged desires. By exploring and understanding these unconscious elements, individuals can gain insight into the underlying motivations and dynamics that affect their daily lives. Mundane shadow work also involves exploring the impact of childhood conditioning and societal influences on one's personality and behavior. Early experiences and societal norms can shape beliefs, values, and attitudes that may be limiting or detrimental. Through introspection and analysis, individuals can identify and challenge ingrained patterns and beliefs that no longer serve their personal growth and well-being.

Self-reflection and journaling are effective practices for mundane shadow work. Taking time to reflect on thoughts, emotions, and experiences can help uncover hidden patterns and gain insight into one's motivations and reactions. Writing in a journal allows for a deeper exploration of thoughts and feelings, enabling individuals to recognize recurring themes, triggers, and patterns in their lives.

Self-care can serve as a valuable tool for shadow work, facilitating the exploration and integration of hidden aspects of the self. By engaging in self-care practices, individuals create a nurturing and supportive environment that allows for deep introspection and personal growth.

Examples of self-care as a form of shadow work include:

1. Mindfulness and Meditation: Practicing mindfulness cultivates awareness of one's thoughts, emotions, and sensations, creating a space for acknowledging and exploring the shadow. Meditation provides an opportunity to observe and process unconscious patterns and emotions that may arise during the practice.

2. Journaling and Reflection: Writing in a journal encourages self-reflection and can help uncover hidden aspects of the self. By expressing thoughts, emotions, and experiences on paper, individuals gain insights into their shadows and can identify recurring patterns or triggers.

3. Self-Compassion and Self-Acceptance: Embracing self-compassion and self-acceptance involves acknowledging and accepting all aspects of the self, including the shadow. By practicing self-compassion, individuals can foster a non-judgmental and nurturing attitude towards themselves, creating space for healing and growth.

4. Emotional Regulation and Boundaries: Developing emotional regulation skills allows individuals to navigate and process challenging emotions that may arise during shadow work. Setting boundaries helps establish a safe and supportive environment, protecting one's well-being and allowing for focused introspection.

5. Rest and Relaxation: Prioritizing rest and relaxation is essential for replenishing energy and fostering emotional well-being. Taking breaks, engaging in hobbies, and practicing self-care rituals such as baths or massages create a conducive environment for self-exploration and introspection.

By incorporating self-care practices into one's routine, individuals can enhance their well-being while simultaneously engaging in shadow work. These practices create a nurturing space for deep reflection, emotional processing, and personal growth. Self-care as a form of shadow work enables individuals to develop a deeper understanding and acceptance of their shadows, leading to greater self-awareness and integration.

Engaging in therapy or counseling is a valuable approach to mundane shadow work. Mental health professionals provide a supportive and objective environment where individuals can explore their unconscious patterns, childhood conditioning, and societal influences. Therapeutic techniques, such as psychodynamic therapy or cognitive-behavioral therapy, can aid in uncovering and addressing underlying issues, facilitating personal growth and transformation.

Developing emotional intelligence is another crucial aspect of mundane shadow work. Emotional intelligence encompasses the ability to identify, understand, and manage one's own emotions, as well as the emotions of others. By enhancing emotional awareness and regulation, individuals can gain insight into their unconscious emotional reactions and learn healthier ways of expressing and processing emotions. Practices such as mindfulness meditation, emotional regulation exercises, and empathy-building activities contribute to the development of emotional intelligence.

Mundane shadow work is an integral part of personal growth and self-actualization. By exploring and integrating the hidden aspects of the self, individuals can achieve a deeper understanding of their motivations, desires, and fears. This process fosters self-acceptance, self-compassion, and a greater sense of authenticity. Through mundane shadow work, individuals gain the opportunity to transform limiting beliefs, heal emotional wounds, and cultivate healthier relationships with themselves and others.

Similarities and Differences between Magical and Mundane Shadow Work

Magical and mundane shadow work share common goals and principles despite their different approaches. Both seek to explore and integrate the hidden aspects of the self, acknowledging the existence of unconscious patterns and behaviors that influence thoughts and actions. The shared goal is to achieve personal growth, self-awareness, and transformation. Both approaches recognize the importance of addressing suppressed emotions, traumas, and limiting beliefs for healing and achieving a more authentic and fulfilling life.

Magical shadow work often involves metaphysical or spiritual practices and rituals, whereas mundane shadow work focuses on psychological principles. In magical shadow work, practitioners may utilize meditation, visualization, energy work, rituals, and working with archetypes and symbolism.

In contrast, mundane shadow work primarily relies on psychological approaches supported by scientific research. It emphasizes self-reflection, introspection, therapy, and emotional intelligence development. Techniques such as journaling, therapy, and emotional regulation exercises are used to explore and understand unconscious patterns, childhood conditioning, and societal influences. Mundane shadow work seeks to integrate psychological principles and evidence-based practices for personal growth and transformation. Mundane shadow work can also use symbolism and work with archetypes. The shadow is an archetype, a subcategorization of the psyche. 

While magical and mundane shadow work have contrasting approaches, they also have complementary aspects that can be integrated for an approach to self-discovery and growth. Practitioners can incorporate psychological techniques into magical shadow work. For instance, individuals can use self-reflection and journaling to deepen their understanding of the symbolism and archetypes encountered in magical practices. This integration can provide a psychological framework for exploring and processing the experiences and insights gained from themagical, mystical, and metaphysical practices, enhancing self-awareness and personal growth. In mundane shadow work, practitioners can draw inspiration from the use of symbolism and archetypes in magical practices. Symbolism and archetypes provide a rich language for exploring and expressing complex emotions, experiences, and unconscious patterns. By incorporating these symbolic elements into therapy or counseling, individuals can tap into a deeper layer of self-understanding and facilitate transformative healing processes.

Both magical and mundane shadow work recognize the importance of the mind-body connection in personal growth. Engaging in practices such as meditation, mindfulness, or breathwork can foster a deeper connection with the self and facilitate emotional and psychological healing. This mind-body integration can bridge the gap between magical and mundane approaches, emphasizing the interplay of thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations in the process of shadow work. Both require a level of intimacy and honesty that may be uncomfortable for those who are just starting. They both often involve reflecting on past traumas and how they are reacted to.  

Choosing the Right Approach

When it comes to shadow work, it is crucial to choose an approach that aligns with individual preferences, needs, and goals. While both magical and mundane methods offer unique perspectives, it is essential to consider personal inclinations and strike a balance between the two. However, prioritizing mundane approaches for mental health considerations is of utmost importance. Without professional guidance, a practitioner may end up hurting themselves more than healing. Especially for younger practitioners. 

Each individual has their own preferences and inclinations when it comes to self-exploration and personal growth. Some may resonate more with the mystical and metaphysical aspects of magical shadow work, while others may find solace and effectiveness in the practical and evidence-based approaches of mundane shadow work. It is essential to honor these individual preferences and inclinations when selecting an approach to shadow work.

Before starting shadow work, it is vital to identify personal needs, goals, traumas, boundaries, and influences. What aspects of the self do you wish to explore? Are you seeking healing from past traumas or a deeper understanding of your unconscious patterns? Understanding your specific needs and goals can help determine the most suitable approach for your shadow work journey. Finding a balance between magical and mundane approaches can provide a well-rounded and comprehensive experience. The metaphysical aspects of magical shadow work can offer a sense of awe, wonder, and connection to something greater than oneself. On the other hand, the psychological grounding of mundane shadow work can provide a practical framework for understanding and integrating the shadow. By incorporating elements from both approaches, individuals can tap into their intuition while also utilizing evidence-based practices for self-discovery and personal growth.

While both magical and mundane approaches have their merits, prioritizing mundane approaches to mental health is crucial. Mundane shadow work is rooted in psychological principles and has a strong evidence base. Engaging in therapy or counseling, utilizing psychological techniques, and focusing on emotional well-being are essential components of addressing mental health concerns. It is important to recognize that while magical shadow work may provide spiritual or mystical insights, it should not be relied upon as a sole solution for mental health challenges. By prioritizing mundane approaches to mental health, individuals can ensure they receive the necessary support and guidance from qualified professionals. Therapeutic interventions provide a safe and structured environment for exploring the depths of the shadow, addressing past traumas, and developing healthier coping mechanisms. Taking care of one's mental well-being is paramount and should not be overshadowed by the allure of magical or mystical practices alone.

How Shadow Work Enhances Magical Practice

Shadow work, with its focus on exploring and integrating the hidden aspects of the self, can significantly improve magical practice in various ways. By delving into the depths of the shadow, practitioners can enhance magical potency, deepen their connection to their own practice, and develop self-awareness regarding potential negative influences on their spellwork, metaphysics, and magical praxis.

Shadow work can enhance magical potency by addressing and transforming the unconscious patterns, fears, and limiting beliefs that may hinder the effectiveness of magical practice. When practitioners engage in shadow work, they uncover and work through these hidden aspects, allowing them to reclaim personal power and align their intentions and energies more effectively. By integrating the shadow, practitioners can cultivate a greater sense of authenticity, clarity, and focus, thereby magnifying the potency of their magical endeavors.

Shadow work offers a unique opportunity to deepen the connection one has to their own magical practice. By exploring the depths of the shadow, practitioners gain insights into their motivations, desires, and fears that may unconsciously influence their magical workings. This self-exploration allows practitioners to align their magical practice with their true selves, fostering a deeper sense of connection, purpose, and resonance. By integrating the shadow, practitioners can cultivate a more authentic and fulfilling magical journey.

Engaging in shadow work helps practitioners become self-aware of potential negative influences on their spellwork, metaphysics, and magical praxis. The shadow, with its hidden and repressed aspects, can manifest in unintended ways within magical practice. By exploring the shadow, practitioners can bring these influences into conscious awareness, thereby minimizing their detrimental effects. This self-awareness enables practitioners to identify and address biases, unresolved traumas, and unacknowledged emotions that may impact their magical workings. By integrating the shadow, practitioners can ensure that their spellwork and metaphysical understanding align with their authentic selves, promoting ethical, balanced, and effective magical praxis.

To become self-aware of the shadow's potential negative influence, practitioners can engage in regular self-reflection, journaling, and introspection. They can analyze their magical experiences, observe recurring patterns or emotional reactions, and critically evaluate their intentions and motivations. Seeking feedback from trusted peers or mentors can also provide valuable insights and help uncover blind spots or unconscious biases. By developing this self-awareness, practitioners can actively work towards minimizing negative influences and ensuring their magical practice aligns with their true values and intentions.

Tips for Shadow Work

Prepare by gathering comforting items and keeping them close by so they can be used afterwards.

Bathe afterwards (This may not be helpful if you suffer from dysphoria)

Practice regular meditation so that it becomes easier

Take notes during solo shadow work practices in order to discuss the points with a therapist.

Analyze personal biases and preconceptions to prevent them from influencing your exploration.

Understand intersectionality and how it affects your life.

Utilize symbols and archetypes without ascribing unnecessary magical attributes to them.

Cultivate emotional awareness, empathy, and self-regulation.

Seek information from various disciplines, including psychology, history, and ethics, and apply critical thinking to what you read.

Stay open to different viewpoints and be willing to modify your beliefs as you learn.

Dedicate time to reflection and self-assessment to facilitate growth.

Strive for authenticity rather than attempting to conform to any particular spiritual or magical tradition.

Understand your limits and maintain healthy boundaries in your practices.

Recognize that tools and accessories can aid practice but are not inherently magical. They only serve to support headspace.

Share your findings and thoughts with a professional for feedback.

Recognize the cultural origins of various practices and treat them with respect.

Distinguish between metaphorical and literal interpretations to prevent falling into delusions, especially for those with a mental illness.

Extend compassion to yourself and others, recognizing that shadow work can be a challenging process.

Understand that shadow work leads to change, and be willing to embrace it.

Surround yourself with supportive friends, family, or community.

Keeping a journal aids in tracking progress and thoughts.

Acknowledge your responsibility for your actions and beliefs.

Understand that complex phenomena cannot be reduced to overly simplistic explanations.

Seek out primary sources when researching different traditions.

Utilize both logic and intuition in a balanced way.

Recognize how language shapes thought and be mindful of your word choices.

Understand historical practices in their proper context without romanticizing them.

Recognize the metaphorical nature of certain concepts without taking them literally.

If using substances to aid in exploration, do so responsibly and with awareness of potential risks. It is unwise to employ alcohol consumption for shadow work.

Establish a physical and emotional environment that feels safe and conducive to exploration.

Stay clear of pseudoscientific explanations and theories. Especially those originating from New Age “Spirituality”.

Understand that shadow work can be taxing and prioritize self-care.

Recognize the limits of personal understanding and be humble in your approach.

Embrace a nuanced view that avoids rigid binary classifications.

Familiarize yourself with psychological theories that pertain to consciousness and the unconscious.

Be aware of the tendency to seek information that confirms pre-existing beliefs.

Recognize the connection between body and mind and engage in physical activities that promote well-being.

Recognize and avoid superstitions that might influence rational thinking.

Understand how societal norms and constructs can shape personal beliefs and behaviors.

If using visualization, do so with an understanding of its psychological basis rather than mystical.

Recognize the multifaceted nature of human personality and experience.

Be willing to change directions in your practice if something is not working, regardless of the time and effort invested.

Establish a consistent routine that supports your shadow work practice.

Maintain a strong connection to reality, recognizing the symbolic or metaphorical nature of many spiritual or magical concepts

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[writing-for-life]

Nuance in (The Sandman) Fandom

Send me asks about everything Sandman-related!

I thought a lot over the past few days, partly prompted by discourse on here, partly due to a couple of “interesting” asks and messages I received (the type you don’t answer). I *think* they might have been prompted by engaging in discourse on topics like anti-blackness/racism, misogyny/sexism, TERF characters etc in The Sandman.

Fandoms are always getting super sensitive if someone shines a critical lens on their favourite works, authors and characters. So to make this clear (in case it isn’t already obvious from my brain-rot blog):

I love The Sandman. I love Neil Gaiman. I have an extremely soft spot for Dream (and Desire btw, who deserves a lot more character analysis than just being summed up as “villainous, sexy bitch”. One day, perhaps ;)).

I can read The Sandman and just get lost in the story, even after decades and many rereads. 

But I can also view it through a critical lens—these things aren’t mutually exclusive.

Not critical enough or too critical?

As fans, we can get trapped in certain thinking patterns, like:

“My blorbo can do no wrong”-syndrome 

“Characters with flaws are inherently problematic and imply authorial endorsement of those actions” 

“Characterisation and problematic subtext are one and the same” (aka overanalysing and looking for problems where there are none is the death of every story, but failing to see problematic patterns where they are clearly visible is a problem, too).

Don't say anything bad about my favourite character

I think this doesn’t need much further exploration. It’s not my personal way of looking at stories through permanently rose-tinted glasses (I always feel it stalls my experience, but my experience is not everyone else's). Some people prefer that type of escapism, and I’m good with that (although the downside is of course that by not willing to engage with issues, we can unwillingly perpetuate them). Live and let live, ship and let sail. But please, for the love of god: Don’t insult people via their inboxes or messages just because their opinions and preferences don’t align with yours. I’m not going to sugarcoat it or phrase it “nicely”: It’s infantile (and a form of bullying btw), end of.

How can you even like a character who's so horrible? And that author must be equally horrible, too

We have to separate flawed characters, even those who are written to be really problematic, from real-life endorsement of these actions. 

Author, narrator and character are three fundamentally different things, and don’t overlap as much as some people seem to think. 

We can write vile, despicable characters to make a point (for me, Thessaly was always a prime example for this, and I explained why here). We probably hate them as we write them. I don’t know what else to say, but this facet of writing seems to get more and more lost on people, and it’s a worry. Crying for sanitised characterisation is one step away from censorship. We explore what is problematic about people and humanity through story. That’s how we process and learn. It’s nothing new, but it becomes impossible if we can’t write flawed and even disgusting characters. 

Face value…

Since I’m mostly in The Sandman fandom, I often read that its ending is hopeless, and that’s supposedly the entire message. 

It is agonisingly sad, yes. But is it truly hopeless? I personally see it as quite the opposite, but of course that’s my opinion, coloured by my life experiences.

I also get that show-only fans often haven’t read the comics, or at least not the whole arc. And as such, their outlook from what they’ve seen so far (and choose to focus on) has to be different by default. I also understand that many people are quite new to the comics, even if they have read them in their entirety. I’ve sat with them for 30 years, and I still find new things on every reread (and I read it more times than anyone should 🙈), and I still don’t feel like I’ve understood it all. Perhaps because I still haven’t fully understood myself (and it’s unlikely I ever will). If there’s one thing The Sandman isn’t, it’s one-dimensional and easy to grasp in its whole depth.

I just wrote a ginormous meta on it, if you’re interested, it’s here:

Subtext, (not so) glorious subtext

This is where it gets complicated:

We shouldn’t mix up characterisation and story subtext. Overanalysing every line to death will always make us find something that’s “problematic”, when it really isn’t in the wider context of the story.

Zooming in is NOT always a good thing. Sometimes, we actually need to zoom out. 

But subtext *can be* (accidentally) problematic. Even in stories we love. And none of this negates what I previously wrote.

Stories have real-life implications of sorts, and we need to be able to talk about it. That’s where those slightly flabbergasting, hostile inbox messages come in, and I want to expand on that "topic of contention" a bit:

Neil himself confirmed that the Endless basically warp reality, and that this is why, after Dream’s failed relationship with Nada, many black women in his vicinity suffer terrible fates (Ruby and Carla in particular). And that this spell is only broken when he dies, and that it is the reason why Gwen doesn’t suffer the same fate. And said Gwen then gets used as a plot device to basically absolve Hob (who canonically really is a problematic character, whether show-only fans like it or not) from his slaver past. Once again, very clearly: No one is making this up. Neil confirmed it (for the comics, and that was over 20 years ago. It remains to be seen if his stance has changed as we move into that arc in the TV show).

I don't think it is correct to imply that Dream as a character is racist (I've read that, too) because he logically can’t be. He holds *all* the collective unconscious. He is also, strictly speaking, not white. He is everything and nothing, and he shows up in many different ethnicities throughout the whole arc, depending on who looks at him. But Neil played with a subtext here (reality warping due to a bad relationship which then affects everyone with similar physical traits) that will read very differently to a black person than it reads to a white person, and we have to understand why that is an *extremely* slippery slope.

Plus, we are supposed to see Hob, who *was* a racist at some point (you can’t not be if you’re a slave-trader—it’s impossible by default) as redeemed. And yes, he *does* regret deeply, good for him (and if I were saying this aloud, you would hear the sarcasm in my voice, because it is indeed all about him. We are to sympathise/empathise with him and his character growth while there isn’t much mention of the people he maltreated). But also: it was a black woman who basically forgave him (with dialogue that personally makes me cringe). And that black woman who offers forgiveness is not truly a black woman—she is a character written by a white man. And as much as author and character are not the same (see above), there is an inherent sensitivity in that power imbalance that we can't brush under the carpet.

I don’t think Neil is racist. Probably quite the opposite, and I can even see that his intentions were good from a storytelling point of view. BUT intention and impact are two fundamentally different things, and telling the story this way (comic version) betrays blindspots only white people have. Just like women have blindspots when they tell stories about men, and men have blindspots when they tell stories about women (and there are a few of those in The Sandman, too). And and and…

As storytellers, we can’t always speak from lived experience. It’s impossible. And that also means we occasionally make mistakes that look bad in hindsight, even if our intentions were good.

I guess the proof is in the pudding: What do we do when people who *have* that lived experience tell us it looks bad? If they inform us why it is hurtful, plays into old stereotypes etc?

Are we willing to listen and yield (both are the foundations of allyship btw), or are we insisting that our viewpoint as someone *without* lived experience is right? That lived experience extends to all lived experiences (sex/gender, sexual orientation, age...), and from all we’ve heard from Neil so far, it seems important to him to rewrite what he sees differently today. Whether they’ll always get it right for the show—we’ll see. At the moment, it looks a lot better than in the comics, and certain issues are already being handled with a lot more sensitivity, but a few problems remain.

Pushing back on criticism that comes from people with lived experience is problematic—I’d encourage us to think about what it looks like if a white majority in the fandom is basically saying that the opinions of POC are essentially “overreactions” (and yes, that happened).

It’s complicated. The Sandman was written in a different time, and I think we have to distinguish between things that weren’t really problematic at the time but have aged poorly (again, Thessaly springs to mind, and I have lived experience as a queer person during that time, so I can see it in context while at the same time acknowledging that I would make changes to bring it to the present day), and things that were always a problem due to blindspots. They were a problem in 1990, and if they don’t get changed, they are still a problem today.

This fandom is generally so much more open and nicer than others I know. But that doesn’t mean it’s infallible, because it’s full of humans. 

Nuance is sorely needed, in both story interpretation and interaction between said humans.

[h-doodles]

BREAKING MY SILENCE!!!

sorry im late but i was spamming one bestie with some more analysis thoughts on the borb while half scrolling through my fyp bc i do curate my experience ya know. BUT YOU GUYS. EVERYONE TAKE SEVERAL STEPS BACK AND A DEEP BREATH.

@oneginn I get your point and your post and I respect that, and I personally apologize for the boundaries that were set off with regards to some of my reblogs! I do recognize romanticizing toxic behaviors is BAD and a point of extreme concern, especially in real life! HOWEVER, at the same time, like you said! exploring and liking the darker themes are a thing, and fundamentally, people expressing their thoughts about it is part of the process, especially when writing about it in fiction. I believe that as long we do recognize the proper warnings AND DO give warnings, it's perfectly sane for people to post whatever in our personal blogs. Not to mention that while fiction has the ability to influence reality, some times fiction IS just fiction, and saying this from a place of love: IT'S NOT ALWAYS THAT DEEP. Sometimes the girlies just want some unhinged absolute gratitious smut, some girlies want the most heart wrenching traumatizing angst, some people want the most rancid and unhealthy parts to see how worse they can go, and some girlies want the soft slice of life absolute peaceful fluff AND that's why fiction is great, it can contain ANYTHING! Of course, it is still important to keep a critical lens on everything we read, but it's also important to keep in mind that it's a space where people can explore their boundaries SAFELY.

@shortstrawberry GIRL. when you said that i couldn't help but agree for a hot moment, bc EVERYONE needs a chill pill. But at the same time the arguement that it's just fiction isn't gonna cut it, bc there are too many flavors of fiction for people NOT to react. Thus, my earlier statements: that Fiction is a safe place to explore one's thoughts, no matter how dark it gets, but at the same time we have the responsibility in learning to recognize that there are still certain critical thinking we MUST do in order to properly handle such things. Not everyone is comfortable in what we create, and thus warnings need be applied. But otherwise, it's free real estate!!!

ALSO ough what anyone writes OR creates doesn't reflect their mental health or mental state!!!!!!!!! please you guys. sometimes exploring the possibilities is just that. EXPLORING. it doesn't mean the creator is a monster or a freak for making it. all content is a piece of artistic rendition, and just because the message is unpalatable to your senses doesnt mean it's garbage, nor of need to be censored. If you don't like it, simply click block and go!!!!!

As for the rest of the reblogs in the respective posts. Y'ALL. you dont WANT to start the kinkshaming discourse. But i'm on the side of NO kink shaming. As long as it's safe, sane, and consensual, who are YOU to judge the people involved? ... Don't forget the roots of the queer community. Our lifestyle was just kink to the majority then, and still is perceived by many conservatives as such. LEARN.

[dogsliampaynedoesntinstagram]

Do you have any thoughts on makeup and its connection to femininity and people who say makeup isn’t meant to satisfy men, it’s for enjoyment/fun etc? Not sure if I’m clear

I have so many thoughts about makeup anon. I've been really distressed to watch both the amount of beauty work expected of women and the gap between the beauty work expected of women and the beauty work expected of men grow over the last couple of decades. To make it worse there has been a really active effort to deploy rhetoric that sounds feminist to mystify what is actually going on.

Your ask is a really good place to start - because you are asking about an idea that is part of that process of mystification. The idea that motivation for why someone is participating in beauty culture is important is fundamentally individualistic. It suggests that both the problem and the solution with beauty culture is individual - and actively shuts down structural analysis.

In our culture, make-up is both an expense and a form of labour that falls disproportionately on women. In a lot of circumstances make-up isn't optional for women, and in many, many more it doesn't feel optional. That's political problem that needs to be solved - the compulsory nature of beauty work and disproportionate burden on women. Individual motivation isn't important politically and doesn't change that underlying dynamic.

Part of the problem is that it is very hard to find places to collectively fight the rising demands of beauty culture. I really like Jessica DeFino's work - and strongly recommend it - but her solutions are often focused on individuals disinvesting from beauty culture. It's really important that there are voices doing this - particularly in a world where people will with all seriousness suggest that skincare is feminism.

But I don't know what the political solution would be. I don't know how to fight the uneven and compulsory burden of beauty on women in a collective way. I maybe have some ideas for first steps, but the problem is obviously much bigger than these ideas

Fight where beauty work is actually compulsory. Usually the compulsory nature of femininity is a bit of a metaphor - there are consequences for not performing femininity - rather than explicit power structures. But there are plenty of places, particularly workplaces, where beauty work is compulsory. Seeing fights against compulsory make-up and unequal dress-codes as important political fights - and mobilising solidarity when they happen - is an important first step.

Build a feminist movement that cannot be co-opted by the beauty industry - and actively work against that co-option. A large part of that is rejecting individualism (a great start is reading the actual personal is political essay and grappling with how distorted those ideas have come). Feminism isn't about what we do as individuals (or even worse what other people do as individuals) - but about how we collectively build a better world.

Take the question of how to challenge beauty culture seriously and collectively. Acknowledge that we don't know how to change it at the moment and form groups that discuss that question.

But the most important starting point is that it doesn't matter how women personally engage in beauty culture as individuals, or why. What matters is the fact that beauty work is both compulsory and an uneven burden.

[bettsfic]

When analyzing work(television, novels, short stories, maybe even songs), do you have a system in how you do it?

generally you use some kind of lens (in the form of a specific literary theory) through which to view the media. so you could do, say, a marxist analysis of a tv show using marxist theory. the process can look something like:

step one: learn a theory.

step two: identify the fundamental aspects of that theory in some sort of media.

step three: ask yourself, "to what end?" as in, now that you've identified the key aspects of a theory in a text, why is it important?

step four: make a Point about it

for example, let's say you're doing a rhetorical analysis of a pet adoption commercial. you'd probably quickly identify pathos (an appeal to emotions) in the barrage of images of sad animals in cages. you can then make some assertion about why that particular appeal works, and then extend it outward to the idea that these PSAs are so effective that they've become iconic, particularly the one with "i will remember you" playing over it.

for another example, let's say you're writing a meta of a film you like. you may have some sort of pepe-silvia-wall Point to make about it, and maybe without consciously realizing it, you've viewed it through a theory, even if it's a theory you only know by osmosis from having read other metas or headcanons. when you go to make your Point, you usually lay out your evidence in support of it in the hope of convincing other people of your interpretation. and that's analysis, babey.

in short:

theory > identification > analysis > assertion

that is a very simple deconstruction of the analytical process, but hopefully it can help get you started!

[lostsoulaltair]

The Seraph Trait and How it Came to be

Hello everyone, it sure has been so long since I updated theories, analysis and the sort. A lot happened.

Anyways, as mentioned before, I'll discuss about the seraph trait and how the confirmation was given in the latest chapter.

P.S: Everything is held within a neutral view

Long ago, we used to question about this mysterious trait that appeared within children, their rate was so small but not impossible. Along this, the Mikaela trait was also prominent to appear as well.

But, how can I say the chapter 129 gave an answer?

Let's take it step by step.

First:

After Shikama did the taboos enlisted by the angel of punishment sent by God:

Indeed, those angels who followed Shikama, would be chained to hell, they would never reach the light they craved for. Earth was long punished after Shikama's sin.

Second:

Once Shikama rotted forever, he eventually embraced the darkness, he had to wait for eternity to finally think with a cold mind to set a new plan into motion.

Such plan was creating humans; humans born from mud just like the different myths that exist in different cultures:

Given that Shikama could no longer use "light", he was bound to channel "darkness". And the best creatures for that were humans; humans capable of creating "sin"

Third:

Once the dolls were created, these dolls did harbor a sense of curiosity, but they lacked something fundamental, something that even the bible does imply and that is the sense of self awareness.

-Before

-After:

Once the souls of the angels in hell were channeled, they were set into the dolls of mud created by Shikama and Yu:

These fallen angels that rotted in hell, they didn't display awareness of who they were given that they rotted for a millenia, they had a new chance but now, the main question starts.

How did the seraph trait and the Mikaela trait began?

This very trait began the very moment the dolls and the souls of the angels were merged together.

What do I mean?

The angels that once walked Earth with Sika Madu, began walking as mortals, but even so, even if they carried or inherited their souls, only few would carry the same traits as who they were in their former selves.

Sika Madu made sure these humans or dolls he created imbued with the souls of the fallen angels would breed, giving as a result the history of humankind within the ONS story.

Furthermore, just like the souls of the fallen angels allowed humans to gain the sense of self awareness, it also allowed one human to interact with the angel Mikaela's corpse, a bridge, a channel of communication was created on which the angel Mikaela was allowed to move his soul in one of those dolls, that of course, being Yuu.

A soul is not merely an aspect of energy but rather, it register traits of one's self, something that gives characteristic or definition to give us shape of who we are; in that regard, it is way visible as to why the angel Mikaela and Yuu's personality were so akin.

And as I stated before, given that souls carry on information, this whole memory set we got in the chapters, is a process called "regression".

A "regression" is not just like remembering the past through normal ways; it is going way beyond, whenever it allows people in real life to remember their former selves or not, is is unknown but there exists a book about a man that was able to do such feat.

The reason why Yuu had no memories of his past is due to something that I might bring as repetitive but:

"A soul can find a matching vessel, but a vessel can't gather pieces of a mind"

It means that a vessel would need to endure a lot to remember each exact detail of their former past selves. But given that in Owari, Mikaela Shindo/Hyakuya had to use a lot of power to open all the doors that led to Yuu's distant past, this feat of regression allowed Yuu to finally discover who he was.

It could be said that Mika was the key needed to unlock the door to the mystery, to Pandora's box.

As a side note, the current vampires along the black demons are shadows of those who walked with Sika Madu long ago.

Still,

[sapphire-weapon]

Hi! Looking to get into character analysis’s but I am not really sure where to start. What’s your process? As in, where do you usually start and then branch out from?

Well, you don't start with the character. you start with the story. The very first step is to identify the themes of the story overall.

So, what is a theme?

A theme is a central concept that binds the characters, the conflict, the plot, and the story’s progression together. It’s something that all of the major characters have in common and also exists as an undercurrent to the plot.

You don't have to do anything with that just yet. Just put it to the side. But it's important you do that first.

Then you look at the character and decide:

Is this a static character or a dynamic character?

A static character does not change at any point over the course of the story. They end the story the same person they went in.

A dynamic character undergoes a change in their perspective/worldview and comes out of the story different from how they went in.

If they're a static character, are they important enough to the story that they have a flat arc? A flat arc character does not change over the course of the story (because they're static), but they are so powerful in their presence that they cause other people in the story to change around them.

If they're a dynamic character, was their change positive or negative? Did they end the story in a better state mentally/emotionally from how they started, or did they end the story in a worse state mentally/emotionally from how they started?

Let's use a flowchart for simplicity's sake.

And let's use RE4make and Leon, since we talk about him so often.

RE4make's major themes are: + can people change? + the power/importance of being part of a team (or not) + storybooks, folklore, and fairy tales (and how they're not real)

Leon is a dynamic character who undergoes a positive change arc throughout the course of RE4make.

He starts the story closed off, cold, distant, and cynical.

He ends the story as a warmer, more trusting, more open character who's last seen on the screen with a smile.

Once we reach this point, what the flowchart is asking us to do for the next three bubbles is to map out his character arc.

So how do you map a character arc?

A change arc deals with a fundamental shift in worldview that causes real, lasting change in the character. The character starts off the story believing in some lie either about themselves or the world around them. This lie gets challenged throughout the course of the story until the character reaches a point where they can identify that it's a lie/that their thinking is flawed, and then they change as a result of that realization.

This change should align with at least one of the major themes of the story. If it does not, you have not identified the correct lie.

So, what is the lie that Leon believes going into RE4make? Or, conversely, what about his perspective changes during the course of the game?

The lie that Leon believes at the start of RE4make is: People are inherently selfish and my personal judgment cannot be trusted, so I need to rely strictly on my combat training in order to be successful, because if I act as myself, I will fail and people around me will die.

The story challenges this lie over and over and over again, but Leon's change moment finally occurs during the boss fight with Krauser. A change moment happens when a character is forced by the narrative to look their lie in the face and can no longer deny the truth to themselves.

For Leon, Krauser is that moment. Leon commits to his personal change in three distinct moments during that fight.

1: "I'd be dead if I kept listening to people like you!" 2: "Nah, time for the teacher to be taught." 3: "That you did, Major. That you did."

1: Leon acknowledges that his combat training wasn't some flawless solution to fixing what he thought was wrong with him. 2: Leon affirms to himself that his own personal judgment can be trusted over the judgment of the people he'd been relying on up to this point. 3: Leon acknowledges that he was trained well while showing emotion true to his own heart. This ties into the major theme of "can people change" -- Leon acknowledges that his training changed him while paradoxically acknowledging that he's still the same person he's always been. His abilities have changed and his judgment has changed -- the two traits of his that he distrusted. But his heart is still the same. So, he's still himself, and he can still be himself. But now he sees that he's just a better version of himself -- one that can be trusted.

For a more in-depth look at Leon's character arc, click here.

So, now that you have all of the themes and you have the character's arc mapped out, now you can go back through individual conversations and scenes and moments and analyze how those conversations, scenes, and moments inform the character's development and reflect their personality. Now you can look at the character's individual relationships and analyze what that relationship is and the effect it had on the character.

And all of this always should be done with the story's themes in mind.

This is how I reached the conclusion of Ada being an antagonist for Leon. This is how I reached the conclusion of Leon and Ashley's relationship being romantic in nature.

I started with the characters and their arcs and how they relate to the themes of the story. Not with the relationships themselves.

[deripmaver]

Casca in Ch 372 - Fridged again? Or the beginning of a healing arc?

I’ve seen mixed responses to Casca’s current status as a caged little dove in Falconia, with good reason. It took, no exaggeration, two hundred and fifty chapters, and twenty years of real-world time, for her to be revived after the eclipse - and now after barely beginning to scratch the surface of her trauma, she’s seemingly back at square one. 

Despite her current upsetting circumstances, though, I can’t help but feel cautiously optimistic, which seems like a weird thing to say after chapter 372. To me, Casca’s circumstances seemed to mark a fundamental shift in how she interacted with the Berserk world as compared to Elaine. I wanted to present a possibly more optimistic, Casca-centric look at chapter 372 and why I think we don’t need to start despairing just yet (that can come later).

To start off, I do think I need to clarify that I don’t actually have any fundamental issues with the outline of Casca’s arc up to this point, even post-eclipse, so if you do that’s kind of a non-starter for this whole post. I don’t think, without taking into account the details, an arc where a female warrior is raped by one of her closest companions, becomes completely catatonic due to the trauma, and needs to be taken on an odyssey to have her mind restored is an arc that’s fundamentally bad or misogynistic. Do I think Miura always wrote this arc sensitively or well? No, of course not lol, see the beginning of this post for an example of that. 

As a bit of an aside, though, I actually really think Berserk did something unique by having Casca’s rapist be someone she knew and trusted. In reality, the vast majority of sexual assaults are perpetrated by someone the victim knew, but that’s not something you see often reflected in fiction.

With Casca in Falconia, kidnapped by Griffith, I go back to the quote Miura made about her recovery. 

I don’t think it would do justice to the extent of her trauma if, after being revived, she went back to kicking ass and being the same girl she was pre-eclipse, and I appreciate that Miura seemed to understand that. I really think that it’s necessary to take time to have Casca process her trauma before having her jump right back into the action, so the question, to me, is if what’s happening right now is in service of that processing. 

To cut right to the chase lol, I actually do think it is.

In contrast to her time as Elaine, the magical hold placed on her is much more tenuous, and it battles with her will and her memory. More filters through from the outside world, the bath reminding her of Farnese and Schierke, and the band of the Falcon reminding her of the Hawks.

(There’s also a gratuitous bath scene because it’s still Berserk lol)

This is not a trauma response as Elaine was, it’s a position she’s being forced into, and the person forcing her into that is the one who broke her mind in the first place, adding to the aspect of her needing to face up to what Griffith did and what he’s still doing. 

Being kept prisoner as she is, her memories of the Hawks, and of her friends, are necessary to keep her grounded - she can’t let time do its work to heal her wounds. 

This chapter also is the first time that Casca is able to think of Guts without going catatonic, which to me shows significant progress. 

I’m also just realizing that this set of panels has Guts walking away from Casca, and honestly I think that deserves its whole section of analysis. I wonder if it’s making her think of Guts walking away after the eclipse, leaving her with Godot, or how even right before her kidnapping Guts heard her scream and attacked Griffith instead of going to her, hm... That’s for another time though. 

Guts and Casca have a huge amount to reconcile of course, considering how Guts assaulted her as well, but I think being able to think of him is a positive step forward with that.

Then, of course, there’s the big moment in chapter 372 where Casca tries to escape. 

You’re seeing her think like a warrior again, she’s outnumbered and completely unarmed, but she uses her long-honed battle intuition to gain advantage and steal a sword. She is ultimately overcome by fear and trauma and is unable to escape, but this is not at all something she could do as Elaine. This chapter represents, to me, incremental progress in her gaining control of her own mind when she’s not being actively hindered by Griffith. Even comparing her here to her last moments in Elfheim, you see her still struggling with the trauma, but also focused on returning to her companions, and using her smarts to try to escape despite significant disadvantages.

While it’s frightening to know that she’s without friends and near Griffith, I’ve said before I think this is necessary for her to confront what Griffith did to her. She kind of doesn’t have any other choice at this point LOL.

That brings me to one of the questions that I had after the chapter, which is why won’t Griffith interact with her? I remember just absolutely SEETHING after the chapter ended because Griffith broke her mind, ignored her afterwards entirely, kidnapped her away from her support system, and now won’t even acknowledge her. It’s like, I wanted to shake the screen and shout you cared about her once, and now you treat her like this? It’s infuriating!!!! Honestly I think a part of me that’s huffing EXTREME copium wants him to be ignoring her because HE can’t face up to what he did, and that Casca reminds him of that in an inescapable way. The alternative is that he really, genuinely doesn’t care about her anymore, which kind of makes me want to scream. 

I have a couple other miscellaneous thoughts after this chapter. The first, it’s interesting how Griffith has kind of forced Casca into his heterosexual nightmare scenario from immediately pre-eclipse (the one that made him want to kill himself LOL). 

It just goes to show that, while I do think Griffith had affection for Casca in the Golden Age, he always saw her as a doll he could place where he wanted, regardless of her feelings. Of course, in the Golden Age, she would have wanted to be with him always regardless of what happened - but now she very much does not, and he’s overriding her autonomy to enforce his will upon her. 

The second thought I had is that I think Casca’s separation from Guts, though the circumstances are very different, somewhat mirrors Guts’ separation from Casca after the eclipse. Guts had his whole edgelord Black Swordsman arc, and at the end of it he realized that returning to Casca and protecting her was actually important to him. Now, Casca has her own version of this separation arc, which I believe will be an arc where she can process her trauma, and at the end of it she’ll get to a point where she can decide if she wants to return to Guts. I’m not entirely convinced that this arc is just another excuse for Guts to rescue Casca - more will be clear in the next few chapters, I think, but right now he’s having his mental breakdown while again Farnese and Schierke are taking control of figuring out where Casca is. Also, it looks like physically they’re going to be heading east, so they’ll be prevented from reaching Casca for a while. My hope is that we’ll get Casca rescuing herself, but of course I don’t know.

It’s weird to say that I want to see Casca having PTSD flashbacks  and trauma responses every chapter but considering everything she’s been through, I kinda think she has to or it’s just not going to feel appropriate 😭 Honestly, while I’m cautiously optimistic about where she’ll go from here, it’s hard to say how well her story is going to be told until it’s over, and that’s not going to happen for a while. It’s definitely frustrating wanting to see Casca heal and having that dragged out longer and longer, after already waiting so long for her mind to be restored. There’s always a delicate balance of wanting to see things done right by your favorite character and not wanting to be disappointed if they aren’t. 

Still, though, I don’t think my optimism is completely unfounded, hence me making this post. Maybe I’ll be shown to be wrong, but if that’s the case, I certainly don’t regret wanting better for Casca, and hoping that we will get the chance to see her process her trauma. My (cautious lol) optimism won’t be the problem, the writing will. 

[warsamongthestars]

"Your characters are defined by their stories, and the story is defined by the characters' actions." - Stephen Koch, Writer

If Homestuck has taught me anything about story analysis (and you know the red flag is up the moment i mention mother-lovin' Homestuck), is that there are four fundamental elements to a story: The setting, the characters, the plot and the pacing.

And they aren't just singular, walled off elements either--a character can have all four (Setting equals Aesthetic, Plot equals the story that defines them, Pacing equals how long their personal story beats either need or last).

A character often needs all four.

If you've seen My Little Pony Friendship is Magic, or the 1984's Transformers, or any number of animes (Fullmetal Alchemist, Soul Eater, My Hero Academia), or superheroes either comics or shows (Superman, Batman, Teen Titans, Xmen, Spiderman)...

... Those are examples of characters embodying all four basic elements of story telling.

The stories they're involved in also contain all four. The character of a story is often the genre and message or various messages it produces, as well as the rules it follows. The aesthetic of the story is the style, and the setting is the locale, the tools and vehicles, the buildings, ecctra. Then there's the pacing, both the beats the story takes, as well as the basic structure of Beginning-Middle-End. And the plot is the action taken and the recognizable pattern of the story.

[ pointed subject matter below--for my general audience, you know what its gonna be at this point. ]

A step by step analysis requires its own posting, and I don't have the feckin energy for that right now.

And simply sum up, this is why parody 1 hour-something-minutes film Galaxy Quest from the 90s? Outpaces 3 years of the Bad Batch by miles.

Galaxy Quest dedicates its time to taking character seriously, no matter the circumstance. This has elevated the film from its presumed parody-of-star-trek status, straight into "generally accepted as part of Star Trek lore".

Things happen because our characters are flawed, out of their depth, and shenanigans happen for reasons that are obvious and unassuming in view of the audience, and facing threats that out of their league, but manage to succeed.

The Bad Batch, however, adds Nothing to Star Wars. The character that was developed throughout the Clone Wars (Which did add considerably to star wars lore), was effectively broken down in the Bad Batch narratively.

"Things happen because imaginarium". Things happen because the plot wants it, and in the process, destroys the character.

The Bad Batch, in this instance, follows parody rules.

Where there is no character, but plenty of plot. Plot in this case, is less identifying story-patterns and action--and more "the narrator wanted this character to be here and that's why they're there". There is a logic, but its only general story logic, and does not follow the characters at all.

Thus, the Bad Batch is a Parody, but one that lacks normally expected Comedic Elements. There are plenty of comedic elements, in the form of one liners and strawmen and straightmen, but for the most part, all are serious action based Parody.

Characters is effectively destroyed, for the wants of its paid authors, and it is purely plot-driven. Things happen, because. Now many people have give their all in finding out the Because, and those are very interesting Becauses--but the story doesn't give a because.

( I can give my own Becauses, but those are mine, and the story needs to stand on its own without them, and it Doesn't. )

When it comes to character driven story telling, the plot is the goal of the characters. (The story ending is simply where the author simply deems it the point where one adventure of many simply ends for this viewing--the goal doesn't necessary need to be achieved, think short term long terms goals, but simply the act of reaching it).

Now a simple story, a character can simply go from point a to point be without trouble. What makes the story complex, is the shenanigans that get in the way. Sometimes reasonable, given backdrop, other times, absolutely silly because predicting reality is a farce.

The general Goal of the author is not relatability, though you are free to make it one, but merely the entertainment of themselves and the audience. After all, if you aren't entertained, you won't pick up the pen to write, and you won't pick up the book to read.

Depending on who your audience is, (and your first audience should always be You, You're makin' the fuckin thing--put out what you want to see), will depend on the level of reasoning in the work on what goes on the story, as well as the level of shenanigans, hijinks and seriousness taken.

And when it comes to the Bad Batch, its clear that the targeted Audience is actually not us, but Disney Corporate and Executives.

( Keep that in mind, when it comes to flighty subscription services and their snarky horseshit. )

[locustheologicus]

Ethical Frameworks and a Return to Casuistry.

Ethical Frameworks: At a recent workshop I received this decision-making tool from the Markkula Center which I found extremely helpful. It briefly shows the process that needs to be taken when someone has to make an ethical decision. The process is spelled out below.

The following link from the Markkula center has further resources on this.

Frederic Reamer presents his own framework for ethical decision making for social workers in his book, “Social Work Values and Ethics.” It is not to dissimilar from what Markkula presents above. In describing the process Reamer offers the following preamble:

No precise formula for resolving ethical dilemmas exists. Reasonable, thoughful social workers can disagree about the ethical principles and criteria that ought to guide ethical decisions in any given case. But ethicists generally agree on the importance of approaching ethical decisions systematically, by following a series of steps to ensure that all aspects of the ethical dilemma are addressed, Following a series of clearly formulated steps allows social workers to enhance the quality of the ethical decisions they make. (Reamer, pg. 88)

Reamer shares the following seven points as an ethical framework for social workers.

Identify the ethical issues, including the social work values and duties that conflict.

Identify the individuals, groups, and organizations likely to be affected by the ethical decision.

Tentatively identify all viable courses of action and the participants involved in each, along with the potential benefits and risks for each.

Thoroughly examine the reasons in favor of and against each course of action, considering relevant codes of ethics and legal principles; ethical theories, principles, and guidelines (e.g. deontological and teleological-utilitarian perspectives and ethical guidelines based on them); social work practice theory and principles; relevant laws, policies, and social work practice standards; and personal values (including religious l, cultural, and ethnic values and political ideology), particularly conflicts between one’s own and others’ values.

Consult with colleagues and appropriate experts (such as agency staff, supervisors, agency administrators, attorneys, and ethical scholars).

Make the decision and document the decision-making process.

Monitor, evaluate, and document the decision.

The point of the process is to make an ethical decision. Many times the decision will be pretty straightforward and the process will be pretty basic. But at times a morally complex scenario will present itself and still, an ethical decision will need to be made. But such decisions will be complicated and it not everyone will make the same decision. To this Reamer tells us,

This does not reveal a fundamental flaw in the decision making framework. Rather, it highlights an unavoidable attribute of ethical decision making: complicated cases are likely to produce different assessments and conclusions among different practitioners, even after thorough and systematic analysis of the ethical issues. After all, reasonable minds can differ. (Reamer, pg. 105)

Reamer’s astute observation here brings to mind a former Catholic moral method that is very applicable to those of us who work with complicated clients and cases.

A Return to Casuistry: Ethics is such a vitally tool for addressing difficult challenges. The workshop I attended was on the challenge of using AI in the social service sector but the night before I had another workshop on preparing our migrant communities for potentially draconian policy shifts that will dramatically impact their lives. In both cases we considered real case studies that presented moral dilemmas. I thought more about this ethical process in light of these two issues.

Case studies are an essential aspect of ethics. Moral principles have a very important role to play as well but as the authors Toulmin and Jonsen have written in their book “The Abuse of Casuistry,”

Moral knowledge is essential particular, so that sound resolutions of moral problems must always be rooted in a concrete understanding of specific cases and circumstances. (Toulmin/Jonsen, pg. 330)

In the video below we hear from a comedian/ethicist Michael Schur who explains how a particular ethical case formed a moral dilemma that shaped his ethical lens.

In this TED talk Michael Schur, the creator of the Netflix show “The Good Place,” shares his own ethical formation and the framework that he employed to discern the right action. In the midst of his presentation on the ethical dilemma that so moved him he shares that he was becoming “sick to my stomach” as he morally considered the results of his action. His own conscience, his moral intuition, was playing a key role in this dilemma. This intuition had him review ethical literature to evaluate further his action. At the conclusion of his talk he suggest that ethical cases, like the one he presents, can help shape good moral habits. Schur suggests that developing ethical frames of references will help us become better people. It will help us succeed at making better choices and reflecting on our own happiness and the greater good.

Becoming aware of the philosophical ideal of the moral good, accepted virtues for the development of our moral character, existing ethical frameworks, and moral decision-making processes, will grant us a deeper and richer perspective on who we are and how we can become better and people. To become a better person is a fundamental goal that all humans share and ethics is a tool to help shape our humanity.

Contemporary Catholic moral theology tends to focus more on moral principles rather than methodology. Focused on their concern for “intrinsically evil acts” the Church has periodically focused more on principles as moral absolutes where methods or probable moral positions are given less consideration with certain moral positions. This unfortunate development emerged as moral theology attempted to employ a geometric/mathematical approach to ethics with the assumption that ethical problems could be resolved with a rigorous application of moral absolutes.

But in the world of medical or social work ethics it is important to promote case studies and to perhaps bring back a moral system that promoted this form of moral theology. This is what the 13th - 17th century art of casuistry offered. Stephen Toulmin and Albert Jonsen explored this historical contribution to moral reason and address the contemporary need to bring back this branch of moral theology. The authors define their thesis in this way.

Practical moral reasoning today still fits the pattern of topical (or “rhetorical”) argumentation better than it does of formal (or “geometrical”) demonstration. (Toulmin/Jonsen, pg. 326)

Ethical case studies that address particular moral issues allow the ethical framework to respect the role of one’s conscience in discerning the moral dilemma that we each face. The idea of the primacy of conscience has always been defended by the Catholic Church, but more as an idea than as a practice. Toulmin/Jonsen believe that casuistry can help form a practice that allows us to develop our conscience.

In offering this position Toulmin/Jonsen remind us of the role of synderesis which is a component within the individual conscience based on the theory of natural law. It is defined by Aquinas as “a natural disposition concerned with the basic principles of behavior, which are the general principles of natural law.” The moral principles that our religious and educational institutions develop exist within our own conscience as a natural disposition that can grasp and discern their application within the ethical situations we each face.

Aquinas, then, reserves the word conscientia for “the application of general judgments of synderesis to particulars.” This application can be either prospective, in discovering what is to be done in a particular situation, or retrospective, in testing what is to be done in order to discern whether one acted rightly. (Toulmin/Jonsen, pg. 129)

Through the period that Toulmin/Jonsen call “high casuistry” (15th through the 17th Century) many theologians utilized this ethical method to evaluate unique issues that they had not faced before. Until the middle of the 17th century, when Pascal wrote his scathing work, The Pastoral Letters, casuistry enjoyed a preeminent moral authority that allowed moral theologians like Francisco de Vitoria to address unique and particular issues. Vitoria’s 16th century contribution would establish the framework for human rights language, international law, just war, and the ideals of the enlightenment. These cases emerged as casuist like Vitoria analyzed the situation of Europe as the Reformation took hold and the emergence of nationalism. He also evaluated the Spanish relationship with and obligation to the indigenous community in the midst of the American colonial situation. These contributions surfaced because Vitoria had the ability to consider probable ethical opinions on a range of issues that emerged during that time and we now take for granted. But we now face our own unique moral dilemmas and we require the same flexibility to respond to these ethical issues through a rhetorical approach that considers the best probable ethical opinion to our own case studies.

The Markkula Center, Michael Schur, and Toulmin/Jonsen, would all seem to suggest that the moral development of a person is best achieved by the use of ethical frameworks within particular case studies that present a real moral dilemma. You may not always get the right action or make the best ethical decision, but the more you employ and discern these ethical frameworks, the more you achieve a higher ethical standard, the more you become a better person and attain happiness.

One other point needs to be made. The casuist approach to ethics was both a communal and personal one. A contemporary concern may be that casuist may reinforce a subjective or situational approach to ethics that devalues objective principles to the point of being absolutely relativistic. Toulmin/Jonsen do not agree and Vitoria’s use of casuistry suggests that it was not used this way (beyond the controversies of the moral laxists that Pascal reproached).

For the casuists,… informed conscience might be intensely personal, but its primary concern was to place the individual agent’s decision into its larger context at the level of actual choice: namely, the moral dialogue and debate of a community. Conscience was “knowing together” (con-scientia). The dialogue and debate consisted in the critical application of paradigms to new circumstances, but those “paradigms” were the collective possession of people - priests, rabbis or common lawyers or moral theologians- who had the education, the opportunity, and the experience needed to reflect on the difficulties raised by new cases and to argue them through among themselves. (Toulmin/Jonsen, pg. 335)

As I approach the ethics of social ministry there will be many contemporary similarities that is see with how both medical and social work ethics utilize case studies to hone in their own ethical inquiries. In the case of Catholic social ministry I would like to suggest that the method of casuistry should be redeployed to help us develop an ethical approach befitting the social ministries and mission of the Church.

[unpluggedfinancial]

The Power of Doing Your Own Research: Why Informed Decisions Matter More Than Ever

In an age where information is at our fingertips, it’s easier than ever to form opinions or make decisions based on what we see online, hear from others, or absorb from headlines. But have you ever found yourself caught up in the hype, only to realize later that you didn’t have the full picture? Whether it’s a financial investment, a health decision, or simply believing a news story, the dangers of acting without proper research are real.

Let’s take a step back and think about this: How often do we accept what we’re told without digging deeper? In today’s noisy world, doing your own research (DYOR) isn’t just a skill—it’s a necessity.

2. The Problem With Blind Trust

Blindly trusting information can lead to disastrous consequences. Think back to the 2008 financial crisis. Millions of people lost their savings because they trusted the traditional financial system without questioning its vulnerabilities. Or consider the countless crypto scams today, where people are misled by flashy promises and influencer endorsements, only to lose everything.

The truth is, misinformation spreads faster than ever, often dressed up as credible advice. Social media algorithms feed us content designed to confirm our biases, and the pressure to conform to popular opinions can cloud our judgment. Without research, we risk becoming victims of groupthink, leaving us vulnerable to poor decisions and manipulation.

3. What Does 'Doing Your Own Research' Really Mean?

DYOR is more than a buzzword; it’s a mindset. It means:

Cross-checking sources: Don’t rely on a single article or video. Look for multiple perspectives to get a clearer picture.

Following the money: Ask yourself who benefits from this information. Is there an agenda behind it?

Verifying facts: Trust but verify. Independent studies, reputable sources, and primary data are your best friends.

Staying skeptical: Approach every claim with curiosity and a healthy dose of doubt until you’ve validated it.

This approach requires effort, but the payoff is worth it. You’re not just a passive consumer of information; you’re an active participant in your own decision-making process.

4. Why Bitcoin Is a Prime Example

Bitcoin is a perfect case study for why DYOR matters. Many dismiss it outright as a speculative bubble or a “fad” without understanding its fundamentals. Others dive in blindly, swayed by hype, only to panic sell when the price drops.

When I discovered Bitcoin, it wasn’t an overnight decision. I spent countless hours researching what it is, why it exists, and how it works. That journey changed my life. Bitcoin isn’t just money; it’s a system rooted in transparency, decentralization, and financial sovereignty. But to see that, you have to go down the rabbit hole—you have to do the work.

5. The Rewards of Independent Thinking

There’s a unique empowerment that comes from making decisions based on your own informed understanding. You’re not just taking someone’s word for it; you’re building a foundation of knowledge that gives you confidence and clarity.

For example, I once made an investment decision after weeks of research. Friends thought I was crazy, but I trusted the data and my analysis. That decision paid off, not just financially but in the confidence it gave me to trust my own process.

Informed decisions lead to better outcomes—not because they’re always perfect, but because they’re deliberate and grounded in understanding.

6. Call to Action

Here’s a challenge: Take one topic you’re curious about but don’t fully understand. It could be Bitcoin, renewable energy, or even something as simple as a health trend. Commit to spending an hour digging into it. Read articles, watch videos, and compare perspectives. Don’t stop until you’ve asked and answered better questions.

Remember, it’s not just about finding answers; it’s about cultivating a mindset of curiosity and critical thinking. In a world full of noise, doing your own research is how you cut through the chaos and make decisions that truly matter.

Take Action Towards Financial Independence

If this article has sparked your interest in the transformative potential of Bitcoin, there's so much more to explore! Dive deeper into the world of financial independence and revolutionize your understanding of money by following my blog and subscribing to my YouTube channel.

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[anishmary]

In the subject of data analytics, this is the most important concept that everyone needs to understand. The capacity to draw insightful conclusions from data is a highly sought-after talent in today's data-driven environment. In this process, data analytics is essential because it gives businesses the competitive edge by enabling them to find hidden patterns, make informed decisions, and acquire insight. This thorough guide will take you step-by-step through the fundamentals of data analytics, whether you're a business professional trying to improve your decision-making or a data enthusiast eager to explore the world of analytics.

Step 1: Data Collection - Building the Foundation

Identify Data Sources: Begin by pinpointing the relevant sources of data, which could include databases, surveys, web scraping, or IoT devices, aligning them with your analysis objectives. Define Clear Objectives: Clearly articulate the goals and objectives of your analysis to ensure that the collected data serves a specific purpose. Include Structured and Unstructured Data: Collect both structured data, such as databases and spreadsheets, and unstructured data like text documents or images to gain a comprehensive view. Establish Data Collection Protocols: Develop protocols and procedures for data collection to maintain consistency and reliability. Ensure Data Quality and Integrity: Implement measures to ensure the quality and integrity of your data throughout the collection process.

Step 2: Data Cleaning and Preprocessing - Purifying the Raw Material

Handle Missing Values: Address missing data through techniques like imputation to ensure your dataset is complete. Remove Duplicates: Identify and eliminate duplicate entries to maintain data accuracy. Address Outliers: Detect and manage outliers using statistical methods to prevent them from skewing your analysis. Standardize and Normalize Data: Bring data to a common scale, making it easier to compare and analyze. Ensure Data Integrity: Ensure that data remains accurate and consistent during the cleaning and preprocessing phase.

Step 3: Exploratory Data Analysis (EDA) - Understanding the Data

Visualize Data with Histograms, Scatter Plots, etc.: Use visualization tools like histograms, scatter plots, and box plots to gain insights into data distributions and patterns. Calculate Summary Statistics: Compute summary statistics such as means, medians, and standard deviations to understand central tendencies. Identify Patterns and Trends: Uncover underlying patterns, trends, or anomalies that can inform subsequent analysis. Explore Relationships Between Variables: Investigate correlations and dependencies between variables to inform hypothesis testing. Guide Subsequent Analysis Steps: The insights gained from EDA serve as a foundation for guiding the remainder of your analytical journey.

Step 4: Data Transformation - Shaping the Data for Analysis

Aggregate Data (e.g., Averages, Sums): Aggregate data points to create higher-level summaries, such as calculating averages or sums. Create New Features: Generate new features or variables that provide additional context or insights. Encode Categorical Variables: Convert categorical variables into numerical representations to make them compatible with analytical techniques. Maintain Data Relevance: Ensure that data transformations align with your analysis objectives and domain knowledge.

Step 5: Statistical Analysis - Quantifying Relationships

Hypothesis Testing: Conduct hypothesis tests to determine the significance of relationships or differences within the data. Correlation Analysis: Measure correlations between variables to identify how they are related. Regression Analysis: Apply regression techniques to model and predict relationships between variables. Descriptive Statistics: Employ descriptive statistics to summarize data and provide context for your analysis. Inferential Statistics: Make inferences about populations based on sample data to draw meaningful conclusions.

Step 6: Machine Learning - Predictive Analytics

Algorithm Selection: Choose suitable machine learning algorithms based on your analysis goals and data characteristics. Model Training: Train machine learning models using historical data to learn patterns. Validation and Testing: Evaluate model performance using validation and testing datasets to ensure reliability. Prediction and Classification: Apply trained models to make predictions or classify new data. Model Interpretation: Understand and interpret machine learning model outputs to extract insights.

Step 7: Data Visualization - Communicating Insights

Chart and Graph Creation: Create various types of charts, graphs, and visualizations to represent data effectively. Dashboard Development: Build interactive dashboards to provide stakeholders with dynamic views of insights. Visual Storytelling: Use data visualization to tell a compelling and coherent story that communicates findings clearly. Audience Consideration: Tailor visualizations to suit the needs of both technical and non-technical stakeholders. Enhance Decision-Making: Visualization aids decision-makers in understanding complex data and making informed choices.

Step 8: Data Interpretation - Drawing Conclusions and Recommendations

Recommendations: Provide actionable recommendations based on your conclusions and their implications. Stakeholder Communication: Communicate analysis results effectively to decision-makers and stakeholders. Domain Expertise: Apply domain knowledge to ensure that conclusions align with the context of the problem.

Step 9: Continuous Improvement - The Iterative Process

Monitoring Outcomes: Continuously monitor the real-world outcomes of your decisions and predictions. Model Refinement: Adapt and refine models based on new data and changing circumstances. Iterative Analysis: Embrace an iterative approach to data analysis to maintain relevance and effectiveness. Feedback Loop: Incorporate feedback from stakeholders and users to improve analytical processes and models.

Step 10: Ethical Considerations - Data Integrity and Responsibility

Data Privacy: Ensure that data handling respects individuals' privacy rights and complies with data protection regulations. Bias Detection and Mitigation: Identify and mitigate bias in data and algorithms to ensure fairness. Fairness: Strive for fairness and equitable outcomes in decision-making processes influenced by data. Ethical Guidelines: Adhere to ethical and legal guidelines in all aspects of data analytics to maintain trust and credibility.

Data analytics is an exciting and profitable field that enables people and companies to use data to make wise decisions. You'll be prepared to start your data analytics journey by understanding the fundamentals described in this guide. To become a skilled data analyst, keep in mind that practice and ongoing learning are essential. If you need help implementing data analytics in your organization or if you want to learn more, you should consult professionals or sign up for specialized courses. The ACTE Institute offers comprehensive data analytics training courses that can provide you the knowledge and skills necessary to excel in this field, along with job placement and certification. So put on your work boots, investigate the resources, and begin transforming.

[ymishraofficial]

Top 10 Projects for BE Electrical Engineering Students

Embarking on a Bachelor of Engineering (BE) in Electrical Engineering opens up a world of innovation and creativity. One of the best ways to apply theoretical knowledge is through practical projects that not only enhance your skills but also boost your resume. Here are the top 10 projects for BE Electrical Engineering students, designed to challenge you and showcase your talents.

1. Smart Home Automation System

Overview: Develop a system that allows users to control home appliances remotely using a smartphone app or voice commands.

Key Components:

Microcontroller (Arduino or Raspberry Pi)

Wi-Fi or Bluetooth module

Sensors (temperature, motion, light)

Learning Outcome: Understand IoT concepts and the integration of hardware and software.

2. Solar Power Generation System

Overview: Create a solar panel system that converts sunlight into electricity, suitable for powering small devices or homes.

Key Components:

Solar panels

Charge controller

Inverter

Battery storage

Learning Outcome: Gain insights into renewable energy sources and energy conversion.

3. Automated Irrigation System

Overview: Design a system that automates the watering of plants based on soil moisture levels.

Key Components:

Soil moisture sensor

Water pump

Microcontroller

Relay module

Learning Outcome: Learn about sensor integration and automation in agriculture.

4. Electric Vehicle Charging Station

Overview: Build a prototype for an electric vehicle (EV) charging station that monitors and controls charging processes.

Key Components:

Power electronics (rectifier, inverter)

Microcontroller

LCD display

Safety features (fuses, circuit breakers)

Learning Outcome: Explore the fundamentals of electric vehicles and charging technologies.

5. Gesture-Controlled Robot

Overview: Develop a robot that can be controlled using hand gestures via sensors or cameras.

Key Components:

Microcontroller (Arduino)

Motors and wheels

Ultrasonic or infrared sensors

Gesture recognition module

Learning Outcome: Understand robotics, programming, and sensor technologies.

6. Power Factor Correction System

Overview: Create a system that improves the power factor in electrical circuits to enhance efficiency.

Key Components:

Capacitors

Microcontroller

Current and voltage sensors

Relay for switching

Learning Outcome: Learn about power quality and its importance in electrical systems.

7. Wireless Power Transmission

Overview: Experiment with transmitting power wirelessly over short distances.

Key Components:

Resonant inductive coupling setup

Power source

Load (LED, small motor)

Learning Outcome: Explore concepts of electromagnetic fields and energy transfer.

8. Voice-Controlled Home Assistant

Overview: Build a home assistant that can respond to voice commands to control devices or provide information.

Key Components:

Microcontroller (Raspberry Pi preferred)

Voice recognition module

Wi-Fi module

Connected devices (lights, speakers)

Learning Outcome: Gain experience in natural language processing and AI integration.

9. Traffic Light Control System Using Microcontroller

Overview: Design a smart traffic light system that optimizes traffic flow based on real-time data.

Key Components:

Microcontroller (Arduino)

LED lights

Sensors (for vehicle detection)

Timer module

Learning Outcome: Understand traffic management systems and embedded programming.

10. Data Acquisition System

Overview: Develop a system that collects and analyzes data from various sensors (temperature, humidity, etc.).

Key Components:

Microcontroller (Arduino or Raspberry Pi)

Multiple sensors

Data logging software

Display (LCD or web interface)

Learning Outcome: Learn about data collection, processing, and analysis.

Conclusion

Engaging in these projects not only enhances your practical skills but also reinforces your theoretical knowledge. Whether you aim to develop sustainable technologies, innovate in robotics, or contribute to smart cities, these projects can serve as stepping stones in your journey as an electrical engineer. Choose a project that aligns with your interests, and don’t hesitate to seek guidance from your professors and peers. Happy engineering!

[sp-epari-digitalmedia]

The Simulation in Ghost-Runner Through Baudrillard's Spectacle of Simulacra

BLOG 4: SIMULATION IN GAME

While exploring the wide world of video games, I became aware of an odd phenomenon: the differing levels of relatability between different games. Some felt strangely detached to me, despite being deeply rooted in or inspired by our reality. Conversely, there were some that I could really relate to that were only found in the world of fiction. Of these, Ghost-Runner stood out as an intriguing outlier. Paradoxically, it held me in a manner that few others could. It was strikingly devoid of any concrete connection to the outside world.

Until I came across the theories of Simulation and Simulacra, the mystery remained. With my newfound understanding, I set out on an analytical journey using the Spectacle of Simulacra by Jean Baudrillard as my compass. The objective was to ascertain what in Ghost-Runner's virtual world prompted such a feeling of familiarity. Come along as we investigate the relationship between philosophy and gaming, trying to find the answer to the fascinating question that has been bothering me: What aspects of the game's portrayal resonate so deeply with me?

About Ghost-Runner

Ghost-Runner is a dynamic first-person action slasher game, where players step into the shoes of an agile android ninja armed with a katana. With slick parkour-inspired moves like wall running, sliding, and time manipulation, players ascend neon cyberpunk skyscrapers, confronting foes with each potent swing. Set in a dystopian city governed by the oppressive Key-master and plagued by violence, poverty, and class inequality, players aim to reach the top, uncovering the technology to stand against enemies and revealing the secrets of their identity. This cyberpunk adventure delivers an adrenaline-fueled experience, seamlessly blending abilities and melee combat for ultimate satisfaction in a futuristic world torn by conflict.

Academic Standpoint

Two key studies have shaped my perception of how media is portrayed through simulation.

First of all, a fundamental framework is provided by Jean Baudrillard's investigation of simulacra. According to Baudrillard, reflection is exploring ideas in order to offer different points of view—basically, trying to reflect the real picture of the social or natural world that is bounded by preexisting boundaries. He breaks down the simulation process into three essential steps: simulation, which indicates copies without the original; series, which indicates copies of copies of the original; and counterfeit, which indicates copies of the original. (Grandy and Mills, 2004)

Additionally, the work of Mark J.P Wolf and Bernard Perron, outlined in their book, introduces the idea that to simulate is to model a source system through a different system while retaining some of the behavior from the original system. This perspective adds another layer to the examination of Ghost-Runner, allowing for a nuanced understanding of how the game constructs its virtual reality and the implications of this simulated environment on player experience. These academic foundations serve as guideposts in unraveling the intricacies of Ghost-Runner's portrayal and its alignment with theories surrounding simulation in media studies. (Perron and Wolf, 2013)

Noticeable Game Features and Analysis

In dissecting the notable features of Ghost-Runner, various elements come to the fore, providing rich material for analysis.

Cultural Reference Points

Swords and Katana

The game uses swords and katanas that are typically associated with ronin or samurais, drawing inspiration from the rich cultural history of mediaeval Japan. This representation, which was assembled from various video games, websites, and gaming platforms, turns historical allusions into entertaining content for viewers.

Conceptual Synonymity

Self-Sufficient Building

The primary theme centers on an autonomous building, a notion that finds resonance in the ongoing development of The Line in Saudi Arabia, which is an independent city housed inside a structure. This real-world parallel fits with modern architectural advancements and lends credibility to the game's story.

Hierarchy within the Building

The in-game societal organization is conceptually underpinned by the hierarchical settlement of elites on upper floors and the less fortunate on lower levels, which is modelled after historical social structures such as the French feudal system or the Hindu caste system.

Hyper-real Environment

Japanese Elements

The backdrop, which has a lot of Japanese aesthetics and is reminiscent of Cyberpunk 2077, is another example of how various media forms work together to create an environment that seems extremely real. The gaming experience is enhanced by this intertextuality.

Post-apocalyptic Elements

The post-apocalyptic setting, a recurring motif in television shows and films like Wall-E and The Walking Dead, adds to the hyper-real setting by portraying a world that has been completely destroyed and altered by terrible events.

Simulated Identities

Android Protagonist

The game joins the conversation about human-machine hybrids by introducing an android protagonist. With allusions to a variety of media, including Iron Man, Chappie, Terminator, DC Cyborg, and Chappie, Ghost-Runner delves into the complex effects of technological progress on identity.

Prosthetic Limbs

The development of prosthetic limbs in real life serves as the basis for the animation of the hand in the first-person perspective. This integration bridges the gap between speculative fiction and current technological possibilities and gives the character an additional layer of authenticity.

Conclusion

Essentially, Ghost-Runner is a game that goes beyond traditional gaming experiences because it skillfully combines historical, cultural, and hyper-real elements. It does this by providing an insightful journey that can be viewed through the prism of Jean Baudrillard's Spectacle of Simulacra. The game creates a visually stunning and emotionally impactful hyper-real environment by fusing references to mediaeval Japan with a post-apocalyptic, futuristic story. From a conceptual standpoint, Ghost-Runner draws inspiration from actual events, like Saudi Arabia's The Line, which gives the story more plausibility. The game's artificial intelligence (AI)-driven hierarchy and exploration of simulated identities, which include an android protagonist and prosthetic limbs are modelled after historical counterparts. In addition to being a game, Ghost-Runner is a sophisticated investigation of simulation and reality that challenges players to consider how the boundaries between the virtual and the real might become hazier in the constantly changing world of digital storytelling.

Reference

Grandy, G. and Mills, A.J. (2004) 'Strategy as Simulacra? A radical reflexive look at the discipline and practice of strategy*,' Journal of Management Studies, 41(7), pp. 1153–1170. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-6486.2004.00470.x.

Perron, B. and Wolf, M.J.P. (2013) The Video Game Theory Reader, Routledge eBooks. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203700457.

PlayStation (2020b) Ghostrunner - Launch Trailer | PS4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vt8yOLn8vmo.