#Ask An Archivist

[usnatarchives]

Ever wondered how science was introduced to the public through media? Check out this 1948 comic book produced for General Electric! It offered readers a glimpse into atomic energy.

[stageturn]

[swordfright]

this might just be because i'm a bit older than your average mcyt fan, but it makes me kind of sad to see all these younger fans scramble to wipe their mcyt fanworks off the internet the second a content creator is revealed to have done something awful.

don't get it twisted, I'm a big believer in rescinding financial support to ccs you no longer agree with or admire by unsubscribing, deciding not to buy merch, or refusing to give them ad revenue by watching their content. if you don't feel comfortable giving someone money, don't give them your money. material support isn't what i'm talking about here - I'm talking about fanfic, fansongs, fanart. yknow, content that fans create for themselves and each other, stuff that's not for ccs.

in the past year (and especially the past week, obviously) i've seen tons of mcyt fans saying they're planning to delete their art (or that they already have deleted) because they don't want their work to be associated with content creators who behaved badly, and that they want "a fresh start." I've seen fan writers say the same thing about their fics. and like, this is fine, do what you want with your stuff, but i'll be honest...it does make me sad that so many younger fans seemingly have been made to feel such a high degree of responsibility for ccs that they're unable to enjoy fandom (a thing that is FOR US! FOR YOU!) or take any measure of pride in their past fanworks.

again, at the end of the day you should do what you want with your own shit. but what i will say is, if what you want to do with your work is delete it, at least think first about why you're considering the nuclear option. you aren't responsible for a cc's behavior, and that goes for literally anyone who's ever had a hand in making anything you like: books, movies, games, anything. you shouldn't be made to feel ashamed of having created fan content for a piece of media that a shitty person was involved in making. straight up, this kind of shame isn't something i believe should exist in fandom, because it's parasocial in the same way that positive emotions towards media/creators can be parasocial.

and also, as someone who's been involved in fandom for a long time, i can say with confidence that creators will keep disappointing you like this. there are shitty people out there. if you're searching for a piece of media with zero shitty people ever involved in the project, you will not find it. i'm not saying this to normalize shitty behavior on the part of creators, I'm saying this to emphasize that bearing the shame and guilt of every creator to this degree is not sustainable or healthy (and it's not how fandom used to operate, but that's a conversation for another day, perhaps.)

i understand why so many folks are considering deleting their fanworks, and if that's you...think about it before you do it. that's all i'm asking. you don't want to create a habit of divesting yourself of all evidence of having been passionate about art created by someone who sucks, because if you do get into that habit, then your chances of ever truly enjoying a fandom again are, unfortunately, pretty slim.

[regular-gnome]

previous

[saragrosie]

As promised, incredibly stupid s4-5 drawings

[iztea]

are we gonna see anymore vnc art in the future 🥺

i do happen to have two more doodles from last year but ah you're right i should draw vnc art more often i miss them

also this one (not sure if I've posted it before here)

[mochinomnoms]

If Yuu asked Jade for drinks at the lounge, would he give them any? Would he charge them? What if Yuu asked him for drinks themed around themself or that Jade enjoys? Would Jade be down to experiment with weird drinks in the name of "oh this is awful, you have to try it"?

No matter how much Jade likes them, I'm sure any drinks at the lounge they get would have to be paid for. I like to think Mostro Lounge employees get a limited amount of free food and drinks throughout their shifts, so Jade could probably get away with handing out a few drinks to them here or there.

Buuut he doesn't have to write them off or do anything if he's "testing" new drink combinations for Azul! He does love making very strange combinations with the ingredients he's found during his mountain trips, and to be frank, you are welcoming of any free food or drinks.

Jade actually delights in the disgusted faces you make from the particularly bad combinations, though he's also happy to taste them if you offer.

"It's so bad...you have to try it!"

It helps that you two share an indirect kiss when he closes his lips over the straw, looking straight into your eyes to gauge your reaction. He does hope that you looking away with hot cheeks is a positive one.

[the-pest1lence]

Shoutout to my therapist who, after one session, let me rant about tma/tmagp and looked at me dead in the eye and asked, “Do you relate to Jon bc you also feel like everything that happened since x was your fault?”

Miss, I know it’s your job to analyse me but whyyyyyyy

[silverskye13]

What about Tanguish (other than his bravery in the face of death and his kindness) is Helsknight (begrudgingly) fond of?

You asked me why I love you and I said "I don't know"

And I could tell that you were disappointed with that answer

So I carried on--

[occudo]

Your tags for Slaughter!Melanie said that the Alternate Archives would feature her.

Would it help if I said this is what Melanie is looking at?

[bebyebeeh]

local archivist slowly goes insane

[usnatarchives]

A recent discovery in our holdings: in 1901, when Natives needed permission to travel off the reservation, this letter commended two Lakota performers in Buffalo Bill's Wild West who wanted to swing by the Crow Agency on their way home to Pine Ridge. #AskAnArchivistDay

[anglerflsh]

everytime I mention the type of job I'd like to have (archivist) people tell me that literally no one on earth wants to do that which normally would be annoying but. you don't want to sort documents? to preserve things from the past? do you not like excel sheets and burocracies? my best friend burocracy?? sad

[thewritetofreespeech]

Could I request Noe and Vanitas with an s/o who will ditch their hugs so they can cuddle cute things like plushies, children, and cats? S/o means no harm, though. If they see something cute, they'll only focus on that one thing

Noé

He can't really argue with them.

Noe has a weakness for cute things as well. Look at who he is courting?

Honestly, they probably would both be enamored with the cuteness (especially cats). So it's not a big hurdle for them.

Buys them all the plushies they gush over if his wallet, and floor space where they are staying, can afford it.

Vanitas

He is…less supportive of their distraction.

We all know that Vanitas has deep seeded abandonment issues. So, he feels like when they “take off” that they are abandoning him.

They always come back but he feels like his attention & company is second.

He also had problems communicating, so he doesn’t express those feelings. Instead he just pouts and, on extreme occasions, scares the cats away.

[regular-gnome]

I'M THROWING COOKIES AT EVERYBODY *THROWS COOKIES AT THE COLLECTOR SIBLINGS AND EVERYBODY I SEEE*WUAHAHAHAHAHAH

moments before a sugar rush

[longelk]

Trick or treat!! 🪱🪱🪱

oh look! i drew an uberbot one time