#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]

[sonboyadam]

screaming crying throwing up

art by mrotisky

[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

[silverskye13]

I'm curious- pick ten hermits, what would their fatal flaw be each?

Oh gosh. Hmmhmmhmm

Cubfan135: Ambition

ZombieCleo: Distrust

Ethoslab: Cowardice

Grian: Curiosity, Hubris

Welsknight: Complacency

Xisumavoid: Arrogance

SmallishBeans: Egotism, Obsession

TangoTek: Wrath

Skizzleman: Extreme optimism, Selflessness

Geminitay: Ruthlessness

[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

[radiomogai]

Please remember those in the MOGAI community who are not coiners. There is not enough appreciation for archivists, requesters, collectors, icon-makers, lurkers, accessibility blogs, everyone else. I believe that part of why there is so much pressure on coiners to coin consistently is because there is little value placed on any other activities within the community.

[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

[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

[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

[regular-gnome]

pick'a boo, making funny faces to the little kid