#The White Fang (RWBY)

[howlingday]

Jaune: Ugh...

White Fang: He's coming to.

Jaune: What... What do you want?

White Fang: Silence, human! We will ask the questions here!

Jaune: Okay...

White Fang: Where is your team? When is your extraction?

Jaune: ...I'll answer you if you answer one question for me.

White Fang: Fine, human scum. I'll humor you. Ask your question.

Jaune: Do you know what's worse than a captured huntsman?

White Fang: Your team? What the hell kind of question is that?

Jaune: Eh, pretty close. But it's actually a person with a reason to live.

White Fang: (Feels Jaune ship breathing down his neck)

Jaune: And in case you couldn't tell, I'M their reason to live.

[rainbow-zebra-art]

I don't know what this style is anymore, let's call this one a clean sketch?? Here's a (relatively) quick redraw/reimagining of one of my first commissions. It was made for JumpinJammies, and it was her funny idea too! I'll always be grateful to her and my other friends who were willing to start paying me for my drawings... It really boosted my confidence back then <3

So I've been glancing at that drawing for a couple of years now, feeling a strong desire to draw Sienna in this silly sweater again. Which I finally did these winter holidays. And I made her stripes a bit differently, since after this drawing we learned a little more about them.

[lovingdabeessss]

RWBY MEMES

[hamliet]

Do you have any thoughts on how RWBY handled the white fang storyline?

Unpopular opinion: it's decent?

Now, now, before people come at me with pitchforks: yes, it's overly simplified. The entire story is a fairy tale, though, so that's not out of place. It also complements the rest of the story thematically, and manages to incorporate nuance and complexity in despite the simplification of issues.

I think it's a mistake to look at the White Fang as a 1=1 of the real life struggles of marginalized groups. That said, there obviously are parallels, and so people aren't mistaken to note those. I just think it's not meant to be an instructional manual and shouldn't necessarily be viewed as one, but rather a conversation starter in some ways. And yes, those conversations can and should include critiques.

So I'll go over the points that I think it did well and how those ties into real life, but also specifically how they work for RWBY's overall story. This does not negate criticisms, especially those by marginalized groups.

In contrast to some other fictional depictions, RWBY actually is better as well because it avoids the number one pitfall of such issues: the X-Men fallacy. I've talked about this in terms of Attack on Titan before, but essentially it's the idea that the problem with depicting discrimination against superpowered people is that, well, there is a logical reason for people to be concerned about superpowers; hence, it almost justifies that very discrimination it seeks to condemn. This isn't present in the faunus/human divide. They are both capable of superpowers.

It also doesn't fall into another common pitfall: the idea that people have to be perfect to be victims of discrimination. The White Fang... has senselessly and cruelly murdered people; doesn't mean faunus discrimination isn't also cruel and senseless and doesn't justify it. And this is something that we do see in real life too--people trying to either completely whitewash the actions of radical anti-oppression movements, which can do awful things, or trying to use these awful things as evidence that these people deserve discrimination when really it's a result of rage and desperation at a society that refuses to give them anything. That doesn't justify the pain of the victims of the awful things (see, Weiss) but nor does it negate the righteousness of that anger.

It does portray the faunus as a fairly diverse group too, when fiction often portrays marginalized groups as a monolith. That's not true. People from one group have very different ideas about what liberation looks like, and what they want to achieve. People in marginalized groups are people, and they can be motivated by a variety of selfless principles and egotistical validation, and neither negate the other. See, Sienna vs. Ghira vs. Adam.

Now, of course within RWBY Ghira's more nonviolent principles more or less win out. That's because RWBY is again a fairy tale where you have to fight to live, but that also doesn't endorse violence. If you expected otherwise, wrong genre. Of course the real world is far more complex, but it's not as if there is no real world basis for this either. Peacemakers exist, and nonviolence has accomplished a lot before. Whether or not that's the be-all-end-all of the faunus struggle in RWBY isn't even clear, so I don't think it's intended to be the be-all-end-all preached moral as it applies to the real world either.

Story-wise, the White Fang functions as a Jungian shadow of society. If you do not take charge of your own life, you are letting others decide for you. The faunus who disagree with the White Fang take it back, because they have to acknowledge it to move forward in society. They have to integrate with it, and accept their own humanity: capable of good and what they might rather deny.

This faction--the faunus who don't like the White Fang--are represented in Ghira, who becomes passive and steps back from aspects of the movement. However, when Blake arrives in Menagerie, this changes, because Blake's entire arc is about integration. Ghira then becomes active, working for the rights of the faunus and for the White Fang to be better rather than simply disavowing the White Fang in an attempt to be a good person, because doing nothing isn't exactly good.

On a more character level, the White Fang exists for Blake's arc. Her Jungian archetype is the Shadow. Like, it's literally her semblance's name. Hence, the idea of the shadow is gonna be important. If you want more on this, @aspoonofsugar has written a meta on it here and another here.

So, for Blake, on a personal level the White Fang (especially under Adam) represents the parts of herself she doesn't like. The part that ran from her family. The part that is violent. And yet, she cannot abandon it or simply disavow it. No, the answer is instead:

We’re not going to destroy the White Fang. We’re going to take it back.

She has to integrate with it, take the good--the righteous anger, the focus on justice and equality.

The White Fang also comments on the microcosm/macrocosm of alchemy.

For the unaware, RWBY is an alchemical story, and the principles of alchemy are represented in the symbol for the philosopher's stone, as seen above. Microcosm: the smaller circle enclosing two people in the center who come together (hence chemical weddings). The square is the four elements: water, earth, fire, air. The triangle is body, heart, and mind. The larger circle is the macrocosm.

The Shadows for Blake on a personal level--microcosm--is Adam. The Shadow on a worldwide, big picture scale--the macrocosm--is the White Fang. Integrating with the shadow isn't only an individualistic endeavor, but also one that benefits society as a whole and brings life to the entire world. The main point of alchemy's philosopher's stone, which Blake, along with the rest of RWBY, are symbolically being transformed into.

I think the main issue with the White Fang, by the way, is its handling of Adam. Typically you don't kill the shadow, though I do think Blake kinda had no choice. Still, I don't think the show fully explored him.

Yet what does work with what we have is that Yang has to face Adam, Blake's shadow, to be with Blake. Yang losing her arm to Adam parallels her being upset about losing Blake to fear, because symbolically Blake can hurt her deeply in the way only a lover can. Blake has to stop running from her shadow and allow herself ot be known and seen by Yang to be with her.

[howi99]

Jaune: Did you know? The average human is composed of 60% water. And did you know that if someone were to eat a spoonful of Ice dust, it would be enough to turn 87% of that water into ice?

White Fang grunt from the dock: *Crying* I already told you i know nothing! Please! Have mercy!

Jaune: ... Why is everyone reacting like that to my fun fact?

[massivementalitynut]

My Connection Lost Comm of White Fang Members by @ogariane

[sirazaroff]

"Serial Kisser Blake" is so funny to me cuz I imagine she's going full ninja-assassin with it. Like, she picks a target (Yang, Weiss, Ruby, etc) and just hunts them from the shadows. They feel eyes on them and suddenly they just mutter "Oh boy..." Then the lights go out, you hear rapid-fire kisses, and the lights come back on and the target has black kisses all over and is on the ground in a family guy-esk pose. Meanwhile, Blake's all "target neutralized"

Blake how could you…she was so young…

[uncaught-coolfish]

my little boo thang🧚‍♀️

[constantvariations]

I don't think anything will ever be funnier than Banesaw's first of his only two sentences being, "Finally, I get to kill a Schnee," knocking Weiss unconscious in a single hit, then just chucking her into the next room so Blake can save her

[rwby-confess]

Confession #278

[asm5129]

Blake’s final speech in vol 5 amounted to “I don’t know what to do just stop bad Faunus like Adam”

As for Kaitlyn I more so meant the nickname she was given, that was not just an issue of management. But fair point several of the original group are POC. But non the less it seems more likely crwby just wanted to do X-men and failed.

Blake’s speech was about the fact that there are no easy answers to stopping hate. Faunus were getting more rights through Sienna’s tactics, but actual acceptance was harder to achieve because it’s something you cannot force. Saving Haven and stopping Adam helped shift the narrative around Faunus. It didn’t fix everything, nor did Blake claim it would, but it started moving the needle away from where Adam was pushing it.

The White Fang arc isn’t a guidebook on how to successfully develop a more accepting society, it’s a warning about how anger that has a legitimate reason to exist can be validated, channeled and manipulated by selfish people who will ultimately abandon and work against the goals of the affected group when the crisis of said group no longer supports their self-serving interests.

RWBY is willing to accept that maybe there aren’t clear, easy solutions to societal issues but that developing connections and empathy and community with those around us still move us towards a better world—even if hate still exists.

[aliavian]

Real ones remember Perry, the random White Fang thug from Volume 2 who wore glasses on the outside of his mask. 😂👌

[brokentrafficknight]

[bridgyrose]

Ladybug week day 6: Childhood AU

Ruby quietly climbed out of her bedroom window, careful to make as little noise as she could as she dropped to the ground. She fussed with the pins that kept her ears down in her hair to make sure they were hidden before pulling the hood of her cloak over. Then, she checked the bag that hung on her shoulder to make sure her White Fang mask was with her and safe. Tonight was going to be her first dust raid and she wanted to make sure she had everything she needed for it. 

She took a deep breath, turned to look at the house one last time, and then started to make her way to take the last ferry of the night. If everything went well, she’d be back on the first ferry to Patch and be home just before her dad woke up. Though, if he found out she was out-

“So you did decide to come,” Blake said with a smile as she dropped out of a tree. “Adam was thinking you were gonna chicken out.” 

“I wasnt going to chicken out,” Ruby lied as she looked away. The thought of staying home did cross her mind more than once, though the idea of disappointing Blake seemed worse than disappointing her dad. “I-I just… needed to..  wait until I wasnt going to get caught sneaking out.” 

“You could always run away,” Adam said as he walked over, almost glaring at Ruby from under his mask. “Then we wont have to be late waiting for you.” 

“And now she’s here so we can go.” Blake sighed and started to make her way to the ferry. “And then we can fill her in with the plan.” 

“Fine. But if she slows us down, she’s out.” 

Ruby slowly followed behind Adam and Blake as she tried to listen to them. Most of the words almost seemed muffled to her as she lost focus on what was being said, only able to focus on Blake. She couldnt help but wonder what life would’ve been like if Blake hadnt saved her, given her a reason to join the White Fang. She was tired of being beat for being a faunus, angry that her dad made her hide her trait anytime she went out, always treated like she was destined for nothing more than a life of hard labor. And yet, when she was with Blake, everything felt like it was going to work out. That no matter what they did, it’ll all be worth it.

“Are you going to answer him?” Blake asked. 

Ruby nearly stopped in her tracks when she realized that Blake had gotten right next to her. “I-I didnt… what was the question?” 

“I asked if you’re sure you want to do this,” Adam repeated, annoyed. “Once you step onto the ferry, there’s no turning back.” 

Ruby nodded, her heart almost thumping in her chest when she saw Blake give her a smile. “Yes! I want to do this more than anything!” 

Adam smirked and motioned for Ruby and Blake to follow him. “Then dont slow us down.” 

Ruby stepped onto the ferry with Blake and Adam, straying towards the edge as she looked back towards her home. Her dad and Yang still hadnt noticed she’d left for the night, which meant she was almost in the clear. Once she reached Vale, as long as she got back before either of them woke up, then she wouldnt have to come up with some sort of excuse as to why she was out. 

“Everything okay?” Blake asked as she moved next to her. “You’ve been quiet ever since you boarded.” 

“Just trying to figure out what to tell Dad and Yang if they ask.” 

“You’re planning on going back to them?” 

“Of course. Why wouldnt I?” 

Blake gently pulled Ruby’s hood down and frowned. “Because they make you hide who you are. I thought you wanted to be yourself.” 

Ruby wanted to pull her hood back up, but she knew Blake was right. Of course she wanted to be more herself, seeing Blake keep her own ears out made her long to be able to do the same. She slowly pulled the pins that held her ears down to let them up. “Where else would I go?” 

“You can come home with us,” Blake suggested. “Its just a small camp right now-” 

“We cant afford to bring another kid along!” Adam snapped. “We’re running low on supplies as it is, another mouth to feed is only going to cause us problems.” 

“I-I’ve been training to be a huntress.” Ruby fidgeted with the pins she held as she tried to look more confident. “I dont have my own weapon yet, Dad wont let me have one for another year, but I can make myself useful!” 

Adam paused for a moment as if he was thinking about it. “If you survive the raid tonight, then we’ll take you back.” 

Ruby let out a silent breath as Adam turned and walked to the other side of the ferry. She wasnt sure why her heart felt like it was pounding in her chest or why her stomach suddenly felt like it was in knots about being herself. But if Blake was sure this was the best way, then she had to know what she was talking about. 

Blake gave Ruby a playful hit on her shoulder and smiled. “Stay close to me and I’ll make sure you’re safe.” 

[hadesisqueer]

I think people don't understand that Adam is literally the worst “freedom fighter” ever made because he was not really a freedom fighter.

Adam hated Humanity. Honestly, he couldn't be blamed for that, after what was done to him; he didn't deserve to be abused, he didn't deserve to be branded, and I really hope the people who did that to him ended up as badly as Cinder's abusers—Jacques at least did—. The problem is that he joined and forcefully took over an organization that one way or another (with Sienna and Ghira, in different ways) seeked to support Faunus and help achieve equality when he didn't care about any of that.

This is the same guy who took part in the Fall of Beacon. There's a difference between attacking Jacques and the SDC and other racist pieces of shit like Sienna did and this. Think about this for a second: according to Velvet in After the Fall, despite not being perfect, Vale is probably the best kingdom for Faunus to live in—along with Vacuo, though not perfect as well—. There are many Faunus in Vale. Regular Faunus who live regular lives with regular jobs and regular families, and who also depend on the protection Beacon and the other academies provide with their Huntsmen and Huntresses, a bunch of them also Faunus. Now you tell me why the fuck would you think destroying Beacon and provoking a Grimm attack in Vale that kills hundreds of people—many of them probably Faunus—will make the situation better for your kind in any way? Because it won't, it will only make everyone in there fucking despise you and your organization, including Faunus themselves.

It's literally what Sienna told him, and he killed her because he wanted to become leader and destroy another goddamn academy and make things even worse. And then, in there, seeing himself cornered, he tried to blow up everyone in Haven—nevermind that the people opposing him were Faunus too. And then when the remaining White Fang members called him out on his bullshit, he didn't think twice about killing them all, either.

Like Blake said, he was consumed by spite. Adam had charisma to make everyone believe he could be a great leader who could get results. And maybe he could have been if he actually cared about making things better for the Faunus, but he didn't. Adam always put his hate against humans before his people's needs. He did everything he did because he wanted to fuck over humans, even if it meant fucking over his own kind and organization, too, and he had no qualms about killing Faunus if they tried to stop him from fucking everyone including them over.

That's actually the reason why I hated him—and I loved to hate him, he was a good villain—, because he claimed to be a freedom fighter when actually he couldn't give less of a fuck about his people, he just wanted his revenge. That and because he was a creep who groomed a preteen girl when he was over 18 and then proceeded to abuse her and then stalk her and try to kill her and her new love interest because he was petty she left him, of course, but that's a different thing.

[tumblingxelian]

I saw a post earlier today that really kinda got my goat so to speak so I wanted to re-post my take without starting shit on tumblr dot com.

I categorically disagree with the idea that Adam was ever planned to be the main leader of the White Fang pre coup.

We meet Adam leading what was suppose to be a resource acquisition mission that he turned into an attempted mass murder for shits and giggles because he is a blood thirsty idiot.

Not only is that incredibly wastefully and politically stupid of him, it is also not reflective of what Blake described the White Fang's methodology as during Volumes 1. IE the methods that actually were working and were introduce by said new leader which Adam was blatantly ignoring.

It also makes clear his relationship with Blake is awful given the manipulation, the lies, the dismissal and using her as a shield, and maniacal cackling ETC.

The second time we see Adam its in volume 2 right after its revealed that a ton of Faunus died because of Cinder's plan and Mercury wonders if they will still obey. Adam arrives and promising to continue throwing his people's lives away for Cinder. Making it quite clear where Adam stands on the subject while showing the White Fang itself lacks any loyalty to Cinder.

Before V3 we have two possible mentions, one being the silhouettes in V1, one of which could be argued to represent Adam, but also contained two other people. & the masks reference which, if Adam was the leader, you'd think Blake would just say it was an idea their leader came up with. The fact she didn't should make it clear to any viewer that Adam was just popular, but not in charge.

Going into V3, we already know he's fine throwing Faunus lives away for Cinder, so anything he says when rejecting Cinder needs to be taken with a grain of salt. Yeah Adam wasn't just gonna work with some random human cos he doesn't like humans and his people are watching so his behavior is performative. Cinder leaves, then returns and makes it clear she can kill him if he doesn't obey and he instantly bows because, shock and horror the manipulative abuser is not actually all that brave when its 'his' ass on the line, setting the stage for what we already know happens by V2.

Adam was never meant to be the leader, Adam was never a genuine revolutionary, Adam was always an abusive cowardly liar and manipulator seeking power and appeasement for himself.

Losing Sienna was a tragedy and genuinely a huge mistake on the writers part and Ghira taking over again is in no way ideal, but Adam is not some tragic loss. He's one of a dime a dozen would be revolutionaries who only care about the 'revolution' for their own ends. Any passing glance at historical revolutions and rebel movements will show people like him.

One can criticize the White Fang plotline without needing to big up someone like Adam; just like one can endorse revolutionaries without advocating for war crimes. Discuss Sienna and how she could have been introduced earlier or avoid her demise. Bring up how Ilia's arc could have potentially led her to being the one leading a revitalized White Fang. Or how Blake herself could potentially have taken the reigns more overtly, as challenging as that might be to portray given the overall plot line.

There's plenty of ways to emphasize the new generation, and tackling bigotry head on without raising Adam as a viable candidate and especially without engaging in historical revisionism as to his slated role in the series proper.