#browsing “trans cross” posts gives some hilariously mixed results. should something be done about that

[bleedingmochi]

I was wondering why there was an uptick of trans!Cross art, not that I was bothered by that but I heard there was a recent situation related to it and had no idea what people were referring to.

Then I found the posts in question.

A summary of what basically happened: Jakei commented on the transcoded parallel of the Cross and Papyrus scene with the line “You are valid 🏳️‍⚧️💜”, in a post with fun facts about Underverse 0.8 Pt.1. People got excited the creator acknowledged the parallel, some people probably got confused and thought Jakei confirmed he was actually transgender, other people got confused why there was a connection at all. One post in particular came under Jakei’s radar that she felt the need to call the person out for their bad takes and clarify she only made Cross transcoded. Fans reacted with their own reactions. Any attempt to defend and explain the transcoded narrative does not get through to OP who remains confused and mad.

Whether Cross is a well-written trans-coded character wasn’t really what was being argued about, but the fact a connection to transgender experience was being made at all and that was enough to spark the current trend and hype going around for trans!Cross.

As I understood it, the context people are drawing from was subtext apparently put there intentionally by the creator. An allegory about changing and accepting new identity that’s maybe not unique to only trans people but one Jakei tried to tell. Also note that Jakei only said Cross is trans-coded, but doesn’t care if people see him as outright trans, and most people do understand headcanon and coding doesn’t equal canon lore.

And maybe there could have been a genuine discussion… about what makes good rep and how fan works might overshadow or undermine other interpretations/representations (if the whole Frisk/Chara gender identity debate is anything to go off of). But I guess something got lost in the back and forth between the bad translators and colorful wording like “strange/ cringe/ harmful/ stupid/ disgusting/ idiots/ bitch” in response to people’s different opinions… Then there were the cynical comments on the creator’s intentions, which… wasn’t necessary.

So overall it just looked like a bunch of people arguing over headcanons, and it goes as productive as anyone could expect.

People don’t have to like or agree with everything an author or other fans create, and I can understand frustration where people are imposing headcanon/fanon over canon… but if the only harm being done is "cringe" (welcome to tumblr btw), then…

Anyways congrats to everyone for making the oreo a trans-coded icon. 

Your prize is a png of smol Cross.

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