#but then my laptop crashed

[chasingshadowsblog]

"When I became a man I put away childish things, including the fear of childishness and the desire to be very grown up." - Embracing your childhood in the 'The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and The Wardrobe'

CS Lewis dedicated the first book in his beloved Chronicles of Narnia series to his goddaughter Lucy with the foresight that, "some day you will be old enough to read fairy tales again." He understood that, although she was growing too old for "childish things" now, some day she would look back on them again with a new appreciation and an old fondness. Although we all go through this process of leaving our childhoods behind they are always there for us to return to and by doing so we may find a joy and simple pleasure that we haven't felt for a long time. What makes the film version of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe such a successful adaptation is its understanding and wielding of Lewis' these ideas. The Chronicles of Narnia is, famously, Christian allegory but channelled, in the film version at least, through the Pevensie sibling's individual connections to their childhoods and how this affects their belief in Narnia and in themselves. Each of the four Pevensies experiences a journey revolving around these ideas; Peter is still willing to be a child but is forced into early maturity by war, Susan strives to act older in order to protect her siblings, Edmund wants to be seen as an equal to his older brother, while Lucy, the only sibling who doesn't stray away from her childhood, must endure her siblings' lack of belief. A great strength of the film is director Andrew Adamson's commitment to the childish, fairy tale aspects of the story as well as its ideas of faith. He does not diminish his characters or the nature of the story in order to be taken more seriously, but rather draws on their youth to evoke the sense of terror in war or wonder in discovering a magical new world. Only a child could introduce us to Narnia, with the open, wide-eyed wonder necessary to translate the excitement of being on a practical set into the magic of stepping into a fantasy world. It is their youth as well that makes the Pevensies all the more heroic for stepping up and meeting their duties, whether that is taking care of each other in Professor Kirke's house, trekking across Narnia to rescue Edmund from the White Witch or standing at the head of an army - Peter is baby-faced under his armour but never comes across as silly because we've seen the internal journey he had to go through to reach this point and because the adult characters around him are allowed (by the film) to believe in him as a leader. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe manages to respect the source material, the views of its authour, and its four lead actors by unashamedly embracing its childishness and letting the characters know that it's okay to embrace theirs as well.

"Good man." As the eldest sibling, but still only a child himself, Peter is caught between two worlds. He is the eldest male figure in the house, but not their father; he is a young man witnessing his country at war but still a boy too young to enlist; he is tasked with taking care of his younger siblings but has no idea how to, "Promise me you'll look after them" "I will, Mum." Still, as much as Peter is unable for the responsibility placed on him, he never stops trying to keep the promise he made to his mother. When the Professor tries to offer Peter and Susan help with Edmund and Lucy he initially turns away, insisting that they can "handle it", his mother tasked him with protecting his siblings and, as ill-equipped as he is, he won't share the burden with anyone else. Peter is heart-breakingly aware of the roles that others believe he should be filling - protector, fighter, king - but also of his own limitations; he is unable to control Edmund and is constantly criticised by Susan for failing to take care of the two younger Pevensies, "Well, that was well-handled." His frustrations, hesitations and fears - "Why can't you just do what you're told?" - are all part of this understanding of himself that he doesn't have what it takes; he is not their father and Edmund doesn't have to listen to him; he is not their mother, no matter how much Susan expects him to be, and he is not a king or warrior, no matter how much the people of Narnia need him to be, "We can't go to war without you!" At the train station Peter watches soldiers passing by, not with eagerness but trepidation; he quietly refuses Beaver's call-to-arms, "We just want our brother back", and diminishes himself when Aslan tries to give him courage, "I couldn't even protect my own family". As Peter's responsibilities mount so does his sense of guilt. He is none of these things (and he shouldn't have to be, he is a thirteen-year-old boy) and his guilt stems from the fact that part of him doesn't want to be either; he may hold his sword up in defense of his siblings, but he has little desire to use it. What is most admirable about Peter, is that he steps up anyway. In the woods, Susan and Lucy cling to him when they believe they're about to be attacked and whenever they are about to be attacked Peter pulls out his sword in spite of his fear and does his best to defend them; depending on where the danger lies, Peter is seen taking either the front or rear of the group, and after gaining the confidence to take up the mantle of high-king he tries to convince his siblings to go home while he stays behind to help the Narnians fight the White Witch, "I promised Mum I'd keep you three safe. But it doesn't mean I can't stay behind and help." In spite of all his guilt and trepidation, Peter meets the challenges expected of him and grows in the process. He kills Maugrim at the urging of Aslan and the Narnians "Stay your weapons. This is Peter’s battle" and it is after this point that he begins to fit himself into the roles expected of him. Although Peter had no wish to kill Maugrim - the act of taking a life being such a humongous responsibility and step into adulthood - it is through this act of protecting his sisters that he learns that he is capable of more than he initially believed, that he can protect the people who rely on him. While Peter meets his first duels holding his sword out far in front of him, keeping a distance between himself and his opponents, in the final battle he runs head on against the White Witch after she attacks Edmund, throwing his whole body into the task. Peter is forced into maturity by a war in both worlds and he does not get to re-discover his childhood in the way that Susan and Edmund do, nor does he need to. Throughout the film, Peter remains tapped into his childhood through his playfulness and curiosity, and when he is forced to let it go and be the adult, he remains connected to it through his relationship with Lucy.

Lucy is the sibling Peter is most at ease with; he comforts her with gentle words when she's upset, holds her hand and carries her on his back when they need to run; when they're all bored in the Professor's house, he gives in immediately to her pleas to play hide-and-seek and does so with a smile on his face. At her age, Lucy's needs are simple ones of comfort and a familiar presence but they are needs that Peter is capable of fulfilling and he is happy to be that presence for her. He is more patient than Susan when Lucy first comes back from Narnia, "We don't all have your imagination, Lu", he follows her lead when they all cross through the wardrobe, "Then Mr. Tumnus it is!" and is the only one of the three older siblings who throws himself into the world of Narnia as easily as Lucy did, "He says he knows the fawn." Peter embraces Narnia with joy and curiosity and only pulls back when there is a chance his list of responsibilities will grow longer. For a time, at least, Peter wants to experience the world as a child until those responsibilities catch up with him. After killing Maugrim, Peter does not get the chance to be a child again like Suan and Edmund, but his childhood is not something he ever shies away from. In terms of Lewis' dedication, Peter has crossed over to the other side of adulthood and is ready to appreciate childish things for the source of joy that they are. He remains tapped into his childhood throughout the film in his curiosity, playfulness, his belief in Aslan and his relationship with Lucy. It is fitting, then, that when the adult Pevensies return to their own world and back into the children they were, Peter is the first to follow Lucy through the wardrobe.

"We used to have fun together, didn't we?" As the second oldest sibling and eldest daughter, Susan attempts to make up for the areas where Peter is lacking, an act that is self-imposed as she is not given the same responsibilities as her brother. At the train station, her mother asks her to be a "big girl" but not a 'woman' and doesn't ask Susan to look after everyone as she does Peter. Susan isn't asked but she tries, anyway, to be more grown-up and responsible for the sake of her siblings, particularly during those times when Peter isn't. When he's distracted by soldiers at the station, Susan organises their tickets and smiles politely at the collector; during their first night at the Professor's house, she notices that Lucy is upset and must point it out to Peter; she orders Edmund to bed and Lucy to stop talking about her trip to Narnia, "That's enough, Lucy!" and admonishes Peter for not doing a good enough job with their younger siblings. She delivers phrases and mannerisms that she has likely picked up from her mother - "We could all use the fresh air" - and, in true adult fashion, manages to invent a game that is even more boring than their actual boredom. Like Edmund, Susan wants to separate herself from her childhood and be an adult but out of a desire to be helpful, but, she is also like Peter in that, whether consciously or not, she latches onto childish outlets.She, like Peter is caught between two worlds; she wants to be an adult but without taking on the larger responsibilities of adulthood - she has yet to learn that acting like an adult and being mature are two very different things. She tells the Professor why Lucy is upset because she wants to sort out the issue but also looks for an adult's help in doing so. When they arrive in Narnia, she urges them to turn around again then later uses that as an excuse to blame Peter when things go wrong, "None of this would have happened if you had just listened to me in the first place!" For want of a real adult figure, Susan expects Peter to fill this role since that is what their mother asked of him. When Lucy cries their first night at the Professor's house, Susan is the first to notice but nudges Peter to do something about it then later scolds him for failing to help Edmund without having tried to intervene herself, "Well, that was nicely handled." While Susan expects herself to act like an adult nobody else does, so, when things go wrong she is able to blame Peter who is supposed to be their stand-in adult. She maintains this attitude throughout the journey where she can be seen acting grown-up, but in small ways that she can handle. She helps Mrs. Beaver pack food for them when the others are standing around staring, urges them all to go home, comes to terms with the fantasy world by throwing logic at it (and gets teased for it), and tries to convince Peter to listen to Maughrim if it means keeping them alive. It is only when the children meet Aslan and Susan shares the responsibilty of losing Edmund that she really acts maturely. By taking on some of the responsibility, Susan does a grown-up thing and so is finally able to stop acting like one. Once she does so she is able to relax and revert back to her childhood. She plays with Lucy in the water, follows her to the Stone Table (beginning of the movie Susan wouldn't have let her sister leave the camp) and feels the loss of Aslan as much as her sister does. It is only a short amount of time, but, as soon as Susan stops trying to act like a grown-up she is able to embrace the wonder of Narnia as fully and freely as Lucy and Peter do.

"When are you going to grow up?" Like Susan, Edmund is desperate to be seen as a grown-up, or, at least, as an equal to Peter. He frequently pushes back against his mother's insistence that Peter look after him and tries to separate himself from Lucy. However, unlike Susan who channels her desire to be an adult into keeping them safe, Edmund does the quickest and easiest thing he can do which is to be nasty to Lucy. He also tends to act rashly without considering the consequences. We can see this in the beginning when he opens the curtains during the air raid, then runs back into the house to get the photo of their father forcing Peter to run after him, nearly getting them both killed, "You're so selfish! You could have got us killed!" In Narnia, Edmund leaves his siblings behind to find the White Witch with no thought that they might follow him or that he might be putting himself and others in danger. None of which is to critcise Edmund, it is, rather, the point: Edmund, more than Peter or Susan and exactly like Lucy, is a child. It is why it's so easy for the White Witch to reel him in and, to his credit, it is also why he so easily reverts back to childhood after reuniting with his siblings. "What's done is done. There is no need to speak to Edmund about what is past." After being rescued by the Narnians, Edmund speaks privately with Aslan and although we never hear what is said between them, Edmund comes out softer around the edges, someone who has learned a lesson but has returned to what we can assume is a version of his old self. Even when he was antagonistic and reticent, Edmund showed behaviour that gave us a glimpse of the boy he likely was before the war. He and Peter stifle their laughter together when Mrs. MacReady gives out to Susan and bond again later when he teases Susan about her game, "Is it Latin for 'worst game ever invented'?" and after complaining for all of a second, he throws himself fully into the game of hide-and-seek with his siblings. After speaking with Aslan, Edmund returns to his siblings a more mature version of himself, "I've seen what the White Witch can do. And I've helped her do it. And we can't leave these people behind to suffer for it", but also one that is ready to stop fighting his older brother, "Then you'll have to lead us." The tension between Peter and Edmund plays a large part in Edmund's development; Peter is someone who angers Edmund, but also who he wants to be treated equally by. Edmund's acceptance of Peter as his older brother and leader is the clearest indication that he has accepted his role as the second youngest, allowing himself to take the lead from Peter, and when Peter doubts himself, Edmund is the one to reassure him, "Aslan believed you could. And so do I." When Peter orders Edmund to retreat from the battle, hedoesn't listen but launches himself at the White Witch distracting her from Peter. Edmund considers following Peter's order for a moment then decides against it and while his attack on the White Witch is as impulsive as running into the house during the air raid, it includes that moment's thought. Edmund has learned from his experiences and decides to do the impulsive thing anyway, this time as an act of protection endangering no one but himself, "Peter's not king yet!" As well as maturing in his thoughtfulness, Edmund returns to his childhood by embracing his siblings and his place among them. He stops teasing Susan, accedes to Peter's decision-making (when he sees that it's right) and when Lucy is the first one to run up and hug him after they've reunited, he accepts it easily.

Of the four siblings, Lucy undergoes the least amount of develoment because she doesn't need to; of the fours siblings, only Lucy is unafraid to be a child. Even when she is teased and told off by her older siblings, Lucy never tries to change who she is. She cries and laughs and comforts and experiences wonder and joy with an openness that only a child could possess; she stands her ground, argues on behalf of the Narnians and calls her siblings out on their mistakes and behaviour, "Stop it! None of this is going to help Edmund!" She is Queen Lucy the Valiant because she is never afraid to be who she is, a lesson her brothers and sister each must learn during their time in Narnia. It is only fitting then, that she takes the first step into Narnia, that she, more than anyone, is tapped into its moods and intricacies. She understands that the mice chewing Aslan's ropes are doing it out of love and respect; she thinks to use the draiads to send a message to Peter and Edmund during the battle, and notices, when everyone else is celebrating, that Aslan looks sad after his liason with the White Witch. From the moment she steps foot in it, Lucy loves Narnia and Narnia loves her back and her belief - in herself, in her siblings, in Narnia - is continuously rewarded. Lucy doesn't look for proof but she accepts it with open arms when it appears in front of her and so she is most at ease with herself and the world around her.

The Chronicles of Narnia is, ultimately, about faith; faith in yourself, in those around you, in Aslan, and in Narnia itself. Lucy is strong in her faith and this carries her throughout all of her adventures in Narnia; Peter waivers in his faith in himself and must work hard to develop it; Edmund tries to separate himself from his faith but comes back to it with an even stronger conviction; Susan's faith means so much to her that it causes her pain and so she tries to forget it. The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe might be Christian in nature, but its themes are universal. Lewis does not want everyone to find inner peace in God and Christianity, but he does want us to find it in something and the series advocates for faith in general as a path toward inner peace and decency. How that faith manifests is unimportant - Peter has an easy time believing in Aslan but not in his own capabilities and Lucy believes in Father Christmas as much as she does Aslan. The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe symbolises this finding of peace in a connection to childhood, but it is a peace that can be found anywhere - in religion, in other people, in trees, in fairy tales or Santa Clause. It doesn't matter where or how you find your find your childhood, only that you open yourself up to the opportunity to do so, "Try me!"

[samioli]

I think I forgot to show tumblr this but it's been over a year since Phoenix Wright appeared on my crashed laptop screen

[caccry]

On your left!!!

[bloominglegumes]

i've been digging around for jazz-and/or-prowl-centred mystery fics and this one was so so excellent to me,, the atmosphere, the details of the environment, prowl's perspective was so nicely done the writing was so juicy i love them being best friends feeling safe together i love the idea of robot ghosts

[ruumuf]

"yo Darnell check out this video i found"

[captainmalewriter]

I think you're obsessed with pecs.

And you're NOT??? 😟

Pecs have always been my favorite part of the male body. Honestly, I believe it's practically a universal thing to enjoy a nice pair of tits of your preferred gender and anyone that says otherwise is probably lying.

Like, c'mon, if I had a rack of thick, hairy honkers I'd be admiring/manhandling them nonstop. It's literally a stress ball right on the chest!

Even if not my own, I'm always beyond grateful to have an opportunity to caress and worship an awesome pair of pecs!!

And when I say worship, I mean worship like I am a fucking whore for a man's chest, I could literally spend a full 24 hours just doing this:

And one of the best part about pecs is that you don't need to touch to appreciate them. You can see them sweater puppies in action when a man is running, dancing, driving, practically anything!!

Honestly? I love pecs of all kinds of sizes, colors, hairiness, thickness, etc etc etc. If it's a man's chest, I'm already in love. Pecs are pecs in my book!

Although I will admit, there is one particular aspect to pecs that I can simply NEVER get enough of... Can you guess what it is?

P-E-C. B-O-U-N-C-E.

PEC BOUNCE!!

I just can't get enough of it! It's like food for my soul at this point haha.

So anon, have I convinced you? C'mon, come join the dark side, we got nice pecs here. Soon enough, you'll become obsessed too! All you'll think about is pecs! In fact, I bet it's already working.

You need to touch them... you need to grow your own... you need to bounce them... Pecs, pecs, pecs...

Anyways, I'll stop rambling now lmfao if you're a man with a chest, give your pecs a good squeeze for me ok? Please? You have a SEXY pair of pecs and they need love too! If you can, give them a little bounce too! It's good for you ;)

[chanquokka]

seungmin x harry winston | elle japan

[woozi]

DK Maestro

[blakbonnet]

everyone say thank you samba!

[sad-leon]

(good future) Finding Home Pride edition <3

Trans Leo pride is something I see a lot, but personally, FH Leo wouldn't celebrate his gender. He grew up around Gali, who went through a lot of gender struggles, especially in his younger years, and with the brothers being so accepting, it's just another part of his life

But his lack of romantic attraction? That's something that stands out to him. He sees the brothers with their own attractions and crushes and such and realizes he stands out. He's different. But that's okay because he's still him and he's still valid

anyways~ it's pride month, which means i get to be even more annoying about aro pride ^-^

that final shot without text:

[simulatedtrait]

'cause all you people are vampires

[hiddencircus]

LEONA KINGSCHOLAR — KINGS ROAR

[louferrignojrofficial]

bts of a new lou photoshoot for felix magazine… coming soon

[upperranktwo]

☆Gifset Per Episode - Kimetsu No Yaiba☆

Hashira Training EP02 - Water Hashira Giyu Tomioka's Pain

[tabooi]

i call this one "literally what was going on with the second us tour"

[silvr-skreen]

I wonder what they're looking at...

{ Season 58 AU }