#it’s found truth in its maturity. because what’s it all for if it goes unremembered?

[erme-aeterna-arts]

jack rackham and the breaking of the fourth wall

(not really, but it sounds cool and you’ll see what i mean)

jack, silver and flint are the three characters most aware of the presence of the narrative. everyone else is opposing/upholding the system, the empire, their personal enemies, but these three target the narrative itself, hence all the soliloquizing about stories, narratives, names, history, art. they approach the subject very differently, but they are all very conscious about the narrative being the center of the show.

the only ones to be so, just like they were the only ones to see the wrecks of the urca with their own eyes and to know where the gold was buried later.

but i digress. jack is different from flint and silver because he also seems to be the one most aware of them all being in a prequel to treasure island, of himself being forever remembered due to a general history of the pyrates (the books itself is even shown while he finishes his speech).

jack rackham, as the real life dude, is said to have invented the jolly roger flag, which which may or may not be historically accurate (see wiki), but our jack definitely did do it and no wonder that it was him (jack: a story is true, a story is untrue, they said i made this flag, so yeah it was i).

the process of the creation of this flag is carried out from s2 till s4, which is a lot of time and signifies it as incredibly important.

in s2:

JACK: We all have the same swords out there. We all have the same guns. But, great art, has felled empires, and therein lies all the difference.

FEATHERSTONE: I don't, understand what that means.

JACK: No, but I do. So not to worry.

in s4:

JACK: A story is true. A story is untrue. As time extends it matters less and less. The stories we want to believe... Those are the ones that survive, despite upheaval and transition, and progress. Those are the stories that shape history. And then what does it matter if it was true when it was born? It's found truth in its maturity... Because what's it all for if it goes unremembered? It's the art that leaves the mark. But to leave it, it must transcend. It must speak for itself. It must be true.

i think, actually, this is the most and probably the only hopeful point in the finale, that reminds us that all that was not actually for nothing. we keep talking about the characters being doomed by the narrative, about the promised revolution that did not happen, because it was not supposed to happen, because we know the history and we know that the events of treasure island are meant to come to pass after we say our goodbyes to the black sails. but every story about stories is very aware that it is, in fact, a story. jack is the one who carries the knowledge that he is talking to us, the audience (hence the title of this post…), and i mean who else could he be talking to since most of the time on-screen characters tend to not listen to his rants and not understand what he refers to (because he says not for them, but for us!). and the fact that we are watching a show about queer people, about people resisting colonialism and deconstructing the very idea of the empire, is the proof that silver may have cancelled the revolution, but the pirates still have won.

we and everyone before us loved these stories. and if one spends enough time with these stories, enough time with the pirates, they might just start asking the right questions. like abigail ashe did, by the way. and that’s the only way for the world to know the truth.

and for that you indeed need to be remembered, to leave a reminder, a notion to all that you’ve been there. that we’ve been here. and always will be.

and jack was the one who understood that.

[itistimeforusalltodecidewhoweare]

for the ask game! 22, 54, 61, 66 💕💕

thank you ro!! <3

22. role model?

my first thought was jo march

54. what did you learn from your first job?

that i'm actually really good with people hahah!!

61. favorite line you heard from a book/movie/tv show/etc.?

A story is true. A story is untrue. As time extends it matters less and less. The stories we want to be believe… Those are the ones that survive, despite upheaval and transition, and progress. Those are the stories that shape history. And then what does it matter if it was true when it was born? It's found truth in its maturity… Because what's it all for if it goes unremembered? It's the art that leaves the mark. But to leave it, it must transcend. It must speak for itself. It must be true.

… black sails, man. black sails. 🥲

66. favorite flower(s)?

sunflowers and daisies 🥰

weird asks that say a lot

[verbosecorsair]

VERBOSECORSAIR. A story is true. A story is untrue. As time extends it matters less and less. The stories we want to be believe… Those are the ones that survive, despite upheaval and transition, and progress. Those are the stories that shape history. And then what does it matter if it was true when it was born? It's found truth in its maturity… Because what's it all for if it goes unremembered? It's the art that leaves the mark. But to leave it, it must transcend. It must speak for itself. It must be true.

Indie Jack Rackham of Black Sails. Very low activity. this muse is an old one I'm resurrecting, I will be bringing old hcs over here. Rules tba, currently can be found on the main blog @resolutepath. This is a sideblog.

HCS. || PROMPTS. || VERSES || VISAGE.

[ub-sessed]

A story is true. A story is untrue. As time extends it matters less and less. The stories we want to be believe... Those are the ones that survive, despite upheaval and transition, and progress. Those are the stories that shape history. And then what does it matter if it was true when it was born? It's found truth in its maturity... Because what's it all for if it goes unremembered? It's the art that leaves the mark. But to leave it, it must transcend. It must speak for itself. It must be true.

[lavampira]

having a normal one thinking about jack’s speech on the nature of stories and how perspective can shift the narrative and its lasting importance or lack thereof as it withstands, adapts, or fades away with time after watching 4 seasons of pirates and regimes in nassau rising and falling over the course of the entire plot and knowing how the black flag has persisted as one of the most widely recognized symbols throughout history

[nopickls]

And then what does it matter if it was true when it was born? It's found truth in its maturity... Because what's it all for if it goes unremembered? It's the art that leaves the mark. [Black Sails, XXVIII.]

[gaysie]

when jughead looks into the camera in the last episode of riverdale and says A story is true. a story is untrue. as time extends it matters less and less. the stories we want to believe, those are the ones that survive. those are the stories that shape history. then what does it matter if it was true when it was born? it’s found truth in its maturity... because what's it all for if it goes unremembered? it’s the art that leaves the mark. but to leave it, it must transcend. it must speak for itself. it must be true.

[cheesybadgers]

It's been a few hours since I finished the final episode and I've been going back and forth over the different interpretations, and every time I'm convinced by one argument, another contradictory one comes up. Looking on Reddit, there are people still debating the ending six years later, so that bodes well 🙃😂

Maybe it's because I'm an old romantic at heart and I'm currently writing a fix-it fic for another show involving two characters choosing love over war, but the happier ending in Black Sails was my gut instinct. Even then, a few things felt off, mind you, but if the writers wanted the audience to pick their own ending to the story, then everything presented won't fit neatly and perfectly regardless of which lens it is viewed through because that would create a paradox.

I replied to a brilliantly insightful comment on OHDH recently regarding a line in my fic about how there can be more than one truth to a situation depending on the person's perspective.

And I think the below quote from Black Sails says a lot about how we're supposed to view the ending:

"A story is true. A story is untrue. As time extends it matters less and less. The stories we want to be believe...those are the ones that survive, despite upheaval and transition, and progress. Those are the stories that shape history. And then what does it matter if it was true when it was born? It's found truth in its maturity. Because what's it all for if it goes unremembered? It's the art that leaves the mark. But to leave it, it must transcend. It must speak for itself. It must be true."

I'm not always a huge fan of ambiguous endings and I think they're unfairly put on a pedestal as more superior to a definitive ending (particularly a happy one) with few loose ends left. I don't really like to write them either because they can be emotionally unsatisfying and lacking in catharsis. However, for the themes of this show in particular, it was very fitting. Even if it's apparently going to drive the fanbase mad for the rest of time.

I’ve just finished season 1 of Black Sails and can confirm everyone is messy, gay, bloody and hot af. And I’m so here for it.

[livepasthope]

A story is true. A story is untrue. As time extends it matters less and less. The stories we want to be believe... Those are the ones that survive, despite upheaval and transition, and progress. Those are the stories that shape history. And then what does it matter if it was true when it was born? It's found truth in its maturity... Because what's it all for if it goes unremembered? It's the art that leaves the mark. But to leave it, it must transcend. It must speak for itself. It must be true.

[jammeke]

And then what does it matter if it was true when it was born? It’s found truth in its maturity. Because what’s it all for if it goes unremembered? 

[brassfannibal]

Make Me Choose Meme - Jack Rackham or Charles Vane

A story is true. A story is untrue. As time extends it matters less and less. The stories we want to believe... Those are the ones that survive, despite upheaval and transition, and progress. Those are the stories that shape history. And then what does it matter if it was true when it was born? It's found truth in its maturity... Because what's it all for if it goes unremembered? It's the art that leaves the mark. But to leave it, it must transcend. It must speak for itself. It must be true.

asked by @lady-eleanor-vane​

[fauna96]

Black Sails - Season Four

A story is true. A story is untrue. As time extends it matters less and less. The stories we want to believe… those are the ones that survive, despite upheaval and transition, and progress. Those are the stories that shape history. And then what does it matter if it was true when it was born? It’s found truth in its maturity… Because what’s it all for if it goes unremembered? It’s the art that leaves the mark. But to leave it, it must transcend. It must speak for itself. It must be true.

[plrks]

A story is true. A story is untrue. As time extends it matters less and less. The stories we want to believe… those are the ones that survive, despite upheaval and transition, and progress. Those are the stories that shape history. And then what does it matter if it was true when it was born? It’s found truth in its maturity… Because what’s it all for if it goes unremembered? It’s the art that leaves the mark. But to leave it, it must transcend. It must speak for itself. It must be true.

Jack Rackham (Black Sails)

[gaysie]

when supernatural said what makes a story work? it is the plot, the characters, the text? the subtext? and who gives a story meaning? is it the writer? or you? and when black sails said a story is true. a story is untrue. as time extends it matters less and less. the stories we want to be believe, those are the ones that survive, despite upheaval and transition, and progress. those are the stories that shape history. and then what does it matter if it was true when it was born? it's found truth in its maturity... because what's it all for if it goes unremembered. it's the art that leaves the mark. but to leave it, it must transcend. it must speak for itself. it must be true. and when timothy o’brien said i want you to feel what I felt. i want you to know why story-truth is truer sometimes than happening-truth.