#its just worth thinking about critically

[fitzrove]

Not to simplify a complex historical issue in a tumblr post but I think the reason Conspiracy (Elisabeth Essen/Hungarian prods) and fandom discussions/headcanons/fanwork deriving from it (ie. advancing the interpretation that the cause of Rudolf's anguish & the thing Tod is trying to manipulate him to do is the pursuit of Hungarian independence/seizing the Hungarian throne) tend to set me off is that it ignores the thing that's, like, the historical and the musical Rudolf's actual main deal, which is anti-conservative thought and the emotional pain and feelings of powerlessness brought about by living in a world full of state-sanctioned prejudice, hatred and anti-intellectualism (among other things)

Which I, for, like, personal reasons, find more compelling to reflect upon and have portrayed on stage in our 21st century world (= "oppressive politics on state level bad" seems. Relevant somehow) than stuff like a privileged person's private quest for power (throne) or a vaguely positive portrayal of nationalism (especially since Hungarian nationalism in the 21st century isn't super cuddly or feel-good ajdkdldl, so I think having those foundation myths repeated actually borders on irresponsible - depending on the framing, that is)

Plus its not historically accurate, like the conspiracy plot has not been conclusively proven to have happened. Unlike todolf [redacted] which is indisputable historical fact

[astralleywright]

there's nothing orym would ask of the other hells that he wouldn't do himself, which is sort of the problem, really

[battleaxeproficiency]

I genuinely. do not understand people speculating that Veilguard could have been written by ai . there are significant flaws in the writing of this game done get me wrong but like . poor pacing and "cringe" dialogue doesn't mean it was written by ai

[ludiharambasha]

I think I can finally put my finger on what I find wrong about Hazbin Hotel and why I think it is neoliberal dribble that fails at its social commentary.

I am definitely going to write about redemption arcs more (a post about a different show is coming), but it should not come as a surprise that I am not a fan of them-they are a rather cheap narrative tool that breeds uncreative, stale, mediocre storylines. However, when the central theme of a work of fiction is redemption in the context of heaven and its righteousness, that could be written in an interesting way, especially if the very concept of redemption is deconstructed. And, for some time, the show seemed to be upping the game in terms of the seriousness of its narrative as it went on, yet failed to deliver on this.

There is a serious issue I have with the author's idea of what redemption means in the context of heaven's hegemony and how it reflects our world. There is a critique of this inequitable system in which "hell is forever", and so is heaven- once fallen there are no second chances, no turning back, and those graced can never do enough wrong to be punished for their misdeeds. And this critique is utterly toothless in my opinion, not in and of itself, but because the author tries to couple it with the possibility of getting redeemed. If redemption did not exist in the world of Hazbin Hotel, then the story's theme about Heaven and hell would make sense- there is a brutal system that punishes some for their misdeeds but does not punish mass murder and terror. A hypocritical and arbitrary system in which the powerful make sure that those in power stay in power through that false morality. They quite literally live in a gated community oblivious to the fact that they live in such bliss because there is an army in their midst that goes to commit purges onto the underclass, the sinful. But if you make redemption an actual thing, something a sinner can achieve, then all the fault is shifted onto the sinner. The problem is no longer the segregation, the mass murdering of the underclass, and the fact that eternal torment exists in the first place. No, the problem is that more people don't get their ticket to the Pearly Gates, the problem is that there is not enough social mobility, not the unjust system itself. Does this not remind you of the American dream? That if one just works hard enough they may be getting their seat at the table?

No one seems to be attacking Charlie's dream on this front-eternal torment itself is unjust, not just the annual exterminations- they are a culmination of this problem. Charlie's dream ultimately does not challenge the status quo-it affirms heaven and works within its confines. Who gets to say who gets to be redeemed, especially an entity that allows genocidal maniacs into their ranks?

And I don't think the show lacks merit entirely, but this tendency in Western fiction to use ideas of revolutionaries and then water them down so it is more palatable to a neolib audience is tiring and should be criticized more often.

[movietonight]

While there are things to criticise mash for and those conversations are important to have some of what I read can be explained very easily by reminding yourself

It was a TV show

On a budget

From years ago

From America

Written by a variety of human writers

Who used characters and plots to tell stories

Within a certain number of minutes

[quietwingsinthesky]

youtube stop recommending me that five hour long “fall of doctor who” video challenge. there is not a video i could be less interested in watching.

[shigayokagayama]

too scared of those weird ableists who term search personality disorders to accuse random disabled people of abuse apologism to make an indepth analysis post but like is this not a slightly modified version of the speech teru gives to mob in the black vinegar arc

[bigothteddies]

I think that part of what like. kills me about the whole media literacy and critical thinking aspect of enjoying media these days is that people refuse to like. contextualize that

A. Bad media can still hold significant meaning to people

B. Media made for a demographic you aren’t apart of is not inherently bad media

C. Media made for and consumed by the opposite demographic is not inherently shallow or flawed nor is it above criticism for its media tropes either.

[fitzrove]

Poll because I watched a youtube video and am an annoying elitist

[the-gayest-sky-kid]

aroace joy vs aroace loneliness fight

[s0fter-sin]

Thinking you shouldn't have to pay for Watcher content is you being entitled, actually.

did i ever say i shouldn’t have to pay for it? no, i said it’s disappointing that i would now have to after years of it being free. it would be easier to take if they were completely changing and upgrading their shows or established that the stream wouldn’t just have their current shows and maybe discontinued ones, that it would be different from their youtube channel and worth the sudden charge, but it’s hard not to feel like they’re throwing their audience under the bus

[falloutgirlboy]

i need to stop talking about five nights at freddys

[match-your-steps]

just read a review of the lego movie from 2014 and it is genuinely a horrible piece of literature and through perusing the comments underneath the review, I have gained an intense dislike of the reviewer. it's not even that I liked the lego movie and he didn't it's just that a lot of the stuff he says is factually incorrect, really stupid-sounding, or he doesn't provide any real reason, and in the comments, he reacts to even the friendliest and politest constructive criticism as if it's a personal attack on him.

[saturnsorbits]

Watching the newer episodes of MHA is just making me dislike Deku more…

If I was Bakugo I’d be fucking fuming he got OFA, too.

[takamoris]

Come play FFXIV with me. I promise I don’t bite… unless you want that.

[trimmedarmor]

doing the equivalent of gripping something intensely hard then forcing myself to let it go every time i see something about the stupid fandom drama i got pulled into earlier this year