#ma english

[astral-herald]

viktor, a messiah inverted.

arcane season 2 spoilers throughout.

I have a plethora of thoughts on Viktor's strictly season 2, act 1 arc so far and I'd like to get them down in writing before act 2 drops. without a clue about how this evolves in future acts, I'd like to unpack the ways in which arcane has painted Viktor not as a simple Christ-figure, but an inverted messianic figure in just 2 tight episodes.

important note: i'm speaking strictly in terms of literary/film analysis. as you'll see, i'm taking an archetypal angle and won't be evoking any true discussions of faith in this post. i would never want to offend anyone of any religious beliefs, and i hope the secondary source i bring in helps clarify my meaning <3

Lit scholar and professor Robert Detweiler, writing in a very old (1964) but useful article about Christ figures in American literature, defines 3 manifestations of such symbolism: the disguised biblical christ; the christ figure as "mythological archetype;" and the christ figure as a symbol. i'll be using the second definition, the archetype, which he defines as the following:

“He can be the redeemer on the supernatural level who mediates between God and man or the culture-bringer on the natural level who introduces people to a better life " (115).

*In general, when I'm talking about a Christ figure (which I'll then invert in Viktor's case), I mean a fictionalized account of Christ's experiences and teachings, in whatever way they can manifest in the corresponding literature/story.

Arcane is very heavy on archetypes, and this version of a Christ figure is the most divorced from any distinctly biblical iterations that would hinder an analysis like this one. This definition then invokes 2 main questions: who is the God, or the transcendent, in Arcane, and what is the "better life?" I argue the following: the transcendent would refer to the arcane itself, as it's the only larger than life force we have to work with at this point in the series; the "better life" is the healing Viktor is offering shimmer addicts. Culture-bringer makes Viktor into a bestower of the knowledge the he was "granted" from above (time away from Zaun, time spent enduring the Hexcore). His "descent" to the undercity represents a "mission" of spreading that knowledge and healing. All that, combined with a stunningly on the nose visual rework, he's got the full Jesus-Christ-Allegory package.

But I just don't think it's so black and white!

They've altered an otherwise one-for-one replication of traditional, overdone Christ, messianic allegories into an eerie perversion. I've broken that down into 6 main points...

An Unwilling Resurrection

As Viktor states very obliquely to Jayce, "I was supposed to die." 1x09 all but closes with Viktor telling Jayce to allow him to die by promising to destroy the Hexcore. With his time running out, Viktor resigns himself to his own death; he would even have something of a legacy, as pointed out by Heimerdinger.

But Jayce wrenches him back to life. Whereas a typical Christ figure, in Detweiler's view especially, would have this resurrection spring from a transcendent divine will, Viktor is fighting against said will. He rebukes the life that's been re-thrust upon him. So, while it may be a Christ-like resurrection on the surface, it's far from it in intent and impact.

A Concealed Crucifixion

Viktor's physical positioning is very similar to that of a figure nailed to a cross, sans the fully outstretched arms, in this full-body shot. Yet, whereas a Christ's figure's demise would most likely be displayed as a testament of that character's sacrifice, Jayce has concealed Viktor. He lets only his most trusted confidant, Mel, witness Viktor. Maybe Cait has seen him, too, based on her conversation with Jayce, but in general he's not been seen by a large audience.

The Empty Tomb

Christ's departure from the tomb after 3 days is crucial tenet of Christian belief -- Viktor leaving his cocoon/tomb is not joyous, nor is it a sign of transcendent prophecy. If the arcane is the transcendent in this case, Heimerdinger's frequent warnings about its potential for destruction do not promise anything good by its manifestation walking among the common people - a marked difference from a traditional Christ figure. The empty cavern he leaves is but an eerie revision of the stone being moved from the tomb's opening.

Blind Leading the Blind

Viktor is not on a divine-inspired mission; he's being manipulated to some degree by an entity that has invaded his psyche, taking the form of Sky. He's not piloting himself, nor is there a benevolent transcendent being guiding him toward spreading good will. Viktor is blind, not a teacher, and he leads the blind, the shimmer addicts, further into a darkness over which he has no control (yet! I'm confident he'll be regaining agency soon). Even his eyes, now without their old amber hue, point to the fact that he's not seeing nor living clearly right now.

Cultists. Not Disciples.

The blind in question are not called to love and learn from Viktor organically. Whether by implication or a plot device to expounded upon later, Viktor very frighteningly draws the shimmer addict (Huck) toward him and forces his power unto him. As far as we can tell now, the result was nothing bad, but the Sump addicts have bent their knees to him out of desperate fear, not benevolence or worship. The mercy he's extended them is inspired by the malevolent arcane, which seems hungry and commanding.

Enslavement to, Not Embodiment of, the Transcendent

While Viktor has consumed (or been consumed by?) the arcane, he still does not embody it. Despite aligning with Detweiler's "culture-bringer," Viktor can only maintain this for so long. His body is weakened by this episodic healing - he collapses after healing Huck the first time. And in the newly released poster, we can see what appears to be brown rust/rot beginning to corrupt his hand.

If Viktor truly embodied the transcendent, the arcane, it would mesh properly with his person. Instead, he's been enslaved to it. The degree to which it's currently affecting him may be up for debate, but all signs point to Viktor not being totally with us just yet.

In sum, Viktor has the superficial workings of a typical messianic symbol, but beneath the surface, the writers have made not an anti-Christ, but an upside-down version. If Viktor had malicious intent and spread what was outwardly harmful, especially inspiring that in others, then a new term may be necessary. But the tragedy involved in his story so far is that of attempted healing, attempted redemption, and attempted forgiveness all being corrupted by the transcendent arcane.

I'm very excited to see where they take his arc next. I like to think that this analysis can stand on its own, at least for now!

[milangakokoros]

(Latin Grandpa joke, if you not understand)

Think Shiryu, Think!

[yuukirita]

Shout out to all the non french speaking fans of Arcane that really like "Ma Meilleure Enemie" but can't sing it.

Sucks to be you- meanwhile I have a new hit to sing at Karaoke for Christmas this year C:

[pharawee]

Humans are complex, whether in life or in death.

—THE HIDDEN MOON · เดือนพราง · 7 September 2024

[thevegetablewhichnoonedaresname]

throwback tuesday to that time when i took one of the few large lecture hall classes i ever took in college, a class on pre-1500s English literature, and the professor (a balding man with a British accent who banned computers because, according to him, he once caught someone watching Shrek 2 on a laptop during the lecture and he was upset it wasn't Shrek 1) stopped in the middle of talking about Beowulf to a hundred students to ask ME SPECIFICALLY (in the back half of the room but not all the way at the back) if I was using my smartphone under the table, so I had to lift up my hands and show him that no, I was knitting because the class had a bunch of printouts so I didn't need to take notes but the man wouldn't let me play spider solitaire or scroll tumblr and I had to do SOMETHING with my hands, and he was like, "ah, weaving peace I see. it seems we have the peaceweaver in our class" and then just carried on with things

[alphacule]

Movie night!

42 Jake stop lookin at ur bf and watch the damn movie- HAL MOVE UR BIG HEAD DIRK CAN’T SEE

[dearlyjess]

the ideal monday morning

[mllenugget]

Iconic.

(English translation in alt)

────────────────────────────────────────── Support all the admins that spoke out (& do your daily click) ──────────────────────────────────────────

[clarity2electricboogaloo]

Okay so I wrote an English version of ma meilleure ennemie but like. It looks really weird at first glance

It’s not that good tbh I kinda have to sing it at a weird pace and idk

Idk I hope other people like it

Maybe I’ll post it sung out if anyone wants to hear how I’m imagining it 😭😭

If you wanna rewrite anything here or give me tips plsplspls do

I love you, I’ll wait for you x4

Nothing better has happened to me

But nothing worse has ever happened to me

Honestly, I think of that day we met and I wish

I could go back and stop everything (everything)

The worst of all blessings

My favorite malediction

I can’t stay, you’re an addiction

But as the saying goes:

“Don’t be alone, it’s better to accompany your foes”

You know what every-eee-one says

“Be close to your dearest friends”

But as for me?

I’ll stay closer to my enemies

But my best enemy is you

Run from me, the worst is you and me

If you’re still looking for my voice

Forget me, the worst is you and me

🎶.

Why does your name hurt to say?

It’s always there, hanging in empty space

What’s this feeling, maybe hate?

I still love you, still love the sound of your name

Always told you,

“Don’t worry what you didn’t do”

But decisions you made are always there

But my best enemy is you

Run from me, the worst is you and me

But my best enemy is you

Run from me, the worst is you and me

I love you, I’ll wait for you x8

[seawilde]

— cheryl marjorie blossom as the gothic heroine

i. chris baldick, "introduction" in the oxford book of gothic tales ii. diana wallace, "a woman's place" in women and the gothic iii. lucie armitt, "the gothic girl child" in women and the gothic v. fred botting, gothic v. diane long hoeveler, gothic feminism vi. donna heiland, gothic and gender v. eugenia c. delamotte, perils of the night: a feminist study of the nineteenth-century gothic vi. riverdale 1x05

[nimrahs]

Je t’aime, je t’attends

Je t’aime, je t’attends

Je t’aime, je t’attends

Je t’aime, je t’attends

Je t’aime, je t’attends

Je t’aime, je t’attends

Je t’aime, je t’attends

Je t’aime, je t’attends

[perpetuallyconfuzzled]

TFONE - Next time

"No, I did it for us" Orion is so glad that speaking before thinking is working in his favor for once because the sting of guilt that just shot through his spark at how surprised and touched Dee sounded was going to eat him up alive especially as he meets the other mech's hopeful optics. 

I am still kinda new at writing and I honestly had this one gathering dust for months but JUST got the time to clean it up to post (I was also chickening out constantly so JAAAAA;;;;;;;;;;) so here have my horrid little fluff(?) of Optimus making the biggest fumble in Cybertron's known history

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

The city was loud, louder than it had been in Primus knows how long, and then some, and Pax was going to take advantage of it to the fullest.

The day before had been hell on wheels, nothing really going according to plan and just going from bad to worse; He hadn't been able to check on Jazz again or face the rest of the team after what happened with Elita, especially knowing that, if he were given the choice, he would have done it again. 

But frag it! He wasn't here to remember that, he needed to clear his helm. After this was done, he would be able to face them all again with a head held up high, knowing their sparks would be soaring in hope. This was the day to show all of Cybertron who they were and that no matter if you were born with or without cogs, anyone can make a difference and change the faith of their people!

Orion navigated the crowd with relative ease, optic sharp as he looked around for the promised opening he KNEW would lead them to the arena "Come on, come ON" he looked over at Dee every once in a while, vaguely paying attention to his friend's rambling, probably something about the race and who he was hoping would win Dee hasn't stopped talking about it since they woke up.

"-and with Behemoth on the race you KNOW it will be AMAZING, they have been one of the toughest speeders in the last few cycles! With the redoubling of the mine shift I haven't been able to see much of him anymore but I am sure he'll easily make it to the top 10 or maybe even win-" Orion chuckled as they kept walking to the stadium, his friend was practically glowing with delight and sang Sentinel's praises between each step they took, thankful for the Prime rewarding them all for all their cycles of devotion and sacrifice. Orion walks and listens, and for a second he gets swept with the current, just happy to follow along with Dee until his eyes finally catch the opening he has been looking for.

BINGO

"I have a surprise for you"

"Wha- Where are you going? The stadium is that way!"

"Yeah, yeah I know... Follow me" Pax moves to the side, not needing to look back to make sure if Dee is following or not. No matter how much he grumbled or bemoaned his shenanigans Orion knew Dee was always a few steps behind him; besides, he was already occupied watching out for the turbines "Pull up!" The current throws him off for a second as he held on to the handles at the left of the tunnel, making sure his friend was able to hold on and stand back up once the coast was clear to continue "Get caught in one of those and it'd launch you halfway across the city"

"Okay? But where are you taking me?"

Orion can't hold back the mischievous smile that breaks out, Dee is going to FLIP when he sees it, he can't wait to see his face! "Don't be a glitch, this will be totally worth it! Trust me" and once he wins him over with this there is no way he can say no!

"Hey, you don't be a glitch!" Orion opened the grate at the top of the stairs, looking around and making sure the place was as unprotected and deserted as it always had been 'Perfect, no one is here!'

"I know this is fun for you like, joking around-" Pax holds in a chuckle as he steps aside for his friend, ooooh this was going to be great "but if you make me miss ANY part of the IACON 5000 I swear I will smelt your-" 

Primus, he finally noticed

"-face right off..." and he lost him, he wasn't sure if he should laugh at how dumbfounded Dee looked or pay any attention to the warm swelling of pride inside his chestplate knowing he made D-16 lose all his words. 

The more he stared outside the brighter his optics burned, like that of a sparkling exploring Iacon for the first time, he was mesmerized and the larger Dee's smile grew the harder it was to ignore the burning joy dancing around his spark, he was going to love his plan! "Look- LOOK! There's Thunderglide and BEHEMOTH"

Hearing the other's, usually more calm and otherwise sarcastic, tone morph into one so full of genuine happiness was amazing. He really liked it!

"This. Is. UNBELIEVABLE!"

He can't help but smile just as broadly as Dee, his joy was just so contagious! And how can he not when the mech sounds way too cute when excited... Would Dee kill him if he said that out loud-

"It feels like I'm in the race"

And he is IN femmes and gentlemechs, The bot is on our side!! Okay, it's now or never Pax, Dee has always been pretty emotionally driven so if he is in a great mood, there are close to no plans he won't participate in! He just has to give him the jetpack now and explain what to- 

"You did this... for me?"

I-

Oh

"No, I did it for us" Orion is so glad that speaking before thinking is working in his favor for once because the sting of guilt that just shot through his spark at how surprised and touched Dee sounded was going to eat him up alive especially as he meets the other mech's hopeful optics. 

Orion lifts his fist with (what he begs all primes ever created it to be) a relaxed reassuring smile as he hides away the light panic rattling inside his helm and Dee, ever trusting and ever loyal, meets his fist with his own, smiling with such a goofy, genuine, happy smile it was impossible to look away while his spark stabbed at him once more. That was the smile of someone who trusted him to not lie about this not being another scheme or another misadventure, of someone who just wanted to spend a well-deserved break with his best friend and watch something fun before heading back to work the next day, of someone who fully believes that even after everything there could never be any deception behind such a sincere (bordering on intimate!) act.

... but there was no lie, right? It really was for them, all of them, he wasn't exactly lying to him! This was for Dee to finally see himself as someone who should be able to be whatever they wanted to be and for all the miners to be free of their oppressive and brutal routines.

He'd see, they would all finally see that they are more than meets the eyes (and if a small voice that sounded eerily similar to Dee's whispered with a twinge of hurt 'You are a liar Orion Pax' he pays it no mind)

His mind quickly picks up on Sentinel's speech and he mumbles a soft curse (Frag, since when has he been there?) as he starts paying attention to the prime above them, he can worry about how Dee will or will not hate him later this was important! This was their only chance to show Iacon and Sentinel Prime that they could help out, that there had to be a way to let bots be more proactive with their own lives instead of having the miners waste away between the rubble and scraps of Energon.

Orion examines Dee one more time as the other stares at the Primes of old with reverence, his goofy bright smile replaced with a more solemn frown as if he were in the presence of the actual Thirteen. There is a fire on his optic Orion only sees whenever the other speaks about Megatronus Prime before going back to the spark of joy he had before, the mech really couldn't wait for the race to start and-  and for a moment Pax falters once more.... is he really going to do this? He knows Dee is always cleaning after him and saving his aft from every disaster he drags him to-

"Racers"

This is not the first time he has done something like this and it won't be the last-

"On your marks!"

Besides, Dee is going to love it! Once he is soaring into the skies and gets to meet that Behemoth or Thunderglider guy he would know it was a good plan!

"I can't believe we get to watch from the starting line-" 

This is for all of us, everyone is counting on them now, and there is no turning back.

"The best seats in the house-... why'd you bring jetpacks?"

He'll make it up to him next time. Definitely. Next race they'll sit back here and watch, no adventure, no trick, just the two of them like Dee wanted.

"Get set!"

Next race for sure, but not this one.

"It's time to show them, we are more than meets the eyes"

And those golden eyes grow dull again, the smile vanishes into a frown and for some reason, Pax feels his spark drop painfully when it does.

"Oh no"

It's not angry or sad, it's not even exasperated, he sounds... disappointed, almost defeated.

But it's alright, he'll make it up to him, 1000% 

Next time, promise.

But right now they have a race to win.

[astral-herald]

i’m going to start tagging my long rambles - so called “analysis” - as “lore,” so if you’d like to read, that’s where they’ll be :)

[pharawee]

—THE HIDDEN MOON · เดือนพราง · Episode 06

[its-alittleobsessed]

I want you guys to know that i write fanfiction with a synonym tab and translate tab opened 24/7

[ratatatastic]

Emotions are high and the vibes could not be better today!

"Pretty awesome. Lot of emotions. Feels pretty hefty but like, fuck we're Stanley Cup Champions!"

When asked who the Cup is for? No hesitation, the fans.

"They sponsor us. It's for them. It's for them. Like they deserve it, they've been waiting for it, like it's for them."

how do you endear yourself to the fans? i think chugging a brewski while they chant your name will do it! and also complimenting them that too oh what a darling

CBS News Miami | 6.25.24 (x)