#minstrel-mouse

[galaxycurious]

Some sketches from Ghost of a Tale. It was an unxepected gemstone for me. Got it on giveaway, decided to give it a try and fell in love <3 Pls, I need a sequel, need to know what happened to Merra and Silas and the whole uprising.

[sleepynegress]

While I'm On Claudia...

THIS storyline she's in right now? ...is yet another example of the show gleaning more depth than the original incarnations of the characters because of race.

Her role as Lulu is popular for the most part because of its minstrelsy elements, which were big in that day. Her large eyes, her dance routine, the exaggerated smile, her laying an egg like a cartoon bird and not a human, her schadenfreude and "death" as comedy... She is playing a live-staged minstrel cartoon character, many of whom in that era were modeled on exploitative caricatures of Blackness.... Including the original Mickey Mouse. Which makes her plight that much more tragic, beyond being frozen in girlhood. It's not even a true girlhood, but one mocked and marked by her color. It's brilliant, but I think it went over the heads of a lot of viewers.

[warcrimesimulator]

Old cartoon character Felix the Cat was intentionally designed based on minstrel plays, Disney's first mascot was inspired by Felix and the design choices carried over to Mickey Mouse. So yeah that is quite literally the origin for this entire style of character design.

[alanshemper]

jfc the emotional connection that people have to a racist minstrel show character. he's not the "people's mouse"; he was an entertainment product to sell to racist white Americans, who would have immediately recognized and appreciated the minstrel show references at the time.

If you desire hard proof of Mickey Mouse’s racist past, check out Steamboat Willie, his first popular cartoon short from 1928:

Throughout, Mickey and Minnie behave with the familiar “coonish” childishness of minstrel characters; they’re even dressed like them. The true umbilical connection, however, starts around 3:35. You’ll notice that when Mickey relies on the boat’s hook arm to grab Minnie from the shore and then unceremoniously drop her on the ship deck, sheet music flops out of her bag. But not just any sheet music; it’s a very specific song — “Turkey in the Straw,” the signature tune of Zip Coon, the co-founder of blackface minstrelsy. Even if you haven’t heard of him, Zip Coon inspired a song you definitely know: “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah,” a title phrase that comes directly from the chorus of “Turkey in the Straw” (“O zip a duden duden duden zip a duden day”).

June 2020

[princess-of-the-corner]

Oh Miraculous names/thoughts?

I am still pretty pleased with my Mouse!Chloe as Mademoiselle Millions!

Alt name for Tiger!Juleka or for Tiger!Chloe is Violet-Tigress as Violet flames are apparently the hottest flames. (Can also be mis-heard as Violent-Tigress)

Alt Mouse!Name that could apply to a few people is Legionary.

Always a big fan of Catastrophe, usually for Black Cat Chloe.

Fox!Chloe I was musing on recently could be Madame-Minstrel, or Vixen but that name is taken lol

Ladybug!Lila could chose Coleoptera but pronounced like Cleopatra.

Virago for any girl who is eager to just throw the fuck down.

Brunnhild or Shield Maiden for a potential Turtle User.

Chimera for way too many unification or a Prodigious User.

Oh, random aside, but Mei Shi also comes with a Miraculous Tool, they have the orb/ball as their melee weapon!

Can totally see it being made spiritual after a kick so it goes through objects and then turns solid again for a surprise hit XD

oh hell yeah

[damnaation]

Songbird

What use does a god of performance have for a lonely inn maid with no memory? Ao3 link

short gods au snippet with size difference/minor manhandling.

"I miss your singing."

She startled, looking up from the shelf of books she'd been studying—she hadn't realized Lord Juniper was there, having been alone at first, but there he was, leaning against the large desk in the middle of the library.

"What?" When had he heard her sing? She didn't remember any time she'd done it since coming here, but maybe she'd hummed something under her breath at some point? 

"You have a lovely voice." He smiled softly, straightening up to walk a few steps closer. "You seem shy about it, but I find it wonderful."

"You've heard me? When?" They asked, baffled. Surely they would remember singing in front of him. 

"Not since you've been here." His answer just raised more questions—when would he have heard them sing before bringing them here? They hadn't been one of his followers, and hadn't been one to perform in theater, either. 

... Had they, before? Before whatever incident had left them without memory on the doorstep of an inn? But if that were the case, why wouldn't he tell them about their past? 

"I've never done theater, when would you have heard me?"

His smile turned a bit wry, voice carrying the softest admonishment. "I'm not the god of theater, darling. I'm the god of performance."

Huffing under her breath, she rolled her eyes slightly in exasperation. "Fine. I'm not- I wasn't a bard or a minstrel."

"You didn't have to be. As long as there is an audience—just one will do." He grinned, as if he knew some secret she didn't. "And I am quite fond of ravens." 

That made her still—she had made a habit of singing little made-up songs under her breath to the animals around the inn. The old cat who slept near the fireplace and wouldn't know what to do with a mouse if it bit him on the nose, the visitors’ horses lodged in the little stable. The birds who would clamor outside for crumbs of bread, and sometimes chirp along with her singing. 

"You were there?"

"I am anywhere there is a performance, my little songbird." He murmured, tilting their head back to meet his gaze with a finger under their chin. "And as many grand halls as I've been in and thrilling scenes I've witnessed, yours may be my favorite."

Their face flushed hot, a little squeak their only response. How else were they supposed to react to a god saying he thought their silly little songs better than performances given to kings?

Was that why he'd kept her? A little pet to sing on command?

“I-I'd sing for you, if- if you wanted.” She stammered nervously. “Just- might not know very many songs.”

He hummed softly, brushing a strand of hair back behind her ear with a half-smile. “Whatever you choose will be lovely, my dear. But for now, I believe it's time for you to eat.”

Well, they were starting to get hungry. Not enough that they were really looking forward to dinner, but enough they could eat.

Before they could respond, though, he scooped them up with a wave of now-familiar vertigo, tucking them into the crook of his arm like a child. They gasped softly in surprise, and he paused to give them a brief glance, but when they didn't speak up he simply carried them out of the library without much circumstance. 

“You can return after dinner, if you would like.”

Not much of an assurance when he'd made a habit of picking them up and carrying them off without asking first. If they requested to be put down, he generally would, but they weren't sure how long his patience would last. It was easier to go along with his whims.

And at least singing was something she enjoyed.

“Okay.”

[highly-important]

I don't know how to feel about the new Doctor Who episode. This post is sort of a buzzkill. Spoilers

I feel like I am in this rut with Doctor Who where I really like the character, but I am just not that wild about the episodes.

My first big issue with this episode is I don't think Doctor Who is really good at handling race. I don't think the writers really understand racism. And Doctor Who as a series is never very critical of things like British imperialism or colonialism, or the fact that scientific racism was basically an invention of the British Empire. So, I think this really limits how the show can even really address these topics.

I'm not saying they needed to make a super serious or depressing episode, but that many of the choices they made could potentially contribute to the misinformation about a not-well understood period of history.

Even kind of minor stuff, like seeing two people of color be excited to arrive in 1950s America, just seemed off to me. I feel like I can't be the only one here.

But the one thing I want to talk about is Mr Ring-A-Ding.

The actual history of western animation closely ties to the legacy of minstrel shows and blackface. Minstrel shows, performed by white actors in blackface makeup, portrayed exaggerated and demeaning caricatures of black people for comedic effect.

And in the early 20th century, as animation rose as a new medium, creators drew from popular existing entertainment - including minstrel-shows. Many early cartoon characters like Felix the Cat, Bosko, and even Mickey Mouse borrowed heavily from minstrel iconography. The exaggerated lips, wide eyes, and dance movements mimicked the gestures of blackface performers.

Even much of the music, like ragtime and jazz, was drawn from African American culture, often without credit, and filtered through a racist lens.

And importantly, these portrayals actively shaped public perceptions of Blackness and normalized racism through humor and repetition.

And if you know this history, it changes how you perceive Mr. Ring-A-Ding. Mr. Ring-A-Ding draws a direct visual and stylistic line to these earlier animation characters like Bosko. But, Doctor Who tries to sidestep the troubling historical legacy that inspired characters like him. Mr Ring-A-Ding is just sort of treated like a whimsical throwback, outside of the history of minstrel shows and blackface.

And by presenting such a character without reckoning with the racial caricature at its root, Doctor Who unintentionally continues a tradition of eraser: aestheticizing minstrely while pretending its historical racism doesn't exist.

One of the themes in this episode is being two-dimensional (lacking depth) or three-dimensional. Belinda and the Doctor are flattened by their depiction on film, but by giving themselves depth they literally get depth and become three-dimensional again.

At a pivotal moment, Mr. Ring-A-Ding becomes three-dimensional by absorbing light from the Doctor. Whether it was intentional or not, I kind of can't ignore the imagery: a caricature rooted in racist blackface traditions is given depth and reality only through contact with a Black man's light - his authenticity and humanity.

I felt like there was almost a metaphor for how much of early animation exploited Black culture while stripping it of actual Black presence. It almost feels intentional. But without actual context or commentary it becomes sort of just an accident.

I don't know, I think it was all just a missed opportunity. I feel like the show has to decide if it wants to go there or not, and if it doesn't want to go there (or doesn't have the capacity) it shouldn't dip its toe in.

I similarly felt weird about the Rosa Parks episode (the real Montgomery bus protest was an intentional organized effort of the civil rights movement, but the episode makes it seem like it was an accident.) Another example is how this episode the way no one really cares that the Doctor and Belinda are sitting at the counter in a segregated diner (making it seem like segregation wasn't really a big deal or wasn't enforced through violence.)

These things just further erase the history of actual racism, something which is already not properly taught, and can contribute to audiences not actually understanding the history.

[amoebaforce]

I'm unsure if requests are open but if they are

Any odds you could do something with Urianger and the other scions comforting a WoL (who uses it/it's if that's fine, if not they/them works too) who has been brought to an emotional breaking point over missing G'raha Tia during ShB. Who, to the WoL's knowledge was nowhere to be found in the crystal tower, and is not in the first.

(Sorry if the phrasing with this is bad I'm not fully sure how else to phrase it. I think I should include here that it'd not be all the scions at once but like, if one of them specifically noticed.)

Sticking with Urianger for this one, anon. It deserves to be fleshed out and not tacked on with other Scions (but if you want those too, please ask).

tags: angst, G'raha x WoL shipping, gn!WoL word count: 780

Urianger can't sleep. No matter how tight he draws the curtains, no matter how far he buries himself under duvets and pillows, the ever-burning sky is just too bright. Groaning, he pushes himself up from his borrowed bed and blinks into the pale-gold clouds.

"Blasted Light," he mutters, slipping a dressing gown over his shoulders.

Urianger ties his robe and shoves his feet into a pair of slippers, then pads out into The Pendant's arched hallway. It must be past midnight, but a lonely violin melody floats up from somewhere below, slow and sweet as flowing honey. The song of a fellow night-owl, unwilling or unable to shut their eyes. Urianger sighs.

By the time he realizes his body is moving, it's too late to resist. He follows the sound down, down, called as if by sirens, until he finds its source: a single bard in an empty courtyard, taking advantage of the isolation to practice some sheet music. At the sight, Urianger is... oddly dissatisfied.

Why? he wonders. It's not like he was expecting anyone in particular. But as he turns to leave, a flash of movement catches the elezen's eye. Along the courtyard's farthest edge, tucked up on a bench, is none other than the Warrior of Light. Urianger freezes. Confusion stings at his senses, even stronger than the garish sky.

And once again, he's approaching before he can think. The Warrior perks up at the sound of his steps, shoulders stiffening as though they've been caught in some nefarious act. A pang of sympathy passes through Urianger's chest.

"I see you, too, are plagued by restlessness tonight," he offers slowly.

The Warrior's purple-ringed eyes shift to the empty space between their shoes. They gesture to the empty seat beside them. Urianger nods and settles in, and for a long moment, no one speaks. The bard plays the chorus twice, trying to correct some imperceptible flaw.

"This song," the Warrior says suddenly. "It reminds me of one back home."

Urianger hums. "Which one?"

"I don't know its name... I don't even remember the words. But I know the minstrels in Mor Dhona used to play it late at night, when it was just me and Raha-"

The Warrior pauses mid-word. Urianger steals a glance, only to find their eyes misty with tears.

"I'm sorry," they say. "I just... I miss him."

The Warrior's sorrow overflows, breaths hiccuping in their chest. Urianger freezes like a mouse in the shadow of a hawk. His heart stutters, sodden with guilt.

Godsdammit, why does he always end up here? Forced to lie, to double-cross and obfuscate in service of some grander plan, even when it hurts his friends. Why does it always have to be him?

Perhaps this is my burden, he thinks. Perhaps this is the cost of seeing ahead.

But that doesn't make it feel any better. Urianger knots his hands in his robe, hiding his whitening knuckles.

"Do not apologize," he replies. "We have all left much and more behind."

"I know," the Warrior sniffs. "It's just... G'raha said he'd be inside. I saw him go inside, but we've looked and looked for weeks, and he's nowhere."

"That does not mean that he has suffered any great misfortune. The tower is vast and esoteric; there are myriad places yet to explore."

But it is pointless, a crueler thought scolds. He has been here all along, right in front of you, and I am the reason you have not realized.

Urianger shakes the notion away.

"Gods, why is this happening?" the Warrior weeps, burying their head in their hands. "Why isn't it enough to be ripped away from home and deposited into this horrible place? Why did I have to lose him, too?"

"You have not."

"Yes, I have. Just like everything else I've ever loved."

"No," Urianger says, fiercer than he means to. "No. Once we have cleansed this benighted land and fulfilled our destiny here, we will find a way home, and you will see that not all is lost. I swear it to you."

The Warrior blinks at him, and Urianger fights the urge to wince. Has he said too much? Has his impulsive declaration invited questions he cannot answer?

But then, the Warrior wraps their arms around his shoulders and pulls, folding Urianger into a grateful embrace, and the elezen blows out a relieved sigh.

"Thanks, Urianger," they say. "You're right. As long as Raha is out there somewhere, I can't give up looking for him. I mean, what kind of hero does that?"

Urianger utters a half-hearted chuckle and pats them on the shoulder.

"No such hero as you are, my friend," he tells them.

[theforgottenmcrmy]

live reactions to house of the dragon season 2, episode 4

spoilers beneath the cut

Starting off with Ghost Hunter Daemon (TM pending)

More young Rhaenyra!!!

OMG

Nah is this HOTD or a f’ing psychological horror film?!?!

Just how long has Daemon been hanging out in Harrenhal?

Poor Oscar’s face at Daemon’s suggestion😂😂😂

Are we getting Bloody Ben this ep?👀

Rhaenys can see Corlys in Alyn’s face. 100%.

I can only hope Corlys’s affair happened before he was with Rhaenys. They truly seem to care for one another.

Funny how last Lord Velaryon goes from fully supporting Rhaenyra to referring to her as “that woman”.

SHIT, the stone dragon’s head falling off- freaking foreshadowing…

Alicent, idk if I’d be asking questions you’re not sure you want the answers to.

Alicent using moon tea after having her own affair with a the Captain of the King’s Guard. Young Alicent would be rolling in her grave.

Finally, Corlys get some control here.

See, Criston Cole could at least be referring to Rhaenyra as “Princess.” Calling her “the Whore of Dragonstone” so publically speaks volumes about his character.

“You’re not fit for the white cloak.” Lord Darklyn spitting out FACTS.

“Yours will come in kind.” DAMN RIGHT IT WILL. And it can’t come soon enough.

Cole avoiding Harrenhal because he knows who’s waiting for him there 🤭

“That castle is more crippled than I am, Your Grace.”😂😂😂

Aegon is definitely echoing Joffrey here, with wanting to know exactly what his council knows and has been up to.

Ooo, Aegon vs Aemond seeds here…

“The two of you have been plotting without my authority?” Yes.

Between last episode and Aemond speaking Valyrian here, they must be feasting👀

Aemond speaking Velyarian with ease, Aegon not so much…

Aegon’s a monster, don’t get me wrong, but objectively speaking, I have to feel for someone in his position. He’s an actual puppet. He didn’t want this, but they made him take it. And now that he has it, everyone’s trying to take the actual power from his hands. You almost have to pity him.

Bruh if Alicent is pregnant I stg…

Larys is such a creep, I cannot. Matthew Needham is so great.

What in the awkward love triangle is going on here…

I’m calling it right now, somehow, some way, Larys is going to play a role in Criston Cole’s death.

Alicent doing research to verify if Rhaenyra was telling her the truth😭😂

Some editor out there PLEASE use Alicent’s speech here about “the significance of Viserys’s intentions died with him” years from now, when the series is complete. It will hit so hard.

Like, I get Harrenhal is haunted and Daemon is being targeted, but I just find it a bit difficult to believe that he truly is just *hanging out* and getting haunted instead of more actively trying to meet with lords and get soldiers. In my opinion, i think the writers are asking a tad bit too much of the viewers here. Have Daemon make progress during the daytime, only to be haunted and have setbacks at night. We’ve been led to believe he hasn’t been able to actually accomplish much at all yet.

How’d he know she was a strong?😂

Alys is a cat playing with her trapped mouse Daemon.😂

Maybe Alys is really Larys’s daughter. They both have a knack for creating chaos and taking advantage of whatever situation they find themselves in.

Willem Blackwood?!?! As in the young boy who slayed the Bracken at Storm’s End during Rhaenyra’s tour all those years ago?!?!

Lmao, the Blackwoods hate the Brackens so much, they’re really out here asking Rhaenyra and Daemon to finish off the Brackens first and THEN they will pledge themselves to her cause.😂😂😂

Aegon, this is a small council meeting, not a minstrel gathering for your entertainment.

Lmao, the frat boy king’s guards shoulder checking each other.

Aegon: I’m the king.

Alicent: … OK? … and?!

Alicent trying some tough love parenting, too bad she’s about 10 years too late.

Ser Gwayne is really like “I did NOT sign up for this, wtf?🤨”

Goodness, episode is already more than halfway over and we’re just now seeing Rhaenyra😅

Jaceeee, that is your MOTHER. I’d mind your tone.

Good, we want the Rhaenyra who means business. 🔥

Rhaenys😭😭😭 I’m already tearing up and she’s only just volunteered to go to Rook’s Rest. I will not survive this.

Rhaenyra telling Jace about the Song of Ice and Fire 💔

PLEASE, Rhaenys’s head gear being reminiscent of tiara- stoppp.💔💔💔 QUEEN.

I’ll probably say this every episode, but the music always slays. ALWAYS.🖤

Chills. And we’re only just starting.

Vhaegar was like, “oh, not yet? Fine by me.”

Cole really should have pursued a career in public relations instead with that little speech.

Idk if I can even watch this, because of the dragons suffering… the visuals, the sounds. it’s too much. I don’t think I’ll be able to rewatch these parts again.

Aegon realizing he was caught in the collateral damage…

Noooo, Rhaenys, you could have fled😭💔

Lmao, all the ground fighting just stops to watch the dragons fight instead.

Night night Cole.

Rhaenys having a SECOND oppurunity to flee, and yet not doing so…

You can tell she knows how this ends😭

Rhaenys, going out like a true Dragonrider… just like her beloved daughter always wanted for herself.

It was very rough seeing the dragons go at each other, but I’m comforting myself with the fact that Meleys and Rhaenys went out with each other, and that neither had to truly outlive the other.

Cole seeing just how replaceable he truly is. It’s what you get. *middle finger*

Will Cole have a moment here? Maybe rethink a lot of his life’s decisions? Or will he learn nothing from his very close brush with death?

OMFG. I WILL NOT BE CONVINCED AEMOND WOULDN’T HAGE ENDED AEGON IF COLE HADN’T BEEN THERE…

Wow, Cole actually preventing a kinslaying. It’s been a longggg time since he’s gotten a point in the good column.

…

…

…

Overall, I’m honestly a bit distraught from the events. The battle was very well executed, don’t get me wrong, but also was extremely tough to watch/listen to.

And just life that, the season is halfway over already😭

“Bend the knee to ME, or your house burns” THAT’s why the trailer with that audible clip was so rough sounding…

Regent Aemond is coming… don’t get me wrong, he’s crazy, but he’s playing the long game. You have to give me points for that.

[laughingsour]

I’ve completed up to chapter 6 of Paper Mario: The thousand year door and I just have to know why is it that everyone is sleeping on the lore of the heroes of a thousand years back?

The ones whose story is told by the minstrel mouse in Rougeport?

I mean, just hearing their story as a fairytale made me excited and they sound like fully fleshed characters with flaws, pasts and strengths.

I wanna know their full story! How they interacted with each other, how they looked, how the world under the control of the demon was like and then can you imagine what it felt like to get cursed like they did? After all their trails they saved the world but despite their efforts they didn’t get a happy ending themselves.

Why is there no fanart or fanfics or something about them?

[nonbinary-weirdo]

Mickey Mouses Three Muskateers Hazbin cast:

Mickey - Alastor

Goofy - Pentious

Donald - Husk

Captain Pete - Adam (seriously imagine that tub of lard with wings sing "Peteys King of France")

Lieutenant Clarabelle - Vaggie

Princess Minnie - Charlie

Daisy Duck - Mimzy

Minstrel Turtle - Moxxie

Petes 3 minions - The Triple Vees

[nelliesnellie]

If this isn’t what ur doing with Mickey Mouse art I don’t wanna see it. If it’s not openly slanderous to Disney it just gives that shit show of a company more social power. Mickey himself is a byproduct of things like minstrel shows and ripping off Charlie Chaplain. Let’s not make that mouse cool and trendy mmkay pls thankssssss

[starcursa]

saw some old playthroughs of 'ghost of a tale' and decided i need to help the little mouse minstrel myself

[e5e5e5e5e5]

I think it's beautiful that Beatrix Potter seems to have slipped in to public domain with very little fanfare.

And Mickey Mouse entered public domain like a wrecking ball.

Fuck Mickey the Minstrel Mouse.

[readingtoinfinity]

DNF: Ghost of a Tale (Project NoBa24)

Set in a world where rats rule and the other species have to get by, a wandering minstrel (not that kind) named Tilo awakens in the cell of the rat king and must find his way out to reunite with his wife.

I have a soft spot for worldbuilding in the style of Redwall but especially Mouse Guard, and this game has no less of it. You're constantly aware of how small you are, with rats towering over you and even bigger creatures on the horizon. It's an intoxicating world to live in, and one I could spend hours on were it not for one tiny character flaw.

I find I don't really have the patience for stealth games in the style of Thief. If I had bothered to look at the game genres I would have been aware of what I would've just said "not for me" and moved on. I don't think I'll even leave a Steam review for this one, so short is my playtime with it.

I can't fault the game or its story, because I won't get that far into it. If you like stealth games, give it a play through. If you like little mice getting into big adventures, keep your head down and save when you're hidden.

Time played: 33 minutes

Next game: Psychonauts 2

[yungcrybby-anonymousbosch666]

i read somewhere, probably in a book about black face, that members of the african diaspora and continentals sometimes sound like we're singing when we talk.

why does it sound like we're singing when we talk? why do we have a melody in our diction? Instead of treating it like they do the Irish accent or Scottish they saw it as just another way to mock us, our hair, our skin, how we dress, everything.

that's why clowns are racist, they came out of that minstrel tradition. even the design of micky mouse and bugs bunny comes from minstrels. song like oh susanna, camptown races, etc, came from minstrel shows. the mark of black face is all over american culture.