#on loving problematic things

[thejakeformerlyknownasprince]

Actually, your answer makes a lot of sense, and has given me a new perspective on the issue of the #Problematic. Due to personal trauma, I've always been very wary of those who enjoy certain problematic media, because I assume that means they support it, which is clearly an assumption that I need to work on. Hadn't considered that I enjoy problematic stuff myself, and criticize it. Being aware of the problematic and not replicating that on Real Life is enough when dealing with fiction.

Anyway, thanks for a good dosis of self-awareness.

Yeah, it's a messy and complicated issue. Because I recognize that, for example, women who say "a guy who mentions on the first date that his favorite movies are Taxi Driver and American Psycho is sending up a red flag" are probably onto something. And I've had students tell me "the Joker from The Joker makes some really good points", and I've felt a prickling of discomfort at their words.

But. I love Fight Club. The movie is a darkly funny critique of the alienation of capitalist life. The book is a brilliant horror story, written by a gay man raised by a single mom who wanted to understand why "masculinity" is considered this fragile thing that must be defended with violence, as someone who was himself shut from qualifying for the precious "man card." I got hooked on horror from Fight Club, I've written imaginary-friend-as-boogeyman as a result of Fight Club, I cosplayed as Tyler Durden in high school, I drove an hour to see Chuck Palahniuk speak... and I'm only spending an entire paragraph defending my love for Fight Club because I know what it looks like and that fragile part of me is tempted even now to scream I'm not one of THOSE guys, I swear!

So, I think it's best to recognize that my opinions can make other people uncomfortable, and that other people aren't having opinions at me. Even the people who like James Bond or Gone with the Wind might do so out of ignorance, or willingness to forgive sexism because of good cinematography, and the best thing for it is just to disengage from the conversation and find other people to talk to.

Which is where the internet can be nice. I fully support blocking and muting people whose opinions make me uncomfortable. I support others blocking and muting me. In fact, my most-used reason for blocking someone is that I'm unsure whether or not I qualify for their DNI (do not interact) list. I can't tell if I'm a BNHA Apologist or not... guess I'd best not interact. I googled KL//Ance Shipper but nothing came up, and I might support KL and Ance's romance... guess I won't interact. So on. I never hear from them, they presumably never hear from me, and we're all so much happier than we would be if we got into a shouting match over Your Fave is Problematic.

[shepscapades]

This one was a freaking doozy. If I keep talking i think i may be in trouble

[tulliok]

Rare little MLP rant from me incoming. (I don't like talking about my opinions on the show too much.)

I'm getting really fed up with a "debate" that keeps popping up every month in MLP's online fandom regarding the character, Cozy Glow, and how the show ended her storyline. The discourse is specifically about if her actions and motivations warranted her being sentenced to what is the equivalent of capital punishment in a children's show. 

This shouldn't even be a conversation.? Why are fans so eager to subscribe to the show's logic that a child character is irredeemable and evil and deserves to be punished that way? Like, are these fans not seeing the issue with a children's show about friendship and redemption having a storyline like this in the first place? Especially in the season that is literally about a friendship school.

The entire concept is the problem. It's ok to admit that as a fan. Watching the show's protagonists gleefully punish a young child is distasteful. Reading threads and think pieces on why it's actually ok is gross.

I have so so so many issues with season 8-9 but I'm really only willing to talk about it if I am asked about it.

[disaster-j]

Can't fall asleep so I'll speak my truth

Yes bi Buck was meant to happen in s4 but it was CLEARLY BuckAlbert.

They were living together in what is basically a one room apartment with one bed. Chim tried to involve Albert in the unveiling of Buck's tragic backstory. Buck was unreasonably mad at Albert about the Veronica thing and no one, not even the viewers, could really understand it. If you compare that storyline with Buck, Bothered and Bewildered you will notice the obvious parallels to Veronica being an Eddie-esque red herring.

And don't even get me started on the Buckley-Han Dinner With The Parents.

Imagine how great it would've been. The two Buckleys with their Han men. The Buckley-Han family of five.

But then the fox execs decided to choose hate and said no so the writers had to let it go and make them say they were like brothers or something and that's how we got BuckTaylor end of s4 bc they'd run out of fresh options and she was around.

[petrowriting]

watching iwtv and the reveal that armand is not only south asian but is also confirmed to be indian and from delhi... finally, problematic gay desi representation !! just what we needed at this dire hour <3333

[the-moon-ate-my-stardust]

Okay literally no one asked but as a former Hobbit movie hater who has since experienced character growth, I feel compelled to share my thoughts on the movies on my gay little blog.

Listen. There are legit reasons to be critical of these movies. They were made on a rushed timeline, at time where CGI overuse was the thing and there are definitely unnecessary moments. But despite those issues, these movies still have a lot of heart and character and some really wonderful acting! To compare them to LOTR, is unfair I think because LOTR was such an unimaginable success and I truly believe no other movie franchise can do what those movies did. To expect the Hobbit movies to be the same caliber considering the behind the scenes drama and massive difference in timeline is just not it.

Truly I think that the Hobbit could have been much more than it was and it’s sad to see the amazing moments and realize that we could have had movies that were maybe closer to the level of LOTR, but that doesn’t take away from all of the great things that the movies gave us! Despite what he may be like irl, Martin Freeman was a great young Bilbo, Richard Armitage was insanely good as Thorin (despite the change in age) and the other dwarf actors brought a great sense of loyalty, brotherhood and shared loss to their roles. The music is still dope as hell and there are some beautiful shots despite all the CGI.

This is way too long and I’ve not said anything that hasn’t been said before but honestly, I’m so glad that I stopped hating on these movies and have seen the special things about them. Nothing will ever compare to LOTR, but that doesn’t make these movies bad. They’re fun, they’re emotional, they have great characterization and it’s super valid to enjoy them.

Final gay thoughts because I’m obligated, but I struggle with people who argue against Bagginshield with the whole “why does everyone have to make everything gay?” thing. Because Hollywood is so deeply homophobic that we see so little genuine queer representation, so forgive us for enjoying the chemistry we find and making it our own since our society gives us breadcrumbs. If you’re not into Bagginshield, totally legit and fine, but don’t hate on other people (especially queer people) trying to find some romantic love in media that we enjoy. Also no one can convince me that Richard Armitage wasn’t at least somewhat intentionally putting his queer energy into this role, I will die on this hill.

Anyway, TL;DR there’s no shame in liking or loving the Hobbit movies despite their faults and there are lots of things to appreciate and enjoy and I for one, am glad to leave my LOTR purist hater days behind me

[goingpheral]

I’ve seen a lot of people calling dnp the least problematic youtubers and I would just like to say: do NOT icarus us please we are filled with hubris and that never ends well so DO NOT accidentally manifest their downfall I am begging

[soraya-snape]

I don't know how many times I have heard a Marauders Stan tell me and other Snape Fans that we only like him because of Alan Rickman. Which is funny because they are the exact same people who only like the Marauders and also death eaters like Regulus because of their hot fancasts. And I don't even have a problem with it because yes Alan Rickman did play a part in me liking Snape and I believe you can like pretty much every fictional character because they are fictional. The difference is that I don't excuse Sev's behaviour because I think he looks good unlike these Marauders Stans.

[artbyblastweave]

Funniest thing I've seen recently, and not funny in a ha-ha way, more funny in a "the endless entropic void gnawing at my will to live" way, was somebody asking around for alternatives to Neil Gaiman, in the light of Neil Gaiman's ongoing fall from grace. As though what we're currently sitting through isn't the collapse of the carefully curated "Good Guy Neil" image that caused people to parade Gaiman as the same kind of preferred progressive alternative to, say, Rowling. As though we won't be in the same goddamn situation in a few years or months, with some number of the new progressive sci-fi/fantasy darlings- not all of them, to be clear, but at least some of them- when their impeccably-curated marketing implodes in on itself and they're revealed to be the same kind of sex pest or abuser. Can you not see the wheel to which you are strapped. The game of human pinball you are condemning yourself to with this mindset. Maybe you do see, and you're just resigned to taking it one soul-crushing disappointment at a time, one "I never would have guessed" after another. I mean I think we all need to get resigned to that one way or another, sun's gonna go out before it stops happening

[illithidactivities]

Rolan giving me what none of the real male options are giving me which is “grump who whimpers/moans into his partner’s mouth the first time they kiss bc he is so touch starved”

Gale comes close but his confidence and hubris and experience with a literal goddess isn’t the same as “I’m not sure if this man has ever even held hands with anyone before”

[inanshalla]

ppl attacking mythal as if solas is any better he used lavellan too (and by extension any inquisitor he had a friendship with)

he entered a relationship with lavellan KNOWING it was wrong from the start but did it anyway, his dialogue on the inquisitor wanting to pursue a relationship reflects this

he says “I’m not sure this is the best idea. It could lead to trouble”

if the inquisitor apologizes for kissing him he blurts out that she has nothing to apologize for or if she feels like she’s pressuring him after the kiss he says she isn’t at all he’s ‘perhaps’ just pressuring himself. He knows it’s wrong. Also his distance reflects that as well. He tries to pull away several times bc he knows it’s wrong and yeah he admits he was selfish for getting involved with her.

not saying he did it specifically to be a manipulative asshole I don’t think he’s some mustache twirling villain but in general one is less likely to see the faults in someone they are dating/in love with

just bc lavellan pursues him of her own volition (under false pretenses, mind you) doesn’t mean it’s less problematic especially because he’s being VERY vague about why it’s not the best idea to get romantically involved.

Also to add, the balcony scene that locks you in his romance, he’s talking about mythal but in so many words. He hasn’t seen the wisdom the inquisitor has since his experiences in the Fade… where he was a spirit and close to mythal.

“it would be kinder in the long run, losing you would be…” this man is talking about MYTHAL and her betrayal and death

it’s pretty obvious that he was seeing the inquisitor as mythal throughout inquisition if he has high approval/romance

[okwhatsgolngon]

fly high creloise 2024-2024 🕊

[oscargender]

Heartbreaking: “problematic” danmei everyone told you to avoid is actually pretty decent and has mildly interesting things to say about poverty and class

[razorsadness]

When other people I knew in grad school read Kathy Acker’s books they were shocked. Appalled. Particularly most of the budding young feminists. I actually began weeding out women friends by their reactions to her books. The ones that smiled and lowered their eyes with sly understanding and touched themselves, I kept. The ones that freaked out, well, they were idiots. Once I read a paragraph from Empire of the Senseless in my theory of gender class and one of the women began to cry and ran out and barfed. No shit. Pussy, I thought.

—Lidia Yuknavitch, from The Chronology of Water

[deadmothsketches]

Don't feed the plants.

[jellyfish-confetti]

“Welcome to Hell.”

I forgot to draw the red hood he wore in this scene so I might do another piece of fanart for this 👀 with the hood

Fanart from @strangersatellites' fic "trouble's always gonna find you, baby (but so am i)"

Here's the link! https://archiveofourown.org/works/51131758/chapters/129189571