#redrikki overthinks things

[redrikki]

Robb Stark is undoubtably Ned Stark’s son. They have a similar leadership style, both preferring to speak one-on-one with their vassals and underlings to listen to their thoughts and concerns before making decisions. They both have a bit of a temper, although Ned controls it better. They both follow the Old Gods and the old ways. They both prefer to do their own killing, leading from the front in battle and doing their own executions. Even their respective rises to power are similar They have so much in common, and yet nearly every major decision Robb makes over the course of the series is the exact opposite of one Ned made or contrary to his stated beliefs. In so many ways, Robb is the anti-Ned.

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[redrikki]

In Essos, they speak High Valyrian, nine different regional variants of Low Valyrian, Dothraki, Lhazareen, Qartheen, Old Ghiscari, and the “mongrel tongue” of Slavers Bay, among others. In Westeros, they speak Common.

From a Doylist perspective this makes sense. Martin isn’t Tolkien. He doesn’t have the same background or interest in linguistics.While Dany’s story in Essos has themes revolving around cultural clashes and cultural alienation with language issues playing a part of that, that’s not the story he’s trying to tell in Westeros. What’s more, as an English-speaking American, a continent-sized country where everyone speaks the same language probably feels normal, while a continent with dozens of city-states and peoples, each with its own language, feels foreign and exotic. Of course, “everyone” speaking English in the United States is not normal or natural (or even accurate), but rather the product of hundreds of years of conquest, expansion, and deliberate policy decisions. In this essay, I’m going to analyze Westeros’s history to theorize just how Common became so, well, common, and question just how common it actually is.

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[redrikki]

A while back I got into an argument with someone over whether or not the Westerosi hostage system worked. In retrospect, the whole thing was a bit silly as we kept using real-world historical examples. The problem is, Westeros isn’t real. It is “inspired” by history at best. In order to evaluate how functional (or not) the Westerosi hostage system is, we must study that instead of merely relying on real life history.

[redrikki]

I know JKR is the worst and we're all supposed to hate Harry Potter now, but I just saw a terrible Hogwarts sorting take so it's rant time. At the end of the day, Hogwarts houses are not about traits. They are about values. 

Each of the four founders had very distinct values. Gryffindor valued heroism and righteousness. Ravenclaw valued curiosity and knowledge for knowedge’s sake. Hufflepuff valued fairness and ensuring that everyone got an education while Slytherin valued power and ensuring that said power remained in the hands of a select few. They each selected students who either shared their values or would help them fulfill their goals. 

Harry, we’re told in his sorting scene, has plenty of courage and not a bad mind, either. He has enough of a thirst to prove himself that the hat specifically offers Slytherin, but Harry turns it down because that kind of power doesn’t appeal to him. That’s when the hat sticks him in Gryffindor.

His is the only sorting we actually get a behind-the-scenes on, but it does provide some insight into the process. The hat looks at his traits, mind courage, etc., but it also considers what Harry wants, not just in terms of his explicit wishes, but his deeper desires. Harry wants external validation, but not power, so Gryffindor it is. 

Keeping all that in mind, here’s my handy guide for deciding where to sort your characters:

Gryffindor: Wants external validation and to be seen as good or worthy, but does not particularly want power

Ravenclaw: Does not particularly care about external validation or power, but has strong drive for self development

Hufflepuff: Doesn’t particularly care about external validation or power, but has a strong drive to change the world around them

Slytherin: Wants external validation and to get or maintain power

[redrikki]

Chapters: 1/? Fandom: Cobra Kai (Web Series), Karate Kid (Movies) Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Johnny Lawrence & Sid Weinberg Characters: Sid Weinberg, Eli "Hawk" Moskowitz Additional Tags: Essays, Meta, Judaism, Jewish Character Summary:

Collection of meta analysis of Karate Kid and Cobra Kai

Chapter 1) Sid Weinberg, Eli Moskowitz and the problem of Jewish masculinity

[redrikki]

Sometimes I feel people don’t put enough thought into the world building of their soulmate AUs. It’s not just that old chestnut about how no one would just say hi in a world where everyone has their soulmates’ first words to them written somewhere on their body, there are just so many more issues than that. What does that mean in terms of predicting the future? Clearly if your body is born knowing the first words of your soulmate, then destiny, fate, and a predictable timeline are possible.

Are there cases of soulmate fraud? Like are there cases where people have obtained knowledge of someone’s soul words and said them to trick someone into a romantic relationship? Are their laws regarding that? What about marrying/being with your soulmate in general? Is it a protected class? What myths and ideas surround the entire concept?

[redrikki]

Teen Wolf’s on Hulu and I’m on a Teen Wolf kick.

Chapter 3 of my Teen Wolf Meta: Scott’s a True Alpha but WTF does that even mean?