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bwat5-blog · 26 days ago

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Beginners Guide To Making A Point: Arcane

**Spoilers For Arcane**

Good morning my friends. Have you or someone you know been victimized by one of the mean folks like myself ripping apart your takes on the show Arcane? Well today there is hope. I’m here to share the sinister secrets of our trade that allow us to commit such dastardly deeds. So the next time one of us comes knocking, you will be ready!

All too often, I see kind and gentle folks like you innocently trying to make statements like the ones below:

1. Caitlyn Kiramman murdered kids!

2. Caitlyn never showed any remorse!

3. Caitlyn lost her mom and acted like that was a justification for her crimes!

4. Caitlyn looked down and didn’t love Vi!

Now you aren’t doing anything wrong. Just sharing your take on this story and what happens. But then someone like me will come along and reblog with some snarky title and something like this:

1. There is no evidence of that whatsoever in any single moment of the show

2. I’d run down the various moments where she does show remorse

3. I’d list the long series of traumatic incidents that severely impact her mental state leading to her eventual fall into Ambessa’s clutches

4. Id explain that there are three moments and three moments only when she ever says a negative thing about Zaunites.

A- she calls the people who attacked the memorial animals immediately afterward. And lets be clear, they were.

B- She says Vi and Jinx share blood during her lowest and darkest moment.

C- She says something regarding the depravity of Zaun or something when talking to Singed after the Stillwater massacre. Of course I’d use the whole quote.

Then I would point out that she saved Vi’s life twice, spared Jinx after all she’d done to Cait in season 1 because Vi asked her to, started a war by trying to save Vander, and gave Vi the choice to free Jinx knowing full well Vi may leave and never return.

And you’d have a bunch of mean comments that hurt your feelings and people making fun of you and so on. But! I’m gonna show you how I do it and help you make your next case in a way people like me can’t attack. First we need to discuss one very simple rule

If you can’t back it up with content, it didn’t happen:

Now this one sounds simple. But it can be tricky to master. Let me give you an example-

Example: “Caitlyn murdered innocent Zaunites with The Grey!”

Okay. Now I know in your mind you see this and think, “well yea? I mean we saw the sketches of people who grew up surrounded by it their whole lives having problems. And Jayce suggests Viktor’s condition may have been caused by it. She exposed people to it that means she killed them”.

There is not in a single second of any frame, evidence that anyone died from exposure during the strike team’s operations. In fact we see several characters who were exposed, Caitlyn included, who are fine later. And I know, what you are thinking:

“But OP we don’t know if there were long term latent complications!”

Correct. And unless Riot and Fortiche tell us we never will. Vi could have CTE, Jinx could have untold issues from being infused with Shimmer, Sevika could have lung cancer. It’s all speculative. So if it didn’t happen, it isn’t good for analysis.

Going a tad bit deeper

Now this one does go even further. Let’s use this example:

Example- “Caitlyn never apologized!”

Now I see this one a lot. And I get it. She never says sorry out loud. So if you misunderstand the rule that means she doesn’t. But you notice it says “if you can’t back it up with the content”.

So while Caitlyn never speaks the words, we know she :

1. starts a war to save Vander

2. takes no action when Jinx has her back to her and instead rushes to save a wounded Vi

3. keeps Jinx in the Kiramman bunker rather than Stillwater and forgoes judgement until Vi wakes

4. has several bits of dialogue expressing her regret and self-hate

5. lets Vi make the choice to free Jinx, shows Vi love and acceptance when she feels she lost everyone

6. is quite clearly remorseful touching the place where she hit Vi.

These are quite clear signs of her remorse. So what does that mean? It means that even if it isn’t explicitly shown I can back it up with clear examples that are content driven. None of that is speculative. It is all clear and on screen.

And some of these are harder, like this one:

“Ekko clearly didn’t dispute the use of The Grey”:

We didn’t see Ekko. We didn’t hear from him during the strike team’s mission about what they were doing. So how can I say that?

1. We know he was in Zaun

2. He’s the firelight commander and has been battling Silco/shimmer for years for his people

3. He fights for the people of Zaun

These are all indisputable. And I can source each of these details directly from content. So sometimes you have to dig alittle deeper. But you can still support your ideas with plain on screen evidence.

*An Important Note*

We must also be careful not only to be sure we only use detail we can back up, but that we don’t exclude detail that does not support us. A great example for this is this one:

EXAMPLE: Caitlyn lost her mom and acts like that single loss justifies a full on dictatorship.

Now someone like me would come along and list the multiple times Jinx almost killed Caitlyn, the total eradication of Caitlyn’s faith in the pre-existing system after Marcus tried to murder her, the deaths of many of her peers in front of her, her abduction and possible torture at Jinx’s hands, listening to Jinx try and convince Vi to murder her, sparing Jinx at Vi’s pleading then watching Jinx murder her mother.

Now I’ve come and used all those details you left out and made you look silly. No one wants that! So be sure to include everything relevant. If its a good take it will survive it.

Conclusion:

So, using this guide hopefully you can craft your next analysis with the detail and content and avoid interactions with unpleasant folks like me. Just remember! Let’s leave the imagination in fanfics and keep the analysis to the content itself. Don’t worry though, if you lose track I’m here to help you out.

#arcane #vi arcane #caitlyn kiramman #jinx arcane #caitvi #arcane season 2 spoilers #arcane season 1 #vi and jinx

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amadeus-lmao · 2 years ago

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NEW FAN THEORY ABOUT THE BEGINNER'S GUIDE:

Coda was autistic and Davey was super allistic and condescending and not respecting Coda's boundaries and barely seeing them as a person and instead as a "project" to fix

#the beginner's guide #the beginner's guide spoilers #davey Wreden #coda

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bunnyluvx · 11 months ago

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hsr characters and their love languages! ♡

featuring: natasha, welt yang, asta & sampo x gn!reader.

summary: hsr characters and their favorite love language with their partner! <3

warnings: spoilers about natasha if you are a beginner, and spoilers about welt yang.

a/n: hi there everybody!! this is my first official work here on tumblr and to say that i am nervous is such an understatement bc I AM SO SCARED HAHAHA. please be mindful throughout this post that i am not caught up with the game, and am not completely knowledgeable about hi3 or hsr lore. i'm pretty confident that almost all of the characters are in-character, sampo is really the only one i'm unsure of, so apologies in advance. i wanted to give natasha a break bc man she deserves one udbfoein. not proofread btw so have mercy on me for grammatical errors. i may or may not make different parts of this or make platonic/familial versions of how the characters would show their love for their friends/family, so if anyone is interested in that, please let me know!! this is also my first time doing a post like this so please be kind. ;; i'm excited to hopefully make new friends from this!! enjoy all of the fluff! <3

date started: 7:38PM, april 6th, 2024. date finished: 1:56AM. april 8th, 2024.

wc: 2.2k

natasha ♡ quality time.

natasha is always up on her feet, tirelessly working to tend to her patients and taking care of any necessities around the underworld. it is very rare that this woman is able to get a moment's rest, and as the leader of wildfire, she feels as though she cannot show weakness. she has to set an example for all of the children that she takes care of, and all of the underworld's citizens. if she falters, then they will start to worry and panic. she cannot have that. as stressful as her day-to-day life can be, she is incredibly grateful that she is able to help so many people. she loves to tend to the sick and carry out her duties so that she can guide her people to a better future.

however, when it comes to you, she feels as though she can let her guard down, when all of the children are asleep, and all of her duties for the day are done. she flops down onto your shared bed and softly sighs. you would lay by her side, her eyes closed, but she is content knowing that you are close to her. the nights that the two of you spend together are the nights where she feels most at peace. they are one of the moments that she holds of most importance, for they are the moments where she remembers that she is just oh so lucky to have you. whether if it's snuggling in bed together, which she thoroughly enjoys because she gets to snuggle up into your chest and relax, or sharing a meal, what is most important to her is that it is your time together to spend however you wish.

she feels like she can breathe with you near her; you soothe her in ways that no ordinary person could. there is something about your presence that causes every muscle in her body to ease, and she cannot help but smile whenever she sees you. there isn't much time for date nights given her positions, and you working alongside oleg as acting leader surely makes everything much harder, but you two try to make time for nice outings whenever you can because you both love going out to do things together.

to her, it doesn't even matter if you go out to do something. even if the two of you aren't doing anything together. she is just happy with you reading next to her while she's practicing stitching up her teddy bear. or when she's reading through paperwork and you're reorganizing some of the shelves and drawers around the clinic. being in your presence is all she needs in order to feel loved by you.

welt yang ♡ acts of service.

admittedly, welt is quite the romantic. there has always been a part of him that has been fond of the idea of finding someone right for him in this dimension. he never really made a priority for it, he never actively seeked out a partner. it has always been something that every once in a while, he would think of and smile about. it is a very small, personal part of him, but part of him nevertheless. and it blossomed to life when he met you. the part of him that wanted a person to spoil, to care for and to make their every wish came true really came to light.

anytime you say you want or need something, you better believe that he offers to grab it for you. not to say that he doesn't believe that you aren't capable of doing things for yourself; he just likes offering and if you accept, taking out those tasks for you. you want a drink or something to eat? what would you like? he'll get it for you. you're about to enter/exit any building? he's rushing ahead of you to open the door for you. something hurts? where? he'll give you a massage. your room is dirty and you need to clean it? with your permission, he will clean and organize it for you just the way you like it. he'll make sure to put things where he knows you're going to remember them too. you've been feeling down recently? he puts sticky-notes on the bathroom mirror for you to remind you how wonderful you are and how much he loves you. and it is guaranteed that when you are dating welt, that he has drawings in his sketchbook filled with you. he loves every single detail of you, and wants to commit them all to memory. he even made characters for one of his personal animation projects based off of you and him. when he showed them to you to see your reaction, and to gain your approval to have them in the first place, you were smitten and he received many, many kisses to the face.

welt absolutely worships the ground that you walk on. wherever you are, he always makes sure that you are comfortable, happy, healthy and safe. he does everything in his power to take care of you, even though he knows that you are perfectly capable of taking care of yourself. he firmly believes in "actions speak louder than words". he likes to show his dedication and love for you through his actions. he reminds you every single day through his actions just why you fell for him, and he reminds you everyday how much he loves you. he will continue to do so, until the multiverse falls apart.

asta ♡ words of affirmation.

originally i was going to say that her love language is gift giving, seeing as she has so much money, she wants to be able to give as much as she can. she gives money to the space station to help with repairs, so why wouldn't she want to spoil the heck out of you?! however, upon taking a little peak at her lore, she is actually insecure about her riches. i feel as though she wouldn't want you to think that she's some snobby bigshot just because she has a wealthy family, so while she would get gifts for you, she would worry about what exactly she got and how much of it costed, and what you would possibly think of her if you got something that was deemed "too expensive" by society. she doesn't want you to think less of her. so, after looking at the five primary love languages, my next thought was words of affirmation.

asta seems like the type of girlfriend to enjoy both receiving and giving reassurance, kind words and compliments. in her times of stress, what she really needs is for you to put your hand on her shoulder and tell her that she'll figure everything out and that it will be okay. she looks to you with worried eyes, placing her hand over yours. she wouldn't say a word, her eyes tell you what she wants to say. "how can you be so sure? what if i don't figure this out? what if i get kicked off of the space station? what if-" a thousand thoughts run through her head at all times, and when she's stressed, the volume cranks up to one-hundred. it is only with you telling her that it'll be alright, and that you will be by her side the entire time that she is able to feel more at ease. your words mean everything to her.

she also loves to give reassurance. when you are feeling worried or anxious, she is quick to hop in and listen to whatever may be troubling you. she always tells you that it will all work out, and that she is always going to be there for you. she will never leave your side, she says, and she loves you with every ounce of her heart. she also wraps you up in compliments; when you change up your appearance somehow, whether if it's from clothes, hair, make-up or other changes, she will always point it out to you and tell you that she thinks that you are the most beautiful person in the whole world. or, when the two of you are laying together at night, she will tell you just how good of a heart you have. she will tell you how proud she is of you and of the progress that you have made since she first met you. she will tell you just how enthralled she is with you, and how you make her heart want to squeeze and stop in her chest. she will tell you exactly how she feels about you, and it is overwhelmingly lovely, because you know that every word she speaks, she means it from the bottom of her heart. and in turn, you try your best to do the same when you can. she is always grateful to hear your words of praise and adoration for her, even if it's something small. a simple "i'm here for you" will make her happy, because she knows that you mean what you say. gosh, she just loves you so much that she doesn't know how to handle it. your love is genuine, true and real, and speaking of that love to each other makes asta feel like she's floating in a cloud's soft embrace.

sampo koski ♡ gift receiving.

when it comes to showing his affection for you, he is always buying you things whenever he can. jumping from job to job all of the time can lead to strain with his finances, but he is able to make good money often enough to the point where he is able to buy nice gifts for you. he has become used to taking things from people without thinking twice, so when you first started dating, he gave you stolen things. buuuttt you were very unhappy about it; not because of the gift itself, but because of the fact that he stole it. so you told him very firmly that you would not accept anything that he stole. he respected your wishes, of course, and started to buy you things ethically.

receiving gifts became a regular thing for you. sampo would come home after a long day of working around belobog, hand you whatever little trinket he managed to get his handa on and say, "for you, baby~". you are always grateful for everything that he gives you, and one day, you thought to return the favor. so, while you were out and about one day, you saw a really cute pin of a puppy. when you saw it, it automatically made you think of sampo. so, you bought it, and planned to give it to him when he came home that night.

when nighttime rolled around, he busted the doors open and called, "HONEYYY, IIIII'M HOOOOOOME!!~" in a silly way before laughing to himself and taking his shoes off. you rush up to him, the man opening his arms for you as you hop up to hug him. you share a kiss, then move back out of his arms with a little grin on your face. he noticed the look and asked what was up, then you told him that you had a gift for him. he was caught off-guard, admittedly, as he didn't expect such a pleasant surprise. he tried to act humbly at first, telling you that you didn't need to do that for lil ol' sampo! he's the one that supposed to be spoiling you, after all! but you shut that down immediately and insisted that he takes your gift. he couldn't say no to how excited you looked to give him something, he asked what it was, and you told him to close his eyes. he did, and when he opened them, there it was! in your hands was the cutest little puppy pin he has ever seen in his life.

he took a moment to speak or move as his usual cocky attitude melted away. his eyes became glossy and his lip started to tremble. he was so touched by the fact that you were thinking of him so much that you got him a gift. you asked if he was okay, as he never cried around you before, and he quickly wiped his nose and eyes on his sleeve and sniffled. he assured you that he was okay before taking the pin from you and cooing about how cute it was. seriously, it was so freaking adorable, how did you even get your hands on this??? he asked why you chose it for him, and when you told him that it looked like him, he caved and gave you a bone-crushing hug. his sobs were quiet and he sniffled. the idea of you seeing such an adorable little treasure and thinking that you wanted, no, you needed to get it for him just makes his heart crumble in the best way possible. needless to say, he wears that pin everywhere he goes and never takes it off. it is on him at all times, as are all of the other wearable gifts that you got for him after that. he cherishes every single thing that you give him, and he wants to be able to show you that no matter how big or small it is, he will love it forever. just as he will love you.

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alsmediadissection · 2 months ago

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˗ˏˋ wicked symbolism for beginners ´ˎ˗

!! i want to preface this by saying i'm not a professional critic, and this is not a guide to anything either. do not take anything i type online to absolute heart, this is simply my personal interpretation of this piece of media !! (i also want to mention that i did not read the Wicked novel/series by Gregory Maguire)

! CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR ACT 2 IF YOU HAVE NOT WATCHED THE WHOLE MUSICAL !

so anyways, to begin!

many people are now recently stumbling upon the new movie adaptation of Wicked ; the musical. This is amazing knowing how many new fans this can bring to appreciate musical theatre! however it's important to understand the messages of Wicked, whether they are obvious or not.

˗ˏˋ ELPHABA ´ˎ˗

I would first like to start this off with the obvious main character Elphaba. Elphaba Groff is known an the wicked witch of the west due to the fact that she was ostracized by the Wizard of Oz after she found out that he is the one behind the laws regarding the discrimination of animals.

Elphaba's story starts as early as from the moment her mother cheated on her father. It is believed that Elphaba's skin is green due to the green elixir that her mother drank whilst she was sleeping with Elpaiba's father. Since the day Elphaba was conceived, it was already predestined that her father would eventually resent her. Whether it was the fact that she was another man's baby (not saying that it's her fault, but as we noticed Elphaba's father isn't necessarily the most loving and accepting father...) or the fact that her skin was green.

Anyhow, Elphaba's skin is firstly a symbolism for 'Otherness and Alianation'. From birth, Elphaba faces rejection and prejudice, even from her own father, making her green skin a constant reminder of her perceived inferiority and unacceptability. Elphaba’s green skin marks her as visibly different from everyone else in Oz. This physical distinction mirrors how marginalized communities are often judged and excluded based on superficial traits such as skin color, ethnicity, or cultural background.

Her green skin is also a metaphor for racism and prejudice. The discrimination Elphaba experiences parallels the experiences of individuals subjected to racism. Society in Oz does not see past her skin color, and she is reduced to stereotypes and assumptions about her character based on her appearance. Her treatment reflects systemic biases, with individuals and institutions in Oz upholding a hierarchy that devalues those who are different. (If you want to argue that Madame Morrible didn't treat her differently though, by the end of Act 1 Madame Morrible turns on Elphiba the second she cannot manipulate her anymore). Elphaba’s story critiques a society that values appearance over substance. Despite her intelligence, kindness, and strong moral compass, she is judged solely based on her skin color. This critique calls for audiences to look beyond surface-level attributes and value people for their character and actions.

Elphaba's character is a good representation of internalized shame turned into empowerment. Initially, Elphaba struggles with the stigma of her green skin, internalizing the shame imposed upon her by society. This represents the internalized oppression that many marginalized people face when subjected to constant discrimination. Over time, Elphaba learns to embrace her uniqueness and channel it into defiance against societal norms, transforming her green skin from a source of shame into a symbol of strength and rebellion, hence her title of "Wicked Witch of The West".

However, besides the messages regarding racism and prejudice, Elphaba's green skin can be a symbolism for environmental and political themes as well. The color green may also evoke themes of environmentalism and natural beauty. Elphaba’s alignment with nature and her opposition to industrial and political corruption in Oz reflect her role as a force for justice and harmony. Her green skin can symbolize the natural world fighting back against exploitation and greed.

Even the title, 'Wicked Witch" is a symbolism and can be used as a critique of Modern Society. In the original Wizard of Oz, the Wicked Witch of the West is defined by her green skin and evil demeanor. Wicked subverts this narrative, showing that her “wickedness” is a label imposed by a prejudiced society. Her green skin thus becomes a symbol of how society vilifies those who challenge its norms and refuse to conform. The title of "Wicked Witch' is a similar meaning as to how we call people who speak out "crazy' and 'divas' etc.

In essence, Elphaba’s green skin is not just a physical trait but a multifaceted symbol that encapsulates themes of discrimination, empowerment, and societal critique. It challenges audiences to question their own biases and reflect on the ways society marginalizes those who are different.

˗ˏˋ GALINDA/GLINDA ´ˎ˗

Glinda Upland, also known as Glinda the Good, and formerly referred to as Galinda is the deuteragonist in the Broadway musical, Wicked. Glinda is obviously a very bubbly, perky, and popular girl. She is basically the embodiment of privileged and one may argue, bratty, girl.

Glinda's growth in Wicked is significant because it represents the complexity of privilege, the potential for personal transformation, and the importance of allyship in the fight against systemic injustice. Her character arc provides a nuanced exploration of how individuals in positions of power or societal favour can evolve to confront their own biases and contribute meaningfully to change.

It is firstly important to note Glinda's growth throughout the musical. At the beginning of Wicked, Glinda is preoccupied with appearances, social status, and popularity. She see's herself as 'good' whilst being shallow. Her desire to be admired blinds her to the deeper injustices and struggles faced by others, including Elphaba. She often prioritizes self-interest and conformity over doing what is right.Over time, Glinda’s experiences with Elphaba challenge her worldview. Her exposure to Elphaba’s resilience, integrity, and passion forces Glinda to see beyond her superficial concerns and recognize the depth of her own moral responsibilities.

It is important to note that Glinda is also a good character to note when it comes to a study of privilege. Glinda’s privilege is a central theme in her growth. She initially benefits from a system that favors her beauty, charm, and alignment with societal expectations. Her privilege shields her from the discrimination and hardships Elphaba faces. Her transformation involves becoming aware of this privilege and choosing to use her influence for good. By the end of the musical, Glinda seeks to enact change within the system rather than merely enjoy its benefits, symbolizing the importance of using privilege to uplift others.

However shallow Glinda may seem, she can also be redeemed through allyship. Although Glinda initially fails Elphaba by prioritizing her own ambitions (Defying Gravity) , her growth is marked by her eventual commitment to Elphaba’s legacy and ideals. Glinda’s decision to stay in Oz and work toward systemic reform, even after losing Elphaba, shows her dedication to making amends and standing up for what is right. Her arc highlights the importance of allyship need for individuals in positions of power to listen, learn, and act in support of marginalized voices.

Glinda is as well a complex and redeemable character due to the burden of complicity. In modern society, it is often seen how the privileged understand the injustices that happen around them and yet they do nothing about it. Glinda’s journey also reflects the emotional weight of complicity. Her role in propping up the Wizard’s regime and the injustices against Elphaba weighs heavily on her as she grows more aware of her own failures. Her decision to confront the Wizard’s legacy and strive for justice serves as a redemptive act, demonstrating that growth often involves acknowledging and addressing one’s past mistakes.

Even though Glinda's dynamic and character change happened due to her friendship with Elphaba, it is still important to note how friendship and empathy can be catalysts for personal growth and change. Glinda’s relationship with Elphaba is central to her transformation. Despite their differences, their bond forces Glinda to confront her own assumptions and prejudices. Elphaba’s unwavering integrity inspires Glinda to reexamine her priorities and become a more empathetic and principled person. The complexity of their friendship underscores the transformative power of genuine connection and understanding across societal divides.

In the begging of Wicked, we see Glinda as a perfect character, or rather a character who believes they are perfect. However, by the end of Wicked, Glinda can be viewed as a symbol for hope and imperfect progress. By the end of Wicked, Glinda is not portrayed as flawless but as someone who is actively working to be better. Her journey reflects the idea that growth is an ongoing process, and even those who have made mistakes can contribute meaningfully to positive change. Glinda’s decision to stay in Oz and assume the mantle of leadership offers a hopeful vision for reform, suggesting that systems of power can be challenged and reshaped from within.

Glinda’s growth in Wicked is a testament to the power of introspection, empathy, and courage. Her transformation from a superficial socialite to a principled leader highlights the complexities of privilege and the potential for change. By embracing her flaws and striving to do better, Glinda becomes a symbol of hope, reminding audiences that growth and redemption are possible for anyone willing to confront their biases and take responsibility for their actions.

˗ˏˋ FIYERO ´ˎ˗

Fiyero’s character in Wicked is rich in symbolism, representing themes of privilege, transformation, and the courage to break free from societal expectations. Though him and Glinda are very similar characters, it's important to note that Fiyero is aware of the societal injustices. His journey from a carefree, superficial individual to someone who embraces responsibility and deeper truths reflects broader societal struggles with ignorance, authenticity, and the quest for meaning. It's infact refreshing to see privileged and shallow people being held accountable and infact changing for the better.

Fiyero is actively the obvious symbolism for superficiality and priviledge, even more so than Glinda. At the beginning of the musical, Fiyero embodies privilege and detachment. His carefree attitude, encapsulated in the song “Dancing Through Life,” symbolizes the unchallenged ease that comes with societal privilege. Lines like “Life is painless / For the brainless” reflect his belief that avoiding deeper thought and responsibility leads to happiness. His song is quite literally about how it is infact better to stay ignorant about life. Fiyero’s initial persona critiques the way privilege often allows individuals to remain ignorant of societal injustices, choosing comfort over confrontation.

Though Fiyero's ignorance is real to some degree, it is also used as a mask, his own personal mask of carelessness. Fiyero’s superficial charm and detachment act as a mask, hiding his inner dissatisfaction with the shallow life he leads. His eventual willingness to shed this mask symbolizes the journey toward self-awareness and authenticity, representing the courage to confront uncomfortable truths about oneself and the world.

He's as well a good figure for representation of the 'if he wanted to, he would' due to his transformation through love. Fiyero’s relationship with Elphaba acts as a catalyst for his transformation. Her passion, integrity, and strength inspire him to question his values and take action. Fiyero’s love for Elphaba symbolizes the rejection of societal expectations and superficial judgments. By choosing to align himself with her, he embraces vulnerability and authenticity, defying the norms of Ozian society. Elphaba is a standing symbol of the defiance of societal norms.

Fiyero as well is a character which symbolizes sacrifice. Fiyero’s willingness to risk his life for Elphaba demonstrates his complete transformation from self-centered to selfless. His arc symbolizes the idea that true love and integrity often require personal sacrifice. His transformation into the Scarecrow also serves as a metaphor for resilience and reinvention. Fiyero’s eventual rebellion against the Wizard’s regime and his support of Elphaba symbolize the power of personal freedom and defiance in the face of oppression.

More importantly, his song "Dancing Through Life" is a reflection of societal values. The song “Dancing Through Life” is not only an expression of Fiyero’s initial mindset but also a critique of societal tendencies to prioritize pleasure and ease over substance and responsibility. I think it's important to note as well how up beat his song is. His song is upbeat to add to the message of tricking you into thinking how much better life can be as long as you are ignorant, how not 'doomy and gloomy' life is whilst being ignorant and superficial. As the story progresses, Fiyero’s actions give new meaning to his earlier words. By the end of the musical, his life is no longer “painless” or “brainless,” but it is far more meaningful. This evolution reflects the human capacity for growth and the importance of choosing purpose over passivity. His journey reflects the idea that true freedom comes not from avoiding responsibility but from embracing one’s values and acting in alignment with them, even when it’s difficult. Accountability over pleasure.

Fiyero's character is someone who also can represent the duality and complexity of human beings. He represents the duality of human nature—the conflict between shallow desires and deeper values. His arc serves as a reminder that even those who start out as seemingly superficial can grow into individuals of great depth and courage. He embodies the archetype of the reluctant hero, someone who must confront their flaws and make difficult choices to become their best self.

Fiyero’s character is a multifaceted symbol of transformation, privilege, and the courage to embrace authenticity. His evolution from a carefree aristocrat to a selfless ally of Elphaba underscores the potential for growth and redemption. Through Fiyero, Wicked explores the importance of shedding societal expectations, confronting one’s flaws, and finding deeper purpose and connection in life.

˗ˏˋ POLITICS OF OZ ´ˎ˗

Think of Wicked as a documentary of Oz. How Oz truly is and how the Wizard of Oz manages to manipulate the public. The politics of Oz in Wicked serve as an allegory for real-world systems of oppression, exploring themes of discrimination, propaganda, and the manipulation of power. One of the most prominent political messages in the story is the systemic discrimination against Animals (with a capital “A,” denoting sentient, speaking creatures), which parallels various forms of marginalization in human society.

The discrimination of Animals in Oz is an obvious message for dehumanization and discrimination. The mistreatment of Animals in Oz reflects systemic oppression, such as racism, ableism, and other forms of prejudice. As sentient beings capable of speech and intelligence, Animals are gradually stripped of their rights and freedoms, forced into silence and servitude (such as putting them into cages). The banning of Animal speech and the curtailing of their roles in society mirror historical and contemporary practices of marginalization, where specific groups are systematically silenced, excluded, and dehumanized. As an example, Dr. Dillamond, a Goat who teaches at Shiz University, experiences direct discrimination and is ultimately removed from his position, symbolizing how even highly respected members of marginalized communities are not immune to systemic oppression. His plea to Elphaba, “Do you think the Wizard knows?” underscores the complicity of those in power in perpetuating injustice.

Wicked also explores the political propaganda and manipulation. The Wizard’s rule is built on lies, propaganda, and fearmongering, reflecting the tactics of authoritarian governments. By spreading the idea that Animals are dangerous or inferior, the Wizard manipulates public opinion to justify their subjugation. The Wizard uses propaganda to consolidate his power, portraying himself as a benevolent leader while demonizing dissenters like Elphaba. This mirrors how oppressive regimes frame marginalized groups as threats to maintain control and suppress resistance. The Wizards regime can be compared to facism.

Wicked includes even more real life situations such as silence of dissent. Elphaba’s opposition to the Wizard and her fight for Animal rights position her as a symbol of resistance against tyranny. Her transformation into the “Wicked Witch” illustrates how those who challenge oppressive systems are often vilified and discredited. The silencing of Animals, both figuratively and literally, highlights the consequences of unchecked power and societal complicity in the face of injustice. It also serves as a metaphor for the erasure of marginalized voices in history and politics.

Even though it is quite common in media, Wicked as well has representation of moral ambiguity of power. The Wizard’s character shows how leaders may justify oppressive actions under the guise of maintaining order and unity. He is not inherently evil but represents the dangers of wielding power without accountability or empathy. The Wizard's rule is a good representation of how fear-mongering and manipulating the public can easily happen with enough power and influence. Glinda’s eventual rise to power suggests the complexity of leadership within a flawed system. Even with good intentions, leaders can become complicit in upholding oppressive structures if they fail to challenge the status quo.

It is also important to note the themes of intersectionality of oppression. There are often parallels such as Elphaba’s green skin and the discrimination she faces align her with the Animals, creating an intersectional commentary on how various forms of oppression often overlap. Though Elphaba is human, both Elphaba and the Animals are judged for their inherent traits (race), rather than their actions or character. The connection between Elphaba’s fight for justice and the plight of the Animals emphasizes the need for solidarity among marginalized groups to combat systemic inequality.

It is important to understand how we should critique the concept of blind conformity. The citizens of Oz largely accept the Wizard’s propaganda without question, illustrating the dangers of complacency and the human tendency to conform to authority. This critique serves as a call to action for individuals to question power, recognize injustice, and resist complicity in systems of oppression.

Though politics in Wicked are unjust and cruel, it is great to have a strong voice for hope and resistance against the government. Despite her vilification, Elphaba’s defiance represents the importance of resisting oppression, even when the odds seem insurmountable. Her fight for Animal rights and justice reflects the idea that small acts of resistance can sow the seeds of change. As well as Glinda, by the end of the musical, Glinda’s choice to remain in Oz and work for change within the system suggests that reform is possible, even in deeply flawed societies.

The politics of Oz in Wicked reveal a scathing critique of systemic oppression, propaganda, and societal complicity. The discrimination against Animals serves as a powerful metaphor for real-world injustices, emphasizing the need for awareness, resistance, and solidarity. Through its nuanced portrayal of power dynamics and moral ambiguity, Wicked challenges audiences to confront their own biases and responsibilities within larger societal systems.

Anyhow, i know that this was a long analysis and i hope you enjoyed it! (if i'm being honest i don't think anyone is gonna read this anyways but... whatever). I truly adore Wicked because even though it's a Musical mainly for children (or well clearly not really the adult audience necessarily) i think it's a good message for many semi-subtle messages and symbolism.

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cowboys-tshot · 8 months ago

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A Beginner's Guide to Epic: The Musical

Are you new to Epic: The Musical and overwhelmed by four years worth of content to go through? This is for you! (Note that this is a work in progress post that will be added to in the future as new information and Sagas are released).

LAST UPDATED: 09/01/24

*There will be some spoilers in this! The Odyssey is thousands of years old, but Epic: The Musical is an adaptation, meaning things are different. I recommend listening to all the songs in Epic before reading this, as this guide is intended to clear up misunderstandings/confusing moments and provide context.

**All of the underlined bits are links to whatever it is I'm referring to, just in case I'm making no sense. I will try to include sources for everything, or at least indicate where I got certain information from if there's no link available.

General Info:

*This is basic information about Epic: The Musical as a whole. This includes where to find new information and content, BTS things, etc.

• First of all, here's a quick rundown by the creator himself. There'll be some overlap in terms of what I cover here.

• Epic: The Musical is created by Jorge Rivera-Herrans, often referred to as "Jay" or "Mr. Jalapeño" by his fans. This is who writes the songs, casts the characters, and voices Odysseus himself!

• Epic: The Musical was originally (pre-Ocean Saga) produced under Blair Russell Productions, but Jay has never been paid the royalties from the songs released under them (and they have yet to give back control of the Epic social media accounts), so Epic is now produced under Jay's own company, Winion Entertainment LLC. (source)

• Jay is most active on TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter. All videos that he posts to these platforms are generally the same, so don't worry if you can't follow him on all of them. He talks about several Epic-related things, including release dates, BTS, animatics, details about the music/story, snippets of released and unreleased songs, and also plenty of funny videos. He is very active within the fanbase, and you're likely to find him (and other cast members) leaving comments on posts by fans!

• Here are Jay's other links, including the Epic: The Musical Discord server. In my experience, the Discord server and Tiktok are the best places to get information as quickly as possible.

• Epic is still in progress. As of the latest update to this guide (09/01/24), the Wisdom Saga has just been released last week, leaving only two more sagas before the end. The songs are all part of a concept album, and there is currently no stage adaptation.

• Jay takes many creative liberties with The Odyssey for the sake of this adaptation of the story. He made a video recently explicitly saying to NOT use Epic as a basis for your knowledge of The Odyssey, at least when it comes to academic settings. Many of the things that occur in Epic DO NOT occur in the original story, and some parts of the original story have been cut out. Here is a video where Jay explains the purpose of Epic as an adaption. (I won't be including a list of differences in this post, but I might make a separate one if anyone's interested.)

• Although Epic takes a lot of these creative liberties, there are several little easter eggs sprinkled in among the actual plot points from The Odyssey. (I'll go into these later.)

• Jay will usually do a recap video before each new saga, going over all the events of the previous sagas for any newcomers.

• When a new saga is released, Jay will hold a LIVE listen-through. I highly recommend being there for these events, because they include lots of cool and important things such as:

official animations, animatics, and artwork, all of which provide insights into character design and events within the songs

Jay's live reactions (his facial expressions and little dances/lip-syncs are delightful)

details about the events within the songs that aren't made clear within the music itself (like what a character is doing, what is happening around them, etc)

Jay's comments in the LIVE chat, which includes details/easter eggs, BTS stuff, jokes, headcanons, and LOTS of love and praise for the actors and fans!

• Seeing as there is no stage adaptation for Epic, a lot of the visual elements come from artists and animatics/animations. Jay actually works with several of these artists for official trailers, artwork, and animatics/animations! Some of these artists include: Ainhoa Velasco, @wolfythewitch, @gigizetz, @_mircsy_, @drawing_angie, @anniflamma, Scilla_nimation, el_crafts, samantha_artt, and Giulia Toneatto. These people are all incredibly talented and deserve all the love from the Epic fanbase!

Info About the Music:

*I am not musically adept at all, and this post is already very long, so I am not going to list much specific information—just general common themes and some examples of them. Most of this information has been confirmed by Jay, in videos that I've linked below.

• If you're having trouble understanding the lyrics and/or the meaning behind the lyrics, Genius lyrics has the entire album and is full of helpful notes about the context within the musical. A lot of lyrics get misheard, so even if you think you understand what's being sung, I'd recommend checking just in case lol.

• The Troy Saga and The Cyclops Saga have been rereleased under Winion Entertainment LLC! This includes new vocals, altered music, etc. These were released alongside The Thunder Saga, along with new cover art. It's preferred that you listen to these versions of the songs, and NOT the originals, because Jay only gets royalties from the current ones.

• Many characters have their own musical motif, or even multiple motifs. There are also other motifs that are more general, like the "Danger is Nearby" motif.

• Many important characters have their own instrument that plays an integral part to the songs they're in. You can typically tell which instrument accompanies each character by listening to what is most prominent in a song that focuses on that character. (ex. Hermes with harps and the lyre, Athena with the piano)

• If you hear a character's musical motif or associated instrument in a song they don't play an integral part in, that can mean a few things (listed below). With the more general motifs, they have their own separate meanings outside of the characters.

That character is present, even if they're not singing. (ex. Hermes in "Puppeteer," signifying that he's listening to Odysseus' speech, which is brought up at the beginning of "Wouldn't You Like")

That character is related to whatever event/conversation is occurring. (ex. the same musical motif in "Ruthlessness" and "Storm," signifying that Poseidon is the one that sent the crazy storm)

The kind of instrument being played can indicate the emotion or tone of a scene. This is scene primarily with Odysseus, where the use of a nylon or acoustic guitar indicates that he is not being ruthless (source).

• When background vocals are accompanying a mortal, there is always a physical, in-universe source for those voices (ex. Odysseus' crew as background vocals in most of his songs). When background vocals are accompanying a god or other powerful being, there does not have to be a physical source for those voices—gods can basically summon a choir of voices at will (ex. "Ruthlessness"). (video explanation)

• Background chanting specifically is a common element in Epic songs. Typically, this chanting consists of the names of characters present/focused on in the song (as seen [heard?] in "Survive," "Ruthlessness," and "King").

Unclear/Vague Moments Explained:

*Some of the plot points, characters, etc. in Epic can be confusing on the first or second listen. So, I'll clear up some of the common things people (including myself) didn't notice or understand at first.

• The deep voice at the end of "The Horse and the Infant" is Zeus, voiced by Luke Holt. Zeus shows Odysseus a vision of Astyanax, the infant son of Hector, and tells him to kill the child.

• Odysseus drops Astyanax from the walls of Troy at the end of "Just a Man." Many people didn't catch this until the callback in "Monster" at the end of Act 2.

• "Warrior of the Mind" is quite confusing to those that don't have context. It is a flashback to a younger Odysseus, when he first met Athena and took her as a mentor.

• Athena has an ability called "Quick-Thought," which lets her have telepathic conversations with someone within milliseconds by pulling their mind into another dimension.

• Polites dies at the end of "Survive." He is the voice saying "Captain...". (I didn't realize this for a good while when I first started listening to Epic.)

• The voice telling Odysseus to wake up in "Keep Your Friends Close" is Penelope, not Aeolus.

• The lil' guys in "Keep Your Friends Close" are called winions (they're also the Lotus Eaters in "Open Arms"). Jay describes them as "little wind creatures that dance when they get excited and then float away uncontrollably." They don't actually exist in The Odyssey, but they're pretty cute!

• At the end of "Ruthlessness," the line "remember me" is said by Poseidon, who's basically sending his voice through the ocean fog (since Odysseus is very, very far away from him now).

• In "Done For," the yelling you are hearing in the background is essentially a Pokemon/Yu-Gi-Oh battle between Circe's chimera and the monster Odysseus summons using the moly plant given to him by Hermes. There is an animatic by mircsy to serve as a visual aide, which I find very helpful!

• In "There Are Other Ways," Circe was holding a knife and planning to stab Odysseus as she tried to seduce him. When he pulls away and rejects her, she quickly hides the knife.

• In "The Underworld," shades (souls) are in a constant loop, repeating whatever they were thinking when they died. Tiresias is an exception to this rule, seemingly because of him being such a powerful prophet. (confirmed in "The Underworld Saga" LIVE listen-through)

• I feel like this is fairly clear, but for those that aren't familiar with The Odyssey, I'll say it anyways. (Spoilers? I guess?) The prophecy in "No Longer You" is SUPER heavy on the foreshadowing. I won't go into it here, since many people already have, but let's just say the Greeks were big on self-fulfilling prophecies.

• As mentioned previously, background chanting is a big thing in Epic. In "No Longer You," the background chanting also serves as a prophecy detailing the future events of Odysseus's journey. Currently, only part of these lyrics have been confirmed by Jay: "SIREN SONG - SCYLLA THROAT - MUTINY - LIGHTNING BOLT." This leaves two lines that are not confirmed.

• In "Mutiny," after Odysseus is stabbed, he is tied up and knocked out before the crew sails to the nearest island. Right before he says to get to the boat and row away, he manages to untie himself.

Fun Facts/Easter Eggs:

• Circe is voiced by Jay's girlfriend, Talya Sindel.

• When Poseidon kills off most of Odysseus' crew in "Ruthlessness," he says that there are only 43 men left. But in "The Underworld," the souls of his crew say that 558 men died under his command. Considering Odysseus started off with 600 men ("Full Speed Ahead"), this math doesn't add up. This is because in The Odyssey, when Odysseus and his men party with Circe for a year, a man in his crew named Elpenor woke up drunk on Circe's roof and proceeded to walk off the roof and die from the fall. He actually has a cut song.

• Jay messed up the amount of years in "There Are Other Ways." It had not been 12 years, but 10. This little screw-up is referenced in "Different Beast."

• Odysseus' mother is voiced by Jay's actual mother.

• If you see people commenting "rawr rawr rawr" or "🦖" on Jay's videos, they're referencing his April Fool's prank this year. He made a video saying he'd completely changed the Act 2 closing song, "Monster," and proceeded to play a happy-go-lucky sounding song going "I am the monster, rawr rawr rawr."

• In every single saga, Odysseus says "what." in an absolutely bamboozled manner (or "huh" in The Troy Saga, and he does it twice in The Ocean Saga). It happens in "Open Arms," "Polyphemus," "Keep Your Friends Close," "Puppeteer," and "No Longer You." Occasionally, this "what" will be said by a different character (Poseidon in "Ruthlessness," the siren in "Different Beast")

• Perimedes (another man in Odysseus' crew, who lives all the way until "Thunder Bringer") and Elpenor were best friends.

#epic: the musical #epic the musical #epic the underworld saga #epic the circe saga #epic the troy saga #epic the cyclops saga #epic the ocean saga #epic the thunder saga #the underworld saga #the circe saga #the ocean saga #the thunder saga #the troy saga #the cyclops saga #the odyssey #odysseus #jorge rivera herrans #epic: the wisdom saga #the wisdom saga

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