#they're all just trying to be like her
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The figure at the center isn't Jinx. The figure isn't wearing the right shirt, she's missing Jinx's cloud smoke tattoos, and you can see her dark hair under the blue hair reach her back as it falls in front of her arm and behind her shoulder.
While the braids are black and white to imply that is the figure's actual hair, it's sprayed on blue like the rest of the youths in the background, because she is like them. The figure at the center is just another kid in the crowd, and they've essentially been designed like they're wearing a Jinx wig, all the kids are.
The artist for this mural is showing that anyone can be like Jinx as long as you want to fight for Zaun. Jinx represents an ideology that these kids choose to embody in both style and action. They're united in blue in their rebellion.
#arcane#jinx arcane#arcane meta#the figuee at the center isn't jinx on purpose#bcuz you don't have to be jinx to be like jinx to fight like jinx#it's a choice#the inx propaganda is real#i think it's more effective that no one is jinx in the mural#they're all just trying to be like her#as if jinx is an ideal or a state of mind#there's also an interesting use of the swirls im this piece bcuz they don't match Jinx’s tattoo design but they do match#the pattern in Janna's temple#which is another point to how Jinx's imagery is further conflated (and inverts) symbols associated with zaunite divinity
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Oh, Aang, you're really in it now...
This is Zu—I mean, Jian Li and Katara's second meeting in the Kyoshi Warriors AU. The first proper one, anyway.
Once they get through a minor difference of opinion or two (“I can carry my own basket!” “Never said you—” “I'm not weak!” “I didn't—” “Just because I'm a girl doesn't mean—” “Would you listen for once, woman?!” ) they'll become nearly inseparable.
For now Jian Li will carry Katara's basket all the way to the Kyoshi Warriors' dojo and, once there, they'll mercilessly tease Sokka when they see him in uniform.
#zutara#atla#zuko#avatar the last airbender#katara#kyoshi warriors au#atla art#atla fanart#prince zuko#katara of the southern water tribe#kyoshi warrior ursa au#kyoshi warrior zuko#zutara fanart#zutara au#zuko fanart#atla zuko#katara fanart#kyoshi warriors#kyoshi island#They're a complete menace once they get going. Breaking hearts all over the Earth Kingdom and turning Sokka's hair grey prematurely#Aang is just a little puppy who made a few sarcastic remarks at the wrong time. But it got Zuko thinking out loud so that works too#Katara heard him and while she very secretly agrees (what did he mean “that doesn't sound like fun either”? He should've helped her!)...#she's also the Avatar's number one defender and needs to protect his honor. Agni bless the child.#And then poor Zuko offers to carry her basket because he's seen her do all the work alone and the freaking Avatar has just refused to help#And momma Ursa raised a gentleman. So of course he wants to help!#But Katara's had to deal with Sokka's “traditional views on women” all the way to Kyoshi and Aang is busy with his little fanclub#And now this extremely handsome stranger who's really just trying to be nice (he's also so awkward it's adorable) offers to carry her basket#And he's being really nice and sweet and considerate about it damn it#Of course she snaps!#She still thanks him for his help tho. Once they absolutely murder Sokka with their teasing they become a package deal.
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Tiny Disassembler Tries To Put Himself in Second Food Coma; Girlfriend Won't Let Him
(you better believe that first time was an accident)
#love this lil guy#uzi's like ''YOU CAN'T DO THAT'' and he's just ''AHHHH!''#he can't talk but he can still scream#the struggle of uzi doorman trying to keep her boyfriend from knocking himself out#meanwhile v is laughing her head off... what can i say uzi ''arguing'' with a tiny drone is hilarious#murder drones#murder drones uzi#murder drones n#murder drones v#serial designation n#serial designation v#uzi doorman#tiny n au#nuzi#listen i just make a lot of art and they're all sitting in my files#this was all done with my finger because my old apple pencil gave out btw#TINY N'S HUNGRY LEAVE HIM ALONE#zeisty’s goofs
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NO MORE ASSOCIATING THINGS WITH FEMMES ONLY BECAUSE THEY ARE PINK!HYPERFEM FEMMES ARE GREAT AND I LOVE YOU CAMPY FEMMES WHO EMBODY PINK BUT ALSO JESUS CHRIST CAN YOU GUYS NOT GO MORE THAN ONE DAY W/O TRYING TO SHOEHORN FEMMES INTO BEING ONLY PINK UWU BABIES. I AM FEMME AS IN GRASS AS IN DIRT AS IN TREE BARK AS IN WEEDS SPROUTING THROUGH THE SIDEWALK CEMENT. FEMME AS IN GENDER NONCONFORMITY AS IN FUCK YOU MY FEMININITY IS WHAT *I* SAY IT IS. FEMME AS IN DEPTH AND DARKNESS AND WARMTH AND TERROR. FEMME AS IN CAVES. FEMME AS IN LIGHTNING. FEMME AS IN AN AMALGAMATION OF TRAITS THAT I HAVE DECIDED ARE FEMININE REGARDLESS OF WHAT SOCIETY SAYS. FUCK IS IT THAT HARD TO UNDERSTAND?!???
#personal#i am emotional yes#over the years ive had this blog I've made a few posts abt being femme#nd whether they're serious or jokey..... inevitably someone in the tags goes “ohhh yeah bc pink”#or in the case of what inspired this post: someone going “what about the pink ones” on my praying mantis post#and im just.#sick of it. im sick of femme being equated to pink and frilly girlie behaviors.#im sick of femme being equated to skirts and heels. to makeup. to skincare. to pristine nails exactly almond shaped.#im sick of ppl acting like All femmes aspire to this shit. im sick of femms being reduced to this shit.#and i love pink! i love pink! my phone theme is quite literally just black and pink all over.#im just. so tired of any expression of Femme identity being shoehorned into being a Specific type of femininity#especially as someone who DOES get dysphoric wearing skirts. wearing dresses. embodying the femme aesthetic yall are so set on making#if u guys wanna rb this i truly dont care#i just needed to scream#and this is one small thing#but the 2nd largest category of anon hate i have gotten since making this blog is str8 up homophobia from other “queer” folks#saying i cant be femme bc of how i present. calling me slurs (and using them as such) bc they cant understand femme as anything but that#my wife and i have our users in our personal discord server set as 2 different things of anon hate ive gotten#i have had OTHER FEMMES tell me i am not femme. femmes who Know im femme who still call me butch. femmes who ive corrected and been blocked#-by bc of it. the number 1 largest demographic of queerfolk who have me blocked rn is TME femmes who embody pink also#and i dont think its a coincidence at all. (and i know this bc i go to try and follow these ppl bc they get rbed on my dash & i cant)#and ik their blogs arent deleted bc some of them don't block my wife (tall. white. butch) and it cant be politics cause her and i rb#a lot of the same political shit (fuck. i think she rbs More than i do even. this is genuinely mainly a nsft blog)#and usually i don't say anything but im having a bad day so i get to be angry about this and if anyone fucking tries me i will block u#idc if we've been mutuals 4ever. im judt so tired of feeling like i am not Enough as a femme bc i dont embody this shit#im sick of this lameass lip service to he/him gnc femmes etc when the thin white 50s housewife femme is still what is preferred and loved#im sick of this lamesss lip service when y'all feel entitled to theorizing on other femmes genders bc u cant conceptualize a femme who does#wanna be hypetfeminine. im sick of it. im sick of it. im sick of it.#celebrity bun
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Odysseus with his head in his wife's lap, happily not paying attention to anything, humming one of athenas song and carving something
Some random guy: your majesty----
Odysseus: not bothering to sit up: whatever my wife decided is fine.
#the odyssey#epic the musical#Odysseus#Penelope#Odypen#Post-canon my beloved#Odysseus tried to hold court exactly one time before he 1. Realized he's very out of date with everything and#2. Remembered that these meetings sucked so much#Odysseus then quickly climbed into his wife's lap and was like penelopes been ruling for 20 years she's got this#The first time someone tried to insist that it wasn't acceptable for penelope to answer ody nearly killed the guy#Nobody tried to force the issue after that#The only time odysseus sits up to contribute is to be like 'no no we can take that route now I killed the monster that lived there years ag#This is not to say he isn't listening and paying attention! He is! He's just scoping everybody's out#Noticing who's more pushy when they're trying to deal with penelope than they are with him#He's got twenty years of politics to catch up on! And he's going to be sneaky about it#Odysseus post return gaining a reputation for being uninvolved and uncaring only to pull the rug out from underneither the other person#Penelope is a okay with this for many many reasons#First off her system is one of beauty and the fact that her husband didn't spend all her hard work to take back over the second he came bac#Is rare and penelope is grateful everyday for who she married#Second she gets to show off look at how well she did odysseus look at how clever she is ody ody watch as I scam these people isn't that hot#(It is and yes of course odysseus was watching)#Penelope enjoying how odysseus lays out over her like a lazy lion#It scratches her possessive side to show him off like this and she gets to play with his hair#Telemachus attending some of these meetings to learn (tm) and spending the whole time deeply embarrassed#Odypen being 🥰🤝 rat bastards in love
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induced to me by my contemporary art exam AND a rewatch of rebels after years that. got me into sabezra unexpectedly AND i updated krita and there were many new brushes i wanted to try
refs (IF U CAN PLS HELP ME FIND THE ORIGINAL COSPLAYERS i can't find anything EDIT: found them!! they're starwars_irl on insta and @rebelartistwren / lionesscosplay on insta. thank you guys <3) and ✨colored version✨ under the cut
i can't find themmmmm I've been looking for 2 days but all i found were uncredited reposts
anyway they look amazing
i really wanted to try greyscaling but I'm not sure it looks good. idk. + while i was making it i was listening to i love you by fontaines d.c. (GREAT SONG FROM A GREAT UNDERRATED BAND) and. the grey fit into that mood much better
also two versions without the sketch lines. where ezra looks happier even if they're uglier
#i didn't expect to like them as a ship ngl. but there are some moments that recall kanera (AND I LOVE THEM) especially if you've read#a new dawn. and IDK COOL!! probably i didn't ship them from the start because. in s1-s2 they're just kids and everytime i reach s3 i keep#brainrotting on thrawn <3 and kallus <3 and zeb <3 idk i kinda forgot about them and all the scenes they were in LMAO#ALSO. i love you is truly a wonderful song wtf?? it's not something I'd associate to sabezra BUT probably after having listened to it for a#month. and having drawn this in the meantime. i found some connections. the fact that the songs alternated between that melodic part#that talks about love to the other verses about (very generally) society. just felt like how their relationship would go. rapidly switching#between the fast paced fights for the rebellion to the calm of the preparation they require that can allow them for some tenderness. ALSO#ezra is so much “if there was sunshine it was never on me / so close the rain; so pronounced is the pain”#and sabine is pretty much “you only open the window; never open up the door” sometimes. especially before her darksaber arc#btw i know this song is about ireland and their relationship with theid country BUT it just prompted me to their grey figures#and colorful background. also. there's something about klimt making some of the most tender representations of love ever imo BUT keep#choosing to represent rather dark iconographies whenever he's asked to do something (I'm thinking about the medicine panels for the uni)#like. there is a similar contrast in there as well. also i like that. ursa had a portrait of herself in her home that referenced klimt#like. it's ursa in her prime; in a literal golden age. i can imagine sabine associating a good moment - one of her bests - to such an#expressive decoration. and maybe stripping colors away when that moment is gone and all that remains is the memory and feeling#OKAY WHY DID I TALK SO MUCH i must've put more thought on this that i previously thought. crazy#it started as a fun experiment to try krita's oil brushes. *in david byrne's voice* how did i get here?#star wars#sw#star wars rebels#star wars fanart#star wars rebels fanart#ezra bridger#sabine wren#ezrabine#sabezra#sabine wren fanart#ezra bridger fanart#sw fanart#g posting
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Imagine your canon Warden, Hawke, Inquisitor and Rook and their respective LI on a quadruple date - how will it go?
#there was a post about it going around but I can't find it anymore 😭#so I made a new one because I want to see all your awful quadruple date headcanons#don't ask me what happened in 2014 I still don't know#anders really is the golden retriever to messed up murderer with glowing eyes pipeline#alistair x cousland#handers#solavellan#rookanis#alistair theirin#anders#solas#lucanis dellamorte#dragon age#dragon age origins#dragon age 2#dragon age inquisition#dragon age the veilguard#datv#I think there would be a wild discussion about demons and possession and mages and freedom#and amidst of it a poor puppy boy trying to get out#I feel like solas and anders would actually get along quite well though???#surprisingly#not sure how spite and justice would feel about each other this could go both ways#maybe anders and alistair would have to hold lucanis down at some point because he just straight up goes for solas' throat#my warden hawke inquisitor and rook would just excuse themselves and have a drink together because no way they're dealing with that mess#there would be some reservations because queen warden commander is intimidating af but she's nice and a badass sooo...#marian is smitten and lowkey trying to flirt her up#and rook would try to get to know lavellan really awkwardly because she's his idol#he would be overall very nervous because he gets flustered around powerful women and all three of them in one room#oh boy he's sweating
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"He'll come back to us."
#mel saying vik will return to her and jayce - both of them sadly holding onto each other - and then she's left all alone. sick and twisted#the polycule is in shambles#do you think she wonders if they'll come back. if they're still out there#do you think she wonders if they're dead and they'll never come back#mel seems like the type to try and rationalize that evidence of death is an absolute. that if they're dead then she would know for sure#thats what happens in battles like this. in wars with armies. she should know#but there are no bodies to pick up and bury so she's left to just. wonder what happened#arcane#arcane season 2#arcane season 2 spoilers#arcane spoilers#act 3 spoilers#meljayvik#mel medarda#mettys posts#metty posts
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i wanna redesign Watcher Mum chat what do we Think
#BC I DONT KNOW im trying to actually think this time bc the original was random loL#i like the feathers covering most of her face bc it adds the spooky shadow#but grian just sees feathers#and all curent watchers were once players so i wanted her to still look so#seeing her with pupils is so odd. she has eyes adjgkjkadg#i also said awhile back i wanted to do four eyes instead of six bc it adds up with the symbol and wings#probably shouldnt have eyebrows but for drawing sake they're Ther#but thtey would likely be under feathers#my art#sketching#the watchers#i dont like having her skin gray. the original was like. void. with freckles n stuff but. i no longer want this
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“It could be that the loss of her children drove the Queen deeper into her darker desires...but, I don’t believe she was fighting against them that hard before that particular tragedy. No monster does.” (Patreon)
Bonus:
Hmm, wonder what he could cover those holes with :3c
#Doodles#Handplates#UT#Fellplates#UkaGaster's answers about Toriel really interest me :3c#As evidenced by the quote caption lol - but his other ones are very interesting too! Since it sounds like she's still around!#Poor classic Handplates!Gaster believed Tori dead for such a long time while she was at the Ruins#Meanwhile Fellplates!Gaster is just like ''? I saw the Queen last week she threw me into the pricker bushes? -.ò'' lol#But anyhow lol ♪ The implications that they're still in each other's vicinity really makes me curious about their relationship!#And how Toriel might react to knowing that someone - someone other than her - is having So Much Success on one of her sore spots#Not just of having children but of the constant reminders of Gaster's success where she has to live every day with a heavy heart for her own#Being cruel to him over it - well that's just par for the course isn't it ♪#He mentions that she's much more of an emotional sadist - insulting him and then making it Very clear that she does Not approve of the holes#''They're ugly and you should feel ashamed for drawing so much attention to something so unsightly''#I do think that her knowing that he's so intent on being kind and merciful and then twisting the knife on how much he's hurting her-#Making him feel guilty for daring to even attempt the betterment of all - for giving pieces of himself away and try to be a good person#''If anyone will break my spirit it will be her'' :)#Although that's all assuming that Toriel even knows about the brothers! :0 When I thought about it later it'd make more sense if she doesn't#It was still too good to not do something with the idea hehe - but imagine her betrayal if/when she found out tho she'd kill him on the spot#Gosh I haven't drawn Tori in foreeeeever I can't even remember the last time#Doing a/nother study on her would probably be fun haha she's rather plain how I draw her currently#I wonder if her Fellplates version would also wear reading glasses hehe#And the bonus :3c Where are the plates featured in Fellplates? Surely it's not just called that as a reference right ♪ Hehehe
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I really do like the idea of the survivors having to fend for themselves instead of just immediately being saved. Like, let them get grimy and eat shitty meals cus the world's gone to hell and none of them have enough of the skills to know exactly what their doing. Would let the gang bond together which is always a treat. Thus, these silly drawings!
The others are very much done with his shit.
He eventually yields though because he doesn't ACTUALLY wanna starve.
#danganronpa#danganronpa art#danganronpa fanart#thh survivors#danganronpa makoto#makoto naegi#danganronpa byakuya#byakuya togami#danganronpa kyoko#kyoko kirigiri#danganronpa aoi#aoi asahina#danganronpa yasuhiro#yasuhiro hagakure#danganronpa toko#genocider syo#The Survivor's Guide#yay! i finally updated an au of mine#just took me several months O_O#also adding this in. i like to believe byakuya's not fond of mushy foods. he just doesn't vibe with them. along with many other things#what can i say! he's a picky bastard even in a lowkey apocalypse where the food is sparce and they're all trying their best#not that he's the only complainer. makoto probably misses his precious ramen and aoi's still internally mourning her dounts
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releasing this from the hj discord dungeon because the public populace was in agreement also i'm chronically offline on tumblr and need to fix that for my chronically online ahh
#hand jumper#webtoon#sayeon lee#she couldn't even enjoy herself once she gets into the decent university because she got sent to the corps sayeon lee my giiirl#SHE'LL NEVER BE ABLE TO BASK IN THE GLORY OF VALEDICTORIAN BECAUSE SHE WAS CONSCRIPTED 😭#bro she's built like those kids in school who dump social interaction the moment exam season comes around#she's built like and earned that first honours fr.#but the corps said nah so she did the one thing those kids do make life even HARDER for themselves#even if in context it's no even hard it's just a matter of survival in the corps so success is the only option lest you die#hj reminds me of kaiji a lot with how they handle this but they're like two different genres but i digress#so she created TWO short term goals that forced her to hammer down her if not reinforce her previous values/beliefs#and if you read fp or wait until this tuesday lemme tell you rn it gets worse#which force her back into her shell and wall she's built#which is fucked up bc juni's wall is coming down when cell 4 didn't die as quick as she'd thought and surpassed her expectations#sayeon try not to be any characters narrative foil/parallel challenge fail 1000% speedrun#this only gets worse in fp and while this was in my drafts since the morning#i will say i literally just had a conversation abt this with my g bigbrainmanyvibes before prematurely leaving for lunch#but i set an alarm to actually post all the memes i made here so imma do this one now then the rest later#JOIN THE HJ DISCORD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! IT'S FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AND AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AND WAY EASIER TO USE!!!!![to me......]#PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!#that's it for my obligatory plug for the hj discord you can stop reading now i you haven't already stopped because i make this thing a diar#anw GLORY TO SAYJIN NATION!!!!!!!!!
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I got bored.
For those occasions when the straights can't fathom why you ship The Gays™
#i was inspired#mostly i just saw deadpool vs wolverine but it got me thinking#made because my sister didn't completely understand why we all thought the honda scene was gay#and because the few times we share a fandom she doesn't always understand why i ship something#ill use this to make her understand now#also considering making some specifically for yuri polycules asexuals and various genders lol#but for now its just the gays™#“why do you think they're gay?” bingo#shipping#crack shipping#gay ships#gay shipping#yaoi#fujoshi#i dont consider myself that last one but i feel like they'd appreciate this <3#uhhh and other tags idk#aml speaks#bingo card#bingo#this was made at like 7am idc if it looks good or not it was just for fun#ship bingo#shipping bingo#gay ship bingo#gay ships bingo#gay shipping bingo#listen im just trying to cover all my bases here ok#and yk what only cause i mentioned it in the tags#poolverine#aml memes#forgot about that one lol
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Carlos Sainz | F1 London Live in 2017 | x x x x x
#carlos sainz#autumn posts#explored this event last eve and omg so many wonderful moments!!!!#oh to be able to time travel 🚀 surfing the web will have to do!!#also I'll still reblog and post RBR of old and Max related content in 2025 but#wow they have made some immensely frustrating decisions as a company#I do sure despise their upper management!#also tbh I am glad newbies get chances but it seems like 2025 is going to be maybe too many rookies maybe o.o idk I just got here#and I know F1 teams are probably trying some succession planning and lots of new brands hopping on seem geared to younger fans#and I love Gabi and Jack and I'm sure Ollie and Kimi are great! idk them as well yet! and I miss Franco :(((#but idk I'm already missing the older drivers we lost like what do you mean Carlos is fourth oldest he's my age 🥲#idk I like grizzled old men!!!! and drivers who are still in their prime!! 30s isnt old!!! (I know it is in the world of f1 but...)#idk I know big F1 is trying to plant seeds but they're pulling up perfectly gorgeous trees to do so....I just got here too!!!!!!#hmmmm rambling balogna from a new fan#also I dont like watching cars crash so really really hoping the races next year with all these green drivers aren't too bad 🫣#idk I get worried!! and all the engineers and bts folks have to deal with wrecks so#mannifesting safe drives and good starts 🙏✨#and rbr and vcarb are on my shit list for now but the Max blogging will not cease#he and I will both be in our sixties and I'll be here salivating hehe 😵💫✨#gosh dad bod Max 😵💫❤️✨ heaven help me the thirst blogging will be off the charts here#okay enough yapping!!!#wishing everyone a v excellent Friday!! ☀️☁️🌙✨#brb soon to spam F1 Live in London content bc oh gosh what a rich well#also I won't spam too much hehe I'll space it out#also the Little Mix girlies (gn) were OUT at this event so that was fun!!#an insta feed of F1 drivers and a ton of Little Mix bloggers since they performed there! and I like Jade!! I gotta check when her albums out#okay autumn out!!! 🫡❤️✨ bye for now!
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A werewolf knight promised a bride in return for his unflinching loyalty and unmatched battle prowess.
His Jarl thinks the most beautiful, talented, and wellbred Lady of the island will suit nicely as his gift.
But the wolf has already made his choice -- he'd made it long before he ever went to war. Everything he did, every terrible, horrible, deadly thing, he did it for her.
And since he was promised a bride, well. Who can stop him? It's his due, after all.
#who holds his leash? certainly not the laird and certainly not this wench they're trying to foist upon him#he's GOING to kick up a fuss and start biting people if he doesn't get his way#Viking style etiquette but it takes place in the same universe as Dr. Pragma and Kelsi and Ettienne and Mason#which is gaslamp Victorian and modern cityscape prospectively#anything is possible <3#jk they're all modern but with elements of their respective romance timescapes for spice <3#anyway. this poor little bakers daughter.#she doesn't even know. she's like 'oh I'm so SORRY you have to be married to a peniless nobody like me. i promise I'll fix it and you can#be married to someone you actually like 🥺' and he just lets her keep thinking that because it makes her easier to manipulate and less liable#to flinch when he gets a bit. handsy. with her. becuase obv he wouldn't come on to someone he doesn't even like!#but then she brings up the concept of annulment ('well have to sleep in seperate beds of course. we can't let them get the wrong idea') and#the gig is up. he's like no we WILL be fucking. you're mine.#and then she tries to run (doesn't know about chase-instinct)
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What do you think of jkr as a writer? I for one has always felt like she didn’t treat her female characters well. It felt strange, being critical of her when she was god queen of the earth, and also being 10
I think most of the problems in her books can be chalked up to genre hopping. Books 1-3 are perfectly good and serviceable children's books — great children's books, even! They have compelling, relatable characters and juicy mystery plots. They have problems, sure, but for the first three books someone's ever written — especially someone with little or no background in creative writing — they're really fucking good. So: there's her flowers.
The last four books pivot sharply into much more emotionally complicated and sociopolitically loaded territory, because they're describing a war. And it's hard to write children's books about war. I would venture you can't really do it, at least without dramatically misrepresenting what war is! And so Rowling makes the executive decision somewhere during the writing of Book 4 that she's not going to flinch away from that, she's going to go for dramatic realism, and she kills Cedric Diggory to let us know. People had died in Harry Potter before, of course — Quirrell gets sent to the fucking shadow realm, for example. But children haven't. (It also gives parents who are reading these books with their children a warning shot: shit is about to get significantly more real, think twice before you buy the next one of these for your 10-year-old.) After that, Rowling starts leaning much more into dramatic realism, and the fast-paced mystery-novel plotting of the first few books is replaced by a slow, simmering political conflict that unfurls over the course of about a million words.
The problem — besides the fact that she's picking one of the hardest things to write about, like, in all of literature, war is really insanely complicated and emotionally intense and hard to portray well — is that she's now trying to use characters, plot points, and technologies she developed for a children's series to enact a sprawling war drama among teenagers and adults. So Hermione, who was a reasonably precocious snobby eleven-year-old, becomes this sort of encyclopedic all-knowing savant of the wizarding world, who somehow remains functional and mostly even-headed despite her identity being the chief target of a prolifically murderous terrorist group. Draco Malfoy, a schoolyard bully whose primary tools included 1. namecalling and 2. telling teacher, JOINS said terrorist group (and admittedly does react reasonably, i.e., has a total crashout and takes to sobbing in a girls' bathroom whenever he gets a free minute). Dumbledore, who starts out as "whimsical friendly winky-wink trustworthy grandfather type", ends up being Magical Winston Churchill in a violent game of spycraft and espionage, eventually revealing he's only been keeping Harry at all these seven years because he wants to KILL him! And like, maybe really good technical writing could smooth out these transitions and make the first-order dramatic choices seem more natural, but Rowling is like, a Fine Writer, technically speaking. meaning she's reasonably consistent in characterization, her plotting is well-paced and believable, she has a clear authorial voice, and her prose is readable. personally, that's not enough to get me to buy into some of the changes that happen in the later books, and because she stuffs these things so full with new elements every installment, a lot of stuff ends up getting glossed over.
And like, I still love the books. I think they're wonderful, and they taught me how to read. but i can say that and also say that Rowling probably did herself a disservice by trying to write four giant war novels as sequels to her first three mystery children's books.
#i have this running theory that debut fantasy writers shoot themselves in the feet by trying to be tolkien#i.e. assuming because they're writing fantasy they have to write about war#but he wrote that because that was what he liked reading! it was what he thought a mythological epic should be#at the time LOTR was a WEIRD pitch for a book#fantasy was much more small-scale adventure like Lewis's Narnia books (which also end in a giant battle but like)#(it's not really the same thing. narnia doesn't run on realpolitik)#(it's Narnia)#I'd compare it to swiss family robinson and treasure island and the adventure stories of Jules Verne#then tolkien comes along and is like. WHAM. Bitch I Put Elves In The Somme#and everyone was like ??? HOT DAMN#but the thing is. once you've seen Elves In The Somme. and it's THAT good. the Hot Damn effect wears off some#so all these fantasy authors start writing vaguely medieval war stories because that's what Tolkien did! and they love him!#but the difference between mimicry and inspiration is your willingness to depart from the source#there are a lot of other plots out there! hundreds! thousands even!!#harry potter books you didn't need to do this! harry potter you could have just been cool mysteries!#but i dunno maybe people started talking about her as the next tolkien and she got scared of disappointing them#and like having said all that. considering the obvious anxiety of influence and the genre hop and the rough technical spots.#the harry potter books are REMARKABLY good.#what you have in them is an author's first attempt at longform serial storytelling EVER#and it's ambitious as hell and it has a billion characters and you know what? she mostly pulls it off!#we rag on it for being messy at the edges because It Is and I wouldn't be writing fanfic if I didn't have some qualms#or at least areas I think could bear more explaining. but there are Reasons it went that way
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