“The Swan Princess” illustrated by Boris Zvorykin (1920) for the fairytale by Alexander Pushkin.
Thank you so much for sending me this, @mrcrow !!

oozey mess
YOU ARE THE REASON

blake kathryn

tannertan36
we're not kids anymore.

@theartofmadeline
Today's Document
Jules of Nature
he wasn't even looking at me and he found me
RMH

pixel skylines
Sweet Seals For You, Always

Origami Around
Mike Driver
One Nice Bug Per Day

Kaledo Art

titsay
KIROKAZE

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let's talk about Bridgerton tea, my ask is open

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@aspoonofsugar
“The Swan Princess” illustrated by Boris Zvorykin (1920) for the fairytale by Alexander Pushkin.
Thank you so much for sending me this, @mrcrow !!
Y’all know when Mulan is sitting in the rain and watches her parents silhouette disappear as the candle is blown out and then her eyes squint in determination and the music that starts to play and you see her go into the family temple and light a match and bow in respect and then sneak into her parents room and switch the scroll for her hair brooch and then the way her reflection is shown as she pulls the sword and cuts her hair?? It’s literally more iconic than any marvel movie
Y’all know that there is heavy symbolism in that scene to show that Mulan is the spirit of the Great Stone Dragon and that’s why Mushu wasn’t able to awaken it?
im sorry What!! i never knew this! my life feels fuller!!! ahhhh
Mulan sits in the rain underneath the statue of the Great Stone Dragon (who is looking down on her), and suddenly decides on a course of action. She looks up, resolved to go to war in place of her father and runs into the temple where she lights the match and beseeches protection for her family. The stone she bows to and that we see lit up by lightening strike is that of the dragon, whose eyes are looking out after her, lit from underneath by the candles. The scene transitions to the divider in the house that also has an icon of the dragon. where she replaces her hair comb with the summons. Then we see the sword hilt, also the dragon, and as she draws the blade we see her face replace it. She ties up her hair, then as she opens the wardrobe, the handles are also the dragon. After donning the armor, the view shows her facing us, with the hilt of the sword (the face of the dragon) in front of her face, where she then turns the sword to reveal her face, and sheaths it. As she leaves, we flash back to the temple, and the eyes of the dragon flash as her grandmother wakes up.
The Great Stone Dragon resides within her. She is the protector of the family.
After this explanation, the scene where Mushu cannot wake up the stone dragon makes so much more sense. I appreciate the symbolism so much more. I noticed the dragon but didn’t notice she was constantly juxtaposed with the dragon!
Canon accepted.
Spectral Fronds and Flowers Comprise Elegant Animals in Molly Devlin’s Paintings
clouds (im currently obsessed with wha)
Rageddy Ann and Andy allusions in TADC:
So before the finale comes to eviscerate us all, I wanted to get this meta out there exploring how the allusions to the Raggedy Ann and Andy 1977 movie are utilised in the TADC series, particularly with the implications they have within the themes of the story itself
The catalyst of Raggedy Ann and Andy’s plot is the arrival of a new doll in their playroom, Babette, a beautiful french doll from Paris. Babette isn’t the protagonist like Pomni is, but Pomni is also a new arrival to the circus, which is akin to a giant eternal playroom, with Pomni being a new “toy”, and her arrival being the beginning of the show’s story. Babette and Pomni both are distraught and depressed upon arriving, feeling they don’t belong and are desperate to leave:
Babette: Who are you?
Raggedy Ann: My name is Raggedy Ann.
And this is my brother, Raggedy Andy.
Babbette: Where am I?
Raggedy Andy: You're in the playroom, that's where.
You'll probably love it.
Babette: Oh, la, la, la, la, la.
What am I doing in such a terrible place?
Pomni: W-What's going on? I-I-I put on some weird headset, and now I'm... here. (Her eyes widen) Who are you people? Why can't I take it off? Where am I?
Ragatha: Let's just try to calm down. Everything's gonna be okay, new stuff. We've all been through this. You just need to get your head to—
Raggedy Ann and Ragatha both take a shine to Pomni and Babette and are eager to befriend them and help them adjust to their new life and are sympathetic to their plight, where Jax and Raggedy Andy are initially pretty unsympathetic:
Raggedy Andy: (about Babette): Eh, I think she's kind of a pill.
Raggedy Ann: Oh, she's probably homesick.
Ragatha: Hey, be nice to her. She's had a rough couple of days.
Jax: Her and everyone else.
Raggedy Ann: Everyone here to welcome you
And all I want to say is really simple
Plain and true
Babette: But who are you?
Raggedy Ann: I'm just a rag dolly
Happy and smiling all day
A little rag dolly
Wishing your worries away
I stop and say, golly
This is too good to be true
A little rag dolly
Plain as can be
Has a friend who's as lovely as you
Ragatha: Oh, man. Poor Pomni. I hope she's all right.
Jax: "Poor Pomni"? How about "poor us"?!? We're one tanker away from being Augustus Glooped!
Despite Raggedy Ann and Ragatha’s attempts to befriend them, Babette and Pomni are dismissive to the care and concern they are shown, mostly wrapped up in their own troubles of wanting to leave:
Poor Babette, poor Babette, so far from Paris,
Poor Babette, can't you see how miserable she can be?
Like a bird in a cage with no will to go free.
Babette, poor Babette, that's me!
On the flip side of this, when Babette is kidnapped by pirates and Pomni ends up on a team with Jax in ep6, Raggedy Ann and Ragatha hold themselves responsible for having “failed” them:
Ragatha: (sighs, voice cracking) I think... I might have failed Pomni.
Raggedy Ann: Poor Babette. Kidnapped by pirates! Poor Marcella…
The captain just ran off with her birthday present.
Oh.
It's all my fault.
Kinger: It sounds to me like you put a lot of pressure on yourself to be there for everyone, and when you're not, you beat yourself up for it.
Ann and Ragatha perceive Babette and Pomni to be fragile and needing to be rescued/protected, but in reality they turn out to be a lot more resilient and tougher than they were expecting. Babette takes control of the pirate crew that kidnapped her, overthrowing their captain, while Pomni is perfectly capable of standing up to Jax and his bullshit, or making it through other adventures in dire circumstances.
Babette takes command of the pirate ship because she wants to sail back to her home, to Paris, but it’s revealed that she was simply sailing in a small pond and thus her attempts to go home were in vain. But she realises she still has her new home in the playroom, and after realising the effort ann and andy went through to save her, realises the value of that friendship. In much the same way Pomni tries to leave in Ep1, and through the course of the series accepts that she will never leave the circus, and that the only real thing they have now is each other, and the importance of appreciating the value of her friendships:
Pomni: I just want to say... (Sighs) Thanks for always being concerned about me. I feel like, through everything, I haven't really been appreciative enough about that.
Ragatha: O-Oh! Thank you, Pomni. I just want to make sure you're doin' alright. You know, we care about you.
Babette: Dear Raggedy Ann, I am sorry I caused such trouble. Ann: Oh, that's all right, Babette. Andy: What do you mean, all right? Look at the mess we were in just because of her. Babette: You are quite right, Andy. Ann: Babette, you're one of the most courageous persons I have ever met. I hope you will be my friend.
Pomni: (sighs) She’s right. We’ve all done bad things. But we’re also all we’ve got. (inhales deeply, then sighs) I think… we need to abandon the idea of leaving.
Pomni: We got our hopes up, and we were let down. I don’t know what exactly happened with Kaufmo… But we can’t let that despair consume us. We should focus on what we have.
Pomni: (to Ragatha) Like you said… constantly chasing an unobtainable goal will drive us crazy. Maybe what we have to do now is to just… live
And this of course ties into the main themes of the amazing digital circus, that there is meaning to be found in a stagnant existence. That the meaning is found in other people, in the bonds formed there, because in a world where nothing is real, the only real thing becomes other people, their love and humanity, and the only home to be found is in each other
…and this ties into how Babette is foiled to another character in the movie desperately searching for home, so much so they become blind to the real home in front of them, with the Blue Camel.
I don’t think the blue camel actually has a 1:1 allusion with any of the tadc cast, but is more about the concept of abstraction in the story and disillusionment with reality and suicidal ideation. This can be prevalent for Kaufmo, Pomni, Kinger, Gangle, Ragatha, but yeah coming into the finale Jax does feel the most front and centre with this concept.
The Blue Camel is a toy that has been thrown out and abandoned, and is desperate to find a home, for someone to love him.
Blue Camel: Well, I used to be somebody's favorite toy.
Once for a while, a nice little kid named Sam found me in an old junk shop.
I lived with him in a real nice house where he hid me under the pillow every night in a real nice room.
My humps got kind of flattened out, but I didn't mind because I had somebody to love me.
One day, Sam's ma found me.
She was a real pretty lady, but she was also kind of mean.
When Sam wasn't looking, she threw me away, and I've been on my own ever since, looking to find some kind of place I could call home.
Unlike Babette who is beautiful and a new toy, the Blue Camel is old and misshapen:
Blue Camel: Oh, my joints.Thank you.And thank you.It's my legs, you know.
They're not what they used to be.I had real sticks in them once.
Then I used to have a lot of real things once.
But things are sure different now.
The Blue Camel has been alone for so long and so deep in his own depression he has started to hallucinate a home and companions in the form of the “camels in the sky”, losing touch with what is real and what is not.
While Ann and Andy promise to be his friends after hearing of his troubles, he still sees and chases after the camels in the sky, to the point he puts himself and his new friends in danger, running off a cliff at one point and saying he doesn’t care what happens:
Raggedy Ann: But you shouldn't be sad. We'll be your friends.
Raggedy Andy: Uh-huh.
Blue Camel: You will?
Rageddy Andy: For sure.
Raggedy Ann: And maybe things will get better.
Blue Camel: Well, that's why I keep a-chasing them other camels.
All happy and a-dancing.
Smiling and a-sanging.
Calling me home.
Blue Camel (seeing the camels in the sky again): Home, oh home, we're going home!
Quick, hop on
We gotta catch them before they get away!
All aboard!
Raggedy Ann: I don't see anything, Andy
Do you?
Raggedy Andy: This is really weird…
Blue Camel: I'm coming!
Raggedy Ann: But there's nothing there!
Blue Camel: Hey, wait for me. Wait for me.
Raggedy Ann: Slow down, Mr. Camel.
Blue Camel: I've been looking for happiness all my life.
I ain't gonna let it get away from me now!
Raggedy Ann: Please, please, you're going too fast. Whoa, whoa!
Blue Camel: I'm coming!
Wait for me!
Raggedy Ann: You don't know where you're heading!
Blue Camel: I don't care!
His eyes when hallucinating the camels in the sky are exactly the same as the ones the abstractions all have, that we see Jax have when coming close to abstracting after his dream, in which the vague shapes of his old friends Kaufmo and Ribbit can be seen. The mirage of the camels call him home, tempting him with a blissful promise of perfect companionship and belonging. The same way Jax seemingly falls into the mirage dream of his own when touching Ribbit’s hand, dreaming of his friends.
We also know Kaufmo abstracted after driving himself insane chasing an exit, a way home, that was not real, so much that he lost sight of what was real, the friends he still had in the circus.
Kinger also temporarily seems to lose his grip on reality in ep3 when mistaking the angel head for Queenie, which puts him and Pomni in danger.
Gangle nearly abstracts in ep4 when she lets her manic mask take complete control, and takes the fast food adventure too seriously when it is not real, being incredibly controlling and manic towards her friends as she spiralled, and running out into oncoming traffic after the adventure:
It is pointed out by Pomni that this disillusionment with reality and the people around you, is likely the cause of abstraction:
Pomni: Wh—I—mmm... you reached out to me, not the other way around. You're just gonna pretend that didn't happen?
Jax: You must be misremembering.
Pomni: Is this why you didn't show up to Kaufmo's funeral?
Jax: I don't show up to ANY funerals.
Pomni: Yeah, I bet you don't, because you're scared. Y-You're scared you'll actually show a human emotion.
Jax: I'm scared I'll be BORED to TEARS. (His two gloved-hands on his cheeks of his face)
Pomni: Have you ever thought that this might be what causes people to abstract in the first place?
Which is clearly what Jax is struggling with currently.
The conclusion of the movie is the Blue Camel no longer chasing the camels in the sky because he realises he has a home and friends that are real, with Raggedy Ann and Andy:
Raggedy Ann: It’s no mirage Mr Camel
Which will likely be what we see Jax realise in the finale, being anchored by all his friends, as payoff to the end of ep2, where we see the hands all reach out to help Pomni except Jax, because Jax needs someone to extend their hand to him.
Another theme of the TADC series being that “the worst thing you can do is make someone feel not loved or wanted” is prevalent with the Blue Camel, who has a whole song about feeling unloved:
Blue Camel: When you can't find a friend
And the road doesn't seem to end
And you're lonesome the whole day through
How can you be happy?
How can you be smiling?
How can you be anything but low down saggy and blue?
Doesn't anybody want me?
Doesn't anybody care?
When you're wrinkled and cold
And your fortune has all been told
And you're nobody's I love you
How can you be happy?
How can you be smiling?
How can you be anything
But low down saggy and blue
Sad but true…
…which feels prevalent for Ragatha, Jax and Caine, honestly. All struggle with being lonely and feeling unloved
Ragatha: Maybe she just doesn't wanna hang out with someone who's mean to her all the time
Jax: She likes when I'm mean to her, though!
Pomni: I didn't think you cared about what other people like.
Jax: That- (Scoffs) I just... No yeah, y-you're right. I don't.
Pomni: Do you have any... actual friends?
Ragatha: (To Pomni, quietly) Not anymore.
Ragatha: (sighs, voice cracking) I think... I might have failed Pomni. Just like I failed Jax. I try too hard to get on their good side, and then I just end up pushing them away. And then, they end up hating me...
Kinger: Well, I don't think anyone in here hates you.
Ragatha: (scoffs) Jax does! Gangle and Zooble don't ever talk to me, and... Pomni probably won't after today, either. (sighs) She came to me wanting to be on my team. I said no. (sighs) Why did I do that?
Ragatha: I don't know... I feel like every day, we're drifting further apart. Like she's seen through all my tricks and doesn't trust me anymore. Before I know it... she'll be a different person. One who doesn't even want me around.
Ragatha: I don't even know what I want. I just want everyone to be happy. And I don't want people to hate me.
Caine: (fidgets the rubix cube) I -- I-I don't understand, Bubble. They want an exit. They want answers. They want something real. I give them an adventure that covers all of that, and they still hate it?! Surely they don't want to actually leave me. Right?
Caine: I-I do everything for these people. I slave over these adventures for them. I step outside my comfort zone to appeal to them, a-and they still hate them! I made a program that creates a body perfectly encapsulating their mind files, and they hate those, too! I'm starting to get the feeling that they just... hate...
Loonyland also feels prevalent for Jax and Caine. The first resident of Loonyland our heroes meet is Sir Leonard Looney, a lanky purple prankster, and also a fantastical inventor, who continuously plays pranks under the guise of helping them, singing a song about how he does this because he loves them:
Sir Leonard Looney: BAM!
The flag says, "You need help."
Raggedy Ann, Andy and Blue Camel, reading the flag: You need help.
Sir Leonard Looney: No, "You need help."
From a helpful person who gets a big kick out of helping people who need help.
Now I bet you want to know where Babette is.
- Yes! - Am I right?
Raggedy Ann: How did you know that?
Sir Leonard Looney: Well, leave it to Sir Leonard Looney.
The looniest knight of the year.
Oh, terrible.
Welcome to Looneyland!
It's where all the practical jokes in the world come from.
And guess what?
We're going to try them all out on you!
Raggedy Andy: Come on, let's get out of here.
Sir Leonard Looney: Oh, I love it! I love it!
Once you're in, you're in, and nobody ever gets out of Looneyland.
Raggedy Ann: Why are you doing all this to us?
Sir Leonard Looney: It's easy!
Aha!
Hey!
The reason that I…
*electrocutes Andy*
Is 'cause I love you.
The reason that I…
*sticks an explosive cigar in Andy’s mouth*
Is 'cause I care.
And every mad invention
I bring to your attention
is just to show how much I need you there.
The fact that I go
*honks horn in their faces*
-means I adore you.
I'll show you every crazy way I do.
You made be all a’ tatters, but laughter's all that matters.
*throws pie into Ann and Andy’s faces*
And that's how I love you.
Oh, boy!
Much like Caine who is characterised similarly in being over the top and goofy, and in the Ep8 trailer is described as “the Lover”
“The Lover had always wanted friends. But he didn’t know how to get anyone to love him back. The harder he tried to impress the people with his magic, the more he would drive them away.”
…desperate to show his love and be loved, but only hurting them in the process, like we see in EP8 during his breakdown, especially his song “The One whose Running the Show” where he also tortures them with similar cartoonish gags and nonstop wacky adventures like Leonard Looney, to force them to see things from his point of view, because he wants to understand, to be understood, to love and be loved, however twisted the way he goes about it seems.
There’s also Jax who for most of the show characterizes himself as “the funny one” who says he adds a necessary dynamic to the group in doing so. He only feels safe interacting with the others and existing in the circus if he treats everything as a joke:
Jax: (scoffs, turning to face Pomni. he points to himself) Listen, I add a key dynamic. I see how far I can push things, (shoves Pomni) I screw with people, (toys with Pomni's hat tails) and I break the fourth wall. (stares and points at the camera) You wanna know why? It's 'cause it's funny! (Ducks down to Pomni's level, then straightens up and flails his arms in the air) I do everything 'cause it's funny! 'Cause I'm the funny one!
But this also clearly stems from Jax having a deep seated fear of being laughed at, feeling insecure and small:
…So he puts down others to make himself feel bigger, usually under the guise of it being some kind of funny gag that is often violent:
…which is exactly what the King of Loonyland does, as an incredibly short king, he laments his own smallness:
Raggedy Ann: Your Highness-
King Kookoo: You mean lowness.
Yeah, lowness. That's what it is.
Raggedy Ann: What?
King Kookoo: Tell it like you see it, dollface.
Lowness.
You notice it. Everybody notices it.
Raggedy Ann: Notices what?
King Kookoo: I am short!
King Kookoo: Oh, just think what I could do
if I was big like you
and I didn't have to put up all this front.
Imagine me an enormous king.
How they'd bow, how they'd cheer.
I'd be the heir of everything.
But now they hardly know I'm even here.
Silence!
I can never hope to lead.
I'm just a crumb.
Did Napoleon succeed?
Don't be dumb.
And if he was here, you'd see, he was tall compared to me.
I can hardly stand myself.
Do you know why?
It's not easy being king when you're short.
And I could die.
Raggedy Ann: Oh, maybe you'll grow.
King Kookoo: The only way I can grow is when I laugh at other people.
And that's why you're here.
Raggedy Andy: You lay off my sister!
King Kookoo: Ha, ha, ha. Oh, that's cute.
And can only make himself feel bigger by laughing at others, which he gets called out on by Raggedy Ann:
Raggedy Ann: Making fun of other people never made anybody bigger than anybody else!
Putting up a front to cover up their own insecurities, hating themselves, putting down others to make themselves feel like a big man, all fit perfectly with Jax’s own coping mechanisms in the circus as the “Funny One”
Now of course the most obvious allusions are the titular characters themselves, Raggedy Ann and Andy, with Ragatha and Jax, since they are explicitly stated to be inspired by them. Ragatha is a ragdoll who is kind and always tries to see the bright side like Ann, Andy is the more cynical one who puts up a tough guy front, who cares more than he lets on, like Jax. Ann and Andy are meant to balance one another out, Ann calls out Andy when he’s being too mean, and brings out a softer and more caring side to him. When Ann is too hard on herself or her kind nature leads to her getting hurt, he is there to uplift her and protect her.
He helps Ann in her initial attempt to befriend Babette, (even while not liking Babette himself much) and while Ann describes herself as “plain as can be” Andy describes her as “sweet as can be” in her song.
After Ann frees the pirate captain from his snow globe out of a desire to help him and he ends up kidnapping Babette, she blames herself and sees it as her responsibility to save Babette, Andy insists on coming with her to make sure she’s safe
Ann reprimands Andy for making fun of the Blue Camel and dismissing him as crazy
Andy sings a whole song about how Ann’s care and love for him helped him in his darkest moments and when he was feeling scared in Candy Heart and Paper Flowers
However, with Ragatha and Jax, they clearly clash instead of complimenting and uplifting each other, because while they possess the same traits as Ann and Andy, it is in the extreme to the point they antagonise one another. We have Andy’s machismo tough guy front who while he says he hates girls and refuses to show a softer side (and has a whole song dedicated to this):
Andy: I'll tell you something.
I'm getting pretty sick and tired of all the dumb things that go on around here.
This is no place for a strong, tough, and terrific boy like myself.
Grandpa: You're strong, tough, and terrific?
Andy: I could be, if I didn't have to hang around this nursery and be a girl's doll!
[ANDY]
Well, you can push me, shove me, turn me around, but I’m no girl’s toy!
You can tie me, toss me, upside or down, but I'm no girl’s toy!
I sing my own sweet melody, I go my own sweet way
I won’t beg ‘round tomorrow for the kind of affection that was free today!
[ANDY]
Oh, you can squeeze me, tease me, say I’m your own, but I’m no girl’s toy!
You can charm me, chase me, follow me home; I won’t be coy!
You may not like it much, but I’m my own best boy
And not some sugar and spicy, lacy and nicey, sissy you’re gonna enjoy!
No, I’m no girl’s toy!
[ANN, spoken]
Oh, Andrew, you're just terrible
[SUSIE PINCUSHION, spoken]
A regular Huck' Finn
[ANDY, spoken]
Wouldn't you be? Pushed around and squashed up by a bunch of girls?
[GRANDPA, spoken]
You tell 'em, sonny!
[BARNEY BEANBAG, spoken]
Yeah, ya- d'uh. Tell 'еm what?
[MAXI-FIXIT, spoken]
What'da mean? Tell-a da truth!
[TOPSY, spoken]
What truth?
[ANDY, spoken]
Too many girls!
[ANDY]
You say I’m heaps of trouble and I’m headin’ for a fall
Well no rag, no bone, no hank o' hair is gonna make me do what I don’t wanna do at all!
So squeeze me, tease me, say I’m your own, but I’m no girl’s toy!
Oh, charm me, chase me, follow me home… forget it, sweetie!
You may not like it much, but I’m my own best boy
And not some sugar and spicy, lacy and nicey, sissy you’re gonna enjoy!
No, I’m no girl’s toy!
…but spends all of the movie helping and protecting his sister Ann. Meanwhile Jax is incredibly entrenched in toxic masculinity of never showing any vulnerability and deliberately hurting and abusing those around him, specifically the most feminine characters in the cast, Gangle and Ragatha. Ragatha meanwhile is genuinely kind like Ann is, but holds herself so responsible for everyone’s wellbeing that she puts too much pressure on herself, and tries so hard to be friends with everyone that her efforts can feel performative. She tries to see the bright side of things like Ann, and Ann has a whole song about how the world is bright and beautiful through her eyes:
(ANN): I LOOK AND WHAT DO I SEE?
LOOKING OUT WITH TWO BRAND-NEW SHOEBUTTON EYES, HERE’S WHAT APPEARS TO ME:
I SEE LOTS OF PRETTY, AND A LOT OF HAPPY
AND A BIT OF EVERYTHING THAT’S THERE INSIDE OF ME!
I LOOK AND WHAT DO I SEE?
FROM A HEAD ALL FILLED WITH THREAD AND LINEN IN A RAGGY JAMBOREE
I SEE LOTS OF SMILING AND A LOT OF SINGING
AND A LOT OF SOMETHING ELSE THAT NO ONE ELSE CAN SEE!
LOTS OF BUTTERFLIES IN THE AIR
LOTS OF HONEYCOMB EVERYWHERE
ALL THE PRETTY THINGS WE COULD SHARE
TOGETHER!
I LOOK AND WHAT DO I SEE?
IT’S A FACE AS SMILING AND AS HOPEFUL AS MY OWN FACE HAS TO BE
SEEING SOMETHING PRETTY, ALL LIT UP AND SHINING
SEEING SOMETHING EVERYONE COULD BE IF THEY WERE ME
WHEN I LOOK, THAT’S WHAT I SEE!
[GRANDPA]
You really see it that way?
[SUSIE PINCUSHION]
Just that lovely?
[GRANDPA]
WITH THE BUTTERFLIES IN THE AIR?
[SOCKO]
EVERY SINGLE DAY?
[MAXI-FIXIT]
WITH THE HONEYCOMB EVERYWHERE?
[TOPSY]
REALLY?
[ALL]
WITH A HAPPINESS WE COULD SHARE
TOGETHER?
[ANN]
TOGETHER!
I LOOK AND WHAT DO I SEE?
IT’S A FACE AS SMILING AND AS HOPEFUL AS I KNOW A FACE COULD BE!
SEEING SOMETHING PRETTY, ALL LIT UP AND SHINING;
SEEING SOMETHING EVERYONE COULD BE THE SAME AS ME!
WHEN I LOOK
[ALL]
WHEN I LOOK
WHEN I LOOK
WHEN I LOOK
[ANN]
THAT’S WHAT I SEE!
But one of the notable things about Ragatha’s design is her blue button eye, which alludes to her mother’s abuse and her having a black eye. So, the way Ragatha views the world through one eye is like Ann, having an optimistic view. The other button eye which Ragatha sees through is her worldview being coloured by her mother’s abuse, the hurt, pain and fear of abandonment.
One of the most explicit references to the movie is Ragatha’s line in Ep4:
Ragatha: Hurt, nothin'! I'm hurt enough. Packages landin' on my head. Tea parties. Dancin' lessons.
Which is what Andy says during his song “No Girl’s Toy”, which is interesting to me that Ragatha, the one alluding to Ann, would say instead of Jax, who alludes to Andy. Of course the line ties in better to Ragatha’s background growing up in a wealthy family. But I also think it is making a point about Ragatha and Jax being narrative foils who need to integrate, in Ragatha’s case she needs to be more comfortable expressing her negative emotions, like Jax, like Andy. In Jax’s case he needs to reach out to others and show more compassion, like Ragatha, like Ann.
𝕷𝖆𝖒𝖎𝖆, 𝖕𝖚𝖊𝖗, 𝖊𝖙 𝖘𝖊𝖗𝖕𝖊𝖓𝖘 👑🍎🐍
Long live the King!
i love eva and mitski
How do you feel about people’s frustration with Charlie not using her powers to solve the conflict with the Vees? A lot of critics think that as one of Hell’s supposedly strongest demons after Lucifer and the Sins, she should’ve been able to stop Vox and free Angel from Valentino, and her not doing so is seen as another example of shows supposedly bad writing and her being a bad protagonist. Can I get a rebuttal for this take too, as well as why Charlie not being the badass people want her to be helps her arc? I admit that I do wish to see her more badass side myself and hate seeing her get humiliated and fail all the time is a little degrading (especially with how she was forced to call Vox the strongest in Hell on live tv).
Hi,
sure, I can give you my two cents :)
1- Charlie is simply not a good fighter. Having power is different than knowing how to fight. Charlie dislikes violence hence she is not an expert at fighting. Season 1 final fight makes it obvious:
Exhibit A-Charlie is strong enough to disperse a flock of exorcists with one finger. Despite this, she is scared and fights defensively with her shield. If she knew how to apply her power in battle, she could potentially do much more damage.
Exhibit B-Charlie has more power than Adam, but she loses their one on one because he has more experience.
happy witch hat atelier day!
The new cake shop in town
🌱 the peacemaker spirit 🌱
the auction takes place here 🍃
Lute from my fanfic Precious like Starlight, a what-if story where Lute is the one to fall instead of Vaggi. Glacially slowburn Charlute, Lute redemption, and a deep dive into why the angel behaves the way she does.
Painted by the incredibly skilled Andelevion on Sufficient Velocity! Look at how beautiful those brushstrokes are, I feel like I can touch her clothes and wings! Commissioned by an anonymous fan of my work. Seriously, you’re amazing for doing this, thank you so much for this piece ;-; She looks absolutely gorgeous!
A compilation of Bipoc lead fantasy series made by my mutual themightyzo on Instagram
Where to watch the ones available
I am Frankelda
The Glassworker
Iyanu the child of wonder
The Ebony Witch
Alchemy in Revolutionary Girl Utena
I have just watched Revolutionary Girl Utena for the first time and it was incredible! So, I wanna write a meta on how the story uses alchemy motifs to convey its themes. I have watched the series only once, so I am sure I am missing many details. That said... here we go!
WHAT IS ALCHEMY?
(If you already know about alchemical stories and how they work, feel free to skip the first two paragraphs).
Alchemy is an ancient discipline whose goal was to create the philosopher stone. This stone was said to grant eternal life and to change metals into gold. To make the stone the alchemist was expected to follow a specific process rooted in the idea of "solvet et coagula" (separate and unite).
This discipline is now obviously overcome. However, its impact on our society is still there, both practically (alchemy evolved into chemistry and physics) and culturally (alchemical symbols are all over the place in art, fairy tales and even modern stories).
In particular, alchemical stories make use of symbols relating to alchemy to convey themes and character arcs. How do they do this?
THE FOUR PHASES OF ALCHEMY AND JUNG
According to tradition, the alchemical process has four phases: the black stage (nigredo), the white stage (albedo), the yellow stage (citrinitas) and the red stage (rubedo). Jung analyzed these stages from a metaphorical and psychological standpoint and associated them to archetypes:
The Black Phase is associated to the shadow aka the part of the self we repress. It is our darkest feelings, but also our hidden potential.
The White Phase is associated to the anima/animus aka the feminine/masculine part of the self. This archetype embodies the traits we need to integrate and that we look for in a romantic partner.
The Yellow Phase is associated to the Wise Woman aka the stand-in for the mother. This phase represents the first step of growing up. It is the moment the child separates from the parental figure to discover who they are.
The Red Phase is associated to the Self aka the archetype that combines all the others. It is who we are as people.
In short, the alchemical process becomes a metaphor for growing up. As a consequence, alchemical stories usually use these four phases to convey the psychological evolution of its characters. Not only that, but usually each stage culminates in a death because the idea of alchemy is "to separate and unite", "destroy and recreate", "die and be reborn". In short, each death advances the narrative and brings the characters closer to the philosopher stone (self-actualization/whatever the narrative goal is in the story).
This may seem overly complicated, but alchemical stories are actually everywhere, especially in the fantasy genre. For example, both Lord Of The Rings and Harry Potter use alchemy. Think about Harry Potter and its three key deaths:
Sirius BLACK > black death
ALBUS Dumbledore > white death
Harry's own death that culminates with his body being taken by RUBEUS Hagrid > red death
In other words, the characters' names allude to the three phases of alchemy (often the yellow phase is either skipped in stories or incorporated into the red phase).
cuckoo
I forgot to post this here yesterday for mother's day.
Waterfowl AU
Little Charlie thinks her mom is the prettiest swan at the pond.