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holy mother of yap

yeehaw this post is way longer than it ever needed to be isn't it. waaaay way out of my comfort zone in terms of what im used to writing but nothing ventured nothing gained right

i know this bit isn't what you're here for, but it does need to be addressed. please at least consider reading:

first things first, gonna need to lay down some ground rules. please be respectful about this. i understand it is almost certainly well intentioned and not coming from a harmful place, but please do not lean so heavily into analysis of closed cultures you are not personally familiar with! native cultural practices and beliefs are a touchy subject at best as discussed by people not personally involved in them. digging into closed cultural practices for fandom is not a very good look, especially in regards to speakers of endangered languages. it's not really appropriate to ask a random person from the applicable culture online these kinds of questions if they are not already opening the door for this kind of conversation first. please be mindful of this. we are not here to source inspiration for your fanworks

i know boothill's home planet is the localization of the chinese words for algonqiuian and apache. however, especially considering the lack of any extra implication of these as direct, explicit, and intentional influences (which i think is a much better choice), it does not seem appropriate to assume and act as if he is from those cultures unless you personally are from or closely know someone who is, in order to avoid saying/doing something you have no business handling as an outsider to that community. i would not expect a company from halfway across the world to be able to reliably get accurate information about and write mindfully about these specific cultures without a lot of effort, so the name is more of a nod to the more intentional general indigenous coding present throughout his entire character than a solid indication of where his home planet is supposed to be an analogue to from real life. these peoples were practically across the country from each other as shown below (historical algonquian territories left, apache right), and had very different lives, beliefs, and practices as a result. it is not appropriate to conflate the two unless you are familiar with them BOTH on a personal level

and to be fully clear: art of him in native/inspired clothing is not the problem! i'm specifically talking about asking speakers of those languages for input on his "real name" or interpreting intimate personal aspects of their culture and belief systems as if they are your own when they are not. to err on the safe side probably don't refer to him as twospirit if you aren't native either. you do not have the same context of what that means if it cannot apply to you, it is not a third gender on its own, its an umbrella term that itself covers a broader scope and varies between individuals but that is a discussion for another time. if hoyo had the good sense not to do this, i don't think you should either. it looks a bit too invasive for me to not say anything. i would similarly advise y'all not apply anything from this analysis as your own if you do not have any personal ties to it, if you wouldn't mind. please don't take this as a personal attack or me chewing people out publicly, it's just a concerning pattern i've noticed over time and finally have the chance to point out

now. onto the actual fun part lmao

note before we proceed: this is based off my personal interpretation and connection to the medicine wheel. many tribes have many different interpretations even within themselves, so this will not necessarily be true across the board for everyone, especially considering the history of this symbol is fraught with controversy and appropriation! personally i know my specific familiarity with it is slightly off from the more standard ones. can't post it or it's essentially doxxing myself, but be aware there is some variance in symbolism/significance in regards to who is using it. this is both the one i'm most familiar with and also the one that makes the most sense to me because of my personal connection to it. exact meanings and associations of specific symbols are also my own interpretation based on my upbringing, not indigenous north americans as a monolith

this is a medicine wheel. there are many like it but this one is mine (for the sake of visualizing this):

the medicine wheel is a symbol that has been widely adopted among various native american tribes under the the movement of pan-indianism (or, unity among tribes, particularly as a means of protesting against racism and oppression). it did not originate with one specific tribe, which means that there are many different variations and interpretations out there, especially including ones appropriated for tone deaf racist practices, but this is what we will be using as a reference for the purposes of this post. symbolically, it is representative of life as a complete cycle, the stages thereof, and a means of spiritual guidance through them. the meanings and order often vary between communities based on how the medicine wheel was adopted and integrated into their existing belief structure, which it was not originally made to fit, as it has been reclaimed from the original creator, who was a racist liar who stole it in the first place. lmao. it's relatively recent as far as cultural significance goes, but that does not lessen its impact to individuals and communities alike, though it is largely up to individual preference/belief if and how it's used.

the colors are most often interpreted clockwise, starting with the center-right quadrant, which is red here. the order matters symbolically here, so i will explain them in order. each color represents many things, particularly a cardinal direction, an element, a plant used in ceremonial practices (which in this context is used interchangeably with the word medicine; medicine does not always mean treating a physical ailment for the purposes of this), an animal, a season, a time of day, a stage of life, and an aspect of the human experience. not all of these are grounded in historical belief or practice, some vary based on tribal location and culture, and some are vibes based new age-y additions that some people still consider to hold significance to their relationship with it. as an additional note, the colors both individually and as a whole tend to represent individual races and their unity in addition to everything else listed here. you can guess which corresponds to which, but i won't be including that so much because it's not relevant and since its pretty outdated feels.. more than a bit racist by contemporary standards lol.

starting with red, its associations lie with the east, fire, tobacco, the eagle, spring, morning, birth or a new beginning, and one's mind or selfhood. broadly speaking, these associations have to do with the start of a new cycle. the sun rises in the east; spring, morning, and birth all have connotations of a fresh start. eagles and their plumage tend to signify strength, wisdom, and courage, invaluable assets for embarking on any new journey- eagles are also generally regarded as significant central figures in line with many beliefs and traditions across cultures, though the specifics tend to vary. despite the reputation for being a fierce bird of prey, eagles will scavenge from their surroundings if given the opportunity, and will feed on a kill that was not their own in order to more easily sate themselves. in this way, the eagle may not necessarily be able to take down the bear on its own, but will be sustained by it regardless begin the cycle of life again. fire in this context represents the spark of new life, or motivation to start anew. tobacco is used for ceremonial purposes related to gestures of peace, community, and connection to both the world around oneself and their spiritual beliefs or religion. in short, the conviction to turn over a new leaf, whether that's life as a whole or a chapter of it.

yellow corresponds to the south, the earth, the cedar tree, the deer, summer, afternoon, adolescence and growth, and one's body or physicality. this one is for growth, change, and connection to oneself and the surrounding world. the earth below is solid (yes, not how south works directionally, but kinda just entails Down in this context), the afternoon is when the sun hits its apex, and summer is when days grow longer and warmer, more full of life. adolescence and growing up are the process by which one develops a sense of self and purpose, both internal and external, as well as physically growing into an adult. branches of the cedar tree are burned and its leaves are prepared medicinally to purge and ward against both spiritual harm and physical ailments, as well as the tree and its byproducts as a whole symbolizing protection and safety; all necessary elements for a burgeoning life to flourish successfully. deer teach lessons of patience and natural intuition, "keeping one's feet on the ground", so to speak, across several cultures. the body is the conduit by which one connects both their physical and spiritual selves, and interfaces with their community and culture, and all other aspects of the world they inhabit.

as for black, its symbolism lies in the west, water, sage, the wolf, fall, evening, adulthood and maturity, and the emotional aspect of the self. light dies down as the sun sets in the west, days grow shorter as the leaves change color, and the world seems to quiet down slowly as the waters of time usher it gently along. adult life is seen as the culmination of oneself, the idea of a person's identity and the experiences they've had crystallized and shaped them into the person they are in the present- they have matured physically and emotionally. water is a necessity for not only human life, but all forms on life on any planet, both as a means to continue moving forward like a winding river, or branching off into dozens of creeks and streams to further nourish the land and the life it supports; and one that can be easily tainted and lost if mistreated, at that. in a similar way to the historical treatment of many indigenous peoples across the globe, colonizers mistake wolves for a threat to them and their ideal way of life for having the audacity to be dangerous and inconvenient after being encroached upon by settlers. in reality, wolves provide not only the vital service of maintaining the balance of prey animals so they can all thrive without starving each other, but also lessons in moderation, efficiency, intelligence, and loyalty. they take no more than they need from their environment, they expend no more time and energy than necessary to successfully hunt, and they rely upon each other to succeed as a whole. just as time will inevitably pass, so too will the wolf catch up with the deer. sage has medicinal ties to blessings, restoration of balance, and cleansing, as well as a vital and nutritious food source to the peoples it sustains; it needs care and attention to thrive, and this source of physical and spiritual nourishment will quickly be lost if exploited. whether to take water away from the land, the wolf from its habitat, the sage from its people, the progression of seasons and time from the world, or emotions and hard won wisdom from a person, all of these actions would surely end in a stagnant, festering death of the things that depend on it to persist. for this, they all deserve equal respect for their part in maintaining the various delicate balances of the world and life itself. they maintain the equilibrium of life, while also constantly moving it toward its inevitable conclusion.

and finally, white, which entails the north, wind, sweetgrass, the bear, winter, night, old age and death, and the spiritual self, heart, or otherwise fundamental core of one's being. as nights grow longer and light wanes, pure white snow from the northward sky blankets the earth in preparation for weary souls to return to their home after reaching the apex of their experience and wisdom in the mortal world. just as the wind is said to give life, it also gently guides it back to its origin, granting truth, enlightenment, purification, and clarity. sweetgrass is a particularly symbolic plant, and its preparation for ceremonial use is as if the people are braiding the hair of the earth itself, returning the dedication and love given to them by her, and upholding the responsibility of showing her gratitude and nurturing for all that she provides. the act of braiding itself is a form of connection and prayer, giving gratitude and blessings for ancestors, descendants, and the lessons learned and practiced within the community for the benefit of all those who come before and after. the sweet smoke when burned attracts good spirits, cleanses and purifies the spirits of the living, and provides mental peace and clarity, particularly in times of strife. the bear stands for health, protection, resilience, and strength, due to its physical might and prowess, and the long held belief that bears could heal their own wounds from their ability to continue fighting even while injured. in these ways, white is tied to spiritual strength, purity and clarity of spirit, and the end of a cycle to make way for something new in its place.

so, between all of this layered color symbolism, where does that leave boothill?

starting over again with red, these are the most striking details on his design immediately on first glance. his serape appears singed, worn, and dirtied, which can be interpreted as the traumatic and devastating loss he suffered as the beginning of this most recent cycle in his life, seeking revenge, as well as an inability and lack of desire to let go of or forget this transgression. this same article of clothing appears to be a memento from his life before, signifying the place and people he loved so dearly, and the only home he ever knew, which are all the root cause of how and why he's ended up on the path he has. there's also an eagle on the back of his left shoulder, as well as presumably eagle feathers adorning the band of his hat, which tie in to the symbolism of red in the medicine wheel as outlined above. it seems notable to me that the majority of the red accents trend toward his back, or generally parts of his clothes he won't see if he's looking forward. in a way, that represents his optimism and conviction to press on, but even if he doesn't usually see them, of course he knows they're there. he may not talk about what lead him to this point openly, but that will never lessen its impact or weight. every day might as well be a new start of the cycle, even if it's just one step of a great many closer to his goal, and all he has to do is keep moving. he can't see his tattered serape if he's looking ahead, but should he look back at the path behind him, it's a reminder of where he began.

yellow is a weaker design aspect here, but that also feels significant. even interpreting the gold accents he has all over as yellow, it's not the most prominent aspect of him visually. i take this to mean that this is not a time in his life for growth and change, and he is set on the path he follows. in a way he's not hoping for any kind of safety or protection for himself, and views his targets as the ones that need to be protected from him. his original body was willingly discarded, and his home planet has been desecrated, so his ties to both are functionally severed. his foothold in life is no longer as firm as it once was, so yellow is more remarkable in its absence.

black makes up the majority of the visual real estate of boothill's design, on both his clothes and parts of his body. his shirt in particular has some loose visual similarities that could imply it may have once been a version of an IPC uniform, possibly the one he initially stole as outlined in his lore, and has since modified. this interpretation would be a reclamation of the symbol of an oppressor to be used against them, as well as a physical symbol of both the emotional weight he's both stated in the text of his light cone and presumed to feel given the massacre of his homeland as inflicted by the IPC, which i highly doubt would be dulled too much by any amount of time. there are also connotations of being entrenched in his pursuit of revenge, especially in the context of the relative lack of yellow, meaning he's staying right where he is and not giving up the idea of making things right. the black in his hair, one of the only organic parts of himself left, is also representative of this unwillingness to change his mind; it's physically part of him as a person. if something else along the lines of the tragedy that befell him happened, he always would've ended up in a similar place as this, as long as there's a target for him to take aim at. we've found him well after a great deal of change has taken place in his life, and it's fundamentally reshaped the person he is in some ways, while leaving others relatively intact. the association with wolves also ties into his identity both before and after the calamity as a hunter, and a particularly skilled one at that, which is a key element of who he is regardless of stage in his life. he isn't stagnant, he's moving, but he's on a fixed path, and it isn't changing. his thoughts and feelings about himself, his family, his planet, his culture, and even the wider universe around him are completely inextricable from who he is, no matter how much he's changed since then.

and finally, white ended up being especially loaded and poignant to me by the time i got to this portion. before getting here, i thought it would be far briefer than this lol, but. since it shows up the very least, only notable in his hair and small accents across his outfit, and is essentially in no great quantities on its own undisturbed and bright. the closest otherwise is a relatively light dove gray lining his hat and clothes. due to both the immense loss he suffered and his subsequent disconnection from the people and place he cared for the absolute most, no doubt some aspect of himself fundamentally feels broken or tarnished compared to the person he used to be, since a sudden and violent colonization from outside his scope of reality was certainly not something he ever even dreamed of as a possibility. even down to his culture and language, his people have been nearly wiped out and forced onto allegorical reservations, and from the moment the IPC made contact both he and his entire community were forcibly assimilated into a language they never consented to learn just so they could demand access to the resources of this planet they felt entitled to. as mentioned in the slumbernana quest arc, death held a particular significance on his home planet:

and by making himself harder to kill just to achieve his vengeance, he's intentionally cut another pretty significant tie to not only himself but also his culture, which speaks to how much he needs to finish what the IPC started, in the name of the place he once loved. depending on how cyborgs work in this setting, he may not be able to die of any natural cause including old age, or at least is much less likely to. distancing himself from this element of the equation violates not only natural laws but also a deeply held cultural belief.

it being his hair and coming from the only remnant of his original body he has left is also deeply meaningful, since your hair is essentially who you are, where you came from, and who you came from. it is a significant and powerful representation of cultural identity and community, and who you are within that community, which is why you may have heard before that cutting hair is culturally significant to us. to cut your hair is to sever these ties to yourself, your family, your community, and your worldview, which is typically a sign of either a great change, most commonly in reference to loss and grief, or forced assimilation, depending on whether it was voluntary or not- it's been heartbreakingly common historically for forcibly assimilated men to have their hair cut off in particular, as a display of power and compulsory upholding of colonizer gender/sex ideals. in a similar vein, he also gave up the name he was given by the family that loved him for one inextricably linked with death as well, erasing his own identity in favor of one that has particularly deep roots for a culture that places such a unique emphasis on death and its significance for their beliefs. with his white hair being one of the only remaining elements of his original self still intact, this shows that his spirit isn't tarnished, broken, or otherwise marred by the path he's been set on, no matter what anyone else thinks of it.

he's forsaken his entire physical body, his name, his identity, his sense of self, nearly everything but his face in terms of physical features someone would recognize him by, because he could never be the same person without the people and places that meant so much to him. not to mention any remaining ties he may have had with any survivors, and any religious or spiritual beliefs he or his community held. as far as he's concerned, they're all as good as gone, and he knows there's nothing he can do about that. and maybe discarding these foundational elements of himself that lead him to be who he is now will be worth it for his pound of flesh. who's to say, really?

i don't have a whole lot by way of closing notes here since this analysis was largely for the purposes of color interpretation through this specific lens and not iconography, but i have two details i ended up finding over the course of research that i was personally not so familiar with beforehand but struck me as interesting. certain adaptations of the medicine wheel depending on culture may add a green circle in the very middle to represent nature, life, and mother earth, which struck me as reminiscent of his little target pin.

and his blood being a dark blue shares a similarity to how some medicine wheels use blue in place of black. i did not grow up hearing these myself which is why they don't get as much focus here, so take that with a grain of salt, but they just so happened to line up remarkably well lol.

i think that's about all i got in me for the time being. i focused way too hard on it for way too long and had to get it out of my head. hope this was at least somewhat interesting!

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