In fandoms we trust.

A 20 something female from Canada with a self appointed BA Honours Degree in Fangirlology, aspirations, and no life.

[luna-azzurra]

FACIAL MICRO EXPRESSIONS FOR WRITERS <3

[bluecheesecakebubbles]

Let's talk about the dedication of fangirls, fanboys, fujoshi, fudanshi, and all the other terms I haven't learned yet.

Who else actively has Google translate open because the only available version of the manhwa they're reading is in polish?

Who else goes on sketchy sites just to find that one couple they saw on Pinterest?

Who else finds good dynamic rarepairs and creates content of that rarepair because there's none existing?

Us. We do. Because we're dedicated to our cuties and our hotties. Because we have to read more about these 2 guys being adorable or these 2 girls crushing hard.

Where would the BL community be if not for fujoshis and fudanshis? Where would fandoms be if not for fangirls, fanboys, cosplayers and artists who adore the fandom's media with all they've got?

WHERE WOULD AO3 BE WITHOUT STAR TREK FANS AND SUPERNATURAL DESTIEL SHIPPERS?

We, all of us, are the walking core of fandom. We, the gay, the neurodivergent, the mentally ill, and those with artistic spirits, are holding communities together with our oddities, magnificence, and imagination.

BE WEIRD. BE PROUD. BE A FAN.

[fandomsandfeminism]

So, you want to start reading Discworld, but have no idea where to start?

Great news! It doesnt matter! (I mean, it sort of matters. Some books are better starters than others, but none are truly bad.)

Discworld is a shared universe, more like a collection of smaller series, not one cohesive story. It has retcons and contradictions and each book can stand alone, though many are improved if read in their order of publication within their set of characters.

It might be tempting to just start at the beginning- The Colour of Magic. Except...The Colour of Magic...isnt very good. It's fine, of course! But Sir Terry hadnt quite worked out the tone and vibe of the books yet, which makes CoM a poor representation of the world as a whole. I dont recommend it.

This article gives many great options.

This reading order map is fun visually.

And my personal recommendations:

Guards Guards is the first of the City Watch books. I think it is the best starting place for most people. It is funny, thoughtful, and both Sam and Sybil are among the best characters on the disc.

Mort is the first Death book. While not my favorite Death book, it's a good introduction to the character. Very funny.

Equal Rites is the first witch book. A lot of its details about the Unseen University get retconned later, but it gets you a fun peek at how magic works on the disc.

Other options:

Hogfather is the 4th Death book, but certainly the most iconic and its Christmas-y! (Hogswatchy?) It also has a great TV adaption.

Small Gods is a stand alone novel set long before most of the other books. It is thoughtful and funny and really good.

Wee Free Men is the first Tiffany book, which themselves are kind of sequels to the Witch books. They are also maybe my favorite books in the whole series. I only put it down here because the final Tiffany book (Shepards Crown) is the final Discworld book, and I'd wait to read that one until you've read though more of the series.

[fandomsandfeminism]

What kind of man would put a known criminal in charge of a major branch of government? Apart from, say, the average voter.

Terry Pratchett, Going Postal

[wilwheaton]

[hotelcrying]

https://stopproject2025comic.org/

[ladytuarach]

This is amazing !!!

[antisocialpyromaniac]

[wonderfulworldofmichaelford]

In light of recent events, let’s not forget that H. Bomberguy is responsible for driving a formerly-beloved transphobic TV writer into a downward spiral that cost him his career and his family… all by playing Donkey Kong.

[jane--brain-deactivated20240704]

[itsthatgreenone]

Let’s also not forget that Jim Sterling is now Stephanie Sterling!

[ghrugirlclub]

Good for her. Good for her.

[nando161mando]

oops! it seems i tripped and dropped several million free books, papers, and other resources

https://annas-archive.org

https://sci-hub.se

https://z-lib.is

https://libgen.is

https://libgen.rs

https://www.pdfdrive.com

https://library.memoryoftheworld.org

https://monoskop.org/Monoskop

https://libcom.org

https://libretexts.org

http://classics.mit.edu

https://librivox.org

https://standardebooks.org

https://www.gutenberg.org

https://core.ac.uk

[uncle-chambo]

Woopsie! I dropped one more!

Oceanofpdf.com

[crimsonprimrose-crime]

reblogging to save lives (im lives)

[wordsnstuff]

Resources For Writing Sketchy Topics

Medicine

A Study In Physical Injury

Comas

Medical Facts And Tips For Your Writing Needs

Broken Bones

Burns

Unconsciousness & Head Trauma

Blood Loss

Stab Wounds

Pain & Shock

All About Mechanical Injuries (Injuries Caused By Violence)

Writing Specific Characters

Portraying a kleptomaniac.

Playing a character with cancer.

How to portray a power driven character.

Playing the manipulative character.

Portraying a character with borderline personality disorder.

Playing a character with Orthorexia Nervosa.

Writing a character who lost someone important.

Playing the bullies.

Portraying the drug dealer.

Playing a rebellious character.

How to portray a sociopath.

How to write characters with PTSD.

Playing characters with memory loss.

Playing a pyromaniac.

How to write a mute character.

How to write a character with an OCD.

How to play a stoner.

Playing a character with an eating disorder.

Portraying a character who is anti-social.

Portraying a character who is depressed.

How to portray someone with dyslexia.

How to portray a character with bipolar disorder.

Portraying a character with severe depression.

How to play a serial killer.

Writing insane characters.

Playing a character under the influence of marijuana.

Tips on writing a drug addict.

How to write a character with HPD.

Writing a character with Nymphomania.

Writing a character with schizophrenia.

Writing a character with Dissociative Identity Disorder.

Writing a character with depression.

Writing a character who suffers from night terrors.

Writing a character with paranoid personality disorder.

How to play a victim of rape.

How to play a mentally ill/insane character.

Writing a character who self-harms.

Writing a character who is high on amphetamines.

How to play the stalker.

How to portray a character high on cocaine.

Playing a character with ADHD.

How to play a sexual assault victim.

Writing a compulsive gambler.

Playing a character who is faking a disorder.

Playing a prisoner.

Portraying an emotionally detached character.

How to play a character with social anxiety.

Portraying a character who is high.

Portraying characters who have secrets.

Portraying a recovering alcoholic.

Portraying a sex addict.

How to play someone creepy.

Portraying sexually/emotionally abused characters.

Playing a character under the influence of drugs.

Playing a character who struggles with Bulimia.

Illegal Activity

Examining Mob Mentality

How Street Gangs Work

Domestic Abuse

Torture

Assault

Murder

Terrorism

Internet Fraud

Cyberwarfare

Computer Viruses

Corporate Crime

Political Corruption

Drug Trafficking

Human Trafficking

Sex Trafficking

Illegal Immigration

Contemporary Slavery 

Black Market Prices & Profits

AK-47 prices on the black market

Bribes

Computer Hackers and Online Fraud

Contract Killing

Exotic Animals

Fake Diplomas

Fake ID Cards, Passports and Other Identity Documents

Human Smuggling Fees

Human Traffickers Prices

Kidney and Organ Trafficking Prices

Prostitution Prices

Cocaine Prices

Ecstasy Pills Prices

Heroin Prices

Marijuana Prices

Meth Prices

Earnings From Illegal Jobs

Countries In Order Of Largest To Smallest Risk

Forensics

arson

Asphyxia

Blood Analysis

Book Review

Cause & Manner of Death

Chemistry/Physics

Computers/Cell Phones/Electronics

Cool & Odd-Mostly Odd

Corpse Identification

Corpse Location

Crime and Science Radio

crime lab

Crime Scene

Cults and Religions

DNA

Document Examination

Fingerprints/Patterned Evidence

Firearms Analysis

Forensic Anthropology

Forensic Art

Forensic Dentistry

Forensic History

Forensic Psychiatry

General Forensics

Guest Blogger

High Tech Forensics

Interesting Cases

Interesting Places

Interviews

Medical History

Medical Issues

Misc

Multiple Murderers

On This Day

Poisons & Drugs

Police Procedure

Q&A

serial killers

Space Program

Stupid Criminals

Theft

Time of Death

Toxicology

Trauma

[guccifloralsuits]

nobody say a fucking word about tumblr we can’t remind these billionaires we exist

[theaceofarrows]

Reblog if you're asexual and tired

[astriiformes]

College friendship is sending one of your friends who's graduating soon a giant list of monster theory and gothic horror academic reading recs so they can download as many PDFs as possible before they lose their university database access

[astriiformes]

Got a request for some of the recs here, so here's a short-ish list of some of the reading recs -- I've made an effort to link open source and/or at least slightly more accessible databases like JSTOR wherever possible, but some of these are, admittedly behind various paywalls that I wish everyone luck with circumventing in whatever manner you deem fit

Monster Theory - Really great anthology to start with, especially the first reading, Jeffrey Jerome Cohen's famous "Monster Culture (Seven Theses)" which is a personal favorite

The Journal of the Fantastic in the Arts - A general SF/F journal, but there are definitely a lot of great monster theory and gothic horror readings sprinkled throughout. Consider taking a look at Veronica Hollinger's "The Vampire and/as Alien," the special issue on Dracula, and Faye J. Ringel's "Genetic Experimentation: Mad Scientists and the Beast," among others

Werewolf Histories edited by Willem Blécourt - Phenomenal anthology on werewolf scholarship, especially if you're interested in the connections between werewolves and witchcraft and/or witch trials in Early Modern Europe

Skin Shows: Gothic Horror and the Technology of Monsters by Jack Halberstam - Of interest to those who are interested in the connection between the gothic and gender (among other topics). Halberstam has written extensively on both

The Journal of Dracula Studies - Exactly what it sounds like.

Preternature: Critical and Historical Studies on the Preternatural - Another journal, which focuses on the connections between witchcraft and occultism, monsters, demonology, and the like.

Susan Stryker's "My Words to Victor Frankenstein Above the Village of Chamounix" - An absolutely landmark piece of writing on Frankenstein and the transgender (and in particular the transfeminine) experience; one of my favorite pieces of academic writing of all time.

Speaking of Monsters: A Teratological Anthology - Another solid monster theory anthology

Arts of Living on a Damaged Planet: Ghosts and Monsters of the Anthropocene - A really, really good anthology about the ecological gothic that I cannot recommend enough. As a known werewolf guy I especially like the piece "Wolf, or Homo homini lupus" by Carla Freccero

The Vampire Lectures by Lawrence Rickels - So many vampires

Monster Culture in the 21st Century: A Reader - Another anthology, I in particular recommend Rosalind Sibielski's "Gendering the Monster Within: Biological Essentialism, Sexual Difference, and Changing Symbolic Functions of the Monster in Popular Werewolf Texts" in this one.

"The Trans Legacy of Frankenstein" by Jolene Zigarovich - Definitely a good read if you enjoyed the Stryker piece earlier; it's a more general survey of the idea but might give you some ideas for further reading

TransGothic in Literature and Culture - A whole anthology of works on transgender identity and the gothic!

Twenty-First Century Gothic: An Edinburgh Companion - Not to be confused with the other similarly named anthology earlier, this one is on various modern perspectives on the gothic.

"Christians and Jews in the Twelfth Century Werewolf Renaissance" by David A. Shyovitz - Stand-alone article but really really interesting

Wonders and the Order of Nature: 1150-1750 by Lorraine Daston & Katherine Park - Incredible volume that gets into several different subjects surrounding the fantastical in the medieval and early modern eras, monsters among them. The same authors have written some other fantastic work, such as "Unnatural Conceptions: The Study of Monsters in Sixteenth- and Seventeenth-Century France and England" and I honestly would recommend any of their work.

Monster Anthropology: Ethnographic Explorations of Transforming Social Worlds Through Monsters - A more anthropology focused volume, I particularly like Rozanna Lilley's "Drawing in the Margins: My Son's Arsenal of Monsters—(Autistic) Imagination and the Cultural Capital of Childhood"

Marvels, Monsters, and Miracles: Studies in the Medieval and Early Modern Imaginations - Another anthology, this time with a historical perspective

This isn't even everything I've dug into on the subject, but I hope it's enough to get folks started on some reading!

[faeriekit]

"This fic was ai generated—" Cool, so lemme block you real quick

[justheretoread-ao3]

[mercymomentmurdermeasure]

i immediately thought of this

[mishacollins]

We’ve got work to do: go make sure you’re good to vote & you could win a trip to a Supernatural convention (and tea with me)! https://links.impactive.io/t/bolmmyju

[justgivemeabookplease]

Shrek 2, while a cinematic masterpiece, is also an interesting look at queerness and comp het.

Fiona is married so it's time to reunite with her parents. But instead of marrying a prince, she's married to an ogre. Not just that, but she's also an ogre. (Yes everyone knew she would sometimes be an ogre but that was when she was a child, she didn't know she would be an ogre for the rest of her life, and besides once she met the right prince she would stop being an ogre. She was supposed to stop being an ogre.)

But okay they're both ogres. We can still ask about when they'll have children because even if they're ogres they can still have kids, right? That's what married princes and princesses do so naturally that's what everyone does. Even if ogres might not be great parents (I've heard that ogres eat their young, is that something you people do?) it's still something that should be discussed.

And okay you can stay in Fiona's childhood bedroom filled with all the reminders that hey, everyone thought she was just a princess and princesses marry princes. Her toys left out from the last time she played with them. The prince slays the ogre. The princess offers a token of gratitude for slaying the ogre. Fiona wrote Mrs. Fiona Charming a million times in her diary because what else was she supposed to grow up to be?

And Harold you have to fix this, your country can't be ruled by ogres. You were unfit to rule when you were a frog but I changed you, I made you better, I made you a prince. You know how this works. Think of your daughter's safety.

Shrek goes to the Fairy Godmother and oh honey, ogres don't live happily ever after. It's just not done. It hasn't happened in all of fairy tale history. You have to change the both of you to be happy. You have to present as a prince and a princess. It will be better. You'll fit in better that way. You'll be accepted that way.

[fitzchivalry]

[joeyclaire]

it’s sad that something as beautiful as plastic surgery is being commercialized and commodified like this….

[joeyclaire]

why did i say this. what did i mean by this

[tubapun]

No no, there's something here. Plastic Surgery has its origins in war time, notably post WWI, as a way of helping soldiers and civilians who had been disfigured by the war itself to get back some semblance of normalcy.

Suddenly a man who had lost his nose to a shelling could have it back, or at least a close approximation, and not have to field the stares, intentional or otherwise, he would recieve. A woman with burn scars from the chemical attacks could have her arms unblemished, or at least less obviously so, and not feel the scared looks of her children on her as she went about her day. People had whole halves of their face reconstructed!! And it was all in the name of healing. As they had the scars removed and returned to normalcy, they could see themselves not as people changed and forever harmed by the trauma which touched them, but instead as the them they knew, who had overcome it. Obviously it's not a complete solution, and it is informed by peoples reactions to those who are different, but it was intended to help.

But now? Tiktok nurses who tell you that you need lip fillers at 21. "Doctors" who want you to drink from a special straw and never smile so you don't get wrinkles. Nose jobs to remove most of your nose and ruin your nasal passages so you can look on trend. BBLs to make you an hourglass so men will think you're worthwhile. All for profit and almost all targeted at women with beauty standards built demean them for the sake of making them desperate enough to come to you so men will give them the time of day.

And yes I can see the pathway. The origins were in making people look "normal" but it was, at the start, just as much for them as for anyone else. And there's obviously still that around, any form of medicine can be corrupted. But there's something extra insidious about the way this one has been corrupted. No longer is it an attempt to restore yourself. Rather it's an attempt to get rid of all that is you and instead to become some metaphysical idealized portrait of a person who never did or could exist

[leiflitter]

fucking THIS.

Harold Gillies is considered the father of modern plastic surgery- he put together an amazing team of surgeons, dentists and other medical professionals from around the world because of the dramatic increase in facial injuries caused by WW1.

He did this off his own back- the amazing book The Facemaker by Dr Lindsey Fitzharris is a great resource about this- because he saw the injuries and the lack of care. Men who survived the horrific facial trauma caused by bullets or shrapnel would be left for dead in many cases; some would be rescued only to suffocate when lain on a stretcher. Some would survive- only to be shunned and isolated when they got home. Some had prosthetics made- but these were often made of metal, and were uncomfortable and hot.

Five members of Les Gueules Cassées were present at the signing of The Treaty of Versailles. The name for the organisation translates to The Broken Faces. They attended as a reminder of the price of war.

Plastic Surgery was created to help. To save. To give hope and provide some semblance of normalcy. Not to create deeper neurosis for people who are perfectly fine.

Oh, and Doctor Gillies? Performed the first known FTM Phalloplasty in 1945, and is quoted as saying;

"If it gives real happiness, that is the most that any surgeon or medicine can give.”

That ought to be his legacy.