and death life again reaps

[gildedageofsail]

Howdy mateys

this is a sideblog where I collect historical and scientific references or other relevant reference- admittedly with the aim of later writing fanfic, so relevant fandoms will be present. I said this wasn't a fandom blog but alas.

Primary focus:

+ Treasure Planet (2002) dir. Musker and Clements- -- Age of Sail, Outer Space, Seafaring, Deep Sea, Sci-Fi, Animation

+ The Underland Chronicles by Suzanne Collins -- 1600s, animals, caves, combat

+ Dracula by Bram Stoker -- 1890s, London, bats/wolves, history

+ Left 4 Dead -- zombie apocalypse, American South

+ The Gilded Age, 1870s-1890s, Wild West, Horses

At some point I'll go through and standarize tags so they're easier to use as a reference.

Most of this blog runs on a queue, I'm sporadically active so I might be delayed in answering asks or what have you but I will get to it eventually.

On this blog we do NOT support L*ve Acti*on Treasure Planet. John Ripa, Glen Keane, Musker, Clements, James Newton Howard and the entire damn creative team did not pour their heart and soul into this movie (which Disney screwed over!!) for it to get cannibalized for parts and turned into more low effort l*ve acti*n cash grabs!!

[grimark]

i also just feel like grace's entire character arc of learning to be brave/finding someone to be brave for does not mean much and is not very interesting if you're not prepared to acknowledge that he was. in fact. kind of a coward beforehand.

[fawnfooled]

imagine being éowyn in the lord of the rings trilogy. your uncle the king is being mind controlled by an evil wizard until said evil wizard's cooler version shows up and frees him. he is accompanied by an elf, a dwarf, and the hottest guy you've ever met. the hot guy also happens to be 87 years old and maybe still not over his immortal elf girlfriend but he respects and listens to you so you're shooting your shot. your geriatric hotguy situationship turns you down the night before the biggest battle ever then goes ghost hunting in the mountains. you decide to go to battle because you'll either help save your people or die in a really cool and honorable way. you then kill middle earth satan's number one henchman with the power of loophole and being a woman (you are also helped in doing this by a 4 foot tall stoner). then you get to marry faramir. 10/10 no notes my girl went through it all

[pusheenthenerdcat]

eowyn essentially went through what i did as at 13, "practically every guy around is a jerk so fell in love with the first one to come along who treats girls with respect"

(im autistic so pre-transition i could not get the time of day from most of my schoolmates especially the boys lol)

[gildedageofsail]

you left out the part where she gets crowned king but she's so Depressed she abdicates in her attempt to die in battle

[kokica1]

Do you think that, if the ship wasn't always recording at all times, when Stratt got those videos twenty years later, it slowly dawned on her that it was only Grace in recordings?

Do you think she felt a pitching, gut-wrenching horror when she realized that he was alone?

Do you think she thought back to that day that she forced him to go, soothing herself with the reminder that he at least wouldn't be alone, and realized that, no, she not only sent him to his death but she sent him utterly alone with two corpses?

Do you think that she remembered the fact that Grace had always been forcibly alone: ostracized from his communities, humiliated into silence, and realized she was only compounding on that?

Do you think that, upon hearing about Rocky for the first time, she felt a wash of relief rather than wonder or awe or surprise?

Do you think that, upon seeing Rocky in the ship for the first time, she felt pure joy not at the fact that she was looking at an alien but knowing that Grace wasn't alone anymore?

[gursevraq]

shipping the popular yaoi pairing but shaking my head while i do to indicate that i also care about the work's themes and other characters

[brakvrack]

FINALLY I GET TO SHARE THIS PICTURE

[toasthaste]

according to An Immense World, apparently giant squid eyes are, like, UNREASONABLY large, even for something their size living at those depths. the next largest eyes on earth, blue whale eyes, are less than half the size, and swordfish, who live at similar depths as giant squid and have the largest eyes of any fish, have eyes that could fit inside a giant squid's pupil.

eyes hit serious diminishing returns wrt resource costs vs vision quality as they get bigger, so the question became: what the FUCK do giant (and colossal) squid need to see so badly that they couldn't see with swordfish-sized eyes that's justifying that massive energy cost? that nothing else in the deep ocean needs to see so fucking badly??

turns out the one strength eyes that big really have over much smaller eyes is: seeing large glowing objects in water deeper than 500 meters from an appreciable distance.

sperm whales are the primary predator of giant squid. sperm whales don't glow. BUT! water that deep is full of bioluminescent creatures-- these creatures light up when bumped into. something a sperm whale's size is continuously bumping into those critters, it's just surrounded by a glowing field all the time when it's swimming at those depths, visible from a distance-- if you have the right eyes-- as a massive glowing shape. so basically the only reason to have eyes the size of soccer balls is if you live in the deep ocean and your life depends on having a heads up when a hungry sperm whale is lurking around

and also I gotta say, the imagery... the huge lurking threat betrayed only by the ambiguous glowing shape of its movements through the water, is really evocative, if spooky deep-sea games aren't already using that to make things extremely ominous then they should really start

[gildedageofsail]

So many of the PHM headcanons going around are literally just name swapped "Human Steve"/"Humans are Space Orcs" posts and it fucking sucks.

[solnish]

for the world's whipping boy and the earth's most loyal daughter were one and the same

[whenyoureplayings0litaire]

🫂 katniss/gale

LOL. Well, everyone would be miserable. Listen, I am less allergic to exploring this terrible relationship dynamic in writing than a lot of people (on the way to something better, of course), but like let’s talk about WHY. A really compelling part of Everlark to me is that they both have some really warped core beliefs about their own worth and value to other people in relationships, and they ultimately heal this by choosing each other. 

But where do these core beliefs come from? We talk a lot about their mothers, but Katniss’ fear of Asterid’s depression doesn’t really explain a lot of things about her senses of guilt and obligation and relationships being tit-for-tat and suspicion. You know what does? The older kid she desperately glommed onto for survival at 12 years old and looked up to because she was a literal baby and he seemed so much more mature and wise, who thinks all that shit himself and feels entitled to her simply because he’s put in the time. She’s always so anxious about his reactions because deep down she knows his reactions are not nice. He is the one who taught her that relationships are transactional.

Anyway I’m old enough to know that, for better or worse, sometimes the only way out of a bad core belief like that is through it, so sometimes I’m up for therapeutically writing about that as a stop on a journey to a happy ending where she unlearns the bad things he taught her about other people and her own worth. But Gale and Katniss will fall apart in any universe, because they don’t have similar values at all and he is absolutely responsible for many of her self-esteem issues.

[mandrake-mistakes]

I love this analysis that Gale is the person who made Katniss view relationships transactionally. It’s not much of a stretch, he’s a great option for the source of that world view.

I think often about this moment in the first arena when Katniss needs to ditch Peeta to hunt successfully. She works hard to phrase it in a way that won’t bruise his ego and she’s surprised when he’s not angry with her. WHO do we think taught her that a boys pride needs to be protected or else he’ll get upset? This is after she took off her shoes along with him so he wouldn’t think he’s the only problem when definitely he is. She never coddles him like this again, once she knows him better. She did this because she always had to do it with Gale.

[pinkfoolery]

I forgot I drew this but it still hold! Sakura you can do so much better than this emo freak pls

[docholligay]

Since I had to leave the stream early, did you end up enjoying Project Hail Mary?

I did! I actually rewatched it last night while I was doing God's most annoying manicure because as you might imagine I missed some of it ahahah. I do not recall parts of it, I'm sure I was embarrassing. SORRY ALL.

But yeah it was cute! I don't necessarily think it was God's deepest film, but it was a really fun cute movie with a friendship theme that I really enjoyed and Ryan Reynolds was cute in it. Jill watched a lot of it with me and really liked Rocky, which, of course, you're supposed to. But it works! It works!

Eva is the most Eastern German woman to Eastern German and I think she's great, I was cheering when she was like. "Well. You're going anyway." Queen energy and also, yes. Individual choice and all is nice, but sometimes you have to do the right thing for a lot of people versus one person. Sorry about it (I am not).

[dateamonster]

you could never make me hate magitech/scifantasy settings. fantasy and scifi are two beuatiful women to me and they are kissing with tongue.

[the-fishh]

the debate on Aroace Ryland Grace is really annoying me because yes his lack of meaningful relationships was caused by his cowardice and fear of being hurt but that doesnt also mean he can find peace in his life without romantic relationships.

You can be in a situation because youre a coward and find yourself comfortable where you end up. cowardice is still a flaw but no one has to be completley perfect by the end of their character development and being Aroace is not a flaw at all.

*insert the screenshot of the Dispatch game end statistics where 4% of players did not fall in love with anyone captioned "My man was standing on BUSINESS!" *

sorry i couldnt find the image just imagine it

[prof-grace-aspen]

I think a fairer way to say this is “I personally think his lack of attachments is due to trauma and cowardice, but I understand why other people might interpret the story differently”.

Because your interpretation of it being trauma-induced cowardice is just your interpretation, not fact.

[gildedageofsail]

it's an interpretation that is heavily supported if not outright confirmed by the text, but more importantly OP is literally saying that it's *compatible* with the aroace reading.

[prof-grace-aspen]

I’m not saying it’s not compatible, but as an aroace person myself I find it annoying when people insist Grace can’t just…be aroace without trauma. I’m not traumatized. I’m not a coward avoiding relationships. And the text has Grace saying he’s happier being a teacher than he ever was in academia.

[gildedageofsail]

ok, but the original post does not talk about trauma at all. it talks about Grace's fear of pain, and about his cowardice- both of which are explicitly textual. I'm ace and on the aro spectrum myself, I get it, but all the original post is saying is that his canonical character flaw of cowardice is compatible with the aroace reading.

[prof-grace-aspen]

“Cowardice and fear of being hurt”, to use OP’s specific words.

My main problem isn’t OP having interpretations, it’s that those interpretations are stated as fact. Which was my main point in my first reply.

[gildedageofsail]

I am willing to concede that the film version of PHM leaves a more open question re: the fear of being hurt, but both are pretty canonically true in the book and the cowardice thing is also specifically canon and is, in fact, vital to Grace's entire character in both book and movie.

To use *your* words, you said "trauma-induced cowardice" was an interpretation when that is not and was never part of the point OP was making. All OP was saying was that Grace's canonical character flaws are compatible with the aroace reading. OP is correct.

I don't think our conversation is productive and I likely shouldn't have said anything in the first place. Sorry to bother you.

[the-fishh]

the debate on Aroace Ryland Grace is really annoying me because yes his lack of meaningful relationships was caused by his cowardice and fear of being hurt but that doesnt also mean he can find peace in his life without romantic relationships.

You can be in a situation because youre a coward and find yourself comfortable where you end up. cowardice is still a flaw but no one has to be completley perfect by the end of their character development and being Aroace is not a flaw at all.

*insert the screenshot of the Dispatch game end statistics where 4% of players did not fall in love with anyone captioned "My man was standing on BUSINESS!" *

sorry i couldnt find the image just imagine it

[prof-grace-aspen]

I think a fairer way to say this is “I personally think his lack of attachments is due to trauma and cowardice, but I understand why other people might interpret the story differently”.

Because your interpretation of it being trauma-induced cowardice is just your interpretation, not fact.

[gildedageofsail]

it's an interpretation that is heavily supported if not outright confirmed by the text, but more importantly OP is literally saying that it's *compatible* with the aroace reading.

[prof-grace-aspen]

I’m not saying it’s not compatible, but as an aroace person myself I find it annoying when people insist Grace can’t just…be aroace without trauma. I’m not traumatized. I’m not a coward avoiding relationships. And the text has Grace saying he’s happier being a teacher than he ever was in academia.

[gildedageofsail]

ok, but the original post does not talk about trauma at all. it talks about Grace's fear of pain, and about his cowardice- both of which are explicitly textual. I'm ace and on the aro spectrum myself, I get it, but all the original post is saying is that his canonical character flaw of cowardice is compatible with the aroace reading.

[the-fishh]

the debate on Aroace Ryland Grace is really annoying me because yes his lack of meaningful relationships was caused by his cowardice and fear of being hurt but that doesnt also mean he can find peace in his life without romantic relationships.

You can be in a situation because youre a coward and find yourself comfortable where you end up. cowardice is still a flaw but no one has to be completley perfect by the end of their character development and being Aroace is not a flaw at all.

*insert the screenshot of the Dispatch game end statistics where 4% of players did not fall in love with anyone captioned "My man was standing on BUSINESS!" *

sorry i couldnt find the image just imagine it

[prof-grace-aspen]

I think a fairer way to say this is “I personally think his lack of attachments is due to trauma and cowardice, but I understand why other people might interpret the story differently”.

Because your interpretation of it being trauma-induced cowardice is just your interpretation, not fact.

[gildedageofsail]

it's an interpretation that is heavily supported if not outright confirmed by the text, but more importantly OP is literally saying that it's *compatible* with the aroace reading.

[wind-and-cloud]

Choose a show from one of my ten favourites !

Anzac girls (2014)

Leverage (2008-2012)

Taskmaster (2015- )

The Get Down (2016-2017)

Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell (2015)

Karambolage (2004- )

Over the garden wall (2014)

Scrubs (2002-2009)

Black Sails (2014-2017)

Pose (2018-2021)

Voting ended onMay 28

Tagged by @carpe-mamilia 💗 thanks 💚

Tagging @moonshoos, @ourfriendsthejays, @cilantroodon, @polyfrogs and @jadeandquartzes no pressure. I don't believe those expire.

[ourfriendsthejays]

So many great choices, @wind-and-cloud ! I look forward to checking out a couple that I haven't yet seen! I recently rewatched Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, and it's so good. They did a fantastic job translating the book to the screen. Thanks for the tag!

What do you all want to watch with me today?

We Are Lady Parts (UK)

Astrid (France and Belgium, I believe)

Sugar (US)

Sherlock Holmes (Grenada Television version, UK)

Green Glove Gang (Poland)

Ted Lasso (US and UK, I believe)

The Cleaner (Germany)

Mystic Pop-Up Bar (Korea)

Good Omens Season One (UK)

Truth Seekers (UK)

Voting ended onMay 23

...oh, and I hereby tag anyone who wants to play! I look forward to watching some of your favorites.

[ourfriendsthejays]

Let joy be unconfined!

[greencheekconure27]

pick one of my favourite shows

Blake's 7

Willow 2022

Rosemary and Thyme

Renegade Nell

Star Trek The Original Series

Hamish Macbeth

1670

The Artful Dodger

Andor

Gran Hotel (original Spanish version)

Voting ended onMay 30

Anyone who wishes to participate: consider yourself tagged

[antlered-vixen]

I am so tired of short-attention-span, trim-the-fat culture. All writing advice these days is for how to write like Chuck Palahniuk. "Cut 'think', cut 'feel', cut 'wonder' - only action, only pushing forward, show and move and move and move." What if I could emulate this style, and still don't want to? What if I want to write like Henry James, with three paragraphs of introspective musings between each dialogue line? The music advice is, "make it shortform, make it Tik-Tok compatible, make it punchy, hit the refrain as soon as possible." What if I want that 10-minute prog rock piece? What if I want that symphony? What if I want it slow and luxurious and lazy? Movies. Series. Poetry. Bodies. Everything is "trimmed trimmed trimmed trimmed, stripped bare, you have three seconds to win me over, make it airport chic." I don't want to win you over, then, I guess. I want the fat left it. I want the pleasure and the indolence and the indulgence. Fuck this art-advice that's always "your art needs Ozempic."

[theheroheart]

I know meant this broadly about a general cultural trend and not really about Chuck Palahniuk, but he doesn't actually do what you're complaining about. He has SO much fat in his writing.

An important note about that particular advice is that he means the opposite of how you summarise it as "only action". The advice was to teach you to unpack. Literally to show, not tell. Instead of writing "he felt angry", you write "his nails dug into his palms so hard he might soon draw blood", for example. Which, as you may notice, it NOT shorter, but it is more evocative.

Also, if you actually read a decent amount of Palahaniuk... Most of them don't have that much action/plot. He goes on ridiculous tangents like you wouldn't believe. One of my favourites, "Diary", opens with 3 solid pages that is 90% anatomy lesson.

In fact, I just opened it to a random page and got this:

What he actually does is write short sentences. You might still not like his style and that's fine! But trust me, he is ALL about atmosphere over action.

[ruffboi-mags]

I'm just reblogging because I love Kristine's adoration of Chuck Palahniuk's writing and because that's a fantastically evocative page.

Clearly, if anyone points to Chuck as an example of "cutting the fat" when telling you that you should do it, you can tell them "no thanks, you clearly haven't read his work, so I don't think your advice holds much weight."