Lazuardian Elessar

SLYTHERCLAW{ wear }

[writingwithcolor]

I'm a POC who writes mainly white characters but after seeing all the "diversity" posts on this site I'm wondering if I may be subconsciously prejudiced and now I don't know what to do. I feel like I've been doing everything wrong and yet I don't want to change my stories/characters to suit everyone else while not liking them myself.

To Write (or not write) with Diversity

No one can force you to write inclusive stories. Inclusive meaning media that consists of marginalized people, because that is what diversity really is - including people who have always been right there, but have been purposefully left out and erased from the pages of books and scripts. Those who are, when finally represented, are overwhelmingly assigned small, unflattering, and / or stereotypical roles.

Pages like Writing With Color are an offering. Our presence here is for those who choose to write with diversity. We aim to make being inclusive easier because we all believe in the importance of it. But as much as we know how enriching diversity can be, we cannot convince you to do something you don’t necessarily believe in.

Don’t do it because you feel forced

As you mentioned, you’ve read the posts. You know the facts. The decision cannot be forced upon you.  If anything, including diversity out of obligation alone could lead to bad representation. Forcing people to do things without motivation usually means it’ll lack effort, or be done with spite. Trust me when I say marginalized people don’t usually want to see themselves represented by someone who does not want them there. That unwelcome feeling shows. In short: Lack of representation hurts. Bad representation hurts worse.

I only ask that you have accountability.  

Now that you’re aware that your works default to white, you have a choice to make. I think a lot of us grew up reading and writing very white stories - both as PoC and white people - but once you possess the knowledge that things can be different, your next step is a conscious one. You’re not on auto-pilot anymore when you make everyone white (and/or straight, able-bodied, etc). You know better now. Own up to your choices.

So ask yourself: why have I chosen to write without diversity?

I’m afraid to write People of Color. 

Being uncomfortable writing People of Color is a big reason why people stick to writing white people, and only garnish their stories with PoC, if that. White people have long been the default, the everyman. White perspectives are “neutral” to approach. It’s daunting to go from feeling you can portray characters in whatever way you wish to suddenly having the weight of good versus harmful representation on your shoulders.

You don’t want backlash from getting it wrong. You also don’t want to be insensitive to groups. It’s easy to avoid writing them altogether, right? Sure. 

Be aware, though:

You’re making a choice to exclude people out of fear.

Of course, new things are scary. But that’s okay! Courage is the ability to do things that frighten you. Face your fears. Will you shrink away from the challenge, or use it to your advantage?

Let the fear fuel you to do better and to know better. Your concerns about writing PoC can drive you to get the research right in order to best represent people. If your fear is leading to more effort into thoughtful creation, you’re putting it to good use.

Let me tell you right now - you will mess up.

Maybe in small ways, perhaps in a big way. But mistakes will not kick start the apocalypse. Ideally:

Do your research to avoid the most obvious and devastating mistakes from the jump.

Equip yourself with the right beta-reader and sensitivity readers to catch those things. 

Even with errors, your story can be quite enjoyable for people who hardly see themselves represented. Yes, mistakes and all.

As a Black woman bookworm, if you write an exciting story about a Black girl on adventures and falling in love but mention a few questionable things about how she takes care of her hair…I will wince, but it won’t ruin the book for me. I’m willing to overlook some things, for the sake of my enjoyment, and let the author know how I felt about those parts in hopes they can improve.

Say you get something real important wrong. People call you out for it. I suggest you apologize, listen to their critiques, and do better. If possible, pull back the story and re-release when you’ve improved the piece. If that’s not an option, fix it in future works. Getting a finger wagged at you doesn’t mean lock up in fear and never write with diversity again. It means you improve.

Research PoC like you would on any topic:

For comparison’s sake, consider writing People of Color (or any group different from you) like writing other topics you’re unfamiliar with in-depth. 

For example: You may know the basics on Medieval England. The knights, royalty, and so on. But i’m sure there’s a lot of misconceptions mixed in there from television or unreliable sources. 

To write people from this perspective, you would do lots of additional research… right?  

If someone mentioned how you messed up on some of the facts, you would take note and dig into it more for the future…right? 

You might even have more experienced persons check your facts for accuracy beforehand to do the best job possible.

Approach researching PoC in the same way as other topics. There may not be hard facts on how to write an X character, but there are portrayals to avoid with explanations why, and roles people want to see themselves in.

I don’t like to be told what to write.

There’s this misconception that writing with diversity restricts creativity. I get it - there are things you’re being told not to do when writing certain groups. The lists of No’s can get dense. This reflects how poor representation has been for People of Color as there are a number of stereotypical portrayals folks are tired of seeing and has been detrimental to them.

Fiction simply reflects real life: People of Color being viewed through the lens of preconceived notions means being written on with those stereotypes in mind. It is a vicious cycle. Stereotypes are more than an annoyance - they can and do lead to real life consequences.

Being treated like a stereotype lowers our quality of life. Experiencing racism and daily microaggressions has a psychological effect - from insecurity, depression and PTSD - it is serious. (X)

Viewing People of Color by their stereotypes is what makes, say, a Black person who speaks with passion no matter what it’s about (and even if they’ve been wronged) too hostile and “Angry” to take seriously. If anything, they’re now a serious threat. And that’s dangerous for them.

Put yourself in the shoes of the overly typecast.

Think of a time someone misunderstood you. You had a bad day and acted grumpy. Well, being a grump defines who you are now. When asked, people describe you as crabby and humorless. Every new person you meet sees your every action through that lens.

Strangers tiptoe around you, as they can just tell you’re ill-tempered. Peers choose their words carefully, afraid of what might spark your wrath. Your children even inherit the title; teachers discipline them more and take other students’ word over theirs- your kids are snappy, difficult, and known to not play well with others, after all.

Wouldn’t that get old? Wouldn’t you feel it was unfair to be reduced to a label, and that you’re sick of being defined by it? Wouldn’t you have the desire to be seen for who you truly are, and can be? Perhaps you do get grumpy sometimes, which is just being human. You’re so much more than a grouch.

Stereotypes are not creative.

Writing outside of stereotypes open up so many more possibilities. How many times have we seen the Black Best Friend play out in media? You’re not being silenced when readers criticize your sassy sidekick. Your message has been heard, loud and clear - again and again and again. People are upset because it’s not anything new - in fact, it is quite old.  We want multiple portrayals. Why not create something new before you decide to write so closely to how we are always written?

OP said: I don’t want to change my stories/characters to suit everyone else while not liking them myself.

This should not be the case. Avoiding stereotypes has nothing to do with making unlikeable or even perfect characters. Simply make Characters of Color who go beyond stereotypes! Characters who are best friends without being arc-less doormats. Characters who are fierce and emotional and stand for something without being simplified to irrational, hostile, and angry. 

Knowing the difference between stereotype and culture is important, too. Don’t let anyone tell you you’re doing something wrong when their bias means they perceive your character as being stereotypical, or problematic, when they’re not. (See: Stereotyped vs Nuanced Characters and Audience Perception.)  

If anything, writing beyond hard labels leads to complex characters. Writing about new cultures is interesting and can be exciting. 

If you only like your East Asian characters when they’re geniuses or your Black girls when they’re angry without a cause…do some self-reflection. Why do your Characters of Color only seem “right” to you when they are flat, or confined to stereotypes? Why not allow them to be complex humans?

I’m not convinced that representation matters.

Well, representation does matter. A lot. While it has been written on so much, and there being countless studies, statistics, and personal accounts to support this, I would like to mention…

Representation (or lack thereof) lowers self-worth.

Studies show TV boosts the self-esteem of white boys. The confidence of People of Color and girls of all races, on the other hand, decreases when watching TV (X X). 

“If you want to make a human being into a monster, deny them, at the cultural level, any reflection of themselves.” -Junot Diaz

The Racial Empathy Gap.

I want to be brief (too late, right?) so let me just mention another point of research for you: the racial empathy gap. Stereotyped depictions and the limited roles for People of Color are internalized by society, leading to lack of empathy towards People of Color and the enforcement of stereotypes in real time. Lack of empathy actively affects how PoC are treated, such as the belief that Black people experience less pain than others and therefore are misdiagnosed (their illnesses and pain are downplayed) and under treated (X X X). 

Fiction Increases Empathy.

In addition to the racial empathy gap, look into the studies on how fiction improves empathy. For example: reading about vampires increases empathy towards vampires. Imagine what non-stereotyped, marginalized depictions in fiction can do for empathy.  (X, X)

The strength in which people are against representation speaks volumes. 

If representation does not matter, then why are some people so angry when it’s there? Let’s take book to movie depictions: 

A Character of Color depicted as white simply means they were the best actor for the job, according to a vocal presence in social media. 

However, even a verified Character of Color being depicted as such leads to boycotting, accusations of being “Politically-correct”, and wide complaints that they can’t relate to the characters and they are poor actors. Never mind that so many Actors of Color attend prestigious schools only to get so far.

The hypocrisy speaks to a need for more representation, and a prevalent lack of empathy. 

The People Want Diversity!

On a positive note: shows that reflect the real world, aka include diversity, continue to get high ratings despite many obstacles: those who don’t want them there, lack of advertising or inconvenient airtime for shows with diverse leads, the ole bait-and-switch method, and hasty cancellations. Not to mention media simply refusing to be inclusive even when they know “diversity sells” (X X). Gee, I wonder why….

Audiences are more drawn to projects that feature a diverse cast, a new study finds, though mirroring the population in the United States remains a problem.

“Less-diverse product underperforms in the marketplace, and yet it still dominates,” said Ana-Christina Ramón, the report’s co-author and assistant director of the Bunche Center. “This makes no financial sense.” 

-Diversity in Hollywood Pays Off in Ratings and Box Office, New Study Finds

Diversity simply reflects the real world accurately. 

There is nothing forced about diversity. People of Color exist in the real world, go out and about, and have lives. Creators including marginalized people only seems strange because media actively scratches them out as much as possible, pulling the marginalized out of focus to zoom in on white characters. That is what’s unrealistic. 

Ultimately, you, the writer, will write what you want. Just ask yourself why you have decided this is what you want to write. Are you okay with that reason? Despite all the progress that is being made, you’ll blend in just fine with all of the other mostly white books and movies out there. And as people become more conscious and bored with the same stories, we can and will choose to ignore whitewashed media.

The good thing is that there’s so much awareness and activism going on with representation; the path has been paved for you and it is not lonely! 

There are resources out there, and WWC continues to be one of them.

More Reading - Diversity:

Braving Diversity: How to Write Yourself (and others) out of your Story  (An early WWC post quite relevant to you, OP)

Diversity exists in the real world 

The Key to Moving Beyond checklisting is not LESS diversity 

Bad Representation vs Tokenism vs Diversity: just existing without justification like in the real world

How to research your racially/ethnically diverse characters 

–Colette

[shabbylines]

Here’s this year’s Inktober! (I realized I forgot to post about it here 😂) It was such a 10/10 ride and made me love FMA more than I already do ✨

You can get mini prints of them in my store btw shabbylines.tictail.com

[kimmy-trans]

Suga talking about the intro 화양연화.

[esra-black-deactivated20200726]

¶Pevensies

[ryukoishida]

Even more AS Ch. 59 Spoilers

Here are some of my other favourite scenes/introductions of favourite characters from the latest chapter:

A gentle, smiling Farangis. Yes.

My fave knight trio: Isfan, Zaravant, and Tus~ also omg somebody mentioning the ‘kira kira’ soldiers in the back being Armstrong’s ancestors I’m crying in tears

EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS PANEL: Kishward’s face, Jaswant and Zaravant’s childishness lol. 

Look at how pleased Narsus looks when he says this, lol. Meanwhile, Elam’s like: why. 

[innerchorus]

have the events of the recent chapters produced any new hilmes x zandeh headcanons for you? im just like THEY TOUCHED AGAIN

Ugh, I cannot cope with how much Zandeh adores Hilmes.

(I’ll get to some headcanons at the end of this post but your ask sparked some meta, I hope you don’t mind!)

(…read on for discussion of why Hilmes chooses Zandeh rather than Sam to enter Zabul alongside him, why pyrophobia is the lesser of two problems brought to light in the mask removal scene, and some comparison and contrast of Hilmes and Arslan and their current positions)

Zandeh is a character of absolutes and he’s pinned everything on serving Hilmes; his dead father’s honour rests on seeing Hilmes become the king of Pars. He won’t allow anyone to question that, mostly because he would rather vehemently deny the possibility that his father was wrong than confront the truth. He’s really a very different character to Sam, and so it’s of no surprise that he plunged into service of Hilmes with complete devotion.

I think it’s precisely that difference that explains why Hilmes chooses Zandeh, rather than the much more experienced Sam, to enter Zabul and fight by his side (and fuck, I’m so excited for this).

Hilmes is astute enough to both realise that Sam has experienced some internal conflict in choosing to side with him, and to know that now that Sam has made his choice, he won’t switch loyalties again. But in this chapter, to hear Sam refer to Arslan as ‘His Highness Arslan’ clearly galls him, especially as it comes right after Zandeh brings news of Arslan’s success in raising an army. In contrast, Zandeh uses derogatory language to refer to Arslan, and has had to be reprimanded in the past for referring to Hilmes as ‘Your Highness’ and using his real name even when it’s not appropriate.

Zandeh, unwavering in his belief that Hilmes is the only rightful king, would never have made such a slip. But although it earns Sam an ill-tempered rebuke, that alone is not enough to influence a change in strategy.

What Hilmes is trying to do in this chapter is to conquer his fear of fire, but he’s trying to do it by ignoring the effect it has on him, which is why I worry that it might not go so well (contrast that with Arslan, who in this same chapter openly admits to his weaknesses, such as his inexperience, and who has previously opened up about his doubts about himself). The fact that Sam’s strategy for taking Zabul, while undeniably well planned, includes a concession to the fear Hilmes now believes he must overcome in order to prove himself is, in my opinion, a large part of why he decides to take Zandeh with him. Zandeh is also far more likely to accept that decision without concerns. I mean, look at how eager he is to be called upon to fight with Hilmes.

Is Hilmes truly going to be able to overcome his deep-seated fear of fire? I don’t think he will be able to do so completely, both because his reaction to flames is so severe and because he’s only really part of the way there in terms of his thought process. He is secure in his identity as the true prince, but while so many shardaran and troops flock towards Peshawar to validate Arslan’s claim and join the army he is raising, Hilmes has very few people around him who know who he really is. The fact that he removed his mask here signifies that he has identified that something is holding him back, but even though removing his mask is a step along the right path, his realisation falls short of what I see as the logical and uncomfortable conclusion.

By this point the actions he has taken in pursuit of revenge have already come at great cost to the people of Pars, and that cannot be undone any more than his burn scar can be erased. That raises the question, is it even possible for Hilmes at this point to become a good ruler? His aims, unlike Arslan’s, revolve around taking his revenge and becoming king, with little evidence of plans for what comes after and little regard for country he hopes to rule. These actions and their consequences are the real problem, not his fear of fire.

Arslan is able to gain followers largely thanks to his genuine and open nature. He acts as his true self. Hilmes cannot do the same. Removing his mask is not an insignificant step for him, but he is only able to do it in the presence of Sam and Zandeh. To all but a handful of people, he is not Prince Hilmes, rightful heir to the throne, but ‘Lord Silvermask,’ a masked Parsian who is working for the Lusitanians. He cannot hope to win support as Arslan does because he can’t reveal his true identity, and he is stuck in this position by his own doing. He sees his actions as justified, and therefore despite his frustration views the growing support for Arslan as a further injustice. He correctly identifies his mask wearing as being related to how he is lacking, but incorrectly attributes the problem to his fear of fire, rather than his inability to be open about his identity.

At the same time, it’s not surprising that Hilmes wants to be a part of the action inside Zabul, since it’s about all he can do to assuage his irritation at hearing of the progress Arslan is making while he and his followers are stuck waiting outside a fortress. He may not be able to reveal himself to all of Pars and raise an army, but if he faces his fear of fire he can lead his forces in battle with a valor that befits the Shah of Pars, and take command of Zabul Fortress, and that’s something, at least.

…as far as Zandeh/Hilmes headcanons go, these aren’t all that new but let me share them anyway.

1. Zandeh loves using Hilmes’s real name and title and does so at every chance he gets when the two of them are alone. Hilmes is fond of hearing it especially when they are, um, being intimate.

2. Back when Hilmes infiltrated Peshawar to speak to Bahman and then ended up taking a dip in the moat, when he returned to camp alone all wet and cold after having clearly been in a fight, Zandeh had to warm him up (because, y’know, it’s not like they can use a fire).

3. This one’s more of a theory than a headcanon, and I’ll probably elaborate on it soon. Zandeh knew about Hilmes even before the battle of Atropatene, and he was the only person Kharlan trusted enough to tell. He was loyal to Hilmes long before he came face to face with him in person, but sadly only arrived at the capital after Kharlan had been killed.

That’s it for now!

Thanks so much for this ask, anon, I had a lot of fun!

[motivatemycollegelife]

[lazuardianelessar]

alrd did this for years sadly

[soggiersocks]

rb if you think its bad to tell anyone to die online no matter the reason

[lazuardianelessar]

why does this post get only 9k-ish notes

[dreamworksmoments]

The Breadwinner (2017)

[youraverageblastyboy-deactivate]

Dear Voltron Fandom

Sorry to disappoint, but this is a fucking kids cartoon show. 

Which, I suppose, still applies to some of you who apparently need to GROW THE FUCK UP! 

You have the right to ship Klance. You have the right to ship Sheith. You have the right to ship Coran with a fucking cactus for all I care. 

 You know what you don’t have the right to do? 

You DON’T have the right to send DEATH THREATS to the actors and creators who are simply trying to enjoy the show that THEY FUCKING MADE. 

Boo-fucking-hoo that one of the actors personally ships something in the show that you don’t, and makes it clear the context of which he’s shipping those characters in. 

THAT DOESN’T MEAN YOU FUCKING SEND DEATH THREATS. 

Josh Keaton doesn’t owe you shit. He didn’t owe you half of the things he’s done for us. He didn’t have to go out of his way to fucking apologize to y’all for what he said because he has nothing to apologize for. 

HE 

OWES

US

NOTHING

    And yet he has done so much to support the fandom. He has given us content that we have begged for. He has left behind his wife and children to fly out and be at countless cons to support us and the show. 

AND THIS IS HOW YOU FUCKING THANK HIM?! WITH FUCKING DEATH THREATS AND ONLINE HARASSMENT?! 

If you are one of those people who sent him threats you make me sick. If you are one of those people who doesn’t condone the actions of those who threatened him you make me sick. If you are one of those people who are trying to justify the hate YOU MAKE ME SICK.

Go fuck yourself and get the fuck out of this fandom. There’s no place for you here. 

[sugarseros-deactivated20221026]

“anti’s need to fuck off already” starter pack

this still hasn’t been said enough times so i took the opportunity to make some shitty memes from it

[didsomebodysayangst-deactivated]

Reblog if Josh Keaton defends your universe and you would defend his in return.

[mystic-majestic-deactivated2019]

#AntisNotWelcome

I want to make something very clear right now. It is not cool to be an anti. It is not cool to send online hate/death threats to ANYONE for ANY REASON. Some of you take your enjoyment of a show too far and turn it into entitlement but let me tell you that you are not owed anything. You are not owed a canon ship, you are not owed any of the little “moments” and “interactions” that you want. Your opinion is not above the opinions of others. What other people do in this fandom, and how they choose to enjoy it, is not for you to approve of.

The way that some of you treat each other, treat the cast and crew of the show, is abhorrent. The past six months I’ve been in this fandom, I have seen mainly young teenagers engage in this behaviour. If you’re engaging in online behaviours that would get you arrested if you attempted it in real life, why are you suddenly the judge, jury, and executioner of others online?

Sending death threats is illegal, folks, just like if you were to tell people to go kill themselves. You can’t do that. If you’re reported and found, your ass is either going to be imprisoned or fined. You want to talk about “illegal” shit like “ships” (which is not illegal, you’re delusional, but anyone with more than one brain cell already figured that out) and then start doing illegal shit? You’re not only abhorrent, you’re hypocritical.

And guess what? You actually cannot send a person to prison based on fictional ships, nor can you get them in any kind of trouble with the law. Nobody cares. But death threats? Harassment? Antis, that’s one hell of a grave you’re digging there. It’d almost be impressive if you guys weren’t so pathetic.  

I am not going to be silent and watch you little shits wreck this fandom and this show for everyone else. Antis do not have a place here. You are not welcome. Go and stay gone.

#AntisNotWelcome

[fandomhavenskittles-deactivated]

I can’t believe this. I really can’t believe this. Some people have the nerve to threaten Josh Keaton and his family, just because of ships. What the actual heck?????

How could you even think of doing that??? THREATENING ONE OF THE VOICE ACTORS OF THE SHOW YOUR SHIP IS FROM,HIS WIFE, AND HIS CHILDREN. IS THAT SOMETHING YOU’RE PROUD OF??? HOW MESSED UP IN THE HEAD ARE YOU!?

AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHO CARES ABOUT SHIPS?? THEY’RE FICTIONAL CHARACTERS, THEY’RE NOT REAL. YET HERE YOU ALL ARE THREATENING ACTUAL PEOPLE WHO WORK THERE BUTTS OFF TO MAKE THE SHOW THAT THE CHARACTERS THAT YOU SHIP ARE FROM.

This is why I hate this fandom. All of these ship wars, the threats, the unnecessary cyber bullying, and the complete disrespect some of you have for the voice actors.

Do any of you remember not that long ago that a fab illegally uploaded a video of Jeremy Shada hinting at a major spoiler??? One that could’ve made him loose his job??? Do any of you remember when a photo (I forgot exactly what it was but I know it was something major to do with the show) was leaked and hundreds of people got there hands on it, and that one Klance shipper refused to delete it unless Klance was made canon when he was asked to delete the photo. Do any of you remember these things?? DO ANY OF YOU KNOW HOW SERIOUS THESE THINGS ARE?? PEOPLE COULD’VE LOST THEIR JOBS!!! THE CREATORS OF VOLTRON COULD’VE WENT THROUGH SOME SERIOUS LEGAL TROUBLE BECAUSE OF THIS!!

I never thought that this fandom could’ve been worse, but no, oh no, it did. When did it get worse? WHEN SOME OF YOU THREATENED INNOCENT CHILDREN BECAUSE OF SOME STUPID SHIP.

I can’t. I’m so mad.

I can’t believe some people in the fandom wonder why everyone hates them. THIS IS FLIP FLOPPIN WHY.

WHEN IS IT GOING TO GET THROUGH YOUR THICK SKULLS THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY THE VOLTRON CHARACTERS AREN’T REAL, THE SHIPS DON’T MATTER, AND THAT THE CREATORS AND VOICE AT OF THE SHOW ARE REAL PEOPLE THAT GET AFFECTED BY THE BEHAVIOR OF THE FANDOM.

If any of you sent hate to not just Josh Keaton and his family, but anyone, just because of a ship, go ahead and unfollow me. You’re the reason why people hate the fandom, and why some people leave it.

[soggiersocks]

rb if you think its bad to tell anyone to die online no matter the reason

[lazuardianelessar]

Reblog agn. Just cuz.

[soggiersocks]

rb if you think its bad to tell anyone to die online no matter the reason

[the-firenation-gellary]

ATLA analysis: Azula

Thesis

Azula embodies neglect and jealousy, more specifically, jealousy of her older sibling Zuko, who took everything she ever wanted away from her. Starting from her childhood, she was an attention-starved individual who sought love and recognition from her parents and friends.

● Childhood

Azula was an ordinary child. A spoiled brat perhaps, but nothing that out of the ordinary. Nearly all information about her childhood was presented through Zuko flashbacks, which are all biased as they were from his point of view. Even there, however, Azula was shown enjoying a game of tag with Zuko and frolicking on the beach. As a small side note, she never once lied in any of the flashbacks, which clearly shows some bias on Zuko’s end.

Justifying her normalcy requires comparing Azula’s actions to that of typical kids today.

She would bully her friends, ordering them around, pushing them over (Ty Lee doing flips), and playing pranks (burning apple on Mai’s head). Younger children tend to form groups where one is the leader and would order the rest around; Azula assumed that position. Younger children also play pranks on one another, possibly getting the other in trouble; ever heard of truth or dare, or children strangling themselves to get high? Whereas the fire on Mai’s head may seem extreme to some, recall that fire in the Fire Nation is NOT considered dangerous. Jeong Jeong, the only one who seems to think so, is a fugitive.

Azula would taunt Zuko endlessly, continually showing that she was superior to him in as many ways of possible (practice session in front of Azulon, prank with Mai and burning apple). This is typical sibling rivalry, where each continually attempts to one up the other, possibly getting the other in trouble with the parents. The exception, taunting Zuko about father being ordered to kill him, is explained further on.

Azula would also aggravate the turtleducks, her version of feeding them being chucking a piece of food. Kids are known for slowly torturing insects to death out of curiosity. Think earthworms and ants being pulled apart and wiggling around, or ants being burned to death with a magnifying lens.

Azula burned the Earth Kingdom doll she received as a gift from Iroh. Kids destroy toys all the time, putting them in their mouths, tossing them against walls, bashing them against another toy, stealing another kid’s toy and breaking it. Again, recall that fire in the Fire Nation is not considered dangerous.

There were four instances that were questionable regarding Azula’s stability as a child. Two of them dealt with death; her remarks about Lu Ten’s death affecting Iroh and Azulon being replaced, as well as taunting Zuko about Ozai being ordered to kill him. At the age she is portrayed at, kids do not fully comprehend the concept of death. This is why there is such a movement to censor the words kill and death today as well as having villains go the Disney demise route. Then, looking at her actions while ignoring her disregard for death, it would appear that she was simply repeating what her father, who favors her over Zuko, says. If nothing else, Azula sneaking into the room to spy on the conversation with Azulon indicates she continually follows him and is always in the loop. These opinions, then, can easily be attributed to echoing Ozai’s sentiments.

The final two questionable instances were when Azula taunted Zuko about mother being gone and her smirk while Zuko’s face underwent an extreme makeover. At both of these times, Ursa is no longer around. Ursa abandoned Azula for Zuko and she angrily resents Zuko for it (more on that later). Her taunting Zuko about Ursa’s disappearance was a form of payback. Though it did seem extreme, kids can be pretty insensitive as well when they’re jealous. This insensitivity is pretty normal. The smirk on her face post agni kai, on the other hand, represents her resent of Zuko for having Iroh’s favor. Zuko got into the war room by Iroh’s graces and screwed up; to her, this was a form of payback and one-upping her sibling. He got in trouble for doing something that she wanted. At this point, with her mother’s supervision nonexistent for an extended period of time, Azula finally crossed the line. Even with fire not being nearly as dangerous in the Fire Nation, knowledge of how it can permanently maim a person is probably commonplace.

Therefore, so long as Ursa was around, Azula was a normal spoiled brat who was jealous of her older sibling. She wanted affection and attention, but was instead abandoned and betrayed, leaving her at the whims of her less-than-ideal father with no one to save her.

● Ursa

The beginning of Azula’s mental breakdown starts with her mother, Ursa. Azula, starved for attention and love, was jealous of Zuko for stealing her mother from her. Ursa obviously favors the elder sibling. At one point, Ursa even exclaims “what is wrong with that child?” while Azula was clearly still within earshot. While Azula may have over dramatized it, admitting that her mother saw her as a monster in the Beach was the first visible sign that Azula really cared and was deeply affected. She was hurt that Ursa favored and chose Zuko, especially since Ursa abandoned her to save Zuko’s life. She was left then with her father as a mentor, while Zuko still had Iroh to fall back on. No matter how much she excelled at firebending, her mother only had eyes for the brother.

● Ozai

Mommy wouldn’t pay attention to her, so Azula looked to Daddy. Ozai only paid attention to her when she displayed her firebending talents, going so far as to actually praise her and put down her brother (born lucky, lucky to be born). She grasped onto this show of affection, false though it may be, and did everything she could to please the only person who would look at her. This is what started her obsessive quest for perfection, causing her to practice her bending at a level far beyond what Zuko did (see how Zuko trained with Iroh in season 1 ep 1 and compare it to when she was first shown bending lightning).

This incredible dedication to hard work and to please her father went on throughout her life. When her father told her to go after Zuko and Iroh, she did so without question. Not only did she bring them both back, she went far beyond what he asked for. She converted Zuko, took down Ba Sing Se, and defeated the Avatar. She even stopped the initial invasion plan before it began and prepared an intricate plan to protect her father on the Day of Black Sun (putting her own life on the line) in the off chance that another would be mounted. The level of devotion she showed her father was made even more apparent with her reaction to Ozai leaving her behind in the Fire Nation on the day of Sozin’s Comet. She finally developed a plan that he approved of, one where she could finally spend some time TOGETHER with her father. And yet, despite her efforts, he abandoned her in the Fire Nation, the same way he abandoned her when Zuko first came home after supposedly defeat the Avatar. Here she was, going above and beyond the call of duty, and yet the prodigal son Zuko is the one expected at Ozai’s right hand side while she had to be invited to sit on his left.

By the end of the series, the only person Azula had left was her father, and even he abandoned her. And although she denied it, Azula knew that Ozai didn’t truly love her. That Zuko found yet another person (Katara) to care for him while she had no one, not even Ozai, was what truly defeated her.

On a slight side note, it’s interesting to point out that the younger siblings of this family are jealous of the older ones. Ozai, the younger brother, was jealous of Iroh, the elder. It was Iroh who had Azulon’s favor, it was Iroh who was sent to war while Ozai was stuck at home, it was Iroh who had the right of succession even after Lu Ten’s death. And if Iroh’s admittance that that even he may not have been able to defeat Ozai is any indication, Ozai was the more talented firebender. This may have indirectly caused Ozai’s resentment of Zuko and his favor of Azula, and how Ozai was indeed planning to kill Zuko.

● Iroh

As far as the role of mentors go, Iroh was the least prominent of the three. Azula didn’t even seem to like her uncle, though that may have been influence on Ozai’s part (see jealousy in the above paragraph). She would continually make demeaning nicknames for him, each indicating a negative trait that she, or Ozai, saw in him. However, there were indications of her jealousy of Iroh favoring Zuko, yet again another who preferred the elder over the younger. First, there were the gifts sent by Iroh back home. Azula got a doll, a trinket that could be bought off the street, while Zuko got a knife, THE knife of the defeated general. Extremely jealous, she began taunting Zuko about his knife-play, making snide remarks about Iroh’s abilities, and at one point even stealing the knife for herself. She wanted it. She wanted Iroh to recognize her. And yet, Iroh has never been showing making an attempt at being a mentor for her, going so far as to say that she needed to be taken down. Strike down another loving mentor.

● Zuko

Despite being the primary cause of her jealousy, Zuko was nonetheless an important figure in Azula’s life. Their relationship was pretty close (see them frolicking in the flashbacks) and they seemed to know each other extremely well. Zuko could have been the one to show affection for her, to be her pillar of support. However, her jealousy of him caused Azula to push him away. Zuko never saw past the mask that Azula put on or her cries for help and instead opted to push back and resent Azula. His banishment, in a strange way, was a form of abandoning her. No longer was he there to keep Azula company. No longer would Iroh be there either, who was stolen by Zuko.

At the end of season 2, Zuko came back to Azula. That someone came back to her was monumental. She actually planned to GIVE Zuko credit for taking down the Avatar BEFORE she suspected that the Avatar was alive. Proof of this is when the siblings were introduced by Li and Lo; Azula was given credit for taking down Ba Sing Se, but NOT for taking down the Avatar. At that point, she believed the Avatar dead and yet did not claim credit; she had not yet asked Zuko about the Avatar possibly being alive. This was her way of showing her thanks to Zuko for coming back to her. The excuse she made in the bedroom was a lie, a means of masking her appreciation of Zuko and throwing off his suspicions of her true feelings. In the Beach, Azula even offered to help Zuko with his internal turmoil. She showed compassion and a willingness to help him with his mental struggle, even going so far as to decrease her value in the eyes of her father so that Zuko could have what he dreamed of. And yet, despite it all, Zuko did nothing for her.

In the Beach, Azula first showed a chink in her mask about her mother, but Zuko never tried to help her; he was completely ignorant. That was an obvious cry for help. He went so far as to betray her once more, deciding to join the Avatar. She did not expect this. His betrayal meant that he would reveal to Ozai that SHE had lied about the death of the Avatar, something that is completely not in her favor. This would mark the first time that she disobeyed Ozai.

This betrayal meant a lot to Azula and was a severe blow to her psyche. Instead of capturing Zuko or converting him as she did in season 2, her objectives as the pursuer changed to killing him. In the Boiling Rock, she left him for dead. In the Southern Raiders, after losing Mai and Ty Lee as well, she started losing her mind and was rather…enthusiastic about killing her brother (I’m about to celebrate being an only child). Here was someone that she trusted and yet betrayed her in the end. She couldn’t get that trust from her mother, father, uncle, and apparently not even her own brother.

● Mai and Ty Lee

Along with Ozai, these two (and Zuko for a little while) were part of the small group that Azula trusted. This tight group consisted of people she thought would love, show affection for, and pay attention to her. Though possible, it is unlikely that Azula chose these two for their combat abilities. Considering their age when they first met, the likelihood that Mai was a master of all things sharp and pointy and Ty Lee the master of acrobatics and pressure points was extremely improbable. She chose these two, each unique in their own way, to be her companions.

However, being the bratty kid that she was and an alien to affection, Azula was unable to properly show affection herself. The self-appointed leader of her posse, Azula bullied the girls around, using fear to get her way (pushing Ty Lee over after getting upstaged). In way, Azula felt like she OWNED the two girls, that the two were hers and hers alone. When Mai started gravitating towards Zuko, Azula began to torment and tease Mai about it (flaming apple), unable to accept losing another to her brother.

Nonetheless, Azula trusted these two implicitly with her life; failure by either of the two at Ba Sing Se may have very well led to her death. She tested their loyalties once and only once; back when she brought the two back into her fold. With Ty Lee, it was to choose between Azula and Ty Lee’s dream of the circus. With Mai, it was to choose between Azula and her family (baby brother). After that, she completely trusted them with everything. She trusted both to watch her back. She trusted Mai to choose her over Zuko, even allowing the couple’s relationship to progress. She trusted Ty Lee to stand by her after Mai’s betrayal.

It wasn’t like they didn’t have fun together though. Like normal girls their age, they all found pleasures in simply having fun, like at the beach. There was a sense of kinship and understanding amongst them. And it wasn’t like Mai and Ty Lee didn’t get any perks for being with Azula; though Ty Lee’s family situation is unknown, Mai’s family did rather well in New Ozai (until Bumi of course) with Azula’s influence.

After Zuko betrayed her in season 3, Azula’s trust became extremely fragile. Even after being trusted in the Boiling Rock, Mai betrayed the trust Azula bestowed upon her. How badly this affected Azula suddenly became visible; her world suddenly came crashing down and she lost her grip on reality. She was betrayed AGAIN. Someone had left her AGAIN, and worst of all, it was to choose Zuko over her, just like mother did. Her control slipped. For the first time in her life, her mask shattered. She became emotional, irrational, distressed, and prepared to actually attack Mai in a fit of desperation. And then Ty Lee betrayed her. Both friends, both whom she trusted completely with her very life, betrayed her. Chose someone else over her. This loss of control illustrates how much she needed them and how much they meant to her.

● The Last Straw

Everyone left her. Azula was left only with her father. And when Ozai decided to leave her behind, Azula’s trust in anyone and anything was gone. She was alone in the world; no one needed or cared about her. This level of mistrust caused her to start analyzing everyone for their faults and weaknesses, believing everyone to have something against her and expecting them to betray her, just like her mother, father, brother, and friends had. Thus began the banishing frenzy, banishing perhaps the only people left still loyal to her (Dai Lee). She even banished the servants meant to groom her, forcing her to cut her own hair. Azula’s imbalanced bangs then became reflection of her inner state of being.

Her loneliness was further illustrated during the coronation ceremony; there was no one there aside from the sages to witness the moment. She was the crown Fire Lord that no one wanted, ruler over no one.

Then Zuko, the one who took everyone away from her, who stole what she wanted in life, appears in front of her and demands the mantle of Fire Lord. Now, Azula had one thing left that Zuko wanted; the throne. She wanted to take that away from him, take whatever she could, and challenged him to an Agni Kai.

During the fight, unlike her earlier ones with her brother, she began to lose control of her breathing while Zuko remained calm and composed. With Zuko matching her move for move and an even battle being fought, Zuko was unknowingly again stealing one more thing from his sister. She had always been better than him, had always worked harder than him, and yet here he was matching her in firebending, taking away one of the last things she owned. Challenged to attack with lightning, Azula then sees Katara and comes to a realization. There WAS something else she could take away from Zuko. She could take away his friend. As such, she fired her lightning at Katara. It is worth noting that during the generation of lightning, the second arc of energy was somewhat inverted and unorthodox. That Zuko jumped in the way may or may not been expected, but Azula’s target had clearly shifted to Katara, ignoring the moaning and struggling Zuko and choosing to attack the waterbender. By the time she fired her third blast of lightning (the 2nd charge up was obscured), her entire lightning generation sequence was completely inverted; the arcs were moving in the opposite direction. This inverted display shows how lost she really was, how her sanity was completely slipping, how her world became twisted upside down and inside out.

Upon getting chained up by Katara, Azula bears witness to Katara healing Zuko and their mutual thanks for saving each other. Here she was, imprisoned, defeated, and alone with no one around to help her, abandoned by even her own father, while Zuko has found yet another friend, yet another person who cared about him to help him up when he fell. Desperate to eliminate the image in front of her, she began to breathe fire, hyperventilating while doing so, trying to wipe the scene in front of her from reality. But by this time, she had been defeated; her breathing control completely lost, her mind shattered as she went into a spasming fit and wailed in her mental agony and torment.

Azula was so alone that even closure was not allowed her. She was so unimportant that she wasn’t even mentioned after her defeat; even Ozai got a prison cell visit. Simply put, no one cared.

Conclusion

From the beginning of Azula’s introduction, it appeared that she had it all. To Zuko, it seemed like she had everything he ever wanted, that she was the perfect and ideal being. She was born lucky, he was lucky to be born. Ironically, it was the complete opposite. Zuko was the lucky one; he had people to care for him, to watch over him, people that he trusted and that trusted him. Azula had no such people; they all abandoned her and her trust.

It wasn’t Zuko that was truly jealous of his sister, it was Azula who was jealous of him. And while Zuko whined and complained about his situation, Azula kept it bottled up inside, well hidden behind the mask that she showed everyone, while she slowly spiraled into insanity.

Azula is the sympathetic villain, an extreme case of child neglect. Whether or not she is guilty of her actions during the war, Azula was, in the end, just a child looking for acceptance and love.