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The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

#the silence of the lambs #clannibal #Clarice my beloved darling

It irritates me to no end when female protagonists who experience misogyny and gender discrimination, with this experience acting as a central force of their story, are sidelined by fans (and even writers) for male characters. Or, worse, the prominent traits of that female character, the very values and quirks that make them unique, are stolen to give to male characters.

If you can’t make a male character interesting without stealing from stories about singularly female experiences—and straight up erasing the context and commentary present in the story, by removing said female protagonist—then you’re just a shit writer.

(looking at you hannibal nbc)

#this will ruffle some feathers #but I’m past caring #I don’t see enough people talking about this #ESPECIALLY in relation to hannibal fans #as a newly obsessed fan of the books and films #bc Clarice is one of the best female protags I’ve ever encountered #only to witness the disregard for her in favor of… drooling over the male agent who is nothing like himself in the book.#but instead is… a ‘Clarice variant’ ? and a shit one at that.#they literally took her lines (and lines from Hannibal about or to her) and gave them to a male character #THIS IS A STORY ABOUT THE FEMALE STRUGGLE TO BE SEEN AS A COMPETENT EQUAL IN MALE SPACES!#the first two books/movies anyway #and the disrespect from fans of that show? the ignorance? I’d rather they just not talk about Clarice at all #after seeing what they have to say about her…#anti Hannibal NBC #hannibal tetralogy #hannibal franchise #the silence of the lambs #tsotl #clarice starling #fandom misogyny #ranting

kendallroy-deactivated20210425

people on this website be like “it’s actually school’s fault that i don’t know how to read because i wanted to write my essay on the divergent trilogy and that BITCH mrs. clarkson made us study 1984 instead. anyway here’s a 10 tweet thread of easily disproven misinformation about a 3 year old news story and btw, who is toni morrison?”

kendallroy-deactivated20210425

i KNOW most of y’all are lying about being in the gifted program as children because none of you could pass the basic reading comprehension assessment they give third graders today

themself

this post is mean and I never read divergent or whatever the fuck but 1984 sucks and is rape apologism so if somebody wanted to write about divergent or whatever good for them

westenra

this reply is like literally exactly what op is talking about lol. like firstly ops point isn’t “1984 is good”, ops point is that analysing complex stories teaches you how to form opinions and think for yourself. and like secondly in 1984 you’re supposed to think damn it’s fucked up that he’s thinking that way about her, i wonder if this ties in with the central theme of “a society like this will fuck you in the head”? (this is the thinking for yourself part). like do you think orwell just put that in for fun? do you think that just because winston is the protagonist you’re supposed to agree with everything he does?

lunaescribe

You know I feel like this post just gave me an epiphany for what is wrong with how Tumblr Fandom/Internet Fandom responds to media-or not *wrong* but makes it very hard to respond to anything but a morally correct, and heroic protagonist.

When an English teacher, or reader, taught or picked up 1984, it wasn’t with the intention they were going to love the protagonist. They picked it up with the intention of reading a whole story and trying to grasp the theme or catharsis from the story. If the protagonist was a *shitty* person it played into the the themes or the story, because it wasn’t about morally judging the book or *liking* or feeling attachment to the protagonist. Sometimes and often times, books were just about gaining another perspective.

No one read Lolita expecting to endear, or like, or be inspired by Humbert. You are supposed to be upset by his behavior, you don’t read Lolita with the intention of being inspired. You read it to learn more about what the fuck is going on inside someone’s head when they behave like that. How children get sucked into abusive situations. Or read “The Great Gatsby” not because they want to fall in love with Gatsby or Nick, but to better understand and analyze the experience of the 1920s or destitution of the American Dream.

A lot of internet and fandom culture has changed that though. When we say something like “I love the Great Gatsby” it comes with the idea or association that means you must *love* or relate to one of the characters. And maybe you do, but the first assumption is not longer about the quality of the work or themes, or cathartic impact-it’s about character admiration. And with that character admiration, in tumblr stan culture, or kin culture, or exalting characters with fanart/romance/so on you don’t just ‘admire’ or find that character ‘compelling’ it now translates to ‘you LOVE that character’ or you ‘DIRECTLY relate to that character.’

You can’t say “I love how Humbert is written, it’s so fascinating and dark”, without it directly translating you somehow relate to a child abuser or condone his actions. Taking in media has become an act of worship and connection. We no longer watch meant to just see the story as a whole, we watch expecting to connect to a character and if we offer them our “worship” as it’s become, as opposed to just attention or interest study as it traditionally was, it means we are condoning the character or saying we directly empathize with all their actions.

I think that’s why there is often now so much fuss over *toxic* characters or not. Or whether that classical novel is showing good or bad things anymore. We’re treating the characters as people we should love or want to draw or write about. Sometimes a story is just about getting the the theme or catharsis or learning another perspective. We don’t NEED to like the character. Or we don’t HAVE to like a character to be impressed by how they’re written or intrigued by their behavior.

I think if internet culture could learn to view stories as small insights into other lives or single takes of one perspective instead of purposeful moral inspirations we’d be a lot less worried about how toxic or not toxic they are.

#my English degree keeps me going in the massive sea of stupidity that is the general population nowadays #will never forget the time some girl in my freshman undergrad writing seminar said she couldn’t get behind the movie we watched for class #because the characters weren’t likable and did bad things #and my professor went ‘…and you don’t think that was the point?’ LMAO

districttrifurcate

I think we’ve now found ourselves at an interesting point. Someone from Lionsgate once said (and I read this years ago in some interview so I have no idea where to find that now) that they’d love to continue the franchise somehow after the success of the trilogy films, but the only way to really do that is to tell arena stories, which goes against the very message of the books and essentially turns us into the Capitol.

But with SotR, the book that has stripped all nuance and political message in favor of a flashy arena, plot gimmicks, and a few token references to “propaganda bad” and “implicit submission bad,” we’re left with nothing but theatrics to bring audiences to seats. SotR is at its core an arena story, and its success proves Lionsgate’s point: if all they did was pump out stories of every Games in HG history, people would eat it up. It’d be a simple formula: pick a tribute, give them a wacky reaping story, throw them into a creative arena. Maybe add a couple arena-destroying gimmicks in there too, because repeating those is a tactic that worked. Since it’s clear the franchise isn’t interested in exploring the social and psychological implications of how this system impacts the tributes (as is so often explored in fanfiction), all we’re left with is ever flashier arenas, ever twistier gimmicks, ever escalating rebellion attempts. Things that translate to cinematic blowouts. Things that sell popcorn and get asses in seats.

By the way, if you like the spectacle of kids killing each other in creative settings, I’m not trying to shame you for that. This post isn’t about how “we’re just like the Capitol if we enjoy the arenas” so much as it is about analyzing the way that the continued success and survival of the franchise (from a moneymaking and particularly film-oriented standpoint) relies on becoming the very Capitol the books are meant to critique. And that was a threshold I think the creative teams behind this franchise did not want to cross, exactly. But with the screaming, stomping success of SotR, I think they’re going to be taking a hard look at that stance.

It's been widely speculated that Suzanne Collins was…not fully present for the creation of this book, whether symbolically (under a time-crunch, wasn’t her idea) or literally. It’s easy to believe it was ghostwritten or pressured by the film studio because the quality is so measurably different. (Check out this reddit thread: https://www.reddit.com/r/slatestarcodex/comments/1no45rn/the_latest_hunger_games_novel_was_coauthored_by_ai/. Whether you agree or disagree with its conclusion, it was a fascinating discussion.) And whether Collins wrote the book herself or not, whether it matched her intention perfectly or not, if she’s willing to sell her franchise and message out for the sake of a new film, it’s easy to see this going all the way. Of course, as HG fans, I don’t think we’d hate the opportunity to get more lore, more characters, more time in other districts. That could be great, especially for fanfic writers hungry for more canon to draw from. But if it’s going to be more SotR, I’d rather not see what’s coming. I can no longer trust that further stories in this franchise will be told with the nuance and political awareness that they deserve, because what the hell was Sunrise on the Reaping? If all we as a current audience can handle is spectacle without the analysis, I fear for what comes next.

#no notes this was worded perfectly #exactly how I feel #I like the trilogy #and I thoroughly enjoyed tbosas #but SotR was something else entirely #sotr critical #anti sotr

as an fyi, I’m still pissed that people praise the less-than-mediocre fanservice that is SotR with such blind idolatry when Ballad is right there, patiently awaiting the recognition it never received for being a compelling and unique villain origin story.

I hope that one day people will stop feigning moral superiority for misunderstanding and misreading characters with such nuanced histories, as applies to both Haymitch and Coriolanus.

will never get over it.

like.

ever.

#tbosas #thg #anti sotr #haymitch abernathy #coriolanus snow #reflections of a hater #because that’s what this book brings out in me

birdofmytongue

my anti sotr posts are getting a lot of interaction so i feel like saying more idk let a girl rant. i feel like prior to this book i would have said thg is one of the better fandom spaces. but omg this book has made me realise how bad it is.

“but we needed to know how haymitch met wiress and beetee and mags!!” i assumed through mentoring? i didn’t need to know the specifics. i have an imagination.

“but we learnt the revolution didn’t start with katniss!!” that’s literally explicit in the original books. we knew that already.

“but we needed to know why haymitch was a depressed alcoholic!!” oh silly me i thought it was because his mother & brother were murdered and then he had to mentor 26 tributes to their deaths??? idk i didn’t need it explained.

“but we needed to know it was all propaganda!!” i mean.. we are explicitly told there’s a shit load of propaganda in panem? we know some of katniss’s games are edited. haymitch does not have a more unique relationship to propaganda than katniss does in the original, so what was the point? it’s almost as if a character such as… idk… PLUTARCH would have been a more interesting perspective on the topic? or idk Beetee? or Effie even?

All i’ve learnt from this book is that a lot of the people who swear they have “critical thinking skills” actually would fall for actual propaganda bc they’ve completely taking this bad book at face value and calling it a masterpiece because they don’t know how to read between the lines.

#as I have been saying #it all leads back to a lack of creativity and ingenuity #and unfortunately this is the new reality in many book/fandom spaces that cater to younger audiences #as someone of an age where I see both the older side and the younger side #the contrast is staggering #deplorable #abysmal #and there was no need for a book that only heightened such sentiments #anti sotr #thg

dizzy-goldfish

lucy gray

#gorgeousss #tbosas #the ballad of songbirds and snakes #art #lucy gray baird

I’ve seen many people compare Lenore Dove to Lucy Gray, which is entirely fair because she’s obviously a poorly-written attempt at a “callback” character. However, I want to draw attention to how alike she is with a different TBOSAS character who I couldn’t stand.

It’s Sejanus. She gave Sejanus the whole time, especially with the contrived “I’m a rebel and I do rebellious things” bullshit, meanwhile she didn’t actually do anything. She was stupid, naive, prone to making a scene, just as Sejanus was. In fact, I couldn’t even blame Coriolanus for his distasteful thoughts about Sejanus at times because he was real. Sejanus was bound to end up dead, as was Lenore Dove. They actively got people around them in trouble and didn’t really think twice about the consequences of their actions.

I remember laughing my ass off at all the fools calling Sejanus a “Katniss prototype” back when Ballad came out (more so with the film), thinking…huh?! They are not alike in the slightest. Katniss did not choose rebellion—it happened upon her and she made do with it. Sejanus was a kid with very little awareness of his privileges, determined to “make noise” where noise would only bring strife and die out, exactly as he did.

Here, with this narrative, I am further reminded of the comparisons between characters who have very little in common. Yes, obviously Lenore Dove is Covey and has ties to Lucy Gray, but that was done out of a determination to make as many connections between characters as possible. Lucy Gray is far smarter than Lenore Dove, more resourceful and admirable, which makes her an intriguing character and love interest. Lenore Dove has no personality outside of “oh she likes geese and tramping around District 12 in search of mischief.”

As for some transparency, I’ll admit that I’m struggling to continue considering myself a fan of this series if it means being lumped in with the sheer stupidity radiating off of the “target audience.” I don’t mean to sound harsh, as this has not always been the case with these books and fandom, but…something shifted with TBOSAS and I don’t think we will ever return to the days in which this fandom had riveting, cordial discussions. I mean…what could facilitate such when an abomination like SOTR has nothing to offer?

Oh, and while I’m here—Maysilee deserved better than what she got in this narrative. I think I speak for many when I say that we were all looking forward to hearing her story and finding out just who the Girl with the Mockingjay Pin is, only for Suzanne to write her as if she’s projecting some weird inner mean-girl disdain onto a character who has existed for years.

The female characters in this novel are done a great disservice and it’s crazy to witness knowing where this series started.

#anti sotr #thg #the hunger games #suzanne collins #anti Lenore Dove

sotr!Haymitch is literally the male version of that girl who makes everything about her boyfriend.

#and it’s super fucking annoying #and you just want to tell them to shut it #and get a personality #but they’re too far gone #anti sotr #thg #ugh #why did she do this to you #i’m looking at you Suzanne

I recently saw someone describe SOTR as a clash of tropes and BookTok-esque writing and I have never agreed more with a sentiment in my life.

Claim it wasn’t “fan service” all you want, but Collins dropped the ball with this book by writing it with the fans in mind rather than as a vital contribution to the series.

There’s a heavy-handed focus on a romance that we don’t even see happen—we are quite literally TOLD to like it and believe it, despite the plot-suspending intervals dedicated solely to this character who has no true weight in the events at play.

Moreover, the cringey ass one-liners? I hate using that term to describe literature, but seriously Suzanne—it seemed at times as though you had plucked the dialogue from some corny 80s film.

The literary references were extremely redundant and on-the-nose. With Ballad, we were provided the hint of the Wordsworth poem with Lucy Gray’s name. Here, it’s entirely impossible not to feel suffocated by Poe and consequently, Lenore Dove.

I went into this book with high expectations and left thinking much less of an author who I previously praised. I see so much flack for anyone who speaks their truth about these books, which I chalk up to the younger (and sometimes older, unfortunately) audiences regarding Suzanne as this savior authority, likening her to a god who does no wrong and deserves only worship.

On that note, the lack of descriptors for the characters in this book. Only Maysilee is established as a blonde with blue eyes…while the others? I don’t recall seeing a single physical trait besides muscular or skinny, frail, etc. Which then calls into question the choice to allude to cultures from Appalachia (and the other districts) but refuse to establish race. This felt rather cowardly, and I can’t help but think this was done to make casting “easier,” opening the door for them to choose white actors like with the original films.

The message was so abundantly clear, clean-cut and contrived that it rehashed themes from the other books which have already been gathered, mulled over. The other books did commentary with nuance and subtlety, making for a good read. SOTR does the opposite.

I won’t continue (though I could) because I know this won’t reach a large crowd. However, it’s important that we point these things out and CRITICIZE where critique is warranted, as no piece of literature is exempt from criticism. And, as far as The Hunger Games goes, this narrative is a disservice to not only the series itself, but fans with a knowledge and passion for the previous books.

#anti sotr #thg #suzanne collins #criticism #this book is not good #and it pains me to see people put down for expressing valid critiques of the narrative #ahem #and the author #cough

gudvina

thank you to whoever wrote this

#🙃#I’ve read better fanfics than the entirety of what this book has to offer #sorry not sorry #sotr

czernyfanclub

instead of using AI to see your OTP kiss, let us use AO3 like god intended. amen

#👀#yeah…AI is not okay.#it’s a slap in the face to every passionate and dedicated writer out there #and using it for the purpose of posting misleading fan content is a last-ditch effort for likes and interaction!#also disrespectful to the artists who spend so much time and effort on creating beautiful pieces OF THE OTP KISSING #sorry not sorry #haladriel #saurondriel #the rings of power #fandom discourse

Actors should not have to cater to fan spaces. It shouldn’t have to be said, but I’ll put it out there for those who need to hear it.

I am the biggest shipping fanatic there ever was (and yes, I absolutely love Saurondriel), but it’s important to know that when something becomes solely fandom, created and cultivated by fans, and thus not entirely aligning with canonical content, it is not always understood or appreciated by the actors portraying our favorite characters/pairings. And that’s OKAY!

I won’t disregard or dismiss the disappointment that this ideal may bring to some, as I have very much had to come to my own with it, too. It can feel like a gut punch to find out these actors don’t support or share the same thoughts about a particular pairing, but they are not inclined to do so!

Their job is acting, and oftentimes actors have very little to do with all else beyond that. They are also very heavily policed by companies to keep a sharp image for promotional purposes. So, they typically establish some set of boundaries with fans.

No, this does not mean they hate us, nor does it mean they shun all who ship their character with another. I can promise you they are not whispering in the writers’ ears out of spite, lol.

It’s necessary to remember it is we who have built these communities around personal canons and contexts, and fandom spaces may seem like a completely foreign concept to some actors. Especially newer actors.

Is it fun when they do interact and entertain our musings? Definitely, and I appreciate all the actors who make an effort of that. But, that is not the expectation, and we should not let that ruin the fun.

Don’t allow cast/actor outlooks to shape or sway your mind! For your own sake, but theirs as well.

This is our thing—not theirs.

#haladriel #saurondriel #galadriel #sauron #halbrand #trop #the rings of power #rings of power #shipping culture #fandom culture #fan spaces

Hello dear author, sending you positive vibes! How's the Lucy Gray and Coryo in A Rose of Your Suffering doing? Sending them positive vibes too!

This is months old now, and I honestly have no good excuse for not answering sooner :/ but THANK YOU for the positive vibes! 🫂

Truth is, I got SUPER busy (as always seems to be the case), and my routine suddenly changed drastically! With that said, it’s been settling down again, and I am very close to finishing the next chapter!

I sincerely apologize to all my readers who have been waiting for what likely seems forever, but I meant it when I said I would never abandon this story! It means too much to me to give up on it, and my nearly thirty page document with the entirety of the story planned out has been mocking me every time I open my laptop 😆

I can say with certainty that the next chapter will be out sometime in the next week, potentially this weekend if I’m lucky!

Lucy Gray and Coryo are tense, but when are they not 🤣 I can’t wait to see what everyone has to say about their antics in this next installment!

LOVE YOU ALL! 💕