#aren rambles

[ahomeganeyatsu]

Something something about Jinu sacrificing his family to free himself from pain and poverty, to live, and chaining himself to the demon king due to guilt and shame, choosing to erase his memories of his family, of his sin that brought his downfall.

To confessing his sin to Rumi, sacrificing himself to protect her life, allowing her to live. A life he wished he was brave enough to give his sister and mother.

[arenhewitt]

‘Cause Uncle Endicott pegged me all wrong. I’ve got no cents. No cents at all.

(AKA a companion piece to my Wirt from earlier this year 😁)

[runningtowardstrouble]

Wirt and The Beast but as an old woodcut broadsheet!

[kiwi-kawa]

YOU CHILD MADE ME LAUGH SO HARD THE CAMPUS CLERK IN THE BOOKSTORE ASKED IF I WAS OKAY @big-tiddy-goth-666

[runningtowardstrouble]

If I were Sophie, I would have let Calcifer take my boobs in exchange for moving the castle. Seems like a win-win to me

[runningtowardstrouble]

Can we please stop undervaluing the arts?

Hi there, I know I very rarely make my own posts, but this is something I just can’t keep sitting on. It took me a while to figure out how to phrase my thoughts here, since I’m not trying to start shit. I just think this is an important conversation to have.

I lurk around in a lot of online leftist spaces (surprise, it’s because I’m a leftist), and I really enjoy hearing about different opinions there. However, I’ve recently come across some posts (not just here on tumblr) that have really irked me.

The post that made me finally decide to write this made some good points regarding the fact we need to destigmitize manual labor and that in a post capitalist society not everyone would hold the same jobs they do now. However, they go on to talk about how if you currently hold a more intellectual job (ie one that doesn’t require more difficult manual labor) you aren’t useful to society and should wash dishes instead.

Fuck. That.

Not only does this exclude many teachers, historians, scientists, etc. (who, mind you, have had important roles within society long before capitalism), but it also inherently undervalues the place of art in our culture. Under this mindset, all of the dancers, actors, sculptors, painters, writers, poets, etc. would just be labeled hobbyists and told that if they want to partake in the arts they have to “pay their dues” and find a “useful” job first. I don’t know about you, but to me this sounds like the same shit artists are put through under capitalism.

It’s the same mindset that makes people think we should work for free because it’s just a hobby, when for many of us it is absolutely not. It’s the same mindset that makes people ask me if I have a fallback plan when I mention that I’m training to go into the entertainment industry. As of today, most people consume their media and their products without even bothering to consider the artists that made these things possible, and then turn around and tell us our careers are useless.

My classmates and I are not in school for the arts because of capitalism. We are there in spite of it. We are there because we are passionate about what we do and who we are as creatives.

While I will always respect and appreciate manual laborers, I also feel we should be able to recognize that there is a place in society for those who have chosen other paths. I shouldn’t be required to do dishes or work on a production line to deserve to exist. I should be able to work hard to create things for everyone to enjoy in their free time. Without career artists, there would be no more of that.

Art has existed since the dawn of humanity, and it will continue to exist until we die off. I consider art to be a part of human nature.

I’ve seen first hand what capitalism does to people like me, and the fact that there are some leftists out there that want the same shit to continue even after moving past capitalism is extremely disheartening. I genuinely hope that these individuals reconsider what they think our society should be, because it can be so so much more.

As for me? Any definition of a post capitalist society that labels certain jobs as useful or useless is a definition I reject. We shouldn’t have to be “useful” to be allowed to exist and have our basic human needs met. Everyone has a place in our society, whether you understand their path or not.

I am an artist and will continue to be an artist no matter what economic system we’re under, and if you want me to change who I am to better suit your vision: fuck you.

[runningtowardstrouble]

Guys I bought a music box that plays the theme from Howl’s Moving Castle 🥺👉👈

Just thought you’d like to know

[kiwi-kawa]

Hey! If y’all are going to SJ, I’m gonna be cosplaying! I’m on the plane now so! Look forward to meeting up if y’all are going! 💙💙