#meta rec

[amtrak12]

Sobbing because I actually managed to track down the Dreamwidth back up of the LJ writing meta posts I owe so much too T_T

The writer's username was synecdochic and here is their table of contents for ALLLL of their writing meta from back in the mid-2000s.

I already edited my earlier meta posts with the link, but the essays I remember in particular were:

Structure, Complexity, and Hidden Themes

The Embryonic Novel

Point of View

But also Building Your Imaginary Friends, The implied contract with the reader, Flaws and quirks, Identifying and Mimicking style, Hidden character motivations -- just all of them. All of their essays are incredible. Their theater background drives their approach to story-crafting and it made things click for me that other writing advice sources just couldn't. Highly, highly, HIGHLY recommend checking them out if you're a writer/aspiring writer.

[pigtailedgirl]

Meta Recs for friends

https://fahbee.tumblr.com/post/184854254757/st-eve-barnes-in-a#notes

https://fahbee.tumblr.com/post/184878213392/i-feel-like-the-russo-brothers-watched-into-the

https://monardammm.tumblr.com/post/184909347601/i-feel-like-the-russo-brothers-watched-into-the

https://www.thefandomentals.com/avengers-endgame-barely-qualifies-as-a-movie/

https://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2019/04/27/the-avengers-endgame-is-peak-genre-no-spoilers-relax/

http://cinemalogue.com/2019/11/18/the-marvel-juggernaut-with-great-power-comes-zero-responsibility/

http://cinemalogue.com/2018/06/01/steve-rogers-americas-underdog-importance-representation/

https://whatthefoucault.tumblr.com/post/185365593138/the-problem-with-old-man-steve-isnt-that-hes-old

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/tony-stark-is-the-true-villain-of-the-marvel-cinematic_b_59647d10e4b0deab7c646b76

https://fahbee.tumblr.com/post/184931792092/perhaps-it-was-in-poor-taste-given-the-current

https://fahbee.tumblr.com/post/184924730492/im-tryna-understand-the-whole-steves-ending

In my journal or mine:

https://pigtailedgirl.tumblr.com/post/185120211968/tony-stark-ends-my-mcu-in-endgame#notes

https://pigtailedgirl.tumblr.com/post/190556944693/go-off?is_related_post=1#notes

https://pigtailedgirl.tumblr.com/post/628917664412303360/elenajones23-mrd-k3-steve-was-on-ice-12-years?is_related_post=1#notes

https://pigtailedgirl.tumblr.com/post/190483797328/peter-in-the-soul-stone-after-sam-and-bucky#notes

https://pigtailedgirl.tumblr.com/post/669847233614725121/ive-seen-a-lot-of-people-saying-civil-war-wasnt#notes

https://pigtailedgirl.tumblr.com/post/669073364394164224/one-of-my-followers-reminded-me-of-yet-another

Ooo I forgot that one on Peggy and the compass. I really like my rant here lol.

https://pigtailedgirl.tumblr.com/post/668568200139718656/hey-anon-from-the-buckyisaiah-ask-here-first-of

I don’t think stopping manufacturing/selling weapons, except for America, just by saying so, is undoing a legacy. Tony lip-serviced. Tony actually didn’t notice Stane and the board behind his back until they very literally stole the company and tried to kill him. Stane twice. Tony hands off the company to Pepper without a follow-up and the suit to Rhodey, aka the government, in Iron Man 2. He instead gets drunk, gets donuts, gets in a race car. Tony is not stopping world governments or the US from recreating Iron Man, he hubristically believes it’s impossible. We watch him watch soldiers break their back or die in Hammertech. He’s not blocking or fighting him though. And Extremis, aka Killian, was in US operation without a hitch. It’s US soldiers he’s testing on before Pepper. The Mandarin is a smoke-screen of foreign is scary. Extremis is interesting tech open for others, aka US others, when it’s just Mia in the flashback, when it’s just businessman Killian to Pepper at Stark Industries. Nope, only when it hurts him or Pepper and Happy does it become bad. He even adopts it for personal use after.

Tony does zip to change or stop the military industrial weapons complex Howard created or participated in. He just self brands it.

I said this about Tony in one of my talks with @cosmicmechanism and I stand by it so hard. This is my Anti Tony response to people implying his arc was anti weapon.

 https://pigtailedgirl.tumblr.com/post/668209111037509632/why-the-winter-soldier-is-less-an-embodiment-of

https://pigtailedgirl.tumblr.com/post/190024552153/very-well-written-summation-of-the-arc-they-gave

[nattobees]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Chapter: 1/1 Fandom: Air Gear Rating: Mature Warnings: Graphic Depictions of Violence, Major Character Death Relationships: Sora Takeuchi/Kilik Additional Tags: abusive, Violent and Bloody, Nonfiction, Meta, Ship Manifesto Summary:

A ship manifesto for Sora/Kilik

[righteousinadversity]

Hi! This is the anon who dropped the comment about LovePsycho's take on WWX's "arrogance." I wanted to give proper credit, so I tracked the original post down - posted April 13, 2021, with the title "“Arrogance”? Rather Healthy Pride Actually." (Sorry, it won't let me give you a link.)

The idea of Wei Wuxian being “arrogant” is actually pretty funny to think of? Because all I get from every incident that calls him “arrogant

It's totally cool, I got the link! And this post is really gold, because it dives into the reason for WWX being accused of being arrogant (Spoiler Alert: It's CLASSISM) so I absolutely adore that. Especially the line 'It’s really just a factor of classism and how no one wants to acknowledge that the greatest genius in their generation is a “low class” person by their strict social structure.' DAMN. Talk abt a mic drop!

Thank you for the meta rec nonny I enjoyed it immensely!

[vrishchikawrites]

Who Knew the Truth About the Wen Remnants? By Karmiya is a meta on AO3 that I just read and it has some interesting points. I would love to hear your thoughts.

I read it entirely just now and I honestly feel every sentence hits the nail on its head. I have always felt that people probably knew. When I was reading the book, NMJ's hardline stance made me wince. LXC's little comment about WWX's character changing made be question him. Because his focus on was WWX instead of what was just revealed. LQR's presence at the 1st BM siege made me also question things.

The author is right for saying that the text evidence doesn't really excuse anyone. We like to think that people like LXC and NMJ didn't know the entire truth but there has always been a nagging itch at the back of my mind.

There are also a few other points in the meta that I found particularly interesting-

The observation that people knew WWX wasn't a threat. Particularly the comment someone in canon made about 'young people would be swayed and follow the unorthodox path, discarding orthodoxy' That reaction feels so familiar. Literally every time something new and revolutionary is introduced the older, less-adaptive generation protests. We saw it with rock and roll, we saw it with waltz, we saw it with LGBTQ+ activism. The whole - this taboo thing will spread and become norm and what will happen to the 'good' path?

That paints not only WWX's cultivation but the actions of JC after WWX's death in a different light.

Also the fact that almost everyone thought he was building a sect and many people actually wanted to join shows that his reputation wasn't really that bad then, before the incident with JZXun.

In the end, I agree with the author. WX got their happy ending but there was actually no justice. People who committed atrocities suffered no consequences. WWX got no apologies and LSZ just had to deal with the situation and accept it.

This really brings me to my point about what we are shown and what happens subtly in the background. There's so much focus on WWX's actions but so little on the sins others commit in the background. If we think deeper, absolutely no one comes out as a saint.

[lostcauses-noregrets]

Hey, I discovered SnK a few weeks ago and binge watched the anime. I have never read the manga, I have never been in the fandom, I have never read a fanfic, I am completely new.

Now I just finished watching all the come out episodes so I finally looked around for some blogs to follow and for some meta to read not afraid of spoilers anymore (that I got anyway because I forgot about the manga, ops).

I jumped on the Eruri train immediately because who wouldn’t? Can’t relate. And I was wondering if you have some advice for a fandom newbie.

Do you have some fic recs? Blog recs? Meta I have probably missed? Is it too late and this fandom is dead or joining in still has a point?

Do you recommend me to read the whole manga? Should I at least read the latter chapters set after the last episode of the anime? I’m lost please enlighten me.

I chose you because I’ve seen you’re quite active and eloquent, at least for what I’ve got in a morning of intense tumblr research (I finished the anime a few hours ago).

Hey Anon, welcome to the fandom and congratulations on choosing such a god tier ship for your first foray into fandom.  The good news is that the Eruri fandom is incredibly generous, creative and friendly.  Unsurprisingly it also tends to attract a lot of older fans, which makes it a really chill place to hang out.  So, in answer to your questions...

Do you have some fic recs? 

Lots! I’ve got a fic rec tag on my blog where you’ll find links to all the fandom classics.  There are so many incredible authors in the Eruri fandom, you’re bound to find a whole range of fics that suit your personal taste.

Blog recs? 

Follow @momtaku for meta, analysis and the @youhearbiggirls podcast.  @tsuki-no-ura for meta and translation. @snknews and @snkmerchandise for official updates. @elivra-fanfiction, @tidal-sehnsucht, @huxandthehound, @project-zorthania, @ladymacbethsspot and @erbeansandravioli for fic, meta and writing. @the-memoirs-of-a and @story-kat for authorised art reposts. @i-heart-danchou for doujin recs. @fallenrazziel and @shadowgale96 for all kinds of Eruri goodness.  

We’re also blessed with more talented artists than I can count.  You can find a rec list of artists that are currently active on tumblr here and I’ve also got lots more artists on my tags page.

Meta I have probably missed?

I’ve got a meta rec post here.  You can find my own meta tagged lostcauses meta / levi meta / erwin meta / eruri relationship and other people’s meta I’ve reblogged tagged amazing meta. There’s also a fun Q&A session with Isayama here which includes all kinds of additional little details about the story and characters.

Is it too late and this fandom is dead or joining in still has a point?

Four and a half years after Erwin’s death, the Eruri fandom is still alive and kicking.  In fact now is a great time to get on board as the end of the series is drawing more people into the fandom.  Several artists and writers who were active way back in the day, but subsequently moved on, have reappeared and there are new fans joining all the time. 

The fandom on tumblr may be smaller than in its heyday, but there’s a big active Eruri fandom on twitter, including lots of amazing Japanese artists.  I’m @losteruri over on twitter and it you look at the accounts I follow you’ll find lots of Eruri fans and artists. There’s also a *huge* SnK fandom on TikTok, but I leave that to the teens :P

Do you recommend me to read the whole manga?

I can highly recommend reading the whole manga, it’s excellent.  Although the anime sticks very closely to the manga it necessarily has to leave out a lot of character nuance for the sake of brevity, so it’s really worth reading the original material.  

I can also recommend reading the official Attack on Titan Character Encyclopedia which has been translated into several languages.  There’s also the official Answers Fanbook which is only available in Japanese but which has been translated by @fuku-shuu here and @ningen-suki here.  Both books include invaluable information about Erwin and Levi’s special relationship.  

The semi-official Smartpass stories are also fun.  You can find a list of them on @momtaku’s blog here snk smartpass content / snk smartpass stories. 

There are also three versions of A Choice With No Regrets, which tells the story of how Erwin and Levi met and how Levi came to join the Survey Corps.  You can read the manga online here and there’s also a visual novel here, both are excellent. The ACNWR anime looks great but it absolutely butchers Erwin’s character and mangles the ending horribly.  If you do watch it, take it with a pinch of salt.

Hopefully that will get you going in the Eruri fandom Anon.  Enjoy! 

[asherlockstudy]

Hello! I was just going through the posts on your blog that have been tagged under Moriarty and I recall reading something where you say that John and Jim were romantic antagonists. Could you explain this a little? I was quite interested in it and wanted a bit more clarity. Thank you! Love the blog by the way <3

Thank you :)

In one sentence, for me the plot of Sherlock is a romantic triangle of Sherlock - John - Jim where both John and Jim "claim" Sherlock. This is the unspoken (NOT subtextual, just unspoken) root of all evil and the motivator for the development of the story. In my opinion, it's canonical. John wins Sherlock's affections and this makes Jim mad with fury and thirst for vengeance. However, I also believe there are parts of Sherlock that are torn between the two.

For a detailed explanation of all this, you can check the following posts:

What happened in the pool scene

Analyzing the rooftop scene (this is my overall main analysis, the meta around which my whole interpretation of Sherlock orbits)

[psychomurderz]

https://pikahlua.tumblr.com/post/645598966407462912/possible-parallels-the-final-battle

May I interest you with this meta?

Oh, yes! I read that meta! It's amazing! I wish a lot of it would come true in the finale. Though personally, I think the Ninth will still be the last one😅 (Little Greed entered the chat)