@raspberrysflavour tagged me for this, and it actually is fairly relevant to my blog! So...
1. How do you begin writing your analysis: do you start writing about the first thing that strikes you; or do you step back and look at the narrative structure first; or something else?
Scenario A: I consult my list of ideas for potential meta essays and start outlining the major points or sections. Then I compile my evidence (i.e. screenshots or panels) and rewatch those and other potentially relevant pieces of the media (or reread, if it’s the manga) to consolidate my thoughts.
Scenario B: I go off in chat with someone about a topic they unwittingly raised not realizing I’ve had that one in my back pocket for a while. Then I copy and paste that conversation into a post and clean it up.
Scenario C: I’m minding my own business, probably driving or something, when suddenly the muses of meta strike me with metaphorical lightning, and it takes every ounce of concentration to not crash my vehicle as I slide into a parking space and rush to my computer to type it all out before I e x p l o d e .
2. What do you like to keep in mind while writing your analysis/meta?
How long to stay on one point/how long to make a paragraph go/how to space things visually such that people with short attention spans will be able to stick around to read what I write as long as possible.
3. Do you try to keep your value judgments separate from your analysis?
This is nonsensical to me.
If you’re asking if I try to objectively analyze characters even if I like or don’t like them, then I think that’s necessarily true. If you’re reading in a bias to a character analysis, then that’s...a bias, a headcanon. But if you provide EVIDENCE for your analysis, that’s a supported analysis. That’s a conversation, an argument.
No matter what, my bias will show through in which types of analysis interest me the most. I write about Katsuki Bakugou like constantly. But the veracity of my arguments is tied to the support I provide, not how I feel about him.
I’m not out here trying to opine on the morality of any work or character. That’s a really nonsensical concept to me. It’s all just...fiction.
4. Do you prefer analyzing characters, or arcs, or both?
This one is also nonsensical to me. Analyses are just persuasive essays, so I analyze...the fiction. If you’re analyzing an arc, you have to touch on the characters in that arc. If you’re analyzing a character, you have to discuss the actions/events of the arc in which that character exists. Write a thesis. Support that thesis. Explain that thesis.
5. Do you think receiving feedbacks/responses on your analysis/meta help improve your critical skills?
Yes and no. I think the best help for critical skills is reading others’ ideas and having dialogue about things you haven’t considered. That’s kind of difficult in most social media setups. That’s why I like hashing a lot out on Discord first. The best way to improve your work is to engage with the evidence against your position. Addressing such evidence makes your work more persuasive.
6. Do you consciously decide which media you want to write analysis on or does it naturally come to you?
The meta chooses me.
7. Do you prefer writing long or short metas? Which ones do you prefer to read?
The length isn’t important. I am most concerned with engaging writing. A clear outline/organization of the writing makes it more legible for me, making me more likely to read it all the way through.
8. Which are your favourite analysis/criticism/meta blogs?
I sadly don’t have the time to really dive into other blogs to the degree where I can be discerning like this. I try to surround myself with all types of meta, even for topics I’m not writing about, just to stay informed.
Gotta shout out @makeste and @hanashimas here for sure, but pretty much any meta blog gets a <3 from me.
All you peeps on Discord, too! @greenhappyseed @siflshonen @misplacedgamer @happyebooks uhhhhh I know a lot more of y’all participate in the discussions on Discord but I don’t know if you actually write meta so if you do PLEASE FORGIVE ME FOR FORGETTING (and let me know? I wanna read it.)
@novasothistar @raspberrysflavour and @psychomurderz are my windows into the villain side of MHA meta.
Uh um uh I KNOW THERE ARE SO MANY MORE OF Y’ALL AND I’M SORRY I FORGET WHICH ONES OF Y’ALL ARE META-FOCUSED <33333
9. Which shows/movies/media do you think deserve to have more analysis done on them?
NieR:Automata All of them. But that’s not how my brain works, so...
(Actually, is it weird to say MHA? For such a giant fandom, the relative lack of meta is astounding, or else I’m just really really bad at finding it.)
10. According to you, what are some prerequisites for good quality analysis?
Evidence/support. Clarity over ambiguity. Some semblance of organization in the writing.
Tagging: Everyone, especially if I listed you in #8
