When characters lose limbs and magically get prosthetics that are just as good as real arms if not better that they never need to take off or get refitted.
Shoutout GOT for having a character lose an arm and it actually impacts him and his prosthetic is more cosmetic than practical and shoutout to Adventure Time for making it so when Fin lost his arm is was less about solving a “Problem” and more about accepting a loss and adapting to a change in his life.
Yes, prosthetics exist. But the way magical prosthetics are integrated often leans into the idea that the limb replacement:
1- Never has to come off.
2- Doesn't have any special cleaning requirements.
3- Never needs any adjustments or repairs.
4- Has the same sensation of touch (and not in a phantom limb way) as their natal limb did.
All of these things perpetuate misconceptions of how prosthetic limbs work in reality and/or fetishizes limb loss in a manner that implies the loss doesn't change your life whatsoever.
Major shout out from me to Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, that does have the concept of alchemy, but still explores the affects of losing parts of your body. For example, Ed needs to have his prosthetic tended to, repaired, & fitted, he suffers from chronic pain, and he had to relearn all the aspects of losing an arm. Al (having lost his entire body, and being merely a soul in a metal suit) struggles with symptoms such as an inability to sleep, eat, feel temperature, etc.
Yes, the story is them trying to get back their old bodies. But aside from them, there are other characters who experience limb loss and a whole range of other complications. And I don't think getting back their old bodies negates the years (aka the entire series) of strain and learning how to use their prosthetics. I also think its important to note that even when they do get their lost parts back, they struggle to maneuver them, because theyre so out of practice, and are lacking in muscle tone, fat, and strength.
(Shoutout to this reblog chain on the matter [link].)
turnnoffyourmind
jacobvanloon
vaporwave
theartofmadeline
tangentwithtanner
dededos
kianamaiart
baratheonpilled
