ellie! @westdesert - Tumblr Blog

moving to another account, i'll be at @doctorseward. i've already followed my mutuals over there, leaving this one to rest i think <3

graceandgirlhood

Carmen Marchena

motherrcain

cainettles

My girl

https://www.instagram.com/haydencain1998?igsh=cmRiNXh2dHpkcmdp&utm_source=qr

joanofarcisdead

for as much as people are always all "gerard way always writes quirky comics women that they self-project onto!!" there is just as sharp, clear, and consistent a trend in gerard way's work to portray the heart of violence, militarism, authoritarianism, and fascism as a woman.

the so-often fetishized "secretary" (fandom-named) of draag. bl/ind's director. the mother figure in the umbrella academy. the arc of the milk wars crossover. here, women are not just capable of deep fascistic and violence, but are key stakeholders in it (leaders in it, even!!)

for a certain kind of feminist thinker, this could be critiqued for a kind of representational misogyny, and for a certain kind of prescriptivist thinker, this could be gleaned as evidence of gerard way's inner psyche and identity-formation. to me, at least, neither of those readings are as compelling as what this thread does in our current moment (as we watch the tides of authoritarianism rising above our heads as the long-unfolding foregone conclusion of capitalism) and what it forces us to confront -- particularly and especially as we yearn for certain forms and images of easy "representation"

joanofarcisdead

fascism does not just take on the face of a great dictator. fascism might look beautiful, might look maternal, might make us feel safe, might make us feel cared for. might even make us feel excited. might even take on the appearance of someone familiar. might even make us feel represented.

this is an authorial statement just as much as “in the face of extermination, say fuck you”