“the pang of creation…”
- The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay. #favorite #books #literature
Whenever I hear someone talking about how it’s wrong to have sex and sexiness in YA novels, what I actually hear is this:
I’m terrified that the first fictional sex a teenage girl encounters might leave her feeling good about herself. I’m terrified that fictional sex might actually make teenage girls think sex can be fun and good, that reading about girls who say no and boys who listen when they say it might give them the confidence to say no, too – or worse still, to realise that boys who don’t listen to ‘no’ aren’t worth it. I’m terrified that YA novels might teach teenage girls the distinction between assault and consensual sex, and give them the courage to speak out about the former while actively seeking the latter. I’m terrified that teenage girls might think seriously about the circumstances under which they might say yes to sex; that they might think about contraception before they need it, and touch themselves in bed at night while fantasising about generous, interesting, beautiful lovers who treat them with consideration and respect. I’m terrified of a generation of teenage girls who aren’t shy or squeamish about asking for cunnilingus when they want it, or about loving more than one person at once, and who don’t feel shame about their arousal. I’m terrified that teenage girls might take control of their sexuality and, in so doing, take that control of them and their bodies away from me.
"kay, unpopular opinion time.
sailor moon is not punk, in fact, is pretty corny. I feel frustrated when I see everyone trying to make sailor moon super punk, when is not. I know i’m nobody to say what people can or can not imagine and do with their fandom, I’m not going there. What I mean is I get frustrated when I see sailor moon becoming an icon for what she’s not.
I feel like people are trying to make her a symbol for things she doesn’t even think of. From what I’ve seen from it (and I’ll say now I’m a Sailor Moon fan) Sailor Moon fights for love and stuff that involves dependance on another person and, in most cases, the love of a man. So she can not be an icon for independence and self love and all that stuff cause, even loving her like I do and being a follower of the series since I was a kid, I think she talks a whole lot of bullcrap.
So if you’re looking for a fucking badass icon with a pussy I think you meant TANK GIRL.
Hmm, I think it’s a lot more complicated than that, mostly because the anime can be a little inconsistent in its message on that front, but overall I think it does counter what you are saying.
In the media, absolutely there is way too much emphasis on women requiring a romantic relationship. Women are portrayed as not satisfied unless they are with a man, and their ultimate goal, even if that woman is a businesswoman or a superhero or a magical elven creature, is to find romance. Sailor Moon does not fully challenge this notion, because from beginning to end, the romance between Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Mask is a major aspect of the plot.
However, love does not equal romantic love, romantic love does not equal dependence, and wanting love of any kind does not overshadow the desire to save the world from total destruction.
Love =/= Romantic Love. Usagi’s love for her friends is constantly emphasized in the series. The friendships honestly dominate a large portion of the anime, more than the relationship with Mamoru. Her love and the love that she fights for is repeatedly shown as extending to everybody she knows or ever meets. It is pure love for humanity as a whole.
Romantic Love =/= Dependence. Sailor Moon may seem dependent on Tuxedo Mask if you rely only on how battles look in many filler episodes. She gets into a tight spot, he appears with a toss of the rose, and with his encouragement she defeats the monster. But she is the one with all the power. She is the one who ultimately defeats every villain. She is the one who has to repeatedly rescue him from death or capture. Tuxedo Mask’s role, at best, is moral support.
And honestly, as a character, she grows in independence over time. In the beginning she is a terrified 14-year-old girl who would rather cry and hope for rescue than try to defeat a scary thing on her own. In the end she is a solitary figure who continues to fight even when everybody she loves has been killed. She stands alone against the person who killed everybody she knows, including the man she loves, and still offers that person complete acceptance. Ultimately, she is independent in every possible way.
And you know what, I don’t think we’d be having this kind of conversation about any male superhero. Nobody asks whether Lois Lane makes Superman weak and dependent. Rather, the love interest acts as extra motivation for the hero to do what needs to be done. The hero saves the day and gets the girl as a reward. That’s how this shit works. Only in Sailor Moon, it’s reversed.
like I don’t understand why people are like “it doesn’t emphasize independence!!!” like of course it doesn’t
the focus in Sailor Moon is largely community and find strength with the community of women around you
that’s like, the entire message
that doesn’t mean self belief and self love isn’t also emphasized. The whole idea is people are stronger when they have people to fight for. Usagi is stronger because she has people she works with and people to fight for. She believes in herself because people need her and believe in her, both men and women.
yeah there is absolutely nothing about believing in yourself and your power here we just pulled that out of nowhere.
like i don’t know anything about tank girl other than it’s super edgy was created by a dude and probably is not something little girls would read. But people probably like Sailor Moon because she grows up to rule the world with a cadre of cool ladies havin’ her back and her boyfriend willingly being her househusband and that’s kinda way cool and stuff.
“Her love and the love that she fights for is repeatedly shown as extending to everybody she knows or ever meets. It is pure love for humanity as a whole.”
“people probably like Sailor Moon because she grows up to rule the world with a cadre of cool ladies havin’ her back and her boyfriend willingly being her househusband”
♥ YESSS. THANK YOU.
Additionally, each Senshi had her own distinct personality. The acknowledgement of diversity and individuality alongside community makes the story as valuable as it is compelling.
Black & white, blurry #Lydia/@LydiaMusic from tonight @ Slims. Such a good show! Had too much fun instead of trying to get good shots lol
“You will see, Sansa.” She took her by the hand and gave it a squeeze. “Sister.” Sister. Sansa had once dreamt of having a sister like Margaery; beautiful and gentle, with all the world’s graces at her command. Arya had been entirely unsatisfactory as sisters went. ‘How can I let my sister marry Joffrey?’ she thought, and suddenly her eyes were full of tears.
Vaginal Fantasy Book Club board game design - -
I half-jokingly told Bonnie Burton last week that I wanted to design the VF board game they joked about on their last show. And then of course I couldn’t stop the ideas from coming. The sketch above and the rules below happened in a single flood of creativity. I stopped before it became time-consuming.********************
GOAL:
Be the first to read ALL THE SMUT.
2 to 4 players
Play as Felicia, Veronica, Bonnie or Kiala. Move around the board at the roll of the die, visiting the book stores, collecting sci-fi & fantasy romance novels. The first to collect 100 books wins.
GAMEPLAY:
Place your gamepiece at your home in one of the corners.
Shuffle cards, place deck face down in center of board.
Players take turns drawing cards from top of deck until each has 4 (or 5?) cards, high roller draws first.
High roller moves first, play continues clockwise.
Move around the board clockwise. Follow instructions on the spaces as you land on them.
Collect 10 books each time you land on Book Faire. You can only collect when you land on exact count.
SPACES:
Several book stores with various amounts of books to collect on each landing. Other shops that can boost collections or cause distractions, etc.
CARDS:
One card must be played before each move (or after?), not counting the first move. Player chooses which card to play, unless a new card says otherwise. Played cards are removed from the game, and one card is drawn as a replacement.
Character-specific cards can only be played against that character. If you draw your own, you must hold it.
Booster cards -
Surprise visit from Gail Simone! Double next haul!
Jill Pantozzi retweets you! Double next haul!
Wil Wheaton lets you win! Add 4 books!
Vag-Fans come through! 10 books by mail!
Team Unicorn to the rescue! Add 10 books!
Go directly to Book Faire! Collect 10 books!
etc…
Distraction cards -
Big sale on tiny wine! Lose a turn!
Convention in Australia! Lose a turn!
Nathan Fillion visits! Lose a turn!
Lose 4 books! BECAUSE OF REASONS!
Taxidermy Shop! Bonnie loses a turn!
“I Keep Falling Asleep!” Veronica loses a turn!
Tentacle Porn! Felicia loses a turn!
Giant Raccoon! Kiala loses a turn!
COUNTRY MUSIC ruins all gaming everywhere forever! Felicia loses a turn!
etc…
Sabotage cards -
Steal 2 books from next player
Steal 2 books from ANY player
Steal 2 books from Felicia, Bonnie (etc.)
Altruism Attack! Give 4 books to any player.
Feeling Guilty! Give 4 books to any player.
Caught stealing books! Lose 2 turns AND 4 books!
Stop Hitting Yourself! Force another player use their own character card against themselves.
etc…
Self-Destruction cards -
Play one Distraction or Sabotage card against yourself on next turn, or next time you draw one.
Protection cards -
Nullify next negative action against you.
REFLECT next negative action against you. Make it happen to the THEM!SLEEPOVERS -
A Sleepover happens when two or more players occupy a house. One of three things may happen:
1) If the owner of the house is not present, the occupiers temporarily pool their cards and play one card against each of the remaining players.
2) If the owner of the house IS present, she will take one card of her choosing from each of the occupiers.
3) If all players are present, all may trade cards if they wish. Any number of cards may be traded, as long as each player retains the same number of cards.
********************You’ll notice that some of the spaces are only accessible by passing through somebody’s house. This was a consequence of the shapes I drew, which gave rise to the idea about Sleepovers.
Anyway, I have a few more ideas, mostly about cards, but that’s about it.
My ideas don’t include enough reference to the sci-fi/fantasy/smut elements of the club itself. So, other VF fans! Please add details of your own!
(Again, I did NOT design the VF logo!)
- Keith
Sailor V(ehicle)! both he and Luna are now available in my redbubble shop!
Too DeWitt 2 Quit
Toss back more comics at Loldwell.com!
(via blogwell)
3 of my favourite people.
I love Lemony Snicket. I love my wife. I love them in very different ways.
No, that wasn’t what I meant at all.
