Here's the thing: Death of the Author tends to come up when fan interpretation runs up against what the author was trying to go for. That in itself is a topic I'm not that informed enough to comment on, but I will say this:
If you read something into something, that's your own thing (unless enough people share that viewpoint, in which case, it becomes a fan interpretation). If it makes the author seem like a better or worse person in your eyes, again, that's your own viewpoint. The author might not have even had said social issue in mind, or they did, but not with a real-life-ish example or whatever.
And, honestly, I don't mind pointing out the little things, but it's more for stuff like Spec Ops: The Line where said little things tend to reinforce the overall narrative. Or something.
So I've been getting back into Tumblr, and I've been seeing these that bother me. Thankfully they're easy to just scroll past and ignore, it's just the ideas behind some of these things. That and they're not small trends, to my knowledge.
One thing that came to mind is the tendency of some Tumblr folk to respond with "Don't like? Don't follow/Unfollow me" when criticized. I'm more speaking about the blogs that share stuff with others and not the personal blogs (not sure if there's a name for that I'm forgetting), since I would reckon that running a sizable or even not sizable non-personal blog isn't the easiest thing, but that'd be implicit in creating a whole new blog for whatever. Plus, instead of responding to the argument, it seems more about shutting someone down and dismissing them, which in most cases I can't really agree with. I don't even see the point to it, since nothing is solved by responding like that. Sure even on personal blogs, you can tell some nobody to unfollow you, but that means jack all if they don't. A part of it may be that I don't get the stress that can come with a non-personal blog, though.
Granted, to be honest, I don't go in with any notions about how anything on Tumblr "should" be (a nod to the previous conversation here, not long ago). Or even how it "is" but that's something else too. Point is, the idea is still rather annoying and sometimes I don't get it.
More people have said that and been killed than there are thorium decay products.
Actually no I won't do that because sometimes I get like 5 notes on something and I wouldn't if I started a new blog. I think I will just unfollow a bunch of stuff. Yes.
Also that article on Harry Potter was surprisingly interesting and coherent.
I remember reading this. It was fairly convincing, or at least had enough merit that I didn't dismiss the possibility out of hand.
I mean, it certainly goes farther to promote the idea that Harry Potter has some Calvinistic under tones then say, that article that tries to establish Batman as supporting a fascist aristocracy.
It seemed very cherry-picky. Like, it dismissed contrary evidence as just Rowling paying lip service and picks out some pretty obscure, unimportant stuff to back the points up. Or is just utterly inaccurate, such as when it said Lily treated Shape horribly.
Then there's the fact that it equates subconsciously taking a position in the nature vs. nurture debate with malicious Calvinistic undertones.
i get so angry sometimes i just punch plankton --Klinotaxis
Well, notice I didn't mention that it had convinced me that Harry Potter was Calvinist propaganda. I only thought the author raised enough points that there was some merit to the idea. They're not exactly approaching this with an open mind.
It's a good argument, but there is definitely a degree of tunnel vision to the way that he argues his case that keeps me from being convinced. For example, I could cite just as many examples in the books of the defiance of fate and established order as a virtuous trait, particularly when it assumes a prejudicial air. Hell, if anything, the books strike me as far more sympathetic to the progressive socialist traditions of the Scottish proletariat than the Calvinist-inflected views of that region's traditional bourgeois and aristocracy. Take the way that she describes the Dursleys at the beginning of the first book, viciously lampooning the kind of crass aspirational upper-middle-class wealth-based snobbery that typified the Conservative voter base in the suburban South in the 1980s—and ultimately still does.
You are the end result of a “would you push the button” prompt where the prompt was “you have unlimited godlike powers but you appear to all and sundry to be an impetuous child” – Zero, 2022
I'm following 135
I should probably go and prune some of those, but I think I already removed all the most infuriating ones
You are the end result of a “would you push the button” prompt where the prompt was “you have unlimited godlike powers but you appear to all and sundry to be an impetuous child” – Zero, 2022
Windows's shitty font rendering makes Open Sans' tildes look like dashes
Made me wonder for a moment how you could be following a negative number of blogs
You are the end result of a “would you push the button” prompt where the prompt was “you have unlimited godlike powers but you appear to all and sundry to be an impetuous child” – Zero, 2022
Honestly, I've always found the "I follow X blogs" to be a not-that-great indicator of how cluttered your dash is anyway, because for every "updated 10 minutes ago" there's an "updated 2 weeks ago", with maybe one or two "updated 6 months ago" thrown in.
I've learned to tolerate drama...except on the boat
Kexruct said:But yeah, deep analysis of a three second Rise of the Guardians GIF? Probably a bit silly. Analysis of a major character's arc in a series where the author has been known to sketch out extensive backstories for the most minor of characters? I wouldn't doubt authorial intent plays a part there.
Honestly, I've always found the "I follow X blogs" to be a not-that-great indicator of how cluttered your dash is anyway, because for every "updated 10 minutes ago" there's an "updated 2 weeks ago", with maybe one or two "updated 6 months ago" thrown in.
True, I guess, but in my experience a lot of people follow a lot of people with many cluttered dashboards. And the numbers just freak me out, I guess.
But yeah, deep analysis of a three second Rise of the Guardians GIF? Probably a bit silly. Analysis of a major character's arc in a series where the author has been known to sketch out extensive backstories for the most minor of characters? I wouldn't doubt authorial intent plays a part there.
What's with some people listing their sexuality or whatever on their about me pages? No one cares who you want to go with so why even bother listing? That makes you a bunch of a labels not a person.
You are the end result of a “would you push the button” prompt where the prompt was “you have unlimited godlike powers but you appear to all and sundry to be an impetuous child” – Zero, 2022
Plus, you know, if you're single and looking for someone, it might be something worth indicating, no?
They beat me to it. It really depends on the person in my opinion, and it can help cut the smalltalk for those who don't like it, which I assume is a fair amount of Tumblr. I see nothing wrong with "Gay, 21 year old male,and an avid fan of Homestuck and That's So Raven." Or what have you. It can get a bit extensive, but that's a relatively minor concern of mine. There's also the fact that unless people post pictures, you aren't really going to get a good idea otherwise, short of reading such things and/or talking to people.
You are the end result of a “would you push the button” prompt where the prompt was “you have unlimited godlike powers but you appear to all and sundry to be an impetuous child” – Zero, 2022
I sometimes debate whether or not to keep the mention of my trans-ness in my Tumblr's description, but ultimately I keep it because (a) it's something I talk about rather openly on Tumblr, so I might as well have it up-front, and (b) I like to show solidarity with my many other trans* friends on Tumblr. Us misfits gotta stick together! :P
You are the end result of a “would you push the button” prompt where the prompt was “you have unlimited godlike powers but you appear to all and sundry to be an impetuous child” – Zero, 2022
Now, if we wanna talk about annoying Tumblr bios, can we talk about the people who put virtually nothing but their age, gender, and orientation?
It's always a bit annoying when I get a new follower and I go to look at their blog and all they have is something like "19 ♥ MTF ♥ Sherlockian" because, like, whoa, I need a little more than that to figure out if you're someone I know and/or someone I want to follow
You are the end result of a “would you push the button” prompt where the prompt was “you have unlimited godlike powers but you appear to all and sundry to be an impetuous child” – Zero, 2022
You are the end result of a “would you push the button” prompt where the prompt was “you have unlimited godlike powers but you appear to all and sundry to be an impetuous child” – Zero, 2022
Of course, Anonus's blog description is literally just "Something or other" and it's obvious who he is, so what do I know.
You are the end result of a “would you push the button” prompt where the prompt was “you have unlimited godlike powers but you appear to all and sundry to be an impetuous child” – Zero, 2022
Comments
If you read something into something, that's your own thing (unless enough people share that viewpoint, in which case, it becomes a fan interpretation). If it makes the author seem like a better or worse person in your eyes, again, that's your own viewpoint. The author might not have even had said social issue in mind, or they did, but not with a real-life-ish example or whatever.
And, honestly, I don't mind pointing out the little things, but it's more for stuff like Spec Ops: The Line where said little things tend to reinforce the overall narrative. Or something.
Assassin poems, Poems that shoot
guns. Poems that wrestle cops into alleys
and take their weapons leaving them dead
Part of this is because Tumblr's pretty bad for keeping track of discussions.
i get so angry sometimes i just punch plankton --Klinotaxis
Then there's the fact that it equates subconsciously taking a position in the nature vs. nurture debate with malicious Calvinistic undertones.
i get so angry sometimes i just punch plankton --Klinotaxis
i get so angry sometimes i just punch plankton --Klinotaxis
i get so angry sometimes i just punch plankton --Klinotaxis
People are still on about Rise of the Guardians?
Cute boy in a hoodie, duh.
It's always a bit annoying when I get a new follower and I go to look at their blog and all they have is something like "19 ♥ MTF ♥ Sherlockian" because, like, whoa, I need a little more than that to figure out if you're someone I know and/or someone I want to follow