Alwa Fibuno

i'm often torn between whether subtle representation or characters who revolve around their queerness are more important. (I have a point I swear) on one hand, subtle representation supports queerness as something normal/not always the biggest thing, and usually keeps the character in favorable opinion. characters whose queerness is one of the most important details tend to be really flat and often stereotyped, they end up not meaning anything or not being relatable. on the other hand, subtle representation feels like just a side note sometimes, like a little "here's something for liberals, we're woke too you know" and doesn't mean anything. then they can cut out parts to censor it if needed. then characters who are very clearly and openly queer are a big win, for a long time that could never have happened.

i think Blanc being gay qualifies as subtle representation, there is only one scene in one movie with Philip, and if cut out/changed the plot would be affected very little. and yet it adds so much depth and meaning to his character. even though we know very little about his life besides this, he is not flat in either way.

there's the obvious parts of Wake Up Dead Man that Blancs queerness is relevant to - I think there is no doubt that his strained relationship with the church and his mother are related to his queerness.

but then I see the themes of Blanc's character that line up so well with his queerness. In all three movies, Blanc is a side character who leads each character through their murder mystery and to the big final decision that each character makes (keeping the money, blowing up the glass onion, hiding the jewel). As a gay man who we must assume is very confident in this, he knows himself and is sure of his values. that's why I think it is so relevant that his role is simply supporting all these characters who are unsure of themselves. you can draw a lot of parallels between young/questioning queers and the protagonists of these movies; all are trying to find themselves, and Benoit Blanc is there to help.

He is not there to tell them what to think, what to be, what to do. He just leads them to the decision, knowing that they will be true to their values. He supports them, and trusts that they will find themselves and make the right decision for them. he has already found himself, his character is not going to grow or change in any of the movies. Blanc is sort of the elder gay, telling the youth it's ok to choose yourself, it's ok to be angry, it's ok to feel guilt (and move on from it).

morpho books

figure drawing for all it's worth (+ creative illustration)

framed ink

will eisner comics and sequential art

will eisner graphic storytelling and visual narrative

understanding comics (+ making comics)

folder of various animation production art

burne hogarth drawing dynamic hands

perspective for comic book artists

michael mattesi force drawing

the animator's survival kit

color and light james gurney

Closest match: Mya arenaria isolate MELC-2E11 chromosome 5 Common name: Soft-Shelled Clam

refseek.com

www.worldcat.org/

link.springer.com

http://bioline.org.br/

repec.org

science.gov