CassieDoesThings

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To preface this post, I’ve been a fan of TADC since it premiered on YouTube, and seeing the reactions to Jax mutate as the show goes on has been fascinating given we’ve had the opportunity to learn more about him and why he acts the way he does.

A lot of hate towards Jax comes from how he acts towards the other members of the circus, obviously; but, I feel that these haters are failing to analyzing him as a fictional character who, does in fact, have multiple complex layers. Folks see him as fan-bait and use Goose’s favoritism to completely gut any potential of him being a deeper character.

I think it says a lot that many of these people fail to extend empathy to his situation and immediately want to see justice served, rather than finding interest the slow progression between him and Pomni (the main characters). They don’t want to entertain the possibly of a redemption because it’s seemingly “undeserved”, while Pomni’s determination to reach out is trying to tell you the opposite.

I do understand where the sentiment comes from; Jax’s actions are inexcusable, and it is a valid stance to feel he should be unforgiven. But, the story is quite literally trying to show you how one would go about making amends with someone like Jax, and that there’s a very high likelihood there are deeper issues causing someone’s dysfunctions.

"I hate Jax, he's abusive and an all around shit guy!" That's exactly what he wants you to think. That's literally what his stunts are meant to do. YOU'RE FALLING FOR THE PERFORMANCE!

The narrative tells the audience, through Pomni, that empathy is the way to go about connecting with a person who refuses to be helped- and it's Jax's choice to continue refusing or to accept that help. We're shown Pomni has her boundaries and steps back to respect her own limits with pursuing Jax.

And yet, she's called a two-faced enabler, and that she's excusing Jax's behavior by trying to connect with him instead of telling him off for all the shit he's done. Would that not push him away further- the exact OPPOSITE thing she's trying to do?

Not to mention, Jax's actions are undoubtedly amplified due to his belief that they're all in a fictional world- his dissociation makes sense given the current situation, and they ARE in a fictional world- they're LITERALLY, PHYSICALLY cartoon characters. That doesn't excuse his actions, but considering the setting, it shows why he'd grow comfortable disregarding any and all human connection. The Digital Circus is a social hell he's stuck in, just like everyone else.

He's an edgy prick who hasn't learned how to connect with others, and the setting plays very well into his problematic coping mechanisms. Learning how to be emotionally available to others and to open up to them is a genuine skill he clearly hasn't had the opportunity to exercise.

That could be due to rejection in the past, whether it was because of his true self not being accepted, or him refusing to accept who he really wants to be. Jax feeling like he can't allow himself to feel that kind of genuine connection because he "knows" he's a bad person.

I think this reading plays extremely well into the interpretation that he’s struggling to accept the possibility that he’s a trans women, because it would explain his unbelievably strong push to distance every part of himself from anyone who might be able to see deeper.

Some people think he's completely irredeemable, and I think he feels that way too.

The fact he was originally going to be a woman and had his body changed to be male is such a good way to convey the transness of his character; the dysphoria stems from the design phase and it's absolutely genius!

This was originally a shorter ramble I posted elsewhere, and the motivation was sharing that I think it’s hysterical that there's people out there that would judge me as a person for adoring an asshole fictional character that clearly has a lot going on.

I don't like Jax because he's a misogynistic asshole, I like Jax because he's genuinely interesting and there's a lot to analyze about why he is the way he is.

I know Goose said the theme of the show is: "That there's meaning to be found in a stagnant life."

White people making “teehee I’m ALMOST being racist but I’m NOT” jokes will always be deeply unfunny because it relies on acknowledging the history of harm while people have done to black communities throughout centuries and your own power to commit that harm, and somehow finding that funny. It’s like fake out punching. The joke is “I could be hitting you! But I’m not! But the fact that you’re scared is hilarious!”

That being said, to the best of my knowledge this is not a pattern, and making twitter threads about your outrage over a single clip that is seven years old feels deeply performative especially if you are white yourself. Activism is not a competition of outrage. It is action.

Lastly, I am the whitest white person you have ever met. That you are coming to ME to absolve you of any guilt for continuing to like a TV show or an actor is ridiculous. My follower count does not give me that right, nor is it my responsibility. You have to deal with the knowledge that someone you admired is capable of shitty actions. There is nothing for me to do about that

Calling out blatant racism within your own fandom should not be hard.

There is no "Yeah, but....." when it comes to racist fans who are harassing black folks who have every right to be pissed off about Michael's shitty "joke."

2019 wasn't that long ago and Michael wasn't a kid when he was making these types of "jokes" on stream, he was in his twenties at the time.

Don't get me wrong, it's great that he apologized, but he shouldn't expect to be easily forgiven by everyone who took issue with his "jokes." Especially when his most vocal defenders are racist assholes.

It never ceases to amaze me how white folks will always stick their heads in the sand when it comes to speaking out against racism. Especially during a time when literal Nazis are taking over everything.

"Who cares if he made a racist joke seven years ago? It's fine, everything is fine, stop talking about it."

Batman Vol. 3 Annual #3 - Father’s Day (December 12, 2018)

Sooooo is hawks transmasc or are the yuri connoisseurs eating real good? Because either way I'm down.