ᛗᛠᚱᚳᛥᚪᛈᚪᚾ

i read an interview with a mathematician recently where she talks about the commonalities between math and literature and the idea that playfulness is a key part of doing both of those things. there’s a lot of fun to be had in turning a concept over and over, finding novel ways to look at it or combine it with other things, and i think that idea of playfulness also applies to analysis + critique. looking at a story through different lenses to see what new insights you can gain, reading intertexts and learning about the context in which it was created. finding a new bit of theory and saying hey wait a minute, i can use this to talk about [insert favourite media here]! it’s fun!

if i can get on my professional educator soapbox for a moment i think the reason a lot of people struggle with the idea that analysis and critique can be fun is that our education system in general is not designed to make the intellectual process seem particularly fun, or like something that can be approached in a playful manner (see also: the mathematician’s lament). thinking deeply about things for the sake of thinking deeply about things seems ridiculous because it’s associated with the stress of grades and too much homework and general bad pedagogy. it creates a lack of confidence in one’s own intellectual abilities that makes even the act of trying seem like too much. and it’s not at all impossible to grow past this and find the fun in the intellectual process but you do have to push past a lot of that fear and anxiety first

here’s the original article as well as a mathematician’s lament

"The word pandemonium was coined by John Milton as the name for the Parliament of Hell" is an all-timer etymology. Oh yeah did you hear that Mrs Higgins's dogs got loose at the village fête? It was like a vast golden edifice in which fallen angels debate their strategies for vengeance against god, yeah.

you've obviously been to a village fete

fond of isabel lovelace wolf 359 because she dies and then her life gets worse. and this happens not once but twice

the thing about tom and jerry is that like, sure, Tom is a bit of an asshole for not letting Jerry enjoy himself innocently, especially when hes not even stealing any food or anything, when hes sincerely just having a good time and bothering no one. Tom gets in his business, scares him with the threat of hurting or eating him, but the reality is that he never actually goes through with it,,,, its all in good fun. but Jerry, he…. fuck. he always has to take it way too damn far. its hard to fucking watch. the guy messes with you a bit, in a goodnatured way, and your response is to always hurt him back in INCREDIBLY PAINFUL WAYS. smashing plates on him, burning him, fuck, even boiling him once. Jerry can never just genuinely have a little bit of boyish fun, he always has to jump the gun, and frankly im tired of pretending like i find it funny or okay.

ok so its a pretty good story but you know what would make it better? a liar. a character who lies. maybe two.