Good Omens got me back on Tumblr

- Total lack of atmospheric perspective (things don't fade into the distance)

- Very realistic shading but no or only very faint shadows cast by ambient light.

- Limited interaction between objects and environment (shadows, ripples etc)

- Flat textures and consistent lighting used for backgrounds that would usually show a lot of variation in lighting, colour and texture

- Bodies apparently modelled piece by piece rather than drawn from life, and in a very stiff way so that the bodies show the pose but don't communicate the body language that would usually go with it. They look like dolls.

- Odd composition that cuts off parts that would usually be considered important (like the person's head in the snowy driving scene)

- Very precise drawing of structures and perspective combined with all the simplistic elements I've already listed. In other words, details in the "wrong" places.

What's fascinating about this is that in early or bad CGI, these things come from the fact that the machine is modelling very precisely the shapes and perspectives and colours, but missing out on some parts that are difficult to render (shadows, atmospheric perspective) and being completely unable to pose bodies in such a way as to convey emotion or body language.

my impression is that colville did see the world as an unsettling place and a lot of his work was fueled by this general ~malaise?? but in a lot of cases, he was trying to express particular fears or traumas. for instance, this painting (horse and train) was apparently inspired by a really tragic experience his wife had:

“You’re not coping” Ok here’s the deal; I’ll stop feeling this anger when we have a national memorial (we don’t) or a cdc equipped to stop it from happening again (we don’t) or a population that takes a deadly disease seriously BEFORE it effects them personally (WE DON’T!)

Light

Over 90% of parents of visibly intersex children opt for cosmetic surgery on their infants.

The ones that don't experience medical violence then, likely experience it as a teenager.

I didn't.

I am very rare in that I did not experience medical violence.

Why? Because I learned what intersexuality was as a young age, and I actively fought against what doctors wanted to do to me. All the way down to legal research on what medical care minors can be forced into. I remember walking into that doctor's appointment with the state law written down that proved that if I did not consent they could not do surgery.

Folks, if you don't know who Emi Koyama was, you should. Her website (eminism.org, which is a delightful pun) has a ton of her work entirely for free.

You can read the Transfeminist Manifesto in particular here. Emi considered it a historical document and she wrote a very good self-critique in 2008 (included in the document) on the subject of the Manifesto, white feminism, and the lack of inclusion of trans and genderqueer people who aren't trans women. I highly encourage everyone who wants to involve themselves in transfeminism to read her work, not because it is perfect, but because I do think Emi Koyama's Manifesto represents the best intentions for transfeminism: the desire to challenge cissexism, to take activism seriously and compassionately, and a commitment to being open and honest about where we fall short and how we can do better.

I really appreciate this quote from her, which I hadn't seen before, on the subject of feminism needing to "fit in" trans people:

Cis feminists do not own feminism. We don't need to "fit trans people into feminist theory"; we simply need to challenge cissexism in feminist movements and theories. Trans people do not need to be explained by feminist theory; we need to start from the fact that trans people exist and matter.

And it would be a crime to not mention how hard she fought specifically for women of color, to challenge racism and imperialism (white/western and non-white/non-western) in feminist spaces and in general, as well as her intersex activism, and far more. She had such a drive to contribute to, engage with, and push for more and better feminist discourse.

as of July 30 they've only raised 53% of their goal, & they could also use clothing donations & other supplies if you are local:

Emi, co-founder and co-director at Aileen’s, beloved friend and sex trade, trans, intersex, queer, disability, gender-based violence, and feminist advocate extraordinaire, passed away on Wednesday, June 10th 2026. In her final days, Emi was surrounded by her incredible and loving community and chosen family. Help us continue her life's work and keep her organization open and serving our community. Emi was the driving force that holds together Aileen’s–a peer-led community organizing and hospitality space by and for women living and working along Pac Highway. And, if you knew Emi, you would not be surprised to hear that her work at Aileen’s is a massive undertaking, because her dedication to serving the community meant she did more than humanly possible in a 24 hour day. It is crucial that Aileen’s continues to serve women who are experiencing homelessness, criminalization, and violence. Since 2019, Aileen’s has provided hospitality space, non-judgemental and accepting community, peer support, resources, harm reduction advocacy, and outreach services. Led by 6 part-time peer staff, Aileen’s aids community dealing with issues of poverty, criminal legal, CPS, substance use, domestic violence, police harassment and brutality, sexual assault and harassment, racism, transphobia, and more. Countless people rely on Aileen’s for necessities like food, supplies, showers, clothing, and a safe place to rest. Emi has been essential in Aileen’s ability to serve the community, and Aileen's was Emi's most cherished project. Without her or other support, the organization is at risk of shutting down. Weeks ago, when asked what all Emi does for Aileen’s, co-director Leslie said “Oh, she does everything.” It is hard to describe “everything”, but Emi handled: all grant writing and reporting, administration responsibilities, fiscal sponsor management, coalition building, court and political advocacy, resource accrual for survivor support, safety planning, and training/education for staff and community. Aileen's, and all of Emi's past work, is about liberation and survival under a system that has left so many without. With your donation, Aileen’s can increase pay and hire more peer staff, transfer daily operations, buy essential supplies like food, clothes, harm reduction items, and take care of basic costs not covered by grants. [...] *While $$$ donations are essential, Aileen’s is in serious need of donated clothing and some other supplies. Please contact donate@ (aileens.org) to coordinate making clothing donations and see our wishlist at our website.

Except they’re not giving actual valuable feedback, because being critical of something does not actually mean having constructive critical feedback.

Being able to offer constructive feedback is a skill. It doesn’t mean “having a negative opinion.”

You don’t need to be a professional writer or editor, but you do preferably need to have a basic understanding of technical writing skill, an understanding of the genre you are critiquing and a very basic grasp that just because you do not like something, does not make something objectively bad.

Messaging me to tell me you find something “cringe” isn’t valuable feedback. That’s you going out of your way to make sure a stranger knows you don’t like them.

Doubling down and emailing me back to tell me you “just wanted to help,” like help where? Where was the feedback?

What am I supposed to do with that except feel bad and stop writing?

You knew what you were doing and I will hold that mirror up. If the reflection you see makes you uncomfortable, that’s on you.

- -

Also, as a wider note: don’t do this in general, don’t tag or email authors in negative reviews.

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