#dixie talks

i have decided that tomorrow I shall give the show a try. After reading the premise it seems interesting in theory. Hoping it is similar to Witch hat atelier in the way that it was shoved in my face a lot, ended up having an interesting enough premise and was actually REALLY GOOD.

First I must establish: Kinesis means ‘movement’ or ‘motion’. It isn’t the farthest thing from ‘manipulation’ I guess. Considering kinetic abilities are types of manipulation. They do involve using the mind to trigger some kind of motion or effect.

In this post I am specifically calling out ‘Telekinesis’ for its absolute bullshit of an etymology though xD. Let me…let me explain—

so it is a superpower mostly known as Telekinesis. Depending on the story they might settle for the better term of Psychokinesis. But it’s most infamous name is the most inaccurate one. ‘Telekinesis’. And in fiction it is the power to manipulate objects/items with the mind.

The word ‘tele’ in its roots quite literally mean ‘Far off’ ‘distance’ or ‘At a distance’

the etymology of a name for a fictional superpower that allows one to manipulation objects I kidya not literally means ‘MOTION AT A DISTANCE’

So either ‘Telekinesis’ is manipulation of motion (debatable) or just needs to be turned into a blanket term for kinetic abilities lol.

now the other term for it ‘Psychokinesis’ is uhhh not much better. Considering where the word ‘Psycho’ is commonly used in nowadays; however:

‘Psycho’ as a word has its roots in the ancient greek word ‘Psychē’ which meant ‘Soul’, ‘mind’ or ‘breath’.

so we have a few different ways to skin this metaphorical…but it is probably intended to be ‘Mind movement’ which I guess is more accurate, right? Like moving shit with the mind that is what the power does yet it still feels like it could be a blanket term.

Next we have the weird standard of certain kinetics being able to make what they manipulate but not ALL and it is the weirdest double standard (in my eyes).

I bring back Telekinesis and its lovely etymology probably one of a handful of powers that come to mind that stay STRICTLY as a manipulation superpower. That and Thiriokinesis also comes to mind (the power to mentally manipulate animals. Also known as ‘zookinesis’ in some sources—) and neither creates what they manipulate. Technically aerokinesis (manipulation of air) doesn’t either. If it does then you certainly cannot tell LOL air/wind is invisible after all and it is everywhere so I am working off the assumption to create air is just not needed.

then you got shit like Hydrokinesis (water manipulation), Pyrokinesis (fire manipulation) SO ON where they just summon shit instead of just ya know manipulating.

“But Dixie ! Hydrokinesis users could just be manipulating the water particles from the air to gather it into a —“ I feel like there should be a consequence to that if so, and scientifically there should be. As that is removing moisture from the air itself. That all living things need. Including we humans.

and the thing is? The creation of those things are expected in media! But only for those specific superpowers!

for powers like Thiriokinesis or Telekinesis (and a handful of others i’m forgetting) there just isn’t that kind of expectation. You see a character manipulate a fleet of ducks. But you don’t expect them to create new ones (what would the creation of animals even look like? Do I wanna know? Wouldn’t this give someone an experience?-) I wish it was more common for ‘Manipulation’ and ‘Creation’ aspects to be separated.