The Fando-saurus 🅱ex

i don’t think either of these statements are correct. for the first, i think it’s important to note that shinji does undergo a very significant character change with kaworu: he opens up and thinks about his feelings and thoughts honestly, to another person no less. it’s subtle, even insignificant, but it’s an incredible point of growth for someone who we’ve otherwise seen paralyzed at the mere concept of burdening others with his own existence. and here he’s opening up to someone he views as higher, better than him; someone he genuinely loves and respects.

kaworu does inspire change in shinji (as well as rei) but does so though his own blinding yet ever patient and gentle honesty. the rebuilds themselves focus even more heavily on this aspect of kaworu, where he teaches shinji piano and instills in him a desire to improve at this new skill and pulls shinji a little out of his depressive funk. he’s gentle, encouraging, but forward and confident enough to push shinji out of his comfort zone yet change at a pace he’s comfortable.

and kaworu is never 100% supportive of shinji’s actions either: he literally criticizes shinji’s hedgehog dilemma in the bath scene (though shinji seems to be too dumbstruck to know what’s going on). in any case the reason why kawoshin isn’t healthy is moreso because qworu needs to quit being shinjipilled and learn self-worth/self-preservation.

in terms of the second statement, evangelion does make the argument that in order to receive the love, affection, and attention we need to survive, we must change ourselves by putting our walls down and working to build those connections even at the cost of feeling pain.

but i think it’s a mistake to say “unconditional love causes stagnation.” what i think evangelion’s argument actually is is “shielding yourself from any pain causes stagnation.”

gendo is stagnant, lost in yui’s past and afraid of the pain he’ll receive from shinji. ritsuko is stagnant, afraid of not being enough for her mother/gendo. asuka stagnates, unable to process her trauma. shinji stagnates when he chooses options that he believes wont burden him with the judgement of others. unconditional love only stagnates a person if it’s used as escapism from pain

in fact, i think one of evangelion’s primary theses is that love—yes even unconditional love—is supremely important for existing because it drives us to improve ourselves by helping others, by proving ourselves to others.

when asuka realizes her mother is in eva02, she immediately comes alight and we see her at her most asuka, at her most powerful. rei defies gendo because she loves shinji. misato dies saving shinji because she loves him and kaji. hyuga hacks into seele because he loves misato, fuyutsuki socializes and grows to be a leader thanks to yui, maya becomes a better programmer because she wants to help ritsuko—love drives people to improve themselves

kaworu is the words “i love you” and perfection. he’s introspective, blindly honest, but kind, gentle, nurturing, and he inspires change and improvement. despite seele hoping he literally evolves humanity, kaworu evolves humanity by reveling in what makes us human and cherishing it.

"Now What?" By @honestlynotgonnalie

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"Second Chance" By @sumju

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"The Heart Never Lies" By @jugumpuppet

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"Lowlight" By @verizzafai

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"Broken Future" By @teamchillidogs

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"Operation Love" By @summers-art @summersdale

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I know I’m getting aggressively upset by the amount of criticism I see and it’s not healthy for me to engage with it, even in these little rants I’m posting, but the reason I’m so frustrated is because I entered this fandom with a lot of love and joy in my heart

really long post below the cut about my history as a fan of the gorillaz and why song machine is perhaps my favorite “phase.” I just want to talk about the things that are important to me and make me happy…

[Yes, this is all official, as GFlat's posts were retweeted by the official Gorillaz account]

If anyone wants to read the whole story of what happened on the GFlat account, here's the wiki article for you (thanks to whoever wrote it).

https://gorillaz.fandom.com/wiki/Department_Of_Music_Correction

All screenshots:

https://gorillaz.fandom.com/wiki/Department_Of_Music_Correction/Gallery

Maybe we can finally get a normal storyline in so many years?

Existential crisis and horror, especially ones that deal with science and the game we deal by playing as gods is terrifying to me. I walked into this gd movie without a single thought wtf is was about--I knew it was quintessential and have been wanting to watch it for years but never had access to it.

But. I did not know it was this quintessential.

I don't even know how to talk about the movie; I'm glad I watched it with my partner because I knew I would be kept up all night and scared piss-less. But Akira did the dystopian genre justice! It played so hard and wild and I was rapt.

Stuck in awe and horor. Akira terrified me and blew me away. I am a mere fandom fool and could never do a analysis justice rn at 2 AM. But Kaneda and the rest of these children--the ones usually inflicted the most amount of pain during crisis like these--were expelarary. And I loved that the dub had muthafucking Ichigo Kuroosaki as the same voice for Kaneda. Golden.

Gorillaz

1. I feel like I heard it before?? but i actually didn't????

2. A 10 year old singing "She turned my dad on"? Perfectly normal.

3. If the 2000s was a song:

4. the violin in the background gives me the feeling that i'm going to die soon. Help

5. the definition of YAYAYAYAYA

6. 2D is a n g r y

7. the biggest bassdrop in history

8. this music plays in the background everytime i'm trying to understand math

9. i'm still traumatised by murdoc's thrusting

10. Get the cool get the cool shoeshine

11. 😭😭😭

12. N E V E R G O N N A F I N D M E

13. Animal Crossing music

14. constant panic

15. Dracula tried drugs

16. DADUN DUN

17. Animal Crossing music but it's in a zombie film

18. w o w idk what to say, i just love it

19. *hugs 2D* I love you

20. the quality: 'igth imma head out

Demon Days

1. the start of the best thing ever

2. the question, everyone asked in 2020

3. Welcome in the USA!

4. *crow sounds*

5. I need a gun cuz all I do is dance

6.AHAHAHAHAHAHAH

7. NOODLE ALMOST D I E D 😭😭😭

8. nooooo 2D don't be sad :((((

9. No Nut November has come 🙂

10. the intro is spongebob music

11. MURDOC CAN S I N G

12. the 10 year old is now 13, and has a giant severed head in her closet

13. a tale, to scare your kids

14. y o u ' r e a h o , g i r l

15. Roll credits!

D-Sides

1. nice

2. DARE but Peepo

3. s l u r p

4. AAAARGH

5. Animal Crossing music pt. 2

6. *clap* *clap* *clap* NANANANANA

7. bla bla bla bla bla bla bla

8. Too many days to get loooOOOOooost

9. WOOO

10. "Murdoc is gayyyy"

11. the bass gave me an eargasm

12. don't get lost in heaven but 2D is drunk

13. this song is sad but it cheered me up, thanks gorillaz :,)

14. 2D: I can't sing that high. Murdoc: Do you think I care?

15. Feel Good Inc. but boogie woogie woogie

16. R U N

17. PPAP

18. Kids with Guns: The Noteblock version

19. *cries while dancing*

20. DARE with 🎸

21. Dirty Harry (Made in China)

22. How many remixes are there????

23. the live version is even more beatiful

Plastic Beach

1. Welcome to Phase 3, where no one knows what the fuck is happening

2. We have cool collaborators!!!!

3. Peace! ✌️💖💕☮️

4. "I like dic dic dic dic dic"

5. wtf is Bruce Willis doing here?????

6. EAT THE J E L L Y F I S H MADE IN MICROWAVE

7. i once had a mental breakdown to this

8. *laser noises*

9. I love plastic 👌👍

10. I hate Murdoc's dad. He ruined Murdoc :((

11. It's called broken, because it broke my fucking heart

12. pretty good ngl

13. IT'S MAKING ME WANT TO D I E

14. Spongebob music pt. 2

15. this is what I want to hear before dying

16. yes, I do eat plastic!

17. more orchestra? yes

18. the cover looks kinda... f a m i l i a r

The Fall

1. Damon made this on an iPad... how?

2. an album without a song about 2D being sad? wtf is that?

3. woop woop

4. funky

5. *alien noises*

6. "there is a little pink plastic bag on the ground... I should write a song about it!"

7. fuck, aliens are coming

8. THIS IS SO BEAUTIFUL

9. i feel scared

10. *hugs 2D again* everything will be okay

11. my brain when i'm trying to fall asleep

12. Songs to fall asleep

13. what genre is this?

14. I LOVE THIS ALBUM SOOO MUCH

15. this is the best song in the whole album 10/10

Humanz

1. It's been 6 years... but we're back!!!

2. H I G H E R

3. lol we groovin'

4. ALL MY LOIFE

5. wait... Noodle is not a kid anymore?

6. "i'm not like other girls"

7. 💃

8. MY PHONE IS 1% AND I CAN'T FIND MY CHARGER HELP

9. we're going up 👋👋👋

10. Take it in your heart now lover

11. In today's epsiode of Gorillaz: 2D is sad again! (jk i'm actually crying)

12. R O G E R T H A T

13. more boogie woogie woogie

14. me rn

15. party 🎉💃🕺

16. what the fuck y'all hate about this???? this is good shit

17. 2D has a collar fetish

18. ???

19. hallelujah money💸

20. MORE FUNKY CHUNKY

The Now Now

1. this did not age well...

2. Russell: *is happy for once* the fandom: WHAT THE FUCK

3. we be in hollywood ✌️👌👏👌

4. i'm trying to not to cry, but it's too sad :((((

5. pls everybody calm down

6. 2D you sound so tired, please get some sleep

7. Murdoc is in jail, so we groovin' 💃🥳🎉🕺

8. yes more melancholy sgsgdvdfbfb

9. little glowin thingies? yes

10. my phone is in need of a charger again 😤😤😤

Let’s imagine a typical Magical Girl Shoujo anime. It usually starts with a normal girl, on the cusp of puberty or a teenager, who suddenly discovers some magical artifact or innate part of herself that connects her to a magical destiny. There is usually no choice in the matter; she is (along with some select friends) the only one who can do the magical move that prevents demons/aliens/enemies from destroying her home (or even the whole earth). Her status as a magical hero is not one that’s earned, but rather a responsibility thrust upon her.

Meanwhile Action Hero Shounen tends to be about a boy, also often on the cusp of puberty or a teenager, who goes on a deliberate journey to attain a particular status or power. In some cases he may get one advantageous power at the start, but it’s usually up to him to make it useful and achieve his dream. His story often involves trials, tournaments, and intense battles that slowly ramp up until he becomes the most powerful (or achieves whatever status he dreamed of). That status is one that is earned, not given.

Do these differences sound familiar? If so, you may know about the theory of Precarious Manhood (Vandello & Bosson 2013 has great coverage on the subject). The theory suggests that womanhood is secured (or forced) naturally as a girl grows up; she just is a woman, and that status is generally not called into question on a regular basis. Meanwhile manhood is something that must be earned and can be easily lost; a man must continually “prove” his masculinity to maintain that he is a man. We see this reflected in the two genres I described: The Magical Girl just is the hero, while the Action Hero must become the hero. These genres are targeted towards the demographic of their main characters, kids and teens, and they reflect the values, struggles, and anxieties those demographics carry.

The Magical Girl genre focuses on a lot of girls' fears about growing up—there’s a sense of power that comes with it, but it comes at a cost. The conflicts in these shows often aren’t centrally the monsters or battles, but rather interpersonal dramas and work-life balance. To a teenage girl, having a friend group falling out can feel catastrophic, reflected in how a Magical Girl may cause a literal catastrophe unless she can get everyone to work together to defeat an enemy. Another huge conflict is balancing saving the earth and maintaining friendships, romance, work, and grades. Lots of girls get pulled in many directions at this age, and if one is expected or needs to help out around the home she has yet another responsibility on her plate that makes time management a relevant issue.

Within the Action Hero genre the fears and issues are of a different variety. There’s a focus on continual growth, best friends, and achieving milestones. Conflicts generally come down to power struggles, though there’s often an emotional component as well. The deciding factor is often willpower, or how much effort (regardless of the danger to his own safety) a boy is willing to put in to beat an enemy. At this age friendships are often built on sports, games, and competition, and there’s many anxieties about being “manly” enough (or sometimes just not wanting to be feminine because of the mockery that entails).

The differences in the genres clearly reflect gender norms/anxieties regarding femininity and masculinity for their demographic… and also enforce them. Girls are taught that their job is not to reach out and take power, but instead to play a careful balancing game with whatever power/responsibilities they are given (though it's notable that in these magical stories, they happen to be given huge power to work with). Boys are taught that they must wear themselves out, constantly putting themselves in danger and forcing their limits if they want to feel like they have worth or to "be a man".

What would challenging or reversing these expectations be like? Hmm…