Alix

tomboy, meaning "this child is clearly queer but let's hope it goes away"

sensitive, meaning "clearly neurodivergent and often distressed but let's keep going until they grow numb"

self-sufficient, meaning "next to zero trust in parental figures' ability in various aspects of parenting"

"'fandom' is a vehicle of marginalized subcultural groups (women, the young, gays, etc.) to pry open space for their cultural concerns within dominant representations; it is a way of appropriating media texts and rereading them in a way that serves different interests, a way of transforming mass culture into a popular culture"

Jenkins, Henry. “Star Trek Rerun, Reread, Rewritten: Fan Writing as Textual Poaching.” Critical Studies in Mass Communication 5, no. 2 (1988): 85–107. https://doi.org/10.1080/15295038809366691.  

Persian saber decorated with silver, 19th century

Type: persian saber with silver decoration

Overall length: 87.5 cm

Origin: Iran (Persia)

Blade maker: Kalib Ali of Isfahan (blade); “Tahmasp, servant of the Almighty Lord” (inscription on blade)

Material: steel (blade), silver, iron, wood, textile, cord

Technique: forging, damascening (watered steel pattern), engraving, silver mounting, textile covering

Decoration: silver vine motifs on hilt and scabbard

Etched German hunting saber (1560s–1570s)

The State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg

Type: Hunting saber

Overall length: 93 cm

Origin: Germany

Material: steel