tempore

So here's the thing: I know a lot of people in the Marvel fandom hated this movie, or found a lot of it problematic. And it's not that I didn't find some things less than stellar, but I still largely think that the fandom was out for blood the moment Whedon started working on the script, and that he was given an impossible task: to make a movie that showcased everyone's favorite Avenger while furthering the overall universe, while still actually executing his own plot.

No wonder Whedon is done.

And I gotta say, fandom's hate-on for him honestly baffles me sometimes. He may not be the feminist he wants to believe he is, but he's certainly not the misogynist certain corners have painted him as, either. 

So that bit of rant aside, having now watched it again with the ability to stop and start, and the three extended scenes (we need more, please), I think there's some interesting stuff that comes out of it.

( Extended cut spoilers and meta )

I wish a lot more of the footage was included; I feel like with the full set, the movie is more coherent as a whole.

In your own space, rec at least three fanworks that you think would make a good intro into XYZ fandom. Rec a fandom overview, a introductory picspam, stories that define and shape the fandom. Leave a comment in this post saying you did it. Include a link to your post if you feel comfortable doing so.

I'm going to focus on the Killjoys part of bandom, because I almost feel like Killjoys is it's own fandom, in a way.

So the first place to start is the video.



I thought about also including Sing and having both videos, but honestly, most of the fics I love stem from the first video, not so much the second, and anyway, while that one is good, Na Na Na (Na Na Na Na Na Na Na) gives everything the new person in bandom needs to immerse themselves in the Killjoys world; it is the foundation of entire 'verse and so much possibility.

I'm a big fan of origin stories, and the Killjoys 'verse lends itself really well to them. How did they get there? Some people take the current canon and add chronology; others, like Angels from the Neon have their beginning in Battery City. Mikey stops taking his pills the day after Gerard takes all of his at once.

Likewise, The Kids from Yesterday also starts in Battery City, as the Way brothers are in the system. I love the dynamic between Korse and Gerard in this, how utterly compelling he is as well as terrifying.

I debated whether or not to include in this rec, posts that include one Bob Bryar, as someone new to MCR might not yet (or ever) understand the significance and the reason why he still lingers. However, I do find some comfort in the explanations offered in the following two recs: why is Bob not with them in the video? These stories each explore an answer to that question, Killjoy style.

In Giving Up the Ghost, we also get an explanation for "ghosting"--sort of, anyway. Given that I dislike death fic, especially in rpf (despite the band's fascination and obvious joy at practicing their death throes on camera, see videos for Ghost of You and Sing), but I like a kind of post death fic, in which they have died but are still around in some form, whether brought back to life or ghosts or vampires or something, so I really like anything that offers the possibility of the boys not being permanently dead in the sing video. (As an aside, I can tell you right now, that if I ever "kill" off a character in one of my fics, they're probably only mostly dead.)

Anyway, this is less origin fic than a possible spin, but it's a great way of seeing the Killjoys through the eyes of someone who will always feel or be a bit of an outsider.

In And the Embers Never Fade, we get a Bob origin story, or in the sense of how he meets the Killjoys. And once again, the sense of being an outsider really comes into play in this in a very h/c kind of way.

James Cameron Got it Wrong is one of the few that starts with the band as canon and keeps their aging concurrent with what they are now--with a twist. And the time travel twist is important, because it addresses the idea that maybe the whole thing could have been avoided and maybe they could still do something about it.

And last, but oh so definitely not least: Run the Doldrums, which is another Bob POV, but with a whole new (supernatural) twist. In the sense that so much is hinted at about what's to come, this is origins in the finest sense of the word, between the glimpses of Bob's background (and what little he knows about it) and the way Teigh sets her foundations in the Desolation Row 'verse, which, when put together, makes sense. But this whole piece is about transformation, and it's a topic that Teigh does very, very well.

In your own space, talk about a talent (or talents) you have. Everyone's got something they're good at.

In high school, I took the ACT (not the SAT) and got a near-perfect score in reading comprehension. I am good at reading and more to the point, I'd say I'm good at interpretation, applying theory and background and historical context to create a greater understanding of what the story is about.

Of course, as a writer, I can also say with authority that it's rarely the author's intent at all. But the author's intent really doesn't matter, not in literary studies, anyway.

I'm good at finding the connections between things--this comment and that, this point and that, and using it to create something new, and to me, that is the basis of fanfiction, too, really. It's transformative.

I suppose from a greater standpoint, if you think about my collage work and my job as an editor, is that I take something someone else (or several someone else's) have created and reinterpret those in my own fashion, too. But perhaps that's all art at it's very, very basic foundation: taking the building blocks others have created and using them to create something new? To me, it all creates a kind of dialogue between the original and the audience (me), and then to a greater audience, who can then interpret or reinvent it in their own way.

One of the arguments I've always made for fanfic is that it's really no different from building off of anything else that inspires one. Historical fiction like Phillipa Gregory writes about the Tudors is RPF, you know?

But anyway, that's tangential, and so I'd say definitely, what I'm good at is (re)interpretation of others' works to the point of transformation. And, in my line of work, that's not a bad thing.

So, I'm probably going to default on #4, which was be-friending someone I admire. Mostly, I friend as I come across them or when I'm comfortable doing so, and honestly, I like my flist as it is now. It's an organic thing, so I'm not worrying too much about friending someone in order to fulfill the challenge. However, since this challenge is awesome sauce, there's no pressure to do so.

Day 5

In your own space, share something non-fannish you are passionate about with your fannish friends. Leave a comment in this post saying you did it. Include a link to your post if you feel comfortable doing so.

Okay, so, most of us by now know that I have several non-fannish passions, in fact, probably live my life in pursuit of my passion for art and writing every day, right? And by now, you probably know that my other huge passion is belly dance.

Belly dance is kind of like sex. It feels good when I do it by myself, but the more people dancing, the better it feels. Only belly dancing is not (for me, overtly, at any rate) a sexual thing. A sensual thing, yes, but sensuality often gets shortchanged into just being sexual. It's about creating this strength and bond between women (though it is not just a female thing, I've only danced with women thus far), and it forces me to move outside my own realm of thought into watching them so I can move in sync with them. And the women are such strong, positive, beautiful souls, it just--it inspires me to want to be a better person.

It's also made me like myself and my body more. It takes me out of my comfort zone and through it, I've faced and conquered so many fears. I am a healthier person because I not only have a community of support, and a way of exercising that feels fun and that I've stuck with, and lost weight, kept me from going back to smoking, and more, but because it has cleared up a lot of space in my head and my heart to be filled with light and peace.

I know bellydance isn't a magical cure; not for me or anyone else, but I can't recommend enough that people try it or whatever thing they secretly think they might like to do, but have never before had the guts to try. Find something and channel your emotions into it. You'll never ever regret it.

From the challenge: In your own space, post a rec for at least three fanworks that you have created. It can be your favorite fanworks that you've created, or fanworks you feel no one ever saw, or fanworks you say would define you as a creator. Drop a link to your post in the comments.

In Medias Res Frank doppelgangers. Time past, present and future, all colliding, this is a beginning template for a lot of the themes that occur over and over for me. Warning: the story is full of angst with a fairly bleak ending. I wasn't in the happiest of places when I first wrote it, and looking back, in some respects, it could have hints of dub-con to it, but no other warnings really apply?

Mostly Dead, in which there is angst and incest, but also, hopefully, humor and a coda with several VERY happy endings. :)

Contagion It wasn't the first in the Lost Time series, but it's the one that basically defined it, for me at least. I am doing some revisiting of that world, and there are things that will eventually be retconned/updated, but otherwise, I do love this piece of work, in which Frank is an angel of death whose begun to doubt his service and purpose. So, yes. Angst. And what could be construed as character death, though the series continued, with the same characters, so... um?

Anyway, I hope you all enjoy these if you haven't read them yet, and re-enjoy if you have. These were all posted a long time ago under different names and guises, so don't be surprised if they ring familiar.

Okay, so. Had one of those days where I was extremely bitchy and crabby, in part because of specific things, which are not necessary to rehash here, and in part just general tired/crabbiness.

Still feeling a bit sad, still a bit angry, but having spent a few wonderful hours with my niece Erin shopping for her 6th birthday and building a lamb (rather than a bear) at Build-a-Bear has helped a lot.

( recuperative time with Erin )

( So, I'm finally getting around to posting a bit more about hiking on Friday. )

( Now for the picture part of this post )


( Tea parties and things )

I hope you enjoyed our little hike without all the sweat and exertion. :) So what do you say, who is up for the next one?

Shock jocks call for violence against Transgenders

If you haven't heard about this already, Wook describes it and offers addresses and a handy letter to send to the advertisers to pull from their websites. I don't care what people think about transgenderism (Is that even a word????) but what it comes down to is that no one should be subjected to violence, and these assholes just incited more violence toward a group of people. That is a hate crime, not just a jokey bit of freedom of speech.

I read on a link somewhere related to this where the blogger stated an interesting point: that speech in this country has never been free, and that there is no such thing as freedom of speech as long as certain people and their money control the airwaves. He claimed that freedom of speech requires an equal platform to respond. I disagree with that part, though it is compelling that these folks have the ears of so many more people just because they are on the radio.

But we can respond. We can respond with the almighty power of the dollar, by supporting Chipotle, Snapple, and Sonic, who've pulled their advertising already, and by not spending our money at those other places until they pull theirs.

And even more importantly, we can write them and tell them why. In this economy, companies need to start paying attention, because people are buying less, and the last thing companies need is to alienate a substantial part of their customer base.

Transgendered people have money to spend, they have friends and family, and we all have a voice. Let's use it.

ETA: Since this, both Verizon and Carl's Jr./Hardee's have pulled radio advertising. Writing works.

( Sometimes we just need things that make us smile. For no reason. )

And what the hell... thus concludeth my instant happy picspam. I have come to realize just how much is missing from my life (or, well, at least my photos): Matt Fazzi. Matt Rubano. Eddie Reyes and Mark O'Connell, for starters. Alkaline Trio. And Gabe and co. Why aren't the Cobras in my pictures? Anybody wanna help a girl out?

And now for a buffalo popsicle, and then bed.

For those of us who don't see ads on lj:

This is what they are seeing:

Such a great ad to see, especially in the communities many of my flist frequent.

Dreamwidth is looking better and better.

The thing is, I won't pay for a service where the people who can't get that. Therefore, once my paid time is up on lj, I most likely won't stick around these parts much, especially if I can get my needs through the other sites. Most of the time I'm "whatever" about lj; it's a private company. But I will not support a company who supports or takes money from blatant discrimination.

ETA: Turlough has kindly posted places where you can get codes for Dreamwidth. They support open id as well, so that's handy.

ETA2: I sent LJ feedback in a complaint form. They should address this, and this is what I wrote:

Link to offensive ad, as above.

( letter behind cut )

Is Amazon.com censoring? Seems that they've stripped certain GLBT books of their sales rankings, which is infuriating many people. Don't get me wrong, the implications of that are disturbing. But I'm also disturbed by the way that particular report on the books is throwing the word "censor" around. Because when I click on the liniks, I can get the books, which means Amazon is still selling them. And that's not censorship.

However, I'll go more into "censorship" and what exactly that means in more detail at another time. But the fact that you can get the books, and from Amazon, is not censorship and quite frankly, a private business can run itself the way it likes within the law. It may not make good buisness sense, it may not be agreeable to you, but in that case, the power is 1: letting them know one is not happy with their actions, and 2: the power of not buying from them.

This seems to have more reliable information, and at least the original post is not filled with hypberbole and explains the situation pretty well.

Now, back to being disturbing. I dropped my amazon account a while ago. Why? Because of the links between Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, and Scientology. Also, see this and this.

Now, I'm just speculating on this part, but given that Scientology sees homosexuality -- and a lot of other things -- as a perversion, could the two things be linked? Or is Amazon simply off the rails? In any case, there's a very simple response to Amazon: don't buy their products if you don't want to support homophobia and Scientology. Go delete your account. And tell them why.

ETA: this is what is left when you search homosexuality at Amazon. Despicable, and that is hardly an accident or glitch like they are claiming. Gotten from thelemic via moondarri's journal.

Also: Let Amazon know how you feel: you can Contact them directly through here. Thanks to crossbow1 for the links.