4 February 2015-10 February 2015
Notices
If you have meta to submit or rec, please comment to this post or to the screened Submissions Post. If you'd like to give us blanket permission to link your meta please comment to the Blanket Permissions Post. If you have feedback or questions, check out our FAQ, Contact the Mods, or PM/email. If you'd like to volunteer to link-find or mod, please comment to the Volunteers Post.
General Fandom
Introducing...CYBERPUNK REVISITED: The G (blog) - "cyberpunk, the path-breaking science fictional literature of the 1980s"
topic:cyberpunk, topic:sci-fi
PERSPECTIVES II: "The Pornokitsch Theory of Grimdark": The G (blog) - "EPISODE 2: In which three nerds of a feather react to "the pornokitsch theory of "grimdark" fantasy..."
topic:grimdark, topic:fantasy
Untitled: seasquared (tumblr) - "I’m pretty sure the last time I had a serious conversation about who tops and who bottoms (seme/uke, etc.) was in fact in Mirage of Blaze fandom."
topic:sex, topic:a/b/o
Untitled: wtfzurtopic (tumblr) - "What I really hate about younger people in fandom asking older fangirls why they’re "still" in fandom is that it’s the outcome of a misogynistic lack of representation for older women to be seen as people who have fun and fuck off."
topic:fandom, topic:age
Why is Hollywood still stubbornly casting nondisabled actors in disabled roles?: S.E. Smith (blog) - "While no one is required to oblige their disability status, the issue becomes more complicated when people who appear nondisabled-or at least do not appear to share disabilities with the people they portray-are cast as disabled characters."
topic:disability, topic:representation
Oh, My Pop Culture Religion: Monks in Geek Culture: stinekey (blog) - "Monks challenge popular stereotypes of what real masculinity looks like. And yet monks face a problem similar to nuns: we can’t seem to break them out of a handful of inaccurate stereotypes."
topic:religion
Nintendo Has to Do Better With Race: brothadom (blog) - "For example, what good is representation if only evil characters are characters of color?"
topic:race, fandom:gaming
Stop using my heroine’s lady parts in a plot against her. It’s old.: lizcommotion (DW) - "I am sick of my fandoms having bad-ass women being the hero, and then the plot goes down a winding path of "and now her uterus plays a central role in how the bad people are going to take her down!""
topic:femalecharacter, warning:rape
If I ruled the internet: princessofgeeks (DW) - "Has "drabble" finally become a synonym for "ficlet"?"
topic:fanfic, topic:language
Untitled: rightintohervagenda (tumblr) - "But more to the point, there’s along and storied tradition in YA television of the viewer, well… not shipping what they’re "supposed" to ship."
topic:shipping
Specific Fandom
A-Force
Marvel’s all-female A-Force is already proving divisive: Mike Wehner (blog) - "Women in comics have a long history of being exploited as plot devices and hand-drawn eye candy, so when Marvel-which is generally considered to be one of the more socially conscious voices in the industry-announced the debut of its all-female Avengers spin-off called A-Force, there was zero chance of it avoiding controversy. Now, just a day after the reveal, there seem to be two very vocal camps forming, and there’s very little middle ground to be had."
fandom:marvelcomics
Agent Carter
Untitled: copperbadge (tumblr) - "Okay but…can we all take a moment and just realize that fandom’s not the problem with Agent Carter’s ratings?"
fandom:agentcarter
American Sniper
Why the Internet can’t stop fighting about ‘American Sniper’: Chloe Stilwell (blog) - "A Republican yahoo made a movie about a Navy SEAL during the Iraq Occupation, and apparently no one foresaw that it would be a total shitshow that would send this country into online hysterics."
fandom:americansniper
Batman
Holy Unstable Hierarchy, Batgirl!: Noah Berlatsky (blog) - "In season three, the female crimefighter arrives, and the fuddy-duddy force for order experiences some sort of apocalyptic bat seizure."
fandom:dcanimated
The Arkham Sessions ep. 50 I Am the Night: (blog) - "In the animated episode, "I Am the Night," we get a somewhat grim perspective of what it might like to be the Caped Crusader. It’s a very real-world take on superhero burnout and secondary traumatic stress. On our show, we discuss the signs and symptoms of something called compassion fatigue"
fandom:dcanimated
Big Hero 6
Things That Bug Me: Big Hero 6: lannamichaels (DW) - "But there are a couple things that are BUGGING ME about this movie."
fandom:bighero6, warning:spoilers
Dragon Age
A Critical View On the Elf Narratives in Dragon Age:Inquisition: imadra_blue (DW) - "I'm here for the elves, I've always been here for the elves"
fandom:dragonage, topic:canon
The Duke of Burgundy
The Duke of Burgundy, dir. Peter Strickland: rushthatspeaks (DW) - "A thing that has come up in every review of it I have read thus far is that The Duke of Burgundy is probably set in a world in which there are only women."
fandom:thedukeofburgundy, topic:sexuality, topic:femalecharacter
Fullmetal Alchemist
Comments on a scene in Fullmetal Alchemist, chapter 62 (All About Scar): serrende (DW) - "So this scene (with more pages below the cut) from chapter 62 and volume 16 of Fullmetal Alchemist is a pretty intense one that I haven't seen discussed much."
fandom:fullmetalalchemist
Game of Thrones
Why ‘Game of Thrones’ is still killing it when it comes to amazing female characters: xojane (blog) - "No, what I'm more interested in is how Game of Thrones handles women-and how it's one of the strongest shows on cable for female characters."
fandom:gameofthrones, topic:femalecharacter
Glee
Untitled: nadiacreek (tumblr) - "Blaine and Rachel are being paralleled here."
fandom:glee
Untitled: sothinky (tumblr) - "Argh-those Dalton spoilers don’t give me kicky feet. It all feels kind of sad."
fandom:glee
The Hobbit
Untitled: myrkvidrs (tumblr) - "I think the biggest problem with BOTFA I had is that the movie is not very clear on the motivations of many characters and I think Thranduil especially suffers from this. (Well, Legolas, too.) But, the more time I spend going over the movie, the more I think I understand what they were getting at, as well as… I mean, I don’t mind having to actually think about a character’s motivations, but I think BOTFA still really needed to be clearer about what was going on with some of them!"
fandom:thehobbit
Homeland
’Homeland’ stopped being great years ago - so why is it the most-rented show on Netflix?: Ashlyn Keefe (blog) - "Homeland DVD rentals are surging on Netflix in spite of a disastrous third and divided fourth season, a decline in DVD purchasing, and a major jump in online streaming. Are we seeing inklings of a weariness towards supernatural and fantasy programming?"
fandom:homeland
The Hunger Games
Psychology of The Hunger Games: Dr. Janina Scarlet (blog) - "Katniss Everdeen, the Girl on Fire, who volunteers to take her sister’s place in the monstrous Hunger Games, is a hero and a legend. After going through some of the most horrific events imaginable, Katniss attempts to end her own life. What caused her to try to commit suicide? Does Katniss suffer from a mental health disorder? What stops her from dying and what gives her a reason to live?"
fandom:thehungergames
Into the Woods
Fangirl Chat Goes Into the Woods: Fangirl Chat (podcast) - "For Episode 21 of Fangirl Chat, Geek Kay of Hyperspace Theories and Sarah Woloski of Skywalking Through Neverland joins Tricia Barr to discuss Disney’s movie Into the Woods. It’s three music lovers discussing lyrics, storytelling, and Pinenuts."
fandom:intothewoods
Jurassic Park
In a (Jurassic) World: Kay (blog) - "Often the stories and visuals of movies create a world (or galaxy) of their own, and I love it when the marketing team jumps on that to expand that experience beyond the movie itself."
fandom:jurassicpark
Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask
What Can Deku Link Teach Us About the Nature of Gaming? Part I of III Examining the Song of Healing: Aaron Sudulka (blog) - "In many ways, the Song of Healing is a cornerstone of what makes "Majora’s Mask" a unique entry in the "Zelda" series: it is what facilitates the creation of Transformation Masks, and the scenes of characters being healed are some of the most poignant that Termina has to offer."
fandom:legendofzelda
"If You Can Truly See Me, Then Follow Behind Me." Part II of III Examining the Song of Healing: Aaron Sudulka (blog) - "Today on With a Terrible Fate, I analyze the tragedies of Darmani and Mikau, and offer an explanation of why Link is uniquely able to help them."
fandom:legendofzelda
The Lorax (2012)
ok once and for all, what is the onceler fandom?: donotchoosesidesyet (tumblr) - "Back in early 2012, The Lorax was released in theaters. The Lorax was a children’s movie based on the Dr.Seuss book of the same name. It was a pretty mediocre movie in my opinion, but the movie itself wasn’t the reason a huge fandom sprung out of nowhere. No, it was because of this guy."
fandom:thelorax
Marco Polo
Marco Polo: A Clash of Cultures: aelarsen (blog) - "One of the more interesting elements of Netflix’ Marco Polo series is the way it explores the tensions present in early Yuan China between traditional Chinese culture and the upstart but now dominant culture of the Mongols. "
fandom:marcopolo, topic:history
Marvel Comics
Untitled: imaginaryelle (tumblr) - "sineala, tumblr ate your actual ask. But if I recall correctly you said something like "Share your UST-writing secrets! And your Noir secrets! Your UST-Noir secrets?"
fandom:marvelcomics, topic:sex
Diversity Check In a year or so latter: TechnocratJT (other) - "So in honor of Sana Amanat's big promotion I figured I would do a check in on diversity in Marvel's comic line up right before the big ole event thing."
fandom:marvelcomics, topic:representation
The Matrix
The problem of the Matrix sequels: tone & story: Bootleg Girl (other) - "The Matrix Reloaded and especially Revolutions are massively held back by certain cinematic techniques that, strangely, are not present in the Wachowski films that have been commercially successful, nor in Bound, their sole low-budget indie film."
fandom:thematrix
Orphan Black
Sexualized Saturdays: Orphan Black and the Patriarchy: porluciernagas (blog) - "As such, the clones are primarily (though not all) cisgender, heteronormative, conventionally attractive white women. The feminism of the show may be limited, but within these narrow confines, the show effectively critiques the patriarchy and its commodification of female bodies and agency."
fandom:orphanblack
Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney
Objection, This is Not a Game! A Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Review: MarchHareMoe (blog) - "You’d think these two games merged together would be something amazing, right? Unfortunately that wasn’t the case."
fandom:gaming, warning:spoilers
Saved By the Bell
Why Jimmy Fallon’s ‘Saved by the Bell’ reunion broke the Internet: Dan Marcus (blog) - "To understand the undying popularity of Saved by the Bell, you have to dig deeper and understand why people love sitcoms in the first place."
fandom:savedbythebell
Selma
Selma (2014): marina (DW) - "So, I watched Selma and wanted to talk about it for a bit because I thought it did a lot of interesting and unexpected things, and mostly was just a movie I enjoyed a lot and I think deserves a lot of attention."
fandom:selma
A Song of Ice and Fire
Top Characters #40 Jaqen H’ghar: Stefan (blog) - "It's easy to see why Jaqen H'ghar is often thought to be Syrio Forel, or the other way around."
fandom:asoiaf
Top Characters #39 Maester Luwin: SomethingLikeaLawyer (blog) - "Maester of Winterfell, Luwin is perhaps one of the most overlooked moral hearts of a trilogy filled with very bleak and heartless characters."
fandom:asoiaf
Top Characters #38 Euron Greyjoy: First In Battle (blog) - "Euron Greyjoy is the younger brother of the recently, and some contend suspiciously, deceased Balon Greyjoy. Despite a two year banishment from the Iron Islands for cuckolding Victarion Greyjoy, the Crow's Eye has returned, cloaked in rumor and mystery, much to the favor of the ironborn."
fandom:asoiaf
CHAPTER-BY-CHAPTER ANALYSIS: TYRION VI, ACOK: racefortheironthrone (blog) - "Tyrion VI is an incredibly rich source of material to work with, and some of the most consistently interesting political material in the series to date."
fandom:asoiaf
Star Trek
Untitled: botanycameos (tumblr) - "Anonymous asked: Hi! I've read your Khan meta & see that u def love Khan a LOT as an anti-hero/protag. I understand that but ultimately don't u have to agree that he IS a murderer (he killed all those starfleet admirals & how many others in the explosion in the beginning). Yes he's doing it "for his family" but he didn't HAVE to kill ppl, ok he was under duress w marcus but does the fact he was "protecting" his family excuse him killing & putting others in lethal danger? Shouldn't he still be held accountable?"
fandom:startrek
Star Wars
Episode I and Ethical Issues: cadesama (tumblr) - "Robots who talk, show emotions, and communicate with one another being treated as disposable, non-sentient objects is really fucking creepy."
fandom:starwars
Switched At Birth
Untitled: itsjesspopculture (tumblr) - "The main plot of this episode (one of three episodes dedicated to this arc) centers around issues of consent and rape when 18-year-old Bay Kennish wakes up after a drunken night to find that not only has she slept with her ex-boyfriend, but she doesn’t remember it. Of course rape story lines are hardly unique in television nowadays, but there are several things that make how this teen show handled the issue incredibly unique and important."
fandom:switchedatbirth, warning:rape
Untitled: assorted (tumblr) - "I think it should be considered rape. Tank had sex with her and she wasn’t in a state where she could consent."
fandom:switchedatbirth, warning:rape
Untitle: luvtheheaven (tumblr) - "i find the fact that tank is more worried about toby taking "bay’s side" after he’s confronted about what happened than the fact that he potentially raped his ex-girlfriend/friend really disturbing"
fandom:switchedatbirth, warning:rape
Thor
The New Thor Is Kicking Some Almighty Ass: Lady Saika (blog) - "As one of the few comics folks on this blog, I feel I’ve been remiss in my duties. Yes, friends, four issues’ worth of the new lady-led Thor comic have gone out into the world, and here I haven’t written a damn word about them."
fandom:marvelcomics, warning:spoilers
To Kill a Mockingbird
Why young readers need ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ more than ever: S.E. Smith (blog) - "Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird was a formative text in the eyes of many white children across America, an early exposure to the racial injustice that plagues American society."
fandom:tokillamockingbird
Why Joyce Carol Oates is completely wrong about ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’: Aja Romano (blog) - "Oates, as it turns out, has never read To Kill a Mockingbird, but that won't stop her from giving her opinion on it."
fandom:tokillamockingbird
Tolkien
Yay, Tolkien: chordatesrock (DW) - "LOTR hits so many of my favorite magical realism buttons."
fandom:jrrtolkien, topic:canon
Links between Wilderland and Gondor: Doc Martin (other) - "This marvellous game inspired me to reread The Lord of the Rings for the umpteenth time and I came across a reference to travel on the river Anduin that seems relevant."
fandom:jrrtolkien
On Dain II Ironfoot Lord of the Iron Hills and King Under the Mountain: bilbosoaktree (tumblr) - "Dáin II, son of Náin III, was born in TA 2767. His grandfather, Grór, was the brother of Thrór, Thorin II Oakenshield’s grandfather."
fandom:jrrtolkien
Khuzdul Influences in Mannish Languages: askmiddleearth (tumblr) - "When discussing the influence of Khuzdul on mannish languages, we’re dealing with early early history. First Age, early Second Age at the latest."
fandom:jrrtolkien
Grimbeorn the Old?: Doc Martin (other) - "So, Beorn's son Grimbeorn. In Rivendell, in TA 3018 Gloin tells Frodo of 'Grimbeorn the Old, son of Beorn'. When Bilbo, Gandalf and the dwarves visit in TA 2941 there is no sign of Beorn having any family."
fandom:jrrtolkien
Untitled: lintamande (tumblr) - "theparsologist asked: How did the Nazgûl look during most of the Second and Third Ages (i.e. before 3018)? Is there any indication whether they were mounting horses, for example?"
fandom:jrrtolkien
Aredhel’s Story: The First Draft: lintamande (tumblr) - "so I was rereading War of the Jewels and I ran across this spectacular note Tolkien wrote out to accompany the first draft of Aredhel’s story. The only significant change between this version and the final one is that Aredhel does find Celegorm and Curufin in Himlad and hangs out with them for several years before being lost in Nan Elmoth."
fandom:jrrtolkien
Untitled: lintamande (tumblr) - "To me the big tragedy at the center of Beren’s character, the one that makes him so compelling, is that he could not possibly have done this."
fandom:jrrtolkien
Untitled: lintamande (tumblr) - "Anonymous asked: But, Amras. Like. Did they burn him? Did they actually burn him alive, or..?"
fandom:jrrtolkien
Untitled: lintamande (tumblr) - "I really think that as fans we should avoid shooting down fan theories with ‘YOU SHOULD READ THE SILMARILLION’."
fandom:jrrtolkien
The Vagina Monologues
Rosie O’Donnell lashes out at feminists over ‘The Vagina Monologues’: Aja Romano (blog) - "Instead, O'Donnell spent the day embroiled in Twitter arguments with women of color (WOC) who feel that Eve Ensler's work marginalizes minority feminists and women of color."
fandom:thevaginamonologues
The Walking Dead
Walking Dead and Psychology - PTSD, depression, psychotic disorders: Dr. Janina Scarlet (video)
fandom:thewalkingdead
Whiplash
Whiplash is a horror film - so jazz critics should stop worrying: Nicholas Pillai (blog) - "But these criticisms miss something that the general public instinctively understand. Whiplash is not solely concerned with jazz. It is as much a study of alienation and abuse. And so its inheritance is not from jazz history - but from a sub-genre of expressionistic films about obsession and losing one’s humanity."
fandom:whiplash
Wonder Woman
Untitled: tygermama (tumblr) - "Just because you don’t have a code against killing doesn’t mean it’s your go-to solution.
fandom:dccomics
X-Men
Throwback Thursday: 80s Storm: Squid, Inc. (blog) - "Storm is unapologetically Black, unapologetically African, unapologetically a woman and a leader, and unapologetically powerful."
fandom:x-men, fandom:marvelcomics, topic:femalecharacter
Yentl
Yentl (1983): marina (DW) - "Yes, I've finally seen the Jewish crossdressing musical! With Streisand, who is apparently an even better singer than I realized. AKA: the story of a Jewish woman in 1904 choosing to dress and live as a man so she can enter a yeshiva. AKA: Twelfth Night - yeshiva AU."
fandom:yentl
If you have meta to submit or rec, please comment to this post or to the screened Submissions Post. If you'd like to give us blanket permission to link your meta please comment to the Blanket Permissions Post. If you have feedback or questions, check out our FAQ, Contact the Mods, or PM/email. If you'd like to volunteer to link-find or mod, please comment to the Volunteers Post.
General Fandom
Introducing...CYBERPUNK REVISITED: The G (blog) - "cyberpunk, the path-breaking science fictional literature of the 1980s"
topic:cyberpunk, topic:sci-fi
PERSPECTIVES II: "The Pornokitsch Theory of Grimdark": The G (blog) - "EPISODE 2: In which three nerds of a feather react to "the pornokitsch theory of "grimdark" fantasy..."
topic:grimdark, topic:fantasy
Untitled: seasquared (tumblr) - "I’m pretty sure the last time I had a serious conversation about who tops and who bottoms (seme/uke, etc.) was in fact in Mirage of Blaze fandom."
topic:sex, topic:a/b/o
Untitled: wtfzurtopic (tumblr) - "What I really hate about younger people in fandom asking older fangirls why they’re "still" in fandom is that it’s the outcome of a misogynistic lack of representation for older women to be seen as people who have fun and fuck off."
topic:fandom, topic:age
Why is Hollywood still stubbornly casting nondisabled actors in disabled roles?: S.E. Smith (blog) - "While no one is required to oblige their disability status, the issue becomes more complicated when people who appear nondisabled-or at least do not appear to share disabilities with the people they portray-are cast as disabled characters."
topic:disability, topic:representation
Oh, My Pop Culture Religion: Monks in Geek Culture: stinekey (blog) - "Monks challenge popular stereotypes of what real masculinity looks like. And yet monks face a problem similar to nuns: we can’t seem to break them out of a handful of inaccurate stereotypes."
topic:religion
Nintendo Has to Do Better With Race: brothadom (blog) - "For example, what good is representation if only evil characters are characters of color?"
topic:race, fandom:gaming
Stop using my heroine’s lady parts in a plot against her. It’s old.: lizcommotion (DW) - "I am sick of my fandoms having bad-ass women being the hero, and then the plot goes down a winding path of "and now her uterus plays a central role in how the bad people are going to take her down!""
topic:femalecharacter, warning:rape
If I ruled the internet: princessofgeeks (DW) - "Has "drabble" finally become a synonym for "ficlet"?"
topic:fanfic, topic:language
Untitled: rightintohervagenda (tumblr) - "But more to the point, there’s along and storied tradition in YA television of the viewer, well… not shipping what they’re "supposed" to ship."
topic:shipping
Specific Fandom
A-Force
Marvel’s all-female A-Force is already proving divisive: Mike Wehner (blog) - "Women in comics have a long history of being exploited as plot devices and hand-drawn eye candy, so when Marvel-which is generally considered to be one of the more socially conscious voices in the industry-announced the debut of its all-female Avengers spin-off called A-Force, there was zero chance of it avoiding controversy. Now, just a day after the reveal, there seem to be two very vocal camps forming, and there’s very little middle ground to be had."
fandom:marvelcomics
Agent Carter
Untitled: copperbadge (tumblr) - "Okay but…can we all take a moment and just realize that fandom’s not the problem with Agent Carter’s ratings?"
fandom:agentcarter
American Sniper
Why the Internet can’t stop fighting about ‘American Sniper’: Chloe Stilwell (blog) - "A Republican yahoo made a movie about a Navy SEAL during the Iraq Occupation, and apparently no one foresaw that it would be a total shitshow that would send this country into online hysterics."
fandom:americansniper
Batman
Holy Unstable Hierarchy, Batgirl!: Noah Berlatsky (blog) - "In season three, the female crimefighter arrives, and the fuddy-duddy force for order experiences some sort of apocalyptic bat seizure."
fandom:dcanimated
The Arkham Sessions ep. 50 I Am the Night: (blog) - "In the animated episode, "I Am the Night," we get a somewhat grim perspective of what it might like to be the Caped Crusader. It’s a very real-world take on superhero burnout and secondary traumatic stress. On our show, we discuss the signs and symptoms of something called compassion fatigue"
fandom:dcanimated
Big Hero 6
Things That Bug Me: Big Hero 6: lannamichaels (DW) - "But there are a couple things that are BUGGING ME about this movie."
fandom:bighero6, warning:spoilers
Dragon Age
A Critical View On the Elf Narratives in Dragon Age:Inquisition: imadra_blue (DW) - "I'm here for the elves, I've always been here for the elves"
fandom:dragonage, topic:canon
The Duke of Burgundy
The Duke of Burgundy, dir. Peter Strickland: rushthatspeaks (DW) - "A thing that has come up in every review of it I have read thus far is that The Duke of Burgundy is probably set in a world in which there are only women."
fandom:thedukeofburgundy, topic:sexuality, topic:femalecharacter
Fullmetal Alchemist
Comments on a scene in Fullmetal Alchemist, chapter 62 (All About Scar): serrende (DW) - "So this scene (with more pages below the cut) from chapter 62 and volume 16 of Fullmetal Alchemist is a pretty intense one that I haven't seen discussed much."
fandom:fullmetalalchemist
Game of Thrones
Why ‘Game of Thrones’ is still killing it when it comes to amazing female characters: xojane (blog) - "No, what I'm more interested in is how Game of Thrones handles women-and how it's one of the strongest shows on cable for female characters."
fandom:gameofthrones, topic:femalecharacter
Glee
Untitled: nadiacreek (tumblr) - "Blaine and Rachel are being paralleled here."
fandom:glee
Untitled: sothinky (tumblr) - "Argh-those Dalton spoilers don’t give me kicky feet. It all feels kind of sad."
fandom:glee
The Hobbit
Untitled: myrkvidrs (tumblr) - "I think the biggest problem with BOTFA I had is that the movie is not very clear on the motivations of many characters and I think Thranduil especially suffers from this. (Well, Legolas, too.) But, the more time I spend going over the movie, the more I think I understand what they were getting at, as well as… I mean, I don’t mind having to actually think about a character’s motivations, but I think BOTFA still really needed to be clearer about what was going on with some of them!"
fandom:thehobbit
Homeland
’Homeland’ stopped being great years ago - so why is it the most-rented show on Netflix?: Ashlyn Keefe (blog) - "Homeland DVD rentals are surging on Netflix in spite of a disastrous third and divided fourth season, a decline in DVD purchasing, and a major jump in online streaming. Are we seeing inklings of a weariness towards supernatural and fantasy programming?"
fandom:homeland
The Hunger Games
Psychology of The Hunger Games: Dr. Janina Scarlet (blog) - "Katniss Everdeen, the Girl on Fire, who volunteers to take her sister’s place in the monstrous Hunger Games, is a hero and a legend. After going through some of the most horrific events imaginable, Katniss attempts to end her own life. What caused her to try to commit suicide? Does Katniss suffer from a mental health disorder? What stops her from dying and what gives her a reason to live?"
fandom:thehungergames
Into the Woods
Fangirl Chat Goes Into the Woods: Fangirl Chat (podcast) - "For Episode 21 of Fangirl Chat, Geek Kay of Hyperspace Theories and Sarah Woloski of Skywalking Through Neverland joins Tricia Barr to discuss Disney’s movie Into the Woods. It’s three music lovers discussing lyrics, storytelling, and Pinenuts."
fandom:intothewoods
Jurassic Park
In a (Jurassic) World: Kay (blog) - "Often the stories and visuals of movies create a world (or galaxy) of their own, and I love it when the marketing team jumps on that to expand that experience beyond the movie itself."
fandom:jurassicpark
Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask
What Can Deku Link Teach Us About the Nature of Gaming? Part I of III Examining the Song of Healing: Aaron Sudulka (blog) - "In many ways, the Song of Healing is a cornerstone of what makes "Majora’s Mask" a unique entry in the "Zelda" series: it is what facilitates the creation of Transformation Masks, and the scenes of characters being healed are some of the most poignant that Termina has to offer."
fandom:legendofzelda
"If You Can Truly See Me, Then Follow Behind Me." Part II of III Examining the Song of Healing: Aaron Sudulka (blog) - "Today on With a Terrible Fate, I analyze the tragedies of Darmani and Mikau, and offer an explanation of why Link is uniquely able to help them."
fandom:legendofzelda
The Lorax (2012)
ok once and for all, what is the onceler fandom?: donotchoosesidesyet (tumblr) - "Back in early 2012, The Lorax was released in theaters. The Lorax was a children’s movie based on the Dr.Seuss book of the same name. It was a pretty mediocre movie in my opinion, but the movie itself wasn’t the reason a huge fandom sprung out of nowhere. No, it was because of this guy."
fandom:thelorax
Marco Polo
Marco Polo: A Clash of Cultures: aelarsen (blog) - "One of the more interesting elements of Netflix’ Marco Polo series is the way it explores the tensions present in early Yuan China between traditional Chinese culture and the upstart but now dominant culture of the Mongols. "
fandom:marcopolo, topic:history
Marvel Comics
Untitled: imaginaryelle (tumblr) - "sineala, tumblr ate your actual ask. But if I recall correctly you said something like "Share your UST-writing secrets! And your Noir secrets! Your UST-Noir secrets?"
fandom:marvelcomics, topic:sex
Diversity Check In a year or so latter: TechnocratJT (other) - "So in honor of Sana Amanat's big promotion I figured I would do a check in on diversity in Marvel's comic line up right before the big ole event thing."
fandom:marvelcomics, topic:representation
The Matrix
The problem of the Matrix sequels: tone & story: Bootleg Girl (other) - "The Matrix Reloaded and especially Revolutions are massively held back by certain cinematic techniques that, strangely, are not present in the Wachowski films that have been commercially successful, nor in Bound, their sole low-budget indie film."
fandom:thematrix
Orphan Black
Sexualized Saturdays: Orphan Black and the Patriarchy: porluciernagas (blog) - "As such, the clones are primarily (though not all) cisgender, heteronormative, conventionally attractive white women. The feminism of the show may be limited, but within these narrow confines, the show effectively critiques the patriarchy and its commodification of female bodies and agency."
fandom:orphanblack
Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney
Objection, This is Not a Game! A Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Review: MarchHareMoe (blog) - "You’d think these two games merged together would be something amazing, right? Unfortunately that wasn’t the case."
fandom:gaming, warning:spoilers
Saved By the Bell
Why Jimmy Fallon’s ‘Saved by the Bell’ reunion broke the Internet: Dan Marcus (blog) - "To understand the undying popularity of Saved by the Bell, you have to dig deeper and understand why people love sitcoms in the first place."
fandom:savedbythebell
Selma
Selma (2014): marina (DW) - "So, I watched Selma and wanted to talk about it for a bit because I thought it did a lot of interesting and unexpected things, and mostly was just a movie I enjoyed a lot and I think deserves a lot of attention."
fandom:selma
A Song of Ice and Fire
Top Characters #40 Jaqen H’ghar: Stefan (blog) - "It's easy to see why Jaqen H'ghar is often thought to be Syrio Forel, or the other way around."
fandom:asoiaf
Top Characters #39 Maester Luwin: SomethingLikeaLawyer (blog) - "Maester of Winterfell, Luwin is perhaps one of the most overlooked moral hearts of a trilogy filled with very bleak and heartless characters."
fandom:asoiaf
Top Characters #38 Euron Greyjoy: First In Battle (blog) - "Euron Greyjoy is the younger brother of the recently, and some contend suspiciously, deceased Balon Greyjoy. Despite a two year banishment from the Iron Islands for cuckolding Victarion Greyjoy, the Crow's Eye has returned, cloaked in rumor and mystery, much to the favor of the ironborn."
fandom:asoiaf
CHAPTER-BY-CHAPTER ANALYSIS: TYRION VI, ACOK: racefortheironthrone (blog) - "Tyrion VI is an incredibly rich source of material to work with, and some of the most consistently interesting political material in the series to date."
fandom:asoiaf
Star Trek
Untitled: botanycameos (tumblr) - "Anonymous asked: Hi! I've read your Khan meta & see that u def love Khan a LOT as an anti-hero/protag. I understand that but ultimately don't u have to agree that he IS a murderer (he killed all those starfleet admirals & how many others in the explosion in the beginning). Yes he's doing it "for his family" but he didn't HAVE to kill ppl, ok he was under duress w marcus but does the fact he was "protecting" his family excuse him killing & putting others in lethal danger? Shouldn't he still be held accountable?"
fandom:startrek
Star Wars
Episode I and Ethical Issues: cadesama (tumblr) - "Robots who talk, show emotions, and communicate with one another being treated as disposable, non-sentient objects is really fucking creepy."
fandom:starwars
Switched At Birth
Untitled: itsjesspopculture (tumblr) - "The main plot of this episode (one of three episodes dedicated to this arc) centers around issues of consent and rape when 18-year-old Bay Kennish wakes up after a drunken night to find that not only has she slept with her ex-boyfriend, but she doesn’t remember it. Of course rape story lines are hardly unique in television nowadays, but there are several things that make how this teen show handled the issue incredibly unique and important."
fandom:switchedatbirth, warning:rape
Untitled: assorted (tumblr) - "I think it should be considered rape. Tank had sex with her and she wasn’t in a state where she could consent."
fandom:switchedatbirth, warning:rape
Untitle: luvtheheaven (tumblr) - "i find the fact that tank is more worried about toby taking "bay’s side" after he’s confronted about what happened than the fact that he potentially raped his ex-girlfriend/friend really disturbing"
fandom:switchedatbirth, warning:rape
Thor
The New Thor Is Kicking Some Almighty Ass: Lady Saika (blog) - "As one of the few comics folks on this blog, I feel I’ve been remiss in my duties. Yes, friends, four issues’ worth of the new lady-led Thor comic have gone out into the world, and here I haven’t written a damn word about them."
fandom:marvelcomics, warning:spoilers
To Kill a Mockingbird
Why young readers need ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ more than ever: S.E. Smith (blog) - "Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird was a formative text in the eyes of many white children across America, an early exposure to the racial injustice that plagues American society."
fandom:tokillamockingbird
Why Joyce Carol Oates is completely wrong about ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’: Aja Romano (blog) - "Oates, as it turns out, has never read To Kill a Mockingbird, but that won't stop her from giving her opinion on it."
fandom:tokillamockingbird
Tolkien
Yay, Tolkien: chordatesrock (DW) - "LOTR hits so many of my favorite magical realism buttons."
fandom:jrrtolkien, topic:canon
Links between Wilderland and Gondor: Doc Martin (other) - "This marvellous game inspired me to reread The Lord of the Rings for the umpteenth time and I came across a reference to travel on the river Anduin that seems relevant."
fandom:jrrtolkien
On Dain II Ironfoot Lord of the Iron Hills and King Under the Mountain: bilbosoaktree (tumblr) - "Dáin II, son of Náin III, was born in TA 2767. His grandfather, Grór, was the brother of Thrór, Thorin II Oakenshield’s grandfather."
fandom:jrrtolkien
Khuzdul Influences in Mannish Languages: askmiddleearth (tumblr) - "When discussing the influence of Khuzdul on mannish languages, we’re dealing with early early history. First Age, early Second Age at the latest."
fandom:jrrtolkien
Grimbeorn the Old?: Doc Martin (other) - "So, Beorn's son Grimbeorn. In Rivendell, in TA 3018 Gloin tells Frodo of 'Grimbeorn the Old, son of Beorn'. When Bilbo, Gandalf and the dwarves visit in TA 2941 there is no sign of Beorn having any family."
fandom:jrrtolkien
Untitled: lintamande (tumblr) - "theparsologist asked: How did the Nazgûl look during most of the Second and Third Ages (i.e. before 3018)? Is there any indication whether they were mounting horses, for example?"
fandom:jrrtolkien
Aredhel’s Story: The First Draft: lintamande (tumblr) - "so I was rereading War of the Jewels and I ran across this spectacular note Tolkien wrote out to accompany the first draft of Aredhel’s story. The only significant change between this version and the final one is that Aredhel does find Celegorm and Curufin in Himlad and hangs out with them for several years before being lost in Nan Elmoth."
fandom:jrrtolkien
Untitled: lintamande (tumblr) - "To me the big tragedy at the center of Beren’s character, the one that makes him so compelling, is that he could not possibly have done this."
fandom:jrrtolkien
Untitled: lintamande (tumblr) - "Anonymous asked: But, Amras. Like. Did they burn him? Did they actually burn him alive, or..?"
fandom:jrrtolkien
Untitled: lintamande (tumblr) - "I really think that as fans we should avoid shooting down fan theories with ‘YOU SHOULD READ THE SILMARILLION’."
fandom:jrrtolkien
The Vagina Monologues
Rosie O’Donnell lashes out at feminists over ‘The Vagina Monologues’: Aja Romano (blog) - "Instead, O'Donnell spent the day embroiled in Twitter arguments with women of color (WOC) who feel that Eve Ensler's work marginalizes minority feminists and women of color."
fandom:thevaginamonologues
The Walking Dead
Walking Dead and Psychology - PTSD, depression, psychotic disorders: Dr. Janina Scarlet (video)
fandom:thewalkingdead
Whiplash
Whiplash is a horror film - so jazz critics should stop worrying: Nicholas Pillai (blog) - "But these criticisms miss something that the general public instinctively understand. Whiplash is not solely concerned with jazz. It is as much a study of alienation and abuse. And so its inheritance is not from jazz history - but from a sub-genre of expressionistic films about obsession and losing one’s humanity."
fandom:whiplash
Wonder Woman
Untitled: tygermama (tumblr) - "Just because you don’t have a code against killing doesn’t mean it’s your go-to solution.
fandom:dccomics
X-Men
Throwback Thursday: 80s Storm: Squid, Inc. (blog) - "Storm is unapologetically Black, unapologetically African, unapologetically a woman and a leader, and unapologetically powerful."
fandom:x-men, fandom:marvelcomics, topic:femalecharacter
Yentl
Yentl (1983): marina (DW) - "Yes, I've finally seen the Jewish crossdressing musical! With Streisand, who is apparently an even better singer than I realized. AKA: the story of a Jewish woman in 1904 choosing to dress and live as a man so she can enter a yeshiva. AKA: Twelfth Night - yeshiva AU."
fandom:yentl