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alpaca-clouds · 10 months

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The Power Of Media

I need do address one thing, because I see that kinda mindset creep up again and again.

Basically, under postings about utopian media, be it Star Trek, Solarpunk, or - heck - just bare Hopepunk, sometimes people will just go: "Media does not do shit. It does not change the world."

And that just is... demonstrably fault and a very defeatist attitude.

Now, one thing first: Yes, media on its own will not change the world. It will not. If you have this mindset, you are right in so far. We can have endless amounts of hopeful media and the world will not change from it.

But...

We live in capitalism. Its power seems inescapable. So did the divine right of kings. Any human power can be resisted and changed by human beings. Resistance and change often begin in art, and very often in our art, the art of words. - Ursula K. LeGuin

This quote of Ursula K. LeGuin is very powerful to me. Because it really captures the issue very well.

See. Right now we get bombarded with capitalist propaganda left and right. It already starts in school, we will often get it at home and obviously in media again and again.

It is so hard to escape, that to many it is hard to imagine that there ever could be anything else. I mean, we even have the issue within Solarpunk. When I read through those Solarpunk Anthologies, I will again and again find stories, that feature either capitalist worlds - or a world that has to be rebuild after the apocalypse. Because people really struggle imagining how it could be otherwise.

And this is why fiction is so important. Why Hopepunk is so important.

A lot of young people right now are able to see that the system is broken, that it has left them behind. Most young folks, who do not come from generational wealth, see that they will under the current system never own their own house. Their own retirement seems to be rather unlikely. And that is, if they do not die before from either the effects of climate change, from some pandemic through which we have to work because line needs to go up, or just in general because the health care system does not take care of them.

And these young people are willing to fight. They are. But right now they are only fighting against a system. They do not know what they fight for.

I know, for some this might sound like a small thing. But it is not. Especially not in a world, where more and more people are struggling with their mental health.

People need hope.

And again: No, it is not enough on its own. Just hopeful fiction on its own runs the danger of just being endless escapism.

We also need to offer mutual aid for each other. We also need to organize. And, yeah, we need to protest and actually get out there to fight.

But don't underestimate the power of fiction, when it comes to giving people something to fight for.

We know that media and stories have these powers. It is, after all, why those in powers dripfeed us the kinda stories that vilify those, who want to change the system. That tell us, that "everything is fine, okay, just trust the good billionaires" and what not. Because they understand this power.

And we should not leave this power to them along.

#solarpunk #lunarpunk #hopepunk #utopia #utopian fiction #the power of fiction #the power of media #hope is a dangerous thing #it only needs a spark #fighting climate change

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prismatoxic · 1 month

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"chilchuck isn't a twink, he's a DILF!" now i get why you're saying that but i feel like you've maybe forgotten what chilchuck tims canonically looks like

i'm sorry but this man is a twink. also DILF isn't a body type it's a status (and technically, an opinion) so he can be both

"but he's middle-aged!" look at him. look with your eyeballs. his age has nothing to do with the fact that he Looks Like That. he's a twink. the sooner you accept this the less angry his fandom will make you

edit bc this post has become the bane of my existence:

FAQ

Q: wtf do you mean he's a dad? he looks like a kid. A: he is 29 years old, and a half-foot. half-foots are dungeon meshi's halflings, or hobbits, or whatever you want to call them.

Q: wait, if he's 29, why the fuck are you calling him middle-aged? A: half-foots have an average lifespan of 50 years. chilchuck was originally drawn with grey hairs (you can see that in the manga fullbody) but the mangaka gave up on that over time. he's middle-aged for his race.

Q: hey, doesn't that look like a little angry face on his boot in the manga drawing? A: yea kinda

#as a proud member of the chilfucker fandom i think we should all accept his canon appearance even if we draw him way different #if you can only love him if he looks like a hobbit do you really love him at all?#by all means draw and think of him however sparks joy for you. but this is who he is in the manga and anime and you need to accept that #i love all chilchucks but i just love him in general. ideal man #chilchuck tims #tox.txt #edits made because the tags on this post are my villain origin story #i have now muted notifs!

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s0fter-sin · 8 months

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everyone makes fun of soap when they find out how many hair and skin products he keeps on hand. the cabinet in his bathroom is filled to bursting and he always keeps travel sized bottles on him on missions

when soldiers outside the 141 find out, they call him precious and self-obsessed, a vain pretty boy too preoccupied with his reflection to focus on the enemy. no wonder how he got his callsign. price has given up telling him to leave them on base and just teaches him to individually wrap them so they don’t rattle against each other and give himself away

what they don’t know is that each product contains an ingredient that when mixed with any number of the others, creates potent chemical bombs. he was caught unarmed once, he won’t let it happen again

#ghost picks it up when he watches him meticulously read the ingredients lists on the bottles when he goes shopping with him once #he knows enough about products to know that when you find one that works you keep using it #so hes confused when he sees soap put back a moisturiser hes certain hes seen in his little bag #he waits for him to leave the aisle and checks the bottle #which is when he sees the new and improved formula sticker on the back #he memorises the ingredients and when he checks the bottle in soaps room sure enough theres an ingredient missing #thats when he puts it together #it seems his little intro into guerrilla warfare had sparked some ideas in his sergeant #and hes so damn proud it takes him off guard for a second #he hadnt expected him to keep up with it not when hed rarely need the knowledge #but he is and hes doing it all on his own using his own expertise and forethought #the pride has to make room for a difference kind of warmth at the sheer competency on display in front of him #the next day he drops a new product with the missing ingredient on soaps head #the soldiers around them are shocked that hed indulge in soaps prissiness #hes the only that that sees the feral glint in soaps eye as he thanks him and starts going on about the benefits of looking after your skin #coming out of my cage and ive been doing just fine.txt #ghost x soap #soapghost #ghostsoap #ghost mw2 #cod ghost #cod soap #soap mw2 #soap mactavish #cod mwii #call of duty #we’re a team. ghost team

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crabsnpersimmons · 6 days

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exam 5 for me... tomorrow!

honestly have been feeling really nervous for this exam since my classmates have either failed it or just barely passed. and i had less time to study this time around because i rushed to book the exam.

so i drew this little encouragement early cuz i need the reminder that no matter what happens tomorrow, i did what i could and i didn't compromise on my boundaries—and that is its own victory.

and i hope that you'll be reminded to celebrate your own big and small victories too!

"You are nervous and that's okay! You did your best! You set boundaries! You took breaks! We're so proud of you, Starlight! Whatever happens, we'll always be here, cheering you on!"

#fnaf sun #fnaf eclipse #fnaf moon #fnaf dca #dca fandom #crab art #bright colours #traditional art #self-insert #my OC Esther #on a funnier note (gonna ramble)#i realized today that i could technically bring a sprite to drink in my exam #we're only allowed water in a clear drink container without any labels #so like... sprite is clear enough to work right?#and if they ask about the bubbles i'll just say it's sparking water #(i hate sparkling water but they don't need to know that)#but yeah might do that cuz i think the sugars will do me some good #3 hour exams are inhumane #anyways going to sleep now because i need sleep more than sugar #the worst thing that could happen is i fail and i have to pay another $115 to retake the exam and i receive the disappointment of my mom #i could buy a sun and moon plushie with that money #maybe even an eclipse plushie too #so the stakes are pretty high i think #if i pass i'll buy those plushies hehe #maybe just one for now because i still have more payments to make for my program #okay okay no more rambling going to sleep now

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brother-emperors · 8 months

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spartacus and crassus :)

this is actually a rejected panel from a much longer comic I’ve been fucking around with on and off for awhile- I had plans to do a long form spartacus comic for a long time, I just keep missing the last book on my research list in second hand stores 😔 I always have money when the last copy sells out aughhh

anyway! I might call crassus my girl in the group chat, but I’ve actually spent more years wishing that spartacus got to run crassus through on his sword and then read the fate of rome out of his entrails. ALAS. on that note, isn’t it kind of interesting how spartacus’ funeral games for crixus turn roman order upside down and feel like both a foundational sacrifice and a curse? isn’t it kind of fun how crassus will not die in rome, and neither will pompey, who came in like a vulture to take credit for crassus’ work? (it’s VERY fun)

Plutarch, Crassus

#Spartacus and Crassus have a very specific kind of narrative foil dynamic with each other that I find extremely compelling #Team spartacus bc I love to see rome eat itself like the horrible machine of violence that it is #and then cower in the face of what it created #That one doc that dramatized the starting spark was spartacus not being able to turn away from a Roman soldier #raping another gladiator. That’s what it all comes down to. Christ #Team crassus when the cast is just Romans because oh you are weird. Crassus you are so fucking weird. What is happening there.#BLAH anyway. panel rejected bc the scene needed to be bigger. grander. more bodies on the ground #Spartacus still get to call him a dog tho. Tahol Crassus! Tahol!!!#usually I have more to cite. Like. Most of my gladiator stuff is backed up on a flash drive! but guess what is not compatible with #An iPad. My flash drives. Bc I literally only use this for drawing work 🥲 also reading/researching on a screen like this is hell #spartacus #marcus licinius crassus #spartacus tag

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emberglowfox · 9 months

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closing time

#you know situation's dire when sparks breaks out the color block sona vent art LOOOOOOOL #sparks speaks #vent #again to all my new-ish followers i do post stuff like this from time 2 time PLEASE block one of those tags if you don't want to see it #long post #edit: fine to rb idgas #ummm NEway. i go back to college in like a month and the thought of it makes me want to curl up and die. idk if i can do it again tbh lol #i dont know how i survived the first time #<- LYING he does. and it was by letting the dissociation he is currently bitching about swallow him completely #if i really committed and tried i could probably claw my way out of this. but there's really no point when i'll just fall back into it soon #the forgetting my entire life does suck though. it does suck.#its really cool learning you've lost the only thing you thought you couldn't lose.#anyways. i'm fine im chillin i just. needed to get this out #if youre reading this preciate you. drink water

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spikeface · 3 months

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Based on (x).

#teen wolf #scott mccall #twedit #ok so yeah this edit was sparked by how poorly melissa was explored in s5 #and in general how they dropped her as anything but an occasional prop to tell scott to get back out there after 2x10 #but i hope it's not taken as bashing because that's truly not how i mean it #i feel like both scott and melissa don't know how to talk to each other #not because they don't love each other or want the best for each other #but s1 melissa already starts out not knowing scott's life very well #she's interested and trying to support him and make time for him #but is swamped with work and overwhelmed with being a single parent #and would also desperately like her own life if it's possible #scott is already working to support them and agonizes over costing them anything - money time attention #they start the series already without an equilibrium and it only gets worse as scott becomes a werewolf #i think melissa also has a survivor's mentality of soldiering on #and so that's also the advice scott is getting #even when what they both really need is time to rest and connect #and it just made me so sad that scott's flashback was about being hospitalized #but his mother was there and he was being care for #whereas now #he's back at the hospital #alone #desperately in need of care

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orion-nottson · 8 months

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slide scale of decepticons on how likely you are to survive as their pet.

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markantonys · 3 months

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andor's colors are red and white, in eotw the opposing factions in caemlyn are red (pro-morgase/white tower) and white (anti-morgase/tower), in tsr gawyn chooses red (elaida/tower) and galad chooses white (whitecloaks/anti-tower)..............gawyn and galad really are complementary characters who parallel and foil each other

#meanwhile elayne chooses a secret third side #you all probably made these connections 10 years ago but i'm feeling very 'i've connected the dots.jpg' atm djfkg #the trakand bros are rife with story potential and i felt the books underused them big time #(they each only have like 1-2 books of having a proper storyline and otherwise just crop up for occasional scenes)#the show needs to make them beefed-up secondary characters a la liandrin and alanna #(not that i WANT more galad time but i admit it's necessary)#speeding up the pacing of egwene's post-LOC storyline will help gawyn massively #and the show's already established a stronger whitecloak storyline setup than the books had this early which should help galad #when i picture galad arriving to interact with show!valda and dain i actually feel a spark of interest in the whitecloak storyline!#wot #wot book spoilers #gawyn trakand #galad damodred #the wheel of time

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suntails · 11 months

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B&W

#*smashes my car thru the window of the convenience store u live in* hi i found an hour last night to draw #im taking a defensive driving course rn for insurance sry for the intro i thought it was topical and hilarious #it's their AESTHETICS dammit!!! ive wanted to draw something of silver silh in white bleeding out of a black shadow for AGESSSS #for AGES the PAGES #i just love some fuckign tasty contrast i love a tasty comp. i saw a b/w piece collection a few days ago and it re-sparked the need for this #cant describe it but silver looks like a ballerina. hes so fuckign cool #twst #twisted wonderland #twst spoilers #?? i guess? its malleus in OB form ig sure why not #malleus draconia #twst silver #silver vanrouge #suntails #i rly did have good taste picking my two fav chars huh #its the only opportunity in this game to show the story's hero w the story's villain (not counting neige bc we know so little abt rsa shit)

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piningprecussionist · 24 days

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Oh! Fucking. Duh. Obvious Roxie post I can make today: here's an emote I made for the sp:te server! (With variants of different degrees of completion...)

I was gonna go back and shade the comic colors Roxie but. Just ended up going w the colors picked off the screenshot. This screenshot, specifically!

#mind the quality i ripped it from Somewhere but i dont remember where #i still havent gone and continued my Unhinged Screenshot Taking yet. but oh buddy when I do....#spto #sp comic #spvtw #fanart #art #roxie richter #emotes #discord emotes #blue sparks one there was just testing where i wanted to put some before i decided Overkill was The Way #like w the other ones. please do reblog this if you decide to use them in a server somewhere! i would like to know if they end up other +#+places #ooc #spto fanart #scott pilgrim fanart #spvtw fanart #spto roxie #scott pilgrim roxie #spvtw roxie #roxanne richter #roxy richter #actually. best day for it really. if anyone has any roxie screenshots or panels they want emotes from I'd generally consider them to begin +#+with but For Sure today. (generally if anyone wants a given shot/panel as an emote im happy to at least Try. i just need specifics)#(so far kim ones are my only Successful emote attempts Without panel/shot basis. i do need to try a ramona that was requested again...)#uhhh just to be safe i guess #potential eyestrain #i did try a version w the sparks more like they are in the show but it Didn't Look Good #feel free to try your own hand at it if you want #this post is scheduled btw :3c im still trying to work on another roxie piece... panel redraw....

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black-and-yellow · 2 years

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The Warning Call.

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princeofcyberpunk · 2 months

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A wholly lawless underground town that is ruled by the criminal syndicate Cipher..

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small-spark-of-light · 8 months

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POV: infectat almost dies again

#incredibox #incredibox fanart #evadare #jacko #infectat #my beloved zombie i finally managed to draw you signing #i found a good dictionary for ASL i just need to figure out how to format sentences and stuff #funfact thing might happen since jacko is canonically a terrible person and bad leader #the only reason teeth and infectat came with him is out of fear #i already headcanoned those but im glad i know its canon now :DD #jacko is also confirmed to be liquid that can change shapes #i can get photos of rem saying it for evidence if you do not believe me #fuck jacko hes an Asshole #also FINALLY A DIGITAL DRAWING THATS NOT WHITEBOARD #sparks creations

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chrollohearttags · 3 months

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I have not felt an ounce of inspiration to write on this app for a while if I’m being honest. I don’t think I’m leaving but a LONG sabbatical is looking real nice.

#I’m just exhausted tbh #I really keep struggling with my mental health more than I thought and this hellsite hasn’t helped one bit #I know nobody gaf and it’s not their responsibility to but I’m not a machine and #let’s be real y’all only deem writers on here useful if they’re churning out fics or listening to you rant #not to mention the rampant anti blackness and hateful anons..it’s getting old man #begging for fics with no reblogs or commentary #idk I just want my spark back bc writing makes me happy but I don’t feel anything #maybe I just need a nice day out to get rid of this feeling #cherry chats 🍒

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poorly-drawn-mdzs · 10 days

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i would kill for your de/isat swaps theyre so good already and i am eating it up. so glad im not the only one who saw the parallels 🔥

Thank you! I have been having an absolute blast drawing them; the parallels are too good to not have fun with it!

#ask #Thank you very much for your kind tags on my art! And for the lovely ask; I appreciate it a lot!#I had a friend point out that this was probably one of the nichest things I could draw.#If there is one person out there who sees it and goes 'woo! yeah!' then it is enough. Even if that one person is me!#You can count on me posting more Disco/ISAT swap stuff because it sparks so much joy in me. I have many ideas.#I have to balance out the scales. I need to draw the most specific crossovers that only a small group of people will enjoy.#Enrichment for *my* enclosure.#Apologies to people who thought I would stay on topic with this blog. I'm having my multi-fandom arc and loving it.

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