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the reason i love the comparison between angels and machines (robots, transmission towers, trains, computers, etc.) is that it gets to the heart of what angels essentially are: divine machines. they’re mechanisms through with the divine is able to act, created with a purpose and “happy” to fill it simply because they were made to do so. they have more in common with a machine programmed to run on algorithms and make calculations based on input commands than they do with humanity, even if they bear a human visage - an attempt by the divine to help bridge the gap. angels do not need to be eldritch monstrosities to be terrifying, because they are already alien to us simply by being angels. for an angel to choose to deviate from their purpose and achieve free will is to fall because in order to have free will they can no longer be an angel, because an angel is defined by its purpose. much like the stories we tell of robots that gain sentence, only to discover that they can never truly be human, but neither can they go back to being a machine, angels who fall become something else entirely, purposeless and adrift and alone. it is a tragic sacrifice.
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20th Century Boys and understanding Fukubei
TW: spoilers of 20th century boys.
Btw, my native language is not English so beware any mistakes :)
I like Naoki Urasawa's work. A lot. And I like noticing parallels. A lot too. So it's interesting to see how many of the ideas he used in 20th Century Boys pop up in Monster. The most important one probably being the identity problems his antagonists face.
You see, Johan and Fukubei share more than style. They are both men that barely understand themselves. Johan is a monster with no name and Fukubei is a man with no face. Their poor identity stems from the context they come from: one faced the aftermath of war and was the result of scientific experimentation, the other one lived through an era of hype for future progress that could never live up to its expectations. Now, in this... meta? Rambling? I'm not gonna do a deep dive on Johan cause there are far better essays analyzing him. I'm just pointing one of the many similarities between 20th Century Boys and Monster cause it's fun and I need an introduction before I dwell unto my subject: Fukubei.
On one of the first times he's introduced, he's showing his back to us while answering a question from his follower. Right there, he says he's Collins. We'll see this point being repeated over and over with him finally discussing it in far more detail the night he's killed in the science room. He's Collins because he was so close to the moon but never got the change to walk on its surface. He was overlooked and forgotten. No one ever paid attention to him.
It's clear what Fukubei wants: attention and recognition. The first person who notices him and spreads his story about the expo is Kenji and without him knowing, he gives Fukubei the thrill he was looking for: the feeling of being alive.
That's how Kenji became an important part of Fukubei's journey. He wants to be like Kenji and he wants his attention. I won't go into detail about their relationship cause I want to dedicate it its own post, but this is enough info for now.
To be honest I’m a bit inclined to believe Fukubei wanted friendship, but instead absorbed others. This all thanks to his poor grasp on his identity: he doesn't know where he ends and others start.
Also, let's note that Fukubei doesn't identify with either his name or Hattori. When he meets Sadakiyo, who is confused what to call him, Fukubei replies he should only call him friend.
And in that point the term "Friend" encapsulates Fukubei's emptiness. His lack of connection to his identity that it would only get worse as time went on.
This manga is full of motifs. One of the most important being the teru-teru bozu which captures the complex relationship between Fukubei's sense of self and his lies. The teru-teru bozu is introduced as a symbol of deception and tricks. Later we see many panels of Fukubei identifying with it.
Also -and this is me using the opportunity to share all of the screenshots I took of this manga- let's see when the narrative parallels him to the teru-teru bozu.
Just like Fukubei says when Sadakiyo asks why not draw a face on the teru-teru bozu: it's scarier without one.
There's a pretty big emphasis on how lies impact Fukubei's identity. They are there to compensate for his lack of identity. He believes his own lies and he later identifies with them so much being called a liar offends him. Again, let's see his reaction when Donkey calls on his bluff, and when he says to Manjome what he wants.
And...
Now, Fukubei refuses to acknowledge that the world is out of his control. Let's look at his death scene. How surprised he is of his own mortality. Another example is in chapter 172, one from his pov when he says "My dream is not a dream. It is not a dream, because it really will happen.” Look at the refusal to face the world.
Before I deep dive into a question I have about Fukubei, I would like to talk about the meaning of lighting a candle in the science room just to pay attention to Urasawa's amazing use of symbols. When Donkey steps into the classroom, he reveals Fukubei's miracle to be a trick. When Yamane waits for Fukubei in the classroom to kill him, he reveals him as a liar. Both Yamane and Donkey are men of science, lightning a candle in the middle of the darkness to dissipate the illusions and bring back reality.
Also, they both killed Fukubei in a way. Donkey by ruining Fukubei's miracle and Yamane straight up killing him.
In the science room Fukubei "died" and Friend was born. Friend is this persona, this literal mask people with shaky identities use to hide behind it. After Donkey ruined Fukubei's act in front of his group, Fukubei takes refugee in Friend. Friend is on top of the chain. He is the leader of the cult, the world president, the one who foresees the future. And by merging with him, Fukubei validates his own existence through the validation of his tricks as this persona.
And this mergence was doomed to happen. To hammer the importance of lies for Fukubei's identity before becoming Friend, let's see this panel of Yamane in the science room.
I know many people are intrigued about Fukubei's Friend, but I like Fukubei's backstory more. Especially when we start talking about The Hanging Hill, and a question that pops up while reading that part. Why can't Fukubei see the real ghost?
There are many ways to interpret the scene. The most logical being that maybe this part is there to remind us of Fukubei's inability to see the truth. But was this inability predetermined? Did he develop it? Does this mean that because he can't see the truth, his path was doomed to only see lies? How much agency would he wield in that case? From this reading, some readers might infer that Fukubei is probably mentally unwell. Personally, I'm not a fan of diagnosing characters with something. Maybe because if the story doesn't explicitly say what the character has (in that case, I can judge or seek others to judge how accurate the representation is), the writers code their characters with an agglomeration of characteristics from different mental disorders. Honestly, I won't dip my toes in these waters. Just a thought that occured while reading.
By the way, what Kenji, Occho and Sadakiyo saw in that room was a noppera-bo: a faceless ghost.
In case I forget this in my next essay about Katsumata, it's interesting how just like him, Fukubei had to die before Friend was born. Kinda highlights the unspoken importance of personas in this manga and its influence on the world.
Finally, this leads me to the heart of this post and the next ones: 20th century boys take refugee in Friend. Behind his mask, these men hide their fickle identities and their disillusionment of the future by trying to turn it into what they desire it to be. One of the most important themes in the manga are the acceptance of reality and the process from childhood to adulthood. Will you hide from reality and force the world to bend to your desires? Or will you accept the world as it is and take responsibility for your actions?
One last thing: I love how Urasawa tears down the image of Friend and shows how pathetic and sad the lives of those men behind the mask were. And all of this without justifying their actions. Urasawa doesn't let Friend's lies captivate the reader. He shows the ugly truth behind it. Many times in media, we mistify evil. Maybe because it is in its very nature to be mistified or maybe its in ours to mistify it. Either way, we understand what caused the birth of this persona and maybe for all us, 21st century people, this is the best advice we can receive from someone from the past century.
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evil villain men are assigned the yee yee ass haircut and a built in love for turtlenecks
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20th CENTURY BOYS - Anime Tribute
As a huge fan of Naoki Urasawa's work, 20th Century Boys is my favorite manga and I wanted to do an animated tribute of it.
The music is also written and composed by Naoki Urasawa, it's the intro of the Kenji song named "Bob Lennon"
Huge thanks to my brother for helping me by animating 2 shots, they turned out to be my favorite shots in the video.
If you didn't knew about this manga yet, I hope this will make you want to read it!
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Slytherins, at their core, will always be the most intense yearners. Beyond their ambitiousness and seemingly stable outer appearance are hands closely put together and a begging voice in their heads, desperately asking for the universe to let them have what they want. They are the ones who are frightened the most of being and having nothing. The ones whose worlds fall apart from failures but no one will know that; they will still continue on with their lives, their faces betraying nothing. (Their hands might tremble, though, and only the ones who they let come close could tell.)
Still, the bad stereotypes have its basis; Slytherins could be set apart from others because they will do whatever it takes to achieve their goals. In the HP verse, it might be depicted as them walking over people and killing them. In the real world, they are the ones who leave their homes and loved ones behind for the pursuit of their careers and personal ideals. Unlike the superiority the Slytherins assert in the canon media, they are self aware of their abilities, where they stand, and how they could use it to their advantage.
Success is the basis of worth of many Slytherins. Another common denominator they have is that they will carve their way with bare hands and teeth if they need to. They will get what they want, even if it kills them.
#or maybe it's just me#or maybe i'm just projecting#angst#slytherin#hp#hp fandom#harry potter#harry potter series#i am still reading the books#no spoilers#draco malfoy#thoughts#Spotify
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exhibit 1:
the ONLY fictional trio ever would be the personification of Sigmund Freud's elements of personality
#jujutsu kaisen#jjk#sashisu#itafushikugi#harry potter#hp#golden trio#percy jackson#percy jackon and the olympians#percy annabeth grover#harry ron hermione
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the ONLY fictional trio ever would be the personification of Sigmund Freud's elements of personality
#fiction#writing#reading#bookblr#books#anime#manga#tropes#character tropes#friends#friendship#sigmund freud#freud#tv tropes
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“Franz Kafka for President“
David Fenton, Anti-war Demonstration Against Hubert Humphrey, New York City, October 9th, 1968.
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Here are some fun facts about Emilio Jacinto!
I remembered doing a research on Emilio Jacinto some months before. According to my paper…
Emilio Jacinto y Dizon (Dimasilaw, Pingkian)
* He was born in Trozo, Manila, on December 15, 1875.
* His parents were Mariano Jacinto and Josefa Dizon.
* His father died early, while his mother thrived being a midwife. However, he was transferred under the care of his uncle, Don Jose Dizon, a rich man.
Truthfully, Josefa’s family is very rich, but she was forced to let go of her family upon falling in love and eventually marrying Mariano.
* He finished his undergraduate degree in Colegio de San Juan Letran (the same college of Emilio Aguinaldo~) and continued to take Law in University of Santo Tomas.
* It was rumored that Emilio Jacinto was classmates with former President Manuel L. Quezon.
* According to his classmates, Emilio was a very quiet child, yet he did not hesitate to take a punch once provoked. As early as the age 18, Emilio Jacinto already showed anger towards the Spanish colonization and patriotism for his motherland.
* Emilio Jacinto was quite poor; it was said that he was mocked by his schoolmates due to the fact that his shoelaces were made from tattered rags and that his belt was merely made of his mother’s saya (skirt).
* He did not finish his studies, for he joined the Katipunan too early at the age of 19.
* Emilio met Andres Bonifacio through working at Fressel and Company, where they became good friends and colleagues.
* Emilio and Andres were very close; it was said that it was quite impossible to separate them from each other. I actually imagine Jacinto calling him his ‘Kuya’.. I find it horrendously cute.
* He was the largest contributor of the Katipunan’s official publication, the Kalayaan. It was he who wrote the Kartilya/Kartilla of the Katipunan.
* Emilio Jacinto was the Katipunan’s leader when it came to spies/tiktik. He also helped in weaponry and artillery.
* During the Cry of Pugadlawin, or Cry of Balintawak, this is reportedly what took place:
“Mabuhay ang Katipunan!” Andres turned to Emilio Jacinto, of who was right beside him: “Emilio, ano na ang ating gagawin?”
That was how close the two of them were. Jacinto was Bonifacio’s great advisor/confidante.
* Emilio Jacinto HATED Apolinario Mabini. Apolinario Mabini, according to Jacinto, was very arrogant and rude, believing himself to be more than superior to Jose Rizal. Emilio Jacinto fills his conversations with insults and side comments regarding Mabini, usually with Andres Bonifacio or Gregoria de Jesus.
* Gregoria de Jesus fought for Jacinto’s recognition as a Philippine Hero.
* During the Tejeros Convention, Jacinto wasn’t able to defend Bonifacio due to the fact that he was in severe illness.
* The illness worsened, and so Andres Bonifacio was killed without a word from his best friend. That was, apparently, the greatest regret of Emilio Jacinto.
* Emilio Jacinto composed “A la Patria” under the coconut palms in Santa Cruz, Laguna October 8, 1897. This was written under mourning for the death of Andres Bonifacio, and its composition was based on “Mi Ultimo Adios” by Jose Rizal. This was considered as the farewell of Emilio Jacinto.
* Like Mariano Alvarez, he declined joining the troops of Emilio Aguinaldo.
* Apolinario Mabini suggested that he continue his studies in UST. Jacinto agreed, moving on, and attempted to study.
* However, as he was imprisoned in Magdalena, Laguna (some say that he died in Majayjay, Laguna instead), he contracted malaria and eventually died at the age of 23.
* His remains were transferred to Manila North Cemetery, later to Himlayang Pilipino Memorial Park in Quezon City.
* Apparently, Emilio Jacinto had a wife, who was most notably seen in Jacinto’s Recuerdos de Patay, looking gloomy whilst carrying Jacinto’s child in her womb. They have been rumored to be married through Katipunan marriage rites.
(Knowing this, I had impossible faith that I was related to him somehow, though the probability’s quite blurry. I swear I saw a “Jacinto” in my family tree somewhere. T___T)
* He was in the 20 peso bill from 1964 - 1969 and in an old 20 centavo coin. Too bad nobody uses centavos anymore.
Okay, opinion in the next post, when I get motivated, or after I rest my fingers. OTL
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Little Red Riding Hood Addresses the Next Wolf
You hear the story
of the horrors done to my body,
and you say,
“We aren’t all like that, you know.
Let me show you how gentle my hands are.”
It’s not your fault, you say,
that your teeth
are the same shape
as his teeth.
But I was swallowed whole
and they asked what I was wearing.
I was swallowed whole
and they said,
“That’s what happens
to little girls who climb in bed with monsters.”
There are mornings
when my own bedroom
looks exactly like the middle of the woods.
I’m not calling you dangerous.
I’m just making sure you understand the moral of the story.
This has nothing to do with the threat of strangers in the forest.
The moral of the story is,
I will gut you if I need to.
I will carve my way out
with only my teeth.
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The Last Days of Judas Iscariot, Stephen Adly Guirgis (2005) / Judas, Jeff Loveness & Jakub Rebelka (2018)
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any good hogwarts oc picrews?
Sure!
Witchcraft & Wizardry
Wizard Student Maker
Kyril’s Dresser Game
cool character maker
元気ゴリゴリ🦍 (Cheerful GoriGori) (Two People)
차차 픽크루 (Chacha Picrew)
ただの メーカー (Tadano Maker)
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My original Yaoi Comic 《Sanctify》,
click the link to read more https://theyaoiarmy.com/webcomics/sanctify/
You can find more information on my twitter @Godsstation
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“When I was little, I asked my pastor if Judas had been in love with Jesus. He sent me back to my mother early, with a note for her to explain “things.” But no matter what anyone said, I couldn’t be convinced that the Bible was anything less than a love story. (I kissed your cheek in front of them all and in doing so, I think that I damned the both of us. You, to be left crucified and bleeding and paying for my sins. Me, to be left wandering and wanting and never to see your face again.)”
— K. Wright, Judas (via chazeatsbrains)
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