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snkpolls · 3 years

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SnK Episode 68 Poll Results (for Anime Only Watchers)

The poll closed with 59 responses. Thank you to everyone who participated!

Please note that these are the results for the Anime Only Watchers’ poll. If you wish to see the results for the Manga Readers’ poll, click here.

Anime only watchers, beware of spoilers if you venture over to the manga readers’ poll results.

RATE THE EPISODE 53 Responses

The response was overwhelmingly positive with 88.7% of responses giving the episode a 4 or a 5. In addition, there weren’t any 1s or 2s this time around. A noted contrast to the previous episode. Suppose Sasha’s death ruined the experience for some.

it epic

I NEED MORE

awesome

WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING MOMENTS WAS YOUR FAVORITE? 55 Responses

The scene with the largest amount of reception (18.2%) was the final scene of the episode, where Eren repeats his mantra to himself in the mirror while revealing his new look. Behind that was the reveal that Armin is talking to Annie (10.9%). At a tie (9.1%), people most enjoyed Hange’s eccentric greeting to the Marleyan soldiers and Onyankopon explaining why he believes people are different. At another tie (7.3%), were the scenes where Sasha is enjoying Nicolo’s cooking, and the scene where Eren is washing himself at the sink.

WHAT WAS THE MOST EMOTIONAL PART OF THE VISIT TO SASHA’S GRAVE? 57 Responses

The visit to Sasha’s grave was packed with many tragic moments. According to the responders, the most emotional of those was Connie’s line about losing “his half” (47.4%). Following that we have the scene of grieving Mikasa with 24.6%. In third place is Nicolo’s general grief. Other responses were, in this order, Sasha’s Father agreeing to a free meal from Nicolo, seeing the girl that Sasha saved from a Titan all those years ago and simply Sasha’s family appearing.

AFTER SEVERAL TENSE AND ACTION PACKED EPISODES, HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE TRANSITION TO SOMETHING MORE CALM? 53 Responses

Ever since the series started, AoT has had a clear contrast between the content of its episodes. Episode 68 of the series notably contrasts with the prior 3-4 episodes. So we wanted to know how the fans respond to these sorts of things. 32.1% stated that they enjoyed the slower paced episode after weeks of chaos. An equal number of responders (32.1%) noted that although they far preferred the action-based content, they understood the need for the slower episodes. A little over 13% said they actually preferred the exposition-esque content, so they were happy with the change and finally, a bit over 11% stated that they were indifferent.

I view exposition equally as important as action.

Watching the show dissect what happened before and after the attack on Marley made everything so clear, I love how they were able to capture the drama of both sequences

I'm definetly here more dialogue heavy epiodes and flashbacks but maybe with a slower pacing. It felt a little messy because the episode was also dealing with Sasha's as well as backstory. I think thst was probably intentional though.

They both have their merits.

Still feels great

WOULD YOU RATHER GET A SURPRISE GREETING FROM EREN & HANGE, OR ARMIN & LEVI? 55 Responses

Marleyan Soldiers got two sets of surprises in this episode. One from Eren and Hange, one from Armin and Levi. The fans would clearly prefer to get one of those from Eren and Hange (78.2%) than Armin and Lavi (21.8%).

ON A SCALE OF 1-5, HOW HAPPY ARE YOU TO BE BACK ON PARADIS? 55 Responses

We recently returned to Paradis Island and according to the responders, it was a much wanted development, with 85.4% giving a 4 or a 5 when it comes to hype about the return to the island.

ARMIN SAYS THAT ONCE EREN INFILTRATED MARLEY, THERE WAS NO OTHER CHOICE BUT TO ATTACK IN ORDER TO PREVENT IMMEDIATE RETALIATION. DO YOU AGREE WITH HIM? 55 Responses

The raid on Liberio is being questioned not only by the audiences, but also by the characters in-universe. Still, when it comes to Armin’s justification for the attack, the majority (69.1%) think that there was no other choice for Paradis, be it because they could afford to lose Eren/Founding Titan or because Marley would have retaliated easily. Others (~10%) think that they either should have made more effort to find Eren before it came to the raid or should have just let him go. 14.5% simply aren’t sure.

They had no choice but to retrieve Eren, but that doesn't necessarily mean a full blown attack. I think Armin is trying to convince himself here.

Yes. Marley could have captured Eren and had Zeke or someone else eat him for the founding powers.

DO YOU THINK IT’S PLAUSIBLE THAT MARLEY WILL FIND A WAY TO QUICKLY COUNTERATTACK ANYWAY? 53 Responses

When it comes to Marley, one could wonder if they will attempt a quick counterattack. 67.9% believe so, 15.1% dissent. And 9.4% state that they have been spoiled. For the write-in responder who feels that we are spoiling via the question itself, we assure you that anything we ask here had once been a matter of debate among manga readers when the corresponding chapters were fresh and we did not know the outcome. We would just like to give anime only watchers the same opportunity to have these debates.

I don't know.

The fleet has been destroyed, but what about the airforce (if they have one)? I doubt Paradis has the mean to counter that.

I'm not really sure honestly

This question is a spoiler itself: if you ask this, maybe it means that's what will happen. Thank you.

WHEN EREN FIRES HIS GUN AT THE END OF EMA’S TALK, IT TRANSITIONS TO SASHA TAKING A BULLET IN THE PREVIOUS EPISODE. DO YOU FEEL THAT THE NARRATIVE IS TRYING TO PIN THE BLAME SOLELY ON EREN? 55 Responses

Eren’s rifle shot was juxtaposed with Sasha’s death, showcasing a possible thread in the narrative. Does the narrative believe that Eren is to blame for Sasha’s death? 38.2% think it’s a yes and 45.5% think it’s a possibility. On the other hand, almost 11% don’t think the story is trying to go for that route.

While I don’t think it’s trying to pin the blame solely on Eren. I think it’s trying to say he shares a large portion of the blame.

He may be partly at fault, but not fully.

Yes. But they shouldn't. Because it was GabBitch who killed Sasha, and GabBitch alone.

DO YOU BELIEVE THAT ZEKE, YELENA AND THE VOLUNTEERS ARE SINCERE IN THEIR WISH TO HELP PARADIS? 55 Responses

Zeke, Yelena and Co. are a set of characters. Are they a trustworthy set of characters? Certainly up to debate. 67.8% believe they’re trustworthy to a degree, at the very least. In contrast to 23.6% who find no trust in them. A select few have been spoiled.

Mmm Yelena & co. maybe...I love Zeke but he's big sus this season

I think they are loyal to Zeke, and his goal is to get the funding titan. At the moment, this means allying themselves with Paradis, but that could easily change.

They are very sus, Yelena is especially loose. IDK who they'll be loyal too.

DO YOU THINK THAT EREN WANTS TO USE THE WALL TITANS AS A SIMPLE DETERRENT, OR DOES HE WANT TO FLATTEN THE EARTH? 55 Responses

The possibility of a Rumbling has been brought up more than a few times throughout the series (mostly this season) and the question remains, “will Eren use the Rumbling to flatten the Earth?” 60% think that’ll be the case, in contrast to almost 11% who dissent. 27.3% were already spoiled about the outcome.

That idiot definetly wants to flatten the earth. Empathy and logic has never been Erens strong suit.

DO YOU THINK THAT EMA HAVE BECOME MORE DISTANT FROM EACH OTHER? 55 Responses

The iconic EMA trio has been together through thick and thin, so something truly must happen for them to “break up”, so to say. Would one say that they have grown apart? 56.4% think so, but only insofar as Eren goes. 25.5% believe that they all have grown apart to a degree. 9.1% dissent to these assertions and a select few have been spoiled.

Even Mikasa and Armin seem distant! They were coping on their own after coming back to Paradis.

I like to refer to them as E MA. lol. Yehhhh anyway- somethings defs off with them.

ARMIN SAID HE DIDN’T SEE ANY NOTEWORTHY MEMORIES FROM BERTOLT WHEN EREN ASKED HIM ABOUT IT. DO YOU THINK HE’S BEING TRUTHFUL? 55 Responses

A whole bunch of people doubt Armin’s statement about not seeing anything useful in Bertolt’s memories (81.8%), though some (14.5%) think the boy’s telling the truth. A select few have been spoiled.

DO YOU THINK MIKASA IS LOSING HOPE IN THE WORDS THAT ONCE GAVE HER STRENGTH? 56 Responses

Long ago, Mikasa stated that one must fight, survive and win. If they don’t fight, they won’t survive and will lose. But with some losses drumming up on the plate, could she start doubting this mantra? 46.4% believe that we cannot say one way or another until we see more. 26.8% don’t believe that Sasha’s death will shake her confidence in that belief and it’s just a brief moment of doubt, in contrast to 23.2% who believe that Sasha’s demise will irreparably change Mikasa’s philosophy.

No....? I did't even realise she was that close to Sasha. I feel like if she loses Eren THEN she'll lose hope.

what words?

Mikasa deserves better than emo world destroyer Eren!!! She's too pure.

EREN SEEMED TO BE MISSING WHEN THE SURVEY CORPS WERE INTERACTING WITH THE VOLUNTEERS. WHY DO YOU THINK THAT MIGHT BE? 54 Responses

Eren wasn’t present when the others were interacting with the volunteers. Some believe it is noteworthy, others do not think so. 38.9% simply aren’t certain. 29.6% think it’s the SC decision to keep Eren away from Zeke’s followers. On the other, 20.4% predict that it was Eren’s own choice of isolation. A select few have simply been spoiled.

Didn’t notice this until now

Maybe he had already left for Marley?

ARMIN WAS HOPEFUL THAT THEY COULD SOLVE THEIR PROBLEMS THROUGH DIPLOMACY. EREN FELT THAT PEACE WAS NEVER AN OPTION. WHO DO YOU AGREE WITH MORE? 54 Responses

A noted contrast in Eren and Armin’s beliefs was showcased in this episode. 57.4% find themselves siding more with Eren’s anti-diplomatic measures, while 42.6% support Armin’s more peaceful ways.

WE GOT A GLIMPSE OF ANNIE IN THIS EPISODE. WHAT BEST MATCHES YOUR THOUGHTS? 55 Responses

Annie has been encased in that crystal for years at this point, both in and out of universe. Is she going to get out of that crystal? Just a little over 69% believe so, in contrast to the one person who doesn’t. 23.6% were spoiled one way or another.

Sis is running out of time...it would really suck if her 13 years were up before she even got out of her lil crystal

This has GOT to wake up, surely.

She got a nose reduction surgery

HOW DO YOU THINK ZEKE WILL RATE HIS STAY AT THE HOTEL OF GIANT TREES? 55 Responses

Zeke seemed shocked to find his hotel to be a forest of Giant Trees. An iconic location, seen throughout the series. We asked how you believe Zeke will rate his stay. A plurality (40%) think that he won’t be there long enough to do so. 29.1% believe he’ll give it an average score, in contrast to 23.6% who imagine Zeke loving his getaway! 7.3% have been spoiled.

WHAT BEST DESCRIBES YOUR FEELINGS ABOUT PIXIS ARRESTING THE VOLUNTEERS? 55 Responses

It would appear Pixis detained the volunteers while the SC were away. The majority (52.7%) don’t find it to be a controversial decision, noting that both parties have a mutual understanding between each other. A noted minority (29.1%) thought that it was actually the best course of action, arguing that the Paradisian Military has no way of knowing whether the volunteers are trustworthy or not now that Zeke is here on Paradis. In contrast, 18.2% thought that it was mistake, given how much assistance the Volunteers have provided to the islanders.

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THE WAY THE PARADISIANS ARE SEEN TREATING MARLEYANS? 55 Responses

We saw some noted mistreatment of Marleyans by the Paradisians this episode. So we asked the responders what their thoughts were on this development. A plurality (47.3%) couldn’t say one way or the other and needed to see more to pass their judgment. 34.5% were open in their condemnation of those actions, in contrast to the 12.7% who were supportive of such activities.

Cycle of haaaate. No one is justified in acting that way but it's understandable that they do

Some good, some bad. Military police doing the worst of course.

An eye for an eye ✌

ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS ON THE EPISODE?

I don't know what to say anymore. This episode made me question my previous ideologies regarding the characters

In my opinion, this episode has more fanservice than usual, from the ship moments of Levihan and Aruani, and to the display of Mikasa's ass and Eren's abs, but Mappa is not over the top and can still get the plot moving and still have those moments that can move the viewers.

I believe in Onyankopon supremacy

Even though I love Mappa post timeskip designs, the pre timeskip design of some characters seemed a bit off to me (particularly Armin and Eren). It distracted me a bit from the action.

Eren standing Infront of the mirror was way better in manga. Mappa need to put more effort. No hate tho.

Idk, didn't blow me away. I'm seriously concerned for Armin, he's definetly losing it. Appreciated the flashbacks and the new characters too. Onyankopon has captured my mf heart, if he dies, I die too. 😌

Chad Eren

Niccolo x Sasha OTP

What the shit dude…

Gabi will forever be the worst character to me, no matter what the anime tries to do to justify her

WHERE DO YOU PRIMARILY DISCUSS THE SERIES? 54 Responses

Thanks again to everyone who responded!

#snk poll #snk polls #snk spoilers #snk s4 #shingeki no kyojin #attack on titan #snk #aot

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faunusrights · 4 years

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OFFAL HUNT REMASTERED LIVEBLOG // CHAPTER 15

IN THIS EPISODE OF MURPHY LOSES THEIR SHIT ON MAIN:

“Tell her I said: fuck you, you miserable, conniving bitch. I don’t answer her summons. I don’t obey her orders. I’m through. I’m through with her, with all of you—”

THERE’S LORE, BUT IMPORTANTLY MURPHY REMEMBERS WHY THEY THINK CINDER’S HOT. LITERALLY.

already??? already??? yes, already. this chapter is called ‘nothing personal’ anmd i think that this is a lie. this is abt to get very personal very quickly.

It had taken two more days for Glynda’s soul to become bearable enough for Cinder to sit next to her on a bus.

out of the funniest lines they could have used to open the chapter up, this is just Peak. there’s so many moving parts to this. glynda’s rank soul. cinder having to be nice for TWO DAYS to make her chill out. the fact they’re taking the most menial form of transport of all time. oh my god they were sat beside each other. this is already so funny.

Gravity Dust glittered like volcanic glass.

👈😎👈 we sure love volcanoes around here huh

The clearing Cinder found was some twenty minutes from where she left Glynda with instructions for something salty for her.

im almost POSITIVE im not supposed to find these lines funny but cinder you are RADIATING salt you are COMPOSED ENTIRELY of salt please. you’ve asked for smthng salty and glynda’s gonna come back announcing she’s foiled all yr plans on accident again.

Mercury had stopped sending messages a month and a half ago. Emerald’s last one was a week old.

im almost definitely mentioned it in a prior liveblog but its worth remembering: cinder’s relationship w/ merc and em rly was the deciding factor in me suddenly loving her as a character and i just. every interaction they have hurts so good. cinders got TWO kids and even if her face says otherwise she loves them very much and that heals me on the inside

“There’s no way anyone knows about this island. We’re the only ones out here. Merc and I have to get his shitty frozen pizzas airshipped in.”

“Still. Be careful.” She paused for a moment. “...Is that all he’s eating?”

“You know he’d die before he ate a vegetable.”

“He will, at this rate.”

I LOVE U MOMMA CINDER AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA this is SO good. this section HEALS ME!!!!!!!! which is good because i have a feeling the rest of this will gore me alive

"I promise. At the end of all of this, I'm coming back and I'm not leaving again. Trust me."

aaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAA god u cant tell thru text alone but this section is K I L L I N G me and H E A L I N G me and also KIL L I

“It doesn’t have anything to do with trust,” Cinder said, miserably. “I need you to be safe.”

N G M E

The line between us and them had felt so concrete.

god i just. theres so much i still cant say that isnt 👈👈👈😨👈👈👈 but cinder and hati and all this other STUFF happening in the bg is so good and i just love how nuanced this dumbass is. cinder fall, the woman who never wins, and her brief moments of comfort. she is my ANGEEEEEEEEEEL

Now the only thing left was to deliver her to Atlas; if she had to speak with her more to do that, she would.

Not that she wanted to have to admit that to Hati.

cinder:there’s a lot of we and our going on and i’m a little nervous that the more we talk the more thats gonna happen and i gotta say; not a fan.

and [Glynda]’s desperate for—”

A heritage? A purpose? Belonging?

“She’s desperate,” Cinder finished, softly. Then: “She’s coming willingly.”

this might be another 👈😎👈 situation or im just drawing parallels like a three year old with a newfound ruler but HRM. CINDER. HRM.

Rather, her stomach twisted at the implications. Everything was ready. The machine worked. All that was left was to deliver the final piece.

“Okay. Good.” It was good. It was the culmination of years of work.

whats good and fun is watching cinder wrestle w/ her own humanity and its rly good because even as she tries her very best to use ppl to her own ends that pesky lil soft bitch inside makes her second guess everything and its GREAT fun. u can rly see that as soon as she spends longer than an allotted 10 minutes w/ somebody she starts being like ‘hrm. oh no’. oh cinder. u soft bitch. ilu.

The spot beneath his wing, though… Cinder folded into it as though it were meant for her, as though they were meant for each other, bodies fitted so easily. Here, safe, she closed her eyes and dreamed bleakly of the days to come.

i swear to god i cannot wait until [redacted] and [redacted] and [REDACTED] happens cause then i can lose my shit abt this ALL OVER AGAIN but for now. for now. immerse myself in cinder cuddles. im holding back but on the inside im feral

but Cinder was all calm, sliding through the trees like she belonged here. Like it was her domain by birthright.

FERAL.... FERAL!!!!!!!!!!!!

Because they were not friends, Glynda asked, “Where are we going?”

i love that glynda has to preface it like a reminder. because they were not friends. because she cannot trust winter. because she blocked oz’s number lmao. it’s great seeing how much more... clinical, i guess, glynda’s thoughts are, and it’s a great way to show the narratives differences? its GOOD is what im trying 2 say on main,

Instead, she complained, “It’s so difficult to be so wanted.”

firstly: i love cinder “i have a complaint” fall is secondly: i am going to read into this. i am going to read into this and divine a second meaning. i am reading into it.

Cinder emerged from the dark like a leviathan sloughing off a sunless sea. It rippled around her shoulders, swallowed the back of her skull, but the only sharpness to her was her smile. It was the first time Cinder had smiled since returning from her meeting with the Manticore.

oho. ohoohohohoooohohohooOUGHHOHOHO she hot. nasty mean lady big hott.

“You don’t scare me,” Glynda insisted.

“Silly you,” said Cinder. “Come on. I’ll lead.”

hohogughgohohoghgh f flirtign.......................,,,,,,,,,.,.,.,.,.,.,.

a faint light was stirring to life before her—suffusing out along Cinder’s chest and throat, spilling from her heart and out through her skin. In the beginning, it was so faint it seemed to be an illusion; but no, soon enough it was undeniable, and Glynda could even make out the rough shapes of the wall and floor.

YEEEEEEEEES i love. glowy lantern cinder. like theres a lot of fun little canons abt cinder in this fic i adore but the fact that she glows is like fuckin TOP. look at her. lil candle baby. shes like a microwave bean toy. i adore her.

She walked like a queen through her domain, seemingly irrespective of where on Remnant they were; even here, underground, in forgotten left-behind places, Cinder reigned.

god im sorry im too busy being gay to even be paying attention to anything rn i LOVE cinder to DEATH,,,,,,,,,, she knows shes the thing 2 be feared around here and its so good. i cant wait for her to open her big mouth and fuck it up again!!!

“High Leader Khan requires your presence in Mistral, Ms. Fall. She advises that you attend promptly, in order to discuss the missing members of our organization.”

A hum. Cinder said, “I don’t want to.”

GHSDFGSDFGHKJDF cinder you are. smthng else. shes just so LIKE THAT. what a great chapter for cinder this has been im SIPPIN baby

okay im doing a lot of leaping haead here and its not for lack of having anything 2 say in fact its QUITE the opposite because this whole bit is. wow. we got lore??? lore??? abt so many things??? what does any of it mean????? I AM NOT SURE BUT IM LOVIN IT (tm)

“It’s not a Semblance, idiot.” The control in Cinder’s voice was all staccato, pitching cold to inferno in an instant. “It was a gift.

okay bear with me for this JUICY LORE but i am Deeply fascinated by this section. im not gonna. say anything because idk how this is tying up yet (bear with) but HOO. HOOOOOOO. im trying to like keep grabbing sections but this whole part is SO GOOD i am loving-- like-- id have to-- TRUST ME THE OG WASNT AS SPICY AS THIS OKAY

THIS IS SO MUCH SPICER AND ITS GOOD

Cinder glowed like the magma heart of a volcano.

ITS SPICY ITS GOOD ITS 👈😍👈

im gonna have to reread this bit to get the full effect because the downside of a liveblog like this is having to stop-start but OUGHGHGHGUGHUGH THE LORE,,, THE MASKS,,, THE FANG??? also sienna dont listen 2 her baby i love u too

Cinder looked like a line to be crossed, and even though they weren’t friends—rather the opposite—Glynda found she didn’t want to cross her. Not now, when the emotion was still raw on her face.

oughgh... the vulnerability. cinder... snoft... but also angery 😔

this was SUCH a good chapter im DYING i love cinder in offal hunt to BITS and this arc is already feeding me so much good shit. fuck yea. FUCK YEA. HELL YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA--

#rwby #offal hunt #liveblog #welcome to the cinder fall defence squad how may i take yr order

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analysis-by-vaylon · 7 years

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What to expect ahead of the July 15th premier -- a theory recap and a brief guide to analysis.

With the premier of season three of Star vs. the Forces of Evil a mere week and a half away, I thought that now might be good to talk about what to expect. This will not be a prediction post per se -- instead, I’d like to highlight some of the meaningful patterns from previous episodes, discuss how they might be relevant to the upcoming movie on July 15th, and, in so doing, establish some loose guidelines for us, the audience, to make sense of any hidden layers of meaning in the movie.

Before we get to the meat of this post, I’d like to revisit some of my best theories and offer links to them. These are the posts that I think reflect my best work and contain ideas relevant to the upcoming season.

Theory Recap

Star vs. the Forces of Evil and the Holy Grail: Subtle hints throughout the series foreshadow the appearance of a literal Holy Grail at some point -- probably in the form of Lekmet’s horn.

Toffee as Sauron: Toffee’s missing finger, Moon’s tapestry, and some cunning wordplay all point toward Toffee being inspired in part by the Lord of the Rings himself.

The Limits of Violence: As a seasoned warrior, Toffee won’t be defeated through violence alone. Star will have to use her creative ingenuity and spontaneity to bring about his downfall.

Star as Venus: Star’s ability to use both light and dark magic -- and combine them -- hints at her real identity as Venus, the morning and evening star.

Metaphorical Scissors: The idea that a pair of scissors metaphorically represents a couple is widespread, and the series incorporates this idea regarding Star, Marco, and their dimensional scissors.

Those are the theories that I think will be most relevant to the upcoming movie -- but I invite you to check out the others in my archive as well.

A Brief Guide to Analysis

You’ll often hear it said that Star vs. the Forces of Evil is a board-driven (or storyboard-driven) cartoon. Yet I would argue that the writers wield an unusual amount of influence over the series, their ideas often overriding the storyboards in order to maintain an idiosyncratic and revelatory narrative that is consistent from episode to episode. I base this argument on the observations I’ve made while watching the series (which you can read in individual analyses on this blog). The following five points describe elements from the series that I believe reflect the extent of this intentional, grander scope:

Word choice. The writers are clearly careful with word choice; they often play with words, inserting subtle jokes, or use words unexpectedly.

Structure. The writers hide meaning in structure, such as how the different scenes of an episode are put together.

References. The writers use references to other works to give scenes additional meaning.

Symbolism. The writers repeatedly use objects, places, etc. to reinforce meaning.

Visual metaphor. Despite being related to symbolism, this probably deserves its own category; the writers use the composition and context of a shot to imply additional meaning.

I will go into each of these and give an example that I think best represents each element. Remember: my goal here is to show that Star vs. the Forces of Evil has an idiosyncratic grammar of meaning-making, and that you and I can not only study it but use it to grasp the hidden layers of meaning in upcoming episodes.

Word Choice

I get the impression from watching the series that words are extremely important to the writers of Star vs. the Forces of Evil. They pay close attention to dialogue, giving it not only verisimilitude but also refreshing and often surprising texture.

Too, the idea that magic and words are closely linked is an old one -- maybe as old as language itself -- and the series has been subtly hinting of its awareness of that connection. (I will one day write a full-length analysis discussing the importance of language to magic in Star vs. the Forces of Evil ... probably. It’s certainly a topic that needs discussing.) I fully expect the series to soon explore the nature of just what magic is.

But the single biggest clue, I think, that the writers are thinking about the meaning of words -- and how to use those words and what those words mean for the world that they’ve created -- is Glossaryck’s line at the end of “Storm the Castle”:

Glossaryck: Cleaved? Now that’s a funny word. You can cleave something apart, or you can cleave something together.

Much has been written about this line -- and not just by me! -- so I won’t go too far into those meanings here. This is just a brief guide, after all. But if you’ve been keeping up with analysis of the series, then you undoubtedly know just how much significance this line has ended up having.

By choosing cleaved as the crux of this line, the writers demonstrate a capacity for selecting words that are not only interesting but also have sounds, histories, and meanings which mimic and reinforce the story they want to tell -- without spelling out (so to speak) its meaning to the audience. That is the mark of talented and thoughtful writers.

Structure

An often-overlooked source of meaning in Star vs. the Forces of Evil is structure. I’ve yet to convince many people that February’s episode release was intentionally structured like a sonnet, but perhaps I can offer a better example to show what I mean: the structure of the season two finale.

In a previous post, I wrote that both “Face the Music” and “Starcrushed” are divided into eleven discrete chapters and that each of these chapters complement or contrast the corresponding scene from the other episode.

Why is the number eleven important? Simple: it’s the chapter, as revealed in “My New Wand!” -- the first episode of the season -- in Star’s journal which likely reveals her true feelings about Marco.

Appropriately enough, in the eleventh scene of both “Face the Music” and “Starcrushed,” Star’s feelings for Marco become revealed, first by Ruberiot and then by Star herself. The structure of these two episodes points back to the first episode of the season, thus confirming that, yes, in everything Star does during season two, her feelings toward Marco are always there in the background.

Thus, structure becomes a way for the writers to subtly reinforce meanings which they have already set in place.

References

The writers have clearly been influenced by popular media and often delight in inserting stealthy references whenever they can. One such reference from “Bon Bon the Birthday Clown,” is fairly obvious:

This scene is a (quite blatant) reference to a famous scene from the 1997 film Titanic -- in which a ship said to be unsinkable, well, sinks.

I’m sure you can draw your own conclusions as to what, if anything, the implications of this reference are (especially with regard to “shipping”). But my point is that the reference adds additional meaning to the scene, and this is quite intentional on the writers’ part.

Symbolism

I’ve written previously about the symbolism behind Star and Marco’s dimensional scissors. We first get an inkling of that symbolism in “Red Belt”:

The scissors come to stand for Star and Marco together as a single pair. Indeed, not many people seem to be aware of this, but I actually wrote about the scissors symbolism prior to “Running with Scissors,” which, upon airing, indeed seemed to confirm my analysis:

The idea behind symbols is actually quite simple, which makes them easy to spot: just look for something which is repeatedly shown, examine the contexts in which it is shown, and figure out what meanings can be derived from the relationship between its nature and its use.

For example, the dimensional scissors are what literally enable Star and Marco to be together, since otherwise they would be apart in their two separate worlds. And scissors are made of two separate things that are joined together (you might even say cleaved) in the center, which enables them to operate. Therefore, the scissors are symbolic of Star and Marco’s relationship.

As you can plainly see, “Running with Scissors” gives this analysis credence.

Visual Metaphor

I’ve often talked admiringly about the writers’ stunning use of visual metaphor. I would go so far as to say that they are completely unmatched in skill by any other recent Western animated series -- not even by BoJack Horseman, whose script is written about as tightly as modern animation is ever likely to get, or by Samurai Jack, whose visual style is simply staggering.

Visual metaphor is exactly what it says on the label: a metaphor conveyed visually.

The most potent visual metaphor so far in Star vs. the Forces of Evil comes near the end of “Bon Bon the Birthday Clown.” In fact, it was recognizing the genius of this visual metaphor which prompted me to start writing analysis for the series!

To understand the full visual metaphor, we need to have two things: the context of the scene and a grasp on Star’s feelings. The scene takes place after the battle with Ludo in which he steals Star’s spellbook. With this look on Star’s face, it is clear that she is emotionally devastated at not only having lost the book to Ludo but also having “lost” Marco to Jackie:

Star: I can’t believe Ludo took my spellbook. It’s got everything in it. That’s my whole family history. All the spells -- everything -- is lost! Marco: We’ll get it back. [Star begins to cry.] Star: I’ve lost Glossaryck! Marco: W-we’ll get him back, too. I promise.

What Star says is that she’s lost Glossaryck -- that’s why she’s crying. But, as we can see from the scene, and as we know from earlier events, Star is pained at the prospect of having lost Marco’s affection. The hearts on Star’s face are cut in two by her tears. This is a plain visual metaphor: Star is broken-hearted.

Therefore, not only does this visual metaphor reveal something about Star’s true feelings, but the fact that she says something different from what is meant -- classic irony -- ratchets up the scene’s emotional tension: we know why Star is really crying, and it’s heartbreaking that she can’t tell anyone about it. She is utterly alone and broken. All of that is conveyed with one shot.

And that is visual storytelling at its finest.

Therefore...

I don’t know what “The Battle for Mewni” will be like, and I don’t think I could hazard any real guesses; however, if you and I keep these loose guidelines in mind as we watch it, we will, I believe, be able to discern the hidden layers of meaning that the writers seem to enjoy building into their show. That meaning is there, waiting for us to discover it.

One last thing: our goal should not be to tear the work apart but to appreciate it more completely -- to enrich what it means to us and, by so doing, enrich our own understanding of what meaning is and how to make it. If you’re trying to figure out how to construct art that intelligibly communicates meaningful human experience in a poetical mode -- that is, to say something without saying it -- you could do a hell of a lot worse than to study the writers behind Star vs. the Forces of Evil.

I hope you enjoyed this post. As usual, feel free to ask me questions or submit suggestions for future topics. Let’s look forward together to the return of Star vs. the Forces of Evil on July 15th!

#star vs the forces of evil #analysis #overview

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certainheartrunaway · 5 years

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Inter-American Proposal Removes 47 – 47.2 GHz from Bands under Study for 5G Services

The 34th meeting of the Inter-American Telecommunication Commission (CITEL) Permanent Consultative Committee II (PCC.II) concluded a week of meetings on August 16 in Ottawa, Canada, in advance of World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-19). The meetings were aimed at reaching regional consensus on WRC-19 agenda items. Attendees at PCC.II included ARRL Technical Relations Specialist Jon Siverling, WB3ERA, who is on the US delegation to WRC-19.

“The big news is that the Inter-American Proposal (IAP) going forward to ITU from CITEL countries has removed the 47 – 47.2 GHz Amateur Radio allocation from WRC-19 agenda item 1.13,” Siverling said. “We are putting forward a ‘no change’ proposal.” Supported by 13 member-states, the IAP would take frequencies in that range off the table for possible sharing with 5G International Mobile Telephony (IMT). Siverling conceded that other administrations could raise the issue at WRC-19.

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R) was to conduct and complete appropriate studies to determine spectrum needs for the IMT terrestrial component in the 24.25 – 86 GHz range, and studies on sharing and compatibility, while taking into account the protection of services with primary allocations on the band. ITU-R has not conducted any sharing studies between the IMT-2020 systems and incumbent Amateur Radio and Amateur Satellite services. “Therefore, it has not been demonstrated that the incumbent services can be protected, as required by Resolution 238 (WRC-15), and No Change is proposed for the 47 – 47.2 GHz frequency band,” the IAP said.

Fourteen administrations signed on to an IAP that voices no objection to an Amateur Radio allocation at 50 – 54 MHz in ITU Region 1 (Europe, the Mideast, and Africa).

Under WRC-19 agenda item 10 (future agenda items), language to protect the Amateur Radio primary 50 – 54 MHz allocation was included in a US proposal to study implementing space-based Earth Exploration Satellite Service (EESS) radars to operate in the 40 – 50 MHz range, in time for WRC-23, recognizing that 50 – 54 MHz is primary in Regions 2 and 3, with an alternative primary Amateur Service allocation in a number of Region 1 countries.

Also under agenda item 10, the frequency segment 47 – 47.2 GHz was removed from a proposal to study several additional frequency ranges for the Fixed Satellite Service (FSS).

Twelve member-states agreed to an IAP that supports no change to the existing allocation at 5725 – 5850 MHz, and 18 member states supported no change in the 5850 – 5925 MHz segment in the face of calls to consider these bands for higher power and outdoor wireless access points. The US and Canada are among countries with a secondary Amateur Radio allocation at 5650 – 5925 MHz.

Language in a Canadian contribution, with additions from the US delegation, was added regarding WRC-19 agenda item 9.1.6, which seeks to identify frequencies for medium- and high-power wireless charging of electric vehicles (WPT-EV). Delegates to PCC.II forwarded an IAP of No Change to the Radio Regulations. The wording emphasizes the requirement to properly set standards to avoid harmful interference to radio services from WPT-EV systems: “[A]s wireless power transmission and technology for electric vehicles continues to evolve, the protection of existing, planned, and future radiocommunication services against harmful interference, including unwanted emissions and harmonics, must be ensured. This can be achieved through further studies and the development or updating of applicable ITU-R recommendations and reports.”

The recent CITEL meeting was the last prior to WRC-19, which will be October 28 – November 22 in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt. — Thanks to Jon Siverling, WB3ERA, and Bryan Rawlings, VE3QN

SOURCE:ARRL

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the-record-newspaper · 5 years

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The Killing of Rhonda Hinson Part V

Editor’s note: The following information is compiled from statements made by law enforcement over a period of 37 years.

By: Larry J. Griffin

Special Investigative Reporter

…His affair left many of his congregation in shock when it was discovered he was separating with his wife Betty after announcing he was resigning as pastor to the church he was serving at the time… [But] He was a very likeable Pastor that i believed had good in his heart. —Comment from a lifelong member of Wilkies Grove Baptist Church during the Charles McDowell Ministry

It was St. Patrick’s Day, Wednesday March 17, 1937, when G. W. and Ruby Holt McDowell of Conway, SC welcomed their son, Charles Lenwood, to their family. Upon coming of age, Charles joined the Air Force and became a pilot. One investigator discovered that he allegedly worked at the Pentagon with the CIA. After retirement, he joined the Reserves and was summoned for duty periodically. One of his former parishioners recalled that he served in the Reserves and was a chaplain in Hickory while pastoring at Wilkies Grove Baptist Church, located in the Hildebran community near Hickory, NC. “He had our choir sing there [for the Reserves] once,” the church member remembered.

Mr. McDowell married Betty Sue Rucks with whom he shares a daughter and son: Charlene McDowell Johnson and Greg McDowell. Though divorced from one another, both Charles and Betty are living—the former near Valdosta, GA; the latter in SC.

On his Facebook page, which appears to have recently been removed from public viewing, Charles McDowell listed three schools that he attended, a couple at which he received ministerial training. According to records, he served as pastor at New Bethel Baptist Church in Garner, North Carolina and Ravenwood Baptist Church in Columbia, South Carolina prior to accepting the pastorate at Wilkies Grove. Purportedly, he had just retired from the Air Force when he accepted the call at Ravenwood. After a two-year tenure, Rev. McDowell encountered some type of problem and was asked to resign “for the good of the church.” [The nature of the problem is unknown; the church has been contacted for confirmation.]

In August, 1978, the Reverend Mister Charles McDowell acceded to an offer to pastor Wilkies Grove Baptist Church. According to a lifelong congregant of Wilkies Grove, who corresponded with this writer upon condition of anonymity, “Charlie and [wife] Betty came from Columbia [SC] before coming to us…He was a very likeable Pastor that I believed had good in his heart….[Betty] was a very smart woman and always full of life…and was a hard worker in the church.”

It was in 1980, while serving as pastor of Wilkies Grove, that Charles McDowell purchased a personal advertisement in The Charlotte Observer. “He seemed to [be] searching for someone to talk to; he told [that] his wife had a mental problem and had been in and out of institutions,” reported SBI Special Agent John Suttle, subsequent to a January 22, 1991 interview with a Mt. Gilead woman who answered McDowell’s ad.

At the time, Mary Lowder worked double shifts at Wiscassett Mills in the Stanley County town of Albemarle, North Carolina. Though the record is somewhat ambiguous, it does appear that Ms. Lowder was residing in Mount Gilead—about 15 miles southeast of Albemarle. In fact, she stated that McDowell did, on occasion, visit her in Mt. Gilead, and that she agreed to secretive assignations with him, at most once a week but at least twice a month. Generally, they had breakfast together.

But the more she learned about her then 43-year-old companion over the course of their four-month relationship, the more she realized that Charles McDowell was not her type. At length, she began to question some of the asseverations that he made. Initially, he lied to her about being married and other aspects of his personal life. He even lied, Ms. Lowder recollected, about being a minister. Eventually, during their sundry breakfast rendezvous, he began to say that he had to go to visit people in hospitals in nearby Salisbury or Charlotte.

Perhaps the stories that she found most incredulous were those involving his wife, Betty. McDowell implied that she was committed to a mental institution after suffering a nervous breakdown subsequent to their moving to North Carolina. “I’ve never heard that story about Betty,” the Wilkies Grove church member emphatically averred. “She was never depressed…and visited a lot of people. She was a good and godly woman.”

In his conversations with Mary Lowder, Mc Dowell purportedly claimed that while he was in school in South Carolina, Wife Betty engaged in an affair with her boss, and that he moved her to NC “hoping to straighten out their lives.”

Ms. Lowder decided to test the veracity of McDowell’s statements. So, she phoned Betty to ascertain the validity of her husband’s claims and to hear “the rest of the story.” It was possibly then that she terminated her brief relationship with her breakfast date—a man whom she succinctly described as, “being weird.” Besides, she suspected that he may have been seeing other women simultaneous to her.

If he did nothing else in those days, Charles McDowell seemed to divide opinion. He did have his detractors; he also had supporters. In response to one of the news articles posted on the Remembering Rhonda Hinson Facebook page, another Wilkies Grove parishioner, Ms. Gaynell King, wrote, “…I remember all this well. Greg McDowell’s father [Charles] was my pastor at the time [of Rhonda Hinson’s death]….” As a result, Ms. King adjudged the article, to which she was responding, “inappropriate to post.”

Rumors of at least three romantic imbroglios involving Rev. McDowell circulated—Rhonda Hinson undoubtedly heard all of them. “I think that Rhonda knew everything there was to know about the McDowell family,” Judy Hinson wrote in a succession of recollections on notebook paper. Over a two-year period, she had become well-acquainted with her boyfriend’s family, despite Charles’s contentions that he didn’t know her well and that she had gone out to eat with the family only a few times. Several of his later comments to law enforcement and others would suggest otherwise.

But subsequent to Rhonda’s death, an episode of infidelity occurred that gave substance to the perpetuated rumors. “No one suspected him of an affair,” recalled the unnamed Wilkies Grove congregant. “…But someone saw them at a fish camp in Marion in the parking lot kissing just before he resigned. Right after that we learned he and Betty were separating. I think Betty was in shock of all of it. If she suspected, she never let on that she knew about the affair. His affair left many of his congregation in shock when it was discovered he was separating with his wife Betty after announcing he was resigning as pastor to the church….”

As late Summer gave way to early Fall 1981, boyfriend Greg McDowell, best friend Jill Turner-Mull, and Jill’s boyfriend Mark Turner were off to sundry college campuses—Rhonda Hinson stayed at home and decided to go to work. “Rhonda said that she was tired of school and had no desire to go away to college,” Judy Hinson recalled. “…Likely, she may have never decided to go to college—if she did, it probably would have been to Western Piedmont. She said she just wanted to go to work to make some money.”

As she was getting settled, Jill Turner-Mull wrote to her friend—in a letter dated August 31—“…Boy, this college life is really something else. I sure do hate you’re missing all this fun. Ha!...”

Greg also wrote to his girlfriend during the first days at NC State. He affectionately addresses her as: “fuzzy lassie spunky porky reindeer pup.”

…School was OK today. I found all my classes but I got loaded down with homework. I’m gonna have to burn the midnight oil so I can do good for us. I miss you so much. I just sit and cry sometimes (really I do.) I wish you were here but I’ll see you Friday…Please remember me and always love me back. I hope you’re doing good at work….

Your brontosaurus and unicorn,

Greg

On November 3rd, Ms. Turner-Mull wrote her friend again from Western Carolina University:

Speaking of college, I’m beginning to hate it. I don’t really mind the classes. I just hate this place. It is so boring! I feel like someone has put me in a helicopter and dropped me off somewhere in the mountains….I really wish I could talk you into going back to school; that way, you could go and room with me. Maybe if we both could get jobs, we could have us an apartment. I know—School is not for you. But if you think it might be—just let me know.

About three weeks later during Thanksgiving break, Rhonda and Jill decided to have lunch together at Pizza Hut on Hwy. 70 in Hickory. “There are two things that I remember well about that lunch date,” Ms. Turner-Mull averred as she began her initial interview with this writer. “Rhonda told me that she had finished all of her Christmas shopping. That was unheard of; she generally waited till the last minute, you know. But she was very proud of that fact.”

Mother Judy corroborated Jill’s story. “Rhonda always waited to the last minute to do most things, Christmas shopping included; but for some reason, she got it done very early. She was absolutely proud of herself for doing so.”

Jill discovered that the second revelation was less auspicious. “She told me about a recent time when she and Greg were outside at his house playing basketball. When they stopped and went inside, Greg told Rhonda that he was going to take a shower. Well, while he was in the shower, she walked into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator to get some ice from the icemaker. Suddenly, she felt two arms wrap around her. She turned around, fully expecting to see Greg—instead, it was Charles McDowell.”

When Jill parted from her friend after lunch that day, it would be the last time that she would see Rhonda Hinson alive.

Rhonda Hinson had approximately 30 days to live.

Editor’s Note: Charles McDowell was contacted via e-mail by The Record and this writer prior to the onset of the series. He was asked to share any insights he might have relative to Rhonda Hinson’s life and death. In a succinct response, Rev. McDowell averred the he “could not help me” and wished me a good afternoon. He was subsequently invited to contact the newspaper should he ever wish to respond.

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