princeescaluswords

[princeescaluswords]

#c. s. lewis #a foundational quote

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Of course, in the show, you were supposed to side with Scott, Stiles, and Allison. Weirdly enough, an MTV program about teenagers exposed to the supernatural believed that its audience would be all for the young people refusing to conform to the expectations of an older, powerful elite who attempted to tell them who they should be and what they should do. I don't know why the producers thought that this would be the result. /sarcasm

The brief answer, of course, is threefold: racism, misogyny, and extraordinarily poor media literacy. However, you deserve a more thorough explanation, so I'll attempt to address each one in depth.

Racism might seem like a non-starter because both the Argents and the Hales were white. However, you're forgetting how racism makes them focus exclusively on Stiles as their point of entry to the story instead of the lead protagonist. Ultimately, while both sides were ultimately disinterested in Stiles as much as Stiles was disinterested in both sides (uncomprehendingly for them, Stiles was more devoted to his Latino best friend than anyone else). However, Stiles has far less interaction with Chris Argent in Season 1 than he did with Derek and Peter. Chris didn't even talk to Stiles until Code Breaker (1x12). Derek and Peter, on the other hand, interacted with Stiles far more, even if it was only to demean, belittle, demand assistance, or threaten. Wait, I'm sorry, I mean "banter!" /sarcasm once again. This automatically meant that no matter what the Hales did to Scott (the manipulation, the lies, the mental and physical violations, the betrayal, etc.), they were automatically more sympathetic, because no matter how much Derek endangered Scott and Stiles or how many people Peter murdered, they brought the individual that the fandom thought should be the focal point to the fore.

You notice, when I talked about the Argents above, I referred only to Chris; this is because of the misogyny. The vast majority of Argent characters in Season 1 were women. It was a blunder by the production; nothing turns the fandom off more than exploring characters, whether hero or villain or somewhere in between, who have the poor taste to be chicks. /sarcasm a third time. While they could easily look past Peter slaughtering a helpless janitor or stuffing someone into a flaming refuse barrel to burn alive or savaging Lydia to get at his psychology, to them they wouldn't give Kate and Victoria any more thought than how quickly they deserved to die. Of course, they find Allison fundamentally boring because she had the nerve to spend time worrying about who she was and whom she liked, rather than seek justice for a crime she didn't even know about.

These two elements are powerful, but mostly they serve to compound the failure in media literacy. The show might have been on their screens, their eyes may have recorded the information, but they didn't really watch it. They scavenged it like vultures. They loved Brooding Lost Prince Derek and Sassy Uncle Peter and so they somehow imagined Neurodivergent Waif Stiles would love them as well, since he was their chosen point of access. They failed to note the themes and dramatic beats that pointed to Peter's and Derek's fixation on vengeance as destructive and self-defeating. They failed to note that the show might have said that the Hales have reasons to act like that, but they shouldn't take it out on teenagers like Stiles, Allison and Scott. Both sides, Argent and Hale, saw those three teenagers (and Jackson and Lydia as well) as nothing more than extensions of their ancient grudge, and not people with their own wants and needs. The show, by specifically making that recognition of basic humanity in all people the cornerstone of Scott's rise to heroic status, rejected the trope that the future is but servant to the past.

When you extract all the themes and beats that Teen Wolf provided, when you shove it into a fandom culture simply looking for the next white male couple to simp for, it's pretty obvious why they needed to side with the Hales. After all, why would they pay attention to narrative of a Latino boy giving up his dreams to protect others or a girl who was desperately trying to figure out what she was supposed to be or the clever young man fighting tooth and nail to protect the ones he loved from being taken by exterior hostile forces, as his own mother had been taken.

No, but why side with the Hales 🤔?

This has been a question I've had regarding why Teen Wolf fandom latched so onto the Hale family and perpetually painting them as the victims of the Argents.

I mean, if you're gonna ignore that a brown Latino, working class asthmatic boy is the lead and focus of the show named after him then why gravitate to the Hale family and not the Argent family?

They're just as wealthy, just as influential, just as ancient. Why all these posts about how Scott is stupid for not blindly following Derek or Peter when he could have also sought out Chris for guidance? Why such a plethora of fix it fics centering the narrative on the Hales and their return to glory when you could have it be about the Argent family vanquishing the murderous Peter who killed his own niece - his alpha - for power?

Ignoring how certain sectors of fandom's insistence that Teen Wolf should've been a show about two noble warring families is missing the entire point of the show for a minute.... why so much siding with the Hale family? What makes their pursuits any more valid or justified?

@princeescaluswords

#scott mccall #allison argent #stiles stilinski #the hales #the argents #teen wolf meta #teen wolf fandom problems #fandom problems #fandom racism #fandom misogyny

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invia virtuti nulla est via (14.113)

It is Aeneas' virtus that allows him to enter the Underworld, but he's motivated by pietas. ARGH. Very Scott-like

Ooooh, this makes me thinks about Aeneas as insignem pietate (“marked by piety”), and how Scott is literally that when he gets the tattoo that represents his connection to the Nemeton. It’s part of what brings him to the underworld at the end of 3a, but also, just for fun, it’s interesting to think of the transformation into a berserker as another kind of trip to the underworld—he’s sacrificed to it on an altar, even—and there, being literally insignis is what causes Kira to recognize him, helping him get out. And then he ultimately breaks the berserker mask because of his pietas to humanity, not the gods.

Scott & the underworld is such an excellent theme!

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#anything that makes me laugh out loud #gets reblogged

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[FANART] prompt number #2o Snowball Fight

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sibling relationships are so strange... like i love you. you will never understand me in a way that matters. we are the same person in drastically different ways. we are sewn together. we don't talk. we are attached at the hip. you wish i was never born. can i call you. let's eat together. i forgive you. etc

#i have an identical twin brother #this is absolutely true #x1000

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3.14 More Bad Than Good // 3.24 The Divine Move

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teen wolf is essentially a show where all the bad guys look at little golden boy scott mccall and say "you will stoop to our level eventually, naïve child". then scott looks at all of them, goes, "no. fuck you," and does it better than them.

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I am assuming @thyfggy that you don't find many protest comments, if any at all, on these stories. I would bet no one came to it and said "Hey, I love Sterek and I hate Scott, but don't you think this went a little too far?" You see, fiction =/= reality, or so I've been told, so it doesn't matter how gross it is. Or how popular it is.

On the other hand, take a look at the comments on this story -- Scott Did Nothing Wrong. It was a little expression of irritation from someone who actually likes the main character of the show to the events of Season 5. There are 287 comments on it. You would think that in our "live and let live" world of AO3, it would be ignored the way we're supposed to ignore stories we have an objection to. "Don't like; don't read." But it wasn't.

Or take my story Not Quite Back Where I Started, where I had Scott and Stiles argue about the popular fictional trope of "Stiles joining the Hale Pack" after season 2. You would think that I had crossed an unbreakable line in that story from the tone of the comments. I didn't mind the comments, but it is very telling how enraged they were.

I recently had an exchange with someone about how it is unfair of me to argue that the Sterek fandom (not the ship, to be clear) is inherently racist, but this is but one of my counterpoints. I am ninety-five percent sure there are no stories where Isaac's gruesome murder is the source of a good chuckle, and if it were, there would be protests. The overwhelming and ingrained hatred for a character of color whose only real crime was to be the lead protagonist is more than ample proof.

But that's only a few stories, the person would argue, a few authors whose hatred crosses the line. As opposed to all the other authors who claim to be fans of the show and only relegate the main character to obscurity, subject him to ridicule, or reduce him to a caretaker role. They are right, there are only a few authors who write torture-porn snuff fiction. The rest of the Sterek fandom simply defends them, supports them, and sometimes even celebrates them, as you pointed out.

And before people get their dander up, I'm not arguing for censorship in any way. I'm suggesting that maybe if they want people to believe that the Sterek fandom isn't influenced by racism, they draw a line somewhere about how far they will go.

I had contemplated doing this post for awhile , because quite frankly I wasn't sure what I was trying to accomplish and even now I am not sure what my goal is. I just know that I don't want to scream into the void . I want to be heard.

Some of you might be aware of one of the most recent tw confession blogs . In one of their more recent posts a very interesting discussion occurred.

One of my mutuals pointed out a collection of fics that are labelled as "101 ways to kill Scott McCall". At first I didn't even notice this , because idk. Maybe I just glazed over it , however when more people began interacting with the publication I SAW IT and I just had to check for myself .

One of said fics is called "Kill-a-Character Bingo - Scott McCall" which is a fanfiction of 26 chapters in which Scott is killed in various grotesque and humiliating ways.This is one of the chapters:

Outside of feeling gross , disillusioned and honestly sick to my stomach , I was also beyond perplexed . It is one thing to dislike a character . To be so annoyed by them that you just want them gone by any means necessary . I can even understand killing them in your own fic as a "treat" . I can't say I am on board with that , but still I can put myself in your shoes...sort of. Writing a fanfiction in which your main focus is a character you loathe , on the other hand, is ...confusing to say the least.

I can already hear some of you saying "It is not like I wrote this" and you are right , but what about the people supporting it .

115+ people apparently consider this good , entertaining . Gave the "author" their silent encouragement to keep going .

To be fair this fic is from the end of 2023 so the kudos are not that much so let's look at their most recent work with the "Dead Scott McCall" tag -"Compare" which was written at the beginning of February 2024

Over 100 kudos in the span of 3 months . Not too shabby for ao3.How much is too much ? How much longer can you use the "just a few rotten apples" argument?

If you are wondering how Scott's life ends in this story , one of the readers was more than happy to inform us.

I am going to avoid name-calling ,okay. I know that realistically not all of you are like this (thank god). I just want to ask. Do you think this is healthy? Do you think that is a fulfilling way for someone to spend their free time? Are you going to be comfortable being near this person and their fans knowing this is one of their "hobbies"? I don't know about you , but I would definitely be keeping my distance.

Again, I have no clue what is the point of this . I don't want you to attack the user . They would most likely just double down on doing what they know best . Maybe some of you would understand why people from my side of the fandom are so willing to accuse you of certain things instead getting butthurt . Though that is most likely also asking for too much.

#scott mccall defense squad #scott mccall #fandom racism #teen wolf fandom racism #fandom problems #teen wolf fandom problems

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Allison + 03 - faceless, requested by @spikeface

(from this ask game, feel free to ask one too !)

#allison argent #i love this

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Scott McCall Appreciation Week 2024 is Coming!

Get ready for this year’s Scott McCall Appreciation Week, running June 16-22, 2024! To participate, simply make something about Scott and tag it with #ScottMcCallWeek24, or mention us @scottappreciation. Gen works, all Scott ships, and all types of content (fics, edits, art, playlists, gifs, etc.) are welcome. We have included some suggested prompts below, and look forward to enjoying everything you create!

All fics must be Scott-centric and Scott-positive. Scott does not need to be the POV character, but the primary focus of the fic should be Scott’s emotions/interests/needs/etc.

WRITING PROMPTS:

Day One - A Certain Potential: Anything set in or around 3a! What is Scott's summer like between s2 and 3a? How does Scott feel about his journey towards alpha? What effect does his attempt in Motel California have on him? Explore it all!

Day Two - I Haven't Been to Beacon Hills in a Long Time: In the movie, we discover Scott's moved to LA and hasn't been back to his hometown in awhile, but why? What led to him moving? What's his new life like? Use today to explore his life between 6b and the film!

Day Three - Find Your Anchor: How does Scott use his relationships with others to keep himself human? What motivates who he refuses to walk away from and who he shuts the door on? Use this prompt to investigate any relationship—romantic, platonic, or familial—in Scott's life!

Day Four - This isn't Just about the Game: How does being captain (or co-captain) of the lacrosse team play into Scott's life? Whether it's his relationship with Jackson, Coach, Isaac, Kira, or even Nolan, today is the day for discussing the main sport at Beacon Hills' High!

Day Five - Good Dreams, Or Bad: Whether it's nightmares, wishful thinking, or Scott's concrete goals, today is the day to explore the things that keep Scott up at night!

Day Six - Even When Justified: Mercy is one of Scott's central ideologies in the show, but why? What drives him to show mercy? How does it influence his decisions? What makes it hard, or worthwhile?

Day Seven - Dealer’s choice: Free day!

VISUAL PROMPTS:

Day One: Emotions

Day Two: Quotes/Poetry/Lyric 

Day Three: Distance Shots 

Day Four: Faceless 

Day Five: Werewolf Powers 

Day Six: Belief

Day Seven: Dealer’s choice

ALTERNATE:

The Person You Should Trust: Whether it’s enemies to friends/lovers, post s5 resolution, or the belief in hope in the face of betrayal, this prompt is for exploring Scott's relationship with trust!

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I love how on Tumblr, "media literacy" has become "Um, just because someone writes about this doesn't mean they're endorsing this. I hate all these media puritans ruining everything."

I'm sad to inform you that knowing when and whether an author is endorsing something, implying something, saying something, is also part of media literacy. Knowing when they are doing this and when they're not is part of media literacy. Assuming that no author has ever endorsed a bad thing is how you fall for proper gander. It's not media literacy to always assume that nobody ever has agreed with the morally reprehensible ideas in their work.

Sometimes, authors are endorsing something, and you need to be aware when that happens, and you also need to be aware when you're doing it as an author. All media isn't horny dubcon fanfic where you and the author know it's problematic IRL but you get off to it in the privacy of your brain. Sometimes very smart people can convince you of something that'll hurt others in the real world. Sometimes very dumb people will romanticize something without realizing they're doing it and you'll be caught up in it without realizing that you are.

Being aware of this is also media literacy. Being aware of the narrative tools used to affect your thinking is media literacy. Deciding on your own whether you agree with an author or not is media literacy. Enjoying characters doing bad things and allowing authors to create flawed or cruel characters for the sake of a story is perfectly fine, but it is not the same as being media literate. Being smug about how you never think an author has bad intentions tells me you're edgy, not that you're media literate. You can't use one rule to apply to all media. That's not how media literacy works. Sorry! Sorry! Sorry! Aheem heem. Anyway.

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The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

🎬 Peter Jackson

+ IMDb trivia

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I just can't take them seriously. They complain that Scott didn't come out and explicitly ask Stiles if he has suffered any injuries during his kidnapping and that makes Scott a bad friend, but Derek who not only did not mention Stiles *at all* for the last two episodes of Season 2 but never mentioned Erica or Boyd at all in Master Plan, either, would take care of Stiles in a way that Scott wouldn't.

Naur, because there's really people who act like Derek Hale was just an uwu smol bean who ALSO swear he is the best leader and everyone should fall in line with him. Which is it?

Also, calling Scott naive and foolish for his compassion and nurturing personality and deeming him unfit as a werewolf.... yet swearing that ~pack nights~ with Derek would be a thing, lol 😆

#teen wolf fandom racism #scott mccall #derek hale #stiles stilinski

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It is absolutely true that there is no rule about what people should or shouldn't write. However, it's not about rules. It's about results.

When I compare the number of tagged Bad Friend Scott stories to the number of stories tagged with Scott and Kira's relationship, I'm not saying there is a specific ratio that should have been maintained. I'm saying that these results show that the fandom is far more interested in making a Hero of Color into a bad person than exploring one of the primary relationships in the story, which happens to be the relationship between two characters of color. What I am saying is that there being almost the same amount of stories in the 141,605 total stories underlines a significant problem.

Your own statistics confirm it. There are nearly 74,000 Sterek stories -- more than half -- for a relationship that did not exist in the show. Their canon relationship is a minor one that barely attained friendship. Again, there's no mandated ratio, but the idea that parts of the fandom could find that much to write about a relationship between two white male characters who never even expressed interest in each other but very little at all to write about a relationship that went on for 42 episodes between two of the main characters is not indicative of bias seems to be on shaky ground. While, simultaneously, they could find just as much to write about turning the Hero of Color into an antagonist or a downright villain (contrary to canon)?

That's not hate?

There's no rule that people have to write about Scott and Kira's relationship, a fundamental and extensive part of the story they profess to be fans off. Of course not! But the truth is that they don't. It's just not interesting to them. But what is interesting to them is a manufactured relationship about Derek and Stiles, two white male characters whose relationship is at the most only minorly relevant to the plot and themes of the show?

That's not hate?

You made a point about the Bad Friend Scott stories is that I am neglecting to take into account the ones where he is redeemed. I am doing nothing of the sort. Even if we set aside the fact that most of these are based on readings of canon designed to delegitimize Scott in his role as lead protagonist and that a lot of them use racist Latino stereotypes (sexually obsessive, stubborn and angry, lazy and uneducated), it would still be concerning. There are 2800 Bad Friend Scott stories -- all of them are uniformly popular and you know it -- and yet only 18 Bad Friend Stiles stories. I know, I know, fanfiction is transformational! But then where are all the Bad Friend Stiles stories? Or the Bad Friend Isaac stories for that matter?

Why is Scott McCall singled out as the Bad Friend? If fanfiction was only about exploration and transformation, wouldn't there be just as many Bad Friend stories about white male characters, too? Why, in so many Sterek stories, tagged and untagged, is Scott the sole character seen in opposition to Sterek? If it was just 'someone has to be the obstacle' wouldn't there be equal numbers where Isaac is the obstacle? Or Jackson? Especially since Scott was one of the few characters to love both Derek and Stiles canonically, why is he so often chosen to be the one who is the problem?

That's not hate?

As for Derek Hale's Father? Here are some more stats.

Noshiko Yukimura (16 episodes) -- 503 works

Ken Yukimura (20 episodes) -- 288 works

Satomi Ito (4 episodes) -- 324 works

These characters, who are important to the story, who have interesting backgrounds -- and if you try to tell me that a 900 year old celestial kitsune, the human husband who tracked her down after divining her existence, and the world's oldest living werewolf are not interesting, I won't believe you! -- are less interesting to the fandom than a man who was never seen, was never referred to, and can only be seen as implied to exist because someone had to be Derek's father. Somehow, the fact that Talia and Satomi were close enough friends that Talia kept one of Satomi's gifts in her secret vault escapes their imaginations.

That's not hate?

And what has to do with Sterek? Your very statistics answer that question. It dominates the fandom to an inordinate degree. It dominated the fandom so much that conventions had to ban questions about it and the stars of the show had to beg off answering questions about it. Sterek shippers have not only made the entire fandom experience about a romantic relationship that never happened while sidelining or denigrating the actual character of color which the show was about (the absolute preponderance of post-3A Alpha Derek Hale stories should make that clear) but they have also felt entitled never to be questioned about whether that's a legitimate pursuit.

It doesn't have to be announced hostility. Sterek shippers looked at this show and said "the only thing that we find interesting about this show is something that didn't happen on the screen, and we will remain interested in that and only that seven years after the show has concluded."

As for fans disliking Scott McCall. They certainly could dislike him for reasons, reasons that every single time they explore them in meta posts, reaction posts, or fanfiction come down to things that other characters -- including the white male characters they do like -- indulged in just as much. How can they like Derek and Stiles and not like Scott? The show literally said that Derek and Scott were a lot alike (through Peter's mouth) and Stiles and Scott have almost too many parallel scenes but there is just something, some ineffable quality, that makes people dislike Scott that they don't have to explain and don't need to think about.

BUT IT'S NOT RACISM!

#scott mccall #scott mccall defense squad #stiles stilinski #derek hale #fandom racism #teen wolf fandom racism

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is it "bad writing" or have you just deluded yourself and been watching with fanfic goggles so tight that you've ignored everything in canon and are mad that it isn't living up to your made up expectations

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the rat king

Theo Raeken & The Dread Doctors Mature, Gen, Body Horror, Angst, Dark, Theo Raeken-centric, POV Second Person, Pre-Canon

Theo Raeken, age fourteen.

#theo raeken