seriousmilkcarton

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We're gettin' spoiled rotten over here.

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Heartstopper is different because it takes pleasure seriously

Since I watched Heartstopper, I've been trying to figure out what about it made it feel so different from other stories similar to it. When you just describe the plot of it, it sounds like something straight (har har) out of Glee or Sex Education or Elite or SKAM or Skins or Degrassi, or...you get my point.

But it felt so different to me, and I realized yesterday what it was. Hearstopper takes the pleasures of queer romance and eroticism as seriously as it takes the pains of it. By which I mean, it gives an incredible amount of screen time to the excitement of it, the thrill of it, the visceral good feelings of it. Pleasure drives Heartstopper, in a way that is still incredibly unusually in mainstream queer media.

In most other stories like this, the pain and the angst and the ambivalence and the negative social ramifications of the premise take up like 90-95% of the screen time. The pleasure aspect typically exists as minimally as possible to catalyze all the negative or difficult parts that are the 'real' story. And while Hearstopper doesn't shy away from those things, it gives a roughly equal amount of narrative and screen time to the two leads getting a lot of pleasure out of their relationship too. The amount of time the show invests in showing Nick and Charlie enjoying each other romantically -- throughout the story, not just at the very end -- is just absolutely decadent (and I mean that 100% positively).

The first kiss scene is such a good example. In any other TV version of this story, the boys would have kissed that first time for less than 2 seconds, and then IMMEDIATELY been interrupted by the other boys. Instead, Hearstopper lets them kiss once, take a breath, and then have a second, very extended kiss enhanced by animated embellishments designed to emphasize just how incredibly enjoyable this is for them...before finally disrupting it again with Plot™.

And the amazing thing is, from a pure narrative standpoint, you don't need the second kiss. You could completely eliminate it and the plot would hold together exactly the same. The second kiss is there exclusively to emphasize the intense pleasure of this experience for them. That's all it does.

The show is serious about foregrounding pleasure, and how important pleasure is in all of this. Which frankly, is a thing you usually only ever see in romance novels and fanfic.

***

One of the reasons I was hesitant to watch this show initially is because I have limited tolerance for coming out stories that are so focused on the unappealing parts of the experience. It's not that those things don't MATTER. But there is such a cultural allergy to making the pleasures of the experience a serious focus, particularly (yes I'm going to say it) the sexual pleasures of it.

Hearstopper, blissfully, refuses to shy away from pleasure, and from making it important.

It's not just that my tolerance for queer pain in media is limited (although admittedly that's true). I also grow so weary of popular culture treating queerness as mostly a political identity upon which we simply moralize about tolerance, and engage in self congratulatory yarns about ~being yourself~ and loving yourself. It's not that I think either of those things is BAD. But a) I've seen that story many times before and b) there's an ENORMOUS piece of this experience that we're still mostly skirting around the edges of because we're still very chickenshit about, to be perfectly frank.

We, as a culture, are still scared as fuck to really say, very bluntly: queerness feels fucking good.

In the midst of this, Hearstopper does something incredible and wondrous. It says to the audience, in no uncertain terms: Queerness feels fucking good. Let's spend some time talking about that for a while.

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Wow, this is so beautiful. I‘d really love that tattoed

The fantasy of the human being is infinite, enjoy the piece that you get.  By Key Monster

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I will never get over this.

I’m so sad I don’t think I will recover

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Cannot stop laughing

Everyday, we stray away further from God

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The never ending saga of sports Kageyamas

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Wow, like... are we actually the same person or something?

I'm obsessed with the type of relationship they have

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How‘d you know

oh? you watch sk8 the infinity? well, i didn't realize you were...

-gay

-depressed

-dealing with commitment and/or abandonment issues

-afraid of being queerbaited again

-struggling with palmtreephobia

-about to shift realities completely to kill a blue haired skateboarding pedophile

-about to risk it all so some pink and green haired gays could be married

-ready to die for a random catboy that has an inferiority complex even though he's "better than everyone else"

-one of those people who have the "blue/red" shipping dynamic

[seriousmilkcarton]

“well one of us is going to need to change” 

alternatively, they start a band, called (3)rd degree burn 

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Hey could you do colour palette 16? Maybe some autumn/this century Merlin and Arthur, I just miss autumn and winter ☺ and you drawing merthur

Oh man I miss Merlin too! I recently read some really good fics (especially this one, And like the cycle of the year, we begin again). I’m actually working on some other Merlin fanart right now ^_^ 

Also I imagine this is the dialogue: 

Arthur: This had better be good, Merlin - I’m freezing my ass off! 

Merlin: Arthur! Trust me! It’s this really cool tree, shaped like a dragon, and - 

Arthur: Honestly Merlin, you and bloody dragons -

Palette template

Requests are closed now, thank you!

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I have discovered that most of my anime OTPs contain at least half a redhead/ginger.

#tododeku #bnha #kiribaku #jerza #fairy tail #narugaa #gaanaru #naruto #okikagu #gintama #ritsufuyu #given #otp #ship #kagehina #haikyuu!!

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I love this way more than I should

Quick comic I did based on this post https://incorrectheroesintraining.tumblr.com/post/616129497391136768/midoriya-someones-been-bothering-me-but-i-dont I basically wanted to do protective Todoroki and Midoriya making weird faces. (Midoriya is Todoroki’s first friend; of course he’s protective!)

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Recently I wondered if I am bi or actually gay, but now I know I am most definitely

Katiesexual

#Katie McGrath #is a goddess #oh my god #she is beauty #she is grace

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Watching some good ol‘ 50 % off again and found that very fitting

you ever wonder what goes on inside todoroki’s mind? 

audio is from octopimp’s free! abridged series, 50% off

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A Small Essay on Why I Ship Naruto & Gaara

As requested by @marcceh, and to prove my point that I really do make up essays in my head defending the ships I feel strongly about, here is an essay about why I ship Naruto and Gaara.

I do not want to demean any other ships, I truly believe that shipping wars are basically nonsense because we are all part of the same fan community and everyone is entitled to their opinion and should be accepted for it (unless you’re racist, homophobic, transphobic or any other kind of intolerant, then your opinion doesn’t mean shit to me). So these are just my opinions, my experience of watching Naruto and the reasons I ship them and not anyone else (as much).

 1.       Gaara is my baby and I want good things for him.

I knew Gaara was going to be my baby the moment he first appeared in the chunin exam arc. I was actually so thrilled and felt so badass because my babies usually aren’t the “bad boys/villains” so having a psychotic killer as my baby, I felt like I just stole from the local convenience store and got a lip piercing. It was very much a “there my baby goes, killing people again (hearteyes)”-situation. So what happened. My only villainesque baby (ever?) became a soft boi. And why? Because Naruto showed him the light. I mean, Naruto was such a fucking inspiration, Gaara went through a 180 degree change from a punk who doesn’t give a fuck about others and kills people for fun to the most innocent and awkward soft boi who just wants to protecc. Naruto being good influence is an understatement.

2.       Gaara loves Naruto more than sand (and really doesn’t make a secret of it).

You know how every time Gaara is on screen, he just babbles on about how Naruto changed him and how he wants to be like him and how he is so happy to be his friend? (basically how much he loves him?) He is so blunt about it, I love it so much. Like – “I think they changed the recipe of the frappé. It tastes different somehow” – “You know what also changed? My view on life. Naruto taught me the meaning of love and friendship. It was when fighting him, I learned the importance of bonds with people. He gave me hope for what lies ahead. I wish to be such a beacon of hope at a point in the future, too. “

3.       I am just a sucker for healthy relationships.

They believe in each other, they support each other, they are good influences on each other, they have the greatest respect for each other but do not shy away when they aren’t in unison about something (i.e. Sasuke). In summary, they stand up for each other and they stand up for themselves. The importance of that in a healthy relationship I cannot stress enough. Also, they are happy when around each other and bring out the best in the other. I cannot find a single toxic trait in their relationship and that just makes me happy.

4.       This show is just too gay (for me to ship straight ships).

Generally, it’s not like I am only into slash ships. I think I am actually quite balanced there. My OTPs in various animes like Fairy Tail and Fullmetal Alchemist are straight. Why? Because there are some nice heterosexual relationships that are worthy of my hype. In Naruto? Not so much (in my opinion [except Shikamaru X Temari]). I mean, yes, of course in the end boy ends up with girl, because that’s the show it is. But the story and the emotion revolve about 98 % around males. Because 1) it’s a shounen and 2) the author was not good in showcasing female talent (Don’t get me wrong, there are female characters with… potential. The show just seldom displays it, unfortunately). So in conclusion, I don’t really have straight ships in Naruto (except Shikamaru X Temari).

5.       It actually changed my mind.

Obviously, as it was not apparent from the start, I didn’t ship NaruGaa from the beginning. In Part 1 I actually shipped Naruto and Sasuke. And usually, once I start shipping something, I never let go of it, for better or for worse (many times worse). My kinda ship is often is the sort of “I would never admit my affection for you, but I actually deeply care for you and would definitely take a bullet”. And I felt a lot of that in Part 1 in SNS (up to the point where Sasuke left the village). I held on to that ship for longer than it did me good, but when Sasuke tried to actually kill Naruto (don’t remember if it was 1st or 2nd or 3rd time), I gave up on it, too. Partly because I saw there was another option, including my baby, including a both-sided love and care. Because like I said, I’m just a sucker for healthy relationships.

6.       They are SO SOFT with each other!

Gaara and Naruto’s interactions are of 3 sorts: “protective husband”, “proud husband” and “soft husband”. Obviously, I love all 3 of them, but let’s talk about the third, because that just makes my heart melt every time. Naruto and Gaara are both very strong and could each bring down armies, respectively, but with each other they are just so SOFT. Alone them saying each others’ names. Best example; when Gaara comes back to life and the first thing he sees is Naruto. Prime example of soft name calling AND super soft look, especially on Naruto’s side. Best example of soft interaction; in the end of that same arc, when they marry shake hands. This was the softest interaction I have ever seen. If I marry at some point, I would be okay with a handshake instead of a kiss, as long as it is THIS LEVEL OF HANDSHAKE.

 And that, my friends, is why Naruto X Gaara is a god tier ship.

#naruto #narugaa #gaanaru #gaara #sabaku no gaara #gaara of the desert #anime #ship #otp #naruto shippuden #naruto gaara #shikatema

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Sometimes I feel really inspired and think I could do so many things. Like honestly, I have so many (potential) hobbies and skills I could develop/hone. Plus, I actually have a lot of free time.

And here I am, watching anime from 2 pm to 4 am and sleeping til noon.

Yes, I am quite the overachiever.

#Anime #naruto #gintama #fairy tail #fullmetal alchemist #fmab #hunter x hunter #jujutsu kaisen #one piece #noragami #haikyuu!! #bnha #how did my life come to this #where did I go wrong

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Would you ever just have an essay prepared in your head to defend your ship. Because I do.

#narugaa #naruto #destiel #supernatural #bellarke #the 100 #killugon #hunter x hunter #merthur #merlin #okikagu #gintama #supercorp #supergirl #zutara #royai #fullmetal alchemist #and a lot more #i can very much obsess over 2 people being in love