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lookismstuff-2 · 6 months

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On Jay (Why It Makes Me Sad)

Five reasons why I want justice for this character.

Daniel is my ultimate bias in this webtoon, and I always cheer for him (mostly for the real Daniel), having so long seeing him as the underdog. However, with the webtoon's increasingly greater focus on Daniel's growth, both physically and mentally, I think I've lost sight on the injustice suffered by fans of other characters. I think of myself as a selfish, cruel fan, who enjoys my fave character's development at the expense of other people's suffering. And I'm sorry for that.

I'm talking about Jay.

First, it's just not fair for PTJ to suddenly bring Jay back into the foray only to have him assist Daniel in his hero journey and then be defeated dismissively. Jay is a character whose formidable strengths as a fighter were introduced very early in the story, as were his tenacity and loyalty.

Second, and most importantly, to me it's not fair for PTJ to abandon Jay after introducing his backstory as an emotionally abused minor.

Sometimes PTJ follows through with explaining the impacts of abuse. Eli's and Samuel's abusive backstories have real repercussions on how they grow as people and how they treat others. In other times, as in the case of Jasmine, PTJ dropped the plotline completely after introducing it. I hope that this won't be the case with Jay, since his backstory is connected with Steve Hong, Charles Choi's bitterest business rival and Daniel's secret backer.

Third, while I'm not invested in the Jay x Daniel ship, I'm sad about the hatred that some fans show Jay because of his sexual orientation, gentleness, and/or muteness. I wish that there was more organic way for PTJ to incorporate Jay more into the story. His long search for Big Daniel, for example, and his struggles in doing so. After all, wouldn't this sort of thing have made an interesting arc in a story that's bordering on the thriller genre?

Fourth, it disappoints me that we can't we see Jay build friendships with other characters more. I really enjoy seeing him interact (in silence, but still) with Vin, Jihan, Jibeom, and Hudson in this arc and in the arc before (Holiday Pt 2). I was surprised at how kind and understanding Hudson, Jibeom, and Jihan were to Jay, and how relaxed Vin treated him. Why can't we see more of that? Doesn't Jay deserve this development as an OG character who's been there since forever in this story?

Fifth, personally as someone who enjoys reading the duel scenes, I wish to see more representation of weapon users in the story. With an increasingly bizarre techniques (some fans say that Jake's drug lord brother uses pankration; an ancient, brutal form of Greek wrestling) being introduced in the story, Xiao Long's absence and Goo's deep involvement in Manager Kim's arcs, I miss seeing Jay fighting, and in detail. Arnis is a formidable martial arts, after all, and he's really good at it.

Justice for Jay.

#lookism #lookism webtoon #hong jaeyeol #jay hong #lookism rant #lookism thoughts #ahn hyunseong #hudson ahn #kwak jihan #kwak jibeom #vin jin #jin hobin

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nagitosstolenhand · 4 months

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okay genuinely i hate the 'have eri or some other plot thing just de-age the league' solution to the lov as a plot point. like. did we even read the same manga. the whole POINT of the league is people forgetting or erasing them and the ways theyve suffered because of the hero system. literally erasing their entire lives all their suffering and all their joy to make them into cute innocent little kids is the exact OPPOSITE of what the ending of that arc should entail. and what about all the other people whove suffered because of the system? big sis magnes friend, all the ppl w mutant type quirks who rallied behind spinner, all the members of the MLA, and all the others we dont see, does eri just have to rewind all of them?? we don't need to reform the system we just need to use this literal child to reset everyone who we've made suffer back into small children so they dont stir up trouble for us anymore! sounds like a great plan! fucking hell

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shrimpsuru · 2 months

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Bucchigiri doodles! I really like this show, I think everyone is super charming and fun! And all the designs are all so good ⸜(*ˊᗜˋ*)⸝

I'm gonna go on a quick rant about Arajin, because I have no one to talk about this with, so let me shout into the void:

Okay- So as I watching the show, I really liked everyone. I thought Arajin and his pathetic-ness and wet cat nature was charming, He's a loser and I love him for that! Even when he was being a bit of an asshole I was still quite fond of him, He's flawed and that's what made him interesting. He's a bit more complex than people give him credit for. Since my opinion of Ara was fairly positive, I thought most people would agree- (I didn't think he was all that bad and most people would also find him charming) I was so surprised when I found out how many people absolutely hate this guys guts, it was so different from what I excepted lmao. I understand being annoyed with Ara and I can see how some might not like him too much, but they were on my boy's ass 💀

First of all, Ara doesn't want OR like to fight, he's just a regular teen boy, he's nothing like this big buff dudes who are constantly look for someone strong to punch. If it weren't for Senya, Ara would've been done for by now. All Ara want's is to get a girlfriend, and that's normal for a boy his age!! Everyone else in the show are the freaks, my guy just wants love!! The only reason he fights is because his delusional ass is in love with a girl who knows she can play him like a fiddle, or when he's backed into a corner an has no other choice. Arajin wanted a slice of life high school romance and was instead thrown into the middle of a gang war with a bunch of dudes who are hellbent on fighting lmao

He's just a silly little guy!! He's not built for all this violence!!

Don't get me wrong the way Ara treats Matakara is frustrating at times, and I wish they would just talk (And I'm gonna be honest the fact Matakara still looks at Ara positivelyis really surprising lmao (I'd hold one hell of a grudge but I'm just petty)) but at the same time, I don't really blame Ara. He feels guilty, and in reality he probably hates himself (For multiple different reasons). He left Matakara behind and it eats at him, just the thought of the memory triggered a nervous stomach ache. Matakara is a walking reminder of what Ara doesn't like about himself, of course he's going to avoid him like the plague. Doesn't mean its good, or even healthy but that's just how people are. Even so Ara is only ever outwardly hostile towards Matakara when the past is brought up, every other time he can have a somewhat normal interaction (even if its reluctant). And with the newest episodes, Ara is now being a bit softer with him. Progress! Its small, but still progress!

Also small complaint, there are SO many worse mcs that do far more unbearable things, Arajin is practically a saint in comparison lol ( Doesn't mean anyone not liking him is invalid or anything, again I can totally understand why some don't like him!! Just because he's better than most doesn't mean he still cant be bad for people!! ☆(＃××))

Rant over- Am I thinking to far into it? perhaps. but who cares! It's a silly show at the end of the day and I just like to yapp passionately into the void

#my art #original art #drawing #digital art #fanart #artists on tumblr #bucchigiri?!#arajin tomoshibi #asamine matakara #marito jin #bucchigiri fanart #bucchigiri #i'll die on this hill #if he has no fans i am dead #character rant #character ramblings #he's a loser #free my man

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abysmal-eve · 17 days

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Even after all the events of Tekken 8, I still don't believe that Kazuya and Jin hate each other that viscerally like they do Heihachi, especially Kazuya. Some of the grudges they hold against one other are personal (Jin hating Kazuya for trying to kill him in T4 when it was actually Kazuya's devil, or Kazuya trying to kill Jin because he gets in the way of his world domination plans), but they simply remain on that level - their fight against one another is mainly motivated by different goals and ideals that don't actually hold a lot of personal history between the two, because Jin had never encountered his father prior to Tekken 4, nor was Kazuya aware of his son's existence before the events of the fourth tournament.

It is more logical that their hatred for Heihachi goes far deeper than anything, because he was the only person that had a huge influence in their lives, and a very negative one, of course. With Heihachi having had backstabbed and killed both of them (Kazuya twice and Jin once), I think the writing team could have taken a chance to make a plot point where Kazuya and Jin bond over their shared resentment towards the old man and team up in order to kill him while reluctantly trying to accept one another as father/son, with Jin still being wary of Kazuya, considering he was told by Heihachi that his father was "the worst of all and rotten to the core", but becomes conflicted on the inside once Kazuya reveals the truth about himself and Heihachi in the end.

It would be an interesting concept indeed, as well as adding to the evil father trope and potentially setting up Jin's corruption arc that wouldn't lead to whatever the hell storyline in Tekken 6 was, but rather something more complex and intriguing, as the young Kazama was designed to be a flawed hero, in-between good and evil.

This small change would make the whole story a dozen times better than it is in canon and I am still dissapointed that the writers have not considered this in the slightest.

#eve rambles #tekken #jin kazama #kazuya mishima #heihachi mishima #gale rants #just think about it...

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italianpersonwithashippersheart · 2 months

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You know what pisses me off about this all PheeJin stuff. It's taken over.

No matter what happens having TaCopper be such a huge part of the anticipation, them being promoted so heavily as a ship with this series was a mistake.

About 50% of all the comments under the BTS videos and reddit posts are about PheeJin.

Either that they love the ship, or the actors, or they are mad the writers "ruined" Jin by confirming he was the one that leaked the video.

Side note: Everyone seems to be pretty much treating the confession as confirmation. So do I. It would be a stupid as fuck writing decision to have Jin be not the person that realeased the video and confess to it anyway.

Instead of focusing on the show's themes like this excellent post outlines by @syrena-del-mar or even the topics of sex and voyerism like this post by @shannankle or another post I can't find discussing the way the show subverts the tipical way sex is punished in horror. EDIT: @shannankle found the post and linked it in the notes it was from @brifrischu with addition from @lurkingshan. Or even just enjoying the theorizing like this post by @mikuni14 or this one by @tbhimnoteasyonmyself. Most of the fans (again other places I am not looking at the tag here on tumblr) are mostly discussing Jin, PheeJin and whining that Tan is a killer and lost his mind.

Also not saying anything about the Jin fans on Tumblr I am not going in the tag for a reasons. But a lot of PheeJin shippers and Jin fans on other sites are using words I fucking hate to describing New and it's starting to low-key piss me off. All the: he lost his mind, he is derenged (i also saw lost his mind like his brother - which you know ew) it's getting on my last nerve and I would appriciate if we could be a little lighter with that kind of language please.

It sucks that such a great show now wrote itself into this conrner where it only has two options: Stick to the genre and revenge plot, have team masked killer win (and kill Jin and Phee if he is indeed a traitor); everyone is dead, depressing ending no one is happy; or Phee and Jin succed in bringing down "crazy" killer New, we get some nice violence is not the answear after school message and Phee and Jin live happly ever after.

The first two will make the fans crazy, and we know the BOC shipper fans are on all other level of insane. And the third will leave the rest of us with a show that detroyed his own message for the sake of a ship, AGAIN (might I add, ofts fans will know the struggle). Leaving the show bad reviews and claim outrage because TaCopper wasn't endgame and they got ruined.

And let me very clear, If I have too see the well-off/rich character all alive while the poor characters all die and get called crazy because they dared take revenge and be angry at their mistreatment. I will actually consider this the worse BL ending ever. That will piss me off more then the Last Twilight ending ever did.

#txt #dead friend forever #typed this just to get this out of my head #i will not be entertaining the notion that the Jin confession was fake or a lie or that he only believes he did it #because it would make no sense and it would be a such a colossally bad writing decision I can't even thinking about it #hope nobody minds getting tagged in this rant post #if you do i will take it off #no problem

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riririnnnn · 2 months

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???

Who are you, dear?

I never knew that Rin liked cosplaying his fellow Blue Lock-ers.

Come on. This isn't funny, I've been waiting for any type of Kiyora's content, but this isn't it— it looks more like an official art or spreadsheet.

Man, after Raichi's, Niko's, Sendou's and Lorenzo's BANGER VC, I was so hyped for Kiyora, and boy was I disappointed.

Also, why is he doing Aiku's iconic pose?

I need the Kiyora from anime!

Give me the boy who looks high on antidepressants!

The VC one looks like this:

Like, isn't he supposed to be really aggressive or something (character profile)? The VC one makes me feel like I'll scoop him up in my arms or something.

Sorry for being an unnecessary hater— the art is, obviously, really good, but we all know that it could've been better.

Bruh, it's still better than Hiori's one tho. Lol, that haunts me a lot.

#blue lock #bllk #kiyora jin #雪 ranting

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myuiis · 3 months

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lookism ch 484 semi analysis semi rant

ok so MAYBE im just projecting good character writing onto lookism because frankly, after the shitshow that was 1A, i have lost a lot of confidence in ptj's writing abilities, but i GENUINELY think the ending sequence of today's chapter was incredibly done

like... idk...

it's not that vin jin didn't want to be saved. he did. he spoke out against the shaman and the village and probably secretly wanted someone to agree and to change their ways and save him; it's just that he felt like it was too hard and too embarrassing to be saved by a village that hated his very existence. every time he tried to speak out against what was happening to him, he would only be punished, so he was gradually taught that wanting to be saved was something shameful and that would be punished. and since he would only get disappointed again and again by trying to look for salvation, he decided he would stop looking. he takes pride in that, really. he takes pride in growing up and fending off the bullies and being strong and he hates the idea of needing to be saved because... why wouldn't he?

it's never worked in the past. a mix of his defense mechanism of being a mean person to stop others from hurting him and his internal self-hatred that secretly believes that he brings suffering to the people around him and that he is a monster combine to create a sort of "i'm good enough on my own. i neither want nor need to be saved" kind of mentality. he doesn't want to be vulnerable enough to admit that he really wants to be saved so seeing him take that first step admit that "yes, i want to be saved" is SUCH a cathartic moment. it's like that one kim dokja "ah, as i thought, i'm glad i survived" moment. it's not a particularly poetic or life-changing statement, but the fact that it comes from someone that, before this point, has only ever wanted to die and has never expressed that they wanted to be save or keep living just makes it hit a lot harder.

and the fact that he is validated for the first time after this, not only because he realizes that seongji, someone he perceives as cool and strong and noble is also a "monster" like him (thus indirectly implying that he can also change his circumstances and improve his station), but also because he was finally recognized as anything but a monster.... i think the expression in that panel really expresses that emotion well. the sort of warmth and shock from being cared for and approved of for the first time since his mom died.

its just so UGH... but maybe im reading too much into it.

#lookism #lookism manhwa #lookism webtoon #seongji yuk #vin jin #jin hobin #lookism rant #looksim 484 #literature analysis #sort of #more like a rant #hehe #so surprised that ptj can still write because the cheonliang arc has been rlly great so far #hopefully it doesnt fall off #my girl mary only deserves the best

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thekingwhereitallends · 4 months

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I believe people underestimate Kazuya's capacity and mad now that the developers have finally realized just how mad overpowered Kazuya is.

Let's not forget that Kazuya's only goal is to become the ultimate being in existence,to be the most powerful figure in the universe. He is commited to his ideals and with sheer willpower fused with Devil which drastically amplifies the physical statistics and allows the bearer of Devil Gene to ascend beyond human's boundaries.

Someone like Jin who is afraid of using Devil's power shouldn't realistically be able to compete with his father who was abandoned as a child and had to go through hell to surpass the adversary he thought he may be unable to beat:Heihachi.

Kazuya is the most sympathetic and compelling among all Tekken characters because he suffered all the way up until Tekken 8. He lost,hell even when he returned in Tekken 4 he was beaten by both Jin and Heihachi. Let's not forget about Lars almost stalemating him in Tekken 6 and Heihachi "killing" him in Tekken 2. Kazuya went from the weak,abused and inadequate martial artist whose potential wasn't realized to a mastermind,a transcendent fighter matched by absolutely nobody.

Kazuya didn't seem to be as talented as Jin nor as naturally strong as his father. His fighting style is revolving around defense and punishing moves (which is reminiscent of his tough life as a child and having to endure so much pain,waiting for the opportunity to gain an upper hand) and now he has perfected his fighting style. Kazuya felt the urge to become the strongest in the world,as if without having absolute power he is nothing and no one,and that he has to make sure the humans will never hurt him again.

#Kazuya Mishima #Devil #Jin Kazama #Lars Alexandersson #Heihachi Mishima #Tekken 8 #Tekken 7 #Tekken 6 #Tekken 4 #Tekken 2 #Tekken 1 #Confession #Rant #Analysis

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trans-ace-lee · 9 months

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This is totally fucking stupid, but I just have to put it out there, but it would be great if some lers respected masc lees more. Just bc I'm a young lee doesn't mean that my life revolves around tickling, so don't expect me to have a ton of experience. I'm sorry I'm not a cute girl, so don't treat me like I'm not worth you time unless I pay you.

#jin rants #yes these are actual interactions i've had with lers #tickle community #sfw tickle community

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lookismstuff · 9 months

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Lookism Webtoon/Manhwa is Still About Lookism, After All

Added some new analysis. SPOILERS ALERT.

I read many complaints that Lookism webtoon/manhwa isn't about lookism anymore (some even call it "fightism" or "gangism"). I respectfully beg to disagree, since I think the manhwa/webtoon is still a story about lookism, despite the genre shift. I recently binge-read the webtoon/manhwa for about three weeks, so maybe that's why I can spot the threads of the lookism theme across the story.

If you want to read about the current arcs, please read point B right away.

A. Lookism in its basic definition (early arcs)

Spotlight Characters

1.Daniel

Lookism is "societal discrimination based on looks or perceived notion of beauty". As we all know, this concept can easily be applied to the case of Daniel (Hyungseok). With his second body, Daniel could access the things he previously couldn't even dream of: becoming a model, a singer, even a trainee, finding friends, crushes, etc.

2. Crystal, Duke, Aru,Jasmine, Yui and Zoe

Crystal (Soojung)'s smaller body and Duke (Deokhwa) experienced discrimination based on their looks. Others used their looks or appearance to manipulate others, like Aru (the singer of PTJ Company), or Jasmine (Youngmi), the girl who framed Vasco for theft. Yui and Zoe (Haneul) had to "sell" more than looks as streamers (they had to dress and act provocatively even though they're minors).

3. Vasco and Burn Knuckles

People like Vasco and the rest of the Burn Knuckles suffer from being stigmatized as coarse criminals simply because of their looks, tattoos and built, when actually they're really kind people.

4. The Stalker

The stalker ended up getting the attention she craved after putting on some makeup, making her look pretty even though she's a hideous criminal inside and outside.

So the school/trainee/daily life chapters of Lookism are very straightforward about what lookism is and about its impacts. Maybe that's why some readers think that the lookism theme stops there. But actually the theme stays even after the genre shifts to scifi/thriller/action.

B. Lookism and Its Further Consequences (later arcs)

Ever since the genre shifted, the manhwa/webtoon expanded its notion of lookism into further observation on its consequences.

Let's see.

1.Juvenile Prison and Jiho's Last Moment Arcs

Jiho

In his desperation, Jiho sought for societal acceptance through a series of crimes. He kept making the wrong choices just because he felt victimized and alienated (from lookism reasons). He ended up in a vicious mentality as a tragic, suicidal murderer.

2. Hostel Arc

Spotlight Characters

Eli

Eli (Jang Hyun)'s studies hairdressing, benefits from his gentle looks and mannerisms. So people previously always excluded him from the list of J (Jaewon) High gangsters (unlike Vasco, Zack (Jinsung), Logan (Taesung), Burn Knuckles members) before the God Dog crew came to find him. Had he dressed, talked, and looked like a gang member, many people would've distanced themselves from him from the get go.

Olly

On the other hand, Olly (Ochun / Ohchun), who at times acted and looked unhinged, started out as a sheltered kid who was starving for attention and kindness. People were scared of him but he didn't start out that way, and he made himself scary, ironically, to gain some footing in the world that Eli lived in and later abandoned.

In Eli and Olly's case, the former benefited from lookism while the latter was disadvantaged by it, that until their respective backgrounds were revealed people never knew that they were biased towards these two.

Sally and Warren

Sally (Serim) is perceived as a rich princess just because of her looks and her rumored wealth, but is actually a very lonely child who lives alone in a shabby place. Warren (Wonseok) is rumored and regarded as a scary school thug but is actually a brave and protective orphan. The two characters suffer from prejudices that are rooted in lookism.

3. Fourth, Third and Second Affiliate Arcs

Spotlight Characters

Vivi and Mitsuki

In the Third and Second Affiliate of Workers (Ilhae) arcs, people like Vivi and Mitsuki benefit from their wealth and beauty that they (almost) got away with horrible crimes that range from illicit drug use, manufacture, and trade, multiple counts of sexual assaults, human trafficking, and abduction. In a lookism-based society, the rich and privileged could benefit more when they are also beautiful.

Jake (and Daniel)

During the Third Affiliate Arc, Jake (Gimyung) was allowed to enter Vivi's nightclub and work there mainly because he doesn't look like a minor. While Daniel wasn't allowed, until he shows the Workers pin that Gun (Jonggun) gave him. They're both minors but only Daniel was suspected, because of how different they look, showing a bias caused by lookism.

Ms. Raccoon and Arin

In the Fourth Affiliate arc, an innocent-looking streamer nicknamed as Ms Raccoon lured Hostel's Amy and Natalie (Yejin and Eunbi) and later bound them under a slave contract in a secluded location. The two young girls would not be easily deceived had the streamer seemed hostile.

Daniel also met Arin, a beautiful but poor newbie streamer, who was later drugged and almost sexually assaulted by Vivi's cohorts. He regretted introducing Kwitch streaming to her. Her case is an example that lookism can turn beauty into harm when the beautiful is socially disadvantaged.

Johan and Vin

Johan (Yohan) and Vin (Hobin) live with a disability (visual impairment). In Johan's case he always covers his impaired eye with his hair, while Vin hides his polycoria behind super dark sunglasses. But Johan's disability was discovered by Zack in the Fourth Affiliate arc, and Vin was forced to show his during the Second Affiliate arc. In both ocassions, both characters were furious that their disability was revealed.

Before the Lookism arc, Vin even told Mary (Miru) that his dream of becoming a rapper had ended since people had seen his disability implying that what society wants is a perfect celebrity.

Although both Johan and Vin don't fully lose their self-confidence from their disabilities (and Vin spitefully targeted Duke because of his physique), we can't ignore the fact that both characters choose to conceal their disability and consider it as their blemish. This behavior is also a facet of lookism.

Channing and Jace

Channing (Changwon) of Ansan Public hurt and shamed his opponents by slashing them with tattoo pens. The purpose of this torture isn't simply to inflict pain but also to bring shame, since tattoos are still stigmatized in many aspects and in many places, including in Korea. So when Jace was slashed and branded with Ansan Public's name and address and in uneven colors, Vasco was livid. It was more than just his own trauma resurfacing, you know. Jace already got his own tattoos, but being branded and stripped like that was humiliating.

4. The Hunt for Big Deal, United Major Crews, Holiday 1, Holiday 2 Arcs

Spotlight Characters

D.G., Gun and Goo

D.G. (Diego/Dagyeom/James Lee/Lee Jihoon). Behind that beautiful façade is a guy who got away with murder and erased everything about his past.

Compare his case with Gun's and Goo (Joongoo)'s, who exude dangerous gangster-ish vibes (especially Gun).

Even though all three had killed people before, D.G. is viewed as angelic, while Gun and Goo are portrayed as demonic. Their case is a clear example of lookism-based discrimination.

CEO Charles Choi and CEO Steve Hong

Charles Choi (Dongsoo), who beautified D.G. (through plastic surgery? a second body?), knew all too well of the power of beauty. It's his true and tested method: he used his own daughter Crystal (Soojung)'s disarming beauty in the same way.

Charles himself benefits from lookism. Out of all the fighters from Gen 0, Charles is the only one whose face and mannerisms look like a legit businessman. So he passes as one, even though he was Elite, a killer like the rest of those fighters.

On the other hand, Steve Hong (Hong Kyungyeong), Charles's business rival, is brash and often poorly dressed, so the public probably would probably lend more support towards Charles if their enmity was exposed.

Though both men are terrible fathers, Steve clearly abandons Jay and would probably be more criticized by the public than Charles, who fakes his affection for Crystal and face it he's a good looking old man. Charles is better at lookism-based P.R.

Luah

Small, slender, and pretty, Luah (Rua) is underestimated and often feels unsafe when she's out alone in public. In fact, she's a thorough investigator under the Big Deal crew, enough for Jake and the others to acknowledge her capabilities.

Daniel (Again)

After being underestimated for years by his relatives especially his cousins Dylan (Hyungjoon) and David (Hyunggoo) and their families, Daniel only gains full acceptance and recognition after he slimmed down, became more confident, and grew taller. This situation shows how lookism is a social wrong because it can break families apart.

5. Lookism Arc

Spotlight Characters

Hangyeol (The Grimm Plastic Surgery Clinic)

Hangyeol of Workers runs a legit plastic surgery clinic. Without the high demand for plastic surgery, it would've been difficult for him to hide the dubious malpractice, asylum and shelter operations. And why is there such a rush for plastic surgeries? The answer is lookism.

Hangyeol himself takes advantage of his looks and demeanor. Because of these, his patients takes it for granted that he's a pro through and through when in fact he's insane (and is a minor).

Mary

Mary has to hide her background as a judoka because of her past body size and another undisclosed trauma. She and Vin had to leave their hometown Cheonliang (Chunryang) and settled in Seoul, and could only recently embraced their Cheonliang identity again after Vin's escape from Mitsuki's illegal fight club.

Their shared trauma of body shaming and disability makes it hard for them to believe in other people, an example of how lookism works in alienation.

6. Jake Kim, James Lee & First Generation King Arcs

Spotlight Characters:

Sinu, Taesoo, and Seokdu

Taesoo, who is Hudson (Hyunseong)'s teacher from Ansan, is traumatized by his disability. His bitterness and shame drove him to lose his belief in himself, and to retreat from society.

Meanwhile Sinu (Shinwoo) and Seokdu are never discriminated only because they put up a "tough front" that seem to have "surpassed" their respective disability (in what is probably an example of how their society treats them as an 'inspiration porn', a term coined by Australian disability activist Stella Young).

7. First Affiliate Arc (Current Arc)

Spotlight Characters

Logan (and Daniel)

Logan is back at his worst in the First Affiliate arc when he taunted Daniel with the past crude name "Pikachu". Daniel too had to resort to call Logan "Pig" even though he knows that it's a name given by bullies including Logan himself.

This situation is an example of how lookism in society makes it difficult for people to escape from labels, no matter how far they've come.

Side Notes

Not exactly lookism here but ageism: the dismissive attitude by younger characters towards the aging members of Gen 0. Well of course physically they're different from when they were young but they're still formidable people! But they themselves despise the younger generation, so the hatred is mutual.

Maybe Samuel (Seongeun)'s bitter rivalry with Jake about Big Deal etc. counts as lookism. Jake benefits from his Gapryong looks, and is the more acknowledged one in the criminal underworld, for better or worse. I'm not saying that Jake only has his looks, of course he's talented and tough, but Samuel had nothing (the running joke between the creators and the fandom is how he's cool because his father was an AC repairman). I wonder if that was why Samuel tried hard to make his physique more formidable before meeting Jake again (but Samuel is literally a bag of insecurities and maybe not just about his looks or heritage alone so who knows).

In the Future...

I think the lookism consequences would keep appearing in the manhwa/webtoon. I mean there's the problem of Daniel's, Crystal's and who knows who else's alternate bodies. Daniel's alternate body was probably created as a perfect human weapon, while Crystal's was to observe people (and Daniel?). I have this feeling in my gut that the alternate bodies were products of someone's (Charles's? Someone else's?) morbid dissatisfaction about human imperfections.

There goes my rant about the threads of the lookism theme across the Lookism manhwa/webtoon. I'm sorry that this turns out to be very long.

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