Thursday, February 25, 2010

Europa's blood is borne of these.

EATING: Indian
DRINKING: Venti Mocha Frapp
WATCHING: Doctor Who ("The End of Time")
LISTENING TO: Krapbiva
READING: Natsuo Kirino, Out 
MOOD: Sappy


I just made a new desktop image. I sacrificed half my fucking night.






















 So I think I had a pretty engaging debate in the car with my father on the difference between a good parody and a bad parody. And, um, I'm not quite sure how it got started, because I remember that when he picked me up from the GSDM we were talking about how Pulp Fiction saved John Travolta's career. But we both kinda have the same mindset and somehow he jumped right into the conversation when I wound up talking about Hetalia.

Let's get one thing clear - my dad is not the world's biggest fan of anime and manga. He makes fun of the stone-cut demographics, criticizing (though lightheartedly enough) the animation gags and design prototypes, and of course he can't take any aspect of it seriously. Not to mention, I think exposure to Tra's and my yaoi fetish scares him away from anime... with good reason, I suppose. I didn't expect him to display any actual interest in my rather one-sided conversation about Hetalia, which he didn't, but I really didn't expect him to argue his preoccupation with the offensiveness of its mere premise. And I mean really.

Aw, c'mon, it's not that bad. AXIS FUCKING POWERS FUCKING HETALIA is a parody, a joke, if you will. Not that I don't watch it religiously, but it's not meant to be taken seriously. It's a play on the irony and absurdity of some of our world's historical doings and happenings. It's an oddly comic little angle that shows us just how stupid humans can be when bound together as a nation, just how ridiculously we handle our diplomacy. Or lack thereof. While Hetalia is lighthearted, gentle, and face it, guys - damn near completely harmless - I for one also see it as clever. The endearing qualities of some (all!) of the Hetalian personifications are like a backhanded compliment, it seems, showing how childish a nation's preoccupations, values, grudges, and desires really can be. The representation of countries as characters may be attributed to Himaruya Hidekaz-sensei (for which I am utterly grateful), but I feel like it's something plenty of us are able to notice subconsciously. Countries often behave in a similar fashion to that of humans, of cute anime characters, even. It's a sensible personification. It's a parody with a good, strong origin.

Granted, I'm not saying Hetalia is the substitute for a history textbook, and while it has taught me plenty, I'm also aware that it's not meant to be taken seriously. Hetalia is fun for people who know their history. It's fun either way - I know M'bob can't recognize the events played back in "Europa" for jack shit, and she adores APH - but I feel that it's especially fun when recognized as the silly, occasionally inaccurate historical parody that it is. It's not offensive. At least I don't see it that way. It isn't making a joke out of the billions of people who've died by way of war, bombing, revolution, abolition, hatred and uprising; it's making fun of the way we've acted diplomatically. Our universal relations. We should look at it and be able to laugh at ourselves, though gently; I know I am.

Really, though, it's not intended to offend. Just putting that out there.
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friends, romans and countrymen...

~essentially a list of my fandoms and such wonders~

[[*Note: Unless you're up to reading some smut right here and right now, avoid any and all links colored red.]]

I am by definition a self-preserved geek. I invest countless hours into dredging my knowledge of あにめ and まんが, even delving into the occasional British televised programme. I fangirl excessively, to a point where it becomes either annoying or amazing fun to be with me. This isn't just over anime like the 50 percent of my generation that seems to have that in common with me. This is over things as geeky as Julius Caesar and Back to the Future. And, of course, I'm a huge sucker for Quentin Tarantino movies, especially since the Basterds are kind of definitely a band of gay jews who kick ass. Another one of my annoying quirks is pairing up characters, something that I tend to do a lot. I read, write, and draw fanworks, but I've gotta say it's mostly reading.

Currently, I'm into:
Gravitation: Yuki x Shuichi, Tatsuha x Ryuichi x Tatsuha, Tohma x Yuki, K x Tohma, Hiro x Shuichi, Tohma x Ryuichi
Junjou Romantica: Usagi x Misaki, Nowaki x Hiro, Miyagi x Shinobu, Miyagi x Hiro, Miyagi x Nowaki, Nowaki x Shinobu, Aikawa x Risako, Nowaki x Hiro x Miyagi THREESOME (with an actual plot when at its best)
Ouran High School Host Club: Kyouya x Tamaki x Kyouya, Kaoru x Hikaru x Kaoru (yes, I support seme!Kaoru, leave me alone), Mori x Hunny, Hikaru x Tamaki, Kasanoda x Tetsuya, Kyouya x Kaoru
Axis Powers Hetalia: Germany x Italy, America x England, Spain x Romano, Greece x Japan, Sweden x Finland, Poland x Lithuania x Poland, France x Canada, Russia x Canada, Russia x China, HRE x Italy, Prussia x Austria x Prussia, Korea x China, Vietnam x Taiwan, Turkey x Egypt, Russia x Latvia, Estonia x Latvia, America x Japan, France x England, Iceland x Norway, Denmark x Norway, Russia x Prussia, Russia x Ukraine, Germany x Japan x Italy THREESOME
Death Note: Light x L x Light, Matt x Mello x Matt, Light x Matsuda, Namikawa x Mido, Gevanni x Mikami, Light x Mikami, Raye x Light, Aizawa x Ide, Gevanni x Near, Light x Sayu, Light x Misa (although the more one-sided the better)
Cowboy Bebop: Vicious x Spike x Vicious, Jet x Spike, Faye x Ed x Faye
Loveless: Soubi x Ritsuka x Soubi, Yamato x Koya, Yoji x Natsuo x Yoji, Ritsu x Soubi, Nana x Nagisa x Nana, Seimei x Soubi, Kio x Soubi x Kio, Seimei x Ritsuka x Seimei (apparently I have an odd kink for seme!Ritsuka and uke!Soubi)
Inglourious Basterds: Donny x Aldo, Stiglitz x Hicox, Wicki x Utivich, Stiglitz x Aldo, Aldo x Utivich, Marcel x Shoshana
Baccano!: Maiza x Firo, Luck x Firo, Huey x Jacuzzi, Maiza x Huey, Claire x Jacuzzi, Claire x Firo, Luck x Chick, Dallas x Luck, Chane x Nice, Maiza x Gretto
Yami no Matsuei: Tsuzuki x Hisoka, Muraki x Tsuzuki, Muraki x Hisoka, Tatsumi x Tsuzuki
Lucky Star: Minami x Yutaka, Konata x Kagami x Konata, Tsukasa x Kagami, Konata x Minami, Konata x Patti, Ayano x Misao, Konata x Tsukasa, Patti x Hiyori
Elfen Lied: Mayu x Nana, Lucy x Nana, Lucy x Yuka, Kazukawa x Kurama x Kazukawa, Lucy x Nana x Mayu THREESOME
Okane ga Nai: Kanou x Ayase, Gion x Ayase, Kanou x Kaoruko, Homare x Misao, Homare x Ayase
Kingdom Hearts/Final Fantasy: Axel x Roxas x Axel, Riku x Sora, Demyx x Zexion, Xigbar x Demyx, Xigbar x Luxord, Zack x Cloud, Reno x Cloud x Reno, Leon x Cloud, Sephiroth x Cloud, Vincent x Cloud, Yuffie x Tifa x Yuffie, Sephiroth x Zack x Sephiroth, Reno x Rude
Heart no Kuni no Alice: Blood x Elliot, Julius x Ace, Dee x Dum, Mary x Boris, Ace x Peter, Peter x Alice, Vivaldi x Alice, Elliot x Ace x Elliot, Ace x Alice
House: House x Wilson, House x Chase, Wilson x Chase, Foreman x Chase, House x Lucas
Tekkon Kinkreet: Black x White, Suzuki x Kimura
FLCL: Haruko x Naota (seme!Haruko FTW), Haruko x Mamimi, Mamimi x Eri, Haruko x Eri
Kannazuki no Miko: Chikane x Himeko, Reiko x Corona, Chikane x Otoha, Makoto x Himeko x Makoto
Tsubasa Chronicle: Kurogane x Fai, Toya x Yukito x Toya, Syaoran x Sakura, Syaoran x Syaoran, Yui x Fai x Yui
Eerie Queerie: Mikuni x Mitsuo, Mikuni x Kanau, Hasunuma x Ichi x Hasunuma, Itsuki x Shino x Itsuki, Mikuni x Ichi, Hasunuma x Kanau, Ichi x Kanau, Hasunuma x Mitsuo
Gentlemen’s Alliance †: Maora x Maguri, Shizumasa x Maguri, Ushio x Haine, Shizumasa x Toya x Shizumasa
Hanna is Not a Boy's Name: "..." x Hanna, Worth x Conrad, Casmiro x Finas, "..." x Veser, Veser x Hanna, Lee x Veser
Bleach: Gin x Hitsugaya, Chad x Ichigo, Ikkaku x Yumichika, Byakuya x Renji x Byakuya, Kukaku x Yoruchi, Gin x Ichigo, Renji x Ichigo, Tatsuki x Chizuru, Byakuya x Rukia, Urahara x Ichigo, Urahara x Renji, Urahara x Rukia, Ishida x Ichigo
Welcome to the NHK: Satou x Misaki, Satou x Yamazaki
Julius Caesar: Cassius x Brutus, Cinna x Casca, Cicero x Casca, Caesar x Antony (I'm not lying. I really ship this stuff. No, I totally definitely take it seriously... please don't laugh or I might start crying.)
Monochrome Factor: Akira x Shirogane x Akira, Kengo x Akira, Shuichi x Shirogane, Shuichi x Akira, Ruru x Aya x Ruru, Akira x Haruka, Homurabi x Nanaya, Shirogane x Akira x Kengo THREESOME
VOCALOID: Len x Kaito, Rin x Miku, Rin x Len (she’d top the hell outta him), Gakupo x Kaito, Luka x Miku, Rin x Luka, Gakupo x Len
Doctor Who/Torchwood: Master x Ten, Jack x Ten x Jack, Nine x Jack, Nine x Rose, Ten x Rose (pretty much my OTheteroP), Jack x Ianto, Jack x Hart
07-Ghost: Frau x Teito, Ayanami x Hyuuga, Mikage x Teito, Castor x Frau, Castor x Labrador, Hyuuga x Konatsu
xxxHOLiC: Doumeki x Watanuki, Maru x Moro x Maru, Yuuko x Himawari, Yuuko x Maru, Yuuko x Moro, Yuuko x Watanuki
Back to the Future: Doc x Marty (it's canon, no lie)
Pulp Fiction: Butch x Fabienne, Marsellus x Vincent, Jules x Vincent, Butch x Marsellus
D.Gray-Man: Lavi x Kanda x Lavi, Lavi x Allen, Kanda x Allen, Allen x Lenalee, Lavi x Allen x Kanda THREESOME
Uta Kata: Manatsu x Ichika, Saya x Ichika, Saya x Manatsu, Sei x Kai x Sei
Kiss in the Dark: Kyosuke x Mira x Kyosuke, Kyosuke x Shun, Mira x Shun
Fullmetal Alchemist: Edward x Alphonse, Roy x Edward
Fruits Basket: Hatori x Tohru, Hatori x Kyou (it’s like the Yuki x Shuichi seiyuu incarnate), Kyou x Tohru

That is essentially the list of things that have the ability to turn me into a happy, nerdy Hom. I am an artist, compliant in cartooning and other forms of sequential visual art, and while I primarily focus on developing my own short oneshots or outlining longer term plans for my comics, but I occasionally attempt to whip up fanfic, and I'm doing a Caesar doujin right now. (Yeah, I get it, I'm obviously in this fandom alone.) And yes, I do have a satisfactory social life - not exactly exemplary, but my few IRL friends are enough to get me by. My other, slightly less fangasm-y interests are netherwards on this blog, and besides these here fandoms I also love Nostalgia Critic and Neurotically Yours, probably because Doug and Foamy are about as opinionated as I am and it's nice to feel less alone.

So there you go... shoot me a PM if any of these match up. This really is how people of our generation spend their time... I'm not all that weird... Pity.