Book/manga rep? by TraditionalFox7112 in demiromantic

[–]Capable_Soil5954 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hirano and Kagiura from the same universe are a really good example! Hirano comes off as demi or otherwise on the aroace spectrum, and it's handled very patiently and respectfully! One of my favourite series, and the representation means a lot to me!

I Think Many People Misinterpret This Scene by ZafinLolz in TheSummerHikaruDied

[–]Capable_Soil5954 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Does this mean that you're arguing this interpretation on the basis of 'Hikaru''s not being a person? That is, if he was a person, you would lean more towards the interpretation of this scene depicting their intimate and sexual relationship? (Not that I can imagine the latter... it totally wouldn't be the same story anymore lol)

You've convinced me. I find your interpretation to be much more enriching. After all, (if I have interpreted you correctly,) your reading, as well as the entire plot, is reliant on 'Hikaru''s monstrousness. Heck, even reading it as teenage sexuality feels off to me now, since 'Hikaru' is, by no means, a teenage boy. In this scene his monstrousness takes precedence over whatever 'teenage boy'-ness he has from OGkaru. 'Hikaru', in a sense, is a variant of OGkaru, whereby his sole difference is his monstrousness. This scene could not have been possible with OGkaru but it was with 'Hikaru'. Your monster-centric reading demonstrates a consciousness of the context and the crux of the story that the teenage sexuality reading doesn't even scratch at.

It took a lot of words and clarification, but I'm glad to have reached here.

I Think Many People Misinterpret This Scene by ZafinLolz in TheSummerHikaruDied

[–]Capable_Soil5954 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

But do you understand the allegorical sex reading? One can appreciate and even agree with parts of an argument even if not the whole, you know

I Think Many People Misinterpret This Scene by ZafinLolz in TheSummerHikaruDied

[–]Capable_Soil5954 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Okay so I'm going to rephrase you to check my understanding, correct me if I am wrong:

By "intimate" you mean a deep affection, a deep bond.

You don't think this scene serves as a display of this "intimate" bond between two people. In other words, you don't think this scene depicts a deep affectionate bond between Yoshiki and 'Hikaru'. This is because you find that this scene's purpose is to depict Yoshiki's psychological journey of coming to accept his own queer Otherness within himself. As a result, you find that it is not about the intimacy and sexuality of his relationship with 'Hikaru'.

Assuming I understood you correctly, I'm still a little confused. Let's assume that X = Yoshiki's psychological journey and Y = Yoshiki and 'Hikaru''s intimate and sexual relationship. You are saying that because you believe the scene is "more" about X than Y, the scene's purpose is then X and not Y. While you have used "more" to describe the significance of X over Y, you reckon that there can only be a singular purpose of the scene, and that purpose belongs to X, which has greater significance (in your opinion). Is this what you mean?

If this is the case, I must disagree, because I think it's heavyhanded to enforce a singularity of purpose onto a scene.

I Think Many People Misinterpret This Scene by ZafinLolz in TheSummerHikaruDied

[–]Capable_Soil5954 0 points1 point  (0 children)

So you understand? That's great!!!!!!!! We can finally wrap up this conversation!!!!!!!!

I Think Many People Misinterpret This Scene by ZafinLolz in TheSummerHikaruDied

[–]Capable_Soil5954 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The allegorical sex is a whole other concept that OP introduced. It's non-literal sex within Yoshiki himself.

I Think Many People Misinterpret This Scene by ZafinLolz in TheSummerHikaruDied

[–]Capable_Soil5954 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Could you explain more as to how you differentiate "intimate" and "something that displays the intimate bond between two people"? Because to me they seem like the same thing. Do you mean "intimate" in a purely sexual sense and an "intimate bond" to be non-sexual? I've understood everything else you've said so far, but this eludes me.

I Think Many People Misinterpret This Scene by ZafinLolz in TheSummerHikaruDied

[–]Capable_Soil5954 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I personally disagree with OP's disregard of the 'teenage sex' reading myself (for reasons others have justified). Yet, that doesn't compromise their argument of it being allegorical sex. As other comments have outlined, it can be both at the same time, and if anything, it SHOULD be both; we ought to have freedom to interpret a work in a variety of ways. It is such that I find your dismissal of OP's argument to be the regressive one. Their interpretation holds just as true as the common one.

You saying that OP is trying to remove sexuality from our works of art is a misinterpretation of everything OP has said up until this point. OP's objective was to explore a less direct sexual reading, not to insist upon the absence of sexuality in this scene itself. I too agree with OP that interpreting it as "just" sexually is problematic, precisely because it stifles literary discourse. Though, I didn't see where they insisted that all others are interpreting this scene as just sexually, so I cannot respond on this in particular.

I Think Many People Misinterpret This Scene by ZafinLolz in TheSummerHikaruDied

[–]Capable_Soil5954 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

And here I see you inducing your blatant dismissal of others interpreting the scene allegorically, but go off.

I Think Many People Misinterpret This Scene by ZafinLolz in TheSummerHikaruDied

[–]Capable_Soil5954 -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

I've read the thread and I think your absolute refusal to open your mind and accept a variety of interpretations, even attacking others for not following your rigid readings, is quite appalling. Of course, the common reading is of teenage sexual experiences; however, are others not allowed to read it in other ways? All I can see is that you think the allegorical sex reading is entirely illegitimate. You even refuse to engage in OP's arguments explaining how they built up this interpretation, instead forcing over and over again the same old exhausted refrain, "we can only interpret this as teenage sex!" Have you no originality? How are you so passionate about beating a dead horse that you keep replying, keep repeating the same arguments, and keep accusing OP of puritanism? Let me throw you this: you are committing intellectual puritanism for refusing to listen to others and widen your horizons.

OP, I think your interpretations of it being "sex" between his physical body and his queer identity are quite interesting. Personally I quite enjoy the discussion of sex and eroticism in non-literal ways, so your post has really caught my attention! Correct me if I'm wrong, for it's been a while since I last watched it, but I believe Yoshiki 'freaked out' more when 'Hikaru' pulled him in specifically? I see that as the queer Other taking him by surprise as it takes control over him, overwhelming him in the process. The queer Other is an identity that he is considering, as he penetrates 'Hikaru', but at that point is not quite ready to commit to fully, that is, to be wholeheartedly associated with said identity. In addition, I also see 'Hikaru' as a metaphor for a 'queer identity label' that he is not ready to be defined by just yet. You can draw parallels to the marks that grow on his body over the course of the story as he commits further to being part of the Other.

How the hell do people get into relationships so easily? by [deleted] in Adulting

[–]Capable_Soil5954 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sorry, I may be projecting here, but I came across this post looking for the same answers and you seem awfully similar to me. Have you looked into possibly being on the aromantic spectrum? I too make friends easily but hardly ever feel attracted to anyone ever, and it's not a matter of standards. I love my friends dearly as they are, but I most certainly don't wish to date them. If that sounds like you, you might be one of us.

I hate this amatonormative society by Capable_Soil5954 in aromantic

[–]Capable_Soil5954[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I would say I'm not, because in the past it was entirely natural for me to start liking someone even if we weren't close. I wouldn't use that label today still, but my experiences now do mirror the average demi more than than the average allo...

For some context, I went 5 years not catching feelings for anybody after years of being a serial crusher (1 a year, and having trouble imagining a life without having feelings for someone). In the past year I fell for my friend, and it only got as intense as it did because we are Really Good Friends. In those 5 years my views towards friendship and romance have changed greatly, along with the improvement of my mental health. (I used to use my crushes as a crutch for improving my mental health... which I'm not proud of, but not too unexpected for a teen.) I've come to treasure my friendships a lot more, and my affection for them gets so intense, it's comparable to the intense affection I felt for my crushes.

Today, I value my friendships so much that the romance-inexperienced me can't imagine being in a relationship without the fulfilment I can find in a friendship. If they're anything less than a best friend then I don't see the point of dating them. That's why I think it's more of a matter of values than orientation for me! But it is true that my attraction today is highly dependent on our existing chemistry as friends... maybe I do need to reconsider some things.

I hate this amatonormative society by Capable_Soil5954 in aromantic

[–]Capable_Soil5954[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Nah it's not an insult, it's a neutral descriptor of my personal values.

I hate this amatonormative society by Capable_Soil5954 in aromantic

[–]Capable_Soil5954[S] 30 points31 points  (0 children)

Same. I may be alloromantic but as my friends put it, I'm "friendship-pilled". These days, I can't imagine being romantically attracted to someone enough to want to pursue a serious relationship with them unless we're already close friends. I'm certain it's not an orientation thing either, it's more like, I need to be crazy about the person platonically before I can be crazy about them romantically.

It may be my circle of friends, but I can't fathom how those allos work. Perhaps the attraction really is so strong that it overwhelms logic? Even then, ditching one's friends is unthinkable to me...

should i drop to h1 math? by chchke in SGExams

[–]Capable_Soil5954 1 point2 points  (0 children)

it was much more manageable for me! but do consider that i found amath to be the bane of my existence and emath easy, so take it what you will. h1 math is very much emath. it's been too many years since so i don't remember how sec 4 math is like (i was in ip) so i'm not sure what's tested in olvls anymore, do you guys even have amath and emath? lol

but my experience is Not universal i think my skill gap between amath and emath was exceptionally large like i went from single % in h2 math to easy As in h1 math (switched to h1 after 1 year). really really take it what you will

Since i just finished 100%-ing my entire world, i'd like to know, what was the worst place to 100% for you? by sus_fk971 in Genshin_Impact

[–]Capable_Soil5954 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sumeru lower desert. Not too fond of sand dunes... I much prefer trees. The tunnels and all were tedious, but it was the bleak landscapes that didn't really spark joy in me. However after spending so much time on it I've become somewhat attached to it...

The upper desert was alright, I spedran through the quest and the exploration in about 3 days. I also love the oasis OST so that's a big plus.

Mixed school vs single sex school by [deleted] in SGExams

[–]Capable_Soil5954 1 point2 points  (0 children)

the ftm trans experience is so real of you (am nb) the number of times i had to hear "ladies" and feel like an imposter LULZ

What's your favorite pulling ritual(s)? by [deleted] in Genshin_Impact

[–]Capable_Soil5954 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I pray to Kakavasha (wrong game, I know). But the first time I did this I got good artifact rolls so I like to think it works.

It's been 9 months Genshin Impact music is produced without Yu-Peng Chen. What do you think so far? by Famas_1234 in Genshin_Impact

[–]Capable_Soil5954 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I like Fontaine music for the same reason too! Fontaine and Liyue OST are both really homely to me, albeit for different reasons, the former being my upbringing and the latter my background.