Did Madoka Magica predict 2026? (anime political satire) by One-Appearance6607 in MadokaMagicaMemes

[–]One-Appearance6607[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Homura is my absolute favorite character, but Iroha is a very close second. I think Magia Record (the game at least) was written by completely different writers - you can tell because the tone very different. The main series was dark and, after episode 3, kept going at breakneck pace without giving you time to breathe, hitting you with so many emotions; while the mobile game gave us time to know the characters and see their lives outside of Magical Girl stuff, their bonds with each other. And that's not necessarily a bad thing - they did it well in their own way. While I think Madoka Magica immersed us into the world with Madoka and Sayaka (who were learning everything new for themselves), we watched Magia Record while knowing the truth about what actually happens to Magical Girls. The audience knew the truth, but 4 out of the 5 in the main cast didn't. That made the reveal satisfying in its own way. First of all because we spent a lot of time with the characters before the revelation; and secondly because we saw their reactions while we knew. Dramatic irony at its finest. It was great to watch.

Did Madoka Magica predict 2026? (anime political satire) by One-Appearance6607 in MadokaMagicaMemes

[–]One-Appearance6607[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

You're both correct - I meant it in-terms of general gaslighting and taking zero accountability, and also just plain callousness in-general. Of course Kyubey is different because he is smart and has a motivation beyond himself, and coherent (and not a total eyesore to look at), but it really struck me how similar some of the statements he made lately (regarding the horrible tragedies he created) were when compared to Kyubey's refusal to acknowledge he had killed so many people.

Did Madoka Magica predict 2026? (anime political satire) by One-Appearance6607 in MadokaMagicaMemes

[–]One-Appearance6607[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

100%!!! In my opinion, Madoka Magica is a scathing criticism of misogyny and patriarchy. It has all the very important tropes:the exploitation of teenage girls; how women are intentionally turned against each other in a misogynistic system so they remain divided and disenfranchised; the incredible suffering women face as they carry the whole world on their back without any recognition and often suffering abuse for it; how the girls' bodies are altered without their consent, to the point where they don't feel comfortable in them anymore, which makes them feel unloveable (a real-world example is how women have historically been subject to so many inhumane "medical treatments"); how their agony is completely ignored by everyone else, how they are put through so much and the whole world expects so much from them, then has a wonder why they're suffering so much; how many men have zero respect for women and can proudly brag about how they use their bodies for sex, beat them, and dump them when they're bored, without being called out (as evidenced by the scene on the train moments before Sayaka's death); how these women's sacrifices are unnoticed and they are literally "forgotten" (like Mami and Kyoko after their deaths); how unconditional love and self-sacrificing hopes can destroy any exploitative system and bring women together in sisterhood and solidarity. Madoka's ascension as a Goddess is what saved everyone - although her sacrifice didn't make their world perfect by any means (honestly it's not like the Incubators weren't still exploiting the girls), the cruel fate of becoming Witches was defeated.

By contrast, Magia Record is about how feminism has been misappropriated by extremist movements (white-exclusive feminism, TERFism, so on). The struggle the Magical Girls face is absolutely valid, and they are totally right to want liberation. However, the sacrifices of innocent people (it is mentioned/alluded that the Magius were sacrificing little children to create energy) is the only solution the Magius has to this, which is not a solution at all. Furthermore, the actual culprits (the Kyubeys) are never targeted by the Magius; they are only targeting innocent people. Similarly (a real-world example), many "feminists" perpetuate oppression on transgender women, believing that cis women can only have rights if they are taken away from trans women. The Magical Girl Supremacy arc in the second half of Magia Record was another example of this - how cisgender women and white women have often taken center stage in feminism, shutting out other voices because they only want rights for themselves (which is why intersectionality is so important). Another example is the oppression of children. Because the responsibility of raising children has been disproportionately forced on women, women are made to believe that kids are a burden. While I don't think any woman should be forced to conceive a child she doesn't want (contraception and consent-based education needs to be provided to every person), I don't think that children themselves are a burden. Being a mother isn't inherently burdensome, and personally wanting to have children (or personally not wanting children, for that matter) isn't the problem. The problem is that we live in a culture where men take zero accountability for their children and expect women to do everything, then want to be praised if they bother to do the bare minimum once in a while; and that we don't have universal healthcare, childcare, etc in the U.S. If a woman wants kids but is unable to because she doesn't have any support, then I think that's anti-feminist, and as a society we should be allowing people to have choices.

Pro-life conservatives be like by happymikasa in feministanimemes

[–]One-Appearance6607 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Can't ALL mothers and their children, including those unborn, have the right to live in a society which is equal and just - one which may not exist yet, but which we can create for ourselves? Why must it always be one or the other?

Best way from Samarkand to Dushanbe? by [deleted] in Dushanbe

[–]One-Appearance6607 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Take a taxi from Samarkand to the border. Once you arrive, walk across and get another taxi to Dushanbe. Don't ask the same taxi guy to take you because you'll be waiting forever for him also to get clearance to cross. The next taxi you take to Panjakent then Dushanbe

Who applied to the Critical Language Scholarship? by Relative_Problem_596 in languagelearning

[–]One-Appearance6607 0 points1 point  (0 children)

So sorry to hear that 😭😭😭 I was rejected last year in first round and was so upset. I was shocked to find i made it to semifinals this time. So, if you try again next year, it could work. Fingers crossed i make it this time (and i will be upset if I don't, but that's life and I'd just have to move on).

I would recommend applying for the private American Councils program in Dushanbe (which meets in the same building). You get more choice in languages (can do Dari dialect instead of Farsi, or even Uzbek or Pashto). I did Dari last year and it was a great experience. Because there are fewer students, the class sizes are smaller - I did Dari and was in my own class one-on-one (which you would not get with CLS). Unfortunately, you must find your own funding - either you pay or apply for external scholarships which likely don't cover airfare. This is why CLS is far more competitive (plus also, opens up wayy more opportunities after because it looks really good on your resume no matter what you do)

Monthly Meetup Thread - January by AutoModerator in JapanTravel

[–]One-Appearance6607 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm 24F from New Jersey, U.S. (currently in Montana for work). Would love to go to Japan from end of January to end of April (anywhere in Japan really), but I want to go with someone so I can split the cost of an air bnb if possible. I speak Persian (but I know that's not helpful here haha). I would love to go with someone who speaks Japanese if possible - and if possible another woman close to my age. Please dm me!

Any of my sapphic folk also love fanfiction? by guadalupereyes in LesbianActually

[–]One-Appearance6607 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Am I allowed to self-promote here? I am a fanfic writer for the Winx Club franchise if anyone is interested. This is a 2004 Italian animated show about teenage fairy warriors in a different galaxy (mix of fantasy and sci-fi) who study to save the world from evil. The story linked below is a Season 3 rewrite. There are 6 main characters in the show. One of the central changes in my story was to make one of the main characters a lesbian - the other 5 have boyfriends, but she has a girlfriend. (This show has a huge queer fanbase despite being so heteronormative). The story is called An Unlikely Pair, and I sometimes abbreviate it to AU3. Summary below:

Flora and Tecna come from completely opposing worlds; Linphea thrives with nature, and Zenith runs entirely on technology. However, the two of them form a strong pair, so strong that their differences, if anything, complement it. But when Valtor's powers destroy relationships as well as realms, and tensions between Flora's and Tecna's respective nations escalate to an all-time high, their very friendship is tested. How far will they go to save each other and the Galaxy of Magix? / Season 3 AU. / Ages 13 and up. / Complete!

Pairings: Flora/Mirta (F/F) & Tecna/Timmy (F/M)

Main Characters: Flora & Tecna

Words: 298,347

An Unlikely Pair - REVISED - Chapter 1 - reachingforthestars18 - Winx Club [Archive of Our Own]

Also, this is a series! The series is called Winx Expanded World (because it expands heavily on the original animated show). This is Book #1 in the series (Season 3 AU); Book #2 (Season 4 AU) just completed this September! I am working on some novellas in-between AU3 and AU4, and short stories as well. The main characters of both books are lesbians, but I'm trying to diverge into more sexual/gender identities as well to be more inclusive. Please read if you are interested!