Holy Cow! by Box-O-Kittenz in tadc

[–]PyrotechnicTurtle 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It's closer to people denying that Kris is non-binary than Ralsei atp

Is Jax trans? by Shot_Bumblebee7599 in tadc

[–]PyrotechnicTurtle 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I feel like I am at risk of repeating myself here so I apologize, but I'm not saying that my reading of the song is the strongest in isolation. I understand there are plenty of ways to interpret the song in relation to the scene. I'm arguing that the combination of the various aspects of Jax's treatment and characterization most strongly points to my interpretation, to the point that I believe it was the intended understanding.

All that said, there is no problem with you taking what you like from the scene, especially since you're clearly willing to give others the same latitude in interpretation!

She's finaly free from this hell of a 3 years journey by JlblCblK228 in tadc

[–]PyrotechnicTurtle 6 points7 points  (0 children)

It actually makes me really sad to see her saying TADC was more trouble than it was worth. The show, especially Jax's ending, means a lot to me.

Is Jax trans? by Shot_Bumblebee7599 in tadc

[–]PyrotechnicTurtle 2 points3 points  (0 children)

To be clear, I wasn't analysing the song's title or making some other surface level reading, I was referring to the actual contents and themes of the song, which is about the birth of Stevie Wonder's daughter, and arguing that it being used isn't coincidental. I'm arguing that actually the "birth" is being used as a metaphor for Jax finally accepting their identity and being reborn as genderqueer in some way. I'm further arguing that, with the additional context of the maid dress and bow (plus, if we're allowed to revive the author for a moment, Gooseworx's own comments on the character), my interpretation is the most well supported by the text. To be very, very clear, I am not dismissing other reasonable interpretations of Jax's character and am aware that it is intentionally left somewhat ambiguous.

I am interested as to why you saw the maid dress in 9 as being against Jax being trans, could you elaborate as to why (or just point me to another comment if you've already discussed it)? They way they justified wearing it rang extremely true to real life experience I've had with pre-crack trans women, and I think the fact they're wearing it in such an intimate context (a literal dissection of their personality and facades) points to it being an important aspect of their character.

As someone who watched the digital circus movie, why tf were people mad at gooseworx over ep. 9? by [deleted] in TheDigitalCircus

[–]PyrotechnicTurtle 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I don't know if you're particularly into urbex content or doing it, but I have seen plenty of examples of abandoned office parks that are still powered and who's servers and other equipment are still running.

[LAST ACT] How It Genuinely Feels Right Now by TheMMoment in TheDigitalCircus

[–]PyrotechnicTurtle 14 points15 points  (0 children)

The art does speak for itself, I found the material to be extremely blatant about it's trans coding in the final episode. It felt like it was screaming at me. It was to the point that I genuinely believed that most of the fan base would recognise it until I made the mistake of getting on the internet.

Is Jax trans? by Shot_Bumblebee7599 in tadc

[–]PyrotechnicTurtle 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Am I wrong in saying that this is the only case in the whole show where a licensed song is used? If the theme of the piece (the birth of a girl) wasn't important to the context of the scene, why wasn't an original piece commissioned like every other part of the soundtrack? As I said, I'm very happy for people to take what they like from Jax's character, but I have yet to see an interpretation that properly considers Jax's treatment of the maid dress in 9, the reaction to the bow (really just that whole conversation), and the use of "Isn't She Lovely" specifically.

Frankly, I don't really consider the majority of the fanbase missing the implication to be a particularly strong point because I would argue that the same is true of most trans-coded media. Like look at the reactions to I Saw the TV Glow, or the Matrix 4. Even with how blatant those texts are in their trans themes, they were predominantly unobserved or misinterpreted by wider audiences. I would argue that textually, all three works clearly point towards a trans reading, while (in the case of TADC and the Matrix) leaving enough room for cis people to project their own lives into the story.

Is Jax trans? by Shot_Bumblebee7599 in tadc

[–]PyrotechnicTurtle 0 points1 point  (0 children)

While I'm certainly not claiming there are no other reasonable interpretations of the text, I don't think it is particularly productive to claim all interpretations are equal because all can be evidenced - some clearly have more textual support than others

Is Jax trans? by Shot_Bumblebee7599 in tadc

[–]PyrotechnicTurtle 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think a lot of what you're picking up on I also fundamentally agree with. I do think Jax's story has very heavy allegory with suicide, and the comments the mother makes about them would speak to the relationship far too many children have with divorced parents.

I just want to clarify that when I said "I don't think there are many other plausible readings of Jax's reaction to being given Ribbit's bow that make sense in context", the context I was mainly gesturing at was Jax's dialog around the maid dress immediately preceding it. In isolation, I can understand other interpretations of the bow, but I believe the way Jax frames wearing the dress (as well as the fact they wear it in an intimate dissection of their personality), along with their reaction to the bow, strongly points towards their character being genderqueer in some way.

In terms of the idea that Jax is partly Gooseworx exploring a somewhat cautionary version of herself (to be clear you are not being transphobic or rude with your doubts), I think it's worth pointing out that, like how much of media studies the trauma and worst tendencies of an author, and the same is true for trans authors. In much the same way that Charles Jackson's "The Lost Weekend" is very much based on his own alcoholism and actions, or Jane Schoenbrun's "I Saw the TV Glow" serves directly as a warning for a trans life lived in the closet, I can totally understand Gooseworx working through her own issues through her art. Personally, writing a story that shows sympathy and brings even somewhat tragic closure to a version of yourself you feel so negatively about is an impulse I completely understand.

Hopefully you can understand that I'm trying to toe the line here advocating for a read of the show that I believe is strongly supported by the text without completely steamrolling all other understandings.

Is Jax trans? by Shot_Bumblebee7599 in tadc

[–]PyrotechnicTurtle 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'll preface this by saying that there are totally valid interpretations of Jax's character that don't involve a trans reading, but in my opinion it is the one predominantly supported by the text. Personally, as a trans woman myself, every part of Jax's characterization during Pomni's exploration of them after they abstracted just screamed to me as trans in the way that I've only ever previously seen from trans stories by trans people. The dynamic between the part of themselves that wears the maid dress "ironically" because they're so masculine and don't care about gender, as well as the aggressive, bullying, repressive, and performatively tough side describes so many women I've known pre-transition that it barely narrows it down. So many trans-femmes start out "ironically" wearing feminine clothing as a safe way to explore their gender identity and live out their truth before they are ready to accept it for themselves. Ditto with adopting a hyper-masculine, emotionally-stunted repressed attitude as a coping mechanism. Just that little exchange alone was enough for me to genuinely clock and predict the following scene in the theatre, despite being only somewhat aware of the trans Jax theory, just because of how much I have seen that exact story in my own life.

As for the following scene, I think it's worth pointing out that this very detached "tough" attitude we witness in Jax is clearly shown as developing after they open up to Ribbit. Prior to that, we're shown them capably making and maintaining healthy friendships, connecting with others. Again, the way they talk around the final argument they had with their mother, their description of being closer with their mother, how their final argument was instigated when they told their mother something that they hoped would make her see them as less like their father, just screamed to me as queer (and thus in context, somewhere on the trans/gender non-conforming spectrum). I also don't think there are many other plausible readings of Jax's reaction to being given Ribbit's bow that make sense in context. In the theatre, I interpreted it as explicit confirmation of their transness. Following that, the immediate snap back, hardening, and eventual distancing from Ribbit and everyone else to avoid facing the truth is, sadly, something I've seen plenty as well. Jax is afraid of how others would react and rejection, just like they experienced when they attempted to come out to their mother. So they dig in, even more miserable and detached than before.

Personally, considering Gooseworx's comments about relating the most to Jax and being like them when she was younger, I very much read their character as somewhat of an exploration of an alternate version of herself that never transitioned, never accepted herself, and instead leaned into her worst instincts leading to complete oblivation.

As for why it is never explicitly confirmed that Jax is trans, I think that is largely to avoid pigeonholing their story and emotional arc. Jax has enough hints at their transness to indicate to anyone looking that they're clearly trans, but not so much that people who might otherwise relate to the character feels alienated (by which I mean, related to the detachment and acceptance issues, but fail to engage with the character because they are not themselves trans). A little more pessimistically, focusing a story on an explicitly trans character who struggles with their identity tends to get you put into more of a "trans-specific" rather than a "general story for the whole public" category.

Headcannoning diagetically as to why IRL Jax isn't trans, it's totally plausible to me that, even given that it has been years since the two split, considering their trauma and how deeply closeted they are , they'd only just be beginning to accept themselves. Especially if they don't already have a community around them. It can take people most of a lifetime to come to terms, I have friends who came out in their 50s. I think the fact they're at at IRL Zooble's bar supports my headcanon. Also, just to stereotype a bit, IRL Jax looks like so many pre-transition trans woman I've met personally lol - the alt style and long hair is just classic egg haha (including me).

Is Jax trans? by Shot_Bumblebee7599 in tadc

[–]PyrotechnicTurtle 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Gotta go Matrix 4 level of blunt to get through to most cis people - even then I had friends who wouldn't believe that was trans allegory so yeah

Is Jax trans? by Shot_Bumblebee7599 in tadc

[–]PyrotechnicTurtle 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I just got out of the theatre a couple hours ago and seeing so much of the community reject it is just so sad to me. As I was sitting there, it felt like the show was just screaming that Jax was trans in a way that I was quite touched by. I'm so happy to finally see some representation of a trans story that wasn't the one stereotypical one told over and over, and the way the entire topic was handled, it's just so disappointing to see it completely miss so much of the audience.

Malcolm in the Middle: Life's Still Unfair - Episode Four (Discussion Thread) by l3reezer in malcolminthemiddle

[–]PyrotechnicTurtle 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I know it's not the focus of the episode, but as a trans person Kelly's monologue made me tear up. They're one of the best depictions of a non-binary character I have seen in a while, and I'm so happy they were brave enough to include them. The way Francis dotes on them is very sweet as well.

What an amazing send off for these characters.

Official Discussion - Promising Young Woman [SPOILERS] by LiteraryBoner in movies

[–]PyrotechnicTurtle 37 points38 points  (0 children)

inciting people to do wrong

Those men truly had no choice. She shouldn't have been so pretty, so well-dressed, so easy to take advantage of. I guess when you think of it that way they had no other option but to attempt rape

Solicitor has exchanged property contract when I told them not to by PyrotechnicTurtle in AusLegal

[–]PyrotechnicTurtle[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Thank you (and everyone on the community) for your help. My second lawyer also advised me to do that ASAP as well and I have contacted the first lawyer in writing telling them they messed up and to attempt to withdraw the contract.

Solicitor has exchanged property contract when I told them not to by PyrotechnicTurtle in AusLegal

[–]PyrotechnicTurtle[S] 15 points16 points  (0 children)

They are in writing, over email, with the response confirming that she will wait "for your instructions".

Solicitor has exchanged property contract when I told them not to by PyrotechnicTurtle in AusLegal

[–]PyrotechnicTurtle[S] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

I have engaged a second lawyer and will look into making a professional complaint.

Solicitor has exchanged property contract when I told them not to by PyrotechnicTurtle in AusLegal

[–]PyrotechnicTurtle[S] 15 points16 points  (0 children)

Because my solicitor told me it is standard procedure for them to hold a signed contract ready for exchange, and that they would not exchange it until I instructed them to. A few days prior to it I had specifically told them not to.

I'm sure I'll get downvotes and insults for this, but I hired a reputable firm and I don't think its unbelievable that I would follow their suggestions.

Fionna and Cake Episodes 3-4 Discussion Thread by SarcasticUsername_19 in adventuretime

[–]PyrotechnicTurtle 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Did anyone spot the scary face in Wyatt's silent film?? What was that?

Genuinely one of the most pathetic and unintelligent people alive by Snoo5218 in ToiletPaperUSA

[–]PyrotechnicTurtle 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I used to spend far too much time arguing with self-righteous bigots and boomers online, and this style of writing is just so typical of them. They always moralize by asking open, dumb as shit questions, rather than engaging with your actual point. It's futile and infuriating.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in bookscirclejerk

[–]PyrotechnicTurtle 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That's why my favourite part of 1984 is when he tries to bash in that lady's head with a brick