I am currently a student of Library Science, but I will also be a lover of literature (of all kinds). I have a Masters in English and currently working toward a MLIS. I love pop culture (bits and pieces of course), reading, and video games. I aim to use this love to help my future patrons find their own connections to literature.
It has been awhile. I need to get my act together! But the problem is that I am learning sooo much in my classes and in internship, I just don’t have time. In fact, I should be working on my assignments and not posting. Maybe I have connected more with my YA patrons then I had thought. Food for thought, there.
I posted for Loki. I have found a new source of inspirtation of research–for later. I need to do a post for my reading of American Gods; I finally got around to reading it in June as well as other YA books. Since this is my field, I am doing…research, heehee. I need to finish that Wicked Lovely series, but it will have to wait because currently, my Graphic Novel in Libraries class have me reading the following books:
Last semester, in the Spring, I made this website for a class. It had been over a year since I had really done any academic research or had any discussion with anyone about Loki. During Summer Session 1 (Pop Culture and the YA course), I talked with a fellow peer about villains and Loki and he made me realize something–but as I type this, a part of me is losing the adjustment I made to the character of Loki because…I am talking myself back into anti-villain Loki.
One of the biggest points that I had made in my research, and come to the conclusion to, is that a trickster becomes what is needed at the moment. That is what a Catalyst is, essentially, they become what is needed when it is needed.
Yet, I have always struggled with the concept of the character of Loki as a villain. In my deduction, Loki is not a villain–merely a catalyst that mirrors one but is not actually so. This is where I am struggling here. I cannot accept Loki as a villain because he is a trickster at the core of the archetype, the character.
However, I look back at the title of this Post as well as my memories of American Gods (which will be another post soon), and I think my peer did make a lasting impression on me. Maybe I can adjust my thinking because just like YA literature, Pop Culture is always changing, always transitioning, always adaptation. Just like a trickster. In the MCU, Loki is seen as a villain by all even if under heavy deciphering and analyzing, one can argue something different. Maybe I just need to look at the MCU Loki and various other incarnations of this character in this area as a different type of Loki. The MCU Loki can be built on the core of a tricskster, but writers can change him.
Therefore, the MCU Loki could be a villain of a kind. Maybe a new kind of one. In this new era of pop culture and all the literature that encompasses it, villain does not mean the same anymore. Unfortunately, people still lump them all together.
So maybe my job isn’t proving Loki is still a trickster and, therefore, not a villain. But I should be defining the new type of Loki by a new definition of villain?
After all, haven’t I heard so many times during my Audiobook reading of Good Omens, that nice does not mean the same anymore? Do I not know that many words are not the same as they once were? After all, is that not why I have trouble connecting with classics and literature of a different generation? Because the cultural differences?
I think I have my next project. That and a post of American Gods.
It has been over a month since I last wrote anything, and it hurts. I had thought with this site things would be different, and I would have some motivation to keep doing something, but, like always, life gets in the way. I just completed one course, and my last course has a final on Monday. Not to mention, Summer welcomes two classes and an Internship that will total to 240 hours. FUN! And it will be: I will finally get my chance to experience working at a Public Library.
Until then, I have been racking my brain for research. Do I start something new or continue with something old? If so, WHAT? The PCAS conference is coming up in the Fall, like every year, and I will go this time. It has been at least two or three years since I have gone. I hate it. The only question is what to do? Present research already one and get some feedback or do some more OUAT. I still have three essays to finish this line of research. I have to do some Motherhood, more ReginaxEmma comparison. I think it is really telling that Emma’s story ends in OUAT season 6 and Regina continues in Season 7.
So, what do you think, Regina and Motherhood or an Ecocritical look at the MCU’s Loki? Is anyone even reading this?
On a different note, this weekend I WILL be seeing Avengers: Endgame, so we will see where Loki’s journey truly ends. I think I owe him another essay from Ragnarok and Avengers: Infinity War. My last one went from Thor, Avengers, to Thor: ADW.
Ever got really acquainted with a archetype of character you LOVE seeing adapted? (I’m mostly thinking of Shakespeare stuff and Fairy Tales because what gets THAT many reboots?) Or, let’s go with that. You loved the original but hated the reboot (original Star Wars/Trek fans I’m pointing at YOU)?
It just rips you apart when you see this new portrayal and you want to instigate Ragnarok just to start over and wipe the screen clean?
I have one of those with Loki. All the freaking time. When I was researching the character, almost everything critical showed him as an evil villain, but the analysis never touched who Loki really is.
Son of the Mask is just a failure in my opinion. As I watched it, I couldn’t really feel for Loki. I hated Odin, like always, but I was too caught up with how wrong Loki was.
Summary: Loki created a mask that made the wearer equal to him in power and released into the mortal world. This movie has Odin threatening Loki that he has to find the mask all of a sudden, after centuries. Loki searches for it only to be thwarted because a man got someone pregnant while wearing the mask which meant baby had powers without the mask. This baby is somehow cognizant enough to protect his father and keep the mask away from Loki. Then Loki is disowned and stripped of powers because he is too destructive. Loki begs Odin for one more chance and this chance: kidnapping the baby in exchange for the mask. Then all suddenly, Loki wants to keep the baby right when he gets what he wants. Then a battle ensures mask versus Loki, and a “who do you want, baby” battle, and, finally, again, disappointing daddy causing permanent disownment but not before Loki’s daddy-son relationship is saved by the man whose life he kind of ruined/tried to kidnap his baby. Everyone ends up with hugs and kisses and happy ending.
Why is Odin ALWAYS Loki’s father? The original myths had them as blood-brothers and companions. There were some with Thor, but his connection was first and foremost with Odin–it was how he was able to be Aesir (Norse version of God). But that is a different discussion there.
Second, why out of left field, does Loki want to keep the baby?
What is with the dark tone suddenly ending in hugs and kisses and rainbows? Loki hurts people, tries to murder others, baby kidnapping, etc, and suddently the world is right? How is a centuries old dissapointing relationship suddenly solved?
The movie sucks. I hate the wishy washy Loki. Are you a trickster or a mindless chaos inducer? They make Loki turn out to be a wimp like he has no substance. There didn’t seem to be any reason for his actions. You attacked someone because they told history wrong? You are obsessed with Odin’s approval? Your methods are just…I find no words.
A good film would be able to connect all those for me. They would make me believe that Loki is that deep that he has that many connections in this film. However, it just seems to me that the film writers didn’t know Loki and just tossed stuff together based on Thor comics and didn’t care if it worked. I mean, if you are going to introduce the family line, make it believable. Make me hurt. Make me feel damnit!
Tom Hiddleston and Sir Anthony Hopkins took me down a rabbit hole that causes depression but I welcomed it. I welcomed the nights i couldn’t sleep because it was dymantic not static. There was reason, rhyme, the whole nine yards. This? I didn’t understand this at all.
Really, if you want to go for another Loki, go watch 13 seasons of Supernatural and the 10 or so episodes with the “Loki” character is alive! It is worth the 13 seasons. In fact, when I get around to finishing season 12, or starting 13, I will be diving into that Rabbit Hole. I love Loki on Supernatural. One of my favorite characters besides Squirrel and Castiel.
Honestly, the four or so issues of Loki in Sandman and small number in Lucifer are worth more than this. (comic books, original). In fact, I will get that together in the future and look into that.
So, in the end, Son of the Mask, is not a very good primary source for research unless you want to do lots of bashing. Or write an essay about how wrong popular culture is with Loki. In fact, that might be a good paper. “What’s Wrong with Modern Writers of Myths”.
Ok, everyone! The site is completely ready and live! The source pages are done and a bit different. I tried to keep most of the stuff similar but with different topics. Like what type of this and that. My have my posts done, I think I am going to add another one here in a day or so about something Fairy Tale. I just feel the need.
I feel like I need to add both of these because I am not finished with neither and they are both pulling me in. These are important because they are the first shows in a while I am watching by myself. Usually, I watch stuff with a family member because we are all interested in (like I am the Night or Grey’s Anatomy). I think I may include a section of recommendations for each section.
Current T.V. shows I am in the middle of watching:
Deadly Class (cable) & The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (Netflix)
I am adding more and more making me think that this site will never be finished. Which, while sounding bad, is good. I started doing this for a college course, but it has turned into something more. Of course, while it may help with research in the end when I finally decided to publish something, I don’t my fanfiction readers are going to appreciate it. It took me over a year to actually update this time, and it has been a few weeks since I wrote anything. Sad but true. I won’t be having lots of updates after Wednesday because my group is building a different website for a client for the big class project. It is going to be fun! I have gained a lot of experience doing this, so I hope it helps.
I am in the process of adding Source pages for the subjects/categories. These I think are good because not only do the give some type of background/direction but also may help others if they come looking to research. I may not officially be a teacher, but as a future librarian, I want to help as much as I can.
Tomorrow, I will be finishing up the final two source pages: Classic&Comic and Fairy Tales. If anyone is actually reading this, I have included two places you can find posts from each section. Directly under the menu for the Source section, I have included one page that will have ALL the posts if you want to binge read or individual ones. You do you.
Last Book series (I am in process of still) read[ing]:
Don’t know what “vlogging” is? Neither did I until I took a graduate course titled that worked with Jane Austen on Film. Vlogging is the same as blogging but with videos. Basically, all those Youtube streamers you like or know of? They basically vlogg.
As amazing as it sounds, I need to thank Jane Austen, writer and history maker, for introducing me to a twenty-first century piece of literature.
The Lizzie Bennet Diaries Episode 1 (the link leads to a playlist of all the videos).
This series has the character, Lizzie Bennet, blogging to the world in a few short minutes each episode through videos. It loosely takes the original story and brings into the modern era. It is really amazing. One issue some might have is that not all the characters are there are the time: it is mainly Lizzie. Think of vlogging as a diary as the series title suggest. The others characters do appear and interact in the videos with her.
There are many modern issues that it addresses. For one, it talks about college and careers, and even financial status of low, middle-class families. I myself connect because I grew up on the lower end of middle-class myself.
The Lizzie Bennet Diaries was so popular when it was released that the creators/publishers expanded into side series with different characters and created an actual company. Pemberley Digital.The company even expanded and did different shows than just than just ones that come from Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. There are shows based on Frankenstein, Sanditon, Little Women, and Emma. Three of these shows are based on Austen’s works, and two are not.
In the end, back to Lizzie, this series is a great modern twist on a cultural classic. At the time, Pride and Prejudice talked about modern cultural concerns. With a bit of adjustment, the tale is still relevant to this day.
Honestly? This is what I wanted to do when I was on track to be a teacher: I wanted to help students connect with literature. Secretly, I wanted to be the writer/creator of series like this. I want to make a difference in the scholarly and public field. Which is why I am so invested in this site. I want to keep up my research, want to keep up with my interests even when I am doing a different degree (MLIS) and busy elsewhere.
I have added another post and added the four category: Classics & Comics. It is official. Enjoy the section that will have posts from where all this started. Or at least the where the papers started.
Now we are running around four: categories for posts Loki, Classics/Comics, Fairy Tales, and Other. They are going to have their own pages kind of like the resource one when I finish tomorrow. I also added a “Resource Breakdown” page that will help young scholars sort out research when it comes to popular culture: it is bare bones, so warning.
I have fully fleshed out the “Home” page, so it now contains a history and backstory to this website. It is personal, so please, be kind.
On a different note, I was wondering if anyone would want a section that takes about posters? Every conference I have presented in, I had visual aid. Just some pictures and posters. I haven’t done a powerpoint, but those are good. I did do one for a project that led to a Fairy Tale idea/paper…I might add those later.
Last Graphic Novel I read:
Lucifer Book Three
<Please note that bold, italics, and striked out means it is a link>
At a conference in 2008 or 2009, I thought I was being original when I thought of combining Shakespeare with a superhero from a comic. It is now 2019, and the thought has gained enough traction that a book is published! Not that I read it. I was actually looking for a meme, but I didn’t find anything. I am learning more and more about memes everyday (I’m slow; most of my peers have been into them for years).
Despite first making a connection of Loki and some of Shakespeare’s more popular characters, I didn’t actually write that paper first. I wasn’t really into Thor, and at this time, I avoided him like a plague. Instead, I explored more of Batman and the antagonistic connection one has with their protagonist because I, like everyone else, is and will always be intrigued with the Joker.
While Joker could be classified as a villain, I have never seen Hotspur as villain. He was a man trying to do the best for his family. In fact, when it came to the story, Hotspur and Hal cannot exist without each other. Without Hotspur pushing him on, Hal would never achieve his destiny as Henry V. Then where would Henry IV, Part 2 and Henry V be?
The same can be said with Batman: no one pushes him like the Joker. No one effects or affects him like the Joker. No one took a Robin from him. There are storylines that just further their relationship. Joker starts “Endgame” (trying to kill Batman) when he feels Batman betrayed him for the “Bat” family during the “Death of the Family” storyline (this is where Joker goes after a the Bat family [Batgirl, Robin, Nightwing, Red Hood, Red Robin] and tries to prove to Batman that they hold him back and only Joker understands him). Until “Endgame,” Joker never seriously tried to kill Batman.
Batman: Death of the Family (left) & Endgame (right) covers
While there were obvious differences: Batman doesn’t kill his enemy (because it is a comic book that has run for over 50+ years…you can’t kill the Joker), etc, there are still great connections between the two. They embody a connection between them that is parasitic.
So, in essence, Shakespeare is its on thing and nothing can replace it or do it better because it is itself. The point is this section and the entire paper was that a core theme was found and explored. These connections exist! It makes it easier for us connect and learn and enjoy works of art that were made to be enjoyed.
In fact, stay tuned for a post that takes classic and comics to the next level: and not in the way of a compare contrast like I do.
Please forgive the progress as I spend the next few days updating the pages and expanding the website. My goal is to have minihome pages for the category posts and to do more with the home page. Please bare with me as I do this in pieces and learn how to operate wordpress in the process. For now, I am trying to do too many things at one time. Like try and figure out how to add a sidebar that shows category posts not all posts or recent posts. My goal here is to organize it all into sections that the posts belong to not just lump them all together. So, in essence, I am going to have the section pages have a sidebar that shows recent posts for that category. I will add a showcase to a page when I figure out what it is. I am thinking a sidebar on the updates page that shows recent blog posts in general (which is easy–its the specific category post sidebar that I am having trouble with)….Maybe archive them and see if I can do that with archive posts?
Has there ever been a series that you love more
than anything? That you have to dig and dig just to figure out every bit of
lore piece there is? To find out extactly what the heck is going on? That the
series in question has a few VERY important side shows that a hard to make
sense of as well because you know there is more? That the damn series is a
puzzle you are trying to put together only to find out that you’re missing
something that is either that side series publication or something you’ve been
waiting on for more than a decade (and during that time bashing your head
against the metaphorical wall with the side series)?
Yeah, I kind of got a few video game series
like that. I live to analyze and tear
things apart only to put them back together. That is how I started the whole
Story Catalyst thing. I wanted to understand characters and their stories. How
they fit together, etc, etc. I wanted to solve puzzles. Why this, why that.
In Kingdom
Hearts and Destiny, it is kind of
hard to do just that. Even after playing almost all the games in the former, I
still am unsure how a lot of the pieces fit together. I know the last two games
will help, but I need to understand the before, before getting into the after.
That is why it is so frustrating for me to figure out these catalysts here. I
don’t have the whole story, funny enough. That and the lore of the series just
isn’t jumping out at me.
Destiny 1 was actually criticized for having no story and for the lore being locked behind a player spend like 1000+ hours playing the game (and still not getting some stuff). I can confirm this. I started with the second game, and the lore is not consist. Some is locked behind you being a damn good player, some by just tediously doing stuff, and others, the most annoying, is locked behind RNG. RNG is basically a numbered chance for players to attain items in the game. (For example, a certain ship needed to show off your baddass skills has like a 3% chance to drop upon completing an activity you can only do once per character [max 3] every three weeks). This is why players have to spend months do stuff over and over just to get loot and lore.
It is very frustrating. Even more so, I love
these games, but I am finding a hard time being able to write on them because
the story is so hard to grab hold of. Even though it is, I still love series
because what I can understand, is awesome.
I am experimenting with this site and I added a secret picture in the file attached.
I have added some site pages that will keep my ideas coordinated instead of just all on the front page. I like the organization. Please enjoy the posts and the thoughts they produce.
Fairy tales, like Myths, are a complicated matter. One of
the biggest things readers and scholars have to remember is that the tale is…adjustable.
In other words, each fairy tale is almost like an adaptation of each other. Just
like the original myths of old, fairy tales
(like everything) were once told orally. Only when humans advanced
enough for written language (thought and ability), did we get physical, written
accounts of this cultural history.
One of the most famous fairy tale capturers were the Brothers
Grimm. They went around Germany and wrote down the various tales and variations
of those tales among the people there. Then, they wrote them down. I cannot be
sure if there was editing in the first edition, but they ended up writing 3 versions
of their fairy tales and each one was different. Two examples: there were
different fairy tales in each edition. The first edition didn’t have all the
ones the third, and one we look upon most often, edition. The second is that The
Wicked Stepmother from Snow White’s tale wasn’t always the stepmother. In the
first edition, it was her mother. But because these tales are very influential
in the culture, it had to be changed. Mothers had a duty to their children. Lesson
Stories couldn’t be seen doing the opposite.
Then you have modern adaptations who take it a step futher:
in Once Upon a Time, the wicked stepmother lost the love of her life because
Snow White couldn’t keep a secret. Instead of being jealous of a child’s beauty—which
is not something we support nowadays—we have a story of people being human.
Characters are more relatable especially the so-called villains.
Take a look, and see what you find when you go investigating into Fairy Tales.
I love books, but
I love analyzing them even more. I am drawn to the pop culture of now. I like
comics and fairy tales, and so I want to know what makes them tick.
After examining the character of Loki, I came up with story catalysts. I was reading some of the original myths of the trickster and comparing them to the character Marvel Comics had produced, and I came to a realization about Loki, God of Mischief: he was a catalyst. Without him, there was no story. Whether he instigated, started it back, or ends the tale. He was a trickster with a job to do not an evil villain.
This led me to more investigating: what was a villain? How evil are they? What is a trickster? Are Tricksters evil? It all blew my mind, and one day, I will publish my investigation.
Catalyst of the Story 