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.
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”.
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.
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.
Catalyst of the Story 