I Have A Theory I Call The Eight Themes. And Basically All Literature, Movies, TV, Video Games, Comics,

I have a theory I call The Eight Themes. And basically all literature, movies, TV, video games, comics, etc, can essentially be broken in one or more of the eight themes that make up our stories.

You have

1. The Beginning

2. Man VS Nature

3. Man VS Man

4: Man VS Himself

5:Man VS Supernatural

6: Man VS His Creation

7:Man VS Time

8: The End

There's a tweet that's gone viral where a person laments realizing that Star Wars "ripped off" Dune, and how learning all the elements Star Wars took from its inspiration tainted it. And I think it shows how poisonous the emphasis on originality in art can be. Because yes, it's wonderful when art makes something new, but it's also wonderful seeing how art plays on what came before, and the conversations it has with its predecessors.

There's going to be a lot of people talking about how much of an impact Goku from Dragon Ball Z has made on fiction in the wake of Akira Toriyama's recent passing, and all the characters who were inspired by him and his story. But Goku himself is derivative - he's inspired by the Monkey King from Journey to the West, one of the first novels ever written. He's far from the first character inspired by the Monkey King, either, and also far from the last.

None of this makes Goku's impact any less than it is. None of this decreases how Goku's story has inspired countless imitators. Just as Toriyama created a new icon from imitating what he loved about Journey to the West, so did Toriyama inspire countless artists to make their own iconic works with his take on the Monkey King's archetype. Goku is, in many ways, the heir to a legacy that spans back to the 16th century, and likely beyond - because I doubt the original Monkey King was formed in a vacuum.

We're taught to think that originality and imitation are opposites that cannot coexist, but they're not mutually exclusive. One can follow in another's footsteps and still take a new journey with its own unique twists and turns. The great works of art are not spawned in the absence of inspiration - they are in conversation with what came before and what will come after.

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11 months ago

Half of our water wells have been destroyed, along with 42,000 meters of water networks. Support us in repairing the water wells and ensuring water access for the residents of #Gaza City.

Support Link: https://t.co/DR0P9iVohK#LifeForGaza pic.twitter.com/Xg86QWkvRv

— بلدية غزة - Municipality of Gaza (@munigaza) April 25, 2024

We remind you that the most important campaign currently running for Gaza is the water campaign below. Please keep this campaign top of mind and push it everywhere you can. https://t.co/hS6l15ru1A

— Gaza Funds (@gazafunds) May 5, 2024

gaza-city.ensany.com

نداء الحياة لغزة

نداء الحياة لتقديم خدمات المياه وجمع النفايات وازالة الركام وخدمات الصرف الصحي للمواطنين في مدينة غزة - بلدية غزة

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winterboundwitch-blog

6 months ago

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winterboundwitch-blog

10 months ago

Cat update!

Cat update. Last year around this time I was coming home late. It's was almost pitch black out and as I opened my front door I heard a loud screaming cry of a kitten. So I shut my front door and went to the end of my porch to see what I could find. What I found was a tiny shape running down the sidewalk screaming at fhe top of their lungs. They ran straight to me and climbed my dress. After I picked them off my dress I saw in my hands this tiny orange and white baby. I took him in the house and he quickly became family. Now my Emilia has her big little brother Orion. Still my loves, even when he is being a goblin.

As we conclude our week-long sea-lebration of her birthday, let's reflect on Rosa’s time at the Aquarium!

A cut-out image of Rosa the sea otter when she was a pup against a dark blue background with a faint pattern of squiggly scientific illustrations of seaweed on top. She has fluffy brown fur on her body with lighter blond fur on her face and lies on her tummy in front of an orange bat star. White text at the top of the image reads, “1999 - Rosa is rescued as a one-month-old pup and cared for by our Sea Otter Program.”

A cut-out image of Rosa the sea otter floating on her back against a dark blue background with a faint pattern of squiggly scientific illustrations of seaweed on top. Rosa’s dark brown fur, blond face, and dark brown flippers are visibly wet as they poke up out of the water, and she is looking at the camera with her mouth open, showing off her sharp white teeth and bright pink tongue. White text at the top of the image reads, “2002 - Rosa joins the Sea Otters exhibit at the Aquarium, and melts hearts with her signature swimming moves!”

A cut-out image of a side-view of Rosa and a sea otter pup against a blue background with a faint pattern of squiggly scientific illustrations of seaweed on top. Rosa and the pup are looking at each other, with their faces very close to one another. Rosa’s blond fur on her face contrasts the pup’s chocolatey-brown fur. The pup’s paws are raised towards Rosa’s mouth trying to grab a bright red crab from Rosa. White text at the top of the image reads, “2005 - Rosa is paired with her first orphaned sea otter pup as part of our surrogacy program. It’s an immediate success!”

A cut-out image of a close up of the faces of two of the Aquarium’s sea otters, Rosa and Selka, against a blue background with a faint pattern of squiggly scientific illustrations of seaweed on top. Rosa, on the left, has light brown and blond fur, and Selka, on the right, has dark brown fur. White text at the top of the image reads, “2012 - Rosa raises Selka, who eventually becomes one of the next generation of our sea otter surrogates!”

A cut-out image of Rosa the sea otter as she floats on her back while holding a large, tan crab in her paws, against a blue background with a faint pattern of squiggly scientific illustrations of seaweed on top. Her mouth is open as she moves to cronch down on the claw of the crab with her powerful jaws. White text at the top of the image reads, “2019 - Rosa retires after raising 15 orphaned pups, and spends time behind the scenes and on exhibit enjoying her favorite foods—clams and crabs!”

A cut-out image of a close-up of Rosa the sea otter floating on her back, against a blue background with a faint pattern of squiggly scientific illustrations of seaweed on top. Rosa is looking off to the right, and has her paws raised up out of the water in front of her, showing off the dark pads of her hands and toe beans. Her wet fur is dark brown one her torso and blonde on her face and chest. White text at the top of the image reads, “2023 - Rosa turns 24! She is the oldest southern sea otter on record!"

We’re so grateful for the opportunity to care for Rosa 💙 Help us wish her the fluffiest, happiest 24th birthday!

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winterboundwitch-blog

10 months ago

Head Cannon for a NPMD AU.

Max survives, and during a lengthy stay in the hospital Grace spends an awful lot of time proselytizing to him. After he recovers, with a limp dt damage from the injuries, he begins a whole new life. Gets baptized at Grace's church, and even applies to Grace's Bible College. The two marry quickly their freshmen year to no one's surprise.

Problem is, Max hasn't changed. All those months Grace slowly revealed how horrible of a person she is and was raised to be. Max sees the light of how he can continue to control and bully people after hig h school. Hell, these people would pay him to do it! Grace is still turned on by his violence and power. Together they start a megachurch and have six horrible children.