Curate, connect, and discover
this is very much subjective- and informed by own journey of dealing with abuse. I hope this makes sense, and I am very much open to other (respectful) opinions.
~The ‘revenge fantasy’ is a storyline I am somewhat sick of seeing! If someone finds them cathartic or helpful, that is wonderful; and everyone is allowed to have different relationships with media. I just want to see other story lines, for a number of reasons.
‘Getting even’ with ones abuser/s isn’t always feasible. Whether through legal means, or taking matters into your own hands, victims/survivors don’t always have that ability. The statistics on SA show this very clearly- the rate of convictions is appallingly low. For many, their abuser may pass away before ever facing the consequences of their actions. In addition, people don’t always want justice/revenge. In many ways, leaving no space for your abuser is the most helpful thing to do. Others may not find revenge satisfying. Especially after the focus and limelight in media, the actual emotional impact maybe somewhat of a letdown. One persons suffering does not erase anothers. Seeing ones abuser be hurt, it doesn’t undo the damage they’ve done, nor does it necessarily stop them from hurting others in the future.
I am also not talking about measures taken that prevent anymore people being hurt, that ensure abusers won’t have anymore victims. There are absolutely some people whose freedom must be taken away for the safety of others. But I will always be more in favour of options that work to rehabilitate. My veiw on the application of the prison system is that it should be about protecting people, not punishing them. I am far more interested in a narrative that centres solely around recovery, around someone rebuilding their life and relationships with no room for the person who hurt them. That makes clear that the abuser was a big part of their past, but won’t be a big part of their present or future.
Let me make this clear- I am not saying that getting justice is bad. I am saying that it is not essential.
Storylines of revenge 100% have their place, but framing them as an essential step in the healing process is not helpful.
thinking abt critiquing the entire existence of the revenge trope as it pertains to pandoras vault,, someone hype me up i need the confidence boost
I don’t think cc!Dream’s audio is meant to make c!Dream sympathetic. It is an audio practice of c!Dream, and c!Dream is known to be an extremely unreliable narrator, especially when trying to make it out that “woe is me, I was pushed to this”. I think c!Dream is definitely sympathetic, however not because he was pushed to this point, but because of how lonely he is and how determined he is to fulfill a futile plan.
So yeah, cool audio, but it isn’t exactly reliable, considering it’s coming from c!Dream. And yes, he can be honest- brutally sometimes- however, I think this is the time he is choosing to twist his actions and make it seem like he’s a victim to his own choices. Humans aren’t snakes, we’re aware of choices much more. Snakes bite to protect, and humans can blow up; can exile; can destroy, but that isn’t to protect.
thinking about the image of c!dream letting himself lose two lives, his body breaking apart with scars and wounds from torture, skin and bones from almost a year of starvation, with hardened and burnt skin from literally living inside an obsidian box surrounded by lava-- all for a plan we have absolutely no information about, and one that he was so eager to continue right after he got out.
i'm... in awe, genuinely.