Beaucephalis

Beaucephalis

Writing isn't just a form of escapism for me. It's a passion, just like gaming.

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    Latest Articles

    Latest Topics

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    The Failure of Disney remakes

    The Disney classics will forever remain in everyone's hearts, as they were made with love, creativity and imagination. The animated adaptations had managed to capture the magic of the original stories extremely well, such as "The Little Mermaid", "Peter Pan"…

    Nowadays, Disney has been on the warpath with the remakes of their old classics and has been putting out live-adaptations this time. Somehow, retelling the same stories with a different animation and using big shot superstars (such as Will Smith playing the Genie in the lamp in "Aladdin" or Beyoncé as Nala in "The Lion King") to appeal to the audience has managed to bring in some money.

    However, there seems to be something wrong about these remakes. The latest live-adaptations seem to have been taking the fans for granted by changing the very core of the stories that were brought to life and were adored; for example, the lead actress of Snow White intended to portray Snow White as some sort of 'leader' who doesn't need a man… which is the complete opposite of who Snow White actually is. The origins of Cruella Deville in "Cruella" practically twisted this evil and detestable character into an alternate version of itself and completely changed it to some kind of… 'hero'?

    How and why does changing the core of the classics to accommodate the most popular trends and movements (such as feminism) nowadays backfire badly on Disney, resulting in the House of Mouse losing massive amounts of money and alienating their audience despite banking on nostalgia to revive their popularity?

    • I think it may be important to consider 'why' Disney is remaking these classics. Obviously, Disney is in it to make money. However, was a staple in Gen X and Millennials lives. These classics, in their old animation style, will never be enjoyed by the younger generation. – morgantracy 10 months ago
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    The Influence of Carmilla

    Throughout the years following the publication of the novel, the character of Carmilla has influenced popular culture in a way that it's been used a lot of times. Some writers have even written a sequel to the original novel, whilst others have included the iconic character in other forms of media; films, television, video games, comics.

    Carmilla's character seems iconic in the way that she seems to represent a symbol of Gothic literature and the Gothic genre in general, on the same level as Dracula. She is depicted differently in other forms of media, so much that her lore seems to evolve from one author to another. Even her personality varies, depending on how she's meant to fit in the media that wishes to see her in another way. For example, the 2000 Japanese movie "Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust" has depicted Carmilla as a noble vampire that was known for her vain and gluttonous tyranny by bathing herself in the blood of virgins. She'd even been named the "Bloody Countess" as a result. Her acts had disgusted Dracula so much that he'd destroyed her himself.

    It's quite a far cry from Carmilla's original depiction. But somehow, she fits the tone wanted by the author.

    Why would other artists choose to depict Carmilla as differently as possible? Examine the reasons why her character has such a great influence in popular culture to the point that she needs to be modified to fit in the tone of another story.

      14

      The Appeal of the female characters in Arcane: League of Legends

      Ever since "Arcane: League of Legends" came out, the praises haven't stopped and are still keeping the show alive in people's minds. Even months later, people are still loving its story, characters and storytelling because it has come out in an era where diversity and an agenda have now convinced screen writers and comic book writers that it was enough to make a good story.

      So many things stood out in "Arcane", but one of the most important was the way female characters were written. Violet, Caitlyn, Jinx, Councilman Medarda… they were written and characterized in a way that made them both appear strong and weak at the same time. Circumstances of the story showed their vulnerability and their strength in a matter of 'Show, don't tell' that has been lost these past few years in movies and TV shows where they have female leads.

      This begs the question as to what else could have made these female characters so appealing to the public upon the release of the hit Netflix series. What has made them stand out so much in "Arcane: League of Legends" among the throng of other female characters? How has the writing of the show made them special and quite unique in their own way?

      • Arcane is an excellent show. There are a host of well developed female characters in the show (as well as male characters). I think that one of the things that make the characters so great are that the characters all have clear goals, desires, and fears that they are dealing with throughout the season. Rather than simply being a love interest or minor background characters, each of the characters has their own arc, with nuanced exploration of who they are and what they want. – Sean Gadus 2 years ago
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      • I find this really interesting. I watched Arcane through twice; once alone and once with my parents. Watch through one I found myself in adoration of Councilman Medara. Arcane fascinatingly has no inherently right or wrong people; they are borne of their ideas and upbringing which shape their decisions (like real people). I find other shows haven't really done this with women to the same extent, haven't given them the space to be debatable or mildly disagreeable but still very likeable. It also helps that it's rare in this type of media to see a person of colour with this depth of character. The second time was a bit different. It came with a few insensitive remarks from my father about character design, mainly how they're depicted in similar ways to his eras sex icons were portrayed. I don't necessarily agree, and I doubt these designs were made entirely for this purpose and yet his comment has me thinking about how much their likeability is tied to their character design, and would we like them less without Jinx's iconic braids or V's build. I'd say no, Caitlyn's outfits aren't too remarkable and I love her character's progression. – Zephyr 2 years ago
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      • This is a great topic, I have re-watched the series multiple times. The way the writers deal with gender in the story is very unique in how they neutralise gender stereotypes, with not only the women but also the men. I particularly applaud how they show Vi taking many hits, and showing the ugly side of violence that isn't often shown on female characters. – TheResearchPixie 2 years ago
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      • I think female characters are seen as more appealing because they finally get the representation in video games. – hafsakhan310 2 years ago
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      • I definitely agree that the female characters in Arcane stand out from other films and tv shows I've watched. They have actual depth and personality. We have strong, capable characters like Vi and Caitlyn who we actually want to root for. We have an interesting antagonist like Sevika who is respected by someone with the kind of power Silco has. None of the female characters (including even Mel and Jinx) are treated as if because they are women they have a less important role. They're just treated as people with their own trauma, expectations, motives, etc. Many of the women in the show exist, not to serve some arbitrary purpose or to prop up a male character, but because they are important to the story. – AnushkaJ 2 years ago
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      • Having female characters as the main characters for a show, which came from a game, which is not only male-dominated, but often sexist within the gaming community, is a very smart move from the producers/Riot. League of Legends players, along with many other consumers of this show, cannot deny how amazing the story was, and how amazing the main characters' lives were portrayed and I think this was really a powerful way to combat the negative perspective of women in games. Well done Riot, and lovely article! – Aleyna 2 years ago
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      The Importance of Mystery and the Past in Lady Mechanika

      "Lady Mechanika" is an independent comic book written by Joe Benitez, telling the story of a woman having lost all her memories. More importantly, she doesn't remember what happened to her as a child, as she'd been the victim of horrific experiments that have left her deeply scarred. Her limbs (arms and legs) were replaced by prosthetic limbs made of metal and her eyes have turned red, with the sclera now black.

      The main character is shrouded in mystery, which is one of the main themes of "Lady Mechanika". The identity crisis she's going through shoves challenges and obstacles in her quest of finding out the truth about her past, although it raises questions that shouldn't be ignored: is it that important to find out about your past, despite it being horrific enough to blow your mind, while you could just rebuild your life and move forward?

      Shouldn't it be better for the main character to rid herself of the shackles of the past and look forward to the future?

      It would be interesting to confront these questions in regard to the main character, who is so focused on her quest for identity throughout her adventures in the world created by Joe Benitez that it might seem borderline obsessive. While she has every right to find out the truth about her past and why she's been mutilated, going through such ordeal could also be seen as torment or being a glutton for pain.

        6

        Consistency, originality and creativity in

        The lore of "Trese" is as mysterious as it's intriguing, because the comics are based off Filipino mythology. This is quite uncommon to write about, as the comic book industry is vastly dominated by the super-hero genre, with issues coming out with brand new storytelling that haven't won over the public lately, but rather pushed them away. There are several reasons for the decline of the American comic book industry, such as a focus on a character's sexuality instead of writing a substantial story or rewriting a character that has already been established years ago to fit the present narrative.

        Consistency, originality, characterization and creativity seem to have been shoved aside to push an agenda forward. This agenda also drives comic book readers away, who can't stand to see their favorite characters becoming a figure of representation and diversity. This issue is problematic, as comics themselves offer a deeper introspection into the universe created by the writers; this is their vision they're willing to show to their potential readers through the characters, story and lore they create. The more original and creative a story is without the problems associated with diversity and representation, the more interested readers will be in comics.

        The "Trese" series have been ongoing since 2005 and have recently been given a Netflix adaptation, due to the success of the comics in the Philippines. What has been observed is that not only is it still coherent and consistent in its story-telling, but the originality and creativity in its lore keeps eliciting curiosity and a need to learn more about Filipino myths. The black and white style used by the creators also compliments the essence of "Trese", fitting the theme of horror. Such series that have remained unaffected by the drastic turn in the comic book industry is a rare sight to behold nowadays. It would be interesting to analyze the pros and cons of "Trese" to understand why and how the series succeed where American comic books have been failing for some time.

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          Latest Comments

          Beaucephalis

          Hey, thank you.

          Honestly, even I felt a bit anxious as to how I’d tackle this subject. It’s a sore and very sensitive one. I’d NEVER outright say that Lovecraft wasn’t that bad or his views weren’t extremely negative and hurtful, considering he was definitely convinced of his beliefs. It’s like those idiots who claimed that Jeffrey Dahmer ‘didn’t hurt’ his victims too badly when he freaking UNALIVED them!

          What were the takes you’re talking about? Which authors?

          Lovecraft & Racism
          Beaucephalis

          In my opinion, I truly believe his racism DID feed his work. He incorporated it so well in his works that I’m somewhat amazed it managed to help his creativity and imagination towards his mythos and everything his mind could conjure.

          Lovecraft & Racism
          Beaucephalis

          Belle does fit Pride and Vanity the most. This is a very good article! Thank you for the read!

          Disney Protagonists and the Seven Deadly Sins
          Beaucephalis

          Man, I really like Denji. He truly breaks the shonen protagonist trope in a way that makes him quite unique. Not overly good, but not overly evil. There’s some kind of balance found in his character that I’m enjoying both in the anime and in the manga.

          Chainsaw Man and the New Shonen Protagonist
          Beaucephalis

          Open-world games have become my favorite since I was a child. And The Legend of Zelda is extremely personal, though I’ve been seduced by Red Dead Redemption 2, its great story and Arthur Morgan’s character. You covered exactly what I like about the concept of open-world games in this great article!

          I’m gonna have to check out Uncharted.

          The Compulsive Indulgence of Open-World Games
          Beaucephalis

          There’s a first for everything, so have at it! 😀
          And you’re welcome.

          The Appeal of Wednesday Addams
          Beaucephalis

          She embodied Wednesday Addams so well… she gave a stellar performance in the movies! Ah, wished we’d see her more…

          The Appeal of Wednesday Addams
          Beaucephalis

          I have. Honestly, I’ll pick Wednesday over Greta any day.

          The Appeal of Wednesday Addams