enough with the stupid

[harborshore]

I would sincerely appreciate it if things got a little less irritating, hmm? As always, keep any discussion polite, I don't mind being disagreed with, etc.



Short list of dumbassness.

1. Warnings:
   
   I commented in various places when the latest round of "my ART is more important than your PAIN" came up, but I'll say it here too (not that anyone will be surprised): if your work of art relies on shock to make its point, ask yourself what reaction you're actually looking for from your audience, yes?
   
   Just as an example, is the reaction you want that someone ends up, oh, I don't know, hysterically crying for a day and a half, unable to do more than get food down and take a shaky walk when it abates (which will be interrupted halfway by another bout of hysterical crying)? No? I didn't think so.
   
   That right there was my reaction to something I read in February. Not a fic, as it happens, but the point stands. I don't actually think of myself as having triggers, but I learned from that instance that when I'm in a bad downward spiral, I need spoilers, I need to know what I read, I need to stay away from watching the news and certain TV shows, etc.
   
   But that's not what I was going to discuss, precisely--my point is that I don't think these writers/vidders are looking for that sort of reaction. I really don't. (Also, the idea that art with spoilers loses its effectiveness and its impact is stupid. Life is Beautiful, Lilja Forever, I could go on.)



2. Politics:
   
   Regarding politics in my country, I suppose I should be grateful that the discussions of the possibility of a female PM (gosh you guys, how weird is that? A WOMAN leading the country, can we deal with that?) have abated in favor of the possible prostitution scandal. Except, you know.
   
   The minister in question have stepped down, but he was the same one who had an MBA from one of those fake online buy-a-degree not accredited US universities on his CV until someone pointed out that it was, in fact, not a real degree, and I'm just still very sad about the fact that he was minister of labor in our government for what, three years? AUGH. And now it's possible he committed a crime too (buying sex is a crime here, selling it is not). Can we just get these people out of office? NOW?
   



3. On a personal level, apparently the university I'm applying to requires me to take a language test in order to demonstrate I passed the prerequisites for the teaching program in English--when I passed the prerequisites in question at THEIR INSTITUTION. Apparently "MA Program in Translation Studies focused on translation between English and Swedish" is really confusing, so I have to jump through more hoops.
   
   I can understand needing to take the language exam if all my credits were American, but considering I have a near-complete MA program from their university, it's tiresome. Also, for some reason the teaching program can't tell me what would resolve this beyond "contact the English program." Okay then!
   
   Between politics and this, I totes adore my country right now. *grits teeth*




But in much happier news, I've created workable drafts for a section and a half of my analysis over the last few days (WOHOO), the last issue of Birds of Prey is awesome and fixes what was ostensibly wrong with the last one, and two wonderful people wrote me stories!

nokomis305 wrote Moments Inside The Sun, which is Doctor Who/DC Comics, and seriously, seriously. Martha Jones and Stephanie Brown, you guys. Both of them are pitch-perfect (Stephanie facing down a mugger like she is "bulletproof," oh, my heart) and the way they interact is a joy. I LOVE THIS SO. Also, it's a freaking GENIUS way of resolving current DC canon. GO READ.

fictionalaspect bribed me to finish the section I was working on yesterday by saying she'd write me 500 words of whatever I wanted if I did--which is a very attractive offer, yes? So, ah, what I GOT was 3700 words of Laena/Annie college AU, complete with pining and hilarious shenanigans (Tennessee is so so so wonderful) and nods to my competence kink (Laena playing the violin, hell yes) and just--fuck, so great. Heard It Through The Grapevine. Hearts! Epic ones!