Entry tags:
Entry tags:
End of Year Fandom Meme - Favourite Ships
~
1) SanSan (Sansa Stark x Sandor Clegane) – from the A Song of Ice and Fire series (book-version ONLY). The Little Bird and the Hound…the OTP that got me hooked on fanfiction in the first place, and the one that, no matter what, will always have a stronghold within my heart.
2) Bethyl (Beth Greene x Daryl Dixon) – from that terrible show that shall remain nameless, my achingly beautiful post-apocalyptic OTP of otps, and the pairing I’ve written the most fic for in recent years.
3) Anidala (Anakin Skywalker x Padme Amidala) – from the Star Wars Prequels and Clone Wars animated series. This one might come as a surprise to those who know me solely for the pairings listed above, but my love for these two as individuals, for their secret, intense forbidden romance, and for their glorious, devastating galactic apocalypse of a tragedy knows no bounds. To me, the cosmic embodiment of ‘Death and the Maiden’.
And last but most certainly not least, the fictional relationship that I think about almost constantly, all day and everyday....
4) Snips and Skyguy (Anakin Skywalker and Ahsoka Tano) – from The Clone Wars animated series. My all-time favourite ‘Master and Apprentice’ relationship, and the brotp I ‘ship’ as hard as any romantic pairing — so much so, I refer to them as my ‘OTF’, aka my ‘One True Friendship’. There are few fictional relationships I have bawled my heart out over more. 10/10 would die for them. :')
Entry tags:
Update :)
*** This is a personal and fandom-related update from my Star Wars sideblog (@the-far-bright-center) from a few months ago. I'm posting this in January 2019, but back-dating it to October 2018, when I first shared it on tumblr. Cross-posting it here now for archival purposes. :)
( Read more... )
Entry tags:
- anakin and luke,
- anakin skywalker,
- anakin's return,
- archived post,
- darth vader,
- death yet the force,
- divine comedy of redemption,
- father and son,
- joseph campbell,
- lucas' saga,
- luke and vader,
- luke skywalker,
- my edits,
- original trilogy,
- return of the jedi,
- rotj,
- star wars as myth,
- the barest flicker of persistent light,
- the redemption of the father,
- the skywalker saga,
- the unmasking of vader,
- true self,
- tumblr post,
- vader's redemption
Beholding the Face of the Father
~
“The hero…for a moment rises to a glimpse of the source. He beholds the face of the father, understands—and the two are atoned…. For the son who has grown really to know the father, the agonies of the ordeal are readily borne; the world is no longer a vale of tears but a bliss-yielding, perpetual manifestation of the Presence.”
Entry tags:
- alienation,
- anti-disney,
- anti-sequels,
- anti-tfa,
- anti-tumblr,
- anxiety,
- archived post,
- exhaustion,
- fandom,
- isolation,
- personal,
- personal fandom struggles,
- rants,
- star wars,
- sw fandom,
- sw negativity,
- tcw suicidal thoughts,
- the real skywalker saga,
- the skywalker saga,
- tumblr fandom,
- tumblr post,
- tw mental health,
- tw suicide ideation
eventually, even stars burn out
“Sometimes there are things no one can fix.”
~
Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve become increasingly concerned that my days in the SW fandom (or at least, the tumblr side of it) may be numbered.
~
Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve become increasingly concerned that my days in the SW fandom (or at least, the tumblr side of it) may be numbered.
I very much hope I’m wrong about this. So, on the slight chance that it might help somehow, I’ll try to explain why I feel this way right now.
( Read more... )Entry tags:
- alternate universe,
- anakin skywalker,
- anakin the free,
- anakin vs. vader,
- archived post,
- darth vader,
- death yet the force,
- fanfiction,
- fic excerpt,
- fic rec,
- muldertorture,
- my edits,
- other people's fanfiction,
- other people's fics,
- prequels-era,
- slavery vs. freedom,
- star wars,
- star wars au,
- steelneena,
- the barest flicker of persistent light,
- the chosen one,
- the chosen path,
- the chosen path au,
- the dragon of that dead star,
- the hero with no fear,
- true self,
- tumblr post
The Chosen Path AU edit (for muldertorture)
He could feel it now, in the Force, could recognize the creature before him, recognize the cold, freezing dread that lived in the furnace of his heart, the Obsidian Dragon with eyes of dead starlight, walled away by flame, and held at bay by sheer force of will. The Obsidian Dragon made of fear and failure and weakness and death.
“I will not fall!” He ground out the vow from behind clenched teeth, pressing forward with the Force as hard as he was able. Darth Vader trembled in anger at the onslaught. “I am Anakin Skywalker, and I will never fall!”
Suddenly, intensely, power rushed off Anakin in waves, and Darth Vader bent under the assault, crumpling with wheezing breaths. The painful breaths of a pitiful creature.
Utterly spent from the release of energy, Anakin sagged to his knees, arms falling weakly to his sides.
“I am Anakin Skywalker,” he rasped, “and I am not afraid.”
— from The Chosen Path AU series by steelneena ( @muldertorture ) (originally posted on tumblr)
Entry tags:
- anakin skywalker,
- anakin's fall,
- anidala,
- archived post,
- darth vader,
- death yet the force,
- father and son,
- lucas' saga,
- luke skywalker,
- magnum opus,
- masterlists,
- masterposts,
- meta,
- muldertorture,
- original trilogy,
- other people's meta,
- padme amidala,
- prequels defense squad,
- star wars,
- sw meta,
- the barest flicker of persistent light,
- the prequels,
- the skywalker saga,
- tumblr friends,
- tumblr post,
- union of opposites,
- vader's redemption
Anakin Skywalker, a tragic hero
Recently, I was asked to write about ‘Anakin as a tragic hero’, and rather than attempting to tackle such a broad topic from scratch, I decided to compile a masterpost of excerpts from (and links to) my previous posts on the subject.
In my personal view, ‘Star Wars’ (as in, the Skywalker saga) is, at its heart, Anakin’s story, and as such, his tragic fall and ultimate redemption forms one of the main, underlying themes of most of my SW analysis in general. And so, the selections below include everything from in-depth character analysis, to overviews of Anakin’s role in the saga as a whole, to explorations of themes of slavery vs. freedom, death vs. immortality, personal attachments, fear of loss, and perhaps most importantly, unconditional love.
( Read more... )On the importance of Qui-Gon and his role in the story:
It’s been a while now since I’ve written about this character, but recently my husband and I were discussing the Prequels (and especially The Phantom Menace), and we both heartily agreed that Qui-Gon Jinn is a truly brilliant addition to the saga, both from a storytelling and ‘in-story’ perspective. Not only is he a compelling figure to watch on-screen (thanks to the mesmerizing Liam Neeson), but he is also an ingenious way of introducing us to the Twilight of the Republic-era Jedi—via someone who is, by that point, considered a ‘maverick’ in comparison to the rest of the Jedi Order.
This is a very clever approach, because it means that we actually experience the entire first half of The Phantom Menace from Qui-Gon’s perspective. Throughout our journey with him—during which time he comes to the aid of many beings, from the hapless Jar-Jar, to Queen Amidala, to a slave-boy and his mother on Tatooine, all while simultaneously on a spiritual quest of his own (aka, to find the Chosen One)—we come to admire a Jedi who is everything that we, as viewers who had only ever seen the Original Trilogy, would expect a Jedi to be. It is only after Qui-Gon’s arrival on Coruscant (when we are met by the comparatively cold, closed, and standoffish Jedi Council), that we realize that…oh… this wonderful, warm, openly-caring, and compassionate Jedi who we ASSUMED must certainly be the ’norm’, is actually anything but.
( Read more... )
Entry tags:
- alchemical progression,
- alchemy,
- anakin skywalker,
- anakin's fall,
- analysis,
- archived post,
- darth vader,
- father and son,
- lucas' saga,
- luke skywalker,
- magnum opus,
- my edits,
- my meta,
- photo edit,
- quotes,
- stages of the opus,
- star wars,
- the dark sun and the light,
- the death star,
- the second death star,
- the skywalker saga,
- tumblr post,
- twin suns,
- vader's redemption
Lucas' saga as Magnum Opus
~
~
Lucas’ Saga as Magnum Opus 1/?: Twin Suns
The Magnum Opus, or ‘Great Work’, is the ultimate goal of alchemy. In addition to its traditional applications, the concept has been used as a model for the individuation process and as a device in art and literature. Progression through its stages typically involves both physical and spiritual transformation, with the aim of attaining such profound results as self-realization, communion with divinity, and spiritual immortality.
In alchemy, Suns are used to symbolize a variety of concepts, and can correspond to gold, citrinitas, generative masculine principles, imagery of ‘the king’ or Apollo, the fiery spirit or sulfur, the divine spark in man, nobility, or incorruptibility.
There is a persistent belief in alchemical tradition in the existence of TWO SUNS: a hidden one of pure “Philosophical Gold,” consisting of the essential Fire conjoined with Aether, and the apparent one of profane “Material Gold.” The “dark, consuming fire” of the material Sun, associated with the dissolution of the body in the process of purification, leads to its being called the “Dark” or “Black Sun.”
Sol Niger (Black Sun) can also refer to the result of the first stage of the Magnum Opus, the Nigredo (blackening). The complete Magnum Opus ends with the production of Gold.
In alchemy, Suns are used to symbolize a variety of concepts, and can correspond to gold, citrinitas, generative masculine principles, imagery of ‘the king’ or Apollo, the fiery spirit or sulfur, the divine spark in man, nobility, or incorruptibility.
There is a persistent belief in alchemical tradition in the existence of TWO SUNS: a hidden one of pure “Philosophical Gold,” consisting of the essential Fire conjoined with Aether, and the apparent one of profane “Material Gold.” The “dark, consuming fire” of the material Sun, associated with the dissolution of the body in the process of purification, leads to its being called the “Dark” or “Black Sun.”
Sol Niger (Black Sun) can also refer to the result of the first stage of the Magnum Opus, the Nigredo (blackening). The complete Magnum Opus ends with the production of Gold.
It's not just about nostalgia...
***Originally written in response to this tumblr post:
#these three love each other and always will <3 #and they’re such beloved iconic characters too #and no matter what disney tries to do to them #they’ll always be iconic and loved by people all around the world #the lucas movies will stand the test of time and so will these three <3 (via skywalker-saga)
^THIS. This is the TRUTH….and nothing and no one can take this away from us, as long as we uphold the original version of this tale and these characters.
I feel the need to point something out here—and that is, that to hold on to an unabashedly positive view of the Original Trio and to have an unwavering belief in their long-term happiness is not just a result of nostalgia or being attached to these characters as we knew them in the Original Trilogy, but is also the actual intended outcome of Lucas’ entire saga, aka the Prequels *and* the Original Trilogy combined.
( Read more... )
#these three love each other and always will <3 #and they’re such beloved iconic characters too #and no matter what disney tries to do to them #they’ll always be iconic and loved by people all around the world #the lucas movies will stand the test of time and so will these three <3 (via skywalker-saga)
^THIS. This is the TRUTH….and nothing and no one can take this away from us, as long as we uphold the original version of this tale and these characters.
I feel the need to point something out here—and that is, that to hold on to an unabashedly positive view of the Original Trio and to have an unwavering belief in their long-term happiness is not just a result of nostalgia or being attached to these characters as we knew them in the Original Trilogy, but is also the actual intended outcome of Lucas’ entire saga, aka the Prequels *and* the Original Trilogy combined.
( Read more... )
Re: 'Star Wars' as the complete saga
Or, what the term means (and does not mean) to me
~
It’s been a while since I posted anything about this subject, as I have long-ago said my piece on the so-called ‘sequels’, and have no wish to dwell on negativity or rain on anyone else’s parade. But since the topic has come up again, I figure I might as well try to explain my current views in a bit more detail in case anyone is curious.
~
~
It’s been a while since I posted anything about this subject, as I have long-ago said my piece on the so-called ‘sequels’, and have no wish to dwell on negativity or rain on anyone else’s parade. But since the topic has come up again, I figure I might as well try to explain my current views in a bit more detail in case anyone is curious.
As is no doubt obvious by now, I do not accept Disney’s post-RotJ version of events as a legitimate continuation of Lucas’ saga. While I’ve already gone over my reasons for feeling this way in great depth in previous posts here, here, and here, I’ve included some additional thoughts below:
( Read more... )
( Read more... )
Entry tags:
- across the stars,
- anakin skywalker,
- anakin x padme,
- anakin's fall,
- anakin's return,
- anidala,
- archived post,
- darth vader,
- death yet the force,
- divine comedy of redemption,
- eucatastrophe,
- fairytale,
- father and son,
- happy endings,
- joseph campbell,
- love can ignite the stars,
- lucas' saga,
- luke skywalker,
- my edits,
- obi-wan and anakin,
- original trilogy,
- padme amidala,
- pt x ot,
- redemption,
- redemptive restoration of meaning,
- return of the jedi,
- star wars,
- star wars as fairytale,
- star wars as myth,
- sw edits,
- the barest flicker of persistent light,
- the power of myth,
- the prequels,
- the real skywalker saga,
- the skywalker saga,
- the skywalkers,
- tragedy,
- tumblr post,
- vader's redemption
The Universal Tragedy of Man
“The happy ending of the fairy tale, the myth, and the divine comedy of the soul, is to be read, not as a contradiction, but as a transcendence of the universal tragedy of man.”
Entry tags:
- 'i am a jedi like my father before me',
- anakin and luke,
- anakin skywalker,
- anakin x padme,
- anakin's return,
- anidala,
- archived post,
- comparative mythology,
- father and son,
- george lucas,
- han x leia,
- joseph campbell,
- leia organa,
- lucas' saga,
- luke skywalker,
- luke vs. vader,
- my edits,
- obi-wan kenobi,
- original trilogy,
- pt x ot,
- qui-gon jinn,
- redemption,
- return of the jedi,
- star wars as myth,
- sw edits,
- the chosen one,
- the hero's journey,
- the prequels,
- the skywalker saga,
- true self,
- tumblr post,
- vader's redemption,
- why rotj is everything
and where we had thought to find an abomination, we shall find a god...
Furthermore, we have not even to risk the adventure alone, for the heroes of all time have gone before us; the labyrinth is thoroughly known; we have only to follow the thread of the hero path. And where we had thought to find an abomination, we shall find a god; and where we had thought to slay another, we shall slay ourselves; where we had thought to travel outward, we shall come to the center of our existence; where we had thought to be alone, we shall be with all the world.
— Joseph Campbell, The Hero With a Thousand Faces
Entry tags:
- 40th anniversary,
- anakin fan vid,
- anakin skywalker,
- anakin x padme,
- anakin's fall,
- anidala,
- anidala fan vid,
- darth vader,
- fan vid,
- fan vids,
- father and son,
- luke skywalker,
- original trilogy,
- padme amidala,
- star wars,
- star wars fan vid,
- sw anniversary,
- the prequels,
- the skywalker saga,
- the skywalkers,
- vader's redemption,
- vaderkin
"...I've got to get it back then"
Anakin Skywalker/Vader (Simple Math) || SmokeyFiizz
An exquisitely beautiful fan vid that perfectly encompasses my feels for Anakin/Vader, Anakin x Padme, Luke & Vader, and my beloved Skywalker saga.
Happy 40th anniversary, Star Wars. :')
Entry tags:
- across the stars,
- anakin skywalker,
- anakin x padme,
- anidala,
- anidala reunion,
- anidalaweek2017,
- archived post,
- cosmic love,
- favourite kiss,
- favourite quotes,
- favourite scenes,
- matthew stover,
- my edits,
- padme amidala,
- photo edits,
- revenge of the sith,
- rots,
- rots novelization,
- star wars,
- the prequels,
- tumblr post,
- union of opposites
Anidala Week 2017 - Day 6: Favourite Kiss
~
☆ Anidala Week 2017 ☆ Day 6: Favourite Kiss (RotS novelization):
There was no hope she could be happier—until his eye found her silent, still shadow, and he straightened, and a new light broke over his golden face and he said, “Excuse me,” to the Senator from Alderaan, and a moment later he came to her in the shadows and they were in each other’s arms.
Their lips met, and the universe became, one last time, perfect.
☆ Anidala Week 2017 ☆ Day 6: Favourite Kiss (RotS novelization):
There was no hope she could be happier—until his eye found her silent, still shadow, and he straightened, and a new light broke over his golden face and he said, “Excuse me,” to the Senator from Alderaan, and a moment later he came to her in the shadows and they were in each other’s arms.
Their lips met, and the universe became, one last time, perfect.
Entry tags:
- anakin skywalker,
- anakin x padme,
- anidala,
- anidala week,
- anidalaweek2017,
- archived post,
- fandom activities,
- favourite quotes,
- matthew stover,
- my edits,
- padme amidala,
- photo edits,
- revenge of the sith,
- rots,
- rots novelization,
- star wars,
- tcw,
- the clone wars,
- the prequels,
- the senator and the general,
- tumblr post
Anidala Week 2017 - Day 4: Favourite Quote
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☆ Anidala Week 2017 ☆ Day 4: Favourite Quote (RotS novelization):
Her real life began the first time she looked into Anakin Skywalker’s eyes and found in there not the uncritical worship of little Ani from Tatooine, but the direct, unashamed, smoldering passion of a powerful Jedi: a young man, to be sure, but every centimeter a man—a man whose legend was already growing within the Jedi Order and beyond. A man who knew exactly what he wanted and was honest enough to simply ask for it; a man strong enough to unroll his deepest feelings before her without fear and without shame. A man who had loved her for a decade, with faithful and patient heart, while he waited for the act of destiny he was sure would someday open her own heart to the fire in his.
☆ Anidala Week 2017 ☆ Day 4: Favourite Quote (RotS novelization):
Her real life began the first time she looked into Anakin Skywalker’s eyes and found in there not the uncritical worship of little Ani from Tatooine, but the direct, unashamed, smoldering passion of a powerful Jedi: a young man, to be sure, but every centimeter a man—a man whose legend was already growing within the Jedi Order and beyond. A man who knew exactly what he wanted and was honest enough to simply ask for it; a man strong enough to unroll his deepest feelings before her without fear and without shame. A man who had loved her for a decade, with faithful and patient heart, while he waited for the act of destiny he was sure would someday open her own heart to the fire in his.
Entry tags:
- 40th 4th,
- anakin skywalker,
- anidala,
- anidala meta,
- anidalaweek,
- anidalaweek2017,
- aotc,
- archived post,
- attack of the clones,
- fandom activities,
- favourite scenes,
- may the fourth,
- my edits,
- my meta,
- padme amidala,
- photo edits,
- photosets,
- scene analysis,
- star wars,
- star wars meta,
- sw meta,
- tatooine,
- the prequels,
- tumblr post,
- union of opposites
Anidala Week 2017 - Day 2: Favourite Scene
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Tatooine is my all-time favourite Star Wars location, so it is no surprise that it is also the setting for one of my most beloved Anidala scenes. For such a brief interlude, it is impeccably crafted. From the direction, to the lighting, to the costuming, the attention to detail is most impressive. Anakin and Padme are especially striking in their contrasting physical appearances here, and this scene provides a tantalizing view of them as a 'union of opposites' ...in both a visual and thematic sense.
( Read more... )
Entry tags:
- 40th 4th,
- anakin skywalker,
- ani,
- death...yet the force,
- fan art,
- favourite characters,
- force ghost!anakin,
- light vs. dark,
- may 4th,
- may the fourth,
- my art,
- my edits,
- my fan art,
- one with the force,
- photo edits,
- return of the jedi,
- rotj,
- skyguy,
- star wars,
- star wars day,
- tcw,
- the chosen one,
- the clone wars,
- tumblr post
May the Fourth Be With You
~
S k y g u y *:･ﾟ✧
My random sketchy experimental attempt at a semi-realistic TCW-style/force ghost!Anakin :')
(Hope everyone's had a lovely '40th 4th'!)
40th 4th :)
Last month, I missed the festivities surrounding the 40th anniversary panel....and did so purposefully, as I am trying to avoid any kind of spoilers about the next Sequel film like the plague. But since Star Wars is obviously something that means a great deal to me, I dearly wanted to commemorate the 40th anniversary somehow. It's not every day such a huge fandom has such a major anniversary, and I was feeling really down about missing out on it. So, I've set up a big queue on my Star Wars blog, and today I'm celebrating the Skywalker Saga in my own way. :)
After all... it's the '40th (May the) 4th'....which is pretty amazing (and also makes me feel super old, lol).
So....
After all... it's the '40th (May the) 4th'....which is pretty amazing (and also makes me feel super old, lol).
So....
HAPPY STAR WARS DAY!
.... May the Fourth Be With You ....
.... May the Fourth Be With You ....
And today of all days, I can't not leave you with this classic about my beloved 'Anakin guy'. ♥
We were singin’ …
My, my, this here Anakin guy
May be Vader someday later - now he’s just a small fry
And he left his home and kissed his mommy goodbye
Sayin’ “Soon I’m gonna be a J e d i”
Entry tags:
- alternate timeline,
- anakin skywalker,
- anakin the free,
- canon-divergence,
- coruscant,
- dantooine,
- destiny,
- fate,
- fic rec,
- gifts,
- happy au,
- little ani,
- meta,
- muldertorture,
- other people's fic,
- other people's meta,
- qui-gon jinn,
- star wars,
- star wars au,
- star wars fic,
- star wars meta,
- the chosen one,
- the chosen path,
- the duel of the fates,
- the jedi council,
- the jedi order,
- the phantom menace,
- the prequels,
- tumblr friends
The Chosen Path - fic rec
Prelude: The Chosen Path by steelneena (for swiftsnowmane)
Read it on: tumblr || Ao3
Summary:
Paths are divergent, and lives are altered. Fates are changed. Destiny is chosen, instead of made.
Notes:
An attempt to remind the fandom exactly who and what Anakin is, and what leads to his downfall in canon, accomplished by circumventing canon altogether.
Series currently in progress. Updates once every month.
~
A Star Wars fic for anyone who has ever wondered 'what if the Duel of the Fates had ended differently?' Yes, this is a Qui-Gon lives!AU! Written by @muldertorture / steelneena, 'The Chosen Path' focuses on Anakin's journey, exploring how the survival of his first life-mentor transforms the course of his entire existence. If the Prequels are the 'darkest timeline', then this story presents us with what might just be the brightest of all 'possible futures'.
Read it on: tumblr || Ao3
Summary:
Paths are divergent, and lives are altered. Fates are changed. Destiny is chosen, instead of made.
Notes:
An attempt to remind the fandom exactly who and what Anakin is, and what leads to his downfall in canon, accomplished by circumventing canon altogether.
Series currently in progress. Updates once every month.
~
A Star Wars fic for anyone who has ever wondered 'what if the Duel of the Fates had ended differently?' Yes, this is a Qui-Gon lives!AU! Written by @muldertorture / steelneena, 'The Chosen Path' focuses on Anakin's journey, exploring how the survival of his first life-mentor transforms the course of his entire existence. If the Prequels are the 'darkest timeline', then this story presents us with what might just be the brightest of all 'possible futures'.