Chronopolis (1982)

I don’t think any movie will make me feel the same ethereal sense of otherworldly sorrow and disembodied awe as that scene in Lord of the Rings where the loyal son is sent off into a doomed battle to please his vindictive father while Pippin sings a mourning song of his people

I was like 12 and high off this shit

What do you think Tolkien's Dwarves' religion looks like?

like Terry Pratchett’s, but taken seriously.

so this is one of my favorite photos ever from doctor who - it seems normal, but the slight blurriness, weird lighting, expressions, and stances make it seem very candid, like someone was snapping photos and they turned to look... it also has a wonderful and atmospheric "old film" quality.

the coloration? on point. the clothing textures? palpable. the dark/light contrast? excellent. they're literally glowing. i wish doctor who was still filmed on older cameras, it's so soft.

So, if you’re like… wait. I know this art. Why are you reposting it, Jen? The answer is, well, it’s back after many, many hours of fixes, new cleaner lines and recolouring. :D I had plans for this art and the old version wasn’t gonna cut it. So here it is. Brothers Group Hug Redux. XDb And my many thanks to everyone. The response to that original piece was just amazing. =O <3

(Please don’t repost or use for any reason without permission! Many thanks. =) <3 )

Leonid Pasternak  (Ukrainian, 1862–1945) - The Torments of Creative Work

Completely agree with all of this. I just finished a truly abysmal SF novel which seem to assume that the audience was deeply, deeply interested in the most pointless details of how the spaceships worked, up to the point where there was a multi-chapter arc where the main species switched between two different power sources for their craft.

There was even a section where they explained how the 3D printers that built the ships worked -- we don’t need to know that, 3D printers ACTUALLY EXIST.

There was at least one point where I shouted “I don’t care how the spaceships work! I care THAT they work!” Because I live in a world where space travel is complicated and expensive and practically unheard of, whereas this wacky bunch of genocidal flesh-eating aliens live in a world where it’s relatively easy to travel between solar systems in their thousands.

So then what does that lead to? What STORY results from this, how do the CHARACTERS respond to this? (Answer: the writer’s word count did not seem to stretch to any conversation that was not two characters explaining technology to each other, much less anything approaching a narrative. Honestly, it was like reading a very, very dull history book about a place that didn’t exist.)

So yes. Explain some things. There are some things you don’t need to.

I think an important instinct you have to build up when you read/watch sci-fi is discerning which things are givens. If Arrival tells you that the alien language is atemporal, it is, that's not a puzzle for you to pick apart, it's a prerequisite to getting the rest of the story. When I talk sci-fi with people who don't consume a lot of it this seems to be a thing they get hung up on.

this might be a hard pill to swallow for college students but getting drunk all the time isnt a personality trait it’s alcoholism

some of my flight rising dragons

Jedi women appreciation post

(press “j” to skip, it’s a very long one)

Did you know that out of the twenty-four named female Jedi (PT Order) who ever appeared onscreen (movies + cartoons), only three are caucasian? Because dang, I’ve seen people shitting on Lucas for his white male protagonists (unjustly in my opinion, he wanted Obi-Wan to be Japanese but Toshiro Mifune turned down the role), but the guy delivered on the background characters! Let me take you on a little tour that’s very likely to blow your mind.

(names are linked to the characters’ wookieepedia pages)

THE MOVIES:

Here’s Madame Jocasta Nu (human), formerly of the High Council, portrayed by Australian actress Aleathea McGrath. She’s so cool they call her Madame and not Master. Wonderful book grandma. (Also appears in TCW, has characterization in canon.)

(She’s incredibly badass.)

Then, here is Padawan Bene (human), one of the Padawans who died during Operation Knightfall in RotS. She’s played by Mousy McCallum, from the UK.

Okay, that’s two beautiful ladies so far.

And then we have Knight Aayla Secura (Twi’Lek) played by American actress Amy Allen. She’s the third caucasian-played Jedi woman, and the last one. She’s also the ONLY Jedi woman to wear something that’s even remotely sexualizing. (Also appears in TCW, has characterization in canon.)

Aaw, what a smile.

Then we have Master Yaddle (unknown species), the frog grandma from TPM. She’s lovely, and the only Jedi woman who isn’t absolutely drop dead gorgeous.

Finally, here is baby Ashla (Togruta), a little youngling in AotC. I wasn’t able to find who played her, so I’ve got nothing on her ethnicity. She looks like Shaak Ti though? She’s adorable.

Now, onto all the other beautiful, beautiful ladies George Lucas blessed us with :D

Here is Master Adi Gallia (Tholothian), of the High Council, played by English model Gin Clarke. (Also appears in TCW, has characterization in canon.)

I love her so much. TCW did not do her beauty justice.

Here is her cousin, Master Stass Allie (Tholothian), of the High Council. She was played by different actresses in AotC and RotS, but the most significant one is Lily Nyamwasa. She was meant to appear in TCW but the show was cancelled.

Stunning. I had to physically restrain myself from adding more pictures.

Moving on, we have Master Luminara Unduli (Mirialan), played by Kenyan actress Mary Oyaya. (Also appears in TCW + Rebels, has characterization in canon.)

Her outfit is just amazing. She’s awesome.

Wow.

Then, we have her Padawan, Barriss Offee (Mirialan), played by Australian actress Nalini Krishan, who is from the Fiji islands. (Also appears in TCW, has characterization in canon.)

Here is Master Depa Billaba (human), of the High Council. She’s played by Indian actress Dipika O'Neill Joti. (Also appears in comics, has characterization.)

Here is her sister, Master Sar Labooda (human), whose actress I couldn’t find. Yes, Depa has a sister!!! And it’s canon! But it’s such an obscure fact that no EU material ever made use of that it, kinda like with Adi Gallia and Stass Allie. I learned this just yesterday, and I’m very disappointed I didn’t know about it when I made my post on Jedi families and blood ties.

There were many background Jedi on Geonosis, and here is Master Khaat Qiyn (human), played by Zuraya Hamilton. (Also appears in comics.)

Also on Geonosis, we have Knight Bultar Swan (human), played by Australian actress Mimi Daraphet. Look at her <3

And here is youngling Mari Amithest (human), also from AotC - she’s from Clan Bear, like Ashla, and she’s played by Phoebe Yiamkiati. Not to be dramatic, but I’d die for her.

Finally, Master Shadday Potkin, whose actress I couldn’t find. She appears briefly in RotS.

That’s it for the movies. Some bright eyes might have noticed I didn’t include Master Shaak Ti. That’s because her make-up in the movies is atrocious and does not do justice to the beauty of the actress - so I’m putting her in the TCW category.

THE CARTOONS:

Master Shaak Ti (Togruta), of the High Council. In the movies, she was played by Oli Shoshan, an Israeli actress. (Has characterization in canon.)

TCW!Shaak Ti is so beautiful I wanna cry.

Here is Katooni (Tholothian), an adorable youngling. (Has characterization in canon.)

Then we have Padawan Ahsoka Tano (Togruta), who is going to be played in live-action by American actress Rosario Dawson. (Is to appear in live-action series, also appears in Rebels, has characterization in canon.)

Rosario looks more like Ahsoka’s design from Rebels, but I can’t be assed to go fishing for another picture. This post already crashed on me twice and this is my third time rewriting this.

Finally, here is Kalifa (human), a youngling. She’s always covered in dirt and TCW really isn’t the best at rendering distinctive ethnic features, and we have no actress to go on from. In the concept art I’ve found she kinda looks like she might be Eastern Asian? (Has characterization in canon.)

Now, onto the few characters who are too alien to belong to any human ethnic group.

We have Jedi Masters and twin sisters Tiplar and Tiplee (Mikkians). They wear matching outfits, which I love. (Have characterization in canon, Tiplee also appears in comics.)

Knight Finn Ertay (Twi’Lek).

Ganodi (Rodian), a youngling from the same clan as Katooni. She’s so cute I could cuddle her to death. Look at her little antennae! (Has characterization in canon.)

And Jedi Consular Rig Nema (unknown species). Her outfit is amazing. (Has characterization in canon.)

BONUS CONTENT:

Here are the few named Jedi left. They’re from the Disney canon, not the LucasFilm canon, so they appear in video games and comics. They follow the same trend though.

Master Cere Junda (human), played by American actress Debra Wilson. (Has characterization.)

Her Padawan, Trilla Suduri (human), played by American/Dominican actress Elizabeth Grullon. (Has characterization.)

Master Cyslin Myr (Mirialan), from the Age of the Republic comics. I’d say she looks human enough to see that she has African features, like Luminara. (Has characterization.)

Knight Rissa Mano (Devaronian), from the same comics. Unfortunately, the drawing style is too inconsistent, so we’ll put her in the “too alien” category. (Has characterization.)

Knight Bant Eerin (Mon Calamari), who was re-canonized by the Obi-Wan and Anakin book. (Has characterization.)

And finally, Tai Uzuma, a youngling from the Kanan comics. (Has characterization.)

That’s all the named female Jedi from the PT-era Order (except for the ones who only appear in books and thus have no faces). There are thirty of them, and three are caucasian, nine are too alien for ethnicity to be applicable, and eighteen are women of color. Fourteen out of the twenty-two adult ones are Masters, not Knights (that’s over one in two) and six have been on the Council (that’s over one in four)!

They are all simply gorgeous, they are not sexualized in any way, and many of them wear incredible custom outfits.

tldr: The Jedi Order rocks.

Humans are adorable.

Supporting evidence:

1. Humans say ‘ow’, even if they haven’t actually been hurt. It’s just a thing they say when they think they might have been hurt, but aren’t sure yet.

2. Humans collect shiny things and decorate their bodies and nests with them. The shinier the better, although each individual has a unique taste for style and colouring

3. Humans are not an aquatic or even amphibious species, but they flock to bodies of water simply to play in it. They can’t even hold their breath all that long; they just love to splash!

4. When night falls and the sky goes dark, humans become drowsy and begin to cocoon themselves in soft, fluffy bedding.

5. Some humans spend time in each other’s nests! Just for fun! It’s not their nest; they’re just visiting each other.

6. Some humans use pigments and dyes to make their bodies flashy and colourful! They even attach shiny dangly bits to their cartalidgous membranes!

7. Humans are very clever, and sometimes adopt creatures from other species into their family units. They don’t seem to notice the obvious differences, and often raise them alongside their own young!

8. If a human sees another creature in distress, they can commonly be observed trying to help! Even at their own risk, most humans are deeply compassionate creatures!

9. If a human hears a particularity catchy sound or tune, it will often mimic it, even to the point of annoying themselves!

10. Sneezes are entirely involuntary, and completely adorable. Especially when the human in question becomes frustrated

11. Humans love treats!!! Some more than others. Many humans will save these treats specifically for a later date when they are in need of comfort or reassurance. IE, pickles, pop tarts, Popsicles, etc

12. They’re learning to travel in space!!! They can’t get very far, but they’re trying!!! So far, they’ve made it to the end of their yard, and have found rocks