Not every story involves the underworld, or however the world of the dead is called in the setting. However, it still exists.
Every time the characters consider their own mortality in the story, the world of the dead looms in the backdrop. The way the characters think about death, life ...
The World of the Dead
Tantz_Aerine at 12:00AM, Feb. 12, 2022Fountain of Nostalgia
Banes at 12:00AM, Feb. 3, 2022
I've had this Newspost in mind again since I saw Spider Man: No Way Home. That movie pushes the nostalgia buttons with abandon, to an extent I couldn't believe. To avoid having anything spoiled I rushed out to the theater to see it as soon as I could ...
The Message in Stories
Tantz_Aerine at 12:00AM, Jan. 15, 2022
There is no story without a theme. Even when written without anything prepared in terms of a message, a story will always give people things to think about and messages drawn from how the story was set up and how it was resolved (if at all).
So I don't ...
Horror within beauty
Tantz_Aerine at 12:00AM, Jan. 8, 2022
This trope might come in several different packages, but it always involves the same stages: a presence (a character, an apparition, an item, a painting, etc) appears to be perfect, gorgeous, stunningly beautiful, angelic in every way relevant. Then suddenly or gradually, this beauty dissolves into nightmarish horror: the character ...
Wereravens and Owl Bears, Oh My!
kawaiidaigakusei at 12:00AM, Jan. 3, 2022
I wandered into one of those gaming shops that specialized in acrylic hobby paint, paintbrushes, and miniature figurine kits while locally window shopping for the holiday. The interaction went like this:
Me: “Hello, do you know of any fantasy table-top role playing games happening in the area?”
Clerk: I am ...
Above and Below the Surface
Banes at 12:00AM, Dec. 16, 2021
There are a couple of movies I've seen - only a couple that come to mind - with a very specific issue
that makes them not work for me.
It's when the THEME or below-the-surface meaning of the story holds together but the actual plot suffers for it.
Spoiler for ...
The Problem With Kid Dialogue
Tantz_Aerine at 12:00AM, Dec. 4, 2021
Often when there are children in a cast of characters, especially in sitcoms or certain types of movies, audiences groan because they tend to be immensely annoying. They are a very special type of uncanny valley in the way they are written to talk and react. Usually, we get one ...
When a story feels too much like a story
damehelsing at 12:00AM, Nov. 28, 2021
~Today we have a guest article from Andreas_Helixfinger! Enjoy the read!~
Hey everyone!
It’s you’re one vocal swedish guy on the the Duck Webcomics Andreas Helixfinger. I decided to tune in and do one of these sunday articles after discovering this smaller Youtube channel called TheBurgerkrieg, where the ...
The spookiest of all creatures. The… familiar?
Emma_Clare at 12:00AM, Oct. 29, 2021
With the spooky season upon us, it is time to give homage to the spookiest of all creatures. The… familiar?
According to TV Tropes:
“This is based on the medieval belief that Satan granted demon servants (in animal form) to witches as part of their pacts and that “cunning folk ...