MAXIMUM TRAGEDY :D

[dhampyresa]

So I've been thinking about the ways in which I am predictable lately, for no specific reason, and I've come to the conclusion that not only do I not mind signposted tragedy, I actually really enjoy it.

But here's the thing: It has to be signposted. (This may not be the right word; basically the narrative has to be aware that it is a tragedy on some level.)

Idk. I just think there's something fascinating about the inexorable march of tragedy when you know it's on the move. It's a trainwreck in slow motion. It's mesmerising.

It's Norse myths, for example, which is essentially one long tragedy. You always know Odin and Loki will betray each other, the gods will die and the worlds will end (and for extra bonus points, odin knows it too). Once things are set in motion -- be that when Odin and Loki become bloodbrothers or when odin cosults the völva or, hell, when Ginnungagap gets bridge -- everything starts falling down like a HOLY OVERREACTION BATMAN set of dominos.

It's Hamilton where the line that sold me on the whole thing was Burr going "And me? I’m the damn fool that shot him".

Okay, so part of the reason for this post is that I am still listening to Hamilton a lot and I recently told rachelmanija : "I like the idea that Hamilton "threw away his shot" and Burr didn't "wait for it" at the duel FOR MAXIMUM TRAGEDY :D". Then earlier today I remembered that when I'd tried to sell ljwrites on Hamilton I had used "The world was wide enough" and she'd asked me if Burr/Hamilton hit me in my Hannibal/Scipio place* and yeah, it kind of does.

Sidenote, while I'm on the subject of works that announce from the very start that they will end in doom: You know what else does that? Billy Shakes' Romeo and Juliet. I keep wanting to draw this parallel between Burr and Hamilton and Romeo and Juliet, because they are both very intense relationships that end in tragedy and not knowing where to put said parallel so here you go.

Speaking of Billy Shakes: it takes a lot of skill to get people invested in a story when you tell them the ending six lines in.

Also earlier today (my days are full of earliers, what can I say), I saw this gifset of Padme, Anakin and Obi-Wan and it broke my heart in all the best ways. I really like the Star Wars prequels, but it wasn't until this gifset that I realised that it's because they're so tragic -- and they do actually feel like myths to me, because that tragedy grounds them into myth (I imprinted hard on Norse myths, lmao).

And I was thinking about how I was totally meh on Obi-Wan/Anakin pre-my recent Revenge of the Sith rewatch and not I am not meh about it at all! It's goes: Obi-Wan/Anakin before Anakin goes darkside = "not my thing, but you do you"/"sure, why not" and Obi-Wan/Anakin after Anakin goes darkside = "man, it's a good thing maythe4thbewithyou is right around the corner".

This makes it sound like I only like stories or ships with tragedy in them. Not true! I ship some perfectly tragedy-free ships like Obi-Wan/Padme. I pretty much low-level ship just about anything, by the law of averages some of them must be tragedy free. Like Parker/Hardison/Eliot from Leverage. There's a tragedy-free ship from a tragedy-free show that I love.

It's just that I am very predictable in certain ways. I'm almost ashamed of how fucking predictable I am, but at the same time I don't even care.


*New people: I am very invested in Hannibal Barca/Scipio Africanus. And now I want a Star Wars AU.

Comments

[endeni]

Ouch, that gifset is really poignant.

[dhampyresa]

I KNOW! I keep going back to it like "so tragic :D". It's super well done too.

[melannen]

That would make a really sweet Star Wars AU, have to say.

[dhampyresa]

I'm not sure if you mean it as "Hannibal and Scipio IN SPACE" (I would have said Jedi, but while Scipio is probably on the Jedi Council, Hannibal doesn't strike me as either Jedi or Sith -- although he'd get along with Obi-Wan, I think) which is how I meant it or if you mean is as "Obi-Wan, Anakin and Padme in the Roman Republic", but I would 100% read both of these.

[schneefink]

If you like signposted tragedy you are really going to enjoy The Clone Wars :)

[dhampyresa]

I'm going to start watching it, then. (Down and down the Star Wars rabbithole I go!)

[saturnofthemoon]

I too am drawn to tragic stories because I grew up reading Greek Mythology, though that doesn't sound as hardcore as Norse sagas. I've been watching clips from the prequels and, yes, so many feelings. I'm looking forward to the new Star Wars exchange as well, it looks like fun.

[dhampyresa]

I think the difference is that Norse myths has an endpoint -- there's no Greek apocalypse-equivalent.

Yay! It's good to know I'm not alone in prequel feelings.

[silverflight8.livejournal.com]

Obi-Wan/Padme represent! The chemistry between them is so awesome.

Alas, I am not much into tragedy (I'm also not very into h/c or woobies, incidentally) The tragedy aspect is why I selectively read/watch the prequels >.>

ETA: GASP! How could I pass up an opportunity to use my SW icons??

[dhampyresa.livejournal.com]

*high-five*

You know, I've been in fandom for ages, but I'm still not sure what h/c or woobies are?

Great icon, btw.

[silverflight8.livejournal.com]

h/c - hurt comfort - seeing your favourites get beat up and then get comforted. Physical or mental. I like the competence side of characters mostly (they do cool stuff!) and getting injured, physically or mentally, kind of puts a dent in that, so I'm not as big a fan of it! But it's very emotionally resonant, I think.

woobies - characters who you feel you want to cuddle/comfort who have been badly treated (or sometimes not so badly treated but you sympathize a great deal with).

Thanks! :D

[dhampyresa.livejournal.com]

I think I get it better now. Thank you!