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soc_puppetThis is an absolutely amazing essay: The Legend of Korra: Deliberately Deconstructed (Note: Some moving gifs at the link)
I'm not even half-way through it yet, and I'm already a little in love with it. It's a thorough examination of the characterization, plot structure, and social dynamics of the series, with acknowledgement of real world effects (Korra doesn't exist in a void) and contrasting elements from AtLA. It's pulling a lot of things into new - good, important - perspective for me, and for fans of the show(s), it is definitely worth a read.
Edit: Okay, I've finished reading it, and am going to be reblogging it in a bit, but first! There's a lot of images in it, and I'm going to be providing image descriptions here.
Image one: Korra in a fighting stance, staring down the viewer
Image two: Screencap of Aang from the AtLA finale: He's the Avatar state in a sphere of air, with rings of earth, water, and fire around him.
Image three: Asami glaring in the rearview mirror of her car at Korra and Mako getting friendly in the back seat.
Image four: A bunch of Equalists in a hallway, ready to kick ass and take names.
Image five: Aang addresses Korra at the South Pole. Caption: "Hi, Korra, I'm here to uphold the patriarchy".
Image six: Aang and Korra stand roughly back-to-back on a rock outcropping overlooking a river flowing between mountains; in the distance, a spirit world portal shines golden.
Image seven: Gif of Korra kissing Mako sadly, a tear dripping down her cheek; IIRC, this takes place right before a breakup.
Image eight: Korra and citizens of Republic City at a candlelight vigil for the South Pole (IIRC).
Image nine: Giant blue spirit!Korra standing in the spirit world under the arc of the convergence.
Image ten: Korra and Wan face each other, with Raava between them, an "arm" warpped around each of them.
Image eleven: Black-and-white photo of Aang and Katara, with Bumi and Kya standing in front of them (Kya on a small table) and Katara holding a baby Tenzin.
Image twelve: Katara as a young child, watching a firebender about to kill her mother.
Image thirteen: Lin and Toph in a one-armed hug; Suyin stands to one side, Opal to the other, both watching.
Image fourteen: Republic City, spirit vines growing in, out, and through buildings.
Image fifteen: Gif set of the four Legend of Korra Big Bads, each labeled with their primary political ideology: Amon and Communism, Unaloq and Theocracy, Zaheer and Anarchism, and Kuvira and Fascism.
Image sixteen: Varrick and Asami in a nose-to-nose stare-down, Varrick attempting to loom over Asami.
Image seventeen: Gifset of Aang meditating and Korra reaching for a prone Raava.
Image eighteen: Korra's reflection in broken glass.
Image nineteen: Korra removes the last traces of metal poison (mercury?) from her body.
Image twenty: Korra enters the Avatar state, Raava's outline lighting up on her torso.
Image twenty-one: Korra chained up in the cave in the Season Three finale, suffering from metal poisoning (IIRC).
Image twenty-two: Korra stands in front of a prone Kuvira, redirecting a blast of pink spirit energy.
Image twenty-three: Mike and Bryan in a photo op at NYCC.
Image twenty-four: Asami and Korra sitting together after Varrick and Zhu Li's wedding, looking out over the water to the spirit world portal in Republic City.
Image twenty-five: Korra and Asami in the restaurant; Korra is blushing and fiddling with her hair.
Image twenty-six: Gif of Asami and Korra walking off into the spirit world together, hand-in-hand.
I'm not even half-way through it yet, and I'm already a little in love with it. It's a thorough examination of the characterization, plot structure, and social dynamics of the series, with acknowledgement of real world effects (Korra doesn't exist in a void) and contrasting elements from AtLA. It's pulling a lot of things into new - good, important - perspective for me, and for fans of the show(s), it is definitely worth a read.
Edit: Okay, I've finished reading it, and am going to be reblogging it in a bit, but first! There's a lot of images in it, and I'm going to be providing image descriptions here.
Image one: Korra in a fighting stance, staring down the viewer
Image two: Screencap of Aang from the AtLA finale: He's the Avatar state in a sphere of air, with rings of earth, water, and fire around him.
Image three: Asami glaring in the rearview mirror of her car at Korra and Mako getting friendly in the back seat.
Image four: A bunch of Equalists in a hallway, ready to kick ass and take names.
Image five: Aang addresses Korra at the South Pole. Caption: "Hi, Korra, I'm here to uphold the patriarchy".
Image six: Aang and Korra stand roughly back-to-back on a rock outcropping overlooking a river flowing between mountains; in the distance, a spirit world portal shines golden.
Image seven: Gif of Korra kissing Mako sadly, a tear dripping down her cheek; IIRC, this takes place right before a breakup.
Image eight: Korra and citizens of Republic City at a candlelight vigil for the South Pole (IIRC).
Image nine: Giant blue spirit!Korra standing in the spirit world under the arc of the convergence.
Image ten: Korra and Wan face each other, with Raava between them, an "arm" warpped around each of them.
Image eleven: Black-and-white photo of Aang and Katara, with Bumi and Kya standing in front of them (Kya on a small table) and Katara holding a baby Tenzin.
Image twelve: Katara as a young child, watching a firebender about to kill her mother.
Image thirteen: Lin and Toph in a one-armed hug; Suyin stands to one side, Opal to the other, both watching.
Image fourteen: Republic City, spirit vines growing in, out, and through buildings.
Image fifteen: Gif set of the four Legend of Korra Big Bads, each labeled with their primary political ideology: Amon and Communism, Unaloq and Theocracy, Zaheer and Anarchism, and Kuvira and Fascism.
Image sixteen: Varrick and Asami in a nose-to-nose stare-down, Varrick attempting to loom over Asami.
Image seventeen: Gifset of Aang meditating and Korra reaching for a prone Raava.
Image eighteen: Korra's reflection in broken glass.
Image nineteen: Korra removes the last traces of metal poison (mercury?) from her body.
Image twenty: Korra enters the Avatar state, Raava's outline lighting up on her torso.
Image twenty-one: Korra chained up in the cave in the Season Three finale, suffering from metal poisoning (IIRC).
Image twenty-two: Korra stands in front of a prone Kuvira, redirecting a blast of pink spirit energy.
Image twenty-three: Mike and Bryan in a photo op at NYCC.
Image twenty-four: Asami and Korra sitting together after Varrick and Zhu Li's wedding, looking out over the water to the spirit world portal in Republic City.
Image twenty-five: Korra and Asami in the restaurant; Korra is blushing and fiddling with her hair.
Image twenty-six: Gif of Asami and Korra walking off into the spirit world together, hand-in-hand.
no subject
Date: 2016-10-01 02:13 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-10-01 02:23 am (UTC)Here, have an excerpt:
GUH.