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[–] 135 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (40 children)

Two more for the pile

Edit: ironically, it seems my media literacy could be called into question here too based on the mismatch between the tone of OP meme and the tone of the responses I posted. Context for anybody missing it below.

The punisher is a revenge fantasy carried out on corrupt policemen. The message was basically acab before acab was a thing people said. Policemen, who tend to have IQ that matches their best mile time in minutes, love to plaster his logo all over everything they own.

The bottom photo is Tom Morello of Rage Against The Machine. Rather than summarize his story, I'll share his response when a prominent conservative politician tweeted about RatM being their favorite band. "I wonder what [Paul] Ryan's favorite Rage song is? Is it the one where we condemn the genocide of Native Americans? The one lambasting American imperialism? Our cover of "Fuck the Police"? Or is it the one where we call on the people to seize the means of production? So many excellent choices to jam out to at Young Republican meetings!"

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  • [–] 70 points 1 month ago (6 children)
  • [–] 42 points 1 month ago

    I know the point of Tom Morello being included is because RATM is completely misunderstood by conservatives, but it makes me giggle because he did a song for Final Fantasy XIV because a friend he played D&D with also knew a guy involved and it just happened.

    But progressives can have hobbies. It's fine. Lol

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    [–] 91 points 1 month ago* (20 children)

    Author: Satirizes toxic masculinity via cartoonishly terrible male characters

    A concerningly significant portion of men: basedbasedbasedbasedbased

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  • [–] 26 points 1 month ago (4 children)

    Heinlein was suuuuper in favor of a colonial/martial culture. The whole reason he wrote Starship Troopers was because he was disappointed that the US suspended nuclear weapons testing which he saw as further evidence of the decline of martial culture. The book clearly advocates for the promotion of civic duty as a moral imperative as well as for things like corporal punishment. He WANTED the "toxic masculinity" culture, that was his own culture as he perceived it.

    The movie is basically the complete opposite, satirically portraying colonial/martial values against the backdrop of an imperial state. It's one of the biggest disparities in intent vs interpretation I have ever seen.

    The movie rocks, by the way. Still watch it once a year

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    [–] 71 points 1 month ago (5 children)

    Rorshach not being on there is disappointing.

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    [–] 53 points 1 month ago (20 children)
  • [–] 48 points 1 month ago (19 children)

    In a similar vein Walter from breaking bad, though that makes less sense. Tony soprano was at least a charismatic sociopath, Walt was just an asshole

    Also the classic nerd version, Rick from Rick and Morty. Bojack horseman too, which is extra funny because the show eventually called this out (in a way that almost certainly went over the head of some of the people who idealized him)

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  • [–] 34 points 1 month ago (1 child)

    Bojack horseman too, which is extra funny because the show eventually called this out (in a way that almost certainly went over the head of some of the people who idealized him)

    The thing with Bojack that I think is really poignant, though, is that I think that the people who idolize him don't do so because they see in Bojack somebody they want to be, but because they see somebody they already are. Bojack is a canary in the coal mine to the depressive viewer. "If Bojack can pull through this, maybe I can, too."

    As a character, Bojack isn't a goal to achieve; he's a warning. If you treat everyone around you like shit, you're going to find yourself all alone in your darkest moments. Bojack serves as a reminder that sometimes personal redemption has an expiration date; the longer you wait to correct the wrongs of your past, the more Sarah Lynns will come and go through your life. Bojack shows the viewer that it's never too late to change, but that there are consequences to waiting; you can't wallow in pity and self-loathing forever, and you're not the only one who's affected by the way you treat yourself.

    I'm sure a lot of people don't make it through the show to really get all that, though. Which is a shame, because I think Bojack tells an incredibly beautiful story that gets missed by many.

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  • [–] 23 points 1 month ago

    Bojack is a great show because it highlights so many forms of depression and destructive behavior. Everyone in that show has problems, even Mr Peanutbutter, who I think importantly shows you can be a flawed person while most people love you and you're usually happy.

    Seeing Bojack act out in so many destructive ways gave me an objective view of a lot of behaviors in myself and it led to me getting help for my major depression. I lead a very different life today thanks to the realistic depictions of broken characters in that show.

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  • [–] 50 points 1 month ago (29 children)

    My exwife has a large slytherin tattoo. That house in pottery is just “the bad guys”. There’s not charecter arch or deeper meaning, no complexity in writing.

    They are just the bad guys, who are evil and mean. That’s it. She loves em.

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    [–] 42 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (5 children)

    The only one i have a gripe with is the Brand of Sacrifice. Yes, in the Berserk world, it marks one for sacrifice by the Godhand. But we dont live in the Berserk world. To me, the Brand is a sign of struggle, and a symbol of resisting fate and destiny. It's standing up for yourself, even when the easy thing would be to lay down. It's facing adversity and pain when the world wants to kick you and beat you down. That's what the Brand means to me.

    But fuck Griffith, i want that twink obliterated.

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    [–] 32 points 1 month ago (7 children)
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    [–] 24 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (8 children)

    Who (and how did they) misunderstood MGS? Kojima isn't exactly subtle.

    And considering that Venom isn't even the real Big Boss, and Big Boss was only a true villain in the original Metal Gear, when he had zero backstory and wasn't even cool enough to get more than a fucking placeholder name, it's weird seeing him up there. 2 and 5 pretty much show his goal was to destroy the illuminati as well as take care of war vets who got fucked over by their government. He's only a villain to the shitty fascist governments controlled by The Patriots. He's way more of an anti-hero than an actual villain.

    It's like calling Neo from The Matrix a villain because he killed innocent people who were tools of the enemy without their knowledge.

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  • [–] 17 points 1 month ago (3 children)

    I think you're misunderstand the meme. I think it's aimed at Dude-bros® who only understand the superficial message which is obviously being disproven by the content. It's making fun of people who have a Fight Club poster on their wall because they think the message is "all men can be hardcore, bare knuckle boxers, if the stop letting a weak social framework tell them what they want." Or watching the film of Starship Troopers and learning "You can overcome any obstacle with enough bravado and testosterone." I'm not as familiar with most of the animes pictured, but I assume the jab is the same.

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    [–] 20 points 1 month ago (8 children)

    How is getting the Brand of Sacrifice tattooed missing the point?

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  • [–] 28 points 1 month ago* (3 children)

    Rough guess: maybe because it’s a burden on Guts and not something he wanted. His life is basically forfeit and he endangers those he’s around because of it.

    You have now been marked with the Brand of Sacrifice. The lives of those who bear the Brand, from the last drop of blood, to the last moment of your agonizing death, will feed life to the new Child of Darkness.

    NINJA EDIT: This one is kinda up in the air to me though. You don’t have to necessarily like Guts or any of the characters, but the symbol can represent how one might feel haunted by their past struggles. It can be symbolic of the demons that follow you. How I relate to it: I’ve witnessed every member of my closest immediate family circle pass away from various illnesses over the years, including my brother just recently. So I feel similarly alone like I’m wandering the earth cursed.

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  • [–] 21 points 1 month ago (2 children)

    I dont get how that one made the list either. As an American, I feel that brand on me whenever I shop and I know my money feeds the machines of giant corporations that want nothing more than to consume me until I die. Even my existing and consuming is feeding those beasts that hurt those around me and destroy the world we live in.

    Sure, a bit melodramatic and "I'm 14 and this is deep" but I'm not sure it's so innaccurate.

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    [–] 17 points 1 month ago (8 children)

    It has been a long time but I remember feeling sad for Rico in the book. I don't know if Heinlein intended it to be seen like this but by the end it felt like there was nothing left of the human being.

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  • [–] 15 points 1 month ago (7 children)

    Ya they both wanted the same thing but paul vanhoeven went a more literal path. The book read more like the recounting of a jar heads experience. Implying that despite the future having all these new toys the fasicm and ptsd hasn't change. While PVH wanted to show how seductive and enthralling fascism ACTUALLY is. Most kids were down for genocide without thinking it through. Star ship troops is a propaganda film that seduces its watchers with sex, adventure, and style.

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  • [–] 15 points 1 month ago (17 children)

    Not everyone participates in reading the deeper meaning of media.

    Some people just turn off their brains and watch the magic smiles box and come away liking the characters and movie without thinking any further than what was portrayed on screen.

    Half the characters on this list are just really awesome visual/character portrayals.

    They didn't misunderstand the message, you misunderstood their intent going into the media.

    You watch movies to dissect their meanings, others watch movies to escape reality for a bit.

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