The Rec Center #322
Hi all! We’re back this week with a regular newsletter, featuring coverage of the Euphoria fandom and new developments around Tumblr’s adult content ban, some beautiful Gimli fanart, and a multifandom list of the eternally popular trope hurt/comfort. — Elizabeth
new stuff
“Tumblr is settling with NYC’s human rights agency over alleged porn ban bias” by Adi Robertson at The Verge
Tumblr is now legally required to hire an expert in sexual orientation and gender identity to review its “porn ban” algorithm for anti-LGBTQ bias.
“‘Euphoria’ Fans Have Made Over 600,000 Playlists Since Season 2 Began” by Kaitlyn McNab at Teen Vogue
The humble fanmix is alive and well.
“The Challenges of Falling in Love As a Trans Vampire Archivist” by Calvin Kasulke at Electric Lit
This conversation with Isaac Fellman about his new novel, Dead Collections, has some really interesting fandom/fic bits, including ideas about transmacs using fandom “as both a way to imagine transition, but also to avoid transitioning or thinking about it, because you have this safe place where your big feelings about masculinity can go.”
https://twitter.com/SeanRMoorhead/status/1492629405222330369
older stuff
“‘Mad Max: Fury Road’: The Oral History of a Modern Action Classic” by Kyle Buchanan at The New York Times
Since this piece from early in the pandemic is now a full-length book, it seemed like a good time to share again.
tumblr & beyond
Gimli fanart by Watts
“Batman’s stunt double has a Sailor Moon phone special edition”
please look at this vintage Dutch edition of The Hobbit.
why do people ship stuff? “there are no hard and fast truths when it comes to the human mind”
“I have some problems with the Lord of the Rings posters”
some essential fandom history on the origins of the “purring Spock” trope.
https://twitter.com/alecrobbins/status/1493735211514818562
fanfiction
This week we have one of the most popular tropes in our submissions inbox: hurt/comfort. Thank you to everyone who sent in a rec. — Elizabeth
“Exactly how this grace thing works” by Irnan. 23K words, rated Gen.
Fandom: Batman; Ship: Gen
Recced by: anon
Backstory: Dick Grayson is deaged, much to the distress of his younger siblings, who have to contend with both the impact he had on their lives, and how much about him they took for granted.
Rec: One of the best family stories I’ve ever read—the relationships are complex and heavy with history. It’s also a story about growth, and how even old hurts can be healed.
Content warnings: N/A
“Source Codes” by flourescentgrey. 167K words, rated Explicit.
Fandom: Harry Potter; Ship: Sirius Black/Remus Lupin
Recced by: Eve
Backstory: In an AU where Remus goes to prison instead of Sirius, the two men must learn to trust each other again to protect Harry and uncover a deep conspiracy.
Rec: The writing is absolutely brilliant, and the characterisation is so real and believable.
Content warnings: Infidelity, conspiracy, STIs
“survival of the fittest” by cywscross. 25K words, rated Mature.
Fandom: Naruto; Ship: Gen
Recced by: mister_racoon
Backstory: Shikamaru and Sakura are Konoha ninja who are more acquaintances than friends, but when a jutsu gone wrong transports them to enemy territory, they must become allies to survive. Shikamaru is a more experienced Chuunin, but following his injury, it’s up to Sakura to get them back home to Konoha in one piece.
Rec: Sakura’s characterization never got the attention it deserved in Naruto, so it’s always a pleasure to read a fic that shows her growth, and shows a peer like Shikamaru who recognizes and honors her strength without romance. I love that Sakura is still at the beginning of her training here and not super-powered here, so that she has to rely on more of her wits and cunning to survive.
Content warnings: N/A
“A Complete Education” by BomberQueen17. 57K words, rated Explicit.
Fandom: The Goblin Emperor; Ship: Csethiro Ceredin/Maia Drazhar
Recced by: Chestnut_filly
Backstory: TGE is a novel by Katherine Addison that follows absolute bean Maia as he unexpectedly becomes emperor of a conniving court presiding over an equally unstable country. Along the way, he acquires several bodyguards and a very clever fiancée.
Rec: Spoilers? This is a direct canon continuation focusing on Maia and Csethiro’s courtship, notably the physical aspect of their relationship, but in a more general sense the aspects around learning to give and accept love when it has been withheld or denied one’s whole life. It’s possibly the most cathartic fic I’ve read all quarantine.
Content warnings: References to physical abuse in Maia’s past
“echoes” by brokke. 4.4K words, rated Gen.
Fandom: 陈情令 | The Untamed (TV)魔道祖师 - 墨香铜臭 | Módào Zǔshī - Mòxiāng Tóngxiù; Ship: Gen
Recced by: sweetpollyolliver
Backstory: The Untamed (陈情令) is a Netflix adaptation of Módào Zǔshi, a Chinese danmei (耽美) web novel by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu. This oneshot explores the relationship between two side characters. Lan Xichen and his adopted nephew a-Yuàn go on a trip away from home in a-Yuàn’s childhood—the first time away from home since his adoption.
Rec: Sweet little fic, written from the point of view of an a-Yuàn who can’t be more than 8, taking a look at what his childhood might have been like and his relationship with his family beyond his adopted father. It also shows how the traumatic events of his early childhood might show themselves even if he doesn’t remember what happened.
Content warnings: Flashbacks to traumatic events, PTSD symptoms—no detailed descriptions of violence
And a vid!
“Odds Are” by AudreyV. 3:02, rated Teen.
Fandom: Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.; Ship: Daisy Johnson/Melinda May
Recced by: error_cascade
Backstory: Melinda May & Daisy Johnson, two agents of SHIELD over the years.
Rec: The vid’s editing is so good it made me stop hating this song.
Content warnings: Canon-typical violence, some blood
https://twitter.com/singlecrow/status/1499495421756035079
FINAL THOUGHT
Thats all, folks! See you next week! — Gav