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The epic of gilgamesh

I really care about Shamhat and I will have big things to say about her down the track. I have to read this for class and I have never heard about this poem before and now I’m kicking myself over it because this is the exact kind of thing I would have really liked in high school.

@jessisonline

Feb 9, 2024

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the song of achilles / madeline miller

sobbed so hard all the way through the last few chapters of this… beautifully written, even if you aren’t typically someone who gravitates towards Greek mythology

@sloane_shark

Oct 13, 2024

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lest the snake shall bite

so, i’m reading this book- “how to read literature like an english professor“ in preparation for this 4,000 word essay i’m writing. it’s about virginity, sex, and dicks- so of course when i stumble on the section concerning religion and religious symbolism, i read between the lines as if it was the new testament THE CHRIST FIGURE the definition of a “christ figure” is someone who is attempted, intended, or implied to be biblical to an extent and envelopes the hallmarks of jesus christ himself. however- as you will, in mere moments, see for yourself, such a list is anything but narrow. • (roughly) 33 • good with kids • sacrificial • miraculous • virtuous • last seen in a company of thieves ( i get the reference ) • good with bread • good with fish? • good at carpentry / fishing • humble ( especially economically ) • in agony • crucific wounds • wounds on the hands, sides, head and feet • outstretched arms • sent to redeem an environment • rejected by society • celibate • in some sort of wilderness, perhaps accosted by the devil woah! what a list. jeez, i know. so 22, why do christ figures exist in literature? really interestingly enough- mostly in an ironic way. it’s supposed to make a character who’s very grandiose look tiny. otherwise, it’s a pretty regular reason, and the reason authors do anything, to make parallels. to deepen a sacrifice, or explore and substantiate why a character needs to redeem himself; or just to make a text biblical in general. the point is more so that such a list is so extensive and applicable that any and all may be christ figures themselves. pull a character out of your head, and go back to the list, usually one will apply. off the top of MY head, Humbert Humbert. He is 1 ) good with children ( lol im joking ) 2 ) rejected by society 3 ) sacrificial ( tonally, in reference to how he portrays his story throughout his trial) 4 ) accosted by the devil ( implicitly argued ) 5) last seen in a company of thieves ( prison) 6 ) in agony now, no one here is arguing Humbert Humbert a “good” guy, or that he is in any way holy or similar to christ in his actions. that is the argument entirely. the requisites for a christ figure allow villains or just, bad people in general, to consist in the same realm, and that is the purpose entirely!!! i am a christ figure, as are you, and to see firsthand how so much of common intertextuality is rooted in the bible, which, let’s be fair, isnt the only religious work in circulation. so why? why the bible? why jesus? well, in literature, the bible interestingly enough is kind of just a storybook with the first explicit references to basic human themes love, hate good v evil forgiveness redemption betrayal power it’s also rich with metaphorical elements, like the garden of eden, the lions den, earth ITSELF! anyway, i was a hardcore hater of the bible and in its application i still kind of am, but it fucking rocks for literary analysis.

@22

Feb 19, 2025

Top Recs from @NewCasa

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my buddy paul

i go to breakfast once a week at our local old-school diner at 6am with him and a whole crew of other characters. he's a retired desert tortoise data collecter (got paid to walk in the rural california drylands all may) and he turned 70 last year. he's one of the only people who will ALWAYS call me out on my shit, and as someone who has trouble reading people, that's pretty nice :)

@NewCasa

Apr 1, 2025

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getting involved in your local political scene

everyone is talking about activism, but imo the best way to destroy the system is from within. if you live in a small town like me, joining a municipal or county board can be the thing that makes actual change, not just protests. those are good too tho.

@NewCasa

Apr 1, 2025

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buying physical media you've never heard of

wanna really kick it old school? buy some physical media simply based on cover art/general chatter you've heard. helps if you do this at a thrift store so you're not totally screwed over. you can go off internet chatter, but once in a while try to find something completely random. it can be really fun.

@NewCasa

Apr 2, 2025