I realized that my interpretation of the Bismuth Arc might have been a little opaque and unfocused in the video. My only hope is that in the future, I can better present my ideas and opinions with more clarity and conviction. Because make no mistake, the last thing I ever want to do is become a devil's advocate for people who use their power to marginalize and harm others. That being said, after doing some deliberate thinking about the subject, I hope to write an addendum to my interpretation of Bismuth: On one hand, I totally get why so many people are sympathetic towards Bismuth as a character, partially because her story is written to be both sympathetic and somewhat up to interpretation. It also helps that she has a really cool design and voice actress. On paper, the idea of Bismuth using the breaking point in order to liberate all of Gem Kind seems like an appealing prospect. Even though the Diamonds have been made to be sympathetic in some episodes, they deserve to be taken down. The breaking point presents an opportunity to forcefully overcome the whole system, as a quick, simple solution to the problems of Gem Society. The breaking point feels akin to the previously presented violent revolutions (Such as the French Revolution, the Chinese Communist Revolutions, the Haitian War for Independence, and the Iranian Revolution). I imagined Bismuth dreamed of storming the palaces of the Diamonds and destroying them and anyone that stood in their way. It's a compelling narrative, and it would be satisfying if something like that were to occur in the show. However, the main point I was hoping to make was the concern of the aftermath. Don't get me wrong, these previous revolutions were all justifiable to varying degrees (Especially the Haitian War for Independence), but the common result that was seen in the aftermath was the perpetuation of the previously protested issues with those respective systems. France was thrown into a state of disarray until Napoleon sauntered his way into a dictatorship, China (while flourishing economically) continued to suffer from great inequality throughout the citizenry, Iran suffers from mass censorship and a large lack of transparency from the government, and Haiti was screwed out of becoming a stable country because the United States and France were unwilling to partake in trade and commerce with them, leading them to be one of the poorest countries in the western hemisphere. The point I'm making is that while the violent and glorious revolutions presented by characters like Bismuth might seem appealing at first glance, though the reality is that storming the castle and beheading the rich doesn't prevent the next group of rich jerkwads from taking power and perpetuating the same problems. As terrible as the Diamonds might be, destroying them won't get rid of the various injustices seen on Homeworld (their strict caste system, prejudice towards fusions off-colors and defects, and their blind admiration towards those in power), in fact, there is a very good chance that it might make such problems worse. I was going to try and stray away from real-world politics in this video as much as possible, but I feel this goes on to inform my opinions regarding Bismuth: Donald Trump is a terrible perversion of everything some want in a president. His hateful rhetoric and nature, his disregard for those around him, and his constant pushed towards abusing the power of the presidency; make him not only the worst president in American history but someone who will quite possibly be remembered as being one of history's greatest monsters. Despite this, I'm not one of those people that wish for him to be assassinated. I wish this for the same reason that I do not want Bismuth to shatter the Diamonds. While the idea of Agent Orange dying an ironic death worthy of his hateful, pathetic life would have a layer of schadenfreude behind it, it would only serve as a bandage on the gaping, infected wound that has come to represent the bigotry, paranoia and backward thinking seen in the United States. Having Trump dead, or even lawfully impeach (which he should totally still be impeached btw), will not change the fact that there is a sizable portion of the American government and voting base was ok with enough to elect him in the first place. Likewise, shattering the Diamonds won't change the fact that there a many Gems that are more than happy to keep the diamonds in power because they stand to benefit from a system that prospers on the back of lower class gems. Taking out the big guy on top doesn't get rid of the jerks that got that preserved their regime in the first place. If you want a straight example from the show that demonstrates this point, look no further than the shattering of Pink Diamond. Thinking back on the stories are seen in Great Gem War, it mirrors many of the same patterns seen with our idealized vision of a revolution, where a simple Rose Quartz was able to shatter the evil Diamond. But the fact that the Crystal Gems still have to deal with the same issues seen before the war kind of demonstrates how the Crystal Gems were unsuccessful in destroying the harmful systems seen in Gem society. Sure, they were able to drastically decrease Homeworld's presence on Earth, but it didn't change many of the systems the crystal gems were rebelling against in the first place. Like I said in the video, rebellions don't just occur with the sudden removal of the Big Bad on top. Revolutions and Rebellions achieve long-term success when they are able to take the underlying systems and subverting them into being more equitable and fair. For the United States, this would mean giving lower class, nonwhite, non-male, and non-straight more representation in and outside of politics, and building up systems that provide a more stable way of living to those previously mentioned groups (such as raising the minimum wage, distributing taxes in a way that prioritizes the wealthy over the lower and middle classes, providing proper healthcare and protection for women and queer induviduals, increasing funding for public services like education and healthcare, and making wealthier individuals more accountable when it comes to paying their taxes and providing enough of a safety net for their employees). Those are just some of the ways that we can cause a revolution that could help build a better world for future generations. As for Gem Society, we still haven't been given enough information about Gem Society as to provide some concrete steps towards removing the oppressive system of power displayed by the Diamonds. Though I imagine that the more we see of Gem Society the more we will be able to speculate on what steps that can be taken towards fixing the problems demonstrated by Homeworld, such as embracing peridot’s plans for sustainably gathering resources for Homeworld, allowing Gems to fuse whenever and with whoever they want (with consent of course), prosecuting and jailing the diamond for war crimes like the Cluster, and the abolishment of the use of Pearls as slaves. I realize that given the fact that we only know about Homeworld through the ambiguous lens of personal anecdotes from the crystal gems, it can make the arch, simple solution that Bismuth provided seem like a reasonable prospect. Though when you view it through the gaze of the historical events this rebellion mirrors and the political ideologies at play, the rhetoric put forth by Bismuth was one that would have ultimately done more harm than good. So, I realize that it might sound like I’m excusing the actions of the Diamonds, but my intent was to provide an alternate solution that could lead to a more sustainable peace. Ultimately, I understand if you don’t agree with my stance of Bismuth and the real world political ideologies that helped me come to this conclusion; though I hope this might have been able to provide more insight and understanding to my way of thinking. Anyway, that’s all I have to say about that. Best Wishes.
Henry Kathman, Thanks for the video; You made some excellent points. However, I would like to debate just a few points you made. First, Amethyst was considered "defective" by Homeworld standards but she was not "disabled" because she was still a skilled fighter despite not having the physical strength of "normal" quartz soldiers. Also, If Homeworld would have given her a fair chance, they would have discovered that she is the best shape shifter gem that was ever produced as well as having very fast recovery from being "poofed". Homeworld could have used her as an espionage/assassin gem based on the shapeshifting abilities alone. You see, Homeworld treats their gems like cheap plastic cups; very disposable. However, Gems can take hundreds to thousands of years to form and Homeworld is shattering more gems than they are able to produce leading to the "Resource Problem" that they have been having. In order to keep create gems at the rate they are being shattered, Homeworld have to "colonize" more and more planets. Eventually, Homeworld would have bumped into a planet that would have been able to fight them off. Ultimately, Homeworld must find alternative punishments to Gems beside shattering. Using the mirror containment would be good alternative to shattering for some crimes such as insubordination. Even Homeworld rewards for loyalty are problematic as they involve possibly being given a "Pearl", which involves creating Gems just to treated as slaves instead of being trained in skills that will be useful to gem society. Increasing a Gem responsibility and Rank would be far better alternative to this scenario. The only gem that would fit the description of disabled would be padparadscha. Padparadscha predicts events after they occur implying some sort of speech or cognitive delay. However, even she have some skills as she seems to good at piloting Homeworld ships. Second, Lapis was a victim of Homeworld abandonment and the Crystal Gems not releasing her immediately as soon as she was found, but Lapis was the abuser of Jasper. Jasper BEGGED Lapis to fuse with her to defeat the Gems, Lapis agreed and turned on her and tried to imprison her. The struggle left Lapis physically and spiritually exhausted, but this was her doing, not Jasper's. Lapis was strong enough to defeat Jasper without tricking her into fusion. (Lapis was throwing the Crystal Gems around like darts WITH A CRACKED GEM with ease as proof for this.) You see, Lapis is very vengeful and she took her frustrations out on Jasper unfairly. Even Jasper admitted, "I thought I was a brute, she is something else." Lapis is not the victim that the show tries to portray; Lapis gets a pass because she is pretty and Jasper would be considered a "butch." Finally, Bismuth was correct in wanting to eliminate the diamonds. However, she would have to stay on Homeworld to lead the Homeworld Gems into her vision of how Gem society is supposed to work; Other wise as there would be mass panic and disorder. You are correct in that changing mindsets and societal norms takes time and hard work and killing the leaders is just the beginning of that work and not the end.
Another way of looking at Bismuth is in terms of rebellion fracturing. She wanted to go a different direction than her leader, and the leader took her out instead of letting the idea spread. Bismuth rebelled against Rose. I am also not sure she was really trying to dismantle 'everything', she just wanted to go after the leadership which is something you generally do try to do in war. She was, in many ways, proposing a much more 'human' style warfare, and Rose was being more traditionalist.
neeneko What really makes we wonder is the Gem's lack of small arms or personalized armaments that can shoot ballistic or laser projectiles. I mean, shouldn't a society that has literally built its own people, Terra formed worlds to become dead rocks and create all sorts of spacecraft be able to put firearms of sorts in the hands of its soldiers? Or maybe it's only for the elite? Who knows :P
@Mr JGN - yeah, gem society kinda feels like one of those 'noble war' archetypes that has never actually fought a war and thus is stuck on class based weapons. Another element of Bismuth and the Breaking Point, it was a major equalizer weapon. Any unskilled and low power gem could instantly be as lethal as the most elite warriors. I sometimes wonder if they were thinking in terms of.. oh what era was it... restoration japan? When mass producible peon-compatible guns made the aristocratic (and expensive) warrior class obsolete.
neeneko Heh true. Maybe some form of technological stagnation is at hand. Because they usually subjugate and exterminate the life from planets they conquer, they have no real reason to innovate weaponry except for personal defense. They have no competitor or rival (as of now) to challenge them Why make some cool laser rifle when a sword or some melee weapon could do the job with less strain on resources (ex. Ammunition or parts)
Earth was the most disastrous campaign the gems ever had. They reside in practically another galaxy that's a bit far off, so makes sense why they don't visit often. Earth would have been a start. A foothold. Some sort of outpost planet to begin with conquering the Milky way galaxy. But the rebellion put an end to that, and it was the greatest wastage they ever had, losing so many gems among other things, only to gain nothing
That was such a good video Henry! I love how you intertwined political philosophy into your analysis, especially the ending about how destroying a system does not always inherently make a better one. I never really considered Steven's lack of agency before so it was good to hear that perspective. Given Jasper's arc and her devotion to homeworld, do you see anyway Jasper could join the rebellion (if she was uncorrupted of course)? It would be interesting to hear your analysis on what could be a redemption arc for Jasper in regards to rebellion in general. Thank you for the great analysis you provided :)
I know yo asked Henry lol, but if I may throw my two cents in lol? I think Jasper's reason is because of the childhood she never had (hear me out!). She came out of the ground as the 'perfect soldier', ready to serve her diamond. Even though gems are never children, you get a sense of all of them having some sort of beginning. Peridot had to read all those old reports and find a place. The Famethyst 'grew up' in PD's zoo. Jasper didn't get a safe place. She was created in an unstable environment, thrusted into a war,, essentially being the equivalent to a child soldier. And she hasn't stopped fighting. She's fought the gems, Lapis, and now she's fighting her own mind/corruption. I think her reason for rebelling would be to fight for a place where she no longer needs to fight. My thoughts lol.
I suppose it could offer up an interesting parallel to expectations placed of Steven to be the "Perfect" leader of the Crystal Gems, though I have honestly very mixed feelings with the prospect of Jasper reforming as a member of the Crystal Gems. Partially because I'm not sure that even after all of this time away from homeworld, that Jasper might have any desire to turn her back on homeworld. It is also partially because I think that it might present the uncomfortable expectations that characters like Amethyst and Lapis should have to forgive her for all of the terrible abuse that she placed towards them, and the subject of abuse and the forgiveness of abusers is something I don't know if I'm fully equipped to discuss to the level of quality I strive for (at least for right now, it might take more research, discussion, and listening before I am able to put something forward that I feel would constructively add to the conversation). Though all of that aside, while I'm not opposed to the prospect of a redemption arc for Jasper, I am not sure if it is something that could be easily achieved at this current point in the plot. I realize that a common belief with the staff is that every character has the potential to be redeemed. I also think that redemption arcs are very difficult to achieve for the deadly serious villains such as Jasper. Unlike Peridot, whose pragmatic, naive, objective nature made her very easy to understand and communicate with, Jasper's core character trait has been embittered, closeminded, self-hating, rage towards the Crystal Gems and everything they stand for; that isn't something that can easily be swayed into rebellion, especially since she stands in such ideological opposition to the other characters. For now, I will refer to Overly Sarcastic Production's video discussing the intricacies that go into redeeming a villain and why it is so difficult to effectively execute in a story: th-cam.com/video/vs2TkXBYT9A/w-d-xo.html I hope this might have provided a satisfactory explanation for my thoughts on Jasper. I'm glad you liked the video and I my future work can inspire this same level of discussion and nuance as this one. Best Wishes.
Henry Kathman Although there is another perspective I'd like to bring up. While it's true that Jasper was horrible to Amethyst, I'd argue that Jasper was actually abused by Lapis. Think about it, when Jasper wanted someone to fuse with, she *asked* Lapis and Lapis said *yes*. She could've done so many things, used te water to get away and let the CGs deal with Jasper, fuse and then stall Malachite enough for the CGs to beat them. But she was so angry over all those millennia and wanted justice. Jasper is the embodiment of Homeworld's standards, so I think in Lapis' mind, she *was* Homeworld. But Jasper is still just a Quartz soldier, she has a lot of authority and respect in soldiers, but otherwise, she's powerless. Even so, Lapis dragged her to the bottom of the ocean and chained her there, essentially imprisoning Jasper in an unhealthy relationship. And believe it or not, Jasper developed Stockholm syndrome and came crawling back to the person who once made her fight so hard just to resurface the water (by the way, Lapis' rejection and Jasper's subsequent searches for someone to fuse with could be an allegory to developing a psychosis and partaking in self-destructive behavior while continuously finding 'monstrous' partners) I don't think Lapis is necessarily an abuser, but I do think there's a certain bias towards Jasper, and I just wanted to raise both points.
While I feel this comment is a little off subject from the topic of this video, I often feel there is a bias against lapis in the SU community as well as a bias against Jasper. I have always seen Malachite as the symbolic two-way co-abusive relationship between Lapis and Japser. While it is true Lapis did drag Jasper into the sea and held her there, it should be pointed out that Lapis did try to fly away from Jasper when the ship crashed in "Jailbreak", but Jasper grabbed Lapis and held her against her will. Calling her a brat and not letting her go, I don't know if Lapis truly thought she had a choice when Jasper asked her to fuse, especially with her comment "just say yes" which is more of a command than a request. Later in "Watermelon Island" when Jasper gains control over the fusion, she had the chance to break it up and go her own way, but she then traps Lapis in the fusion as Lapis trapped her. They both became hooked on each other. In the episode "Alone at Sea", Lapis explains how she also misses Jasper even though it wasn't healthy for either of them, showing they both may have developed some form of Stockholm Syndrome for each other, and when Jasper comes back saying "I've changed" I was not convinced that Jasper would not have trapped Lapis in the fusion again if Lapis had said yes again. I don't believe there was necessarily a hero or villian between Jasper and Lapis. They were both people who were put into a bad situation and then both did bad things to each other. In regards to rebellion and a redemption for Jasper, Lapis never truly had a redemption arc either. She never apologized for any of her actions, to the CGs or Jasper. I believe that if Lapis is to truly be redeemed and make up for her wrongs, she will need to some how apologize to Jasper for what took place. I think Jasper and Lapis's redemption are intertwined. Lapis needs to apologize for what went down, and even if Jasper is still corrupted, maybe she will also find some peace in what happened. I don't know, just my opinion and interpretation to what took place.
The Bismuth arc did a bad job of communicating its point. The Crystal Gems have shattered other gems; it's more the difference between killing, and mass killing with a guillotine.
Carlos Meza yes/no/a little/then never again After that, they had Napolean who was by definition a dictator, but that was about it. He got exiled, and King Louis XVIII came into power for a few short years. He died, then his brother stepped up to be King, but he wanted France to go back to it's old ways, so he too was over thrown. Then there came Louis Philippe who was a constituinal monarch, But lost the power when another uprising occured and the power came to Napolean III who became the first president of France. And theyve had presidents since
Amethyst isn't small just because she was "overcooked." Peridot also pointed out her exit hole was too low to the ground. Why do people keep forgetting that?
You just reminded me of one of my favorite anime. Kampfer.it is about a teenage male who is chosen to fight against other kampfers but they can only be female. but he only defends with his gift which gets the other side thinking. it comes together when both sides make a truce. forcing the ones behind the fight to create a new group all through the new group is better and faster the new group looses the fight by the hero refusing to be forced to chose. that event gave them enough power to defeat the other group badly. don't take my word for it but it still has a huge fanbase that agree it is a gem that was tossed away even before it was polished.the third group even has one questioning why.
This is a great video! There is finally a person who does not discuss the flaws of this show, but some of its complexities in an analytical way. However, I do have a problem with it. Your focus on diversity, especially with the staff, was really unnecessary and in some ways demeaning to other creators. I personally believe that the sex, gender, race, ect of the men and women behind the show should not matter, as I find it better to appreciate how they behave and think as to provide an unbiased perception of the staff. Really, people over-exaggerate how bad the industry can be. Since the industry is founded upon capitalism their goal is ultimately to make money. Other than appealing to the audiences (and sometimes appealing to their intolerable vices as seen in the Weinstein and Lassiter cases) these companies are usually coloblinded to the race, gender, and many of the other traits. (Sorry if I am incorrect on this one, my knowledge is purely based upon this industry being under capitalist fundamentals so if you find anything incorrect with my claims please tell me.) TLDR: Diversity shouldn’t matter so much and the animation industry is a business (which helps make it not discriminatory).
While I can understand why it might be considered demeaning to a creator to be praised because of their demographic information rather than their work, I still think it's important to recognize and commend instances when a creator is able to differentiate themselves from the presumed white, heterosexual, cisgendered, male creator that we too often consider being the status quo within the entertainment industry (as well as the field of internet discussion). The fact of the matter is, while we like to think that the entertainment industry and other industries are diverse and inclusive industries (and in fact, has made some strides away from homogenization); in reality, this is far from the case. Like most entertainment, Animation is a very difficult field to enter into. Many figures in animation got where they are today because they had some form of connection to insiders in the industry. This may have been through school, internships, work studies, freelancing, or even being a notable webcomic artist, director, or actor. In order to achieve those connections, you have to have at least some level of privilege in order to get to where they need to be to make those connections. Like many things, there are going to be exceptions to this, but if you are a white dude in Burbank right now, you will have a better chance at breaking into the industry than if you were otherwise. This might seem hyperbolic, facetious, or unrealistic to some. Though if you were to research the demographic information of each are of animation (directors, editors, designers, artists, storyboarders, writers etc.), you are going to find that for a majority of the medium's relatively short history, the majority of these positions have been filled by white men. The fact that Steven Universe is the first show on Cartoon Network to have a women showrunner in the network's quarter of a century existence should be an indicator at some level, the might have been an underwhelming presence of white dudes. Though even if this weren't the case, you might argue that the diversity might not be a big factor in a show's creation, and you might be able to point to some examples that justify this argument. Though if you want a reason for why I think that it's important to talk about diversity within the creation process; I give you one word: perspective. Like I said before, the status quo of our perception of a creator has been a white heterosexual, cisgendered, dudes. While there isn't anything wrong with someone being those previously mentioned things (hell I am all four), there is only so much insight they might be able to bring into issues, topics, and themes, that are more commonly discussed in other demographics. Lenses like feminism, critical race theory, queer theory, postcolonialism, and gender studies are going to be more heavily defined by those who have dealt with issues in such areas that reflect such ideas. While having a white staff doesn't inherently lower the quality of the show, it might mean that they will not be able to discuss an idea, character, or plot detail with as much conviction and knowledge as someone who has personal experience in such ideas and issues. Do you think they might have been able to discuss the cruelty towards Garnet because she is a fusion had the creator not have had any experience with homophobia in their lives? Do you think that the gem caste system would have been such a focus if the creators didn't feel the need to make a statement about prejudice and bigotry? Do you think consent fusion would have been such a focus on the show if any of them hadn't come to understand what its like to have someone disregard your feelings for their own personal gain and pleasure? Heck, look at Mystery Girl. Many of the queer female show creators have discussed how her design was born out of being an amalgamation of what each creator found attractive and mysterious as a character design. The constant queer subtext seen in the show is something that I think wouldn't have been as overt or well presented if some creators had no experience in the LGBTQ+ community. I understand the hostility towards the idea of praising diversity for diversity's sake. Though not enough to prescribe to that thought. Though as we move forward into a more globally connected world; it is important that we understand the significance diversity plays in entertainment. Without a welcoming of new perspectives and opinions, we may not be able to enjoy some of the new and fresh ideas a young creator might be dying to present to the world. If we want to see the next unique and original show akin to Steven Universe in the future, its important that we try to make our entertainment as welcoming to as many fresh perspectives as possible, and that begins with allowing people of different backgrounds and life experiences to tell their stories. That is something I will always strive to encourage as viewer and a critic, no matter how unnecessary and superfluous it might seem.
Henry Kathman my problem is mostly by the way that diversity is defined at this current point in time. While simple labels may indicate difference from the status quo, they might not be dissimilar in any manner. I believe these things because of deeply rooted feelings to NOT discriminate based upon traits I find inconsequential (race, sex, orientation, ect). I still don’t really know if my perspective can be properly argued or not in this world as I have gotten into arguments from both sides of the political spectrum over it. All I really wish for is the incapability for people to judge upon these labels. Thank you for commenting. It feels great to see the views of the content creator itself especially when it is this well written.
Honestly, as well done of a reveal the episode turned out to be; the new-founded characterization applied to Pink Diamond doesn't do much to reinforce these themes of rebellion outside of further making Homeworld a more unlikable enemy to rebel against. It would be interesting to see more of the inner dynamics within the Diamond matriarchy, as it could offer up more explanation towards the core ideology of conformity demonstrated by homeworld. Though as of right now, I am going to wait and see where Pink Diamond's story goes before applying any analysis to it.
Liam Hill that gem is a psycho xd Jasper was already defeated xd dragging her under water and psicologically torture her for months was totally unnecesary
Lapis and Jasper are both the abuser and victim of each other's actions. I never understood why people choose a side with those two. Probably because most have a black and white mindset and don't see the world for what it is; various shades of grey.
Trevor Hale Yeah, Lapis admitted to liking taking out her fury on Jasper, but when Japser offered she denied it because she didn't want to feel like that again. She knew it was wrong. And we don't fully understand Jasper's reasoning to want to fuse again. She clearly wanted the power and got mad when she couldn't.
Hey this video is amazing. What a great, well-written and thought out script and analysis. Especially your points about Steven and his need to rebel against the expectations set on him. Good job!
Just speaking as someone who considers himself an ally (a heterosexual, cisgendered one at that), I think its important that we consider queer individuals who might not completely fit the classifications of gay, lesbian, transgender, or bisexual. Such as asexual, pansexual, genderfluid, intersex, agender, demisexual, or bigender individuals. You may think that these might not count these as proper classifications for being queer, if that's the hill you want to die on, I guess. Though ask yourself: as someone who couldn't fully understand the feelings of rejection and fear that come from being a queer person; shouldn't the role of the LGBTQ+ community include being welcoming and understanding towards people of all sexualities and all genders?
Henry Kathman Sexualities are fine but there are still only two genders. I do not support more than two nor will I ever support it. Your sexuality is fine and you can be you all you want, but making the claim that there's more than two genders is wholly unnecessary. It's biology and facts and many individuals in the community take it to the extreme trying to demonize those against the more than two genders thing. I know people in that community who are against it as well and have been attacked and shunned because of it. It's made worse by the fact that those with children will try to push those ideals forcefully onto their child. I understand the feeling of rejection all too well and yes it hurts, but a line has to be drawn somewhere.
Ya Boi Guzma This argument is hilariously flawed once you consider intersex individuals: people whose biology leads them to having traits that would categorize them as a sex other than male or female, for one of many reasons, such as having both male an female parts in some capacity (an ovary and a testicle, a vagina and a penis, etc), having neither male or female parts, chromosomes that don't match an individual's biology (female parts with XY chromosomes, male parts with XX chromosome), chromosome pairings outside of the standard XX and XY pairings (X, XXY, XXX, etc), and probably many other possible ways an individual could fall outside of the standard 2 gender system based on their biology alone. Biology does not support a 2 gender system; it supports a multitude of genders, due to there being many ways someone's sex could be different from male or female. By saying there are only 2 genders, you are saying entire groups of people (who have been all grouped up as a single group for simplicity sakes) can not properly identify their gender as the sex they were born as. And the argument I gave completely ignores people who identify outside of the 2 gender system who were born as either male or female. These people exist too, and should be treated as seriously as any other transgender individual. Simply saying they shouldn't be supported because "a line has to be drawn somewhere" is not a valid reason; it's arbitrarily choosing who should be allowed to freely express themselves, and who shouldn't.
Has anyone else wondered how the hell does a holographic gem like rose quartz get pregnant? 🙉🙉🙅🙅😖😫😥😰🙄 does that mean garnet can get pregnant with a hybrid aswell. What about pearl and amethysts lil crystal gems roaming the streets😁🤔
Rebellion is a core theme of Steven Universe, though I think transformation in the terms of characters "finding their place" is also quite crucial. We have this backdrop of a caste system that puts everyone in neat little slots. With many who just "don't fit in" or are otherwise oppressed. If they escape this, I find the characters are often looking for "what to do next" as they have no idea how to function (this is especially true with Peridot) and find a reason to keep going on. I think it would be interesting if we got to see some Homeworld gems who are very happy and fit perfectly in Homeworld's "system" and don't want to change. There has to be some conservative believers in that society. Just like we see the extremist-rebel in Bismuth.
I realized that my interpretation of the Bismuth Arc might have been a little opaque and unfocused in the video. My only hope is that in the future, I can better present my ideas and opinions with more clarity and conviction. Because make no mistake, the last thing I ever want to do is become a devil's advocate for people who use their power to marginalize and harm others. That being said, after doing some deliberate thinking about the subject, I hope to write an addendum to my interpretation of Bismuth:
On one hand, I totally get why so many people are sympathetic towards Bismuth as a character, partially because her story is written to be both sympathetic and somewhat up to interpretation. It also helps that she has a really cool design and voice actress. On paper, the idea of Bismuth using the breaking point in order to liberate all of Gem Kind seems like an appealing prospect. Even though the Diamonds have been made to be sympathetic in some episodes, they deserve to be taken down. The breaking point presents an opportunity to forcefully overcome the whole system, as a quick, simple solution to the problems of Gem Society. The breaking point feels akin to the previously presented violent revolutions (Such as the French Revolution, the Chinese Communist Revolutions, the Haitian War for Independence, and the Iranian Revolution). I imagined Bismuth dreamed of storming the palaces of the Diamonds and destroying them and anyone that stood in their way. It's a compelling narrative, and it would be satisfying if something like that were to occur in the show.
However, the main point I was hoping to make was the concern of the aftermath. Don't get me wrong, these previous revolutions were all justifiable to varying degrees (Especially the Haitian War for Independence), but the common result that was seen in the aftermath was the perpetuation of the previously protested issues with those respective systems. France was thrown into a state of disarray until Napoleon sauntered his way into a dictatorship, China (while flourishing economically) continued to suffer from great inequality throughout the citizenry, Iran suffers from mass censorship and a large lack of transparency from the government, and Haiti was screwed out of becoming a stable country because the United States and France were unwilling to partake in trade and commerce with them, leading them to be one of the poorest countries in the western hemisphere. The point I'm making is that while the violent and glorious revolutions presented by characters like Bismuth might seem appealing at first glance, though the reality is that storming the castle and beheading the rich doesn't prevent the next group of rich jerkwads from taking power and perpetuating the same problems. As terrible as the Diamonds might be, destroying them won't get rid of the various injustices seen on Homeworld (their strict caste system, prejudice towards fusions off-colors and defects, and their blind admiration towards those in power), in fact, there is a very good chance that it might make such problems worse.
I was going to try and stray away from real-world politics in this video as much as possible, but I feel this goes on to inform my opinions regarding Bismuth:
Donald Trump is a terrible perversion of everything some want in a president. His hateful rhetoric and nature, his disregard for those around him, and his constant pushed towards abusing the power of the presidency; make him not only the worst president in American history but someone who will quite possibly be remembered as being one of history's greatest monsters. Despite this, I'm not one of those people that wish for him to be assassinated. I wish this for the same reason that I do not want Bismuth to shatter the Diamonds. While the idea of Agent Orange dying an ironic death worthy of his hateful, pathetic life would have a layer of schadenfreude behind it, it would only serve as a bandage on the gaping, infected wound that has come to represent the bigotry, paranoia and backward thinking seen in the United States. Having Trump dead, or even lawfully impeach (which he should totally still be impeached btw), will not change the fact that there is a sizable portion of the American government and voting base was ok with enough to elect him in the first place. Likewise, shattering the Diamonds won't change the fact that there a many Gems that are more than happy to keep the diamonds in power because they stand to benefit from a system that prospers on the back of lower class gems. Taking out the big guy on top doesn't get rid of the jerks that got that preserved their regime in the first place.
If you want a straight example from the show that demonstrates this point, look no further than the shattering of Pink Diamond. Thinking back on the stories are seen in Great Gem War, it mirrors many of the same patterns seen with our idealized vision of a revolution, where a simple Rose Quartz was able to shatter the evil Diamond. But the fact that the Crystal Gems still have to deal with the same issues seen before the war kind of demonstrates how the Crystal Gems were unsuccessful in destroying the harmful systems seen in Gem society. Sure, they were able to drastically decrease Homeworld's presence on Earth, but it didn't change many of the systems the crystal gems were rebelling against in the first place.
Like I said in the video, rebellions don't just occur with the sudden removal of the Big Bad on top. Revolutions and Rebellions achieve long-term success when they are able to take the underlying systems and subverting them into being more equitable and fair. For the United States, this would mean giving lower class, nonwhite, non-male, and non-straight more representation in and outside of politics, and building up systems that provide a more stable way of living to those previously mentioned groups (such as raising the minimum wage, distributing taxes in a way that prioritizes the wealthy over the lower and middle classes, providing proper healthcare and protection for women and queer induviduals, increasing funding for public services like education and healthcare, and making wealthier individuals more accountable when it comes to paying their taxes and providing enough of a safety net for their employees). Those are just some of the ways that we can cause a revolution that could help build a better world for future generations. As for Gem Society, we still haven't been given enough information about Gem Society as to provide some concrete steps towards removing the oppressive system of power displayed by the Diamonds. Though I imagine that the more we see of Gem Society the more we will be able to speculate on what steps that can be taken towards fixing the problems demonstrated by Homeworld, such as embracing peridot’s plans for sustainably gathering resources for Homeworld, allowing Gems to fuse whenever and with whoever they want (with consent of course), prosecuting and jailing the diamond for war crimes like the Cluster, and the abolishment of the use of Pearls as slaves.
I realize that given the fact that we only know about Homeworld through the ambiguous lens of personal anecdotes from the crystal gems, it can make the arch, simple solution that Bismuth provided seem like a reasonable prospect. Though when you view it through the gaze of the historical events this rebellion mirrors and the political ideologies at play, the rhetoric put forth by Bismuth was one that would have ultimately done more harm than good.
So, I realize that it might sound like I’m excusing the actions of the Diamonds, but my intent was to provide an alternate solution that could lead to a more sustainable peace. Ultimately, I understand if you don’t agree with my stance of Bismuth and the real world political ideologies that helped me come to this conclusion; though I hope this might have been able to provide more insight and understanding to my way of thinking. Anyway, that’s all I have to say about that.
Best Wishes.
Henry Kathman
The music at the end. You must upload it.
Henry Kathman, Thanks for the video; You made some excellent points. However, I would like to debate just a few points you made.
First, Amethyst was considered "defective" by Homeworld standards but she was not "disabled" because she was still a skilled fighter despite not having the physical strength of "normal" quartz soldiers. Also, If Homeworld would have given her a fair chance, they would have discovered that she is the best shape shifter gem that was ever produced as well as having very fast recovery from being "poofed". Homeworld could have used her as an espionage/assassin gem based on the shapeshifting abilities alone. You see, Homeworld treats their gems like cheap plastic cups; very disposable. However, Gems can take hundreds to thousands of years to form and Homeworld is shattering more gems than they are able to produce leading to the "Resource Problem" that they have been having. In order to keep create gems at the rate they are being shattered, Homeworld have to "colonize" more and more planets. Eventually, Homeworld would have bumped into a planet that would have been able to fight them off. Ultimately, Homeworld must find alternative punishments to Gems beside shattering. Using the mirror containment would be good alternative to shattering for some crimes such as insubordination. Even Homeworld rewards for loyalty are problematic as they involve possibly being given a "Pearl", which involves creating Gems just to treated as slaves instead of being trained in skills that will be useful to gem society. Increasing a Gem responsibility and Rank would be far better alternative to this scenario. The only gem that would fit the description of disabled would be padparadscha. Padparadscha predicts events after they occur implying some sort of speech or cognitive delay. However, even she have some skills as she seems to good at piloting Homeworld ships.
Second, Lapis was a victim of Homeworld abandonment and the Crystal Gems not releasing her immediately as soon as she was found, but Lapis was the abuser of Jasper. Jasper BEGGED Lapis to fuse with her to defeat the Gems, Lapis agreed and turned on her and tried to imprison her. The struggle left Lapis physically and spiritually exhausted, but this was her doing, not Jasper's. Lapis was strong enough to defeat Jasper without tricking her into fusion. (Lapis was throwing the Crystal Gems around like darts WITH A CRACKED GEM with ease as proof for this.) You see, Lapis is very vengeful and she took her frustrations out on Jasper unfairly. Even Jasper admitted, "I thought I was a brute, she is something else." Lapis is not the victim that the show tries to portray; Lapis gets a pass because she is pretty and Jasper would be considered a "butch."
Finally, Bismuth was correct in wanting to eliminate the diamonds. However, she would have to stay on Homeworld to lead the Homeworld Gems into her vision of how Gem society is supposed to work; Other wise as there would be mass panic and disorder. You are correct in that changing mindsets and societal norms takes time and hard work and killing the leaders is just the beginning of that work and not the end.
Another way of looking at Bismuth is in terms of rebellion fracturing. She wanted to go a different direction than her leader, and the leader took her out instead of letting the idea spread. Bismuth rebelled against Rose. I am also not sure she was really trying to dismantle 'everything', she just wanted to go after the leadership which is something you generally do try to do in war. She was, in many ways, proposing a much more 'human' style warfare, and Rose was being more traditionalist.
neeneko
What really makes we wonder is the Gem's lack of small arms or personalized armaments that can shoot ballistic or laser projectiles. I mean, shouldn't a society that has literally built its own people, Terra formed worlds to become dead rocks and create all sorts of spacecraft be able to put firearms of sorts in the hands of its soldiers? Or maybe it's only for the elite? Who knows :P
@Mr JGN - yeah, gem society kinda feels like one of those 'noble war' archetypes that has never actually fought a war and thus is stuck on class based weapons.
Another element of Bismuth and the Breaking Point, it was a major equalizer weapon. Any unskilled and low power gem could instantly be as lethal as the most elite warriors. I sometimes wonder if they were thinking in terms of.. oh what era was it... restoration japan? When mass producible peon-compatible guns made the aristocratic (and expensive) warrior class obsolete.
neeneko
Heh true. Maybe some form of technological stagnation is at hand. Because they usually subjugate and exterminate the life from planets they conquer, they have no real reason to innovate weaponry except for personal defense. They have no competitor or rival (as of now) to challenge them Why make some cool laser rifle when a sword or some melee weapon could do the job with less strain on resources (ex. Ammunition or parts)
Your Steven Universe political analyses are criminally underrated. Thank you.
Wow this one of the best Steven universe videos i've never watched
Earth was the most disastrous campaign the gems ever had. They reside in practically another galaxy that's a bit far off, so makes sense why they don't visit often. Earth would have been a start. A foothold. Some sort of outpost planet to begin with conquering the Milky way galaxy. But the rebellion put an end to that, and it was the greatest wastage they ever had, losing so many gems among other things, only to gain nothing
I love that escapism cover.
Thanks, If you would like to hear the cover on its own, you can listen to it here: th-cam.com/video/3NwkAaD0_W4/w-d-xo.html
That was such a good video Henry! I love how you intertwined political philosophy into your analysis, especially the ending about how destroying a system does not always inherently make a better one. I never really considered Steven's lack of agency before so it was good to hear that perspective. Given Jasper's arc and her devotion to homeworld, do you see anyway Jasper could join the rebellion (if she was uncorrupted of course)? It would be interesting to hear your analysis on what could be a redemption arc for Jasper in regards to rebellion in general. Thank you for the great analysis you provided :)
I know yo asked Henry lol, but if I may throw my two cents in lol? I think Jasper's reason is because of the childhood she never had (hear me out!). She came out of the ground as the 'perfect soldier', ready to serve her diamond. Even though gems are never children, you get a sense of all of them having some sort of beginning. Peridot had to read all those old reports and find a place. The Famethyst 'grew up' in PD's zoo. Jasper didn't get a safe place. She was created in an unstable environment, thrusted into a war,, essentially being the equivalent to a child soldier. And she hasn't stopped fighting. She's fought the gems, Lapis, and now she's fighting her own mind/corruption. I think her reason for rebelling would be to fight for a place where she no longer needs to fight. My thoughts lol.
I suppose it could offer up an interesting parallel to expectations placed of Steven to be the "Perfect" leader of the Crystal Gems, though I have honestly very mixed feelings with the prospect of Jasper reforming as a member of the Crystal Gems. Partially because I'm not sure that even after all of this time away from homeworld, that Jasper might have any desire to turn her back on homeworld. It is also partially because I think that it might present the uncomfortable expectations that characters like Amethyst and Lapis should have to forgive her for all of the terrible abuse that she placed towards them, and the subject of abuse and the forgiveness of abusers is something I don't know if I'm fully equipped to discuss to the level of quality I strive for (at least for right now, it might take more research, discussion, and listening before I am able to put something forward that I feel would constructively add to the conversation).
Though all of that aside, while I'm not opposed to the prospect of a redemption arc for Jasper, I am not sure if it is something that could be easily achieved at this current point in the plot. I realize that a common belief with the staff is that every character has the potential to be redeemed. I also think that redemption arcs are very difficult to achieve for the deadly serious villains such as Jasper. Unlike Peridot, whose pragmatic, naive, objective nature made her very easy to understand and communicate with, Jasper's core character trait has been embittered, closeminded, self-hating, rage towards the Crystal Gems and everything they stand for; that isn't something that can easily be swayed into rebellion, especially since she stands in such ideological opposition to the other characters. For now, I will refer to Overly Sarcastic Production's video discussing the intricacies that go into redeeming a villain and why it is so difficult to effectively execute in a story: th-cam.com/video/vs2TkXBYT9A/w-d-xo.html
I hope this might have provided a satisfactory explanation for my thoughts on Jasper. I'm glad you liked the video and I my future work can inspire this same level of discussion and nuance as this one.
Best Wishes.
Henry Kathman
Although there is another perspective I'd like to bring up. While it's true that Jasper was horrible to Amethyst, I'd argue that Jasper was actually abused by Lapis. Think about it, when Jasper wanted someone to fuse with, she *asked* Lapis and Lapis said *yes*. She could've done so many things, used te water to get away and let the CGs deal with Jasper, fuse and then stall Malachite enough for the CGs to beat them. But she was so angry over all those millennia and wanted justice. Jasper is the embodiment of Homeworld's standards, so I think in Lapis' mind, she *was* Homeworld. But Jasper is still just a Quartz soldier, she has a lot of authority and respect in soldiers, but otherwise, she's powerless. Even so, Lapis dragged her to the bottom of the ocean and chained her there, essentially imprisoning Jasper in an unhealthy relationship. And believe it or not, Jasper developed Stockholm syndrome and came crawling back to the person who once made her fight so hard just to resurface the water (by the way, Lapis' rejection and Jasper's subsequent searches for someone to fuse with could be an allegory to developing a psychosis and partaking in self-destructive behavior while continuously finding 'monstrous' partners) I don't think Lapis is necessarily an abuser, but I do think there's a certain bias towards Jasper, and I just wanted to raise both points.
While I feel this comment is a little off subject from the topic of this video, I often feel there is a bias against lapis in the SU community as well as a bias against Jasper. I have always seen Malachite as the symbolic two-way co-abusive relationship between Lapis and Japser. While it is true Lapis did drag Jasper into the sea and held her there, it should be pointed out that Lapis did try to fly away from Jasper when the ship crashed in "Jailbreak", but Jasper grabbed Lapis and held her against her will. Calling her a brat and not letting her go, I don't know if Lapis truly thought she had a choice when Jasper asked her to fuse, especially with her comment "just say yes" which is more of a command than a request. Later in "Watermelon Island" when Jasper gains control over the fusion, she had the chance to break it up and go her own way, but she then traps Lapis in the fusion as Lapis trapped her. They both became hooked on each other. In the episode "Alone at Sea", Lapis explains how she also misses Jasper even though it wasn't healthy for either of them, showing they both may have developed some form of Stockholm Syndrome for each other, and when Jasper comes back saying "I've changed" I was not convinced that Jasper would not have trapped Lapis in the fusion again if Lapis had said yes again. I don't believe there was necessarily a hero or villian between Jasper and Lapis. They were both people who were put into a bad situation and then both did bad things to each other.
In regards to rebellion and a redemption for Jasper, Lapis never truly had a redemption arc either. She never apologized for any of her actions, to the CGs or Jasper. I believe that if Lapis is to truly be redeemed and make up for her wrongs, she will need to some how apologize to Jasper for what took place. I think Jasper and Lapis's redemption are intertwined. Lapis needs to apologize for what went down, and even if Jasper is still corrupted, maybe she will also find some peace in what happened. I don't know, just my opinion and interpretation to what took place.
Thoughtful, crunchy and well-made. Thanks for posting.
So we should kill hitler right? No kill is bad we will talk to him and ask him to politely leave the power. Bismuth arc in a nutshell
The Bismuth arc did a bad job of communicating its point. The Crystal Gems have shattered other gems; it's more the difference between killing, and mass killing with a guillotine.
CSolarstorm France didnt saw a problem ;)
Carlos Meza Yeah. Until they totally saw a problem with that and killed Robspierre and his followers for recklessly killing bunch of people :)))
Miss BloopTart yeah good point xD but did France ever came back to monarchy?
Carlos Meza yes/no/a little/then never again After that, they had Napolean who was by definition a dictator, but that was about it. He got exiled, and King Louis XVIII came into power for a few short years. He died, then his brother stepped up to be King, but he wanted France to go back to it's old ways, so he too was over thrown. Then there came Louis Philippe who was a constituinal monarch, But lost the power when another uprising occured and the power came to Napolean III who became the first president of France. And theyve had presidents since
Steven's rebellion will be when he rejects the plans the Gems have for him. He will walk away from the violence and trauma that has engulfed his life.
Amethyst isn't small just because she was "overcooked." Peridot also pointed out her exit hole was too low to the ground. Why do people keep forgetting that?
Sigh.
samiamtheman 73 Basically she's a soufflé.
You just reminded me of one of my favorite anime. Kampfer.it is about a teenage male who is chosen to fight against other kampfers but they can only be female. but he only defends with his gift which gets the other side thinking. it comes together when both sides make a truce. forcing the ones behind the fight to create a new group all through the new group is better and faster the new group looses the fight by the hero refusing to be forced to chose. that event gave them enough power to defeat the other group badly. don't take my word for it but it still has a huge fanbase that agree it is a gem that was tossed away even before it was polished.the third group even has one questioning why.
I really love your redaction. Thanks for take moment to talk about my favorite show.
i never thought of anything that way
Steven is basically the Reason for his Own Mother Death
I would love to hear what you have to say about "a single pale rose"
media.giphy.com/media/3oz8xyBP22S5b6gmsw/giphy.gif
This is a great video! There is finally a person who does not discuss the flaws of this show, but some of its complexities in an analytical way. However, I do have a problem with it. Your focus on diversity, especially with the staff, was really unnecessary and in some ways demeaning to other creators. I personally believe that the sex, gender, race, ect of the men and women behind the show should not matter, as I find it better to appreciate how they behave and think as to provide an unbiased perception of the staff. Really, people over-exaggerate how bad the industry can be. Since the industry is founded upon capitalism their goal is ultimately to make money. Other than appealing to the audiences (and sometimes appealing to their intolerable vices as seen in the Weinstein and Lassiter cases) these companies are usually coloblinded to the race, gender, and many of the other traits. (Sorry if I am incorrect on this one, my knowledge is purely based upon this industry being under capitalist fundamentals so if you find anything incorrect with my claims please tell me.)
TLDR: Diversity shouldn’t matter so much and the animation industry is a business (which helps make it not discriminatory).
While I can understand why it might be considered demeaning to a creator to be praised because of their demographic information rather than their work, I still think it's important to recognize and commend instances when a creator is able to differentiate themselves from the presumed white, heterosexual, cisgendered, male creator that we too often consider being the status quo within the entertainment industry (as well as the field of internet discussion).
The fact of the matter is, while we like to think that the entertainment industry and other industries are diverse and inclusive industries (and in fact, has made some strides away from homogenization); in reality, this is far from the case. Like most entertainment, Animation is a very difficult field to enter into. Many figures in animation got where they are today because they had some form of connection to insiders in the industry. This may have been through school, internships, work studies, freelancing, or even being a notable webcomic artist, director, or actor. In order to achieve those connections, you have to have at least some level of privilege in order to get to where they need to be to make those connections. Like many things, there are going to be exceptions to this, but if you are a white dude in Burbank right now, you will have a better chance at breaking into the industry than if you were otherwise. This might seem hyperbolic, facetious, or unrealistic to some. Though if you were to research the demographic information of each are of animation (directors, editors, designers, artists, storyboarders, writers etc.), you are going to find that for a majority of the medium's relatively short history, the majority of these positions have been filled by white men. The fact that Steven Universe is the first show on Cartoon Network to have a women showrunner in the network's quarter of a century existence should be an indicator at some level, the might have been an underwhelming presence of white dudes.
Though even if this weren't the case, you might argue that the diversity might not be a big factor in a show's creation, and you might be able to point to some examples that justify this argument. Though if you want a reason for why I think that it's important to talk about diversity within the creation process; I give you one word: perspective. Like I said before, the status quo of our perception of a creator has been a white heterosexual, cisgendered, dudes. While there isn't anything wrong with someone being those previously mentioned things (hell I am all four), there is only so much insight they might be able to bring into issues, topics, and themes, that are more commonly discussed in other demographics. Lenses like feminism, critical race theory, queer theory, postcolonialism, and gender studies are going to be more heavily defined by those who have dealt with issues in such areas that reflect such ideas. While having a white staff doesn't inherently lower the quality of the show, it might mean that they will not be able to discuss an idea, character, or plot detail with as much conviction and knowledge as someone who has personal experience in such ideas and issues.
Do you think they might have been able to discuss the cruelty towards Garnet because she is a fusion had the creator not have had any experience with homophobia in their lives? Do you think that the gem caste system would have been such a focus if the creators didn't feel the need to make a statement about prejudice and bigotry? Do you think consent fusion would have been such a focus on the show if any of them hadn't come to understand what its like to have someone disregard your feelings for their own personal gain and pleasure? Heck, look at Mystery Girl. Many of the queer female show creators have discussed how her design was born out of being an amalgamation of what each creator found attractive and mysterious as a character design. The constant queer subtext seen in the show is something that I think wouldn't have been as overt or well presented if some creators had no experience in the LGBTQ+ community.
I understand the hostility towards the idea of praising diversity for diversity's sake. Though not enough to prescribe to that thought. Though as we move forward into a more globally connected world; it is important that we understand the significance diversity plays in entertainment. Without a welcoming of new perspectives and opinions, we may not be able to enjoy some of the new and fresh ideas a young creator might be dying to present to the world. If we want to see the next unique and original show akin to Steven Universe in the future, its important that we try to make our entertainment as welcoming to as many fresh perspectives as possible, and that begins with allowing people of different backgrounds and life experiences to tell their stories. That is something I will always strive to encourage as viewer and a critic, no matter how unnecessary and superfluous it might seem.
Henry Kathman my problem is mostly by the way that diversity is defined at this current point in time. While simple labels may indicate difference from the status quo, they might not be dissimilar in any manner. I believe these things because of deeply rooted feelings to NOT discriminate based upon traits I find inconsequential (race, sex, orientation, ect). I still don’t really know if my perspective can be properly argued or not in this world as I have gotten into arguments from both sides of the political spectrum over it. All I really wish for is the incapability for people to judge upon these labels. Thank you for commenting. It feels great to see the views of the content creator itself especially when it is this well written.
this was fantastic! curious what your thoughts on the pink diamon reveal factor into any of this
Honestly, as well done of a reveal the episode turned out to be; the new-founded characterization applied to Pink Diamond doesn't do much to reinforce these themes of rebellion outside of further making Homeworld a more unlikable enemy to rebel against. It would be interesting to see more of the inner dynamics within the Diamond matriarchy, as it could offer up more explanation towards the core ideology of conformity demonstrated by homeworld. Though as of right now, I am going to wait and see where Pink Diamond's story goes before applying any analysis to it.
Great job!
What's the other red gem on the frame? I recognize Amethyst, Pearl, Rose Quartz, and Ruby? but what's the fifth gem?
It's Sapphire's gem when she is formed into Garnet.
Henry Kathman That makes sense! Thanks.
You earn a sub
The crystal gems are just three lesbian hippies.
Lapis was the abuser of jasper just think about it and you'll see
Liam Hill that gem is a psycho xd Jasper was already defeated xd dragging her under water and psicologically torture her for months was totally unnecesary
Absolutely! It’s kinda scary how people still believe that Jasper was the sole abuser In that situation!
I still like lapis tho
Lapis and Jasper are both the abuser and victim of each other's actions. I never understood why people choose a side with those two. Probably because most have a black and white mindset and don't see the world for what it is; various shades of grey.
Trevor Hale Yeah, Lapis admitted to liking taking out her fury on Jasper, but when Japser offered she denied it because she didn't want to feel like that again. She knew it was wrong. And we don't fully understand Jasper's reasoning to want to fuse again. She clearly wanted the power and got mad when she couldn't.
Steven is still a teenager though.
He isn't an adult yet.
For the love of God never ever call an autsitic person differently abled again lmao
Hey this video is amazing. What a great, well-written and thought out script and analysis. Especially your points about Steven and his need to rebel against the expectations set on him. Good job!
While I don't agree with the + in LGBT and many of the messages, the points you made are pretty solid.
Just speaking as someone who considers himself an ally (a heterosexual, cisgendered one at that), I think its important that we consider queer individuals who might not completely fit the classifications of gay, lesbian, transgender, or bisexual. Such as asexual, pansexual, genderfluid, intersex, agender, demisexual, or bigender individuals. You may think that these might not count these as proper classifications for being queer, if that's the hill you want to die on, I guess. Though ask yourself: as someone who couldn't fully understand the feelings of rejection and fear that come from being a queer person; shouldn't the role of the LGBTQ+ community include being welcoming and understanding towards people of all sexualities and all genders?
Henry Kathman Sexualities are fine but there are still only two genders. I do not support more than two nor will I ever support it. Your sexuality is fine and you can be you all you want, but making the claim that there's more than two genders is wholly unnecessary. It's biology and facts and many individuals in the community take it to the extreme trying to demonize those against the more than two genders thing. I know people in that community who are against it as well and have been attacked and shunned because of it. It's made worse by the fact that those with children will try to push those ideals forcefully onto their child. I understand the feeling of rejection all too well and yes it hurts, but a line has to be drawn somewhere.
Sex and gender isn't the same thing.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sex_and_gender_distinction
Ya Boi Guzma yeah nah, biology and facts support the gender spectrum and multiple genders.
Ya Boi Guzma This argument is hilariously flawed once you consider intersex individuals: people whose biology leads them to having traits that would categorize them as a sex other than male or female, for one of many reasons, such as having both male an female parts in some capacity (an ovary and a testicle, a vagina and a penis, etc), having neither male or female parts, chromosomes that don't match an individual's biology (female parts with XY chromosomes, male parts with XX chromosome), chromosome pairings outside of the standard XX and XY pairings (X, XXY, XXX, etc), and probably many other possible ways an individual could fall outside of the standard 2 gender system based on their biology alone. Biology does not support a 2 gender system; it supports a multitude of genders, due to there being many ways someone's sex could be different from male or female. By saying there are only 2 genders, you are saying entire groups of people (who have been all grouped up as a single group for simplicity sakes) can not properly identify their gender as the sex they were born as.
And the argument I gave completely ignores people who identify outside of the 2 gender system who were born as either male or female. These people exist too, and should be treated as seriously as any other transgender individual. Simply saying they shouldn't be supported because "a line has to be drawn somewhere" is not a valid reason; it's arbitrarily choosing who should be allowed to freely express themselves, and who shouldn't.
Has anyone else wondered how the hell does a holographic gem like rose quartz get pregnant? 🙉🙉🙅🙅😖😫😥😰🙄 does that mean garnet can get pregnant with a hybrid aswell. What about pearl and amethysts lil crystal gems roaming the streets😁🤔
Pinkykitty gems are capable of getting pregnant, but not naturally
I'll make all the triggered jokes I want, bruh.
LocksAndChains let's look up your address, oh it says here a garbage can
Let me look up the phone number, "1-800-FART-NOW"
do you feel cool yet?
Rebellion is a core theme of Steven Universe, though I think transformation in the terms of characters "finding their place" is also quite crucial. We have this backdrop of a caste system that puts everyone in neat little slots. With many who just "don't fit in" or are otherwise oppressed. If they escape this, I find the characters are often looking for "what to do next" as they have no idea how to function (this is especially true with Peridot) and find a reason to keep going on.
I think it would be interesting if we got to see some Homeworld gems who are very happy and fit perfectly in Homeworld's "system" and don't want to change. There has to be some conservative believers in that society. Just like we see the extremist-rebel in Bismuth.