Saturday, January 31, 2015

Armies of Women

I am a writer, artist and game designer. I create female warriors. I am especially fond of armies of women, as inspired by the Amazons of Classical Mythology. I was and am fascinated by the novelty of female soldiers as baddies being slaughtered by heroes.

The Amazons of mythology were a nation of warrior women. The Amazons of reality were female Scythians and Sarmatians who fought in bands or alongside their men. As enemies of the ancient Greeks they were “baddies” to be defeated.

The Russians and Ukrainians are the Scythians and Sarmatians of today. They unwittingly revived a legendary tradition during their “Great Patriotic War” (World War Two). Their heroines Roza Shanina and Lyudmila Pavlichenko were authentic Amazons and did not even know it.

Women have excelled in combat but such women are exceptional. An army of women would be entirely impractical. Human females are too weak to be heavily armed and equipped. They are prone to passionate moods and petty jealousies, especially when dealing with each other.

The female warriors of fiction do not bear the burdens of reality. They do not suffer the consequences of natural inequality unless it serves the narrative. They are expected to be sexy.

Female warriors are real. They deserve to be recognized for their courage and prowess. Their weapons and attire must be practical if they are to be effective.

Armies of women are sheer fantasy. They are an erotic theme first and foremost. Their weapons are merely props and their attire should be skimpy or otherwise alluring. They may even wear high heels.

An army of women is sexier as a force of antagonism… because then its mission is naughty. Only men who want to be spanked want them to win. Dominatrices may be officers and elites but the common soldier should be cannon-fodder: Making the small fries formidable does nothing but make the heroes look weak.

The Amazons of Classical Mythology were generally hostile but never sinister. They were readily slaughtered or sexually enslaved. Their queens and champions were formidable only to be slain by heroes. Their armies were always defeated but their nation was never vanquished. Their legend is thousands of years old yet its popularity has never waned. They set the standard for armies of women.

Sunday, January 25, 2015

The Imperial Stormtrooper

The Imperial Stormtrooper is immensely popular. He enjoys the largest fan club in the world! Though he is nearly forty years old his popularity has never waned. His success is amazing; especially when you consider that he is a lowly, anonymous and expendable henchman.

The Imperial Stormtrooper wears a full suit of useless armor and is notorious for poor marksmanship. He is known for bumping his head or falling off of ledges. Heroes readily slaughter him with remorseless impunity. He lost an entire legion to a primitive tribe of little teddy bears. Why is this hapless goon so interesting? He has a catchy name, a sleek look and a dramatic story.

The faceless Stormtrooper can be anyone, male or female. Because he (or she) is a “villain” he (or she) is uninhibited. Because he (or she) is meant to die he (or she) need not fret the petty things. Because his (or her) name and face are that of the Imperial Stormtrooper he (or she) is immortal so long as there are Imperial Stormtroopers.

The least is indeed the greatest and the greatest least. The Imperial Stormtrooper inspired the world’s greatest fan club by being the inept and hapless foot soldier of villainy. His poor aim (when targeting heroes) and the uselessness of his armor are indispensable qualities of his distinct appeal. He is loved for being the easy victim of heroic violence. The Imperial Stormtrooper is a Keystone Cop of gritty action scenes.

The “useless henchman” is the plentiful, anonymous and expendable foot soldier of villainy. His purpose in adventure fiction is to be a readily available goon to be commanded by bosses and fought by heroes. He is the victim of choice for the silencing the sentry and hero versus throngs scenarios. Because his niche is inglorious by design he is seldom made interesting. The Imperial Stormtrooper is an example of how such a typically unsung type can be a wonder in his own right should his creator bother to craft him.

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Unreal Appeal

Art and fiction fall short lest they appeal to the mind, soul and flesh. The mind requires context, the soul yearns for meaning and the flesh desires nothing more than sensual gratification. Art and fiction are ridiculous without context. They are irrelevant without meaning. They are boring if not sensually gratifying, somehow.

A comely female is more appealing than one that is not. Violence to the death is more thrilling than that which is not. Good against evil is meaningful whereas rigmarole and happenstance are not. A narrative must come to fruition, for better or worse if it is to be satisfying. These truths are conventions because they are intuitively irrefutable. The art and fiction that endure prove my point.

Art and fiction are not about reality. They are the manifestations of thoughts and feelings as an expression thereof. Unlike technology and nonfiction their qualities are fanciful rather than empirical. Their appeal is emotional and psychological rather than overtly practical.

I am a writer, artist and game designer. I channel my thoughts and feelings into creative endeavors. I know what works because I know what I like. My very humanity is both my reference and my inspiration.

Art and fiction are unreal pleasures. They are products of the imagination. They are made of and represent thoughts and feelings. They give us insight beyond what is certain. We enjoy them because they stir what is within.

Sunday, January 11, 2015

The Free Man Stands Alone

Reality is what it is and shall never change. The world is what it is and seldom for the better. Only a person can be more or less than the sum of his parts. Only he can be good or evil at will. He is a blessing or a curse of his own accord.

Life of itself is meaningless. Survival and prosperity of themselves are in vain. To be remembered by the mortal is to be soon forgotten. We imagine meaning. Should we bother to make something of our figment it shall become something real, for better or worse.

I am a man of freedom and justice. I hold everyone to reap what one has sown, for better or worse. "Fairness" means nothing to me for such is the touted nonsense of those who mean to reap without sowing. I reject "social justice" because it is the sophistry of a sinister intent to assume control over every life and resource.

A man is but a spoil to those who would be his master. His hopes and dreams are but vanities to manipulate. His heart, mind, soul and strength are disposable resources to those who would be oligarchs or tyrants.

A free man is not for the taking. He does not covet others nor does he yearn to reap what they have sown. His pride is in his own accomplishments. His treasures are the fruits of his own labors. He alone may be justified for neither slaves nor masters sow or reap anything truly their own.