Hot Artists Don't Gatekeep

"A god should know, where all her dragons are."

I've seen plenty of discussion about how it's shitty of Erzsebet and Drolta to refer to Olrox as a dragon, because Quetzalcoatl isn't really a dragon, but it's like... Extra shitty on other levels?

I mean, this quote is already somethin' because dragon or not, she's referring to him as hers and just making it clear that she does not intend to afford him any agency in this """partnership""".

But I keep Having Thoughts ™ about the role and symbolism of dragons in European folklore.

In the most general sense, they represent power. In a lot of these stories, the dragon is an obstacle between the heroic protagonist and some kind of secret treasure or knowledge (Wealth! Land!). Or the dragon is terrorizing a nearby village (Never mind if the 'dragon' was there first!!). Or the dragon is unfairly hoarding riches it has no use for (don't worry, the colonizers will show the 'primitive savages' how to make the most of their land!! Isn't that nice of them??)

In these stories, it's up to the hero to eliminate this obstacle that's separating them from some resource they feel entitled to, or to 'tame' it and exploit its power for their own purposes. As such, they're pretty on-the-nose colonialist propaganda when viewed under the right lens.

So I wanna talk about The Golden Legend of Saint George and The Dragon, which is one of the most famous of these stories.

Story goes: There's a dragon who's been terrorizing a nearby village. The people start offering the dragon livestock to appease it, and when they run out of livestock, they start holding a regular lotteries to sacrifice one unlucky person to the dragon.

St George shows up before the next person (king's daughter) is about to be eaten, and he doesn't kill the dragon, no. He dominates it:

S. George was upon his horse, and drew out his sword and garnished him with the sign of the cross, and rode hardily against the dragon which came towards him, and smote him with his spear and hurt him sore and threw him to the ground. And after said to the maid: Deliver to me your girdle, and bind it about the neck of the dragon and be not afeard. When she had done so the dragon followed her as it had been a meek beast and debonair.

*(debonair in the archaic sense = gentle)

Erzsebet makes it clear that if she can't be worshipped, being feared is the next best thing. She can't get Olrox to ally with her willingly, so she resorts to force. In the end, she's getting what she really wants: obedience and subservience. For him to follow her like a meek beast.

The Golden Legend doesn't stop there though:

Then she led [the dragon] into the city, and the people fled by mountains and valleys, and said: Alas! alas! we shall be all dead. Then S. George said to them: Ne doubt ye no thing, without more, believe ye in God, Jesu Christ, and do ye to be baptized and I shall slay the dragon. Then the king was baptized and all his people, and S. George slew the dragon and smote off his head, and commanded that he should be thrown in the fields, and they took four carts with oxen that drew him out of the city.

A couple things here that slot right into the themes of colonialism in the show:

The dragon is used used as a way to coerce people into converting to Christianity. Just as Olrox would have watched the Spanish settlers do to his people: under threat of force.

The dragon is feared by the villagers despite no longer being an actual threat, but St George does nothing to dispel those fears—he exploits them. Just as prejudices of all kinds are used to justify settler colonialism as necessary or inevitable.

The dragon is slain and discarded once St George is done with it. Just as Olrox would have watched the Americans betray and displace the Mohican people who allied with them during the revolution.

Erzsebet and Drolta calling Olrox a "Dragon" isn't just ignorant or disrespectful because he's not a dragon. It's downright degrading. They're not just refusing to address him properly—they're telling a man who has survived settler colonization twice over that they intend to use him as a tool with which to do it again.

Olrox spends the season carefully stepping around every appeal Drolta makes for him to pledge loyalty to Erzsebet. And he's damned good at it: never giving up his true intentions by saying no outright, but wiggling out of ever having to say yes by instead asking pointed questions and making cutting observations that always land the ball back in their side of the court.

But then this scene happens, and he can't wiggle out of it this time. They've got their dragon where they want him. He's pinned and 'meek'—and I can think of nothing more infuriating and degrading for a character like Olrox than to be paraded about in his own land to help Erzsebet build her empire across it.

Olrox isn't a dragon, but she's going to make him one.

Urgent Appeal: Support Our Humanitarian Mission in Gaza

My name is Osama Almoghani, and I am a humanitarian activist working with "A Sign of Hope," a dedicated team committed to providing essential aid to displaced families in the South of the Gaza Strip. As a non-registered organization, our team operates with limited resources but with an unwavering commitment to supporting those in dire need amidst the ongoing crisis.

gofundme.com

Donate to Urgent Appeal: Support Our Humanitarian Mission in Gaza, organized by osama almoghani

My name is Osama Almoghani , and I am a humanitarian activist … osama almoghani needs your support for Urgent Appeal: Support Our Humanitari

The Crisis: A Devastating Displacement

The recent escalation in violence has led to an unprecedented humanitarian disaster. Over 1.5 million people have been forced to flee their homes in the northern Gaza Strip, seeking safety in the south. This mass displacement has left countless individuals and families in precarious situations, having abandoned everything they owned in their desperate bid for safety.

The dire conditions are exacerated by the fact that approximately 390,000 of these displaced individuals have sought refuge in UNRWA schools. The remaining displaced persons, who were unable to secure shelter with relatives or rental accommodations, are left to live in makeshift tents scattered across various locations in the south of Gaza. These individuals face extreme hardships, with basic necessities like food, clothing, and medicine often out of reach.

Our Mission: On-the-Ground Support

At "A Sign of Hope," our mission is to provide immediate relief to those who are suffering the most. We are actively working on the ground to assist families residing in schools and those living in tents, despite the substantial risks involved. Our team is dedicated to making a tangible difference by addressing the most pressing needs of these displaced families.

To this end, we have begun assembling and distributing parcels containing essential supplies, including food, clothing, and medicine. These parcels are a lifeline for many, offering a glimmer of hope amidst the overwhelming challenges they face.

How You Can Help

Our ability to reach more displaced families and provide for their basic needs depends heavily on the support we receive. We are reaching out to individuals and organizations to help us extend our reach and amplify our impact. Your support can make a significant difference in the lives of those who have lost everything and are struggling to survive.

We humbly ask for your assistance in any form—whether through financial contributions, supplies, or spreading the word about our mission. Every bit of support helps us deliver critical aid and sustain our efforts during this challenging time.

Conclusion

The situation in Gaza is dire, and the need for humanitarian aid has never been greater. With your help, "A Sign of Hope" can continue to provide essential support to those who are suffering and help them rebuild their lives amidst the ongoing crisis. Your generosity and solidarity can bring much-needed relief and hope to countless families in their time of need.

A child's smile is worth everything.

Thank you for considering our appeal. Together, we can make a difference and bring a glimmer of hope to those who need it most.

gofundme.com

Donate to Urgent Appeal: Support Our Humanitarian Mission in Gaza, organized by osama almoghani

My name is Osama Almoghani , and I am a humanitarian activist … osama almoghani needs your support for Urgent Appeal: Support Our Humanitari

Osama Almoghani

Humanitarian Activist

"A Sign of Hope Team"

Dozens of women were arrested from their homes and refugee centers, taken to Yarmouk Stadium in Gaza, their hijabs were removed from their heads, blindfolded, and they were searched. Many of them were subjected to sexual harassment, beatings and abuse. [@/mhdksafa on X. 12/28/23.]

I won't forgive ANYONE who calls themselves a feminist -for remaining silent about this genocide -you ARE complicit. During any and all instances of institutionalized and systematic violence, oppression, and abuse being executed by all imperial and colonial forces around the world -for you to say nothing -shame on ALL of you for cherry picking your 'issues.'

Btw if you’re sapphic and love to read you should apply for a free membership on queerliberationlibrary.org to access a ton of queer books on Libby 🤍🤍🤍

i hope black nonbinary ppl have a good day

Massive fuck you to everyone who is talking about Palestinians as if we’re already all dead and sharing more solidarity with our corpses than us living. “We will never forget the beautiful Palestinian people-“ how about you stop “making peace” with Palestinian extermination. My people are not going to be forgotten because we are going to live. Palestinians have already survived one genocide and have been surviving one ever since.

Do not ever let the idea that all Palestinians are going to die exist in your mind. Mourn the dead, fight like hell for the living.

ND culture is talking about your brain like it’s a separate entity from yourself. Ex. “My brain works in weird ways” “my brain doesn’t like that” “my brain doesn’t let me” etc

.

URGENT!!!!!!

IT TAKES 1 MINUTE TO HELP A BABY SURVIVE THIS NIGHTMARE

Thank you to everyone who helped the Ashour family reach €40,000.

But this is not the time to continue scrolling. They have a long term goal of €50,000 to raise.

As @dlxxv-vetted-donations pointed out, the longer it takes to raise €50k, the longer this family is forced to spend the funds on their survival instead of their evacuation. We don't know when the Rafah crossing will open again, but it is imperative that they have the funds ready for when it does.

Let me reintroduce you to this young family:

The Ashour family consists of Amal, her husband and baby Maryam. You can follow Amal at @amalashuor

Before the genocide began, Amal was studying for a Masters degree in French, and Maryam was only 9 months old.

Previously, their goal was to raise €30,000 to evacuate Gaza, however they have since been violently displaced several times. Costs in Gaza have been skyrocketing - transportation, tents, rent as well as food, baby formula, diapers and hygiene products. This has forced Amal to use the funds that were meant for their evacuation.

As of last month, bombings by the occuptation forced them to flee from Rafah to Khan Younis, then to Deir al-Balah, and then west from there. Please read Amal's post explaining this situation as well as the breakdown of expenses, and why they raised their goal to €50,000.

The money they raise from this fundraiser is all they have to survive. Just think about that. Maryam is facing severe malnutrition not only due to aid being blocked from entering Gaza - with more than 1 million people forced to starve - but also because what is available is extremely expensive.

Now winter is coming, which not only brings freezing temperatures but heavy rain. There isn't sufficient shelter and illness is already rampant - and don't forget they are still under constant threat of bombings and displacement. Everyday the situation is changing faster than any of us can comprehend.

It has been about a month since I started focusing on their campaign, which had been stuck on €30,000 for some time. The fact that it took this long to raise €10k, and that there is still a long term goal of €50,000 to raise, is deeply concerning.

The new short term goal is €45,000.

They are at €40,100 / €45,000 as of queue.

That is €4,900 to raise!

Please give what you can, even if it's as little as €5. These fundraisers survive thanks to several small contributions - a drop in the ocean goes a long way. For this family, your donation is a lifeline.

gofundme.com

Donate to Help me get out of Gaza for my baby girl, organized by Amal Ashour

Hello, I am Amal Ashour. I live in Gaza. I am 26 years old Before the war, I was … Amal Ashour needs your support for Help me get out of Gaz

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Tags below, please let me know if you wish to be removed from this list:

@thatsonehellofabird @buttercuparry @malcriada @neptunerings @butchmagicalboi @dlxxv-vetted-donations @appsa @imjustheretotrytohelp @rhubarbspring @commissions4aid-international @amvs4palestine @a-shade-of-blue @galactic-mermaid @khanger @jezior0 @lesbianmaxevans @lonniemachin @monstermashpotato @raatwitch @crapscicle @tortiefrancis @mangocheesecakes @schoolhater @comrademango @deathlonging @girlinafairytale @littlegermanboy @c-u-c-koo-4-40k @magnus-rhymes-with-swagness

raffle for palestine🕊️

mutual aid for displaced Palestinian families in Cairo

holding my second raffle for my campaign above (og post)!

to summarize; on the ground in Cairo, resources and funding are extremely scarce, displaced Palestinians are dependent on mutual aid volunteers for assistance. i will be traveling to Cairo at the end of november and will be sponsoring 2 displaced Palestinian families there. all funds will be personally delivered by me and used towards these families' rent, food, clothing, medical expenses, etc. pls help me reach my goal by participating in this raffle <3

next item up for grabs; lia kantro's 'killing the flowers will not delay the spring' tee.

✿ (1) SIZE MEDIUM (UNISEX) shirt

dimensions are as follows: width (pit to pit) - 20 inches, length - 28 inches

printed on 100% cotton tee, has a little stretch

✿ hand printed and part of a limited run of released tees by lia kantro, not currently available for purchase

to enter:

✿ make a minimum of $5 donation ($5 donation = 1 entry, $10 donation = 2 entries, and so on) to my campaign

✿ REBLOG this post for a free bonus entry!

✿ submit proof of donation either through dm on tumblr or by filling out this form (preferred!)

✿ if you win, please make sure you are comfortable with sharing a mailing address with me

this raffle will close on October 23rd at 11PM (PST) and the winner will be randomly selected and announced at the end of that same week. the winner will have 48 hours to claim prize before another winner is selected. this raffle is open to anyone, i can ship internationally. don't want this shirt? donate any amount anyway + i will have 1 more final raffle after this one but will have a higher entry donation (a designer bag), stay tuned!

please reblog so we can reach more people and donate if you can!