yesss I support nice AUs for Mei (I mean I also support bullying but. 🥺)
was considering smol catgirl but then I tried making one in chara creation and.... too smol.... I need tall women.........
anyways I'm glad I got to experience mansplaining on my favorite topic (art) from the dude I would most expect to mansplain me on my favorite topic. I am unsurprised, even amused, but still a bit peeved.
oh sure, it doesn't HAVE to follow those rules, but it'll usually be INFERIOR if it doesn't. these rules exist for a reason, you see. it's why we established them. and if you make art you just have to expect that you will be measured against these rules and standards.
and of course, if it's a puzzle to be solved, naturally it is certain people that have the answer. and they will loudly and proudly tell us that THIS is what makes good art. THIS is what makes it correct and worthy of praise. we (cishet white guys) have come to a consensus, and it is Correct.
the more I think on this the more I get amused but also annoyed it's just. this approach to art where it's a puzzle to be solved instead of an expression of creativity. trying to fit it into clear rigid boxes instead of reveling in how meaningless those boxes truly are
somehow the conversation became about different art forms too and how they have RULES and a painting can't be submitted as a SCULPTURE just cause the paint is thick!! meanwhile I regularly see paintings flirting with being sculptures. cmon bro why do you want art to be so rigid that's so BORING
meanwhile said cishet white dude refuses to actually engage with the question of "who established those standards and why do you think they're immutable and objective" classic!
like, yes I agree that a work can be clearly well-executed regardless of if you liked it or not. but when I say that's not the same thing as it being "objectively perfect", this is me being obtuse and "denying years of established standards"
