Snowflake Challenge: Day 2

[balsamandash]

Day 2
In your own space, share a book/song/movie/tv show/fanwork/etc that changed your life. Something that impacted on your consciousness in a way that left its mark on your soul.

This was a hard one for me, weirdly enough.

I can think of a lot of things that made an impact on me, but most of them have a lot more to do with who I met through the fandom than it does the media itself. There are things that are important to me, but -- it still tends to be more about what it represents than the thing itself.

So instead of one thing, have a few, because each one of them kind of feels like it's doing it wrong in some way, because I am paranoid about doing all things wrong. I can probably elaborate on a lot of them, if anyone's curious.

• The thing that has always meant something to me, and only means more and more as I get older: Practical Magic.
  
• The thing that introduced me to fandom: Harry Potter.
  
• The first time I felt like someone I could be was there in a story, instead of who I wanted to be: Circle of Three.
  
• The thing that I'm almost afraid to go back to in case it doesn't hold up, because it meant too much to me at the time: Dead Poet's Society.
  
• The thing that gave me a family and first gave me the words to describe both it and myself: Rent.
  
• The thing that lodged itself in vulnerable places and made the wound worse while also somehow being cleansing: Feeling Electric.
  
• The thing that made me feel less alone and more alone all at once: I Wrote This For You (actually, I thought of this late, or I may have just done this one. But I'm committed now dammit.)
  
• The singers whose words make me want to change and dance and write, sometimes all at once: Dessa and S.J. Tucker

(Bonus round -- things that stick with me but aren't quite as defining: Greek Mythology is the first thing to make me play with other people's stories. Seanan McGuire got me reading again, and helps me put into words who I want to be. Her Story taught me that a video game story can stick with me the same way a movie can, and also has the dubious honor of being the first unhealthy media obsession I've had that's not music. Exam is pretty much my perfect movie and nothing quite holds up to its standard, even the things I love more; the Sanctuary episode Normandy is the same thing for TV. Firefly is built into me in a lot of ways I can't quite find words for.
And because what's bad can stick as well as what's good: The Shoebox Project was the first time I really felt like I was on another page from fandom entirely. Doctor Who was the one where I got that feeling from the people I usually consumed fandom with. Neil Gaiman has been the biggest fall from role model to disappointment. And I will never stop feeling let down that what I got from White Collar didn't hold up to what it was at the start and what I thought it could be.)

Comments

[analise010]

AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DESSA! I did a year of school in Minneapolis and I can attest that Dessa is just as grounded and lovely as she seems. I had a fractured ankle at the time and, not only did she sign my jacket & take pictures with me, Dessa also gave me free tickets to her next show. I love that woman and her music is A+ as well.

I almost said that Harry Potter introduced me to fandom, but before there was HP...there was anime. /o\

[balsamandash]

Oh WOW, that is so cool. Everything I've heard about her seems really amazing, and her music just blows me away, every time. I only saw her live as the opener for the Night Vale tour in 2015 but I'm dying to see one of her shows properly someday.

I did fanfic without knowing it was fanfic before Harry Potter, but it's the first time I actually looked at fandom and other people. Most people I know seem to have a "there was anime" period in their life at some point. XD I never got into it but my little brother is trying really hard to change that now.

[analise010]

If Bro is trying to get you into Yuri!!! On Ice, I support him.

[balsamandash]

Not yet, heh. Mostly Attack on Titan and JoJo's Bizzare Adventure.

Bast and roommate tried YOI the other night. I did not watch because I was working, but listening to people react was definitely interesting. XD

[wendelah1]

I like seeing lists, actually.

I wish I'd been around to see the Shoebox Project, it sounds like it was amazing.

[balsamandash]

I like making lists, so. XD

Shoebox Project is... something. I admire the work put into it and I think it's a great thing to exist. But I could never get into it, and my interpretation of the characters does not really line up with it, from what I know of it - I honestly need to try reading it again sometime and see if I can get past the first part or two.

[kiki_eng]

Practical Magic. I love that film. I've read the book, too, but it doesn't have the same place in my heart. It's just - darkness and joy and ladies looking after ladies. It's excellent.

[balsamandash]

It's so good. I read the book at one point and I mean to read it again, but the movie is so good, and the relationships between the Owens women are so great, I love it.

[reeby10]

I really love your list! Especially the first point bc while I only recently saw Practical Magic (in October I think?), I can definitely see how it could have such a powerful impact and I think it's definitely going to be one of the movies that sticks with me.

[balsamandash]

Thank you! It really is such an amazing movie; I've loved it since I was barely in double digits -- it's one of my mother's favorites so I've kind of grown up with it around -- and I never, ever get tired of it. I've literally watched it on repeat on some days and still loved it just as much. XD