Dex

Big hearted fluffdragon...

...fictional ex-90s platformer mascot, nerd, plural, Ξ˜Ξ”.


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scalie.club/@Dex

AviYinglet
@AviYinglet

Before I get too far into this month of self-indulgent 2D art, I should break from my typical method of "doing things without asking for help" for something I'm at risk of messing up at. (Short version, I'd like to have fun drawing a few light/silly works in an isekai scenario in a way that doesn't fall into pitfalls adjacent to the genre; helpful hints and criticism appreciated.)


As you might be able to guess from the bottom right section of my refsheet (which needs updating now that the model's complete), I am actually into the idea of routinely drawing an alt-version of my yinglet form and IRL personality that's stuck living in Out-of-Placers fanon. However, I'd also like to:

A) avoid aspects of Out-of-Placers's current yinglet political situation that are clearly, explicitly dysfunctional (the enclave I'd like to portray and model would be far enough from the yinglet species' homelands that it's able to give its female residents complete agency in all matters), and

B) avoid or (in cases where it's impossible) soften the impact of some of the more colonialist/politically regrettable aspects of isekai as a genre, and do so in a way that's conscious of my inherent biases as a white American. I figure this would (at the very least) require my alternate self to be explicit about her origin, to be among locals who are clearly well enough on their own, and to herself not use her otherworldly knowledge to save the day or make important decisions. It's for this reason I'm glad I didn't give her the Matriarch hood in the ref, even if it would've covered her trademark unkempt hair.~

I'm open to the possibility of just making her a non-isekai yinglet without my memories or identity attached, but I'd like to consider that a last resort. Suggestions welcome, obviously. <3


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in reply to @AviYinglet's post:

Admittedly I'm not even remotely up to snuff on yinglet lore, but just from having a character in a similar position, hmm - honestly, just with your musings here I'd say you're on the right track as it is. In my case with Kaz (being the ex-human cyborg living in a big ol' space empire who made herself look like a walking, talking pool float that she is), part of it was having her have to actually adapt to the world around her without portraying her surroundings as somehow backwards, or in any way in need of her help - just very, very different.

Easier to do with, again, a big ol' space empire - where progress is kind of self-evident - but still. I guess one thing that's often underappreciated with any kind of fish out of water story though, is how a radical change in surroundings like that also makes for a great means of self-examination? All these other people are living their lives in their own ways, so why do I/we do the things we do the way we do them, etc.

Yesyes, your description of the self-reflective elements of isekai is a good summary of why it appeals to me here! And you make a good point, I should emphasize the difference as a reason why my former-world's knowledge might not even be helpful in the first place

I can't speak at all to yinglet stuff.

I think your general guiding points are on track though!

Being from a different world shouldn't be some kind of inherent advantage. Like an isekai'd person wouldn't need to be totally useless in a different world, but they shouldn't be shaking things up every which way.

I try to think of it in terms of practical skills. I feel like a lot of colonialism comes from the idea that one could impart some special knowledge. Which gets skeevy both in the way it tends towards superiority and also seems arrogant in that let's-be-honest-I-don't-know-how-to-build-a-steam-engine kind of way. But I know how to crochet! I don't think it'd be colonialist to try and make my way in a different world by making blankets. Separated from my normal world, how would I adapt to society?

This comment gave me a better perspective on how better to proceed with this, in the sense that the direction I was initially going to give my alternate self didn't line up with what I consider my strengths to actually be; it went against the revelation I had late last year that resulted in me feeling good enough to be able to take on art projects like this. Your comment was a welcome reminder, and an important one, I think -- so I'll have to retool one or two things to make it fit, but they're minor changes, and I think it'll be worth it. <3