hey i was wondering, have you seen the person recently (not sure i should link or not) where a critic is analyzing the series in order? if so what did you think? they seem to have been in the fandom a long time like you, are you friends?

You probably mean @vraik

I’ve been following Vrai Kaiser for awhile now, but never reached out… Because of your ask, I finally did so tonight and we chatted a bit tonight! ^_____^

I’ve read some of their IWTV analysis here, and over on their blog, Fashionable Tinfoil accessories. Here’s the tumblr masterpost of their IWTV review

One of the things we talked about tonight is that different ppl engage with fandom in different ways. Some ppl engage with canon by making fanart, fanfic, cosplays, etc., some ppl do it by examining the text, considering it on its own and also re: the cultural impact it has on its readers. 

Vrai presents some intriguing opinions with a really good sense of humor in their writing style, and they have great pics from various sources (w/ fun captions!) to break up the text, definitely worth checking them out ;D

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[^X one of my memes, it’s Neil Jordan, certified vampire therapist]

Reading through Vrai’s reviews, this was something I grabbed onto and I really like it, re: Louis as an unreliable narrator [from The Consulting Analyst – Interview with the Vampire (Part 2)]:

I know I keep coming back to the fact that Louis lies and leaves things out of his story above and beyond his own ignorance of others, but it’s a crucial thing to return to in parsing out some manner of “truth” from the events we’re being told about. Between this account and Lestat’s own bitterness-tinged declaration that follows is an actuality, and the ambiguity of what defines that “truth” is very much at the heart of what allows these books to survive from one generation to the next. Even as parts become antiquated, you can always read a truth behind the bluster that speaks to you in a way Anne’s writing wasn’t able to cover. The ideas of these outsiders outlive the frame.

For a final touch on the subject, here’s an important moment from a little bit earlier.

“But you mustn’t be afraid to ask me anything. If I held something too close…” And when the vampire said this his face darkened for an instant. He frowned, and as his brows drew together a small well appeared in the flesh of his forehead over his left brow, as though someone had pressed it with a finger. It gave him a peculiar look of deep distress. “If I held something too close for you to ask about it, I would not bring it up in the first place,” he said.

So Louis as good as admits that he’s hiding things. It’s our job as readers, from here, to suss out where those lines get drawn.

My friends joke that I’m part vampire. My family has an extra pair of canines, sun sensitivity, dark hair+pale skin. And reddish and blue hues to our eyes. I also have a keen senses and usual strength. Add in my personality and blurry family tree lol

♛I’ve picked up stray hybrids and vampires like you before and tried to adopt them, Louis never lets me keep them, so I refuse to get attached to you! *huffs* 

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Eli is a male, period. Whether the film explained it or not, it’s still a fact and you are being ignorant by misgendering and refusing the acknowledge it.

^This is not how you win someone over to your opinion.

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[^X Logical Fallacy Referee] Not sharing your opinion is not a sign of “being ignorant.” As of now, all of your asks will be deleted. If an Ask sounds remotely like something from you, it will be deleted. This is a fandom blog for entertainment, not a US Presidential Debate. 

Since this is our last exchange, I’ll answer for the sake of showing my followers that I will not be bullied by an anonymous person:

  • As previously stated twice now: I did not read the book, I saw the 2 film adaptations. Based on my interpretation of them AND what readers of the book have told me privately, I concluded that Eli can be referred to with female pronouns. I’ve repeatedly stated that that’s just my opinion and I have NEVER tried to force it on anyone else.
  • I added to the original post that Eli’s gender is ambiguous, which is a compromise, even though I disagreed with you.
  • An anonymous person cannot convince me of a “fact” when even the author of the original book has not convinced 100% of their readers of said “fact.” The author could tell me to refer to Eli with male pronouns and I might still

    politely

    refuse. Why should the author care what one reader thinks? Anne Rice has had to deal with FAR worse from her readers.

  • I linked to David Lowery, at least one example of another person who also found it ambiguous, so unfollow me and inform that blogger, and many others, of your truth.
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