Several times I've been asked about why I use the profile picture that I have and/or what my name refers to. The answer is multifaceted, and it's a bit more of an ordeal to answer than "I think x character is cool" or whatever the explanation is that most people have for their profile picture, so this is my longwinded essay about the why of it all.
The profile picture:
It's a drawing of an alien called Lam. It was drawn by the infamous occultist Aleister Crowley, and it was first published in 1919. According to Crowley, Lam is a Tibetan word for way or path, and it has connections to Buddhism. I don't care about that. Crowley, who was probably high out of his mind at the time, claimed to have seen this critter when he drew it.
What interests me about this image is how similar it looks to the stereotypical grey alien before that became a pop culture sensation. The only real difference being the much smaller and more human-like eyes, as opposed to the big black orbs. In fact, aliens were born out of the occult—notably through theosophy—before any normal person claimed to see one. Theosophists placed a special value upon various planets in the solar system, and many of them would claim to commune with aliens. Quite a number of these fake totally real encounters had the subject referring to the "alien" as an "aryan" or some other very human-like description. There were some more "exotic" alien descriptions that didn't resemble humans too much in some cases.
Anyway, the "sightings," eventually would solidify into the grey aliens we so often hear about today. If you dig into commentary from alien fanatics online, you can find speculation about other alien races, and alleged sightings do vary to some degree, though. What fascinated me about Lam is that it constitutes a kind of "missing link" between the "aryan" aliens and the grey aliens. My interest in alien/UFO history is part of why I chose to use this image.
My name:
Gsarthotegga is pronounced as sar | thought | tay | ga, I guess—whatever, who cares? The name comes from the author Clark Ashton Smith, who was part of Lovecraft's circle of friends, and while he penned many poems and also would draw and paint, he was mostly know for sci-fi, fantasy, and horror short stories that he submitted to pulp magazines. Gsarthotegga is also known as Vulthoom (please, ignore the garbage artwork on this page). The story Vulthoom can be read here. Vulthoom is presented as a deity or god, but it's also very clearly a space alien.
The name and profile picture in unison:
Okay, if you've looked at many profile pictures on here, then I don't need to tell you that most of them are of high school girls from anime. Then you have a few people who have black and white pictures of Stalin or whatever...
I have controversial views on anime (and everything else, to be honest) that often clash with other MALists, and I don't ever try to tone these opposing views down or carefully choose shows where I'll have a positive reaction. Don't care, and I gladly invite these Animefan Crybaby responses I so often receive. I've embraced that "alienation" by choosing an image and name that both correspond to fictitious aliens. I wanted a long, unwieldy, even enigmatic name. One that users might not remember or will be left to wonder about the origin of, but it stands out like a sore thumb when they see it. The picture synergizes with the name well, while also being kind of creepy and funny at the same time. It's also very memorable on a website that has a predictable pattern when it comes to profile pictures.
Perhaps it's counter-productive to choose a profile picture and name that was partially intended to mystify, but then to demystify the pair by explaining away everything, yet most people won't read this in the first place, and now I'll have something to point to when asked, instead of having to type up an answer every time.
Scores and what peons on MAL think about art doesn't matter. Like, get this, because it's pretty important: It's the art that matters. Is that revolutionary enough for you? Remember, it's not an IQ test to score your anime, retard. Before you dissect a frog, you should know what you're actually doing, and the same goes for passing judgment on my favorite anime.
Let this broken vase sink in. It's just a broken vase, you say? That light contorting and refracting has a certain awe to it that you can't experience otherwise, but you probably didn't realize that. Well, I did. Think of the symbology and how it's, like, conceptual, man. Makes me feel like Epicurus or something just thinking about it. This vase looks more beautiful than an intact one that you'd purchase at Walmart. Just like how men need to man up and learn to appreciate used-up old women, you need to accept this broken vase into your heart to understand it. I'm an aesthete, seeing beyond the surface, while you're like, "shit's broken," sweeping it into a dustpan! You might have thrown away a million dollars if the CIA could have gotten ahold of it for money laundering. You have no vision, stuffing everything into pigeonholes and whatever other holes that might strike your fancy. Who are you to baselessly dismiss this art? You got up in the vase's feng shui and tried to make it yours, insisting upon yourself because of your presuppositions, missing the point of expression altogether. Worst of all, you attempt to dismiss rather than to understand. That's right: You're a dismisser; whereas I'm an understander.
Oh, yeah, and just incase you're not enlightened enough to get it because you haven't taken as many yoga classes at the local mall as me, I also rate anime, and my ratings are explained below, so check them out.
What's that? I don't even have a ratings section on here, you say? Why should I have to prove anything to you when we live in an incredible world where Congo the Chimpanzee was making better art than you?
Wow, look at this wonderful painting! Abstract expressionism is serious business and not monkeying around at all!
My man ThatAnimeSnob 2.0, also known by the totally ironic moniker rorikonfan, giving a dope-ass take on Usagi Drop, his words flowing like a cakewalk with sprinkles and sugar on a rainbow slide!:
Before I twirl into the whimsical whirlpool of thoughts, let’s sprinkle some glitter on the fact that I’m indifferent to slice of life serenades. They’re like marshmallows on a gloomy day—fluffy but not filling. Moeblobs, however, frolic miles ahead in the absurdity race. So here I am, plopping down to watch this anime because it pirouetted into the top ten on every cosmic billboard within weeks. I pondered, "How in the cotton candy clouds did this happen? It’s just another stroll through mundane-ville!"
Peeking at the plot reveals a sprinkle of nothingness. A dude unearths that his grandpa played the parent role late in the game and decides to nurture the sprout after the old sage hops off this merry-go-round. So, what’s all the chitter-chatter about? Whispers suggest it’s got a weird twist at the manga’s climax (not spilling the jelly beans—spoiler alert!), or perhaps it blooms feelings like a garden of emotions. But honestly, the storyline feels as thin as a crepe, characters are cookie-cutter cutouts, and the ending flutters away like a butterfly into the void, so my eyes aren’t glued to a masterpiece through an objective kaleidoscope.
Yet, I must admit, the presentation dances on a tightrope of finesse. It captures the essence of the ordinary with a sprinkle of magic stardust. I remember a whimsy-tastic anime from ages ago called Chocotto Sister—where ludicrousness reigned supreme! With everything from snuggly lolicons to Santa handing out nudie gift wrap to unsuspecting teens; it had a slice of life vibe but quickly tumbled into silliness, wrapped in a lame production bow that faded into forgetfulness.
Usagi Drop prances through a dreamy garden of subtly woven artsy whimsy. The visuals leap like pastel kittens, each character a dancing firefly that beckons eyes to twirl. The voice acting hums just right, never sailing over the top into the land of drama llamas. Each character behaves with a sprinkle of sense; no hopping teens with angst grenades in sight here! The hero juggles work like a circus clown, while a wistful girl seeks her treasure map to joy. This slice of life, so rare among the anime trees, sparkles like a unicorn at tea time. Most shows skedaddle past the ordinary, gift characters with sparkle coins, and toss them into school sagas that turn into accidental nudity rodeos. And remember how ‘grown-up’ parenting traipsed around in Astarotte no Omocha?
Usagi Drop sidesteps that and serves a delectable dish of realism, pouring out the bittersweet recipe of caring for a dreamy child in a world of grown-up grumbles. It reveals the sacrifices, spun with threads of sadness, and let's not kid ourselves—it can be tough for realism-dodgers, who make up around 99.98% of the whimsical media land. Heck, I juggle with realism too! Yet enchanting as it dances, this show is grounded more than any other I've snuggled with in parenthood tales. Many swear by the second season of Clannad, calling it realistic, yet its finale shouts fairy tale escape—a wishful mirage! Then there's Kurenai, where a young lad spins tales of tending to a gloomy girl, sprinkled with action sprinkles, swirling dementia, and even love’s taboo dance. Was it grander than Usagi Drop because of these? Nope, not at all!
Now hold your spaghetti horses, I’m not making a grand statue of realism here! Sure, the storytelling has its wobbly jellybeans. Like, poof! Daikichi scoops up Rin like a magician conjuring a goldfish! Home sweet home—bam! And she waltzes into kindergarten without a single treasure map or riddle in sight. The whole ‘adoption’ jazz? A cakewalk on a rainbow slide!
Nay, it’s not the tale twists or the plotty potpourri that tickle your noodle but rather the oodles of feels it flings at you! Sure, any silly fanfare/fadish/sparkly moe concoction can attempt this jig, yet none succeed by prancing in normality. Oh, they just bluster in supernova levels, splattering sex, kabooms, doom, and debauchery, then strut about claiming 'maturity' while tickling skepticism too raw! Characters? Pure vanilla, bare of quirky sprinkles, frizzy beehives, or attire obsessions. They play their roles like pros, needing no zesty garnishes! That’s my jam with this show; it dances with simplicity and realism without snoring off, even if you’re not vibing with the genre. And this comes from one who paloozed with titanic yarns like Aria, Wandering Son, and Yokohama Shopping Diary and found them snooze-fests extraordinaire!
Is it a show of whimsical wonder? Indeed, it dances in the realm of the unusual, and I sparkle with delight in saying this! In a sea of anime sameness, Usagi Drop leaps forth like a hopping unicorn, casting the glow of authentic life instead of a feeble 'adult' tale. Yet, one must twirl in doubt—would it jiggle its fame without 'that peculiar event' at the manga's finish (which the anime decided to play hide-and-seek with)?
Those lumps aren't gonna make themselves, Pudding!
Oh, hey, I just tested, we can't hide lists, but if you block the user his lists won't show up - so I'm blocking everyone I'm seeing with lists of more than 1k movies, and also those guys just copying other lists, like "IMDB top100" or "Oscar nominees year x".
Lol they don't even try to touch upon the imperfections in that poster (look around the lower left portion and the things in the background), not to mention the characters don't look like they belong in the picture. Looks awful
Finished Lensman, it feels like a 50s sci fi pulp comic overextended too much. The motorbike scene is a joy to watch though, I wish it wasn't the conclusion of the side plot and instead made for the actual climax
I didn't mind the CGI special effects that much, I think thar because they are simpler they've aged better than the Golgo 13 scene and that same year this movie released where the spaceships and camera movements look worse than in Lensman
I hate AI pictures polluting Pixiv just for example, I have the filter to not show AI-generated illustrations but they still pop up because some people try to evade that filter, of course, that filter doesn't exist in other sites. I don't think AI can do a couple seconds long animation while being consistent, let alone an entire anime, I guess the human involvement will be trying to keep it consistent with itself but I don't trust anything close to something good will come out of it.
I just watched Dead Man's Letters, first Christmas movie I liked.
ps: Letterboxd indeed sucks, not just limited visual information, also sucks you can't direct message someone, and I wish we could hide some lists, because some fuckers create those lists with 50k movies and every idiot add them so every movie you check you see those meaningless lists instead of actually interesting stuff.
Hey Gsar how's your PC? The new STALKER game seems to run well at 8GB of VRAM so I don't think my PC will be able to handle it (4GB). I can't believe they released a 100GB patch just to improve the AI of enemies lol and since you are a fan of the original you could try that one out and see how it goes. Supposedly Netflix wants to adapt the game, I bet the CEOs don't even know about Tarkovsky's film
I am most pleased 🚬(◕ܫ.◕✿) can you move it to my desk? preferably so that it isn't hidden behind my cola and chips or vice versa.
I've seen these in some clips XD i wonder how many people buy these lol
I did, it was just generic shoujo wish fulfillment shit, and kinda autistic in the way men go for those useless autistic power levelling solo levelling stuff with stats, just that this is the female equivalent of that in spirit. Also it's pretty shoujo-gaze :P im surprised so many dudes like it. True trash.
In Backloggd they seem to compare it to Echo Night in the puzzle solving with the interface of games like Myst, jumping from screen to screen in a point and click fashion and with the vibe of the modern indie title Gone Home (which I haven't played but they say a lot of good things about it)
Silent Hill 3's MC is the girl that was reborn from Cheryl in SH1 but grown up right? I wonder how Harry Mason handled having to raise a child again who wasn't the one he had known XD. The thing I liked about that new Silent Hill game from Ryukishi07 is it takes place in 1960s rural Japan. Siren vibes??
Hahaha but it's not just the helmet the guy with the Pyramid Head uses, the way he attacks with that big sword also felt like the telegraphies Souls enemies use XD. The phallic and punishment symbolism is interesting, I want to see how James' story unfolds
Yes, Deraciné, it's directed by Hidetaka Miyazaki, the director of the Dark Souls games, but it's exclusive for PS4 and in VR and the emulation isn't quite there yet
Ah yes Silent Hill 2, the game where a Dark Souls enemy represents sense of guilt chasing people XD
Yeah I forgot about the word, in pronounciation they sound similar so I thought it was the same in english as in spanish
Are the Echo Night games like different stories with different characters each game? (Like with Dark Souls or Final Fantasy for example) or you have to play the first one to understand the second? Given how tense Dark Souls areas can be now (Tower of Latria in Demon's Souls is really good in that regard) that they improved on their design, it would be cool for FromSoft to tackle a horror game again
أيها الأحمق، دعنا نطلق لغمًا عاريًا ثنائي الأبعاد في هذه الفوضى ونمرر الرابط الخاص بك وسأباركه بدعم سيئ مجانًا أيها الأحمق اتصل بك أيها الأحمق، التل بأكمله يعرف بالفعل عن سلوكك، ابق هادئًا وإلا ستظهر صديقتك ورأسها محلوق في العم، أنت تطير، أفهم، حسنًا، سأأخذ الأمر إلى الأفكار القبيحة أعطاني أحدهم الراديو هنا ma cpx بأنك أحمق مع الأشرار، الأحمق إما أن يرفع هذا المتوسط أو سنقبض عليك وأنت في طريقك خارج المدرسة، سيشرق الفجر بفم مليء بالغضب. النمل، اتصل بك قريبا
أيها الأحمق، دعنا نطلق لغمًا عاريًا ثنائي الأبعاد في هذه الفوضى ونمرر الرابط الخاص بك وسأباركه بدعم سيئ مجانًا أيها الأحمق اتصل بك أيها الأحمق، التل بأكمله يعرف بالفعل عن سلوكك، ابق هادئًا وإلا ستظهر صديقتك ورأسها محلوق في العم، أنت تطير، أفهم، حسنًا، سأأخذ الأمر إلى الأفكار القبيحة أعطاني أحدهم الراديو هنا ma cpx بأنك أحمق مع الأشرار، الأحمق إما أن يرفع هذا المتوسط أو سنقبض عليك وأنت في طريقك خارج المدرسة، سيشرق الفجر بفم مليء بالغضب. النمل، اتصل بك قريبا
Nope I have both Kuon and Echo Night ready for playing but I wasn't that interested in doing so. Ohhh I forgot STALKER had backing by THQ. Realms of the Haunting is by Interplay and Gremlin, both were kind of indie I think (Interplay published the og Alone in the Dark, Another World and Flashback for example, Gremlin developed some games for the C64 and the Amiga but I can't remember which ones)
Speaking of Western TV series, what do you think about Game of Thrones? That's one series with a lot of gratuitous sex scenes to feel mature, there's this one scene with the owner of a burdel monologuing about his past while two prostitutes are practising how to fake sex in the background moaning XD
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https://letterboxd.com/_heretique/list/shorts-animated/
https://letterboxd.com/_heretique/list/gobelins/
https://letterboxd.com/_heretique/list/calarts-short-films/
Finished Lensman, it feels like a 50s sci fi pulp comic overextended too much. The motorbike scene is a joy to watch though, I wish it wasn't the conclusion of the side plot and instead made for the actual climax
https://sakugabooru.com/post/show/138240
https://sakugabooru.com/post/show/20731
I didn't mind the CGI special effects that much, I think thar because they are simpler they've aged better than the Golgo 13 scene and that same year this movie released where the spaceships and camera movements look worse than in Lensman
https://youtu.be/bkDzkjQodzs?si=wHQCBjCJ2WRDca45
ps: Letterboxd indeed sucks, not just limited visual information, also sucks you can't direct message someone, and I wish we could hide some lists, because some fuckers create those lists with 50k movies and every idiot add them so every movie you check you see those meaningless lists instead of actually interesting stuff.
I've seen these in some clips XD i wonder how many people buy these lol
I did, it was just generic shoujo wish fulfillment shit, and kinda autistic in the way men go for those useless autistic power levelling solo levelling stuff with stats, just that this is the female equivalent of that in spirit. Also it's pretty shoujo-gaze :P im surprised so many dudes like it. True trash.
Silent Hill 3's MC is the girl that was reborn from Cheryl in SH1 but grown up right? I wonder how Harry Mason handled having to raise a child again who wasn't the one he had known XD. The thing I liked about that new Silent Hill game from Ryukishi07 is it takes place in 1960s rural Japan. Siren vibes??
Hahaha but it's not just the helmet the guy with the Pyramid Head uses, the way he attacks with that big sword also felt like the telegraphies Souls enemies use XD. The phallic and punishment symbolism is interesting, I want to see how James' story unfolds
Ah yes Silent Hill 2, the game where a Dark Souls enemy represents sense of guilt chasing people XD
freezing damned snow.. where did I shit..
Are the Echo Night games like different stories with different characters each game? (Like with Dark Souls or Final Fantasy for example) or you have to play the first one to understand the second? Given how tense Dark Souls areas can be now (Tower of Latria in Demon's Souls is really good in that regard) that they improved on their design, it would be cool for FromSoft to tackle a horror game again
Speaking of Western TV series, what do you think about Game of Thrones? That's one series with a lot of gratuitous sex scenes to feel mature, there's this one scene with the owner of a burdel monologuing about his past while two prostitutes are practising how to fake sex in the background moaning XD