Compelling Characters: Character Analysis With Cartoons to Boot

The Black Country Character Are Regional Identities Realistic? 10 min read I was raised in the Black Country, a region in the West Midlands of England, known for its industrial heritage and its unique dialect. A dialect in which Anglo-Saxon and Middle English are still evident in both vocabulary and grammar. Place names like Dudd (Dudley), Wulferehamtun (Wolverhampton) and Craegleah (Cradley Heath) show Germanic influence.  In the Black Country museum and many local history books, the people of the Black Country are celebrated for their strong work ethic, community spirit, and their sense of humour. Most television broadcasts and YouTube videos portray Black Country folk as being proud of their hard industrious heritage, as if they were descendants of Tubal Cain like D.R Guttery once shared in the historical accounts of his book, ‘The Great Civil War in Midland Parishes’. My Grandfather even appears in a photograph in one book about Lye, another Black Country town, while a ...

What's an Archetypal 'Modern Occultist'?  10 min read Have you ever wondered what occultists look like these days?  In reality, if you're writing a book, it would be cool to make your modern occultist someone different to the pale skinned moody satanic goth. Honestly, enthusiasts of the esoteric are a diverse bunch, many of them come across as regular people. Isn't it all weird and dark?  Agreed  ceremonial rituals and things like divination with presences might seem odd, but the less  grand stuff like sigil magick; which, for instance, the comic book legend, Grant Morrison practices as a Chaos Practitioner is most common. Chaos Magick is a late twentieth century movement based on the occult works of the artist Austin Osman Spare. Another common type of magick is found in Wicca and Eclectic or folk magick. In this blog, I'll share a worldview of someone called Baz, a bit of mystical bloke inspired by Hermeticism and Chaos Magick theory.  Pre-deter...

The Philosophy of Moral Language and Social Control: Trollop! 4 to 5 min read The term 'trollop' is a derogatory name, but seriously, loads of generations have used this word as a humorous expression, admittedly, it is of disapproval, pointing at bad conduct. The opposite of Joan of Arc . Definitely, the word does conjure up a negative vibe. However, it also serves to encapsulate my semi fictionalised cartoon character , who, in fact, actually meets the criteria of the word! Try and guess her Jungian archetype, I'll add it at the end.  The word 'trollop' originated from the word 'troll,' a fourteenth-century French term used to describe a slovenly woman, wandering off in the quest for game. Helly Sourham, did precisely that, cheating on Steven, her husband of twelve years. Throughout the ages 'trollop' evolved and now it generally means a messy tart. A very compelling character to any tv show or drama.  Instead of discussing this woman's ...

It's Compelling How Human Flaws Shape Character  8 min read How People See You When y ou're a stay-at-home dad, you can break away from those old roles society expects of you, because it's viewed by many as a positive step towards gender equality. However, if you're an unemployed mentally ill husband who only seems to leave the house for the weekly shop and to walk the dog—you're more of a parasite.  Fair enough, a stay-at-home dad is expected to engage in various activities with the kids, you know, like reading to them, cooking lunch or playing games and whatever, while also keeping tabs on the housework. We all have our ways of working. Once, there was a time, when the entitled breadwinning husband, who expected a pristine house and a hot meal at the table, was the norm. We've known that's sexist for quite a while now. I'd like to call myself a house-husband, when I think of the water fights against my kids and their friends the street, but, I...

The Wise Old Man, Magician and Sage. This Mysterious Old Celt is Truly a Compelling Character! Magic is Madness 5 to 6 min read Don't you just love the madness and magic of Merlin? What d'ya mean, no? He's the only the grandaddy of all sorcerers, the one and only true archetypal wizard, the wild man of prophecy. Okay, you get the message. He does have so many presentations, but, his history is very primarily arcane!  Merlin is fittingly portrayed as a feared druid and a crazy old oracle to the Britons of Dumnonia in Bernard Cornwell's Warlord Chronicles. This is a romantic figure glorifying a lost mysterious celtic way of life. Of course, it's very unlikely a man matching our modern vision of Merlin has ever existed; history doesn't always meet our expectations. ' I believe the Gods hate to be bored, so I do my best to amuse them. That way they smile on me. Your God,’ Merlin said sourly, ‘despises amusement, demanding grovelling worship instead. He must ...