Ridin' On A Horse, You Can Whip Your Porsche
Added 2020-05-23 23:01:57 +0000 UTCGot some criticism recently that Magnolia being trans felt cheap and last-minute because I hadn't showcased the long and often difficult road to transition, particularly the traumatic aspects of it. This quote in particular stuck with me:
"do I like that transness often involves trauma? absolutely not. but the reality is that it does and i guess what i'm saying is that if you are trying to create accurate representation for trans folks, it's a point that has to be addressed formally, whether in text or in drawing like you did with zip and prima donna. and if her story in particular is completely supportive and nontraumatic, all the better! but show us that process, bc a completely nontraumatic transition is still a difficult process to go through, and extremely rarely portrayed in media already. "
I disagree with some elements of this (why assume I wasn't ever going to explore Mags' identity as a trans lady? like dang gimme a minute here), but it's certainly food for thought.
I initially imagined that Magnolia began her transition young. She started wearing "girl's" clothes as soon as she was old enough to express interest in doing so. Rarity and Applejack, uninformed yet eternally supportive, began consultations with a specialist. Magnolia began hormone therapy in her teens. Through medical transformation magic, she reached a point where she could comfortably say she felt complete in her transition around the age of 18. Magic or not though, Maggie's always been a girl.
But then I wondered.....what if Magnolia hadn't transitioned so early?
The only reason I can think of why she wouldn't is if there were significant social factors in play. Otherwise Magnolia is bull-headed with a strong sense of self, I can't see her holding back that way. What if she felt shame for feeling like a girl? What if, confiding secretly one day with Big Mac, she was frightened when he told her that those sorts of feelings don't bring anything but trouble? He knows how ponies can gawk and laugh at a stallion in a dress (Brotherhooves Social). Just bottle it up and don't think about it.
What if Magnolia tried to seek comfort from Applejack, and was met with alarm and dismissal? AJ is the most conservative, stubborn, and rigid-thinking member of the Mane Six, having exhibited open xenophobic hostility (Bridal Gossip, Over A Barrel). Perhaps she's not ashamed or disgusted, but she is very insistent that Magnolia hide these feelings, brush them away. You're an Apple, shug! A stallion, and it's yer job someday to watch over the hearth, marry a mare, and have lots of foals! That's how it's been done for generations! And ya can't upset years of tradition all 'cause you wanna wear a dress.
Rarity would be more supportive, encouraging Magnolia to express herself when AJ isn't around. But if Applejack were to remain staunch in stifling Magnolia, then I see her marriage with Rarity imploding. Divorce.
Magnolia is devastated by this and believes it to be entirely her fault. She finally stuffs down those feelings- Uncle Mac was right, they bring nothing but trouble. And she moves through life living as a stallion, everything her Ma wanted to be- strong, stern, rugged. She tries not to think about the wildflowers she'd rather be growing....or how everything about her feels horribly, horribly wrong. She's a stranger in her own body. Her voice is alien to her ears. Her dysphoria is so strong she can't bring herself to look in a mirror most days. She's not the Magnolia we know- sassy, confident, outspoken. Instead she's quiet and withdrawn, often sullen.
I like to think in this reality she'd still end up befriending Bruce, Rosemary, etc, and eventually be given a safe space to begin exploring her gender identity, but it would be a very long and difficult journey for Magnolia May.
This isn't remotely canon, btw. Just food for thought.
Comments
hhmmmmmGOOD STUFF
Lopoddity
2020-05-24 23:23:52 +0000 UTCIt's alright, I don't mind, not really. If representation is worth doing, it's worth doing right. :)
Lopoddity
2020-05-24 23:18:12 +0000 UTCTo bring out a more colorful brood, Chrysalis must accumulate love. In short, Iridescence is a planned child. Question then how could two women have a child? Chrysalis laid the egg, not Celestia. Then it turns out that Chryslais laid an ordinary egg. Iridescence simply absorbed Celestia's appearance.
Dydo4ka
2020-05-24 22:27:36 +0000 UTCPlease read my theory!!!! As you already wrote, all changelings are hermaphrodites. Then Chrysalis is also a hermaphrodite. As we know Smoky was born as a result of "magical hybridization". I realized that Thorax had accidentally laid an egg. Therefore, Smoky is an "unplanned" child.
Dydo4ka
2020-05-24 22:25:58 +0000 UTCwhoops, turns out simply hitting enter sends a comment anyways i think the critic is simply asking for a story. that everyone's transition is different . like you were saying, it doesn't need to be a sob story. but i think people would still appreciate more ""acknowledgement"" of the fact Magnolia is trans. like... what you did (on dA) was just say "hey magnolia is trans" which is satisfactory for me but not for this critic, who seems to be asking for more like, ,,,,, the critic seems to be asking about any of maggy's struggles. which you didn't acknowledge. struggles are not necessarily traumatic. that's how i interpreted the critique :)
2020-05-24 21:39:34 +0000 UTC"and if her story in particular is completely supportive and nontraumatic, all the better! but show us that process, bc a completely nontraumatic transition is still a difficult process to go through, and extremely rarely portrayed in media already."
2020-05-24 21:33:21 +0000 UTCI read all your comments and take your suggestions into account. Sometimes I make a post asking my patrons to send in requests. I couldn't possibly draw every idea that gets sent in to me though, there isn't enough time in the world.
Lopoddity
2020-05-24 20:01:57 +0000 UTCLop do you draw the requests of patrons?
Dydo4ka
2020-05-24 17:46:17 +0000 UTCMy goodness, the pressure you're under by people to represent every single side of every single identity must be EXHAUSTING. Sometimes, the responses you get come off as... kind of entitled. And obnoxious. Wouldn't hurt to be a little less demanding. I get where they're coming from, but there's a better way to approach artists about it.
Nimbose
2020-05-24 16:05:13 +0000 UTCI also love the thought of Aj coming to terms with it too. Having fears and uncertainty does NOT make a person phobic. It's when they start suppressing, trying to change or stop a person, and refusing to learn and understand is when they cross that line. I love the thought of Aj feeling a bit confused at first, and even experiencing maybe a bit of sadness (she's thought she had a son this whole time...is the child she thought was her son going away? Will her love for this child change too?) and taking those steps to understand. She expresses her uncertainty and other feelings, she reads those books, she talks to those more educated on the subject then herself, she reaches out and talks to those who have made the transition. She gets to a point where it clicks for her that she never had a son. She's always had a daughter...and nothing about her as really changed, has it? She is still her child that she loves. That has never changed, never will change.
Heather
2020-05-24 15:29:13 +0000 UTCThe thing with that critism is that I feel, unintentionally, that by NOT experiencing trauma during her transition, it implies that as such, somehow Maggie's experience is lesser somehow. Which is simply not true. With that logic one could say that her identy as a gay woman is also lesser then say Bruce's as a gay man because she didnt have the struggle that he did. I absolutely understand that trauma (death/grief, sexual/mental/emotional/physical abuse, descrimation and phobia) shape a person. It changes them forever and there is a pride coming out of those situations as a survivor. But as an abuse survivor myself I don't look at a person whose had a relatively normal upbringing and think myself somehow "more" then them, you know? Everyone has their own journey in life and judging a person for not having that struggle or trauma feels sort of petty to me, and uncomfortably close to normalizing abuse as the only way a person can have a story worth telling. AND just because Maggie may have had that early support and understanding doesnt mean that she DOESNT experience phobia as she ages and meets closed minded ponies. Plus....well, being surrounded by transphobia it is truly exhausting and depressing to hear hatred and pig headed ignorance all the time. I dream of a world where a person can be who they are and I think part of stepping in that direction is showing instances of normalcy and support
Heather
2020-05-24 15:11:16 +0000 UTCI'm glad you feel that way, because that's what I was trying to get at. Magnolia's transition was "easy" because her parents were supportive, and I'm not so certain Ponyville (or at least the Rarijack family's social circle) was especially transphobic. If Magnolia had been born to different ponies, she might've had a more difficult time. But one thing I really love about MLP is that it normalizes and celebrates girliness, defiance of gender norms, and diversity, so why not extend that to transgender characters. Why can't a trans character transition and exist and it not really be a big deal, same way MLP just has multiple nuanced female protagonists (something rare in kid's media) and that's not treated as a big deal? I understand the critic's disappointment, but at the same time I'm frustrated because I don't WANT to tell some big awful traumatic story, and I don't think I believe trauma need be inherent to a trans story. You're right though, maybe I should explore more of Applejack's reaction. I don't really think she'd be restrictive and demanding Magnolia be a "stallion", but I do think she'd be confused and kinda awkward about the whole thing.
Lopoddity
2020-05-23 23:49:01 +0000 UTCIt's nothing, I appreciate the feedback, honestly. It can just get confusing when it conflicts with other takes I've heard from other trans folk. Transgender characters are such a nuanced topic, there are no clear-cut correct answers, and a million ways to blunder. I'd rather listen to criticism than brush it off, I don't think the critic was wrong to feel disappointed with Magnolia's reveal
Lopoddity
2020-05-23 23:33:07 +0000 UTCWhether or not people are being fair to you (people seem to give you a lot of shit), I really love, respect, and appreciate you doing your research and listening to other trans and activist voices
D
2020-05-23 23:25:10 +0000 UTCReally wish people would get all the way off your back... Especially since it's been what, a week or two since that reveal? Cripes -_- You're doing great and you don't need to "provide evidence" of a character's trauma if you don't feel inspired to do so. We should be able to have trans characters without needing to go into each of their personal journeys immediately. Especially in a fictitious magical horse world where transness is not necessarily taboo or uncommon (because wouldn't that be nice?). I'm honestly more curious about AJ's emotional journey in this regard than Maggie's. You're right and it does seem like she would have the hardest time coming to terms with it and learning to be supportive.
Calvin Sewell
2020-05-23 23:18:43 +0000 UTCStill beautiful! No matter when Magnolia transitions I still love and support that horse. Also, who are these people that are constantly upset about every little change you make to your characters? You don't have a finished book or anything. Your character concepts and ideas are allowed to change. Especially because you have a good track record of following up on your characters. I really don't understand why people get spicy with you.
MyLittleVerse
2020-05-23 23:06:28 +0000 UTC
