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Post by Belarion on Jun 23, 2010 20:33:42 GMT -6
This article by Erik Davis explores the cute Cthulhu phenomenon in plush toys and web-comics and quickly degenerates into madness. The interesting idea that I took away from it is that by breaking from the horror genre into cute toy and geek meme is that the Cthulhu mind-virus is spreading far further than the circle of people that would be interested in the works of an early 20th century pulp-horror author. Warning: He gets into some hentai near the end, so the link is NSFW. hilobrow.com/2010/05/03/cthulhu-is-not-cute/Ia, Ia Cthulhu Fhtagn!
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Kai'Sigth
Adeptus
Dreaming Herald of the Old Gods
Posts: 32
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Post by Kai'Sigth on Jun 25, 2010 13:19:54 GMT -6
I giggle everytime I see one of those cute plushies. However a part of me reminds myself not to take Dread Cthulhu in such an innocent and casual way.
It is true though, Cthulhu does seem to be spreading his tentacles throughout geek culture even more these days!
Ia! Ia! Cthulhu ftaghn!
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Post by 10kdays on Jun 25, 2010 15:56:34 GMT -6
While it's tough to look at the plushies and not twitch a little, you have to be able to laugh at what you believe in.
When the stars are right!
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Post by Belarion on Jun 29, 2010 22:22:07 GMT -6
The plushes don't offend me, but some attempts at milking the mythos for humor, poorly done comics and such, really grate on my nerves.
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Post by Shaz'rahjeem on Jun 29, 2010 23:06:27 GMT -6
I hope the mythos never reaches pop-culture beyond what it has. If it does then not through toys and comics. I'd even go as far as to say through movies and games as well. Not because i hate the toys but rather because the popularity seems to cheapen things.
imagine if the free masons ritual ceremonies where on youtube. the free masons would hardly have the mystique they have.
does anyone want to see the mythos end up like vamires? abused by anyone short on ideas until it's just some fantasy for 14yr old girls.
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Kai'Sigth
Adeptus
Dreaming Herald of the Old Gods
Posts: 32
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Post by Kai'Sigth on Jun 30, 2010 6:15:43 GMT -6
I hope the mythos never reaches pop-culture beyond what it has. If it does then not through toys and comics. I'd even go as far as to say through movies and games as well. Not because i hate the toys but rather because the popularity seems to cheapen things. imagine if the free masons ritual ceremonies where on youtube. the free masons would hardly have the mystique they have. does anyone want to see the mythos end up like vamires? abused by anyone short on ideas until it's just some fantasy for 14yr old girls. There are games and movies concerning the mythos. Not blockbuster movies but movies none the less. I agree with what you say Ia! Ia! Cthulhu fhtagn!
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Post by Shaz'rahjeem on Jul 1, 2010 0:32:44 GMT -6
I hope the mythos never reaches pop-culture beyond what it has. If it does then not through toys and comics. I'd even go as far as to say through movies and games as well. Not because i hate the toys but rather because the popularity seems to cheapen things. imagine if the free masons ritual ceremonies where on youtube. the free masons would hardly have the mystique they have. does anyone want to see the mythos end up like vamires? abused by anyone short on ideas until it's just some fantasy for 14yr old girls. There are games and movies concerning the mythos. Not blockbuster movies but movies none the less. I agree with what you say Ia! Ia! Cthulhu fhtagn! Yea i know of the games, and i'v seen a couple movies. they're all small production so like you said they're not going to be big blockbusters. no one wants to see tom hanks running from cthulhu... unless its on the news. ;D
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Post by Belarion on Jul 2, 2010 21:25:59 GMT -6
I think that Mythos movies, games, comics, etc. that are faithful to the source material don't cheapen the Mythos. But all the cute toys and poorly executed geek humor do. The good thing is that geek culture is fickle and the Cthulhu meme (like zombies, pirates, and lolcats) is considered a tired meme and should fade away.
The problem with Lovecraft in other media, is that the people responsible don't seem to get, on a fundamental level, what the Mythos was about. Even Derleth didn't get it, and mixed his own misguided Christianity into the purity of the Prophet's vision.
Here is my model of how everything goes wrong:
1. Everything needs a genre for marketing purposes. 2. Lovecraft is in the horror genre. 3. Horror needs an iconic monster. 4. Cthulhu is an iconic monster. 5. Alright gentlemen, let's make some money happen.
And that's why you have Cthulhu plush toys and action figures.
Ia, Ia Cthulhu Fhtagn!
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Post by andrewbloodworth on Oct 12, 2010 14:43:15 GMT -6
I hope the mythos never reaches pop-culture beyond what it has. If it does then not through toys and comics. I'd even go as far as to say through movies and games as well. Not because i hate the toys but rather because the popularity seems to cheapen things. imagine if the free masons ritual ceremonies where on youtube. the free masons would hardly have the mystique they have. does anyone want to see the mythos end up like vamires? abused by anyone short on ideas until it's just some fantasy for 14yr old girls. Couldn't agree with you more here. I'd hate to see a Saturday morning cartoon of Cthulhu, or backpacks and lunch boxes of Cthulhu at Hot Topic. Its bad enough now lol, one just has to look up Cthulhu on Amazon. I have to say I did get a Cthulhu dice game lol. Awake! Ia Ia Cthulhu fhtagn
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Post by tentaclednephilim on Oct 12, 2010 15:23:02 GMT -6
Have you seen this one?
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Post by andrewbloodworth on Oct 12, 2010 15:28:09 GMT -6
Lol thats funny. Lil Cthulhu, sadly I can see that on saturday mornings lol. Awake! Ia Ia Cthulhu fhtagn
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Post by xiaogui17 on Oct 12, 2010 15:36:06 GMT -6
If you haven't seen it yet, here's a little comical take on the "Cutethulu" phenomenon, though the "punchline" is at the end and it takes a considerable amount of intestinal fortitude to make it through to that point (the still of the video alone should warn you how painful it is):
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Post by boksmutant on Oct 12, 2010 16:06:12 GMT -6
This can turn to our advantage. As the public thinks of us more as a joke, we will invade more minds. Keep in mind how pointless reality is becoming for the masses. Their faiths are becoming a joke as well. I think we might profit from this.
Picture all the dumb religious people listening to their kids talking about the new Cthulhu doll all the other kids have,& the sticker billy just got on his lunch pale. Sounds insulting. But could be advantages. Hail Cthulhu
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Post by andrewbloodworth on Oct 12, 2010 16:54:40 GMT -6
This can turn to our advantage. As the public thinks of us more as a joke, we will invade more minds. Keep in mind how pointless reality is becoming for the masses. Their faiths are becoming a joke as well. I think we might profit from this. Picture all the dumb religious people listening to their kids talking about the new Cthulhu doll all the other kids have,& the sticker billy just got on his lunch pale. Sounds insulting. But could be advantages. Hail Cthulhu That is a very good point lol. Wouldn't be so bad when you look at the big picture. Awake! Ia Ia Cthulhu fhtagn
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Post by Audra Lightning on Nov 17, 2010 0:50:45 GMT -6
I think you guys will like this one:
Humor.... well, the H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society seems to enjoy a good joke. Why not us?
Cuteness? Well, the article makes a good point. When humans see cute things, we lose all reason and react purely on instinct.
And in the grand sceme of the mythos, does it really matter? If we are choosing to live withing that narative in some fashion or another, then the stars will allign, Great Cthulhu will rise from the sunken city, and the earth will be cleansed... or... humanity will all go mad... or we'll just live in a state of frenzy... or we'll get eaten....
By the Bloddy Toung of Nyarlathotep
Audra Lightning
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Post by tavthe on Dec 7, 2010 3:38:29 GMT -6
I'm not bothered by the plushies, the games, movies, or even the cartoons that portray him as an adorable and lovable creature from beyond. Animation, esp. Japanimation has a long history of wrapping philosophy and magical systems in flashy animation. In many ways it is an ideal medium. Its funny b/c his image has become so pervasive throughout society on a global scale. People who, living in another time and place whose fear and terror his visage would have evoked in this place and time are rather passive, and find themselves very accepting of adorable octopoids without holding to old stigmas or taboos. Not to mention a great way to attract new and fresh generations.
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Post by pseudosherlock on Jan 13, 2011 9:21:17 GMT -6
That article was interesting, thank you. Although I couldn't tell if the end that implied he couldn't finish it and was ill or hospitalized was a joke, or not. It seemed too Poe/Lovecraftian.
The Cutethulu thing was amusing. Though the top link on Youtube when I brought it up was a video of Cthulhu vs. God in the game Scribblenauts. I have to say that one of the first things I did when I played that game and found Cthulhu there was to immediately pit him against God. It was disheartening to see he lost. But perhaps it was just part of a greater, more insidious plan.
And thank you for the Elder Sign video, too! I was quite fond of the terribly aware plumber.
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