Ah, militarism makes sense as well. She's not really trying to hide her gender so that may be the better interpretation.
Yes, Azula is quite the budding sociopath. A while ago I did a post (http://lalunatique.livejournal.com/17835.html) referencing an NYT article (http://mobile.nytimes.com/2012/05/13/magazine/can-you-call-a-9-year-old-a-psychopath.xml) about what are called prepsychopathic children. It was chilling how well Azula fit the profile, including what you said about reading people extremely well but not caring whom she hurts.
Urgh, I'd totally forgotten about the Ursa-turned-Azula-evil theory and just remembering it makes me sick. There is no sane reading of canon in which Ursa is an abuser, and it's really one of those things that say more about the fans saying this crap than about the canon. Do these people live in a world where Azula's behavior is somehow okay, or Ursa's speaking firmly (not angrily, not violently or disparagingly, but firmly) against such outrageous behavior is somehow abusive and not part of being a responsible parent? I don't even want to know the kind of people who have such a warped view of behavior and discipline.
Research indicates there's definitely an inborn component to psychopathy, and in the article I've linked it says about 50% of prepsychopathic children go on to become psychopathic adults. On the flip side 50% do not, and it seems loving parenting can make a difference--sort of a double bind, since it's hard to be loving to someone who seems incapable of love. I hope against hope your stalker grew up to be a healthier adult, though her family situation and lack of discipline couldn't have helped there.
Artesia could have been pretty big if the story were complete, but it's been abandoned mid-Volume 4 for like eight years now and I don't have a lot of hope of its continuing. The three volumes that are out are good with a memorable central character, epic story, and a sprawling world that also became the subject of a tabletop role-playing game, but my guess is Smylie couldn't deal with the sheer scale of the story. He's a much writer than, say, Gisele Lagace whose art I love but whose writing leaves much to be desired, but for something of Artesia's size he may have been better off with a co-writer.
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branchandroot
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Date: 2012-09-04 08:27 am (UTC)Yes, Azula is quite the budding sociopath. A while ago I did a post (http://lalunatique.livejournal.com/17835.html) referencing an NYT article (http://mobile.nytimes.com/2012/05/13/magazine/can-you-call-a-9-year-old-a-psychopath.xml) about what are called prepsychopathic children. It was chilling how well Azula fit the profile, including what you said about reading people extremely well but not caring whom she hurts.
Urgh, I'd totally forgotten about the Ursa-turned-Azula-evil theory and just remembering it makes me sick. There is no sane reading of canon in which Ursa is an abuser, and it's really one of those things that say more about the fans saying this crap than about the canon. Do these people live in a world where Azula's behavior is somehow okay, or Ursa's speaking firmly (not angrily, not violently or disparagingly, but firmly) against such outrageous behavior is somehow abusive and not part of being a responsible parent? I don't even want to know the kind of people who have such a warped view of behavior and discipline.
Research indicates there's definitely an inborn component to psychopathy, and in the article I've linked it says about 50% of prepsychopathic children go on to become psychopathic adults. On the flip side 50% do not, and it seems loving parenting can make a difference--sort of a double bind, since it's hard to be loving to someone who seems incapable of love. I hope against hope your stalker grew up to be a healthier adult, though her family situation and lack of discipline couldn't have helped there.
Artesia could have been pretty big if the story were complete, but it's been abandoned mid-Volume 4 for like eight years now and I don't have a lot of hope of its continuing. The three volumes that are out are good with a memorable central character, epic story, and a sprawling world that also became the subject of a tabletop role-playing game, but my guess is Smylie couldn't deal with the sheer scale of the story. He's a much writer than, say, Gisele Lagace whose art I love but whose writing leaves much to be desired, but for something of Artesia's size he may have been better off with a co-writer.