This was beautiful to read—evocative of Olga Tokarczuk’s Flights or Books of Jacob in its roving view. In one way, this whole latticework of relations is a testament to the effects of global capitalism and the ways that commodities become reified as things, but more than that—as you’re pointing out—is the kind of miraculous concrescence that happens for an uncountable number of forces to converge in a card that is almost always tossed in the graveyard as soon as it’s played. Anyway, I’m going to hug my Steve a little tighter tonight.
Loved this piece. Reminds me of a monologue from a Wallace Shawn play that meditates on “commodity fetishism” and the way that our conceptions of price and value hide the relations between goods and consumers. It’s the second half of this excerpt: https://redlette.red/permalink.php/?theday=25
I was able to teach the person who got me into magic about the story and function of Sakura-Tribe Elder's flavor text.
The pilot in question watched quizzically as I read the flavor text out, barely holding back the childlike excitement knowing his own enthusiastic revelation was close at hand. The the part that was the most special to me was how his doubtful and cyclical face broken as I dug out a forest as quickly as I could and slammed it down, pointing feverishly and stammering about how Steve was a part of the forest now. Thanks for that.
What a touching reminder that "The Gathering" applies as much internally to Magic's production as it does externally to the community that supports it. To all those doing the important work outside the great gaze of the public, thanks for making Magic magical.
Your writing, ever wonderful, seems to be getting better and better. I have thought this for a while so will say it here: there’s something in your skill and a little in your style that reminds me of Teju Cole. I suspect you already know his work but think you would love it if not.
My hedgehog named Steve died last year. Reciting that iconic flavor text made me feel better as I buried him in my girlfriend’s garden. I hope to see him again this year in the shape of some beautiful spring wildflowers.
What a beautiful, grand-scale view you took here. So many hands touch our cards before we even crack the seal on a pack that are simply not acknowledged. These cards don't just magically appear in our LGS, they're the result of thousands of humans' collective effort.
And to think of all the Steves out there in the world, functionally identical yet each individually beloved. If they could move on their own would they organize a Steve-con? Congregate in their birthplace of Turnhout or wherever? Share stories of facing down eldrazi or getting the planeswalker they serve the mana needed to win a duel? It'd be absolutely wild if they could tell us what they've seen. That'd be sweet.
This was beautiful to read—evocative of Olga Tokarczuk’s Flights or Books of Jacob in its roving view. In one way, this whole latticework of relations is a testament to the effects of global capitalism and the ways that commodities become reified as things, but more than that—as you’re pointing out—is the kind of miraculous concrescence that happens for an uncountable number of forces to converge in a card that is almost always tossed in the graveyard as soon as it’s played. Anyway, I’m going to hug my Steve a little tighter tonight.
Loved this piece. Reminds me of a monologue from a Wallace Shawn play that meditates on “commodity fetishism” and the way that our conceptions of price and value hide the relations between goods and consumers. It’s the second half of this excerpt: https://redlette.red/permalink.php/?theday=25
I was able to teach the person who got me into magic about the story and function of Sakura-Tribe Elder's flavor text.
The pilot in question watched quizzically as I read the flavor text out, barely holding back the childlike excitement knowing his own enthusiastic revelation was close at hand. The the part that was the most special to me was how his doubtful and cyclical face broken as I dug out a forest as quickly as I could and slammed it down, pointing feverishly and stammering about how Steve was a part of the forest now. Thanks for that.
What a touching reminder that "The Gathering" applies as much internally to Magic's production as it does externally to the community that supports it. To all those doing the important work outside the great gaze of the public, thanks for making Magic magical.
Your writing, ever wonderful, seems to be getting better and better. I have thought this for a while so will say it here: there’s something in your skill and a little in your style that reminds me of Teju Cole. I suspect you already know his work but think you would love it if not.
My hedgehog named Steve died last year. Reciting that iconic flavor text made me feel better as I buried him in my girlfriend’s garden. I hope to see him again this year in the shape of some beautiful spring wildflowers.
Calvino would have loved this one. Great job.
What a beautiful, grand-scale view you took here. So many hands touch our cards before we even crack the seal on a pack that are simply not acknowledged. These cards don't just magically appear in our LGS, they're the result of thousands of humans' collective effort.
And to think of all the Steves out there in the world, functionally identical yet each individually beloved. If they could move on their own would they organize a Steve-con? Congregate in their birthplace of Turnhout or wherever? Share stories of facing down eldrazi or getting the planeswalker they serve the mana needed to win a duel? It'd be absolutely wild if they could tell us what they've seen. That'd be sweet.
Dude, I was just building a deck yesterday and wondering what it's like to be the foil-highlights-person at Wizards haha