the lotus- cira's writing blog

 Steampunk literature is a snarky criticism of the dark, corrupted undercurrent to technological “progress.” Intentionally, the graphic novel series Lantern City positions the protagonist, Sander Jorve, as a hero born into subjugation—a hero who must act from within that status to survive and protect his precious family. The series demonizes class stratification, shows the laboring class as capable and deserving heroes, and frames heroism in the language of duty, survival, and transformation. Daley and Jenkins’s graphic novel series Lantern City (2015–2016) delivers a political message about the survival and empowerment of working-class heroes. To start, “Steampunk” is a term used to describe a retro-futuristic subgenre of science fiction that combines elements of Victorian-era aesthetics with steam-powered technology. It is often visually depicted with engines, gears, and old manufacturing equipment that were prevalent during this historical period. Steampunk appears in art and...

 note- TO BE CLEAR, I don't really believe Frankenstein is anti-intellectual, it's really just an eye-catching title I thought my professor would find thought-provoking or whatever. I read Frankenstein for the first time in 5th grade and thought it was awesome, but when I read it again in 8th grade, I started to find it redundant, only because I was exposed to the recycled horror tropes (inspired by Frankenstein, mind you) before then, so It was no longer as exciting and inventive as the first time. I was NOT pleased to read it again as a COLLEGE student, but we had the option to choose other assigned readings to analyze for this essay. I really don't agree with the assertion I make at the end, " Scientific Innovation is nothing to be feared, but instead, celebrated and emboldened," when it applies to inventions like AI and human/animal experimentation (which still does indeed happen in 2025) because of the obvious ethical concerns.  Please enjoy!       In ...

 Note- Hey everyone! I really did only have 2 days to write this, since I'm balancing a lot right now. Although it took me hours both days last week, I'm satisfied with my results! The Prompt was "I stared at the crowd and told the biggest lie of my life." I was recommended to pick a prompt out of 5 prompts randomly. I know this is a "funny" story, but I don't consider myself funny enough to call this comedy, but I tried something new, and I'm proud of it! FYI- According to the Oxford Dictionary, Asinine means extremely stupid or foolish.      I take a wide step forward until my toes hit the black duct-taped X in the center of the stage and inhale a silent breath. My audience is a conglomeration of artificial white light and though I’m a old man now I still pretend they’re test dummies devoid of judgement and internal snark, but I know they’re there seated quietly, as we all anticipate my talk I titled “Open Books know better” at the prestigious Stu...

  The American Dream is “ associated with upward mobility and enough economic success to lead a comfortable life ” (Churchill, Issue 21) . I consider it to be an overhyped concept and an ill-fitting idea of what truly defines American success. Often critiqued to be individualistic, when the American ideal should be robust liberty and belonging in the land of the free. Modern capitalism is interwoven generously in the American Dream. While freedom and prosperity are constitutional rights guaranteed to all, they are used to accommodate excessive consumerism and greed. Collectively, we’ve achieved the American Dream over and over since our conception. From war after another, we’ve gathered more land up north, the Midwest, and shortly after, every inch of the continent, reacting combatively at any attempt by Native Americans to have their land returned. By the mid-18th century, we struck gold in North Carolina, and by the mid-19th century, we traded agricultural goods through the Trans...