Bookmark1995
Banned
Fair point. I just thought that their historical hatred of Cuba would make them very unsympathetic toward people who flee there. But maybe they understand, better than any other nation, what love can make us do.
Reds fanfic
- Thread starter E. Burke
- Start date
Fair point. I just thought that their historical hatred of Cuba would make them very unsympathetic toward people who flee there. But maybe they understand, better than any other nation, what love can make us do.
Cinderella (1949)
Production History
The end of the Second World War and the massive economic boom following lead to greater re-investment and generous grants from the Academy of Arts and Sciences.
The Disney Emporium used these grants to produce the most revolutionary fairy tale animated feature produced until then and ever since. The political domination of Social Realism had lead, in Walt Disney's opinion, to a stiffling of arts and especially animation, with the rigid scientism and at time anvilicious politics.
The departure from the rigid scientism of Social Realism- most notably the inclusion of magic and the fairy godmother- would have, in past years, resulted in a state boycott and a harsh letter from the Secretary of Culture.
Characters
Ella the peasant girl: like most fairy tale heroines of the Disney Emporium, Ella is a peasant girl born to Russian serfs who, after her parents die from a plague, goes to work on a bakery with her aunt and cousins.
Maria the wicked aunt: a widowed cynical baker, she ruthlessly exploits her niece when she comes to live with her after Ella's parents die.
Anastasia and Olga: Zera's daughters and Ella's cousins- they're vain and lazy, and seek to marry military men in order to have a higher quality of life.
Tsarevich Ivan Romanov: the heir apparent to the Russian throne, he seemingly falls in love with the transformed Ella.
Fairy Godmother: supernatural being that aids Ella to go to the royal ball.
Excerpt from the novel adaption
Ella shrunk away from kissing the handsome lord when she noticed the golden engraved clock behind his lovely head, on the far end of the room. The clock showed that it was nearly midnight.
I need leave, now. Ella thought in panic.
She rose quickly, her sparkling silver gown flowing with her movement and turned towards the blood red courtains that separated the hall from the ball room and the exit. Suddenly she felt her left arm being yanked forcefully and turned to see that the handsome lord had rose as well.
"Are you okay?" he asked, his lovely grey eyes sparkling with concern.
"It's midnight" was her answer as she futilely tried to yank her arm from the lord's grasp.
"So it is but..."
"Goodbye" Ella yanked her arm back successfully, the lord taken aback by her sudden strenght.
"Please wait"
The First Stroke of Midnight chimed.
"I don't even know your name. How..."
The Second Stroke of Midnight chimed.
"...do I find you?" the lord asked as Ella ran towards the blood red...
The Third Stroke of Midnight chimed.
...courtains, all the while the glass slippers making noise when they collided...
The Fourth Stroke of Midnight chimed.
...with the polished marble floor. Ella stretched her arm and pushed the courtains...
The Fifth Stroke of Midnight chimed.
...aside and stepped into the crowded ballroom, and trying to reach the large staircase...
The Sixth Stroke of Midnight chimed.
...that would lead to the entrance.
I need to leave, now!, thought Ella even more pani...
The Seventh Stroke of Midnight chimed.
..cked as she sidestepped the guests, the lords and ladies of Russya dancing obliviously.
The Eight Stroke of Midnight chimed.
"Young lady!" the voice of the handsome lord said but...
The Ninth Stroke of Midnight chimed.
...Ella ignored him as she reached the edge of the ballroom, the top of the staircase...
The Tenth Stroke of Midnight chimed.
...within sight. She grabbed the skirt of the dress to help her run faster.
The Eleventh Stroke of Midnight chimed.
Ella lifted her right leg, the glass slipper shinning under the candles' light and stepped into the staircase.
The Twelfth Stroke of Midnight chimed and, at that moment, the laws of nature reasserted themselves.
The silver tiara on her head vanished into thin air as if it never existed.
Her strawberry-blond hair, pulled into a bun, exploded into an unclean wild mess.
The opera gloves ripped apart into increasinly smaller threads until they vanished from sight.
The white overskirt changed color into a heavily patched sick green rags.
The skirt of sparkling silver contracted and turned into a patched set of skirts and fabrics.
The mascara on her face melted into ashes.
The expensive Parisian perfume was replaced by the smell of filth and sweat.
In her feet, the glass slippers remained- the reflected light mocking.
At her transformation the band stopped playing and gasps of shock ressonated throughout the hall. Gulping, her mind racing, she turned her eyes to the ballroom.
She noticed the handsome lord behind her, his hand overstreched, his eyes wide open and his mouth gaping. Then his face contracted in disgust and horror and he took a step back as if she had a contagious plague.
I was so close.
Reaction
Cinderella, produced in a time of a booming post-war economy and great optimism- only the most skeptical believed that the FBU's Labour government would fail in reforming the Union into a socialist democracy- was recieved with mixed criticism and its tragic nature lead it to become a box office bomb.
Neverthless the sweeping landslide of the People's Alliance and the kickstarting of the Cold War a few years later resulted in Cinderella being vindicated, in popular imagination becoming the defining example of a product being vindicated by history.
The film was considered by many to not only be revolutionary but also the zenith of Social Realism. Soviet filmmaker Sergei Eisenstein said the following:
"Cinderella is a masterpiece. Breaking away from filmmaking traditions by playing fairy tale conventions straight and then sadiscally deconstruct them without the need of annoying exposition. The magic of the fairy godmother simply cannot win the battle against class forces of feudal Russia, whom would have never allowed a peasant girl (no matter how well dressed) to marry the heir apparent to the throne just because of footwear".
Modern critics resonate this criticism including Roger Ebert:
"The fantastical de-transformation scene ends with our heroine humiliated, her humble origins revealed to the haughty aristocracy who procedes to kick her out of the palace. As she starts to walk back home Ella realizes part of the magic remains in the form of glass slippers. In the original tale Ella would have successfully escaped without being exposed and she would have lost one of the slippers whom the prince would use to track her down, intending on marrying her. The fact that Ella keeps the pair and the movie ends with her walking away from the palace still an oppressed peasant are a subtle mockery of irrational bourgeois values whom ignore that a peasant would have never been able to marry a prince under a true feudal monarchy."
Production History
The end of the Second World War and the massive economic boom following lead to greater re-investment and generous grants from the Academy of Arts and Sciences.
The Disney Emporium used these grants to produce the most revolutionary fairy tale animated feature produced until then and ever since. The political domination of Social Realism had lead, in Walt Disney's opinion, to a stiffling of arts and especially animation, with the rigid scientism and at time anvilicious politics.
The departure from the rigid scientism of Social Realism- most notably the inclusion of magic and the fairy godmother- would have, in past years, resulted in a state boycott and a harsh letter from the Secretary of Culture.
Characters
Ella the peasant girl: like most fairy tale heroines of the Disney Emporium, Ella is a peasant girl born to Russian serfs who, after her parents die from a plague, goes to work on a bakery with her aunt and cousins.
Maria the wicked aunt: a widowed cynical baker, she ruthlessly exploits her niece when she comes to live with her after Ella's parents die.
Anastasia and Olga: Zera's daughters and Ella's cousins- they're vain and lazy, and seek to marry military men in order to have a higher quality of life.
Tsarevich Ivan Romanov: the heir apparent to the Russian throne, he seemingly falls in love with the transformed Ella.
Fairy Godmother: supernatural being that aids Ella to go to the royal ball.
Excerpt from the novel adaption
Ella shrunk away from kissing the handsome lord when she noticed the golden engraved clock behind his lovely head, on the far end of the room. The clock showed that it was nearly midnight.
I need leave, now. Ella thought in panic.
She rose quickly, her sparkling silver gown flowing with her movement and turned towards the blood red courtains that separated the hall from the ball room and the exit. Suddenly she felt her left arm being yanked forcefully and turned to see that the handsome lord had rose as well.
"Are you okay?" he asked, his lovely grey eyes sparkling with concern.
"It's midnight" was her answer as she futilely tried to yank her arm from the lord's grasp.
"So it is but..."
"Goodbye" Ella yanked her arm back successfully, the lord taken aback by her sudden strenght.
"Please wait"
The First Stroke of Midnight chimed.
"I don't even know your name. How..."
The Second Stroke of Midnight chimed.
"...do I find you?" the lord asked as Ella ran towards the blood red...
The Third Stroke of Midnight chimed.
...courtains, all the while the glass slippers making noise when they collided...
The Fourth Stroke of Midnight chimed.
...with the polished marble floor. Ella stretched her arm and pushed the courtains...
The Fifth Stroke of Midnight chimed.
...aside and stepped into the crowded ballroom, and trying to reach the large staircase...
The Sixth Stroke of Midnight chimed.
...that would lead to the entrance.
I need to leave, now!, thought Ella even more pani...
The Seventh Stroke of Midnight chimed.
..cked as she sidestepped the guests, the lords and ladies of Russya dancing obliviously.
The Eight Stroke of Midnight chimed.
"Young lady!" the voice of the handsome lord said but...
The Ninth Stroke of Midnight chimed.
...Ella ignored him as she reached the edge of the ballroom, the top of the staircase...
The Tenth Stroke of Midnight chimed.
...within sight. She grabbed the skirt of the dress to help her run faster.
The Eleventh Stroke of Midnight chimed.
Ella lifted her right leg, the glass slipper shinning under the candles' light and stepped into the staircase.
The Twelfth Stroke of Midnight chimed and, at that moment, the laws of nature reasserted themselves.
The silver tiara on her head vanished into thin air as if it never existed.
Her strawberry-blond hair, pulled into a bun, exploded into an unclean wild mess.
The opera gloves ripped apart into increasinly smaller threads until they vanished from sight.
The white overskirt changed color into a heavily patched sick green rags.
The skirt of sparkling silver contracted and turned into a patched set of skirts and fabrics.
The mascara on her face melted into ashes.
The expensive Parisian perfume was replaced by the smell of filth and sweat.
In her feet, the glass slippers remained- the reflected light mocking.
At her transformation the band stopped playing and gasps of shock ressonated throughout the hall. Gulping, her mind racing, she turned her eyes to the ballroom.
She noticed the handsome lord behind her, his hand overstreched, his eyes wide open and his mouth gaping. Then his face contracted in disgust and horror and he took a step back as if she had a contagious plague.
I was so close.
Reaction
Cinderella, produced in a time of a booming post-war economy and great optimism- only the most skeptical believed that the FBU's Labour government would fail in reforming the Union into a socialist democracy- was recieved with mixed criticism and its tragic nature lead it to become a box office bomb.
Neverthless the sweeping landslide of the People's Alliance and the kickstarting of the Cold War a few years later resulted in Cinderella being vindicated, in popular imagination becoming the defining example of a product being vindicated by history.
The film was considered by many to not only be revolutionary but also the zenith of Social Realism. Soviet filmmaker Sergei Eisenstein said the following:
"Cinderella is a masterpiece. Breaking away from filmmaking traditions by playing fairy tale conventions straight and then sadiscally deconstruct them without the need of annoying exposition. The magic of the fairy godmother simply cannot win the battle against class forces of feudal Russia, whom would have never allowed a peasant girl (no matter how well dressed) to marry the heir apparent to the throne just because of footwear".
Modern critics resonate this criticism including Roger Ebert:
"The fantastical de-transformation scene ends with our heroine humiliated, her humble origins revealed to the haughty aristocracy who procedes to kick her out of the palace. As she starts to walk back home Ella realizes part of the magic remains in the form of glass slippers. In the original tale Ella would have successfully escaped without being exposed and she would have lost one of the slippers whom the prince would use to track her down, intending on marrying her. The fact that Ella keeps the pair and the movie ends with her walking away from the palace still an oppressed peasant are a subtle mockery of irrational bourgeois values whom ignore that a peasant would have never been able to marry a prince under a true feudal monarchy."
I should probably talk more about the waververse work with Alulim in it soon.
Question - why Russia? France and Germany in the second half of the 18th century, too, would fit perfectly, and the fairies in Russia never did things.
P.S. - This version is even tougher mermaid.
Last edited:
Bulldoggus
Banned
I'd assume because the US and Russia have closer political and cultural ties than TTL.
Then why fairy? Even they were not in the author's fairy tales. Besides it is not sure that there was a link to the real dynasty (Romanov) is a good idea.Inner space tales usually conditional and do without the specific details.
Correct me if I'm wrong but I believe that the People's Party regains power in 1947/8, not post-1949. Although that could be explained by a belief in most quarters that their victory is a blip that will be soon be corrected, possibly reinforced by the PP winning a 1951-style victory rather than an out and out landslide until the Ethiopian War makes the Red Scare settle in completely and the PP carries out enough reforms to poach most of Labour's moderate base. Otherwise a really good Reds retelling of the movie.
teg
Finished it. Like I said, I wrote this on a tablet, which is harder for longer pieces like that.
Bulldoggus
Banned
AH.com Thread: What is Your Least Favorite Soccer Team and Why?
*Boston Bulldogs FC
Bulldoggus
Banned
Also, my idea is that All-Seaters are still a thing most places TTL, because although loved (for some reason) by lefty/against modern soccer (I shall never call the game "football) people, not having them is a really, really stupid idea on every conceivable level.
Bookmark1995
Banned
www.wikitravel.org
Miami
Stay Safe
Miami remains one of the safest big cities in the world. It is not for nothing that it is frequently listed has having one of the highest qualities of life in the UASR. However, acts of juvenile delinquency and petty crimes that are common. But for the most part, these acts are usually not directed toward foreign tourists. Wealthy bourgeois tourists, however, are still advised to keep their valuables at home, or keep them as hidden as possible if you bring them to the UASR, as flaunting wealth is frowned upon in the UASR, but especially in the very leftist Miami. Luxury items are not only stolen, but vandalized by Cuban rights groups that see luxury as the thing that robbed them of their nation. Tourists are also advised to against wearing extravagant clothing, for the same reason. If you feel the need to wear a suit or a dress, avoid doing so in public.
In every residential area, there is at least one member of auxiliary military forces present, and they are often trained to assist law enforcement, so there are no shortage of people who you can speak too if you need to report a crime. Despite cultural and political differences, law enforcement groups are encouraged and trained to be as welcoming as foreign tourists as possible. If you are a foreigner who can't speak the 3 official languages [1], there are translators that can be sent to assist you if you prepare an appointment with the MPC [2] in advance.
While Miamians are a very friendly, they are also zealous in their revolutionary beliefs. If you are a tourist from outside the Comintern, they will spend a lot of time trying to convince you to "join the revolutionary struggle", like UCC airport recruiters, only without bibles. Most likely, they'll invite you to a festival, as citizens are trained from elementary school to be hospitable toward outsiders. And while it can be exaggerated, Miamians are very sexually open, and you can expect someone will flirt with you. If you have political disagreements with Comintern that you wish to voice, or you refuse an invitation or an advance, be as gracious as possible. Remember, if Miamians do these things, it means they like you as a person, so don't throw what they view as hospitality in their faces.
While public nudity is tolerated, despite what you may see on television, not every Miamian goes around nude during the summer time, and not in every place. If you choose to walk around nude, the authorities encourage you to do it indoors, on public beaches, or in neighborhoods that specifically endorse it. Despite the open atmosphere, reports of sexual assault are very high, so be sure you are surrounded by people you trust if you choose to expose yourself.
WARNING! [3]:
Miamians, while having the reputation of being an open and laid back people, are also proud and patriotic one. DO NOT do anything that can be considered as insulting to the ideals of the UASR. While free speech is a tradition, inflammatory language can get you assaulted by left-wing activists. DO NOT assume that a stranger you speak to, no matter how friendly they appear, is tolerant of such insults. Hate speech, Holocaust and Ford denial, and MacArthur apologia will get you FINED, and promoting it can get you DEPORTED. You don't want to cross someone with both military training and physical fitness, and Americans have both.
Products imported from Cuba, such as cigars, are considered contraband and are not allowed in the UASR. In a city where effigies of Douglas MacArthur are burned every July 4 [4](see above for Celebrations), possession of such products is especially unwise. If you are caught with such contraband, IT WILL BE CONFISCATED, AND YOU WILL BE FINED, IF NOT ASSAULTED BY A CUBAN AMERICAN! And if you are convicted of smuggling Cuban contraband, YOU WILL BE FINED AND DEPORTED FROM THE UASR, AND POTENTIALLY BE FORCED TO SIT IN JAIL FOR SIX MONTHS!
[1] I see all three languages being official in English, Spanish, and French that officials must know. French because of Haitian people and the large numbers of Quebec tourists who come every winter.
[2] Miami Police Collective
[3] I read the North Korean and Saudi Arabian "stay safe" warning sections of Wikitravel for inspiration.
[4] While July 4th will still be an important holiday in the UASR, in Cuba-America, uber-right Yumas will celebrate their own extravagant version that will promote their twisted values and insult the UASR government. In response, ITTL Cuban exiles and their descendants will probably have their own special celebration where they mock the Cuba-America regime that oppressed them and their ancestors. They'll probably dress up in ridiculous outfits to mock the aristocracy, but the biggest thing will be a giant effigy to MacArthur. Think of Santa Fe's "zozobra", but with a pipe, a military cap, and sunglasses.
Miami
Stay Safe
Miami remains one of the safest big cities in the world. It is not for nothing that it is frequently listed has having one of the highest qualities of life in the UASR. However, acts of juvenile delinquency and petty crimes that are common. But for the most part, these acts are usually not directed toward foreign tourists. Wealthy bourgeois tourists, however, are still advised to keep their valuables at home, or keep them as hidden as possible if you bring them to the UASR, as flaunting wealth is frowned upon in the UASR, but especially in the very leftist Miami. Luxury items are not only stolen, but vandalized by Cuban rights groups that see luxury as the thing that robbed them of their nation. Tourists are also advised to against wearing extravagant clothing, for the same reason. If you feel the need to wear a suit or a dress, avoid doing so in public.
In every residential area, there is at least one member of auxiliary military forces present, and they are often trained to assist law enforcement, so there are no shortage of people who you can speak too if you need to report a crime. Despite cultural and political differences, law enforcement groups are encouraged and trained to be as welcoming as foreign tourists as possible. If you are a foreigner who can't speak the 3 official languages [1], there are translators that can be sent to assist you if you prepare an appointment with the MPC [2] in advance.
While Miamians are a very friendly, they are also zealous in their revolutionary beliefs. If you are a tourist from outside the Comintern, they will spend a lot of time trying to convince you to "join the revolutionary struggle", like UCC airport recruiters, only without bibles. Most likely, they'll invite you to a festival, as citizens are trained from elementary school to be hospitable toward outsiders. And while it can be exaggerated, Miamians are very sexually open, and you can expect someone will flirt with you. If you have political disagreements with Comintern that you wish to voice, or you refuse an invitation or an advance, be as gracious as possible. Remember, if Miamians do these things, it means they like you as a person, so don't throw what they view as hospitality in their faces.
While public nudity is tolerated, despite what you may see on television, not every Miamian goes around nude during the summer time, and not in every place. If you choose to walk around nude, the authorities encourage you to do it indoors, on public beaches, or in neighborhoods that specifically endorse it. Despite the open atmosphere, reports of sexual assault are very high, so be sure you are surrounded by people you trust if you choose to expose yourself.
WARNING! [3]:
Miamians, while having the reputation of being an open and laid back people, are also proud and patriotic one. DO NOT do anything that can be considered as insulting to the ideals of the UASR. While free speech is a tradition, inflammatory language can get you assaulted by left-wing activists. DO NOT assume that a stranger you speak to, no matter how friendly they appear, is tolerant of such insults. Hate speech, Holocaust and Ford denial, and MacArthur apologia will get you FINED, and promoting it can get you DEPORTED. You don't want to cross someone with both military training and physical fitness, and Americans have both.
Products imported from Cuba, such as cigars, are considered contraband and are not allowed in the UASR. In a city where effigies of Douglas MacArthur are burned every July 4 [4](see above for Celebrations), possession of such products is especially unwise. If you are caught with such contraband, IT WILL BE CONFISCATED, AND YOU WILL BE FINED, IF NOT ASSAULTED BY A CUBAN AMERICAN! And if you are convicted of smuggling Cuban contraband, YOU WILL BE FINED AND DEPORTED FROM THE UASR, AND POTENTIALLY BE FORCED TO SIT IN JAIL FOR SIX MONTHS!
[1] I see all three languages being official in English, Spanish, and French that officials must know. French because of Haitian people and the large numbers of Quebec tourists who come every winter.
[2] Miami Police Collective
[3] I read the North Korean and Saudi Arabian "stay safe" warning sections of Wikitravel for inspiration.
[4] While July 4th will still be an important holiday in the UASR, in Cuba-America, uber-right Yumas will celebrate their own extravagant version that will promote their twisted values and insult the UASR government. In response, ITTL Cuban exiles and their descendants will probably have their own special celebration where they mock the Cuba-America regime that oppressed them and their ancestors. They'll probably dress up in ridiculous outfits to mock the aristocracy, but the biggest thing will be a giant effigy to MacArthur. Think of Santa Fe's "zozobra", but with a pipe, a military cap, and sunglasses.
Last edited:
Bulldoggus
Banned
Interesting stuff. Could you do Boston? I see that as being a less revolutionary (read: more conservative) city, partly because it's a funny inversion, partly because of the fact that Boston has little socialist/communist tradition and deep cultural ties to the 1776 Revolution (For example, I could see the Betsy Ross flag being something of a regional emblem, and tricorner hats being seen on the 4th of July).
Bookmark1995
Banned
I wasn't really planning on doing an alternate wikitravel series. Send me a private message about what you think about ITTL Bostonians would be like and I'll think about it.
Vis-a-vis Boston, I would point out that, whilst it may be fairly conservative OTL, ITTL they have had almost a century of Libertarian Communism and at least two Cultural Revolutions, so it is likely that the political culture would be very different.
Bulldoggus
Banned
Well, it is VERY liberal OTL, actually. Hasn't gone republican in a non-landslide election since 1956. I'm just thinking it would be more conservative, mainly because it lacks any major socialist figures and was so deeply involved in the founding of the USA.
Redshank Galloglass
Banned
I don't think it would be "conservative" per say, but I think that it would be seen as archaic in the rest of the UASR and possibly still have traces of bourgeois sentiment. It is the birthplace of the bourgeois revolution, after all.
It certainly wouldn't be the Libertarian Communist societies of industrial powerhouses like Chicago or New York City.
Sorry I've been gone so long btw, I've been working on ideas for my own TL.
Last edited:
Bulldoggus
Banned
Yeah, for sure it would. Probably more suits, more old school clothing (already sort of a thing- you don't really see sweater vests anywhere else these days)
Probably not. Of course, I wouldn't want it to be, as we Bostonians are so much smarter...