Susan Kay's Phantom, WHY?

Lord save me from Erik and Christine's child. I'll never recover from all the times the existence of that child hurt me - not in a good way.

The last 80 pages really turned the grasshopper for me. Kay built a beautiful opera house, then sent a flaming, gunpowder-loaded chandelier through the roof. I enjoyed the first three-quarters of the book. It took incredible storytelling and research to build up that sprawling history only hinted at in the closing of original novel, and I love how the story made a spectacular Frankenstein Phantom from many adaptations.

But then came Christine.

Kay's afterword makes it worse for me. She states she doubts that A) Raoul would doubt Christine's love for him, and B) whether pity is a strong enough motivation for Christine to go back to Erik in spite of her fear. Ergo: Raoul was right when he suspected Christine loves Erik.

Well, I can clear up both of those points - A) Raoul is an insecure, jealous boy; B) aside from pitying Erik, Christine thought she could pacify him by going back, making pity AND fear her motivations, which she explains in Apollo's Lyre.

But Phantom's loyalty to the original is beside the point. What disturbed me about this explanation is that Kay meant it to be a love story. But there is no love.

I have already harped on to two friends about Phantom of the Opera and sexuality (thanks to @blackforrestpunk and @blackghostm2o for putting up with me). I think I can write an essay on the subject. After all, vampire fiction is my area of expertise.

⚠️Warning: Heavier subjects discussed below. I don't usually post content like this, so I thought i should give a heads up.⚠️

Leroux's Erik was never sexually attracted to Christine. All his fantasies he concerning her were purely romantic, even domestic ('a wife to keep amused on weekdays and take out on Sundays') whereas in Webber's adaptation, seduction is a recurrent theme in the Phantom's songs. There is nothing wrong with adding this extra layer to Chrsitine and Erik's relationship, as long as it doesn't overshadow their artistic bind through music.

But in Kay's Phantom, towards the ending, Erik's music becomes purely a sexual euphemism. It's a hypnotic drug that he uses to control Christine, and of course, there is that scene where he describes himself assaulting her by playing Don Juan Triumphant.

That is deeply misguided. Erik's music was his one connection to the purest, truest part of humanity. He was treated like a monster and often lives like one, yet he could express and evoke feelings that no most people could never, through his song.

And there is the child.

Erik thinks that Christine looks exactly like his mother. He speaks of her as his daughter. He is, self admittedly, old enough to be her father. And they still have a son together. There is no context, no possible way, that this is romantic. Horrible things can happen in a book. But it needs to be clear that it is horrible. Not so with this abominable ending. It was written as a romance, the bittersweet parting of starcrossed lovers. If Kay set out to write a love story for Erik and Christine, she did not do it: there is no evidence whatsoever in the text I read that Christine and Erik love one another. Erik lusts after her; Christine is drawn to his dark broody mystery. That is not love; it's Twilight.

I will reread this book for the sake of the brilliant child Erik, who I see myself in, and for Nadir and my feline lady Ayesha, but I will never be reading past Erik's delightful meetings with his old friend. As far as I'm concerned, he lived in his damp cellar in peace, with a large salary, to the end of his days.

More rants, I mean, very dignified and reasonable reviews of POTO adaptations here.

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phantom of the opera rant post poto susan kay phantom

This is not a Christmas ghost...

Today on the Goober Cat advent calendar! Leroux's Erik doesn't like the mask, but I'm sure 1990 Erik would. He's got many fancy masks, after all.

Thank you to everyone who showed the Persian love! @jennyfair7 @angel-with-paper-wings @differenceenginegirl @lokislynx your reblogs are delightful!

More Phantom: Cowboy (Cowcat) of the Opera, more Cherik here!

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phantom of the opera cherik poto phantom of the opera 1990 poto 1990 erik carriere

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purrlockswatson

6 months ago

Stop Feeding The Goat, Damn It! Anthony Inglethorpe, Je Te Déteste.

Literary Hub

HarperCollins is selling their authors’ work to AI tech.

On Friday, author Daniel Kibblesmith posted a series of screenshots on Bluesky in order to share a concerning email he received from the age

Stop feeding the goat, damn it! Anthony Inglethorpe, je te déteste.

Heaven knows the publishing industry has always been a savage garden to begin with. Now they're welcoming this demon goat to eat his fill. Shame on you, HarperCollins, and anyone who follows in their example.

I'm doing a Phantom of the Opera. I'm going to hold my manuscripts and climb into a coffin and never leave.

(Demon Goat design inspired by that tiny goat who started a cult in Helluva Boss. See here for why I draw AI as a goat.)

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artists on tumblr writers on tumblr helluva boss ai writblr lithub mission chupacabras

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purrlockswatson

3 months ago

Fanart as penance. More to come 😈

It's only a hobby - Mendicantelle - Multifandom [Archive of Our Own]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Le Fantôme de l'Opéra | Phantom of the Opera & Related Fandoms, Phantom of the Opera - Lloyd Webber, Phantom of the Opera (2004), The Phantom of the Opera (TV 1990), The Phantom of the Opera (1925), Phantom - Susan Kay Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Characters: Erik | Phantom of the Opera, Nadir Khan, The Persian (Phantom of the Opera) Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Multiple Eriks, Humor, Hobby Store AU, There’s nothing that annoys Erik like another Erik, Fights Summary:

Months go by and still nobody has given you an explanation for the higher-than-average number of customers seemingly dressed for the cabaret. It’s almost becoming a hobby in itself for you, watching the comings and goings of the five masked men.

@purrlockswatson is to blame for this

@blackforrestpunk you’re not blameless either

Tags

phantom of the opera cherik poto poto 1925 Erik the Phantom phanfiction poto 1990 lerik 2004 poto merik susan kay phantom alw phantom gerik read it BUT! dont read it during teatime i did and laughed so much im in danger of puking poto fanfiction poto fic multiple eriks nadir khan daroga

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purrlockswatson

5 months ago

Have some more silly comics of Leroux Erik roasting his descendants while I storyboard a Phantom music video animatic.

@jennyfair7 your reblog of my WIP is on point, that's basically what happened 😹

All PotO cat comics here

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phantom of the opera poto poto 1990 poto 2004 poto leroux leroux erik susan kay phantom alw phantom alw poto

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purrlockswatson

1 month ago

why is daroga so fat

Because of magnificent fur:

But I don't generally assign body shapes to my goober cats unless it's explicitly in the design of their human counterparts. So he can be anything you like.

Small cats are not always small characters (case in point: Kitty Cherik). I draw whatever best showcases my perception of the character.

(Drawing is from this comic. All Phantom of the Opera art here)

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asks phantom of the opera poto the daroga

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purrlockswatson

3 months ago

Phantom of the Paradise, you're a curious one

For some reason, I was convinced PoTP was set in outer space. Star Trek meets Phantom of the Opera, if you will. ⚠️Mild spoilers afoot⚠️

In a way, I'm glad I was ridiculously mistaken. I felt the full shocking impact of a rockstar-biopic-style narrative turned '70s Faust fever dream. The rooftop scene was like waking up in a nightmare: the metaphor coming horribly to life.

Winslow is a great Erik/Phantom incarnation. As a writer, I'm in sympathy with him for being unable to realise his masterpiece because it's "too long" and the entertainment world doesn't care. And horrible adaptations ARE enough to drive one to notoriety, you go, Winslow. Terrible tragedy that he wasn't allowed access to Erik's gunpowder stash, he deserved it.

Beef is probably the most dramatic La Carlotta parallel to exist, and that's saying something. What in the Santa-looking heck was he wearing as a coat during his "I'm outta here" scene? Somebody Super Like You is absolutely delightful - until he started performing, that is.

Phoenix has a stunning voice and a certain something that just screams superstar.

I'm less impressed by Swan. I'm not acquainted to Paul Williams' works, so I'm speaking solely without context about his background. Personally, I don't think he has the devilish, vampiric quality I'd have liked to see in that role. That's the only letdown in the film, honestly.

Rambles about other POTO adaptations here!

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phantom of the opera poto phanart phantom of the paradise potp winslow leach winslow

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purrlockswatson

2 months ago

Voilà, lots of sillies and... other things. If you wish me to elaborate, let me know 🤣

@vladimirsangel @blackforrestpunk @whyisthereacentaur @blackghostm2o @nalesnik-z-morela @ruvyn29 @greenfinchwriter No pressure tags, if like me you hesitate to post photos because you live in a gremlin nest and can't take any pictures without getting photo bombed by A) rubbish or B) demons, never mind!

First 3 photos are from past posts: Blood Box Bandits, Pharoga Kitty Kisses, Camp Vamp.

tagged by @bossboudicca

six non-selfie photos from my camera roll