nevermore999 (![[info]](https://www.insanejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} nevermore999) wrote in ![[info]](https://www.insanejournal.com/img/community.gif){kind=small} scans_daily,@ 2009-05-30 18:42:00 |
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| Entry tags: | char: captain nazi/albrecht krieger, char: genocide, char: nemesis/tom tresser, char: wonder woman/diana of themyscira, creator: gail simone, publisher: dc comics |
The Lasso of Truth
A while ago, while I was picking up links for When Fangirls Attack a couple of people made some arguments about the Lasso of Truth I considered to be faulty. I was busy at the time, and supporting my argument would require scannage, so I filed it away for later. Looking back at blog posts, I remembered I had planned to argue this (for the sole goal of informing the public, of course! :P) and so I'm putting up these scans to support my argument. I'll link them in my blog post arguing this.
Wonder Woman #15:
From Wonder Woman 32:
Okay, so. Basically the lasso of truth uncovers the secrets of the soul. It doesn't uncover what is BELIEVED within the soul, it uncovers the truth.
The original argument suggested that the lasso reveals what someone believes to be true:
Here it is.
Do these scans show that's how the lasso works? I don't believe they do. I believe they show that the lasso goes into the darkest secrets of your own soul. They burn away self delusion, self perception, illusion...they go right to the heart. How does it do this? It's a freaking lasso from the gods. It doesn't matter how it does this. Sure, the lasso can't show you things you aren't aware of (like in the anon's Willie the Snitch example)...but it can show you things you THINK you aren't aware of, but really are. It can show you things that are the Truth. So if Wonder Woman put the lasso to herself and said "Am I abusing my power?" The lasso would be able to answer. Like in these scans, it would sift through the memories and show her ones where she's abusing her power. Because the lasso is the Truth and the Truth would know. If you can't accept it in those terms, then try this: Even if Wonder Woman was believed she wasn't abusing her power, the tiniest part of her would know she was. The lasso would FIND the smallest bit of self doubt, like it did with Captain Nazi, (who also absolutely believed he was right) and bring that to the surface. It would show Wonder Woman her motivation, her reasoning, just like it did here. It would find the deepest secrets of Diana's soul.
Also take a look at these last two panels. Genocide is holding Tom with the lasso, and the lasso is making him see that what Wonder Woman is saying (which is, btw, that she doesn't love Tom) is TRUE. Even though with all his heart Tom doesn't believe it, thanks to the lasso, he sees this truth. He can deny it, but he knows the truth now and that is hurting him. And it's not even HIS truth. That's how the lasso works. It's not about belief. It's about TRUTH. And we have to thanks our stars OUR Wonder Woman (not Genocide) is usually the wielder, because as seen here, truth can destroy. It just sees the truth no matter what, regardless of belief, out of the evidence inside a persons soul. Because. it's. freaking. magic. I can't stress that enough. You can't try to explain it logically. That's what makes it a damn cool and dangerous weapon. Another example of how the lasso works is in this section of Bluefall's excellent "When Wondy was Awesome" series: Golden Perfect . This also clearly demonstrates the lasso is about truth, not belief.
And this is not just Gail's interpretation, as far as I can tell, the lasso's always been like this.
Those are my two cents. You can decide whether these scans make my words the (heh) truth or not. I don't want to get in an argument with anon, a mouse (who seems to read bluefall's blog just to argue with her, I would appreciate it if he didn't argue with me on mine as I don't feel like it, and if he wouldn't take my counterargument out of bluefall) or Noah, but thanks to WFA this argument has been seen, and I thought I'd provide a counterargument. You can judge from our words and evidence, but this is all the argument I'm going to give, whether anon, a mouse counterargues or not. I've said my two cents, I just wanted to give a counterpoint so people can see the other side.
Rambling over. My work here is done. *wooshes away*
From Wonder Woman 32:
Okay, so. Basically the lasso of truth uncovers the secrets of the soul. It doesn't uncover what is BELIEVED within the soul, it uncovers the truth.
The original argument suggested that the lasso reveals what someone believes to be true:
Here it is.
Do these scans show that's how the lasso works? I don't believe they do. I believe they show that the lasso goes into the darkest secrets of your own soul. They burn away self delusion, self perception, illusion...they go right to the heart. How does it do this? It's a freaking lasso from the gods. It doesn't matter how it does this. Sure, the lasso can't show you things you aren't aware of (like in the anon's Willie the Snitch example)...but it can show you things you THINK you aren't aware of, but really are. It can show you things that are the Truth. So if Wonder Woman put the lasso to herself and said "Am I abusing my power?" The lasso would be able to answer. Like in these scans, it would sift through the memories and show her ones where she's abusing her power. Because the lasso is the Truth and the Truth would know. If you can't accept it in those terms, then try this: Even if Wonder Woman was believed she wasn't abusing her power, the tiniest part of her would know she was. The lasso would FIND the smallest bit of self doubt, like it did with Captain Nazi, (who also absolutely believed he was right) and bring that to the surface. It would show Wonder Woman her motivation, her reasoning, just like it did here. It would find the deepest secrets of Diana's soul.
Also take a look at these last two panels. Genocide is holding Tom with the lasso, and the lasso is making him see that what Wonder Woman is saying (which is, btw, that she doesn't love Tom) is TRUE. Even though with all his heart Tom doesn't believe it, thanks to the lasso, he sees this truth. He can deny it, but he knows the truth now and that is hurting him. And it's not even HIS truth. That's how the lasso works. It's not about belief. It's about TRUTH. And we have to thanks our stars OUR Wonder Woman (not Genocide) is usually the wielder, because as seen here, truth can destroy. It just sees the truth no matter what, regardless of belief, out of the evidence inside a persons soul. Because. it's. freaking. magic. I can't stress that enough. You can't try to explain it logically. That's what makes it a damn cool and dangerous weapon. Another example of how the lasso works is in this section of Bluefall's excellent "When Wondy was Awesome" series: Golden Perfect . This also clearly demonstrates the lasso is about truth, not belief.
And this is not just Gail's interpretation, as far as I can tell, the lasso's always been like this.
Those are my two cents. You can decide whether these scans make my words the (heh) truth or not. I don't want to get in an argument with anon, a mouse (who seems to read bluefall's blog just to argue with her, I would appreciate it if he didn't argue with me on mine as I don't feel like it, and if he wouldn't take my counterargument out of bluefall) or Noah, but thanks to WFA this argument has been seen, and I thought I'd provide a counterargument. You can judge from our words and evidence, but this is all the argument I'm going to give, whether anon, a mouse counterargues or not. I've said my two cents, I just wanted to give a counterpoint so people can see the other side.
Rambling over. My work here is done. *wooshes away*