Identity, pronouns, and the Distortion[]
On reviewing the transcripts for episodes featuring the Distortion, I have noticed that they prefer he/him when existing as Michael and she/her when existing as Helen. Only characters looking to paint them as purely monstrous refer to them using the dehumanising pronoun "it". While the Distortion has given contradictory answers to whether they are capable of identity, they do repeatedly affirm something that at least implies identity.
I propose that, while acknowledging that the Distortion is unique among Avatars for having multiple forms and no strong ties to humanity, they should be written about in a manner similar to other Avatars such as Jared Hopworth or Jane Prentiss; they are Michael, Helen, and the doors just as much as they are "The Distortion", and they are not an "it". In addition, the pronouns used for them should be he/him when existing as Michael, she/her when existing as Helen, and they/them when existing as the doors.
For the sake of clarity, throughout this text I will refer to the Distortion using they/them pronouns exclusively, and indicate where appropriate if they are existing as Michael, Helen, or their door form. Michael Shelley and Helen Richardson, the humans that were consumed by the Distortion, will be referred to by their full names.
Pronouns[]
Gabriel, the Worker-of-Clay, claimed to be a good friend of the Distortion's and referred to them using they/them pronouns (MAG 126).
In MAG 47, when John asks the Distortion if they are "him" (referring to Michael), they answer yes, indicating that they identify with the use of he/him pronouns. Elias Bouchard/Jonah Magnus, who has expansive knowledge of how Avatars exist and manifest, also refers to the Distortion as a "he" when they existed as Michael (MAG 92).
In MAG 131, when John sharply refers to the Distortion (as Helen) as an "it" rather than a "she", they retort with "if I am an "it", Archivist, then what does that make you?", indicating a preference for she/her over it/its and asserting that their use of she/her is equally as valid as John's use of he/him. By comparison, the Distortion does not correct anyone who refers to them using she/her pronouns.
The only people to refer to the Distortion as an "it" are Johnathan Sims (MAG 85, MAG 99, MAG 131, etc.), Sasha James (MAG 26), and Jurgen Leitner (MAG 80), all of whom used it/its to strip the Distortion of identity and present them exclusively as a monster.
Identity, and why the Distortion is not an "it"[]
When describing their existence during the Great Twisting, the Distortion refers to their door form as a self, saying "in the centre [of the ritual] . . . was me" (MAG 101). As well, when prompted to describe their relation to the doors and corridors they manifest, the Distortion implies that all of these entities are different facets (or body parts) of the same being (MAG 47).
When asked what they are, the Distortion responds with "how would a melody describe itself when asked?" (MAG 26). However, even this deflection implies a degree of identity, as for a melody to describe its self requires it to be more than a simple manifestation of sound.
While the Distortion had expressed displeasure with identity during the time they existed as Michael, they seem far less bothered by identity when existing as Helen. Where previously the Distortion would tell others to "call" them Michael (MAG 26) and avoided taking ownership of a name (MAG 47), after becoming Helen they very strongly identify with their name (MAG 164). Likewise, where the Distortion once asserted that to be a "who" was something unattainable to them (MAG 47), after becoming Helen they state that they should not be limited by the "meaningless boxes" of names and personhood when interacting with others (MAG 131).
Although the Distortion seems to accept their existence as Helen, at times they refer to Helen as someone who is not themself. In MAG 152, they reflect back on the guilt they felt over taking victims but speak of themself in the third person rather than claim that experience as their own. Despite this, the Distortion repeatedly states that they are Helen (MAG 115, MAG 187), though not Helen Richardson (MAG 187), and even goes so far as to correct John when he refers to them as the Distortion (MAG 164).
Wiki changes[]
In MAG 85, John reflects on whether an Avatar ought to be considered a person. He comes to the conclusion that Avatars are not "people" in the way that most others are people and hesitates to consider himself human as the series progresses. He eventually accepts his identity as the Archivist while continuing to use he/him pronouns. While the Distortion is decidedly inhuman, they do have an identity and at times use human names; the same is true of Avatars such as Jane Prentiss, Jared Hopworth, and Jonathan Sims. As these Avatar's claim to identity and use of a name is not contested across the wiki, it follows that the Distortion should receive similar treatment.
When Michael Crew was referred to as an "it" by Daisy in a dehumanising manner, this was added to his wiki page as a non-canon pronoun and eventually changed to trivia. However, because he was only called an "it" to strip him of identity, mentions of this were rightfully removed. Because the only use of it/its for the Distortion has been to dehumanise them, and because they have indicated a preference for other pronouns, it/its pronouns also should not be used for the Distortion. Instead, their information table should list he/him pronouns for when they existed as Michael, she/her pronouns for when they existed as Helen, and they/them pronouns for when they existed in their door form. However, due to the extensive use of it/its pronouns in reference to the Distortion, it would be appropriate for this to be commented on in their character page.
Wiki pages for statements featuring or mentioning the Distortion infrequently have the name that the Distortion is known by in scare quotes. While this may simply be the style of some wiki editors, it is confusing and denies the Distortion the personhood that goes uncontested for other Avatars. The scare quotes also conflict with the intended encyclopedic tone of the wiki and should be removed.
Going forward[]
The Distortion's shifting and seemingly-strained relationship with personhood and identity makes referring to them in articles uniquely difficult, even when compared to other Avatars. However, it is inappropriate for the wiki to refer to them using the dehumanising it/its when in the text they have repeatedly affirmed the use of pronouns that imply identity, or to include scare quotes around their names.
As wiki editors, all we have to work with is the text. It could be that the Distortion was lying through their teeth when they claimed to have identity, but we don't actually know that. What we do know, however, is that it sets a horrible precedent to ignore what is spelled out in the text in favour of pure speculation.
Unless anyone has specific reasons to continue the use of scare quotes or the dehumanising it/its pronoun, I will be implementing the following:
- The Distortion will be referred to using they/them pronouns for all appearances and mentions prior to the failed Spiral ritual (2009/2011)
- The Distortion will be referred to using he/him pronouns for all appearances and mentions as Michael
- The Distortion will be referred to using she/her pronouns for all appearances and mentions as Helen
- The names Helen and Michael, when referring to the Distortion, will not be in scare quotes
- The extensive use of it/its pronouns to dehumanise the Distortion will be mentioned in their character page, but not in their infobox
I understand that my interpretation of the Distortion is not the only one, and certainly not the "most true" one. If anyone does have specific reasons for continuing the use of it/its pronouns or the use of scare quotes, I genuinely would love to hear them and encourage you to respond to this talk page. The response doesn't need to be fleshed out or overly structured like mine, if you don't agree with what I have outlined here it's okay to just put down something. The main reason I wrote all of this out is because the wiki page for the Distortion is vandalised very frequently compared to most others, and I didn't want to start going forward with these broad changes without explaining them and giving others the chance to comment.
If no one comes forward in disagreement, I will be going through with this plan starting June 18th. If people do come forward, we hopefully will be able to reach some sort of agreement by June 18th. Froggy49 (talk) 03:45, 5 June 2021 (UTC)
I haven't personally done a close read for the Distortion's pronouns but this all sounds reasonable to me, I've no problem with these changes being implemented.
DrTeatime (talk) 18:56, 5 June 2021 (UTC)
Michael's take on identity[]
Since making this talk page and implementing some of the changes described above, a thread involving Pomegrenate-lovebug, myself, Dr Teatime, and NicosReignofTerror got into the nuances of Michael's relationship with identity. In the thread, I maintained that since Michael using it/its pronouns was not spelled out in the text the way his use of he/him pronouns was, and that use of it/its in reference to Michael were exclusively derogatory, it wouldn't be appropriate to include them as canon pronouns. As the discussion continued though, better points than mine were raised as to why it/its pronouns should be used for Michael. I recognise that I was wrong to dismiss the use of it/its pronouns for Michael, and that I conflated Helen's relationship with identity with Michael's instead of letting the two characters stand separately from one another.
Some of the points included:
- Michael is comfortable committing acts of violence against John with little provocation (MAG 47), but does not comment on or otherwise reject John's use of it/its pronouns in reference to him. This is in contrast with Helen, who openly rejects it/its pronouns and asserts her use of she/her pronouns as legitimate (MAG 131).
- Sasha's varying use of pronouns to refer to Michael is more likely to be her struggling to refer to a sort of being she has never encountered before than it is anything malicious, as Lottie Broomhall's delivery of these lines are largely neutral. (MAG 26)
- Elias referring to Michael with he/him pronouns and Michael using it/its pronouns are not mutually exclusive.
Here is a link to the thread in question for anyone interested in reading the full discussion. Thanks again to NicosReignofTerror for clearly outlining and explaining their readings of the source material.
Froggy49 (talk) 04:30, 18 June 2021 (UTC)