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Talk:Generation VII: Difference between revisions
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:Honestly, I feel like the rotation is a flawed system regardless. I wish there was some way to reasonably display all of the Gen 7 games without bloating the infobox. I may experiment with this later. --[[User:Celadonkey|<span style="color:#00A1E9">cela</span><span style="color:#BF004F">donk</span>]] ([[User talk:Celadonkey|talk]]) 14:16, 5 March 2020 (UTC) | :Honestly, I feel like the rotation is a flawed system regardless. I wish there was some way to reasonably display all of the Gen 7 games without bloating the infobox. I may experiment with this later. --[[User:Celadonkey|<span style="color:#00A1E9">cela</span><span style="color:#BF004F">donk</span>]] ([[User talk:Celadonkey|talk]]) 14:16, 5 March 2020 (UTC) | ||
== Alchemical symbols? == | |||
It seems a little strange to me that the Thematic motif section says so definitively that the starters are based on alchemical symbols. It's even stated as a direct fact- "Rowlet, Litten, and Popplio's designs are based on the alchemical symbols". Not even their species origin is said so definitively, Popplio's page says it "may be based on a sea lion", and Litten's says it "may be based on mackerel tabbies". | |||
The only source provided for the idea that the starters are all based on alchemical symbols is the speculation Argentarus linked in this talk page, and while I see the resemblance to some symbols, a large number of them seem to be quite a stretch. For example, Decidueye's arrows are supposedly the symbol for iron rotated slightly, but that's solely on the basis of the symbol for iron being an arrow. Torracat's bell is supposed to represent gold, because it's a circle with hole in the center- but that's also just how bells on cat collars are typically represented in media. These Pokemon have no other connection to these elements- doesn't it make more sense to believe that these are just due to the fact that arrows and circles are pretty basic shapes? Following this line of reasoning, we could argue that the Voltorb line, a circle with a line in the middle, is also based on the symbol for salt, and that Unown, with its circular eyes with a pupil in the center, are also referencing the symbol for gold. (And, again, if we can't definitely state that a Pokemon whose dex category is "the Sea Lion Pokemon" is based on sea lions, I see no reason why we should be saying that its evolution is definitely based on alchemical symbols for mercury, platinum, and red lead) | |||
In addition, some of the connections made seem to be at odds with the Pokemon's design, or with the origins of the symbols themselves. For example, Litten is supposedly based on sulfur, representing spirit, while Rowlet is based on salt, representing the body. But wouldn't it make more sense to have the Ghost-type Pokemon based on spirit, and the muscular wrestler based on body? And while Argentarus' image states that salt relates to earth, sulfur to fire, and mercury to water, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alchemical_symbol Wikipedia] says the three primes are a separate concept from the classical elements, which have their own symbols. (I found [https://www.learnreligions.com/alchemical-sulfur-mercury-and-salt-96036 two] [https://ethekarius.wixsite.com/alchemy/3principles other] sites that are similarly different; one says it's a separate concept, and another claims that the three primes are a mixture of the classical elements, not each representing one of them) | |||
The legendary trio also doesn't seem to have any basis for any connection beyond Solgaleo's reference to the alchemical lion. What evidence is there that Necrozma is intended to represent the body, or that Solgaleo is intended to take all the symbolism of the sun representing the soul? | |||
It's worth mentioning, too, that while the concept of Aether does appear in alchemy, it didn't originate there- it goes back as early as Plato and Aristotle, while alchemy didn't appear until the common era. ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aether_(classical_element) ) | |||
I know it makes logical sense to look for other connections to alchemy, given the near-explicit reference in Solgaleo's dex entry, but the current evidence in favor of it seems too much like fan speculation to me. There is no official source information claiming that they were designed with alchemical symbols in mind, and it doesn't connect to the Pokemon's lore at all. | |||
[[User:TechSkylander1518|TechSkylander1518]] ([[User talk:TechSkylander1518|talk]]) 22:25, 8 June 2020 (UTC) | |||