Cutie Mark Assignment

[fluffpudge 148]

I'm pretty sure that cutie marks are based not on TALENTS but on PASSIONS

take Twilight for example:

she's not particularly good at anything besides reading and magic

but her PASSION is only for magic, hense the cutie mark

that's why the cutie mark crusaders haven't found their cutie marks yet, they keep searching for things they're GOOD AT, not things they LOVE

 

I very much agree with this; it does seem that it's the recognition of a passion that makes a cutie mark appear on a pony's flank. (Though this trend may not be very obvious in some of the ponies' stories- Twilight's for example. She went all demi-god and after her episode, it was just there.) It takes awhile for a passion to develop, so that may also explain why the CMCs haven't recognized their true abilities and talents.

[Krimson Dawn 17]

I think the "what my cutie mark is telling me" was more of a "Well, this is what my cutie mark says I'm supposed to do, why can't I do it?!"

When they lost their cutie marks they lost their memories. Their whole lives flashed in their eyes. It was literally they woke up one morning with the only hint of who they were was the picture on their butt. 

[NavelColt 22,883]

One of the basic questions of the pony universe. We've learned quite a bit about cutie marks in various episodes throughout the series, with the latest being the S3 finale itself. I'm inclined to believe that cutie marks may be a magical force connected to souls or something along those lines, and thus, they happen automatically. That would explain why unicorn's magic, etc. can't change them, force them to appear, etc. They're a strong magic built into nature itself that triggers your cutie mark when you have matured to a point where you discover your talent, what you enjoy to the core of your being.

 

Ergo, I don't think anyone 'assigns them'. I'm sticking with 'Ancient magical force built into Equestria itself' As for when they appear, that depends. For most ponies it's when they're fillies, at a point where they discover their core passion. It's all apart of self-identity. I'm not sure if they can change or not (that happens to be its' own topic entirely), but I do think they're just a part of nature, magic and ponies themselves :3

 

That's as far as I'm willing to analyze this specific topic, anyway

 

BTdubs, @, I've merged your topic 'How Cutie Marks Work' with 'Cutie Mark Assignment', as they both discuss the specific process of cutie marks and how they work.

[Circadian 1,273]

 

What exactly is the magical mystery force that causes cutie marks to appear? Every pony gets them eventually, yet we know virtually nothing about why they come to be.

 

On a side note, I think it's great we live in a fandom where getting a tramp stamp on your butt is considered a necessary right of passage.

[Pixel Mouse 84]

It's true actually, they just "appear" when a pony finds whatever their talent is... Considering princess Luna and Celestia operate the sun and moon, you would think that they would be in essence gods, but because cutie marks just "appear" I wouldn't be surprised if there is a princess for managing cutie marks too, with maybe even more power/responsibility? A cutie mark is a pretty big deal, and I don't think celestia makes them appear, so is it just natural magic, or is it controlled?

[Just some guy 1,070]

It's true actually, they just "appear" when a pony finds whatever their talent is... Considering princess Luna and Celestia operate the sun and moon, you would think that they would be in essence gods, but because cutie marks just "appear" I wouldn't be surprised if there is a princess for managing cutie marks too, with maybe even more power/responsibility? A cutie mark is a pretty big deal, and I don't think celestia makes them appear, so is it just natural magic, or is it controlled?

I would imagine it would be natural magic at work,since the idea of a godhead literally planning out their destinies down to the exact moment a pony discovers their "special talent" that said godhead also gave them most likely is...well,it's a bit of a far-fetched idea,don't you think?Even becomes more outrageous when you think about that this godhead would also most likely determine who would be an Element of Harmony.

 

It would be very interesting if there actually was a godhead like that in Equestria,but sometimes the simpler reason is the more logical reason.

[Phoenix237 353]

I think that cutie marks are the symbol that's shows what it is your going to do, or what kind of person you are.

However i never understood some cutie marks.

Maybe each cutie mark has a specific representation.

 

Also I am curious if one ponie can have the exact same cutie mark as another ponie. Think about it.

If to ponies discover they will be say doctors can they get the same cutie mark, or do they have to have their own individual mark?

It's something I wonder sometimes.

[Pilot 40]

The magic is most likely natural. Would it be possible for one person to determine everyone's destinies? I doubt it. 

 

It also just doesn't seem correct that there would be a "god" of the pony universe, as the princesses sort-of act as gods already.

 

Otherwise, maybe some sort of spell is cast on a pony when he/she is born?

[Lightning Buckheart 29]

But... Why do the marks lay on they're flanks? What's wrong with they're backs, or necks? Or a necklace they MUST wear?

 

Anyways, I read this, and ask: if you were to have a magical image stuck on your buttcheeks, what would you have it as?

 

Lol at what I said.

[Nature's Spell 526]

I'm guessing if you use the Apple family as an example ponies can share a cute mark theme, but the exact way it's expressed is unique.

[Proton 565]

Agree with all of these but, more than anything, a cutie mark is what identifies someone and makes him/her unique in a way. Even if thats the case, I too wonder: Why on their butt? Why not on their forehead, like Harry Potter? (Oh wait, HP isn't a pony xD)

[Rainblow H. Ash 5,091]

But... Why do the marks lay on they're flanks? What's wrong with they're backs, or necks? Or a necklace they MUST wear?

 

Anyways, I read this, and ask: if you were to have a magical image stuck on your buttcheeks, what would you have it as?

 

Lol at what I said.

 

Heh, maybe there was a random drawing before ponies came into being by some random God creator creature, and it just happened that flank came out as the spot for their cutie marks.

 

Let's just be glad the cutie marks didn't end up being on their liver or something. I can only imagine the hardship of having to get an operation just to find out what your special talent is...

[silvadel 1,394]

It isn't so simple as finding your talent.  It seems to require a performance in your natural talent and an acknowledgement that such fits you.  I do not think it is possible to get a cutie mark that takes you by surprise after the fact.

[Fhaolan 4,504]

Things we know about cutie-marks:

 

1) Earth Ponies, Unicorns, Pegasi, and Alicorns get cutie-marks. Donkeys and Saddle Arabians do not. The one instance of Zebra we have seen has a symbol in the same place as a cutie-mark, but it's far more stylized than a normal one. Non-equine sentients like buffalo, cows, goats, changelings, dragons, minotaurs, etc. also do not have cutie-marks.

2) Cutie-marks appear complete. They don't fade in or out.

3) Cutie-marks are connected to natural talents and destinies.

4) Cutie-marks can be artificially created and modified, but it's extremely difficult and can cause damage (Cutie Pox, and the Alicorn Amulet).

5) Cutie-marks are treated as a right of passage, a symbol of mental and emotional 'maturity'.

6) Duplicate cutie-marks are possible. In the Crystal Empire, there appeared to be only about five different cutie-marks duplicated across the entire population. Bow & Arrow is the one that I personally noticed on a half-dozen different ponies. Also an hourglass has been seen on several ponies... though technically they might all be the same pony (Doctor Whooves).

7) Acting contrary to your cutie-mark can cause damage to your psyche (Magical Mystery Cure, and possibly why the ponies turned gray while Discorded.) You can do other things *besides* that, but acting directly against it is difficult and emotionally painful.

8) Cutie-marks seem to follow a symbolic language that is not fully understood by the ponies themselves. While the individual pony will know what the symbol means, s/he has to explain it to others.

[Hansel 1,512]

What they tell all the little colts and fillies about it appearing when you find your true talent is the equivalent of what we tell young children when they ask us where babies come from.

 

What actually happens, is all the teen ponies who don't need no rules sneak down to the tattoo parlor and get their butts ink'd.

 

TAKE THE PAAAIIIIN!

 

Edited March 21, 2013 by Hansel

[silvadel 1,394]

I tend to look at them in practice as a +15 skill bonus to whatever the cutie mark represents on a 0-100 scale.  It is enough to get ponies through that annoying journeyman phase of attaining one's skill when they come into their own.  It was further cemented in my mind with episode 3/13.  Fluttershy might normally be 80+15=95 skill with animals.  Fluttershy without her mark would be 80 and still good at it.  Rainbow Dash with the wrong cutie mark would be 5+15=20 and practically worthless at it. 

[Asher 101]

Agree with all of these but, more than anything, a cutie mark is what identifies someone and makes him/her unique in a way. Even if thats the case, I too wonder: Why on their butt? Why not on their forehead, like Harry Potter? (Oh wait, HP isn't a pony xD)

 

I tried to make a Harry Potter pony, but it wouldn't let me paste it on.  It's sad cause it was pretty cool, too.  ._. 

 

A Harry Potter episode...  Awesome.

[Lightning Buckheart 29]

I know about the talent stuff, I'm not stupid.

 

My OC... I let him have the ability to control Lightning due to me thinking of a Pikachu at the same time.

 

But, that was off topic, I just wanted to say I understand the talent stuff, I'm not a newbie here.

[NavelColt 22,883]

254338__safe_twilight-sparkle_rainbow-dash_pinkie-pie_fluttershy_rarity_applejack_cutie-mark_50fcdff5a4c72d3c330001a5.png.png

 

What exactly is the magical mystery force that causes cutie marks to appear? Every pony gets them eventually, yet we know virtually nothing about why they come to be.

 

On a side note, I think it's great we live in a fandom where getting a tramp stamp on your butt is considered a necessary right of passage.

 

 

Your topic, 'Cutie Marks' has been merged with 'Cutie Mark Assignment', as they both discuss how cutie marks function in a general sense :3