let's talk about ships, baby.
I've been thinking about "shipping" for a while now. A couple of months ago, I was mentally putting together a list of my all-time favourite fandom ships, and that made me really stop and think about what a ship means to me. Is it because I can relate it to my own life experiences? Is it because of a desire for my favourite characters to find happiness? Is it because sometimes I like how it fits? Is it because I secretly enjoy the unequivocal thrill of watching two people fall in love? Is it because I like watching people in love - how they talk to one another, how they kiss, how they sit and be still? Or, and perhaps the most unlikely, is it because of the romance?
Consequently, this made me wonder what "shipping" means to you. The people of LJ, I think, have made some of the most astounding and prolific commitment to shipping that I think I've ever seen anywhere else online: fan fiction, icons, picspams, fanmixes, communities, manifestos, set-your-teeth why don't more people understand this discussions. So here is really the best place to ask. What I want to know is: why do you ship?
This is not for the purpose of coursework. It's out of curiosity, really. It's a matter of interest. How relationships are formed, constructed and portrayed in film, television and literature is the core of so many things we watch and read and love. Sometimes it isn't all about the shipping, but let's be honest: it helps. It can catapult a character (or characters) who were otherwise of no interest to a thing that burrows very deep inside of you and doesn't budge. It's important. So I want to talk about it.
Basically I want to ask a couple of questions that I've been asking myself, and then your answers can hopefully open up the floor for more discussion amongst yourselves. I'm keeping this post public, so that anyone who's not on my flist but has something to say is welcome to join in. When I say "join in", I mean that you can partake in what is mostly a questionnaire of sorts and then take it back to your journal if you want to. I guess it's more of a discussion that bends to your taste: there are no rules, just talk.
So OTPs. Let's start with something relatively easy. Pick your top 3 OTPs. They don't have to be in numerical order (though it would be good, if number 1 was number 1) - but try to name the first 3 that swim to your mind right away. The more recent the better.
Now for the questions. I know it sounds like I'm being a real bossy bottom, but I want you to really think about your answers. Read them, go away, have a cup of tea, go outside and stretch your legs, sleep on it if you have to, but give it a fair mulling over. Then come back and answer as best you can. None of this "I don't know" rubbish. If you don't know then go and think about it some more.
First of all try and determine what your number 1 OTP is. Once you've got it, think about this: why is your number 1 OTP number 1? Is it because of the characters, the actors, the story in which they're buried, the memories/feelings they evoke, their durability?
Now for the general OTPs. This can apply to any couple you've ever shipped. Ever. It will be probably be harder to answer, though.
Have you make any graphics for an OTP or a fanmix? Do these types of fanworks feel like an act of catharsis to you or is it a labour of love? Have you ever read or written fan fiction because of an OTP? If so, why? What compels you to go and read or write fan fic straight after falling in love with a pairing? Or complete any fanwork, for that matter?
Now for more general OTP questions.
How quickly does it take to become attached to a pairing? Are you generally more discerning of pairings or is there a guaranteed way of making you commit to a pairing right off the bat? What does it take for you to "ship" something? Will you ship a pairing if you don't like one of the actors involved? (I've always wondered about this. Truly. It seems as if it goes hand-in-hand.)
Do you have a pairing that you truly believe is/was perfectly handled from start to finish? Do you have a pairing that you truly believe is/was poorly handled? Do you think you have "a type" when it comes to shipping, or are you moved with the tide?
Do you tend to ship TV or film or book couples more? Do you think that speaks volumes of your taste or is it just because of a preference for a particular medium?
Now think of your top 3 OTPs.
Why did you start shipping them? Simple enough, but I want you think about it. If you know why your number 1 is your number 1, then surely you can figure out the rest.
Do you think LJ/Tumblr has any involvement in how you feel towards a particular ship? Have you ever given a TV show/film/book a second chance because of fannish enthusiasm for a ship? Do ships tend to determine why you watch a particular show/film or read a particular book? Has it ever? Has the mistreatment of a ship ever caused you to stop watching a show, or resulted in a distaste of a film or book?
Lastly, and most importantly, why do you think you ship?
Since this post is rather generously proportioned, I would recommend taking the questions as prompts into your journal and having a crack at it in there. You'll have more space, and you'll probably answer questions better than in here. It doesn't matter if you don't answer all of the questions, especially if you don't think they apply to you, but as long as you write something in response to these prompts, you'll probably find an answer in there somewhere. I think I'll use these questions as a way of helping me put together my picspam, which is still in its infancy, and arrange my thoughts regarding my favourite ships, but take them for yourself and do what you wish. If you do make a post, then please link it back here. Please try to pimp out this post if you can, because I'm really interested in how other people feel about this.
Consequently, this made me wonder what "shipping" means to you. The people of LJ, I think, have made some of the most astounding and prolific commitment to shipping that I think I've ever seen anywhere else online: fan fiction, icons, picspams, fanmixes, communities, manifestos, set-your-teeth why don't more people understand this discussions. So here is really the best place to ask. What I want to know is: why do you ship?
This is not for the purpose of coursework. It's out of curiosity, really. It's a matter of interest. How relationships are formed, constructed and portrayed in film, television and literature is the core of so many things we watch and read and love. Sometimes it isn't all about the shipping, but let's be honest: it helps. It can catapult a character (or characters) who were otherwise of no interest to a thing that burrows very deep inside of you and doesn't budge. It's important. So I want to talk about it.
Basically I want to ask a couple of questions that I've been asking myself, and then your answers can hopefully open up the floor for more discussion amongst yourselves. I'm keeping this post public, so that anyone who's not on my flist but has something to say is welcome to join in. When I say "join in", I mean that you can partake in what is mostly a questionnaire of sorts and then take it back to your journal if you want to. I guess it's more of a discussion that bends to your taste: there are no rules, just talk.
So OTPs. Let's start with something relatively easy. Pick your top 3 OTPs. They don't have to be in numerical order (though it would be good, if number 1 was number 1) - but try to name the first 3 that swim to your mind right away. The more recent the better.
Now for the questions. I know it sounds like I'm being a real bossy bottom, but I want you to really think about your answers. Read them, go away, have a cup of tea, go outside and stretch your legs, sleep on it if you have to, but give it a fair mulling over. Then come back and answer as best you can. None of this "I don't know" rubbish. If you don't know then go and think about it some more.
First of all try and determine what your number 1 OTP is. Once you've got it, think about this: why is your number 1 OTP number 1? Is it because of the characters, the actors, the story in which they're buried, the memories/feelings they evoke, their durability?
Now for the general OTPs. This can apply to any couple you've ever shipped. Ever. It will be probably be harder to answer, though.
Have you make any graphics for an OTP or a fanmix? Do these types of fanworks feel like an act of catharsis to you or is it a labour of love? Have you ever read or written fan fiction because of an OTP? If so, why? What compels you to go and read or write fan fic straight after falling in love with a pairing? Or complete any fanwork, for that matter?
Now for more general OTP questions.
How quickly does it take to become attached to a pairing? Are you generally more discerning of pairings or is there a guaranteed way of making you commit to a pairing right off the bat? What does it take for you to "ship" something? Will you ship a pairing if you don't like one of the actors involved? (I've always wondered about this. Truly. It seems as if it goes hand-in-hand.)
Do you have a pairing that you truly believe is/was perfectly handled from start to finish? Do you have a pairing that you truly believe is/was poorly handled? Do you think you have "a type" when it comes to shipping, or are you moved with the tide?
Do you tend to ship TV or film or book couples more? Do you think that speaks volumes of your taste or is it just because of a preference for a particular medium?
Now think of your top 3 OTPs.
Why did you start shipping them? Simple enough, but I want you think about it. If you know why your number 1 is your number 1, then surely you can figure out the rest.
Do you think LJ/Tumblr has any involvement in how you feel towards a particular ship? Have you ever given a TV show/film/book a second chance because of fannish enthusiasm for a ship? Do ships tend to determine why you watch a particular show/film or read a particular book? Has it ever? Has the mistreatment of a ship ever caused you to stop watching a show, or resulted in a distaste of a film or book?
Lastly, and most importantly, why do you think you ship?
Since this post is rather generously proportioned, I would recommend taking the questions as prompts into your journal and having a crack at it in there. You'll have more space, and you'll probably answer questions better than in here. It doesn't matter if you don't answer all of the questions, especially if you don't think they apply to you, but as long as you write something in response to these prompts, you'll probably find an answer in there somewhere. I think I'll use these questions as a way of helping me put together my picspam, which is still in its infancy, and arrange my thoughts regarding my favourite ships, but take them for yourself and do what you wish. If you do make a post, then please link it back here. Please try to pimp out this post if you can, because I'm really interested in how other people feel about this.