On Heroes, Fictional and Famous
A friend of mine recently expressed concern that I was so upset about Snape's death in the upcoming Harry Potter film that I wouldn't go see the movie at the theater because I wanted to "mourn" his death on screen in private. Today marks the second anniversary of Michael Jackson's death....and it got me to thinking...
Behind the cut, musings on heroes, fictional and famous, and fandom.
I usually trace my existance in fandom back to 1998, when I discovered "The X-Files" and the fan community online for the series. Then I realized that I've been watching "The Golden Girls" since the show originally aired when I was a little girl. But I can trace my fandom roots back to my birth....my mother was and still is a huge fan of Michael Jackson and John Lennon, and I was born into fandom that way. The same way it seemed normal not to put your elbows on the table, it seemed normal to follow and admire these two musicians, one at the height of his career and the other taken from us too soon.
My childhood hero, like alot of people born in the 80's, was Michael Jackson. He was talented and he truly wanted to use his talent to make the world a better place (also the reason I admire John Lennon) and, the thing that stuck with me in my tween years, he was also a misunderstood freak. But he still was a beautiful person inside, to those who would make the effort to understand. I related to that alot.
I guess we don't change much, because I've never stopped loving Michael, though I went through periods of lesser devotion, and then my fictional hero comes from that same need to seek out others who have been thrown aside by the so called normal ones. I don't think people who haven't been there understand it completely, but it's the same way for me with Severus Snape, except he doesn't have the childlike innocence of Michael Jackson. He's jaded, he made some horrible mistakes, he has scars and demons. And now that I'm a grown woman, I do too. But he still has a great humanity and decentness at the core, and in the end, all his suffering turned out to help the greater good.
So yes, I am going to wait until DH2 comes out on DVD to watch it, and have a good, long cry afterwards. Just like I did when "This Is It" came out on DVD. And if that is "overboard", well, I'm just going to say it honestly: flawed people need flawed heroes. And I wouldn't trade mine for any perfect person or character.
And now I'm watching old Michael Jackson videoes with my Mom, crying on and off. So you see, fandomishness runs in my blood. And you know what? It's given me so much joy and a place to belong that I won't apologize for the joy or the tears it causes.
Behind the cut, musings on heroes, fictional and famous, and fandom.
I usually trace my existance in fandom back to 1998, when I discovered "The X-Files" and the fan community online for the series. Then I realized that I've been watching "The Golden Girls" since the show originally aired when I was a little girl. But I can trace my fandom roots back to my birth....my mother was and still is a huge fan of Michael Jackson and John Lennon, and I was born into fandom that way. The same way it seemed normal not to put your elbows on the table, it seemed normal to follow and admire these two musicians, one at the height of his career and the other taken from us too soon.
My childhood hero, like alot of people born in the 80's, was Michael Jackson. He was talented and he truly wanted to use his talent to make the world a better place (also the reason I admire John Lennon) and, the thing that stuck with me in my tween years, he was also a misunderstood freak. But he still was a beautiful person inside, to those who would make the effort to understand. I related to that alot.
I guess we don't change much, because I've never stopped loving Michael, though I went through periods of lesser devotion, and then my fictional hero comes from that same need to seek out others who have been thrown aside by the so called normal ones. I don't think people who haven't been there understand it completely, but it's the same way for me with Severus Snape, except he doesn't have the childlike innocence of Michael Jackson. He's jaded, he made some horrible mistakes, he has scars and demons. And now that I'm a grown woman, I do too. But he still has a great humanity and decentness at the core, and in the end, all his suffering turned out to help the greater good.
So yes, I am going to wait until DH2 comes out on DVD to watch it, and have a good, long cry afterwards. Just like I did when "This Is It" came out on DVD. And if that is "overboard", well, I'm just going to say it honestly: flawed people need flawed heroes. And I wouldn't trade mine for any perfect person or character.
And now I'm watching old Michael Jackson videoes with my Mom, crying on and off. So you see, fandomishness runs in my blood. And you know what? It's given me so much joy and a place to belong that I won't apologize for the joy or the tears it causes.