Reversing winds...changing weather
This entry contains spoilers for Sanctuary S04x04 "Monsoon". I am trying to keep spoilers under the cut. Spoilers will be in comments.
This entry is my opinion. Your opinion may differ and that's wonderful. I will do everything I can do be respectful of contrary opinions, please do the same.
I come across the "male gaze" in fandom more often than I'd like. It's often a valid point of complaint about the narratives on television. I agree it's an important part of critical film theory and feminist film theory. I am not out to refute published feminist scholars, like Laura Mulvey.
I disagree that the kiss between Helen and Charlotte is a case of the 'male gaze' of critical feminist film theory. Saying this kiss was simply for the men behind the camera erases the women who enjoy watching women kiss (of which I am one), regardless of their own sexuality, and negates the women behind the camera, specifically Amanda Tapping, who wanted the kiss to occur.
I highly doubt Amanda Tapping, whom I respect and admire, wanted to kiss a woman on screen to titillate men. I choose to believe she campaigned for a kiss and a bisexual relationship for Helen from the beginning because she wanted bisexuality represented on television in a positive way.
In fact, thanks to the internet, I found this (emphasis mine):
from Comic Con, May 2011. (AT = Amanda Tapping, RD = Robin Dunne)
PCZ: It seems like on all the conference calls I’ve been on with you guys, and other interviews I’ve seen, everybody asks about Magnus having a love life, having a love interest. I’m wondering at this point, is that sort of… does she kind of derail that because she maybe still has a torch for Druitt in some weird way?
AT: I’ll tell you what happened, is at the beginning of this season, when the writers and Martin, Damian and I were talking about potentials for the season, I said, “Y’know what would be great?” at the very end of this long conversation about story ideas, “if Magnus had a love interest this season. Y’know I don’t care what gender the person is. I don’t care where we go with it. Whether it’s just a one off, but I think Magnus, we need to show this woman is actually capable of love in a context that doesn’t involve a psychopathic murderer.” So, I just thought it would be nice to show that she’s capable of some semblance of a normal relationship outside of the weird men that she has chosen to align herself with. [In a British accent] Could I please just have a relationship with someone who doesn’t kill a lot of women.
RD: [Also in a British accent] Not a serial murderer. [shifts to normal] Could we start there and go up.
AT: Yeah. That’s not good. Could she have a real relationship. To that end, we just shot a really fun episode.
RD: It was really cool.
AT: Episode four, “Monsoon.”
You may disagree, but I take this to mean that Amanda Tapping wanted Magnus to have a relationship, whether it's a fling or something long term, she suggested Magnus get to experience love. Perhaps a fling after running around, fighting abnormals and trying to stay alive is somewhat unorthodox, but she's Helen Magnus, kissing someone in a rare quiet moment, even when bloody, is about as normal as her life gets.
Yes, she had a fling. I see nothing wrong with that. There is nothing wrong with sexual gratification being brief and respectful. (which is what I saw here) There's nothing wrong with fluid sexuality, bisexuality, or Helen Magnus being anywhere on the Kinsey scale she wants to be.
I believe Helen's kiss wasn't about the male gaze, but my gaze, as a woman who likes to watch women have desire and act on it. This was about a woman's desire for another woman, and her reciprocal feelings. I don't think you have to be a man on the viewing side of the camera to appreciate that.
We had shirtless Will earlier in the episode and I doubt that was there simply to titillate straight women any more than Helen's kiss was there to arouse straight men. Will and Abby had sex because they are consenting adults in a relationship who enjoy sex. Will was partially naked because he was getting dressed, which is normal and human. I appreciate shirtless Will. That scene did not exist purely for straight women, but for all people, men and women, who appreciate the beauty of the human body.
Helen's kiss was for all people, male and female, who appreciate watching women's desire for other women.
I feel it was for me, because I so rarely see women's desire for other women on screen. I so rarely see people representative of how I feel about the world, on screen. These kisses were portrayed as normal, emotional, sexual and full of desire.
I feel validated and empowered because a character I look up to and respect was a little bit like me. I'm normal, because people like me are on television, being heroic and respected and embracing their desire. I feel this scene was for my gaze, and I am fiercely, immensely grateful.
(now I just need Watson to come back and kiss some lovely man (like Tesla) and I'll be set.)
This entry is my opinion. Your opinion may differ and that's wonderful. I will do everything I can do be respectful of contrary opinions, please do the same.
I come across the "male gaze" in fandom more often than I'd like. It's often a valid point of complaint about the narratives on television. I agree it's an important part of critical film theory and feminist film theory. I am not out to refute published feminist scholars, like Laura Mulvey.
I disagree that the kiss between Helen and Charlotte is a case of the 'male gaze' of critical feminist film theory. Saying this kiss was simply for the men behind the camera erases the women who enjoy watching women kiss (of which I am one), regardless of their own sexuality, and negates the women behind the camera, specifically Amanda Tapping, who wanted the kiss to occur.
I highly doubt Amanda Tapping, whom I respect and admire, wanted to kiss a woman on screen to titillate men. I choose to believe she campaigned for a kiss and a bisexual relationship for Helen from the beginning because she wanted bisexuality represented on television in a positive way.
In fact, thanks to the internet, I found this (emphasis mine):
from Comic Con, May 2011. (AT = Amanda Tapping, RD = Robin Dunne)
PCZ: It seems like on all the conference calls I’ve been on with you guys, and other interviews I’ve seen, everybody asks about Magnus having a love life, having a love interest. I’m wondering at this point, is that sort of… does she kind of derail that because she maybe still has a torch for Druitt in some weird way?
AT: I’ll tell you what happened, is at the beginning of this season, when the writers and Martin, Damian and I were talking about potentials for the season, I said, “Y’know what would be great?” at the very end of this long conversation about story ideas, “if Magnus had a love interest this season. Y’know I don’t care what gender the person is. I don’t care where we go with it. Whether it’s just a one off, but I think Magnus, we need to show this woman is actually capable of love in a context that doesn’t involve a psychopathic murderer.” So, I just thought it would be nice to show that she’s capable of some semblance of a normal relationship outside of the weird men that she has chosen to align herself with. [In a British accent] Could I please just have a relationship with someone who doesn’t kill a lot of women.
RD: [Also in a British accent] Not a serial murderer. [shifts to normal] Could we start there and go up.
AT: Yeah. That’s not good. Could she have a real relationship. To that end, we just shot a really fun episode.
RD: It was really cool.
AT: Episode four, “Monsoon.”
You may disagree, but I take this to mean that Amanda Tapping wanted Magnus to have a relationship, whether it's a fling or something long term, she suggested Magnus get to experience love. Perhaps a fling after running around, fighting abnormals and trying to stay alive is somewhat unorthodox, but she's Helen Magnus, kissing someone in a rare quiet moment, even when bloody, is about as normal as her life gets.
Yes, she had a fling. I see nothing wrong with that. There is nothing wrong with sexual gratification being brief and respectful. (which is what I saw here) There's nothing wrong with fluid sexuality, bisexuality, or Helen Magnus being anywhere on the Kinsey scale she wants to be.
I believe Helen's kiss wasn't about the male gaze, but my gaze, as a woman who likes to watch women have desire and act on it. This was about a woman's desire for another woman, and her reciprocal feelings. I don't think you have to be a man on the viewing side of the camera to appreciate that.
We had shirtless Will earlier in the episode and I doubt that was there simply to titillate straight women any more than Helen's kiss was there to arouse straight men. Will and Abby had sex because they are consenting adults in a relationship who enjoy sex. Will was partially naked because he was getting dressed, which is normal and human. I appreciate shirtless Will. That scene did not exist purely for straight women, but for all people, men and women, who appreciate the beauty of the human body.
Helen's kiss was for all people, male and female, who appreciate watching women's desire for other women.
I feel it was for me, because I so rarely see women's desire for other women on screen. I so rarely see people representative of how I feel about the world, on screen. These kisses were portrayed as normal, emotional, sexual and full of desire.
I feel validated and empowered because a character I look up to and respect was a little bit like me. I'm normal, because people like me are on television, being heroic and respected and embracing their desire. I feel this scene was for my gaze, and I am fiercely, immensely grateful.
(now I just need Watson to come back and kiss some lovely man (like Tesla) and I'll be set.)