Favorite Men and Women: Day 1- Don Draper and CJ Cregg- Believe it Or Not- but They CAN Be Compared

[sunclouds33]

On finishing the December Talking Meme, I considered doing the 30 Days of Awesome Ladies meme but then I thought, damnit, I like a lot of male characters too! But then, I scolded myself, "Yeah, but the meme isn't about what characters you like. It's about *feminism*!". But then I said, "Self! Just because a meme has a feminist message doesn't mean

Comments

[local_max]

I'm feeling randomly emotional these days. I think I'm tearing up, and I DON'T WATCH THE WEST WING. Though maybe I'm just sleepy and pre-coffee.

I think what impresses me so much about you is that you are *you*, following your impulses and comparisons as far as they lead, listening to others but stubbornly refusing to kowtow to established/received wisdom...and then you STILL are stopping short of actually declaring that you have found the REAL truth and turning this into a "who is the REAL hero? who is the REAL villain?" anti-argument requiring that the received-wisdom be not just complicated but completely reversed to get to the truth. I think this comes through clearly enough that I can "know," or at least be pretty sure, that you've thought hard about this and are coming from a place of genuine character affection and search for The Truth while taking into account and not denying your subjective experience, even though I am ignorant of half the story of the post.

[sunclouds33]

This is SUCH a nice comment! I actually think that this is one of the most thoughtful and appreciated compliments I've ever gotten- in virtual and real life. I'm very touched! Thank you, Max!

[local_max]

:) I guess I was feeling appreciative!

[pocochina]

WHOA, APPLAUSE

I never would have seen this comparison, but it's a great way to look at both characters. Because yes: traits are just traits, abilities are just abilities, there's rarely anything intrinsically good or bad about them. I can totally see CJ as having the same psychological tool kit as Don, in terms of how they relate to others and construct their senses of self, but I also have no problem thinking of her as being mostly heroic while Don is, yanno, Don.

[sunclouds33]

Thank you! And this:

Because yes: traits are just traits, abilities are just abilities, there's rarely anything intrinsically good or bad about them.

I meandered for paragraphs and you provided the thesis statement that I was looking for in a short comment. A big tip of the hat to you! I know that I've struggled with people bashing some of my favorite characters on supernatural shows for their traits/abilities because that particular genre begs for that conversation. However, it isn't as discussed in real-world genre even though the same complex exists.