Elena Gilbert Appreciation Week timetable can be found here:
LJ Tumblr.
Elena Gilbert Appreciation Week, Day Five (Nov. 9) - Sexy Friday: in celebration of women’s (and Elena’s) sexuality, up the ante and make everything Elena-related as sexy and sex-oriented as you like! Apparently Sexy Friday happens on Sunday now. Whatever. Embrace it
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Hmm, I would (carefully) say that even if we take girlfriend/slut instead of virgin/whore, Elena still breaks out of the dichotomy, because she doesn't have to repent in any way for what she does with Damon. She almost jumps his bones in 3x19, and there're no consequences. And the 4x02 bloodsharing? Elena knows all too well that it would have strong sexual undertones, she does it anyway (Stefan assumes she didn't know, it probably makes him feel better). Of course there is a shitload of shame-related and identity-related issues in D/E, but I'd say that, judging from the general tone of the show, the narrative doesn't condemn Elena for desiring Damon. We even have Katherine offhandedly stating "It's okay to love them both" and it's not framed as some evil Elena is opposed to.
I guess my reading comes from my belief that the show is actively deconstructing the good doppelganger/bad doppelganger dichotomy and playing with the Good Girl construct. We start with a binary opposition in early s1, but they things get interesting. I mean, what's the function of human!Katherine flashbacks if not to show that Katherine is not evil incarnated?
I totally agree that Stefan represents the traditional, normative understanding of Madonna/Whore, and I'd say that in s4 it's pretty clear that he's framed as wrong. We'll have to see how the whole "cure" plotline plays out to be sure, but for now, I'd say that both virgin/whore and girlfriend/slut go to hell when it comes to Elena.
By all means, don't restrain yourself. I'm trying to read Heart of Darkness, and it's so Emerson, the way he reveals his soul with so many adjectives... You're the most delightful distraction :D.
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