Ah, Supernatural Fandom
I want to start by saying that I hate LJ some days. Perhaps they should focus on making sure the existing software works correctly (silly things like posts the currently shown text and not the deleted text or no text at all) instead of trying to come out with something new and "innovative".
Anyway, on to recreating my musings....
Now, those who know me know that I have little (read: no) love for Supernatural. (Hereinafter StupidNeutral) I wouldn't care about it at all if it weren't for the fact that my best friends are obsessed and therefore it cuts into more interesting things that could be done on a Thursday - like watching paint dry from the couch in my basement.
Likewise, I would blissfully have no knowledge of the vast specialness of the StupidNeutral fandom if my best friends weren’t obsessed and so very generous with the information they provide to me. To each their own, until it starts interfering in my life. However, a very amusing phenomenon has been brought to my attention and I have to say something, I just have to.
So, I have been told numerous times, and have seen via various sources that female characters are not exactly welcome in this fandom, whether they are original characters or actually written into the show. These stupid whores might disturb the dynamic of the two primary characters - and who do the writers think they are doing that?!? More importantly, these characters might burst the little bubble of brotherly love (in all its forms) is the only love, collectively held as gospel by the fandom at large. Neglecting that most of the fandom is actually female, so uh okay with the whole hating on girls in the StupidNeutral world and all, there is something more interesting afoot.
That being said, it was brought to my attention that there is a significant lack of hostility toward a new character on the show, who happens to be female and basically a replacement for a previous actress (Katie Cassidy if anyone is interested.) Fandom is collectively applauding her acting skills and welcoming her into the canon family. Now, this already is curious as the general reaction to a female character has been for the fans to back in their corners with their chairs and whips prepared to fight off all evil creatures with XX chomosomes that might come in between their pwecious dynamic duo, chanting OMG!theyonlyloveeachotherwhycan’tyouseethatit’ssoobvious.
And a theory was born…
Really, the first thing to ask is - what was the difference between the new girl and the old one(s)? It wasn’t acting skills, because no one on a CW show is really the type who should be applauded for their acting skills (except maybe for those people who have to pretend not to want to smack Tyra Banks in the face). And even in this lofty group of actors, the new girl isn’t exactly in the top half of the class, if you get my drift. So, what else? Well, she’s kinda normal looking - that’s one thing that gets your attention right away. She’s not blonde with shiny hair and pretty eyes, she’s just kind of normal.
Of course, this is when it clicked. As nothing particularly special, the new girl wasn’t threatening. Threatening to what? Well, to hate on other chicks so much, you usually have to have a reason. And what better reason to hate on someone than that they are going to destroy your secret hope that you hold most dear.
Really, it’s not hard to figure out that these fans really harbor a fantasy in their slashy little hearts (which is a good condition for hearts to be in, please don’t misunderstand), and probably a special folder on their desktops. This secret dream cannot be shared lest the flames of a thousand fangirls come screaming your way for daring to insert yourself into their secret dreams. I mean, what if some other fangirl become a better candidate for the sandwich of brotherly love? Oh, you know it’s true. And this new girl isn’t a threat to that because you can easily watch the show and think - I can do that, I can be in her position, and I can do it better, so the boys will love me and we will live happily ever after in our car (that I say is awesome, but I know nothing about cars), listening to classic rock (that I didn’t know existed before this show), and being the perfect OT3.
Now, I have no problem with slash or OT3s, in fact, I’m fully in favor of both. I even encourage it - heck, if there was a way to volunteer to be between Sean Bean and Viggo Mortensen I'd be all over it like Mort in Madagascar. Whatever floats your boat. But hypocrisy just frustrates me (though it prepares people better for the real world than any other personal behavior pattern).
If you don’t challenge the fangirls, they won’t try to eat you.
Anyway, on to recreating my musings....
Now, those who know me know that I have little (read: no) love for Supernatural. (Hereinafter StupidNeutral) I wouldn't care about it at all if it weren't for the fact that my best friends are obsessed and therefore it cuts into more interesting things that could be done on a Thursday - like watching paint dry from the couch in my basement.
Likewise, I would blissfully have no knowledge of the vast specialness of the StupidNeutral fandom if my best friends weren’t obsessed and so very generous with the information they provide to me. To each their own, until it starts interfering in my life. However, a very amusing phenomenon has been brought to my attention and I have to say something, I just have to.
So, I have been told numerous times, and have seen via various sources that female characters are not exactly welcome in this fandom, whether they are original characters or actually written into the show. These stupid whores might disturb the dynamic of the two primary characters - and who do the writers think they are doing that?!? More importantly, these characters might burst the little bubble of brotherly love (in all its forms) is the only love, collectively held as gospel by the fandom at large. Neglecting that most of the fandom is actually female, so uh okay with the whole hating on girls in the StupidNeutral world and all, there is something more interesting afoot.
That being said, it was brought to my attention that there is a significant lack of hostility toward a new character on the show, who happens to be female and basically a replacement for a previous actress (Katie Cassidy if anyone is interested.) Fandom is collectively applauding her acting skills and welcoming her into the canon family. Now, this already is curious as the general reaction to a female character has been for the fans to back in their corners with their chairs and whips prepared to fight off all evil creatures with XX chomosomes that might come in between their pwecious dynamic duo, chanting OMG!theyonlyloveeachotherwhycan’tyouseethatit’ssoobvious.
And a theory was born…
Really, the first thing to ask is - what was the difference between the new girl and the old one(s)? It wasn’t acting skills, because no one on a CW show is really the type who should be applauded for their acting skills (except maybe for those people who have to pretend not to want to smack Tyra Banks in the face). And even in this lofty group of actors, the new girl isn’t exactly in the top half of the class, if you get my drift. So, what else? Well, she’s kinda normal looking - that’s one thing that gets your attention right away. She’s not blonde with shiny hair and pretty eyes, she’s just kind of normal.
Of course, this is when it clicked. As nothing particularly special, the new girl wasn’t threatening. Threatening to what? Well, to hate on other chicks so much, you usually have to have a reason. And what better reason to hate on someone than that they are going to destroy your secret hope that you hold most dear.
Really, it’s not hard to figure out that these fans really harbor a fantasy in their slashy little hearts (which is a good condition for hearts to be in, please don’t misunderstand), and probably a special folder on their desktops. This secret dream cannot be shared lest the flames of a thousand fangirls come screaming your way for daring to insert yourself into their secret dreams. I mean, what if some other fangirl become a better candidate for the sandwich of brotherly love? Oh, you know it’s true. And this new girl isn’t a threat to that because you can easily watch the show and think - I can do that, I can be in her position, and I can do it better, so the boys will love me and we will live happily ever after in our car (that I say is awesome, but I know nothing about cars), listening to classic rock (that I didn’t know existed before this show), and being the perfect OT3.
Now, I have no problem with slash or OT3s, in fact, I’m fully in favor of both. I even encourage it - heck, if there was a way to volunteer to be between Sean Bean and Viggo Mortensen I'd be all over it like Mort in Madagascar. Whatever floats your boat. But hypocrisy just frustrates me (though it prepares people better for the real world than any other personal behavior pattern).
If you don’t challenge the fangirls, they won’t try to eat you.