The Brother Conspiracy

May 03, 2007 23:15

Ok, Heroes completely and utterly owns me lately.

But looking at the last three American TV shows I have watched, I can't help but notice that all of them have a set of dysfunctional brothers with father issues who are more or less primal to the show. Supernatural is more extreme in that aspect than Prison Break or Heroes because it solely ( Read more... )

teevee, spn, heroes, wondering about fandom

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aynslee May 3 2007, 21:45:56 UTC
Yay, you posted it!

I'm thinking--and this is after a day at work, lol--that the shows wouldn't work as well if the boys were just friends. You can have an intense bond with a friend, but it takes years, and it's probably not going to ever be as strong as the bond with a sibling. (I know Peter Petrelli starts near the beginning of the show talking about how close he and Nathan are).

People are conditioned, in almost all societies, to put their families first, so you've got the socialization aspect, and then a possible instict angle too. We know parents feel a certain way about their children thanks to instinct, so maybe siblings have some of that too? (I'm so NOT a scientist!)

Then you throw in some parent issues, whether it's via mom or dad or both, and that makes the siblings even closer, because they've had to stick together to deal with all the problems, and learn to cope.

I'll have to think about the other questions.

I love the link you posted! That drawing is really just the best thing ever!

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aynslee May 3 2007, 22:00:02 UTC
Okay, so I can't spell instinct.

As for the sisters question, I'm thinking that one of the reasons fangirls go so crazy for these sets of brothers is because they're often strong and masculine even when they're emotional--all very much 'men' and we like to see them deal with angnst and sorrow and feelings.

As women, it's not as lasjdfldjs to see other women deal with these issues. We expect women to cope and get emotional and then pick right back up and keep going, because that's what we do. But somehow watching men struggle through is more satisfying.

Although I'm sure there are some successful sister shows? Shows that focus on women, like Charmed? I've never seen it.

Who knows??? I do like to ramble though! WHOOOOOO

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mimesh May 3 2007, 22:41:45 UTC
I'm thinking that one of the reasons fangirls go so crazy for these sets of brothers is because they're often strong and masculine even when they're emotional

OMG, YES! I forgot to say that but this has been going through my head as well. That's exactly one of the reasons why I think those shows are so popular. Showing men being vulnerable, emotional, tender and struggling without taking away their masculinity is part of what appeals to women about those shows and characters. You know that I have been in the LOTR fandom for some time and from what I have seen the male bonding in the books and movies is definitely a major part of the appeal for many women.

That's probably also one of the reasons they made them brothers because it's easier and 'safer' (because socially more acceptable) to show them angsting and revealing their vulnerable side to a family member.

And you are right, I totally forgot about Charmed. There we have three sisters but they have a completely different dynamic than those three sets of brothers.

I love your ( ... )

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mimesh May 3 2007, 22:11:49 UTC
I have been wondering about the bond thing and I think it could be interpreted in different ways. There is this saying that you can choose your friends but you can't choose your family. You are loyal to your family because of social and biological conditioning but it is totally out of free will to choose being loyal to a friend. One could argue that this is very powerful as well.

But overall I agree and think that those shows wouldn't work if the brothers were friends. Their level of devotion would be tricky to portray without any homoerotic subtext and I think their family background is a key factor of their dynamic if not their characters.

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petiii May 3 2007, 22:33:58 UTC
This is probably just the usual stereotype but it's interesting that none of them are portrayed as competing enemies. It's a stereotype but it's not as cliche'd as the competing enemies siblings. It looks to me that the creators of these shows have realised that the unconditional love that exists between family members, especially those who have grown up together and bonded against evil from the outside is just as interesting, if not more.

That fanart about the Winchesters and the Petrellis is priceless. *g*

Is there a (strategical) purpose that all those three major shows center more or less on a pair of brothers? I think there is. More or less the same as I said above. The dynamics between two sibling who'd die for each other hasn't been explored quite enough yet. I certainly understand it, I have a similar relationship with my youngest sister. As for who they should appeal to, I don't know. I've been wondering for quite some time what draws different kinds of people to watch these shows but haven't come up with any theory. Have ( ... )

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mimesh May 3 2007, 23:07:07 UTC
Ok, so you are saying it's a new trend and that the creators of the three shows jumped on the bandwagon or partly created it because the competing brother stereotype is so old? Hmmm, makes sense. :) But I also think there is more to it.

I still have to giggle every time I look at it. *g*

I would love to hear a male perspective on this topic because like aynslee said above, I can see what appeals to women about these shows and character dynamics but I have no idea what's in for men. It can't be the plot ;)

Feel better soon! *hugs*

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