(no subject)

[liptonrm_backup]

Finals are done. Boo yah. That's one more semester done and under my belt.

So, apprarently when I was out of over the weekend there was a SPN convention in Australia? In which Misha said that fandom likes Castiel because he's not a woman? *facepalms* LOLOLOLOLOL *lulzy facepalms*

Wow, dude, you're kinda late to the party if you're just figuring out that fandom in general isn't all that fond of female characters. I mean, don't pat yourself on the back for making some clever observation cause some of use have been saying that for years. And not just about SPN. Hell, I have a friend who used to be a big Without a Trace fan and when they introduced a new female character/love interest for one of the leads she only ever called her Agent Whore Whore. It's a poly-fannish problem.

Which doesn't mean that I think that fandom is inherently misogynist or anything like that. I've been able to carve out a pretty nice corner of fandom that doesn't really have any problems at all appreciating female characters. It's just unfortunate that the more reasonable fans aren't the ones spamming the popular media feedback sites. And that media in general has a gender bias that leans overwhelmingly towards the male side of the spectrum. And that's not even taking into account the social mechanism that conditions women into believing that every other woman is a competitor and not a possible friend. That causes a multitude of problems all on its own.

So let's put this all in perspective. Yes, the fannish gender bias is part of the problem. But Hollywood is a bigger part of the problem. I very much believe that if we want to have media product that's more open to female characters and female points then of view we're going to have to make it ourselves. Because Hollywood isn't going to do it for us, especially not the genre side of Hollywood that for all its "progressive" talk still errs on teh side of giving guys lots of tits to stare at.

[Content redacted after taking advantage of the "think twice then post" clause of internet communication]

Is there an answer? Who knows. Just like all human interactions it'll only get messier and more ambiguous as time goes on. Because in fandom, just like in life, the answers are never easy.

Ahem. So that's my take on this whole thing. FWIW

Comments

[dotfic.livejournal.com]

I don't think addressing it openly in fandom is sitting around, or unproductive. It's totally okay by me if people need to sit out these discussions--heck, I usually do. But even when I need to sit it out, I feel talking about it and not ignoring it or sweeping it under the rug, helps lead to change.

Making your own stories in Hollywood sounds like a great idea to me, it's true that this is an industry-wide and fandom-wide issue, not just SPN.

[liptonrm.livejournal.com]

You're right. Talking is important. I let my frustration with the cyclical nature of the topic (and the wank) get the better of me and forgot the first rule of internet communication: Take a deep breath before clicking on the post/send button.

Open dialogue is always vital. Talking about it can open people's eyes and make them take a long, hard look at their opinions and the reasons for them. And silence is never, ever a solution to anything.

I have the Doctor Cox in my head reminding me that I too can be a horse's ass. For which I apologize.

[dotfic.livejournal.com]

Well, the argument is cyclical. And I like hearing your opinions and you made some good points.

But I can't agree that fandom shouldn't talk about it (again, I think personal preference for how and when to engage is...personal and not part of the problem at all. Every so often I have the spoons to go after these things...eep).

[liptonrm.livejournal.com]

Fandom should talk about it again. Fandom needs to talk about it again. The fact is that dialogue is good and worthwhile and should not ever be stifled. Talk isn't cheap, a fact which I shouldn't need reminding about, but apparently I do. Because if we stop talking about it nothing will ever improve.

I did imply, heck, I basically came out and said, that people should just shut up. And I wish I hadn't said that because I don't mean it. Thank you for politely letting me know that my head was up my ass.

And what's killing me is that my frustration isn't really with the argument, it's with my personal inability to completely erase inequality from the world. Heck, I can't even erase it from my favorite tv show. Good to know that hypocrisy is still alive and well on my side of the computer screen.

*shakes finger at not-so-inner bitch* See, this is why you never get the extra cookie.

Re: Yes, but did you know Misha is like, a rapist, too?

[liptonrm.livejournal.com]

Oh crazy fangirls. *rolls eyes fondly*

I've gone from being disgruntled with the crazy to feeling fondly indulgent. It's a schizophrenic kind of day. =D

Re: It's good you can still feel indulgent..

[liptonrm.livejournal.com]

*snorts* Well, to be honest, I cycle manically between wanting to slap them all and indulgence. Because it's either that or I throw my computer across the room and, well, my computer was really expensive.

But if I admit to wanting to shake them until they show sense I'm sure you won't hold it against me.

[shirebound]

Congrats on getting through another semester! Wooohooo!

[liptonrm.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much, sweetie! It really does feel so good. =D