As I don't come from a hardcore H/C fandom, but I do have tendencies toward that kink in my own consumption of media, I did identify with that vid a lot. However it was mostly on a personal level and it only *vaguely* resonated with me as a comment on Fandom as a whole. (And even then, totally not my primary fandoms.)
(Plus I admit it didn't provoke *deathly serious* introspection from me, but it did provoke recognition, and fleeting oh-shit-isn't-that-interesting introspection, combined with a viddergasm for how awesomely it was put together.)
So... do I have a point? I like that you posted this! I've been a wee bit uncomfortable with a certain attitude from some (not all) people discussing "On the Prowl", like this is some kind of Disturbing Social Trend among fangirls that must be addressed, or some kind of a counter-balance toward claims of violence against women in the media. To this point:
Brutalisation of major male characters to further their own storylines and our sympathy for them =/= brutalisation of minor female characters to further the storylines and our sympathy for male characters.
Trust me you're not the first person to say that! I mean, that's JUST ONE aspect of the difference, but as giandujakiss specifically mentioned here: every male character in that vid is The Hero whose pain is in service of his journey, while every female character in "Women's Work" was a minor and unimportant damsel whose victimhood only served to further the plot or someone else's story.
I'm also disappointed in the "yes finally someone has said this about fandom!" attitude because there's so much... shaming going on in there. So much *guilt* from people who feel it's directed at them, and so much condemnation from people to whom it doesn't apply.
Honestly, I do find it interesting that a significant segment of female-dominated fandom can bond and get off to the pain and suffering of fictional menz, and I like that this vid has provoked Thoughts about that. But your post is a good reminder that well-meaning meta can get out of hand. This is NOT a Universal Treatise on Fandom and Female Sexuality, y'all.
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Date: 2010-08-24 07:18 pm (UTC)(Plus I admit it didn't provoke *deathly serious* introspection from me, but it did provoke recognition, and fleeting oh-shit-isn't-that-interesting introspection, combined with a viddergasm for how awesomely it was put together.)
So... do I have a point? I like that you posted this! I've been a wee bit uncomfortable with a certain attitude from some (not all) people discussing "On the Prowl", like this is some kind of Disturbing Social Trend among fangirls that must be addressed, or some kind of a counter-balance toward claims of violence against women in the media. To this point:
Brutalisation of major male characters to further their own storylines and our sympathy for them =/= brutalisation of minor female characters to further the storylines and our sympathy for male characters.
Trust me you're not the first person to say that! I mean, that's JUST ONE aspect of the difference, but as
I'm also disappointed in the "yes finally someone has said this about fandom!" attitude because there's so much... shaming going on in there. So much *guilt* from people who feel it's directed at them, and so much condemnation from people to whom it doesn't apply.
Honestly, I do find it interesting that a significant segment of female-dominated fandom can bond and get off to the pain and suffering of fictional menz, and I like that this vid has provoked Thoughts about that. But your post is a good reminder that well-meaning meta can get out of hand. This is NOT a Universal Treatise on Fandom and Female Sexuality, y'all.