YES! MEDIA CONTEXTUALIZED!!! The gendered service of violence within the source text(s) is a huge disparity, but I think this needs to be applied more broadly to who is being critiqued within these vids.
"On the Prowl" is a critique of fangirls' desires. "Women's Work" is a critique of television writers (mostly male) using violence against female characters as male character plot-advancement. While I see the stylistic similarities, the vidders are operating from different positions of relational power.
Critique vids always play with the dangers of reproduction (the danger being unintentionally reasserting the subject of ire by not effectively communicating the critique), but "On the Prowl" lives on this line, creating a vid that purportedly elicits desire from the viewer while critiquing the viewer for these desires. As the viewers would never be limited to the vidders themselves, I think it's safe to say this critique was always intended to be received by a larger corner of fandom, a corner of fandom to which the vidders belong. So as much as it's a self-portrait, the text of the vid itself, as well as how it is being discusses now, assumes the critique to the shared identity of a community* (singular because I am describing one of many within livejournal).
All this said, it is the critique itself I find utterly unpalatable and the method of sharing this critique coercive and shaming. This vid is an indictment on sadistic desire, questioning whether it is "ok" to feel these desires, and if we are irresponsible by expressing them. What this point fails to encompass is the context in which these desires occur and the common means of expression: these are sadistic desires aroused by media and these are desires commonly expressed through transformative media -- vids, fic, icons, picspams, etc. Characters and real people (as characters) played with in these fanworks are not actual, but representations. AND THERE ARE MANY COPIES. *ahem*
Fangirl sadistic desires and their expressions do not in fact: cause the characters any further suffering, in spite! of the fact that these feelings of desire are not necessarily (though sometimes -- LEGEND OF THE SEEKER I'M LOOKING AT YOU) consistent with canon narratives.
Sadistic desires have their place in the world in an actual non-imaginary playspace, known as kink communities and BDSM. In these social spheres, there is an understanding of how these desires can function in ways that are positive for all involved, under a general guideline of safe, sane, and consensual.
There are enough places in the world that take issue with female desire, and particularly female sexual desire, demonizing all lady boners. Fandom is a place to celebrate and wank off with lady boners.
This vid elicits lady boners and then tells you you're bad for having one, tells you it's dangerous to have one. It's not. This vid is shaming. And it shames on no solid ground, but by conflating reality and fantasy and with no substantive support for its cries of danger.
my kink is not your kink but your kink is ok
"On the Prowl" is a critique of fangirls' desires. "Women's Work" is a critique of television writers (mostly male) using violence against female characters as male character plot-advancement. While I see the stylistic similarities, the vidders are operating from different positions of relational power.
Critique vids always play with the dangers of reproduction (the danger being unintentionally reasserting the subject of ire by not effectively communicating the critique), but "On the Prowl" lives on this line, creating a vid that purportedly elicits desire from the viewer while critiquing the viewer for these desires. As the viewers would never be limited to the vidders themselves, I think it's safe to say this critique was always intended to be received by a larger corner of fandom, a corner of fandom to which the vidders belong. So as much as it's a self-portrait, the text of the vid itself, as well as how it is being discusses now, assumes the critique to the shared identity of a community* (singular because I am describing one of many within livejournal).
All this said, it is the critique itself I find utterly unpalatable and the method of sharing this critique coercive and shaming. This vid is an indictment on sadistic desire, questioning whether it is "ok" to feel these desires, and if we are irresponsible by expressing them. What this point fails to encompass is the context in which these desires occur and the common means of expression: these are sadistic desires aroused by media and these are desires commonly expressed through transformative media -- vids, fic, icons, picspams, etc. Characters and real people (as characters) played with in these fanworks are not actual, but representations. AND THERE ARE MANY COPIES. *ahem*
Fangirl sadistic desires and their expressions do not in fact: cause the characters any further suffering, in spite! of the fact that these feelings of desire are not necessarily (though sometimes -- LEGEND OF THE SEEKER I'M LOOKING AT YOU) consistent with canon narratives.
Sadistic desires have their place in the world in an actual non-imaginary playspace, known as kink communities and BDSM. In these social spheres, there is an understanding of how these desires can function in ways that are positive for all involved, under a general guideline of safe, sane, and consensual.
There are enough places in the world that take issue with female desire, and particularly female sexual desire, demonizing all lady boners. Fandom is a place to celebrate and wank off with lady boners.
This vid elicits lady boners and then tells you you're bad for having one, tells you it's dangerous to have one. It's not. This vid is shaming. And it shames on no solid ground, but by conflating reality and fantasy and with no substantive support for its cries of danger.