Meta rec and Very Scientific Poll

[ash48]

bardicvoice has written some great meta on why we see Sam and Dean differently: The Rainbow Connection, or Can You See What I See?

I like the ideas presented - it all makes perfect sense to me. It should help people realise that it's OK to see the show differently and arguing about it (read "being nasty") isn't going to achieve much. I think discussing is valuable because I think sharing the differing views can be interesting. Though, as bardicvoice's put it - "You're going to believe what you believe no matter what I say, unless I happen upon an explanation that fits your emotional reality and both allows and persuades you to change your point of view. Trust me, those occasions are few and far between".

She also refers to an article written about why we connect to fictional characters in such a passionate way. This is fascinating also.

If you enjoy this type of analysis I highly recommend it.

She can't answer what it is in each of our personalities that makes us respond the way we do, unfortunately. I imagine such a study would be extraordinarily difficult.

However...I did wonder if we might be able to do a highly (un)scientific survey to see if there's anything we can pin down that make us either a Sam!person or a Dean!person or a both bro!person.



I think of myself as a Sam!girl (who adores Dean <333). I often wonder what draws me to Sam and I think I can simply put it down to:

1) He's the younger brother
2) He has long hair
3) I find Jared ridiculously attractive

(I find Jensen ridiculously attractive too. I love Dean and there's no way I would adore Sam the way I do without Dean being there).

In most TV/film partnerships I've always favored the younger of a pair - Luke over Han, AJ over Rick (Simon and Simon), Stephen over Mike (in the Tomorrow People). I have no idea why that is. I've sometimes wondered if it has anything to do with my position in my family. I am the eldest.

Which makes me wonder if the way we favour either Sam or Dean has anything to do with whether or not we have younger or older siblings? (I think not, but it might be fun to see if there is any trend).


[Poll #1918144]


It's just for fun (and I'm curious...). In all honesty I imagine there are a number of factors dictating not only the way we sympathise with a particular character but also how we interpret story lines and "see" the show. I don't know how you'd ever find out what makes one person see it one way and other a different way. It would be quite a study I should imagine.

Comments

[borgmama1of5.livejournal.com]

I too find it fascinating to analyze why some fans favor one brother over the other. (I'm strictly bi-bro all the way!) It is one thing to have a preference, but it's the 'I must tear down the other' mentality that I find so disturbing...and telling.

What I have noticed is that there tends to be a type of fan personality that needs to denigrate one of the bros, and someday I might try to put my thoughts in writing. Note I am not addressing people who have a preference, but rather the people who are vitriolic in defense of their chosen brother. I'm not trying to start any flame wars here!!! And it's just my incomplete, unscientific generalization without in-depth analysis.

I see Sam-bashers as tending to be overly-responsible caregiver types. Not only do they identify with Dean, but they use Sam as the target for their frustration for themselves having to deal with feeling like they give and give and never get appreciated and never see the object of their own situation as accepting responsibilty.

Dean-bashers, OTOH, feel Dean persecutes Sam for poor decisions that weren't Sam's fault, and it reflects a bit of their feeling that it's not their fault that life is tough, it's outside circumstances that are responsible for their situation.

I like Sam because he has such empathy. I like Dean because he has such a great heart. Sam frustrates me because he beats himself up. Dean frustrates me because he thinks he's responsible for everything. Each brother is who he is because of being brothers...and they both make me crazy because they don't communicate! They are both emotionally messed-up and I pity anyone in a relationship with either one. What I really want, and have wanted since I started watching, is to sit the two of them down and guide them through learning how to talk to each other honestly. I've always wanted to mother them...which probably makes me really weird...

[kassidy62.livejournal.com]

but I am quite sure I'm an overly-responsible caregiver, and I identify with Sam:)

[borgmama1of5.livejournal.com]

But I bet you are not a basher--that's where I was making my generalizations from, the over-the-top ranters that I don't understand, and my attempt to understand them.

[kassidy62.livejournal.com]

ah, I understand. You totally bet right - I don't bash, I adore their relationship! I don't understand the hate either, it's awful, so much unhappiness in a place where I try to be happy you know?

[cassiopeia7.livejournal.com]

It is one thing to have a preference, but it's the 'I must tear down the other' mentality that I find so disturbing...and telling.

Argh. THIS. They've both made mistakes, yet some always manage to turn a blind eye to "their" brother's imperfections and place all blame squarely upon the one they don't like.

*Dean!girl who has often wanted to smack Dean upside the head*

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Oh yes yes. Well put.

I think it's probably really difficult to do any sort of scientific study on what makes us the kind of watched we are (it oculd be done, but I suspect someone would have to be doing a thesis in order to do that level of solid research).

I'd love to know if your theory is correct on the bashers. It amazes me people write up stuff as those the characters can hear them. Totally ripping into either Sam or Dean because of whatever wrong doing they did to their "favorite" character. I sometimes wonder if they can even see it from the writers perspective. Situations are developed to create drama and if we are feeling emotional then they have done their job. (There's a lot more to say on this - along the lines of writers manipulating the characters in order to create this drama, but that's another discussion).

What I really want, and have wanted since I started watching, is to sit the two of them down and guide them through learning how to talk to each other honestly.

Ha! And when that happens the show will no doubt be over...;D Their inability to talk creates most of the dramas... silly boys!

And I wanna mother them also. Nothing weird about that I reckon.
xox