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

[quickreaver.livejournal.com]

Been meaning to comment on this! Had to skim the responses first.

Of course I don't like bashing either character. Both of them can be asshole shit-heads sometimes. Hey, THEY'RE MEN. *hee!*

I'm a Sam!girl but God, I love Dean too. When it comes to getting that fluttery feeling in my belly, though, it's Sam/Jared. Call it chemistry. Though I confess to understanding Dean a helluva lot better. I'm also the eldest of four and married to a very Dean-ish man. Go figure.

After reading Bardicvoice's article, I can't say I agree with it 100%. Most of it? Yes! We will always see things through our own filters. But I think it's important to keep an open mind and invite discussion, but more importantly, be willing to admit when we might be unduly prejudiced or coming to a negative conclusion that is possibly unwarranted or misdirected.

I love thoughtfully butting heads. I've had some wonderful discussions where the outcome was "We'll have to agree to disagree" on certain points, but we end up understanding each other better, and there are no hurt feelings. And we might even look at things differently next time.

My most, hmm, uneasy(?) moments are when solid fanfic authors--whose writing I heartily enjoy--make their preferences known by word choice and dialogue, not obvious plot events. Such a golden light is aimed at one brother to the point the other looks dull in comparison. One is used to make the other look better. Clearly, it's not intentional but it's noticeable nonetheless, and kinda makes me pouty. Those are tough to reconcile for me.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Though I confess to understanding Dean a helluva lot better. I'm also the eldest of four and married to a very Dean-ish man. Go figure.

Oh me too! I can't figure it either (and hence the poll). Sammy/Jared just does things to me....*swoon*

I've had some wonderful discussions where the outcome was "We'll have to agree to disagree" on certain points, but we end up understanding each other better, and there are no hurt feelings. And we might even look at things differently next time.

I love these too. It's hard to have these conversations sometimes but when it happens it's great. I had one recently after the Destiel post and we respectfully disagreed with each other the whole time. :)

Such a golden light is aimed at one brother to the point the other looks dull in comparison. One is used to make the other look better.

Yeah. That's tricky. I imagine if writers actually believe that one character is somehow "better" than the other then that will come through in their writing - even if they don't intend it to be that way.

[quickreaver.livejournal.com]

Little anecdote about 'chemistry' or whatever you wanna call it:

When I went to Chicon last year and lemminged my way through the autograph lines with everyone else, I was awed at how God-damned beautiful Jensen Ackles was in-person -- yes, his eyelashes really are that pretty -- but when I faced Jared Padalecki, all the spit left my mouth and I felt it in my knees. So you and I probably have some sort of brain-wiring towards his type. Poor, poor us. ;)

Re. authors who don't realize they're favoring one brother over the other, I try to hint at my observations in a positive way, in my comment to the fic. "I really love the way you painted 'X' in this light." It's the whole honey/vinegar/fly-catching thing. Nothing warms my cockles (no ship intended!) more than a juicy bi-bro story. (Or even a nicely balanced J2, but I've barely tiptoed into the RPF arena. That's a whole 'nother can of worms ...)