Rec: Meta by rusty_halo

[hells_half_acre]

 rusty_halo  has a nice Meta on S1 up. The first half of it is about the themes and character development overall, and last part goes into viewing the show from a feminist perspective (how much the show follows common sexist tropes and how much it challenges them). 

Anyway, check it out by clicking the quote from it:

The whole season is set up as a quest for their lost father, but what they're looking for from him--family, connection, meaning--they ultimately find in each other, not in John. 

Naturally, I like the first part of the meta - because I don't tend to see sexism where others see it, so I tend to be far easier on shows than most feminists. (My general rule is that if I can replace the female character with a male character (and vice versa) in my brain, and still believe their motivations/characterization, then the role isn't sexist. I'm well aware that all this exercise might prove is that I think men are "girly".) In terms of the complaint that women are marginalized on the show - "women exist only to serve the mens’ story" complaint - I disregard it completely, since every single character other than Sam and Dean exist only to serve Sam and Dean's story. (Notable exceptions: Castiel, Bobby, Ellen, and Jo in S5). Even John only existed to serve Sam and Dean's story. Again, I may just have a completely different view on what is sexist/misogynistic...and that's either a post I've already done, or one I should do in the future (which will no doubt alienate me from my entire flist, so maybe I won't at all.) 

ETA: The individual episode metas that are linked from the over-view meta are all fantastic too. 

Comments

[kairia.livejournal.com]

Oooh, this looks like a fantastic meta, bookmarking it to read later - thanks for the heads-up - hope they write meta on the other seasons as well!

I disregard it completely, since every single character other than Sam and Dean exist only to serve Sam and Dean's story. (Notable exceptions: Castiel, Bobby, Ellen, and Jo in S5)
That's a very interesting point you make..I wish I had something more coherent to offer but alas, brain-freeze.

Again, I may just have a completely different view on what is sexist/misogynistic...and that's either a post I've already done, or one I should do in the future (which will no doubt alienate me from my entire flist, so maybe I won't at all.)
I'd be interested in such a post - I may not agree with it on some points but I'd be very interested nevertheless =)

[hells-half-acre.livejournal.com]

I'd be interested in such a post - I may not agree with it on some points but I'd be very interested nevertheless =)

I'm almost positive you wouldn't agree with it. :P No one ever agrees with me. I just have a whole different view on what treating the sexes equally looks like...

But maybe I'll do a flocked post about it sometime. I don't want to be lynched by the more radical feminists out there.

[auriliawestlake.livejournal.com]

Ah, hell, I may be physically female, but I'm definitely not a feminist. Sure, we should treat all folk pretty much equally (meaning that two folk who're at the same level in a job should be paid the same and such - conversely, I also DON'T believe that there should be any difference in the physical requirements for jobs like firefighters, police, and so forth), but I agree with you - if a character's gender could be believably inverted, then the role isn't sexist.

[hells-half-acre.livejournal.com]

I may be physically female, but I'm definitely not a feminist. Sure, we should treat all folk pretty much equally

You aren't a RADICAL feminist. That's part of the problem with what's happened to feminism. Feminism used to mean "I want people to be treated equally regardless of gender" and then some "radical feminists" turned it into "ARG! MEN SUCK AND THEY ARE CONSTANTLY OBJECTIFYING US AND NO ONE CAN DO ANYTHING RIGHT!"

Or at least, that's how it seems to me.

So, yes, I'm a feminist in the loosest definition.

But yeah - also, when it comes to objectifying, my rule works the same way: If they were treating a man like that in this scene, would I be complaining or would I be enjoying every minute of it? If the answer is the latter, than I can't really throw stones, can I?

[ladililn.livejournal.com]

Hey! I just stumbled across your journal by way of your series timeline (which is awesome, by the way, definitely the best one I've found), and I wanted to say thanks for linking this meta! It was super interesting, but I definitely agree that I liked the first half better, because I think my views on feminism and sexism in the show are a lot closer to yours, honestly. I agree that all characters are there to serve Sam and Dean's story, and yes, those two characters happen to be men. I also don't understand the double standards some of the more "radical" feminists seem to have, like saying it's not okay to use words like "bitch", yet don't seem to have the same problem with men being called "assholes" or "bastards". It just doesn't make sense to me.

To me, feminism is about the genders being treated equally. And I've never felt offended by SPN. *shrugs*

Anywho, that got a bit rambly. Thanks again! ♥

[hells-half-acre.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I'm always happy to hear that someone is using my timeline! I personally think it's the best one out there, but I figure I'm biased - so it's always nice when someone else agrees. ;)

I did a flocked post about my views on the feminism issue after I posted this entry - but you didn't seem to miss much from not being able to read it, because I basically just said everything you just said (only far less succinctly.)

Feminism to me is definitely about gender equality - and I don't like the double-standards that I find in a lot of the more "radical" feminists. Supernatural might not be perfect, but I find that it treats the genders equally more often than a lot of shows out there.

Anyway, I'm glad you liked the meta rec and my timeline! Thanks for the comment! :)

[ladililn.livejournal.com]

I definitely agree--I don't really understand all the accusations that Supernatural is such a sexist show, because honestly I can think of several others that I think are potentially much more offensive. *shrugs*

I'd love to read that post if you ever decide to make it public. :) It's nice to read something like that from a perspective I agree with, for once. And I'm sure you have some interesting ideas.

No problem! Thanks again for the timeline and everything (and the clothes thing, which I'm just now discovering)!

[hells-half-acre.livejournal.com]

Ok, I've made the post public for you...now that it's over a week old and isn't going to appear on anyone's flist immediately. I just flocked it because I didn't want to piss everyone off with my opinions. You can see it here: http://hells-half-acre.livejournal.com/119256.html

Clothes thing is still in it's infancy! I've only done up until 2x07, and out of all those clothes I've got less than half of them posted. But, I'm glad you found it! I usually try to update it with one article of clothing once a day. Right now I'm working my way through coats.

[shinybiancachu.livejournal.com]

I agree with you because I don't find Spn sexist. It's pretty gender-equal in my opinion. Like you said, if you inverse the genders of a character and it still works, then it's good.