What It All Boils Down To...

[moonshayde]

I'm talking about ships.

I've noticed that in multiple fandoms (Smallville, Stargate, X-Files, and Harry Potter for example) there may be discussions about plot, character, themes, and story, but in the end it all seems to boil down to ship. (Defining ship here in the broad sense - het or slash.) Sure, there are people in fandom that are there just for characters and plot. But those that are mainly focused on shipping is by far the majority. Once you weed through the hearty discussion of character arcs and plot, you'll see that people are arguing for "who ends up with who." Out of everything, this becomes the main focus and the most passionate for fans.

Take a look at any forum or discussion area. Doesn't matter which fandom. Most of them mirror each other.

So, I ask why? Why do we (in general) abandon everything else about the story, making it secondary to the ship? Why is it so vital to have the end goal be "so and so ends up with Clark" or "so and so ends up with Mulder" or "so and so ends up with Jack?" Why does that becoming the most defining attribute of the story or the characters? Why are we defining them by their romantic entanglements? Why are we defining them by their prize at the end of the day?

And is it the woman who is the prize in the end? Or the man? I've seen this go back and forth and it may depend on the fandom.

It happens across fandoms. I've noticed it a lot lately. As stargazercmc mentioned, is this something inate or does fandom perpetuate it? I wonder does this feed some basic human need or is something else going on here?

Comments

[surreallis.livejournal.com]

I think it's just that many fans find it fun to explore the sex and romance in fanfic. There's always those who take things to an extreme and insist that their OTP become canon at the end, OR ELSE. And that 'or else' usually means the whole series is then ruined for them, and I really don't understand that, I have to admit. But one of the stereotypical traits assigned to women, that I think is hard to argue against, is that most women are interested in romance and sex more than, say, action or tech. (Not all, obviously, but plenty.) And most of the fans I know and interact with are fairly okay with letting the show play out as it will and just having fun playing with the sex and romance angle in fanfic. Plus, let's face it, most of us are attracted to at least one of the characters, thus we *want* to see them in romantic situations for various reasons.

I can't completely answer the question, because I really don't get the fans who rant about how the PTB 'owe' them a happy ending with the OTP of their choice getting together.

[moonshayde.livejournal.com]

I understand that fandom and fanfic is usually about the porn. (I'm obviously in the minority on that one as I prefer other stories to porn.)

I guess what I am focusing on is more of what you discuss regarding OTPs.Maybe not just those that feel their show is ruined if their OTP doesn't happen or isn't fully realized, but fans that see everything through the lens of their ship, ignoring canon and

And I'm still not talking about people who do that in a casual way. We all see tv and film and read stories through our own set lens, no matter what that might be.

I'm talking about those where the ship is the absolute end result. Let's make up an example. Let's say Sam is torn between her scientific curiosity and her military mindset. This is a huge character arc for her and her consequences would boil down to her having to chose one over the other. Yet, instead of focusing on this very important trait and character journey for Sam, I am only preoccupied on how this will effect her relationship with Teal'c. I can justify everything about her, ignoring emotions and characteristics that ARE Sam as long as I make sure she is with Teal'c. She deserves Teal'c. They deserve to be together.

The psychology behind that fascinates me. I've done it before and I've probably done it to an extreme degree when I was younger. Why do people do it?

The attraction factor is a really salient point and I need to think on that some.

[surreallis.livejournal.com]

I don't get it either. I have a fandom friend who's been around my flist since my last fandom, and it's interesting to watch her go from fandom to fandom. Because as she gains an interest in a new show she inevitably posts about having to 'wait and see if there's an OTP for her to ship'. She literally has to have an OTP in the most rigid sense of the words in order to really get into the show. And I've seen a similar thing among the big OTP'er's (both slash and het) on my flist.

And I mean, that's fine, but I really, really don't understand it. To me, any ship is just icing. I love writing about it fanfic, but my love of a show isn't contingent on it.

So, I'll be interested in seeing if you can come up with anything to help us both get it.