(no subject)
Feb. 25th, 2005 11:40 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
f1renzeI have previously asked you not to compare the L Word with QaF. I was wrong. Comparison itself is good, because it will make you align things and add to your perspective about the shows.
But these shows are often compared because the surface features look alike - sexually explicit gay shows, on Showtime, whatever. But if you want to compare, go for the dimensions, because you can't expect the contents to match up.
One rather big thing is that Shane (whose last name is McCutcheon but OMG it so does not suit her) is often thought of as the "Brian Kinney" of the L Word.
Well yes, and no.
Sure, they have this similar presence. The looks. The attitude. The tricking. The sexual power.
But Shane is not Brian Kinney.
- I think that by the end of Season 4, Brian is pretty much settling down with Justin. But we all know that Brian has always had issues with this - this trusting his feelings on someone else thing. It's been discussed to death and I won't go into it. But one reason Shane doesn't want to settle down is because she loves TOO much. She wants them all. (Thanks![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
sogay for pointing this out.) Which leads to the next point,
- Brian can easily separate his emotions from the sex. Shane doesn't even try. With Brian, it's either feel nothing, or feel everything. I think Shane has more gradations. She tricks but LETS herself care, and that's why it's overwhelming for her. The gradations come in when the strength of her feelings varies between attraction - slight caring - a lot caring - love.
- I don't think we know enough about Shane to talk much about ontology, but I can speculate some things. Both Brian and Shane knew they were gay at a very young age (by age 14 for sure for Brian, and by 8 for Shane). But Brian has a very difficult, abusive past. And as honest as he is to other people about his sexuality, he hid it from his parents for over a decade. There was fear in this part of his past. He has attachment issues. I suspect Shane is more secure and open about her sexuality to her family. But we shall see.
- Brian is a drama queen. He pushes people away because he thinks he has to put up this wall. To some of his friends, Brian pretends not to care. I don't think Shane has walls. She shows that she cares about her friends, often being the first to ask how they are doing when in trouble.
- There might be something mechanic about how their sexual power is played out in the bedroom (not bedroom, bedroom, since it's Brian Kinney and Shane we're talking about). I'm still working this out, but it seems to me that Brian's tricks go down on him and that shows his power, while Shane goes down on her tricks and that shows her power.
In conclusion, I don't know what I'm talking about. But WATCH THE L WORD, OMG.
But these shows are often compared because the surface features look alike - sexually explicit gay shows, on Showtime, whatever. But if you want to compare, go for the dimensions, because you can't expect the contents to match up.
One rather big thing is that Shane (whose last name is McCutcheon but OMG it so does not suit her) is often thought of as the "Brian Kinney" of the L Word.
Well yes, and no.
Sure, they have this similar presence. The looks. The attitude. The tricking. The sexual power.
But Shane is not Brian Kinney.
- I think that by the end of Season 4, Brian is pretty much settling down with Justin. But we all know that Brian has always had issues with this - this trusting his feelings on someone else thing. It's been discussed to death and I won't go into it. But one reason Shane doesn't want to settle down is because she loves TOO much. She wants them all. (Thanks
sogay for pointing this out.) Which leads to the next point,- Brian can easily separate his emotions from the sex. Shane doesn't even try. With Brian, it's either feel nothing, or feel everything. I think Shane has more gradations. She tricks but LETS herself care, and that's why it's overwhelming for her. The gradations come in when the strength of her feelings varies between attraction - slight caring - a lot caring - love.
- I don't think we know enough about Shane to talk much about ontology, but I can speculate some things. Both Brian and Shane knew they were gay at a very young age (by age 14 for sure for Brian, and by 8 for Shane). But Brian has a very difficult, abusive past. And as honest as he is to other people about his sexuality, he hid it from his parents for over a decade. There was fear in this part of his past. He has attachment issues. I suspect Shane is more secure and open about her sexuality to her family. But we shall see.
- Brian is a drama queen. He pushes people away because he thinks he has to put up this wall. To some of his friends, Brian pretends not to care. I don't think Shane has walls. She shows that she cares about her friends, often being the first to ask how they are doing when in trouble.
- There might be something mechanic about how their sexual power is played out in the bedroom (not bedroom, bedroom, since it's Brian Kinney and Shane we're talking about). I'm still working this out, but it seems to me that Brian's tricks go down on him and that shows his power, while Shane goes down on her tricks and that shows her power.
In conclusion, I don't know what I'm talking about. But WATCH THE L WORD, OMG.
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(no subject)
Date: 2005-02-25 06:05 pm (UTC)Um. Yes. So you do know what you're talking about. :D
(no subject)
Date: 2005-02-25 06:18 pm (UTC)I like how there is no predictable mission for her character growth. I mean, CowLip planned this "boys becoming men" thing from the start. So we were expected to expect Brian to grow to let people in, etc. But Shane... I just have no idea.
(no subject)
Date: 2005-02-25 08:19 pm (UTC)Anyway, that is fun that there is no expected direction for Shane. It makes it that much more interesting with her. :X
(no subject)
Date: 2005-02-25 09:30 pm (UTC)That's not lame at all. The fact that CowLip don't do this (or at least, not as much) is one of the weakest things about QAF. I don't think it's wrong to set out to tell a particular story, but it's also important to respect your characters as more than marionettes.
(no subject)
Date: 2005-02-27 08:11 am (UTC)Amen, sistah. :D
(no subject)
Date: 2005-02-25 08:23 pm (UTC)My problem, such as it is, right now, is that I can't find a way to get the rest of the episodes. *sniffle*
Help?
(no subject)
Date: 2005-02-25 08:28 pm (UTC)*SENDING* Get on the hub now :x
(no subject)
Date: 2005-02-25 08:36 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-02-26 01:01 am (UTC)I'm Sunni. :)
(no subject)
Date: 2005-02-26 04:52 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-02-26 08:02 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-02-26 08:22 pm (UTC)Brian's reason is that he's afraid to love someone enough to have one.
The only thing Brian's heart needs protection from is Justin. And we know how that goes, hee. Shane's heart needs protection from *more* people. ::worries::
Shane is quite a bit braver than Brian.
In a way, Shane is both brave and afraid. She's loving and loved but is also alone.
Gah. I'm just so excited to see her story this season.
(no subject)
Date: 2005-02-27 12:24 pm (UTC)I've only seen, like... through Episode 4 or something -- OMG WHATSERFACE WENT TO GET SOME VAGINA REJUVENATION?!?! I don't even want to know what that involves -- but I am kinda noticing that the similarities between Shane and Brian aren't that many, beyond the most obvious "Loves to fuck one and all". So, long story short, now I have something to watch for as I catch up on the L Word! Yay!
Now, since you love to spam with pictures so much, I need some GOOD L Word -- who am I kidding, I just want SHANE -- icons, kthx. Point me in the right direction, if you don't mind. We have to spread the Shane love, you know...
(no subject)
Date: 2005-02-27 02:15 pm (UTC)OMG I KNOW. That was Alice. I love her so.
Those early eps were so funny. I was rewatching them yesterday too =D> My favorite scene is the one where they were all checking if Lara's gay. The Shane test HEEEEE!!
I need some GOOD L Word -- who am I kidding, I just want SHANE -- icons, kthx.
You have no idea how much I am ALSO in need of them. Still waiting for ones with nifty designs. But please help yourself to the simple four that I own.
WE HAVE TO SPREAD THE SHANE LOVE.
/cultish chant
(no subject)
Date: 2005-02-28 10:58 am (UTC)OMG Flo, stop waiting, start making! You are icon master... plz make Shane icons, for the love of Shane, so we can spread the cultish Shane love. Oh yes.