Brian & Justin 4EVAR!11!!1
May. 23rd, 2004 09:16 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
reenkaAhhhhh, omg, omg!!
Duuuude!!
I've been so lazy and I haven't seen the last 5 eps of QAF and I finally downloaded and watched the first one, and omg, I'd forgotten how much I loved it!! Dude!! The only disturbing-icky part was the Ben/Michael sex, because... no. But! OMG the... *gurgle*... yes, okay, the Brian/Justin, okay I admit it, ack. Brian kissed him! On! The! Cheek!...!.. (he is so in love it is almost painful... except NOT)!! Aaaah! And! Said all sorts of! Romantic! Things! ...like... well... Justin was the one with the romantic things to say ("it was love to me" = GUH), but then Brian just sort of melted and I think I was squealing. Loudly. In my head. (I feel... junior high-schoolish and yet....) They are so... the... cutest evar!!1
And the dialogue is. Jumping! Was it always like that? They're all so adorable. Even Michael(!?... wtf? cute bonding with Hunter!) And... aww, Ted & Emmett make me sad. But not too sad, because Brian makes me happy, oh-so-happy, wah.
It's amazing how much Brian has really changed-- become more balanced... it's almost like he -glows- or something (or maybe he always did-- I mean, this -is- Brian). It's like... he's really showing affection so much more, and he seems... on top of things, except in a good way, but not an over-the-top compensating sort of way. Seriously, how can anyone not love him? He shines.
Yes, I'm a Brian whore. Wahah, I admit it! I mean, I was always saying "...but Justin!!" and now... I've seen thesmirk light. *cough/swoon* I mean, I was just perving over pics of ickle Dan earlier today, and feeling awful (because! I'm not like that! HONEST!!) and... yeah, okay, now it's like, Dan who? Because. The pretty! Has! Landed! And! IT IS GAY!!!1 (..... fine, no need to bring "reality" into this, is there? Is there?)
EDIT - um. clearly... I spoke too soon. *gurgles & DIES!!1*
~~
And... I was also thinking about... stuff (again).
Like... do we choose who we become?
I know, it's kind of a biggie, but. I'm obsessed with it, in my own little way.
I think that's one of the things that confuse people about some stuff I say, because I think most people assume we just deal with the cards we're dealt in terms of our drives and needs and attitudes, right? And I think my unspoken assumption sometimes is that in the end, it's not a question of either nature -or- nurture, but of the choices we can make to overcome both those things. It's like... everyone has a range of potential no one can guess at, lurking within them, and it's a question of whether or not one chooses-- and believes that they're capable of choosing-- to become their better self. Choosing one's own best destiny.
So... looking at it that way... one can always at least strive to become smarter, stronger, fitter in whatever way. Or one can choose to pander to one's perceived flaws and admit defeat without much of a fight-- let the proof be in the pudding, so to speak. One can say "this is who I am", end of story, refusing to admit that identity is malleable and the future, unlike the past, is in our hands.
That's JKR's overall point, isn't it?
That's supposed to be the main difference between Harry and Draco, isn't it? That Harry chose not to accept the situations handed to him, that Harry has to learn to choose what he wants and believes in even in the face of a prophecy that is supposedly going to determine the future. What do you want to bet Harry's going to somehow subvert that prophecy, btw?
It really seems like Harry's discovery of free will is at the center of his journey.
I do believe it, I guess, so it's hypocritical to pose it as a question-- I do believe we may not choose who we are, but we can all choose who we become, and that's the important part. Maybe it's all an illusion and our lives and genetics shape us irrevocably, but without that illusion of "free will", what's worth fighting for? If our identities aren't our own in some way, if we are slaves to our pasts and our blood, where's our real identity, in the first place? Who are we if not that spark of "I will!" or "I won't!" that can define our varying potentials into a single point of belief?
(And by this measure, I really do think that Snape is a real hero in his own way, clearly. Not because he joined the "good side" or whatever, but because he chose to overcome-- while clearly retaining whatever he thought he was, at least at the surface. Neville & Ginny, ditto-- but Snape had a lot more to overcome. After all, he probably despised most of the people he was now 'joining'-- they tormented him and probably drove him to being a Death Eater in the first place! But evidently, he chose to say 'fuck them!' in the best way possible-- by living his life regardless, even though he's still pretty bitter and obsessed with the past. It's like, he only overcame just enough, but not enough to fully free himself by far.)
Perhaps that's it-- perhaps it doesn't matter whether we -can- shape our future and thus ourselves-- perhaps all that matters is that we -believe- and that faith in itself defines us. That in itself, is a fight against a self-fulfilling prophecy of a sort-- the prophecy that was given to each of us at birth-- we are where we are and when we are. Our intelligence molded by our parents and our schooling, our independence molded by the freedoms allowed to us, and our friendships and loves drawn from whoever gets to us first.
It's true that most people do live like that-- but I wouldn't say it's a sign of our intrinsic weak nature, of the necessity of it. Most people wouldn't even believe they could choose if someone told them. It seems so obvious, doesn't it? This is our lives, and what else can we do but live them? How can one imagine being outside of everything one knows, and remain oneself?
Is it possible, then, for Draco to one day realize that it's a good thing Harry Potter didn't take his hand that day? Is it possible for him to realize that Harry chose his future rather than surrendering to one he didn't want because it was the one first presented to him, just as he, Draco, could choose his?
In the books, of course, he won't-- because he's the contrast, isn't he-- he's the one who accepts the illusion of his past defining him. And yet, that's why I refuse to see him as weak-- as fated to be who he is and go down the predictable path-- that's how I want to redeem him. Even if in the books, he's not free, I want to make him free. And once that happens, the weakness, the whole issue of being in Harry's shadow, unnoticed, unloved-- it disappears. He won't need Harry or his father to love him or notice him. He may want that still, but he won't need it. He will have learned who he is, apart from others, apart from his past. Just him, Draco.
Still Malfoy, still everything he'd always been, but also different-- like a fractal that had mutated once, twice, and then a million times.
Alone, maybe-- but more importantly, a separate individual-- just Draco.
Outside of Harry's story, which had so long defined him: in his own story now.
And if he wants, he could then meet 'just Harry', or he could leave him to live his own life without needing to even say that he understands now. He won't be trapped in a codependent relationship where his needs are provided for by someone else and his holes plugged by a mix of illusion and fear and need and his future defined by someone else's vision. Because clearly, Harry has his own vision of how things "should" be and if Draco doesn't have an equally vivid one of his own, he'd always be in check.
Brian Kinney was right, though-- the best revenge is living a good life-- the life you want; otherwise you'd always be victimized by those who once hurt you or dominated your will. (And I suppose that's going to be poor Justin's lesson in life this season-- good thing he has Counselor Brian, heheh.) Checkmate, Harry Potter.
Now, maybe it's Harry who won't understand, though I hope he will, by the end.
We can all be heroes, isn't that the point? Even Brian Kinney-- or especially Brian Kinney, Selfish Bastard and clearly Slytherin extraordinaire, right? Even if just for a day. Any day we choose to be. Free to will.
Duuuude!!
I've been so lazy and I haven't seen the last 5 eps of QAF and I finally downloaded and watched the first one, and omg, I'd forgotten how much I loved it!! Dude!! The only disturbing-icky part was the Ben/Michael sex, because... no. But! OMG the... *gurgle*... yes, okay, the Brian/Justin, okay I admit it, ack. Brian kissed him! On! The! Cheek!...!.. (he is so in love it is almost painful... except NOT)!! Aaaah! And! Said all sorts of! Romantic! Things! ...like... well... Justin was the one with the romantic things to say ("it was love to me" = GUH), but then Brian just sort of melted and I think I was squealing. Loudly. In my head. (I feel... junior high-schoolish and yet....) They are so... the... cutest evar!!1
And the dialogue is. Jumping! Was it always like that? They're all so adorable. Even Michael(!?... wtf? cute bonding with Hunter!) And... aww, Ted & Emmett make me sad. But not too sad, because Brian makes me happy, oh-so-happy, wah.
It's amazing how much Brian has really changed-- become more balanced... it's almost like he -glows- or something (or maybe he always did-- I mean, this -is- Brian). It's like... he's really showing affection so much more, and he seems... on top of things, except in a good way, but not an over-the-top compensating sort of way. Seriously, how can anyone not love him? He shines.
Yes, I'm a Brian whore. Wahah, I admit it! I mean, I was always saying "...but Justin!!" and now... I've seen the
EDIT - um. clearly... I spoke too soon. *gurgles & DIES!!1*
~~
And... I was also thinking about... stuff (again).
Like... do we choose who we become?
I know, it's kind of a biggie, but. I'm obsessed with it, in my own little way.
I think that's one of the things that confuse people about some stuff I say, because I think most people assume we just deal with the cards we're dealt in terms of our drives and needs and attitudes, right? And I think my unspoken assumption sometimes is that in the end, it's not a question of either nature -or- nurture, but of the choices we can make to overcome both those things. It's like... everyone has a range of potential no one can guess at, lurking within them, and it's a question of whether or not one chooses-- and believes that they're capable of choosing-- to become their better self. Choosing one's own best destiny.
So... looking at it that way... one can always at least strive to become smarter, stronger, fitter in whatever way. Or one can choose to pander to one's perceived flaws and admit defeat without much of a fight-- let the proof be in the pudding, so to speak. One can say "this is who I am", end of story, refusing to admit that identity is malleable and the future, unlike the past, is in our hands.
That's JKR's overall point, isn't it?
That's supposed to be the main difference between Harry and Draco, isn't it? That Harry chose not to accept the situations handed to him, that Harry has to learn to choose what he wants and believes in even in the face of a prophecy that is supposedly going to determine the future. What do you want to bet Harry's going to somehow subvert that prophecy, btw?
It really seems like Harry's discovery of free will is at the center of his journey.
I do believe it, I guess, so it's hypocritical to pose it as a question-- I do believe we may not choose who we are, but we can all choose who we become, and that's the important part. Maybe it's all an illusion and our lives and genetics shape us irrevocably, but without that illusion of "free will", what's worth fighting for? If our identities aren't our own in some way, if we are slaves to our pasts and our blood, where's our real identity, in the first place? Who are we if not that spark of "I will!" or "I won't!" that can define our varying potentials into a single point of belief?
(And by this measure, I really do think that Snape is a real hero in his own way, clearly. Not because he joined the "good side" or whatever, but because he chose to overcome-- while clearly retaining whatever he thought he was, at least at the surface. Neville & Ginny, ditto-- but Snape had a lot more to overcome. After all, he probably despised most of the people he was now 'joining'-- they tormented him and probably drove him to being a Death Eater in the first place! But evidently, he chose to say 'fuck them!' in the best way possible-- by living his life regardless, even though he's still pretty bitter and obsessed with the past. It's like, he only overcame just enough, but not enough to fully free himself by far.)
Perhaps that's it-- perhaps it doesn't matter whether we -can- shape our future and thus ourselves-- perhaps all that matters is that we -believe- and that faith in itself defines us. That in itself, is a fight against a self-fulfilling prophecy of a sort-- the prophecy that was given to each of us at birth-- we are where we are and when we are. Our intelligence molded by our parents and our schooling, our independence molded by the freedoms allowed to us, and our friendships and loves drawn from whoever gets to us first.
It's true that most people do live like that-- but I wouldn't say it's a sign of our intrinsic weak nature, of the necessity of it. Most people wouldn't even believe they could choose if someone told them. It seems so obvious, doesn't it? This is our lives, and what else can we do but live them? How can one imagine being outside of everything one knows, and remain oneself?
Is it possible, then, for Draco to one day realize that it's a good thing Harry Potter didn't take his hand that day? Is it possible for him to realize that Harry chose his future rather than surrendering to one he didn't want because it was the one first presented to him, just as he, Draco, could choose his?
In the books, of course, he won't-- because he's the contrast, isn't he-- he's the one who accepts the illusion of his past defining him. And yet, that's why I refuse to see him as weak-- as fated to be who he is and go down the predictable path-- that's how I want to redeem him. Even if in the books, he's not free, I want to make him free. And once that happens, the weakness, the whole issue of being in Harry's shadow, unnoticed, unloved-- it disappears. He won't need Harry or his father to love him or notice him. He may want that still, but he won't need it. He will have learned who he is, apart from others, apart from his past. Just him, Draco.
Still Malfoy, still everything he'd always been, but also different-- like a fractal that had mutated once, twice, and then a million times.
Alone, maybe-- but more importantly, a separate individual-- just Draco.
Outside of Harry's story, which had so long defined him: in his own story now.
And if he wants, he could then meet 'just Harry', or he could leave him to live his own life without needing to even say that he understands now. He won't be trapped in a codependent relationship where his needs are provided for by someone else and his holes plugged by a mix of illusion and fear and need and his future defined by someone else's vision. Because clearly, Harry has his own vision of how things "should" be and if Draco doesn't have an equally vivid one of his own, he'd always be in check.
Brian Kinney was right, though-- the best revenge is living a good life-- the life you want; otherwise you'd always be victimized by those who once hurt you or dominated your will. (And I suppose that's going to be poor Justin's lesson in life this season-- good thing he has Counselor Brian, heheh.) Checkmate, Harry Potter.
Now, maybe it's Harry who won't understand, though I hope he will, by the end.
We can all be heroes, isn't that the point? Even Brian Kinney-- or especially Brian Kinney, Selfish Bastard and clearly Slytherin extraordinaire, right? Even if just for a day. Any day we choose to be. Free to will.
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A skewed pov of Slytherin
Date: 2004-05-27 12:35 am (UTC)But, of course, when we think about it as an adult-realistic story and not just a fun cartoon fairytale... it makes no sense! Why would there be an evil house? How did a half-blood like Riddle get in if pure blood was supposed to be such a big deal to Slytherin? How likely is it that they're *all* nasty future death eaters? Pansy is an idiot and Millicent joins Umbridge's little squad and not 1 Slyth comes to one of Hermi-I mean, Harry's meetings? Not 1 Slyth Harry's age seems even kinda ok?
For me, the problem is that JKR doesn't give us any real implications that the Harry-book pov isn't 100% correct on the matter of the Slytherins. And she could do it without Harry having a change of heart... If she wanted to show the reader that there were some not-eeevil Slytherins, all she had to do was note some of them playing exploding snap or doing their homework or being a nice partner to Dean in potions. Many ways for the pov to explicitly say one thing and imply another. And, done right it can add this cool, subtle tension, and an extra layer of characterization. But... I don't think JRK is working the "what pov says about reality vs. what this implies about reality" disparity at all. (for the Slyth/Draco matter, at least)
And, there should be a disparity, right? The Slytherins can't all be nasty. It's completely illogical, not to mention dehumanizing. But JKR gives us no contradictory implications, so we're left with "... this shit makes no sense. Maybe Harry doesn't notice things. He has to be misunderstanding some other stuff. Ag, canon is fighting with logic... whatever, let's make up some fairly likely stuff to fill in the gaping blanks."
This makes me human in my eyes, and I am naturally going to challenge a narrative that asks me to dismiss him as inhuman. :)
I think many readers are missing this pov vs realty disparity, and supplying their own since JKR hasn't given us potloads. It's not author-sanctioned subtext, but who cares, right? JKR has kinda fallen down on the job with this one in a way, so now there are many different ways any fan could go. It seems to me that you fight with the simplistic premise of the text itself on the Slytherins. That requires a lot of personal invention though, with not much (canon-based) to pin it on. So not everyone will agree, and there's not much you can use to "prove" yourself one way or another. (So, I think many Slytherin-centric fics really stand or fall on the author's skill)
I'm more of an obedient weenie, and want to toe the canon line as much as possible when exploring other possibilities. I like to see some kind of reflection of the canon as I recognize it--I feel like the characters are being maligned or glamorized otherwise--but, you know... also with guys having kinky sex. ^^;;
(It might just be that everyone has their bits of canon interpretation they need to be present, and everyone has the things that they can let go of)
Re: A skewed pov of Slytherin
Date: 2004-05-27 01:00 am (UTC)Anyway, that phrase is central: "canon as I recognize it". It's really wacky, the amount of impact a reader has on a text, really. I subscribe to the idea that a book as we actually experience it is really a collaboration between the reader & the writer. It doesn't really exist except in this in-between limbo of their input and your output of expectation, past experience, language/plot sensitivity and personal character-type & situation bias. Everyone reads a different story in the end-- sometimes subtly and sometimes wildly so. I'm just fascinated by the variations in the templates, myself~:) (Prolly why I like fanfic. Some people can't stand variation from what they see as The One True Template, so they can't stand fanfic.)
Often enough, I can convince myself I just want Harry & Draco to understand each other, to really -bond- or something, y'know. Viva le reslash! Etc. And then... yeah :> I remember I want them to have wild moneky sex, too. Or maybe, especially. ^^; And yet, I'm unhappy if it's hate-sex. I hate being known for writing that, 'cause I don't actually -like- the idea, y'know? I mean, antagonistic!sex is great (...friction!), but hate-sex sounds like mutual rape or something :/
I've lost my point again, haven't I ^^;
Re: A skewed pov of Slytherin
Date: 2004-05-27 05:15 pm (UTC)^^;;
But I do think that there are some "interpretations" that are just... more wishful thinking and fantasy fulfillment that any logical extrapolation from the text. Naturally, those are fine when they hit one of my lame kinks, but when they hit one of my annoyance buttons, they are Evil and Wrong.
Re: A skewed pov of Slytherin
Date: 2004-05-27 05:25 pm (UTC)