Shipper tendencies

[gategrrl]

Can someone explain to me why there's such a compelling need to sexualize and Romantic-ize characters? I've been there myself, but I seem to have gone past that as a "serious" endeavor. I'll *play* with characters and their sexuality -- but the *need* to pair them up romantically just isn't a priority, and it seems so unnecessary, and somewhat Mary Sueish, especially if it's certain types of het and slash writing.

It's not so much the sexualizing -- that I get, it's fun to imagine your favorite characters whupping it up with the whipped cream and cherries, and get down and dirty and sweaty. But at the same time, what I'm puzzled more about is the need to Harlequinnize decent characters who already have complex, nonsexual relationships with each other, that get totally boring when they DO get together.

Anyone?

Comments

[graculus.livejournal.com]

Taking it back to my original question -- WTF is it with *needing* to pair perfectly fine characters up in a compulsive need for Romance?

Sam Carter Syndrome? What use am I as an individual if I am not part of a couple? Does it matter if I can split the atom and negotiate peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians while also whipping up a nice cheese souffle when if I don't have a man I am worthless and useless?

There are loads of people out there whose self-worth is solely predicated by who they're with rather than who they are or what they accomplish. Societal pressures on women still push for them to be part of a couple rather than an individual and shipper tendencies are just that in spades.