( SPN s1 promo & Origins 2 cover - cut to spare your flist the images if you're not interested )

Naturally, I printed out that Origins 2 cover and pinned it up where I have to look at it 9-5, four days a week. That is to say, right next to the other Supernatural promo poster I have (see images behind cut tag above!).

I love the way Sale's modelled the Origins image so closely on that first promo shot. The car with the headlight in the background is the most obvious, of course; but also in both the promo poster and the Origins cover, Sam and Dean are practically posed exactly the same way. Dean has that braced stance and the vicious-and-determined expression; Sam is looking back/side-on over his shoulder a step or two behind and to the left of Dean, with that inscrutable expression (in both!).

In both images the background sky has that kind of underwater/electric green tint and distorted texture to it. Only of course, where in the promo Dean has his shotgun held down in by his thigh, Papa has his giant Winchester rifle over his shoulder. The rifle also brings into the Origins cover that dark, heavy, aggressive angle that's drawn from Dean's gun through to his upraised arm in the promo.

I love that in the promo you can see the bit of the license plate that you can't see in the Origins cover (and vice versa).

The only thing that's bugging me about Sale's art is that the car's missing its right headlights *g*

It's been a while since I've meta'ed!

( short, but cut for S2 aired episodes spoilers )

Everyone should go read nixwilliams's Dean & the Metallicar meta (spoilers for 2.02), for it is EXTREMELY clevar and nix is just generally BRILLIANT all around and you should be in constant awe of his brain, as indeed I am.

GO.

Apologies for the spam-posting today. La la.

( cut for spoilers )

Also, I have an icon from 2.02, if you don't want to be spoiled, don't look at my userpics.

Every time I see a meta around of "OMG! What if Darth Vader the Demon really IS Sam's father?" I get kinda sulky and peevish, because dude, I conspiracy-theoried that in February (see also: my constant referall to 'cuckoos').

I say this with a tone of mild indignance because I remember when I mentioned it i was CRUELLY CUT DOWN with cries of "that's stupid!" or, okay, more like "there's no WAY John isn't Sam's father!"

Until, well, you mostly convinced me.

Mainly I'm doubtful that that conspiracy theory is true at *this* point, because I honestly don't think there's any way that they'll make Sam and Dean *not brothers*. (Partly, because that's just too GAY for tv.) I think there might be some doubt introduced, to ramp up the angst, but... Sam will still be Dean's brother, and John's son.

I'll still use the 'cuckoo' term, though, because there *is* something about those kiddies, and Celine *was* there for a reason at some point. blah blah blah, familial symbology, etc.

Okay, that's enough bitter-old-fangirl for today *g*

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( eta 2: )

Also, warning: I've just uploaded an icon using a screencap from 2.01. So if you're avoiding spoilers, avoid my userpics page. I'll only use it for commenting until, like, next week.

Probably I'll edit this post as I think of more things.

I think it's one of the potential drawbacks of slash that its very existence to an extent denies the possibility of homoerotic subtext in gen stories.

And yeah, okay, I know all you SPN readers out there will be "wtf! in gen stories they sleep in the same bed and give each other baths ALL THE TIME!" but, okay - frequently I also notice stories posted with notes like "subtexty wincest" or "pre-slash" or "you can read this as slash if you want" or "hints of slash".

In other words. SUBTEXT. Slash's existence potentially excises homoerotic subtext from non-slash stories: because as soon as there's subtext, frequently authors feel they have to re-classify. Which means a whole lot of things, most on the side of the audience reception to the story.

More than a few of the gen stories I really, really love - in this fandom and other fandoms - have strong subtext. That is just subtext. Juicy, homoerotic subtext. Which is satisfying in its own right; something completely other than slash. If I'm looking for slash to read, I won't be satisfied by something that's just subtext. And if I'm reading a gen story about a same-sex partnership, I'd be disappointed - even unsatisfied - if it was strikingly lacking in subtext.

Interestingly problematic division there, I reckon.

Interesting in terms of SPN specifically too; the text itself has such a strong subtext and text of emotional and physical intimacy; a queer reading of it is quite easy. It's fascinating watching people classify their stories as slash or non-slash when they re-create or even emphasise just a little the intimacy that occurs on the show itself.

You may or may not have noticed, but I appear to have become fixated on the character of John Winchester. Of course, this is largely due to the influence of monkeycrackmary and derryderrydown, but it's nonetheless... weird. I am very familiar with the old falling-in-love-with-a-character thing, but this is not that. I totally fell for Sam and Dean quite a while ago, and that translates into squeeing and lusting and reading everything I can about them. But I don't really lust after John. I'm just... compelled by him. I have no particular urge to read fic about him, slash or gen, though I do enjoy it if it's well done. Would click on a Sam/Dean story sooner than I'd click on a John story, though.

But when it comes to writing, and metaing, and constantly thinking? John. The majority of what I've written lately has been Johnfic, and the next few bunnies I've got/am working on are all John stories.

( cut for Dean/John meta )


In, er, somewhat related news:

Prelude
John/Dean, PWP, rated R.
Custom-made for derryderrydown *g*

Okay, next on the bill for John-meta: wee!Winchesters.

I keep on typing "meat" instead of "meta".

Here is the transcript of the non-fic/guide/meta piece I recorded for EVP 5: Hunts & Creatures (gen). Follow the link to download the edition. Otherwise, below the cut!

I'm really interested in what listeners think about this kind of non-fic piece in the podcast. No one else stuck their hand up for this kind of thing, so it's really a test run. So, if you listened - feedback!


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Today I watched From Dusk Till Dawn again.

I've now come to the conclusion that Seth and Richie Gecko are actually Dean and Sam Winchester, with the glamour that they're "ghost hunters" filtered out of our view. Yep, they're just delusional psycho killers.

( visual aids to demonstrate similarities )

Though, I have to admit, the idea of Quentin Tarantino playing Sam Winchester appeals to me about as much as that suggestion of David Schwimmer playing Frodo.

Still, the similarities between the bros are quite... creepy. Like, really; you could read FDTD as the Winchesters without the filter of delusion. Richie's blatant hallucinatory state in it could easily be a delusional Sam (it's all falling into place, now...) and Seth has the same talkative performance of the masculinity cliches that Dean does. And the same dynamic, fucked up - All Seth cares about is taking care of Richie, and of course - the money they've heisted.

ETA: and there's this thing in FDTD where Richie is always absently/dopily smooshing his hair forward and his bangs down over his forehead. Seth is always running his hands through it and pushing them back. OH, BROTHERS. TOUCHING. *incoherent glee noises*

I want to write a story where Sam and Dean go looking for El Ray. Or Dean runs into Seth while Sam's at college. Or they run into Kate.

Speaking of Kate - Kat in 1.10 Asylum? is most definitely a Kate ripoff. And there are other shots - of Seth, mainly, that have been lifted and shot with Dean. I LOVE MY SHOW.

Man, there are so many quotes from this film I want to make SPN icons of.


My Season 1 DVDs shipped today. I can't wait til I can watch in full colour and make screencaps of my own! homg!

In other news, here's a question: When it comes to the differences in spelling across different cultures' use of English (US English vs. British English, etc), especially on a global publishing field such as the internet, should the fanfic writer:

- Use their native culture's version of English OR
- Use the version of English native to the original text or character?

I can see a case for it in first-person stories (personally, I'd get a kick out of writing it with the spelling the character would use), but what about when it's third person? Of course, there needs to be consistency across a story, so if you're saying organise you shouldn't be saying color. Though it'd be interesting to see different cultural spellings for dialogue and narrative.

As an example (or two):
- Harry Potter fanfic authors should never 'drop-the-U'.
- John Winchester organizes (not organises) his life around vengeance.

And yep, this is in response to a beta I just got back (*waves* hoo boy, it's been so many years since I've had a proper beta reader, it's kind of scary!). I'm intrigued as to what other folk think about this.

monkeycrackmary has a really interesting post/discussion going on about gender in Supernatural, here. Partly in comparison to gender in BtvS.

Note to self: Stop commenting on that damn post!


eta: Whoa. So people liked my story, huh?

As much as Dean is beta to John's alpha, he's also totally pussy-whipped by Sam.

Or rather, as much as Dean is pussy-whipped by Sam, he's totally beta to John's alpha.

When it comes to making decisions etc, Dean will always succumb to Sam's giant gleaming eyeballs look. See: Skin ("But St Louis is four hours behind us! No fucking way." *giant gleaming eyeballs* *car turns around*), Nightmare ("Promise me you'll follow my lead on this one!" etc).

So I think a good part of what pisses Sam off so much about the remote orders from Daddy-O via text message is that it's pretty much the only time that Dean won't budge to Sam's will. Because no matter how much Sam bitches and whines and threatens and goes all chibi-eyed, if Dad's given orders, Dean will follow them. Sam's bugged by the fact there are orders at all, sure, but he's also bugged by the fact that John's above him in the pecking order. Not that he cares so much that Dean's on the bottom. Well, he feels incensed on Dean's behalf that John orders him around like a good little soldier, but feels no such qualms when it's Sam himself ordering Dean around (because you know, their techniques are different!).

Not that Dean's complaining. I doubt that Dean angsts about being below them in the pecking order, I think he just wants their orders to be the same.

This post lives at the top of my livejournal and serves as an index for all my Supernatural fanworks including fic, vids, meta, and picspam/mediaspam. Alternatively, you can use the links above to jump to the tagged entries etc.

Fanfiction's listed in chronological order; newest first (where not a sequel).


Projects
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Fanfiction
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Songvids
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Meta
( Read more... )

Picspam & other media
( Read more... )

Firstly, disclaimer: this is not a mocking or wank-emulating post. Let me say from the outset (if you're not already familiar with my LJ) that when I say 'I love this stuff', I'm not being sarcastic - I really do love the out-there shit that fandom does. I absolutely adore it. I can't express how much glee and joy it gives me, unless that expression is a career plotted as a fan scholar in order to record and celebrate this kind of awesomeness.

And I'm not singling these kinds of 'unusual' plots as a quality judgement. I'm serious when I'm saying I'm not mocking them. I'm not suggesting that people *not* write these kinds of stories, dear god NO! they're a hugely important ingredient in the giant fandom mixing pot, I believe, and though they taste different to other kinds or styles or genres of stories, it doesn't mean they're not an important component of the recipe for a delicious meal. Fandom experience. thing. Yaknow? even if you prefer anchovies to capers, or bacon to tofu.

People get joy from writing these (why else do people write?). Other people get joy from reading them. Not everyone does, and not everyone's joy is the same. But those are not reasons for people - for anyone to stop writing. They're reasons to *keep* writing.

But anyway. I'm sure at least half of you can tell what thread of discussion (and outrage) I've been reading over the flist in the last couple of days :)

All that said, here are my top favourite cracked-out SPN fic scenarios. These are the ones I tell all my friends about to demonstrate how crazy-awesome fan brains are, and how permissable the Supernatural canon (and the fandom environment) really is. I'm typing this in my breaks at work, so possibly I'll look up the actual story URLs at some later date. Feel free to share your own favourites in the comments!

( cut for length and potential NSFW-ness )


I shall add more as I think of them omg. *crushes fandom to bosom*

I love the little subtle Sam characterisation stuff that comes through in the earlier episodes. Not as heavy-handed as shouting about how I Was Never Good Enough For Daddy and that kind of stuff, but the subtle acting stuff that really reverberates.

Specifically:

- Sam's interactions with Becky in Skin. Comparatively, they're pretty subtle. The whole "Little Becky" thing when he first sees her, then HIS LITTLE FACE when he says "I miss you guys too" during the hug at the end. They are pretty damn subtle things, that speak volumes about the fact that, yaknow, it's not like Sam was doing *nothing* before Dean came along. He had a life, friends, people who loved him, and he misses them. A lot.

- Sam's behaviour around the frat/frat party at the college in Hookman. Not only does he outright say to Dean that "This wasn't really my college experience" and yeah, he spent most of the time studying in the library; but on closer observation he's pretty nervous and uncomfortable around all the frat stuff. When they first go into the house, Sam's totally stepping on Dean's heels and looking somewhat alarmed, at the party he's not really any better. Whereas Dean's quite comfortable in both situations. Sam is a freaking introvert :)

- Also, it's something I never picked up on that strongly until after I'd seen Nightmare, but that progression of Sam keeping the secret of his premonitions from Dean, the way it plays out through Bloody Mary to Home to Nightmare... Sam being terrified of how Dean will react, not to the idea that Sam could have been the cause of Jess's death... but that Sam's a bit of a supernatural freak himself. That's played quite well, I think - subtly, powerfully. And like, John is all "something like this happens, you pick up the phone and call me!" - something that Dean doesn't really answer properly. After Nightmare he doesn't try and call John. That could be from John's blowoffs after Home and Faith, but I think it's just as likely Dean protecting Sam, because Sam's anxiety about becoming what they hunt is not entirely misplaced, I think.


Other things:

I can't believe I missed it before (must have been in the heat of the moment, yaknow), but in Home, after Dean's hauled Jenny out of the house, and Sam has carried the children down the stairs and knows that he has to stay to fight off the Big Bad, he says to them verbatim what John said to Dean: "Take your brother outside as fast as you can and don't look back. Go!" Which is not unexpected in Supernatural, fer frig's sake, it's not the most subtle of shows when it comes to things like that, but I am still cooing a little at it because Sam didn't even know until like, the day before, that Dean had carried him out of the house. There's no way he's going to know the exact words John spoke to Dean. It just makes me a little n'aww and happy and *x-files music*.