An Analysis on Controversial Shippings and the Concept of Lo
Aug 13, 2016 20:53:40 GMT -5
Kooliana likes this
Post by Basement Cat on Aug 13, 2016 20:53:40 GMT -5
I'm bringing back some of my analysis..es. This is one of them that I enjoyed viewing.
Note: This is NOT intended to bash on people who ship these characters, or even tell them to ship a certain character. It is an analysis of reasons for why they might be shipped. It is also not a rant or an invitation to post a giant debate rant.
I’ll explain the three ships I’m trying to analyze, as each corresponds to a type of ship common in this fandom.
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The first one is AshXScourge. To be honest, I don’t really understand this ship, as their sole interaction is Ashpaw making fun of Scourge. But then I realized, the point isn’t to understand it. It’s quite literally shipped to be shipped. After viewing the fanfiction, drawings, and posts on this popular pairing (popularity has decline since 2010 and 2011), I realized it wasn’t based on love. It’s based on desire. It is so popular because both have the motive of revenge, so both have a common motive. Both are working towards that concept of revenge and being wronged (well, Scourge was wronged, Ashfur became delusional), and both have a likable status, though Ashfur’s has greatly declined. And hey, maybe shippers just like the idea of the two of them together.
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The next shipping is HawkXIvy. Years ago, back when I was more biased (and naive), I used to ship this. But I didn’t really have a reason, I just liked them together. Now, I think I know a bit about why they’re popular, so popular that Vicky had to disprove that Ivypool or Hawkfrost did not love one another.
One reason is because of the concept of redemption. Fans think Ivypool could change Hawkfrost to a good guy (cat) if she fell in love with him. Love redeems…right? In this case, this concept is wrong. Hawkfrost might seem nice and kind on the surface, but he’s a cruel and vicious character behind the benign mask he uses to gain character’s trust. And Ivypool certainly wouldn’t trust him after she discovered the Dark Forest’s true nature.
Another reason is because of the lure of corruption, on Ivypool’s side of the ship. So many things, from books to theatre have a dark character twist and corrupt a more innocent and naive character, making them just as corrupted. It was also thought Ivypaw would become a villain, which would make the shipping HawkXIvy a kind of ‘evil duo’, so to speak. So if they’re evil like the other it’s okay, right? As humans, we are naturally attracted to trouble, but are usually intelligent enough to avoid it. People also like the bad boy/girl archetype. Everyone has dark desires, which characters like Hawkfrost can exploit.
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The final shipping is HollyXSol. This shipping actually died out a few years ago, but it was very popular before TFW. Of the three listed, this one actually makes the most sense. Sol is manipulative enough to use cats, even in a false relationship to achieve his goals, and Hollyleaf showed interest in Sol, and is also attracted to power and ambition in PoT, and power is what Sol seemingly had. She even notes she could move past their ideologically opposed viewpoints.
I think this ship was liked because of the concept of corruption as well. Evil!Hollyleaf, before TFW, was quite popular, and paired her with Sol as her partner in crime. However, it also deals with the idea of free will. Since Hollyleaf was thought to be seeking vengeance, she would willingly go to Sol in order to achieve her vengeance. Thus, of her own choice. We like to be able to have free will and make our own choices, which usually is reflected in the characters.
On the flip side, there’s also the concept of no free will, or being bound to your ambitions/desires. Which is basically Hollyleaf blindly following Sol without question, in infatuation. This is out of character for her, but I’ve seen this before.
Finally, there’s the concept of falling in love with your arch nemesis, which started to appear after TFW. People ship HollyXSol because they’re arch enemies.
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Thoughts? Anything? I dunno, I just post my analysis of things.
Note: This is NOT intended to bash on people who ship these characters, or even tell them to ship a certain character. It is an analysis of reasons for why they might be shipped. It is also not a rant or an invitation to post a giant debate rant.
I’ll explain the three ships I’m trying to analyze, as each corresponds to a type of ship common in this fandom.
-
The first one is AshXScourge. To be honest, I don’t really understand this ship, as their sole interaction is Ashpaw making fun of Scourge. But then I realized, the point isn’t to understand it. It’s quite literally shipped to be shipped. After viewing the fanfiction, drawings, and posts on this popular pairing (popularity has decline since 2010 and 2011), I realized it wasn’t based on love. It’s based on desire. It is so popular because both have the motive of revenge, so both have a common motive. Both are working towards that concept of revenge and being wronged (well, Scourge was wronged, Ashfur became delusional), and both have a likable status, though Ashfur’s has greatly declined. And hey, maybe shippers just like the idea of the two of them together.
-
The next shipping is HawkXIvy. Years ago, back when I was more biased (and naive), I used to ship this. But I didn’t really have a reason, I just liked them together. Now, I think I know a bit about why they’re popular, so popular that Vicky had to disprove that Ivypool or Hawkfrost did not love one another.
One reason is because of the concept of redemption. Fans think Ivypool could change Hawkfrost to a good guy (cat) if she fell in love with him. Love redeems…right? In this case, this concept is wrong. Hawkfrost might seem nice and kind on the surface, but he’s a cruel and vicious character behind the benign mask he uses to gain character’s trust. And Ivypool certainly wouldn’t trust him after she discovered the Dark Forest’s true nature.
Another reason is because of the lure of corruption, on Ivypool’s side of the ship. So many things, from books to theatre have a dark character twist and corrupt a more innocent and naive character, making them just as corrupted. It was also thought Ivypaw would become a villain, which would make the shipping HawkXIvy a kind of ‘evil duo’, so to speak. So if they’re evil like the other it’s okay, right? As humans, we are naturally attracted to trouble, but are usually intelligent enough to avoid it. People also like the bad boy/girl archetype. Everyone has dark desires, which characters like Hawkfrost can exploit.
-
The final shipping is HollyXSol. This shipping actually died out a few years ago, but it was very popular before TFW. Of the three listed, this one actually makes the most sense. Sol is manipulative enough to use cats, even in a false relationship to achieve his goals, and Hollyleaf showed interest in Sol, and is also attracted to power and ambition in PoT, and power is what Sol seemingly had. She even notes she could move past their ideologically opposed viewpoints.
I think this ship was liked because of the concept of corruption as well. Evil!Hollyleaf, before TFW, was quite popular, and paired her with Sol as her partner in crime. However, it also deals with the idea of free will. Since Hollyleaf was thought to be seeking vengeance, she would willingly go to Sol in order to achieve her vengeance. Thus, of her own choice. We like to be able to have free will and make our own choices, which usually is reflected in the characters.
On the flip side, there’s also the concept of no free will, or being bound to your ambitions/desires. Which is basically Hollyleaf blindly following Sol without question, in infatuation. This is out of character for her, but I’ve seen this before.
Finally, there’s the concept of falling in love with your arch nemesis, which started to appear after TFW. People ship HollyXSol because they’re arch enemies.
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Thoughts? Anything? I dunno, I just post my analysis of things.
