SNS has come a long way since early interpretations.
When you’re a dumb immature teen and think that ship dynamics are all about sex, you tend to simplify it to the Top and the Bottom because fujoshi tropes were so pervasive in shipping culture.
Whereas it’s really not about sex, it’s about who’s pursuing and who is being pursued. It’s about The Chase, which is fluid. These characteristics can easily swap depending on the situation. You could draw broad patterns if you want, like clearly Naruto is more actively trying to deepen their bond in part 2 whereas Sasuke was more active in deepening their bond in part 1.
It’s sooo funny how you can trace how the fandom interpretation has evolved like
Pre-Time Skip
Sasuke: *checks on him when he misses a meal* *trains with him all night* *let’s him put an arm around him* *jumps in front of him to save him* *tells him to not give up on his dream* *smirks at him acknowledging he’s strong* *wants to fight him the most* *impressed by him* *inspired by him to keep fighting*
Naruto: Grrrr mr. #1 rookie, stuck up jerk, always making me look bad in front of everyone I’LL SHOW HIM! One day I’m gonna catch up to him it’s gonna ME who gets the attention!
Post-Time Skip
Naruto: Sasuke you’re important to me, pls listen! BABY COME BACK!
Sasuke: (“oh so NOW you want me? I been dropping hints since we were 12 thanks for noticing”)
Genin Sasuke was SO nice to Naruto. He was the FIRST one who said “You’ve become my closest friend.” As emotionally closed off as he was, he said this before Naruto who then wasn’t clear on the full extent of his feelings and continued to refer to Sasuke as a “comrade or teammate.” Sasuke saying that shocked him into looking inward and finally admitting that their bond ran much deeper than a teammate. As we know, in Shippuden, Naruto is HAULING ASS and going to insane lengths to get closer to Sasuke, who severed their bond for the sake of his goal. Almost like making up for what could have been and realizing what he took for granted.
What I’m saying is that both SasuNaru and NaruSasu flavors are valid to me. It’s more about the emotional pursuit / the push and pull of their emotional journey than about what they do in the bedroom.
Let’s try to understand what queer representation looks like (Slovenia) in media from the 70s to 2000s…we’re gonna connect that to current fandom culture and discourse.
For those watching/listening, I touch on Voltron fandom near the 38:35 and how discourse correlates to homophobic propaganda.
:: Last month I wanted to connect the need for representation to children’s targeted media and this is the path I’m gonna follow since it’s my biggest passion and I enjoyed making last month’s radio program/podcast. Let’s get into part one…
:: Let’s try to understand what queer representation looks like (Slovenia) in media
:: Next, I’m going to talk about what fandom is and when it comes to queer fandom, what we seek (our experience reflected), shipping (relationships), het ships vs queer ships, lgbt tropes, fanfiction and au’s, (frozen, harry potter will be mentioned) and what happens when you see discourse, which is something that is becoming more prominent these days in fandoms when it comes to queerness and a need for representation but we need intersectionality and an understanding of what fans are and are not entitled to. We’re gonna get academic here with nerd stuff!
:: Queer Fandom, Shipping, fanfics & au’s, het ships and queer ships. Who knows if I’ll get to my next point.
Links:
MediaWatch – Media Representation of Homosexuality: An Analysis of the Print Media in Slovenia
