This was great. We have constructed fantasy literary and television worlds around the desire for men to not be creatures of lust but rather of sentimentality, and it is kind of depressing to say the least.
I’ve never thought about New Girl through the Snow White lens before, but the comparison makes the early episodes look completely different. This was an excellent read!!!
Bringing in OC to this is a great way of emphasizing the point; so much romance series does end up with the male characters being good friends to women and stand up men overall. I'm surprised I hadn't clocked this myself as part of why these stories are appealing. It's not just the romance, it's the support structure and the brothers by choice.
I related so much to your first two paragraphs!! I also grew up not that interested in boys, not wanting to send the wrong message to them. At university, I met some guys I genuinely thought proved me wrong, we became great friends until they disappointed me. It feels really dehumanizing to find out that you were treated kindly just because someone wants something from you. I haven't seen New Girl (you really sell it though, I might give it a go) nor Off Campus, but I always think of Marty from Gilmore Girls as a really realistic portrayal of, seemingly, that university canon event of befriending a guy and thinking that you're on the same page. Mind you, Rory was not an angel in that situation (if i recall correctly), but she and his girlfriend both deserved better
So interesting! I think a lot of creative work is made through fantasy. I feel this same way about the “rough old guy who adopts a kid” trope. People are infatuated with it BECAUSE of what many of them experienced with their fathers.
“She also, during a conversation with Nick’s season one girlfriend Julia, has this iconic speech: “I have touched glitter in the last 24 hours. I spend my entire day talking to children. And that doesn’t mean I’m not smart and tough and strong.””
Yes! This speech stayed with me for a long time! New Girl is also a fave show of mine and I am delighted with this read on it.
This was great. We have constructed fantasy literary and television worlds around the desire for men to not be creatures of lust but rather of sentimentality, and it is kind of depressing to say the least.
aaah totally exactly this! you said it so much better than me haha but this is exactly what i meannn 😩
I’ve never thought about New Girl through the Snow White lens before, but the comparison makes the early episodes look completely different. This was an excellent read!!!
thank you so much apoorvaa! obviously i love the show but it's so fascinating thinking about the og character dynamics
Bringing in OC to this is a great way of emphasizing the point; so much romance series does end up with the male characters being good friends to women and stand up men overall. I'm surprised I hadn't clocked this myself as part of why these stories are appealing. It's not just the romance, it's the support structure and the brothers by choice.
totally brothers by choice! and i get why it's so appealing like how nice would it be to trust these men haha
I related so much to your first two paragraphs!! I also grew up not that interested in boys, not wanting to send the wrong message to them. At university, I met some guys I genuinely thought proved me wrong, we became great friends until they disappointed me. It feels really dehumanizing to find out that you were treated kindly just because someone wants something from you. I haven't seen New Girl (you really sell it though, I might give it a go) nor Off Campus, but I always think of Marty from Gilmore Girls as a really realistic portrayal of, seemingly, that university canon event of befriending a guy and thinking that you're on the same page. Mind you, Rory was not an angel in that situation (if i recall correctly), but she and his girlfriend both deserved better
So interesting! I think a lot of creative work is made through fantasy. I feel this same way about the “rough old guy who adopts a kid” trope. People are infatuated with it BECAUSE of what many of them experienced with their fathers.
“She also, during a conversation with Nick’s season one girlfriend Julia, has this iconic speech: “I have touched glitter in the last 24 hours. I spend my entire day talking to children. And that doesn’t mean I’m not smart and tough and strong.””
Yes! This speech stayed with me for a long time! New Girl is also a fave show of mine and I am delighted with this read on it.