It’s too challenging to consolidate my thoughts into a coherent comment so I’ll just say that this essay really made me think about the difference between enjoying/seeing parts of yourself in a piece of art vs. that piece of art being about you or made with you (plural you) in mind.
Thank you! And I completely agree. One thing I couldn't manage to find a place in this essay to talk about is how even though there is a hesitancy from good faith actors to take up space in these "girl-coded spaces," this form of art is ALWAYS more accepting and welcoming than the masculine ones. I think about how exclusionary male sports fans are or video game culture or comic books (I could go on forever). These spaces are never welcoming to newcomers or media-migrants, whereas the girls of the Twilight series WANT you to be a part of their fandom and culture even if it was not made with you in mind.
It’s too challenging to consolidate my thoughts into a coherent comment so I’ll just say that this essay really made me think about the difference between enjoying/seeing parts of yourself in a piece of art vs. that piece of art being about you or made with you (plural you) in mind.
Thank you! And I completely agree. One thing I couldn't manage to find a place in this essay to talk about is how even though there is a hesitancy from good faith actors to take up space in these "girl-coded spaces," this form of art is ALWAYS more accepting and welcoming than the masculine ones. I think about how exclusionary male sports fans are or video game culture or comic books (I could go on forever). These spaces are never welcoming to newcomers or media-migrants, whereas the girls of the Twilight series WANT you to be a part of their fandom and culture even if it was not made with you in mind.