#Like jsdklsjdls as long as it's not OFFENSIVE? I think people interpreting characters however they see fit is??? FINE ACTUALLY?????

[saltpepperbeard]

Okay y’all let’s just...I see some nasty accusations being thrown around in just a small little bit of perusing. And I just wanted to offer my further two cents on this entire situation, as well as open up a respectful and open discussion should people choose. I’m going to be addressing a few points I keep seeing, especially those that are seemingly getting lost in translation.

First of all, let’s talk headcanons/canon. Fandom space is indeed a place of meta, and textual analysis, and everything of the like. But also, it’s for expanding upon those views, and even shifting those views around for self-enjoyment/play. It’s meant to be a place where people can take their favorite characters/stories and place them into an entirety of different scenarios/

Which is where things like headcanons and AU come into play. Some people may choose to see Katniss as Native American. Some people may choose to see Peeta with a brother named Rye. Some people may choose to have Katniss and Peeta have four-five babies as opposed to the textually stated two. 

Some things grow more popular and are excepted as a sort of “collective headcanon,” or fanon, while others stay pretty centric to a few people. Where problems start to arise however, is when people challenge another’s headcanon based upon their own beliefs. Which is, unfortunately, what I seem to be seeing a lot of. In case you’re unaware, an author decided to portray/picture Peeta as bisexual, and was met with a multitude of backlash because of it.

But why? Did Suzanne Collins ever directly state “Peeta Mellark, a boy of sixteen, a baker, and a heterosexual.” And even if she did, doesn’t fandom allow for expansion beyond that? If people are allowed to name Peeta and Katniss’ children and have it be widely accepted, as well as play around with their backgrounds, their family, their personalities/likes/dislikes, why not sexuality?

Now, a point I’ve seen repeatedly brought up is along the lines of, “Well, this author claims that if you don’t like bisexual Peeta then you must be bi/homophobic.” And similar claims along the lines of, “This author is forcing us to think that way.” And like...y’all I don’t think that’s the case whatsoever? I of course don’t want to put words in anyone’s mouth, but I’m reading the situation very differently. I believe the point being made is more along the lines of...if you have an issue with a character being portrayed as bisexual/homosexual/pansexual/anything else other than heterosexual, then you might need to look at yourself a bit more. It’s more so in defense of character representation than it is indoctrination. And it’s more so arguing in defense of headcanons/interpretations being a genuine fandom element than it is shaming those who disagree.

Because, as a gay woman, it’s very disheartening to see a headcanon regarding sexuality get attacked so harshly. And you know what? I personally don’t envision Peeta or Katniss with any sort of label period, because I predominantly focus on their relationship/their dynamic. But that’s not to say others can’t see them differently, and create something that’s important to them. I for one think it’s interesting- and important, to see so many different headcanons/interpretations around.

And I may not agree with all of them, which I don’t, but that’s fine! It’s just like fanfiction, and the lovely notion of: don’t like don’t read. Allow people their space, allow people their interpretations, allow people the representation they’d like to see, and continue the fandom space as it should be. Aka, a place of free-flowing, collective, and respectful ideas.

#Jodi rambles #*WRITES AN ESSAY #**GETS TIRED SJDLSHDLK #you know i had to do it to 'em #I see drama and I WRITE LMAO #I SPIN TALES #LGBT #Like y'all #I'm so tired Katniss #Like hi hello I see Johanna as a lesbian #And am actually leaning towards picturing Katniss as bi or pan or demi #And Peeta being bi/pan/whatever doesn't bother me whatsoever #Like jsdklsjdls as long as it's not OFFENSIVE? I think people interpreting characters however they see fit is??? FINE ACTUALLY????? #'BUT SUZANNE MADE THEM STRAIGHT >:(' Did she though? #Did she name Willow and Rye while we're at it? #Did she say Katniss and Peeta messed around like rabbits Post Mockingjay? #Did she name Peeta's brother Rye? #Did she specify Katniss and Peeta's middle names? #Did she reveal Peeta's birthday? #See what I'm getting at here? #There are SO many things that the fandom has interpreted #And so many things that we've envisioned #So why should it stop at sexuality? #Do y'all see why that kind of hurts people/makes them defensive? #Do y'all see why that makes people feel as though people are being biphobic/homophobic? #Because to my knowledge #You don't see people getting mad about someone naming a toastbaby 'Fyre' when a lot of people picture her as 'Willow' #And ALSO I've really not seen anyone get mad at people for portraying Peeta as unchaste before meeting Katniss so that's some tea #But I digress #The Discourse TM