the feminist librarian reads

Television = Fan Service: A Rant

How frustrating is the phrase “fan service” when used in a derogatory, condescending manner (usually in regards to shipping)? Literally all of every TV show is fan service in the sense that it is created to tell a great story FOR THE FANS. Giving screen time to a romantic relationship does not go against this aim of good storytelling. It is neither an inherently good nor inherently bad storytelling decision. It’s all in the execution. Personally, I prefer stories that include romance, but it’s far from the only reason I watch television or engage with stories. Contrary to popular belief, one can ship and care about other characters, dynamics, themes, and storylines. And, if shipping is someone’s primary reason for watching, there’s nothing wrong with that either. The shipper’s way of being a fan is just as valid as anyone else’s.
I find this common use of the phrase “fan service” so frustrating because nine times out of 10, it is really a way of saying: “Your way of engaging with story is less valid than my way of engaging with story,” and it is generally related to gender. There still exists this culture of shaming fangirls for celebrating emotional resonance and the exploration of character relationships (often romantic) in stories. Why? Relationships of all varieties – from the platonic to the romantic to everything in-between and around and within those labels – are a fundamental part of life. We form, navigate, and (at times) obsess over our relationships on a daily basis. They shape the way we move through the world. This is what storytelling is about. Love – in all of its messy, convoluted, subjective incarnations – is what storytelling is about.