I'm strangely productive today...

[tea_and_ink]

Okay, for starters, last night they aired "Houses of the Holy" and I hadn't noticed that the girl Dean saved thanked god, not Dean. Also, how come Sam was so shattered after witnessing how the priest put Gregory's spirit to rest without salting and burning his bones? Doesn't that make the priest more... legitimate? Like there is something behind him, behind the powers that have been invested on him?...

Apparently I like italics way too much. Whatever.

Two things.

First: I’m fresh out of watching “The Godfather” and faced with their concept of family and the dynamic such a conception creates, it hit me that, if it weren’t for the blatant lack of physical contact with his family members and… well, lately the rest of the world too,  I'd swear Dean Winchester is Italian.

 Now, the physical contact issue can be addressed and maybe cancelled, by the fact that Sam and Dean LIVE in each other’s personal space. I’m Italian, and in my family, we’re all about the touching and hugging, but we’re also American, so we acknowledge such a concept as “individuality”, hence our respect for the other’s personal space, or else we’d get smacked upside the head for being annoying little air-stealing rodents.

Dean and Sam, have an unconcealed absence of sibling-like physical contact. They become in touch with each other’s body in the way the rest of us would when encountered with a friend, a male way of approaching the other’s anatomy as a mean of recognition of their presence and/or emotions. A slap on the back, a slap on the shoulder, if they’re very emotional, we’ll see a squeeze on the shoulder… and possibly more manly slapping to make up for the little slip. And that’s all folks.

And I’d be sure that Sam was raised in another family, if it weren’t for their constant presence within each other’s breathing room. They’re practically sewn by the hip, what with the road-tripping and all, which all in itself isn’t of a great relevance, but it does come in handy when we take in consideration that even when out of the Impala, they still seem sewn together. They stand way too close to each other, one usually slightly behind the other, as if watching his back (I like that, it makes me go all awww brothers), and while these positions are exchangeable, they’re always assumed by one of them. They even sit in each other’s space when presented with the opportunity (like a couch instead of two separated sits for example). That said, I would think that the lack of hugging is irrelevant for other purposes than us, reputable fangirls, squeeing over Jared/Jensen love…

And no, I haven’t forgotten that I singled out Dean as the Italian one. Onto that now. 

Why Dean alone? Because of the two of them, Dean is the one that has the most similar family-comes-first-second-and-third “Corleone” policy. Italian people value family like whoa, and I can completely understand why. Family is the stone pillar of our development as human beings, as citizens, family is the first social environment we’re exposed to and thus is what sets the model for our future social relationships (this is a psychological fact). Also, notice how I make no distinction between blood-relative, political-relative or close friend; as I see it, family can be found everywhere and that doesn’t make it any less valuable or loyalty worthy. My friends can testify for me on this one.  That clarified, I move on to Dean.

Dean is defined by his role in his family; he’s John’s soldier and Sam’s protector. So its not weird that he’d freak out when learning that he might have to kill his protectee, the last thread of identification he has left; its completely understandable that after John’s passing, he’d dive nose-first into the hunting, it would be a way of both accentuating his role as John’s soldier while finding a new possible definition for him as “a hunter”. Its, from all points of view, a defense mechanism, was it scary? Yes, it was. Was it valid? Very much.

Now, Sam otoh, has a different psychological setting, Sam is identified by his own choices, by his right to choose and to be given the option to choose. Sam believes that evil can be found anywhere and blood-bonds or friendship liaisons are, in no way, the most valid aspects to judge from. He does take them in consideration, but he also sees other evidence and usually takes it from there. 

If we go back to “Bloodlust” we’ll see that Gordon was Dean’s new found hero, until Dean finds out that Gordon had killed his sister, even though his sister was evil and was killing innocent people, and it was Gordon’s job to take her down. Only then did Dean dub Gordon evil, crazy or whatever other endearment he’d used, after his confession to have killed his own sister, not because of Gordon’s unnecessary sadistic ways, not because of his blind-hunting tendencies. But because he’d killed his own family.

Of course we could argue that Gordon was hitting too close home there, having killed his gone-evil sibling… but then again, its not like there wasn’t enough evidence to believe Sam’s story when he said that the vamps weren’t hurting anybody… 

As expected I digressed. My point was that “The Godfather” had me seeing Dean to an entirely new light.

Second: silver_spotted, did you notice how during the whole Trickster ordeal, John’s journal wasn’t touched? Not even by accident? When dealing with their lack of knowledge, they went to Bobby. Are you seeing what I’m seeing here?

So this is what’s on my head right now. Btw, I so should get some kudos because I finally sat down to write spn meta. I’m still overdue with the rest of it, but this is a start. Innit?

Comments

[trystan830.livejournal.com]

during the whole Trickster ordeal, John’s journal wasn’t touched? Not even by accident? When dealing with their lack of knowledge, they went to Bobby.

ooh, that's interesting... i didn't really catch that.... ;)

[1grl-revolution.livejournal.com]

I didn't catch that either. But now that I think about it, the journal is being referred to less and less!

[trystan830.livejournal.com]

it is.... good point there. it's like they're afraid to touch it....

[1grl-revolution.livejournal.com]

I miss the references to the journal. Damn.

[trystan830.livejournal.com]

yeah, the journal was kinda cool.

[penandnotebook]

Well the thing is that in a conversation I had with silver_spotted, it came up the fact that the Good Book was no longer the first-aid tool it used to be for the boys, and that raised questions, theories and all the proper work. So it was only natural that I'd be looking for a detail like that. Although it took me a while to realize it...

I'd gladly link you to the aforementioned conversation, not only because its interesting, but because the both of us exhibit great intellectual capacities... ::dork in the building, ladies and gents:: that I believe should be pimped and promoted... and I would, but since said intellectual capacities do not extend to LJ functioning, this girl is ashamed to admit that she had NO IDEA of how to create a link in the comments area. I'll be over here, heading my desk.

[trystan830.livejournal.com]

sure, i'd love to check it out. nothing wrong with a great intellect. ;)

and if it's the whole link? a simple copy-paste actually creates a link. it's when you want something "read more here" to be the link you need to worry about creating links.. ;)

[penandnotebook]

Piece of Wisdom: "Computers and their not-so-complex processes are never to be mixed with Paola's over-active brain, she'll complicate her life needlessly, just 'cuz she probably thinks is fun"...

Is always good to laugh at oneself, innit?

[penandnotebook]

Yeah... I forgot my brain today... oddly enough, I can't remember where. But you're a patient person, also I'd think you you'd enjoy a good laugh at my expense!
Here: http://silver-spotted.livejournal.com/13067.html#cutid1 is the link... that I hope to hell works. This is me after all

[trystan830.livejournal.com]

hehe... i always laugh at myself....;)

[silver-spotted.livejournal.com]

hmmm, you give lots to think about here :)

I find your identification of Dean as Italian really interesting - and especially the idea of equivalence between hugging and sharing personal space. because I think it really is a sign of how close the brothers are that they do breathe down each other necks and don't seem to mind. I have argued (http://silver-spotted.livejournal.com/8111.html#cutid1) that this shows more intimacy and trust between them than overt hugging would, and while I stand by that, some of my other conclusions were maybe not so well thought out.

Moving on to Tall Tales - I hadn't noticed about the journal, but now that you point it out . . .I guess Bobby got to be their father in more ways than one! he got to be a peacekeeper (which admittedly John wasn't very good at) and he got to be the source of information. He's been replacing the journal a lot, eh? sorting out Sam in BUaBS and now this . . .I'm sortof sad that we're being proved right & that the boys are losing their connection with their father, but then again, it's probably good for them to mature

ok, ending the ramble here :P

[penandnotebook]

I will check your arguments and about them there.

And yes! You are seeing what I'm seeing!. God bless Bobby and his fictional soul. Poor thing had to deal with two twelve-years-old boys, and he did it with such grace. In a way John never could (that we know).

Bobby is like that uncle that sees the boys differently because they aren't his so he doesn't have to worry that they're not doing as they're told, he doesn't have to worry about asserting his authority which allows the bros a more open relationship with him, at times Bobby's their equal (when they go after the Trickster) other times he's the "authority" figure, the one they trust enough to bring into their hunting, admitting their lack of information (they've never asked Ellen to join them, even if they have called her for info, well Ash actually, but the point remains), some other times he's the father, asking Dean if he took Sam's computer, scolding them for not pulling their heads out of their asses... John would have smacked them into silence and would have gone into lets-go-after-this-thing-that-I-know-what-it-is-but-won't-tell-you-if-you-don't-need-to-know mode
and something tells me that he'd play bait himself, instead of sending Dean.
Oh...kay 'nuff rambling for ONE post... Also? I think I'm working on that "Kat the Hunter" fic, will keep you posted on that one. Heh

[penandnotebook]

GOD! I'm, like, two planets away today, which makes my regular clueless-ness way more intense, and all the more annoying...

I will check your arguments and COMMENT about them there.

::shakes head at self::

[silver-spotted.livejournal.com]

yes to what you said about Bobby, and the difference between how he handled the situation and how John would have - and I think that difference is part of why they're turning to Bobby now - they're tired of Big Secrets and not being told all the details, so the fact that Bobby does treat them as equals (when they're not acting like 12 yr olds) gets their respect

Yay for Kat the Hunter fic! :D

[1grl-revolution.livejournal.com]

Italics are the shiznit. *nods*

Good catches on all the Dean stuff. *agrees*

Are you Italian? I am on my mom's side. Unfortunately, I didn't get to spend a lot of time with my Italian Grandparents before they died.

[penandnotebook]

I'm... 75% Italian, I guess. My mom was actually born in Italy, so that's a 50% from her side. My dad's father was Italian, but the grandmother is british, so that makes the 75%.
So yeah, I'd say I'm Italian. Heh.

Too bad you didn't have that chance, my grandparents taught me all this stuff that I wouldn't have had access to if it weren't for them. Plus, immigrants stories are always interesting for me, so I get to have my curiosity plenty fulfilled.

And well I am very aware that I'm not them and its not the same, but if there's anything you'd like to know and I could answer... I'm right here for ya!