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Oct. 9th, 2009 08:09 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
retro_eidasI wanted to make a reaction post to last night's ep, but even after a rewatch I realized I didn't really have much to say about it. It was very S1 on many levels, barring the heightened brother angst, right down to the brothers' personalities. Which I suppose was fitting for new start and all, but also I suppose highlights that from the very beginning there were seeds of trouble in the brothers' relationship leading to what happened in S4. That only now is starting to morph itself into something healthier. Sort of.
There's this meta that wants to burst out of my brain, but I can't get my scattered thoughts to coalesce enough to form something coherent.
Basically, I keep thinking of Heaven as patriarchal and Earth as matriarchal. Coming from the angels seemingly stemming largely from the Judeo-Christianity's largely patriarchal beliefs (also the apparent lack of sex in Heaven, per Anna's claims. Sex tied to procreation tied to life thus tied to women). There are some exceptions, but Heaven as it's depicted in SPN strikes so hard as fire and brimstone Old Testament? Old time religion (when the women-hating way back when had it's stronger footing)? Uriel's absolute disdain for humanity and especially a fallen angel who happened to be female, who chose humanity over being an angel? I could call Uriel both racist and a misogynist.
While humanity's inception of spirituality started with agrarian cultures venerating the female and creator-goddesses. But then those started getting drowned out by warrior societies (that began venerating more male, warlord type deities -- sort of like Heaven's angelic warriors?) and later Judeo-Christianity started having a stronghold and doing it's part in lowering or casting out feminine presences that dominated these agrarian, nature-based ancient beliefs. Also how both our human heroes are "vessels" for angels (so Dean and Sam are feminine symbols simply due to their humanity, but on top of it they're also vessels. The vessel being a traditionally feminine symbol. Vessel = womb). Dean and Sam are the "vessels" for the (patriarchal) angel power meant to inhabit them. When it happens, thus creating (birthing) a powerful figure that can walk the Earth, both compromised of human and divine. Dean and Sam are basically the Mary while the angels are the Archangel Gabriel (who whispered into Mary's ear, thus conceiving Jesus). I also likely don't have to remind anyone the sexual connotations behind possession, both demonic and angelic.
I also want to tie into it the staggering differences between Anna's and Castiel's reaction to sex. How Anna considers it one of the greatest virtues of humanity and boldly indulges in it, while poor Cas is riddled with terror at the prospect of it (but still seemed curious enough to not hesitate in following Dean when he vowed Cas would be deflowered before he died). Granted, Anna had been human, but that sort of factors into it. Anna the female angel who willingly fell from patriarchal angel society, unafraid of and boldly indulging in sex and Cas the male angel who was scared and reluctant to fall from said society (and he hasn't yet, technically) afraid of sex. The female indulging in life while the male afraid of it (but possibly will grow less so)? The patriarchal too deeply indoctrinated in the male right now for this new (matriarchal, thus tying to those old pagan beliefs that Judeo-Christian patriarchy, from where largely stems SPN's interpretation of the angels, tried so hard to abolish, so it's sinful, blasphemous and forbidden) life experience to reach him or for him to really understand it? In fairness, a "den of iniquity" probably wasn't the best place to gain a meaningful experience in this regard. Way to go, Lothario!Dean!
However, it's not just about sex (and it's ties to procreation and life), it's about love, tenderness and a human, spiritual connection too (again, things traditionally leaning more towards the ancient feminine). Future Cas was so wrong - though he was unafraid indulging in sex so on a superficial level he seemed to understand it can be a comfort - he wasn't like Anna because there was no strive for a deeper connection to what he was doing (though I'm dubious on counting any actual connection between Dean/Anna, I'm more willing to give it something - partially Oedipal at that - specifically when compared to Future Cas' drug-hazed orgies). It was nothing but empty vice, like everything else in his life, just another coping mechanism. He was having a lot of sex, but also like he still didn't really get the essence of those acts in regards to the better parts of being human, as it corresponds on a deeper existential level. Future Cas seemed more like a mockery or distortion of humanity than anything (specifically a mockery of Dean and his particular coping mechanisms). Distortion, not unlike what the demons do to humanity in Hell. Since 5.04 was basically Hell on Earth? The distortion of one of humanity's virtues as is depicted in SPN (via Anna) would be fitting.
As you can see, a lot of ideas gnawing at my brainmeats, but I still can't quite get them to fit together.
There's this meta that wants to burst out of my brain, but I can't get my scattered thoughts to coalesce enough to form something coherent.
Basically, I keep thinking of Heaven as patriarchal and Earth as matriarchal. Coming from the angels seemingly stemming largely from the Judeo-Christianity's largely patriarchal beliefs (also the apparent lack of sex in Heaven, per Anna's claims. Sex tied to procreation tied to life thus tied to women). There are some exceptions, but Heaven as it's depicted in SPN strikes so hard as fire and brimstone Old Testament? Old time religion (when the women-hating way back when had it's stronger footing)? Uriel's absolute disdain for humanity and especially a fallen angel who happened to be female, who chose humanity over being an angel? I could call Uriel both racist and a misogynist.
While humanity's inception of spirituality started with agrarian cultures venerating the female and creator-goddesses. But then those started getting drowned out by warrior societies (that began venerating more male, warlord type deities -- sort of like Heaven's angelic warriors?) and later Judeo-Christianity started having a stronghold and doing it's part in lowering or casting out feminine presences that dominated these agrarian, nature-based ancient beliefs. Also how both our human heroes are "vessels" for angels (so Dean and Sam are feminine symbols simply due to their humanity, but on top of it they're also vessels. The vessel being a traditionally feminine symbol. Vessel = womb). Dean and Sam are the "vessels" for the (patriarchal) angel power meant to inhabit them. When it happens, thus creating (birthing) a powerful figure that can walk the Earth, both compromised of human and divine. Dean and Sam are basically the Mary while the angels are the Archangel Gabriel (who whispered into Mary's ear, thus conceiving Jesus). I also likely don't have to remind anyone the sexual connotations behind possession, both demonic and angelic.
I also want to tie into it the staggering differences between Anna's and Castiel's reaction to sex. How Anna considers it one of the greatest virtues of humanity and boldly indulges in it, while poor Cas is riddled with terror at the prospect of it (but still seemed curious enough to not hesitate in following Dean when he vowed Cas would be deflowered before he died). Granted, Anna had been human, but that sort of factors into it. Anna the female angel who willingly fell from patriarchal angel society, unafraid of and boldly indulging in sex and Cas the male angel who was scared and reluctant to fall from said society (and he hasn't yet, technically) afraid of sex. The female indulging in life while the male afraid of it (but possibly will grow less so)? The patriarchal too deeply indoctrinated in the male right now for this new (matriarchal, thus tying to those old pagan beliefs that Judeo-Christian patriarchy, from where largely stems SPN's interpretation of the angels, tried so hard to abolish, so it's sinful, blasphemous and forbidden) life experience to reach him or for him to really understand it? In fairness, a "den of iniquity" probably wasn't the best place to gain a meaningful experience in this regard. Way to go, Lothario!Dean!
However, it's not just about sex (and it's ties to procreation and life), it's about love, tenderness and a human, spiritual connection too (again, things traditionally leaning more towards the ancient feminine). Future Cas was so wrong - though he was unafraid indulging in sex so on a superficial level he seemed to understand it can be a comfort - he wasn't like Anna because there was no strive for a deeper connection to what he was doing (though I'm dubious on counting any actual connection between Dean/Anna, I'm more willing to give it something - partially Oedipal at that - specifically when compared to Future Cas' drug-hazed orgies). It was nothing but empty vice, like everything else in his life, just another coping mechanism. He was having a lot of sex, but also like he still didn't really get the essence of those acts in regards to the better parts of being human, as it corresponds on a deeper existential level. Future Cas seemed more like a mockery or distortion of humanity than anything (specifically a mockery of Dean and his particular coping mechanisms). Distortion, not unlike what the demons do to humanity in Hell. Since 5.04 was basically Hell on Earth? The distortion of one of humanity's virtues as is depicted in SPN (via Anna) would be fitting.
As you can see, a lot of ideas gnawing at my brainmeats, but I still can't quite get them to fit together.
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Date: 2010-05-13 07:15 pm (UTC)