No Chick Flick Moments

What kind of critic would I be if I didn't analyze my favorite TV show?

I have always been a little weary of calling myself a feminist. This is because I have always previously understood a feminist to be an angry bitch who complained about everything being oppressive towards women, and I didn't want to be known or associated as such. However, after really looking into what a feminist really does and what feminist analysis is I would say that I have changed my outlook on being a feminist.

Being a feminist and using feminist critique means that my purpose is to inquire, examine, analyze and critique the structures and strategies of oppression based on gender and/or sexuality. After realizing how versatile feminist analysis is I realized it could be used as a lens on any text, and for me the text that came to mind is Supernatural.

Supernatural is drama television series that follows two brothers battling supernatural beings that plague the world. The two main characters are the older brother, Dean Winchester (Jensen Ackles), and the younger brother, Sam Winchester (Jared Padalecki). Dean and Sam have different personalities and values that complement each other to reach their goal; save the world. In the beginning of the show the audience learns that Dean is the impulsive, bad ass brother and Sam is the cautious, reluctant hero. We also learn when Dean and Sam were young, their mother is killed by the "yellow-eyed demon." After their loss the two brothers and their father get tied up in the business of hunting, trying to seek revenge for their mother.

In the Pilot episode Sam is in college studying to be a lawyer and Dean is a hunter. Dean and Sam have not spoken to each other in years but after their father goes missing, Dean enlists Sam's help to find him. The two travel to the last place their father was and discover that it is being haunted by a ghost. In the midst of their hunting Sam and Dean get into an argument about "the family business" (aka hunting). Sam tells Dean that he does not want to be a hunter or go back to the horrible life of being one. Dean does not understand how Sam can just stand by knowing that there are supernatural beings out there hurting people. Sam then points out that whatever creature killed their mother--a task that their father dedicated his life to--will not bring her back. This upsets Dean and they almost get into a fist fight when they are interrupted by the ghost jumping off the bridge. Later the brothers are in a cheap motel room and Sam apologizes for what he said about their parents. Dean holds up his hand in protest and says, "No chick flick moments." Sam nods and says, "Alright. Jerk." Dean responds, "Bitch."

When looking at this episode through a feminist critical lens one notices the oppression of men. Dean and Sam are portrayed in the typical male role. They are muscular, manly men who do not show their emotions that would be seen as a weakness or feminine. When they get into an argument and then later try to talk about it they push it aside as if nothing happened. Their behavior supports the ideologies of what our society constructs a man to be like. Chick flick moments are not allowed and if you act weak then you're a bitch. The implications of this is that the brothers never get to release the tension of their emotions behind losing their mother and this teaches men what how they should behave even though it can be harmful physically and mentally.