muenchjack_00 (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
muenchjack_00) wrote2019-04-24 11:22 pm
muenchjack_00) wrote2019-04-24 11:22 pm
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Could Rey Be a Gary Stu?
Earlier last week, I was asked the question, "If Rey were male, could he be a Gary Stu?" For one, we must remember that a Mary Sue or, in this case, a Gary Stu would be a character crafted by a writer producing a fic who unintentionally happens to write them without flaws or weaknesses. So we, given this, we could ask "If Rey were male, could he be LIKE a Gary Stu?"
I would have to say "No." I feel the entire concept of a Gary Stu is more of accidental inclusion of a male character without flaws and while a Mary Sue is very much the same thing except for a female character, I believe that the inequity in the relationship between a man and woman is what causes a woman to write their characters as such. Given what I interpreted from Camille-Bacon Smith, I believe that a woman writes their perception of how they view a perfect woman. However, while the woman is written as independent and knowledgeable, most often she becomes a self-sacrificing servant to the man. This might be due to what society has pushed onto woman and thus a young woman, the type of writers most susceptible to including Mary Sues, might not have the maturity to understand this inequity.
So I feel Rey would very much be like a "Gary Stu" as she would be a flawless male character. However, the impact of Rey being a man would be infinitely less resonant than if she were a woman as the traits of perfection that a woman writes into a Mary Sue conveys what she believes to be a perfect relationship, a relationship that, unknown to the woman, is quite one-sided.
I would have to say "No." I feel the entire concept of a Gary Stu is more of accidental inclusion of a male character without flaws and while a Mary Sue is very much the same thing except for a female character, I believe that the inequity in the relationship between a man and woman is what causes a woman to write their characters as such. Given what I interpreted from Camille-Bacon Smith, I believe that a woman writes their perception of how they view a perfect woman. However, while the woman is written as independent and knowledgeable, most often she becomes a self-sacrificing servant to the man. This might be due to what society has pushed onto woman and thus a young woman, the type of writers most susceptible to including Mary Sues, might not have the maturity to understand this inequity.
So I feel Rey would very much be like a "Gary Stu" as she would be a flawless male character. However, the impact of Rey being a man would be infinitely less resonant than if she were a woman as the traits of perfection that a woman writes into a Mary Sue conveys what she believes to be a perfect relationship, a relationship that, unknown to the woman, is quite one-sided.
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A thorough argument on this topic would be a heavy debate on gender politics which, I think, is a difficult topic to argue thoroughly but a rewarding one nonetheless...
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I had a question about this line: "This might be due to what society has pushed onto woman and thus a young woman, the type of writers most susceptible to including Mary Sues, might not have the maturity to understand this inequity."
I actually would've thought that the young women who write Mary Sues would actually be MORE likely to internalize this inequity -- hence why Mary Sues are "perfect," including how they self-sacrifice to male-dominated power structures. These writers so well-versed in the lack of female power that their characters reflect this. (Or are you arguing that Mary Sues don't pander to the patriarchy?? That also seems like it could be grounds for people hating on Mary Sues as well!)