When I first started "Congirl vs Cavegirl," I set it up like a grudge match. It felt like there were two parts of me that were vying for control of my behavior as a super fan of the TV show Supernatural. One was the modern convention-goer part of me, and the other was the outdated more instinctual part of me. That was two and a half years ago. Since then, I have noticed a few other things in researching this dichotomy. One is there are more than just two ways that I process the world, and another is how I act as a fan is not that different from my behavior as a voter or a consumer. It would be pretty easy, then, for someone to argue the scope of this blog has expanded over time. But another way of looking at it would be that the ideas it generated also have the potential to simplify things. But first things first: who won the grudge match? Does the globe-trotting congirl beat out my cavegirl? Or does the part of me that has not changed very much for the past 40,000 years win? Do my unconscious habits as a human always influence who I choose to follow, or does my more modern ability to fander (follow, but not blindly) have the upper hand? In the case of Supernatural, my cavegirl kicked ass.
But the characters/actors that headline the show are unique.They are near perfect examples of successful prehistoric tribal leaders. They are strong, brave and can adapt to whatever environment they find themselves in. They also make themselves vulnerable to each other, and their displays of trust and devotion would give any fellow tribe member total confidence that they would be protected as well. The actors are also near perfect examples of most cultural /physical ideals. The hair, the eyes, the bods...give me a freaking break! With my cavegirl anywhere in the vicinity, my congirl did not stand a chance. Instincts trumped logic, big time.
Now, I guess I am just adding to the drama when I point out that very similar instincts have "taken the wheel" in the minds of millions of other Supernatural fans around the world, and most of them are not aware of what is happening...AND the end of the road is right in front of us. Of course most fans don't want to know why they are a fan of Supernatural or any other form of entertainment. Shows, movies, music, and theater are a way to relax for most, and why not just live in the moment? Most fans don't want to learn something new. They want to escape. Fantasy is easier than reality, so I totally get it. Yet, I can't help but think that if hard-core Supernatural fans knew what the lead actors/characters represent in an evolutionary sense, it could help cushion the blow of "losing" them.
The possibility that another fandom like the #SPNFamily could form under current "I don't have your streaming service" conditions are next to nil. There is no unifying entertainment source like network TV anymore, so the Supernatural fandom is most likely the last of its kind. One could say that powerful, highly organized fandoms are going extinct, but all we SPN fans are really losing are our current leaders. The fact that we had such good leaders for so long should help our ability to keep functioning as a fandom. The power of a group lies with the people who make up the group, and there is nothing stopping a few fans from stepping up and starting to coordinate (even more) things. Additionally, since the actors model inclusion of people who are different than they are, the new leaders would not have to be white, straight, tall, handsome men. The new leaders could be anyone! I can't help but think this information might be helpful to fans, but I don't want to be the one that makes things too clinical. Plus, the ending of Supernatural is also a celebration. The celebration of new-found friends and tribe members. The end of Supernatural is a really big deal.
Alright. Back to Earth. My blog is one of millions, but I am starting to think more people should be paying attention to it. Why? Because the simple "philosophy based on biology" that has come out of it could be useful. The knowledge that "when my cavegirl is in control my ability to reason is stifled" could help me own up to other things I do but don't understand. When I inexplicably react to something, I can reflect on it soon after, and use evolutionary based "logic" to figure out why I acted the way I did. And maybe you could try the same. The modern cultural expectation that humans should always be in control is pretty silly. We are all part strategic, modern person and part impulsive cave-dweller, and the sooner we get used to this idea, the sooner we can start understanding each other better. Then we can get to work doing things like repairing the ways we have hurt our home planet -- together -- as one big, self-regulating, organized tribe.
References
Highfill, S. & Smith, A. (2020). "The Ultimate Guide to Supernatural: Collector's Edition." Entertainment Weekly, Meredith/People Specials.
Hogh-Olesen, H. (2010.) Human Morality and Sociaility: Evolutionary and Comparative Perspectives. Palgrave MacMillan, New York.
Larsen, K. & Zubernis, L. (2013). Fangasm: Supernatural Fangirls. University of Iowa Press, Iowa City.
Zubernis, L. (2017). Family Don't End With Blood: Cast and Fans on How Supernatural Has Changed Lives. BenBella Books, Inc.
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