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While I don’t want to diminish the influence of anti-reylos in establishing anti-ship rhetoric & behavior, I really think klantis deserve the Lifetime Achievement Award for setting anti-ship precedent
Klantis remain the anti-ship standard for behavior, arbitrariness, & cruelty
Klantis remain the anti-ship standard for behavior, arbitrariness, & cruelty
I think klantis had a more potent effect on fandom than other anti-shipping factions at the time bc:
- VLD’s creative team was legit scared of klantis
- the definition of ‘problematic’ fictional content was turned into putty by the arbitrariness of klanti arguments
- VLD’s creative team was legit scared of klantis
- the definition of ‘problematic’ fictional content was turned into putty by the arbitrariness of klanti arguments
More after I get coffee & am at my desk
got distracted by the USA inauguration but now it's go time.
note: neither klantis nor anti-reylos were the 'first' anti-shippers, nor were they the originators of anti-ship rhetoric. both anti-shipping & the rhetoric employed by anti-shippers have complex histories-->
note: neither klantis nor anti-reylos were the 'first' anti-shippers, nor were they the originators of anti-ship rhetoric. both anti-shipping & the rhetoric employed by anti-shippers have complex histories-->
-->both within and without fandom - far too complex to cover in a twitter thread. (Honestly, these topics deserve a book-length breakdown.)
there's a lot of contenders for 'most toxic anti-shipper fanbase', for sure.
I'm just explaining why I think klantis did particular damage
there's a lot of contenders for 'most toxic anti-shipper fanbase', for sure.
I'm just explaining why I think klantis did particular damage
I mentioned anti-reylo less for comparison & more b/c I think anti-reylo was ALSO highly influential in shaping modern anti-shipping fandom spaces
I just think klantis were particularly influential as an internal fandom force - & in this essay I will unironically try to explain
I just think klantis were particularly influential as an internal fandom force - & in this essay I will unironically try to explain
7/?
reason 1: klantis had an outsize influence on VLD's creative/production team.
VLD *wasn't* produced by a well-established, entrenched team of rich Hollywood creatives who don't have to care that a bunch of angry, radfem-influenced LGBTQ+ zoomers will call them pedoph1les-->
reason 1: klantis had an outsize influence on VLD's creative/production team.
VLD *wasn't* produced by a well-established, entrenched team of rich Hollywood creatives who don't have to care that a bunch of angry, radfem-influenced LGBTQ+ zoomers will call them pedoph1les-->
8/?
--> if they decide to make the wrong characters kiss onscreen.
VLD was produced by a group of semi-established creators of kid's cartoons whose careers might be over if a google search of their name turns up a bunch of accusations of pedoph1lia.
--> if they decide to make the wrong characters kiss onscreen.
VLD was produced by a group of semi-established creators of kid's cartoons whose careers might be over if a google search of their name turns up a bunch of accusations of pedoph1lia.
9/?
we'll probably debate how much influence klantis actually had over VLD's canon content forever, but it was evident - painfully evident - to most everyone that klantis *unapologetically threatened* the safety & careers of the VLD crew ... and that the crew worried about it.
we'll probably debate how much influence klantis actually had over VLD's canon content forever, but it was evident - painfully evident - to most everyone that klantis *unapologetically threatened* the safety & careers of the VLD crew ... and that the crew worried about it.
10/?
(based on statements made by the directors since, I doubt canon sheith was ever seriously on the table. But I also think they felt increasingly compelled to quash canon sheith b/c of internal/market-driven homophobia, helped along by klanti threats.)
(based on statements made by the directors since, I doubt canon sheith was ever seriously on the table. But I also think they felt increasingly compelled to quash canon sheith b/c of internal/market-driven homophobia, helped along by klanti threats.)
11/?
no matter the truth: ppl both inside&outside fandom perceived the subduing effect of violent klanti rhetoric on the VLD crew.
possibly worse: when artists on another DW project tweeted pro-klanti talking points, it seemed clear who had the upper hand in industry influence.
no matter the truth: ppl both inside&outside fandom perceived the subduing effect of violent klanti rhetoric on the VLD crew.
possibly worse: when artists on another DW project tweeted pro-klanti talking points, it seemed clear who had the upper hand in industry influence.
12/?
through liberal misuse of loaded words like 'pedophil1a' & 'incest', plus bold & unapologetic willingness to openly threaten the physical safety of VLD creatives, klantis proved they had the power to exert control over the social media presence of PPL IN CONTROL OF CANON.
through liberal misuse of loaded words like 'pedophil1a' & 'incest', plus bold & unapologetic willingness to openly threaten the physical safety of VLD creatives, klantis proved they had the power to exert control over the social media presence of PPL IN CONTROL OF CANON.
13/?
other toxic fandom groups have exerted this kind of power through smothering violence before - but they have traditionally been groups of white straight cis men (& sometimes white straight cis women).
this was not the demographic makeup of klantis.
other toxic fandom groups have exerted this kind of power through smothering violence before - but they have traditionally been groups of white straight cis men (& sometimes white straight cis women).
this was not the demographic makeup of klantis.
14/?
klantis - like their fellow fans who they eagerly harassed - were mostly made up of American teenagers & young adults who are LGBTQ+, with varied racial/ethnic heritages & a high instance of mental illness and neurodiversity.
that's bc klantis existed due to a ship war.
klantis - like their fellow fans who they eagerly harassed - were mostly made up of American teenagers & young adults who are LGBTQ+, with varied racial/ethnic heritages & a high instance of mental illness and neurodiversity.
that's bc klantis existed due to a ship war.
15/?
more on the ship war in a moment.
to close on this first point: klantis were, I believe, the first home-grown, primarily-LGBTQ+ hate fandom group to exert meaningful suppressive power over creatives working for a major production studio (DW) without visible outside help.
more on the ship war in a moment.
to close on this first point: klantis were, I believe, the first home-grown, primarily-LGBTQ+ hate fandom group to exert meaningful suppressive power over creatives working for a major production studio (DW) without visible outside help.
16/?
even though the VLD creatives weren't being paid directly by their fanbase, they still felt the need to censor themselves in order to please - or at least avoid displeasing - that fanbase.
& that fanbase wasn't bolstered by/made up of privileged dudes.
that was a BIG shift
even though the VLD creatives weren't being paid directly by their fanbase, they still felt the need to censor themselves in order to please - or at least avoid displeasing - that fanbase.
& that fanbase wasn't bolstered by/made up of privileged dudes.
that was a BIG shift
17/?
and it was a shift that anti-shippers in bigger, more popular fandoms - such as Star Wars - didn't experience b/c those fandoms are, from an industry perspective, dominated by cis dudes.
this gave klantis a kind of exclusive boldness that I've never seen before or since
and it was a shift that anti-shippers in bigger, more popular fandoms - such as Star Wars - didn't experience b/c those fandoms are, from an industry perspective, dominated by cis dudes.
this gave klantis a kind of exclusive boldness that I've never seen before or since
18/?
second point:
-the definition of ‘problematic’ fictional content was turned into putty by the arbitrariness of klanti arguments in a way that previous anti-shippers didn't need to employ.
this contributed MASSIVELY to the growth of anti-shipping in general ever since.
second point:
-the definition of ‘problematic’ fictional content was turned into putty by the arbitrariness of klanti arguments in a way that previous anti-shippers didn't need to employ.
this contributed MASSIVELY to the growth of anti-shipping in general ever since.
19/?
'klanti' is short for 'pro-klance anti-shipper'.
klantis wanted klance to be canon & violently hated on any ship that disrupted klance's chances of becoming canon.
the most popular alternative ship involving a klance character was sheith - so sheith was their main target.
'klanti' is short for 'pro-klance anti-shipper'.
klantis wanted klance to be canon & violently hated on any ship that disrupted klance's chances of becoming canon.
the most popular alternative ship involving a klance character was sheith - so sheith was their main target.
20/?
but canon sheith ... wasn't clearly 'problematic'.
(in 2016, 'problematic' referred to ships with canon elements that would make it sibling or parent/child incest, statutory rape, or potentially interpreted as a sexually/mentally/physically abusive relationship.)
but canon sheith ... wasn't clearly 'problematic'.
(in 2016, 'problematic' referred to ships with canon elements that would make it sibling or parent/child incest, statutory rape, or potentially interpreted as a sexually/mentally/physically abusive relationship.)
21/?
anti-reylos had comparatively firm ground to stand on here: reylo, as a ship between a cis male villain & a cis female hero who he had canonically tortured on camera, was clearly abusive & therefore a Bad Ship by anti-ship standards.
klantis, by comparison, had nothing
anti-reylos had comparatively firm ground to stand on here: reylo, as a ship between a cis male villain & a cis female hero who he had canonically tortured on camera, was clearly abusive & therefore a Bad Ship by anti-ship standards.
klantis, by comparison, had nothing
22/?
klantis could claim that maybe it was an abusive power dynamic (even though shiro never abused his power)? & the vague suspicion that shiro wasn't a 'teenager' despite the promo material calling the VLD pilots '5 teenagers'.
it wasn't a very sticky claim, though.
Yet.
klantis could claim that maybe it was an abusive power dynamic (even though shiro never abused his power)? & the vague suspicion that shiro wasn't a 'teenager' despite the promo material calling the VLD pilots '5 teenagers'.
it wasn't a very sticky claim, though.
Yet.
23/?
then one of the creators answered a fan's question about the characters' ages & got an unofficial answer (it was p clear the creators hadn't given it that much specific thought) that shiro was 'an adult' and keith was 'not an adult' ... and it was all downhill from there.
then one of the creators answered a fan's question about the characters' ages & got an unofficial answer (it was p clear the creators hadn't given it that much specific thought) that shiro was 'an adult' and keith was 'not an adult' ... and it was all downhill from there.
24/?
the 'adult'/'not an adult' thing was the basis for klantis calling sheith 'pedoph1lia' for over a year.
the VLD creatives tried to clean up after themselves, giving Keith an official age of 18 & Shiro, 25. now sheith was an adult/adult ship.
klantis pivoted.
the 'adult'/'not an adult' thing was the basis for klantis calling sheith 'pedoph1lia' for over a year.
the VLD creatives tried to clean up after themselves, giving Keith an official age of 18 & Shiro, 25. now sheith was an adult/adult ship.
klantis pivoted.
25/?
the new klanti position was sheith was problematic b/c the age gap was too big.
then Keith got aged up b/c of time relativity in space. Now Keith was 20/21 & Shiro was still 25 (& Lance was still 17/18).
Klantis pivoted.
the new klanti position was sheith was problematic b/c the age gap was too big.
then Keith got aged up b/c of time relativity in space. Now Keith was 20/21 & Shiro was still 25 (& Lance was still 17/18).
Klantis pivoted.
26/?
klantis now said sheith was problematic b/c Shiro mentored Keith as a teen. they claimed this made sheith pedoph1lia *AND* incest - b/c shiro would always see keith as a 14yo kid, & shiro had 'raised' keith - a combination father/big brother.
words no longer meant things.
klantis now said sheith was problematic b/c Shiro mentored Keith as a teen. they claimed this made sheith pedoph1lia *AND* incest - b/c shiro would always see keith as a 14yo kid, & shiro had 'raised' keith - a combination father/big brother.
words no longer meant things.
27/?
this is a very truncated history of klanti pivots to keep sheith 'problematic' - pivots that had to be made in part b/c sometimes their own arguments became weapons against klance. for instance: if adult/not an adult ships were 'pedoph1lia', then 18yo!K/17yo!L was 'ped0'.
this is a very truncated history of klanti pivots to keep sheith 'problematic' - pivots that had to be made in part b/c sometimes their own arguments became weapons against klance. for instance: if adult/not an adult ships were 'pedoph1lia', then 18yo!K/17yo!L was 'ped0'.
28/?
so klantis had to rush to negate their own definitions of 'problematic' and formulate new ones with ever-shifting, ever-evolving standards & rules.
however, if they ever found old arguments useful, they were quick to employ them once again.
this had 2 long-term effects:
so klantis had to rush to negate their own definitions of 'problematic' and formulate new ones with ever-shifting, ever-evolving standards & rules.
however, if they ever found old arguments useful, they were quick to employ them once again.
this had 2 long-term effects:
29/?
effect 1: words stopped meaning things.
ANYTHING could be 'incest'. ANYTHING could be 'ped0'. ANYTHING could be 'abusive'. you just had to try & believe in yourself & have enough friends to back you up.
effect 1: words stopped meaning things.
ANYTHING could be 'incest'. ANYTHING could be 'ped0'. ANYTHING could be 'abusive'. you just had to try & believe in yourself & have enough friends to back you up.
30/?
effect 2: we accidentally validated anti-shippers.
specifically: in the rush to explain why klantis were literally making things up to make sheith out to be 'problematic', we engaged them as if their basic premise - some ships are bad and shouldn't be shipped - was a given.
effect 2: we accidentally validated anti-shippers.
specifically: in the rush to explain why klantis were literally making things up to make sheith out to be 'problematic', we engaged them as if their basic premise - some ships are bad and shouldn't be shipped - was a given.
31/?
sheith was SO vanilla, guys. many of the people who shipped sheith weren't used to having people call their ships grossnasty, and they protested that it WASNT GROSSNASTY.
that was the natural response to make.
But it was not the BEST response.
sheith was SO vanilla, guys. many of the people who shipped sheith weren't used to having people call their ships grossnasty, and they protested that it WASNT GROSSNASTY.
that was the natural response to make.
But it was not the BEST response.
32/?
the BEST response would have been 'your argument is absurd and you're absurd. stop misusing the word 'pedoph1lia''.
but most of us didn't say that. and I don't blame anyone who didn't. being called a pedoph1le for a FICTIONAL SHIP is vile & hurtful enough:
the BEST response would have been 'your argument is absurd and you're absurd. stop misusing the word 'pedoph1lia''.
but most of us didn't say that. and I don't blame anyone who didn't. being called a pedoph1le for a FICTIONAL SHIP is vile & hurtful enough:
33/?
-->being called a pedoph1le for a ship based on some of the most tame and, canonically speaking, healthy & stable character interactions in the entire VLD series? was just klantis rubbing salt in the wounds they inflicted.
-->being called a pedoph1le for a ship based on some of the most tame and, canonically speaking, healthy & stable character interactions in the entire VLD series? was just klantis rubbing salt in the wounds they inflicted.
34/?
nonetheless: we failed to articulate that the line wasn't 'this fictional ship isn't actually problematic', but rather: 'fictional ships are allowed to be problematic'.
we took that as a given. but by not saying it, over and over, a lot of new fans never got the message.
nonetheless: we failed to articulate that the line wasn't 'this fictional ship isn't actually problematic', but rather: 'fictional ships are allowed to be problematic'.
we took that as a given. but by not saying it, over and over, a lot of new fans never got the message.
35/?
so between
- klantis' hideous misuse of language & constant goalpost-moving
- self-defensive engagement with klantis that (accidentally) lent them legitimacy
- the lack of articulation of 'ship and let ship' values, and
- extra-fandom factors
klantis disseminated-->
so between
- klantis' hideous misuse of language & constant goalpost-moving
- self-defensive engagement with klantis that (accidentally) lent them legitimacy
- the lack of articulation of 'ship and let ship' values, and
- extra-fandom factors
klantis disseminated-->
36/37
-->klantis both disseminated a lot of anti-ship talking points to a widespread audience AND rendered anti-ship talking points extremely effective rhetorical tools for shippers on ANY side of a ship war.
between that & the social power they demonstrated over VLD creators-->
-->klantis both disseminated a lot of anti-ship talking points to a widespread audience AND rendered anti-ship talking points extremely effective rhetorical tools for shippers on ANY side of a ship war.
between that & the social power they demonstrated over VLD creators-->
37/37
-->I think klantis had a particularly powerful effect on fandomgoers - especially younger fandomgoers who were new to fandom spaces in 2016.
they showed that in online spaces, the power of violent hate could pull levers even for people who weren't socially privileged.
-->I think klantis had a particularly powerful effect on fandomgoers - especially younger fandomgoers who were new to fandom spaces in 2016.
they showed that in online spaces, the power of violent hate could pull levers even for people who weren't socially privileged.
