#Brand authority
Explore tagged Tumblr posts
Text
Thought Leadership: Why is It Important in B2B Marketing
In today’s competitive B2B landscape, thought leadership is more than a buzzword—it’s a strategy that sets industry leaders apart. By sharing innovative ideas, expertise, and forward-thinking strategies, businesses can build trust, increase brand awareness, and solidify their position in the market. But why is thought leadership critical for B2B marketing success, and how can businesses harness its potential effectively? Let’s dive in.
What is Thought Leadership in B2B Marketing?
Thought leadership in B2B marketing involves establishing your brand as an authority in your industry. It’s about providing valuable insights that resonate with your target audience, showcasing expertise, and solving real-world challenges.
Get full insights@ https://itechseries.com/blog/thought-leadership/
Unlike traditional marketing tactics, thought leadership prioritizes educating over selling. This approach builds credibility, making it easier to attract and retain customers who trust your brand’s knowledge and solutions.
Why is Thought Leadership Vital for Brand Awareness?
Brand awareness is the foundation of successful B2B marketing. Thought leadership amplifies brand visibility by positioning your business as a go-to resource for industry insights.
When your thought leadership content is shared across channels—blogs, webinars, or LinkedIn—it increases exposure and fosters familiarity with your brand. Over time, consistent thought leadership elevates your brand’s reputation, making it a trusted name in your niche.
![Tumblr media](https://64.media.tumblr.com/e6b68a26282785d98474a1061efb34b7/936482938de10c44-52/s540x810/15e9e4b333ef303f73f93522f900c6298425e7eb.jpg)
How Does Thought Leadership Strengthen Leadership Strategy?
Effective leadership strategies rely on a brand’s ability to inspire and influence. Thought leadership enables this by creating a platform to communicate vision, values, and industry perspectives.
By engaging in thought leadership, B2B leaders can foster stronger connections with employees, partners, and customers. This alignment enhances organizational culture and builds a community that rallies behind your brand’s mission.
Building Trust Through Thought Leadership
Trust is a cornerstone of B2B relationships, and thought leadership is a powerful tool for earning it. When you share insights backed by data, research, and real-world experiences, you demonstrate authority and reliability.
Moreover, thought leadership humanizes your brand by showcasing the people behind the business. Personal stories, expert commentary, and transparent communication make your brand more relatable and trustworthy.
Driving Demand with Thought Leadership
Thought leadership isn’t just about positioning—it’s a driver for demand generation. Businesses are more likely to engage with a company they perceive as a thought leader, especially when they need innovative solutions.
For instance, thought leadership content such as whitepapers, eBooks, and case studies can serve as lead magnets, attracting high-quality prospects who value your expertise. This leads to stronger relationships and higher conversion rates.
Explore the latest marketing and tech insights@ https://itechseries.com/gtm-library/
How to Create Effective Thought Leadership Content?
Creating impactful thought leadership content begins with understanding your audience. Identify their challenges, aspirations, and interests to ensure your insights resonate.
Additionally, leverage a mix of content formats like blog posts, podcasts, and live events to engage different audience segments. Keep the content authentic, actionable, and backed by evidence to solidify your authority.
Aligning Thought Leadership with Your B2B Marketing Strategy
To maximize the impact of thought leadership, integrate it into your broader B2B marketing strategy. Use it to complement your campaigns, drive engagement, and guide prospects through the buyer’s journey.
For example, pair thought leadership articles with social media campaigns to increase reach. Alternatively, incorporate thought leadership into email marketing efforts to nurture leads with insightful, value-driven content.
Measuring the Success of Thought Leadership Initiatives
Measuring thought leadership’s ROI can be challenging but not impossible. Start by tracking metrics like website traffic, social media shares, and content engagement to gauge visibility.
For deeper insights, monitor lead quality, customer feedback, and brand sentiment. These indicators reveal whether your thought leadership efforts resonate with your audience and translate into tangible business outcomes.
Conclusion
Thought leadership is a pivotal component of B2B marketing. It builds trust, enhances brand awareness, and positions businesses as industry authorities. By aligning thought leadership with your leadership strategy and B2B marketing initiatives, you can drive meaningful engagement and long-term success.
#Thought Leadership#B2B Thought Leadership#B2B Marketing#Content Marketing#Leadership Strategy#Brand Authority
0 notes
Text
Want to Boost Your Medspa's Online Presence? 💻 Expert Content Marketing from On the Mark Digital is the Answer!
![Tumblr media](https://64.media.tumblr.com/3edcf49aab8d4626ae9c9c8b1b88f4f1/5f88e24f5b1cb455-14/s540x810/087f8ad67bd13d7395ce0ab354118fe1ddd13284.jpg)
![Tumblr media](https://64.media.tumblr.com/7838d0d8989986d986d6548e0a553b79/5f88e24f5b1cb455-8f/s540x810/a749b19082b50ee74ba29fcaf2ca54087c1b409f.jpg)
In the rapidly evolving world of Medspas, standing out from the competition is more important than ever. One of the most effective ways to achieve this is through strategic content marketing.
At On the Mark Digital, we understand the unique challenges faced by Medspas and offer tailored solutions to help you thrive. By focusing on SEO, building brand authority, educating your audience, and establishing credibility, we can transform your online presence and drive growth.
The Journey to Building Brand Authority
Imagine you're the owner of a thriving Medspa, known for providing top-notch services and treatments. However, in today's digital age, word-of-mouth alone isn't enough to keep your business growing. This is where content marketing comes into play. By creating and sharing valuable content, you can position your Medspa as an authority in the industry. On the Mark Digital helps you craft compelling content that not only attracts potential clients but also builds trust and credibility.
Educating Your Audience Through SEO and Content Marketing
Educational content is a powerful tool in the Medspa industry. Potential clients are often searching for information about treatments, skincare routines, and the latest trends. By providing well-researched, informative content, you can answer their questions and address their concerns. This not only helps in educating your audience but also boosts your SEO rankings. At On the Mark Digital, we specialize in creating content that resonates with your audience and enhances your online visibility.
SEO: By optimizing your content for search engines, we ensure that your medspa appears at the top of search results, driving organic traffic to your site.
Content Marketing: Our team creates engaging blogs, articles, and social media posts that highlight your expertise and the benefits of your services, keeping your audience informed and engaged.
Building Brand Authority: Through consistent and high-quality content, we help you establish your medspa as a trusted source of information and a leader in the industry.
Establishing Credibility with Your Audience
In the Medspa industry, credibility is crucial. Potential clients need to trust that you have the knowledge and expertise to provide safe and effective treatments. By sharing success stories, client testimonials, and expert insights, you can build a strong foundation of trust. On the Mark Digital helps you showcase your credibility through various content marketing strategies, making sure your Medspa stands out as a reputable and reliable choice.
For more insights on how content marketing can transform your Medspa, follow On the Mark Digital on Facebook and stay updated with the latest trends and tips.
0 notes
Text
Transcription Services for Content Creation and Marketing
Content creation is at the heart of modern marketing strategies. With audiences craving valuable and engaging information, businesses must constantly produce fresh content to stay relevant. One invaluable tool in the arsenal of content creators and marketers is transcription. By converting spoken language into written text, transcription services offer a plethora of benefits that can elevate…
![Tumblr media](https://64.media.tumblr.com/996558da2a4f170c713d65994f721ea1/36b845627d552f5f-f9/s540x810/54debe82fbd9fed851c86a9f748ea9809aa2027a.jpg)
View On WordPress
#accessibility#Audience engagement#Brand authority#Content creation#Content marketing#Digital marketing#global marketing#Marketing copy#Marketing strategy#multilingual transcription#Repurposing content#SEO#Transcription benefits#transcription services#Video subtitles
0 notes
Text
Why is Content Marketing important?
In terms of planning and analysis, a company’s content plan today should resemble a military strategy headquarters more than an assembly line factory. Why? Because improving search engine rankings on platforms like Google and creating connections between brands and their target audience are some of the most challenging pain points for any business in an increasingly saturated digital world. And…
![Tumblr media](https://64.media.tumblr.com/c9043b987f969a50e72fba88edc6da5f/b8f030092d8c1560-2a/s540x810/4c6d08037c7507e6dca3dd6aedcfa514d31d52db.jpg)
View On WordPress
0 notes
Text
How does content marketing contribute to building brand authority and engaging consumers?
Content Marketing Contribution to Building Brand Authority and Engaging Consumers:
Here is how content marketing can contribute to building brand authority and engaging consumers:
1. Demonstrating Expertise:
High-quality content showcases knowledge and expertise, establishing the brand as a credible source in its industry.
2. Building Trust:
Valuable content addresses consumer pain points, building trust and loyalty with the audience.
3. Educating and Informing:
Informative content educates consumers about products, services, and industry trends, positioning the brand as a helpful resource.
4. Encouraging Interaction:
Engaging content encourages interactions such as comments, shares, and discussions, fostering a sense of community around the brand.
Do you know? - “with 70% of marketers actively investing in content marketing, it's critical to develop a good content strategy to compete in your industry” – HubSpot
Do’s and Don’ts of Content Marketing:
![Tumblr media](https://64.media.tumblr.com/04263c0b4c13d45a371757907bb04d45/821383c6e73bd848-dc/s540x810/95f77464a1b13abac3362dcbf57bd27b896cfde1.jpg)
Here's related information that you may also find helpful – Content Marketing vs Brand Marketing
0 notes
Text
0 notes
Text
Syndication Strategies to Skyrocket Your Content Marketing ROI
Introduction
In the ever-evolving landscape of digital marketing, staying ahead requires embracing innovative approaches. The concept of content marketing syndication is one that has experienced tremendous success. This game-changing technique has the potential to transform your content strategy, amplify your reach, and engage a broader audience. In this blog, we'll delve into the concept of content marketing syndication, explore its benefits, and provide actionable insights to leverage its power effectively.
Understanding Content Marketing Syndication
Content marketing syndication involves distributing your original content to third-party platforms, websites, or publications for wider exposure. Rather than confining your content to your own platforms, syndication allows you to tap into established audiences on other channels. It's a symbiotic relationship where content creators provide valuable material to other platforms, and in return, gain increased visibility and engagement.
The Benefits of Content Marketing Syndication
1. Extended Reach: One of the primary advantages of syndication is its ability to extend your content's reach beyond your existing audience. By publishing on external platforms, you access a whole new set of potential readers or viewers who may not have discovered your content otherwise.
2. Enhanced Authority: When reputable third-party sources pick up and share your content, it lends credibility and authority to your brand. This can position you as an industry thought leader and attract a more engaged and trusting audience.
3. SEO Boost: Content syndication, when done correctly, can contribute to your search engine optimization (SEO) efforts. Backlinks from authoritative sources can improve your website's domain authority and search engine ranking.
4. Audience Diversity: Syndication enables you to connect with diverse audiences across various niches. This diversification can be particularly beneficial for businesses targeting different demographics or industries.
5. Time and Resource Efficiency: Creating quality content takes time and effort. Syndication allows you to repurpose existing content for wider distribution, saving resources while still reaping the benefits.
lets connect for more insight: https://ventesb2b.com/contact-2/
Effective Strategies for Content Marketing Syndication
1. Choose the Right Platforms: Identify platforms that align with your target audience and industry. Look for platforms with engaged readerships that are interested in the type of content you produce.
2. Craft Tailored Pitches: When reaching out to external platforms, personalize your pitches to showcase the relevance and value of your content to their audience.
3. Maintain Originality: While syndicating content, ensure that the content remains original on your own platform. Search engines value original content, so avoid duplicating content across multiple sites.
4. Optimize for Each Platform: Tailor your content to fit the style and preferences of each platform. This optimization increases the likelihood of engagement and resonating with the new audience.
5. Focus on Evergreen Content: Choose content that has a longer shelf life. Evergreen content remains relevant over time and continues to attract audiences, even after syndication.
6. Promote Sharing: Encourage readers of syndicated content to share it across social media and other platforms, further increasing its reach.
7. Monitor and Analyze: Keep track of how your syndicated content is performing. Monitor metrics such as traffic, engagement, and backlinks to assess the effectiveness of your strategy.
Conclusion
Content marketing syndication is a potent strategy that opens doors to broader exposure, authority, and engagement. By sharing your content with established platforms, you tap into new audiences and gain valuable backlinks. However, successful syndication requires careful planning, tailored strategies, and adherence to best practices. As you embrace content marketing syndication, remember that quality and relevance are paramount. Keep refining your approach, adapting to different platforms, and analyzing results to fully harness the game-changing potential of content syndication in your overall marketing strategy.
Aniket Deshpanade
Sr.Digital Marketink Associate
www.ventesb2b.com/ New York, USA
#Content marketing#Syndication#Strategy#Game-changer#Digital marketing#Audience reach#Brand authority#SEO benefits#Audience diversity#Resource efficiency#Platform selection#Tailored pitches#Originality#Optimization#Evergreen content#Engagement#Backlinks#Metrics#Relevance#Marketing transformation#ventesb2b.com
0 notes
Text
Benefits of link building for SEO - Ennoble Technologies
![Tumblr media](https://64.media.tumblr.com/ed644dd8fdc6f710d357b26f634d55f1/f5052eff9ee30230-a6/s540x810/037aebd28f07067b6f9e73cf8085562abd190d2c.jpg)
Despite its simplicity, link building is a crucial part of SEO. The procedure can be challenging at times. The goal is to lure other websites to link back to yours. The site’s popularity and authority in the desired search engines are prerequisites for realizing this goal.
Google also considers user engagement when determining page rank. So merely a person clicking and exiting won’t do. The time spent on a website also is recorded in the search engine logs, which are also used to determine the genuineness of the website. So, the more visitors who visit your site, the better.
Clearly, there are many upsides to link building, and in this blog post, we will explore them all so you can get a firm grasp on the topic’s genuine importance for search engine optimization.
Improved Search Engine Rankings
One of the most important factors that search engines employ to determine a page’s ranking is the number and quality of inbound links from other similarly high-quality and reputable websites. Search engines place more stock in a website as an authoritative and relevant source of information if it has received links from other credible websites.
One factor determining where a website appears in search engine results is Google’s PageRank algorithm. When establishing a page’s worth and relevance, PageRank considers both the number and quality of inbound connections.
Research shows that websites with more backlinks have a better chance of ranking higher in SERPs. For example, according to a Moz study, websites with high domain authority and high-quality backlinks score higher in search results than those with low and low-quality ones. Remember, it’s not always about the quantity; the quality also matters. Having genuine, qualitative, trustworthy content on your website will help you stay on top in the search results.
A search engine, “Google,” “Yahoo,” or “Bing,” anything for that matter, wants to render the best service of information to the internet users. They want to avoid risking it by showing bad quality websites with wrong info on top, and they very well would appreciate a website with genuine content that they can showcase.
Increased Website Traffic
Creating inbound links to your website has significantly enhanced visitor numbers. Referral traffic, or visitors that come to your site from another, increases when other websites link to you. Referral traffic consists of users that landed on your site after clicking a link posted on another website.
The number of people visiting your site from a link on another site can rise, and the chances that your site will appear in search engine results can also increase.
As mentioned, your website’s search engine rankings will improve with more backlinks from high-quality sites. As a result, you may see increased natural search engine traffic.
Read More: https://ennobletechnologies.com/seo/what-are-the-benefits-of-link-building-for-seo/
#benefits of link building#benefits of link building for SEO#Brand Authority#Digital Marketing#Digital Marketing Agency#digital marketing organizations#digital marketing strategy#digital marketing tips#Indexing and Crawling
1 note
·
View note
Text
![Tumblr media](https://64.media.tumblr.com/bd82be507f499ea3871c538b298b6655/c67a5882242ce126-27/s1280x1920/db854d506516d86adf1302bd8bc99182028b9a7b.jpg)
Off-page SEO refers to the strategies used to optimize a website’s search engine ranking, visibility, and authority outside of the website itself. It involves activities such as link building, content marketing, and social media marketing. By building high-quality links from other websites, creating content that is relevant and engaging, and actively engaging with your audience on social media, you can help increase your website’s rankings and visibility in search engine results pages.
0 notes
Text
Hey fic rec time! I didn't do these often so you KNOW it's good
If you like Star Wars and Mandos and falling in love with character dynamics you'll never be able to find again because OP just smooshed together things that never existed before
May I introduce you to:
Mando'jekai jedi by Anonymous
Yes Anonymous come out here OP so I can put you in a little jar and provide you optimal writing enrichment and maybe shake you a little to see how you work
Author Summary:
Feemor saves a random Mandalorian and earns himself the position of Jedi watchman for the sector. Now if only the mandos would stop hunting him so that he can investigate this terrorist cell in peace.
Jaster really wants to talk to the jedi who slapped the darksaber into his hands before running off. Now if only the haat'ade could track him down.
My Summary:
Feemor Gives Mandalorians a Life-Changing Field Trip (No They Cannot Exit This Ride): The Fic
The writing is so smooth the humor is HIGH-LARIOUS the angst is wrapped up in the humor which is wrapped up in outsider POV
It's like you went to Fic Restaurant and the waiter slapped the menu out of your hand and said "I've got the good shit" and you were too terrified to protest that actually you were just here for a little hurt/comfort fix-it fic but when they came back
Oh damn
Oh that is the good shit
Anyway click this it's the good shit
#I consistently think I'm misremembering how fantastic the writing is until a new chapter drops#And then I am forced to write a half page comment because there's really no other option#If you don't know much about Feemor he's a knight Qui-Gon raised and emotionally scared before Obi-Wan#So you get the good This Character Is So Kickable vibes but in a brand new flavor#This particular author goes in for very snarky not-quite-human Eldritch-eye-shine ssh-don't-worry-about-it Feemor#Which is a DELIGHTFUL take#More characters should be just Subtly Off#star wars#Feemor#fic rec#ao3#Go give it love please love correlates to more chapters from most authors#I NEED MORE
214 notes
·
View notes
Text
I'm sure Minkowski never forgot that Cutter was the first person ever to call her Commander. After recruiting her in Once in A Lifetime, he starts to call her Lieutenant, then breaks into laughter, before correcting himself: "What am I saying? Commander Minkowski." He draws attention to himself granting that title, stressing its significance. By initially calling her by a lower ranking, then conspicuously correcting himself, Cutter emphasises that he's the one granting her that title. Right at the beginning of Minkowski's employment with Goddard Futuristics, Cutter plants the seed for his line in the finale: "People cared about you because of what I made you: A soldier. A leader. A commander. I gave you that, and now? I taketh away."
And he does take it away. Cutter makes a point of calling her Commander in that first meeting, but he hardly ever calls Minkowski Commander after that. He almost always calls her Renée. He makes the point in that first interaction that he has the authority to grant her that title, and then in every subsequent interaction he tries to make the point that she doesn't have command over him. Having called her Commander once makes every time he doesn't call her by her title seem more deliberate. It's not that he never uses titles - it's that he uses them selectively. He gives her a taste of that sense of authority, but he doesn't want her to feel worthy of it.
In the liveshow, he cuts her off by shouting "I AM SPEAKING, LIEUTENANT!". Minkowski is the Commander of the Hephaestus in official terms at this point and Cutter even refers to her as "a mission commander" later in the same episode. So there is a deliberate malice to Cutter calling Minkowski Lieutenant here. Not only does it emphasise the use of authority structures as a means for control and the abandonment of first-name-basis false friendliness, calling her by another title makes his choice not to call her Commander even more explicit, denying her that authority.
Apart from when he recruits her, the only other time I can think of when Cutter directly calls Minkowski Commander is in Ep60, when he lays out his offer to let Minkowski leave on the Sol: "How does that sound to you, Commander?" Again, calling her Commander is a kind of power play, an attempt at manipulation, highlighting the sense of responsibility that motivates so many of Minkowski's actions. Cutter is prompting her to ask the question she would be asking herself anyway: what choice would a good Commander make? Just as he did when he recruited her, Cutter offers Minkowski something she desperately wants, and the use of her title here only draws attention to the idea that Cutter is the one with the power, choosing what to give her.
#Digging this out of my drafts in an attempt to make a return to actually posting here#Rambling about Minkowski name / title symbolism is sufficiently on brand for a comeback 😅#Anyway. I think this is the exact kind of manipulation / power play that Minkowski is particularly vulnerable to#Even among the worry about having made such a big decision without consulting her husband#I have no doubt that she enjoyed being called Commander#The emphasis Cutter put on it felt right to her#It matched the significance she felt that new title held#It pleased the part of her that craves recognition of her authority from someone at the top of a hierarchy#The memory obviously holds a sour taste for her now#perhaps particularly the moment of Cutter calling her Commander for the first time (and one of the only times)#She feels sick now at the memory of how proud she felt to hear him call her that#Thinking about this alongside all of the other significance that people calling Minkowski Commander takes on:#Eiffel's insistence on it as a indicator of his increasing respect for her#the SI-5 calling her Lieutenant#Hera being prevented from calling her Commander...#Everything that all of that signifies#and all of it beginning with that laugh of Cutter's. that pointed emphasis#wolf 359#w359#the empty man posteth#wolf 359 spoilers#w359 spoilers#renee minkowski#renée minkowski#marcus cutter
132 notes
·
View notes
Text
I truly do think one of the largest pitfalls among the "media consumption is my passion" crowd is the tendency to treat characters as human beings with agency rather than narrative tools manipulated by the author
#as soon as you start assigning agency to characters any criticism of the series comes under strawman fallacy arguments#about how humans make irrational choices not always understood by others etc etc etc#thus insulating the author and the work from any sort of meaningful criticism or analysis#i think current popular advice on character writing overemphasizes relatability and likability at the expense of narrative relevance#it certainly isn't hurtful to do exercises where you think about their coffee order or favourite animal or preferred toilet paper brand#but none of that matters in the end if you have no idea what purpose a character is supposed to serve in a literary sense
263 notes
·
View notes
Text
The funniest thing is when a big corp accidentally makes one of the most radical eat the rich games ever and then has to spend the rest of their time backtracking because they realized THEY are apart of the rich
#im talking anout ubisoft#like what do you mean your first game was all about holding authority figures accountable and questioning everything#and also not letting authority figures grow too powerful otherwise they might become corrupt#and your entire brand is centered around freedom for all#but your also a super mega rich corporation that doesn't believe in eating the rich#...#assassin's creed
52 notes
·
View notes
Text
Once again, please stop reblogging from lesbian-archives. They have tags for rad feminism, "gynocentricism", "womb envy", antiprostitution, and separatists tags along with other similar terminology in terf and swerf communities on their blog. It's literally within the most used tags when you go to search. Plus they used to reblog from terfs often enough and use said tags until they decided to be a lil more cryptic I guess....
![Tumblr media](https://64.media.tumblr.com/09046ec99a942ed9c2af704ccc9b4783/f488b04d21ce2ab7-35/s640x960/4740396dbe5113abffa4ce77b645f5ed7e176593.jpg)
![Tumblr media](https://64.media.tumblr.com/2073575f44083b7e90f4d82ae5f53706/f488b04d21ce2ab7-0b/s1280x1920/d3adde17e5c505a75a578601e3688ec13c5f46ad.jpg)
#what tipped me off like last year was all the second wave authors they kept posting#especially dw0rk1n#one of my mutuals reblogged the quote posted of hers and i had to be like uuuhh this is transmisogynistic#also not saying separatism is inherently bad but in combination with multiple shit listed there#the separatism theyre referring to absolutely excludes trans lesbians and lesbians who are sex workers#like terfs are never gonna label THEIR specific brand of separatism they just use the broader term
569 notes
·
View notes
Photo
DOCTOR WHO (1963) — 6.12 “The Invasion: Part Two”
#doctor who#classic who#second doctor era#the invasion#brigadier lethbridge stewart#brigadier#jamie mccrimmon#UNIT#dwedit#classicwhoedit#seconddoctoredit#gifs#mine#headcanon: UNIT is brand new which is why brig says he doesn't have the authority to arrest#by the time he meets three they have many more permissions
738 notes
·
View notes
Text
Sorry guys I gotta speak my truth on this one
I'm not kidding when I say that I think that blaming shit media literacy from fans on shipping/shippers avoids the actual root of the problem to throw people you can easily throw under the bus (simply because it's not unpopular to consider people who post about ships or ship characters in media as having lesser or derivative tastes by default)
And here's why.
I think when you blame people who are "shippers" or "consume media through shipping lenses", the true root of it all is a mindset problem.
In actually, putting on shipping lenses can be helpful when trying to analyze a piece of media. When analyzing media you're supposed to approach it through a number of mindsets and put on different lenses (both to deepen your personal understanding of the media, and to pick it apart and see what you can find there (whether intentional or not on the author's part)), and different ships can be some of those lenses
When it comes to ships between main characters (for those who are genuinely willing to see what the narrative is showing with their relationship and what it's doing), there are times when analyzing it from a shipping lens may be helpful. As someone from KH fandom, I have seen people come to deeper understandings and pick canon apart in the process of analyzing a relationship that is genuinely integral to the story (platonic or not). I've also seen people get into rarepairs of characters who barely interact or who just suffer little screen time, and I've seen them come to better understandings of those side characters and how they potentially fit into the world of the media simply because people are now focusing on these characters and how they fit into the narrative.
Frankly, I resent the idea that the only way to truly objectively analyze a piece of media is by turning off the part of your brain that gets excited over relationships and individual characters. Don't get me wrong, that is a way to approach a piece of media and a valid one at that, but the truth is that we cannot be free of bias.
For instance, I was watching House MD with my parents circa last year. At some point I started heavily tuning into what was going on with House and Wilson's relationship. My parents, on the other hand, were largely watching casually. They're not thinking of character relationships or getting heavily invested in most characters, they're watching because they like watching. One of them in particular did try to analyze things that were happening in the show as they happened. However, when it came to the scene late in the series where House threw out Dominika's letter approving her American citizenship, my parents could understand that he was doing that because he didn't want her to leave, but not much beyond that. I ended up explaining to them that House's fake marriage for Dominika was an explicit parallel to when Wilson was living with House in the early seasons. Both situations started with House being none too happy about it but ultimately letting them stay, spending a considerable amount of effort getting them to leave/getting this situation to be finally over so he didn't have to deal with it anymore, and then by the time a piece of news comes through that would mean the person in question actually leaves, House hides this news as long as he can. Because he doesn't actually want them to leave and has grown attached. And by doing this he became a self fulfilling prophecy. By reacting to the truth of Wilson and Dominika leaving him the way he does, he seals his fate and they ultimately leave anyways. Maybe I ship Hilson, but becoming open to how their relationship was handled allowed me to transition to doing character studies and recognizing patterns/parallels that I wouldn't have noticed if I didn't particularly care about the characters or their relationship.
Likewise, I've seen mutuals complain about how people who don't like or don't care about certain characters often overlook these characters (what they're actually like and their place in the narrative), while the mutuals in question (by default) are able to come to deeper understanding of what the writers/story is trying to do because they care about this funky guy
You can't eradicate bias when you're engaging in media analysis, but you can consciously put on a range of lenses and observe the media through different povs with the goal of understanding the media better or bolstering your reading of it. And those lenses/povs can include focusing on specific relationships or the perpective of certain characters
And this is why I say it's actually a mindset problem. Shippers and people who have this one blorbo they like a lot aren't inherently terrible "fandom brained individuals" who are the root of media analysis problems. The problem only arises when people's readings/analysis of a piece of media are inherently restrictive/narrow and self centered. Your problem is with people who view a piece of media through a ship they like but don't keep an open mind about it, and whose "media analysis"/views on canon cannot be split from fanon and their comfortability levels. These are the people whose "media analysis" starts and ends with justifying their fanon as canon, whose views on media revolve around sorting characters and relationships into categories they personally enjoy rather than trying to understand what's going on.
Here's another example.
Here we have a fictional ship we'll call uhhhh...Blanebin. this fictional ship I made up on the spot for characters that don't exist named Blane and Corbin
Person A is super into Blanebin. They're part of the main cast of characters and canonically childhood best friends, so person A (as much as they enjoy fanart and fic) is also enjoying analyzing how narratively important to each other they are. Recently, Corbin started dating another character in canon, but Person A is enjoying watching how Blane is reacting to this. "Is this potentially a tell that Blane is jealous or is having complicated feelings about this? What if he was, how would that contextualize his behavior this season? Here's what I think based on how Blane dealt with explicit jealousy last season in a different situation". It's not impossible that person A is still missing further understanding due to their obsession with Blanebin, but at the end of the day this obsession has allowed them to start picking through the characters both in and outside this relationship. It has allowed them to see potential subtext and theorize on what might happen next with these characters' relationship. Not to mention that with addition of Corbin dating someone else, instead of trying to erase this fact or state that Corbin canonically isn't into that person, Person A is trying to factor in how Corbin's current dating life affects his relationship with Blane (irregardless on personal views on the nature of Corbin's relationship with the person he's dating).
Person B is also super into Blanebin. They really enjoy fanart and fic of the characters, love obsessing over their moments together, and just feel like there's really something between the characters. To person B, every moment between them is just further proof that the writers are ship teasing them. But Corbin getting together with someone else this season? Oh that pissed person B off. They cannot believe that even though Corbin and Blane are CLEARLY gay for each other the writers had Corbin get with someone else this season. Perhaps, they think, it was even a decision specifically made to spite fans. How evil of the writers to tease a perfectly good ship and then have them not get together first? They must have been just doing those teases to get views from Blanebin shippers those scoundrels. To Person B, since Corbin started dating someone when he obviously has some chemistry with Blane (even though the series is far from over) means that Blanebin can never get together now and Corbin x person he's dating is ruining Blanebin by existing. In fact, they think, this is terrible writing for Corbin to be dating someone else because they don't like that relationship and don't see the point. Obviously if the writers were good then Corbin would have started dating Blane instead because this was supposed to be the Blanebin show.
Person C despises Blanebin. Don't get them wrong, they've always enjoyed the character's childhood friendship, but they actually have always thought Blane would have been better off with Victoria. They have a lot of moments too! But they're tired of seeing people ship Blanebin. Corbin just got together with someone else, so obviously that's not gonna work out. Plus Corbin and Blane totally has always given person C bro vibes. In fact, person C thinks, sure Corbin and Blane have a close friendship, but people shouldn't be shipping them. Person C likes Blanetoria and Blanetoria can't be canon if Corbin is in the way of it. So Person C likes to read Blanebin as siblings anyways. Sure they're canonically friends, but obviously their friendship turned into brotherhood. This means that nothing can be in the way of Blanetoria and Corbin can keep dating the person he's already canonically dating. Actually, now Blanebin just straight up makes Person C uncomfortable. Don't the pesky shippers understand that Blanebin are sibling coded because they're childhood best friends and that they're important to each other because they're brothers? It's obvious to anyone with eyes.
Sure, ships are involved here, but is the root of this problem shipping? Character A isn't as knowledgeable of other characters in the plot due to this lens they're using, but at the end of the day they're dedicated to analysis. Their love of the characters is pushing them beyond what they like or dislike to try to understand what might be happening through their lens. Not perfect, but they are slowly broadening their horizons. But Person B and C's problems here are their restrictiveness. What is or should be canon to them is tantamount to what they personally like or find comfortable. Is person C actually analyzing the this fake show when they decide to "read" Blanebin as basically canonically siblings (and this all of their moments are totally a bro thing) just because they don't like Blanebin and the idea of them getting together over Blanetoria makes them uncomfortable? Is person B actually analyzing this fake show when their "analysis" of Blanebin goes only as far as asserting it's being ship teased and deciding anything short of canonizing Blanebin is a targeted attack or "bad writing" because it's not what they wanted personally to happen?
This is what I'm talking about. This is the mindset. Shipping isn't the problem. The problem is when people marry fanon and canon to the point where they have a vested interest in superimposing their fanon over canon as "a reading" and trying to make "collective decisions" on what is canon (or what canon is trying to say) based on what does or doesn't make them uncomfortable. The problem is people being restrictive and centering their own likes and dislikes in the conversation, so they can only interact with canon "analysis" wise by deciding what is canon or should be canon "as obviously agreed on by everyone". You can't simply claim you like media analysis. To be able to analyze media and bolster your views on any given canon, you must be open to looking at it through multiple povs, to studying characters without trying to pretend things you don't like don't exist or do like do exist. There is a balance that must be kept between trying to keep objectivity and putting on specific focus/bias based upon the lenses you're putting on. You have to be willing to try to figure out what a media is doing or saying, not saying you're trying to figure out what it's saying while in actuality trying to define the narrative around what people believe it's saying in ways that suit you.
Thank you for coming to my ted talk.
#fandom wank#on the flip side it really just doesn't all happen with shipping#doesn't this go the same way when someone hates a character so they brand them with terrible terms and act like they're terrible without#actually taking a second to analyze them simply because they dislike that character?#Hell I've seen people get really invested in platonic relationships on the fanon side‚ start labeling them as siblings because the idea of#people shipping them makes them uncomfortable‚ and then when new canon doesn't fulfill their hopes they still act like those characters#being siblings to each other is canon because it makes them uncomfortable if that's not true#I've seen people watch a trailer for a piece of media before it comes out‚ build up an entire story in their head based on that trailer#that they've designated as their perfect idea of how to handle concepts presented in the trailer‚ and then when canon doesn't end up going#that way they decide that it's bad writing simply on the grounds that this wasn't the story they wanted. so they unironically act like#writers can only be good writers if the writers play into their specific wants as the audience or things they as an audience member thinks#would be great#genuinely even if people turn off the ship side of their brain or the side that gets obsessed with characters they can still be one of those#people who acts like they love media analysis but ultimately are shit at it#I didn't put this in the body of the post cause it didn't really fit but I have to say this too#I think that 'There are multiple readings one can glean from a text and no reading is the 'true' one‚ and this is okay' and 'not every#reading is a valid one or a good one' are statements that can and should coexist#There is a difference between genuinely reading into a piece of media based on what is happening in it and purposely miscontruing and#twisting canon in a direction that contradicts text so you can then quell all criticism by saying that it's just 'a reading' and#'all readings are valid'#What I'm saying is that if you see a blue car‚ the way you get 'valid readings is people who are determining what shade of blue it is or#what it being a blue car means or the author's intent making the car blue or even speculation as to why it's blue and not potentially other#color. A case of an 'invalid reading' in this case is if someone pointed at the blue car‚ said it's canonically red and the author obviously#intended it to be red and it's canonically red‚ and then when people point out that the car is very much not canonically red (that you#can see it is a very clear shade of blue) this person doubled down and started saying that the 'haters' are being rude by implying that#their personal reading of the text is invalid (in other words 'no you can't get mad at me for saying the blue car is red because it's my#reading of the text and all readings are valid no matter what!')#anyways sorry for going off there#it just pisses me off when people repeat the argument that people who like certain things as fans are inherently unable to perform good#media analysis and are the root of fandom media illiteracy.
24 notes
·
View notes