On Atherton Wing & Companion-ism

POSTED BY: chrisisall
UPDATED: Friday, June 13, 2008 16:50
VIEWED: 10879
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NCBROWNCOAT

Friday, June 13, 2008 12:38 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by mal4prez:
Quote:
Originally posted by ncbrowncoat:
...since the Guild was set up for females and in a way for their protection and independence from men.
Why do you say this? Really, is there something particular you've read or seen to make you believe that the Guild is so gender specific?

I mean, sure we've only seen female Companions, but does that necessarily mean there are no men? And I don't mean only men for gay men to hire - might there there women in the `verse who'd hire a male Companion? (And wouldn't that make a fun fun episode - a hunky male Companion friend of Inara's who's hired by some high power wealthy woman...)

I guess that, until I get word from Joss specifically saying different, I see the Guild as a protectorate for Companionship, for this Geisha/counselor/sex partner/escort/whatever you call it service. In my mind, it is the service that is taught/sold/protected, not the gender role.

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hmm-burble-blah, blah-blah-blah, take a left

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Joss is pretty clear about most Companions being female. The rule mentioned in "A Brief History" about a House never being run by a male seems to indicate that the predominate gender is female.

I don't know if there are male Companions exist in any other role either. I was just speculating about one gender tying to break into a specific job that is traditionally gender specific.

Hey, I'd love to see male Companions too. As a heterosexual single female (but neither powerful or wealthy)that hasn't been in a relationship for a while I'd be first in line to hire a hunky male Companion... just for dinner of course.

http://fireflyfaninnc.livejournal.com/

MANWITHPEZ

Friday, June 13, 2008 11:32 AM

Something I found interesting is the offer from Atherton to make Inara his personal companion, but, not his wife. I ask you, which would be the more socially upward?

A man with his own companion, or a man who got a companion to marry him? If they marry, she loses her status as a companion, but, it can't be unprecendented, you know?

So, what is the analog to asking a companion to contract with you alone?

Kaylee: "What's so damn important about being proper? It don't mean nothing out here in the black."
Simon: "It means more out here. It's all I have..."

http://manwithpez.livejournal.com

SPACEANJL

Friday, June 13, 2008 11:57 AM

Of course, it was never made clear if Atherton was already married...

Maybe it's a bit like the hetaeira (did I spell that right?) of Ancient Greece - they did the social butterfly bit, whilst the wives stayed at home, raising the heirs. There are quite a few cultures that have that sad little idea kicking about - it's all about 'purity'.

He's basically asking her to be his mistress. The whole thing is all about exclusivity and possession. I don't think men marry Companions - they are the party girls, the fun, the status symbol. But you get your heirs from a nice, safe, untouched woman, where you can be sure of the provenance.

PLATONIST

Friday, June 13, 2008 2:34 PM

Good point, SpaceAnJL, and I agree, this culture identifies two different roles in Companions and Wives, much like European Courtesans and spouses of the 17th century.

And, it is Mal who actually brings this issue to Inara's attention (the line was cut) because he can't fathom why she would even consider being a man's mistress or plaything and actually believe that to be acceptable arrangement.

Companions probably don't marry unless they opt for retirement.

Shindig is written to show the differences in the way they view her work, remember it is fairly early in the timeline of their relationship. Things are just starting to become complicated.

SPACEANJL

Friday, June 13, 2008 2:43 PM

I also think that Inara is just starting to come up against the differing perceptions of Companions. In the Core, particularly on Sihnon, they do have that mystique, a role beyond the physical. But outside that sphere, there are some nasty shocks waiting. The Guild has influence in certain spheres of Persephonean society, certainly, but what about the circles that don't give a damn about the spiritual empathy, and just see a pretty whore in a sparkly dress? Inara could go flouncing out into a back moon border town, and expect to be greeted with some degree of respect, and it could all go horribly wrong, horribly quickly. I'm not sure she quite grasps that to begin with, though her wielding of that knife in 'HoG' indicates that she learns fast.

PLATONIST

Friday, June 13, 2008 3:32 PM

That's exactly what I get from her experiences. I wouldn't call Inara's time on Serenity a smashing profession success, at times she had trouble finding clients and when she did she was met with ignorance and prejudice.

And that's why the new Training House on the border moon makes sense. To redirect some of that misunderstanding of what they are. And even there, originally, Joss was to have one of the girls taken and gang raped. **shudders**

SPACEANJL

Friday, June 13, 2008 3:46 PM

...?!

Where was that from? Nasty. But unfortunately probably a fair reflection of what could happen. However, I think the Training House must be on a planet that has some pretensions to culture and civilisation, since the girls' families are willing to let them attend, and take up the profession.

There's obviously a nasty trade practised elsewhere, from Mal's reaction to the 'girl-in-a-box' in Serenity I&II, and the mentions of slavery in other episodes. Inara was bloody lucky she got on Mal's ship - that could have gone badly from the start.

edit: even more disturbing thought. There's a whole collection of women and wealth in one place, and no-one guarding it...? Here's hoping some slave traders don't do what the Vikings used to do. Monastic communities and convents were like one-stop shops, especially around holy days. Wine, wealth and slaves, and no real opposition (since the monks/nuns did not bear arms)

PLATONIST

Friday, June 13, 2008 4:16 PM

where was that from?...the 190 page script for Serenity, I read it on line one day when I had a lot of work to do... didn't want to do it. Ya know... the one where Book and Wash are still alive at the end, and Mal and River fly Serenity back to the Training House to help the girls with the locals and Jayne is unbelievably happy because there lays his reward for his good deed!

No one dies and it’s Mal's idea to take some time off and camp out at the House. OK now I'm freaking crying...

SPACEANJL

Friday, June 13, 2008 4:26 PM

...I'm gonna have to look for this.

But...Joss, with the happy ending and all? Not buying it. (Did you ever read his original Aliens 4 script?)

PLATONIST

Friday, June 13, 2008 4:50 PM

good luck with that, I think all the links have been disabled.

Yeah, it’s truly sweet and endearing and Mal's all sheepish about going to the House and Inara thanks him and he says, "Thank me later" or "you'll be thanking me later", I can't remember which. And everyone is happy and ready for sexin, oh, why Joss? why?

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