The amatonormativity in Miraculous
WHAT's amatonormativity and WHY is it bad?
By definition amatonormativity is "the set of societal assumptions that everyone prospers with an exclusive romantic relationship". So, perhaps based on this you could've guess that it harms mostly aromantic/non-partnering and polyamorous people, but, to be honest, amatonormativity makes everyone's life miserable (yeah, even non-aspec's lives).
Unwillingness to get out of a toxic relationship, because "it's better to have at least this asshole, who beats me up/abuses me, than being single" arises from the direct influence of amatonormativity. A system in which married people receive lots of privileges compared to single people, a system, in which people in relationships are statistically healthier and in a better financial position, than single people, is built by amatonormativity. The idea that a person outside of a relationship is somehow defective, something is wrong with them, they suffer and dream of finding their Other half (because by yourself you cannot be a whole person), was invented by an amatonormative society.
All these things harm people both psychologically (accepting abuse) and physically (it is more difficult to maintain health and financial situation), and they especially harm people who do not want romantic relationships in any form. And this is why it is necessary to fight against amatonormativity, in media too, especially in media for children.
Miraculous positions itself as a very progressive show. Indeed, there are things that Thomas Astruc's team, in my opinion, has done really well in their show, buuuuut... as soon as we start talking about aromanticism... Uhhh... Well...
Yes, maybe you'll say that I'm asking too much of a show whose tagline is "the power of love is always so strong!" No, I'm not! ! !!! I've already explained, why amatonormativity is bad! And normalizing amatonormative ideas in society harms both the WHOLE society and its most vulnerable groups (people from the aro-spectrum).
The show pays a lot of attention to the representation, and - oh my God! - there is a canonical representation even for the aromantic folks.
Allow me to introduce you... Alix Kubdel! Yaaaay!
Okay, I'll be honest, this time the writing team did a really good job. Alix for real is a character that any teenager can associate themself with! She's so... Uh-huh... Well, she loves... Well, ummmm... let me chek my notes real quick... (nervously flipping through a notebook)... uh, guys, give me a second, I'll find it...
Yes, of course, you don't look a gift horse in the mouth, and any representation is good, but... Let's be honest. Among the other characters, it's hard for me to name a more raw and uninteresting one. Alix, baby, I love you, I can see your potential, but it seems like the writing team... doesn't want to write more about you?
Or is it, that they don't know what to do with her?
In the season 6 some characters were given a littke more depth: Nath, Ivan, Zoe... and Alix could easily be one of them! The "Dark Castle", which, I suppose, intended to be an Alix-centered episode, could show us a little more of her. How is she living inside the Burrow? What's her sorrows, what's her joys? Her hobbies? Her conflicts? Anything???
Instead, we've got an episode about Marinette being silly and another reminder that "YoU sHoUlDn'T pLaY wItH tImE oohh!!!".
And "don't worry, I'm fine" from Alix in the end. No conflicts, no emotions, nothing.
It's unfair and it looks from my prespective like this: "okay, we've made an aromantic character, hooray! But... what can we do with her? Ah, right! Let's put her in the some intertemporal space, isolate her from the rest of the cast and forget about her!". Do they not know what to do with a character, without using a romantic plot?
This is bad! This reinforces the idea in the head of non-aromantic people that the aromantic characters are too boring (right, Vivienne?), and this is wrong!
They could have made an episode about how strong the power of love is for Alix, just... different kind of love! For example, the platonic love. Familial love. Your love to your hobbie or job, make an emphasis on this, wrap it up in the moral of the episode!
Or show that not all people call it love, not everyone likes this word, not everyone is comfortable with it. Call it Passion. Call it Hobby. Devotion. Acquaintance. "Love" is not suitable for everyone, it is not a beautiful force for everyone, and it's not wrong! Someone can't love anything, but they are passionate about something, enjoying something, interested in something. And that's not a bad thing. This is also a power.
Idk why they desided to simply dipose of her, but, once adaing, as an aromantic person, I hate it.
Amatonormativity in the episodes
There're probably many examples of it in the early episodes, but I want focus on season 6.
The episode was mostly fine? I like that they made Ondine realize that she shouldn't throw a tantrum, because her boyfriend didn't want to kiss her. She even said that even if Kim never kisses her, it will be fine. That's cool.
Though, I don't like that in the end the writers made Kim magically realise that he actually wants to kiss with Ondine. It's kinda reinforces the idea "if you're a really good, patient partner, one day yours suffering will be rewarded and your dumb problematic partner will kiss you". Eeehh... They didn't even made her wait for it, so the moral "don't force your partner to kiss you, please" becomes less visible.
Also, Ondine didn't even got punished for her actions? Even a little? She just somehow realised that her behaivior was bad, and... that's it? I'm not asking writers to put her in the prison, beat her to death or smth like that, no! But shouldn't they at least give a lecture from Ladybug? No?
That's not really good, but, as I said, mostly everything's fine. So let's move to the episode, that made me lose my shit.
WHAT THE FUCK WAS THIS????
DO I EVEN NEED TO SAY HOW BAD THIS WHOLE NORA x BRANDY (what's his fucking name?) PLOTLINE IS?
Nora needs time to heal after her toxic ex, so she doesn't want to hear anything about love right now. It doesn't bother her, it doesn't hurt her, she seems fine and even pretty happy before the main squad decides that "oooooooh!!!! you can't live without ✨✨✨✨✨✨love✨✨✨✨✨✨!!!! we should help Nora to get together with this guy!!"
Or maybe we should let people decide for themselves who they are to each other? No?
"But he's the only person she tolerates!" Okay??? So what??? Doesn't mean she wants to have anything romantic with him.
"Can't you sees how they look at each other!" Friends can look at each other HOWEVER THEY WANT. I would kill for my friends, still, doesn't mean I want to kiss them or go on a date.
"But he's an ideal man!", "Oh, she's so oblivious!", "Nora will never say she loves him". SO. FUCKING. WHAT? She was fine with that in the beginning of the episode! When Nino suggested they're a couple, she wasn't blushing or showing "yeah, I love him, but I'm ashamed" emotion, she was just a little angry and that was it. SHE WAS OKAY. WHY DO YOU MAKE A PROBLEM OUT OF NOWHERE.
And my absolute favourite "okay, Sadnansi, let's see what you will do, when I'll trew a person you, as you say, don't love, from the EIFFEL TOWER". Okay, Alya, let's see, what you will do, if I'll trew your bestfriend Marinette from the Eiffel tower. Holy shit, she saved her!!!?!?!?!???????? Oh my god, Alyanette canon confirmed, guys, that's crazy.
conclusion: amatonormativity is bullshit. (and so is miraculous writing)
