A thread for Tara ...

[gorn]

This is something I've been talking about with different Kittens, but I thought I'd post it here for everyone ...

Fanon. I don't think dlline coined the phrase, but she's the first person I heard use it. It's a blending of fanfic & canon, something so deeply rooted in fandom that it almost develops into canon of its own, or pseudo-canon. Others who have read a lot more fics than I have (shame on me) can probably think of better examples, but the one that stood out to me was that of Tara the Painter.

Think about it. I confess I have not yet seen every Buffy episode, but I have it on good authority that there is nothing in the series that ever depicted Tara drawing or painting, nor even that she was particularly artistic. And yet, in nearly all of my favourite fics, Tara is a painter. "Neverland" is the most obvious example. I don't recall exactly, but it shows up in a few of Sassette's "Vignettes," as well as being a key point in her latest one. What really surprised me, though, was that she was even a painter in dlline's "The Rosenberg Files." Admittedly this is not key to dlline's plot, but it strikes me as an important part of her Tara's character. This, I think, was the real catch - dlline's Tara is very much her own creation, yet shares this same distinctly NON-CANON trait with Sassette & EasierSaid's more traditional Tara.

Where does this Painter Tara come from? Who started it? When reading these fics, particularly "Neverland" (my first experience on this Board), it seemed so natural that I never questioned it. I just assumed it was a part of the series I hadn't come across yet. Same with Willow's "frog fear," which I saw spring up in Sassette's writing based on a single line in a single episode. I didn't know about that at the time, either, until I finally saw the episode (Mrs. Gorn could not understand what I was suddenly so excited about). Speaking of Willow, she shows up as a computer programmer in nearly ever fic I've read, as well, but that at least is rather well-established in canon. Tara the Painter is entirely our own creation.

[Paint the Sky]

This is an interesting question, Gorn. Is it possible that Tara’s ‘painter’ persona has arisen from the episode Life Serial in season six? In this episode Buffy goes back to college to audit some classes with Willow and Tara, and subsequently becomes the unwitting victim of The Trio when they manipulate time to confuse her. The class she intends to audit with Tara is Art Appreciation, which she misses as time fast forwards. Then a little later in the scene, after another time slip, Tara tells Buffy she missed art class. Although, on second watching, both incidents refer to the art appreciation class.

Now, what I’m wondering is, did fiction Tara begin painting from this point, or have various writers had her painting before this? I’m almost curious enough to do some research and compare the dates of relevant fiction against the broadcast date of this particular episode.

[EasierSaid]

Cool topic, gorn. I think borrowing from other fanfics is probably a pretty popular pasttime for a lot of fic writers. Some of it is bad borrowing, while some of it is less borrowing and more an allusion to the community consciousness that has sprouted up in the fic writer/reader collective. I've tried really hard to avoid it, but I know I have, on at least one occasion, consciously used a fic-term as short-hand: "fairy lights." It seemed silly for me to invent my own term to describe something that they never explicitly described on the show in lieu of one that already existed in the Pens community. If I called them something else it would have stuck out like a sore thumb - better in that instance to go with the reader expectation than invent something just to be different. As for Tara being a painter... I can't speak for anyone else, but here is how it came about for me.

I've tried to keep my Willow and Tara as close to canon as possible, while taking them out of the canon world. My W/T are older than on the show, so obviously they have had to develop jobs not yet decided for them on the show. (And no demons, etc., so "professional witch-type-person" wasn't going to work.) Going back to the show, it was always my feeling that Tara was set up as being a creative person, without them ever explicitly saying that she paints, writes, etc. It's implied. Her dorm room is uniquely decorated (walls painted strangely, etc.), her use of magic is almost more of an art than science, her style of dress is certainly boho and of course, Life Serial's mention of the art appreciation class - all things that when taken together seem to have her leaning more to an creative calling rather than that of hard science, etc. From there, it was easy enough for me to create a backstory that fit my non-hellmouth needs, and to extrapolate to her being an artist. I suppose some people use painting as a metaphor for the magic - mixing elements to create something else (though you could probably use chemistry or biology just as easily to attain that task); I certainly never thought about it that much. For a lot of AU writers, giving her a unique job is important. For me, it was about keeping close to canon and keeping her creative, ergo, having a creative livelihood.

For Neverland, having Tara be a painter was purely selfish. She could have been a singer, she could have been a writer, etc., but for me, it had to be painter because I really wanted to write about the act of painting. My mom paints, and it's a skill I wish I had - I am so envious of people who can paint. With Tara as a painter, I get to live vicariously, and indulge in describing things that I want to know more about or feel. I like the tactile aspect of painting, the sounds, the smells etc., as well as the really abstract aspects like color composition, how art makes individuals feel, etc. - I think I probably innately thought it would be a fun challenge to try and describe as many of those things as possible via Tara the painter. I don't think I would have been interested in writing Neverland if I had been concerned about what kind of job Tara should have, or assigning her work that is different or similar to other fics. I think once you start doing stuff like that instead of developing your own character with desires, actions, traits, etc. that resonate with you, your character won't ring true. I wanted to write about painting, so she's a painter. The fact that it fits and feels natural when I'm writing is more than I could have asked for.

One of the nice benefits of having Tara as a painter that I've noticed over the years—yes, years—is that there's a very organic connection between her work and her personality. Having her be a painter allowed me to concentrate on character development more than if she had had a more conventional job, I think. Because she's self-employed, I don't have to worry about co-workers, an office, etc. unless I want to put her in that position. She can stay home and paint and I can get lost in really self-serving things like art books, etc. without it really killing the plot (if there even is a plot). Also, I've been able to explore some core personality traits through her painting. Connecting back to canon, Tara is shy with growing confidence, creative, somewhat reserved, funny in a sly way, etc. - all things that can be explored pretty easily by the act of painting and being a painter. When she paints, she gets to be alone in her own world, something it seems S4 Tara was very comfortable doing. She can obtain confidence from her improved skills and reputation as an artist (instead of her relationship with Willow), she can be shy or socially awkward in a way that I think is consistent with people who aren't forced to be work-social on a daily basis, she can dress however she wants without it really being a big deal, etc. Just a lot of things to play with.

Not sure if all that was what you had in mind, but that's how it came about for me. I know that one of the attractive things about continuing to work on Neverland is the promise of getting to write about painting some more. I always look forward to those scenes the most, and I spend the most time trying to come up with the best way to describe how she creates art. If she had been a singer or a librarian or a zoologist... I just don't think I would have stuck with the story for as long as I have. Tara the painter—emphasis on painter—is definitely a big reason why I keep coming back for more.

[dlline]

Well, it somehow seems appropriate that I jump in here too. But first...

For gorn: this is a cool thing you started here and you're absolutely right. I know we've had this conversation, but you were on the money when you said that I didn't coin those phrases. I like them a lot, they serve the form well, but they're not my words.

EasierSaid: thank you for commenting. It's always nice to understand another writer's motivation for using a specific device in their work. It helps us all to become better writers.

So, with that said, I thought it might be nice if I shared my motivation for making my own Agent Tara Maclay into an artist as well as a cop. First, and the easiest to explain was a simple desire to give a character that could have been easily seen as very different from canon, a canon-like element to her personality. Secondly, and probably my greatest motivation, is that I wanted Agent Maclay to be something of an enigma. She's quiet and creative and at the same time she chases down bad guys in rainy alleys and carries a gun. But her very essence is that she's a sensitive person with a hard job to do. Her art is a very private thing to her, and that's much easier to portray through the medium of painting than if she was, for example, a dancer or musician. While creative, dance and music tend not to be solitary pursuits. Not as much as painting, to me anyway.

So while Agent Maclay has served well as hot, ass-kicking fantasy fodder for her girlfriend, she's really not like that. The best example of this in The Rosenberg Files was right here, when Tara says:

“I can paint.”

Willow was dumbfounded. “You can paint? Stuff like this? I didn’t know that. Maybe you could show…”

Tara gently shook her head. “Not yet, Will.” The moment dragged out between them, Willow sensing yet not quite understanding Tara’s need for privacy. “But soon, I think. Ok?”

Willow only nodded, not hurt, but knowing completely that the woman standing with her on the top of that mountain was perhaps the most complex person that she’d ever met.

The fact that Tara knew how to paint provided a very clear picture to Willow that there was far more at work with this person than the fact that she looked like Sarah Connor in cargo pants and a tank top. And I think it was the impetus for Willow giving in and falling in love with her.

Just my $0.02. I know very little about art (I'm a musician myself, and I'm from a musical family), so I would not even presume to describe Tara's art with anything near the fine detail that EasierSaid is famous for in Neverland. But I found it to be a really great plot device, and it provided a secret for Tara in my tagline. That's kind of cheap, I know, but sometimes a gal's gotta do what a gal's gotta do.

Thanks for listening.

[Zooeys_Bridge]

EasierSaid really said it beautifully. And I think, to extrapolate for a moment, fanfiction(especially on the KB) begets more fanfiction. Considering the length of time Neverland has been going(and what a time it is! I cannot wait for the next update, by the way), new stories people write draw upon the old 'classics' the authors have read. So when Neverland began, perhaps Tara as a painter was a fairly new concept in fic-dom. As the years have grown, authors have been inspired and have drawn upon things they have read, creating this fanon situation. It is almost a rolling stone situation. Fascinating, really.

Fanfiction can almost be written on fanfiction. The worlds we create have no limits, how wonderful!

[Guest]

To elaborate upon that, man from the prehistoric years would reproduce through drawings whatever visual discoveries held importance for his particular civilisation. These graphic works transmitted the parallel notions of affirmation of identity and progression through that same identity. I feel we are faced with the same trend with fan fiction writers not only on the kitten board but in other communities as well. There is a need for transmission of whatever values are held on a pedestal for the writer in question.

That is where I agree with Rachel. It is fascinating how a writing project becomes a palpable cultural project for the onlooker. Furthermore, identification being an act of psychic construction for the individual and in this particular case for the writer’s project, differentiating fan fictions through an imitation of what has previously been written does contribute to a valid humanisation of the writer’s imagination.

Aesthetic judgement of stories crops up as another issue altogether.

[dorksrcool]

I took a break from my Willow and Tara obsession for a little while but have now come full circle back to them and this lovely board. I recently introduced a good friend of mine to Willow and Tara by watching my Buffy the Vampire Slayer DVDs. At first she was a bit skeptical. She's used to watching The L Word and couldn't believe that I could become so enamored with two characters that don't have sex on screen. I asked her to just watch them with me for a few episodes and then decide for herself. Now she is as smitten as we all are.

I have printed out some of my favorite fan fiction for her and introduced her to some of the best fan videos and artwork. We are both attending the San Diego Indie Music Festival this Saturday where Ms. Amber Benson will be presenting her film "Lovers, Liars and Lunatics." My friend is so excited at the prospect of meeting one of her newly discovered idols. I must admit that I am equally anxious to meet her, even though I had taken such a long break from my Willow and Tara madness.

I've been thinking a lot about why all of us love Willow and Tara so much. If one compares and contrasts them with The L Word, for instance, it seems strange that so many of us have latched onto these particular characters whose depicted relationship on screen was so chaste.

I'm thinking about setting up some kind of survey or focus group to try and get at the reason for this strong connection to characters that kissed only a few times on screen. Why do we love them so much? Is it the romantic nature of their relationship? Is it their shy and sweet cuteness? Why do particular scenes resonate with us more than others? Every single time I watch the dance scene at the end of "Family" I feel a lump form in my throat. That is so amazing and beautiful to me. I’m curious to find out what the rest of you fellow kittens think. Is it possible to narrow down to a few simple reasons why we all love the Willow and Tara relationship so damn much? For me I think it comes down to phenomenal acting, simple romance and beauty. Willow and Tara warm my heart at a time in my life when it seems like I'd be better off with a cold one. Their sweet relationship gives me hope for myself. Willow said it was "magic," and I'd have to say I completely agree.

[masterjendu]

Why was I so enamoured with Willow and Tara and why do I continue to be after all these years? Jeepers, there really isn’t an easy answer, is there? I’ll give it a whirl, though.

Back when Buffy first aired, Willow and Tara provided an unprecedented (for network TV) template to emulate; a possibility for normalcy in an alternative lifestyle. It wasn’t about sex nor was it about gender; it was two people who loved and completely respected one another, who just happened to be women. It is precisely that their relationship was not sensationalised, nor explicit on screen that it worked for me (and what gives us wonderful new ground to explore in fanfic!). Although to this day, I am left breathless each time I watch the ‘just skip it’ kiss and each time I watch Tara utter “I am, you know.” I find myself as moved as I was the first time I saw it, but really the beauty of their relationship was the small, less obvious moments (as small as Tara touching the tips of Willow’s hair in The Yoko Factor) which lent credence to their intimacy and continue to warm my heart.

Don’t get me wrong, the explicit nature of The L Word is most definitely entertaining (even when the writing is a bit off), but other than maybe that of Bette and Tina, the relationships presented don’t really seem that realistic to me and are instead often overdramatic and sensational. I realise that sounds odd when comparing a drama about real women living real lives to one about two witches inhabiting a realm of all things otherworldly, but therein lies the genius of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. It dealt with such a sensational setting that it didn’t have to rely on the characters for a spectacle and could instead focus on their very real relationships and reactions, thus giving us viewers (in my humble opinion) the most accurate depiction of the challenge of the mortal coil ever to grace my television.

There are so many reasons why Willow and Tara resonate with me: the palpable chemistry between Amber and Aly, the innocence of coming out, the affirmation of soul mates, the sweetness of real romance, the breathtaking beauty of true love.

I am most definitely biased towards the Sapphic side of life, however I believe that love knows nothing of gender. For me, Willow and Tara are and always will be Love (capital L); I cannot think of another couple that embodies that emotion, that state of being, so clearly for me.

What a wonderful topic, dorksrcool (and by the way, dorks definitely are cool!). Thank you. I hope this answer makes some sense to you!

[Zooeys_Bridge]

I find all of this terribly fascinating, and given that I don't have the proper time to reply right now, I hope I'll be forigven by bending the rules for this thread by not writing the minumum words. I just wanted to get this out there, a thread from forever ago started by Tulipp(for whom I'm always in awe of) discussing similar questions and themes http://thekittenboard.com/board/viewtop ... 23&start=0

[dorksrcool]

I completely agree with masterjendu about the “small, less obvious moments” being more meaningful than something as overtly sexual as The L Word. I can remember reading an interview with Amber Benson where she discussed how she and Alyson would try to touch each other more and look at each other more because they weren’t allowed to be more explicitly affectionate on screen the way the other characters were allowed to do. I really notice all of those things when I’m re-watching an episode. Even in the scenes where Willow and Tara aren’t the focus you can still see them looking at each other in the background. That is why I adore Amber and Aly so much for creating these characters and their relationship. Marti couldn’t write that into the script, Joss couldn’t direct it. Amber and Aly had to play the part and be conscious of all of their interactions. It truly is amazing to me and part of why I adore these characters.

I read Tulipp’s thread on fan fiction (thanks Zooeys Bridge) and masterjendu said at the beginning of her post,

It is precisely that their relationship was not sensationalised, nor explicit on screen that it worked for me (and what gives us wonderful new ground to explore in fanfic!).

This is so very true and definitely one of the reasons I keep coming back to Willow and Tara. The amazing fanfic has added so much depth to the characters and their relationship. I don’t even think of them the same way now when I’m watching an episode. My friend and I watched “The Flaming O” scene the other night and all I could think about when watching it was Copper and Gold’s story “Willowhand" (http://www.thekittenboard.com/board/viewtopic.php?p=261116&highlight=#261116). The fanfic changed the scene for me which is a testament to all of the wonderful writers on this board. I doubt I would be so obsessed with Willow and Tara if I didn’t have the fanfic to stoke the fires of my obsession.

I was talking to my friend last night whom I recently introduced to Willow and Tara. I told her about this thread and about what I wrote. I asked her why she loved them so much. She had never even seen an episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer until about a month ago when we first started watching them together. She said that Willow and Tara have the kind of relationship that we all strive to have and that’s why she is fascinated by them. I thought that was a very interesting answer.

I thank all of you for taking the time to read my long-winded posts and for responding to my inquiries. I look forward to continuing this conversation. I hope that the moderators or the creator of this thread will let me know if my posts are becoming inappropriate. I just love talking about this stuff with like-minded people.

Cheers,
Amy (feel free to use my real name, dorks are cool but not that cool)

[Zooeys_Bridge]

Amy, thank you so much for that link to Willowhand, I think it's one ofthe few fanfics I haven't read(how on earth did I miss that one?) and it's absolutely delightful.

There are so many things in the show that I missed, Willow mouthing "I Love You" to Tara in The Body for one. I think one of the reasons I don't catch some things is that while the show gave us the subtle, powerful magic that is W/T, I sometimes(still) get extraordinarily frustrated at the lack of screen time they recieved. Again, I piggyback by saying that is the joy of the fanfic out here, it extrapolates on the tenderness Buffy provided. Some of what I've read is so seamless, I rarely feel the need to watch the DVD's because the fic-world has integrated W/T so well, they're kind of one and the same for me.

Last year, whenever I was at my computer, I was reading w/t fanfiction. I desperately tried to soak up whatever was available to supplement the show. It kind of bit me in the ass, because now I've read almost everything(with the exception of a few that apparently slipped under my radar, again thanks Amy, Willowhand was truly sublime). So I think that was a big factor in me deciding to start writing a story, given the extra time I had previously spent reading, I needed to fill that gap.

Sometimes I just get so blown away at Tara and Willow's relationship, my heart just seizes up with such love, it's overwhelming. It's pure Magic and Love(good one, masterjendu)

[Foomatic]

Just wanted to throw in my two cents here . . .

Willow and Tara were the first couple on tv that I was able to relate to. I had stopped watching after season 3, and it was only after the show had ended did I discover that Willow was gay. I know I've said this somewhere else on the board, but I'm the kind who always loses myself in romance and love, and no matter how many Meg Ryan and Sandra Bullock movies I watched, or no matter how many times Buffy and Angel, or Dawson and Joey got to together, they never affected me as much as Willow and Tara have.

I think because I saw so little of them on show, I wanted more, and it lead me here. I wanted to see those gaps filled: the first kiss, the first time they made love . . . and with so many great authors on the board, we get to see these moments over and over again, in so many different ways. It's veritable buffet of the classic girl meets girl.

I think people keep coming back here because it gives the hope that one day, they'll find their Willow or Tara. Or, if you're old and boring and married like me, it's a great place to live vicariously through two people who always seem to fall in love with each other.

Okay, I stop now.

[umgaynow]

Maybe it is just my usual brain damage, but I could swear there was a scene in Buffy where Tara was either drawing or there were art supplies seen in her room. Of course, I may be mixing fanfic and reality. There are some fics that are so good and true to character that I sometimes can't recall if certain lines of dialogue are actually from the show or not. Additionally, people may have integrated the scene in Chance where she is sitting under the tree and drawing, into their gestalt of the Tara character along with various and sundry bits and pieces from fanfic.

On the Tara related topic of bad grammar, spelling etc. online...it really annoys me when spellcheck comes on if I don't use modernized or americanized spellings of things. I happen to prefer grey to gray and dialogue to dialog etc. Not trying to be pretentious, I simply find it more aesthetically appealing.

Sandi

[Zooeys_Bridge]

umgaynow:Not trying to be pretentious, I simply find it more aesthetically appealing

For some reason, I use lots of British spelling in my words, like colour and favourite. I cannot for the life of me figure out why, but it is quite frustrating when Word underlines them as spelling mistakes. I happen to like my extra 'u's, thankyouverymuch!

(Bear with me, I'm going to quote most of your post here)

Foomatic: Willow and Tara were the first couple on tv that I was able to relate to.

I'm going to second this. I still feel that way, and not just because of the whole gay thing. It's really rare to find a relationship that isn't sensationlized(masterjendu, you really said it perfectly, so please forgive me while I steal the word) whether it be in TV or movies. I don't think W/T would have worked as the main characters(no matter how much we might like to see a Willow(/Tara) spinoff). None of Buffy's relationships ended well or lasted long, and that's definately a tribute to her character, as a Slayer but also as the main character. I think we got really lucky by having W/T be the subtle relationship that it was, because had they been the center of attention, all the things that we cherish could have been used for the wrong reasons. It's fanfic that lets us all internalize the 'extra' moments(and AU's, for that matter), and I think it's only in that form that W/T work as the main characters. Thank goodness! Imagine a world without fanfic! What would we do?!

I'm the kind who always loses myself in romance and love

I'm such a sap, so I'm totally there with you as the 'sucker for the romance(romantic comedy). But where 95% percent of movies and TV shows remain at an 'entertainingly amusing/cute' level, Tara and Willow have a yet to be surpassed. Hold up one moment, I'll get back to this, I want to stay in chronological order of this post.

I wanted to see those gaps filled

Mhm. Again, thank goodness for this site.

I think people keep coming back here because it gives the hope that one day, they'll find their Willow or Tara

Ok, so back to the part where 95% of where other romantic couples/comedies/romantic comedies remain eternally 'cute'. Willow and Tara have a special place in my heart as the relationship I strive to have. It's very true, W/T is the relationship everyone wants to have. It's reading stories about what one can do with love, and those are the most powerful of all.

Or, if you're old and boring and married like me...

Oh, god. You don't understand, my goal in life is to be old and boring and married. When I'm home and washing/cutting fruits and veggies or cleaning chicken, I endlessly fantasize about someone spooning me from behind in a delightfully, blissfully domestic scene. I almost feel it. Screw going to college, I want to be a housewife, dammit! Why bother with all this academia nonesense if my goal in life is to get married, live in a house, and have kids? But really, Foo, I can't wait.

*steps off soapbox*

[balveens]

Reply to Zooeys_Bridge

Everything you wrote, I was like: “Hey! Me too!”

I use lots of British spelling in my words, like colour and favourite. I cannot for the life of me figure out why, but it is quite frustrating when Word underlines them as spelling mistakes. I happen to like my extra 'u's, thankyouverymuch!

Finally someone else who does that! My friend used to make fun of me for writing that way but what's wrong with extra 'u's!?

It's really rare to find a relationship that isn't sensationlized whether it be in TV or movies.

I'm majoring in film and that’s one of my biggest pet peeves about the industry today. It's no longer about the art and subtly in good writing it's about the shock factor and special effects...and bad botox.

W/T is the relationship everyone wants to have.

...Well...I...can't disagree there...

my goal in life is to be old and boring and married...Screw going to college, I want to be a housewife, dammit!

Me. Too!

I don’t even want to go to college. I just want to make someone dinner.
I've convinced myself I want to be in film but it still places second to living in that "blissfully domestic scene" you described. All of my friends (the girls anyway) are independent and driven, corporate ladder climbing types (not that I have anything against ladder climbing). It’s just rare that I come across someone like me who is a sappy romantic; someone whose number one dream is being all snuggly wuggly with their other half. It was nice. Refreshing.

On topic: I think I spelled everything right? Except for 'snuggly wuggly' I ‘m pretty sure 'wuggly' is not a word...Is that even the topic?

[Guest]

I think the Willow-Tara issue is also relative to how our cultural baggage helps us focus on love and physical intimacy as an expression of that love. Any relationship that is based on reciprocal needs tends towards a state of friction that may or may not result in conflict. Sex, whatever its representation for the two humans involved, is concerned with interdependency. Through mutual exploration of pleasure, the sense of contact with the other is paradoxically lost. This is how I personally relate to the dissemination of relationships in the L Word and it is specifically that which attracts me to the dynamics of the lesbian relationship as portrayed on the Buffy The Vampire Slayer Show. Furthermore, by taking into consideration the fact that these two TV shows are also an expression of art, I find that it becomes easier to showcase love relationships through the visual stance of physical intimacy. Creating for an audience necessarily involves an intergenerational transmission of values and even Alyson Hannigan and Amber Benson felt they had to move a step further in the subtle physical rapport that made up the expression of the love of their characters. It’s in relation to the need that we all feel to refer ourselves to culturally familiar constructs. I feel that a relationship based on a high representation of sex is easier to encode and decode than the core of the relationship itself.

[gorn]

I know it's Thursday and I should be over in the "It's Just Thursday, MKF!" thread, but I saw the following article and it made me remember this thread I started long ago ...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/t ... guage.html

Stories like this don't necessarily make me sad, just kind of ... I don't know, wistful, perhaps? Like I'm watching a part of the world slowly wheel away, and I know the bigger part of me belongs in the part getting left behind. Every generation probably feels this to some extent as they get older, but this I think is somewhat different. Language isn't like music, or fashion, or things that normally go in and out of fashion - Language is much more fundamental, much more than I think most people realize. Something very fundamental is being changed, never to return.

Anyway, I was happy to remember this thread.

[Ariel]

This an interesting thread. I clicked on it, curious to see if I could mold my break-neck style of internet chat to a style more respectful of traditional English.

Then I started reading the comments, starting first with the fanfiction idea of Tara being a painter. She has the ability to see the world entirely differently. In their star-gazing scene and her example of 'Taranian Astronomy' (a phrase I may have coined) she blithely creates her own names for constellations and may well be using her own combinations of stars as well. That ability to see the world differently, combined with her own visual sense, makes it easy to see her as an artist. I also agree with the idea that her room is art. It's utterly individual and has a stunning visual sense. That room is simply magic, even based solely on its own aesthetic. So, why not Tara as an interior decorator? For me, it's that she seems far too shy to interact with crazy clients and attempt to deal with painters, designers, technicians, etc. Also she never seems to express any interest in decorating; for example, she isn't involved decorating for various parties and gatherings.

As to what people love about Tara and Willow's relationship, I loved the tenderness and the humor. Also the solid truth of their commitment which, for me, was never more clearly expressed than when Willow took over custodial care after Glory had driven Tara mad. Willow's unwavering devotion spoke volumes and was deeply touching. But their relationship is so much more; it's roses and romance, it's highly individual and it shows two young women struggling against enormous odds and yet encouraging each other to grow. Now I'm frustrated, because what I'm describing is like the difference between examining a butterfly pinned in a collection box and the beauty of it alive and fluttering. Their love is quirky, funny, warm, affectionate and inspiring; and seems both beautifully romantic and entirely real.

Thank you for the thread and the topics!

Ariel
How I Met Your Mother