>While the “Boys” video could be seen as a dreamy respite

File: charli.gif (913KB, 480x270px) Image search: [Google]

913KB, 480x270px

>While the “Boys” video could be seen as a dreamy respite from toxic masculinity—from the seemingly unceasing news of sexual assault allegations and predatory statements—the clip also isn’t perfect. Charli XCX employs individuals (like Diplo and the Fat Jew) who have said or done questionable things in the past, placing puppies in their arms and framing them with a pretense of innocence. Additionally, while the video stars black men and a handful of South-Asian and Asian men, the longer shots are mostly granted to the conventionally hunky white guys like Jonas, Urie, and Diplo.

>Despite this, though, Charli XCX’s “Boys” video takes another crucial step toward legitimizing teen-girl fandom—one that, as evidenced by the YouTube comments, moves in myriad directions. Most of the commenters are there to claim their boy of choice: “I came here for Connor [Franta],” “Honestly just watched this cause I heard Jay Park was in this from Twitter,” “Fuck Jay Park what about Mac DeMarco,” “I only came here for Brendon Urie,” “Why isn't anyone talking about Charlie Puth?!” and so on. The comments hammer home a key point—that there are so many different dream-dude templates besides the ones pop culture tends to show—while also highlighting strains of fandom you perhaps didn’t even know existed.

they can't enjoy anything