Does Objectification Exist in Fan Culture?

I'm going to write this carefully. I don't want to make unfair comparisons, and every fan who interacts with and consumes media is unique. But I do think that some points need to be made. I, for one, can combine my affection for characters with my affection for the people who portray them. This could be unhealthy. Here are some examples that show the divide between imagination and reality:

Somewhere in Los Angeles, Dylan O'Brien and Holland Roden rehearse a scene as Stiles and Lydia. The director yells, "Cut!" Their day on the set of Teen Wolf is over. Dylan and Holland leave the set to spend the evening with friends.

Miles away in another part of LA, Chris Evans finishes a comedic scene. The director dismisses the cast and crew. Chris goes to his trailer and changes from his Captain America costume into some casual clothes. He leaves the set, possibly to have dinner with some of his Avengers cast or hang out with his family.

In a house in Indianapolis, John Green rereads a Word document. It is lunchtime, and he gets up to eat something, leaving Hazel Lancaster and Augustus Waters in the middle of a texting conversation. Eventually, this document will become The Fault in Our Stars.

I value characters and their stories. However, in each of these scenarios, a real person is responsible for the character. He or she has likes, dislikes, and relationships outside of his or her work that I know nothing about. Each one is separate from the character. This means that they deserve my respect, and, at times, restraint to see them as "normal," just like me.

For a similar topic, check out this post: How Close Is Too Close?

Coming Soon: an original short story