Thoughts: Sexuality in Slash

[ada_farrow]

Okay, I just got to thinking about a little tick I have about slash fics. I always get a little put-off when an author writes certain characters as gay or, more conveniently, bisexual as if they needed it to serve their slashy ends. The thing is, you don't. The Big Steal by halfdutch and yahtzee63's Making Do are two of my favorite slash stories that don't do this

Comments

[philomel]

I don't know. Certainly, context plays a big part in Lost slash (or any fanfic, of course). But I came into this fandom having already been very involved in the LOTR RPS fandom. In that fandom, it's perfectly acceptable to portray the characters as gay or bi, regardless of their real life counterparts. In fact, it's almost preferable, as depicting their relationship (or one night stand) as a fluke does read as someone serving their own slashy ends. Generally, in such cases, the men involved were drinking too much or getting high. In the end, the intoxication seems like a flimsy excuse, and therefore the entire story reads as a dismissive representation of sexualities.

But that just might be a difference between the two fandoms (another topic for another day). In LOTR RPS, you don't have the more malleable circumstances that you do in Lost's island setting, although there are other factors that parallel what you mentioned: e.g. highly intense film set, disproportionate number of men to women, people being thrown together in somewhat isolated situations (i.e. Billy and Dom stuck up a tree 12 hours a day).

I'd almost say, then, that it's easier to write slash for this fandom because the circumstances are so unique, with the extreme isolation, constant danger and the way the entire event jars the castaways and forces them to reassess everything. Still, believability is the key. And good writing will reflect the emotional bond between two characters, I definitely agree with that.

Either way, it's fiction. So, in that sense, anything goes. :)

/rambling

[ada_farrow]

I can see how it makes more sense for RPS. It would be hard to write slash for actors any other way. I can't attest to much about RPS as I'm easily squicked by it. :-/ It's a fine line. I may have read two. (Viggo/Orlando, Johnny/Orlando; also a Dom/Evangeline) If there's any good Lost RPS you can rec, it would be appreciated as an attempt to broaden my horizons.

[philomel]

I actually haven't read very much Lost RPS, and most of that has been Dom-centric (surprise *grins*). Here's a PG-rated one that's pretty light on pairing, has more of a gen. feel: "Not Quite New Zealand." And one of the best Dom/Evangeline fics I've read, R-rated: "Sugar."

[ada_farrow]

Thankyouthanks! Excellent recs! I think the Dom POV makes them more familiar. Both were sexy and well-written. ^__^