(no subject)
kyuuketsukirui wrote a pretty interesting rant about Atlantis being depicted as sentient in fanfic. It's here. I really wanted to comment on it, but it's friendslocked, so I'm writing a comment post. In case you're reading this: I'm sorry you were trolled. *wave*
I personally really like the idea of Atlantis being sentient. I think artificial intelligence is generally an intriguing idea (and well, one of the 9 standard sci-fi plots). But I totally agree with kyuuketsukirui that there is absolutely no evidence of it in the show. While I like the idea, I've read some stories (not all of them, some are fun) that had really horrible characterizations of Atlantis. I don't know what's worse: yenta, mother or grabby, needy mary-sueish character. I think the mother thing bugs me most. Wouldn't an artificial intelligence be emotionally colder than all those awful female stereotypes suggest? Or at least have a really sketchy, strange grasp of emotions humans might not understand?
It never bothered me that Atlantis is always female. I thought, in the english language (which is not my mother language) all cities were female (am I wrong?). Also in my language boats and cars are not female, they do not have a gender, so for me it wasn't a case of the city being female because it's an object. I don't think it's demeaning in itself that something as powerful and beautiful as Atlantis is depicted as female. It sort of makes sense for me in an archane earth-goddess land-should-be-female-because-it-is-fertile way. Maybe I read too much Marion Zimmer Bradley in my formative years. *Hides under desk.*
I am a slasher. I am into the John/Atlantis thing. I actually wrote a fic where the city is 'sort of' male and hereby pimp it. Because het sex scenes? Eeew! And yeah, it is sort of strange that there aren't more stories, where Atlantis is male (if it has to have a gender at all).
I personally really like the idea of Atlantis being sentient. I think artificial intelligence is generally an intriguing idea (and well, one of the 9 standard sci-fi plots). But I totally agree with kyuuketsukirui that there is absolutely no evidence of it in the show. While I like the idea, I've read some stories (not all of them, some are fun) that had really horrible characterizations of Atlantis. I don't know what's worse: yenta, mother or grabby, needy mary-sueish character. I think the mother thing bugs me most. Wouldn't an artificial intelligence be emotionally colder than all those awful female stereotypes suggest? Or at least have a really sketchy, strange grasp of emotions humans might not understand?
It never bothered me that Atlantis is always female. I thought, in the english language (which is not my mother language) all cities were female (am I wrong?). Also in my language boats and cars are not female, they do not have a gender, so for me it wasn't a case of the city being female because it's an object. I don't think it's demeaning in itself that something as powerful and beautiful as Atlantis is depicted as female. It sort of makes sense for me in an archane earth-goddess land-should-be-female-because-it-is-fertile way. Maybe I read too much Marion Zimmer Bradley in my formative years. *Hides under desk.*
I am a slasher. I am into the John/Atlantis thing. I actually wrote a fic where the city is 'sort of' male and hereby pimp it. Because het sex scenes? Eeew! And yeah, it is sort of strange that there aren't more stories, where Atlantis is male (if it has to have a gender at all).