On the awesomeness of female characters

[deaka]

So there's been discussion happening in various places lately about whether slash (predominant in the discussion) or a more generalised focus on male characters (auxiliary to it) is misogynistic in its exclusion of female characters. It's a pretty complex issue and I've only encountered edges of the main conversation, but I think there are some

Comments

[deaka]

For the most part I'm in agreement. I largely avoid slash for the reasons you mention (while also avoiding PWP and smutfic for those same reasons again). I have read some very good stories which happened to be slash or ambiguously-maybe-a-bit-slashy, though; usually because of excellent storytelling, because it's bit of an uphill battle for me to buy the characterisation because canon is generally law for me. (See also: why I drive myself insane trying to make sense out of the EU. :p)

I feel similarly about the overabundance hetero mushfic. Seriously, there's more to life than foreplay and sex. Even married couples do actually engage in other activities. I'd rather like to see fanfic address something besides sex more often.

Absolutely. And the thing that gets me is that in reality sex is rarely just about sex; if there's going to be such a fascination with the topic, why not get into the negotiation of relationship and character dynamics that underpin it, rather than just veiled (or not) smut? There are times when the writer is practically twisting loops to avoid dealing with that kind of thing when it could have been a much stronger story if they had just taken the leap.

Sometimes I think the term Mary Sue has become so overused it's just about lost all meaning, especially when the person using it can't even back it up with why said character is a Mary Sue, other than "I don't like her". *headdesk*

[gabri_jade]

Absolutely. And the thing that gets me is that in reality sex is rarely just about sex; if there's going to be such a fascination with the topic, why not get into the negotiation of relationship and character dynamics that underpin it, rather than just veiled (or not) smut? There are times when the writer is practically twisting loops to avoid dealing with that kind of thing when it could have been a much stronger story if they had just taken the leap.

Exactly! Good heavens, there are so many psychological and interpersonal underpinnings with any sexual relationship - and relationships that aren't sexual yet but might become so - yet that's so rarely addressed in any fanfic. Basically, such fics are a steady diet of cotton candy. Sure, it's fun for a little bit, but ultimately it's not only unsatisfying but also nauseating. I've seen quite a few fanfics that had the potential to be incredible stories if the authors had faced these nuances head on, but they didn't, so the fics ended up being blah or worse. Ironically, it's just as you say: they worked harder avoiding the obvious than they would have to address it.

Sometimes I think the term Mary Sue has become so overused it's just about lost all meaning, especially when the person using it can't even back it up with why said character is a Mary Sue, other than "I don't like her". *headdesk*

I so agree. A true Mary Sue is appalling, but the term has come to be used as an excuse for intellectual laziness. (I also can't stand the term "hater" for the inverse reason. If I have good reason to dislike something and can articulate why I feel that way, you don't get to dismiss me with a wave of your hand and a glib, "You're just a hater." Argh.)