In conclusion, I like slash.

[pearl_o]

(This entry is mostly about boyslash, and not so much femslash or het, which I've read less and not noticed the issues as much.)

A conversation over in kalpurna's journal about power dynamics and ass-fucking here -- while pretty interesting on its own! -- has sent my thoughts on a vaguely related tangent.

Comments

[pearl_o]

i think we're fighting two fights, though...our own *and* theirs...

Right, absolutely. I think figuring out the character's approach to their sexuality is really crucial to figuring how to write them, and like I said in the entry, they're probably not the same as ours. So there are definitely contexts where all these assumptions or shortcuts DO work, and make sense for the stories and the characters, and are totally effective. So, yeah, bottoming in a story for the first time can be an excellent signifier of the emotional intimacy. But of course, it's not the only option for signifier, either; there are so many ways to get there, whether physical (kissing, bed vs other locations, staying the night, shy-or-body-conscious-partner allowing the other to look, whatever) or, of course, the more emotionally obvious bits that everyone quotes as their favorite parts of the story. Heh.

...I guess I'm saying, I agree with you on all your points, but vulnerability and intimacy are really interesting and complex, and tying it too tightly to bottoming (not in an individual story, necessarily, but across fandom) makes it less effective.

[cathexys]

yesyesyes!!! I don't think i was ever disagreeing as much as trying to further analyze just what might have created such a trope and its particular appeal.

And you're totally right: the power of a scene is totally increased when it doesn't happen all the time. So, a variety of intimacy 'proofs' (esp. in sync with the character's idiosyncracies) would make the most sense...

[lipsum]

Just to add to the ideas about what might have created the trope--

I think there's also an element of, "I [the writer] would like to peg or be fucked by both Fraser and Ray, but I can't, so I'll make them do each other."

[long pause]

Um. In conclusion, Ray Kowalski.

[cathexys]

Yes! Constance Penley suggested 15 years ago that one of the advantages of slash is that (at least het and bi women) can be and have both guys...