Representation

[krytella]

Having some thoughts about representation, both in original storytelling and narrative fanworks, prompted by a couple of memories.

• On a con panel about disability in the media, someone said it was a decade between them first identifying as disabled and becoming part of a disability community, and that they still didn't see any disabled characters in

Comments

[zolac_no_miko]

I feel like in some cases, and we'll take polyamory as an example, the minority culture is so much in the minority that most people don't know much about it, or may be hardly aware of its existence at all. "OT3" as I've seen it written in fandom bears, as you say, no resemblance to polyamory in the real world, probably because it is not written by polyamorous people. It's an expression of a common fantasy/trope held by people who live in a monogamous culture

[krytella]

Yeah, polyamory as a term and a social movement is pretty new, too, so not as well known among people who aren't in the community. A lot of the terminology and the way people think about their relationships is evolving rapidly.

[_profiterole_]

That's very interesting. There is ridiculously little poly representation on TV. Have you seen Caprica? There's a group marriage and some members are part of the main storyline and others are just seen from time to time, so it might fit your #3.

[krytella]

I only ever watched the first couple of episodes of Caprica, but I did hear there was a polyfi relationship on the show. I'll have to check it out some time!

[thalialunacy]

Apparently you didn't keep reading the Frat Boy series. XB Or maybe that just qualifies as #2. If so then I'm so going to step it up in the final installment. :mr burns hands:

[krytella]

No, I'm probably just behind on Frat Boy /o\ *goes to catch up*

[thalialunacy]

heh, bless you. <3 I'm still pretty determined to do some more with it, too. :D

[sneaqui]

THIS. This is something that I've thought about quite a few times but have never known how to articulate. Specifically, how most slash does not feature or even mention any sort of queer subculture. I think you hit it right on the head with this: "with few characters belonging to the minority group, focusing on that subculture moves away from the rest of the canon character." That's always the trouble that I've run into when writing fic.

I actually think that it's easier to get into #3 when writing PWP than it is when writing long, plotty fics. That's something that I appreciate about really well conceptualized and realistic smut. Or well-executed D/s fic.
One exception being fic that features polyamory. Mostly because the focus there seems to be YAY THREESOMES/MORESOMES!

I'm going to memorize this entry. <3

[krytella]

It's hard to show multiple relationships in PWP but I think it's also pretty easy to reference them. You can easily drop a hint that the characters are in relationships with others or that they have an open relationship and then since it's PWP you don't have to go through showing how the characters got there and how it all works.

One thing I didn't mention in the post is that I love it when writers use the setting as an excuse to make non-monogamous relationships "normal." Like saying that in Inception the dreamer subculture is already apart from the rest of society and with the access to each others' subconscious they're a lot more relaxed about sex. Or making polyamory common (at least common knowledge) in the Star Trek universe.