Q's unified theory of slash

[qthewetsprocket]

Have I ever told you my Unified Theory of Slash? I do have one. So, further to my tardy tribute to International Fetish Day, and my lovely kink picspams that no one gave an arse about...

Comments

[vivian_lake]

When I remove *my* imaginary competition from equation, it's called femslash (though mostly I write original f/f), and my competition's anatomy differs from mine.
When I read/write/watch m/m, I don't want to shag either of guys.
My motivation for liking m/m isn't sexual. It's not "omg, their relationships are sooo forbidden and subversive!!!". I want the world where it's *not* forbidden and subversive and "edgy", but *normal*.

[qthewetsprocket]

I want the world where it's *not* forbidden and subversive and "edgy", but *normal*.

Don't we all... *sigh*

[kateorman]

It's interesting, actually - because it's a sexual/romantic fantasy, slash tends to avoid talking about homophobia: anti-sex, anti-love, prudish and parched, about as big a hard-off as you can imagine.

Heh. I always wanted to write something where some Cardiff toughs decide to try and gay-bash Jack, to their immediate regret. Followed by Ianto applying stitches and luff.

[qthewetsprocket]

because it's a sexual/romantic fantasy, slash tends to avoid talking about homophobia

Actually, I thought it was done beautifully in Torch Song Trilogy: Alan's brutal murder powerfully reinforces the point that it's about love, not just sex. The graveyard scene where Arnold describes his grieving process to his mother, herself a widow, in a way that abruptly and profoundly makes her realize that the feelings are exactly the same, is a moving and utterly genius piece of writing.

Ironically, Alan's death also serves to reinforce some the fantasy-romantic elements, in that 'doomed star-crossed lovers' sort of way: as Arnold says, it's easy to love dead people; they make so few mistakes. :)

[nsingman]

Interesting, but competition doesn't figure into it in my case, really. I prefer a lesbian scene to a hetero scene because it means more women. Men neither add nor detract to a scene for me; women only add.
:-)

[iko]

"You know, I have never understood the male obsession with lesbianism - a whole area of sex with nothing for them to do. Just answered my own question, haven't I?"

See, I've never saw slash as a competition thing. I see it as two VERY pretty things and the idea of getting in the middle of such a pretty sandwich is delicious.

Then again, I have this feeling when it is m/f or f/f that I happen to like, so I'm probably not the best commentator on the whole slash thing.

[qthewetsprocket]

Wasn't aware there were any. Sounds like there's a story there, though. :)

[vivian_lake]

There are lots of us, actually.

[qthewetsprocket]

Ah? :) Nifty. Do tell, then...what do you think the motivation is? Is it what you said about wanting to portray the normality of same sex relationships, and unfortunately men are still the ones with power in our culture, so making the characters male is the most effective means of doing so?