I think I discovered slash!
Jul. 5th, 2006 07:54 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
beccatoria...but not quite in the way I'm supposed to...
Cos, well, first let's demographic me up. I'm 22, female, in a long-term (headed for 5 years) co-habitating relationship with a boy, and I identify as straight. Although, since this post sort of deals with GAYNESS, I should probably acknowledge that were I single (perish the thought) I'd probably still be going after guys, but I wouldn't be against seeing what's out there. Especially if what's out there looks like Laura Roslin. So I'm comfortable with the idea that sexuality is fluid.
Anyway, near as I can tell, these demographics mean I should like to read about boys having hot sex.
Except I really don't want to read about boys having hot sex.
Actually, it's equal opportunities avoidance - I don't want to read about anyone having hot sex. Explicit erotica is not my thing.
On top of this, I don't even read fan fiction much. Nearly never. I used to a bit. I even once wrote a bit. But it's not something I currently want to do. I'm trying to work on original fiction (and I understand the two are not mutually exclusive. I also have reasons for this decision, but that's a post for another time), and I get frustrated by how poorly written a lot of it is (yes, even stuff other people think is good because I'm an arrogant ass when it comes to writing). So mostly, I leave it be.
How then, did I discover THE JOYS OF SLASH?! And not just SLASH, but GIRLSLASH!
Well...see...the last couple of weeks have been a bit weird in my house, and as a result I haven't really had the focus to work on the things I should be working on, but I haven't had the energy to go anywhere and do anything either. This results in many hours sat in silence in front of my computer being...bored. Out of my mind. So one day, I thought, hey, I'll read some fic, cos that's something I haven't done in a while. So I go looking for reccs and round-ups and stuff. And somehow I discover there are a fair heap of stories for "Laura/Maya".
My reaction to that was something along the lines of: WTFOMGBBQ?! Cos, Maya's been on screen for, like, seriously, five minutes, and only during three of those did she have any kind of established relationship with Roslin. So I totally had to see what that was all about.
And I swear to god, this stuff is like CRACK. CRACK I TELL YOU!
Because, you know what? It doesn't matter that a) they've been on screen together for less time than it's taken me to write this, b) there's, like, a 25 year age gap, and c) one of them gave the other one a STOLEN BABY - it kind of makes sense.
Or my brain's just been so warped by the GIRLSLASH CRACK that I just think it makes sense. Honestly? I don't care anymore. I fucking love it. It's the most weird couple EVER and I love it.
I got into this fandom with an Adama/Roslin OTP, but I'm kind of sliding away from that. Roslin is my OTC, and lately, I like Adama, and I sort of still ship them, but it seems so...expected? Like, I'll still *squee* if they ever get it on, but....but....LAURA/MAYA!
So yeah. I like slash now. Sort of.
I'm mostly trying to understand WHY. Because I've known about slash in general for a while now, and I've been heavily into a few other fandoms. First X-Files and then Farscape. Now, given it was all about villains in black leather tying characters to torture furniture, Farscape really should have had a larger slash community. But the point is, I never really liked slash either of those times. Even now, thinking about Aeryn making out with Chiana or John making out with Scorpius doesn't do much for me. I don't buy that it'd happen - it's not real to me, which breaks the fun of the illusion. Then, for X-Files, I actually can see Mulder being bisexual, or even Scully for that matter. But again, not interested, because...because just being realistic isn't enough for me to be interested. I don't think Mulder or Scully slash would show me any aspect of the character I'm interested in.
Perhaps I've hit on something here. This is, I acknowledge, speaking as an outsider to the slash subculture, but a lot of it seems to be about the porn. Like, the subversiveness of the characters having sex can be reason enough for the story to exist. Mulder/Krycek can exist purely because it's fun to psychologically explore ways for a character to be willing to go to that place - having sex with another guy - whether or not they already identify as gay. But for me, that's not so interesting. The porn itself doesn't appeal, and deconstructing Mulder to the point where he'd do that isn't a kink of mine.
Having briefly read stuff about how slash isn't about the guys involved being gay - and again, this is without really reading a LOT on the subject - that kind of makes some sense. If they were established as liking people of the same sex, the motivations would have to be approached very differently. Which gets to the part where I find Laura Roslin very sexually ambiguous. Like, I always assumed she was straight - bad, bad homophobic me - but thinking back on that now, there's no REASON to assume that and her being gay works too. So with the Laura/Maya stories one can just assume, yes, they both sometimes/always like girls, and they can get on with other things like teaching and raising their stolen baby.
(Now, of course, there are a million other questions specifically about girlslash and how it's different to guyslash. Who writes it? Are the motivations behind it the same, or different? People say guyslash isn't about the guys being gay. Is girlslash about the girls being gay? If gay women are writing it, I'd assume it'd be more about identifying with the characters and therefore it would be about them being gay, but if it's guys? Would that be more like girls writing m/m slash? Because guys might claim to love watching lesbians make out with each other, but what they really want is to join in - like the girls writing about not-gay guys, the guys want straight girls to make out in front of them, then turn and invite him to join. But...oy, this is a whole can of worms. So I'll close the parentheses).
Where was I? Yes! The reason I like Laura/Maya. It's not really anything to do with porn or it turning me on (at least no more than any story with Roslin in, on account of my huge girlcrush on her). It's because I genuinely think it's just so damned sweet. Because I think it would make Roslin happy, and I like that it's so unexpected.
Actually, I also think that John & Aeryn are sweet, even though he almost destroyed the universe for her and I totally get how dark and selfish that is. I think I have a thing for on-the-run Bonnie-and-Clyde relationships that aren't really very healthy. It's probably no coincidence that I first started paying attention to the idea of Apollo/Roslin during the first half of season two when he incited mutiny, broke her out of jail and went on the run with her.
I think that Laura/Maya hits the same kinks for me. On top of that, I love the surreal dichotomy that the stories I've found for it seem to be, well, cute and sweet and kind of wholesome. Even though LAURA ROSLIN GAVE MAYA A STOLEN CYLON BABY AND STILL HASN'T TOLD HER! That's...like...totally exploitative. But I can't help it. I want it to be sweet and wholesome and happy and for them to live happily ever after with their stolen cylon child.
I'm telling you all. This is where it's at. Lesbians With A Stolen Baby!Fic! It can be a whole new genre! LWASB Fic. See how catchy that is? Honestly, all those babies that totally destroy the last seasons of shows can just get stolen by lesbians, and the TV world will be a better place for it.
Cos, well, first let's demographic me up. I'm 22, female, in a long-term (headed for 5 years) co-habitating relationship with a boy, and I identify as straight. Although, since this post sort of deals with GAYNESS, I should probably acknowledge that were I single (perish the thought) I'd probably still be going after guys, but I wouldn't be against seeing what's out there. Especially if what's out there looks like Laura Roslin. So I'm comfortable with the idea that sexuality is fluid.
Anyway, near as I can tell, these demographics mean I should like to read about boys having hot sex.
Except I really don't want to read about boys having hot sex.
Actually, it's equal opportunities avoidance - I don't want to read about anyone having hot sex. Explicit erotica is not my thing.
On top of this, I don't even read fan fiction much. Nearly never. I used to a bit. I even once wrote a bit. But it's not something I currently want to do. I'm trying to work on original fiction (and I understand the two are not mutually exclusive. I also have reasons for this decision, but that's a post for another time), and I get frustrated by how poorly written a lot of it is (yes, even stuff other people think is good because I'm an arrogant ass when it comes to writing). So mostly, I leave it be.
How then, did I discover THE JOYS OF SLASH?! And not just SLASH, but GIRLSLASH!
Well...see...the last couple of weeks have been a bit weird in my house, and as a result I haven't really had the focus to work on the things I should be working on, but I haven't had the energy to go anywhere and do anything either. This results in many hours sat in silence in front of my computer being...bored. Out of my mind. So one day, I thought, hey, I'll read some fic, cos that's something I haven't done in a while. So I go looking for reccs and round-ups and stuff. And somehow I discover there are a fair heap of stories for "Laura/Maya".
My reaction to that was something along the lines of: WTFOMGBBQ?! Cos, Maya's been on screen for, like, seriously, five minutes, and only during three of those did she have any kind of established relationship with Roslin. So I totally had to see what that was all about.
And I swear to god, this stuff is like CRACK. CRACK I TELL YOU!
Because, you know what? It doesn't matter that a) they've been on screen together for less time than it's taken me to write this, b) there's, like, a 25 year age gap, and c) one of them gave the other one a STOLEN BABY - it kind of makes sense.
Or my brain's just been so warped by the GIRLSLASH CRACK that I just think it makes sense. Honestly? I don't care anymore. I fucking love it. It's the most weird couple EVER and I love it.
I got into this fandom with an Adama/Roslin OTP, but I'm kind of sliding away from that. Roslin is my OTC, and lately, I like Adama, and I sort of still ship them, but it seems so...expected? Like, I'll still *squee* if they ever get it on, but....but....LAURA/MAYA!
So yeah. I like slash now. Sort of.
I'm mostly trying to understand WHY. Because I've known about slash in general for a while now, and I've been heavily into a few other fandoms. First X-Files and then Farscape. Now, given it was all about villains in black leather tying characters to torture furniture, Farscape really should have had a larger slash community. But the point is, I never really liked slash either of those times. Even now, thinking about Aeryn making out with Chiana or John making out with Scorpius doesn't do much for me. I don't buy that it'd happen - it's not real to me, which breaks the fun of the illusion. Then, for X-Files, I actually can see Mulder being bisexual, or even Scully for that matter. But again, not interested, because...because just being realistic isn't enough for me to be interested. I don't think Mulder or Scully slash would show me any aspect of the character I'm interested in.
Perhaps I've hit on something here. This is, I acknowledge, speaking as an outsider to the slash subculture, but a lot of it seems to be about the porn. Like, the subversiveness of the characters having sex can be reason enough for the story to exist. Mulder/Krycek can exist purely because it's fun to psychologically explore ways for a character to be willing to go to that place - having sex with another guy - whether or not they already identify as gay. But for me, that's not so interesting. The porn itself doesn't appeal, and deconstructing Mulder to the point where he'd do that isn't a kink of mine.
Having briefly read stuff about how slash isn't about the guys involved being gay - and again, this is without really reading a LOT on the subject - that kind of makes some sense. If they were established as liking people of the same sex, the motivations would have to be approached very differently. Which gets to the part where I find Laura Roslin very sexually ambiguous. Like, I always assumed she was straight - bad, bad homophobic me - but thinking back on that now, there's no REASON to assume that and her being gay works too. So with the Laura/Maya stories one can just assume, yes, they both sometimes/always like girls, and they can get on with other things like teaching and raising their stolen baby.
(Now, of course, there are a million other questions specifically about girlslash and how it's different to guyslash. Who writes it? Are the motivations behind it the same, or different? People say guyslash isn't about the guys being gay. Is girlslash about the girls being gay? If gay women are writing it, I'd assume it'd be more about identifying with the characters and therefore it would be about them being gay, but if it's guys? Would that be more like girls writing m/m slash? Because guys might claim to love watching lesbians make out with each other, but what they really want is to join in - like the girls writing about not-gay guys, the guys want straight girls to make out in front of them, then turn and invite him to join. But...oy, this is a whole can of worms. So I'll close the parentheses).
Where was I? Yes! The reason I like Laura/Maya. It's not really anything to do with porn or it turning me on (at least no more than any story with Roslin in, on account of my huge girlcrush on her). It's because I genuinely think it's just so damned sweet. Because I think it would make Roslin happy, and I like that it's so unexpected.
Actually, I also think that John & Aeryn are sweet, even though he almost destroyed the universe for her and I totally get how dark and selfish that is. I think I have a thing for on-the-run Bonnie-and-Clyde relationships that aren't really very healthy. It's probably no coincidence that I first started paying attention to the idea of Apollo/Roslin during the first half of season two when he incited mutiny, broke her out of jail and went on the run with her.
I think that Laura/Maya hits the same kinks for me. On top of that, I love the surreal dichotomy that the stories I've found for it seem to be, well, cute and sweet and kind of wholesome. Even though LAURA ROSLIN GAVE MAYA A STOLEN CYLON BABY AND STILL HASN'T TOLD HER! That's...like...totally exploitative. But I can't help it. I want it to be sweet and wholesome and happy and for them to live happily ever after with their stolen cylon child.
I'm telling you all. This is where it's at. Lesbians With A Stolen Baby!Fic! It can be a whole new genre! LWASB Fic. See how catchy that is? Honestly, all those babies that totally destroy the last seasons of shows can just get stolen by lesbians, and the TV world will be a better place for it.
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*points and laughs*
Date: 2006-07-18 09:36 pm (UTC)We need to talk, but not quite this week yet - too much catching up on too many fronts at the moment. But, next week?
Re: *points and laughs*
Date: 2006-07-19 07:01 am (UTC)...as long as we don't have to talk about this...
Or at least, not until you've seen the finale, cos, I'm telling you, there is GAYNESS. And I'm totally right. You'll see...
But yes, we must talk and next week sounds like an excellent time for a conversation.
You know,
Date: 2006-07-23 03:14 pm (UTC)Re: You know,
Date: 2006-07-24 07:19 am (UTC)http://www.jennyo.imjustsayin.net/iwillnot.html
http://www.jennyo.imjustsayin.net/littlealtarseverywhere.html
http://tellitslant.livejournal.com/840101.html
So there you go... I'm not sure you'll think it's inexplicable but *right* but, err, I do. Although this is based entirely on a probably inaccurate reading of Maya's almost nonexistant character. Plus don't read these if you haven't seen the season two finale, cos, HUGE spoilers for that.
no subject
Date: 2006-08-01 11:12 am (UTC)That statement seems to sum up the past two years of my life.
I don't think so...not that I'm really in a position to talk though as any speculation from me on the subject is going to be slightly awkward because I am indeed a man who writes girlslash. Personally, for me, I think it's more about sociology than it is about pr0n but that's because I like the idea of role reversal.
Victorian smut publishers would have loved me. ^^
no subject
Date: 2006-08-01 05:18 pm (UTC)Victorian anything would have loved you; it's your clear devotion to the Empire. I so wish you *were* a Victorian smut publisher. Oooh, Victorian CylonCest. You may have just found your calling. Mechanical korean girlporn in 1880.
no subject
Date: 2006-08-01 05:26 pm (UTC)There's lots of sociology magazines on the top shelf of the SPAR, I've noticed.
I'm so adding that to the interest list of my girlpr0n journal! Thank you! ^^