Is it wrong?

[tarotgal]

Is it wrong for me to strongly be considering buying a Slash bumper sticker? I'm sorry, but the little cocks on the fish are just too funny for words. OKAY, so I'm going through the Slash First store (yes, I seem to have no life, and no money on top of that) and apart from the Squee! and PWP t-shirts which I cannot stop laughing over and secretly wondering why I'm not already buying them, apart from not having the courage to wear them publically... there's a H/C calendar for 2004. (There's nudity! Don't click if you're not prepared!!!) http://www.cafeshops.com/slash_first.8696424 And while I don't usually consider bondage as H/C (don't tell Obi) it's an interesting idea, no? Anyway, just thought I'd share. I stumbled on the Harry Potter Squick Fuh-Q-Fest(Note: ew ew ew!) and I think this is looking good in comparison. Yep. That must be it. Though I'm looking forward to the release in the Neville/Harry Fuh-Q-Fest much much! Did I mention I ran into a new-to-me Fuh-Q-Fest Listing?
Slash is such an interesting world... I was thinking about that on the drive today, around hour 4 or something, I think. A couple of my mailing lists are having similar conversations, about how slash is much more of a female-perceived sort of culture than anything to do with m/m sex. Which I agree with quite a lot. But at the same time, I like what it's become. It's just... interesting. I'm too tired I suppose to go through it all. But, yeah. Me likes much. Oh! And I stumbled on very a wonderful clique for Anti-Het tonight (making fun of anti-slash ones) Whoohoo! Okay, so I was reading a fanfic yesterday that was het, and I literally had to walk away. I know I write het from time to time, but I think slash has spoiled me! Most het just doesn't hold my interest any more. It's crazy. But yeah, I couldn't stomach it. Luckily this has had no significant impact on my own sex life. LOL Course I also turned down boyfriend's offer to sneeze for me during sex tonight. I dunno. Just didn't feel like it. I go through phases, I suppose. This is my "no live sneezing right now" phase, I guess. Not that I want dead people sneezing right now either, but you get my point. Gods, head hurts. I stop rambling and try to nap a little now I think. Ow. :-)

Comments

[girlwithtulips.livejournal.com]

*l* I can't stomach het anymore either. Canon het, maybe sometimes, but nothing really compares to two hot guys cuddling, does it? ;o) Sometimes I regret dropping my communications class, just cos I'd love to write a paper on slash. I've read academic articles on it (the very few out there) and... I don't know. They just don't wash. Either they seem like they're pushing it in one direction (ie women feel unequal in their current relationships and so want to see a more equal relationship between guys) or they don't know what to make of it. But then, I don't really know what to make of it, either. I guess there could be some underlying psychological reason for me loving slash, but really I can only say that two guys together are hot *l* This topic always makes me ramble on. Hmm. So much slash has also made me see it everywhere. How can people not see that Viggo/Orlando are a couple? Sirius/Remus?! (*l* I tried hinting the latter to my mother and she was just not interested). Somehow I think I should come up with a logical conclusion to all this, but... nope. Sorry!

[tarotgal]

That is very true for me, too- I can stand canon het a lot more than fandom het. Maybe that's just because I'm a canon whore, though and thus I put up with it.

I've read only a couple academic papers on fanfic- all of which mentioned slash, but it wasn't the main focus of the paper. Though I do agree, I've read nothing that approaches it from many different angles. Lately the master-apprentice list and a few of my Harry Potter lists have been talking again about the appeal of slash, and that's made me think that there are more than just a handful of reasons. I'm trying to deny a few, myself. I think partially the appeal for me might be how removed I am from the situation- how I can control without actually placing myself in it. How I can't get hurt when it's two guys going at it together. But that doesn't make total sense, either, because many times when I read or write it I identify emotionally with one or both of the men. And I'm not a dominant person at all, so I don't think it's the control thing. I dunno... they're just cute guys, naked and yummy. Though they do show more emotions in slash stories than straight males do- that emotional part is DEFINITELY a high point for me. I like seeing men sick and vulnerable and being honest with their feelings, whether they're feeling horny or mushy- so long as it's in character and all. But, yes, there are TONS of different reasons. I am trying to avoid thinking that there's another huge problem with my sexuality that makes me like it :-) It's just neat to see that there's such a big audience for it and it's grown and changed from reality to a culture that's very much about how women look at these male characters having sex. It's definitely a female fantasy thing to an extent. Which is so interesting to me.

I CRAM the Sirius/Remus relationship down anyone's throat as soon as they mention one of the characters or the third book-onward. I just don't see how it's possible to not see them as a couple. I've convinced a few non-slashers, though, so maybe that's where I get that feeling. If the people I convinced can see it, it's gotta be true *G* Some of my other pairings are harder for people to see- my dad made no indication of understanding my Legolas/Gimli hints(hints as in: Legolas lusts after the sea, and finally he and Gimli sail away to the undying lands together because of course they're lovers) when we were talking after seeing the third movie together. But most of the ships I sail I think HAVE to be grounded somehow in canon. A look, or a heart-felt sentiment, or a warm embrace. Again, it's the canon thing. I was adamently opposed to slashing two particular Highlander character together- even after reading a few fics and seeing a number of music videos pairing them. I still couldn't see it/didn't want to believe it. And then I watched one episode that had bonus footage attached where there is CLEAR sexual tension and they literally strip at the sight of each other. And now I wonder why I had such trouble before. *G*

I have no good ending either, no worries :-) It's just fun listening to other people's opinions about it. So thanks much much!

[girlwithtulips.livejournal.com]

I agree with all of your points on slash. I honestly can't pinpoint why I like it. Apart from the obvious HOT factor. Everything else - I don't know. It all sounds logical (ie that it's removed from me, that the characters reveal more emotion) but there are just as validly logical reaons why these aren't the reasons I like slash. I don't think I want to know the answer, sometimes. Ditto your thinking about your sexuality. I mean - where can we go from here? We're girls who like guys - we just happen to like guys liking guys, too. Is that a deviation from 'normality'? Probably, but have they coined up a fancy new term for what that makes us?

The growth of the slash communtiy is interesting. I've only been around for two years or so, but it's become such a huge part of my life that I can't imagine it not being there. Sometimes it feels strange that I have to censor that part of myself from RL people, because I've just grown so used to accepting it, and being part of online communities who accept it. And it's amazing there are people who have no idea what it is, even though not that long ago I was one of those people *l*

I don't know what makes me ship for a certain couple. My fandoms are still very limited, though - PotC, LotR and LotR RPS (Viggorli is my OTP!) and what Sirius/Lupin you write. I guess I have to be shallow and admit that it's the hot factor yet again (Aragorn and Legolas!) moreso than strict adherence to canon. But then again, I don't think I could force a pairing where there's no canon suggestion at all. So, therefore: Jack/Will, Sirius/Lupin (after I started reading slash and your Sirius/Lupin fics especially, I wondered how the hell I'd missed that one! *l*) and Viggo/Orlando. I love Viggo/Orlando so much *l* Partly because I think they're hot together (I just saw 28 Days today! Such a fantastic movie, and Viggo is just droolworthy *l*), and partly because there's so much to suggest that they could be a couple!
The sweetest photos ever and one of my favourite quotes:

"I was having a Viggo moment - running out, getting people to come and check out the moon."

Some decided to wade into the stream, but Mortensen suggested the more perilous task of crossing the river.

"I'm like, 'Fuck off,' and he says, 'Come on.' So we're barefoot, waist-high in water, walking on these little rocks to get to the other site and I'm doing it because I'm and idiot and I'm following his lead. Because he's an idiot. And because he's amazing," Bloom laughs. "I can't believe how much his is going to make me sound like I'm in love with the guy."

*g* And yes. I think I go a bit overboard in promoting my OTP *l* But there you have it. More uncoalescent (is that a word?) thoughts on slash :o)