50 Shades Log: Anastasia Steele - Elizabeth Bennett she ain't

[ebony_steinbach]

So I've taken it upon myself to read 50 Shades of Grey and Twilight, and see if 50 Shades really is Twilight fanfic with Bella and Edward's names cut and pasted with Ana and Christian's. Also, I'm always dissing the two of them, but haven't actually read the books and it's not cool to knock it before you've tried it.

Technically, I should read

Comments

[sykira]

I haven't read it, just no time when there is so much GREAT fanfic to read instead :) but I do think there s something truly remarkable about the 50 shades phenomena -- it's the first time a fanfic writer broke into actual publishing without making the switch to writing original fic. It's a fundamental landmark, legally and creatively, the writing world will never be the same! Also, it's porn. I get the impression we are just supposed to skip the bad prose just as a teen boy will fast forward the set up of a plumber coming to a home when the husband is gone and the lame dialogue etc. But it is porn for women! It's open acknowledgement that women are sexual creatures too and have longings and fantasies and that they can be marketed to! And yet it took a (fairly untalented) fanfic writer to explode that into the world!

[ebony_steinbach]

Hey, it's great to hear from you. How've you been? Sorry I took so long to reply. Real-life and all that. Also, I, like you, have a backlog of fanfic I've been wanting to read. It's interesting what you say about 50 Shades finally acknowledging that women have sexual desires and an actual libido. I'd never thought of it like that. If that's what all the hype is about, then it's actually really sad that the world's only come to realise it now, especially since Mills and Boons have been around for half a century (as if the covers weren't enough of a hint!). It's not like women were exactly hiding the fact that they also have the ability to enjoy sex and have the same kinks as men. It's rather insulting that society would think that men have a monopoly on sexual pleasure and that women have been ignored

[sykira]

" It's not like women were exactly hiding the fact that they also have the ability to enjoy sex and have the same kinks as men."

Uh, I guess we move in different circles or possibly live in different countries. In many ways it is still like the 1950s here in the US and that's despite me living in liberal metropolitan areas! And those same judgmental prudish uppity type women are now avidly devouring 50 shades, and they don't have the discernment to know it's poor writing and none of them know it comes from fanfic -- as you can tell I like to start this conversation and glean all these facts from this people, it is like the stirrings of revolution :D

[ebony_steinbach]

"In many ways it is still like the 1950s here in the US"

Really?!? Wow! I live in Australia, so maybe we're a bit more laid-back (but I didn't think by that much). I think most people here are a bit bemused by 50 Shades and treat it like a joke. It is interesting seeing people's reactions to it and it is a great source of water cooler conversation. I know one girl who's read it. She's a very devout Catholic (met the pope and everything), so it was a surprise that she would choose to read these books (but props to her for being open-minded). It got a bit awkward when a group of us had to explain what BDSM stood for. But yeah, it feels like the start of a revolution, though I'm still not entirely sure of what. This little book has got people being a bit more open, if not about sex, then to the acknowledgment of it.

[sykira]

Growing up in rural UK it was said to be good to be open minded and educated but it was a predominantly religious culture (christian) and crossing the line into sexual activity was seen as taboo outside marriage (for a girl).

I thought moving to the US that would change but as I was also part of the christian community there it was MUCH more pervasively conservative puritanical misogynous nonsense. Very judgey.
It's only getting worse too, with republicans fighting to outlaw abortion, forcing (even child rape victims) to have invasive vaginal ultrasounds before an abortion and denying women access to sex education and birth control. It's depressingly horrific and backward.

I think on the internet we see a slice of very educated and liberal people and can come to believe that's society today, sadly not though.

[ebony_steinbach]

"I think on the internet we see a slice of very educated and liberal people and can come to believe that's society today, sadly not though