Slash v. mainstream romance.

[halimede]

Okay, I've just had an odd thought about why I prefer most slash over most mainstream romance. Something I've not heard yet in a 'why slash?' discussion yet. (Though I may just have missed it, of course. If you've seen someone say something along these lines, please, point me to it

Comments

[hafren]

My first thought is can I quote you? This would go awfully well in the bit of the slash chapter where I slag off Warrior Lovers (specifically Donald Symons for saying slash was basically the sme genre as Mills & Boon romance)

[halimede]

Yes, you can, absolutely! I'm quite disgustingly flattered that you'd ask. :)

[hafren]

Should I reference it back to lj? If you'd rather I didn't, I can always call it private email or something...

[snowgrouse]

Agreed. When old skool slash turns me off it is because of the precise reason of mainstream romance-ness--love just *happens* and there isn't much character exploration or stuff going on, but just lovelorn moaning and groaning.

Thanks for this post.

[halimede]

Thanks for this post.

You're very welcome. :)

[snowgrouse]

I added it to the Meta folder of my Memories section. It is very good!

Hey, btw, how are the combs doing? And how much do you want me to pay in return? Sodding PayPal won't allow ordinary users to accept credit card payments, poo. I could send you Euros well concealed in an envelope if you like.

[halimede]

Whoo! I'm flattered!

The combs are lounging on my desk, waiting for my joints to do better or the husband to be able to take me & the combs (sounds like a rockband!) to the postoffice, whichever comes first. I have not forgotten. And yeah, I've been wondering at payment options as well. I think the Euro thing is our best bet. I'll give you a final figure once I know postage. I found some sturdy CD envelopes that are ordinary mailbox mail, not small package category, so the postage should be quite affordable.

I'm reaaaaaaaally hoping that I'll manage to have them in the mail before the end of the week, but dude, I'm wary of making time-based promises at the moment...

[lemniskate]

I agree, really. with a lot of het, they have to create the drama somehow -- because it's more exciting to have some barrier that keeps them apart. Age, class, parental objection, morals, jobs, *something*. He's the defense attorney, she's the prosecutor. He's a cop, she's a thief. His father killed her father. Her brother put his mom in jail. Or the simple, they just hated each other on sight

[halimede]

anyways ;)

Hey, feel free to chat about this stuff, it's what LJ is for IMO. :)
And yeah, it's a different type of obstacle, qualitatively, even. Interesting how that works.

[snowgrouse]

Agreed. And argh, with writing het I still think there's a terrible barrier there *not* to slip into Horrible Evil Patriarchal Roles, Mary Sueism or anything... I'm looking forward to speaking about this on a panel at Connotations...

[halimede]

{nodsnods} I actually wonder if that's why femslash is so much less prevalent as well. Since we want our blokes to be blokes, I guess we want our dykes to be recognizable women too. I read a survey recently where they found that gay guys are the least sexually jealous of any orientation. If they are, they are envious of guys who are confident and fun to talk to and who have good jobs that they do well at. Lesbians get insecure when their 'rival' is better looking. Culturally feminine insecurities hit closer to home *and* are more boring to read about because they're so familiar. Something for another post maybe, but one I'll need to think about more.

And ooh! Connotations. Sounds like *lots* of fun. :)

[lisan]

Okay, here is my theory on slash, and we're probably going to argue about gender discrimination again, so I'd just like to put the disclaimer that we come from different cultures and we perceive things differently and I'm not really generalizing, I'm just just mouthing off from my experience and it might be all bull but you asked

[halimede]

Actually, I think you explained your view pretty clearly and I am very much in agreement with this. See also the conversation above between snowgrouse and me about femslash and why there isn't as much

[lisan]

Re: culture -- yeah, that's why I had that culture disclaimer there, and why I said we'd probably disagree. And I'm not really discussing the challenges of homosexuality in society as much as how I perceive same sex relationships with regards to my enjoyment of slash, taking into consideration my culture/upbringing, i.e, the dynamic between the characters themselves and how they relate to me. I think every relationship whether "traditional" or "homosexual" has its challenges. The same challenge could be said of interracial or inter-class hetrelationships, for example (which we still ahve here, backward country that we are) relationships, for example, the having to fight, make a stand, wanting to marry someone not "acceptable" etc etc.

[halimede]

and why I said we'd probably disagree

Not as much as you expected, I don't think. :) And dude, all because I said that calling JC a girl was a bit much when he was clearly a frigging dramaqueen instead, in the fic you kept disparaging when I fucking loved it! *g*

I think every relationship whether "traditional" or "homosexual" has its challenges.

I would agree, but I do think those challenges play out differently.

[patchworkdragon]

I agree with a lot of what you've said about the appeal os slash romance. (Erotica is different for me, I read gay erotica because I have some serious issues reading explicit descriptions of female sexuality. I'm messed up and I know it