Books and a Slash Survey (you know you want to take it...)

[rubberbutton]

Went shopping today; I wanted to pick up some philosophy books for my dad. I abhor shopping. I’d rather have my kneecaps broken. At what point does anxiety edge out of uncomfortable-with-crowds and into actual agoraphobia? It was packed and I was on edge the entire time, like you might be if they were playing music you loathed really, really loud. I’m tempted to accept the inevitable and embrace my inner hermit, working out a system in which I never have to leave my house à la Twitch City.

On the bright side, books! I got Socrates Against Athens: Philosophy on Trial, which was kind of an impulse and I’m not sure will actually get gifted. *g* Hardcore Zen: Punk Rock, Monster Movies & the Truth About Reality is a book I’m not sure my dad will really appreciate, but seems pretty cool to me—which is one of my greatest flaws as a gift-giver. I tend to give things I want and then borrow them. Oops. I also picked up Plato and a Platypus Walk into a Bar...Understanding Philosophy Through Jokes, which purridot recommended.

On the fandom side of things, I’m kinda, sorta working on meta about Victorian romantic friendships and the appeal of slash—something I was jokingly discussing with Purridot (who is catalyst in all things) but then I got carried away, as per usual.

To aid my super-serious scholarship/to satisfy my curiosity, please take a few minutes to fill out this questionnaire:

Assuming you read slash (non-canon, same-sex pairings) at least occasionally...

1. Do you prefer slash to heterosexual (both canon and non-canon) pairings? Why or why not?
2. Do you prefer slash to canon homosexual pairings? Why or why not?
3. Do you have a preference between m/m pairings and f/f pairings?
4. How much do you think your own orientation, gender and sexual experience affect your fanfic-reading preferences? Explain.
5. Do you read gen fic of characters you slash? Do you read it more, less or about the same as fic with overt romance/sex? Why?
6. How do you like sex in slash fic? Is explicit sex a pro or con?
7. How did you get into slash and how old were you?
8. Anything you’d like to share?

Comments

[purridot.livejournal.com]

Hee, let me know if you like the books! I should really learn something about philosophy, to have something to discuss at cocktail parties :D

Survey! You probably know my opinions already, though, so this will be boring.

1. I like canon pairings if they have have the same kind of tension and angst leading up to their getting together that fanfic thrives on. I like any pairing of people who are "soul mates" -- who are just so good together. It doesn't even have to be sexual (e.g., I loved Mulder/Scully when they were just "buddies", and I don't mind them as a couple). In these cases hetero is fine (e.g. Mr. Darcy/Elizabeth Bennet or Odysseus/Penelope). If House/Wilson were canon I would like it. But only if it happened in the season finale and the producers couldn't wreck it!

2. As per 1.

3. I am just drawn towards m/m. I haven't felt the urge to read f/f, although I might if the right pairing came along, for the same

4. I think soul mates can be any gender combination (doesn't Plato talk about that in the Symposium). Possibly my being straight might explain why I haven't delved into f/f slash.

5. I like gen fic if it is angsty. (I am actually a happy person in real life, more or less, honest!) Or amusing crack!fics. I don't see why a story can't be gen and also be exciting, thrilling, honest, amusing, or heart-wrenching.

6. Explicit sex is not necessary. In fact, I think a simple touch or look (in written stuff or onscreen) can be far more erotic than a detailed physical description. A lot of slash writers are very clinical. However, I once read an amazingly hot "Ocena's 11" fic that set up, but never actually described, the erotic parts. You'd swear you'd read an NC-17 story only to go back and realize that you hadn't.

7. I think I loved "romantic friendships" (like the Victorian kind you describe) as long as I can remember. It wasn't until later in life that I discovered slash. But I think slash can be a way of legitimizing a romantic friendship -- ensuring that no woman is going to become more important to one of the boys than their friendship.

8. You MUST watch the film Master and Commander. It is a wonderful buddy flick :D

[rubberbutton.livejournal.com]

I like canon pairings if they have have the same kind of tension and angst leading up to their getting together that fanfic thrives on.

That's a good point. Just so often in movies the relationship ends on a happily ever after note, bleh. With TV, the relationship goes well for maybe four episodes before it crashes and burns (see: they Stacy Effect), which is almost as boring as happily ever after.

I think I loved "romantic friendships" (like the Victorian kind you describe) as long as I can remember.

I have a good friend who says that she was interested in male friendships since she was six, and long before she made the connection that they could (or might want to) have sex. Though I think I didn't get into slash until I was a teen, it really interests me that it can have such a basic, visceral appeal for some of us. There's something profound about it...I'm just not sure what. *g*

You MUST watch the film Master and Commander.

Aye, aye, Captain! :D