Of the propriety of slash

[culuyetille]

First things first: everything's ok now. The situation is under control, the criminals have called off the attacks and riots, and negotiation is already taking place. Even had classes today - and attended them. =] Thank you dearies for the hugs.

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*sighs* Why is it that someone just has to bitch about slash every once in a while? Oh yeah right, to stir a discussion. I must admit, though, that what's on the post she refers to, the "legal aspects", are at least a bit new in terms of complaints. Usually we just get the good ol' "ur eeebil!!!11one!! burn in hell for writing hotmensex u pervs". Speaking of which, our campaign to make hotmensex a LJ interest hasn't been very active lately... I've even made a few icons to try and expand the luff ;]

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Back to the matter at hand. The main points addressed on that post are:

a. Whether or not the celebrities portrayed in RPS consented to the use of their names and images, and how that should be addressed legally

b. What sort of measures were taken to restrict access to slash content in websites, and in particular here at LJ.

My thoughts, honestly, are first and foremost: "oh for heaven's sake, mind your own effing slash-less lives, will you."

Concerning a, I think if anyone were to say anything, it'd have to be Viggo, Sean, Orlando, Karl, Elijah, Dom, Billy, etc. I can't say they're not offended; just the same, the people concerned with their honour & public image can't say for sure that they are offended by slash fanfiction featuring their names, so there's really nothing to discuss there.

As for b. Several arguments arose on the comments following the post in question, making me think about a lot more than what was originally being discussed. Some were really fruitful, such as slash as a means of women protesting against being sexually repressed by society. It seems odd and out of context when thrown in a discussion, but when we consider that the vast majority of slash writers & readers are females (their sexual options not relevant), the observation becomes very expressive.

waenelin says,

Here on the LJ's - as far as i could see - gay pairings are described with explicit details, the synopsis being in most cases nothing but an excuse for depicting sexual scenes.

Why shouldn't we enjoy erotic material? Why should it be frowned upon? What's it to anyone if we enjoy producing/viewing artistic work involving a male gay couple? Sex is a very healthy and delicious part of being alive, not to be sanctioned. If we want to share our porn-ish artistic production with people who share the same interests, I believe that doesn't pertain to anyone else.

But we needn't even drift that far. Not all slash is PWP. A fair amount of it is dedicated to romantic involvement with all its angst and fluff, and there's of course the large portion of kink-inclined readers, writers and artists (more present in the Harry Potter fandom). It's sad prejudice to consider its very existence wrong. As if it were something we should be ashamed of enjoying! That's what sickens, saddens and worries me the most. Some claim to be "offended" by the very existence of slash, or that the celebrities portrayed may be hurt by it. What about, we get hurt being referred to as freaks whose likings offend "normal" people?

EDIT: which is why, as Caro mentioned bellow, I chose not to overlook this discussion yet again. It's not that I care about what other people think about slash, or those who like it. It's just that I am tired of being looked down at, and if I don't stand up for me, who will? If they're entitled to their own opinion, and to expressing it, they must be prepared to hear some biting back.

..in the end, these discussions always have slashers saying that we mean no harm and are just doing this for pure entertainment, while anti-slashers say it's still disrespectful to the portrayed people or the author, when it's FPS, and to the people who accidentally stumble upon it, etc, etc. *shrugs*

It often makes me look away. It's not a call for reasoning, it's more of a "what you do can't be accepted and you should be embarrassed and try to hide it as best as you possibly can." Self-censorship on our personal weblogs. I'm not for children's free access to everything, but I truly don't think there's a way around it, and frankly, I don't want to restrict myself in any way in my "personal space" - f-locking is just that. It falls to parents to handle their children's education, not to me. I have a Livejournal account to indulge in my hobbies, one very proeminent of which is slash. Pieces of fanart and fanfiction can have warnings and disclaimers, and that's about the closest to legal concern it'll get, because that's very very far from our primary objective here: having fun.

Plain and simple, We cannot control access any more than any other pornography source. If a person stumbles upon a slash-oriented website, they're very likely to find themselves looking at huge warnings that are very difficult to miss, of the likes of "This community deals with male/male themes, often with graphic descriptions. Please don't enter if you're under the age of consent". How hard can it be to hit the "back" button on one's browser?

Finally, after a few years, it even gets boring when someone criticizes slash and people start discussing the merits of both sides. Self-quoting on a conversation with a friend earlier today:

When a person writes and posts something like that, they're not trying to broaden their view of the world. They're bitching about what they don't like. And it's just that simple. We'll keep on thinking we have every right to enjoy slash as we find best, and they'll keep believing it isn't so. And, so I say we shrug and let them complain, we've got more pleasant things to busy ourselves with. If they really wanted to know anything about slash, they'd read some.

What's fundamentally wrong with these people? There's no slash in their colourless, dull little lives. ;] What's wrong with me? I let myself be annoyed.

Comments

[ldybastet.livejournal.com]

*hugs tightly* I'm so relieved to hear that things are back under control. I've been thinking about you at quiet moments since you posted your report. :-) Such a scary, scary thing!

These discussions do seem to pop up regularly in various fandoms. Every 6 months or so someone brings it up again... It's like the yearly chan-discussion in Harry Potter fandom.

I think the problem is that these 'offended' people see it as their duty to change the world so that it fits into their own view of it, their own perfect model. Anything that goes against that is challenging that model, and they take it personally. Suddenly, they dress themselves up in shiny and pure armour, grabs the sword of righteousness and rides out on a crusade upon the trusty steed Morality. And it is a crusade, because anyone who doesn't agree with them or who doesn't renounce their ways and convert to the one true opinion is a person that they will attack.

It's rather annoying to watch, and I get so tired of it. But, when it comes to the chan-discussion, I will speak up every time, because I think it's frightening when people confuse fiction with reality.

And to get back to the topic of your post: I get growly when people say that fic has to have a deeper meaning, bring a higher message... If we want to write or read filthy, kinky porn, then let us! That is an expression of our freedom as women. To read the things that turn us on without thinking about if it's appropriate or if a 'nice girl' uses words like these. That we are seen as abnormal for it is just another way to try to control us, our behaviour, and our sexuality.

So there! *g* We can always throw that back at the offended ones: don't you opress me! ;-)

[culuyetille.livejournal.com]

*huggles* thanks for the good wishes, darling.

*rolls-eyes* Oh yes. It's rather annoying to watch, and I get so tired of it. But, when it comes to the chan-discussion, I will speak up every time, because I think it's frightening when people confuse fiction with reality. I couldn't agree with you more. It gets tiring, but in the end, we must always gather the energy for one more stand-up. Else all the other times we've worn ourselves out would've been in vain. We're always willing to explain things to those who misunderstand, such as mixing chan fanfiction with real child pornography - MAJORLY frowned upon. But, I've decided that I will be respected, and shall work for that. Even if it means having an annual go at the anti-slashers.

let us! That is an expression of our freedom as women. To read the things that turn us on without thinking about if it's appropriate or if a 'nice girl' uses words like these. That we are seen as abnormal for it is just another way to try to control us, our behaviour, and our sexuality.

*nods-nods-nods* We want to breathe. We're indulging in our pleasures in our own space, not involving unwilling thirt parties or harming anyone in any way. And that's that, no-one can have a say on it.