From: Dana Shilling dshilling@worldnet.att.net
I have never fancied Blake or Avon.
You're on record about Cally though.
Not a central character, not even a second lead. Now you're moving your own goalposts. Stop it - that's my tactic.
Nichelle Nichols' character (can't remember her name)?
Uhura. No.
Beverly Crusher? Seven of Nine?
Yes, a bit. Definitely not.
Well, since this is obviously a hyper-unsubtle attempt to divine Neil's choice in fantasy females, may I throw in Tegan Jovanka, Sarah-Jane Smith, Arlen, Savannah Nix, and that unnamed rat-faced black-haired female mechanic who fills the screen for all of 3.5 seconds in Mad Max 2. And Ripley, of course, but that goes without saying.
So I don't think the attractive appearance of the central characters is
a
significant pull factor.
But isn't one reason that MarySue stories are in such poor repute is that they express so unsubtly "S/he can pull me any time and twice on Sunday"?
Yes it is, which leads neatly onto...
But if we're talking about fans as people who are motivated to do more than simply watch, and to participate in fandom
through
writing, modelling, con-going, putting up websites etc, then there are
just
too many men to cite the sex appeal of the (usually) male leads as a significant pull factor for *fandom as a whole*.
OK, but the model for fandom as a whole has to be adjusted to account for the difference between fanfic writing and other fannish activities, and perhaps for differences in the gender ratio of fen in different fandoms.
As has been noted many times, men and women engage with fandom in broadly different ways, with the inevitable zone of overlap. I can't help noting the distinction you make between 'writing' (all on its own) and 'other fannish activities' (all lumped together). This is clearly a transparent elitist ploy to demote the male contribition to fandom through casual marginalisation by elevating fanfic to a high status platform on which it has no viable claim. So all I can say to you, Ms Shilling, is:
Choose your fish.
Mine's a Mako Shark. Are you feeling lucky?
Neil