Cheryl wrote:
Isn't it just possible that what some members of the gay community are really seeing is their own fervent wish that this was so? After all, from what I have seen, the most common slash stories are A/B. These are strong characters, many of us admire qualities present in these men, so much so, that we see things that are simply not there. Many women would love to be with their idealised versions of Avon and Blake and I imagine the same applies to the gay community, so they see things between the two characters which are simply not so.
Actually (to my knowledge) very little, if any, slash is written by gay men. Nearly all of it appears to be written by women (of all persuasions), though I do know of a few (as far as I know straight) men who've attempted the genre.
One of the things I personally dislike about a high proportion of slash fiction is that it doesn't bear a lot of resemblance to (mainstream) stuff I've read written by gay men. The urge to feminise one or both of the characters is (IMO) one cogent argument against slash in most of its current forms (see the excellent story 'Jailbreak' by Steve Rogerson and Paula Robinson in their zine 'Paula and Steve Go Down to the Pub').
As to most common pairing, there's an awful lot of Avon/Vila slash out there, and quite a bit of Avon/Tarrant.
Tavia
Tavia said:
One of the things I personally dislike about a high proportion of slash fiction is that it doesn't bear a lot of resemblance to (mainstream) stuff I've read written by gay men.
I would find that a cogent argument if slash was intended as a serious depiction of gay male life rather than by-women-for-women smut.
As to most common pairing, there's an awful lot of Avon/Vila slash out there, and quite a bit of Avon/Tarrant.
The nature of fanfic writers, probably especially slashwriters, is to consider almost anything a challenge, so there are also quite a few stories about just about any combination of individuals. I quite like Blake/Travis prequel stories myself. I mean, Travis takes the whole thing so personally.
-(Y)
Dana wrote:
Tavia said:
One of the things I personally dislike about a high proportion of slash fiction is that it doesn't bear a lot of resemblance to (mainstream)
stuff
I've read written by gay men.
I would find that a cogent argument if slash was intended as a serious depiction of gay male life rather than by-women-for-women smut.
I agree, absolutely! But by that same argument, if slash is simply porn by and for women, then it can't possibly be read back into the show itself. Unless you think Terry Nation was writing erotica by and for women?
I quite like Blake/Travis prequel stories myself. I mean, Travis takes the whole thing so personally.
I would think that this had more to do with having his eye put out and his hand/arm blown off than with romantic rejection.
Shane
"Avon, you were my only friend..." --Blake
Shane said:
I agree, absolutely! But by that same argument, if slash is simply porn by and for women, then it can't possibly be read back into the show itself. Unless you think Terry Nation was writing erotica by and for women?
No, I think Terry Nation came up with the raw material for one of the domains that is of interest to slashwriters (similar to, e.g., The Professionals and TOS).
I quite like Blake/Travis prequel stories myself. I mean, Travis takes the whole thing so personally.
I would think that this had more to do with having his eye put out and his hand/arm blown off than with romantic rejection.
Shouldn't he be glad to make any sacrifice for the glorious Federation? I think they're both lying about the backstory.
-(Y)
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Dana Shilling -
littles＠lycos.co.uk -
Tavia