discuss

[rm]

Does the growing general cultural awareness of slash fiction, specifically in the context of fanfiction, cause gay-themed original professional literature, especially, but not limited to, that written by women featuring men (although not necessarily exclusively) to be taken less seriously? And is this phenomena more or less present in particular genres?

Origin: In speaking to someone in passing about my novel this weekend, they said, "it's not slash is it?" in a tone I interpretted to mean that as such it couldn't be "real" or "serious literature." As a queer woman, my world especially my created world, both within and outside of my book, is a queer world. This is what turns me on. This is what turns me on. And in the damn loins is the last thing I mean.

Comments

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[keith418.livejournal.com]

At what point does porn become art? Does it need to be? Can it happen by accident? Can't slash be happy with its status as sort of silly? What might it lose otherwise? Wasn't gay art more interesting prior to Stonewall?

[mecampbellesq.livejournal.com]

I think the fact that you had the conversation above has already answered your question. While you're attempting to write literature, you're getting thrown in the same rotten pile as those who churn out the endless sweaty-thighed 'get two popular guy characters together and get them into bed' fantasies. If I were you, I'd be a mite peeved...

The message and the medium

[hey-its-dave.livejournal.com]

I'd say the general line of thinking is that if it's published in print form, it's queer lit. (or erotica, depending on theme, percentage of graphic descriptions, etc), if it's posted online, it's slashfic.

That said, I think the democracy that makes the net so great also strips it of the legitimacy the printed (or broadcast) word has. There's a lot of creativity unleashed online by a widely varied talent pool. When it comes down to it, It's only when you can discern the trash from the treasure that the format stops mattering.

Many people will automatically grant legitimacy to something that's printed, sold at B&N, and critically praised versus works they'd need to seek out (for free) online, some of it poorly written and unoriginal, some of it great.

If you described the plot of Brokeback Mountain to someone who'd never heard of it, they might well say it was cowboy slash. A few Oscars later, it's art.


(By the way, hello again, it's been a looong time!')