Faye (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
said_scarlett) wrote2007-08-03 03:07 am
said_scarlett) wrote2007-08-03 03:07 am
Fey's Thoughts On Fiction, Obcenity, and Various Other Big Issues Of The Moment
It's 3 AM, and I can't sleep, despite three cups of valerian tea. This post won't let me. So here I am.
First off, while I talk about HP fanfiction, please remember I have not read the seventh book, so absolutely no references to it whatsoever in comments.
That out of the way! The topic on everyone's mind and LJs right now is yet again, fic/art and censorship.
As some people know, I frequent some pretty damn dark corners of the internet. And I mean dark. Why? A few different reasons. One, I have a deep interest in serial killers and their mentality. I enjoy reading stories that delve into that. This means I often do read things that involve graphic descriptions of torture, rape and murders. Both online and in published works of fiction. This includes but is not limited to situations involving snuff and underage characters. Two, I'll admit it, I've got trainwreck syndrome. Some people read Mary Sue fic for entertainment, some read vastly OOC fic, I read horrifically disturbing and bizarre smut. But really, once you've read vore/un-birthing/ovipositioning fic involving a triple breasted giant lizard woman and a killer whale, nothing phases you anymore....
There is an author who's work is deeply graphically disturbing but also, in my opinion, deeply poignant and well researched. In his disclaimer, he talks about how there is a darker side in everyone. Which I believe is true. He goes on to express that he believes fiction is a safe and healthy way to express this side. I also think this is true.
We all have our reasons for writing dark fic. I've written it myself. I've written a good many things that I'm sure people would argue has no literary merit whatsoever. Looking back to my HP days, the two that spring to mind are Deathsong Balladeer and Devil May Care. Both fics I wish I could sweep under the rug, not because of subject matter, but because compared to my writing now, they sort of suck.
But! Both of these fics involve extreme violence, rape, torture, underage characters and incest. Why did I write them? Because I wanted to explore the characters and scenarios. I was dealing with dark characters and dark situations, and so treated the subject matter accordingly. Yes, there is a lot of smut in these fics. Yes, there is a lot of graphic smut involving questionable situations. Is it gratuitous? I didn't think so at the time, and I still don't. Sex is a valid situation in which to explore characters. Sex is a valid way in which to explore themes in fiction. Sex is a valid tool for getting across a point and furthering a plot. Were the sex scenes written in a titillating fashion? Well, yes. It was very much enjoyable for the characters who's POVs I was writing from. Of course I'd want to put that across. Was the intention to titillate? Hell, I don't remember, I wrote these things when I still lived in Boston for crissake. They damn well may have been, and you know what? That's fine. Because it's fantasy, and we all have our dark fantasies.
I still write dark and disturbing things today. Bed of Bones, written just earlier this year, and The Looking Glass Bled written just last week spring to mind. I know there are people who would say there's no literary merit to these pieces. Bed of Bones has so much fucked up disturbing sex in it I had to make up new warnings. But it's a character piece. One of the main characters is a psychopath. A man who gets off on killing innocent people. He thinks murdering hundreds of innocent people is fun. And again, it's a character piece, dealing with dominance and power-struggles. Was it written to be sexy? No, because the character who's POV it's from was not enjoying it. Did some people find it sexy? Yes they did! Do I have a problem with that? No I don't. Because it's sure as hell not my business what gets who off. The Looking Glass Bled is a horror piece. I chose to use non-con as a vehicle for horror. Because yes, that is a horrific situation. Is it a sexy piece? Eh, I don't know, I wasn't thinking about that when I wrote it. But I'm sure there are people who think it is, and that's awesome. Whatever floats your boat.
Oh, hell, another one sprang to mind! Bright Young Things! That's like a minefield of kinky, questionable badtouch!
Would I argue vehemently and not back down for all of the above mentioned pieces? I'd argue like hell. Because despite being full of graphic, questionable sex, despite having obscene themes and situations, they are still works with more to them than just fetish porn. I can honestly say that I have never read a single piece of serious NC-17 fic that was somehow lacking in literary merit. Maybe I just have all good authors on my Flist or something, but there it is.
I think that there are people who will automatically judge things solely on the level of graphic sex. They won't care about anything else, or how much character exploration there is. They will see certain warnings, see certain ratings, and that will be it. And nothing will change their minds. And I think that's awful. And worse, they will judge the writers and readers. Just because I read or write something, it in no way reflects any of my RL feelings. I love to read and write about serial killers and sociopaths. IRL? Lock them all up and throw away the key.
Fiction is not real. Fiction is a great way to explore every corner of our minds, every 'what if', every dirty little idea that creeps into our head. It always has been, and it always will be.
I suppose I'm rambling here. I'm not going to get into my own thoughts on LJ's policies and suspensions and things, but I did want to express my own views on dark NC-17 fic. And maybe I did and maybe I didn't, but I am exhausted and it's now 3:30 AM.
I'm going to try and actually sleep now.
First off, while I talk about HP fanfiction, please remember I have not read the seventh book, so absolutely no references to it whatsoever in comments.
That out of the way! The topic on everyone's mind and LJs right now is yet again, fic/art and censorship.
As some people know, I frequent some pretty damn dark corners of the internet. And I mean dark. Why? A few different reasons. One, I have a deep interest in serial killers and their mentality. I enjoy reading stories that delve into that. This means I often do read things that involve graphic descriptions of torture, rape and murders. Both online and in published works of fiction. This includes but is not limited to situations involving snuff and underage characters. Two, I'll admit it, I've got trainwreck syndrome. Some people read Mary Sue fic for entertainment, some read vastly OOC fic, I read horrifically disturbing and bizarre smut. But really, once you've read vore/un-birthing/ovipositioning fic involving a triple breasted giant lizard woman and a killer whale, nothing phases you anymore....
There is an author who's work is deeply graphically disturbing but also, in my opinion, deeply poignant and well researched. In his disclaimer, he talks about how there is a darker side in everyone. Which I believe is true. He goes on to express that he believes fiction is a safe and healthy way to express this side. I also think this is true.
We all have our reasons for writing dark fic. I've written it myself. I've written a good many things that I'm sure people would argue has no literary merit whatsoever. Looking back to my HP days, the two that spring to mind are Deathsong Balladeer and Devil May Care. Both fics I wish I could sweep under the rug, not because of subject matter, but because compared to my writing now, they sort of suck.
But! Both of these fics involve extreme violence, rape, torture, underage characters and incest. Why did I write them? Because I wanted to explore the characters and scenarios. I was dealing with dark characters and dark situations, and so treated the subject matter accordingly. Yes, there is a lot of smut in these fics. Yes, there is a lot of graphic smut involving questionable situations. Is it gratuitous? I didn't think so at the time, and I still don't. Sex is a valid situation in which to explore characters. Sex is a valid way in which to explore themes in fiction. Sex is a valid tool for getting across a point and furthering a plot. Were the sex scenes written in a titillating fashion? Well, yes. It was very much enjoyable for the characters who's POVs I was writing from. Of course I'd want to put that across. Was the intention to titillate? Hell, I don't remember, I wrote these things when I still lived in Boston for crissake. They damn well may have been, and you know what? That's fine. Because it's fantasy, and we all have our dark fantasies.
I still write dark and disturbing things today. Bed of Bones, written just earlier this year, and The Looking Glass Bled written just last week spring to mind. I know there are people who would say there's no literary merit to these pieces. Bed of Bones has so much fucked up disturbing sex in it I had to make up new warnings. But it's a character piece. One of the main characters is a psychopath. A man who gets off on killing innocent people. He thinks murdering hundreds of innocent people is fun. And again, it's a character piece, dealing with dominance and power-struggles. Was it written to be sexy? No, because the character who's POV it's from was not enjoying it. Did some people find it sexy? Yes they did! Do I have a problem with that? No I don't. Because it's sure as hell not my business what gets who off. The Looking Glass Bled is a horror piece. I chose to use non-con as a vehicle for horror. Because yes, that is a horrific situation. Is it a sexy piece? Eh, I don't know, I wasn't thinking about that when I wrote it. But I'm sure there are people who think it is, and that's awesome. Whatever floats your boat.
Oh, hell, another one sprang to mind! Bright Young Things! That's like a minefield of kinky, questionable badtouch!
Would I argue vehemently and not back down for all of the above mentioned pieces? I'd argue like hell. Because despite being full of graphic, questionable sex, despite having obscene themes and situations, they are still works with more to them than just fetish porn. I can honestly say that I have never read a single piece of serious NC-17 fic that was somehow lacking in literary merit. Maybe I just have all good authors on my Flist or something, but there it is.
I think that there are people who will automatically judge things solely on the level of graphic sex. They won't care about anything else, or how much character exploration there is. They will see certain warnings, see certain ratings, and that will be it. And nothing will change their minds. And I think that's awful. And worse, they will judge the writers and readers. Just because I read or write something, it in no way reflects any of my RL feelings. I love to read and write about serial killers and sociopaths. IRL? Lock them all up and throw away the key.
Fiction is not real. Fiction is a great way to explore every corner of our minds, every 'what if', every dirty little idea that creeps into our head. It always has been, and it always will be.
I suppose I'm rambling here. I'm not going to get into my own thoughts on LJ's policies and suspensions and things, but I did want to express my own views on dark NC-17 fic. And maybe I did and maybe I didn't, but I am exhausted and it's now 3:30 AM.
I'm going to try and actually sleep now.
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As long as its fiction I don't see any harm in it. Others shouldn't either. Some people are being so difficult about it, but I suppose they have never saw some kind of (published) horror book . THOSE can be graphic as well.
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And really, has no one heard of 'live and let live'? If you don't like it, simply don't read it. If you don't like horror, you don't watch them either. Why is fandom any different?
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I can't claim to know exactly what's going on here, but it looks like someone objects in total to underage smut. Which, okay, sure. People are welcome to object. But I'm welcome to write whatever the hell I please, so STFU.
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plus whatever happened to "if you don't like it, don't read it." some people need to find themselves a new project.
now i seriously want to read Bed of Bones and The Looking Glass Bled.
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Someone or someone's have a bug up their ass.
The Looking Glass Bled (http://theladyfeylene.livejournal.com/819980.html#cutid1): Fatal Frame 2, SaexMio, non-con, horrific imagery.
Bed of Bones (http://theladyfeylene.livejournal.com/644075.html): KimbleyxLust, AU, NC-17, object insertion, morbid content, rough sex, dub-con, sexual desecration of human remains, choking.
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*tilts head* Fandom-related or original, that one?
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If they really want to get rid of pedophiles and stuff, wouldn't it be easier to go after images depicting real children? 'cause let's face it, a piece of drawn artwork isn't hurting anyone really.
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They are, which you know, that's good. Internet predators are a very real threat, and a very wide-spread danger. But I feel the focus should be on them. If 6Apart doesn't want NC-17 fic and art with underage characters, that's their prerogative and their right. They can allow or disallow whatever they want. But if that's the case, they need to come out and say it, not pull what seems like entrapment.
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