Neil wrote:
That's probably my biggest gripe about not just slash readings but het
readings too. They reduce the characters to nothing but their sexuality. Nobody, straight, gay or whatever, is that one-dimensional. Adult fic seems to separate the entire universe into Sex and Everything Else, and promptly homes in on the sex. I consider the Everything Else to be not only more interesting but more important as well. Consequently I tend to avoid adult fic not because it squicks me (it doesn't, I'm virtually unsquickable unless animals get involved), but because it's just so bloody *boring*.<
Exactly my feeling. The concentration on only one aspect of the show - and one that did never play a significant role - does not appeal to me. But then, I *like* stories about Blake blowing things up. And about Avon and Vila taking the chance for some private enterprising when Blake's back is turned.
If the show had been about the crew sitting on Liberator's couches talking about their feelings, I wouldn't have kept watching. (Although seeing *that* lot psycho-analysing each other could be fun. :-) ) If they'd all been loyally following Blake's orders, I would probably have watched, but never become a fan. It's the combination of Action/adventure and life-like characters that appeals to me.
The recent discussion about slash has left me rather bemused about the blatant disregard for canon and the writers' intent expressed by some lystmembers. In writing B7 fanfiction, we are in effect hijacking characters created by others. It's something I, for one, am acutely aware of, and it makes me feel obliged to keep to the canon, out of respect for the show's creators.
As I writer, I'd hate it if someone would take the characters from my books and distort them to the point where they would become unrecognisable to me. And it would hurt even more if they then went on to claim that their version was the way I had really intended the characters to be, and kept ignoring my denials.
Of course, some parts of the canon can be interpreted differently. B7 fandom consists of all kinds of different interpretations and preferences that can exist happily alongside each other. But, IMO Fiona's excellent comment about the lack of canonical evidence for homosexual tendencies in the main characters is pretty conclusive, as are the declarations of the writers and actors.
I'm not suggesting that people stop writing slash, apparently it brings a lot of fun to a lot of people, and having fun is what fandom is about. However, there's a difference between "I know it's not canon but it's fun," and "I don't give a damn about the creators' intent!"
The first approach at least recognises the input of the creators and takes their feelings into consideration (up to a point). The latter amounts to theft of the characters. Characters that are not ours, but that we are privileged to be allowed to use.
Just IMHO.
Marian