Elizabeth Barrette (ysabetwordsmith) wrote,
Elizabeth Barrette
ysabetwordsmith
  • Mood: busy

Fanfic and Orientation

Statistical analysis shows that queer orientations are heavily represented among people involved in slash (same-sex) fanworks.  I'm not surprised.  I also hypothesize that fanfic has helped the gay rights movement by making literature in which queer behavior is not unthinkable, but rather adorable.  People get used to it, and that's progress.  Similarly original material featuring queer relationships is helpful, and I suspect that again a lot of folks into original queer lit are themselves some flavor of queer -- plus some straight allies who may be heterosexual but bi-reading-romantic.
Tags: fantasy, gender studies, news, science fiction
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  • 11 comments
catsittingstill

catsittingstill

January 10 2014, 12:00:35 UTC 7 years ago

I have seen speculation that Willow in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer series also had an effect on general acceptance of homosexuality.

She was adorable--and didn't become less so when she realized she was gay.
ysabetwordsmith

Yes...

ysabetwordsmith

January 10 2014, 23:57:37 UTC 7 years ago

>> I have seen speculation that Willow in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer series also had an effect on general acceptance of homosexuality. <<

That makes sense, although a lot of people were bitterly disappointed by what happened to Tara.

>> She was adorable--and didn't become less so when she realized she was gay. <<

It does seem to make a difference in reception, when a character is introduced as queer vs. discovers being queer later. Some people will stay with a favorite character who wouldn't have bothered with a queer-up-front one. Others feel somehow betrayed or misled, and will dump a character who comes out. Some actively enjoy queer characters and look for them in particular.

In other words, a lot like real life.