Aug. 15th, 2004
Slash is parody?
Aug. 15th, 2004 04:08 pmI was on the SSA playing with the randomizer button. I came across one fic whose disclaimer said something to the effect of, "Slash is parody, unless the Smallville creators intended for Clark and Lex to be gay, and parody is protected under (something)."
But, is slash parody? I know dictionary definitions are looked askance when creating an arugment, but my Oxford American Dictionary says that a parody is, "1. a comic imitation of a well-known person or literay work or style, etc. 2. a grotesque imitation, a travesty"
Now, while some may argue slash stories may be the second (especially mine;), my slash, and much of the slash I read, isn't intended to be a comic imitation. I remember back in the very early days when I was writing Angel travesties, uh, slash fics, I shared it with a girl I had previouly roleplayed with. (Both of us mary-sues, me girl, her boy). She laugehd at the fics, saying they were, "hiliariously slashy," and thought they were very funny.
I'd never intended for them to be funny. I did wonder then if maybe I was missing the point. Maybe it wasn't that people put boys together for erotic kicks or for serious stories, but for parody/funny purposes. Maybe I was reading it wrong.
It's almost five years later. I still don't think most slash is supposed to be comic. I don't read most slash as being a comic imitation; I see it as more of an earnest attempt to explore various facets of the characters and/or situations that we see on the show, only in ways that they, perhaps, can't go.
Am I reading it wrong? Or was the author of that partiucarly fic overextending by saying all slash is a parody and not just this particular fic?
But, is slash parody? I know dictionary definitions are looked askance when creating an arugment, but my Oxford American Dictionary says that a parody is, "1. a comic imitation of a well-known person or literay work or style, etc. 2. a grotesque imitation, a travesty"
Now, while some may argue slash stories may be the second (especially mine;), my slash, and much of the slash I read, isn't intended to be a comic imitation. I remember back in the very early days when I was writing Angel travesties, uh, slash fics, I shared it with a girl I had previouly roleplayed with. (Both of us mary-sues, me girl, her boy). She laugehd at the fics, saying they were, "hiliariously slashy," and thought they were very funny.
I'd never intended for them to be funny. I did wonder then if maybe I was missing the point. Maybe it wasn't that people put boys together for erotic kicks or for serious stories, but for parody/funny purposes. Maybe I was reading it wrong.
It's almost five years later. I still don't think most slash is supposed to be comic. I don't read most slash as being a comic imitation; I see it as more of an earnest attempt to explore various facets of the characters and/or situations that we see on the show, only in ways that they, perhaps, can't go.
Am I reading it wrong? Or was the author of that partiucarly fic overextending by saying all slash is a parody and not just this particular fic?
I love it. I *finally* manage to write the Clex essay I've been assigned for
ship_manifesto community, and I can't think of what fics to recommend. I've gotten to the point where I pretty much only read complete and total AU's or happy future fics and while there's nothing wrong with them, I'd like to recommend a broader range for a possible new fan.
I'll worry about it tomorrow. After in-service!!!
Right now, I'll go to bed.
I'll worry about it tomorrow. After in-service!!!
Right now, I'll go to bed.