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eriol, tomoyo, spawn-chan, draco puppet, ginny puppet
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Friday, December 14, 2001
12:41 a.m.
np: Cibbo Matto Flowers
I have crossed the line. >< I hate you, Fi. That is all.
Tuesday, December 11, 2001
10:57 p.m.
np: Ella Fitzgerald A-tisket, A-tasket
I was going to write really long rants about yaoi/slash and ficbitches, but then Erin gave me this. >< Draco/Ron slash. That was good. Then again, I know why most of the HP slash bores me. I have to like both characters. I don't like Harry. Thusly, any Harry slash bores me. (But I get sick pleasure out of reading Lucius/Harry slash. Because it's so wrong. Everyone knows my inclination for Wrong Things. *tm*) And I find Draco/Ron slash more credible in canon. So I have to temper my yaoi/slash critique. Or not. XD And add a caveat. I like the gay. A lot. In fact, I am obssessed with the gay. Gay makes things better. Always. ^_^ So I find my indifference/distaste to slash/yaoi strange. Part of the reason I'm writing this rant, methinks.
Yaoi/male slash isn't just about pretty bois fucking. Nor is it just about subtext. Power. It's about power too. You cannot forget that. (Mostly straight but some not so straight) women playing with gender roles, empowering themselves, objectifying men. So when a man is shoved into an uke/bottom archetype, it oughtn't shock people that he's feminized. Slash/yaoi is not some realistic portrayal of gay male relationships. No, that's not true. It can be. But I always think of it in terms of power. Allowing a man to be a victim. And even the though the oppressor is still male, the oppressor is oppressing another male, who can be thought of as just another aspect of the oppressor's self. Ravishing himself, I guess. So if the men get shoved into uber stylized heterosexual/BDSM situations, blame it on the power. But on the other hand, weepy feminized males bother me too. But I never said I was a slash/yaoi fangrrl. But honestly, the gripes slash/yaoi fans have can also be applied to het romance stories and fics. Ever read a trashy romance novel? So don't think you're so special because YOU have bad fic. In fact, if we're going for sheer quantity, het romance fic fans prolly have more license to be self-righteous and indignant about bad fics than slash fans. This is not some sort of monopoly, people. We all share in the badness. XD
ficbitches. Eh. Not a fan. I guess they're funny. I don't really find them that funny. Why? Some thoughts about writing. Twig raised some points that are on point. Writing is hard work. The ficbitches will acknowledge this. In fact, that's why they started the site, right? Sick of people who write fics thoughtlessly and carelessly yet somehow manage to become popular. I find it hard to believe that the fics they've posted are popular. Granted, I'm not part of most of the fandoms they're critting in, so I wouldn't know. (And I think CCSchlueter does a more fun job of critiquing the 'lesser known' fics. XD)But if the fics are popular, they are doing a service. Make the fans ask for more. That I totally approve. Fans should demand NOTHING but the best. But like I said, it's not terribly clear to me that the fics are the most popular ones. I'd have to ask people in the fandom. Thots?
But I dunno. Are they going about it the right way? Meaning, the ficbitches are obviously doing this as a larf, for fun, but they're also trying, on some level, to educate the public, and make people think more about the writing process. For example, an author's first attempt in fic writing should be given more leeway than say the author's twentieth fic. Age too. Older people don't necessarily write better, but they've had more time to practice, so we should hold the bar higher for them. XD And people don't have to emerge from the womb perfect writers. Writing as a talent must evolve. Naturally you improve. But you're going to write like shit in the beginning. Want me to show you the story I wrote about my dog Goldilocks in fourth grade? Would make you laugh. (And yes, I really did name my dog Goldilocks.)
And writing is a subjective enterprise. What you like and what I like are prolly going to be v. different. I've met people who don't like Jane Austen, and I think that's a bloody sin. And there are people who think that Rowling is God's gift, and I laugh. (Gee, that was a lot of religious terminology. ^^) You should tread carefully when you toe the stylistic area. Not quite objective, but not quite subjective either. Not very helpful, am I? XD Then again, I do agree with their gripes. Overly flowery language for no discernible purpose, well other than to show off the fact that the author prolly studied REALLY hard for her SAT's XD, is bad.
Blogging is a 3v33l form of procrastination. Bad Jae.
Sunday, December 9, 2001
08:50 p.m.
np: Beta Ginny Soundtrack ^_^
You know, there are days when a girl questions the ships she chooses. All this Harry love. Makes me ill. Why we love Erin....
Jae: I hate Harry. I don't want to ship him with anyone.
Erin: How about.. Ron/Hermione, Ginny/Draco, Harry/Firebolt and then life is good XD
Jae: YES!
Although, then that begs the question of who will be handling the Firebolt. *koff* *halo*
Jae: If any of you volunteer, you're dead meat.
Draco puppet: *angel eyes* Sorry?
Eriol: I didn't say nuttin'~!
Jae: You may fight over Sean Biggerstaff. But please, not Harry.
Eriol: No complaints here, nope.
Draco puppet: None...wait, I don't do those sorts of things with bloody Grffyndors.
Ah. Back to Paper. XD
Friday, December 7, 2001
08:05 p.m.
Poor Kit. I think you're the only one that actually reads my fic blog. Besides me, of course. So updates. I have been writing A Young Man's Fancy, even though I shouldn't be. Let's see. I have Tomoyo setting up a recconissence session with Eriol. Well, okay, she's just trying to be a snoop. Sakura is of course thrilled, because she's on a mission. The hard part is Tomoyo. I generally know what I want to do with her. When trying to set up a situation, I don't want Eriol angsting over Kaho and Tomoyo angsting over Sakura. That's been done in other fics, and done quite well. The problem of course is coming up with a realistic way of non-angsting.
This requires reconceptualizing the series a bit. As Kit has mentioned, you can't just have things be the way you want them to be. (Ahhh, you nigh impossible in canon het pairings. How we love thee....) Background, history, research, those are all necessary. But take CCS, for example. The theme running through the series is finding the one you love best and being quite clear about it. Less prevelant in the anime, more prevelant in the manga. Anyways, Tomoyo must languish in the end, because she has the one she loves best, Sakura, but Sakura does not love her back. And yes, I know there is the ranting and raving about the heterosexism of it all (strange allegation in anime which has shounen/shoujo-ai themes running rampant, but anyways...) But I don't think Tomoyo and Sakura would have made a good couple. Maybe they could have. But I think that Sakura is too open, too comfortable, no not comfortable, but confident, or self-aware to the point that Sakura doesn't need to think about what she is, she simply is, whereas Tomoyo is very closed and introspective and conscious of what she is. And I think Tomoyo wouldn't want something easy. She'd want to work for a relationship. Eriol would provide that challenge because he is complex, closed and conscious like Tomoyo. Can you tell that I think too much about these sorts of things? Granted, this is my interpretation, one which CLAMP would likely contest muchly, but I'm a lawyer. We like to interpet things.
Now, onto Draco/Ginny. The infamous Fire/Ice combination. Might as well, since I appear to be on a roll. (Procrastination is a beautiful thing.) I know that Cassie has had some doubts. Which is sad to me, since she is the reason I am such a rabid Draco/Ginny fan. They seem to be centered mostly on the fact that Draco/Ginny is impossible in canon. As we know that little hurdle doesn't bother me. But it does post some interesting problems for writing fic. Although I know I just said that I like interpretation, I also like to think that there is some sort of basis in canon for my whimsies. I mean I've watched/read the series/game/whatever, so I must have got something from them, right? (We won't go into how cursory my reading of Harry Potter was. I'll re-read them over break, I swear it.) My Ginny liking is easy. She's got red hair. Shallow reason, you think? Sorta. But if your Anne of Green Gables obsession was as bad as mine....Alright, fine. Besides the red hair. Rowling has done a shaite job of fleshing out Ginny's character. (I still allege that Rowling's done a shaite job of characterization period, but anywas, I stray from the point.) However, canon, and her brothers, hint at Ginny's firecracker personality. (She has red hair for a reason. XD) But what could be putting a damper on our ickle flame? Harry Potter. (Scuse me while I gag.) Crushes do that to people. I understand, even though I am not sympathetic. But she is a little girl. And little girls do strange things. 'S what makes em special. I envision Ginny has having a strong personality. Being the youngest of seven either makes you a simpering twit or a very sassy, snappy young lady. Ginny seems to be more twit-ish in the books, but again, I blame that on crushdom. And Rowling's laziness. XD Perhaps like Anne, but much more practical. Still a touch of whimsy, if she can be attracted to Tom Riddle's diary. Brave, since she is Grffyndor and loyal to her friends. I want her to be appealing. And sassy. Other than that, not so sure. So much for obsession. ^^
But Draco. Hmm. That one is harder. Cos he's a total ass in the books. A racist, elitist, spoiled snot. Could he be any worse? Yes, of course. But again, a child. It doesn't excuse him, but it puts things in perspective. Fanon!Draco has way more appeal. Fanon attempts to make Draco more appealing. Which is fine by me. I've accepted the fact that even if Draco is not 3v33l, he won't be goody two shoes either. In fact, I think that Draco will be grey in a Snape-esque fashion. Even I see the parallels between Snape/James and Draco/Harry. (Which makes me wonder why there is more Draco/Harry slash than Snape/James slash. No, I know the answer to that. Snape is canonically slimy and gross. It's movie!Snape that is slimy hot. Ahhh, silly Jae. How she is unwise in the ways of slash.) Argh, straying. Fanon!Draco. Or Draco as I want to write him if I ever start HP fic. Definitely vain, fully aware of how handsome, rich, and talented he is, smart with a dry, sarcastic sort of wit, manipulative, hungry for recognition and power that is likely his downfall. And that was scary. Ultimately, I want to write fic about Ginny. I do want her to get together with Draco, but if she doesn't, I might live. Cos it is really about developing Ginny. Heh. ^^
And now Quistis and Seifer. (Side note. Aren't the chibis cuuute? Seifer is waving his sword, like the surly, macho het male he is. And Quistis is rolling her eyes and pointing slyly at him, like the sarkky ice queen she is.) Don't ask me why I want to write them. I blame it on Kit. And I read decent Quistis x Seifer ficcage. Quistis and Seifer have pretty clearly definied personalities in FF8. Quistis is the uber-talented ice queen. She's smart, witty, insightful, strong, etcetc. And she has a torch for Squall. And therefore is not perfect. She's jealous of Rinoa, who holds not even a match to Quistis, no worries~! (Quistis again can do better than surly, silent protagonist, but no one ever asks ME. Man, if I ever become a professional writer......wouldn't that be lovely? I think that's my dream job. Children lit writer.) Anyways, they try to explain away her infatuation with Squall by claiming she was confusing her desire to replace Squall's "sis" with a crush. Which I still think is bollocks. She prolly did have a thing for Squall. There's wiggling room for Seifer though. Quistis watched over and taught both Squall and Seifer. And Seifer really is like Spike, isn't he? Hmm. That does make him more appealing. Both have that romantic aspect that's underplayed- Seifer and his desire to be the sorceress' knight and Spike being a former, albeit bad, poet. But Seifer is still a psycho dumbass with no social skillz. (I say this like it's a bad thing.) I need to finish FF8 first though.
Jesu~! Let it never be said that I don't think hard about what I write, even if the characters aren't mine. XD
Wednesday, December 5, 2001
10:00 p.m.
Oh, and in a fit of bordeom, I made a mailing list for my fics. Here it is. Join~! And notice the Quistis x Seifer chibis. Not voices, but I want to fic them. What is it with me and impossible in canon het pairings? Is this my anti-yaoi inclinations? Prolly. And my anti-establishment inclinations. But I think I'm just kidding myself. Now, time to do some toothbrush slash. ^_^
Wednesday, December 5, 2001
01:05 p.m.
Ginny puppet: About time you added us.
Draco puppet: My eyes look green. Why do they always get my eyes wrong? Grey!
Jae: Wot? o.o
Ginny puppet: Well, me, I suppose.
Draco puppet: Oi, Weasley, she likes me just as much as she likes you.
Ginny puppet: Correction, Malfoy, she likes fanon!Draco. Not Draco puppet. And she likes me best.
Jae: Heh. I'm busy being sick and nibbling on saltines while sipping ginger ale. I can't be bothered to voice my opinion, dahlinks.
Ginny puppet: At least she knows what -she- wants to do with me.
Draco puppet: Being sent to Iceland while I, Draco Malfoy, shag everyone else, isn't what you ought to consider an honour, Weasley.
Ginny puppet: o_o She did not say she would do that! Jae!!
Jae: Can I be sick in peace? And no, I did not say that Malfoy would shag everyone else. I did say that he was insufferably vain, charismatic, in a slimy, rich boi sort of way, sarcastic in a dry, witty sort of way, spoiled, fully aware of the extent of his charms, and likely a little too intelligent for his own good. And of course a scheming, manipulative ickle bugger. ^_^ Now Malfy, be a dear and pour me some more ginger ale. XD
Draco puppet: *glare*
Ginny puppet: *giggles*
Jae: Now shoo, puppets. Must go lie down in a dark room witha damp towel on my forehead.
mMmm, Bjork. I can actually study to her. Which is odd. Cos I can rarely study to music with English words. But Bjork does have that otherworldly quality to her that makes her very hard to sing along to. XD