I have a question, if you don't mind. Have you actually read lots of gay fiction -- as in walked into a gay bookstore and bought books and books of gay erotica written by men? I have for the last 30 years, and for two men in a loving relationship, it is the acceptable standard formula. Sure, us female writers somethings get a little flowery with descriptions. Then again so does some male authors. Find any book written by Gorden Merrick, and you'll see what I mean. It's all about formulas -- sometimes you take a chance and write outside the box, but for the most part, you stick with a proven formula that's been used and works.
Gay erotica classics with loving relationships used it and it worked. Slash fanfic since the first Kirk/Spock fics mostly stick to it too (there may have been a Lone Ranger/Tonto fic somewhere before the Trek Slash). In all fandoms, for the last 30 years. Then we got yaoi, and once again, there's the formula? Is it any surprise it's part of Torchwood slash fanfic? I've been reading and writing slash fanfic for about three decades now (yes, I'm giving away my age here. LOL!), and I see the same formula, different couple through the years.
Maybe it's time to start coming up with new formulas. I don't know, but there's a history to overcome. 'Cause I'm not saying you're wrong with your thoughts -- just that the premise is far from original or unique to Torchwood, since even the gay erotica by males have prescribed by it. Oh, and yes, that also includes emphasis on buttsecks (Check out "How Long Has This Been Going On?" by Ethan Mordden for example).
The only thing that does bother me with some fanfic (but not all of it has this) is placing Jack and Ianto in stereotypical, what I call, seme and uke roles -- Jack usually the seme, and Ianto the uke. Yet I see them both as strong, equal men, so it's fun to mix up the loving and manhandling some. I really feel like I come across a treat when I find a fic with Dominant!Ianto, because he broke away from his mold. As did Jack when he becomes Dominant!Ianto's Submissive!Jack. Do I want all top Ianto tho? No. I like to see them take turns, and mix up the love play -- from tender and soft, to raunchy and kinky. Because they both seem like that type of men to me.
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Date: 2008-12-09 06:26 am (UTC)It's all about formulas -- sometimes you take a chance and write outside the box, but for the most part, you stick with a proven formula that's been used and works.
Gay erotica classics with loving relationships used it and it worked. Slash fanfic since the first Kirk/Spock fics mostly stick to it too (there may have been a Lone Ranger/Tonto fic somewhere before the Trek Slash). In all fandoms, for the last 30 years. Then we got yaoi, and once again, there's the formula? Is it any surprise it's part of Torchwood slash fanfic? I've been reading and writing slash fanfic for about three decades now (yes, I'm giving away my age here. LOL!), and I see the same formula, different couple through the years.
Maybe it's time to start coming up with new formulas. I don't know, but there's a history to overcome. 'Cause I'm not saying you're wrong with your thoughts -- just that the premise is far from original or unique to Torchwood, since even the gay erotica by males have prescribed by it. Oh, and yes, that also includes emphasis on buttsecks (Check out "How Long Has This Been Going On?" by Ethan Mordden for example).
The only thing that does bother me with some fanfic (but not all of it has this) is placing Jack and Ianto in stereotypical, what I call, seme and uke roles -- Jack usually the seme, and Ianto the uke. Yet I see them both as strong, equal men, so it's fun to mix up the loving and manhandling some. I really feel like I come across a treat when I find a fic with Dominant!Ianto, because he broke away from his mold. As did Jack when he becomes Dominant!Ianto's Submissive!Jack. Do I want all top Ianto tho? No. I like to see them take turns, and mix up the love play -- from tender and soft, to raunchy and kinky. Because they both seem like that type of men to me.