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I was just fucking witcha...
May. 13th, 2008 02:40 pmWell, no, I wasn't, but apologies if my last post went a bit rambly and weird. Most you have never seen me rambly and weird, though in fact, dealing with people onna OG has made me go rambly and weird before in the past, but it was always about Rose. Must remind myself not to carry my righteous anger over from there to here, because it make NO sense out of context. Sorry, LOL!
Anyway, I kind of promised to explain what the righteous anger was about, so I'll do that now. As an aside, I AM planning on polling to see how widespread the interpretation of Ianto as just the teaboy/Jack's sextoy is, but it's not even really the fact that it is or isn't widespread that bothers me, it's the fact that the writing has even ALLOWED ROOM for that interpretation to exist that gets on my nerves.
So why does it bother me so much? Well, again, it's a question of characterisation. See, to me, interpreting the relationship as Jack using Ianto as a sextoy has a lot of implications for both characters, and it's why I say I don't think it's doing them any favours. The reason I got angry about it isn't because I'm so hugely defensive about Ianto, it's actually down to a few telling statements, statements that I HAVE heard elsewhere in other contexts, about JACK, not Ianto. And all that comes back to a discussion I've had here and elsewhere a few times, about Jack, and whether or not he is still, at this point in the narrative, the omnisexual slut type that he was perceived to be around the time of The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances. The fact that the relationship between Jack and Ianto is open to the sextoy interpretation, in my mind, also immediately implies that it is possible for viewers to perceive Jack as THE SORT OF GUY WHO WOULD DO THAT. Harrassment, of a subordinate. Because that's what that boils down to. The thing that got me so riled up wasn't the fact that people think Ianto is the sort of guy that would allow himself to be used as a sextoy (I think that's a plausible reading if you view the show in a certain way, and I think, given the fact that Ianto hasn't really had a major storyline since Cyberwoman, barring the Jackanto story itself, it's understandable that some people might view him that way), it was the attitude of the posters in question, and of people I have spoken to elsewhere, of "Oh, that's just the kind of guy Jack is." Because, really? No. If the storytelling has allowed room for the interpretation of Jack, the leading man, as the sort of guy who would use one of his employees for sex, given all the fucked up power dynamics that that implies, then the character of Jack, with regards to his sexual/romantic leanings in any case, has not been properly put to paper.
And that angers me greatly, yeah. Because Jack, in everyone's big grandiose words is supposed to be this whole new kind of hero for the 21st century. Someone with a progressive and liberal attitude towards sex and sexuality. Someone like you and me (I would hope), who doesn't like to label people and thinks everyone should be free to explore whatever facets of life turn them on. Someone who will serve as an example to that small faction of 15-year-old boys who are squicked by teh ghey, and maybe open their minds a bit. And allowing room for people to see Jack as a guy who just puts it about a bit, who comes on to one colleague, is rebuffed and moves on to the next, really FUCKS THAT UP for me. That's why I was angry.
Am I making sense yet or am I still rambling? The hormones haven't worn off yet, I can never quite tell lately.
Anyway, I kind of promised to explain what the righteous anger was about, so I'll do that now. As an aside, I AM planning on polling to see how widespread the interpretation of Ianto as just the teaboy/Jack's sextoy is, but it's not even really the fact that it is or isn't widespread that bothers me, it's the fact that the writing has even ALLOWED ROOM for that interpretation to exist that gets on my nerves.
So why does it bother me so much? Well, again, it's a question of characterisation. See, to me, interpreting the relationship as Jack using Ianto as a sextoy has a lot of implications for both characters, and it's why I say I don't think it's doing them any favours. The reason I got angry about it isn't because I'm so hugely defensive about Ianto, it's actually down to a few telling statements, statements that I HAVE heard elsewhere in other contexts, about JACK, not Ianto. And all that comes back to a discussion I've had here and elsewhere a few times, about Jack, and whether or not he is still, at this point in the narrative, the omnisexual slut type that he was perceived to be around the time of The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances. The fact that the relationship between Jack and Ianto is open to the sextoy interpretation, in my mind, also immediately implies that it is possible for viewers to perceive Jack as THE SORT OF GUY WHO WOULD DO THAT. Harrassment, of a subordinate. Because that's what that boils down to. The thing that got me so riled up wasn't the fact that people think Ianto is the sort of guy that would allow himself to be used as a sextoy (I think that's a plausible reading if you view the show in a certain way, and I think, given the fact that Ianto hasn't really had a major storyline since Cyberwoman, barring the Jackanto story itself, it's understandable that some people might view him that way), it was the attitude of the posters in question, and of people I have spoken to elsewhere, of "Oh, that's just the kind of guy Jack is." Because, really? No. If the storytelling has allowed room for the interpretation of Jack, the leading man, as the sort of guy who would use one of his employees for sex, given all the fucked up power dynamics that that implies, then the character of Jack, with regards to his sexual/romantic leanings in any case, has not been properly put to paper.
And that angers me greatly, yeah. Because Jack, in everyone's big grandiose words is supposed to be this whole new kind of hero for the 21st century. Someone with a progressive and liberal attitude towards sex and sexuality. Someone like you and me (I would hope), who doesn't like to label people and thinks everyone should be free to explore whatever facets of life turn them on. Someone who will serve as an example to that small faction of 15-year-old boys who are squicked by teh ghey, and maybe open their minds a bit. And allowing room for people to see Jack as a guy who just puts it about a bit, who comes on to one colleague, is rebuffed and moves on to the next, really FUCKS THAT UP for me. That's why I was angry.
Am I making sense yet or am I still rambling? The hormones haven't worn off yet, I can never quite tell lately.
Before I start asking you all questions about why you answered what you answered in my big fanon polls, and start analysing exactly what it is we all think/take as read when it comes to these two characters, I have just a few more questions, amongst which are a couple I just kept forgetting to ask. It's not a long one, I promise.
( JUST A QUICKIE: POLLAGE! )
NOW I'm done, I PROMISE.
( JUST A QUICKIE: POLLAGE! )
NOW I'm done, I PROMISE.
I'M WORKING ON IT...
Apr. 21st, 2008 08:30 amJust rewatching some episodes to get some inspiration re. Ianto and what I am now calling his alpha-in-training-ness. Wow. He is the weirdest character, dudes. He's never on screen, he's always physically reserved and he doesn't say much, but when he does he COMMANDS attention, it's way more blatant than I thought it would be.
But anyway, I'm getting a bit distracted, so I'll just post random things in the meantime.
Watch this scene from Day One again.
"None of you have partners?" says Gwen. And LOOK! Jack was totally going to say something and then he shuts his mouth and changes his mind.
He's so doing the teaboy already at this point in time.
But anyway, I'm getting a bit distracted, so I'll just post random things in the meantime.
Watch this scene from Day One again.
"None of you have partners?" says Gwen. And LOOK! Jack was totally going to say something and then he shuts his mouth and changes his mind.
He's so doing the teaboy already at this point in time.
It's teh Yantoe onna top...
Apr. 19th, 2008 06:27 amOK, look, I promise that after the weekend I shall formulate and express complex theories as to why Ianto is such a Dominant, bedroomwise. If you think you've got important evidences, please don't hesitate to leave them here for me to mull over. But right now it's the weekend and I have Stuff To Do, so I'll just leave you with a bit from nightspring's stills (which don't seem to be loading anymore, but don't worry, I too shall use pictures for great justice and luls):
I'd like to hang this one in a gallery and call it
UR FAYCE, MY COCK
Anyway, whatevers.
I'd like to hang this one in a gallery and call it
UR FAYCE, MY COCK
Anyway, whatevers.
Now that we've all calmed down a bit, it's time for some science. I have put together a wee poll to find out what is going on in ALL YOUR PRETTY LITTLE HEADS. There have been many things we haven't been told about Jack and Ianto, most of us have filled in the blanks with out own personal fanon, and I'd like to know what, on the whole, that fanon comprises. On with the science...
( THE JACK/IANTO FANON POLL, CLICKY! )
If you have any other questions you think need adressing, let me know and we'll do another one before we start analysing numbers, yeah?
( THE JACK/IANTO FANON POLL, CLICKY! )
If you have any other questions you think need adressing, let me know and we'll do another one before we start analysing numbers, yeah?
Been reading through some links in my flist, and instead of getting involved in any debates, I'll just post some random stuff here.
- First off, quite a few people have friended me over the past few weeks, I haven't got round to friending everyone back, as I need to set up some filters and I'm just not in the mood at the moment. I'm not ignoring or dissing any of you, I promise, I just need to start organising my friendslist a bit before I get overwhelmed.
- SEXYTHINGS 1:
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solitary_summer wrote something here about Fragments: Ianto is pushy throughout all three meetings, he can't even diplomatically agree with Jack's pterodactyl catching plan, touches Jack all the time, and even though Jack didn't know why he wanted to work for him so badly, he could hardly have failed to notice that there was a lot of planning and determination involved. Jack can never have seen the formal, coffee-serving, coat-handing, Yes, Sir, perfect butler act as anything but an act, maybe even a bit of a joke between them.
I AGREE WHOLEHEARTEDLY. I think the butler thing is where they first got into a spot of roleplaying. - SEXYTHINGS 2: etharei posted a theory in
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torch_wood that the reason Jack was so fervently calling for Ianto in Adrift when Ianto was on the phone to Gwen, was that Ianto had cuffed Jack to something. Again, that was also my impression, yes. BAD, NAUGHTY IANTO, though, remember your bondage crash course: NEVER LEAVE THE ROOM, no matter how innocuous the predicament, especially not in the Hub, surely. One of Owen's alien plant experiments could have come to life and be eating Jack's cock by now and you'd still be down there making the perfect cappuccino. - I said I wouldn't touch this debate with a shitty stick, and I'm not going to throw myself into the one posted at torch_wood for that precise reason, but seriously, guys: DEFININING SOMEONES SEXUALITY AS BI(OMNI)SEXUAL HAS ABSOLUTELY NO BEARING ON THAT PERSON'S CAPACITY OR DESIRE FOR MONOGAMY WITHIN A RELATIONSHIP. NONE. That's all I'm going to say on the subject. Jesus H. Christ on a bike.
How they fixed my Janto, dudes...
Apr. 2nd, 2008 11:07 amWow, did you see me do a 180 when it comes to Jack/Ianto at some point in time during the past few weeks? Funny, that.
( Wherein I attempt to explain how that came about. )
And I still maintain there were too many kink jokes. It makes me happy that they seem to SUBTLY, again, hinting at Ianto being The Kinky One, but still. Stop joking about kink, kink is serious business, yo. Don't mess with kink or I'll come looking for you, and I've got a ball gag and a lovely little suede flogger with your name on it, don't think that I don't.
( Wherein I attempt to explain how that came about. )
And I still maintain there were too many kink jokes. It makes me happy that they seem to SUBTLY, again, hinting at Ianto being The Kinky One, but still. Stop joking about kink, kink is serious business, yo. Don't mess with kink or I'll come looking for you, and I've got a ball gag and a lovely little suede flogger with your name on it, don't think that I don't.
Torchwood - Jack (and the Doctor)
Mar. 31st, 2008 03:42 pm( Wherein I talk about Jack, to make a change. )
Oh, and as an aside, am I the only one hugely amused by the revelation that, in his time as an immortal being, 150 years or so, Jack has managed to die on average about ONCE A MONTH? I mean, if the Doctor wanted to lord anything over the guy, at least he could have dropped in that he's managed to only do that about ONCE A CENTURY.
Oh, and as an aside, am I the only one hugely amused by the revelation that, in his time as an immortal being, 150 years or so, Jack has managed to die on average about ONCE A MONTH? I mean, if the Doctor wanted to lord anything over the guy, at least he could have dropped in that he's managed to only do that about ONCE A CENTURY.
