Musing on a specfic kink...

[neotoma]

sueworld2003 has an interesting post on slave-fic in Buffyfic that I found through metafandom.

I don't read much in Buffy anymore, but I have noticed slave-fics as a cross-fandom thing -- TPM fans, I'm looking at you -- and have even tried to write my own fic on the subject ('twas terrible, by the way). There was even a slash archive, Boys in Chains, dedicated to slave-fics, once upon a time.

I think, given that I've mostly seen stories focused on male characters as slaves, that it is a way to force a male character into vulnerability. The character is pushed into a position that is usually female -- someone valued only for their body (or sexuality) and not as a person in their own right. Watching how the character deals with such a reversal of the normal power structure, if done well (or at least in ways that hit your bullet-proof kinks) can be really enjoyable.

But why is it that most of the stories focus on men as slaves? I think it's because most fanfic writers are women, while they are writing about something most of them have to deal with in their daily lives, namely women having less power in general in social dynamics, it's easier to approach it through the eyes of the Other -- through a male character. The male character isn't going to be treated badly because he's a man, he's going to be treated badly because he's a *slave*, while a female character could be treated badly simply because she's a woman. It's a bit safer to look at something awful if you aren't imagine yourself in exactly that scenario.

Or maybe we just like to imagine attractive men in handcuffs...

Comments

[imadra-blue.livejournal.com]

That's a really good point. I think some of it is the whole "ooo, pretty men in handcuffs in chains", but the rest of it may be low-key epxloring a fantasy that would be degrading to a woman herself, because slavery is like double degradation. I don't mind slave-fic when done well, but it's a fine line, because I'm not into the BDSM scene, a lot of people mix the two. I prefer the power-playing deal, and naturally, remain extremely picky about it.

[neotoma.livejournal.com]

I think that often reflects a lot about what individual authors assume about their place as women in our culture.

It's quite depressing sometimes, especially when the primary character is degraded and comes to love it or accept it as something he *deserves*.

[jedirita.livejournal.com]

You know, I once upon a time wrote a whole essay about the phenomenon of mutism in TPM fic -- specifically looking at several stories in which Obi-Wan was deprived of speech, and making some pretentious point about feminism and the silencing of women and yadda yadda. I wonder where that essay is?

[neotoma.livejournal.com]

Really? I'd love to see it. Especially since I can think of at least three stories where Obi-Wan is mute and one where Qui-Gon is...

[jedirita.livejournal.com]

That was part of the essay: the fact that Obi is usually the mute one.

I'll see if I can find it...

[neotoma.livejournal.com]

Well, Obi-Wan is usually the one getting tortured, no matter how the writer chooses to hurt him. It's got something to do with him being the younger, shorter one.

[the_rck]

Here via metafandom.

I know that I have a kink for power imbalance in relationships in fics. I tend to read slash for that because with het, no matter which way the imbalance goes, I end up too aware of the political and cultural baggage involved in deciding who has the power. Somehow, there's a whole weight of stuff that has nothing to do with the characters and who they are or how they affect each other within the story.

[neotoma.livejournal.com]

So you find it easier to look at the power imbalances between two characters without the overlay of cultural expectations? Male-female social dynamics overwhelm personal chemistry between het couples for you?

[the_rck]

I wouldn't say that the social dynamics overwhelms personal chemistry for me. Power imbalances in relationships is *a* kink of mine. It's not the only one. I also sometimes find power imbalances in het relationships interesting. It's just rather more hit or miss than power imbalances in same sex relationships and pretty much always has me thinking about more than just the specific characters involved. Thinking about more can be an interesting stretch and a worthwhile endeavor (and fun, too).

But I don't always want to think about history and politics and all of that. Does that make more sense?

[opera142.livejournal.com]

Here via metafandom.

I think it's interesting to explore the consequences of loss of power on a mind/ego that is used to having autonomy. Western society teaches males to confront perceived slights-- yet, slaves can't or won't (depending on what brought them into thrall) act on those impulses.

Males also traditionally have fewer outlets for release of emotional pressure-- which slavery creates tons of in form of humiliation. When Cinderella was humiliated and denied a chance to go to the ball, she could weep by the hearth. A male character likely wouldn't. In a well=designed slave fic, emotions pressure-cook.