The pain of horrid songfic

[dangermousie]

Oh, the pain, the pain! I have just now stumbled across a fic where Max and Logan of Dark Angel have a temporary cure for the virus which prevents them from touching, so they...have immediate hot monkey sex? Nope, what they do is engage in songfic horror. Here is an exerpt:

“I heard this song recently, and it reminded me of what we have, and I wanted to share it with you, especially tonight.” Max replied mysteriously as the music filled the air...
[insert song lyrics]
“Who sings this?” Logan asked softly.
“Kelly Clarkson.” Max replied.
Logan nodded as he remembered, “The first American Idol. This is the song she sang after she won.”
“I think it describes us, this moment perfectly, don’t you?”
Logan listened to the words of the chorus before he replied, “Yeah, I’d have to agree.”


Ummm, the year is 2020, the characters are a genetically engineered soldier and a hacker revolutionary. And they still can't escape acting like emo 14 year olds. *sporks self*

Have I mentioned the part where Max rejoices in bringing "her man" beer? What is the fandom obsession with taking strong, in-charge women and turning them into someone who wants nothing more than to cook pot roast and iron shirts?

To wipe away the nasty:

Comments

[repr0b8.livejournal.com]

Have I mentioned the part where Max rejoices in bringing "her man" beer? What is the fandom obsession with taking strong, in-charge women and turning them into someone who wants nothing more than to cook pot roast and iron shirts?

This is an interesting point, and one that I struggle with a little bit. I think part of romance is the wanting or desire to to do things for the other person, whether those favors are large or small. Now, there's no doubt that it can be taken way too far, but where exactly is that line?

Let's take c!Sharon for instance. I think she's obviously a very strong, determined, in-charge kind of woman. But at the same time, I think she is also fairly needy (that might not be the right word, but it's close). But I think if she had a choice of fighting in some intergalactic war between cylons and humans, or settling down with Helo for the rest of eternity, it would be an easy choice for her.

So the question I'm trying to get to again is, where is that line? Obviously it's different for different characters, but when does it cross the line from "I'm in love and want to do things for you" to "Go knit me a sweater!"?

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I think there is nothing wrong with having a character who wants to do things for the loved one. The problem is when the author makes it the only thing that character wants to do. And adds the fact that she always needs to be rescued and clings. Then, I think it's way over the top...

[kitsah.livejournal.com]

I think that line gets drawn when Logan/Helo turns to Max/Sharon and says, "Go knit me a sweater." They might knit a sweater on their own, but just not On Demand.

It could be alook, or a word, or a foot, but the response when it comes will be, um...line-drawing.

Can you remotely imagine Lee saying that to Starbuck? lmao

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

He'd only say that to her if he had a death wish.

To me, the line is drawn if in fic they want to do nothing but girly stuff. Because, OOC much?

[ayn-rand-fan-13.livejournal.com]

Jessica Alba is so pretty! I'm also liking the nerdy glasses thing Logan has going on.
Honestly? No 14 year old alive will admit to a)Watching American Idol and
b) even knowing who Kelly Clarkson is.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Yup, those glasses make him look so grad-student.

Well, if not 14 year old, then a 30 year who is 14 mentally?

[ayn-rand-fan-13.livejournal.com]

Ah, yes, that works.

[ch1pper.livejournal.com]

consider it wiped...


mmmmmmmm, scruff

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I keep wondering if he buys special razors...

[meyerlemon.livejournal.com]

HAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!

KELLY CLARKSON!

Surely this story is in jest!

...no?

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I wish. It goes on for pages. Some of it isn't too dreadful, even if OOC, but then you get to parts like this and want to bag your head against the desk...

[morwen_peredhil]

When I am queen of the world, songfic (crack!fic satire excepted) will be banned under pain of death.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

When do we start the revolution to put you on the throne then?

[morwen_peredhil]

I have almost 15,000 more words to write for NaNoWriMo, and then I'm all yours.

The streets will flow with the blood of the songficcers!

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Yes! We shall raise the flag of rebellion!

[lpmufinfiend.livejournal.com]

Wow. I love fandom, I really do. But this is one of those atrocious things that makes me understand why some people throw computers out of fourth-story windows.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

But why throw innocent computers? Now, to dangle someone who wrote this horrendousness is another matter entirely...

[lpmufinfiend.livejournal.com]

Haha. To kill the author might be more theraputic.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Indeed.

[crumpeteer.livejournal.com]

It buuuuuuuuurns...

Because I know *I* will think of Kelly Clarkson when I'm reunited with the mate of my soul and love of my life who I haven't been able to touch in months.

Buuuuuuuuuurn, y'all.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Buuuuuuuuuurn, y'all.

Yes, yes. Please.

When I saw Logan saying "She won the first AI" or whatever, I actually burst laughing out loud...

[femmenerd.livejournal.com]

What is the fandom obsession with taking strong, in-charge women and turning them into someone who wants nothing more than to cook pot roast and iron shirts?

I seriously wonder about this all the time and do my damnedest to avoid any of it at all costs.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

It's some bizarre anti-feminism from women who've read too much Mills&Boon.

[shadowserenity.livejournal.com]

Ooh, I really like that first image.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Me too. It's not my lj background...