In defense of smut
Dec. 8th, 2005 12:06 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
emmagrant01It's come to my attention that some folks look down on those of us who primarily read and write smut. I don't want to be wanky, of cousrse, but I feel a need to defend my hobby.
Why do I like smutty fan fiction?
This is a good question -- a good one because I think those of us who like to say "I'm here for the pr0n" are actually here for bit more. Not just any old pr0n will do, of course. I mean, we have standards and all. We like certain things in our NC-17 fic -- sometmes, anyway.
I'll start with a disclaimer: Most of what I've written contains smut. The first fanfic I ever wrote in my life was porn -- and I was 12 at the time. I was pre-destined to write porn/erotica. I have one fic posted to FFN and one to FA (two sites that don't allow pr0n) -- and they are the same fic, heh. That says something, I think.
So here's my manifesto: I like writing sex. It's an important part of human relationships, you know? And to be perfectly honest, it's the part I find most interesting. Sex is interesting for many reasons, but not least of which is that it's common. We've all had sex. We all have had good sex. We all have had bad sex, and we've all had sex in between. We all know what role sex has played in our own relationships, and we can relate to people through those relationships. Some folks just don't find it that interesting, and that's fine -- unless they look down on those of us who do. Then I have an issue.
But my point is that I like smut. I like reading about sex. I like reading about how people get themselves into sexual situations. I know what it's like to feel that thrill of lust, that sensation of "OMG I shouldn't fuck this person but I can't stop myself from wanting them". I know what it's like to be in a situtation where there's no reason to fuck someone except that you're attracted to them.
And I like to read that in fic. I like to see that sort of emotion realistically portrayed. If that makes me a shallow person, so be it.
You don't like it? You think I'm shallow? You think my prioirities are in the wrong order?
Fuck you. This is my hobby. It makes me happy. If you don't like smut, go somewhere else. The internet is a big place, after all. There's room for those of us who see porn as having literary value and those who don't.
Go ahead and write your gen fic. But do me a favor and don't look down your nose at me just because I don't fade to black when the characters are in the mood. You don't have to read what I write, but don't presume that it's crap just because I don't stop when the clothes come off.
And with that, I should probably go to bed...
ETA: Apparently we haven't all had sex. *grins* I keep forgetting that 34 is way above the average age in this fandom...
Why do I like smutty fan fiction?
This is a good question -- a good one because I think those of us who like to say "I'm here for the pr0n" are actually here for bit more. Not just any old pr0n will do, of course. I mean, we have standards and all. We like certain things in our NC-17 fic -- sometmes, anyway.
I'll start with a disclaimer: Most of what I've written contains smut. The first fanfic I ever wrote in my life was porn -- and I was 12 at the time. I was pre-destined to write porn/erotica. I have one fic posted to FFN and one to FA (two sites that don't allow pr0n) -- and they are the same fic, heh. That says something, I think.
So here's my manifesto: I like writing sex. It's an important part of human relationships, you know? And to be perfectly honest, it's the part I find most interesting. Sex is interesting for many reasons, but not least of which is that it's common. We've all had sex. We all have had good sex. We all have had bad sex, and we've all had sex in between. We all know what role sex has played in our own relationships, and we can relate to people through those relationships. Some folks just don't find it that interesting, and that's fine -- unless they look down on those of us who do. Then I have an issue.
But my point is that I like smut. I like reading about sex. I like reading about how people get themselves into sexual situations. I know what it's like to feel that thrill of lust, that sensation of "OMG I shouldn't fuck this person but I can't stop myself from wanting them". I know what it's like to be in a situtation where there's no reason to fuck someone except that you're attracted to them.
And I like to read that in fic. I like to see that sort of emotion realistically portrayed. If that makes me a shallow person, so be it.
You don't like it? You think I'm shallow? You think my prioirities are in the wrong order?
Fuck you. This is my hobby. It makes me happy. If you don't like smut, go somewhere else. The internet is a big place, after all. There's room for those of us who see porn as having literary value and those who don't.
Go ahead and write your gen fic. But do me a favor and don't look down your nose at me just because I don't fade to black when the characters are in the mood. You don't have to read what I write, but don't presume that it's crap just because I don't stop when the clothes come off.
And with that, I should probably go to bed...
ETA: Apparently we haven't all had sex. *grins* I keep forgetting that 34 is way above the average age in this fandom...
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no subject
Date: 2005-12-08 07:33 am (UTC)Well. This is not exactly true for quite a number of people in fandom, judging by some of what I've read. >.>
But basically, yes. I write genfic, I like genfic, it has its place, but omfg so does porn. Genfic's motto is "there's more to life than love and romance" and that's true but I don't understand why there's this automatic assumption that just because something is porny it's just about the sex. Like you said, we're here (in the HP fandom) for a bit more -- because if I can take your (generic you) Harry/Draco story, substitute the names of Anakin and Obi-Wan and still have it make sense, then you aren't writing very good HP porn.
I remember writing an "in defense of genfic" rant a long time ago, and a few people showed up and they were basically offended that I was encouraging genfic. I boggled then, but have since then realised that they must have assumed that because I champion genfic, I must hate porn. So to those people who look down on porn just cos they're genficcers - bah! Bah, I say. You're giving the rest of us genfic fans a bad name. >:0
I've really got to figure out the explanation for why everything's got to be divided into camps and whatnot. Why can't someone have their porn and genfic too?
no subject
Date: 2005-12-08 08:05 am (UTC)Hush! :">
I think a more proper way to say it is... We all want to have sex./We've all thought about having sex.
:))
no subject
Date: 2005-12-08 05:26 pm (UTC)But not for want of trying. :D :D :D
no subject
Date: 2005-12-10 04:49 am (UTC)I don't understand why there's this automatic assumption that just because something is porny it's just about the sex.
Yes, exactly. It's not about sex so much as it's about how the characters are relating to each other, and sex is part of that. If you can insert any two male characters... well, hell -- sometimes I like to read that sort of thing too! ;-)
no subject
Date: 2005-12-11 09:35 am (UTC)That's interesting - I've had similar experiences, though the tone of the responses was less one of offense and more one of condescension. Actually, I don't think I've ever seen posts where people look down on smutty stories, but I've seen plenty of looking down on gen fic. (I write mostly comedies and adventure stories, any of which might be gen, slash or het, or a combination thereof).