I think we're just having some difference on terms and descriptions, as well as a few philosophical issues, but are rather on the same page. But I don't think it's coming across that way.
Three points just jumped right out at me which made me sour ;) I will post this in two posts as I am too wordy, apparently.
1. The idea that gen lacks emotion connections.
This is the biggest misconception there is with gen writing. Whenever I see, it makes my blood boil. It really hits me at my core. Because it comes off almost like a statement of superiority -- that ship or slash fic is better because it deals with emotions while gen does not. As someone who proudly writes gen, I can attest that this is absolutely not the case.
The gen that I read and the gen that I write deals with a range of issues. There's plot, tension, peril, and friendship. People who like gen tend to look for fic that can be like an episode -- whether it's a Sam-centric type of fic, Daniel, Jack, Teal'c, a friendship between two characters like Jonas and Teal'c, or the team itself, which just has a whole package of unique bonds.
What gen does not have as its focus is romance. I scene where Jack comforts Sam because she was hurt offworld? That can be gen. It's still emotionally charged. A scene where Jack comforts Sam when she's hurt off-world, thinks how beautiful she is and longs for her? Now that's getting shippy.
Gen ficcers, for the most part, look for either fic that will continue an emotional friendship sentiment on the show or are looking for an adventure that either highlights one character, two characters, or the team. Essentially, it's a search to "read" an episode and go beyond.
Not everyone is like that, but I think the notion of what gen ficcers are like vs who gen ficcers really are is vastly different. This goes back to sterotypes and biases that are in-grown into factions of the fandom and that we learn from those around us.
That's not to say you can't have ship in gen. The problem here is a question of canon. And this is where we differ philosophically. For me, Sam/Pete and Daniel/Sha're, Teal'c/Ishta, Jack/Sara...all these are canon relationships. If you mention Daniel/Sha're in a gen fic, it's fine. Same with all the types of pairings I've listed and then some. If the *focus* of the fic is on one or more pairings, then it's a ship/slash fic. If it's a subplot, it would still be a ship/slash fic. But if there is a mention or it's a background issue, that is perfectly okay for gen. Confused yet?
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2006-08-02 02:31 pm (UTC)Three points just jumped right out at me which made me sour ;) I will post this in two posts as I am too wordy, apparently.
1. The idea that gen lacks emotion connections.
This is the biggest misconception there is with gen writing. Whenever I see, it makes my blood boil. It really hits me at my core. Because it comes off almost like a statement of superiority -- that ship or slash fic is better because it deals with emotions while gen does not. As someone who proudly writes gen, I can attest that this is absolutely not the case.
The gen that I read and the gen that I write deals with a range of issues. There's plot, tension, peril, and friendship. People who like gen tend to look for fic that can be like an episode -- whether it's a Sam-centric type of fic, Daniel, Jack, Teal'c, a friendship between two characters like Jonas and Teal'c, or the team itself, which just has a whole package of unique bonds.
What gen does not have as its focus is romance. I scene where Jack comforts Sam because she was hurt offworld? That can be gen. It's still emotionally charged. A scene where Jack comforts Sam when she's hurt off-world, thinks how beautiful she is and longs for her? Now that's getting shippy.
Gen ficcers, for the most part, look for either fic that will continue an emotional friendship sentiment on the show or are looking for an adventure that either highlights one character, two characters, or the team. Essentially, it's a search to "read" an episode and go beyond.
Not everyone is like that, but I think the notion of what gen ficcers are like vs who gen ficcers really are is vastly different. This goes back to sterotypes and biases that are in-grown into factions of the fandom and that we learn from those around us.
That's not to say you can't have ship in gen. The problem here is a question of canon. And this is where we differ philosophically. For me, Sam/Pete and Daniel/Sha're, Teal'c/Ishta, Jack/Sara...all these are canon relationships. If you mention Daniel/Sha're in a gen fic, it's fine. Same with all the types of pairings I've listed and then some. If the *focus* of the fic is on one or more pairings, then it's a ship/slash fic. If it's a subplot, it would still be a ship/slash fic. But if there is a mention or it's a background issue, that is perfectly okay for gen. Confused yet?
(See next post)