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Forum Name: Undocumented Features General
Topic ID: 469
Message ID: 0
#0, SoS's crypto-lesbian subtext...
Posted by thorne on Jan-31-02 at 00:26 AM
...or perhaps not so crypto.

(Phil thinks a dose of countervailing criticism is needed at this juncture, in the midst of the uniform SoS2:7:Congratulation & Approbation. :) Phil takes an intentionally extreme stance. Phil dons his asbestos suit.)

Kaitlyn and Juri. Utena and Anthy. Amanda and her bodyguard. Azalynn and Liza. The Centauri guy. And the scene in SoS1 (Paris IIRC) when Kate sees the "Roman-nosed" lady and the Nebari girl (and I think, "Uh oh, Farscape!" and then reflexively panic "NOOO! Aeryn and Chiana can't be lesbians! John will be devastated!" and then attempt to relax and tell myself that of course it's not *them* in particular -- right?).

Not that I'm narrow-mindedly objecting to alternative lifestyles chosen by fictional characters, just... (1) Why? Is there any particular *reason* EPU decided to make (mostly female) homo- and bisexuality a major theme at this time? Did it suddenly become *fashionable*? Or did characters just *evolve* that way, as they are wont to do?

No, *this* is where I will be narrow-minded and object: (2) Most of these characters having sex are *teenagers*, well under the age of 18. And unmarried, to boot. --Yes yes, I know real-world US statistics indicate kids as young as 12 are engaging in carnal relations, and there's precedent in anime, but I nonetheless carry this silly old-fashioned notion that fiction should *set an example*. Even if it's artificial. Even if the story's audience isn't the people who *need* the example. <shrug> It's the thought that counts.

<uncle>ONE MORE THING!</uncle> --I have another objection, an idiosyncracy you could call it, against: (3) Sex in the stories I read: specifically, anything describing before, after, and especially -- and thank the Muses that EPU doesn't do *this* -- during. (I can name SF pro-authors who are horrible horrible offenders.) By the end of "SoS2:7:Ceremony & Celebration", Kate and Juri have apparently consummated their relationship. That just creeps me out. Honestly. Couldn't they do it *between* stories? And for balance, yes, the first encounters in UF1 creeped me out too. For reference: the scene in "Hopelessly Lost" when Gryph forces himself to drink coffee to dispel the image of Zoner with Sylia.

(Phil braces himself for reactions.)