"It's weird the way it brings up the whole OOC idea--is it OOC to slash certain pairs? And I feel that no, it isn't. I think you can keep the characters in character and slash them even if they would never do that in canon."
Yes, you just need different ways to convince the reader that this could actually happen. Say, for Narcissa/Hagrid's mother that would mean tons of work and major suspension of disbelief, both for staying IC and creating the opportunity, but I'm sure it could be done (don't think I'd really want to read it, though).
But I think that those kinds of pairings are read differently, there is perhaps a divide of some kind between pairings that are half tongue in cheek and pairings that are potential non-ironic OTPs? The emotional investment and clear ideas of who the OTP characters are, make for strong views on who they would ever fall for and still be IC.
I believe lack of *actual canon scenes* with two characters say next to nothing about the IC- or OOC-ness of the ship, mainly because of the books unreliable and narrow narrator. Pansy and Parvati obviously know each other from before Hogwarts and use first names, Harry would never know or notice if they were friends, but that does not make a friendship OOC. I can't remember any scenes with both Umbridge and MacNair, but they are probably very well acquainted. OTOH, Snape is *seen* to be quite comfortable lifting his robes for Filch, but even so a S/Fch romance wouldn't seem immediately IC, especially because there is so many other canon scenes that speaks against it.
"hobbit slash, to me, is interesting because by adding this sexual aspect you can see some of the parts of the relationship that aren't so clear in canon."
Thats interesting, I have never been able to read LOTR fanfiction, partly because the fake archaic tone of language that a lot of writers used put me off. I tried to read romance/smut and it made me giggle and roll my eyes a lot, but I never found anything good. But I didn't read hobbit slash, mostly because I didn't see them as sexual beings when I first read the books. If I were to slash them I think Frodo would go nicely with both Merry and Sam and Fatty before the journey, giving quite different dynamics, but Pippin I can't see with anybody other than Merry. But I think the main reason why I don't slash that book is that the romantic relationships that do exist kind of sets the tone, and love is presented in songs and on a separate level from the quest and the main characters, even A/A is not really *part* of Aragorn's reality or fight with himself, romantic love is set aside together with the banality of everyday life when they leave home (which is why I find the rabbit scene so moving). So for LOTR I would think staying in style, or in the overall mood of the books, would be much more difficult than staying in character when slashing.
no subject
Yes, you just need different ways to convince the reader that this could actually happen. Say, for Narcissa/Hagrid's mother that would mean tons of work and major suspension of disbelief, both for staying IC and creating the opportunity, but I'm sure it could be done (don't think I'd really want to read it, though).
But I think that those kinds of pairings are read differently, there is perhaps a divide of some kind between pairings that are half tongue in cheek and pairings that are potential non-ironic OTPs? The emotional investment and clear ideas of who the OTP characters are, make for strong views on who they would ever fall for and still be IC.
I believe lack of *actual canon scenes* with two characters say next to nothing about the IC- or OOC-ness of the ship, mainly because of the books unreliable and narrow narrator. Pansy and Parvati obviously know each other from before Hogwarts and use first names, Harry would never know or notice if they were friends, but that does not make a friendship OOC. I can't remember any scenes with both Umbridge and MacNair, but they are probably very well acquainted. OTOH, Snape is *seen* to be quite comfortable lifting his robes for Filch, but even so a S/Fch romance wouldn't seem immediately IC, especially because there is so many other canon scenes that speaks against it.
"hobbit slash, to me, is interesting because by adding this sexual aspect you can see some of the parts of the relationship that aren't so clear in canon."
Thats interesting, I have never been able to read LOTR fanfiction, partly because the fake archaic tone of language that a lot of writers used put me off. I tried to read romance/smut and it made me giggle and roll my eyes a lot, but I never found anything good. But I didn't read hobbit slash, mostly because I didn't see them as sexual beings when I first read the books. If I were to slash them I think Frodo would go nicely with both Merry and Sam and Fatty before the journey, giving quite different dynamics, but Pippin I can't see with anybody other than Merry. But I think the main reason why I don't slash that book is that the romantic relationships that do exist kind of sets the tone, and love is presented in songs and on a separate level from the quest and the main characters, even A/A is not really *part* of Aragorn's reality or fight with himself, romantic love is set aside together with the banality of everyday life when they leave home (which is why I find the rabbit scene so moving). So for LOTR I would think staying in style, or in the overall mood of the books, would be much more difficult than staying in character when slashing.
- Clara