How to be a cultural imperialist

[fpb]

I am tempted to open this note with a protestation, but that would be to concede that the idiot I am about to describe (though not to name - it would love the attention I am not going to give it) has some remote claim on anything resembling fact or truth. Now, then.

I like the idea of serenades, although in today's world it would be quite impractical to sing up to your beloved's window. Nonetheless, the image works for me at a very deep level. Some of my favourite pieces of music - such as for instance Schubert's Staendchen and De Curtis' Tu ca nun chiagne - are serenades, and I have used them both in fics (http://www.fanfiction.net/secure/story/story_preview.php?storyid=1912039&chapter=1 , and http://fpb.livejournal.com/413735.html) and in an essay (http://fpb.livejournal.com/384498.html) as a central moment of the encounter of man and woman. It may reflect my own lack of success with the opposite sex, that both fics have less-than-happy endings; but anyone who reads anything but a straight (heterosexual) context there is simply not reading what is on the page.

Which is why, of course, the only review I got on the second fic was from some mindless thinks-with-the-crotch who described it as "the gayest thing I ever read."

I felt this was both dishonest - cultural imperialism of the lowest kind, trying to annexate to their own obsessions something that had no more to do with it than Robert Browning's poems to Elizabeth Barrett - and personally offensive, trying to distort my own experience as I had interpreted it in my fics. After a brief exchange, I deleted and banned the poster. Think of it what you like, but I do not want my own experience mangled in the service of someone's sexual obsessions.

Comments

[stigandnasty919.livejournal.com]

I've noticed that the word Gay is undergoing another change of meaning. Certainly among kids it does not always mean homosexual, but rather 'wet' or 'soppy'.

Not having seen the posts could that be what was meant?

[fpb.livejournal.com]

Not unless you take Auden and Allen Ginsberg to be an example of being wet or soppy. And this was no kid.

[stigandnasty919.livejournal.com]

No, wouldn't place either gentleman in the wet and soppy category.

I'm always disappointed when a post like this refers to material that is deleted. My curiosity is always peeked. I understand you not wanting to retain the comments with the fics, but it would be interesting to see them.

(Is that the correct spelling of the work peeked in this context?)

Can't help but agree with Mentalguy, if I was off a mind to try to provoke someone, your name might well come to mind.

[fpb.livejournal.com]

I suspect that the word you might want might be "piqued".

It may sound strange that I do not precisely recall what I did twenty minutes ago, but I think I took a screenacap, and if I did, I'll let you have it.

[stigandnasty919.livejournal.com]

Yes,'piqued' is exactly the right word, had a complete blank there. I'm really quite embarassed by that memory lapse.

Your opinion of gay marriage is something I would like to discuss with you at some stage. Perhaps in a different posting.

I'm interested in understanding the basis of some of the arguments against, for example how exactly does the introduction of gay marriage damage the institution for hetrosexual couples? Do the same objections apply to Civil partnerships as to Marriages?

I'm not trolling, I have a genuine interest in understand the objections. I've heard a lot of rhetoric in the press (from both sides) but very little reasoned argument.