Labels In RD Fic (Or Lack Thereof)

[janamelie.livejournal.com]

A comment I left on a RD slash fic on AO3 and its author's reply set me thinking about the extremely relaxed approach to labels which virtually all RD fic writers seem to have.  With Michael_McGruder's permission I'm reproducing the exchange here.  (You can also find a link to their fic in the first comment to this entry; I recommend the whole series it's a part of.)

Me: You know, I think this is the first time I've read the word "bisexual" in an actual RD fic as opposed to meta.  Not a criticism, just an observation.

MM: Yeah, I'm not sure why everyone is so skittish about defining anyone as bisexual in fics, considering nearly 100% of them make Lister bi.

It's a good question.  I'm not sure whether it's because we're usually talking about Lister rather than Rimmer.  While the canonical evidence of his interest in women is undeniable (and no-one's trying to deny it) he also seems pretty likely to dislike the whole concept of labels.

Alternatively, it could be because of RD's setting and the fact that there are no humans around to make definitions necessary.  Or maybe there's just something about this show which encourages a laid back, laissez-faire approach to this kind of thing, much as no-one's bothered about defining Rimmer or Lister as a top or a bottom.  What do you think? :)

Comments

[felineranger.livejournal.com]

I think I had Lister cautiously self-identify as bi in a fic once. I quite often write him as having had previous experience (or at least desire) for other men in the past, because he's an open-minded character and its fun to play with the possibilities. However, its quite hard to justify that from canon. Despite his obvious affection for Rimmer, there's really very little in the show itself to suggest he might not be 100% straight (as opposed to Rimmer, for whom there's a lot of scope to presume some degree of repressed homosexuality). Even without the ever present, hetero-affirming spectre of Kochanski, Lister's sexual energy is very much centred around women in the show and books (with maybe one or two debatable exceptions). Therefore it's harder for a fic to suddenly categorise Lister as bi without some explanation, although not of course impossible - this is fanfiction after all, and you can write a character however you like. I mostly see Lister as a straight guy who isn't too hung up on labels and has gradually fallen in love with the person closest to him, who happens to be a guy (and a smeghead).

This may be influenced by my own dislike of labels to pigeonhole my own sexuality. I'm happily hetero-married, but do not consider myself 100% straight, however for me, the term bisexual doesn't really seem to fit either. I am physically attracted to women. I have had sex with women and still regularly fantasise about women, but I have never had 'a crush' as such or actually been in love with a woman. Possibly I'm hetero-romantic and bisexual but to be honest, the whole idea of putting it into words like that irks me. I am me. I either want to have sex with someone or I don't, and I don't feel the need to quantify it, although I understand why other people like to and find it comforting. Its just not for me.

[janamelie.livejournal.com]

I certainly agree that Lister is a predominantly straight character. Ironically given its unpopularity due to Rimmer's reduced role, most of the evidence for him having some degree of same-sex attraction comes from Series VII. I know dreaming about something doesn't necessarily mean you want it to happen, but the way it's presented in "Blue" combined with the "Duct Soup" conversation leaves a strong impression of a man struggling with and confused by feelings he never expected to have. Whether that's because they concern a man or because they concern Rimmer is open to debate, of course.

I wasn't trying to imply that RD fic writers should use labels more often, just wondering why it's so rare in our fandom that it jumped out at me as it did. I understand and respect those who feel no need for labels. I have a theory based on my own experience that if you have strong feelings which run counter to those approved by mainstream society, labels tend to be more important. That possibly also applies to asexuals and aromantics but I wouldn't presume to speak for them. :)