Holowhips

[janamelie.livejournal.com]

Reading about "Demons & Angels" made me wonder what possible in-universe explanation Rob and Doug could have come up with for them.  I understand why the concept was introduced in "Holoship" - so Lister could realistically threaten a soft-light hologram.  Although I've always assumed that they didn't actually have one and he was just bluffing.

Equally, I get why they had Low Rimmer wield one; so he could pose a tangible threat to Lister.  But why would whoever was responsible for the technology powering soft-light holograms make it possible for them (a) to be whipped and (b) to whip living humans?  I'm really struggling to come up with an answer which isn't kinky. :p

Whilst I'm on the subject of this ep, I'll add this interesting commentary by Psifitopia on Tumblr when asked if she prefers the Highs or the Lows: "This is a tough one, but I'm going with Highs.  I really wish the crew had spent more time interacting with them in a meaningful way - i.e learning about themselves.  Lister didn't interact with High Rimmer AT ALL and I think that is just a tragedy.  I can see High Rimmer looking at Lister with Bambi eyes and asking if he really finds it so strange that he, Rimmer, loves him?  After all, High Rimmer is very much still Rimmer. I mean High Rimmer's affections are still part of Rimmer.  There is just too much wasted potential that needs to be explored".

I've always been fascinated by Low Rimmer (who isn't?) but I'm starting to agree that, overall, the Highs have been rather neglected fic-wise.

Comments

[lordvalerymimes.livejournal.com]

I really would love to sit down with Doug and Rob and ask them about what was going on in their heads when they decided what low Rimmer ought to be like.

I have such a hard time believing that neither of them were consciously writing Rimmer to be a closeted gay man who is secretly lusting (if not fully in love) with Lister. So many different things hint at this, but low Rimmer is the one big, blaring air-horn just blasting it out for all to hear. We didn't hear low Rimmer threatening sexual violence with anyone else, just with Lister.

But I got a bit off-track there. Back into the subject of holo-whips, wasn't something mentioned in the books about them being invented so holograms could go on space walks outside of the ships? Or am I misremembering. I'll admit that I read so many fics while I was still in the midst of building up my Red Dwarf knowledge, I often worry that I'll misremember something from a fic as canon. Although, let's be honest, there really isn't much difference. ;)

I agree with you though janamalie, I can't imagine why they called them whips if they weren't created for anything other than sexual recreation. They could have just as easily called them holo-ropes, or holo-tethers. But no, it's smegging whips!

Just one more reason to adore this show/fandom. What other show would invent an item simply so an incorporeal character could whip a corporeal one?

[janamelie.livejournal.com]

I know! I can understand writing an extreme version of Rimmer as stereotypically "kinky" with the suspenders and the whip. But why take it so explicitly far as to have him actually threaten his male bunkmate with rape unless they were specifically envisaging him as - at least - bisexual? The threat of the whip would have been enough to establish him as a danger to Lister.

I don't remember holowhips being mentioned in the books. You may be thinking of one of the Series 1 video covers which is an illustration showing Rimmer on a spacewalk with the help of holorope. It's included in the Series 1 DVD Photo Gallery. Feckles also wrote a fic featuring it.

Yep. I can't think of any other show which would do that. :D

[felineranger.livejournal.com]

I suspect it was just a silly thing Rob and Doug came up with for the scene in Holoship that they then looked at each other and went 'Holowhip eh? Heh heh heh heh heh' and thus Low Rimmer was born. There really is no sensible explanation for it to exist in a practical sense.

The Highs are hilarious but sadly good is rarely as interesting as evil.

[veronica-rich.livejournal.com]

While I'd agree Rimmer is likely gay or at least bisexual, I kind of suspect what's behind Low Rimmer's threat is "prison rape" - rape isn't necessarily about sex (at least it's never just about sex; I understand it's a power dynamic). And while I wouldn't peg regular Rimmer as a rapist, he does have that twisted military/violence power dynamic hammered into him; it doesn't take much to imagine his extreme Low self would get off on physically subduing a threat to his dominance like Lister, who seems to be able to lead others without trying nearly as hard as Rimmer.

[janamelie.livejournal.com]

Good point. Obviously rape is about power and humiliation and it makes sense that Low Rimmer would get off on the thought of that.

But - no offence intended to anyone reading - that doesn't mean that sexual attraction couldn't also play a part. Calling Lister "My pretty" and the general way Chris plays it - breathing down his neck during the tarantula scene, for instance - makes me believe that Low Rimmer is supposed to come across as physically attracted to regular Lister.

You could view it as a homophobic stereotype, but I give Rob and Doug a pass on this one because he's balanced out by High Rimmer and his obvious romantic affection for High Lister, which can be seen as either platonic or sexual. I don't really care because as far as I'm concerned the romantic affection is the key aspect. :)

[janamelie.livejournal.com]

I'm sure your explanation is the correct one but I just can't resist trying to make it make sense in-universe. ;)

I've actually come up with the following head canon - holowhips were developed in the early stages of experimentation with hard-light technology. Some bright spark came up with the idea as a way of - at least partially - funding the continuing research and marketed them to those into BDSM and / or those who hated holograms. We're told in the books that a lot of people did. :D

I take your point about the Highs - they are hard to write for although I think Kahvi got it spot on with "White".

[lordvalerymimes.livejournal.com]

That fic by Feckles is exactly what I was thinking about. I knew I was going to start mixing up fandom stuff with canon stuff. :D

[slinkhard.livejournal.com]

Is there a tumblr post of the vhs covers at all that anyone knows of?

[janamelie.livejournal.com]

Yes, a month or so ago in the RD tag. I believe HollyHopDrive7 was the OP but I couldn't say for sure.

[janamelie.livejournal.com]

Slightly OT, but your post made me think of it. Just wondering if you've read "Perfectly Straight" by Kahvi and Roadstergal? It occurs to me you may not have as it's not on AO3 right now. It was inspired by comments the cast made in an interview about wanting to do an ep where the crew get hit by a "gay ray".

Basically, if you haven't - read it! It's hilarious. I can give you a link if required. :)

[slinkhard.livejournal.com]

ty, i knew i'd seen it somewhere xx

[lordvalerymimes.livejournal.com]

Yes please! I've missed a lot of what isn't on AO3. :)

[janamelie.livejournal.com]

Part 1: http://community.livejournal.com/reddwarfslash/187565.html
Part 2: http://reddwarfslash.livejournal.com/187772.html

And just to get back to the original topic, here are two "D&A" fics which you may or may not have read. Enjoy. :)
http://reddwarfslash.livejournal.com/312008.html

An authorised sequel by a different writer: http://reddwarfslash.livejournal.com/331667.html