#(we need more variety but reducing one ''type'' of lgbt fiction won't make the other increase) | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

interiorlulus · 2 years

Text

At the core of the discourse surrounding lgbt representation is, in my opinion, a debate between proponents of "fiction as escapism" and "fiction as catharsis". Escapism can be cathartic (in the form of wish-fulfillment, power fantasies and absence of real life stressor in fiction), but not all catharsis is escapist (catharsis in this context would mean anything that helps process negative experiences, including depictions of real life stressor in fiction). Escapism proponents are thus confronted with those who do not find escapism fulfilling and prefer more emotionally harrowing fiction and misunderstand them, thinking that anyone willing to consume fiction that depicts distressing topics (such as homophobia in this case) must be reveling in it. Which they aren't. What sort of lgbt stories you want to consume is up to you and one is not more moral than the other.

#this occurred to me bc i personally struggle with obvious escapist lgbt fiction #it just feels like a slap to my face the whole 'all is well! everyone accepts them! zero danger!'#but guess what i realise that's perhaps what some people need to cope and that's good enough for me #HOWEVER the whole 'this lgbt media is BETTER and more MORAL bc there's no homophobia and suffering in it' grates me to no end #especially directed to queer creators... like have you considered they write about it for a reason...#yet another episode of Curate Your Media Consumption. Please.#also don't come here and start going 'there's too much of x and y' in lgbt media bc it's a worn argument that falls apart quick #(we need more variety but reducing one ''type'' of lgbt fiction won't make the other increase)#the discourse #me.txt

2 notes · View notes