reenka | ~~ (no) apologies for the devil

So basically, I could talk about Brian or I could talk about how I read/perceive stories. The latter, I'm probably way more obsessed with. And so. I could/should just point everyone to

melymbrosia's post on personal reading axioms, because they apply to me so completely. Immediately, a quote would be: "The great gift of fiction isn't judgment but empathy." Because, yes. Yes! That sums it all up, man. The exercise of morality is counter to the process of reading/watching fiction (to me). "The novel's strength is its ambivalence," she says. I nod mutely, groaning at my gross inadequacy at self-expression. Yes. It's all about listening to texts, letting them define their own terms as much as possible. Oh godgodgod, YES.

This is my not-at-all deep and meaningful post on QAF, as I have read

hautemonde's bit of an anti-Brian (anti-season-2-Brian, anyway) rant and the "sometimes this show sucks ass" that goes along with it, and.

See, I loved QAF. All of it. Absolutely all of it. I watched most of it in a single shot during a very full week, eheheh. And now, the closest thing I could come to as far as a reason QAF doesn't suck ass....

It's the porn, man. (Duh?)

Digging deeper. And it's still the porn. But also, I love Justin, ahahah. And Brian & Justin together. Because they're adorable and have chemistry and Brian snarks and is tender-hearted-in-spite-of-himself and Justin has comebacks and is spunky and brings out Brian's embarrassing side. Also, Justin is idealistic and pretty, and Brian is cynical and pretty. They fuck, and they fuck a lot. Always a bonus. Was there more to this show? I didn't notice :>

I just don't get this need to judge characters and to condemn them the way we'd condemn people, like, "I don't want to be friends with you, you suck". I mean, you're not there to be Brian's/Draco's/Snape's/etc friend, are you? You're there to read/watch stuff about them and their issues and their sex lives. One always has favorite characters and less-favorite characters, but to judge them lacking seems... counterproductive. I mean, do you like reading fic/watching them? Yes/no? That's all that matters. Whether they're a jerk or not either makes them a) interesting or b) boring. If it's boring, then don't read/watch. If it isn't, enjoy.

I don't see this show as set up for a certain kind of viewing. And by that, I mean a critical, psychologically deep, mindful viewing. Its plots/ideas never struck me. Its actors' chemistry with each other (those of them that -have- it, heh). It is what it is, just as the HP books are what they are, take 'em or leave 'em. They're not `War and Peace', and neither is QAF. That's not what we go there for, anyway. Is it, now?

I'll easily admit what drew me into my QAF-watching fever this past spring. It was that musical porn clip from season 1, where Brian & Justin went at it in NYC, and Justin smirks and pulls Brian to the bed. Brian then proceeds to give him a very good time. And they lived ~~happily~~pornily ever after. And then I watched the show. And I realized there were bits like when Justin says he's trying to kill Brian with kindness. And bits like where Brian cries with that bloody scarf around his neck. And bits like where Justin comes home from Ethan and Brian knows, and he kisses him and gets him hot and bothered and doesn't fuck him.

I think once one gets too into fandom, one forgets the important things. Like porn. And also, cute coupley moments. And also, everything that made you ignore the nonsense and bad writing and inconsistencies because they didn't matter. Season 2 had good porn, man. Brian made me sad with his stoic acceptingness. I didn't hate Justin because he was just confused, and I accepted that but was frustrated. It was angsty. They had Issues. The make-up sex after the accident was great and a powerful scene, all understated and emotional-- overall, the beginning and ending episodes were very emotional. So the middle was filler. Oh well, there was a lot of filler in Seasons 1 & 3, too.

To me, it seems one watches/enjoys a show like QAF 'cause of the couple love. Plot matters not. Ridiculous characterization can be accepted because it's soap-opera and because Brian was always a caricature, dammit, and so was everyone else. The thing is, the -acting- was consistent. Gale can -smirk- and he can -look- and Justin can look -back- and then it's reallyreally hot and they fuck. (I keep coming back to this, yes, but it's important to me, see).

That said, Brian was never supposed to be entirely sympathetic. That's the point. You either accept him or don't, but to try to make him palatable seems to miss the point. The guy -tries- to be outrageous and offensive. If he doesn't offend you at all, you fall into one of two categories: 1) he fits your kink of personality; 2) you're there for the Brian/Justin and you don't -care- (that would be me).

Brian's lack of empathy, immaturity, shallowness blahblahetcetc, are either charming or not, to the viewer, but nonetheless they remain charming to Justin. People in general are different-- and by "different", I mean some are assholes and yet, some people still love them. Sometimes because they're assholes. And also because they give great head. It's a thing.

Defending either Brian or Justin (or Draco or Harry or Spike, etcetc) is thus ultimately pointless and a waste of time. People are sometimes ugly, sometimes impossible, even. In fiction, one can explore that and attempt to enjoy what there is to enjoy of it without personal issues getting too involved with it. It's just a story. These aren't people you have to deal with on a day-to-day basis. You can easily forgive them their foibles, can't you. If not, why the hell not? Being empathic and reasonable may be exactly what's needed in real life friends, but how is that interesting in fiction? How does that create conflict and drama? How does that keep you watching/reading?

I keep coming back to this issue of character assassination, and I should just learn and give up on trying to say anything, 'cause the people who get it, get it, and the other people will keep on not getting it. But. I hate the world being divided into "nice" and "not nice" people, much as that's human nature. I hate mean and shallow people too, man. But I love them as characters. That basic concept of liking in fiction what you don't like in real life, again. This does't translate into sexual kink, for me, as much as it does into characterization. Good fiction means not-always-likable characters. If you can't like Brian or Harry or whoever sometimes? The writer has done their job. There ain't -no one- in the universe I like all the time. Even some of my favorite people, I only like in measured doses and from a distance. I'm just a freak like that. But still.

To sum up: snogging-with-tongues-in-Babylon? Important! Vital, even. Brian being mean to *insert secondary character here*? Eh. Take it or leave it. Brian thinking about getting roses for Justin & then not? Wah! Important & yummy shipper feeding! Brian being Stockwell's bitch (and then not)? Interesting, but ultimately of secondary value, way behind "that look Brian gave Justin while they were both fucking other people in the back room". Or maybe that's just me, though somehow I doubt it :>

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

spare-change.livejournal.com

I really don't understand why people are so invested in Brian/Justin. I only watched the first season, but I had assumed that everyone would be all about the Michael love, like me. When I found out QaF fandom was all about Brian/Justin, I lost any enthusiasm I might have had for the show. They're like the two least interesting characters.

How can people not be Brian/Michael? *cries* I DO NOT UNDERSTAND.

I agree about the ambivalence, though. It's what made me so frustrated when people started slamming fics for portraying disturbing subject matter in an ambiguous way. I was like, "d00d, isn't that the *point*?" That's such a greater accomplishment than portraying something as simply good or bad. *sighs*

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~~ (no) apologies for the devil

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