tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26974492.post3086057869292453756..comments2024-03-28T10:48:15.246-04:00Comments on alien romances: Where would you put Tarzan?Rowena Cherryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11839386556697211986noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26974492.post-79317774605499890022009-03-10T14:17:00.000-04:002009-03-10T14:17:00.000-04:00I have always considered Tarzan to be alternate-hi...I have always considered Tarzan to be alternate-history fantasy.<BR/><BR/>For me, though, it just all happened on another planet in an adjacent Reality. <BR/><BR/>As Fred Pohl said, "ALL FICTION IS FANTASY." <BR/><BR/>Jacqueline Lichtenberg<BR/>http://www.slantedconcept.comJacqueline Lichtenberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01613040740264804278noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26974492.post-23717669669417373072009-03-08T15:36:00.000-04:002009-03-08T15:36:00.000-04:00Margaret,It is such a pity you're not a "Constant ...Margaret,<BR/><BR/>It is such a pity you're not a "Constant Reader" and weren't part of the Tarzan conversation.<BR/><BR/>Best.<BR/><BR/>RowenaRowena Cherryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11839386556697211986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26974492.post-51574198483905338842009-03-08T15:29:00.000-04:002009-03-08T15:29:00.000-04:00I love IT'S ME OR THE DOG. The cases make our flak...I love IT'S ME OR THE DOG. The cases make our flaky St. Bernard look positively sedate. Yes, Victoria Stillwell's black outfit that she wears in the British episodes always reminds me of a dominatrix. In the U.S. episodes, she has started dressing more "softly" most of the time. <BR/><BR/>In elementary school and my early teens, I was an enthusiastic Tarzan fan. I've read the first few books in the series several times. When they were written and for decades afterward, I think they would simply have been called "adventure stories." Nowadays I believe they would be shelved under SF. Not romance -- he doesn't even meet Jane until near the end of TARZAN OF THE APES. TARZAN OF THE APES and THE RETURN OF TARZAN (viewed as a single two-part story) have a love story subplot, but other plot elements are more dominant. <BR/><BR/>Now, a good case could be made for A PRINCESS OF MARS being SF romance. The love story between John Carter and Dejah Thoris, ending in marriage, is a major plotline and could possibly be considered the main plot thread.<BR/><BR/>I get a giggle out of the claim, when Tarzan "smothers her upturned face in kisses" (or however it goes) that he's doing what "no red-blooded man needs lessons in doing." Even lower primates, who (one would suppose) are more instinct-driven than human beings, can't mate successfully unless they've learned how by watching adults of their species in action. Of course, the "apes" of Tarzan's adopted family seem to be more advanced than any known great ape (probably a "missing link," as proposed by Philip Jose Farmer -- they are certainly not either chimps or gorillas, both of which are mentioned in the novels as separate species). So Tarzan may have gotten the general idea of sex and kissing from them. Chimps, at least, do perform actions similar to kissing.Margaret Carterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08293021955480708191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26974492.post-44109742409856640522009-03-08T14:54:00.000-04:002009-03-08T14:54:00.000-04:00Thank you for your fascinating comment, Annalee.I'...Thank you for your fascinating comment, Annalee.<BR/><BR/>I've done (written) smothering osculation. But, if a kiss is going to smother, it has to be a single, open mouthed effort.<BR/><BR/>Now, in Tarzan's case, that would be plausible because many large feline predators will cover a narrow muzzle with their mouths. I'm sure I've seen that on TV.<BR/><BR/>Otherwise, they either puncture the spinal cord, or close the windpipe with a crushing bite to the neck.<BR/><BR/>If he's dotting kisses, and she is panting, she's not being smothered.<BR/>I'm so literal!<BR/><BR/>ROTFLMAO.<BR/>What a visual image you have given me. I hear that there were Tarzan stories taking him into his 70s.<BR/><BR/>Imagine Arnold as Tarzan.<BR/><BR/>Imagine Angelina as Jane.<BR/><BR/>I think I'd pay to see that!!!!Rowena Cherryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11839386556697211986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26974492.post-25762474738124006072009-03-08T14:40:00.000-04:002009-03-08T14:40:00.000-04:00I wonder if the language ERB chose to describe the...I wonder if the language ERB chose to describe the effects of a man being in charge of even a kiss was the result of his having lived through the suffrage movement, and seeing (after he wrote Tarzan) women finally getting the vote nationwide here in the US. He probably used words to demonstrate men in the power position because that was all he wanted to understand. Lara Croft wouldn't be given the chance to whoop manly men's butt for decades. I was thinking of the other day when O'Reilly had some silly ladies on to share the result of their (most likely government funded) study that ended up showing most people thought Angelina Joile was more competent than Sarah Palin. Of course! Lara Croft was a huge box office draw because Angelina looks good kicking butt. Sarah Palin only has only done something boring like make billions for the state of Alaska, and helping keep the economy in Alaska floating while the rest of the US bobs around looking for handouts. Even Manly Man Arnold needed to find loans to keep California afloat.Angela's Designshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07084171413220960852noreply@blogger.com