tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26974492.post8999668167172552356..comments2024-03-29T09:09:33.450-04:00Comments on alien romances: The Essence of Paranormal Romance?Rowena Cherryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11839386556697211986noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26974492.post-4695513236348996542010-03-05T13:25:57.678-05:002010-03-05T13:25:57.678-05:00Gee, I wonder what PNR's he read? Certainly n...Gee, I wonder what PNR's he read? Certainly not the ones I read!Jacqueline Lichtenberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01613040740264804278noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26974492.post-45470853654501367152010-03-05T05:16:11.469-05:002010-03-05T05:16:11.469-05:00I haven't read the original article, but it ap...I haven't read the original article, but it appears to be a peculiarly one-sided view of sex. It seems to me that sex is something that two (or more) do together, not something that one person does. It might help to use the old term intercourse, which had overtones of relationships, dialogue and similar social exchanges. At least that would remind us that there isn't just one person involved.<br /><br />In many ways, I think paranormal romance (or science-fiction romance or speculative romance or space opera romance) is all about accepting the "other" as one of us -- in the most intimate, involving, and trusting way possible. The notion that paranormal romance somehow rejects one's own sexuality or projects it somewhere -- it seems to me that paranormal romance is a recognition and celebration of sexuality that crosses borders and boundaries, species and races. <br /><br />I suppose my concern with the article as summarized is that it seems to cast paranormal romance as a form of rape, with one-sided sex as the norm. I don't think even the ordinary romance genre any longer accepts that characterization of sexual involvement, and I certainly hope that the various genre blends know that there are two sides to the story -- and that both need to be emotionally engaged.Mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01422171964652699673noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26974492.post-80011710828446640142010-03-04T17:30:58.091-05:002010-03-04T17:30:58.091-05:00I suspect that he was feeling squeamish over the w...I suspect that he was feeling squeamish over the whole thing--I got the impression he thinks it's perverse. He's looking at the inhumanity of the Other characters, and sees it as people divorcing themselves from the realities of real, human relationships. He figures this is unhealthy. I, personally, think you're entirely right--there is nothing at all unnatural about a bit of xenophilia. It's a part of normal human sexuality to be attracted to people who look 'exotic'. Sometimes this is taken to extremes, yes (and with the werewolf romances, catlike aliens, etc, one has to acknowledge a bit of zoophilia), but there isn't anything there about avoiding one's own sexuality--it's about EXPLORING one's own sexuality. If someone was avoiding their sexuality, they wouldn't be reading about sex.Winged Wolfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08606469243789497786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26974492.post-69891649823433980122010-03-04T17:06:00.740-05:002010-03-04T17:06:00.740-05:00I think the reason women like paranormal romance i...I think the reason women like paranormal romance is that the "others" are often given uber-charged human attributes we'd like to find in our romantic ideals. Vampires don't have to worry about money and don't care who's playing what team on TV. Weres can give in to their inner beast, and hence so can their lovers. There's the option of being wanton hussies without being held socially responsible--after all, who can resist a sexy vampire? It's not a "screwed-up rejection of one's own sexuality" but a celebration of its potential. Off to find a sexy beast now...Suzanne Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14180604715572075576noreply@blogger.com