BROWNCOATJIM'S BLOG

browncoatjim

Don't be too squeemish.
Tuesday, October 24, 2006

just wanted to mention, and you know who you are, there was no depiction of rape or sexual abuse in "A River Taken." I personally don't believe in graphic depictions of such, I feel that the imagination is infinitely more graphic than my keyboard ever could be. I have always thought that the original Halloween, by John Carpenter, is one of the scariest movies ever made, because there as very little gore, or even sightings of him, until the end (much like the original Alien). Your imagination is what tortured you so much, and my imagination is what gave me so many sleepless nights after seeing Michael Meyers in action for the first time (I was just way too young for the experience!)

The point I am making is that I was called to task for not giving a worning about rape or other abuse, but I did not depict it. I let you determine what had happened, and I am willing to bet if i randomly picked 10 of you and asked you to tell me how you envisioned it, I would get ten different enswers, which is precisely what i shot for.

However, I did state, in no uncertain terms, that this was a dark and nasty story, and i would have thought that this would be sufficient, being as how I have read plenty of fics out here that were far more graphic. (I remember one with Simon being being raped by a female Reaver, and let me tell you, that was like an anti-viagra).

I always saw FF/BDM as something for bright grown-ups, and I am going to write for bright grown-ups, even if it's something fun ( like finding jason Voorhees), and if the caveat says words like dark, nasty, disturbing, or anything like that, please, by all means, expect the very worst.

Therwise, hang on and enjoy the ride, I've got a ton of thoughts and ideas I mean to put into words!

COMMENTS

Thursday, November 23, 2006 11:57 AM

BROWNCOATJIM


THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT: THERE IS TO BE NO CHARACTER ASSASINATION OF HANDSOF!!!!

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, including me. Compared to some stuff I've read out here, I didn't consider "A River Taken" to be overly graphic. HANDSOF did. Guess what? We are both right. My stuff isn't for everybody, I know that. Honestly, I am mildly surprised that I haven't had more admonishment than I have. Just because HANDSOF doesn't care for it, don't launch into character assasinations. That isn't the Browncoat way.

Thursday, November 23, 2006 11:44 AM

HANDSOF


I was just about to send a message of thanks for the clear warning you put on Anabelle and when I saw this post figured I'd do it here. Esp. since I sent you a message after reading A River Taken requesting more of a warning and as you put it, I know who I am.

All thoughts of kudos and appreciation for the clear and direct warning attached to your Annabelle series went out of the window when I read your line
about how you "just wanted to mention, and you know who you are, there was no depiction of rape or sexual abuse in "A River Taken."

WARNING, REST OF MY POST HAS GRAPHIC, "SQUEAMISH" DESCRIPTIONS OF RAPE...

Now I'm probably going to get eviscerated for this but as much as I enjoy and agree with you on the "your imagination is far scarier than my typewriter/movie camera sentiment" I completely disagree with your statement that "there was no depiction of rape or sexual abuse in" A River Taken Here's a quote from that story to show you what I mean, people who don't want to read it run, hide, now!

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"Not a word was said, even after Simon got on the shuttle with River, until Jayne, with a gentleness that was completely out of his natures, cradled the youngest girl up in his arms and saw the blood on the back of her thighs. He froze, and Mal and Zoë saw what he had seen, and couldn’t help but stare. "


Umm, blood running down her thigh? That may not be in the realm of describing the actual rape/penetration in the kind of pain staking detail usually reserved for porn, but I believe that it is fairly graphic...and worthy of a warning about content regardless of if it appears here on the board or on Fox/HBO.
Put together with the descriptions in the beginning of the story about how the kidnappers intended to use River an idiot could figure out that you are depicting River's rape. (in far more literary terms than your average Rape-Without-Plot, but describing rape nonetheless)

To be clear I'm not saying you don't have a right to write it, I believe very strongly that you have a right to freedom of expression, donate to the ACLU to make sure it's protected, but..
*pulls out soapbox*
..that right to freedom of expression isn't free, it comes with the responsibility to use it wisely, and that includes giving your audience sufficient information to excercise their freedom of choice in not reading your work. Hiding behind the fact that you didn't describe the actual penetration does not absolve you of this responsibility.
*stores soapbox in convient place*

Okay, let the character assassination begin...

Thursday, October 26, 2006 1:17 PM

BLUEEYEDBRIGADIER


You did all you needed to do, browncoatjim. You gave the prospective audience a short blurb and idea that the story was mining the dark territory that exists with this 'Verse.

Besides, from staring at the BDS boxset case, there's no immediately visible (or any at all) warnings about content. One would have to watch the episodes to know there was scenes of sexuality, nudity, graphic violence, torture, offensive language (though it's in Chinese) and adult situations...tame as they might be compared to things like Deadwood or The Sopranos;)

BEB

Wednesday, October 25, 2006 4:31 AM

BORNTOFLY


I gotta agree 100 percent with both 'ShinyTrinket' and 'browncoatjim'.

I believe the first line of the fic proper was 'They had his sister'. As far as I'm concerned, even if you missed the rather obvious warning posted in the blurb, then that single line was all you needed to know. It told you everything, it told you that this is decidedly NOT a fluff peice, it was not humourous and it was not going to be all sunshine and lollipops.

And I liked the warning you gave 'browncoatjim', I liked that you explicitly informed the reader of the *nature* of the content, but not the content itself, that little tidbit was primarily left to the reader.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. 'A River Taken' is a great fic, and I think it said as much with words as it did without them. The characterisations were spot on, and I think Joss would be proud of it's themes. Bravo.

Tuesday, October 24, 2006 12:10 PM

BROWNCOATJIM


hey, shinytrinket, thanks! I mean it! part of the horrible problem going on in this great nation of ours is the unbelievable sissyfication which has overtaken the American people. Everybody is so afraid of doing somethimg to offend someone else, and it seems that whatever you do is going to be offensive to someone, so people get to where they are afraid to do anything. I for one don't feel the need to have my mind or thoughts sanitized by my government or special interest groups. And you're right, books don't come with ratings (tho how far away can that be?), but if Stephen King is the author, shouldn't we expect something scary?

Tuesday, October 24, 2006 11:53 AM

SHINYTRINKET


I totally agree with you. If you pick up a book in the store, you don't get a rating, warnings, spoilers, etc. posted on the cover. Except for a brief summary, you have to read a book to find out what's inside. I feel the same about fanfic. Giving readers an idea of what the story's about, or what the theme is, is fine, but you shouldn't have to hold readers' hands. Firefly and Serenity themelves weren't pretty in spots, but Joss didn't feel the need to post warnings all over the place.


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