Shipping, fanfictions, and smut

Got an interesting question from an anon and wanted to address it in an actual post. (If you’re reading this, thanks!)

To start off, I’m good with shipping (U-Bomb hi), just as long as there’s mutual understanding between fans, and between fans and the idols themselves, that it’s all in light-hearted fun, and that it’s no accurate representation of real relationships (despite the fact we all may want to believe otherwise lol). 

Nowadays, I find I’m not really into fanfiction, but I’m not against it. Same for smut. I’ve read several in the past though, and they weren’t bad at all. However, I guess they’re just not my thing…? (I’m more of a GIF/manip/meme person :))

I do recognize the pros of fanfiction and smut, though. It’s a great way for people to exercise their creativity and play around with their imagination. Typically for smut, it serves the same benefits as does pornography. But before we delve into this issue, we need to consider the question of whether or not smut is porn per se. 

Not all sexual depictions are porn. Pornography consists of sexual depictions, but its dominant purpose is to sexually arouse the audience (Seidman). Non-pornogprahic sexual representations are not necessarily erotic because of them being instead valued for artistry or creative expression (ie. Rania’s dance).

In that case, is smut porn? It’s definitely something open to interpretation. Do fans write smut because they want to engage in creative expression, or because they intend to derive sexual pleasure from it (as do the readers)? I’m not implying that if it is indeed porn, it doesn’t make it any better or any worse than other sexual representations. I’m also not saying that porn can’t be creative. Porn is a sexual representation, but sexual representations aren’t porn. 

But my train of thought doesn’t end here. So say we settle on categorizing smut as porn. That itself it not a problem at all, considering the many pros (forms of) pornography entails. However, what now becomes relevant are the critiques we apply to the entire realm of pornography: that is, the way different groups and individuals are represented. For me (and I hope for alot of you guys out there), smut that includes rape is a huge disgusting no-no. There’s also the classic question of whether or not females are being depicted in ways that are derogatory in relation to males*.

*This is an interesting argument as it applies to our case — pornography as an industry is seen as male-constructed. Because more guys are involved in the production of pornography, it generally reflects male fantasies. However, in the case of K-pop fandom, we have to determine whether or not we have more female or male writers. We also have to see the actual content or recurring themes among smut fictions and determine who the characters are (ie. what sex or gender), which audience it is intended for, and what it can tell us about the psychological processes of K-pop fangirls and fanboys. If it is indeed proven that we have more fangirls engaged in the black market of smut (as part of the audience and as writers), then we’re going to have to reevaluate the way the classic argument of female underrepresentation and degredation applies to K-pop. (Oh, how about the notion of internalized sexism?)

Finally, there’s also the representation of the idols themselves. Do the way writers depict them more or less represents the way they are actually percieved, and how to these depictions ultimately influence the audience’s perceptions of the idols? (ie. idols as “sex objects” or “human beings”?) Most importantly, does it help encourage the intense (and inappropriate behaviors and attitudes) we see oh-so-often in our fandom? Because when it comes to fandoms, the lines between reality and fantasy are very obscure. 

The same ideas apply for fanfictions (minus the erotica aspect). Fanfictions themselves are not harmful at all — it depends on the experiences of those who write it and those who read it. For many, it serves as ‘an escape from reality’ (and a symbolic engagement in the affairs of their idols), but whether it’s a healthy escape is what matters. A temporary retreat isn’t dangerous — it’s only when fans run beyond the boundaries of reality never to return, in effect triggering delusional (and hazardous) tendencies. (Just think Inception and you’ll get the idea.) This is influenced by one’s sense of self — that is, what the feelings of longing, desire, etc. provoked by these fanfictions do to levels of self-esteem*, self-image, and sense of satisfaction with one’s current life. Also, remember it’s not the feelings per se, but also the extent of those feelings. In the context of celebrity veneration in general, the longing for an alternate reality in its mildest form is not too bad (ie. you’d like it, but you’re content and satisfied with the situation as it is now), but as we progress towards the opposite end of the spectrum that’s when it starts to get nasty. 

*Interestingly enough, Time reports that celebrity worship actually boosts self-morale. Again, that depends on the intensity of these feelings: “A little can be good, but a lot can become harmful — as stalking and more obsessive behaviors prove. Recent research has even found that celebrity worship can decrease a person’s self-esteem because the endless admiration and yearning for a life and lifestyle that are out of reach may end up cementing one’s feelings of isolation and inadequacy.”

(Oh, and just to clarify — I’m not saying that fanfictions and smut are sole catalysts of delusion in fandoms, but they definitely are potential aggravators. Again, it differs from individual to individual.) 

(And maybe a reason why I’m not into fanfictions or smuts is because all of this come to mind…?)