Jack, sex, gender, other sex, sexuality, relationships...

[beccaelizabeth]

Today is an unsaying things day. I've posted three things so far and locked them all and then made them private or deleted them. Bah.

I'm trying to have thoughts about Jack, possibly even discussions, but it keeps wandering into areas where there's arguing about definitions and words like omnisexual and polyamory and then the potential 'ship war inducing stuff involved in trying to figure out his sexual history. And then I just kind of hide and decide to just what-if in fic instead.

Also I'm wondering stuff about gender and sex and Jack. Like, if that line in the first episode wasn't a joke, does that imply Mpreg or was he maybe not always male? But quite a few people seem to think it was a joke. Only, this is SF, there's no actual reason it has to be. I did a poll on it once, maybe more people want to answer it today.

In fic I can pick the most interesting options for the story and go play with them.

Meta has to be supported from the text.
But there's still multiple readings, so no decidings.



PS I just went back over old entries looking for a poll I forgot to tag. Dear *god* I talk a lot. I mean... really. Er, sorry?

Comments

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I didn't answer your poll because I think it could be any or all of those things.... And yes, this is SF (and myth/fantasy too) and I am just as ready to accept that Jack was once pregnant as I am that he once slept with his executioners.

Anyway: no, I don't see his comment as a joke.

I'm not sure I want to pursue the mpreg/transsexual implications in fic but I've been thinking about them. Perhaps in the 51st century once can change gender as easily as changing clothes. Jack has referred to himself as a 'boy' when young and I take that to imply he was born male - but it wouldn't have to be a permanent state.

[sparklebutch.livejournal.com]

I don't watch much of Torchwood, but if I *had* to vote, I'd say a show of its kind is more likely to have mpreg than ftm, and if it was likely to have ftm it's unlikely it would be their main character.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Yes, it seems to me likely that the writers' original intent was to imply mpreg, but since the show doesn't specify, it can be fun to speculate.

I either case it indicates a fluidity of character identity that I think is delightful to see on televison.

[sparklebutch.livejournal.com]

Yeah, but... the vibe I'm getting is more "mpreg! scifi! funny things that can't happen in reality!" rather than "ftm preg. serious issues that must be dealt with properly. no party."

You know what I mean?

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Hmm. Well, obviously, they haven't decided to deal with the issue seriously, since it is put in as an offhand comment with neither explanation nor context. I think myself that it is a teaser for the fans - they know we write mpreg, and it fits the show's agenda.

That being said, I think they are very serious indeed about - if I may phrase it this way - not taking traditional gender roles seriously, and treating orientation issues as fluid. They aren't treating it as a capital-letter Issue because this isn't Dr Phil, it's a sci-fi show, and they're slipping these things under, through, and over the radar.

That's my take, anyway. And I see it as a good thing.