Quote:
Originally Posted by hildea
I don't agree -- sex scenes done well can give important characterization, as well as plot. KJ Charles has several examples of advancing the plot in Let's talk about sex scenes. Here are some of her examples (MC = main character): |
Sure--and I can probably count on one hand the number of sex scenes I've read--literally, one hand--that actually moved the PLOT forward. 99% of the time, they don't. We don't get some big character reveal. Or even a small important one.
My attitude toward sex scenes is the same as my attitude toward ANY scene--if it doesn't propel the plot forward, nuke it. There are exceedingly few things in Charles' list that aren't doable if you do the fade-to-black thing, either. For example,
Quote:
|
"MC says something stupid in the aftermath and borks everything"
|
or
Quote:
|
"MCs are seen shagging, setting off plot repercussions"
|
Neither of those and very few of her list, require the actual sex scene. That's the
thing, isn't it? That was my kvetch about GOT. It never seemed to really serve the plot--just to titillate a bunch of 13-y.o.'s and use up valuable screen time. Not to mention the one-sidedness of it.
(I got into an argument once with a woman on some chat something, somewhere, or Disqus, don't recall, when she INSISTED that the sex was necessary to "understand the plot." [Maybe it was for her...]. I asked her, "well, if the nudity and sex is so crucial, to undersand the plot, then why is it that it's only women who are naked, episode after episode? Where's all the wedding tackle? The boy bits? What, we don't need THOSE to 'get the plot'?"
People simply don't want to admit that they're prurient, nothing more, nothing less. I mean, with all these arguments for 'sex as plot,'
OMG, it's a miracle that we all learned to read and enjoy books for the centuries that it
wasn't set out overtly! How'd we ever figure out the plots then???? (/sarcasm)
These are two very different scenarios--in this discussion, the consent and how it's obtained, the approach by the more-aggressive partner, etc. can absolutely be part of character development. Now, her take is that "...that plot is character in action," and to some extent, I agree, but that take is also more suited to LitFic than to genre fiction.
God knows, there's plenty of erotica around. It's not like the 50-60's, where you had to search for it. Now you have to work to avoid it.
Nobody here will change their mind about this topic. Those of you that enjoy it, enjoy. Some of us, though...I tend to sample the first sex scene in a book and if it's as tedious or poorly-done as most, I skip it. I don't recall missing any crucial plot elements, thus far. :-) Somehow, I've still managed to read the book, get the gist and all that good stuff.
Hitch