Fic Report
Feb. 14th, 2019 10:07 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kvothe_arliden325February 12th, 2019
John Spilker
Breaking Down Icebreakers
“Icebreakers” by tooberjoober is a re-writing of captain Kirk’s and Mr. Spock’s first meeting. It takes place during a time frame wherein Kirk is still a lieutenant and Kirk is the first mate of captain Pike, under whom both of them serve. The name comes from the activity proposed by captain Pike at the beginning of their journey to help everyone learn about each other. This event holds significance because it proceeds and leads to all further interactions between Kirk and Spock. Said interactions lead to a dynamic and relationship that supports the writings of Constance Penley. More specifically, it supports her ideas about the retooling of masculinity in Kirk/Spock slash writing.
“Icebreakers” Begins with Spock’s thoughts upon seeing Lieutenant James T. Kirk for the first time. It goes on at great length to describe how Kirk’s lustrous looks and glittering demeanor intrigue and energize Spock. The author waxes rhapsodic on how Kirk has beautiful golden hair and, “a smile that lit up a room,” (Chapter 1). After that, Kirk is compared to the ancient Greek and Roman gods, which offers a unique meaning to it. When looking at the historical context, one might realize that, in much of Greek society, homosexual relationships between men were accepted. There was no implication of weakness or femininity because of it. Such a description fits closely to what is seen throughout “Icebreakers.” Descriptions of both Spock and Kirk go into great detail about both the amazing physical and explicitly masculine qualities that they each possess, as well as the qualities that are more often associated with women that they embody. Some examples within the text include the lines, “this gorgeous human man with hair like gold, and a smile that lit up a room (who frankly, brought to mind Spock’s faint knowledge of ancient Terran mythos of Greek and Roman gods that glimmered in the sunlight). This man was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen,” and, “I don’t know what it is exactly … But I know gorgeous when I see it. I mean tall and lean and those hands, I mean come on. There’s just something about him, right?” These lines express each character’s extreme favor for their partner’s physical bodies. Such words are very similar to those described and expressed in Constance Penley’s article, “Future Men.” She wrote, “In the slash stories, Kirk and Spock are sensitive, as well as kind, strong, thoughtful, and humorous. But their being “sensitive” carries with it none of the associations of wimpiness or smug self-congratulation that it does in the present day. Only in the future, it seems, will it be possible to conceive that yielding phallic power does not result in psychic castration or a demand to be extravagantly praised for having relinquished that power.” This is Constance Penley’s stance on how masculinity is portrayed in fan fics, especially slash ones. Men are shown to be both strong and well defined physically, while also taking on the more traditional womanly characteristics. Thus, “Icebreakers” stands in support of the article “Future Men.”
John Spilker
Breaking Down Icebreakers
“Icebreakers” by tooberjoober is a re-writing of captain Kirk’s and Mr. Spock’s first meeting. It takes place during a time frame wherein Kirk is still a lieutenant and Kirk is the first mate of captain Pike, under whom both of them serve. The name comes from the activity proposed by captain Pike at the beginning of their journey to help everyone learn about each other. This event holds significance because it proceeds and leads to all further interactions between Kirk and Spock. Said interactions lead to a dynamic and relationship that supports the writings of Constance Penley. More specifically, it supports her ideas about the retooling of masculinity in Kirk/Spock slash writing.
“Icebreakers” Begins with Spock’s thoughts upon seeing Lieutenant James T. Kirk for the first time. It goes on at great length to describe how Kirk’s lustrous looks and glittering demeanor intrigue and energize Spock. The author waxes rhapsodic on how Kirk has beautiful golden hair and, “a smile that lit up a room,” (Chapter 1). After that, Kirk is compared to the ancient Greek and Roman gods, which offers a unique meaning to it. When looking at the historical context, one might realize that, in much of Greek society, homosexual relationships between men were accepted. There was no implication of weakness or femininity because of it. Such a description fits closely to what is seen throughout “Icebreakers.” Descriptions of both Spock and Kirk go into great detail about both the amazing physical and explicitly masculine qualities that they each possess, as well as the qualities that are more often associated with women that they embody. Some examples within the text include the lines, “this gorgeous human man with hair like gold, and a smile that lit up a room (who frankly, brought to mind Spock’s faint knowledge of ancient Terran mythos of Greek and Roman gods that glimmered in the sunlight). This man was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen,” and, “I don’t know what it is exactly … But I know gorgeous when I see it. I mean tall and lean and those hands, I mean come on. There’s just something about him, right?” These lines express each character’s extreme favor for their partner’s physical bodies. Such words are very similar to those described and expressed in Constance Penley’s article, “Future Men.” She wrote, “In the slash stories, Kirk and Spock are sensitive, as well as kind, strong, thoughtful, and humorous. But their being “sensitive” carries with it none of the associations of wimpiness or smug self-congratulation that it does in the present day. Only in the future, it seems, will it be possible to conceive that yielding phallic power does not result in psychic castration or a demand to be extravagantly praised for having relinquished that power.” This is Constance Penley’s stance on how masculinity is portrayed in fan fics, especially slash ones. Men are shown to be both strong and well defined physically, while also taking on the more traditional womanly characteristics. Thus, “Icebreakers” stands in support of the article “Future Men.”
