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| INNERSPACE: the world's most boring porno |
Ted greets them with a jovial, "Hey, how's it going?".
Then he starts watching the movie along with them. Meg Ryan, fully clothed in a
tasteful blouse and leather skirt, is onscreen. Per the scene requirements, she
falls backwards onto the floor. Because this is a comedic SF film, hijinks
ensue.
After about thirty seconds, Ted says, "Man, this is
like, the most boring porno I've ever seen!" Everyone else chorused,
"That's because it's not a porno!"
I shared the story of Ted because it relates to the topic of
reader expectations--in this case, SFR. I, for one, have been approaching SFR as
a hybrid of SF and romance. Heat levels vary, of course, but ultimately I've
been defining SFR as a romance in a technology-based setting that focuses on
the emotional journey of the main couple (or threesome, as the case may be).
Intimate relations can be a part of that, but the couple's sexual journey
doesn't define the whole plot.
However, I might have been naïve because I recently became
aware that for some readers, stories in an SF setting--particularly alien
ones--may actually be code for SF taboo erotica. Meaning, stories that include
taboo elements but aren't tagged as such (or the tags are incomplete).
I'm guessing the fantastical nature of many SF settings and characters gives some readers permission to enjoy taboo elements that in a contemporary setting might make them uncomfortable (perhaps by introducing a "distancing" effect? "It's not real and never could be real, so therefore is unconnected with real life situations."). For example, dubious consent would be permissible to a reader in a futuristic setting, but not a contemporary one.
I've never defined a fantastical setting as code for anything,
which was why I was surprised SFR might be used or viewed that way. To me,
elements like dubious consent is dubious consent whether it happens in a
futuristic, fantasy, historical, paranormal, or contemporary setting. I also
view it as the same regardless of who's involved. However, it appears other
readers feel differently.
Okay, sure, but the thing with codes is that not everyone
knows how to decode them. Obviously I didn't, because I didn't even know this
was a thing! And now I'm wondering if this code aspect of SFR has been
impacting reader perception of the genre overall. How many readers view the
"sci-fi romance" tag as code for the taboo, only to be disappointed
when many of them don't deliver? That raises another question: how are consent
culture/consent elements viewed in sci-fi romance? I usually expect consent to
be the default unless a story is otherwise tagged.
The erotic sci-fi romances I've read tend to fall into two
categories:
Books with "sci-fi romance" or "erotic sci-fi romance" in the tags or implied
in the blurb, but are more accurately described as SF erotica/taboo erotica
with romantic elements (e.g., couple stays together at end, but their sexual
journey is the plot's focus)
Sci-fi romance with erotic heat levels, but the stories also
have a relationship plot (and in some cases an external plot as well)
Occasionally, the line is blurred. One story might feature a
human couple engaged in non-consensual sex, while another may feature a heroine
having consensual sex with an alien. Some may find the interspecies sex taboo
even if it's consensual, while others consider non-con to be the taboo element.
On top of that, some human characters are considered taboo when they really aren't.
How SFR is marketed impacts a reader's expectations. If
elements like alien characters are indeed code for taboo/SF erotica elements,
wouldn't stories with a romance plot frustrate readers who only want an
exploration of a couple's sexual journey?
Think of poor Ted. He was expecting porn, but got a non-porn
SF movie instead. From his perspective, the scene indicators or "tags"--group
of guys watching a movie, pretty lady onscreen, his probable past
experience--indicated porn. However, the content of INNERSPACE is decidedly
non-erotic science fiction. (Why Ted didn't recognize Hollywood celebrity Meg
Ryan is a mystery that shall remain unsolved.)
Similarly, it seems some readers expect SF taboo erotica from
labels like "erotic sci-fi romance" or even "sci-fi
romance," but get non-erotic sci-fi romance instead, or SFR with erotic
heat levels rather than a specific
focus on the characters' sexual journey.
Then there are readers who encounter a "sci-fi
romance" label and/or a blurb that promises a romance, and their
expectations are thwarted because the story turns out to be SF erotica/taboo
erotica.
Accurate labeling is especially important for readers who
want SFRs featuring consent cultures.
All of the above is why it'd be
really helpful if more authors and publishers could be as transparent as possible in the marketing
so readers would know if a futuristic setting means taboo elements, especially ones
like dub-con/non-con, or if the futuristic setting means things like alien characters
negotiate different sexual customs/biology in a consensual fashion.
Sometimes readers want both kinds of
stories, but at different times. Other readers will be served by knowing which
books to avoid or which ones to seek out.
These days, the ebook system creates
significant privacy for readers, so I'm perplexed as to why there's still a
need to cloak taboo SF erotica with anything "sci-fi romance." If I'm
in the mood for taboo, I'd like to know exactly where to find it. Conversely,
if I want to read SFR with consent culture and a focus on the emotional part of
romance, I'd like to have a reasonable assurance via tags, descriptions etc.
that I won't be blindsided with something markedly different and potentially
disturbing.
Tagging is also a way to acknowledge
problematic elements in our reading. Even as some of us may enjoy taboo content,
it's important to examine and question why in light of real life situations.
These stories, no matter how fantastical, aren't created in a vacuum. Being a
fan of the taboo and being responsible about it are not mutually exclusive.
What are your thoughts about how
authors and publishers can best accurately label sci-fi romances that include
taboo elements? What about consent elements and consent cultures--would you
find it helpful if those were highlighted as well?
Joyfully yours,
Heather