Water's October, Right?: House Fanfiction Discussion

So I thought I understood what subtext was, and then I delved into fandom and found scores and scores of examples like this one: they shared chips once, or some other fairly random, everyday, mundane thing. I just don't understand why or how that's considered subtext. I'm going to be very clear that I am not complaining about what you see or what you write. What I am is confused. If sharing a few chips is subtext, is there anything that isn't? You know, that's a fair comment. As I understand it, subtext is simply what goes on beneath the text, whether the author intended it to be there or not. All subtext is inferred by the observer of the text, so as such its interpretation is highly subjective. Of course not all subtext is sexual or romantic, though fandom certainly seems to interpret it that way. :) Even without slash goggles, I saw enough subtext in that chip-sharing moment to infer certain things about Kutner and Wilson's relationship which weren't otherwise seen in the show. E.g.: up until that point we only saw House and Wilson sharing chips. Here was Kutner stealing Wilson's chips in the exact same way we'd expect House to. So, to me that implied a certain familiarity between Kutner and Wilson, at least. Extrapolating from that: after Kutner died we learned that Wilson was reading Kutner's short stories, which again implied a certain level of trust between them, also shared interests, which are building blocks of friendship. Add in Wilson's reaction after Kutner's death; IMHO, to me, the sum of that whole subtext, starting with the chips, suggested a friendship between Wilson and Kutner outside of what we saw in the show (and that sadly never got to be explored). I don't know if TPTB intended that subtext to be there. Maybe the chip-sharing scene was just meant to show how silly it was for House and Amber to fight over Wilson. I think both interpretations are equally valid. Wow, this turned a bit TL;DR, didn't it. My thoughts on yaoi, let me show you them. :)

Wow, this turned a bit TL;DR, didn't it. My thoughts on yaoi, let me show you them. :) Translate, please. That's sort of a slash/internet phrase (referring to Japanese media slash -- yaoi) to basically acknowledge off topicness. To quote one definition: The primary use of the phrase now is to indicate where anyone (OP, Wanka or Wanker) is heading into long-winded way off-topicness that no one cares about, or because someone is indeed talking about yaoi. As to subtext ... I do think there are different definitions, but it doesn't have to be a long standing thing. I remember its use in "Buffy" from one single conversation -- Giles' comment that the "subtext is rapidly becoming text." And people were talking about House and Wilson subtext from the first episode, if not the first scene. It's definitely something not written, and sometimes not even intended by the writer, but something the audience draws from and sometimes is just about chemistry between two actors, I think. So if you take the chips scene with Kutner and Wilson, there's an ease between them that's easy to draw from if you're a person who loves subtext and rarepairs. Same as the tapping of flowers between Cole and Thirteen. And as I said upthread, I can see where someone can take the teasing between Chase and Foreman and claim it as subtext (especially in a series in which the closest friendship is portrayed with insults and pranks.)

E.g.: up until that point we only saw House and Wilson sharing chips. Here was Kutner stealing Wilson's chips in the exact same way we'd expect House to. In TB or Not TB, when House goes to the press conference, Foreman takes House's seat next to Wilson in Coma Guy's room and reaches over for the chips without asking. (Compelling television.) Whoops, my mistake. I stand corrected, thank you. :oops: That said, if someone wanted to write Foreman/Wilson, she could use her reading of the subtext from this scene as the basis. Writers who like to write rarepairs pretty much have to take it where they can find it. My thoughts on yaoi, let me show you them. :) Translate, please. What Namaste said. And in this case, they actually are about yaoi. :)

So I thought I understood what subtext was, and then I delved into fandom and found scores and scores of examples like this one: they shared chips once, or some other fairly random, everyday, mundane thing. I just don't understand why or how that's considered subtext. I'm going to be very clear that I am not complaining about what you see or what you write. What I am is confused. If sharing a few chips is subtext, is there anything that isn't? I agree with your assessment of what 'subtext' is, but I don't know if it can be formally defined to exclude something like sharing chips. For some people, sharing food might constitute an underlying sexual attraction. I adore chips and would gladly share them with many people with whom I wouldn't even care to have a conversation. So sharing chips, in my opinion, signifies only that the sharers like chips. But to someone else, it could mean a lot more. Generally I think of sexual subtext as physical contact, ambigious remarks, hurt/comfort scenarios, or time spent together that is atypical of friendship (e.g. first thing in the morning.) For me, it's subtext if an uninformed person might interpret it as a relationship, without knowing any better. As I mentioned, I'm sure there's someone out there who refuses to share chips with anyone but a signficant other. So I don't think it can be formally defined. But I'm curious to see what other slash writers think.

I know I was meant to be appreciating the sex scene in Broken on a number of levels, but all I could think of was 'he's having unprotected sex'. Does this mean we can legitimately write long lost daughter stories?

Nothing's infallible...

Well, they can't really show House putting on a condom - it would have been censored by the networks. Which is kind of silly, if they can show sex, then they should be able to show at least a condom wrapper lying on the floor or something along those lines. I've seen many a condom on Queer as Folk but QAF has that parental warning in the beginning. Also I think it might have aired later than House. I feel certain that even a glimpse of a condom would have been censored out. However, I don't know if it's all that necessary to show every last detail for us to fill in the blanks. There are lots of things that are omitted from television - for example, it's not credible that whole episodes go by in which we don't see the doctors going to the bathroom, but we assume that they do. BTW, birth control pills may not be infallible but they are considerably more reliable than condoms, which can break or fall off. However, as we all know, birth control pills do not prevent STDs. Just a friendly PSA.

Several times I've seen someone say, while complaining, "That episode was like fanfiction." The person then doesn't say how the episode was like it; I suppose she/he takes it for granted that we will know what was meant. What's with the slam on fanfic? I know more than a dozen fanfiction writers in House fandom who have better continuity, better logic, and more emotionally-consistent characterization than the show itself. I realize the show has constraints on it that fanfiction writers don't (the six-act format, the need to explain for new viewers, expectations of the network, other writers to coordinate with), but still. Is this a sterotype that all fanfiction is badfic, or is there something I'm missing?

Heh. I keep thinking: "If that's just like fanfic, then where the MPREG* or the slash? Why is no one weeping while listening to Evanscence?" (OT: I know our fine mods have no control but I'm about to find someone at Forumer to smack over this redirecting crap.) *If you don't know what MPREG is, then I don't know if I want to shatter your illusions.

I always assume they mean "That episode was like bad fanfiction." House is a larger-than-life personality but I expect the writers to keep his universe grounded in something resembling reality. When they don't, just for the sake of a good line or joke, it does remind me of something that would get MSTed. For me, there have been very few examples of that. Some of the artistic license in the Tritter arc drove me up the wall (lack of warrants to look at patient files, witness tampering, etc.) but I knew it was due to the time constraints of 43-minutes to tell a story without introducing dozens and dozens of new characters. Known Uns did have a bad fic scene for me. I have been to professional conferences. In the evening there may be a party. There may be a band. But a costume party that everyone shows up for, in costume? I don't believe it unless the professional association is for theatrical costumers. That scene was there because LE & HL looked great in those outfit, it was a shout-out to BlackAdder the Third fans and because it gave them a good opening for the House/Cuddy banter. Unfortunately, the MST for that would almost write itself.

Our business planner always has themed parties for our big business events, including a Roaring 20s party in which everyone was not only invited to dress in costume, but fedoras were handed out to the men and feather boas to the women. Another conference had a cowboy theme, and a third a motorcycle theme (doo rags were handed out). Our parties are always highly anticipated because after a sitting through the conference all day, people get to blow off steam. And I'm not talking about interns, but rather company presidents and vice presidents taking part. So the idea of a costume party at this conference? Maybe bumped up a bit, but within the realm of realism from my perspective.

Hee. I've often seen the "That was like fanfic!" complaint as just another form of, "TPTB are catering to those other idiot fans instead of catering to MEEEE like they're supposed to!" I pretty much ignore it, except for that stupid CIA episode, which I did think was like (bad) fanfic. EDITING TO ADD that yeah, my dad was a member of the Professional Photographers of America and they did theme parties at their conferences, too. The year I really remember was when it was a Tacky Tourist party (this was in Florida) and Dad won for best costume.

House has done some pretty bad things to Wilson too, but he apologizes almost every time and means it. Wilson is the only person on the show he's said 'I'm sorry' to. He also sees Wilson as a father substitute. Watch how he's always seeking his approval and usually follows his advice. He sees Wilson's annoying and sometimes unfair lectures as a form of caring. House has a very low self-esteem. Despite Wilson's faults, House thinks of him as a saint for putting up with his antics. I took this quote from the episode thread, as it touches on a couple of points that are often explored in fanfiction. 1) Wilson's lack of accountability (i.e. Wilson never apologizes for the bad things he does to House) and 2) Wilson as father substitute. As a reader, I have found that as long Wilson's apology does not take the form of total and complete debasement of Wilson's character nor the elevation of House to sainthood/martyrdoom, I can totally read it and enjoy it. Far more complicated for me is issue number 2, I think it is because most of the fics that I've read that explore it, make it Wilson's responsability to undo the damage done by House's father. So, since PapaHouse never said he was proud of House now is Wilson's job to tell House again and again how proud he is of him. Since PapaHouse told House the cruel truth, now is Wilson's job to make sure that House only hears nice and lovely truths. Since PapaHouse abused House now it is Wilson's full time job and responsability that House is never hurt physically or emotionally. By the time the fic gets to this point I have long hit the back button. So my question to readers and writers, how do you deal with these two isues? or How do you enjoy seeing them handled?

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