Vaguely metaish thought about LoM fic, very vaguely inspired by...

[hmpf]

reading titles and summaries of Valentine's Day fic at the comm, I suppose.

I just discovered that - in addition to my general allergy to 'soulmates' ideas etc. - I have a particular dislike of the idea that Gene is somehow the first and only person Sam has met who is really 'right' for him. It's the shippy version of "only 1973 is the right place/time for Sam, he could never be happy in 2006/2007", I suppose. In both cases, I don't like how the problem is externalised. The problem - Sam's problem - is *Sam*. Not 2006. Not other people. *Sam* is the one who is so screwed up as to be unable to live, or love.

Right. Back to the &%§#!% thesis. *sigh*

Comments

[mikes-grrl.livejournal.com]

Meh. It's the whole 'soul mates' idea that drives almost all romantic fiction, whether Harlequin or fanfic -- and you are so right, it is simply the externalization of problems, and the externalization of solutions. It just does not appeal to me and I try to be tolerant, but part of me views it as irresponsibly dangerous. The message is that if you live in the right place or fall in love with the right person, ALL your problems will be SOLVED!!! Ta DA!!!!

Which is patently false.

One reason I don't think my original romance fiction would ever sell mainstream. My characters tend to have really messy romantic lives that are not very idealized...and this despite my penchant for happy endings! LOL! oh well.

Yeah.

[hmpf.livejournal.com]

>The message is that if you live in the right place or fall in love with the right person, ALL your problems will be SOLVED!!!

And by implication, if you don't live in the right place/meet the right person, you're doomed, and there's nothing you can do, etc.