That girl

[seriousfic]

So I guess I'll be seeing The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, both because I'll always see how David Fincher tries to make up for Alien 3 and because I'm pretty much obligated to have a feminist opinion of it. One thing I find interesting: I'm pretty deep in femslash fandom, which really is one big fandom all traveling under one banner, like survivors in a zombie movie. "We've exhausted Legend of the Seeker's canon; send word. We're moving on to Once Upon A Time."

Anyway, I don't think I've heard a peep about Lisbeth Salander. Admittedly, I haven't been on tumblr the last few days--gifs, family computer, not a good mix--but femslashers are desperate for representation, to the point of writing a hundred-odd fics about a canon-lesbian TV pilot that was never even officially aired (to be fair, it was going to be a cop show. The lesbians never had a chance). So when the biggest alt-sex figure in pop culture can't get arrested in femslash fandom... I mean, I never read the books, but I watched the first and second movie, and I'll give the author this. In contrast to lip-service bisexuals, Lisbeth has a token dude romance and then seems to be all about the chicks. So what's the problem there?

It makes me wonder who Lisbeth is meant for, that she's not resounding with the demographic she claims with. I know there's a Lisbeth Salander fashion line coming out, but do straight women really do "Yes, I absolutely want to look like Lisbeth Salander"? And on the surface, she isn't exactly a DC Reboot Starfire, but could she be taken as a male fantasy figure. I mean, I know guys, there's a certain strata that wants a fantasy figure, they're just more polite about it than the average Spike TV watcher. So are they going "ah, swell, a strong female character" on the outside and "no-strings-attached sex! Girl-on-girl action!" on the inside? And then are lesbians picking up on this and saying "No thanks, my spider-sense is tingling"?

Girl-fanciers, your thoughts?

Comments

[colonel-green.livejournal.com]

I always thought Lisbeth was very popular among gay women, though, you're right, there isn't all that much fic written about her.

[mayireadtoday.livejournal.com]

For me, I'm interested in reading (and occasionally writing) fic where the pairing isn't canon. Because if it's canon then all I have to do is watch the tv show or movie. So why read or write about Lisbeth Salander when you can read the books or see the movies?

[lejo.livejournal.com]

I've always felt fic fulfills what fen can't/don't find in canon. Hence, textual LBGT characters will receive less fic attention than the subtextual/metaphorical LBGT figures.

Lisbeth being less a cypher than an open, poly book creates less desire for her representation in fandom. The text already drains the charge from her sexuality by representing it, like a lightning strike discharging the ions in the atmosphere.

[mcity.livejournal.com]

I'm a straight man, and I wouldn't go out with Lisbeth. Not because of her sexuality or personal beliefs or anything like that, but because of her mental instability, ability to ruin my Internet life, and lack of eyebrows.

>a hundred-odd fics about a canon-lesbian TV pilot that was never even officially aired (to be fair, it was going to be a cop show. The lesbians never had a chance).

Isn't 'Rizzoli and Isles' in its second season?

>It makes me wonder who Lisbeth is meant for, that she's not resounding with the demographic she claims with.

You mean people who write Mary Sues? I mean, besides Stieg Larsson.

[(Anonymous)]

>>a hundred-odd fics about a canon-lesbian TV pilot that was never even officially aired (to be fair, it was going to be a cop show. The lesbians never had a chance).

>Isn't 'Rizzoli and Isles' in its second season?

you just won the livejournals!

also, I have to add: the popularity of tara/willow, kate/renee, britbrit/santana femslash suggests that good canon pairings DO get a lot of love in fandom. I think the lack of Lisbeth femslash stems from her lack of an interesting girl to OTP with. Or is there one in the books? I haven't read them, and actually have no idea what I'm talking about /internet comment