So, longtime readers will know that I owe the Fifty Shades of Grey series a bit of a...debt of honour, I guess. The marathon read-along I published on Twitter, complete with a prologue and epilogue blog post for each, is what established my name. The authors I've met, my editing career...none of it would have been possible without a goofy and darkly disturbing trilogy of poorly written and imagined porn.
However, I've seen cries from across the internet over fifty shades of fatigue. So instead, I'm going to bring you a short series on dark romance and BDSM, and we're even going to talk about why the hell this series (and other dark romances) have been so popular. Clearly, the movie has touched a nerve, and it's too easy to hate on it. So we're going to do the hard thing, and examine why it works--as well as providing much better alternatives. I've even got an exclusive interview with the up-and-coming dark romance darling Katie de Long, a new author who's bringing a shadowy, diverse, intelligent angle to a much maligned genre.
First, however, we're going to start this the easy way--I present to you, the comments section of every Fifty Shades of Grey article I've read so far.
- A Middle-Aged Man · Top Commenter
Oh, man, I can't believe my wife is dragging me to this. *barf*Reply · Like · 10 · February 13 at 9:55pm - A Middle-Aged Woman
Read the books. Why hasn't anyone read the books? They're so much better!Reply · Like · 15 · February 13 at 9:57pm- Another Feminist
No kidding. I love BDSM, but this is driving me crazy. Let's have an intelligent and reasonable conversation about alternatives to this book!Reply · Like · 43 · February 14 at 11:18pm- Some Twentysomething Feminist
Yes! I don't think we need to "save the children", but this kind of thing needs to be labelled properly. Fanfic sites label things, and it works well.Reply · Like · 27 · February 13 at 11:32pm
- Raging Conservative
THINK OF THE CHILDREN THIS SERIES IS DESTROYING AMERICA THESE ARE THE END TIMES BDSM IS DEGENERATE AND DISGUSTINGReply · Like · 05 · February 13 at 1:55am
- Another Middle-Aged Lady
These books aren't really about abuse! They're just a fantasy!Reply · Like · 2 · February 13 at 2:34 am - An Older Man
WHY WON'T ANYONE THINK OF THE IMPRESSIONABLE YOUNG GIRLSReply · Like · 28 · February 13 at 4:34 am
A Well-Meaning Devil's Advocate
We don't really talk about crappy role models for men, though. What about the bad lessons young boys are learning?Reply · Like · 24 · February 13 at 5:56 am
- An MRA
Do you think if I abuse girls, they'll love me too? They only love him because he's rich.Reply · Like · 3 · February 14 at 6:28 am
A Twentysomething Feminist
DUDE NO STAHPReply · Like · 2 · February 13 at 7:56 am- A Middle-Aged Woman
Why do you even want to post on here if you hate it so much?!Reply · Like · 4 · February 14 at 8:05 am- A Drive-By Asshole
Because it's fun?Reply · Like · 245 · February 13 at 8:56 am
- A Thirtysomething Woman
I can't even get over how sexy this movie is going to be!
Reply · Like · 245 · February 13 at 9:56 am - A BDSM Fan
Seriously, this isn't how BDSM works, not even a little bit. I'm so ashamed and embarrassed that these terrible pieces of fanfic crap are representing BDSM to the world. Can't everyone just go watch Secretary? It's approximately a million times better.Reply · Like · 456 · February 14 at 10:03 am- Another Middle-Aged Woman
God, stop harshing my marshmallow! The book is just innocent fun!Reply · Like · 23 · February 14 at 10:23 am- A BDSM Fan
Um, no...it's really not...Reply · Like · 85 · February 14 at 11:33 am- A Well-Meaning Devil's Advocate
At least people are getting laid as a result of watching it.Reply · Like · 7 · February 14 at 11:45 am- Drive-By Asshole
Screw this. I'll be drinking Kraken rum and watching Jupiter Ascending until this whole thing blows over.Reply · Like · 46 · February 14 at 12:03 pmAnd there you have it. That's why I haven't done this review yet; I probably will, but I'd rather catch up on Jupiter Ascending, work on my sequels and anthologies, and put out more books, as well as getting through my editing queue. Speaking of editing--keep an eye out for Katie de Long's interview, launching this week!
***Thanks for dropping by the nest once again. Leave your comments, rebuttals, and vehement agreements below. Don't miss any of the phuquerie. Find Michelle on Twitter, Facebook, and on Tumblr, and find her work on Amazon. Check back on the blog to see when one of the irregular posts has careened onto your feed. This is the one and only SciFiMagpie, over and out!
Crappy fanfic has somehow become the manifesto for faux liberation via the same old shackles (no pun intended): I, woman, am nothing; you, man, are everything; teach me, O Great Brooding Dick.
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