Fifty Shades of Grey

DonZabu

This is all such bullshit.

In case you don't know: somebody wrote a Twilight fanfic, changed all the names, and then published that as an S&M smut novel. It has now sold millions of copies. It has become a springboard for debate on feminism and women's sexual freedom, particularly where e-readers are concerned:

the books are notable not for transgressive sex but for how women are using technology to subvert gendered shame by exploring explicit sexual content privately using e-readers.

They've been trying to get it into libraries, which has drawn comparisons between it and James Joyce's Ulysses, as if Fifty Shades had any literary value beyond its smut:

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/06/16/how-fifty-shades-of-grey-is-like-ulysses.html

You're goddamn right I mad.

ClockworkUniverse

While the book makes me facepalm, I'm at least glad it doesn't have as horrible a message as Twilight does. Maybe the two will sorta cancel each other out.

All Nines

comparisons between it and James Joyce's Ulysses

That's all I needed to hear.

/resident James Joyce hater fulfilling his obligations as such

RedEyedAbyss

I guess it's good to have a popular example for reference? Though this sounds like yet another one of those "Emperor's New Clothes" manufacturoversy news stories.

Crimson

In case you don't know: somebody wrote a Twilight fanfic, changed all the names, and then published that as an S&M smut novel.

Sooo...basically every Harlequin Romance novel ever?

CountryPumpkin

I honestly don't give two shits about most harlequin romance novels (i.e., Twilight), so good for this woman for making lots of money. 

/resident James Joyce hater fulfilling his obligations as such

Well it's perfectly acceptable for you and I to have different opinions, so there!

LouieW

While I am guessing I would find other romance novels' content equally gross, what really bugs me about Fifty Shades of Grey in particular is when people point to it as evidence that "sexual domination is in vogue" and then talk about how working women just naturally want to be dominated by men.

All Nines

Well it's perfectly acceptable for you and I to have different opinions, so there!

Yes. Yes it is.

Nova

While the book makes me facepalm, I'm at least glad it doesn't have as horrible a message as Twilight does. Maybe the two will sorta cancel each other out.

Steele is required by Grey to sign a contract allowing him complete control over her life as well as a non-disclosure agreement, something that he's required from all of his previous submissives. Upon learning that she is a virgin, Grey agrees to have sex with her in order to prepare her for later encounters, fully intending that the contract would be signed.

I guess it's not as horrible, but that's still not the sort of thing that seems of the good.

ClockworkUniverse

Um.



Nevermind then.

Nova

pretty much.

ClockworkUniverse

I just figured based on the fact that it wa apparently sexual that it would be counter to twilight's horrible message. But no, it just has a different horrible message.