Tags
aliens, avatar, extremely specific tropes, farscape, liara t'soni, mass effect, neytiri, sex, video, zotoh zhaan
This is a guest post by Christa Blackmon in collaboration with Youtube series PaulTalks.
Some people say the greatest sex organ on a human being is the brain. Fantasy is an essential part of our sexuality so it should come as no surprise that when we started dreaming up creatures from other planets we also started thinking about how we could f*ck them.
I sat down with gender activist Paul Roth to talk about this very specific alien fantasy: the blue skinned alien woman who can connect not only with your body, but with your mind.
We take a look at three examples in popular science fiction from the last twenty years: Zotoh Zhaan in the Australian TV series Farscape, Neytiri in James Cameron’s Avatar, and Liara T’Soni in the Mass Effect video game series.
What’s the deal with their incredibly specialized sexual talents? Is it a harmful fantasy or is it a sign that our culture is broadening its ideas of sexual connection? And what’s so hot about the color blue, anyway? Watch the video to find out and tell us what you think!
Christa Blackmon is a freelance writer specializing in conflict, gender, and science fiction living in Washington, DC. You can follow her at @TheOdalisque.
Neytiri and Jake kissing in Avatar
from the youtube comments:
Mandy S.
This made me look at something I already love (Farscape) from a whole new angle. I love it when discussions can do that. Awesome guest, awesome interview.
from tumblr:
piratequeennina
I love this whole vlog, because I mean I’ve noticed this trope too and it’s so great to see other women interested in this concept too.
I also just love the idea of unpacking lady tropes in media. I think that’s really important. 😀
Reblogged this on Jessica A Bruno (waybeyondfedup).
I’ve been thinking about this, and basically, I think it’s really, really weird. Like, I understand that straight white men keep trying to push the boundaries of “the most epic sexual experience EVAR” and that leads to some really messed up exotification and “authentic pleasure” experiences in men who purchase sex and such, but I’d like to make a few points.
1. Sex can actually be like this. Fucking people you actually like can be amazing and emotionally fulfilling and mindblowing and lead to deeper emotional connections.
I think it’s really weird that that’s not considered at all. No, now if guys want that kind of experience, they need to fuck a blue thing. Instead of focusing on the fact that YOU TOO could have this kind of sex RIGHT NOW just by respecting and being really into someone you’re fucking, you’ve instead decided regular women aren’t good enough and would much rather fuck a blue thing with mind probes. Whom you’d still objectify.
2. What the hell are these epic sex goddesses who are used to having really amazing sex with people of their own species possibly getting out of fucking a pasty white guy? Why are they doing this? What’s in it for them?
“Sex can actually be like this.”
We certainly have many a human on human testimonial to that fact! I think its fun to imagine a humanoid (alien or elven or mutant) that has a superhuman ability to do it. To build that kind of connection with your partner isn’t beyond the realm of possibility of course. Fantasy is a part of our sexuality, though. So its not wrong to want to build in a little bit of that.
PS In case anyone is interested, Erika Moen from Oh Joy Sex Toy did a review of a “fantasy phallus” maker. So if you want to get a peek at what some women are imagining in terms of a nonhuman partner, this is a good source! http://www.ohjoysextoy.com/fenrir/