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Musings on
K&S and K/S
My musings on different
aspects of The Kirk/Spock and Kirk&Spock fandom.
As said before this is my
opinion. Yours may differ and I respect that so please respect my views as
well.
I don’t mind gen fics at all and can certainly see the guys as just
great friends but when I read fics I really want my characters to have someone.
When the show ended neither Jim or Spock had anyone save each other. I can’t
see any female on the show who’ll fit them and I dislike OFCs a lot. Thus I
read almost exclusively slash fics in this fandom because:
1) Jim and Spock does love each other; that much is clear
2) I want my characters to have someone and not be alone
3) Jim and Spock really fit so nicely together
But show me a gen fic where Jim and Spock as soulmates are in focus and
treated like the heroes they are and I’m all game. Sadly I’ve found few that
live up to this.
Spock in a homosexual relationship
Slash fics for this couple is very popular but would Spock ever fall in
love with a man?
In favour of a yes:
1) Spock was raised to be very open-minded
2) He’s a very logical man and taking your best friend as a partner,
especially when you need to mate every 7 year or die, seems logical.
3) Spock has shown again and again that Jim means the world to him
4) In canon Spock never marries, never has a mate at all. It could be
speculated that he cannot have kids since he doesn’t continue his line.
4) Kirk touches Spock a lot and Spock allows this.
5) Spock’s words "I have been and always shall be yours" as
well as calling Kirk t’hy’la in the novel version of the first ST movie.
In favour of a no:
1) Spock is a logical man. Is a union without children logical? (This is
assuming Spock can have kids in the first place.)
2) Spock may be too emotionally closed off to let anyone have a
relationship with him.
3) Kirk is very human and has very human needs. Would Spock be able to
handle such an emotional partner?
4) Spock’s words "I have been and always shall be yours" as
well as calling Kirk t’hy’la in the novel version of the first ST movie could
simply be to show that he thinks of Kirk as his brother and soulmate.
In conclusion Spock is:
1) Asexual. In other words he doesn’t crave sexual or romantic unions in
any way.
2) Covering his true sexual orientation in fear Kirk or his friends
would leave him if they knew the truth
3) He’s not gay
4) He’s bisexual
All in all I see a relationship between Jim and Spock very easily.
Jim in a homosexual relationship
In favour:
1) He doesn’t seem to have much luck with women. They either leave him
or die. (Or he leaves them).
2) Despite all the women he dated he married only once and she died.
3) His strong connection to Spock
4) He touches Spock a lot and much more than any other of his friends
and Spock allows this.
5) He does things with and for Spock he would never otherwise do.
6) He’s a very tolerant and open-minded man.
7) Gary Mitchell. Good friend or former lover?
Against:
In
conclusion Jim is:
1)
In denial about his sexuality
2)
He’s not gay
3)
He’s bisexual
In conclusion I can easily see Jim with Spock but with none others
really. Why? Because Jim already cares so much for him and does more for and
with him than anyone else.
Jim physically hurts Spock (Domestic Discipline
or abuse fics)
People can read and write whatever they please but I don’t like DD or
abuse stories. For personal reasons I strongly disagree with violence as the
means to an end; especially as a way to say ‘I love you’. It’s wrong when it’s
between parents and kids and just as wrong between two adults who’re friends
and/or lovers. Pain has NOTHING to do with love. That’s just how I see it.
Jim has always protected Spock from harm. He has only ever hit him when
he had to in order to save Spock’s life and the ship.
I don’t believe Jim would ever hurt Spock. He commands a starship where he
is under a lot of pressure and if he really couldn’t control his temper there’s
no way he would have gotten his command. Though he does have a temper I can
NEVER seen him turn it against his allies and certainly not Spock. Jim was
always been very gentle with Spock; I cannot see him hurt him.
Furthermore then this whole concept assumes Spock would just let himself
be abused. This would be an extremely illogical thing to do and I don’t see
Spock doing it, despite his eagerness to find love and find his place in this
world.
Jim mentally abuses Spock
In many fics Jim is either indifferent to Spock’s needs or downright
cruel to him. If it’s a slash fic then Jim will often be unfaithful, flirt or
other things without considering his lover’s feelings.
I simply cannot see Jim being that mean or that stupid. With women he
always dated one and then left her (or she him) before he found a new one.
Now I can see him flirting etc. if it’s in the line of duty though he
was with Spock but not cheating. What would be the point in it? If he didn’t
find sexual satisfaction in Spock then he could just keep him as a close friend
and date women.
Spock mentally abuses Kirk
Now, I admit I love to read about my favourite characters being abused. However
in all seriousness I cannot see Spock using his telepathy to influence or
control Kirk. He’s too honourable a man for that….But the fics can be fascinating
all the same of course.
Spock physically abuses Kirk
Same reply as above. While this situation is more realistic because Jim
has the human emotions that bind you in an abusive relationship and Spock IS
stronger then again I think he’s too honourable to do it.
Spock gets hurt fics
There are so many fics out there where Spock gets hurt it’s a wonder
this character hasn’t sued for an early retirement yet *grins*
In all seriousness I don’t mind all that much but I do mind that Spock
are often put forth and Jim is pushed in the background. Jim would never let
Spock get hurt if there was any way for him to prevent it and many of these
fics seem to hurt Spock just to hurt him with no other reason and that’s boring
to read.
Spock and Jim – who’s in charge?
Many fanfics, especially slash, tries to answer this question but I
don’t think this is a question worth answering. In situations where Jim is the
strongest he leads (command, human relations and so forth) and in situations
where Spock is the strongest he’ll lead. I don’t see a power struggle between
them at all. They’re equals even with Jim’s emotional needs and Spock’s
potential pre Reform tendencies to protect and posses. Again Jim would never
hurt Spock because he’s his lifemate and vice versa (even if you don’t see that
in a sexual way).
Spock and Pre Reform Vulcan
Judging from Amok Time Vulcans are very possessive and dominating
beings. However since Sarek could marry Amanda it cannot be so much that it
cannot work between a Vulcan and a human.
Vulcan VS human
Spock is a mix of both and Jim accepts this. He never tries to make him
human (like McCoy) or Vulcan (like Sarek). So for that reason their friendship
and a potential relationship could work.
The whole 7-year cycle issue
It’s known that the Pon Farr arrives every 7 years for males where they
have to mate or die. However no one says they cannot mate all the rest of the
time if they so choose. ;)
Also either humans can survive it without permanent harm (Sarak/Amanda)
or the male can mate with someone else than his mate during this time.
Spock and love
Spock has shown that when he is free to do so (spores, etc) he can love
and does so deeply. After V’ger he isn’t afraid to show that love (hand holding
with Jim in sickbay and his words in ST2 and on). So, as friends or lovers,
Spock should be able to admit that Jim and him are soulmates.
I know most people love Spock the best but why in the world does the
fanfic have to suffer for this? Yes, Spock is wonderful but he’s not an angel
and he’s not God and he’s certainly not without faults or his share of the
blame. It’s sad to read Jim being put down to raise Spock and the clear
worshipping in the fics from these authors can get a bit annoying in the long
run. (Same as for Kirk though I don’t see this so often.). It’s hard to share
attention equally when you have a favourite character and of course you can and
should play favourite when you write but I feel it should only be done to a
certain degree.
On the outside Spock can seem less emotional than Jim but I don’t think
that’s right. Spock feels as much as he does, he just controls it better.
1) Spock must always keep his emotions under control. That most be a
constant strain.
2) His dual personality must be hard to balance.
Of course I don’t see Spock being overly emotional but restrained in his
responses. Still, he could fall in love. Especially after the whole V’Ger
thing.
