Snape: teenaged fandom obsession over sexual preference

There's a thread on High Table at FA that asks: Severus Snape - straight, gay or bi?

WTF?

This was my reply.

What's the real question?

First, I think Snape lends himself particularly well to slash, simply because this has the potential to double the inner and outer conflict for dramatic purposes.

I personally write him straight, or asexual, because it's more canon for me, and I have this obsession to write as canonically as possible, despite the fact that I have written him in sexual situations with both men and women.

However, I think something more lies beyond this question. The question of Snape's sexual orientation is kind of by-the-by - is it really important?

I'd say that the real issues are how he deals with his emotions and urges. By asking ouselves about this, we might get closer to understanding the character, or at least parts of him (no pun intended), which is ultimately far more interesting to the discerning reader than "does he fancy men or women, or both?"


I think pondering over his preferences, therefore, detracts from the real issues.

*end of reply*

Exploring sexuality is one thing. I write him het, I write him slightly slashy (haven't quite got there, yet), but the point is, is it important? Is it? No. The character is important. OK, it's part of his character. But is it a big part of his character? No. It's a plot device. His penis and where he puts it is a plot device.

I'm ranting.

OK, I need choc.