(no subject)

[sophiaserpentia]

Someone asked me recently why I referred to the gallae as "quasi-transsexual" instead of just "transsexual." I can't find the comment now, so I'm replying here.

I used the term because I'm not sure if I'm entirely comfortable using modern terms to refer to ancient forms of sexual or gender variance. Ancient Greek homosexuality, for example, was of an entirely different nature than modern experience. The modern term "transsexual" is primarily medical and technical in meaning.

OTOH, I believe there must be a strong affinity between the gallae and modern transsexuals -- so perhaps I am being overly cautious.

Comments

[cktraveler.livejournal.com]

How would you define Sohma Yuki from Fruits Basket?

(If you're not familiar with Furuba, -- it's an anime magical-romance series with a very strong subtext. While I believe it was intended to be a metaphor for homosexuality, parts of the show only make sense if we take Yuki's transformative curse as being a stronger variance than that.)

[sophiaserpentia.livejournal.com]

I'm not familiar with that at all, sorry.

[cktraveler.livejournal.com]

If we're ever in the same place I'll run the videos or manga by you ... it's an elucidating study.

The main idea is that centuries ago the Sohma family was placed under a curse: whenever they come into contact with a member of the opposite sex who isn't also a Sohma, they transform into the animals of the Chinese zodiac. The family keeps itself alive by arranging marriages between cousins, but for the most part they isolate themselves from the outside world.

The plotline revolves around the relationship between Sohma Yuki, who is the Mouse of the zodiac, and a socially outcast girl named Honda Tohru who comes to live with the Sohmas after the death of her family. Gender fluidity is one of the primary themes of the series, and the lifestyle changes Yuki has to make to preserve his secret are painfully familiar.