I love the Invisibles chaotic mess that it may be. The Apocalipstick story line and its direct connection to the way Lord Fanny defeats/saves Quimber is my favorite thread. I hesitate to say anything about the gender theory presented in the books because Im hardly an expert but...
How can you relate Lord Fanny in any way to trans? She is very clearly a drag queen. Im pretty sure that the books state that again and again. And while I love the grandmothers strategy and its success from a storytelling/mythological angle, how the hell can that be seen as something other than child abuse? I knew a guy in college who's mother wanted a little girl and used to play dress up with him. He had some issues. Lord Fanny may have embraced her "destiny" but the story never does much with the fact that it was somebody else's selfish design.
I love Lord Fanny in these books because the character (to me) represents just how complex and non linear sexuality and gender can be and intentionally obscures the line between nurture and nature/destiny. The moment where she losses faith and is re-empowered by the sin eater is one of the most moving things I've ever read. That scene encompassed the moment when Fanny took possession of her past and future.
Ok, so that came out as an emotional thing rather than really part of the discussion. I guess my point will be that Wanda is clearly trans and is Fanny is clearly a drag queen and Im not sure that comparing them is appropriate. Maybe if they were both written by the same author you might be able to say more about how he is understanding and representing gender by comparing/contrasting them.
It also seems to me unlikely that an author that is not trans or a drag queen or at least queer is likely to get this type of material "right". It also occurs to me that gender and sexuality are still hotly argued topics in academics and probably in their own communities and I bet that not all trans people would understand those characters the same. I would like to read that thread in the other community but as you said its locked.
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How can you relate Lord Fanny in any way to trans? She is very clearly a drag queen. Im pretty sure that the books state that again and again. And while I love the grandmothers strategy and its success from a storytelling/mythological angle, how the hell can that be seen as something other than child abuse? I knew a guy in college who's mother wanted a little girl and used to play dress up with him. He had some issues. Lord Fanny may have embraced her "destiny" but the story never does much with the fact that it was somebody else's selfish design.
I love Lord Fanny in these books because the character (to me) represents just how complex and non linear sexuality and gender can be and intentionally obscures the line between nurture and nature/destiny. The moment where she losses faith and is re-empowered by the sin eater is one of the most moving things I've ever read. That scene encompassed the moment when Fanny took possession of her past and future.
Ok, so that came out as an emotional thing rather than really part of the discussion. I guess my point will be that Wanda is clearly trans and is Fanny is clearly a drag queen and Im not sure that comparing them is appropriate. Maybe if they were both written by the same author you might be able to say more about how he is understanding and representing gender by comparing/contrasting them.
It also seems to me unlikely that an author that is not trans or a drag queen or at least queer is likely to get this type of material "right". It also occurs to me that gender and sexuality are still hotly argued topics in academics and probably in their own communities and I bet that not all trans people would understand those characters the same. I would like to read that thread in the other community but as you said its locked.