Why Joxer and Ares?
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| Title: | Why Joxer and Ares? |
| Creator: | Carolyn M. Wallace |
| Date(s): | November 30, 1999 |
| Medium: | online |
| Fandom: | |
| Topic: | fiction writing, Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, Xena |
| External Links: | Why Joxer and Ares?/WebCite |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
Why Joxer and Ares? is a Joxer/Ares essay by Carolyn M. Wallace.
It is part of the Fanfic Symposium series, and a response to Joxer?!?! And Other Things I Don't Get.
The Response Essays
- Same Actor Crossovers (response to Lucy Gillam)
- Ares/Joxer? Sure!
- Response to: Joxer?!?!? And Other Things I Don't Get
- Why Joxer and Ares?
Excerpt
The wonderful thing about "Xena: Warrior Princess" and "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys" (a moment of silence, please, as we mourn the loss of this show) is that you can enjoy them on so many levels. You can enjoy the mythic confrontation of good versus evil, the warm stories of friendships established through years of suffering and joy, or you can just watch the pretty men and women in tight-fitting leather bounce around. (My husband has gotten into the habit of gleefully shouting "Cleavage!" whenever a gratuitous chest shot appears.)The same is true for the Joxer/Ares collection of fanfic stories. Rather than belabor the obvious (we think Ted Raimi and Kevin Smith are hot and we want to imagine their characters getting it on), I'd like to take a deeper, more psychological look at the Joxer/Ares pairing and why I think it works for readers. Specifically, I'd like to take a look at those stories that deal with Joxer and Ares not only as sexual partners, but as two men between whom a true and lasting love develops. I would point out, however, that this is still just my opinion and other people who enjoy the Joxer/Ares pairing may totally disagree with my thoughts on the subject. I can't write for every Joxer/Ares fan, only for myself.
WHY JOXER? First of all, why would anyone choose Joxer as the romantic hero of a story? As Lucy pointed out, "What charm Joxer has pretty much rests on him being a sweet, sincere, pretty much hopeless loser. Well, loser by Greek warrior standards, anyway." Why would anyone make a LOSER the romantic lead?
Because people seem to have a deep-seated neat to root for the underdog.