So you want to write identity porn

[snowynight]

So you may know about the classical romance triangle between Superman, Clark Kent and Lois Lane. Or how Spiderman balances between the meek Peter Parker and the superhero Spiderman. Or when in Les Miserables Jean Valjean puts on a fake identity. There's a name for this kind of stories: 'Identity Porn' , which is a narrative kink for stories which focus on people with fluid, or multiple, or secret, identities, and how those identities work.

Identity porn fascinates us, as our identity is what distinguish us from other people. But identity porn kind of play with the assumption that we have a single, real and consistent identity.  In our daily life, we put on a social face "to make a definite impression upon others, and on the other to conceal the true nature of the individual", and a secret identity is a logical extension of that. Who's the one behind the mask? Is there really a person behind the mask? A lot of examples can be found in superhero and magic girls canons, as many of the characters have a secret identity, and this affects the people in their respective position in the society and their community. It introduces a lot of tension in how the characters form relationships with others and see themselves. Of course sometimes we love it just because it's hot. .

Common Tropes in identity porn
Secret identity: Well... yeah... hard to avoid this trope when you've decided to write an identity porn story
Love My Alter Ego: It has been here since Psyche and Cupid.  Add a lot of drama/angst to the story.

Choices, Choices
What kind of secret identities do the characters have? What's the cost of being found out? Which one, or whether there's a true identity of the character? What do the characters feel about their respective identities and how do they affect their relationships with others?

Pitfalls
It's annoying when DC can't decide whether Superman or Clark Kent's the mask. It's frustrating when secret identity becomes an idiot plot point when characters don't have a good reason to keep one or anyone with a brain can see through the disguise. Consent issues also can rise of the situation and makes the readers uncomfortable.

Potential Subversion
Lois Lane slaps Clark Kent when he reveals himself as Superman - Lying is no fun. Have the characters in love with the civilian identity but not the flashier identity. Becoming the mask. Have the characters revel in their fluid identities

Identity Porn in canon
In Marvel and DCU, the variety of superheroes with their secret identities practically creates the trope, so it's fun to mention the special cases. Steve Rogers's loved by all his love interests, but not Captain America. So is Daredevil. Sailor Moon as the trope codifier of the magic girls warriors has Usagi in love with Tuxedo Masked but annoyed by his civilian identity. The Wire gives us Vinny who goes undercover and always risk becoming the mask. Les Miserables has Jean Valjean putting on a new identity and makes his old life a secret past.

Fic rec:
A Face To Meet The Faces That You Meet by valtyr (Marvel comics, Steve Rogers/Tony Stark) Summary: Identity porn. AU post Cap's death in ways that should be pretty obvious.
Strictly Method by thingswithwings (Sherlock Holmes, Holmes/Watson) summary: "When I agreed to share lodgings with you, I didn't realise that I would be sharing with twenty-odd others as well," I said. "Perhaps you should be paying additional rent."
Exit, Pursued by a Bear by schwutthing (Les Miserable,  Javert/Jean Valjean) summary: “If Javert had a heart, perhaps M. Madeleine would be a man after his own.”

Reference:
http://melannen.dreamwidth.org/299787.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persona_%28psychology%29

Comments

[hellkitty]

I honestly had never heard of identity porn before (it's not a thing in our fandom very much) but this is really fascinating! I can totally see the appeal and I'm all over those recs! :D Thank you!

[snowynight]

Thank you for reading and liking it.