#1. What is Subtext? Aka
the "Are they lesbians" debate.
Subtext is actually the underlying meaning placed
into an artistic media to portray a different
view than the obvious. In other words, it's
what's not there that counts! However, in the
world of Xena subtext has come to be used as
only referring to those who read between the
lines and see Xena and Gabrielle as lovers.
Subtext is the desperate embrace X and G have
after not seeing each other for a while, the
jealous looks when one of them finds a temporary
beau, the constant touching of each other's
arms, legs and faces. Ever noticed the fact
that once they realized they were soulmates
they stopped getting boyfriends every couple
of episodes? Yep, tell me that's not incriminating!
Subtext fan fiction is usually marked "Alternative"
or ALT for short.
As much as some of us would like to believe
in subtext, most of us know it is fictional.
Not once was an overt statement made to set
the debate straight on "Are they or aren't
they?" So, you'll just have to decide on
what your viewpoint is. Personally I started
out hating subtext, and now I'm a proud supporter.
I think subtext adds depths of meaning, and
that the show would feel quite hollow without
it.
#2. What's with that chakram-thing?
The chakram is an actual weapon, though they
were not known to return to their owners like
boomerangs. But, Xena's a special gal, and she
deserves a special weapon. *g* In the Xenaverse
there are two different chakrams that can combine
and give us the season 5/6 chakram: the chakram
of light, and the chakram of dark. Xena stumbles
upon the fact that she is using the chakram
of dark in the 5th season episode aptly named,
Chakram. At this point she combines the two
chakrams (the chak of light is already in the
temple) on the altar (which looks like a ying/yang
symbol) and the end result is a nifty chakram
with a center piece to hold it by and not chop
your fingers off. Oh, and the new one can split
into two "teardrop" shaped parts and
fly off seperate directions. Here's some examples.
#3. What's a Shipper?
A shipper is like a subtexter, but strike the
lesbian sex and substiture that with the good
old fashioned stuff. Usually these fans worship
the Ares and Xena or Joxer and Gab couplings.
#4. What does XWP have to
do with actual myths?
Quite a bit, while at the same time almost nothing
at all. It can give even the most well-schooled
person a migraine trying to sort fact (well
myth) from fiction (or at least the bards at
Ren Pics!) Why? Because the myths incorporated
into XWP don't just follow, Greek or Roman fables,
but Mesopatamian, Nordic, Christian, Indian,
Egyptian, and the list goes on! Basically, don't
take a single myth in Xena for a fact. Every
single one has been embelished in some part
by the writers, and thus strayed from it's original
content. But, one thing I should point out about
the wrtiers at Ren Pics is that most of the
time they do their homework quite throughly.
Even if a myth's characters are changed somewhat,
the myth's original lesson is still in tact.
Take for example the Christian tale of David
and Goliath. Even though the Xena-fied version
has Goliath being an old war buddy of Xena's
that turned sour on her, and had now been sent
to kill her, the moral is that the little guy
can still come out on top. That good will triumph
over blind hate. Just because Xena is there
to help David along a bit doesn't really spoil
the myth, it simply embelishes it! Many of the
myths occur in history hundreds, even thousands
of years apart. But, through the magic (and
disbelif of linear time on the writer's part)
of XWP they can occur within the same episode!
lol
#5. What is a "Xenite?"
Ahhh, that's pretty straightforward. It's the
dorky name we lazy fans of the show Xena Warrior
Princess (XWP) have adopted for ourselves. I
believe Lucy actually used the term for the
first time in an intreview and it simply stuck.
I'm a Xenite, and if you're reading this then
you probably are too!
#6. What does BGSB stand
for?
BGSB was a common phrase when XWP was in her
youth (1st-4th Season) to describe Gabrielle's
Billious Green Sports Bra. The ever shrinking,
and incredibly identifiable Bard's trademark.
Well, that and her whoop-ass Amazon staff!
#7. Is there gonna be a
Xena movie?
As of right now (March 13th, 2003), maybe. Rumors
have been flying, and Lucy herself has even
said she would like to do a movie! Check out
MaryD's
Movie News for updates!
However, if you need a quick fix, there is already
the animated
Xena movie for sale on VHS or DVD. It came
out in 1998.
#8. What software do you
use for graphics and HTML?
I use Macromedia
Dreamweaver for my webpages and Adobe
Photoshop for my graphics design. I've
also heard good things about Paint
Shop Pro, but since they dont' make a Macintosh
version I've never tried it for myself. Two
good free/shareware programs I've found on the
net are Graphic
Converter and Color IT I work on a macintosh,
so our freebie graphics programs are a step
above what's avaliable for PC.
#9. Where can I pick up
a shirt, cd, tape, dvd, action figure, etc...?
I have searched far and wide to bring the most
up-to-date listing of Xena merchandise I can
find to you. I remember many christmases ago
searching desperatly to find both action figures
and t shirts of the show, but failing miserably.
Now, here you can use the hours I've spent on
the web cataloging every bit of XWP merchandise
I came across and find those perfect presents!
Look in The
Warrior's Hut Merchandise store for everything
a Xenite might ever want (and somethings you
didn't even know you did. lol)
#10. I wanna build a webpage,
how do I do it?
Ahhh, the age old question. To buy web authoring
programs or not. This is something completely
up to the pocketbook of the buyer. I, personally,
have done both straight HTML coding, and used
a program. And I have to say life is sooo much
easier using a program! But, it pays off to
konw your basic HTML codes too. If you ever
want to have a well-established webpage then
you'll want to learn at least the basics. I
recommend the tutorials at the Webmonkey
garage. There's quite a range of subjects
for the novices on up to stuff for the old geisers
like me!
#11. Why is your handle
"orangelamb?"
Ya know, I get asked this quite often. Though,
I suppose it's only natural to be curious about
such an odd name. Well, you asked for it, so
no complaints!
My boyfriend's mother went to a fair in Texas
and brought me back a small, orange, stuffed
lamb doll. Well. actually she brought back quite
a few stuffed toys and told me I could have
whatever I wanted! I was inexplicably drawn
to the day-glo orange lamb, and chose him as
my toy. At first he just hung out in my room,
on top of my bed, then he graduated to a place
atop my monitor. I was just beginning to really
get into online stuff (forums, AIM, and such)
and I needed a screen name. My eyes traveled
around the room in search of an idea. . .nightshade?
Nah, to typical, and probably already taken.
LeoCat? Uh uh, doesn't sound right. Things went
on at about this pace until I slouched back
defeated into my chair, and my eyes came to
rest on a certain lamb perched on my monitor.
Ah ha! And the rest is history. Do
you want to see the little bugger?
