Questions About Panorama: The Missing Chapter: From the Memoir Views from the Cockpit

by Ross Victory (Goodreads Author)

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Answered Questions (2)

Ross Victory I wanted to integrate and expand on themes from my first book which used airplane metaphors to describe life perspectives vs. airplane perspective thr…moreI wanted to integrate and expand on themes from my first book which used airplane metaphors to describe life perspectives vs. airplane perspective through ideas of turbulence, nose-diving, view from the cockpit, and overall visibility.

There are three characters sitting on a plane wing. The couple is staring at the moonlight enjoying the moment, but one male character is distracted by their presence and the two men are holding each other's hand behind the woman's back. I wanted to evoke several feelings... love which is apparent between the man and woman, but also love also in the shadow of the moonlight between the two men, high-level perspective by being on a plane wing, international adventure with the flags on the smaller plans, and also numbness as one male character is holding a prescription bottle.

I don't believe the trope to "not judge a book by its cover." Let's be honest, if the cover isn't striking or evocative, then readers may be reluctant to even pick it up!

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Do you think there is a double standard between bisexual women and bisexual men? What is bisexual erasure exactly?

Ross Victory Bisexual women face specific challenges with lesbians and straight men, but I think society, pop culture, rap culture, etc. has brought bisexual femal…moreBisexual women face specific challenges with lesbians and straight men, but I think society, pop culture, rap culture, etc. has brought bisexual female identity to the masses. On a surface level, we hear rap songs boast, "my girl, got a girl," and more bisexual women are represented in media despite their range of narratives shown.

It's quite common for a straight guy to gush over bisexual women in-person, on TV or internet screens, because of his pre-existing fantasies (or hope) about participation in HER same-sex experience. This is not deference - this is textbook patriarchial thinking. It gets sad when some women superficially use bisexuality to play to the ego of men which causes its own erasure. The reason for the double standard, though, is in the preservation of heterosexual privilege and access.

As a collective, a man's masculinity, his worth, and his entry into heaven is from being perceived as heterosexual. So by a man willfully admitting his bisexuality, even as a virgin or celibate, his worth is called into question and devalued as illegitimate, non-monogamous, or disease-ridden. When you add being other social identities, it becomes more and more taboo. The existence of bi men also indirectly calls into questions one's straightness.

Erasure feels like watching TV, and a clearly bisexual character is labeled as gay or straight despite visual or verbal depictions of cross-sex and same-sex attraction or sex. Person-to-person it feels like people referencing bisexuals as queer, gay, confused, indecisive, and pretty much anything but valid.

The answer is mostly empathy, less judgment, and safe spaces for people to be themselves. There are also political concerns and negative health outcomes that need to be addressed. My story is in service to those ideas and people stuck in the crossfire.(less)

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