Two-faced Deer

College dorm life throws a lot of disparate people together in an intimate setting, and a shared bathroom opens up all sorts of possibilities for interaction and character growth. And so I wonder if the shower strips will tell us a something about Joyce's development? Let's find out.

Sexy Nudity? That first shower strip contrast's Joyce's over-clothed figure with two lightly-clad ladies. But this is the only time that a strip hints that Joyce fears being seen (or seeing) other women. I think her lady-loving is so deeply buried beneath her much more overt (and therefore scary) lad-lusting that she doesn't really register the bathroom as a potentially sexual scene at first, and this is confirmed at the end of week one when she meets Billie and immediately suggests they be shower-buddies.

The fact that Billie later is one of the first woman for whom Joyce has overt sexual feelings doesn't mean there's not sexual subtext here, just that it's not registering for Joyce.

Hair. Joyce loves hair - on Sal. On the shower floor - it's an issue.

And again a couple of weeks later...

But Joyce is an activist type of gal; the very next day we see the first of her attempts to deal with the situation:

It's laughably inadequate, but it's a glimpse of the girl who WILL find a way - somehow.

The arrival of best-friend and very out lesbian Becky introduces two new dynamics. The first is the extent of Joyce's courage and dedication to her friend; she loves her so much she braves the worst of shower stalls:

The second is that Joyce begins to think about how things might feel for someone sapphic:

Which is a chance to affirm Becky, but also an indicator that Joyce's friendships will make her more open to different experiences and perspectives.

However, it's roommate Sarah who unlocks the sexual potential of showers for Joyce when she returns to their room to find the naive Joyce swinging her vibrator around like a light-sabre. Her response conjures certain images - and associated shame - for Joyce once she's nude.

Meanwhile the hair gags (and potential solutions) continue

Underlining the depths of Joyce's dysfunctions, but also Sarah's cranky kindness:

And Joyce's half-baked ingenuity. Which leads us too...

And here's the real payoff for the 'Showers are horrible and grimy' story thread. Carla is kind. She later reveals that (pre-cannabis) she was also an intensely picky eater and empathises with Joyce - maybe a motivation for her here? The new shower shoes also give Carla an excuse to nickname Joyce 'Jugs' to differentiate her from (also 5'4", blonde, glasses-wearing) Dorothy. Shower strips provide opportunities for Joyce to connect in meaningful ways with her dorm-mates.

The next book includes a slipshine pornographique set in the showers, teased on the main site with this image:

Showers can be sites of sexiness, and many of the shower strips that follow take some cues from this - a chapter later there's a strip (named 'Showering'!) in which Becky carnally contemplates Dina in the showers. Joyce gets a parallel arc in the next chapter:

In Joyce's mind, showers are becoming sexy places. Intriguingly this story arc concludes with Dorothy strongly challenging Joyce to stop denying her sexual feelings.

But not just sexual feelings. Other feelings come up in the shower; they're places of vulnerability.

And there's Joyce, continuing to lead with her patented blend of kindness and awkwardness.

The books on this side of the time-slip are much more focused on Joyce's emerging sexuality than those prior, where it was overall socialisation in the secular world that she was struggling with. And though her neuroses are old hat by now, we still get this strip...

Keeping the gag going in a minor key - but also reminding readers of this particular neurosis as it sets up these strips a few chapters later:

Remember that Joyce who waddled into the shared bathroom swaddled in every garment she owned? Who couldn't bear the thought that she might think sexually about other people? She's gone. This Joyce, neurotic or no, is able to not only enjoy her own sexuality, but to be open about it with someone she finds intimidating. Because at heart, she's not her neuroses - she'll connect with anyone to grow and to learn. Dorothy has taught her how to love herself more, to enjoy being sexy, and so we get the Joyce who gets clean to get filthy... with Dorothy.

(ETA) And here's hoping that today's strip is the precursor of another Slipshine... though maybe not too slippery in the interests of health and safety!