Underfalter

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Pugh, Tison. “Excremental Eroticism, Carnivalesque Desires, and Gross Adolescence in Eoin Colfer’s Artemis Fowl." Innocence, Heterosexuality, and the Queerness of Children’s Literature. NY: Routledge, 2011. 119-39.

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I found this interesting essay about psychosexual development in the Artemis Fowl series (please read the whole thing for the critic’s full arguments). I was initially put off by its adherence to Freudian psychoanalysis but I actually found myself agreeing with a number of his points - the grossness of puberty, the author’s reading of No1, the role of the carnivalesque - although I disagree strongly with the perceived relationship between homosexuality and anality. I’m with the author to the point of identifying Mulch & flatulence as a celebration of the carnivalesque, but I dislike the elision the author (and Freudian analysis in general) makes into male homosexuality.

I also firmly disagree with the assertion that Artemis Fowl emerges from the books as a heterosexual teen, a sentiment I’ve seen repeated on fansites. This critic, like many fans, fails to distinguish between sexual attraction and any other form of attraction. Artemis’s attraction to Minerva, Holly, and Maria is never rendered as sexual. It is inexplicit, vague, hormonal but not erotic, and he remains in a state of arrested sexual development for the entirety of the series. Speaking personally, I felt non-sexual heteroromantic attraction at Artemis’s age in much the same way he does, but those feelings never progressed into sexual attraction and as an adult I identify as primarily homosexual. I find it interesting that the author (who wrote this essay before the release of the final books) predicts Artemis will end the series in a heterosexual relationship, which he doesn’t. The series’ rejection of heterosexual closure is one of the reasons I, as a queer adult, continue to return to it and create queer fan content for it. Similarly, Artemis’s aversion to ‘the vicissitudes of adolescence,’ as the author aptly puts it, is also something with which I identify strongly and a point in this essay I am generally in agreement with.

After thinking on this for a while, here are my jumbled thoughts, mostly addressing dental violence. I’ll put this under a cut as it’s a teeny tad graphic.

It might help for plot purposes if Artemis sr. plays a role in butlers hindrance. Artemis decides to take the offer, expecting butler to be able to accompany him, when in a fit of rage sr. informs him that butler technically works for him and would until his contract is up. He makes sure butler has no legal ability get to Artemis in America and uses old underworld contacts to prevent him getting there illegally. It could be a at in contrast of father figures reacting. ½

2/2 Artemis Sr. reverts and essentially throws a tantrum overs Artemis rejecting him. Spiro grows from Artemis rejecting him and threatening to leave. And butler is butler, remaining an unconditional source of support, although via electronic means until he can find a way to work around Artemis Sr.’s efforts (which may come from help from the People)

It might also work if Artemis in his new state with lingering a of his pre-mindwipe self if afraid to meet his Sr.’s expectation or is afraid that he would hurt him since he’s supposedly so gentle now

Checking The Eternity Code, it mentions any days spent in fairy company will be entirely erased. So presumably Artemis would have no knowledge of the heist correction: meeting with Spiro at all, but would remember planning and organising it - right up until the night before he was due to meet Spiro, at which point there would be a huge gap. And a large chunk of change in his bank account with mysterious origins (taken from Spiro’s accounts).

So if Artemis got a call from Spiro, who would not know that Artemis had no memory of the heist itself, he would probably quickly ascertain that Spiro had memories of events that he lacked. And yep, you’re right, Artemis would have no memory of Blunt at all, or Butler getting shot, etc.

I can see Artemis Sr trying to play that card, but I’m sure Butler would have ways of getting around such restrictions, legal or otherwise, and I don’t think Artemis Sr would be able to keep any meaningful rein on Butler. I’m fond of the headcanon that Artemis Sr is actually quite bad at interacting with other criminals (as the only major instance we know of him doing so ended in disaster) and is all bark, no bite. But he could make the threat and Artemis could insist Butler stay behind to avoid creating a mess of legal inconvenience for him, then travel to Chicago alone to spite his father (knowing that if any harm came to him he would at least never have to deal with his father trying to separate him from Butler again).