Bodyswap
| Synonyms: | bodyswitch, mindswap | |
| See also: | genderswap, genderfuck | |
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Bodyswap is a plot device involving two (or more) characters switching their physical bodies by magical, scientific, mystical or unspecified means. The device is used in canon and fan fiction alike, and fanfic may expand upon canonical instances of bodyswap.
In slash, het, and femslash stories, it is often the impetus for the two characters in a pairing to realize or act on their attraction for one another. It can also be used to "reform" a character by forcing them to understand the other character's perspective as a lesson that doesn't relate to romance, or simply to create humorous situations and misunderstandings.
Interestingly, Bandom has a lot of bodyswap stories, where Stargate Atlantis and Supernatural, fandoms from approximately the same era, and popslash, which has many of the same issues (milieu, multiple pairings, etc.) as bandom all mostly have genderswap, instead of bodyswap.
TV Tropes provides a list of canonical examples of bodyswap. For SGU's use see also GateFail 2009.
Notable bodyswap stories
- Switch: A Comedy of Terrors is an early Clark/Lex bodyswap story in Smallville fandom.
- Isle of View is a long and detailed popslash example.
- There's got to be a punch line in here somewhere is a well-known Supernatural wincest story.
