Background Facts on the Origins of the "Slash" Controversy in B7 Fandom.
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| Title: | Background Facts on the Origins of the "Slash" Controversy in B7 Fandom. |
| Creator: | Kathy Hanson |
| Date(s): | February 1989 |
| Medium: | |
| Fandom: | Blake's 7 |
| Topic: | |
| External Links: | |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
Background Facts on the Origins of the "Slash" Controversy in B7 Fandom. is an early 1989 Blake's 7 essay by Kathy Hanson.
It was printed in Avon Newsletter #35.
This essay's topic was The Blake's 7 Wars.
Some Topics Discussed
Paul Darrow and Janet Darrow's comments and interactions with Kathy Hanson at Zencon
- the statement that "Australian adult/slash writers do not use pseudonyms."
- the statement that "NZ fandom is different from that in the US in that both sexes are almost equally represented. There is no mass media fandom moving from show to show."
- the statement that "slash was not only accepted in US fandom, it was pretty much the 'norm'."
- Janet Darrow referred to slash with a growl, as "filth"
- slash and porn is overrunning fandom
- Janet Darrow laid around on fans' beds and had "girl talk"
- sucking up to the talent
The Essay
Janet and Paul Darrow have known of the existence of 'adult' fanlit from the beginnings of B7 fandom in the UK almost ten years ago. However, 'slash' zines per se only started arriving in any numbers (sometimes sent anonymously, sometimes not) with the advent of US fandom and its slash under-culture. It has been publicly on sale at many cons the actors have attended (Scorpios II, III & IV in the USA, Eccentricon and Zencon in Australia). [The Darrows] have been asked to autograph slash zines and their existence is advertised openly in newsletters including Horizon's and Vilaworld's. Paul has been asked about it on panels and in interviews.
Paul has, in the past, tended to humorously duck discussing fanporn on con panels and in interviews. I assumed, as I suppose did lots of others, that he either wasn't bothered by it, was being diplomatic, or had chosen to ignore it. Or any combination thereof.
However, I now know that the Darrows found the zines and their numeric increase distasteful. Some time shortly before their 'Down Under' trip in October 1988 they received from the USA, anonymously and in a plain brown envelope, a pornographic story that 'starred' them personally - as in Paul and Janet, not Avon and Klyn. This was particularly offensive to them.
In mid-October 1988 they then attended, along with Michael Keating, 'Zencon', Australia's 1988 national SF media con in Melbourne. At that con adult/slash zines were openly on sale in the dealer's room. These zines included current and back copies of the Australian adult/slash zine 'the other side' (containing London Bates' slash stories and one or more sadistic but non-sexually-explicit stories by Ann Wortham and Leah Rosenthal under their own names). [1] Ann Wortham's own 'Southern Seven' zines were also on sale there, some sources say her adult zines were there but this is unconfirmed.
The con also ran a panel on fan pornography as part of its scheduled program. Hearsay from prominent Oz fans, including Sue Clarke, the editor of 'the other side' is that it turned into an 'anti-slash rally'. However she was not present. No guests attended the panel but Australian and other fans who were at the con say 'this is where it all started'.
At the autograph sessions the guests were asked to sign the covers of adult/slash zines and Paul unwittingly did so where these looked innocuous. He was also asked to sign the cover of 'the other side' #1 [2] which depicted Avon chained to a post in a loincloth. He balked at this and expressed his views very firmly to the fan(s) concerned.
During the con, having become concerned over fanporn in general, Paul and Janet discussed that subject, amongst many other fandom topics, with con attendees over meals etc. In the course of these discussions it emerged that Ann Wortham and Leah Rosenthal wrote adult and slash stories (NE Janet was not familiar with that precise term). According to Janet Darrow no-one showed them slash zines let alone ran through the authors giving away pseudonyms.
It is possible, even probable, that Wortham and Rosenthal's names arose because their zines were on sale at the con and because of the story published in 'The Other Side' under their own names. Linda Terrell had stories in that zine under a pseudonym. Australian adult/slash writers do not use pseudonyms.
The Darrows were dismayed that Annie and Leah, accepted as personal friends, were involved with the zines/stories that they found so distasteful.
After Australia the guests came to New Zealand to attend 'ConFederation'. All R-rated/slash zines, were banned from the con. NZ fandom is different from that in the US in that both sexes are almost equally represented. There is no mass media fandom moving from show to show. ConFederation was the country's first 'proper' SF media con with actors as guests.
The Darrows came to NZ, ahead of Michael Keating and a week in advance of the con starting. Knowing nothing of what had gone on in Australia, myself and a concomm member went to the hotel the morning after they arrived to have brunch with them and discuss plans for the coming week. We had scarcely begun the meal when Paul, out of the blue, challenged me on whether I wrote or published so-called 'adult' B7 material. I said I did not do either.
I explained that although I was no prude and had enjoyed some early UK adult fanzines, I had turned to opposing it since learning of its taking over of various US fandoms and potential (now actual) move into B7. Somewhere in here I used the term 'slash' which Janet did not know. When Janet repeated 'Slash?' blankly, Paul interjected, 'The ones where Gareth is always raping me.' Note the use of 'Gareth' and 'me'; he did not say 'Blake raping Avon'. [3] I might add that Janet nodded and added a growled, 'Oh, yes - that filth.'
Paul then asked me, in tones that indicated head-shaking disillusionment, if I was aware that Ann Wortham and Leah Rosenthal wrote fanporn. They had just found this out. I said I was aware of it because I had been sent (unrequested) the first two issues of 'The Other Side', the editor being a friend. I commented that slash was not only accepted in US fandom, it was pretty much the 'norm'. Annie was quite open about publishing adult zines and both she and Leah openly discussed that they wrote 'slash' in Linda Terrell's letterzine. Linda's name having emerged, I then added that she also wrote slash as London Bates. [I and others worked this out easily from grammatical, stylistic, original-character and other cues. It was confirmed by Ann Wortham.]
A general discussion then followed on fanporn. No enquiries [sic] were made about adult/slash writers or publishers or zines by the Darrows and I did not volunteer any information along those lines. I don't read it and own none of it. The discussions consisted of general theorizing about why fans wrote and read slash and how it had come to dominate US fanzines citing the Star Trek, Star Wars [4] and Professionals fandoms.
Paul and Janet said that recent events had made them decide to take a stand, to say it was not alright with them. Further inaction and silence might be misconstrued as neutrality. I said I would support them if they did.
After the con, more than a week later, the subject of fanporn came up again when Janet, myself, a US fan, Teresa Ward, and a concomm member, who happens to be an avid slash fan (Trek rather than B7 however), were in my room lying around on the beds engaging in 'girl talk'. We discussed the phenomenon once more in general terms. Janet said she intended to write to Annie and Leah about it on a 'more in sorrow than in anger' basis.
Part way through the discussion, Paul came hunting for Janet and joined us followed by Michael Keating. Michael did not recognise the term 'slash' so Paul explained again, 'The stories where Gareth keeps raping me.' Michael then commented 'Well, I don't have to worry about them writing that stuff about me.' The discussion was diverted to avoid the unnecessary escalation of upsetting him.
In November a letter from Linda Terrell indicated that Paul had followed up on the fanporn business by making enquiries [sic] around the Creation cons. Janet had written to un-named authors, presumably including herself, although this was not said explicitly as Linda did/does not admit openly to writing slash. I immediately wrote to Linda, Annie and Leah telling them exactly and in detail what had happened here in NZ. I added what little I knew (I know much more now) of the preceding and precipitating events in the UK and Australia.
Since the Darrows had now declared their disapproval of fanporn, I made good on my word to back them over the matter. Along with the letter to Linda I sent a toughly-worded anti-slash article for the 'Naughty Nookie' corner of Federation Archives. The article was then sent by a third party to the 'Avon' club's newsletter and published therein. A letter was then received from Linda calling me almost every synonym for 'traitor' and 'scum' in the English language. She sent a copy of the same letter to the Darrows. I believe she sent the same or a very similar piece to several people in Australia and directly abused the Darrows.
A reply from Leah Rosenthal chastised me for not lying to cover for her and Annie. I replied that I do not lie and that, in any case, I would not have been believed if I had. Her other major criticism was that I had not attempted to calm the Darrows down over slash (that much is correct, I discussed its history and psychology, explaining, but not defending it as such). Leah assumed I knew that she and Annie wrote 'slash' under nom-de-plumes and that mentioning this would have mitigated in their favour. She was incorrect on both counts. As far as I am aware I have never clapped eyes on, let alone read, any of their slash stories. I knew that they wrote slash only from their letters to the FA.
Both letters alleged I had invented my opposition to slash to 'suck up' to the Darrows; falling obediently and conveniently into line with their views in order to gain favour. This is not correct. I have expressed my views opposing the growth to pre-eminence of fanporn for the past four years including to friends who read, write and publish 'adult' fanfic. I have refused requests to illo slash zines.
I did not get a reply from Ann Wortham but she wrote to the Darrows alleging I was involved with and collected slash myself. This is untrue.
I have been informed from several sources that a smear campaign against me has been/will be launched and that Annie and - Linda have vowed to 'take care of me.
I have since received 'hate mail' and been the anonymous subject of a factually incorrect and defamatory article by Liz Sharpe in the latest, 'Pressure Point'. Some of the phraseology in the article such as 'sycophantic fink and fan squealer' are identical to those used in Linda Terrell's letter.
The above information is complete and factual as known to me on the 4th of February 1989.
The Letter
page one
page two
page three
References
- ^ The only story in that zine is "Taken In," a story in which Avon and Jenna are having a quick fling and think themselves unobserved -- but are they?
- ^ Actually, that was not #1 but #2.
- ^ While Hanson infers this meant these stories were RPF, one could also attribute this statement to Darrow's ego and the inability of some actors to separate themselves from their character.
- ^ There was very, very, very little slash in early Star Wars fandom, much less it "dominating."