Fanlore:Featured Article Archives/2017: Week 40

Hurt/comfort is a fanfiction genre that involves the physical pain or emotional distress of one character, who is cared for by another character. The injury, sickness or other kind of hurt allows an exploration of the characters and their relationship.

In an essay examining the body in horrifying hurt/comfort fanfiction, published in Transformative Works and Cultures no. 25, Rachel Linn describes the genre as follows:

In h/c, blood, battering, and the erotic are central; intense physical pain and physical need are the focus. The pain that preoccupies h/c (especially h/c labeled whump) is expressed through the body. The focus on the body only amplifies when h/c is linked with its frequent companions horror and angst.