Fig Leaf

Synonyms:
See also:
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A Fig Leaf is a "modesty panel" or "modesty shield."

They are used in fandom to cover up parts of fan art.

One common venue for fig leaves are in print zines, often as a humorous comment.

Another use of self-imposed fig leaves on print zines is to disguise erotic content or nudity, so that fans can feel more confidant reading or viewing fanworks in public areas.

People (often fans) who sell print zines on eBay utilize fig leaves to cover up visual depictions of what they commonly refer to as "naughty bits."

What Items Are Covered

• female breasts
• male genitalia, either portrayed as casual nudity or erotica
• male butts
• mild physical expressions of intimacy (usually between same sex couples) such as kissing or lips touching
• explicit sexual acts

Self-Imposed Fig Leaves in Print Zines

Some print zines included fanart that parodied the very idea of a fig leaf, and was a humorous gesture, a bit of cheeky fun.

For Star Trek: TOS zines in the mid-seventies, these parodies were also commentary on nudity and erotic fanworks, something that sparked The SekWester*Con Porn Debate and the first creations of age statements.

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  Son of Grope (1977), an early British Star Trek: TOS zine included "a fig-leaf cut-out for the prudish."

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  The first page of Grup #2 (1978) included a small square of paper, affixed by hand with a dot of glue in a manner that makes it look like a pre-Post-It note. It has the caption: "a fig leaf for YOUR centerfold." The centerfold in question is a glorious full-frontal nude depiction of Sulu.

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  the 'Pin the Fig Leaf on Spock' game in In a Plain Brown Wrapper (1979), art by Madeline Rogers.

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  from Tales of Cascade #2 (2004), artist is Panda (The Sentinel)

Reading Zines in Public Spaces

Some fig leaves utilized in print zines were not parody, but a way to reduce embarrassment when fans read zines in public areas.

See Reading and Viewing Print Fanworks in Public Areas

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  front cover of The Warrior's Heart #1, with gold band fig leaf in place, the artist is Fuumin

On eBay

They are most often used by fans and non-fans in public venues such as eBay to cover an area on visual fanworks that the seller feels may offend viewers, often referred to as "naughty bits."

The decision to use a fig leaf can be a political and/or personal statement that represents what the applicator considers shameful or embarrassing.

Fig leaves may also be used when the seller is worried the image may violate eBay's terms of service.

Fig leaves are usually physical pieces of paper. Sometimes sellers use a coin, or at least in one instance their own finger. Some sellers use a photomanip tool to white or black out what they deem offensive.

Some eBay Examples

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  an ebay seller in 2024 utilized an incredibly cautious fig leaf, which covered up a few terrifying genital hairs

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  cover of the Sentinel zine, Through the Ages, by Geli, without the fig leaf

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  artist is Caren Parnes, from the 1988 zine, Matter/Antimatter #6, a fig leaf on a rendition of Michelangelo's David

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  Matter/Antimatter #6, without the fig leaf

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  the cover of Liaisons #2, artist is Suzan Lovett, titled "The Night of the Cat"

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  utilizes a "modesty shield"

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  A fan in 2010 didn't remark on the oft-used phrase "naughty bits" but instead on the play of light: "Very hot, the shadows are incredible."

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  cover of Mating Rituals #3 (1995, Sentinel), artist is K9, with an aggressive fig leaf applied in 2021 by an ebay seller, because, well... one can't have naked male skin touching other naked male skin...

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  cover of Mating Rituals #3, without the fig leaf

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  cover of the Star Trek: TOS zine, The Price and The Prize, as depicted on eBay, artist is Gayle F

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  What If... cover close up; this eBay seller chose to crop out Bodie's lower body in this Professionals zine cover by Suzan Lovett

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  this ebay seller covered up Bodie's lower body with a Post-It Note

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  and for those curious about just what is under that fig leaf: nothing too alarming!

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  artist is Suzan Lovett, from Interview with a Vampire

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  cover of First Time #62 (Star Trek: TOS), though it is likely "the naughty bits" would not be, in this case, considered sexually explicit but rather simply a male nude, artist is IM Mueller

Beware the Female Breasts

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  from Crossing the Streams #5 (1996, Real Ghostbusters), artist is Aurora Black, an ebay seller has determined that female breasts are "naughty bits"

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  artist is Jean Clissold from The Professionals (1984), this fig leaf covers naked breasts

A Fig Finger!

And for your viewing pleasure, a fig finger from an eBay seller:

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  pointing the way on a page in First Time #7 (Star Trek: TOS)