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Subtext is extremely subjective, and not all fans will agree on their validity or application to a particular relationship in a show or film.<ref>Shomeret, [http://www.trickster.org/symposium/symp27.htm The Subtext Anxiety]. ''The Fanfic Symposium'', November 21, 1999.</ref>}}

Subtext is extremely subjective, and not all fans will agree on their validity or application to a particular relationship in a show or film.<ref>Shomeret, [http://www.trickster.org/symposium/symp27.htm The Subtext Anxiety]. ''The Fanfic Symposium'', November 21, 1999.</ref>}}

In fan discussions, subtext most commonly refers to canon that is felt to imply a romantic [[Shipping|relationship]] or [[UST|unresolved sexual tension]]/attraction between two same-sex characters, or to hint at a character's sexual orientation. [[Slash]] fans point out elements of art direction and photography as well as acting that they feel make the "obvious" point. Sexual subtext, of course, also still exists [[Het|between male and female characters]], but these are not generally the focus of modern fan attention.

In fan discussions, subtext most commonly refers to canon that is felt to imply a romantic [[Shipping|relationship]] or [[UST|unresolved sexual tension]]/attraction between two same-sex characters, or to hint at a character's sexual orientation. [[Slash]] fans point out elements of art direction and photography as well as acting that they feel make the "obvious" point.<ref>One of the most famous citations of possible slash subtext is made by Dr. Frederic Wertham in his analysis of the original ''Batman'' in ''Seduction of the Innocent'': "They constantly rescue each other from violent attacks by an unending number of enemies. The feeling is conveyed that we men must stick together because there are so many villainous creatures who have to be exterminated. Sometimes Batman [[Hurt-comfort|ends up in bed injured]] and young Robin is shown sitting next to him. At home they lead an idyllic life. They are Bruce Wayne and 'Dick' Grayson. Bruce Wayne is described as a 'socialite' and the official relationship is that Dick is Bruce's ward. They live in sumptuous quarters, with beautiful flowers in large vases. Batman is sometimes shown in a dressing gown... Sometimes they are shown on a couch, Bruce reclining and Dick sitting next to him, jacket off, collar open, and his hand on his friend’s arm. As they sit by the fire the young boy sometimes worries about his partner: 'Something’s wrong with Bruce. He hasn’t been himself these last few days.' It is like a wish dream of two homosexuals living together." Wertham believed that not only did Batman and Robin's adventures contain gay cues, but that their relationship was obviously homosexual even to child readers and would encourage boys to "become" gay. Cultural reviewer Will Brooker revealed in his book ''Batman Unmasked'' that gay men had told Wertham in interviews that they saw Batman as gay; he did not make it up. Cultural reviewer A. David Lewis puts Wertham's work in context at [http://www.sequentialtart.com/archive/jan03/rdm_0103.shtml Seduction of the Insolent (or, Retraction of the Innocent)] at ''Sequential Tart'', vol 6, issue 1, January 2003.</ref> Sexual subtext, of course, also still exists [[Het|between male and female characters]], but these are not generally the focus of modern fan attention.

When the term subtext is used with regard to canon, an argument is often made that fans are [[Slash goggles|seeing sexual relationships or attraction]] where they don't really exist. In film and television, especially in dramatic or suspense genres, just as in real life, two men or women looking intensely at each other or even touching does not mean they are sexually attracted to each other.<ref>Early ''Star Trek'' fans saw James Kirk and Cmdr. Spock's wordless exchanges as evidence that they were developing a kind of intuition or telepathy common to people who work closely together, rather than a sexual connection. Kirk's becoming telepathic was a subplot in [[Claire Gabriel]]'s ''[[The Thousandth Man (Star Trek: TOS story)|The Thousandth Man]]'' and a major plot point in later episodes of [[Jacqueline Lichtenberg]]'s ''[[Kraith]]'' series.</ref> However, [[TPTB|showrunners and producers]] who point this out, may be accused, rightly or wrongly, of [[Queer Baiting]].

When the term subtext is used with regard to canon, an argument is often made that fans are [[Slash goggles|seeing sexual relationships or attraction]] where they don't really exist. In film and television, especially in dramatic or suspense genres, just as in real life, two men or women looking intensely at each other or even touching does not mean they are sexually attracted to each other.<ref>Early ''Star Trek'' fans saw James Kirk and Cmdr. Spock's wordless exchanges as evidence that they were developing a kind of intuition or telepathy common to people who work closely together, rather than a sexual connection. Kirk's becoming telepathic was a subplot in [[Claire Gabriel]]'s ''[[The Thousandth Man (Star Trek: TOS story)|The Thousandth Man]]'' and a major plot point in later episodes of [[Jacqueline Lichtenberg]]'s ''[[Kraith]]'' series.</ref> However, [[TPTB|showrunners and producers]] who point this out, may be accused, rightly or wrongly, of [[Queer Baiting]].