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{{Other uses|the fandom terminology|the 2016 film|Slash (film)}}

{{Other uses|the fandom terminology|the 2016 film|Slash (film)}}

'''Slash''' is fandom term used to refer to a type of [[fanwork]] in which two or more characters of the gender are placed in a sexual or romantic situation or relationship with each other. The term is also used as a verb and an adjective. The verb form of slash, '''to slash''', refers to the creation of a slash fanwork or the interpretation of a relationship between characters in the [[canon|source text]] as homoerotic. The adjective form of slash, '''slashy''', refers to character relationships that may be homoerotic in nature and fanworks that may be described as slash without being explicitly stated as such.

'''Slash''' is a fandom term used to refer to a type of [[fanwork]] in which two or more characters of the gender are placed in a sexual or romantic situation or relationship with each other. The term is also used as a verb and an adjective. The verb form of slash, '''to slash''', refers to the creation of a slash fanwork or the interpretation of a relationship between characters in a given [[canon]] as homoerotic. The adjective form of slash, '''slashy''', refers to character relationships that may be homoerotic in nature and fanworks that may be described as slash without being explicitly stated as such.

Slash more commonly refers to male/male [[pairing]]s, with [[femslash]] being used more often to refer to female/female scenarios.

Slash more commonly refers to [[male/male]] [[pairings]], with [[femslash]] being used more often to refer to female/female scenarios.

== History of the Term ==

== History of the Term ==

''See [[Slash Terminology]]''

''See [[Slash Terminology]]''

Fannish tradition holds that the word "slash" originated with ''[[Star Trek The Original Series|Star Trek: The Original Series]]'' fan fiction, when [[Kirk/Spock (TOS)|Kirk/Spock]] was used as the label for a story where the relationship between Kirk and Spock was laced with sexual tension, whether it was acted on or not. This label allowed fans to differentiate those sexual relationship stories from the ones about [[Relationship Story|Kirk and Spock’s friendship]], which were sometimes labelled using "&". As fandoms gathered around new films and television series, the / mark became common as an indicator of a sexual relationship between same-sex characters.

Fannish tradition holds that the word "slash" originated with ''[[Star Trek The Original Series|Star Trek: The Original Series]]'' fan fiction, when [[Kirk/Spock (TOS)|Kirk/Spock]] was used as the label for a story where the relationship between [[James T. Kirk (TOS)|Kirk]] and [[Spock (TOS)|Spock]] was laced with sexual tension, whether it was acted on or not. This label allowed fans to differentiate those sexual relationship stories from the ones about [[Relationship Story|Kirk and Spock’s friendship]], which were sometimes labelled using "&". As fandoms gathered around new films and television series, the / mark became common as an indicator of a sexual relationship between same-sex characters.

[[Klangley]] explains:

[[Klangley]] explains:

{{Quotation|The term "slash" was *not* in use in the  1970s or early 1980s. The virgule was. It has always been used in fandom, as a form of shorthand, to denote relationships--heterosexual, same-sex, romantic, sexual, friendship. For example, [[Juanita Salicrup]] wrote a [[Crossroads (Star Trek: TOS story)#The Crossroads Series|Spock/Christine series]] and [[Mary Louise Dodge]] wrote [[Delta Triad|a Kirk/Uhura series]]. By the mid-seventies there was a growing subgenre of stories about the friendship between Kirk and Spock. These were usually referred to as  Kirk/Spock stories or Kirk/Spock relationship stories. When "the other kind" of story began seeing publication, in order to distinguish between the two  types of stories, people started referring to those as K/S stories. That designation took a while to become common usage, and for the first few years there was still some confusion, as people referred to Kirk/Spock friendship stories as both that and as K/S stories. Eventually it settled into its current usage. <ref> Material quoted on [[Fanlore]] at Klangley's request. </ref>}}

{{Quotation|The term "slash" was *not* in use in the  1970s or early 1980s. The virgule was. It has always been used in fandom, as a form of shorthand, to denote relationships--heterosexual, same-sex, romantic, sexual, friendship. For example, [[Juanita Salicrup]] wrote a [[Crossroads (Star Trek: TOS story)#The Crossroads Series|Spock/Christine series]] and [[Mary Louise Dodge]] wrote [[Delta Triad|a Kirk/Uhura series]]. By the mid-seventies there was a growing subgenre of stories about the friendship between Kirk and Spock. These were usually referred to as  Kirk/Spock stories or Kirk/Spock relationship stories. When "the other kind" of story began seeing publication, in order to distinguish between the two  types of stories, people started referring to those as K/S stories. That designation took a while to become common usage, and for the first few years there was still some confusion, as people referred to Kirk/Spock friendship stories as both that and as K/S stories. Eventually it settled into its current usage. <ref> Material quoted on [[Fanlore]] at Klangley's request. </ref>}}

Not all fans were familiar with the term. This fan in 1992 wrote: {{Quotation2|

Not all fans were familiar with the term. This fan in 1992 wrote: {{Quotation2|

{{main|History of Slash Fandom}}

{{main|History of Slash Fandom}}

Fans certainly wrote and [[drawerfic|kept private]], or shared with only a few friends, homosexual stories about [[Sherlock Holmes|Holmes and Watson]], [[Batfandom|Bruce and Dick]],<ref group=note>Dr. Fredric Wertham, writing about comic books' contribution to degeneracy and criminal behavior in his book ''Seduction of the Innocent'', wrote that not only did Batman and Robin's adventures contain gay [[subtext]] but that their relationship was obviously homosexual even to child readers. He later testified about this before Congress. 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. It's very likely that fan fiction or fan-drawn comics of this nature existed, no doubt [[drawerfic|kept extremely private]], perhaps similar to Charles Crumb's work featuring child actor Bobby Driscoll.</ref> [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fu_Manchu Nayland Smith and Dr. Petrie], [[Illya/Napoleon|Ilya and Napoleon]] in [[The Man From UNCLE]]<ref group=note>Considerable evidence points to ''The Man From UNCLE'' being the first media fandom, embraced by the same science fiction writers and fans who would go on to enshrine ''Star Trek''. See [[Francesca Coppa]], "A Brief History of Media Fandom" in ''[[Fan Fiction and Fan Communities in the Age of the Internet]]: New Essays'', ed. by [[Karen Hellekson]] and [[Kristina Busse]] (McFarland, 2006), p. 41.</ref>, [[The Wild Wild West|James and Artemus]], or [[Route 66|Buz and Tod]],<ref group=note>[http://fultonhistory.com/newspaper%208/Schenectady%20NY%20Gazette/Schenectady%20NY%20Gazette%201962%20Grayscale/Schenectady%20NY%20Gazette%201962%20Grayscale%20-%203700.pdf A Senate probe into the role of television in juvenile delinquency] focused on ''Route 66'' because of its strong appeal to children and teenagers, questioning the appropriateness of sex and romance in the storylines. A memo from CBS network head James Aubrey, used as evidence in the hearings, specifically asked for more sex on ''Route 66'', saying that neither protagonist had expressed the “normal wants of a young man... to get involved with a girl or even to kiss her”.</ref> but it was ''[[Star Trek: The Original Series]]'' that popularized the slash subgenre. The first such story may have been [[The Ring of Soshern]], written by [[Jennifer Guttridge]] in 1967 or 1968 and circulated only privately.

Fans certainly wrote and [[drawerfic|kept private]], or shared with only a few friends, homosexual stories about [[Sherlock Holmes|Holmes and Watson]], [[Batfandom|Bruce and Dick]],<ref group=note>Dr. Fredric Wertham, writing about comic books' contribution to degeneracy and criminal behavior in his book ''Seduction of the Innocent'', wrote that not only did Batman and Robin's adventures contain gay [[subtext]] but that their relationship was obviously homosexual even to child readers. He later testified about this before Congress. 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. It's very likely that fan fiction or fan-drawn comics of this nature existed, no doubt [[drawerfic|kept extremely private]], perhaps similar to Charles Crumb's work featuring child actor Bobby Driscoll.</ref> [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fu_Manchu Nayland Smith and Dr. Petrie], [[Illya/Napoleon|Ilya and Napoleon]] in [[The Man From UNCLE]]<ref group=note>Considerable evidence points to ''The Man From UNCLE'' being the first media fandom, embraced by the same science fiction writers and fans who would go on to enshrine ''Star Trek''. See [[Francesca Coppa]], "A Brief History of Media Fandom" in ''[[Fan Fiction and Fan Communities in the Age of the Internet]]: New Essays'', ed. by [[Karen Hellekson]] and [[Kristina Busse]] (McFarland, 2006), p. 41.</ref>, [[The Wild Wild West|James and Artemus]], or [[Route 66|Buz and Tod]],<ref group=note>[http://fultonhistory.com/newspaper%208/Schenectady%20NY%20Gazette/Schenectady%20NY%20Gazette%201962%20Grayscale/Schenectady%20NY%20Gazette%201962%20Grayscale%20-%203700.pdf A Senate probe into the role of television in juvenile delinquency] focused on ''Route 66'' because of its strong appeal to children and teenagers, questioning the appropriateness of sex and romance in the storylines. A memo from CBS network head James Aubrey, used as evidence in the hearings, specifically asked for more sex on ''Route 66'', saying that neither protagonist had expressed the “normal wants of a young man... to get involved with a girl or even to kiss her”.</ref> but it was ''Star Trek: The Original Series'' that popularized the slash subgenre. The first such story may have been [[The Ring of Soshern]], written by [[Jennifer Guttridge]] in 1967 or 1968 and circulated only privately.

The first slash story to be published in a fanzine was "[[A Fragment Out of Time]]" by [[Diane Marchant]], published in ''[[Grup (Star Trek: TOS zine)|Grup]]'' in 1974. After this, other ''Star Trek'' slash stories appeared in some fanzines, slowly picking up steam through the end of the decade with entire [[fanzine]]s devoted to slash, and eventually [[slash conventions]].

The first slash story to be published in a fanzine was "[[A Fragment Out of Time]]" by [[Diane Marchant]], published in ''[[Grup (Star Trek: TOS zine)|Grup]]'' in 1974. After this, other ''Star Trek'' slash stories appeared in some fanzines, slowly picking up steam through the end of the decade with entire [[fanzine]]s devoted to slash, and eventually [[slash conventions]].

In the 1980s, more fandoms joined the slash scene, including [[Starsky & Hutch]], [[The Professionals]], and [[Blake's 7]]. As more [[m/m|male/male]] pairs were slashed, fans started to conceptualize slash as a genre unto itself rather than individual phenomena unique to particular characters or shows. A fan in March 1980 wrote: {{Quotation|

In the 1980s, more fandoms joined the slash scene, including [[Starsky & Hutch]], [[The Professionals]], and [[Blake's 7]]. As more male/male pairs were slashed, fans started to conceptualize slash as a genre unto itself rather than individual phenomena unique to particular characters or shows. A fan in March 1980 wrote: {{Quotation|

One has to be careful with &'s and /'s these days! I used to make that mistake, using [[K/S]] all the time for speed -- luckily the people I was writing to didn't know either, so they intercepted my meaning correctly. I am indebted to [Sue S], [Sue M], and the rest of [[DobeyCon]] I ... (<u>After</u> I bought "[[Forever Autumn (Starsky & Hutch zine)|Forever Autumn]]," I may add! These business persons aren't daft!) You may gather I am not in favor of [[Starsky/Hutch|S/H]]. Or [[K/S]]. As for Han Solo and Chewie, or Hawkeye and B.J. references -- I don't feel well! This whole thing is getting out of hand, not to mention boring. What's the point? <ref> [[S and H (Starsky and Hutch letterzine)|S and H]] #13 (1980) </ref>}}

One has to be careful with &'s and /'s these days! I used to make that mistake, using K/S all the time for speed -- luckily the people I was writing to didn't know either, so they intercepted my meaning correctly. I am indebted to [Sue S], [Sue M], and the rest of [[DobeyCon]] I ... (<u>After</u> I bought "[[Forever Autumn (Starsky & Hutch zine)|Forever Autumn]]," I may add! These business persons aren't daft!) You may gather I am not in favor of [[Starsky/Hutch|S/H]]. Or K/S. As for Han Solo and Chewie, or Hawkeye and B.J. references -- I don't feel well! This whole thing is getting out of hand, not to mention boring. What's the point? <ref> [[S and H (Starsky and Hutch letterzine)|S and H]] #13 (1980) </ref>}}

The [[Robin of Sherwood Fandom and Slash Fanworks|absence of slash]] in [[Robin of Sherwood]] 1980s fandom provides a case study of how insecure slash fandom was about itself and its legitimacy<ref group=note>Fans respected a polite request from the show's creator Richard Carpenter and refrained from publishing slash stories based on this show's main characters.</ref>, but in the [[History of Slash Fandom#Slash and the Arrival of the Internet|internet age]], slash has become increasingly normalized.

The [[Robin of Sherwood Fandom and Slash Fanworks|absence of slash]] in [[Robin of Sherwood]] 1980s fandom provides a case study of how insecure slash fandom was about itself and its legitimacy<ref group=note>Fans respected a polite request from the show's creator Richard Carpenter and refrained from publishing slash stories based on this show's main characters.</ref>, but in the [[History of Slash Fandom#Slash and the Arrival of the Internet|internet age]], slash has become increasingly normalized.

Because the early slash community kept such a low profile (as above), there weren't clearly written definitions of the term that people could refer to as they got on the net and came in contact with the existing community. So a term might experience [[Fannish Drift|fannish drift]] as newcomers used the term according to the way they interpreted it, rather than how the existing community used it. Slash was a term that experienced fannish drift in this manner. It has also evolved over the years in response to canonically gay characters and relationships becoming more common in mainstream television shows and movies.<ref group=note>For examples, see ''[[Steven Universe]]'', ''[[Torchwood]]'', or ''[[Welcome to Night Vale]]''. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lists_of_television_programs_with_LGBT_characters There are many others]. The first canonically gay couple on television was Gordon and George in the 1975 sitcom ''Hot l Baltimore''.</ref>

Because the early slash community kept such a low profile (as above), there weren't clearly written definitions of the term that people could refer to as they got on the net and came in contact with the existing community. So a term might experience [[Fannish Drift|fannish drift]] as newcomers used the term according to the way they interpreted it, rather than how the existing community used it. Slash was a term that experienced fannish drift in this manner. It has also evolved over the years in response to canonically gay characters and relationships becoming more common in mainstream television shows and movies.<ref group=note>For examples, see ''[[Steven Universe]]'', ''[[Torchwood]]'', or ''[[Welcome to Night Vale]]''. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lists_of_television_programs_with_LGBT_characters There are many others]. The first canonically gay couple on television was Gordon and George in the 1975 sitcom ''Hot l Baltimore''.</ref>

During the initial era of K/S and other early slash pairings, and issues of "slashy [[subtext]]" and "[[slash goggles]]"aside, no one suggested that K/S and other pairings were established deliberately, as a matter of [[canon]].<ref group=note>Other than by [[Sondra Marshak]] and [[Myrna Culbreath]], that is. The story of [[Shatner: Where No Man#Gene Roddenberry on Shatner, & Kirk|how they maneuvered Gene Roddenberry]] into considering Kirk & Spock's friendship in terms of "the Greek ideal" has become legendary.</ref> Slash was defined as fanfic containing noncanonical same-sex media character pairings. As is easy to see on countless discussion forums these days, the definition of slash has become more elastic. Many fans consider slash to mean, simply, a same-sex pairing (thus, they refer to ''Queer as Folk'' fan fiction as slash, though the characters are gay in canon). Still others look at, say, ''Stargate: SG-1'' fan fiction pairings of Jack/Daniel and Jack/Samantha and consider them both to be slash relationships, because neither is canon and both are designated with a slash mark.

During the initial era of K/S and other early slash pairings, and issues of "slashy subtext" and "[[slash goggles]]"aside, no one suggested that K/S and other pairings were established deliberately, as a matter of canon.<ref group=note>Other than by [[Sondra Marshak]] and [[Myrna Culbreath]], that is. The story of [[Shatner: Where No Man#Gene Roddenberry on Shatner, & Kirk|how they maneuvered Gene Roddenberry]] into considering Kirk & Spock's friendship in terms of "the Greek ideal" has become legendary.</ref> Slash was defined as fanfic containing noncanonical same-sex media character pairings. As is easy to see on countless discussion forums these days, the definition of slash has become more elastic. Many fans consider slash to mean, simply, a same-sex pairing (thus, they refer to ''Queer as Folk'' fan fiction as slash, though the characters are gay in canon). Still others look at, say, ''Stargate: SG-1'' fan fiction pairings of Jack/Daniel and Jack/Samantha and consider them both to be slash relationships, because neither is canon and both are designated with a slash mark.

Thus, at different times, fans have tried to define exactly what slash is, and what it is not.

Thus, at different times, fans have tried to define exactly what slash is, and what it is not.

* disagreement even among slash fans as to "what is [[slashy]]" and "what should be slashed"

* disagreement even among slash fans as to "what is [[slashy]]" and "what should be slashed"

* present-day objections to Kirk/Spock slash by the ''Star Trek'' creators, including [[David Gerrold]]

* present-day objections to Kirk/Spock slash by the ''Star Trek'' creators, including [[David Gerrold]]

* present-day statement by [[D.C. Fontana]] flatly denying that the ''Star Trek'' creators intended slash to be [[Slash Goggles|implied]] or [[subtext]]ual [[canon]]<ref  group=note>In May 2016, Fontana responded to a question by a Fanlore editor on "canon slash" in the ''Star Trek: The Original Series'' episode "[[Amok Time]]": "In answer to your question, NO - there were no homosexual double-entendres in the script - at least none that were deliberate.  If some viewers chose to read that into the dialogue, etc. that's their point of view, but certainly not ours.  Writer Theodore Sturgeon was trying to reveal Spock's inner human in a struggle with what his culture, his upbringing and his half-human/half-Vulcan heritage had instilled in him about emotion and controlling it in an out-of-control situation.  It also was a peek into the Vulcan culture that no one had seen before. That's ALL we were doing."</ref>

* present-day statement by [[D.C. Fontana]] flatly denying that the ''Star Trek'' creators intended slash to be [[Slash Goggles|implied]] or subtextual canon<ref  group=note>In May 2016, Fontana responded to a question by a Fanlore editor on "canon slash" in the ''Star Trek: The Original Series'' episode "[[Amok Time]]": "In answer to your question, NO - there were no homosexual double-entendres in the script - at least none that were deliberate.  If some viewers chose to read that into the dialogue, etc. that's their point of view, but certainly not ours.  Writer Theodore Sturgeon was trying to reveal Spock's inner human in a struggle with what his culture, his upbringing and his half-human/half-Vulcan heritage had instilled in him about emotion and controlling it in an out-of-control situation.  It also was a peek into the Vulcan culture that no one had seen before. That's ALL we were doing."</ref>

===Slash and Gay===

===Slash and Gay===

In 1991, another fan writes:

In 1991, another fan writes:

{{Quotation2|Years ago before there were [[Star Trek]] movies, ST had [[BOTW|become pretty 'rutty,']] too. Then along came [[K/S]]. No matter now you feel about homoerotic literature, I think you have to give K/S two things: One, it blasted ST fan fiction out of the ruts [editor's comment: some would say that now, years later, it's created its own ruts!]; and two, it kept ST fandom alive and kicking --and fighting--until the ST movies came along and revitalized the whole fandom. Now I'm not suggesting that SW fandom needs slash fiction to save it; although I'll admit I've always been puzzled by the lack of good SW slash fiction. I'm just suggesting that SW fanfiction can be saved--if the people responsible for producing it are sufficiently motivated.<ref>from a June 1991 [[LoC]] in the Star Wars [[letterzine]] [[Southern Enclave]]: [http://www.webcitation.org/5tlfLGtED Southern Enclave, June 1991].</ref>}}

{{Quotation2|Years ago before there were [[Star Trek]] movies, ST had [[BOTW (Babe of the Week)|become pretty 'rutty,']] too. Then along came K/S. No matter now you feel about homoerotic literature, I think you have to give K/S two things: One, it blasted ST fan fiction out of the ruts [editor's comment: some would say that now, years later, it's created its own ruts!]; and two, it kept ST fandom alive and kicking --and fighting--until the ST movies came along and revitalized the whole fandom. Now I'm not suggesting that SW fandom needs slash fiction to save it; although I'll admit I've always been puzzled by the lack of good SW slash fiction. I'm just suggesting that SW fanfiction can be saved--if the people responsible for producing it are sufficiently motivated.<ref>from a June 1991 [[LoC]] in the Star Wars [[letterzine]] [[Southern Enclave]]: [http://www.webcitation.org/5tlfLGtED Southern Enclave, June 1991].</ref>}}

===Something Old===

===Something Old===

My objection falls into the literary camp. I have nothing against reading fiction that's about homosexuals - I particularly enjoyed LMB's ''Ethan of Athos'', even though it's not one of her better works. I don't even have anything against writing about homosexual characters, be they [[Willow/Tara]] or characters in my own [[original fic]]. It's not homosexuality as a ''topic'' that disturbs me but slash as a ''genre''. A host of fans explicitly devoted to reversing canon sexual orientations, to writing stories because they are risqué, and to being generally contrary or rebellious do not appeal to me. It doesn't make me want to know them, to be part of their clique, or to read their stories. The slash description adds no value for me - it merely alerts me that the story wasn't directed at the general reader but at a subcommunity whose motives and principles I barely understand, never mind share.

My objection falls into the literary camp. I have nothing against reading fiction that's about homosexuals - I particularly enjoyed LMB's ''Ethan of Athos'', even though it's not one of her better works. I don't even have anything against writing about homosexual characters, be they [[Willow/Tara]] or characters in my own [[original fic]]. It's not homosexuality as a ''topic'' that disturbs me but slash as a ''genre''. A host of fans explicitly devoted to reversing canon sexual orientations, to writing stories because they are risqué, and to being generally contrary or rebellious do not appeal to me. It doesn't make me want to know them, to be part of their clique, or to read their stories. The slash description adds no value for me - it merely alerts me that the story wasn't directed at the general reader but at a subcommunity whose motives and principles I barely understand, never mind share.

I think when RJ exempted "[[Lust Over Pendle]]" from the slash genre she meant it in this sense - not that the story wasn't about a non-canon homosexual relationship, but that it wasn't about contradicting [[canon]] for its own sake. It was not about ''being slashy''. I haven't read it so I can't say for sure.

I think when RJ exempted "[[Lust Over Pendle]]" from the slash genre she meant it in this sense - not that the story wasn't about a non-canon homosexual relationship, but that it wasn't about contradicting canon for its own sake. It was not about ''being slashy''. I haven't read it so I can't say for sure.

There are other subcommunities of fandom that are just as self-congratulatory and anti-canonical as slash is - [[Janeway/Chakotay|J/C]] fandom comes to mind immediately - but most of them don't assert or assume a literary superiority over other fans. It is entirely possible that slashers are better writers, overall, than non-slashers, but that's a matter of statistics which does not make slashfic better in principle than other kinds of fic. ''Being slashy'' is not a ''literary'' good in and of itself, and no amount of claiming it is will make it so. <Ref> [https://web.archive.org/web/20030228130249/http://jemimap.freeshell.org/moveabletype/2003_01.html The Morality of Reading] by Jemima at "Speak Stiltedly and Wear a Yellow Shirt" (January 29, 2003) </ref>}}

There are other subcommunities of fandom that are just as self-congratulatory and anti-canonical as slash is - [[Janeway/Chakotay|J/C]] fandom comes to mind immediately - but most of them don't assert or assume a literary superiority over other fans. It is entirely possible that slashers are better writers, overall, than non-slashers, but that's a matter of statistics which does not make slashfic better in principle than other kinds of fic. ''Being slashy'' is not a ''literary'' good in and of itself, and no amount of claiming it is will make it so. <Ref> [https://web.archive.org/web/20030228130249/http://jemimap.freeshell.org/moveabletype/2003_01.html The Morality of Reading] by Jemima at "Speak Stiltedly and Wear a Yellow Shirt" (January 29, 2003) </ref>}}

Thinking about the more recent slash fandoms vs. the older fandoms brought me to this question:

Thinking about the more recent slash fandoms vs. the older fandoms brought me to this question:

Is now a better time to be a slash fan than the mid-seventies?  The shows are more obvious about their homosocial/homoerotic overtones, the actors are (for the most part) more open to it and less concerned, [[Queerbaiting|some jokes/scenarios even seemed aimed at the slash fan]].  BUT: was it a different feeling when the slash was ferreted out and created wholly by the fandom, without any real help from what was on the screen?  I mean, tell me please if [[Kirk]] and [[Spock]] ever looked at one another the way [[Mulder]] and [[Krycek]] do -- or is that preferable?

Is now a better time to be a slash fan than the mid-seventies?  The shows are more obvious about their homosocial/homoerotic overtones, the actors are (for the most part) more open to it and less concerned, [[Queerbaiting|some jokes/scenarios even seemed aimed at the slash fan]].  BUT: was it a different feeling when the slash was ferreted out and created wholly by the fandom, without any real help from what was on the screen?  I mean, tell me please if Kirk and Spock ever looked at one another the way [[Mulder]] and [[Krycek]] do -- or is that preferable?

I know this is a judgement call and that no one is going to agree with anyone else completely, but I'm curious as to how slash and slash fandom

I know this is a judgement call and that no one is going to agree with anyone else completely, but I'm curious as to how slash and slash fandom

has changed as the social climate (and therefore the entertainment) became a) more aware of homosexuality, b) more tolerant of homosexuality, and c) more likely to fan the flames (no pun intended)  

has changed as the social climate (and therefore the entertainment) became a) more aware of homosexuality, b) more tolerant of homosexuality, and c) more likely to fan the flames (no pun intended)  

: I can't answer that comparatively since I don't know how [[Mulder]] and [[Krycek]] look at one another, but TOS Kirk and Spock do in fact act in ways onscreen that would be considered suspect by today's more knowing audiences. Some of it involves looking at one another, but a large part of it involves body contact which is both (mostly) unnecessary and prolonged past the point of propriety. Examples episodes in which this is most blatant are: "The Changeling" - right after Spock's meld with Nomad, "Shore Leave" - while they're being strafed by an antique fighter plane, and "And the Children Shall Lead" - [[the infamous turbolift scene]]. Most of this was accidental, due to the smaller action field in the cameras of the 60's which forced principals in a scene to stand much closer than normal in order to remain in frame. However, the censors of the time were more concerned with catching the improprieties this caused between male-female only - it being a more naive time as far as homosexuality was concerned - so they weren't watching for it between male leads.

: I can't answer that comparatively since I don't know how Mulder and Krycek look at one another, but TOS Kirk and Spock do in fact act in ways onscreen that would be considered suspect by today's more knowing audiences. Some of it involves looking at one another, but a large part of it involves body contact which is both (mostly) unnecessary and prolonged past the point of propriety. Examples episodes in which this is most blatant are: "The Changeling" - right after Spock's meld with Nomad, "Shore Leave" - while they're being strafed by an antique fighter plane, and "And the Children Shall Lead" - [[the infamous turbolift scene]]. Most of this was accidental, due to the smaller action field in the cameras of the 60's which forced principals in a scene to stand much closer than normal in order to remain in frame. However, the censors of the time were more concerned with catching the improprieties this caused between male-female only - it being a more naive time as far as homosexuality was concerned - so they weren't watching for it between male leads.

: Personally, I wish [[William Shatner|WS]] and [[Leonard Nimoy|LN]] hadn't been made aware. They've been good sports and even try to accommodate us by 'playing to the gallery' on occasion, but now it's contrived and campy. Before, in [[Star Trek: TOS|TOS]], we would get scenes like the ones above in which you see genuine affection between them and sometimes bantering dialog which could be interpreted as flirting because of the accompanying body language and the fact that they were largely unaware of the effect they were creating. Now, we get "[[Please Captain, not in front of the Klingons]]" (who couldn't have cared less if they hugged each other like they did at the end of "[[Amok Time]]", IMO), which makes Spock sound like [[Felix Unger]] of [[the Odd Couple]], for crying out loud!  In short, I think it was more fun then than now because half the fun is the "are they or aren't they" speculation and the subsequent searches for clues in the episodes. Having it handed to you on a silver platter - well what fun is *that*?

: Personally, I wish [[William Shatner|WS]] and [[Leonard Nimoy|LN]] hadn't been made aware. They've been good sports and even try to accommodate us by 'playing to the gallery' on occasion, but now it's contrived and campy. Before, in TOS, we would get scenes like the ones above in which you see genuine affection between them and sometimes bantering dialog which could be interpreted as flirting because of the accompanying body language and the fact that they were largely unaware of the effect they were creating. Now, we get "[[Please Captain, not in front of the Klingons]]" (who couldn't have cared less if they hugged each other like they did at the end of "[[Amok Time]]", IMO), which makes Spock sound like [[Felix Unger]] of [[the Odd Couple]], for crying out loud!  In short, I think it was more fun then than now because half the fun is the "are they or aren't they" speculation and the subsequent searches for clues in the episodes. Having it handed to you on a silver platter - well what fun is *that*?

:: I like more blatant [[homoerotic subtext]] in shows. Of course, I'm coming from the perspective of a [[vidder]] as well as a reader/writer, and the lingering glances make for better [[vids]], IMO. <g> I suppose I sometimes feel I have to justify  slash  -- even to people who are sympathetic, like my husband -- and so the obvious looks, the [[Mulder/Krycek|M/K]] kiss, [[Jim Ellison|Jim]] distraught over [[Blair Sandburg|Blair's]] "drowning", etc., keep me from feeling delusional. <g>

:: I like more blatant [[homoerotic subtext]] in shows. Of course, I'm coming from the perspective of a [[Vidder (glossary term)|vidder]] as well as a reader/writer, and the lingering glances make for better [[vids]], IMO. <g> I suppose I sometimes feel I have to justify  slash  -- even to people who are sympathetic, like my husband -- and so the obvious looks, the [[Mulder/Krycek|M/K]] kiss, [[Jim Ellison|Jim]] distraught over [[Blair Sandburg|Blair's]] "drowning", etc., keep me from feeling delusional. <g>

::I don't know how much of it has to do with the timeframe, though, and how much has to do with the actual characters -- [[Bodie]] and [[Ray Doyle|Doyle]] regularly exchange meaningful glances and from what I hear, the same could be said for [[S/H]], though I'm not particularly familiar with the fandom.

::I don't know how much of it has to do with the timeframe, though, and how much has to do with the actual characters -- [[Bodie]] and [[Ray Doyle|Doyle]] regularly exchange meaningful glances and from what I hear, the same could be said for Starsky/Hutch, though I'm not particularly familiar with the fandom.

::I guess I'm just more drawn to fandoms where the [[subtext]] is more visible: [[Due South]], [[X-Files]], [[Pros]], [[Sentinel]], [[Hercules/Xena]]. [[Star Trek: TOS|TOS]] has never particularly interested me, though I find both [[Kirk]] and [[Spock]] to be attractive.

::I guess I'm just more drawn to fandoms where the subtext is more visible: [[Due South]], X-Files, [[Pros]], [[Sentinel]], [[Hercules/Xena]]. TOS has never particularly interested me, though I find both Kirk and Spock to be attractive.

::: Um, yeah, you could say that.  Actually, I am inclined to say that  [[Crockett/Castillo]] exchange meaningful glances; [[Starsky/Hutch]] exchanged meaningful gropes.<ref> discussion at [[Virgule-L]], quoted anonymously, the last quote is by [[Michelle Christian]], quoted with permossion (16 Oct 1998) </ref>}}

::: Um, yeah, you could say that.  Actually, I am inclined to say that  [[Crockett/Castillo]] exchange meaningful glances; Starsky/Hutch exchanged meaningful gropes.<ref> discussion at [[Virgule-L]], quoted anonymously, the last quote is by [[Michelle Christian]], quoted with permossion (16 Oct 1998) </ref>}}

==The Evolution of the Word: Subtext and Text ==

==The Evolution of the Word: Subtext and Text ==

  When the term "slash" was coined you didn't have to discuss what it meant, because you knew it was gay fanfic. How did you know? '''There were no canonically gay characters in the mainstream media fandoms people wrote in.'''  

  When the term "slash" was coined you didn't have to discuss what it meant, because you knew it was gay fanfic. How did you know? '''There were no canonically gay characters in the mainstream media fandoms people wrote in.'''  

The early slashers had to queer the text based on subtext they thought they saw -- I don't think anyone really thinks that any [[subtext]] in [[ST:TOS]] was intended by the producers, writers or actors -- because they knew [[the powers that be]] (TPTB) were never going to do it for them. In fact that's still a common answer to the "[[why write slash]]" question -- we have to because that's the only way to get what we want.

The early slashers had to queer the text based on subtext they thought they saw -- I don't think anyone really thinks that any subtext in ST:TOS was intended by the producers, writers or actors -- because they knew [[the powers that be]] (TPTB) were never going to do it for them. In fact that's still a common answer to the "[[why write slash]]" question -- we have to because that's the only way to get what we want.

Then the winking, the conscious subtext, started. I don't really know where; my first encounter with it was with [[Star Trek: The Next Generation|TNG]] -- where one of the main writers admitted that he felt [[Q (Star Trek)|Q]] was in love with [[Picard]] -- and it was really blatant in [[Xena]] where TPTB did everything but say "they're lesbians and they are so doing each other!" What was written in the "conscious subtext" fandoms still fell under the old definition of slash, but now slahsers had a lot more to work on.

Then the winking, the conscious subtext, started. I don't really know where; my first encounter with it was with [[Star Trek: The Next Generation|TNG]] -- where one of the main writers admitted that he felt [[Q (Star Trek)|Q]] was in love with [[Picard]] -- and it was really blatant in [[Xena]] where TPTB did everything but say "they're lesbians and they are so doing each other!" What was written in the "conscious subtext" fandoms still fell under the old definition of slash, but now slahsers had a lot more to work on.