The Premise
| Synonyms: | |
| See also: | Slash, K/S |
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The Premise is an older term used to discuss slash, or more specifically characters, and "do they?" or "don't they?".
As stories about Kirk and Spock as lovers started to appear in Star Trek fanzines, conversations both pro and con K/S appeared in Star Trek letterzines and letter columns.
The entire controversial idea that the two could be in this homosexual relationship was unofficially titled "The Premise."
The phrase was used by both sides of the debate throughout the late '70s regarding Kirk/Spock (TOS) with some occasional use in early fannish discussion in Starsky and Hutch and other older fandoms.
Perhaps the earliest use in print was in The Halkan Council #12 (November 1, 1975). In a review of Grup #4, a fan writes: "Diane Marchant wrote an article on the Kirk/Spock homosexual love affair premise that’s been buzzing around fannish conversations for at least a year. The idea is an interesting permutation, but Diane’s argument fails to convince because she failed to document her evidence thoroughly, and there’s a tone of 'dirty old broad getting her rocks off, heh heh' that distracts from the argument and debases the premise."
Examples of Use
- From S and H #4 (November 1979), a reader comments on the acceptability of the S/H relationship. "Why must we argue? Most of us can remember the rift in ST fandom over this very issue. Can't we have both sides? There will be S/H relationship stories whether we like it or not. If you can buy the premise, or at least contain your objections long enough to the basic storytelling a chance, buy the zines. If it offends you, don't."
- From an ad for a proposed letterzine in 1985: "A new, bi-monthly letterzine dedicated to the exploration and enjoyment of the "oblique" premise." [1]
- From the Holmes/Watson zine Friend of My Heart in 1994: "This zine contains explicit same-sex scenes and will not knowingly be sold to anyone under the age of eighteen. An age statement is required with all orders/inquiries. Please do not order if you object to the premise."
- From a fan in 2018: "Yknow what I LOVE about the Star Trek fandom? It’s ANCIENT. I had a talk with a nice old lady at the old persons home that my great grandma is in and she noticed my Spock shirt and was like “oh I love that show I thought the premise was lovely” and you all know THE PREMISE is trekspeak for spirk and I was like “do you accept the premise because I do” and she looked at me with the eyes of someone who is reliving their otp moments and she said “the premise is all I wrote about, dear” and we just talked about spirk for a hella long time and I just love how age doesn’t matter in this fandom you can be ninety and still be the biggest spirk bitch ever how rad is that" [2]