Why We Believe K/S is Canon (A Refutation Essay)

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Title:	Why We Believe K/S is Canon (A Refutation Essay)
Creator:	daslieblingsfach
Date(s):	2010
Medium:	online
Fandom:	Star Trek: TOS
Topic:	K/S
External Links:	online here, Archived version
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Why We Believe K/S is Canon (A Refutation Essay) is an essay by daslieblingsfach that was posted on The Kirk/Spock Fanfiction Archive.

It was written in response to Why k/s is not canon to me (and why I don't mind).

Excerpts

I’d like to make it unwaveringly clear, however, that my ultimate goal in writing this refutation was not to ‘change minds’. I’m not trying to ‘recruit’ people as it were, much less the author of the original essay. What I wanted to do was create a piece that explains why us K/Sers think our pairing is canon. So often we are criticized for arguing such a “ludicrous” point, but we know all-too-well that we have very valid reasons for doing so. So while we never did see our two favorite protagonists make out in a turbolift (at least not in the human way), we have plenty of very real, very canon evidence that suggests their friendship was written with the intent of implying a romantic component.

No, you don’t have to like it or even believe it. All we ask is that you respect our opinion and try to see exactly where we’re coming from. We didn’t just spring from the ground one day and decide to start putting Kirk and Spock together romantically in our fan works. Oh no, this sort of a fanbase takes a lot of time and canon evidence to cultivate. Perhaps those of you who have a hard time seeing this will be able to by the end of the refutation. Maybe.

Most K/S fans agree that Kirk and Spock were not lovers during TOS. We have good reason to believe this, the most prevalent being Roddenberry’s quote “We did not mean to suggest physical love between the two during the series” (paraphrased). Couple that with what we believe to be evidence of hidden feelings and jealousies and from there comes our common denominator; Kirk and Spock were secretly in love during the show, but hid these feelings as best they could for fear of rejection or fear of the feeling itself,. Their mutual romance did not begin until sometime after or during TMP and definitely before Wrath of Khan (let me reiterate that such is the theoretical view of K/S fans who consider the pairing, in one capacity or another, canonical). We seem to believe this last part because we do not see Kirk or Spock enter into anything even resembling a fling during these movies, whereas before both of them would do so from time-to-time in the show without hesitation. As for me, let me take this opportunity to say that I am not a particular fan of slash. Nor do I have anything against it, but I had never taken any kind of an interest in a slash or femme-slash pairing until I ran into K/S. I say this because I want to make it clear that I don’t go looking for sexual tension between characters of the same sex simply for my own enjoyment (though I’m not trying to make a judgmental statement about those who do or convey that their opinions are any less valid), just as I don’t with heterosexual couplings, though when I do “invent” couples in various fandoms, I never attempt to argue their canonical state. When I first did research into the K/S pairing, I had much the same feeling as this author; that this would be a silly and fruitless venture because, quite unfortunately, many slash pairings do not have a canonical basis. What I found when I began to watch TOS, however, was that their chemistry and evidence to that chemistry was nigh inescapable. I couldn’t have very well denied them if I had tried.

Now, how far invested Roddenberry was to this idea, or for how long he may have had it in his consciousness is unknown and forever will be. It was because of the intolerance of this sort of relationship (that, sadly, still lingers to this day) that Roddenberry could never be specific about the nature of their relationship, even if he had wanted to be. But again, he never denied it, and gave us fans plenty of room to believe that this was the case, whereas many other franchise creators have made it unwaveringly clear to their fan base that no homosexual romantic component exists between any of their characters. Roddenberry never did this, even when made fully aware of the fan theories. Because that capacity for a romance intentionally exists, I think it is valid to say that a romantic K/S relationship does have a grounding canon. We know that Roddenberry was both supportive of it and a believer, and for a franchise that made most of its work from 1966 to the early 90’s, that’s a pretty solid inclusion for a same-sex pairing.

Reactions and Reviews

Well, of course I couldn't resist to have a look at your essay, though frankly I did not read it all because this whole "having to prove why your favourite pairing was meant so by the authors" has really started to get on my nerves (e.g. some fans are convinced that Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy are in love, or Julian and Miles from Deep Space Nine. The only commentary that comes to my mind is "Argh!" Kirk and Spock, being both unmarried and good friends, and least make some sense as lovers).

But I would like to add just one small suggestion. As you know, I like k/s stories - as long as they are well written and not total trash - and I have read a few before and after I wrote my essay. Now, here's my idea: while you read one, imagine one of them as a female and read it from that point of view, though it will probably spoil the story and take the interesting element from it. By reading them like this, k/s stories are quickly revealed for the female fantasies they truly are. There even are stories where one of them gets pregnant or is turned into a girl. It can't be clearer than that.

K/s stories, even if they are beautifully thought up and written, have little to do with fighting (a main element of all science fiction stories), some with adventure, and very, very much with relationships. Roddenberry, his authors and heirs may have been as ambiguous as you wish, but it is the ff authors who betray themselves with every story they write.

The comparison with Alexander and Hephaiston is one I honestly never really liked: Alexander was a ruthless invader and mass murderer, which assuredly doesn't come up to Kirk's arrogant, but kind-hearted character. Of Hephaiston's character, little is know but for his undying loyalty to Alexander. Alexander often stated himself that without him, Hephaiston would be nothing. This is certainly not a good parallel to the high-minded, independent Spock.

I never saw a problem with reading slash, or other kind of ffs, while still knowing and accepting, in the back of my mind, that the actual storyline is different. But that's something everyone must see for himself. Thanks for reading and being interested in my essay, anyway. :-)

Oh, beautiful essay. I really admire your "professionalism" as it were, the fact that you don't try to recruit anyone. More often than not, our invested emotions will get in the way of seeing another's differing point of view - but K/S and Star Trek TOS in general were more enlightened than that, so it would be quite ironic to create a unified "consensus" between fans who then flock together, for the purpose of blocking out whoever doesn't agree with them. It does happen on occasion, but I try to "observe" this in myself/ask why, rather than take it seriously. So it makes me so happy that there are others who are willing to cross this boundary. (I think the most surprising thing I have ever learned from it all, is that this primary impulse, whether we call it Love or God or whatever, is the SAME reason for both enlightenment and a nazi-type behaviour - I now understand it has to do with being made to feel special, and misinterpreting it as "more special than others" - if you see what I mean).

Wow! This was a interesting, well-argued essay. I do agree with most of your points and interpretations, but that's by no means the only reason why I like it, so thank you for writing.

I'm really glad that slash fans and non slash fans alike can have these debates yet still cohabit in the same website. I reckon there's something in particular about Star Trek fans that makes them really open minded and accepting of other people's points of view.

I think most of us realise that slash is a mix of possibilities relating to what was not said and personal fantasy. I am also of the view that much good fanfic uses [K/S]] as a vehicle to weave other elements into. My view is that there Is no cannon other than personal cannon and this includes those writing for TOS and movies. The nearest to a consistent story are the first three movies where the writers and producers have stated were written as a three piece love story. Generations does not fit because it was never meant to link whether the original script had a link we don't know. As no leak of a slash version exists it is unlikely. If slash were cannon it could only be because those who acted and those who filmed put it there so the question of cannon is something only they could answer interestingly the backdrop DVD to ST2009 is very obviously anti slash. The only decision relevant is whether to create a personal slash or gen universe and thereafter choose whether you are open to multiple possibilities and freedom of choice for other fans.