Slash

2007-05-06T18:04:19Z

83.105.73.233: /* Theory */ I've never seen any slash archive that distinguished between "slash" and "homoerotic" in that way. Any actual examples?

'''Slash''' is a [[fan fiction]] term designating romantic and/or erotic (and/or [[pornography|pornographic]]) [[same-sex]] relationships between [[fictional characters]].

The term comes from the typographical "slash" character: "/", placed between the names or initials of the characters paired in such a relationship, e.g.: "Kirk/Spock" or "[[K/S]]", after one of the early popular slash pairings.

== Vocabulary ==

* '''Slash ''fiction''''' is also referred to as '''slash''', in an abbreviated way, or "'''slash fic'''".

* The verb '''''to slash''''' derives from the noun. [[Fan]]s use it to designate the ''writing'' of slash fiction, the practice of [[reading]] same-sex relationships in a text, or the making of implications about such relationships (for instance, in fannish conversations about a fandom).

*'''Slasher''': someone who writes or enjoys slash.

*'''Slashy''', adj., something that has '''slash'''-like qualities. Often refers to [[subtext]] in the source material, notably in acting performances or in the writing. Also designates [[fan]] productions that involve slash, e.g., slashy artwork.

*'''Saffic''': alternative name for slash fiction concerning female character. (It's a pun on "sapphic".) It is sometimes favoured over the term '''femmeslash''', because the construction of the word "femmeslash" carries the implication that '''slash''' is only about ''male'' same-sex relationships.

===Translations of the term "slash"===
*In French:
**'''Biaiser''', verb, meaning "to slash"
*(Insert other translations)

== Practice and Theory of Slash ==

=== Practice ===

;The inventors of slash are [[women]].

[[Women]] have created, named, and driven the '''slash''' phenomenon, and are still the primary producers and consumers of slash.

The position of [[women]] as [[fans]] in a [[male-dominated]], [[heterosexist]] [[popular culture]] is intimately linked to the production of slash, and the [[relations of production]] of slash.

=== Theory ===

There is some controversy over the definition of '''slash''', particularly concerning the requirement of non-[[canon]]icity in slash relationships. This is because the term '''slash''' emerged in a context where [[canon]]ical erotic and/or romantic same-sex relationships were rare to non-existent: products of (primarily) North American and British popular culture in the 1970s, especially on [[television]] and in the [[movies]]. Therefore, in the absence of overt homoerotic material, the distinction between canon and non-canon same-sex relationships became moot.

Since the emergence of canonical same-sex relationships and their increasing overtness in Western popular culture, it has been suggested that the term [[homoerotic]] could usefully co-exist with '''slash''' to designate, respectively, canonical and non-canonical same-sex relationships. However, this suggestion is not standard usage.

Earlier references to '''slash''' also tended to designate only, or primarily, ''male'' same-sex relationships, due to the prevalence of [[male characters]] over female characters onscreen, and the increased importance accorded to them by the producers of popular culture.

== Further reading ==
* Joanna Russ, [[Pornography By Women For Women, With Love]]
* [http://www.trickster.org/symposium/symp139.html "What Is Slash?"], essay at The Fanfic Symposium

[[category:Theory]]
[[category:Genres]]
[[category:Fan fiction]]
[[Category:Fandom]]

Slash

2007-05-06T18:02:30Z

83.105.73.233: Slash is about same-sex relationships, not about non-canon relationships

'''Slash''' is a [[fan fiction]] term designating romantic and/or erotic (and/or [[pornography|pornographic]]) [[same-sex]] relationships between [[fictional characters]].

The term comes from the typographical "slash" character: "/", placed between the names or initials of the characters paired in such a relationship, e.g.: "Kirk/Spock" or "[[K/S]]", after one of the early popular slash pairings.

== Vocabulary ==

* '''Slash ''fiction''''' is also referred to as '''slash''', in an abbreviated way, or "'''slash fic'''".

* The verb '''''to slash''''' derives from the noun. [[Fan]]s use it to designate the ''writing'' of slash fiction, the practice of [[reading]] same-sex relationships in a text, or the making of implications about such relationships (for instance, in fannish conversations about a fandom).

*'''Slasher''': someone who writes or enjoys slash.

*'''Slashy''', adj., something that has '''slash'''-like qualities. Often refers to [[subtext]] in the source material, notably in acting performances or in the writing. Also designates [[fan]] productions that involve slash, e.g., slashy artwork.

*'''Saffic''': alternative name for slash fiction concerning female character. (It's a pun on "sapphic".) It is sometimes favoured over the term '''femmeslash''', because the construction of the word "femmeslash" carries the implication that '''slash''' is only about ''male'' same-sex relationships.

===Translations of the term "slash"===
*In French:
**'''Biaiser''', verb, meaning "to slash"
*(Insert other translations)

== Practice and Theory of Slash ==

=== Practice ===

;The inventors of slash are [[women]].

[[Women]] have created, named, and driven the '''slash''' phenomenon, and are still the primary producers and consumers of slash.

The position of [[women]] as [[fans]] in a [[male-dominated]], [[heterosexist]] [[popular culture]] is intimately linked to the production of slash, and the [[relations of production]] of slash.

=== Theory ===

There is some controversy over the definition of '''slash''', particularly concerning the requirement of non-[[canon]]icity in slash relationships. This is because the term '''slash''' emerged in a context where [[canon]]ical erotic and/or romantic same-sex relationships were rare to non-existent: products of (primarily) North American and British popular culture in the 1970s, especially on [[television]] and in the [[movies]]. Therefore, in the absence of overt homoerotic material, the distinction between canon and non-canon same-sex relationships became moot.

Since the emergence of canonical same-sex relationships and their increasing overtness in Western popular culture, the term [[homoerotic]] can usefully co-exist with '''slash''' to designate, respectively, canonical and non-canonical same-sex relationships.

Earlier references to '''slash''' also tended to designate only, or primarily, ''male'' same-sex relationships, due to the prevalence of [[male characters]] over female characters onscreen, and the increased importance accorded to them by the producers of popular culture.

== Further reading ==
* Joanna Russ, [[Pornography By Women For Women, With Love]]
* [http://www.trickster.org/symposium/symp139.html "What Is Slash?"], essay at The Fanfic Symposium

[[category:Theory]]
[[category:Genres]]
[[category:Fan fiction]]
[[Category:Fandom]]

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Slash

Slash