A Question for Fanfiction Readers and Writers (if you please)...
Howdy kids!
I’ve been spending a goodly amount of time puttering around fanfiction.net on my never-ending quest for deliciously awesome Glinda/Elphaba stories, and in my perusals I’ve stumbled across a number of interesting descriptions and terms that readers and writers often employ for this particular pairing. It got me thinking about the standard conventions we use in our labeling of romantic relationships (be they sexual or an implied interest) between characters of the same gender, and how, exactly, the subtextual nature of Glinda and Elphaba’s relationship in the novel fits into the picture.
Or, to be less pretentious about it, I was curious as to whether or not Glinda/Elphaba constitutes as slash. =D
I’ve read many Wicked-related stories where “slash” was tossed into the story description as a note (or perhaps a warning) to anyone who might be interested in clicking for a read, and speaking for myself, I can’t say that I find the term all that fitting. But I wanted to open the subject up for debate, largely because the matter is completely subjective and I was interested to hear what YOUR opinions are, given that this is such a fantabulous community of Gelphliscious readers and writers.
So! Fellow Gelphians… do you think the term “slash” is necessary when discussing same-sex pairings that are actually based in canon, and does the Glinda/Elphaba pairing fall into this category? Oh, and does anyone out there know the artist who did this little drawing? I’m still looking, but thus far my efforts have been fruitless…
See, here’s the deal. It’s not uncommon for people to label their stories as “slash” if it pertains to a relationship between characters of the same gender, regardless of whether or not the pairing has a basis within the canon of whichever fandom they’re writing for. This doesn’t exactly make sense to me. The term “slash,” in my opinion, suggests the creation of a same-sex pairing as opposed to one that already exists within the storyline, if that makes any sense to you. After all, if it’s common knowledge that the fandom I’m writing for contains pairings of a non-heterosexual nature, why would it be necessary to throw in the extra “slash” warning for readers? Wouldn’t it just be, well… canon?
Look at the popular television series Torchwood, for example. The main character, Captain Jack Harkness, is involved in an intimate relationship with a male member of his team. It’s a recognized and established pairing on the show. So, were I writing fan-fiction that referred to this pairing, I think that labeling the story as slash would seem unnecessary. Now if I was reading something from the Harry Potterverse (perish the thought) where Ginny and Hermione were engaging in a number of pornographic tickle-fights, the “slash” label would seem more appropriate as there is never any sort of a suggestion that the two are romantically linked in the novels. (More’s the pity.) It isn’t canonical-it’s just there for kicks and giggles.
Bringing this back to our two favorite witches, I’ve had a harder time trying to decide where Glinda and Elphaba would fit into all of this. After all, their relationship exists within the novel at least on a subtextual level, if not overtly canonical, which would arguably make it distinguishable from your average run-of-the-mill Harry/Snape fan-fictions. At least I think so. I dunno. Does subtext constitute a recognized romantic pairing? My first inclination would be to say “yes,” but I suppose I would have to qualify that statement by examining how prominently the relationship figures into the canon.
Take Xena: Warrior Princess, for example. The relationship between the two leads was always heavily implied to have subtextual leanings, even if the actors and producers of the show refused to confirm or deny it unequivocally. Regardless of whether or not a sexual relationship between the characters was realized, however, it didn’t make their relationship any less significant to the show’s storyline. The pairing is given enough reputable credence amongst the majority of the fans (whether they support it or not) to merit the unnecessary distinction of “slash,” and when reading fan-fiction that highlights the romance between them, it will typically be referred to as subtext, if given a label at all.
So what about Elphaba and Glinda? Is the term “slash” applicable to their relationship when there is certainly enough evidence in the book (as well as intimations from the author) that would suggest a romantic inclination could have existed between the two? Would it be more appropriate, then, to call Gelphie centric fictions subtext, if they need a label at all? I ask this because I’ve seen a number of fictions and communities on ffn that say things like “GELPHIE SLASH WARNING,” or “FAMILY-FRIENDLY STORIES - NO SLASH!!!”
It’s both intriguing (and confusing) to say the least.
And while we’re on the whole “family-friendly” subject, can anyone rightly explain to me why so many fans of the novel take offense to the concept of a Glinda/Elphaba romance? I can understand if it’s just not their thing, or if they aren’t interested in reducing the story to “this pairing” or “that pairing,” but the adamant, nay, almost vehement protestations I’ve seen regarding Glinda and Elphaba (or the possibility thereof) absolutely boggle my mind.
I mean, this is Maguire, people. There are characters all over the pages of these books whose sexuality is purposefully vague or, at best, fluctuating-- largely depending on which angle you’re reading from. Elphaba’s father had an open relationship with his wife and Turtle Heart. Liir eventually became involved with Trism, though he’d spent time with Candle and previously expressed an interest in Dorothy. I won’t even bother mentioning any of the secondary characters who profess a questionable sexual preference in the novel. Evidently, the idea of two people of the same gender falling in love with each other seems pretty acceptable in Maguire’s portrait of Oz.
So what’s the deal, then? How exactly is it insulting or improbable to consider that Elphaba and Glinda could have had romantic feelings for each other? Maybe some of you can do a better job filling me in on this since I’m still relatively new to this fandom and have yet to latch on to all the idiosyncrasies of the fans. Is it strictly people in adoration of her romance with Fiyero, or is the idea abhorrent simply due to the nature of the relationship? I suppose it might make more sense to me if this was coming from fans of the musical, but the novel? Really?
By the bye, my intention in asking this is not to offend anyone, particularly those who don’t object to labeling their stories as slash. I’m really just looking for some feedback, and I figured y’all would have the most insightful things to say on the subject.
So! Thoughts! I’d love to hear from anyone who’d care to share. =D