Fanfic musing

[nialla42]

I was reading a fanfic about a week ago, and right from the start, things felt off. I couldn't tell if it's was the author's style, or a case of "your kink is not my kink, and that's OK, but I'm closing this fic". I kept reading to see if things improved, and got to a reference of one of the characters as an Irishman. Um. He's American. Or at least

Comments

[nialla42]

What's really odd is in recent years it seems to be slashers themselves berating fellow fans. I don't get it. I do know some who'll read slash, but not anything explicit but they wouldn't read explicit het either. Maybe the folks making these claims are just extreme versions who don't think anyone should write or read kinky fic?

I read gen, het, and slash in the 90s, but went primarily slash by 2000. My impression is kinks weren't as common in het or slash in the 90s. There was still a lot of writers and readers who might put forth a gay relationship, but kink was pushing it too far for them.

I think that might partly be due to the way fandom was loosely organized yet still had "rules" that must be followed in order to publish in zines. Slash on it's own was considered kinky, even just a kiss, but I've also heard stories of hiding het art in case the actors depicted in it came through the dealer's room. You did not talk about Fight Club, especially with those involved with the show.

I've often wondered if the tipping point for slash and general kink in fandom was when fic became readily available for free online. Especially once it evolved past segregated email lists into lists and message boards dedicated to one pairing. Not to mention your average Jane getting easy access to print erotica books thanks to online bookstores. Not that I know anything about that. ::ahem::