Slash Survey Results, the tri-quel
Along with reasons to explain interest, there was also a list of words or short phrases people could pick because it's what they like about slash. Here are the top ten agreed upon things that we like about slash:
83% - sexy
76% - chemistry
73% - all about the characters
Well, those three put together make sense - we see the chemistry between the characters in the canon, and love to see them get together, and get it on.
63.5% - an escape
58% - about angst & drama
55% - thrilling
50% - naughty
These kinda go together as well. It's something we don't normally have exposure to, and when it's well done it can be such an escape, so exciting and emotional, like any really good story.
44% - challenging
42% - makes sense
42% - about fluffy, sappy romance
Well, these last three don't exactly go together, but you can see the point. I've got this fancy statistical thing I can do to really see if these words collapse down into specific items - which I'll try to do with the reasons to explain interest items. But for now, here's some fodder for thought.
And as before, there were some responses others gave that weren't on my original list:
- "I just have no interest in Het relationships."
- "Great how-to manual on what a man likes and what drives him crazy."
- "I don't know why, but the best written fiction on the net tends to be slash."
- "Universality of caring."
- "Enlightening."
- "About speculation and what-if situations."
- "Nine parts emotional, one part physical."
You can see how these keywords overlap with the explanation items. There appears to be several main thoughts running through both of these parts of the survey:
1) we like the slash because we find having the characters together sexy, especially if there is some chemistry between them in the canon
2) good slash fanfic is some of the best writing out there when it properly explores the complex nature of the slash relationship - it's good because to be good it has to be good - if that makes any sense
3) some people like the angst, some people like the fluffy - and perhaps many like both at different times
4) slash is interesting because it defies social norms, and by defying social norms allows us to really delve in to what romantic and sexual relationships are all about - or could be
Comments, questions, confusions, arguments, etc?
83% - sexy
76% - chemistry
73% - all about the characters
Well, those three put together make sense - we see the chemistry between the characters in the canon, and love to see them get together, and get it on.
63.5% - an escape
58% - about angst & drama
55% - thrilling
50% - naughty
These kinda go together as well. It's something we don't normally have exposure to, and when it's well done it can be such an escape, so exciting and emotional, like any really good story.
44% - challenging
42% - makes sense
42% - about fluffy, sappy romance
Well, these last three don't exactly go together, but you can see the point. I've got this fancy statistical thing I can do to really see if these words collapse down into specific items - which I'll try to do with the reasons to explain interest items. But for now, here's some fodder for thought.
And as before, there were some responses others gave that weren't on my original list:
- "I just have no interest in Het relationships."
- "Great how-to manual on what a man likes and what drives him crazy."
- "I don't know why, but the best written fiction on the net tends to be slash."
- "Universality of caring."
- "Enlightening."
- "About speculation and what-if situations."
- "Nine parts emotional, one part physical."
You can see how these keywords overlap with the explanation items. There appears to be several main thoughts running through both of these parts of the survey:
1) we like the slash because we find having the characters together sexy, especially if there is some chemistry between them in the canon
2) good slash fanfic is some of the best writing out there when it properly explores the complex nature of the slash relationship - it's good because to be good it has to be good - if that makes any sense
3) some people like the angst, some people like the fluffy - and perhaps many like both at different times
4) slash is interesting because it defies social norms, and by defying social norms allows us to really delve in to what romantic and sexual relationships are all about - or could be
Comments, questions, confusions, arguments, etc?