Introduction
Slash
Authors
≈ Published and personal Theories
Readers
≈Published and personal Theories
Impact of Queer community
Impact of the Sexuality of Women
Other?
Conclusion
Glossary of terms (i.e. slash, hurt/comfort, PWP, etc.)
Slash fiction is fan produced, amateur stories that feature non-heteronormative character pairings. These stories first appeared in the 1970s and took place between the well-known Star Trek characters Kirk and Spock. Initially they were available in “zines” or fan magazines. The distribution of these sources of fiction was very limited. Then the internet came into existence. This allowed a wider audience to have access to these writings. It also allowed for a greater range of writers, since it is now possible to self-publish a story by posting it on ones own website or in a fan fiction archive. The term slash comes from the / punctuation used to highlight that stories particular pairings. Kirk and Spock slash fiction, for example is shown like this, K/S or Kirk/Spock.
These fan fiction stories are queer not only in their sexual and romantic pairings, but also in what they are accomplishing. These stories are a complete “queering” of traditional romance novels. The characters are not the typical frail heroine who is rescued by her handsome prince. Unlike traditional romances these stories do not have characters that fall in love with and are subordinate to their lovers. In these fictions they are equals, not just in their physical sex, but also in looks, professions, decision making, and so on. These fan-written fictions also contrast vastly with traditional romances because the love is based out of years of trust and friendship and not simply having a guy sweep you off your feet. Another prominent characteristic is the “real world” quality that the characters have. They are usually flawed in one way or another. This, however, does not stop them from receiving the love of another. “They receive the love of their desired partner not because of their physical and psychological resemblance to the airbrushed Playboy (or Playgirl) centerfold, but because they trust their partners enough to show them all the hidden things and broken places. Slash characters receive love because they share themselves and their lives fully and without reservation” (Kustritz 380). These stories reject these heteronormative ideas on romance and love. They come from an oppressed group of women usually college educated, but in lower level position than their educations dictate. They create stories that express ways in which they desire to live.
