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Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Media / Books / Film / Nerd Slashers

Posted by Paul Constant on Wed, May 6, 2009 at 12:08 PM

6865/1241635697-k_spieta.jpeg I have a story over at Newsweek about Kirk/Spock slash fiction today.

Mainly, it's about how and why people still, after almost forty years, feel compelled to write about a theoretical erotic relationship between Captain Kirk and Spock. (Some of them draw, too: The artwork to the left is by K/S artist Shelley, who I talk to in the article.) It's an interesting subject, and I talk to a couple of people who provide some great insight into why they write slash fiction, and what it all has to do with gay marriage.

I've loved reading the comments, too:

Posted By: busychild @ 05/06/2009 1:03:34 PM
This trluly is the stupidest thing I have read in a long time!

Posted By: kayakatak @ 05/05/2009 9:47:41 PM
This is the most ridiculous article of all time. Kirk was with a woman every week. Spock as a vulcan would not have endangered the crew with a risky relationship with the captain. I argue that a Vulcan would find it illogical to be gay for it would not advance the population, for "the need of the many, out weight, the need of the few."

Futhermore, these people do not exist, so how does one speculate past the script. It simply isnt consistent with the Star Trek cannon. Since the script does not allude to it, why would anyone else? Because they want to mold it to fit there own homosexual fantasy, and thats your buisness but hardly worthy of Newsweek.

Sounds to me that this dude from Newsweek is either gay, or is trying to advance some sorta progay agenda by manipulating any culture phenomenon. Why else give such an obscure tiny fringe group a platform?

Posted By: Captaincaveman79 @ 05/05/2009 7:47:06 PM
personally I am more into the Captain Janeway/ Seven of Nine fanfiction. But I was shocked to find this article and see fanfiction and slash being discussed on such a mainstream website.

I hope you'll give it a read.

UPDATE: Gold Star Comment goes to Electra, who says: "I have to say I think someone like Spock would be way too smart to get anywhere near the alien STD farm that is Kirk's body."

Comments (19) RSS

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Haven't read the article yet, but I'm assuming you mention that the slash fic engine is primarily driven by straight women. "Obscure tiny fringe group" indeed.

Posted by Gloria on May 6, 2009 at 12:18 PM

Congrats on the article, Paul! Those comments are incredible.

Posted by Levislade

on May 6, 2009 at 12:20 PM

I would think Vulcans would consider it illogical to deny a beneficial relationship (not loving, of course, since they're supposed to suppress their emotions) simply because the two participants are of the same gender.

Also, it seems like Vulcans tend to have small families, so why should they be concerned if an individual chooses a non-procreative relationship?

I am more into the Captain Janeway/ Seven of Nine fanfiction.

Who isn't?

/geek

Posted by keshmeshi on May 6, 2009 at 12:25 PM

Anyone into Voyager fan-fiction is a freak. That someone would describe themselves as a fan is astonishing, (though this is coming from someone who watched almost the entire series).

Posted by vooodooo84 on May 6, 2009 at 12:26 PM

Janeway/7 of 9 fic? ew.

Me? I am all for the Kira/Jadzia hook up. Nose ridges and body spots ftw!

Posted by Akbar Fazil on May 6, 2009 at 12:28 PM

I have to say I think someone like Spock would be way too smart to get anywhere near the alien STD farm that is Kirk's body. We've seen just recently what happens when human and bird and pig germs all get together, imagine what happens when you mix five or six strains of syphilis. It just wouldn't be logical.

Posted by Electra on May 6, 2009 at 12:29 PM

Sexy Trek! XXX Trek! Bill/Steve!

Posted by Kelly O on May 6, 2009 at 12:35 PM

Star Trek canon--from the Onion
http://www.theonion.com/content/video/tr…

I wonder if 40 years from now people will STILL be holding Showgirls Irony Parties?

Posted by Heather on May 6, 2009 at 12:36 PM

Good article - nice to see some mention of this work hitting the mainstream a bit more. Frankly, if it wasn't for increased mentions of how straight women were the primary writers/consumers of slash, I never would have realized a lot of other women are into the same things. So while I've lost my special-niche feeling, it does feel a bit nice to belong to a larger group.

Posted by wench on May 6, 2009 at 12:54 PM

"surveys have found that the majority of K/S writers and consumers are heterosexual women"

Not any surveys with any validity... I've been in slash fandom since the early eighties, and though it was mostly straight girls in the beginning, the bi girls and lesbians have been out in force for at least the last fifteen years.

(And hey, Paul -- there are plenty of K/Sers here in Seattle -- why you giving your name-checking love to out of towners? Heh.)

Posted by sherrold on May 6, 2009 at 1:02 PM

bi girl slash fan for 20 years

Posted by Glossolalia Black on May 6, 2009 at 1:04 PM

They should have finally gone there in the movie. If you watch the original series, it's pretty impossible not to put that subtext in there. (All of the heavy eyeliner might bias me, but still.)

I always felt bad for Uhara, too. She's a bright, pretty woman who has access to the entire universe, and she's stuck kissing yucky Kirk? Ew.

Posted by Boysareyucky on May 6, 2009 at 1:09 PM

My personal favorite bit of Kirk/Spock erotica:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PwpcUawj…

Posted by RatGirl on May 6, 2009 at 1:13 PM

Whoa, Paul - Newsweek! Congrats!

Though, is it less of a big deal to be published in the blog of a major publication than to be published in its dead-tree version? Two years ago I would've said yes, but now I dunno.

Also, "Go live in France pussy you faggots!"

Posted by Ivan Cockrum

on May 6, 2009 at 1:35 PM

"alien STD farm that is Kirk's body"

perfect!

Posted by Suz on May 6, 2009 at 2:09 PM

Read Kayakatak's comment (in the post) with Comicbook Guy's voice and you will shoot milk from your nose. Even if you're not drinking milk.

Posted by Cracker Jack on May 6, 2009 at 2:21 PM

>It simply isn't consistent with the Star Trek cannon

Actually, kayakatak, it's all *about* the Star Trek cannon.

Posted by Superfrankenstein

on May 6, 2009 at 4:23 PM

They have a cannon now? All I remember is the photon torpedoes.

Posted by Missy Miss on May 6, 2009 at 10:26 PM

Great article, Paul. It's nice to see a Stranger staffer making such a fair examination of the subculture of slash fans. As a Seattle reader and slash fan, I really enjoyed and appreciated this.

Posted by Miss M on May 10, 2009 at 8:26 AM