subtext in fantexts

[hope]

I think it's one of the potential drawbacks of slash that its very existence to an extent denies the possibility of homoerotic subtext in gen stories.

And yeah, okay, I know all you SPN readers out there will be "wtf! in gen stories they sleep in the same bed and give each other baths ALL THE TIME!" but, okay - frequently I also notice stories posted with notes like "subtexty wincest" or "pre-slash" or "you can read this as slash if you want" or "hints of slash".

In other words. SUBTEXT. Slash's existence potentially excises homoerotic subtext from non-slash stories: because as soon as there's subtext, frequently authors feel they have to re-classify. Which means a whole lot of things, most on the side of the audience reception to the story.

More than a few of the gen stories I really, really love - in this fandom and other fandoms - have strong subtext. That is just subtext. Juicy, homoerotic subtext. Which is satisfying in its own right; something completely other than slash. If I'm looking for slash to read, I won't be satisfied by something that's just subtext. And if I'm reading a gen story about a same-sex partnership, I'd be disappointed - even unsatisfied - if it was strikingly lacking in subtext.

Interestingly problematic division there, I reckon.

Interesting in terms of SPN specifically too; the text itself has such a strong subtext and text of emotional and physical intimacy; a queer reading of it is quite easy. It's fascinating watching people classify their stories as slash or non-slash when they re-create or even emphasise just a little the intimacy that occurs on the show itself.

Comments

[loz]

Hah. I write both slash and gen for Life on Mars, and a lot of my gen tends to have SUBTEXT coming out the wazoo. The non-slashers like it, the slashers like it - it's a win/win situation. I did recently refer to a story as "not actually being slash" and it was amusing to see how many comments reflected the "this was slashier than I thought it might be" sentiment. It made me wonder what the comments would have been if I hadn't mentioned slash at all. That reclassification issue is certainly one I find interesting.

As a term, I'm not overly fond of pre-slash, but it differs from subtext in that the sense is very much that these characters will get it together and get it on - which is a direct constrast of subtext - which suggests that canonically nothing is going to happen - it's just operating on that sub-surface level.

[ravenclaw-devi.livejournal.com]

[here via metafandom]

Well, as I like to say, "The only difference between gen and pre-slash is authorial intent."