‘Fandom is full of pearl clutching old ladies’: Nonnies in the online slash closet

Abstract

This article examines cultures of anonymity (or 'nonnies') and secrecy in online slash fandom through textual analysis of fannish reaction to gay magazine DNA publishing slash content. I use the experiences of infamous slash manip artist mythagowood from the Supernatural fandom community to read this critical moment of online discourse creation. Specific cases on LiveJournal communities spnanonhaven and fandomsecrets are examined to reveal pockets of conservatism, or 'pearl clutching', online. Within the context of male slash production, I examine the implications of nonnies and their efforts to keep slash secret, which is the enactment of an online 'slash closet'; and conclude by considering what cultures of anonymity and secrecy mean for male slashers, many whose slash practice is inextricably linked to direct identity construction.

Czy tylko slash? O zagubionej różnorodności twórczości erotycznej fanów medialnych

“…Kolejne ograniczenia przedstawionych powyżej ujęć od razu widać na przykład w konfrontacji z dotyczącą gejowskiego środowiska twórców i odbiorców twórczością slash powstającą na motywach serialu telewizyjnego Supernatural 20 , analizowaną przez Josepha Brennana w artykule "Fandom is Full of Pearl Clutching Old Ladies" 21 . Opisywana tam społeczność, choć posługująca się podobną terminologią co wspomniane już, w większości żeńskie grupy fanowskie, jest skupiona w znacznie większej mierze na materiałach wizualnych, w tym przede wszystkim na utworach określanych terminem manip -przetworzonych ilustracjach, łączących najczęściej twarze bohaterów dzieła źródłowego ze scenami z pornografii gejowskiej 22 .…”

Male‒male marriage in Sinophone and AnglophoneHarry Potter danmeiandslash

“…English-language research does tend to argue that a female readership's attraction/investment in male-male romance fiction rests on its portrayal of a relatively equal partnership (e.g., Lilja & Wasshede, 2016;Pagliassotti, 2008). However, feminist interpretations of slash and yaoi are controversial, even in relation to Anglophone fandom (e.g., Brennan, 2014), although, interestingly, from interviews with 16 female Taiwanese fans, Chou (2010) suggests that this demographic may sometimes read danmei as resistance to notions of female weakness, lack of gender reciprocity, and sexual objectification of women. It may be that exploration of role flexibility depends on the freedom to take risks in the creation of male-male romance, with Wood (2013; see also Sihombing, 2011) arguing that, although rare in the commercial product, "a much higher percentage of non-commercial fan-created fiction and art contain depictions of reversible Boys' Love couples" (p.53).…”

Young people, online fandom and the perils of child pornography legislation in Australia

“…The prohibition of ‘incest’ rules out one of the internet’s longest running manip communities – ‘Wincest’ or the slashing of the two Winchester brothers from Supernatural (Brennan, 2014). Also prohibited are ‘fetishes’, as well as fantasies that are ‘offensive or abhorrent’ – including sexualized violence that includes even consensual depictions ‘which purposefully demean anyone’.…”