Fans, fanfiction and the obsession with yaoi!
First up I hear some of you asking what Yaoi even is. From the Japanese it roughly translates as 'boys love' and it is a genre particularly popular with women, which is why I chose to use it for this piece.
Now, I fully acknowledge that there is a section of fanfiction about imagining yourself with your favourite character, but this blog essay will concentrate on the overtly homosexual version of fanfiction.
Another popular form is the aforementioned 'fanfiction' where two people or characters are thrown together in an ever escalating scenario that usually ends in a graphically written sex scene. These stories can be found on sites like Wattpad...but be warned, they are not for the faint of heart!
Occassionally something will go 'meta'. What this means is that a show will acknowledge the fans and give a little nod to their 'ships'.
In the first episode of Sherlock in 2010 there is a scene where Sherlock and John are discussing their sexuality and it is hinted at that Sherlock is either gay or bi-sexual (although his character and personality don't really suggest this in a kind of conventional way). Throughout the following series there are occasions where the other characters suggest John and Sherlock are more than just friends. In the first episode of series three the writers used genuine fan theories from tumblr (and other social media) about how Sherlock could have survived the fall from the roof. One suggests he and Moriarty faked their deaths and then shows them going in for a kiss (it freeze frames before they do). This is another 'ship' by the Sherlock fandom.
Another good example of giving the fans what they want, or 'fanservice' is Supernatural. In the early series the brothers are always getting mistaken for lovers as they went around together with fake names to hide their identities and relationship as family. This prompted the fans to create some quite disturbing things imagining Sam and Dean together. In the episode 5.9 'The Real Ghostbusters' the show goes full meta. There was already an episode in S4 (4.18 'The Monster at the end of this Book') where an author is writing about their lives, but by 5.9 the books have such a cult following that a convention has sprung up (complete with full cosplay and a Q&A panel), which is just like the following the show has in real life. Two of the convention goers explain at the end that they dress up and enjoy the books because they are escaping from reality. Then it turns out that they are dressed as Sam and Dean and are a 'real' gay couple (as a nod to the 'ship').
However, Supernatural also goes on to do one better. An angel, Castiel (or Cas), has chosen to protect Dean when he drags him out of hell (long story...go and watch it). As Cas has no experience of people skills or personal space this has led to some awkward situations with Dean. The first thing Dean says to Cas is a comment about the size of his own manhood and it goes on from there. A favourite fan line is:
Dean: "Why is it always gotta be me who makes the call, huh? It's not like Cas lives in my ass, the dude's busy!"
Cas: (appears right behind Dean, ignoring personal space)
Dean: (jumps) "Cas, get out of my ass!"
Cas: (confused) "I was never in your..."
[Awkward silence.]
Scenes like this continue throughout the show's run and play up to the fans' ideas of their 'ship', even adding fuel to the fire.
In episode 6.18 'Frontierland' Cas sends Sam and Dean back in time to the late 1800's. Dean has a love of cowboy films so buys a cowboy costume and accuses Sam of standing out when they get there. However, Sam fits in wearing jeans, plaid and a beige jacket while cowboy Dean gets all the wrong attention in his costume. One character calls him 'clean shirt' and this is the equivalent of calling someone a 'faggot' today (an incredibly insulting term for a homosexual man). If we take this as an innocent misunderstanding by Dean it is fine, but it can also be taken another way as Dean regularly flirts with men as well as women and so many fans believe him to be bi-sexual.
The writers have been accused of fueling this idea with comments by Dean, Cas or other characters (such as the angel Balthazar describing Cas as the "angel in the dirty trench coat who's in love with you" or the time Dean referenced the Miami gay bar Purgatory). Even the before mentioned scene about Cas living in his ass is obvious. At one point Dean tells Cas that "the last time someone looked at me like that I got laid".
All of this can be considered 'queer baiting', which is suggesting a gay relationship is possible without ever following through with it. The idea of queer baiting is to encourage support from the LGBTQ+ community without going 'all the way' and angering or alienating groups who down fit the LGBTQ+ community.
In defence of Supernatural, they did make the point in the 200th episode that, although they were ok with the fans writing whatever they want for fan fiction, they do not condone or encourage it and the relationship between Cas and Dean is purely platonic like a family bond.
It also comes down to a couple of points and depends on the individual creating the fanfic.
One idea is that, if two characters are not real (e.g. from a cartoon or anime) then they are available for anyone to write about and any scenario, even sexual, is a possibility (e.g. Sebastian/Grell or Sebastian/Ciel from Black Butler - although the mangaka, Yana Toboso, has admitted that it is supposed to be a tame version of yaoi).
This creates a whole added part to the 'universe' these characters 'live' in, a kind of behind the scenes look at their lives.
Another reaosn why a woman might write yaoi/gay fanfic (slash fiction) is to make characters non-threatening sexually to women. Along the same vein is the idea of 'if I can't have them no one can'. For example, Sam and Dean Winchester (along with Castiel) are not real people, they are fictional characters and that means a real person cannot be in a relationship with them. By putting them in a homosexual relationship with each other the writer is essentially saying "look, they're gay so they wouldn't be with me anyway". What this also does in the writer's head is say that they couldn't possibly be with any of the fictional female characters in the show. Certainly this happens a lot in many shows (Sherlock, Doctor Who, Good Omens, etc.) where the fanbase has not taken kindly to female characters. In this instance it is easier to think about the favourite male characters being together than being with a woman. In the fictional world the fictional men can be with the fictional women but the real person watching the show can never stand a chance. This opens up a whole new debate about the way female characters are treated in television programmes and what they are there for. Supernatural is one example that has been critised for its treatment of women and the role they play, but some of this could be down to the role the fans have played.
If we look at Supernatural (I warned you), some of the female characters had a lot of hate against them from the pre-dominantly female fanbase. They were seen as a threat in some cases and fans really backlashed against them. However, when Castiel was killed off in season 7 fans were really angry and demanded that Misha Collins be reinstated and become a cast regular (until that point he had a supporting, recurring role). When Collins was reinstated the viewing figures jumped back up! That said, you can never tell what, or who, will be popular. The character of Bobby Singer was only supposed to last one episode in season 1 and was so popular he lasted until season 11!
Another view is when real people are put into a gay relationship. Sorry to use Supernatural again, but I warned you about all the good examples from that show and there are many from its 15 year run. Some Supernatural fans have taken the idea of 'Destiel' a step further and have begun to 'ship' the actors Jensen Ackles (Dean) and Misha Collins (Cas) together. They look for anything they consider flirting in their behaviour together, such as a glance at one another or a surprise pat on the ass. In reality these are two married men who are fathers and also good friends. Yes, they may have been guilty of playing up to the fans in the past, but most likely the fans are mis-reading friendly pissing about (typical men toegether stuff) as something more.
Again this is because Jensen Ackles and Misha Collins are unobtainable. As I say, they are husbands and fathers and are in hetro relationships. The closest a fan might get is a meet-and-greet at a convention for a couple of minutes. It is far easier to pretend they are in a gay relationship with each other so the fan can again say "see, they wouldn't want me anyway" than to acknowledge their wives and children existing.
I don't want to just accuse the Supernatural fandom here. I have seen the same thing for Michael Sheen and David Tennant ('Good Omens'), Benedict Cumberbatch/Andrew Scott or Martin Freeman ('Sherlock') and a whole host of other shows. This form of 'shipping' real people does tend to go more down the route of "well I can't have them, but if they are gay they wouldn't want me anyway".
The other big problem with this type of 'shipping' is that fans confuse their characters with the real person. Jensen Ackles comes across as a sweet and slightly shy man in reality without the bravado of Dean Winchester. Benedict Cumberbatch is not the cold and unfeeling character Sherlock can be. Then there is Misha Collins who...um...is Misha Collins.
Fanfic can be a way of expressing love for something and is usually done with the idea of respecting the original. It can help a fan feel as though they belong to something. At the same time it removes any 'real' sex from the equation and so is a safe place to explore those thoughts and feelings.
When shows to 'meta' it can lead to them being accused of 'queer baiting', but when done well it can show the fans that the connection goes bother ways and they are grateful for the love and support.
As disturbing as some fanfic can be I love it as an art form in its own right. Keep on 'shipping' and shining you crazy diamonds.
#Destiel4Eva
Why is yaoi familiar?
If you have spent any time on the internet you will be aware of this concept. Yaoi, or 'boys love', is particularly popular on micro-blogging sites like tumblr or pinterest where fans (usually female) create posts out of photos, gifs or imagined conversation text posts that put their two favourite male characters together. These posts range from the innocent flirting between two characters to romantic gestures to full-on hardcore sex!Now, I fully acknowledge that there is a section of fanfiction about imagining yourself with your favourite character, but this blog essay will concentrate on the overtly homosexual version of fanfiction.
Another popular form is the aforementioned 'fanfiction' where two people or characters are thrown together in an ever escalating scenario that usually ends in a graphically written sex scene. These stories can be found on sites like Wattpad...but be warned, they are not for the faint of heart!
Terminology
Fans of Yaoi (etc.) use certain words, phrases and acronyms to describe their dream/fantasy pairing. These inclyde:- OTP - One true pairing
- Shipping - basically means 'relationshipping' or, rather, to imagine two or more people in a relationship and support this union (particularly if it isn't real)
- Slash fiction - overtly sexual in nature fanfiction
Give us an example...
If you spend a few minutes on tumblr you will find exampls of 'shipping' very easily. Just this morning as I was researching how easy it is to find stuff I found the following examples:- Aziraphale & Crowley from 'Good Omens' (a TV adaptation of the book by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman)
- Johnlock - John Watson and Sherlock Holmes from the modern BBC adaptation 'Sherlock'
- Destiel - Castiel and Dean Winchester from CW's Supernatural (to be fair they play up to this...as a result there will be much more Supernatural later as it is full of excellent examples for this piece)
 | |||
| Jensen Ackles and Misha Collins - just good friends in real life |
What do those involved think?
When a 'ship' involves real people it can be weird and some actors have expressed genuine concern over the fans' obsessiions with their pairings. Occassionally you will get people that are so comfortable with their co-stars that it no longer matters to them and they play up to it for the fans (see Jensen and Misha above).Occassionally something will go 'meta'. What this means is that a show will acknowledge the fans and give a little nod to their 'ships'.
 | |
| Providing fanservice - Sherlock |
In the first episode of Sherlock in 2010 there is a scene where Sherlock and John are discussing their sexuality and it is hinted at that Sherlock is either gay or bi-sexual (although his character and personality don't really suggest this in a kind of conventional way). Throughout the following series there are occasions where the other characters suggest John and Sherlock are more than just friends. In the first episode of series three the writers used genuine fan theories from tumblr (and other social media) about how Sherlock could have survived the fall from the roof. One suggests he and Moriarty faked their deaths and then shows them going in for a kiss (it freeze frames before they do). This is another 'ship' by the Sherlock fandom.
Another good example of giving the fans what they want, or 'fanservice' is Supernatural. In the early series the brothers are always getting mistaken for lovers as they went around together with fake names to hide their identities and relationship as family. This prompted the fans to create some quite disturbing things imagining Sam and Dean together. In the episode 5.9 'The Real Ghostbusters' the show goes full meta. There was already an episode in S4 (4.18 'The Monster at the end of this Book') where an author is writing about their lives, but by 5.9 the books have such a cult following that a convention has sprung up (complete with full cosplay and a Q&A panel), which is just like the following the show has in real life. Two of the convention goers explain at the end that they dress up and enjoy the books because they are escaping from reality. Then it turns out that they are dressed as Sam and Dean and are a 'real' gay couple (as a nod to the 'ship').
However, Supernatural also goes on to do one better. An angel, Castiel (or Cas), has chosen to protect Dean when he drags him out of hell (long story...go and watch it). As Cas has no experience of people skills or personal space this has led to some awkward situations with Dean. The first thing Dean says to Cas is a comment about the size of his own manhood and it goes on from there. A favourite fan line is:
Dean: "Why is it always gotta be me who makes the call, huh? It's not like Cas lives in my ass, the dude's busy!"
Cas: (appears right behind Dean, ignoring personal space)
Dean: (jumps) "Cas, get out of my ass!"
Cas: (confused) "I was never in your..."
[Awkward silence.]
Scenes like this continue throughout the show's run and play up to the fans' ideas of their 'ship', even adding fuel to the fire.
Isn't that dangerous?
It can be and is considered 'queer baiting'. If you acknowledge the fans they feel part of something and certainly Supernatural fans feel part of a huge family (mostly because that's how the actors have described it). Acknowledging and taking the piss (in a kindly way) is fine and makes the fans happy. After all, fans put you where you are. However, if you cross the line then it can be nasty.In episode 6.18 'Frontierland' Cas sends Sam and Dean back in time to the late 1800's. Dean has a love of cowboy films so buys a cowboy costume and accuses Sam of standing out when they get there. However, Sam fits in wearing jeans, plaid and a beige jacket while cowboy Dean gets all the wrong attention in his costume. One character calls him 'clean shirt' and this is the equivalent of calling someone a 'faggot' today (an incredibly insulting term for a homosexual man). If we take this as an innocent misunderstanding by Dean it is fine, but it can also be taken another way as Dean regularly flirts with men as well as women and so many fans believe him to be bi-sexual.
The writers have been accused of fueling this idea with comments by Dean, Cas or other characters (such as the angel Balthazar describing Cas as the "angel in the dirty trench coat who's in love with you" or the time Dean referenced the Miami gay bar Purgatory). Even the before mentioned scene about Cas living in his ass is obvious. At one point Dean tells Cas that "the last time someone looked at me like that I got laid".
All of this can be considered 'queer baiting', which is suggesting a gay relationship is possible without ever following through with it. The idea of queer baiting is to encourage support from the LGBTQ+ community without going 'all the way' and angering or alienating groups who down fit the LGBTQ+ community.
In defence of Supernatural, they did make the point in the 200th episode that, although they were ok with the fans writing whatever they want for fan fiction, they do not condone or encourage it and the relationship between Cas and Dean is purely platonic like a family bond.
So why write fanfic?
For groups of fans it is a way of not being jealous of each other. Some may have met their heroes at a convention or something and, although none of them will end up with the person in real life, it prevents jealousy to have a collective idea and fanfiction is a great way to share this.It also comes down to a couple of points and depends on the individual creating the fanfic.
One idea is that, if two characters are not real (e.g. from a cartoon or anime) then they are available for anyone to write about and any scenario, even sexual, is a possibility (e.g. Sebastian/Grell or Sebastian/Ciel from Black Butler - although the mangaka, Yana Toboso, has admitted that it is supposed to be a tame version of yaoi).
 | |
| Sebastian and Ciel from Black Butler |
Another reaosn why a woman might write yaoi/gay fanfic (slash fiction) is to make characters non-threatening sexually to women. Along the same vein is the idea of 'if I can't have them no one can'. For example, Sam and Dean Winchester (along with Castiel) are not real people, they are fictional characters and that means a real person cannot be in a relationship with them. By putting them in a homosexual relationship with each other the writer is essentially saying "look, they're gay so they wouldn't be with me anyway". What this also does in the writer's head is say that they couldn't possibly be with any of the fictional female characters in the show. Certainly this happens a lot in many shows (Sherlock, Doctor Who, Good Omens, etc.) where the fanbase has not taken kindly to female characters. In this instance it is easier to think about the favourite male characters being together than being with a woman. In the fictional world the fictional men can be with the fictional women but the real person watching the show can never stand a chance. This opens up a whole new debate about the way female characters are treated in television programmes and what they are there for. Supernatural is one example that has been critised for its treatment of women and the role they play, but some of this could be down to the role the fans have played.
If we look at Supernatural (I warned you), some of the female characters had a lot of hate against them from the pre-dominantly female fanbase. They were seen as a threat in some cases and fans really backlashed against them. However, when Castiel was killed off in season 7 fans were really angry and demanded that Misha Collins be reinstated and become a cast regular (until that point he had a supporting, recurring role). When Collins was reinstated the viewing figures jumped back up! That said, you can never tell what, or who, will be popular. The character of Bobby Singer was only supposed to last one episode in season 1 and was so popular he lasted until season 11!
 |
| Bobby Singer's catch-phrase...that and idjuts! |
 | |
| Misha Collins, Jensen Ackles & Jared Padalecki - Supernatural |
I don't want to just accuse the Supernatural fandom here. I have seen the same thing for Michael Sheen and David Tennant ('Good Omens'), Benedict Cumberbatch/Andrew Scott or Martin Freeman ('Sherlock') and a whole host of other shows. This form of 'shipping' real people does tend to go more down the route of "well I can't have them, but if they are gay they wouldn't want me anyway".
The other big problem with this type of 'shipping' is that fans confuse their characters with the real person. Jensen Ackles comes across as a sweet and slightly shy man in reality without the bravado of Dean Winchester. Benedict Cumberbatch is not the cold and unfeeling character Sherlock can be. Then there is Misha Collins who...um...is Misha Collins.
 | |
| Misha Collins being Misha Collins |
Can it be creative?
Certainly where writing is concerned it can help someone thing about the construction of a written piece. By using already well established characters who have a back story all a first time writer needs to do is insert them into their own scenario. As they write more they can begin to work on creating their own characters and original stories so fanfic can be a very useful and important stepping stone in a writer's career. Take a look at E.L.James who wrote the mega series '50 Shades of Grey'. This started as slash fiction around the Twilight (Stephanie Meyer) characters of Bella and Edward and James changed the names to Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele so they could be published. Less than a decade on and what started as slash-fic is now a multi-million selling book series that has spawned an equally successful film trilogy! Who said fanfic was just for awkward virgins in their mom's basement?Conclusion
Can we draw conclusions? Fanfic can be a true art form that can spin off to something creative and successful in its own right. It is a way for fans to connect with something or someone unobtainable (eiter because they don't exist or the real person is out-of-bounds).Fanfic can be a way of expressing love for something and is usually done with the idea of respecting the original. It can help a fan feel as though they belong to something. At the same time it removes any 'real' sex from the equation and so is a safe place to explore those thoughts and feelings.
When shows to 'meta' it can lead to them being accused of 'queer baiting', but when done well it can show the fans that the connection goes bother ways and they are grateful for the love and support.
As disturbing as some fanfic can be I love it as an art form in its own right. Keep on 'shipping' and shining you crazy diamonds.
#Destiel4Eva
Comments
Post a Comment