Does slash fiction by definition = OOC?

[Agenda]

If Kirk and Spock started making out in an episode of Star Trek, that would be an out of character moment, right? So, if they do it in a fanfic, isn't it out of character, as well?

And wouldn't that also be the case for characters from other fictional universes that are always portrayed as heterosexual?

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

In the vast majority of cases, I think so. If there was no evidence onscreen, then it's OOC. And I DON'T think the AU excuse works, either (someone should've told the writers of DS9 before they did the MU episodes, though).

The ONLY case where I think it is at all debatable in the Trekiverse is the case of Garak/Bashir. Robinson plays it as though there is attraction on Garak's end, until he was told to stop by the show's producers. However, there is no suggestion that Bashir would respond to any affections from Garak if Garak were to make it explicitly known. Evidence would have had to be presented onscreen that Bashir reciprocated, in order for that to be proven as not OOC.

(I do not count the comments made on occasion by O'Brien. I think that was simply hyperbole out of frustration that he was in a bad marriage.)

 

[Shatinator]

Well while fully acknowleding 'saying it does not make it so'. I don't see the reasoning on why a applied AU reason dosen't provided at least practical reasoning for such OOC behavior. That aside, I didn't know the DS9 producer(s), breached that issue with Robinson; and a little surprised they did. Thanks FTI

-The Shatinator

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

Well...I guess my thing is that if we assume one has the same genetics in an AU, that one's biology and hence one's sexual orientation should not change from universe to universe, which is why I don't think the AU excuse works to change a character's sexual orientation.

 

[Mistral]

I consider all slash OOC by its nature. Also a fairly silly indulgence in terms of fanfic, no matter how well written. I read ST fanfic for new ST stories. If I wanted porn fic, well, I've heard there are some sites on the web for that. And if it's not porn, then what's the point of reading it just for the *icky* romantic stuff?

No, seriously, I don't care what others write/read-but it aint my cup of tea. I know Ad Astra has a couple of fine writers that do romance and slash and I just have no interest in their work because of the subject matter. It aint really ST to me...

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

I have occasionally seen slash that is not porn--that stays on the romantic/relationship level. It isn't common, but it does exist. I am NOT a fan of the porn stuff (can't stand hetero porn either...or even PDA, IRL... ), but occasionally I can read the relationship stuff.

 

[Timewalker]

(I do not count the comments made on occasion by O'Brien. I think that was simply hyperbole out of frustration that he was in a bad marriage.)

I think O'Brien was just frustrated that Keiko doesn't understand the "guy" mind.

O'Brien ought to see if he can make a holoprogram of the Red Green Show. That'd teach her!

 

[scnj]

Depends on the set up. Could be that a crew member is being mind controlled by a sex crazed alien. Far fetched, and a bad premise, but not OOC.

 

[Gibraltar]

IC/OOC is in the eye of the beholder, I suppose. If you like slash and want to accept the pairing premise as canon or IC, the individual reader is free to do so. If you don’t accept the premise, then it’s not.

Simple as that, I’d wager. That's the terrific thing about fanfic.

 

[Shamrock Holmes]

I think it depends on the character.

The main characters in TOS and TNG were pretty much all consistently played as hetero.

On the other hand, Dax (esp Jadzia) was although mainly hetero, portrayed as being to the possibility of a same sex relationship, and there is the oft-quoted Garak-Bashir thing, and I'm still not sure exactly what the deal with Odo & Quark was!

Of the VOY crew, the only one I could really see getting into a same-sex relationship would Seven, and that's as much as anything to do with "in-depth and through research" as anything.

Shamrock

 

[TerokNor]

Odo- Quark...I´d say, that was a hate-love relationship (but not in a sexual way).... they did need each other in a way, even they did not really like each other, but to the same time were somewhat fond of each other. Also they would miss each other if one were gone and they did care for each other in a certain way and level too.

As for Slash I too think its out of character for most Star Trek characters... there are a few (like Garak) where it might be in the natur, for most others however it seems not the case.
But what people write when living out there fantasies is up to them. Everyone like he/she wants.

As for reading, I read sometimes Slash pieces, when they are well written, but jump about everything too graphic. When flying over it first I pick out scenes I find ok to read, mostly the scenes that could be interpretated as (close) friendship and show the inner working of a character.
For example the story "Just for a smile" by V. M. is actually a quite heavy Slash story...but the first half is not Slashy at all (well maybe just a very little bit as the first half goes on on Garaks part, which is all right...its Garak...)...so the first half is very nice to read. The second half gets slashier, but first it still all right and there are interessting scenes inside...the last part is heavy slash, that I don´t read. But would I not read the whole story because its slash I certainly would miss out on the 2/3 of the story, that are pretty good.


TerokNor

 

[T'Girl]

Well...I guess my thing is that if we assume one has the same genetics in an AU, that one's biology and hence one's sexual orientation should not change from universe to universe, which is why I don't think the AU excuse works to change a character's sexual orientation.

Your genetics and biology are the same as your MU counterpart, but my interpretation of the whole MU thing is that your mentality is skewed differently. Mu Kira, for instance, engages in gay wordplay and gay sex because she isn't biologically gay and she finds the activity to be naughty and maybe a bit twisted. There to probably a element of power and control in it for her as well (ever see a prison movie?).

I consider all slash OOC by its nature. Also a fairly silly indulgence in terms of fanfic, no matter how well written.

Sexuality is part of most (not all) adult relationships. While a chase romance is possible, there's nothing wrong with indicating or actual depicting a sexual encounter during the course of a piece of fanfiction.

Within seconds of George Takei "coming out of the closet" the character of Sulu basically became a gay character. I do feel that both Kirk and Spock are non-gay, Kirk wears his heterosexuality on his sleeve, Spock on the other hand lives his life as a celibate. Picard, with his urbanest attitude and cultured persona, I can easily see as a bisexual, either by way of biology or inclination. Sisko is another hetero, I never have gotten a read on Janeway.

I personally have written fiction in which Uhura engages in lesbian sex, but it was part of the a story showing a typical day for her.

Most sites that I've seen that have sexual stories label them with a NC-17. They don't always say if it's going to be straight or gay.