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'''Definition __NOTOC__The term slash or slash fiction refers to fanfiction in which two characters of the same sex are written in a sexual relationship. Slash'''generally refers to male characters; female characters together is usually called [[Fem Slash]].

The term slash refers is believed to stories have originated in which a homosexual relationship between two characters is portrayed, whether the sexual part of original Star Trek fandom in the relationship is explicitly described or not1960s, with [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirk/Spock stories about Kirk and Spock]. Slash can be either femslash (female characterThe slash refers to the symbol in abbreviation Kirk/female character) Spock or slash (male characterK/male character)S.

Slash fiction is not widely considered Possibly due to be conventional lesbian its emphasis in canon on emotions and relationships, Supernatural became one of the major slash TV or gay fictionmovie fandoms from 2006 onwards. It also has a very high proportion of [[Gen]] fic, as the characters portrayed rarely identify as homosexualalthough much less [[Het]]. [[Fem Slash]] is rare.

{{Quotation|title=|text=The Welcome to the first annual Supernatural convention. At 3.45 in the Magnolia room, we have the panel 'Frightened little boy, the secret life of Dean'. And at 4.30, there is the 'Homo-erotic subtext of Supernatural Slash Fandom'. |author=Convention Host|source=[[5.09 The Real Ghostbusters]]}}

Although there exist other slash pairings Based on an analysis of over 39,000 stories fanfiction listed in the [[spnnewsletter|LJ Supernatural fandomnewsletter]] up until March 2010, about 59% of Supernatural fan fiction is Slash. [[SamFile:Spnficmarch2010.png|thumb|300px|left]]<br clear="all" /Dean>As of March 2010, Supernatural fic - that is fic focussing on the Show - 48% of the stories were slash pairings and 17% featured [[Het|heterosexual]] (aka pairings. The remaining 35% were [[WincestGen]]) is the most popularstories - those stories which don't focus on a romantic or sexual relationship.

Occasionally one or both Out of the brothers will be slashed with minor and/or recurring male characters; OMCs; or characters from other fandomsall fic written up to late 2007, including characters over 90% of slash was [[Wincest]]. However a snapshot of fic written in 2009 showed that have been portrayed by either [[Jensen AcklesWincest]] or made up around 46% of fic with [[Jared PadaleckiDean/Castiel]] in another tv-series or movie (estories now comprising 47% .gThe remaining 7% was other slash pairings.The increase in the number of new recurring characters, Sam/Jake from Devoursuch as [[Gabriel]], Sam/Alec from Dark Angel, Dean/Dean from Gilmore Girls)[[Lucifer]] and [[Crowley]] added to the growth of "other slash" pairings. (See also: Poor [[CrossoverBobby]])rarely gets any sex.

Although While the pairing had been utilized from proportions of the beginninggenres have shifted, after absolute numbers of fics have increased as well – the airing growing popularity of [[1.22 Devil's Trap]] on May 4th 2006 significantly more [[JohnDean/DeanCastiel]] fanworks appeared (possibly due to has been additive rather than substitutive. As the chemistry between Dean line graph above shows, the rate at which Wincest and the possessed John)Gen fics are written remains steady. [[John/Sam]] is rarer, but not unknown. Both pairings often explore issues of authority and consentThe snapshot period here had nearly 30% more fic being written per month than in early 2008.

Due to its emphasis on emotions and relationships in canon, Supernatural has become one In [[RPF]] over 95% of the major stories are slash fandoms in 2006-2007. Over the last two years Supernatural fiction has evolved to include all possible genres, also, because its canon holds significant sci-fi and fantasy elements most of that can be easily adapted to suit any kind of universe created by the authoris [[J2]].

With Occasionally one or both of the brothers will be slashed with minor and/or recurring male characters; original male characters or characters from other fandoms, including characters that have been portrayed by either [[Jensen Ackles]] or [[Jared Padalecki]] in another tv-series or movie (e.g., Sam/Jake from Devour, Sam/Alec from Dark Angel, Dean/Dean from Gilmore Girls). (See also: [[Crossover]]).  Occasionally crossovers between RPF and Supernatural fic occur, with Sam or Dean paired with Jared or Jensen. This pairing gained some canonical support after [[6.15 The French Mistake]]. Sam and Dean have also been paired with versions of themselves - such as [[Future!Dean]] from [[5.04 The End]], [[Samifer]] or younger (or older) versions of themselves.  Although the pairing had been utilized from the beginning, after the airing of [[1.22 Devil's Trap]] on May 4th 2006 significantly more [[John/Dean]] fanworks appeared (possibly due to the chemistry between Dean and the possessed John). [[John/Sam]] is rarer. Both pairings often explore issues of authority and consent.{|align="center"|[[File:Dean-Castiel-dean-and-castiel-8338230-900-507.jpg|thumb|right|Dean & Castiel|200px]]|[[Image:Wincest.JPG|Sam and Dean in [[1.21 Salvation]]|thumb|right|200px]]|[[Image:Demonjohn.jpg|Dean and Demon!John from [[1.22 Devil's Trap]]|thumb|right|200px]]|}Slash fiction can cover any [[:Category:Fic Genres|genre]] of fiction. The slash relationship may not be the focus of the story, in fact because of the intense relationship between characters like Sam and Dean on the show, these stories may be indistinguishable from [[Gen]] fic. In other cases the story may be all about the relationship. Some stories may contain no sex, or may have allusions to it, others are purely porn and are known as [[PWP]]s or porn without plots. Some fans seek support from canon (or real life) that the slash relationship portrayed in fiction exists, while most are happy to use their stories to provide what canon doesn't. See also:* [[Supernatural Fic Link Archive]]* [[OTP]]* [[Wincest]] * [[Dean/Castiel]]* [[RPS]]* [[Tin Hat]]* [[Shipper]]<br>and you can search through the [[:Category:Pairings|Pairings category]] for other slash pairings ==Supernatural Slash escapes fandom==Wincest got its main pairing already transgressing societyfirst bit of official recognition at the [[Asylum 2007|Asylum fan convention in England]] in the Spring of 2007. When [[Jensen Ackles]] was asked what he thought of fan fiction, he replied:"Some of those fan fictions have some very, very crazy ideas. And sometimes very...disturbing ideas. One of my favorites is, uh, Wincest...I-I only hope that my grandmother never reads those. Jared and I had a good laugh about that one. It was only brought to our attention because [[Kim Manners]] posted it. So um...that's that." [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdYh2wJh7vE Video of quote] When asked about Wincest and fanfiction at [[EyeCon April 2008]], Jared proved diplomatic - and eloquent:"with fan fiction and RPGs, it's like what I was talking about earlier, that everyone's taking a part and they're not just watching it.. ..and they're really passionate about the show, and especially the fans of Supernatural it's normsgreat learning tool, and exploring tool to explore this world. So I'm supportive." [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxkAG3N5lM0 Video of quote] [[Image:Jimbeavereyecon 2008.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Jim Beaver proves he knows about the porn!]]At the same Con Jim Beaver wore a t-shirt that said "I read Bobby/John" [[Misha Collins]] has mentioned [[Slash]] at a number of [[:Category:Conventions|conventions]] - eg: at the [[Salute to Supernatural seems Vancouver 2009]] where he said he'd heard about "Dean/Castiel/Pie fic" and at [[Collectormania London 2009]] he said he had read some slash fanfic but "stopped at the part where Cas choked... on someone's cock" [http://deeptown-girl.livejournal.com/114801.html Source]. At [[Asylum Europe: No Rest for the Wicked 2010]] , he tried to explain Slash to [[Mark Pellegrino]] and concluded "it's a great cultural asset...it unites the world!" [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYUqeSB02dU Source]The episode [[4.18 The Monster at the End of This Book]] aired in which specific mention was made of Sam/Dean fanfic.<blockquote>'''Dean:''' There's Sam Girls and Dean Girls and...what's a confident slash fan?<br>'''Sam:''' As in Sam slash Dean, together<br>'''Dean:''' Like together, together? They do know we are brothers right?<br>'''Sam:''' Doesn't seem to matter.<br>'''Dean:''' Well that's just sick!<br></blockquote>There followed much discussion in fandom whether this exchange indicated the Show's support or condemnation of Wincest. It is certainly the first time on a TV show that incestuous gay porn has been mentioned by the characters about whom it is ready written. In Season Five, the character of [[Becky Rosen]] is introduced. ^{[[5.01 Sympathy for the Devil]]} She is a fan of the "supernatural" novels and runs a website called morethanbrothers.net. She is first seen writing a [[Wincest]] fic which can be read [[Becky Rosen|here]].  In [[5.09 The Real Ghostbusters]] at the Supernatural Convention, the MC announces that there will be a session on "The homoerotic subtext of Supernatural". The two fanboys featured in the episode [[Demian and Barnes]], who are role playing as Sam and Dean at the convention, are revealed at the end of the episode to explore every flavor be lovers. Perhaps because of sexualitythe mentions in [[Canon]], [[Wincest]] is mentioned more often in the media in association with the fandom than other [[Slash]] pairings or even fanfiction generally.[[Image:Jared and Jensen at the Chicago Con 2007. See jpg|thumb|right|Jared and Jensen at the Chicago Con in 2007|300px]] On 6 November 2011, [[Jim Beaver]] responded to some [[Tin Hats]] on [[CrackTwitter]] with this comment: For the record, I think slash fiction is cool, and if Wincest is what you dig, more power to you. But regardez vous: fiction ISN'T real life [https://twitter.com/#!/jumblejim/status/133132542814597120 source].

In general, fandom scholars agree (Jenkins, Brooker, Bacon Smith) that slash was introduced with Kirk/Spock homoerotic fan fiction in the early to mid-70s in Star Trek fandom. The name "slash" fiction comes from the / between the names of the pairing in fan fiction, and was also presumably coined in Star Trek fiction. Even though initially timidly introduced and confronted with ideas of masculinity and heroism, "slash" gained a wider audience over the years.  Much has been said about why fans (a great percentage the majority of them women) write slash fiction, and it always stands in relation to the concept of slash fiction itself.

Camilla Bacon-Smith understood slash fiction as a way of helping women deal with traumatic love relationships, giving slash the prospect of being by utilizing a non-threatening, non-aggressive form of male sexuality as means of comfort. The notion that fans write slash as means of theraphy therapy and to write about their own hurt and their need for tenderness seems quite antiquated today, and has been openly opposed challenged by fans and akafans acafans alike for decades.

In the mid-80s, a couple of some scholars, with most notably Henry Jenkins as the leading man, introduced the idea of slash fiction as a possible reaction to straight-male traditional mainstream pornography, ; that it was a form of fiction liberating itself from gender hierarchy and genderized images. This form of transgression is also often cited as one of the joys of writing slash fiction.

The transgression of gender has also posed a question that Slash fiction is as vibrantly discussable still today, namely wheter not widely considered to be conventional lesbian or not slash gay fiction , as the characters are gay, portrayed rarely identify as homosexual or rather have their own sexuality fluent between male and female characteristicsqueer.

Jenkins furthermore is was the first academic to define slash not as merely concerned with representations of sexuality: "Slash is not so much a genre about sex as it is a genre about the limitations of traditional masculinity and about reconfiguring male identity."^{Jenkins, Henry (1992), S. 191} Furthermore, the emphasis of sex is identified in its emotional quality.

Over the last 15 years, with the introduction emerging and widespread use of the internet to the equation, increased visibility of and a much broader fan base finding fan fiction and slash fiction on the internetparticipation in fandom, as well as the change of social matters in the worldchanges, fans have become bolder in describing their enjoyment of slash. While a whole generation older generations of slash writers prided themselves with on belonging to a sub-culture, inventing a new form of pornography and transgressing gender lines (and being generally very conscious about all this), a new generation of writers has joined slash fandom. This new generation finds itself in a more slash-friendly environment as per-se, and seems understandably a bit more confident about writing erotic fiction, often claiming that they write slash, mainly because it's mainly a turn -on to see two men fuck.

Transgression and recontextualization (see Jenkins, 1992) still seem to play a part, but this new confidence (fueled by generally more acceptance of both female sexuality and lesbian, gay, bi , queer and transgendered people in our Western society) often reduces the feelings of shame slash-fiction authors and readers might of slash fanfiction may have experienced in the past. Nowadays, slash seems to be is a very public, very well-known chapter of fan involvement.

[[Category:Vernacular]][[Category:Fandom]][[Category:VernacularFanfiction]][[Category:Fic Genres]] [[Category:Creative FandomSlash]][[Category:Pairings]] [[Category:SlashVernacular]] [[Category:Fic GenresFanworks]]