Fan Fiction Genres

1. Why did you choose this topic?

As an avid reader of fan fiction I did not question the filtering mechanisms on platforms like AO3 at first. However, once thinking about the relationship present (or absent) in the text serving as a generic trait, I found this highly fascinating – most of all because it is fundamentally different to the classification of other media content. Realizing that I knew that I wanted to gain a better (scientific) understanding of them.

2. What new perspectives does your book offer?

It is a qualitative analysis of fan fiction genres and the respective formulas in the genre of Slash (gay fan fiction) across fandoms. By comparing my findings in Star Trek as well as Supernatural texts, I take one step towards a broader, more generalized approach to these stories. Furthermore, I approach my sample with the hermeneutic circle by bringing gender, sexuality as well as relationships into the analysis. This offers a more in-depth analysis of each genre and formula.

3. What makes your topic relevant for current research debates?

Given that topics like gender, sexuality, nationality, (dis-)ability, age or (not solely romantic) relationships are discussed and creatively negotiated by the respective authors, fan fiction has the great potential to offer criticism on (current) societal debates. These stories are, by definition, a negotiation of popular cultural content – and therefore able to voice criticism on the source text (and, to a larger extent, its societal context itself).

4. Choose one person you would like to discuss your book with!

I would love to discuss my book with one of the many talented fan fiction authors featured in it. Since the study focused on the texts themselves I would be extremely interested in how the authors approach their stories: Are they consciously replicating the formula? Or is it a ›coincidence‹ – probably nourished by their fan fiction reading? Do they leave or transform certain elements on purpose.? I would have so many questions and am sure that it would be a great conversation.

5. Your book summary in one sentence:

It identifies generic and formulaic structures in Star Trek and Supernatural fan fiction with a focus on gender, sexuality and relationships.