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Tosenberger approaches Harry Potter fanfiction from the lens of an adolescent reader in "Homosexuality at the Online Hogwarts: Harry Potter Slash Fanfiction." But why fanfiction, let alone Harry Potter fanfiction? By now, we understand that a great deal of fanfiction, particularly Harry Potter, exists in the form of "slash." While I know that all of you understand this concept by now, I will retread on it anyways. With "slash," writers are able to take canonical characters and place them into relationships with each other, often homosexual or queer relationships. But why would adolescents want to read "slash?" According to Tosenberger, the availability of such Harry Potter fics to an adolescent community "affords fans a certain measure of concealment, which proves especially valuable for young fans who fear the consequences of expressing non-heteronormative desires" (187). Given that Harry Potter is particularly attractive to such a young audience, adolescents can insert themselves into the characters in Harry Potter, and thus, into the characters portrayed in the fics. Basically, these fics allow a young community to explore their sexuality in a safe manner without fear.
What makes these fics, particularly the fics produced today, so attractive to such a crowd is that they don't paint homophobia as an aspect that inhibits the characters. I must say that this message is very uplifting for those reading these fics who currently feel uncomfortable about their sexuality. It's often portrayed as the characters' claiming that they've never been with another person of the same gender. However, the ages of the young characters in Harry Potter suggest that it is almost certain that their homosexual encounter is likely their first sexual encounter ever. (194). Because the characters' themselves do not feel ashamed of their sexuality, it teaches the reader that they themselves do not need to feel ashamed for their sexuality
Furthermore, we know that "fans have always been perfectly content to 'let [their] imagination take over where [Rowling] left off" (196). Even if it's not canonical, fans don't mind crafting their beloved characters into how they see fit. For instance, while Rowling has very much painted characters, such as Snape and Malfoy, as quite unattractive, the fics often cancel out this inhibiting aspect (196). This is why we have so many categories of slash, like buddyslash, enemyslash, and powerslash. However, enemyslash and powerslash, in particular, are most comfortable with outright rejecting the nature of the characters in the canon. In such slash fics, characters like Harry and Malfoy, typically archenemies, can fall in love with each other. The idea that their love alone can overcome their hatred is powerful, and even arousing thought.
While there are many fics based around other sources like Star Trek and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Harry Potter is special. I mean, it's had seven very large books to build its universe, but books, in particular, are important. With a book, a reader crafts the image of Hogwarts in their head. It's different from every reader: from you to me, from an adult to an adolescent (disregarding the images that the movies give you). With visual mediums like the ones listed above, your mind is almost confined to the images that the shows give you. there is no alternative view to the Star Trek enterprise, it just is how it is on screen.
The universe Rowling has crafted "has left an enormous amount of room for speculation; the famous epilogue of Hallows only discusses certain aspects of the fates of a few major characters, nineteen years after the events of the main narrative" (203). With the conclusions ambiguity, there are limitless, or almost limitless, stories one can craft. We can apply the logic to the rest of the books as well. We know that the majority of the novel is focused on Harry, and, because of this, the rest of the characters have a background that is, while well-defined, open to other stories.
Hence, we have numerous amounts of slash fics that expand on this universe. However, given the openness for these other characters, one might just need to question if the fics may very well fit into the canon in the first place. The idea of same-sex relationships in the Potter universe will be debated endlessly, but one thing is for sure, Harry Potter's vast universe allows for a vast number of slash fics that may very well be the one thing the allows our adolescents to explore their sexuality.
What makes these fics, particularly the fics produced today, so attractive to such a crowd is that they don't paint homophobia as an aspect that inhibits the characters. I must say that this message is very uplifting for those reading these fics who currently feel uncomfortable about their sexuality. It's often portrayed as the characters' claiming that they've never been with another person of the same gender. However, the ages of the young characters in Harry Potter suggest that it is almost certain that their homosexual encounter is likely their first sexual encounter ever. (194). Because the characters' themselves do not feel ashamed of their sexuality, it teaches the reader that they themselves do not need to feel ashamed for their sexuality
Furthermore, we know that "fans have always been perfectly content to 'let [their] imagination take over where [Rowling] left off" (196). Even if it's not canonical, fans don't mind crafting their beloved characters into how they see fit. For instance, while Rowling has very much painted characters, such as Snape and Malfoy, as quite unattractive, the fics often cancel out this inhibiting aspect (196). This is why we have so many categories of slash, like buddyslash, enemyslash, and powerslash. However, enemyslash and powerslash, in particular, are most comfortable with outright rejecting the nature of the characters in the canon. In such slash fics, characters like Harry and Malfoy, typically archenemies, can fall in love with each other. The idea that their love alone can overcome their hatred is powerful, and even arousing thought.
While there are many fics based around other sources like Star Trek and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Harry Potter is special. I mean, it's had seven very large books to build its universe, but books, in particular, are important. With a book, a reader crafts the image of Hogwarts in their head. It's different from every reader: from you to me, from an adult to an adolescent (disregarding the images that the movies give you). With visual mediums like the ones listed above, your mind is almost confined to the images that the shows give you. there is no alternative view to the Star Trek enterprise, it just is how it is on screen.
The universe Rowling has crafted "has left an enormous amount of room for speculation; the famous epilogue of Hallows only discusses certain aspects of the fates of a few major characters, nineteen years after the events of the main narrative" (203). With the conclusions ambiguity, there are limitless, or almost limitless, stories one can craft. We can apply the logic to the rest of the books as well. We know that the majority of the novel is focused on Harry, and, because of this, the rest of the characters have a background that is, while well-defined, open to other stories.
Hence, we have numerous amounts of slash fics that expand on this universe. However, given the openness for these other characters, one might just need to question if the fics may very well fit into the canon in the first place. The idea of same-sex relationships in the Potter universe will be debated endlessly, but one thing is for sure, Harry Potter's vast universe allows for a vast number of slash fics that may very well be the one thing the allows our adolescents to explore their sexuality.
