Frienz/Issues 19-20
| Related terms: | |
| See also: | Frienz |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
Frienz is a gen and non-explicit slash Starsky & Hutch letterzine.
They contain letters, want ads, con reports, clippings, flyers, and occasional fiction.
Issue 19 (June 1992)
Frienz 19 was published in June 1992 and contains 16 pages.
- it contains a flyer for SHareCon
- the TOTM: "What would be your favorite situation to see S&H in? Something humorous? Something serious? You can use an episode or spin your own situation. Let's keep this clean."
- "A Confrontation," continued, fiction by Alison Wilson
Issue 19: Sample Fan Comments
A fan defines frisson:
Judging from my own reactions, you should go in search for "frissom" in the area of your tummy. Watch out for some kind of "flight"-feeling (as if you were on a swing-boat in an amusement-park) in scenes like H. holding S. cradled in his arms, telling him "I'm here. I'm here." over and over Or S sitting in a bleak backyard, bravely trying to see twelve more hours to live as a "bottle half full". Or H telling S that' this ain't no fun ...and the game is 'Hutch is dying'..."
Another fan writes;
I think for "frissom" read "frisson", which means, roughly, a shiver - either of delight, or fear.
Frissom?
Does it have some recondite significance? I'd been assuming it was just an idiosyncratic way of writing 'frisson.'
A fan is a fan of small:
The smallness of the SH fandom appeals to me. I am not a small fish in a big pond. I feel like I know what is going on and that my opinion counts. I am involved in other farndoms (Please forgive me!) but I don't know about half of what is going on. This is the only newsletter I get. I can follow what is happening in this fandom. I really feel that my opinions count.
About zines:
Zines, I see, come high on most people's list of what they like best about fandom. Understandable, and appropriate, because zines are, and always have been, our main link with S&H outside of the show itself. They have expanded our knowledge of the characters, far beyond the necessarily limited view of the original scriptwriters. We owe a great deal to all the talented writers who have contributed such a wealth of wonderful stories for our entertainment and continued enjoyment. I believe the general standard of writing in this fandom is considerably higher than that of most other fandoms. I can't claim to have a wide experience of other fanfic, but I have read some, and have not come across anything that compares with S&H writing.
A fan writes of a story:
I'm sorry — no, I have no spare copies of 'A Plain Day.' It's a while ago and it was never a published zine with a large print-run. It was done when I was very new to fandom. I'm not sure I'd even heard the word, 'fanzine', in those days. I lacked the knowledge, the facilities, not to mention the leisure time, to print or publish anything in the context of fandom. APB is an anthology of SH words and pictures; some of the stories have been published since. I took a copy to California in 1980. As far as I know, it's there still. And there's one here.
A fan is feeling daunted:
Terri, how are submissions for the new zine doing? Hope you have some, at least, by now. I'm still working at trying to write something, but the mandatory police-work requirement has stopped me cold. Hope others are coming through much better for you.
On fandom generosity:
The very first person who helped me sent me tapes of DS's albums and returned my check, saying somebody sent them to her at no cost, so she didn't feel right about taking any money from me.
The S/H premise:
None of us are anti, but all of us agreed that there can be too much of a good thing And we wondered where the new writers are -- the ones not writing '/' , that is. Where is the new Mojave Crossing? Or Broken Faith? Or Beginnings.' We don t believe that there aren't writers o£ that calibre left in fandom. Perhaps they think no one will want to read straight stories. Well, take it from me — you're wrong. There is an audience out there! So get 'em out dust em off, and send 'em in...
Several fans describe their experiences at the London Fanday; one fan writes:
One UK aspect of SH fandom whose notices do appear in overseas publications are the FANDAYS. The latest of those occurred in London on a sunny April Saturday with around twenty fans meeting to share and swap and (yes, Linda) eat, and, most of all, talk. It was good to welcome two American fans as well as several new SH devotees, still in the happy state of having episodes new to them waiting to be watched. That sort of anticipation certainly brings a lift to life.
Issue 20 (September/October 1992)
Frienz 20 was published in September/October 1992 and contains 28 pages.
- The TOTM (suggested in the previous issue by the mysterious L. Leigh): "#1 -- "Do we discriminate against non-slash writers?" #2 — Has characterization suffered in fanfic due to "/"?
- this issue has an essay by Paula Smith called Dream On (myth, homophobia, slash, the new area of study of fandom by acafans, and an ideal world); it is reprinted a year later in Psst... Hey Kid, Wanna Buy a Fanzine? #4.
- this issue contains a very hateful letter by a fan who's never written in before; it maligns and insults the letterzine and many of its subscribers on a very personal level; the editor in the next issue says the letter was meant to be funny. This fan has two letters in this issue, this one by [E B M] and one by [M R K], and is likely the same fan as "L. Leigh" who suggested the TOTM in the previous issue. In fact, EBM directly addresses MRK in a bit of clumsy, inflammatory, diversionary sockpuppetry [1] saying: I'm getting tired of hearing about your mental problems. If they are so severe, maybe you should take them to a psychiatrist, but they don't belong in a letterzine. And I particularly don't want to hear anymore about that piece of filth you're publishing. Perhaps if you got your mind out of the gutter, your mental condition would improve.
Issue 20: Sample Fan Comments
The editor states this zine's policy on pseuds:
Speaking of pseuds, many fans asked who "L. Leigh" (the suggester of the TOTM about slash discrimination) was. A fan asked:
Who is L. Leigh? Not that I mind having a topic suggested by someone I don't know or even by someone whose name is completely unfamiliar to me, but it does strike me as odd. I can't seem to recall a single letter from L. Leigh in FRIENZ, nor have I ever had a zine order from L. Leigh. Is this someone who patiently subscribes to FRIENZ and has awaited this moment to make her contribution? Okay, fine. By the way, what are you doing the weekend of October 16-18? We'd love to have you join us at SH:103. Maybe it's about time you got your feet wet and participated more fully in SH fandom. Everyone is welcome. But I warn you, we will be talking about slash. Come and join us, if you dare.
The second TOTM-question - there's a certain temptation to treat it as a rephrased version of "the eternal question", isn't there? So let me divide it into halves:
1) "Has characterization suffered in fanfic ...?" The term "to suffer" pre-supposes the existence of a standard-of-value, doesn't it? Whose? Who is there to claim exact knowledge what is H.'s character, and what is S.'s? Who is there to say that the story written by Ms. X. offers better characterization than the story written by Ms. Y.?
Isn't it a fact - a fortunate fact, I think - that the characters of S. and H. in the series are sometimes so very vague? We saw them go through almost one hundred adventures, but still there are so many things we don't know: facts from their lives, but also thoughts and motivations in certain scenes. We ore free to use our imagination in order to fill in all the gaps, and the way we're doing this shows a lot of our own outlooks on life, our own wishes and dreams. That's what 1 think fanfic is about. A rating - as one might rate a pro-novel or a play - has no business in fanfic. So is my personal opinion, at least.
2) "...suffered due to "/"? (Watch it, L. Leigh! Aren't you possibly discriminating slash writers now, by suggesting that their efforts might have caused a deterioration of fanfic's quality?)
It is true that once in a while I (just like everyone else, I suppose) stumble across a
SH-story or -novel I don't Like, and it's also true that in most instances it's the characterization that bothers me and spoils my fun. But never has there been any connection between my non-acceptance, and the fact if the story was straight or slash.
Who is L. Leigh?
I'd like to think that we can all express honest opinions on various subjects and do so with reasonable tactfulness and not cause hurt feelings or have things get nasty. It's not that I think I am likely to hurt anyone's feelings with my response to the TOTM; it's just that I think someone should be allowed to say what they REALLY think without being overly intimidated if their opinion is not that of the majority. Who is L. Leigh?
"Do we discriminate against non-slash writers?" Who's we? Editors and readers both? As a non-slash writer, I can't complain. My first printed SH story was a crossover with QL. My second was a short story that Martha printed in FIX #10 with only two very minor changes. With the exception of THE FIX all of my printed SH stories (5) have been in media zines, but so far I haven't had much trouble finding a home for them. I'm friends with some people who are into slash, and they will read and like quality straight stories.
"Has characterization suffered in fanfic due to slash?" I have not read very much S/H so will admit I couldn't cite more
than one specific example if you asked me. I'd figure it depends. Some S/H stories may have the guys acting oddly, but the same might be true of a straight story somewhere. The fact that the guys are lovers (in a story!) is not going to change their personality that drastically, not to the point that we can't even recognize them. Hutch will still play games and have a mean streak at times, and Starsky will still put up with it, more or less, for example.
L. Leigh herself wrote a letter in this issue which included:
JUST A FEW WORDS: Most of you don't know me, and are probably wondering who the hell I am. I've been in SH fandom a while, but preferred to keep to myself. Lately, there's been reason to change that attitude. I hope I didn't offend or anger too many people with last issue's TOTM, but I won't apologize for it, either. I've had enough of feeling like those of us who aren't die-hard slash fans aren't welcome in SH fandom. It know that's not the case with many slash fans, but there are those who are as narrow-minded in their tolerance as the straight fans were years ago. Please, folks, don't misunderstand me. I'm not looking to argue the point, or to cause problems. I just want us all to be aware that the prejudice can run both ways, and we need to be a bit more sensitive to the views of others.
Is fandom hierarchical?:
I've bean in contact with this fandom since 1980. I've seen people come and go, letterzines rise and fall, and cliques form and reform the direction of fandom. My first experience with hierarchy was in the nature of the Personality Cult. In this true life experience, while I was attending ZCon, 2 a women sitting next to me thought I was a then popular fan artist. She got all excited and the next thing I knew, six people ware talking to me all at once. I finally got a word in and broke the news that I was not this artist, but a new fan at her first con. The general response was "Of," and, being ignored for the rest of the evening. Conclusion one, therefore, was that there were indeed 'stars' in a fandom, some designated because of what they did, some due to creativity and productions. The egoist in me created Ima Fool for just such a starring role.[snipped, fan then describes writing one of her first letters to the letterzine of the time, S and H]
... [It addressed] the then raging "do they?/don't they?" controversy. I used, as is my style, humor to poke fun at both sides. Well, it turned out that the then guest editors called the lz originators about this PERSON (me) who dared to question the sanctity of slash. They were offended and almost didn't print my letter. How do I know this? They told me. After I had been around for a bit, and they understood my sense of fun, and after, by the way, I had created my 'star' persona. Ima Fool, I was let in on all the "trouble" my letter had caused. Thus, I saw that within fandom there was an Inner Sanctum that was deciding policy, appropriate response, and fan worth. The third experience I had with hierarchy was The Lavender Private Party that marked the outing, as it were, of slash in this fandom. This event, at a ZCon whose number eludes me, involved a lavender invite to a private room party where slash art was to be auctioned off. When I got there, most of the con was squeezed into your average sized hotel room. So much far a closeted fandom, I thought. But, beyond the fact that the Secret Fandom that dared not be shared in the open was something like seeing how many people you could get into a telephone booth, there was the fact of the Uninvited.... Some Is In and Some Is Out.
A fan who has written slash herself, questions the term and its meaning:
I do know one thing; the use of a washcloth as a transition device is sloppy, especially if the cloth is wet. I also know that it is, at the very least, questionable characterization to write your heroes boffing each other in the butt and then, (a) call than both straight; (b) be unable to fathom a gay past, closeted teen years, let's say, for one or both; or (c) wonder how these two guys could be sexually involved, not come up with an answer, but write the story anyway.And, I do think that one's research should extend beyond looking at the drawings in The Joy of Gay Sex. Where is the gay sensibility in all of this? Oh, right, it's FANtasy, I forgot. I also think that keeping up with the endless "/" combos must be a lot of work for fan readers. It seems like there's a new one every con I attend. (Only the names change, the sex scenes remain the same.)
Finally, I don't think the terms slash and straight really describe the types of fiction all that well. I mean, the series was too kinky to be seen as straight, as were H/C stories that relied on blood rather than semen as the shared fluid of choice. And, slash stories aren't really about being gay, so that makes'em straight. I propose we use S & H, or, SH, rather than those two terms that don't quite fit. Or, my fave: S ? H ... cuz ya never know.
"Do we discriminate against non-slash writers?":
How can I comment upon that question without clarification as who's asking this? Who is "L. Leigh"? Who is "we"? Meaning, who is this group of people that ostensibly does the discriminating? Is "we" the editors? Then I don't think that it's true.Each "Fix", for instance, contains both, straight and slash-stories, and [April Valentine's] editorials convey to me the feeling that she is very aware of how important this well-balanced mixture is. Then maybe "we" applies to the readers?
Terri told in FRIENZ #16 about fans she'd met, who wanted to read nothing but slash-stories, who considered S/H the only way to go. But she mentioned also, that such an extreme point-of-view were an exception. As for me, I, too, know some people of that kind. But I never considered them true fans of the S&H series, so I never heeded their opinion in this regard. Those, who truly love S&H - and aren't they the kind of people, whose opinion should singularly count for the writers? - will welcome (or at least accept) both kinds of stories, straight and slash.
Discrimination?:
as characterization suffered in fanfic due to "/"? I think it's the opposite. Slash writing is very emotional. There's a lot of h/c, sometimes physical, often mental. Because it is so emotional, we are aware of the characters' feelings, their fears; because it goes beyond straight h/c, there is a greater intensity of that emotion. Sometimes it seems as if one or the other of them could use a good shrink; Hutch particularly seems to go off the deep end at times--but then, maybe the Hutch we saw on TV could have used one, too, considering his inexplicable tendency toward unearned guilt and lack of self-confidence. Maybe it's because the writers are so good, but I've gained a lot of insight into both characters through "/" stories.
Non-slash discrimination?:
A difficult [question], but very interesting and thought-provoking. Difficult especially for a non-writer like myself who obviously has no personal experience of being discriminated against, or otherwise. Not easy, either, for someone who has never subscribed to the slash premise, but nevertheless has no problem reading it. For some time now, slash fiction has predominated, and I echo Terri's comment regarding those not writing slash - where are they? I'm sure there are people who want to read straight stories - myself, for one, and it would be good to see more of them being written. There were many first-rate straight stories in the early SH zines, and I turn to those more often than to the later ones, because Terri is right again - you can have too much of a good thing. The repetition - pages of it sometimes - is the thing that puts me off slash fiction, but it seems to be what slash devotees, writers and readers, enjoy most.
None of this actually addresses the question of whether or not there is discrimination. I simply don't know. I'd like to think there isn't, or if there is, that it is unintentional.
Non-slash discrimination?:
This is a question that seems to come up repeatedly, and I'm not certain why. If you like apple pie, but love chocolate ice cream, are you "discriminating" against apple pie? I personally see the SH relationship as "/" (beginning either very late 4th season or post-SR), so that's how I write it, and what I prefer to read.
But that doesn't mean I can't or won't read and enjoy straight stories. "Breath of Life", by [April Valentine] (in TLC), is, in my opinion, one of the beat pieces of writing ever produced in this fandom, I've been involved in SH since 1984, and am fortunate enough to be friends with many of fandom's DOBs (Oops, that's "Dirty Old Broads".). In all that time I've never heard anyone make any negative remarks about straight SH as a genre, or suggest any reluctance to read it.
Once again, writing quality is what's important. On the other hand, many "straight" fans refuse to read "/". This is a matter of personal preference, and doesn't offend or threaten me, or make me suggest that there is "discrimination" against "/" writers.
Writing is not easy, at least for me. It's damned hard work. I'm not only entitled to write the characters the way I see them, I have to do so! To those who may think there's not enough "straight" SH being published, please bear in mind this isn't a restaurant, where you can just order up what you want and have it delivered. Instead of whining that others aren't writing what you want to read, try sweating a little blood yourself.
More on discrimination:
Do we discriminate...? I don't know, I don't think so. For one thing, most of the writers I know write both straight & slash. I know I've received a couple of straight submissions I had to reject because they couldn't be fixed & I've worked hard with one writer on a straight story to make it the best it can be. I have the promise of another straight story from a writer whose quality is beyond reproach (she also writes slash) & and one story whose orientation I didn't ask because the writer is so good. I don't write straight myself, because I don't believe in it. If you see a story with my name on it & and they didn't do it, or talk about doing it, or think about doing it, then it's pre-slash [2] If they didn't do it in the story, they would've done it, only the story didn't go on long enough.
Discrimination?:
...allow me to ramble right on with our topic of the month. I've been trying to figure out just what it means: "Do we discriminate against non-slash writers?" What's this we? Does this mean we as an entire fandom? Does this mean editors or readers or writers? I don't see how the question can be answered collectively.
And, you'll pardon me, I don't see why, after all this time, it should have to be. It's really getting very, very redundant to have to keep considering this question or variations on the same theme. Okay. Some people are into slash. That happens to apparently be the majority in this fandom. Some people aren't into slash. For whatever reason, they seem to be in smaller numbers. Maybe it only seems that way because they don't write in to the letterzine, don't go to cons, don't buy zines, don't write LoCs, don't call people on the phone — but hey, if they're not doing any of those things, then I don't really consider them a part of Starsky and Hutch Fandom.
If they're not doing any of those things, what right have they to complain about the course a fandom is following? Why would they even care? At any rate, it seems to me that a small number of individuals keep raising the same old question that has been answered by a large number of people.
I have no problem with the fact that some people prefer straight SH to slash. But it does seem that some people have a problem with those who prefer slash SH to straight. This seems to me to be just a rephrasing of the old "do they or don't they" question.
Discrimination:
aving only been involved in fandom a year now, I haven't run into any discrimination myself, and certainly not as a "non-slashwriter." If anything, I think the reverse of that might be true — slash writers might sometimes be victims. It seems slash fans are open to reading (and/or writing) most anything, while slash opponents are vehemently opposed to anything that so much as hints at slash. I personally write both and see a need for both, and frankly think each fan should be allowed to choose. Discrimination is wrong, no matter who the victim.
Discrimination?
I read every story that I publish in my zines. As for zines published by other editors, I read all the stories in them, too. Okay, to be perfectly honest there have been stories that just didn't grab me that I haven't finished but I haven't skipped them because I've figured out Starsky and Hutch aren't going to have sex.
And anyway, whether I read a story or not is really my business, isn't it? Is it discrimination to order only the foods you like in a restaurant rather than ordering those items you also hate or are allergic to just to humor the cook? Is it preferable to watch TV shows you don't like simply because they're on the air, not based on whether you like their theme and content?...
So now somebody is fuming out there, saying that those of us writing about this topic are just saying we don't discriminate against the non-slash writers, but that we in fact do. I guess there will always be discrimination perceived where none exists and try as we might to justify our actions, to explain our feelings, our words will go unheeded. Well, in that case, I must say that the problem then rests with those who don't heed these words, who don't believe what anyone says on this topic.
If it seems like discrimination because there are more slash stories and slash zines than non-slash ones, so be it. I can't help that and I'm a little bit tired of having to say so, over and over again. If everyone who thinks they are being discriminated against or who thinks that not enough non-slash is being published in this fandom would spend their time writing non-slash stories and publishing them instead of complaining, maybe that situation would change. Until it does, this is the fan-fiction you're going to get. You may not like it, but many people do, and that's just the way it is.
Do slash writers mess with characterizations:
I've read quite a lot of "/" stories in which the characterisation has been very good, and some in which it has been abyssal. I suppose the same could be said about straight stories. However, I sometimes find it hard to accept all the agonising and soul-searching that goes on in "/" fiction. Often followed by rather swift capitulation. Followed again by more soul-searching, or alternatively complete acceptance of what will be a totally new way of life for both of them. This seems out of character to me.
I'm aware that a writer's objective is to explore the characters we saw on the screen further, but have to say I've occasionally felt I was reading about two other people entirely. That again raises another often-posed question - do we have the right to criticise a writer's characterisation because it doesn't correspond with our own? We each have our personal concept of SH and it's quite evident that we all differ to some degree in the way that we see thee. No big deal in itself, it's what makes this fandom endlessly interesting and stimulating.
Slash as poor characterization?
Yes. Absolutely. Resisting the temptation to give examples, I can think of too many S/H stories in which the protagonists talk 'like a couple of passionate girlfriends'. Please. Men do not talk like that. Believe me. Certainly not to each other. (And I have that on the best authority!)
There is a distressing tendency to make one or other of then 'feminine' — the effeminate stereotype — to emphasise the fineness of Hutch's hair, for example. The choice of words can be at fault here, e.g. the use of 'slender' for 'lean'.
I would like to refer all of you to a book to be published this year—TEXTUAL POACHERS, by Henry Jenkins of M.I.T.[3] Professor Jenkins goes into detail on this subject as well as others, using fanfic from many different tandems to illustrate his thesis.] The '/' premise is perfectly valid, given the characters and relationships as portrayed on screen. The potential is certainly there. However (and this is the biggie) it seems to us (as in [C] and myself — I'm not using the Royal Prerogative) that seventy-five per cent of the time, the characters as portrayed on screen are not carried on into fanfiction. Often, what we have are two totally different people with the same names and general appearance.
There are the perennial excuses of 'but this is how I see them,' and 'I'm only writing for my own enjoyment'. Okay. Fine. But if you are writing S&H for consumption by anyone but yourself and your own circle of non-critical friends, then please take a moment to think of the characters we saw on toe screen. That's who we got hooked on. That's who we want to read about. Regardless of genre. If you don't want to do that, then go back and change the names. Call them anything except Starsky and Hutch.
Do slash writers mess with characterizations:
It is true that once in a while I (just like everyone else, I suppose) stumble across a SH story or novel I don't like, and it's also true that in most instances it's the characterization that bothers me and spoils my fun. But never has there been any connection between my non-acceptance, and the fact if the story was straight or slash.
A fan, [M R K], addresses another:
I WASN'T GOING TO RESPOND TO YOU IN THE L/Z ANYMORE. BECAUSE YOU ALWAYS SEEM TO IGNORE MY QUESTIONS, EVADE MY POINTS, I'M TIRED OF IT. BUT I'M EVEN MORE TIRED OF THIS CONSTANT COMPLAINING OF YOURS. FIRST YOU SAID WRITERS OF STRAIGHT STORIES WEREN'T WRITING BECAUSE EDITORS WOULDN'T PUBLISH THEM — NOW YOU'RE SAYING IT'S BECAUSE READERS DON'T WANT TO READ THEM. THE WRITERS I KNOW (AND RESPECT) WRITE FOR THEMSELVES, NOT FOR POSSIBLE READERS. YOU KEEP SETTING YOURSELF UP AS SOME KIND OF CHAMPION OF STRAIGHT WRITING. BUT WHEN I SENT YOU A FLYER FOR MY 2 PROPOSED ZINES, ONE Of WHICH IS ACCEPTING STRAIGHT STORIES, YOU SENT ME A SLASH STORY WITH HAS NO POLICE WORK AN NO PLOT. YET ISSUE AFTER ISSUE AFTER ISSUE YOU COMPLAIN ABOUT A DEARTH OF STRAIGHT STORIES. IF YOU CAN'T PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH. MAYBE YOU SHOULD STOP PREACHING.
References
- ^ Sockpuppetry not unlike MsScribe.
- ^ The first use of this term in a Starsky and Hutch zine.
- ^ This is the first mention of this book in a S&H publication. This fan's knowledge of a book not yet published is because she is one of the fans who was interviewed and then quoted extensively in the book.