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WARNING: The following article and links are not intended for younger readers.
Slash and Yearn?: In more than 800 websites devoted to Harry Potter slash, some host 100 or more stories apiece, while others feature galleries of fan art picturing Harry and his boarding-school chums in relationships very different from those created by author J.K. Rowling.
THREE WORDS guaranteed to make parents of bookworms squirm, editors at Scholastic wince and attorneys at AOL Time Warner snap to attention: Harry Potter porn.
The phrase may sound like a sick joke, but it’s all too real to those charged with protecting the mighty Harry Potter empire of books, merchandise and movies. And with Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix flying off of bookshelves faster than low-carb candies, the guardians of the Harry Potter copyright are again confronting a particularly tricky question: If it’s no use getting worked up over unauthorized web tributes to everyone’s favorite wizard-in-training, what about hot boy-on-broomstick action?
Produced and consumed mostly by young women, naughty Harry Potter stories belong to the larger online phenomenon called slash fiction (slash refers to stories that pair male characters like Captain Kirk and Spock or Starsky and Hutch; stories about male-female sex are called simply het). Here’s a sampling of Harry Potter slash, taken from a novella called Irresistible Poison, about a budding romance between Harry and his archenemy, Draco Malfoy:
“His hands moved up to hold Harry’s startled face, and in the space of a next heartbeat he was kissing Harry, hard and full on the lips, his manner deeply passionate, hopelessly desperate …
“What just happened?
“He knew bloody well what just happened. He just kissed Harry Potter, that’s what happened. The thought of it made him nauseated, even though at the very same time an entrenched part of him yearned for the perverse, forbidden pleasure of it all over again.”
In the world of Harry Potter slash, that’s relatively tame stuff–the same Singapore college student who penned the scene has posted much lustier scenarios in stories like Forbidden Want and Taken by Force on her website Magical Intrigue.
A Google search lists more than 800 websites devoted to Harry Potter slash, with some hosting 100 or more stories apiece and others featuring vast galleries of fan art picturing Harry and his boarding-school chums en flagrante. Meanwhile, many other slashers distribute stories on newsgroups devoted to unauthorized Harry Potter fan fiction. Slashers are careful to include disclaimers warning underage readers about sexual content, and most are careful to “age up” the characters, staying away from the period when the series began (when Harry was all of 11).
Th-Th-That’s All, Folks!
But those measures aren’t likely to calm executives at Warner Bros., the studio that’s already taken a hard stance against online material and domain names related to J.K. Rowling’s fantasy franchise. Before the release of the first film two years ago, studio attorneys sent cease-and-desist orders to operators of several fan sites in the United States and Britain. A public relations meltdown followed, and the studio was pilloried in the press and shamed by a sweet-faced 16-year-old fan from Virginia, who organized a boycott and gave a Warner Bros. VP a thorough drubbing on MSNBC’s Hardball.
Just as that controversy was beginning to quiet down–Warner Bros. ended up dropping or settling cases against unauthorized sites, and the boycott was quietly called off–came an even sleazier online affront to its wholesome brand. When studio executives learned about Harry Potter slash from this reporter in August 2001, they took four days to round up the troops from sojourns in France and Aspen–then released a formal statement.
“It is not only our legal obligation, but also our moral obligation to protect the integrity of our intellectual properties,” the statement read. “This is especially true in the case of indecent infringement of any icon whose target audience is children.”
Although Warner Bros. went on to declare its commitment to “protecting First Amendment rights,” it appeared that billable hours were about to start piling up. “We are considering all our options,” the statement concluded. (Meanwhile a representative from Scholastic, which retains the rights to J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter books, said the children’s publisher was unaware of the phenomenon and did not respond to subsequent calls for comment.)
Attorneys familiar with copyright and anti-obscenity laws say the studios are well within their legal rights to go after slashers. They are likely to refer to so-called tarnishment provisions of federal trademark law, which have previously been used by the Dallas Cowboys to block distribution of a porn movie that included team uniforms and by Coca-Cola to stop the merchandising of posters featuring the familiar logo with the words “Enjoy Cocaine.”
Negative Attention
But just because they can sue doesn’t mean they ought to. “The problem is that the act of taking legal action could trigger a public response that brings more attention to the offending material than it would have ever had otherwise,” says Chris Murray, chairman of the entertainment and media group at O’Melveny & Myers, a Los Angeles law firm that represents several studios. “I know of many cases in which a holder of intellectual property will ignore fan material by saying, ‘It’s not really hurting me, so why bother? It will die out on its own.”
“But I’d be surprised if that were the case here,” Murray adds. “None of the copyright owners that I’m aware of are likely to knowingly tolerate pornography.”
Most slashers, meanwhile, bristle at the suggestion that their work can be dismissed as knockoff erotica or demonized as kiddie porn. “I will take serious offense to anyone who labels my stories as ‘porn,’ because it insults me as a writer–the majority of my stories are PG or R, and sex if any at all is only incidental to the plot and not its focus,” says a prolific slasher known as Rhysenn, a twentysomething straight woman who has written more than 20 Harry Potter slash and het stories along with a few novellas. “Pornography is crude and blatantly sexual; slash deals with characters and romance and emotions more than the physical aspect of the relationship alone.”
Slashing Out
It’s true that most slash reads more like a paperback bodice ripper than like hard-core porn–Rhysenn’s stories, for instance, are heavy on tortured descriptions of moony-moony desire with just a few detailed blow-by-blows (note to Hogwarts headmaster: if the broom shed’s rocking, you might try knocking).
According to MIT scholar Henry Jenkins, who has tracked slash since its appearance in photocopied zines circulated at fan conventions, slash appeals to young women because it lets them experience romantic bonds in a mythological universe far removed from the more familiar (and far scarier) world of boyfriends, dating and sex.
That’s certainly the case for a Harry Potter slasher from southern England known as Acassha, who admits that some may find it odd that a 19-year-old straight woman enjoys writing and reading what looks on the surface like gay porn.
“That’s been the subject of debate in many a mailing list,” she writes via email. “Some say it’s female porn, others that it gives us a chance to control men. Personally, I think it’s because we can’t stand the thought of reading something with a man and woman having sex. It’s squicky [slang for something that makes you uncomfortable], because you start thinking, ‘Well, I don’t do that … should I?’”
It’s doubtful, however, that Warner Bros., Scholastic or J.K. Rowling have much sympathy for fans who say they’re entitled to write about the sex lives of underage magicians as a psychological tool for exploring their frustrated sexuality. With the much-hyped and mightily presold fourth book, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, released this week, and the publicity campaign in full gear, Warner Bros. is more likely to greet Harry Potter slashers with more takedown orders than tolerance.
“If they do get aggressive, we know we’ll be the first in the firing line,” writes Acassha, who says she regularly receives emails accusing her of being a “sick pervert” from outraged Harry Potter fans. “We’ll be the first to be targeted in something like this, because it’s not seen as ‘normal.’ But that’s despite the fact that there are hundreds of thousands of us.”
What do you think about Harry Potter porn?
Just leave the Fic writers alone. It’s their buisness. If people enjoy it, then so be it. If not… then thats their problem. Why must they only attack Harry Potter smust and slash when there is X-men smut, High School musical smut, Disney smut. I mean, there is ALOT of it out there. And i mean really… Disney. Now that is 100% for the kids…
Let the smut be.
I have read an HP slash story and it was disgusting. These slash writers take great characters from books and film and turn them into porn stars. Its absolutely appalling.
I agree with Patty, my opinion is if you don’t like it don’t read it. It’s that simple. So far from what I have seen and heard all the sites containing HP slash have warnings stating that the content is not suitabe for those under the age of 18. If people enjoy reading the stories who are we to stop them; to each his own.
I have written slash myself, and I’d like to point out that plenty of slash stories aren’t porn. People only object to it because it isn’t het. Why is it okay to write Harry having sex with Ginny, but not Ron? Slash stories pretty much always have warnings. If you don’t like it then don’t read it!
One wonders whether any fan fiction writers realize how many HP obsessed kids google ‘Harry Potter stories’ every day. It has been tried by myself on numerous occasions, and there is always a site that leads to questionable content.
One wonders if anyone does indeed “think of the children” even if the line is a cliche.
On a side note, perhaps some authors of Harry Potter fan fiction do not believe that a pairing was realistic? Take Luna and Neville, many thought it was a match made in heaven…or wherever Merlin is now. Maybe, just maybe, these people are holding out for a glimpse of a forbidden relationship (Draco!Harry), just to make the Christians hate HP even more…
I think that slash stories aren’t wrong if they’re witty or poke fun at something. But a GAY Draco Malfoy? You have got to be kidding me. Even though they’res nothing wrong with being gay, it seems like a crime to distort an innocent story! But as Patty said, if you don’t like it, don’t read it! If the people who are making porn Harry Potter stories realise that people think that the stories are disgusting, then they’ll stop making them and think up another scheme to get viewers.
hi i cant sem to find any of these porn stories so if anybody come accross any can they give me the link please email me if u wanna talk about it at cdoherty123athotmail.co.uk wont let me put in the at sign
Well, I have been reading slash for now…oh let’s say 7 years. In the beginning it wasn’t Harry Potter slash because I didn’t know about it. Now I only read Harry Potter slash. I am now 22 years old so I have been reading such stories since I was 15. Before finding slash on the internet I was widening my sexual knowledge by watching porn. Now forgive me if I am wrong but as far as I could tell, real porn is derogatory towards women, has no plot, no romance and bassicaly nothing that that an adult would like their children knowing.
The problem is once a child enters pubarty, they get curious and they want to know what all the fuss is about when it comes to sex.
Don’t try and fool yourselves by thinking that your child doesn’t look for pornography. They all do.
Harry Potter slash that has been written in a good manner can only bee seen as the romance every woman wishes she had. It’s mainly about love that transgresses gender, political views, religion, family. It’s the typical Romeo & Juliette plot where everyone is against them but they still make it through because their love is just that strong.
I’a afraid that I also have to agree with slasher Acassha when she said that reading het is squicky. When one reads a well written story, one tends to identify with a character. We mainly chose the female main character so as we can be present in all the big parts of the story. When reading Harry Potter slash, you can be more objective. You can read the story and watch the characters develope on their own.
I’m a fanfiction writer. I’ve written it X rated slash; I write pg rated ones too, I’m eclectic and open-minded.
I’ve read quite a lot of it too and there’s nothing wrong with it, get over it. It’s no one’s business but the people who enjoy it.
And I quite like the Draco/Harry ones and the Sirius/Remus ones.
Personally I think it’s better for teens to READ it than go out and have sex to experiment with their sexual sides.
At least you can’t catch a disease from reading HP slash.
Oh and Ciaran, You can find them on any HP fanfiction site.
I like Fanfiction.net, Restrictedsection.org, TheQuidditchpitch.org
They have a good selection.
I love fanfiction, but I hate slash. Silly teenage girls and their sexual fantasies. They’d pair anyone up, even Voldemort and Harry. Geez.
Fiction is fiction. A world that is not real. I don’t see why so many people have problem with it. If you dislike it that much – don’t read it, don’t think about it.
Also, for all you “porn” haters. It’s okay for teenagers to go and fuck each other’s brains out just because they’re hormonal but it’s not okay for anyone to write about sex? JUST write. Plus, people who LIKE fiction – read it. There’s lots of them.
As for you who don’t like it – don’t read it. It’s really that simple. Almost as simple as your close minded opinions.
And the next time you start insulting slash (or het) writers think about what you’re making yourselves look like – homophobic jerks.
SLASH ROCKS!!!! I love the idea of the forbidden and if it makes you UNCOMFORTABLE than DONT READ IT! IF you want morality read the bible,wait wait no don’t here also is forbidden pairings snakes lusty kings and so forth….
For the record, even JK Rowling has stated that one slash pairing, Albus Dumbledore/Gellert Grindelwald is cannon at least on Dumbledore’s side.
i think its disgusting! i mean sure, ill print pretty pics of Emma but to actually use her as porn char! it surprises me that a wonderful written book can be turned into something so disturbing
it just goes to show what society is really like.
if anyone wants CLEAN chat about harry potter my email is Control_alt_deleted@hotmail.com
Hm.
Wait….Malfoy’s straight?
Sian, they won’t stop just because SOME people think its disgusting. Like so many have pointed out here, if you think its not the story for you, then quit your whining and read something else.
There will always be creeps in the world. Its just what your definition of “creep” is that might include slash writers.
All of you who say Harry Potter slash is disgusting: let’s be honest
You so want to read it.
I, honestly, love smut. I really don’t like het as much as slash because it’s … boring. *shrugs* It’s interesting seeing how writers work their characters into certain situations.
And, really, slash isn’t nasty. Smut is. It’s sex, plain and simple. (Or not so plain and simple.) PWPs are fun, occasionally, just as long, involved, passionate novellas are fun on occasion.
Anyway, there’s really not a big deal. If you don’t like it, don’t read it. And, as someone above me said, all kids are (someday) going to end up being curious about sex. I think it’s safer writing/reading about it than banging the brains out of your whole town/neighborhood. *shrugs*
There are some fantastic smut/slash/het HP fanfiction writers out there. They deserve a TON of credit for bringing substance and INTERESTING plots to the slightly tepid world of HP.
…and before someone jumps on my back, let me just say that I do read smut. To the outside world, it’s considered “nasty.” That’s all I was saying. =)
When I first started reading fan fiction, I shied away from everything that involved slash. Frankly, I found it disgusting only half a year ago. Though I wasn’t really homophobic, I was very prejudiced, which isn’t strange as I’ve grown up in a conservative Christian community (no offence meant to Christians, since that would include me.) Slash fiction has made me think that people should be allowed to love who they love and that’s it. My point is, there’s more to slash fiction than just pornography. Slash doesn’t have to be anything more than simply holding hands. Though I don’t mind sexual scenes in fan fiction, the plot will be of most importance; and if you don’t like it, I will say as many others before me — don’t read it.
Pretty much everyone has a hobby or a fetish that might be considered distasteful to others, but why should that bother anyone else?
I love slash, and smut. I read anything from G-rated to R-rated, though I do prefer a solid plot.
Two years ago (when I was 12) I avoided slash like the plague, as I thought it was a bit weird (reading about it. I wasn’t homophobic or anything!), but somehow, I slowly started liking it, and now, here I am; a proud shipper of Voldemort/Harry. Some might say that it’s disgusting and immoral (why is it immoral?), but I say; bugger off!
I can see why some people are think slash is strange, but there’s no reason to go about badmouthing it. No one is forcing you to read it, and, as many people have stated before; practically everyone puts up warnings to ward of anyone who wouldn’t feel comfortable reading it.
Yes, little Harry Potter fans without a clue as to what ‘R-rated’ means, might stumble across the odd one, but it will hardly scar them for life. They’re just words! Words that can weave into the most beautiful, passion-filled, imagination-sparking and occasionally horribly maudlin stories, but words nevertheless.
And trust me, graphic fanart is a hell of a lot worse. But even they have had certain measures placed upon them to prevent any accidental sightings (on most websites anyway). So what’s to worry about? I say live and let live.
Plus, I really don’t see why there has to be articles written on it, or why Warner Bros. is so worked up. Every fandom has it’s slash (or yaoi) section and Harry Potter is no different. Why stifle our creativity? Slash isn’t ruining the ‘innocent’ Harry Potter franchise (didn’t Daniel Radcliff say that there were drug references in the upcoming film?) and it can hardly be worse than the traumatic deaths of Hedwig and Voldie (*sobs*).
Hello, I want to say something to this.
Please, do me the favour and read it… I can at least explain something…
I know many fanfics, and I am avowed Harry/Draco fan. Don’t hate me for it, I didn’t mean to become one. I’m just a usual young girl who likes to read ^^ So… This Fanfic stuff… It may seems to be like this, but not to me – it isn’t about… writing or reading something pornografic, it’s just a lovestory – but a different type… When you read a “het-fic”, like harry/ginny, which i like very much, too, it is in 9 from 10 stories just boring because it is just to easy, this pairing is too obvious… Its like they kiss somewhere, say i love you and live happy ever after…
but a ship, where it is like ‘ A Boy – falls in love with his enemy, who is a boy like him’ (and as we all know – love doesn’t follow any rules, so it _could_ possibly happen) and then maaany problems appear… and not just the usual “Does he feel the same”- problems, like ‘is he gay, too…?’… and the war, where they are on different sides, whether they would admit it,would they be accepted and so… and how should you tell your enemy, who probably hates you, what you feel? or do you keep it your secret? but this is going to hurt badly….
So, to write a FF like this challenging because its so unconventional … but its so wonderful when the persons get it in the end and end up together, and can finally be happy…
Thanks for your attention, i hope you at least know _why_ so many persons like this…
you guys are treating sex like a toy. and i want to ask all you people out there who read and watch and write porn–are you happy? w/ your marriage, girlfriend/boyfriend, parents, anybody. can you go out and have a relationship without thinking about sex and destroying the relationship? go and have your “fun”. come back to me after it ruins everything. good luck in life
i really want to see his more of his sexy penis and butts pictures also nude clips.
No one will ever be able to put a stop to slash. Fighting against them will only force them underground, where the only difference to Harry Potter fans is that it will be harder to find.
As both a writer and a reader of Harry Potter slash, I really think it would be more hassle than it’s worth to take down slash.
slash is fukin disgusting. the image of 2 males banging eachother in the ass
make me wanna vomit.
homophobes make me vomit!!
prefer Hermione/draco ?!!!*shudders* poooor draco!
i dont like all of harry/dracos fanfic …some are ….realy sick!!
hah but the ice prince& the boy who lived as a couple ………. realy fantastic!!*grins*
love them!!
(Whatever) hah باهات موافقم!!*grins*
realy sorry for my bad english!!