So, I'm taking a break from my "Things I Hate About Slash" series (don't worry, I still have plenty more to say on that...) and addressing something that is often overlooked when it comes to slash fiction. And that is the slight but HUGE difference between the terms "Slash" and "Bromance"
A lot of people think these terms are interchangeable, but they're not. Here's why (courtesy of Urban Dictionary):
Bromance- (n): A non-sexual relationship between two males that are unusually close.
Slash-(n): Word used in fanfiction to denote homosexual pairings. Usually male/male, sometimes female/female AKA femmeslash. Often used interchangeably with Yaoi or Yuri.
If you haven't realized it by now, the main difference between the two is sex. This is why these terms are not really interchangeable. Though, if you think about it, you can't really have one without the other. Like, obviously bromances often lead to more slashy things...*wink*
I'm not saying I prefer one over the other, because I have used both terms. The trick is knowing when it's appropriate to use one in favor of the other and the times when some couples can be described using both.
What I have found is that "bromance" seems to be the term people default to because it's easier to digest. For example, I use it when I'm talking to my mom about slash. I've tried using the term "slash" before and though she knows what it is, she can't seem to quite wrap her head around it just yet. So, for people who are just coming to see the slashy world around them, bromance is a good way to start them off, it sort of eases them into it if they're a tad uncomfortable at first.
Also, bromance seems to be used more when it comes to RPS, like Pinto (Chris Pine/Zach Quinto), Flandus (Sean Patrick Flanery/ Norman Reedus), Robert Downy Jr./Jude Law (If they have a clever ship name, I don't know it), STango (Steve/Tango from Ghost Hunters) and the list goes on. So when they're out and about and in public and in the eyes of the ever-present media, it's a bromance. Their interviews, outtakes, what have you, are the "bromance" aspect of their relationship. Because they wouldn't be that stupid to do something sexual in public. Though, those of us with a working pair of slash goggle know how to detect those subtle behavioral things that show us that they are indeed fucking.
Bromance could also be used to describe a pair of guys that are sooooo on the road to doing eachother but haven't really realized it themselves yet. For example Neal and Peter from White Collar and Arthur and Merlin from Merlin. Both of these shows are relatively new so we are just starting to see their relationship develop. Although, Arthur and Merlin definitely haven't had sex yet, they seem to be more comfortable being flirty around each other than Neal and Peter do.
And, in case you're wondering how you can tell if a bromance has moved on to full fledged slash, well you can just tell. Seasoned slashers always can. And if you can't, well that's what fanfictions are for.
So there you have it, the difference between Bromances and Slash. I hope this helped to clear things up, because I know the lines between these two can be a bit blurry at times. But, when it all comes down to it, they really do complement each other because, let's face it, you can't spell bromance without romance.
Catch you on the flip side!
~Allie
