Content area
Full Text
Abstract
The Eaton Collection of Science Fiction & Fantasy at the University of California, Riverside contains a unique archive of slash fan fiction and yaoi/ boys' love (BL) manga. Slash and BL refer to fanmade or commercially published works of male homosexual erotica or romance historically made for the pleasure and consumption of women. These fandoms have been a minor subject of academic scholarship for years, though few archives or libraries are actively acquiring them. In this article, we explore the value and challenges associated with collecting materials containing taboo subject matter. We contextualize this process with an overview of the history of archival theory, the emergence of critical archival studies, and the intersection of niche fan communities with feminist and queer studies frameworks.
"One thing I do want to be clear about. You do understand these are K/S as in Kirk and Spock are lovers? I have found that in a few cases when I approached people they backed off when I was explicit about the contents."
-Donor letter regarding donation of K/S fanzine collection
T HE PAST TWO DECADES HAVE SEEN A PROLIFERATION AND RISE IN STATURE of a number of science fiction and fantasy archives, mirroring the rising significance of speculative fictions within academia and society as a whole. This has occurred at a time when issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion have taken center stage. Archivists are also looking at their collections and their role in shaping the archives with a renewed critical eye, especially through an emerging framework known as critical archival studies. This is a valuable tool to analyze what our institutions have historically said about who and what has value. In the realms of speculative fiction, this work of bestowing value and creating canon has traditionally been done by authors who won (or were nominated for) the top awards and honors of their genre. It is impossible for archivists and librarians to be experts in all aspects of a subject as large as sf; therefore, the utilization of nationally recognized book awards, honors, and "best of" recommendation lists to help guide curation has become commonplace. In the worlds of sf and fantasy it was primarily a very narrow slice of the population creating these lists: namely, white...