This Work Is Tagged Asexual Character: An Analysis of Asexuality in Fanfiction

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dc.contributor.advisorMacLennan, Anne
dc.contributor.advisorLatchford, Fances
dc.contributor.advisorBischoping, Katherine
dc.contributor.authorTel, Hendrike Johanna Janny
dc.date.accessioned2021-03-08T17:26:27Z
dc.date.available2021-03-08T17:26:27Z
dc.date.copyright2020-12
dc.date.issued2021-03-08
dc.date.updated2021-03-08T17:26:26Z
dc.degree.disciplineInterdisciplinary Studies
dc.degree.levelMaster's
dc.degree.nameMA - Master of Arts
dc.description.abstractAlthough asexual activism and asexuality scholars show that asexuality encompasses a wide range of experiences, asexual people remain an understudied sexual minority. Pop-cultural representations of asexuality are uncommon, but one place where asexual people are often represented is in fanfiction: transformative stories written by fans of cultural works. This thesis studies asexual depictions of two characters: the unsociable genius Sherlock Holmes (BBC) and the playboy superhero Tony Stark (Marvel Studios). Using content and discourse analysis to study a sample of 100 stories, this thesis shows that while asexual stories are diverse, they contain a number of recurring tropes and storylines. They depict asexuality as a cause for both negative and positive emotions and portray asexual characters as active participants in romantic relationships and sometimes in sex. This thesis shows that fanfiction can play a key role in providing representation of marginalized sexualities and furthering our understanding of asexual perspectives.
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10315/38213
dc.languageen
dc.rightsAuthor owns copyright, except where explicitly noted. Please contact the author directly with licensing requests.
dc.subjectSociology
dc.subject.keywordsFandom
dc.subject.keywordsFandom studies
dc.subject.keywordsFanfiction
dc.subject.keywordsFan fiction
dc.subject.keywordsAsexuality
dc.subject.keywordsAsexuality studies
dc.subject.keywordsQueer studies
dc.subject.keywordsSexuality studies
dc.subject.keywordsNarrative
dc.titleThis Work Is Tagged Asexual Character: An Analysis of Asexuality in Fanfiction
dc.typeElectronic Thesis or Dissertation

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