Decoder Ring: The Johnlock Conspiracy

"The Johnlock Conspiracy" is an episode of the Slate podcast Decoder Ring. In the episode, host Willa Paskin discusses TJLC in the context of Sherlock Holmes fandom over the years, in addition to addressing this history of shipping and other practices of transformative fandom. The episode is primarily presented as a primer for those who are unfamiliar with TJLC and BBC Sherlock fandom history.
==Some Topics Discussed==
* fandom practices and terminology, such as shipping (specifically slash pairings) and fanon
* the history of ACD Holmes fandom, the Great Game, and pastiche
* dynamics between fans and The Powers That Be
* queer subtext in the ACD canon and BBC Sherlock
* Toplock vs. Bottomlock
* toxic fandom and ship wars
* 2015 221B Con
* reactions to series 4 of BBC Sherlock (including mass fandom exodus, harassment of TPTB, and various evolutions of TJLC, such as Apple Tree Yard)
* queerbaiting
* the relationship between fanfiction and authorial intent
==Excerpts==
Note: these excerpts are from the lightly edited partial transcript of the episode published at Slate.The Case of the Fractured Fandom by Willa Paskin. Slate. Published on June 4, 2018. Accessed on July 8, 2018.
==Fan Participation in the Podcast==
Various fans (including TJLCers and others), as well as fandom journalists, acafans, and Holmes experts were interviewed and/or consulted for the episode, both on TJLC specifically and fandom more generally. Aja Romano and Emma Grant were both thanked for "getting us into this world" during the credits of the episode. Anne Jamison was also interviewed for the episode, and her book Fic: Why Fanfiction Is Taking Over the World is cited as further reading.Decoder Ring: The Johnlock Conspiracy by Willa Paskin. Slate. Published on June 4, 2018. Accessed on July 8, 2018.
Elizabeth Minkel spoke about her role in the episode on her own podcast Fansplaining:
graceebooks, one of the creators/coiners of TJLC, was also interviewed for the episode.
==TJLCers React on Tumblr==
The podcast episode was met with criticism on Tumblr by some TLJCers. Some fans attributed the perceived misinterpretation of TJLC in the podcast episode (and by the media more generally) to misogyny and homophobia,Tumblr post by shinka. Posted on June 5, 2018. Accessed on July 7, 2018. Archived November 20, 2020. and others rebutted the characterization of TJLC as a toxic community rife with doxxing and other forms of harassment.Tumblr post by one-thousand-splendid-stars. Posted on June 2018. Accessed on July 8, 2018. Archived November 28, 2020. In a meta post entitled In Defense of TJLC, Tumblr user sherlock-overflow-error addressed "four of the most common arguments against TJLC through the lens of the argument presented by Willa Paskin," while also taking issue with Paskin's assessment of TJLC as a practice of transformative fandom, positing that TJLC is not a generative creative practice, but something more akin to literary criticism.Wayback machine capture of the original Tumblr post by sherlock-overflow-error. Posted on June 14, 2018. Accessed on July 8, 2018. 
Graceebooks, who was also interviewed for the podcast, posted a commentary on the episode on June 4, 2018:
==References==
Category:The Johnlock Conspiracy
Category:2018 Podcasts
Category:2018 News Media