Curtainfic

Curtainfic is a term used to describe fan fiction focusing on domestic tranquility, such as the characters in a romantic pairing "shopping for curtains" (literally or figuratively) and building a home together.
It can be part of a larger romantic plot (for instance, showing that the characters are "acting like a couple" or denoting a happy ending), or a way to explore how characters from fantastic or action-packed settings would behave in ordinary circumstances. This latter incarnation often draws criticisms of being Out of Character, and fans who object to the trope often do so because of the cognitive dissonance it provokes from reading hardened, grizzled action heroes or characters from dark and dangerous canons behaving so domestically. Some writers have found fertile ground for crackfic in subverting the trope or showing just how unlikely it would be in a canon-compliant scenario.
However, many fans are drawn to this trope specifically for its fluffy and soothing nature, whether this contrasts with or complements the original canon. Curtainfic is typically identified as being specifically romantic,In 2009, aelfgyfu_mead wrote of a fic on Dreamwidth that was supposedly curtainfic: "I think it's borderline; it's not romantic-domestic, for the most part, which is my understanding of curtainfic." (Cliché meme twist by aelfgyfu_mead, January 21, 2009). This FFA thread features an entire discussion on whether or not curtainfic can be gen; most conclude that the trope is dependent on romance, but some argue that gen fics focusing on establishing a home together could/should qualify. and sometimes as a slash-specific trope,In a 2008 piece of meta on Dreamwidth (Archived link), staranise wrote that "Slash has curtainfic"; The Fanfictionary by eiahmon states that curtainfic "is either a Slashfic or is a Sequel to one". (Archived link) but the term has also been applied to gen fic.
==Tropes==
Curtainfic may overlap with or include elements of related tropes, such as:
*Established relationship
*IKEA fic set in the 2010s or later, in which the characters go shopping for furniture (especially baby furniture such as cots and cribs) then have trouble assembling it, regardless of their technical skills in other areas
*Kidfic, which may spend considerable time describing the domestic details of preparing for a new baby or adjusting to life with children
*Quarantine fic may involve domestic situations in an established relationship or similar situations may force getting together
==History==
It isn't known precisely when the term "curtainfic" was first used, but the below references from the late 1990s (which so far are the earliest foundIf any earlier examples are known, please add them!) show that "hang[ing] the curtains" or "curtain-shopping" were already established terms for a particular type of domestic fic.
A letter of comment from a reader, in the Due South zine Pure Maple Syrup #4, published January 1997:
A reference in a September 1998 exchange between fans:
It's possible that several fans independently started using "curtain fic" or "shopping for curtains" as a shorthand for this specific type of domestic fic, as the trope of characters making a home together may well have existed without being given a specific name. As a fan commented in 2009,
==Fan Comments==
===General===
====2003====
From a rant on Livejournal:
A challenge at DS Flashfiction that sought to subvert the idea of "curtainfic":
====2006====
A fan reflecting on fic preferences in a Livejournal post:
====2012====
A comment on Come Morning Light, a DeanCas fic:
====2017====
From an essay entitled 'What is Curtain Fic?' by fantasy author J.M. Ney-Grimm:
====2020====
A comment in a FFA thread on Temeraire:
====2022====
A comment in a FFA thread on 'Fandom Brattiness':
===Manifestation in Different Fandoms===
Fans have often commented on the particular forms that curtainfic tends to take in their respective fandoms:
The Supernatural Wiki observes:
==Example Fanworks==
===Fanfiction===
*Curtains, with the pairing Mulder/Krycek in the The X-Files fandom, one of the earliest archived on AO3 in which the characters actually shop for curtains (2001)
*John and Rodney Do Curtainfic by thingswithwings, with the pairing McKay/Sheppard in the Stargate Atlantis fandom. A crackfic that features the two shopping for curtains, but not quite for the reason you might expect. (Brief NSFW at the end) (2007)
*Five Things That Never Happened to Anyone in the Age of Sail: A Curtainfic Medley by Skud, a combination Five Things and curtainfic series. (? 2005, posted to AO3 in 2009) Originally posted to LiveJournal, the fic is offline at the original link and does not appear to be archived, but a 2005 Crack Van rec gives some insight into its creation:
*Wherever You Will Be (That's Where I'll Call Home) by gyzym, aka The Domesticverse, with the pairing Arthur/Eames in the Inception fandom. This series is noted for its focus on Arthur and Eames outfitting their shared home, and the emphasis on their domestic, ordinary lives outside of the fast-paced and dangerous world of dreamsharing. (2010)
*trusting who we are by obstinatrix, featuring Sam & Dean of Supernatural. From the author's description: "Unabashed old-fashioned curtain!fic. Probably the gayest explicit gen ever to have existed. Yes, explicit gen." (2011)
===Fanart===
File:852shopping.jpg|from The Sentinel, Jim Ellison and Blair Sandburg go grocery shopping, artist is Peej, illo from 852 Prospect #2
File:nakedcartoon.jpg|from Naked Times #4/5, Star Trek: TOS, artist unknown: "Okay, it's final then... pink tile in the bathroom and yellow curtains for the porthole..."
File:tunnelszine1art2.jpg|from Tunnels #1, artist is Nancy Stasulis—from Beauty and the Beast, Vincent helps Catherine make cookies
Image:rudas1992salad.jpg|art by Rudas, Kirk, Spock, Sulu make a big salad (1992)
==Events & Challenges==
* Bandom Curtain Fic Challenge on LiveJournal
* Curtainfic Challenge on DS Flashfiction
* DPP: It's Curtains for You! on No Takebacks, a Kara and Lee-centric Battlestar Galactica rewatch community
* Mini challenge: Curtain! fic & art week on hoodie-time, a Dean Winchester-focused hurt/comfort community
==External Links==
* Curtain Fic tag at AO3
==Notes==
==References==
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