Smarm
From Fan History Wiki
Definition and History of Smarm dated one of the earliest uses of the word smarm to 1983 in the Star Wars fandom. The author recalled seeing the word used in a Letter of Comment in a fanzine.
[edit] Historical definitions
The following definition dates to March 1999 in the Highlander fandom in a post to alt.tv.highlander by Trilly:
- Smarm refers to those warm, fuzzy, feel-good moments in a show, like when Duncan and Richie hug. This is the fandom definition, so you may not find the dictionary in agreement. [1]
The following definition dates to May 1999 in the Ghostbusters fandom in a post to alt.movies.ghostbusters by XmagX:
- the dictionary definition of smarmy is that gooeyness, dripping schmaltz...
- however Kitty (of Highway to Hell fame/infamy, tho' I think she's had more success promoting her definition with Sentinel) redefined smarm to mean the physical/verbal display of friendship, which is how I've come to think of it...the comfort part of h/c. [2]
The following definition dates to 1999 in the Sentinel fandom:
- "Smarm" is a particular variety of genfic which centers around (or at least heavily emphasizes) the intense friendship between the main characters. It usually involves verbal expressions of love and/or affection, and sometimes involves physical expressions of those feelings (this is called "glomming"). [3]
The following definition dates to 2000 in the Sentinel fandom:
- "Smarm" has become a synonym for slushy badness - closer to the original meaning of the word. (When I first ran into it, its use seemed ironic - affectionate but self-mocking, like the use of "smut" in slashdom. It's losing that irony.) [4]
The following definition dates to 2001 in the Star Wars fandom:
- Nonsexual love and comfort between two characters. Often found with H/C and associated with slash. [5]
The following definition dates to December 2002 in the Stargate fandom in a post by MadiHolmes to alt.tv.stargate-sg1:
- Smarm is just like h/c, only without the hurt part. These require insulin boosters after reading one to keep your glucose levels in check. [6]
The following definition dates to August 2003 in the Sentinel fandom:
- Smarm (a.k.a. warm fuzzies) - in the words of Kitty, a Sentinel Smarm Queen: (n) the visible (or audible) expression of affection between two friends, in which the non-sexual love they have for each other is momentarily glimpsed via some action. (v) to act in a manner which displays affection for a friend, esp. to do or say emotional things which would not normally be expected. [7]
The following definition dates to 2004 in the Magnificent 7 fandom:
- the depiction of a tender, compassionate, caring response of one character to the distress (either physical or emotional) of another. [8]
The following definition dates to 2004 in an scholarly article which appeared in Gender Queeries 8:
- Smarm does not necessarily have to have an element of sexual tension. Rather, it tries to imagine a different idea of masculinity, one in which traditionally feminine traits such as nurturing and the open declaration of feelings are extended onto male characters. It can, however, serve as a starting point for a sexual relationship in a slash story. [9]
The following term dates to 2005 in the Lord of the Rings fandom:
- Smarm - overly romantic content. "awwwwww ..." [10]
The following definition is from cmshaw out of the X-Files, Sentinel, Highlander fandom. It dates from May 2005:
- Smarm, n. Nonsexual love and comfort between two characters. Has no negative connotations. May be used in other shows' fandoms.[11]
The following definition dates to July 2005 in the Sentinel, Ghost Busters, Due South fandoms:
- A type of story starring characters, usually of the same gender, who care and worry about each other a LOT. Not sexual or slashy, but rather a noble not-too-macho-to-admit-I-love-my-buddy brotherly-love kinda thing. Often found hand-in-hand with h/c, smarm sometimes does lead to slash and is often associated with it.
- Notes: Senners have fought hard over the "degeneration" of smarm into near-smut. It's called romantic friendship by Xena bards. And there's a rating scale, too. ;)[12]
The following definition dates to September 2005 in the Stargate fandom:
- [S] smarm (hugging, words of affection with no slash or sexual inuendos) [13]
The following definition dates to June 2006 in the Sentinel fandom:
- Smarm fanfiction :: A sub-group of gen (and most likely slash) which is quite popular with TS fanfic, this includes a very intense friendship between Jim and Blair. This can be shown as anything from friendly touches to hugs to prolonged embraces to kisses on the forehead and usually a bit beyond. At times, this area can become somewhat gray as it passes beyond smarm into pre-slash at which point it can depend on the reader for how they want to interpret the scene. [14]
The following definition dates to January 2007 in the Dragon Quest VIII fandom:
- "über-smarm" (which is basically slash without the sex). [15]
The following definition dates to March 2007 in the television and movie fic fandom:
- The dictionary actually defines "smarm" as obsequious flattery, but how that got turned into a term for a story where the characters are expressive and warm and caring for each other is right here. The term is widely used in Sentinel fandom. It is used to refer to the demonstration of strong but platonic affection - up to and including brotherly love. Smarm stories can often be ones where the characters are unrealistically sentimental and overly demonstrative, so my usage of the term varies. [16]
