I actually do think there's an interesting point to be made about gayness in fandom, which I thought of given your Batman/Robin or Sonic/Tails example.
I was going to simply point out that those things aren't cannon and those kind of relationships are merely fandom concoctions, things which are usually parodied, etc.
However, one must look at the phenomenon of why such slash ideas exist. Why there's a lot of homo-erotic fan-fiction.
My hypothesis on this is because there is a fundimental lack of homosexual characters in "official" works. There's typically no hero in the fictional work that a gay person can project theirself onto, so instead they create one.
This especially is possible when cannon characters lend themselves to it, being single. Most fictional protagonists do appear to be single, and thus open the possibility them being molded by the consumers thoughts and desires. This pliability and ability to make them relatable is what makes characters workable in such ways.
Gay people are extremely expressive, and much more likely to express via a means that is indirect since in many cultures direct expression is punished. Which means those desires in fandom works will be more likely gay and go all out, they don't have to sell anything but how they feel, despite their audience being niche.
I actually do think there's an interesting point to be made about gayness in fandom, which I thought of given your Batman/Robin or Sonic/Tails example.
I was going to simply point out that those things aren't cannon and those kind of relationships are merely fandom concoctions, things which are usually parodied, etc.
However, one must look at the phenomenon of why such slash ideas exist. Why there's a lot of homo-erotic fan-fiction.
My hypothesis on this is because there is a fundimental lack of homosexual characters in "official" works. There's typically no hero in the fictional work that a gay person can project theirself onto, so instead they create one.
This especially is possible when cannon characters lend themselves to it, being single. Most fictional protagonists do appear to be single, and thus open the possibility them being molded by the consumers thoughts and desires. This pliability and ability to make them relatable is what makes characters workable in such ways.
Gay people are extremely expressive, and much more likely to express via a means that is indirect since in many cultures direct expression is punished. Which means those desires in fandom works will be more likely gay and go all out, they don't have to sell anything but how they feel, despite their audience being niche.