While looking for good definitions of the word “subtext” online, I was surprised to see that its use in reference to hidden homosexuality in tv’s Xena: Warrior Princess had all but overwhelmed other references to it online.

There are a couple references to it in terms of things like playwriting. Also, I found a site with a lesson plan for 2-4th graders, where you have them take on different roles of characters within a story to see relationships which are not explicitly stated within the text. Wikipedia also has a decent but very short enty on it. Most of these sites are using it to describe relationships within a story which are only implicit within the story. I guess I’m looking more for a word, then, which will describe “hidden messages” which are being transmitted within a story. This relates more to what people mean when they say “media literacy” I think.

Another part of the term which I’m interested in exploring more is what the producers of the show are doing with Xena. Where they intentionally insert elements into their stories to create and play off this subtextual relationship between Xena and Gabrielle. It was done partly to fuel the fires of speculation among fans, but also I think that subtexts become a way to transmit subcultural values safely on a mainstream channel without mainstream audiences necessarily noticing or reacting against them. I’ll see if I can find anything which talks about it in this more subversive way, but there’s quite slim pickings on the subject online.