Schmoop
| Tropes and genres | |
|---|---|
| Related tropes/genres | Fluff, Mook |
| See also | WAFF |
| Related articles on Fanlore. | |
Schmoop is used to describe fanfic with a very sweet romance between two characters.
Schmoop stories are sometimes characterized (by the author or by readers) as being so sweet as to be barely tolerable. Generally this interpretation is considered good-natured, however.
Some fans see schmoop as a further escalation of fluff.[1]
Origin of the Term
The term originated with the faux term of endearment "schmoopy" used on an episode of Seinfeld;[2] in the show, both halves of a nauseatingly cuddly couple referred to one another as "schmoopy," thereby annoying everyone around them.
It appears the the term as spelled "schmoop" was popularized for fannish use by MustangSally on May 27, 1997 on Usenet, but "shmoop" (without the "c") was used three days earlier by a fan named Myrke.
From an October 1998 discussion:
Dasha K: I believe schmoop came from an episode of Seinfeld. Gizzie may have brought it over to use in a fanfic manner, though...
- Loligo Opalescens: I know you're right about Seinfeld ("You're schmoopie!" "No, YOU'RE schmoopie!" -- Jerry and girlfriend o' the week exchanging baby-talk), and you may very well be right about giz, too. (Good lord, responsible for both "squidge" AND "schmoop"!? What a weight to bear on her shoulders... ;-) )
- [Kaitsu]: According to my highly scientific research in DejaNews Gizzie was the second person to use the word "schmoop" in alt.tv.x-files. First one was MustangSally 27th of May 1997 AD. Word "shmoop" was used three days earlier by Myrke. Those are important days in the history of x-philedom... After that the spelling with a "c" became more popular and the shorter spelling slowly disappeared. Looks like word "shmoop" died in alt.tv.x-files some time in last June, but perhaps it still could be revived... The word was used the first time in an archived Usenet message by Vincent Lai in a nyc.general message written November 12th 1995. After that the word was used quite often in alt.tv.space-a-n-b because Chad Carlock was known as Schmoop.
Example Fanworks
- Cuddling by Gabrielleabelle, written in response to a Schmoop_Bingo prompt; cuddling while sick (2010)
Communities
- Schmoop Bingo, a livejournal comm
References
- ^ Gileswench. Fanon Terms
- ^ Seinfeld, Season 6, Episode 7, "The Soup Nazi."
- ^ comments from Schmoopiness 101: A Primer to Young Love (October 1998)