Discussion Yaoi for... fanBOYs?!

[Natoma]

I just got this from an NYU queer group.

[FONT=&quot]Hidden Passions:
[/FONT][FONT=&quot]Representations of Gender & Sexuality in Yaoi[/FONT]​

[FONT=&quot]
Yaoi is the Japanese anime genre that depicts male-male relationships. Although representing matters concerning the Japanese gay male population, the first creators of yaoi were actually women. Since then, the genre has undergone many shifts in its production and consumption. Looking at the historical development of yaoi, and screening clips from selected films, this workshop hopes to address a set of interlocking questions:

What inspired the creation of such a genre by women?

How is queerness represented and negotiated in the genre?

How realistically or fantastically does this reflect the reality of Japanese gender and sexuality?

How has yaoi shifted the public opinion of queer communities in Japan?

How has globalization and issues of cultural translation affected the reception of yaoi among Western audiences?

Join us for this workshop over a sushi dinner![/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]7PM, Thursday March 5th[/FONT]​

[FONT=&quot]LGBT Office, Kimmel 602[/FONT]​

[FONT=&quot]60 Washington Square South[/FONT]​

 

[eni]

Aw, I think this thread doesn't deserve a merge with the hangout and seeing that we have at least two male members visiting this section frequently this makes a good first post

I find it very interesting that yaoi (will they cover bara too?) comes up as topic on a queer group meeting. What I often read is that yaoi is generally too 'fangirlish' and therefore doesn't appeal to gay male readers and to gay female readers even less (although I know two who read boys love despite being lesbian). How's your opinion on this matter?

 

[Natoma]

There is some very good yaoi out there. I hate the ones where Naruto, for example, is turned into this lovey dovey "Oooooh I want to have your babies Sasuke! Dominate me!" shell of a character. And vice versa.

What I do enjoy are the stories that portray the characters in a realistic light. Such as the three that I linked to you before.

The problem with a lot of yaoi is that one character is basically turned into a ridiculous feminized caricature of what a woman in a man's body is supposed to act like.

Men are not gruff bastards, nor are men feminized caricatures with external genitalia. We're fully realized creatures and the good yaoi out there portrays that.

Does that help?

 

[LNsu]

Interesting.
I have read and watched yaoi on several occasions both explicit and not. However, I actually watch with intent of humor (excuse me if you're offended). I actually never thought about the fact of actual homosexual persons reading yaoi though. Just as I thought yuri is directed at males, I presumed yaoi is directed at females.

 

[Tsukisama]

I have actually met several straight guys who have read and watched some yaoi series (usually only not explicit though); Gravitation is a fairly popular yaoi series with a substantial fan base, which includes some straight, male fans. I think the genre is for anyone really. For readers who don't care about the nature of the relationship (heterosexual or homosexual), they read the manga (or watch the anime) for the content and the story.

I would disagree a bit with LNsu on the target audiences for yaoi and yuri. I think that the target audiences for yaoi and yuri are the readers who enjoy seeing such relationships. For yaoi, while there is a female target audience, it is also understood that homosexual male audiences would also be a part of the target demographic, but since there is a smaller number of them relative to the female audience, it is not stressed as much.

For yuri (and I mean, actual yuri manga and anime), I don't really think guys are the target audience. Some yuri moments may occur in things targeted to guys, but works solely completely focused on lesbian romances that aren't just depictions of male fantasies are generally directed more to female audiences from the ones I've seen. When it comes to manga/anime that are about the actual relationship in yuri (which is what should be considered "true yuri" IMO), the female audience is the target audience, as they are usually thought to be more interested in the romantic aspects, regardless of whether the female reader is hetero- or homosexual.

 

[segua]

It may not be my place to post here but hearing on how yaoi was started and how it progressed is very interesting.

 

[boszz]

I have actually met several straight guys who have read and watched some yaoi series (usually only not explicit though); Gravitation is a fairly popular yaoi series with a substantial fan base, which includes some straight, male fans. I think the genre is for anyone really. For readers who don't care about the nature of the relationship (heterosexual or homosexual), they read the manga (or watch the anime) for the content and the story.

hah so its just like me i was bored with many sweet soapy series that would only repeat themselves and some friend of mine give me some oneshot to read and it was something new something fresh it wasnt all pink and sweet so i started to read more and more ( well its much easier to find good yaoi more than yuri ) and it didnt bother me at all (even such explict one like love prism [its a shame that mangaka died and it was never finished] was easy for me to read) but still i dont like manga whether it was yaoi or not where main characters are too sweet and too unrealistic

 

[Harinezumi]

Ugh, I hate the word 'queer,' it just sounds so weird. xD

Anyway, I just stay away from yaoi manga and anime. Mostly because of the horrible plots and characters. In fact, it's like that even when it's not made for the sole purpose of porn - like Sensitive Pornograph. Yuri anime and manga on the other hand seem to have better story lines. Maria†Holic being one of those - it's funny, sweet, etc. I'm sure there's a whole male/female author dynamic to that, but bleh.

Oh, and fanfics are always awful. God. T_T

 

[boszz]

Ugh, I hate the word 'queer,' it just sounds so weird. xD

Anyway, I just stay away from yaoi manga and anime. Mostly because of the horrible plots and characters. In fact, it's like that even when it's not made for the sole purpose of porn - like Sensitive Pornograph. Yuri anime and manga on the other hand seem to have better story lines. Maria†Holic being one of those - it's funny, sweet, etc. I'm sure there's a whole male/female author dynamic to that, but bleh.

Oh, and fanfics are always awful. God. T_T

UHH..I can see that you didnt read too much yaoi manga ( or chosed wrong titles) go on the first page in suggestion tread you'll see how many Very good ( plot, characters development) manga you missed ( Totally captivated, complex, silence, nee sensei and many other) you will see that you'll not be able to compare these titles with something like Sensitive Pornograph ( which personally i didnt like at all )

 

[Harinezumi]

*goes there*
I'll edit this if my opinion changes. xD

Edit: >_>

You win this round.

 

[boszz]

*goes there*
I'll edit this if my opinion changes. xD

Edit: >_>

You win this round.

muahahah <3
this is the power of real yaoi <3
well i'm so into it that i just cant keep goind if i dont read something everyday

and if you like something hmm *hotter* i reccomend you this one, very good manga i really love all works of this mangaka and i'm sure you'll like it

and something more light and funny like this

 

[Harinezumi]

Gah! The second one is too short. D:

I demand more. ;-;

 

[Natoma]

You're only 15? Bah, we shouldn't be corrupting you like this.

 

[Harinezumi]

Psh, I wouldn't be talking for somebody who's 31 that is looking at yaoi of 15-year-olds.

(OH SNAP! O

 

[Natoma]

Psh, I wouldn't be talking for somebody who's 31 that is looking at yaoi of 15-year-olds.

(OH SNAP! O

Shows what you know. They're 16 in the manga!

 

[boszz]

Gah! The second one is too short. D:

I demand more. ;-;

then try these :
love seeker ( i love this one i'm sure you'll like this too)
Ze ( You'll not know what the true yaoi is if you miss this one )
theory of monopoly ( very light very sweet very good )
overdose ( if you're looking for somethinf more touching try this one -> it broke my heart so many times ahhh but still love it)
Oyasumi Darling ( another one that is good not too complicated and makes you feel better)
and of course dont forget about
Miwaku no Ringo cause you like the other manga of him you'll like this too

and thats enough spoiling for today ^^



Natoma dont worry i'm sure he knows much harder things than what its there ( at last i did when i was 15)

 

[Harinezumi]

Wikipedia has failed me again.

*goes to research*

 

[Natoma]

Natoma dont worry i'm sure he knows much harder things than what its there ( at last i did when i was 15)

Trying to keep my mind clean, but I think I've been corrupted by Kusachu.

 

[boszz]

Wikipedia has failed me again.

*goes to research*

you can most of them on mangatraders.com
create a free account and download all you want <3

 

[Kusachu]

Shows what you know. They're 16 in the manga!

In Japan 14 is the age when it becomes acceptable...

---

Trying to keep my mind clean, but I think I've been corrupted by Kusachu.

Hey! I am not a corrupter.

....


....


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Okay so maybe I am.