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NEWS: Article on Yaoi Explosion

Now I always nit pick about non-pornographic 'yaoi' not being called shonen-ai. I do wish they would call the stuff like Gravitation and non-explicit stuff shonen-ai and leave the title yaoi for the explicit stuff.

However the resident yaoi expert on that site adamantly corrected me and pointed out that BL should ONLY be used when referring to the more explicit stuff and more specifically when one of boys in the relationship is underage or very underage

There are way too many labels for this yaoi sh*t. Let's just call it GAY SEX and make everyone happy.

Heh, this discussion reminds me of something a friend of mine once said:

Quote:

There are way too many labels for this yaoi sh*t. Let's just call it GAY SEX and make everyone happy.

Not my cup of tea, but I find it.. I dunno.. good? that more explicit and pornographic yaoi is finding it's way to publishers in America.

Now I always nit pick about non-pornographic 'yaoi' not being called shonen-ai. I do wish they would call the stuff like Gravitation and non-explicit stuff shonen-ai and leave the title yaoi for the explicit stuff. Though I must comment the publishers that seem to have done a decent job and properly separating the more explicit 18+ stuff. I hate censorship, but I also want publishers to keep pornographic material away from underaged readers and give parents warning.

I keep saying that manga, and in particular yaoi titles, have the potential for becoming the next Grand Theft Auto in US politics. If Jack Thompson or a number of conservatives got wind their daughters were into this stuff, can you imagine the uproar? Gay marrage is a national hot button issue. Senators are up in arms over sex in Grand Theft Auto and video game ratings. I don't know if it will happen, but I keep saying yaoi has the potential to be a political bonfire. The kindling and fuel is already there. (Then again, it seems Jack has gotten himself in trouble as a lawyer, so hopefully his loudspeaker days are numbered.)

Now, I admit I wonder about my own interests. I can only hope some of the.. questionable stuff I like can find a market. In particular, I'd like to see more Tamaoki Benkyo works in America despite his questionable content. His Tokyo Akazukin (Red Hood) has some really disturbing stuff, due to appahrent age of sexualized characters and gore. Though he's already gotten his Blood the Last Vampire 2002 (out from Viz) and Sex Philes (out from Eros Comix in comic format). Also, I'd like to see some of Oh Great!'s more hentai work. I bought the Japanese copy of his Naked Star at a con. Then agian, we can't even get an uncensored version of Tenjo Tenge in America. (&*#$in' CMX.)

However the resident yaoi expert on that site adamantly corrected me and pointed out that BL should ONLY be used when referring to the more explicit stuff and more specifically when one of boys in the relationship is underage or very underage

Wiki

Gravitation alone has grossed $9 million in profits and is the best-selling comic book/manga series in the United States in twenty years. [citation needed]

Gravitation really outsells Naruto and Fruits Basket? Without a citation, I’m inclined to think that that’s just a fangirl’s fabrication. Does anyone have a link to confirm this?

Well taking it with a grain of salt doesn't mean there's not valuable insightful information to gain. I wouldn't dispute the statement that the word shounen-ai has become obsolete in everyday Japanese usage because it gives greater implications of pedophilic tendencies and therefore has a negative effect on using the word as a marketing label.


The pseudo-English constuction "Boizu Rabu" has replaced it but the situation in North America is entirely different. It's kind of similar to how "anime" in Japan does not mean the same thing as "anime" in the West. We say "Boy's Love" and "anime" as English words which they are (because we speak words that are familiar to us). Both of these words refer to Japanese terminology derived from English but have slightly different meanings.

I think shounen-ai should continued to be used because it has less of a negative connotation to English speakers since most English speakers don't know what shounen or ai means (even those that are anime fans). But anyone can derive any number of derogatory meanings from "boy's love", and "yaoi" is such a well-known catch word that is becoming more a label for a certain sub-population of the fandom than the content itself.