Comments | lilian_cho: On the Attraction of Boys' Love and Androgyny

lilian_cho

On the Attraction of Boys' Love and Androgyny

Apr 01, 2008 23:23

Originally posted @ IJ as part of Meta-Friday on March 20, 2008.

Disclaimer: This is my own observations on androgyny and the Japanese genre of Boys' Love ( Read more... )

lytdybr, theories, lj, fandom, fanfiction, chinese, japanese, to-do

Comments 26

eviltaru April 2 2008, 07:39:40 UTC

I love it.

true... but for me, i like them coz they are pretty. like my boyfriend <3.

lilian_cho April 2 2008, 07:41:30 UTC

It = the essay, or it = androgyny? ;-)

lol, prettiness is a good enough reason.

When are you coming here anyway? You've bought tickets for Mom and Dad, or?

spiderstars April 2 2008, 07:50:26 UTC

Okay, they do, but it's often blurred out in sparkly bubbles

I ... the fact that this is true, and I know this via experience, only make it funnier. I believe I've mentioned this to you before, but this is why I have a tendency to avoid shounen-ai in manga like the plague; I like my couples more realistic

Anyway, I'd like to see you expand more on the discussion above.

Also, the obsession with gender-bending isn't limited to Asian culture -- I saw a picture of an old statue (either Greek or Roman) depicting a hermaphrodite.

You seem to be putting androgyny in the same boat as the idea of a hermaphrodite and a transvestite. Do you mean to? Do you necessarily feel there is a connection? (I don't, but I don't necessarily think you're wrong if you do)

androgyny, trans, hermaphrodite lilian_cho April 2 2008, 20:23:19 UTC

Magical disappearing penises! >=D

X-D

In retrospect I shouldn't have tackled androgyny because I'm still rather clueless why I find it attractive, beyond the androgynous-children analogy...

Ahh, yes. Hermaphrodites. It was...a man and a nymph entwined into one? Can't remember the legend.

You seem to be putting androgyny in the same boat as the idea of a hermaphrodite and a transvestite. Do you mean to?

Mmm, no. I'm even more clueless about hermaphrodites than androgyny.
Transvestites...I only find them attractive when they've undergone hormone therapies ^^;; Like the pretty pretty boys in Thailand lol. With long slim white legs that look smooth all over. *coughs*
So they have to look enough like a girl. Or something. I'm confusing myself.

Do you necessarily feel there is a connection?Only in that androgynous people make more attractive/successful transvestites? lol ( ... )

I'm not saying this properly but... anyotherknight April 2 2008, 15:00:57 UTC

I'm so glad you wrote this! You've been talking about it for a while, so I was curious to hear your thoughts ( ... )

Re: I'm not saying this properly but... lilian_cho April 2 2008, 20:34:39 UTC

the freeing aspect of it, where one can find men who may look and even act vaguely female, but are still male enough to be excepted from the restrictions placed on those in female gender roles

haha yeah. I can think of two cute boys right off the bat who act cute & girly, and get away with it because they _are_ cute and girly X-D
(and short. Must not forget short.)
P used to have this whole spiel of "I'm cute and have a babyface and have loong eyelashes. Don't you find me adorable?" -- of course he never came right out and said it but that's totally what he's thinking!
D is so earnest and say the strangest things at the random-est times and always bemoan his lack of girlfriend. And, and, his hair is reminiscent of a Taru (FFXI) =O
*coughs* Su Li was partly inspired by D *coughs*

so the reader can have their "out there," forbidden romance in situations that couldn't happen with a straight couple, perhaps

Ah yes...same-sex boarding schools/dorm FTW \o/

the protagonist's androgyny keeps it more "grounded" amongst readers.As in, ( ... )

Re: aesthetics anyotherknight April 2 2008, 20:52:21 UTC

as in, readers can more readily identify with the protagonist, you mean?
Yes, that's exactly it.

XD I meant horrifying more in the sense of an angel's wrath, but yeah, there are certain things that can be creepy.

Re: aesthetics lilian_cho April 2 2008, 21:03:40 UTC

Hee, I thought that's what you meant too, but then I started remembering scary transvestite stories X-D

My favorite transvestite story (not scary, except to the guy it happened to):

My brother's friend went to a hair salon, and his hairdresser was this totally hot & pretty chick. So he flirted shamelessly and came on to her the whole time she was cutting his hair. When she was finished, he kissed her and said thank you (no doubt thinking "Boo-yah, I'm so smooth!")

And she answered, "My pleasure." In a bass voice.

X-D

Thread 13

_lile April 2 2008, 15:03:04 UTC

well, aesthetics play a pretty important role. it's sort of like I don't think those who are interested in androgyny would have an attraction to an example of a guy who looked like a girl who wasn't very good looking? the converse is a little more acceptable, probably because of different inherent standards in gender.

and um, it's hard to really pinpoint why a culture values a certain aesthetic over others.

aesthetics lilian_cho April 2 2008, 20:44:52 UTC

well, aesthetics play a pretty important role. it's sort of like I don't think those who are interested in androgyny would have an attraction to an example of a guy who looked like a girl who wasn't very good looking?

*nod nod* Aesthetics play an important role no matter your sexual orientation, I think =3 We're just fickle that way.
Hmm, yeah I can see myself tolerating a tomboyish not-so-good-looking girl better than a girly not-so-good-looking guy. But I think that's also partly because I have higher aesthetic standards when it comes to males. (I almost always prefer Korean actors over Korean actresses though. Looks-wise, that is.)

it's hard to really pinpoint why a culture values a certain aesthetic over others.Well for Chinese people there's the whole "lucky face" v. "unlucky face ( ... )

Re: aesthetics _lile April 3 2008, 15:22:20 UTC

some people tried to find what made women appealing to men, and the only overlapping trait that they found was flawless skin

a lot of people believe that face aesthetics is based on face symmetry and the placement of elements that work in a harmonious way.

how prevalent do you think is the unlucky/lucky face thing?

Re: aesthetics lilian_cho April 3 2008, 15:45:55 UTC

Hmmm. Most guys don't have flawless skin because they don't take care of it though X-D ( ... )

Thread 7

mordyn4 April 2 2008, 16:48:17 UTC

AH! resource!flist. :D

Thank you. I sort of knew half of this, but to hear it put so plainly clarifies a few things, especially the different types.

lilian_cho April 2 2008, 20:45:25 UTC

You're welcome, glad it was helpful instead of muddying =D