OK, shonen ai

By popular demand (Amy was interested, and that's enough encouragement for me), here's an explanation of shonen ai.

Shonen ai is a subgenre of, or an element in, anime (Japanese animation) and manga A(Japanese graphic novels). The phrase literally means "boy love" and refers to a romantic relationship (not always sexual) between two males, usually in their late teens or early 20s. Keep in mind that in Japan, anime and manga are not "kids' stuff as comics and cartoons have been in the US--they've always been for adults and as such range from PG to XXX. Dave Barry commented that one can see businessmen on the Tokyo subway reading graphic novels featuring nudity and sexual situations

There's a similar term "yaoi" which is an acronym I won't go into because I forget what exactly it means. If you want details from the experts,
here's definitions from one of the primary websites on shonen ai/yaoi. I'd rate the page PG-13, except for the ones on "uke" and "seme," which I'd rate R. (Mom, you should probaby stop reading this post at this point...)

Here in the US "shonen ai" usually refers to the "milder" stories, usually angst-ridden stories of very beautiful young men falling for each other or at least having a quasi-sexual element to their relationship (Loveless is a great example of this, in both senses of the word!). Sometimes the characters actually consummate their relationship but the art/description are comparable to books on similar themes for older teens such as Rainbow Boys. Yaoi has come to mean more explicit stuff--yaoi manga usually has "18 and over" on the cover and is sold shrinkwrapped in Borders. Think of it as the difference between Cosmo and Playgirl.

How do I know about shonen ai? Hmmm ;-} Yes, I've read some. What's the attraction? In the book The Erotic Anime Movie Guide, longtime anime expert Helen McCarthy speculates that since Japanese women, traditionally constrained to submissive, constrained lives that seeing men held helpless in love (there's that angst thing again--the relationships are often hidden, forbidden and/or problematic in other ways such as the ambivalence of one partner--Yuki is *so mean* to Shuiichi in Gravitation!) My theory (and the reasons I take an interest in the stuff) is that it's a combination of the "attraction of the alien" (two men), the fascination many people have with "forbidden" sexuality, and the intensity of the relationships (we're talking major angst and passion here!) If I'm right, my reasons would also explain the fascination many teenage girls have with the subgenre--many teens value and crave intensity, and the type of "outsider" teens who tend to like manga and anime are fascinated with anything alien and different. Besides, it's countercultural. Their moms would freak! (the ones who aren't already addicted to shonen ai/yaoi themselves, that is!)

I need to explain all this when I do a "Manga 101" workshop for adults at work, so I'd be happy to read/hear any of your comments and further questions to gauge what I should say (and not say) in May!


Beth