Analyzing the Depictions of Queer Struggles in Selected Asian BL Series

• Main Author: Uy, Chandrea Elise C.
• Format: text
• Published: Animo Repository 2021
• Subjects: Boys love, queer struggles, media portrayal, Filipino BLs, Taiwanese BLs, Thai BLs
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/conf_shsrescon/2021/paper_mps/9; https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/context/conf_shsrescon/article/1702/viewcontent/Uy.pdf
• Institution: De La Salle University

Media texts depicting same-sex relationships among men long existed in ancient China in 206 BCE-220 BCE. The term BL or Boys Love was first coined in the 90s in Japan through mangas or Japanese comics and movies; it has since been steadily gaining fans from across the globe. During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, which forced people around the globe to stay at home, the BL genre saw increased viewership from 5% to 34% on various streaming platforms. Most of these shows depict various struggles experienced by queer characters. SOTUS (2016), Gameboys (2020), and Dark Blue and Moonlight (2017) are three well-known BL series from Thailand, the Philippines, and Taiwan. This study aims to identify the struggles depicted in these series, compare and contrast the struggles, and characterize the queer characters struggling. The television programs were analyzed using the queer theory, coding framework, and textual analysis. The findings show that most of the struggles depicted centered around acceptance of the self, acceptance by others, and managing one’s feelings. The characters from these BL series also share the same characteristics, such as how they respond to problems and their struggles.