The global phenomena of boys love (BL): a study of BL's popularity and growing community

• Main Author: Chong, Kit Yen
• Other Authors: Michael Stanley-Baker
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: Nanyang Technological University 2024
• Subjects: Arts and Humanities
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/174317
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

This thesis aims to focus on the transformation of the niche Asia’s Boys Love (BL) genre, which originated from 20th century Japan, into a globally popular genre. The genre’s focus on the romantic relationship between two males has remained unchanged since its origins. However, over the years, it has received much criticism due to its conflict with social norms, the fantasising of homosexual relationships and its reinforcement of heterosexual stereotypes through the male characters’ dynamic with each other. Despite this, the genre was still able to successfully spread beyond Japan and into a greater global culture. A chronological study of the distinct turning points in the BL narrative, together with theories from gender studies, will provide me with the tools needed to explore the three components of the BL genre; the authors’ narrative; the readers' obsession with male-male romances; and the global expansion of the BL genre. By analysing these BL components, we will be able to gain a better insight regarding the genre. In short, this paper aims to uncover the different factors that allowed the genre to prosper despite the opposition towards it.