the-raddy.livejournal.com ([identity profile] the-raddy.livejournal.com) wrote in [personal profile] naanima 2008-04-08 01:37 am (UTC)

Your comments remind me of a really interesting conversation I read a few years ago, when [livejournal.com profile] ponderosa121 still had her LJ. She made a post about power dynamics in yaoi and invited discussion on the topic. Her main argument was that yaoi isn't really yaoi unless it has a certain Dominant/submissive quality to the work. She said that yaoi stories that lacked this quality were actually "slashified yaoi" stories, aka they had Westernized concepts of gay sex. I wish I could read the post again, it was really interesting (especially since one or two male yaoi fans joined in on the conversation).

I can understand why yaoi wouldn't be everyone's cup of tea...since D/s isn't everyone's cup of tea. Me personally? I have no problem with it, because I love reading stories that involve power dynamics and sex.

Also, there are certain manga authors that are well-known for not following traditional yaoi formulas. Naono Bohra sometimes panders to the old demographics, but the way she draws mens' bodies is far more realistic than some of the stylized "bishounen" types you usually see. I've also recently discovered Saiki Keita, a male artist who creates both yaoi and hentai manga. I've only read a couple of his yaoi stories, but they don't seem to follow the old formulas at all.

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