A presentation of my research on the use of boys‘ love (BL) manga. Based on an interactionist perspective that builds on theories of media gratification, entertainment and emotions, my research focuses on the „how“ of the usage and understands media preferences (including BL) as arising from historical, biographical and situational contexts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Abstract<\/strong> Keywords<\/strong> Weiterf\u00fchrende Literatur<\/strong> Kamm, Bj\u00f6rn-Ole (2010). Nutzen und Gratifikation bei Boys\u2019 Love Manga – Fujoshi oder verdorbene M\u00e4dchen in Japan und Deutschland<\/em>. Hamburg: Kovac.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nakajima, Azusa (1995). Komyunik\u0113shon-fuzen-sh\u014dk\u014dgun<\/em>. (Kommunikations-Insuffizienz-Syndrom). T\u014dky\u014d: Chikuma. [Original 1991].<\/p>\n\n\n\n Renckstorf, Karsten & Fred Wester (2004). \u201cThe ‚media use as social action‘ approach: Theory, methodology, and research evidence so far\u201c. In: Karsten Renckstorf, et al. Action Theory and Communication Research. Recent Developments in Europe<\/em>. Berlin, New York: Mouton de Gruyter: 51-83.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Yoshinaga, Fumi (2007). Ano hito to koko dake no oshaberi<\/em>. (Just chatting with some people here).T\u014dky\u014d: \u014cta.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nAnalogous to sociological research on \u2018deviant\u2019 behavior and media preferences in general, layman questions like \u201cWhy do they do it?\u201d and their essentializing or pathologizing answers still make up a prominent part of the discourse on Boys\u2019 Love (BL) and fujoshi<\/em>. The \u2018common sense\u2019 logic behind these questions tends to ignore individual modes of consumption, experiences and ascriptions of meaning.
\nFollowing the gradually more differentiated view on the tay<\/em>\u014d<\/em>sei <\/em>(diversity) of BL content and answering the critique on the discourse\u2019s narrowness, I propose a theoretical framework for the research on BL use and appropriation that simultaneously offers openness and integration.
\nBased on an interactionist perspective that builds on theories of media gratification, entertainment and emotions, as well as escapism (as a mode of reception) and happiness, my research is less concerned with the \u201cwhy\u201d. Focusing on the \u201chow\u201d instead, I understand media preferences (including BL) as arising from historical, biographical and situational contexts.
\nQualitative interviews I conducted in Japan and Germany as part of my M.A. thesis showed that BL or BL use cannot be understood if one limits the analysis to content. The gratifications users gained and sought\/expected are quite diverse, ranging from the physiological (arousal) and the social (exchange, belonging), the cognitive (parasocial interaction) and the aesthetic (immersion) to self-actualization, to name a few. Based on my sample, compromised of mostly students, I constructed four categories of fujoshi<\/em>\/fudanshi<\/em>that are not comprehensive, but highlight the BL users\u2019 diversity: the connoisseuse, the con-girl, the net-girl, and the sporadic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nboys‘ love, fujoshi, manga, qualitative research, symbolic interactionsim, uses & gratifications<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nEUREKA (2007). Fujoshi Manga Taikei<\/em>. (Fujoshi Manga Overview). Special Issue 39\/7. T\u014dky\u014d: Seidosha.
\n\u2014 (2007). S\u014dtokush\u016b – BL (boys\u2018 love) Studies<\/em>. (Complete-Feature: BL (boys\u2018 love) Studies). Special Issue 39\/16. T\u014dky\u014d: Seidosha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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