Linus Lam's Coverage of Yaoi-Con 2001


Realism in Yaoi: Combining the looks of Hugh Grant and the purity of characters from Fushigi Yugi is a challenging art form as FanFiction members from Aestheticism and around the community spoke about the differences between Slash (realism) and Yaoi (fantasy) as well as historical yaoi FanFictions. Concerned interests included Yaoi vs. Homoeroticism (story vs. action), tuning stories to fit female audience tastes, exaggerated imagery for women to understand men's roles, and abundant reference and resource links.	YuYu Hakusho Discussion: Yoshihiro Togashi's "Yu Yu Hakusho" manga published daily by Japan's Jump Magazine features awe-inspiring and emotional stories of youthful characters and excellent martial arts and has clearly become a bestseller with 6 million copies selling each week in addition to 15 independent features of 2 million copies each selling an additional 30 million copies. Fan communities of this series have grown steadily and often contribute heavily to the Yaoi scene.

Yaoi Role Playing Games Discussion: Like every RPG featuring mecha or dragonslayers, there will also be a need to fill in the Yaoi segment as players discussed the safety and abundant roles to fill up for interested members. Plots typically involved Gundam Wing, J-Rock, Wiess Kreuz, Fushigi Yugi, bishounen-themed vampire sagas, and other mythical rendezvous with bishounen romance.	Japanese Taboos and Traditions: In Japan, there is no native or cultural phrase for "coming out of the closet", so it is typically left alone. Lesbians also share the same fate, as they are historically not as open as the male-dominated yaoi segment. Probably the only real outlet for both men and women in yaoi is seen in Kabuki theater as prostitution and videos of women posing as men for men in "Shinjuku Boys".

Ears and Wings and Tails: Fetish for animalistic appendages is not uncommon as we naturally desire interesting attributes we cannot possess, most common are wings, ears, and tails. Including these erogenous zones of animals to fan fictions and cosplay adds an extra dimension of excitement as well as filling in a need for visual uniqueness and expression of emotions through imagery.	Men and Yaoi Discussion: Desires for bishounen angst and fluff well-known in Gundam Wing and Samurai Troopers were common interests as members discussed and stressed education about yaoi before really delving into it. Gay stereotypes were pushed down and clear acceptance of abstract opinions were healthy as more straight males and females showed interest as well as openness on the side of emotion and sensitivity.