Linus Lam's Coverage of Yaoi-Con 2001

With a complete focus on yaoi themes and exclusive related interests, fans of this particular genre did not hold their breaths when it came to active audience participation. The discussions roamed free and numerous questions were answered in what was a clear and determined effort to be as informative and educational as possible about an area that raises many eyebrows.

Yaoi-Con 2001
Panels and Discussion 7


Slash and Yaoi - Similarities and Differences: Although yaoi and slash share a common goal, the similarities stop there. Yaoi embraces a safer, healthier way of loving relationships and is generally well-received since it focuses more on story, character development, and stylish imagery. Slash, because it pretty much gets down to the nitty-gritty, emphasizes standardized pairing codes, height rules, and extreme realism.	Why Yaoi? Reverse with Gilles Poitras: Turning the panel over to the audience, Gilles stoked the coals tackling a key question in yaoi fandom: are we really ready for it? Topics included trademark laws, respect for doujinshi in commercial anthologies, American tolerance of fan activities, pirating issues, the hope that Americans do more original yaoi fan fiction works, the future of female fandom, and more licensed titles such as Weiss Kreuz.
	Additional panels and discussions throughout the weekend included: Comiket Guest Session, Yami no Matsuei, Kizuna, Fake / Sanami Matoh, Doujinshi Critical Review, Saiyuki, J-Rock, Angel Sanctuary, Samurai Troopers, White Elephant Party, Yaoi and as Anime Genre with Gilles Poitras, Writing Good FanFiction, Fan Sessions with Doujinshi-ka, LARP, Weiss Kreuz, Shounen-ai: When we want romance instead of sex, Bakuretsu Hunter / Sorcerer Hunters, and Minami Ozaki - Zetsuai + Bronze.
Toning Demonstration: Toning is a lost art form that is taking an underground interest. Members attending the toning workshop got a rare chance to see artwork in motion as Letraset tones were applied across numerous examples of stylish inked works. Topics also included knowledge of tone levels, varieties of tones, assorted burnishes, overlapping tones for shadow effects, cutting vs. rub-on tones, and combing effects to light up backgrounds.