many of us are still stunned heart stopper, more than three months after Netflix released it this spring. However, many people in the LGBTQ community are outraged by Netflix's announcement last week. Cancel supernatural drama first kill After just one season. Is it because it centers around an interracial lesbian love story? We'll never know, and sorry to kid you, but we'll never get a direct answer from Netflix. So while LGBTQ content continues to improve, there still seems to be an unspoken rule that protagonists must be light-skinned, wear white dress shirts and ties, and attend elite prep schools or universities. To that end, there Thai's girlfriend BL (often referred to as the “Y series”) literally waltzes in. And it's not just a thing, it's a phenomenon.
What do many of us complain about about Thai BL?
Thai BL, or boy's love, is an entertainment genre that has been the biggest hit in much of Asia since Korean dramas.And I'm sorry heart stopper Fun, but a boy-meets-boy story without the dystopian drama has been around for a while:The popularity of Thai BL is increasing year by year. almost 10 years, in fact.like heart stopper, roots of this genre Featured in print and web comics go back to the subtext 1970s Japanese Manga (in particular, Yaoi).
For many years, BL stories in Thailand were largely underground. Until the beginning of this century, such content was actually not produced domestically, but imported from Japan.then series 2 together Its popularity snowballed in the early months of the global pandemic. virtual tour This was quickly followed by photos of the various locations where the series was filmed.
Thai BL stories cannot be stereotyped as just homosexual or gay love stories. As in the case of heart stopAccording to Alice Osman, author of R, many of these boys' love stories are written by women, but in the case of these love stories, many of these female writers are actually aimed at women. I am writing. Think of them as same-sex romance stories. There are often too many ridiculously hilarious developments and too many awkward moments. However, in Thailand's BL Girlfriend series, women tend to take a backseat. Because the female characters in these series are often distracted and ignorant about their gay peers because they're obsessed with watching her BL stories on her iPad. As Queerty editor and writer Cameron Shetz summary:
“The guys are cute, the stories are sweet and breezy, the music is upbeat, they're generally optimistic, and nothing is too traumatic (seriously, there's a lot of homophobia in a lot of these shows. It's not hard to see why people gravitate towards BL shows when the general state of things feels *fast moving* and tough.”
Although not 100% authentic, Thai BL series are still welcome
To be honest, Thai BL not exactly It is an authentic representation of the LGBTQ experience in Thailand. This country's LGBTQ rights record is: mixed:While not overtly overtly repressive, public attitudes, similar to those enshrined in the law, evoke mere tolerance rather than full equality and acceptance, and same-sex marriage largely, but it's not legal yet. Additionally, there is still the issue that most BL characters are fair-skinned and enrolled in elite schools. Nevertheless, in response to the monkeypox epidemic, Thai BL series can provide escape and respite at a time when many LGBTQ people are feeling like their 1980s are back. . Because, let's face reality. Because many in the LGBTQ community appreciate seeing queer people portrayed. As the main character, not the punchline.
For LGBTQ fans of Thai BL, the way these series are delivered offers fun with a sensitive side.Among video distribution services, Japanese-owned Line TV is Popularity exploded On that platform, many fans choose to watch on their mobile phones. result, explained The Guardian's Rebecca Ratcliffe said these series did not compete with traditional soap operas on Thai television networks and attracted little attention from the more conservative sections of society in Thailand and other countries.
Moreover, Thai BL is not only challenging the entertainment industry. It may also inspire new types of travel.
Book your BL tour in Thailand.
About BL Tourism in Thailand: Not only virtual tours focused on places like those seen in , but are already happening. 2 together. Take the epic 2020 series as an example. I told the sunset about youtogether with its sequel drama, i promised you the moon. Count one small business that is already profitable. Certain tables in Phuket cafes are booked up well in advance. Because that's where the two main characters of both series often sat and experienced their romance blossoming. “The screams were so loud I wanted to call an ambulance,” the restaurant owner quipped in a recent interview. ratcliff the guardian.
Judging by the subsequent success of the two video streamers; Booth installation A recent Thailand-themed festival in Osaka, Japan, continues to generate enthusiasm and could help revive Thailand's tourism sector, which is still lagging due to the lingering effects of the pandemic. Representatives from the country's tourism ministry also reportedly attended the festival. distribute pamphlets About Thai BL.similar exhibition was held Since the Japanese tend to be the most avid fans of Thai BL, it has been held in Tokyo and other cities across Japan in recent months. However, as the popularity of this genre grows, so will the opportunities to welcome tourists from other countries.
Thailand has long been visited for its beaches in the south and cultural richness in the north, as well as its dangerous side. Patpong, the infamous Bangkok area. But Thai BL fans visiting this country can bring a new dynamic, just like in Iceland and Croatia (game of thrones) and Italian crema (call me by your namebefore Armie Hammer creeps out, and even That's horrible His fan base) received an influx of new tourists.
These fans will also create a niche tourism industry that is much more responsible and sustainable. We're not talking about the kind of tourists that crowd out historically ecologically fragile destinations. Nor are we talking about backpackers polishing off cans of Singha beer on Khao San Road. After all, these travel fans love to visit the neighborhoods, cafes, restaurants and buildings where Thailand's most epic BL series were filmed on location. Therein lies a boost for many small businesses, including one in Phuket with its popular corner table. Travelers always need to eat, stay hydrated, and of course shop from time to time. Includes nearly 20 new Thai BL series produced only this yearthe results could benefit Thailand's struggling tourism industry while allowing more localized forms of travel to flourish.
Popularity of LGBTQ-themed shows heart stopper, young royals And yes, Thai BL series show that there is a hunger for engaging and entertaining content. And in the next country, where there are plenty of creative types who can use and produce such content, you might see a wave of visitors wanting to see where their community is even more accepted. Photographed.
Image credits: honey fang via Unsplash