Date of Award
2020
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelors
Department
Humanities
First Advisor
Zhang, Jing
Area of Concentration
East Asian Studies and Chinese Language and Culture
Abstract
In the last thirty years, the Boys’ Love (BL) genre has grown into an international sensation. Featuring gay romances between men, BL evolved from Japanese women’s manga and gained a following of young girls, called “rotten women.” This thesis will explore the developments in the BL genre fueled by the fan community, starting with the conception of BL, then its spread to China, and ending with China’s appropriation of the genre. Since its formation, a large part of the identity of this female community has been its nonconformity, yet the growth of the community in China introduced political stances in line with Chinese nationalism. As the Chinese BL fan community grows, the internet has allowed international fans to join the community. By examining the case of Mo Dao Zu Shi 魔道祖师 (The Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation), I find that despite the inclusion of politics in online spaces and evidence of government political agendas within content, international fans have built communities around Chinese content.
Recommended Citation
Hamilton, Grace, "EXAMINING FEMALE COMMUNITY POWER IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CHINESE BOYS’ LOVE GENRE" (2020). Theses & ETDs. 6494.
https://digitalcommons.ncf.edu/theses_etds/6494