Cutiebunny wrote: |
Quote: | Women who like BL need an escape from the toils of being women. |
LOL
It couldn't possibly be because shoujo and josei manga have cookie-cutter plots. Or that "romance" in shoujo and josei manga involves lots of blushing, and maybe...a peck on the lips. It couldn't possibly be that these women want to see characters having sex. Nope, not at all. |
Well, this is from the lens of Japanese culture. While I'm sure there are plenty of people in Japan who consider shoujo and josei to have very similar plots (which this guy himself has pointed out), they continue to be made and continue to follow the same tropes, indicating a neverending demand for them. They're kind of like the Harlequin romance novels here: There isn't much variation to them, most of said variation being the man the protagonist falls for, and they even follow similar progression to your typical shoujo/josei. But they, too, continue to be written.
From what I've read, intimate physical contact among people in a romantic relationship is something of a taboo in Japan, or at least looked down upon, when done in public, unlike in the United States, where such a couple who keep away from each other like that is seen as not loving each other so deeply. On the other hand, Japanese people must see American media with people kissing passionately in the hallways at school and think they're mad.
SilverTalon01 wrote: | So what girls truly want are pretty boys who are good at stuff. Shocker. |
More specifically, pretty boys who are good at stuff who notice the socially unremarkable girl and takes charge in the relationship. That is, they are the Prince Charming in the high school setting.
In a way though, they are the analogue to the manga aimed at boys where talented and pretty girls practically fall into the protagonist's lap without him having to do anything.
I wonder if, together, this points to a larger social problem in Japan regarding a lack of iniative, or at least some soul-crushing real world life that causes them to turn to wish fulfillment in their romance.
SilverTalon01 wrote: | In general, I think you're right, but there are exceptions. Ran is definitely an amazing, attractive girl. Is she amazing at the same thing as the protagonist? No. However, it is constantly pointed out that she is pretty remarkable. I think Kagome falls in this group too. Her powers aren't on the same level for straight up fighting, but they're very strong. I don't think it has to be in the same way as the MC to count as remarkable/amazing. In Kagome's case she is very powerful but in a more stereotypical girly way rather than just being one of the guys.
I think shounen is a bit more varied when it comes to the specs of the love interest. |
In addition, you have series like Monster Musume, Nisekoi, Love Hina, Kantai Collection (well, it's a game but it still applies), and such where the male protagonist is passive and blank and the female love interest is the interesting one who does things. It's pretty clear in these series that the male viewer is supposed to view himself as said blank male character. (I know there are way more of these, and I've seen this sort of structure a million times, but most of them are so forgettable.)
In Tenchi Muyo!, the series that popularized the harem comedy, Tenchi himself doesn't actually do much until later on and has to be coerced to bring out his latent power. By the end, he IS incredibly powerful and leads the way, but he got that way because his harem shaped him into that.
katscradle wrote: | He’s not really saying anything new; it just drawn from some recent statistics which is interesting. |
Since he is a qualified expert on statistics and analysis, however, this piece can be credible academic research material, which is something that doesn't come by often as far as modern fiction goes. Not on the same level as something in a scientific journal, but still at least a source you can cite on Wikipedia that won't get swiftly removed, along with what you typed, because it isn't trustworthy enough.
Chiibi wrote: | In real life, most of us girls DON'T want a relationship of going through a story like that.....because it sounds like a freaking pain in the ass. I sure as hell can't be a guy's mother, therapist, AND girlfriend at the same time. Nope nope nope nope. |
Heh, makes me think of Christian Weston Chandler, author of Sonichu, who genuinely wants a wife like that (and add in housekeeper, money-maker, and sex toy on top of that). It is, of course, reflected in the comics too: Sonichu goes out to fight evildoers all day and be admired, as his wife Rosechu financially holds up the family, takes care of the children, does the household chores, all with a smile, and then waits patiently for her hubby to come back so they can have sex.
There are many, many things wrong with that guy.
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