DECONSTRUCTING YAOI
- What is yaoi?
Sexually explicit gay sex stories involving male anime characters written mostly by women for women. It's known as "slash" or "fanfiction" if it involves non-anime characters, and "doujinshi" if you're referring to anime fan-art. Fascinating, isn't it?
- How do you pronounce "yaoi"?
I pronounce it "yowie" (rhymes with "zowie"), but since it's a Japanese abbreviation, I believe you can pronounce it any way you want.
- Why do women write yaoi?
Pure speculation on my part, but women who are interested in porn have few outlets and a long-standing history of writing porn (or "romance novels") for other women. That, and we gals are easily titilated by hot gay anime porn.
- Why aren't men into yaoi?
Leaving the whole male-female "visual vs. mental stimulation" debate aside, I believe the thought of two animated guys having sex with each other doesn't do much for straight guys. Gorgeous lesbians, I hear, are another matter entirely.
- Where can I find more factual information about yaoi/slash?
Tracy Mayor has written an extensively researched, interesting article about Harry Potter slash for the Boston Globe Online called Taking Liberties with Harry Potter. Fascinating read, and I believe it's the first mainstream article about slash online. The Writers University looks mighty promising ("I'd like to major in lemon yaoi hentai, with a minor in non/con bondage, if you please"), Bitch Magazine has an article about Star Trek slash called Fan/tastic Voyage,
and Stuart of Gondor has written an article about Lord of the Rings slash at The Elements of Slash. If I find any more links, I'll post them here.
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Gundam Wing Yaoi:
- Why don't you like deathfics?
Anyone who writes a story about Gundam Wing characters getting killed, disfigured or dismembered is a very bad person.
- Why don't you like songfics / alternate universes?
Writers of songfics use two pieces of work they didn't create to pass off as their own. An alternate universe makes the whole purpose of writing a Gundam Wing story moot; if you're not going to use their universe, at least have the respect for the creators not to use their characters...
- Why don't you like "Let's Rape Duo" stories?
I have no problem with rape in yaoi - there's a distinct difference between fantasy and reality, and if you can't detect it, you shouldn't be reading yaoi. I object to taking Duo, the sole cheerful character, and raping & beating him until he's depressed & neurotic. If you need a mopey or unlovable character, rape Trowa or Wufei instead.
- Why don't you like Japanese words used in yaoi?
I admire the hard work it takes to master any language, so writers who drop coy little Japanese phrases they've gleaned from other yaoi stories really annoy me.
- What is the strangest aspect of yaoi you've encountered?
Homophobic stories and all "male pregnancy" ones. Blech.
- What is your favorite Gundam Wing yaoi story?
It started off being Miko no da's delightful "Mix & Match", but I later switched to Laekin's elegantly crafted "Check, Check, Mate". As far as authors go, hyuy wins - hands down. Her stories open cleanly ("The Ramen Is Too Hot"), have a bunch of hot sex in the middle ("Maxwell's College of Love"), and end with a bang ("The Elevator Incident"). I'd probably read her grocery list if she published it and threw in sex.
- What is your least favorite Gundam Wing yaoi story?
"Ghost" by Jessi Maxwell. Not necessarily for the story, in which a Duo-clone ghost rapes Quatre, but for her godawful poem and pretentious disclaimer ("Ghost Moonchylde is MINE. An original character"). This should be blindingly obvious, but you can't copyright a character or idea when you're busy ripping off someone else's idea in the first place. My small, evil side almost created an entire website about Ghost Moonchylde and his wacky sexual misadventures with the Gundam Wing pilots...
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