Category: Asian Culture
-
The Global Appeal of BL Content
Boy’s Love (BL) manga and literature has seen a rise in popularity as of recently. Their first wave of popularity, in the 70’s, made the genre a breakthrough in Japanese markets. In the 90’s, its popularity spread to neighboring Asian countries and became a significant genre. Around the 2000’s, Japanese manga started being imported in…
-
Shogun (2024) Review
On February 27, 2024, a miniseries on Hulu had just premiered. It was called Shogun, based on the 1975 book by James Clavell with the same title. The word Shogun means the historic title for Japanese military rulers, appointed by the emperor; whose position was more of a figurehead than a real ruler. …
-
J-Pop and Japan’s Pitfalls (feat. Johnny & Associates)
The BBC made a documentary this spring discussing the famous J-Pop talent agency, Johnny & Associates. This agency has constantly produced top chart idols under its label since the 1970s. Just beneath what Japanese media reports, however, there is a more sinister side to this company. The agency monopolized the boy band market and media.…
-
The Buff Man Appeal and/or The Lack of It
There’s a cultural divergence in the depiction of male characters between East Asia and the West, often seen in the media produced by both. This is most pronounced when looking at the male beauty standards: buff men or not.
Fredpinion 