Chinese mf censorship, fight me
Recent Chinese offerings have been very delicate and subversive in their approach to the gay-not-so subtext (Word of Honor or The Untamed) while attempting to avoid censorship.
I acknowledge this and I do very much enjoy these shows and appreciate what must be a herculean effort on the part of production.
HOWEVER
Since the history of global cinema is plagued by desexualization of queer identity through a refusal to depict gay characters (in particular) engaging in acts of physical intimacy, it is unlikely that I will ever forgive Chinese censorship in this matter, even when they give us something as glorious as WoH.
Showing gay characters but refusing to depict gay love in its physical form is an act of homophobia, suppression, and disenfranchisement.
Period.
Other Asian countries are homophobic, yet still allow their BL characters sexual agency. For sure, this is intended to titillate a het audience, but at least it is there. In its most mercenary form, boys kissing, holding hands, making out, and so forth is acting to desensitize a culturally ingrained, taboo, visceral, disgust reaction in watchers.
Thus the more gay physical affection is shown positively on screen, the more those watching become comfortable with the idea of (oh I don’t know) two men walking down the street holding hands.
That is BL’s cultural endgame.
China’s relationship with BL is particularly egregious because they once did high heat BL. Yeah it mostly killed the gays, but it was there, and they were on a path (like Japan, Korea, and Taiwan) towards greater acceptance of BL depicting loving happy gay relationships.
Until censorship.
It is my personal choice not to critically plaudit homophobic BLs, even beautiful and subversive ones. Why should I extend China the grace that they do not extend me and my people? Pretty, graceful, charming hate.. is still hate.
Until they allow gay characters the sexual self actualization and physical affirmation of basic human decency, I will blog about the Chinese BL that I love, I will post funny memes, I will enjoy it, but I will never stop being critical that our boys can’t just kiss.
Because as flippant as that may sound,
THE KISSING MEANS SOMETHING REALLY IMPORTANT.
And the fact that they can’t is an act of disgusting suppression.
This is an addendum rant to my series on top 10 BLs from each country coupled with a history of BL. (Namely, some of the reactions to this one, on China.)
Japanese BL
Chinese BL
Taiwanese BL
Korean BL
Thai BL
I’ve gone off on censorship quite a bit since this post.
Here’s more on the subject:
Mainland China Censorship Be Like… (trying to make it funny)
Why Are Subs/Captions Censored? Or different? Or inaccurate?
Bromances Meta - Korea China Japan
How we feel about supporting iQIYI (parent company = HUGE Baidu)
Also I recommend this marketplace podcast ep: What’s cooking with the restaurant industry? At the end of the episode, the final segment is about Chinese censorship (specifically of the Big Bang Theory) and what content they tend to cut (LBGTQ+) also discusses entertainment as a soft power and cultural export.
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