Oct

11

2008

Just like many teenage girls, I like to put posters of some of my idols on my wall. My dresser in particular has a few pictures of Gackt in some SMEXy poses. However, I constantly get asked the question “Jess, why do you have pictures of this girl by your mirror?” by any one who visits my room. Whether they know my love for Asian Media or not, I calmly correct them and say ” No… that’s a man” and a bit of my dignity dies inside. Most of my family and friends will argue that Gackt is indeed a women or just really gay, others just give me a funny look. This routine is nothing new to me now but, before when I first started to show an interest in music artist and drama stars besides the ones directly related to anime, it was indeed a bit confusing for me as well.


But why is it that fans keep screaming for more? That some find this rather entertaining or exotic? Upon first glace from a Western point of view, one might be confused about the gender of some of these pretty men. When I first got into the boy band KAT-TUN, I was very confused. They all looked very… um… girlie. During a short stay in Japan I even had a talk about them with a local Japanese girl. She said herself  that KAT-TUN looked too girlie and that there were in fact rumors going around about all the JE boys shooting female hormones. Looking at them I wouldn’t be surprised if the rumor was true but that’s another topic up for debate.

Gackt and KAT-TUN however are just a few examples of a pretty man who we might deem as “questionable.”  What some fangirls call “fan service” others will call it flat out yaoi but, why is that? Just because some stars like to express their feminine side doesn’t automatically mean gay… Or does it? This brings up the topic: are pretty men questionable? And when I say questionable it could mean a whole lot of things (I’ll let your minds wander with that one).

Lets take Kim HeeChul of Super Junior for example. Now yes, I would agree he is rather pretty man most of the time. Heck from this pic I myself would call him flat out gay but because I value my life along with my kidneys (I won’t say anything negative in hopes of not being eaten to death by rabid ELFs). But others will think he’s hot. But why? Don’t some of his actions seem “questionable?” What makes his fan service so appealing and SMEXy where as some of us might gag? And how does he get his hair so shiny?!

Most of us fangirls are indeed used to this by now. The pretty clothes, the fashionable pinks and, oh, the ridiculous amounts of glitter. But there are two things that bother me about these pretty men. HOW DO THEY STAY PRETTY!? And why do they look more gorgeous then women sometimes? However, that’s not on my thoughts as much, but really the people. So fangirls and non fans, please do comment on pretty men. Tell me what you think and why? Is it a culture thing or maybe something deeper? Do you think they are questionable and if so what questions are you asking?


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14 Comments »

Comments merged with the forum topic: Pretty Men - Questionable?

Men like women come in many shapes and sizes. I don’t see Pretty Type guys as gay or less masculine because masculinity isn’t in looks but how they act. Now of course there are some rumors about the Johnny Jimusho recruits that they are given excess estrogen to stunt their growth and that they are told to accept a homoerotic lifestyle to appease the managment (casting couch). if they are forced into that it angers me.. because its not natural but forced hormone therapy and molestation of minors.

But I enjoy pretty men.. I dont see how thats bad.... MEN enjoy pretty women all the time. They make these standards of beauty… Well thats good for the GOOSE is good for the gander.

0I dont see men saying ellen degeneres is hot or Lee Young Ja is the epidemy of all women… heck there is that one comedian from utchatsa thats always made fun of and then there is that other one from the show RIVAL Taebin & Se7en were on.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEDVbgSn-hM


I totally understand with the many different types of bodies out there. What I don’t understand is how I can have a poster of B2K next to a poster of F4 and F4 automatically gets labeled as homos. I have had this situation happen many times. Yes I personally think Gackt is hot but I wanna know where people get this notion of “oh he looks like a girl he must be a fag” thing.
And yes I enjoy pretty men too (and I envy them for their skin care products.) I’m not saying they are bad I just wanna know why people question them and what questions are being asked.
Oh yeah old man Johnny is a sicko…


I like pretty guys but this is a little too much.


They’re cute but eek they’re girly!


They’re dressed like girls?


A guy being overly feminine is a sign that he’s gay or at least to me. Not to stereotype or anything but that’s usually a big sign.


Men in Asian are usually more feminine and girls go crazy over it.


There were rumors that Gackt was in love with Hyde. However the very beginning of visual kei had the fem costumes and cross dressing that it promoted with music. Malize Mizer Gackts original band did have some of that. I am sure also that there are various homoerotic tones to crossdressing in any form.

People may believe this taboo and therefore put a negative connotation as gay.


I definitely got the same reactions when people would see my Takanori pictures on my wall. But it’s okay. I’m proud of what I like! xDDD
I really do love pretty men. I’m actually envious of them! So many of them are prettier than me!  D :


Jae Jooong~!


Everyone sees people different, while this is acceptable in Asia, it’s not in the US.


Yeah but I saw a Arashi concert once where they wore these really frilly suits with big flower type embelishments. They looked really cute. They danced and sung and pulled off the look fine.. yet if the BSB or another american boyband tried to dress that way… IT would so Not work.


That’s basically true soybean. It depends on the cultural norm in the country whether such images are acceptable or not. I don’t mind seeing guys that look like the ones in the pictures on this blog when it comes to heavy metal music and even rock. I find their looks fascinating. But on the other side, personally for me, I would like him to look masculine. It goes both ways. Lot’s of men would rather their girl to look “girlie” then be competing with him in masculinity.


I commented but it didn’t show :( What I’d basically said was my opinion is that the media also has a lot to do with what we believe the “norm” is. I mean how often is it that you see a feminine man on television in America who isn’t gay? If he’s feminine he’s gay! A punk! A fag! All of these labels. He can’t just be a man with a specific look. This is what happens here and this is emphasized on television. That’s what’s commonly seen, so that’s where the “he must be gay!” thing comes from. That’s what I think anyway.



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