q panic

Pride Month Celebration: aspec characters in asian queer shows

the message of the show is too important for it to be dismissed over a "lack of skinship" or the main characters "not acting like a couple enough".

that and the way the show's haters are literally proving the point the show is making (that same sex relationships don't have the same protections as het relationships do, and even when they are allowed some rights (i.e. common law marriage) they are still subject to prejudice that demands proof of it's existence, that can so easily be denied due to flimsy technicalities) and STILL not getting it, blows my mind.

Think about it:

1. Having a different love language than the majority.

2. Hello, ever heard about ace-spectrum?!

3. TV rules for broadcasting BL dramas, or just shows that aren't focused on intimacy in the first place.

The double standard is so obvious. When a BL couple doesn't have intimacy/skin-ship, fans are quick to deny they're even a "couple." But when the exact same thing happens with a het couple, they just call them "quirky" or "weird" for not being physically affectionate.

Cdrama: The Sleuth of Ming Dynasty (2020)

The sleuth of Ming Dynasty edit - everything I wanted edit #cdrama #boylove #edit

"WTF Sui Zhou? kids right here and hear everything in details!! can u please be more abstract for KIDS?"

but in the next I was

I would like to share a personal analysis about my favorite manga, anime and novel of all times. No.6 anime is the first adaptation of a Japanese novel series written by Atsuko Asano, which finally got a manga serialization after the original novel series with the same title finished. I think it’s important to mention this detail because isn’t the “regular” adaptation order and the original work was done by a novelist, not by a Japanese comic artist (a.k.a mangaka). And since the original work is a novel, the genre and topics are not that easily “labeled” as, for example, a classical shoujo or BL manga. 

The story is set in a post-war dystopian world, in which one of the six parts of the earth still habitable for humans (in the city-state named “Number Six”, exactly as the title of the novel), lives Shion, a 12-year-old boy and the protagonist of the story.

Honestly It’s too dificult to me to write a lot about this amazing story without make any spoiler, but, anyways, i’m trying. lol

Shion is part of a social elite that he himself seems unaware of at first, due to a number of privileges that he and his mother enjoy thanks to an intelligence test (IQ test) that is given to all children at 2 years of age and in which he obtained one of the highest scores, so he was assured housing, security and the best possible education because the government “invested” in children “with a great future” like him. 

Although he had everything a citizen could wish for in that context and that city, somehow felt uncomfortable with that reality, and one day, on his twelfth birthday, he meets “by accident” a boy of his same age at home with an unknown identity and nicknamed “Nezumi” (rat, in Japanese).

Nezumi is the antithesis of Shion, he has a sarcastic personality and is constantly on the defensive of the people, also he has many enigmas around him; and breaking into Shion’s room, these two characters begin to develop a bond with that fleeting encounter, in which they leave an kinda emotional mark on each other without realizing it at first.

After many events (sorry, I don’t want to make many spoilers), they meet again four years later, when both of them are 16 years old boys, and then, Shion, who begins to realize that too much “perfection” in the utopian city in which he lived all his life could not be possible, due to a series of events is forced to follow in Nezumi’s footsteps to save his life, and ends up knowing “the real world” that the utopian city in which he grew up has been hiding from all citizens: basically a city with crime, dirt, danger, inequality, poverty, hunger, social injustice, etc. And all that was just the tip of the iceberg that Shion had left to continue discovering.

As Shion tries to decipher the mysteries of No. 6, he begins to spend his days living with Nezumi, and discovers many “new” things for him: art, theater, libraries, musical instruments, books in physical format, everything that the “mega-advanced” city had been censoring from the population. And as time passed and he learned more about this real world, Shion and Nezumi gradually influenced each other without realizing it. It’s like an emotional bond that transcends friendship began to be forged in each one’s existence, and the treatment of this dynamic is very interesting and emotional while their lives are in constant danger in the midst of a “depressing” and rather hopeless panorama such as the apocalyptic landscape of a city used as the garbage dump of another city that appears to be perfect.

This story had a strong personal impact on me, as it touches on some pretty “intense” topics, such as politics, religion, social criticism, and even sexual minorities and neurodivergences in the background.

Perhaps the author wasn’t fully aware, but Shion is clearly an autistic headcanon for the series’ fandom. As an autistic person, I identify my behaviors with those of this character: the motor clumsiness, the poor use of oral language and literality, the certain degree of “naivety” that he shows at the beginning and the lack of prejudice, in addition as the hatred of injustice and hyperempathy, among others.

Shion was a character considered “smart but stupid” at the same time, and although he was clumsy and had no sense of survival, the people around him somehow developed affection for him, because it was rare for them to see a “person without bad intentions.”

This story, especially the original novel, seems very complete to me and it gives important lessons about life and about the modern “developed” societies in which we live, that’s why from 2011 to the present, No.6 is my favorite story, and I highly recommend it to everyone.

Matthew Cuthbert (Anne With an E)

Asexual + aromantic

Lived his whole life unmarried like his sister but, unlike Marilla, never had any relationships in the past. Doesn't reciprocate Jeannie's feelings and tells her his love for his adopted daughter (Anne) is the only love he has room for. Was TERRIFIED when Anne tried to set him up with Jeannie.

*(this is specific to AWAE but I think it can apply to book Matthew as well)

Selah Summers (Selah and the Spades)

Asexual + aromantic

Tbh this one might be canon (or at least heavily implied). Never has been in a relationship. Admits to Paloma that she's just never been interested in anyone in a romantic or sexual way.

Monkey D. Luffy (One Piece)

Asexual + aromantic

Just doesn't seem remotely interested in romance or sex. Gets grossed out/ annoyed when people kiss in front of him.

*(this is specific to the anime, idk about the manga or live action adaptation)

**(I am not caught up on the anime, this may turn out to be incorrect)

Willie Jack Sampson (Reservation Dogs)

Asexual + aromantic

Never had a love interest or showed attraction in the show (to the best of my knowledge. If she did, I missed it). Also, THIS OUTFIT SPECIFICALLY. Her hoodie is aroace colors and her socks look like a mix of the asexual flag and the aromantic flag.

Lucy Wells (Harlots)

Grey asexual/ greysexual (+possibly aromantic? Maybe demiromantic? I haven't decided yet)

Born into prostitution but HATES sex. Avoids it as much as she can and by the last season finds a way to do her job without having to have sex. The reason I said grey ace is because she DOES seem sexually attracted to Fallon after some time of being with him (I think? I was a little confused about how she felt tbh).

Birdy (Birdy)

Asexual + demiromantic

Everyone in his life thinks it's weird that he's so interested in birds and not girls. Admits to Al he doesn't see the appeal of sex at all. Very reluctant to go to prom with Doris and had no idea what to do when she parked the car and offered him sex. I can see him developing romantic feelings after close friendship (like with Al) which is why I think he's demiromantic.

Bilbo AND Frodo Baggins (The Hobbit/ The Lord of the Rings)

Both asexual (+ maybe demiromantic, though I can also see Bilbo as aro)

Both remained bachelors all their lives. Bilbo lived alone and later with Frodo who was like an adopted son. Frodo lives for a long time with Sam and Sam's wife Rosie. I personally think that Sam and Frodo are in a romantic relationship, while Sam and Rosie are in a sexual relationship. Frodo seems content with this arrangement which is why I believe he's ace.

Ted Buckland (Scrubs)

Asexual

Simply because of the part where Carla says "I don't want any MAN filming me giving birth unless he's completely asexual" and then Ted walks in with a camera and Carla smiles and says "oh hi Ted!". (I think this was a poorly-aged joke about him being "ugly" more than anything but I'm still claiming it). Also when he sings the duet with Gooch and Gooch says "I want to screw you" while Ted says "I want to kiss you.

Fabian Rutter (House of Anubis)

Asexual

He's nerdy and into space (I know this is a stereotype but representation is scarce I take anything I can get... you get it right). Also his relationship with Nina is very innocent and I can't see him developing sexual attraction even when he becomes an adult.

Dirk Gently and Bart Curlish (Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency)

Dirk- Asexual

Bart- Aromantic

Neither of them have love interests in the show (although Bart/Ken may have been implied) so this is just how I felt about the characters personally. I think Dirk definitely had a crush on Todd and is gay but I don't think he gets sexual attraction. Bart is the opposite. I can see her developing sexual attractions and feelings but being repulsed by kissing/ dating etc.

*(this is specific to DGHDA, idk about any other versions of these characters)

So, I've been talking to someone(if you are reading this, I need you to know you are cool) a lot about this manga and since they are also aro/aroace-spec, they led me to thoughts I don't know if I would have on my own.

You know, aroace representation we have at this day and age uses pretty much the same formula? Actually, three formulas.

"Encyclopedia" - made for allos, who know nothing of the subject. It is supposed to "educate " them, and because of it seems to lack nuisance, and as an aroace-spec person, it can be hard to relate. Also they are always hitting the "absolute" aroace with no attraction whatsoever, which is, you know...kinda pretty harmful for people on the SPECTRUM?? ("Is Love The Answer?" for example)

"I don't know that love is/I've never fallen in love/I don't need romantic relationships to tell me my worth" - basically "a secondary character in a (mostly romance) story having a spotlight for one scene to tell us aromantics are valid". Yea, cool! But also, are we that uninteresting? We only deserve one scene which doesn't really explore our experiences, our problems, our lifes? We only deserve to be represented as this outcast, who is always alone in this wild and wonderful world of romance? Thanks, I quess. (Spot-on example - Isaac from Heartstopper)

Ambiguous relationships - they don't want to say these characters are gay, so, like, I think we can pretend it was made for us. Even if it was not. Even if it's queerbait. .....Okay, it is not ALWAYS like that. Sometimes authors deliberetely want to write a relationshop that doesn't fit societal categories, and that's great! Still, for the most part, they are leaning towards romance, and you need to try pretty hard to actually stay convinced what it is about a queerplatonic relationship. Kinda frustrating. (Kazuki and Rei from Buddy Daddies(though THEY do not frustrate me), Sherlock and Watson from Sherlock BBC, Seigi and Richard from Jeweller Richard)

Okayyyy, that out of the way, which type is Kemutai Hanashi? The third one, you will say, because it's about an anbiguous relationship. But it's not! The thing about this manga is that even though both of our main characters are struggling to find words to describe their relationship, they never even think towards romance. It's not about "maybe we have romantic feelings for each other...maybe not", it's about "people will call us friends but it's not what we are and we don't know what we are" And their relationshop is not something you can just brush off or overlook, it is in the heart of this story. Or decide "they are friends" or "they are romantically involved" and move on, because it is stated that they are none of these things.

And that's why, I present you the forth type:

4. Stories for aromantics/aroaces! Allo people will get super confused, and they are also niche as all hell so you need to try extra hard to reach them, but they are there! They exist! And Kemutai Hanashi is one of them!

(The examples are "Loveless" by Alice Oseman(I haven't read it myself, but author is on the spectrum, so it's probably an accurate depiction of our experiences) Also Koisenu Futari.)

But that is just one thing notable about representation in this manga. Another thing I absolutely adore about it and I had never seen it presented like this, is how normal aroace-spec characters are. It is a slice of life, so nothing extreme ever happens. They get up in the morning, eat breakfast together, get to work, work till the evening, buy milk(they ran out of it), get home, eat dinner, go to sleep. On the weekends they will go on a walk together, shop for groceries, eat out sushi, and, if they have an opportunity, maybe they will visit aquarium. They are the most normal people you will ever meet. And since you, as a reader, follow them, it is only natural for you that they are living together like this. There is nothing strange about how they cook together, have these meloncholic and kind of philosophical conversations, how they are each other's closest people.

So than some characters go out of their way to say "So you're dating" you let the same "Huh?" Arita and Takeda are having, because where did that come from??? And when you are reminded that we live in amatonormative society and you can only be that close if you are romantically involved. Huh.

That I'm talking about is how most aro/aroace-spec stories rely heavely on the difference between aro character and amatonormative world, saying "look, they feel like an outcast because they are so different!" or "the world around them is insane & people are all weirdos, the only sane person here is them".

Here, it is nothing like that. Nobody is weird or exceptional, characters are absolutely like everybody else. They see nothing odd about who they are or their relationship. Sure, it's not completely understandable for them, but it is natural for them, to be like that and to have that.

Being aro/aroace-spec is always about being a fighter, trying to live in a world which says "you are the odd one out, and you will never belong there most people do(you can only belong with abnormal ones like you)". Kemutai Hanashi doesn't say you need to stop fighting, but it says "You are normal, just like everybody else. Just because you are slightly different doesn't mean you don't belong there most people do".

Ur community represented so little that sometimes we eat anything with little hint of aro/ace/aroace character. and we'll close eyes for things that makes us cringe so in end we have thought:

"yes it's totally mess up with a-spectrum rep, but it's only thing that we get".

so it seem like finding good rep in spectrum its like idiom "to chase rainbows".

***

All representation matters to me, and I’ll gladly engage with almost anything — except, perhaps, projects like 2e.

So problem is that 2e sometimes turns into nightmare. - "I never have in love before" sometimes this stories maded w - total messing around w terms/situations and heavy gaslight made by allos authors. In my experience, some of that projects tend to pressure characters make uncomfortable decisions to try things that allos do - doing that they erase aro/ace identities. well, what u expect from project that made by allo producer who total unfamiliar with the spectrum? It’s a personal red flag.

✅️ Ideally, I’d prefer 4e "aromantics telling aromantic stories" — authenticity matters. (Though, admittedly, some viewers might still miss the point.)

⚠️That said, if such projects struggle financially due to low viewership/sales, it’s disappointing but not surprising.

♻️ Solution: Take more ppl feom the spectrum as produsers/screenwriters/directoes! or at least consulting specialists for main topic.

(bad example of this is [sex education] w ace character and her rep in final vers that show in show, althoughher character written by ace activist)

society fully grasps the aro/ace/aroace spectrum, crowdfunding might be the safest way — supported by those who in spectrum or ppl who truly understand this topic.

Take "Shujinko" 2017, for example: a small Japanese crafunded drama, featuring LGBTQ+ characters, with a protagonist who heavy coded aroace energy. No forced romance in his arch— just him finding his own path and happiness. To me, it’s one of the best portrayals of growing into adulthood, especially within Japanese culture.

Like I see a story with the concept of love: "I love you so I want to hear your thoughts, look through your eys even just a little bit", "I love you so tell me about your problems", "I love you so don't leave without telling why", "I love you so if you dissapear I will go to the other side of the world to find you", "I love you so I will do outragious things for you", "I love you so it hurts to know how little you value yourself", "I love you so I want you to rely on me", "I love you so I want you to be happy" and it makes me sooo happy! And it makes me even happier to see these characters say they love eachover but they never date or get romantically envolved!! Like yes, it is love and it's not romantic, how wonderful and refreshing!!

But when the story goes on and relationship continues to develop, and when it reaches its peak...

THE AUTHOR JUST TURNS IT INTO ROMANCE

LIKE WHAT.

LIKE EXCUSE ME?

I guess they kinda feel obligated to do so? Because they feel like they already danced aroud the subject for so long and now they just "have to admit it" or something????? Because if you loved eachover for so long you must have fallen for them romantically or something? Literally shut up. They love eachover so much they want to be eachother's The Most Special One? Okay, queerplatonic relationships exist. They want to make a big promise to be together forether? Platonic marriage is also a thing.

Amatonormativity is literally ruining stories I adore and it is making me sick.