Things I’ve Learnt From The MDZS Fandom.

“Frankly mr shankly, you’re a sickening wreck”.

-The smiths

Could someone draw Neil Josten in this T-shirt please? Or Andrew? Or any of the Foxes?

Because this is so him and I bet Allison or Andrew brought this top for him for fun.

The worst part of human adulthood is being your own zookeeper

Calling all BL academics! You should check out Intersections: Gender and Sexuality in Asia and the Pacific Issue 49, June 2023. It's devoted to Thai BL and it's Thai scholars, publishing in English, and available free. So basically everything I ever wanted.

Thai Boys Love (BL)/Y(aoi) in Literary and Media Industries: Political and Transnational Practices - This is the introductory article. One interesting takeaway is that there's a market for western M/M romance in Thailand and I'm dying to know what sort of titles have gotten Thai releases.

Chinese Historical BL by Thai Writers: The Thai BL Polysystem in the Age of Media Convergence - I didn't read this one. It's about the phenomenon of Thai writers writing danmei set in ancient China.

Authorial Revisions of Boys Love/Y Novels: The Dialogue between Activism and the Literary Industry in Thailand - This one was super intersting. It was about how the backlash to certain problematic tropes affected both revisions to Y novels and their tv adaptations. It uses Jittirain as a case study and includes passages from 2gether that were rewritten.

Boys Love (Yaoi) Fandom and Political Activism in Thailand - This article has a lot about Not Me, both about the backlash to the novle due to it being originally a GOT7 fanfic (allegedly) and the political context for the series. It also discusses a few other series related to the youth movement and marriage equality.

Heterosexual Reading vs. Queering Thai Boys' Love Dramas among Chinese and Filipino Audiences -This really only covers up to 2019 and as we all know everything is changing fast. I'll be interested in future scholarship that covers the current period. Basically expands on some of Baudinette's work.

Provincialising Thai Boys Love: Queer Desire and the Aesthetics of Rural Cosmopolitanism -I just skimmed this since I'm not familiar with either series mentioned or the rural culture of Isan.

This was so good. Highly recommend.

Review of Gameboys

I know I am late to the game, but I been a little busy. For starters, my aunt moved to another state just a couple of days ago, so I helped her pack stuffs and get everything set up. I was pretty much with her 24/7. Then I helped my cousin moved out too, and I was also busy with my own work. But, that didn’t stop me from watching some BL during my free time, and one that really got my attention and I think deserves all the hype is GAMEBOYS

Gameboys is the story of Cairo and Gav. Cairo is a gamer who streams his games, and Gav was one of his followers. After Gav wins a match againts Cairo, he sends him a friend request in a platform I feel its like facebook (lmao). Gav doesn’t waste time, and tells him that if he wins another match againts Cairo, he is going to start flirting with him. Gav wins the game and he starts flirting with Cairo. 

However, although this is all cute and all, what got my attention was not just their love story, but where and how their friendship ( and later relationship) starts, but how the director and crew incorporated what some of us are living during the pandemic. For instance: 

1. Lockdown

The majority of our countries, states, and cities, are in lockdown. Although some of our countries are moving faster than other in reopening again everything, we are still limited in the number of times we can go out, or we have curfews. The majority of us are trying to keep ourselves busy, trying to forget a little than we are living in the middle of a pandemic and that doctor, nurses, and essential workers are putting their lives on risks for us. We see can Gav and Cairo talk about how they are trying to live their lives in lockdown, and how their whole lives changed. Moreover, every time we see how they get into social media there are posts about how essential workers are doing, what their government is doing right or wrong. I think in a way, the director is making a wake up call to some governments that are not helping or protecting their people. For instance, I do not know if I mentioned this but I was not born in the United States, I was born in El Salvador, and although the president of El Salvador did an amazing job to try and stop the spreading of the virus before it hit our country, a lot of other countries did not, like Mexico, Peru, Brazil, and Ecuador. I am not saying that other politicians did not do what they could to protect their people, but right now, as far as I know, are hot spots in South America. Even here, Texas right now is worse than what New York was when the pandemic started, our governor Cuomo, is trying to stop people from Texas coming to NY, because we barely got out of the worse. 

2. Essential workers

Through the whole series we see how Cairo and Gav supporting essential workers, whether it is by reposting a status, or by preparing meals. More than once Gav was preparing healthy meals for the essential workers. I think this dynamic is helping us to appreciate what these people are doing for us. THEY ARE HEROES, and Gav and Cairo are helping us see that what we can do is staying home. In the later episode we see different doctors and nurses helping people, covering themselves with masks that look like those in scary movies. It is just a wake up call for us too. 

3. Families fighting the virus

If you watched the show you know that Cairo’s dad has the virus. All through the series we see how Cairo seems sad because of it, and I am not giving spoilers but we know now why. If you guys had families, friends, or people you just knew around your neighborhood that had the virus, you know how hard it is for their families. My mother was exposed to the virus, to the point that myself and my father experience the symptoms. I lost some pounds because I was not eating properly due that you literally do not have taste or smell. However, I am thankful to God that our condition was not too bad to go to the hospital. My mother and father did not experience fevers at all, but I did. I had fever for two weeks and I was in the middle of finals at my College too. Either way, when I watched how Cairo’s life was put upside down because of his father having the virus, and how much he cared for him, I really felt for him. 

4. Friends and Love

I think this is a story that has everything in it. I do not have words to explain enough how Gav and Pearl helped Cairo to be happier in his little and small world where he felt so alone. It is just so magical to see their friendship blossom, as well as the love between Gav and Cairo. 

5. Acceptance

I cannot explain either this theme in the story, but I can say the words that Cairo’s mom said to him “Don’t apologize for being who you are.”

I hope you give this BL a try. In this lockdown, Gameboys is literally something I look forward every Friday. I CAN’T WAIT FOR EP 9 

Side note: 

I been having some ideas about a fanfic involving the 4 pillars of GMM, each one having their little story, but they have been friends since high school. I have like an idea, but I do not if you guys would like it. Each couple will face little obstacles like

Kris and Singto would like to adopt a child

Bright and Win having a hard time with their coworkers to accept 

Off and Gun trying to marry 

Tay and New trying to come out to their parents. 

And I have like little guest in each episode like Mew and Gulf, and other people from different BLs… I have like the whole plot of the story of Krist and Singto, but just let me know guys if you want to read something like that 

All love, 

Lullaby

Balancing oragami boxes on my cat while it’s sleeping.

same energy

I’m dying!

with how sqq looks at lbh here, how was sqq ever surprised that lbh fell in love with him ;-;

Boys I’ve met

These are the boys I’ve met so far during my life colour coded into descriptions. People can be a mix of colours but these are genuinely my thoughts on real people. I wonder if you can relate.

- There are what I call the golden boys. They are the charmers who could insult you without you even knowing. They are the ones who do questionable things behind school buildings that everyone knows about but they never get in trouble. They are the social butterflies that never belong to one group. They are the perfect mixture of danger and excitement that leave you feeling giddy. Them with their silver tongues that entrap you to do bed things. They are a enticing storm.

- Then there are the red boys. Whilst not necessarily arty or eye catching, they are the boys who worm their way into situations without any knowledge how. They are the boys whose names are often followed by an exclamation mark. They are the cause of numerous anecdotes and laugh out loud memories. These are the boys who can always make you laugh and are the cause of any wild and stupid decisions. With their colourful characters and addicting eyes. They are a drug.

- The blue boys don’t have to be musical or arty. They are the ones with the bruises and bony fingers. They are silent, with hair perfect for running your hands through. They are in the background in a muted sense, clothed stylishly but subtly in attractive colours. They are the ones who take time in their apperence but still do not aim for the spotlight. They are slightly mysterious but nether the less eye catching in a unexplainable way. They are reassuringly warm.

- The green boys are all smiles. Whilst they are often more sporty, they are the ones with sun touched skin and bright eyes. They are the ones with easy going friends and are often found amongst their own kind. They are the ones who get easily excited about small things and are often seen smiling. They are often surprisingly intuitive and can read others like books, knowing much more than you know. They are deceptive.

- The yellow boys often lack a filter. They are the ones who just don’t seem to know when to be quiet. They are easy entertainment on grey days. Often triggering rolled eyes or brief expressions of resignation. But they are also incessantly loyal, always there with a attempt of a smile when your feeling down. They are the ones who give hugs like gifts and always try their best. Out of all, they are the ones who make the best friends.

- The grey boys are slow. They are easy going, following the flow. They are the ones who prefer to to do nothing. They are easily influenced and normally become the worst. They are like unpainted canvases and become easily addicted. They are the ones you feel sorry for. The ones who could always do better.

- The purple boys are bubbly. They are the ones no one can bare to hurt. They are like royalty, revered and genuinely liked by everyone. They are sociable and kind, nice to everyone and almost unrealistic. They are understanding and compassionate, always reassuring. But they are also ruthless, taking down enemies quickly and without mercy either by the self or through the use of their multiple friends. It is often unclear wether they are protected or feared. But these are the boys no one would cross.

- The white boys are focused. These boys are often the hardest to read. They are the ones who seem introverted. Usually creative, they have a certain passion, something which makes their head spin. Almost like addicts in a way, they relay on their passion to keep them going through the day. They may seem either cold or rude, but they are often unconcerned with society, preferring to focus solely on their passion. Once befriended, they can seem odd but will constantly amaze you as you slowly unravel their personality bit by bit. They are the most intriguing.

- The navy boys are logical. They are complex like a storm, finding passion in complex tasks and academic work. Often witty, they have a clever sense of humour that most people would not get. They are also the most loyal, following orders and staying true to their morals. This can make them extremely stubborn and headstrong, believing themselves to be smarter which can make them either arrogant or cold. They are the ones who are smarter.