Overview
This course introduces the conceptual, historical, and ethical foundations of boy-love studies as an interdisciplinary field examining fictional and mediated representations of romantic and intimate relationships between male characters. It distinguishes genre, audience, industry, and identity while emphasizing that fictional representation does not directly determine lived sexuality or gender.
Students examine terminology and contested definitions; literary, comic, television, film, animation, game, and digital media histories; regional and transnational development; fan communities and participatory culture; gender and sexuality theories; queer studies; intersectionality; censorship and platform governance; commercialization; translation; and debates concerning authorship, appropriation, representation, age, consent, and power. Emphasis is placed on close reading, contextual analysis, ethical research practice, and respectful evidence-based argumentation without reducing works to stereotypes or treating traditions as culturally uniform.
Learning Outcomes
- Define central concepts and contested terminology in boy-love studies.
- Situate selected texts and media practices within relevant historical, cultural, industrial, and transnational contexts.
- Compare boy-love traditions across media, regions, languages, and periods using appropriate evidence.
- Apply foundational theories of gender, sexuality, race, class, nationality, and queer studies to the analysis of mediated representations.
- Evaluate scholarly, journalistic, fan-produced, and industry sources for credibility, perspective, and methodological value.
- Analyze ethical tensions involving representation, authorship, appropriation, age, consent, power, censorship, and platform governance.
- Construct evidence-based arguments in clear, respectful, and appropriately qualified academic language.
Timetable
| Type | Length | Frequency | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lecture | 2 hours | Weekly | All semester |
| Tutorial | 1 hour | Weekly | All semester |
| Workshop | 2 hours | Fortnightly | All semester |
Assessment Schedule
| Type | Description | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Assignment | Terminology and contextual analysis exercises (4 × 5%) | 20.00% |
| Assignment | Comparative media analysis | 20.00% |
| Deliverable | Research ethics and source evaluation portfolio | 20.00% |
| Attendance | Seminar participation and preparation | 10.00% |
| Test | Critical analysis test | 15.00% |
| Capstone | Evidence-based research essay | 15.00% |
Teaching Staff & Programs
This course is delivered jointly by faculty from the participating programs listed below. In line with the Douchewater Way, the University of Sexology tailors core instruction directly to each cohort's specific discipline — adapting curriculum to program needs rather than forcing students into a one-size-fits-all model. Learn more about our approach at The Douchewater Way.