Slash Fan Fiction: Yaoi or Not?

I’ve been wondering lately how I should classify my reading of all the slash fic that I troll for. I mean, technically I only go looking for stories between two male characters, and I always select the mature content ones when they are there… however, I am hesitant to call it yaoi or BL. I wouldn’t be unheard of it to call it as such, since the genre started within the doujinshi community, and crossovers or dream pairings within said market are considered part of the genre.

I wonder if it has to do with the difference between having been drawn or only written down. If it isn’t drawn, it isn’t manga, and if it isn’t manga, does it still count as Yaoi? There is a whole genre of BL and yaoi novels and light novels in Japan, a few of which have been translated into English (and probably many other languages). Are those titles given some kind of status because they have been published in magazines, books and anthologies?

I’ve been trying to write a xxxHolic fanfic for the longest time, and still can’t get my head around it. I used to be full of short fiction goodness in my head, but when writing characters that already exist and have a following, in addition to fitting it into world created by someone else, I find myself at a standstill. My point here? Fan fiction is hard to write. It should be given, not necessarily equal footing as published works, its dues.

So, now that that’s been said, does that make it yaoi? Does the quality and or medium quantify a story as BL or yaoi? I’m at a loss!

Help me out, guys… Am I being biased against slash/fan fiction? Or am I right to consider it different?

What's the appeal?

As I sit here in Starbucks contemplating my next article for Culture Magazine, I realize that the yaoi I was reading last night in bed is still open in my browser. I finish the last few pages that my eyes refused to stay open for and then continue with my Sunday morning ritual.

But this has made me wonder, what exactly is it that I find so appealing about this genre? Is it the porn aspect? I mean, a lot of the titles I read are pretty darn hot. Is it the love stories? I would only be able to make that case if the stories I read weren't full of incredibly unhealthy relationships where one person is borderline physically abusive, and/or over-protective and jealous. The sweetness of the love realized always comes across tainted to me as the dominating character states "No really, no other man is allowed to talk to you, touch you, look at you, breath the same air as you..." Were it a real-life relationship I would be appalled. So why do I barely even flinch when it comes to yaoi? Is it the fiction aspect? Is it the lack of real people? Is it the lack of female oppression?

I've often wondered if my comfort level, as a women, was the fact that it was men being oppressed by other men, and not women suffering from this all to common plight. I mean, I can understand why that would at least instill some semblance of distance from the violence... but is it enough? I don't know.

Anybody have any ideas? I'd love to know your thoughts.

Just for starters

I figured wince I already have a couple of reviews for yaoi works, I should let you guys give them a look over!

Here you go!

Sekaiichi Hatskoi anime

Cafe Latte Rhapsody Manga

Lemme know what you think!