Abstract

My Independent Study (I.S.), titled “2D Boys, 3D Desires – A Primer on Sexuality in Shoujo Manga, Anime, and Otome Games”, discusses gender expression and sexuality from a primarily female, heterosexual perspective within the aforementioned forms of media. By writing this project, I hope to create a reference point for those interested in doing research about this topic, since there is little to no research available on otome games. In this I.S., I plan to lay a groundwork for various tropes, character types, and phenomena within these primarily Japanese forms of media. I will put a spotlight on works such as The Rose of Versailles (1971-1972), Fruits Basket (1998-2006), Ouran High School Host Club (2006), DRAMAtical Murder (2012, PC), Nameless: The One Thing You Must Recall (2013, PC), and Mystic Messenger (2016, Mobile), and discuss how the presentation of men and women—especially with LGBTQIA+ individuals—factors into the objectification and the liberation of its characters and its readers. I also discuss the historical background of these tropes and contrast them with Western media tropes and romance fiction, along with contemporizing works with LGBTQIA+ themes with events in LGBTQIA+ history as well. As a primer, this project’s purpose is not to go into deep detail for these works, but instead to provide a solid base for any research that I would like to do in the future, helping to elucidate the place within the gaming canon and within academia for this intriguing subgenre.

Advisor

Alkemeyer, Bryan

Department

Interdepartmental; Comparative Literature; English

Disciplines

Digital Humanities | Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies | Modern Literature | Other Arts and Humanities | Other Film and Media Studies | Television | Visual Studies | Women's Studies

Keywords

anime, manga, video games, games studies, graphic narrative studies, shoujo, otome, new media studies, interdisciplinary

Publication Date

2018

Degree Granted

Bachelor of Arts

Document Type

Senior Independent Study Thesis

Download

Share

COinS
 

© Copyright 2018 Katherine M. Randazzo