2025/06/20 by Thomas Baudinette · 1 voice
Social Sciences · #Asian Culture and Media Studies #Japanese History and Culture #Hong Kong and Taiwan Politics
paper · doi:10.1080/19392397.2025.2521219
This article draws upon 10 years of longitudinal ethnographic observation of Boys Love (BL) series production and fandom in Thailand to explore the rise of explicitly activist BL idols who tie this popular culture phenomenon to ongoing debates in Thailand concerning LGBTQ+ rights and, specifically, Thailand’s legalisation of marriage equality in 2024. Focussing on two prominent BL idol couples named ZeeNuNew and EarthMix, I explore how the affective ‘shipping’ culture that drives Thai BL fandom is being deployed by these idols to shape debates concerning LGBTQ+ rights, producing a range of cultural meanings tied to representations of queer activism in Thailand’s popular media industries. My argument emphasises shifts within Asia where idols must now demonstrate a commitment to social justice to effectively respond to young fans’ desires for celebrity role models, particularly in light of pro-democracy movements among youth in Southeast Asia. To build this argument, I analyse how both ZeeNuNew and EarthMix produce what I term ‘queer activist idol personas’ both through their performances in BL series and variety shows and through their participation in social media activism.