BL Drama: The Thai Entertainment Industry as a Source of Soft Power

Stephen Lyajoon

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ellc.20240903.13

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BL Drama: The Thai Entertainment Industry as a Source of Soft Power

Stephen Lyajoon^*

Published in English Language, Literature & Culture (Volume 9, Issue 3)

Received: 29 April 2024 Accepted: 15 May 2024 Published: 6 August 2024

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Abstract

Boys Love, a subcategory originated in Japan in the 1970’s has swept the Thai entertainment industry. BL dramas has put Thailand on the map with an international recognition and appreciation through the portrayal of the country’s gender fluidity narrative and addressing relatable social question of the current generation. Observations can be made on the possibility of Thailand to use this newly found niche market as a source of soft power. Looking at the country’s other Asian neighbors as case study allows for a clear pattern to be observed through the use of the entertainment industry as a mean for cultural export, simultaneously establishing a sphere of influence that can be leverage on the diplomatic stage. This paper leverage the case study of South Korea and Japan as prime example of soft power through their respective entertainment industry. From the origin of the Boys Love and its success in Thailand to analysis of similar case studies in Japan and South Korea, this paper seeks to understand the feasibility of the BL genre becoming an asset positioning Thailand as a key player in the diplomatic arena both within Asia and the international community. The BL industry in Thailand has a significant potential of propelling the country on the international stage as a significant regional power. Yet, there are some major setbacks to be addressed for that concretization of this phenomenon.

Published in	English Language, Literature & Culture (Volume 9, Issue 3)
DOI	10.11648/j.ellc.20240903.13
Page(s)	72-76
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Boys Love, Soft Power, Thailand, Diplomacy, Policymaking

References

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APA Style

Lyajoon, S. (2024). BL Drama: The Thai Entertainment Industry as a Source of Soft Power. English Language, Literature & Culture, 9(3), 72-76. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ellc.20240903.13

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ACS Style

Lyajoon, S. BL Drama: The Thai Entertainment Industry as a Source of Soft Power. Engl. Lang. Lit. Cult. 2024, 9(3), 72-76. doi: 10.11648/j.ellc.20240903.13

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AMA Style

Lyajoon S. BL Drama: The Thai Entertainment Industry as a Source of Soft Power. Engl Lang Lit Cult. 2024;9(3):72-76. doi: 10.11648/j.ellc.20240903.13

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@article{10.11648/j.ellc.20240903.13,
  author = {Stephen Lyajoon},
  title = {BL Drama: The Thai Entertainment Industry as a Source of Soft Power
},
  journal = {English Language, Literature & Culture},
  volume = {9},
  number = {3},
  pages = {72-76},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ellc.20240903.13},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ellc.20240903.13},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ellc.20240903.13},
  abstract = {Boys Love, a subcategory originated in Japan in the 1970’s has swept the Thai entertainment industry. BL dramas has put Thailand on the map with an international recognition and appreciation through the portrayal of the country’s gender fluidity narrative and addressing relatable social question of the current generation. Observations can be made on the possibility of Thailand to use this newly found niche market as a source of soft power. Looking at the country’s other Asian neighbors as case study allows for a clear pattern to be observed through the use of the entertainment industry as a mean for cultural export, simultaneously establishing a sphere of influence that can be leverage on the diplomatic stage. This paper leverage the case study of South Korea and Japan as prime example of soft power through their respective entertainment industry. From the origin of the Boys Love and its success in Thailand to analysis of similar case studies in Japan and South Korea, this paper seeks to understand the feasibility of the BL genre becoming an asset positioning Thailand as a key player in the diplomatic arena both within Asia and the international community. The BL industry in Thailand has a significant potential of propelling the country on the international stage as a significant regional power. Yet, there are some major setbacks to be addressed for that concretization of this phenomenon.
},
 year = {2024}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - BL Drama: The Thai Entertainment Industry as a Source of Soft Power

AU  - Stephen Lyajoon
Y1  - 2024/08/06
PY  - 2024
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ellc.20240903.13
DO  - 10.11648/j.ellc.20240903.13
T2  - English Language, Literature & Culture
JF  - English Language, Literature & Culture
JO  - English Language, Literature & Culture
SP  - 72
EP  - 76
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2575-2413
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ellc.20240903.13
AB  - Boys Love, a subcategory originated in Japan in the 1970’s has swept the Thai entertainment industry. BL dramas has put Thailand on the map with an international recognition and appreciation through the portrayal of the country’s gender fluidity narrative and addressing relatable social question of the current generation. Observations can be made on the possibility of Thailand to use this newly found niche market as a source of soft power. Looking at the country’s other Asian neighbors as case study allows for a clear pattern to be observed through the use of the entertainment industry as a mean for cultural export, simultaneously establishing a sphere of influence that can be leverage on the diplomatic stage. This paper leverage the case study of South Korea and Japan as prime example of soft power through their respective entertainment industry. From the origin of the Boys Love and its success in Thailand to analysis of similar case studies in Japan and South Korea, this paper seeks to understand the feasibility of the BL genre becoming an asset positioning Thailand as a key player in the diplomatic arena both within Asia and the international community. The BL industry in Thailand has a significant potential of propelling the country on the international stage as a significant regional power. Yet, there are some major setbacks to be addressed for that concretization of this phenomenon.

VL  - 9
IS  - 3
ER  -

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Author Information

Stephen Lyajoon

Social Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, United Kingdom

Contact Email

http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6245-0731

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Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Lyajoon, S. (2024). BL Drama: The Thai Entertainment Industry as a Source of Soft Power. English Language, Literature & Culture, 9(3), 72-76. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ellc.20240903.13

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ACS Style

Lyajoon, S. BL Drama: The Thai Entertainment Industry as a Source of Soft Power. Engl. Lang. Lit. Cult. 2024, 9(3), 72-76. doi: 10.11648/j.ellc.20240903.13

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AMA Style

Lyajoon S. BL Drama: The Thai Entertainment Industry as a Source of Soft Power. Engl Lang Lit Cult. 2024;9(3):72-76. doi: 10.11648/j.ellc.20240903.13

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ellc.20240903.13,
  author = {Stephen Lyajoon},
  title = {BL Drama: The Thai Entertainment Industry as a Source of Soft Power
},
  journal = {English Language, Literature & Culture},
  volume = {9},
  number = {3},
  pages = {72-76},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ellc.20240903.13},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ellc.20240903.13},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ellc.20240903.13},
  abstract = {Boys Love, a subcategory originated in Japan in the 1970’s has swept the Thai entertainment industry. BL dramas has put Thailand on the map with an international recognition and appreciation through the portrayal of the country’s gender fluidity narrative and addressing relatable social question of the current generation. Observations can be made on the possibility of Thailand to use this newly found niche market as a source of soft power. Looking at the country’s other Asian neighbors as case study allows for a clear pattern to be observed through the use of the entertainment industry as a mean for cultural export, simultaneously establishing a sphere of influence that can be leverage on the diplomatic stage. This paper leverage the case study of South Korea and Japan as prime example of soft power through their respective entertainment industry. From the origin of the Boys Love and its success in Thailand to analysis of similar case studies in Japan and South Korea, this paper seeks to understand the feasibility of the BL genre becoming an asset positioning Thailand as a key player in the diplomatic arena both within Asia and the international community. The BL industry in Thailand has a significant potential of propelling the country on the international stage as a significant regional power. Yet, there are some major setbacks to be addressed for that concretization of this phenomenon.
},
 year = {2024}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - BL Drama: The Thai Entertainment Industry as a Source of Soft Power

AU  - Stephen Lyajoon
Y1  - 2024/08/06
PY  - 2024
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ellc.20240903.13
DO  - 10.11648/j.ellc.20240903.13
T2  - English Language, Literature & Culture
JF  - English Language, Literature & Culture
JO  - English Language, Literature & Culture
SP  - 72
EP  - 76
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2575-2413
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ellc.20240903.13
AB  - Boys Love, a subcategory originated in Japan in the 1970’s has swept the Thai entertainment industry. BL dramas has put Thailand on the map with an international recognition and appreciation through the portrayal of the country’s gender fluidity narrative and addressing relatable social question of the current generation. Observations can be made on the possibility of Thailand to use this newly found niche market as a source of soft power. Looking at the country’s other Asian neighbors as case study allows for a clear pattern to be observed through the use of the entertainment industry as a mean for cultural export, simultaneously establishing a sphere of influence that can be leverage on the diplomatic stage. This paper leverage the case study of South Korea and Japan as prime example of soft power through their respective entertainment industry. From the origin of the Boys Love and its success in Thailand to analysis of similar case studies in Japan and South Korea, this paper seeks to understand the feasibility of the BL genre becoming an asset positioning Thailand as a key player in the diplomatic arena both within Asia and the international community. The BL industry in Thailand has a significant potential of propelling the country on the international stage as a significant regional power. Yet, there are some major setbacks to be addressed for that concretization of this phenomenon.

VL  - 9
IS  - 3
ER  -

Copy | Download