Japanese gay pornography: Space of “queer” in struggle with Japanese masculinity power

Abstract

The objectives of this study are to point out that how the space of Japanese gay pornography construct “Queer” in order to be space of resistance to Japanese masculinity power. The methodologies of this study are textual analysis and documentary research as tools of studying. The theory of “Queer” is used to explain about “Queer” construction. Power concept of Michel Foucault is used to explain power structure from “Queer” meaning construction to resist with meaning of masculinity’s power in Japan. Concept of carnivalesque of Mikhail Bakhtin is used to explain power structure in Japanese gay pornography in the upside down format which is opposite to the social reality which in that space, “Queer” is more powerful than masculinity and to understand gay pornography as mass cultural product. All these are used as conceptual framework to explain spatial construction of Japanese gay pornography to be the space of struggle with Japanese masculinity power. Analysis’s criteria is divided into 3 parts which are physical features, behavioral features, and sexual activities. The samples for analysis are 7 of Japanese gay pornography which actors have “occupational” roles which are purposive sampling. The findings indicates that Japanese gay pornography has been used as struggling space of “Queer” with Japanese masculinity power by using actors that show Japanese masculinity through physical features, behavioral features, and sexual activities as passive party or the party with less power. Meanwhile, the opposite meaning of “Queer” has power to press Japanese masculinity and shows the space of power creation in the form of upside down according to carnivalesque.