This article may present fringe theories, without giving appropriate weight to the mainstream view and explaining the responses to the fringe theories. (April 2024) |
Fictosexuality is sexual attraction towards fictional characters.[1][2][3][4][5] Romantic attraction towards fictional characters is called fictoromantic.[4][6]
Definition | Attraction to fictional characters |
---|---|
Parent category | Asexuality |
Other terms | |
Associated terms | |
The term fictosexuality describes the desire to engage in sexual or romantic relationships with a fictional character,[1] or the experience of desire for fictional sexual material distinct from desire for flesh-and-blood people.[1][7] The asexual community has used the term to describe people who experience sexual attraction to fictional characters and not to real people.[1][4][5]
Fictosexuality has been used as a term for sexual identity since the 2010s,[1] and online communities and activist organizations now exist.[3][7] The term "human-oriented sexualism" has also been coined to describe the social norms that marginalize fictosexuality.[1][2][3]
Terms in different languages
editIn Chinese, the term zhǐxìngliàn (simplified Chinese: 纸性
In Japanese, fikutosekushuaru (フィクトセクシュアル), an English loanword, is associated with nijikon, which is typically used to describe a sexual attraction towards two-dimensional anime, manga, and light novel characters, as opposed to attraction towards flesh-and-blood humans.[8][9] However, the term fikutosekushuaru is distinct from nijikon and specifically pertains to a sexual identity.[1][7]
Research
editRelationship with fictional characters
editFictosexuality and fictromance are occasionally regarded as a form of parasocial relationship in media studies and game studies.[10][11] Xiwen Liao claims that research on parasocial relationships often centers on unidirectional attachment from the audience to the character, thereby overlooking the intricate and diverse relationships between fictosexuals or fictromantics, and fictional characters.[3]
Queer studies
editSeveral studies on asexuality and introductory books on sexual minorities refer to fictosexuality.[5][12][13][14] Elizabeth Miles and Matsuura Yuu conduct research on people who are sexually attracted only to fictional characters and argue that such sexuality, like asexuality, prompts reconsideration of dominant ideas about sexuality.[9][15]
Sociologist and queer theorist Yuu Matsuura argues that sexual attraction to fictional characters subverts established norms in a different manner from Judith Butler's performativity[clarification needed].[8] The subversion is "transforming the method of perception or the way of desire through animation constructing the beings of a category that did not exist before."[16]
Human-oriented sexualism
editThe term used to describe the marginalization of fictosexuality is human-oriented sexualism (
Human-oriented sexuality (
According to queer theorist Yuu Matsuura, human-oriented sexualism is closely related to heteronormativity. Human-oriented sexualism erases the possibility of segmenting sexuality in ways other than the "heterosexual/homosexual" category, thus serving as a precondition for the exclusion of homosexuality.[8] Heteronormativity is positioned as a combination of gender binarism and human-oriented sexualism.[2][22] Furthermore, it has been observed that human-oriented sexualism shares roots with transphobia, operating within the same structural framework.[2]
Kazuki Fujitaka, associate professor of feminist/queer studies at Kyoto Sangyo University, highly appreciated Matsuura's theory about critique against human-oriented sexualism and described the theory as "a practice of healing those who get hurt by a normative society and of defamiliarizing the world," akin to what bell hooks calls "theory as liberatory practice."[23]
Marginalization, discrimination, and stigmatization
editAccording to Matsuura, fictosexuals have been marginalized or concealed in societies that adhere to the norm of sexual attraction to human beings. They are occasionally stigmatized or pathologized.[1]
Through interviews with fictosexual individuals, Matsuura discovered that they face similar forms of oppression due to compulsory sexuality as asexual individuals.[9] Furthermore, it was observed that sexual desire does not always entail a desire for sexual intercourse.[9] Just as not all allosexuals desire sexual contact, some fictosexual individuals do not desire interactive relationships with fictional characters.[1][9] Matsuura's research indicates that these individuals are rendered invisible under amatonormativity.[9] Interview surveys suggest that the practices of fictosexual individuals offer possibilities to challenge compulsory sexuality and human-oriented sexualism.[3][9]
Community and activism
editOnline communities and forums about fictosexuality exist.[1][3] The Taiwan Entrepot of Fictosexuality, a fictosexual activist organization, has been established in Taiwan, aligning with feminist bookstores and LGBTQ activists.[24][3][7] Some activists have labeled the sexuality only attracted to manga/anime fictional characters as a "third sexual orientation," and Miles argues that "it is the criticism of non-real-world sex, sex outside a flesh-and-blood relationship, which drives much contemporary anti-pornography criticism and activism".[15] Criticism of human-oriented sexualism rebuts the assumption that ACG pornography sexualizes real women and promotes pedophilia.[1][8]
Japanese school administrator Akihiko Kondo, who identifies as a fictosexual,[25][26] symbolically married Hatsune Miku in 2018.[27] In June 2023, he founded the General Incorporated Association of Fictosexuality[28][29] to provide comfort to fictosexuals, hold meetings with people that have similar views, and improve the understanding of the subject.[30] Izumi Tsuji, secretary of the Japan Youth Study Group at Chuo University, where he is a sociology of culture professor, described Kondo as "a pioneer for the fictosexual movement".[31]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Matsuura, Yuu (2021).
日常 生活 の自明 性 によるクレイム申 し立 ての「予 めの排除 /抹消 」――「性的 指向 」概念 に適合 しないセクシュアリティの語 られ方 に注目 して ["Foreclosure/Erasure" of Claims-Making by the Everyday Life as Taken for Granted: Discourse Analysis about "Fictosexual" as Sexuality that does not Conform to "Sexual Orientation"]. Journal of Social Problems (in Japanese). 36: 67–83. doi:10.50885/shabyo.36.0_67. - ^ a b c d e f Matsuura, Yuu (2024). Tsuji, Yosuke; Sakamaki, Shitone (eds.). "
素 肉 は肉 より出 でて、しかし肉 には非 らず──ヒューマノジェンダリズム批判 序説 " [Mock Meat, That Imitates Meat but Is Not Meat—An Introduction to Criticism of Humano-Genderism]. Ghost in the Shell Official Global Site. Ghost in the Shell M.M.A. - Messed Mesh Ambitions_. Kodansha. - ^ a b c d e f g h i Liao, Xiwen (2024). "
紙 性 戀 處 境 及其悖論 :情動 、想像 與 賦 生 關係 " [On Fictosexual Position and its Paradox: Affacts, Imaginary, and Animating Relationships]. In劉 定綱 ;李 衣 雲 (eds.).故事 與 另外的 世界 :台灣 ACG研究 學會 年會 論 文集 (in Chinese). Vol. 1.奇異 果 文 創 事業 有限 公司 . ISBN 9786269807680. - ^ a b c Barron, Victoria (2023). Amazing ace, awesome aro: an illustrated exploration. London ; Philadelphia: Jessica Kingsley Publishers. ISBN 978-1-83997-714-5.
- ^ a b c Daigle-Orians, Cody (21 February 2023). I Am Ace: Advice on Living Your Best Asexual Life. Jessica Kingsley Publishers. ISBN 978-1839972621.
- ^ Rendle, Samantha (2023). Hopeless aromantic: an affirmative guide to aromanticism. London ; Philadelphia: Jessica Kingsley Publishers. ISBN 978-1-83997-367-3.
- ^ a b c d Matsuura, Yuu (2023). "Basic Terms of Fictosexuality Studies". Research Map. Retrieved 2023-10-21.
- ^ a b c d Matsuura, Yuu (2022). アニメーション
的 な誤 配 としての多重 見当 識:非 対人 性愛 的 な「二 次元 」へのセクシュアリティに関 する理論 的 考察 [Multiple Orientations as Animating Misdelivery: Theoretical Considerations on Sexuality Attracted to Nijigen (Two-Dimensional) Objects]. Gender Studies (Thesis) (in Japanese). Institute for Gender Studies, Ochanomizu University. pp. 139–157. doi:10.24567/0002000551. - ^ a b c d e f g Matsuura, Yuu (2021).
二 次元 の性的 表現 による「現実 性愛 」の相対 化 の可能 性 ――現実 の他者 へ性的 に惹 かれない「オタク」「腐女子 」の語 りを事例 として [The Possibility of Relativization of Compulsory Sexuality by Nonrealistic Sexual Fantasy: Based on the Narration of "Otaku" and "Fujoshi" Who Do Not Experience Sexual or Romantic Attraction to Real People]. Japan Sociologist (in Japanese) (5): 116–136. ISBN 9784788517073. - ^ Blom, Joleen (2022). Grabarczyk, Pawel (ed.). "Game Character". Encyclopedia of Ludic Terms.
- ^ Bruno, Luca (2023-12-23). "To (Sub)Serve Man. Role Language and Intimate Scripts in Kioku no Dizorubu". LEA - Lingue e Letterature d'Oriente e d'Occidente. 12: 99–116. doi:10.36253/lea-1824-484x-14474. ISSN 1824-484X.
- ^ Yule, Morag A.; Brotto, Lori A.; Gorzalka, Boris B. (2017). "Sexual Fantasy and Masturbation Among Asexual Individuals: An In-Depth Exploration" (PDF). Archives of Sexual Behavior. 46 (1): 311–328. doi:10.1007/s10508-016-0870-8. PMID 27882477. S2CID 254264133.
- ^ Matsuura, Yuu (2020). アセクシュアル
研究 におけるセクシュアルノーマティヴィティ概念 の理論 的 意義 と日本 社会 への適用 可能 性 [The Concept of Compulsory Sexuality: Theoretical Meaning and Applicability to Japanese Society]. Journal of Sociological Society of West Japan (in Japanese). 18: 89–101. doi:10.32197/sswj.18.0_89. - ^ Palettalk (2021). マンガでわかるLGBTQ+ [Comic Book for Learning LGBTQ+] (in Japanese). Kodansha Ltd. p. 35. ISBN 9784065224922.
- ^ a b Miles, Elizabeth (2020). "Porn as Practice, Porn as Access: Pornography Consumption and a ʻThird Sexual Orientationʼ in Japan". Porn Studies. 7 (3): 269–278. doi:10.1080/23268743.2020.1726205.
- ^ Matsuura, Yuu (2022). メタファーとしての
美少女 : アニメーション的 な誤 配 によるジェンダー・トラブル [Bishōjo as Metaphor: Gender Trouble by Animating Misdelivery]. La revue de la pensée d'aujourd'hui (in Japanese). 50 (11): 63–75. ISBN 9784791714353. - ^ Yamada, Masahiro (2022). "ペットの
家族 化 の進展 とその帰結 ――ネットモニター調査 による考察 " [Familiarization of Pet in Japan: From an Internet Research] (PDF). The Annual Bulletin of the Institute of Social Sciences, Chuo University (in Japanese). 27: 3–21. - ^
筒井 晴香 (2022). "「推 す」ことの倫理 を考 えるために". In香月 孝史 ・上岡 磨 奈・中村 香住 (ed.). アイドルについて葛藤 しながら考 えてみた:ジェンダー/パーソナリティ/〈推 し〉.青 弓 社 . pp. 46–71. ISBN 978-4-7872-7449-6. - ^ Ueda, Masaki (2023). "わいせつ
規制 をめぐる諸 課題 " [Issues surrounding Crimes of Obscenity]. Criminal Law Journal (in Japanese). 75. Seibundo Publishing: 12–17. ISBN 978-4-7923-8881-2. - ^ Iwasaki, Hanae (2024). "フツーの
恋愛 、性愛 ってなに?『ACE アセクシュアルから見 たセックスと社会 のこと』刊行 記念 トークレポ". me and you little magazine & club. Retrieved 2024-03-10. - ^ Matsuura, Yuu (2023). "
抹消 の現象 学 的 社会 学 :類型 化 されないことをともなう周縁 化 について" [Phenomenological Sociology of Erasure : Marginalization Involving Untypification]. Japanese Sociological Review (in Japanese). 74 (1). The Japan Sociological Society: 158-174. - ^ Matsuura, Yuu (2023). "フィクトセクシュアルから
考 えるジェンダー/セクシュアリティの政治 " [The Politics of Gender and Sexuality from a Fictosexual Perspective]. researchmap. Retrieved 2024-01-16. - ^ Hanyu, Yuki (2024). "Against Compulsory (Hetero)Sexuality: From Asexual Perspectives" (PDF). Gender & Sexuality. 19. Center for Gender Studies at International Christian University: 137.
- ^ Realms of the Unreal: Taiwan Entrepot of Fictosexuality (2023). "Introduction". Facebook.
- ^ Dooley, Ben; Ueno, Hisako (April 24, 2022). "This Man Married a Fictional Character. He'd Like You to Hear Him Out". The New York Times. Retrieved 2024-04-08.
- ^ Kazuyuki, Ito (May 18, 2023). "Man finds bliss after 'marrying' virtual idol Hatsune Miku". The Asahi Shimbun. Retrieved 2024-04-06.
- ^ Katashibu, Yohei (2018-11-21). "
批判 もあったが「勇気付 けられた」初 音 ミクさんとの"本気 の挙式 "を終 えて" [Despite Criticism, "It Gave Me Courage" - Ending the "Serious Wedding" with Hatsune Miku]. ITmedia (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-04-06. - ^ Kondo, Akihiko [@akihikokondosk] (June 29, 2023). "I founded the general incorporated association of fictosexuality. This is an organization whose main purpose is to promote understanding of fictosexuality, which is a sexual orientation that is attracted to fictional characters such as manga, anime, and games. I will do my best" (Tweet). Retrieved 2024-04-08 – via Twitter.
- ^ "Man, married to virtual pop star for 4 years, starts Association of Fictosexuality". Yahoo News. 2023-07-20. Retrieved 2024-04-30.
- ^ Obuno, Yuka (2023-07-01). "Tokyo man 'married' to virtual singer Hatsune Miku fights for acceptance of 'fictosexuals'". The Mainichi. Retrieved 2024-04-06.
- ^ Ryall, Julian (2023-09-15). "Japan: Man married to fictional character fights for rights". Deutsche Welle. Retrieved 2024-04-06.