(Translated by https://www.hiragana.jp/)
Fictosexuality - Wikipedia
Wikipedia

Fictosexuality

Fictosexuality is sexual attraction towards fictional characters.[1][2][3][4][5] Romantic attraction towards fictional characters is called fictoromantic.[4][6]

Fictosexuality
DefinitionAttraction to fictional characters
Parent categoryAsexuality
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

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In Chinese, the term zhǐxìngliàn (simplified Chinese: 纸性恋こい; traditional Chinese: 紙かみ性せい戀こい; lit. 'paper sexuality') refers to sexual attraction towards two-dimensional characters only.[3]

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

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Relationship with fictional characters

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Fictosexuality 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

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Several 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

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The term used to describe the marginalization of fictosexuality is human-oriented sexualism (対人たいじん性愛せいあい中心ちゅうしん主義しゅぎ (taijin-seiai-chūshin-shugi)). This is the concept that sexual attraction towards flesh-and-blood human is "normal" sexuality.[1][2] While the concept is raised from fictosexuality studies in Japan, it is now being discussed in research outside of Japan[3] and in areas other than fictosexuality studies.[17][18][19]

Human-oriented sexuality (対人たいじん性愛せいあい (taijin-seiai) is the term used to describe the sexual majority attracted to flesh-and-blood people.[20][21] This term emerged from grassroots usage among those who prefer two-dimensional sexual creations like manga and anime, yet lack sexual attraction to flesh-and-blood individuals.[1][2] Based on this premise, the term "human-oriented sexualism" was coined, prompting inquiries into institutions, customs, and value judgments rooted in 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

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According 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

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Online 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

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Matsuura, Yuu (2021). 日常にちじょう生活せいかつの自明じめい性せいによるクレイム申もうし立たての「予よめの排除はいじょ/抹消まっしょう」――「性的せいてき指向しこう」概念がいねんに適合てきごうしないセクシュアリティの語かたられ方かたに注目ちゅうもくして ["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.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Matsuura, Yuu (2024). Tsuji, Yosuke; Sakamaki, Shitone (eds.). "素もと肉にくは肉にくより出ででて、しかし肉にくには非ひらず──ヒューマノジェンダリズム批判ひはん序説じょせつ" [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.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i Liao, Xiwen (2024). "紙し性せい戀こい處しょ境さかい及其悖論ろん: 情動じょうどう、想像そうぞう與あずか賦ふ生せい關係かんけい" [On Fictosexual Position and its Paradox: Affacts, Imaginary, and Animating Relationships]. In 劉りゅう定綱さだつな; 李り衣ころも雲くも (eds.). 故事こじ與あずか另外的てき世界せかい: 台灣たいわんACG研究けんきゅう學會がっかい年會ねんかい論ろん文集ぶんしゅう (in Chinese). Vol. 1. 奇異きい果はて文ぶん創そう事業じぎょう有限ゆうげん公司こうし. ISBN 9786269807680.
  4. ^ a b c Barron, Victoria (2023). Amazing ace, awesome aro: an illustrated exploration. London ; Philadelphia: Jessica Kingsley Publishers. ISBN 978-1-83997-714-5.
  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.
  6. ^ Rendle, Samantha (2023). Hopeless aromantic: an affirmative guide to aromanticism. London ; Philadelphia: Jessica Kingsley Publishers. ISBN 978-1-83997-367-3.
  7. ^ a b c d Matsuura, Yuu (2023). "Basic Terms of Fictosexuality Studies". Research Map. Retrieved 2023-10-21.
  8. ^ a b c d Matsuura, Yuu (2022). アニメーション的てきな誤あやま配はいとしての多重たじゅう見当けんとう識: 非ひ対人たいじん性愛せいあい的てきな「二に次元じげん」へのセクシュアリティに関かんする理論りろん的てき考察こうさつ [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.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g Matsuura, Yuu (2021). 二に次元じげんの性的せいてき表現ひょうげんによる「現実げんじつ性愛せいあい」の相対そうたい化かの可能かのう性せい――現実げんじつの他者たしゃへ性的せいてきに惹ひかれない「オタク」「腐女子ふじょし」の語かたりを事例じれいとして [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.
  10. ^ Blom, Joleen (2022). Grabarczyk, Pawel (ed.). "Game Character". Encyclopedia of Ludic Terms.
  11. ^ 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.
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ Matsuura, Yuu (2020). アセクシュアル研究けんきゅうにおけるセクシュアルノーマティヴィティ概念がいねんの理論りろん的てき意義いぎと日本にっぽん社会しゃかいへの適用てきよう可能かのう性せい [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.
  14. ^ Palettalk (2021). マンガでわかるLGBTQ+ [Comic Book for Learning LGBTQ+] (in Japanese). Kodansha Ltd. p. 35. ISBN 9784065224922.
  15. ^ 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.
  16. ^ Matsuura, Yuu (2022). メタファーとしての美少女びしょうじょ: アニメーション的てきな誤あやま配はいによるジェンダー・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.
  17. ^ Yamada, Masahiro (2022). "ペットの家族かぞく化かの進展しんてんとその帰結きけつ――ネットモニター調査ちょうさによる考察こうさつ" [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.
  18. ^ 筒井つつい晴香はるか (2022). "「推おす」ことの倫理りんりを考かんがえるために". In 香月かつき孝史たかし・上岡うえおか磨みがく奈・中村なかむら香住かすみ (ed.). アイドルについて葛藤かっとうしながら考かんがえてみた：ジェンダー／パーソナリティ／〈推おし〉. 青あお弓ゆみ社しゃ. pp. 46–71. ISBN 978-4-7872-7449-6.
  19. ^ Ueda, Masaki (2023). "わいせつ規制きせいをめぐる諸しょ課題かだい" [Issues surrounding Crimes of Obscenity]. Criminal Law Journal (in Japanese). 75. Seibundo Publishing: 12–17. ISBN 978-4-7923-8881-2.
  20. ^ Iwasaki, Hanae (2024). "フツーの恋愛れんあい、性愛せいあいってなに？『ACE アセクシュアルから見みたセックスと社会しゃかいのこと』刊行かんこう記念きねんトークレポ". me and you little magazine & club. Retrieved 2024-03-10.
  21. ^ Matsuura, Yuu (2023). "抹消まっしょうの現象げんしょう学がく的てき社会しゃかい学がく：類型るいけい化かされないことをともなう周縁しゅうえん化かについて" [Phenomenological Sociology of Erasure : Marginalization Involving Untypification]. Japanese Sociological Review (in Japanese). 74 (1). The Japan Sociological Society: 158-174.
  22. ^ Matsuura, Yuu (2023). "フィクトセクシュアルから考かんがえるジェンダー／セクシュアリティの政治せいじ" [The Politics of Gender and Sexuality from a Fictosexual Perspective]. researchmap. Retrieved 2024-01-16.
  23. ^ Hanyu, Yuki (2024). "Against Compulsory (Hetero)Sexuality: From Asexual Perspectives" (PDF). Gender & Sexuality. 19. Center for Gender Studies at International Christian University: 137.
  24. ^ Realms of the Unreal: Taiwan Entrepot of Fictosexuality (2023). "Introduction". Facebook.
  25. ^ 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.
  26. ^ Kazuyuki, Ito (May 18, 2023). "Man finds bliss after 'marrying' virtual idol Hatsune Miku". The Asahi Shimbun. Retrieved 2024-04-06.
  27. ^ Katashibu, Yohei (2018-11-21). "批判ひはんもあったが「勇気付ゆうきづけられた」 初はつ音おとミクさんとの"本気ほんきの挙式きょしき"を終おえて" [Despite Criticism, "It Gave Me Courage" - Ending the "Serious Wedding" with Hatsune Miku]. ITmedia (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-04-06.
  28. ^ 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.
  29. ^ "Man, married to virtual pop star for 4 years, starts Association of Fictosexuality". Yahoo News. 2023-07-20. Retrieved 2024-04-30.
  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.
  31. ^ Ryall, Julian (2023-09-15). "Japan: Man married to fictional character fights for rights". Deutsche Welle. Retrieved 2024-04-06.
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