I dont think that just because the author adressed those topics, that they agreed with what happened (or enjoyed it). Theres a lot to be considered, and i agree with you that It is Very frustrating when the victim bathes in impotence (wich happens a LOT in the BL stories sadly). But, i think that the point in this manga is to show exactly that, imagine, in an modern world, these people live in a isolated Island, suffering and being indocrinated, with a cycle of death that repeats itself only for the interest/amusement of the powerful ones. No civilization is aware of their existance to help them. That is VERY heavy, absurd and extremely sad, but It means to portray something that is very real, and that sadly exists in our world. I see It as a critique. I see your anger, It is very enraging how wrong and often abuse is portrayed in BL, but i don't think that this manga has no meaning. (Im not criticising your point of view, sorry If it sounds like im attacking u or something, i just wanted to share mine)
Write it yourself, numbskull
I understand that people want to portray reality or horrible things sometimes, what I don't understand is the proportion and the way it's treated. Writing so many stories where the victim doesn't get revenge normalizes abuse and reinforces the idea that there's no solution. Or even worse, portraying the characters as cowards who should forgive and forget. Furthermore, if you look at heterosexual shoujo or shounen manga, for example, a much larger percentage have stories of overcoming adversity or revenge, while LGBTQ+ stories are always sad and pessimistic, full of sexual abuse and inappropriate relationships between characters and romanticization of abuse. There's no way to pretend that's not the case, even if they aren't written by LGBTQ+ people, who would have an excuse to be pessimistic, LGBTQ+ stories are toxic and pessimistic. In this case, I simply don't understand. Showing that people suffer is useless because everyone knows that. The important part is showing how they can fight against it, this BL, like many others, fails in this fundamental aspect. I think many people feel touched by sad stories like this and assume they are good, but to be sad is just pornography of suffering.I apologize for the long text and thank you for your kindness and compassion, and also thank for taking the time to read that com comment.
I don't know if you hate yourself or if you're just a lazy bum who takes the time to read my comment and post crap just because I criticize your fetish. After all, you're not defending any author on this kind of site. Maybe you shouldn't be reading this kind of thing when you clearly have the emotional control of a newborn; maybe start with something closer to your mental capacity.
I dont belive that the abuse is romanticized in *this* particular manga, but otherwise i agree 100% with your point. It is frustrating how often lgbtq+ characters are subjected to passiveness when It comes to abuse. It's absolutely terrible, outdated and should change as soon as possible, because It affects negativelly the perception of queer ppl and their relationships. Stories that better portray healthy relationships do exist but still are few, sadly. Anyways, thank you for your kindness and genuine answer, i was able to open my eyes a little more, and to be more aware. I hope you have a lovely day
This story doesn't romantizise rape. Other the other hand, it shows how molestation and abuse is so horrifying and traumatizing. Many bl stories that have abuse, don't show the mental suffering victims go through.
You say this story doesn't show victims getting revenge when the story hasn't even ended? I'm sure we have AT LEAST 2 more volumes left.
Sadly, yes, a lot of bl stories have abuse, but there are plenty out there that don't. I can name off over 20 from the top of my head.
Stories are going to have all sorts of plots.
I, for one, am driven mad with many stories that have rape and abuse and yet they fall in love. That's fucked up that it happens and it literally pisses me off.
Do I read stories that have it, I do, but mainly for the story telling.
The story telling in Lullaby of the Dawn doesn't have incestuous relationships... When?
This story has age gaps, but is that wrong when literally there so many IRL couples that AREN'T the same age? Why does it matter as long as they're both adults? There's plenty of stories where they are the same age.
Why should this story end with Mika killing everyone? How Is that going to bring Alto and Elva to a sweet and satisfying ending? Is that going to stop the cycle of hatred? That's just murder and not solving the problem.
What about the problem with the sea? Is that going to set the Kannagi free? Is the sea going to ever stop attacking people?
That's not going to be solved with everyone dying. Do you honestly believe Elva and Alto would be happy with that? Or anyone on the island, for the matter?
These people are brain washed, manipulated, and indoctrinated. It happens IRL and people are stuck in a limbo. People are used and abused. It HAPPENS IRL. This is not taking concepts that are never seen IRL.
Plus, this story is heavy. I just glad there is nothing but consent between Elva and Alto. That's why this is one of my favorite stories, it's how they are together despite all the hardships. It's them against the world in their pursuit to freedom.
I just hope you see that.
I know it's hard to see so many bl stories with abuse, but in the end, there are plenty that don't. If you look up buff.fujo on insta, she has a whole page of JUST green flag and or mostly green manhwas and mangas.
It's sad, yeah, that a lot of the abuse ones are popular, but I think more people are venturing in the hopes that many stories stop having that. If you look at the comments of many stories that randomly throw in abuse between the MC and ML, people become very disappointed and angry in the comments with the turn of events.
Some people are sick and glorify it or say it's so hot, so unfortunately there are going to be people like that. But not everyone who reads it likes it, but tolerates it because people want to see redemption and groveling.
Hardships characters go through, especially dark romance, is popular because it makes for a safe space where they csn explores complex themes like obsession and power dynamics, often featuring morally gray characters that provide an escape from reality. These stories allow readers to engage with intense emotions and situations in a safe, fictional context, often culminating in a satisfying resolution despite the darker elements.
Do I agree with that, no. Do I read out of curiosity, yes.
I can go blue in the face and have with a friend who just doesn't understand how detrimental it is and how sickening it is to have all of this abuse, only for it to end up in romance, especially when it's gone way off the charts. I HATE when there's randomly a whole ass gang rape scene in the middle of a story for no apparent reason and make it graphic af. I drop it immediately.
I can tell you I am only reading one black flag story, and that's just because of the intense plot and my curiosity of the side characters and their back stories. Other than that, I try not to read many red flags. I'm just saying this to give you an idea that there's some of us that can't stand abuse and why this hits different.
Anyway, but again, this story is NOT toxic between he MCs, which is what makes it so refreshing. If everything was rainbows and butterflies, people would get bored really easily.
My favorite anime if all time is AOT and this story brings back that feeling I had when I first watched it.
Also, sorry for my crappy grammer at some points. It's 4 am and I can't sleep, but still have my brain into mush from insomnia.
I came back because I finished the last chapter and I came back to read what I said, and I noticed I sounded very condescending in many bits, and I'm sorry. I was tired and didn't realize I came off that way. I wasn't trying to put your feelings and thoughts off, I was just trying to bring up these questions to think of other possibilities and perhaps get you thinking of other ways of thinking about this specific story. I wasn't trying to come off rude. I definitely would like to have an open conversation and discussion of these questions because I agree on many points you say about the overall culture of bls etc.
Anyway, I'm sorry again.
Dang bruh all of your topics on any manhwa/hua/ga are just pure hate and complaints huh? Not hating on your opinions cuz I agree with some of them, but damn.
Any recommendations of works that you ACTUALLY liked?? It’d probably be a masterpiece, if it meets ur standards LMFAO
I do have high standards. ٩(๑❛ᴗ❛๑)۶
And no it doesn't take much to please me. If you look at my "have read" and the ones I have rated and have reviews on, you'll see I actually rate pretty high compared to some people. I average about 4.3-4.5 average rating.
Oh no hahahaha I was not referring to you, sorry if my reply wasn’t clear, it was directed to the main commenter (piu_piu). Looked into their page and rarely saw them compliment anything they read. I rate pretty high too, I’ll look into your “have read” ^_^!!
Looked into your “have read” and you have Perle in there, no need to say more u have great taste ٩(๑❛ᴗ❛๑)۶
It is often a fetish that is very normalized in Japanese otaku culture that gets lost on a lot of western viewers so they assume that it’s “innocent”. I haven’t caught up with this one bc I’m too scared to see if the author is just like that…a lot of them you can research and find their own tweet admissions or their alt pen name doujin :( I had the same thoughts as you and tried looking into it…the Japanese fan comments will just say it out loud…
You will find that more often than not…western fans are giving too much benefit of doubt. A lot of otakus (mangaka can be otaku) have the belief everything is fine as fiction since in their country that is how the law has worked
There is nothing in this manga other than suffering, just like all the other ones. Author are always doing that, ambiguous age gaps, incestuous relationships, abuse all the way to pedo, specially in BLS. And the story never have a point to make, just suffering no revenge, is almost like they like seeing this type of thing, like a fetish in abuse or something like that. And yet there is this sense the victim have to be virtuous and give the other face, isn't it strange there are some many horrible abuse story but almost no proper revenge one? Or even one violent revenge that destroys everything? Are stories where the victim is the only suffering the only valid ones, are authors lacking creativity or are the abusers the ones writing these whole time? Honestly, this manga has no meaning,they should just have let Mika kill everyone and it would be a better ending.