What It Means to Love a Man

The Evolution of the Boys’ Love Industry in Thailand

Abstract

Thailand is internationally lauded as a haven for queer communities and, in some ways, this notion is true. The boys’ love television drama series has had unprecedented success and received fame both within and outside Thailand. From the first boys’ love drama series in 2014 to 2018, there has been a significant shift in the modes of production, styles of depiction, and approaches to masculinity. This study references earlier studies to illustrate how Thailand’s boys’ love productions have adapted from their predecessors while evolving by incorporating their own sociocultural experiences. It also describes how five years of productions have allowed the Thai entertainment industry to expand beyond its former constraints in the portrayal of boys’ love by comparing and contrasting Love Sick: The Series and Love by Chance. Finally, the study highlights a schism that resulted in a defining moment for the continued production of boys’ love drama series by analyzing the success of both SOTUS The Series and Together With Me. Though some may propose that the success of the boys’ love industry in Thailand indicates a subversion of heteronormative mainstream narratives, the study denies this and elaborates on how the industry perpetuates heteronormativity by applying the same heteronormative standards it is said to subvert.