There is a clandestine movement of Chinese women reading homosexual erotic literature. And China is repressing it

Until mid -2024, if you lived in China and wanted to read some literature rise in tone, your reference website was Haiter Literature City. Millions of women wrote and read erotic stories with an incentive: they were starring men. However, at the end of last year, mass arrests of those responsible again condemned the genre to ostracism in the country. Although erotic literature has always had space in China, it seems that it is no longer a country for dirty pages. A libidinous history. Chinese erotic literature It is a genus of long historical tradition: already during the period Han (around 200 BC) circulated didactic manuals on sex, but with literary format of dialogue between the emperor and its tutors. This is the oldest erogetic literature, together with specific works in ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome, And it has always been marked by metaphors and poetic codes of great lyricism. China would not stop producing key works of the genre, such as The persecutive ‘Jin Ping Mei’, of the 16th century. The genre has always shone in China when it has used erotic scenes as an excuse to raise critical and satirical issues. Some of that remains in the current and digital incarnations of the genre, which transcend the mere accumulation of sexual acrobatics. Hurricane Danmei. The stories that present romantic relationships between male characters are known under that name. They are works of women and women: the majority of authors and readers of the genre are, which is born with the seventy sleeves (The famous Yaoiwith which so many features share), which arrived in China illegally translated into Taiwan. This generated a scene of young writers who created their own stories, thus modeling a Chinese adapted identity but very influenced by Japan. With the arrival of the Internet the Danmei became mass and came to see even adaptations to the cinema of some works, although with the high erotic voltage completely domesticated. The digital arrives. The Danmei, more prominent genre At the present time of Chinese eroticism, it experienced an unusual impulse with digital platforms, which allowed not only many authors to professionalize, but also a community of readers. After the almost clandestine circulation in forums, Danmei Digital was consecrated on websites as Jinjiang Literature Cityeven standing with all kinds of genres, although very trimmed in its erotic part Since the end of the last decade. Others relevant websites They are lianchenng readmei chinese web, although the most noticeable, without a doubt, is Haiter Literature City. The case of Haitang Literature City. Also known as Flower Market, she was specialized in erotic literature, and more specifically in Danmei, and had the servers located in Taiwan for run from censorship. It didn’t help him. In June 2024, Chinese authorities deployed an operation that affected dozens of websitesbut Especially afower market: They arrested several authors and distributors of material out of the web for continental China, accused of publishing and profiting with obscene and pornographic content. Flower Market kept financial records of Chinese authors, which facilitated things to the authorities. No one went well. On the one hand, it was clear to what extent censorship and Chinese repression did not stop within its borders: There was no space for the authors of erotic literature and queer. But also, it was clear that the first thing for Haitang Literature City was the business: The platform received criticisms for prioritizing their economic interests, delaying the elimination of accounts and promoting content even after arrests, which put the authors at risk. The lack of protection that they suffered was evident. Censorship in China. Although homosexuality was decriminalized in China in 1997, the explicit representation of its relationships remains under strict surveillance, since pornography is prohibited and the definition of “obscenity” is very vague, which allows the authorities to intervene in very diverse cases, almost unpredictable. Periodically, the Erotic Materus Danmei It has been persecuted and forums and stores with material on the topic on the Internet have been closed. Not a few authors have been arrested in this context, although The best known case is Tianyi’sauthor that in 2018 was sentenced to ten years in prison. Debates and future of gender. This prohibition environment, with cases as recent as the closure of Flower Market and the imprisonment of Tianyi, have generated a climate of suspicion and fear. In this way, the Danmei has become a symbol of political resistance, although its content is not explicitly. Outside China, international platforms such as Archive of Our Own have allowed the genre to be increasingly known and Relevant Danmei works editions in countries like Spain. A fever that hides a very complicated political and social situation. Header | Nguyen Dang Hoang Nu in Unspash In Xataka | Bad Sex: The worst erotic scenes of literature

The White House disdains Spanish, others elevate it to promote Latin American art

LOS ANGELES — The use of Spanish is considered an act of rebellion and resistance in the United States. Now, more than ever, the language of Juan Rulfo, Gabriel García Márquez and Julio Cortázar will be a dissonant element, a language that the spouses Ivonne Guzman and Jorge Espinosa They have decided to elevate their venture that promotes art through books and records. On his first day as president, a few hours after his inauguration, Donald Trump closed the website and social networks in Spanish from the White House. However, these entrepreneurs use their digital platform, called The thinking junkto celebrate the literature and music produced in Spanish, betting on a reunion—in some—and discovery—in others—of the delight caused by art in this fertile language. “In general it is about dignifying, showing the joy and beauty of this language,” commented Ivonne. On the digital platform, Los trastos depensa, these entrepreneurs offer alternative music and literature in the United States. (Soudi Jiménez / Los Angeles Times en Español) This Ecuadorian couple launched on April 23, 2023, within the framework of the Book Dayits platform that now has a presence on Facebook and instagram. In part, this digital initiative responds to their personal tastes, but along the way they have realized that there are more Latin people with the same preferences in literature and music. The idea of ​​creating this website arose during the times of the pandemic, as a result of that unsatisfied need that they have been dealing with since they both settled in the United States. Jorge arrived with residency in 2011, while Ivonne did so in 2018 when she assumed her position as Consul General of Ecuador in Los Angeles. “We didn’t find a lot of things that are easily accessible in other countries,” said Jorge. If they wanted to acquire a book by the Argentine writer Ariana Harwicz, the Ecuadorian Mónica Ojeda, or the Spanish Irene Vallejo, they had to buy it on a trip they took to Quito, the Ecuadorian capital; or ask for any friendship that could bring them from their homeland. The same thing happened to them if they wanted to buy an Argentine rock album, or a Brazilian or Chilean artist. “There weren’t any, it was impossible to get them, it was like they didn’t exist,” he added. In their own words, they do not consider themselves experts; However, academic training and experience gives them knowledge and authority to speak about what they are doing. Ecuadorian journalist Ivonne Guzmán shows some of the books that were put on sale at the LéaLA book fair, held in September 2024 in Los Angeles. (Soudi Jiménez / Los Angeles Times en Español) For the last 31 years, Ivonne has practiced cultural journalism in her native country. She has been a reporter, editor and columnist at the newspaper The Commerce. He also has a master’s degree in research in history and is author of the book Social painting. Three women in the art world of the 1930samong other professional achievements. On the other hand, Jorge is a musician and has a bachelor’s degree in fine arts with an emphasis in painting and printmaking, as well as a master’s degree in education and is currently pursuing another master’s degree in sound art. To launch this venture, in 2022 they did a market study, they visited record stores and bookstores in Southern California, they talked to different people, they asked them where they got their books and music. By receiving a grant they applied for, they enabled the platform that sells new and used books, as well as compact discs and vinyl records. “This is a bit of facing what is there and seeing what works; We got records from Mercedes Sosa, Julio Jaramillo and Astor Piazzolla, as well as Aterciopelados from Colombia and Caifanes from Mexico. We emphasize artists from Ecuador, taking into account those who are outside the city of Quito,” Jorge explained. Among the books they have for sale on their portal are those by Ecuadorian María Fernanda Ampuero and Daniela Alcívar Bellolio, Argentine Leila Guerriero and Colombian Pilar Quintana, among other authors. (Soudi Jiménez / Los Angeles Times en Español) In literature, the bet is to have books like those written by the Ecuadorian María Fernanda Ampuero and Daniela Alcívar Bellolio, the Argentine Leila Guerriero and the Colombian Pilar Quintana, to name a few examples. They are also interested in offering copies of graphic novels, essays, novels and short stories by prestigious authors. Along these same lines, the public can suggest a book or an album; If the person is patient, these entrepreneurs can get it and send it to any city in the United States. At this time, delivery takes time because only the two of them select and renew their catalog. They themselves take the orders to the postal service. “The nice thing is that we are bringing more indie, newer, smaller publishers; We have things that you can’t get easily and that Amazon doesn’t have either, that’s the difference,” Ivonne highlighted. These publishers are Ecuadorian, Spanish, Colombian and Argentine, which publish many of these books by unknown authors in the United States, but with wide recognition in Spain and Latin America. Jorge Espinosa shows a book about the Argentine musician Fito Páez. (Soudi Jiménez / Los Angeles Times en Español) Despite the position recently adopted by the White House, Spanish is moving forward at a steady pace. Currently more than 600 million people speak this language in the world. In the United States, 67.6% of the 63.7 million Latinos use Spanish at home, that is, more than 43 million people, according to the 2024 report from the Cervantes Institute. This interest in this language was noticeable at the last LéaLA book fair in Spanish, held in September 2024. These entrepreneurs sold almost half of their catalog, there they found many learners of Spanish and people who are competent or who are native speakers who seek alternative literature and music. For this reason … Read more

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