Also known as: ホモ, ゲイ, 大叔, GMPD, BaraArt
Bara (Gei komi' in Japan) is a Japanese genre of manga and art (usually) by and for gay and bisexual men. With heavy focus on the masculine features and appeal of men.
While mostly dependent on an artist's personal tastes, the ‘bara’ archetype features 3 main body types:
- Bear-type bodies, (typically tagged as Plump or Fat), are generally softer and rounder looking, with varying degrees of visible musculature.
- Artists: Suv (Suv032), Kuro Nezumi Inu, Tevit (Tevit15).
- Hunks/Jocks or Muscular-type bodies, in contrast to the chiseled triangular look of professional bodybuilders, have defined musculature that is usually more proportional overall, similar to that of athletic strongman, with a wider waist (comparison), though the more chiseled appearance can be a stylistic choice (see Nikism for reference).
- Artists: Tarutoru, Crow (Siranui), Dopey (Dopq).
- Twunk or otter-type bodies, tagged Toned, or Muscular (especially with younger or sometimes older Mature Males).
- Artists: Mentaiko, Homri, Torakichi (Ebitendon), Kuroshinki.
Musculature, when depicted, is typically more exaggerated for emphasis (e.g. pecs) along with the Bulge (implying an exaggerated penis size), and both are usually rather noticeable even when the subject is wearing clothes - abnormally so. When this exaggeration is paired with the points above, which assert a softer approach when drawing the male form, the 'bara' archetype becomes noticeable.
Common masculine features on subjects include: different degrees of facial and Body Hair (especially the happy trail leading to pubic hair) - or a complete absence of it in the case of younger characters (depending on the artist's tastes), thick, huge, cut or bushy eyebrows, Sideburns, Buzz Cut, Large Hands, Scars, Tattoos, Bandaids, Bandages, Cheekbones, wrinkles (visible with mature and old men), etc.
All of these characteristics lend the style a degree of flexibility that allows for further stylization as well as broader cultural mixing between communities; for instance, despite bara’s roots in opposition to them, there is substantial cross-over with the larger Boys' Love community - which can be seen in some artists' styles (E.g Yotti, Arima (Arima Bn)). It can also be applied to non-human and humanoid characters, such as Furry Males (E.g Wafu (Youzora Samo18), Boogbogex).
See also
- Muscular Male
- Fat Man
- Mature Male
- Old Man
- Muscular Uke
- Reversible Couple
- LGBT Pride
- Yaoi
- Male Focus
- Manly - overly masculine traits that were not neccessarily homoerotic
- Cho Aniki
- Kuso Miso Technique
- Gachimuchi
Related pools
- Mature Gay Couple: pool #21194
- Classic Bara styles: pool #20444
- Bara Characteristics: pool #20511
- Bogossbook collection: pool #20704