Fujoshi Culture

Do We Overlay Reality onto Fictional Relationships?

About this topic

'Overlaying reality onto fictional relationships' refers to the phenomenon where fujoshi, when viewing relationships in BL or secondary creation, project their own past experiences, ideal relationships, or current emotions onto them, or compare and contrast them with real-life human relationships. This is not merely 'escapism' but an act of organizing real emotions through the safe space of fiction, exploring ideal forms, and sometimes indirectly processing unresolved emotions. By overlaying pain, joy, or preciousness onto fiction, it becomes a trigger to deeply understand one's inner self or give form to emotions that are hard to verbalize. This question serves as an important entry point for thinking about the boundary between creation and reality, and their rich interaction.

Conceptual positions

01 Psychological View

The view that by overlaying one's unprocessed emotions or trauma onto fictional relationships, one indirectly obtains catharsis and deepens self-understanding. Projection functions as a defense mechanism while also serving as a trigger for growth.

02 Cultural/Gender View

The view that it is an act of imagining and supplementing 'equal and pure relationships' that are hard to obtain under real heterosexual norms and gender roles, through fiction. It has significance as a space where women can safely express their own desires and ideals.

03 Phenomenological View

The view that by feeling the 'pain' or 'preciousness' of fiction as one's own experience, the vocabulary of real emotional experiences is enriched, and the ability to sense emotional subtleties that are hard to notice in daily life is cultivated.

Talk entry points

Have you ever looked at a relationship in your favorite work and felt 'this is similar to my experience'? What emotions arose at that moment?
Have you ever felt the pain in fiction as if it were your own pain? Which part of reality did it overlap with?
When depicting an ideal relationship in fiction, how much do you think you are reflecting your real self?
After strongly empathizing with fiction, have you had an experience where your view of real-life relationships changed?
When you thought 'this character is similar to me,' which part of yourself did the similarity lie in?
When you become aware of the boundary between fiction and reality, how does it make you feel?

Conceptual tensions

Projection vsPure Appreciation

Does viewing fiction by overlaying one's own reality diminish the original charm of the work, or does it enable a deeper way of enjoying it? The balance between the two is questioned.

Reality Reflection vsIdeal Creation

Is the act of overlaying a reflection of reality, or conversely an act of creating ideals unobtainable in reality? Both aspects may exist simultaneously.

Self-Understanding vsSelf-Deception

Does projection onto fiction deepen self-understanding, or is it self-deception turning away from reality? Different evaluations arise depending on the context.

Freedom of Fiction vsInfluence on Reality

Does freely processing emotions in fiction have a positive influence on real relationships, or conversely widen the gap with ideals?

Talk note

This theme is for understanding the connection between fiction and reality not as a 'problem' but as a 'rich interaction.' It is a quiet space for dialogue that explores the meaning and possibilities of projection without denying it.

Glossary

Projection: Overlaying one's own emotions, experiences, and ideals onto fictional characters or relationships. An important means of self-understanding and emotional processing.
Empathy / Identification: The act of overlaying oneself onto fictional characters or relationships and sharing emotions as if they were one's own. Creates a strong sense of immersion.
Immersion: A state of deep entry into the fictional world where awareness of reality fades. Contributes to emotional processing and exploration of ideals.
Idealization: Perceiving fictional relationships as more perfect and beautiful than reality, projecting one's ideal form onto them.
Boundary: The line drawn between fiction and reality. The act of overlaying implies consciously or unconsciously crossing this boundary.
Catharsis: The effect of indirectly releasing suppressed emotions through fiction and obtaining spiritual purification.

Talk prompts

Ice breaker

Please share one moment from a work you recently read or watched where you felt 'I'm overlaying myself onto this relationship.'

Deep dive

Which part of your real-life experiences or emotions did that overlaid part overlap with? Please try to put it into words.

Bridge

While listening to the other person, quietly imagine: 'Which part of this relationship is this person projecting themselves onto?'

Further questions

Why do we become more sensitive to similar situations in reality the stronger the projection onto a work?
To what extent do fictional relationships influence one's views on real romance?
When you feel 'it hurts because I overlay myself too much,' how should you face it?
Is being able to have ideal relationships only in fiction resignation toward reality or hope?
What kind of dialogue arises when another's projection clashes with your own?
Can deep immersion in fiction make real emotions thinner?