"Bara" is short for "Barazoku", an influential Japanese gay magazine which shut down publication in late 2004. 2chan came up with the abbreviated name for their "gay art" imageboard (which has since been discontinued).
Western, gay male anime and manga fans then appropriated the word to contrast with yaoi. Both are homoerotic anime-style art; the difference is while yaoi is gay-male art produced by women for the consumption of women, bara is created by men, for men. Consequently, bara-style art tends toward more exaggerated, overtly masculine physiques and stereotypically masculine behavior.
Bara in this context has nothing to do with "rose", which is what the word means in Japanese.
Western, gay male anime and manga fans then appropriated the word to contrast with yaoi. Both are homoerotic anime-style art; the difference is while yaoi is gay-male art produced by women for the consumption of women, bara is created by men, for men. Consequently, bara-style art tends toward more exaggerated, overtly masculine physiques and stereotypically masculine behavior.
Bara in this context has nothing to do with "rose", which is what the word means in Japanese.
by Rockear December 10, 2008
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Derived From the elvish language of Twengar, also known as The Black Speech Of Mordor, Barad Dur translates into Dark Tower
When you say Barad Dur you are actually spekaing the foulest langauge ever to grace the face of the planet.
by Sauron May 13, 2005
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by Markxmelloul February 7, 2018
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Get the balzak mug.the slickest hockey player ever known to man, can skate circles around even the best in the league it’s just flat out nasty, oh and to top it off his face is so amazing it’s known to cause people to stare and never look away again, all around Prince Charming.
by kittenkoala9 July 11, 2018
Get the Mat Barzal mug.I’ve met a Baraa once and she was the most sweetest kind hearted soul ever. Not only that, but I think I fell in love at first sight. Her sparkling eyes and sweet smile.
by CodyW72 December 20, 2020
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