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Durarara!!, Vol. 2
Prologue: Red Breath, Long Breath Her love was so unbearably creaky, so unsalvageably rusted, and while so apparently deep in its fixation— it was in fact ignorant, foolish, and shallow in the extreme. I love people. Whom do I love? No, not whom! I love all human beings! What do I love about them? Don’t ask silly questions! Everything, I love everything! I love the hot blood that goes from bright to filthy black as it races through their bodies! I love their sinewy muscles, so tough yet soft, that tear right apart! I love their bone, slender and frail yet sharp and rough! I love their cartilage, trembling soft and clinging wetly and smoothly! I love their throats, chirping and screaming sounds of love when I touch them! I love their eyes, dripping tears in response to my love! Most of all, when my love has peaked…and the cross section of split flesh appears. I love anything and everything about them. You get it? Yes, I love you, too, of course. But I cannot “love” you. But you should love me. Yes, it’s entirely one-sided. In exchange for your love of me, I will love all other humans. A rather twisted triangle. Will you abandon me? Hate me? Use me ragged like an old cloth and throw me away? But you can’t not love me, can you? You can’t not love my power, can you? It’s fine to love me. That’s up to you. But I won’t love you. In fact, I can’t. -
Imōto-Moe: Sexualized Relationships Between Brothers and Sisters in Japanese Animation
Imōto-Moe: Sexualized Relationships Between Brothers and Sisters in Japanese Animation Tuomas Sibakov Master’s Thesis East Asian Studies Faculty of Humanities University of Helsinki November 2020 Tiedekunta – Fakultet – Faculty Koulutusohjelma – Utbildningsprogram – Degree Programme Faculty of Humanities East Asian Studies Opintosuunta – Studieinriktning – Study Track East Asian Studies Tekijä – Författare – Author Tuomas Valtteri Sibakov Työn nimi – Arbetets titel – Title Imōto-Moe: Sexualized Relationships Between Brothers and Sisters in Japanese Animation Työn laji – Arbetets art – Level Aika – Datum – Month and Sivumäärä– Sidoantal – Number of pages Master’s Thesis year 83 November 2020 Tiivistelmä – Referat – Abstract In this work I examine how imōto-moe, a recent trend in Japanese animation and manga in which incestual connotations and relationships between brothers and sisters is shown, contributes to the sexualization of girls in the Japanese society. This is done by analysing four different series from 2010s, in which incest is a major theme. The analysis is done using visual analysis. The study concludes that although the series can show sexualization of drawn underage girls, reading the works as if they would posit either real or fictional little sisters as sexual targets. Instead, the analysis suggests that following the narrative, the works should be read as fictional underage girls expressing a pure feelings and sexuality, unspoiled by adult corruption. To understand moe, it is necessary to understand the history of Japanese animation. Much of the genres, themes and styles in manga and anime are due to Tezuka Osamu, the “god of manga” and “god of animation”. From the 1950s, Tezuka was influenced by Disney and other western animators at the time. -
The Origins of the Magical Girl Genre Note: This First Chapter Is an Almost
The origins of the magical girl genre Note: this first chapter is an almost verbatim copy of the excellent introduction from the BESM: Sailor Moon Role-Playing Game and Resource Book by Mark C. MacKinnon et al. I took the liberty of changing a few names according to official translations and contemporary transliterations. It focuses on the traditional magical girls “for girls”, and ignores very very early works like Go Nagai's Cutie Honey, which essentially created a market more oriented towards the male audience; we shall deal with such things in the next chapter. Once upon a time, an American live-action sitcom called Bewitched, came to the Land of the Rising Sun... The magical girl genre has a rather long and important history in Japan. The magical girls of manga and Japanese animation (or anime) are a rather unique group of characters. They defy easy classification, and yet contain elements from many of the best loved fairy tales and children's stories throughout the world. Many countries have imported these stories for their children to enjoy (most notably France, Italy and Spain) but the traditional format of this particular genre of manga and anime still remains mostly unknown to much of the English-speaking world. The very first magical girl seen on television was created about fifty years ago. Mahoutsukai Sally (or “Sally the Witch”) began airing on Japanese television in 1966, in black and white. The first season of the show proved to be so popular that it was renewed for a second year, moving into the era of color television in 1967. -
Piracy Or Productivity: Unlawful Practices in Anime Fansubbing
View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Aaltodoc Publication Archive Aalto-yliopisto Teknillinen korkeakoulu Informaatio- ja luonnontieteiden tiedekunta Tietotekniikan tutkinto-/koulutusohjelma Teemu Mäntylä Piracy or productivity: unlawful practices in anime fansubbing Diplomityö Espoo 3. kesäkuuta 2010 Valvoja: Professori Tapio Takala Ohjaaja: - 2 Abstract Piracy or productivity: unlawful practices in anime fansubbing Over a short period of time, Japanese animation or anime has grown explosively in popularity worldwide. In the United States this growth has been based on copyright infringement, where fans have subtitled anime series and released them as fansubs. In the absence of official releases fansubs have created the current popularity of anime, which companies can now benefit from. From the beginning the companies have tolerated and even encouraged the fan activity, partly because the fans have followed their own rules, intended to stop the distribution of fansubs after official licensing. The work explores the history and current situation of fansubs, and seeks to explain how these practices adopted by fans have arisen, why both fans and companies accept them and act according to them, and whether the situation is sustainable. Keywords: Japanese animation, anime, fansub, copyright, piracy Tiivistelmä Piratismia vai tuottavuutta: laittomat toimintatavat animen fanikäännöksissä Japanilaisen animaation eli animen suosio maailmalla on lyhyessä ajassa kasvanut räjähdysmäisesti. Tämä kasvu on Yhdysvalloissa perustunut tekijänoikeuksien rikkomiseen, missä fanit ovat tekstittäneet animesarjoja itse ja julkaisseet ne fanikäännöksinä. Virallisten julkaisujen puutteessa fanikäännökset ovat luoneet animen nykyisen suosion, jota yhtiöt voivat nyt hyödyntää. Yhtiöt ovat alusta asti sietäneet ja jopa kannustaneet fanien toimia, osaksi koska fanit ovat noudattaneet omia sääntöjään, joiden on tarkoitus estää fanikäännösten levitys virallisen lisensoinnin jälkeen. -
Eureka Discovers Culture Girls, Fujoshi, and BL: Essay Review of Three Issues of the Japanese Literary Magazine, Yuriika (Eureka)[1]
9/3/2015 Intersections: Eureka Discovers 'Culture Girls,' Fujoshi, and BL: Essay Review of Three Issues of the Japanese Literary magazine, Yuriika (Eureka) Intersections: Gender and Sexuality in Asia and the Pacific Issue 20, April 2009 Eureka Discovers Culture Girls, Fujoshi, and BL: Essay Review of Three Issues of the Japanese Literary magazine, Yuriika (Eureka)[1] Tomoko Aoyama Bunkakei joshi katarogu (Culture Girls' Fujoshi manga taikei (Fujoshi manga BL (Bōizu rabu) sutadiizu (BL [Boys catalogue, November 2005) compendium, June 2007 Love] studies, December 2007 ISBN: 4791701402 supplementary issue) supplementary issue) ISBN: 9784791701636 ISBN: 9784791701728 1. Eureka (or Yuriika) is a mainstream Japanese literary magazine specialising in poetry and criticism. Established by Date Tokuo (1920–61) in 1956, the magazine has played a very important role for decades, introducing cutting edge Western art and literary theories and recognising new texts and talents as well as rediscovering the old. With a few exceptions such as a 1981 issue on girls' comics,[2] however, the magazine has rarely dealt with women writers and artists—until relatively recently. Given this general background, the November 2005 Culture Girls issue has a special historical significance. 2. The issue quickly sold out and the term bunkakei joshi (used broadly for young(ish) women culture vultures, intellectuals, writers, artists, and fans)[3] gained some currency in popular media. From this issue onwards Eureka has paid much more attention than before to a wide range of 'Culture Girls' favourite topics, artists, and genres. The January 2006 Forefront of Manga Criticism issue, for example, included slightly more input from women commentators than the August 2005 supplementary issue Otaku vs SubCul[ture].[4] Other topics featured in 2006 included singer Madonna (March), female manga artist Saibara Rieko (July), and women film directors (December). -
An Examination of Otaku Masculinity in Japan
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`=&$II;AUCFWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWY& & (C\F<&AH&7A>?<>?=&WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW_& & (C\F<=WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWa& & 2>?;A@ED?KA>WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWb& & 7BCI?<;&S]&/K=?A;KDCF&7A>?<c?WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWSQ& & 7BCI?<;&Q]&'?CPE&K>&?B<&:;<=<>?&+CGWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWQQ& & 7BCI?<;&Y]&3C=DEFK>K?G&K>&9CIC>]&'?CPE&C>@&4CFC;GJ<>WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWYS& & 7A>DFE=KA>WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW^R& -
The Otaku Phenomenon : Pop Culture, Fandom, and Religiosity in Contemporary Japan
University of Louisville ThinkIR: The University of Louisville's Institutional Repository Electronic Theses and Dissertations 12-2017 The otaku phenomenon : pop culture, fandom, and religiosity in contemporary Japan. Kendra Nicole Sheehan University of Louisville Follow this and additional works at: https://ir.library.louisville.edu/etd Part of the Comparative Methodologies and Theories Commons, Japanese Studies Commons, and the Other Religion Commons Recommended Citation Sheehan, Kendra Nicole, "The otaku phenomenon : pop culture, fandom, and religiosity in contemporary Japan." (2017). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 2850. https://doi.org/10.18297/etd/2850 This Doctoral Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by ThinkIR: The University of Louisville's Institutional Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of ThinkIR: The University of Louisville's Institutional Repository. This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has retained all other copyrights. For more information, please contact [email protected]. THE OTAKU PHENOMENON: POP CULTURE, FANDOM, AND RELIGIOSITY IN CONTEMPORARY JAPAN By Kendra Nicole Sheehan B.A., University of Louisville, 2010 M.A., University of Louisville, 2012 A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of the College of Arts and Sciences of the University of Louisville in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Humanities Department of Humanities University of Louisville Louisville, Kentucky December 2017 Copyright 2017 by Kendra Nicole Sheehan All rights reserved THE OTAKU PHENOMENON: POP CULTURE, FANDOM, AND RELIGIOSITY IN CONTEMPORARY JAPAN By Kendra Nicole Sheehan B.A., University of Louisville, 2010 M.A., University of Louisville, 2012 A Dissertation Approved on November 17, 2017 by the following Dissertation Committee: __________________________________ Dr. -
The Significance of Anime As a Novel Animation Form, Referencing Selected Works by Hayao Miyazaki, Satoshi Kon and Mamoru Oshii
The significance of anime as a novel animation form, referencing selected works by Hayao Miyazaki, Satoshi Kon and Mamoru Oshii Ywain Tomos submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Aberystwyth University Department of Theatre, Film and Television Studies, September 2013 DECLARATION This work has not previously been accepted in substance for any degree and is not being concurrently submitted in candidature for any degree. Signed………………………………………………………(candidate) Date …………………………………………………. STATEMENT 1 This dissertation is the result of my own independent work/investigation, except where otherwise stated. Other sources are acknowledged explicit references. A bibliography is appended. Signed………………………………………………………(candidate) Date …………………………………………………. STATEMENT 2 I hereby give consent for my dissertation, if accepted, to be available for photocopying and for inter-library loan, and for the title and summary to be made available to outside organisations. Signed………………………………………………………(candidate) Date …………………………………………………. 2 Acknowledgements I would to take this opportunity to sincerely thank my supervisors, Elin Haf Gruffydd Jones and Dr Dafydd Sills-Jones for all their help and support during this research study. Thanks are also due to my colleagues in the Department of Theatre, Film and Television Studies, Aberystwyth University for their friendship during my time at Aberystwyth. I would also like to thank Prof Josephine Berndt and Dr Sheuo Gan, Kyoto Seiko University, Kyoto for their valuable insights during my visit in 2011. In addition, I would like to express my thanks to the Coleg Cenedlaethol for the scholarship and the opportunity to develop research skills in the Welsh language. Finally I would like to thank my wife Tomoko for her support, patience and tolerance over the last four years – diolch o’r galon Tomoko, ありがとう 智子. -
Otak-Who? Technoculture, Youth, Consumption, and Resistance
Lawrence Eng Research Seminar Methods in STS Spring, 2002 Otak-who? Technoculture, youth, consumption, and resistance. American representations of a Japanese youth subculture. Abstract The otaku are a youth subculture first characterized in Japan, but beyond that basic definition of the term, there have been numerous, often contradictory and routinely contested, ways the otaku have been represented by various segments of Japanese society over the course of the last 2 decades. The otaku in Japan (and abroad) have attracted non- Japanese attention as well, and the otaku have been studied, mimicked, ridiculed, romanticized, etc. by Americans who have become interested in this apparently fascinating Japanese (sub)cultural export. Influenced by Japanese conceptions of otaku as obsessed fans, technological fetishists, avid collectors, antisocial outcasts, and/or borderline psychopaths, but informed by American attitudes toward geek culture, hackers, cyberpunks, individualism, and lay expertise, representations of otaku by American observers of the culture have been equally varied (and contested) over the last decade. This paper will examine the various and changing representations of otaku culture by Americans, and attempt to unpack the context behind and the implications of those representations. Drawing upon themes uncovered in this critical discourse analysis, I will suggest a new way of defining otaku as 'reluctant insiders' engaged in the appropriation of technology and science as a means of cultural resistance. I will argue that their activities are informed by a particular otaku ethic that distinguishes them from other subcultures with similar motivations. Introduction My paper is divided into three parts. In Part 1, I ask: Why do we care about otaku, and how will we study them? In Part 2, I will critically analyze the various ways otaku have been represented since they were first characterized as a subculture in the early 80s. -
Gender and Audience Reception of English-Translated Manga
Girly Girls and Pretty Boys: Gender and Audience Reception of English-translated Manga June M. Madeley University of New Brunswick, Saint John Introduction Manga is the term used to denote Japanese comic books. The art styles and publishing industry are unique enough to warrant keeping this Japanese term for what has become transnational popular culture. This paper represents a preliminary analysis of interview data with manga readers. The focus of the paper is the discussion by participants of their favourite male and female characters as well as some general discussion of their reading practices. Males and females exhibit some reading preferences that are differentiated by gender. There is also evidence of gendered readings of male and female characters in manga. Manga in Japan are published for targeted gender and age groups. The broadest divisions are between manga for girls, shōjo, and manga for boys, shōnen. Unlike Canada and the USA, manga is mainstream reading in Japan; everyone reads manga (Allen and Ingulsrud 266; Grigsby 64; Schodt, Dreamland 21). Manga stories are first serialized in anthology magazines with a specific target audience. Weekly Shōnen Jump is probably the most well known because it serializes the manga titles that have been made into popular anime series on broadcast television in North America (and other transnational markets) such as Naruto and Bleach. Later, successful titles are compiled and reprinted as tankobon (small digest-sized paperback books). The tankobon is the format in which manga are translated into English and distributed by publishers with licensing rights purchased from the Japanese copyright holders. Translated manga are also increasingly available through online scanlations produced by fans who are able to translate Japanese to English. -
Representations and Reality: Defining the Ongoing Relationship Between Anime and Otaku Cultures By: Priscilla Pham
Representations and Reality: Defining the Ongoing Relationship between Anime and Otaku Cultures By: Priscilla Pham Submitted to OCAD University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Contemporary Art, Design, and New Media Art Histories Toronto, Ontario, Canada, April 2021 © Priscilla Pham, 2021 Abstract This major research paper investigates the ongoing relationship between anime and otaku culture through four case studies; each study considers a single situation that demonstrates how this relationship changes through different interactions with representation. The first case study considers the early transmedia interventions that began to engage fans. The second uses Takashi Murakami’s theory of Superflat to connect the origins of the otaku with the interactions otaku have with representation. The third examines the shifting role of the otaku from that of consumer to producer by means of engagement with the hierarchies of perception, multiple identities, and displays of sexualities in the production of fan-created works. The final case study reflects on the 2.5D phenomenon, through which 2D representations are brought to 3D environments. Together, these case studies reveal the drivers of the otaku evolution and that the anime–otaku relationship exists on a spectrum that teeters between reality and representation. i Acknowledgements I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my primary advisor, Ala Roushan, for her continued support and confidence in my writing throughout this paper’s development. Her constructive advice, constant guidance, and critical insights helped me form this paper. Thank you to Dr. David McIntosh, my secondary reader, for his knowledge on anime and the otaku world, which allowed me to change my perspective of a world that I am constantly lost in. -
2. Case Study: Anime Music Videos
2. CASE STUDY: ANIME MUSIC VIDEOS Dana Milstein When on 1 August 1981 at 12:01 a.m. the Buggles’ ‘Video Killed the Radio Star’ aired as MTV’s first music video, its lyrics parodied the very media pre- senting it: ‘We can’t rewind, we’ve gone too far, . put the blame on VTR.’ Influenced by J. G. Ballard’s 1960 short story ‘The Sound Sweep’, Trevor Horn’s song voiced anxiety over the dystopian, artificial world developing as a result of modern technology. Ballard’s story described a world in which natu- rally audible sound, particularly song, is considered to be noise pollution; a sound sweep removes this acoustic noise on a daily basis while radios broad- cast a silent, rescored version of music using a richer, ultrasonic orchestra that subconsciously produces positive feelings in its listeners. Ballard was particu- larly criticising technology’s attempt to manipulate the human voice, by con- tending that the voice as a natural musical instrument can only be generated by ‘non-mechanical means which the neruophonic engineer could never hope, or bother, to duplicate’ (Ballard 2006: 150). Similarly, Horn professed anxiety over a world in which VTRs (video tape recorders) replace real-time radio music with simulacra of those performances. VTRs allowed networks to replay shows, to cater to different time zones, and to rerecord over material. Indeed, the first VTR broadcast occurred on 25 October 1956, when a recording of guest singer Dorothy Collins made the previous night was broadcast ‘live’ on the Jonathan Winters Show. The business of keeping audiences hooked 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, promoted the concept of quantity over quality: yes- terday’s information was irrelevant and could be permanently erased after serving its money-making purpose.