Ain't It Cool news sometimes leads to amazing discoveries, which is why I read it despite the sex-crazed idiots that often post on its talkbacks - and review movies. Like this article that previews a new guide to Manga by Japanese Manga artist and, dare I say, feminist-type grrl Mimei Sakamoto.
Check out her cartoon from Time Asia: "When No Choice is a Good One: A Girl's Guide to Happiness in Japan"
http://www.time.com/time/asia/covers/501050829/manga.html
And here's her scathing comment, as an anime fan or otaku herself, on the young male anime fan-fascination with "moe" (fetishizing innocence and childhood) anime:
"Perhaps it's because 'Train Man' (the story of an otaku who wins the heart of a pretty woman) was such a hit, but recently I've seen all these dorky guys walking around in thick glasses and checkered shirts and it pains my heart to think that they may be hoping to meet some pretty girl who's going to fall in love with them. Sorry guys, the chances of that happening are zero...This fetish you call 'moe' is a pedophiliac fetish and is nothing more than perversion. It's not really something you should be gushing over," the manga artist says, addressing the otaku. "In other countries, they'd call what you're fantasizing over 'child pornography' and you'd all be arrested. I'm ashamed that these 'otaku' who are perpetual criminals have entered the mainstream and started an otaku boom."
Pretty interesting stuff, huh? Here's the whole article on Aintitcool, which includes a lot of other anime news as well.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
Interesting, but a little too binary - moe is hardly a fetish limited to male fans; the success of moe series like Strawberry Panic! should be evidence enough of that. I'm also kind've amused by the interviewer's inability to spell 'incendiary', but that's utterly besides the point.
In general, I do agree with Sakamoto - the fetishising of youth (whether 'innocent' youth or no) is always problematic, and hardly limited to Japan (consider, well, pretty much any girl/boy-bands). That is to say - it sucks, and it's everywhere. Rubbish :(
Thanks for the comment, Yann. I thought it was interesting to hear a female manga artist speak out on the subject! I'm going to have to look for more of her work.
Post a Comment