Anime Theory and Criticism??

[AnimeBabe420]

Hello GradCafe-San

 

I am planning on applying to art history graduate programs this coming year, and i am greatly interested in the theory and criticism of anime, but i don't kno where has good programs for that   i am a junior art history major at a decent school but my professors all say "AnimeBabe420, that is not a field of study"   This is what i am interested in though, because i do not accept their defeat:

 

-firstly my senior thesis is "The Proletariat in Dragonballz: Goku's Leftist Leanings"

- i am interested in gender in the anime universe, and have in the past proposed research topics such as homosexuality in Yugioh, but these subjects have been turned down by my professors.  Questions about Vegeta and Roshi's latent relationship

- should anime characters be considered people?

-otaku rights movement

- how super saiyan would change our historical outlook, ie what if hitler was super saiyan

 

does anyone know of any anime specialists? anyone open to the critical race theory within the DragonBall Z universe? How has Digimon fanfic responded to the Obama administration?

 

Arigatō!!!  

 

 

[curiositykilledthecat]

I heard that Yale was currently looking to fill a position in some sort of Japanese visual culture field. There's also someone who studies similar issues at UT, but the name is escaping me...

[ereissoup]

This seems like an area of study that could fall within various disciplinary categories, not just art history. Media Theory/Communication Studies, East Asian Studies, Anthropology and Sociology, etc... 

 

What I'm saying is, don't give up if you fail to garner a positive reception at first... 

Edited April 8, 2014 by ereissoup

[m-ttl]

Despite the fact that I 100% believe this is a rather hilarious troll, I've sat in an Art History course specifically on Japanese Anime/Manga and Pop culture starting from the Ukiyo-e period to the 21st century. I can't believe this got earnest responses. I mean really this is charming, but SERIOUS (TONGUE-IN-CHEEK) ANSWER FOR OBVIOUS TROLL:

 

• I'm actually doing a project on early Manga as we speak so I can positively say that yes, this is an actual field of study within Art History, Visual Culture Studies, Film Studies, and English/Visual Rhetoric. There are a few journals that would have relevant work that you could find scholars from. 
• I'm absolutely hoping by Critical Race studies in Dragon Ball you mean critically analyzing the impact of Journey to the West (a Chinese tale) on a Japanese work.  
• With all due respect, I don't really think this (Yu-Gi-Oh!)  is the place you should attempt to apply Queer Theory to Japanese art works. 
•  There is no Otaku Rights Movement 
• What is more interesting than "should anime characters be considered people" is the social stigma against those who do nutty things like marry characters and/or the visual theory behind why White Westerners often believe Japanese anime characters are White and not Japanese. 
• Digimon Fanfic has nothing to do with the Obama administration but the adaption of Obama into kawaii aesthetics has been interesting. 
• Romaji? Really? ハハハ。。。馬鹿外人です。

Edited April 8, 2014 by m-ttl

[ereissoup]

Wow, rude. Just because they have a name like "AnimeBabe420" you automatically assume they're a troll?

[m-ttl]

Wow, rude. Just because they have a name like "AnimeBabe420" you automatically assume they're a troll?

 

[Munashi]

 

Despite the fact that I 100% believe this is a rather hilarious troll...

 

 

^ Definitely this.  But now I really want to know how the digimon fandom has been impacted by the Obama administration...

 

EDIT: Just wanted to note that it's definitely not the username that makes people think it's a troll.  It's the content of the post (m-ttl pointed out a lot of what makes the post hilarious).  I enjoyed the original post, it made me laugh and is almost clever.

Edited April 8, 2014 by Munashi

[AnimeBabe420]

A troll?? Say that to my katana blade you cowards.

 

And to address: m-ttl

 - please do not insult the noble otaku by claiming we have not been systematically oppressed.  My otaku status has prevented me from voting, but the government claims it is because I am a felon.  Nothing is transparent under Emperor Obama's rule.

 - with all due respect to YOU, Yu-Gi-Oh is absolutely the correct forum to discuss gender and homosexuality.  There is a strong case to be argued that Yu-Gi-Oh is trans.

 - Dont act as if Digimon Fanfic hasn't produced amazing critiques of the Israel-Palestine crisis

 

And since so many of you feel the need to address my username, it is simply the first thing that came to mind.  I love anime and I love the kush.

[Munashi]

 - Dont act as if Digimon Fanfic hasn't produced amazing critiques of the Israel-Palestine crisis

 

Please, please elaborate on this.  Inquiring minds need to know, man.

[AnimeBabe420]

I am surprised this needs to be explained, but if you are simply too dull to see the link between current Digimon fanfic and critiques of the Israeli directed police state in Gaza, then I am not sure what place you have in a graduate school program.  But here we go:

 

Firstly, I will direct you to the seminal work "Digimon Police Team" (https://www.fanfiction.net/s/5852181/1/Digimon-police-Team) which takes place in the human universe (not the Digimon parallel universe) present day, and follows the teaming up of oppressed humans (implicit is that they are palestinians) with Digimon, meant to overthrow the police state.*  There are many clues in this work to indicate that it is about Israel-Palestine.  The fighting preperation is identical to krav maga, and the main opponents' structure is exactly like the Mossad.  Need I say more?

 

It is no secret that the Digital Universe has addressed racial tensions.  Now, examine the life cycle of a Digimon.  Digimon develop almost human like capabilities yet are stultified by their ownership by humans.  If not for the enslavement of the Digimon, they would rule the world.  Yet, they live in harmony.  They are a perfect model for what the Israeli-Palestinian situation should be.  Also, consider the first season of Digimon Adventure.  The objective of the main characters is to find their homes, for they have been displaced (!!!!) Throughout the series, the problem escalates into continual violent conflict. In the final Arc 4 of the series, the children are forced to separate from their Digimon into the Human World, presumably forever.  This is embalamatic of the wall between Palestine and Israel.  Yet, it is asserted by Tai that this barrier will not last forever and someday they will be reunited.  It is a hopeful commentary on an end to the Israel Paelstine conflict. 

 

 

*I will make the addendum that some scholars have interpreted this as a metaphor for Obamacare.  I believe this theory is bunk.

 

 

I am sure you feel foolish now. 

[m-ttl]

[RomulusAugustulus]

I am unclear on whether we are discussing this seriously, but I believe that you are more likely to find specialists in this field in Film Studies programs (or interdisciplinary programs that include film)?

[m-ttl]

I am unclear on whether we are discussing this seriously, but I believe that you are more likely to find specialists in this field in Film Studies programs (or interdisciplinary programs that include film)?

Given that anime is a medium of film, yes. Manga, however, would more accurately belong to Visual Rhetoric or Art History. But we're not being serious, obviously.

[elisewin]

There was a class in Berkeley, but I think it belonged to the East Asian Studies Department.

[AnimeBabe420]

I am not being taken seriously on this forum.  I have brought shame to my family and the Manga/Anime Universe.  I did not deserve that Otaku themed bat mitzvah.  

[ChurchLover]

[m-ttl]

 

Also PSSSTTT guys: Even though this is totally a joke, c'mon the only real option here is to go to Japan and get your PhD in Manga Studies from the School of Manga at Kyoto Seika University, so you have access to the University’s International Manga Research Center and the Kyoto International Manga Museum. You'd be studying with Jaqueline Berndt. Duh.

 

Also you'll want to join this mailing list to chat with the guy who does research in Otaku studies. 

 

This tickles my funny bone, so:

 

Miryam Sas @ Berkeley 

Ian Condry @  MIT 

Patricia Chu @ Albany

Steven T Brown @ Oregon

Kaichiro Morikawa @ Meiji University

Yuriko Furuhata @ McGill 

Thomas Lamarre @ McGill

Susan Napier @ Tufts 

Sharalyn Orbaugh @ U of BC

Edited April 9, 2014 by m-ttl

[MistiChik]

AnimeBabe420

Do not be discouraged by the opinions of lesser folk. Only we truly understand the delicate and fierce anima artistry fully.

 

I personally study a related topic (although quite different also because my work is extremely unique). My dissertation is a comparison of the slavery structure in Pokemon and the slavery structure in hentai nonconsensual sex pornography. I argue that the portrayal of hentai female slavery is actually fem-empowering, much in the same way that Pokemon are not truly fulfilled until they are enslaved by the trainers. With proper trainers both are evolved into their highest functionality.

 

Your Obamacare theories are interesting I will think more about these.

 

xx

[m-ttl]

AnimeBabe420

Do not be discouraged by the opinions of lesser folk. Only we truly understand the delicate and fierce anima artistry fully.

 

I personally study a related topic (although quite different also because my work is extremely unique). My dissertation is a comparison of the slavery structure in Pokemon and the slavery structure in hentai nonconsensual sex pornography. I argue that the portrayal of hentai female slavery is actually fem-empowering, much in the same way that Pokemon are not truly fulfilled until they are enslaved by the trainers. With proper trainers both are evolved into their highest functionality.

 

Your Obamacare theories are interesting I will think more about these.

 

xx

 

Okay this was an amusing thread until you brought up rape scenes as part of a joke. :/ Really not appropriate. 

Edited April 9, 2014 by m-ttl

[ChurchLover]

My dissertation is a comparison of the slavery structure in Pokemon and the slavery structure in hentai nonconsensual sex pornography. I argue that the portrayal of hentai female slavery is actually fem-empowering, much in the same way that Pokemon are not truly fulfilled until they are enslaved by the trainers. With proper trainers both are evolved into their highest functionality.

 

WTF? Is this supposed to be a joke?

[Lamantin]

"how super saiyan would change our historical outlook, ie what if hitler was super saiyan"

 

Yes, I've also thought about this. Perhaps the more important question would be: what if Hitler were a marshmallow? How would the Allied Command have responded? I honestly can't believe no one has written a book on that question yet.

 

Now, I think manga and anime present interesting problems and suggest areas of research that have yet to be explored, but your attitude toward it certainly isn't academic, nor does it seem aware of the constraints of the subject. It made for a good laugh though. 

[Establishment]

I love this thread so much.

 

You should join us in academic philosophy. You'd fit right in.

 

 

- should anime characters be considered people?

 

http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/fiction/

[Ulixes]

I love this thread so much.

 

You should join us in academic philosophy. You'd fit right in.

 

 

http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/fiction/

 

Hey, look at you, Establishment!

 

I noticed the thread's title before jumping into the Philosophy section; is this what happens in Art History?

[m-ttl]

Hey, look at you, Establishment!

 

I noticed the thread's title before jumping into the Philosophy section; is this what happens in Art History?

 

Yes and no. Again, OP is clearly a troll (or a bored 14 year old from deviantart) but I do have a current research project on Japanese manga in my Uni's East Asian print collection (some of them are 1960's Batman comics in Japanese, but I'm not there yet). Most of my work is turn of the century right now, but we also have a substantive WII collection, which includes Nazi flag pieces in a board game, Photos of Nazis in Japan, and a poster of Hitler. (Even if I could post the images, I only have thumbnails of the pieces I'm not working on directly, so you'll have to believe me.)

 

I'm quite fond of comics, cartoons, and visual rhetoric/material cultures when I get the chance, but again, OP clearly has no idea who is actually doing this work, or where their research can be found. I've also been lucky in that when I was asked to be a part of this project and select my "theme" my Professor was thrilled I said: "Japanese (pre) Manga, here, here, and here."

 

 

Now, I think manga and anime present interesting problems and suggest areas of research that have yet to be explored, but your attitude toward it certainly isn't academic, nor does it seem aware of the constraints of the subject. It made for a good laugh though. 

 

*Yet to be explored in Art History. It is explored, though, like I pointed out, there's an entire Doctoral program in Japan dedicated to Manga studies. Anime, however, is a film art medium. I also have some great sources if anyone needs anything on Japanese prints and Manga but I kind of doubt it, haha. Still, people study European prints and political cartoons, there's no reason not to study them outside of western Europe. 

[Establishment]

Yes and no. Again, OP is clearly a troll (or a bored 14 year old from deviantart) but I do have a current research project on Japanese manga in my Uni's East Asian print collection (some of them are 1960's Batman comics in Japanese, but I'm not there yet). Most of my work is turn of the century right now, but we also have a substantive WII collection, which includes Nazi flag pieces in a board game, Photos of Nazis in Japan, and a poster of Hitler. (Even if I could post the images, I only have thumbnails of the pieces I'm not working on directly, so you'll have to believe me.)

 

I'm quite fond of comics, cartoons, and visual rhetoric/material cultures when I get the chance, but again, OP clearly has no idea who is actually doing this work, or where their research can be found. I've also been lucky in that when I was asked to be a part of this project and select my "theme" my Professor was thrilled I said: "Japanese (pre) Manga, here, here, and here."

 

 

*Yet to be explored in Art History. It is explored, though, like I pointed out, there's an entire Doctoral program in Japan dedicated to Manga studies. Anime, however, is a film art medium. I also have some great sources if anyone needs anything on Japanese prints and Manga but I kind of doubt it, haha. Still, people study European prints and political cartoons, there's no reason not to study them outside of western Europe. 

 

Is your avatar from Studio Ghibli?