Forum - View topicEscapist Fantasy
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jmays
ANN Associate Editor
 Posts: 1390 Location: St. Louis, MO |
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First, a little segue in light of ANN's Noir review discussion:
http://www.animenation.net/news/askjohn.php?id632 Ironically, I agree with much of what he says about Noir. I don't particularly enjoy the series, but I completely understand how others could like it much more. Nevertheless, the reasoning and generalizations he makes about anime to reach his conclusion disappoint me greatly. "Ultimately anime is escapist fantasy. With the massive American success and popularity of shows like Evangelion and Cowboy Bebop, there are thousands of anime fans in America that unconsciously assume that popular and heavily hyped anime titles are theoretical, philosophical and cinematic masterpieces. There should be little doubt that anime is carefully and painstakingly hand crafted art, but not every show is a deeply philosophical treatise on the nature of life and meaning of existence. the purpose of anime is to entertain. There are some shows that engage a great deal of intelligence and demand a degree of intellectual involvement, but these shows are the exception rather than the rule. An anime doesn't have to be serious or dramatic or intellectual to be good; it only has to be entertaining. " Which leads to my question: What is anime to you? To me, anime is a gateway to a world of insight. What began as simple curiosity about its foreign origin soon evolved into a fascination with its themes. Perhaps it was the big eyes and big guns that first attracted my attention, but that wouldn't be enough to retain my interest. My favorite animated works have character development rarely matched, even in novels. Such honest, convincing portrayals--the friendly tension of Crest of the Stars, the undying aspirations of Angelic Layer, the confused ambivalence of Kare Kano--inspire in me an appreciation of such nuances in my own life. They alter my thoughts, my horizons extended. As a writer and violist, my thoughts often become expression; to this end, anime transcends my imagination, infusing in others my passion. Though I cannot animate, I use my talents to express my concepts of beauty, of convergence, of life's harmonious timbres to others, an articulation enhanced by my anime background. The most challenging and satisfying animated art penetrates every element of my life. ...But anime couldn't do that. It's just escapist fantasy, right? |
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Aurora
Posts: 64 Location: Ontario Canada |
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Anime, yes, is classified by many as escapist fantasy. But different people see it differently. The ignorant see it as nothiung more than a children's cartoon.
Anime, to me, is a work of art, in a way, of literature. Unlike Western cartoons, which the plot is normally something like save-the-world, do the same thing next episode, and so on, Anime has a longer, more complicated plot that lasts for a long time. We see character development, character interaction, and see how characters change. Things are quite as simple as save-the-world, things aren't cut out to be good/evil. People have reasons for doind what they do. It's like life, we can learn much from it. The reality and the unreality of it appeals to me, and I simply like it that way. |
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Case
Posts: 1016 |
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I think you're being unnecessarily discriminatory. You treat the term "escapist fantasy" as though it were a bad thing, and I don't agree with that implication.
Anime, generally speaking, is about as far from real life as you can get. Think about it - how many animes can you name that emulate real life to an almost flawless degree, if you even set aside titles like Azumanga Daioh or Kare Kano because of their big eyes or unrealistic color schemes? Right off hand I can think of Jin-Roh... perhaps Riding Bean (not so much Gunsmith Cats due to the more cartooney character designs and behavior) ...and not much else. So, the fantasy part applies. And then we come to why we watch anime. Why do we choose to do that, when we could be watching NYPD Blue and bad Adam Sandler movies? I think, for a lot of people, it's to achieve a sense of escape. We're tired of seeing, or simply don't care to see, events which we may see around us in real life on a daily basis. We want something different... something fresh, something out of the ordinary... some even use it to exercise non-conformism, so they don't have to watch what other people watch. There may be a few exceptions - a small contingent of people who are thoroughly seasoned in film conventions and see no great fissure between the themes anime tends to focus on and themes prevalent in other media - but I'm pretty sure, just judging by the fact that children and young adults seem to make up a majority of the anime and manga market, that most people take to it for the escapism potential. "Escapist fantasy" does make anime sound a bit juvenile, but that's only because anime IS juvenile. Due to the stigma here in America that animation is children's entertainment, and because of the differences in the offerings of the American and Japanese animation industries, a lot of anime fans tend to deny a connection between anime and "cartoons" (American animation) and make anime out to be some kind of great refined medium that rivals the works of Shakespeare and DiVinci, or at least something vaguely to that effect. But the truth is, anime IS for the most part an "unrefined" artform. When we watch anime, we ARE watching "cartoons" that were intended to be consumed by children and teenagers. There IS a lot of meaningful, and even inspiring material contained in the products of Japan's highly developed animation industry, but that doesn't change the fact that what we're watching is entertainment intended for minors. We just have to accept that and move on. For the record, I don't think John could have expressed it any better than that. Any attempt to come up with a brief description of anime's role within the American entertainment industry is going to ultimately come back to the fantasy element and why people prefer that over more realistic cinema, which will in turn convey generally the same social connotations as "escapist fantasy". But, again as I mentioned above, that's not an entirely undeserved reputation. Anime is meant to be fun for kids, not for the snotty high-class art savvy adults that collect Picasso and DiVinci's great works. Be that as it may, I think it's important to consider the fact that "escapist fantasy" and intelligent storytelling are by no means mutually exclusive. The assertion that "anime couldn't do that" (character development rarely matched, etc.) because it is escapist fantasy, is simply incorrect. As a matter of fact, escapism and good storytelling go hand in hand. The better the storytelling, the easier it is for people to insert themselves vicariously into the fictional world and escape their real lives. Consider the example made of Crest of the Stars. Isn't it only fair to say that you like the story because it allows you to become attached to the characters, and learn and feel and sympathize with them? That's the very definition of escapism. One might even go so far as to say that works of escapist fantasy have an advantage over more realistic cinema in terms of intellectual potential. Because escapist fiction - anime - relies on fantastical elements and concepts to begin with, it's much easier to delve into philosophy and psychology. Think about it. Which has more potential for provoking deep introvert thinking: A primetime soap opera with vicious ex-husbands and cheating lovers, or a futuristic drama where androids rebel against their creators on the basis that they are more fit to control life on Earth? I think the answer speaks for itself. To sum things up: I think John is exactly correct. There are probably quite a few fans who would reject his explanation simply because - whether they are able to recognize it consciously or not - it makes them feel immature to find deep meaning in children's entertainment. But that's a personal issue, which has no effect whatsoever on the facts of the matter. John's logic is simple, straightforward and supports his conclusion perfectly. The people who claim that anime is "something more" need to come to terms with themselves and their own interests, rather than trying to blame the discrepency on a flaw in John's arguement. |
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jmays
ANN Associate Editor
Posts: 1390 Location: St. Louis, MO |
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Our personal interpretations of "escapist fantasy" cause much of our disagreement. I do believe it to carry a negative connotation. One definition of escapism emphasizes "retreat" and "diversion," neither of which are particularly positive. But my argument extends beyond the simple definitions. It is his derogatory, mocking tone and his insistence on trite epithets to foil the larger Noir conclusion that bother me most.
I feel that John was minimizing Japanese animation in much the same way that many newspaper columnists oversimplify current events. To compress the diverse category of anime into a two-word catch-all phrase is not only bold, but it requires a careful consideration which I do not believe was given in the article. "Escapist fantasy" cannot possibly summarize the ultimate end of all Japanese animation. Why does he even feel the need to draw this ultimate conclusion? Perhaps he could more fully explain in a column about the themes of anime, but in a short Noir article, the support needed for such a broad statement is absent. In my opinion, John went a little too far in his attempt to bring anime to a simple common ground. I don't believe that it helps his Noir argument to draw such an oversimplified conclusion. But above all, I simply disagree that the full spectrum of anime may be stripped to "escapist fantasy." Certainly, most animation could fit this definition. But he didn't say most; he said ALL. He reached a final conclusion (one with which I disagree), and his limited support is, in my opinion, unconvincing. Personally, I am frustrated by his sweeping conclusion because the vast majority of anime that I own and watch does not fit this simple tag. Note that it is simply my personal preference: I hope that I am considered no more "snotty" or "high-class" than the anime I watch is considered "escapist fantasy." I regret that my association with classical music may brand me "snotty" and "high-class" in your eyes. It's difficult for me to give much weight to the intended audience of anime because generally, those in the western hemisphere--regardless of age--were never the audience the creators had in mind in the first place. Although I consider it important to consider the creator's intent to avoid unnecessary over analysis (ie. religion in Evangelion), I'm more interested in anime's effects on people. If nothing else, it should promote more discussion. After all, it's hard to debate when the creator's words are the final word, but the impact of anime on the individual fascinates me. I appreciate that you wrote your opinion about it. I may disagree, but I like to read other's thoughts; that's why I posted. Your affinity for linking anime and children's entertainment confuses me, but I think that's a separate issue. I'll debate with you if you want, but not in this thread =) I agree that John's logic is simple--perhaps too simple. I am not sure that the paragraph was a straightforward approach to the Noir question, but honestly, I was more interested in his statements about anime in general. In my interpretation, the Noir conclusion is supported well; the "escapist fantasy" one is not. I do believe that some animation is indeed "something more." I do not live under the false impression that all anime I enjoy was created with my demographic in mind, but as I stated earlier, I am less interested in what anime was meant to be than what it is. In all of my arguing, it may have been lost that I have no disagreement with much of John's article. In fact, I have not read a more decisive analysis of Noir's "quality." But if I were to give him a suggestion, I would advise him to refrain from such sweeping generalizations. They contribute shock value and assertiveness, but his minimized anime definition is inaccurate and unnecessary. Thanks for taking the time to respond so fully to my question. I rarely participate in long forum debates (almost never anime ones) but this particular topic interests me more than most, perhaps because I feel frustrated that even one so knowledgeable and involved in anime would draw such conclusions. I am sure he is not alone in his belief, but I hope my contrasting opinion may be read and considered as well. |
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Slim Shinji
Past ANN Contributor
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I personally don't think "escapist fantasy" is a bad thing at all, nor do I believe such fantasies are strictly for juveniles. Look at the Lord of the Rings. It's one of the biggest escapist fantasies in history, and while there are some people who shrug it off as "children's entertainment" there are tons more people, college professors and whatnot, who know better.
And any truly good work of escapist fantasy will not only transport you, it will give you something to take back to the "real world", an idea or ideal that can apply to everyday ordinary living. Though escapist fantasies are often criticized as ignoring reality, they often confront reality head on, albeit in a disguised format. Any of Miyazaki's movies are of course excellent examples, but they can be found in most anime series as well. Take Irresponsible Captain Tylor, for example. Goofy inept guy gets command of an intergalactic starship where he and his crew fight aliens with exploding birthday presents and other Bugs Bunny-style antics. I'd say this fits the definition of "escapist fantasy" to a tee, and anyone who's seen the series also knows the overall tone is pretty juvenile. But anyone who's seen the entire series also knows admidst all the hijinks there's a very strong and profound message about war and how to live your life. This goofy, juvenile, escapist fantasy has way more to say about Real Life than many much more weighty, depressing, "reality-based" books and/or films. Besides, when you get down to it, escapist fantasies are way more entertaining. And fiction's primary purpose is to entertain, and anyone who claims otherwise should be boiled in his own pudding! 
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Dan42
Chief Encyclopedist
 Posts: 3791 Location: Montreal |
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Case, you make a good argument except for one huge flaw: you state that "anime IS juvenile", as if all anime was meant for children. Anime is no more meant exclusively for children than it is meant exclusively for adults. You should know this by now: anime is a medium. Often it is used to create children's and teenagers' entertainment, but sometimes it's also used to create adults' entertainment. It would be absurd to think that Boogiepop Phantom or Perfect Blue were created for children. They have no more in common with Pokemon than Sesame Street has with Schindler's List. Making such sweeping generalizations is completely flawed.
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Case
Posts: 1016 |
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To begin I would just like to point out that, for all intents and purposes of Miagi and John's arguements, I think the correlation between fiction and escapism is pretty much flawless. Unless you're watching something that is actually happening to real people and has effects in the world - CSPAN or even a football game, for example - you're playing around with escapism. Even our own domestic dramas and sitcoms - from Friends to Law & Order to Mr Deeds - pander to the audience's desire to escape their everyday lives. As you keep insisting, and I have acknowledged at least once already, many of the shows that fall into this category can and do inspire, enrich, and provoke thought in different people. But that doesn't make them any less escapist. The escapism is in the approach; it has little to do with how meaningful a production will be in the end.
That said, I'll move on to a few quick replies.
In this I can sympathize with John. He's writing a column, not a book. And this particular column was about Noir, not the role of anime. For that, you should probably seek a different column. If he were to elaborate more, and try to explain every little detail and reference he bases his opinions on, you would have a piece of writing which rivals such published works as From Akira to Princess Mononoke. In fact, that's what they teach you to do when you go about writing a book. And John is an English teacher, so he probably understands that better than most people. For smaller writing projects such this his column, you can't explain every complex idea every time it comes up. That would be like writing a book several times over. You would rarely, if ever, accomplish what you set out to do.
See my opening paragraph in response to the fact that John applied his generalization universally. One could say that his statement is absolutely correct simply because anime is animated. If you wanted to see a fully realistic depiction of the aftermath of World War II in Japan, you could watch a documentary. Even a live-action historical fiction film would be better, if only because (in theory) you're able to see what it REALLY looked like. If you choose to watch Grave of the Fireflies instead, what you're watching is a stylized recreation in another visual format. Simply by virtue of that, anime is always less realistic and marginally escapist, even if no embellishments are made to enhance the appeal of the final product or to take advantage of the absence of the physical laws that limit what you can do in live action film. (IE: human beings capable of superhuman feats, technology that does not exist in real life, interaction with the supernatural, giant sweat drops, or any of a thousand other things) And that's only assuming that an anime in question sticks totally to realistic elements and doesn't embellish things in some way or another, as a great many do. I refer back to the question I posed in the first few paragraphs of my last post: How many anime series like that can you actually name? Looking at the three series you used as examples in your criticism, I can't speak for Angelic Layer or Kare Kano as I have never seen more than clips of them, but I know that Crest of the Stars involves space travel and interaction with an alien race - which, though viewed as a reasonable possibility by space-loving idealists, is still completely fictional and a basis for escapism.
Your welcome. As for the rest of these two paragraphs, I find myself at a loss for words because the statements you make completely disregard all of the explaining I did in my last post. And, while it might be relevant, it seems rather like a waste of time to try and explain that all again when it's already been posted once. If you still see the phrase "escapist fantasy" as offensive and entirely inaccurate, I must encourage you to go back and read my first post again.
I was using the terms "juvenile" and "children" in a broad sense. In retrospect, I see that it would have made even more sense if I had made a point of mentioning that - but if you take the bigger picture into account it makes sense even without. Consider this: How much of the anime/manga market is made up of 40+ year olds? Or even 30+? How many people can YOU name that are in their 30s or 40s or 50s (or older) who are avid anime/manga fans or collectors? I know none myself, and I think I may have met all of two or three in the four years that I've spent in internet anime communities. People that age and older DO follow art and cinema, though. It's just that they find their entertainment and inspiration in forms other than anime and manga. So, by proxy, it seems pretty clear (at this point in humanity's history, at least) that anime and manga are the choice artform of the youngest couple of generations of consumers. For all we know, claymation could be all the rage and interest in anime could totally drop off. We have to judge by how things are now, and how they have been since the industry was founded 40-some years ago. That's the point I was making in saying that anime is a juvenile art form. WE find deep meaning and inspiration in it, but most of us are also young adults and teenagers. Just as we are not society's brightest and greatest, anime and manga are not considered the most meaningful or inspiring forms of art or film. We might like to think so in both cases, that's probably the "kids think they know everything" syndrome talking. As intellectuals of the anime and manga community, I think we should all be able to acknowledge and accept the fact that these artforms we pursue are for the most part are intended to be meaningful to young people - us - and that anime and manga are not widely accepted (read: by older people too) as great achievements of humanity. That basically means that we ARE finding inspiration in "cartoons" and "comic books", but so what? We should be able to transcend that. As long as anime and manga are meaningful to US, who cares what faultfinders say? Doing what YOU want to do is always more satisfying than not doing what other people DON'T want you to do, isn't it? That's how I have come to understand things in my 5 or 6 years of devotion to the medium, and obviously there are others - John being the case in point - who have a very similar perspective. And it certainly paves the way toward explaining a lot of the different ebbs and flows of the industry, so it can't totally off base. 
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jmays
ANN Associate Editor
Posts: 1390 Location: St. Louis, MO |
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Case:
Linking fiction with escapism is a perspective I hadn't considered. Because I retain the belief that escapism has a negative connotation, I'm not sure I agree with you, but I do better understand your frame of reference in writing your other posts. Regardless, don't expect me to change my opinion of the word anytime soon. What more can I say? I just disagree =) I’m sorry if my response to the first half of your post was insufficient. But aside from your definition of “escapist,” I don’t really disagree with your statements in that portion. The difference between your opinion and John’s? You said “generally speaking” when you discussed fantasy (and clarified your “broad sense” about the young demographic in a later post). You don’t make the significant leap that all Japanese animation in some way fits this label, my biggest disagreement with John. As for your other paragraph…I’m quite certain that many do revel in the escapism potential of anime, but that doesn’t make escapism anime’s defining characteristic; it is simply another outlet one may use to retreat from the real world. Beyond that, I can’t explain why others watch or how it affects them. I hoped that question would be the focus of this thread, but perhaps my concluding line in the first post distracted from that goal. In my involvement with viola, I can state with confidence that virtually none of the works from which I derive enjoyment were originally intended for me. It would be absurd to compare most animation with classical compositions except perhaps to consider them both forms of art to some degree. Thus, I’ll say only that a different target audience does not hinder my appreciation of art. Again, I don’t disagree with your statements in the paragraph, but I also don’t believe “juvenile” is a good argument for escapist fantasy. To all: Other thoughts on the validity of the phrase “escapist fantasy” are of course welcome, but that doesn’t have to be the sole discussion point of this thread. To return to my first post, I’m curious about the impact of anime on each of you. Is it a convenient and enjoyable diversion from a mundane world? Does it change your life? Or does it do something else entirely? Thanks again to all whom have responded! |
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Cassandra
 Posts: 1356 Location: Birdsboro, PA |
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OK....a lot of these posts are way too long for me to read so I'm just gonna answer Miagi's questions about the impact anime has on me.
I don't know that anime has any major impact on my life. I just enjoy watching it. Just like I enjoy watching Crossing Jordan or Everwood or Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I don't really go looking for deep meanings in any forms of entertainment. Sure, I'm capable of reading between the lines and finding those "deep" meanings that everyone seems to look for. (Yes, I understand Eva....I understood the point of BOTH endings of Eva the first time through...granted, I'm not Catholic and I had to ask my husband about some of the religious references but I still understood it....and I would have understood it without the religous references explained.) I don't think everything has to be deep. I don't think everything has to have a meaning. Some things are just meant to be fun. That's why I watch anime. For the Fun Factor. If I wanted to be deep, I'd read philosophy or something. (Unfortunately, I can be far too philosophical for my own good at times.) |
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Dan42
Chief Encyclopedist
Posts: 3791 Location: Montreal |
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er... how broad a sense can those words have? No matter how broad I try to make the definition, it still comes to "people below the age of adulthood". That means below 18 years old. Or 21 for certain countries. Even if you equate fiction with escapism (which I find a bit preposterous -- like Miagi I consider "escapism" to be a derogative term), it doesn't mean all fiction/escapism is meant for children. Entertainment for adults DOES exist, and animation for adults DOES exist too, as evidenced by the existence of hentai.
First of all your definition of "adult" is rather restrictive. I'm not an adult because I'm below 30 years old? I don't think so. At club meetings I've seen some 30+ people, and I've seen a LOT of 20-some people, and those are adults too. But all of this is irrelevant. Who you SEE watching anime (and who you see not watching anime) has nothing to do with the fact that some anime is made for adults, and some of those are purposedly made with the goal of exploring deep philosophical issues and/or human nature, etc. I agree with you that the large majority of anime does not fall in that category, but I dare you to watch Jin-Roh, Perfect Blue or Angel's Egg and tell me all anime is meant for children. And if not all anime is meant for children, then why would you describe it as "children's entertainment"? Ahem, now to answer Miagi's question: What is anime to me? It's the most emotionally and intellectually engaging form of entertainment that I know. I get off on thinking, on manipulating ideas. So when something manages to get my neurons wildly firing (like anime often does), that's the best kind of entertainment for me. But I have to say that, before all that, I really dig animation. Any kind of animation. Always have, always will. Anime just happens to be the most intellectually engaging form of animation that I know. So the question comes down to: why do I like animation more than live-action? I've come to hold the belief that animation is all about abstraction. You're not really watching people on that screen, you are watching the representation of people. You are watching a concept rather than a physical reality. I believe that greatly amplifies the impact of whatever you're seeing. It's like a shortcut to your thoughts, where the brain doesn't have to filter out irrelevant information. Abstraction brings focus. But that all depends on your ability to absorb abstract information. Some people aren't good with abstract thought, they're too down-to-earth. So they won't "get" animation, no matter how good it is. One of these days I should write an essay about of this. |
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Case
Posts: 1016 |
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Broad enough to take the whole population into account. When talking pop culture, a lot of people tend to forget that people live into their 80s and beyond. 18 isn't the halfway mark of your average life; there IS life after 30.
Oh, come on now. You're splitting hairs. Give me a break. Legal definitions held by different governments don't play into what I'm saying at all. I'm drawing a line between the younger crowd that contains the vast majority of anime consumers, and the older crowd that contains very little. Plain and simple. If I have to call you - and me, and all of us here - children to get that point across, I will. Get over yourself. It's infantile to object to not being included in the adult demographic just because you think you deserve the distinction - in a message board rant, no less. To be brutally honest, this is what I was talking about when I said "it makes them feel immature to find deep meaning in children's entertainment" and "that's a personal issue" and "people who claim that anime is 'something more' need to come to terms with themselves and their own interests". Why the obsession with being called an adult? Why do you make so many attempts to persuade people into believing that anime is mature? Do you think that we believe the contrary? What difference does it make if anime is popularly perceived as being childish and simplistic rather than mature and refined? Is the thought of anime - your interest - being perceived as an entertainment medium for young people painful or embarrassing to you? If John's article really does offend you (quote: "like Miagi I consider 'escapism' to be a derogative term"), then you need to take a reality check. Anime IS a choice form of entertainment for young people - most of whom literally are or may be termed "children" for the sake of easy explanation with the appropriate clarifications (which I gave). A great many people in the world do not take anime as seriously as we do, especially older folks in the 40+ (or so) age range - all of whom deserve, beyond the shadow of any doubt, the distinction of being called the adults of the world. If that's too much for your ego to handle, seek therapy. Sales figures and opinion polls will prove both of the above assertions to be correct; no amount of objection or embarrassment will change that. I don't mean to sound rude, and I hope this doesn't come off as a personal attack. It just so happens that the viewpoint expressed in that post is precisely what I was getting at in the conclusion paragraph of my original post. Anime fans need to learn that anime is not something which should automatically lend them the distinction of being refined and mature, any more than fans of sitcoms or soap operas. What you watch has little to no bearing on the quality of your character, and it's an exercise in futility to try and defend your choice form of entertainment - anime or anything else - to reflect that. If the previous post is indeed your honest opinion, I strongly encourage you to examine your values - consider the possibility that you might have a deep rooted bias - and reconsider your stance. At any rate, this will be my final post on the subject. Everything I can say on the matter, and all of the help I can offer to get John's point across, has been said. |
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Dan42
Chief Encyclopedist
Posts: 3791 Location: Montreal |
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This isn't about me objecting to being called a child or about me splitting hairs, it's about using the right words. Lemme tell you something about language. Language is a tool used by people, where certain meanings are associated to certain groups of sounds (words) through an established convention. Communication is based upon common understanding of that convention. If you decide to unilaterally redefine the meaning of words, don't expect people to understand what you're talking about. To me and 99.9% of people out there, a "child" is "A person between birth and puberty" (dictionary definition). Even if you broaden the meaning to the extreme, it's still someone who is below the age of maturity, who is still dependant on his parents. Use the right words dammit! Learn to use the dictionary or something.
I never pretended that all anime was mature. Now why do you make so many attempts to persuade people into believing that anime is immature?
No, just flawed. If I see a blue wall in front of me and you tell me it's red, obviously I'm going to say "what the hell are you talking about?"
Note that I never said that either. Man, did you even read what I wrote? I have repeatedly agreed that most anime is for children and teenagers. Pretending otherwise would be absurd. Just as absurd as pretending that all anime is for children, which seems to be what you say. I'm going to stop this discussion until you learn to communicate effectively. Besides, we're obviously not even arguing about the same topic here. |
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Zac
ANN Executive Editor
 Posts: 7912 Location: Anime News Network Technodrome |
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I'll answer the What Is Anime To You? question. That's a good one.
Anime is to me, first and foremost (and most obviously) a job. I work with it, I write about it, I get paid to write about it, and people equate my name with it, so to me, firstly, it's a job. Secondly, I consider it the one of the most complicated and valid popular arts forms available on the market. The messages and themes contained herein can be indescribably deep (although only about 10 percent of anime can really be described using these terms). It is the logical extension of animation as a form of media, and thusly, it has my devotion. Thirdly, it's entertainment, plain and simple. I'd rather watch a half hour of Wolf's Rain than a half hour of Friends. I have a weak spot for a handful of American television shows, but frankly, anime is simply what I prefer. Reasonably, I prefer American films above nearly anything else, but that doesn't invalidate anime, in my mind. Anyway. -Zac |
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Case
Posts: 1016 |
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Okay. I'll admit that the explanation of my logic may have been clearer in the greater sense if I had said "younger people" or "children, teenagers, and young adults" rather than simply "children". However, I did provide a reasonable amount of clarification to explain my use of the word - some of which I quoted above - and the brunt of my arguement remains the same. Anime and manga are a choice medium of youngest few generations, to date at least.
Because it pretty much is.
Your objection makes it out to be to the contrary, and that simply isn't correct. A vast majority of the adult demographic as you want to define it does not consume anime or manga to a profitable degree. If you can find sales figures that prove otherwise, feel free to prove me wrong.
Oh, so now my it's my communication skills that are flawed. Need I refer you to the same Attacking the Person link that you threw at me several weeks ago? You need to stop making excuses and come to terms with the fact that anime is a young person's medium. Last edited by Case on Sun Feb 02, 2003 11:56 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Aurora
Posts: 64 Location: Ontario Canada |
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Does it MATTER??? We all enjoy Anime and Manga, does it really MATTER what age group they were created for? I mean, I'm happy to see two different point of view arguing, but really, does it matter?
If I watch anime, I am considered a child? Fine. People can see me however they want. But in all honesty, I don't think it matter whether anime is considered juvenile or not. Escapist Fantasy- A derogatory term used to classify certain types of media. Why do people see 'escapist fantasy' so bad? It is an escape, but there is often meaning behind it. Morals, ideas, concepts. So what if it is an escapist fantasy? People can think what they want of me. I like it, and therefore I will keep watching it! |
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