Outline

TOPIC: DISCRIMINATION OF OTAKU CULTURE

TENTATIVE OUTLINE:

I.                    Definition of Otaku

II.                  Causes of being an Otaku

A. How it Started?

B. Reasons for Addiction

III.                Effects of being an Otaku

A.      Positive Effects

-Social Interaction

-Art

-Japanese Language and Culture

B.      Negative Effects

-Discrimination

-Violence

-Sexual Influence

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM:

What are the cause and effects of Otaku Culture?                   

Post 4: The Effects of Anime

        Do you listen to the news and hear about people addicted to smoking, to drinking or using drugs? Why do you think those people do those things? Is there any benefit to what they are doing? No, smoking, drinking and drugs, they just cause ailments to the mind and body but my addiction on the other hand gives inspiration and knowledge to its fans.

Anime is not just an addiction it also gives you a lot of benefits. For me, Anime gives me inspiration, it provides me a reason to pursue and continue my craft: Art. It also releases me from the stress of day to day life. As a student in college, my parents continuously chastise me to stop watching anime and start paying attention to my studies but no, I cant stop. When I watch anime, I imagine myself as one of the characters in that anime, I go to another world and have as much fun as I want. But to other people particularly students, there are other effects that they do not know they are experiencing.

According to Amy McNulty's The Effects of Anime on Students, there are certain changes a student experiences when he/she watches anime. 

Social Interaction

Some students are victims of a stereotype that casts them as loners and being antisocial. When students become interested in anime, they share a common connection to each other. Once they are accepted by other anime lovers they overcome their shyness and start making friends of their own. Students who partake in anime conventions or join online anime communities open up more to others. Anime conventions are the home of otakus, these get-togethers make them interact more to people who love what they love.

Art

Many students who take interest in anime also take interest in art. This happens when avid anime enthusiasts realize that they want to create their own stories and characters. Teachers may think that these students are too hung up on drawing big-eyed, anime characters but nevertheless this will be the starting line to introducing these students to take up other forms of art. Anime art is something worth imitating, it opens up the doors to the students creative minds. An example would be the works of Hayao Miyazaki, a lot of animators strive to recreate the smooth flow of animation that he makes, they look to anime as a new way to approach their works.

Japanese Language and Culture

Anime comes with a Japanese audio and culture. Students naturally pick up or take interest in learning Japan's native language: Nihongo. Students who pursue careers in Japan say that their love of anime was their drive to study the language.I, myself have learned how to speak Japan's native just by listening to anime and reading the subtitles that comes with it.

To others, Anime might just be a common show that one can pass time with or another tentative hobby but to me and other Otakus out there, Anime isn't just a simple addiction, it is a medium of education, it is an escape to fantasy and most of all Anime is a lifestyle.

Post 3: Otakus and Cosplaying

 Have you ever wanted to dress up as one of your favorite anime character? Have the same hair, clothes or even their eye color? I myself, have felt the urge to dress up as my favorite character, I had a tailor make me the same clothes as her, have the same haircut, I even went as far as coloring my hair the same color. This is what it means to Cosplay.

Urban Dictionary states that Cosplay (コスプレ kosupure) short for "costume play", is a performance art in which participants wear costumes and accessories that represent a specific character or idea. Cosplay is centered on role play, making cosplayers portray their knowledge on their chosen characters.

The Philippines is no veteran to the field of Cosplay, in fact, we have our own Cosplay Queen. According to http://alodiaalmira.tumblr.com/ Alodia Gosiengfiao, crowned Cosplay Queen of the Philippines is a cosplayer, model, artist, actress and recording artist. She started cosplaying in the year 2003 at the age of  15. Now, she is a internationally recognized cosplayer and the inspiration of other cosplayers.

Alodia Gosiengfiao
via Google

Another cosplayer who has graced the Philippines with honor is our Filipino Superman, Herbert Chavez. According to David Gayle's Superman fan has cosmetic surgery, Chavez has undergone several surgeries just to look like the Man of Steel, Superman. His first surgery started in 1995 and his surgeries are still ongoing. He also has a huge Superman memorabilia collection that varies from statues, bed sheets, pillows and many others.

Herbert Chavez with his life-size Superman statues

There are about 15-20 Cosplay events every year in the Philippines, hundreds to thousands of cosplayers and otakus attend these events filling up malls and convention centers. Cosplay is a form of art in the same way in is an expression of one's personality. But alas, some people just don't see the beauty of Cosplay, they say that it's a waste of money, it's weird and whole bunch of negative comments. Nevertheless, Cosplay is an art, it is an expression and a lifestyle, we chose to live it and we LOVE it!

Post 2: A Big Misunderstanding on being an Otaku

The world is not free of discrimination, everyone is entitled to their own opinion but nonetheless, some people just take it too far.

Tsutomu Miyazaki
via Google

Do you know the name Tsutomu Miyazaki? No, he's not the son of the famed Hayao Miyazaki.

 Lawrence Eng's "The Politics of Otaku" says that Tsutomu Miyazaki was a murderer. Back in 1989, Miyazaki kidnapped and murdered 4 little girls, after he was arrested, the police found loads of anime and manga -some were stated as pornographic materials- in his apartment.

After this incident, Otaku's were ostracized, believing that they were the same as Miyazaki, the mainstream usage of "Otaku" as someone who loves their alleged hobbies became a word loathed and feared by a lot of people.


This particular misunderstanding still lingers nowadays, a lot of Otakus especially in Japan are discriminated, there was even this rumor I read from Kotaku.com, Brian Ashcraft's "Japan Police Hunt Otaku, Discriminate" that the Japanese police conducted a search for Otaku's on the streets of Shinjuku, stopping people who look like Otakus and subjecting them to spot checks.

What a silly thing to hypothesize! Since an Otaku committed a crime, one should think that all Otaku are criminally inclined?

Considering how Otakus are now co-opted by the media and mainstream society as the black sheep of society, one might think that anime and manga lovers should just give up the term and change to something better. It's not that easy, they will still be branded as "scary" or "disgusting", a simple name change wont stop the opinion of modern-day society.

Calling yourself an "Otaku" and disdainfully thinking that you are a sociopathic freak just because you like anime, isn't that just a sad fate? As long as the word "Otaku" is negatively associated with that incident, anime fans will be stigmatized by the people.

Personally, I don't think that otakus are not that bad, we are just a group of people expressing our passion for something we really love. People are more accepting of us nowadays but nevertheless there are still some people who think that Otakus are people to be feared. We just have to show them that otakus aren't as bad they are lead to believe.

Post 1: Of Anime and a lot of Otakus

        As a child, I loved watching television especially anime and cartoons. I anxiously wait for them everyday, getting addicted in the process, learning how to speak Japanese, buying anime merchandise and even pursuing the art of Cosplaying. My friends always told me that I was an expert on the subject at hand but I know that there's still a lot to learn on Anime.

Wikipedia states that:

Anime [a.ni.me] is the abbreviated term for "animation" in Japanese. It is the Japanese style of animation which features colorful graphics, characters and action-filled plots of different genres. The earliest record of animation was in 1917 and it grew for the ensuing decades. With the participation of Osamu Tezuka, the "Godfather of Anime and Manga", Anime became known outside Japan. There are two kinds of anime: hand-drawn and computer generated. It is mainly used in television series, films, video, video games and other genres of fiction.

People who are currently addicted, obsessed or any word you may supply to express their love for anime are called Otaku. Otaku (おたく) is the Japanese term for people with obsessive hobbies bordering to the extent that it becomes a major part of their identity. Japan Talk says that there are actually 12 different types of Otaku in existence.

1. Anime/ Manga Otaku
These are the mainstream otakus, people who are obsessed with watching anime and reading manga to the extent that they buy every single box set DVD of their favorite anime and every volume of manga.

2. Cosplayer Otaku
These are people who love to role play as their chosen anime/manga characters. Cosplay or Costume Play is the art in which performers wear costumes and accessories to portray a certain character or role.These Otakus spend large amounts of money attending events and buying costumes, in many cases they just make their own.

3.  Game Otaku
These people are addicted to any kind of games. Game Otakus usually find friends in virtual games but never physically get to know them. An anime depicting the life of Gamer Otakus is The World God Only Knows.

4. Idol/ Jpop Otaku (WOTA)
A WOTA is a person who is obsessed with male/female idols. WOTA's usually collect idol magazines, posters and attend the concerts of their respective idols.

5. Figure Otaku
Figure Moe Zaku ("Figure Lover Gang") these are people who love to collect anime figures, dolls and other figures. These figures are often realistic. A popular figure collector would be Danny Choo.


Through these different descriptions, I learned of the difference between the different types of Otakus. I am true blue Anime/Manga Otaku. The Otaku culture is not widespread throughout the Philippines but nonetheless there are tons of Anime communities and Otakus that will prove that the Philippines is on its way towards popularity.

For more information, visit:  12 Types of Otaku