What makes America's Greatest Otaku?
I had a quiet week, so I am not going to talk much about the last few days. We also aren't at the right point in talking much about A-kon in two and a half weeks, so I have had something in my head for the few days.
Tokyopop is looking for America's Greatest Otaku. www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2010-05-13/calling-all-otaku/announcing-america-greatest-otaku-and-the-tokyopop-tour
is the link for more information about this. I think it will go to the person who has tons of stuff and loves getting more anime and manga stuff. I have a good amount of fannish goods myself, but that isn't what makes a Greatest American Otaku.
Here is what I think a great American Otaku should be:
1. Someone who has humility to know they will never know it all or could possibly be able to.
2. Someone who takes what they have learned about Anime and Manga and tries to do something with that. Either through giving time in panels, critiquing the culture or by trying to spread that culture through event running.
3. Someone who is willing to take the time to keep learning about the culture.
American Otaku will never know as much about Japanese culture as the Japanese do because we don't live it everyday. We watch anime and read manga through our cultural viewpoint and not through theres. Many fans as Anime is just the cool fandom to be a part of and that is what many American Otaku think they are. I disagree in that viewpoint. There should be pieces of literature and anime that are unifiers in the American otaku experience that should be watched and seen. Evangelion, Astro Boy (original series) and Cowboy Bebop are examples of those series. Also reading things like Manga, Manga by Frederick Schodt and Starting Point from Hayao Miyazaki (need to finish reading that soon).
I hope Tokyopop finds an intelligent otaku or fen to personify America's Greatest Otaku. Someone who can be my generation's Steve Pearl. That probably won't happen and this contest will be forgotten as soon as it ends in Mid-August. That is a true shame because Tokyopop could have done something truly non-traditional, but won't.
Tokyopop is looking for America's Greatest Otaku. www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2010-05-13/calling-all-otaku/announcing-america-greatest-otaku-and-the-tokyopop-tour
is the link for more information about this. I think it will go to the person who has tons of stuff and loves getting more anime and manga stuff. I have a good amount of fannish goods myself, but that isn't what makes a Greatest American Otaku.
Here is what I think a great American Otaku should be:
1. Someone who has humility to know they will never know it all or could possibly be able to.
2. Someone who takes what they have learned about Anime and Manga and tries to do something with that. Either through giving time in panels, critiquing the culture or by trying to spread that culture through event running.
3. Someone who is willing to take the time to keep learning about the culture.
American Otaku will never know as much about Japanese culture as the Japanese do because we don't live it everyday. We watch anime and read manga through our cultural viewpoint and not through theres. Many fans as Anime is just the cool fandom to be a part of and that is what many American Otaku think they are. I disagree in that viewpoint. There should be pieces of literature and anime that are unifiers in the American otaku experience that should be watched and seen. Evangelion, Astro Boy (original series) and Cowboy Bebop are examples of those series. Also reading things like Manga, Manga by Frederick Schodt and Starting Point from Hayao Miyazaki (need to finish reading that soon).
I hope Tokyopop finds an intelligent otaku or fen to personify America's Greatest Otaku. Someone who can be my generation's Steve Pearl. That probably won't happen and this contest will be forgotten as soon as it ends in Mid-August. That is a true shame because Tokyopop could have done something truly non-traditional, but won't.