translation of a statement about the nature of art meant to cheer on victims of the Tohoku quake

[minako134]

This will probably be edited as I get more help translating some of the stuff I couldn't figure out well.

There have been quite a lot of art submitted at Pixiv with things like "Hang in there, Japan!!" included in them. Some of them are great to see, but others, it feels like it's bordering on being out-right insensitive. I realized I wasn't the

Comments

[ecchipiro]

I personally find it horribly offensive that people are already drawing art ... There is a thing called too soon. And this is WAY too soon!

By now, there are three nuclear power plants with MAJOR problems. A volcano just erupted. I know from my friend in Sendai that there was another earthquake warning, for a quake that might be nearly as strong as the initial destructive one.

Over 10.000 people are missing in Miyagi alone! So far, over 1600 bodies have been identified.
People have already been exposed to radiation.

THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO PRODUCE ART ABOUT THIS, regardless of how beautiful and sensible it might be.

The only people I'd be okay with doing this are those who actually lived through all of this; those who were RIGHT there.

... :(
Sorry for my outburst, but there's a reason I avoid any and all comms or websites where there could be art about this right now.
I just find it beyond insulting, and disrespectful isn't a strong enough word to use here.

Can I post this in my LJ?

[minako134]

It's a difficult time, indeed, and I wish people would stop and think before posting things like that publicly. Yet again, I'm really embarrassed to call myself a Hetalia fan right now, sadly.

You can link it, sure! I just posted a link to this in hetalia, actually.

[ecchipiro]

Already last year, when the Moscow Metro bombings occurred, "fans" were too stupid to realise what the hell they were actually doing. And I do know that some Russians were deeply offended.

Why are people so endlessly stupid!?

[ecchipiro]

Okay, it seems they've got the situation in the Tokai nuke plant under control ... Still, my opinion stands. :/

[abridgedgirly]

I'll believe that those pics were posted with the best intentions, but oh god that last one. NO. If you're gonna post that, don't LINK it to what happened.

I had no idea people were posting that, and I can say I mostly agree with what the person wrote.

[idraax]

This makes me glad I don't have a Pixiv account sometimes....I'm not even going to write about this.....

[abridgedgirly]

I do have an account to check my fav artists's works, but I really had NO idea things like these were being posted. Seriously bad taste.

[idraax]

Since I have no idea what they posted, I can't comment. And it sounds like something that I don't want to know about...

[mintbun]

Yeah, I'm an artist myself and I didn't even need to think twice to know that it's rather insensitive. And in a way, exploiting that tragedy as means to "promote" your art or gain attention.

Of course, the artists have good intentions...but they have to consider the victim's point of views.

I honestly think it depends on what is drawn to be deemed offensive, but Iunno. I don't know how the victims feel, even though I sympathize with them. I suppose drawing for donations is your best bet to gain positive attention.

[whatisnarva]

I doubt that there is anything that can be drawn at this point that can be deemed inoffensive safely, simply because the matter is (of course) highly emotional and for way too many people very personal. What feels encouraging to some might feel extremely offensive to others (judging by the poll quoted above). The safe and sensitive thing, as you said, to draw art for donations and keep it away from the public if it is about the current situation.

[mintbun]

Yeah, that's the point I was getting at. I think the best thing to do is to keep their drawings to themselves if they must.

[whatisnarva]

I don't think that art is a bad thing to deal with this, not at all; many people can express themselves through art much easier/it calms them/it makes them feel better/gives them hope/etc. No wonder it is used for lots of therapies. But that is what it should be, do deal with it yourself.

so, art is not bad, but the way some people are like "I made this spread the word that I care" is... uh.

[mirlin1]

I highly agree to the fact that there is to much art about it right now. I can imagine people want to help.. but I don't think these drawings will help..

beside that. there are a lot of people "praying" for the wrong reason. because japan means anime and manga.. and there really are people who only think about that. there was even someone who told me:: I just made sure my favorite mangaka are save.

I think a lot of people don't even know what really is the matter......

[kanami_yuuta]

there was even someone who told me:: I just made sure my favorite mangaka are save.

well there's nothing bad about it you know? A mangaka is someone you admire... so why shouldnt you worried about a person you admire ah?

I made friends with some people I admire and I'm worried about them now because they're my friends! but even if they werent I'd still be worried about them...of course to a lesser degree

[inunobaka]

I posted something on hetalia wank about this, here http://community.livejournal.com/hetalia_wank/35614.html
So I guess you can join there and discuss it since a lot of people also expressed their opinion on it there...
And it's understandable Japanese people are even more offended than others.
Though I'm pretty sure those really awful "I did it for the lulz!" drawing on deviantart were removed, there was worst than what you linked here, really.

[ecchipiro]

I know why I'm staying away from dA right now ...