Headphone Girls (Headphones + Art + Advertising)

[iriverdude]

^Janet Jackson nip slip. Didn't it carry on for months?

 

[MaZa]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bender Rodriguez /img/forum/go_quote.gif And in their eyes, we in the West are extremely repressed. One man's meat is another man's poison, etc... Live and let live.

Indeed. I have no problem with their culture and way of life. I'm even interested in some of its aspects, both modern and historical stuff. And watch a lot of anime as a byproduct. Though the borderline lolita stuff going on is what make me shiver, even angry. Though it depends who it is aimed at. Like I said, if it is in anime that is aimed for people of same age, what can I really say about it?

 

[dcpoor]

the train picture is a fake/photoshop.

and most anime is aimed at teens? not really, tons of stuff are aimed at young adults and middle age adults.

 

[adrift]

Quote:

Originally Posted by iriverdude /img/forum/go_quote.gif It's funny how people dislike cultures not their own.

Nice strawman.

 

[MaZa]

Quote:

Originally Posted by dcpoor /img/forum/go_quote.gif the train picture is a fake/photoshop. and most anime is aimed at teens? not really, tons of stuff are aimed at young adults and middle age adults.

But it could really well be real.

It depends. Teen mostly means ages 13-16 or such, when they go through angsty adolescence period, but young adults (above 16) can still be categorized as teens. In my eyes anyway.

 

[adrift]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaZa /img/forum/go_quote.gif But it could really well be real. It depends. Teen mostly means ages 13-16 or such, when they go through angsty adolescence period, but young adults (above 16) can still be categorized as teens. In my eyes anyway.

Anime/Manga shops in America started in college neighborhoods. A lot of the early Anime films that got popular in the West were aimed at a pretty mature audience... Akira, Ninja Scroll, Perfect Blue, Ghost in the Shell, Golgo 13, Vampire Hunter D... not really kid or even, necessarily, teen films. Granted on the flip side you have films like Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away, but then again, those films don't use Lolita imagery (and neither necessarily do the more adult films I just mentioned).

 

[MaZa]

Take a 15 year old boy, which one you think he rather watches AND enjoys? Ninja Scroll or Spirited Away? I'm pretty sure Ninja Scroll.

I was about myself 15 when I borrowed Ninja Scroll from local video rental. It was my first real anime movie and the one that got me hooked, and it was fricking awesome. Violent as hell, it even had one rape-attempt scene which only made it creepier and shivering, and still on top of all that grim stuff the story was excellent. (and since I was sort of ninja fan back then didnt help anything.

)


In any case, you have taken pretty extreme examples. Ninja Scroll is definetly for adults. The rape scene alone is already enough to raise it to over K-16, perhaps even K-18. (finnish age ratings)
But take all those school drama or comedy movies/TV series. They are very often filled with hinting "fanservice" material about high schoolers in form or another, which is what we are arguing about here, and majority of that stuff are definetly aimed for teens or young adults. They are somewhat popular too, wierdly enough.

 

[FraGGleR]

Hmmm, have to weigh in on all this, but how?

First off, that train track running under the giant schoolgirl is photoshopped like it has been said before. I'd venture a guess that it wasn't even someone Japanese who made it.

I just spent 30 minutes writing a contentious dissertation on sex, sexuality, and their roles in both US and Japanese cultures, but it was getting too long and is putting me in a mood I don't want to be in so I have replaced it with a slightly shorter plea for less stereotyping and ignorance.

In short, please, please, please don't be so ignorant as to group all Japanese people together, nor all anime in with hentai or fanservice related stuff. If all you have seen is the perverted stuff, stop hanging out with perverted people or looking in places that have perverted stuff. That is like watching an NC17 movie or even a ***** and saying there is too much sex in movies. At its highest, anime is an artform that is hard to approach in visual, audio, and emotional impact. Every facial expression can be drawn and redrawn until it is perfect. Even the best live actors can't always nail a scene and many movies are the poorer for it. Anime like Cowboy Bebop is pure magic because of its pacing, character development, and most importantly its musical score by Yoko Kanno. Watch a Miyazaki film, and it is full of a maturity belying its child oriented surface. Messages of family and respect for people and nature abound. Not to mention they are still hand drawn and absolutely beautiful. It is a pure shame that people here would be so quick to box people from other cultures or other cultures themselves into such tiny, often completely misrepresentative boxes.

Is there a segment of the Japanese population that might take things to an extreme that we are uncomfortable with? Yes. The bulk of Japanese are probably just as uncomfortable with that segment as well. Just as we have our problems with crime, pedophilia and sexual predators (too a much larger extent than in Japan, actually).

Part of what has made my short time in this community so wonderful is how open everyone has been to educating me on good audio equipment. People believe strongly in their equipment and the way they hear, but most are always open to the notion that people hear differently. I hope that that open-mindedness and acceptance of peoples differences isn't limited to just headphones.

 

[MaZa]

Quote:

Originally Posted by FraGGleR /img/forum/go_quote.gif Hmmm, have to weigh in on all this, but how? First off, that train track running under the giant schoolgirl is photoshopped like it has been said before. I'd venture a guess that it wasn't even someone Japanese who made it. I just spent 30 minutes writing a contentious dissertation on sex, sexuality, and their roles in both US and Japanese cultures, but it was getting too long and is putting me in a mood I don't want to be in so I have replaced it with a slightly shorter plea for less stereotyping and ignorance. In short, please, please, please don't be so ignorant as to group all Japanese people together, nor all anime in with hentai or fanservice related stuff. If all you have seen is the perverted stuff, stop hanging out with perverted people or looking in places that have perverted stuff. That is like watching an NC17 movie or even a ***** and saying there is too much sex in movies. At its highest, anime is an artform that is hard to approach in visual, audio, and emotional impact. Every facial expression can be drawn and redrawn until it is perfect. Even the best live actors can't always nail a scene and many movies are the poorer for it. Anime like Cowboy Bebop is pure magic because of its pacing, character development, and most importantly its musical score by Yoko Kanno. Watch a Miyazaki film, and it is full of a maturity belying its child oriented surface. Messages of family and respect for people and nature abound. Not to mention they are still hand drawn and absolutely beautiful. It is a pure shame that people here would be so quick to box people from other cultures or other cultures themselves into such tiny, often completely misrepresentative boxes. Is there a segment of the Japanese population that might take things to an extreme that we are uncomfortable with? Yes. The bulk of Japanese are probably just as uncomfortable with that segment as well. Just as we have our problems with crime, pedophilia and sexual predators (too a much larger extent than in Japan, actually). Part of what has made my short time in this community so wonderful is how open everyone has been to educating me on good audio equipment. People believe strongly in their equipment and the way they hear, but most are always open to the notion that people hear differently. I hope that that open-mindedness and acceptance of peoples differences isn't limited to just headphones.

I may have been giving impression that japanese are "pervy", which is definetly not my intention. (im also incredibly tired. I should go to sleep) My point is that they think about things VERY differently than western. But we are indeed talking about these extreme things above. I really doubt that stuff that is almost borderline-lolita stuff is exactly "mainstream" in Japan either. (or atleast, dear god I hope it is not) But Japanese indeed take some things to extremes. Colourful and over the top they tend to like it.

Yes, anime is most of all art. Incredibly well drawn and accurately described emotions.

 

[adrift]

Quote:

Originally Posted by FraGGleR /img/forum/go_quote.gif Hmmm, have to weigh in on all this, but how? First off, that train track running under the giant schoolgirl is photoshopped like it has been said before. I'd venture a guess that it wasn't even someone Japanese who made it. I just spent 30 minutes writing a contentious dissertation on sex, sexuality, and their roles in both US and Japanese cultures, but it was getting too long and is putting me in a mood I don't want to be in so I have replaced it with a slightly shorter plea for less stereotyping and ignorance. In short, please, please, please don't be so ignorant as to group all Japanese people together, nor all anime in with hentai or fanservice related stuff. If all you have seen is the perverted stuff, stop hanging out with perverted people or looking in places that have perverted stuff. That is like watching an NC17 movie or even a ***** and saying there is too much sex in movies. At its highest, anime is an artform that is hard to approach in visual, audio, and emotional impact. Every facial expression can be drawn and redrawn until it is perfect. Even the best live actors can't always nail a scene and many movies are the poorer for it. Anime like Cowboy Bebop is pure magic because of its pacing, character development, and most importantly its musical score by Yoko Kanno. Watch a Miyazaki film, and it is full of a maturity belying its child oriented surface. Messages of family and respect for people and nature abound. Not to mention they are still hand drawn and absolutely beautiful. It is a pure shame that people here would be so quick to box people from other cultures or other cultures themselves into such tiny, often completely misrepresentative boxes. Is there a segment of the Japanese population that might take things to an extreme that we are uncomfortable with? Yes. The bulk of Japanese are probably just as uncomfortable with that segment as well. Just as we have our problems with crime, pedophilia and sexual predators (too a much larger extent than in Japan, actually). Part of what has made my short time in this community so wonderful is how open everyone has been to educating me on good audio equipment. People believe strongly in their equipment and the way they hear, but most are always open to the notion that people hear differently. I hope that that open-mindedness and acceptance of peoples differences isn't limited to just headphones.

If you think I have a problem with Japanese culture you're reading too much into my posts. I don't like Lolita imagery. You don't have to watch hentai to find Lolita-type imagery in anime or manga. If you have no problem with Lolita type imagery in your Japanese cartoons... more power to you. I don't like shallow reality tv programming in America. That doesn't mean I hate the American culture, nor does it mean that I believe that the only thing on tv is reality tv shows. If you like reality tv programs... awesome.

 

[Lazarus Short]

Quote:

Originally Posted by adrift /img/forum/go_quote.gif Is that the royal "we".

It is if you wish it to be, Sir Adrift.

 

[adrift]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lazarus Short /img/forum/go_quote.gif It is if you wish it to be, Sir Adrift.

Woh! Gotta love a forum that treats you like royalty

 

[Lazarus Short]

Quote:

Originally Posted by adrift /img/forum/go_quote.gif Woh! Gotta love a forum that treats you like royalty

No, we have only pronounced thee to be a knight. So, Sir Adrift, go forth, slay dragons, and save the realm.

 

[vagarach]

One thing: Danny Choo has the most understanding wife in the world.

And back on topic, is this book related to those anime headphone girl pics that were drawn by one guy and showed up on head-fi a few years back?

Here's one:

 

[Suntory_Times]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lazarus Short /img/forum/go_quote.gif Not bizarre - we've seen this before.

agreed, but thanks to the OP for sharing the link