What About the Waifuz?

fandomsandfeminism: hydrocannon2727: crestfallen-vagabond: fan...

thepatches — Thu, 23 May 2013 15:04:19 -0400

hydrocannon2727:

crestfallen-vagabond:

fandomsandfeminism:

electroego:

fandomsandfeminism:

Fan Service in the Anime, Sexism in the Fandom: Why Fan Service in Anime is a problem

Fan service is a rather infamous thing in anime. It seems to be, well, almost everywhere. Yes, there are plenty of series that are blissfully free of fan service, but it is one of those things that pops up more than it should.

We define fan service as the hyper-sexualization and objectification of women’s (and sometimes even young girls’) bodies within anime. Fan service is framed in a highly sexualized context and is aimed at a male audience. It should be noted here that not ALL “revealing” outfits are fan servicy. Misty from Pokemon, after all, wears a bare midrift and very short shorts, but isn’t fan service.

Fan service takes the form of panty shots, boob shots, useless bikini armor, and is deliberately framed in a sexualized male-gazey way.

So, why is that a problem? Who cares? Isn’t is just good fun? Well No.

Fan service turns women’s bodies into a PRODUCT to be sold to men. It is a SERVICE after all, remember? It frames women as simply eye candy, there for men to drool over, a ploy to male boys by DVDs because there’s tits on the cover.

That’s dehumanizing and alienating to many female fans, and it often leads to very poorly written female characters in the text.

Not only is it just a problem within the text however, but it bleeds into the fan community as well.

There is a very real problem at many cons surrounding Cosplay harassment. Female fans is cosplay are seen as fair game for harassment, unwanted groping, and the like. After all, the characters these women are dressed up as exist as objects for men to droll over, so men see women dressed like that as objects to drool over too.

It is important to remember than fan service does not inherently RUIN an anime or a character. But it is a problem, and the sooner we confront that problem as a community, the better.

try to take my fan service away and i will gut you.

Why do you feel SO entitled to sexualized images of women’s bodies that you feel THREATENED by women criticizing objectification? Threatened enough to threaten others?

Bless this post

Okay, let me tell you what is wrong with this post. Lets take an example from one of my personal favorite anime: Bleach. Now, we’re gonna look at the character of Orihime, and explain her impact on the fanbase. Orihime, as you all know, is your prime example of the shallow, fanservice character. That being said, the majority of the fanbase - yes, this includes us men - HATE her. She does not contribute to the plot in the way as other female leads such as Momo and Yuruichi provide. She does conflict other than her undying loyalty to Ichigo. If you look through the fanbase, you’ll find that many people ignore her as a whole. Yes she has big boobs, and yes she’s supposed to be “hot”, but that does not necessarily mean that we buy into it. Just like any other “trade” there is supply and demand, and in the anime trade, fanservice isn’t big in demand. Next time, I suggest looking at the majority, instead of attacking the minority and treating it like the majority.

1. I would argue that Orihime is considerably less objectified than many many many characters I can think of. Bleach itself doesn’t have as big a problem of this in my experience as many other shows (like, for example, Love Hina)

2. Your point fails. Not only is Orihime objectified by the narrative, she is also disempowered by the narrative as a character, AND the fandom completely refuses to respect ANY accomplishment she has. Character bashing + objectification = double shit.

Bleach is a sexist fandom. That’s part of the reason I left it.

3. One example does not nullify the problem for the ENTIRE medium or community.

Basically says it all. Nearly everything else would be pedantic nitpicking. It is worth saying, however, that the NEED to make women available through sexualization makes it hard to stand behind characters like Yoko Littner or Erza Scarlett since their characterization says one thing and their clothing says another.

"But the dynamics play out in different ways. Because it happens more to women than to men, the..."

thepatches — Thu, 23 May 2013 14:46:42 -0400

“But the dynamics play out in different ways. Because it happens more to women than to men, the cumulative effects–the fear and self-objectification and distrust–are different. Because so many women are socialized believing that their looks are all that matters, it’s different. Because so many men are socialized believing that they must want sex all of the time, it’s different. Because women are so much more likely to be sexually assaulted, it’s different. Because men are more likely to have learned how to fight back and defend themselves, it’s different.”

- Miri M, It’s Not About Gender

This! This right here! Sure, you can assault Kouta all you want, but it’s not the same. It’s important to talk about, but it is not the same.

"Finally: I find utterly reprehensible the idea that, if only we try hard enough!, we can somehow..."

thepatches — Thu, 23 May 2013 13:40:53 -0400

“Finally: I find utterly reprehensible the idea that, if only we try hard enough!, we can somehow sexually objectify men just as effectively as we do women, in order to justify the continued objectification of women’s bodies. That’s not progress. That’s a step forward only in a race to the bottom, and there is little to be gained by pretending that service to the lowest common denominator is a favorable equalizer.”

- Melissa McEwan

I think it’s important to note this as I head into the panels in two days. We think objectification itself is an overall negative part of our media. Objectifying men wouldn’t make it okay EVEN IF the structural inequalities of society would allow the net result of said treatment to be in any way equal.

Cosplay is Not Consent!

thepatches — Tue, 21 May 2013 23:32:35 -0400

animeboston:

We want everyone to have a fun but also safe weekend. We’ll have these posted around the convention center. Remember if you see something, say something. Anime Boston staff, MCCA staff, and Boston PD are there to help you!

Visual Narratives and the Amazing Camerawork of The Idolm@ster's Producer

thepatches — Tue, 21 May 2013 13:02:47 -0400

Visual Narratives and the Amazing Camerawork of The Idolm@ster's Producer:

Before he managed idols, perhaps the enigmatic Producer produced films instead. He certainly seems to have some prior experience, if the first episode of The Idolm@ster is any indicator. Impossible…

My copanelist for Anime Boston identifies HOW IdolM@ster plays at “candid” in a produced way. Emily discusses the way in which you can see deliberate framing in supposed “casual” or “amateur” shooting, helping is see how gaze is constructed, even on a metatextual level.

Have I mentioned that she’s awesome?

Tell me someone more eloquent than be has started a feminist look at Aku no Hana so I can just...

thepatches — Mon, 20 May 2013 21:41:55 -0400

Tell me someone more eloquent than be has started a feminist look at Aku no Hana so I can just reblog zir.

So I'm thinking about running an "Anime and Feminism" panel at San Japan

thepatches — Mon, 20 May 2013 17:31:10 -0400

fandomsandfeminism:

Might be fun?

I dunno. Who would go to a panel like that? What kinds of things would you like to see at a panel like that?

Since your ask box is closed and I have more to share than can be contained in a “reply” I am reblogging so I can provide some general thoughts on what to panel based on having spent the better part of two years thinking about it.

In the broadest sense, there are two core subject areas when paneling about anime and its intersection with feminism.

1. Subject matter - this is about how sexism permeates the medium and the ways in which it undermines good storytelling and characterization, and how it works to marginalize the growing fanbase of women in girls who love it anyway.

2. Fan interaction - there is a lot to talk about in fan interactions from shipping to behavior at conventions which includes stories about cosplayers and average LGBTQ fans’ treatment when they come in contact with the larger fanbase.

Both topics can make a panel on their own, and both can be combined, just be aware that the amount of time you have to devote to each will be less if you choose to do both (this includes questions. Panels that talk about fan reaction will get you a lot of storytelling during Q&A, so be prepared for that).

You can also split the subject matter panel into a bunch of different pabels. Grandogyny (tumblr handle) gave an amazing panel focusing solely on LGBTQ issues in fandom, media, and Japanese culture at large (see if she has video it’s from Otakon 2012 and it was stellar). I have divided mine into a 101-like sexism in anime that (at least in the next two incarnations) is going to focus on gaze, sexualization and how it interacts with character portrayal (since it’s really what gets AJTheFourth going) and one on rape culture in anime that’s 18+, focusing primarily on consent issues, virgin/whore and predator/prey dichotomies, and the complex interactions between hentai and mainstream anime/manga.

But that’s what works for me. Every convention I’ve submitted to has accepted these panels so far (well, sexism was rejected from Katsu and Waitlisted at Boston, Katsu declined, and Boston eventually put us on the schedule), and we filled a room at Otakon in 2012 (Lauren Orsini was an amazing copanelist).

Sooo…. yeah. I would reflect a lot on what kind of panels worked well for you and what about them really stood out and work from there.

—P

"There are similar narratives about men who only shed tears over/with male teammates, or men with..."

thepatches — Mon, 20 May 2013 15:16:22 -0400

“

There are similar narratives about men who only shed tears over/with male teammates, or men with whom they served in the military. And similar narratives about fathers/sons: I have heard a man tell the story of how he “held it together” when his daughters were born, but “lost it” when his son was born. He told this story in front of his kids, as if it might not negatively affect his daughters (or the wife who birthed them) to know he was singularly overwhelmed by the birth of a son.

This isn’t a neutral narrative. It reinforces the idea that women’s value to men is less than men’s value to other men. And in a film that barely features female characters at all, to see Spock explain to his partner that a lack of emotion is evidence of his care for her, then weep for his male friend, is problematic, to put it politely. (Which is to say nothing of the fact that his partner is a black woman, and his friend a white man—in a film already engaging in whitewashing.)

”

- Melissa McEwan, writing about Into Darkness on Shakesville.

I am struck by this call out since “MANLY TEARS” are a THING in shounen anime. Obviously Alex Louis Armstrong subverts by crying about everything, but you can see where I’m going.

"And overwhelmingly, what institutions want women to be is virginal. Pure, innocent. Sure they may..."

thepatches — Sun, 19 May 2013 18:28:05 -0400

“And overwhelmingly, what institutions want women to be is virginal. Pure, innocent. Sure they may demand that we perform sexuality—but a la Brittney Spears, what is expected from women is a sexy virginity. Be pure… for as long as I want you to.”

- Jessica Valenti, Yes Means Yes

This points directly at moe culture’s implicit requirement of chastity. We saw it when Minami Minegishi shaved her head and we see it every time we watch a show like K-On! or Yuyushiki and there’s not a boy in sight.

These gazey shows offer up coy, adorable girls for us to coo over, but go to great lengths to maintain them as pseudo-sexual creatures. Sure, they discuss sex and act sexy on occasion, but they’re never shown pursuing men (or women!) in earnest, since that would ruin the illusion of their availability.

"When society equates maleness with a constant desire for sex, men are socialized out of genuine..."

thepatches — Sun, 19 May 2013 16:35:00 -0400

“When society equates maleness with a constant desire for sex, men are socialized out of genuine sexual decision making, and are less likely to be able to know how to say no or to be comfortable refusing sex when they don’t want it.”

- Jill Filipovic, Yes Means Yes

Arguing that ecchi only provides negative stereotypes of women and girls misses out on the important work it does in teaching boys that they want sex all the time. Notice how shows like Kanokon or even Demon King Daimao make their protagonists seem “girlish” when they turn down sex and how (especially in DKD’s case) a turn towards sex usually yields a more confident and “manly” man. These character arcs are considered positive.

It’s important to realize that you can become confident and comfortable in your own skin regardless of your relationship towards sex. As a man, woman, or whatever gender you choose.

Anime Boston Lineup

thepatches — Thu, 16 May 2013 11:15:09 -0400

SO. I will be at Anime Boston in a little more than a week. Here is my schedule:

Panel Name: Bad Touch - Rape Culture in Anime
Day: SATURDAY
Time: 11:00:00 PM
Length in minutes: 60
Room: Panel 202

This one is 18+ and I’m giving it with A Day Without Me, bloggess-queen of Gar Gar Stegosaurus. It’s much like the Katsucon one wiht 300% more YAOIS and YURIS.

Panel Name: Sexism in Anime
Day: SATURDAY
Time: 02:30:00 PM
Length in minutes: 60
Room: Panel 309

What’s on the tin. This is a more anime-centric version of the Otakon/AUSA panel with AJTheFourth of Atelier Emily | For Me, In Full Bloom.

If you’re going to that convention feel free to stop on by. Assuming you’re not too busy drinking/in the dealer’s room/playing DDR/watching anime/playing 7 minutes in heaven in your hotel room.

Bellydancing on the Verduous Planet: Gargantia and Sociocultural Appropriation

thepatches — Wed, 15 May 2013 15:42:58 -0400

Bellydancing on the Verduous Planet: Gargantia and Sociocultural Appropriation:

I was eleven when I first traveled to Dharavi, the biggest slum system in Mumbai, India. I had only taken my small,Â hand stitchedÂ Indian purse, wearing myÂ dupata,Â salwar kameez, andÂ chaupals that c…

Illegenes lays it DOWN about a problematic scene in Gargantia.

This Show is Not For You

thepatches — Tue, 14 May 2013 22:47:00 -0400

(Or: What Utena Says about Men and Why you shouldn’t really care)

There is a chapter in Yes Means Yes called “Nice Guys Finish Last” and it tries to pin down the problem with the benefits of performing masculinity in inside of rape culture. She claims that before she transitioned, the pressure to act like an asshole in order to “get” women was exceedingly high because of its perceived effectiveness.

In high school and college, I had several male friends who, apparently concerned with the lack of action I was getting, literally told me that women like it when guys act like “assholes”. For them it was just something one did to attract women. And as much as I hate to admit it, it generally seemed true.

— Julia Serano, Yes Means Yes

This blanket generalization sits a little sourly with me. Her language points to this fact as true, not as perceived true (which makes little difference to the boys—I’ll get to that in a bit), and that’s maybe a little out-of-tune with a book that spends most of its time telling women that there is so much to be gained by exploring their sexuality in a positive manner.

But what of her underlying point? That boys and men are drawn to the promise of sexual conquest and success through this behavior? What does it mean for them? How can we fight it. Amusingly, I feel that part of that answer lies in Utena.

One of the things that felt odd about Utena to me was how much I felt for Saionji by the end of the show. The guy was a douche of the first order, and really abusive. But his arc during Black Rose seemed to indicate that he, unlike Touga, had chosen this path because he thought it was the only way to get what he wanted. As a child, he felt weak and powerless. So, he jumped wholeheartedly into the role of “MAN”. By the time Apocalypse rolled around, it was clear he felt something was missing. He sort of knew that Utena was right and maybe deserved to be the prince, but couldn’t express it. Eventually he once again fell under the sway of Akio and Touga because they appeared to have their shit together.

At the time, I sympathized with him. He wanted to be loved so badly and believed that you got love by taking it. So he took it. And that didn’t really work out for him. As the Apocalypse arc winds down, guy-to-guy I really wanted to hold him and let him know that he could still be a good person. That he just had to look harder at the people in his life. At Utena and what she stood for, and he’d find his way forward.

It jives with what Ms. Serano says. That he was simply mislead by the prevailing culture and that he deserves our sympathy as a victim himself. Thing is, Ikuhara, for all that he wants us to ultimately kind of like Saionji, knows that this is bullshit.

It’s one thing to be aware of and want to fight the forces that cause Saionji to fall and it’s another to believe he can be or should be forgiven and redeemed. Ikuhara knows this. And we should interpret his ending as such.

When Anthy walks way, secure in the knowledge that there is no prince we should be aware that it’s too late for Sayonji. Instead, the elimination of Princes means that future boys need not take Sayonji’s route. They don’t have to be princes either.

What does this mean for Julia? It means that sure, we should acknowledge that maybe some men feel pressure to perform. All that this means is that we need to work all the harder at dismantling that poisonous masculinity that drives men to make those choices.

This, too, is Objectification

thepatches — Fri, 03 May 2013 13:34:07 -0400

Emily’s old post on Altair and Vega about the Flowers of Evil manga brought up a couple of thoughts going into the show.

While Kasuga’s pining for Saeki is not unfamiliar to anyone who’s been to high school, it’s important to note HOW it’s filtered through his understanding of classical western literature. Society at large works to place girls and boys socially apart, so it’s not surprising that he’s got very little insight into what he considers very different people (I was guilty of this for years until I got to high school, I have to admit). So, he turns to romance poetry and literature to bridge the gap. And here, he culture fails him.

See, the works he’s reading tell him that women are strange, wonderous, and unknowable creatures leading to a picture as fundamentally divorced from reality as the “women as sex object” line pitched by his cruder friends. Kasuga doesn’t object to their discussion of Saeki on the basis that it’s no way to treat a person, instead he speaks on her behalf of her purity and innocence.

As you watch the series going forward, it’s important to remember both that 1. Kasuga’s behavior displays prototypical tendencies of “nice guys” who make women into objects of worship instead of objects of lust and that 2. his reading of literature partially helped him to get there. The second lesson highlights the reason why feminist critique of all works is important. Absorbing bad ideas wrapped in good prose can still cause harm.

"Feminist: Telling women they should wear less skimpy clothes is slut-shaming misogyny! Feminist:..."

thepatches — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 15:33:54 -0400

“Feminist: Telling women they should wear less skimpy clothes is slut-shaming misogyny!
Feminist: Female fictional characters shouldn’t wear skimpy clothing! That’s misogynistic and objectifying!”

- Just Smith.:

This seems like a deliberate misrepresentation. The point should be that nobody has the right to tell individual women what they must wear in order not to be raped, and also that female characters in the media shouldn’t exist just to be eye candy for men.

A woman choosing to wear revealing clothing is not the same as female characters being drawn/portrayed with revealing clothing. You can’t objectify yourself. So unless you believe that comic book characters draw themselves, this argument (or whatever it is) fails.

*edit* To extend the argument a bit, this is like the difference between a woman being told by her employer that she must wear a revealing outfit to work (for instance, as a waitress or wherever else this might be applicable) and a woman choosing to go out in a revealing outfit. No, revealing clothes are not inherently misogynistic and objectifying. But pressuring or forcing women to wear them, or portraying women in the media that way, is misogynistic and objectifying, because it implies that women should exist in order for you to look at them.

In a perfect world, there would be plenty of female characters who happen to dress revealingly. There would also be plenty of female characters who do not dress revealingly. And the only difference between these two groups of characters is that one likes revealing clothes and the other doesn’t. One is not more “slutty” than the other, one is not more attractive than the other, one is not smarter than the other, one is not more “pure” and “good” than the other. That’s all.

(via brute-reason)

"And you know what? I think that’s a far, far, far healthier attitude than so-called vanilla porn..."

thepatches — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 11:16:44 -0400

“And you know what? I think that’s a far, far, far healthier attitude than so-called vanilla porn with people that look obviously reluctant, or that say “no” before the scene begins, or who are “tricked” into having sex. That kind of vanilla porn normalizes the idea of rape and presents it as part of the spectrum of ordinary sexuality. It treats ignoring someone’s “no” as a commonplace, everyday thing that just sort of happens sometimes and isn’t really a super-big deal, and if that is not completely terrifying to you I don’t know what is.”

- Ozy Frantz writing about tsundere

Finally - Bad Touch Slideshow!

thepatches — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 18:45:06 -0500

Finally - Bad Touch Slideshow!:

I know this is WAY late, but here are my slides. There is definitely some NSFW stuff after the break.

I can’t post it from work, but I’ll get a link to you all with the panel slides and...

thepatches — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 17:25:08 -0500

I can’t post it from work, but I’ll get a link to you all with the panel slides and notes tonight. I promise. ^_^

thepatches: Preview of Tonight’s Bad Touch Panel (11:30PM at...

thepatches — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 15:31:08 -0500

thepatches:

Preview of Tonight’s Bad Touch Panel (11:30PM at Katsucon!)

AKB48 member’s ‘penance’ shows flaws in idol culture

thepatches — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 11:46:58 -0500

AKB48 member’s ‘penance’ shows flaws in idol culture:

I have been on hiatus due to starting a new job, but I AM working on something for you all (it’s going to be part of my Panel for Katsucon 19). In the interim, read this and retch.