It’s March, but the weather’s so snowy and cold that I haven’t set foot outside my apartment in three days. I’m staving off the cabin fever with Gunpla, Ask.fm questions and plenty of internet. Here’s some links that have caught my eye this week:
- Another cultural appropriation debate came up this week that begged the question as to whether non-Japanese people have any business telling stories set in Japan. Take a look at the comic that offended some, and then at Deb Aoki’s lovingly curated Storify of the Twitter discussion which even includes opinions from manga arts and cartoonists. Then, check out the artist’s opinion on Twitter about why she doesn’t feel like she’s being silenced.
https://twitter.com/ANNZac/status/573164507263975424
- This isn’t the first time something like this has come up though, has it? Janai reminded me about a group that was policing whether or not people were using the word otaku the “right” way while expressing their passions. It’s clear I have a horse in this race, but I believe language is always evolving and changing. There’s a difference between cultural appropriation and cultural exchange.
- Witnessed all this and still interested in a career in manga and comics? Kodansha is hiring interns at their New York City office.
- No anime story is told in a vacuum; it always gets its inspiration from somewhere. Illegenes explores Hindu imagery in Death Parade.
- I didn’t know Anichart maintained such a thorough archive. You might be surprised to learn which other shows came out during the same season as Evangelion, for example.
- A poll indicated that female Gundam fans in Japan would rather marry Char than Amuro. To which I say, did you really need a poll? Amuro is only 15!
- Cosplay Culture is a brand new cosplay magazine available in the U.S. and there’s an interview with me in its inaugural edition! Grab a copy at your local supermarket or Walmart, or squint at my scan of it.
- This week in anime I’m reviewing: the upside of cowardice in Kuroko’s Basketball, headbutting butts in Yowamushi Pedal, and a battle to remember in Gundam Build Fighters Try.
Photo via GundamGuy