Stakeholder and Genre Analysis - 11/8/16

Analysis of Stakeholders:

The Cosplayer Community

   People who participate in cosplay, or “costume play” often look to portray certain characters from a series of anime, television show or favorite book. Before cosplayers attend comic conventions where they display their costumes, the process usually entails handmade elements created to represent the character as authentically as possible. However, the embodiment of certain female characters may cause harassment and unwanted sexual attention as cosplayers are habitually assumed to behave like the character they are dressed as. This issue stems from the series the character is derived from, where female characters may possess unrealistic physical attributes and flirtatious attitudes created by the author. Generally, cosplayers are concerned with accurately portraying their character instead of seeking attention from fellow attendees. Female cosplayers have often identified with the fictional young women they represent, as sexuality or modesty may not be the sole personality traits the character possesses. Furthermore, organizations such as “Geeks for CONsent” and cosplayers like Mandy Caruso raise awareness of convention-based harassment in their online communities, as well as the costume events themselves. As a stakeholder, cosplayers provide essential feedback on the portrayal of females in Japanese anime, the recognition of how these characters are overtly objectified and how to combat disrespect at conventions.

“Living Dolls” and “Lolitas”

   This stakeholder is necessary in demonstrating the effects of how female anime characters influence young women to the point of obsession. “Living anime girls” and “dolls” aspire to bring characters to life by achieving plastic surgery, altering their behavioral patterns and adopting new diets to create unrealistically-small waists. The subculture of “living dolls” ordinarily involves young women creating makeup and fashion tutorials, as well as blogs, to inspire other anime fanatics to embrace the same lifestyle. Female characters in Japanese cartoons are frequently depicted as slim-bodied teenagers, with coquettish mannerisms that make them popular and desirable to others around them, especially males. These traits are often revered in the community of “living dolls,” who attempt to possess the attitude of the character they derive their appearance from. The two-dimensional way that anime characters are rendered is difficult to attain, however, young women in this community do not hesitate to undergo medical procedures to achieve the image. The removal of ribs, breast augmentations and Circle contact lenses that enlarge eye shape are desired by “living dolls,” whose surgeries are typically funded by fans. Colored contact lenses that are reminiscent of anime-style eyes have been proven to cause health risks, including blindness, however, these implications do not halt usage by “dolls.” Young women in this stakeholder who are generally unhappy with their physical appearance likely suffer from Body Dysmorphic Disorder, a mental illness where flaws are mostly self-perceived. Contrastingly, the stakeholder of “Lolitas” differs from the aforementioned in various ways. These young women are characterized by pastel-colored Victorian outfits, describing items as kawaii, meaning “cute” in Japanese, as well as hosting tea parties. “Lolitas” are influenced by anime and value etiquette to express their femininity. Correspondingly, both “living dolls” and “Lolitas” tend to avoid answering questions about problems they may have in their daily lives, as they want to create a peaceful, fanciful environment for themselves and their fans. Overall, the stakeholder of “living dolls” and “Lolitas” reflects how female anime characters have influenced their audiences enough to change their lifestyles, often with unhealthy results.

Anime and Manga Enthusiasts

   This stakeholder involves people approximately ages 11-25 who have a passion for anime and its graphic novel form, manga. There are many genres of anime, including adventure and life at school, that appeal to audiences because of their relatable storylines. For instance, in Japan, homosexuality is a frequent topic of certain manga, which contributes to readers feeling that their life choices are accepted in society. However, during interviews with peers, I discovered their beliefs about how anime could be chauvinistic and exemplify the sexuality of female characters. This blatant characterization differs from the passive way that women are expected to behave in the Japanese culture and how anime is based on fantasy elements instead of reality. The term “fan service” relates to this issue and how the material is meant to entice the audience instead of further the plot. While “fan service” may apply to either male or female characters, it is often recognized explicitly in young women who are scantily-clad and behave coquettishly. As a result, anime enthusiasts may create “fanfictions” or stories that alter the scenarios of existing characters. They may choose to represent female characters in a more sexualized way than the original work in which they are featured, believing that they will garner a larger audience, supporting the phrase “sex sells.” However, people who have a passion for anime recognize that characters “seem to be perfect because we aren’t perfect ourselves [and] we want to create something that is,” as one of the interview participants indicated (Jenna Isaacs, personal interview). Hence, this stakeholder illustrates the opinions of anime aficionados about the representation of women in anime and how it may not reflect Japanese customs.

Genre Analysis:

Online Forums, Videos and Blogs

   The majority of people in the cosplayer, “living doll” and anime enthusiast stakeholders use online forums and blogs to communicate with each other about issues pertaining to the representation of women in anime. This genre increases awareness of topics discussed by reaching a greater amount of people than other formats, such as magazine articles. Video tutorials on the construction of costume elements by cosplayers inspires anime fans to attend conventions with their unique creations. Similarly, on their blogs, well-known cosplayers discuss the disrespect they have experienced at live events, praising organizations like “Geeks for CONsent” who combat the issue. Convention attendees recognize these booths that promote respect both online and in-person, creating a safe, supportive environment. The helpful nature of the cosplayer community was shown when Mandy Caruso, an avid cosplayer and fashion designer, vented her frustration with convention-based harassment after her experience at the New York Comic Con. After she retorted the lewd comments an interviewer made about her Black Cat superhero outfit, Caruso garnered over 20,000 comments on her Tumblr blog, which declared her an “inspiration” (Aja Romano, “Black Cat cosplayer sexually harassed at Comic Con becomes Tumblr hero”). Cosplayers like Caruso usually decorate their blogs with images of their costumes and opinions on various anime to increase page views. By discussing these topics, anime bloggers expand public knowledge about Japanese cartoons and encourage fellow enthusiasts to participate in the online community.

   Additionally, “living dolls” and “Lolitas” communicate with fans and others in their subculture predominantly through YouTube videos and social media. This medium is the most popular among young women, who usually participate in the “doll” subculture. Anastasiya Shpagina, also known as “Fukkacumi,” is one of the most recognized “living anime dolls” who initially became famous from her makeup tutorial. These videos, usually characterized by Japanese pop music and bright colors, are synonymous with the lifestyle of “living dolls,” who look to inspire others to adopt a similar lifestyle. As teenagers, they look to pursue art and modeling careers well into the future, claiming that their appearances are “particularly [examples] of how you can change your look using make-up” (Lifeinplastic21, “Anastasiya Shpagina aka Fukkacumi”). However, this seemingly innocent message is derived from how, at a young age, “living dolls” realize how female characters are represented in anime. Popularity and beauty are almost always traits to be desired by lesser-attractive characters, who are frequently drawn with small eyes and hair not as vibrant as their flirtatious counterparts. Blogs and social media pages dedicated to promoting the “living doll” lifestyle are abundant, as they constantly update discussions on fashion and makeup to their pastel-colored webpages. In their videos, young women, like Venus Angelic, complete their identity by speaking in a falsetto voice reminiscent of how a real-life doll would sound. Through the genre of online videos, aspiring “dolls” see how the makeup, voice and attire of this subculture is achieved, which originates from the representation of females in anime. Despite having millions of followers on video-sharing websites, most “living dolls” prefer photographs because they are able to perfect their images on editing software, such as Photoshop. After Shpagina admitted to manipulating her images and posting them on her website, her followers became divided. As a genre, her online blog was either characterized by loyal fans or people who realized that an apparently flawless image such as hers could not be attained naturally. Furthermore, the “Lolita” community prefers to use genres similar to “living dolls,” with the addition of online journals to document events they attended. Having no relation to Vladimir Nabokov’s novel, “Lolitas” use these journals to list Victorian-sounding names to embody the lifestyle completely, as well as the addition of articles about their culture’s origin in Japan. Young women in this stakeholder identify with a specific style under the “Lolita” category, such as gothic, sweet, or classic. Genres, such as online blogs and diaries, exemplify the type of “Lolita” who created it, advertising clothing and makeup unique to their audience. Princess Peachie, a “sweet Lolita” who almost always dresses entirely in pale pink, conforms to the lifestyle in which teenagers in this community are thought to possess. Her “Tumblr” blog consists of original digital art, videos on becoming a “Lolita,” and links to stores specializing in this type of fashion, such as “Angelic Pretty.” A reoccurring theme found in the genre that “Lolitas” use is how to avoid become an “Ita,” or the version of this stakeholder who do not embody typical values and traits of the subculture. Blog posts warning aspiring “Lolitas” to “stay away from cheap black and white dresses” with exaggerated lace details, illustrates how expensive the lifestyle becomes (F Yeah Lolita, “How To Avoid Being An Ita”). Victorian-themed garments and bonnets typically are priced at three-hundred dollars, with the addition of wigs and hairpieces needed to transform into an “authentic Lolita.” Correspondingly, YouTube videos demonstrating which behaviors and hobbies are accepted in their community reach hundreds of thousands of viewers, spreading their message to a greater amount of enthusiasts. “Lolitas” are usually knowledgeable about anime, especially the episodes in which characters exemplify their style. Victorique de Blois, the female protagonist of Gosick, is characterized by “Lolita” fashion, which offsets her cold, intellectual manner. Young women who share her clothing style glorify the Rococo era and possess traits derived from gentility, while maintaining a youthful appearance. Altogether, the lives of “living dolls” and “Lolitas” rely on the representation of females in anime and how their interpretation of femininity alters their way of life.

   Moreover, the stakeholder of anime enthusiasts use online forums found on websites where they watch these Japanese cartoons, as well as the video games they are involved with. “Twitch,” the leading online platform for gamers, involves people creating videos on constructing cosplay outfits, discussing anime and recording gameplay. The representation of women in anime is also mentioned on websites referencing female “Twitch” gamers, who are often ridiculed by viewers. “Reddit” users recognized the oversexualized nature of young women in anime and defended female “Twitch” streamers, as they concluded that “this is a world where it’s totally fine to put pixel women in lacy bikini armor but real life women showing cleavage are the worst ever” (MiriaTheMinx, “Can we discuss female streamers and bias?”). The majority of characters present in ecchi anime, which implies sexual conduct, are widely-recognized by gamers who are knowledgeable about various anime. Similarly, forums discussing the theme of moe, a Japanese word meaning “strong affection” between characters, reach many anime enthusiasts in agreement. Female characters frequently demonstrate moe or desperation for the male protagonist, which is found in “Clannad” and “High school of the Dead.” Discussions pertaining to the representation of females in anime are present in forums listed under the episodes themselves, such as “Crunchyroll.” This organization of information is helpful in creating communities where participants discuss topics relating to the anime, which forge new relationships and ways to perceive the online series. One user in a “Crunchyroll” forum discussing gender prejudice in anime stated that, “anime is sexist because Japan has a culture that is sexist by Western standards,” which illustrates the diverse opinions that people have about this issue (saprobe, “Real Talk! Why is so many anime so “sexist”). Additionally, anime enthusiasts use genres involving online communities allowing them to share their artwork, photography or fictitious stories relating to Japanese culture. Often times, users manipulate the physical attributes of anime characters, choosing to render them in a way they believe will garner renewed appreciation for the series, or spark a debate about their updated image. Anime enthusiasts may mock the appearance of characters who are traditionally characterized by formfitting clothing, such as Hilda, a trainer present in the Pokémon series. Primesui, an artist on “Deviantart,” used hand-drawn and computer-generated graphics to create a new version of Hilda, who transformed into a drastically-overweight young woman who devoured the fictitious monsters she caught. This humorous portrayal of anime characters is widely-recognized in online genres such as “Deviantart,” where members are aware of the obvious sexual representation of females in anime. Another creative vehicle that anime enthusiasts use is fanfictions, or “fanfics.” These stories may feature characters from various anime and manga, as well as behaviors different from the original series. People who experiment with new storylines and altered characterizations organize their creations online, where fans of the anime experience content possibly unlike anything they have read before. 

   Overall, genres consisting of online blogs, video-sharing websites and artistic communities raise awareness about the representation of females in anime and how enthusiasts can create their own versions of the story.

Summary:

   In summation, the Internet is the genre most relied on by the cosplayer, “living doll” and anime enthusiast stakeholders. Each community uses graphics, forums and videos unique to their lifestyle to share ideas with people who are interested in the topic. Many artists and gamers have recognized how the representation of females in anime is a detriment to the cartoon series, in the same way that cosplayers emulating the characters have experienced harassment. “Living dolls” and “Lolitas” use photographs and videos to inspire their followers to achieve the lifestyle and purchase items that will increase the authenticity of their appearance in this subculture. Japanese slang words like kawaii and moe are used by the three stakeholders, who are familiar with how certain characterizations of women may contribute to the plot or are based solely on entertaining the audience. Informing people about sexism present in anime is necessary to combat harassment during live events and raise awareness of communities striving to empower the status of women in this fictitious medium.