Inside the Manga Industrial Complex
Nomen Nescio
Phillip Thorne
alt.manga, rec.arts.manga, rec.arts.anime.misc):
>Wired Magazine article: http://301url.com/dbj
"Japan, Ink: Inside the Manga Industrial Complex"
By Daniel H. Pink
"Fans even sometimes send [Ageha Ohkawa of Clamp] their
dojinshi, and what she admires about these works is the
dedication and the innovation they show."
Yikes. The standard U.S. approach is: keep the authors away from the
fans and especially the fanfic! If an official story bears any
resemblance to a fan-work, even coincidentally, the fan may get miffed
and sue. (They'll lose, of course, but it'll be an unwanted
distraction.)
Strangely for _Wired_, all of the comments are well-reasoned and
properly spelled.
One of the article comments (by Radlein) is on how the /anmoku no
ryokai/ (implicit agreement) applies to anime fansubbers and their
presumed ability to build demand for eventual official releases.
Another (lemonzest) addresses some of the logistics of the hobby, and
why it's unprofitable for most people.
_Wired_ has written on the topic of "remix culture" before ... but the
difference with /dojinshi/ is, it's not just remixing. The makers
have appropriated the names and character designs, but it's not like
editing together an AMV; they need some visual talent. (Presumably if
they *lack* drawing skills, their product doesn't get bought. "Who's
that?" "That's Naruto." "Oh. I thought it was celery.")
There was a presence by Comiket <www.comiket.co.jp> at the recent
Worldcon in Japan <www.nippon2007.us>. Lessee, here's the 32-slide
Powerpoint hardcopy, here's the catalog (aha, *these* are the 2"x1.75"
pic-ads the article alluded to; 18 per page), and here's the bilingual
Engrish promotional handout for the convention presentation...
"The Comic Market is an event that is taken place 72 times
and boasts 500,000 description general participants at a time.
... In the Comic Market, over 35,000 of creators ( many amateur
and professional creators ) treat their own Dojinshi, and
distribute their passion. Who take place such a place?
Marvelously, the Comic Market is taken place by many of
non-profit volunteer staffs. Now, you can find out about
the Comic Market in this boose. Let's join us!"
One of the Worldcon attendees visited Comiket at Tokyo Big Sight on 29
September. Here's his LJ report:
<http://kiltnihonside.livejournal.com/9562.html>
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S.t.A.n.L.e.E
> On Mon, 29 Oct 2007, Nomen Nescio <nob...@dizum.com> apprised (to
> alt.manga, rec.arts.manga, rec.arts.anime.misc):
>
> >Wired Magazine article: http://301url.com/dbj
> "Japan, Ink: Inside the Manga Industrial Complex"
> By Daniel H. Pink
>
> "Fans even sometimes send [Ageha Ohkawa of Clamp] their
> dojinshi, and what she admires about these works is the
> dedication and the innovation they show."
>
> Yikes. The standard U.S. approach is: keep the authors away from the
> fans and especially the fanfic! If an official story bears any
> resemblance to a fan-work, even coincidentally, the fan may get miffed
> and sue. (They'll lose, of course, but it'll be an unwanted
> distraction.)
>
> Strangely for _Wired_, all of the comments are well-reasoned and
> properly spelled.
>
I like the Jason Thompson manga part describing shounen:
"involves nonstop action, shouting, and gratuitous peeks
up girls' dresses." It's funny because it's true!
But damn, that's understandable in an otaku mag
but saying it in a mainstream mag like Wired?
HA! That'll make the lay people do a double-take.
Jason can be brutally honest sometimes. ^_^
Laters. =)
STan
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