I don't understand Asia's love for cute, young, and androgynous looks in entertainment.

This is something I've been taking note to for the past few years. I don't quite understand what the draw to these things are..... It spans across many different kinds of media and entertainment, such as music, anime, video games, and TV.

in music and TV, there are several figures in Japanese rock who sport extremely androgynous appearances. Actually, on second thought, they're outright feminine in appearance. However, they do have masculine voices when they speak and/or sing......

Another example in this same market is the Japanese all-girls band, Morning Musume. This group is incredibly popular for one reason or another, and they are pretty much the very definition of this "cute and young" theme...

Then you have anime and video games, which has been strongly influenced by this same thing. Recently, in the movie Final Fantasy: Advent Children, it had been noted by many who saw it, that the main character and villain both had slightly feminine characteristics (mostly visually). In the recent title, Kingdom Hearts 2, there are several characters that also have similar appearances and characteristics.....

In many different anime series and movies, very young, or girls whom appear to be young are often used. Sometimes there are subliminal, sexual themes around these characters (ie: panty shots and etc). This same thing appears in video games as well, most notable recently in Xenosaga, the character Momo.

What's the dealiho?....

These things can be seen and noted in many different places amongst Asian entertainment. What I find interesting though is, if a person exhibits this kind of behavior, or even a like for this kind of behavior in some other countries it is, and can be looked down upon....

Different strokes for different folks methinks. :P

Sums it up right there Estapol. In more ways than one too... ;)

Its a different culture with a different mentality. Thats why Japan has the most peadophiles in the world too.

It's all about cultural diversity, thats the most simple answer.

Is that true? Or did you just pull that out of your ass?

But perhaps the people can relate to a more fragile looking character.

The thing I noticed in Japan is that the males are actually quite effeminate. They are quite diminutive, and it is only the rare case that you'll find a big built japanese man.

I've also heard stories of how you can chat up a guy's girlfriend, and he won't challenge you or anything. They seem to lack the testosterone-fuelled competitiveness that is rife with most western males.

So... in summary... perhaps people just aren't comfortable with men with no necks... perhaps even thinking that heroes of huge stature (and therefore no brain) are more American than japanese.

But thats all conjecture... and bullshit.

I'm gettin' me to Japan and pick up some other fellas lady. ;)

Yeah, sounds like the ladies are ripe for the picking! :lol:

Well.. they do approach you - keen to try out their english. Well, in my experience they were keen.

Anyway... back to topic... I must stop with the "ZOMG!! I TOTALLY WENT TO JAPAN RECENTLY!!!11!@221@OOPSTYPO@!!" thing

well i suppose it is different strokes kind of thing.... kinda like how i dont understand why the general populas of america love 50 cent

That's easy, it's called stupidity. :P

Would it be wrong to mention how one of our Admins is a 50 fan...? ;)

My comment was to the game 50 cent, just to clear that up :P

:lol:

I'd watch your step around here from now on borg. After all, Mr. Civic is always strapped wit' a gat. Packin' heat if you know what I be sayin'. :P

:lol:

*looks around nervously* :unsure:

Pfft, Civ can shove his rap up his arse! :P


Fo shizzle. B-)

Nah it just dropped out of my ass when I was takin' a shit.

oh man thats filthy....i really dont want to picture bender taking a turd right now. :P :P back on topic.....i think Andy is right in saying japanese culture in general probably dont want to be affiliated with that of western, especially american....prolly because alot of countries try to be america in certain ways its getting kinda boring.

is it just me or do americans piss you of too? i say, good on japan. :thumbsup:

The Japanese have a tendacy to support Japanese products, which is why the Xbox does so horribly over there, but this isn't just videogames it seems to be a wide range of things, from electronics to food.

There some Japanese students at my uni, we were in Global Trading Issues class and the tutor asked them how does Japan respond to foreign products? They said that they will always buy Japanese products first even if they have to pay more, unlike Australia where we tend to buy the cheapest and best quality and dont really care where it comes from.

Of course this isn't absolute, Aussies do buy Aussie made stuff and Japanese do buy foreign goods, but it's just a common trend in cultural differences, and perhaps explains why for instance American games rarely do well in Japan, but "cute, young, and androgynous" styles are popular.

But they still use Microsoft Windows..

there seems to be alot of feminity about them but i reckon it's because a majority of asians look exactly alike. i've made a couple of mistakes with my ex-asian-gf from last year

What? From what I understand the Japs LOVE western culture...hell, their major sport is Baseball. :P

That's not really a matter of choice though is it? :P

:lol: Exactly.

I'll concur that it is a bit of an anomaly in the way that Japanese tend to be quite xenophobic, yet are embracing of western pastimes.

But people do tend to like characters that they can relate well to. Not many japanese resemble (and therefore possibly identify with) the chiselled, broad-jawed, deep voiced, and unabashedly masculine heroes that dominate western comics, movies, and tv series.

Or... people like characters that they WANT to be... and I think becoming overblown piles of buff muscle-bag is somewhat beyond the common japanese male... especially considering their diet.

I lost four kilos in two weeks over there...

Looks like the next Biggest Loser series will be held in Kyoto! :lol:

lol biggest loser....man that show shits me so many man boobs i almost gag everytime

To be fair, at least the people on the show benefit from getting healthy.

yeah its all good i just wish they wouldnt show so many manboobs, i guess the show is slowly but surely getting rid of those horrid manboobs.....so yeah there doing something right. :P