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Post by The Silent Orator on Mar 28, 2007 19:17:45 GMT -5
I don't know if this belongs here or not, but I was reading the dictionary in class today when I ran into their defininition of anime. I have it written down, but I can't find it, so, I'll type what I can remember. I should have the actual definition quoted tomorrow.
Any comments? I, personally, when I read that was a bit annoyed at how anime was stereotyped and generalized like that. I don't see much violence in Onegai Teacher, Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi, Onegai Twins... I don't see maturity in FLCL, Golden Boy, Colorful, Excel Saga, or Paranoia Agent.
I certainly don't see much of sex outside of hentai.
So, what are your thoughts?
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Post by scarmiglione on Mar 29, 2007 0:43:09 GMT -5
Get the full definition up first. They probably have a qualifier in there somewhere, like, "is characterized by..." or something, like that.
Also, by sex, they probably don't mean actual intercourse. I would think they mean sexual innuendo, or the fact that 90% of all anime women have very large breasts. Because for some reason, Americans like to associate breasts with sex.However, I won't deny, that, as it stands, it's a poorly worded definition.
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Post by Teh Donut on Mar 29, 2007 10:04:32 GMT -5
It is also of import to mention that by maturity, they do not mean what most American teenagers lack, but rather mature themes. Which, ironicly, means sex, violence, gore, and language.
And sorry to burst a few bubbles, but the anime genre is littered with sexual innuendos. Hence, tones of maturity and sex...
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Post by The Silent Orator on Mar 29, 2007 14:00:06 GMT -5
It's not that I find it overly generalized. I find that it said Anime is characterized by "violence" and "sex". That's fairly condescending on anime, gives the wrong impression about what it is.
For a source of reference in which, if I'm not mistaken, is supposed to be unbiased... it seems to give a very negative impression as to what anime really is.
It could have just left it as, "Anime-A type of animation developed in Japan." and left it at that... or something similar. I find that the negativity in the definition, that doesn't even apply to all anime (it really mainly applies to shounen anime... shoujo anime doesn't even have violence in it... and I think I mixed up the two terms).
I couldn't get the definition today, but I'll try to get a full quote tomorrow.
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Post by scarmiglione on Mar 29, 2007 17:45:59 GMT -5
You know what I find kind of ironic about this? You're doing to dictionaries exactly what you claim the dictionary is doing to anime. Generalizing them.
It's true all dictionaries should be unbiased, but some dictionaries are just better than others. If you found this in a Webster's or an Oxford, I'd be surprised. I bet it was some little dictionary company that mostly no one's ever heard of.
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Post by Teh Donut on Mar 29, 2007 18:01:37 GMT -5
Quoted directly from Merriam-Webster's online dictionary. I find this definition completely acceptable. I agree with Scar; you most likely got that definition from some B-rate dictionary, written by a group of super-conservatives, and pop-culture haters to boot. Or my parents, one of the two. Point being, a quality dictionary aims to be as unbias as possible.
Granted, the definition is still a generalization, but that's like trying to classify and define, say, all comic books in one single sentence. The only way to do it is to classify it as the most common variation...
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Post by The Silent Orator on Mar 29, 2007 21:53:53 GMT -5
*nods* It was some stupid dictionary.
Now, the Merriam-Webster dictionary's definition is okay. It states facts, rather than relative opinions. It is a fact that most animes are filled with action (though most things on television are anyway). "Stark colorful graphics" could be added with "large rounded eyes" or something.
I dunno... maybe I'm just being a bit too picky. I'll find out the name of the dictionary tomorrow.
I mean, yeah, I know the dictionary HAS to do some generalization 'cause it has to have a short definition, but to put it in a somewhat negative tone is what got me off.
It's like saying that they made some kind of definition for Poker. "Poker-A card game used a lot in casinos, characterized by high-stakes and a stroke of luck." Well, that's not a good definition, but bleh, I'm having trouble trying to (eww, alliteration... or is that assonance... god, my grammar skills need to be polished! *headdesk*) exploain my point...
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