RachelHart

This is particularly relevant to me as just yesterday I started watching a series called Oreimo–having not previously heard of the show or researched it at all. It has many promising aspects, including a premise of connections made through geek culture, and a story of a girl aspiring to be a writer/animator in Japan despite social stigmas and prejudice against perceived otaku. The story could have been fleshed out in many ways and made into something pretty great, but instead a good deal of the show was devoted to an obsession with eroge and sis-con games, and the idea that the main character wanted to get with her brother. Discussions of Oreimo seem to conclude that the more promising aspects of the story were cast aside in favor of fanservice, and the exact kinds of traits that, as you eloquently phrased it, “appeal to the lowest common denominator.” Like you, I don’t believe Miyazaki necessarily meant that anime as a medium is a mistake, but rather the trend of pandering to what will be popular in the moment, rather than what might be timeless. We have that same problem in America, both in the field of animation as well as other mediums. But for every Oreimo, you have a Spirited Away. Gain some, lose some, I guess.

I won’t lie, I was a little worried when I saw the title of this article, afraid that the focus would lie in the negative aspects of the show’s fandom, but I was pleasantly surprised to find a well-thought out essay about the show’s strengths and unique storytelling! Steven Universe is innovative and groundbreaking in so many ways, and you’ve done a very eloquent job of pinpointing them! This was a wonderful read, thanks for writing!

I absolutely loved this! Korra is a masterpiece, and the theme of a privileged public figure masquerading as a voice for equality and the ‘common man’ is all too relevant these days. I also love that you drew comparisons to Harrison Bergeron! It’s one of my all-time favorite short-stories and it fits well into the theme of your essay. Yours is the first article I’ve come across here on the Artifice and I’m psyched to read more!