Year in Review: Conclusion
Covering a few personal and not-so-personal bits about this 2008 year in review.
The Church of Fandom, the Church of You.
In 2007, the person of YOU was named as the TIME’s person of the year. That’s right. It’s you. That’s right, it’s wonderful.
What’s even more wonderful is that we deserve it. Really. And I don’t mean it in a way that is entitling; we are like stray /b/tards–that is why we can’t have nice things. But between you and me, our relationship has changed drastically in 2007 (and building up to it) that it’s quite remarkable.
I think as the Y2K generation reaches ages of … mental capability–they start to blog, start websites, graduate with college degrees and write thesis about social behaviors about fans, whatever–we are finally going to go somewhere. My generation was mostly concerned with the things a level lower. Like buying a computer and how to get broadband at home. Nowadays that’s not too hard.
I mean, when I was an undergrad I had school friends who went without a PC. And I went to a very high tech school. That’s just unimaginable today.
I’m ranting on about my own generational gap perspective because I see this in the anime scene. There are people, young and old, who are finally getting on the nice boat that is called socializing on the internet. And as applied in a relatively niche scene that is anime blogging (and beyond…forums and IRC and whatever)…it’s kind of interesting. Just a look here can tell you as much as you will ever need to know about people bungling over the formalities of the still-formless.
Snowflakes are hydrogen-bonded frameworks.
We are not pretty, unique snowflakes. But we are truly different. Everyone is different. But everyone is also similar–just more so than we are different.
Leveraging this difference has been the core dynamics of social interaction. That is why I love frameworks. And it isn’t that we have to use the same one–far from it. It’s like saying we all ought to speak one language. There are advantages and disadvantages between uniformity and non-uniformity, but it’s still just a matter of leveraging that difference that will determine which way is better in whichever application.
And really, I think that is why introspection is important. Motives are important. But just as important is having the language and tools to uncover motives. This is why understanding others begins with understanding yourself.
Bonded.
Many people united on the call of “listen to my song” when I saw JAM Project perform, and that is one way people bond. I saw people bond on the internet when they got together and talk trash, about a certain review of Nanoha. I saw people got together and bonded to elect a president, no matter if they succeeded or not. I read about people who cried, just because an anime evoked a deep and personal response, a flood of emotions and realizations; and between those shared that understanding and experience, more tears are shed because of it? People shared a laugh regarding sharps jumping, and dead fictional characters not being dead.
Whatever, man. It’s good no matter how.
Response.
We do not live in a vacuum. If Crunchyroll can take $60 from me, you can figure out a business and make money from anyone. If someone wanted to write freelance on anime culture, they could and they can possibly make it as they fail and grow from it. Fans write letters to studios and studios reply with responses, however it may be! Vote with your money. Anime on Blu-Ray or your favorite format isn’t going to come any faster just by whining alone. Do something. Talk to pros, talk to fans, talk to business people. Read. Google. Research the stuff. Go to school. Go do it. It’s serious business, but at the same time it’s not.
Sometimes, that doesn’t even matter. It’s all about just the basic of basics–watching anime, making time to do it, and doing it in a responsible manner. That’s how it all start in the first place. Everything else is kind of optional, after all.
Bring it on, 2009.
Year in Review 2008:
- Introduction
- Kurenai
- Miyuki Sawashiro
- JAM Project & others
- 12 lists of randomness
- Type-Moon
- 9 TV series of 2008
- Conclusion
very nice post. I lol’d at ‘a certain review of nanoha’, being that I believe it was mine, unless you mean the very similar ANN one.
I like the personal reminiscing there…happy new year to you too. This post reminds me of the phrase I heard somewhere which goes “just because it’s fun, that doesn’t mean you can’t take it seriously.” That philosophy really appeals to me for whatever reason.
Good to see I’m not the only one looking forward to the Valkyria Chronicles TV adaptation too.
I think that’s exactly it Martin.
But having fun is the #1 goal here :)
Yes, it’s quite surprising to see how much the internet and technology have given so much power to, well, us.
I ought to have more fun in blogging and stuff though >_>
I keep telling myself than when animeblogging stops being fun, than that’s when I’ll stop. And that keeps things in perspective for me. :3
I really liked how you concluded your series of concluding 2008…so cheers for a new year!
I NEVER UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU’RE TRYING TO SAY