#genshiken 2

[ogiuemaniax]

Genshiken, Childhood Comics, and More: Kio Shimoku at Umeda Lateral Talk Notes

Kio recently had a talk at Umeda Lateral, an Osaka-based live music house and talk venue, to celebrate the release of his new artbook. Below are my notes from watching it.  (Unfortunately, the VOD is no longer available. Also, screenshots are not allowed.) There are three people: the host, Kio, and his editorial manager Moteki. For the event, Kio drew special signboards featuring the Genshiken…

[rosiebee-18]

Genshiken (Season 2)

As the new semester gets underway in this season of "Genshiken," the club welcomes two new members. Among them is the fascinating figure of Chika Oguie, an otaku who nevertheless has a strong dislike for the society she lives in. Another recent addition is a male student. Sasahara wants to start a doujin circle, so she's working on a fan-made novel for Comifest, the Comic Festival that's coming up. The show explores the world of otaku and their collecting habits in greater detail across the course of the season. The Beautiful Fighting Girl by Saito Tamaki defines otakus as compulsive enthusiasts who spend a lot of money on material items related to their interests. 

Even though the members of Genshiken own a variety of otaku-related products and doujinshi, they frequently lack a concrete means of realizing their goals. They frequently use fictionalization, like cosplay, to convey their interests, as Saito notes; this is a topic that is emphasized by Ohno's actions and Fiske's idea of textual output. This need to transfer one's own passion into measurable artistic production is seen in Sasahara's ambition to write and publish his own fanfiction.

The subject of BL (Boy Love) enters the story with Oguie's introduction. At first, Oguie is hesitant to discuss her passions with the group and prefers to indulge in them in solitude.This resistance stands in contrast to her  participation in the club's BL-themed doujinshi creation. The introduction of Sue and Angela, two American characters, in the middle of the season draws attention to the distinctions between Japanese and American otaku cultures. The Americans are shown as being more forthcoming about their hobbies; Sue, for example, publicly shares her favorite panels from Oguie's doujinshi and regularly quotes lines from anime. Their presence highlights the ways in which American otaku culture can diverge from that of Japan, especially with regard to candor and fervor on personal subjects.

This episode's portrayal of conventions is consistent with comparable global events. It emphasizes how conventions promote cross-cultural relationships and fan interactions among fans worldwide. The episode adds to the global character of fandom by showing how overseas fan cultures influence and are influenced by Japanese norms.

[rosiebee-18]

Hii. We do witness the Genshiken members pursuing their respective loves, whether they be comic books, careers, cosplay, or hentai, as Sasahara and Ogiue get ready for the Comic Fest. In addition to reflecting a common cliché, Angela's portrayal of Japanese males as smart  shows the somewhat naive understanding that can arise when two cultures collide. This episode does an excellent job of examining the small things of nonverbal communication and the difficulty of deciphering feelings that are not expressed—a theme that is frequently present in Japanese culture, where a lot is left up to context and inference which can highlight the difficulties of cross-cultural communication.

Genshiken pt. 2

In this second part, the animation is slightly different. We are also introduced to new characters and the concept of cosplaying. The club has new members, and you can see the sense of community since the first episode.

In the first episode, a girl from the manga club says she hates Otaku, especially Otaku women. There also seems to be a connection between the women in the club, such as when Saki protects her. Much like Kanji in the first episode, she says that she is not interested in things such as homo dojinshi. When alone in the club room, she seems to be curious, but too embarrassed to look through the manga. She confides in Saki and explains that the first time she consumed that type of content was in fifth grade. Although the show overlooks this part, it speaks volumes about the consumption of porn in Japan at an early age.

I have no idea what I watched in the fifth episode, there were some very interesting scenes. The main topic of this episode is the production and appeal of fanfiction, more specifically BL. I believe that this episode targeted a female audience, as opposed to the usual male audience. This is one of the main differences between Genshiken pt. 1 and pt.2, the anime itself broadens the scope of its audience rather than solely focusing on men.

In the tenth episode, Sasahara and Ogiue prepare for the Comic Fest. We see the characters all span out to foster their individual interests such as comics, careers, cosplaying, and hentai. Angela and Susie are American characters who come to see the Comic Fest. The anime discusses the concept of nonverbal communication, and the ability to understand unsaid feelings. This is a Japanese cultural phenomenon that I have seen in other media. Angela stereotypes Japanese men, saying that they are all sensible and wear glasses. This episode really talks about communication and the disconnect between different cultures. However, at the end Angela argues that there is a universal understanding between humans.

The eleventh episode focuses on the comic convention. Ogiue seems to be more open about her interest in BL. She talks about the focus on female-oriented stories rather than male-oriented in comics. During this episode, she realizes her feelings for Sasahara.

[chimeracauldron]

Pointless ramble about Genshiken anime incoming

I've been watching though the Genshiken anime with a friend , and a scene in Genshiken 2 (ep 21) caught my attention bc they threw in two disgaea references back in like 2007 (I almost didn't catch the hanako reference at first bc they gave her angel wings)

But now I can't stop thinking about the surrounding scene that this reference is in. I was initially curious if this reference was in the corresponding chapter of the manga(ch 33), which was unlikely as disgaea 1 only came out in 2004, and this chapter is from 2005, so at the very least the hanako reference couldn't have been there. But I found that this entire scene was also missing, with all the genshiken guys discussing what Ogiue would be like as a dating sim character, going so far as to openly speculate about her "h scenes", not knowing Ogiue is there listening in on them. I suppose it isn't really above some of the guys in genshiken to be weird about the girl members in private, but the whole scene just felt really gross and now I'm stuck wondering if it was just made up whole cloth for the anime, or if it was moved around from elsewhere in the manga? I can't remember where that scene might've been, and as much as I'd enjoy reading the whole manga again that'd certainly take a while lol. idk just weird little thing that's bugging me!!

[mochicrackersss]

Blog Post - Hetalia ᯓᡣ𐭩‧₊˚ ⊹

GIRL WHAT THE HELL WAS THIS SHOW!!! ITS SO GOOFY! I always forget that CountryHumans: The Anime exists, but when I do remember it, I always wish I could forget it again. Hetalia is pretty silly, but it gets kinda weird when you think about it for more than five minutes. I can recognize that it succeeds as a massive parody to make fun of real-world powerhouses and how much they don't attribute to the world besides violence. But, the show turns whole-ass countries into buff or twink men and lowkey encourages their fans to ship them with one another. No wonder the Hetalia fandom turned out to be so crazy.

However, one choice I didn't really like was when the creators cutie-fied the events of World War 2 from the perspective of the Tripartite Pact. I think it's a bit insensitive, especially for how infamously evil German and Japanese forces were during that time. I think if the show wanted to create shenanigans between personified countries in the present time that would be fine. But having a tiny stranded beach episode with Germany, Japan, and Italy while both sides of the war tortured and murdered thousands in real life during fights, concentration camps and sieges is just. Again, kinda weird. I don't wanna know that Germany is good at tying shoelaces right now!!! But maybe the show just wasn't my cup of tea, I could see how others can get behind it.

If I put to the side that all the characters were countries, Hetalia was a lot more enjoyable. But I think it was an odd choice to have this for our last anime in the class. This anime could've paired so well with Genshiken as a real-life example of toxic fandoms within anime communities. Both shows deal with the balance of good gay representation and dangerous representation from BL, but adding the representation of countries on top of that could've been super interesting to compare! But I understand why it was paired with Kobayashi's Sensōron instead.

But anyways, this is my last blog of the class! Yay!!! Pasta!!!

[robian]

Genshiken Part 2

Genshiken part 1 focused a lot on male otakus and how they are perceived, while Genshiken part 2 switches things up and focuses on female otakus. It primarily presents the stereotypical interest in the yaoi genre. Honestly, most of the episodes that we were assigned to read primarily focused on this yaoi aspect, so I guess that's what I'll be primarily writing about. (Edit: nevermind, thats basically all I talk about)

In the writing “Beautiful Fighting Girl” by Saito Tamaki he talks about male Otaku's perception of women portrayed in anime. In correspondence with past Harvard students they talk about how a man's attitude towards a Bishojo should not be a representation of his “attitude towards real women”. It's their fictionality that is so attractive to otaku. 

Alright, so what exactly does this have to do with women liking Yaoi? In the anime Genshinken they portray womens sexual fantasies of gay men through their obsession with yaoi. It's not like a women could have a true, recipricated, sexual relationship with a gay man and a women could never be part of a (male) gay relationship. So that begs the question of what exactly makes two boy lovers so attractive to some women? Just like men loving bishojo, it's their fictionality.

Now, obviously gay men are real, just how theres girls that are similar to bishojo. But I'd like to add that the gay tropes in Yaoi are very different from the stereotypical gay people in reality. As portayed in Genshiken during the comic fest, most of the Yaoi manga artists were women and the main fan base is women. Yaoi is just a manifestation of womens sexual fantasies on paper and has no true basis in reality. After all, most of these writers aren't guys so they've never actually experienced “boys love”. 

Honestly, this is pretty hard to write about as a dude who's never read yaoi or yuri before. I think the main pull away from this is that we shouldn't judge a person based on the content they enjoy consuming. Although, I don't know what I'd feel if I found out I was part of some girl's random yaoi fantasy😂. 

[whisperingwisterias]

Genshiken Part 2 and Fetishizing

Where season one of Genshiken portrayed how getting involved in fandom spaces impacts the individual from a male perspective, season 2 switches to the female otaku side of fandom and especially addresses the draw that straight women within fandom spaces feel towards gay fan content.

It is Ogiue in particular who addresses otaku women’s fascination with yaoi material. At first she is critical of it, loudly asking why women are so obsessed with it and telling Saki about how she was traumatized by seeing it all the way back in 5th grade. We learn later that her hatred was actually a front to disguise the embarrassment she felt over liking it too. However, while her fandom preferences seem harmless, if not a bit odd, at first, it soon becomes clear how such an obsession can distort her perception of reality and affect those in it. In one episode she overhears a small portion of a conversation Sasahara and Madarame are having and, despite knowing them and despite them being real people and not characters, immediately begins to create a romantic fantasy in her head featuring the two of them. 

Even after getting the actual context of the situation, Ogiue can’t stop looking at them through the lens of her fantasy, defining them by character tropes and who is the “top” and “bottom” in the relationship. It is especially clear how her obsession has clouded reality as she tries to think of a fantasy with purely fictional characters or tries to mentally pair Madarame up with someone else but still finds herself drawn towards Sasahara and Madarame, even though they act nothing like themselves in her fantasy. She even lets reality influence elements in her fantasy, such as Sasahara helping Madarame with his tie, or even adding Tanaka into the scenario, where she decides that he has cheated on his girlfriend Ohno in order to interfere with the fantasy Sasahara and Madarame. By the end of her fantasy she has gotten borderline explicit in the scenes she has created, all without the knowledge of the two people she’s picturing in it.

While consuming and enjoying gay content as someone outside of the community is okay, Genshiken shows how it can be harmful when it crosses the line from enjoyment to fetish. In a way Ogiue’s fantasy dehumanized Sasahara and Madarame as it made it hard for her to see them as real people instead of character tropes. It also heavily stereotyped and sexualized gay couples, which, as she draws out fantasies like these and turns them into doujinshi that other people buy, actively harms the gay community by promoting the stigma around it. Overall I think that Genshiken tries to convey to the audience that there is a line between engaging in a fandom positively and respectfully and engaging in one in a way that is harmful to others.

[blogs-no-giggles]

Genshiken Part 2 Reflection

  The part 2 is definitely interesting to see as well. The show started off with a stunning scene of a member of the Manga Club jumping off the building eventually hurting herself. We would eventually know her as Ogiue as she joined the Geshiken Club later on. At first, she hated Otaku people, which I’m pretty sure it meant people who are invested in Computers, Manga, and Anime. This is also ironic as she joined both of the clubs. On top of that, later in the show we actually see she drew doushinji and brought it to the comic fest. This also brought up the topic of pride or homosexuality discussed in the show. The primary source of the doushinji was Ogiue’s misinterpretation & imagination of Sasahara and Madarame being together. When the doushinji is finished and presented at the comic fest, Ogiue seems kind of embarrassed about it. She feared that others may criticize her work since it is not a cultural norm in society. However, it turned out that some people actually enjoyed it, it gave some another perception of viewing things I guess. Truth is, most people today are open-minded, we don’t take other’s views as insulting, or offensive. Most people are open to interpretation, and usually won’t criticize unless it certainly bothers them.   Another aspect of society that the end of the show discussed is cultural exchange. This is very prominent in the U.S., but probably not as much in other countries. However, many countries are open to tourists and new citizens being enrolled into their society. In the show, you can see how shocked some members of the Genshiken are when Sue and Angela arrive at the school. This is also apparent when they go to the comic show. The people weren’t criticizing them or anything, just curious about them seeing foreigners at the Comic Con. Sue and Angela also represent the spread of Japanese culture in the U.S. as they were both invested in the comics, and Anime Japan offers. The show described diversity and how people of any culture is able to get along with each other, as most of us are generally open-minded.

[decafbat]

I'm sure you've gotten a dozens of these but thanks for helping get me into genshiken, I'm reading thru season 2 now, but i was really surprised about how fond i grew of the original crew... I originally went into it hoping for lots of fujo girl shenanigans (plus one of the few fat girls in manga/anime I've been able to actually physically relate to) not realizing the whole first half was just normal otaku boys but i loved it!

yes!! that was my experience too, i learned early on that there was both a trans girl and a fat girl who looked exactly like me in the second season. i read the first bit and watched the anime with a bit of trepidation, i was super put off my some of the boys behavior early on but was really surprised by how well-developed they became, i really love all of them now theyre great. still though early on my unbelievable attachment to ogiue and ohno were what propelled me through it. now that im on second season though i can just bask in the girl of it all. second season's characters are on a whole other level, i could really talk about Hato and Yajima all day but ill keep my mouth shut for the sake of spoilers!!!!! glad youre enjoying it!!!

[nickslays05]

Genshiken P.2

Hello again everyone! I finished the rest of Genshiken and the analysis I was able to come up with is that: Genshiken (Part 2) continues to delve into the intricacies of otaku culture, expanding on the themes introduced in the first part while introducing new dimensions that resonate with both Japanese and global audiences. The anime not only portrays the evolving dynamics within the Society for the Study of Modern Visual Culture but also addresses broader issues of identity, acceptance, and the impact of media.

In Japan, otaku culture has gradually gained more acceptance, yet it still faces certain stigmas. Genshiken (Part 2) highlights this by showing the characters' growth and how they navigate societal perceptions. The anime tackles the challenges of balancing personal interests with societal expectations, a theme universally relevant as people around the world often struggle to reconcile their passions with external judgments. The series also addresses the pressures of adulthood, such as job hunting and relationships, which are pertinent issues globally.

Connecting this to my assigned readings, which often explore themes of social structures and personal identity, Genshiken (Part 2) serves as a practical illustration. The anime's exploration of the characters' identities, their struggles with societal norms, and their ultimate acceptance within a supportive community align with broader discussions on how individuals navigate and negotiate their place within society.

In conclusion, Genshiken (Part 2) offers a rich, nuanced portrayal of otaku culture and its implications. It underscores the importance of community and acceptance while addressing the universal challenges of balancing personal passions with societal expectations. The anime's depiction of the characters' growth and resilience provides a compelling narrative that resonates with viewers, making it a valuable addition to the discourse on identity and social acceptance.

[n4stasia]

Genshiken & Otaku Desire | pt.2

After covering the basics and exploring how fandoms are portrayed in Genshiken and the way it relates to culture economy in the first part, I decided to dive into the specific "quirks" of otaku culture. To start off, I must confess that the assigned reading by Saito, "The Psychopathology of Otaku" was much more enjoyable than Genshiken. It provided the necessary context and interpretation of the anime and serves as a main inspiration for this blog post.

One striking aspect is the heavy sexualization often present in doujinshi, particularly the prominence of yaoi within this medium.

The hypersexualization of doujinshi can be attributed to several factors. First, the medium itself offers creators unprecedented freedom to explore their imaginations without commercial constraints. Second, the target audience for many doujinshi is often male, catering to specific desires and fantasies. This demand for explicit content has driven the market towards increasingly sexualized material.

Paradoxically, while doujinshi, including yaoi, is prevalent in otaku culture, Japanese society at large often maintains conservative attitudes towards sexuality and homosexuality. The appeal of yaoi among straight women is a complex issue. Some argue that it provides a safe space to explore forbidden desires and fantasies without real-life consequences. Others suggest that it offers a means of subverting traditional gender roles and power dynamics. It's essential to acknowledge, however, that while yaoi consumption may be widespread, societal acceptance of homosexuality remains a challenge in Japan.

This contradiction between the permissive world of otaku culture and the conservatism of the nation is a perfect example of the complex and multifaceted nature of Japanese society. While certain subcultures may embrace progressive values, the broader culture often adheres to traditional norms. This dissonance creates a unique environment where individuals can explore their desires and identities within specific, often marginalized, communities.

I also want to note that despite the widespread acceptance and consumption of these questionable materials in Japan, often unfamiliar and obscure to Western audiences, it's crucial to maintain an open mind and avoid perpetuating harmful stereotypes or generalizations.

[kidneystheallpowerful]

Ok man... I don't like Genshiken 2...

[aspiring-holistic-otaku]

TOP 10 NEW READS OF 2023 GO!!!

[no scores or anything this time, just vibes]

10) omniscient reader

9) giant killing

8) akane banashi

7)sakamoto days

6) shiori experience

5) 'tis time for torture princess

4) genshiken 2

3) high score girl

2) astra lost in space

1) all rounder meguru

interested in everyone else's and ofc if you check any of these out lmk what you think 🍻

I also have a monthly podcast where I talk about manga you can check out below if you wanna hear more about these and other great reads

you can also check the link in my bio for your preferred streaming platform or transcripts for episodes in case you just wanna get straight to the manga 🍻🍻🍻

[honeylavenderangel]

Blog Post — Genshiken (Part 2)

Genshiken (Part 2) continues to explore the world that is otaku culture, as first initially seen in Genshiken (Part 1). Part 2 continues to offer the audience a deeper dive into the lives of its characters except they’re leaving university life. Now that they are followed as adults, the audience gets to see how they engage and grow in Otaku culture as they transition from university life into the working world.

In Part 2, the characters have since developed and matured in the span of time between first meeting them and them now having finished college. Not only are the characters are more mature, but during this transitional period of time in their life it addresses how they reconcile with their otaku identities and interests except now dealing with the responsibilities and expectations of adult life. This is something that stands out as a universal issue, as people everywhere, both outside of Japan and the otaku subculture,  struggle to balance their passions with the demands of society. As an adult, having more responsibilities to tend to such as working (to pay bills, rent, groceries) and to make a living leads to one having less leisure time. Work culture is heavily present and dominates the lives of Japanese men and women. This struggle to find balance is captured by the anime while showing how the characters navigate their identities in a world that often values conformity over individuality.

Despite the fact that a significant amount of time has passed and each members are on their own separate paths and journeys in life, the club still exists, and the comfort that they can find within one another has not disappeared despite the changes everyone has made in their life's and gone through.  While one can make it through life alone, it will always be leagued earlier to do so alongside others and to at least receive their help. That is a globally relevant theme, the importance of finding community or making it wherever you go.

Image Post: The main members of the university club are gathering except this time they're all older.

[angelacnguyen]

Genshiken (Part 2)

Although I struggled to become invested in the characters and plot of season one, season two of Genshiken was much more enjoyable and comedic. While season one focuses on the characterization and interests of the male characters, season two highlights the interests of the female characters, especially Chika Oigue, a new character introduced in the first episode of season two.

Like season one, season two also depicts female otakus as perverse. Despite this seemingly negative depiction, the anime successfully and comprehensively depicts otakus as regular, normal individuals despite their seemingly bizarre hobbies. Demonstrating this notion, past characters like Kugayama and Kousaka are only occasionally seen compared to other characters like Sasahara due to occupations and job interviewers as they attempt to join the workforce. Because the anime often denotes that the characters are participating in job interviews and "normal rituals/practices" like filling out resumes, it emphasizes that otakus are also "normal" people who perform their duties and contribute to society's overall well-being. Furthermore, the anime also relates to Saitō Tamaki's book, "Beautiful Fighting Girl," in that Tamaki is arguing for a more nuanced understanding of the otaku community. Rather than classifying otakus as abnormal or deviant, Tamaki suggests that their behaviors reflect a broader cultural or psychological trend. Since the anime often reinforces the normality of the characters through their occupations and daily lives, it heavily reflects Tamaki's argument. Moreover, Chika is usually shown blurring the lines between reality and fiction as she creates ships between the club members through the doujinshi she draws. Despite this, Chika explicitly states that she has psychological issues related to her past in middle school. Therefore, the anime insinuates that she utilizes her interests to cope with her past, ultimately rejecting the stereotype of otakus simply being abnormal. 

Overall, season two of Genshiken was much more enjoyable than season one, with more cleverly satirical and comedic jokes. 

[codeswift27]

At the start of Genshiken 2, it’s immediately clear that the members of the anime club are getting along together much better. Sasahara is the new chairman and is very confident in leading the club, and Saki gets along with the other club members and is dating Kousaka. Additionally, there are more members in the club as well as girls including Kanako Ohno. Genshiken 2 focuses on the clubs growth by registering for and getting accepted to the ComiFes convention. The club decides to create and sell doujinshi at the convention and Sasahara coordinates the planning.

Doujinshi is fan created works based on popular publications. Examples include fan comics, manga, or artwork. While Doujinshi is technically illegal, there is so much of it and oftentimes original publishers will not bother to take them down. In the first episode, the club is offered an amazing deal to work with popular doujinshi artists to create their doujinshi for the convention. While the idea of earning much profit appeals to many of the members, Sasahara ultimately decides to reject the offer, deciding that it would be better for the club members to work together to make their own doujinshi. This could be symbolic of the club’s rejection of society in that they reject capitalism and the pursuit of wealth or fame. Even though they have an opportunity to create popular doujinshi, they opt for making their own doujinshi and find it more meaningful to put their best work into the event and enjoy the teamwork and convention.

Overall, I found Genshiken 2 more interesting than the first Genshiken because Genshiken 2 focused more on the teamwork and new dynamic of the club. Furthermore, I found it interesting to watch the characters prepare for an anime convention. I have only been to one anime convention before, which was Swamp Con with my friends! It was very fun to attend, and I think it would be interesting to see what other anime conventions are like and what it’s like to actually participate and sell items at a convention.