Nationality: Swedish. Native language: Swedish (I learned English as a child, and Japanese as an adult). Language I most often fan in: English. Is it alright to reference me: Sure. What would you like to be called: Real first name would do well. Would it be alright to contact me: Of course!
How much of what you fan on is produced by your own culture/country? Nothing.
How much of what you fan on is originally produced in your native language(s)? Again, nothing.
Have either of the above changed over the course of your time in fandom? No, though I've shifted from mostly American stuff to mostly Japanese stuff. I can't think of anything I've ever fanned on that was produced in Sweden, in Swedish.
If/When consuming material not originally produced in a language you are fluent in, how do you access it? I'm not really counting English-language stuff here, though it's true than when I was a very tiny little proto-fan, I did read books in Swedish translation, and see TV-shows with Swedish subtitles (that's how they were broadcast on national TV). But as soon as I knew enough English to realize that everything is better in the original language I stopped getting translated stuff altogether.
As for Japanese, I did read a lot of manga officially translated into English, and I watched subtitled anime. Once I had the kind of internet connection that would support it, I downloaded fansubs. And I played both officially released English-language Japanese RPG video games, and some fantranslations. All of it in English. But from the very beginning when I first discovered the Japanese stuff and started fanning on it, I was stubbornly determined to learn the language. I always wanted to be able to enjoy the original without middle hands, and a few years later, I got there.
Are there any culture’s materials you particularly avoid or seek out? If so, why? I'm kind of curious about Korean manhwa, but I've decided to avoid it, simply because I wouldn't be able to stand translations again, and I don't want to have to learn another language.
The first time you watched/read/listened to something produced by a culture whose material you had not previously fanned on, were there details you had to adjust to? There were some things I had to adjust to when I first started getting into Japanese stuff. Right now I can barely remember exactly how it felt, or exactly what I reacted on. I remember that it felt fresh and interesting. More alive, less artificial (since then I've noticed that the clichés are just different, but when I first saw it, lacking the clichés I was used to, it really felt alive). There were different character types and different moral values than I was used to. I didn't have any negative reactions to it, but I do remember doing a double-take once in a while.
And, of course, the cultural references. But that's not just with the Japanese stuff, it goes for anything American or British as well. I think the in-jokes are actually the hardest part to adjust to - but it also means you get to learn new things.
Are there any particular tropes/stereotypes/character traits/plot devices you particularly associate with a certain culture’s material? There's always the negative tropes... For example, the lonely hero and the annoying patriotism of American stuff, and the somewhat useless big-breasted mini-skirted women in Japanese works. But those are just stereotypes, and doesn't really say anything. It's hard to say something in general that encompasses for example all kinds of manga AND anime AND video games. But as for a trope I like, the focus on "nakamaship" is what's drawing me to shounen manga.
no subject
Native language: Swedish (I learned English as a child, and Japanese as an adult).
Language I most often fan in: English.
Is it alright to reference me: Sure.
What would you like to be called: Real first name would do well.
Would it be alright to contact me: Of course!
How much of what you fan on is produced by your own culture/country?
Nothing.
How much of what you fan on is originally produced in your native language(s)?
Again, nothing.
Have either of the above changed over the course of your time in fandom?
No, though I've shifted from mostly American stuff to mostly Japanese stuff. I can't think of anything I've ever fanned on that was produced in Sweden, in Swedish.
If/When consuming material not originally produced in a language you are fluent in, how do you access it?
I'm not really counting English-language stuff here, though it's true than when I was a very tiny little proto-fan, I did read books in Swedish translation, and see TV-shows with Swedish subtitles (that's how they were broadcast on national TV). But as soon as I knew enough English to realize that everything is better in the original language I stopped getting translated stuff altogether.
As for Japanese, I did read a lot of manga officially translated into English, and I watched subtitled anime. Once I had the kind of internet connection that would support it, I downloaded fansubs. And I played both officially released English-language Japanese RPG video games, and some fantranslations. All of it in English. But from the very beginning when I first discovered the Japanese stuff and started fanning on it, I was stubbornly determined to learn the language. I always wanted to be able to enjoy the original without middle hands, and a few years later, I got there.
Are there any culture’s materials you particularly avoid or seek out? If so, why?
I'm kind of curious about Korean manhwa, but I've decided to avoid it, simply because I wouldn't be able to stand translations again, and I don't want to have to learn another language.
The first time you watched/read/listened to something produced by a culture whose material you had not previously fanned on, were there details you had to adjust to?
There were some things I had to adjust to when I first started getting into Japanese stuff. Right now I can barely remember exactly how it felt, or exactly what I reacted on. I remember that it felt fresh and interesting. More alive, less artificial (since then I've noticed that the clichés are just different, but when I first saw it, lacking the clichés I was used to, it really felt alive). There were different character types and different moral values than I was used to. I didn't have any negative reactions to it, but I do remember doing a double-take once in a while.
And, of course, the cultural references. But that's not just with the Japanese stuff, it goes for anything American or British as well. I think the in-jokes are actually the hardest part to adjust to - but it also means you get to learn new things.
Are there any particular tropes/stereotypes/character traits/plot devices you particularly associate with a certain culture’s material?
There's always the negative tropes... For example, the lonely hero and the annoying patriotism of American stuff, and the somewhat useless big-breasted mini-skirted women in Japanese works. But those are just stereotypes, and doesn't really say anything. It's hard to say something in general that encompasses for example all kinds of manga AND anime AND video games. But as for a trope I like, the focus on "nakamaship" is what's drawing me to shounen manga.