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 (e.g. narrative styles, character depictions, pacing, cultural references, etc.) ?
Yes, the lack of God as part of their lives. And also the coldness. In Mexican culture, you talk to people in the streets, buses, gas stations, everywhere. It doesn't matter if you don't know them you just do. In Japanese culture, and in English culture everything is so orderly, crip, cool. There's this immidiate distance between everyone. You don't touch people. And I'm not talking in a sexual way. But here we hug, and kiss each others cheek in greeting. If there's someone stranded on the side of the road, you can bet that there will be people that will stop or come to help. Here in the US it's so . . . you don't *expect* it. I guess that's the thing I was a little weirded out. Also this whole fate thing, predestined and such. It was weird to me, though not as much as the whole not one God thing in Japanese culture.
Are there any particular tropes/stereotypes/character traits/plot devices you particularly associate with a certain culture’s material?
Well, I like strong women as long as they're not the typical b*****. I like characters that have something in their pasts that hurts them. I like so many different characters for different reasons. But I guess socially awkward, smart characters with painful pasts and also for them to have some kind of insecurity. As for plots, well I always know that in anime, it will be over the top antics or heartwrenching stories where characters die and stay dead, unlike american television. In Mexican stories I know there's always going to be something tragic. I love stories about friendship, brother/sisterhood. People coming together in a crisis. I don't mind if the good guys don't win. I also look for something with a splash of dark/sarcastic humor.
Fandom Questions:
At a guess, are the majority of the people you regularly fan with your nationality?
Strangely yeah, most are american.
Do you think this changes depending on what fandom you’re in?
Well, in anime is very variety of nationalities but I mostly expect to find either americans or japanese.
If you go to live fan events/conventions/meet-ups, have you attended different fan events for media of different cultures? (E.g. have you gone to both conventions for an English-language series (such as Supernatural) and anime conventions?)If so, have you noticed any differences between such conventions?
I haven't gone to any.
Have you ever attended fan events/conventions/meet-ups in more than one country? If so, did you notice any differences?
No
Has fanning with people from various countries ever caused surprise/confusion/misunderstandings?
Yes, I lost a friendship because of it. It was a little thing that was blown out of proportion, but the person seemed fine after I explained it. She stopped talking to me afterwards.
Do your expectations for the fandom and its fanwork change depending on the source culture?
Not really, I don't pay attention. I guess I just forget the internet is a large place. I tend to assume that most people are american ^_^;
Additionally, there are a few details that’d be helpful for everyone to include, if they could:
Nationality: American but raised in Mexico Native language(s): Spanish Language(s) you most often fan in (e.g. write/read/discuss in): English Is it all right for me to reference you directly in the final paper: sure, no prob If yes, how would you prefer to be called (e.g. LJ handle/name/nickname/anonymously, etc): Water-Soter is fine If needed, would it be alright for me to contact you for more questions/details via email/skype, etc.? Yeah, anything I can do to help
Beyond that, if there are any other details, personal experiences, general trends you’ve observed, feel free to expound. Further discussion/questions in the comments is also very welcome.
I have something interesting when going from one fandom to another. In anime/manga, people tend to mix in japanese a lot. It's almost expected.
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Date: 2010-07-10 10:39 pm (UTC)Yes, the lack of God as part of their lives. And also the coldness. In Mexican culture, you talk to people in the streets, buses, gas stations, everywhere. It doesn't matter if you don't know them you just do. In Japanese culture, and in English culture everything is so orderly, crip, cool. There's this immidiate distance between everyone. You don't touch people. And I'm not talking in a sexual way. But here we hug, and kiss each others cheek in greeting. If there's someone stranded on the side of the road, you can bet that there will be people that will stop or come to help. Here in the US it's so . . . you don't *expect* it. I guess that's the thing I was a little weirded out. Also this whole fate thing, predestined and such. It was weird to me, though not as much as the whole not one God thing in Japanese culture.
Are there any particular tropes/stereotypes/character traits/plot devices you particularly associate with a certain culture’s material?
Well, I like strong women as long as they're not the typical b*****. I like characters that have something in their pasts that hurts them. I like so many different characters for different reasons. But I guess socially awkward, smart characters with painful pasts and also for them to have some kind of insecurity. As for plots, well I always know that in anime, it will be over the top antics or heartwrenching stories where characters die and stay dead, unlike american television. In Mexican stories I know there's always going to be something tragic. I love stories about friendship, brother/sisterhood. People coming together in a crisis. I don't mind if the good guys don't win. I also look for something with a splash of dark/sarcastic humor.
Fandom Questions:
At a guess, are the majority of the people you regularly fan with your nationality?
Strangely yeah, most are american.
Do you think this changes depending on what fandom you’re in?
Well, in anime is very variety of nationalities but I mostly expect to find either americans or japanese.
If you go to live fan events/conventions/meet-ups, have you attended different fan events for media of different cultures? (E.g. have you gone to both conventions for an English-language series (such as Supernatural) and anime conventions?)If so, have you noticed any differences between such conventions?
I haven't gone to any.
Have you ever attended fan events/conventions/meet-ups in more than one country? If so, did you notice any differences?
No
Has fanning with people from various countries ever caused surprise/confusion/misunderstandings?
Yes, I lost a friendship because of it. It was a little thing that was blown out of proportion, but the person seemed fine after I explained it. She stopped talking to me afterwards.
Do your expectations for the fandom and its fanwork change depending on the source culture?
Not really, I don't pay attention. I guess I just forget the internet is a large place. I tend to assume that most people are american ^_^;
Additionally, there are a few details that’d be helpful for everyone to include, if they could:
Nationality: American but raised in Mexico
Native language(s): Spanish
Language(s) you most often fan in (e.g. write/read/discuss in): English
Is it all right for me to reference you directly in the final paper: sure, no prob
If yes, how would you prefer to be called (e.g. LJ handle/name/nickname/anonymously, etc): Water-Soter is fine
If needed, would it be alright for me to contact you for more questions/details via email/skype, etc.? Yeah, anything I can do to help
Beyond that, if there are any other details, personal experiences, general trends you’ve observed, feel free to expound. Further discussion/questions in the comments is also very welcome.
I have something interesting when going from one fandom to another. In anime/manga, people tend to mix in japanese a lot. It's almost expected.