Otaku

Article on other languages:

del.icio.us del.icio.us
Digg Digg
Furl Furl
Reddit Reddit
Rojo Rojo
Add to OnlyWire
The neutrality of this article is disputed.
Please see the discussion on the talk page.(June 2008)
Please do not remove this message until the dispute is resolved.
This article needs additional citations for verification.
Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (November 2007)
The tone or style of this article or section may not be appropriate for Wikipedia.
Specific concerns may be found on the talk page. See Wikipedia's guide to writing better articles for suggestions.(June 2008)
The Akihabara neighborhood of Tokyo is a popular gathering site for the otaku.
The Akihabara neighborhood of Tokyo is a popular gathering site for the otaku.

Otaku (おたく or オタク?) is a Japanese term used to refer to people with obsessive interests, particularly anime and manga.


Contents

In English/Internationally

 This article does not cite any references or sources. (June 2008)
Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed.

The term is a loanword from the Japanese language. In English, it is used to refer specifically to any kind of "geek", though it can sometimes refer to a fan of anime and/or manga. It also is used to refer to people who appear to be obsessed with Japan and its culture. The term serves as a label not unlike Trekkie or fanboy. However, use of the label can be a source of contention among some anime fans, particularly those who are aware of the negative connotations the term has in Japan. Unpleasant stereotypes about otaku prevail in worldwide fan communities, and some anime fans express concern about the effect these more extreme fans can have on the reputation of their hobby (not unlike sentiments in the comic book and science fiction fandoms).

It should be noted that the English term geek is not a precise translation of the Japanese otaku. Otaku has a significantly greater negative connotation than geek does in the West, especially as the term geek has become less derogatory. The term otaku in Japanese occasionally suggests a creepy, obsessive loner who rarely leaves the house. However this is not always the case, and in general use it shares more of a similarity with the English term "enthusiast". In English, geek can possibly suggest a person who may be socially awkward but who is also intelligent and may be fairly "normal" aside from their interest in certain typically 'geekish' pursuits (video games, comic books, computers, etc.). Otaku is closer in connotation to the English nerd, but the closest English-language analogue to otaku is probably the British English term anorak. Both of these English-language terms have more emphatically negative connotations of poor social skills and obsessive interest in a topic that seems strange or boring to others.

While otaku in English-speaking contexts is generally understood to mean geek or even fan, this usage is not widely known in Japan. Casual use of this term may confuse or offend native Japanese speakers.

The most common case in the use of the word Otaku is not only referring to a Geek but also to a Person who likes/loves watching anime (or a person who likes/loves 'Galge' Games or 'Bishoujo' Games).

To indicate that one is talking about the Japanese definition rather than the English loanword, the spelling wotaku (ヲタク) is sometimes used. On Japanese forums such as 2channel, however, otaku (オタク) and wotaku (ヲタク) are used interchangeably, depending on the mood and personal style of the poster.

Many Western otaku are frequently perceived as "Wapanese" or "weeaboo", a portmanteau which may be based on the similar term Wigger. Such individuals are typically White and worship an idealized version of Japan and its culture based mostly on what is seen in anime, manga and TV dramas. This worship may extend to emulating external aspects of Japanese culture, such as eating sushi and instant ramen or using chopsticks. It also may extend to attempting to use Japanese words in a normal English conversation, usually incorrectly and based on words pulled from anime dialogue. Many Wapanese males may also be perceived as having a perverted interest in Japanese females possibly due to Lolicon or the comparative lack of feminism in Asian culture and the assumption that Asian females are more submissive.

Otakon

Named after the label Otaku, "Otakon" (short for "otaku convention") is a convention known for focusing on anime, manga, East Asian culture, and its fandom. The second largest convention of this type in the US and the largest on the east coast, it began in State College, PA in 1994 and has been held in Baltimore, Maryland since 1999. Last Year, Otakon was the largest convention of its kind in the US. Konami (the company which created the Metal Gear series) was given permission by Otakorp, Inc. to use the name "Otacon" for any title of the series.[1]


See also

Look up Otaku in
Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

References

  1. ^ Otakon clock to come with select MGS titles - PSP News at GameSpot

External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otaku"

Advanced questions for article: cultura otaku, hentai lolicon, free lolicon, lolicon video, lolicon r us, gallery lolicon, lolicon tgp, lolicon manga, lolicon movie, 3d lolicon, bbs lolicon

Questions for article: free lolicon manga, lolicon tgp, otaku mascot, 3d lolicon, ambiant otaku, cultura otaku, etimologi otaku, free lolicon, free lolicon bbs, hentai garage kit, hentai lolicon

This article is from Wikipedia. All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License.

Giant Panda

Mercedes Car
James Bond Guide
This site monitored by SitePinger.net