"Otaku" Anime Fan Culture

https://cmsw.mit.edu/mit2/Abstracts/MattHillspaper.pdf


This is an interesting article that outlines well the relationship between the "otaku" fan culture and cultural identity.  There are many negative connotations both in the US and Japan that are associated with the word "otaku".  For many, this word means fans who are so dedicated to anime culture that they take it to extremes, implementing it into their lives.  This article does a good job of fleshing out the relationship of "otaku" culture as seen from the United States.  The article also points out some stereotypes of otaku fans, such as limited social interaction.  This is an interesting aspect of anime in Japan, that I think is also a key part of the exploding popularity of anime in general.   

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