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INTEREST: After 40 Years, Has Comiket Outlived Its Usefulness?


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JulieYBM



Joined: 07 Apr 2012
Posts: 209
PostPosted: Sun Aug 16, 2015 3:23 pm Reply with quote
Quote:
The article notes how Comiket has steadily become more about pornography and adult-oriented merchandise like hug pillows, to the extent that it's referred to overseas as "the Hentai Festival."


I don't really see a defense for why this is a bad thing. Fan-oriented porn is no worse than other fan-oriented art.
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Angel M Cazares



Joined: 23 Sep 2010
Posts: 5407
Location: Iscandar
PostPosted: Sun Aug 16, 2015 3:27 pm Reply with quote
I think I have a good idea of why Comiket is a big deal for Japanese otaku, but I agree with what the author of the piece in Charapedia is saying. The internet allows creators to share their works and ideas with pretty much anyone around the world.

I know that it is hard to get a vibe from this side of the Pacific of how much Comiket is about pornography, but from the doujinshi I am familiar with, I can only agree with the author of the piece.
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Alan45
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Joined: 25 Aug 2010
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PostPosted: Sun Aug 16, 2015 3:49 pm Reply with quote
It really doesn't matter if Comiket is no longer necessary for its original purpose. It has gotten big enough that as long as it serves some purpose it will continue. That is as long as it continues to make money.

If I understand prior posts, the change in the copyright law was from enforced only if the rights holder complained to may be enforced by the government on their own initiative. If the government decided to use this change to crack down on pornography it could probably have a negative effect on Comiket. However it remains to be seen if the government actually wants to do that. Copyright is one of those laws that is only as effective as enforcement.
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Mapmerry



Joined: 16 Aug 2015
Posts: 14
PostPosted: Sun Aug 16, 2015 3:54 pm Reply with quote
People go to music festival yet you can listen to the music on the internet too.

Every time I read posts like this I can only read it as, Has human interaction outlived its usefulness?

As someone who goes to anime conventions even though I watch the latest stuff online, no, no it hasn't.
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H. Guderian



Joined: 29 Jan 2014
Posts: 1255
PostPosted: Sun Aug 16, 2015 3:57 pm Reply with quote
Times change, and so will Comiket. I can talk to friends and meet people online, but that doesn't render a physical meeting less valuable.

As to the content of Comiket being some 'immoral' comics that need to go away in order to make the event grow up, I think we can pass on that. Plenty of people get their start this way and then went on to make more standard fare. And the fact the event broke even further attendence records this year shows us that is isn't in decline.

It might not be as useful in regards to it's original purpose, but certainly the attendees are okay with where it is going.
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Shippoyasha



Joined: 28 Aug 2007
Posts: 459
PostPosted: Sun Aug 16, 2015 3:59 pm Reply with quote
Any fan in the know realizes there's more to comiket than the porn. Though that being said, porn made by fans is still an artistic craft of its own and not something to feel shamed about.

I don't think it outlived its usefulness. If Comiket goes down, that just means the fandom migrate to other venues for sharing/selling their content.

It can only become endangered if trade agreements and copyright laws act harshly, but considering it is such a big money maker for Japan and a source of great pride as a facet of its greater culture, I don't think it's even in the politicians' best interest to clamp down on it.
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Hoppy800



Joined: 09 Aug 2013
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PostPosted: Sun Aug 16, 2015 4:02 pm Reply with quote
It's almost too big to fail and only trade agreements can destroy it, even the Olympics most likely won't destroy it entirely but it may get rid of the hentai portion and turn it into more of a TGS for Otaku culture.
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Suncraft



Joined: 19 Oct 2013
Posts: 44
PostPosted: Sun Aug 16, 2015 4:20 pm Reply with quote
The pornography part isn't a bad thing at all. It achieves the same outcome, artists can gain recognition and popularity through h-doujin/manga, so they do it. But there's definitely lots else that goes on.

Why wouldn't you want to smile and laugh with a couple friends carrying away a 7 meter body pillow? Sure you can buy it(and almost everything else) online via order, but just the scenes created and the fun had is worth it.
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Razor/Edge



Joined: 05 Jun 2015
Posts: 607
PostPosted: Sun Aug 16, 2015 4:21 pm Reply with quote
If hundreds of thousands of people continue to go every year, I don't see how anyone could declare it "endless" or "outlived its usefullnesss". Enough people clearly still consider it to be important. If the attendance suddenly starts dropping and the amount of circles dwindle, then maybe it's time to let it go. But I don't see Comiket stopping for a quite a long time....

....until the west (America) forces it's copyright laws on Japan and kills it.
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Rederoin



Joined: 29 May 2013
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PostPosted: Sun Aug 16, 2015 4:26 pm Reply with quote
All the H-doujinshi would disagree with that.
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SilverTalon01



Joined: 02 Apr 2012
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PostPosted: Sun Aug 16, 2015 4:35 pm Reply with quote
If Comiket outlived its usefulness, it wouldn't draw over a hundred thousand people every time. Come back when the thing is withering away.
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Polycell



Joined: 16 Jan 2012
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PostPosted: Sun Aug 16, 2015 4:36 pm Reply with quote
Alan45 wrote:
If I understand prior posts, the change in the copyright law was from enforced only if the rights holder complained to may be enforced by the government on their own initiative. [...] However it remains to be seen if the government actually wants to do that. Copyright is one of those laws that is only as effective as enforcement.
If the TPP goes through(which is looking unlikely after the Maui Meltdown), then Japan would be forced to change its laws by the deal and wouldn't be allowed to get away with a lack of enforcement given the ability of investors to sue member states.
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Kougeru



Joined: 13 May 2008
Posts: 5521
PostPosted: Sun Aug 16, 2015 4:37 pm Reply with quote
Mapmerry wrote:
People go to music festival yet you can listen to the music on the internet too.

Every time I read posts like this I can only read it as, Has human interaction outlived its usefulness?

As someone who goes to anime conventions even though I watch the latest stuff online, no, no it hasn't.


I just had to reply to this post because that's a HORRIBLE comparison.

Live music is vastly different than recorded music. Not only because of the audience's energy, but the dynamics of it all make it feel so much more...alive. :\.

Drawn art on the other hand, is the same no matter where you view it. Especially since most artists now days are using digital means anyway. This is why when I go to cons, the only art I'll even pay attention is custom-drawn.
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Lemonchest



Joined: 18 Mar 2015
Posts: 1771
PostPosted: Sun Aug 16, 2015 4:48 pm Reply with quote
Wasn't there a skit in Zetsubou Sensei where he goes to (not) Comiket to sell his poem books only to be freaked out by how doujinshi now just means pornographic fan-fiction?
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Mr. Oshawott



Joined: 12 Mar 2012
Posts: 6773
PostPosted: Sun Aug 16, 2015 4:52 pm Reply with quote
Even if Comiket isn't as influential as it was decades earlier, I don't see it going away any time soon. There are still plenty of artwork and goodies that the doujinshi artists provide and many anime shows would not have been a reality if it weren't for the doujinshi that got recognition there.

However, the article is right that the TPP does stand in the way of Comiket having a bright future with its draconian copyright laws.
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