AGRR: The Rabbit Hole – Means of Escaping Reality
My first real contribution!
Before I delve deep into the topic, please note that there were various topics to choose from and you can imagine why I chose this particular one. First, “The Rabbit Hole” had me thinking killing bunnies off, and second, the topic was the only one I really understood. So anyway, I’ve joined the AGRR and I’m probably the only useless member of the club since my replies are only worth a couple of meaningless words. Seriously, we were all wondering what topics should be discussed, everyone thought really hard on it and gave hot suggestions, and all I asked was if we could talk about food.
So how much do I appreciate anime and what good or bad does it do to me?
I watch anime because it’s my life and if I don’t watch at least one a day I’m gonna suicide like the bunnies–no I’m kidding. I enjoy watching anime because it helps the creativity side of my mind and helps my Japanese speaking skills improve. Also, it’s fun and a great way to kill time, sit back and relax to your heart’s content. My parents tell me off all the time but that doesn’t stop me from watching, but I still do know that I shouldn’t watch, let’s say, three episodes in one day on a normal school day because that would mean I’m delaying my homework. Anime also brings me closer to a few friends but some of them roll their eyes at the mention of it because, well, they don’t like anime at all.
However, because I’ve been friends with some of them for so long, they’ve come to appreciate anime and sometimes watch it with me. But they’d make the wackiest jokes out of it and complain about some of its retardedness. By watching anime, it also helps me write better fantasy stories because anime is broad and is almost like reading a book, except your eyes are glued to the screen. I go through a lot of phases where at one point I’d think that anime is no fun at all, and I’d get addicted to watching dramas and listening to music and watching movies instead. However, I’d always find my way back and thanks to blogging, I don’t go through those kind of phases any more because I know that there are shitloads of people out there who also enjoy anime.
Sometimes watching anime means escaping reality, but heck, I love my life anyway. Whenever I do get pissed at something or someone, I watch anime in order to get over it. But there are times when I’d like to escape from reality for just a second because reality doesn’t offer so much and there’s a limit to what each individual can do. Sometimes after watching an episode I’d think over about my previous anger and I’d often wonder why I got so boiled up in the first place. The thing is, I hardly get pissed at anyone and when I do, I get over it within minutes because it’s probably not that big of a deal. For me, I’m trying to accept life (I’m too lazy to go on a rebellion like Lelouch) and things the way they are and I’d normally be the wrong one, so watching anime, in a way, helps me realize my mistake.
Anime does help me escape from reality because it can be so unrealistic, but sometimes it helps me reflect on my actions and I think: Crap, maybe I was too harsh on her, or something. Especially when the theme focuses on friendship and forgiving. Some anime increase my knowledge in certain areas as well, which is good because I normally daydream through my classes anyway. Watching anime makes me think that anything can be possible and that if I really try, maybe my life can be as fun and interesting as the characters’.
There are times, like Hinano, when I come home after going out with my friends that I think: Crap, I need to blog yadadada or watch shit and shit. It gets me agitated at first because I’d be too lazy and sleepy to, but then I’d start reading other blogs and tell myself that I can do it. After a while, I’d think that it was worth it to go out with my friends first because they’re really important people in my life and I wouldn’t want to ever forget them, ever. Anime can make me forget important and minor things, so it’s more of a hobby than anything else. I try restraining myself from watching too much because it’s nice to get out and become closer with your friends every once in a while.
Watching anime can sometimes exclude you from certain groups (because you’d be watching that instead of the tv like “everyone else”), and make you an outcast at times, but it’s probably just because those people are very opinionated and don’t like too much of one thing. I’d agree with that in a way because I’d get pissed if everyone loves the same book and talks about it non-stop. First, because it gets tiring to hear the same darn shit over and over again, and two, because you haven’t read it before it makes you feel left out. This is why I try avoiding talking about anime a lot in school, particularly because midnightrose is about the only chick I know that even bothers watching anime. Everyone else pays more attention to the tv, MySapce, Bebo and Azn dramas to even care.
Oh and we’re setting up a PodCast thingy and looking for helpers if you’re interested~! Thanks otou-san!
Fear the pink ball!
Interesting post. I watch Anime when I can, but haven’t seen a lot of Anime other people have seen. Although I know a lot about the origins of Anime and the development of the artform, there’s only a certain number of series I’ve actually seen. I also tend to like older Anime that people think is old news, but it’s new to me.
And then there’s the matter of whether I’ve interpreted it correctly, reading some Japanese literature helps me get into the mindset of the Japanese head before watching a new Anime I haven’t seen before. These little things you can do to supplement your understanding the culture that produced Anime and the implications of a shift in culture created by a rebellious artform. I could tell you a little more about Japanese people than most Aussies, but I can’t speak a word of Japanese fluently.
But as for Anime as escapism, there are feelgood Anime you can watch to brighten up your day, and then there’s Legend of the Overfiend, which will disturb you beyond belief. I prefer to watch feelgood Anime when I need something to cheer me up, but I can and will watch more serious Anime and read serious Manga when I feel in the mood for some delving into the human psyche.
@blizzy
I see where you’re coming from here, because my computer itself has been an escape from reality my entire life. Luckily, the select friends that I have are more interested in their computers than anything else too. I’ve grown up on this thing and finding out that I could watch anime on the computer is just another thing that has kept me glued to this seat.
Sure, I do get out now and then, but whenever I do I feel like I’m missing out on watching more anime. I think “I could be adding .4 more days to My Anime List rather than going hang out with you all day.” Why is that? Is that just the gamer mentality that I grew up on? Is my nature just that addictive? Or is anime just that much fun to watch?
I vote all of the above.
Basically, anime is an escape from reality for lots of people, but probably not because they have something to run from but because they love it.
@newgeekphilosopher
try watching a shoujo anime, that’ll get your happy motor runnin’
Shugo Chara! ftw! (gawd, I gotta stop talking to my friends and focus on catching up with Shugo Chara)
Copy pasted from Hinano:
Story of my life. щ(ﾟДﾟщ)
It started off as a hobby which later grew into an obsession, and thankfully(or unfortunately) I see no signs of the fandom wavering within me. In fact, it has inspired me to actually seek means and methods to fund this love of mine, as my course sort of preps me in a way that I can still somehow keep in touch with it in the long run.
I’m not sure how it has really affected my social life, as while I mingle with normal people far less that before, I now tend to proactively seek and enjoy the company of like-minded people around me, so it’s safe to say it has yet to actually have a detrimental effect, though I now have unrealistic expectations from the opposite gender, which can never be fulfilled. P:
Same here buddy, I watch anime as a form of escapism. It’s the holidays, my part time job has irregular working days and I have the time to spare. Hence, I marathons on series like Blood+; series that are long and where I will not have the time to follow during school term. In fact, I might not be following anything during the school term at all. During school term, a balance would be what I choose, an episode or two would suffice. They’ll come after I’ve completed my assignments; like some kind of reward and where I can enjoy something without worrying about datelines.
PS: Strangely I didn’t opt for this topic though I’ve voted for it. Drats!!!
Erm first off I’m confused as to what is AGRR? @.@ 分からないです…
Anyway, I doubt I’ll become anything like Hinano, for example, since anime is still a hobby to me…. I think unless watching 20 episodes a day when I’m bored is not normal.Yup…I blame boredom for causing me to watch anime.
I’m with Makoto on the AGRR thing. Wha?
But yeah, escapism is a prime reason for watching anime, so like you I try to temper it with a dose of reality now and again. Current developments in my life (moving, selling a house) force me in that direction, but even in normal times I keep other hobbies around, especially ones that involve my non-anime-loving friends. And frankly, NHK Ni Youkoso! scared the crap out of me.
It actually surprises me sometimes that anime isn’t more popular in the west, considering a series of books aimed at kids that focused on a teenage wizard — Potter is textbook escapism — were so popular. Course, then a loli in thigh highs appears on the screen and I think oh, that why lulz… but you know what I’m saying. Miyazaki/Ghibli, for instance, was relatively popular in the states for a time but for some reason it didn’t seem to have any staying power. Oh well, that’s a whole other post.
And the worst part is it’s okay for them all to obsess over Harry Pooter but you bring up anime and suddenly everyone glares at you right? It was worse when I was in HS since anime wasn’t as main streamed as before and the only thing people knew was sailormoon DBZ and pokemon
I think ‘AGRR’ is ‘All Girl’s Round Robin’ =p
Anyway, like you and Hinano, I often have the problem with “Oh man another episode of this anime came out and now I need to blog it but I am so lazy aaaaa….” Anyway I’m going to go write on this topic. Hahahas!
@ blissmo: You’re the same as me I guess. Anime is a mean of escaping reality and I really love anime. But my friends don’t appreciate anime as much as I do. They do watch anime but they only watch Naruto and Bleach (lol). They think that I should spend more time with them instead of watching anime all day. I do hang out with them from time to time but most of time, I don’t feel satisfied. I feel like I have done something wrong and there were something I should have done. When I get home, that’s the time when I watch anime. The time when I let my mind relax and stop thinking about those things.
@ Nagato: Yes, I’m lazy to blog episode reviews as well. Thanks to that, I’m not too excited when an episode comes out. But I still do it, I don’t know why…
lucky for me i got a few friends who appreciate anime too, but not at my level. when i mention i gonna buy gunbla, they think i’m just wasting time and money, *sigh*! Anyway, look around you, there are way more anime fans than you think, they just hide and are hard to find, like cockroaches in winter, but they exist.
Its good that anime has a positive impact, but about the blogging thing, just blog whenever you feel like it. I’m sure people will come back even if you don’t blog for two or three days. Anime is entertainment/hobby, not ur occupation/work.
[...] my mind positive, when I think that I have a new episode of my favourite series waiting at home. As Blissmo, I´ve also adopted optimistic life style from anime characters. Ganbatte kudasai and so on. Living [...]
Man, back in my prime, I finished my homework quicker and suprisingly more efficient because 1)I cared about my grades yet 2)I really wanted to watch a bunch of shows before bed. Put those two together, then you’ll be a machine.
Of course I’m not in my prime anymore and college is kicking my ass. NOT THE POINT. I never listened to my parents when they told me to watch less and look at me now…
I watch anime to improve my Japanese too!! And the rents also want to bash my head in all the time for watching it and heading straight for the manga section @ Borders everytime I go in, lol.
and yes, I think we’ll all run into that factor of friends being all like, “Oh, you’re watching anime AGAIN?!” cause that happens to me too. And what’s nice sometimes is that some accept it (one of mine even likes stuff like Excel Saga). :] Anywho, I like your post, blissmo! (wah… feel a little nervous cause it’s my first time posting on your site, lol)
@everyone:
Thanks for the comments! I read everything, just to let you know, but my mind’s too dead right now to reply to certain ones. But yeah, chicks at my school fangirl over Harry Potter but when there’s something to do with anime they think it’s gay and lame.
Maybe I should rename AGRR to Round Robin for the next post if there ever is one, lols. Sorry for the confusion!
[...] blissmo [...]
[...] blissmo – AGRR: The Rabbit Hole – Means of Escaping Reality [...]
… BAHAHAHAHAHAHA! blissmo, did you have an epiphany? It felt like as though you just completely turned into someone else for a second… until you said ’shit’ over and over again. LOL! Dude, we’re both outcasts man… *HIGH 5* Get well soon!
@midnightrose: LOL! I know we are! HI-5!
People would always draw a line between anime and non-anime. Pretty unfair, indeed, but their form of escape is different from yours.
You can either educate them or ignore them… I would usually prefer to do the latter.
Whatever form it would take, it would still boil down to the individual in order to get himself grounded and in touch with reality.
nice insights.
I would regard my drawing and illustration an equal escape, only instead of enjoying somebody else’s imaginative world you’re making your own. Anime is mostly about enjoying the imaginative worlds of others, and feeling for the characters. For somebody who creates their own art and writing it’s less a matter of “OMG *insert mecha Anime* is the greatest” but “Gee, one day I hope to draw as well as that, but I’m getting there. *insert Animator/director* did a good job with this one”.
Watching Anime for me is experiencing somebody else’s world they’ve created. I can either accept or reject their artistic vision, but have fun watching it anyway. I don’t exactly feel I have to watch Anime all the time, because I know it’s not going to grow legs and run away. Neither are my manga volumes going to go on strike if I don’t read them, it’s just that I enjoy them when I feel in the mood.
Being a creative person yourself really changes how you view things other people have created, not on a jealousy level, but a state of “Wow, I’m creating something worthwhile, just like these dudes/gals do”.
[...] blissmo posted this as part of the All Girl’s Round Robin, and it got me thinking about whether I use Anime to escape anything or not. There was a time, when the introspection of teenage angst was king, and I daydreamed about female Anime characters who I found to be nice people who I’d like to meet in real life, as a response to the complete lack of romantic attention I received but I endlessly sought out in vain, getting rejected for lunch dates time and time again. So Anime in that period of my life was sort of an escape, however watching Anime as a leisure activity was something I did to enjoy a good story, less about pining over girls who did not exist in real life. I watched Anime not so much as an escape or wish fulfillment, but more for actual entertainment purposes and taking mental notes on how perspective and line was used in the animation that I could use for my own drawings. [...]
[...] Blissmo – The Rabbit Hole: Means of Escaping Reality [...]
[...] me and/or in general, and if that’s a good thing or an unhealthy thing. Other participants: Blissmo, Tachikomatic Days, Shizukie, myucon, KaeBoo, animemiz, elezend, usagijen, Gar Gar Stegosaurus, and [...]
[...] The Rabbit Hole – Means of Escaping Reality [...]
[...] one out (I want a topic I can crank out a lot on~) but here are the others who are participating: Blissmo, elezend, animemiz, usagijen, Gar Gar Stegosaurus, hinano, Tachikomatic Days, Shizukie, myucon and [...]
@blissmo, I didn’t think your post is all over the place. Neat graphics.. I wrote some more comments on my post.. ;-b
[...] Hinano, elezend, animemiz, tachikomatic day, myu, blissmo, shizukie, choux, a day without me, usagijen, gia, [...]
blissmo! I’m completely floored! This is an awesome entry! You really did buckle down and wrote out srs business. *hugs* I’m so glad! I love that you are super chill and that you’re not one to let the small things get to you or hold grudges. I’m happy to hear that anime allows you to consider your possibilities, because it’s true. You’re capable of such great things if you work hard for it and put your heart into your labor. I think it’s awesome that anime can make you reflect on your actions. I’m the same way in that I try to get as much as I can out of the anime that I watch, letting it teach me and realizing how I have been wrong in the past. Thank you for being a trooper and writing out this thoughtful entry. It’s more than enough! I’m really glad to have you on board as an R-R member.
[...] AGRR: The Rabbit Hole – Means of Escaping Reality [...]
@itsubun: Master’s words make me very happy!
At least girls at my school don’t think I’m a weirdo for liking Anime, but sadly they think I watch Dragonball Z, Pokemon and Sailor Moon still. I tried to explain to them the concept of Kaiba, but that just confused them. But there is progress, they don’t think I’m creepy for having some Anime crushes due to my explanation that I like them for their personalities rather than for their moeness.
And I didn’t want to explain what moe was in front of girls who I had already established a trusting friendship with.
[...] on this topic: Hinano, elezend, animemiz, soshi, myu, blissmo, shizukie, choux, a day without me, usagijen, gia, kaeboo and [...]
[...] before I write this post, I want to apologize to the women for butting into their conversation. But I think they’ve offered a fascinating range of views on the idea of escapism and how people [...]
[...] Hinano, elezend, animemiz, soshi, myu, blissmo, shizukie, choux, a day without me, usagijen, gia, kaeboo, and [...]
The thing about it is, choosing some element of your identity always involves a bit of alienation from other people.
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[...] among consumers of more creative cultural products, the obsession in question may provide a good mirror of their own lives and conduct and a worthy tool of [...]
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