230aesth

Well since we have so many pictures of Cosplayers I thought

Well since we have so many pictures of Cosplayers I thought I'd add my own. These come from a very trusted Japanese newspaper. I just thought it was a little weird that they'd include them in a newspaper even if it is online "Mainichi Daily News" --Letisha

After watching the first half of Chunhyang, I wanted to know

After watching the first half of Chunhyang, I wanted to know more about their clothing. "click here" -Pierce

I took a look at the site about what the cool kids are weari

I took a look at the site about what the cool kids are wearing in Harajuku. It seems that, aside from the girls with their faces painted white and bloody, many of their costumes, or outfits if you will, attempt to emulate the fashion and the physical attributes of Western adolescents. From blond, curly haired wigs, fake freckles, pony tails, and Juicy tops to "Gothic" wear, some of the girls in this slide show look like they're right out of the United States or Western Europe. -Michael

Some of those costumes they wear remind me of the outfits th

Some of those costumes they wear remind me of the outfits that you find in anime. It would be interesting to see if they are related. -Kathleen

It's a little dangerous to say "they are all conformists"...

Interestingly enough all the talk of Cosplay and anime otaku

Interestingly enough all the talk of Cosplay and anime otaku reminds me of a Japanese anime I like (I'm a big anime fan myself) called Midorino Hibi. One of the comic relief characters was obsessed with anime puppets...he would talk to her and held her up as the perfect woman (aka unable to disagree with him. He frequented a shop where a bunch of men would ooh and aww over, what americans would consider simple doll clothes. But it's easier to believe if you consider them more as action fiures I guess. However, he was also considered odd by the other characters of the show. But odd in a way that isn't totally unknown I guess... --Letisha

I think its interesting that these kids wear the bloody patc

I think its interesting that these kids wear the bloody patches because it just illustrates how japanese society is one of extremes. You either see them take the extreme gothic route, the traditional clothes, or wearing Louie Vitton purses. They are all conformists to the group they mesh with the best. -Clint

Whoa, the Cosplay site is strange. But I think one has to co

Whoa, the Cosplay site is strange. But I think one has to commend them for completely disregarding societal norms. There is a show on VH1 called "Totally Obsessed" that deals with the same idea. It's not so much a fashion statement as something else ( I'm not exactly sure what though.) - Emily

If only everyone could walk around with a psudo-bloody patch

If only everyone could walk around with a psudo-bloody patch over their eyes. It's funny to think about how our parents would react to something like that. If I even mention the word ''tatoo'' to my parents I get at least a 30 minute lecture. I wonder what their parents say? --Leah

I really like the children's book illustrations. I recently

I really like the children's book illustrations. I recently read "Tales of a Bamboo Cutter" in Japanese Poetry and Drama and the images were simple, but descriptive. I agree that they were quite "2D-ish;" however, they were detail oriented and representative of the story. - Kristin

Those children book illustrations were amazing. The deliber

Those children book illustrations were amazing. The deliberate "2d-ish" style was really quite cool, though admittedly I found some of the pictures rather creepy. It was interesting to see the different elements that are cross-cultural as well as those distinctly japanese objects or situations that are depicted in the illustrations. -Kathleen

Random but neat. This site is full of cool stuff. Pictures,

Random but neat. This site is full of cool stuff. Pictures, Literature, Astrology, Maps, Photos from Space... China the Beautiful -Megan

<a href="http://www.badarchitecture.org/index.php?cat=15">Ba

BadJianZhu "An investigation of the not-so-subtle in Beijing architecture"

<a href="http://www.harajuku.jp/eng/index.shtml">take a virt

take a virtual tour

It seems that fashion is a really important means of express

It seems that fashion is a really important means of expression in Japanese culture. Are the kids of Harajuku representative examples of the things that a lot of Japanese youth would were on a regular basis though? I thought it was kind of a place where people went when they wanted to be seen and make a statement. Some of those costumes are a little scary!!! -Megan

...and what are we to make of <a href="http://glass-doll.whi

...and what are we to make of THIS? Probably a part of Cosplay, more specifically gosu-rori

and/or try <a href="http://www.boingboing.net/2004/08/21/jap

and/or try Japanese children's books from 1920s --Hugh

<a href="http://www.photomatt.com/pictures/0004/source/22.ht

What are the cool kids in Harajuku wearing? ought to inspire a response from aestheticians... circles to right and left of pictures to scroll through the series --Hugh

I'd like to encourage you to choose a COLOR for your posting

I'd like to encourage you to choose a COLOR for your postings (mine will be boring old white), but please SIGN your postings too. --Hugh

This is meant to be a message board for those in Anth 230 wh

This is meant to be a message board for those in Anth 230 who are especially interested in 'Aesthetic' topics. You can post a comment by clicking on the yellow square above... and save by clicking on the floppy disk icon.