Otaku
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In modern Japanese slang, the term {{Transliteration|ja|otaku}} is mostly equivalent to "[[geek]]" or "[[nerd]]" (both in the broad sense); a technological geek would be a {{nihongo||技術オタク|gijutsu otaku}} and an academic nerd would be a {{nihongo||文化系オタク|bunkakei otaku}} or {{nihongo||ガリ勉|gariben}}), but in a more derogatory manner than used in the West. It is also applied to any [[Fan (person)|fan]] of any particular theme, topic, hobby or form of entertainment. According to journalist Colette Bennett, "[w]hen these people are referred to as {{Transliteration|ja|otaku}}, they are judged for their behaviors — and people suddenly see an 'otaku' as a person unable to relate to reality." The term thus has more of a [[Pejorative|negative association]] in Japanese society.{{Cite news |last=Yadao |first=Jason S. |date=2005-04-17 |title=Enter the world of hard-core anime fans |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/honolulu-star-bulletin-otaku-no-video/77478544/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240609000252/https://www.newspapers.com/article/honolulu-star-bulletin-otaku-no-video/77478544/ |archive-date=2024-06-09 |access-date=2024-06-08 |work=[[Honolulu Star-Bulletin]] |pages=E8}} |
In modern Japanese slang, the term {{Transliteration|ja|otaku}} is mostly equivalent to "[[geek]]" or "[[nerd]]" (both in the broad sense); a technological geek would be a {{nihongo||技術オタク|gijutsu otaku}} and an academic nerd would be a {{nihongo||文化系オタク|bunkakei otaku}} or {{nihongo||ガリ勉|gariben}}), but in a more derogatory manner than used in the West. It is also applied to any [[Fan (person)|fan]] of any particular theme, topic, hobby or form of entertainment. According to journalist Colette Bennett, "[w]hen these people are referred to as {{Transliteration|ja|otaku}}, they are judged for their behaviors — and people suddenly see an 'otaku' as a person unable to relate to reality." The term thus has more of a [[Pejorative|negative association]] in Japanese society.{{Cite news |last=Yadao |first=Jason S. |date=2005-04-17 |title=Enter the world of hard-core anime fans |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/honolulu-star-bulletin-otaku-no-video/77478544/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240609000252/https://www.newspapers.com/article/honolulu-star-bulletin-otaku-no-video/77478544/ |archive-date=2024-06-09 |access-date=2024-06-08 |work=[[Honolulu Star-Bulletin]] |pages=E8}} |
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The word entered English as a [[loanword]] from the Japanese language. It is typically used to refer to a fan of [[anime]] and [[manga]], but can also refer to [[Video games in Japan|Japanese video games]] or even [[Culture of Japan|Japanese culture]] in general. |
The word entered English as a [[loanword]] from the Japanese language. It is typically used to refer to a fan of [[anime]] and [[manga]], but can also refer to [[Video games in Japan|Japanese video games]] or even [[Culture of Japan|Japanese culture]] in general. Non-Japanese media like American magazine ''[[Otaku USA]]'' popularize and cover these aspects. The usage of the word is a source of contention among some fans, owing to its negative connotations and stereotyping of the fandom. Widespread English exposure to the term came in 1988 with the release of ''[[Gunbuster]]'', which refers to anime fans as {{Transliteration|ja|otaku}}. ''Gunbuster'' was released officially in English in March 1990. The term's usage spread throughout the [[Usenet newsgroup|Usenet group]] rec.arts.anime with discussions about ''[[Otaku no Video]]''{{'}}s portrayal of otaku before its 1994 English release. Positive and negative aspects, including the pejorative usage, were intermixed. The term was also popularized by [[William Gibson]]'s 1996 novel ''[[Idoru]]'', which references ''otaku''. |
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==Subculture== |
==Subculture== |
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