Me and the Gap: “There is a gap in each and every otaku that cannot be easily filled.”
What does the above sentence mean to you? I mean, every person has a “gap” that can and must be filled, so to speak. However, how can we say that this gap is something far more greater for otaku than on ordinary people? What is the reason behind the gap’s unending existence? In an attempt for an in-depth elaboration to the previous posts about otakuism, I suddenly thought of how otaku behave with regards to how fanatical they can get. I don’t want to get all Nogizaka Haruka-y or Genshiken-y here, but we might run a few references here and there.
Love, Gaps, and Obsession
Collection. Possession. Two different words with different meanings, though they both mostly agree on their purpose of obtaining items, events, privileges, achievements, contributions, and even people. Of course, if we consider human behavior, it can, and will be, taken a step further. This is one trait of otakuism that is feared because of its uncontrollable consequences, mainly because the otaku world is too volatile a community to begin with.
Here we look into the things we do that makes us fans, hardcore fans. Yes we’ve heard of the extreme things the Japanese otaku do, but since I don’t think they’re my readers I’m not as interested in tales about those lovable elevens. I’m more interested in us, fans outside Japan participating in this anime and manga world. How do we find ourselves changing? Have you ever surprised yourself with doing something that you never thought you’d ever do? I did, and now I don’t know what I’m capable of doing.
ghostlightning (2008/11/24)
Just recently, ghostlightning said something about me being someone like Madarame from Genshiken. I don’t know about the looks, since I don’t know if my sense of fashion is just plain, or awkward (since people I’ve met during the recent event didn’t really mind, so maybe it’s just me), but most of the traits from Madarame, I clearly see in myself. No, I mean, seriously, there are parts of it that you wouldn’t like one bit. I don’t do the infamous “Let us start the XXXth *insert super-random and totally pointless/epic topic here* meeting”, nor do I blatantly exhibit my completist, berserk, eroge-playing alter-ego. But when it’s about something that I really, really, REALLY want or like, I totally go off-character and explode away, prancing about and shouting and talking gibberish like some kind of idiot, and it’s got quite a reputation that’s deeper than you think. I trust I’m not the only one, and someone out there might be even worse!
A Second Look
On a private conversation with lelangir, he responded on how the “gap” is unique for otaku, as well as the similarities of otakuism to other similar pastimes:
I dunno, I think you’re trying to say what people have been saying already. that society creates labels for people. the individual doesn’t deem himself an otaku, society does that for him. By coincidence, otaku hobbies include stuff that society deems “not normal” i.e. loliraep. I don’t understand how the “gap” is supposed to be unique for otaku. You have megalomaniacs in all areas of life.
lelangir (2009/09/25)
But, before we think otakuism makes people go “ICK!” (which is true by normal people’s standards, by the way), we need to take a long, good look at it, again. What we’ll see is something weird, misunderstood, but never really bad in any way compared to other fucked-up abominations out there.
Pop quiz! What did you first notice upon looking at this picture: A. The room and its entirety, B. The cats, or C. The otaku stuff?
No matter how much we try to categorize it as something “neutral”, the past times of the otaku can testify that the culture has been generally labeled as something bad. What grounds? Obsessive-repulsive behavior? Blatant exhibition of some kind of abnormality? I don’t know about that. Otakuism is not a sickness. I repeat, it is not. Unhealthy fixation, yes, but a sickness? That’s a rude way to say it.
Though otaku may be branded as RAPE, or “Rabid And Possessive Entities”, they are merely people who are overdedicated to their hobby’s cause. They fill the gaps that cannot be easily filled, and there’s nothing wrong with that. They go through lengths to express themselves to others, if not limited to themselves. They collect all sorts of stuff from franchises they like in order to not only achieve material possession, but also to achieve the feeling of completeness through said material possession (items). They dress in costumes of characters they like in order to have the privilege of wearing them, as well as achieve oneness with the characters they portray (events and achievements). They invite people to join groups, being a collective that can utilize each member’s drive according to the group’s fancy (people). They even prove themselves by achieving something not by obtaining something, but by giving something to the cause, which is the case of the doujin world (contributions). Each and every one has their own ways, and there is never an instance that the gap is filled. It will only make itself bigger, and the only thing that a person can do about it is fill it again.
Limit Break
However, there are instances where ethical boundaries are overstepped due to… overindulgence. You’ll see this often on realistic doujin or original work, and they can happen. Though they are generally seen as innuendos, they also count as a constant reminder of how scary otakuism can get, especially when people decide to take it out in real life. I won’t elaborate this any further because I promised myself not to tackle non-worksafe material for the time being. If it’s regarding anything that is seen as sexual, otaku or no, I think most of us already get the picture.
Overall, expressive or not, one way or another, otakuism is something that cannot be denied. It’s in the people who live its ways. I’m not really trying to defend the culture, but if seen from an otaku’s point of view, maybe I am. I tried to prove society labeling wrong by letting the the society know of what otaku do, and that it’s nothing special compared to other hobbies. Some people just take the “ICK!” thing way too far, much like how otaku do their things, and the extreme look on otaku doing extreme things is kind of derogatory. I mean, come on, it’s human behavior! It’s not like any other hobby out there doesn’t involve being expressive! It’s just that otaku stand out too much in many ways, and people are jealous about it.
After all, the only gap that overflows of its contents no matter how big it is is the gap of expression.
Collection. Possession. Two different meanings that agree on a similar purpose of obtaining.
Gah, I’m dazzled by the bright light!!! White BGs are superior, aren’t they.
Anyways, there’s a debate in philosophy that I think you’re wrestling with in this post.
Some thinkers say that there IS a gap, a void, that it is real and it cannot be filled. You can throw stuff into it, collect and possess all you want, but you will never be satisfied. LACAN is a thinker along these lines.
Then, there are other thinkers that say the gap is a lie. People are driven to desire and possess as a positive force in their lives, not to plug some hole, but to actually expand their force and truly live. DELEUZE thinks like this.
It’s a tough debate, and there’s still no consensus on who’s right..
It’s hard to maintain neutrality. lelangir already pointed out on having biased opinions, and that I’m also susceptible to that. I expected it, nonetheless.
But how can you say that fulfillment is not something along the grounds of achievement but something of satisfaction? Are you sure they’re not the same thing? I do know that slight similarities might change the overall meaning, but unless I see a better light on the comparison, I don’t understand the point.
In a sense, achievement = satisfaction. The point is this: are you seeking because you feel a lack (you’re not complete, you’re missing something) or are you seeking because it’s a way of expressing yourself (what you already have)?
That proves the two-way road. I tried to take these points out and elaborate since I think the idea hits two birds in one stone.
So, does this mean that otaku can or cannot have “a gap that must be filled”, but rather just satisfy the need regardless of point of view?
What if there’s only a gap because people said there was a gap?
I think that was my initial point. I mean, the gap is there not only because people talk about it, but because it existed according not to gossip, but to a way of feeling. That being said, I was trying to get answers on the other side of the coin based from what animekritik said.