Focus On K-ON!

K-ON

Ironically, I’d never even heard of K-ON until recently (and when I did I still pronounced it as ‘Con’) when my friend cosplayed as Yui. In the small cosplay competition I was in, I was the only entrant not dressed in the distinctive Sakuragaoka Girl's High School's uniform so I decided that the series may be worth a look.

The manga itself is slightly different from average; instead of fancy layouts the art is sectioned into eight neat little blocks per page, and although there is drama and humour, there isn’t really a set progressive storyline – it sort of plods along at its own happy pace, not demanding you to finish, but you still find yourself reading more.

The basis behind the story (and music) is this: Yui Hirasawa, a High School freshman is worried about becoming a NEET (stands for Not in Education, Employment or Training) and therefore is desperately searching for a club to join. Lo and behold, the Light Music Club needs more members otherwise it will be forced to close. So far so Shoujo, only what is interesting is that Yui does not contain any secret musical talent, and neither does the band. They are in fact, pretty rubbish. Yui’s Heritage Cherry Sunburst Gibson Les Paul Standard electric guitar(creatively nicknamed "Gīta") is wasted on her at first. It’s seeing the band members get better and interact with each other that provides the true enjoyment.

Now here comes the music. Every anime has a notable opening or closing theme (I had the pleasure of listening to Natsuko Aso perform her anime opening themes at Hyper Japan) and K-ON plays on the fact that these girls are in a band. Due to the amount of snacks consumed in their rehearsals, the band is aptly named ‘Ho-Kago Tea Time’ (After School Tea Time). Whilst the first opening and ending themes were sung by professionals, a series of character song singles have been released sung by the voice actresses of the five main characters.

All the songs have cool and cute names like ‘Fuwa Fuwa Time’ (Light And Fluffy Time) and are surprisingly addictive. They cover popular songs such as ‘Tsubasa Wo Kudasai’ (Please Give Me Wings) and have had success in the music charts. GO! GO! MANIAC is a single used as the first opening theme for the second season of the anime and debuted first in the rankings on the Oricon weekly singles chart, selling approximately 83,000 copies. "Go! Go! Maniac" became the first anime image song to ever top the singles chart and the band also became the first female vocalists to occupy the top two spots with "Listen!!", another song from the anime.

One of my personal favourites, ‘Don’t Say “Lazy”’, which by the way has very unconnected, maverick lyrics, debuted at second in the rankings selling 67,000 copies.  It was also awarded the Best Theme Song at the 2009 (14th) Animation Kobe Awards.  The songs range from fast, rock-y and up tempo to chilled and sweet, so there’s something for everyone. I guarantee there will be at least one song in their repertoire that gets you singing along or toe tapping, and they are a must listen for any J-pop fan.

Mio - My favourite K-ON! character!

The London Cafe as featured in the movie.

H8?

Today I found out that I was posted on someone's Blog after tracing a comment which compared me to another YT dancer (from what I can tell the Blog is like a gossip column for YouTube dancers). Curious, I had a look to find that the owner had 'rated' my dance videos, (or one of them at least) giving me a two out of five, but saying she hoped I improved. This was fair enough - people are entitled to their own opinions and although publishing them on her site may not be the most noble of moves, some of her criticism such as finding a less cramped area to dance in, was constructive.

What shocked me was the wave of slightly spiteful quips other girls, all of them in the J/K-pop dancing scene decided to post, not just about me, but a wide range of young girls from all over the world, which the host agreed with. These then spiralled off into other peoples Blogs and posts. I found comments about my clothes, about my room, my hair etc. The original host said to curl it. Hard when you lack curlers and your hair is naturally straight. But it was these digs that made me think about why I decided to YouTube the dances I did. To get thicker skin. Comments only have as much power as you give them. There is no 'right ' way to do anything. Although my nature is to react being Autistic and all, and also having to battle with my mental health daily, I'm slowly learning to roll with the punches. (Having a job in a place were we get phycotic, crazy parents everyday helps too).

It's a brave thing, posting anything on the internet. I would NEVER post anything bad about someone who bares their soul for all to see. Especially when, in the few minutes that people are watching your video, you are letting them in a part of your life; your room/home/personal space, your body and clothes, your personality and what you love is all there for completely random strangers to see.

I think things, but I'm human and entitled to my thoughts, even though they'd best be kept private for fear of hurting someone's feelings when all they do is have fun. As I looked at other posts about other girls my heart sank - many it is fair to say, were not complementary.

Girls are cynical creatures.
Yes. I'm autistic, and have been at the receiving end of taunts, bullying, cyberbullying, pranks gone too far etc, and have been injured emotionally and physically. At times it's hard to tell which hurt more. This isn't some sob story post, or sympathetic cry for help, but genuine observations and (although typed) almost a questioning conversation. You're still reading - either you are a YouTuber, are one of the taunters or your interest has been raised. Either way, I hope you continue.

Anyway, my gist is I know what it's like to have people gossip behind your back, and have snide comments thrown your way every day for being different. But everyone on that Blog was a YT dancer (or part of the scene) and fed on the first scrap of criticism, turning it into something nasty. One girl whom I have spoken online with and seemed pleasant enough was ripped apart by haters (or 'trolls'?) for doing some minor things 'wrong' with her videos. Another put down a clearly talented girl's singing voice. Usually I'd say it was jealousy, such as in Beckii Cruel's case (if you don't like her videos, don't watch?) but this seems different. It's like those with less happiness and success need to put down others. As in life, as in the internet.

So far, almost all of the YT dancers I have met have been lovely, well rounded people. True, we're not all professional dancers, but do we need to be? I started dancing and posting the videos online because my friends were doing it and I ENJOYED it. Still do. I knew that the posts about my videos would be ranging from praise to plain hate, and when I was brave enough to turn on comments on my videos I prepared myself. I still haven't turned on ratings and probably never will; why put myself through extra turmoil? I'm sensitive as it is, and the Asbergers doesn't help. I'll do what I feel comfortable doing.

There is now a pressure in this community which I never felt before - the pressure to do better than all your rivals and even friends. During the Kawaii Star Of The Year 2011 Finals, I was hurt to find out some people who were polite to my face wrote many disgustingly inappropriate comments. Why? Because they watched my video and wanted to put their views across? They wanted to be in my position? Or they just saw me and thought that I wouldn't be affected by what they put. That it was harmless fun. Disliking my entry video was easy. Threatening my life and family was just a fun game.

The anonymity of the internet both empowers us and compels us to do things and say things we usually wouldn't. Maybe they were stressed, angry, bored, etc. But how was that a consolation to me at the time? If they looked back at the comments, would they take them back and appologise? Feel they were justified? Or still feel apathetic about the whole issue?

I dance mostly in my room - colour scheme being black and white. I try to do unsually, lesser done dances and jazz my room's walls up with colourful scarves, plushies, flowers etc so was disappointed to see that someone thought it was too lack-luster. Somebody else thought I overdid it. Dear starry heavens above. The phrase "You Can't Please Everybody" springs into mind.

 I try, that's all I can do. Same with the room being cramped - I'd love a bigger house, with a massive room, loads of natural light and no distractions to film the perfect dance, but for now I deal with what I have and can afford with my rent. I've listened to comments saying about better camera angles, and I sorted that problem as they really is no great place to put the camera (I'm going to invest in a stand. Soon. I promise). But some things no one can fix and I try to focus more on the dance side.

(Found this randomly. Thought I'd add it in.)

Technically I can wear whatever I want because those are my videos and sure, I maybe wouldn't wear a few of them outside on the street in the slum of Hampshire, but this is FUN for me. I like the adrenaline rush of dancing and posting, and I get a lot of enjoyment learning a new dance and getting a tricky step right. I can't change my bedroom or help the areas where I dance sometimes, but I do like the freedom to wear crazy stuff XD As I said before, these girls are into J/K culture and music, and maybe wear the more outlandish fashions and Cosplay. Abuse for what we wear is all to common, and I let stoopids be stoopids, but to get hate from people who get it themselves? This sounds all too similar to a playground bully, who when they leave the comforting power they hold and school and enter the real world, fall apart.

I love picking crazy outfits - the liberty of the internet always thrills me and transforms me into my alter ego as you will. Each video I make is personal and I put a bit of my creativity and personality into it. Many 'normal' people will WTF but those who also wear outlandish and 'different' clothes I feel should be more tolerant. It's like they picked on something, anything, to make the videos seem silly. Maybe they do think the outfits are bad, but how can they "ruin" a dance? I like them, and many people have commented directly or inboxed me saying they like them too. I'm not going to suddenly change because someone feels what I wear is silly or 'unconnected'. In what day and age should we suddenly CONFORM and be like everyone else? You get complaints if you "copy", you get complaints if you are too "different" so that happy medium is the mediocrity that's been done before.

I have a feeling also that age has something to do with it.
Teens probably spent more time that anyone trawling the internet, and with the world as it is, anything to give us a bit more control in our lives and uncertain futures makes us feel better. Possibly, this includes insulting someone.

I've been told I'm quite mature for my age as I had to grow up quite fast, and I find that it is a waste of time telling someone to "*%$£@*&" for no reason, and even if there is reason, just don't do it. Be smarter with yourself. You can't sweat the things you cant change, and if it's not hurting anyone, just leave people who annoy you be. You don't think about them, they don't bother you. Duh. Adults can also be childish (my gosh I've met a few) but the majority of good people will not sink to a level of insulting people anonymously or even publically because they don't understand something or because they feel like it. It sounds silly when someone puts it that way doesn't it?

So why are we as a community of dancers slagging off people we should be supporting, or if you REALLY can't stand them, leaving them be? Learning and performing can be a big step for young people, and confidence should be gained from your peers with support, praise and CONSTRUCTIVE criticism i.e. a bit sharper here rather than YOU SUCK! But as humans, we also have an overpowering desire to be the best and feel good about ourselves. Anonymously posting on the internet and hate sites is one way of doing that. But behind every dancer is a person with a social/familial life and insecurities like anyone else. They may laugh at the comments or shrug them off, and kudos to them (I bet the haters couldn't do that unless they really were a pretty bad person and apathetic). But still, deep down inside, you've hurt someone for your own ego. We forget to "treat people as we would like to be treated". I hope that one day, the community will band together more, that would make it truly great.

Here is a picture of a bird.

Before ‘The Hunger Games’

I recently saw “The Hunger Games” in the cinema with my friends. A massive fan of the books, I was very pleasantly surprised with the movie, and how true it was to the original novel. My only criticism is that it should have been left as it was originally – as a ‘15’ with the gore of the tribute’s demises left in as violence is a massive theme of the story.  But the film industry wanted more revenue, chopped out the more grisly sections and left the film feeling slightly incomplete.

Whilst waiting for my friends to arrive I was browsing the local shops and wandered into HMV where I found a copy of ‘Battle Royale’ in the World Cinema section. Many say that THG was based off BR as the ideas are very similar, although Collins has stated, "I had never heard of that book or that author until my book was turned in. At that point, it was mentioned to me, and I asked my editor if I should read it. He said: 'No, I don't want that world in your head. Just continue with what you're doing.'

So I shall do a comparison between the two, not to see which is ‘better’ but to look at the similarities and differences (whether through plot or culture) and what the stories mean for us as a nation and people.

Both movies started out as novels. Battle Royale, or バトル・ロワイアル (Batoru Rowaiaru) is a novel written by Koushun Takami, completed in 1996 and published in 1999. A success, the novel has been adapted into a 2000 film and a manga series and also been translated into Chinese, English, French, German, Italian, Russian, Norwegian, and Hungarian. Almost ten years later, The Hunger Games was written by an American television writer and novelist, Suzanne Collins. It was first published on September 14^th, 2008. Collins said her inspiration came from channel surfing, and having the news on the Iraqi War and a Game Show merge in her head.

Both books were a hit, although understandably controversial. The Hunger Games was named one of Publishers Weekly's "Best Books of the Year" in 2008 and was the 2009 winner of the Golden Duck Award in the Young Adult Fiction Category. In 2011, the book won the California Young Reader Medal and the 2012 edition of Scholastic's Parent and Child magazine, The Hunger Games was listed as the 33rd best book for children, with the award for "Most Exciting Ending" (although ‘children’ is probably not the best target audience for it).

Upon publication in 1999, Battle Royale became one of the best-selling novels in Japan. It was earlier entered into the 1997 Japan Grand Prix Horror Novel competition, but was eventually rejected in the final round due to its controversial content. It also has many fans abroad with writers such as Stephen King singing its praises.

The movies came later: BR in 2000 only a year after the book release, and THG in 2012.

Like the books, the movies are a hit.

After its second weekend at the box office, analysts estimated that The Hunger Games movie earned $251 million domestically, and another $113.9 million internationally, and is set to make more during it’s time on the big screen and DVD release. Due to its runaway success, a sequel movie (the second book in the trilogy) is being planned.

BR was a mainstream domestic blockbuster, becoming one of the ten highest grossing films in Japan and was released in 22 countries worldwide. It is often regarded as one of Japan's most famous films, as well as one of Fukasaku's best films. Kinji Fukasaku started working on a sequel, Battle Royale II: Requiem, but he died of prostate cancer on January 12, 2003, after shooting only one scene. His son, Kenta Fukasaku, completed the film in 2003 and dedicated it to his father.

The plots are also similar. Both are set in the future, in worlds that could be. Both have characters forced by the government to compete in a deadly game, where theymust kill each other in order to win. Battle Royale does not hold back with the cruelty and blood splatter. The Hunger Games strongly implies it but most is not shown. The deaths are tolled and the fatalities announced every night (THG) or morning (BR).

In BR, the Japan of the future is messy; high crime, high unemployment and 800,000 kids walking out of school. The government create an “Educational Reform Act”, also known as Battle Royale where a random class of students are forced to take part.

Class 3-B makes a field trip after completing their compulsory studies; however, the class is gassed and sent to a "briefing room" on a remote island, wearing electronic collars. Their teacher explains that the class has been chosen to participate in this year's Battle Royale. The orientation video has the class forced to kill each other for three days until only one student remains. Students resistant to their rules or entering one of the randomly placed "death zones" for each day are killed by the collar's detonation (they will also detonate after three days if there is no winner). A student refuses to cooperate and their teacher slashes his back with a knife before detonating his collar while his classmates watch in horror, which quickly turns to rage and general panic. Each student is provided with a bag of food and water, plus one item containing either a weapon (a shotgun, a pistol, a knife) or an item (a saucepan lid, a fork, a paper fan, binoculars). The weapons are supposed to eliminate any natural advantage any one student might have over the others. None have been prepared for this and react in different ways. Some refuse these packs and refuse to participate, committing suicide. Others gleeful start killing with abandon, their darker natures surfacing. The protagonists admit to each other, that really they wouldn’t trust anyone in their class. And so the slaughter begins.

(The participants are prepped, BR above, THG below)

The Hunger Games takes place in a nation known as Panem after the destruction of North America by some unknown apocalyptic event. Panem consists of a wealthy Capitol and twelve surrounding, poorer districts under the Capitol's hegemony. District 12, where the protagonists are from, is located in the coal-rich region that was formerly Appalachia.

As punishment for a previous rebellion against the Capitol in which a 13th district was destroyed, one boy and one girl between the ages of 12 and 18 from each district are selected by annual lottery to participate in the Hunger Games, an event in which the participants (or "tributes") must fight in an outdoor arena controlled by the Capitol, until only one remains. The story is narrated by 16-year-old Katniss Everdeen, a girl from District 12 who volunteers for the 74th annual Hunger Games in place of her younger sister, Primrose. Also selected from District 12 is Peeta Mellark, a baker's son whom Katniss knows from school, and who once gave her bread when her family was starving.

After a brief goodbye to their family and friends, Katniss and Peeta are taken to the Capitol where they train for the fight to come. The arena changes each year and many die of starvation, exposure and are killed by the natural environment with earthquakes, floods, volcanoes, poisonous plants and wild animals. The tributes are then publicly displayed to the world of Panem in televised sessions. The tributes lie, and try to manipulate the audiences to gain ‘sponsors’ which can be crucial for survival, as audience members are encouraged to send gifts like food, medicine, and tools to favoured tributes during the Games. The Games begin with 11 of the 24 tributes killed in the first day, while Katniss relies on her well-practiced hunting and outdoor skills to survive. As the games continue, the tribute death toll increases, the wealthy Capitol dwellers making bets on who will survive and giving their children swords to play-fight with, watching the tributes murder each other on TV. Some take a full on fighting approach as they have been practicing at home. Some avoid the fight and survive by stealth. All except one in each game must die, but unlike Battle Royale, there’s no time limit, although the ‘Gamemakers’ intervene cunningly and force things to happen if the audience get bored. Unlike BR, the tributes must find their own food, water and weapons, either naturally or supplied in the Cornucopia. It is more a test of survival than a straight out fight.

(Look similar? BR below, THG above.)

The viewers are introduced to characters and grow to like them only to watch them be cruelly killed off. Survival instincts for all characters kick in and in their own way, they rebel against the dystopian world they live in. You see true human nature take over (after all, humans are the only animal who kills for pleasure) with the young adults actually taking delight in the others deaths, whilst the world looks on. Questions are raised; would you kill strangers? Or form temporary alliances with them? Would you ever kill your friends? And can you even trust your friends not to kill you?

Some seem too well trained with the weapons they are given, others try to organise meetings to talk and sort things out. All instinctively kill out of fear, even though there was a slim choice to abstain, it’s kill or be killed.

Both films have an eerie sense of celebrity surrounding the winner of the games. BR starts off with photographers and reporters all trying to catch a glimpse of the latest winner, a young girl covered in blood, clutching a soft toy and smiling manically whilst being driven in an army vehicle. All winners are later arrested and tried for murder. You may win the fight, but not your freedom.

In THG, the ‘tributes’ are treated like royalty before the games, even though many have lived in poverty before. They are given the best food, their own stylists and a complete make-over, TV interviews etc, whilst being left to die and having their lives played with in the arena. If you win your whole District get food and you get a Victory Tour, a luxury house, money, food and fame. If you lose it means certain death and you become another pawn for the Capitol – another statistic whose name isn’t even mentioned.

Although the audience know that what is happening is wrong (the lady next to me described it as ‘sick’), they eagerly follow the journey and deaths of the unfortunates. With reality TV shows becoming crueller, who’s to say this won’t be our future? A destroyed world, fighting teenagers, extreme poverty, violence, forbidden love, lies, manipulation, the breakdown of control, war, secret military programs, the hype of celebrity, a controlling government – sound familiar? These are all themes in the films, and all are relevant. At least both end the same way; in hope. That the system can be beaten (although not without its repercussions) and you can have some control of your life, even when others are determined to take it.

Both are fantastic films and I thoroughly recommend watching them :D

(On the right, Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen.)

(A still of the (slightly comical I must admit) video explaining Battle Royale.)