Making the Convention Argument :: Teens' Guide to Parents
It seems like a lot of teen otaku are trying to figure out how to convince their parents to let them attend a convention. Now, this will be different for every person, because you each know your parents far better than I do, but for the average parent, here are some talking points.
And remember, to most parents, anime is just odd. They think of cartoons as something for little kids, not teenagers. They don’t understand why you would be interested in it. And they also want to keep you safe.
One of the most important things I’d caution you against when trying to convince your parents about anything is to come into the discussion fully armed as if it were a debate. You want to try to predict what arguments they're going to make and have some solid evidence to counteract it. Appearing mature during the conversation will go a long way toward convincing them you're mature enough to actually attend. Never use pouting, crying, yelling, or other dramatics to try to make your point, because nothing will make you look childish faster. Your goal here is to make them reevaluate their opinion of you and decide that you are truly old enough to either make your own decisions or at least have input in them.
Why you like anime.
Central to the process of convincing them to let you go may very well be also making them accept why you like anime. Come up with some lessons you’ve learned, cultural insights you’ve gained, friendships formed, etc.—whatever it may be that makes anime so important to you. Clearly and concisely tell them why you would like to go to the convention and what you hope to gain.
Safety
Conventions of any kind can look “dangerous” to parents. A bunch of teens getting together in one place? Even teens can acknowledge that can be a recipe for disaster!
One thing you want to do is reassure your parents that there is security and staff at the convention, people who are trained to deal with any situation that may arise. You may want to show them the rules and regulations for the convention (make sure you’ve read them yourself!) to show that most of the actions they're worried about (underage drinking, lewd behavior) are clearly not allowed at the convention and that staff will act on any instances of those things they see. If they have further concerns, it may be possible to get in touch with someone from the convention who can relieve some of those worries, but as it gets closer and closer to the convention, staff may be harder to reach.
Persuade in Force
Gather your friends and make a group weekend of it with one or two trusted parents as chaperones. You’ll need a parent to abide by most convention rules, so if one of your friends has an at least anime tolerate parent, convince that parent to chaperone the trip and then start working on your own folks. If they know that another parent they trust is going, they will be more likely to allow you to attend as well.
Travel Costs
If you need to travel to the convention, convincing your parents to pay can be tricky. Not only do you need to get there, but so do your chaperones. Most conventions require a parent on site (some have to have the parents registered, others just a parental permission sheet) if you are under the age of sixteen. This means that at the very least you need a friend with a parent interested in going.
One way you can try to get your family to attend the convention, or at least transport you there, is to sell this as a family vacation. Now, if you’re just there for the weekend, this might mean giving up some of your convention time to eat dinner with the family or visit a tourist attraction, but that’s still better than no convention at all. Do some research before you approach your parents about what interesting things are going on in that city and attractions that your parents might be interested in.
Convention Costs
Another reason they might not want to let you go is they're afraid you'll blow all your money either at the con or making your costume. One thing I’d suggest is come up with a budget/savings plan before the convention and make it clear to both them and yourself that you won’t spend more than your budget. Be reasonable though; know that you will spend about $20-30 a day on food at least, if you aren’t able to stay at home. Even if you just end up snacking all day, those pops and snacks will add up. Maybe come up with a plan, like that you are going to bring bread and sandwich materials to cut down on your food costs. Acknowledge that your parents have a point when it comes to money, because you will be spending a good chunk at the convention. Even just for yourself, it's good to think ahead of time about how much money you want to spend and then remember that during the convention when something cute and shiny catches your eye.
Start Local
The closer your first anime convention is, the better. It’ll be easier to convince your parents to let you attend, and it will save you money. With anime conventions spouting up all over the country, you can probably find one nearby. Convincing your parents to take you to Otakon in Baltimore for your first convention, when you live in Florida, might be a bit of a stretch. Check animecons.com to find out about conventions you may have never heard of. You could also look to see if there's a science fiction convention in your area if there isn’t an anime one. Those conventions often have anime programming.
What will your parents do?
This point can be best summed up in my previous column, Parents at Conventions. There I stress how to best prepare younger siblings for conventions and make suggestions on what your parents can do while you’re doing your own thing. Keep in mind what interests your parents have, maybe they like cooking or history, and try to see if there are any panels listed once the panel schedules are up that meet those interests. It might be good to see if you can get a hold of the previous year's schedule, as often panels will reappear and it will give you an idea of what kind of panels dominate the convention.
Yaoi/Yuri
If you’re brining your parents to the convention with you, you might want to plan ahead of time how to cover yaoi and yuri if your parents are at all homophobic. A parent who might not care about gay/lesbians in a normal situation might get overwhelmed by the sheer amount “OMG, let's make two pretty boys kiss!!!!” that’s going on at a convention. Warning them ahead of time (as long as you don’t think they're going to keep you from going) might help avert an awkward situation later. You can try to keep it a secret from them, but chances are, they’ll find out what yaoi is.
So those are my thoughts on the subject. Please ask me any questions in the comments, and I’ll try to clarify and help you with your situation, or message me as well if you want personal help. Not all parents will be persuaded, unfortunately, but if you make a good argument one year and get them thinking, then it's possible that next year they might just decide to let you go. I remember the worst thing about being a teen was hearing “when you’re older,” but sometimes that’s just life.
Feature: 08/07/08 | Posted By: CassieR | | Industry and Conventions | Tags: atending your first convention, parent's guide to anime, teen's guide to parents
Here's an interesting bit of industry analysis about manga and audience. It’s from the YPulse YA conference. YPulse is a newsletter that focuses on news items and essays that are about marketing towards teens and things those marketers should be aware of. They've discussed manga in the past and are pretty "hip" on new medias, manga, etc. The second paragraph ties into parents and manga as well,
Some Ypulse Books Pre-Conference Highlights
"The Visual Storytelling panel was awesome! They were super vibrant and offered all sorts of cool impassioned information on the world of graphic novels -- not really anything super surprising in the future for graphic novels or comics, just that they are here to stay! They also talked quite a bit about the role of girls in the industry and how they are among some of the most avid readers. I found this particularly interesting: Andrew Farago pointed out that in pre-war American EVERYBODY read "the comics" and there were few distinctions across gender. After the War, it somehow became a boy thing and the stigma has persisted even though girls today read a ton of graphic novels, manga and comics.
"A question a lot of folks wanted to address was how to deal with parents that dismiss manga and the like as not serious reading... a waste of time. The panelists agreed that emphasizing the characters and their righteous moral journeys was one way to sway them. Farago reminded us of the mainstream popularity of Persepolis, and that American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang won the Michael L Printz Award and was a National Book Award finalist in 2005. The literary world is taking this genre seriously. This might offer some validation to those that need it.
"Reluctant readers (aka boys) want action and honesty, and both authors and publishers talked about how alternative tie-ins like games are a great way to attract readers. Also, non-fiction still provides an important draw. I was particularly interested in Jeff Savage's experience with his mostly boy fan base. He talked about how he thinks his books are so popular simply because of his readers love of the subject matter: sports. Seems like a no-brainer, right? But it's a genre, if you will, and one that I hadn't ever paid much attention to. I will now. "
Feature: 07/19/08 | Posted By: CassieR | | Industry and Conventions | Tags: news article, parent's guide to anime, publishing industry
Anime 101 for Parents :: Parent's Guide to Anime P2
Like the other columns in this series, this is written towards the confused parent who’s just trying to make sense of it all. So today, we have some basic descriptions of what anime is and what we mean when we say there is a lot of variety to it.
An Intro to Anime
As a concerned parent, you might have heard things like “All Japanese cartoons are porn” or “What do pre/teens see in cartoons?” and you’re likely wondering, well, what do they see in it, and what exactly is anime?
Have no fear, all shall be revealed in time.
In 1995 and 1996 respectively, Sailor Moon and Dragon Ball Z came to American TV, beginning the integration of anime into mainstream media. Sure, anime had been in America before that, but it was only available on imported VHS tapes and was rarely shown on television. There had also been Speed Racer and Transformers, but these shows were portrayed very clearly as children’s shows and many people did not even realize that these were Japanese in origin. The limited availability made anime mostly the domain of “geeks,” as it was available at comic book shops and was popularized through viewing rooms at science-fiction conventions. These shows began to bring anime to the attention of the general public, but it wasn’t until Pokémon hit the airwaves that things really took off for anime in America.
Now many kids enjoy shows like Naruto, One Piece, Yu-Gi-Oh, InuYasha and ZachBell on WB (now CW) and Cartoon Network. Not to mention all the anime-inspired shows like Powerpuff Girls, Teen Titans, Atomic Betty, Samurai Jack, and Batman Beyond. In addition, Cartoon Network runs its Adult Swim at midnight (Eastern Time) and that officially goes until two AM. Even starting at about eleven, Cartoon Network is no longer showing shows intended towards those under thirteen.
Main types of anime aimed at children/teens:
Shōjo (or Shoujo) – Literally means girl or little girl, and it is both a genre in America and a demographic. Generally, a shōjo manga will deal with a female protagonist, and the story will center around characters, emotion, romance, and drama. It can cover all the genres, from historical to sci-fi to high school. The art style tends to be more elegant and detailed, often marked by extra detail in the eyes and flowery backgrounds.
Shōjo manga tends to focus more on emotions and characters than it does on plot and action. Magical girls are typically a subcategory of shōjo, and while there is a plot going on, the focus is mostly on the challenges the magical girl faces as she comes to terms with her new powers and the difficulties inherent in trying to balance crime fighting, school, and relationships.
Many guys do enjoy shōjo books, and the American companies are making an effort to shift the focus away from the female aspect of the definition and instead look at the character focus.
Viz also produces a monthly magazine called Shōjo Beat, featuring all shōjo titles.
Shōjo Examples: Sailor Moon, Marmalade Boy, Fushigi Yuugi, Ceres, Aishiteruze Baby, Nana.
Shōnen (or Shounen) – Literally meaning a “few years,” or transliterally “boy,” this demographic is aimed at the action-loving boy or the girl-loving teenager. Humor is almost always a part of the story, with zany accidents befalling the central male character. Unrealistic and unattainable girls used to be a common element, but recently more realistic girls have made their way into the mix. Another common theme to shōnen shows is the idea of improving oneself in order to win the big fight, get the girl, or get into the right college.
Harem shows are especially popular in this genre, as a shy guy suddenly finds himself living with three or more hot girls, with at least one who likes to make advances towards him.
Many of the shows that are on Cartoon Network and CW are shōnen style, and more likely to appeal to both the male and female demographic. Even with anime becoming more and more popular with young women, shows that are male-based still gain more popularity, because women will openly watch boy-oriented shows, while guys are more hesitant to admit to loving a show designed for girls. Of course, shows like InuYasha, Naruto, and Pokémon all still contain female characters that are realistically portrayed, which helps to make the shows popular with both genders.
Shōnen art styles tend to be less detailed than shōjo, and the characters are often rougher looking and more likely to have scars and old injuries.
Shōnen Examples: Tenchi Muyo, Dragon Ball Z, Detective Conan, Death Note, Bleach, Yu Yu Hakusho, Fullmetal Alchemist, Trigun, Love Hina, InuYasha, Naruto, One Piece.
First three images by Stefanie B, last by Uncreativity
Children’s Shows – Not exactly a genre of its own, but more a way to distinguish between the age demographics that shōjo and shōnen shows target. These are the shows that appear as Saturday morning cartoons. The art style and humor is often more cartoony, and the storyline is more like a sitcom, with each story wrapping up by the end of the episode, though a loose overall plot ties things together season after season.
When these shows are brought to America, they are typically toned down (or dumbed down, as some adult fans would argue) from the Japanese versions, even if the target demographic is the same. In Japan, things like cross-dressing, brief nudity, sexual based jokes, religion based references (like in Dragon Ball Z, a character was named Mr. Satan), and homosexuality are not so readily banned from children.
Children’s Examples: Pokémon, Card Captor Sakura, Yu-Gi-Oh, Naruto, One Piece.
Yaoi and Shōnen-Ai – Both are terms for gay guys, though Shōnen-Ai focuses more on boy-love (BL) and is often more of an innocent romance. Yaoi tends to be more pornographic or sexual in nature, though the two terms are rather intermixed in America, and the best thing to do is to look at the book’s rating.
Popular with teenage girls because many of them don’t want to think of other girls with the guys they find hot, this is a drastically growing genre. Yaoi Press prints only yaoi manga, some by American writers and artists, and other manga companies have their own yaoi lines.
Now while the guys in yaoi and shōnen-ai might be gay, they very rarely represent realistic homosexual relationships. Instead, they personify the idea of how “cute” gay guys are, and one of the guys is often extremely feminine.
Examples: Fake, Gravitation.
Feature: 07/19/08 | Posted By: CassieR | | Industry and Conventions | Tags: parent's guide to anime
Parents and Conventions :: P1 Parent's Guide to Anime
As I stress out about Anime Expo next week and try to get ready for the Artists Alley, I'm thinking it might be appropriate to start my parents columns off with talking about parenting at conventions. First, let's go through the different age group concerns and how to deal with them at a convention This is great for both parents and older siblings who are trying to bring in siblings or who need to counter the "well, we don't want to take your baby brother..." argument. Then, I'll leave you with some tips on what the liberated parent can do at a convention while their teens are off playing.
I hope you find this useful (or good reading to forward on to your own parents) and be sure to stop by my table if you happen to be at Anime Expo!
Parents At Conventions
Conventions can be a lot of fun. Whether you are an avid anime fan introducing your child to their first convention or a parent reluctantly convinced to play chaperone, you can still have a great time at an anime con with your kids.
What age is appropriate for their first con?
This is an incredibly tough question, and one that comes down to knowing your child well enough to know how they are going to handle being in a busy room with lots of other people for many hours. So let’s look at concerns by age:
0-3 Years – While illness may be a minor consideration at this age, most parents and doctors agree that for the average baby, there is no harm in being among other people. Now, you don’t want someone coughing on your kid, but you don’t really want them coughing on you either. So unless your doctor has specifically said your kid might be susceptible to diseases right now (such as if they are preemie), then this isn’t a concern.
Something that might be a problem though is the method of transportation for your child at the con. Baby slings or backpacks are going to be useful in the crowded hallways, as strollers are often more of a hassle than they are helpful. As your child gets older, an umbrella stroller might be useful, since those are more flexible to navigate through a crowded room and can be easily collapsed when you are in a panel.
Another thing to think about is that none of us want to listen to your baby scream. Having a child is not a reason to lock yourself up at home, but it is a commitment to take care of your child’s needs and make sure that those needs do not hurt the comfort of others. If your child wakes up from a nap and cries, you need to leave the panel and attend to their needs.
As they get older, they aren’t going to want to sit still in panel rooms, and there isn’t going to be much you can do about it. That’s where tag team parenting comes in, and I wouldn’t recommend that you attend an event with a child this young by yourself. Get together with some friends or other parents who want to attend, and take turns taking a break with the babes so that everyone gets some time to enjoy the convention.
At this early of an age, the actual value of the convention to your child is minimal. It can be a way to get out and learn to deal with other people, but even towards the age of three, they probably won’t be distracted by the shinies for very long. Really, at this age, they are there because you want to be there and there wasn’t a babysitter around. And that’s fine. It just means you have more responsibility to your fellow con-goers.
3-6 Years – By this age, they are probably getting to actually recognize Pikachu or Vash, whatever you may let them watch. Now the ability to sit still is still a major issue, but there might be more activities that can catch their interests. Craft areas can be a lot of fun right now, and some conventions have specific activities set up for kids under the age of ten.
All previous comments about courtesy do still apply. While most people understand that kids act, well, like kids, that doesn’t mean they want to have to deal with it firsthand. Many attendees are single teens/early twenties, and they are not there to babysit. Keep track of your kid and monitor their crankiness levels.
Art by Nightambre
Parents, remember there is a difference between being supportive and being embarrassing!
6-10 Years – Okay, now your kid is beginning to have fun and be interested in the convention. They are probably starting to have enough of an attention span to sit through some panels and pay attention to what is going on. Now’s a great time to let your child take part in planning what they are going to do at the convention.
10-13 Years – And now the attitude starts. This is the age where they are going to want to be separated from you, and you might be tempted to let them meander by themselves for a while.
The problem with that is that most delinquency is caused by this age group at conventions. I’d recommend knowing your child very well at this age before you let them off by themselves, and check the convention rules. Many conventions require that parents stay with their kids up until at least the age of thirteen, if not fifteen.
One way to give them privacy while they are still under the age of thirteen (or even up to fifteen at some cons) is to simply be in the same area, but out of hearing distance. That way you can keep an eye on what is going on, but allow your pre/teen to have space with their friends.
13-18 Years – Many cons require that parents still be on the premises with their minors, and really, this is good for your child’s safety. If your teen doesn’t have a cell phone, try to make sure they have one at least for the convention, in case of emergency.
Check the rules for the con that you are attending and see what the age limits are. Even if you are not required to stay on site with your teen and you trust your teen to be by himself or herself, make sure to be accessible throughout the day.
What Parents Can Do While Their Teen Plays
So once your offspring is old enough that you just want to be in the same building, but not following them around, what can you do?
Well, anime cons tend to not only offer a large variety of anime related activities, but they also have many culture related panels. This can be a great time to learn about the Japanese tea ceremony or how to play a new game. There are also often panels like Anime 101 and Parent’s Guide to Anime, which can be a great place for parents to learn more about their child’s love. Anime viewing rooms can be a way to pass your time and watch shows that your teen watches as well. Crafts are becoming more and more popular at cons, too, and the devoted crafting rooms are always fun to hang out in.
Check over the program and ask your teen what kinds of activities they would recommend for you to do. Also, express an interest in attending a few panels or viewings with them.
Feature: 06/30/08 | Posted By: CassieR | | Industry and Conventions | Tags: parent's guide to anime