I completely agree on the "cheap trick" aspect. In the manga that I'm refering to here, it's sort of a mix between danger/fear and romance but then later on it's used in a confronting nature, so it's not "overused" in the sense that it's repeating the same emotion over and over. It's more of the physical movement. And maybe that's beginning to wear on me a little.
I've got things to say about dominant/submissive character personalities but there's enough there that I think I can make a new post out of that.
The Silent (Otaku Eternal) | Posted 06/11/08 | Reply
I think you're on to something when you say that particular moment is used to create tension. It must do so on several levels, including the ones you've already mentioned. There is also, most likely, visual tension created in that moment (that's something that manga takes advantage of). And then there's the powerplay between a physically stronger person and a physically more vulnerable person... things like that.
I haven't read much manga in a while, so I don't know if I can say if it's overused or not... but my thought is that, if it's used multiple times in the same manga, it's simply being used in a "cheap trick" kind of way - just a ploy to add in more tension, especially if it's of a romantic nature - and then I wonder, "why am I reading this? What do I get from it?" Manga sometimes just becomes like a drug, an addiction, for me, especially when the story drags out over 30 volumes, and especially if the characters and story aren't really developing - it's just a formula, it's what readers (consumers) want to see.
red:leaf
Otaku Eternal | Posted 06/11/08 | Reply
I completely agree on the "cheap trick" aspect. In the manga that I'm refering to here, it's sort of a mix between danger/fear and romance but then later on it's used in a confronting nature, so it's not "overused" in the sense that it's repeating the same emotion over and over. It's more of the physical movement. And maybe that's beginning to wear on me a little.
I've got things to say about dominant/submissive character personalities but there's enough there that I think I can make a new post out of that.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
snow fox
The Silent (Otaku Eternal) | Posted 06/11/08 | Reply
I think you're on to something when you say that particular moment is used to create tension. It must do so on several levels, including the ones you've already mentioned. There is also, most likely, visual tension created in that moment (that's something that manga takes advantage of). And then there's the powerplay between a physically stronger person and a physically more vulnerable person... things like that.
I haven't read much manga in a while, so I don't know if I can say if it's overused or not... but my thought is that, if it's used multiple times in the same manga, it's simply being used in a "cheap trick" kind of way - just a ploy to add in more tension, especially if it's of a romantic nature - and then I wonder, "why am I reading this? What do I get from it?" Manga sometimes just becomes like a drug, an addiction, for me, especially when the story drags out over 30 volumes, and especially if the characters and story aren't really developing - it's just a formula, it's what readers (consumers) want to see.