Let's do SnK

Here we shall delve into the Shingeki No Kyojin/Attack on Titan fandom and see what we can learn from it!

[poppin-writes]

Final Ethnographic Essay: Fans Defining Themselves in a Safe Haven

     The first thing that comes to mind when imagining a fandom could be different depending on who you ask. For some it’s an image of raving fans of a pop singer, fainting and screaming at the site of their idol. For others it’s anonymous members of an online community participating in debates that can get heated and run off track of the original topic. For others still the word means nothing, and you’d have to explain to them what a fandom is. For me, it meant connection. I always felt fandoms were a congregation of communities wishing to reach out to one another through common interest and to feel a sense of belonging. Now that I’ve concluded my research I feel it’s even more than that. A fandom is a way for people to define themselves, to grow and learn who they are and who’d they’d like to become. They have found a safe place of like-minded people and use that safe haven to learn about themselves and others. This interest in a show, specifically I will be speaking about the show Attack on Titan, has opened them up to learning about social interactions, literacy, and most importantly, themselves.

     My personal life overlaps the focus of my research, which is a Japanese anime. I’ve watched more anime than I can possibly name and have been a fan of the genre from a young age. Usually, I prefer comedic anime and Attack on Titan does have some comedy and doesn’t necessarily take itself seriously the entire show. The themes, however, are much darker and more intense than any anime I know of. I chose this anime in an attempt to step outside my comfort zone in the hopes of distancing myself academically so I am able to break it down with unbiased critical thinking.

     The questions I sought to answer relate to the roleplay and cosplay aspect of the online community, as well as how they perceive the Titans. I believe these two areas paint a full picture of how fans define themselves in this fandom. I examined how fans roleplay as characters through ask blogs, and wanted to find out how they interacted with the community through them. My main question about roleplay was the impact of Ask blogs in the community and why they exist. My second question was about the villains: Titans. I wanted to know if the fans perceived them as more complex than mindless animals, if they are evil, and if they are the true ‘bad guys’ of the show. How the fans see these interesting antagonists of the show could be indicative of the current state of mind of the fan base, which is the younger generation.

     Anime is not merely a subgenre of television, the same way Western cartoons are their own monster with a huge following and a domineering presence in current pop culture. We’ve seen in America a recent shift in target audience for current cartoons. Many are catered to the 18-25 bracket now as well. Even those that are supposed to be strictly for children deal with more complex and dynamic issues then cartoons of the past. Japan has been doing that for much longer. They have many cartoons that are not only targeted at a larger audience, but some are so violent or sexualized that they are restricted to adults. Attack on Titan is without a doubt violent and gory.

           In the U.S. anime is becoming more popular, but those who enjoy it are still rarer than someone who enjoys shows like the Walking Dead or Mad Men. There seems to be a feeling of otherness associated with fans of anime. For many, their hobby was a source of ridicule or something no one understood. When popularization of the internet came along, the fandoms for various shows exploded. You can search online for any anime, no matter how obscure, and you can find a group of people obsessed with it that love to talk, write, draw, and sing about their show. People by nature reach out to those we can find common ground with, and anime fans are waiting with arms outstretched for fellow anime fans.

     Attack on Titan’s popularity has been a phenomenon, even by popular anime standards. Despite its dark premise and the amount of violence and gore present, its popularity skyrocketed even before the English dubbed version was released. In general, anime usually deals with more mature and complex themes than Western cartoons, but the more violent and graphic anime are usually not the popular ones. Somehow Attack on Titan gained an enormous following of young adults and teens and fueled a near constant discussion about the show for the past two years since its release.

           The Attack on Titan fandom does not seem to be slowing its forward momentum, propelled forward with the live action release and the announcement of its second season’s planned release. These are not by any means the only reason why its fandom has flourished. This show’s fandom is unique. Participants of the fandom showcase their passion lightheartedly but do not shy away from the intense themes of the show.

     This show’s fandom is unique. Participants of the fandom showcase their passion lightheartedly but do not shy away from the intense themes of the show. Fans from the show not only Cosplay, or dress up as characters, but also role-play as the characters. These fans are attempting to step into the shoes of the characters beyond just dressing like them. These characters in the show endure horrific situations and are faced with life or death situations at seemingly every moment, and fans attempt to step into a role to take on these difficulties with as much confidence or hesitation as the canon characters do. They build on the characters and the world they reside in outside of the development in the show. This is the literacy group of the fans I interviewed and this is their discourse community.

     The definition of literacy is no longer restricted to being able to read and write. Expanding outside of that definition means the struggle to find a new one. Sylvia Scribner observes, like myself: “Many, although by no means all, of those grappling with the problems of definition and measurement appear to be guided by such a search for the essence – for the ‘one best’ way of conceptualizing literacy.” (Scribner, 35) As students, we are used to being taught black and white or right and wrong answers for questions. That practice has changed and we are encouraged to think critically about practical examples for the concepts we have learned.

To examine literacy and literacy events, we must rethink our preconceptions about literacy. “A first step in reconceptualizing literacy is to accept the multiple functions literacy may service in a given activity, where it can replace spoken language, enable communication, solve a practical problem or act as a memory aid-in some cases, all at the same time.” (Barton and Hamilton, 29) Thinking about the various functions that fall under the concept of literacy, I propose that literacy is the social way we communicate with our various communities.

           Literacy is inherently social since literary sponsors are needed to introduce us into discourse communities. Literary sponsors can teach or support the learning of literacy, and they aren’t necessarily a person. Even if a literacy sponsor is not a person, it’s usually still found in a social context. A literacy group has its own methods of communication, signals, and ways of understanding each other and common concepts. Without these skills and the ability to share them with a community, it can be difficult to grow and find a place for yourself. We all need a way to relate to each other since humans need a social connection.

     Social interaction is a central aspect of literacy and literacy events. Without it, literacy events and practices would be stunted. These literacies might still remain, but for them to thrive and grow a social community should be present. This is even truer of online discourse communities. Looking at how they interacted and what content these fans chose to share with one another, we see a narrative emerge within their literacy events.

     I’d like to examine one phenomenon in particular in the Attack on Titan fandom. The memes associated with the show are fascinating, and say as much about the show as they do the fans. The first is one of the most popular memes associated with the Attack on Titan show. (Artifact 6) This is one of many parody videos and most are titled “Attack on Titan Goes with Everything” or something similar. The opening theme song of the show is dramatic and makes a big impact. It’s become an inside joke to pair this song with various footage either from other shows or with random footage not affiliated with any fandom for laughs. These remixes are referencing various other fandoms as well as giving insight into the Attack on Titan fandom itself.

     A parody implies that it’s a funny take on the original content it‘s referencing, and at first glance Attack on Titan doesn‘t seem to have anything funny to parody. This is where the creative nature of fans begins to shine. The shows paired with this theme song can be dramas and serious shows which are expected to fit with the dramatic music. They can also be on the opposite end of the spectrum and funny, lighthearted shows that shouldn‘t fit at all. The fans of the show recognize that despite its bleak and serious nature, there is still potential for shared laughs and enjoyment outside of the heavy themes. Just as the show’s creators injected comical moments into an overall gory and serious anime that deals with complex and controversial issues.

           The second is a video depicting one of the sillier moments we see the Titan in when taken out of context. (Artifact 7) The comical depiction of the Titans is obvious and intended though exaggerated for laughs in this video. Fans know that the Titans are the main threat to humanity in the show, but they pick up on the nuances of their portrayal. Any scene involving the Titans in the show usually is accompanied by death, destruction, and gory, bloody depictions of the Titans satisfying their craving for humans. If the creators of the show wanted fans to see Titans only as fearsome beings, they would not have had the Titans act so unintelligently. They can be outwitted, outsmarted, and outmaneuvered by humans which gives us hope.

     It’s implied that there is more to the Titans than what we see on the surface. There is nothing simple about the plot in Attack on Titan. The tropes we see in the main characters may be unimaginative, but the overall story has layers and is very thought provoking. The fans mimic the shows tendency for pairing comedy in unlikely instances. We can see deeper into the way the fans think in the interviews I conducted later.

     I did my best to conduct my interviews and gain permission for any quotes or references ethically and honestly. My ethical research guidelines were as follows:

I have an obligation to use my research in an unbiased manner. I must approach each topic with my own bias and privilege in mind, and avoid allowing them to color my tone or skew my data in any way. Ignoring my feelings and thoughts is not enough, I must recognize how they might affect my findings and actively avoid injecting them into the end product of my research.

Each participant has the right to be treated fairly and be properly represented. I will not under any circumstances violate those I interview, cite, or otherwise involved in my research. More specifically I will not:

•        Exploit or discriminate against subjects on grounds such as race, ethnicity, national origin, political or religious views, age, gender, sexual preference, or disability

•        Sexually harass or make any participant feel uncomfortable. I will also be sure to establish a relationship and environment in which participants feel they can voice any discomforts they may have with the knowledge that it will be handled considerately and promptly.

•        Use any derogatory, inflammatory, obscene, or prejudicial language. The tone will be professional and positive.

•        Plagiarize works, deceive any party involved, or fraudulently present findings.

Each participant deserves respect, with no advantage given to one participant over another. Anyone who contributes to my project is providing me with important data that is necessary for me to complete my research, and I must keep that in mind when interacting with participants. It’s important they are shown gratitude for their contributions and are properly credited for all the help I’m given.

My research was entirely online, using the social media sites Twitter, Tumblr, and websites run by fans such as the Attack on Titan Wikia.  Tumblr and Twitter are the best sites for research of this kind since the fandom community interacts directly with one another and in the full view of the rest of the fandom. I am able to observe and even interact with people in the fandom without intruding into personal spaces of fans. The tagging and hashtag systems make it easy to find ongoing conversations and follow current events in the fandom. I searched through various tags on those sites, specifically Attack on Titan, AOT, Snk, and ships such as Eremika, Ereri, and Eruri (which are some shorthand names for the more popular fan pairings). A common way fans enjoy anime is “Shipping” or pairing characters romantically and non-romantically in ways the show did not outright.

There are blogs on Tumblr called Ask Blogs where fans Cosplay, role-play, and answer questions as the characters. I had the opportunity to interview a few of them, so I asked them a series of questions which they answered not just as themselves but also as the character they role-play as. We see their interpretations and motives of the characters as well as their own motives and opinions about the series. Their interactions with other fans was also be important to analyze, with each party’s consent beforehand. These fans adopt different writing styles and mannerisms to role-play as characters, and use that acting to interact with the fans as their favorite character as a real person. An accessible person they can ask questions and interact with.

Fan Interview Results

All persons answered “Yes” to “Have you read the Consent form in its entirety?” and “Do you wish to participate in this interview after reading the terms of the consent form?” Subjects were informed of the intent of the questioning and the context in which the questions are being asked. No information was used from subjects without their full understanding of how it will be used. They had the option to opt out or not answer any set of questions.

Interview with lyricallyundead

How long have you been a part of the Attack on Titan Fandom? Since September 2014

What made you start Cosplaying/Roleplaying an Attack on Titan character? I really love this series, and it’s actually was what started my cosplay career. I don’t think I’ve ever seen or read a series that I instantly connected with since Transformers. AOT/SNK will always be apart of my life, The characters are magnificent.

Do you ship any characters? Do you ship characters with the one you roleplay? I am known to be a multishipper of Erejean (Eren/Jean), Ereri (Eren/Levi), Eruri (Erwin/Levi), Reibert (Reiner/Bertholdt), Eremika (Eren/Mikasa), but I have to say my otp is Reibert. I usually roleplay Bertholdt and Eren a lot too.

What are the benefits of answering questions on an Ask Blog? It’s really fun! I love responding to people who love the same character as I do. Another thing I love, is that I made great friends with the cast members of the blog, and they’re pretty much my family.

What kind of questions do you get asked? How do you answer as the character? Uhh, Since I am Petra, I always get questions about trees. Sighs.

What is the most terrifying about the Titans in the show? The question is, what isn’t terrifying about them? I think their capability to learn is scary as well.

Are the Titans the true ‘bad guys’ of the show? Why or why not? If you mean by the titan-shifters, in my opinion, I don’t think they are. In the manga, it clearly shows that Bertholdt doesn’t want to kill humans, I feel as if he’s being forced into this for a damn good reason, and I want to know why.

In-Character Questions:

Who are you? Hello there! My name is Petra, and I’m part of Corporal Levi’s squad. I may be a bit harsh on my comrade Oluo, but if he weren’t such a ditz when he imitates the Corporal, I wouldn’t have to be.

What is most terrifying about the Titans? Ah… The Titans.. Even though I’ve killed many, their faces always seem to irk, and tense me up.

What keeps you fighting for your survival in such a dangerous and bleak time? For humanity, Mainly my father who is back home. I want to prove him that I can be independent in rough times like these.

Are the Titans really the ‘bad guys’? Why or why not? Unlike Eren who is our trustful ally, even if they had a reason to kill, I wouldn’t hesitate to kill them one moment. I believe that is a reason the Corporal chose me to be by his side.

 Interview with attack-on-stevenuniverse

How long have you been a part of the Attack on Titan Fandom? about 2 years

What made you start Cosplaying/Roleplaying an Attack on Titan character? Just the idea of getting to be someone else and being able to feel so close to the character drew me to cosplaying. I find it really helps you to meet new people and to kind of escape reality at times. Roleplaying helps a lot with writing and improving it and cosplaying is just fun.

Do you ship any characters? Do you ship characters with the one you roleplay? I ship a lot of characters, it’s pretty much a free-for-all in my mind. I ship a lot of characters with the one I roleplay/cosplay because I find I can relate to the character and can see who they would be interested in.

What are the benefits of answering questions on an Ask Blog? Amusement. It’s just fun. Getting to see your favourite characters in real life practically and seeing them answer even some stupid questions that don’t make sense. It makes the whole depressing series a bit more fun and amusing.

What kind of questions do you get asked? How do you answer as the character? I get asked a lot about shipping and I also get asked a lot of more serious questions about people I care about etc. I do my best to stay in character, mimicing speech patterns and movements that I picked up on from rewatching the series a few times.

What is the most terrifying about the Titans in the show? The fact that they only kill for fun terrifies me actually.

Are the Titans the true ‘bad guys’ of the show? Why or why not? I don’t think they are. I’ve read ahead in the manga and really titans aren’t the biggest issue there is way too much corruption in the human world without titans.

This person opted out of the In-Character Questions

 Interview with Liu

How long have you been a part of the Attack on Titan Fandom? a bit more than one year

What made you start Cosplaying/Roleplaying an Attack on Titan character? I immediately fell in love with the show and Levi who is my favourite character. I saw some very good and succesfull cosplayers like Orisor cosplay and Gesha Petrovitch and wanted to be as good as them.

Do you ship any characters? Do you ship characters with the one you roleplay? I ship Eruri (Erwin + Levi) and Ereri (Eren + Levi) but Eruri is my absolute Otp even though I don’t cosplay it.

What are the benefits of answering questions on an Ask Blog? I think it makes us happy to see the charas we love in a more happy way than in the series. In this way, we can try to picture the figures as “normal” people. Also I feel closer to Levi by trying to think like him. And of course, we come into contact with others who love aot as much as we do.

What kind of questions do you get asked? How do you answer as the character? They ask me different questions. Most of them are funny and I like being funny in my answers as well. But when they get too serious, I want to be earnest too. Of course, I make a little fun of Levi, we all do that in a very loving way but nonetheless I still try to keep the character traits at all costs.

What is the most terrifying about the Titans in the show? I think the corpsfaces but honestly, I don’t think they are that scary on the screen (I would die in reality just seeing one)

Are the Titans the true ‘bad guys’ of the show? Why or why not? I just know the content of the series since in germany the manga is very far behind. :( But I think there must be something more complex behind them than just this bad-guy-image. I believe Isayama is that clever^^

In-Character Questions:

Who are you? Name’s Levi…

What is most terrifying about the Titans? They eat my comrades and that is hella terrifiying. Also they look really insane. And I don’t like that some of them are shifters. Makes it hard to trust someone.  But I am not that scared of them. I will kick their filthy asses.

What keeps you fighting for your survival in such a dangerous and bleak time? I believe in Erwin and Erwin believes in humanity. He says we will make it. Says that we have to make it. And I trust every single one of his decisions. Also I don’t want Furlans and Isabels and all the others deaths to be in vain.

Are the Titans really the 'bad guys’? Why or why not? They try to eat us god dammit! If anyone says they only want attention I’ll show them how much attention can hurt. So yes. They are bad.

           The interviews gave me a lot of insight into how the fans see the characters of the show. It’s obvious by a few of their questions that they don’t limit their own opinions to that of the characters, but recognize and differentiate their own from them for various reasons. It’s even easy to see how they easily slip into the act of their normal roleplayed character, with different mannerisms and tones in the answers to the questions. I was sure to give clarification that the in-character questions could be answered however they desired and I was not disappointed by the results. The most intriguing to me is the different answers to the question about why the Titans are terrifying, both in and out of character.

The topic of the villains of Attack on Titan has been debated, and some fans have hypothesized the origins of the titans. “To understand where Attack on Titan’s monsters originate, we need to look at 19th-century Spain, where the artist Francisco Goya painted symbolic representations of the atrocities of war in the form of gory and eerie images of mythological giants.” (Romano) The artwork of Goya is uncannily similar to scenes from Attack on Titan so that theory does have some credence. One reason for the popularity of the show may be the Titans and how they are used as “as the gruesome palette for an exploration of war and human injustice.” (Romano) We see for ourselves thanks to the interview subjects how fans truly feel about the Titans.

           Another point that has been noted by fans is the lack of character development in the show. “There are two ways AoT fails with character development. One is the large number of minor characters who get a ton of screen time but no development to their personalities. The other is the stale, static state of pretty much everyone but Armin.” (Phillps) This has not proven to be a problem for many fans of the series, and I believe there is a reason for that. With the lack of development of the characters they love, fans are choosing to add to the story themselves with role-play and online in the community. This further drives the popularity of the fandom and spreads its literacy to a larger audience that is craving more of the story but currently has no more canon storytelling until a new season of the show is released.

           One more defining instance in my research was found while browsing the ask blog of one of these interview subjects. The question and answer might not be what you’d expect to find on a blog about the Attack on Titan fandom, but it’s there and it truly touched me to see.

Anonymous Question: Heichou, um, my friend is self harming. What is your advice to help them?? P.S- I think your really cute and adorable.... Agh I mean manly and strong...

Roleplayer’s answer: Okay… since this is pretty sad and serious I am gonna say this first: In my oppinion, you should be there for your friend. If he or she doesn’t want to be alone then don’t leave his or her side. Your friend should also talk to a psychologist. I know many don’t want to do that but it really helps. I have made good and bad expieriences with pschologists. It really depends on who you meet. But don’t leave him or her alone and I can assure you that it won’t really help to tell your friend to stop hurting himself. Because there is a reason. If your friend manages to get over his or her problems, then the hurting will stop by itself.

and…

[Here he is cosplaying as Levi Erickson, it shows a gif of him with a serious expression and popping the collar of his uniform]

…I know I am pretty manly -.- (Artifact 5)

           Incredibly, this Ask Blog is doing so much more than answering questions dressed as their favorite character. Here is an instance of a human being who needed help, whether for their friend or themselves, and they received good advice. The roleplayer didn’t even break character answering this. This is just one instance of what you can see all across the web, in various fandoms and online communities. That is their true nature. That is why these fandoms are created.

           Fans are just people brought together by one common interest. People are human, we are always growing and evolving and that is even truer for people who’ve only recently been given the reigns to adulthood and told to ride off into the sunset. I’d argue that in reality no one really knows what they’re doing, but young adults even less so. In this fandom those new adults are the target audience and populate the majority of the fandom. They are coming together to form the communities I saw when I typed Attack on Titan into the search bar. They are finding their way through acting, through interacting and discussing the complex issues from the show. They are figuring out for themselves that life isn’t always black and white, and the ‘bad guy’ over your shoulder isn’t always evil. Life is more complicated than that, as is the fandom I researched. We’re all just trying to figure out where we belong and how the connect with each other. That’s what I’ve figured out.  

 Works Cited

Artifact 5, http://poppin-writes.tumblr.com/tagged/artifact-5

Artifact 6, http://poppin-writes.tumblr.com/tagged/artifact6

Artifact 7, http://poppin-writes.tumblr.com/tagged/artifact7

Barton, David, and Mary Hamilton. "Literacy Practices." Enthnographic Inquiries in Writing.

First ed. Southlake, TX: Fountainhead, 2010. 21-32. Print.

Phillips, Tommy. "Why Attack on Titan Sucks." Anime Bowl. 29 Oct. 2014. Web. 11 Oct. 2015.

Romano, Aja. "A Beginner's Guide to 'Attack on Titan,' the Most Intense Anime of 2013." The

Daily Dot. 3 Sept. 2013. Web. 10 Oct. 2015.

Scribner, Sylvia. "Literacy in Three Metaphors." Enthnographic Inquiries in Writing. First ed.

Southlake, TX: Fountainhead, 2010. 33-53. Print.

 Annotated Bibliography

Shcherbinina, Mariya. "Attack on Fandom: How Attack on Titan Fans Use Tumblr."

Academia.edu. Web. 7 Oct. 2015.

Mariya Shcherbinina discusses how the Attack on Titan fandom specifically uses Tumblr. There is some description of the basic uses for Tumblr, but also she looks at how Tumblr itself shapes the content shared and produced on the site. She looks at a broader scope then my research entails, examining the phenomenon of "scanlations" or fan translations of the Attack on Titan manga as well as many more subjects I wish I'd had the time to go over. She also studies the idea of the animanga fandom which encompasses more of a culture. Her research methods were very similar to mine but she managed to cover so much more about the fandom.

 "Why Study Fans?" Fandom: Identities and Communities in a Mediated World. Ed. Jonathan

Gray, C. Lee Harrington, and Cornel Sandvoss. New York UP, 2007. 1-15. Print. 

The editors of the book Fandom: Identities and Communities in a Mediated World discuss the importance and meaning of fans and fandom. They cover the discrimination fans and fandoms have endured in the past when those researching them were biased and close-minded, but also the idea that fans are Other. A fandom is one within themselves but Other to those foreign to the concepts of their fandom and this was an important point I tried to make with my research without making the mistakes of some of my predecessors who researched fandom. They also cover how being in a fandom is more mainstream than it was in the past.

 Smith, Camille. "The Media Fanzine Community." Enterprising Women: Television Fandom

and the Creation of Popular Myth. Philadelphia: U of Pennsylvania, 1992. 7-43. Print.

In the first chapter of her book, Camille Smith illustrates in more complexity the ideas of fandom outside of the online communities I researched. She begins with fan clubs and expands her research out into conventions which are a huge part of the Japanese anime fandom. She discusses further the drive for fans to meet face to face and make a connection through their favorite fandom. She discusses many of the big fandoms still prevalent such as Doctor Who and Star Trek. She also discusses how fans choose to enjoy their favorite show or fandom not only through passive enjoyment but active participation in a fandom.

[poppin-writes]

Brian Dabbs - Parodies, Cosplay, and Fanart on Exposure

As we look at the various parodies and pictures in the Attack on Titan tags on Tumblr or Twitter, a discussion arises. This discussion doesn’t take place in the comments on reblogs or retweets, but within the content itself. The parodies show us the comedy behind the dark themes, and give insight into the true nature of the antagonists of the show and what it means to the fans. The cosplay of titans and the main characters of the show is revealing of how the fans feel about them, and the way they connect through the show.

WA4: Parodies, Cosplay, and Fanart Photo Essay

[poppin-writes]

WA3: Ethics Statement

Preamble

As a researcher for the English 1302 course at Texas A&M Commerce, I have a responsibility to conduct my research and the delivery of my findings in a professional and ethical manner. My singular goal is to deliver honest, unbiased findings while making sure each participating person’s experience is positive. The purpose of this statement of ethics is to establish a code of conduct that will dictate all manner of my research. This protects not only myself and the integrity of my research, but most importantly protects those who agree to participate in my research. Promoting an enjoyable environment for participants benefits my research as well as the scholarly community.

Guiding principles

I have an obligation to use my research in an unbiased manner. I must approach each topic with my own bias and privilege in mind, and avoid allowing them to color my tone or skew my data in any way. Ignoring my feelings and thoughts is not enough, I must recognize how they might affect my findings and actively avoid injecting them into the end product of my research.

Each participant has the right to be treated fairly and be properly represented. I will not under any circumstances violate those I interview, cite, or otherwise involved in my research. More specifically I will not:

•        Exploit or discriminate against subjects on grounds such as race, ethnicity, national origin, political or religious views, age, gender, sexual preference, or disability

•        Sexually harass or make any participant feel uncomfortable. I will also be sure to establish a relationship and environment in which participants feel they can voice any discomforts they may have with the knowledge that it will be handled considerately and promptly.

•        Use any derogatory, inflammatory, obscene, or prejudicial language. The tone will be professional and positive.

•        Plagiarize works, deceive any party involved, or fraudulently present findings.

Each participant deserves respect, with no advantage given to one participant over another. Anyone who contributes to my project is providing me with important data that is necessary for me to complete my research, and I must keep that in mind when interacting with participants. It’s important they are shown gratitude for their contributions and are properly credited for all the help I’m given.

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to evaluate and find new ideas hidden within an established fandom. The goal is not to regurgitate or reiterate subject matter already covered by other researchers and scholars, but to find original ideas and content to explore. The goal is to bring something new to the scholarly community and leave each community touched by this research improved in one way or another. Each subject should leave the study with a new idea about the fandom and a positive opinion about well-executed research. Hopefully, they will go on to participate in more studies after a positive and enlightening experience in this one.

Data Collection/Usage

Subjects will be informed of the intent of the questioning and the context in which the questions are being asked. No information will be used from subjects without their full understanding of how it will be used. Knowing that, subjects will have complete control over how much of their information is used. Informed consent is the way to produce accurate and insightful data.

   I plan to engage as a passive observer in the Attack on Titan fandom. I could engage more actively since I have a history with anime fandoms and could establish my own presence in this one. I chose to research a fandom of an anime that I am not a part of instead. I have no prior opinions on the fandom or the anime’s content, and I have no personal attachment to skew my presentation of findings. I am only using my own proficiency in social media to engage passively in the fandom, and my understanding of fandom communities to navigate the more obscure aspects of shipping and cosplay.

   Tumblr and Twitter are the best sites for research of this kind since the fandom community interacts directly with one another and in the full view of the rest of the fandom. I am able to observe and even interact with people in the fandom without intruding into personal spaces of fans. The tagging and hashtag systems make it easy to find ongoing conversations and follow current events in the fandom. I will be using the tagging system to help me navigate the large amount of fandom content and narrow down my research sources to posts and people that specifically apply to my research.

Risks

   The main risk I see with my method of research is my plan to conduct interviews in two parts. One part of the interview will be for those who roleplay as the character, one will be for fans. Roleplayers will participate in both if they wish, answering questions in character and out of character. On their ask blogs, they answer questions in character and I will need to get their permission to use these answers, as well as posts they’ve made in character. Some of these posts have Gifs or images of the fans roleplaying as characters from the show. While this information may be helpful to my research, none can be used without expressed consent by the roleplayers, especially if it includes their likeness or their own fan-made content.

   To help deal with issues that may arise from using their content, I will be referencing their posts by their unique post number to be sure there is no confusion as to what I plan to use in my paper. They will have options to allow me to only use the text, or to use the text with a description of the images or Gifs instead of allowing me to actually use their likeness or content. I do not want to make them uncomfortable or invade their privacy, even if they’ve posted these answers publicly. Any commentary or content they create belongs to them, and I will treat it as such. They will also have the option to opt out completely from participating in character or as a fan. If they would rather participate as one or the other because that makes them more comfortable, then I can easily use that information instead.

   My goal is to provide insight into the roleplaying community, but not at the cost of any roleplayer’s privacy or feelings. I will accept only enthusiastic consent for participation in this project. If I can’t get a fan excited about my project, then there is no point in them participating. I want to make this a fun exercise for roleplayers and I think that approaching it in this way will help with that.

Explanation

I chose to model my code of ethics after the MLA statement of professional ethics to outline exactly how to avoid harming participants of my research. Their guidelines were inclusive and the scope was wide in considering possible obstacles one might encounter during the research process. I also used the American Association of Internet Researchers’ format of having a list of guiding principles, and modeled mine after theirs some as well with modifications to fit my own needs. I focused on how I would treat my participants with respect and fairly. I tried to think about the impact of my research and how best to conduct it considering that. My aim is to make this research project more than an assignment for English 1302. I want it to be an experience that will explore implications of the show and fans’ reactions. The meaning of the titans, the reason fans ship, and the motivation behind cosplay all tie into a central theme that I will be investigating and it will be a journey I take all the participants of my research on with me.

Works Cited

"Statement of Professional Ethics." Modern Language Association. Web. 30 Oct. 2015.

"Ethics." AoIR. Web. 1 Nov. 2015.

Consent Form

I understand that I am assisting in an ethnographic research project conducted by Brian Dabbs for English 1302 at Texas A&M University-Commerce taught by Dr. Melinda Bobbitt. He will be asking interview questions regarding the Attack on Titan fandom. I agree to let him use the interview to write a paper for the class which will later be presented in an online portfolio. It will not be used for any other purpose. I have been informed that this research project is being conducted through social media, and that none of my contributions or anything published on my social media accounts may be used without my expressed permission.

Any additional materials he requests to use such as public Ask Box answers must be agreed upon individually before he includes them in his paper in any way. I have been informed that if I become uncomfortable at any time during the interview, I do not have to answer questions. I am aware that I may withdraw my participation at any time and that I can request a pseudonym be used. I understand that by signing this form, I give permission for the interview to be used for the purposes stated above.

If I have any questions about this project and/or the research data I have given, I can contact:

Dr. Melinda Bobbitt

[email protected]

Do you agree to participate in the interview ( ) YES ( ) NO

Can the interview be recorded (audio and/or video)? ( ) YES ( ) NO

Should a pseudonym be used? ( ) YES ( ) NO

Signed:                                                                                                Date:

Link to online consent form

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BjXB8NU5esUyRe7OhqC9lxu4-jBiyr5TErTEvxgusqw/edit?usp=sharing

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WA2: Attack on Titan, Villians and Roleplay

Fear is a compelling emotion and an extremely influential driving force for us as humans. It can bring together a community just as quickly and efficiently as it can tear one apart. We all can relate to it, and we all are affected by it daily. In TV shows and movies the fear of a villain, something outside ourselves and unknown, is an easily relatable motive for the protagonist and the propulsion of a plot. The villains in a popular TV show can give us insight into the mind of the viewers then. We see the mindset of the audience in the large amount of people that relate and connect due to a common fear of what the villain represents. In the anime Attack on Titan, the villain is the titans. They are huge, naked, seemingly mindless beings with exaggerated appearance and mannerisms that make them appear almost comical. It’s hard to say what these beings may represent now, so I hope that my research and interaction with fans will answer that.

           Attack on Titan’s popularity has been a phenomenon, even by popular anime standards. Despite its dark premise and the amount of violence and gore present, its popularity skyrocketed even before the English dubbed version was released. In general, anime usually deals with more mature and complex themes than Western cartoons, but the more violent and graphic anime are usually not the popular ones. Somehow Attack on Titan gained an enormous following of young adults and teens and fueled a near constant discussion about the show for the past two years since its release.

           The Attack on Titan fandom does not seem to be slowing its forward momentum, propelled forward with the live action release and the announcement of its second season’s planned release. These are not by any means the only reason why its fandom has flourished. This show’s fandom is unique. Participants of the fandom showcase their passion lightheartedly but do not shy away from the intense themes of the show. A common way fans enjoy anime is “Shipping” or pairing characters romantically and non-romantically in ways the show did not outright. The discussion about Attack on Titan extends beyond shipping and fanfiction.

Fans from the show not only Cosplay, or dress up as characters, but also role-play as the characters. These fans are attempting to step into the shoes of the characters beyond just dressing like them. I’ve never seen so much role-play of the characters in another anime fandom. These characters in the show endure horrific situations and are faced with life or death situations at seemingly every moment, and fans attempt to step into a role to take on these difficulties with as much confidence or hesitation as the canon characters do. They build on the characters and the world they reside in outside of the development in the show.

Between the role-play of fans and the interesting villains of the show, I have a basis for what I believe to be the core of the Attack on Titan fandom. The fear of the titans that is so easy to relate to by fans, and the willingness to relate even further to the protagonists by role-playing them with friends and strangers paints a picture that is opposite of what a bloody, gory show would normally elicit in its fans. I want to dig deeper into what compels fans to connect over these topics and the community they have built doing so.

Author Background

           I am a 25-year-old Caucasian male with a background in many anime fandoms. I’ve watched more anime than I can possibly name and have been a fan of the genre from a young age. Usually, I prefer comedic anime and Attack on Titan does have some comedy and doesn’t necessarily take itself seriously the entire show. The themes, however, are much darker and more intense than any anime I know of. I chose this anime in an attempt to step outside my comfort zone in the hopes of distancing myself academically so I am able to break it down with unbiased critical thinking.

           That is not to say I am without bias since I have been a fan of the anime genre for so long. I do understand being in an anime fandom, and I understand the love of a show and how it makes a fan want to reach out to others and connect through it. I do not Cosplay, role-play, or ship characters so I will need to learn much about that part of anime fandoms. The literacy and vernacular of online anime communities are familiar to me and I will use that proficiency to get to the heart of the questions I have for the community.

Competition

           The topic of the villains of Attack on Titan has been debated, and some fans have hypothesized the origins of the titans. “To understand where Attack on Titan’s monsters originate, we need to look at 19th-century Spain, where the artist Francisco Goya painted symbolic representations of the atrocities of war in the form of gory and eerie images of mythological giants.” (Romano) The artwork of Goya is uncannily similar to scenes from Attack on Titan so that theory does have some credence. One reason for the popularity of the show may be the titans and how they are used as “as the gruesome palette for an exploration of war and human injustice.” (Romano) However, each work of art has multiple ways it can be interpreted and my goal is to find how modern youth interpret this villain.

           Another point that has been noted by fans is the lack of character development in the show. “There are two ways AoT fails with character development. One is the large number of minor characters who get a ton of screen time but no development to their personalities. The other is the stale, static state of pretty much everyone but Armin.” (Phillps) This has not proven to be a problem for many fans of the series, and I believe there is a reason for that. With the lack of development of the characters they love, fans are choosing to add to the story themselves with role-play and online in the community. This further drives the popularity of the fandom and spreads its literacy to a larger audience that is craving more of the story but currently has no more canon storytelling until a new season of the show is released.

Outline/Research Plan

           My research will be entirely online, using the social media sites Twitter, Tumblr, and websites run by fans such as the Attack on Titan Wikia. There are blogs on Tumblr called Ask Blogs where fans Cosplay, role-play, and answer questions as the characters and I will be interacting with them mainly along with fans who are strictly Cosplayers to get insight into their community and how they’ve adopted the literacy of the fandom. One approach I plan to take is to give them a series of questions to answer, but not just as themselves but also as the character they role-play as. I think this will give a unique perspective into the fandom and how they role-play. We will get to see their interpretations and motives of the characters as well as their own motives and opinions about the series. Their interactions with other Cosplayers and role-players will also be important to analyze, with each party’s consent beforehand. These fans adopt different writing styles and mannerisms to role-play as characters, and the situations and conversations that are a result of this are very interesting to me.

           Fans that ship characters will also be central to my research, as they add to the world building and character development in the show by adding their own relationships to the show based on subtext or their own opinions about the characters. Both of these approaches will showcase how the fans interact with each other and how the fandom has shaped their literacy online and in face to face interactions. We’ll also get a small peek into how their passion for this unique show has shaped them as people since most fans are young adults and in the process of finding their place in a community. This is an opportunity to see how a popular show can positively, and sometimes negatively, affect youth and their literacy levels.

Works Cited

Romano, Aja. "A Beginner's Guide to 'Attack on Titan,' the Most Intense Anime of 2013." The

Daily Dot. 3 Sept. 2013. Web. 10 Oct. 2015.

Phillips, Tommy. "Why Attack on Titan Sucks." Anime Bowl. 29 Oct. 2014. Web. 11 Oct. 2015.

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WA1: Social Literacy

           Community, in a broad sense, is a tremendous part of what makes humans tick. It can help us stay mentally and physically healthy. Few can doubt how important community is, but it is a vague concept. Trying to define community is as difficult as defining literacy, but both are important concepts we strive to understand. One underlying theme in literacies is that people use them to find their place in the world. Literacy is a combination of skills and learned concepts used to interact socially with others and define ourselves, which we all strive for starting at an early age and continue to throughout adulthood.  

     The definition of literacy is no longer restricted to being able to read and write. Expanding outside of that definition means the struggle to find a new one. Anyone you ask about literacy and its meaning will have a different answer, and it’s possible that none of them are wrong. Sylvia Scribner observes, like myself: “Many, although by no means all, of those grappling with the problems of definition and measurement appear to be guided by such a search for the essence – for the ‘one best’ way of conceptualizing literacy.” (35) As students, we are used to being taught black and white or right and wrong answers for questions. That practice has changed and we are encouraged to think critically about practical examples for the concepts we have learned.

           To examine literacy and literacy events, we must rethink our preconceptions about literacy. “A first step in reconceptualizing literacy is to accept the multiple functions literacy may service in a given activity, where it can replace spoken language, enable communication, solve a practical problem or act as a memory aid-in some cases, all at the same time.” (Barton and Hamilton, 29) Thinking about the various functions that fall under the concept of literacy, I propose that literacy is the social way we communicate with our various communities.

           Literacy is inherently social since literary sponsors are needed to introduce us into discourse communities. Literary sponsors can teach or support the learning of literacy, and they aren’t necessarily a person. Even if a literacy sponsor is not a person, it’s usually still found in a social context. A literacy group has its own methods of communication, signals, and ways of understanding each other and common concepts. Without these skills and the ability to share them with a community, it can be difficult to grow and find a place for yourself. We all need a way to relate to each other since humans need a social connection.

           Now that we have examined literacy in a social context, it is easier to define other aspects of literacy. A literacy practice, for instance, is a situation in which people use literacy. “Practices are shaped by social rules which regulate the use and distribution of texts, prescribing who may produce and have access to them.” (Barton and Hamilton, 22) A literacy practice does not need to include texts necessarily. Currently, there are much more widespread forms of ‘text’ such as social media, online message boards, discussion groups, and more. A social situation isn’t always a face to face interaction. Our society now is shaped and dictated more online than in person.

           Another concept to look at in a social light is literacy events. Literacy events are observable social events in which literacy has a role. (Barton and Hamilton, 23) It may seem that finding a literacy event online would be more difficult, but that is not the case. We must determine what kind of event constitutes literacy having a role. One role of literacy in online interaction would be the rules of various online communities. Each site you visit, each message board, Facebook, and blogs all have a set of rules that are learned or taught to us. They vary even further depending on the people you interact with.

Your Facebook friends must be considered when you share a political post or a video with possible offensive language. Before reblogging a post on Tumblr, you consider if it is in line with your previous post which made your current followers start following you. Before posting on a message board, you consider if your argument is critical or just inflammatory. If we don’t consider these unwritten rules of online interaction, we aren’t allowed to participate in literacy events. Instead, we are dismissed, unfollowed, or banned and pushed outside of the discussions happening.

Once we cross that first hurdle and learn the rules we are allowed to be a part of the discussion. The next obstacle is the vernacular of the site or community. Even if you are proficient in the abbreviations and slang of one site or circle, another might be completely foreign to you. We might need to research the terms on our own and ask other members to teach us the more obscure terminology. Groups online may have vastly complex literacy composed of vernacular, common jokes, and ongoing threads of thought that would make no sense to a newcomer without the background information that others seems privy to. It’s a Burkean Parlor and we must adjust to the conversation that has been going on long before we arrived and will continue on after we’re gone.

Social interaction is a central aspect of literacy and literacy events. Without it, literacy events and practices would be stunted. These literacies might still remain, but for them to thrive and grow a social community should be present. This is even truer of online discourse communities. I will be observing and examining literacy events throughout my research and I look forward to all I’ll learn about the impact of literacy on online fandoms.

Works Cited

Scribner, Sylvia. "Literacy in Three Metaphors." Enthnographic Inquiries in Writing. First ed.

Southlake, TX: Fountainhead, 2010. 33-53. Print.

Barton, David, and Mary Hamilton. "Literacy Practices." Enthnographic Inquiries in Writing.

First ed. Southlake, TX: Fountainhead, 2010. 21-32. Print.

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Interviews

All persons answered “Yes” to “Have you read the Consent form in its entirety?” and “Do you wish to participate in this interview after reading the terms of the consent form?”

Interview with lyricallyundead

How long have you been a part of the Attack on Titan Fandom? Since September 2014

What made you start Cosplaying/Roleplaying an Attack on Titan character?  I really love this series, and it’s actually was what started my cosplay career. I don’t think I’ve ever seen or read a series that I instantly connected with since Transformers. AOT/SNK will always be apart of my life, The characters are magnificent.

Do you ship any characters? Do you ship characters with the one you roleplay? I am known to be a multishipper of Erejean (Eren/Jean), Ereri (Eren/Levi), Eruri (Erwin/Levi), Reibert (Reiner/Bertholdt), Eremika (Eren/Mikasa), but I have to say my otp is Reibert. I usually roleplay Bertholdt and Eren a lot too.

What are the benefits of answering questions on an Ask Blog?  It’s really fun! I love responding to people who love the same character as I do. Another thing I love, is that I made great friends with the cast members of the blog, and they’re pretty much my family.

What kind of questions do you get asked? How do you answer as the character?  Uhh, Since I am Petra, I always get questions about trees. Sighs.

What is the most terrifying about the Titans in the show?  The question is, what isn’t terrifying about them? I think their capability to learn is scary as well.

Are the Titans the true ‘bad guys’ of the show? Why or why not?  If you mean by the titan-shifters, in my opinion, I don’t think they are. In the manga, it clearly shows that Bertholdt doesn’t want to kill humans, I feel as if he’s being forced into this for a damn good reason, and I want to know why.

In-Character Questions:

Who are you?  Hello there! My name is Petra, and I’m part of Corporal Levi’s squad. I may be a bit harsh on my comrade Oluo, but if he weren’t such a ditz when he imitates the Corporal, I wouldn’t have to be.

What is most terrifying about the Titans?  Ah… The Titans.. Even though I’ve killed many, their faces always seem to irk, and tense me up.

What keeps you fighting for your survival in such a dangerous and bleak time? For humanity, Mainly my father who is back home. I want to prove him that I can be independent in rough times like these.

Are the Titans really the ‘bad guys’? Why or why not?  Unlike Eren who is our trustful ally, even if they had a reason to kill, I wouldn’t hesitate to kill them one moment. I believe that is a reason the Corporal chose me to be by his side.

Interview with attack-on-stevenuniverse

How long have you been a part of the Attack on Titan Fandom? about 2 years

What made you start Cosplaying/Roleplaying an Attack on Titan character?  Just the idea of getting to be someone else and being able to feel so close to the character drew me to cosplaying. I find it really helps you to meet new people and to kind of escape reality at times. Roleplaying helps a lot with writing and improving it and cosplaying is just fun.

Do you ship any characters? Do you ship characters with the one you roleplay?  I ship a lot of characters, it’s pretty much a free-for-all in my mind. I ship a lot of characters with the one I roleplay/cosplay because I find I can relate to the character and can see who they would be interested in.

What are the benefits of answering questions on an Ask Blog? Amusement. It’s just fun. Getting to see your favourite characters in real life practically and seeing them answer even some stupid questions that don’t make sense. It makes the whole depressing series a bit more fun and amusing.

What kind of questions do you get asked? How do you answer as the character?  I get asked a lot about shipping and I also get asked a lot of more serious questions about people I care about etc. I do my best to stay in character, mimicing speech patterns and movements that I picked up on from rewatching the series a few times.

What is the most terrifying about the Titans in the show?  The fact that they only kill for fun terrifies me actually.

Are the Titans the true ‘bad guys’ of the show? Why or why not?  I don’t think they are. I’ve read ahead in the manga and really titans aren’t the biggest issue there is way too much corruption in the human world without titans.

This person opted out of the In-Character Questions

Interview with Liu

How long have you been a part of the Attack on Titan Fandom? a bit more than one year

What made you start Cosplaying/Roleplaying an Attack on Titan character? I immediately fell in love with the show and Levi who is my favourite character. I saw some very good and succesfull cosplayers like Orisor cosplay and Gesha Petrovitch and wanted to be as good as them.

Do you ship any characters? Do you ship characters with the one you roleplay?  I ship Eruri (Erwin + Levi) and Ereri (Eren + Levi) but Eruri is my absolute Otp even though I don’t cosplay it.

What are the benefits of answering questions on an Ask Blog?  I think it makes us happy to see the charas we love in a more happy way than in the series. In this way, we can try to picture the figures as “normal” people. Also I feel closer to Levi by trying to think like him. And of course, we come into contact with others who love aot as much as we do.

What kind of questions do you get asked? How do you answer as the character?  They ask me different questions. Most of them are funny and I like being funny in my answers as well. But when they get too serious, I want to be earnest too. Of course, I make a little fun of Levi, we all do that in a very loving way but nonetheless I still try to keep the character traits at all costs.

What is the most terrifying about the Titans in the show? I think the corpsfaces but honestly, I don’t think they are that scary on the screen (I would die in reality just seeing one)

Are the Titans the true ‘bad guys’ of the show? Why or why not?  I just know the content of the series since in germany the manga is very far behind. :( But I think there must be something more complex behind them than just this bad-guy-image. I believe Isayama is that clever^^

In-Character Questions:

Who are you?  Name’s Levi…

What is most terrifying about the Titans?  They eat my comrades and that is hella terrifiying. Also they look really insane. And I don’t like that some of them are shifters. Makes it hard to trust someone.  But I am not that scared of them. I will kick their filthy asses.

What keeps you fighting for your survival in such a dangerous and bleak time?  I believe in Erwin and Erwin believes in humanity. He says we will make it. Says that we have to make it. And I trust every single one of his decisions. Also I don’t want Furlans and Isabels and all the others deaths to be in vain.

Are the Titans really the 'bad guys’? Why or why not?  They try to eat us god dammit! If anyone says they only want attention I’ll show them how much attention can hurt. So yes. They are bad.

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Twitter Responses

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Progress Blog 10: The End

So that's it then. That's the end of the semester. I can't believe I managed to finish such a large, extensive essay. Considering my schedule restraints, the enormous amount of work I have at work and school, and my near constant state of exhaustion I can say I'm extremely proud of what I've accomplished this semester. So far I have been pleasantly surprised that these English courses have been not only interesting but actually challenging. English 1302 was easily my favorite though. They managed to take an idea that intrigues me and give me a project I was actually excited to start. I will say I've never been more sick of a fandom before. I'll need a break from the Attack on Titan fandom, but I may finally watch the show. After doing so much research and hearing how interested all the fans are in the show I really feel like I might enjoy watching it.

I was pleasantly surprised often, frustrated often, and entirely exhausted the whole time. That didn't take away from my enjoyment or how much I feel I've learned from this class. I can honestly say I will be able to use everything I learned here in the future. Sadly I won't be able to say I'm only watching the anime Attack on Titan for research. There will be no excuse anymore, I'll actually be watching it for fun!

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Progress Blog 9: Interviews

I'm glad I managed to ask so many Tumblr ask blogs to take part in my interview since I needed a minimum of 3 to answer and I managed to get three people! As much as I would have preferred more answers to pull from, I am eternally grateful I got varied answers and very informative ones. I'm confident I asked the right questions since I realized the answers gave me even more room to talk about the fandom. I could have based more research questions off of what I found but sadly my schedule didn't allow more time. I probably could have spent ages looking into more about Attack on Titan and the relationship the fans have with each other. It fascinates me that the answers weren't quite what I expected, but definitely in a good way.

Overall I'm ready to start compiling everything into a neat final paper, though the idea is daunting since it will be a minimum of 15 pages. I'm not too worried, our teacher has given us all the guidance I need to succeed and I think I'll really be able to capture the essence of what I've found out and use it wisely. Looking forward to probably the biggest academic project I've completed so far, spanning an entire semester and it should be the product of much hard work.

[poppin-writes]

Shingeki No Kyojin - Living in the sunlight

ARTIFACT 7/PHOTO ESSAY EXAMPLE 3

The second is a video depicting one of the sillier moments we see the Titan in when taken out of context. (Artifact 7) The comical depiction of the titans is obvious and intended though exaggerated for laughs in this video. Fans know that the titans are the main threat to humanity in the show, but they pick up on the nuances of their portrayal. Any scene involving the Titans in the show usually is accompanied by death, destruction, and gory, bloody depictions of the titans satisfying their craving for humans. If the creators of the show wanted fans to see titans only as fearsome beings, they would not have had the titans act so unintelligently. They can be outwitted, outsmarted, and outmaneuvered by humans which gives us hope.

It’s implied that there is more to the titans than what we see on the surface. There is nothing simple about the plot in Attack on Titan. The tropes we see in the main characters may be unimaginative, but the overall story has layers and is very thought provoking. The fans mimic the shows tendency for pairing comedy in unlikely instances.

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Absolute proof that Attack on Titan theme works with literally anything.

Click here to view part two! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaBzjgr7WpE

ARTIFACT 6/PHOTO ESSAY EXAMPLE 1

The first parody is one of the most popular memes associated with the Attack on Titan show. This is one of many parody videos and most are titled “Attack on Titan Goes with Everything“ or something similar. The opening theme song of the show is dramatic and makes a big impact. It‘s become an inside joke to pair this song with various footage either from other shows or with random footage not affiliated with any fandom for laughs. These remixes are referencing various other fandoms as well as giving insight into the Attack on Titan fandom itself.

A parody implies that it‘s a funny take on the original content it‘s referencing, and at first glance Attack on Titan doesn‘t seem to have anything funny to parody. This is where the creative nature of fans begins to shine. The shows paired with this theme song can be dramas and serious shows which are expected to fit with the dramatic music. They can also be on the opposite end of the spectrum and funny, lighthearted shows that shouldn‘t fit at all. The fans of the show recognize that despite its bleak and serious nature, there is still potential for shared laughs and enjoyment outside of the heavy themes. Just as the show’s creators injected comical moments into an overall gory and serious anime that deals with complex and controversial issues.

[ask-the-levi-thing-and-comrades]

Heichou, um, my friend is self harming. What is your advice to help them?? P.S- I think your really cute and adorable.... Agh I mean manly and strong...

Okay… since this is pretty sad and serious I am gonna say this first: In my oppinion, you should be there for your friend. If he or she doesn’t want to be alone then don’t leave his or her side. Your friend should also talk to a psychologist. I know many don’t want to do that but it really helps. I have made good and bad expieriences with pschologists. It really depends on who you meet. But don’t leave him or her alone and I can assure you that it won’t really help to tell your friend to stop hurting himself. Because there is a reason. If your friend manages to get over his or her problems, then the hurting will stop by itself.

and…

…I know I am pretty manly -.-

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ARTIFACT 5

(Artifact used with OP’s explicit permission)

Incredibly, this Ask Blog is doing so much more than answering questions dressed as their favorite character. Here is an instance of a human being who needed help, whether for their friend or themselves, and they received good advice. The roleplayer didn’t even break character answering this. This is just one instance of what you can see all across the web, in various fandoms and online communities. That is their true nature. That is why these fandoms are created.

Fans are just people brought together by one common interest. People are human, we are always growing and evolving and that is even truer for people who’ve only recently been given the reigns to adulthood and told to ride off into the sunset. I’d argue that in reality no one really knows what they’re doing, but young adults even less so. In this fandom those new adults are the target audience and populate the majority of the fandom. They are coming together to form the communities I saw when I typed Attack on Titan into the search bar.

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Progress Blog 8: Perspective and Bias

I believe I'm able to bring a unique perspective to this research since I have a wealth of knowledge about anime fandoms and prior experience to draw from. I take into consideration any bias I may have from being in other anime fandoms, but this is a completely different anime with a much different poplularity level. I've had no problems seeing the fandom through a fresh set of eyes and I'm able to critically consider the thoughts and works of the fans. All my prior experience has done is help my research, not hinder it. I can navigate Tumblr and Twitter easily and find the aspects of fan discussion without any issues.

I'd say the only bias I have is my prior understanding of 'shipping'. I didn't know the specific term before but I'd heard of pairing the characters together in imagined relationships and I found the practice to be childish. I've done my best to set those feelings aside and I'm able to see how it's actually more of a creative expression of the fans then how I imagined it. I guess in my head I'd imagined a kid playing with dolls and making them kiss, which is obviously very silly and childish. I realize now that I have researched fans who role play as characters that relationships can bring a new level of understanding to the characters and can bring them to life even more.

[poppin-writes]

Progress Blog 7: Fan content for Photo Essay

I've had a hard time narrowing down what content to use in my photo essay. There's so much cosplay, fanart, and other fan-created content that I feel tells a story about the fans and the fandom in general. Some that I've chosen are parody videos and a discussion video about the titans. I'm sure I could've included many more videos but I've said before that I want a varied media included so I moved on to cosplay. There is an insane amount of cosplay pictures available so again it was difficult to narrow it down. Lastly I chose some fanart to include. One was more traditional fanart, with a depiction of one of the main characters of the series. Another was a more modern take on fanart with a depiction of a character from the show on the front page of a magazine. 

There were so many more original and interesting fanart and fan made content that I've taken to just reblogging them for future reference in case I find another use for them in my final paper. Obviously I'm still reblogging my field notes and artifacts with the proper tags so I don't lose track of where the ones I referenced previously are. I feel like my interest in this fandom will extend far past what is required of me for this class. Who knows, I might end up a member myself.

[inactiveleonhartani-deactivated]

🌝 yo

[poppin-writes]

PHOTO ESSAY EXAMPLE 4

[mochavalentino]

Last Levi set from J1.

Photography by Tommyish

[poppin-writes]

PHOTO ESSAY EXAMPLE 5

[bananaramabananarama]

How SnK/AoT should be