Reblogging for other diasporic and expat folk. Especially non-caucasian diasporic and expat folk. Some things change when you shift countries. Keep the changes in mind.
No, no, you have no idea. It actually IS the beginning of the whole so-called “kawaii culture”. And it started because girls started using mechanical pencils, which provided fine handwriting. After being banished (more precisely, during the 80s), this kind of writing started being used in products like magazines and make-up. And, during this time, icons we usually associate with the whole kawaii industry (like the characters from Sanrio) came to life too.
And what many people don’t realize is that this subculture was born as a way for young girls to express themselves in their own way. And it was also used as something against the adult life and the traditional culture, often seen as dull and boring and oppressive. By embracing cuteness, these young girls (and adult women, after a while) were showing non-conformation with the current standards.
So yep. Kawaii is important, and it all started with cute, simple handwritting a few hearts and cat faces in some girls’ school notebooks ❤
!!!!!
NO OK THIS IS SO IMPORTANT!
This is also how the kawaii fashions started! Girls began dressing in cute and off beat styles for themsleves, they were criticized by adult figures telling them “you’ll never find a husband if you dress that way!” to which they began to reply “Good!”
All the Japanese subcultures and fashions that evolved out of this became a rebellion to tradition and the starch gender roles and expectations the adults were forcing on the younger generations. As early as the 70s and still to this day you’ll see an emphasis on child-like fashion and themes in more kawaii styles and the dismissal of the male gaze with styles like lolita (a lot of western people assume lolita is somehow sexual due to the name of the fashion, but ask any Japanese lolita and they will tell you that men hate the style and find it unattractive which is sometimes a large reason they gravitate towards the style – they can express their femininity and individuality while remaining independent and without the pressure to appeal to men)
Its so so so important to understand the hyper cute and ‘odd’ fashions of Japanese girls carry such a huge message of feminism and reclaiming of their own lives.
so are you telling me that Japan’s punk phase was really the kawaii phase
If you think Walt Disney was the first person to create a feature length animated film you’re wrong. The first person to do it was a woman – Lotte Reiniger. See more about how her silhouette stop motion worked.
I’ve already reblogged this but I’m going to again because ever since I found out about Reiniger I’ve been horrified and pissed off that she was NEVER ONCE mentioned in my history of animation class. And neither were any of the other women animators I’ve learned about since.
Animation majors of all people should be taught about this, but no the only figures deemed worthy were all men
PREACH!
Fortunately my animation history teacher was a womon so we saw The Adventure’s of Prince Achmed in class, but I had never heard of her until then and yes it’s a sin that she and a lot of other female animators are forgotten by time.
Philando Castile was gunned down when he was legally carrying a firearm…
How is that story real?! Bringing guns to school?!
If you can afford to be silent about this, you have white privilege too. If you don’t call this racist bs out, you’re condoning it. PUBLICALLY condemn this girl and the inherent racism of this act.
ACTUALLY I’M GONNA REBLOG THIS A SECOND TIME because this is Kent State, guys. Kent State. The school where four students were shot to death in the 70′s for protesting war.
That Kent State.
This is unbelievable.
kent state student here. this moron is planning an open carry walk on campus on september 29, despite no longer being a student here. the university sent her a cease and desist letter because the event was not promoted by a student organization. now it is being promoted by a student organization: liberty hangout, which was founded by her boyfriend, who I believe still runs it. the university charged liberty hangout $14,300 to be able to do this, and somehow that was no barrier to her. fucking horseshit. fuck this girl, fuck her boyfriend, and fuck kent state for allowing her to do this