The document discusses how anime and manga fandom communities have emerged in response to declining social capital and the growing alienation in contemporary society, particularly in the United States and Japan. It highlights how these fandoms serve as an outlet for individuals to form meaningful connections and confront universal issues through shared cultural values. The historical context of U.S.-Japanese relations and the role of the internet in facilitating these communities are also explored.

1. Anime and Manga
Fandom; Providing an Outlet
to Develop Real Human
Connections in an Increasingly
Isolated Global Society
By: Jake Bronstein

2. Thesis Statement

3. Introduction:
Rationalization of the
Formation of Fandom
Communities
-Noticeable decline in “ social capital” within the context of
contemporary societies following Japan and the United States’
transition into a postindustrial technology era (Puntnam, 49).
-Societal “disconnect” trends have contributed to the growing
state of alienation, in which members of society look to fill their
voids (lack of community) by forming sub-cultural groups, such
as anime and fandom communities
- In my research I look to assert that, that the experienced
growth of anime fandom culture in the United States and
Japan, can largely be contributed to the need to develop and
maintain, real human inter-personal connections; to which have
been steadily declining since the post-industrial era (Napier,
47).

4. Historical Overview: Cross
Cultural Conditions Leading
To Acceptance of Pop-
Cultural Commodities
Between U.S. and Japan
Japan during the post-war
period implemented policies
that would engage the state in
international matters.
Specifically implementing
“open door” trade policies, with
states such as the US; in a
concentrated effort to
reconnect its self with the free
market world (HallWood, 172).

5. American Rock; Paving
theWay for U.S.-
Japanese Pop-Cultural
Exchanges
Noted by 1970, Japanese rock took
onAmerican musical influences by
incorporating English phrases in
their song composition. Japanese
music gained external influence,
while maintaining specific traits
that ensured its unique
“Japaneseness” (Stephens, 134).

6. U.S.-Japanese EconomicTies; Responsible
for the Formation of Sub-Cultural Groups
 As U.S.-Japanese relations
strengthened, and complex
inter-dependencies took
place as Foreign Direct
Investment brought
expansion to the Japanese
economy during the 1960’s
and 70’s, causing mass waves
of urbanization, as the
formation of a urban
middleclass (Hallwood, 176)
 Commodification of goods,
services, peoples and ideas
within Japanese and U.S.
contemporary societies,
brought about mainstream
cultural attitudes that
denoted individualism, in
effort to deter people from
becoming outliers of society,
and critics of the system


7. Anime and Magna
Fandom; an escapist
outlet to reality
“Fans operate from a position of
cultural marginality, in response to
the complexities and problems of
the contemporary world” ( Napier
.50).
OsamuTezuka since the
post-war period
provided an escapist outlet for
viewers facing the harsh realities
of destruction,poverty , and deat
that plagued their existence

8. Examining Internet
Based Fandom
Communities
Miyazaki Mailing List (MML), an
international group of fans devoted
to works of Miyazaki Hayao and
Takahata Isao. Illuminates MML not
only as a Internet Community, but as
sub-cultural group that embraces
the development of inter-personal
bounds among individuals from
diverse backgrounds.
”The internet has enabled marginalized fans
to take their first step into a larger world,
by constructing a forum that connects peopl
with others who share their
reality and perception of society”
(Napier,50).

9. Anime and Mange's universal appeal
 Anime fandom, is not simply the formation of sub-cultural
communities looking to escape a disappointing reality. On
the contrary they are “extremely aware of the problems of
the real world and see in Miyazaki and Isao’s environmental
and humanist message a call for action”(Napier, 59).

10. Conclusion
 Upon examining anime fandom, universal principles are
established as guidelines, to which these communities find to
be inherently important to humanity.The creation of anime
and manga fandom communities, is reflective of the
resonation found among global audiences that identify with
the ideals, ideologies, and humanistic beliefs portrayed in
manga and anime. Anime and magna fandom allows
individuals within an increasingly globalized society to
socialize, and form bonds based on emotional and
intellectual basis; in effort to confront universal problems
that threaten the state of humanity.

11. Sources Used
 Napier, Susan “ World of Anime in America.” Mechademia, Vol. 1, Emerging
Worlds of Anime and Manga (2006) :46-63.Web. 24 July. 2013.
 Silvio, Carl. “ Anime, both Global and Local.” Science Fiction Studies Volume.
29, No. 3(2002):489-491. Web. 24 July. 2013
 Allison, Brent. “Anime: Comparing Macro and Micro Analyses.” Mechademia
Vol. 2, Networks of Desire (2007):287-300. Web. 24 July. 2013.
 Stevens, Carolyn S. “ Japanese Popular Music: Culture, Authenticity, and
Power.” NewYork, NewYork: Routledge, 2008: 1-250. Web. 24 July. 2013
 Hallwood, Paul. “World Capital Markets: Challenge to the G-10.”
International AffairsVolume. 78, No.1 (2002): 170-177.Web. 24 July. 2013.
 Puttnam, Robert D. “ Bowling Alone:The Collapse and Revival of American
Community.” NewYork, NewYork: Simon & Schuster, 2000: 1-541.Web. 24
July. 2013
 Skinner, Kenneth. “ Salaryman Comics In Japan: Images of Self-Perception.”
The Journal of Popular CultureVolume. 8, No. 1 (1979): 141-151.Web. 24 July.
2013