The first time I knew about the word was probably at the beginning of my anime adventure when people were discussing the anime Kodomo no Jikan. I thought, basically, it meant you liked little girls. Not my cup of tea, but well, I’m not religious or concerned with morals, so whatever floats your boat.
However, from that time on I’ve seen the definition of loli vary very much, something like the word tsundere.
But from that more narrow definition of “loli” as similar to the girls in Kodomo no Jikan, which can be to some extent morally questionable -at least if you are interested in morals – I am not-, you see that often “loli” means the “youngest girl in a show” or “younger than the main character”. Sometimes even weirder when Haruhi declares Mikuru to be a “loli” character although she has nothing I think that would make her a loli. Not even her personality should have anything to do with that. That is, while often the term “loli” is approached from almost the realm of the law -above all if you live in the US! (beware)-, which clearly admits no relative terms, this word is very, very vague. And I don’t meant the old trick of “she’s 18“
For example, in Minami-ke the “lolis” were Chiaki and her friends (11). In Clannad, however, the “loli” is Sunohara Mei, 13. Tabitha from Zero no Tsukaima is like 15 but defined as loli by some. Is the upper limit 15? 14? 13? 9? According to Haruka from Kanamemo, 15 (again notice the difference between the relative usage of it and the clear-cut definitions of some)
In Bakemonogatari we have 2 lolis: Mayoi and Nadeko (in fact it is Nadeko who inspired me to write this post)
Personally, I’m not interested in a 9 year old like Kokonoe Rin. But I find Nadeko hot. There’s a world of difference between Rin and Nadeko, I think. And although as a true otaku I don’t hold much interest in the 3D world, I must point out that in countries like Japan or Spain Nadeko or Mei are legal!
The scene and sentence that must have sold tens of thousands of DVDs
It’s not that I feel bad about reacting to Nadeko like Ararararagi and Kanbaru. Puh-lease. I’ve got no morals. It’s just words like “lolicon” (ロリコンa Japanese portmentau: lolita + complex) has negative connotations (a complex, an illness, something unnatural) while let’s face it, any male, as the Japanese euphemistically would say “healthy” (健康, meaning “having sexual desires”) wants a young (but beign able to bear offspring), healthy female so that his genes can triumph over the rest, to conquer and dominate.
No comments:
Post a Comment