Ero manga imagery finds way into high art

Pure, unadulterated manga porn.

I came.  Again.

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The Beat has coverage on the growing library train wreck over LoEG instigated by a few people in Jessamine County, Kentucky (I’m sure it’s a lovely place otherwise), which has spilled over to ensnare three other works, including the comedic styling of Mr. Ron White.  I guess he must have ruined tater salad for one of the protesters.

You know what I think the real problem is?  The marginalization of true porn.  People have forgotten what the real deal looks like.  If Jessamine County Library had carried some of our books, nobody would be complaining about LoEG…

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What do you get when you appropriate ero manga imagery, blow it up, collage it, and hang it in a gallery?

Art, of course!!!

The title of the show, BTW, is Innocence.  The artist gives an explanation here.

Funny that.  For we, too, have an exhibit called “Innocence”…

Given his stylistic affinities, I wonder if he might have taken some inspiration from this very book…

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Virtual child pornography may have been outlawed in the Philippines, with potential penalties including reclusion perpetua, which at first sounded like banishment to me, but according to Wikipedia, it’s the Filipino equivalent of a life sentence.

I’m not sure if this affects adult manga and anime, but the law certainly seems broad enough.  I also recall there having been a push against “hentai” in the Philippines, but I’m not sure if the stories are related.

Edit: According to ANN, the two are related.

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This story about a Western-made video game being delayed because of imagery that a segment of the Japanese population found to be borderline racist reminds me of the various “black face” controversies that have happened with manga and other forms Japanese entertainment.  Call it ignorance if you must, but sometimes it’s nearly impossible for outsiders to know why we find certain things offensive the way we do, if they don’t understand the historic context behind those feelings.

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Now for something completely unrelated… it’s the holidays again, but I don’t know what the “hot” gift is for younger kids this year.  I happen to think I’m a very discerning shopper of toys.  I appreciate a well-sculpted dol…err… action figure with good articulation.  (Hell, I just spent $400 on myself, on a few Busou Shinki figures I was missing and a pre-order for the die-cast Drossel.)  I have discriminating taste when it comes to video games.  But man, this year’s new toys look shoddy, and the new dolls all have that skanky look.

Help me out.  What’s the “it” toy this year?  Please don’t say Go Go Pets.  I’ve seen them in action, and I can’t help but think that the amount of grip their wheels generate is a recipe for trouble with younger kids and their tiny fingers.