Yet another bit of ruminating...

I'm writing this after spending the better part of 4 hours staring at my computer screen. This has become the standard of my life since the bulk of my research ended: wake up, answer emails, eat lunch, sit on my Mac and either enter or go over data. Repeat this each day, taking some time off to see friends or visit the significant other. Maybe change the background diversion from season whatever of King of the Hill to something just as inane and thoroughly distracting. But keep doing it, over and over, until it's done.

I came to the realization last week that this might just be the rest of my life. I can't exactly say, because I do go to cons, I do go out, but I just have this feeling that the rest of my days on this earth will be spent doing exactly what I do each and every day right now. And to be honest, it scares me.

I've never been known for having the greatest attention span. One look at my massive anime queue shows that I don't always take the time to look at what I grab, or read what I buy. It's not so much a lack of interest as a constant desire to experience new things. Like a lot of people, most of them far younger than I, I get a thrill when I'm holding, watching or experiencing something I never have before. There have been many times in my life that this has shaped who I am: college was the main example, I had never spent much time in the City (as we Queens folk call it), and suddenly I was there every day. It drove me, fueled my fires, and gave me a wonderful understanding of peoples, places and things to do. And, after maybe 4 or 5 years, I got terribly bored of it. The same is true for fandoms: I've been attached to every fandom around, some more than once, and lord knows if a new one comes around, I will probably throw myself at it as well.

So I sit here and ask myself the question: what is all this? Is it what I want? Am I really going to spend the rest of my life researching and documenting anime? Will my computer become littered with spreadsheets and interviews, musings and saved threads from webforums? How far exactly will I go into this before something new catches my fancy and pulls my attention elsewhere?

Of course, these are all purely rhetorical questions. I don't know what will happen. It's part of the reason I can get so neurotic on my off days. (It's also part of the reason I used to read Tarot cards before I realized they were a load of bunk.) Over the course of the last ten years, I must have changed my mind a hundred times about what I like and what I want to do with my life. I love new things. I love expanding my horizons. I love knowledge in its simplest and purest forms. I've cultivated and developed strong skills around this passion of mine, so much so that I can apply my methods to almost anything. Right now that something is convention research. In 5 years it will most likely be something else. I have been told I am the "Jack of all trades," and that title is completely apt for me. I like being knowledgeable on a whole host of topics. I like crossing them too, finding new ways to interpret things I read and watch. I love to travel. I love to share. A dull life sitting behind a desk is the greatest torture for me, because it means I would have to give these things I hold so dear to me up.

For the time being, though, I know what I plan to do. It doesn't grate on me (though it can be very monotonous), doesn't give me displeasure, but it makes me look at where I am and where I want to be. And it makes me wonder if what I want to be now is what I want to be later on.

Katsucon 16 reflections

There’s a distinct reason I believe in karma. Namely, the rule that bad things, no matter how truly awful, will always balance themselves out. I’ve seen this time and again in my life, and the lives of others around me, and I will always adhere to the “every cloud has it’s silver lining” mentality.

I had been looking forward to this year’s Katsucon for a long time- ever since I logged onto the site one day and saw that all three of my panels had been accepted. For someone who spends a lot of time talking about anime and visual culture, the chance to deliver panels before one of the largest conventions in the US is something definitely looked forward to. So, you can imagine my dismay when the weatherman told me, almost smugly, that there was a massive storm coming my way the day before I was set to leave. That day dawned with a blizzard and a foot of snow, and the worry that maybe Katsucon might not happen.

Well, karma paid out.

I have a huge disdain for “weekend conning.” I never, ever go up day of and leave last day. It seems to take all the fun out of the escapism tied to anime cons. I like being there extra early, and I like the comfort of not needing to rush home. Waking up at 7 AM on a Friday while staring down the barrel of a five hour drive is never anything to look forward to. But here I was, forced into it by the massive storms that laid siege to the Mid Atlantic and messed up all travel down the I-95 corridor. Even with the glowing gem of another weekend away shining in my eyes, I hoped it would all be worth it in the end, that my travels would pan out and give me yet another con to add to the memories brought up by the preceding nine.

Katsucon delivered that and more.

I had first heard of the con in 2008, at Nekocon, when I was looking for more conventions to attend. Despite it’s age and reputation, word of it had never crossed into my small world of Queens, NY. I was eager to see more than the conventions I had been attending for years past with my friends, and I found a way to attend without breaking the proverbial bank. My memories of Katsucon 2009 amounted to a lot of working, very little sleep, and a crowded venue in the Hyatt Regency. But I enjoyed what I took in from the convention, and looked forward to returning.

Katsucon 16 was held at a much larger venue this time around: the Gaylord Resort in National Harbor, MD, right across the river from the previous year. And the first thing I noticed as I drove up the long road in was how immense the convention center was. I’m used to seeing big convention centers and bigger hotel, I’ve been to Otakon and Anime Boston, but this was a whole other thing. Glass walls reaching up into the sky, block after block of rooms, all set against the nicest faux town this side of Epcot Center. I was eager to get inside and explore, network, socialize and browse.

It took some getting used to the layout. As with any convention set inside a giant space, things were very spread out. Add to this the fact I needed to go to ops to pick up my badge instead of registration, and it left me feeling intimidated. Thankfully, the otaku community was there to help, pointing me in the right direction. Before I knew it I was right in the thick of things, running through the Artist Alley and Dealer’s Room looking for friends made at conventions past. I knew I had panels to do and surveys to distribute, but for a moment, I was just glad to be back in the element I had become so familiar with over the past year of travel. I will admit that even after nine cons in one year, I still get a little excited those first moments, when everything is new and fresh and waiting to be discovered.

Some say you can judge a con by the quality of it’s programming. Katsucon is one of the few I have been to recently with such a rich schedule of programming that there truly was something for everyone. Admittedly, FINDING the programming space was a bit tricky, especially when you’re rushing to get to your first panel but never bothered to scout the location beforehand, but by weekend’s end, Live 3 had become a familiar home to me. But back to the point, if you could think of something to host a panel on, Katsucon had it. Hentai vs. Porn? Katsu had it. MMORPG meetup? Katsu had it. Becoming a voice actor, cosplayer or gamer? Ditto to all three. Even those whose tastes lean towards the academic had plenty to choose from panels discussing the History of Anime to Religion in Neon Genesis Evangelion (did you expect me not to mention this?). Between “Why Batman is Awesome” to fending off a zombie apocalypse while congoing, there was more than enough to fill any weekend.

While the convention as a whole was a fulfilling and rewarding experience, Katsucon was not without a few flaws. As nice as aesthetically pleasing a facility as the Gaylord is, it is also quite expensive. Food choices were few and far in between, and what was there ran for a good bit of money. More often than not I witnessed a lot of congoers debating whether to buy food or merchandise. While this may be a commonplace idea among the congoing crowd, at the Gaylord it was even more present given how much had to be shelled out for a decent meal. I felt truly bad for those who were stuck inside the hotel and could not venture outside, and those who did not bring their own food.

For my part, I spent the weekend with friends and hosting panels. My Evangelion panel had a good draw for it’s first run through, and I appreciate the feedback I received from the attendees. I had to duck out of Con Horror Stories to make it to my Gone Connin panel, only to find a decent amount of the people from the prior panel (including the host) showing up in bits at a time to contribute.The panel ran over, it killed my voice, but it was a great experience. But the highlight of my weekend was Modern Mythology, and of course that one set the precedent for everything.

I had experience with large crowds in my panel before. I remember the anxiousness flooding through me when I saw how many people were waiting for the panel at Nekocon. Katsucon had at least as many, in a space much smaller than Neko. People filed in around the walls, sat in the aisle, doubled up on seats and still were turned away at the door. At some point during the discussion, security even had to clear out the room as a fire hazard, leaving many with just a taste of what was being presented. But those who stayed found a mix of philosophy and facts waiting for them, and it felt good to share my passion with so many people. To those who missed out, I will be back again next year, with bigger and better material.

All told, Katsucon was one of the most productive conventions I have had in the past year, and the third consecutive convention one. I appreciate all those who came by and shared with me. I thank the gracious staff and guests (especially Chad Diedrichs and Robert V Aldrich) for taking the time to speak with me and help smooth out my research. I also want to thank Rebekah Renner, David Childress and Rich Fraina for helping tape my panels and throw around surveys.

Katsucon 16 is now over and gone, and Anime Boston looms on the horizon. I have high hopes going into it, but I also look forward beyond that to Katsucon 17. I’ll be there.

Katsucon first impressions

I am diligently at work right now, crafting a full review of the con experience. Unlike previous con reviews, where I throw out a few things here and there about what got done, this time I actually plan to give Katsucon the justice it deserves. Needless to say, it was an experience worth repeating.

But a short list of the good and bad is easily done for time (and posterity) sake.

The Good:
-Location: The Gaylord was a wonderful choice, as it had more than enough space for the crowds, but also enough to find a nice quiet place to sleep or chat with friends.
-Programming: Rarely have I been to cons that have panels until 3 AM. Never did I ever expect to be giving one that late. But the diversity in the live programming was second to none, and I was glad to be a part of it.
-Attendance: The largest con I've ever been to where I enjoyed myself. Some cons seem to thrive on size, but Katsucon manages to be big without being crowded. A definite plus.

The Bad:
-Cost: Not the con's fault per se, but everything in and around the Gaylord was high priced, even by New York standards. I'm glad I brought provisions of my own with me.
-Selection: The Dealer's Room seemed a bit small for a con so big. So did the Artist Alley. Maybe it was just the size of the halls playing tricks on my eyes, but Anime Boston manages so much more with less space.
-Confusion: It was a little hard to figure out where things were located, especially when you're Press looking for Ops. I got lost quite a bit.

The Weird:
-The Baptist Marriage convention: I often tell the story of Devilman at the Christian Convention. Well, I had my own little encounter with some very religious people on an elevator who seemed to have little tolerance for others.
-The Incredible Jesus: conducting a symphony of water and light in the fountain down at the faux village.
-The glomp heard round the universe: when the Doctor got tackled in the Dealer's Room by a fan who was a little too happy to see him.

Full reflections forthcoming. Just need to choose the right words.

On Location: Katuscon

As day one draws to an end, I am reminded of why I go to these. A good deal of community, reunions with old friends, meetings with new ones and a sense of general awe. I managed to finish my Evangelion panel, it had a good draw and retention, and a lot of participation, which means a lot to me, knowing that people take what I say and run with it. I have my next panel at midnight, right after Con Horror Stories, and I hope it turns out as well.

Now launching Survey 2

Starting at Katsucon, and continuing through the rest of the year, I am implementing the second part of my research. Those who took part in the first phase filled out surveys relating to discovery, expenditures and socialization while attending conventions, and the activities they took part in while there. That survey was designed and executed for use in the MA thesis, and the information provided me with a solid foundation on why people attend cons, what they get out of them, what matters when selecting new cons and how much the con impacts their everyday lives.

The second part of my research deals with some of the things that are well known to con attendees, but would not have "passed muster" with the IRB at my university. Rather than fight to get them into the first questionnaire (and thus extend its length by a few pages), I have taken what I learned from the first survey and used it to create a second, tied to the further extension of the project. Issues of personal hygiene, elitism and sexual encounters, along with a further exploration of the spending habits of fans while at cons, will all be explored in yet another anonymous survey.

Thankfully, this one is much shorter, and much faster, as it relies more on data than short answers, and "gets to the point" faster, instead of "beating around the bush." I also need far fewer responses this time around.

and the beat goes on...

Friends and Diversity, by Rorschach aka Dakota Schuck

I have been attending anime conventions for over 4 years and have made many diverse friends, and when I say “diverse,” I really mean it. One thing about anime conventions that has become plainly evident to me over the years is the extreme broadness of the demographics represented at these events.
To illustrate this point I will draw from my own pool of personal friends whom I know through cosplay and conventions: I have met several illustrators, artists, costume designers, and musicians through anime conventions; there is not much of a surprise that these artistic types would be attracted to the cosplay subculture. However, the list does not stop there; others I have befriended at anime conventions include several ex-military personnel (mostly Marines and Navy), a surgeon, research scientist, truck driver, rancher, stuntman, and an anthropologist (whose website I am currently writing for). The diversity of the careers represented in the above list is by no means exhaustive, and this is not to place a limit to the eclectic mix represented at conventions, as these are simply the people I, as one individual, have personally befriended.
Not only are the careers of convention attendees widely varied, but the same can be said for the socioeconomic backgrounds of we super nerds. Again, drawing from the con-goers I know, there are cosplayers from the upper segments of society like a friend of mine who lives in a snazzy southern California mansion. On the other side of the spectrum are people I know who sleep in their cars and spend months saving enough money to attend a convention.
Another area in which my Cosplay friend group shows unusual diversity is that of age. As a 20 year old college student, I have good friends ranging in age from 15 to 30 years. These examples are only a fraction of all the diverse demographics represented at the nerdy havens called conventions. Cultural, ethnic, and religious differences are also widely varied—and accepted.
The interesting thing about the anime convention crowd is that these differences are mostly ignored at conventions; people are more likely to be judged by costume quality, nerdiness, and how fun they are to be around.

Friday OP-ED

Well, the tangent bug has struck me again. Somewhat dissatisfied with my recent postings, I feel the need to revamp some things on the site. In addition, Katsucon is coming up, and I think it's finally time to drop my notes from the Mythology panels on here, so anyone coming from the con can easily access them.

That said, for today I have a special treat. Back at AUSA, I met a guy cosplaying Rorschach when he dropped by my table. We got to talking, shared some ideas, he gave me a great story, and I decided to ask him to write a short opinion piece for the site. Needless to say, he gave me a good one. So I will be posting it right after this update.

In other news, my research tabulations are drawing to a close, I have a few more things to do, but aside from that, I feel I finally have enough to mount a good analysis of con culture. I would again like to thank everybody who filled out a survey, came to a panel, shared a story, or just chilled in the hall with me. Special thanks go out to Abby for helping me get all these results, without her I would never have gotten the 100 from Otakon, the 65 from Nekocon or the 170 from AUSA. Special thanks also go out to Nagi for her continued support and for giving me the idea in the first place. Special thanks as well to David Lu Esq, for giving me the legal advice and release forms.

And last, but not least, special thanks go to Aleks. She knows why. I love you, Pantsu.

Reflection 3: Gone Connin'

The mark of a good ethnologist is knowing your population. Now, for most ethnologists, this involves a lot of searching; discerning your population, selecting an adequate sample size, seeking out where they live and work, and finally living among them long enough to get enough information to write their piece. This basic system is practically universal, whether you study indigenous populations in South America or subgroups within the United States. And it is also extremely time consuming. Without a population, you have no research subjects. With too small a population, you may find resistance to your questions, or simply not enough informants to make your research valid within your time frame. With too large of one, you can never reach a solid sample size without lots of help. They teach this to you in every introduction course in anthropological theory, so you at least know what to expect when you hit the field. But sometimes, getting your population is a matter of pure chance, finding the right group at the right time.

Thank god for luck.

I knew after Katsucon that I would need to hit a lot more conventions than I had previously thought. I had never heard of Katsucon before Nekocon 2008, despite the fact that it was a long running, and very large attendee convention. I should take this time to point out that prior to last year, my friend Nagi was the one who found and booked cons. I would just fork over whatever my share of the room and gas was and go with her. Add to this the fact that most of the cons I saw in the Dealer’s Room were already cons I knew about, and had attended previously, and the world was much smaller to me. I had figured I would just go to the cons I had been to and hope to scrape by with enough replies for a good random sample.

Katsucon was the first one I actually had to make arrangements for myself. I needed to find my own way down there, preregister, scout a hotel room and make sure I had enough space in my bags to carry all my gear. I also had a time crunch -about 3 weeks- before the con went down. So, needless to say, I was caught with my proverbial pants down. I would have written the con off, but I knew that I needed to at least see what I was getting myself into, and hopefully have a chance to throw around a few surveys and as a test run. Fortunately, my dumb luck had managed to kick in.

I mentioned earlier that part of the reason Nekocon 2008 had been such a flyby was that I spent a good chunk of it working for a vendor. Well, before I left I asked him if he ever needed help at other cons. He, of course, said yes, and that he would gladly accept whatever assistance I could offer him. Fast forward to January 2009, and I drop him a line on the off chance that he had space for Katsu. He did. He also had a food budget, rooms and badges. Just like that, my problems vanished. I had an “in” for Katsu that would save me a chunk of money and get me on the floor faster.

Katsucon wasn’t quite the success I had hoped for it. I admittedly had very low standards going in, and I missed them all. I didn’t bring questionnaires with me, as they weren’t even edited by that point. I conducted one interview (with my boss), but no time to set any up with attendees. I got so little sleep, I could barely function. But, as with anything in life, Katsu was a learning experience. I learned exactly how much stress my body could take. I learned how fast paced a larger con could be. I learned more than my fair share about expenses, booking for travel and time budgeting. I also learned that I was woefully underprepared for any real research, and I needed to haul up before Anime Boston came around.

Thankfully, I was ready for that one.

Under Construction(ish)!

 

We'll be unveiling a new design sometime tonight! Sit tight while we tweak a few things.

This just in, round 2

Study of Anime, and again by extension, me, will be presenting Modern Mythology at Anime Boston 2010. This time it will be in the afternoon instead of evening, so with luck it will have a turnout like Nekocon did.