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Sensei's Den of Senility
A thought from 2006 last modified: Wednesday, December 19, 2012 (8:53:11 AM) Recently, looking for something else, I found a copy of a comment I'd made on Anime-Beta back in December 2006. I began by commenting on how I'd recently expanded my gallery's focus from CLAMP-related titles like CCS and MKR, plus Tenshi ni Narumon, and added new galleries for less familiar titles. These included under-the-radar series like Condition Green, Kamikaze Kaitou Jeanne, and the Tree of Palme film. Then I added:
----------------------------------------------------- The thing that concerns me is the way this eclecticism has moved me out of the mainstream of Beta conversations. I don’t get the visits and feedback that I used to, I think probably because most other collectors generally don’t visit galleries of series that they don’t know from watching. The hot series, like [titles of then-popular series snipped out] are pricy and don’t interest me as much artistically as art from less-well-known series that I find artistically superior. But not getting the feedback I used to get does bother me. I guess I have to trust my gut, though, and collect things that it tells me are really compelling as art, rather than to generate more feedback by going with the flow. ------------------------------------------------- Finding that old comment comforted me a little, as I was feeling somewhat down after doing a gigundous amount of work on my recent update (including a reorganization of my home page) and getting just a couple of visits. But I see it's not a new problem. I'm sure that many collectors see the update, look at the titles, mutter "Whatever!" and move on in search of whatever the new hot or old classic title is. But I still trust my gut. It's led me interesting places, and the last six years have been ones of growth, both in learning about the intriguing and lesser-known history of anime before DBZ and Sailor Moon, and in appreciating art that is eyeworthy regardless of the series it comes from. And while I don't get very many comments any more, I still get that old excitement when I do an update, even if it's just for my own eyes. And the counter still keeps ticking up (yeah, yeah, bot visits many of them) so there must be people out there who want to know more than the two dozen anime series that everyone knows. My thanks to my dwindling number of supporters, and my invitation to the random visitors to come in and get yourself lost. You'll find something that you didn't know existed, and I hope you'll come away changed, as I've been changed.
Hi there. I don''t think you are alone in the sentiment of being a little or quite a bit disconnected with the community. The feeling comes and is produced in a variety of ways and circumstance. Somebody who is collecting just one thing (or a narrow set) will probably feel the same way. Somebody who is not known for collecting eyeworthy art would feel the same way. Wanting others to discover the value in another work of art or even just a show... See things the way you kind of do is a nice thing. I guess this is how human nature is, they say we are social creatures and so why wouldn''t that spill into a hobby. That''s why RS is here and why AB is here because people do like to show and talk about their stuff. I get those feelings too at times, especially in the beginning but then it passes. I guess what I''m trying to say is you might find that your circumstance isn''t very unique - it happens to many collectors including those who collect popular series... For those who do collect for the purpose of feeling more connected and getting more attention - it''s probably even more difficult simply because I don''t think they''re getting that much attention anyway. My general impression of the collectors these days is that they focus on things that they like and interest them and that is probably for the best. And to be quite honest, the most things that interest us is our own. So we end up looking more into our collection and at times looking outward to see what other collectors have done - and probably compare ourselves or ask ourselves how they got what they got or how to be better. Human nature. Nothing too evil I suppose. LOL. But if you really think about, what''s the advise we always tell noobies? It''s to collect what you like/love and not be concerned about what others is doing. Even for myself I practice this old mantra so it''s no surprise I don''t venture out of my collecting interest too often. This is after all a hobby, I don''t want to spend too much time worrying abou
Thank you, hajimenokizu, for your thoughtful reply. I agree that the most important thing is to collect art that really engages you, rather than art that is, in truth, not very eyeworthy but comes from "that show." I still enjoy collecting and maintaining my gallery immensely, and plan to do so for a long time. I was just feeling a bit wistful, as I can see from things I''d saved even a few years ago that there was a lot more chatter among collectors and willingness to look at series out of the mainstream. It intrigued me to see that I''d noticed the slacking off of this chatter even six years ago. There could be lots of reasons for this, some of them even technological. If RS and Beta were more like Facebook and Twitter, maybe some of the chatter there would spill over here. In any case, like you, I''m still in the game, regardless of where it goes from here.
I agree. You are definitely not alone in this sentiment. It''s hard when you feel a real passion for what you collect -- for the style of art, etc -- and still feel unable really to share it, even with others in the same hobby. I think whatever is the popular series of the moment will always be king, more or less. That popularity shifts over time, though. I think you''re doing the most important thing, which is following your gut with regard to what you love and what you want to collect. And I, for one, have enjoyed your gallery so much over the years since I started in this hobby. I love how bold you are with your collecting choices. And I love how you consistently break through the expected or established norm to find things that are gorgeous and not as well-known. I''ve learned so much about appreciating artwork for its own sake and so much about shows that I wouldn''t have known about, otherwise. Without your gallery, your in-depth approach to curating your collection, and your ability to step outside the box and search out new treasures, none of that would have been possible. I know I''m not the only one out here who feels like that, either. Happy New Year to you, Sensei. And here''s to many more great years of collecting for you and your gallery!
Maybe I''m a bad person to comment on disconnection from the community, when this community isn''t something I''ve ever been a terribly big part of. I lurk on beta, though I''ve never felt motivated enough to send someone a message so that I could have an account there and forums here on RS, unfortunately, leave a lot to be desired. A lot of the disconnect may actually be due to how closed off a lot of the community has made itself. How many people are like me and just haven''t taken the time to request the ability to join the community. As someone that is disconnected though, I don''t really follow what''s in the norm of collecting either and often just click on what I think looks nice. I tend to be a bit of a backwards collector at times, where seeing interesting character designs or an art style I like from production artwork will push me to actively seek out a particular series to watch. I found Tennimon that way, Utena, Violinist of Hameln... the list goes on. All that aside, I can confirm that you''re at least getting views from my end, even if I do just hop by from time to time to visit some of my old tennimon cels. End of the day, trust your gut and always collect what makes you happy, it''ll never leave you disappointed in what you''ve got. Hope you had a Merry Christmas Sensei, and a happy new year as well.
Thanks, tex-chan and rummer. In the holiday fracas I missed your posts -- sorry. Thanks for your support. I do intend to carry on in my somewhat independent way, so it''s not so much feeling unloved or neglected. But I do miss the more vibrant interaction among us quirky people that was around even a few years ago. Maybe the revival of the cel contest will wake up some of this chatter again. |
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