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ikyrianSo, I occasionally go through ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
fandomsecrets "secrets" and the ones that really, really make me want to put my head through my desk are the: "If I hear you say "I don't like "blankseries" (usually One Piece) because of the artwork," I immediately think less of/lose respect for you." Usually their reasoning is because the story is so awesome that it super cedes how awful the art really is.
The only conclusion I can come up with that is that they don't understand what manga/graphic novels are in relation to say regular books with little to no pictures. When you buy a regular book, you're buying it for the story. Since there is no art is involved, except for maybe the cover, your own imagination must be engaged to visualize the story. Based on the descriptions in the books, the reader must come up with their own idea of what the characters and settings of the book look like. In essence, the plot of the book and how well it is written, will convince the reader to like it or not.
Manga/graphic novels, being a visual medium, rely not only on their plot and characterization, but also on well the story is rendered visually, to convince a reader to dis/like it. There is very little imagination involved in creating the characters/setting, all of that work has already been completed before you even pick up the book. The character designs have been worked out and setting has been drawn. Usually the only imagination involved at that point would be how the reader would think they sound and/or thinking outside of the plot as it has been written.
If a manga has art that is so abhorrent to your eyes that you get thrown out of the story, or in some cases can't even get into it, than that work is not worth the effort for you to read it. It doesn't matter how "good" another person thinks the story is in relation to the art, or how good the art is in relation to the story - it's not worth wasting your time and money on that series. These kinds of things are supposed to fun and enjoyable. Why would you waste your money on something that makes you continually roll your eyes and sigh every time you try to read through it?
I'll give a couple of examples. I, personally, cannot stand the art of "One Piece." I also cannot get engaged enough in the plot or the characters to make a credible go at reading the series because I am continually thrown out of the story because I'm thinking about how much I dislike the art and how much it bothers me. Yes, some people love the art. Some people hate the art but it doesn't bother them enough to not read the story. Fine, whatever. I have the same adverse reaction to Utena - I've been told over and over, it's so awesome, the story is just the greatest! So I give it a try and, wow, yeah, the art really bothers me. I just can't sit through it.
Another example is in the reverse, the art for "Yami no Matsuei," is, to me, simply stunning. I love how each panel is rendered, I love how the characters are drawn, and I love, simply love, the way the art is colord. But I cannot read YnM. I cannot read it because I hate most of the characters and the plot is not interesting enough to keep me going. Most of them annoy the living shit out of me (one in particular *coughhisokacough*). I read the first book and I want to punch the living day lights out of a good deal of them. (It's the same reason I gave up on Harry Potter.) Because of that, to this day I have never finished YnM. (Or Harry Potter.)
I also have a friend who refused to watch "Hikaru no Go" because of plot. She didn't understand how a series about Go, of all things, could be interesting. And I whined at her that it was really really good and she should just give it a chance! But, no. I forget what we ended up watching, but it definitely was not HnG. And I've done that a few times myself where the plot out there and unbelievable and overall uninteresting to me, that I wouldn't bother with that series. Like..."School Days" or "Azumanga Daioh."
It sees to be slightly more acceptable to dislike a manga/graphic novel for its plot/characterization instead of it's art. I guess the mentality is if you don't like the art, then you are just too shallow to understand the "complexity" of that series. If you ever feel that way, or are made to feel that way, please stop. You're not shallow for not liking it, that work is just not to your taste and anyone that tries to tell you different should STFU and GTFO.
Remember, manga/graphic novels/comic books of any flavor are all visual mediums. The art is an important element in the telling of that story and if you hate the art, fine. If you hate the plot, fine. If you hate the characterizations, fine. Try something else.
So, people who look down on others for not liking a series for the art instead of the plot and/or characterization, please grow up and remember that this is why there is something called "diversity." Thank you.
fandomsecrets "secrets" and the ones that really, really make me want to put my head through my desk are the: "If I hear you say "I don't like "blankseries" (usually One Piece) because of the artwork," I immediately think less of/lose respect for you." Usually their reasoning is because the story is so awesome that it super cedes how awful the art really is. The only conclusion I can come up with that is that they don't understand what manga/graphic novels are in relation to say regular books with little to no pictures. When you buy a regular book, you're buying it for the story. Since there is no art is involved, except for maybe the cover, your own imagination must be engaged to visualize the story. Based on the descriptions in the books, the reader must come up with their own idea of what the characters and settings of the book look like. In essence, the plot of the book and how well it is written, will convince the reader to like it or not.
Manga/graphic novels, being a visual medium, rely not only on their plot and characterization, but also on well the story is rendered visually, to convince a reader to dis/like it. There is very little imagination involved in creating the characters/setting, all of that work has already been completed before you even pick up the book. The character designs have been worked out and setting has been drawn. Usually the only imagination involved at that point would be how the reader would think they sound and/or thinking outside of the plot as it has been written.
If a manga has art that is so abhorrent to your eyes that you get thrown out of the story, or in some cases can't even get into it, than that work is not worth the effort for you to read it. It doesn't matter how "good" another person thinks the story is in relation to the art, or how good the art is in relation to the story - it's not worth wasting your time and money on that series. These kinds of things are supposed to fun and enjoyable. Why would you waste your money on something that makes you continually roll your eyes and sigh every time you try to read through it?
I'll give a couple of examples. I, personally, cannot stand the art of "One Piece." I also cannot get engaged enough in the plot or the characters to make a credible go at reading the series because I am continually thrown out of the story because I'm thinking about how much I dislike the art and how much it bothers me. Yes, some people love the art. Some people hate the art but it doesn't bother them enough to not read the story. Fine, whatever. I have the same adverse reaction to Utena - I've been told over and over, it's so awesome, the story is just the greatest! So I give it a try and, wow, yeah, the art really bothers me. I just can't sit through it.
Another example is in the reverse, the art for "Yami no Matsuei," is, to me, simply stunning. I love how each panel is rendered, I love how the characters are drawn, and I love, simply love, the way the art is colord. But I cannot read YnM. I cannot read it because I hate most of the characters and the plot is not interesting enough to keep me going. Most of them annoy the living shit out of me (one in particular *coughhisokacough*). I read the first book and I want to punch the living day lights out of a good deal of them. (It's the same reason I gave up on Harry Potter.) Because of that, to this day I have never finished YnM. (Or Harry Potter.)
I also have a friend who refused to watch "Hikaru no Go" because of plot. She didn't understand how a series about Go, of all things, could be interesting. And I whined at her that it was really really good and she should just give it a chance! But, no. I forget what we ended up watching, but it definitely was not HnG. And I've done that a few times myself where the plot out there and unbelievable and overall uninteresting to me, that I wouldn't bother with that series. Like..."School Days" or "Azumanga Daioh."
It sees to be slightly more acceptable to dislike a manga/graphic novel for its plot/characterization instead of it's art. I guess the mentality is if you don't like the art, then you are just too shallow to understand the "complexity" of that series. If you ever feel that way, or are made to feel that way, please stop. You're not shallow for not liking it, that work is just not to your taste and anyone that tries to tell you different should STFU and GTFO.
Remember, manga/graphic novels/comic books of any flavor are all visual mediums. The art is an important element in the telling of that story and if you hate the art, fine. If you hate the plot, fine. If you hate the characterizations, fine. Try something else.
So, people who look down on others for not liking a series for the art instead of the plot and/or characterization, please grow up and remember that this is why there is something called "diversity." Thank you.
