Dealing with Misconceptions, help?

[RaraLeeSane]

About two years ago I found a show called lucky star on the internet. It looked interesting enough, so I started watching it, and to be honest, I ended up liking it a lot! At the time I had no idea what anime was, so I just assumed that it was just another american cartoon which had japanese characters used in it for some reason (I thought at the time that it was because the show was popular in Japan) Anyway, long story short I ended up finding out that it was an anime. Because I couldn't really find anything wrong with the show, I casually mentioned it to my mom in a conversation. That ended up being a very bad idea. She had it set in her mind that anime was all either pr0n or cartoons deticated to turning children to the devil. Yikes. I didn't attempt to tell her otherwise, because heck, it was the only anime I had watched, it might be the only good one out there. After doing a little reasurch, it turns out that by mom was completely wrong. There are obviously bad ones and questionable ones, but they certianly aren't all like THAT. The only issue is that I have no clue how to explain that to her! She is (thank god) very protective of me and will do anything to get me into heaven, meaning that she is also very stubborn with things like this. I want to respect my mother and all, but it would be wrong to let her to continue to think things like this about anime. Can anyone help me decide how to confront her, and what to say?

 

[Bananagator]

I see your dilemma. Sometimes people make general inferences about things and it's hard to change their opinions.
I personally don't watch anime. Unless you want to count Avatar the Last Airbender but most people don't
But I had a similar experience when I was younger with Harry Potter. My parents would NOT let us read the books because of the whole witchcraft thing. But after a while, their friends were talking about it and how it really isn't "witchcraft" and how there are a lot of positive themes represented. Eventually my mom read the first book and decided that it would be okay to let us read them too.

Maybe you just need to explain the show to her, including what its themes are and why you enjoy it. It might help to also throw in that you recognize that it's a fictional show and it doesn't have any influence on your relationship with God.

I think one of the main reasons there's kind of negative connotation associated with anime is that Japanese culture is very different from ours. Their shows and cartoons are written for them, by them, and sometimes people who are not a part of that culture are put off by it.

Anyway, just try your best

 

[Paradoxum]

Tell her anime is just the word for Japanese cartoons.

Or perhaps show her a Wikipedia page that explains anime, or a page that explains the basic plot of the show. If she can read the plot and see that it really is just girls going to school, etc, hopefully she will see that's it's okay.

'English-language dictionaries define anime as a "Japanese-style animated film or television entertainment" or as "a style of animation created in Japan"

('Anime' is just an abbreviation of animation).

 

[folklore]

Seconding the posts above.

I would also like to add that if she still has her doubts, Christian blog Beneath the Tangles has a Parents' Guide to Anime that explains what it is, why it's so popular, and how Christians should view it. Website such as the Christian Anime Alliance have reviews concerning content in each show, allowing parents (and others!) to make an informed descision about the series they or their children are watching.

Best of luck!

 

[Jesusisgood]

I used to love anime and manga and had an obsession with Tokyo MewMew,. After looking into most anime shows (not all but some) and their occult symbolism in some (or TMMs pedophile look; 11-12 year olds wearing leg garters, short dresses and being kissed by 16-20 year old men and 1 alien)I stopped watching anime because I felt convicted spiritually by the ones out there. But with that said anime in itself is not evil but a form of art just like western cartoons. The only thing that would make it evil is what the show has in it. I see your mom's concern, I recently found out pokemon was actually created by Satanist and has demonic symbolism. I would just explain to her that some anime may be bad but maybe show her the ones you want to watch and get her approval. I've seen lucky star before only like 1 or 2 episodes so I don't know much about that show. I still draw my own anime and want to make a Christian anime show someday. I guess the reason why allot of anime has sinful stuff in it is because they aren't Christians but hopefully I can someday reach out to Japan and God can use my gift of art.

 

[MJ Bond]

Just my own personal reaction, and this won't be long, but people can learn and grow a lot more by investigating things on their own, and searching for specific details and things, rather than passing judgement against a general idea that isn't even fully understood. Some so called "Christians" have a habit of pointing their finger and going "This is evil, that's evil, you're evil if you do this or that"... sounds to me like, if someone points a finger, three fingers point back at them.

Just my 2 cents

 

[homeofmew]

Not all anime is pRoN

 

[colorblindlover]

Hey there! My mom said some of the same things to me. I agree with the poster who said that sometimes people are afraid of, hateful toward, or misunderstanding of things from other cultures, especially if they do not have experience with people from these cultures. My parents grew up in a small town and neither of them have ever been out of the country. Unfortunately, in America, and many other places, when people don't travel much or educate themselves on culture, they tend to become ethnocentric (a term that just means they feel like their culture is really awesome and other cultures are just weird).

This may be a great opportunity for you to introduce your mom to other aspects of Japanese culture that would appeal to her. For example, the art of calligraphy originated in Japan. Calligraphy is very common in Western culture too. Calligraphy was used to write ancient versions of the Bible. Do some research of your own on how Japanese culture has influenced American or Western culture. Introduce your mom to some of these little tidbits here and there.

If possible, find out how you can meet people from other cultures. Then you could even invite them over and have your parents meet them and ask them about their customs and historical traditions. This way both you and your parents can share in learning about culture. The more you respectfully integrate cultural diversity into everyday conversation and daily life with your parents, the more they will be open to letting you watch anime that is "parent-approved". You could even let them watch it with you and explain the cultural background of some of the symbolism that may appear. Not all of the symbolism is demonic or evil. It's just different.

For example, in America, traditionally black cats are considered bad luck. It's a common superstition, but it's also unique to Western culture. Japanese culture actually has a superstition that black cats are good luck. Are cats related to luck, in my opinion? No. So each culture has arbitrarily assigned symbolism to people and objects, and attributed meaning to things that otherwise wouldn't be good or evil. It's just different. Anime is just different.

You might have to stop watching anime for a while, at your mom's request, but I think with a little cultural explanation and openness, she may become more tolerant.