(Note: tl;dr folks begone, this is 'Endling Classic' stuff here, journals two miles long. You've been warned.)




At what point do you become too popular for your own good? (I hate using the word popular. Especially if I'm anywhere near it. It's been a foreign word to me since my days in high school, shuffling around with my nose in a book and a withering social life trying desperately to catch up to me. )

There seems to be a line you eventually cross here on DA, in terms of pageviews, watchers and such. You know? When you pass a certain number and people who arrive at your page are much more inclined to go "Pffft, how overrated." as opposed to actually poking around in your gallery with a less than biased attitude. It's a first-glance or nothing world, in art, I'll admit. Sure seems that way anyway.

I've been guilty of the same thing, oh yeah. When I started out here, I had my lower moments of grudgery. I'd see anyone with 30k hits and think they were a star, then I eventually stumbled on the million hitters and just balked. I found some to be worthwhile, and others to be.. well. I suppose worthwhile in other ways, just not to my particular palette. And then others I just got bitter over. So I know what that's like. Hell, I still do it. Guess it's human nature.

Is it just a necessity to rebel?

Look at how a huge number of folks reacted to the Pixel ID thing. Jeezus. Every time I saw an anti-pixel ID, discussions on the matter, or people proudly proclaiming they weren't going to make one.. I just laughed. If you really weren't into the whole thing, why did you draw attention to yourself? People began to treat it as a pathetic trend, instead of, say, just maybe, treating it as an idea that an enormous amount of people thought was fun, and wanted to be a part of.

But no, that can't be the case. "They were just doing it to be popular. You had to have one to be cool. Lawl posers."

Pardon me, but how the ever loving hell do you know why each and every person made theirs? Where do you get off mincing around fancying yourself a behavioral specialist? (And the part I really love, the fact that they're making fun of people in a misguided attempt, in their opinion, to get attention, and committing the very same act themselves, only covering it up as sarcastic satire, so it's officially okay. Good jorb thar. You're mental giants.) Jeezus. People like that are like buzzkill personified. God forbid a certain number of people are enjoying something.

And it seems to be the same thing with artists. There's an 'in' and an 'out' amongst the most popular people here on DA. Personally, I've never followed the detailed events and goings-on. I'd hear about it in my chat occasionally, but never sought anything out to learn more about it. Still, now I'm beginning to wonder how much I miss on a regular basis. (Not that I really feel like getting involved, but it certainly is surprising to know so much is going on outside your field of vision.)

I mean, gaw. I don't think I want to peek into that. God only knows how much I get lampooned on a regular basis. Hell. I look at my gallery and wonder how the crap I ever got close to four million pageviews. But I bet a million people on here would offer up their opinions in a heartbeat. "It's anime stuff. You're on the bandwagon." Etc. And sure, hey, people are allowed to think that, but once it starts becoming more and more satirically vicious.. mm..

You have your DA phenoms, *tracyjb, =GunnerRomantic, *arnistotle to name a few. Not to say they aren't devoid of criticism (I know Gunner would have a field day if I'd said otherwise.), but there seems to be like a ranking elite that has avoided getting a bullseye slapped on their forehead. Nor should there be.
You have the artists who stir up things now and then. I've heard all sorts of stories about.. none of which I really know the details about. =ramy, =Teruchan, *kris-wilson, the ever popular *bleedman and of course, =snapesnogger, the latter of which I won't touch with a ten foot pole as I don't know her, don't know the history, don't know nuthin' and am not about to make a judgment call here. All I know is this is the stuff you hear about if you putz around DA enough.

And I guess I'd be naive to think that I don't get lumped in somewhere. I've always wanted to believe I could skirt around that kind of attention but it seems less and less likely, the longer you stick around. I wonder, would it be better to grab your own website, eventually? Get while the gettin's good, so to speak?

It makes you wonder where you stand, sometimes. Popular or not. Am I considered an artist, for what it's worth? Am I taken seriously? (And is DA really the place to go to try and be taken seriously? Haha. Quiet, I already know the answer to that.)

I dunno. Like I said. Guess it's naive to think it'll all be fun and games forever. :3


(Speaking of satire, has anyone seen my Encyclopedia Dramatica article? It's vicious. I suppose I can consider myself having 'made it' now. Whoopee. Although they are a tad misinformed, as they describe me as 'believing himself to be a negro', when, genetically speaking, I'm half-black, so I don't really have to do much pretending. Haha. Well. Maybe half-pretending.)






Lordy, this is a fun one.

Thiiiiis is always a delightful conversation. And it's never going to end, I'm sure.

From my first infatuation, to my lessening love for the style, to my current struggle for separation from the overall 'love it or hate it' mentality towards all things that look remotely anime.. it's been quite a journey.

As if a good deal of artists out there didn't take cartoons seriously enough, along came the widespread obsession with anime a number of years back, which hasn't let up since. But that doesn't mean I haven't gotten an earful regarding the matter.

I'm not even sure where I stand on it anymore. If kids are drawing, let them draw. If they're drawing stereotypically shiny, bland, giant-eyed peoples, you know.. let it be. And if there's an audience for it, there's an audience for it. I wouldn't go on and on about how the world of art itself is coming to a pathetic, crumbling halt because people like cute chibi's. You know how many other generations have thought the same thing, due to current goings-on in the art world? Does anyone remember Impressionism and the whole deal behind that movement? (And no, I'm not comparing anime to impressionism, you knobs who are thinking it. Get your dander back down and take a seat.) It's the general idea that anyone who has learned about art history knows that the changing art culture has always had its times of conflict in terms of widespread opinion regarding its progression. And yet when it's happening to us, and not in a textbook, suddenly everyone is up in arms about it, rather than learning from it. Don't seem to realize we are going to be a part of history eventually as well. Mm..


Not to say I don't hold personal feelings against people who don't seem to want to develop their own style. I think that's a waste of perfectly good skill to devote yourself to finding out how other artists have done their work, ESPECIALLY something as.. 'stock' as the vast majority of substanceless anime out there. (Again, not to say there isn't some very good examples out there either.. I use the term 'anime' here loosely, as I know what it means, exactly, and I also know how people regard it here.. much more of a blanket term, covering both anime and manga as a collective stylistic 'whole'. Which in itself is kind of unfair, but that's another argument. @_@)

All that aside. That's a debate I don't really want to be a part of. But it still effects me. I have to look at my work and wonder how people perceive it. I'd rather not be lumped into the anime through-and-through crowd. Lacking in its own presence, originality or depth, as I'm kind of big on those factors in what I choose to watch, read, etc.. (From Pratchett to Samura to Kieth to Miyazaki to Satoshi Kon to Stan Lee..)

I have this distinct feeling that people who dislike anime very much look at my work and immediately write it off as on the fringe of a trend, and that people who love anime look at my work and don't think it's quite anime enough to merit a second look. So is this where I operate? An odd gray area in between. Hm. That can't really be good for my longevity, can it..?

Is it that taboo "anime"? Is it not? Ultimately comes down to the eye of beholder, I guess?

I suppose so long as there's someone out there who wants to view/read my work, it doesn't matter very much, does it? So long as I'm happy creating what I'm creating.

Nevertheless. I hope to be taken seriously by the artists I admire. And given my current body of work, I still feel this is something I need to reach for.

But where do you draw the line?







Got any thoughts on these matters? Not even pertaining to me really, but the subject matter itself. I'd like to hear about it if you're willing to share in this journal. :3



(More pointless rants and delusions to be added later, when I'm less furniture-less and typing on the floor. New apartment. Joy. Take care folks.)