Tuesday, April 27, 2004

Manga's Lolita complex: The Japan Times examines whether the "eroticization" of children in many manga and anime is just a pop-culture quirk, or a greater societal problem:

"Cute characters and 'lolicom' (Lolita complex) themes are a staple of the Japanese pop culture consumed at home and abroad. Many otaku anime and manga products feature sexy school-girl heroines. Some extreme varieties of lolicom manga are clearly pedophilic pornography. Some pressure groups and NGOs suggest a link between a 'lolicom culture' that idolizes young girls and social problems such as child prostitution and sexual abuse."

While the main story quotes politicians, activists and culture critics, the sidebar turns to people on the street for rather mixed views on "lolicom" manga.