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Global Manga Manifesto
GLOBAL MANGA MANIFESTO
Just tossing around some ideas for a Global Manga Manifesto, in reaction to this thread. and this thread, which are both reactions to this article extended rant
From Rikki Simmons:
“…but it’s empirically true that manga is a style, a style with many variations, but a style in the same way that Art Deco, Cubism, Art Nouveau and all the etceteras are styles…”
Which got me thinking...if it IS a movement, how would you craft a manifesto for the movement? - as distinct from Nouvelle Manga, mind. What would this manifesto include? What would be the main points? The definitions? The principles?
Here’s my try. It doesn’t really define what ‘manga’ or global manga style is, but it sounds manifesto-y.
Got more to add?
GLOBAL MANGA MANIFESTO
point one: The term ‘manga’ refers in general to sequential art, in particular to sequential art first published in Japan, henceforth referred to as ‘Japanese manga’.
point two: Japanese manga ecompasses a near-infinite range of styles, formats, themes, stories, and idioms. Many of these recurring styles have influenced artists outside of Japan.
Note: Rikki Simons adds:
"point two: Japanese manga encompasses a near-infinite variance of the manga style, formats, themes, stories, and idioms. Many of these recurring variances on the style have influenced artists outside of Japan, creating such offshoots as “Global Manga” with as much transitive power as the original Arts and Crafts Movement had on Art Nouveau. Manga style itself can be described as a (usually) black and white segmental art form accentuating exaggerated energy and provocative emotion either in line, design, motion, or length of story. Even when superlative realism is applied either to characters or background or both, exaggerated energy and provocative emotion can be detected within the work even if subtle in nature, in some instances this can lead to an ethereal quality. Line width is often subject to gender themes within manga style, i.e. “shoujo” manga for young girls often employs a very thin line-work."
point three: ‘Global manga’ refers in general to sequential art (insofar as the broader meaning of the term manga refers merely to sequential art), and refers specifically to sequential art that has been influenced and informed in major way, shape or form by Japanese manga. It must also be acknowledged as such by the creator.
point four: Most of this influence will be reflected in the visual style of the work- whether through character design, visual idioms or storytelling tropes. This may include the use of speed lines; the ‘big eyes small mouth’ design; cinekinetic pacing, etc.
point five: ‘Global manga’ is an aesthetic movement in and of itself, distinct but not isolated from Japanese manga or other regional styles. It is an internationalized concept, belonging to no single country, language or culture.
(and more, because every manifesto must have a point of contention with which to piss off the so-called ‘old guard’)
point six : ‘Global manga’ is a reaction to pre-existing regional sequential art industries. In many cases, Global manga artists openly acknowledge their divergence from pre-existing sequential art traditions.
point seven: Global manga is a deliberate effort to merge regional influences and perspectives with artistic tropes that have been divorced from their original Japanese context.
point eight: The term 'Global Manga' may have originated as an industry marketing phrase, but has since evolved into a distinct aesthetic movement.
Art movement:
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The term refers to tendencies in visual art, novel ideas and architecture, and sometimes literature. In music it is more common to speak about genres and styles instead. See also cultural movement, a term with a broader connotation.
Because the names of many art movements use the -ism suffix (for example cubism and futurism), they are sometimes referred to as isms.
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manga is deffinately not just japan! i agree completely...but when if someone were to call american comics (like flipping bumugly fuggly supperman) manga...i would "not to happy" (*cough* extremely uderstated)
I believe manga is a style! That means anyone (with talent) in the universe who sticks to the basic variations of manga are participating in the movement. Japanese manga, is of course manga from Japan. So what would American manga be? Just comics? Of course not! The majority of American comics I have seen have all fallen out of the basic manga variations. We can call it "Japanese manga" because it originated in Japan, however, manga these days does not only originate in Japan but is a popular art style all around the globe!
have no clue people call it what they want wether comics or magna you cant make everyone change what they call it-just like indians and native americans people call it different things
I LOVE MANGA. Really i do. But in all truth... Ya really can't call it manga unless your at LEAST japanese or lived (lives) in Japan... Sorry i wish i could call my little doodles MANGA but it just doesn't feel right... I wish it did. Manga itself IS a stlye... or rather it has become one... I draw inthat style... If your Amearican just call it a comic book, nobody is gonna kill ya... If your from somewhere else call it by it proper name! Don't get me wrong, it's a style and if you really want to call manga, go ahead. As i said: i wouldn't call it manga *cries* There IS stuff that makes manga and, lets say Amearican comics, different... Manga doesn't always have to have HUGE eyes or nothin'... It's just the way they're presented...
I want to know because I'm not an artist and I do not have any knowledge about what makes them different. I just know what pleases me esthetically, and manga does that for me. Also, excuse the last sentence of my last post. If I could go in and edit it I would. I do whoever know a couple of Japanese people, and they've never disassociated manga with comics. That's another reason why I am wondering what the difference is, and if there isn't really a difference then wouldn't the global manga movement be just another comic movement just for a different purpose and brand of comics?
I've got to thinking again about the points you've made, and I've found that while I still agree with you you've left me with some questions. What exactly disassociates manga from comics? There big eyes? Some comics, that are considered comics, have big eyes, and not all manga have that attribute. Would it be the unrealistic manner they are drawn in? Again, some comics have that, and some manga are very realistic in the art. Wouldn't manga then be the regional (Japanese) name for comics? Because, I've noticed that the Japanese don't say "Japanese manga".
wooooo alot of points have been thrown here wooooo
I agree with BABIIOSAKA! Gosh, this situation reminds me of Dramacon!!!! Anyway, bakc to the REAL subject: If it's in the manga aisle at a bookstore, then it's manga. If it loos like manga (big eyes, no nose) it's manga. But, that's MY definition. Everyone's got a different view on things! If you don't wanna call something that's drawn by someone who's not japanese manga, then don't: just don't make a huge fuss about what someone else thiks! Everyone is entitled to their OWN OPINION.
I agree with you, but the only reason you are calling it a "Manga" movement, is for the fact that manga was the first to become popular in other, non-oriental countries. If in fact manwha had become popular before manga you'd be calling it a "manwha" movement. You would be using manwha and Korea instead of manga and Japan. To call it specifically a manga movement isn't completely right. You have to take in consideration the countries that already have a name for this movement as you call it.
Of course! It's pretty much the same, just a differ language. ^_^
I think that manga is manga, and it doesn't matter which country the author comes from. In fact, a Japanese company is now doing an annual manga contest where they accept submissions from all over the world. Has anyone else noticed that Japanese otaku don't get into huge fights over whether American manga is really manga? They don't care (well, most of them don't, anyway). OEL, "authentic" manga, I don't care. I just read 'em and love 'em. (^_^)
If Manga is the same world-wide how come Tokyopop prints Manga from Japan with a little stamp on the back that reads "Authentic Manga". What does that make the rest? Cheap imitation Manga? I think we should be less occupied on gaging whether something is Manga or not and just enjoy what we enjoy. I don't care if it is Manga, Super-spandex, or Graphic Novel, if the story is good and art is its medium than I'll read it, buy it, and love it for life.
well i think manga isn't japanese manga due to the fact people who draw manga aren't even japanese or asia but it cool spreading the manga revolution
if its got all the qualitys of manga such as right-to-left format and black and white then sure, its manga!
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techconaly speaking would I have to say that manga from Japan is the only ¨real¨ manga BUT I'll still call Korean or American manga, manga, so to say.
LEORIC
10.21.2007 11:30 PM