There's no denying our nerdy peculiarities is evolving. I don't know if it'll be mainstream (which I'd rather it not be) but I strongly feel that it should be recognized and perhaps categorized as an art form. Tokusatsu is definitely the root but I'd argue that instead of the heroes, its the kaijus and patchi kaijus creators that has propelled the genre to where it is today. I don't see any dissimilarity between appreciating and collecting an art piece by Picasso, Warhol or Murakami (to name a few) or a vinyl figure by Anraku or Bemon (again to name a few). I guess I could go on and on...... But my intention is to perhaps suggest usage of the term Kaijuism to describe this "hobby" as an art form.
As a serious question, how is this different from ordinary toy collecting? And as a follow-up to that, why should our hobby have a different name than collecting vintage sofubi? Our hobby is an offshoot of the hobby of collecting vintage sofubi and other Japanese toys (at least as I see it), so it seems presumptuous to give it a grander name than the original.
ha, because we spend so much money just to have one of them--we have to find ways to come to terms with it--to validate it. I collect overpriced toys. I wish they were cheaper--but I love them anyway. the end.
I collect toys. If someone asks me what kind of toys I collect...I usually just say Japanese Modern & Vintage Monster Toys. Besides the Japanese and the mere 1500 members of this board...most do not know what kaiju is anyways and I usually don't feel like explaining it to the uninitiated...visit skullbrain.org for more information.
I would argue that alot of board members have no idea what kaiju is. Some collect Rebel Inks or Pushead stuff and think it's kaiju.
This peculiar collecting hobby will never be a mainstream thing. The arcana associated with kaiju collecting is historically an inherent characteristic, and a major constituent of the coolness factor. While it can be said that there is an "art" to collecting, collecting itself is not an art form. Everyone who truly loves Japanese vinyl toys recognizes the artistry and handcraft that go into them, from concept to sculpt to production to paint. There is no need to artificially elevate the craft or its appreciation semantically. It's our love and appreciation for the toys and what goes into their making and history that gives them meaning, not what words we use to describe them or our hobby. While there are similarities in the process and general phenomena of collecting what is conventionally called art and these toys, there are enormous dissimilarities between the conventional art/gallery/collecting scene and this one. To say it's all the same or that there are no dissimilarities is undiscerning and more to the point, appears to betray a lack of faith that what kaiju and Japanese vinyl toys in general already are in their own context, which is just exactly right as it is. No need for recontextualization, elevation, or tortured association with "art" via -ism words. ...which is a fancy way of saying "no thank you."
I deleted my suggestion that he respond because I thought it sounded weak, and posted a typically overwritten Deanism instead.
hey Kaijuism sounds alot like sexism or racism does that mean that a Kaijuist has an irrational hatred of Kaiju?
"Hello, my name is CCPfan and I have...kaijuitis. It's been 5 days since I put in an order for some kaiju, so I probably won't get my token header card this week." How can you tell if you have Kaijuitis? Symptoms include: + Spending free and work time looking for that holy grail? + Constant urge to put your vinyl in just the right position or order? + Anxious feelings leading up to the delivery of your new kaiju? Or have you said + "I'm only going to look for a few minutes on Yahoo Japan Auctions..." + "I really don't need that variant
