Ask John: Is Anime Jargon Getting Over Used?

Question:
With so much debate in the anime world, I find it confusing why generic terms are used to discuss a series which may not include it, such as a Spice and Wolf discussion using tsundere to describe Holo. While I do try to ignore them when I see them, I wonder how many series are potentially not viewed because of the stigma (often negative) assigned to them. What’s your take on generic terms used to describe anime, such as “moe,” “fan service,” “tsundere,” etc.?

Answer:
Speaking as both an anime fan and a former English teacher, I’m not opposed to the use of jargonistic adjectives, although I agree that they should be used appropriately in order to work effectively. There’s probably a widespread tendency to employ genre specific terms like moé and shounen because their use distinguishes a membership within a circle of the initiated. Typically, in the English speaking world, only anime otaku are familiar with terms like netorare, moé, seinen, and fan service, so using them validates the speaker’s membership within an exclusive club. And using them extensively, or using freshly adopted terms designates one’s elevated knowledge and rank within the specialized community. The otaku who know what netorare is are more knowledgable and therefore “better” fans than those who aren’t familiar with the term. However, at the same time these adjectives have unique meanings and can serve the purpose of advancing concise communication. Describing Ikkitousen as a bishoujo fan service anime serves the same function as describing the show as an animated series filled with exploitive female nudity and provocative gestures, actions, and poses. The former brief description is much more efficient than the later because it employs terms that condense a large amount of meaning concisely.

Some problem arises when the subconscious urge to employ jargon as a means of self-identification supersedes the accurate use of jargon to streamline communication. The American anime fan community is prone, these days, to decry the genre of moé anime, yet K-On is tremendously popular, and the new series Hanamaru Yochien is getting a lot of buzz. The argument may be made that there are always exceptions. At the same time, the argument can be made that the commonplace criticism of moé is too broad and made because the singular simplicity of the term “moé” is easy to cite as a target of attack. It’s easier to criticize moé anime than criticize a specific type of anime typified by a characteristics A, B, and C.

Further specification is also necessary in select circumstances. Spice & Wolf’s precocious deity Horo does have a tendency to alternate between aloofness and tender vulnerability. She’s may not be as obviously and stereotypically tsundere as Taiga Aisaka from Toradora or Fate/stay night’s Saber, but the description isn’t entirely inapplicable. This situation requires the enlightened application of finesse. Calling Horo “lightly tsundere” or saying that she exhibits some degree of tsundere personality provides more useful explanation than just calling her “tsundere.” And it’s certainly more concise than providing a detailed summary of her personality. So these terms have a valuable function, and excepting occasions when they’re simply outright misused, they do serve a purpose. Calling Sailor Moon a seinen series, for example, is not a case of interpretation; it’s just inaccurate, and hopefully other observers will point out the error so it can be corrected.

I think that outright ignoring applied jargonistic adjectives is a mistake. While English speakers may have some tendency to be over aggressive with their application of genre terms, or may not always use them to best effect, I do believe that English speakers use them for the purpose of explaining complex impressions succinctly. When someone calls a character tsundere or a show moé the person is trying to convey information about the show or character. That expression shouldn’t necessarily be ignored. It just needs to be evaluated in the same way that we naturally and instinctively evaluate the meaning and validity of all statements we read, see, or hear. Refusing to sample a particular anime or manga strictly because it’s described as shounen or hentai or moé is narrow minded and will certainly lead to the exclusion of rewarding experiences. Placing too much faith in genre descriptors, and in second-hand impressions, is counter-productive. But disregarding them entirely is equally so. To put it simply, anime specific adjectives and jargon terms should always be taken with a grain of salt. These terme exist and are used because they’re helpful. But they are merely guideposts and descriptors, not qualitative evaluations. Calling a show moé or a character tsundere doesn’t mean “good” or “bad.” These terms should only be taken to provide a vague hint, a suggestion of what to expect. As long as speakers and readers understand that these terms are mere loose hints, their use shouldn’t be a problem.