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I also don’t think anime is propaganda. Same thing when it comes to Hollywood. I see people accusing Hollywood of “cultural imperialism.” But Hollywood is jus

I also don’t think anime is propaganda. Same thing when it comes to Hollywood. I see people accusing Hollywood of “cultural imperialism.” But Hollywood is just filled with folks making movies they want to make and that producers think other people will pay money to see. If folks in other countries end up watching Hollywood movies and emulating them that’s because these people are individuals who might chose to make the choice to do that. It’s not imperialism in that sense. Some people even use cultural imperialism as an argument when talking about folks in the rain forest wearing t shirts and jeans. Maybe the folks in the rain forest just like wearing jeans? Hell jeans are comfy. T shirts too. Same argument. Note: this comment was originally written as a reply to someone in the thread who said he disagreed that anime was propaganda. I typed this comment to reply to him. But by the time I tried to post it he deleted his comment. So I am posting the comment here anyway

marcosdumay 2y ago
The US armed forces literally pay Hollywood to say the things they want in movies. And nowadays, China too. I don't know about anime, but it wouldn't be very surprising. (I just don't see who would be paying.) Anyway, other people watching them isn't imperialism. That's right. But they are propaganda.
- sweeter 2y ago
  The point being made is about "soft power" which has a pretty large scope and can vary from fairly harmless, to outright nefarious. One very recent example is the US using soft power to spread vaccine misinformation in China and the Phillipines to undermine them https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-covid-propaganda/ https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-covi... but pretty much every country does some form of this as a method to subtly propagandize citizens of other countries. Its surprisingly easy to pull off.
- lithos 2y ago
  There's a few "nationalistic" anime that hit big out of the boarders, "Gate" being the one that most comes to mind.

marcosdumay 2y ago

The US armed forces literally pay Hollywood to say the things they want in movies. And nowadays, China too. I don't know about anime, but it wouldn't be very surprising. (I just don't see who would be paying.) Anyway, other people watching them isn't imperialism. That's right. But they are propaganda.

sweeter 2y ago
The point being made is about "soft power" which has a pretty large scope and can vary from fairly harmless, to outright nefarious. One very recent example is the US using soft power to spread vaccine misinformation in China and the Phillipines to undermine them https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-covid-propaganda/ https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-covi... but pretty much every country does some form of this as a method to subtly propagandize citizens of other countries. Its surprisingly easy to pull off.
lithos 2y ago
There's a few "nationalistic" anime that hit big out of the boarders, "Gate" being the one that most comes to mind.