Thy Manga is a “light” unto my feet
Posted on August 24, 2004
Filed Under A Geek's Guide to the Scriptures | Leave a Comment
I don’t know how it happened. I hadn’t planned on it coming to this. It probably got started when I read some comment on Slashdot or looked at some merchandise at thinkgeek.com, which, by the way, is an excellent site, loads of gifts for that special geek in your life. Did I tell you that my birthday is coming soon? Well, January is soon to me.
Before I knew it, I was perusing through this “on-line comic book” web site. I barely understood the jokes (I kept Googling key words in order to find explanations). But I love the artwork and the over all personableness of the site. And the author’s comedic timing is excellent. I blush at confessing this, I hope you won’t think poorly of me, but I have become a fan of MegaTokyo.
The site has a huge following amongst the Manga and Anime fans out there; that is, Japanese comics. (By the way, its pronounced AH-ni-may). Most Anime stories are all about “love,” teenage, soul wrenching, long distance pining away, does-he-really-love-me-or-is-he-just-toying-with-me “love.” It seems like the more angst and soul torment the characters go through, the more popular the episode. All of the art work, excellent as much of it is, revolves around that romantic, tormented soul who’s confused over such deeply soul wrenching moral dilemmas as to whether or not to return a lost book bag. (Did I mention that Anime is into soul wrenching?)
Anyway, MegaTokyo gently spoofs the Anime scene, as well as Japanese culture, American culture and the world of “leet†–that is, the serious action gamers.
If this is all news to you, I would recommend that you google the word “anime” or “Manga” and read up on the topics, if only just a little bit. You will find a whole world full of the stuff out there. WARNING, much of it is junk.
But that is my point
Why are these people are so into this stuff? What’s the attraction? What is the “gospel” or “good news” within the Anime scene that makes kids so into this stuff? “Piro,†one of the main characters in MegaTokyo, repeatedly gets caught in awkward little social dilemmas, especially when it comes to girls. What to do? He runs to the nearest Anime bookstore and rifles through Shoujo Manga episodes looking for answers. It’s as if he is looking for “light” to guide him on his path.
So Where is All of This Going?
1. If you have teens, know of any teens or have ever seen a teen before in your life, get into their world! Find out what they are into, and why. Thanks to a media rich world, and especially thanks to the Internet, teens today can get pretty deep into just about any world they want — Very Deep, if they want. And that’s what most of them do want.
Discover the “gospel” of the fad they are into: what makes that fad “good news” to them. Do they seek escapism through Sim games? Are they looking for answers through Anime like Piro? Are they expressing deep-seated fears through virtual aggression, like some 1st person shooter types, like Largo, Piro’s friend (we’ll talk more about “l33t’ers†in another episode)? Maybe they are just bored and need to get a life, a real life. Maybe they are just going along with the hype of it all and the culture of it all, cuz they are afraid of not fitting in, or they have just never thought about doing anything else.
Find out with the intent of building bridges and reaching them for Jesus.
2. What is our “gospel?” What truly is our gospel? Is the way I live my life good news to anyone? If we reflect the light of Christ, we will no doubt tick off a few people, but we will attract others. There are people out there who are tired and weary and need to find True Love. No, not the “Princes Bride” version of true love. (Love that movie, by the way) Rather, the true love that comes from Jesus. Some people are tired of the darkness, tired of spiritual cotton candy and tired of virtual communities. They are looking for real community, real soul food and real spiritual warmth. They need us to reflect the love of Christ into their lives so their paths will become clear.
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.†Psalm 119:105
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