Quote:
Originally Posted by emi♡
What's more important, is the idea of choice. These girls have a choice to be a part of this group, what it represents and it's unique culture. No one is pointing a gun at their heads telling them to take their clothes off or be this or that.
That's what the ideas of feminism and Equality for everyone are about. Choice.
You don't have to like it. That's how life is. If you see something as perpetuating ideas you find offensive, then fine, but understand the rights of other people to be completely fine with it.
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You've put into words what I've wanted to say to people who are all "How can you like AKB when you're a female it's this and that! etc" Well the whole post is a good one really.
Anyway I can see why some people don't like AKB somewhat as far as music wise. (Plus other criticisms)
As it has been said some of the girls are pretty average talent wise. Of course there are exceptions like Yuka or Sayaka who even the people at the Students Live broadway program thing that they went to in NYC thought they were good and had potential. There are other girls as well but they also are in the back.
Anyway, Akimoto has done a good job. I think there are many factors for there success so far.
For one the girls hard work. A lot of girls have put there all into this group.
He was able to build up a dedicated fanbase where you could kind of be close to them. Back in the day fans could help the girls clean the theater for example. There is even the song Rider which is about a fan that died and the girls had knew this fan pretty well. The fanbase was involved with the group.
Lyrics Akimoto has written lyrics for tons of artists he's probably written lyrics for someone's favorite artist at least once. I also think certain song melodys have there appeal as well (and now with all the AKB stage songs getting released with Karaoke tracks perhaps this will grow)
Overall appeal they managed to find the formula to appeal to a lot of people young and old.
As far as criticism with the no dating rule etc. I think that things have to change in Japan for women in general yet I also think AKB has the potential to change the idol culture which includes this rule.
SDN could date, even one of them was married. Idol groups now try to imitate AKB you see a bunch of 3 letter groups pop up. Plus they've become a lot more lax when it comes to the rule unless there is obvious proof (as in the case of Nacchan and Yonechan)
I could go into why I like the group despite criticisms but I won't unless others are interested.
AKB could drop in popularity and end up the road of Morning Musume as others have stated however I don't think it will happen at least in the same way or to that degree if at all. Morning Musume really just caters to the fanbase they have it seems and it doesn't seem like they try to branch out too much plus the company they are with doesn't really spend money on them even though they have it.
Aki-P has said AKB is a 10 year project and they just had the 7 year anniversary so the group will probably end by the time they start dropping in popularity a lot.