Ariadne
Well-known member
Yes but be honest, how many people that didn't major in English lit and are under say... 30 would know about that anymore? I didn't learn about it in school or college and only found out because they made a movie based on the book. All the publicity was phrased in a way like everyone should know about it and I had to go look it up (and just for the record I am an avid reader). That was in '97. It's been another 14 years and now we have this underground fashion style working it's way in. I could see it replacing it in meaning quite easily.Good point, BUT to be fair ... it's an English-language book, by a Russian author. I'm not entirely surprised it's not well known in say, Japan.
I majored in English Literature.
No, I would agree that we're probably not since I've never heard of them and I know many an otaku. Are they good?It doesn't surprise me that Japanese people might not be overly familiar with Lolita. Americans might be somewhat familiar with the classic "Pillow Book" in Japan, but how many of us have read (or even know about ) the Japanese modern classics "Ripening Summer" or the "Wind-up Bird Chronicles" ?
I guess the real question is how this all effects fashion though and whether that is going to end up being reflected in bellydance costuming? Part of dressing appropriately for dancing is also knowing your audience. I can see how some tribal fusion style costuming could appeal to a Gothic Lolita but if the real meaning behind the movement is a reclamation of femininity on the woman's own terms are we also going to see a resurrection of more feminine and frilly clothing in fashion? Come to think of it I keep running into that "reclamation" concept. It's as if in order to reject the concept of woman being weak they had to give up any fashion that could appear "weak" as well and now women want them back. Are we seeing a change in our culture about what is "feminine" and will that change have an effect on the impression our own costumes make?
...am I reaching or is this a legitimate question?
How many women love BD because "it makes them feel like a princess?" (Seriously, I've heard that more then once.)