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 We've
now seen the development of an anime fan from their
beginning stages as a new fan to a seasoned veteran.
While I hope that you've either identified with or noted
some of the things that I've mentioned here, there are
still some things to be said about studying this process.
The
first is not to use these stages of development as a
way to pigeonhole or stereotype anime fans. Just like
with any kind of thought on psychological development,
there are always dissenters and exceptions, and this
process of development is not meant to be applied to
all anime fans. The observations listed here come from
behavior patterns seen in many anime fans, depending
on how far they are into the fandom, but they are by
no means a measuring stick for all of fandom.
It's
very easy to label people when it comes to arranging
things so that they are in a developmental layout. The
point in studying the development is to better prepare
for some of things one might see in interacting with
some anime fans, to look at some of the recurring items
that seem to keep cropping up - and of course, to just
have a little fun, considering it's not entirely serious.
The
second is that fandom is still changing today, to the
point where studying development may need to be revised
or revisited. As anime continues to change and expand
(or not expand), there will be many more ways for anime
fans to get into anime and manga and begin to like it.
As anime takes more and more steps to be accepted into
mainstream society, the development of anime fans will
also change.
Regardless
of how anime fans develop, I believe that it is the
job of those fans already involved to help those that
are just getting into things. As with any study of development,
the interaction with others can definitely be a factor
in determining how someone develops into their liking
of anime and manga. By nurturing the early stages of
fandom rather than shunning it, it will definitely ensure
that anime (and its following) will be around for many
more years to come.
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back to Anime University
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