100 Lessons Learned From People About Latest Manga Releases
As the buzz around the manga and anime subcultures deepens increasingly more books on the subjects are increasingly being published. Whether you want to learn more about the culture to enrich your hobby or write an academic work or article, the abundance of books available can prove constructive for you. In contrast, since manga and anime come from the arena of popular culture not all books written about them are equally valuable or informative enough to be deemed constructive. As in all cases of popular media the risk of encountering a book full of fluff and lacking in useful content is high. Here are a few criteria that may help you spot the best academic books on anime and manga:
The most reliable books tend to be those authored by experts. The very first step after picking a subject and being presented with a list of books is to check their authors' history. Was the book authored by a professor or lecturer? If not does he or she has a history of doing work in the manga or anime industry? The importance of the author's background shouldn't be taken lightly. Gaining knowledge from, and later quoting, a knowledgeable person on any subject will be preferable. Avoid books which were authored by casual magazines, news groups or enthusiasts. These tend to be superficial and review lack relevant citations to back their claims.
If possible always flip through a book to determine how the layout and written content appears. Some books on anime and manga are informative enough but are picture-heavy. Books which are filled to the bream with pictures at the cost of text will probably not provide you with enough information and can prove counter-productive.
The only exceptions to the rule above are encyclopedias. You'll find encyclopedias created specifically to cater to anime, manga and otaku fans. They often analyse certain products/phenomena while also providing pictures. Encyclopedias usually do not offer more than a couple of pages on each subject but are great for discovering new subject and expending your research scope. They're also often augmented with rare interviews and also will always have citations. They're your reference books and also will point you to more in-depth books on the subject you wish to research. You will find a surprising range of encyclopedias about Japan and Japanese culture but your very best bet would be to start reading the fundamental (yet valuable) manga, anime and otaku encyclopedias.
In case you are proficient enough within the Japanese language and also are writing an academic work you could opt to add a couple of Japanese books to your investigation pile. Japanese experts on manga and anime have written many books on the topic as well as can provide invaluable information on how these trends operate within their native country of Japan. When writing about manga and anime citations from Japanese books will greatly enhance the credibility of your work and also will give you priority over researchers who chose only to include books authored by Western experts.
To conclude, as a way to spot the most effective academic books on manga and anime you should familiarize yourself with the names of the leading experts in the field, and always check if the book in the event that has sufficient text and a good quantity of citations. Specialized Encyclopedias often offer less information but broaden your horizon, while available and accessible books in Japanese can be wonderful resources and give you an essential edge.
