Difference between revisions of "Culture"

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The 'Culture' of the BJD hobby can generally be broken down into three groups/types of people, but people can and will be a mix of the various groups (and these are gross generalizations).
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Culture
  
'''Collectors'''
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The culture of the BJD hobby has evolved as the market and community have grown.  Originally, relative obscurity coupled with the difficulty in buying BJD shaped an English-speaking community that was tight-knit and supportive of every new member.  As more options became available and more collectors entered the hobby, the general culture of the dollery changed and evolved.
  
People who buy BJDs due to their Monitary value.
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==Community==
*Scalpers and Flippers, are generally grouped into the 'Collectors' area, and so Collectors can be seen in a negative light.  There is NOTHING wrong with simply being a collector of BJDs.
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Common 'Collector' activities include (but are not limited to):
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The BJD hobby has a strong community aspect; most English-speaking doll owners belong to at least one [[Doll Forums | doll-related forum]], such as [[Den of Angels]]. Posting photos, learning and sharing customizing techniques, and discussing current releases is an integral part of the hobby for many enthusiasts.
* Collecting dolls purely for their Market Place Value.
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* Collecting dolls due to their limited availablity.
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* Collecting dolls all of a certain type (to create a 'collection').
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'''Artists'''
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BJD draw a diverse body of hobbyists.  There are many aspects of doll ownership, from [[Customization | customization]] to strict collecting, allowing people enjoy their dolls for a variety of reasons.  In addition, because the BJD hobby has crossover into a lot of other hobbies and fandoms, enthusiasts find BJD through many different sources.  Anime and manga, [[Cosplay | cosplay]], and [[Fashion Dolls | "traditional" fashion dolls] are some of the most common shared interests among collectors.
  
People who buy BJDs for their Artistic value.
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Many owners also seek out other enthusiasts in their local community through organizing or attending [[Meet-ups | meetups]]; Some owners also attend events hosted by companies (i.e. Volks [[Dolpa]]), hobby enthusiasts (i.e. [[Dollectable]] or [[GoGaDoll]]), or BJD panels at other doll or anime conventions.
  
Common 'Artists' activities include (but are not limited to):
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==Doll Owners==
* Having/Using BJDs as artistic models  (Photos, Drawings, etc...)
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* Creating Art using BJDs (Modding, Customization, etc...)
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* Using a BJD to display/model your art (Face-up Artists, Clothing Designers, etc...)
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'''Hobbiests'''
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Most BJD owners are female, with the most [http://www.denofangels.com/forums/showthread.php?116582-How-many-of-you-DoA-members-are-boys recent poll data]] indicating that the ratio of men to women is approximately 1:7.  The ages of collectors vary widely from children to great-grandparents, but the bulk of collectors fall between 18-35 years old. 
  
People who buy BJDs to be part of/into the Hobby/interaction of/with BJDs.
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There is a wide range of sexualities, professions, religious beliefs, and family structures represented.
  
Common 'Hobbiests' activites include (but are not limited to):
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==Collecting vs. Playing==
* 'Playing' with your BJD.  (Dressing & Undressing the doll, etc...)
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Community members generally tend to think of doll owners as being on a spectrum that runs from "people who collect dolls" to "people who play with dolls."
* Attending Meetups with other BJD Hobbiests
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* Trading, Selling, Cleaning, Improving the doll, etc...
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Collectors are owners who may buy dolls as an "investment," keep dolls for display purposes only, or buy their dolls to complete a set or collection.
  
Information about various 'activities' in regards to BJDs:
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At the opposite end, some doll owners treat their dolls more like common toys and take them on daily errands with them, sleep with them in their bed, or imagine (or believe) that they are alive.
  
* What to do before you buy your first BJD
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There are social stigmas attached to both extremes.  Most owners fall to the center of the spectrum with aspects of both the toy owner and haute-couture collector.
* Choosing the right BJD
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* Saving/Earning money for a BJD
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==Range of Customization==
* What is a Doll Meetup (and how to find/host one)?
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* General Doll Etiquette
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The nature of BJD allow a wide range of involvement.  For someone who is not artistic, it is possible to buy a painted doll directly from the doll or hire a [[Customizing | customizer]] to complete a doll concept.
* Travelling with a BJD
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* Shopping for BJDs/BJD Items.
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Many owners are comfortable customizing or performing maintenance on their own dolls, such as giving the doll a [[faceup]] or performing [[seam sanding]] or [[restringing]].  Others prefer to allow others to do these tasks and enjoy their dolls through display or superficial enhancements such as changing the eyes, wigs, or clothing.
* Camera Tips & Tricks for Photographing BJDs
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==Company-Owner Relationships==
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Many differences in opinion come from whether or not the owner views their doll as a toy or a piece of art.  This impression can vary depending on the owner's definitions of art and mass-production.
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Most owners tend to place their dolls above mass-produced, commercially available toys such as Barbie or Licca because each BJD is produced and painted by hand.  However, there is also a lot of debate about where the owners' and artists' rights overlap, and whether or not an owner should profit from photos of her doll.
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In addition to interest in the dolls themselves, some members follow specific artists.  In recent years, communication between the artists, companies, and collectors has become more common, allowing owners to appreciate their dolls in different ways.
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==Character Creation==
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Most doll owners give their dolls stories and personalities; it is common for owners to use dolls as physical embodiments of characters from an original comic or piece of writing.  Other owners create dolls of characters from popular media, such as a beloved book or cartoon character.
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Frequently, owners take elaborate photoshoots or stage photostories to express the character or story of their doll.  Character may also be also conveyed through a custom [[Faceup | faceup]], specific [[wig]] or [[eyes]], or character-specific clothing choices.
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A small portion of doll owners have expressed belief that their dolls have a "soul" or animating force, usually citing animistic beliefs or strong imagination.  Some companies encourage this relationship between owner and doll by calling the act of purchasing a doll "adoption" or referring to the doll itself as a "son" or "daughter."
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==Links==
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* [http://www.denofangels.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?68-Dolly-Debate Den of Angels Dolly Debate Subforum]
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* [http://www.denofangels.com/forums/showthread.php?291186-calling-the-doll-quot-my-son-quot-quot-my-daughter-quot Calling the doll "my son" "my daughter"?]

Revision as of 16:02, 12 May 2010

Culture

The culture of the BJD hobby has evolved as the market and community have grown. Originally, relative obscurity coupled with the difficulty in buying BJD shaped an English-speaking community that was tight-knit and supportive of every new member. As more options became available and more collectors entered the hobby, the general culture of the dollery changed and evolved.

Community

The BJD hobby has a strong community aspect; most English-speaking doll owners belong to at least one doll-related forum, such as Den of Angels. Posting photos, learning and sharing customizing techniques, and discussing current releases is an integral part of the hobby for many enthusiasts.

BJD draw a diverse body of hobbyists. There are many aspects of doll ownership, from customization to strict collecting, allowing people enjoy their dolls for a variety of reasons. In addition, because the BJD hobby has crossover into a lot of other hobbies and fandoms, enthusiasts find BJD through many different sources. Anime and manga, cosplay, and [[Fashion Dolls | "traditional" fashion dolls] are some of the most common shared interests among collectors.

Many owners also seek out other enthusiasts in their local community through organizing or attending meetups; Some owners also attend events hosted by companies (i.e. Volks Dolpa), hobby enthusiasts (i.e. Dollectable or GoGaDoll), or BJD panels at other doll or anime conventions.

Doll Owners

Most BJD owners are female, with the most recent poll data] indicating that the ratio of men to women is approximately 1:7. The ages of collectors vary widely from children to great-grandparents, but the bulk of collectors fall between 18-35 years old.

There is a wide range of sexualities, professions, religious beliefs, and family structures represented.

Collecting vs. Playing

Community members generally tend to think of doll owners as being on a spectrum that runs from "people who collect dolls" to "people who play with dolls."

Collectors are owners who may buy dolls as an "investment," keep dolls for display purposes only, or buy their dolls to complete a set or collection.

At the opposite end, some doll owners treat their dolls more like common toys and take them on daily errands with them, sleep with them in their bed, or imagine (or believe) that they are alive.

There are social stigmas attached to both extremes. Most owners fall to the center of the spectrum with aspects of both the toy owner and haute-couture collector.

Range of Customization

The nature of BJD allow a wide range of involvement. For someone who is not artistic, it is possible to buy a painted doll directly from the doll or hire a customizer to complete a doll concept.

Many owners are comfortable customizing or performing maintenance on their own dolls, such as giving the doll a faceup or performing seam sanding or restringing. Others prefer to allow others to do these tasks and enjoy their dolls through display or superficial enhancements such as changing the eyes, wigs, or clothing.

Company-Owner Relationships

Many differences in opinion come from whether or not the owner views their doll as a toy or a piece of art. This impression can vary depending on the owner's definitions of art and mass-production.

Most owners tend to place their dolls above mass-produced, commercially available toys such as Barbie or Licca because each BJD is produced and painted by hand. However, there is also a lot of debate about where the owners' and artists' rights overlap, and whether or not an owner should profit from photos of her doll.

In addition to interest in the dolls themselves, some members follow specific artists. In recent years, communication between the artists, companies, and collectors has become more common, allowing owners to appreciate their dolls in different ways.

Character Creation

Most doll owners give their dolls stories and personalities; it is common for owners to use dolls as physical embodiments of characters from an original comic or piece of writing. Other owners create dolls of characters from popular media, such as a beloved book or cartoon character.

Frequently, owners take elaborate photoshoots or stage photostories to express the character or story of their doll. Character may also be also conveyed through a custom faceup, specific wig or eyes, or character-specific clothing choices.

A small portion of doll owners have expressed belief that their dolls have a "soul" or animating force, usually citing animistic beliefs or strong imagination. Some companies encourage this relationship between owner and doll by calling the act of purchasing a doll "adoption" or referring to the doll itself as a "son" or "daughter."


Links