mainstream

Yeah, that's her. She steals/copies/traces most of her stuff from other fairy artists like Brian Froud and just adds stripy goth stockings and crap. D:

I would like that too. :3 If you buy SOME things mainstream and make other things or buy them from small dealers, you can still create unique compositions.
And of course BJDs will never be like Twilight. BJDs are awesome. ;D

 

I think one of the fears about something going mainstream is if it's going to trash whatever it is you have an attachment to. I know one example of this is in the anime industry, where as anime hit the mainstream at least one company popped up which would acquire the rights to various anime before butchering the hell out of them "to better suit the target audience".
I'm not sure how any similar problems could come about for BJDs though.

 

The Fashionistas are more like Obitsu or Volks Asian Fashion Dolls. What Mattel did that was suspiciously BJD-like was Teen Trends. That didn't last very long and was scary looking and fugly.

 

I think we're going to see a growing trend of popularity for these dolls regardless. I mean, look how the hobby has grown in even the last couple of years? This forum community has also grown immensely! Not everyone here owns dolls just yet either, but I'm seeing a lot of teenagers and young adults joining the hobby lately. Hot Topic has always attempted to cater to the more 'underground' 'edgy' groups and it's true, it's become more mainstream and we've seen the fashion trends everywhere lately. It's cool to be goth or emo or whatever it is, whereas when I was in high school it was a sure way to get harassed/isolated. Maybe things haven't changed too much though.

We've already seen some American designers take a stab at the ball-joint and strung doll design (Goodreau Dolls) and I think we're going to start seeing more and of that style picked up made in the lighter/cheaper vinyl instead.

I laughed when I saw the subject of designer bags brought up but it's a good analogy for this particular situation. Designer bags are generally made with the best materials, a lot of the work may be done by hand or given more time and attention than say...something from k-mart. Much like our beloved resin-babies, they're special, they're limited and we know they're generally made of quality stuff and will give us years of enjoyment. We'd be happy to invest in a good doll, or a good purse knowing it would last us several years. We're going to probably start seeing the K-Mart brands of BJDs popping up before too long. They're made from generic molds, cheap materials, we may even have cheaper accessories offered to us as well.

This is going to be great for many being introduced into the hobby or those trying to find more reasonably cost items to customize our babies. I can see this hurting the companies across the oceans though, those that make the clothes or eyes or wigs or whatever by hand. Despite the economy sucking just about everywhere, we're probably going to see which companies are going to sink or swim.

 

IMO:
Its like Teeth. Every one has them, but can they tell you the scientific name of a 'wizards tooth'?
I think when some thing becomes familiar to to a degree- not very much factual info is known- but basics knowledge is.
Like cars; they are shiny fast things that come out with various styles at various times.
If Lolita or dolls were to become more main stream- less research would be made.
When things are less main stream people actually have to go out of their way to learn about said mysterious subject.

Plus, over abundance of things lessens value.
Over use of some thing makes said subject dull/can become boring.

 

... okay, I gotta ask, since Google doesn't know. WHAT is a "wizard's tooth"?

 

( lmfao, that's a bit off topic but I'm pretty sure that's slang term how people who are now in their 40's+ describe molars. ;D )
I suppose this could be doll related if you want to get into how dolls don't really have teeth accept for the chibi unao- who can come with adorable fanged teeth *ahem, ahem* Oh yes and an adorable missing tooth set of teeth *shifty eyes*

 

My thoughts on this subject remain pretty much as they have been on similar subjects: in my opinion, it's just as silly to love something just because it's popular as it is to hate it because it's popular.

On the con side, a broader people knowing how valuable these dolls are opens up a lot more risk in terms of theft. I am not especially fond of that. While, yes, it might be annoying to see Prettee Swan Diva, The Pop Culture Paramour of the Moment, carrying around a BJD in place of her pursepup, in my case, it'd probably result in more helpless giggling than muttery grumbling. Or, perhaps, some griping -- Prettee Swan Diva can probably convince Gaultier to dress her pursepoppet, while I haven't a snowball's chance in a supernova of doing the same. Having more people battling it out for access to limited items that can't easily be produced in larger quantities, also not fun.

On the "mystique" angle, I can frankly have enough "mystique", personally, built up over being a peculiar and cagey hermit of sorts. Things that people find interesting? They ask about them, they get in your face about them, they have a million questions and assumptions that they likely would not have if whatever the thing I was carrying around or doing was public knowledge. The end result of this would likely mean fewer people getting nosy at me, and I'm particularly fond of that notion. I don't do what I do because it makes me special or an enigma or "unique" -- I do it because I like it (or because I have to, but we're talking hobby fun time here, not about scrubbing the bathroom, and "have to" doesn't have much place here).

Being left to my own devices, I've managed to be "unique" enough without exerting effort to accomplish that end; it's a side effect of being oneself first and not worrying too much about what everyone else is doing. As a result, I don't fret overmuch about what is or isn't popular in pop culture media.

 

Hmm I've got one word to describe my feelings on the thought of BJDs going main stream. "Crocs"
I think I'll leave it at that. XD

 

I guess in theory, I see your point about making life easier for existing doll owners. And finding clothes in places where you like to shop is really cool - in theory. I'm one of those people who likes instant gratification, so having clothes and shoes readily available to me is a plus.

I was never what you'd call a twi-hard, but I read Twilight in high school (back when there was only one book). I'd been reading a lot of other vampire books and novels before that - and after that, too - but I liked it because it was about a girl in high school and a brooding guy... I loved it, and it seemed like no one else knew what it was. It was my thing - my thing to enjoy and think about and not have to share with anyone if I didn't want to.

Cut to 2008, when the movie came out. At first, I was very interested (my local radio program was discussing a book I'd read). I didn't care for the actors, but I sort of enjoyed the early fanfare that came with a movie being marketed. The movie as OK. I still thought the actors were unattractive, and nowhere near who I had in my head. Soon, the Twilight franchise starts booming, and things get... kind of weird. There is too much fighting amongst fans, and way too much craziness. I still liked Twilight (I have the other books, but never really read them) because it had been my own, personal thing. I feel, however, that because things exploded like they did that something I once considered personal to me - at least amongst my circle of friends and probably most of my classmates - is not so personal anymore. The point I'm trying to make is that sometimes it's good to have your own thing.

I tell the Twilight story because I'm thinking - if marketed the right way - things can get out of hand if things become main stream. It would be great for us - as BJD hobbyists already - because we can find things we need without having to save our pennies and order an outfit online, sight unseen. We won't have to play Russian roulette with clothes not fitting and being stuck with something unusable because we could walk or drive to a store and try them on our dolls.

Frankly, I don't care if everyone and their mom gets a BJD because they look cool or are the in thing. Dolls aren't "designer animals" that are living, breathing beings. What I mainly care about is the backlash we might experiance.

There are always going to be those annoying people who consider themselves "cool", "smarter", or more superior when they don't follow a popular trend. A lot of these people think they know something we don't when really they just don't want a doll. Being surrounded by a trend doesn't mean it's a good one, and it doesn't mean you have to join in. But I know we're going to get those people that see BJD hobbyists are trend followers, and "slaves" to trends rather than someone in it because they like it. You won't be able to tell the people who like the trend apart from people who are just doing it to be seen doing it.

 

I mean, there's a chance that you will get genuine BJD collectors out of the mainstream experience.

And also, look at Ed Hardy. Since he went mainstream, people are accusing him of being a sell-out, and all that. Personally, I really like Ed Hardy designs, and I feel no shame in buying a t-shirt or something with an image of his on it.

 

I think people should do any hobby they like. But I also think it's best for some hobbies not to become mainstream. As for BJD's, I like them because I can personalize them and have them be the way I want them to be. And they're my friends . Whoever is in the hobby because he or she really likes having them and being involved, that's fine
But for some hobbies, like Live Action Roleplay, I don't think it's suitable for everyone and the settings are generally just not liked by everyone. Even though LARPers are a range of people from any layer of society, they are still a 'certain kind' of people, who like fantasy and to fantasize, who like roleplaying and the occasional brawl (using LARP weapons that is). But at LARP events I never ever meet people who are "normal" normal. I'm talking about people who are, well, mainstream in most things. People who have very common interests and lives basically, don't do LARP. It wouldn't cross their minds. They either don't know about it or think we are a bunch of freaks. On the other side, I wouldn't want to see those silly plebs at a LARP either because I can never assume they'll take it seriously.
One time, we did have a 'mainstream' boy in our midst because he was involved with a TV show in which two people swap their lives for a couple of days. So he joined up with the NPC team for the first evening, came along with a group of cannibals and we were supposed to ambush a group or players. Even though he thought the costumes and weapons are cool and such, he couldn't get into a very simple part: yelling "DJOETOE DJOETOE" and go hit the players. Even though he was a smart kid (gymnasium student) an assignment that easy, he could nòt perform.
BJD could be for anyone, it's just better than barbies, but LARP definately isn't.

 

I wouldn't like it. But I wouldn't leave the hobby. Mainstream things come and go in waves, really. That and I am not to worried as dolls have never really been a mainstream thing. And BJDs just have a bit to much of a creepy factor to ever make it in mainstream American culture, at least. However, I would be vary happy if there were more accessible ways, ie stores that carried doll things. And from what I can tell there are many stores opening up to supply doll things, or current stores are adding BJD things to their list of carried things. But they are not major stores, they are smaller shops, it seems. I haven't done much research so I'm not positive on that last bit.

 

I love Hot Topic and it's anything but mainstream. It's so far past that word, even though it's all things Twilight Central now. (i'm a happy Twilight fan.) But I would love it if some stores like Hot Topic or Spencer's, would carry affordable BJD things, including clothes, accessories and even the dolls themselves. I would be so freaking happy to buy my dream doll in the mall in one single trip. The companies could make a killing off of people who frequent visits to the mall and are BJD owners. I think it's a great idea to at least try. If it fails, then that's that.
And also, the main reason why so many people don't want anything 'foreign' to go mainstream is due to the popularity behind it. I think that they don't want a challenge in terms of sales because they know that people who are fans or BJD, anime and EGL are more likely to buy things related to their interests and don't want the sales of their items to plunge into the ground. Frankly, I'm angry and disturbed that just because something is from a different country or not created by the company that created the store won't just sell what is popular among their clients and offer their products as a gift or something to make everyone happy?

 

Having a bjd makes me feel original because not many others have them. In any case I don't know a single person who owns one in real life. My friends know what they are and they're the only ones that need to know.
Although sometimes I wish it was easier to buy stuff for them :S

 

Sorry for the OT reply, but for the record, it's not "wizard's tooth". It's "wisdom tooth". And it's not molars in general, just the very back ones that come in during adolescence that most people have removed.

Fun fact: Emby has FIVE wisdom teeth. :B

 

I like the idea of some of the clothing and prop/furniture being mainstream because it would be easier for me to get. But like it has been said, the quality,creativity of the dolls would be in danger of going down(I like resin, but I am not opposed to a high quality vinyl. I have some beautiful vinyl dolls). Also, I like the idea that if I buy a new doll, it is being made just for me. Even if it has a default face-up and wig, it is still made just for my order.

EMBY- wow, 5 wisdom teeth! Neat!

 

Wow I never thought I would say it, but I am embarassed to be an American right now. Are you folk really so provincial? Really? Maybe you should stop saving for dollies and get on an airplane and fly somewhere where there are no malls, no Spencer Gifts, and oh my gosh no completely mainstream corporate Hot Topics and see what the world is like. Either that or please, don't try to conjecture about culture and counter culture when you clearly get all your ideas from E News and Attack of the Show.
Wait I know, let me unsubscribe from this thread so I don't have to be annoyed by it.

 

I'd love to see more readily available clothes and other bjd accessories. It would be super to have a bjd store in the USA too, for shorter shipping times.

 

Nothing wrong with mainstream as long as the quality doesn't get worse because of mass-production!