Too many? (Dolls in drag, / relationships, etc)

Me me me~ I just want some nice, tailored stuff once in awhile.

As for the debate topic, I agree with what PrettyPopCandy has said above: trends tend to arise when groups with similar interests converge and connect. You see a lot of same-sex BJD couples when many people in the hobby also have an interest in yaoi, as with gothic lolita/drag.

I don't think the majority of people who follow these trends are consciously trying to "follow" something: they're just making their dolls around what they're interested in. Maybe it's been "done to death," but that doesn't really matter when you're not the one playing with them.

 

Mckitty, I'm not dictating anyone how they should live. What I'm saying is, if it's really a problem then why don't make a quick decision about it, just seperate each group from each other because we all know they only argue together. But don't worry I got your point. Seperating it would only make it worse I guess... ^^

 

I don't really see too many things I think are done to death, but I do think there are things that are done poorly. The "Big brother that likes his brother that threatens to kick anyone's *** that comes near his younger brother" is one of those things to me. <<; I've gone through about twenty pages of photostories (Not only this site, but several others too) and I see it come up a lot. Granted, it does make sense, but it sounds a little dry to me.

Plots have to be executed with a little foreshadowing. Instead of having him come out and say it when the other isn't looking or in the room, why not show the first few photo shoots with the younger brother talking and somewhere the other brooding in the corner. Having that malicious glare as he sips tea or something he's not often known for. <<; Look into it. That is how a jealous person acts, the don't come out and say things so openly.

There are plenty of other things I see too, such as love. Vague, and insincere.

Pouting dolls with low self worth. >.< It's possibly to portray this without looking like a cry for attention as an owner. Really, I know it is.

Yep, that's a list I can start with at least. Granted, I don't mean this to be malicious to anyone. There are just tasteful ways to portray something, and not so tasteful ways also. I am just pointing out what my opinion is. That is all.

 

Very true because my doll is a seme from a yaoi. Yaoi is one of my many loves and major interests so of course it inspired my reason for having a gay BJD.

 

Everyone is entitled to an opinion so its no surprise we all get such lively debate! (Which I love reading by the way )


what is "Done to death" seems to be in the eyes of the person browsing the forum. what one person thinks is overdone, another might think there is not enough of. In a forum as big as this there are bound to be groups of people who connect over the same things. Sometimes those groups that share the same interest are big, sometimes they are not. But honestly there will be people who follow fads and people who are genuine, who are we to judge? unless we know the person we can't tell what their motives are. Are they doing it for attention? to be "cool", to fit in? Or just because they truly like the visual appeal? we can't answer that question for that specific person.

Here's a bit of an odd comparison for you all. ballerina flats and tunic style tops. How many people do you see wearing them? are they wearing them because they like them or just to 'fit in" Does that seem to be "done to death"?

If the amount of people doing it contributes to this then most everything in the real world and the forums can be considered cliche.

I have both straight and gay couples and They are as varied and different as real couples. I have non couple dolls and will have at least one child doll. I happen to have a partner whos love for these dolls is as big as mine and between us we have dolls that touch many different genres. To us, our dolls are our dolls, some represent characters that we have had for more than 10 years. some came when we bought them. Either way all of them fall into many different categories. We have dolls who are cuberpunk, some who are period style, some are gay, some are straight, some are goth, some are decora, some dress in jeans and t-shirts. we have tomboy girls, and feminine boys, girly girls and masculine guys. in fact ours dolls are a bit of a mixed bag. And it makes for a very diverse and varied group!

I've had some dolls go in a totally different direction than I had planned but thats the beauty of art. It's ever changing. Thats what brings me enjoyment! I don't know other's reasons, but if they're anything like me they do it because they like it. its simple really. if it sounds like fun, I'll dig deeper into it. I was the girl in school who never followed the norm. I don't let myself get pulled in too much by whats going on around me. I like to dip a finger in everything and explore all possibilites, regardless of what anyone thinks. maybe that's why my dolls are an odd lot. sure some of them may dress or look cliche, even have cliche pasts, but honestly there isn't much out there that isn't considered "cliche" by someone

So in all of my rambling I'm really saying, theat as long as there are people who enjoy something it can never really be done to death. When it all boils down to it, its all about how each of us percieves our world.

 

Right you are!

 

Dressing in drag.
Its the only thing I can say I've seen too many dolls doing. :p

I mean, I feel like I have the ONLY MNF Shiwoo that hasnt been put in a dress.

I understand if its in their personallity, but yeah.

Sorry if this offends anyone. Just my opinion.

 

I don't think theres such thing as 'too many'...

Sure some of my dolls may be homosexual, and I admit I do think about dressing them in drag for fun for a photoshoot once in a while...
But I'm not doing it because it's a trend...I do it because I think it would suit the character and I have fun with it ;;
A lot of people in this hobby are already BL fans, in fact I think a lot of doll makers in major companies are also BL fans...we are attracted by the 'bishounen' type sculpts...

But it's sad to think that even sexuality has become a trend nowadays ;;

 

I can promise you that there are at least two more out there. They just don't get their pictures posted very often.

And just a reminder to the world in general... One absolutely DOES NOT have to be a yaoi fan to be a bishie-fancier. Trust me on that one.

 

Don't quite agree with you there. People on this board have stated before that there are many who like bjd's, but are not interested in anime.

I love these dolls, but don't care for anime, lolita, gothic, androginous and gay themes. Me and my roommate are fond of theatre, yet her taste is very different from mine and I'd not easilly go to a performance she likes to go to. And even though I like to play games and work in the industry, doesn't mean I own all consoles, have t-shirts with witty quotes from popular games or collect actionfigures.

Just because you share the same hobby, doesn't mean everything you like or do is exactly the same. It could well be that you like only one aspect of a hobby, but don't care about the rest.

 

I don't think of fads or trends when looking at piccies or photo stories, or think about anything being overdone. I just love to see the creativity BJDs inspire. I never get sick of looking at them.

 

I might be interested in dolls, but that certainly doesn't mean that I am into "anime, lolita, gothic, androginous, or gay themes." I have blonde hair and used to work in an Aeropostale store. Can't say that I have a fake tan and drink whatever kind of juice that is. Frankly, I'm disappointed that bjd owners are being stereotyped the same way we are stereotyping our dolls. I am certainly not in most of "these circles."

Are there some trends that I would not prefer to see as much on the forum? Of course. Are there some things that will never get old to look at? Of course too. I would say it is a matter of personal interest, although there are some trends that are very prevalent, and the novelty has worn off. There are a lot of dolls that fit certain stereotypes, and I hope owners don't think they are being unique or original when they are all being "independent together."

Have some of these trends become too mainstream in the bjd hobby? Do any owners who have dolls in drag/same-sex couples/stereotypical relationships/etc. think that the dolls/characters are less special because so many other owners are doing it too? What about counter-trend reactions? Have any started to pop up to "combat" these trends that some find overly prevalent? Just some questions for thought.

 

There has been some chat about tomboy girl dolls on other threads. That's kind of a response to all the pretty boys. Not that I don't love all the pretty boys!

I've also been intrigued by some mythological characters in the artists' zone: a little satyr, for example. There have been mermen as well...

 

Too many homosexual male dolls, too many crossdressing male dolls, not enough lesbian or tomboy female dolls =P

I've definitely tried to combat it and will continue to do so... All my male dolls are straight and I try to keep them reasonably masculine.

Before I'm burned at the stake by yaoi fangirls, I should make it clear I have nothing against homosexual males themselves... Being bisexual (female) myself, of course I have no problem with homosexuality. However, I'm not a yaoi fan. I would prefer not to see it. And I feel that there is far too much of it in the ball-jointed doll fandom (or any fandom, for that matter).

I do think making homosexual males has become a "trend" within any given group, and it's a shame. It's become a novelty.

 

*laughing like a loon* I'm one who has no interest at all in anime... respect the artistry, not my thing.

Having said that, I think there are a limited number of human stories and they are repeated endlessly with infinite minor variations. Themes, ideas, etc. are only "done to death" when they're done poorly, which is what happens when something becomes trendy or popular and many, many people try their hand at it. A very small minority of the human population is gifted at writing; an even smaller percentage have improved their skills by practice... so it figures that like any art, the vast majority of its practitioners in any genre will not be very good.

And that's okay. I can tell in about two sentences if I really want to keep reading someone's story... and maybe some of those who start out as not-so-great imitators will blossom into great innovators. You never know!

Ann Marie

 

I wish there were more female couples in BJD, I do get slightly fed up seeing the seemingly endless boy romances and the sadly neglected girl ones. Male homosexuality is fine by me and I really don't care who is in a relationship with whom as long as both parties are in love...but in dollworld, if these dolls were human, we would have a rapidly decreasing population as all the boys turn gay one by one Cynthia, my Hye, is a lesbian because that was a part of her character, she's a fashion photographer who pines after her muse, a beautiful model. I find stories like that fascinating, but pictures of two MNF Shiwoos, in pink with tiaras, hugging just doesn't appeal, I'm sorry!

I love more natural face-ups anyway, ones that let you appreciate the beauty of the sculpt rather than the talent of the face-up artist. Ragdoll's Maisuke (Serendipity Sharmin) has a wonderful, low-key face-up and a very human style of dress that I love. Heavily made-up dolls don't really appeal to me, I'm more about the natural look. I like my dolls to wear clothes that I would wear, there isn't a lot of the fantasy element in my gang, apart from my genie girl, Alaw. Even Alaw's apprentice, Enfys, wears a little 1940s tea dress and a jacket!

 

Just to answer your questions -- No, I don't think anything is too mainstream or not mainstream enough...basically, I don't see that it matters as longs as people are enjoying their dolls.

I don't think my dolls are less special--I do what interests me, it has nothing to do with what other people want to do or are doing. However, this is just my opinion, and I can't speak for other people. So far I haven't really heard those sentiments (not being special anymore) expressed.

Counter trend reactions...I have a lesbian couple as well as all the boys, but it's not really to combat anything. I think if people want to see more of something then doing it themselves would be the way to go. However, I don't like seeing it put as 'combat' as if it's a fight or competition. All types of doll relationships and styles can exist together.

 

Honestly? I am not really into BJDs (I'm just here for the BJAs!) because the whole mythical, sexual, overly beautiful thing doesn't do a whole lot for me. I don't know if I can say it's "overdone" because I think it's really the essence of the dolls. You know, it's not as though they look like humans. They are completely fantasy based, even if you do put them in "normal" clothing and give them "normal" personalities, because they are made in a way that is meant to be fantasy.

 

I agree with you! I'm getting really bored seeing the same thing over and over again. Another thing I always see is "they look like they're 12, but they're really 800!"

 

Many people seem to believe that all male BJDs are gay/bi, and wear dresses, and doll owners aren't doing much to correct that.
Yes, not all men are straight, and some prefer to wear women's clothing, but not a vast majority of them, like you see with dolls.

Also, the whole "non-aging" thing. Dolls don't age, I get it. And I know that you can't really get older looking dolls, but must your doll be several hundred years old?