http://www.saramayhew.com/blog/index.php/2010/06/what-is-manga/ Sketchy-blog & ramblings from a geek-a-licious mangaka. Sun, 13 May 2012 00:54:33 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 http://www.saramayhew.com/blog/index.php/2010/06/what-is-manga/comment-page-1/#comment-13329 What Constitutes a True Graphic Novel? | The Voice of Heard Tue, 10 Jan 2012 00:51:14 +0000 http://www.saramayhew.com/blog/?p=414#comment-13329 [...] people who like graphic novels to buy them.  I should also point out that this issue is similar to the labeling and marketing of manga (Japanese comic books), which is discussed on a couple of occasions by the American mangaka [...] [...] people who like graphic novels to buy them.  I should also point out that this issue is similar to the labeling and marketing of manga (Japanese comic books), which is discussed on a couple of occasions by the American mangaka [...]

]]> http://www.saramayhew.com/blog/index.php/2010/06/what-is-manga/comment-page-1/#comment-10857 Paul Duffield Wed, 10 Aug 2011 12:59:13 +0000 http://www.saramayhew.com/blog/?p=414#comment-10857 Hi Sarah! I only just stumbled across this (better late than never I guess) and just wanted to say thanks for reading my post and taking it seriously! I find that there can be a lot of emotion involved in the way we label and promote art (especially where manga is concerned), so it's always a tricky subject to broach. It's great to read such a level-headed and frank article on the matter! I shied away from addressing the issue of marketing and promotion when I discussed the topic because it was more of a post about personal feelings, but having read this, I agree that it's an unavoidable part of producing comics – and more importantly, selling them in order to make a living! By talking about a "comics ghetto" at the end of my post, I was pining for a non-segregated industry that I know on many levels is an impractical and idealistic goal. I would love for comics and manga to be perceived and consumed by the public in the same way (and on the same level of popularity) that novels are: divided by subject matter, personal interest, and creator - instead of by publisher, culture of origin, style or methods of production. I’m constantly seeking for ways to facilitate this change, despite the fact that it’s a tall order, especially on the short term. On a practical level, one of the possibilities for achieving this seems to be how creators market and publish themselves, but there’s this massive practical barrier, that your post really puts its finger on: How is it possible to reach out to the sort of audience who are most likely to identify with your work without using the label they also identify with? I’m kind of stuck at that point, but would love to hear your thoughts on the problem! (both what you think of the goal itself, and on possible ways of achieving it if it’s something you identify with) Hi Sarah! I only just stumbled across this (better late than never I guess) and just wanted to say thanks for reading my post and taking it seriously! I find that there can be a lot of emotion involved in the way we label and promote art (especially where manga is concerned), so it’s always a tricky subject to broach. It’s great to read such a level-headed and frank article on the matter!
I shied away from addressing the issue of marketing and promotion when I discussed the topic because it was more of a post about personal feelings, but having read this, I agree that it’s an unavoidable part of producing comics – and more importantly, selling them in order to make a living!
By talking about a “comics ghetto” at the end of my post, I was pining for a non-segregated industry that I know on many levels is an impractical and idealistic goal. I would love for comics and manga to be perceived and consumed by the public in the same way (and on the same level of popularity) that novels are: divided by subject matter, personal interest, and creator – instead of by publisher, culture of origin, style or methods of production. I’m constantly seeking for ways to facilitate this change, despite the fact that it’s a tall order, especially on the short term.
On a practical level, one of the possibilities for achieving this seems to be how creators market and publish themselves, but there’s this massive practical barrier, that your post really puts its finger on: How is it possible to reach out to the sort of audience who are most likely to identify with your work without using the label they also identify with? I’m kind of stuck at that point, but would love to hear your thoughts on the problem!
(both what you think of the goal itself, and on possible ways of achieving it if it’s something you identify with)

]]> http://www.saramayhew.com/blog/index.php/2010/06/what-is-manga/comment-page-1/#comment-10843 Manga: The Silent Debate of an Art Form’s Definition | The Voice of Heard Tue, 09 Aug 2011 21:29:01 +0000 http://www.saramayhew.com/blog/?p=414#comment-10843 [...] on, the first post about manga I have read is What is Manga written by Sara Mayhew on her blog There Are Four Lights.  Miss Mayhew, a mangaka who promotes [...] [...] on, the first post about manga I have read is What is Manga written by Sara Mayhew on her blog There Are Four Lights.  Miss Mayhew, a mangaka who promotes [...]

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