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East Asian Youth Cultures Spring 2015

Globalized Identities, Localized Practices, and Social Transitions

Dwayne Dixon, Author

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Is This Kind of Precarity Balanced?

    Is the precarious relationship between the Otaku youth and the industry something that can be sustained? Based on the fact that the spaces in which the two groups look for profit differ may seem to indicate initially that this sense of precarious labor is something sustainable. With the otakus looking for profit of recognition and a sense of belonging in the third and fourth space, and the industry looking for economic profits in the first and second space, there seems to be no clash of interest. In this sense, the precarious nature of work seems to have no conflict that would break the balance.
    However, this is ignoring one very large fact: the industry is always in control. In both fansubbing and doujin, the otaku groups participating in the activity are treading an illegal line. In the case of fansubbing, the groups take copyrighted media and distributes them for free. Meanwhile, doujins circles are taking copyrighted characters and making their own derivative works with it. With this derivative work, the groups sell them at comiket to make money. albeit a very small amount of money. Although this money results in net loss for the group, it is still illegal since the groups are stealing creative property for means of for profit distribution. However, because these groups are at the moment profiting the industry, the latter is choosing cast a blind eye towards the illegality of these activities (González 269). However, the moment that the industry decides that these groups are not profiting them, they can shut them down through legal actions, making it an unsustainable relationship for the otaku youth.
    Furthermore, just because the industry has not started any legal actions up till now does not mean that they will not. This is shown indirectly by the precarity of even the professionals working within the industry, as in the examples of Thurlow and Zuka chan. This precarity truly shows that the industry is working for economic profit at the cost of even those working within it. If the industry's treatment of even its employees are hostile, then as soon as it decides that an outside group such as the otaku youth is not profitable, it is likely to work towards getting rid of groups like fansubbers and doujin circles.
    Hence, while on the surface there may seem to be a harmonious balance in the precarity that exists in the otaku youth, the truth is that the youth are under the subjugation of the industry. As soon as the industry decides to turn their attention towards the illegal nature of their work, groups such as the fansubbers and doujin circles are at extreme risk.
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