History as Fad

Japanese pop culture has profoundly affected America. You probably recognize the words anime and manga, and you might even know that otaku (nerd or geek) is used to describe Japanese superfans of the diverse genres of animation and their characters. I know more about all of this than I used to thanks to my friend Kit Born. (Although when I was about 7, I did get up early every morning to watch Speed Racer without knowing I was on the cutting edge of a major trend.)

Now the latest fad to come out of Japan is “history girls.” Young women are getting into Japanese history. As the seminary’s resident medieval history nerd, I think I like this trend. I am imagining America embracing this fad; I picture myself watching the emergence of a generation of history nerds, both women and men.

On the other hand, the “history girls” also dress up like the characters they admire. I’m not so sure about that part. I wouldn’t mind a few Luther imitators here and there on campus, but I don’t want to encounter a gang of Walther wanna-bes in the quad any time soon! (You can see why in the picture here—>)

Related posts

Theological Symposium – Call for Papers

Theological Symposium - Call for Papers


Theological Symposium - Call for Papers

The Theological Symposium committee invites proposals for open sectionals for the 34th Annual Theological Symposium, September 17-18, 2024, at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. The title this year is “Technology and the Church: Promise and Peril.” Major technological advances are not for...

Lutheran Theology: Kill Your Passions

Lutheran Theology: Kill Your Passions


Lutheran Theology: Kill Your Passions

This is part four in a series of posts by Dr. David Maxwell. The first was "What Should You Do With Anger and Desire?" The second was "Gregory of Nyssa: Direct the Passions." The third was "Cyril of Alexandria: Lull Your Passions to Sleep." My sense is that Lutheran spirituality leans more in...

Cyril of Alexandria: Lull Your Passions to Sleep

Cyril of Alexandria: Lull Your Passions to Sleep


Cyril of Alexandria: Lull Your Passions to Sleep

This is part three in a series of posts by Dr. David Maxwell. The first was "What Should You Do With Anger and Desire?"The second was "Gregory of Nyssa: Direct the Passions." Cyril of Alexandria is a good example of a Christian appropriation of the Stoic view of the passions. The goal is not...

1 Comment

  1. Will Schumacher April 14, 2010
    Reply

    I heard this NPR story, too, and it sounded to me like these “history girls” are really rather serious about history — a far cry from the sometimes strange world of Renaissance Faires and the <a href="http://www.sca.org/"Society for Creative Anachronism.
    Important Note: The upcoming Walther Round Table Conference will NOT include a Walther look-alike contest!

Leave a comment