Greetings, I am one of Zaphod’s loyal toadies… or that’s what he thinks…
In truth, I work for Antichristo, the EVIL luchadore Overlord and all powerful ruler of Hell.
Oh and I too am not a goth (nor a crook for that matter!). Although, I admit to knowing goths and more than one goth female as asked that I wear a schoolgirl outfit for Halloween. Don’t ask, I’m not sure I fully understand this perverse obsession of theirs with having me cross-dress for their amusement…
I simply wish to elaborate upon the situation of schoolgirl outfits in Japan and the infamous “lolicom” fetish.
Schoolgirl outfits, better known amongst Japanophiles and Otaku of all kinds as the sailor (pronounced “say-lah”) fuku (clothes), is the stuff of popular culture, myth and sexual fantasies in Japan and has a certain following in North America thanks to anime (especially mahou shoujo series Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon) and internet pornography. Almost every Japanese girl/woman I’ve known has her own stories regarding the infamous outfit and what it meant to her - most of them are boring, but what do you expect out of spoiled upper middle class Japanese girls?
While most didn’t mind them, they did have a bit of jealousy towards the western girls and the more liberal policies of American schools towards dress codes. Still, despite being excessively common and in no way a means by which one can be associated with a particular social class (apart from variants between the actual outfits), the sailor fuku is regarded as a cultural (gosh I hate the term culture, don’t you?) icon and a powerful sexual symbol.
The sailor fuku often ends up being associated with the lolicom or Lolita Complex (why hasn’t anyone mentioned this book so far? Very à propos I’d say!). The lolita complex simply refers to the seemingly abnormal interest of certain Japanese males for excessively young female characters in manga/anime (as opposed to real life underage girls which leave them cold for the most part) - i.e. Sakura of Card Captor Sakura fame has her own series of hentai doujinshi manga.
Hentai manga, pornographic movies featuring real life participants, and yes, even special “pawn shops” (can’t recall the proper name at this moment) where one may buy “used” female clothing are popular methods to get one’s fix of schoolgirl LUV. The last one is still the subject of much debate but there’s more proof of such a business existing (on a regular basis) than the infamous urban legend of a vending machine selling used female underwear…
So what does this have to do with club goers in the UK and the U.S.? Not really sure… hell of a story though!
hears crickets chirp
Criticism accepted…
Moving on, the schoolgirl outfit is a fairly powerful sexual symbol in North America and, I presume, in most of north western Europe as well. In fact, I dare say it’s one of the most underrated sexual fantasies out there!
Now, critics will chime in to say that it’s awfully close to paedophilia…
For pete’s sake! What sexual fantasy isn’t in some manner related to a socially unacceptable behaviour? You want me to believe that Mistress Ilsa and her cortage of slaves are a good representation of what a “civilised society” should be? Now I’m not about to say that being led around by some tall, latex-clad firebrand is in any way unappealing, but honestly, isn’t this sort of behaviour (outside of a sexual practice) “wrong” by most social norms of those nations mentioned in this thread? Isn’t this a case of a rose by any other name?
But you see, those are fantasies - well I guess that Mistress Ilsa might disagree and who am I really to argue with a fictional Domina - and certainly do not represent real life… or do they?
It all boils down to this: are fantasies a means by which we can avoid socially unacceptable behaviour or are they merely a first step into these said “depraved” behavioural patterns?
Are we creatures capable of handling a fantasy/reality dychotomy or not?
Are reality and fantasy so far apart that one does not equate the other?
What the hell am I doing? It’s 3:40 AM and I’m about to embark upon a debate concerning psychoanalysis, post-modernism and sex! Eeeps!
claps Bravo Asplagis, once more you’ve outdone yourself! Way to make a first impression old boy!
sighs
At least I managed to talk about Sailor Moon, schoolgirl outfits and that vending machine story that amuses me to no end.
I’ll try and complete this train of thought tomorrow…