Etchi
Etchi ( Japanese エ ッ チ , [ et.tɕi ]), also: Ecchi , is a common euphemism in the Japanese language for sexual innuendo . It is used as an adjective , meaning dirty , indecent , frivolous ; as a verb ( etchi suru ), in the sense of doing dirty, indecent, frivolous or sleeping together or as a noun , to denote someone who is etchi . Is used synonymously ero (from Eros ).
origin
The word was part of Japanese high school students' jargon during the 1950s and is the pronunciation of the letter H - derived from the English pronunciation of H as / eɪtʃ /. The exact origin is not known and there are several popular theories:
- It is believed that Etchi is the first letter of the Japanese word hentai ( 変 態 , dt. "Perverse") in Latin, which describes many things that are considered sexually offensive under the general norms of society in Japan.
- Another theory suggests that the H is derived from the first letter of the word harenchi ( 破 廉恥 , German for “impudence”, “shamelessness”) and has found its way into the vernacular of younger people since the 1960s.
- But it cannot be ruled out that Etchi is derived from the first letter of the word himitsu ( 秘密 , English “secret”). It became known in the treatise Shiroi Magyo ( 白 い 魔 魚 ) by Seiichi Funabashi in 1952 and taken up again in the 1990s in relation to the sexual act itself. The comedian Sanma Akashiya ( 明石 家 さ ん ま ) is mentioned again and again in the context of having contributed to the spread and popularization of the word creation.
Etchi and Hentai as categories of pictorial representations
Hentai and etchi are often used separately in the west. Unlike in Japan , where they are used as general, equivalent terms for filthy and perverse , the two words in the West represent graduated genre names of manga and anime with sexual content. It has become common practice to differentiate the terms according to the severity of the representation : Etchi usually refers to more soft-erotic manga and anime (i.e. no explicit representation of sexual organs or intercourse), while the term hentai stands for hard-drawn pornography . The transitions between Etchi and the so-called fan service are fluid, with Etchi also being defined as a rampant fan service.
Although the word meaning is the same in Japan and both terms refer to everything from “perverse”, “spoiled” to “disgusting”, according to artist Hiroko Mizoguchi Etchi , in Japan too, they have a playful and positive undertone.
“ Etchi refers to erotic representations. Less explicit compared to hentai. "
Etchi as a concept of a pictorial representation has become one of the most popular categories for anime and manga, especially in the western world. Etchis are much more common than hentai and have a wider range.
Typical characteristics in manga and anime
In contrast to the hentai category, Etchis deals with the topic of sexuality in a more humorous way. The depictions often feature cute figures who do not appear to be aware of their sexual attraction, are usually cheerful and seem innocent (childlike). But the opposite is also possible. In this way, characters are repeatedly portrayed as serious, refined and conscious of their sexual stimuli.
Another characteristic that is often encountered is the slipping of clothing, which either unconsciously slides off the body or is even "forcibly" torn away. This often results in a display of underwear or in the absence of it. Breasts or buttocks are occasionally revealed within such images, but the genitals are never shown. The breasts can be drawn with or without nipples. The decision is at the artist's discretion, as long as censorship or production guidelines do not conflict with this.
Typical examples are the series Dragon Girls , DearS , Amaenaideyo !! or Love Trouble .
Although there are many features that indicate that an anime or manga can be classified as an etchi, there are three features that are used particularly often.
Nudity
In many animes, manga and computer games, nudity is used both in the sense of fan service or as a humorous element, with the latter mostly focusing on exaggerated reactions. In a typical harem work like Love Trouble or Mayo Chiki! , the protagonist repeatedly gets into the awkward situation of seeing other characters exposed, which can then have various consequences.
A typical reaction to nudity is a nosebleed, which is supposed to represent an erection of the mostly male participant. Very extreme examples of this would be the animes Baka to Test to Shōkanjū and Maria † Holic , in which the characters almost die due to blood loss. At the same time, the female characters generally react extremely embarrassed and aggressive. It is not uncommon for the protagonist to be beaten up. Depending on the character of the characters, it can turn into the exact opposite, with the mostly female character attacking the protagonist and trying to seduce him according to all the rules of the art.
Nude scenes are repeatedly censored, whereby two types of censorship have to be distinguished and the degree of censorship varies greatly. In some works, for example, the opportunity is used to cleverly hide the critical areas of the body, even though the figure shown is obviously naked. For example, the leaf of a houseplant, the steam in a shower, another figure or any other object is in the way and partially blocks the view. In the English language, this type of censorship is therefore often referred to as “ convenient censorship ”.
In works in which more bare skin can be seen from the beginning, however, is repeatedly censored very rigorously. The typical means used here are strong steam, glistening rays of light or darkening so that the regions in question can no longer be seen. This type of censorship can often be found in animes that are broadcast on television, although the commercial media are usually offered without this censorship. As a result, the latter form of censorship is repeatedly criticized for deliberately being forced into free offers in order to encourage fans to buy uncensored media.
Intercourse and sexual fantasies
Usually, anime and manga that feature sexual intercourse are more likely to be classified as hentai . However, this can still be represented or indicated in the context of a misunderstanding by the viewer. An example of this would be two figures looking for an object together, which, however , looks very different for a third party observing the scene due to the silhouette or the words heard. Likewise, the sexual fantasies of the characters are shown again and again, whereby here in particular clear costumes and poses are intended to indicate the actual facts.
Pantsu
Pantsu ( パ ン ツ , from English pants ≈ (under) pants ) refers to the visibility of the underwear, which in most cases leads to strange reactions between a male and a female character. Reactions can vary, but typically the male character is punished for seeing the female character's underwear. The color and the pattern of the underwear are often based on the character of the person wearing it, so innocent girls tend to wear white underwear; B. with strawberry ( ichigo pantsu ) or bear pattern ( kuma-san pantsu ) and malicious girls red underwear.
The Pantsu theme is very popular in Etchis and appears in animes like Chobits or Sora no Otoshimono . The Pantsu theme is usually not important for the actual course and is used to cheer the viewers. An exception to this is, for example, the anime Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt , in which the underwear is used as a weapon.
Target groups
Anime with the content of an Etchi have a young, youthful target group. This is mostly male and under 18 years of age, but sometimes Etchis are also very demanding and less humorous, which should appeal to an older target group.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Shūkan Asahi of April 13, 1952
- ↑ Yomiuri Shimbun, August 28, 1955
- ↑ Gilles Poitras: Anime Essentials: Every Thing a Fan Needs to Know . Stone Bridge Press, 2001, ISBN 1-880656-53-1 , pp. 50 .
- ↑ エ ッ チ - 語 源由 来 辞典 . In: オ ー ル ガ イ ド All-Guide.com. Retrieved November 10, 2008 (Japanese, entry and definition in dictionary from All-Guide.com).
- ↑ 1952 年 ［ザ ・ 20 世紀］ . (No longer available online.) Archived from the original on November 12, 2008 ; Retrieved November 10, 2008 (Japanese). Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ Robin E. Brenner: Understanding Manga and Anime . Libraries Unlimited, 2007, ISBN 978-1-59158-332-5 , pp. 295 .
- ↑ Frederik L. Schodt: Dreamland Japan: Writings on Modern Manga . Stone Bridge Press, 2002, ISBN 1-880656-23-X , pp. 208 ff . (Hiroko Mizoguchi ( 溝口 比 呂 子 ) is listed in the book under the stage name Miruku Morizono .).
- ↑ The Manga and its scene in Germany from its beginnings in the 1980s to the present: Manga - more than just big eyes, GRIN Verlag, 2008, ISBN 978-3-638-94029-0 , page 127
- ↑ Steiff Josef; Tamplin Tristan D. - Anime and Philosophy. Popular Culture and Philosophy, Vol. 47, Open Court Publishing, 2010, ISBN 978-0-8126-9670-7 .
