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[SukebeStudios]

***
Mod edit: Rules

This is a potentially inflammatory topic and so I will be monitoring closely and zealously editing flames. I continue to reserve the right to lock this thread should the posts not comport with the mood of the Fanime Forums. Good luck.

your friendly neighborhood mod,
ewu
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What about the idea of doing a comedy sketch where someone does a simple 30min-1 hour "Baptist Revival" like sermon, but all completely anime-themed? It would have...(albeit psychotic) a positive message about life, and citing examples from all different types of anime. All sermons would pretty much just be stories from different animes or mangas.

For example:
"Reading from the Book of Toriyama, Tezuka, and Akamatsu..."
"Praise be to Mangad." (Pronounced "ManGAHD" like praise be to god, cept manga. Just throwin em out there)
Or less offensive...
"Praise be to Desu." And they reply, "And also boku"

We could even have a "Anime Communion" where instead of communion wafers, we use sticks of Pocky. Instead of the "blood of christ" we use Ramune.

My original thought would be to do it on Sunday...but that MIGHT be asking a lot. I'm serious about this idea, it could be funny as hell. Just totally off the wall, goofy action.

[PyronIkari]

What about the idea of doing a comedy sketch where someone does a simple 30min-1 hour "Baptist Revival" like sermon, but all completely anime-themed? It would have...(albeit psychotic) a positive message about life, and citing examples from all different types of anime. All sermons would pretty much just be stories from different animes or mangas.

For example:
"Reading from the Book of Toriyama, Tezuka, and Akamatsu..."
"Praise be to Mangad." (Pronounced "ManGAHD" like praise be to god, cept manga. Just throwin em out there)
Or less offensive...
"Praise be to Desu." And they reply, "And also boku"

We could even have a "Anime Communion" where instead of communion wafers, we use sticks of Pocky. Instead of the "blood of christ" we use Ramune.

My original thought would be to do it on Sunday...but that MIGHT be asking a lot. I'm serious about this idea, it could be funny as hell. Just totally off the wall, goofy action.

Oh blasphemy... you are so funny.

You do realize how offensive this is to do right?

[SukebeStudios]

There is no joke that does not offend someone.

[ewu]

I think idiots are funny, but I do not make public mockeries of them....

I await a response from those higher up.

[sysadmin]

This is a horrible idea and you shouldn't do it.

At this rate, we might as well allow a "hey, let's make fun of black people" panel.  Maybe you can do it while making slanty eyes.

[SuperKawaiiNeko]

Why was the anime baptist revival thread locked? I think it's a good idea with a lot of potential for humor, and don't see what's so offensive about the core concept. I think the staff overreacted here. I don't see it as a mockery, but as a parody; less like making fun of black people and more like making an anime rap. I admit that there is potential for offense if it's handled poorly, but there's no reason to assume that it would be. Just like there's no reason to assume that an anime rap would have the "N Word" in it.

The only people I can really see being offended at this sort of thing are uptight to begin with. Have you seen some of the other panels we have at this convention? We have a 4chan panel for god's sake, and that's not even the worst of the bunch. Hell, our entire convention already offends people, or am I the only one who's noticed the protestors out front every year?

Honestly, not allowing something like this because it might be offensive is akin to not allowing a yaoi panel because some people are offended by gays. It's all in good fun, guys, lighten up a bit.

[ewu]

like I said in a PM. I am awaiting a nod from above to see if this a topic appropriate for the forum. Until then it remains locked.

[Tony]

I support Eric's decision to close this thread to keep the flaming to a minimum. This is because the initial reaction was so poor, regardless of the topic.

As for the idea itself: regardless of the other criticisms, it just doesn't sound funny, particularly clever, or well developed. I'd vote no.

[ewu]

This thread has been reopened for discussion. Please note the rules in the OP.

[SukebeStudios]

OK, After everything that has happened, I'm going to go into greater explanation over what I have in mind.

What about the idea of doing a comedy sketch where someone does a simple 30min-1 hour "Baptist Revival" like sermon, but all completely anime-themed? It would have...(albeit psychotic) a positive message about life, and citing examples from all different types of anime. All sermons would pretty much just be stories from different animes or mangas.

The more accurate thing to call it...would be the parody of a Televangelist. Raising their voice, acting off the wall and  just completely out there. I would only suggest a 1/2 hour to begin. Again, there would be NO mention of the bible or anything SERIOUSLY religious used in the sermons of the "Reverend." He would base his sermons off of the stories told in random animes and manga, not the bible. Any "quotes" used would be straight from the anime or manga, NOT THE BIBLE.

For example:
"Reading from the Book of Toriyama, Tezuka, and Akamatsu..."
"Praise be to Mangad." (Pronounced "ManGAHD" like praise be to god, cept manga. Just throwin em out there)
Or less offensive...
"Praise be to Desu." And they reply, "And also boku"

The Desu and Boku thing...eh, not that funny, I wouldn't do it. Mangahd? Same, poor taste, not needed.

We could even have a "Anime Communion" where instead of communion wafers, we use sticks of Pocky. Instead of the "blood of christ" we use Ramune.

My original thought would be to do it on Sunday...but that MIGHT be asking a lot. I'm serious about this idea, it could be funny as hell. Just totally off the wall, goofy action.

Now THIS...in hindsight, the Pocky/Ramune communion idea, is not only stupid because it has nothing to do with the Televangelists that I'm trying to PARODY, and it's even TOO offensive to me.

In short...this is a PARODY. This is not an attempt to intentionally offend anyone, unlike 4Chan...(which Fanime has hosted a panel for I might add.) Not to mention, there already has been something like this done at a convention, and they were using "God's name" and trying to portray an exagerated Reverend. I know that Fanime is NOT the same convention, but if something that is more innocent than something that's already been accepted somewhere else, does that make Fanime more conservative?

Yes, I was inspired by this video by the Nostalgia Critic, "Reverend Nut Job."
http://thatguywiththeglasses.com/videolinks/thatguywiththeglasses/specials/17009-reverend-nutjob
 Yeah, I guess you can say I want to be a copycat. But that's why I wanted to make it totally anime themed, with no biblical images or quotes. That way it would be different and not a DIRECT rip-off.

[Ayanami Rei First Child]

I AM A CHRISTIAN, first off. Second of all I find that video aet least a little offensive, so I am glad your idea is DIFFERENT.

Now I think this idea has POTENTIAL. I mean even us Christians tend to make Biblical jokes, so what's wrong with a tastefully done parody, removing the really offensive stuff? Although if you want to be extra safe, maybe have it late Sunday or on Saturday or a day that is not Sunday.

I mean you have a Cthulu Panel for Heaven's sake! An ANCIENT EVIL ELDER CREATURE is being VOTED FOR PRESIDENT! Something that by it's very description would be blasphemous. Yet there is no great public outcry for that. There are some people who are offended by yaoi/yuri or pornography. Yet you have that as well. This panel isn't directly controversial, blasmphemous, etc. by comparison. It's just like the people who hate yaoi or porno don't watch the stuff. People who don't like Cthulu or 4-chan don't go to those panels either.

If it means having a tastefully and amusingly done panel such as this I would be willing to be directly involved to try to make it as least offensive as possible. ^^;

[ewu]

In short...this is a PARODY. This is not an attempt to intentionally offend anyone, unlike 4Chan...(which Fanime has hosted a panel for I might add.) Not to mention, there already has been something like this done at a convention, and they were using "God's name" and trying to portray an exagerated Reverend. I know that Fanime is NOT the same convention, but if something that is more innocent than something that's already been accepted somewhere else, does that make Fanime more conservative?

*mod hat off*

Let me differentiate, between the panels and this event. I see this as not a panel event, but a public event. That's the issue, panels people attend because they are interested, but on stage zero or whatever performance venue people are  exposed to something that is potentially very offensive, not at their own volition. Our buddies outside have the freedom to do that, and you have the freedom to do this right next to them (not that I encourage it). However, if its programing, then the con is sponsoring and giving a venue to this program. I am inclined to think that Fanime will NOT present, endorse, provide a venue, or even be connected to such an event at the risk or alienating dealers, advertisers, the city, the convention center, and attendees. You may have fun doing such an event but you do not undertake the same risks of a con this large.

My question is, what bearing does it have if Fanime is more liberal or conservative in this aspect? No two cons are alike and there are an unfathomable number of variable that come together to make a con, and you must respect them because you really have no way of appreciating them or understanding them without spending years planing this particular convention.

I am clearly biased as a mod, but anyone can proports to be like fox news is lying.  On the mod hat goes, the rules will apply.

[SukebeStudios]

Then what if this was a "Panel Event" instead?

[ewu]

i don't know how that would work, but good luck.....Its very much so a performance but you can try. You lost the higher scrutiny that a public event has, but all the other considerations still hold true.

[Ayanami Rei First Child]

Then what if this was a "Panel Event" instead?

After what Ewu said, I have to say that this would be better served as a panel, rather then a live officially sponsored event. That seems to make more sense, and would take away a lot of the controversy surrounding this issue. I mean less people would watch it, but it sounds like it has a better chance of getting off the ground floor. Also if it DOES become popular, then you'll have a lot more weight to make it a public venue for next year. Not to mention you could also work out a lot of bugs with a smaller grouping.

Otherwise you might want to think of something else instead, and I would be more then happy to help if it deals with my religion ^^;

[ewu]

Point of information, a panel is still a live officially sponsored event.

[PyronIkari]

Hmmm... how to go about this.

Okay, there's things that are blasphemous but not really offensive to most people. Saying "God, what a crappy car" is blasphemous, but no one is really going to take offense to that, except super Christians.

What this is though, is a direct mockery of the religion and the people within it. It doesn't matter that you are Christian and would not take offense at it, because the act in itself is EXTREMELY offensive, even if you call it parody. As sysadmin said, let's take it to a place and make it not religion.

Why don't you re-enact Roots, in blackface and all, but make it anime. And instead of KuntaKenta, it would be Mr.Popo from DragonBall? Do you think black people won't find that offensive?

Or let's re-enact Nanking, and instead of China... it would be Anime... like a hentai movie. Totally not offensive right?

You're specifically taking a major part of peoples' lives and culture, and turning it into a huge joke. You're mocking their style of living, and their beliefs and making out what they believe in to be nothing more than trivial and insignificant.

I personally hate religion. I think the idea of religion is stupid and pointless, but I respect other people enough to allow them to have their religion and believe in it. What you're doing is basically the exact opposite of what the protesters are doing. They're trying to promote and force religion down other peoples' throats. You're mocking them, and telling them their religion is stupid and trivial.

Would I be offended by this? Absolutely not, but even I recognize how incredibly offensive this is to other people. Now...

Let's say Fanime has this. Let's say you somehow convince Fanime into doing this. How is it going to look on Fanime's part when religious people that attend fanime, or religious parents thinking about letting their kids go to Fanime, see this in Fanime's line up? Do you think these parents are just going to go "Oh, this convention is mocking my beliefs, but that's fine, you can go kids."

I don't see how you can possibly see this as not offensive?

[CaptainYossarian]

This has eerie echoes of the time I did a presentation of the Southern Defense of Slavery. In character. Take it from someone who's been there: don't, don't, don't, don't, don't. The Irony seems so obvious now. It won't be afterwards.

[Jerry]

whether its a live performance or a panel - keep in mind that you will get some resistance from either side.

from what it seems like - you will have more nay sayers and no matter how much your try to impose the humorous aspects--- it will likely be offensive to someone.

heck there are people out there who find Anime in general offensive--- and yet 14K+ people come to fanime.

ironically I've never thought of Fanime as a religious or politically charged event - so throwing that into the mix will probably have varying results.

I would suggesting getting the support and staff to support such an event/panel and go with it if your that confident in your humor delivering abilities but also have the poise and composure in case you get heckled by people who take offense from it.

just like how rovers have to deal with the protests every year.... we do our best to keep it civil on both sides.
The Rover staff =/= anti riot squad

keep that in mind.

[Haru]

I think if executed properly this could be very funny. It will be a parody and as such many people could find it offensive, but I fail to see the problem in that. Everyone finds something offensive, and in a convention that openly screens and distributes gay and hetero sexual pornography is a little religious parody really going to scare anyone away? Off the top of my head I can think of three anime that could be called blasphemous simply for their use of christianesk religions, but I don't see angry parents storming out of the D. Grey Man panel and causing pandemonium, do you?

Here is an idea if you want to make it more PC. Change "Baptist sermon" to "infomercial" to remove any association to religion one could pull from it. You can still use the same speech patterns and mannerisms but because it is an infomercial parody no one can play the "you are stomping on my beliefs" card... unless there is a cultist following of Billy Mays fans that I am unaware of.