i always have been a little on the crusty side, but i have to admit, i dont get it too. then again, i don't really understand kawaii. and yet again, japan on the whole often seems to me bizarre, otherworldly and indecipherable.

fwiw (i.e. precious little) i've read (rather mean spirited) allegations of magibon's european ancestry and american residence.

ha! that's awesome. :)

Casey: "Why did they even take a movie of that?"
Casey, a minute later: "I want to look at that again."

Umm, I would prefer some dancing, or perhaps juggling, or a song, or even a supporting cast, such as a dog.

I think it's the Big Eyes thing. Exactly like (a) some manga, (b) those 70s posters of the little waifs where the eyes follow you around the room.

If I did a video like hers, I'll bet I could turn people off to YouTube, for at least several hours.

Several hundred million Japanese agree with you! I am anomalous. ;)

gawker must have forgotten the population of lonely anime fans & gamers who are obsessed with dating a Japanese girl who will look only at them and be shy and quiet

I see a lot more than staring and a wave. The animation in her body, face and eyes is priceless. Thanks for bringing this to our attention, I hadn't seen it before. This little girl could be such a natural performer.

i'd go with the following explanations: 1) humans love baby mammals and her big eyes certainly nail the baby-mammal look, and/or 2) it's porn minus the explicitness. notice how she's always looking up at you, the viewer, with her big round eyes, and then down exactly to the precise level where.... very net-porn genre, triggers the same pleasure centers, even without the subscription fee. that's my guess. doesn't do much for me.

I think this makes a lot of sense.

One of the things that the internet doesn't tend to provide very well is the kind of direct connection that meeting in person does--specifically, in this case, looking someone in the eyes. I think most people have had moments when they've been with a lover, or maybe even a close friend, and have just stared into each other's eyes (maybe even breaking the stare, as this person does, and then coming back to it.) I think of this as approximating that type of a moment.

Because we're just looking at each other, this video leaves a lot of room for the viewer to interpret what it means, what she's feeling, etc. (in the same way we might wonder what a person is thinking as we look into their eyes.) I think this uncertainty--which is less likely in a video where someone is doing or saying something--is what makes this so compelling. We probably look longer and deeper into her eyes, her movement, her expressions to try and unravel this mystery. I find it pretty compelling.

Alternatively, it could just be the newest 5-minute internet wonder. Like that guy who sold his excrement on Ebay in mason jars.

Dude, I should totally become a net idol. I think this occupation may be the fullest expression of my friend abovenyquist's idea that I need to find a rich patron who will fully appreciate all the reasons why I need to be in the world (and thus provide money in exchange for avant garde art). Alternately a rich crotchety poet who I can coddle until she dies and then inherit her vast fortune. Unfortunately they do not make artist patrons like they used to a couple of centuries ago.

Edited at 2008-02-06 01:38 am (UTC)

One thing, (maybe someone has also brought this up) about what is 'attractive' to most humans and makes us want to 'care' about this 'child' or other human babies are the big eyes, vulnerability etc. It' very engrossing. Lenny z.

Hello,

I read your book in one sitting last night. You did a great job and I'll probably try and incorporate some of it when talking about internet content/multiple audiences to interested Russian staff/students here.

Hope you're well!

In case none of you haven't noticed, youtubes most popular videos seem to be about nothing special, from drunk farting girls, to mimicking idiots.

I think personally that the japanese have interesting video's like this one, someone should write to this girl and ask her the point of it =P she might have a very good reason!!! lool and let me know what it is HA HA HA!! Than again, the japanese seem to come up with all kind of arts, are very educated, which leads to new things, which at times catch up here in europe too, and therefore has a fast growing economy!!!! RESPECT TO JAPAN ( p.s. i am not japanese :P)