Comprehensive Study Notes on Digital Manga, Animation, Mural Art, and Gender & Sexuality Vocabulary

Japanese Digital Manga and Animation

  • Definitions and Media Distinction:
    • Manga: Refers to Japanese comics published in book format.
    • Anime: Refers to hand-drawn and computer-generated animation originating from Japan, consisting of television shows and feature movies.
    • Common Misconception: It is a common misconception that manga and anime are interchangeable terms. Manga is specifically defined as Japanese comics, whereas anime is defined as the animated version of those comics.
  • Shared Traits and Global Reach:
    • While manga and anime share strong similarities in visual style and storytelling, each medium offers unique experiences for fans.
    • The popularity of both manga and anime has crossed international borders, building a dedicated fanbase across every continent of the world.

Animated Movie Mechanics and Definition

  • Definition of an Animated Movie:
    • A movie made from a series of drawings, computer graphics, or photographs of inanimate objects (such as puppets).
  • Mechanism of Motion:
    • Produces the visual appearance of motion through small, incremental changes made in each successive frame.

Street Art and Mural Painting

  • Core Purpose and Characteristics:
    • Street art and mural painting constitute a contemporary art form designed primarily to spread a message, rather than focusing solely on creating something that would be visually appealing.
  • Etymology of Mural:
    • The word mural originates from the Latin language.
    • It comes directly from the Latin word murus, which translates to "wall."
    • A wall represents the most common place to paint a mural today.
  • Modern Definition:
    • Defined as any piece of artwork that is created by directly working on a flat wall, ceiling, or generally any flat surface.
  • Historical Origins and Timeline:
    • The history of mural painting can be traced back to prehistoric times.
    • Murals date back to the Upper Paleolithic times in the form of cave paintings.
    • Prehistoric cave painting murals are potentially over 12,000 years old.
  • Geographical Distribution:
    • Murals have been found in every continent in the world except Antarctica.

Gender and Sexuality Terminology

  • Core Theme:
    • "LOVE IS LOVE" serves as an essential guiding principle for understanding LGBTQIA+ and gender-related concepts.
  • Gender Expression:
    • How someone outwardly presents their gender through behavior, clothing, voice, or other traits.
    • Perceived as masculine or feminine by society.
    • Gender expression varies across different cultures and changes over time.
  • Gender Identity:
    • One's internal sense of their gender, whether male, female, both, or neither.
    • Unlike gender expression, gender identity is not visible outwardly.
  • Sexual Orientation Definitions:
    • Bisexuals: Refers to someone who is physically, romantically, and/or emotionally attracted to more than one gender.
    • Gay: The term used to describe individuals whose lasting physical, romantic, and/or emotional attractions are to people of the same gender.
    • Heterosexual: An adjective used to describe individuals who are romantically or sexually attracted to people of the opposite gender.