Anime In Academics

A source of campus entertainment used as a basis for sociological understanding.

By Abigail Holmes

Established in 2005, Anime Club is one of the oldest organizations at Richard Bland College. More than just a way to get together and watch anime, its goal is to give students a place where they belong.  

Vanessa Stout, Associate Professor of Sociology RBC, became anime club’s faculty advisor in 2017. Her passion for sociology and anime creates an opportunity teaching  students about critical race theory through pop culture. 

Currently, the club is coming together to co-write an article on the recent anime series Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon. The piece will be presented at the American Sociological Association. Stout admits, “To write a paper as a club is cool. We’ll be talking about race representation in anime.” The group’s intellectual discussions analyze relevant themes in anime and help students to understand real-life issues. 

While Stout’s fascination with anime started as a child, students do not need any prior knowledge of it to join the club and have fun. The club president, Joshua Washington, affirms, “The club is a place where you can learn about anime. Anime is for everybody.” Washington and Stout think of their club meetings as a time for the community. They have created a safe space for students to enjoy themselves and share in common interest. 

Members can be found gathering in Ernst Hall 105 every Thursday from 12:30 pm-2 pm for their weekly meeting. The occasion includes anime viewings, trivia games, and group discussions relating to the subject. The category of anime varies from Stout’s childhood favorites like Dragon Ball Z and Sailor Moon to newer shows like Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon. People join Anime Club for the content, but they stay because of the people. 

One of the reasons that Stout thinks anime has spread so rapidly throughout our society is that it appeals to a wide variety of people who can appreciate its culture. Washington relates, “Anime is a place where people can be themselves. I felt like myself when I first watched anime.” 

In the coming year, the anime club hopes to join in on Virginia’s oldest anime convention called NekoCon. The convention features cosplay, as well as role-playing games, karaoke, and dancing. The event’s activities either originated in Japan or are inspired by Japanese culture. Attending NekoCon in the Fall will be anime clubs biggest social event of the year. 

Anime Club is for students who want to connect with their peers over anime and its culture. The club functions to teach its members about critical race theory in relation to anime, educating students by using a fun and unconventional approach. Washington and Stout welcome all students to come and participate even if they are not familiar with anime. It is an opportunity to build friendships and collaborate with other students.