Hello Kitty overload

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Dude, the upside down house is awesome!

[3894]

Meet Christine Yano, Associate Professor of Anthropology, Univ. of Hawaii at Manoa. Prof. Yano studies Hello Kitty, among other things.

I am interested in the topic of "cute culture" in Japan, in particular as a consumer item through the business practices and goods of Sanrio (e.g. Hello Kitty). These goods, sold to children and young adult females throughout Japan, package cuteness and its cultural values as an aesthetic, a set of morals, and a prescription for action (or passive inaction). My focus is on Hello Kitty as a global product, and I have been conducting surveys in Honolulu on the consumption of these goods. I have also conducted interviews at corporate headquarters in Tokyo and South San Francisco, investigating some of the marketing strategies that have enabled global sales. My research is further enabled by the company's website, which has availed me of hundreds of pages of company literature of their business practices and goods, as well as access to chat rooms of Hello Kitty fans. Through these internet links, I have conducted on-line interviews with fans. I believe that cuteness provides a fertile ground for exploring issues of gender and power through global consumer culture.

[Prudence]

When I was a kid, I had a few Hello Kitty things I was given as gifts (by people who obviously didn't know me very well) and as far as I know at that time it was very very uncool. It was dorky stuff you bought at the drugstore. When did it become popular here?

[Capt Jack]

dunno. I'll ask the folks at the local 'Hello Kitty" store. (oh, how I wish I was kidding)

[3894]

Originally Posted by Prudence

It was dorky stuff you bought at the drugstore.

No, it was a fertile ground for exploring issues of gender and power through global consumer culture.

[Not Afraid]

KAWAIIIIIIIIIIII!!!!!!!!!!!

[AllyOops!]

Originally Posted by BarTopDancer

Allybell. Paging Miss Allybell.

You rang?

Why yes, Wendybeth, I am one of....them. The ones who come out at night, ripe with kitty lust and the neverending quest to turn the whole world into a brighter & pinker place. When the world spins, and only spins, on a rhinestone-encrusted axis, our job will be done. Until then, we'll continue to force our will upon you & spring that darling Kitty at you in all shapes and forms.

Such as the personal massager.

Puh-leeze! Like some of you wouldn't masturbate with the Hello Kitty personal massager? C'mon. I know some of your sins and they ain't pretty. And you know it, too.

Aww! Love to Hello Kitty! And the Twin Stars! And My Melody! And Cinamaroll! And Keroppi! And any other member of the Hello Kitty extended family!!

Those of you that speak ill are a buncha party fouls!

[Prudence]

Originally Posted by 3894

No, it was a fertile ground for exploring issues of gender and power through global consumer culture.

Regardless, it would have earned you a playground smackdown, had you displayed it publicly.

[BarTopDancer]

Originally Posted by AllyOfTheDolls

Aww! Love to Hello Kitty! And the Twin Stars! And My Melody! And Cinamaroll! And Keroppi! And any other member of the Hello Kitty extended family!!

I love the Twin Stars! I am so happy they are coming back. And Bazu Bazu. I looooove him. I love the Hello Kitty store still; though now I see my my mom rarely bought me stuff from there (DANG it's expensive). I still have a super cool pencil box with the Twin Stars. I had an even cooler one with buttons that opened up different compartments and had a book holder too (did anyone else have that??)

I wonder if i can get Mr. S to go in there. I did get him to go into Sephora... I think that's my next mission.

[Kevy Baby]

Originally Posted by MouseWife

Every freakin' Mickey head I put on my car gets stolen. I already want to kill for that. {oo, do kill and hello kitty go together?}

We have a Mickey silhouette trailer hitch cover. I bought a big ol' beefy lock (a standard trailer lock) to make sure I didn't loose it (had it about three years now). Unfortunately, I am afraid that Susan will break the darn thing off from backing into things.

Originally Posted by Cadaverous Pallor

Dude, the upside down house is awesome!

Yeah, I kinda dug on that too. I wonder what it looks like on the inside.