That was kind of underwhelming, I thought we would be getting more new stuff and sadly nothing really for me. Well at least I can save some money.bluebox-away wrote:New merch is up!
The four pics on the photobooth poster are really cute though.
That was kind of underwhelming, I thought we would be getting more new stuff and sadly nothing really for me. Well at least I can save some money.bluebox-away wrote:New merch is up!
New laptop backgroundrizzo wrote:I am not feelin' the apparel, but the keyring is cute. The poster's the best bit, but IDK.... why buy it when you can just pull the HD version from the site's source. heh.
Quoted pictures from the tatinof thread under the spoiler, I really like the US tour merch! Hopefully it's added to the shop so we can all get it soonKathrynxjane wrote:Tour merch. It is different to the UK one! I like it a lot.I hope they put it on the shop like the UK stuff.

sweater is kinda okbluebox-away wrote:New merch is up!
What does it say? I don't think it is bad tbh. It's like all the t-shirts with French phrases that everyone seems to wear in USA or the ones with English writings we all wear in countries where we don't speak English. It's a japhan themed shirt so it makes sense to use Japanese characters, it's not stealing Japanese culture. I disagree it's culture appropriation here.jaej wrote:why the fuck are they using japanese characters on their merch wtf you don't get to use a country's culture as part of your ~brand~ wtf is this shit. oooh wow it's so cool and kawaii and crazy look!!!! its asian that makes it cool!!! i saw an anime and went to japan one time it's so cool!!!!!! i thought they were above this now smh
It says Dan and Phil.daphenaxa wrote: What does it say? I don't think it is bad tbh. It's like all the t-shirts with French phrases that everyone seems to wear in USA or the ones with English writings we all wear in countries where we don't speak English. It's a japhan themed shirt so it makes sense to use Japanese characters, it's not stealing Japanese culture. I disagree it's culture appropriation here.
Was going to going to do that but got distracted by the new merchbluebox-away wrote:Quoted pictures from the tatinof thread under the spoiler, I really like the US tour merch! Hopefully it's added to the shop so we can all get it soonKathrynxjane wrote:Tour merch. It is different to the UK one! I like it a lot.I hope they put it on the shop like the UK stuff.![]()
My favourite from the current new merch is the blossom sweater but I'm always a bit iffy about wearing stuff with writing in a language I don't speak love the design with the silhouette picture though!
Edit: I've just noticed in the background of the second picture they brought a lot of copies of the book, they're gonna be needing an extra bus/van for merch alone surely?
well, they're making money from referencing a the culture of a country which they've been to literally once, which has almost no significance to their brand. I don't see a more blatant example of cultural appropriation, tbh.daphenaxa wrote:What does it say? I don't think it is bad tbh. It's like all the t-shirts with French phrases that everyone seems to wear in USA or the ones with English writings we all wear in countries where we don't speak English. It's a japhan themed shirt so it makes sense to use Japanese characters, it's not stealing Japanese culture. I disagree it's culture appropriation here.
just dan and phil afaik. it doesn't make sense because it doesn't make sense to make the shirt at all to make sure japan firmly stays as part of the brand. they treat it the way they treat any phandom meme or joke like it isn't a country that actually has people and a culture and isn't just for them. there's no reason to use japanese characters for any reason other than they thought it looked cool, when it's a language with a rich, positive and negative history, not a fashion statement to suit their aesthetic. we've heard their pronunciations, they don't know the slightest thing about japanese language, let alone the culture that isn't animedaphenaxa wrote:bluebox-away wrote:What does it say? I don't think it is bad tbh. It's like all the t-shirts with French phrases that everyone seems to wear in USA or the ones with English writings we all wear in countries where we don't speak English. It's a japhan themed shirt so it makes sense to use Japanese characters, it's not stealing Japanese culture. I disagree it's culture appropriation here.jaej wrote:why the fuck are they using japanese characters on their merch wtf you don't get to use a country's culture as part of your ~brand~ wtf is this shit. oooh wow it's so cool and kawaii and crazy look!!!! its asian that makes it cool!!! i saw an anime and went to japan one time it's so cool!!!!!! i thought they were above this now smh
The poster tho... It looks like a layout of a wedding photobooth. It's too cute. I'm reconsidering buying this than the fringe jumper.rizzo wrote:I am not feelin' the apparel, but the keyring is cute. The poster's the best bit, but IDK.... why buy it when you can just pull the HD version from the site's source. heh.
While your reaction seems really harsh and I'm certainly not at a point when I would put it as... firmly as you, there's definitely something that sits uncomfortably with me about the whole t-shirt/sweater business as well... It's definitely something that I'll have to think about some more to get a proper opinion... right now I think I'm not fond of the idea.jaej wrote:why the fuck are they using japanese characters on their merch wtf you don't get to use a country's culture as part of your ~brand~ wtf is this shit.
Well, let me hesitantly disagree. This is not a random h&m t-shirt with the Eiffel Tower and some French words. This is their merch that sells their image, their branding. So it follows that they think that Japanese culture and writing is their branding somehow (?) You could compare it to a USA band puting out a merch that would use imagery assosiated with Russian nature/landmarks and using Cyrillic alphabet just because they once played a concert in Moscow. But I don't think that's what you meant.daphenaxa wrote: It's like all the t-shirts with French phrases that everyone seems to wear in USA or the ones with English writings we all wear in countries where we don't speak English.
I don't see how writing Dan and Phil in Japanese (even if just because it looks beautiful) negates or denies the fact Japan is a real country with real people and Japanese language has a rich history. I agree they don't know Japanese culture well but I also think it is true they are attracted to Japanese culture or I guess some part of it and to the country itself, even if you think they are for the wrong reasons.jaej wrote:just dan and phil afaik. it doesn't make sense because it doesn't make sense to make the shirt at all to make sure japan firmly stays as part of the brand. they treat it the way they treat any phandom meme or joke like it isn't a country that actually has people and a culture and isn't just for them. there's no reason to use japanese characters for any reason other than they thought it looked cool, when it's a language with a rich, positive and negative history, not a fashion statement to suit their aesthetic. we've heard their pronunciations, they don't know the slightest thing about japanese language, let alone the culture that isn't animedaphenaxa wrote:bluebox-away wrote:What does it say? I don't think it is bad tbh. It's like all the t-shirts with French phrases that everyone seems to wear in USA or the ones with English writings we all wear in countries where we don't speak English. It's a japhan themed shirt so it makes sense to use Japanese characters, it's not stealing Japanese culture. I disagree it's culture appropriation here.jaej wrote:why the fuck are they using japanese characters on their merch wtf you don't get to use a country's culture as part of your ~brand~ wtf is this shit. oooh wow it's so cool and kawaii and crazy look!!!! its asian that makes it cool!!! i saw an anime and went to japan one time it's so cool!!!!!! i thought they were above this now smh
Ticia wrote:[offtopic][/offtopic]
Do we let them off if the image on the t-shirts is from Japan?jaej wrote:why the fuck are they using japanese characters on their merch wtf you don't get to use a country's culture as part of your ~brand~ wtf is this shit. oooh wow it's so cool and kawaii and crazy look!!!! its asian that makes it cool!!! i saw an anime and went to japan one time it's so cool!!!!!! i thought they were above this now smh
Honestly I write in cyrillic here and I am proud of my culture but if a band used cyrillic alphabet on their merch I would actually think it's cool (especially if I am a fan of them).hunnyftw wrote:I like the keyrings.
The photos are nice individually but somehow the poster doesn't appeal to me as a whole. I can't imagine putting it up on my wall. Plus it seems quite expensive (my currency is quite weak compared to the pound)
While your reaction seems really harsh and I'm certainly not at a point when I would put it as... firmly as you, there's definitely something that sits uncomfortably with me about the whole t-shirt/sweater business as well... It's definitely something that I'll have to think about some more to get a proper opinion... right now I think I'm not fond of the idea.jaej wrote:why the fuck are they using japanese characters on their merch wtf you don't get to use a country's culture as part of your ~brand~ wtf is this shit.
Well, let me hesitantly disagree. This is not a random h&m t-shirt with the Eiffel Tower and some French words. This is their merch that sells their image, their branding. So it follows that they think that Japanese culture and writing is their branding somehow (?) You could compare it to a USA band puting out a merch that would use imagery assosiated with Russian nature/landmarks and using Cyrillic alphabet just because they once played a concert in Moscow. But I don't think that's what you meant.daphenaxa wrote: It's like all the t-shirts with French phrases that everyone seems to wear in USA or the ones with English writings we all wear in countries where we don't speak English.
And again, I'm hesitant here. As I've already mentioned my opinion isn't fully formed yet. I just think that jaej may be onto something here.