Alden Parker ’26, a member of Anime Club, reflected that “had I not discovered anime by being a complete T.V. What was considered a niche subculture has emerged on the internet - anime scenes are often used as memes - as a key element of youth dialogue.Īs anime has often been stigmatized in Western culture in the 21st century, it is no surprise that it has flourished on anonymous platforms such as Reddit, Twitter, and Youtube. This is because in today’s American pop culture, Japanese culture is omnipresent.
In fact, you probably consume Japanese media and culture without even knowing it. Whether or not you enjoy watching anime as a hobby, you’re almost certainly familiar with it. If you venture over to Paino Lecture Hall in Beneski Museum of Natural History on Friday nights at 7 p.m., you’ll find a meeting of the Amherst College Anime Club. There are currently 87 members in their GroupMe.
Anime Club meets once a week on Friday nights, to host discussions, sing karaoke, cook together, and much more. Its popularity reflects broader trends in American culture.
Amherst's Anime Club hosts regular screenings, discussions, and cultural and social events surrounding the Japanese genre.
