Change isn't necessarily a bad thing — which is the case with Armstrong's Anime Club, a 6-year-old student organization that recently underwent re-envisioning to appeal to a broader array of potential members.
Now known as Japanese Pop Culture Appreciation Club, the club committee said they want to promote knowledge and appreciation of Japanese pop culture like anime, manga, music, food and video games. DeLamar Turner, the president of the former Anime Club, said he felt the time was right to alter the club. "There were more new people coming in," Turner said. "It was time for a change."According to the club's website, a lack of both popularity and members contributed to the over-haul. Jared Baker, the current club president, puts blame on past issues. "The club was pretty disorganized in the years before. There was no set schedule, and no way to know where to go," Baker said.
As a result of the change, the club has seen an influx of members. Before the club became JPAC, the attendance number hovered around 10 to 15 people per session. "Since the change we have gotten a total of around 30 new members," Baker said. "I now hope to see more activity and more involvement with activities and events."
Japanese anime, the original angle of the club before it changed, became more of mainstream entertainment in recent years, mainly thanks to pioneers of localized anime '60s shows like "Speed Racer" and "Gigantor," whose main target audience was children.
In '80s and '90s, the anime series "Robotech" and "Dragon Ball Z"attempted to appeal to the young adult audience with more sophisticated themes and exotic imagery. Anime today has a broader appeal, offering something for all ages. While anime may be a part of Japanese culture, it is not the only part that interest the club. Baker plans on incorporating cultural workshops for expanding Japanese knowledge.
The changes had a positive reception among members of the club.
"I like that it's more open," JPAC member Jamal Cooper said. "Earlier it was more of a closed group. Now there's more people with the same mindset and a stronger sense of community."The club members also unanimously said the changes were for the better. "The previous club was too single-minded. This year we expanded to a broader audience in order to appeal to those who are interested in Japanese culture. It's become a lot more active as a result," member Corey Young said. The JPAC club meets at room 158 in University Hall on Wednesdays from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.