Assignment 4: Research- Visual Kei

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So I had to write a research paper and I was getting really frustrated because I couldn't think of a topic to write about. But I asked my cousin for a suggestion and she said that since I'm into anime I could do something about that. Like when it started and popularity and just stuff like that. I was gonna do that, but then I started to think about other Japanese things and landed on fashion. So then it was between Harajuku street fashion and Visual Kei fashion. I decided to go with Visual Kei since I'm more interested in that. I'm not gonna post the planning for this one because it was pretty long and kinda complicated to try to get on here.

The final draft was written March 7, 2018


In Japan, there is a fashion movement called Visual Kei. Visual Kei asubculture that's been popular since the 1980's. Its main characterizations are different levels makeup, elaborate hairstyles,sometimes paired with flamboyant costumes, and sometimes has anandrogynous aesthetic. Unlike what some westerners may think, VisualKei is not specific to a music genre. Though, it is usually is seenwith glam rock, heavy metal, and punk, it can been seen in othermusic genres such as Pop (or J-Pop). It's an interesting movement,which musicians refer to as a freedom of expression.

VisualKei started in the mid-1980's. It was inspired by the punk, glammetal, and gothic rock movements. The name itselfis believed to have come from the X Japan's slogans, "Psychedelic Violence-Crime of Visual Shock." It was first used in the press in an article written by Sheiichi Hoshiko (1992) in SHOXX magazine. He used the words "bisuaru shokku kei," which means Visual Shock Style (Kei). At the time, some people also called it "Okeshou Kei," or made-up style. Eventually, Visual Shock Kei was shortened to Visual Kei, and some people have shortened it, even more, to just V-Kei.

Somewherein the mid-90's, Visual Kei started to become more popular. VisualKei artists started gaining mainstream attention with major artistsappearing on popular variety shows and music programs. Then in the2000's, the new generation of Visual Kei artists came up, earning thetittle "New Wave" artists. At this time, Visual Kei became anunderground subculture because of it's difference from othermainstream styles and bands of the new wave were influenced bypopular modern subcultures. Artists also started doing other genresof music styles and genres like pop and electro. Bands like the oldwave were then called "Kote Kei," or old school.

Oneof the most popular waves of the 2000's was "Osare Kei" or"Oshare Kei." It was more closer to the Japanese Harajuku streetfashion because of it's bright colors, different from the typicaldark aesthetic of Visual Kei. Artists that were Osare Kei also mademusic that was closer to pop rock. There were also "Neo-Visual Kei"bands. These bands began to make heavier music that was inspired byAmerican metal, and melodic metalcore bands.

Soas we know, Visual Kei began the receive mainstream attention in themid-90's. In the mid-2000's, artists started getting more recognitionby major rock labels and there was a growing popularity of bands.However, in the 2010's there was a "transitional period." Thevisual Kei scene started to see a decrease in interest. Many bandsdisbanded and even magazines were suspended.

Tothis day, Visual Kei bands and generally the Visual Kei style have aninternational following. It has had a good amount of popularity andmany versions of it sprouted into many different styles. Visual Keiwas, and most definitely still is, an amazing style and subculture.




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⏰ Last updated: Apr 11, 2018 ⏰

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