pira

Another day come and gone, and I'm still chasing my thoughts around like they are marbles dropped on a floor.

Let's stoop down and pick up the Elfdoll marble. Not elven dolls, but rather, the Korean company ELFDOLL.

I'd recently purchased a copy of Doll Reader, because I'm interested in seeing what is happening in the N.A. doll establishment ~ which encompasses a whole lot more than just BJDs....and I'm find things are getting interesting there in Marketing-to-the-Masses-Land.

Its must be causing DoA Elistist a few sleepless nights what with the fact that ball-jointed dolls are becoming all the rage amongst traditional manufacturers and every new doll that is announced in the NEWS area in that forum is promptly locked, until the MODS have scrutinized the item and decided if it: *fits the Asian aesthetic* (among a long list of other criteria which I can't argue against since it is a ABJD forum).

The contention that dolly A is more *asian* than dolly B is rather amusing considering the number of vampires, elves, pixies not to mention blond, blue-eyed Aryan types churned out by the Asian manufacturers ~ but one can argue that it's all about the Asian interpretation of the Western aesthetic that make it more Asian than Western.

Are you following me?

Don't worry...it's not supposed to make sense ~ the whole point is to keep things nicely pigeon-holed as: designed and manufactured by Asians and not Barbie...which is manufactured by Asians but based on a German sex doll and marketed to American children....but I digress.

There is a point to all this ~ See I loathe the *Barbie Aesthetic* and understand what the DoA moderators mean by their wanting to keep out fashion and baby dolls ~ there is a very specific look to Western-style dolls, which I find either boring or distasteful. Babydolls = boring. Fashion dolls ...meh... I don't get the attraction to haute couture crack whores but whatever floats the Middle Class American Soccer Mom's boat is her business....but I can's dispute that it isn't the Asian aeshetic. There is a line that can be drawn ....where to place that line though is starting to shift if not outright run into walls.

From what I see...there is an ARMY of BJD fashion dolls on the horizon and not only that...I saw the first BJD babydoll in this magazine. But these things still look Western so they are simple enough to keep out of DoA.....

...here is where their pretzel logic is starting to loop back on itself in some interesting ways.

I had noted with a certain level of personal discomfort that the latest release from Elfdoll has edged another step closer aesthetically, to everything that makes me cringe when I see those strung-out, high-end fashion dolls from Western designers.

Then I read the following from the interview with Elfdoll designer, Rainman and his representative in the U.S.

With a U.S. representative in place to alleviate the language and computer barriers, and an ever-increasing number of retail stores making the dolls more accessible, Elfdoll continued to expand its vision. It created doll specials available through specific doll shops, began a line of mini ball-jointed dolls, and introduced joint products by partnering with U.S. doll clothing designers and face-up artists. It is also using electronic technology to host holiday 'parties' and real-time video chats to connect its Korea artists and designers to their U.S. collectors.

For 2009, Elfdoll has more ideas. "This year, for the first time," Says Ms. Cholong, the head of Artmaze Inc., "Elfdoll collectors will create the doll they want. Until now, Rainman has been the sole creator of the Rainydoll line of ball-jointed dolls. Now, in an open event, collectors will imput their idea for a new doll design. Elfdoll will then put together several prototypes. Collectors will vote for their favorite, and the winning prototype will be created into a new doll. This will create opportunities for more customer interaction into the doll-making process and open new reception for doll cultures in the doll world," concludes Ms. Cholong.

In 2009, Elfdoll is taking major steps to melt cultural bounderies, meld Asian and Western doll aesthetics, and, more importantly, continue to expand its business and artistic vision for enthusiastic ball-jointed doll collectors everywhere.

I am SO waiting for this to hit the fan over in DoA when this new doll is released. Will it be banned or will they be forced to deal with the fact that ABJDs are going global (sort of like that manga argument that's been beaten to death over the years)?