La fierté d’être anormal : valorisation des stigmas comme nouvelle identité chez les lolita et angura à Tokyo

Abstract

Downtown districts of Tokyo are well known for the eccentric fashion style of some individuals, especially around Shinjuku, Harajuku, Shibuya or Roppongi. Some of them are part of large subcultural communities and have an active role in the cultural life of Tokyo, expressing themselves through fashion events, shows, dance parties or art exhibits. The lolita, gothics, angora (“underground”), fetishists and others have formed a culturally and aesthetically marginal community. This study explores identity formation of subculture community members and the discourse of “perversion” and “abnormality.” The latter has become a key word in their “marginal” identity, grounding their activities and serving as esthetical resistance to the dominant culture.