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I personally find Western art better than Eastern art, but I want to know what the rest of you think.

Personally, I don't think that Eastern art allows for as much individual stylization as Western art allows. Take a look at anime and manga. The characters usually end up "pretty". Very rarely in that art style can a character be viewed as "ugly" without expositional backup. Shojo manga is incredibly guilty of this.

Then there is the issue of art quality. Manga artists are pushed harder than Western comic artists. Most manga have to have a new chapter ready for printing each week, and very rarely does a manga become popular enough for the artist to take a hiatus and still have people interested in it. Most Western comics, however, are released monthly or even bi-monthly, allowing for less errors in art and allowing comics to be printed in full color.

The only place where I can think that the two comic styles are equal is in comics printed on newspapers and distributed daily. Those comics have insane deadlines to meet and everything is made weeks in advance while allowing for changes to be made depending on recent events.

Anyways, what do you think? Which reigns supreme? Eastern or Western artwork?

Also, please keep in mind that I am not just restricting Eastern art to anime and manga. Korean art is also guilty of the "too pretty" principle. Chinese animation also invokes this despite Western influence on their comics.


EDIT:
Heck, let's include animation also. It seems like you all forgot about it.

EDIT 2:
Geez, you people are quick to assume that Eastern Art = manga/anime and/or criticize those who do! And yet none of you are mentioning European greats!
Quick list of some favorite European art (not JUST comics)
banksy
Fafi
Jason
Quick list of some favorite non-Japanese Eastern art (also, not JUST comics)
Nelson Shin
Lee Seong-Kang
SamBakZa
Zang Dali

This post has been edited by Kaxbe: 30 November 2010 - 09:03 PM

Hmm... I cannot say that I know enough about Eastern art to have a good and balanced insight into it. So I will not vote; however, I will post my opinion from the little I know.

I must say that I basically agree with you, in that Western art has a broader scope and more of an individual twist to it. This is why I often react to it when new artists mostly try drawing in manga style, instead of developing their own - most of it is too similar to properly discern. That said, it is a very appealing art type, and I can understand why it is so popular (although it probably would not be if it was not for the fact that it is, well, different).

I like both equally. After all, they can't really be drawn together, they're different styles. I favour Eastern only very slightly more because it's more friendly towards new readers. I've been buying Marvel and DC comics for years and I still haven't figured out the continuity pre-Crisis.

who would have guessed: everyone here loves anime

I can just as easily love or hate either one almost equally. Hmmm, I suppose I'll say Western, I grew up with it and it's the underdog on this thread.

I used to be into anime stuff, but I think I like both of them just the same.

I find it amusing that when most people think of "Eastern Art", they think of anime, only anime, and the stereotypical images that anime contains. There is so much more to that region's art - so many more styles, approaches and flavors. Saying that Eastern Art = anime is like saying that Western Art = Disney and nothing else. I'm not saying that it's better than Western art, simply that we need to expand our view if we are going to have a fair discussion.

That said, I think that they are both wonderful in their complexity and range. Art, by definition, is subjective, so any attempt to find one "better" than the other is moot in the end anyway.

Just sayin'.
=^^="

Tuna, on 30 November 2010 - 01:36 AM, said:

I hope that's not a response to what I said I know very well about other forms of eastern art. Like stuff from India and the like.

ClosetLucy, on 30 November 2010 - 01:53 AM, said:

Aw, no, it wasn't directed at you *hug* It was just me getting all self-righteous, hopping on my soapbox and shouting generally to passers-by...
^^"

Well, we should keep in mind that content is what really interest for (most) viewers, so I believe that, for example, a simple-drawn western comic with a really interesting content likely beats a well-drawn manga with poor content. And so, I'd vote for Western Art.

This a question of taste. Western Art represents the body and the Eastern art represents the soul. Western Art is more action based and is much how should I put it..open? Eastern Art is less action based and shows the emotions and the inner thoughts of a human being better.

The only correct answer is "Both" and as proof to my argument I present "Avatar: The last airbender" series.

Hmm... Where do we class Middle Eastern art? Because there is a lot of width there, in both directions. ^_^

Bumping because I am disappointed in you, forums.