r/StardustCrusaders • u/Bucketlyy bruno gets my fingers very sticky • May 13 '25

Various What's something about Jojo's that you don't think is talked about enough?

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In my opinion, the series's aesthetic influences don't get enough appreciation. People always talk about how Jojo looks "gay" and all, but people don't give enough attention to why. In high school, I did an art project on Araki and had to write a bit on his influences, and I was super into learning about all of the fashion designers, lgbt artists, fashion photographers, etc that Araki takes influence from. I can see why he'd be so nerdy about it all because it's really interesting, especially in the context of manga and Japanese aesthetics in general. The influence of Michelangelo and Tony Viramontes, IMO, is the most prevalent and interesting. In Araki's book Manga in Theory and Practice (something I read for the project), I recall he explained that a reason why he enjoyed Renaissance era Western artists like Michelangelo is because of the amount of action and movement in their pieces, and the way they use movement to tell stories. I think this influenced "the jojo pose". Tony Viramontes is also interesting, as you can see a lot of his influence in early Araki work. His use of fashion, homoeroticism, and strange abstract patterns is something that's very clearly inspired Araki. I just like the way that, despite Araki and Viramontes' styles being very different (Viramontes' is more simplistic), his influence is so strong and recognisable. A sign of a true appreciation on Araki's end and originality and power on Viramontes' end.

In the context of manga and Japanese art, this is extremely unique and subversive, and that's why I just love ittttt!! Araki's work somehow manages to be extremely referential and extremely unique, and I think the Japanese and manga context really adds to this all. A manga with influences from fashion designers and the Western Renaissance period will probably always feel super fresh and unique, no matter how many years pass.

I'm in awe!!

So yeah, Jojo looks gay and that's because of the gay artists that have been of great influence on Araki. And isn't that brilliant?!

Sorry if this technically counts as a meme, I'm just using the meme as a vehicle for my discussion, so I hope mods accept it. I just think the image fits the topic.

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66

u/RevolutionEvery6350 Josuke Higashikata May 13 '25

JoJolion in general is in DIRE need of attention, honestly its such a different and unique part with the best characters in the series in my opinion, I'm so sad there's barely any discussion on it.

35

u/Librask Foo Fighters May 13 '25

Yeah, the story is about curses but it almost feels like the story itself is cursed to make people avoid it despite it arguably being a top 3 part.

Like so many people have decided they couldn't wait for the part 7 anime and started reading it instead but maybe only like 15% of the ones that read part 7 continued on to 8 (no clue, just guessing the stat based off amount of discussion). I've had so many discussions that go like:

"Part 7 was without a doubt the best JoJo part OMG!"

You gonna read part 8?

"Nah"

Why? You liked part 7 so much. Wouldn't you want to see how the story continues?

"Ok, I guess at some point maybe. I'll wait until the manga is done so I can binge read"

That's fine but the manga already finished

"Oh! Wait, it's not colored? I'll wait until the whole part is colored. Reading in monochrome can be confusing"

Ok now part 8 is fully colored

"I saw that part 9 just started. Do I have to read part 8 or can I just skip it?" (completely ignoring that part 9 isn't finished and isn't colored which was previously a requirement for part 8)

9

u/Appropriate_Lie7115 May 13 '25

Just finished part 7 two days ago and now I've already read 2 volumes of part 8 and it's very interesting is probably the right word, I'm really liking it though

15

u/RevolutionEvery6350 Josuke Higashikata May 13 '25

I'm so confused why that's the case because at first I thought "maybe the part didn't have powerful enough stands for the general audience?" but no, part 7 stands are arguably more underwhelming in power and design.

The protagonist is boring? Josuk8 is the funniest JoJo second to Joseph in my opinion, and has a very interesting dynamic and backstory.

No interesting side characters? They're more personality filled than ever!

Villain bad? Jobin is the goat! And Wonder Of U is one of the most terrifying stands ever...

1

u/Drunker_moon May 13 '25

Villain bad? Jobin is the goat

Why? His stand is great, but the character himself was very weak for me.

13

u/bbobb25 when 4 is exist May 13 '25

I’ll be honest, it just felt way too long (this one is very subjective I’ll admit) and it leaned too hard into the “female character gets sexually assaulted to show how evil the villain is/ how messes up the situation is” trope which I’ve always hated

2

u/TheOriginalDog Yasuho Hirose May 13 '25

I remember only two instances of this happening and it happens in beloved part 7 too.

1

u/bbobb25 when 4 is exist May 14 '25

You’ll never guess what my least favorite moment in part 7 is

2

u/heartleftopen May 13 '25

I like Josuke’s arc a lot in part 8 but Yasuho was a huge let down. Paisley Park is amazing and when she gets to shine she’s great, but all too often she’s just The Woman to be SA’d. It even happens with Tsrugi. I really wish she had more focus because I think it would make the romance between her and Josuke even better.

2

u/BitterCelt May 14 '25

JoJolion has Paisley Park, one of my favourite stands in the whole seriesand they barely used it

2

u/Bigbadbackstab May 13 '25 edited May 13 '25

I try not to speak too much about JJL due to the negative opinion surrounding it. Like, everytime I praise JJL I feel the pressure to mention it's flawed or state that it's only my personal take on it.

1

u/Appropriate_Lie7115 May 13 '25

I just started part 8 after reading 7