At the moment, Gerpan is slowly transforming from an ugly caterpillar into a beautiful, majestic moth. We’d like to know how we’re doing. What do you like? Who don’t you like? What ideas do you have to make Gerpan better?
You can email us or leave a comment. If we don’t hear from you we’ll assume the worse, for which we apologize.
I heart Gerpan and my only suggestion is that I would love to see more visual components added to the site. Loving Taylor’s drawings but I want to see more, please! Oh and maybe you should offer T-shirts and mugs and tote bags for sale (“I Heart Gerpan” is catchy – I saw t-shirts like that all over Paris last week so you know it would be REALLY en vogue). Or avatars for guests like that movie, “Avatar” – also en vogue. Other than that, keep up the dandy writing you hilarious moths you. Strike a pose.
Also: could Taylor please dress up in full Manba regalia and do a fashion photo shoot or videoblog featuring some para para dance moves? I think more Westerners need to be exposed to this.
Thanks for the ideas and words of encouragement Courtney. I just loosened the noose around my neck. I like the Gerpan t-shirt/apparel ideas but I think the brand would go best on sweatsuits and dickies. What do you think, Liz? Either way, if we do open a gift shop, you`ll get free samples. More drawings and video, coming right up.
What is Manba (you don`t mean NAMBLA, do you?)?
Here are some instructions for you, Taylor.
Oh, you mean Japanese black-face? I appreciate the instructions but I am actually already wearing my manba right now.
I heard from a friend that ganguro fashion is a way for girls to rebel against the conformity and conservatism of Japanese society while looking like Beyonce. The name manba is apparently a derivative of yama-uba, which is the name for a mountain hag in Japanese folklore.
Can we get a better way to go through your archives? In a recent comment I linked to an old entry and it took FOREVER to find.
Also, you should consider make a small print run of books out of this blog when you return. http://www.lulu.com, http://www.blurb.com, and http://www.bookmobile.com/ (a Minneapolis local) all have very affordable print on demand services and high quality products.