Final Project Envisionment - A Tale of Two Groups

After much deliberation, I have decided to focus in on "otaku" culture (which I'll get to in a minute) under the broader category of virtual communities. How did I arrive at this decision, you ask? Until recently my allegiance was torn between two separate projects groups: Japan, and virtual worlds. The decision seemed nigh impossible... until the answer came to me in a dream. And then God said: "Thou shalt have one unified topic, the combined force of thine two warring interests, their tempest transformed into glorious harmony." Or something like that.
At the moment my direction for this project could be considered sketchy at best, so i urge you to not take it definitively. I hope to look at the rise of otaku culture in Japan, the history of its spread throughout America and elsewhere, and the social implications that can be made about it as a lifestyle. I find myself occasionally identifying with this group, and enjoy the idea of learning more about it while integrating my own personal experiences. I might touch on offshoots of otaku culture, such as the imageboard as an avenue for community.
The first article that I found provides a brief background on what it means to be an otaku, and analyzes its implications by examining a subject that belongs to the group. Modern computer literacy isn't taught in schools, it is a skill that is acquired outside of the traditional environment at an individual's own accord. In Japan the term otaku is used to identify individuals who possess an avid interest in computers and popular culture, sometimes at the expense of traditional social interaction. Otaku are usually condemned by traditionalists, who have gone so far as to refer to them as a new breed of human beings. Parallels can be made to American views on cyberculture, which has created a new sense of self among many of its participants. The lifestyle choices of newer generations are inevitably scrutinized by prior generations, and the article provides a look into the life of a young American otaku through his father's eyes. The story catalogues the evolution of a boy with an interest in the Warhammer universe into a known and respected Warhammer guru. His hobby allowed him to nurture his skills in computer programming and art design.
The second article I found focuses on the attributes of Japanese animation and its propagation in American culture. Japanese anime addresses many adult themes in a unique way that for a long time was largely absent in the U.S. When it first arrived in the states, anime was propagated via underground networks and peer to peer video sharing. As the popularity of anime developed, so did the native otaku culture of Japan migrate to American shores. While at many times seemingly irreverent, anime is a product of the times and almost always has a message to convey (whether it pertains to us or not).