Today I had an exchange with harakiri about my recent review of Aria. It sparked some a few things in my mind about Aria's genre, and the types of arguments for and against serie of that type.
In my opinion, Aria belongs in the category called "slice of life." It joins the ranks of other series in this category, including Kino no Tabi, Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou, and Genshiken. Most of the series in this genre have one thing in common: they're not really about anything in particular. There's no major plot. Each episode sort of stands on its own.
Personally, I'm a fan of series like Aria and YKK, because they provide a glimpse into every day life. The fact that they lack plot doesn't really bother me. Many people that I know shun stories without plot. It makes them feel unfulfilled and bored. In response to this, I quote a friend of mine, who says "it's like when you're getting a cup of coffee. You don't necessarily want the best cup of coffee in the world, just a cup that you can enjoy."
Slice of life really is just that; it is a description of of the events in someone else's life. The fact that it feels like one's own makes it boring, since life is usually uninteresting and boring. But doesn't looking at someone else's reaction give insight into another perspective?
I'm curious to see what others think about the genre.
