Cultural Capital as an 'Aura' Constituting Class: Bourdieu's 'Concealment' Strategy and the Convertibility of 'Otaku Capital' (Part 3)
5. The 'O-tōban-san' (Duty Officers) of Stage Fans
Let us also examine a contemporary example. The phenomenon of stratification occurring among enthusiastic fans of the performing arts ('stalker' fans) and the formation of order by the upper echelons is a very interesting subject for analysis when placed in the context of the 'concealment strategy of cultural capital' and 'exposed prestige' discussed in this essay.
This phenomenon can be evaluated as a hybrid form of class formation in which elements of classical 'concealment-type' cultural capital and contemporary 'exposure-type' capital are intricately intertwined.
A. 'Contribution Capital' (Tribute Capital) as Exposure-Type Capital
What forms the foundation of fan stratification is, first of all, capital that is overtly measurable and exposed.
Visualization of Economic Contribution (Tribute Capital): Gifts for specific stars, devoted financial and time contributions to fan clubs (including private fan clubs), the volume of performance tickets purchased, and travel expenses for tours are elements that are easily quantified as monetary amounts or volume of action. Similar to modern 'tribute capital,' this functions as clear evidence of the depth of affection and enthusiasm, forming a hierarchy within the fan community (especially prestige from the lower echelons).
B. 'Aura of Knowledge' and 'Habitus of Behavior' as Concealment-Type Capital
However, what the upper echelons of the fan hierarchy (long-time fans, those with quasi-familial status, etc.) use when forming order is not merely financial contribution, but strongly carries the aspect of concealed cultural capital.
Deep 'Aura of Knowledge' (Habitus): 'Deep insight' or 'refined understanding' regarding the history of the stage troupe, past episodes of the stars, internal unwritten rules, and the personality of specific performers acts as an embodied aesthetic sense as a 'dignified fan,' going beyond mere quantity of knowledge (otaku capital). While this 'aura' has the effort of how much time and passion were spent in the background, it is misrecognized as 'innate sense or cultivation,' becoming a prestige that is not easily imitated by newcomers.
'Refinement of Behavior' and Order Formation: The order maintained by the upper echelons is strictly limited under the current system, but there were times in the past when theater waiting (de-machi/iri-machi) existed, and there, refined behavior (habitus) such as 'proper etiquette' and 'implicit rules' were maintained as customs and past wisdom. This is the very mechanism that Bourdieu points out, where cultural capital reproduces class differences as a 'mode of unconscious behavior.'
C. Concrete Example: Integration of Capital Seen in the 'O-tōban-san' Phenomenon
The phenomenon of 'O-tōban-san' (fans who stood in the front row during de-machi/iri-machi and were responsible for management such as lining up and various types of support) that once existed in the fan community most clearly demonstrated this hybrid class structure.
Selection by Exposure-Type Capital: Fans who were chosen for the role of 'O-tōban-san' or who could arrange it were generally central figures within the fan club who were recognized for their many years of contribution (tribute capital) and time commitment to fan activities (otaku capital).
Justification of Privilege by Concealment-Type Capital: However, the reason they occupied the symbolic superiority of the front row (the place closest to the star) and had the authority to give instructions to other fans was not simply because they paid money, but because they possessed a habitus-ized 'refinement of etiquette' recognized as being able to perform 'dignified behavior that does not damage the honor of the troupe or the star.' This 'superiority of etiquette' functioned as a 'concealed aura' that justified the 'exposed privilege' of the front row, maintaining order within the community.
Stratification among performing arts fans can be evaluated as having a hybrid structure where, while 'how much money was spent/contributed' (exposure-type capital) serves as an initial barrier to entry and a competitive principle for the middle class, order formation by the true upper echelons is justified by concealment-type cultural capital, such as 'how much dignified behavior one can perform' and 'how much deep understanding and historical knowledge one has embodied.'
This complex class structure suggests that even in the realm of fan activities, the multifaceted conversion of capital and the 'concealment' of the prestige it creates play a decisive role in maintaining social order.