Anime Whatever

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[rhejac]

the end of evangelion (1997)

My brain is pretty tired from watching this movie. I love the concept so much, though. The visuals of everyone becoming one, everyone seeing the psyches of others, the darkness that lies beneath everyone's skin, was absolutely mesmerizing to watch.

Asuka's violence at the beginning of the movie was so cool to look at from an animation standpoint. Seeing her complete confidence in her mission and the way she tried to take out every Eva had me on the edge of my seat. It was gut-wrenching when she did lose. It was like I felt all the pain and gore myself as her Eva gets eaten to death and she screams in horror.

Shinji's journey through the movie was equally captivating and harrowing. His deep psychological struggle, depicted through surreal and intense imagery, was a powerful exploration of his inner turmoil. The moment he confronts his mother, and the subsequent scenes where he grapples with his sense of self and his place in the world, were profoundly moving. The merging of human consciousness, while visually stunning, also conveyed the immense loneliness and desire for connection that Shinji experiences. It was heartbreaking to witness his pain and confusion as he navigated this new reality.

The climax, where Shinji makes the decision to reject Instrumentality and embrace individuality, was a poignant resolution to his character arc. His choice to return to a world where people are separate but capable of forming genuine connections underscored the series' recurring themes of identity, loneliness, and the human need for understanding. The final scene, with Shinji and Asuka on the desolate shore, left a lasting impression. Their ambiguous interaction, full of raw emotion and vulnerability, encapsulated the complex and often painful nature of human relationships.

Overall, The End of Evangelion was an intense and thought-provoking conclusion to the series. Its exploration of deep psychological and existential themes, combined with its stunning visuals, made for an unforgettable viewing experience. Despite the exhaustion, I can't help but appreciate the profound impact of this film.

[briochebrioche]

I agree that Shinji deciding to reject instrumentality was a critical point of character development. For someone like Shinji, willingly choosing to stay as an individual seems brave. It kind of sends a message that even if we are plagued with anxiety and self-doubt, we should strive to live genuine lives and stay true to ourselves. And yes I also agree that the animations were sick to watch, I was very hyped watching Aska fight. And the animations of the merging were so surreal and interesting to watch.

[briochebrioche]

End of Evangelion ( Arrest Shinji pls )

When I first watched this movie it was actually before I watched any episode of Evangelion, so it was quite confusing for me (although I’ve heard it was confusing regardless). From the start, it shows intense and often brutal scenes that reflect the inner struggles of Shinji. His battles with depression, identity, and the need for human connection are portrayed in a raw and emotional way, making his journey both painful and relatable. However, the film also demonstrates the bad side of this. He is way too dependent on Asuka and relies on her to solve his problems. What’s worse is that when she needed him most (she was fighting the Mass Production Eva) he just sat there in self-loathing and let her die when he could have helped. It showed how self-hate and doubt can cause one to ruin their relationships with others or worse. (Also wtf was that hospital scene????)

The film’s portrayal of Instrumentality—the merging of all human souls into one consciousness—raises deep questions about individuality, freedom, and happiness. It is also the concept that ends up giving Shinji some sort of character development. He’s always feared the barriers between people and being rejected. This has caused him to have really bad attachment and abandonment issues that have really held him back as a character. However, in the end, he chooses to reject instrumentality and chooses to stay as an individual. He accepts the barriers between people and decides that this would be a more genuine life than being part of the collective consciousness. Although a bit confusing, I thought the movie was very interesting overall. I may not have liked Shinji as a character, but the world and situations he was put into really made me think about my own feelings of doubt and identity. The characters also had a lot of depth to them and their motivations were understandable. Good movie fr.

[n4stasia]

Xenoblade Chronicles 2

So I do have a bit of a disadvantage here. If there is anything more boring than playing an RPG video game, it is certainly watching somebody else play it. To each their own, but RPG is one of the few genres I absolutely dislike, although I know it may be an unpopular opinion considering the worldwide popularity. I just wanted to share my difficulty following the plot having zero previous knowledge about it. I also had to spend some time watching youtube video reviews to get a better understanding. But enough of a slight side tangent! I absolutely loved some of the aspects of Xenoblade Chronicles 2 and the connection to our theme of pop ecocriticism, so let me share that with you.

xeno-eco-criticism

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 involves in ecocriticism through some majestic cutscenes and story itself. The game's world is a living entity where titans serve as both homes and gods, emphasizing the deep bond between life and nature. Characters like Rex and Pyra explore themes of resource exploitation and ecological harmony. The damage caused by greed contrasts with the protagonists' quest for balance, mirroring real-world environmental issues on our planet Earth. The breathtaking landscapes and ecosystems in the cutscenes highlight the urgent need for sustainable living and respecting our planet.

humans + nature = ♡︎

Connecting this to the quite controversial text we were assigned , "The Drama of the Anthropocene," the anime game really nails the idea that humans and nature are intertwined and our future depends on this relationship. The Anthropocene era, where human actions shape the Earth, forces us to reconsider how we interact with the environment, just like the characters in the game work to bring back balance to their world. It really resembles the idea of Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, both push for a big shift in how we see and treat nature, the need for deep ecology and sustainable living to avoid environmental disasters. The game goes a step further by showing how every choice impacts the ecosystem where even small actions can lead to big changes.

On a less enthusiastic note, "The Drama of the Anthropocene" dives into some questionable conclusions. Cobb rejects the idea that better technology alone can save us from environmental collapse, calling out the arrogance in believing that human ingenuity can always find a fix. Like ok go off I guess, but you can't you can't get into the brains of every one of 8 billion people and make them treat nature with care. I'm all up for the idea of interconnectedness of eco systems, but we need all the options, especially technology. I don't even want to repeat his ideas about religion and their alleged contribution to the environmental distress :\

[briochebrioche]

I'm also not the biggest fan of RPG games, but I do think they usually have great stories. As for this game, I agree that its main message is about humans existing with nature in a harmonious way. That we depend on nature and vice versa. I also think the real-world parallel is important. Stories like this feel like a call to action for us to do something about our own environment. We have the power to reverse the damage we've done, but it's gonna take a lot of convincing around the globe to get that started.

[briochebrioche]

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 ( gamer moment )

I’ve never played this game and was only familiar with it because the characters Pyra and Mythra are in the Smash Brothers game.  The Titans in "Xenoblade Chronicles 2" are not just the setting but integral to the lives of the inhabitants of Alrest. Each Titan, a massive, sentient being, supports diverse ecosystems and human civilizations on its back. This setup highlights a direct, symbiotic relationship between humans and nature, showing how deeply interconnected their fates are. As Titans age and die, their ecosystems collapse, forcing humans to find new Titans to inhabit. This cycle reflects how temporary human settlements are and underscores the dependence on and respect for these colossal creatures.

Another fascinating aspect is the Blades, mystical beings who serve and fight alongside their human Drivers. Blades are personifications of natural elements and forces (Pyra is fire and Mythra is wind for example) symbolizing the bond between humans and nature. When a Blade is awakened from a Core Crystal, it forms a bond with its Driver. This bond is not just a simple master-servant relationship but a deep, symbiotic connection. The Blade supports the Driver in battle, providing various abilities, while the Driver supplies the Blade with energy called Ether. Also, there's the fact that titans are actually former blades, so the blades also help the humans with having places to live when they're no longer used as weapons. Overall, the game highlights the importance of having a good relationship with nature. That humans and the environment are not separate from each other but are one. We depend on nature and nature depends on us.

This makes me think of the real life parallels. Nature provides us with food, materials for shelter and technology, entertainment, and our overall mental and physical health. We have the power to stop forest fires, cure animals from diseases, save species from extinction through conservation efforts, build irrigation systems that can help local fauna flourish, etc. The game reminds us that we should exist harmoniously with nature and have a relationship of mutual aid.

[mochicrackersss]

Blog Post - Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind ᯓᡣ𐭩‧₊˚ ⊹

I have very fond memories of watching Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind last year. During my and Dad's flight to Japan last summer, we downloaded all the Ghibli films we hadn't watched in preparation for the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka. Going to Japan, but ESPECIALLY the Ghibli Museum was on my bucket list for so long because I'm such a huge fan of Ghibli, so I wanted to make sure I could enjoy every bit of it! And I'm glad I did, as I don't know why I never watched Nausicaä until then. Not only is it (kind of) the studio's first release (since technically it was created and directed by Hayao Miyazaki even though the studio was founded after its release), but it's also just a beautiful animated story that holds up great even today.

During my second watch, I noticed Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind has a similar setting and tone to Neon Genesis Evangelion. Both stories are set in this post-apocalyptic world populated with monstrous, alien creatures. Although, it seems Nausicaä's world is more far gone than Evangelion's. The air is barely breathable due to the spore-like infection covering almost every inch of the Earth, and massive insects that could crush any remaining human civilizations. However, unlike the Tokyo-3 citizens, Nausicaä stresses to her people that cohabitation with insects and humans is possible. If anything, similar to Evangelion, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind illustrates that humans are the root cause of violence and destruction. The soil and water were polluted by the wars thousands of years ago, which caused the air to be unbreathable, all the plants to be lethal and the toxic jungles to grow.

Side note, I absolutely love the music for this movie. Joe Hisaishi ate so hard with the 8-bit synthesized fantasy score, it tickles my brain so well.

[briochebrioche]

I agree with what you said about humans being portrayed as the root cause of the problems. I mean, humans going to war was the reason the environment became so toxic and deserted in the first place. The plants are the ones trying to filter everything out and make the environment stable again. It's similar to how in real life people don't like taking accountability for their actions. We'd rather blame nature or other outside forces than admit we are the problem. Luckily for the people in the film, Nausicaä is able to convince them of the importance of a symbiotic relationship with nature.

[briochebrioche]

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind ( Big Bug )

This show reminded me of the other Miyazaki film, “Princess Mononoke” that also had themes regarding nature. From what I remember of the other film, it focused more on the effects of industrialization on the environment. The modern technology and industry was like a disease to the nature and people around it, which is kind of a similar concept in this film (except the reverse). In this film, some of the humans see nature as an enemy that is actively trying to kill them. Particularly, they believe the Toxic Jungle is the cause for the diseases that affect the humans. In actuality, the jungle is filtering out the toxins in the soil that were there due to the devastating war humans waged so long ago. This disregard and lack of empathy toward nature reminds me of how real-world governments treat the environment. Over the years, humans have destroyed entire ecosystems with deforestation, overfishing, urbanization, and so much more. We have taken so much from nature in order to fulfill our own needs or greed. Areas where there used to be lush and diverse ecosystems are now covered in concrete. We dump our waste in landfills or bodies of water because it’s convenient. Habitats are lost and species go extinct because we want to use the natural material to build things or because we like the fur of the animal so we hunt it to near extinction.

A major consequence of this is climate change, which has been reported to have the potential of having world-changing (or ending) consequences. This reminds me of the ohmu that are seen in the film. These creatures are not inherently evil, but only act out against humanity when they are provoked through violence. They’re like a physical representation of the large-scale climate issues that affect human lives as a consequence of their own actions. Overall, I think the movie does a good job in critiquing the instrumentalism ideology and shows that living in harmony with nature is more beneficial to humans than taking advantage of it.

[loquaciousstrigidae]

SwampCon 2024

Convention Post

Last semester on March 2nd, I had the pleasure of attending the annually held SwampCon at the Reitz Union (at the mercy of my dear friend Angel). It was one of the first anime conventions I had ever been to, so naturally I did not know what to expect beforehand. All that prefaced my experience were the confident assurances of my friend that I would, in fact, enjoy myself and my preconceived notions of convention culture based on video essays and social media. I knew there to be plenty of trinkets to peruse, so I had conceded the inevitability that my wallet would open at least a few times. I anticipated the Artist Alley most of all, where fan artists set up booths with stickers, prints, posters, keychains, and other memorabilia all themed around different anime and video games. In a bit I will post some pictures of the lovely things I purchased. 

But our day began with a visit to the maid cafe. Upon entry, the Reitz ballroom was furnished with a cluster of tables, each draped with a tablecloth and set with glasses and napkins. People in maid costumes—as one might expect to see—stepped onto a stage lined with glittery plastic fringe to perform a few dances to popular anime openings. I had the delight to choose between various desserts—cookies, fruits, and brownies (I chose the brownie)—along with some lemonade.  

Pictured: My friends and I waiting for the show to begin. 

After that we went to the Artist Alley—and this was most definitely a lovely time. I went to find an artist I had seen on the schedule website named Anna Jano. I got two prints and an owl enamel pin (it really is such a lovely thing). I also came away with a single D20 die and a keychain of the character HERO from OMORI. 

Pictured: Anna Jano prints, Anna Jano enamel pin, HERO keychain. 

My friends surprised me with a SpyXFamily poster as well. How kind of them. 

Pictured: My SpyXFamily poster hanging in my dorm room. 

Beyond the Artist Alley, we also visited a room with booths displaying other wares such as jewelry, woodwork, stuffed animals, figurines, and toys. If I had the funds I would have invested in one of the wood-carved D&D polyhedral dice boxes. Oh goodness... a girl can dream. 

By this time of day, the bustle of the day was beginning to come over me. Conventions, it seems, can take a lot of energy out of you. Before our lunch break, however, we tuned in to the Five Nights at Freddy’s lore presentation. I must admit, I am not cultured enough to understand the nuances of the bite of '87. The only significant cultural information I can offer is a reference to that one clip of Markiplier. It was fun to see my friends enthusiastic about it, though.  

Pictured: "Was that the bite of '87?"

After lunch, we returned to the convention and participated in an escape room. It was a ten-minute one that had a few puzzles to solve. We were placed in a group of around 15 people and were tasked with finding various items that culminated in a collective mental synthesis over a kind of riddle. Well—it may not have been a riddle. I don’t remember it all too clearly. But the good news is that we escaped—albeit with only a few seconds on the clock. 

Pictured: Waiting in line before our endeavor at the SwampCon escape room.

Our last stop of the day was an event that my friend had threatened to take me to for months: Bad Fanfiction Reading (18+). Well... it is what it sounds like. Two hosts read to the vast audience of conventioneers while volunteers from the crowd reenacted the fanfics like a stage play. The (18+) part is important, as it was just as much vulgar as it was silly! Hah. Well it was an experience to say the least. I did have my fair share of giggles.

Pictured: Bad Fanfiction Reading opening slide.

Pictured: "Oh... how nervous we are to witness Bad Fanfiction Reading!"

We parted ways after that and I went home to hang up my newly acquired prints and rest! 

This little reflection reminded me of all the fun I had with my friends. Conventions can be a very wonderful way to interact with others who share your interests. I will most certainly be attending next year. 

Pictured: Heading home.

[briochebrioche]

I've actually been to SwampCon before and had a lot of fun. They're more strict nowadays with what you can wear (I was ghostface but now you can wear full masks in the building) but still about the same. I didn't participate in any extra events, but the maid cafe, escape room, and bad fanfiction readings seem like they were fun and interesting. Although I do have to agree, conventions definitely drain your energy. But at the end of the day it's all about having fun and enjoying time with friends/fellow fans!

[briochebrioche]

MegaCon 2022 !!! ( I'm Batman )

The most recent convention that I’ve been to was MegaCon (2022) in Orlando. It was more comic book based, but there were many different fandoms and genres present. The venue was a really massive building that had multiple rooms for showings, small parties, and interactive areas. I’m pretty sure there was a small Vocaloid concert in one of the rooms as well. The main attraction of course was the main room where all the booths were set up. As I walked through the convention, I was able to appreciate just how much these fans had elevated the media to more than just entertainment.

First, there’s the place itself. The giant open hall was divide into multiple sections, such as the retail area, the artist alley, the celebrity booths, and the food courts. The retail area was mostly people selling props like ninja blades or things of the sort, body pillows, masks, shirts, cards, etc. It was a lot of merch for a variety of mediums including comics, anime, games, and movies. The other main attraction for me was the artist alley. It was just a very large area lined up with booths and booths of independent artists. It ranged from their own personal art to art of characters from beloved series. It was not just a commercial thing, but also a display of the huge variety in artistic styles. I saw spray paintings, watercolor on paper, acrylic accessories, metal pins, stickers, hand drawings, sculptures, and so much more. Personally, I got a My Hero Academia sticker of my favorite character (lemillion), a watercolor ghostface poster, and a metal pin of Calcifer (from Howl’s Moving Castle) for a friend that couldn’t be there. I think it’s really amazing how all of these fans are able to produce so much due to their love for these franchises. Sure, it has become a huge business that can earn someone a living. However, it’s the way that fans are able to physically possess this fiction that is so cool to me. The characters come to life in a way, jumping out of their source material to be presented by us in the real world in unique ways. It adds an interactive layer to the entertainment we all love. Relating to this extra layer, I didn’t even talk about the cosplaying and voice acting yet.

Walking around the con, I saw so many different cosplays that I recognized. Spiderman characters, DC villains like the Riddler and joker, Tanjiro from Demon Slayer and others from the series, Five Nights at Freddy’s characters, and so much more. I went dressed as Batman (the Robert Pattinson version) and had a blast. So many people came up to me to take pictures and tell me how cool my costume looked, and some even treated me as if I was the real batman and roleplayed a little. My favorite part was when a little boy (probably 10) came up to me in his own batman costume and took a picture with me. It was just very wonderful to see how the community was so positive and having fun. It really felt like a space where everyone could express themselves however they wanted and be encouraged instead of judged. It was also cool to learn about how people put together their cosplays, as a lot of them were hand-made or modified. One more thing that was awesome was the fact that there were a lot of voice actors and popular cosplayers that showed up. The most notable of these, for me, was Kevin Conroy (the iconic voice of batman in the animated series and the games). Being able to meet the person who voiced one of your favorite characters, as well as seeing all the cosplays around you, really makes you feel like the fiction has come to life. It’s also very validating to see other people enjoy these characters and shows as much as you do. Overall, it was an amazing experience that I will definitely do again.

[rad-1shh]

Aggretsuko!

I used to be obsessed with Hello Kitty as a kid, so I was SO excited to get to revisit Sanrio as an adult! I absolutely adored this show, and will definitely go back and watch the full thing. I haven't ever worked in a corporate environment, so I was unsure at first if the show would resonate with me, but turns out the themes of anxiety and misogyny are pretty universal. I think thus show did an amazing job at, through its humor and cute animal characters, discussing the genuine issues of sexism and toxicity in the corporate workplace, as well as subverting performances of gender. 

Throughout the show, we follow Retsuko, who is constantly harassed and picked on by her boss and other employees. Every time someone makes a sexist remark or purposely overloads her with work, we see her internal frothing rage- and then cut to her calm, polite reaction. She is repeatedly performing the traditional gender stereotype of a submissive and diligent worker and suppressing her true feelings, and I think we can assume that any past attempts at expressing said feelings have gotten her in enough trouble to cause this subdued behavior. In order to express the pent up rage she is feeling, she regularly goes to karaoke in secret, where she sings aggressive death metal.

This is an unexpected subversion of the otherwise typical performance of gender she expresses, challenging the normative expectations of her society. I thought it was interesting how secretive she was of this trait, often feeling as though if anyone discovered her secret it would be world ending- but in the few instances where she does finally express it, she is met with nothing other than respect. Even her boss, who clearly dislikes her, is in awe. People admire that subversion and the skill behind it, perhaps indicating societies desire to move past the typical performances of gender. As Butler suggested in her writing on performative acts, subversive performances can be used as a form of resistance to challenge oppressive gender norms, and that is exactly what Retsuko does. 

I also really appreciated the arc of friendship between Retsuko and her office superiors, Washimi and Director Gori. Retsuko was anxious about the hierarchy from work, feeling inferior in all aspects to the two, and therefore tried to avoid them at first. In turn, Washimi and Gori felt hurt and confused, thinking that she disliked them. (Alexa, play “Girl, So Confusing” ft. Lorde.) Female friendships can be really confusing sometimes, as society often pits us against each other both within the workplace and out of it, and I think this show did a good job exploring some of the complexities and insecurities involved with that. Eventually, the three of them figured it out, and their friendship began to involve going to karaoke together- the two loved Retsuko’s singing, and even tried to get her to teach them to sing death metal too. Her individual act of resistance became an influence, and the three of them began to explore their gender performance further because of it. This again reflects on Butler’s argument that through the recognition and subversion of performative acts, the individual can resist and potentially transform the oppressive structures of gender that define our existence.

[briochebrioche]

The way she suppresses her rage when she is disrespected at work definitely feels like a critique on the way workers, especially women, are expected to be super polite at all times. The stark difference between the act she puts on and her true personality is entertaining but also makes the audience feel the anger she feels at having to play along with the system. I also find the point about the subversive performance very interesting. Seeing the small and cute red panda sing death metal is shocking and makes it feel like the tables of power completely turn. Overall a great and entertaining way to give the oppressed character some form of agency and power.

[briochebrioche]

Aggretsuko ( So metal )

This anime is an interesting take not only on gender expectations in the workplace, but also a commentary on Japanese work culture. The main character, Retsuko, has just started her life as a shakaijin (the transition from a student to a working person). At this job, she faces many hardships that come with the Japanese work system. First of all, she is handed over the work of her superiors and is expected it so complete it all despite it technically not being her responsibility. This causes her to stay hours and hours over time, which is a common problem in Japan. Workers are expected to accept many hours of unpaid overtime in order to come off as “team players” or not lazy, and a lot of times the workers are not allowed to leave until the boss leaves.

This imbalance of power is seen most when Retsuko’s boss is present. The boss (shown as a literal anthropomorphic pig) spends all day slacking off and getting his workers to do everything for him. He represents Japan’s issue of lifetime employment and old fashioned ideals. The reason he is the boss is because he has been there longer than anyone else, which is meant to highlight how seniority trumps actual skill and efficiency. He also basically uses Retsuko as his maid, making her do chores for him and sometimes he makes sexist comments.

This leads to the other problem the show addresses which is that of gender inequality in Japanese workplaces. The patriarchal nature of the system ensures that mostly males are put in positions of power, unless there is a woman that is just very exceptional. An example of this is seen in Washimi and Gori, two women who managed to reach that status through hard work and extreme professionalism. They basically have to go above and beyond in order to reach the level that a man would get simply by staying in the company for a long time. Overall I think the show does a good job in critiquing the toxicity that can be seen in Japanese workplaces and how the system can be unfair toward women especially.

[autoblur]

Genshiken pt. 1

This anime presents the typical perception of an anime or manga fan. The perception of anime has changed through the exposure of Japanese media in Western culture. However, the way the characters are presented seems like what non-anime watchers would perceive as a stereotypical Otaku. The comedic elements make this anime enjoyable, as the characters all represent specific archetypes. The characters derive from specific Moe elements which evoke emotion in viewers. The club members are all variations of the same socially awkward. "nerdy" characters presented in various animes. In most instances, these characters are perceived as quiet and background characters. However, their appeal is their relatability and wholesome characteristics. The anime presents a storyline for the usually overseen characters.

Through the character Kanji, we see the manifestation of the post-modern collapse of the grand narrative which unified people as part of a larger story. He denies his interest and passion for manga and anime because he feels as if his self feelings of perversion, embarrassment, and shame do not align with society's standards. However, he chooses to embrace his interest and find a community within the manga club. At the beginning of the anime, we see Saki attempt to enforce the social standards. The club members have all accepted the organization where they found an identity and community. The distinction between these various communities and social or economic classes demonstrates the atomization of the social structure.

In episode nine of the anime, we watch as Harunobu attempts to have an interaction with Saki. He has a hard time interacting with women, because of his dependency on fictional characters to make social interactions. The animation of Harunobu in this particular episode demonstrates aspects of the animalization discussed in the lecture. This episode seems to be a filler episode but demonstrates an important aspect of the post-modern world. Unlike most narratives, where there is usually a conflict, climax, and resolution, this episode only offers a conflict and climax. This episode does not present a solution to Harunobu's inability to talk to women. Instead, the story ends with the sentiment that he does not find a possibility for change, and he is content with his social circumstances (for the most part).

[briochebrioche]

I agree that the characters are very much stereotypes of otakus. The social awkwardness and inability to properly talk to girls at the start is pretty cliche. It seems like almost every young male depicted in an anime is either a pervert, socially awkward, a loser, or all. It almost feels like it tries to serve as a consolation to people who are this way in real life, offering them characters to relate to and probably think "oh, it's okay if I stay this way. This is how an otaku is supposed to be so I'm not doing anything wrong"

[parivvv]

TW!!

This season focused on a different character named Ogiue and her hobby. At first she showed intense disdain and hatred towards otakus, but over time it was revealed that she was one herself. She was ashamed of herself and her hobby of drawing yaoi which made her act as if she hated everyone in the club. Her hobby however, was a bit extreme. She even drew and imagined a yaoi of her other clubmates, Sasahara and Madarame. I think this falls in line with Saito’s reference to a blurred line between reality and fantasy for otakus. 

How every character acts about life is influenced by their favorite media that they consume, and that isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but when it can actually impact how they behave and think in real life, I think there may be a problem. 

The last season as well as this season kind of made me uncomfortable. I feel like it is normal for fandoms to have sexual content made, but it made me really uncomfortable how in the show, some of the content the guys consume are of younger girls, and how Ogiue fetishizes gay relationships. Saito claims, fiction can be just as real to otakus as real life. This is even worse considering how Madarame glorifies rape in a video game or how the club members buy sexual figurines of younger girls. Saito however, denies this idea with critical distance, or the fact that otakus and differentiate real like and fantasy. Overall the constant sexualization of girls and lgbtq+ relationships doesn't just happen in Japan, it happen everywhere. It is very unfortunate considering how many people have been harmed because of the ideas displayed in this show. I feel like there are better ways to depict lgbtq+ relationships, especially relationships with consent.

Although I didn't like this show, it opened my eyes to the different types of people in a fandom.

[briochebrioche]

I agree that the oversexualization of girls and fetishization of gay men is a big problem in the Otaku community. It's a problem not commonly addressed by anime, as it often perpetuates the use of fanservice to attract attention. I think that's usually done for money and sales purposes, but they should do a better job at presenting these people in a less toxic way. Especially since, as you mentioned, they usually depict younger girls in sometimes problematic scenarios. Overall, I do think there's some change that needs to be made regarding the representation of girls and LGBT+ people in anime.

[briochebrioche]

Genshiken Pt. 2 ( Waifus )

This part of the anime is similar to the first one but focuses more on the experiences of female otakus. Each character shows a different side of otaku culture. Saki is not an otaku but joins the Genshiken club because of her boyfriend, Kousaka. At first, she doesn't like otaku culture and looks down on it. But over time, she becomes more open-minded and starts to understand and appreciate it, making friends in the club and even joining in their activities. Her character shows how someone can grow to understand and appreciate different cultures. Ohno is a passionate cosplayer who fully embraces her otaku identity. She connects the club members to the larger otaku community by organizing events and encouraging others to cosplay. Ohno is shown as a caring and supportive friend, helping others with their hobbies and personal problems. Her character highlights the positive sides of community and friendship within otaku culture.

Ogiue starts as a troubled character who hides her otaku interests because of past bullying and shame. Eventually, she reveals her love for yaoi (boys' love) manga and shows her talent as an artist. She struggles with her identity and acceptance, reflecting the challenges many female otakus face in balancing their passions with societal expectations and personal insecurities. She also represents a similar problem of the first part regarding fetishization. In real life, boy love manga and comics are very popular among female anime and manhwa fans. This is sometimes seen as problematic, as it brings down a group of people to mere fetish objects.

Overall, the female otakus in Genshiken break traditional gender roles and stereotypes by enjoying interests usually associated with males. They like anime, manga, and gaming, and their presence in the club shows the diversity within otaku culture and the breaking down of gender barriers.

[briochebrioche]

Genshiken Pt. 1 ( M'lady )

"Genshiken" serves as a microcosm of postmodern society, illustrating how otaku culture mirrors broader trends. Postmodern society is characterized by the proliferation of subcultures, each with its unique practices and values. The show showcases the otaku subculture in detail, portraying its members' passionate engagement with their interests and the community's distinct norms. The series highlights how these subcultures provide a sense of belonging and identity in an increasingly diverse world. The characters, each with their specific niche interests, show the diversity of identities and communities that define postmodern life. In the show, characters frequently navigate between different identities and roles. For instance, Kanji Sasahara evolves from a hesitant freshman to a confident club president, while others grapple with their dual identities as otaku and students. This fluidity reflects postmodernism's emphasis on the constructed nature of identity and the freedom to continuously redefine oneself.

It also reflects how certain subcultures can generally be seen as “weird” or “lame”, causing members of that community to feel alienated. This is why, as seen in the show, these dedicated spaces where people celebrate a subculture become a sort of safe haven for people to express themselves. Whether that be a school club, a convention, or somebody’s room, fans have produced places where they can interact with and build on their communities.

Although not everything is good, as the show also portrays a few of the negative aspects of being an Otaku, particularly the sexual aspect. Cardboard cutouts, scale figures of girls in revealing clothes, and erotic magazines are all show in full display and enjoyed by the characters. To me, this is one of the main negative stereotypes of an Otaku. It kind of gives the rest of the fandom a bad name, as it makes fans seem impulsive and immature. So I think the show also touches on how sometimes a subculture can be dragged down not just by society, but also by its own members.

[pixiebat13]

A Silent Voice Blog

I first watched 'A Silent Voice' when I was in middle school and then again at some point in high school. Both times were equally as emotional, and this movie remains as one of my favorite animated movies. A Silent Voice deals with themes surrounding discrimination, bullying, as well as redemption/forgiveness.

The movie begins by looking back at Shoya and Shoko's interactions when they were younger. Shoya, along with his friends, weren't the nicest to Shoko and often tormented and made fun of her for having a hearing disability. As Shoya grows up he develops regret for his past actions and tries to atone for them by learning sign language and befriending Shoko. His regret took a form of self-hatred shown through his own self-isolation and plans to commit suicide. Shoya's self-isolation, or social anxiety, is represented by the Xs on people's faces.

As Shoya repents for his past actions he makes a group of people who are either part of a marginalized part of society or were mistreated. He does this all in an attempt to redeem himself. Slowly, the Xs disappear from people's faces showing his progression towards forgiveness. This is a visual representation of Shoya opening himself up to others.

Later on in the movie, we see an interaction between Ueno and Shoko on the Ferris wheel. Here, Ueno states her hatred for Shoko and how they should agree to dislike each other and go their separate ways. However, Shoko doesn't agree with this. Due to this interaction, in self-loathing Shoko attempts to commit suicide. Shoya jumps to save her and after his fall the movie represents the breaking of his shell with an egg being dropped in a bowl.

I think this movie does a great job of handling sensitive topics and portraying the effects bullying and self-isolation can have on an individual.

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I enjoyed Shoyo's character development. It really showed that even those who have committed wrongs in the past have the potential to redeem themselves and be better people. I like how the relationship between Shouko and Shoya went from a problematic one to one of mutual support. They really helped each other grow and achieve their goals of gaining self-worth and not being held down by the past. I mean, the boy that contributed to Shouko's desire to end her life turned out to be the one who saved her. Overall, I agree that the film did an excellent job in tackling the very real issue of discrimination and bullying (particularly among the youth)

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A Silent Voice ( don't be mean )

This movie tackles the theme of discrimination mainly through the depiction of bullying. From an early age Shouko faces a lot of bullying due to her deafness. This came in the form of mocking, being excluded, and even having her hearing aids damaged by Shoya (her main bully). The harassment really gets to get and ultimately makes her feel like she is just a burden to those around her. The movie highlights how discrimination has an extremely negative and long-lasting effect on an individual’s self-esteem and sense of worth which can lead to social withdrawal.

Another thing is how the film shows how nobody is safe from discrimination. Once Shoya transfers schools, he loses his status as the “cool” kid who can get away with picking on others. Here, the roles are reverse and now he himself is the target of bullying. He is ostracized and mocked just as Shouko was, which demonstrates the cyclical nature of discrimination. Negativity breeds more negativity. Because of this sort of karmic justice, Shoyo is faced with intense feelings of remorse and wanting to redeem himself for his past actions. He goes on an emotional journey where he changes from ignorance and cruelty to kindness and empathy. Shoya personifies the ability for humans to change their ways and strive to be better. His character development can be compared to that of someone in real life who may have prejudice against a group of people but grows to value and understand them after careful self-reflection.

The developing friendship between two people who were once “enemies” is a hopeful display of how discrimination is not permanent and can be overcome. The film shows the beauty of compassion, and it reminds us how discrimination can (at best) result in the rebuilding of a relationship and (at worst) result in the destruction of a life.

[rad-1shh]

Naruto Shippuden

Naruto is one of the first animes from this class that I had actually previously heard of, and if I am being completely honest that was only because of the guy who was Naruto running during the Area 51 raid. What a strange time to be alive. Anyway, I thought that overall this anime seemed pretty interesting, and was surprisingly not too hard to follow despite the large amount of episodes skipped, which felt refreshing compared to some of the last few animes. 

I could certainly see this modules theme of discrimination shining through in this series, both in the original Naruto and in Shippuden. Naruto, we learn in the first episode, has a dangerous mythical creature called the Nine-Tailed fox sealed within him, which caused his peers to isolate him completely. Even his teachers seemed to try and prevent his graduation because of this. Ironically, for much of his life Naruto was perhaps the only one who was unaware of his ancestry, and therefore did not know why he was hated so much. Because of this confusing isolation, we see in the first episode that he acts out a lot in search of attention, as even bad recognition is better than none. Later, we meet Pain, who has a similar story of isolation and suffering, having lived through war. Both characters after experiencing so much hatred are determined to change society for the better, and to create a world of peace and acceptance. 

Where they differ, though, is their methods; while Naruto strove for peace through building relationships and trying to prevent conflict between the five village, Pain intended to create a horrific weapon and distributing it among the villages, essentially creating mutually assured destruction amongst them to coerce them into peace. This reminded me a lot of our real world dynamics, in which world powers have been acquiring powerful nuclear weapons since WW2, preventing any large-scale direct conflicts between him. Technically, Pain’s plan was pretty sound- but as Naruto points out, it does not create true peace, just fear and eventually violence at unimaginable scale. I think this emphasis on how differently people in similar situations can turn out is really interesting, and shows some of the potential effects of discrimination and social isolation. 

I did not personally relate much to this show, though some of the themes of social isolation were a bit too familiar to me, as I’m sure they were to many of us. I reacted very differently than Naruto to isolation as a kid though, generally withdrawing and staying quiet rather than trying to garner further attention, so those themes only resonated so far.

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I think the difference and similarities between Naruto and Pain are important to point out. Both of them grew up being cast out and persecuted by society, and they even had the same teacher. In the end, Pain was consumed by the trauma and loss that cam ewith the discrimination he faced. he believed that people would never truly understand each other and that hate would always exist. He even tries to make Naruto waver by asking him if he hates him now that he had seemingly killed Hinata in front of his very eyes, showing that his idea of true peace could easily be broken. However, Naruto stood his ground and showed the other side of what could be. He showed that even after facing discrimination and loss, he was still hopeful in bridging the gaps between people and striving for a peaceful society.