Caleb's Blog

[abhiramanimeblog]

Hetalia and Stereotypes

This was my first time watching Hetalia and I have to say I did not like it. I found the stereotypes to be amusing, but the overall experience was just not fulfilling. It may be that I have just watched Your Name, but the story of Hetalia did not hit. I was also surprised to find out how popular this was since I have never watched it or heard of it, but it has over 9 seasons. I think it is offensive, but like the reading suggests it inspires conversation which is also important. For this discussion, I want to talk about the stereotypes in Hetalia.

I want to preface this by saying that stereotypes are not inherently bad. They can be very comedic when used to that effect. They are generalizations about a population which is definitely bad if it is taken as fact. However, most will not take a stereotype as fact so it is not a bad thing. I did not get offended by anything Hetalia showed. A big part of my not being offended may be that my country was not represented heavily. I can see how people from Italy and England could be offended by the depictions Hetalia showed.

Italy is depicted as a very clumsy and helpless country. This is true in some regard since they were not big winners in any major wars. Where I can see Helalia stepping too far is when they make Italy a country or a depiction obsessed with pasta which may be offensive to the Italians, any generalization about a country's interests will be offensive to some people. One of the only things I found truly funny from the show came from the chibi form of the show where the Holy Roman and Italian relationship was shown which was hilarious.

I also think that the depiction of Germany especially in this time as being something noble and likable is a bit weird. To most people, this time period in Germany is definitely villainous. They did some undeniably heinous acts and to paint them as some kind of good character is very odd. Obviously, the show does not go out of its way to have any villains. It is just trying to showcase a funny telling of events. It is still a bit weird.

In my life, I have seen a lot of stereotypes about Indians told to me. I do not let these stereotypes make me feel bad. I know who I am, and while I do fit some of them I am still my own person. I am not a generalization of my people.

Overall, Hetalia is a short show that can comically tell you about the history of the Axis powers. If you have some time you should check it out.

[calebsjpt1311blog]

After reading your blog post I believe that you bring up some interesting and unique perspectives. I also find myself agreeing with a lot of your ideas. One idea in particular that I especially agree with is generalizations can only be bad if taken as a fact. As long as viewers do not take the content of this anime seriously and appreciate it for what it is, a comedic story, then no one should be offended. This anime contains some controversial aspects that might frustrate a lot of people which is why it cannot be taken seriously. Overall, your blog post contains a lot of great views and I agree with all of them.

[calebsjpt1311blog]

Hetalia Blog Post

This was my first time watching the anime “Hetalia”. I must admit that I have never heard of this anime before. After watching the show, my first thought was that it was quite funny. I thought the silly character designs to represent countries and the representation of international history through such an unserious genre was hilarious. If a viewer was to take this show seriously they would probably be highly offended. Instead, I watched it through an exaggerated and comedic lens which allowed me to not be offended. I believe that if a viewer does not take it seriously, because no one person can represent an entire country, then this show can be enjoyed.

In the anime, entire nations were represented by a single character. This is an obvious form of stereotyping and generalization. For example, Italy was depicted as a silly, pasta-eating boy who was no good in conflicts. Another example is Germany was seen as a person with a hard shell and soft heart, which can be very controversial for some people due to their actions during World War II. By having a single character represent the nation, minorities inside of that nation were ignored and cut out. An entire nation cannot be condensed into one character without cutting out a majority of the culture of that nation. 

The show represented the actions to annex or conquer other nations as just having that character move in with the invading nation. This representation significantly simplifies the actions that occurred. 

I was able to connect this anime to my own life. I am seen as a white American boy and thus I attain certain stereotypes, like all people. People have called me entitled and racially insensitive for just being white. I believe that everyone experiences a form of generalization in their life at some point. You can not take this accusation seriously and let it bring you down. People can assume whatever they want about you, but at the end of the day, be who you want to be.

[abhiramanimeblog]

Your Name and Kizuna

This is the 3rd time I have seen the movie Your Name and it is just as good as I remember it. It is one of my favorite movies I have watched in this class and I highly recommend anyone to watch this movie if they have not already done so. However, for this blog post, I want to talk about the Kizuna in Your Name.

Your Name mainly revolves around a body swap plot. 2 people of 2 different genders and livelihoods swap bodies and experience life through the other one's perspective. In this case, both characters Mitsuha and Taki gain an appreciation for the country and one another. Taki gains this through living Mitsuha's country life and engaging with Mitsuha in their diaries. Mitsuha gains this by living away from the country in the city like she always had wanted and realizing what she lost while also engaging in diaries. This is significant since both characters despite coming from different backgrounds and experiencing life in a city can see the appeal of the country and each other. We see that Mitsuha stops complaining about her life in the country all the time, and instead, she wants to go to the city to see Taki. We also see that Taki becomes obsessed with Mitusha's town and the disaster, he even makes his job revolve around stopping disasters like this which is shown to be unliked since he is not able to find a job. This appreciation they both share for the country along with their body swapping forms Kizuna between them and they cannot stop longing for one another even when they forget their names and experiences.

I can relate to the appreciation of the country. I have a lot of family members living in villages that are even less developed than Mitsuha's which I love and want to keep safe. I would never want them to die in an accident like what happened in the original timeline and I think I would go to great lengths to keep them safe. I also think that shared interests and appreciation can make connections that transcend time like in the movie. There are many people I know that although I do not see often or talk to often I can always find a common ground with some subject that we have talked about before.

Overall, Your Name is a must-watch movie. I think everything in it is amazing and it showcases how strong connections can transcend time. I would also recommend watching Weathering with You after Your Name to get some more context in this movie.

[calebsjpt1311blog]

I found your blog post to contain many interesting and unique perspectives. I find myself agreeing with a lot of them. I agree with you especially that the characters begin to see the appeal of the country and each other. I respect you for wanting to keep your family living in the countryside safe and your personal connection to this anime. Overall, I believe your post contains many great points and does a great job of connecting it to the concepts learned in class.

[calebsjpt1311blog]

Your Name Blog Post

This was my first time watching the animated film “Your Name”. I have heard lots of good things about this movie and so I was very excited when I got to sit down and watch it. I believe the film lives up to its expectations because I highly enjoyed it. The animation, beautiful music, and amazing storyline make this film perfect. As I watched the film I could see how it related to concepts of societal standards of gender and appreciation of conservative values.

In the film, the audience watches as the characters Taki Tachibana and Yotsuha Miyamizu swap bodies. The two characters have their consciousness swapped between bodies throughout the film. They develop a beautiful connection with each other over the course of the movie. While in the opposite bodies, the characters have to attempt to fit into their respective gender roles. Due to the characters being opposite genders, they are unfamiliar with their new societal standards and have to learn them in order to not lose social respect from the people around them. 

In the film, traditional values like religion and rural settings are explored. Taki develops an appreciation for the country while outside of his own body. Yotsuha also develops an appreciation for the countryside that she grew up in as she explores the urban center that Taki lives in. 

I personally do not connect to this film. I have never swapped bodies with another person before so I would not know what that is like. I also live in a comfortable suburban home and do not long to live in the city or rural areas like the characters in the movie. 

Overall, this film was very enjoyable to watch. I thought the plot and characters were entertaining to view. I also can see how this film connects to concepts discussed in the class.

[abhiramanimeblog]

Xenoblade and Objectification

This was my first time engaging with the Xenoblade series other than in smash bros, but it was very long. Only watching the cutscenes did not do justice to the story, since we were not able to actually able to engage with the game's combat system or world made it so that we missed out on a lot of the experience. However, for this blog, I intend to talk about the objectification that is present in Xenoblade Chronicles 2.

In Xenoblade, there was a great disaster that left the world in the state we see it in the present. The characters we see are living in very distant civilizations. We also know that there is a place that is supposedly untouched by the damages of the rest of the world called Elysium where nature thrives. The characters in the story aim to make it to this mythical place, to find the paradise.

However, when the characters make it to Elysium they find that there is no paradise. No where that is pure and nature. We see Elysium is in ruin, the tree is dead and their are man made structures everywhere. The characters even question if they are in the right place when they make it to Elysium. There they meet the one who destoryed the world: Klaus. He made sure that nature could never repair itself.

We see that the only reason life can even seem to exist is through a solution Klaus devised where he artificially created life again to populate the world. This is done primarily through his genius, the genius of humans, as well as through humans since humans are needed in the process to bond with. In this way we see that the text is contrary to the idea of the objectification of nature. Nature in this case will be a part of humanity since it is humanity who ultimately will bring back nature. This game proposes a solution for ecological issues in which humans are the main providers.

I can relate to this concept of objectification of nature since I often do think of nature as something I can use to help me but not something I am truely a part of. I think the way society has become leans less into nature at least less so obviously. A lot of those processes that used to require direct nature are now made a lot simpler and do not require direct involvement.

Overall, Xenoblade Chronicles is a game you need to play to understand its environmental commentary. I would only recommend you to watch the cutscenes if you really do not want to buy the game.

[calebsjpt1311blog]

I found your blog post to contain some very interesting and unique points. I also found myself agreeing with most of your ideas. One take in particular that I agree with is that society leans less on nature. In the modern world and my own life I find less and less direct involvement with nature for. For example, agriculture has become more scientific and food is grown in labs and not so much as in nature. Overall, your blog post has some great points and I find myself agreeing with all of them.

[calebsjpt1311blog]

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Blog Post

This was my first time hearing about the game “Xenoblade Chronicles 2”. After watching through the cut scenes I have got to say, this game looks like it would be a lot of fun to play. The storyline and world-building are very interesting and unique to me. After watching through the cutscenes I can see how this game connects to ideas of dualism and objectification from the reading. 

This game is similar to the anime “Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind” because they both involve ideas and critiques of human interaction with nature. Also, both worlds were completely destroyed by weapons (potential representations of nuclear weapons) before the start of when the audience began watching. Another similarity between the two pieces of media is they both contain limited space for humans to inhabit. For example, the Cloud Sea in “Xenoblade Chronicles 2” limits the people to only living on the backs of the Titans. 

However, the interactions between nature and humans in “Xenoblade Chronicles 2” and “Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind” are different. In “Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind” the humans live separately from nature. In “Xenoblade Chronicles 2”, humans live in coexistence with nature. The humans live on Titans where they survive with the ecosystems built there. Later in the game, the audience discovers that the Titans are being given the genetic information of past organisms through nanotechnology created by Klaus, a human. Therefore, in the game, humans and nature live together and not separate from one another as they need each other to survive and expand. 

I personally could not connect to this game. In my opinion, the modern world does not live in coexistence with nature, thus, I could not relate to that aspect of the game. Also, the modern world does not contain many of the fantasy elements in the game, thus, I lack a personal connection there too. 

[abhiramanimeblog]

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind and Instrumentalism

This was my first time viewing Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind and I thought this movie was very enjoyable. I liked the world design and the design of the bugs. I thought the movie had a clear structure and succeeded in telling the story it wanted to tell. Therefore, for this blog, I want to talk about instrumentalism in Nausicaä.

We see instrumentalism a lot in this movie. Mainly from every character other than Nausicaä. Every character sees nature as an instrument of human use and whenever nature becomes a burden or shows that it is not worth what it can be used for, the humans find it so that it is their right to get rid of it. This is in great contrast to Nausicaä who sees nature as something that should be respected and protected. She has a stance that all life is precious whether or not it endangers her. In this way, she is a saint-like figure (will get to this).

The movie functions as a critique of the instrumentalist perspective in society. We see that those who practice instrumentalism are often subject to the wraith of nature in the form of the ohms and their bug armies. The attacks from these bugs leave those who practice instrumentalism in ruin showing that the perspective will only leave people who engage in it in ruin. This is in contrast to Nausicaä who does not practice instrumentalism. She is able to coexist with nature often times being able to stop any of the situations she is in. We even see her regarded as a Christ-like figure for her actions further justifying her perspective.

There is also a contrast between the Tolmekians and the members of the valley. We see that those in the valley use items made from nature that they were able to forage. They coexist with nature and only try, and kill it if absolutely necessary. This contrasts with the Tolmekians who go out of their way to kill nature. Blaming it for their problems. They also avoid it by making all their weapons and machines out of metal which can not be found and have to be made by humans. They also seek to bring out the ancient warrior who uses explosions to singe the earth and destroy nature. Both societies show different stances on nature's involvement with humans. The movie heavily favors the existence of living with nature since it is that stance that saves the people.

I can relate to the instrumentalist perspective. I think I have that perspective. I am not really a nature person and I do favor using the environment to progress. However, I do not wish for nature to be completely destroyed for this purpose. There are limits that needs to be placed on what we can use, but leaving nature alone also does not seem like a good idea to me.

Overall this movie is very good. I would recommend anyone to watch it. It can be a great way to get a commentary on instrumentalism or just a great way to spend roughly 2 hours.

[calebsjpt1311blog]

I found your blog post to have many unique and interesting perspectives. I found myself agreeing with many of your ideas. One idea in particular that I agree with is this film serves as an instrumentalist critique on society. The film shows the people that practice instrumentalism being left in ruin. The creator is sending out a message that instrumentalism will lead humanity down a path of destruction. Overall, your blog post contains many great points and I find myself agreeing with all of them.

[calebsjpt1311blog]

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind Blog Post

This was my first time watching the Studio Ghibli film “Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind”. I had not heard of this film before and I was surprised because I really enjoyed it. The animation was beautiful and I enjoyed the storyline. As I watched the film I was able to easily connect it to the idea of instrumentalism and environmental advocation. This is the idea that humans use nature as a tool for their own needs. 

The Tolmekian people in this film represent the idea of instrumentalism. The audience can see them with mechanical machinery and advanced tools. The Tolmekians do not use any harvested or natural resources. They use these tools and weapons to fight off nature. The Tolmekian people view nature as their enemy. The opposite of the Tolmekian people in the film is Nausicaä. She fights for human and nature coexistence and peace. She also only uses resources that are available from natural processes. Throughout the film, she takes on the role of almost a Messiah-like figure.

The film as a whole can easily be viewed as an advocation to protect nature and the environment. It can also be viewed as an advocation to end nuclear weapons development. The world in the film was destroyed thousands of years ago due to weapons that connect to modern-day nuclear weapons. I believe the author of this anime is sending out a warning that if nuclear weapons are ever used, then it could mean the end of humanity or a major setback for society. 

I personally can connect to this anime because I believe that I have instrumentalist views. If I am being honest, I definitely view nature as a tool for humanity to use in its progression.

Overall, I really enjoyed this anime and I can see how it relates to ideas of nature and instrumentalism. 

[abhiramanimeblog]

End of Evangelion and Masculinity

This was my first viewing of End of Evangelion and concludes my Evangelion viewing. This movie was a lot. It was very confusing with a lot of imagery, symbolism, and many ideas that were set up in episodes that I did not watch. I think I would need to watch the series over again and watch the movie a couple more times to understand it actually. However, I can point out the masculinity shown in the movie.

We see at the start of the movie with a very disgusting scene Shinji masturbates to Asuka's lifeless body. This act comes off as disgusting, yes, but it also is very out of character for Shinji. He has stated early on in the series that he does not objectify women and does not find true arousal from those parts of a woman. However, here we see him show that he does find arousal from this since he was able to masturbate to it. This act is unimaginable if you think of Shinji as someone of queer masculinity, but if you see this as him accepting or trying to embrace some aspects of hegemonic masculinity it all makes sense. Additionally, we see that he is unable to embrace this masculinity. He finds himself disgusted by what he did and goes back to being an inactive shell. This may indicate that those who try and force a change in their masculinity will only find disappointment in what they have done.

By reverting back to an inactive shell he also reverts back to his queer masculinity and once again becomes a burden. He does not even attempt to save himself and gets Misako killed in the process. This implies that the way he is causes problems and only reinforces his view of himself as someone who is worthless in this society pushing him to be more and more desperate.

This desperation culminates in his dream world (whatever it is) where he is in a room with Asuka. He pleads for her help, but she refuses calling out his faults and pushing him on the floor into a hot pot of coffee. This is an extreme version of Asuka made in Shinji's head that shows Hegemonic masculinity, she is violent and ready to take charge of the situation. In desperation Shinji then snaps and starts to take on aspects of Hegemonic masculinity again by throwing the table and then choking Asuka, symbolically killing off the hegemonic masculinity that has tormented him while also embracing it in another extreme way. This shows once again that the embracing of masculinity not your own has disastrous consequences.

In my life, I can relate to Shinji's lost nature. There have been times when everyone felt like the aspects they demonstrated do not align with everyone else making them want to adopt those traits like he does. Not everyone has done the deplorable acts he has while trying to emulate others but the idea is similar.

Overall, End of Evangelion is a confusing mess, to say the least. I would recommend you to watch this if you are an expert in ep 1-24 of the base series and have 12 phds. The movie shows more of Shinji's character and his character struggles as well as his masculine journey of desperation.

[calebsjpt1311blog]

I believe that your blog post contains many interesting and unique points. I must say that after reading your post, I do agree with many of your points. One of those points is this film is confusing. I also thought it was very confusing and complicated. Another perspective of yours that I agree with takes place during the scene where Shinji masturbates to Asuka's body. This scene represents the concept of Shinji attempting to gain hegemonic masculinity. This is like a last effort try for Shinji to transition from queer to hegemonic masculinity. Overall, your post contains many great points and I agree with all of them.

[calebsjpt1311blog]

End of Evangelion Blog Post

This was my first time watching the anime “End of Evangelion”. From the bit of research I did I guess this is an alternate ending from the rest of the series. I would be lying if I did not say I was extremely confused while watching this. I only just barely understand it after reading countless interpretations of it. Some parts of the film connect to the readings and concepts of masculinity. 

One part of the film that connects to masculinity is the disgusting and weird scene where Shinji masturbates to Asuka’s dead body. This scene is supposed to represent Shinji’s last effort at transitioning to hegemonic masculinity. Objectifying women is supposed to be a feature of hegemonic masculinity and Shinji was unable to do this prior. I believe this scene is Shinji attempting to prove to himself that he can adopt hegemonic masculinity but ends up feeling disgusted with himself and returning to his state as an empty shell. 

Another part of this film that represents concepts of masculinity is in Shinji’s dream where he chokes Asuka to death. In this scene Asuka pushes Shinji to the ground and insults his queer masculinity. Shinji begs Asuka to not leave him. I believe that this represents Shinji asking for hegemonic masculinity so that society does not abandon him and consider him useless. After Asuka denies him, Shinji displays behaviors of hegemonic masculinity as he strangles her to death. This scene was very crazy to me as I had no idea what was going on and Shinji did not seem like himself. I believe that this scene can be interpreted as Shinji taking his revenge on hegemonic masculinity. 

Personally I cannot connect to this anime. I have not had a time in life where I have become so desperate to do the things Shinji did to attempt to fit into standards of hegemonic masculinity.

[blogs-no-giggles]

Neon Genesis Evangelion Part 2 reflection

  Part 2 of the Neon Genesis Evangelion took a very interesting turn at the end which I’ll discuss later. But first, the Anime started out with Asuka, the 2nd Child of Eva. She is quite the opposite of what Shinji is. She possessed a more impulsive, straightforward, courageous, and lack of restraint which is what usually males are precepted as. She represented what Shinji should have been. Also in a couple of episodes, I feel like the narrator lightens Shinji’s voice to make it sound more feminine in to addition of the fact that he’s presented queer masculinity discussed in this module.

  We later see how Asuka and Shinji worked together to defeat the whale-looking Angel. Afterward, another angel appears in the shape of a sphere. The Angel swallowed Shinji and the Eva 01 whole and they almost died because of it. However, at the last second, Eva 01 suddenly operated on itself and tore the Sphere Angel in half which shocked many of the observers. Seeing the unpredictable potential of the Evas, it made the people think about whether the Evas were protecting humanity or will it turn against humanity and ultimately destroy them in the end.

  Then with the appearance of the 5th Child of Eva, Kaworu, who later turned out to be an Angel and was eventually crushed by Shinji operating the Eva 01, or else humanity would have been destroyed. Kaworu’s death made Shinji rethink about his life which leads to Episode 26, a very interesting and sophisticated Episode in the Anime.  The majority of the last Episode talked about how a person find their own identity. How we fear loneliness, and how we seek partners to overcome that fear. How we as a person find meaning in life. It talked about the concept of emptiness and freedom. How a person experiences unrestricted freedom when the world is just themselves, then with others comes restriction but meaning to life. The world with just ourselves will be blank, we comprehend and see pictures of ourselves based on the perception of others outside of ourselves. We learn things from others and we all implement ourselves in others in order to feel. How we find meaning to live by being with others. We love, hate, argue, and experience emotions as a way to find meaning in life, to find what we’re living for, and to experience all the good and bad life has given us.

[calebsjpt1311blog]

I found your blog post to have some interesting and unique perspectives. I strongly agree with your view that Asuka represents what Shinji should have been. Asuka fits the model of hegemonic masculinity while Shinji fits the concept of queer masculinity. Asuka is highly skilled in combat, she is brave, courageous, and lacks restraint. All of these are themes of hegemonic masculinity, thus, I completely agree with your perspective. Overall, your post contains many great and interesting points and I must say I agree with all of them.

[calebsjpt1311blog]

Neon Genesis Blog Post (Part 2)

This was my first time watching these episodes of the anime “Neon Genesis Evangelion”. I must admit that I was a bit confused with the jump between episodes. I intend to watch the whole show one day but I do not have the time for that this week. The episodes I did watch however, were great and I really enjoyed them. The show introduced new characters and had epic battles. I could see how some of these new characters and the actions of Shinji connect to the readings.

The character Asuka is introduced and although she is a woman, she represents hegemonic masculinity. A woman representing hegemonic masculinity by exercising violence to protect society and acting dangerously is irregular. Asuka is outside of the societal standards for a woman. In these episodes the audience watches Shinji who appears to begin to shift from queer masculinity to hegemonic masculinity due to Asuka. Shinji thinks that he has been doing a good job with his EVA but then Asuka shows him up and outperforms him in every aspect. Asuka is highly skilled in combat and makes Shinji’s efforts look poor. Shinji realizes he still has a long way to go if he wants to fit societal standards of masculinity and his facade of confidence is not the solution. 

During a battle with an Angel, Shinji acts very confident around Asuka and tells her that he will handle it. Shinji ends up inside of the angel in a dark void with nothing to attack. The audience sees Shinji in a curled up position inside on his EVA inside the Angel almost like a baby in a womb. The symbolism in this scene represents Shinji’s queer masculinity. 

I can connect to this show, specifically Shinji because there have been times when I had to display self confidence in hopes that my fear and lack of skill would be corrected.

[blogs-no-giggles]

Evangelion Part 1 Reflection

 

Part 1 of the “Evangelion” is super exciting to say the least. The show featured a post-apocalyptic era where humans were forced to hide underground because of the monster species “Angel”. They built cities and very sophisticated structures and technology. It is actually super interesting to see that the city underground is much like an upside-down world kind of like the other side in Stranger Things.

  The Anime first starts off with Shinji getting rescued by Ms. Misato when the Angel raids the city. All the military forces were useless against the Angel, so they denoted a bomb much like the nuclear bomb with a radius near the ground zero to be utterly evaporated. However, this did not stop the Angel, it healed rapidly and the Allied forces were left with no plans left. Shinji is then transported to the main city where the Allied forces live underground away from the sight of the Angel. There he found his dad, however, his dad commanded him to operate the last resort of humanity, The Eva Series 01. Although Shinji doesn’t really want to, he is guilted in operating the machine since his dad gave him the ultimatum of either the hurt girl to operate or him since only they are able to operate the Eva Series and the same humanity. Shinji in the show is kind of like the queer masculinity the module discussed whereas Hegemonic Masculinity is what is expected of him. The society expects him to be fierce, violent, and be honored to defend the human race. Which is a common perception of what males should be and should do back in the traditional society.

  When Shinji ultimately faced the Angel, he struggled to command the Evas 01 and were brutally defeated at first. But, suddenly the Evas 01 gained control of itself and obliterated the Angel, this could be a contrast between what Shinji should have been, and what he couldn’t do. The actions of Evas 01 is what is expected from him in the beginning, something he couldn’t do for which the machine did it itself. Then Shinji was left with either quitting or staying, a stage of personal reflection for some time. He ended up coming back and was faced with another mysterious Angel, the fifth and most powerful angel. The episode left a cliffhanging scene as Evas 01 is seemingly getting destroyed by the Angel. I’m very excited to watch the part 2 of the show!

[calebsjpt1311blog]

I found your blog post to have some interesting and unique perspectives. I especially agree with your idea that Shinji represents the idea of queer masculinity. In the show, the audience can see Shinji cowering away from his call to action. His decision contradicts the societal standards for men which promote the idea that he displays queer masculinity. Overall, I believe your blog post brings up many great ideas and connects the readings to the anime well.

[calebsjpt1311blog]

Neon Genesis Evangelion (Part 1) Blog Post

This was my first time watching “Neon Genesis Evangelion”. I have had this anime on my watch list for a long time but never got around to it. I have had many people recommend this show and after watching the first few episodes, I can see why. I was quite invested in the series, thus, I plan to return to it once I have extra time and watch the whole thing. After watching the first few episodes I can see how this show connects to the readings and themes of hegemonic and queer masculinity. The audience watches the main protagonist, Shinji, as he battles with inner conflict over his masculinity. 

These themes are first displayed when Shinji is called to action but refuses because he is too scared. Shinji displays queer masculinity here because, unlike the societal standards for a man to step up to the call for action in times of need, he cowers away. Society expects a man to jump at the chance for violence and to show off his skills in combat. However, Shinji differs from the societal standards for a man by differing from this path. 

I can connect the anime “Neon Genesis Evangelion” to my own life. I have never been to war or called to put my life on the line to defend my home. However, I know that if I was called to action I would definitely be nervous and scared and might cower away like Shinji. I also relate to Shinji in trying to please my father. Throughout my life, I have grown to greatly admire my father. I believe that he is successful in all he does and I want to do the same in order to please him.

Overall, the first few episodes of this anime were enjoyable and I can see how it connects to themes from this module.

[blogs-no-giggles]

Convention Blog

  I personally have never been to any Anime fandom convention. To be honest,  I wasn’t really invested in Anime at all before this class. However, this class has taught me many things including the context of Anime and the fandoms that surround it. It also made me enjoy Anime and the concept behind it. Apart from that, since I didn’t go to any actual conventions, I watched the 3 parts of the documentary instead. It is very interesting to say the least, the documentary went over many aspects of the Anime culture, the cosplay culture, and the general communities they provide for the people and the fans.

  To start off with, I want to discuss my findings on the Otaku community, those who have a keen interest in Anime, Manga, and cosplay. During the documentary, it showed tens of thousands of people gathering at the Otakon. People from all over the world gather at the city it’s being hosted in to pursue their interest and their passion in either Anime, Cosplay, or similar contexts. We see the very diversified audiences of the Otakon, from children, teenagers, adults, the elderly, and different cultures from all around the world gathered together to celebrate the Otaku community. The community itself brought and flourished cultural exchange, and different people from different cultures were able to collaborate, celebrate, and communicate about the similar passion they have for the Otaku community.

  Another interesting discovery were the answers, when the interviewers asked the attendees the question “Do you consider yourself to be an Otaku?” Although the festival is Otakon, many people actually don’t consider themselves to be Otaku. They perceived the meaning of Otaku as someone who is very invested in the Otaku culture. Some although very passionate cosplayers and such, do not consider themselves to be one. The identity of being an Otaku varies from person to person, some consider themselves to be one even though they have only been to a single Otakon event, while others don’t even though they have been to multiple. It may also have something to do with how the Otaku culture is perceived by the outside world. Although many people are interested in Anime and Otaku culture, it is still not relatively a big subculture in the U.S. Some people may criticize the ones who are devoted to the culture, and the Otaku themselves could be subject to embarrassment. This also leaves us to talk about the next discovery I found in the fandoms, and Otaku culture, belonging.

  A big context of the documentary is the essence of belonging. It showed how everyone was welcoming and socializing at the Otakon. The host, Nicole said that the Otaku community is a place where all the Anime lovers and Otaku’s can belong, a place where there is no prejudice, a place where people can openly discuss the things they love about Anime, cosplay, and manga. People find a new community when they attend Otakon. Friends and family come to this convention to make new friends, discuss their passions, and enjoy what they love doing. Many also find their new circles of friends and even lovers at Otakon. During one of the interviews, Nicole interviewed this couple who met at Otakon, they met during 2 Otakons, and decided to commit to each other because of their similar interest in the Otaku culture. It is also a place for discovering new friends. People who may be afraid to express their passion for Anime may freely discuss their views with others during the Otakon. Everyone here is open to each other’s perspectives about the common thing they love. It is a commonplace, a community, and a place called home for all Otaku lovers.

[calebsjpt1311blog]

I found your blog post to have many unique and interesting perspectives. I agree with you that anime conventions are a place for the community to meet up and build new connections and finding new friends. I attended a convention back in 2018 and the community was a major part of the event. I hope one day you're able to attend an event. Overall, your blog post does a great job of exploring the concepts of youth culture, fandom, and cultural identity formation displayed at conventions.

[calebsjpt1311blog]

Convention Blog Post

In 2018, I had the incredible opportunity to attend Megacon Orlando, and it was an experience I still talk about with a smile. The Orange County Convention Center was transformed into a hub of everything pop culture, comic books, movies, television shows, anime, gaming, and much more. Looking back, it’s clear that this event was full of creativity, passion, and community.

Stepping into Megacon was like entering a whole new world. The moment I walked through those convention center doors, I was enveloped in a vibrant sea of people, colors, and sounds. It was bustling and chaotic in the best way possible. The energy was contagious, and I found myself caught up in the excitement of it all. The sheer scale of the event was impressive, there were so many different areas to explore, each with its own unique vibe. 

One of the highlights of Megacon was definitely the cosplay. The creativity on display was nothing short of astonishing. I remember being particularly blown away by a group of cosplayers who had recreated characters from “Star Wars” with amazing detail and accuracy. They weren’t just wearing the costumes, but they were embodying the actual characters. I am a bit shy but I managed to gain the courage to have conversations with several cosplayers, and it was amazing to hear the stories behind their outfits. Each costume was a labor of love, and the dedication was clear.

The panels at Megacon were another major highlight. I attended a few that featured actors and creators from some of my favorite shows. The panels were lively and filled with humor, and I loved hearing behind-the-scenes stories and the actors' insights. It wasn’t just about the entertainment, it was about connecting with the people who bring our favorite characters to life.

The dealer’s hall was another big highlight of the con. As someone who loves collectibles, I felt like I was in heaven. There were rows and rows of booths, each offering something unique, from rare comic book issues to exclusive merchandise. I spent hours browsing, finding some special items to add to my collection. I may have spent a little too much though because by the time I left the $100 I had brought was all gone. I also remember stopping by the Artist Alley, where I saw some incredibly talented artists. It was inspiring to see their work up close and hear about their creative process. I even bought a few prints that I have hung up in my bedroom.

What truly made Megacon memorable, though, was the sense of community. It was heartwarming to be surrounded by people who share the same passion for pop culture. I connected with so many like-minded individuals, and it felt great to be part of a larger group that celebrated the same interests, whether it was discussing theories about a favorite show or just admiring each other’s costumes.

Reflecting on my time at Megacon Orlando, I realize that the experience was about more than just the convention itself. It was about the connections I made, the creativity I witnessed, and the shared joy of being among fellow fans. It was a reminder of how powerful and uplifting it can be to come together with people who appreciate the same things you do. If you ever have the chance to attend a convention like Megacon, I wholeheartedly recommend it. The memories you create and the people you meet will stay with you long after the event is over. I went with some family and friends and I know all of us will cherish the memories we made for years to come.

[abhiramanimeblog]

Wandering Son and Transgenderism

This was my first time viewing this series and it was not something I liked. I can understand Nitori's struggle on a conceptual level, but can not understand it in reality, especially in the setting of a middle school. I also think that the prominence of this issue in the community was also really strange with so many people being shown in the transgender scene. I also found it hard to follow with the genders flip-flopping so much and so many characters looking so similar and being in the same place. For this blog, I want to discuss my interpretation of transgenderism in Wander Son.

From the beginning of the series, it seems gender identification will be a prominent issue in the series as the main character Nitori says she feels uncomfortable in her male uniform. This is symbolic of how she feels restricted in her uniform and unable to express her true gender identification as a female. This is because the uniform itself is a way to make sure that she stays the gender assigned biologically since the uniform indicates gender with different looks for males and females. This in a way represents how the school system in Japan makes it difficult for transgender people to represent themselves which is less of an issue in countries like America where there are many schools without uniforms.

The anime also showcases the increased scrutiny against male transgenders in society. We see that another boy, Yoshino, (biological gender female) is accepted at school as identifying the way he does and even encourages Nitori to express herself since everyone will think she is cute and they already accept Yoshino. This coupled with all her friends telling her that she is cute and will be accepted gives Nitori the confidence to go to school dressed up as a girl like she always wanted to. This does not end well, however, since Nitori gets in trouble and has her parents called. As well as this all the students in the school now find her weird and avoid her. It is made out to be that Nitori has a problem acting the way she wants whereas Yoshino is accepted. This showcases a double standard and maybe a commentary that the acceptance of males trying to perform as females is not something society is ready to accept.

In my life, I have never really had any issues like this. I have accepted my gender and performed my gender attributes readily. I have not had my gender or gender attributes questioned ever. Therefore, I cannot relate to the struggles presented in the series, but I can identify the issue definitely does exist.

Overall, Wandering Sons showcases the issues of transgenderism well. We can clearly see from the viewing the double standards shown and the barriers put on Nitori as she tries to show who she wants to be. I would not recommend this as a casual watch, but if you want to see transgender issues explored you could watch this.

[calebsjpt1311blog]

I found your blog post to contain some very interesting and unique points that I must agree with. One point that you made that really stands out to me is the increased scrutiny against male transgenders in society. It seems like males dressed as females experience more opposition than females dressed as males. The main character finally gains the confidence to dress like a female and ends up in trouble. Overall your post connects the anime to the readings through many great and interesting points.