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[honeylavenderangel]

Blog Post: Convention

In my early high school experience, from the 9th grade to the 10th grade I was apart of my school’s Anime Appreciation club. It wasn’t exclusive to anime, and it was actually called Animation Nation. While I was not very familiar with anime at the time, this place served as a safe space with other students who had interests that deviated from what was seen as the norm. As someone who has played a lot of video games before, I was aware of the intersection between people who were “gamers” and “anime” fans and this inspired me to take a chance and begin submersing myself into the world of Japanese entertainment. I have always dealt with a lot of social anxiety and for awhile I struggled with integrating myself into social groups and functions with the rest of my peers in high school. When I found Animation Nation, I found a place that I could feel comfortable in. I didn’t have to worry about being judged for getting into anime, I didn’t have to worry about whether or not my interests were too weird. My experience in Animation Nation reminds me of Genshiken (Part 1).

My experience in this club gave me a strong understanding of youth culture, because as a 13/14-year-old it was imperative to learn the importance of community and how to find it. My time as a teenager was full of insecurity, and as a middle schooler I personally felt like I took everyone’s opinions to heart and there was a point in time where other people’s views on my interests and hobbies affected me and made me feel shame. So by finding community centered around my interests, in this specific example years later in Animation Nation, it allowed me to explore an interest of mine in an environment without judgement or shame.

 In Genshiken (Part 1), while it centers the lives of university students, they are still collectively treated as like an outsider due to their participation in “Otaku” culture. Despite being alienated from their peers, they all found a sense of community and belonging with each other. This is what mirrored my experience as a member of Animation Nation, and greatly  shaped my perspective on youth culture. Additionally, I think there’s something to be said that when someone is in an environment they feel comfortable in, it’s easier for them to grow as they navigate their personal identity. I didn’t feel any shame in the few times that I had either attempted to cosplay a popular anime, or video game character, or even just dressing up in a way that I felt expressed my identity, because I was in an environment where I was supported unconditionally by the people that I was with.

In Genshiken (Part 2), the friendships that were made in (Part 1) by the characters transition from college to adult life friendships. When I compare this to my own personal experience, many of the initial friendships that I formed during my time in Animation Nation gave me a sense of belonging that extended beyond my time in the club itself. I realized that this community was not just about shared interests, but also about mutual support and understanding, which was crucial in helping me develop a stronger sense of self during a formative period of my life. Many of these people are still people that I keep in contact with today.

Not only did being apart of an anime fandom/ anime oriented organization help me feel comfortable in myself, it allowed me to try new things and step out of my comfort zone. Had I not experimented with makeup and cosplaying a couple of times in early high school I don’t think I would’ve learned the basics of doing my makeup until much later in life or developed the confidence to model, and wear experimental fashion in college. Navigating one’s culture identity in the face of adversity allows one to fully be confident in themselves and their own skin.

Image below: Myself and my cat feeling confident

[honeylavenderangel]

Blog Post: Aggretsuko

Aggretsuko (2018) is a lighthearted comedic anime that details the daily life of a red panda apart of the Japanese workforce. Retsuko, an accountant panda, experiences the daily grievances of modern life especially in the office of the company that she works for. She experiences everything from minor inconveniences, to blatant acts of sexism. She uses death metal as an outlet to vent out her frustrations. Aggretsuko addresses relevant issues pertinent to both Japan, and globally, such as sexism, and toxic work environments. Her boss, Director Ton habitually discredits her work and disregards the effort put into completing her tasks and paperwork. A boss with an overbearing personality will affect an employee’s mood and the way that they manage their emotions. Retsuko is left with a considerable amount of anger, and frustration after spending her day at work. It is important for people to find ways to balance their emotions, and doing so through vocal intensive karaoke is an example of healthy outlets to express anger. I find that Retsuko’s experiences have often mirrored my own, as I have felt frustration in the way that I’ve been treated in a workplace before. I am a current employee of UF Health Shands hospital. To work in a hospital one must be okay with working in a high pressure, high attention demanding environment. With that being said, not everyone is equipped to manage highly stressful environments and I have felt like I’ve been at the receiving end of unfair criticism and frustration from my supervisors. Despite this, I’ve had to put it asides and continue my job as if nothing happened, and show up to work the next day. This feeling of having to put up with other’s mistreatment and having to put on a smile while pushing through everything is a universal experience.

GIF Below: An angry "RAGE" Retsuko

[honeylavenderangel]

Blog Post — Genshiken (Part 2)

Genshiken (Part 2) continues to explore the world that is otaku culture, as first initially seen in Genshiken (Part 1). Part 2 continues to offer the audience a deeper dive into the lives of its characters except they’re leaving university life. Now that they are followed as adults, the audience gets to see how they engage and grow in Otaku culture as they transition from university life into the working world.

In Part 2, the characters have since developed and matured in the span of time between first meeting them and them now having finished college. Not only are the characters are more mature, but during this transitional period of time in their life it addresses how they reconcile with their otaku identities and interests except now dealing with the responsibilities and expectations of adult life. This is something that stands out as a universal issue, as people everywhere, both outside of Japan and the otaku subculture,  struggle to balance their passions with the demands of society. As an adult, having more responsibilities to tend to such as working (to pay bills, rent, groceries) and to make a living leads to one having less leisure time. Work culture is heavily present and dominates the lives of Japanese men and women. This struggle to find balance is captured by the anime while showing how the characters navigate their identities in a world that often values conformity over individuality.

Despite the fact that a significant amount of time has passed and each members are on their own separate paths and journeys in life, the club still exists, and the comfort that they can find within one another has not disappeared despite the changes everyone has made in their life's and gone through.  While one can make it through life alone, it will always be leagued earlier to do so alongside others and to at least receive their help. That is a globally relevant theme, the importance of finding community or making it wherever you go.

Image Post: The main members of the university club are gathering except this time they're all older.

[honeylavenderangel]

Blog Post — Genshiken (Part 1)

Blog Post — Genshiken (Part 1) The anime Genshiken (2004) is a slice-of-life series that delves into the world of otaku culture. It follows a group of college aged friends and viewers get to witness them as they explore university life. The students that the show is centered around are passionate about anime, manga, and video games. My initial impression is that the show provides a better look into Otaku culture. From my understanding, this is a more niche subculture in Japan that is often misunderstood and generally stigmatized by the broader society. Similarly to things like Greek life, it doesn’t appear to make much sense to individuals who are not already immersed in this culture. Generally as an outsider looking in it is harder to understand what something is actually like. Genshiken provides an insider’s perspective while narrating the show in 3rd person. The perspective seen by the viewers is not judgmental, instead it is 3rd party and reliable. Because the audience can observe Otaku culture from someone who is an insider, it makes it less challenging for those not immersed in otaku culture to find a newfound sense of welcoming and acceptance to communities and cultures outside of their own.

Specifically within the anime, while the university is not disclosed the university affiliated club they’re in is. It’s referred to as the "Society for the Study of Modern Visual Culture." The purpose of this group is not only to provide a safe space for anime enthusiasts, it is also meant to be a place where people can find each other and develop their own sense of community. This has global relevance, because throughout all of time it has been crucial for marginalized groups to stick together with one another in order to have a higher chance of surviving or for success.

Image Below: A gathering of the university club "Society for the Study of Modern Visual Culture."

[honeylavenderangel]

Blog Post - Wolf Children

The anime Wolf Children (2012) is an emotionally heavy, fictional drama. It covers a wide variety of topics, such as the challenges of motherhood, identity, and societal pressures. It is another popular anime set in contemporary Japan. There are a variety of characters that it follows, but is centered around the main protagonist Hana and the telling of her story. Hana is a young woman living in Japan who raises her two children entirely on her own. She was put into this position to raise her two children, Yuki and Ame after the sudden death of their father. Their father was a wolfman, and Hana was entirely human so Yuki and Ame are half-human and half-wolf. It is difficult to balance having two predominant identities, and so it is a struggle for Hana to raise her kids and for the kids themselves to navigate the their dual identities.

What does it mean for one to be part human, part wolf? Do they belong to both groups or do they belong to neither? These struggles are only amplified by them living in a society that constantly demands conformity. Hana, like many single mothers both in Japan and in general endure more challenges, and there's the extra layer of difficulty that comes from single parents being looked down upon. With that being said, not only is she facing the challenges of being a single mother, her children are part wolf despite her being fully human. She has to raise her children into a culture that she has a limited idea about. Due to the ostracization that her and her children would receive she decides that she ultimately has to conceal their special ability and the fact that they can transform into wolves. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be truly accepted by their peers or society itself. As previously mentioned this reflects a broader global issue where differences are rejected instead of being embraced, and individuals who are different or marginalized often face being alienated. Yuki and Ame's clearly struggle to balance their human and wolf sides. On a personal note, I can understand the clash between my two nationalities. As a Puerto Rican, and Spanish individual, I never entirely know where I stand as each groups see me as an inferior member. I'm not Puerto Rican enough, i'm not Spanish enough for the other.

Image Post: Yuki and Ame's Wolf Childhood transformation

[honeylavenderangel]

Blog Post: Naruto

The anime Naruto (2002) is an long running action-packed anime that navigates complex issues such as identity, isolation, alienation, and the pursuit of acceptance. In this fictional world centered around ninjas with power and special abilities there is still the pressure of conformity. It follows Naturo Uzumaki, a ninja with an unusual power within him. He is ostracized from his hometown, and the individuals who knew him are suddenly wary of him as he has a "Nine-Tails demon fox" within him. Instead of viewing him and the struggle to find one's place within a rigid society. As we have examined previously in this course, societal expectations in Japan are a significant source of pressure, and this is evident in how Naruto Uzumaki is treated by his peers and community.

Naruto is already at a disadvantage for no other reason than the fact that he has the Nine-Tails demon fox sealed within him—a burden that causes the entire village to view him with fear and disdain. Just as disabilities in Japan often lead to social alienation, Naruto's status as the host of the demon fox isolates him from his peers, making him a target of ridicule and mistrust. This general fear and rejection of individuals who are different is an issue that is found globally. Alongside this fear usually comes a lack of empathy from others, particularly those who see themselves as "normal." This lack of empathy allows people to distance themselves from those who are struggling, making it easier to ostracize or belittle them.

The anime Naruto (2002) is an long running action-packed anime that navigates complex issues such as identity, isolation, alienation, and the pursuit of acceptance. In this fictional world centered around ninjas with power and special abilities there is still the pressure of conformity. It follows Naturo Uzumaki, a ninja with an unusual power within him.

He is ostracized from his hometown, and the individuals who knew him are suddenly wary of him as he has a "Nine-Tails demon fox" within him. Instead of viewing him as one of their own, the village people grew wary of Naturo and this shifted his general perception and trustworthiness. This pushes him out of the village that he was connected to and the struggle to find one's place within a rigid society. As we have examined previously in this course, societal expectations in Japan are a significant source of pressure, and this is evident in how Naruto Uzumaki is treated by his peers and in his own community. His own community has turned against him, instead of valuing him for his strength and differences Naruto is alienated as he is viewed as a threat.  He is perceived as dangerous and marginalized based on the fact that he is difference and has an uncommon amount of strength

Similarly to Naruto, I have struggled with feelings of being an outsider. I do not feel very welcomed in my hometown, or accepted by those I grew up around and spent a majority of my time being raised by. For none other than the fact that I dared to be different and deviate from the status quo. When you break out of the system, those who are within the system look down upon those who deviate. A piece of media this can relate to is the movie the Matrix, and this idea that once you’re willing to step outside of the system and be bold to be yourself then you come into a newfound sense of freedom.

Images below: An isolated and lonely Naruto

[honeylavenderangel]

Blog Post — A Silent Voice

The anime A Silent Voice (2016) is an emotional, drama anime. It navigates emotionally complex issues such as disabilities, isolation, and bullying. It takes place in contemporary Japan, and as examined previously in this course societal expectations are a big source of pressure in Japan. Shoko Nishimiya is already at a disadvantage for no other reason other than the fact that she is deaf. Disabilities are not welcomed in Japan, and those that struggle with disabilities are generally alienated from their social circles. In this case, Shoko is a target of consistent bullying by her peers, such as Shoya Ishida. This general disdain towards individuals with disabilities is an issue that is found globally. Additionally, alongside disdain usually comes a lack of empathy from other (particularly able-bodied individuals.) A lack of empathy makes it easier for people to be disrespectful and hurt one another. Instead of treating our disadvantaged peers with malice, having empathy towards others is an important quality that individuals should have which unfortunately only comes after several years of introspection and maturity.

Most people, including myself have been a recipient of public bullying and conflict. At the same time, people have also made mistakes where they have wronged others and haven’t been the best ally to those with disabilities and weaknesses around us. I personally have both experienced being bullied, but also bullying another. Similarly to Shoya, as I matured and navigated my adult life and social circle, I have held a sense of guilt to those that I have wronged in the past when I shouldn’t have. With that being said, I have come to terms with my wrongdoings and have done all that I could’ve to make amends with the individuals that I have wronged. I was not able to get into contact with everyone, although for the people who I was able to contact it was a relief of shame and guilt to apologize to them either months, or several years later.

Image Below: A depiction of bullying and mockery.

[honeylavenderangel]

Mobile Suit Gundam

Mobile Suit Gundam, created by Yoshiyuki Tomino, is a seminal anime that explores profound social and political themes through its narrative of futuristic warfare. Set in a universe where humanity has expanded into space colonies, the series delves into the conflicts between these colonies and Earth, mirroring post-war Japan's pacifist stance and the broader implications of militarism. The series' depiction of the Earth Federation and the Principality of Zeon serves as a commentary on nationalism and imperialism, reflecting Japan's own historical struggles and universal concerns about the morality of war and the military-industrial complex. The psychological trauma of war is also a significant theme, with characters like Amuro Ray and Char Aznable showcasing the personal costs of conflict. Their nuanced portrayals resonate with the experiences of real-life soldiers and civilians, making the series a poignant reflection on human suffering and resilience. On a personal level, Mobile Suit Gundam has been a deeply impactful experience. The themes of identity, duty, and the quest for peace resonate with my own life. The characters' journeys, marked by loss and growth, emphasize the importance of empathy and understanding in resolving conflicts. This perspective is not only relevant to the grand scale of war but also to personal struggles and relationships. Connections to broader readings, such as Noam Chomsky's "Manufacturing Consent," further enrich the viewing experience. Chomsky's critique of media manipulation is echoed in the series' portrayal of how both the Earth Federation and Zeon use propaganda to control public perception. These parallel underscores the power dynamics and hidden forces that influence political and military decisions, highlighting the series' relevance to contemporary issues. In conclusion, Mobile Suit Gundam transcends its genre, offering a deep exploration of war, identity, and human nature. It challenges viewers to reflect on their beliefs and society, making it a timeless narrative that resonates with both Japanese and global audiences.

[whisperingwisterias]

Psycho-Pass and Self-Surveillance

While the shows and films we have been watching have all critiqued different economic and social systems in different ways, I don’t believe any has done so quite as strikingly as Psycho-Pass has. Although the concept of panopticism was depicted to the extreme, and though the raw brutality in the anime was hard to stomach at times, I think both aspects really drew out the flaws that come with self-surveillance and discipline.

Although the point of a self-surveilling system is to promote compliance and obedience, Psycho-Pass shows that it often leads to a lot of injustice. Although those who disobey are indeed punished, their disobedience also comes at the cost of those who tried to follow the system. In the very first episode, we see how a man’s hue getting flagged a single time by a drone snowballs into him taking a woman hostage and torturing her. Because of how she was treated during this incident, her levels of distress rose, which caused her to be marked as needing to be taken in, which only raised her distress even more, until her levels were so high that the system demanded that she needed to be executed, despite her being the clear victim of the situation. The nature of the psycho-pass system also allowed for a man to be bullied without any interference from authorities because it allowed everyone to keep their own distress levels from reaching too high, taking out their pent up feeling on him in the name of obeying the system. In addition, because the surveillance system and punishments were so extreme, people who were otherwise upstanding and compliant citizens who followed the system  only needed to make one mistake for all of their obedient reputation to be flushed down the drain.

As self-surveillance bred injustice so too did it promote extreme isolation. Because the Sibyl system required everyone to constantly be aware of how they acted, what they said, what they thought, how they felt, and how things affected them; it became much easier for society to prioritize and focus on themselves over others. Community was not rewarded or valued, obedience and self-preservation was. Along with isolating themselves, people were also quick to isolate and ostracize others. Those whose hues or crime coefficients got flagged were villainized, cast out, and looked down upon. Most if not all of the criminals on the show had a mentality of, “It’s too late for me, I’ll never be accepted by normal people, there’s no hope for me and no turning back from this.” Self-surveillance only promoted obedience to a certain point, and past that point, the nature of the system only fueled further crime and chaos.

While the Sibyl system certainly was effective in its control over people, I think Psycho-Pass shows that systems of repression and suppression are never viable for long. In such systems disobedience and rebellion are not extinguished or ceased, they are merely festering and biding their time until they get an outlet. And such an outlet, as we saw in the show, does not result in freedom but leads to disastrous consequences.

[honeylavenderangel]

Blog Post - Sword Art Online

In the anime Sword Art Online, commonly referred to as (SAO) it is an alternative universe fantasy anime that follows protagonists Kirito and Asuna in their journey of navigating a fictional video game world under the same name as SAO.

It begins with Kirito, an avid gamer who eagerly signs up to be an early access member for the SAO world. When the official launch day arrived, having previously experienced and enjoyed his time in the virtual world of Aincrad he soon realizes that there is no returning back to the normal world without defeating the final boss of the game. This catches thousands of eager players, including Kirito off guard as they were not expecting to be trapped in this alternative realm with the ability to log out. In my own personal life experiences, I have related to Kirito as there have been times that I’ve willingly committed to an involvement that I did not anticipate I wouldn’t have been able to easily get out off.

Shortly in the early stages of the game, the audience is introduced to the female protagonist Asuna when Kirito encounters her early in a boss battle. While Kirito had the advantage of being a skill gamer as well as previously beta testing the game, Asuna’s sk.ill level was limited as a beginner gamer. She subsequently struggled and had a hard time adapting to the SAO world. When her and Kirito meet they form a makeshift alliance to defeat the boss, and afterwards decides to go her own separate way and she would rather be isolated from others and handle things on her own. Throughout the following episodes, they both encounter one another and it is through these chance encounters they begin to develop trust for one another. This reflects real world and global experiences, because oftentimes individuals may deal with trust issues towards others due to previous trauma or negative experiences. The way that Kirito and Asuna’s relationship develops as they gain trust for one another reflects the real life process of human relationships and connections.

Additionally, Asuna despite preferring to be alone, now has a significantly better shot at survival and defeating the highest level boss to make it back to the real world now that she is working with someone. Despite one’s wishes to work alone, working together with someone can help someone go further and give somebody a greater odd of success.

[honeylavenderangel]

JPT 1311 - Blog Post: A Place Further Than The Universe

"A Place Further Than the Universe," (2018) is a silly, and warmhearted anime that is centered around the journey of four high school girls. It addresses themes and  societal issues such as academic pressure and conformity, which are relevant not only in Japan but also globally. As a full-time college student I firsthand can understand the pressure that comes from studying and this is only amplified being at a highly-ranked top university. The characters embark on a quest to Antarctica. This quest that they go on serves more than just a trip or vacation, but it serves as a metaphor for breaking free from societal expectations and pursuing their dreams. This is a theme that resonates universally, as obstacles and barriers are present for everyone.

Personally, "A Place Further Than the Universe" strikes a chord in me as it captures the essence of youth. I find that from personal experience, as people get older losing their youthfulness oftentimes goes hand in hand with losing ambition and the desire for meaningful experiences. Mari Tamaki (Kimari), Shirase Kobuchizawa, Hinata Miyake, Yuzuki Shiraishi from my perspective, embody peak youthfulness as shown by their attitudes towards the world and the ambition and determination that they have to follow their dreams.

Additionally, the anime beautifully portrays the evolution of friendships despite any challenges or in the face adversity. Human emotions are complex, and will fluctuate, similarly so do human relationships and connections. This theme is not only ever present in literature or media, but in one’s own personal lives and it emphasizes the importance of genuine relationships in shaping personal growth.

"A Place Further Than the Universe" challenges viewers to consider their own aspirations and the barriers they face in pursuing them. They say, reach for the stars because if you miss you’ll land among the moon. :)

[whisperingwisterias]

Spirited Away and Greed

There are so many things about Spirited Away that make it such a dear film to me, from the gorgeous animation, the lovable characters, the weird yet charming world of the spirits, all the way to the truly heartwarming story about love. Yet under all of these features of the film I think what Spirited Away does truly well is the lesson it gives us about the effects of greed.

From beginning to end, we see every character except for Chihiro and Haku exhibit some form of greed. One of the most stark is at the beginning when Chihiro’s parents gorge themselves on the spirits’ food that they find, disregarding both the lack of a server and their daughter’s pleas to leave the food alone, and thinking only about their own hunger. When Chihiro goes back to find them, we see them still ravenously eating everything in sight—except their greed has turned them into pigs. The scene is grotesque and jarring and truly impresses upon the viewer the wrongness of the greed that overtook them.

As Chihiro succeeds in getting a job at the bathhouse, we see signs of greed in all of the characters that work there. When attempting to secure a job, neither Kamaji nor Lin want to help her at first, unwilling to lend a favor without getting something in return, even with Chihiro’s life on the line. In the end Lin has to be bribed to help escort her to Yubaba. In fact, this is a trait we see with many of the residents and workers of the bathhouse, who refuse to help Chihiro and take turns praising her and hating her depending on how fortunate her actions make them.

Beyond base greediness and only looking out for themselves, the workers also have a hunger for wealth and specifically gold. They frantically scramble to hoard the gold from the river spirit that drops on the ground, even going back after dark to find any spare pieces, and tripping over themselves to please No-Face when they discover that he can produce endless amounts of gold. The film shows that ultimately, this greed does nothing for them, as it often ends up with them finding themselves faced with Yubaba’s anger or eaten.

No-Face himself is an example of greed: although he’s originally generous and helpful to Chihiro, as he spends more time in the bathhouse, we see greed begin to overtake him as he basks in the praise and servitude of the workers, gorges himself on food, and becomes increasingly demanding in his requests. This greed, too, disforms him into a bloated, monstrous beast until Chihiro rids him of the things he hoarded with the help of the river spirit’s medicine.

In the midst of all the greed that these characters continue to showcase, Chihiro is a beacon of selflessness, generosity, and kindness. When a soot sprite struggles under the weight of its lump of coal, she has no hesitation in trying to help it out, despite her difficulty in doing so. Although she’s clumsy and unused to working, she puts her all into her work without a single complaint. When No-Face tries to shower her with excessive gifts of tokens and gold, Chihiro isn’t even tempted to take them, only accepting what she actually needs and prioritizing things that are more important. Although she had every right and every incentive to save the river god’s medicine for her parents, she doesn’t hesitate to use it to save Haku’s life and help No-Face turn back from his monstrous form. She also does everything in her power to pay Haku back for his kindness, sacrificing her own safety to keep him from harm.

By the end of the film, after meeting all of our characters and seeing how they act, the viewer has truly seen where the actions of the spirits and those of Chihiro have gotten them. The spirits’ pursuit of greed leaves them dissatisfied, lonely, and ultimately poorer and in worse conditions than before: in the end, all of their gold is no more than dirt. However, Chihiro’s generosity brings her new friends, positively impacts the lives of those around her, and even reunites her with her family. There was no room for greed in Chihiro’s heart, and in the end that brought her much more happiness than any of the spirits’ greed did.

[honeylavenderangel]

Hi there! I appreciated your blog post on Spirited Away and how you placed such a big emphasis on the film's portrayal of greed, and it's ethicality. The exploration of greed through the characters, especially Chihiro's parents, is one of the things that stood out to me the most about the film. It's striking, and in my own personal opinion appalling how their unchecked greed leads to their transformation. It's one thing to be transformed into a physically larger version of yourself from gorging on food, akin to gaining weight. But such a drastic transformation of turning them into pigs conveys their gluttony and how it is an ultimate act of greed. Additionally, I appreciate how you directed your blog post and pointed out the way that "Spirited Away" uses this theme to critique the broader societal issues beyond individual actions of the characters. I had previously mentioned the consequences of exploitation, although after reading your perspective on it I find that I am further prompted to reflect on how greed can cause people to lose sight of their priorities and harm both individuals and entire communities. Overall, your analysis well captured the essence of the film's message on greed.

[whisperingwisterias]

A Place Further Than the Universe and Escaping From Capitalism

I’ve always found something so charming about slice of life shows, and A Place Further Than the Universe was no exception. From its humble beginnings and seemingly impossible dreams, all the way to the Northern Lights that we see on the way back home, it truly feels like we the viewer are going along on the girls’ journey along with them.

When analyzing the themes of A Place Further Than the Universe, I don’t think it’d be right to say that this anime is a social commentary about capitalism like Spirited Away is for consumerism. However, that is not to say that this anime has nothing to say on the topic, even if it is not quite so blatant.

The issue that kickstarts our journey, and that ends of being a core point of the show, is that Kimari doesn’t want to waste her highschool years—she wants to do something spontaneous and exciting. At first glance this goal doesn’t have to do with capitalism, but we have to look at it through a different perspective. Capitalism, at its core, is about maximizing efficiency to get the most profit: this is getting the most out of your life means to capitalist mindset. To Kimari, this would probably look like putting the most into school so that she can go to a good college and get a good job with a good amount of pay. But to Kimari, this isn’t what getting the most out of her life means at all—what she really wants is to have an experience that she’ll remember, the joy of doing something new and spectacular.

Going to Antarctica isn’t just an adventure for Kimari, in a way it’s an attempt to break free from a capitalistic cycle. In fact, this is the case for all of our heroines. Hinata feels the exact same as Kimari, 16 years old and already working a job with plans for going to college early the following year, yearning to do something meaningful while she still has the freedom. Shirase knows no other way she can work towards her dream of going to Antarctica than to work job after job, earning as much as she can. Kimari herself faces the same issue when she finds that in order to even take the first step to achieving her goal, she has to get a job to fund her trip. Yuzuki, too, struggles under the capitalist cycle as her mother acts upon her increasing stardom to put her in more and more things that gain more and more profit, which ends up hindering Yuzuki’s ability to establish any lasting friendships.

But despite their struggles, we see that their journey actually does help them find the fulfillment they wanted outside of capitalism. Kimari and Hinata get the adventure they longed for, Yuzuki finds friends that value her for more than her profit; but most important of all these to me is the scene where Shirase makes her friends her priority over the money that had previously been her most important possession, her ticket to Antarctica.

In the end, no matter what their goals were in the beginning, no matter what reason they went on their expedition in the first place, Antarctica was truly an escape for them, and they all left it with their lives having truly changed for the better.

[honeylavenderangel]

Hi there! I greatly enjoyed reading your blog post and getting to learn your perspective on "A Place Further Than the Universe". I have never seen it before, although I find that the anime's portrayal of Kimari's quest for adventure and meaning despite societal expectations placed upon others offers a relatable perspective on personal fulfillment. I do agree with you when you said that the series may not overtly critique capitalism like "Spirited Away" does consumerism, but instead it subtly challenges the notion of success tied to conventional paths. My time as a Florida Gator has been unconventional, I am in my third year although I was attending UF through the UF PaCE Program which is a nontraditional path. In a somewhat similar fashion, Kimari's journey symbolizes the pursuit of experiences that enrich life beyond material gains, which contrasts sharply with the capitalist drive for efficiency and profit. It's inspiring how the anime navigates these themes through the girls' heartfelt journey towards self-discovery and her pursuit of dreams beyond the ordinary. Your blog entry was a great read!

[honeylavenderangel]

JPT 1311 - Blog Post: Spirited Away

Spirited Away (2001) is an animated film that surrounds the themes of identity, growth, resilience, and evolution.

With regards to personal experience, Chihiro's journey into the spirit world closely mirrors my experience with moving to Gainesville to attend the University of Florida. Being thrust into an unfamiliar environment forces one to learn how to adapt, and how to persevere throughout any difficult situation they may find themselves in. Additionally, we see the way that Chihiro grows into her own identity having been separated from her parents. Like Chihiro, I faced the challenge of adapting to a new environment without the familiar support systems of home. Both of us encountered situations where we had to make decisions independently, learning to trust our instincts and feel confident that we made the right decisions. Specifically, Chihiro's initial reluctance and fear in the spirit world mirror my own feelings of uncertainty upon arriving in Gainesville. Her gradual growth in confidence and resilience, as she interacts with characters like No-Face and Haku, reflects my own journey of self-discovery and adaptation. Just as Chihiro matures and finds her place in the spirit world, I too have began discovering my identity except as a Florida Gator. After living an entire life under somebody else’s control, it is hard to acclimate to making decisions for oneself.

With regards to global relevance, Spirited Away addresses themes of exploitation, and environmentalism. The human exploitation of the spirit world for their own profit and greed parallels the way that valuable natural resources are being exploited, in a similar fashion, unethical labor practices are still occurring throughout the world. In the bathouse, operated by Yubaba, spirits become commodified and their services are only used for profit. This is done without regards to them, which is in a similar fashion to the way that natural resources such as fossil fuels, or helium gas, are being sold and exploited without regard for long-term environmental impacts. This emphasizes the intersection of exploitation, and environmentalism. There are many dimensions of resource extraction, and the film suggests that the exploitation of the spirit world is what interferes and threatens the well-being of its inhabitants. There is a delicate balance that exist naturally within nature which is often overlooked between society, and the physical space we take up.

[honeylavenderangel]

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