kknelle-jpt1311

[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.

[kknelle]

Hello,

Nice analysis on Hetalia, I can see where you're coming from on how it isn't as necessarily fulfilling in its plotlines, especially when compared to media like Your Name. I also think the use of stereotypes and satire has a place and use for narratives and comedy. I think the problem with the series, is how it is difficult to connect to it and follow the story's plot to know when something is to be taken seriously or not. I also could see how Italy's satire could prove to be offensive, since it represents how some forms of satire only take into account heavy-handed stereotypes instead of providing an accurate outlook on Italian's people.

Nice Post!

[ryansanim-e-tionblog]

Your Name Blog

This is my first viewing of Your Name and the soundtrack is straight heat. I am going to discuss the show in terms of Kizuna and Foucault's Force Relations.

Your name follows the story of two teens who on alternating days swap bodies with one another. Taki Tachibana and Mitsuha Miyamizu both create chaos in each others lives at first and learn to organize their daily interactions in a diary. I only noticed it one time in the entire show that it related to Foucault's force relations. Mitsuha was inside of Taki and she was talking with his friends. She used the wrong phrasing of a word and was laughed at. This relates to force relations because power is not being exerted from some force above like the government and gender roles are being reinforced on the local level. Society is pushing and pulling Mitsuha to act in a way according to gender roles that are accepted, but those that are foreign to her.

Taki and Mitsuha are both separated by 3 years of time. While I am not sure how they can swap since they are not even in the same timeline, I will go with it because this is fiction. In the story, Taki comes to learn about a comet which hits Mitsuha's town and ends up killing her as well as the 500 or so people who lived there, making it a ghost town in the future timeline that Taki live in. This relates to the Kizuna incident because in 2011 there was a tsunami which caused the Fukushima plant to melt down, killing 20,000 and washing over rural regions. There was conflict between whether or not these towns should get rebuilt because they were already decreasing in populace and people would be more productive in cities. However, the ending opinion was that connections between people in rural areas should not get abandoned. After some terrorism committed on the part of Mitsuha's friends, they are able to make the townsfolk evacuate. While the town was destroyed, its people were safe, upholding the opinion found in the Kizuna discourse, that the people and their cultures should be protected.

Overall, this show related to me because it explained how every relation made with someone has a push and pull effect on me and how I also have a push and pull effect on others. It made me more aware of my actions and to consider making a more positive push and pull effect on others.

[kknelle]

Hey Ryan,

Nice analysis of Your Name, I especially liked how you related it to Foucault and the Kizuna ideology. I think the topic of gender expectations relating to power as well as performance are definitely alluded to the scene with Taki and his friends, but I also see somewhat of an instance of it with Okudera's perceptions of Taki when Mitsuha had a stronger influence in his life. I also like your point of Kizuna, or connections. Personally, the idea of connections being natural at the end of the movie, without technology or magic or anything made for a more impactful ending in my opinion.

Nice Post!

[kknelle]

Hetalia: Axis Powers

As an anime, Hetalia: Axis Powers is definitely more of an outlier in the other types of more story-driven anime in terms of tone and mood, but I found the differing times of comedic timing to be interesting, since some of the lines and actions of the characters are to be taken seriously. When watching it, I could understand how viewers could take some of the characters, and a few lines from Hetalia as being controversial or problematic. However, I think the anime’s caricaturized commentary of commonly-perceived, heavy-handed stereotypes of countries made for an entertaining experience. Throughout Episodes 1-19, I also liked how some of the episodes have a normal segment and some use the Chibi-inspired style. This helps provide notable originality of this anime over other ones in my opinion.

As for the caricatures present in the characters, both the Axis Powers and Allied Forces exhibit satirical attitudes expected of the country’s culture and people. For instance, America having a plotline of going on a diet due to over-consumption of burgers, Japan’s level-headedness and lower energy, and France’s outward appearance help relate the satire of the countries in a simplified way. In fact, I thought the scene where Germany found faults in the various people at the grocery store was comical, however it is difficult to know if the narrative or caricature is accurate or not.

When discussing the heroes, or villains, of Hetalia: Axis Powers, I also thought the personification of countries was interesting, such as Germany providing complements to their other partners. Like commending Japan’s attitudes and Italy’s speed when running away. The personification of Axis Powers in WWII in the anime also showcases them in a more “Moe,” cute lens, providing a strong contrast from how society likely viewed the reality of them as countries at the time.

Therefore, I thought Hetalia: Axis Powers was entertaining and had some decent comedy to it, so I may revisit the series in the future.

[kknelle]

Your Name

As a movie, I found Your Name to be intriguing in how it presented the differences between Taki and Mitsuha based on their lifestyles in the countryside and the city, as well as the heavy-influence on traditions throughout the movie’s plotlines. However, the most notable area of Your Name in my viewing is how the ending has both Taki and Mitsuha come to the realization of their connection over time, in a way that feels natural and realistic. In addition to the themes of wanting to be free and to provide a commentary on people of different societal backgrounds, the artwork and Soundtrack was superb. In previous years, I have heard of some of Radwimps songs in relation to Your Name specifically.

Firstly, in Your Name, Taki is a high-school boy living in Tokyo with a modern, stable job as a waiter at a high-end restaurant, whereas Mitsuha is a high-school girl living in Itomori, a countryside small town, with a more traditional job, or duty. In the context of the anime, the social commentary on traditional jobs and duties, also seems to be frowned upon by modern individuals, such as Mitsuha’s classmates, who harshly judge her. This also opens a door of tradition and modernity being conflicting drivers in Your Name. As a story, I would’ve enjoyed a callback or re-appearance of the girls who “teased” Mitsuha, since they weren’t utilized in the story in the latter half.

In addition to the perceptions of tradition and modernity, the use of traditional objects are the key-factors that end up saving Itomori from disaster at the climax, such as using the speaker, and getting the Mayor’s attention.

Above all, I think Taki and Mitsuha slowly coming to terms with their history, outside of the help of modern technology provides a multi-faceted moral of true connection and of the Kizuna genre.

Therefore, I found Your Name to be a nice tale and visually promising story.

[kknelle]

Xenoblade Chronicles 2

Overall, I thought the selected cutscenes of Xenoblade Chronicles 2 tied in well with the environmental message of trying to fix the world even when living-conditions are as difficult as they are for the characters. I also liked how the lore and explanations of the characters and their professions are presented. Such as when Rex points out some key characteristics of Scavengers, and how Rex’s relationship with Gramps, the titan he resides on, is the first relationship, or connection, that is explored. In the cutscenes, I also liked how the villain, Malos, fulfills the role of a villain for almost the entirety of the game. In this way, it allowed his self as a proper contrast to Pyra/Mythra as more information in the game was given to the audience.

Aside from the characterization and roles of the characters, the purpose of the characters is simple and easy-to-understand. Rex wants to live life in Elysium, a world of tranquility and nature, before the cloud-ocean took over mankind. Therefore, as a story of meeting a variety of companions along the way, including a strong bond with Pyra/Mythra, an Aegis blade, Rex and his companions arrive at Elysium to see a world of destruction. Similar to other media, such as Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, a destructive event brought about the destruction of humanity, and so an artificial system of blades, that cannot carry memories after death, were created. Eventually, as an attempt to rid the world of the status quo, Pyra/Mythra sacrificed their life and the world began anew.

In Xenoblade Chronicles 2 I thought the role of humans was interesting, because in other media the humans don’t have a direct-role in environmental preservation or fixation, like the solution presented here. Usually, it is depicted as Nature naturally healing itself.

Therefore, I thought Xenoblade Chronicles 2 was interesting, but I think I would have preferred playing the game, in order to fully-understand what is going on.

[kknelle]

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind

As for Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, I had not seen the film before, so the overall message and themes of the movie were all a surprise to me. In this anime, the message of environmental preservation coincides with the negatives of having instrumentality being exercised in society. The major reason behind this likely is due to how previous events and the “respect for nature” ideology have shaped Miyazaki’s intent to deliver the message in this way. In addition to the environmental message of preservation, I also thought the characterization of some of the individuals was intriguing as it proves not everyone thinks alike. For instance, comparing the ruthless Pejite soldiers and the individuals who helped Nausicaä express this difference.

The negatives of instrumentality that the film illustrates are seen throughout the film through attitudes of how Pejite and Tolmekian individuals perceive the issue in a lens of notable instrumentality and superiority. In fact, the Pejite decide to use a baby Ohm as an instrument to lure the Ohm to the Valley of the Wind in an attempt to destroy them. In essence, the Pejite and Tolmekian individuals can’t visualize a world of stable interactions between insects and humanity, and are blind to the reason humanity is in this position, due to the war 1000 years ago.

Additionally, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind provides a slight commentary on how the people of a kingdom or of civilization do not all think alike and that the actions of some in a kingdom or of civilization to not represent the entirety of its people. For example, Asbel trying to rebel from his higher-ups and trying to get Nausicaä to safety.

Therefore, I overall enjoyed Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind due to its easy-to-understand themes, although its message has unfortunate relevance to social conflict today.

[kknelle]

End of Evangelion

In End of Evangelion, I thought the overall mood expresses Evangelion’s tone very well. In the movie, a variety of the characters are at their lowest point, this helps to reinforce the societal and psychological struggles of Shinji in the anime. In addition, characters such as Misato and Ritsuko indicate a sense of helplessness and despair in the anime's universe. As for Shinji, the Hospital Scene drives home Shinji’s eventual loss of his inner-self and inability to think his Queer Masculinity is acceptable in society. At the same time, this was a point of no return for Shinji, causing himself to not feel worthy of life or being assimilated into society anymore.

In fact, later scenes show Shinji not even wanting to move due to his disposition in society. As a character, despite Shinji not expressing the notable characteristics of a hero, I think the use of the sandbox flashback provides a reminder of Shinji’s root of his societal disposition, as well as a possible to elucidation to his behavior in the Hospital Scene. Therefore, when watching I wasn’t necessarily annoyed or disgusted of Shinji’s behavior or decisions, as it is portrayed in a somewhat tragic perspective.

In addition to Shinji’s and Asuka’s contrast in gender-roles, I was interested in how the film closed Misato’s story, out of desperation to get Shinji to act and pilot the Eva one final time. In this scene, Misato kisses Shinji and promises experiences befitting of Hegemonic Masculinity, further cementing how the Queer Masculinity is not seen as a viable societal choice. At the same time, it allows for Misato’s story to begin and end with trying to give Shinji a form of courage.

As for the final scene, I think it concludes on an intriguing, yet haunting, note of Shinji and Asuka representing the societal pressures and how even at a time of extreme despair Shinji’s behavior is seen as “disgusting.”

[kknelle]

Evangelion (Part 2)

After the first half-dozen of episodes of Evangelion, the widely-known fan-favorite, Asuka Langley Soryu appears as a new character to offset Shinji’s perception of himself as a reminder of his inability to perform Hegemonic Masculinity in the expectations of society. To add on to the commentary of Hegemonic Masculinity, Asuka teases Shinji of his “Queer Masculinity” since it departs from the norms of society. Asuka, as a female, also somewhat represents the ideal Hegemonic Masculinity Shinji is lacking with how they pilot their Eva, and are a lot less insecure on fighting. As a result of this, Shinji tries to better himself to engage in the societal expectations of Hegemonic Masculinity, but it only brings him problems.

As Shinji comes to terms with his Queer Masculinity, Kaworu is introduced who provides a comparison to Shinji, but with certainty of their position in society. When Kaworu is revealed to be a villainous Angel, this caves in on Shinji’s newfound hope of having social purpose with Queer Masculinity. However, this eventually this culminates into Shinji finding other hope through inner-dialogue that his less-masculine society-favored life is worth living.

Before going further on the psychological morals and themes, I think the artistic-styles of Episode 26 were intriguing, but at the same time it does not tie up as many loose-ends of the story, and has long-duration, causing less engagement to characters and other content in my opinion.

As for the specifics of Asuka and Kaworu, their introductions and climaxes in their stories allow Shinji to doubt his gender-based role in society. For example, Asuka has Shinji to want to pursue Hegemonic Masculinity which is not reflective of his self, while Kaworu’s betrayal causes inner conflict in Shinji due to how Kaworu’s reflects Shinji’s desired his gender-based role in society.

Therefore, as an anime, I overall liked Evangelion, as well as the different ideologies of societal expectations, coupled with the 90s aesthetic.

[kknelle]

Evangelion (Part 1)

For a long time, I thought of Evangelion as a standard “robot” or “mech” anime, since I only recently watched a variety of the anime starting last year, on top of the required material. Although after having the anime even fresher on my mind, I like how the entry episodes categorize Shinji as a character, as well as set up the mood for the anime’s psychological ideologies and commentaries on gender norms. In addition to that, I think the anime’s use of characters that exemplify the normalized gender stereotypes in society play a role in contrasting Shinji’s character as a non-standard Shounen-esque character.

Firstly, in the first few episodes of Evangelion, Shinji’s character is presented as someone who has a different mental outlook on society due to how he perceives himself. This roots from both his childhood experiences with the lack of parental attention, and how he sees his shortcomings in the face of masculinity, which represent the societal norm. In short, Shinji proves he does not like this about himself, but his mix of both fear and mental outlook develop into the “queerish” character that does not exhibit the characteristics of “Hegemonic Masculinity” that are expected of Shinji in society.

Further, the societal attitudes on gender norms of Shinji, as well as men in general are indicated throughout the anime as “Gaman” or “Be a Man” is stated throughout the anime. Although this does not directly mean Shinji is less of a man or weak despite his deviation from societal expectations. His choice of stepping in when Rei was going to pilot the Eva in poor condition was amicable, therefore as a character he has the traits of a relatable and respectable teenage protagonist.

In addition to Shinji’s contrast to gender norms, Misato expresses a caricaturized representation of femininity that allows the masculine-oriented traits of other characters to become more apparent. Aida also expresses the masculine-oriented traits of combat and fighting, further contrasting Shinji’s character as a non-standard Shounen-esque character.

[jimmyanimeblog]

Module 12: Xenoblade Chronicles 2

Following the viewing of the cutscenes of this game, it portrays themes of identity, sacrifice, and the search for a better future, wrapped in a richly developed fantasy setting. The journey that unfolds within these cutscenes gives audiences and users a story-like experience while they indulge into the game.

There are several issues and themes that are relevant in Japan and around the world depicted in this game. One issue that this game addresses is how some aspects of the game’s story, such as the predicament of various nations and the struggles of the lower classes, may parallel real-world economic and social issues faced in Japan and globally. This includes themes of inequality, resource distribution, and societal class systems. In addition to this, the game also addresses environment concerns where the backs of the Titans are slowly dying and becoming corrupted, which can be seen as a metaphor for environmental issues. This may mirror the world's own concerns about environmental sustainability and natural resource management. To reinforce this idea, in the text, "The Drama of the Anthropocene", Cobb proposes that the problems we face today are "a result of 500 years of thinking that we can live outside nature". This idea represents the fact that the environment is degrading due to humans abusing the resources that are found on Earth and pollution. A aspect that this game addresses is how the characters' journeys often involve self-discovery and personal growth, touching on themes of identity and the search for meaning, which are relatable to a global audience. The game also tackles political themes, such as power struggles and ethical decisions, which are applicable across different cultures and societies.

When it comes to how this game may relate to my life and society, one major connection is the fact that humans are playing a huge role in the degradation of the environment. Some environmental impacts that are present today include global warming, polluted water and air, and wildlife species going extinct due to human impacts on the Earth. These impacts play a major role in determining what the future may look like for the human race where they might go extinct as a result of their actions on the environment.

[kknelle]

Hello,

Nice analysis on Xenoblade Chronicles 2. In the cutscenes, the most notable aspect I took is how the Earth-destroying event Klaus enacted brought about the ocean-cloud landscape making it difficult to assume life. The use of artificial lifeforms, or blades, as well as the superior Aegis, was another intriguing aspect to be seen as a separation of humanity. I think the game's commentary on environmental decay becomes apparent when Rex and the others reach Elysium, as it is not a paradise that the characters were led into thinking is.

I also did not recall that "backs of the Titans are slowly dying and becoming corrupted" which provides a nice justification on the film's message on environmental dependency and restoration.

Nice Post!

[dillonmorse-ufl]

Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind

This is one of my favourite films, not just in the Studio Ghibli collection but films in general. The worldbuilding is relatively simple, but I still adore it and the characters in the film. Except for Kurotowa, he can take a hike.

This film has a strong and obvious reference to the pollution and destruction of the environment that we've done in real life, but given the time period it came out in, I think it's also fair to say that a lot of the film is a metaphor for nuclear weaponry too. It fits better, I think, with the idea of an "invisible" poison that slowly kills people (like Nausicaa's father). Yes, there are the spores that you breathe in that are quite visible that will make you sick, but as Nausicaa found out through her private garden, it's not the spores themselves that are toxic, but the soil and water they grow in.

But it's not really made clear what the pollution is. More than that, there's not really anything shown being done about it because you can't do anything about it. There's no attempts to clean the soil or purify the water because humans can't do that, only nature can. This is very similar to radioactive fallout in real life, where once an area is affected, there's not really much you can do except wait it out, and it's not something you can just "stop" polluting with like you can with chemical waste or garbage or stuff like that. Once a place is radioactively polluted, that's kind of it. That's why I think this film is more about nuclear fallout than run-of-the-mill pollution.

Which is not to say I don't think the film tries to send the message that we should be mindful of these things. We might not be able to help the environment, but we can stop making it worse. War is obviously a big part of making it worse in the film, and that's true in real life, too. So I guess I'd say it's also got a strong anti-war stance but uses that stance as a vehicle for it's anti-nuclear weaponry stance. Hopefully, we don't need to sacrifice ourselves like Nausicaa did to get people to get on board with that in real life.

[kknelle]

Hey Dillon,

Nice analysis of Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind. I think the aspect of the movie I enjoyed the most was the simple world-building of the three major kingdoms, as the story gave enough to provide a clear idea on their motivations and desperations enacted by nature. These desperations sometimes lead to instances of instrumentality, or to use nature as an instrument for personal gain, which is seen literally with the baby Ohm at the film's climax. With the airship battles and explosions, and unseen pollution causing disease, I also can see an anti-nuclear narrative as well.

Above all, I liked how the movie indicated that not everyone thinks alike in the kingdoms, such as how Asbel, and some others in Pejite helped Nausicaa escape to try and save both the Ohms and her Village.

Nice Post!

[shadowydazecg]

The End of Evangelion

"The End of Evangelion" serves as a multifaceted conclusion to the anime "Neon Genesis Evangelion". It addresses deep psychological, existential, and societal issues both within the context of Japan and on a global scale. This movie includes a surreal and disturbing examination of the individual and collective psyche results from the movie's portrayal of the Human Instrumentality Project, which entails the psychological fusion of all human consciousnesses into a single collective entity. Shinji Ikari’s inner turmoil is laid bare as he confronts his fears, desires, and sense of self.

"The End of Evangelion" reflects the struggles associated with mental health and the societal pressures that contribute to psychological distress. Japan has a culture where mental health issues are often stigmatized. The honest depiction of mental suffering in this movie speaks to the internalized conflicts that many people experience. The film’s exploration of identity crises, existential despair, and the search for meaning resonates with those who grapple with similar issues in a society where emotional vulnerability is frequently hidden or suppressed. Globally, the film tackles universal aspects of mental health, such as loneliness, self-doubt, and the pursuit of personal understanding in the face of external pressures, making it relevant to audiences worldwide due to its intense focus on psychological themes.

Mental health is a serious topic that I'm glad we covered in school. I know some people still don't believe in the effects of mental health, but it's definitely real. It's not going away unless we do something about it. I'm sure everyone has experienced when their mental health is at its lowest. Sometimes we don't even realize that our mental health is so low until it's too late. I definitely have moments when my mental health is low. The causes are usually the amount of schoolwork I have to do and personal relationships. In order to get my mental health up to par, I have to truly relax. It could be watching a movie, sleeping, being by myself, etc... The important thing is to do something that makes you happy and lowers your stress/anxiety levels.

[kknelle]

Hello,

Nice analysis of End of Evangelion, while watching the movie, I can also see the movie's stance on deteriorating mental health, most notably with Shinji's character. This deterioration makes sense, due to the movie taking place immediately after Kaworu's demise, who was Shinji's validation of his preference of pursuing a Queer Masculinity-centered life. I think the aspect that makes End of Evangelion interesting is also how Shinji, for only a moment, overcame his low mental health. He overcame it by having a Hegemonic Masculinity-centered ideals, such as of objectifying Asuka, being dubbed "disgusting" due to it and Misato's kiss to awaken his confidence.

Nice Post!

[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.

[kknelle]

Hello,

Nice analysis of Asuka and Shinji's characters, as well as the latter episoes of the anime. In the anime, Asuka seems like a character representing the ideal masculinity and outward attitude that society wants on a person like Shinji. The coward-like masculinity present in Episode 24 with his relationship with Kaworu is befitting for Shinji, while unbefitting for society and his friends. Therefore, the betrayal of Kaworu being an Angel to Shinji held extra weight.

I also thought your point of the narrator lightening Shinji's voice was really interesting, and I did not think of that previously. Above all, I think I liked the diverse visuals and metaphors of Episode 26, such as how in a normal life with Shinji being schoolfriends with Asuka, the gender-roles and expectations do not hold as much ground as they are in the anime's story.

Nice Post!

[abhiramanimeblog]

Evangelion and Masculinity

This was my first time watching Evangelion. I was aware of it well before I watched the episodes I did, but I never got around to watching it. I do think the episodes I watched did not give me the full idea of the story, and it left me a bit confused about the world so I would recommend watching everything if you do. For this blog, I want to talk about Evangelion about masculinity.

Mecha anime in general typically focuses on performing actions of violence through using mech suits. It is this violence that is tied to hegemonic masculinity in a normative sense. Men in a traditional sense are expected in society to engage in violence when they are needed which is something that mecha anime shows often through their conflicts with deadly threats. This applies to Evangelion as we see that from episode one Shinji is called up to bat to fight off a giant monster, but he is deadly afraid and rejects his role. This goes against the willingness to engage in violence that hegemonic masculinity in men expects and leans more toward queer masculinity for Shinji. We also see that in the society of Evangelion that this queer masculinity is highly criticized. Shinji is pushed into the role and he is called a coward for denying it, his fear of stepping up to the plate makes him the subject of a lot of disrespect from the scientists, his father, and his friends. This shows that when someone engages in a lesser form of masculinity such as queer masculinity, straying from the expectations of Hegemonic masculinity then they cannot be readily accepted in society as a true contributor.

This is an interesting stray away from typical mecha main character traits. We see that in Mobile Suit Gundam Amuro is ready to jump into action, taking his father's creation and going into battle at the first sign of danger. This is in stark contrast to Shinji who avoids this responsibility and seems to let everyone who was relying on him down. This passivity is what gives Shinji a less masculine appearance and makes him so different from all other characters in the mecha genre.

I can relate to Shinji's fear of taking on that responsibility. If I was in the situation he was in, where I had to enter a mecha robot to fight a threat I would likely not readily step forward. I do not think I would consider my male status to be on the line in my decision, but I do think I would have accepted since the situation was very dire. In that way, I do think I am a mix of the hegemonic masculinity and the sissy masculinity.

Overall, Evangelion is a very interesting mecha anime that focuses on Shinji a timid and cowardly boy who has to try and step up to perform the masculine hero role. The series seems very interesting and worth the watch if you have the time.

[kknelle]

Hello,

Nice analysis of Shinji's masculinity in Evangelion. Like you indicated in your body paragraph, I think Shinji's character offered a new take on the typical shounen and hegemonic masculinity-centered heroes by depicting him as somewhat of a coward and someone to be pitied. While it could be due to how he fears society will treat him, I think the departure of Shinji's parents, especially his father, are representative points for how he adopted the notable form of Queer Masculinity that is relayed in Shinji's character.

The episodes throughout the series also express how men lacking in Hegemonic Masculinity are not of respect, therefore Shinji's character changes throughout the series due to wanting to conform himself to fit in with society's expectations.

Nice Post!

[kknelle]

Anime Convention

Personally, I have not been to an Anime Convention in the perspective of someone going to engage with the anime community or fandom, or engage in any activities such as cosplay or panels. About a decade ago, I went to Anime St. Louis out of curiosity, and have gone to events in recent years that have cosplay participants, but I have never participated myself. Though, based on the lectures and articles of the sense of inclusion and belonging that is usually in conjunction with the topic of Anime Conventions, I believe the True Otaku documentary presents the structures, positives, and negatives of Anime Conventions rather well.

Firstly, the documentary’s point of how Anime Conventions are thought of as means to create new friendships and connections which may be useful in creating new hobbies, is a sensible point considering the number of possible activities and overall organization of Conventions. For instance, the ability to cosplay, or “Costume Play” as a character of interest in a person, could open topics of discussion of other individuals also dress as the character, or of the same franchise or genre of the character. As seen in the documentary, some individuals are passionate about their interests and overall status as a fandom, or Otaku member, and come to Anime Conventions at different times. This sense of passion can lead people to creating friendships and relations based on common faces, all while being set in a carefree environment where the individuals can be themselves.

Another area of Anime Conventions that expresses a positive is how it doesn’t necessarily prevent any individuals outside of the Otaku fandom from going, as some can go as a family, to support the anime-interests of their loved ones, as well as those who have a bit more knowledge on the Otaku fandom. It is also an intriguing factor how cosplayers aim to sometimes represent the likeness of their character both visually and in acting. The biggest factor to note in the individuals to go to Anime Conventions is how some cosplayers sometimes may lean toward some borderline risqué costumes.

As for the possible negatives of Anime Conventions, the primary negative that is probable is worrying how others may perceive you, or if a crucial part of a person’s costume is missing. For instance, a large area in Anime Conventions are the cosplay contests, and overcoming anxieties and stresses of your placement and how a person thinks people see them somewhat ruins the overall experience of showing your craft and undermines the positive purpose of contests such as cosplay.

From a personal standpoint, I think the differing styles clothing and of Anime culture are the most intriguing as they present Japanese culture in both the areas individuals have commonly grown accustomed to, as well as areas people may not know about. For instance, Samurai and Lolita types of accessories and clothing educate individuals on an area of Japanese culture others may not have known about. In fact, due to the internet, groups have been able to diversify based on interests such as Lolita clothing styles in order for the Anime/Otaku community to continually grow.

From the perspective of an aspiring artist, I can also respect the documentary’s notion to challenge oneself with cosplay types as well.

Therefore, I stand by the documentary’s stances on Anime Conventions, as well as the positives they may bring to a person in the future. Although I doubt I will participate in a convention in the future, I can see the possible positives of participating, in a social perspective, to be surrounded by those of similar interests, alike that of Genshiken.

[kknelle]

Wandering Son

In Wandering Son, the anime provides a critique on the perceived roles and characteristics of gender, as well as explores the dissatisfaction one might experience in their gender and how society relates femininity and masculinity when they are reversed.

The story follows Nitori, who expresses discomfort in the expectations of their male gender’s performative nature, and moreso leans toward the clothing and performative natures of a woman instead. In pursuing this, Nitori notices two females pursuing a similar goal, where they express a male-like presence. However, it is revealed a male strongly expressing the female performative nature over the masculine characteristic is frowned upon by society, despite the alternative with females being a bit more accepted.

Examples of the discomfort of Nitori are how they perceive their school uniform, and their desire to wear their sister’s clothes. This escalates to the point of wearing a female uniform to school to be themselves. This eventually caused a rift in his sibling relationship, where their sister urges them to change their “unnatural” ways as it is “disgusting.” Meanwhile, at the same time, two of Nitori’s classmates deny their femininity-based performative natures by wearing a male-uniform to school.

Therefore, this leads to somewhat of a visible double-standard in society. The reason for the societal attitude is likely due to how women of masculine performative natures, as well as Tomboys, have had a longer history of prevalence in society. Although, the reason for the societal attitude also could be due to how masculinity is perceived and valued in society.

In all, I think it is interesting how Wandering Son discussed the perceived roles and characteristics of gender, as well as how masculinity or femininity changes ultimately play a role in societal interactions. Although, despite that, I do not think this anime is for me to view further.

[kknelle]

Aggretsuko

Aggretsuko is another series I have heard of, and have watched the first few episodes a few years ago, but I did not have a recollection of the overall story and the characters. I think Aggretsuko is intriguing in the way it criticizes gender influences the workplace, as well as alludes to hobbies non-conforming to gender stereotypes, which may act as an outlet to better a person’s mental health. In addition to Aggretsuko’s commentary on social issues and that of gender, I appreciated the simplistic character design and expressions, as well as the background and layout choices.

First off, Aggretsuko’s criticisms on gender influences and attitudes in the workplace can be seen notably in two characters: Tsunoda and the boss, Mr. Ton.

Throughout the series, Tsunoda uses her “cute” femininity to try and take advantages, such as how she tried to do so successfully with the boss, Mr. Ton, while failing to do so with the new recruit, Anai. On the other hand, Mr. Ton expresses notable gender-influenced bias on the role of Retsuko as a person. Mr. Ton appointed Retsuko to make tea and commented on how “cute” it is for her to not be able to do it how he wanted, and later on tried to initially berate her at the drinking party in Season 2 Episode 5.

On the other hand, aside from some of her co-workers, Retsuko has a fair relationship with Fenneko and Haida, whereas either do not express any form of gender-influenced bias.

Above all, the gender-influenced biases, as well as the stresses of Retsuko’s personal life and future, pushed Retsuko to seek a safe-place to be herself, or act as an outlet for those stresses. This outlet is Death Metal Karaoke which can be seen as a hobby non-conforming to gender stereotypes.

In sum, I liked the overall simplicity of the art, the story, and diversity of the characters, and may check out more episodes in the future.