Kev reacts to 'Your Name' and 'Hetalia"
Michel Foucaultâs vision of power as a web of relations produced âfrom one moment to the next, at every pointâ finds stunning illustration in Makoto Shinkaiâs âYour Name.â The supernatural body-switching between Mitsuha and Taki reveals how power operates not through grand institutions alone, but through countless micro-exchanges that shape identity, knowledge, and resistance. Mitsuhaâs desperate cry, âPlease make me a handsome Tokyo boy!â exposes the gendered power relations imprisoning her in rural tradition. Her frustration with shrine rituals scorned by classmates demonstrates Foucaultâs insight that power relations are âimmanentâ in all social interactions. The body-switching does not simply reverse these dynamics; it creates new tactical possibilities within existing force relations. When Mitsuha inhabits Takiâs body, she exercises what Foucault calls âtactical polyvalenceâ using the same discourse (masculinity, urban mobility) for opposing strategies. She does not just escape feminine constraints; she actively reshapes Takiâs relationships, demonstrating how âresistance is never in a position of exteriorityâ to power. Meanwhile, Taki in Mitsuhaâs body experiences the surveillance networks surrounding female adolescence, the âwatch-crewâ of family and community that Foucault identifies as local centers of power-knowledge.
Mitsuha and Takiâs forgotten memories upon returning to their bodies illustrate powerâs most insidious aspect: how it shapes what can be known and remembered. The cometâs destruction operates as both a literal catastrophe and a metaphor for how dominant power structures erase alternative possibilities. Yet their final recognition, âWhatâs your name?â suggests that even when institutional power, which the mayorâs initial refusal can see, and cosmic forces conspire against them, the âswarm of points of resistanceâ Foucault describes can coalesce into revolutionary potential. Love becomes not a romantic sentiment but a strategic force, the irreducible remainder that exceeds powerâs calculations. The movie âYour Nameâ was an elegant story that had my emotions all over the place, and I highly recommend anyone watch this movie.
Hetalia begins with the first stereotypes, with countries discussing things in a world-concerning manner. The speaker from Germany then maintains strict control over the meeting, stereotypical of German control. The first few episodes depict Italy trying to seek Germanyâs friendship, even though Germany believes that Italy is too weak. Austria then influences Italyâs government and asks Italy not to ask any questions. Japan then joins the alliance of Germany and Italy. Germany is a big fan of Japan and still has the same opinion of Italy, being carefree and only caring about pasta. Japan brought to Germany a team name that Italy agreed with, and the name was Axis Powers.
America then wants to gather the allies and attack Italy first, but first, he is stuffing his face with hamburgers. Romano, who is Italyâs younger brother, makes fun of Germany and then breaks down when his jump fails. America then proposes a plan, which everyone rejects, because them being the heroes when China steps in and proposes that they take all the land. The next interesting episode is when China encounters Japan in the forest and teaches Japan how to write. China continues to mentor Japan into becoming a proper country. The allies then begin to fight with the Axis powers, where Italy immediately surrenders, but America humorously chooses China to attack in a funny PokĂ©mon parody.
Your name raises concerns about the governmentâs tendency to intervene in situations only at the last possible minute. It also portrays a strong love story that stretches time itself but ultimately prevails. Hetalia brought a fun perspective of using stereotypes to describe the countries. I think this is a great way of understanding the majority of the population.
