Weeks 5 and 6
Princess Mononoke
1) What is the ‘shojo’ and how does it often function in anime?
2) According to Lent (2000) what place does animation occupy in Asian societies? How different is this across Asia (i.e. comparing Japan and China)?
3)Is anime a high or low cultural genre/media, according to Napier (2005)? What are some of its subgenres?
4)Does Anime confront social issues? Gender roles in Princess Mononoke.
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ReplyDeleteWhat is the ‘shojo’ and how does it often function in anime?.
ReplyDeleteShojo is a Japanese word originally derived from a Chinese expression written with the same characters. (Wikipedia, 2017) It created an independent, strong, innocent young girl in the anime, to contrast with the evils during the story. A genre of Japanese comics and animated films aimed primarily at a young female audience, typically characterized by a focus on personal and romantic relationships.
The distinctive features of a typical shojo girl is illustrated and presented in a way that depicts dynamics that represent femininity, fragility, innocence, passiveness and attractiveness (Napier, 2001).
However, if we look at Hayao Miyazaki’s ‘Princess Mononoke’ it introduces a different perspective into the typical shojo representation. True, it can be said that the dominant female characters San, Lady Eboshi and Moro depicts the mentioned generalised characteristics to some extent Nevertheless, it is virtually impossible to assume and state that these characters do not deviate from the stereotype (Napier, 2005). In fact, perhaps it is fair to state that they illustrated what majority assumes as typical female hero model – They are made of strong focal characteristics of aggression, ambition and action that creates a certain level of intrigue and thoughtfulness towards these them because they are women (Napier, 2001)
The fantastic in Totoro(his earlier film) enlightens the capabilty of young women to take care of themselves in times of crisis which is a distinctive characterization of a miyazaki shojo who are curious and assertive (Napier 2005). Because shojo's are not adults they see the world differently and they percieve things that adults cannot see. the importance of the shojo is highly commended as being a beacon of hope and courage for its readers and or viewers.
Furthermore, one could argue that shoujo functions as a tool to create deeper female characters, as apposed to characters built upon physical attractiveness alone. (cuteness)
Reference
Napier, Susan J. (2001) “Confronting Master Narratives: History As Vision in Miyazaki Hayao’s Cinema of De-assurance.” Positions: East Asia Cultures Critique. 9.2: 467-493. Print.
Napier, S. (2005). Anime from akira to howl's moving castle. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.
3. Is anime a high or low cultural genre/media, according to Napier (2005)? What are some of its subgenres?
ReplyDeleteAnime has become one of the most successful genre in the world of cinematography today. Anime has become one of Japans trade mark and has increasingly become one of its significant player in the global cultural economy due to its increase in popularity. Anime clearly builds on previous high cultural traditions, but over the last decade things has changed with the influence of the Western which change some its high tradition form. According to Napier, (2005) " the Japan of the 1990's began to develop a new export, animated films and videos- anime, a Japanese abbreviation of the english word "Animation". Anime has now entered as well, to the extent that it has appeared in recent years in a New York Times crossword puzzle". Anime is slowly moving a marginal niche in the Western mainstream world, where it only attracted a small sub groups like science fiction fans. Slowly attracting fans, anime now is shown through Sci fi channels, Blockbuster and Virgin Megastore in London.
Reference
Napier, S. (2005). Why anime? InAnime: from Akira to Howl’s Moving Castle (pp.3-14). Hampshire: Palgrave/ Macmillan
Week 5 & 6
ReplyDeleteWhat is Shojo and how often does it function in anime?
Shojo is a Japanese word that means young woman or girl, it translate “young girl”. A Shojo is a genre of Japanese comics and animated films aimed at young female audience, typically characterized by a focus on personal and romantic relationships. Shojo anime’s tend to have female leads, romantic plots and resolutions involving personal growth. Shojo can include stories of heroines saving the day as well as them pursuing romantic plots or personal growth. Shojo functions in anime through its styles and clichés, it tends to focus on emotions, relationships and feelings rather than actions or situations. Many male homosexual love stories tend to fall into the shojo catergory aswell. Most of the time Shojo animes are represent with beauty, careful attention is paid towards minor details such as outfits and hair and the eyes are the most recognizable characteristics of a shojo heroine.
Napier (2005) says that Shojo shows the capability of girls and young women to take care of themselves in times of trouble. Because they are young they don’t see the real world through the eyes of adults, giving a sense of hope.
Reference
L, Sharer. (2001). Introduction to Girls’ Anime. Retrieved from
http://www.umich.edu/~anime/genres_shoujo.html
Napier, S. (2005). Anime from akira to howl’s moving castle. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.